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How do I know what tires are right for my vehicle? | Perhaps the question is, what makes one tire better than the other for your driving needs. While price can be a good indicator when it comes to tire quality, buying the right tire for your needs is more important than finding the most expensive (or least expensive) tire out there. Theres a reason maximum-performance sportscar tires cost three or four times as much as an all-season tire for a regular family hauler (vastly increased grip and cornering ability is the reason), but those tires will be absolutely useless on a four-seasons sedan and last half as long or less. The first thing to consider is the size. In many cases that will set the range for price and performance attributes. Common tire sizes range from 14 to 22 inch, with those numbers referring to the diameter of the rim. You can tell a tires size by looking at the indicator on the sidewall. The Goodyear website notes that a standard passenger vehicle tire with a sidewall number reading P215/60R16, for example, would mean the 16 at the end indicates it fits on a 16-inch rim. You will also need to consider the type and capability of the tire, including such things as its speed rating, width and aspect ratio. Information on the proper tire you should use can be found in a few locations, including your owners manual, drivers side door jamb, inside the glove box door or the gas tank hatch depending on the vehicle. A number of tire manufacturers also have tools on their websites to help you decide the option based on your vehicles specific information, including make, model, year and option. It is advised you should always replace you tire with one featuring equivalent specs. If you plan to do otherwise, speak to an expert first. Last, you will also need to select winter, summer or all-season tires according to where you live, or which type you want to purchase. From there, you can pay as much as you would like, being aware that more money usually translates into longer tread life, better overall traction and better cornering ability. | You can tell a tires size by looking at the indicator on the sidewall. | ctrlsum | 0 | https://www.thestar.com/autos/advice/2021/04/10/how-do-i-know-what-tires-are-right-for-my-vehicle.html | 0.228365 |
How do I know what tires are right for my vehicle? | Perhaps the question is, what makes one tire better than the other for your driving needs. While price can be a good indicator when it comes to tire quality, buying the right tire for your needs is more important than finding the most expensive (or least expensive) tire out there. Theres a reason maximum-performance sportscar tires cost three or four times as much as an all-season tire for a regular family hauler (vastly increased grip and cornering ability is the reason), but those tires will be absolutely useless on a four-seasons sedan and last half as long or less. The first thing to consider is the size. In many cases that will set the range for price and performance attributes. Common tire sizes range from 14 to 22 inch, with those numbers referring to the diameter of the rim. You can tell a tires size by looking at the indicator on the sidewall. The Goodyear website notes that a standard passenger vehicle tire with a sidewall number reading P215/60R16, for example, would mean the 16 at the end indicates it fits on a 16-inch rim. You will also need to consider the type and capability of the tire, including such things as its speed rating, width and aspect ratio. Information on the proper tire you should use can be found in a few locations, including your owners manual, drivers side door jamb, inside the glove box door or the gas tank hatch depending on the vehicle. A number of tire manufacturers also have tools on their websites to help you decide the option based on your vehicles specific information, including make, model, year and option. It is advised you should always replace you tire with one featuring equivalent specs. If you plan to do otherwise, speak to an expert first. Last, you will also need to select winter, summer or all-season tires according to where you live, or which type you want to purchase. From there, you can pay as much as you would like, being aware that more money usually translates into longer tread life, better overall traction and better cornering ability. | You can tell a tires size by looking at the indicator on the sidewall. You will also need to select winter, summer or all-season tires according to where you live. | ctrlsum | 1 | https://www.thestar.com/autos/advice/2021/04/10/how-do-i-know-what-tires-are-right-for-my-vehicle.html | 0.295424 |
How do I know what tires are right for my vehicle? | Perhaps the question is, what makes one tire better than the other for your driving needs. While price can be a good indicator when it comes to tire quality, buying the right tire for your needs is more important than finding the most expensive (or least expensive) tire out there. Theres a reason maximum-performance sportscar tires cost three or four times as much as an all-season tire for a regular family hauler (vastly increased grip and cornering ability is the reason), but those tires will be absolutely useless on a four-seasons sedan and last half as long or less. The first thing to consider is the size. In many cases that will set the range for price and performance attributes. Common tire sizes range from 14 to 22 inch, with those numbers referring to the diameter of the rim. You can tell a tires size by looking at the indicator on the sidewall. The Goodyear website notes that a standard passenger vehicle tire with a sidewall number reading P215/60R16, for example, would mean the 16 at the end indicates it fits on a 16-inch rim. You will also need to consider the type and capability of the tire, including such things as its speed rating, width and aspect ratio. Information on the proper tire you should use can be found in a few locations, including your owners manual, drivers side door jamb, inside the glove box door or the gas tank hatch depending on the vehicle. A number of tire manufacturers also have tools on their websites to help you decide the option based on your vehicles specific information, including make, model, year and option. It is advised you should always replace you tire with one featuring equivalent specs. If you plan to do otherwise, speak to an expert first. Last, you will also need to select winter, summer or all-season tires according to where you live, or which type you want to purchase. From there, you can pay as much as you would like, being aware that more money usually translates into longer tread life, better overall traction and better cornering ability. | The first thing to consider is the size. Common tire sizes range from 14 to 22 inch, with those numbers referring to the diameter of the rim. You will also need to consider the type and capability of the tire, including its speed rating, width and aspect ratio. Information on the proper tire you should use can be found in a few locations. | bart | 2 | https://www.thestar.com/autos/advice/2021/04/10/how-do-i-know-what-tires-are-right-for-my-vehicle.html | 0.324144 |
Why are so many nurses leaving Montreal's east-end hospitals? | WEEKEND READ | Its a vicious cycle. Nurses lured away by better working conditions. Those left behind stuck with forced OT and the threat of burnout. Photo by ANNE-CHRISTINE POUJOULAT / AFP via Getty Images Article content Quebecs nursing crisis has been developing for decades, but the pandemic has exposed a widening disparity among hospitals that has some administrators taking desperate measures. Administrators of Montreals eastern health region, for example, are trying to sell a controversial pilot project to replace experienced OR nurses with hastily trained high school graduates. The plan was met with outrage and even tears when it was announced last week at a morning staff meeting of OR nurses at the Maisonneuve-Rosemont Hospital. We apologize, but this video has failed to load. tap here to see other videos from our team. Back to video And though administrators have tried to calm fears by postponing the job postings and promising to consult employees in coming weeks, there are no signs the pilot project has been abandoned. Since the plan was announced, almost 50 OR staff have signed a letter to the hospitals chief of surgery vowing to resign the day that one of these technical assistants shows up in an operating room. A similar protest is reportedly underway at Santa Cabrini Hospital. It is the only other hospital in the CIUSSS de lEst de lle de Montral, a regional health centre that serves more than 535,600 people roughly equivalent to Quebec Citys population, which is served by half a dozen hospitals. Advertisement Story continues below This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Article content The hospitals cannot afford to lose any more staff, Dr. Franois Marquis, critical care chief at the MRH, has been saying publicly for months. Marquis said he is constantly warning his staff about areas of vulnerability in his intensive care unit that are bound to lead to bad results for patients. There will be an error, he said. There will be patients (at risk). During the worst periods of the pandemic, the hospital has been forced to transport critically ill patients from its ICU to other hospitals solely because of a lack of nurses and respiratory therapists (RTs). It is risky to transport these patients, Marquis said. It is one thing to have to transfer patients because we dont have the technology to treat them, but when we are transferring them because there are not enough beds, because weve lost staff to other hospitals, there is something wrong with the system. Advertisement Story continues below This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Article content Photo by Allen McInnis / Montreal Gazette The MRH is not the only hospital in a staffing crisis, but it is representative of what happens when efforts to retain and recruit nurses fall short. One issue is that the MRH is old and dilapidated, and a $1.8-billion plan to refurbish it is 10 to 15 years away from completion. We are the worst hit and one of the reasons is that many of our staff have moved to the CHUM or the MUHC because those hospitals are new and beautiful. Here, they are working in an ICU that is very sombre, its old, not practical. The rooms are too small, there is very little room to work, there are not enough computers. At the CHUM, for example, each nurse has a computer, each patient has a room that is larger than two of our rooms combined, they receive their lab work on their cell phone, everything is computerized. Advertisement Story continues below This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Article content Marquis said he would like to see quotas brought in for nurses and RTs, so that some hospitals and health centres cant hire more than their fair share. Im not saying the CHUM and the MUHC dont do good work. But they have too big a piece of the pie. Pierre-David Gagn has been a nurse for 18 years, most of them at the MRH, where he is now assistant chief nurse of night surgery. Over the years, he has watched colleagues leave for greener pastures, but never at the rate they have in the past year. A big issue has been private placement agencies luring away hundreds of nurses from the public system, offering better pay for nurses just starting out, promising no mandatory overtime and no weekends or night shifts. The strapped hospitals then have to hire nurses from these private agencies to fill shortages. This has meant hospital nurses sometimes find themselves working side by side with former colleagues who are now being paid more and for more reasonable hours. So more nurses leave, which means remaining staff members are increasingly required to do mandatory overtime, a problem unions have been denouncing for years. Advertisement Story continues below This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Article content This is really what is destroying the health system right now, said Gagn. More and more people who leave are heading to the private placement agencies or for other facilities that are less affected by this issue. Mandatory overtime is like a gangrene on the health system. People are becoming really fed up with that situation. Many quit, and by quitting they create a need for more mandatory overtime, and that brings more departures. So its a vicious cycle that means things are endlessly worsening. He says the solution is not hiring quotas at hospitals, which he sees as just another coercive measure. He advocates for a system of incentives for nurses and RTs to stay at hospitals that are experiencing severe staff shortages. He suggests the province colour code its hospitals red for those in the most difficulty, just as it has for regions during the pandemic and pay staff higher overtime rates if they work in red facilities. Advertisement Story continues below This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Article content Photo by Allen McInnis / Montreal Gazette More than 4,000 nurses resigned from their jobs in the public system between March and December of 2020, including retirements from the profession, according to data obtained by La Presse earlier this year. About 2,800 had left during the same period a year before. Add to those departures the more than 7,668 members of the FIQ the largest union representing nurses and respiratory technologists who were on sick leave at the end of last year, and you start to get a sense of the magnitude of the problem. That is fully 10 per cent of the FIQs membership of 76,000. Denyse Joseph, vice-president of the FIQ, says the union made the government very aware of the situation during the last round of contract negotiations five years ago. Nurses, along with other public sector workers, have been without a contract for more than a year. An agreement in principle was reached in December on working conditions and holidays, but other issues, such as salaries, retirement and regional disparity, remain on the table. Advertisement Story continues below This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Article content The past three governments have made major cuts in the health-care system, she notes. The result today is that we need to invest a lot of money and we need to hire a lot of staff. In order to recruit and retain staff, we need to look at their workload because if we continue like this, more people will be leaving. We have people resigning, taking early retirement, and others who say, Ive had it. It was my dream to be a health-care professional, but I am finding no satisfaction in that field anymore because of the working conditions and non-recognition of my work. Photo by Pierre Obendrauf / Montreal Gazette The fact that Premier Franois Legault has thanked nurses and called them guardian angels at his pandemic news conferences has rung false for many, she said. They have seen their holidays cancelled by government decree. Mandatory overtime has increased. And the reassigning of nurses to different facilities or hospital departments against their will has been a particular bone of contention. Advertisement Story continues below This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Article content We went to school, most of us have a degree not to mention the work we do to specialize. For example, if you are doctor who specializes in oncology, tomorrow morning you are not going to be asked to become a gynecologist. Your specialty is oncology. Well, its the same thing for nurses, licensed practical nurses or respiratory therapists working in a specific field for 20 years. You become an expert in that field. You are effective with your patients because you see the signs and symptoms and you know whats going on and you can prevent things. She said nurses understand that certain transfers had to be made during the pandemic, from hospitals to seniors homes for example, but this moving around of nurses as if we are pieces of furniture has been going on since well before the pandemic, she said. Advertisement Story continues below This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Article content Part of the problem is a lack of respect, or an outdated idea that because those in the so-called caring professions are mostly women, they can be underpaid and taken for granted. As if, like the nuns who once ran Quebecs hospitals and schools, they are practising a vocation, rather than a skilled profession. They think because we are health-care professionals, that we are like the nuns: no life, no kids, no husband, no family. But we have kids and families and our own lives. A lot of us have older parents or grandparents at home. No consideration. They came with ministerial decrees and it was like a punishment. You have to work full-time hours, some places 12-hour shifts, no more time off, no more vacation, not allowed to request a day off to be with family or children, or for medical appointments. Everything was refused, she said. Advertisement Story continues below This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Article content These conditions led to more illness and burnout. Sick leaves jumped by almost 30 per cent in 2020 over 2019, according to numbers provided to the union last summer, she said, and the numbers for this year are likely to be worse. The government recently tackled, at least temporarily, the problem of private agencies with a decree issued March 30. The agencies must now wait 90 days before hiring a worker who has left the public system. Hospitals will no longer be allowed to move their own employees to night and weekend shifts to replace them with these independent workers. A spokesperson for Health Minister Christian Dub said the government is well aware of the labour shortage, noting the recent budget included $23 million over three years to train more nurses. Advertisement Story continues below This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Article content It is clear that nurses are essential partners in providing safe and quality care to Quebecers and we will continue to promote them through the network, said Marjaurie Ct-Boileau. But Joseph said hiring more nurses is not enough. The government must increase pay and improve conditions. The unions have been asking for a 12.4-per-cent pay increase over three years, to bring nurses salaries in line with those of other provinces and with increases granted to male-dominated professions. The most recent government offer was five per cent. I dont think we are close to having a contract. We will never accept an offer of five or six per cent, Joseph said. Its totally ridiculous, especially with what the pandemic has shown to the population and to the government. This is a total insult to health-care professionals. The government really has to look at our particular situation and do something. mlalonde@postmedia.com More On This Topic Montreal's critical care chiefs anticipating third wave of COVID-19 after March break East end hospitals to use unskilled labour in operating rooms to ease nursing crisis Hospital administrators will consult staff on plan to use unskilled workers to ease nursing shortage Share this article in your social network Latest National Stories Advertisement Story continues below This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Montreal Gazette Headline News Sign up to receive daily headline news from the Montreal Gazette, a division of Postmedia Network Inc. Email Address There was an error, please provide a valid email address. By clicking on the sign up button you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. You may unsubscribe any time by clicking on the unsubscribe link at the bottom of our emails. Postmedia Network Inc. | 365 Bloor Street East, Toronto, Ontario, M4W 3L4 | 416-383-2300 Thanks for signing up! A welcome email is on its way. If you don't see it please check your junk folder. The next issue of Montreal Gazette Headline News will soon be in your inbox. We encountered an issue signing you up. Please try again Trending | Administrators of Montreals eastern health region are trying to sell a pilot project to replace experienced OR nurses with hastily trained high school graduates. | pegasus | 0 | https://montrealgazette.com/news/local-news/why-are-so-many-nurses-leaving-montreals-east-end-hospitals | 0.141496 |
Why are so many nurses leaving Montreal's east-end hospitals? | WEEKEND READ | Its a vicious cycle. Nurses lured away by better working conditions. Those left behind stuck with forced OT and the threat of burnout. Photo by ANNE-CHRISTINE POUJOULAT / AFP via Getty Images Article content Quebecs nursing crisis has been developing for decades, but the pandemic has exposed a widening disparity among hospitals that has some administrators taking desperate measures. Administrators of Montreals eastern health region, for example, are trying to sell a controversial pilot project to replace experienced OR nurses with hastily trained high school graduates. The plan was met with outrage and even tears when it was announced last week at a morning staff meeting of OR nurses at the Maisonneuve-Rosemont Hospital. We apologize, but this video has failed to load. tap here to see other videos from our team. Back to video And though administrators have tried to calm fears by postponing the job postings and promising to consult employees in coming weeks, there are no signs the pilot project has been abandoned. Since the plan was announced, almost 50 OR staff have signed a letter to the hospitals chief of surgery vowing to resign the day that one of these technical assistants shows up in an operating room. A similar protest is reportedly underway at Santa Cabrini Hospital. It is the only other hospital in the CIUSSS de lEst de lle de Montral, a regional health centre that serves more than 535,600 people roughly equivalent to Quebec Citys population, which is served by half a dozen hospitals. Advertisement Story continues below This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Article content The hospitals cannot afford to lose any more staff, Dr. Franois Marquis, critical care chief at the MRH, has been saying publicly for months. Marquis said he is constantly warning his staff about areas of vulnerability in his intensive care unit that are bound to lead to bad results for patients. There will be an error, he said. There will be patients (at risk). During the worst periods of the pandemic, the hospital has been forced to transport critically ill patients from its ICU to other hospitals solely because of a lack of nurses and respiratory therapists (RTs). It is risky to transport these patients, Marquis said. It is one thing to have to transfer patients because we dont have the technology to treat them, but when we are transferring them because there are not enough beds, because weve lost staff to other hospitals, there is something wrong with the system. Advertisement Story continues below This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Article content Photo by Allen McInnis / Montreal Gazette The MRH is not the only hospital in a staffing crisis, but it is representative of what happens when efforts to retain and recruit nurses fall short. One issue is that the MRH is old and dilapidated, and a $1.8-billion plan to refurbish it is 10 to 15 years away from completion. We are the worst hit and one of the reasons is that many of our staff have moved to the CHUM or the MUHC because those hospitals are new and beautiful. Here, they are working in an ICU that is very sombre, its old, not practical. The rooms are too small, there is very little room to work, there are not enough computers. At the CHUM, for example, each nurse has a computer, each patient has a room that is larger than two of our rooms combined, they receive their lab work on their cell phone, everything is computerized. Advertisement Story continues below This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Article content Marquis said he would like to see quotas brought in for nurses and RTs, so that some hospitals and health centres cant hire more than their fair share. Im not saying the CHUM and the MUHC dont do good work. But they have too big a piece of the pie. Pierre-David Gagn has been a nurse for 18 years, most of them at the MRH, where he is now assistant chief nurse of night surgery. Over the years, he has watched colleagues leave for greener pastures, but never at the rate they have in the past year. A big issue has been private placement agencies luring away hundreds of nurses from the public system, offering better pay for nurses just starting out, promising no mandatory overtime and no weekends or night shifts. The strapped hospitals then have to hire nurses from these private agencies to fill shortages. This has meant hospital nurses sometimes find themselves working side by side with former colleagues who are now being paid more and for more reasonable hours. So more nurses leave, which means remaining staff members are increasingly required to do mandatory overtime, a problem unions have been denouncing for years. Advertisement Story continues below This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Article content This is really what is destroying the health system right now, said Gagn. More and more people who leave are heading to the private placement agencies or for other facilities that are less affected by this issue. Mandatory overtime is like a gangrene on the health system. People are becoming really fed up with that situation. Many quit, and by quitting they create a need for more mandatory overtime, and that brings more departures. So its a vicious cycle that means things are endlessly worsening. He says the solution is not hiring quotas at hospitals, which he sees as just another coercive measure. He advocates for a system of incentives for nurses and RTs to stay at hospitals that are experiencing severe staff shortages. He suggests the province colour code its hospitals red for those in the most difficulty, just as it has for regions during the pandemic and pay staff higher overtime rates if they work in red facilities. Advertisement Story continues below This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Article content Photo by Allen McInnis / Montreal Gazette More than 4,000 nurses resigned from their jobs in the public system between March and December of 2020, including retirements from the profession, according to data obtained by La Presse earlier this year. About 2,800 had left during the same period a year before. Add to those departures the more than 7,668 members of the FIQ the largest union representing nurses and respiratory technologists who were on sick leave at the end of last year, and you start to get a sense of the magnitude of the problem. That is fully 10 per cent of the FIQs membership of 76,000. Denyse Joseph, vice-president of the FIQ, says the union made the government very aware of the situation during the last round of contract negotiations five years ago. Nurses, along with other public sector workers, have been without a contract for more than a year. An agreement in principle was reached in December on working conditions and holidays, but other issues, such as salaries, retirement and regional disparity, remain on the table. Advertisement Story continues below This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Article content The past three governments have made major cuts in the health-care system, she notes. The result today is that we need to invest a lot of money and we need to hire a lot of staff. In order to recruit and retain staff, we need to look at their workload because if we continue like this, more people will be leaving. We have people resigning, taking early retirement, and others who say, Ive had it. It was my dream to be a health-care professional, but I am finding no satisfaction in that field anymore because of the working conditions and non-recognition of my work. Photo by Pierre Obendrauf / Montreal Gazette The fact that Premier Franois Legault has thanked nurses and called them guardian angels at his pandemic news conferences has rung false for many, she said. They have seen their holidays cancelled by government decree. Mandatory overtime has increased. And the reassigning of nurses to different facilities or hospital departments against their will has been a particular bone of contention. Advertisement Story continues below This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Article content We went to school, most of us have a degree not to mention the work we do to specialize. For example, if you are doctor who specializes in oncology, tomorrow morning you are not going to be asked to become a gynecologist. Your specialty is oncology. Well, its the same thing for nurses, licensed practical nurses or respiratory therapists working in a specific field for 20 years. You become an expert in that field. You are effective with your patients because you see the signs and symptoms and you know whats going on and you can prevent things. She said nurses understand that certain transfers had to be made during the pandemic, from hospitals to seniors homes for example, but this moving around of nurses as if we are pieces of furniture has been going on since well before the pandemic, she said. Advertisement Story continues below This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Article content Part of the problem is a lack of respect, or an outdated idea that because those in the so-called caring professions are mostly women, they can be underpaid and taken for granted. As if, like the nuns who once ran Quebecs hospitals and schools, they are practising a vocation, rather than a skilled profession. They think because we are health-care professionals, that we are like the nuns: no life, no kids, no husband, no family. But we have kids and families and our own lives. A lot of us have older parents or grandparents at home. No consideration. They came with ministerial decrees and it was like a punishment. You have to work full-time hours, some places 12-hour shifts, no more time off, no more vacation, not allowed to request a day off to be with family or children, or for medical appointments. Everything was refused, she said. Advertisement Story continues below This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Article content These conditions led to more illness and burnout. Sick leaves jumped by almost 30 per cent in 2020 over 2019, according to numbers provided to the union last summer, she said, and the numbers for this year are likely to be worse. The government recently tackled, at least temporarily, the problem of private agencies with a decree issued March 30. The agencies must now wait 90 days before hiring a worker who has left the public system. Hospitals will no longer be allowed to move their own employees to night and weekend shifts to replace them with these independent workers. A spokesperson for Health Minister Christian Dub said the government is well aware of the labour shortage, noting the recent budget included $23 million over three years to train more nurses. Advertisement Story continues below This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Article content It is clear that nurses are essential partners in providing safe and quality care to Quebecers and we will continue to promote them through the network, said Marjaurie Ct-Boileau. But Joseph said hiring more nurses is not enough. The government must increase pay and improve conditions. The unions have been asking for a 12.4-per-cent pay increase over three years, to bring nurses salaries in line with those of other provinces and with increases granted to male-dominated professions. The most recent government offer was five per cent. I dont think we are close to having a contract. We will never accept an offer of five or six per cent, Joseph said. Its totally ridiculous, especially with what the pandemic has shown to the population and to the government. This is a total insult to health-care professionals. The government really has to look at our particular situation and do something. mlalonde@postmedia.com More On This Topic Montreal's critical care chiefs anticipating third wave of COVID-19 after March break East end hospitals to use unskilled labour in operating rooms to ease nursing crisis Hospital administrators will consult staff on plan to use unskilled workers to ease nursing shortage Share this article in your social network Latest National Stories Advertisement Story continues below This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Montreal Gazette Headline News Sign up to receive daily headline news from the Montreal Gazette, a division of Postmedia Network Inc. Email Address There was an error, please provide a valid email address. By clicking on the sign up button you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. You may unsubscribe any time by clicking on the unsubscribe link at the bottom of our emails. Postmedia Network Inc. | 365 Bloor Street East, Toronto, Ontario, M4W 3L4 | 416-383-2300 Thanks for signing up! A welcome email is on its way. If you don't see it please check your junk folder. The next issue of Montreal Gazette Headline News will soon be in your inbox. We encountered an issue signing you up. Please try again Trending | Administrators of Montreals eastern health region are trying to sell a controversial pilot project to replace experienced OR nurses with hastily trained high school graduates. The plan was met with outrage and even tears when it was announced last week at a morning staff meeting of OR nurses at the Maisonneuve-Rosemont Hospital. | bart | 2 | https://montrealgazette.com/news/local-news/why-are-so-many-nurses-leaving-montreals-east-end-hospitals | 0.112449 |
What States have the Most New Orleans Saints Fans on Twitter? | Where New Orleans Saints fans on Twitter come from and who's not on the list. New Orleans Saints have one of the most passionate and unique fanbases in the National Football League. The appeal of Drew Brees, Sean Payton, Alvin Kamara, and Michael Thomas over the years has given way to a climb in recent television broadcast ratings and merchandising sales of jerseys and paraphernalia, it's proof that Saints fans have an influence. Many would believe the team's appeal on the Who Dat Nation is restricted to Louisiana and surrounding gulf coast states. On the contrary. According to Pickswise, but the New Orleans Saints have a strong contingent of fans and admirers in several surprising states. Oct 25, 2020; New Orleans, Louisiana, USA; New Orleans Saints fans pose in the concourse prior to kickoff at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome. A selection of 3000 season ticket holders will be in attendance for the game between the New Orleans Saints and the Carolina Panthers Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports Pickswise is a sports betting website that sent me data on New Orleans Saints fans and where they reside. This week, they released research using Twitter data to gauge where fans are following NFL teams. The methodology is not purely scientific since they performed an analysis of one social media platform "to discover where each 32 NFL team's supporters were located." Here are their findings of where the Saints have a majority of enthusiasts. More Who Dats per capita resided in fifteen states and one state leads Louisiana. Yes, Louisiana. Florida. The Sunshine State tops the list, followed by Louisiana, Minnesota, Texas, and California. It's not entirely shocking if they use fans per capita as their baseline. If you are from Louisiana, you already are aware state's upper portion has a strong Dallas Cowboys following. An abundance of Who Dats call Louisiana's southern region home. Still, Mississippi, Alabama, Texas, and Florida produce many of the Black and Gold's devotees. The Who Dat Nation is far and wide. Nov 24, 2019; New Orleans, LA, USA; New Orleans Saints fans cheer from the stands during the second half against the Carolina Panthers at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome. It was Minnesota for me. Especially after the Minneapolis Miracle and haunting playoff losses, New Orleans received because of the Vikings. The numbers in Minnesota could be from their faithful tweeting and re-tweeting the Minnesota Miracle. Other surprises were Utah, New York, D.C., Pennsylvania, and Arizona. Utah followers may be from the Taysom Hill effect and his loyalists from his BYU days. Arkansas was missing from the list. Also, Pickswise did not share why these states had New Orleans Saints fans on Twitter and if the research was about the number of postings, re-tweets, mentions, articles, videos, media, memes, and more. No matter the data, research, or who's counting the number of pins in the voodoo dolls, the diehard New Orleans Saints fans live in New Orleans and the surrounding states. Period. Nevertheless, the Who Dat Nation will forever be the most recognizable and uncommon set of fans in NFL history. Even more, it caused the NFL had to trademark Saints fans' favorite phrase, "Who Dat!" That's powerful. | New Orleans Saints have a strong contingent of fans and admirers in several surprising states. Florida tops the list, followed by Louisiana, Minnesota, Texas, and California. The Who Dat Nation is far and wide. | ctrlsum | 1 | https://www.si.com/nfl/saints/editorial-opinion/states-with-most-saints-fans-on-twitter | 0.256189 |
What States have the Most New Orleans Saints Fans on Twitter? | Where New Orleans Saints fans on Twitter come from and who's not on the list. New Orleans Saints have one of the most passionate and unique fanbases in the National Football League. The appeal of Drew Brees, Sean Payton, Alvin Kamara, and Michael Thomas over the years has given way to a climb in recent television broadcast ratings and merchandising sales of jerseys and paraphernalia, it's proof that Saints fans have an influence. Many would believe the team's appeal on the Who Dat Nation is restricted to Louisiana and surrounding gulf coast states. On the contrary. According to Pickswise, but the New Orleans Saints have a strong contingent of fans and admirers in several surprising states. Oct 25, 2020; New Orleans, Louisiana, USA; New Orleans Saints fans pose in the concourse prior to kickoff at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome. A selection of 3000 season ticket holders will be in attendance for the game between the New Orleans Saints and the Carolina Panthers Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports Pickswise is a sports betting website that sent me data on New Orleans Saints fans and where they reside. This week, they released research using Twitter data to gauge where fans are following NFL teams. The methodology is not purely scientific since they performed an analysis of one social media platform "to discover where each 32 NFL team's supporters were located." Here are their findings of where the Saints have a majority of enthusiasts. More Who Dats per capita resided in fifteen states and one state leads Louisiana. Yes, Louisiana. Florida. The Sunshine State tops the list, followed by Louisiana, Minnesota, Texas, and California. It's not entirely shocking if they use fans per capita as their baseline. If you are from Louisiana, you already are aware state's upper portion has a strong Dallas Cowboys following. An abundance of Who Dats call Louisiana's southern region home. Still, Mississippi, Alabama, Texas, and Florida produce many of the Black and Gold's devotees. The Who Dat Nation is far and wide. Nov 24, 2019; New Orleans, LA, USA; New Orleans Saints fans cheer from the stands during the second half against the Carolina Panthers at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome. It was Minnesota for me. Especially after the Minneapolis Miracle and haunting playoff losses, New Orleans received because of the Vikings. The numbers in Minnesota could be from their faithful tweeting and re-tweeting the Minnesota Miracle. Other surprises were Utah, New York, D.C., Pennsylvania, and Arizona. Utah followers may be from the Taysom Hill effect and his loyalists from his BYU days. Arkansas was missing from the list. Also, Pickswise did not share why these states had New Orleans Saints fans on Twitter and if the research was about the number of postings, re-tweets, mentions, articles, videos, media, memes, and more. No matter the data, research, or who's counting the number of pins in the voodoo dolls, the diehard New Orleans Saints fans live in New Orleans and the surrounding states. Period. Nevertheless, the Who Dat Nation will forever be the most recognizable and uncommon set of fans in NFL history. Even more, it caused the NFL had to trademark Saints fans' favorite phrase, "Who Dat!" That's powerful. | New Orleans Saints have one of the most passionate and unique fanbases in the National Football League. Pickswise released research using Twitter data to gauge where fans are following NFL teams. Florida tops the list, followed by Louisiana, Minnesota, Texas, and California. | pegasus | 2 | https://www.si.com/nfl/saints/editorial-opinion/states-with-most-saints-fans-on-twitter | 0.529615 |
Who is the ideal trade-down partner for the Miami Dolphins at No. 18? | Much has been made about the Miami Dolphins decision at the top of the draft, but fans shouldnt be overlooking the potential dynamics of Miami manipulating their draft picks with a potential trade featuring their second first-round pick of this offseason. The No. 18 overall selection is one that puts the Dolphins somewhat between a rock and a hard place they may have to take a running back in that slot if they hope to secure one of the top-three running backs in this years class, even if that is sub-par positional value. A trade could certainly help appease that. But who are some potential trade partners with the Dolphins at No. Miami must be calculated here, if they fall back too far in the order, they may still get jumped in their bid to add an upgrade to the backfield (or elsewhere). Fortunately, if Miami wanted to defer a few selections and ensure theyre still getting a top back, there are a handful of potential trade partners that would still allow the Dolphins to tack on a few extra mid- or late-round picks, too. The Tennessee Titans are at the top of the list. Weve just seen the Dolphins and Titans do business recently in a creative swap for OT Isaiah Wilson, a move that flopped hard and left the Dolphins having to wait an extra year for their 7th-round pick featured in the swap. But theres more business to be had if the Titans are interested in leaping up in front of a slew of teams that could threaten the Titans board. Best of all, Tennessee picks 22nd overall, so youre only talking about giving up four spots in the order. The Isaiah Wilson experience left the Titans with a gaping hole at right tackle and the team has since parted ways with veteran Dennis Kelly, too. So Tennessee is currently slated to start Kendall Lamm at right tackle. Thats not going to work for a team trying to maintain a winning window. Tennessee has three teams between them and Miami: Washington, Chicago and Indianapolis. All are candidates to draft a tackle. So Miamis sales pitch is easy. If a tackle that the Titans love is on the board, you sell them on the idea of coming up to slam the door shut on a team plucking their tackle of choice. Miami would likely get an early Day 3 selection for the swap (and maybe a late-round throw-in) and drop from 18 overall to 22nd. And at 22nd-overall, the Dolphins are still in front of running back hungry teams like the Jets, Steelers and Bills. | The Miami Dolphins have the No. 18 overall pick in the NFL draft. The Titans are the ideal trade-down partner for the Dolphins. | ctrlsum | 0 | https://sports.yahoo.com/ideal-trade-down-partner-miami-130159062.html?src=rss | 0.63853 |
Who is the ideal trade-down partner for the Miami Dolphins at No. 18? | Much has been made about the Miami Dolphins decision at the top of the draft, but fans shouldnt be overlooking the potential dynamics of Miami manipulating their draft picks with a potential trade featuring their second first-round pick of this offseason. The No. 18 overall selection is one that puts the Dolphins somewhat between a rock and a hard place they may have to take a running back in that slot if they hope to secure one of the top-three running backs in this years class, even if that is sub-par positional value. A trade could certainly help appease that. But who are some potential trade partners with the Dolphins at No. Miami must be calculated here, if they fall back too far in the order, they may still get jumped in their bid to add an upgrade to the backfield (or elsewhere). Fortunately, if Miami wanted to defer a few selections and ensure theyre still getting a top back, there are a handful of potential trade partners that would still allow the Dolphins to tack on a few extra mid- or late-round picks, too. The Tennessee Titans are at the top of the list. Weve just seen the Dolphins and Titans do business recently in a creative swap for OT Isaiah Wilson, a move that flopped hard and left the Dolphins having to wait an extra year for their 7th-round pick featured in the swap. But theres more business to be had if the Titans are interested in leaping up in front of a slew of teams that could threaten the Titans board. Best of all, Tennessee picks 22nd overall, so youre only talking about giving up four spots in the order. The Isaiah Wilson experience left the Titans with a gaping hole at right tackle and the team has since parted ways with veteran Dennis Kelly, too. So Tennessee is currently slated to start Kendall Lamm at right tackle. Thats not going to work for a team trying to maintain a winning window. Tennessee has three teams between them and Miami: Washington, Chicago and Indianapolis. All are candidates to draft a tackle. So Miamis sales pitch is easy. If a tackle that the Titans love is on the board, you sell them on the idea of coming up to slam the door shut on a team plucking their tackle of choice. Miami would likely get an early Day 3 selection for the swap (and maybe a late-round throw-in) and drop from 18 overall to 22nd. And at 22nd-overall, the Dolphins are still in front of running back hungry teams like the Jets, Steelers and Bills. | The Miami Dolphins have the No. 18 overall pick in the NFL draft. The Titans are the ideal trade-down partner for the Dolphins at No.18. | ctrlsum | 1 | https://sports.yahoo.com/ideal-trade-down-partner-miami-130159062.html?src=rss | 0.613069 |
Who is the ideal trade-down partner for the Miami Dolphins at No. 18? | Much has been made about the Miami Dolphins decision at the top of the draft, but fans shouldnt be overlooking the potential dynamics of Miami manipulating their draft picks with a potential trade featuring their second first-round pick of this offseason. The No. 18 overall selection is one that puts the Dolphins somewhat between a rock and a hard place they may have to take a running back in that slot if they hope to secure one of the top-three running backs in this years class, even if that is sub-par positional value. A trade could certainly help appease that. But who are some potential trade partners with the Dolphins at No. Miami must be calculated here, if they fall back too far in the order, they may still get jumped in their bid to add an upgrade to the backfield (or elsewhere). Fortunately, if Miami wanted to defer a few selections and ensure theyre still getting a top back, there are a handful of potential trade partners that would still allow the Dolphins to tack on a few extra mid- or late-round picks, too. The Tennessee Titans are at the top of the list. Weve just seen the Dolphins and Titans do business recently in a creative swap for OT Isaiah Wilson, a move that flopped hard and left the Dolphins having to wait an extra year for their 7th-round pick featured in the swap. But theres more business to be had if the Titans are interested in leaping up in front of a slew of teams that could threaten the Titans board. Best of all, Tennessee picks 22nd overall, so youre only talking about giving up four spots in the order. The Isaiah Wilson experience left the Titans with a gaping hole at right tackle and the team has since parted ways with veteran Dennis Kelly, too. So Tennessee is currently slated to start Kendall Lamm at right tackle. Thats not going to work for a team trying to maintain a winning window. Tennessee has three teams between them and Miami: Washington, Chicago and Indianapolis. All are candidates to draft a tackle. So Miamis sales pitch is easy. If a tackle that the Titans love is on the board, you sell them on the idea of coming up to slam the door shut on a team plucking their tackle of choice. Miami would likely get an early Day 3 selection for the swap (and maybe a late-round throw-in) and drop from 18 overall to 22nd. And at 22nd-overall, the Dolphins are still in front of running back hungry teams like the Jets, Steelers and Bills. | The Miami Dolphins have the No. 18 overall pick in the NFL draft. The Titans are the ideal trade-down partner for the Dolphins at No.18. Miami would likely get an early Day 3 selection for the swap (and maybe a late-round throw-in) and drop from 18 overall to 22nd. | ctrlsum | 2 | https://sports.yahoo.com/ideal-trade-down-partner-miami-130159062.html?src=rss | 0.790702 |
Where Will Penn State's Jayson Oweh Get Drafted? | Jayson Oweh has the potential to 'take the NFL by storm.' Yet projections differ greatly on where he will get drafted. Former Penn State defensive end Jayson Oweh is among the most intriguing prospects of the 2021 NFL Draft, with projections ranging from the high first round to late second, depending on the week and site. Oweh made a statement at Penn State's Pro Day in March, running the 40-yard dash in 4.36 seconds, a splashy time for most any player, much less a 253-pound defensive end. But he's also still fairly new to the game, having played it full-time since his junior year of high school. As a result, the draft projections vary wildly. One NFL Draft Bible mock had the Dallas Cowboys selecting Oweh with the 10th overall pick. Yet another didn't mention Oweh until the end of Round 2, at No. 64 overall to Tampa Bay. The same mock draft raved about tight end Pat Freiermuth, sending him to the New York Jets in the first round at No. 23 overall. Still, teams are looking at Oweh for his potential. NFL analyst Jim Mora said the defensive end combines pass-rush and run-stopping skills with an ability to cover tight ends, making him a valuable player. "He gets himself in situations where you don't think he's going to be able to make a play," Mora said. "Then all of the sudden, because of his burst and his hip flexibility, he goes in and makes a tackle that you wouldn't think he'd be able to make." Despite the varied projections, NFL Draft Bible holds Oweh in high regard, listing him as the top 4-3 edge rusher in the draft. Here's more from NFL Draft Bible's scouting report: With how paramount athleticism is at the defensive end position, Oweh is the next athletic freak that continues to push the envelope for standards at the position. Oweh is the definition of the first man off the bus. He certainly looks the part of the next great pass rusher to come out of the Big Ten with potential to take the NFL by storm. An honoree on the annual Feldmans Freak List, Owehs testing numbers have become folklore at this point, almost unfathomable for a man of his size. Coupling his insane athletic profile with some outstanding length, Oweh is a tough assignment to block one-on-one. With dynamite explosiveness around the outside track, he can put offensive linemen into troubling positions, causing a lot of oversets. Oweh has shown a propensity to convert speed to power, feasting on oversetting offensive tackles. When tackles overset on him, he is able to immediately counter with inside moves, enabling him to win both inside and out. Calling Oweh a high-upside pass rusher would be a major understatement.After being an underwhelming run defender in 2019, Oweh was much improved in that area this past season. His arm length allows him to lock out and set a firm edge. With more upside than tangible play at the moment, Oweh is a mound of clay that has limited production and live reps to date. He lacks awareness working against misdirection, taking himselfout of position too often. Despite some serious juice up the track, he can be a tick slow off the snap. From a raw talent perspective, Oweh is a slam-dunk early first-round selection. With the inconsistencies he shows, there is no certainty where his draft slot will ultimately land. Fit will ultimately be the deciding factor for Oweh. If he lands with a good defensive line coach who can get the most out of him, we could be looking at a high-volume sack artist who could develop into one of the better pass rushers in the NFL. Check out the video above for Mora's breakdown, and read more evaluations at NFL Draft Bible. In addition, their huge draft guide features more than 400 scouting reports, position rankings and exclusive interviews. | Former Penn State defensive end Jayson Oweh is among the most intriguing prospects of the 2021 NFL Draft. projections range from the high first round to late second, depending on the week and site. | bart | 1 | https://www.si.com/college/pennstate/football/where-will-penn-states-jayson-oweh-get-drafted | 0.217189 |
Where Will Penn State's Jayson Oweh Get Drafted? | Jayson Oweh has the potential to 'take the NFL by storm.' Yet projections differ greatly on where he will get drafted. Former Penn State defensive end Jayson Oweh is among the most intriguing prospects of the 2021 NFL Draft, with projections ranging from the high first round to late second, depending on the week and site. Oweh made a statement at Penn State's Pro Day in March, running the 40-yard dash in 4.36 seconds, a splashy time for most any player, much less a 253-pound defensive end. But he's also still fairly new to the game, having played it full-time since his junior year of high school. As a result, the draft projections vary wildly. One NFL Draft Bible mock had the Dallas Cowboys selecting Oweh with the 10th overall pick. Yet another didn't mention Oweh until the end of Round 2, at No. 64 overall to Tampa Bay. The same mock draft raved about tight end Pat Freiermuth, sending him to the New York Jets in the first round at No. 23 overall. Still, teams are looking at Oweh for his potential. NFL analyst Jim Mora said the defensive end combines pass-rush and run-stopping skills with an ability to cover tight ends, making him a valuable player. "He gets himself in situations where you don't think he's going to be able to make a play," Mora said. "Then all of the sudden, because of his burst and his hip flexibility, he goes in and makes a tackle that you wouldn't think he'd be able to make." Despite the varied projections, NFL Draft Bible holds Oweh in high regard, listing him as the top 4-3 edge rusher in the draft. Here's more from NFL Draft Bible's scouting report: With how paramount athleticism is at the defensive end position, Oweh is the next athletic freak that continues to push the envelope for standards at the position. Oweh is the definition of the first man off the bus. He certainly looks the part of the next great pass rusher to come out of the Big Ten with potential to take the NFL by storm. An honoree on the annual Feldmans Freak List, Owehs testing numbers have become folklore at this point, almost unfathomable for a man of his size. Coupling his insane athletic profile with some outstanding length, Oweh is a tough assignment to block one-on-one. With dynamite explosiveness around the outside track, he can put offensive linemen into troubling positions, causing a lot of oversets. Oweh has shown a propensity to convert speed to power, feasting on oversetting offensive tackles. When tackles overset on him, he is able to immediately counter with inside moves, enabling him to win both inside and out. Calling Oweh a high-upside pass rusher would be a major understatement.After being an underwhelming run defender in 2019, Oweh was much improved in that area this past season. His arm length allows him to lock out and set a firm edge. With more upside than tangible play at the moment, Oweh is a mound of clay that has limited production and live reps to date. He lacks awareness working against misdirection, taking himselfout of position too often. Despite some serious juice up the track, he can be a tick slow off the snap. From a raw talent perspective, Oweh is a slam-dunk early first-round selection. With the inconsistencies he shows, there is no certainty where his draft slot will ultimately land. Fit will ultimately be the deciding factor for Oweh. If he lands with a good defensive line coach who can get the most out of him, we could be looking at a high-volume sack artist who could develop into one of the better pass rushers in the NFL. Check out the video above for Mora's breakdown, and read more evaluations at NFL Draft Bible. In addition, their huge draft guide features more than 400 scouting reports, position rankings and exclusive interviews. | Former Penn State defensive end Jayson Oweh is among the most intriguing prospects of the 2021 NFL Draft. projections range from the high first round to late second, depending on the week and site. NFL analyst Jim Mora said the defensive end combines pass-rush and run-stopping skills. | bart | 2 | https://www.si.com/college/pennstate/football/where-will-penn-states-jayson-oweh-get-drafted | 0.276401 |
Why Is Vail Resorts (MTN) Down 0.4% Since Last Earnings Report? | It has been about a month since the last earnings report for Vail Resorts (MTN). Shares have lost about 0.4% in that time frame, underperforming the S&P 500. Before we dive into how investors and analysts have reacted as of late, let's take a quick look at its most recent earnings report in order to get a better handle on the important catalysts. Vail Resorts Q2 Earnings & Revenues Beat Estimates Vail Resorts reported second-quarter fiscal 2021 results, wherein both earnings and revenues beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate. However, both the metrics declined year over year. In the quarter under review, the company reported earnings of $3.62 per share, against the Zacks Consensus Estimate of a loss of $2.19. In the prior-year quarter, the company had reported earnings of $5.04 per share. Quarterly revenues were $684.7 million, which surpassed the consensus mark of $623 million. However, the top line fell 26% on a year-over-year basis. The downside was due to dismal performance by the Mountain segment and Lodging segments. The companys RevPAR declined 38.4% in the quarter, while ADR increased 2.9%. Segment Results The Mountain segment reported revenues of $641.5 million in the quarter under review, down 24.1% year over year due to limitation and restrictions on its North American operations on account of the COVID-19 outbreak. The downside can also be attributed to 11.1% decline in lift revenues. Moreover, Ski school, dining and retail/rental revenues decreased 45.1%, 58.0%, and 32.6%, respectively. The segments EBITDA amounted to $283.6 million, down 24% from the prior-year quarter. Meanwhile, operating expenses at the Mountain segment totaled $186.1 million, down 29% year over year. EBITDA was impacted by coronavirus pandemic, marginally overshadowed by disciplined cost management. Lodging net revenues in the reported quarter were $42.9 million, down 45.7% year over year primarily due to operational restrictions of North American lodging properties as a result of the pandemic. Under the segment, EBITDA declined to ($7.5) million from the prior-year quarter figure of $5.3 million. Meanwhile, operating expenses at the Lodging segment contracted 31.5% year over year to $50.4 million. Story continues Operating Results Vail Resorts reported adjusted EBITDA of $274.8 million in the quarter under review compared with $373 million in the prior-year quarter. The decline was primarily due to negative impact of the coronavirus pandemic. Resort operating expenses totaled $409.5 million, down 25% year over year. Meanwhile, total segmental operating expenses contracted 25% year over year to $411 million. Balance Sheet Cash and cash equivalents as Jan 31, 2021, totaled $1,301 million, up from $126.8 million in the year-ago period. Net long-term debt amounted to $2,768 million at the end of the quarter, up from $1,817.1 million at the end of the prior-year quarter. As of Feb 28, 2021, the company had total cash and revolver availability of approximately $2 billion. This includes $1.4 billion of cash in hand, $419 million of U.S. revolver availability under the Vail Holdings Credit Agreement and $179 million of revolver availability under the Whistler Credit Agreement. Fiscal 2021 Guidance The company provided results for nine months ended Apr 30, 2021. The company anticipates net income in the range of $204 million to $247 million. Resort reported EBITDA is expected between $560 million and $600 million. It turns out, estimates revision have trended upward during the past month. The consensus estimate has shifted 51.1% due to these changes. VGM Scores At this time, Vail Resorts has a poor Growth Score of F, however its Momentum Score is doing a lot better with an A. However, the stock was allocated a grade of D on the value side, putting it in the bottom 40% for this investment strategy. Overall, the stock has an aggregate VGM Score of F. If you aren't focused on one strategy, this score is the one you should be interested in. Outlook Estimates have been trending upward for the stock, and the magnitude of these revisions looks promising. Notably, Vail Resorts has a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). We expect an in-line return from the stock in the next few months. Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report To read this article on Zacks.com click here. Zacks Investment Research | Shares of Vail Resorts (MTN) have lost about 0.4% since the last earnings report. The company reported second-quarter fiscal 2021 results, wherein both earnings and revenues beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate. | ctrlsum | 1 | https://news.yahoo.com/why-vail-resorts-mtn-down-153003209.html | 0.117425 |
Why Is Vail Resorts (MTN) Down 0.4% Since Last Earnings Report? | It has been about a month since the last earnings report for Vail Resorts (MTN). Shares have lost about 0.4% in that time frame, underperforming the S&P 500. Before we dive into how investors and analysts have reacted as of late, let's take a quick look at its most recent earnings report in order to get a better handle on the important catalysts. Vail Resorts Q2 Earnings & Revenues Beat Estimates Vail Resorts reported second-quarter fiscal 2021 results, wherein both earnings and revenues beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate. However, both the metrics declined year over year. In the quarter under review, the company reported earnings of $3.62 per share, against the Zacks Consensus Estimate of a loss of $2.19. In the prior-year quarter, the company had reported earnings of $5.04 per share. Quarterly revenues were $684.7 million, which surpassed the consensus mark of $623 million. However, the top line fell 26% on a year-over-year basis. The downside was due to dismal performance by the Mountain segment and Lodging segments. The companys RevPAR declined 38.4% in the quarter, while ADR increased 2.9%. Segment Results The Mountain segment reported revenues of $641.5 million in the quarter under review, down 24.1% year over year due to limitation and restrictions on its North American operations on account of the COVID-19 outbreak. The downside can also be attributed to 11.1% decline in lift revenues. Moreover, Ski school, dining and retail/rental revenues decreased 45.1%, 58.0%, and 32.6%, respectively. The segments EBITDA amounted to $283.6 million, down 24% from the prior-year quarter. Meanwhile, operating expenses at the Mountain segment totaled $186.1 million, down 29% year over year. EBITDA was impacted by coronavirus pandemic, marginally overshadowed by disciplined cost management. Lodging net revenues in the reported quarter were $42.9 million, down 45.7% year over year primarily due to operational restrictions of North American lodging properties as a result of the pandemic. Under the segment, EBITDA declined to ($7.5) million from the prior-year quarter figure of $5.3 million. Meanwhile, operating expenses at the Lodging segment contracted 31.5% year over year to $50.4 million. Story continues Operating Results Vail Resorts reported adjusted EBITDA of $274.8 million in the quarter under review compared with $373 million in the prior-year quarter. The decline was primarily due to negative impact of the coronavirus pandemic. Resort operating expenses totaled $409.5 million, down 25% year over year. Meanwhile, total segmental operating expenses contracted 25% year over year to $411 million. Balance Sheet Cash and cash equivalents as Jan 31, 2021, totaled $1,301 million, up from $126.8 million in the year-ago period. Net long-term debt amounted to $2,768 million at the end of the quarter, up from $1,817.1 million at the end of the prior-year quarter. As of Feb 28, 2021, the company had total cash and revolver availability of approximately $2 billion. This includes $1.4 billion of cash in hand, $419 million of U.S. revolver availability under the Vail Holdings Credit Agreement and $179 million of revolver availability under the Whistler Credit Agreement. Fiscal 2021 Guidance The company provided results for nine months ended Apr 30, 2021. The company anticipates net income in the range of $204 million to $247 million. Resort reported EBITDA is expected between $560 million and $600 million. It turns out, estimates revision have trended upward during the past month. The consensus estimate has shifted 51.1% due to these changes. VGM Scores At this time, Vail Resorts has a poor Growth Score of F, however its Momentum Score is doing a lot better with an A. However, the stock was allocated a grade of D on the value side, putting it in the bottom 40% for this investment strategy. Overall, the stock has an aggregate VGM Score of F. If you aren't focused on one strategy, this score is the one you should be interested in. Outlook Estimates have been trending upward for the stock, and the magnitude of these revisions looks promising. Notably, Vail Resorts has a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). We expect an in-line return from the stock in the next few months. Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report To read this article on Zacks.com click here. Zacks Investment Research | Shares of Vail Resorts (MTN) have lost about 0.4% since the last earnings report. The company reported second-quarter fiscal 2021 results, wherein both earnings and revenues beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate, but both metrics declined year over year. | ctrlsum | 2 | https://news.yahoo.com/why-vail-resorts-mtn-down-153003209.html | 0.538927 |
Is a party that sells police stations to criminals so very tough on crime? | Defund the police was a provocative slogan for the US radical left and the settled policy of Britains ruling right. You should switch off politicians and commentators who talk about building a safer country, if they dont face up to the debilitation that 11 years of Conservative defunding has inflicted on the criminal justice system. Let one anecdote stand in for the bigger picture. The Tories sold half the magistrates courts and more than a third of county courts in England and Wales between 2010 and 2020, and about 600 police stations. The same government is engaged in a screeching U-turn today and trying to deal with the tens of thousands of Covid-delayed trials by opening Nightingale courts, although I doubt that Florence Nightingale would have sent the lowliest British soldier in Crimea to our fetid prisons. Bewildered detectives reported to former chief crown prosecutor Nazir Afzal that a police station in the north-west was included in the fire sale and an organised crime group bought it. The gang run it as a pizza restaurant and a front for the distribution of drugs extra toppings. Afzal tells me police intelligence heard the gangsters crowing about getting one over on their old adversaries. A country where crime gangs do business from former cop shops is not one whose politicians should be able to boast of their toughness on crime. Boris Johnson and Priti Patel get away with it by saying they will restore the 15% cut in police numbers their own party imposed by 2023. No sensible person believes a Johnson promise. But humour me and assume he isnt lying. When newspapers from Cheshire to the Thames Valley report that local officers dealt informally with suspects accused of child sex crimes, drugs trafficking, stalking, robbery, firearms possession, kidnapping and blackmail rather than take them to court, the softest liberal may concede Johnson has a point. He cannot make it stick, and not just because the courts will still be hearing Covid-delayed cases in 2023, and have no idea when they will return to normal. For the court system, failure was the normal of the 2010s. As with so much else, the pandemic has accelerated existing trends and, in the case of the criminal justice system, the trend was downhill all the way. Johnsons party reduced the Crown Prosecution Service to an organisation creaking under the strain of a loss of a quarter of its budget, in the words of Alison Saunders, a former director of public prosecutions. With malign timing, the explosion in evidence from online data coincided with the assault on the public sector, slowing the ability of prosecutors and police officers to process cases. Legal aid payments for defence solicitors have become so miserly that suspects may soon be unable to find lawyers in large parts of the country. Prisons have confined inmates to their cells, meanwhile, in conditions the Prison Reform Trust says amount to solitary confinement. The pandemic destroyed what attempts the jails made to turn them from crime when it closed classrooms, gyms, libraries, workshops and offending behaviour programmes. I could go on to the withdrawal of public support from youth workers, social workers and teachers who might identify and divert young men at risk of turning to crime, and from probation officers who might rehabilitate offenders. I could look at drug and alcohol consumption rates and poverty. However long I spent, the fact would remain that, when Patel said: I want criminals to feel terror, she must have known the odds were criminals would be left in peace. What applies to the failing system applies to libertarians who worry, understandably, about the authoritarian powers the government has taken in the crisis. They cry that the UK is becoming a police state without understanding that we dont have enough police to police a police state. Liberals, who want a humane prison system or a police force that takes the abuse of women seriously and does not disproportionately target young black men, not only need to think about where they will find the funding, but about who they might train and recruit and how many years it will take to rebuild from the wreckage. The Conservatives got away with defunding the police and the rest of the criminal justice system in part because their 11 years in power began during a period of social peace across the developed world. From the mid-1960s until the 1990s, crime rates exploded and then fell back, spectacularly, in the 21st century. Criminologists argue about the reasons: ageing populations, the aborting of unwanted children, even reductions in air pollution and levels of lead in the blood. As always, left and right pick the explanation that suit their biases. Perhaps we do not need an explanation. What American researchers call the great crime decline may just be a reversion to the mean. Humanity progresses, as Steven Pinker has argued, and a part of the progress has been a decline in everyday violence that began at the end of the Middle Ages. On this view, the brutal decades of the late 20th century were a temporary diversion from the road to greater peace. In 2014, when UK crime rates had fallen significantly below 1990 levels, researchers from Cambridge University and the World Health Organization said a future in which rates of homicide, child abuse and domestic violence fell by as much as 50% was achievable in 30 years. Today, they may not be so confident. Gun deaths reached their highest point in US history in 2020, a year the Princeton sociologist Patrick Sharkey described as the most violent of the century. A gradual rise in crime since 2014 had culminated in a really terrible year across the whole country. American exceptionalism should make you wary of looking west for guides to what will happen next here. I just mention in passing that UK crime rates have risen since 2014, too, and plateaued around their 1990 level. They are still below their peak but, if they should explode, the justice system would fall apart. Indeed, it has already fallen apart. | The Tories sold half the magistrates courts and more than a third of county courts in England and Wales between 2010 and 2020, and about 600 police stations. A country where crime gangs do business from former cop shops is not one whose politicians should be able to boast of their toughness on crime. | ctrlsum | 2 | https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2021/apr/10/is-a-party-that-sells-police-stations-to-criminals-so-very-tough-on-crime | 0.210657 |
