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Did the Panthers get the best value with their picks in the 2021 NFL draft? | Nobody knows how any college prospect is going to work out in the NFL. For every Peyton Manning theres a Ryan Leaf and theres no telling which is which until they actually get onto the field. So, time will tell whether or not the Panthers got a good haul in this years draft. For what its worth, the early reviews for their picks are splendid. Some analysts have even said that they did the best work of any team in the league. Daniel Jeremiah of NFL.com ranked his top 150 prospects with a simple point-value and Carolina came out on top. Fun exercise- took my top 150 players & assigned point values. My number 1 player is worth 150 points. My 150th player is worth 1 point. (H/T @NFLResearch) Heres the result pic.twitter.com/ua4GKIRaCG Daniel Jeremiah (@MoveTheSticks) May 4, 2021 UCLAs Director of Player Personnel also has them ranked No. 1. I thought six NFL teams had fantastic drafts, acquiring top talents while addressing key needs and upgrading their overall roster. In order: 1. Carolina Panthers 2. Denver Broncos 3. Cleveland Browns 4. Washington Football Team 5. New England Patriots 6. Los Angeles Chargers Ethan Young (@EthanYoungFB) May 1, 2021 Former Cowboys executive Gil Brandt says the Panthers got two of the top value picks in the draft in sixth-round selections Deonte Brown and Daviyon Nixon. Based on my Hot 100 draft board and where players got picked, here are the picks I would consider the best value: G Trey Smith, KC (+152) G Deonte Brown, CAR (+131) OT Stone Forsythe, SEA (+115) DT Daviyon Nixon, CAR (+83) CB Shaun Wade, BAL (+80) LB Garret Wallow, HOU (+73) 1/2 Gil Brandt (@Gil_Brandt) May 4, 2021 In ESPNs post-draft podcast, Mel Kiper and Todd McShay also raved about what the Panthers did. Story continues Like we said at the top, this is all speculative at this point. Everything we know about the draft though indicates that this current front office knows what theyre doing. These individual prospects might not pan out, but as long as Scott Fitterer and Matt Rhule are committed to a philosophy of trading down for more picks and using them on the best athletes available it will bode well for this teams future. Related | The Carolina Panthers picked first in the 2021 NFL draft. Some analysts have said that they did the best work of any team in the league. It is still too early to tell whether or not the Panthers got a good haul in this years draft, however. | ctrlsum | 2 | https://sports.yahoo.com/did-panthers-best-value-picks-133008701.html?src=rss | 0.37155 |
Is Kyle Hamilton A Top 10 NFL Draft Pick? | We are just days removed from the 2021 NFL Draft, but draft analysts are already focused on the 2022 Draft, and Notre Dame safety Kyle Hamilton is a popular name already. A recent mock draft from The Athletic's Dane Brugler projected Hamilton to be a Top 10 pick in next year's draft. In fact, he has the New York Giants picking Hamilton with the 8th overall pick in his first way-too-early mock draft for 2022. "A long, explosive safety, Hamilton is a unique athlete for his size with the competitive mentality to match. Though he has the physical skill set to be a top pick, his mental development has also been apparent during his first two seasons in South Bend." - Brugler Hamilton was a first-team All-American by the Football Writer's Association and Phil Steele, and the American Football Coaches Association, the Walter Camp Foundation and The Athletic had him as a second-team All-American. He returns as one of the best defensive backs in the country. Hamilton improved as an alley run defender as a sophomore, and his impact in the pass game was outstanding. If he can remain healthy and continue making strides as a player he could certainly develop into a legitimate Top 10 NFL Draft pick, which is rare for a safety. Brugler had some intriguing projections in his first mock draft. He had Boston College quarterback Phil Jurkovec going to the Pittsburgh Steelers with the 15th overall pick of the first round. Jurkovec, of course, transferred away from Notre Dame following the 2019 season, and he passed for 2,558 yards and accounted for 20 touchdowns in 10 games this past season, his first as a starter. There were five players in Brugler's mock draft that will be opponents of Notre Dame this season. North Carolina quarterback Sam Howell (No. 2, Detroit Lions), USC defensive end Drake Jackson (No. 7, Las Vegas Raiders), Cincinnati cornerback Ahmad Gardner (No. 17, Los Angeles Chargers) and defensive end Myjai Sanders (No. 26, Cleveland Browns) and Purdue defensive end George Karlaftis (No. 19, Philadelphia Eagles) all face Notre Dame in 2021. Related Content Notre Dame 2021 Draft Class Was Among The Best In College Football Notre Dame To The NFL: Defensive Line Is On An Impressive Run Notre Dame Continues Producing Premium Offensive Line Draft Picks Notre Dame Leads The Way For Day Two Draft Picks Miami Dolphins Draft Notre Dame OL Liam Eichenberg Cleveland Browns Draft Notre Dame Linebacker Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah San Francisco 49ers Draft Notre Dame OL Aaron Banks Carolina Panthers Draft Notre Dame Tight End Tommy Tremble Tampa Bay Buccaneers Draft Notre Dame OL Robert Hainsey New Orleans Saints Draft Notre Dame Quarterback Ian Book Baltimore Ravens Draft Notre Dame Defensive End Daelin Hayes Atlanta Falcons Draft Notre Dame Defensive End Adetokunbo Ogundeji To comment below be sure to sign up for a FREE Disqus account, which you can get HERE. Become a premium Irish Breakdown member, which grants you access to all of our premium content, our premium message board and gets you a FREE subscription to Sports Illustrated! Click on the link below for more BECOME A MEMBER Be sure to stay locked into Irish Breakdown all the time! Join the Irish Breakdown community! Subscribe to the Irish Breakdown podcast on iTunes Subscribe to the Irish Breakdown YouTube channel Follow me on Twitter: @CoachD178 Like and follow Irish Breakdown on Facebook Sign up for the FREE Irish Breakdown daily newsletter | Notre Dame safety Kyle Hamilton is a popular name already. A recent mock draft projected Hamilton to be a Top 10 pick in next year's draft. | ctrlsum | 0 | https://www.si.com/college/notredame/football/notre-dame-football-kyle-hamilton-top-10-nfl-draft-pick | 0.280547 |
Is Kyle Hamilton A Top 10 NFL Draft Pick? | We are just days removed from the 2021 NFL Draft, but draft analysts are already focused on the 2022 Draft, and Notre Dame safety Kyle Hamilton is a popular name already. A recent mock draft from The Athletic's Dane Brugler projected Hamilton to be a Top 10 pick in next year's draft. In fact, he has the New York Giants picking Hamilton with the 8th overall pick in his first way-too-early mock draft for 2022. "A long, explosive safety, Hamilton is a unique athlete for his size with the competitive mentality to match. Though he has the physical skill set to be a top pick, his mental development has also been apparent during his first two seasons in South Bend." - Brugler Hamilton was a first-team All-American by the Football Writer's Association and Phil Steele, and the American Football Coaches Association, the Walter Camp Foundation and The Athletic had him as a second-team All-American. He returns as one of the best defensive backs in the country. Hamilton improved as an alley run defender as a sophomore, and his impact in the pass game was outstanding. If he can remain healthy and continue making strides as a player he could certainly develop into a legitimate Top 10 NFL Draft pick, which is rare for a safety. Brugler had some intriguing projections in his first mock draft. He had Boston College quarterback Phil Jurkovec going to the Pittsburgh Steelers with the 15th overall pick of the first round. Jurkovec, of course, transferred away from Notre Dame following the 2019 season, and he passed for 2,558 yards and accounted for 20 touchdowns in 10 games this past season, his first as a starter. There were five players in Brugler's mock draft that will be opponents of Notre Dame this season. North Carolina quarterback Sam Howell (No. 2, Detroit Lions), USC defensive end Drake Jackson (No. 7, Las Vegas Raiders), Cincinnati cornerback Ahmad Gardner (No. 17, Los Angeles Chargers) and defensive end Myjai Sanders (No. 26, Cleveland Browns) and Purdue defensive end George Karlaftis (No. 19, Philadelphia Eagles) all face Notre Dame in 2021. Related Content Notre Dame 2021 Draft Class Was Among The Best In College Football Notre Dame To The NFL: Defensive Line Is On An Impressive Run Notre Dame Continues Producing Premium Offensive Line Draft Picks Notre Dame Leads The Way For Day Two Draft Picks Miami Dolphins Draft Notre Dame OL Liam Eichenberg Cleveland Browns Draft Notre Dame Linebacker Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah San Francisco 49ers Draft Notre Dame OL Aaron Banks Carolina Panthers Draft Notre Dame Tight End Tommy Tremble Tampa Bay Buccaneers Draft Notre Dame OL Robert Hainsey New Orleans Saints Draft Notre Dame Quarterback Ian Book Baltimore Ravens Draft Notre Dame Defensive End Daelin Hayes Atlanta Falcons Draft Notre Dame Defensive End Adetokunbo Ogundeji To comment below be sure to sign up for a FREE Disqus account, which you can get HERE. Become a premium Irish Breakdown member, which grants you access to all of our premium content, our premium message board and gets you a FREE subscription to Sports Illustrated! Click on the link below for more BECOME A MEMBER Be sure to stay locked into Irish Breakdown all the time! Join the Irish Breakdown community! Subscribe to the Irish Breakdown podcast on iTunes Subscribe to the Irish Breakdown YouTube channel Follow me on Twitter: @CoachD178 Like and follow Irish Breakdown on Facebook Sign up for the FREE Irish Breakdown daily newsletter | Notre Dame safety Kyle Hamilton is a popular name already. A recent mock draft projected Hamilton to be a Top 10 pick in next year's draft. If he can remain healthy and continue making strides, Hamilton could develop into a legitimate Top 10 NFL Draft pick, which is rare for a safety. | ctrlsum | 2 | https://www.si.com/college/notredame/football/notre-dame-football-kyle-hamilton-top-10-nfl-draft-pick | 0.510456 |
Do Investment Managers Care About Their Proxy Votes? | While many investment managers these days profess an enthusiasm for putting their money into companies that hew to up-to-date precepts regarding environmental, social, and governance matters, these are not necessarily a priority for those whose money they invest. However, inertia sometimes results them implicitly making decisions that belie the wishes of their investors. A new study put out by the Manhattan Institute and authored by Paul Rose, a law professor at the Ohio State University, examined the reliance of investment managers on proxy advisors following a rule recently issued by the Securities and Exchange Commission intended to rein in their influence. Rose found that investment advisers appear to be reluctant to change their behavior to comport with the law. Since investment managers typically own shares in hundreds of different companies and must vote each proxy, this task is somewhat cumbersome, so they slough it off to a proxy advisory firm. Two firmsISS and Glass-Lewiseffectively control this market, giving them an outsized impact over shareholder votes even though they own no shares. The SEC began to examine the role of proxy advisors after business groups expressed concern that some investment managers completely turn over the task of proxy voting to these firms without taking steps to discern whether these firms are voting in the best interest of their clients, which they suggest may be a breach of fiduciary duty. If a proxy advisor voted the shares of an investment manager in a way that served to reduce the profits (and long-term value) of a company it owned, the people whose money is being managed would be worse off. Some refer to the practice of turning over proxies entirely to a third party as robo-voting. Last year the SEC issued a rule requiring more disclosure from proxy advisors and provided additional guidance to investment managers intended to curtail the practice of allowing proxy advisors to vote the proxies for an investment manager without consulting them. Roses study looked at how the SECs ruleswhich do not fully take effect until the 2022 proxy seasonimpacted robo-voting, and he found only a modest move away from the practice: Six percent fewer financial institutions appeared to robo-vote, and these institutions hold about 3.6 percent of the assets held by institutions in this population. The total number of robo-voted resolutions fell slightly as well. The fact that relatively few investment management firms felt compelled to expeditiously adopt the guidance recommendations suggests that there is a degree of ambivalence on their part to such a change. This may be due partly to the fact that many investment institutions have come to embrace ESG investing and now market a number of fee-generating ESG portfolios, but it may simply result from the fact that paying little attention to proxy votes is cheap and the path of least resistance, even if it shortchanges the people whose money it is. Even though the SECs rulemaking actions on proxy advisors occurred under the leadership of the prior administration, incoming SEC Chairman Gary Gensler should consider the studys implications. Asking investment managers to be more vigilant about their fiduciary responsibilities when it comes to voting their proxies is not inconsistent with the SECs ongoing efforts with regard to ESG investing. The SEC is now reacting to pressure from large asset managers and groups that represent large numbers of investment managers to do more to standardize ESG disclosures so that it is easier for investors to discern that firms offering such products are indeed putting their savings in worthy companies. However, it is not clear that reasonable peopleeven those who are allied in a particular causewill be able to come up with a rubric that clearly identifies worthy companies: The nature of the issues in question change over time and each industry may need its own criteria. This reality is the basis for the SECs current principles-based disclosure regime. People who want to put their money in ESG investments should be allowedeven encouragedto do so, and the SEC should strive to make it easy to do so, but it should not deceive investors into believing that there is an easy method to discern the relative effectiveness of various fundsor that there ever will be. Similarly, investors who do not choose to put their money into ESG funds should not have their ESG issues implicitly made a priority by the actions of proxy advisors. | New study finds investment managers reluctant to change their behavior to comport with the law. The SEC issued a rule requiring more disclosure from proxy advisors and provided additional guidance to investment managers to curtail the practice of allowing proxy advisors to vote the proxies for an investment manager without consulting them. | ctrlsum | 2 | https://www.forbes.com/sites/ikebrannon/2021/05/05/do-investment-managers-care-about-their-proxy-votes/ | 0.159241 |
When will the 2021 NFL schedule be released? | Now that the NFL draft is behind us we can officially start the countdown for the most exciting season yet. The 2021 NFL schedule will be released next Wednesday, May 12 at 8:00 p.m. ET. The season is expected to kick off on Thursday, September 9, and the last regular-season games will be played on Sunday, January 9. The season will conclude with Super Bowl LVI in Los Angeles on Sunday, February 13, 2022. In March, the NFL announced that the 2021 season will be the debut of an enhanced playing structure featuring a 17-game schedule. The matchups will be AFC East vs. NFC East, AFC North vs. NFC West, AFC South vs. NFC South, and AFC West vs. NFC North. Every team will play 17 games with one bye week, hosting 10 gameseither nine regular-season games and one preseason game or eight regular-season games and two preseason games. Additionally, the change in schedule includes a change to the process of setting international games. Each team will be required to play internationally at least once every eight years. Be sure to follow ProFootballTalk to find out the official 2021 NFL schedule with playing dates and times, as well as post-season news and updates. originally appeared on NBCSports.com | The 2021 NFL schedule will be released next Wednesday, May 12. | ctrlsum | 0 | https://sports.yahoo.com/2021-nfl-schedule-released-155729785.html?src=rss | 0.408883 |
When will the 2021 NFL schedule be released? | Now that the NFL draft is behind us we can officially start the countdown for the most exciting season yet. The 2021 NFL schedule will be released next Wednesday, May 12 at 8:00 p.m. ET. The season is expected to kick off on Thursday, September 9, and the last regular-season games will be played on Sunday, January 9. The season will conclude with Super Bowl LVI in Los Angeles on Sunday, February 13, 2022. In March, the NFL announced that the 2021 season will be the debut of an enhanced playing structure featuring a 17-game schedule. The matchups will be AFC East vs. NFC East, AFC North vs. NFC West, AFC South vs. NFC South, and AFC West vs. NFC North. Every team will play 17 games with one bye week, hosting 10 gameseither nine regular-season games and one preseason game or eight regular-season games and two preseason games. Additionally, the change in schedule includes a change to the process of setting international games. Each team will be required to play internationally at least once every eight years. Be sure to follow ProFootballTalk to find out the official 2021 NFL schedule with playing dates and times, as well as post-season news and updates. originally appeared on NBCSports.com | The 2021 NFL schedule will be released next Wednesday, May 12. The season is expected to kick off on Thursday, September 9, and the last regular-season games will be played on Sunday, January 9. | ctrlsum | 1 | https://sports.yahoo.com/2021-nfl-schedule-released-155729785.html?src=rss | 0.658482 |
When will the 2021 NFL schedule be released? | Now that the NFL draft is behind us we can officially start the countdown for the most exciting season yet. The 2021 NFL schedule will be released next Wednesday, May 12 at 8:00 p.m. ET. The season is expected to kick off on Thursday, September 9, and the last regular-season games will be played on Sunday, January 9. The season will conclude with Super Bowl LVI in Los Angeles on Sunday, February 13, 2022. In March, the NFL announced that the 2021 season will be the debut of an enhanced playing structure featuring a 17-game schedule. The matchups will be AFC East vs. NFC East, AFC North vs. NFC West, AFC South vs. NFC South, and AFC West vs. NFC North. Every team will play 17 games with one bye week, hosting 10 gameseither nine regular-season games and one preseason game or eight regular-season games and two preseason games. Additionally, the change in schedule includes a change to the process of setting international games. Each team will be required to play internationally at least once every eight years. Be sure to follow ProFootballTalk to find out the official 2021 NFL schedule with playing dates and times, as well as post-season news and updates. originally appeared on NBCSports.com | The 2021 NFL schedule will be released next Wednesday, May 12 at 8:00 p.m. ET. The season is expected to kick off on Thursday, September 9, and the last regular-season games will be played on Sunday, January 9. Each team will play 17 games with one bye week, hosting 10 games. | ctrlsum | 2 | https://sports.yahoo.com/2021-nfl-schedule-released-155729785.html?src=rss | 0.689143 |
Has Oregon States chase for a 2021 starting quarterback expanded to four, adding freshman Sam Vidlak? | Sam Vidlak gave up the second half of his senior year at Hidden Valley High, graduating early to get a jump on a career playing quarterback at Oregon State. Its not an unusual path for quarterbacks today. Given the mental, physical and time demands of the position, many college-bound quarterbacks graduate early to join their new school in time for spring practice. By all accounts, this spring has been successful for the 6-foot-1, 185-pound Vidlak. He has wowed with his arm and mobility. Its a crowded field already, led by junior Tristan Gebbia, the 2020 starter who is recovering from hamstring surgery. Theres sophomore Chance Nolan, who started the final three games when Gebbia went to the sideline, and second-year freshman Ben Gulbranson also in the mix. Offensive coordinator Brian Lindgren didnt say yes, but he didnt say no, either. Frankly, its premature. Vidlak spent most of the spring learning the plays, while his quarterback teammates already that part down. When Vidlak scrimmaged, it was often with the third team, and occasionally, the second unit. He did a lot of good things. I think hes learning the system, learning the concepts that we have, Lindgren said. Heres why Lindgren doesnt say no to the possibility of Vidlak getting involved in the starting chase. Hes going to have an offseason here and this summer to get himself stronger and a little bit quicker, Lindgren said. Then during fall camp, Ill be able to answer that question Ill have a better feel for where hes at physically, and his grasp of the system if we put him in there a little bit more with the first and second groups. --Nick Daschel | ndaschel@oregonian.com | @nickdaschel | Sam Vidlak graduated early from Hidden Valley High to play quarterback at Oregon State. The Beavers have a crowded quarterback race, with Tristan Gebbia, Chance Nolan and Ben Gulbranson. | ctrlsum | 1 | https://www.oregonlive.com/beavers/2021/05/has-oregon-states-chase-for-a-2021-starting-quarterback-expanded-to-four-adding-freshman-sam-vidlak.html | 0.164034 |
Has Oregon States chase for a 2021 starting quarterback expanded to four, adding freshman Sam Vidlak? | Sam Vidlak gave up the second half of his senior year at Hidden Valley High, graduating early to get a jump on a career playing quarterback at Oregon State. Its not an unusual path for quarterbacks today. Given the mental, physical and time demands of the position, many college-bound quarterbacks graduate early to join their new school in time for spring practice. By all accounts, this spring has been successful for the 6-foot-1, 185-pound Vidlak. He has wowed with his arm and mobility. Its a crowded field already, led by junior Tristan Gebbia, the 2020 starter who is recovering from hamstring surgery. Theres sophomore Chance Nolan, who started the final three games when Gebbia went to the sideline, and second-year freshman Ben Gulbranson also in the mix. Offensive coordinator Brian Lindgren didnt say yes, but he didnt say no, either. Frankly, its premature. Vidlak spent most of the spring learning the plays, while his quarterback teammates already that part down. When Vidlak scrimmaged, it was often with the third team, and occasionally, the second unit. He did a lot of good things. I think hes learning the system, learning the concepts that we have, Lindgren said. Heres why Lindgren doesnt say no to the possibility of Vidlak getting involved in the starting chase. Hes going to have an offseason here and this summer to get himself stronger and a little bit quicker, Lindgren said. Then during fall camp, Ill be able to answer that question Ill have a better feel for where hes at physically, and his grasp of the system if we put him in there a little bit more with the first and second groups. --Nick Daschel | ndaschel@oregonian.com | @nickdaschel | Sam Vidlak graduated early from Hidden Valley High to play quarterback at Oregon State. The Beavers have a crowded quarterback race, with Tristan Gebbia, Chance Nolan and Ben Gulbranson all in the mix for the 2021 starting job. VidLak spent most of the spring learning the plays, while his quarterback teammates already had that part down. | ctrlsum | 2 | https://www.oregonlive.com/beavers/2021/05/has-oregon-states-chase-for-a-2021-starting-quarterback-expanded-to-four-adding-freshman-sam-vidlak.html | 0.574314 |
Did questioning his daughters world history course make David Flynn unfit to coach football? | In a federal lawsuit filed against three Dedham school administrators, Flynn claims his termination was punishment for objecting to the course material and therefore violated his First Amendment rights. This was a straightforward retaliation claim, where someone complained about an issue in their school and they were fired for it, Tom Fitton, president of Judicial Watch, a conservative group representing Flynn in court, told me. David Flynn was a popular Dedham High School football coach with a winning record and the father of a Dedham seventh-grader when he raised concerns about his daughters world history curriculum. A few months later, his contract was not renewed and he lost his coaching job. Advertisement Flynn and his wife were questioning a course that was called World Geography and Ancient History, but, according to the complaint, it focused instead on race, gender, and discrimination issues and was taught by a teacher who was allegedly using an avatar of herself wearing a Black Lives Matter T-shirt. The controversy opens a local front in the ongoing culture war waged in public schools across the country over critical race theory, an academic framework that analyzes how racism is woven into American institutions and life. The school system denies thats what happened. But, according to a letter cited in the lawsuit, which was publicly released at the time of Flynns termination and signed by the three defendants, Dedham parents and football players were told that Flynn expressed significant philosophical differences with the direction, goals, and values of the school district. Due to these differences, we felt it best to seek different leadership for the program at this time. The letter didnt specify what values were at issue. Advertisement Dedham school officials didnt respond to an e-mail seeking comment. Brian E. Lewis, the lawyer representing the three defendants Dedham Superintendent Michael J. Welch, Dedham High School principal Jim Forrest, and athletic director Stephen Traister e-mailed a copy of the answer filed in response to the suit. In it, the defendants deny the allegations but say that even if true, there was a superseding state interest in making the decision at issue in the complaint. I guess the outcome might turn on which persona emerges as the primary one coach or parent, said Silverglate. So far, theres no evidence Flynn imposed his politics on the locker room. What he did was build a successful football program. The year before he was hired, the team had a 1-10 season. Since 2017, the team has compiled an overall 19-14 record. As a coach, Flynn seemed to be well-liked and respected. According to the complaint, he invited a female student to join the JV football team and welcomed a student with special needs to serve as team manager. As a parent, he didnt like what his daughter was being taught and complained about it. Unhappy with the response, he transferred his two children out of Dedham Public Schools and communicated his displeasure to several school committee members and to parents of other students. Advertisement Flynns cause has been taken up by the Massachusetts Republican Party chairman, Jim Lyons, who at the time of Flynns dismissal, denounced it as an example of the far-lefts moral enforcement authority. Lyons also appears in a video produced by Judicial Watch in which he calls the case cancel culture on steroids. Words like that only divide us. They dont help us figure out how to teach critical thinking about race, gender, and class in a way that brings us together and lets Flynn coach football in Dedham. Joan Vennochi can be reached at joan.vennochi@globe.com. Follow her on Twitter @joan_vennochi. | David Flynn was a popular Dedham High School football coach with a winning record. He raised concerns about his daughter's world history curriculum. | pegasus | 0 | https://www.bostonglobe.com/2021/05/05/opinion/did-questioning-his-daughters-world-history-course-make-david-flynn-unfit-coach-football/ | 0.14269 |
Did questioning his daughters world history course make David Flynn unfit to coach football? | In a federal lawsuit filed against three Dedham school administrators, Flynn claims his termination was punishment for objecting to the course material and therefore violated his First Amendment rights. This was a straightforward retaliation claim, where someone complained about an issue in their school and they were fired for it, Tom Fitton, president of Judicial Watch, a conservative group representing Flynn in court, told me. David Flynn was a popular Dedham High School football coach with a winning record and the father of a Dedham seventh-grader when he raised concerns about his daughters world history curriculum. A few months later, his contract was not renewed and he lost his coaching job. Advertisement Flynn and his wife were questioning a course that was called World Geography and Ancient History, but, according to the complaint, it focused instead on race, gender, and discrimination issues and was taught by a teacher who was allegedly using an avatar of herself wearing a Black Lives Matter T-shirt. The controversy opens a local front in the ongoing culture war waged in public schools across the country over critical race theory, an academic framework that analyzes how racism is woven into American institutions and life. The school system denies thats what happened. But, according to a letter cited in the lawsuit, which was publicly released at the time of Flynns termination and signed by the three defendants, Dedham parents and football players were told that Flynn expressed significant philosophical differences with the direction, goals, and values of the school district. Due to these differences, we felt it best to seek different leadership for the program at this time. The letter didnt specify what values were at issue. Advertisement Dedham school officials didnt respond to an e-mail seeking comment. Brian E. Lewis, the lawyer representing the three defendants Dedham Superintendent Michael J. Welch, Dedham High School principal Jim Forrest, and athletic director Stephen Traister e-mailed a copy of the answer filed in response to the suit. In it, the defendants deny the allegations but say that even if true, there was a superseding state interest in making the decision at issue in the complaint. I guess the outcome might turn on which persona emerges as the primary one coach or parent, said Silverglate. So far, theres no evidence Flynn imposed his politics on the locker room. What he did was build a successful football program. The year before he was hired, the team had a 1-10 season. Since 2017, the team has compiled an overall 19-14 record. As a coach, Flynn seemed to be well-liked and respected. According to the complaint, he invited a female student to join the JV football team and welcomed a student with special needs to serve as team manager. As a parent, he didnt like what his daughter was being taught and complained about it. Unhappy with the response, he transferred his two children out of Dedham Public Schools and communicated his displeasure to several school committee members and to parents of other students. Advertisement Flynns cause has been taken up by the Massachusetts Republican Party chairman, Jim Lyons, who at the time of Flynns dismissal, denounced it as an example of the far-lefts moral enforcement authority. Lyons also appears in a video produced by Judicial Watch in which he calls the case cancel culture on steroids. Words like that only divide us. They dont help us figure out how to teach critical thinking about race, gender, and class in a way that brings us together and lets Flynn coach football in Dedham. Joan Vennochi can be reached at joan.vennochi@globe.com. Follow her on Twitter @joan_vennochi. | David Flynn was a popular Dedham High School football coach with a winning record. He raised concerns about his daughter's world history curriculum. A few months later, his contract was not renewed and he lost his coaching job. | pegasus | 1 | https://www.bostonglobe.com/2021/05/05/opinion/did-questioning-his-daughters-world-history-course-make-david-flynn-unfit-coach-football/ | 0.534691 |
Did questioning his daughters world history course make David Flynn unfit to coach football? | In a federal lawsuit filed against three Dedham school administrators, Flynn claims his termination was punishment for objecting to the course material and therefore violated his First Amendment rights. This was a straightforward retaliation claim, where someone complained about an issue in their school and they were fired for it, Tom Fitton, president of Judicial Watch, a conservative group representing Flynn in court, told me. David Flynn was a popular Dedham High School football coach with a winning record and the father of a Dedham seventh-grader when he raised concerns about his daughters world history curriculum. A few months later, his contract was not renewed and he lost his coaching job. Advertisement Flynn and his wife were questioning a course that was called World Geography and Ancient History, but, according to the complaint, it focused instead on race, gender, and discrimination issues and was taught by a teacher who was allegedly using an avatar of herself wearing a Black Lives Matter T-shirt. The controversy opens a local front in the ongoing culture war waged in public schools across the country over critical race theory, an academic framework that analyzes how racism is woven into American institutions and life. The school system denies thats what happened. But, according to a letter cited in the lawsuit, which was publicly released at the time of Flynns termination and signed by the three defendants, Dedham parents and football players were told that Flynn expressed significant philosophical differences with the direction, goals, and values of the school district. Due to these differences, we felt it best to seek different leadership for the program at this time. The letter didnt specify what values were at issue. Advertisement Dedham school officials didnt respond to an e-mail seeking comment. Brian E. Lewis, the lawyer representing the three defendants Dedham Superintendent Michael J. Welch, Dedham High School principal Jim Forrest, and athletic director Stephen Traister e-mailed a copy of the answer filed in response to the suit. In it, the defendants deny the allegations but say that even if true, there was a superseding state interest in making the decision at issue in the complaint. I guess the outcome might turn on which persona emerges as the primary one coach or parent, said Silverglate. So far, theres no evidence Flynn imposed his politics on the locker room. What he did was build a successful football program. The year before he was hired, the team had a 1-10 season. Since 2017, the team has compiled an overall 19-14 record. As a coach, Flynn seemed to be well-liked and respected. According to the complaint, he invited a female student to join the JV football team and welcomed a student with special needs to serve as team manager. As a parent, he didnt like what his daughter was being taught and complained about it. Unhappy with the response, he transferred his two children out of Dedham Public Schools and communicated his displeasure to several school committee members and to parents of other students. Advertisement Flynns cause has been taken up by the Massachusetts Republican Party chairman, Jim Lyons, who at the time of Flynns dismissal, denounced it as an example of the far-lefts moral enforcement authority. Lyons also appears in a video produced by Judicial Watch in which he calls the case cancel culture on steroids. Words like that only divide us. They dont help us figure out how to teach critical thinking about race, gender, and class in a way that brings us together and lets Flynn coach football in Dedham. Joan Vennochi can be reached at joan.vennochi@globe.com. Follow her on Twitter @joan_vennochi. | David Flynn was a popular football coach at Dedham High School in Massachusetts. He raised concerns about his daughter's world history curriculum. A few months later, his contract was not renewed and he lost his coaching job. Flynn claims his termination was punishment for objecting to the course material. | bart | 2 | https://www.bostonglobe.com/2021/05/05/opinion/did-questioning-his-daughters-world-history-course-make-david-flynn-unfit-coach-football/ | 0.557749 |