Did Bryce Harper teach a Braves fan how to pronounce Ronald Acua's name? | originally appeared on NBC Sports Washington Bryce Harper is used to being the target of heckling. It comes with the territory when you're a six-time All-Star, former NL MVP, and one of the highest-paid players in baseball history. He came across one of those hecklers on Friday night when his Phillies visited the Atlanta Braves. The fan repeatedly shouted, "you'll never be as good as Acua," referring to the Braves' outfielder and former NL Rookie of the year Ronald Acua Jr. but pronouncing his name wrong. In a must-see moment, it appears Harper politely turned to the fan and gave him a lesson in how to pronounce the last name of his team's star player. This Braves fan got under Bryce Harpers skin tonight Youll never be as good as Acua! pic.twitter.com/xyaEGPMfi9 Talkin Baseball (@TalkinBaseball_) April 10, 2021 It takes an audacious fan to go after a player of Harper's pedigree as a player, but audacity and a general lack of knowledge might have gone hand-in-hand in this interaction. The Phillies fell 8-1 to the Braves on the night and Harper's performance likely didn't change this fan's mind. But hopefully he was able to impart some basic knowledge on how to properly pronounce the name of one of baseball's best up and coming players. | Bryce Harper politely turned to the fan and gave him a lesson in how to pronounce the last name of his team's star player. The fan repeatedly shouted, "you'll never be as good as Acua," referring to the Braves' outfielder. | ctrlsum | 2 | https://sports.yahoo.com/did-bryce-harper-teach-braves-034748765.html?src=rss | 0.208771 |
Should Negotiators Hold Out For A Better Deal Or Move Quickly To Close? | Former Monsanto EVP and CTO Robb Fraley offers insights on balancing the competing needs to achieve desired terms in a deal versus sealing it fast. getty It was the last day of January 2020, a Friday. Two negotiating teams had worked through the holidays on a large M&A deal that had been delayed for months as the parties argued over some final IP risk items. They had finally come to a mutually acceptable outcome and were ready to sign. The acquirer just needed a final internal approval and then the deal could be closed the following Monday. But before the close of business that Friday, the US declared a public health emergency due to the coronavirus outbreakand the acquirer hesitated. Meanwhile, a competitor swooped in and closed the deal itself, buying both the target company and its technology at a great price. During the pandemic, the technology became more important than ever. Only the competitor was happy with the result. Academic research and some of the best negotiators in the world suggest that its best not to press for a final win and just close the deal instead. If its a strategic deal on the table, the benefits down the line will likely outweigh any concessions a negotiator has to make in the present and often the deal can be renegotiated later anyway. But, most importantly, a delay always introduces a risk of losing the whole deal, which should not be an option. How Monsanto Drove Innovation Through M&A Its not the deals we didno matter how they turned outthat kept me awake at night, says Robb Fraley, PhD, former EVP and CTO of Monsanto. Its the deals we didnt do or came close to that nag at me. So, Im always in the camp of its better to do the deal. Throughout its 120-year history, Monsanto has been at the center of controversy a number of times, but it has also been one of the business worlds greatest innovators. At the end of the last century, with the global population growing exponentially, many feared the world would be unable to produce enough food to support humanity. Food production had to increase, but the land needed to grow it was a finite resource. Monsanto saw an opportunity in an emerging field called agriculture biotechnology and invested significant R&D to make food production more efficient, strengthening its research capabilities by acquiring other companies or their technologies. Today, most of the corn, soybean and cotton produced in America is grown containing traits that Monsanto developed. Several competitors over the years have told me that they had looked at the same deals and had even taken them to their boards, but that they couldnt quite pull the trigger, said Fraley. Two of Monsantos most substantial technology acquisitions were Holdens Foundation Seeds and DeKalb Genetics Corporation in the late 1990s. By agreeing to acquire the privately held Holdens in 1997 for $1.02 billion, Monsanto became the largest US producer of the foundational corn seed used to produce hybrids and gained a robust distribution network for its own gene technology. When it acquired the remaining 40% of DeKalb that it did not already own in 1998 for $2.5 billion, Monsanto solidified its position as an ag biotech leader. It was crucial for Monsanto to complete both deals because of the interconnectivity of their germplasm, which our technology team realized, Fraley says. We literally had just signed the agreement and were saying goodbye as a potential competitor was ringing the front doorbell. Speed was absolutely critical. Facebooks Acquisition of Instagram: A Historic Deal Put Together in Days In the tech world, one of the most notable deals that was carried out extremely quickly was Facebooks acquisition of Instagram for $1 billion in 2012. The Facebook team recognized the competitive threat that both Instagram and Twitter, which had also considered acquiring Instagram, presented to its own business. The acquisition, Facebooks largest to date at the time, was negotiated in just three days and the Facebook board found out about the plan only at the last minute. The deal has since proven one of the most successful acquisitions in Silicon Valley history. The story of the Instagram acquisition highlights how short the window of opportunity can be for a strategic technology acquisition or an M&A deal. Often, acquiring companies have only days to weeks to move before the competition is activated or the business environment changes. The benefits of such a strategic acquisition may not be realized immediatelythey may not be fully clear until 10 years down the line. But during those 10 years, the deal terms, in many cases, can be renegotiated. And even if the deal cannot be renegotiated later, the strategic benefits may outweigh any lasting concessions made during the initial negotiation. Tips for Negotiating More Efficiently Here are a few considerations all negotiators should keep in mind to ensure they dont miss out on an important deal: Align clearly on all priorities: Internal teams obviously must align on corporate objectives prior to beginning a negotiation, but they must also align specifically on speed and where they can compromise in order to move forward fast. Internal teams obviously must align on corporate objectives prior to beginning a negotiation, but they must also align specifically on speed and where they can compromise in order to move forward fast. Exercise autonomy: The negotiation team needs to be able to seal the deal. If a final signature of someone not directly involved is needed, it should be secured immediately when the final documents are sent out. The negotiation team needs to be able to seal the deal. If a final signature of someone not directly involved is needed, it should be secured immediately when the final documents are sent out. Beware fear of failure: Negotiating teams might be uncomfortable presenting an inferior deal to senior leaders and colleagues, fearing theyll bear the blame for not achieving better terms, particularly when the loss of the whole deal might be attributed to the other side. Fear of failure, however, increases the risk of landing at an impasse. Negotiating teams might be uncomfortable presenting an inferior deal to senior leaders and colleagues, fearing theyll bear the blame for not achieving better terms, particularly when the loss of the whole deal might be attributed to the other side. Fear of failure, however, increases the risk of landing at an impasse. Move onto maintain the relationship: In a January 2020 article in Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes, Einev Hart and Maurice E. Schweitzer state, Compared to not negotiating, individuals who negotiate may secure favorable deal terms, but risk incurring affective, relational, and economic costs after the agreement. The winner-take-all mentality rarely pays off long term. In a January 2020 article in Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes, Einev Hart and Maurice E. Schweitzer state, Compared to not negotiating, individuals who negotiate may secure favorable deal terms, but risk incurring affective, relational, and economic costs after the agreement. The winner-take-all mentality rarely pays off long term. Move onto improve the deal later: Positive feelings resulting from one negotiation can be economically rewarding in a second negotiation, according to a 2010 study by Jared R. Curhan, Hillary Anger Elfenbein and Noah Eisenkraft that was published in The Journal of Applied Social Psychology. The researchers findings suggest that positive feelings, not just positive outcomes, can evoke future economic success. Positive feelings resulting from one negotiation can be economically rewarding in a second negotiation, according to a 2010 study by Jared R. Curhan, Hillary Anger Elfenbein and Noah Eisenkraft that was published in The Journal of Applied Social Psychology. The researchers findings suggest that positive feelings, not just positive outcomes, can evoke future economic success. Utilize post-settlement settlements: In their foundational 1987 case analysis, Max H. Bazerman et al. advocated taking another look at the outcome of negotiations. After a deal is signed, the parties are likely to trust each other more and understand the complexities of the deal better. In addition, the time pressure is off. All of that supports the creation of a new deal that provides value for both sides. Professional negotiators are under tremendous pressure. Their organizations have certain expectations they must meet and billions of dollars may be on the line. They may feel that theyre in an advantageous position in a particular negotiation and be tempted to take their time and press hard for terms that seem perfectly reasonable, but academic research and successful business negotiators suggest that its often better to move with urgency to close a deal before external factors change the situation. | Academic research and some of the best negotiators in the world suggest that its best not to press for a final win and just close the deal instead. | ctrlsum | 1 | https://www.forbes.com/sites/martinrand/2021/04/10/should-negotiators-hold-out-for-a-better-deal-or-move-quickly-to-close/ | 0.174423 |
Should Negotiators Hold Out For A Better Deal Or Move Quickly To Close? | Former Monsanto EVP and CTO Robb Fraley offers insights on balancing the competing needs to achieve desired terms in a deal versus sealing it fast. getty It was the last day of January 2020, a Friday. Two negotiating teams had worked through the holidays on a large M&A deal that had been delayed for months as the parties argued over some final IP risk items. They had finally come to a mutually acceptable outcome and were ready to sign. The acquirer just needed a final internal approval and then the deal could be closed the following Monday. But before the close of business that Friday, the US declared a public health emergency due to the coronavirus outbreakand the acquirer hesitated. Meanwhile, a competitor swooped in and closed the deal itself, buying both the target company and its technology at a great price. During the pandemic, the technology became more important than ever. Only the competitor was happy with the result. Academic research and some of the best negotiators in the world suggest that its best not to press for a final win and just close the deal instead. If its a strategic deal on the table, the benefits down the line will likely outweigh any concessions a negotiator has to make in the present and often the deal can be renegotiated later anyway. But, most importantly, a delay always introduces a risk of losing the whole deal, which should not be an option. How Monsanto Drove Innovation Through M&A Its not the deals we didno matter how they turned outthat kept me awake at night, says Robb Fraley, PhD, former EVP and CTO of Monsanto. Its the deals we didnt do or came close to that nag at me. So, Im always in the camp of its better to do the deal. Throughout its 120-year history, Monsanto has been at the center of controversy a number of times, but it has also been one of the business worlds greatest innovators. At the end of the last century, with the global population growing exponentially, many feared the world would be unable to produce enough food to support humanity. Food production had to increase, but the land needed to grow it was a finite resource. Monsanto saw an opportunity in an emerging field called agriculture biotechnology and invested significant R&D to make food production more efficient, strengthening its research capabilities by acquiring other companies or their technologies. Today, most of the corn, soybean and cotton produced in America is grown containing traits that Monsanto developed. Several competitors over the years have told me that they had looked at the same deals and had even taken them to their boards, but that they couldnt quite pull the trigger, said Fraley. Two of Monsantos most substantial technology acquisitions were Holdens Foundation Seeds and DeKalb Genetics Corporation in the late 1990s. By agreeing to acquire the privately held Holdens in 1997 for $1.02 billion, Monsanto became the largest US producer of the foundational corn seed used to produce hybrids and gained a robust distribution network for its own gene technology. When it acquired the remaining 40% of DeKalb that it did not already own in 1998 for $2.5 billion, Monsanto solidified its position as an ag biotech leader. It was crucial for Monsanto to complete both deals because of the interconnectivity of their germplasm, which our technology team realized, Fraley says. We literally had just signed the agreement and were saying goodbye as a potential competitor was ringing the front doorbell. Speed was absolutely critical. Facebooks Acquisition of Instagram: A Historic Deal Put Together in Days In the tech world, one of the most notable deals that was carried out extremely quickly was Facebooks acquisition of Instagram for $1 billion in 2012. The Facebook team recognized the competitive threat that both Instagram and Twitter, which had also considered acquiring Instagram, presented to its own business. The acquisition, Facebooks largest to date at the time, was negotiated in just three days and the Facebook board found out about the plan only at the last minute. The deal has since proven one of the most successful acquisitions in Silicon Valley history. The story of the Instagram acquisition highlights how short the window of opportunity can be for a strategic technology acquisition or an M&A deal. Often, acquiring companies have only days to weeks to move before the competition is activated or the business environment changes. The benefits of such a strategic acquisition may not be realized immediatelythey may not be fully clear until 10 years down the line. But during those 10 years, the deal terms, in many cases, can be renegotiated. And even if the deal cannot be renegotiated later, the strategic benefits may outweigh any lasting concessions made during the initial negotiation. Tips for Negotiating More Efficiently Here are a few considerations all negotiators should keep in mind to ensure they dont miss out on an important deal: Align clearly on all priorities: Internal teams obviously must align on corporate objectives prior to beginning a negotiation, but they must also align specifically on speed and where they can compromise in order to move forward fast. Internal teams obviously must align on corporate objectives prior to beginning a negotiation, but they must also align specifically on speed and where they can compromise in order to move forward fast. Exercise autonomy: The negotiation team needs to be able to seal the deal. If a final signature of someone not directly involved is needed, it should be secured immediately when the final documents are sent out. The negotiation team needs to be able to seal the deal. If a final signature of someone not directly involved is needed, it should be secured immediately when the final documents are sent out. Beware fear of failure: Negotiating teams might be uncomfortable presenting an inferior deal to senior leaders and colleagues, fearing theyll bear the blame for not achieving better terms, particularly when the loss of the whole deal might be attributed to the other side. Fear of failure, however, increases the risk of landing at an impasse. Negotiating teams might be uncomfortable presenting an inferior deal to senior leaders and colleagues, fearing theyll bear the blame for not achieving better terms, particularly when the loss of the whole deal might be attributed to the other side. Fear of failure, however, increases the risk of landing at an impasse. Move onto maintain the relationship: In a January 2020 article in Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes, Einev Hart and Maurice E. Schweitzer state, Compared to not negotiating, individuals who negotiate may secure favorable deal terms, but risk incurring affective, relational, and economic costs after the agreement. The winner-take-all mentality rarely pays off long term. In a January 2020 article in Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes, Einev Hart and Maurice E. Schweitzer state, Compared to not negotiating, individuals who negotiate may secure favorable deal terms, but risk incurring affective, relational, and economic costs after the agreement. The winner-take-all mentality rarely pays off long term. Move onto improve the deal later: Positive feelings resulting from one negotiation can be economically rewarding in a second negotiation, according to a 2010 study by Jared R. Curhan, Hillary Anger Elfenbein and Noah Eisenkraft that was published in The Journal of Applied Social Psychology. The researchers findings suggest that positive feelings, not just positive outcomes, can evoke future economic success. Positive feelings resulting from one negotiation can be economically rewarding in a second negotiation, according to a 2010 study by Jared R. Curhan, Hillary Anger Elfenbein and Noah Eisenkraft that was published in The Journal of Applied Social Psychology. The researchers findings suggest that positive feelings, not just positive outcomes, can evoke future economic success. Utilize post-settlement settlements: In their foundational 1987 case analysis, Max H. Bazerman et al. advocated taking another look at the outcome of negotiations. After a deal is signed, the parties are likely to trust each other more and understand the complexities of the deal better. In addition, the time pressure is off. All of that supports the creation of a new deal that provides value for both sides. Professional negotiators are under tremendous pressure. Their organizations have certain expectations they must meet and billions of dollars may be on the line. They may feel that theyre in an advantageous position in a particular negotiation and be tempted to take their time and press hard for terms that seem perfectly reasonable, but academic research and successful business negotiators suggest that its often better to move with urgency to close a deal before external factors change the situation. | Robb Fraley, former Monsanto EVP and CTO, offers insights on balancing the competing needs to achieve desired terms in a deal versus sealing it fast. Academic research and some of the best negotiators in the world suggest that its best not to press for a final win and just close the deal instead. | pegasus | 2 | https://www.forbes.com/sites/martinrand/2021/04/10/should-negotiators-hold-out-for-a-better-deal-or-move-quickly-to-close/ | 0.119747 |
Could the 49ers Draft a Running Back Early? | The 49ers have plenty of needs outside of quarterback. The 49ers have plenty of needs outside of quarterback. Using the second- and third-round picks will be their chance to add immediate contributing players. Cornerback and interior offensive linemen are the ideal targets, but there is a chance the 49ers do not go that route. I would not rule out a scenario where the 49ers end up drafting a running back on Day 2. It wouldn't be the first time that they have invested high draft capital into the position. The only awkward part is that it has never worked out for them. Almost any undrafted free agent running back or drifter in the league works out superbly in Kyle Shanahan's offense. Yet, I still wouldn't put it past him to want some young legs at the position. Absolutely. If the 49ers ended up using their 43rd pick on top prospective running back, such as a Najee Harris should he fall, then it would not surprise me. I am not big on drafting a running back early, especially in the first two rounds of the draft, but I wouldn't necessarily hate it if the 49ers did this. Drafting someone such as Harris, or even UNC's Michael Carter who can catch out of the backfield, wouldn't be a slanderous decision. Now the 49ers would still be severely lacking when it comes to cornerback and the interior offensive line, so it is definitely a huge risk. I think the only way to come to grips with the 49ers taking a running back is if he is an absolute stud or if the 49ers find a way to make their lacking positions sufficient. Taking a running back early could always come back to haunt them. | Absolutely. The 49ers have plenty of needs outside of quarterback. I am not big on drafting a running back early, especially in the first two rounds of the draft, but I wouldn't necessarily hate it if they did this. | ctrlsum | 1 | https://www.si.com/nfl/49ers/news/could-the-49ers-draft-a-running-back-early | 0.338258 |
Could the 49ers Draft a Running Back Early? | The 49ers have plenty of needs outside of quarterback. The 49ers have plenty of needs outside of quarterback. Using the second- and third-round picks will be their chance to add immediate contributing players. Cornerback and interior offensive linemen are the ideal targets, but there is a chance the 49ers do not go that route. I would not rule out a scenario where the 49ers end up drafting a running back on Day 2. It wouldn't be the first time that they have invested high draft capital into the position. The only awkward part is that it has never worked out for them. Almost any undrafted free agent running back or drifter in the league works out superbly in Kyle Shanahan's offense. Yet, I still wouldn't put it past him to want some young legs at the position. Absolutely. If the 49ers ended up using their 43rd pick on top prospective running back, such as a Najee Harris should he fall, then it would not surprise me. I am not big on drafting a running back early, especially in the first two rounds of the draft, but I wouldn't necessarily hate it if the 49ers did this. Drafting someone such as Harris, or even UNC's Michael Carter who can catch out of the backfield, wouldn't be a slanderous decision. Now the 49ers would still be severely lacking when it comes to cornerback and the interior offensive line, so it is definitely a huge risk. I think the only way to come to grips with the 49ers taking a running back is if he is an absolute stud or if the 49ers find a way to make their lacking positions sufficient. Taking a running back early could always come back to haunt them. | The 49ers have plenty of needs outside of quarterback. Cornerback and interior offensive linemen are ideal targets. I would not rule out a scenario where the 49ers end up drafting a running back on Day 2. The only awkward part is that it has never worked out for them. | pegasus | 2 | https://www.si.com/nfl/49ers/news/could-the-49ers-draft-a-running-back-early | 0.137482 |
Did Deshaun Watson's Lawyer Hurt his Case Following Comments? | Rusty Hardin's recent comments might not be ones that Deshaun Watson would enjoy following the allegations. HOUSTON -- Currently, the case against Deshaun Watson has not been one of a positive outlook. The Houston Texans quarterback currently faces 22 civil lawsuits of sexual misconduct or sexual assault during massage sessions. Watson, who is represented by Texas lawyer Rusty Hardin, has denied the allegations as of this time. Earlier this week, Hardin asked the courts to force prosecuting lawyer, Tony Buzbee, to identify the names of the women who have moved forward with the allegations. So far, Buzbee has agreed to release 14 of the 22 names. READ MORE: Harris County Judge Rules Deshaun Watson Accuser Must Be identified On Friday, Hardin stated during a news conference that there were some "consensual encounters" between Watson and the women. Although there's no evidence stating the claim as of now, Hardin also said that Watson did not engage in any activity that wasn't "mutually desired" between the two parties. Yes," Hardin said according to ESPN's Sarah Barshop. On Tuesday, Ashley Solis became the first woman to release her identity to the public as a victim of Watson's action. Since then, Buzbee has stated she has already received threats on social media. Since the initial case was released against Watson in March, reports have fluttered that the 25-year-old has deleted messages on social media, hoping the "settle a deal" before going further. READ MORE: Deshaun Watson Has 'Learned A Lesson,' Texans QB's Lawyer Asserts It's a clear indication that modern communications will be a factor in the case. Millennials live on Instagram. Those of you who are millennials know that. Those of you who are not have probably discovered it long before I, Hardin said Friday. They do business on it. Deshaun lives on Instagram. He does business transactions on Instagram. Other people do. Im discovering a much more prevalent use of it than I had any idea. Im not on Instagram. I dont do Twitter. Im not on Facebook. I am an idiot about modern communications. But what Ive learned is everyone else is not. Following Solis' testimony, NFL spokesperson Brian McCarthy released a statement calling the allegations against Watson "deeply disturbing," overall. "We take these issues very seriously," McCarthy said. The NFL began an investigation under its personal conduct policy last month after the first allegations. TexansDaily.com will continue to keep you up to date with everything happening surrounding Watson and the case. CONTINUE READING: New Texans Jenkins Ready to be "Violent Guy" for Defense | Deshaun Watson currently faces 22 civil lawsuits of sexual misconduct or sexual assault during massage sessions. Watson, who is represented by Texas lawyer Rusty Hardin, has denied the allegations as of this time. On Friday, Hardin stated during a news conference that there were some "consensual encounters" between Watson and the women. | pegasus | 2 | https://www.si.com/nfl/texans/news/did-deshaun-watsons-lawyer-hurt-his-case-following-comments | 0.250997 |
Where do WFT Fans Rank in Party Mode on Gameday? | Washington Football fans often have had a reason to numb their pain often over the last 30 years. We go inside the numbers. ASHBURN -- Sports fans and Washington Football fans often compliment their experience on gameday with alcohol, great food and possibly a little bit more. According to a recent survey by Lines.com the report stated that 'Whether at home or attending a live event, drinking is a staple for many sports fans. While watching sporting events, an average of 3.7 alcoholic drinks are consumed MMA/UFC enthusiasts led the pack with the highest consumption level, compared to other sports.' That last part is something that should likely not surprise anyone. Nor should it surprise any person that sports fans drink more on average when attending games as opposed to watching at home. According to the results by Lines.com, 49% of NFL fans binge drink on gameday, lower than UFC, NBA and maybe surprisingly ESports. READ MORE: Breer Says Move Into Top-10 Unlikely for WFT And then there's other activities. The study, also broke down fans that smoked marijuana on the day of the event. As the chart indicates, the Washington Football Team fans are fairly conservative compared to other fan bases. While 57% binge drink, 48% smoke marijuana on gameday according to the survey of almost 1,700 sports fans. We know that a survey of such a small group of fans in a world with hundreds of millions does not show proper representation globally, but the results are still interesting. The Dallas Cowboys and New England Patriots fan bases rank among the lowest percentages in the entire NFL. The Pats were lowest in both categories at 42% for binge drinking and 31% on the high side. The Cowboys (not shown) were 46% and 34%, respectively. | Survey: 49% of NFL fans binge drink on gameday. | ctrlsum | 0 | https://www.si.com/nfl/washingtonfootball/news/where-do-wft-fans-rank-in-party-mode-on-gameday | 0.144104 |
Where do WFT Fans Rank in Party Mode on Gameday? | Washington Football fans often have had a reason to numb their pain often over the last 30 years. We go inside the numbers. ASHBURN -- Sports fans and Washington Football fans often compliment their experience on gameday with alcohol, great food and possibly a little bit more. According to a recent survey by Lines.com the report stated that 'Whether at home or attending a live event, drinking is a staple for many sports fans. While watching sporting events, an average of 3.7 alcoholic drinks are consumed MMA/UFC enthusiasts led the pack with the highest consumption level, compared to other sports.' That last part is something that should likely not surprise anyone. Nor should it surprise any person that sports fans drink more on average when attending games as opposed to watching at home. According to the results by Lines.com, 49% of NFL fans binge drink on gameday, lower than UFC, NBA and maybe surprisingly ESports. READ MORE: Breer Says Move Into Top-10 Unlikely for WFT And then there's other activities. The study, also broke down fans that smoked marijuana on the day of the event. As the chart indicates, the Washington Football Team fans are fairly conservative compared to other fan bases. While 57% binge drink, 48% smoke marijuana on gameday according to the survey of almost 1,700 sports fans. We know that a survey of such a small group of fans in a world with hundreds of millions does not show proper representation globally, but the results are still interesting. The Dallas Cowboys and New England Patriots fan bases rank among the lowest percentages in the entire NFL. The Pats were lowest in both categories at 42% for binge drinking and 31% on the high side. The Cowboys (not shown) were 46% and 34%, respectively. | The Washington Football Team fans are fairly conservative compared to other fan bases. While 57% binge drink, 48% smoke marijuana on gameday according to the survey of almost 1,700 sports fans. | pegasus | 1 | https://www.si.com/nfl/washingtonfootball/news/where-do-wft-fans-rank-in-party-mode-on-gameday | 0.338748 |
Where do WFT Fans Rank in Party Mode on Gameday? | Washington Football fans often have had a reason to numb their pain often over the last 30 years. We go inside the numbers. ASHBURN -- Sports fans and Washington Football fans often compliment their experience on gameday with alcohol, great food and possibly a little bit more. According to a recent survey by Lines.com the report stated that 'Whether at home or attending a live event, drinking is a staple for many sports fans. While watching sporting events, an average of 3.7 alcoholic drinks are consumed MMA/UFC enthusiasts led the pack with the highest consumption level, compared to other sports.' That last part is something that should likely not surprise anyone. Nor should it surprise any person that sports fans drink more on average when attending games as opposed to watching at home. According to the results by Lines.com, 49% of NFL fans binge drink on gameday, lower than UFC, NBA and maybe surprisingly ESports. READ MORE: Breer Says Move Into Top-10 Unlikely for WFT And then there's other activities. The study, also broke down fans that smoked marijuana on the day of the event. As the chart indicates, the Washington Football Team fans are fairly conservative compared to other fan bases. While 57% binge drink, 48% smoke marijuana on gameday according to the survey of almost 1,700 sports fans. We know that a survey of such a small group of fans in a world with hundreds of millions does not show proper representation globally, but the results are still interesting. The Dallas Cowboys and New England Patriots fan bases rank among the lowest percentages in the entire NFL. The Pats were lowest in both categories at 42% for binge drinking and 31% on the high side. The Cowboys (not shown) were 46% and 34%, respectively. | The Washington Football Team fans are fairly conservative compared to other fan bases. While 57% binge drink, 48% smoke marijuana on gameday according to the survey of almost 1,700 sports fans. The Dallas Cowboys and New England Patriots fan bases rank among the lowest percentages in the entire NFL. | pegasus | 2 | https://www.si.com/nfl/washingtonfootball/news/where-do-wft-fans-rank-in-party-mode-on-gameday | 0.444586 |
Could a Top-Tier CB Fall To Washington at No. 19? | Depending on the overall need, the Washington Football Team could target Virginia Tech's Caleb Farley There's never too much of a good thing. For the Washington Football Team, that could come in the form of defensive backs. One year into the Jack Del Rio defense proved prosperous for WFT. The unit ranked No.2 overall in pass defense, allowing opponent to average just 191.8 yards per game and 6.4 yards per play. That depends who is on the board. Washington currently selects No. 19 on April 29. Should they stay put, the "best player available" might be the best course of action going forward. READ MORE: Breer Says Move Into Top-10 Unlikely for WFT Although there are needs at linebacker and safety, one name could be on the shortlist of WFT should he hover in the area. Prior to the 2020 NCAA season, Farley became the first prominent player to opt-out and declare for the draft due to COVID-19. In two seasons with the Hokies, Farley recorded 56 total tackles, 19 pass deflections, six interceptions, and a sack. Earlier this offseason, Farley underwent a procedure to fix an S1 disc in his back. According to his agent, Drew Rosenhaus, Farley passed his medical re-check on Friday. That didn't stop other teams moving him down their draft boards. Currently, Farley is considered the No. 3 or No. 4 cornerback behind Alabama's Patrick Surtain II, South Carolina's Jaycee Horn and potentially Northwestern's Greg Newsome II. What WFT Should Hope for at No. 19 Del Rio's defense has been known to use the nickel position often. Washington hasn't been afraid to play three-safety sets with one in the big nickel, or electing to use Jimmy Moreland in the slot. Washington signed former Cincinnati Bengals standout William Jackson III this offseason. Last year, they reunited with former slot cornerback Kendall Fuller. Fuller though excelled on the outside in his first full season. Expectations are that Jackson and Fuller can create a top-five tandem. Farley checks all the boxes needed to play on the outside at the next level. The 6-foot-2 defender has great closing speed when working in off-ball coverage. He also has worked well when shifted inside to cover tight ends. Farley's weakness is his lack of experience. Originally expected to play wide receiver following a high school career at quarterback, he's only spent two seasons at the position. This can make him susceptible to double moves in coverage and having a lesser cushion than needed. The overall upside of Farley comes in the form of his play-making skills on the outside. Despite two years at cornerback, six interceptions is plenty of any college player. Should WFT take him, this would also open up the avenues to run a more 4-2-5 system under Del Rio in 2021. Should Farley thrive in camp, this could allow Fuller to shift inside and remain the primary nickel defender. If Del Rio wants to run big nickel, veteran Landon Collins could shift down and Fuller could remain deep at safety. Washington has holes on defense. Cornerback isn't a big one following the Jackson addition. Still, if Farley were to fall in Ron Rivera's lap, it certainly isn't out of the question. | Virginia Tech cornerback Caleb Farley is considered the No. 3 or No. 4 cornerback in the draft. Washington currently selects No. 19 on April 29. | bart | 1 | https://www.si.com/nfl/washingtonfootball/news/could-a-top-tier-cb-fall-to-washington-at-no-19 | 0.193517 |
Could a Top-Tier CB Fall To Washington at No. 19? | Depending on the overall need, the Washington Football Team could target Virginia Tech's Caleb Farley There's never too much of a good thing. For the Washington Football Team, that could come in the form of defensive backs. One year into the Jack Del Rio defense proved prosperous for WFT. The unit ranked No.2 overall in pass defense, allowing opponent to average just 191.8 yards per game and 6.4 yards per play. That depends who is on the board. Washington currently selects No. 19 on April 29. Should they stay put, the "best player available" might be the best course of action going forward. READ MORE: Breer Says Move Into Top-10 Unlikely for WFT Although there are needs at linebacker and safety, one name could be on the shortlist of WFT should he hover in the area. Prior to the 2020 NCAA season, Farley became the first prominent player to opt-out and declare for the draft due to COVID-19. In two seasons with the Hokies, Farley recorded 56 total tackles, 19 pass deflections, six interceptions, and a sack. Earlier this offseason, Farley underwent a procedure to fix an S1 disc in his back. According to his agent, Drew Rosenhaus, Farley passed his medical re-check on Friday. That didn't stop other teams moving him down their draft boards. Currently, Farley is considered the No. 3 or No. 4 cornerback behind Alabama's Patrick Surtain II, South Carolina's Jaycee Horn and potentially Northwestern's Greg Newsome II. What WFT Should Hope for at No. 19 Del Rio's defense has been known to use the nickel position often. Washington hasn't been afraid to play three-safety sets with one in the big nickel, or electing to use Jimmy Moreland in the slot. Washington signed former Cincinnati Bengals standout William Jackson III this offseason. Last year, they reunited with former slot cornerback Kendall Fuller. Fuller though excelled on the outside in his first full season. Expectations are that Jackson and Fuller can create a top-five tandem. Farley checks all the boxes needed to play on the outside at the next level. The 6-foot-2 defender has great closing speed when working in off-ball coverage. He also has worked well when shifted inside to cover tight ends. Farley's weakness is his lack of experience. Originally expected to play wide receiver following a high school career at quarterback, he's only spent two seasons at the position. This can make him susceptible to double moves in coverage and having a lesser cushion than needed. The overall upside of Farley comes in the form of his play-making skills on the outside. Despite two years at cornerback, six interceptions is plenty of any college player. Should WFT take him, this would also open up the avenues to run a more 4-2-5 system under Del Rio in 2021. Should Farley thrive in camp, this could allow Fuller to shift inside and remain the primary nickel defender. If Del Rio wants to run big nickel, veteran Landon Collins could shift down and Fuller could remain deep at safety. Washington has holes on defense. Cornerback isn't a big one following the Jackson addition. Still, if Farley were to fall in Ron Rivera's lap, it certainly isn't out of the question. | The Washington Football Team could target Virginia Tech's Caleb Farley. Farley is considered the No. 3 or No. 4 cornerback behind Alabama's Patrick Surtain II, South Carolina's Jaycee Horn and potentially Northwestern's Greg Newsome II. Washington currently selects No. 19 on April 29. | ctrlsum | 2 | https://www.si.com/nfl/washingtonfootball/news/could-a-top-tier-cb-fall-to-washington-at-no-19 | 0.456349 |
How will the Reds juggle playing time between Tucker Barnhart and Tyler Stephenson? | Cincinnati Reds manager David Bell says it can be easier getting two catchers consistent playing time than any other position. This season, he can choose daily between Tucker Barnhart, the reigning Gold Glove winner whos having one of the best offensive stretches of his career, and Tyler Stephenson, the franchises 2015 first-round pick who has made a leap forward in his second Major League season. (Barnhart) is getting two out of three (starts) right now, Bell said. But there will be other times of the year where, depending on a certain situation, maybe that would be reversed. More:Jesse Winker's chicken noodle soup leads to another spark in the Reds lineup More:Jesse Winker compliments new Cincinnati Reds broadcaster John Sadak Over the last 10 seasons, the Reds have only had two above-average hitting seasons from their catchers. Curt Casali and Devin Mesoraco have been the lone Reds catchers with more than 50 plate appearances to post an OPS+ above 100 in a season. So far, Barnhart and Stephenson have both hit significantly above average. Following the Reds seventh game of the season, Barnhart has made five starts and is ranked third among catchers in batting average (.444) and OPS (1.251). Stephenson has started the other two games, and he ranks fifth in batting average and seventh in OPS among catchers with more than ten at-bats. A few changes to Barnharts swing have led to a better stretch at the start of the season than he had at any point in 2020. Barnharts progression started last season when he had a .241 against right-handed pitchers and a .318 on-base percentage. In 2021, Barnhart said his plan is proper thinking and hitting line drives opposite field. I didnt expect maybe this, but I expected something similar, Barnhart said. I worked tirelessly this offseason just trying to put myself in the best position with every swing I took to get my best swing off and its working. I just have to keep getting good pitches. The reigning Gold Glove Award winner has made a significant impact defensively as he has throughout his career. Against the St. Louis Cardinals, Barnhart made a highlight juggling catch to save a strikeout. He also has a deep understanding of the Reds pitching staff, which Barnhart used to get the Reds out of a few jams in Friday nights 6-5 win against the Arizona Diamondbacks. With relief pitcher Sean Doolittle, Barnhart called a fastball-oriented game plan to secure a scoreless inning. After relief pitcher Lucas Sims allowed a home run in the eighth inning, Barnhart went to the mound, told Sims the three biggest outs of the game were ahead of them and helped Sims get the Reds to extra innings. After Amir Garrett got the save in the 10th inning, he credited Barnhart. We called so many sliders, but him knowing thats my best pitch and thats what were going to stick to, were going to live and die by it, Garrett said. Its a sense of relief because he knows me like the back of his hand. When Stephenson has been in the starting lineup, he has looked the part of a top-100 prospect. In addition to what Stephenson brings as a power hitter, he was behind the plate for Jeff Hoffmans Reds debut. Hoffman allowed just one run in five innings. Stephenson also caught one of the most efficient starts of Luis Castillos career. Castillo threw seven scoreless innings against the Pittsburgh Pirates. Whenever I was thinking of one pitch, I asked for it, Castillo said through team interpreter Jorge Merlos. It was a good mix of pitches that we were thinking of at the same time. Whenever he asked me for something, I agreed with him. It was a really good combo that we had with Tyler Stephenson today. A platoon between the left-handed Barnhart and the right-handed Stephenson would be a way to divide playing time, but the Reds will face right-handed starters considerably more than left-handed starters. The Reds havent faced a left-handed starter yet this season. In 2020, Cincinnati faced 47 right-handed starting pitchers and just 13 left-handed starting pitchers. While the catching rotation is more complicated than the opposing starting pitcher, Bell said hes confident Stephenson will have opportunities. We need both of these guys, its going to work out, Bell said. The advantage is theyre both playing well, one of them hits left-handed and one of them hits right-handed, (Barnhart) is doing a great job against left-handed pitching now too. They both understand the situation, and well be able to keep them both sharp. | Cincinnati Reds manager David Bell says it can be easier getting two catchers consistent playing time than any other position. This season, he can choose daily between Tucker Barnhart and Tyler Stephenson. | pegasus | 1 | https://www.cincinnati.com/story/sports/mlb/reds/2021/04/10/how-cincinnati-reds-use-tucker-barnhart-and-tyler-stephenson/7174826002/ | 0.206382 |
How will the Reds juggle playing time between Tucker Barnhart and Tyler Stephenson? | Cincinnati Reds manager David Bell says it can be easier getting two catchers consistent playing time than any other position. This season, he can choose daily between Tucker Barnhart, the reigning Gold Glove winner whos having one of the best offensive stretches of his career, and Tyler Stephenson, the franchises 2015 first-round pick who has made a leap forward in his second Major League season. (Barnhart) is getting two out of three (starts) right now, Bell said. But there will be other times of the year where, depending on a certain situation, maybe that would be reversed. More:Jesse Winker's chicken noodle soup leads to another spark in the Reds lineup More:Jesse Winker compliments new Cincinnati Reds broadcaster John Sadak Over the last 10 seasons, the Reds have only had two above-average hitting seasons from their catchers. Curt Casali and Devin Mesoraco have been the lone Reds catchers with more than 50 plate appearances to post an OPS+ above 100 in a season. So far, Barnhart and Stephenson have both hit significantly above average. Following the Reds seventh game of the season, Barnhart has made five starts and is ranked third among catchers in batting average (.444) and OPS (1.251). Stephenson has started the other two games, and he ranks fifth in batting average and seventh in OPS among catchers with more than ten at-bats. A few changes to Barnharts swing have led to a better stretch at the start of the season than he had at any point in 2020. Barnharts progression started last season when he had a .241 against right-handed pitchers and a .318 on-base percentage. In 2021, Barnhart said his plan is proper thinking and hitting line drives opposite field. I didnt expect maybe this, but I expected something similar, Barnhart said. I worked tirelessly this offseason just trying to put myself in the best position with every swing I took to get my best swing off and its working. I just have to keep getting good pitches. The reigning Gold Glove Award winner has made a significant impact defensively as he has throughout his career. Against the St. Louis Cardinals, Barnhart made a highlight juggling catch to save a strikeout. He also has a deep understanding of the Reds pitching staff, which Barnhart used to get the Reds out of a few jams in Friday nights 6-5 win against the Arizona Diamondbacks. With relief pitcher Sean Doolittle, Barnhart called a fastball-oriented game plan to secure a scoreless inning. After relief pitcher Lucas Sims allowed a home run in the eighth inning, Barnhart went to the mound, told Sims the three biggest outs of the game were ahead of them and helped Sims get the Reds to extra innings. After Amir Garrett got the save in the 10th inning, he credited Barnhart. We called so many sliders, but him knowing thats my best pitch and thats what were going to stick to, were going to live and die by it, Garrett said. Its a sense of relief because he knows me like the back of his hand. When Stephenson has been in the starting lineup, he has looked the part of a top-100 prospect. In addition to what Stephenson brings as a power hitter, he was behind the plate for Jeff Hoffmans Reds debut. Hoffman allowed just one run in five innings. Stephenson also caught one of the most efficient starts of Luis Castillos career. Castillo threw seven scoreless innings against the Pittsburgh Pirates. Whenever I was thinking of one pitch, I asked for it, Castillo said through team interpreter Jorge Merlos. It was a good mix of pitches that we were thinking of at the same time. Whenever he asked me for something, I agreed with him. It was a really good combo that we had with Tyler Stephenson today. A platoon between the left-handed Barnhart and the right-handed Stephenson would be a way to divide playing time, but the Reds will face right-handed starters considerably more than left-handed starters. The Reds havent faced a left-handed starter yet this season. In 2020, Cincinnati faced 47 right-handed starting pitchers and just 13 left-handed starting pitchers. While the catching rotation is more complicated than the opposing starting pitcher, Bell said hes confident Stephenson will have opportunities. We need both of these guys, its going to work out, Bell said. The advantage is theyre both playing well, one of them hits left-handed and one of them hits right-handed, (Barnhart) is doing a great job against left-handed pitching now too. They both understand the situation, and well be able to keep them both sharp. | Cincinnati Reds manager David Bell says it can be easier getting two catchers consistent playing time than any other position. Tucker Barnhart and Tyler Stephenson have both hit significantly above average. Barnhart has made five starts and is ranked third among catchers in batting average. Stephenson has started the other two games, and he ranks fifth in battingAverage. | bart | 2 | https://www.cincinnati.com/story/sports/mlb/reds/2021/04/10/how-cincinnati-reds-use-tucker-barnhart-and-tyler-stephenson/7174826002/ | 0.148648 |
Is Sixers' Doc Rivers Worried About Seth Curry's Scoreless Game vs. Pelicans? | After having two days off on the schedule and one day of light practice on Thursday morning, the Philadelphia 76ers looked surprisingly flat in Friday's matchup against the New Orleans Pelicans. While Sixers head coach Doc Rivers said he believed his team's defense was good enough to win -- the offense was a different story. Sixers forward Tobias Harris led the team in scoring on Friday night with a 23-point showing. Joel Embiid, who had one of his worst games this season, shot just 5-for-16 from the field, putting up 14 points in 31 minutes. Aside from those two, the Sixers really got nothing else in the scoring department from the rest of the starting lineup. Ben Simmons, Danny Green, and Seth Curry all combined for a whopping 18 points on Friday night. Simmons and Green contributed to the total. Unfortunately, Seth Curry did not. In 26 minutes of action, Seth Curry got up just seven shots. Clearly, he wasn't feeling it on Friday night as none of his field-goal attempts went in. This season, as Curry has battled through COVID-19 and other minor nagging injuries, the veteran guard has been somewhat inconsistent at times. And his zero-point performance on Friday night wasn't the first time he's struggled to contribute to the scoreboard. The Pelicans loss marks the third time this season Curry collected zero points. However, Doc Rivers made it clear that he's hardly worried about Curry's personal performance on Friday night, and he explained why. "I don't worry about one single game," Rivers said. "Seth has been playing well the last couple of games. He had a tough one tonight. I'm not going to draw up new stuff or anything like that. I believe in shooters. Guys don't forget how to shoot. They all have a bad game here and there; everybody will. It's human nature. It's just a human game, and it always will be. That's what sports is." The Sixers will have a quick turnaround as they're set to tip-off against the Oklahoma City Thunder on Saturday night. Although their overall performance on Friday resembled a team playing on the second night of a back-to-back, Curry and the Sixers will have to find a way to battle through fatigue and get the offense going early to avoid falling into a mini-slump amid a four-game road trip. Justin Grasso covers the Philadelphia 76ers for Sports Illustrated. You can follow him for live updates on Twitter: @JGrasso_ & Instagram: @JGrassoNBA. | Seth Curry scored just seven points in 26 minutes against the New Orleans Pelicans. Coach Doc Rivers says he's not worried about Curry's performance. | ctrlsum | 0 | https://www.si.com/nba/76ers/news/sixers-doc-rivers-worries-seth-curry-scoreless-pelicans | 0.340566 |
Is Sixers' Doc Rivers Worried About Seth Curry's Scoreless Game vs. Pelicans? | After having two days off on the schedule and one day of light practice on Thursday morning, the Philadelphia 76ers looked surprisingly flat in Friday's matchup against the New Orleans Pelicans. While Sixers head coach Doc Rivers said he believed his team's defense was good enough to win -- the offense was a different story. Sixers forward Tobias Harris led the team in scoring on Friday night with a 23-point showing. Joel Embiid, who had one of his worst games this season, shot just 5-for-16 from the field, putting up 14 points in 31 minutes. Aside from those two, the Sixers really got nothing else in the scoring department from the rest of the starting lineup. Ben Simmons, Danny Green, and Seth Curry all combined for a whopping 18 points on Friday night. Simmons and Green contributed to the total. Unfortunately, Seth Curry did not. In 26 minutes of action, Seth Curry got up just seven shots. Clearly, he wasn't feeling it on Friday night as none of his field-goal attempts went in. This season, as Curry has battled through COVID-19 and other minor nagging injuries, the veteran guard has been somewhat inconsistent at times. And his zero-point performance on Friday night wasn't the first time he's struggled to contribute to the scoreboard. The Pelicans loss marks the third time this season Curry collected zero points. However, Doc Rivers made it clear that he's hardly worried about Curry's personal performance on Friday night, and he explained why. "I don't worry about one single game," Rivers said. "Seth has been playing well the last couple of games. He had a tough one tonight. I'm not going to draw up new stuff or anything like that. I believe in shooters. Guys don't forget how to shoot. They all have a bad game here and there; everybody will. It's human nature. It's just a human game, and it always will be. That's what sports is." The Sixers will have a quick turnaround as they're set to tip-off against the Oklahoma City Thunder on Saturday night. Although their overall performance on Friday resembled a team playing on the second night of a back-to-back, Curry and the Sixers will have to find a way to battle through fatigue and get the offense going early to avoid falling into a mini-slump amid a four-game road trip. Justin Grasso covers the Philadelphia 76ers for Sports Illustrated. You can follow him for live updates on Twitter: @JGrasso_ & Instagram: @JGrassoNBA. | Seth Curry scored just seven points in 26 minutes against the New Orleans Pelicans. Coach Doc Rivers said he's not worried about Curry's personal performance on Friday night. Curry has struggled with injuries this season. | ctrlsum | 1 | https://www.si.com/nba/76ers/news/sixers-doc-rivers-worries-seth-curry-scoreless-pelicans | 0.351737 |
Why wasn't Jesse Winker credited with a leadoff home run after replay review? | PHOENIX When umpires told Jesse Winker that he had to stay at second base, he broke into a smile and made a thumbs down motion. Winker crushed the first pitch of Fridays game against the Arizona Diamondbacks, his first time back in the lineup after a four-game absence, to the right-center-field wall. The ball hit the yellow padding and ricocheted off a pool chair that was backed against the wall before bouncing back onto the field. It was ruled a double on the field. Umpires gathered and initiated a replay review. Crew chief Larry Vanover put on a headset and waited for nearly two minutes before the replay review crew in New York informed him that the call stood. The in-house replays on the Chase Field video board showed the ball hit the back of the pool chair. On separate TV broadcasts, the Bally Sports Ohio and Bally Sports Arizona announcers seemed confident that it would be overturned to a home run. Reds manager David Bell seemed surprised that it wasnt overturned and chatted with Vanover after the replay review. There are no explanations from the replay crew in New York; just the result of the review. Once it goes to replay, its out of the hands of the umpire on the field, Bell said after the game. I know youre not allowed to argue that. Im guessing they had a different view than what we saw. Winker was stranded after his leadoff double, so the call to keep it a double cost the Reds a run. The Reds won, 6-5, in 10 innings for their sixth consecutive win. | Cincinnati Reds' Jesse Winker hit a leadoff home run against the Arizona Diamondbacks. Umpires ruled it a double on the field, but a replay review overturned it. Winker was stranded after his leadoff double, so the call to keep it adouble cost the Reds a run. | ctrlsum | 2 | https://www.cincinnati.com/story/sports/mlb/reds/2021/04/10/did-incorrect-replay-review-cost-jesse-winker-home-run-cincinnati-reds/7178009002/ | 0.411512 |
Did Kat West's online life play a role in her mysterious death? | Kat West's lifeless body was found outside of her Calera, Alabama, home by a neighbor who noticed her lying partially dressed in the street. Police soon learned the 42-year-old stay-at-home mom had an active social media life, including an active OnlyFans account. Authorities initially considered whether an overzealous fan caused her death. "A beautiful woman, nude in a street, in a nice subdivision," says reporter Carol Robinson, a CBS News consultant. "That is what doesn't happen every day around here. And that is what drove this story." Kat West had hundreds of fans on OnlyFans, a subscription-only website popular with celebrities and social media influencers alike, where content providers and consumers can communicate. Just last week, 18-year-old rapper "Bhad Bhabie" made more than $1 million dollars posting lifestyle content on OnlyFans in only six hours. Kat West's half-naked body was found outside her suburban Alabama home in January 2018. She was lying in a pool of blood with a roughly two-inch gash on the left side of her head. Kat West/Facebook Like many, Kat West had used the site to post adult content. For three years, correspondent Maureen Maher and "48 Hours" have been investigating Kat's death. It's a case about an unconventional marriage, a mom with a fixation on Marilyn Monroe and the question of whether her online life could have led to her death. Lauren Kwei knows some of the risks of OnlyFans all too well. When she couldn't live on a paramedic's modest salary in New York City, Kwei says she turned to the popular platform as a way to make ends meet, posting nudes under an alias. She says her world exploded last December when a tabloid newspaper went public with her full name, the name of her employer, and even where she lived. "I definitely wish things had gone differently in my experience, however I'm pretty proud of who I am today," Kwei says in her first television interview. Generating money from subscribers was a way to survive in New York City, she says, adding that she worried about the risks of being so exposed on the internet. And while she lost her anonymity, Kwei says she knows that, by being outed online, she could have lost a lot more. "Sometimes I think about Kat West and I think about where she would be today and how much more of her life she could have fulfilled," Kwei says. There were many things about her death that struck police as odd. At the death scene, Kat's husband Jeff was oddly reserved, police say. She was found with a fatal head wound and a bottle of absinthe lying on top of her phone nearby. "It just did not seem right that it would have landed in such a way other than being staged," says Calera Police Sgt. Mike Mehlhoff. LIFE OF THE PARTY One look at her online presence made it clear: Kathleen West put the "social" in "social media." Brittany Driesler: It was out there for the whole world to see. And friends like Brittany Driesler say, "Kat was very extroverted." In the real world, she was always the life of the party, as well. Brittany Driesler: Kat would get on stages and sing. She couldn't sing for the life of her, but she would sing! Carol Robinson: Kat was proud of who she was. So, on January 13, 2018, when the 42-year-old wife and mother, widely known as Kat, was found dead in the street near her Alabama home, veteran reporter and CBS consultant Carol Robinson smelled a story. In the tight-knit Birmingham suburbs, she's known as "The Coco Chanel of Crime." Carol Robinson: I don't let what I cover dictate what I wear. She later arrived at the scene and started hunting to see if Kat's past could help explain her death. Nancy Martin: She loved to be outside. John Martin: Yes. Nancy Martin: That was her big deal. She had a swing set. Kat's parents Nancy and John Martin say as a kid in Florida, she doted on her dolls. Nancy Martin: Absolutely. Yes. John Martin: When she got a little bit older she wanted to do modeling. "She was obsessed with Marilyn Monroe and was trying to emulate her in every way," reporter and CBS News consultant Carol Robinson says of Kat West. Alamy/Kat West, Facebook Brittany Driesler [laughs]: She kinda looked like her, she says She tried to recreate some of her photos, her hairdos. She loved her. Carol Robinson: She was obsessed with Marilyn Monroe and was trying to emulate her in every way. As Carol Robinson retraced the lines of Kat's life, she realized her resemblance to the troubled movie star was more than skin deep. Carol Robinson: There were always self-esteem issues there. She craved adulation from some people whether she knew them or not. John Martin: You'd tell her she's beautiful. She says, "You're just my mom and dad." As time went on, Kat's parents say her feelings of isolation, self-doubt, and depression spiraled out of control. Nancy Martin: I don't know how many different places we took her to. John Martin: She went to a lot of counseling. It was a tough few years. Her parents say she was battling bipolar disorder and drinking too much. But by 2004, the broken pieces of Kat's life finally began to fall into place. It happened at a Super Bowl party. Nancy Martin: And that's where she met Jeff. Kat struck up a conversation with a local Army recruiter named Jeff West. Nancy Martin: They fell in love on their first date. John and Nancy Martin: Yes. Yes, it was. Carol Robinson: Within the year They were married in Las Vegas. Jeff and Kat West Kat West/Facebook They moved around the country for Jeff's job and in 2005 they had a daughter, Lola. Brittany Driesler: Lola was her light. Lola was her gift, and she adored her daughter. In 2011, the West family moved to Southern California where Army veteran Brittany Driesler's husband was thinking of enlisting. At the recruiting station, Brittany says Jeff West basically had her husband at hello. Brittany Driesler: He was just super reassuring and nice. He was just nice. So nice, she says, that he even invited the Drieslers to his home. His wife Kat answered the door. Brittany Driesler: She was just in her tank top and shorts and really happy, bubbly and, "Hey girl!" Right off the bat, she was like, "You want a drink?" Brittany says as far as she could tell, Kat and Jeff West were a happy if somewhat unlikely couple. Brittany Driesler: Seeing how Kat carried herself and what she looked like and then seeing Jeff I know opposites attract. Uh " You know, it never really made sense to me until I started getting to know them more. Maureen Maher: You would not describe this as a conventional marriage. Brittany Driesler: Definitely not. [laughs] When it came to the unspoken rules of entertaining, she admits Kat was so colorful that she sometimes colored outside the lines. Brittany Driesler: She would jump from the kitchen counter to the sofa and shirtless, braless. Maureen Maher: Wait! Brittany Driesler: Yes! My husband would go, "Oh my gosh!" [Laughs] The couples hung out at home, but also started going to bars and clubs. Brittany Driesler: She'd be lively, animated. He would just be sitting on the couch, relaxing, having his drink. Brittany Driesler: Kat would fight. Jeff would not. Kat would get emotional. When she was drunk, she would get loud. She would get, umm, feisty. But he would sit there and just say "OK, Boo Boo. OK. I love you. All right, baby girl." Brittany Driesler: Never [laughs] never. Carol Robinson: That surprised me because I don't think many men would feel that way. Carol says Jeff was proud of having an attractive wife. In 2014, the Wests had moved to Alabama, where he had a job as a campus police officer. The couple always made time to be together with a regular date night, including on the night of January 12, 2018. Jeff's parents had then-12-year-old Lola for the evening. Carol Robinson: They go out to a restaurant. You know, they have some drinks and dinner. After dinner, they stopped at a liquor store. Security cameras show the couple shopping apparently without a care in the world. The couple had a standing date night, and on the night of Jan 12, 2018, while Jeff's parents watched then-12-year-old Lola, Jeff and Kat went out for dinner and drinks. After dinner, a liquor store security camera captured them buying alcohol on the way home.It was the last time Kat West was seen alive. Inside Edition Carol Robinson: Everything seemed fine. At one point, he even patted her on the butt. But it would be the last time Kat West would be seen alive. When Brittany Driesler learned of Kat's death, she immediately contacted Jeff West. Brittany Driesler: I just was shocked, baffled I don't believe it. How did this happen?" And his answer was just, "I don't know." Neither did Macorsha Purifoy. Macorsha Purifoy: It was dark. It was cold. Macorsha Purifoy: I wasn't sure, like, what I was seeing Macorsha had been driving to work before dawn that day, when she spotted something. Macorsha Purifoy: I think I see a person laying in the road well, halfway. Macorsha went home to get her parents. They returned to the scene. Macorsha Purifoy: Her body was frozen, like frozen. I was traumatized. I was just in the car crying. Macorsha's mother called 911. Macorsha Purifoy: They asked to see if she was breathing or not. She wasn't. And we just waited for the police to get there. Calera police Sergeant Mike Mehlhoff, a veteran criminal investigator, arrived about 30 minutes later. Sgt. Mike Mehlhoff: Looking at the scene Kathleen's head is laying in the road. Her body is actually laying in the grass. And there was something else he noticed right away. Sgt. Mike Mehlhoff: It did appear that the body had been moved more than once. Kat West was found lying in a pool of blood across the street from her house. Mehlhoff noticed there was another blood pool nearby. Next to Kat's body: her cell phone and an open bottle of absinthe liquor the kind she and her husband had been seen purchasing the night before. "The absinthe bottle it was just propped up on the phone just like that," Sgt. Mike Mehlhoff demonstrates. "It just did not seem right that it would have landed in such a way if it other than being staged." CBS News Sgt. Mike Mehlhoff: The absinthe bottle it was just propped up on the phone just like that. It just did not seem right that it would have landed in such a way if it other than being staged. Carol Robinson, who saw the crime scene photos, also thought it looked staged. Carol Robinson: That bottle was placed on the phone. Maureen Maher: By somebody. Carol Robinson: By somebody. She says there was somebody at the scene whose behavior caught authorities' attention. Carol Robinson: Jeff West standing in the doorway. At one point, he was on the porch smoking a cigarette and watching. And when Mehlhoff spoke to Jeff inside Sgt. Mike Mehlhoff: His behavior was not what I expected it to be knowing that his wife was outside. Sgt. Mike Mehlhoff: It was Everybody grieves in a different way. And that was something I kept telling myself... Kat had a roughly two-inch gash on the left side of her head. The cause of death was blunt force trauma. Sgt. Mike Mehlhoff: The injury that she suffered was enough to actually fracture the skull. The autopsy showed signs of sex, but there was no indication of sexual assault. Also, her blood alcohol level was nearly three times the legal limit. Still, the medical examiner could not say exactly how Kat sustained the injury. Carol Robinson: The manner of death was undetermined. While authorities searched the neighborhood for clues and witnesses, Jeff went to headquarters. Police say he stayed for about six hours. Carol Robinson: Absolutely. Jeff was adamant with police - he had no idea what had happened to Kat. He speculated she may have died by accident. He also said their marriage was in a good place. Police later discovered what the couple's friends already knew. Sgt. Mike Mehlhoff: I think it would be fair to characterize her as an exhibitionist. She enjoyed the attention. Jeff revealed he would actually photograph Kat and help her post suggestive photos online, where hundreds of paying subscribers knew her as "Kitty Kat West." Brittany Driesler: She was very out loud about it. She was making money. But Brittany says, for Kat, it was about a lot more than money Brittany Driesler: Kat, when not behind the website, was not always confident Yes, you have your husband, but you always want to be pretty to others. and remarkably, Jeff seemed to love it. Brittany Driesler: Jeff got the best of both worlds He was able to be with his wife. She got what she wanted, which was I get to make my money I get to show off what I have and he's not going to leave me. Brittany says by 2018 Kat's online activity had really ramped up. She'd been using that subscription-only website, OnlyFans to share adult photos and videos. Brittany Driesler: She was starting to get knee-deep in that type of industry. And with OnlyFans came a new feature for Kat: providers and subscribers could communicate. Subscribers could also make requests. Sgt. Mike Mehlhoff: No, ma'am. Mehlhoff was interested to learn that Jeff had photographed Kat for her site the night she died, and her page contained subscriber requests for personalized content. Sgt. He says they knew they had to cast a wider net so they sent Jeff home. Mehlhoff says they spent about three weeks looking for other suspects. Sgt. Mike Mehlhoff: There were thousands of names that had to be culled through in order to properly investigate this. As police continued gathering evidence, Carol Robinson says they had more public involvement than they wanted. Kat's death had set the internet on fire. Carol Robinson: You had this huge online presence. These murder discussion Facebook groups. While they may have started in Calera there were people from all over and they aren't quiet about their opinions. It seemed everyone had an opinion on the way Kat died. CAROL ROBINSON [reading posts]: " it's the husband," "I vote stalker," " it might have been a freak accident." And the way she lived. CAROL ROBINSON [reading posts]: "I don't agree with her lifestyle," " she brought this on herself " "She was proud to have such an amazing figure Good for her!" Carol Robinson: She was a sympathetic victim to many. She was an unsympathetic victim to many. On Facebook, Jeff later made it clear that all the online chatter had taken a toll on the family. "To the public, our tragedy is juicy gossip" he wrote. Carol Robinson: The Facebook thing was really intruding on their lives, in his opinion. Investigators had formed their own opinion: Kat's death had been no accident. And on February 22, 2018, they made their move. PRESS CONFERENCE: William Jeffrey West, the victim's husband, has been arrested and charged with the murder. On February 22, 2018, police arrested Jeff West and charged him with his wife's murder. His bail was set at $500,000. Stephen Quinn ABC 33/40 Bail was set at half-a-million dollars. Brittany Driesler says Jeff should never have been arrested firmly believing that police failed to fully investigate the hundreds of OnlyFans subscribers who had paid to see the racy content Kat posted. WELCOME TO ONLYFANS Some see