What would be the most favorable first-round matchup for the Bruins? | Heres how the three potential opponents have played since the April 12 trade deadline, while the Bruins have swashbuckled along at 10-2-1 (.808): On the whole, their vastly improved offense and boost in confidence the last three weeks have made for a promising look headed into the playoffs, no matter whether they face the Penguins, Capitals, or Islanders. Theres a lot to like about the Bruins right now, despite the frayed ending of their 4-3 overtime loss Tuesday night in New Jersey. Based on the numbers, the easy answer is the Islanders, but dont be so sure. In other words, dont be sleeping on Semyon Varlamov. Advertisement The Islanders, 5-2-0 vs. Boston in the regular season, will be at the Garden Monday night. True, they have a devil of a time scoring, and theyve seen zero sizzle from smart deadline acquisitions Kyle Palmieri and Travis Zajac (combined 2-35 in 25 games). But they have a stout, stubborn, and dependable defensive unit, and in net they have Varlamov, who leads the league with seven shutouts and looks like the favorite to win the Vezina Trophy. With the East to wrap up play in less than a week, the Islanders looks like softies at the moment. Not buying it here. They have a Cup-winning coach in Barry Trotz, who knows successful playoff hockey is constructed around defense, and also knows he has this seasons most dependable goaltender headed into the tournament. Yep. And thats just what theyll try to do. The Bruins, and anyone else, will be challenged to grind away with the Fish Sticks. Their big, proven top-six D-men will lock the slot, and Varlamov (11-7 in last years playoffs) can take care of what little seeps through. We know that will be the formula. It will take patience and power down low to beat them. The post-deadline Bruins have enough of that to get the job done. Advertisement The Penguins, nearly as hot as the Bruins since the trade deadline, got a big boost over the weekend with the return of Evgeny Malkin after a three-week absence. He started right up with 0-33 in two games vs. the Flyers. Always a good thing to drop another world-class center into the equation with the postseason about to start. Even with Malkin missing for a spell, the Penguins have wrung 159 points out of their top three point producers (Sidney Crosby, Jake Guentzel, and Kris Letang). As of Wednesday morning, that was 5 points better than the Bruins big three of Brad Marchand, David Pastrnak, and Patrice Bergeron. So they have requisite pop, along with some depth added up front with the interesting April addition of Jeff Carter from the Kings. The Penguins picked up Jeff Carter (center) at the trade deadline. Gene J. Puskar/Associated Press What the Penguins cant do is lock down the back end, not to the degree the Bruins can, and certainly not to the Islanders standard. Then theres their inexperience in net. To wit: Tristan Jarry has all of one game of postseason experience, and former UNH Wildcat Casey DeSmith has none. Its rarely a good idea to launch a Cup bid with that kind of inexperience in net, unless youre the 1971 Canadiens with 23-year-old Ken Dryden (six games NHL experience) folded in with nine other guys, including fellow goalie Rogie Vachon, who would join you one day in the Hockey Hall of Fame. Bruins fans of a certain age often overlook the greatness the Habs brought to the ice that spring. Advertisement The Penguins lost five of their eight matchups with the Bruins this season and were outscored, 21-19. Despite their impressive play over the last three weeks, and the addition of Carter, they dont look like a serious threat to the Bruins in a first-round matchup. The Capitals will play host to the Bruins Tuesday in the season closer for both clubs. Of the three teams they could face, the Bruins have been best against Washington (4-1-2). The low point of 2021 for the Bruins was an 8-1 shellacking the Capitals put on them April 11, and within 24 hours, general manager Don Sweeney added Taylor Hall, Mike Reilly, and Curtis Lazar. The two clubs met a week later and the Bruins returned the favor, 6-3, with a pair of goals each by David Krejci, Bergeron, and Marchand. No. 1 gun Alex Ovechkin recently missed four games with a lower-body injury, returned Monday night, and exited after one shift. If hes out, the Capitals can fahgettaboutit. If hes hobbled, still big trouble. The Great Ovie is 35 years old, but hes still the difference between the Capitals winning or losing in the postseason (roll tape here of him holding the Big Mug high in a fountain in June 2018). Advertisement When healthy, Alex Ovechkin (left) is a force on the ice. That goes ditto for D.C. Neither Ilya Samsonov nor Vitek Vanecek has logged a minute of playoff experience. If the playoffs began based on the Wednesday morning standings, using points percentage rather than points, the Bruins, slotted third, would open a best-of-seven series at No. 2. Pittsburgh. If successful, Round 2 would bring them the winner of Capitals (1) vs. Islanders (4). From here, that looks like an ideal setup; let the Capitals go into the Trotz auger. At the end of the day, I just want to get out of our division, said Bruins coach Bruce Cassidy the other day in New Jersey. Its a tough division. Its tough to pick a team that can separate itself from the others on paper; theyre all solid teams. And right now, the Bruins look like the strongest of the bunch. Kevin Paul Dupont can be reached at kevin.dupont@globe.com. Follow him on Twitter @GlobeKPD. | The Bruins could face the Islanders, Penguins, or Capitals in the playoffs. The Bruins are 10-2-1 since the April 12 trade deadline. | pegasus | 0 | https://www.bostonglobe.com/2021/05/05/sports/what-would-be-most-favorable-first-round-matchup-bruins/ | 0.112595 |
Could Georgia Techs Moses Wright really go undrafted? | Georgia Tech forward Moses Wright (5) dunks the ball against Syracuse in the second half Saturday, Feb. 27, 2021, at Georgia Tech's McCamish Pavilion in Atlanta. Tech won 84-77. (Hyosub Shin / Hyosub.Shin@ajc.com) Credit: HYOSUB SHIN / AJC Credit: HYOSUB SHIN / AJC Which sounds nuts. The best player in the ACC is by a definition one heck of a ballplayer. But NBAdraft.net doesnt list him among its full 60-man mock draft. ESPN ranks him 87th among its top 100 players. (Techs Jose Alvarado, also a senior, is 92nd.) It isnt that scouts have missed Wright: He played four seasons in the highest-profile conference. Theyve seen him; they just havent been impressed. That hes 22 is part of the reason. NBA folks tend to believe that if youre not in the league by the time youre 20, theres something wrong with you. Pastner believes Wright will get drafted. He said several teams have expressed interest. He believes Wright will fare well in pre-draft convocations. Pastner cites the case of Josh Okogie, who wasnt high on any board when he declared for the 2018 draft after his sophomore season. He went 20th overall to Minnesota. Im not a scout, but Ive talked to enough of them over these many years that I have some idea what they like. The issue with Wright is that hes a tweener. At 6-foot-9, he could play small forward, but an NBA wing must make 3-pointers Wright made 26 over 111 collegiate games and guard other wings. Pro teams want their power forwards to be able to play on the perimeter and stretch the floor. Wright is at his best when working as an old-fashioned back-to-the-basket center, and hes not big enough to qualify as an NBA 5. This isnt to say Wright cant play in the NBA. Udonis Haslem, whos of similar size, went undrafted out of Florida. After a season in France, he landed with the Miami Heat and spent 17 seasons there, helping win three NBA titles. The overseas option is available to Wright. So is the G League. Very soon, somebody will be paying him to play basketball unless he decides to return to Tech for another season. Seniors Jordan Usher and Bubba Parham already have opted to stay. Junior Michael Devoe has made himself draft-available but is keeping his options open. Alvarado is a senior, but hes also no lock to be drafted. If Tech somehow manages to return an ACC championship team intact, it will be among the nations top five come November. Thats not apt to happen. Returning to Tech means returning to college, which means taking college classes. Wright has spent four years doing that; hell graduate in May. He wants to play pro ball, and theres nothing he can prove to scouts as a fifth-year man they havent already seen. (Hed be 23 when the 2022 draft arrives, and thats ancient.) Oh, and theres this: This also being the year of the free transfer, Wright could at least in theory return to college without returning to Tech. Hed be the most accomplished player in the brief history of the portal. Again, though: not apt to happen. Before Tech folks work themselves into a high dudgeon over their players never getting any credit, be advised that this isnt some anti-Jacket conspiracy. Luka Garza of Iowa was a two-time Big Ten player of the year and the 2021 national player of the year. NBAdraft.net doesnt include him in its latest mock, either. | Moses Wright is the best player in the ACC, but he's not a lock to be drafted. | pegasus | 0 | https://www.ajc.com/sports/mark-bradley-blog/could-techs-moses-wright-really-go-undrafted/WS7ZT5AIFBD6DCTJ3QRGZJZNJI/ | 0.150099 |
Could Georgia Techs Moses Wright really go undrafted? | Georgia Tech forward Moses Wright (5) dunks the ball against Syracuse in the second half Saturday, Feb. 27, 2021, at Georgia Tech's McCamish Pavilion in Atlanta. Tech won 84-77. (Hyosub Shin / Hyosub.Shin@ajc.com) Credit: HYOSUB SHIN / AJC Credit: HYOSUB SHIN / AJC Which sounds nuts. The best player in the ACC is by a definition one heck of a ballplayer. But NBAdraft.net doesnt list him among its full 60-man mock draft. ESPN ranks him 87th among its top 100 players. (Techs Jose Alvarado, also a senior, is 92nd.) It isnt that scouts have missed Wright: He played four seasons in the highest-profile conference. Theyve seen him; they just havent been impressed. That hes 22 is part of the reason. NBA folks tend to believe that if youre not in the league by the time youre 20, theres something wrong with you. Pastner believes Wright will get drafted. He said several teams have expressed interest. He believes Wright will fare well in pre-draft convocations. Pastner cites the case of Josh Okogie, who wasnt high on any board when he declared for the 2018 draft after his sophomore season. He went 20th overall to Minnesota. Im not a scout, but Ive talked to enough of them over these many years that I have some idea what they like. The issue with Wright is that hes a tweener. At 6-foot-9, he could play small forward, but an NBA wing must make 3-pointers Wright made 26 over 111 collegiate games and guard other wings. Pro teams want their power forwards to be able to play on the perimeter and stretch the floor. Wright is at his best when working as an old-fashioned back-to-the-basket center, and hes not big enough to qualify as an NBA 5. This isnt to say Wright cant play in the NBA. Udonis Haslem, whos of similar size, went undrafted out of Florida. After a season in France, he landed with the Miami Heat and spent 17 seasons there, helping win three NBA titles. The overseas option is available to Wright. So is the G League. Very soon, somebody will be paying him to play basketball unless he decides to return to Tech for another season. Seniors Jordan Usher and Bubba Parham already have opted to stay. Junior Michael Devoe has made himself draft-available but is keeping his options open. Alvarado is a senior, but hes also no lock to be drafted. If Tech somehow manages to return an ACC championship team intact, it will be among the nations top five come November. Thats not apt to happen. Returning to Tech means returning to college, which means taking college classes. Wright has spent four years doing that; hell graduate in May. He wants to play pro ball, and theres nothing he can prove to scouts as a fifth-year man they havent already seen. (Hed be 23 when the 2022 draft arrives, and thats ancient.) Oh, and theres this: This also being the year of the free transfer, Wright could at least in theory return to college without returning to Tech. Hed be the most accomplished player in the brief history of the portal. Again, though: not apt to happen. Before Tech folks work themselves into a high dudgeon over their players never getting any credit, be advised that this isnt some anti-Jacket conspiracy. Luka Garza of Iowa was a two-time Big Ten player of the year and the 2021 national player of the year. NBAdraft.net doesnt include him in its latest mock, either. | Moses Wright is the best player in the ACC, but he's not a lock to be drafted. The issue with Wright is that he's a tweener. | pegasus | 1 | https://www.ajc.com/sports/mark-bradley-blog/could-techs-moses-wright-really-go-undrafted/WS7ZT5AIFBD6DCTJ3QRGZJZNJI/ | 0.159003 |
Could Georgia Techs Moses Wright really go undrafted? | Georgia Tech forward Moses Wright (5) dunks the ball against Syracuse in the second half Saturday, Feb. 27, 2021, at Georgia Tech's McCamish Pavilion in Atlanta. Tech won 84-77. (Hyosub Shin / Hyosub.Shin@ajc.com) Credit: HYOSUB SHIN / AJC Credit: HYOSUB SHIN / AJC Which sounds nuts. The best player in the ACC is by a definition one heck of a ballplayer. But NBAdraft.net doesnt list him among its full 60-man mock draft. ESPN ranks him 87th among its top 100 players. (Techs Jose Alvarado, also a senior, is 92nd.) It isnt that scouts have missed Wright: He played four seasons in the highest-profile conference. Theyve seen him; they just havent been impressed. That hes 22 is part of the reason. NBA folks tend to believe that if youre not in the league by the time youre 20, theres something wrong with you. Pastner believes Wright will get drafted. He said several teams have expressed interest. He believes Wright will fare well in pre-draft convocations. Pastner cites the case of Josh Okogie, who wasnt high on any board when he declared for the 2018 draft after his sophomore season. He went 20th overall to Minnesota. Im not a scout, but Ive talked to enough of them over these many years that I have some idea what they like. The issue with Wright is that hes a tweener. At 6-foot-9, he could play small forward, but an NBA wing must make 3-pointers Wright made 26 over 111 collegiate games and guard other wings. Pro teams want their power forwards to be able to play on the perimeter and stretch the floor. Wright is at his best when working as an old-fashioned back-to-the-basket center, and hes not big enough to qualify as an NBA 5. This isnt to say Wright cant play in the NBA. Udonis Haslem, whos of similar size, went undrafted out of Florida. After a season in France, he landed with the Miami Heat and spent 17 seasons there, helping win three NBA titles. The overseas option is available to Wright. So is the G League. Very soon, somebody will be paying him to play basketball unless he decides to return to Tech for another season. Seniors Jordan Usher and Bubba Parham already have opted to stay. Junior Michael Devoe has made himself draft-available but is keeping his options open. Alvarado is a senior, but hes also no lock to be drafted. If Tech somehow manages to return an ACC championship team intact, it will be among the nations top five come November. Thats not apt to happen. Returning to Tech means returning to college, which means taking college classes. Wright has spent four years doing that; hell graduate in May. He wants to play pro ball, and theres nothing he can prove to scouts as a fifth-year man they havent already seen. (Hed be 23 when the 2022 draft arrives, and thats ancient.) Oh, and theres this: This also being the year of the free transfer, Wright could at least in theory return to college without returning to Tech. Hed be the most accomplished player in the brief history of the portal. Again, though: not apt to happen. Before Tech folks work themselves into a high dudgeon over their players never getting any credit, be advised that this isnt some anti-Jacket conspiracy. Luka Garza of Iowa was a two-time Big Ten player of the year and the 2021 national player of the year. NBAdraft.net doesnt include him in its latest mock, either. | Moses Wright is the best player in the ACC, but he's not a lock to be drafted. The issue with Wright is that he's a tweener. At 6-foot-9, he could play small forward, but an NBA wing must make 3-pointers. | pegasus | 2 | https://www.ajc.com/sports/mark-bradley-blog/could-techs-moses-wright-really-go-undrafted/WS7ZT5AIFBD6DCTJ3QRGZJZNJI/ | 0.162472 |
Can the Cleveland Indians keep relying on late-inning rallies to produce wins? | Register for Indians Subtext to hear your Tribe questions answered exclusively on the show. Send a text to 216-208-4346 to subscribe for $3.99/mo. CLEVELAND, Ohio The Indians have won back-to-back games against the Royals with basically the same formula: tie the score by the sixth inning and rely on your offense to produce late for a win. Paul Hoynes and Joe Noga break it down on Wednesdays podcast. Click here. We have an Apple podcasts channel exclusively for this podcast. Subscribe to it here. You can also subscribe on Google Play and listen on Spotify. Search Cleveland Baseball Talk Podcast or download the audio here. - New Indians face masks for sale: Heres where you can buy Cleveland Indians-themed face coverings for coronavirus protection, including a single mask ($14.99) and a 3-pack ($24.99). All MLB proceeds donated to charity. How Zach Plesac got back on track vs. White Sox An 85% vaccination rate and 4 other things Indians minor leaguers return to play in 2021 after pandemic shutdown | Can the Indians continue to rely on their offense to produce late for a win? The answer is a resounding yes. | ctrlsum | 0 | https://www.cleveland.com/tribe/2021/05/can-the-cleveland-indians-keep-relying-on-late-inning-rallies-to-produce-wins.html | 0.207754 |
Would DeMarvin Leal, Zion Nelson make sense for Giants in 2022? | Now that the 2021 NFL draft has concluded, its time to focus on the 2022 NFL draft. Were not kidding. Draft Wires Luke Easterling has published his way too-early 2022 mock draft, which we briefly touched on earlier this week. The Giants, remember, have two first round picks next year, so heres who he sees the Giants selecting. In Easterlings mock draft, the Giants have the seventh overall pick and the Chicago Bears pick, which is No. 11. With the seventh pick, the Giants take Texas A&M defensive lineman DeMarvin Leal. The 6-foot-4, 291 pound junior is expected to be a top 10 pick next April. He is considered a hybrid players can line up at any any position on the defensive line. He has an unbelievably competitive nature. When hes on the field, I dont ever see him loaf for one second, Aggies head coach Jimbo Fisher said of Leal last October. I dont care what drill it is, what were doing or how we do it. Those kinds of guys change cultures of an organization because theyre great players, and theyre highly recruited players who play like they have no ability with their effort and toughness. With the 11th pick, the Giants select Miami offensive tackle Zion Nelson, a 6-foot-5, 315 pound underclassman. Nelson played left tackle last season as a sophomore but will need this season in college to sure up his fundamentals. Hes just a freak of nature. Zions an incredibly gifted football player, center Corey Gaynor said. Hes got long arms. Think hes big and strong, and I think hes very twitchy. Hes everything you want out of a left tackle. A lot can happen between now and the 2022 NFL draft, but odds are the Giants will still need a quality offensive lineman by then. They also love their versatile defensive linemen, so both Leal and Nelson are worth watching this coming college season. List | The New York Giants have the seventh and 11th picks in the 2022 NFL draft. With the seventh pick, the Giants take Texas A&M defensive lineman DeMarvin Leal. | pegasus | 1 | https://sports.yahoo.com/demarvin-leal-zion-nelson-sense-160048299.html?src=rss | 0.374148 |
Would DeMarvin Leal, Zion Nelson make sense for Giants in 2022? | Now that the 2021 NFL draft has concluded, its time to focus on the 2022 NFL draft. Were not kidding. Draft Wires Luke Easterling has published his way too-early 2022 mock draft, which we briefly touched on earlier this week. The Giants, remember, have two first round picks next year, so heres who he sees the Giants selecting. In Easterlings mock draft, the Giants have the seventh overall pick and the Chicago Bears pick, which is No. 11. With the seventh pick, the Giants take Texas A&M defensive lineman DeMarvin Leal. The 6-foot-4, 291 pound junior is expected to be a top 10 pick next April. He is considered a hybrid players can line up at any any position on the defensive line. He has an unbelievably competitive nature. When hes on the field, I dont ever see him loaf for one second, Aggies head coach Jimbo Fisher said of Leal last October. I dont care what drill it is, what were doing or how we do it. Those kinds of guys change cultures of an organization because theyre great players, and theyre highly recruited players who play like they have no ability with their effort and toughness. With the 11th pick, the Giants select Miami offensive tackle Zion Nelson, a 6-foot-5, 315 pound underclassman. Nelson played left tackle last season as a sophomore but will need this season in college to sure up his fundamentals. Hes just a freak of nature. Zions an incredibly gifted football player, center Corey Gaynor said. Hes got long arms. Think hes big and strong, and I think hes very twitchy. Hes everything you want out of a left tackle. A lot can happen between now and the 2022 NFL draft, but odds are the Giants will still need a quality offensive lineman by then. They also love their versatile defensive linemen, so both Leal and Nelson are worth watching this coming college season. List | The New York Giants have the seventh and 11th picks in the 2022 NFL draft. With the seventh pick, the Giants take Texas A&M defensive lineman DeMarvin Leal. With the 11th pick, the Giants select Miami offensive tackle Zion Nelson. | pegasus | 2 | https://sports.yahoo.com/demarvin-leal-zion-nelson-sense-160048299.html?src=rss | 0.624435 |
Can employers require their staff to be vaccinated? | NO COUNTRY HAS made covid-19 inoculation mandatory for its citizens. But some industries have embraced the idea for their staff and even customers. In January Saga Cruises, a British cruise-line company, said that it would welcome only guests who were fully vaccinated. Hornblower Group, an American operator, implemented a similar policy, adding that crew and staff on land would also have to be inoculated. Some health-care companies have done the same. Houston Methodist Hospital, in Texas, has told its 26,000 employees to get fully vaccinated by June 7th or lose their jobs. And care-home operators in Britain have set similar deadlines. But the rules around whether employers can oblige staff to be inoculated are unclear and contested. In America, guidance issued by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, a federal agency, suggests that, because of the danger posed by covid-19, unvaccinated employees pose a direct threat to the health and safety of others in the workplace. Thus, employers have the right to require vaccinations. There are some caveats, though. People with certain medical conditions, those with religious objections and, in some states, pregnant women are exempt. And lawmakers (most of them Republican) in dozens of states have put forward bills to stop employers making inoculation obligatory, although few are likely to become law. Compulsory vaccination is already being tested in the courts. In February a worker at the Doa Ana County Detention Centre in Las Cruces, New Mexico, filed a lawsuit against the county after being told that, to keep his job, he must get the vaccine. Part of his claim centres on the fact that covid-19 vaccines have so far been authorised only for emergency use, rather than gaining full regulatory approval. Elsewhere the situation is less clear. British employers cannot force their employees to be vaccinated or dismiss them if they refuse. However, they do have a duty of care to their staff and must ensure that the workplace is safe. It may be reasonable in some circumstances for an employer to request proof of vaccination if it is deemed essential for an employee to perform their job, for example if they need to travel abroad or administer health care. (This already applies to some health workers whose employers require them to have the Hepatitis B vaccine.) It may also be within the employers rights to take disciplinary action if they fail to comply. So far there have been no legal cases in Britain putting that to the test. If such a case were to arise the judge would have to weigh the rights of the person against the instructions of the employer. Other European countries are struggling with similar conflicts. The Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, a body of legislators which is supposed to act as a guardian of the continents democratic freedoms (although it has little real power), passed a non-binding motion in January that member states should ensure that no one is discriminated against for not having been vaccinated, due to possible health risks or not wanting to be vaccinated. But on March 31st the Italian government approved emergency legislation making vaccination obligatory for health-care workers, including pharmacy staff. Those who refuse may be reassigned to other jobs, demoted or even suspended with no salary for up to a year. But even where it is legal to require vaccination, critics worry that mandates risk undermining trust between workers and employers, and that exemptions will prompt claims of unfairness from staff members not granted them or potentially put at risk. So carrots will matter as well as sticks. Whether offering training to make staff aware of the benefits of inoculation, or giving employees paid time off to get a shot, wise employers will try to nudge people towards vaccination rather than simply shove them. Dig deeper All our stories relating to the pandemic and the vaccines can be found on our coronavirus hub. You can also listen to The Jab, our new podcast on the race between injections and infections, and find trackers showing the global roll-out of vaccines, excess deaths by country and the viruss spread across Europe and America. | Some industries have embraced the idea for their staff and even customers. But the rules around whether employers can oblige staff to be inoculated are unclear. British employers cannot force their employees to be vaccinated or dismiss them if they refuse. But they do have a duty of care to their staff and must ensure that the workplace is safe. | pegasus | 2 | https://www.economist.com/the-economist-explains/2021/05/05/can-employers-require-their-staff-to-be-vaccinated | 0.200474 |
Should menthol cigarettes be banned? | The 360 shows you diverse perspectives on the days top stories and debates. Whats happening The Food and Drug Administration announced last week that it would begin the process of banning menthol cigarettes and flavored cigars. The move comes after years of public pressure and legal challenges from anti-smoking groups aimed at compelling the FDA to follow through on its own recommendation that menthol cigarettes be banned. Menthol is a substance that can be derived from mint plants or created synthetically. It was first added to cigarettes in the 1920s, when manufacturers learned that in addition to its flavoring, menthol creates a cooling sensation in the throat that can mask the harshness of smoke. All cigarettes cause cancer, but health experts believe this cooling effect makes menthols especially problematic because it can make it easier for young people to take up smoking and harder for smokers to quit. The FDA estimates that there are more than 18 million menthol smokers in the U.S. The flavor has been especially popular among Black Americans. Roughly 85 percent of Black smokers prefer menthols, compared to 30 percent of white smokers, thanks in large part to decades of aggressive marketing campaigns from cigarette companies promoting the product in Black communities. In 2009, Congress prohibited the sale of all flavored cigarettes except menthol. Four years later, the FDA recommended banning menthol as well, but efforts to implement that have so far been bogged down by political pressure and legal fights. Why theres debate Supporters say banning menthols would be a major step toward reducing the number of cigarette-related deaths in the U.S. They argue that removing a more palatable version of cigarettes from the market would both prevent young people from taking up the habit and compel many longtime smokers to quit. Banning menthols is also seen as a racial justice issue. Advocates say a ban would be a step toward reversing decades of damage caused by predatory marketing to Black communities. For generations, the tobacco industry has intentionally targeted Black and other communities with marketing of menthol cigarettes, resulting in tobacco-related death and disease as well as health disparities, Harold Wimmer, president of the American Lung Association, wrote in a statement. Story continues Opponents fear that banning menthols would do little to reduce demand for cigarettes and would likely give rise to a potentially dangerous black market outside the reach of regulators. Others say it would be discriminatory to single out a product preferred by Black people. There are also worries that enforcement of the ban would create more opportunities for police to target Black people, which would ultimately run counter to the racial justice goals of anti-smoking groups. Whats next Despite the FDAs announcement, menthols wont be disappearing from store shelves anytime soon. Before a ban can be put in place, the proposal must be drafted in detail, opened for public review and finally approved by the White House. Legal challenges from cigarette manufacturers, which experts say are likely, could delay implementation of the ban even further. Perspectives Supporters Banning menthols will save Black lives Menthol was lumped just in with the other evidences of systemic racism and health injustices that African-American communities have suffered so long. And so to have a victory of this magnitude, where the FDA comes out and says, yes, black lives do matter, yes, we do care about health for black communities, that was very important for us and very moving for us. Delmonte Jefferson, executive director of the Center for Black Health & Equity, to PBS NewsHour A ban would help reverse racial health inequities Ending the sale of menthol and all flavored tobacco products is one step we should take to immediately address the health crisis of racism. ... Lets support Black lives and Black lungs by clearing the market of deadly menthol and flavored tobacco products. LaTrisha Vetaw and Zeke McKinney, Minneapolis Star Tribune Without menthols, fewer people will smoke Menthol as a tobacco additive is a problem because its a gimmick that works. It numbs the throat and makes tobacco smoke less harsh. Menthol thus makes it easier for kids to start smoking and harder for adults to quit. Michael Schwalbe, News & Observer A menthol ban is long overdue The FDA, which has come under attack for dithering on tobacco issues, deserves praise for evaluating the evidence and, albeit belatedly, taking this significant step forward. Mark A. Gottlieb and Richard Daynard, Boston Globe Concerns about a ban fueling discriminatory policing can be addressed It would indeed be troubling if law enforcement used a ban on menthol cigarettes as a pretext to target communities of color further, but that is a separate issue better dealt with by criminal justice reform at the state and local level. ... The bigger injustice is allowing tobacco companies to continue to push their deadly product on communities of color. Editorial, Los Angeles Times Opponents Outright bans dont work Prohibition is a close-your-eyes and bury-your-head-in-the-sand approach to drug policy. Those who support blanket prohibitions of popular substances are wishing on a star that somehow the substance will magically disappear. Did alcohol and marijuana magically disappear during their prohibitions? Art Way, Minn Post Illegal menthol sales would lead to a spike in crime Menthol cigarettes are still the preference of many adults who choose to smoke. Banning that product will just push sales out of the stores and create a lucrative illicit market. Rich Marianos, CT Mirror Banning menthols is a step too far We should continue to help people quit smoking with education and therapy programs. We should urge smokers to switch to comparatively safer products, like e-cigarettes. And we should discourage and shun the habit. But lets stop short of making the sellers of menthol cigarettes and by extension, users pariahs for their practicing their vice. Jack Shafer, Politico A menthol ban would discriminate against Black people It can be tough nowadays to keep up with what is racist and what is not, but Ill happily admit that I didnt have ban something black people like because they like it too much on my Anti-Racist Bingo card. Charles C.W. Cooke, National Review People should have the right to make their own decisions about smoking [Anti-smoking] discourse portrays smokers, particularly black smokers, as passive victims of predatory tobacco companies lacking agency of their own. Send your suggestions to the360@yahoonews.com. Read more 360s Photo illustration: Yahoo News; photos: Getty Images | The FDA announced last week that it would begin the process of banning menthol cigarettes. | pegasus | 0 | https://news.yahoo.com/should-menthol-cigarettes-be-banned-184805916.html | 0.15293 |