it as unseemly; others call it harmless fun. Either way, the online venue where Kat West posted her racy photos, known as OnlyFans, is a lot more than only a website, says Carol Robinson. Carol Robinson: It's sort of the happy median between porn and "The Brady Bunch." ONLYFANS PROMOTIONAL VIDEO: "Whether you're a blogger . celebrity, model, whatever, you can reward your loyal fans with even more of the great content you already produce but get paid for it!" Since COVID-19 caused widespread lockdowns, OnlyFans has become a provocative and profitable platform for celebrities. Last summer, former Disney star Bella Thorne reportedly made a $1 million in one day, posting lifestyle content. And the site has become an exotic destination for more salacious "staycationers" as well: A place to dream of living large and potentially to make a good living in the process. A former teacher in one YouTube video told a reporter she quadrupled her income posting nudes on OnlyFans: "I wear things that allow me to feel sexy, because when I feel sexy, I feel powerful." Another woman says she is paying her way through a neuroscience Master's program. And a Minnesota pastor made headlines when she left the pulpit: Not for a higher calling, but she did eventually make a higher paycheck posting on OnlyFans and now reportedly earns tens of thousands of dollars a month. By the end of 2020, the London-based site had grown to more than a million content providers and more than 90 million subscribers. Lauren Kwei: Not at all. In 2015, Lauren Kwei moved to New York from her home in West Virginia with dreams of making it big on Broadway. Lauren Kwei: I really wanted to make something of myself. Soon frustrated with the rat race, the 23-year-old daughter of a doctor and nurse began studying emergency medicine and became a paramedic around the time the pandemic began. Lauren Kwei: I knew there was a job that needed to be done. Almost immediately, she found herself treating and transporting critically ill COVID patients working at the intersection of life and death. Lauren Kwei: I still remember taking patients away whose family members couldn't come with us. They didn't know if it was going to be the last time they saw each other. That was really rough for me. Rougher still, she says, because even though she was saving lives, it was impossible to save any money. She was making only about $40,000 a year less than other first responders like many New York police and firefighters. Lauren Kwei: No, not at all it wasn't feasible to live off of that salary. As her bills piled up and employment options dwindled, Lauren turned to OnlyFans. Lauren Kwei: I don't have to go outside of my house, you know this could be an easy business. Using an alias, she started by posting lingerie pics, cropping out her face. But she says she soon stopped cropping. And before long, the paramedic who by day was covering every inch of her body in protective clothing, started taking it all off online. Lauren Kwei: Yes, I did. And she says if Kat West was proud to be on OnlyFans, she would have had reason to be. Lauren Kwei: The human body, I believe it should be celebrated. Lauren Kwei: I felt empowered. I did not feel like I was degrading myself. Lauren Kwei: A hundred percent. But Lauren admits she was worried about the exposure. Lauren Kwei: It was scary to think that, you know, I'd be taking pictures of myself that would be on the Internet. Especially as her pool of OnlyFans subscribers started to grow. She says some of the requests for personalized content were disrespectful. Lauren Kwei: There's some really weird people on the Internet. Maureen Maher wondered if West's attorney was thinking the same thing. John Robbins: We looked into that and there just wasn't that evidence out there. No evidence that an OnlyFans online user was involved in Kat West's death. What the evidence does show, says Jeff's attorney John Robbins, is that Kat wasn't murdered. John Robbins: She fell and hit her head. Jeff's parents, Jerry and Suzi, agree. They aren't sure exactly how Kat hit her head and they don't think authorities can prove it either. William "Jerry" West: They set out to get Jeff. There was no investigation. Carolyn "Suzi" West: I know he's innocent. William "Jerry" West: I don't care what anybody says. He did not do this. Jeff's parents say he was incapable of harming his family. Now that is exactly what you would expect to hear from the parents of an accused killer. But you would probably not expect to hear the same thing from the parents of the alleged victim. John Martin: He's honorable, and he loved my daughter. I know he didn't do it. Nancy Martin: He didn't do this. Kat's parents, John and Nancy, say their daughter was conspicuously clumsy and the drinking did not help. Brittany Driesler concedes anything is possible. Because she was so intoxicated. Authorities insist Jeff West is a murderer. But their tactics suggest otherwise. A few months before histrial, Jeff West turned down a plea deal. Shelby County Sheriff's Office John Robbins says just a few months before trial, the prosecution offered Jeff West a deal. It's called an Alford Plea. Jeff would not have to admit that he had committed a crime, but he would have to acknowledge that the State had enough evidence to likely convict. Now if the judge accepted that deal, it means that Jeff would be let off with time served and only two years' probation. He could walk out of jail almost immediately. John Robbins: That tells you, as a defense lawyer the prosecution has some problems with their case, and they recognize that. According to Shelby County prosecutors, plea deals are standard in every case and Robbins says he told Jeff it was a reasonable offer. John Robbins: He rejected it immediately. John Robbins: Because he says "I cannot say that I'm guilty of something that I didn't do." Jeff West decides to roll the dice and take his chances in court. John Robbins: He understands the risk of going to trial. JEFF WEST GOES TO TRIAL For more than two years, Jeff West has awaited trial in custody. Carol Robinson: We weren't getting a lot of information at the time. The police were holding things close to their vest. Defense attorney John Robbins believes prosecutors have problems with their case. He says, the Friday before trial, they called him with more talk of a plea deal. John Robbins: We discussed what would it take to settle the case. But they could not come to terms. The prosecution has also notified the court it will make a new filing of evidence: text messages between Jeff and Kat. Sgt. Mike Mehlhoff: It was very apparent that it was a very volatile relationship. Jeff and Kat West Kat West/Facebook Prosecutors will tell the jury that the Wests did not have a harmonious marriage. "You're throwing almost 14 yrs [sic] of a relationship away" she'd written a week before she died. "You don't want me , fine. Someone will." "I always want you," he'd replied. The texts went from erratic to erotic so fast that Robbins actually wants to use them to defend Jeff. John Robbins: Any time Kat said something that, quote, "can be considered an argument." His response is, "I love you. I want you. You're sexy." Carol Robinson [at court]: Today is the first day of the murder trial against Jeff West in the murder of Kat West. The judge banned news cameras from the courtroom, but"48 Hours" was at the courthouse taking notes. And it soon became clear there were at least two things the defense and prosecution agreed on: the cause of death blunt force trauma and how the night began. Jeff and Kat had started drinking at dinner and bought more booze on the way home. When the Wests returned to their home, they continued drinking. On Instagram that night, Jeff posted this picture of the liquor bottle they had bought. Jeff West/Instagram It was later that Kat apparently had changed into lingerie and asked Jeff to photograph her for her online fans. On Instagram, that night, he posted a picture of the absinthe liquor bottle. Authorities contend he would bludgeon her to death with the very same bottle. Sgt. Mike Mehlhoff: I wouldn't want to speculate as to, you know, what drove him to that point. But I can certainly say, that I feel that yes he's- he's the one responsible for his wife's death. At the scene, Mehlhoff says he found it odd that Jeff did not ask for details about his wife's condition. Sgt. Mike Mehlhoff: I would have thought that he would have at least asked, you know, "Can I see her?" Carol believes what Jeff did say made authorities suspicious too. Carol Robinson: According to Jeff, he went to bed about 10:30 Kat stayed up. Sgt. Mike Mehlhoff: Now, that's Jeff's version of what happened. But before long, Mehlhoff unearthed a different story on a health tracker app on Jeff's cell phone. Sgt. Mike Mehlhoff: Well, the health app actually shows Jeff's phone moving as late as 10 minutes after 11 o'clock. And Mehlhoff says he believes Jeff also lied about when he woke up that morning. Jeff told authorities his dogs got him up by barking at the police cruisers out front. But a neighbor reported seeing Jeff before police arrived. Carol Robinson: She could see a man in the house pacing back and forth. Having laid out what they believed were Jeff's movements that night, police looked at Kat's phone, which also had a health tracker app. It showed her phone had stopped moving 16 minutes before Jeff's. About a month after her death, police got test results from that absinthe bottle. It had a sliver of glass chipped off. And there were two spots of Kat's blood on the bottom. Sgt. Mike Mehlhoff: We had Jeff's fingerprints on it. Sgt. Mike Mehlhoff: Oh, absolutely. But Mehlhoff says there was something specific about the prints that helped point the finger of blame at Jeff. Sgt. Mike Mehlhoff: Basically, the bottle was held inverted much like he'd be holding it like a club. Carol Robinson [demonstrates]: Jeff's thumb print was found in a downward position on the bottle and his ring fingerprint was found over here. John Robbins: She was not hit in the head with that bottle. Robbins says that's clear, because Jeff is a righty and the prints on the bottle were from his left hand. And there's a good reason they're upside down. John Robbins: The bottle was in a bag. You would pull it out of the bag in the same way, where your thumbprint would be going down. But to win this case, the defense will tell the jury that Jeff West could not have murdered his wife because Kat wasn't murdered. John Robbins: I've handled well over 100 murder cases never went forward on a murder case where the manner of death was classified as undetermined. John Robbins: In a nutshell she fell, she hit her head. Robbins says police found Jeff dressed in the same clothes as seen in the security video the night before. John Robbins: There was nothing on his clothes, no liquor, no blood, no bodily fluid, no tissue, no hair. And there was no hair on the bottle There's no glass in her wound. And, despite what police told "48 Hours," no real effort Robbins maintains to consider other suspects or theories about Kat's death. John Robbins: The only person they ever looked at was Jeff and they really never looked at it whether it was an accident. Sgt. Mike Mehlhoff: Absolutely not. I don't want to sit here and say that I immediately ruled out an accident, but just the head trauma alone knowing that the body had been moved it was very hard to try to look at this as an accident. Not hard at all, insists Robbins. The two blood pools at the scene suggest that after Kat fell, she could have gotten up and fallen again. John Robbins: 'Cause it's clear that she moved around after she had that head injury. John Robbins has whittled his entire case down to only one witness a witness guaranteed to get the jury's attention: Kat's mother Nancy Martin takes the stand to tell the jury about her daughter's lifelong struggles. Maureen Maher: It's a lot of pressure. Nancy Martin: Yeah, it was. It really was. Carol Robinson: Martin testified that she, herself, had witnessed Kat West in an intoxicated state go outside barefoot, in any whether it was hot or cold, she said. She would be in varying stages of dress. Carol Robinson: You know I can't really recall another case where the mother of the victim and the father of the victim were so attached to the suspect. Kat's parents are even giving Jeff legal advice. They help convince him not to testify. John Robbins [at court]: Jeff's in a good mood. He's fired up. In closing arguments, Assistant District Attorney Daniel McBrayer finally ties together the state's theory of what happened that night and why: He says Jeff had lost his temper with his wife. Daniel McBrayer: He had a problem with her drinking and her social media usage. Prosecutors say the evidence from that night shows it: Jeff had thrown her phone into the street and clubbed her to death with the liquor bottle when she went after it. And McBrayer says the way the bottle and phone were positioned convinced authorities it could not have been an accident. Daniel McBrayer: There were those two items stacked perfectly together. right there on the street next to her body. John Robbins: Jeff loved his wife. John Robbins: But there's no evidence to that. He has does not have a history of violence. The trial is ending when prosecutors make a last-minute move. They convince the judge to let the jury consider a lesser charge than murder: reckless manslaughter. Carol Robinson [at court]: I think that we could see a verdict tonight. John Robbins: This is this is the hard part, just just waiting. A STUNNING VERDICT John Robbins: They were afraid that they were going to lose the case. John Robbins says he wasn't happy about the last-minute lesser charge that prosecutors introduced, and it's easy to see why. It takes the jury less than five hours to convict Jeff West of reckless manslaughter. John Robbins: Jeff is is stunned. Both sets of parents are also stunned by the verdict. WILLIAM "JERRY" WEST [to reporters]: That was [expletive] and you know it John Martin: I couldn't believe it. I really couldn't. Almost three months later, Judge Bill Bostick sentenced Jeff West to 16 years. Nancy Martin: I just wanted to cry. With credit for time served, Jeff will be behind bars for 13 more years. For the prosecutors, it's a kind of split decision but they declare victory anyway. ADA DANIEL MCBRAYER [to reporters]: Obviously, we would have preferred a murder verdict. We're glad to get a sentence as we did. For the defense, it is a stinging defeat. Jeff knows if he had accepted that plea deal from the prosecutors, he'd probably already be home. John Robbins: In retrospect, that probably he should have taken the deal. Both sets of parents stand behind Jeff's decision. [They all raise their hands.] Carolyn "Suzi" West: We all think he's not guilty William "Jerry" West: We all think he's not guilty. Jeff and Kat West's parents. Clockwise from top William "Jerry" West, Carolyn "Suzi" West, Nancy Martin and Jim Martin. CBS News They sat down with "48 Hours" as a group three days after sentencing. William "Jerry" West: Nobody. Maureen Maher: No hands. They believe the judge threw the book at Jeff West in sentencing for refusing to settle the case, and that from the moment Kat's death made news, she was harshly judged in the court of public opinion. Nancy Martin: It was the fact that she was doing these things that small towns don't understand. New York City paramedic Lauren Kwei says, for her, the harsh judgements did not start until last November. Lauren Kwei: I think society is always going to be hard on women for anything that we do. "I definitely wish things had gone differently in my experience, however I'm pretty proud of who I am today," Lauren Kwei tells "48 Hours" in her first television interview. Lauren Kwei She says a newspaper reporter contacted her out of the blue. He told her he was investigating whether her OnlyFans page violated her employer's code of conduct. Lauren Kwei: And in that moment I I wanted to just, like, crawl in a hole and die. Lauren says she canceled her OnlyFans account immediately. The expos including her real name, and where she lived and worked began circulating a few weeks later. Lauren Kwei: I opened my Instagram and saw, you know, 600 follow requests. Lauren Kwei: Absolutely. Lauren Kwei: Well, I - I think it definitely would have made a lot of money. As it happens, she did anyway. Worried that Lauren might lose her job, a friend set up a GoFundMe page for her. Supporters contributed more than $100,000. But in the end, the private ambulance company she works for kept her on the clock. We caught up with her at work. Lauren Kwei: It's always really hard to watch people pass away. Sometimes I think about Kat West and I think about where she would be today. Kat West Kat West/Facebook Brittany Driesler [Crying]: It sucks that she was taken so early. Kat's friend Brittany Driesler is living with loss, too. Brittany Driesler [Crying]: She's gone. That that that's heart wrenching. They have a daughter that's in the mix of everything. Maureen Maher: I think people forget that a child is involved. Nancy Martin: Right. Every week, Lola, now 16-years-old, goes with all her grandparents to see Jeff. Nancy Martin: No [laughs]. Suzi West: No. Nancy Martin: They're family! But even when Jeff West does get out of prison, this will always be a family with someone missing. William "Jerry" West: Kind, caring mother. Nancy Martin: Kind, caring person who loved her husband and loved her daughter very much. Lola is being raised by both sets of grandparents. Jeff West has filed an appeal. Produced by Josh Yager and Lauren A. White. Ryan N. Smith is the development producer. Elizabeth Caholo is the field producer. George Baluzy, Greg Kaplan, Joan Adelman, Diana Modica, and Grayce Arlotta-Berner are the editors. Peter Schweitzer is the senior producer. Nancy Kramer is the executive story editor. Judy Tygard is the executive producer. | Kat West had hundreds of fans on OnlyFans, a subscription-only website. She was found dead in the street with a fatal head wound and a bottle of absinthe. | ctrlsum | 1 | https://www.cbsnews.com/news/kat-west-onlyfans-mysterious-death-48-hours/ | 0.157608 |
Did Kat West's online life play a role in her mysterious death? | Kat West's lifeless body was found outside of her Calera, Alabama, home by a neighbor who noticed her lying partially dressed in the street. Police soon learned the 42-year-old stay-at-home mom had an active social media life, including an active OnlyFans account. Authorities initially considered whether an overzealous fan caused her death. "A beautiful woman, nude in a street, in a nice subdivision," says reporter Carol Robinson, a CBS News consultant. "That is what doesn't happen every day around here. And that is what drove this story." Kat West had hundreds of fans on OnlyFans, a subscription-only website popular with celebrities and social media influencers alike, where content providers and consumers can communicate. Just last week, 18-year-old rapper "Bhad Bhabie" made more than $1 million dollars posting lifestyle content on OnlyFans in only six hours. Kat West's half-naked body was found outside her suburban Alabama home in January 2018. She was lying in a pool of blood with a roughly two-inch gash on the left side of her head. Kat West/Facebook Like many, Kat West had used the site to post adult content. For three years, correspondent Maureen Maher and "48 Hours" have been investigating Kat's death. It's a case about an unconventional marriage, a mom with a fixation on Marilyn Monroe and the question of whether her online life could have led to her death. Lauren Kwei knows some of the risks of OnlyFans all too well. When she couldn't live on a paramedic's modest salary in New York City, Kwei says she turned to the popular platform as a way to make ends meet, posting nudes under an alias. She says her world exploded last December when a tabloid newspaper went public with her full name, the name of her employer, and even where she lived. "I definitely wish things had gone differently in my experience, however I'm pretty proud of who I am today," Kwei says in her first television interview. Generating money from subscribers was a way to survive in New York City, she says, adding that she worried about the risks of being so exposed on the internet. And while she lost her anonymity, Kwei says she knows that, by being outed online, she could have lost a lot more. "Sometimes I think about Kat West and I think about where she would be today and how much more of her life she could have fulfilled," Kwei says. There were many things about her death that struck police as odd. At the death scene, Kat's husband Jeff was oddly reserved, police say. She was found with a fatal head wound and a bottle of absinthe lying on top of her phone nearby. "It just did not seem right that it would have landed in such a way other than being staged," says Calera Police Sgt. Mike Mehlhoff. LIFE OF THE PARTY One look at her online presence made it clear: Kathleen West put the "social" in "social media." Brittany Driesler: It was out there for the whole world to see. And friends like Brittany Driesler say, "Kat was very extroverted." In the real world, she was always the life of the party, as well. Brittany Driesler: Kat would get on stages and sing. She couldn't sing for the life of her, but she would sing! Carol Robinson: Kat was proud of who she was. So, on January 13, 2018, when the 42-year-old wife and mother, widely known as Kat, was found dead in the street near her Alabama home, veteran reporter and CBS consultant Carol Robinson smelled a story. In the tight-knit Birmingham suburbs, she's known as "The Coco Chanel of Crime." Carol Robinson: I don't let what I cover dictate what I wear. She later arrived at the scene and started hunting to see if Kat's past could help explain her death. Nancy Martin: She loved to be outside. John Martin: Yes. Nancy Martin: That was her big deal. She had a swing set. Kat's parents Nancy and John Martin say as a kid in Florida, she doted on her dolls. Nancy Martin: Absolutely. Yes. John Martin: When she got a little bit older she wanted to do modeling. "She was obsessed with Marilyn Monroe and was trying to emulate her in every way," reporter and CBS News consultant Carol Robinson says of Kat West. Alamy/Kat West, Facebook Brittany Driesler [laughs]: She kinda looked like her, she says She tried to recreate some of her photos, her hairdos. She loved her. Carol Robinson: She was obsessed with Marilyn Monroe and was trying to emulate her in every way. As Carol Robinson retraced the lines of Kat's life, she realized her resemblance to the troubled movie star was more than skin deep. Carol Robinson: There were always self-esteem issues there. She craved adulation from some people whether she knew them or not. John Martin: You'd tell her she's beautiful. She says, "You're just my mom and dad." As time went on, Kat's parents say her feelings of isolation, self-doubt, and depression spiraled out of control. Nancy Martin: I don't know how many different places we took her to. John Martin: She went to a lot of counseling. It was a tough few years. Her parents say she was battling bipolar disorder and drinking too much. But by 2004, the broken pieces of Kat's life finally began to fall into place. It happened at a Super Bowl party. Nancy Martin: And that's where she met Jeff. Kat struck up a conversation with a local Army recruiter named Jeff West. Nancy Martin: They fell in love on their first date. John and Nancy Martin: Yes. Yes, it was. Carol Robinson: Within the year They were married in Las Vegas. Jeff and Kat West Kat West/Facebook They moved around the country for Jeff's job and in 2005 they had a daughter, Lola. Brittany Driesler: Lola was her light. Lola was her gift, and she adored her daughter. In 2011, the West family moved to Southern California where Army veteran Brittany Driesler's husband was thinking of enlisting. At the recruiting station, Brittany says Jeff West basically had her husband at hello. Brittany Driesler: He was just super reassuring and nice. He was just nice. So nice, she says, that he even invited the Drieslers to his home. His wife Kat answered the door. Brittany Driesler: She was just in her tank top and shorts and really happy, bubbly and, "Hey girl!" Right off the bat, she was like, "You want a drink?" Brittany says as far as she could tell, Kat and Jeff West were a happy if somewhat unlikely couple. Brittany Driesler: Seeing how Kat carried herself and what she looked like and then seeing Jeff I know opposites attract. Uh " You know, it never really made sense to me until I started getting to know them more. Maureen Maher: You would not describe this as a conventional marriage. Brittany Driesler: Definitely not. [laughs] When it came to the unspoken rules of entertaining, she admits Kat was so colorful that she sometimes colored outside the lines. Brittany Driesler: She would jump from the kitchen counter to the sofa and shirtless, braless. Maureen Maher: Wait! Brittany Driesler: Yes! My husband would go, "Oh my gosh!" [Laughs] The couples hung out at home, but also started going to bars and clubs. Brittany Driesler: She'd be lively, animated. He would just be sitting on the couch, relaxing, having his drink. Brittany Driesler: Kat would fight. Jeff would not. Kat would get emotional. When she was drunk, she would get loud. She would get, umm, feisty. But he would sit there and just say "OK, Boo Boo. OK. I love you. All right, baby girl." Brittany Driesler: Never [laughs] never. Carol Robinson: That surprised me because I don't think many men would feel that way. Carol says Jeff was proud of having an attractive wife. In 2014, the Wests had moved to Alabama, where he had a job as a campus police officer. The couple always made time to be together with a regular date night, including on the night of January 12, 2018. Jeff's parents had then-12-year-old Lola for the evening. Carol Robinson: They go out to a restaurant. You know, they have some drinks and dinner. After dinner, they stopped at a liquor store. Security cameras show the couple shopping apparently without a care in the world. The couple had a standing date night, and on the night of Jan 12, 2018, while Jeff's parents watched then-12-year-old Lola, Jeff and Kat went out for dinner and drinks. After dinner, a liquor store security camera captured them buying alcohol on the way home.It was the last time Kat West was seen alive. Inside Edition Carol Robinson: Everything seemed fine. At one point, he even patted her on the butt. But it would be the last time Kat West would be seen alive. When Brittany Driesler learned of Kat's death, she immediately contacted Jeff West. Brittany Driesler: I just was shocked, baffled I don't believe it. How did this happen?" And his answer was just, "I don't know." Neither did Macorsha Purifoy. Macorsha Purifoy: It was dark. It was cold. Macorsha Purifoy: I wasn't sure, like, what I was seeing Macorsha had been driving to work before dawn that day, when she spotted something. Macorsha Purifoy: I think I see a person laying in the road well, halfway. Macorsha went home to get her parents. They returned to the scene. Macorsha Purifoy: Her body was frozen, like frozen. I was traumatized. I was just in the car crying. Macorsha's mother called 911. Macorsha Purifoy: They asked to see if she was breathing or not. She wasn't. And we just waited for the police to get there. Calera police Sergeant Mike Mehlhoff, a veteran criminal investigator, arrived about 30 minutes later. Sgt. Mike Mehlhoff: Looking at the scene Kathleen's head is laying in the road. Her body is actually laying in the grass. And there was something else he noticed right away. Sgt. Mike Mehlhoff: It did appear that the body had been moved more than once. Kat West was found lying in a pool of blood across the street from her house. Mehlhoff noticed there was another blood pool nearby. Next to Kat's body: her cell phone and an open bottle of absinthe liquor the kind she and her husband had been seen purchasing the night before. "The absinthe bottle it was just propped up on the phone just like that," Sgt. Mike Mehlhoff demonstrates. "It just did not seem right that it would have landed in such a way if it other than being staged." CBS News Sgt. Mike Mehlhoff: The absinthe bottle it was just propped up on the phone just like that. It just did not seem right that it would have landed in such a way if it other than being staged. Carol Robinson, who saw the crime scene photos, also thought it looked staged. Carol Robinson: That bottle was placed on the phone. Maureen Maher: By somebody. Carol Robinson: By somebody. She says there was somebody at the scene whose behavior caught authorities' attention. Carol Robinson: Jeff West standing in the doorway. At one point, he was on the porch smoking a cigarette and watching. And when Mehlhoff spoke to Jeff inside Sgt. Mike Mehlhoff: His behavior was not what I expected it to be knowing that his wife was outside. Sgt. Mike Mehlhoff: It was Everybody grieves in a different way. And that was something I kept telling myself... Kat had a roughly two-inch gash on the left side of her head. The cause of death was blunt force trauma. Sgt. Mike Mehlhoff: The injury that she suffered was enough to actually fracture the skull. The autopsy showed signs of sex, but there was no indication of sexual assault. Also, her blood alcohol level was nearly three times the legal limit. Still, the medical examiner could not say exactly how Kat sustained the injury. Carol Robinson: The manner of death was undetermined. While authorities searched the neighborhood for clues and witnesses, Jeff went to headquarters. Police say he stayed for about six hours. Carol Robinson: Absolutely. Jeff was adamant with police - he had no idea what had happened to Kat. He speculated she may have died by accident. He also said their marriage was in a good place. Police later discovered what the couple's friends already knew. Sgt. Mike Mehlhoff: I think it would be fair to characterize her as an exhibitionist. She enjoyed the attention. Jeff revealed he would actually photograph Kat and help her post suggestive photos online, where hundreds of paying subscribers knew her as "Kitty Kat West." Brittany Driesler: She was very out loud about it. She was making money. But Brittany says, for Kat, it was about a lot more than money Brittany Driesler: Kat, when not behind the website, was not always confident Yes, you have your husband, but you always want to be pretty to others. and remarkably, Jeff seemed to love it. Brittany Driesler: Jeff got the best of both worlds He was able to be with his wife. She got what she wanted, which was I get to make my money I get to show off what I have and he's not going to leave me. Brittany says by 2018 Kat's online activity had really ramped up. She'd been using that subscription-only website, OnlyFans to share adult photos and videos. Brittany Driesler: She was starting to get knee-deep in that type of industry. And with OnlyFans came a new feature for Kat: providers and subscribers could communicate. Subscribers could also make requests. Sgt. Mike Mehlhoff: No, ma'am. Mehlhoff was interested to learn that Jeff had photographed Kat for her site the night she died, and her page contained subscriber requests for personalized content. Sgt. He says they knew they had to cast a wider net so they sent Jeff home. Mehlhoff says they spent about three weeks looking for other suspects. Sgt. Mike Mehlhoff: There were thousands of names that had to be culled through in order to properly investigate this. As police continued gathering evidence, Carol Robinson says they had more public involvement than they wanted. Kat's death had set the internet on fire. Carol Robinson: You had this huge online presence. These murder discussion Facebook groups. While they may have started in Calera there were people from all over and they aren't quiet about their opinions. It seemed everyone had an opinion on the way Kat died. CAROL ROBINSON [reading posts]: " it's the husband," "I vote stalker," " it might have been a freak accident." And the way she lived. CAROL ROBINSON [reading posts]: "I don't agree with her lifestyle," " she brought this on herself " "She was proud to have such an amazing figure Good for her!" Carol Robinson: She was a sympathetic victim to many. She was an unsympathetic victim to many. On Facebook, Jeff later made it clear that all the online chatter had taken a toll on the family. "To the public, our tragedy is juicy gossip" he wrote. Carol Robinson: The Facebook thing was really intruding on their lives, in his opinion. Investigators had formed their own opinion: Kat's death had been no accident. And on February 22, 2018, they made their move. PRESS CONFERENCE: William Jeffrey West, the victim's husband, has been arrested and charged with the murder. On February 22, 2018, police arrested Jeff West and charged him with his wife's murder. His bail was set at $500,000. Stephen Quinn ABC 33/40 Bail was set at half-a-million dollars. Brittany Driesler says Jeff should never have been arrested firmly believing that police failed to fully investigate the hundreds of OnlyFans subscribers who had paid to see the racy content Kat posted. WELCOME TO ONLYFANS Some see it as unseemly; others call it harmless fun. Either way, the online venue where Kat West posted her racy photos, known as OnlyFans, is a lot more than only a website, says Carol Robinson. Carol Robinson: It's sort of the happy median between porn and "The Brady Bunch." ONLYFANS PROMOTIONAL VIDEO: "Whether you're a blogger . celebrity, model, whatever, you can reward your loyal fans with even more of the great content you already produce but get paid for it!" Since COVID-19 caused widespread lockdowns, OnlyFans has become a provocative and profitable platform for celebrities. Last summer, former Disney star Bella Thorne reportedly made a $1 million in one day, posting lifestyle content. And the site has become an exotic destination for more salacious "staycationers" as well: A place to dream of living large and potentially to make a good living in the process. A former teacher in one YouTube video told a reporter she quadrupled her income posting nudes on OnlyFans: "I wear things that allow me to feel sexy, because when I feel sexy, I feel powerful." Another woman says she is paying her way through a neuroscience Master's program. And a Minnesota pastor made headlines when she left the pulpit: Not for a higher calling, but she did eventually make a higher paycheck posting on OnlyFans and now reportedly earns tens of thousands of dollars a month. By the end of 2020, the London-based site had grown to more than a million content providers and more than 90 million subscribers. Lauren Kwei: Not at all. In 2015, Lauren Kwei moved to New York from her home in West Virginia with dreams of making it big on Broadway. Lauren Kwei: I really wanted to make something of myself. Soon frustrated with the rat race, the 23-year-old daughter of a doctor and nurse began studying emergency medicine and became a paramedic around the time the pandemic began. Lauren Kwei: I knew there was a job that needed to be done. Almost immediately, she found herself treating and transporting critically ill COVID patients working at the intersection of life and death. Lauren Kwei: I still remember taking patients away whose family members couldn't come with us. They didn't know if it was going to be the last time they saw each other. That was really rough for me. Rougher still, she says, because even though she was saving lives, it was impossible to save any money. She was making only about $40,000 a year less than other first responders like many New York police and firefighters. Lauren Kwei: No, not at all it wasn't feasible to live off of that salary. As her bills piled up and employment options dwindled, Lauren turned to OnlyFans. Lauren Kwei: I don't have to go outside of my house, you know this could be an easy business. Using an alias, she started by posting lingerie pics, cropping out her face. But she says she soon stopped cropping. And before long, the paramedic who by day was covering every inch of her body in protective clothing, started taking it all off online. Lauren Kwei: Yes, I did. And she says if Kat West was proud to be on OnlyFans, she would have had reason to be. Lauren Kwei: The human body, I believe it should be celebrated. Lauren Kwei: I felt empowered. I did not feel like I was degrading myself. Lauren Kwei: A hundred percent. But Lauren admits she was worried about the exposure. Lauren Kwei: It was scary to think that, you know, I'd be taking pictures of myself that would be on the Internet. Especially as her pool of OnlyFans subscribers started to grow. She says some of the requests for personalized content were disrespectful. Lauren Kwei: There's some really weird people on the Internet. Maureen Maher wondered if West's attorney was thinking the same thing. John Robbins: We looked into that and there just wasn't that evidence out there. No evidence that an OnlyFans online user was involved in Kat West's death. What the evidence does show, says Jeff's attorney John Robbins, is that Kat wasn't murdered. John Robbins: She fell and hit her head. Jeff's parents, Jerry and Suzi, agree. They aren't sure exactly how Kat hit her head and they don't think authorities can prove it either. William "Jerry" West: They set out to get Jeff. There was no investigation. Carolyn "Suzi" West: I know he's innocent. William "Jerry" West: I don't care what anybody says. He did not do this. Jeff's parents say he was incapable of harming his family. Now that is exactly what you would expect to hear from the parents of an accused killer. But you would probably not expect to hear the same thing from the parents of the alleged victim. John Martin: He's honorable, and he loved my daughter. I know he didn't do it. Nancy Martin: He didn't do this. Kat's parents, John and Nancy, say their daughter was conspicuously clumsy and the drinking did not help. Brittany Driesler concedes anything is possible. Because she was so intoxicated. Authorities insist Jeff West is a murderer. But their tactics suggest otherwise. A few months before histrial, Jeff West turned down a plea deal. Shelby County Sheriff's Office John Robbins says just a few months before trial, the prosecution offered Jeff West a deal. It's called an Alford Plea. Jeff would not have to admit that he had committed a crime, but he would have to acknowledge that the State had enough evidence to likely convict. Now if the judge accepted that deal, it means that Jeff would be let off with time served and only two years' probation. He could walk out of jail almost immediately. John Robbins: That tells you, as a defense lawyer the prosecution has some problems with their case, and they recognize that. According to Shelby County prosecutors, plea deals are standard in every case and Robbins says he told Jeff it was a reasonable offer. John Robbins: He rejected it immediately. John Robbins: Because he says "I cannot say that I'm guilty of something that I didn't do." Jeff West decides to roll the dice and take his chances in court. John Robbins: He understands the risk of going to trial. JEFF WEST GOES TO TRIAL For more than two years, Jeff West has awaited trial in custody. Carol Robinson: We weren't getting a lot of information at the time. The police were holding things close to their vest. Defense attorney John Robbins believes prosecutors have problems with their case. He says, the Friday before trial, they called him with more talk of a plea deal. John Robbins: We discussed what would it take to settle the case. But they could not come to terms. The prosecution has also notified the court it will make a new filing of evidence: text messages between Jeff and Kat. Sgt. Mike Mehlhoff: It was very apparent that it was a very volatile relationship. Jeff and Kat West Kat West/Facebook Prosecutors will tell the jury that the Wests did not have a harmonious marriage. "You're throwing almost 14 yrs [sic] of a relationship away" she'd written a week before she died. "You don't want me , fine. Someone will." "I always want you," he'd replied. The texts went from erratic to erotic so fast that Robbins actually wants to use them to defend Jeff. John Robbins: Any time Kat said something that, quote, "can be considered an argument." His response is, "I love you. I want you. You're sexy." Carol Robinson [at court]: Today is the first day of the murder trial against Jeff West in the murder of Kat West. The judge banned news cameras from the courtroom, but"48 Hours" was at the courthouse taking notes. And it soon became clear there were at least two things the defense and prosecution agreed on: the cause of death blunt force trauma and how the night began. Jeff and Kat had started drinking at dinner and bought more booze on the way home. When the Wests returned to their home, they continued drinking. On Instagram that night, Jeff posted this picture of the liquor bottle they had bought. Jeff West/Instagram It was later that Kat apparently had changed into lingerie and asked Jeff to photograph her for her online fans. On Instagram, that night, he posted a picture of the absinthe liquor bottle. Authorities contend he would bludgeon her to death with the very same bottle. Sgt. Mike Mehlhoff: I wouldn't want to speculate as to, you know, what drove him to that point. But I can certainly say, that I feel that yes he's- he's the one responsible for his wife's death. At the scene, Mehlhoff says he found it odd that Jeff did not ask for details about his wife's condition. Sgt. Mike Mehlhoff: I would have thought that he would have at least asked, you know, "Can I see her?" Carol believes what Jeff did say made authorities suspicious too. Carol Robinson: According to Jeff, he went to bed about 10:30 Kat stayed up. Sgt. Mike Mehlhoff: Now, that's Jeff's version of what happened. But before long, Mehlhoff unearthed a different story on a health tracker app on Jeff's cell phone. Sgt. Mike Mehlhoff: Well, the health app actually shows Jeff's phone moving as late as 10 minutes after 11 o'clock. And Mehlhoff says he believes Jeff also lied about when he woke up that morning. Jeff told authorities his dogs got him up by barking at the police cruisers out front. But a neighbor reported seeing Jeff before police arrived. Carol Robinson: She could see a man in the house pacing back and forth. Having laid out what they believed were Jeff's movements that night, police looked at Kat's phone, which also had a health tracker app. It showed her phone had stopped moving 16 minutes before Jeff's. About a month after her death, police got test results from that absinthe bottle. It had a sliver of glass chipped off. And there were two spots of Kat's blood on the bottom. Sgt. Mike Mehlhoff: We had Jeff's fingerprints on it. Sgt. Mike Mehlhoff: Oh, absolutely. But Mehlhoff says there was something specific about the prints that helped point the finger of blame at Jeff. Sgt. Mike Mehlhoff: Basically, the bottle was held inverted much like he'd be holding it like a club. Carol Robinson [demonstrates]: Jeff's thumb print was found in a downward position on the bottle and his ring fingerprint was found over here. John Robbins: She was not hit in the head with that bottle. Robbins says that's clear, because Jeff is a righty and the prints on the bottle were from his left hand. And there's a good reason they're upside down. John Robbins: The bottle was in a bag. You would pull it out of the bag in the same way, where your thumbprint would be going down. But to win this case, the defense will tell the jury that Jeff West could not have murdered his wife because Kat wasn't murdered. John Robbins: I've handled well over 100 murder cases never went forward on a murder case where the manner of death was classified as undetermined. John Robbins: In a nutshell she fell, she hit her head. Robbins says police found Jeff dressed in the same clothes as seen in the security video the night before. John Robbins: There was nothing on his clothes, no liquor, no blood, no bodily fluid, no tissue, no hair. And there was no hair on the bottle There's no glass in her wound. And, despite what police told "48 Hours," no real effort Robbins maintains to consider other suspects or theories about Kat's death. John Robbins: The only person they ever looked at was Jeff and they really never looked at it whether it was an accident. Sgt. Mike Mehlhoff: Absolutely not. I don't want to sit here and say that I immediately ruled out an accident, but just the head trauma alone knowing that the body had been moved it was very hard to try to look at this as an accident. Not hard at all, insists Robbins. The two blood pools at the scene suggest that after Kat fell, she could have gotten up and fallen again. John Robbins: 'Cause it's clear that she moved around after she had that head injury. John Robbins has whittled his entire case down to only one witness a witness guaranteed to get the jury's attention: Kat's mother Nancy Martin takes the stand to tell the jury about her daughter's lifelong struggles. Maureen Maher: It's a lot of pressure. Nancy Martin: Yeah, it was. It really was. Carol Robinson: Martin testified that she, herself, had witnessed Kat West in an intoxicated state go outside barefoot, in any whether it was hot or cold, she said. She would be in varying stages of dress. Carol Robinson: You know I can't really recall another case where the mother of the victim and the father of the victim were so attached to the suspect. Kat's parents are even giving Jeff legal advice. They help convince him not to testify. John Robbins [at court]: Jeff's in a good mood. He's fired up. In closing arguments, Assistant District Attorney Daniel McBrayer finally ties together the state's theory of what happened that night and why: He says Jeff had lost his temper with his wife. Daniel McBrayer: He had a problem with her drinking and her social media usage. Prosecutors say the evidence from that night shows it: Jeff had thrown her phone into the street and clubbed her to death with the liquor bottle when she went after it. And McBrayer says the way the bottle and phone were positioned convinced authorities it could not have been an accident. Daniel McBrayer: There were those two items stacked perfectly together. right there on the street next to her body. John Robbins: Jeff loved his wife. John Robbins: But there's no evidence to that. He has does not have a history of violence. The trial is ending when prosecutors make a last-minute move. They convince the judge to let the jury consider a lesser charge than murder: reckless manslaughter. Carol Robinson [at court]: I think that we could see a verdict tonight. John Robbins: This is this is the hard part, just just waiting. A STUNNING VERDICT John Robbins: They were afraid that they were going to lose the case. John Robbins says he wasn't happy about the last-minute lesser charge that prosecutors introduced, and it's easy to see why. It takes the jury less than five hours to convict Jeff West of reckless manslaughter. John Robbins: Jeff is is stunned. Both sets of parents are also stunned by the verdict. WILLIAM "JERRY" WEST [to reporters]: That was [expletive] and you know it John Martin: I couldn't believe it. I really couldn't. Almost three months later, Judge Bill Bostick sentenced Jeff West to 16 years. Nancy Martin: I just wanted to cry. With credit for time served, Jeff will be behind bars for 13 more years. For the prosecutors, it's a kind of split decision but they declare victory anyway. ADA DANIEL MCBRAYER [to reporters]: Obviously, we would have preferred a murder verdict. We're glad to get a sentence as we did. For the defense, it is a stinging defeat. Jeff knows if he had accepted that plea deal from the prosecutors, he'd probably already be home. John Robbins: In retrospect, that probably he should have taken the deal. Both sets of parents stand behind Jeff's decision. [They all raise their hands.] Carolyn "Suzi" West: We all think he's not guilty William "Jerry" West: We all think he's not guilty. Jeff and Kat West's parents. Clockwise from top William "Jerry" West, Carolyn "Suzi" West, Nancy Martin and Jim Martin. CBS News They sat down with "48 Hours" as a group three days after sentencing. William "Jerry" West: Nobody. Maureen Maher: No hands. They believe the judge threw the book at Jeff West in sentencing for refusing to settle the case, and that from the moment Kat's death made news, she was harshly judged in the court of public opinion. Nancy Martin: It was the fact that she was doing these things that small towns don't understand. New York City paramedic Lauren Kwei says, for her, the harsh judgements did not start until last November. Lauren Kwei: I think society is always going to be hard on women for anything that we do. "I definitely wish things had gone differently in my experience, however I'm pretty proud of who I am today," Lauren Kwei tells "48 Hours" in her first television interview. Lauren Kwei She says a newspaper reporter contacted her out of the blue. He told her he was investigating whether her OnlyFans page violated her employer's code of conduct. Lauren Kwei: And in that moment I I wanted to just, like, crawl in a hole and die. Lauren says she canceled her OnlyFans account immediately. The expos including her real name, and where she lived and worked began circulating a few weeks later. Lauren Kwei: I opened my Instagram and saw, you know, 600 follow requests. Lauren Kwei: Absolutely. Lauren Kwei: Well, I - I think it definitely would have made a lot of money. As it happens, she did anyway. Worried that Lauren might lose her job, a friend set up a GoFundMe page for her. Supporters contributed more than $100,000. But in the end, the private ambulance company she works for kept her on the clock. We caught up with her at work. Lauren Kwei: It's always really hard to watch people pass away. Sometimes I think about Kat West and I think about where she would be today. Kat West Kat West/Facebook Brittany Driesler [Crying]: It sucks that she was taken so early. Kat's friend Brittany Driesler is living with loss, too. Brittany Driesler [Crying]: She's gone. That that that's heart wrenching. They have a daughter that's in the mix of everything. Maureen Maher: I think people forget that a child is involved. Nancy Martin: Right. Every week, Lola, now 16-years-old, goes with all her grandparents to see Jeff. Nancy Martin: No [laughs]. Suzi West: No. Nancy Martin: They're family! But even when Jeff West does get out of prison, this will always be a family with someone missing. William "Jerry" West: Kind, caring mother. Nancy Martin: Kind, caring person who loved her husband and loved her daughter very much. Lola is being raised by both sets of grandparents. Jeff West has filed an appeal. Produced by Josh Yager and Lauren A. White. Ryan N. Smith is the development producer. Elizabeth Caholo is the field producer. George Baluzy, Greg Kaplan, Joan Adelman, Diana Modica, and Grayce Arlotta-Berner are the editors. Peter Schweitzer is the senior producer. Nancy Kramer is the executive story editor. Judy Tygard is the executive producer. | Kat West had hundreds of fans on OnlyFans, a subscription-only website. She was found dead in the street with a fatal head wound and a bottle of absinthe. Friends say she was always the life of the party, but her online presence put her at risk. | ctrlsum | 2 | https://www.cbsnews.com/news/kat-west-onlyfans-mysterious-death-48-hours/ | 0.248543 |
How big are the blood-clot risks of the AZ jab? | Last Wednesday, the European Medicines Agency stated there was a plausible link between the Oxford/AstraZeneca (Vaxzevria) vaccine and rare types of blood clotting, which the MHRA estimates may happen in one in 100,000 young adults who get the vaccine. It is challenging to think of such low risks: when we have to count the zeros, all intuition goes. We could choose from the risk of dying when under general anaesthesia, or in a skydiving jump, or, on the positive side, winning the Lotto jackpot if you bought 450 tickets, or guessing the last five digits of someones mobile phone number. Perhaps more pertinently, its roughly the risk of a young woman on the contraceptive pill having some form of blood clot in one week. Risk is as much a matter of feeling as analysis. For the briefing last week, the Winton Centre (which DS chairs) constructed a comparison of benefits and risks in different age bands, balancing avoiding intensive care with Covid-19 against getting one of these specific clots. When there is not much virus circulating, these may be finely balanced in younger people, as they do not tend to get severely ill with Covid-19. But this analysis leaves out important potential benefits of vaccination, such as preventing other risks from Covid, including blood clotting. Then theres long Covid around 12% of people aged 17 to 24 reported symptoms 12 weeks after infection. Vaccination is also not just for the person who gets jabbed; it looks like it will help prevent symptomless infections and viral spread and so benefit all those they meet. Life is neither safe nor unsafe: risk is a spectrum. There are acceptable risks, which are so low people do nothing in response. There are risks so high we desist our activities. The third kind is tolerable risks: where we seek to reap the benefits while mitigating downsides. For most people, when there is virus circulating, the risks of Covid-19 outweigh the minimal risks from the vaccines. | European Medicines Agency stated there was a plausible link between the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine and rare types of blood clotting. Around 12% of people aged 17 to 24 reported symptoms 12 weeks after infection. For most people, when there is virus circulating, the risks of Covid-19 outweigh the minimal risks from the vaccines. | pegasus | 2 | https://www.theguardian.com/theobserver/commentisfree/2021/apr/11/how-big-are-the-blood-clot-risks-of-the-az-jab | 0.103736 |
Whats Behind The Violence In Northern Ireland? | BELFAST, NORTHERN IRELAND - APRIL 09: Flames and smoke rise from car set a fire during protests as ... [+] rioters hurled petrol bombs, fireworks and stones at police amid unrest since Wednesday, in Belfast, Northern Ireland on April 09, 2021. The unrest started when some Sinn Fein members attended a crowded funeral on top of tensions caused by Brexit border arrangements, which brought checks on goods shipped between Northern Ireland and the rest of the UK. Both loyalist and nationalist areas were involved in riots in west Belfast. (Photo by Hasan Esen/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images) Anadolu Agency via Getty Images Only three people have ever really understood the Schleswig-Holstein businessthe Prince Consort, who is deada German professor, who has gone madand I, who have forgotten all about it. Lord Palmerston, British statesman. Palmerstons musing on the Schleswig-Holstein question was always useful during Brexit, to illustrate its mystery and complexity. It is even better as a description for Northern Ireland, at least in terms of how well people outside Ireland understand the complexity of its political and social problems. Few seem to care Indeed, with the exception of select pockets of the USA, and oddly still fewer pockets of the UK, there are not many who comprehend or are interested in the complex history of Northern Ireland, though to its credit, the European Commission gave it great attention in the Brexit negotiation process. This lacuna should be filled by two recent books - Charles Townsends The Partition and Ivan Gibbons Partition. I do not want to repeat the arguments of these books, but rather to simply make two points in the context of vicious rioting across Northern Ireland in the last week. The first is that the kindling of the riots is partly due to the fact that the historic Good Friday Agreement has not been accompanied by an ambitious Marshall style plan for the north that could have remade its society and economy. The Irish governments recent Shared Island Plan is a nod in the right direction, but politically Northern Irelands Assembly largely exists (when it sits) to channel money from London into the local economy. No one has yet dared a radical program of change for Northern Ireland, and the consequences are being felt. Border across the sea Second, to a large extent however, the rioting in the North is provoked by the uncertainty over once steadfast boundaries. In particular the unionist/loyalist community is, together with British fishermen and farmers, realising the negative consequences of the Brexit deal for which they thoughtlessly campaigned (if in doubt look up the views of Sammy Wilson MP for example). The prospect of a de facto customs border through the Irish Sea (dividing the North from the UK) and talk of a united Ireland have sown discord. It lies with Boris Johnson to fix this. I do not think that Northern Ireland will erupt into the kind of violence witnessed in the 1970s and 1980s, but it is an important warning sign for the implications of Brexit for the rest of the UK. It may also be a sign of things to come, in a world where the fading of globalisation and the disruptive effect of the coronavirus, we will see more and more signs of identity angst where shifting feel they are no longer anchored in their own country. Ironically in the context of Northern Ireland, the Scots (Ulster) Irish in the USA are a case in point. As a demographic group they are one of the marginal forces behind the rise of Donald Trump (remember him?). Emerging Angst While it is not terribly edifying to search for the next socio-political breakdown, two further thoughts are worth drawing out in this regard. The first concerns emerging economies. Last week the IMF released growth forecasts for the chief economies of the world. What was striking was the relatively sluggish forecast growth for emerging economies, with a generalised rise in poverty. A structural slowing in growth in emerging nations will go against the grain of steadily rising prosperity of recent decades, and this could provide the backdrop to a more challenging political backdrop in Brazil, Ethiopia, Venezuela, Turkey and Pakistan to name a few countries where faltering economics, identity and ethnicity are faultlines. The other cohort of identity angst candidates is in eastern Europe principally Hungary, the Czech Republic and Poland, whose status as EU members is challenged by strong men politicians, corruption, the influence of Russia (in the case of Hungary) and ugly Sammy Wilson style views on womens rights, the LGBT community and liberal democracy. The growing tensions in these countries between, at a very stylised level, liberal pro European and generally younger generations versus those with a more regressive view of their country, will become more pronounced. These tensions may produce unrest, but they also need to be tended to by the EU, which has to increasingly defend and incentivise its values. | Northern Ireland rioters hurled petrol bombs, fireworks and stones at police amid unrest since Wednesday, in Belfast, Northern Ireland on April 09, 2021. The unrest started when some Sinn Fein members attended a crowded funeral. | ctrlsum | 1 | https://www.forbes.com/sites/mikeosullivan/2021/04/11/whats-behind-the-violence-in-northern-ireland/ | 0.141172 |
Whats Behind The Violence In Northern Ireland? | BELFAST, NORTHERN IRELAND - APRIL 09: Flames and smoke rise from car set a fire during protests as ... [+] rioters hurled petrol bombs, fireworks and stones at police amid unrest since Wednesday, in Belfast, Northern Ireland on April 09, 2021. The unrest started when some Sinn Fein members attended a crowded funeral on top of tensions caused by Brexit border arrangements, which brought checks on goods shipped between Northern Ireland and the rest of the UK. Both loyalist and nationalist areas were involved in riots in west Belfast. (Photo by Hasan Esen/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images) Anadolu Agency via Getty Images Only three people have ever really understood the Schleswig-Holstein businessthe Prince Consort, who is deada German professor, who has gone madand I, who have forgotten all about it. Lord Palmerston, British statesman. Palmerstons musing on the Schleswig-Holstein question was always useful during Brexit, to illustrate its mystery and complexity. It is even better as a description for Northern Ireland, at least in terms of how well people outside Ireland understand the complexity of its political and social problems. Few seem to care Indeed, with the exception of select pockets of the USA, and oddly still fewer pockets of the UK, there are not many who comprehend or are interested in the complex history of Northern Ireland, though to its credit, the European Commission gave it great attention in the Brexit negotiation process. This lacuna should be filled by two recent books - Charles Townsends The Partition and Ivan Gibbons Partition. I do not want to repeat the arguments of these books, but rather to simply make two points in the context of vicious rioting across Northern Ireland in the last week. The first is that the kindling of the riots is partly due to the fact that the historic Good Friday Agreement has not been accompanied by an ambitious Marshall style plan for the north that could have remade its society and economy. The Irish governments recent Shared Island Plan is a nod in the right direction, but politically Northern Irelands Assembly largely exists (when it sits) to channel money from London into the local economy. No one has yet dared a radical program of change for Northern Ireland, and the consequences are being felt. Border across the sea Second, to a large extent however, the rioting in the North is provoked by the uncertainty over once steadfast boundaries. In particular the unionist/loyalist community is, together with British fishermen and farmers, realising the negative consequences of the Brexit deal for which they thoughtlessly campaigned (if in doubt look up the views of Sammy Wilson MP for example). The prospect of a de facto customs border through the Irish Sea (dividing the North from the UK) and talk of a united Ireland have sown discord. It lies with Boris Johnson to fix this. I do not think that Northern Ireland will erupt into the kind of violence witnessed in the 1970s and 1980s, but it is an important warning sign for the implications of Brexit for the rest of the UK. It may also be a sign of things to come, in a world where the fading of globalisation and the disruptive effect of the coronavirus, we will see more and more signs of identity angst where shifting feel they are no longer anchored in their own country. Ironically in the context of Northern Ireland, the Scots (Ulster) Irish in the USA are a case in point. As a demographic group they are one of the marginal forces behind the rise of Donald Trump (remember him?). Emerging Angst While it is not terribly edifying to search for the next socio-political breakdown, two further thoughts are worth drawing out in this regard. The first concerns emerging economies. Last week the IMF released growth forecasts for the chief economies of the world. What was striking was the relatively sluggish forecast growth for emerging economies, with a generalised rise in poverty. A structural slowing in growth in emerging nations will go against the grain of steadily rising prosperity of recent decades, and this could provide the backdrop to a more challenging political backdrop in Brazil, Ethiopia, Venezuela, Turkey and Pakistan to name a few countries where faltering economics, identity and ethnicity are faultlines. The other cohort of identity angst candidates is in eastern Europe principally Hungary, the Czech Republic and Poland, whose status as EU members is challenged by strong men politicians, corruption, the influence of Russia (in the case of Hungary) and ugly Sammy Wilson style views on womens rights, the LGBT community and liberal democracy. The growing tensions in these countries between, at a very stylised level, liberal pro European and generally younger generations versus those with a more regressive view of their country, will become more pronounced. These tensions may produce unrest, but they also need to be tended to by the EU, which has to increasingly defend and incentivise its values. | Northern Ireland rioters hurled petrol bombs, fireworks and stones at police amid unrest since Wednesday, in Belfast, Northern Ireland on April 09, 2021. The unrest started when some Sinn Fein members attended a crowded funeral on top of tensions caused by Brexit border arrangements, which brought checks on goods. | ctrlsum | 2 | https://www.forbes.com/sites/mikeosullivan/2021/04/11/whats-behind-the-violence-in-northern-ireland/ | 0.247671 |
What would a Stephon Gilmore extension look like? | The Patriots methodically attacked free agency, making a number of significant moves with the hope of returning to contender status. There could be more fireworks to come in or around the NFL Draft, which is now two and a half weeks away. Its pretty clear Bill Belichick, who turns 69 on Friday, doesnt want to engage in a long-term rebuild. He wants to get back in the winners circle sooner, rather than later. To that end, trading Stephon Gilmore makes no sense. His status and contract remain one of the to-do items on the Patriots offseason list. Extending his deal, which expires after this season, would seem like the way to go for several reasons. First, as one of the premier corners in the league, its rather doubtful Gilmore would want to play for just $7 million, which is his base salary this year. That figure is also $13 million shy of Jalen Ramseys average annual salary, as the NFLs highest paid cornerback. Gilmore probably wants and expects something to be done especially in wake of Belichick opening up the purse strings for others in free agency. The Patriots, meanwhile, know theyre going to have to deal with Gilmore one way, or the other. When they bumped his salary up by $5 million last year, it was understood another adjustment would be needed going forward. Second, and most important, the Patriots need to have a shutdown corner to play defense the way Belichick likes to play defense. More to the point, they need a shutdown corner in order to seriously contend. Obviously, a quarterback would help, too. But lets focus on the defense for this exercise. Belichick is at his best scheming and plotting to stifle high powered offenses with a true shutdown corner in tow. Over time, weve seen how much a top corner can influence a game with Ty Law and Darrelle Revis, as well as Gilmore. Its no surprise all three have been part of championship teams. J.C. Jackson, while good, didnt distinguish himself in the top role during the games Gilmore missed last season. He seems best slotted in the No. 2 role at this point. As for the rest, Jonathan Jones, who is the only corner under contract beyond this season, is very good in his role as the slot corner, and occasional safety. Hes not a top gun, however. Same with Joejuan Williams and Myles Bryant, who are hybrids who seem best suited for specialty roles. Perhaps the Patriots draft a top corner in the first round, be it Alabamas Patrick Surtain II, South Carolinas Jaycee Horn or Virginia Techs Caleb Farley. If that happens, it will still take a bit of time for that rookie to evolve into the teams next shutdown corner to follow Gilmore. So it behooves the Patriots to fish, and not cut bait with Gilmore. The Patriots wont want to go long-term, thats almost a given. So maybe a two-year extension on Gilmores current deal, in the neighborhood of $35 to $38 million, would suffice, or at least, be in the ballpark. Lumping this years salary in the mix, hed average around $14-to-$15 million per season over the course of the next three years, with the Patriots having him under contract through the 2023 season. If the guaranteed money comes early, the third year could be a parachute for both sides. That type of extension would place him just under Miamis Xavien Howard, who is the sixth-highest paid corner at an average of $15.05 million, and on par with Baltimores Marcus Peters, who is at No. 8 at $14 million, if its at the low end. To put it in further context, this deal is also in the realm of the 5-year, $65 million deal he originally signed with the Patriots as a free agent in 2017. Now, if Gilmore remains for the length of the deal, hed be 33 going into his age-34 season when the contract expires. Just for a few reference points, Law was 35 when he retired. Revis was 32. Patriots owner Robert Kraft, speaking with the media 12 days ago, wouldnt say if there had been any contract talks ongoing with Gilmore, who was reported to be open to discussions for a new deal. Were lucky to have Stephon Gilmore. Hes a tremendous player for us, a great person. And hes just so gifted, said Kraft. So hes under contract with us, and well see what happens. Its possible the Patriots might only want to keep Gilmore for the final year of his deal this season, and then move on. If that was the plan, it would also behoove them to select one of the best corner prospects in the draft as the likely successor. Again, Gilmore might not be inclined to play nice at the $7 million figure for one season. Like last year, coming off his NFL Defensive Player of the Year laurels, he might balk until getting his deal sweetened. Hes not taking a pay cut, I can tell you that right now, said SiriusXM NFL analyst Solomon Wilcots when reached last week. If the Patriots want to keep him, hes probably not going to take anything less than $15 million (per season). The leverage the Patriots have on Gilmore is his age, and the fact hes coming off the partially torn quad injury that ended his season, and required surgery. He might be perfectly fine in 2021 and beyond, but that also factors in. Wilcots understands the need to hold onto a player like Gilmore, he just wasnt sure if the Patriots would go for a multi-year extension. He thought the Pats would make another adjustment on this years figure, and have him play out the contract. They would also draft his eventual successor, especially if Surtain, who is Nick Sabans guy at Alabama, falls into their lap at No. 15. Personally, I can see them letting Gilmore play out (the final year), said Wilcots. As much as they might want to keep him, Im not sure Bill wants to pay the number (it would take) to do so, especially at Gilmores age. Bill will probably offer one year at $10 million, and think thats a bargain for him, and Gilmore should take it. But I can also see them drafting someone, Wilcots went on. If Surtain is still there when they go on the clock, that solves the problem, and he can still keep Stephon for one more year. Maybe thats the way it will ultimately go. But given all the dynamics at play, it also wouldnt be surprising to see Gilmore here beyond 2021. House stands by Newton Tom House, a former MLB pitcher and throwing mechanics coach most noted for working with Tom Brady, sees a light at the end of the tunnel for Cam Newton. House had previously worked with Newton in Carolina and said in an interview with NBC Sports Bostons Patriots Talk Podcast, he believed the quarterbacks biggest problem last year may have been the Lisfranc injury that eventually ended his 2019 season. I think his foot injury bothered him more than his shoulder injury, House explained. These athletes throw with their feet. The quicker their feet, the quicker their release. He went through a full year where he couldnt step and throw without pain in his foot. House said he thinks with Newton operating in a normal training camp, he should improve in 2021. What people dont realize is Cam has been injured, House said. He hasnt had the ability to work on mechanics like he should or could have because his health was an issue. And what you saw with the pandemic and all the upheaval and weird things that were going on with the day-to-day process, he probably didnt have the time, or what I would say his efforts had to be directed toward just plain competing. Hoyer visits Jets With the Jets focused on drafting their next franchise quarterback with the No. 2 pick in the upcoming draft BYUs Zach Wilson the odds-on favorite it makes sense for them to plug in a veteran backup. To that end, Gang Green interviewed former Patriots backup Brian Hoyer on Thursday, a league source confirmed. Hoyer has some familiarity with the coaching staff, as well as the Jets offense. He was with the 49ers in 2017 when current Jets offensive coordinator Mike LaFleur was the passing game coordinator. Jets head coach Robert Saleh was also the defensive coordinator of the 49ers, so he also has a pretty good idea what Hoyer brings to the table. Seems like a good match. Hoyer is a good mentor for young quarterbacks. Well see if the Jets become his eighth NFL stop to go along with the Patriots, Colts, 49ers, Bears, Texans , Browns and Cardinals. Draft tidbits Ohio States second Pro Day is set for Wednesday. Those who didnt attend quarterback Justin Fields first pro day on March 30 will have a second chance to watch him throw live, as hes expected to participate. Several teams, including the 49ers, who own the No. 3 pick, and the Patriots, had their top people at Mac Jones Pro Day in Alabama during Ohio States initial day. While there were personnel on hand from both teams, no doubt Kyle Shanahan and John Lynch from the Niners, and or Bill Belichick and Josh McDaniels from the Patriots would like to watch Fields in person. While it was interesting to hear Saban say neither Shanahan nor Lynch spoke to him about Jones specifically, dont read too much into that. Also, North Dakota States Trey Lance is also having a second Pro Day on April 19. So the plot thickens. The 49ers are doing their best to keep their quarterback choice under wraps. Patriots working for greater cause In his spare time, Bill Belichicks right-hand man Berj Najarian, the director of football/head coach administration for the Patriots, has used his platform to champion Armenian-related causes. In January, he raised money for the Armenians impacted by the drone attacks by neighboring Azerbaijan. Najarian wore cleats promoting Armenian relief that pulled in the highest donation in the history of My Cause, My Cleats, raising more than $40,000. Of late, Najarian is also raising awareness about the Armenian Genocide, which took more than a million lives. Last week, he took to Instagram to post a challenge for people to recognize the Armenian Genocide with a call to action. Najarians post was supported and promoted by several members of the Patriots organization including defensive assistant Jerod Mayo, center David Andrews, linebacker Chase Winovich, long snapper Joe Cardona and quarterback Jarrett Stidham, just to name a few. The encouragement from ownership, coaches, players and support staff to use our platforms and raise awareness for important issues, particularly ones of human rights and social justice, is incredible, Najarian said, via email. These issues remain on the front burner for all of us and to be part of a group that is always uplifting each other is pretty special. There are many examples with the latest being Joe Cardona, Jerod Mayo, Chase Winovich and others re-posting my call to action at anca.org/genocide. In 2019, the U.S. Congress passed legislation to formally recognize the genocide and mass killings of Armenians a century ago. Political motivation, however, has prevented wider recognition. Said Najarian: Even though the United States Congress has fully and formally recognized the Armenian Genocide as a known historical event with perpetrators and victims, it is long overdue for our executive branch to do the same thing. I am going to continue my effort to raise awareness as long as it takes. | Stephon Gilmore's contract expires after this season. The Patriots need a shutdown corner to play defense the way Bill Belichick likes to play. A two-year extension on Gilmore's current deal, in the neighborhood of $35 to $38 million, would suffice, or at least, be in the ballpark. | ctrlsum | 2 | https://www.bostonherald.com/2021/04/11/what-would-a-stephon-gilmore-extension-look-like/ | 0.215212 |