Should menthol cigarettes be banned? | The 360 shows you diverse perspectives on the days top stories and debates. Whats happening The Food and Drug Administration announced last week that it would begin the process of banning menthol cigarettes and flavored cigars. The move comes after years of public pressure and legal challenges from anti-smoking groups aimed at compelling the FDA to follow through on its own recommendation that menthol cigarettes be banned. Menthol is a substance that can be derived from mint plants or created synthetically. It was first added to cigarettes in the 1920s, when manufacturers learned that in addition to its flavoring, menthol creates a cooling sensation in the throat that can mask the harshness of smoke. All cigarettes cause cancer, but health experts believe this cooling effect makes menthols especially problematic because it can make it easier for young people to take up smoking and harder for smokers to quit. The FDA estimates that there are more than 18 million menthol smokers in the U.S. The flavor has been especially popular among Black Americans. Roughly 85 percent of Black smokers prefer menthols, compared to 30 percent of white smokers, thanks in large part to decades of aggressive marketing campaigns from cigarette companies promoting the product in Black communities. In 2009, Congress prohibited the sale of all flavored cigarettes except menthol. Four years later, the FDA recommended banning menthol as well, but efforts to implement that have so far been bogged down by political pressure and legal fights. Why theres debate Supporters say banning menthols would be a major step toward reducing the number of cigarette-related deaths in the U.S. They argue that removing a more palatable version of cigarettes from the market would both prevent young people from taking up the habit and compel many longtime smokers to quit. Banning menthols is also seen as a racial justice issue. Advocates say a ban would be a step toward reversing decades of damage caused by predatory marketing to Black communities. For generations, the tobacco industry has intentionally targeted Black and other communities with marketing of menthol cigarettes, resulting in tobacco-related death and disease as well as health disparities, Harold Wimmer, president of the American Lung Association, wrote in a statement. Story continues Opponents fear that banning menthols would do little to reduce demand for cigarettes and would likely give rise to a potentially dangerous black market outside the reach of regulators. Others say it would be discriminatory to single out a product preferred by Black people. There are also worries that enforcement of the ban would create more opportunities for police to target Black people, which would ultimately run counter to the racial justice goals of anti-smoking groups. Whats next Despite the FDAs announcement, menthols wont be disappearing from store shelves anytime soon. Before a ban can be put in place, the proposal must be drafted in detail, opened for public review and finally approved by the White House. Legal challenges from cigarette manufacturers, which experts say are likely, could delay implementation of the ban even further. Perspectives Supporters Banning menthols will save Black lives Menthol was lumped just in with the other evidences of systemic racism and health injustices that African-American communities have suffered so long. And so to have a victory of this magnitude, where the FDA comes out and says, yes, black lives do matter, yes, we do care about health for black communities, that was very important for us and very moving for us. Delmonte Jefferson, executive director of the Center for Black Health & Equity, to PBS NewsHour A ban would help reverse racial health inequities Ending the sale of menthol and all flavored tobacco products is one step we should take to immediately address the health crisis of racism. ... Lets support Black lives and Black lungs by clearing the market of deadly menthol and flavored tobacco products. LaTrisha Vetaw and Zeke McKinney, Minneapolis Star Tribune Without menthols, fewer people will smoke Menthol as a tobacco additive is a problem because its a gimmick that works. It numbs the throat and makes tobacco smoke less harsh. Menthol thus makes it easier for kids to start smoking and harder for adults to quit. Michael Schwalbe, News & Observer A menthol ban is long overdue The FDA, which has come under attack for dithering on tobacco issues, deserves praise for evaluating the evidence and, albeit belatedly, taking this significant step forward. Mark A. Gottlieb and Richard Daynard, Boston Globe Concerns about a ban fueling discriminatory policing can be addressed It would indeed be troubling if law enforcement used a ban on menthol cigarettes as a pretext to target communities of color further, but that is a separate issue better dealt with by criminal justice reform at the state and local level. ... The bigger injustice is allowing tobacco companies to continue to push their deadly product on communities of color. Editorial, Los Angeles Times Opponents Outright bans dont work Prohibition is a close-your-eyes and bury-your-head-in-the-sand approach to drug policy. Those who support blanket prohibitions of popular substances are wishing on a star that somehow the substance will magically disappear. Did alcohol and marijuana magically disappear during their prohibitions? Art Way, Minn Post Illegal menthol sales would lead to a spike in crime Menthol cigarettes are still the preference of many adults who choose to smoke. Banning that product will just push sales out of the stores and create a lucrative illicit market. Rich Marianos, CT Mirror Banning menthols is a step too far We should continue to help people quit smoking with education and therapy programs. We should urge smokers to switch to comparatively safer products, like e-cigarettes. And we should discourage and shun the habit. But lets stop short of making the sellers of menthol cigarettes and by extension, users pariahs for their practicing their vice. Jack Shafer, Politico A menthol ban would discriminate against Black people It can be tough nowadays to keep up with what is racist and what is not, but Ill happily admit that I didnt have ban something black people like because they like it too much on my Anti-Racist Bingo card. Charles C.W. Cooke, National Review People should have the right to make their own decisions about smoking [Anti-smoking] discourse portrays smokers, particularly black smokers, as passive victims of predatory tobacco companies lacking agency of their own. Send your suggestions to the360@yahoonews.com. Read more 360s Photo illustration: Yahoo News; photos: Getty Images | The FDA announced last week that it would begin the process of banning menthol cigarettes and flavored cigars. Banning menthols would be a step toward reducing the number of cigarette-related deaths in the U.S. | ctrlsum | 1 | https://news.yahoo.com/should-menthol-cigarettes-be-banned-184805916.html | 0.247743 |
Should menthol cigarettes be banned? | The 360 shows you diverse perspectives on the days top stories and debates. Whats happening The Food and Drug Administration announced last week that it would begin the process of banning menthol cigarettes and flavored cigars. The move comes after years of public pressure and legal challenges from anti-smoking groups aimed at compelling the FDA to follow through on its own recommendation that menthol cigarettes be banned. Menthol is a substance that can be derived from mint plants or created synthetically. It was first added to cigarettes in the 1920s, when manufacturers learned that in addition to its flavoring, menthol creates a cooling sensation in the throat that can mask the harshness of smoke. All cigarettes cause cancer, but health experts believe this cooling effect makes menthols especially problematic because it can make it easier for young people to take up smoking and harder for smokers to quit. The FDA estimates that there are more than 18 million menthol smokers in the U.S. The flavor has been especially popular among Black Americans. Roughly 85 percent of Black smokers prefer menthols, compared to 30 percent of white smokers, thanks in large part to decades of aggressive marketing campaigns from cigarette companies promoting the product in Black communities. In 2009, Congress prohibited the sale of all flavored cigarettes except menthol. Four years later, the FDA recommended banning menthol as well, but efforts to implement that have so far been bogged down by political pressure and legal fights. Why theres debate Supporters say banning menthols would be a major step toward reducing the number of cigarette-related deaths in the U.S. They argue that removing a more palatable version of cigarettes from the market would both prevent young people from taking up the habit and compel many longtime smokers to quit. Banning menthols is also seen as a racial justice issue. Advocates say a ban would be a step toward reversing decades of damage caused by predatory marketing to Black communities. For generations, the tobacco industry has intentionally targeted Black and other communities with marketing of menthol cigarettes, resulting in tobacco-related death and disease as well as health disparities, Harold Wimmer, president of the American Lung Association, wrote in a statement. Story continues Opponents fear that banning menthols would do little to reduce demand for cigarettes and would likely give rise to a potentially dangerous black market outside the reach of regulators. Others say it would be discriminatory to single out a product preferred by Black people. There are also worries that enforcement of the ban would create more opportunities for police to target Black people, which would ultimately run counter to the racial justice goals of anti-smoking groups. Whats next Despite the FDAs announcement, menthols wont be disappearing from store shelves anytime soon. Before a ban can be put in place, the proposal must be drafted in detail, opened for public review and finally approved by the White House. Legal challenges from cigarette manufacturers, which experts say are likely, could delay implementation of the ban even further. Perspectives Supporters Banning menthols will save Black lives Menthol was lumped just in with the other evidences of systemic racism and health injustices that African-American communities have suffered so long. And so to have a victory of this magnitude, where the FDA comes out and says, yes, black lives do matter, yes, we do care about health for black communities, that was very important for us and very moving for us. Delmonte Jefferson, executive director of the Center for Black Health & Equity, to PBS NewsHour A ban would help reverse racial health inequities Ending the sale of menthol and all flavored tobacco products is one step we should take to immediately address the health crisis of racism. ... Lets support Black lives and Black lungs by clearing the market of deadly menthol and flavored tobacco products. LaTrisha Vetaw and Zeke McKinney, Minneapolis Star Tribune Without menthols, fewer people will smoke Menthol as a tobacco additive is a problem because its a gimmick that works. It numbs the throat and makes tobacco smoke less harsh. Menthol thus makes it easier for kids to start smoking and harder for adults to quit. Michael Schwalbe, News & Observer A menthol ban is long overdue The FDA, which has come under attack for dithering on tobacco issues, deserves praise for evaluating the evidence and, albeit belatedly, taking this significant step forward. Mark A. Gottlieb and Richard Daynard, Boston Globe Concerns about a ban fueling discriminatory policing can be addressed It would indeed be troubling if law enforcement used a ban on menthol cigarettes as a pretext to target communities of color further, but that is a separate issue better dealt with by criminal justice reform at the state and local level. ... The bigger injustice is allowing tobacco companies to continue to push their deadly product on communities of color. Editorial, Los Angeles Times Opponents Outright bans dont work Prohibition is a close-your-eyes and bury-your-head-in-the-sand approach to drug policy. Those who support blanket prohibitions of popular substances are wishing on a star that somehow the substance will magically disappear. Did alcohol and marijuana magically disappear during their prohibitions? Art Way, Minn Post Illegal menthol sales would lead to a spike in crime Menthol cigarettes are still the preference of many adults who choose to smoke. Banning that product will just push sales out of the stores and create a lucrative illicit market. Rich Marianos, CT Mirror Banning menthols is a step too far We should continue to help people quit smoking with education and therapy programs. We should urge smokers to switch to comparatively safer products, like e-cigarettes. And we should discourage and shun the habit. But lets stop short of making the sellers of menthol cigarettes and by extension, users pariahs for their practicing their vice. Jack Shafer, Politico A menthol ban would discriminate against Black people It can be tough nowadays to keep up with what is racist and what is not, but Ill happily admit that I didnt have ban something black people like because they like it too much on my Anti-Racist Bingo card. Charles C.W. Cooke, National Review People should have the right to make their own decisions about smoking [Anti-smoking] discourse portrays smokers, particularly black smokers, as passive victims of predatory tobacco companies lacking agency of their own. Send your suggestions to the360@yahoonews.com. Read more 360s Photo illustration: Yahoo News; photos: Getty Images | The FDA announced last week that it would begin the process of banning menthol cigarettes and flavored cigars. Banning menthols would be a major step toward reducing the number of cigarette-related deaths in the U.S. The flavor has been especially popular among Black Americans. | ctrlsum | 2 | https://news.yahoo.com/should-menthol-cigarettes-be-banned-184805916.html | 0.265394 |
Will the GOP rank and file remain silent as Republicans purge principled leaders? | George W. Bush, Mitt Romney, John McCain, Liz Cheney: Four Republican household names and former party leaders who couldnt get nominated as dogcatcher in todays GOP. Former President Bush characterized todays Republican Party as isolationist, protectionist and, to a certain extent, nativist, a polite way of saying racist. Sen. Romney, the 2012 party nominee for president, was recently booed at a state GOP gathering in his home state of Utah as a result of his impeachment vote. Cindy McCain, widow of the late Sen. John McCain, the 2008 party nominee, was accused of leftist sympathies and censured for being critical of former President Donald Trump. And U.S. Rep. Liz Cheney, daughter of former Vice President Dick Cheney, is in the process of being stripped of her leadership position for chastising Trump for his role in fomenting the Jan. 6 insurrection. These principled Republicans are being frozen out of the party for not backing The Big Lie about the 2020 election. This lurch towards authoritarianism is threatening to destroy this once-grand old party and, if left unchecked, could destroy our republic. John Pardee, Oberlin | John Pardee: Republicans are purging principled leaders from the party. He says the party is lurching towards authoritarianism and could destroy our republic. PardEE: The GOP rank and file will not remain silent as Republicans purge principled leaders. The party is on the road to authoritarianism, he says. | ctrlsum | 2 | https://www.cleveland.com/letters/2021/05/will-the-gop-rank-and-file-remain-silent-as-republicans-purge-principled-leaders.html | 0.270188 |
How Does Former Gators DB Marco Wilson Fit Into Revamped Cardinals Defense? | Mediocrity: A characteristic of the 2020 Arizona Cardinals. After acquiring one of the NFLs top wide receivers in DeAndre Hopkins from the Houston Texans last offseason, the Cardinals were slated to bring an innovative and exciting offense to the forefront of football behind second-year signal-caller Kyler Murray and head coach Kliff Kingsbury. However, ranking 14th in points scored and 12th in points allowed, Arizona sat as a middle of the pack team, dropping five of their last seven contests to miss the playoffs via tiebreaker. After a disappointing end to the season, the Cardinals have had a noticeable emphasis on adding more impact players to both the offensive and defensive sides of the football. Making noise with the additions of James Conner and A.J. Green offensively, as well as J.J. Watt and Malcolm Butler defensively, the Cardinals drastically improved their star power from last season to next. However, as new faces have walked in the door, old faces have walked out, namely in the form of veteran defensive back Patrick Peterson. As a result, a need for a committee to replace the unique talent has been created, something Arizona understood going into day three of the NFL draft. Targeting Florida cornerback Marco Wilson in the fourth round of the draft, Arizona looms to utilize his athleticism to maintain a high level of play in the secondary. With an unorthodox story of draft success, Wilsons move from college to the NFL is one that contains loads of the unknown. Starting at Florida as a true freshman, Wilson would burst onto the scene in Gainesville as another addition to the long list of lockdown corners the Gators produced in the 2010s. Making a name for himself with 34 total tackles and 10 pass breakups as a freshman, Wilson would enter year two with high expectations for his future, slated as a future first-rounder. However, tearing the ACL in his left knee against Kentucky in 2018, a major setback to his progression would occur. Struggling to fight back from his second ACL tear tearing his right knee during his junior year of high school Wilson could not return to his previous form in the remainder of his career at Florida. Undergoing his most difficult year at UF in 2020 finding himself out of position at a high frequency and playing in his own head Wilson bounced back with a stellar pro day performance to catapult his stock into the fourth round of the NFL draft. Being selected by the Cardinals, Wilson sees an opportunity in the secondary alongside talented veterans, allowing him to make mistakes early on and learn from the experienced lineup the roster withholds. Slated to operate beside Butler, Robert Alford and Budda Baker, Wilson is set to enter a unique situation immediately upon his entry to the professional level, likely to see early time on the outside of the Arizona defense in moderation. Looking back to Wilsons early days as a Gator, the Fort Lauderdale native has showcased an impeccable athletic profile, displaying a chiseled frame with desirable speed for an outside corner. Playing with that elite athleticism, Wilson brings a high potential for playmaking ability to Arizona, something they will be missing in the absence of Peterson. Unlikely to see the success of Peterson, Wilsons athletic attributes alone pit him as a vital piece to Petersons replacement in Glendale. Leaving a sour taste in the mouths of Gators fans, Wilsons move to the NFL brings new life to each party. Containing the battle-tested nature and foundational skillset to provide youthful energy to Vance Joseph's defense, the former American Heritage prospect projects higher than many may think. While the days of throwing shoes leave a black mark on his career at Florida, the former freshman standout looks to overcome his shortcomings in blue and orange as a special teams player and an early rotational piece on the outside of the Cardinals secondary. | Florida cornerback Marco Wilson was selected by the Arizona Cardinals in the fourth round of the NFL draft. Wilson is expected to fill the void left by the departure of veteran defensive back Patrick Peterson. | ctrlsum | 1 | https://www.si.com/college/florida/football/florida-gators-nfl-draft-marco-wilson-fit-arizona-cardinals-defense | 0.187566 |
How Does Former Gators DB Marco Wilson Fit Into Revamped Cardinals Defense? | Mediocrity: A characteristic of the 2020 Arizona Cardinals. After acquiring one of the NFLs top wide receivers in DeAndre Hopkins from the Houston Texans last offseason, the Cardinals were slated to bring an innovative and exciting offense to the forefront of football behind second-year signal-caller Kyler Murray and head coach Kliff Kingsbury. However, ranking 14th in points scored and 12th in points allowed, Arizona sat as a middle of the pack team, dropping five of their last seven contests to miss the playoffs via tiebreaker. After a disappointing end to the season, the Cardinals have had a noticeable emphasis on adding more impact players to both the offensive and defensive sides of the football. Making noise with the additions of James Conner and A.J. Green offensively, as well as J.J. Watt and Malcolm Butler defensively, the Cardinals drastically improved their star power from last season to next. However, as new faces have walked in the door, old faces have walked out, namely in the form of veteran defensive back Patrick Peterson. As a result, a need for a committee to replace the unique talent has been created, something Arizona understood going into day three of the NFL draft. Targeting Florida cornerback Marco Wilson in the fourth round of the draft, Arizona looms to utilize his athleticism to maintain a high level of play in the secondary. With an unorthodox story of draft success, Wilsons move from college to the NFL is one that contains loads of the unknown. Starting at Florida as a true freshman, Wilson would burst onto the scene in Gainesville as another addition to the long list of lockdown corners the Gators produced in the 2010s. Making a name for himself with 34 total tackles and 10 pass breakups as a freshman, Wilson would enter year two with high expectations for his future, slated as a future first-rounder. However, tearing the ACL in his left knee against Kentucky in 2018, a major setback to his progression would occur. Struggling to fight back from his second ACL tear tearing his right knee during his junior year of high school Wilson could not return to his previous form in the remainder of his career at Florida. Undergoing his most difficult year at UF in 2020 finding himself out of position at a high frequency and playing in his own head Wilson bounced back with a stellar pro day performance to catapult his stock into the fourth round of the NFL draft. Being selected by the Cardinals, Wilson sees an opportunity in the secondary alongside talented veterans, allowing him to make mistakes early on and learn from the experienced lineup the roster withholds. Slated to operate beside Butler, Robert Alford and Budda Baker, Wilson is set to enter a unique situation immediately upon his entry to the professional level, likely to see early time on the outside of the Arizona defense in moderation. Looking back to Wilsons early days as a Gator, the Fort Lauderdale native has showcased an impeccable athletic profile, displaying a chiseled frame with desirable speed for an outside corner. Playing with that elite athleticism, Wilson brings a high potential for playmaking ability to Arizona, something they will be missing in the absence of Peterson. Unlikely to see the success of Peterson, Wilsons athletic attributes alone pit him as a vital piece to Petersons replacement in Glendale. Leaving a sour taste in the mouths of Gators fans, Wilsons move to the NFL brings new life to each party. Containing the battle-tested nature and foundational skillset to provide youthful energy to Vance Joseph's defense, the former American Heritage prospect projects higher than many may think. While the days of throwing shoes leave a black mark on his career at Florida, the former freshman standout looks to overcome his shortcomings in blue and orange as a special teams player and an early rotational piece on the outside of the Cardinals secondary. | Florida cornerback Marco Wilson was selected by the Arizona Cardinals in the fourth round of the NFL draft. Wilson is expected to fill the void left by the departure of veteran defensive back Patrick Peterson. The former American Heritage prospect has a high potential for playmaking ability, something they will be missing in the absence of Peterson. | ctrlsum | 2 | https://www.si.com/college/florida/football/florida-gators-nfl-draft-marco-wilson-fit-arizona-cardinals-defense | 0.270551 |
Was Mac Jones that great at Alabama, or just a product of the talent around him? | Jones set an NCAA record with a 77.4 completion percentage, and became the first Alabama quarterback to reach 4,500 passing yards. The Patriots drafted him 15th overall, the first time Bill Belichick has taken a quarterback in the first round. His throws are right on the money deep balls with the perfect distance and trajectory, slant passes with pinpoint placement, crossing routes thrown right in stride. Patriots first-round pick Mac Jones looks every bit the franchise quarterback on his game tape from Alabama. The guy checks every box for what the Patriots are looking for, said former Patriots offensive coordinator Charlie Weis. The Crimson Tide had a record five players from the same offense chosen in the first round last week. Previous Alabama quarterbacks Greg McElroy, A.J. McCarron, and Tua Tagovailoa all thrived in college but struggled in the pros, though Tua still has plenty of time to develop. You watch the tape, Jones was not under duress very often, said Greg Cosell, the Xs-and-Os guru at NFL Films and ESPN NFL Matchup. He will be polarizing in some draft rooms. Some will see Jones as a highly schemed and highly programmed ball-distributor QB without any special physical traits. Thats not to say Cosell is down on Jones its just the opposite, in fact. He is enamored with Joness accuracy, the way he sees the field, and the way he can manipulate safeties with his eyes. But theres no denying that Jones, who started only one full year, played with the best of everything at Alabama. Advertisement The best playmakers receivers Jaylen Waddle and DeVonta Smith both went in the top 10 in the draft, and running back Najee Harris went 24th. Surrounded by greatness Mac Jones had three offensive playmakers on the field in 2020 who were drafted in the first round. Player 2020 stats Draft pick Team WR Jaylen Waddle 591 receiving yards, 28 receptions, 21.1 yds/rush, 4 TDs Rd. 1, No. 6 Dolphins WR DeVonta Smith 1856 receiving yards, 117 receptions, 15.9 yds/rush, 23 receiving TDs Rd. 1, No. 10 Eagles RB Najee Harris 1466 rushing yds, 251 attempts, 5.8 yds/rush, 26 rush TDs Rd. 1, No. 24 Steelers SOURCE : Sports-Reference.com The best protection left tackle Alex Leatherwood went in the first round, and center Landon Dickerson in the second. And the best coaching a legendary defensive coach in Nick Saban and a longtime NFL offensive coordinator in Steve Sarkisian. Jones is an especially challenging evaluation because he played in a near-perfect situation in Tuscaloosa with an elite offensive line, running game, pass-catchers and play-calling, which makes it tough to evaluate him independent of his surroundings, wrote The Athletics Dane Brugler. Wasnt routinely moved from his spot while playing behind the best offensive line in college football. Belichick wrote in a scouting guide in 1991 that his preferred attributes for a quarterback were: accurate rather than a guy with a cannon; emphasis on our game will be on decision, timing, accuracy; cant be sloppy, fundamentally unsound guy. That reads like Jones to a T. His arm strength is most often described as good, not great, but he throws an excellent deep ball. His accuracy and ability to process the field are outstanding. Jones is not a runner and doesnt have a great body type, but he has shown the ability to slide and shuffle in the pocket and find throwing lanes. He took just 13 sacks last year, with 402 pass attempts. Advertisement I like guys that get rid of the ball fast, said former Jets and Dolphins GM Mike Tannenbaum. He has really good mechanics in his delivery. And very, very accurate like, really good, pinpoint accuracy, where he allows his receivers to be productive after the catch. But watch Joness 90-yard touchdown pass in the Georgia game; the cornerback fell down at midfield. Watch Joness 59-yard touchdown pass against Auburn; it was just a quick slant, with Smith doing the rest. Those are just two of many examples of Jones taking advantage of busted coverage. Jones didnt face much adversity, either. The Tide trailed once at halftime all season, and only two of their 13 games were within one score entering the fourth quarter (average score: 39-14). Joness receivers wont be nearly as wide open in the NFL. He wont have as many clean pockets and well-defined throwing lanes. And hell be in a competitive game almost every week. The protection in particular is a big factor, Cosell said. When a quarterback is comfortable in the pocket, he can play the position to his maximum. Those are generalities, of course, and its not as if Jones played against a bunch of stiffs in the SEC. There is a great All-22 breakdown of Jones scanning through his reads and making the right decisions. His highlight tape shows him delivering a perfect crossing route to Waddle for a touchdown while getting crushed by a Missouri blitzer, demonstrating pinpoint accuracy on a back-shoulder throw for a touchdown against Georgia; and hitting John Metchie perfectly in stride on a 78-yard deep-ball touchdown. Advertisement One AFC scout said Jones deserves a lot of credit for Alabamas explosive offense. Mac benefited by having all of that talent around him, the scout said. But his greatest strength is the mental side and playing within himself to eliminate his mistakes. For a guy like Mac, who does not have the athleticism and arm strength as other QBs in the class, it is all about being accurate, making good decisions, and putting his teammates in the position to succeed. Weis disputed the idea that Jones was just a product of the talent around him. Mac Jones, Weis said. The question is not who youre playing with, its what you do with who youre playing with. Jones may have had the best surroundings in college football, but most evaluators believe he showed enough on his own for the Patriots to be confident in his ability to grow into a franchise quarterback. There were a lot of well-schemed, predetermined, primary-read throws in Alabamas pass game, Cosell said. It wont be that easy in the NFL. But I will say this: He was a very accurate thrower. He didnt make receivers work for the ball. Hes a precise ball-placement guy, and thats a great starting point. Advertisement Ben Volin can be reached at ben.volin@globe.com. Follow him on Twitter @BenVolin. | Mac Jones was the first Alabama quarterback to reach 4,500 passing yards. Jones played with the best of everything at Alabama. | ctrlsum | 0 | https://www.bostonglobe.com/2021/05/05/sports/was-mac-jones-that-great-alabama-or-just-product-talent-around-him/ | 0.433581 |
Was Mac Jones that great at Alabama, or just a product of the talent around him? | Jones set an NCAA record with a 77.4 completion percentage, and became the first Alabama quarterback to reach 4,500 passing yards. The Patriots drafted him 15th overall, the first time Bill Belichick has taken a quarterback in the first round. His throws are right on the money deep balls with the perfect distance and trajectory, slant passes with pinpoint placement, crossing routes thrown right in stride. Patriots first-round pick Mac Jones looks every bit the franchise quarterback on his game tape from Alabama. The guy checks every box for what the Patriots are looking for, said former Patriots offensive coordinator Charlie Weis. The Crimson Tide had a record five players from the same offense chosen in the first round last week. Previous Alabama quarterbacks Greg McElroy, A.J. McCarron, and Tua Tagovailoa all thrived in college but struggled in the pros, though Tua still has plenty of time to develop. You watch the tape, Jones was not under duress very often, said Greg Cosell, the Xs-and-Os guru at NFL Films and ESPN NFL Matchup. He will be polarizing in some draft rooms. Some will see Jones as a highly schemed and highly programmed ball-distributor QB without any special physical traits. Thats not to say Cosell is down on Jones its just the opposite, in fact. He is enamored with Joness accuracy, the way he sees the field, and the way he can manipulate safeties with his eyes. But theres no denying that Jones, who started only one full year, played with the best of everything at Alabama. Advertisement The best playmakers receivers Jaylen Waddle and DeVonta Smith both went in the top 10 in the draft, and running back Najee Harris went 24th. Surrounded by greatness Mac Jones had three offensive playmakers on the field in 2020 who were drafted in the first round. Player 2020 stats Draft pick Team WR Jaylen Waddle 591 receiving yards, 28 receptions, 21.1 yds/rush, 4 TDs Rd. 1, No. 6 Dolphins WR DeVonta Smith 1856 receiving yards, 117 receptions, 15.9 yds/rush, 23 receiving TDs Rd. 1, No. 10 Eagles RB Najee Harris 1466 rushing yds, 251 attempts, 5.8 yds/rush, 26 rush TDs Rd. 1, No. 24 Steelers SOURCE : Sports-Reference.com The best protection left tackle Alex Leatherwood went in the first round, and center Landon Dickerson in the second. And the best coaching a legendary defensive coach in Nick Saban and a longtime NFL offensive coordinator in Steve Sarkisian. Jones is an especially challenging evaluation because he played in a near-perfect situation in Tuscaloosa with an elite offensive line, running game, pass-catchers and play-calling, which makes it tough to evaluate him independent of his surroundings, wrote The Athletics Dane Brugler. Wasnt routinely moved from his spot while playing behind the best offensive line in college football. Belichick wrote in a scouting guide in 1991 that his preferred attributes for a quarterback were: accurate rather than a guy with a cannon; emphasis on our game will be on decision, timing, accuracy; cant be sloppy, fundamentally unsound guy. That reads like Jones to a T. His arm strength is most often described as good, not great, but he throws an excellent deep ball. His accuracy and ability to process the field are outstanding. Jones is not a runner and doesnt have a great body type, but he has shown the ability to slide and shuffle in the pocket and find throwing lanes. He took just 13 sacks last year, with 402 pass attempts. Advertisement I like guys that get rid of the ball fast, said former Jets and Dolphins GM Mike Tannenbaum. He has really good mechanics in his delivery. And very, very accurate like, really good, pinpoint accuracy, where he allows his receivers to be productive after the catch. But watch Joness 90-yard touchdown pass in the Georgia game; the cornerback fell down at midfield. Watch Joness 59-yard touchdown pass against Auburn; it was just a quick slant, with Smith doing the rest. Those are just two of many examples of Jones taking advantage of busted coverage. Jones didnt face much adversity, either. The Tide trailed once at halftime all season, and only two of their 13 games were within one score entering the fourth quarter (average score: 39-14). Joness receivers wont be nearly as wide open in the NFL. He wont have as many clean pockets and well-defined throwing lanes. And hell be in a competitive game almost every week. The protection in particular is a big factor, Cosell said. When a quarterback is comfortable in the pocket, he can play the position to his maximum. Those are generalities, of course, and its not as if Jones played against a bunch of stiffs in the SEC. There is a great All-22 breakdown of Jones scanning through his reads and making the right decisions. His highlight tape shows him delivering a perfect crossing route to Waddle for a touchdown while getting crushed by a Missouri blitzer, demonstrating pinpoint accuracy on a back-shoulder throw for a touchdown against Georgia; and hitting John Metchie perfectly in stride on a 78-yard deep-ball touchdown. Advertisement One AFC scout said Jones deserves a lot of credit for Alabamas explosive offense. Mac benefited by having all of that talent around him, the scout said. But his greatest strength is the mental side and playing within himself to eliminate his mistakes. For a guy like Mac, who does not have the athleticism and arm strength as other QBs in the class, it is all about being accurate, making good decisions, and putting his teammates in the position to succeed. Weis disputed the idea that Jones was just a product of the talent around him. Mac Jones, Weis said. The question is not who youre playing with, its what you do with who youre playing with. Jones may have had the best surroundings in college football, but most evaluators believe he showed enough on his own for the Patriots to be confident in his ability to grow into a franchise quarterback. There were a lot of well-schemed, predetermined, primary-read throws in Alabamas pass game, Cosell said. It wont be that easy in the NFL. But I will say this: He was a very accurate thrower. He didnt make receivers work for the ball. Hes a precise ball-placement guy, and thats a great starting point. Advertisement Ben Volin can be reached at ben.volin@globe.com. Follow him on Twitter @BenVolin. | Mac Jones was the first Alabama quarterback to reach 4,500 passing yards. Jones played with the best of everything at Alabama, including the best offensive line and best coaching. | ctrlsum | 1 | https://www.bostonglobe.com/2021/05/05/sports/was-mac-jones-that-great-alabama-or-just-product-talent-around-him/ | 0.455571 |