Could The U.K. Secretly Strip Encryption From WhatsApp? | The U.K. Government is targeting WhatsApp DeFodi Images via Getty Images The U.K. government could secretly force Facebook to strip end-to-end encryption from apps such as WhatsApp, a civil liberties organization has claimed. The U.K. government has waged a long campaign against end-to-end encryption in consumer apps because it makes interception of communications more difficult. End-to-end encryption thus facilitates crimes such as child abuse, politicians such as the U.K.s Home Secretary, Priti Patel, have argued. Technology firms and civil rights groups retort that encrypted communication are safer for everyone, not only criminals. Until now, the U.K. governments rhetoric against end-to-end encryption has been just that: rhetoric. But there are now signs the governments resolve is hardening, with the likelihood of forthcoming legislation that would make end-to-end encrypted apps illegal. High-risk features Earlier this week, a report called Unsafe Children: Driving Up Our Countrys Response To Child Sexual Abuse and Exploitation was published by the influential right-wing think tank The Centre for Social Justice. The think tank was founded by a former Conservative leader and the report was endorsed by the former chancellor, Sajid Javid, who is hotly tipped for a return to government. The report made startling recommendations in respect of apps such as WhatsApp. We would wish to see that the introduction of a high-risk design feature like end-to-end-encryption without evidencing corresponding safeguards would be a clear breach of the Duty of Care [in the forthcoming Online Safety Bill], the report stated. It will be insufficient for a platform to argue that introducing such a high-risk design feature will have benefits in other spaces like user privacy and preventing online financial crime. Whats more, the report seems to take a pre-emptive strike against Facebook, which has said it will introduce end-to-end encryption across all of its messaging platforms. We will expect [U.K. telecoms regulator] Ofcom to stay zoomed in on the specific impact on child safety and to be able to act retroactively should any high-risk design features be introduced in advance of the Online Safety Bill passing. In other words, should Facebook attempt to introduce encryption before its made illegal, the Centre for Social Justice wants action taken against the firm. Ready to act Priti Patel has long opposed end-to-end encryption in apps Getty Images The report comes ahead of a speech the Home Secretary will give next week at an event hosted by the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (NSPCC), in which she is expected to rail against the use of end-to-end encryption in consumer apps. An NSPCC report commissioned for the event will, according to a leaked draft seen by Wired, suggest the government devise regulation expressly targeting encryption, so as to block any measures that might make it harder for police to intercept communications. One way in which the government could effectively outlaw encrypted apps is through a Technical Capability Notice (TCN). These were introduced as part of a previous and highly controversial piece of legislation called the Investigatory Powers Act, and could allow the government to effectively strip the apps of encryption without fresh legislation. A TCN can compel a service provider to remove electronic protections, including security standards, such as encryption, says a blog post from the Open Rights Group, a civil liberties organization in the U.K. The Open Rights Group fears the notice could be implemented without any public discussion. TCNs are negotiated in secret and are not made public, the Open Rights Group adds. A company which is subject to a TCN is legally barred not only from discussing the specifics of the notice, but from disclosing whether the notice exists at all. If the U.K. government were to proceed with a TCN against Facebook and other app developers, it would mean any private message exchanged on Facebook/WhatsApp could be subject to monitoring and surveillance, with no notice, recourse, or transparency, the Open Rights Group claims. However, even with a gagging order in place, it would be hard for the companies to enact such an order without anyone noticing. As the Open Rights Group speculates, the government would much prefer Facebook to back down publicly, which is why its continuing its current PR offensive. Either way, it seems the U.K. governments determination to rid messaging apps of encryption is stronger than ever. | The U.K. government could secretly force Facebook to strip end-to-end encryption from apps. | ctrlsum | 0 | https://www.forbes.com/sites/barrycollins/2021/04/11/could-the-uk-secretly-strip-encryption-from-whatsapp/ | 0.272905 |
Could The U.K. Secretly Strip Encryption From WhatsApp? | The U.K. Government is targeting WhatsApp DeFodi Images via Getty Images The U.K. government could secretly force Facebook to strip end-to-end encryption from apps such as WhatsApp, a civil liberties organization has claimed. The U.K. government has waged a long campaign against end-to-end encryption in consumer apps because it makes interception of communications more difficult. End-to-end encryption thus facilitates crimes such as child abuse, politicians such as the U.K.s Home Secretary, Priti Patel, have argued. Technology firms and civil rights groups retort that encrypted communication are safer for everyone, not only criminals. Until now, the U.K. governments rhetoric against end-to-end encryption has been just that: rhetoric. But there are now signs the governments resolve is hardening, with the likelihood of forthcoming legislation that would make end-to-end encrypted apps illegal. High-risk features Earlier this week, a report called Unsafe Children: Driving Up Our Countrys Response To Child Sexual Abuse and Exploitation was published by the influential right-wing think tank The Centre for Social Justice. The think tank was founded by a former Conservative leader and the report was endorsed by the former chancellor, Sajid Javid, who is hotly tipped for a return to government. The report made startling recommendations in respect of apps such as WhatsApp. We would wish to see that the introduction of a high-risk design feature like end-to-end-encryption without evidencing corresponding safeguards would be a clear breach of the Duty of Care [in the forthcoming Online Safety Bill], the report stated. It will be insufficient for a platform to argue that introducing such a high-risk design feature will have benefits in other spaces like user privacy and preventing online financial crime. Whats more, the report seems to take a pre-emptive strike against Facebook, which has said it will introduce end-to-end encryption across all of its messaging platforms. We will expect [U.K. telecoms regulator] Ofcom to stay zoomed in on the specific impact on child safety and to be able to act retroactively should any high-risk design features be introduced in advance of the Online Safety Bill passing. In other words, should Facebook attempt to introduce encryption before its made illegal, the Centre for Social Justice wants action taken against the firm. Ready to act Priti Patel has long opposed end-to-end encryption in apps Getty Images The report comes ahead of a speech the Home Secretary will give next week at an event hosted by the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (NSPCC), in which she is expected to rail against the use of end-to-end encryption in consumer apps. An NSPCC report commissioned for the event will, according to a leaked draft seen by Wired, suggest the government devise regulation expressly targeting encryption, so as to block any measures that might make it harder for police to intercept communications. One way in which the government could effectively outlaw encrypted apps is through a Technical Capability Notice (TCN). These were introduced as part of a previous and highly controversial piece of legislation called the Investigatory Powers Act, and could allow the government to effectively strip the apps of encryption without fresh legislation. A TCN can compel a service provider to remove electronic protections, including security standards, such as encryption, says a blog post from the Open Rights Group, a civil liberties organization in the U.K. The Open Rights Group fears the notice could be implemented without any public discussion. TCNs are negotiated in secret and are not made public, the Open Rights Group adds. A company which is subject to a TCN is legally barred not only from discussing the specifics of the notice, but from disclosing whether the notice exists at all. If the U.K. government were to proceed with a TCN against Facebook and other app developers, it would mean any private message exchanged on Facebook/WhatsApp could be subject to monitoring and surveillance, with no notice, recourse, or transparency, the Open Rights Group claims. However, even with a gagging order in place, it would be hard for the companies to enact such an order without anyone noticing. As the Open Rights Group speculates, the government would much prefer Facebook to back down publicly, which is why its continuing its current PR offensive. Either way, it seems the U.K. governments determination to rid messaging apps of encryption is stronger than ever. | The U.K. government could secretly force Facebook to strip end-to-end encryption from apps such as WhatsApp, a civil liberties organization has claimed. | pegasus | 1 | https://www.forbes.com/sites/barrycollins/2021/04/11/could-the-uk-secretly-strip-encryption-from-whatsapp/ | 0.442557 |
Could The U.K. Secretly Strip Encryption From WhatsApp? | The U.K. Government is targeting WhatsApp DeFodi Images via Getty Images The U.K. government could secretly force Facebook to strip end-to-end encryption from apps such as WhatsApp, a civil liberties organization has claimed. The U.K. government has waged a long campaign against end-to-end encryption in consumer apps because it makes interception of communications more difficult. End-to-end encryption thus facilitates crimes such as child abuse, politicians such as the U.K.s Home Secretary, Priti Patel, have argued. Technology firms and civil rights groups retort that encrypted communication are safer for everyone, not only criminals. Until now, the U.K. governments rhetoric against end-to-end encryption has been just that: rhetoric. But there are now signs the governments resolve is hardening, with the likelihood of forthcoming legislation that would make end-to-end encrypted apps illegal. High-risk features Earlier this week, a report called Unsafe Children: Driving Up Our Countrys Response To Child Sexual Abuse and Exploitation was published by the influential right-wing think tank The Centre for Social Justice. The think tank was founded by a former Conservative leader and the report was endorsed by the former chancellor, Sajid Javid, who is hotly tipped for a return to government. The report made startling recommendations in respect of apps such as WhatsApp. We would wish to see that the introduction of a high-risk design feature like end-to-end-encryption without evidencing corresponding safeguards would be a clear breach of the Duty of Care [in the forthcoming Online Safety Bill], the report stated. It will be insufficient for a platform to argue that introducing such a high-risk design feature will have benefits in other spaces like user privacy and preventing online financial crime. Whats more, the report seems to take a pre-emptive strike against Facebook, which has said it will introduce end-to-end encryption across all of its messaging platforms. We will expect [U.K. telecoms regulator] Ofcom to stay zoomed in on the specific impact on child safety and to be able to act retroactively should any high-risk design features be introduced in advance of the Online Safety Bill passing. In other words, should Facebook attempt to introduce encryption before its made illegal, the Centre for Social Justice wants action taken against the firm. Ready to act Priti Patel has long opposed end-to-end encryption in apps Getty Images The report comes ahead of a speech the Home Secretary will give next week at an event hosted by the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (NSPCC), in which she is expected to rail against the use of end-to-end encryption in consumer apps. An NSPCC report commissioned for the event will, according to a leaked draft seen by Wired, suggest the government devise regulation expressly targeting encryption, so as to block any measures that might make it harder for police to intercept communications. One way in which the government could effectively outlaw encrypted apps is through a Technical Capability Notice (TCN). These were introduced as part of a previous and highly controversial piece of legislation called the Investigatory Powers Act, and could allow the government to effectively strip the apps of encryption without fresh legislation. A TCN can compel a service provider to remove electronic protections, including security standards, such as encryption, says a blog post from the Open Rights Group, a civil liberties organization in the U.K. The Open Rights Group fears the notice could be implemented without any public discussion. TCNs are negotiated in secret and are not made public, the Open Rights Group adds. A company which is subject to a TCN is legally barred not only from discussing the specifics of the notice, but from disclosing whether the notice exists at all. If the U.K. government were to proceed with a TCN against Facebook and other app developers, it would mean any private message exchanged on Facebook/WhatsApp could be subject to monitoring and surveillance, with no notice, recourse, or transparency, the Open Rights Group claims. However, even with a gagging order in place, it would be hard for the companies to enact such an order without anyone noticing. As the Open Rights Group speculates, the government would much prefer Facebook to back down publicly, which is why its continuing its current PR offensive. Either way, it seems the U.K. governments determination to rid messaging apps of encryption is stronger than ever. | The U.K. government could secretly force Facebook to strip end-to-end encryption from apps such as WhatsApp, a civil liberties organization has claimed. The U.K. has waged a long campaign against end-to-end encryption in consumer apps because it makes interception of communications more difficult. | pegasus | 2 | https://www.forbes.com/sites/barrycollins/2021/04/11/could-the-uk-secretly-strip-encryption-from-whatsapp/ | 0.568633 |
Where Will Dana Evans Go in the 2021 WNBA Draft? | (Photo of Dana Evans: Kirby Lee - USA TODAY Sports) LOUISVILLE, Ky. - After a long and illustrious four-year career with the Louisville women's basketball program, Dana Evans is finally heading to the next level. Following the Cardinals' season-ending loss to Stanford in the Elite Eight of the NCAA Tournament, the senior guard confirmed she would indeed be declaring for the 2021 WNBA Draft instead of taking advantage of the extra year granted by the NCAA. Evans departs the program not only as one of the top players in school history, but one of the most decorated. She is a two-time ACC Player of the Year, is one of three Louisville players to ever be named a First Team AP All-American (Angel McCoughtry, Asia Durr), and is the winningest player in Louisville history. During her tenure in Louisville, the 5-foot-6 guard native has built up plenty of good stock among WNBA scouts and executives. Of course, when you're the ninth-leading scorer (1,715), sixth-leading three-point shooter (37.7%) and sixth-leading assister (521) at a well renowned program like Louisville, it's hard not to. "I think Dana had a very good career at Louisville. She's shown a lot of versatility playing both the point guard and the two guard positions," Indiana Fever head coach Marianne Stanley said during the WNBA Pre-Draft Media Conference Call. "She's someone who has demonstrated that she's not afraid of a big shot or a big moment, and that's something that all the very good players have in their arsenal." The Gary, Ind. native has established herself as one of the top guard prospects and top scorers in this year's draft class. In 30 games during her senior season, she averaged 20.1 points, which led the Atlantic Coast Conference, as well as 3.9 assists with a 43.0% field goal percentage and 35.3% mark on three-point attempts. Texas forward/center Charli Collier has been pretty much penciled in as the No. 1 overall pick ever since she declared for the draft, and the same can be said for international prospect Finland center Awak Kuier at No. 2. Most mock drafts also have Tennessee wing Rennia Davis getting picked up at No. 3. Now is when the top guards in the draft class will start to hear their name called. Most mock drafts have Arizona point guard Aari McDonald and Rutgers shooting guard Arella Guirantes as the top two guard prospects. McDonald made herself into a household name after leading the Wildcats to the title game, and Guirantes was one of the most consistent scorers in college basketball. It also didn't help that Evans had a prolonged shooting slump through most of the month of March. After both McDonald and Guirantes are off the board, this is when we will most likely hear Evans' name be called. Her projected draft range is between picks six through eight, with the New York Liberty holding the sixth overall pick, the Dallas Wings with the seventh, and the Chicago Sky possessing No. 8. Most Cards fans will see the Liberty in the mix, and immediately clamor for them to take Evans. After all, New York has former Louisville teammates Asia Durr, Jazmine Jones and Kylee Shook all on their roster. In ESPN's latest 2021 WNBA Mock Draft, they actually projects the Liberty to select Evans. But Louisville fans need to embrace the possibility this might not happen. In fact, both CBS Sports and SBNation are projecting that Evans will fall all the way to the No. 8 overall pick held by the Chicago Sky. Of course, there's no shame in that, as Evans would still be a top ten pick, plus ESPN women's basketball analyst Rebecca Lobo believes that would be a great fit for any guard taken with that pick. "If you're a guard in this class, that would be a great place to go because you would definitely learn from one of the best in the game in (Courtney Vandersloot), and you would be able to have minutes without having all of the pressure that can come from running the show right away," Lobo said during the WNBA Pre-Draft Media Conference Call. "I think (Chicago Sky GM/HC James Wade), if he does go with a guard at No. 8, will get a good one and will get one who will be in a great situation to learn as a rookie and get some minutes and play with a really great group of players who come in off the bench," she continued. The 2021 WNBA Draft will be held on Thursday, Apr. 15 at 7:00 p.m. EST, and will be televised on ESPN. You can follow Louisville Report for future coverage by liking us on Facebook & following us on Twitter: Facebook - @LouisvilleOnSI Twitter - @LouisvilleOnSI and Deputy Editor Matthew McGavic at @GeneralWasp | Louisville guard Dana Evans has declared for the 2021 WNBA Draft. Evans is a two-time ACC Player of the Year and a winningest player in Louisville history. Most mock drafts have Evans as the No. 8 overall pick. | ctrlsum | 1 | https://www.si.com/college/louisville/basketball/how-high-will-dana-evans-go-in-draft | 0.345198 |
Where Will Dana Evans Go in the 2021 WNBA Draft? | (Photo of Dana Evans: Kirby Lee - USA TODAY Sports) LOUISVILLE, Ky. - After a long and illustrious four-year career with the Louisville women's basketball program, Dana Evans is finally heading to the next level. Following the Cardinals' season-ending loss to Stanford in the Elite Eight of the NCAA Tournament, the senior guard confirmed she would indeed be declaring for the 2021 WNBA Draft instead of taking advantage of the extra year granted by the NCAA. Evans departs the program not only as one of the top players in school history, but one of the most decorated. She is a two-time ACC Player of the Year, is one of three Louisville players to ever be named a First Team AP All-American (Angel McCoughtry, Asia Durr), and is the winningest player in Louisville history. During her tenure in Louisville, the 5-foot-6 guard native has built up plenty of good stock among WNBA scouts and executives. Of course, when you're the ninth-leading scorer (1,715), sixth-leading three-point shooter (37.7%) and sixth-leading assister (521) at a well renowned program like Louisville, it's hard not to. "I think Dana had a very good career at Louisville. She's shown a lot of versatility playing both the point guard and the two guard positions," Indiana Fever head coach Marianne Stanley said during the WNBA Pre-Draft Media Conference Call. "She's someone who has demonstrated that she's not afraid of a big shot or a big moment, and that's something that all the very good players have in their arsenal." The Gary, Ind. native has established herself as one of the top guard prospects and top scorers in this year's draft class. In 30 games during her senior season, she averaged 20.1 points, which led the Atlantic Coast Conference, as well as 3.9 assists with a 43.0% field goal percentage and 35.3% mark on three-point attempts. Texas forward/center Charli Collier has been pretty much penciled in as the No. 1 overall pick ever since she declared for the draft, and the same can be said for international prospect Finland center Awak Kuier at No. 2. Most mock drafts also have Tennessee wing Rennia Davis getting picked up at No. 3. Now is when the top guards in the draft class will start to hear their name called. Most mock drafts have Arizona point guard Aari McDonald and Rutgers shooting guard Arella Guirantes as the top two guard prospects. McDonald made herself into a household name after leading the Wildcats to the title game, and Guirantes was one of the most consistent scorers in college basketball. It also didn't help that Evans had a prolonged shooting slump through most of the month of March. After both McDonald and Guirantes are off the board, this is when we will most likely hear Evans' name be called. Her projected draft range is between picks six through eight, with the New York Liberty holding the sixth overall pick, the Dallas Wings with the seventh, and the Chicago Sky possessing No. 8. Most Cards fans will see the Liberty in the mix, and immediately clamor for them to take Evans. After all, New York has former Louisville teammates Asia Durr, Jazmine Jones and Kylee Shook all on their roster. In ESPN's latest 2021 WNBA Mock Draft, they actually projects the Liberty to select Evans. But Louisville fans need to embrace the possibility this might not happen. In fact, both CBS Sports and SBNation are projecting that Evans will fall all the way to the No. 8 overall pick held by the Chicago Sky. Of course, there's no shame in that, as Evans would still be a top ten pick, plus ESPN women's basketball analyst Rebecca Lobo believes that would be a great fit for any guard taken with that pick. "If you're a guard in this class, that would be a great place to go because you would definitely learn from one of the best in the game in (Courtney Vandersloot), and you would be able to have minutes without having all of the pressure that can come from running the show right away," Lobo said during the WNBA Pre-Draft Media Conference Call. "I think (Chicago Sky GM/HC James Wade), if he does go with a guard at No. 8, will get a good one and will get one who will be in a great situation to learn as a rookie and get some minutes and play with a really great group of players who come in off the bench," she continued. The 2021 WNBA Draft will be held on Thursday, Apr. 15 at 7:00 p.m. EST, and will be televised on ESPN. You can follow Louisville Report for future coverage by liking us on Facebook & following us on Twitter: Facebook - @LouisvilleOnSI Twitter - @LouisvilleOnSI and Deputy Editor Matthew McGavic at @GeneralWasp | Louisville guard Dana Evans has declared for the 2021 WNBA Draft. Evans is a two-time ACC Player of the Year and a winningest player in Louisville history. Most mock drafts have the New York Liberty picking Evans at No. 6. But some experts are projecting that Evans will fall all the way to the No. 8 pick. | ctrlsum | 2 | https://www.si.com/college/louisville/basketball/how-high-will-dana-evans-go-in-draft | 0.53446 |
When's the Best Time for Steelers to Pick a Tight End in NFL Draft? | PITTSBURGH -- The Pittsburgh Steelers won't avoid a tight end during the 2021 NFL Draft. Or, at least they shouldn't. The Steelers' tight end room currently consists of Eric Ebron, Zach Gentry, Kevin Radar and Charles Jones. After Vance McDonald's retirement, the team has been forced to evaluate the position and add a new face. So far, they've waited and should utilize the draft to bring in another name. It's hard to imagine they'll select a tight end early. The first and second rounds will likely be used on positions with larger needs like running back and offensive line. AllSteelers spoke with former NFL and NCAA head coach Jim Mora to decide when is the best round for the Steelers to approach a pass-catching lineman. "Third round. Third or fourth," Mora said. "There's some guys there. Obviously, Kyle Pitts is gone - he's long gone before they get to 24 ... You know how the draft is. It's a dynamic that changes every single pick." Mora doesn't have an exact prospect that'll be around but believes they could have the opportunity to bring in names like Pat Freiermuth out of Penn State and Hunter Long from Boston College. "A guy like one of those two, or someone that kind of fits that mold would be great for the Steelers because they can open them up, they can use them as receivers. They're big. They're physical. They played in inclement weather and I don't know if you want to discount that." Mora's first-round pick for the Steelers remains a running back, with offensive tackle as a high priority as well. Noah Strackbein is a Publisher with AllSteelers. Follow Noah on Twitter @NoahStrack, and AllSteelers @si_steelers. | The Pittsburgh Steelers are expected to pick a tight end in the 2021 NFL Draft. | ctrlsum | 0 | https://www.si.com/nfl/steelers/gm-report/best-time-pittsburgh-steelers-tight-end-nfl-draft | 0.402744 |
When's the Best Time for Steelers to Pick a Tight End in NFL Draft? | PITTSBURGH -- The Pittsburgh Steelers won't avoid a tight end during the 2021 NFL Draft. Or, at least they shouldn't. The Steelers' tight end room currently consists of Eric Ebron, Zach Gentry, Kevin Radar and Charles Jones. After Vance McDonald's retirement, the team has been forced to evaluate the position and add a new face. So far, they've waited and should utilize the draft to bring in another name. It's hard to imagine they'll select a tight end early. The first and second rounds will likely be used on positions with larger needs like running back and offensive line. AllSteelers spoke with former NFL and NCAA head coach Jim Mora to decide when is the best round for the Steelers to approach a pass-catching lineman. "Third round. Third or fourth," Mora said. "There's some guys there. Obviously, Kyle Pitts is gone - he's long gone before they get to 24 ... You know how the draft is. It's a dynamic that changes every single pick." Mora doesn't have an exact prospect that'll be around but believes they could have the opportunity to bring in names like Pat Freiermuth out of Penn State and Hunter Long from Boston College. "A guy like one of those two, or someone that kind of fits that mold would be great for the Steelers because they can open them up, they can use them as receivers. They're big. They're physical. They played in inclement weather and I don't know if you want to discount that." Mora's first-round pick for the Steelers remains a running back, with offensive tackle as a high priority as well. Noah Strackbein is a Publisher with AllSteelers. Follow Noah on Twitter @NoahStrack, and AllSteelers @si_steelers. | The Pittsburgh Steelers are expected to pick a tight end in the 2021 NFL Draft. Jim Mora says the Steelers should look to bring in a player in the third or fourth round. | ctrlsum | 1 | https://www.si.com/nfl/steelers/gm-report/best-time-pittsburgh-steelers-tight-end-nfl-draft | 0.446856 |
When's the Best Time for Steelers to Pick a Tight End in NFL Draft? | PITTSBURGH -- The Pittsburgh Steelers won't avoid a tight end during the 2021 NFL Draft. Or, at least they shouldn't. The Steelers' tight end room currently consists of Eric Ebron, Zach Gentry, Kevin Radar and Charles Jones. After Vance McDonald's retirement, the team has been forced to evaluate the position and add a new face. So far, they've waited and should utilize the draft to bring in another name. It's hard to imagine they'll select a tight end early. The first and second rounds will likely be used on positions with larger needs like running back and offensive line. AllSteelers spoke with former NFL and NCAA head coach Jim Mora to decide when is the best round for the Steelers to approach a pass-catching lineman. "Third round. Third or fourth," Mora said. "There's some guys there. Obviously, Kyle Pitts is gone - he's long gone before they get to 24 ... You know how the draft is. It's a dynamic that changes every single pick." Mora doesn't have an exact prospect that'll be around but believes they could have the opportunity to bring in names like Pat Freiermuth out of Penn State and Hunter Long from Boston College. "A guy like one of those two, or someone that kind of fits that mold would be great for the Steelers because they can open them up, they can use them as receivers. They're big. They're physical. They played in inclement weather and I don't know if you want to discount that." Mora's first-round pick for the Steelers remains a running back, with offensive tackle as a high priority as well. Noah Strackbein is a Publisher with AllSteelers. Follow Noah on Twitter @NoahStrack, and AllSteelers @si_steelers. | The Pittsburgh Steelers are expected to pick a tight end in the 2021 NFL Draft. Jim Mora says the Steelers should look to bring in a player in the third or fourth round. Mora believes the Steelers could bring in names like Pat Freiermuth and Hunter Long. | ctrlsum | 2 | https://www.si.com/nfl/steelers/gm-report/best-time-pittsburgh-steelers-tight-end-nfl-draft | 0.492982 |
Where do Dolphins fit as NFL.com stacks AFC field prior to 2021 draft? | The Miami Dolphins got the cruelest taste of just how competitive the AFC Conference is in 2020 the team became the first AFC team in the Wild Card era to finish with 10 wins and be the conferences No. 8 seed; a recipe that saw the Dolphins miss the playoffs despite an expanded playoff field for the first time last season. And the competition only figures to be heating up. The Dolphins have gotten better, that much is certain. Gregg Rosenthal of NFL.com stacked the teams of the AFC into tiers ahead of the 2021 NFL Draft and his placement for the Dolphins is familiar waters: he pegged them as a playoff contender alongside another seven teams in the AFC. That would be fine if not for four teams being ranked in tiers above the contenders tier. Rosenthal pegged the Bills and Chiefs as bullies in the conference and the Ravens and Browns as playoffs or bust. But amid the contenders, it appears as though Rosenthal will not be lulled into sleeping on the Dolphins like he was last year. The Dolphins made me look dumb in this exercise a year ago because I didnt see the roster talent. Brian Flores has proven hes as good at coaching a squad that is greater than the sum of its parts as he is at changing coordinators. Folks are way too down, too quickly on Tua Tagovailoa. Gregg Rosenthal, NFL.com The NFL Draft could very well serve as a tipping point in the crowded field in the AFC. You could make a firm case for two of the other seven teams in that tier, Tennessee and Pittsburgh, having fallen off considerably given their free agent losses this offseason. But Miami must balance drafting for now versus drafting for the future if they strike gold, it may be the push they need to punch the ticket they couldnt last year: a trip to the playoffs. Theyll have plenty of competition. | NFL.com stacks the teams of the AFC into tiers ahead of the 2021 NFL Draft. The Dolphins are ranked as a playoff contender alongside another seven teams in the AFC. | ctrlsum | 1 | https://sports.yahoo.com/where-dolphins-fit-nfl-com-141250013.html?src=rss | 0.520282 |
Where do Dolphins fit as NFL.com stacks AFC field prior to 2021 draft? | The Miami Dolphins got the cruelest taste of just how competitive the AFC Conference is in 2020 the team became the first AFC team in the Wild Card era to finish with 10 wins and be the conferences No. 8 seed; a recipe that saw the Dolphins miss the playoffs despite an expanded playoff field for the first time last season. And the competition only figures to be heating up. The Dolphins have gotten better, that much is certain. Gregg Rosenthal of NFL.com stacked the teams of the AFC into tiers ahead of the 2021 NFL Draft and his placement for the Dolphins is familiar waters: he pegged them as a playoff contender alongside another seven teams in the AFC. That would be fine if not for four teams being ranked in tiers above the contenders tier. Rosenthal pegged the Bills and Chiefs as bullies in the conference and the Ravens and Browns as playoffs or bust. But amid the contenders, it appears as though Rosenthal will not be lulled into sleeping on the Dolphins like he was last year. The Dolphins made me look dumb in this exercise a year ago because I didnt see the roster talent. Brian Flores has proven hes as good at coaching a squad that is greater than the sum of its parts as he is at changing coordinators. Folks are way too down, too quickly on Tua Tagovailoa. Gregg Rosenthal, NFL.com The NFL Draft could very well serve as a tipping point in the crowded field in the AFC. You could make a firm case for two of the other seven teams in that tier, Tennessee and Pittsburgh, having fallen off considerably given their free agent losses this offseason. But Miami must balance drafting for now versus drafting for the future if they strike gold, it may be the push they need to punch the ticket they couldnt last year: a trip to the playoffs. Theyll have plenty of competition. | NFL.com stacks the teams of the AFC into tiers ahead of the 2021 NFL Draft. The Dolphins are ranked as a playoff contender alongside another seven teams in the AFC. The NFL Draft could very well serve as a tipping point in the crowded field. | ctrlsum | 2 | https://sports.yahoo.com/where-dolphins-fit-nfl-com-141250013.html?src=rss | 0.626544 |
Will the 49ers Draft Trey Lance? | Lance went to North Dakota State, which produced Carson Wentz, who was an MVP candidate before he tore his ACL in 2017. The 49ers certainly could draft Trey Lance with the No. 3 pick in the upcoming draft. He arguably has the most potential of all the draft-eligible quarterbacks this year. He's only 20, and he's big and fast and has a cannon. Plus he played in a pro-style offense and made checks at the line of scrimmage, unlike most college quarterbacks. He's extremely smart. NFL.com compares him to Josh Allen, who finished second in the MVP voting last season. Plus Lance went to North Dakota State, which produced Carson Wentz, who was an MVP candidate before he tore his ACL in 2017. And Lance might be an even better prospect than Wentz was when he entered the draft. But Lance is green. He played only one season of college football and completed just 208 passes. He's the least experienced first-round quarterback ever, which means he either needs to sit the first two seasons or play right away so he can experience the growing pains and learn on the job. The 49ers have a Super Bowl window -- they need to win now. They can't afford yet another losing season in 2021, because that would be Kyle Shanahan's fourth losing season in five years. He needs to a quarterback who helps him win next season. That's not Lance. Lance should go to a team where he can sit behind a Hall of Fame quarterback for a couple years, or a rebuilding team with a new coaching staff. A team like the Jets. They recently hired Robert Saleh as their head coach, and they now run the 49ers offense. So if Lance fits the 49ers, he fits the Jets. And Saleh has no pressure to win right away. Meaning he can afford to draft Lance and play him next season. Plus Jets general manager Joe Douglas was the Eagles vice president of player personnel in 2016 when they drafted Wentz. If Douglas liked Wentz enough to take him with the No. Don't be surprised if the Jets take Lance and leave the 49ers to choose from Zach Wilson, Justin Fields and Mac Jones. In that case, I would expect the 49ers to take Wilson. The draft is three weeks away. Lots can happen between now and then. | The 49ers could draft Trey Lance with the No. 3 pick in the upcoming draft. | bart | 0 | https://www.si.com/nfl/49ers/news/will-the-san-francisco-49ers-draft-trey-lance | 0.412873 |
Will the 49ers Draft Trey Lance? | Lance went to North Dakota State, which produced Carson Wentz, who was an MVP candidate before he tore his ACL in 2017. The 49ers certainly could draft Trey Lance with the No. 3 pick in the upcoming draft. He arguably has the most potential of all the draft-eligible quarterbacks this year. He's only 20, and he's big and fast and has a cannon. Plus he played in a pro-style offense and made checks at the line of scrimmage, unlike most college quarterbacks. He's extremely smart. NFL.com compares him to Josh Allen, who finished second in the MVP voting last season. Plus Lance went to North Dakota State, which produced Carson Wentz, who was an MVP candidate before he tore his ACL in 2017. And Lance might be an even better prospect than Wentz was when he entered the draft. But Lance is green. He played only one season of college football and completed just 208 passes. He's the least experienced first-round quarterback ever, which means he either needs to sit the first two seasons or play right away so he can experience the growing pains and learn on the job. The 49ers have a Super Bowl window -- they need to win now. They can't afford yet another losing season in 2021, because that would be Kyle Shanahan's fourth losing season in five years. He needs to a quarterback who helps him win next season. That's not Lance. Lance should go to a team where he can sit behind a Hall of Fame quarterback for a couple years, or a rebuilding team with a new coaching staff. A team like the Jets. They recently hired Robert Saleh as their head coach, and they now run the 49ers offense. So if Lance fits the 49ers, he fits the Jets. And Saleh has no pressure to win right away. Meaning he can afford to draft Lance and play him next season. Plus Jets general manager Joe Douglas was the Eagles vice president of player personnel in 2016 when they drafted Wentz. If Douglas liked Wentz enough to take him with the No. Don't be surprised if the Jets take Lance and leave the 49ers to choose from Zach Wilson, Justin Fields and Mac Jones. In that case, I would expect the 49ers to take Wilson. The draft is three weeks away. Lots can happen between now and then. | The 49ers could draft Trey Lance with the No. 3 pick in the upcoming draft. Lance has the most potential of all the draft-eligible quarterbacks this year, but he's green. | ctrlsum | 1 | https://www.si.com/nfl/49ers/news/will-the-san-francisco-49ers-draft-trey-lance | 0.425826 |
Will the 49ers Draft Trey Lance? | Lance went to North Dakota State, which produced Carson Wentz, who was an MVP candidate before he tore his ACL in 2017. The 49ers certainly could draft Trey Lance with the No. 3 pick in the upcoming draft. He arguably has the most potential of all the draft-eligible quarterbacks this year. He's only 20, and he's big and fast and has a cannon. Plus he played in a pro-style offense and made checks at the line of scrimmage, unlike most college quarterbacks. He's extremely smart. NFL.com compares him to Josh Allen, who finished second in the MVP voting last season. Plus Lance went to North Dakota State, which produced Carson Wentz, who was an MVP candidate before he tore his ACL in 2017. And Lance might be an even better prospect than Wentz was when he entered the draft. But Lance is green. He played only one season of college football and completed just 208 passes. He's the least experienced first-round quarterback ever, which means he either needs to sit the first two seasons or play right away so he can experience the growing pains and learn on the job. The 49ers have a Super Bowl window -- they need to win now. They can't afford yet another losing season in 2021, because that would be Kyle Shanahan's fourth losing season in five years. He needs to a quarterback who helps him win next season. That's not Lance. Lance should go to a team where he can sit behind a Hall of Fame quarterback for a couple years, or a rebuilding team with a new coaching staff. A team like the Jets. They recently hired Robert Saleh as their head coach, and they now run the 49ers offense. So if Lance fits the 49ers, he fits the Jets. And Saleh has no pressure to win right away. Meaning he can afford to draft Lance and play him next season. Plus Jets general manager Joe Douglas was the Eagles vice president of player personnel in 2016 when they drafted Wentz. If Douglas liked Wentz enough to take him with the No. Don't be surprised if the Jets take Lance and leave the 49ers to choose from Zach Wilson, Justin Fields and Mac Jones. In that case, I would expect the 49ers to take Wilson. The draft is three weeks away. Lots can happen between now and then. | The 49ers could draft Trey Lance with the No. 3 pick in the upcoming draft. Lance has the most potential of all the draft-eligible quarterbacks this year. But Lance is green and needs to sit behind a Hall of Fame quarterback for a couple years, or a rebuilding team like the Jets. | ctrlsum | 2 | https://www.si.com/nfl/49ers/news/will-the-san-francisco-49ers-draft-trey-lance | 0.483572 |
Who Will Be the Jets' Backup Quarterback Next Season? | After shipping Sam Darnold to the Carolina Panthers, it's clear the Jets are positioning themselves to take a new quarterback in the NFL draft. We don't know exactly who New York is planning on taking, but general manager Joe Douglas confirmed this week that assuming they'll take a quarterback with the No. 2 pick is a "fair assessment." With the departure of Joe Flacco, however, there's another wrinkle to New York's quarterback situation that remains unclear. As of now, there are two quarterbacks on New York's roster: James Morgan and Mike White. Morgan was selected in the fourth round of last year's draft by the Jets while White was picked by the Dallas Cowboys in the fifth round in 2018. Even if both those quarterbacks have zero NFL experience, Douglas delivered nothing but positive remarks when speaking about their presence in the quarterback room and their growth. "Were really excited about James Morgan and Mike White," Douglas told reporters on Tuesday. "They didnt get an opportunity with no preseason games this year, but really excited about those two guys." The odds of Gang Green entering the 2021 season without a quarterback that's taken an NFL snap are slim to none. That in mind, Douglas hinted at adding an additional signal-caller, one that could help mentor the younger guys and provide some experience in case of an injury. "As in any room on our team, if there is an opportunity to add to it, make it a little bit better, were going to pursue that opportunity," Douglas said. "So, theres constant discussion in our pro scouting department with our coaching staff on not just the quarterback room possibly adding to it but every other position as well." Many of the quality veteran options have been snatched up by other teams this offseason, but players like Brian Hoyerwho met with the Jets this weekremain available. New York could also pursue a trade for Carolina's Teddy Bridgewater, who will be stuck behind Darnold moving forward with the Panthers if he stays put. Alternatively, if Carolina cuts Bridgewater, New York could be the first team to pounce. 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 to the Carolina Panthers earlier this month. The Jets now have two quarterbacks on their roster: James Morgan and Mike White. | pegasus | 0 | https://www.si.com/nfl/jets/news/who-will-be-new-york-jets-backup-quarterback-next-season-james-morgan-mike-white-brian-hoyer | 0.123805 |
Who Will Be the Jets' Backup Quarterback Next Season? | After shipping Sam Darnold to the Carolina Panthers, it's clear the Jets are positioning themselves to take a new quarterback in the NFL draft. We don't know exactly who New York is planning on taking, but general manager Joe Douglas confirmed this week that assuming they'll take a quarterback with the No. 2 pick is a "fair assessment." With the departure of Joe Flacco, however, there's another wrinkle to New York's quarterback situation that remains unclear. As of now, there are two quarterbacks on New York's roster: James Morgan and Mike White. Morgan was selected in the fourth round of last year's draft by the Jets while White was picked by the Dallas Cowboys in the fifth round in 2018. Even if both those quarterbacks have zero NFL experience, Douglas delivered nothing but positive remarks when speaking about their presence in the quarterback room and their growth. "Were really excited about James Morgan and Mike White," Douglas told reporters on Tuesday. "They didnt get an opportunity with no preseason games this year, but really excited about those two guys." The odds of Gang Green entering the 2021 season without a quarterback that's taken an NFL snap are slim to none. That in mind, Douglas hinted at adding an additional signal-caller, one that could help mentor the younger guys and provide some experience in case of an injury. "As in any room on our team, if there is an opportunity to add to it, make it a little bit better, were going to pursue that opportunity," Douglas said. "So, theres constant discussion in our pro scouting department with our coaching staff on not just the quarterback room possibly adding to it but every other position as well." Many of the quality veteran options have been snatched up by other teams this offseason, but players like Brian Hoyerwho met with the Jets this weekremain available. New York could also pursue a trade for Carolina's Teddy Bridgewater, who will be stuck behind Darnold moving forward with the Panthers if he stays put. Alternatively, if Carolina cuts Bridgewater, New York could be the first team to pounce. 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. | The Jets traded Sam Darnold to the Carolina Panthers last week. New York now has two quarterbacks on its roster: James Morgan and Mike White. General manager Joe Douglas hinted at adding a veteran quarterback to the roster. | pegasus | 1 | https://www.si.com/nfl/jets/news/who-will-be-new-york-jets-backup-quarterback-next-season-james-morgan-mike-white-brian-hoyer | 0.128144 |
Who Will Be the Jets' Backup Quarterback Next Season? | After shipping Sam Darnold to the Carolina Panthers, it's clear the Jets are positioning themselves to take a new quarterback in the NFL draft. We don't know exactly who New York is planning on taking, but general manager Joe Douglas confirmed this week that assuming they'll take a quarterback with the No. 2 pick is a "fair assessment." With the departure of Joe Flacco, however, there's another wrinkle to New York's quarterback situation that remains unclear. As of now, there are two quarterbacks on New York's roster: James Morgan and Mike White. Morgan was selected in the fourth round of last year's draft by the Jets while White was picked by the Dallas Cowboys in the fifth round in 2018. Even if both those quarterbacks have zero NFL experience, Douglas delivered nothing but positive remarks when speaking about their presence in the quarterback room and their growth. "Were really excited about James Morgan and Mike White," Douglas told reporters on Tuesday. "They didnt get an opportunity with no preseason games this year, but really excited about those two guys." The odds of Gang Green entering the 2021 season without a quarterback that's taken an NFL snap are slim to none. That in mind, Douglas hinted at adding an additional signal-caller, one that could help mentor the younger guys and provide some experience in case of an injury. "As in any room on our team, if there is an opportunity to add to it, make it a little bit better, were going to pursue that opportunity," Douglas said. "So, theres constant discussion in our pro scouting department with our coaching staff on not just the quarterback room possibly adding to it but every other position as well." Many of the quality veteran options have been snatched up by other teams this offseason, but players like Brian Hoyerwho met with the Jets this weekremain available. New York could also pursue a trade for Carolina's Teddy Bridgewater, who will be stuck behind Darnold moving forward with the Panthers if he stays put. Alternatively, if Carolina cuts Bridgewater, New York could be the first team to pounce. 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. | The Jets traded Sam Darnold to the Carolina Panthers last week. New York now has two quarterbacks on its roster: James Morgan and Mike White. General manager Joe Douglas said the team is "really excited" about those two players. Douglas also hinted that the Jets may add a veteran quarterback to the roster. | pegasus | 2 | https://www.si.com/nfl/jets/news/who-will-be-new-york-jets-backup-quarterback-next-season-james-morgan-mike-white-brian-hoyer | 0.125384 |
Could electric vehicle chargers in city-owned parking lots help replace gas stations? | Green P parking lots could help establish the City of Toronto as a for-profit fuel provider, replacing gas stations when the electric vehicle revolution really takes off. Thats the dream of Councillor Mike Layton, one of the Toronto Parking Authority board members behind a partnership with Toronto Hydro to expand and upgrade EV chargers in city-owned lots. But that requires the city and its electric distribution utility to embrace change and make early investments, including now when spots reserved for EVs will sometimes sit empty, he said. We could cut out that whole traditional gasoline infrastructure, by ensuring public provision of electricity and charging infrastructure, earning profits while helping reduce harmful emissions, he said. Lets be innovative on this, lets be more aggressive in our market capture, the Ward 11 University-Rosedale councillor said. Lets think like capitalists, but the gains are for our society. We should encourage Toronto Hydro to make those investments now for the long-term benefits to the environment and to our bottom line, while figuring out how to cope with a huge boost in demand. The TPA-Hydro pilot project will replace nine existing free chargers in Green P lots with faster-charging Level 2 devices with a fee, likely $2 an hour. Another 20 Level 2 chargers will be added at other lots, plus three Level 3 ultra-fast chargers, for a total of 32 in the city lots. As North Americas largest municipally owned parking operator, TPA has a unique opportunity to jump-start the penetration of EV chargers across its asset base in order to accelerate the electrification of both personal and commercial vehicles in support of the City of Torontos EV strategy and (greenhouse gas reduction) TransformTO vision, says a parking authority staff report. But Toronto is behind the curve, Anu Aduvala, the parking authoritys vice-president of operations, told board members at a recent meeting where they approved the expansion. TPA currently lags other smaller municipalities in EV deployment, with Calgary Parking Authority at 46 Level 2 chargers, Oakville soon to be at 46 and even Pearson airport on its own has a mix of 53 Level 3 and Level 2 charging stations, Aduvala said. Were fully aware that 32 is not the number for Toronto Parking Authority to settle on, she added, saying usage data collected from the new chargers will help guide expansion plans. Toronto Hydro is buying the hardware, a cost partly covered by a $250,000 grant from National Resources Canadas zero emission vehicle infrastructure program. TPA is covering some other costs. The chargers are expected to be in use on average six hours a day and generate a profit on power sold that will flow to Hydro to help cover costs of the program. At the end of the pilot, the parking authority will have an option to buy the charging infrastructure from Hydro. The project follows another partnership, between Hydro, the city and charge station maker FLO, testing use of chargers at 17 parking spots on residential streets in different neighbourhoods. On-street and parking lot chargers could help Torontonians who want EVs but have no driveway where they can put home chargers. Ontario and its biggest city lag behind regions, notably B.C. and Quebec, in making investments to hurry and profit from the switch to vehicles that dont emit greenhouse gases. Loading... Loading... Loading... Loading... Loading... Loading... Ontario EV sales plummeted in 2019 after the Premier Doug Ford government cancelled purchase rebates. That year, provincial agency Metrolinx ripped chargers out of GO parking lots, citing low demand. But EV adoption is crucial to Torontos efforts to help fight climate change by becoming carbon neutral no later than 2050, including an ambitious goal of jump-starting EV ownership to 20 per cent of all vehicles in Toronto, from about three per cent now, by 2030. Jeffrey Steiner, a lawyer and executive, told fellow parking authority board members that Toronto needs to put the pedal to the metal because automakers are embracing the change. This is not something you can just flip a switch on, Steiner said of infrastructure to accommodate the rolling green revolution. We need to go fasterTo be an innovation lab, we should have three or four initiatives around EVs, ready to tap an expected flood of federal funding for electrification projects, he said. Keith Stewart, a senior energy strategist with Greenpeace Canada, said walking, cycling and emissions-free transit are best for the environment. But EVs are important, too, and currently suffer from a chicken and egg problem. If there arent charging stations nobody buys electric cars. And if we dont have electric cars people arent going to build charging stations, he said, calling the current economics of operating chargers not great. He welcomed the great TPA-Hydro project, saying Ontario electrical utilities have been risk adverse, reluctant to stray from their traditional role of getting power to plugs. City council needs to wield the whip and say, You have to act in the public interest here, Stewart said. Every single strategy for carbon neutrality, the biggest part is electrification. In an email, Toronto Hydro said it is excited to continue to play an active role in transportation electrification, including the TPA partnership and supporting the TTCs move to a zero-emission fleet. We look forward to helping expand the citys efforts toward electrification and decarbonization, as the city explores broadening our mandate and unlocking our potential to further support its climate change objectives. We believe EVs are the future of transportation. | Toronto Parking Authority partners with Toronto Hydro to expand and upgrade EV chargers in city-owned parking lots. The move could help establish the City of Toronto as a for-profit fuel provider, replacing gas stations when the electric vehicle revolution really takes off, a councillor says. | ctrlsum | 2 | https://www.thestar.com/news/city_hall/2021/04/09/could-electric-vehicle-chargers-in-city-owned-parking-lots-help-replace-gas-stations.html | 0.529015 |
Will I run out of money in retirement? | Many U.S. households retire without enough money to maintain their pre-retirement standard of living. Once retired, though, people often reduce their spending enough to make their money last, according to a recent study by David Blanchett, head of retirement research at Morningstar, and Warren Cormier, executive director of the Defined Contribution Institutional Investment Associations Retirement Research Center. People are finding a way to make it work, Blanchett says. The findings challenge a common financial planning assumption that retirees spending will increase at the rate of inflation each year. But the research also indicates many people retire without a realistic understanding of how much they can safely spend. Running out vs. running short The fear of running out of money is pervasive in the U.S. Nearly half of Americans have this concern, according to the 2019 Aegon Retirement Readiness Survey. And their worries may be well-founded. A 2012 paper for the National Bureau of Economic Research found 46.1% of older adults died with less than $10,000 in financial assets. Of course, the phrase running out of money is somewhat misleading. The vast majority of U.S. retirees receive Social Security benefits, which continue for life. So while they may run through their savings and run short of money, they cant truly run out. Still, few people relish the idea of having to cut back sharply on their spending in retirement or eking out an existence on $1,543 a month (the current average Social Security check). Spending less slows the burn rate Blanchett and Cormier studied 425 U.S. households that had at least $10,000 in savings at retirement and $5,000 in annual Social Security benefits. They found only 18% retired with enough money to maintain their standard of living. Over time, though, most of the households reduced their spending and slowed how quickly they were burning through their savings. After 10 years, the proportion with sufficient funds to last their retirement shot up to 48%. The research, which was published in September 2020, has its limitations. The sample size was relatively small, didnt include the poorest households and examined only the first 10 years of retirement. Also, the researchers couldnt tell whether people were cutting back by necessity or choice. Blanchett believes many havent thought enough about how much retirement will cost and are forced to adjust as their savings dwindle. Either they didnt know how much they needed to save, or they just didnt (save), Blanchett says. They get to retirement and they have to start making harder choices. Some who could spend more dont However, the researchers also found that many of the households that had enough money were spending as if they did not. In fact, 29% of the best-funded households actually had more wealth 10 years into retirement. That resonates with financial planners, who say they often have clients who spend less sometimes much less than their wealth would support. Some want to leave inheritances for their kids or guard against financial shocks, such as long-term care. In other cases, theyre just more comfortable continuing old habits. If you are in the habit of being frugal, you tend to remain that way, says certified financial planner Dana Anspach of Scottsdale, Arizona. People can take frugality too far, though, if fear keeps them from getting the most out of their retirements, Blanchett says. You might end up not spending enough money when you could enjoy it more, he says. A little planning can go a long way Picking the right level of spending in retirement isnt easy because of all the unknowns, including how long youll live and your future health. Having a clear idea of what your expenses are likely to be in retirement, as well as how much income you can expect, can help you create a sustainable spending plan. A good financial planner preferably a fee-only fiduciary advisor committed to putting your best interests first could be helpful. Your brokerage or 401(k) provider also may have resources to help guide you. A little planning could go a long way to help the many people who wont be able to sustain their pre-retirement lifestyle. Blanchett likens it to being able to spot the edge of a cliff in time to avoid going over. It can be a very painful reality for a lot of people when they really understand what they have and what they need, Blanchett says. But Id rather you understand that at 65 than you get to the point that youve blown through all your savings. More From NerdWallet Liz Weston writes for NerdWallet. Email: lweston@nerdwallet.com. Twitter: @lizweston. originally appeared on NerdWallet. | Many U.S. households retire without enough money to maintain their pre-retirement standard of living. Once retired, though, people often reduce their spending enough to make their money last. | pegasus | 1 | https://www.cleveland.com/news/2021/04/will-i-run-out-of-money-in-retirement.html | 0.122345 |
Will I run out of money in retirement? | Many U.S. households retire without enough money to maintain their pre-retirement standard of living. Once retired, though, people often reduce their spending enough to make their money last, according to a recent study by David Blanchett, head of retirement research at Morningstar, and Warren Cormier, executive director of the Defined Contribution Institutional Investment Associations Retirement Research Center. People are finding a way to make it work, Blanchett says. The findings challenge a common financial planning assumption that retirees spending will increase at the rate of inflation each year. But the research also indicates many people retire without a realistic understanding of how much they can safely spend. Running out vs. running short The fear of running out of money is pervasive in the U.S. Nearly half of Americans have this concern, according to the 2019 Aegon Retirement Readiness Survey. And their worries may be well-founded. A 2012 paper for the National Bureau of Economic Research found 46.1% of older adults died with less than $10,000 in financial assets. Of course, the phrase running out of money is somewhat misleading. The vast majority of U.S. retirees receive Social Security benefits, which continue for life. So while they may run through their savings and run short of money, they cant truly run out. Still, few people relish the idea of having to cut back sharply on their spending in retirement or eking out an existence on $1,543 a month (the current average Social Security check). Spending less slows the burn rate Blanchett and Cormier studied 425 U.S. households that had at least $10,000 in savings at retirement and $5,000 in annual Social Security benefits. They found only 18% retired with enough money to maintain their standard of living. Over time, though, most of the households reduced their spending and slowed how quickly they were burning through their savings. After 10 years, the proportion with sufficient funds to last their retirement shot up to 48%. The research, which was published in September 2020, has its limitations. The sample size was relatively small, didnt include the poorest households and examined only the first 10 years of retirement. Also, the researchers couldnt tell whether people were cutting back by necessity or choice. Blanchett believes many havent thought enough about how much retirement will cost and are forced to adjust as their savings dwindle. Either they didnt know how much they needed to save, or they just didnt (save), Blanchett says. They get to retirement and they have to start making harder choices. Some who could spend more dont However, the researchers also found that many of the households that had enough money were spending as if they did not. In fact, 29% of the best-funded households actually had more wealth 10 years into retirement. That resonates with financial planners, who say they often have clients who spend less sometimes much less than their wealth would support. Some want to leave inheritances for their kids or guard against financial shocks, such as long-term care. In other cases, theyre just more comfortable continuing old habits. If you are in the habit of being frugal, you tend to remain that way, says certified financial planner Dana Anspach of Scottsdale, Arizona. People can take frugality too far, though, if fear keeps them from getting the most out of their retirements, Blanchett says. You might end up not spending enough money when you could enjoy it more, he says. A little planning can go a long way Picking the right level of spending in retirement isnt easy because of all the unknowns, including how long youll live and your future health. Having a clear idea of what your expenses are likely to be in retirement, as well as how much income you can expect, can help you create a sustainable spending plan. A good financial planner preferably a fee-only fiduciary advisor committed to putting your best interests first could be helpful. Your brokerage or 401(k) provider also may have resources to help guide you. A little planning could go a long way to help the many people who wont be able to sustain their pre-retirement lifestyle. Blanchett likens it to being able to spot the edge of a cliff in time to avoid going over. It can be a very painful reality for a lot of people when they really understand what they have and what they need, Blanchett says. But Id rather you understand that at 65 than you get to the point that youve blown through all your savings. More From NerdWallet Liz Weston writes for NerdWallet. Email: lweston@nerdwallet.com. Twitter: @lizweston. originally appeared on NerdWallet. | Many U.S. households retire without enough money to maintain their pre-retirement standard of living. Once retired, though, people often reduce their spending enough to make their money last. Nearly half of Americans have this concern, according to the 2019 Aegon Retirement Readiness Survey. | pegasus | 2 | https://www.cleveland.com/news/2021/04/will-i-run-out-of-money-in-retirement.html | 0.104128 |
Which Remaining Buccaneers Free Agents Could Tampa Bay Bring Back? | Ten former Buccaneers who were on the 2020-21 Super Bowl roster remain free agents. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers found a way to return their top free agents this offseason and will field the same starting lineup, offensively and defensively, in 2021 as they did throughout their 2020, Super Bowl-winning campaign. Ten free agents, however, remain unsigned at this point. The Buccaneers are extremely limited on cap space with just about $2 million to spend right now per Over the Cap, making it difficult to bring back everyone. Depth will need to be addressed via the draft across the entire roster as such, but there remains a case for a select few players to wear red and pewter again in 2021. Below, you'll find the remaining free agents that were rostered through Tampa Bay's Super Bowl run this past season, as well as arguments for and against those players potentially signing new contracts with the Bucs before the offseason is over. QB Blaine Gabbert The Buccaneers have teased the idea of Gabbert returning to the team numerous times this offseason, however, Tampa Bay and the 31-year-old quarterback have yet to strike a deal as of this story. Gabbert, a first-round pick by the Jaguars in 2011, never lived up to his selection but has paved out a solid career as a backup. He's filled that role for three years under Bruce Arians - two in Tampa, one in Arizona - and threw for 143 yards and two touchdowns in relief of Tom Brady against the Lions this past season. Arians suggested that the Bucs could draft a quarterback to groom behind Brady if the value is right, but we wouldn't be surprised to see Gabbert in a Tampa Bay uniform again next season on a cheap contract. QB Ryan Griffin With Gabbert emerging as the favorite to re-sign among the Bucs two free agent signal-callers and the idea of drafting a quarterback not being too far-fetched, Griffin appears to be the odd man out. It's extremely unlikely that Tampa Bay would carry four quarterbacks in any season, much less in 2021 as the Bucs aim for a second consecutive Super Bowl title. Perhaps Griffin would demand less of a salary than Gabbert, in which case there is a reality where the former returns to Tampa Bay over the latter. Griffin nearly doubled Gabbert's cap hit in 2020, however, so that seems unlikely. RB LeSean McCoy McCoy is far past his prime and was able to manage a mere 132 yards from scrimmage this past season. He didn't play a snap in the Super Bowl, either. Arians has expressed confidence in the top three running backs on the roster this offseason: Ronald Jones II, Leonard Fournette, and Ke'Shawn Vaughn. McCoy traditionally offered a different style of play than those backs with a large presence in the passing game, but Tampa Bay would be wise to draft a similar player in the draft. RB T.J. Logan Logan has gone on season-ending injured reserve twice in as many years with the Bucs. It would be a surprise to see Tampa Bay bring him back this year, similarly to McCoy. RB Kenjon Barner Barner was on and off the Buccaneers roster throughout the 2020 season and barely saw playing time at running back. Barner is an intriguing kick-returning option for Tampa Bay next season, though, unless the team finds a return specialist in the draft. WR Antonio Brown Brown is the biggest name remaining from the Buccaneers' full list of free agents this offseason. As such, as one might expect, Brown and the Bucs are reportedly "not close" on financial terms in contract negotiations. The 32-year-old, four-time First-Team All-Pro is undoubtedly a threat with the ball in his hands. After over a year out of the league due to his off-the-field track record, Brown caught 45 passes for 483 yards and four touchdowns in eight regular-season games this past season. The Bucs aren't in a position to cave to Brown's contract demands with tight cap space, and his previous troubling conduct wouldn't exactly warrant a large deal. With that being said, it's hard to let a weapon like Brown walk away whilst contending for Super Bowls. There's certainly a chance he returns in 2021 if the two sides can reach a middle ground in negotiations. DT Steve McLendon The Buccaneers traded for McClendon in the first half of the 2020 season following Vita Vea's placement on the injured reserve. Making a move for a proven depth piece who has experience with the coaching staff was a smart move for the Bucs at the time and it paid off as McLendon took on 332 snaps throughout the regular season on Tampa Bay's defensive line. However, as McLendon recently turned 35, he was most likely a one-year rental that can be replaced in the draft on a cheaper salary. Vea was able to return in the second half of the postseason and played well, so the need for McLendon at this point is minimal. ILB Deone Bucannon Bucannon has been with the Buccaneers on separate occasions, the first time being in 2019 after Arians was hired as the Bucs head coach. Bucannon was a member of the Cardinals for four years under Arians after Arizona selected him in the first round of the 2014 NFL Draft. However, he was released by the Bucs in October 2019 and spent time with the Giants and Falcons before returning to Tampa Bay for the playoff run. Bucannon was signed to the Buccaneers practice squad days before the Wild Card round and went on to play on special teams in every postseason game. So long as he would be inexpensive, Bucannon is a candidate to return based on his familiarity with Arians and the coaching staff. Like others, though, Bucannon's role could be filled by a rookie. ILB Jack Cichy (restricted free agent) The Buccaneers did not extend a qualifying offer to Cichy as a restricted free agent this offseason, meaning he is now free to sign with his team of choice despite the restricted label. CB Ross Cockrell Cockrell should be one of the Buccaneers remaining priorities to re-sign at this point given the team's lack of cornerback depth. We expect Tampa Bay to select a corner at some point in the upcoming draft, but Tampa Bay has virtually zero experienced depth at the position right now. Cockrell offers that. Cockrell, a rising eighth-year pro, signed midseason in 2020 and took on a meaningful as a depth nickel cornerback behind Sean Murphy-Bunting. He tallied 11 tackles, a pass breakup, a tackle for loss, and a quarterback hit in seven appearances. | Ten former Buccaneers who were on the 2020-21 Super Bowl roster remain free agents. The Buccaneers are extremely limited on cap space with just about $2 million to spend right now per Over the Cap. QB Blaine Gabbert is the favorite to re-sign among the Bucs two free agent signal-callers. | bart | 2 | https://www.si.com/nfl/buccaneers/front-office/tampa-bay-buccaneers-2021-remaining-free-agents-list | 0.213855 |
What's inside a wasp's nest? | Wasp's nests are nurseries. The queen wasp builds the first structure alone, then males add on to it. The nest has special adaptations for maintaining temperature and cells for larvae. See more stories on Insider's business page. Following is a transcript of the video. Michael Mills: This is a wasp nest. In the wild, some of these nests are built underground using clay or mud. But you might be most familiar with the paper nests -- the ones built out of saliva and pulp, typically found attached to buildings or trees. And these guys can get big. According to the Guinness Book of World Records, the largest wasp nest was 12 feet long and 18 feet all around. Now, we're all accustomed to avoiding these nests, because, obviously, wasps are scary, but today we're going to go inside one, because there are a lot of fascinating factors that make these nests work for wasps and their babies. So, let's cut into one. Pretty easy to cut through this. The hardest part was definitely here at the top, where you can tell the cells are more dense and wider. If I can give you a scale for how big this is, I mean, like, look at it next to my head. This is like a brick cellphone from the '90s. The key to this type of nest is the pedicel, or the root. It's the foundation that the entire nest is built off of. These are the cells. Wasps are like butterflies. They're what's called holometabolous insects, meaning they go through a metamorphosis before they become adults, and these cells are basically their cribs. Petrovicheva: The cells are open when they first are produced. The queen will lay their egg in there, and then it'll get sealed off. Mills: They're shaped similar to a hollow cylinder, or like a regular lead school pencil, and there's a reason why. Petrovicheva: The walls of the hexagon hold the other cells. Also, they're a compact space, so you can get a lot of these cells in very, very small space while still having a very strong structure. Story continues Mills: They're also perfectly sized to fit both the larva and its roommates. Petrovicheva: Oftentimes there's some food laid in with the egg, so when it hatches it has the food in there already. The drones move from cell to cell in a circular motion, making sure that each larva has food. Some wasp species tear up insects for the babies, but other wasps take things further. Mason wasps drop off whole caterpillars for their children to eat alive, while tarantula hawk wasps lay their eggs on tarantulas they sting and paralyze as a birthday feast. Other species lay their eggs inside their prey, and once the larvae hatch, they have a meal waiting for them to chew their way out of. Petrovicheva: Once the larva is ready to metamorphose, it'll become a pupa inside the cell still, and then it'll hatch as an adult. Mills: Since the cells are both the crib and the cocoon for these wasp babies, the nest must maintain a stable temperature with high humidity. This means as much insulation as possible. For these types of nests, the domes are almost always made of salivary secretions, plant material, or paper or cardboard. Petrovicheva: So, they take wood, they chew it up, and they mix it with saliva to make a glue, and then they lay it in thin layers. The denser the layers, the stronger and more sturdy the structure. After building the core structure, the queen wraps the entire nest in an envelope -- these thin sheets of macerated pulp. Mills: This layer basically protects the comb, or each layer of cells, limiting the entrance to one tiny little hole. Scientists think this helps to maintain the internal temperature and humidity of the structure. And more cones can be added on with more pedicels, sort of like expanding a mansion with tiny little staircases that the wasps can use to get from one area to another. So, now I know the question on some of your minds is, "Is there honey in a wasp nest?" And the answer is no. While both bees and wasps pollinate flowers, bees actually farm nectar to turn it into honey, the food source for their larvae. Most wasps, on the other hand, are meat eaters and prefer a diet of freshly chewed insects, meaning you won't find honey in their nests, but you might find a lot of dead bugs. So, the next time you see one of these nests and you're tempted to knock it down, maybe back off. Those wasps put a lot of effort into building this crib for their babies. We don't want to tick them off. Read the original article on Business Insider | Insider goes inside a wasp nest to learn about its secrets. The nest has special adaptations for maintaining temperature and cells for larvae. | ctrlsum | 0 | https://news.yahoo.com/whats-inside-wasps-nest-201500597.html | 0.104453 |
What's inside a wasp's nest? | Wasp's nests are nurseries. The queen wasp builds the first structure alone, then males add on to it. The nest has special adaptations for maintaining temperature and cells for larvae. See more stories on Insider's business page. Following is a transcript of the video. Michael Mills: This is a wasp nest. In the wild, some of these nests are built underground using clay or mud. But you might be most familiar with the paper nests -- the ones built out of saliva and pulp, typically found attached to buildings or trees. And these guys can get big. According to the Guinness Book of World Records, the largest wasp nest was 12 feet long and 18 feet all around. Now, we're all accustomed to avoiding these nests, because, obviously, wasps are scary, but today we're going to go inside one, because there are a lot of fascinating factors that make these nests work for wasps and their babies. So, let's cut into one. Pretty easy to cut through this. The hardest part was definitely here at the top, where you can tell the cells are more dense and wider. If I can give you a scale for how big this is, I mean, like, look at it next to my head. This is like a brick cellphone from the '90s. The key to this type of nest is the pedicel, or the root. It's the foundation that the entire nest is built off of. These are the cells. Wasps are like butterflies. They're what's called holometabolous insects, meaning they go through a metamorphosis before they become adults, and these cells are basically their cribs. Petrovicheva: The cells are open when they first are produced. The queen will lay their egg in there, and then it'll get sealed off. Mills: They're shaped similar to a hollow cylinder, or like a regular lead school pencil, and there's a reason why. Petrovicheva: The walls of the hexagon hold the other cells. Also, they're a compact space, so you can get a lot of these cells in very, very small space while still having a very strong structure. Story continues Mills: They're also perfectly sized to fit both the larva and its roommates. Petrovicheva: Oftentimes there's some food laid in with the egg, so when it hatches it has the food in there already. The drones move from cell to cell in a circular motion, making sure that each larva has food. Some wasp species tear up insects for the babies, but other wasps take things further. Mason wasps drop off whole caterpillars for their children to eat alive, while tarantula hawk wasps lay their eggs on tarantulas they sting and paralyze as a birthday feast. Other species lay their eggs inside their prey, and once the larvae hatch, they have a meal waiting for them to chew their way out of. Petrovicheva: Once the larva is ready to metamorphose, it'll become a pupa inside the cell still, and then it'll hatch as an adult. Mills: Since the cells are both the crib and the cocoon for these wasp babies, the nest must maintain a stable temperature with high humidity. This means as much insulation as possible. For these types of nests, the domes are almost always made of salivary secretions, plant material, or paper or cardboard. Petrovicheva: So, they take wood, they chew it up, and they mix it with saliva to make a glue, and then they lay it in thin layers. The denser the layers, the stronger and more sturdy the structure. After building the core structure, the queen wraps the entire nest in an envelope -- these thin sheets of macerated pulp. Mills: This layer basically protects the comb, or each layer of cells, limiting the entrance to one tiny little hole. Scientists think this helps to maintain the internal temperature and humidity of the structure. And more cones can be added on with more pedicels, sort of like expanding a mansion with tiny little staircases that the wasps can use to get from one area to another. So, now I know the question on some of your minds is, "Is there honey in a wasp nest?" And the answer is no. While both bees and wasps pollinate flowers, bees actually farm nectar to turn it into honey, the food source for their larvae. Most wasps, on the other hand, are meat eaters and prefer a diet of freshly chewed insects, meaning you won't find honey in their nests, but you might find a lot of dead bugs. So, the next time you see one of these nests and you're tempted to knock it down, maybe back off. Those wasps put a lot of effort into building this crib for their babies. We don't want to tick them off. Read the original article on Business Insider | Wasp's nests are nurseries for their larvae. The queen wasp builds the first structure alone, then males add on to it. The nest has special adaptations for maintaining temperature and cells for larvae. | ctrlsum | 1 | https://news.yahoo.com/whats-inside-wasps-nest-201500597.html | 0.161984 |
What's inside a wasp's nest? | Wasp's nests are nurseries. The queen wasp builds the first structure alone, then males add on to it. The nest has special adaptations for maintaining temperature and cells for larvae. See more stories on Insider's business page. Following is a transcript of the video. Michael Mills: This is a wasp nest. In the wild, some of these nests are built underground using clay or mud. But you might be most familiar with the paper nests -- the ones built out of saliva and pulp, typically found attached to buildings or trees. And these guys can get big. According to the Guinness Book of World Records, the largest wasp nest was 12 feet long and 18 feet all around. Now, we're all accustomed to avoiding these nests, because, obviously, wasps are scary, but today we're going to go inside one, because there are a lot of fascinating factors that make these nests work for wasps and their babies. So, let's cut into one. Pretty easy to cut through this. The hardest part was definitely here at the top, where you can tell the cells are more dense and wider. If I can give you a scale for how big this is, I mean, like, look at it next to my head. This is like a brick cellphone from the '90s. The key to this type of nest is the pedicel, or the root. It's the foundation that the entire nest is built off of. These are the cells. Wasps are like butterflies. They're what's called holometabolous insects, meaning they go through a metamorphosis before they become adults, and these cells are basically their cribs. Petrovicheva: The cells are open when they first are produced. The queen will lay their egg in there, and then it'll get sealed off. Mills: They're shaped similar to a hollow cylinder, or like a regular lead school pencil, and there's a reason why. Petrovicheva: The walls of the hexagon hold the other cells. Also, they're a compact space, so you can get a lot of these cells in very, very small space while still having a very strong structure. Story continues Mills: They're also perfectly sized to fit both the larva and its roommates. Petrovicheva: Oftentimes there's some food laid in with the egg, so when it hatches it has the food in there already. The drones move from cell to cell in a circular motion, making sure that each larva has food. Some wasp species tear up insects for the babies, but other wasps take things further. Mason wasps drop off whole caterpillars for their children to eat alive, while tarantula hawk wasps lay their eggs on tarantulas they sting and paralyze as a birthday feast. Other species lay their eggs inside their prey, and once the larvae hatch, they have a meal waiting for them to chew their way out of. Petrovicheva: Once the larva is ready to metamorphose, it'll become a pupa inside the cell still, and then it'll hatch as an adult. Mills: Since the cells are both the crib and the cocoon for these wasp babies, the nest must maintain a stable temperature with high humidity. This means as much insulation as possible. For these types of nests, the domes are almost always made of salivary secretions, plant material, or paper or cardboard. Petrovicheva: So, they take wood, they chew it up, and they mix it with saliva to make a glue, and then they lay it in thin layers. The denser the layers, the stronger and more sturdy the structure. After building the core structure, the queen wraps the entire nest in an envelope -- these thin sheets of macerated pulp. Mills: This layer basically protects the comb, or each layer of cells, limiting the entrance to one tiny little hole. Scientists think this helps to maintain the internal temperature and humidity of the structure. And more cones can be added on with more pedicels, sort of like expanding a mansion with tiny little staircases that the wasps can use to get from one area to another. So, now I know the question on some of your minds is, "Is there honey in a wasp nest?" And the answer is no. While both bees and wasps pollinate flowers, bees actually farm nectar to turn it into honey, the food source for their larvae. Most wasps, on the other hand, are meat eaters and prefer a diet of freshly chewed insects, meaning you won't find honey in their nests, but you might find a lot of dead bugs. So, the next time you see one of these nests and you're tempted to knock it down, maybe back off. Those wasps put a lot of effort into building this crib for their babies. We don't want to tick them off. Read the original article on Business Insider | Wasp's nests are nurseries for their larvae. The queen wasp builds the first structure alone, then males add on to it. The cells are both the crib and the cocoon for these wasp babies, the nest must maintain a stable temperature with high humidity. | ctrlsum | 2 | https://news.yahoo.com/whats-inside-wasps-nest-201500597.html | 0.194654 |
Who Will Follow Coinbases Path To Wall Street? | Coinbase, arguably the premier crytpocurrency exchange in the U.S., goes public on Wednesday. Even my mom is tired of me saying hows my Bitcoin? (as I show her my Bitcoin wallet just to be that guy.) We are moving fast into a digital economy. Cryptocurrencies are the new stocks. I will undoubtedly buy Coinbase when it goes public. I just wont be a buyer of the countrys premier cryptocurrency exchange on Wednesday, because I dont like to chase. I suspect it will rise by double digits. I want to see where it ends up trading after a month or two on the market before I think about it. It is another step for cryptocurrencies being perceived as shifting further into the mainstream, says David Jones, chief market strategist for Capital.com, a commission-free crypto exchange. If this continues, and there are no signs yet of that stopping, then exchanges for buying and selling should do well. It is by no means a perfect comparison of course, but listed shares of exchanges such as Nasdaq NDAQ and the London Stock Exchange have respectively done very well over the years." Coinbase filed its Form S-1 Registration Statement for its initial public offering in February after saying in December that it was going to list on the Nasdaq under the symbol COIN. It goes public on Wednesday, April 14. Coinbase isnt exactly the E*Trade of cryptocurrency, but they reportedly have around 43 million retail investors plugged in, along with 7,000 institutional investors in over 100 countries. As of Dec. 31, 2020, Coinbase did $456 billion in trading. Investors have at least $90 billion worth of assets stored on its platform thanks to the fact that Bitcoin is up 769% over the last 12 months and the Nasdaq is up a mere 65%. The market has them valued at $100 billion pre-IPO. Its easy to see how cryptocurrency-related IPOs look like a dot-com bubble ready to inflate. For comparison, Morgan Stanley bought E*Trade in October 2020 in an all-stock deal valued at just $13 billion. Coinbase is the first large crypto exchange to take its place on Wall Street. What has been most notable so far is the very high price-to-earnings multiple it got on futures markets, says Brian Kerr CEO and Co-founder of Kava Labs (KAVA). Kava runs a decentralized, financial services designed for cryptocurrencies. It bodes well for other U.S. exchanges like Kraken which seems to be preparing to follow suit. Shares of Coinbase and Kraken are already trading well on secondary markets like Sharespost and Linqto with heavy multiples, he says. Last Thursday (April 8), Kraken confirmed theyre next, CNBC reported. Gemini, co-founded by the Winklevoss brothers, is also rumored to be a perfect candidate to go public. The market wants crypto exposure, says Kerr. As for personally investing in Coinbase, it has a great business, huge revenues, and is the leader in the U.S. with a huge regulatory moat, but...there is just so much risk with looming inflation and regulatory uncertainty that I prefer to sit back. Coinbase Founder and CEO Brian Armstrong attends Consensus 2019 at the Hilton Midtown on May 15, ... [+] 2019 in New York City. (Photo by Steven Ferdman/Getty Images) Getty Images Coinbase & the Competition In the short term, Coinbase will continue to grow on the fees it charges for trading crypto. In the long-run, though, it's really anyone's game. This is the real risk here for Coinbase, thinks Max Breus, founder of Moscow-based UBIX Network, a blockchain platform. The market will continue to evolve and margins will inevitably tighten over time. There is also the possibility that a game-changer in the form of a new trading model or a disruptive technology will emerge. I see exchanges moving towards the hybrid model where they support both public and private crypto simultaneously, he says, meaning more of a crypto lending or investing platform that isnt just for buying and selling cryptocurrencies, or acting like PayPal PYPL where you can pay your friend in Bitcoin (if they have a Bitcoin wallet, of course). For now, the biggest thing Coinbase has is trust and brand recognition. Other exchanges will have to find other ways to compete with them. If another company can find a way to monetize in other ways and make it easy, it could be a blow for Coinbase, says Brandon Burgason, founder & CEO of Mobie, a mobile app allowing for payments in crypto and fiat. There are so many exchanges out there, some allowing for more sophisticated trading like swaps and currency pairs, but the one that goes commission free, has access to the top coins, and is easy to set up could blow Coinbase up, investors that are sitting this one out have said. Other than operating in a crowded market, Coinbases price to earnings might look a lot like Teslas TSLA . And while Tesla was once the only, sexy EV in town, it now has all of the major car companies breathing down its neck. Coinbase will be in a similar situation. Im skeptical about Coinbases valuation, says Ivo Georgiev, CEO of display advertising company AdEx Network (ADX), which I liken to the anti-Google AdSense. I find it to be a bit high based on their technology, user base and trading volumes alone. But they do have a relatively good reputation and the trust of the cryptocurrency community, he says, recalling a Commodities and Futures Trading Commission investigation that found Coinbase guilty of false reporting and wash trading. They were ordered by the CFTC to pay around $7 million in fines on March 19. Their brand recognition and first-to-market positioning will be enough to send Coinbase stock price soaring on day one. Investors are already looking for the next crypto-related business to go public. If you compare Coinbases operations to the operations of other exchanges such as Binance for exampletheir market valuation should raise your eyebrows, says Georgiev. Changpeng Zao, Mr. Binance. Crypto investors would love to see Binance go public, too. Photographer: Akio Kon/Bloomberg 2018 Bloomberg Finance LP Successful IPOs of competing companies often push other companies in the sector to do the same, says Oleg Fakeev, a private investor and founder of Kit Investments in Russia. I think Coinbase is far from being the last crypto company who will IPO, he said. He mentioned Binance as a possible candidate. Binance is the worlds largest cryptocurrency exchange, founded by Forbes listed billionaire Changpeng Zhao, aka CZ. Like Coinbase, Binance has the brand name recognition among cryptocurrency traders; it has a user-friendly interface, the ability to easily deposit into an account, and security. All of this makes the Binance exchange an excellent whos next?, says Fakeev. Companies that go public have to be more transparent. For Coinbase, that will bring with it more serious investors from institutional endowments to RIAs managing individual accounts of clients looking for growth. In that regard, Coinbases IPO makes them the only cryptocurrency exchange to own. | The first large crypto exchange to take its place on Wall Street, it goes public on Wednesday, April 14. Other U.S. exchanges like Kraken are also preparing to follow suit. | ctrlsum | 1 | https://www.forbes.com/sites/kenrapoza/2021/04/11/who-will-follow-coinbases-path-to-wall-street/ | 0.166534 |
Who Will Follow Coinbases Path To Wall Street? | Coinbase, arguably the premier crytpocurrency exchange in the U.S., goes public on Wednesday. Even my mom is tired of me saying hows my Bitcoin? (as I show her my Bitcoin wallet just to be that guy.) We are moving fast into a digital economy. Cryptocurrencies are the new stocks. I will undoubtedly buy Coinbase when it goes public. I just wont be a buyer of the countrys premier cryptocurrency exchange on Wednesday, because I dont like to chase. I suspect it will rise by double digits. I want to see where it ends up trading after a month or two on the market before I think about it. It is another step for cryptocurrencies being perceived as shifting further into the mainstream, says David Jones, chief market strategist for Capital.com, a commission-free crypto exchange. If this continues, and there are no signs yet of that stopping, then exchanges for buying and selling should do well. It is by no means a perfect comparison of course, but listed shares of exchanges such as Nasdaq NDAQ and the London Stock Exchange have respectively done very well over the years." Coinbase filed its Form S-1 Registration Statement for its initial public offering in February after saying in December that it was going to list on the Nasdaq under the symbol COIN. It goes public on Wednesday, April 14. Coinbase isnt exactly the E*Trade of cryptocurrency, but they reportedly have around 43 million retail investors plugged in, along with 7,000 institutional investors in over 100 countries. As of Dec. 31, 2020, Coinbase did $456 billion in trading. Investors have at least $90 billion worth of assets stored on its platform thanks to the fact that Bitcoin is up 769% over the last 12 months and the Nasdaq is up a mere 65%. The market has them valued at $100 billion pre-IPO. Its easy to see how cryptocurrency-related IPOs look like a dot-com bubble ready to inflate. For comparison, Morgan Stanley bought E*Trade in October 2020 in an all-stock deal valued at just $13 billion. Coinbase is the first large crypto exchange to take its place on Wall Street. What has been most notable so far is the very high price-to-earnings multiple it got on futures markets, says Brian Kerr CEO and Co-founder of Kava Labs (KAVA). Kava runs a decentralized, financial services designed for cryptocurrencies. It bodes well for other U.S. exchanges like Kraken which seems to be preparing to follow suit. Shares of Coinbase and Kraken are already trading well on secondary markets like Sharespost and Linqto with heavy multiples, he says. Last Thursday (April 8), Kraken confirmed theyre next, CNBC reported. Gemini, co-founded by the Winklevoss brothers, is also rumored to be a perfect candidate to go public. The market wants crypto exposure, says Kerr. As for personally investing in Coinbase, it has a great business, huge revenues, and is the leader in the U.S. with a huge regulatory moat, but...there is just so much risk with looming inflation and regulatory uncertainty that I prefer to sit back. Coinbase Founder and CEO Brian Armstrong attends Consensus 2019 at the Hilton Midtown on May 15, ... [+] 2019 in New York City. (Photo by Steven Ferdman/Getty Images) Getty Images Coinbase & the Competition In the short term, Coinbase will continue to grow on the fees it charges for trading crypto. In the long-run, though, it's really anyone's game. This is the real risk here for Coinbase, thinks Max Breus, founder of Moscow-based UBIX Network, a blockchain platform. The market will continue to evolve and margins will inevitably tighten over time. There is also the possibility that a game-changer in the form of a new trading model or a disruptive technology will emerge. I see exchanges moving towards the hybrid model where they support both public and private crypto simultaneously, he says, meaning more of a crypto lending or investing platform that isnt just for buying and selling cryptocurrencies, or acting like PayPal PYPL where you can pay your friend in Bitcoin (if they have a Bitcoin wallet, of course). For now, the biggest thing Coinbase has is trust and brand recognition. Other exchanges will have to find other ways to compete with them. If another company can find a way to monetize in other ways and make it easy, it could be a blow for Coinbase, says Brandon Burgason, founder & CEO of Mobie, a mobile app allowing for payments in crypto and fiat. There are so many exchanges out there, some allowing for more sophisticated trading like swaps and currency pairs, but the one that goes commission free, has access to the top coins, and is easy to set up could blow Coinbase up, investors that are sitting this one out have said. Other than operating in a crowded market, Coinbases price to earnings might look a lot like Teslas TSLA . And while Tesla was once the only, sexy EV in town, it now has all of the major car companies breathing down its neck. Coinbase will be in a similar situation. Im skeptical about Coinbases valuation, says Ivo Georgiev, CEO of display advertising company AdEx Network (ADX), which I liken to the anti-Google AdSense. I find it to be a bit high based on their technology, user base and trading volumes alone. But they do have a relatively good reputation and the trust of the cryptocurrency community, he says, recalling a Commodities and Futures Trading Commission investigation that found Coinbase guilty of false reporting and wash trading. They were ordered by the CFTC to pay around $7 million in fines on March 19. Their brand recognition and first-to-market positioning will be enough to send Coinbase stock price soaring on day one. Investors are already looking for the next crypto-related business to go public. If you compare Coinbases operations to the operations of other exchanges such as Binance for exampletheir market valuation should raise your eyebrows, says Georgiev. Changpeng Zao, Mr. Binance. Crypto investors would love to see Binance go public, too. Photographer: Akio Kon/Bloomberg 2018 Bloomberg Finance LP Successful IPOs of competing companies often push other companies in the sector to do the same, says Oleg Fakeev, a private investor and founder of Kit Investments in Russia. I think Coinbase is far from being the last crypto company who will IPO, he said. He mentioned Binance as a possible candidate. Binance is the worlds largest cryptocurrency exchange, founded by Forbes listed billionaire Changpeng Zhao, aka CZ. Like Coinbase, Binance has the brand name recognition among cryptocurrency traders; it has a user-friendly interface, the ability to easily deposit into an account, and security. All of this makes the Binance exchange an excellent whos next?, says Fakeev. Companies that go public have to be more transparent. For Coinbase, that will bring with it more serious investors from institutional endowments to RIAs managing individual accounts of clients looking for growth. In that regard, Coinbases IPO makes them the only cryptocurrency exchange to own. | The first large crypto exchange to take its place on Wall Street, it goes public on Wednesday, April 14. Other U.S. exchanges like Kraken and Gemini are also preparing to follow suit, says Kava Labs CEO and Co-founder Brian Kerr. "The market wants crypto exposure, says Kerr. | ctrlsum | 2 | https://www.forbes.com/sites/kenrapoza/2021/04/11/who-will-follow-coinbases-path-to-wall-street/ | 0.169048 |
What went wrong with Teddy Bridgewater and the Panthers, and what's next for the QB? | CHARLOTTE, N.C. The Carolina Panthers' acquisition of Sam Darnold doesn't mark the first time Teddy Bridgewater has been passed over for the former New York Jets quarterback. In March of 2018, the Jets signed Bridgewater after the Minnesota Vikings declined to pick up his fifth-year option. That was viewed as a prove-it opportunity for the QB following his recovery from a major knee injury that affected him for the better part of two years. The next month, the Jets drafted Darnold, a then-20-year-old quarterback out of Southern Cal third-overall. Along with Josh McCown, Bridgewater gave Darnold tips and worked alongside him. "Oh man, that guy, he's cool. He's a cool guy," Bridgewater said of Darnold back in August 2018. "Seems like a guy you can't break, and that's what you want as a quarterback. He's even-keel. I just watch him, he makes throws, and it's like man, this guy, he's the real deal." Panthers' trade for Sam Darnold makes for QB questions Teddy Bridgewater spent one season as the lead dog in an NFL team's quarterback room, but that is the case no longer with the Carolina Panther Bridgewater, 28, was then traded to the New Orleans Saints prior to the regular season, while Darnold, now 23, started the next three years in New York. And for now, at least, the Panthers have reunited the pair, with Darnold set to replace Bridgewater one season into Bridgewater's three-year deal in Carolina. "I don't want to say Teddy couldn't do something. I just like focusing on the positives that Sam has," Panthers general manager Scott Fitterer said when asked about the duo's differences. "I really liked (Darnold's) ability to move in the pocket and really get the ball downfield and take those shots. I do think Teddy is a very valuable player, and I think he's a starting quarterback, but I just I really like the fit for Sam with Joe Brady and this offense." Finding a fix For months, led by a desire from team owner David Tepper, the team has explored options to correct the Bridgewater signing, including looking at Matthew Stafford, Deshaun Watson and the upcoming NFL draft. Trading second- and fourth-round picks in 2022 and a sixth-round pick this year for Darnold is the first official move to try and fix the mistake. While it certainly wasn't the first choice to grab Darnold for what the team did, it provides more flexibility in the draft and an alternative at quarterback with potential. Having Bridgewater start in 2021 was never in the cards for the organization after his late-game struggles some of which were not entirely on him. The Panthers know what they have in Bridgewater. Darnold has a perceived higher ceiling, assuming he can reach a level with offensive coordinator Joe Brady and head coach Matt Rhule than he never did with the Jets. Signing Bridgewater to a $63 million deal that was set up for the team to get out of after two years did not work. There's plenty of blame to go around. Part of the allure of signing with Carolina last offseason was getting to work with running back Christian McCaffrey and being protected by left tackle Russell Okung. McCaffrey played in only three games due to injury and Okung played seven. Carolina Panthers get a new quarterback: Sam Darnold arrives via trade with Jets NEW YORK The New York Jets traded quarterback Sam Darnold to the Carolina Panthers, ending a stint that was marked by a few flashes of brill Bridgewater's own ability to stay healthy remains a question mark, and his overall performance could have been expected based on his first six seasons in the league. He did not have a bad season, but he didn't have a great one. Deep passes weren't his strong suit before signed in Carolina. In 2020, Bridgewater's 5.1 average air yards per completed throw was ninth-fewest in the league, per Next Gen Stats. Darnold was worse sixth-fewest with 4.7. Multiple times during Fitterer's post-trade news conference Monday, Darnold's ability to get the ball downfield was mentioned. The idea was that in an odd offseason, and with a new coaching staff, Bridgewater's previous knowledge of Brady's offense from their time together in New Orleans would be a benefit. He came to be beloved by his teammates and earned the league's Art Rooney Sportsmanship Award. His performance at the end of halves and in the red zone were issues throughout the season. Going 0-8 in end-of-game situations with chances to win or tie showed the team could stay in games, but the Panthers decided a new option was needed to take them over the edge. Despite stressing patience, and referencing Rome not being built in a day prior to hiring Rhule more than a year ago, Tepper and the organization decided a change was needed to get closer to winning sooner rather later. Fitterer speaks with the owner daily, and he assists in the decision-making process. Are we making the right decision," Fitterer said. There are a couple of scenarios for Bridgewater. If a trade can be worked out, then he will likely head elsewhere with a chance to compete. There's a reason one hasn't taken place yet, however. The problem is, few teams if any want to take on about $18 million in salary. Other avenues include staying on the roster, if he is willing to take a pay cut, and being a mentor and competition for Darnold again, but it's hard for a likely backup quarterback to have the biggest cap hit on the roster. The Panthers could also work with a new team to restructure his contract and facilitate a trade. If it became a situation where the team feels forced to cut Bridgewater, designating him as a post-June 1 release would save the most money. In that case, he would account for $15 million in dead cap with $8 million saved in 2021 and $5 million in dead cap with $21 million saved in 2022. The opportunity to start again did not work out like anyone hoped for Bridgewater. The last time Darnold took over for him, Bridgewater found a solid backup job in New Orleans with a trade that benefited the Jets. Seeing Bridgewater again wearing a new jersey in 2021 wouldn't be a surprise. | The Carolina Panthers traded for New York Jets quarterback Sam Darnold. The move reunites the pair, with Darnold set to replace Teddy Bridgewater one season into Bridgewater's three-year deal in Carolina. | pegasus | 1 | https://www.nola.com/nation_world/article_1c468cea-9b0c-11eb-8360-13ba4ee7064f.html | 0.183453 |
What went wrong with Teddy Bridgewater and the Panthers, and what's next for the QB? | CHARLOTTE, N.C. The Carolina Panthers' acquisition of Sam Darnold doesn't mark the first time Teddy Bridgewater has been passed over for the former New York Jets quarterback. In March of 2018, the Jets signed Bridgewater after the Minnesota Vikings declined to pick up his fifth-year option. That was viewed as a prove-it opportunity for the QB following his recovery from a major knee injury that affected him for the better part of two years. The next month, the Jets drafted Darnold, a then-20-year-old quarterback out of Southern Cal third-overall. Along with Josh McCown, Bridgewater gave Darnold tips and worked alongside him. "Oh man, that guy, he's cool. He's a cool guy," Bridgewater said of Darnold back in August 2018. "Seems like a guy you can't break, and that's what you want as a quarterback. He's even-keel. I just watch him, he makes throws, and it's like man, this guy, he's the real deal." Panthers' trade for Sam Darnold makes for QB questions Teddy Bridgewater spent one season as the lead dog in an NFL team's quarterback room, but that is the case no longer with the Carolina Panther Bridgewater, 28, was then traded to the New Orleans Saints prior to the regular season, while Darnold, now 23, started the next three years in New York. And for now, at least, the Panthers have reunited the pair, with Darnold set to replace Bridgewater one season into Bridgewater's three-year deal in Carolina. "I don't want to say Teddy couldn't do something. I just like focusing on the positives that Sam has," Panthers general manager Scott Fitterer said when asked about the duo's differences. "I really liked (Darnold's) ability to move in the pocket and really get the ball downfield and take those shots. I do think Teddy is a very valuable player, and I think he's a starting quarterback, but I just I really like the fit for Sam with Joe Brady and this offense." Finding a fix For months, led by a desire from team owner David Tepper, the team has explored options to correct the Bridgewater signing, including looking at Matthew Stafford, Deshaun Watson and the upcoming NFL draft. Trading second- and fourth-round picks in 2022 and a sixth-round pick this year for Darnold is the first official move to try and fix the mistake. While it certainly wasn't the first choice to grab Darnold for what the team did, it provides more flexibility in the draft and an alternative at quarterback with potential. Having Bridgewater start in 2021 was never in the cards for the organization after his late-game struggles some of which were not entirely on him. The Panthers know what they have in Bridgewater. Darnold has a perceived higher ceiling, assuming he can reach a level with offensive coordinator Joe Brady and head coach Matt Rhule than he never did with the Jets. Signing Bridgewater to a $63 million deal that was set up for the team to get out of after two years did not work. There's plenty of blame to go around. Part of the allure of signing with Carolina last offseason was getting to work with running back Christian McCaffrey and being protected by left tackle Russell Okung. McCaffrey played in only three games due to injury and Okung played seven. Carolina Panthers get a new quarterback: Sam Darnold arrives via trade with Jets NEW YORK The New York Jets traded quarterback Sam Darnold to the Carolina Panthers, ending a stint that was marked by a few flashes of brill Bridgewater's own ability to stay healthy remains a question mark, and his overall performance could have been expected based on his first six seasons in the league. He did not have a bad season, but he didn't have a great one. Deep passes weren't his strong suit before signed in Carolina. In 2020, Bridgewater's 5.1 average air yards per completed throw was ninth-fewest in the league, per Next Gen Stats. Darnold was worse sixth-fewest with 4.7. Multiple times during Fitterer's post-trade news conference Monday, Darnold's ability to get the ball downfield was mentioned. The idea was that in an odd offseason, and with a new coaching staff, Bridgewater's previous knowledge of Brady's offense from their time together in New Orleans would be a benefit. He came to be beloved by his teammates and earned the league's Art Rooney Sportsmanship Award. His performance at the end of halves and in the red zone were issues throughout the season. Going 0-8 in end-of-game situations with chances to win or tie showed the team could stay in games, but the Panthers decided a new option was needed to take them over the edge. Despite stressing patience, and referencing Rome not being built in a day prior to hiring Rhule more than a year ago, Tepper and the organization decided a change was needed to get closer to winning sooner rather later. Fitterer speaks with the owner daily, and he assists in the decision-making process. Are we making the right decision," Fitterer said. There are a couple of scenarios for Bridgewater. If a trade can be worked out, then he will likely head elsewhere with a chance to compete. There's a reason one hasn't taken place yet, however. The problem is, few teams if any want to take on about $18 million in salary. Other avenues include staying on the roster, if he is willing to take a pay cut, and being a mentor and competition for Darnold again, but it's hard for a likely backup quarterback to have the biggest cap hit on the roster. The Panthers could also work with a new team to restructure his contract and facilitate a trade. If it became a situation where the team feels forced to cut Bridgewater, designating him as a post-June 1 release would save the most money. In that case, he would account for $15 million in dead cap with $8 million saved in 2021 and $5 million in dead cap with $21 million saved in 2022. The opportunity to start again did not work out like anyone hoped for Bridgewater. The last time Darnold took over for him, Bridgewater found a solid backup job in New Orleans with a trade that benefited the Jets. Seeing Bridgewater again wearing a new jersey in 2021 wouldn't be a surprise. | The Carolina Panthers traded for Sam Darnold from the New York Jets. The Panthers signed Teddy Bridgewater to a three-year deal in March of 2018. The team has been looking for a replacement for Bridgewater since the start of the season. It appears the Panthers have found their man. | ctrlsum | 2 | https://www.nola.com/nation_world/article_1c468cea-9b0c-11eb-8360-13ba4ee7064f.html | 0.15094 |
What Do the Chiefs Need to Add on the Offensive Line? | The offensive line in Kansas City is about to look drastically different than it has in recent years, as the Chiefs will have two new tackles, moving on from both of their longtime starting tackles, two-time Pro Bowl left tackle Eric Fisher and two-time All-Pro right tackle Mitch Schwartz, and their whole interior looks different as well, adding 2019 All-Pro left guard Joe Thuney, 2014 All-Pro right guard Kyle Long and Rams' starting center Austin Blythe. It makes sense for there to be many changes after what we saw in Super Bowl LV, where numerous injuries resulted in a weak group of linemen playing out of position or with little experience against a great pass rush, leaving quarterback Patrick Mahomes running for his life all game. It was a record-breaking level of pressure faced by Mahomes in that Super Bowl and he should never have to go through that again. The Chiefs should also expect to bring in two players who opted out prior to the 2020 season, former starting right guard Laurent Duvernay-Tardif, who notably left the Chiefs after winning the Super Bowl to help in the fight against COVID-19 in Canada, and 2020 third-round pick Lucas Niang, who is expected to battle with Mike Remmers to be Schwartz's replacement at right tackle in 2021. Currently, I think the Chiefs have four of the five starters already locked in, with Thuney at left guard, Blythe at center, Long or Duvernay-Tardif at right guard and Niang or Remmers at right tackle. This seems like a pretty solid group to me, one that ought to be a middle-of-the-pack group with a good left tackle option added and mostly avoiding injury. However, that does mean they would have to add a left tackle, with the current group of tackles having extremely limited NFL experience with Martinas Rankin, Prince Tega Wanogho and Yasir Durant. Rankin has shown potential, but it's probably better to look elsewhere. This would mean that Rankin, Wanogho, Durant and either Niang or Remmers would be the backup tackles and the interior depth would consist mainly of Nick Allegretti and either Long or Duvernay-Tardif. If that tackle depth seems like too much and the interior depth seems a bit shallow, the Chiefs could also move Rankin to guard, as he has shown he can play there and be effective. Not too bad in my book! The free-agent market has become somewhat barren, but that doesn't mean there are no options. Some key options still available are two-time Pro Bowl left tackle Russell Okung, who the Chiefs have already "checked in on", two-time Pro Bowl left tackle Alejandro Villaneuva and the Chiefs' recent starting center, Austin Reiter, if they decide they want to have a competition at center. In the draft, this is a fantastic time to need an offensive tackle, with 12 or more tackles possibly going in the top 100. There are three guys that the Chiefs can't get at pick No. 31, the top three on the following list, but after them, the options are still great, though it could be tough for the Chiefs to make the puzzle pieces fit. Teven Jenkins from Oklahoma State looks remarkable, though he played at right tackle much more than he did at left tackle there. Michigan's Jalen Mayfield also looks awesome, but he was also primarily a right tackle. North Dakota State's Dillon Radunz is good and actually plays left tackle, but he wasn't as good Jenkins or Mayfield and he has the issue that all players from North Dakota State have, playing FCS football. Liam Eichenberg of Notre Dame produced quite well in college, too, but his issue is that he sorely lacks on arm length, having a 32 3/8" arm length according to his Pro Day. Texas' Samuel Cosmi performed quite well and was also a left tackle, but he doesn't look quite as good as Jenkins or Mayfield either. Alabama's Alex Leatherwood is a great prospect as well but is considered by many to be a guard in the NFL rather than a tackle. Unfortunately, like with Eichenberg, there is an issue of arm length here. The only player here with an arm length in excess of 33 1/2" is Leatherwood, the likeliest guy to not play tackle in the NFL. If I were in charge of this situation, I would try to get Okung in free agency for cheap to be the starting left tackle in 2021 and then any of Jenkins, Mayfield, Eichenberg or Cosmi early to fill the rookie 2020-Niang role. My starting offensive line would consist of Okung, Thuney, Blythe, Long and Niang and my backup offensive line would be the drafted rookie tackle, Rankin, Allegretti, Duvernay-Tardif and Remmers. On paper, that is a tremendous group. The starting group should be above-average and then the depth should prevent a Super Bowl-like disaster situation. For more Kansas City Chiefs analytics and analysis, follow @SIChiefs and @WichitaChiefSam on Twitter. | The Chiefs need to add a left tackle to their offensive line. The free-agent market has become barren, but that doesn't mean there are no options. | ctrlsum | 1 | https://www.si.com/nfl/chiefs/gm-report/what-do-the-kansas-city-chiefs-need-to-add-on-the-offensive-line | 0.621165 |
What Do the Chiefs Need to Add on the Offensive Line? | The offensive line in Kansas City is about to look drastically different than it has in recent years, as the Chiefs will have two new tackles, moving on from both of their longtime starting tackles, two-time Pro Bowl left tackle Eric Fisher and two-time All-Pro right tackle Mitch Schwartz, and their whole interior looks different as well, adding 2019 All-Pro left guard Joe Thuney, 2014 All-Pro right guard Kyle Long and Rams' starting center Austin Blythe. It makes sense for there to be many changes after what we saw in Super Bowl LV, where numerous injuries resulted in a weak group of linemen playing out of position or with little experience against a great pass rush, leaving quarterback Patrick Mahomes running for his life all game. It was a record-breaking level of pressure faced by Mahomes in that Super Bowl and he should never have to go through that again. The Chiefs should also expect to bring in two players who opted out prior to the 2020 season, former starting right guard Laurent Duvernay-Tardif, who notably left the Chiefs after winning the Super Bowl to help in the fight against COVID-19 in Canada, and 2020 third-round pick Lucas Niang, who is expected to battle with Mike Remmers to be Schwartz's replacement at right tackle in 2021. Currently, I think the Chiefs have four of the five starters already locked in, with Thuney at left guard, Blythe at center, Long or Duvernay-Tardif at right guard and Niang or Remmers at right tackle. This seems like a pretty solid group to me, one that ought to be a middle-of-the-pack group with a good left tackle option added and mostly avoiding injury. However, that does mean they would have to add a left tackle, with the current group of tackles having extremely limited NFL experience with Martinas Rankin, Prince Tega Wanogho and Yasir Durant. Rankin has shown potential, but it's probably better to look elsewhere. This would mean that Rankin, Wanogho, Durant and either Niang or Remmers would be the backup tackles and the interior depth would consist mainly of Nick Allegretti and either Long or Duvernay-Tardif. If that tackle depth seems like too much and the interior depth seems a bit shallow, the Chiefs could also move Rankin to guard, as he has shown he can play there and be effective. Not too bad in my book! The free-agent market has become somewhat barren, but that doesn't mean there are no options. Some key options still available are two-time Pro Bowl left tackle Russell Okung, who the Chiefs have already "checked in on", two-time Pro Bowl left tackle Alejandro Villaneuva and the Chiefs' recent starting center, Austin Reiter, if they decide they want to have a competition at center. In the draft, this is a fantastic time to need an offensive tackle, with 12 or more tackles possibly going in the top 100. There are three guys that the Chiefs can't get at pick No. 31, the top three on the following list, but after them, the options are still great, though it could be tough for the Chiefs to make the puzzle pieces fit. Teven Jenkins from Oklahoma State looks remarkable, though he played at right tackle much more than he did at left tackle there. Michigan's Jalen Mayfield also looks awesome, but he was also primarily a right tackle. North Dakota State's Dillon Radunz is good and actually plays left tackle, but he wasn't as good Jenkins or Mayfield and he has the issue that all players from North Dakota State have, playing FCS football. Liam Eichenberg of Notre Dame produced quite well in college, too, but his issue is that he sorely lacks on arm length, having a 32 3/8" arm length according to his Pro Day. Texas' Samuel Cosmi performed quite well and was also a left tackle, but he doesn't look quite as good as Jenkins or Mayfield either. Alabama's Alex Leatherwood is a great prospect as well but is considered by many to be a guard in the NFL rather than a tackle. Unfortunately, like with Eichenberg, there is an issue of arm length here. The only player here with an arm length in excess of 33 1/2" is Leatherwood, the likeliest guy to not play tackle in the NFL. If I were in charge of this situation, I would try to get Okung in free agency for cheap to be the starting left tackle in 2021 and then any of Jenkins, Mayfield, Eichenberg or Cosmi early to fill the rookie 2020-Niang role. My starting offensive line would consist of Okung, Thuney, Blythe, Long and Niang and my backup offensive line would be the drafted rookie tackle, Rankin, Allegretti, Duvernay-Tardif and Remmers. On paper, that is a tremendous group. The starting group should be above-average and then the depth should prevent a Super Bowl-like disaster situation. For more Kansas City Chiefs analytics and analysis, follow @SIChiefs and @WichitaChiefSam on Twitter. | The Chiefs need to add a left tackle to their offensive line. The free-agent market has become somewhat barren, but that doesn't mean there are no options. The draft is a fantastic time to need an offensive tackle, with 12 or more tackles possibly going in the top 100. | ctrlsum | 2 | https://www.si.com/nfl/chiefs/gm-report/what-do-the-kansas-city-chiefs-need-to-add-on-the-offensive-line | 0.633705 |
Who is Will Zalatoris, the guy near the top of the Masters leaderboard? | AUGUSTA, Ga. You look at the Masters leaderboard, and you see a whole range of familiar and kinda-familiar names: Justin Rose. Jordan Spieth. Tony Finau. Will Zalatoris. Justin Thomas. Wait. Go back. Well, friend, let us enlighten you. Yes, he's a guy with a surname like an acid reflux medicine. But he's also a dude who's piloted a run with a career trajectory like pre-crash GameStop stock. Let's dig in: Zalatoris not technically a member of PGA Tour This is a little complicated, but Zalatoris is technically a member of the Korn Ferry developmental tour. But he's played so dang well in the PGA Tour events he's entered that he's now getting invitations to majors. Seize your chance, friends. First Masters for Zalatoris Zalatoris first qualified to play in the U.S. Open in 2019 at Pebble Beach, and all he did there was finish T6 and card an ace on the iconic 7th on Thursday. He'd played the 2016 U.S. Open as an amateur but failed to make the cut. So, as a pro, he's played two majors and been inside the top 6 at both. That's not bad. Zalatoris has leaped up in world rankings At the start of 2019, he was ranked 2,006th in the world. One year later, he was up to 672nd. At the start of 2021, he was ranked 59th, and played his way into the Masters with a top-50 ranking that he reached in February. Zalatoris grew up in the Dallas golf scene As a wee Texas lad, Zalatoris squared off in junior golf competitions against Spieth, Scottie Scheffler and Patrick Cantlay. Decent warmup competition that helped prep him to win the U.S. Junior Amateur in 2014 and join the 2017 U.S. Walker Cup team. He's torching the Tour this season Zalatoris has played in 14 events and made the cut in 13 of them, not missing a single cut since early October. He's finished in the top 5 five times and in the top 25 10 times. He's also been one of the most skilled players from tee to green, ranking in the top 5 in two around-the-green categories ... exactly how you want to flourish heading into Augusta. Story continues He's pals with Tony Romo The ex-Cowboy QB has made no secret of his love for golf, playing multiple events on sponsors' exemptions. The two are members of the same Texas country club, and Romo reportedly badgers Zalatoris at all hours of the day and night with questions on his swing. No rookie since Fuzzy Zoeller in 1979 has won the Masters, but Zalatoris wants to be the first. And he's picking the brains of guys who know. "It was fun playing with Bernhard Langer, and he said he thinks this was his 38th Masters," Zalatoris said Friday. "I've gotten in five rounds here." So there you go ... all you need to know about Will Zalatoris heading into his round Saturday. Let's see how long he's able to hold on at the top. Could be awhile. Will Zalatoris is playing in his first Masters. (Brian Snyder / Reuters) ______ Jay Busbee is a writer for Yahoo Sports. Follow him on Twitter at @jaybusbee, or contact him at jay.busbee@yahoo.com. More from Yahoo Sports: | Will Zalatoris is near the top of the Masters leaderboard. He is playing in his first Masters. He's been playing well enough to get invitations to majors. | ctrlsum | 1 | https://sports.yahoo.com/who-is-will-zalatoris-the-guy-near-the-top-of-the-masters-leaderboard-161059047.html?src=rss | 0.13683 |
Who is Will Zalatoris, the guy near the top of the Masters leaderboard? | AUGUSTA, Ga. You look at the Masters leaderboard, and you see a whole range of familiar and kinda-familiar names: Justin Rose. Jordan Spieth. Tony Finau. Will Zalatoris. Justin Thomas. Wait. Go back. Well, friend, let us enlighten you. Yes, he's a guy with a surname like an acid reflux medicine. But he's also a dude who's piloted a run with a career trajectory like pre-crash GameStop stock. Let's dig in: Zalatoris not technically a member of PGA Tour This is a little complicated, but Zalatoris is technically a member of the Korn Ferry developmental tour. But he's played so dang well in the PGA Tour events he's entered that he's now getting invitations to majors. Seize your chance, friends. First Masters for Zalatoris Zalatoris first qualified to play in the U.S. Open in 2019 at Pebble Beach, and all he did there was finish T6 and card an ace on the iconic 7th on Thursday. He'd played the 2016 U.S. Open as an amateur but failed to make the cut. So, as a pro, he's played two majors and been inside the top 6 at both. That's not bad. Zalatoris has leaped up in world rankings At the start of 2019, he was ranked 2,006th in the world. One year later, he was up to 672nd. At the start of 2021, he was ranked 59th, and played his way into the Masters with a top-50 ranking that he reached in February. Zalatoris grew up in the Dallas golf scene As a wee Texas lad, Zalatoris squared off in junior golf competitions against Spieth, Scottie Scheffler and Patrick Cantlay. Decent warmup competition that helped prep him to win the U.S. Junior Amateur in 2014 and join the 2017 U.S. Walker Cup team. He's torching the Tour this season Zalatoris has played in 14 events and made the cut in 13 of them, not missing a single cut since early October. He's finished in the top 5 five times and in the top 25 10 times. He's also been one of the most skilled players from tee to green, ranking in the top 5 in two around-the-green categories ... exactly how you want to flourish heading into Augusta. Story continues He's pals with Tony Romo The ex-Cowboy QB has made no secret of his love for golf, playing multiple events on sponsors' exemptions. The two are members of the same Texas country club, and Romo reportedly badgers Zalatoris at all hours of the day and night with questions on his swing. No rookie since Fuzzy Zoeller in 1979 has won the Masters, but Zalatoris wants to be the first. And he's picking the brains of guys who know. "It was fun playing with Bernhard Langer, and he said he thinks this was his 38th Masters," Zalatoris said Friday. "I've gotten in five rounds here." So there you go ... all you need to know about Will Zalatoris heading into his round Saturday. Let's see how long he's able to hold on at the top. Could be awhile. Will Zalatoris is playing in his first Masters. (Brian Snyder / Reuters) ______ Jay Busbee is a writer for Yahoo Sports. Follow him on Twitter at @jaybusbee, or contact him at jay.busbee@yahoo.com. More from Yahoo Sports: | Will Zalatoris is near the top of the Masters leaderboard. He is playing in his first Masters. He's been in the top 50 in the world for three of the last four months. He has a chance to become the first rookie to win the Masters since 1979. | ctrlsum | 2 | https://sports.yahoo.com/who-is-will-zalatoris-the-guy-near-the-top-of-the-masters-leaderboard-161059047.html?src=rss | 0.282227 |
Can Rick Spielman's QB Approach Tell Us What George Paton Might Do? | Paton worked under Spielman for many years while with the Vikings. We've heard what new Broncos general manager George Paton has had to say about the team for whom he now oversees personnel. "Sleeping giant." "Aggressive, not reckless." "This is the job I really wanted." "They have everything here to win." We like to boil down what NFL players, coaches and executives say into juicy sound bites. Therefore, you hear Paton talking up the Broncos and what he thinks of their potential, you look at the roster, you look at the moves he's made thus far and you might think "we are a quarterback away from a Super Bowl!" The problem I see is that it's putting the cart before the horse. It's acting like Paton's already done all the work that needs to be done to get the Broncos back up to speed, and all he needs is a quarterback. Perhaps we can learn something from the man he worked under for many years, Minnesota Vikings GM Rick Spielman. Don't miss out on any news and analysis! Take a second and sign up for our free newsletter and get breaking Broncos news delivered to your inbox daily! Spielman's Early Years The Vikings didn't have a clear answer at quarterback when Spielman took over in 2006. Brad Johnson had played well in the past, but he was aging. Spielman's first move was to trade up for a quarterback: a move up in the second round in the 2006 Draft for Tarvaris Jackson. Such moves up the second round don't happen often for QBs, but Spielman took a chance here. Jackson didn't pan out, leaving Spielman to bring in another aging veteran, Gus Frerotte, in 2008. In the meantime, he wasn't stockpiling the draft picks. He tended to trade up, or trade them away, more often than he traded down. Among Spielman's bold moves was a blockbuster trade for Jared Allen in 2008. He sent the 17th overall pick, two thirds and a sixth, and got a 2009 sixth back, for the top-tier pass rusher. It certainly helped get the Vikings to the playoffs in 2008. Then came 2009, when fortune smiled upon Spielman and Brett Favre became available in free agency. Favre, who had retired early in 2009, but was released from his contract with the Jets, came out of retirement to join the Vikings. The Vikings reached the NFC title game in 2009, but Favre was injured against the Saints, a storyline that turned into the so-called Bountygate scandal. Favre was never the same after that, and a trade during the 2010 season for Randy Moss for a 2011 third didn't help. Head coach Brad Childress was fired and replaced by Leslie Frazier midway through the 2010 season. Favre retired after the season. It was clear that Spielman needed to reassess where the direction of the team. A Shift in Philosophy In 2011, Spielman took a chance on Christian Ponder, in which the thinking may have been about getting a quarterback under a cost-controlled contract that the rookie pay scale (implemented when the CBA was approved later that year) made possible. Still, there were some who thought Ponder might be at least an adequate starter, so it made a little sense to take him when he was available with the 12th overall pick. Though Ponder didn't work out, Spielman tried again when he traded up for Teddy Bridgewater in 2013. That move started out better, but a serious injury Bridgewater suffered in the 2015 training camp prompted Spielman to send a 2016 first for Sam Bradford. Though that move didn't work, Spielman had changed course in other ways. He was more concerned about trading down in drafts whenever possible, and only trading up when he had accumulated draft capital. Of particular note is that Spielman frequently trades down in the third round. Since 2014, Spielman has traded down 10 times in the third round, accumulating more picks in either later rounds or future years. And the Bradford trade aside, Spielman hasn't gone "all in" on a player in a trade, but he has received a lot in return from teams who went "all in" on one of the Vikings players. He got a 2013 first, seventh and 2014 third in a 2013 trade for Percy Harvin, then got a 2020 first, fifth, sixth and 2021 fourth in a 2020 trade for Stefon Diggs. Since 2013, Spielman made at least 10 selections in six out of eight drafts. The Vikings have 10 picks in the 2021 Draft, so Spielman could make 10 selections again, unless he trades up. And though there are questions as to whether or not their current QB, Kirk Cousins, is the guy to build around, Spielman is a believer in building through the draft, particularly when it comes to stockpiling picks. His trades up the board since the Brad Childress era ended have happened when Spielman accumulated draft capital. That gave him picks he could afford to lose when he made a move up the board. What It All Means Spielman didn't necessarily start out as a guy who was patient, and he looked to make bold moves to get the Vikings to the playoffs. He also entered a situation in which he was fortunate to get a veteran QB who could take the team to the next level. However, that QB was gone after two seasons and Spielman had to reassess. He changed his philosophy a bit, focusing more on stockpiling picks and, while he never ruled out a trade up for a QB, he did it when he had the picks stockpiled. When the Vikings moved up for Bridgewater in 2013, they made 10 total selections. That ensured Spielman had the players who could potentially help either as starters or depth players, to build the roster around Bridgewater. Even though he was unable to find an elite QB, Spielman kept stockpiling the picks and looking for players who could help. He has explored free agency, but hasn't used that as a replacement for the draft (and, furthermore, multiple big-ticket signings haven't worked out well for the Vikings, while their value signings have been better). So, since the Childress era, I'd say that Spielman has followed the approach of "try to find our QB, but if we don't have our QB, build like we have him, anyway." While it may be frustrating for Vikings fans to endure a few seasons of mediocrity, they have gotten their fair share of playoff trips. Since 2006, the Vikings have gone to the playoffs six times and reached the NFC title game twice. They've also had more stability at the head coaching position: Childress lasted five seasons, Frazier lasted three and current head coach Mike Zimmer enters his eighth. How Paton May Approach Things Gabe Christus/Denver Broncos If Paton is going to implement the philosophy Spielman has demonstrated in more recent seasons, he's not going to stop looking for a QB, but he's going to pick his spots. The Broncos enter the 2021 Draft with nine total selections, three of them in the seventh round. That's not a low amount, but it's not an amount that suggests Paton is going to make a bold move to trade up in the first round, regardless of what one thinks about the roster or the talent of the 2021 QB draft class. That doesn't mean Paton won't take a QB in the first round. It's more likely, though, that he'll wait to see if one falls him at No. 9 overall that everyone is comfortable with taking. As much hype as there is around the 2021 Draft class, you can't rule out a QB sliding down the board. And while I won't say that one of the top four QBs will slide down the board like, say, Bridgewater did in 2013, I won't rule out the possibility of a QB not going in the top three sliding down. Just because draft analysts rank a QB high on their lists, doesn't mean teams rank him that high. Regardless, I believe Paton will be patient when it comes to selecting a QB, rather than falling for the hype some may believe about the Broncos being a QB away from being a Super Bowl contender. He'll only trade up if somebody the Broncos love and not simply like is there after the first three picks. Sure, you can argue that a top QB in the draft class is a potential upgrade over Drew Lock. I believe that's jumping to conclusions. If one of the top QB prospects isn't there at No. 9 overall, it won't surprise me if Paton trades down. Furthermore, if Paton is going to do anything like Spielman, I'd say the safe bet is that Paton will trade down in the third round, because Spielman has done this so often. I also believe Paton is likely to give head coach Vic Fangio more than just 2021, unless the Broncos are so bad they finish with a record that puts them in the top five of the 2022 Draft. Otherwise, I believe Paton wants stability at the head coaching position. Keep in mind the Broncos haven't had much stability under previous GM John Elway. John Fox had the longest tenure at four seasons, with Gary Kubiak and Vance Joseph each lasting two, and Fangio with just two seasons under Elway. Conclusion But back to the quarterback: If Paton is able to get draft capital stockpiled, he can always look at QBs in future classes, should Drew Lock go into 2021 as the starter but fail to improve. Don't worry about comparing the talent level of one class to another. History has shown there is no rhyme or reason to how many QB prospects were considered worth a first-round pick, versus how many turned into quality starters. What matters is finding your guy, no matter the year it may be. If Paton decides 2021 isn't that year, even if lots of draft analysts are touting the class as one of the best ever, then there will always be another year and it could be a year in which analysts says it's not a great overall class, but there's one who goes off the board in the first round and not necessarily No. 1 overall who turns out to be the right guy for the Broncos. The one thing I believe you can count on is this: Paton will go get the QB when he and the coaching staff believe they have their guy. But if he doesn't believe this is the year, he'll build as if the Broncos already have their guy. Be sure to check out Part I, Part II and Part III of our QB series. Follow Bob on Twitter @BobMorrisSports. Follow Mile High Huddle on Twitter and Facebook. Subscribe to Mile High Huddle on YouTube for daily Broncos live-stream podcasts! | New Broncos general manager George Paton worked under Minnesota Vikings GM Rick Spielman for many years. | pegasus | 0 | https://www.si.com/nfl/broncos/news/denver-broncos-gm-george-paton-how-rick-spielman-may-have-influenced-him | 0.120785 |