Was Mac Jones that great at Alabama, or just a product of the talent around him? | Jones set an NCAA record with a 77.4 completion percentage, and became the first Alabama quarterback to reach 4,500 passing yards. The Patriots drafted him 15th overall, the first time Bill Belichick has taken a quarterback in the first round. His throws are right on the money deep balls with the perfect distance and trajectory, slant passes with pinpoint placement, crossing routes thrown right in stride. Patriots first-round pick Mac Jones looks every bit the franchise quarterback on his game tape from Alabama. The guy checks every box for what the Patriots are looking for, said former Patriots offensive coordinator Charlie Weis. The Crimson Tide had a record five players from the same offense chosen in the first round last week. Previous Alabama quarterbacks Greg McElroy, A.J. McCarron, and Tua Tagovailoa all thrived in college but struggled in the pros, though Tua still has plenty of time to develop. You watch the tape, Jones was not under duress very often, said Greg Cosell, the Xs-and-Os guru at NFL Films and ESPN NFL Matchup. He will be polarizing in some draft rooms. Some will see Jones as a highly schemed and highly programmed ball-distributor QB without any special physical traits. Thats not to say Cosell is down on Jones its just the opposite, in fact. He is enamored with Joness accuracy, the way he sees the field, and the way he can manipulate safeties with his eyes. But theres no denying that Jones, who started only one full year, played with the best of everything at Alabama. Advertisement The best playmakers receivers Jaylen Waddle and DeVonta Smith both went in the top 10 in the draft, and running back Najee Harris went 24th. Surrounded by greatness Mac Jones had three offensive playmakers on the field in 2020 who were drafted in the first round. Player 2020 stats Draft pick Team WR Jaylen Waddle 591 receiving yards, 28 receptions, 21.1 yds/rush, 4 TDs Rd. 1, No. 6 Dolphins WR DeVonta Smith 1856 receiving yards, 117 receptions, 15.9 yds/rush, 23 receiving TDs Rd. 1, No. 10 Eagles RB Najee Harris 1466 rushing yds, 251 attempts, 5.8 yds/rush, 26 rush TDs Rd. 1, No. 24 Steelers SOURCE : Sports-Reference.com The best protection left tackle Alex Leatherwood went in the first round, and center Landon Dickerson in the second. And the best coaching a legendary defensive coach in Nick Saban and a longtime NFL offensive coordinator in Steve Sarkisian. Jones is an especially challenging evaluation because he played in a near-perfect situation in Tuscaloosa with an elite offensive line, running game, pass-catchers and play-calling, which makes it tough to evaluate him independent of his surroundings, wrote The Athletics Dane Brugler. Wasnt routinely moved from his spot while playing behind the best offensive line in college football. Belichick wrote in a scouting guide in 1991 that his preferred attributes for a quarterback were: accurate rather than a guy with a cannon; emphasis on our game will be on decision, timing, accuracy; cant be sloppy, fundamentally unsound guy. That reads like Jones to a T. His arm strength is most often described as good, not great, but he throws an excellent deep ball. His accuracy and ability to process the field are outstanding. Jones is not a runner and doesnt have a great body type, but he has shown the ability to slide and shuffle in the pocket and find throwing lanes. He took just 13 sacks last year, with 402 pass attempts. Advertisement I like guys that get rid of the ball fast, said former Jets and Dolphins GM Mike Tannenbaum. He has really good mechanics in his delivery. And very, very accurate like, really good, pinpoint accuracy, where he allows his receivers to be productive after the catch. But watch Joness 90-yard touchdown pass in the Georgia game; the cornerback fell down at midfield. Watch Joness 59-yard touchdown pass against Auburn; it was just a quick slant, with Smith doing the rest. Those are just two of many examples of Jones taking advantage of busted coverage. Jones didnt face much adversity, either. The Tide trailed once at halftime all season, and only two of their 13 games were within one score entering the fourth quarter (average score: 39-14). Joness receivers wont be nearly as wide open in the NFL. He wont have as many clean pockets and well-defined throwing lanes. And hell be in a competitive game almost every week. The protection in particular is a big factor, Cosell said. When a quarterback is comfortable in the pocket, he can play the position to his maximum. Those are generalities, of course, and its not as if Jones played against a bunch of stiffs in the SEC. There is a great All-22 breakdown of Jones scanning through his reads and making the right decisions. His highlight tape shows him delivering a perfect crossing route to Waddle for a touchdown while getting crushed by a Missouri blitzer, demonstrating pinpoint accuracy on a back-shoulder throw for a touchdown against Georgia; and hitting John Metchie perfectly in stride on a 78-yard deep-ball touchdown. Advertisement One AFC scout said Jones deserves a lot of credit for Alabamas explosive offense. Mac benefited by having all of that talent around him, the scout said. But his greatest strength is the mental side and playing within himself to eliminate his mistakes. For a guy like Mac, who does not have the athleticism and arm strength as other QBs in the class, it is all about being accurate, making good decisions, and putting his teammates in the position to succeed. Weis disputed the idea that Jones was just a product of the talent around him. Mac Jones, Weis said. The question is not who youre playing with, its what you do with who youre playing with. Jones may have had the best surroundings in college football, but most evaluators believe he showed enough on his own for the Patriots to be confident in his ability to grow into a franchise quarterback. There were a lot of well-schemed, predetermined, primary-read throws in Alabamas pass game, Cosell said. It wont be that easy in the NFL. But I will say this: He was a very accurate thrower. He didnt make receivers work for the ball. Hes a precise ball-placement guy, and thats a great starting point. Advertisement Ben Volin can be reached at ben.volin@globe.com. Follow him on Twitter @BenVolin. | Mac Jones was the first Alabama quarterback to reach 4,500 passing yards. Jones played with the best of everything at Alabama, including the best offensive line and best coaching. Jones will be polarizing in some draft rooms, but he is a great fit for the Patriots. | ctrlsum | 2 | https://www.bostonglobe.com/2021/05/05/sports/was-mac-jones-that-great-alabama-or-just-product-talent-around-him/ | 0.527717 |
Who is Elise Stefanik, the congresswoman Trump and Scalise want to replace Liz Cheney in GOP leadership? | WASHINGTON After holding the position as the third-ranking House Republican for nearly three years, it is becoming clearer Rep. Liz Cheney's leadership role may be at risk as prominent Republicans line up against her for criticizing former President Donald Trump. The person emerging as a potential replacement for the Wyoming Republican is Rep. Elise Stefanik, a New York Republican who in the last years of the Trump administration emerged as a loyal and vocal defender of the 45th president. Stefanik, 36, now has the backing of the second most powerful House Republican, Minority Whip Rep. Steve Scalise, R-La., and Trump. Meanwhile, Cheney is under mounting criticism and scorn from Republicans over her statements regarding the former president. On Monday, she called his election fraud claim a "big lie." Though an attempt to remove Cheney from her leadership post failed in February after she voted to impeach Trump, her recent comments on Trump's election fraud claims have led to a fresh wave of criticism. More:Trump, No. 2 House Republican Steve Scalise throw support behind Elise Stefanik for Liz Cheney's leadership post In February, GOP Leader Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., defended the Wyoming congresswoman but now says the conference is losing confidence in her. "I have heard from members concerned about her ability to carry out the job as conference chair, to carry out the message," he told Fox News on Tuesday. "We all need to be working as one if we're able to win the majority." Trump issued a statement Wednesday through his Save America PAC in which he slammed Cheney as a "warmongering fool who has no business in Republican Party Leadership," and threw his support behind Stefanik. "We want leaders who believe in the Make America Great Again movement, and prioritize the values of America First," the former president said. He continued, "Stefanik is a far superior choice, and she has my COMPLETE and TOTAL Endorsement for GOP Conference Chair. Elise is a tough and smart communicator!" Here's what you need to know about the Stefanik: One of the youngest lawmakers elected Stefanik, when she was elected in 2014 at age 30, was then the youngest woman ever elected to Congress. That title has since gone to fellow New York Democratic Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez who was elected during the 2018 midterms. Stefanik wrote a USA TODAY op-ed in 2019 with advice for both Ocasio-Cortez and former Rep. Abby Finkenauer, the one-term Iowa Democrat who turned 30 a week before she was sworn in in 2019. She told them to "understand that along with this record is the responsibility to encourage younger women to seek office and have the courage to step into the arena." More:I was the youngest woman in Congress. Here's my advice to those who have taken my place If Stefanik is successful in replacing Cheney, she would be the first millennial and one of the few women to hold the position. Harvard, Bush White House, Romney campaign Prior to being a member of Congress, Stefanik attended Harvard University before joining the George W. Bush administration as an aide. In 2012, she advised then-vice presidential candidate Paul Ryan, and prepped him for his debate against then-Vice President Joe Biden before deciding to run to join the former House speaker in Congress. Rose to Republican fame during first Trump impeachment During Trump's first impeachment trial in 2020, Stefanik was named one of the members of Trump's impeachment defense team after her viral role in the House's proceedings. Their unofficial role was to do media appearances and work on messaging behind the scenes to counter the House manager's case against the president to the public. Trump called Stefanik a new Republican star as she defended him against Democrats. The House impeached Trump, but the Senate acquitted him on charges of abuse of power and obstruction of Congress related to his dealings with Ukraine. Objected to electors in 2020 election After a pro-Trump mobbed stormed the Capitol in January on the day a joint session of Congress met to count the results of the 2020 presidential election, in which Trump lost to Biden, Stefanik signed objections to electors in Georgia, Pennsylvania, Michigan, and Wisconsin, but only Pennsylvania was among those brought to a vote. More:The members of Congress who objected to Joe Biden's Electoral College win amid Capitol riot "Tens of millions of Americans are concerned that the 2020 election featured unconstitutional overreach by unelected state officials and judges ignoring state election laws," Stefanik said on the House floor. Cheney disapproved of objecting to the election results, and said it "set exceptionally dangerous precedent." Ranks as one of the most bipartisan and didn't always vocally support Trump Despite her vocal support for Trump, Stefanik consistently ranks as one of the most bipartisan lawmakers, is more moderate when it comes to legislation, and wasn't always as outspoken in her support for the 45th president. For the 116th Congress, which ran from 2019 to 2020, according to the Bipartisan Index from the nonpartisan public policy think tank The Lugar Center, Stefanik was ranked as the 13th most bipartisan member of Congress. The year prior, she landed at number 14. Policy-wise, Stefanik is more moderate than some of her GOP House colleagues and voted with Trump less than Cheney did. According to FiveThirtyEight, Cheney voted with Trump 92.9% of the time, while Stefanik voted with him 77.7% of the time. For example, Stefanik opposed Trump's 2017 tax cut and has supported giving legal status to undocumented immigrants brought to the country as children. In 2016, she kept her distance from then-candidate Trump, saying she endorsed the Republican "party's nominee" without mentioning Trump's name. She went from not attending the 2016 Republican National Convention in Cleveland to speaking at the party's 2020 virtual convention. During her speech this past summer, she railed against Democrats in her support for Trump, saying the "American people were not swayed by these partisan attacks. Our support for President Trump is stronger than ever before." | Rep. Elise Stefanik, a New York Republican, is emerging as a potential replacement for Rep. Liz Cheney. | pegasus | 0 | https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2021/05/05/elise-stefanik-congresswoman-trump-wants-replace-liz-cheney/4958039001/ | 0.154537 |