Can Rick Spielman's QB Approach Tell Us What George Paton Might Do? | Paton worked under Spielman for many years while with the Vikings. We've heard what new Broncos general manager George Paton has had to say about the team for whom he now oversees personnel. "Sleeping giant." "Aggressive, not reckless." "This is the job I really wanted." "They have everything here to win." We like to boil down what NFL players, coaches and executives say into juicy sound bites. Therefore, you hear Paton talking up the Broncos and what he thinks of their potential, you look at the roster, you look at the moves he's made thus far and you might think "we are a quarterback away from a Super Bowl!" The problem I see is that it's putting the cart before the horse. It's acting like Paton's already done all the work that needs to be done to get the Broncos back up to speed, and all he needs is a quarterback. Perhaps we can learn something from the man he worked under for many years, Minnesota Vikings GM Rick Spielman. Don't miss out on any news and analysis! Take a second and sign up for our free newsletter and get breaking Broncos news delivered to your inbox daily! Spielman's Early Years The Vikings didn't have a clear answer at quarterback when Spielman took over in 2006. Brad Johnson had played well in the past, but he was aging. Spielman's first move was to trade up for a quarterback: a move up in the second round in the 2006 Draft for Tarvaris Jackson. Such moves up the second round don't happen often for QBs, but Spielman took a chance here. Jackson didn't pan out, leaving Spielman to bring in another aging veteran, Gus Frerotte, in 2008. In the meantime, he wasn't stockpiling the draft picks. He tended to trade up, or trade them away, more often than he traded down. Among Spielman's bold moves was a blockbuster trade for Jared Allen in 2008. He sent the 17th overall pick, two thirds and a sixth, and got a 2009 sixth back, for the top-tier pass rusher. It certainly helped get the Vikings to the playoffs in 2008. Then came 2009, when fortune smiled upon Spielman and Brett Favre became available in free agency. Favre, who had retired early in 2009, but was released from his contract with the Jets, came out of retirement to join the Vikings. The Vikings reached the NFC title game in 2009, but Favre was injured against the Saints, a storyline that turned into the so-called Bountygate scandal. Favre was never the same after that, and a trade during the 2010 season for Randy Moss for a 2011 third didn't help. Head coach Brad Childress was fired and replaced by Leslie Frazier midway through the 2010 season. Favre retired after the season. It was clear that Spielman needed to reassess where the direction of the team. A Shift in Philosophy In 2011, Spielman took a chance on Christian Ponder, in which the thinking may have been about getting a quarterback under a cost-controlled contract that the rookie pay scale (implemented when the CBA was approved later that year) made possible. Still, there were some who thought Ponder might be at least an adequate starter, so it made a little sense to take him when he was available with the 12th overall pick. Though Ponder didn't work out, Spielman tried again when he traded up for Teddy Bridgewater in 2013. That move started out better, but a serious injury Bridgewater suffered in the 2015 training camp prompted Spielman to send a 2016 first for Sam Bradford. Though that move didn't work, Spielman had changed course in other ways. He was more concerned about trading down in drafts whenever possible, and only trading up when he had accumulated draft capital. Of particular note is that Spielman frequently trades down in the third round. Since 2014, Spielman has traded down 10 times in the third round, accumulating more picks in either later rounds or future years. And the Bradford trade aside, Spielman hasn't gone "all in" on a player in a trade, but he has received a lot in return from teams who went "all in" on one of the Vikings players. He got a 2013 first, seventh and 2014 third in a 2013 trade for Percy Harvin, then got a 2020 first, fifth, sixth and 2021 fourth in a 2020 trade for Stefon Diggs. Since 2013, Spielman made at least 10 selections in six out of eight drafts. The Vikings have 10 picks in the 2021 Draft, so Spielman could make 10 selections again, unless he trades up. And though there are questions as to whether or not their current QB, Kirk Cousins, is the guy to build around, Spielman is a believer in building through the draft, particularly when it comes to stockpiling picks. His trades up the board since the Brad Childress era ended have happened when Spielman accumulated draft capital. That gave him picks he could afford to lose when he made a move up the board. What It All Means Spielman didn't necessarily start out as a guy who was patient, and he looked to make bold moves to get the Vikings to the playoffs. He also entered a situation in which he was fortunate to get a veteran QB who could take the team to the next level. However, that QB was gone after two seasons and Spielman had to reassess. He changed his philosophy a bit, focusing more on stockpiling picks and, while he never ruled out a trade up for a QB, he did it when he had the picks stockpiled. When the Vikings moved up for Bridgewater in 2013, they made 10 total selections. That ensured Spielman had the players who could potentially help either as starters or depth players, to build the roster around Bridgewater. Even though he was unable to find an elite QB, Spielman kept stockpiling the picks and looking for players who could help. He has explored free agency, but hasn't used that as a replacement for the draft (and, furthermore, multiple big-ticket signings haven't worked out well for the Vikings, while their value signings have been better). So, since the Childress era, I'd say that Spielman has followed the approach of "try to find our QB, but if we don't have our QB, build like we have him, anyway." While it may be frustrating for Vikings fans to endure a few seasons of mediocrity, they have gotten their fair share of playoff trips. Since 2006, the Vikings have gone to the playoffs six times and reached the NFC title game twice. They've also had more stability at the head coaching position: Childress lasted five seasons, Frazier lasted three and current head coach Mike Zimmer enters his eighth. How Paton May Approach Things Gabe Christus/Denver Broncos If Paton is going to implement the philosophy Spielman has demonstrated in more recent seasons, he's not going to stop looking for a QB, but he's going to pick his spots. The Broncos enter the 2021 Draft with nine total selections, three of them in the seventh round. That's not a low amount, but it's not an amount that suggests Paton is going to make a bold move to trade up in the first round, regardless of what one thinks about the roster or the talent of the 2021 QB draft class. That doesn't mean Paton won't take a QB in the first round. It's more likely, though, that he'll wait to see if one falls him at No. 9 overall that everyone is comfortable with taking. As much hype as there is around the 2021 Draft class, you can't rule out a QB sliding down the board. And while I won't say that one of the top four QBs will slide down the board like, say, Bridgewater did in 2013, I won't rule out the possibility of a QB not going in the top three sliding down. Just because draft analysts rank a QB high on their lists, doesn't mean teams rank him that high. Regardless, I believe Paton will be patient when it comes to selecting a QB, rather than falling for the hype some may believe about the Broncos being a QB away from being a Super Bowl contender. He'll only trade up if somebody the Broncos love and not simply like is there after the first three picks. Sure, you can argue that a top QB in the draft class is a potential upgrade over Drew Lock. I believe that's jumping to conclusions. If one of the top QB prospects isn't there at No. 9 overall, it won't surprise me if Paton trades down. Furthermore, if Paton is going to do anything like Spielman, I'd say the safe bet is that Paton will trade down in the third round, because Spielman has done this so often. I also believe Paton is likely to give head coach Vic Fangio more than just 2021, unless the Broncos are so bad they finish with a record that puts them in the top five of the 2022 Draft. Otherwise, I believe Paton wants stability at the head coaching position. Keep in mind the Broncos haven't had much stability under previous GM John Elway. John Fox had the longest tenure at four seasons, with Gary Kubiak and Vance Joseph each lasting two, and Fangio with just two seasons under Elway. Conclusion But back to the quarterback: If Paton is able to get draft capital stockpiled, he can always look at QBs in future classes, should Drew Lock go into 2021 as the starter but fail to improve. Don't worry about comparing the talent level of one class to another. History has shown there is no rhyme or reason to how many QB prospects were considered worth a first-round pick, versus how many turned into quality starters. What matters is finding your guy, no matter the year it may be. If Paton decides 2021 isn't that year, even if lots of draft analysts are touting the class as one of the best ever, then there will always be another year and it could be a year in which analysts says it's not a great overall class, but there's one who goes off the board in the first round and not necessarily No. 1 overall who turns out to be the right guy for the Broncos. The one thing I believe you can count on is this: Paton will go get the QB when he and the coaching staff believe they have their guy. But if he doesn't believe this is the year, he'll build as if the Broncos already have their guy. Be sure to check out Part I, Part II and Part III of our QB series. Follow Bob on Twitter @BobMorrisSports. Follow Mile High Huddle on Twitter and Facebook. Subscribe to Mile High Huddle on YouTube for daily Broncos live-stream podcasts! | New Broncos general manager George Paton worked under Minnesota Vikings GM Rick Spielman for many years. Spiller traded up to get quarterbacks like Jared Allen and Tarvaris Jackson. Spiller traded up again to get Christian Ponder and Teddy Bridgewater. | pegasus | 1 | https://www.si.com/nfl/broncos/news/denver-broncos-gm-george-paton-how-rick-spielman-may-have-influenced-him | 0.426704 |
Can Rick Spielman's QB Approach Tell Us What George Paton Might Do? | Paton worked under Spielman for many years while with the Vikings. We've heard what new Broncos general manager George Paton has had to say about the team for whom he now oversees personnel. "Sleeping giant." "Aggressive, not reckless." "This is the job I really wanted." "They have everything here to win." We like to boil down what NFL players, coaches and executives say into juicy sound bites. Therefore, you hear Paton talking up the Broncos and what he thinks of their potential, you look at the roster, you look at the moves he's made thus far and you might think "we are a quarterback away from a Super Bowl!" The problem I see is that it's putting the cart before the horse. It's acting like Paton's already done all the work that needs to be done to get the Broncos back up to speed, and all he needs is a quarterback. Perhaps we can learn something from the man he worked under for many years, Minnesota Vikings GM Rick Spielman. Don't miss out on any news and analysis! Take a second and sign up for our free newsletter and get breaking Broncos news delivered to your inbox daily! Spielman's Early Years The Vikings didn't have a clear answer at quarterback when Spielman took over in 2006. Brad Johnson had played well in the past, but he was aging. Spielman's first move was to trade up for a quarterback: a move up in the second round in the 2006 Draft for Tarvaris Jackson. Such moves up the second round don't happen often for QBs, but Spielman took a chance here. Jackson didn't pan out, leaving Spielman to bring in another aging veteran, Gus Frerotte, in 2008. In the meantime, he wasn't stockpiling the draft picks. He tended to trade up, or trade them away, more often than he traded down. Among Spielman's bold moves was a blockbuster trade for Jared Allen in 2008. He sent the 17th overall pick, two thirds and a sixth, and got a 2009 sixth back, for the top-tier pass rusher. It certainly helped get the Vikings to the playoffs in 2008. Then came 2009, when fortune smiled upon Spielman and Brett Favre became available in free agency. Favre, who had retired early in 2009, but was released from his contract with the Jets, came out of retirement to join the Vikings. The Vikings reached the NFC title game in 2009, but Favre was injured against the Saints, a storyline that turned into the so-called Bountygate scandal. Favre was never the same after that, and a trade during the 2010 season for Randy Moss for a 2011 third didn't help. Head coach Brad Childress was fired and replaced by Leslie Frazier midway through the 2010 season. Favre retired after the season. It was clear that Spielman needed to reassess where the direction of the team. A Shift in Philosophy In 2011, Spielman took a chance on Christian Ponder, in which the thinking may have been about getting a quarterback under a cost-controlled contract that the rookie pay scale (implemented when the CBA was approved later that year) made possible. Still, there were some who thought Ponder might be at least an adequate starter, so it made a little sense to take him when he was available with the 12th overall pick. Though Ponder didn't work out, Spielman tried again when he traded up for Teddy Bridgewater in 2013. That move started out better, but a serious injury Bridgewater suffered in the 2015 training camp prompted Spielman to send a 2016 first for Sam Bradford. Though that move didn't work, Spielman had changed course in other ways. He was more concerned about trading down in drafts whenever possible, and only trading up when he had accumulated draft capital. Of particular note is that Spielman frequently trades down in the third round. Since 2014, Spielman has traded down 10 times in the third round, accumulating more picks in either later rounds or future years. And the Bradford trade aside, Spielman hasn't gone "all in" on a player in a trade, but he has received a lot in return from teams who went "all in" on one of the Vikings players. He got a 2013 first, seventh and 2014 third in a 2013 trade for Percy Harvin, then got a 2020 first, fifth, sixth and 2021 fourth in a 2020 trade for Stefon Diggs. Since 2013, Spielman made at least 10 selections in six out of eight drafts. The Vikings have 10 picks in the 2021 Draft, so Spielman could make 10 selections again, unless he trades up. And though there are questions as to whether or not their current QB, Kirk Cousins, is the guy to build around, Spielman is a believer in building through the draft, particularly when it comes to stockpiling picks. His trades up the board since the Brad Childress era ended have happened when Spielman accumulated draft capital. That gave him picks he could afford to lose when he made a move up the board. What It All Means Spielman didn't necessarily start out as a guy who was patient, and he looked to make bold moves to get the Vikings to the playoffs. He also entered a situation in which he was fortunate to get a veteran QB who could take the team to the next level. However, that QB was gone after two seasons and Spielman had to reassess. He changed his philosophy a bit, focusing more on stockpiling picks and, while he never ruled out a trade up for a QB, he did it when he had the picks stockpiled. When the Vikings moved up for Bridgewater in 2013, they made 10 total selections. That ensured Spielman had the players who could potentially help either as starters or depth players, to build the roster around Bridgewater. Even though he was unable to find an elite QB, Spielman kept stockpiling the picks and looking for players who could help. He has explored free agency, but hasn't used that as a replacement for the draft (and, furthermore, multiple big-ticket signings haven't worked out well for the Vikings, while their value signings have been better). So, since the Childress era, I'd say that Spielman has followed the approach of "try to find our QB, but if we don't have our QB, build like we have him, anyway." While it may be frustrating for Vikings fans to endure a few seasons of mediocrity, they have gotten their fair share of playoff trips. Since 2006, the Vikings have gone to the playoffs six times and reached the NFC title game twice. They've also had more stability at the head coaching position: Childress lasted five seasons, Frazier lasted three and current head coach Mike Zimmer enters his eighth. How Paton May Approach Things Gabe Christus/Denver Broncos If Paton is going to implement the philosophy Spielman has demonstrated in more recent seasons, he's not going to stop looking for a QB, but he's going to pick his spots. The Broncos enter the 2021 Draft with nine total selections, three of them in the seventh round. That's not a low amount, but it's not an amount that suggests Paton is going to make a bold move to trade up in the first round, regardless of what one thinks about the roster or the talent of the 2021 QB draft class. That doesn't mean Paton won't take a QB in the first round. It's more likely, though, that he'll wait to see if one falls him at No. 9 overall that everyone is comfortable with taking. As much hype as there is around the 2021 Draft class, you can't rule out a QB sliding down the board. And while I won't say that one of the top four QBs will slide down the board like, say, Bridgewater did in 2013, I won't rule out the possibility of a QB not going in the top three sliding down. Just because draft analysts rank a QB high on their lists, doesn't mean teams rank him that high. Regardless, I believe Paton will be patient when it comes to selecting a QB, rather than falling for the hype some may believe about the Broncos being a QB away from being a Super Bowl contender. He'll only trade up if somebody the Broncos love and not simply like is there after the first three picks. Sure, you can argue that a top QB in the draft class is a potential upgrade over Drew Lock. I believe that's jumping to conclusions. If one of the top QB prospects isn't there at No. 9 overall, it won't surprise me if Paton trades down. Furthermore, if Paton is going to do anything like Spielman, I'd say the safe bet is that Paton will trade down in the third round, because Spielman has done this so often. I also believe Paton is likely to give head coach Vic Fangio more than just 2021, unless the Broncos are so bad they finish with a record that puts them in the top five of the 2022 Draft. Otherwise, I believe Paton wants stability at the head coaching position. Keep in mind the Broncos haven't had much stability under previous GM John Elway. John Fox had the longest tenure at four seasons, with Gary Kubiak and Vance Joseph each lasting two, and Fangio with just two seasons under Elway. Conclusion But back to the quarterback: If Paton is able to get draft capital stockpiled, he can always look at QBs in future classes, should Drew Lock go into 2021 as the starter but fail to improve. Don't worry about comparing the talent level of one class to another. History has shown there is no rhyme or reason to how many QB prospects were considered worth a first-round pick, versus how many turned into quality starters. What matters is finding your guy, no matter the year it may be. If Paton decides 2021 isn't that year, even if lots of draft analysts are touting the class as one of the best ever, then there will always be another year and it could be a year in which analysts says it's not a great overall class, but there's one who goes off the board in the first round and not necessarily No. 1 overall who turns out to be the right guy for the Broncos. The one thing I believe you can count on is this: Paton will go get the QB when he and the coaching staff believe they have their guy. But if he doesn't believe this is the year, he'll build as if the Broncos already have their guy. Be sure to check out Part I, Part II and Part III of our QB series. Follow Bob on Twitter @BobMorrisSports. Follow Mile High Huddle on Twitter and Facebook. Subscribe to Mile High Huddle on YouTube for daily Broncos live-stream podcasts! | George Paton worked under Rick Spielman for many years while with the Vikings. Spielman's first move was to trade up for a quarterback: a move up in the second round in the 2006 Draft. In 2011, Spielman took a chance on Christian Ponder, but it didn't work out. | bart | 2 | https://www.si.com/nfl/broncos/news/denver-broncos-gm-george-paton-how-rick-spielman-may-have-influenced-him | 0.518134 |
How about a rake instead of noisy blowers that just send the yard debris elsewhere? | To leaf blower users: Please understand that if you are blowing the debris to the curb or the street, you really arent accomplishing anything. The debris is still there. - If its along the curb, and it rains, the debris might wash into the storm sewers, although, more likely, the leaves will clog the drains. - If you are blowing it into the street, it is still there -- waiting for the next breeze or car disturbance to put it back into the air, to resettle back where it came from. (Not to mention that if there are cars driving past at that time, you are putting that dust into those cars. This will, I admit, remove it from the immediate area, but its really rather rude, to say the least.) Better yet, an old-fashioned rake to replace the noisy, dirty leaf blower, followed by a broom and dustpan, if needed. There will be less dirt debris with a simple rake, and hence more dirt in the gardens and under the bushes, where it was intended. Wendy Deuring, Cleveland | If you are blowing debris to the curb or the street, you really arent accomplishing anything. If its along the curb, and it rains, the debris might wash into the storm sewers. Better yet, an old-fashioned rake to replace the noisy, dirty leaf blower. | bart | 2 | https://www.cleveland.com/letters/2021/04/how-about-a-rake-instead-of-noisy-blowers-that-just-send-the-yard-debris-elsewhere.html | 0.243622 |
Should the Vikings Sign Recently-Waived Thaddeus Moss, Son of Randy? | Former LSU tight end Thaddeus Moss was released by the Washington Football Team recently, and naturally, it's worth wondering if the Vikings will have any interest. Moss, as you're probably aware, is the son of Randy Moss, who is one of the greatest players to ever wear a Minnesota Vikings jersey. I think it would be a solid low-cost move to add depth. Moss was a three-star recruit from Charlotte and began his college career at North Carolina State. After playing sparingly during his freshman year, he transferred to LSU. Moss sat out in 2017 and missed all of 2018 with a foot injury, but had his breakout year in 2019. With future No. 1 overall pick Joe Burrow at the helm, Moss started 12 games for the Tigers, catching 47 passes for 570 yards and four touchdowns. Perhaps more impressively, Moss stepped up in a big way in the two biggest games of the year. In the College Football Playoff semifinal against Oklahoma, he posted a career-high 99 receiving yards and caught a touchdown pass. In the national championship game against Clemson, he added two more touchdown receptions. Moss was a big part of a historic offense that also featured Justin Jefferson, Ja'Marr Chase, Terrace Marshall Jr., and Clyde Edwards-Helaire. Moss went undrafted last year and was scooped up by Washington, but spent the year on injured reserve. At 6'3, 250 pounds, Moss has good size and decent athleticism. He doesn't do anything especially well, but he has the potential to develop into a solid player if he can stay healthy. After losing Kyle Rudolph this offseason, the Vikings could use another tight end. If they were to sign Moss, he could compete with Brandon Dillon and a late-round rookie for the No. 3 TE spot behind Irv Smith Jr. and Tyler Conklin. The Vikings arent going to make a move just because of his last name, but its worth a shot from a football perspective. Thanks for reading. Make sure to bookmark this site and check back daily for the latest Vikings news and analysis all offseason long. Also, follow me on Twitter and feel free to ask me any questions on there. | Former LSU tight end Thaddeus Moss was released by the Washington Football Team recently. Moss is the son of Randy Moss, who is one of the greatest players to ever wear a Minnesota Vikings jersey. | pegasus | 1 | https://www.si.com/nfl/vikings/news/should-the-vikings-sign-recently-waived-thaddeus-moss-son-randy | 0.125046 |
Should the Vikings Sign Recently-Waived Thaddeus Moss, Son of Randy? | Former LSU tight end Thaddeus Moss was released by the Washington Football Team recently, and naturally, it's worth wondering if the Vikings will have any interest. Moss, as you're probably aware, is the son of Randy Moss, who is one of the greatest players to ever wear a Minnesota Vikings jersey. I think it would be a solid low-cost move to add depth. Moss was a three-star recruit from Charlotte and began his college career at North Carolina State. After playing sparingly during his freshman year, he transferred to LSU. Moss sat out in 2017 and missed all of 2018 with a foot injury, but had his breakout year in 2019. With future No. 1 overall pick Joe Burrow at the helm, Moss started 12 games for the Tigers, catching 47 passes for 570 yards and four touchdowns. Perhaps more impressively, Moss stepped up in a big way in the two biggest games of the year. In the College Football Playoff semifinal against Oklahoma, he posted a career-high 99 receiving yards and caught a touchdown pass. In the national championship game against Clemson, he added two more touchdown receptions. Moss was a big part of a historic offense that also featured Justin Jefferson, Ja'Marr Chase, Terrace Marshall Jr., and Clyde Edwards-Helaire. Moss went undrafted last year and was scooped up by Washington, but spent the year on injured reserve. At 6'3, 250 pounds, Moss has good size and decent athleticism. He doesn't do anything especially well, but he has the potential to develop into a solid player if he can stay healthy. After losing Kyle Rudolph this offseason, the Vikings could use another tight end. If they were to sign Moss, he could compete with Brandon Dillon and a late-round rookie for the No. 3 TE spot behind Irv Smith Jr. and Tyler Conklin. The Vikings arent going to make a move just because of his last name, but its worth a shot from a football perspective. Thanks for reading. Make sure to bookmark this site and check back daily for the latest Vikings news and analysis all offseason long. Also, follow me on Twitter and feel free to ask me any questions on there. | Former LSU tight end Thaddeus Moss was released by the Washington Football Team recently. Moss is the son of Vikings legend Randy Moss. The Vikings could use another tight end to compete with Irv Smith Jr., Tyler Conklin and Brandon Dillon for the No. 3 TE spot. | ctrlsum | 2 | https://www.si.com/nfl/vikings/news/should-the-vikings-sign-recently-waived-thaddeus-moss-son-randy | 0.220315 |
Why Kubernetes Developer Ecosystem Needs A PaaS? | Platform as a Service (PaaS) was one of the first delivery models of the public cloud. If Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS) gave control to administrators, PaaS squarely targeted the developers through simplicity, productivity and scale. Abstract Layers Pixabay In 2008, Google launched App Engine, a platform that enabled developers to deploy and scale Java web applications. Amazon added Elastic Beanstalk to its compute infrastructure in 2012 as a PaaS offering. Windows Azure, the initial avatar of Microsofts public cloud, was all about PaaS. Only in 2013, Azure got support for Linux and Windows VMs to deliver a full-blown IaaS. The last decade saw the rise of PaaS in the form of Cloud Foundry, Heroku, Engine Yard, and Red Hat OpenShift. The most significant promise of PaaS was the ability to bring source code and walking away with a URL pointing to the application. Developers never had to worry about provisioning the infrastructure, installing the OS, or configuring and securing the infrastructure. They just pushed the code leaving the rest to the platform. PaaS would also scale-in and scale-out the application automatically without manual intervention. This approach freed developers from dealing with everyday operations giving them more time to focus on the code than infrastructure. PaaS led to continuous integration and continuous deployment (CI/CD), which has become the norm today. Advanced deployment techniques such as blue/green deployments, version switching, canary releases were all made possible by PaaS. The democratization of containers led by Docker and the rise of Kubernetes changed the dynamics of the modern infrastructure and platforms. Containers quickly became the fundamental unit of deployment and Kubernetes emerged as the orchestrator to manage tens of thousands of containers. Soon the public cloud providers started to offer managed Kubernetes offering, Containers as a Service (CaaS) which became an alternative to IaaS and PaaS. With Kubernetes gaining popularity, PaaS has embraced Kubernetes to enable developers to reuse the building blocks - the containers. App Engine Flex, Azure App Service, Cloud Foundry and OpenShift can run containerized applications. Red Hat was one of the first platform companies to realize the power of Kubernetes, which resulted in OpenShift becoming a fully compliant and conformant Kubernetes distribution for enterprises. Unlike IaaS, where only administrators and operators were expected to build and provision virtual machines, Containerization brought the responsibility of packaging the code and building the container images to developers. If the application is deployed to Kubernetes, developers are also forced to learn the building blocks of the orchestration engine to wrap container images in pods, deploying them and then exposing them as services. With containers and Kubernetes, the line between development and operations gets completely blurred. Irrespective of the persona - developer or operator - every team member is expected to learn everything about the infrastructure and application lifecycle management. Thanks to the Cloud Native Computing Foundation (CNCF) managing the open source project, and the vibrant ecosystem, Kubernetes has been standardized to expose well-defined APIs. The documentation and resources made the technology accessible to a large number of developers and operators. Unlike PaaS, Kubernetes brought extreme clarity and transparency to application lifecycle management. But, one thing developers miss in Kubernetes is the simplicity of PaaS. Lets consider the Cloud Foundry workflow for deploying an application. Once the developer tested the app in his local machine, he would simply invoke the command-line tool to deploy the application and the associated configuration. Behind the scenes, Cloud Foundry does everything from provisioning the compute resources, launching or associating additional services such as databases and cache, and finally, handing over a URL of the application to the developer. In Kubernetes, it all starts with packaging the code into a container image, which is further wrapped into a pod or a deployment object. Additional services such as databases follow the same workflow. The developer needs to create a configuration map and a secret for the web app to securely talk to the database. To persist the database records, she also needs to create volumes and volume claims. Finally, the database is exposed as an internal service to the web application while the public-facing app is hooked to a load balancer. As you can see, the developer deals with over a dozen Kubernetes objects to configure and deploy a simple two-tier web application. It is not just the long-wound deployment process and the steep learning curve, but the real concern is how much the developer needs to understand before deploying an app. In a traditional IaaS or PaaS environment, a majority of this would be handled by operators. Kubernetes doesnt clearly distinguish between developers and operators. Irrespective of the persona, every user is expected to know the inner workings of the orchestration engine. The cloud native ecosystem clearly understands this challenge. The platform vendors have taken three different approaches to add platform capabilities to Kubernetes. The first approach is building an open source application platform powered by Kubernetes. Red Hat is one of the first platform companies to adopt this strategy. OpenShift, the most popular container platform, added robust application lifecycle management to Kubernetes. It mimics the PaaS workflow through an integrated container builder, image registry and application router. The second mechanism is porting existing PaaS to Kubernetes while maintaining compatibility with the tools and workflow. Cloud Foundry for Kubernetes went through this route to bring the familiar PaaS workflow to developers. The third approach builds an opaque layer on top of Kubernetes that entirely hides the orchestration engines underpinnings. Render.com and DigitalOcean App Platform are examples of this implementation. But, each of these approaches has its own challenges and limitations. Red Hat OpenShift and its community counterpart, OKD, are too heavy to install. You would need at least five machines to run a basic hello world application on OpenShift. Cloud Foundry is relatively new for cloud native developers. It has the potential to become the preferred platform layer, but its too early to arrive at this conclusion. Commercial PaaS implementations like Render.com and DigitalOcean App Platform are not open source and portable. Some of the key contributors of Kubernetes have built various building blocks that make it easy to create a platform. Google, IBM, VMware and Red Hat contributed to Knative, an open source project that brings the serverless and event-driven platform to Kubernetes. Microsoft is working on Distributed Application Runtime (DAPR) and Kubernetes Event-Driven Autoscaling (KEDA) to simplify the development, deployment and scaling cloud native applications. Knative, Dapr and KEDA are not full-blown PaaS implementations. Instead, they are the foundation for building platforms on top of Kubernetes. For example, Google Cloud Run, a serverless container platform, is based on Knative. But, Cloud Run is not an open source project which is exclusive to Google Cloud. With the line between development and operations gets blurred, cloud native developers need an abstract layer that simplifies application lifecycle management. There is a clear opportunity to build a portable, consistent, developer-friendly platform for Kubernetes. The developer ecosystem needs a choice of open source, cloud native PaaS implementations that can be installed in any Kubernetes cluster, including managed CaaS in the public cloud or on Minikube running on a laptop. | The Kubernetes Developer Ecosystem Needs A PaaS, says Andrew Hoyle. Hoyle: Developers need to be able to push source code and walk away with a URL pointing to the application. | ctrlsum | 1 | https://www.forbes.com/sites/janakirammsv/2021/04/12/why-kubernetes-developer-ecosystem-needs-a-paas/ | 0.417366 |
Why Kubernetes Developer Ecosystem Needs A PaaS? | Platform as a Service (PaaS) was one of the first delivery models of the public cloud. If Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS) gave control to administrators, PaaS squarely targeted the developers through simplicity, productivity and scale. Abstract Layers Pixabay In 2008, Google launched App Engine, a platform that enabled developers to deploy and scale Java web applications. Amazon added Elastic Beanstalk to its compute infrastructure in 2012 as a PaaS offering. Windows Azure, the initial avatar of Microsofts public cloud, was all about PaaS. Only in 2013, Azure got support for Linux and Windows VMs to deliver a full-blown IaaS. The last decade saw the rise of PaaS in the form of Cloud Foundry, Heroku, Engine Yard, and Red Hat OpenShift. The most significant promise of PaaS was the ability to bring source code and walking away with a URL pointing to the application. Developers never had to worry about provisioning the infrastructure, installing the OS, or configuring and securing the infrastructure. They just pushed the code leaving the rest to the platform. PaaS would also scale-in and scale-out the application automatically without manual intervention. This approach freed developers from dealing with everyday operations giving them more time to focus on the code than infrastructure. PaaS led to continuous integration and continuous deployment (CI/CD), which has become the norm today. Advanced deployment techniques such as blue/green deployments, version switching, canary releases were all made possible by PaaS. The democratization of containers led by Docker and the rise of Kubernetes changed the dynamics of the modern infrastructure and platforms. Containers quickly became the fundamental unit of deployment and Kubernetes emerged as the orchestrator to manage tens of thousands of containers. Soon the public cloud providers started to offer managed Kubernetes offering, Containers as a Service (CaaS) which became an alternative to IaaS and PaaS. With Kubernetes gaining popularity, PaaS has embraced Kubernetes to enable developers to reuse the building blocks - the containers. App Engine Flex, Azure App Service, Cloud Foundry and OpenShift can run containerized applications. Red Hat was one of the first platform companies to realize the power of Kubernetes, which resulted in OpenShift becoming a fully compliant and conformant Kubernetes distribution for enterprises. Unlike IaaS, where only administrators and operators were expected to build and provision virtual machines, Containerization brought the responsibility of packaging the code and building the container images to developers. If the application is deployed to Kubernetes, developers are also forced to learn the building blocks of the orchestration engine to wrap container images in pods, deploying them and then exposing them as services. With containers and Kubernetes, the line between development and operations gets completely blurred. Irrespective of the persona - developer or operator - every team member is expected to learn everything about the infrastructure and application lifecycle management. Thanks to the Cloud Native Computing Foundation (CNCF) managing the open source project, and the vibrant ecosystem, Kubernetes has been standardized to expose well-defined APIs. The documentation and resources made the technology accessible to a large number of developers and operators. Unlike PaaS, Kubernetes brought extreme clarity and transparency to application lifecycle management. But, one thing developers miss in Kubernetes is the simplicity of PaaS. Lets consider the Cloud Foundry workflow for deploying an application. Once the developer tested the app in his local machine, he would simply invoke the command-line tool to deploy the application and the associated configuration. Behind the scenes, Cloud Foundry does everything from provisioning the compute resources, launching or associating additional services such as databases and cache, and finally, handing over a URL of the application to the developer. In Kubernetes, it all starts with packaging the code into a container image, which is further wrapped into a pod or a deployment object. Additional services such as databases follow the same workflow. The developer needs to create a configuration map and a secret for the web app to securely talk to the database. To persist the database records, she also needs to create volumes and volume claims. Finally, the database is exposed as an internal service to the web application while the public-facing app is hooked to a load balancer. As you can see, the developer deals with over a dozen Kubernetes objects to configure and deploy a simple two-tier web application. It is not just the long-wound deployment process and the steep learning curve, but the real concern is how much the developer needs to understand before deploying an app. In a traditional IaaS or PaaS environment, a majority of this would be handled by operators. Kubernetes doesnt clearly distinguish between developers and operators. Irrespective of the persona, every user is expected to know the inner workings of the orchestration engine. The cloud native ecosystem clearly understands this challenge. The platform vendors have taken three different approaches to add platform capabilities to Kubernetes. The first approach is building an open source application platform powered by Kubernetes. Red Hat is one of the first platform companies to adopt this strategy. OpenShift, the most popular container platform, added robust application lifecycle management to Kubernetes. It mimics the PaaS workflow through an integrated container builder, image registry and application router. The second mechanism is porting existing PaaS to Kubernetes while maintaining compatibility with the tools and workflow. Cloud Foundry for Kubernetes went through this route to bring the familiar PaaS workflow to developers. The third approach builds an opaque layer on top of Kubernetes that entirely hides the orchestration engines underpinnings. Render.com and DigitalOcean App Platform are examples of this implementation. But, each of these approaches has its own challenges and limitations. Red Hat OpenShift and its community counterpart, OKD, are too heavy to install. You would need at least five machines to run a basic hello world application on OpenShift. Cloud Foundry is relatively new for cloud native developers. It has the potential to become the preferred platform layer, but its too early to arrive at this conclusion. Commercial PaaS implementations like Render.com and DigitalOcean App Platform are not open source and portable. Some of the key contributors of Kubernetes have built various building blocks that make it easy to create a platform. Google, IBM, VMware and Red Hat contributed to Knative, an open source project that brings the serverless and event-driven platform to Kubernetes. Microsoft is working on Distributed Application Runtime (DAPR) and Kubernetes Event-Driven Autoscaling (KEDA) to simplify the development, deployment and scaling cloud native applications. Knative, Dapr and KEDA are not full-blown PaaS implementations. Instead, they are the foundation for building platforms on top of Kubernetes. For example, Google Cloud Run, a serverless container platform, is based on Knative. But, Cloud Run is not an open source project which is exclusive to Google Cloud. With the line between development and operations gets blurred, cloud native developers need an abstract layer that simplifies application lifecycle management. There is a clear opportunity to build a portable, consistent, developer-friendly platform for Kubernetes. The developer ecosystem needs a choice of open source, cloud native PaaS implementations that can be installed in any Kubernetes cluster, including managed CaaS in the public cloud or on Minikube running on a laptop. | The Kubernetes Developer Ecosystem Needs A PaaS, says Andrew Hoyle. Hoyle: Developers need to be able to push source code and walk away with a URL pointing to the application. He says developers need to know how to deploy and scale applications without manual intervention. | ctrlsum | 2 | https://www.forbes.com/sites/janakirammsv/2021/04/12/why-kubernetes-developer-ecosystem-needs-a-paas/ | 0.599203 |
Should I use 120,000 savings to buy a house to rent out as I expect to lose my job? | Q I am currently working but expect to lose my job. Im not holding out much hope of finding another one as Im almost 60 and not in the best of health. I have savings of about 120,000 in an account that pays less than 0.5% interest. I was wondering about using my savings to buy a house to let and living off the rent rather than earnings from a job. I am going to be looking for a new job if I lose my current one but I just think the odds are stacked against me. HR A My first thought was nice idea but not a feasible one because I didnt think that 120,000 would be enough to buy a rental property outright including stamp duty land tax and meet the other costs of becoming a landlord, such as arranging safety checks and installing the necessary safety alarms. However, London-based Vesta Property which describes itself as a data-driven marketplace for buying and selling investment property proved me wrong, albeit not entirely mistaken. You can, in fact, pay less than 120,000 for a flat in places such as Cwmaman, Draycott, Hartlepool and Stratford-upon-Avon, with the added bonus that the flats in those places come with a tenant in place, so you would start earning rent as soon as you picked up the keys. And the return on your investment would be a lot healthier than the meagre 0.5% paid on your savings. According to a table published by SDL Property Auctions, even the lowest average rental yield is 3.28%, while the highest is 7.29%. So, on paper, it looks like a no-brainer. But there are no guarantees that the yield will be as much as the average there could be periods when the property is empty and you are getting no returns at all. There are also costs associated with being a landlord: the property needs to be maintained, and you may need to appoint an agent to manage it for you. The rent you receive will need to be declared to HMRC if you have no other job, it might come within your personal allowance and be tax-free, but if your doubts about your employability prove wrong, you might end up with a bill. You should also consider the overall state of your finances. If you still have a mortgage on your own home, for example, a better use of your savings might be to pay that off. If you are currently renting yourself, it might make more sense to buy yourself a home (if spending 120,000 would enable you to do that without taking out a mortgage). Whatever you choose to do, you might want to think about how you would manage financially without a cushion of savings to fall back on if you do lose your job. | Q I am currently working but expect to lose my job. I have savings of about 120,000 in an account that pays less than 0.5% interest. I was wondering about using my savings to buy a house to let and living off the rent rather than earnings from a job. | bart | 2 | https://www.theguardian.com/money/2021/apr/12/should-i-use-120000-savings-to-buy-a-house-to-rent-out-as-i-expect-to-lose-my-job | 0.144457 |
Can America's 'Civil Religion' Still Unite The Country? | Enlarge this image Pool/Getty Images Pool/Getty Images America, unlike some countries, is not defined by a common ancestry, nor is it tied to an official faith tradition. But it does have a distinct identity and a quasi-religious foundation. Americans are expected to hold their hands over their hearts when they recite the Pledge of Allegiance or stand for the national anthem. Young people are taught to regard the country's founders almost as saints. The "self-evident" truths listed in the Declaration of Independence and the key provisions of the U.S. Constitution and the Bill of Rights have acquired the status of scripture in the U.S. consciousness. More than 50 years ago, sociologist Robert Bellah argued that such facts of American life suggest that the country adheres to a non-sectarian "civil religion," which he defined as "a collection of beliefs, symbols, and rituals with respect to sacred things and institutionalized in a collectivity." For these beliefs and principles to give definition to a nation, scholars argue, they may need the power that a religion holds for its believers. Characterizing them as a faith system elevates them beyond mere personal philosophy. "I think the phrase 'civil religion' points to the way in which our political values have a dimension that goes beyond ourselves," says Philip Gorski, a professor of sociology and religious studies at Yale University and author of American Covenant: A History of Civil Religion from the Puritans to the Present. Acceptance of this uniquely American creed is seen as the key to one's identity as an American and distinguishes the United States from other countries. "It is difficult to become German. It is difficult to become Swedish, because those identities are not ideas," says Shadi Hamid, a senior fellow at the Brookings Institution who writes often on religion and politics. "Becoming American means you believe in the American idea, and at least in theory, that's open to any immigrant who's able to come here." In practice, some Americans have not been allowed full participation in society and political life. "Because of the xenophobia Asian-Americans are facing, because of the backlash against African-American civil rights, we're seeing that this kind of citizenship, this intrinsic right to be in the U.S., to enjoy its freedoms, is not really for everyone," says Lynn Itagaki, a professor of women's and gender studies at the University of Missouri. The strength and binding power of America's civil religion is clearly being put to a test. Forming belief in the American idea Just as young people are usually raised in the faith tradition of their parents, young Americans are schooled in the basics of the country's civil religion. Boys who aspire to become Eagle Scouts, for example, must first earn the "Citizenship in the Nation" merit badge. As part of the requirements, they must familiarize themselves with the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, and the Bill of Rights, and discuss the documents with a counselor. Among other requirements, they must choose a speech of "national historical importance" and explain "how it applies to American citizens today." Discussion of the issue of America's unique identity is a key part of the merit badge course. "Are we a country that's united by a nationality?" asks Cheryl Repetti, leading a recent merit badge class for Scouts at an outdoor classroom in Alexandria, Va. "Do we have hundreds of years of living together as a people, as a shared culture?" Joe, a young man in the second row, raises his hand. "I would say that the thing that really holds America together, it's our values," he says. "Kinda like freedom and, like, respect to everybody." This is part of the civic education almost all young people in America learn, whether through a Scouting program or in their schools. Typically, students from across the country visit Washington, D.C., each year, as if on a pilgrimage, to see such hallowed buildings as the U.S. Capitol and get a firsthand look at the actual founding documents on display at the National Archives. "I always tell my students that we started schools because we wanted children to understand our government," says Nicole Sarty, a fifth-grade teacher in Eagle, Idaho, "what was important about our government, and why America is an awesome country and why people want to come here." Because of the pandemic, Sarty's students this year had to settle for a virtual visit to the nation's capital, including a guided online tour of the National Archives. Among the topics Sarty has discussed with her students, she says, are the opening words in the Preamble to the U.S. Constitution: "We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more Perfect Union...." This year, she tied the discussion to current events. "That goes back to everything that's happened with the pandemic and the riots," Sarty says. "We see things that aren't working right, but we're always striving to be a 'more perfect union.' We have great discussions, and it's exciting to hear 10- and 11- year-olds struggling with some of the same ideas that we've struggled with as a nation since the beginning." Updating the scripture Among the issues that teachers like Sarty have to confront is the flawed character of America's origin, when white Europeans violently displaced the native population. "The U.S. is a white settler colonialist state," notes Itagaki. "It was founded that way," Many of the founders were themselves slaveholders, including some who signed the Declaration of Independence, with its lofty language of all men being created equal. The original version of the U.S. Constitution stipulated that enslaved individuals should be counted in the census as only three-fifths of a free person. Shadi Hamid, himself the son of immigrants from Egypt, nonetheless argues that the darker aspects of America's founding should not discredit the American idea. "If we completely do away with key founding figures, and we start problematizing the founding documents, which are part of the American civic faith, then the American idea doesn't have a lot to go on," he says. "Foundations matter." For Lynn Itagaki, who writes about what she calls "civil racism," the problem is less with the text of the founding documents than with their application. "The United States is sufficiently inclusive as a philosophy," she says. "In practice, it's obviously been exclusive and has pushed people out as not being deserving or, in religious terms, not being faithful enough." Itagaki notes that the American idea would be meaningful to more people if more recognition were given to some of its less familiar sources. "The Iroquois nation's Great Law of Peace was influential in the drafting of the Declaration of Independence," she notes. "So we've got other thinkers, other texts, and I think we need to consider them in creating this civil religion that we talk about." Similarly, Yale's Philip Gorski argues that the notion of an American scripture needs periodic updating to incorporate the voices of others alongside the nation's founders, such as Frederick Douglass, the social reformer Jane Addams, and the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. "I think about the American civil religion as an evolving tradition," he says. "I sometimes liken it to a river whose banks grow wider over time and which is changed by the landscape that it flows through, instead of thinking about it as some kind of pristine spring that we have to return to again and again." Debating religious language The advocacy of a civil religion took a complicated turn in recent months as the American political idea became linked to Christian nationalism. Among those who invaded the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, claiming it as "our house," were many who said they were led by their Christian beliefs, even as members of the Capitol Police warned they were violating a "sacred" space. One of the insurrection leaders, standing defiantly on the dais of the Senate chamber, actually called on his fellow protesters to join him in prayer. "Jesus Christ, we invoke your name!" he shouted, as recorded in a video by a writer for The New Yorker magazine. Among those upset by that scene was Myles Werntz, a theology professor at Abilene Christian University. "When you have someone like you saw on Jan. 6, someone who gets up into the Senate, declaring that the violence that is being done that day is being done in the name of God, that's when I think you find that religious language has gone amok." The widespread display of Christian symbols on Jan. 6, in fact, has triggered a general backlash against religious nationalism in the country. Werntz fears that the notion of a civil religion for the country may suffer as a result. Some of the most eloquent apostles of the American idea, such as the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr., spoke from a Christian tradition, Werntz notes. "In his speeches, he frequently uses reference to scripture, and he's not speaking specifically to Christians," Werntz says. "He's using these things as more basic moral instruction. My concern is that in trying to get rid of the Christian nationalist versions, the other things which might have some social benefit might get swept out as well." At the stake in this new consideration of a civil religion for the United States is whether this collection of beliefs and principles can still inspire the nation and hold it together. The Scouts who gathered at a park in Virginia to work for their "Citizenship in the Nation" merit badge agreed among themselves that the work to put the American idea into practice is an ongoing process. "We're kind of getting closer to that American dream," said Joe, in the second row. "We will never reach that dream perfectly. But I think it's a history of getting closer and closer, from the American Revolution to the Civil War to the Cold War and then to now where we're having discussions about race, LGBTQ [rights], stuff like that. It's how can we get closer to that American dream of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness." | America's civil religion is seen as the key to one's identity as an American. | ctrlsum | 0 | https://www.npr.org/2021/04/12/985036148/can-americas-civil-religion-still-unite-the-country | 0.104002 |
Can America's 'Civil Religion' Still Unite The Country? | Enlarge this image Pool/Getty Images Pool/Getty Images America, unlike some countries, is not defined by a common ancestry, nor is it tied to an official faith tradition. But it does have a distinct identity and a quasi-religious foundation. Americans are expected to hold their hands over their hearts when they recite the Pledge of Allegiance or stand for the national anthem. Young people are taught to regard the country's founders almost as saints. The "self-evident" truths listed in the Declaration of Independence and the key provisions of the U.S. Constitution and the Bill of Rights have acquired the status of scripture in the U.S. consciousness. More than 50 years ago, sociologist Robert Bellah argued that such facts of American life suggest that the country adheres to a non-sectarian "civil religion," which he defined as "a collection of beliefs, symbols, and rituals with respect to sacred things and institutionalized in a collectivity." For these beliefs and principles to give definition to a nation, scholars argue, they may need the power that a religion holds for its believers. Characterizing them as a faith system elevates them beyond mere personal philosophy. "I think the phrase 'civil religion' points to the way in which our political values have a dimension that goes beyond ourselves," says Philip Gorski, a professor of sociology and religious studies at Yale University and author of American Covenant: A History of Civil Religion from the Puritans to the Present. Acceptance of this uniquely American creed is seen as the key to one's identity as an American and distinguishes the United States from other countries. "It is difficult to become German. It is difficult to become Swedish, because those identities are not ideas," says Shadi Hamid, a senior fellow at the Brookings Institution who writes often on religion and politics. "Becoming American means you believe in the American idea, and at least in theory, that's open to any immigrant who's able to come here." In practice, some Americans have not been allowed full participation in society and political life. "Because of the xenophobia Asian-Americans are facing, because of the backlash against African-American civil rights, we're seeing that this kind of citizenship, this intrinsic right to be in the U.S., to enjoy its freedoms, is not really for everyone," says Lynn Itagaki, a professor of women's and gender studies at the University of Missouri. The strength and binding power of America's civil religion is clearly being put to a test. Forming belief in the American idea Just as young people are usually raised in the faith tradition of their parents, young Americans are schooled in the basics of the country's civil religion. Boys who aspire to become Eagle Scouts, for example, must first earn the "Citizenship in the Nation" merit badge. As part of the requirements, they must familiarize themselves with the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, and the Bill of Rights, and discuss the documents with a counselor. Among other requirements, they must choose a speech of "national historical importance" and explain "how it applies to American citizens today." Discussion of the issue of America's unique identity is a key part of the merit badge course. "Are we a country that's united by a nationality?" asks Cheryl Repetti, leading a recent merit badge class for Scouts at an outdoor classroom in Alexandria, Va. "Do we have hundreds of years of living together as a people, as a shared culture?" Joe, a young man in the second row, raises his hand. "I would say that the thing that really holds America together, it's our values," he says. "Kinda like freedom and, like, respect to everybody." This is part of the civic education almost all young people in America learn, whether through a Scouting program or in their schools. Typically, students from across the country visit Washington, D.C., each year, as if on a pilgrimage, to see such hallowed buildings as the U.S. Capitol and get a firsthand look at the actual founding documents on display at the National Archives. "I always tell my students that we started schools because we wanted children to understand our government," says Nicole Sarty, a fifth-grade teacher in Eagle, Idaho, "what was important about our government, and why America is an awesome country and why people want to come here." Because of the pandemic, Sarty's students this year had to settle for a virtual visit to the nation's capital, including a guided online tour of the National Archives. Among the topics Sarty has discussed with her students, she says, are the opening words in the Preamble to the U.S. Constitution: "We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more Perfect Union...." This year, she tied the discussion to current events. "That goes back to everything that's happened with the pandemic and the riots," Sarty says. "We see things that aren't working right, but we're always striving to be a 'more perfect union.' We have great discussions, and it's exciting to hear 10- and 11- year-olds struggling with some of the same ideas that we've struggled with as a nation since the beginning." Updating the scripture Among the issues that teachers like Sarty have to confront is the flawed character of America's origin, when white Europeans violently displaced the native population. "The U.S. is a white settler colonialist state," notes Itagaki. "It was founded that way," Many of the founders were themselves slaveholders, including some who signed the Declaration of Independence, with its lofty language of all men being created equal. The original version of the U.S. Constitution stipulated that enslaved individuals should be counted in the census as only three-fifths of a free person. Shadi Hamid, himself the son of immigrants from Egypt, nonetheless argues that the darker aspects of America's founding should not discredit the American idea. "If we completely do away with key founding figures, and we start problematizing the founding documents, which are part of the American civic faith, then the American idea doesn't have a lot to go on," he says. "Foundations matter." For Lynn Itagaki, who writes about what she calls "civil racism," the problem is less with the text of the founding documents than with their application. "The United States is sufficiently inclusive as a philosophy," she says. "In practice, it's obviously been exclusive and has pushed people out as not being deserving or, in religious terms, not being faithful enough." Itagaki notes that the American idea would be meaningful to more people if more recognition were given to some of its less familiar sources. "The Iroquois nation's Great Law of Peace was influential in the drafting of the Declaration of Independence," she notes. "So we've got other thinkers, other texts, and I think we need to consider them in creating this civil religion that we talk about." Similarly, Yale's Philip Gorski argues that the notion of an American scripture needs periodic updating to incorporate the voices of others alongside the nation's founders, such as Frederick Douglass, the social reformer Jane Addams, and the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. "I think about the American civil religion as an evolving tradition," he says. "I sometimes liken it to a river whose banks grow wider over time and which is changed by the landscape that it flows through, instead of thinking about it as some kind of pristine spring that we have to return to again and again." Debating religious language The advocacy of a civil religion took a complicated turn in recent months as the American political idea became linked to Christian nationalism. Among those who invaded the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, claiming it as "our house," were many who said they were led by their Christian beliefs, even as members of the Capitol Police warned they were violating a "sacred" space. One of the insurrection leaders, standing defiantly on the dais of the Senate chamber, actually called on his fellow protesters to join him in prayer. "Jesus Christ, we invoke your name!" he shouted, as recorded in a video by a writer for The New Yorker magazine. Among those upset by that scene was Myles Werntz, a theology professor at Abilene Christian University. "When you have someone like you saw on Jan. 6, someone who gets up into the Senate, declaring that the violence that is being done that day is being done in the name of God, that's when I think you find that religious language has gone amok." The widespread display of Christian symbols on Jan. 6, in fact, has triggered a general backlash against religious nationalism in the country. Werntz fears that the notion of a civil religion for the country may suffer as a result. Some of the most eloquent apostles of the American idea, such as the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr., spoke from a Christian tradition, Werntz notes. "In his speeches, he frequently uses reference to scripture, and he's not speaking specifically to Christians," Werntz says. "He's using these things as more basic moral instruction. My concern is that in trying to get rid of the Christian nationalist versions, the other things which might have some social benefit might get swept out as well." At the stake in this new consideration of a civil religion for the United States is whether this collection of beliefs and principles can still inspire the nation and hold it together. The Scouts who gathered at a park in Virginia to work for their "Citizenship in the Nation" merit badge agreed among themselves that the work to put the American idea into practice is an ongoing process. "We're kind of getting closer to that American dream," said Joe, in the second row. "We will never reach that dream perfectly. But I think it's a history of getting closer and closer, from the American Revolution to the Civil War to the Cold War and then to now where we're having discussions about race, LGBTQ [rights], stuff like that. It's how can we get closer to that American dream of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness." | America's "civil religion" is seen as the key to one's identity as an American. The strength and binding power of America's civil religion is clearly being put to a test. " Becoming American means you believe in the American idea," says Shadi Hamid. | ctrlsum | 2 | https://www.npr.org/2021/04/12/985036148/can-americas-civil-religion-still-unite-the-country | 0.109424 |
Will Derek Chauvin testify at murder trial? | As the state begins to wind down its case against the former Minneapolis police officer accused of murdering George Floyd last May, legal experts are considering whether Derek Chauvins defense lawyer will call him to the stand. The decision will ultimately rest with Chauvin. Joe Friedberg, a veteran defense attorney, told the Star Tribune that much of the case focuses on Chauvins state of mind during the deadly incident. He said the "best person to tell us about that would be Chauvin, so you might really be forced to put him on in this case." The paper pointed out that Eric Nelson, Chauvins attorney, has not indicated whether or not his client will testify. Nelson, 46, handles cases ranging from drunken driving arrests to homicides, and is one of a dozen attorneys who take turns working with a police union legal defense fund to represent officers charged with crimes. He has gone hard and consistently at his chief message: that Floyds consumption of illegal drugs is to blame for his death, rather than something Chauvin did. An autopsy found fentanyl and methamphetamine in Floyds system. Expert witnesses for the prosecution have asserted drugs did not kill Floyd. Mary Moriarty, a former Hennepin County chief public defender, told USA Today that Chauvin may testify "if he can add something to their case, (like) his perspective on what he did." She called it a possible last-ditch effort. She told KARE 11 that the state could wrap up its case by calling upon another medical witness and using Spark of Life testimony, which would allow Floyds relatives to "talk about who the person was in life." The paper also spoke to Joseph Daly, a professor at Mitchell Hamline School of Law, who mentioned the 17 previous complaints against Chauvin. CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP "The main danger of him testifying is the prosecution will put in its entire case againthrough its cross of Mr. Chauvin, not to mention his bad behavior in other situations." The Associated Press contributed to this report | Derek Chauvin, the former Minneapolis police officer accused of murdering George Floyd last May, may testify in his defense. | pegasus | 0 | https://www.foxnews.com/us/will-derek-chauvin-testify-at-murder-trial | 0.27282 |
Will Derek Chauvin testify at murder trial? | As the state begins to wind down its case against the former Minneapolis police officer accused of murdering George Floyd last May, legal experts are considering whether Derek Chauvins defense lawyer will call him to the stand. The decision will ultimately rest with Chauvin. Joe Friedberg, a veteran defense attorney, told the Star Tribune that much of the case focuses on Chauvins state of mind during the deadly incident. He said the "best person to tell us about that would be Chauvin, so you might really be forced to put him on in this case." The paper pointed out that Eric Nelson, Chauvins attorney, has not indicated whether or not his client will testify. Nelson, 46, handles cases ranging from drunken driving arrests to homicides, and is one of a dozen attorneys who take turns working with a police union legal defense fund to represent officers charged with crimes. He has gone hard and consistently at his chief message: that Floyds consumption of illegal drugs is to blame for his death, rather than something Chauvin did. An autopsy found fentanyl and methamphetamine in Floyds system. Expert witnesses for the prosecution have asserted drugs did not kill Floyd. Mary Moriarty, a former Hennepin County chief public defender, told USA Today that Chauvin may testify "if he can add something to their case, (like) his perspective on what he did." She called it a possible last-ditch effort. She told KARE 11 that the state could wrap up its case by calling upon another medical witness and using Spark of Life testimony, which would allow Floyds relatives to "talk about who the person was in life." The paper also spoke to Joseph Daly, a professor at Mitchell Hamline School of Law, who mentioned the 17 previous complaints against Chauvin. CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP "The main danger of him testifying is the prosecution will put in its entire case againthrough its cross of Mr. Chauvin, not to mention his bad behavior in other situations." The Associated Press contributed to this report | Derek Chauvin, the former Minneapolis police officer accused of murdering George Floyd last May, may be called to testify in his defense. Much of the case focuses on Chauvins state of mind during the deadly incident. | pegasus | 1 | https://www.foxnews.com/us/will-derek-chauvin-testify-at-murder-trial | 0.276786 |
Will Derek Chauvin testify at murder trial? | As the state begins to wind down its case against the former Minneapolis police officer accused of murdering George Floyd last May, legal experts are considering whether Derek Chauvins defense lawyer will call him to the stand. The decision will ultimately rest with Chauvin. Joe Friedberg, a veteran defense attorney, told the Star Tribune that much of the case focuses on Chauvins state of mind during the deadly incident. He said the "best person to tell us about that would be Chauvin, so you might really be forced to put him on in this case." The paper pointed out that Eric Nelson, Chauvins attorney, has not indicated whether or not his client will testify. Nelson, 46, handles cases ranging from drunken driving arrests to homicides, and is one of a dozen attorneys who take turns working with a police union legal defense fund to represent officers charged with crimes. He has gone hard and consistently at his chief message: that Floyds consumption of illegal drugs is to blame for his death, rather than something Chauvin did. An autopsy found fentanyl and methamphetamine in Floyds system. Expert witnesses for the prosecution have asserted drugs did not kill Floyd. Mary Moriarty, a former Hennepin County chief public defender, told USA Today that Chauvin may testify "if he can add something to their case, (like) his perspective on what he did." She called it a possible last-ditch effort. She told KARE 11 that the state could wrap up its case by calling upon another medical witness and using Spark of Life testimony, which would allow Floyds relatives to "talk about who the person was in life." The paper also spoke to Joseph Daly, a professor at Mitchell Hamline School of Law, who mentioned the 17 previous complaints against Chauvin. CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP "The main danger of him testifying is the prosecution will put in its entire case againthrough its cross of Mr. Chauvin, not to mention his bad behavior in other situations." The Associated Press contributed to this report | Derek Chauvin is accused of murdering George Floyd last May. Chauvin's attorney has not indicated whether or not he will call his client to the stand. Experts say Chauvin may testify if he can add something to the prosecution's case. The state could wrap up its case by calling upon another medical witness and using 'Spark of Life' testimony. | bart | 2 | https://www.foxnews.com/us/will-derek-chauvin-testify-at-murder-trial | 0.389266 |
Could public money finance private-school discrimination, religion and fake history? | Derek W. Black and Rebecca Holcombe Opinion contributors With bills pending in more than 20 state legislatures to expand private school voucher programs, this spring could usher in the biggest transfer in funds from public schools to private schools in our nations history. The problem started last year when the Supreme Court held in Espinoza v. Montana that states cannot adopt blanket policies to exclude religious schools from voucher programs. The court left open the possibility that states could still place limits on what private schools do with the money. States might still prohibit them from using public money to teach religion or discriminate based on religion, race, sex, gender, sexual orientation and other protected classes. But choice advocates argue these minimal requirements are unconstitutional, too. Satisfied slaves, divine intervention This distinction is lost on a lot of states, which make no attempt to stop private schools from using public dollars to teach religion, discriminate or deliver curriculum that flies in the face of historical and scientific facts. Students in North Carolina, Florida and Indiana have tried to use their vouchers at religious schools only to be turned away because they didn't fit the schools desired demographic. Far too many of these schools also use textbooks that routinely espouse anti-science and white-centric ideology. For instance, as the Orlando Sentinel reported, some Florida voucher schools teach students that dinosaurs and humans lived together, that God's intervention prevented Catholics from dominating North America, that slaves who knew Jesus Christ were better off than free men who did not, and that most Black and white Southerners lived in harmony until power-hungry agitators stirred up conflict. Voucher advocates now argue not only that they have a right to participate in these voucher programs, but also that states cannot regulate what they teach with the money. If this idea prevails in the courts, states may lose all control over their programs. For example, in Vermont, some rural communities paid tuition for public academies for generations. Thirty years ago, the legislature converted those schools to private-nonprofit independent schools, effectively changing an old tradition into a typical private school voucher scheme one now subject to Espinoza. National right-wing legal advocacy groups noticed and filed several suits on behalf of religious school students in Vermont. In January, one federal appellate court ordered three Vermont public school districts to pay tuition vouchers to a Catholic school whose website states that faith is weaved into every aspect of life at the school, and that it aims to form its students in the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Other decisions are still pending. America's teacher shortage:How to attract more, better educators into classrooms The newest and most radical claim, however, is that Espinozas rationale applies to charter schools, which are operated by independent groups using public funds and in theory are public schools. Some choice advocates, including in a recent Manhattan Institute report, argue states must allow private religious schools to operate as public charter schools. These religious schools need not even change their curriculum. They just need to send the bill to state government, instead of to parishioners and parents who had already opted out of public education and a public mission. First amendment roadblock Proponents of taxpayer funding of religious institutions ignore the fact that a public religious charter school is an oxymoron. The First Amendment prohibits states from establishing religion. And public education is by definition inclusive. Public schools dont get to exclude people because they practice a different religion or dont practice one at all. Nor do they get to propagate religion as science. You dont need a law degree to understand that the Constitution prohibits state-funded, licensed and regulated schools from doing these things. Religious charter schools, however, would threaten more than just basic democratic principles. They would take a wrecking ball to public school funding. States would suddenly become financially responsible for millions of students who previously chose to forgo public education. In places already struggling to maintain public infrastructure, public budgets would now be on the hook for religious infrastructure. Fight for equity: 3 million kids missing from school because of COVID-19: Shaquille ONeal and Rey Saldaa This choice movement may wrap itself in the rhetoric of meeting individual students needs and giving them the same opportunities as wealthy students, but unregulated vouchers and public religious charter schools would subvert the overall public will to the whims of an ideological minority. The saving grace is that an overwhelming majority of families and taxpayers have no interest in this bizarre education world. And if courts and advocates push them there, only one rational choice remains: End charter schools and publicly financed private school tuition altogether. That is a policy choice courts cannot second-guess on specious grounds. So the school choice lobby should be careful for what it wishes. Derek W. Black (@DerekWBlack) is the Ernest F. Hollings Chair in Constitutional Law at the University of South Carolina and author of "Schoolhouse Burning: Public Education and the Assault on American Democracy." Rebecca Holcombe (@RHolcombeVT) is the former Vermont secretary of Education. | Derek W. Black and Rebecca Holcombe: State legislatures are mulling school voucher bills. They say last year's Supreme Court ruling could lead to the biggest transfer of funds in U.S. history. They say many states don't try to stop private schools from using public dollars to teach religion. | pegasus | 2 | https://www.usatoday.com/story/opinion/2021/04/12/public-money-private-schools-religion-science-history-column/7121202002/ | 0.215617 |
Can George P. Bush beat Ken Paxton for Texas AG in the Donald Trump-loving GOP? | If George P. Bush challenges incumbent Ken Paxton in the GOP primary for Texas attorney general, it will reveal whether hes the last of a fading political dynasty or the rising star capable of beating a Donald Trump-era incumbent whos steeped in controversy. Last week Bush told conservative radio talk show host Mark Davis that he is considering challenging Paxton the embattled attorney general in the 2022 GOP primary. There have been some serious allegations levied against the current attorney general, Bush told Davis on his 660 AM (The Answer) radio show in Dallas. Personally I think that the top law enforcement official in Texas needs to be above reproach. Bush added that character and integrity matters in public service, giving a clue about the focus of his campaign. After the interview, I asked Davis for an early take on a Paxton-Bush contest. It would be a very interesting race, the Bush star quality versus the Paxton legacy, Davis said. Might be a little, might be a lot. Democrats are taking aim at Paxton as well. Former Galveston Mayor Joe Jaworski, a lawyer, is seeking the partys nomination for attorney general. Running but not yet affiliated to a political party is civil rights lawyer Lee Merritt. Paxton appears weakened by scandal. The FBI is investigating claims that Paxton abused his power by trading political favors to a political donor. Numerous former top aides who were fired or resigned allege that Paxton took bribes in exchange for a home remodel and a job for his alleged mistress. A recent poll by The Dallas Morning News and the University of Texas at Tyler shows some voters give Paxton the benefit of the doubt, which could help him in a campaign against Bush. FILE - In this Jan. 6, 2021 file photo, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton speaks , in Washington, at a rally in support of President Donald Trump called the "Save America Rally." The Texas attorney general's office is seeking to withhold or denying it has records related to the Republican official's appearance at a pro-Donald Trump rally that preceded the deadly riot at the U.S. Capitol. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin File) (Jacquelyn Martin) When poll respondents were asked if Paxton has the integrity to be the states top lawyer, 32% agreed he does, 29% disagreed and 39% were unsure. Before the Republican Partys sharp turn to first the tea party movement and now Trump-brand conservatism, Bush the grandson of former President George H.W. Bush and the nephew of former President George W. Bush was destined for stardom. Pundits projected him as a potential governor. From the governors mansion, the White House would be in view. George P. Bush was to usher in a new era of Republican politics, one that took compassionate conservatism to a new level and pushed the diversity of the party, both in conservative ideas and participation. I remember him with his grandfather at the 2004 Republican National Convention, urging Republicans to do more to appeal to communities of color. He was a symbol of the futures of both his party and his family. Now in his second term as Texas land commissioner, Bushs political career has been a success, though the popularity of Texas Gov. Greg Abbott and Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick has kept him in the backdrop of Texas GOP politics. His rise to the top could be complicated by the increasing unpopularity of his father, former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush, and his uncle with Texas Republican voters. Trump forced Jeb Bush off the political scene in a humiliating 2016 presidential primary. And Trump has helped make George W. Bush uncool with many of his supporters. In other parts of the country, George W. Bush loyalists helped topple Trump in the 2020 presidential election. George P. Bush has done an adequate job separating himself from his familys disgust of Trump, but challenging Paxton could force voters to examine whether Bush is loyal to Trump or his family. Politics Stung by the storm: Poll finds Texas leaders failed to anticipate severe weather, prepare public Two out of three Texans lost electricity, water or both in last months devastating winter storm, and by a 2-to-1 margin, they say state and local leaders failed to adequately alert the public so it could prepare, according to a poll released Sunday by The Dallas Morning News and University of Texas at Tyler. By and Often in Republican politics a middle ground is difficult to find. Bush told Davis his campaign would be about Paxtons performance in office, not conservative credentials. When you pick up the paper, yes, theres good lawsuits, theres good ideology and filings, but its about how you run an office, its about how you lead and its about how youre a role model for our children and for members of the Texas bar, Bush said. Paxtons career still thrives Paxtons political career has thrived amid legal and ethical challenges. In 2014, the former state senator from McKinney was elected attorney general despite looming charges of securities fraud. Hes been fighting those charges since 2015, which didnt prevent his reelection in 2018. Paxtons most effective strategy in his first campaign for attorney general was casting himself as a tea party conservative. Campaign television ads and mailers featured Sen. Ted Cruz, a darling of the tea party movement, praising Paxton. That was enough for Paxton to sprint ahead of the competition, which included former state Rep. Dan Branch of Dallas. Now Paxton is under federal investigation and matters could get worse. But he has endeared himself to many conservatives by bringing the meritless lawsuit that sought to overturn presidential election results in several battleground states. His standing with Trump is secure, and the former president could play a role in a Paxton-Bush showdown. But even as he seeks to appeal to Trump voters, Paxton has had difficulty raising campaign dollars. Hell need to step up his fundraising for a brutal challenge from Bush. While Bush would try to make the contest about Paxtons conduct in office, Paxton would want the race to be a referendum on conservative credentials, particularly as it relates to Trump. Republican voters will have to decide whats more important to them: Paxtons job performance and legal problems, or his commitment to the Trump and hard-right cause. A Paxton-Bush showdown will not only be a fascinating tactical battle, but it will measure the level of discernment among Texas GOP voters. | Texas land commissioner George P. Bush is considering a challenge to Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton. | bart | 0 | https://www.dallasnews.com/news/politics/2021/04/12/can-george-p-bush-beat-ken-paxton-for-texas-ag-in-the-donald-trump-loving-gop/ | 0.133189 |
Can George P. Bush beat Ken Paxton for Texas AG in the Donald Trump-loving GOP? | If George P. Bush challenges incumbent Ken Paxton in the GOP primary for Texas attorney general, it will reveal whether hes the last of a fading political dynasty or the rising star capable of beating a Donald Trump-era incumbent whos steeped in controversy. Last week Bush told conservative radio talk show host Mark Davis that he is considering challenging Paxton the embattled attorney general in the 2022 GOP primary. There have been some serious allegations levied against the current attorney general, Bush told Davis on his 660 AM (The Answer) radio show in Dallas. Personally I think that the top law enforcement official in Texas needs to be above reproach. Bush added that character and integrity matters in public service, giving a clue about the focus of his campaign. After the interview, I asked Davis for an early take on a Paxton-Bush contest. It would be a very interesting race, the Bush star quality versus the Paxton legacy, Davis said. Might be a little, might be a lot. Democrats are taking aim at Paxton as well. Former Galveston Mayor Joe Jaworski, a lawyer, is seeking the partys nomination for attorney general. Running but not yet affiliated to a political party is civil rights lawyer Lee Merritt. Paxton appears weakened by scandal. The FBI is investigating claims that Paxton abused his power by trading political favors to a political donor. Numerous former top aides who were fired or resigned allege that Paxton took bribes in exchange for a home remodel and a job for his alleged mistress. A recent poll by The Dallas Morning News and the University of Texas at Tyler shows some voters give Paxton the benefit of the doubt, which could help him in a campaign against Bush. FILE - In this Jan. 6, 2021 file photo, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton speaks , in Washington, at a rally in support of President Donald Trump called the "Save America Rally." The Texas attorney general's office is seeking to withhold or denying it has records related to the Republican official's appearance at a pro-Donald Trump rally that preceded the deadly riot at the U.S. Capitol. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin File) (Jacquelyn Martin) When poll respondents were asked if Paxton has the integrity to be the states top lawyer, 32% agreed he does, 29% disagreed and 39% were unsure. Before the Republican Partys sharp turn to first the tea party movement and now Trump-brand conservatism, Bush the grandson of former President George H.W. Bush and the nephew of former President George W. Bush was destined for stardom. Pundits projected him as a potential governor. From the governors mansion, the White House would be in view. George P. Bush was to usher in a new era of Republican politics, one that took compassionate conservatism to a new level and pushed the diversity of the party, both in conservative ideas and participation. I remember him with his grandfather at the 2004 Republican National Convention, urging Republicans to do more to appeal to communities of color. He was a symbol of the futures of both his party and his family. Now in his second term as Texas land commissioner, Bushs political career has been a success, though the popularity of Texas Gov. Greg Abbott and Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick has kept him in the backdrop of Texas GOP politics. His rise to the top could be complicated by the increasing unpopularity of his father, former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush, and his uncle with Texas Republican voters. Trump forced Jeb Bush off the political scene in a humiliating 2016 presidential primary. And Trump has helped make George W. Bush uncool with many of his supporters. In other parts of the country, George W. Bush loyalists helped topple Trump in the 2020 presidential election. George P. Bush has done an adequate job separating himself from his familys disgust of Trump, but challenging Paxton could force voters to examine whether Bush is loyal to Trump or his family. Politics Stung by the storm: Poll finds Texas leaders failed to anticipate severe weather, prepare public Two out of three Texans lost electricity, water or both in last months devastating winter storm, and by a 2-to-1 margin, they say state and local leaders failed to adequately alert the public so it could prepare, according to a poll released Sunday by The Dallas Morning News and University of Texas at Tyler. By and Often in Republican politics a middle ground is difficult to find. Bush told Davis his campaign would be about Paxtons performance in office, not conservative credentials. When you pick up the paper, yes, theres good lawsuits, theres good ideology and filings, but its about how you run an office, its about how you lead and its about how youre a role model for our children and for members of the Texas bar, Bush said. Paxtons career still thrives Paxtons political career has thrived amid legal and ethical challenges. In 2014, the former state senator from McKinney was elected attorney general despite looming charges of securities fraud. Hes been fighting those charges since 2015, which didnt prevent his reelection in 2018. Paxtons most effective strategy in his first campaign for attorney general was casting himself as a tea party conservative. Campaign television ads and mailers featured Sen. Ted Cruz, a darling of the tea party movement, praising Paxton. That was enough for Paxton to sprint ahead of the competition, which included former state Rep. Dan Branch of Dallas. Now Paxton is under federal investigation and matters could get worse. But he has endeared himself to many conservatives by bringing the meritless lawsuit that sought to overturn presidential election results in several battleground states. His standing with Trump is secure, and the former president could play a role in a Paxton-Bush showdown. But even as he seeks to appeal to Trump voters, Paxton has had difficulty raising campaign dollars. Hell need to step up his fundraising for a brutal challenge from Bush. While Bush would try to make the contest about Paxtons conduct in office, Paxton would want the race to be a referendum on conservative credentials, particularly as it relates to Trump. Republican voters will have to decide whats more important to them: Paxtons job performance and legal problems, or his commitment to the Trump and hard-right cause. A Paxton-Bush showdown will not only be a fascinating tactical battle, but it will measure the level of discernment among Texas GOP voters. | George P. Bush says he is considering challenging Ken Paxton in the 2022 GOP primary for Texas attorney general. Bush is the grandson of former President George H.W. Bush and the nephew of former president George W. Bush. | ctrlsum | 1 | https://www.dallasnews.com/news/politics/2021/04/12/can-george-p-bush-beat-ken-paxton-for-texas-ag-in-the-donald-trump-loving-gop/ | 0.199945 |
Can George P. Bush beat Ken Paxton for Texas AG in the Donald Trump-loving GOP? | If George P. Bush challenges incumbent Ken Paxton in the GOP primary for Texas attorney general, it will reveal whether hes the last of a fading political dynasty or the rising star capable of beating a Donald Trump-era incumbent whos steeped in controversy. Last week Bush told conservative radio talk show host Mark Davis that he is considering challenging Paxton the embattled attorney general in the 2022 GOP primary. There have been some serious allegations levied against the current attorney general, Bush told Davis on his 660 AM (The Answer) radio show in Dallas. Personally I think that the top law enforcement official in Texas needs to be above reproach. Bush added that character and integrity matters in public service, giving a clue about the focus of his campaign. After the interview, I asked Davis for an early take on a Paxton-Bush contest. It would be a very interesting race, the Bush star quality versus the Paxton legacy, Davis said. Might be a little, might be a lot. Democrats are taking aim at Paxton as well. Former Galveston Mayor Joe Jaworski, a lawyer, is seeking the partys nomination for attorney general. Running but not yet affiliated to a political party is civil rights lawyer Lee Merritt. Paxton appears weakened by scandal. The FBI is investigating claims that Paxton abused his power by trading political favors to a political donor. Numerous former top aides who were fired or resigned allege that Paxton took bribes in exchange for a home remodel and a job for his alleged mistress. A recent poll by The Dallas Morning News and the University of Texas at Tyler shows some voters give Paxton the benefit of the doubt, which could help him in a campaign against Bush. FILE - In this Jan. 6, 2021 file photo, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton speaks , in Washington, at a rally in support of President Donald Trump called the "Save America Rally." The Texas attorney general's office is seeking to withhold or denying it has records related to the Republican official's appearance at a pro-Donald Trump rally that preceded the deadly riot at the U.S. Capitol. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin File) (Jacquelyn Martin) When poll respondents were asked if Paxton has the integrity to be the states top lawyer, 32% agreed he does, 29% disagreed and 39% were unsure. Before the Republican Partys sharp turn to first the tea party movement and now Trump-brand conservatism, Bush the grandson of former President George H.W. Bush and the nephew of former President George W. Bush was destined for stardom. Pundits projected him as a potential governor. From the governors mansion, the White House would be in view. George P. Bush was to usher in a new era of Republican politics, one that took compassionate conservatism to a new level and pushed the diversity of the party, both in conservative ideas and participation. I remember him with his grandfather at the 2004 Republican National Convention, urging Republicans to do more to appeal to communities of color. He was a symbol of the futures of both his party and his family. Now in his second term as Texas land commissioner, Bushs political career has been a success, though the popularity of Texas Gov. Greg Abbott and Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick has kept him in the backdrop of Texas GOP politics. His rise to the top could be complicated by the increasing unpopularity of his father, former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush, and his uncle with Texas Republican voters. Trump forced Jeb Bush off the political scene in a humiliating 2016 presidential primary. And Trump has helped make George W. Bush uncool with many of his supporters. In other parts of the country, George W. Bush loyalists helped topple Trump in the 2020 presidential election. George P. Bush has done an adequate job separating himself from his familys disgust of Trump, but challenging Paxton could force voters to examine whether Bush is loyal to Trump or his family. Politics Stung by the storm: Poll finds Texas leaders failed to anticipate severe weather, prepare public Two out of three Texans lost electricity, water or both in last months devastating winter storm, and by a 2-to-1 margin, they say state and local leaders failed to adequately alert the public so it could prepare, according to a poll released Sunday by The Dallas Morning News and University of Texas at Tyler. By and Often in Republican politics a middle ground is difficult to find. Bush told Davis his campaign would be about Paxtons performance in office, not conservative credentials. When you pick up the paper, yes, theres good lawsuits, theres good ideology and filings, but its about how you run an office, its about how you lead and its about how youre a role model for our children and for members of the Texas bar, Bush said. Paxtons career still thrives Paxtons political career has thrived amid legal and ethical challenges. In 2014, the former state senator from McKinney was elected attorney general despite looming charges of securities fraud. Hes been fighting those charges since 2015, which didnt prevent his reelection in 2018. Paxtons most effective strategy in his first campaign for attorney general was casting himself as a tea party conservative. Campaign television ads and mailers featured Sen. Ted Cruz, a darling of the tea party movement, praising Paxton. That was enough for Paxton to sprint ahead of the competition, which included former state Rep. Dan Branch of Dallas. Now Paxton is under federal investigation and matters could get worse. But he has endeared himself to many conservatives by bringing the meritless lawsuit that sought to overturn presidential election results in several battleground states. His standing with Trump is secure, and the former president could play a role in a Paxton-Bush showdown. But even as he seeks to appeal to Trump voters, Paxton has had difficulty raising campaign dollars. Hell need to step up his fundraising for a brutal challenge from Bush. While Bush would try to make the contest about Paxtons conduct in office, Paxton would want the race to be a referendum on conservative credentials, particularly as it relates to Trump. Republican voters will have to decide whats more important to them: Paxtons job performance and legal problems, or his commitment to the Trump and hard-right cause. A Paxton-Bush showdown will not only be a fascinating tactical battle, but it will measure the level of discernment among Texas GOP voters. | George P. Bush says he is considering challenging Ken Paxton in the 2022 GOP primary for Texas attorney general. Bush is the grandson of former President George H.W. Bush and the nephew of ex-President George W. Bush. Paxton appears weakened by scandal, which could help him in a campaign against Bush. | ctrlsum | 2 | https://www.dallasnews.com/news/politics/2021/04/12/can-george-p-bush-beat-ken-paxton-for-texas-ag-in-the-donald-trump-loving-gop/ | 0.285413 |
Should Titans pickup Rashaan Evans fifth-year option? | Come May 3, the Tennessee Titans will have to decide whether or not to pick up the fifth-year option of 2018 first-round pick and linebacker, Rashaan Evans. While the Titans did make the right move at the time with their last four fifth-year-option decisions, none of those decisions ended up working out the way the team had hoped. Quarterback Marcus Mariota got benched during the fifth year of his rookie deal, while right tackle Jack Conklin and wide receiver Corey Davis had career years after theirs were declined. Cornerback Adoree Jackson was the last Titan to have his option picked up, but he went on to play in just three games due to injury in 2020 and wasnt very effective when on the field. He never made it to the fifth year of his rookie deal following his release this offseason. Next up is Evans, who appears to be heading for the same path that Conklin and Davis had to take, which is having to go through a prove-it year after Tennessee declines his option. It remains to be seen if Evans will mimic those players in terms of having a career year, though. While Evans has no doubt shown flashes of being a solid player and he was impressive in 2019, he definitely took a step back in 2020, no matter how you slice it. His caliber of play wasnt what weve come to expect, particularly against the run, and he was a penalty machine, leading the Titans with eight, including a Week 1 ejection against the Denver Broncos. It has gotten to the point where 2019 sixth-round pick and linebacker David Long deserves to have an opportunity to challenge Evans for the starting job next to locked-in starter, linebacker Jayon Brown. According to Spotrac, Evans would make roughly $9.7 million on the fifth-year option, a price too high to pay for what the Alabama product showed last season, and really, overall during his three years in the NFL. Not only should the Titans decline Evans option, they should also explore trading him. Such a move would guarantee Tennessee some draft capital, while also saving the team about $2 million against the cap. Story continues From there, the Titans could plug Long into the starting job next to Brown and ensure they get something for Evans inevitable departure from Nashville. Related | The Tennessee Titans have until May 3 to pick up the fifth-year option on linebacker Rashaan Evans. | pegasus | 0 | https://sports.yahoo.com/titans-pickup-rashaan-evans-fifth-114337330.html?src=rss | 0.147966 |
Should Titans pickup Rashaan Evans fifth-year option? | Come May 3, the Tennessee Titans will have to decide whether or not to pick up the fifth-year option of 2018 first-round pick and linebacker, Rashaan Evans. While the Titans did make the right move at the time with their last four fifth-year-option decisions, none of those decisions ended up working out the way the team had hoped. Quarterback Marcus Mariota got benched during the fifth year of his rookie deal, while right tackle Jack Conklin and wide receiver Corey Davis had career years after theirs were declined. Cornerback Adoree Jackson was the last Titan to have his option picked up, but he went on to play in just three games due to injury in 2020 and wasnt very effective when on the field. He never made it to the fifth year of his rookie deal following his release this offseason. Next up is Evans, who appears to be heading for the same path that Conklin and Davis had to take, which is having to go through a prove-it year after Tennessee declines his option. It remains to be seen if Evans will mimic those players in terms of having a career year, though. While Evans has no doubt shown flashes of being a solid player and he was impressive in 2019, he definitely took a step back in 2020, no matter how you slice it. His caliber of play wasnt what weve come to expect, particularly against the run, and he was a penalty machine, leading the Titans with eight, including a Week 1 ejection against the Denver Broncos. It has gotten to the point where 2019 sixth-round pick and linebacker David Long deserves to have an opportunity to challenge Evans for the starting job next to locked-in starter, linebacker Jayon Brown. According to Spotrac, Evans would make roughly $9.7 million on the fifth-year option, a price too high to pay for what the Alabama product showed last season, and really, overall during his three years in the NFL. Not only should the Titans decline Evans option, they should also explore trading him. Such a move would guarantee Tennessee some draft capital, while also saving the team about $2 million against the cap. Story continues From there, the Titans could plug Long into the starting job next to Brown and ensure they get something for Evans inevitable departure from Nashville. Related | Tennessee Titans will have to decide whether or not to pick up the fifth-year option of Rashaan Evans. The Titans have declined their option on four of the last five players they have signed. | bart | 1 | https://sports.yahoo.com/titans-pickup-rashaan-evans-fifth-114337330.html?src=rss | 0.159113 |
Should Titans pickup Rashaan Evans fifth-year option? | Come May 3, the Tennessee Titans will have to decide whether or not to pick up the fifth-year option of 2018 first-round pick and linebacker, Rashaan Evans. While the Titans did make the right move at the time with their last four fifth-year-option decisions, none of those decisions ended up working out the way the team had hoped. Quarterback Marcus Mariota got benched during the fifth year of his rookie deal, while right tackle Jack Conklin and wide receiver Corey Davis had career years after theirs were declined. Cornerback Adoree Jackson was the last Titan to have his option picked up, but he went on to play in just three games due to injury in 2020 and wasnt very effective when on the field. He never made it to the fifth year of his rookie deal following his release this offseason. Next up is Evans, who appears to be heading for the same path that Conklin and Davis had to take, which is having to go through a prove-it year after Tennessee declines his option. It remains to be seen if Evans will mimic those players in terms of having a career year, though. While Evans has no doubt shown flashes of being a solid player and he was impressive in 2019, he definitely took a step back in 2020, no matter how you slice it. His caliber of play wasnt what weve come to expect, particularly against the run, and he was a penalty machine, leading the Titans with eight, including a Week 1 ejection against the Denver Broncos. It has gotten to the point where 2019 sixth-round pick and linebacker David Long deserves to have an opportunity to challenge Evans for the starting job next to locked-in starter, linebacker Jayon Brown. According to Spotrac, Evans would make roughly $9.7 million on the fifth-year option, a price too high to pay for what the Alabama product showed last season, and really, overall during his three years in the NFL. Not only should the Titans decline Evans option, they should also explore trading him. Such a move would guarantee Tennessee some draft capital, while also saving the team about $2 million against the cap. Story continues From there, the Titans could plug Long into the starting job next to Brown and ensure they get something for Evans inevitable departure from Nashville. Related | Tennessee Titans will have to decide whether or not to pick up the fifth-year option of Rashaan Evans. The Titans have declined their option on four of the last five players they have signed. Adoree Jackson was the last Titan to have his option picked up, but he went on to play in just three games due to injury. | bart | 2 | https://sports.yahoo.com/titans-pickup-rashaan-evans-fifth-114337330.html?src=rss | 0.222566 |
How Did a Self-Taught Linguist Come to Own an Indigenous Language? | When I first met Carol Dana, in the spring of 2018, she told me that she was thinking of getting a parrot. Dana, a member of the Penobscot Nation, one of five hundred and seventy-four Native American tribes recognized by the United States federal government, was attending a small ceremony at the University of Maines anthropology museum. She wore her silver hair pulled back from her face, and introduced herself to me as the tribes language master, a title, she added, that she wasnt fully comfortable with. The idea of mastery seemed an imprecise way to describe the fraught relationship she had with the Penobscot words inside her head. Though not fluent, Dana has a better grasp of the language than anyone else on Indian Island, where six hundred of the worlds estimated twenty-four hundred members of the Penobscot tribe live. She admitted to being linguistically lonely. Ive been talking to myself in Penobscot for years, she said. You need to say it out loud, so your own ears can hear it. Though she knew that a bird wouldnt be able to carry on a conversation, she thought that simply hearing Penobscot words spoken at home by another living creature would be better than nothing. Dana, who is sixty-eight, learned most of what she knows of Penobscot not from her tribal elders but from Frank Siebert, a self-taught linguist who hired her, in 1982, as a research assistant. He was seventy; Dana was thirty. Siebert had grown up in Philadelphia and had been passionate about Native Americans for as long as he could rememberas a child, he had slept with a toy tomahawk in his bed. He, Dana, and a few other assistants worked in a bare office on Indian Island, a mile-wide shallot-shaped island in the middle of the Penobscot River. Dana, who was brought up there, had as a child been forbidden to go to the mainland, and shed spent her school-age days picking blueberries and mayflowers, building lean-tos, and impaling apples on sticks, throwing them like javelins. In the summer, she and her friends swam in the river; in the fall, they wrestled in the leaves. Siebert, who had moved to Maine permanently about fifteen years before Dana joined him in his work, had no such memories, but together they muttered and scribbled in a language that only a handful of people still spoke. I first heard about Frank Siebert a year before I met Dana, from Jane Anderson, a legal scholar at N.Y.U. I was interested in the ways in which indigenous knowledge, passed down through many generations and often collectively held, is considered essentially authorless by Western intellectual-property law. Anderson, who is Australian, works with indigenous communities around the world to help solve conflicts over the ownership of ancient ideas. I had come to her with questions about a burgeoning movement in Guatemala to trademark traditional weaving designs, but within an hour I was convinced that I should travel not to Central America but to Maine, which, she told me, was home to a sovereign nation whose language was technically owned by a dead white man who had devised a way to write it down. The name Penobscot is a mangled rendering of punawuhpskekor pnwhpskek, in the writing system Siebert introducedmeaning the place where the rocks clear out. For more than three hundred generations, the tribe, which once had fifty thousand members, hunted on the banks of the Penobscot River, navigated its waters, and spoke one of the many Eastern Algonquian languages heard along a swath of the northern Atlantic coastan area that today extends from Nova Scotia to North Carolina. Siebert began studying the Penobscot language in the nineteen-thirties, four hundred years after European explorers arrived. By then, all that was left of the Penobscot territory, which once encompassed half of Maine, was a reservation that included Indian Island, which can be circumnavigated by foot in less than an hour, and some smaller islands along the river. The tribes language had nearly disappeared from use. Beginning in the eighteen-eighties, Penobscot children were sent to government-sponsored residential schools, where teachers beat them for speaking anything but English. Anywhere else in the world, youre thought to be more intelligent if youre bilingualexcept for us, for some reason, Dana told me. The strategy, replicated across the country, was effective: more than three hundred indigenous languages were once spoken in the United States; today, linguists worry that within thirty years there will be only twenty. By the middle of the twentieth century, there were just two dozen Penobscot speakers on Indian Island, most of them elderly. When they tried to teach Penobscot to younger members of the tribe, their efforts were met with complaints that there was no use for it anyway. But Dana loved listening to her grandmother speak the language of her ancestors. Like other indigenous New England dialects, Penobscot does not distinguish between certain commonly used consonantsBs and Ps, for instance, or Zs and Ss. The sonic effect of Penobscotmelodic, gentle, and worn-sounding, almost like singingis at odds with the languages structure, which is especially visual, efficient, and kinetic. Single words can express full ideas. Canoe is that which flows lightly upon the water; an otter is a wandering portager; lunch is noon eat; butter is milk grease; flower is something bursting forth into the light. Dana describes Penobscot words as little poetic pictures. Her grandmother was a stoic and remote woman when she spoke in English, but she seemed transformed when laughing and joking and talking with her Native friends. Thats how language is conveyed, Dana said. Around the kitchen table. Dana first applied for a job on Sieberts team in 1979; she told me that she had been frustrated when Siebert gave the job not to her or to another Penobscot person but to a red-haired woman from Connecticut. Two years later, Siebert agreed to take Dana on as well; he had her sort through stacks of materialstranscripts of interviews hed conducted with elders in their homes, journals and notecards scrawled with vocabulary that was written in the orthography hed developed, which was punctuated with unfamiliar, academic diacritics. Dana was moved by what she learned. There is no word in Penobscot for goodbye, only the more optimistic Ill see you again. Verbs of motion almost always have prefixes. People dont just walk or jump. They walk from here or to there; they jump across or out or up. Built into the language is the directive to cite ones sources. When I asked Dana whether she ever felt resentful or embarrassed that she had learned her own language from a white man, she laughed. Oh, yes, all of that, she said. But it didnt quite feel like I was learning it from him. It was her ancestors language that she was reading, not Sieberts. There was no bridge to Indian Island when Siebert made his first trip there, as a twenty-year-old college student, in 1932. The ferry, a flat-bottomed bateau, cost ten cents, round trip. It was August, and the river was low the day he boarded the boat and paid his fare. He asked where he might find someone willing to speak Penobscot with him, and the ferryman pointed toward a honeysuckle-lined path that led through the woods. At the end of the path lived a pious man in his sixties named Louis Lolar. Siebert introduced himself, and Lolar invited him inside. His small home was sparsely furnished; like the other houses on the island, it had no indoor plumbing. The two men sat by Lolars woodstove, and Siebert practiced Penobscot until the sun went down. To an English-speaking eavesdropper, the conversation would have sounded a bit like a choir lesson. Siebert was nearsighted and nearly six and a half feet tall. Everyone thought he looked German. His high-school yearbook had remarked on his unobtrusiveness and complete disdain (as far as we know) of the female sex. By the age of fifteen, he had read everything he could find about Native Americans, and had grown so impatient with the limitations of the local public library that hed begun creating his own private one. His first purchase, in 1928, was a reprint of a seventeenth-century Christian primer written in Wampanoag, a language related to Penobscot. It cost him twenty-five cents. Sieberts father was a train inspector; his mother, a savvy stock investor. They wanted him to become a doctor, and so he did. It was when he entered medical school, at the University of Pennsylvania, that his double life began. Siebert took the required courses in biochemistry and immunology, but he spent his free time learning about indigenous North American languages. He took regular trips up the East Coast, to attend lectures at Columbia, with Franz Boas, widely considered the pioneer of modern anthropology, and at Yale, with Edward Sapir, a founder of ethnolinguistics. At the University of Pennsylvania, Frank Speck, an anthropologist specializing in the Algonquian and Iroquoian peoples, nurtured Sieberts special interest in Penobscot. Speck kept office hours in a book-lined neo-Gothic chapel filled with living snakes and lizards, and was known to shoot arrows from a crossbow into the door. Speck had visited Indian Island in 1907 and collected Penobscot stories from Newell Lyon, a speaker in his seventies. (At the time, linguists called such Native collaborators informants, as though in admission that their work involved a kind of treachery.) The stories chronicled the exploits of Gluskabe, a shamanic hunter and trickster whose grandmother, a woodchuck, teaches him how to survive in the wilderness using interspecies statecraft. The Gluskabe stories were passed down in the community like heirlooms. Sometimes one family would take a particular narrative into its care, as if for safekeeping, and another family would have to ask for permission to relay it. In 1918, eleven years after his first trip to Indian Island, Speck published the stories in an academic journal. In Specks office, Siebert memorized Penobscot vocabulary while keeping an eye on a white fox, which hid behind a leaking radiator. To learn the languages grammar and make his first attempts at a Penobscot orthography, Siebert pored over Specks transcriptions of Lyons Gluskabe stories, marking up their margins in green and red ink. Like the patients Siebert was learning to treat, the language was frail and suffering. In a letter he sent at that time, he described Penobscot as nearly dead in all respects. Siebert joined the Linguistic Society of America; he collected stories and collated word lists from Native American communities in Ontario, Massachusetts, Wisconsin, and Long Island, some of them on the brink of disappearing. He wrote for peer-reviewed linguistic journals, presented at conferences, and did field work in the summertime. Once, during a medical internship, he sold his blood in order to buy a rare edition of an eighteenth-century indigenous-language guide. But linguistics remained a hobby. In 1956, he married Marion Paterson, an administrative assistant at a Pittsburgh hospital where he had taken a job. Marion, a decade his junior, had grown up in the area during the Depression. Their honeymoon, which he planned, was a driving tour of Civil War battleground sites. The next year, they moved to Vermont, where Siebert worked as a pathologist and as a regional medical examiner. Siebert and Marions first daughter, Kathy, was born in 1958; their second, Stephanie, in 1961. Lets see . . . Ill do the green eggs . . . ham . . . sub the eggs for . . . hmm . . . Ill come back to that. Lets go ahead and sub hash browns for the ham . . . Do you prepare the potatoes on the same griddle as the eggs or the ham? Facebook Twitter Email Shopping Cartoon by Sara Lautman Both daughters told me that their parents marriage was troubled. Neither attempted to diagnose their father, but, like other people I spoke with, they described the kind of bizarre behavior that one might associate with a nervous breakdown. In Vermont, Siebert became neurotically frugal, eating food out of the trash and not allowing Marion to buy formula for the babies. As Marion nursed and cooked and cleaned, Siebert thought aloud, in a booming voice, about Custers Last Stand. They had screaming matches and physical altercations. Siebert once told a bookseller that he had tried to push Marion out of a moving car and that she, in turn, had cut his brake lines. The couple divorced in 1964, and that fall Siebert left Vermont without saying where he was going. For a time, he lived in Philadelphia, in a single-room-occupancy hotel. Marion and the girls returned to Pittsburgh to live with her family. Siebert never paid alimony or child support. Marion, who continued to wear her wedding ring and kept a framed photograph of Siebert and his microscope on a bookshelf, wanted to hire a detective to track him down, but she couldnt afford it. She had no idea that her husband had moved to Maine. Siebert bought a bungalow across the river from Indian Island and went to work. Preserving a hardly spoken oral language required innovative intervention. Of the two dozen fluent Penobscot speakers whom Siebert had started interviewing decades earlier, only a few were still alive, including Andrew Dana, who had learned Penobscot as a child by staying up past his bedtime and listening to his grandfather, a famous storyteller. (His family was close with Carol Danas, but she believes they were not related.) By 1968, Andrew Dana was in his seventies and sick. As he spoke, Siebert scribbled. Sieberts notebooks are filled with the old mans correctionsthe sounds that Siebert misheard, the words he misspelled. Siebert, who had left his medical career behind when he moved to Maine, supported himself with investments and with private and federal grants, which enabled him to hire a small team of assistants. In 1980, the National Endowment for the Humanities awarded him a large sum for the creation of a Penobscot dictionary that would provide scholarsnot speakerswith a better understanding of the language and culture. Ives Goddard, who curated the Smithsonians department of anthropology at the time, has described Siebert as clearly the most brilliant and most competent avocational linguist working on Native American languages that there has ever been, hands down. But Siebert was known on the reservation as a crank. He wandered around in stained shirts and suits shiny with wear. He monitored his bank account obsessively and subsisted on canned tuna and beans. His letters from the time, many of which run on for multiple pages, are written in a nearly illegible script and filled with omnidirectional vitriol. His targets included the C.I.A., the F.D.I.C., Keynesian economics, libraries, Brazil, fellow book collectors, African-Americans, and the twentieth century itself. He mocked Daniel Boone, for his poor spelling (like a four-year-old), and F.D.R., whom he referred to as Old Jelly Legs. Siebert seemed to spend a lot of time taking walks in a nearby graveyard, and he never had company. A neighborwhose newspaper Siebert read to avoid paying for his own subscriptionsometimes brought him dinner, but the food was seldom to Sieberts liking, and he was not shy about saying so. He left Maine only to buy rare books, and to conduct library research. Clarence Wolf, a Philadelphia-based bookseller, thought that Siebert was homeless on first meeting him. In the insular world of antiquarian book collecting, he came to be known as the Indian Man. A linguistic anthropologist who met Siebert in the seventies noted that, despite his rapidly expanding bibliographic collection, he was a scholar who trusted no scholar, and hence no products of scholarship. Siebert believed that his university-affiliated colleagues were at a contemptible remove from their supposed areas of expertise; he, meanwhile, was satisfied only to learn from primary sources. | Carol Dana is a member of the Penobscot Nation, one of five hundred and seventy-four Native American tribes recognized by the United States federal government. She is a self-taught linguist who learned most of what she knows from Frank Siebert, a former research assistant. | ctrlsum | 2 | https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2021/04/19/how-did-a-self-taught-linguist-come-to-own-an-indigenous-language | 0.199294 |
Why is Macron abolishing Frances school for the political class? | On Thursday 8 April, Emmanuel Macron announced the closure of the prestigious cole Nationale dAdministration, Frances elite school for turning out senior civil servants and politicians. The presidents announcement sounded familiar he had already pledged to reform the ENA, a school renowned for its conservatism and aversion to change, back in 2019 but this time its final: Macron said that the time had come to abolish an institution that is widely regarded as a symbol of elitism and inequality. With just a year until the next presidential election, Macron is neck and neck in the polls with Marine Le Pen. The ENA abolition looks, therefore, as if its part of a strategy to reconnect with the people. Its easy to forget, given the pandemic, but before France entered lockdown in March 2020, it had been experiencing the most sustained anti-elite movement for generations in the form of the gilets jaunes (yellow vests) protests. Macron has certainly has not forgotten this. The president does not want to dispense with the idea of an elite school altogether but to build something that allegedly works better. A new school called the Institut du Service Public, a kind of public management school, will replace the ENA. Unsurprisingly, Jean-Louis Debr, once a close ally of Jacques Chirac, declared that this was a populist measure (by which he meant it was pandering to public opinion). His father, Michel Debr, the first of Charles de Gaulles prime ministers, founded the ENA in 1945. Its aim was to train students drawn from all walks of life through entrance exams so jobs in the French civil service could be assigned on merit rather than wealth and personal background. In reality, the school turned out to be a close-knit club for the upper-class, rather than a force for democratisation. The elitist recruitment pattern has worsened over the years: by 2014, 70% of students came from the upper classes, as opposed to 45% in the 1950s. ENA graduates called narques land the best jobs in the civil service, but also in business and frontline politics. Alumni include several presidents, the past eight prime ministers and current CEOs of top business and banking firms. There is even a term, pantouflage (from the word for slippers), referring to the practice by which civil servants find lucrative work in the private sector the narques are emblematic of this tendency, which accentuates the public perception of an incestuous old boys network. One may think of narques as the French counterparts of Oxford PPE graduates. Insofar as they are both effectively finishing schools for the ruling class, the comparison makes sense, although the specifics are quite different. In the UK, private education and elite universities are a fact of life. In France, the ideology of republicanism which comes from the French Revolution insists on the notion of equality of treatment for all and on the delivery of state-of-the-art public services owned and run by the state. The ENA is a public institution whose funding almost wholly comes from the state. This makes the way it favours students with high economic and cultural capital not just embarrassing, but a seeming contradiction of the states republican ideals. To get in, candidates spend a year prior to applying to the school in a classe prparatoire, an extremely demanding course. The written exam (concours externe) tests a wide range of subjects and disciplines. Only a minority of candidates make it to the second round, which includes oral exams that essentially test their elocutionary skills. Then comes the dreaded grand oral, a long ordeal in front of a jury during which candidates are asked all kinds of puzzling and provocative questions designed to test their capacity to think on the spot. It all has the effect of giving richer candidates who have the right social skills the edge over candidates from more modest backgrounds. Once in the ENA, it is essential to graduate in the top 10%, if graduates want to be able to choose from the most prestigious roles in the French state. The rest may be assigned to mediocre positions. Former graduates often complain about the teaching, which has a reputation for being dull and conservative, and describe the institution as a bastion of upper-class snobbery. Back in 2006, Nicolas Sarkozy (who did not attend the ENA) mocked the sadist or idiot who had seen fit to include exam questions for ENA candidates about Madame de la Fayettes Princess of Clves, a 17th-century novel. Sarkozys mockery alluded to the idea that narques are trained to discuss subjects as varied as politics, economics, history, arts or literature but can do so in only a superficial manner. The modernisation of the ENA should therefore involve a comprehensive overhaul of the schools recruitment process and exam procedures, as well as a dramatic modernisation of the curriculum so it reflects the challenges of the real world. Only he knows. Though the reform may be welcome and necessary, it will probably not make the slightest difference to them: narques and ordinary citizens would carry on living on different planets. | Emmanuel Macron announced the closure of the prestigious cole Nationale dAdministration. The ENA is widely regarded as a symbol of elitism and inequality. A new school called the Institut du Service Public will replace the ENA. | pegasus | 1 | https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2021/apr/12/macron-abolishing-france-elitist-school-president-ena-french-voters | 0.163307 |
Why is Macron abolishing Frances school for the political class? | On Thursday 8 April, Emmanuel Macron announced the closure of the prestigious cole Nationale dAdministration, Frances elite school for turning out senior civil servants and politicians. The presidents announcement sounded familiar he had already pledged to reform the ENA, a school renowned for its conservatism and aversion to change, back in 2019 but this time its final: Macron said that the time had come to abolish an institution that is widely regarded as a symbol of elitism and inequality. With just a year until the next presidential election, Macron is neck and neck in the polls with Marine Le Pen. The ENA abolition looks, therefore, as if its part of a strategy to reconnect with the people. Its easy to forget, given the pandemic, but before France entered lockdown in March 2020, it had been experiencing the most sustained anti-elite movement for generations in the form of the gilets jaunes (yellow vests) protests. Macron has certainly has not forgotten this. The president does not want to dispense with the idea of an elite school altogether but to build something that allegedly works better. A new school called the Institut du Service Public, a kind of public management school, will replace the ENA. Unsurprisingly, Jean-Louis Debr, once a close ally of Jacques Chirac, declared that this was a populist measure (by which he meant it was pandering to public opinion). His father, Michel Debr, the first of Charles de Gaulles prime ministers, founded the ENA in 1945. Its aim was to train students drawn from all walks of life through entrance exams so jobs in the French civil service could be assigned on merit rather than wealth and personal background. In reality, the school turned out to be a close-knit club for the upper-class, rather than a force for democratisation. The elitist recruitment pattern has worsened over the years: by 2014, 70% of students came from the upper classes, as opposed to 45% in the 1950s. ENA graduates called narques land the best jobs in the civil service, but also in business and frontline politics. Alumni include several presidents, the past eight prime ministers and current CEOs of top business and banking firms. There is even a term, pantouflage (from the word for slippers), referring to the practice by which civil servants find lucrative work in the private sector the narques are emblematic of this tendency, which accentuates the public perception of an incestuous old boys network. One may think of narques as the French counterparts of Oxford PPE graduates. Insofar as they are both effectively finishing schools for the ruling class, the comparison makes sense, although the specifics are quite different. In the UK, private education and elite universities are a fact of life. In France, the ideology of republicanism which comes from the French Revolution insists on the notion of equality of treatment for all and on the delivery of state-of-the-art public services owned and run by the state. The ENA is a public institution whose funding almost wholly comes from the state. This makes the way it favours students with high economic and cultural capital not just embarrassing, but a seeming contradiction of the states republican ideals. To get in, candidates spend a year prior to applying to the school in a classe prparatoire, an extremely demanding course. The written exam (concours externe) tests a wide range of subjects and disciplines. Only a minority of candidates make it to the second round, which includes oral exams that essentially test their elocutionary skills. Then comes the dreaded grand oral, a long ordeal in front of a jury during which candidates are asked all kinds of puzzling and provocative questions designed to test their capacity to think on the spot. It all has the effect of giving richer candidates who have the right social skills the edge over candidates from more modest backgrounds. Once in the ENA, it is essential to graduate in the top 10%, if graduates want to be able to choose from the most prestigious roles in the French state. The rest may be assigned to mediocre positions. Former graduates often complain about the teaching, which has a reputation for being dull and conservative, and describe the institution as a bastion of upper-class snobbery. Back in 2006, Nicolas Sarkozy (who did not attend the ENA) mocked the sadist or idiot who had seen fit to include exam questions for ENA candidates about Madame de la Fayettes Princess of Clves, a 17th-century novel. Sarkozys mockery alluded to the idea that narques are trained to discuss subjects as varied as politics, economics, history, arts or literature but can do so in only a superficial manner. The modernisation of the ENA should therefore involve a comprehensive overhaul of the schools recruitment process and exam procedures, as well as a dramatic modernisation of the curriculum so it reflects the challenges of the real world. Only he knows. Though the reform may be welcome and necessary, it will probably not make the slightest difference to them: narques and ordinary citizens would carry on living on different planets. | Emmanuel Macron announced the closure of the prestigious cole Nationale dAdministration. The ENA is widely regarded as a symbol of elitism and inequality. The president does not want to dispense with the idea of an elite school altogether. A new school called the Institut du Service Public will replace the ENA. | pegasus | 2 | https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2021/apr/12/macron-abolishing-france-elitist-school-president-ena-french-voters | 0.213089 |
What Would A Sony Counterpunch To Xbox Game Pass Actually Look Like? | Horizon Forbidden West Sony This year, Microsoft has continued to make headlines with millions of new Xbox Game Pass subscribers, and big deals for launches on the service from Destiny 2: Beyond Light to Outriders to now the Sony-made MLB The Show 21. While Sony is still in a very strong position with the PS5 continuing to sell out at every turn, it stands to reason that Game Pass is becoming an irritant, and PS Now, with something like nine times fewer subscribers than Xbox Game Pass by last count, isnt getting the job done. This past week, former God of War director David Jaffe went on YouTube to say that everyone is underestimated PlayStations Jim Ryan and that a response to Game Pass is coming, in some form: We had the guy on the show yesterday that had made the petition to fire Jim Ryan and I was like, dude, thats way premature because Jim Ryan doesnt owe anybody, Sony doesnt owe anybody, the truth about whats coming and what their counterpunch to Game Pass isThere will be a response to Game Pass." The question, of course, is what that would actually look like. Obviously if Sony simply announced all first party games would launch day one on PlayStation Game Pass/PS Now, copying Xbox, that would be a huge deal. Its also extremely unlikely, given that Sony has previously said they dont see that as sustainable for their big-budget games, and they do not want to forgo tens of millions of box sales for series like Horizon, God of War and others. More First Party Games On PC Xbox has been doing this for a while now, but Sony has seemed more open to bringing its first party hits to PC. Granted, this is happening usually years after the fact, but I could see Sony starting to bend and bringing more of its first party games to release on PC more quickly, bringing that aspect of things on par with Xbox without sacrificing too much. Returnal SIE Select First Party Games Launching On PS Game Pass While its hard to imagine say, Horizon Forbidden West launching on a PlayStation Game Pass on day one, its possible Sony becomes more open to doing this with other games, showing PlayStation players that its worth signing up for the service. I could see for instance, Ratchet and Clank as a potential middleground first party release on a service like that, or it could be a way to debut new IPs to get them an expanded playerbase like Returnal. Merge PS Now And PS Plus With just a few million subscribers to PS Now after all this time, and PS Plus being effectively mandatory for most PlayStation owners, I could see Sony benefitting from losing the PS Now brand entirely and just rolling up both services together as a way to undercut Xbox, which still separates XBL and Game Pass unless you combine them into a somewhat expensive bundle. PS Nows library is solid, and PS Plus is constantly adding free monthly games that are always hugely attractive, along with things like the PS Plus Collection, a massive list of free, first party hits. With Now failing to take off in a meaningful capacity, I might just blend these two into one streamlined offering. All of this does raise the question though, is there anything Sony really can realistically do to match Game Pass if theyre not going to A) launch every first party game there and B) do massively expensive deals with third parties to launch games there, which are the two main staples of Xbox Game Pass, and why everyone is so drawn to it. Both of those ideas seem just too costly for Sony, and while they can improve their current services, I remain skeptical about what that will actually look like in the end. Follow me on Twitter, YouTube, Facebook and Instagram. Subscribe to my free weekly content round-up newsletter, God Rolls. Pick up my sci-fi novels the Herokiller series, and The Earthborn Trilogy, which is also on audiobook. | Sony is expected to respond to Xbox Game Pass with a counterpunch. Horizon Forbidden West could be the first game on the service. | ctrlsum | 0 | https://www.forbes.com/sites/paultassi/2021/04/12/what-would-a-sony-counterpunch-to-xbox-game-pass-actually-look-like/ | 0.211297 |
What Would A Sony Counterpunch To Xbox Game Pass Actually Look Like? | Horizon Forbidden West Sony This year, Microsoft has continued to make headlines with millions of new Xbox Game Pass subscribers, and big deals for launches on the service from Destiny 2: Beyond Light to Outriders to now the Sony-made MLB The Show 21. While Sony is still in a very strong position with the PS5 continuing to sell out at every turn, it stands to reason that Game Pass is becoming an irritant, and PS Now, with something like nine times fewer subscribers than Xbox Game Pass by last count, isnt getting the job done. This past week, former God of War director David Jaffe went on YouTube to say that everyone is underestimated PlayStations Jim Ryan and that a response to Game Pass is coming, in some form: We had the guy on the show yesterday that had made the petition to fire Jim Ryan and I was like, dude, thats way premature because Jim Ryan doesnt owe anybody, Sony doesnt owe anybody, the truth about whats coming and what their counterpunch to Game Pass isThere will be a response to Game Pass." The question, of course, is what that would actually look like. Obviously if Sony simply announced all first party games would launch day one on PlayStation Game Pass/PS Now, copying Xbox, that would be a huge deal. Its also extremely unlikely, given that Sony has previously said they dont see that as sustainable for their big-budget games, and they do not want to forgo tens of millions of box sales for series like Horizon, God of War and others. More First Party Games On PC Xbox has been doing this for a while now, but Sony has seemed more open to bringing its first party hits to PC. Granted, this is happening usually years after the fact, but I could see Sony starting to bend and bringing more of its first party games to release on PC more quickly, bringing that aspect of things on par with Xbox without sacrificing too much. Returnal SIE Select First Party Games Launching On PS Game Pass While its hard to imagine say, Horizon Forbidden West launching on a PlayStation Game Pass on day one, its possible Sony becomes more open to doing this with other games, showing PlayStation players that its worth signing up for the service. I could see for instance, Ratchet and Clank as a potential middleground first party release on a service like that, or it could be a way to debut new IPs to get them an expanded playerbase like Returnal. Merge PS Now And PS Plus With just a few million subscribers to PS Now after all this time, and PS Plus being effectively mandatory for most PlayStation owners, I could see Sony benefitting from losing the PS Now brand entirely and just rolling up both services together as a way to undercut Xbox, which still separates XBL and Game Pass unless you combine them into a somewhat expensive bundle. PS Nows library is solid, and PS Plus is constantly adding free monthly games that are always hugely attractive, along with things like the PS Plus Collection, a massive list of free, first party hits. With Now failing to take off in a meaningful capacity, I might just blend these two into one streamlined offering. All of this does raise the question though, is there anything Sony really can realistically do to match Game Pass if theyre not going to A) launch every first party game there and B) do massively expensive deals with third parties to launch games there, which are the two main staples of Xbox Game Pass, and why everyone is so drawn to it. Both of those ideas seem just too costly for Sony, and while they can improve their current services, I remain skeptical about what that will actually look like in the end. Follow me on Twitter, YouTube, Facebook and Instagram. Subscribe to my free weekly content round-up newsletter, God Rolls. Pick up my sci-fi novels the Herokiller series, and The Earthborn Trilogy, which is also on audiobook. | Sony is expected to respond to Xbox Game Pass with a counterpunch. Horizon Forbidden West could be the first game to launch on Game Pass. Sony could also merge PS Now and PS Plus as a way to undercut Xbox. | ctrlsum | 1 | https://www.forbes.com/sites/paultassi/2021/04/12/what-would-a-sony-counterpunch-to-xbox-game-pass-actually-look-like/ | 0.377 |
What Would A Sony Counterpunch To Xbox Game Pass Actually Look Like? | Horizon Forbidden West Sony This year, Microsoft has continued to make headlines with millions of new Xbox Game Pass subscribers, and big deals for launches on the service from Destiny 2: Beyond Light to Outriders to now the Sony-made MLB The Show 21. While Sony is still in a very strong position with the PS5 continuing to sell out at every turn, it stands to reason that Game Pass is becoming an irritant, and PS Now, with something like nine times fewer subscribers than Xbox Game Pass by last count, isnt getting the job done. This past week, former God of War director David Jaffe went on YouTube to say that everyone is underestimated PlayStations Jim Ryan and that a response to Game Pass is coming, in some form: We had the guy on the show yesterday that had made the petition to fire Jim Ryan and I was like, dude, thats way premature because Jim Ryan doesnt owe anybody, Sony doesnt owe anybody, the truth about whats coming and what their counterpunch to Game Pass isThere will be a response to Game Pass." The question, of course, is what that would actually look like. Obviously if Sony simply announced all first party games would launch day one on PlayStation Game Pass/PS Now, copying Xbox, that would be a huge deal. Its also extremely unlikely, given that Sony has previously said they dont see that as sustainable for their big-budget games, and they do not want to forgo tens of millions of box sales for series like Horizon, God of War and others. More First Party Games On PC Xbox has been doing this for a while now, but Sony has seemed more open to bringing its first party hits to PC. Granted, this is happening usually years after the fact, but I could see Sony starting to bend and bringing more of its first party games to release on PC more quickly, bringing that aspect of things on par with Xbox without sacrificing too much. Returnal SIE Select First Party Games Launching On PS Game Pass While its hard to imagine say, Horizon Forbidden West launching on a PlayStation Game Pass on day one, its possible Sony becomes more open to doing this with other games, showing PlayStation players that its worth signing up for the service. I could see for instance, Ratchet and Clank as a potential middleground first party release on a service like that, or it could be a way to debut new IPs to get them an expanded playerbase like Returnal. Merge PS Now And PS Plus With just a few million subscribers to PS Now after all this time, and PS Plus being effectively mandatory for most PlayStation owners, I could see Sony benefitting from losing the PS Now brand entirely and just rolling up both services together as a way to undercut Xbox, which still separates XBL and Game Pass unless you combine them into a somewhat expensive bundle. PS Nows library is solid, and PS Plus is constantly adding free monthly games that are always hugely attractive, along with things like the PS Plus Collection, a massive list of free, first party hits. With Now failing to take off in a meaningful capacity, I might just blend these two into one streamlined offering. All of this does raise the question though, is there anything Sony really can realistically do to match Game Pass if theyre not going to A) launch every first party game there and B) do massively expensive deals with third parties to launch games there, which are the two main staples of Xbox Game Pass, and why everyone is so drawn to it. Both of those ideas seem just too costly for Sony, and while they can improve their current services, I remain skeptical about what that will actually look like in the end. Follow me on Twitter, YouTube, Facebook and Instagram. Subscribe to my free weekly content round-up newsletter, God Rolls. Pick up my sci-fi novels the Herokiller series, and The Earthborn Trilogy, which is also on audiobook. | Sony is expected to respond to Xbox Game Pass with a counterpunch. Horizon Forbidden West could be the first game to launch on Game Pass. Sony could also merge PS Now and PS Plus as a way to undercut Xbox, which still separates XBL and Game Pass unless you combine them together. | ctrlsum | 2 | https://www.forbes.com/sites/paultassi/2021/04/12/what-would-a-sony-counterpunch-to-xbox-game-pass-actually-look-like/ | 0.434849 |
Could Virginia Tech CB Caleb Farley be a target for the Raiders at No. 17? | With Jon Gruden entering the fourth year of his ten-year contract, its safe to say he has some job security. That allows him (and Mike Mayock) to be more aggressive and bold in free agency and in the draft knowing their jobs arent on the line. Over the past few years, weve seen the Raiders make a few shocking picks, such as drafting Clelin Ferrell at No. 4 (2019) and Damon Arnette at No. 19 (2020). If they wanted to take on some risk in the hopes of getting an elite talent, the Raiders might consider Virginia Tech cornerback Caleb Farley. A back injury on top of opting out of 2020 season has caused him to fall some in the draft. Farley was once thought of as a potential top-10 pick and maybe the first defender off the board. But now, there is a chance that he could fall into the late teens and into the range of the Raiders. In a recent mock draft by Sam Monson of Pro Football Focus, he actually mocked Farley to the Raiders as he believes it would be the ideal fit for him in Gus Bradleys Cover-3 defense. Here is a snippet of his thoughts on the potential pairing: Arguably the best corner available when healthy, Caleb Farley has been rapidly slipping down draft boards from a borderline top-10 pick at his peak to somewhere in the bottom third of the round, according to PFFs Mock Draft Simulator. Farley dealt with multiple back issues during his college career, and that will always scare teams, but if he checks out medically (and he reportedly did at the medical re-checks in Indianapolis), then the Raiders are the kind of team that would fall in love with his physical tools. I have never seen a corner with the kind of recovery speed and burst to the football that Farley has. Those are traits the Raiders above most teams would find it very difficult to pass up. If healthy, Farley would immediately be the teams best cornerback as he has a rare blend of size, speed and the ability to take away the football. If the Raiders want to gamble on an incredible talent, Farley wouldnt be the worst pick. Dont be surprised if a team in the late teens, such as the Raiders, stop Farleys fall. Hes just too good of a player at his peak to last much longer than that. | Virginia Tech cornerback Caleb Farley was once thought of as a potential top-10 pick and maybe the first defender off the board. Now there is a chance that he could fall into the late teens and into the range of the Raiders. | pegasus | 1 | https://sports.yahoo.com/could-virginia-tech-cb-caleb-123251404.html?src=rss | 0.170007 |
What key moments stand out for each lead acting nominee? | It takes a fully embodied performance to earn an Academy Award nomination. But deep inside those heightened performances lies one critical moment that stays with viewers and voters alike and elevates the actor into being worthy of the industrys greatest honor: The Oscar. Heres what they had to say. Viola Davis, Ma Raineys Black Bottom Key scene: Ma Rainey (Davis) goes through a rainbow of emotions while declaring that the white people around her treat her like an old whore. Advertisement Whats so special: She starts out as a woman used to being in charge, then the jealousy erupts and it becomes rage and hurt, says director George C. Wolfe. Then it turns into loveliness and wonder and depth of caring. Youre seeing this kaleidoscope of who Ma Rainey is, and its startling and deeply moving. Youre inside the anger and fragility. Andra Day, The United States vs. Billie Holiday Andra Day in The United States vs. Billie Holiday for key scenes story. Key scene: While speaking with a journalist, Billie (Day) realizes shes fighting a lost cause. Whats so special: The scene was shot nine months after principal photography ended, and Day had to reenter the role seamlessly. We didnt want to play her as passive, says director Lee Daniels. This is the turning point of Billies descent into death, almost giving up. Its almost like working with an alien to work with Andra she was really able to keep it in the zone like that. (Hulu) Key scene: While speaking with a journalist, Billie (Day) realizes shes fighting a lost cause. Advertisement Whats so special: The scene was shot nine months after principal photography ended, and Day had to reenter the role seamlessly. We didnt want to play her as passive, says director Lee Daniels. This is the turning point of Billies descent into death, almost giving up. Its almost like working with an alien to work with Andra she was really able to keep it in the zone like that. Vanessa Kirby, Pieces of a Woman Shia LeBeouf as Sean and Vanessa Kirby as Martha in Pieces of a Woman. (Benjamin Loeb / Netflix) Key scene: Martha (Kirby) delivers her baby at home, but the child dies shortly after being born. Advertisement Whats so special: "[It] serves as a reference point throughout the entire story, director Kornl Mundrucz writes in an email. It was especially important to me that Martha doesnt only go through the single most tragic moment of her entire life, but she also experiences the purest form of love she has ever known. Though she lost a child, shes always a mother to the lost one, that love still remains inside her. Frances McDormand, Nomadland FOR KEY SCENES: Frances McDormand in Nomadland. Key scene: Ferns (McDormand) van, which she lives in, has broken down. The mechanics tell her its better to sell it and buy a new one than fix it, but she wont hear of it. Whats so special: She sighs, and theres this silence before she says, Its my home, and in that silence is resignation and quiet desperation and also hope for a better tomorrow, says producer Peter Spears. The whole movie is in that sigh. Shes completely bare in that moment. But shes not going to be defeated. (Searchlight Pictures) Key scene: Ferns (McDormand) van, which she lives in, has broken down. The mechanics tell her its better to sell it and buy a new one than fix it, but she wont hear of it. Advertisement Whats so special: She sighs, and theres this silence before she says, Its my home, and in that silence is resignation and quiet desperation and also hope for a better tomorrow, says producer Peter Spears. The whole movie is in that sigh. Shes completely bare in that moment. But shes not going to be defeated. Carey Mulligan, Promising Young Woman FOR KEY SCENES: Adam Brody and Carey Mulligan in Promising Young Woman. Key scene: A drunk Cassie (Mulligan) goes home with an at-first helpful man (Adam Brody) who turns out to be predatory. Whats so special: This scene is the most deceptive one in the movie, says writer-director Emerald Fennell. Carey is playing two people: Cassie, who is meticulous and a planner and an incredibly drunk girl at the wrong place and the wrong time. What she does so brilliantly is you see the little decisions Cassie is making. She cleverly exists in the corner. The men trap themselves. (Merie Weismiller Wallace/Focus Features) Key scene: A drunk Cassie (Mulligan) goes home with an at-first helpful man (Adam Brody) who turns out to be predatory. Whats so special: This scene is the most deceptive one in the movie, says writer-director Emerald Fennell. Carey is playing two people: Cassie, who is meticulous and a planner and an incredibly drunk girl at the wrong place and the wrong time. What she does so brilliantly is you see the little decisions Cassie is making. She cleverly exists in the corner. The men trap themselves. Advertisement Riz Ahmed, Sound of Metal Riz Ahmed in a scene from Sound of Metal. (Amazon Studios) Key scene: Recently deaf Ruben (Ahmed) gets a cochlear implant, which causes his mentor and the leader of the deaf community, Joe (Paul Raci), to kick him out. Whats so special: The whole film pivots on that scene, says director Darius Marder. The energy was so intense coming into this scene; [Ruben] was looking for a fix for his fears. He walked away from that language and that culture and knew hed never have it again. It was a real goodbye. Advertisement Chadwick Boseman, Ma Raineys Black Bottom Chadwick Boseman as Levee in MA RAINEYS BLACK BOTTOM(2020). DP Tobias Schliesslers favorite scene in when Chadwick Boseman, playing the talented yet distracted trumpeter Levee,"recounts the rape of his mother and murder of his father to his bandmates. Cr. David Lee/NETFLIX (David Lee/NETFLIX/David Lee/NETFLIX) Key scene: Levee (Boseman) explodes with rage and hurt that stems from the brutal loss of his mother. Whats so special: This is one of two blues arias director George C. Wolfe says Boseman has in the film. His anger flows against [bandmate] Cutler and over God and the power of God, and Levees rage because of what he witnessed when he was a little boy. Chadwick exposed [Levees] vulnerability. It becomes this performance that shifts between unbridled rage and deep hurt. Its a quicksilver transformation. Advertisement Anthony Hopkins, The Father Anthony Hopkins as Anthony in The Father, for key scenes. (Ben Smithard/Sony Pictures Classics) Key scene: In a nursing home, Anthony (Hopkins) asks a nurse his name. When she tells him, he cries for his mother to save him. Whats so special: I wanted the film to lead to this place, says director Florian Zeller. Anthony [the actor] thought of a lullaby his mother used to sing to him, and I saw that memory destroying him in front of us. He traveled through time and became not a child, but the child he was. He was really crying for his mother. Advertisement Gary Oldman, Mank Key scene: Mank (Oldman) stumbles drunkenly into bed, and as his wife (Tuppence Middleton) undresses him, he bemoans that he hasnt made a mark on the world, by saying, I should have done something by now. Whats so special: It always comes down to the simplest thing, says producer Eric Roth. Hes of an age where he should have accomplished something, but he hasnt found the right vehicle. Garys performance is understated hes such a smart actor, recognizing his characters flaws. And theres a sadness to it. Steven Yeun, Minari Advertisement Steven Yeun in Minari. (A24) Key scene: Jacob (Yeun) and his wife, Monica (Yeri Han), argue in their small trailer home after a tornado threat passes, their hopes and fears exposed in front of their children. Whats so special: This was an incredibly nuanced scene, says producer Christina Oh. Steven was conscious of not characterizing a performance of our [collective Korean] parents but putting himself in his own parents shoes, so to speak. He absolutely crushes it. In that scene, we are all reminded how while our upbringings are different, what we went through emotionally in families is similar. | Viola Davis, Andra Day, Frances McDormand and Shia LeBeouf are all up for best lead acting Oscar. Here's what they had to say about their key moments in their films. They also shared their thoughts on how they earned the Oscar nomination. | ctrlsum | 2 | https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/awards/story/2021-04-12/lead-actor-actress-nominees-key-film-moments | 0.112343 |
Whats Better, The New M1 MacBooks Or The Microsoft Surface? | Microsoft Microsoft Over the last five months, I have spent an immense amount of time using the new Apple M1 MacBooks. I published an out-of-the-gate review of the M1 MacBook last November using my productivity tools. I then followed it up with a AAA gaming review and finally an Intel Evo PC vs. MacBook M1 review. I have spent much time evaluating the strengths and weaknesses of M1 compared to its competitors, but one comparison I received requests on was comparing the Microsoft Surface devices against Apple's M1 MacBooks. Surface is the most closely positioned to Apple with its premium-only device lines for the Windows notebook ecosystem. Most end-users view Apple in the same vein as Surface in terms of quality, features, and performance, so I got the request, and there is no better way to find out than to evaluate the devices head-to-head. While I know this is a constantly moving target as Apple and Microsoft will be adding new devices, you must pause and compare at some point. I made sure to update my M1-based MacBook Air and MacBook Pro to the latest software stacks, and I will point out that Microsoft did provide me with a Microsoft Surface Laptop 3 and a Microsoft Surface Book 3 to review. These two Surface systems are the latest's and greatest from the Surface team and will provide an excellent comparison to Apple's M1 Macs. I have spent extensive time with Surface Devices over the past three generations to be transparent and I've literally used every Surface that's ever been built except for its desktop. Apple M1 Apple Apple MacBook Air M1 versus Microsoft Surface Laptop 3 First up is the new Microsoft Surface Laptop 3 compared to the Apple MacBook Air M1. Let's dig in. App and peripheral compatibility- Surface Laptop 3 I tested many apps, including Microsoft Teams, Outlook, Microsoft Word, PowerPoint, Microsoft Excel, Apple Safari, Google Chrome, Gmail, Microsoft Edge, BofA, Instagram, and Facebook. Unsurprisingly, I didn't have any application or peripheral issues while using the Microsoft Surface Laptop 3. That was the case because many of my go-to apps are developed by Microsoft or that they were written for the X86 instruction set. All the applications that were written natively for the MacBook Air, like Outlook and Apple apps, ran smoothly, quickly with no crashes. I wasn't surprised that the M1 optimized applications ran very well. What I worry about is not fully knowing what applications will work and which won't. A formalized list of functioning applications would help a lot, but Apple hasn't provided anything like this. There isn't a full-proof way to verify that your go-to apps will work on an M1 MacBook. With over 200+ popular applications not supported on M1, there is a good chance you may be missing some apps you currently use on another PC. If you are considering an M1 MacBook, it may be worth your time to look at the list of applications that are not currently supported here. You will need to evaluate if the apps that fit your use case are available on M1. Theoretically, one can run iOS apps on the M1 MacBook. At first glance, that seems awesome, but there's a catch- the ISV must enable that capability. Several applications are not available in the Apple App store like BofA, Gmail, Instagram, and Facebook, to name a few, so in my opinion, it mutes the benefit of running iOS apps. Check to make sure your apps are available on the new Macs. I will say I do enjoy the instant connection to my iPhone and the easy transition to Apple Music and the podcast app on the MacBook Air. In terms of peripherals, I tested one of my favorite mouses, the Logitech G305. Sadly, the Logitech G305 is a USB-A mouse that works on my Surface Book 3 but won't work on the MacBook Pro without a USB-A to USB-C adapter. I use different webcams, gaming headphones, and portable SSDs, and I have no idea what software is supported and what isn't with M1. For example, I tested the new Samsung SSD T7 Touch drive with a fingerprint sensor built for an added layer of security. The application was supported on Mac, but it didn't work. This issue rendered the fingerprint security useless on the drive. When I first reviewed the M1 Macs, I had problems with Logitech's webcam software; the issue is now fixed. If I would have bought that peripheral specifically for pairing with my MacBook, it would have been a waste of money due to compatibility issues. I believe Apple will continue to add support for peripheral apps, but you will have to do some digging to see if your specific peripheral apps are currently supported or planned to be in the future. Now, there is no official Apple list. The best applications list I have found is here. But unfortunately does not include peripherals. I have tested M1's ability to play AAA games extensively. The issue that I have with M1 isn't the raw benchmark performance but instead the game combability. M1 plays supported AAA games surprisingly well for an ultrathin machine. For Windows PCs, Steam on Windows houses the world's most popular games and makes it exceptionally easy for users to download games and play them on its devices. It isn't that simple Steam for Mac. There are many compatibility issues, and a lot of the most popular games aren't available on Mac which is a shame considering how well M1 graphics perform. Games like PUBG, Cyberpunk 2077, Tom Clancy Rainbow Six Siege, Apex Legends, Call of Duty Warzone, and Doom Eternal are not available for macOS, a bummer. There are a good number of popular games available for macOS like Shadow of the Tomb Raider, Dota 2, Sid Meier's: Civ VI, Total War: WARHAMMER II, Middle Earth: Shadow of Mordor, Fortnite, Deus Ex: Mankind Divided, World of Warcraft, and Minecraft to name a few. Even with those games considered, there isn't nearly as much support for macOS games when compared to what is available for Windows. Consider that if you're purchasing a Mac for gaming. The best list of supported and unsupported games that I have found is here. Its be great if Apple would provide a list. Display, Touchscreen, and Pen- Surface Laptop 3 We know that the MacBook Air M1 and the MacBook Pro M1 don't come with touchscreens. I have hypothesized that this is likely because the company doesn't want to eat into its iPad sales, and early on, there was a thickness penalty. While the MacBook Air lacks a touch screen, the Microsoft Surface Laptop 3 continues the Surface legacy of high-quality touch screens across its devices. The touchscreen on the Surface Laptop 3 performs in all the ways that I needed a touch screen to function. It is responsive to the touch, whether using my fingertip or using the optional Surface Pen. I like to use the touchscreen for scrolling through web pages and articles and occasionally using the Surface Pen to sign contracts in DocuSign. I believe some users really appreciate pen for navigating even on Laptop, especially customers with accessibility needs that may use both touch and pen for improved screen interaction/manipulation. While the MacBook Air doesn't offer a touch screen, this is something the Surface Laptop 3 offers, and it performs well. If you want Apple touch and a pen, then get an iPad. Another display consideration is that the Surface Laptop 3 comes in a 3:2 aspect ratio compared to the 16:10 aspect ratio of the MacBook Air. The aspect ratio boils down to increased screen visibility on the Surface Laptop 3 when compared to the MacBook Air due to 13.5 size and 3:2 ratio. The high-resolution touchscreen for me is an excellent value add for my use case. The MacBook Air M1 lacking a touchscreen isn't because Apple lacks the technology to implement it, but rather a business decision that I tend to disagree with and something that potential customers must overlook. Both displays are high quality. Image Credit: Microsoft.com Style options- Surface Laptop 3 Color doesn't matter as much to me on a system but having options is always nice. The Surface Laptop 3 comes in many color options, including Sandstone, Matte Black, Cobalt Blue, and Platinum. Platinum is known as the iconic Surface color wave. The Platinum color exudes a highly premium look and feel, and I have always preferred it on my Surface devices. There are also three color options available for the MacBook Air M1, including Space Gray, Gold, and Silver. My MacBook Air M1 came in the Space Gray option, which I enjoyed. It seems that Apple took more of a reserved approach with its color waves on the MacBook Air. Two of the color are similar (Silver and Gray), and when you consider the flashy and unique colors of Sandstone and Cobalt Blue that Surface offers, I like to have more differentiated color options. Users also can customize the keyboard and trackpad area on the Surface Laptop 3 with an Alcantara fabric or stick with the metal finish. Alcantara doesnt get enough credit, but if youre unfamiliar with it, its the soft yet durable material used in super-cars like Lamborghinis and Porsches. The MacBook Air and the Surface Laptop 3 both have premium finish options, but when both systems come with premium finishes, the more options available, I think, the better. Theres also the choice of screen size. While I know that Apple currently has Intel versions of its 16 Air, it doesnt have that yet in M1 flavor. Surface offers both 13.5 and 15 with the same processor brands and architectures. Camera- Tie The MacBook Air and the Surface Laptop 3 both sport a 720P resolution front-facing camera. I tested them both out on Microsoft Teams and Zoom, and I will say there were not many noticeable differences between them. The Surface Laptop 3 seemed to be a little sharper and was slightly better in low-light situations at night. If you're looking for useable performance in ideal lighting, either camera will work for photos and video conferencing. Ports- Surface Laptop 3 (honorable mention for MBA with Thunderbolt) Ports and types of ports matter to me as an analyst and I think most users, especially pros. I use many peripherals and an external display to get maximum productivity out of a notebook. The MacBook Air comes with two ports, with one dedicated to power, meaning I really only have one open port. Both ports are Thunderbolt compatible, and the system additionally has a 3.5mm headphone jack. Thunderbolt does have some good performance advantages compared to USB-C, which is good news for the MacBook Air. The Surface Laptop 3 comes with USB-C, capable of transferring data at 20Gbps, while Thunderbolt can transfer data 2x faster at 40Gbps. When you consider that Thunderbolt uses the same port as USB-C, there are no disadvantages to equipping a Thunderbolt system but cost. The MacBook will require an external adapter for my use case, and I suspect that will be an issue for many users. One problem I did run across while testing is that M1 only supports one external display natively. I rigged more external displays with a 3rd party DisplayLink driver on the M1, but its not supported by Apple and doesnt support all the features a native display adapter down. When I use a notebook in what I call desktop-mode, I often use two 15"- 17 external displays to improve my productivity. It was disappointing to find out that M1 only supported a single native external display, but this could get better with Macs' next generation. The Surface Laptop 3 isn't exactly packed full of I/O, but it is undoubtedly a step up compared to the MacBook Air. The Surface Laptop 3 comes with 1 USB-C, 1 USB-A, and a 3.5mm headphone jack. One of the main differences is a Surface power port used to charge the device, keeping two ports free while the system charges. The Surface also has the extra USB-A power port on the power adapter. I like what Microsoft is doing by including legacy USB-A and USB-C. Many of my older peripherals are USB-A, and it is nice to have for the time being. I don't expect it to stay on the Surface devices for long, but I think it makes sense for now. Apple M1 Apple Weight- Tie Weight isn't typically a big issue for me when dealing with 13" notebooks, but I would generally say the lighter, the better. The Surface Laptop 3 weighs 2.84 pounds, and the MacBook Air M1 weighs 2.80 pounds. When I was using these systems, I didn't notice any difference in weight. The Surface Laptop 3 is also around 7% thinner than the MacBook Air and MacBook Pro. You shouldn't be worried about the weight or slimness of either of these systems. Login- Surface Laptop 3 Having the ability to login instantly with facial Windows Hello is something that I use daily (hourly) but don't appreciate enough until I don't have it anymore. I set up Windows Hello on my Surface Laptop 3 immediately, and it is the quickest way for me to log in to any device. Sure, I don't mind using passwords, pins, and fingerprints if need be, but I rely on instant face login a lot, and it performs flawlessly on my Surface Devices. MacBook's, on the other, don't offer an instant face login feature which, in my opinion, is a big miss, especially when considering that I use FaceID on my iPhone every day. Apple's technology is there; I don't understand why it doesn't implement it on its MacBook devices. When I use MacBooks, I usually opt for using the built-in fingerprint sensor and use Touch ID. It isn't nearly as convenient as Windows Hello, but it works quickly with high accuracy. Regardless, I would love to see FaceID or something similar implemented into upcoming MacBook systems. Performance & Battery Life- MacBook Air M1 with Arm ISA native apps My productivity use case typically includes running many Office 365 apps simultaneously, doing web research on 10+ Edge browser instances, and video conferencing on Teams, Zoom, and Webex. Neither one of these systems struggled when I was working throughout the day. Teams was sometimes wonky on the Mac which I attribute to it being x86. The Office 365 apps still feel a little smoother on the Surface Laptop 3, which I cannot explain and shouldnt be, but the MacBook Air performed well without any noise as it doesn't have a fan. The beta version of the Office 365 M1-optimized apps had improved the user experience tremendously compared to when M1 first launched. In terms of battery life, while I was using the Surface Laptop 3, I was getting around 9-10 hours of battery life which was enough for a full days' worth of work. A strength of the MacBook Air with M1 is the battery life on native, Arm apps. I could go a couple of days without charging the system, and on a typical workday, the MacBook Air would easily last over 10 hours. They key to getting the best battery life is to make sure the display is low and only using Arm-native apps. When I cranked the Mac and Surface to what looked like the same nits, the Mac trailed off considerably. Apple MacBook Pro versus Microsoft Surface Book 3 Now let's look at the new Microsoft Surface Book 3 compared to the Apple MacBook Pro M1. My Surface Book 3 came in the 13.5" configuration and is also available in a 15" design. The MacBook Pro M1 came in a traditional 13" format. App & Peripheral Compatibility Surface Book 3 It's no secret that the new M1 Macs generally support a smaller number of popular applications and peripherals compared to its Windows-based counterparts. My go-to applications for productivity typically include Microsoft Teams, Outlook, Word, PowerPoint, Excel, Safari, Google Chrome, Microsoft Edge, Instagram, Twitter, Messenger, and Facebook. My Surface Book 3 supported and ran all these browsers and applications except for Safari. On my MacBook Pro, I have good support for Microsoft applications, but there is skewed support for other apps. For instance, I can't download Instagram or Facebook from the app store, but I can download Messenger and Twitter. I can hook up multi 4K external monitors to the Surface Book 3. The new MacBook's with M1 will only support a singular, native external display which I assume is a silicon limitation. In contrast, the Intel-based Microsoft Surface devices can support multiple 4K external monitors on a single PC. For content creators, screen real-estate is crucial. The list of peripherals for me stayed the same, including the Logitech G305 mouse, which will need a USB-A to USB-C adapter to be able to use. If you have USB-A peripherals, I would recommend picking up an adapter or even a USB hub beforehand and saving some time. I have several different gaming headphones, external SSD's, and webcams that I could pair with my MacBook Pro, but I don't know what is compatible and what isn't on the M1. I tested the new Samsung SSD T7 Touch drive, and even though the application was available on Mac, it didn't work. That left an extra layer of fingerprint security pretty much useless. Some apps may work flawlessly, and some may not, but there are very few ways of knowing beforehand. It is worth checking out what apps work for your use case before purchasing a MacBook based on M1. You can look at some of the supported and unsupported applications here. Id love to see Apple create a site that showed what work and what doesnt on the M1. In terms of game support, Steam for Windows is the most popular game store that exists. It is effortless to download AAA and eSports games from Steam, and it's what I have used for years. There is a Mac version of Steam, but the game titles supported are a much smaller subset than Steam on Windows. When I tested a large swath of AAA games on the MacBook Pro M1, many popular games were available for macOS via Steam. The games I tried included Shadow of the Tomb Raider, Dota 2, Sid Meier's: Civ VI, Empire of Sin, Total War: WARHAMMER II, Middle Earth: Shadow of Mordor, Deus Ex: Mankind Divided, World of Warcraft, Minecraft, Firewatch, and Subnautica. Although I could test many games, some of the most popular games on Steam were not available for macOS. These games included PUBG, Cyberpunk 2077, Tom Clancy Rainbow Six Siege, Apex Legends, Call of Duty Warzone, and Doom Eternal, to name a few. The best list of supported and unsupported games that I have found is here. Id love to see Apple create a site that showed what games work and dont work on the M1. Form factor, display, Touch Screen and pen- Surface Book 3 I have talked about the MacBook's lack of touch screen above. It is incredibly frustrating when most of its Windows-based counterparts come with a touch screen and many with an optional pen. I have always appreciated that Microsoft Surface Book has the detachable touch screen display that comes on the system. Even more useful than the tablet is that you can detach it, turn it around and have your own Wacom tablet. The single system is versatile and works as a detachable tablet or PC, depending on your individual use case. You aren't bound to just a typical notebook workstation use case like you are on the MacBook Pro. When you add the optional Surface Pen into the mix, the system is very adaptable and can fit a wide variety of use cases. The Surface Book 3 also comes in a higher resolution configuration at 260 PPI than 226 PPI on the MacBook Pro. Both displays are very high quality. Microsoft Surface Book 3 Microsoft Camera- Surface Book 3 Similar to the MacBook Air, the MacBook Pro comes with a singular 720P front-facing camera. The Surface Book 3 comes standard with dual cameras. The 5.0MP selfie camera can shoot video in 1080P HD video, while the 8.0MP rear-facing camera includes autofocusing capabilities and can shoot 1080P HD video. The two-camera solutions on the Surface Book 3 easily outperform the single 720P camera on the MacBook Pro. The video conferencing image quality will be much sharper on the Surface Book 3 than the 720P quality of the MacBook Pro. Not to mention that you can fully detach the Surface Book 3's display and use it as a tablet, making it much easier to take photos. If you think people dont take photos with tablets, just go to a high school soccer or basketball game. Login- Surface Book 3 Like the Surface Laptop 3, the Surface Book 3 comes standard with Windows Hello providing a great instant face login experience. Like the MacBook Pro Air, the MacBook Pro M1's only biometric login source is fingerprint via Touch ID. Like I said above, I don't mind using this as the primary login technique, but when I know Apple can implement FaceID as it does on other products, it is a little disappointing. I use FaceID every day to login into my iPhone and occasionally the iPad. Ports- Surface Book 3 (honorable mention for MBP for Thunderbolt) Like the MacBook Air, the MacBook Pro comes with a 3.5mm headphone jack and two Thunderbolt ports with one dedicated to charging and one free. While there is a lack of ports on the MacBook Pro, with Thunderbolt, the ports can process up to 2x faster (40Gbps on Thunderbolt compared to 20Gbps USB-C). An external adapter is still required for me to use this system for my productivity use case. I am confident that Apple will offer more ports with its next-generation silicon, but we have one port for now. The Surface Book 3 is a more extensive system, so I expect a little more in terms of ports, but it offers a lot in a 13.5" notebook. The system comes with 2 USB-A ports, 1 USB-C, an SD reader, and a 3.5mm headphone jack. Like the Surface Laptop 3, the system comes with a proprietary Surface charging port. The dedicated Surface charging port means that the charger takes up none of the other open ports. With the MacBook Pro, there is a lot to be desired in terms of ports. The Surface Book 3 does an excellent job of implementing legacy ports and next-gen USB-C to balance new and old, albeit thicker. For external Thunderbolt storage arrays and external GPUs, the Surface Book 3 really should have Thunderbolt. The MacBook Pro supports an external Thunderbolt storage array but will not support an external GPU. Weight MacBook Pro M1 While the Surface Book 3 is just a half-inch bigger than the MacBook Pro, the system is more significant when you lay them alongside each other or stack them side by side. I can appreciate that Apple could keep the MacBook Pro in a slim 13" form factor and offer the 16" form factor for those that need more performance. The MacBook Pro weighs 3.02 pounds compared to 3.62 pounds of the Surface Book 3. I didn't notice a significant difference in the weight, but I saw when it came to slimness. The large display hinge that the Surface team put on the Surface Book 3 makes the device noticeably thicker than the MacBook Pro's slim profile. Battery Life MacBook Pro For my productivity use case, both the MacBook Pro and the Surface Book 3 handled my workloads with ease. On my typical day, I was getting right at 9 hours out of my Surface Book 3. The system is unique because it comes with a battery in the display to power the tablet when disconnected from the base and a traditional battery. For the MacBook Pro, I was able to get 10+ hours of hard use with ease on a typical day with 50-75% brightness, running my productivity workloads and near-zero fan noise. If I had very low display brightness on the MacBook Pro, I could get two days of work. Professional workstation graphics- Surface Book 3 15 with Quadro option There are more enterprise-grade hardware options for Surface Book 3 users who need more enterprise application performance. The 15" Surface Book, 3 for Business, comes with an NVIDIA Quadro RTX 3000 GPU. This specific GPU is designed for AI and ray tracing workloads. The Quadro RTX 3000 GPU has 30 RT cores, 240 Tensor Cores for GPU-accelerated AI, 1920 CUDA cores, and 6GB of GDDR6 memory. The enterprise version of this system will target designers, architects, engineers, software developers, and data scientists, to name a few. NVIDIA put some time into optimizing over 100 different ISV applications. Popular workstation apps like many from the Adobe Suite, AutoCAD, ImageVis3D, PTC Crea, and many others were certified by NVIDIA. The 15" version of the Surface Book 3 will be a sleek, premium system that can take on many enterprise-grade applications. Something like this would be overkill for my use case, but this system looks excellent for enterprise users. Gaming - Surface Book 3 Since my Surface Book 3 came with a discrete NVIDIA GTX 1650 with Max-Q Design, I wanted to test a game that I have previously tested on my MacBook Pro M1. I tried Shadow of the Tomb Raider at 1920 x 1200 resolution, and 1400 x 900 resolution; both ran on high settings. On 1920 x 1200 resolution, the Surface Book 3 scored 39 FPS, and the MacBook Pro scored 20 FPS on average. When I scaled the resolution down to 1440 x 900 resolution, the Surface Book 3 scored 53 FPS, and the MacBook Pro scored 30 FPS on average. I understand that comparing the integrated graphics on the M1 to a discrete card isn't entirely fair, but it's worth looking comparing. There are a lot of AAA games that perform well on M1's integrated graphics. I tested a large swath of AAA games in that review, some of them running natively on M1 and several that ran through the Rosetta 2 emulator. You can check out that full review here. The best list of supported and unsupported games that I have found is here. Shadow of Tomb Raider FPS Results on 1440 x 900 Resolution Shadow of Tomb Raider I also ran the Surface Book 3 through 3DMark Time Spy, a DirectX 12 graphics benchmark, and the systems scored 2900 in graphics score, 2858 CPU score, and a 2893 overall score. These scores may not mean a lot to most people, but it may provide some value for those that often use systems benchmark. TimeSpy Results on Surface Book 3 TimeSpy Results on Surface Book 3 Wrapping up All in all, I think the MacBook Air M1, MacBook Pro M1, Surface Laptop 3, and Surface Book 3 are great premium devices that will perform well in many use cases. To me, the differences between the Macs and Surface devices are in the details and desired use cases. The Surface Laptop 3 and Surface Book 3 outperform its MacBook Air and MacBook Pro counterparts in app and peripheral compatibility, touch screen display and pen, ports, camera quality, and biometric login features. There are several areas where the M1 Macs compete well, like battery life on native apps, raw benchmark performance, weight (Book 3), and low-no fan noise. I have no reason to believe that the M1 Macs won't add more ports and features with the next generation, especially as Apple optimizing its new in-house silicon, but the products are what they are now. Microsoft wont be sitting still, either. When it comes to gaming, this is an easy choice. Even though the M1 graphics performance is strong, its not as strong as the ray tracing supporting discrete graphics with the NVIDIA GTX 1650 in the Book 3. Game compatibility will be no easy feat for Apple to fix and I dont know if its even a big goal for the company. Maybe theyre saving themselves for WWDC but I havent seen any new titles. When it comes to Pro as in professional, the MacBook Pro, even with the M1s high-performance CPU, just has a hard time stacking up. I believe most professionals need more than one open port, native support for more than one external display, unquestioned compatibility with professional audio and video peripherals and applications and much higher GPU performance and pro-app certified with the NVIDIA Quadro (on the 15 Book 3). Many Pros need touch and pen support as well which are available on the Book 3. The icing on the Book 3 cake is its ability to transform into a tablet. Its like getting a built-in Wacom tablet. As of now, the Surface Laptop 3 and Surface Book 3 look and feel to me like a more versatile and mature set of devices when compared to the M1-based MacBook Air and MacBook Pro. The Surface experience felt a little more premium and compatible, and the Surface devices' feature set is more profound than that of the M1 Macs. Things could change as Apple continues to optimize and roll out new machines, but as of now, I would choose the Surface Laptop 3 and Surface Book 3 over the M1-based MacBook Air and MacBook Pro. Note: Moor Insights & Strategy writers and editors may have contributed to this article. Moor Insights & Strategy, like all research and analyst firms, provides or has provided paid research, analysis, advising, or consulting to many high-tech companies in the industry, including 8x8, Advanced Micro Devices, Amazon, Applied Micro, ARM, Aruba Networks, AT&T, AWS, A-10 Strategies, Bitfusion, Blaize, Box, Broadcom, Calix, Cisco Systems, Clear Software, Cloudera, Clumio, Cognitive Systems, CompuCom, Dell, Dell EMC, Dell Technologies, Diablo Technologies, Digital Optics, Dreamchain, Echelon, Ericsson, Extreme Networks, Flex, Foxconn, Frame (now VMware), Fujitsu, Gen Z Consortium, Glue Networks, GlobalFoundries, Google (Nest-Revolve), Google Cloud, HP Inc., Hewlett Packard Enterprise, Honeywell, Huawei Technologies, IBM, Ion VR, Inseego, Infosys, Intel, Interdigital, Jabil Circuit, Konica Minolta, Lattice Semiconductor, Lenovo, Linux Foundation, MapBox, Marvell, Mavenir, Marseille Inc, Mayfair Equity, Meraki (Cisco), Mesophere, Microsoft, Mojo Networks, National Instruments, NetApp, Nightwatch, NOKIA (Alcatel-Lucent), Nortek, Novumind, NVIDIA, Nuvia, ON Semiconductor, ONUG, OpenStack Foundation, Oracle, Poly, Panasas, Peraso, Pexip, Pixelworks, Plume Design, Poly, Portworx, Pure Storage, Qualcomm, Rackspace, Rambus, Rayvolt E-Bikes, Red Hat, Residio, Samsung Electronics, SAP, SAS, Scale Computing, Schneider Electric, Silver Peak, SONY, Springpath, Spirent, Splunk, Sprint, Stratus Technologies, Symantec, Synaptics, Syniverse, Synopsys, Tanium, TE Connectivity, TensTorrent, Tobii Technology, T-Mobile, Twitter, Unity Technologies, UiPath, Verizon Communications, Vidyo, VMware, Wave Computing, Wellsmith, Xilinx, Zebra, Zededa, and Zoho which may be cited in blogs and research. | Microsoft Surface Laptop 3 and Surface Book 3 will provide an excellent comparison to Apple's M1 Macs. There isn't a full-proof way to verify that your go-to apps will work on an M1 MacBook. | bart | 1 | https://www.forbes.com/sites/patrickmoorhead/2021/04/12/whats-better-the-new-m1-macbooks-or-the-microsoft-surface/ | 0.123359 |
Whats Better, The New M1 MacBooks Or The Microsoft Surface? | Microsoft Microsoft Over the last five months, I have spent an immense amount of time using the new Apple M1 MacBooks. I published an out-of-the-gate review of the M1 MacBook last November using my productivity tools. I then followed it up with a AAA gaming review and finally an Intel Evo PC vs. MacBook M1 review. I have spent much time evaluating the strengths and weaknesses of M1 compared to its competitors, but one comparison I received requests on was comparing the Microsoft Surface devices against Apple's M1 MacBooks. Surface is the most closely positioned to Apple with its premium-only device lines for the Windows notebook ecosystem. Most end-users view Apple in the same vein as Surface in terms of quality, features, and performance, so I got the request, and there is no better way to find out than to evaluate the devices head-to-head. While I know this is a constantly moving target as Apple and Microsoft will be adding new devices, you must pause and compare at some point. I made sure to update my M1-based MacBook Air and MacBook Pro to the latest software stacks, and I will point out that Microsoft did provide me with a Microsoft Surface Laptop 3 and a Microsoft Surface Book 3 to review. These two Surface systems are the latest's and greatest from the Surface team and will provide an excellent comparison to Apple's M1 Macs. I have spent extensive time with Surface Devices over the past three generations to be transparent and I've literally used every Surface that's ever been built except for its desktop. Apple M1 Apple Apple MacBook Air M1 versus Microsoft Surface Laptop 3 First up is the new Microsoft Surface Laptop 3 compared to the Apple MacBook Air M1. Let's dig in. App and peripheral compatibility- Surface Laptop 3 I tested many apps, including Microsoft Teams, Outlook, Microsoft Word, PowerPoint, Microsoft Excel, Apple Safari, Google Chrome, Gmail, Microsoft Edge, BofA, Instagram, and Facebook. Unsurprisingly, I didn't have any application or peripheral issues while using the Microsoft Surface Laptop 3. That was the case because many of my go-to apps are developed by Microsoft or that they were written for the X86 instruction set. All the applications that were written natively for the MacBook Air, like Outlook and Apple apps, ran smoothly, quickly with no crashes. I wasn't surprised that the M1 optimized applications ran very well. What I worry about is not fully knowing what applications will work and which won't. A formalized list of functioning applications would help a lot, but Apple hasn't provided anything like this. There isn't a full-proof way to verify that your go-to apps will work on an M1 MacBook. With over 200+ popular applications not supported on M1, there is a good chance you may be missing some apps you currently use on another PC. If you are considering an M1 MacBook, it may be worth your time to look at the list of applications that are not currently supported here. You will need to evaluate if the apps that fit your use case are available on M1. Theoretically, one can run iOS apps on the M1 MacBook. At first glance, that seems awesome, but there's a catch- the ISV must enable that capability. Several applications are not available in the Apple App store like BofA, Gmail, Instagram, and Facebook, to name a few, so in my opinion, it mutes the benefit of running iOS apps. Check to make sure your apps are available on the new Macs. I will say I do enjoy the instant connection to my iPhone and the easy transition to Apple Music and the podcast app on the MacBook Air. In terms of peripherals, I tested one of my favorite mouses, the Logitech G305. Sadly, the Logitech G305 is a USB-A mouse that works on my Surface Book 3 but won't work on the MacBook Pro without a USB-A to USB-C adapter. I use different webcams, gaming headphones, and portable SSDs, and I have no idea what software is supported and what isn't with M1. For example, I tested the new Samsung SSD T7 Touch drive with a fingerprint sensor built for an added layer of security. The application was supported on Mac, but it didn't work. This issue rendered the fingerprint security useless on the drive. When I first reviewed the M1 Macs, I had problems with Logitech's webcam software; the issue is now fixed. If I would have bought that peripheral specifically for pairing with my MacBook, it would have been a waste of money due to compatibility issues. I believe Apple will continue to add support for peripheral apps, but you will have to do some digging to see if your specific peripheral apps are currently supported or planned to be in the future. Now, there is no official Apple list. The best applications list I have found is here. But unfortunately does not include peripherals. I have tested M1's ability to play AAA games extensively. The issue that I have with M1 isn't the raw benchmark performance but instead the game combability. M1 plays supported AAA games surprisingly well for an ultrathin machine. For Windows PCs, Steam on Windows houses the world's most popular games and makes it exceptionally easy for users to download games and play them on its devices. It isn't that simple Steam for Mac. There are many compatibility issues, and a lot of the most popular games aren't available on Mac which is a shame considering how well M1 graphics perform. Games like PUBG, Cyberpunk 2077, Tom Clancy Rainbow Six Siege, Apex Legends, Call of Duty Warzone, and Doom Eternal are not available for macOS, a bummer. There are a good number of popular games available for macOS like Shadow of the Tomb Raider, Dota 2, Sid Meier's: Civ VI, Total War: WARHAMMER II, Middle Earth: Shadow of Mordor, Fortnite, Deus Ex: Mankind Divided, World of Warcraft, and Minecraft to name a few. Even with those games considered, there isn't nearly as much support for macOS games when compared to what is available for Windows. Consider that if you're purchasing a Mac for gaming. The best list of supported and unsupported games that I have found is here. Its be great if Apple would provide a list. Display, Touchscreen, and Pen- Surface Laptop 3 We know that the MacBook Air M1 and the MacBook Pro M1 don't come with touchscreens. I have hypothesized that this is likely because the company doesn't want to eat into its iPad sales, and early on, there was a thickness penalty. While the MacBook Air lacks a touch screen, the Microsoft Surface Laptop 3 continues the Surface legacy of high-quality touch screens across its devices. The touchscreen on the Surface Laptop 3 performs in all the ways that I needed a touch screen to function. It is responsive to the touch, whether using my fingertip or using the optional Surface Pen. I like to use the touchscreen for scrolling through web pages and articles and occasionally using the Surface Pen to sign contracts in DocuSign. I believe some users really appreciate pen for navigating even on Laptop, especially customers with accessibility needs that may use both touch and pen for improved screen interaction/manipulation. While the MacBook Air doesn't offer a touch screen, this is something the Surface Laptop 3 offers, and it performs well. If you want Apple touch and a pen, then get an iPad. Another display consideration is that the Surface Laptop 3 comes in a 3:2 aspect ratio compared to the 16:10 aspect ratio of the MacBook Air. The aspect ratio boils down to increased screen visibility on the Surface Laptop 3 when compared to the MacBook Air due to 13.5 size and 3:2 ratio. The high-resolution touchscreen for me is an excellent value add for my use case. The MacBook Air M1 lacking a touchscreen isn't because Apple lacks the technology to implement it, but rather a business decision that I tend to disagree with and something that potential customers must overlook. Both displays are high quality. Image Credit: Microsoft.com Style options- Surface Laptop 3 Color doesn't matter as much to me on a system but having options is always nice. The Surface Laptop 3 comes in many color options, including Sandstone, Matte Black, Cobalt Blue, and Platinum. Platinum is known as the iconic Surface color wave. The Platinum color exudes a highly premium look and feel, and I have always preferred it on my Surface devices. There are also three color options available for the MacBook Air M1, including Space Gray, Gold, and Silver. My MacBook Air M1 came in the Space Gray option, which I enjoyed. It seems that Apple took more of a reserved approach with its color waves on the MacBook Air. Two of the color are similar (Silver and Gray), and when you consider the flashy and unique colors of Sandstone and Cobalt Blue that Surface offers, I like to have more differentiated color options. Users also can customize the keyboard and trackpad area on the Surface Laptop 3 with an Alcantara fabric or stick with the metal finish. Alcantara doesnt get enough credit, but if youre unfamiliar with it, its the soft yet durable material used in super-cars like Lamborghinis and Porsches. The MacBook Air and the Surface Laptop 3 both have premium finish options, but when both systems come with premium finishes, the more options available, I think, the better. Theres also the choice of screen size. While I know that Apple currently has Intel versions of its 16 Air, it doesnt have that yet in M1 flavor. Surface offers both 13.5 and 15 with the same processor brands and architectures. Camera- Tie The MacBook Air and the Surface Laptop 3 both sport a 720P resolution front-facing camera. I tested them both out on Microsoft Teams and Zoom, and I will say there were not many noticeable differences between them. The Surface Laptop 3 seemed to be a little sharper and was slightly better in low-light situations at night. If you're looking for useable performance in ideal lighting, either camera will work for photos and video conferencing. Ports- Surface Laptop 3 (honorable mention for MBA with Thunderbolt) Ports and types of ports matter to me as an analyst and I think most users, especially pros. I use many peripherals and an external display to get maximum productivity out of a notebook. The MacBook Air comes with two ports, with one dedicated to power, meaning I really only have one open port. Both ports are Thunderbolt compatible, and the system additionally has a 3.5mm headphone jack. Thunderbolt does have some good performance advantages compared to USB-C, which is good news for the MacBook Air. The Surface Laptop 3 comes with USB-C, capable of transferring data at 20Gbps, while Thunderbolt can transfer data 2x faster at 40Gbps. When you consider that Thunderbolt uses the same port as USB-C, there are no disadvantages to equipping a Thunderbolt system but cost. The MacBook will require an external adapter for my use case, and I suspect that will be an issue for many users. One problem I did run across while testing is that M1 only supports one external display natively. I rigged more external displays with a 3rd party DisplayLink driver on the M1, but its not supported by Apple and doesnt support all the features a native display adapter down. When I use a notebook in what I call desktop-mode, I often use two 15"- 17 external displays to improve my productivity. It was disappointing to find out that M1 only supported a single native external display, but this could get better with Macs' next generation. The Surface Laptop 3 isn't exactly packed full of I/O, but it is undoubtedly a step up compared to the MacBook Air. The Surface Laptop 3 comes with 1 USB-C, 1 USB-A, and a 3.5mm headphone jack. One of the main differences is a Surface power port used to charge the device, keeping two ports free while the system charges. The Surface also has the extra USB-A power port on the power adapter. I like what Microsoft is doing by including legacy USB-A and USB-C. Many of my older peripherals are USB-A, and it is nice to have for the time being. I don't expect it to stay on the Surface devices for long, but I think it makes sense for now. Apple M1 Apple Weight- Tie Weight isn't typically a big issue for me when dealing with 13" notebooks, but I would generally say the lighter, the better. The Surface Laptop 3 weighs 2.84 pounds, and the MacBook Air M1 weighs 2.80 pounds. When I was using these systems, I didn't notice any difference in weight. The Surface Laptop 3 is also around 7% thinner than the MacBook Air and MacBook Pro. You shouldn't be worried about the weight or slimness of either of these systems. Login- Surface Laptop 3 Having the ability to login instantly with facial Windows Hello is something that I use daily (hourly) but don't appreciate enough until I don't have it anymore. I set up Windows Hello on my Surface Laptop 3 immediately, and it is the quickest way for me to log in to any device. Sure, I don't mind using passwords, pins, and fingerprints if need be, but I rely on instant face login a lot, and it performs flawlessly on my Surface Devices. MacBook's, on the other, don't offer an instant face login feature which, in my opinion, is a big miss, especially when considering that I use FaceID on my iPhone every day. Apple's technology is there; I don't understand why it doesn't implement it on its MacBook devices. When I use MacBooks, I usually opt for using the built-in fingerprint sensor and use Touch ID. It isn't nearly as convenient as Windows Hello, but it works quickly with high accuracy. Regardless, I would love to see FaceID or something similar implemented into upcoming MacBook systems. Performance & Battery Life- MacBook Air M1 with Arm ISA native apps My productivity use case typically includes running many Office 365 apps simultaneously, doing web research on 10+ Edge browser instances, and video conferencing on Teams, Zoom, and Webex. Neither one of these systems struggled when I was working throughout the day. Teams was sometimes wonky on the Mac which I attribute to it being x86. The Office 365 apps still feel a little smoother on the Surface Laptop 3, which I cannot explain and shouldnt be, but the MacBook Air performed well without any noise as it doesn't have a fan. The beta version of the Office 365 M1-optimized apps had improved the user experience tremendously compared to when M1 first launched. In terms of battery life, while I was using the Surface Laptop 3, I was getting around 9-10 hours of battery life which was enough for a full days' worth of work. A strength of the MacBook Air with M1 is the battery life on native, Arm apps. I could go a couple of days without charging the system, and on a typical workday, the MacBook Air would easily last over 10 hours. They key to getting the best battery life is to make sure the display is low and only using Arm-native apps. When I cranked the Mac and Surface to what looked like the same nits, the Mac trailed off considerably. Apple MacBook Pro versus Microsoft Surface Book 3 Now let's look at the new Microsoft Surface Book 3 compared to the Apple MacBook Pro M1. My Surface Book 3 came in the 13.5" configuration and is also available in a 15" design. The MacBook Pro M1 came in a traditional 13" format. App & Peripheral Compatibility Surface Book 3 It's no secret that the new M1 Macs generally support a smaller number of popular applications and peripherals compared to its Windows-based counterparts. My go-to applications for productivity typically include Microsoft Teams, Outlook, Word, PowerPoint, Excel, Safari, Google Chrome, Microsoft Edge, Instagram, Twitter, Messenger, and Facebook. My Surface Book 3 supported and ran all these browsers and applications except for Safari. On my MacBook Pro, I have good support for Microsoft applications, but there is skewed support for other apps. For instance, I can't download Instagram or Facebook from the app store, but I can download Messenger and Twitter. I can hook up multi 4K external monitors to the Surface Book 3. The new MacBook's with M1 will only support a singular, native external display which I assume is a silicon limitation. In contrast, the Intel-based Microsoft Surface devices can support multiple 4K external monitors on a single PC. For content creators, screen real-estate is crucial. The list of peripherals for me stayed the same, including the Logitech G305 mouse, which will need a USB-A to USB-C adapter to be able to use. If you have USB-A peripherals, I would recommend picking up an adapter or even a USB hub beforehand and saving some time. I have several different gaming headphones, external SSD's, and webcams that I could pair with my MacBook Pro, but I don't know what is compatible and what isn't on the M1. I tested the new Samsung SSD T7 Touch drive, and even though the application was available on Mac, it didn't work. That left an extra layer of fingerprint security pretty much useless. Some apps may work flawlessly, and some may not, but there are very few ways of knowing beforehand. It is worth checking out what apps work for your use case before purchasing a MacBook based on M1. You can look at some of the supported and unsupported applications here. Id love to see Apple create a site that showed what work and what doesnt on the M1. In terms of game support, Steam for Windows is the most popular game store that exists. It is effortless to download AAA and eSports games from Steam, and it's what I have used for years. There is a Mac version of Steam, but the game titles supported are a much smaller subset than Steam on Windows. When I tested a large swath of AAA games on the MacBook Pro M1, many popular games were available for macOS via Steam. The games I tried included Shadow of the Tomb Raider, Dota 2, Sid Meier's: Civ VI, Empire of Sin, Total War: WARHAMMER II, Middle Earth: Shadow of Mordor, Deus Ex: Mankind Divided, World of Warcraft, Minecraft, Firewatch, and Subnautica. Although I could test many games, some of the most popular games on Steam were not available for macOS. These games included PUBG, Cyberpunk 2077, Tom Clancy Rainbow Six Siege, Apex Legends, Call of Duty Warzone, and Doom Eternal, to name a few. The best list of supported and unsupported games that I have found is here. Id love to see Apple create a site that showed what games work and dont work on the M1. Form factor, display, Touch Screen and pen- Surface Book 3 I have talked about the MacBook's lack of touch screen above. It is incredibly frustrating when most of its Windows-based counterparts come with a touch screen and many with an optional pen. I have always appreciated that Microsoft Surface Book has the detachable touch screen display that comes on the system. Even more useful than the tablet is that you can detach it, turn it around and have your own Wacom tablet. The single system is versatile and works as a detachable tablet or PC, depending on your individual use case. You aren't bound to just a typical notebook workstation use case like you are on the MacBook Pro. When you add the optional Surface Pen into the mix, the system is very adaptable and can fit a wide variety of use cases. The Surface Book 3 also comes in a higher resolution configuration at 260 PPI than 226 PPI on the MacBook Pro. Both displays are very high quality. Microsoft Surface Book 3 Microsoft Camera- Surface Book 3 Similar to the MacBook Air, the MacBook Pro comes with a singular 720P front-facing camera. The Surface Book 3 comes standard with dual cameras. The 5.0MP selfie camera can shoot video in 1080P HD video, while the 8.0MP rear-facing camera includes autofocusing capabilities and can shoot 1080P HD video. The two-camera solutions on the Surface Book 3 easily outperform the single 720P camera on the MacBook Pro. The video conferencing image quality will be much sharper on the Surface Book 3 than the 720P quality of the MacBook Pro. Not to mention that you can fully detach the Surface Book 3's display and use it as a tablet, making it much easier to take photos. If you think people dont take photos with tablets, just go to a high school soccer or basketball game. Login- Surface Book 3 Like the Surface Laptop 3, the Surface Book 3 comes standard with Windows Hello providing a great instant face login experience. Like the MacBook Pro Air, the MacBook Pro M1's only biometric login source is fingerprint via Touch ID. Like I said above, I don't mind using this as the primary login technique, but when I know Apple can implement FaceID as it does on other products, it is a little disappointing. I use FaceID every day to login into my iPhone and occasionally the iPad. Ports- Surface Book 3 (honorable mention for MBP for Thunderbolt) Like the MacBook Air, the MacBook Pro comes with a 3.5mm headphone jack and two Thunderbolt ports with one dedicated to charging and one free. While there is a lack of ports on the MacBook Pro, with Thunderbolt, the ports can process up to 2x faster (40Gbps on Thunderbolt compared to 20Gbps USB-C). An external adapter is still required for me to use this system for my productivity use case. I am confident that Apple will offer more ports with its next-generation silicon, but we have one port for now. The Surface Book 3 is a more extensive system, so I expect a little more in terms of ports, but it offers a lot in a 13.5" notebook. The system comes with 2 USB-A ports, 1 USB-C, an SD reader, and a 3.5mm headphone jack. Like the Surface Laptop 3, the system comes with a proprietary Surface charging port. The dedicated Surface charging port means that the charger takes up none of the other open ports. With the MacBook Pro, there is a lot to be desired in terms of ports. The Surface Book 3 does an excellent job of implementing legacy ports and next-gen USB-C to balance new and old, albeit thicker. For external Thunderbolt storage arrays and external GPUs, the Surface Book 3 really should have Thunderbolt. The MacBook Pro supports an external Thunderbolt storage array but will not support an external GPU. Weight MacBook Pro M1 While the Surface Book 3 is just a half-inch bigger than the MacBook Pro, the system is more significant when you lay them alongside each other or stack them side by side. I can appreciate that Apple could keep the MacBook Pro in a slim 13" form factor and offer the 16" form factor for those that need more performance. The MacBook Pro weighs 3.02 pounds compared to 3.62 pounds of the Surface Book 3. I didn't notice a significant difference in the weight, but I saw when it came to slimness. The large display hinge that the Surface team put on the Surface Book 3 makes the device noticeably thicker than the MacBook Pro's slim profile. Battery Life MacBook Pro For my productivity use case, both the MacBook Pro and the Surface Book 3 handled my workloads with ease. On my typical day, I was getting right at 9 hours out of my Surface Book 3. The system is unique because it comes with a battery in the display to power the tablet when disconnected from the base and a traditional battery. For the MacBook Pro, I was able to get 10+ hours of hard use with ease on a typical day with 50-75% brightness, running my productivity workloads and near-zero fan noise. If I had very low display brightness on the MacBook Pro, I could get two days of work. Professional workstation graphics- Surface Book 3 15 with Quadro option There are more enterprise-grade hardware options for Surface Book 3 users who need more enterprise application performance. The 15" Surface Book, 3 for Business, comes with an NVIDIA Quadro RTX 3000 GPU. This specific GPU is designed for AI and ray tracing workloads. The Quadro RTX 3000 GPU has 30 RT cores, 240 Tensor Cores for GPU-accelerated AI, 1920 CUDA cores, and 6GB of GDDR6 memory. The enterprise version of this system will target designers, architects, engineers, software developers, and data scientists, to name a few. NVIDIA put some time into optimizing over 100 different ISV applications. Popular workstation apps like many from the Adobe Suite, AutoCAD, ImageVis3D, PTC Crea, and many others were certified by NVIDIA. The 15" version of the Surface Book 3 will be a sleek, premium system that can take on many enterprise-grade applications. Something like this would be overkill for my use case, but this system looks excellent for enterprise users. Gaming - Surface Book 3 Since my Surface Book 3 came with a discrete NVIDIA GTX 1650 with Max-Q Design, I wanted to test a game that I have previously tested on my MacBook Pro M1. I tried Shadow of the Tomb Raider at 1920 x 1200 resolution, and 1400 x 900 resolution; both ran on high settings. On 1920 x 1200 resolution, the Surface Book 3 scored 39 FPS, and the MacBook Pro scored 20 FPS on average. When I scaled the resolution down to 1440 x 900 resolution, the Surface Book 3 scored 53 FPS, and the MacBook Pro scored 30 FPS on average. I understand that comparing the integrated graphics on the M1 to a discrete card isn't entirely fair, but it's worth looking comparing. There are a lot of AAA games that perform well on M1's integrated graphics. I tested a large swath of AAA games in that review, some of them running natively on M1 and several that ran through the Rosetta 2 emulator. You can check out that full review here. The best list of supported and unsupported games that I have found is here. Shadow of Tomb Raider FPS Results on 1440 x 900 Resolution Shadow of Tomb Raider I also ran the Surface Book 3 through 3DMark Time Spy, a DirectX 12 graphics benchmark, and the systems scored 2900 in graphics score, 2858 CPU score, and a 2893 overall score. These scores may not mean a lot to most people, but it may provide some value for those that often use systems benchmark. TimeSpy Results on Surface Book 3 TimeSpy Results on Surface Book 3 Wrapping up All in all, I think the MacBook Air M1, MacBook Pro M1, Surface Laptop 3, and Surface Book 3 are great premium devices that will perform well in many use cases. To me, the differences between the Macs and Surface devices are in the details and desired use cases. The Surface Laptop 3 and Surface Book 3 outperform its MacBook Air and MacBook Pro counterparts in app and peripheral compatibility, touch screen display and pen, ports, camera quality, and biometric login features. There are several areas where the M1 Macs compete well, like battery life on native apps, raw benchmark performance, weight (Book 3), and low-no fan noise. I have no reason to believe that the M1 Macs won't add more ports and features with the next generation, especially as Apple optimizing its new in-house silicon, but the products are what they are now. Microsoft wont be sitting still, either. When it comes to gaming, this is an easy choice. Even though the M1 graphics performance is strong, its not as strong as the ray tracing supporting discrete graphics with the NVIDIA GTX 1650 in the Book 3. Game compatibility will be no easy feat for Apple to fix and I dont know if its even a big goal for the company. Maybe theyre saving themselves for WWDC but I havent seen any new titles. When it comes to Pro as in professional, the MacBook Pro, even with the M1s high-performance CPU, just has a hard time stacking up. I believe most professionals need more than one open port, native support for more than one external display, unquestioned compatibility with professional audio and video peripherals and applications and much higher GPU performance and pro-app certified with the NVIDIA Quadro (on the 15 Book 3). Many Pros need touch and pen support as well which are available on the Book 3. The icing on the Book 3 cake is its ability to transform into a tablet. Its like getting a built-in Wacom tablet. As of now, the Surface Laptop 3 and Surface Book 3 look and feel to me like a more versatile and mature set of devices when compared to the M1-based MacBook Air and MacBook Pro. The Surface experience felt a little more premium and compatible, and the Surface devices' feature set is more profound than that of the M1 Macs. Things could change as Apple continues to optimize and roll out new machines, but as of now, I would choose the Surface Laptop 3 and Surface Book 3 over the M1-based MacBook Air and MacBook Pro. Note: Moor Insights & Strategy writers and editors may have contributed to this article. Moor Insights & Strategy, like all research and analyst firms, provides or has provided paid research, analysis, advising, or consulting to many high-tech companies in the industry, including 8x8, Advanced Micro Devices, Amazon, Applied Micro, ARM, Aruba Networks, AT&T, AWS, A-10 Strategies, Bitfusion, Blaize, Box, Broadcom, Calix, Cisco Systems, Clear Software, Cloudera, Clumio, Cognitive Systems, CompuCom, Dell, Dell EMC, Dell Technologies, Diablo Technologies, Digital Optics, Dreamchain, Echelon, Ericsson, Extreme Networks, Flex, Foxconn, Frame (now VMware), Fujitsu, Gen Z Consortium, Glue Networks, GlobalFoundries, Google (Nest-Revolve), Google Cloud, HP Inc., Hewlett Packard Enterprise, Honeywell, Huawei Technologies, IBM, Ion VR, Inseego, Infosys, Intel, Interdigital, Jabil Circuit, Konica Minolta, Lattice Semiconductor, Lenovo, Linux Foundation, MapBox, Marvell, Mavenir, Marseille Inc, Mayfair Equity, Meraki (Cisco), Mesophere, Microsoft, Mojo Networks, National Instruments, NetApp, Nightwatch, NOKIA (Alcatel-Lucent), Nortek, Novumind, NVIDIA, Nuvia, ON Semiconductor, ONUG, OpenStack Foundation, Oracle, Poly, Panasas, Peraso, Pexip, Pixelworks, Plume Design, Poly, Portworx, Pure Storage, Qualcomm, Rackspace, Rambus, Rayvolt E-Bikes, Red Hat, Residio, Samsung Electronics, SAP, SAS, Scale Computing, Schneider Electric, Silver Peak, SONY, Springpath, Spirent, Splunk, Sprint, Stratus Technologies, Symantec, Synaptics, Syniverse, Synopsys, Tanium, TE Connectivity, TensTorrent, Tobii Technology, T-Mobile, Twitter, Unity Technologies, UiPath, Verizon Communications, Vidyo, VMware, Wave Computing, Wellsmith, Xilinx, Zebra, Zededa, and Zoho which may be cited in blogs and research. | Microsoft Surface Laptop 3 and Surface Book 3 are the latest's and greatest from the Surface team. Apple M1 MacBooks and Surface devices are the most closely positioned to Apple with its premium-only device lines for the Windows notebook ecosystem. The new M1 Macs are much faster than the Surface devices. | ctrlsum | 2 | https://www.forbes.com/sites/patrickmoorhead/2021/04/12/whats-better-the-new-m1-macbooks-or-the-microsoft-surface/ | 0.702686 |
Will Frank Ragnow Become NFL's Highest Paid Center? | In a recent SI All Lions roundtable article, the question was posed regarding who is the Detroit Lions best player on the 2021 roster. Several readers weighd in and commented that center Frank Ragnow should be in the conversation based on his play the past couple of seasons. The 2018 first-round pick cemented his place in the hearts of fans when he completed an entire football game against the Green Bay Packers last season with a fractured throat. Ragnow signaled to his teammates that he lost his voice early in divisional matchup last December. He then did not miss a single snap the remainder of the game. "He came up to me early in the game, and was very hoarse and kind of faint sounding and was like, 'I cant really talk right now. I cant really talk, just to let you know. Just make sure youre communicating with everybody up front even more than (you) normally would,'" Matthew Stafford said regarding Ragnow. "So, it was kind of crazy, but it was good. Didnt have any communication issues the rest of the game, really." Billy Hardiman-USA TODAY Sports According to The Athletic, it is going to cost the Lions $12,657,00 to pick up the centers fifth-year option. Corey Linsley is currently the highest-paid center in the league. The Los Angeles Charges center signed a five-year, $62.5 million agreement back in March. The contract will pay Linsley $26 million over his first two seasons with his new team. In 2019, Ragnow allowed just two sacks on 996 offensive snaps and earned a 74.9 grade from Pro Football Focus -- ranking sixth among 38 qualified centers. Last season, Ragnow did not allow a sack in 929 snaps and only had three penalties called against him all season. He earned a PFF grade of 80.3. Vote here. More from SI All Lions: Odds Lions Trade Down from No. | Frank Ragnow should be in the conversation for the NFL's highest-paid center. | ctrlsum | 0 | https://www.si.com/nfl/lions/polls/poll-should-ragnow-be-highest-paid-center | 0.212946 |
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