Who is Elise Stefanik, the congresswoman Trump and Scalise want to replace Liz Cheney in GOP leadership? | WASHINGTON After holding the position as the third-ranking House Republican for nearly three years, it is becoming clearer Rep. Liz Cheney's leadership role may be at risk as prominent Republicans line up against her for criticizing former President Donald Trump. The person emerging as a potential replacement for the Wyoming Republican is Rep. Elise Stefanik, a New York Republican who in the last years of the Trump administration emerged as a loyal and vocal defender of the 45th president. Stefanik, 36, now has the backing of the second most powerful House Republican, Minority Whip Rep. Steve Scalise, R-La., and Trump. Meanwhile, Cheney is under mounting criticism and scorn from Republicans over her statements regarding the former president. On Monday, she called his election fraud claim a "big lie." Though an attempt to remove Cheney from her leadership post failed in February after she voted to impeach Trump, her recent comments on Trump's election fraud claims have led to a fresh wave of criticism. More:Trump, No. 2 House Republican Steve Scalise throw support behind Elise Stefanik for Liz Cheney's leadership post In February, GOP Leader Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., defended the Wyoming congresswoman but now says the conference is losing confidence in her. "I have heard from members concerned about her ability to carry out the job as conference chair, to carry out the message," he told Fox News on Tuesday. "We all need to be working as one if we're able to win the majority." Trump issued a statement Wednesday through his Save America PAC in which he slammed Cheney as a "warmongering fool who has no business in Republican Party Leadership," and threw his support behind Stefanik. "We want leaders who believe in the Make America Great Again movement, and prioritize the values of America First," the former president said. He continued, "Stefanik is a far superior choice, and she has my COMPLETE and TOTAL Endorsement for GOP Conference Chair. Elise is a tough and smart communicator!" Here's what you need to know about the Stefanik: One of the youngest lawmakers elected Stefanik, when she was elected in 2014 at age 30, was then the youngest woman ever elected to Congress. That title has since gone to fellow New York Democratic Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez who was elected during the 2018 midterms. Stefanik wrote a USA TODAY op-ed in 2019 with advice for both Ocasio-Cortez and former Rep. Abby Finkenauer, the one-term Iowa Democrat who turned 30 a week before she was sworn in in 2019. She told them to "understand that along with this record is the responsibility to encourage younger women to seek office and have the courage to step into the arena." More:I was the youngest woman in Congress. Here's my advice to those who have taken my place If Stefanik is successful in replacing Cheney, she would be the first millennial and one of the few women to hold the position. Harvard, Bush White House, Romney campaign Prior to being a member of Congress, Stefanik attended Harvard University before joining the George W. Bush administration as an aide. In 2012, she advised then-vice presidential candidate Paul Ryan, and prepped him for his debate against then-Vice President Joe Biden before deciding to run to join the former House speaker in Congress. Rose to Republican fame during first Trump impeachment During Trump's first impeachment trial in 2020, Stefanik was named one of the members of Trump's impeachment defense team after her viral role in the House's proceedings. Their unofficial role was to do media appearances and work on messaging behind the scenes to counter the House manager's case against the president to the public. Trump called Stefanik a new Republican star as she defended him against Democrats. The House impeached Trump, but the Senate acquitted him on charges of abuse of power and obstruction of Congress related to his dealings with Ukraine. Objected to electors in 2020 election After a pro-Trump mobbed stormed the Capitol in January on the day a joint session of Congress met to count the results of the 2020 presidential election, in which Trump lost to Biden, Stefanik signed objections to electors in Georgia, Pennsylvania, Michigan, and Wisconsin, but only Pennsylvania was among those brought to a vote. More:The members of Congress who objected to Joe Biden's Electoral College win amid Capitol riot "Tens of millions of Americans are concerned that the 2020 election featured unconstitutional overreach by unelected state officials and judges ignoring state election laws," Stefanik said on the House floor. Cheney disapproved of objecting to the election results, and said it "set exceptionally dangerous precedent." Ranks as one of the most bipartisan and didn't always vocally support Trump Despite her vocal support for Trump, Stefanik consistently ranks as one of the most bipartisan lawmakers, is more moderate when it comes to legislation, and wasn't always as outspoken in her support for the 45th president. For the 116th Congress, which ran from 2019 to 2020, according to the Bipartisan Index from the nonpartisan public policy think tank The Lugar Center, Stefanik was ranked as the 13th most bipartisan member of Congress. The year prior, she landed at number 14. Policy-wise, Stefanik is more moderate than some of her GOP House colleagues and voted with Trump less than Cheney did. According to FiveThirtyEight, Cheney voted with Trump 92.9% of the time, while Stefanik voted with him 77.7% of the time. For example, Stefanik opposed Trump's 2017 tax cut and has supported giving legal status to undocumented immigrants brought to the country as children. In 2016, she kept her distance from then-candidate Trump, saying she endorsed the Republican "party's nominee" without mentioning Trump's name. She went from not attending the 2016 Republican National Convention in Cleveland to speaking at the party's 2020 virtual convention. During her speech this past summer, she railed against Democrats in her support for Trump, saying the "American people were not swayed by these partisan attacks. Our support for President Trump is stronger than ever before." | Rep. Elise Stefanik, a New York Republican, is emerging as a potential replacement for Rep. Liz Cheney. Stefanik, 36, now has the backing of the second most powerful House Republican, Minority Whip Rep. Steve Scalise. Cheney is under mounting criticism and scorn from Republicans over her statements regarding the former president. | pegasus | 2 | https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2021/05/05/elise-stefanik-congresswoman-trump-wants-replace-liz-cheney/4958039001/ | 0.267019 |
Why Is India Running Out Of Oxygen? | Enlarge this image toggle caption Sajjad Hussain/AFP via Getty Images Sajjad Hussain/AFP via Getty Images MUMBAI, India Sanchi Gupta was running around, trying to get her hands on an oxygen cylinder even an empty one. Her mother was one of 140 COVID-19 patients in Saroj Hospital, one of the best-equipped hospitals in India's capital, New Delhi. She was on a ventilator in intensive care. Then the hospital told Gupta and other families that its oxygen supply had run out. So they had to go out and find oxygen cylinders to bring to the hospital to keep their loved ones alive. "We are not getting full cylinders, so we are trying to find empty cylinders, because we can still get those filled," Gupta explained to local media outside the hospital last month. "We're in contact with NGOs [in the hope that they have tanks that can fill cylinders], everybody! We're using every kind of pressure, every contact. We are desperate." Enlarge this image toggle caption Amal KS/Hindustan Times/Getty Images Amal KS/Hindustan Times/Getty Images She pleaded for answers from strangers on the sidewalk outside the hospital. Why don't we have oxygen?" Gupta cried. Why is this happening?" In India, procuring oxygen is a task that normally doesn't fall to patients' families. But with the country confirming more than 300,000 coronavirus cases a day for the past two weeks, medical supply chains have broken. In addition to oxygen shortages, there are shortages of hospital beds, antiviral drugs, coronavirus test kits virtually all the tools any country needs to fight a pandemic. It's a consequence, experts say, of decades of neglect and lack of spending on public health in a country of nearly 1.4 billion people one that is now hit by the biggest coronavirus wave in the world. "It is disheartening. We are not a rich country. There has always been an inadequate health budget," says Dr. Vineeta Bal, an immunologist at the Indian Institute of Science Education and Research in Pune. Bal notes that India invests less on public health just above 1% of its gross domestic product than most of its peers. Brazil spends more than 9% of its GDP on health; in the United States, the figure is nearly 18%. Enlarge this image toggle caption Stringer/Xinhua News Agency/Getty Images Stringer/Xinhua News Agency/Getty Images "One percent of GDP is a pathetic state of affairs," Bal says. "It's nothing!" At Saroj Hospital, local government officials eventually got a giant tanker to deliver oxygen, replenishing stocks for Gupta's mother and other patients. In the end, they didn't have to rely on the small cylinders that families were able to scrounge up. Other hospitals have not been as fortunate. Hospital SOS: "Kindly help us in procuring [oxygen]" On Tuesday, as many as 24 patients died after the Chamarajanagar district hospital in the southern state of Karnataka allegedly ran out of oxygen. On Saturday, 12 COVID-19 patients died at Delhi's Batra Hospital after an oxygen delivery was delayed by just 90 minutes. Several more such incidents have been reported across the country. And it's not just COVID-19 patients. A children's hospital near the capital put out an SOS notice Saturday, warning that it was running out of oxygen and that six babies in critical care might suffer "severe consequences." "Kindly help us in procuring [oxygen cylinders] for the sake of the babies and mankind," a news release from the hospital said, which was shared on social media. The notice was addressed "to whom it may concern." The Allahabad High Court in northern India on Tuesday declared that hospital deaths from oxygen shortages amount to "genocide." In India, courts frequently work in a suo moto capacity (the term means "on its own"), investigating issues of public concern without the need for a lawsuit to first be filed. In this case, the Allahabad High Court began investigating oxygen shortages because of viral videos showing such shortages in its jurisdiction. Enlarge this image toggle caption Rebecca Conway/Getty Images Rebecca Conway/Getty Images "This wave [of infections] happened so fast! So it was very difficult to manage all the things. People at home also bought [oxygen] cylinders and started using them," says S.D. Mishra, who oversees COVID-19 oxygen supply at the Petroleum and Explosives Safety Organization, a government agency that regulates the transport of oxygen and hazardous substances. "So because of this panic situation, there was a sudden increase in demand in oxygen supply." "We actually have excess production and storage [of oxygen] in eastern India and other areas, but Delhi is having problems," Mishra told NPR by phone from his agency's headquarters in Nagpur, in central India. These shortages have been happening even as the U.S. and many other countries pour aid into India. That includes empty cylinders and oxygen concentrators machines that extract oxygen from the air and concentrate it for medical use. Enlarge this image toggle caption Getty Images Getty Images On April 28, the U.S. dispatched to the Indian capital its first shipment, which included more than 400 oxygen cylinders and 960,000 rapid-testing kits. Since then, at least four more shipments from the U.S., carrying more than 200,000 vials of the antiviral drug remdesivir and additional oxygen support, have arrived in Delhi and Mumbai. Countries around the world, including the United Kingdom, the United Arab Emirates, France, Uzbekistan, Thailand and many others, are sending ventilators, liquid oxygen and oxygen concentrators. Much of that aid has become mired in customs queues. State officials told Indian media that some of it began to be dispatched on Monday night more than a week, in some cases, since it had arrived. During that time, COVID-19 patients were dying of shortages in hospitals only a few miles from these stockpiles. Late Wednesday local time, the Indian government issued a news release saying a "streamlined and systematic mechanism for allocation" of foreign aid supplies had been implemented. "Cargo clearance and deliveries are facilitated without delay," the release stated. All donations received by May 4 have already been allocated to recipient states or institutions, and a "substantial part of it stands delivered," it added. "The challenge now is to transport the oxygen" The Indian government says it has ramped up oxygen production. It has banned the use of oxygen for industries, with a few exceptions for the military, for example and is diverting most of it for medical use. But the problem has been getting the oxygen to medical facilities. Enlarge this image toggle caption Manjunath Kiran/AFP via Getty Images Manjunath Kiran/AFP via Getty Images "The challenge now is to transport the oxygen," Piyush Goyal, a spokesperson for the Home Affairs Ministry, said in a news conference on April 26. Liquid medical oxygen is flammable and in most cases can't be flown. It has to move by road, rail or sea freight. "The demand for tankers [that can be filled with oxygen] has gone up, and we do not have enough tankers available," said Goyal. Mishra, the oxygen supply official, says lots of oxygen-tanker drivers got sick with COVID-19 right at the moment when oxygen demand skyrocketed. Officials had to arrange replacement drivers, and it took time. In some parts of the capital, oxygen demand is up as much as 700%. According to the Delhi government, hospitals are asking for close to 1,000 metric tons of liquid oxygen per day on average, but only 40% of that is being supplied. Most of India's oxygen-generating plants are in the country's east or south. But demand right now is mostly in the north. That means 18-hour trips by tanker truck. India's Air Force has been airlifting empty tankers back to the factories to cut travel time. It has also been picking up extra containers from abroad. On Tuesday night, an Indian Navy ship arrived in Kuwait to pick up donations of liquid oxygen and other supplies. Indian Railways has run at least 27 special trains delivering more than 1,500 metric tons of liquid oxygen to several states. Two such "Oxygen Express" trains pulled into Delhi on Wednesday, Railways Minister Piyush Goyal (no relation to the Home Affairs Ministry spokesperson) announced on Twitter. This week, the government announced that two new oxygen plants would be quickly constructed inside two big Delhi hospitals. They're expected to begin supplying oxygen by Wednesday evening. "Crucial lessons ... were simply not learned" Mad scrambles for oxygen at so many hospitals underscore one of the biggest problems: how bureaucracy has slowed things down. The Indian government has taken over oxygen distribution but still does not have the systems in place to deliver. Dr. Sumit Ray, the critical care chief at Delhi's Holy Family Hospital, has experienced that firsthand. "There are patients dying who come in ambulances, searching from hospital to hospital, and they are brought in dead because they did not find oxygen or the oxygen in the ambulance ran out," he tells NPR. His 275-bed hospital was instructed by the government to handle only COVID-19 patients. It has since expanded to 390 beds by squeezing two or three beds into rooms that were previously for one. Corridors have been sealed off and lined with beds, oxygen cylinders and monitors. In the intensive care unit, stretchers have been placed in between permanent beds. The hospital has run out of ventilators, so technicians have repurposed anesthesia machines from operating rooms to help COVID-19 patients breathe, Ray says. Enlarge this image toggle caption Rebecca Conway/Getty Images Rebecca Conway/Getty Images On April 23, Holy Family Hospital came within 30 minutes of running out of oxygen. Ray describes a mad scramble to hook up patients two to a cylinder and to triage who could be saved. He put in frantic calls to local government officials. "It's not that they were not trying to help, but they themselves didn't know how to go about it. The systems were not in place," Ray recalls. "All the logistics of large-enough tankers moving fast enough, and also coordinating! Because the demand has gone up. So you have to coordinate much more on who gets how much." Local governments are relatively new to this. Most Indian hospitals used to procure their own oxygen directly from suppliers. But in March 2020, when Prime Minister Narendra Modi put India under the world's biggest coronavirus lockdown, the government got involved in regulating essential medical supplies, including oxygen. Hospitals now have to send refill requests to their state government, which in turn asks the central government. The process is overseen by a committee called the Empowered Group 2, a government-appointed body. Last year, Ray says his hospital was asking for refills once a week. Now he says it's using "10 to 12 times as much oxygen" which means he's calling for refills more than once a day. The requests to the government quickly pile up. On April 23, an oxygen tanker eventually pulled up to replenish Ray's hospital, when he had just 30 minutes' supply left. Disaster was averted. And tankers have since been arriving on time, he says. But the close call that his hospital experienced last month says something about India's pandemic preparedness more than a year after the pandemic began. Experts say the country did not use its time wisely, when its coronavirus caseload dropped to record lows in early 2021. "There was a sense of complacency, and many crucial lessons that we could and should have learned what we needed to do to strengthen the health system to prepare for a second wave were simply not learned," says Yamini Aiyar, president of the Centre for Policy Research, a Delhi think tank. "Perhaps no one could have predicted how virulent this surge is." "But our complete lack of preparedness has brought this already-broken system to its knees," she says. | Hospitals in India are running out of oxygen. The shortages are a result of decades of neglect, experts say. | ctrlsum | 0 | https://www.npr.org/sections/goatsandsoda/2021/05/05/989461528/why-is-india-running-out-of-oxygen | 0.338584 |
Why Is India Running Out Of Oxygen? | Enlarge this image toggle caption Sajjad Hussain/AFP via Getty Images Sajjad Hussain/AFP via Getty Images MUMBAI, India Sanchi Gupta was running around, trying to get her hands on an oxygen cylinder even an empty one. Her mother was one of 140 COVID-19 patients in Saroj Hospital, one of the best-equipped hospitals in India's capital, New Delhi. She was on a ventilator in intensive care. Then the hospital told Gupta and other families that its oxygen supply had run out. So they had to go out and find oxygen cylinders to bring to the hospital to keep their loved ones alive. "We are not getting full cylinders, so we are trying to find empty cylinders, because we can still get those filled," Gupta explained to local media outside the hospital last month. "We're in contact with NGOs [in the hope that they have tanks that can fill cylinders], everybody! We're using every kind of pressure, every contact. We are desperate." Enlarge this image toggle caption Amal KS/Hindustan Times/Getty Images Amal KS/Hindustan Times/Getty Images She pleaded for answers from strangers on the sidewalk outside the hospital. Why don't we have oxygen?" Gupta cried. Why is this happening?" In India, procuring oxygen is a task that normally doesn't fall to patients' families. But with the country confirming more than 300,000 coronavirus cases a day for the past two weeks, medical supply chains have broken. In addition to oxygen shortages, there are shortages of hospital beds, antiviral drugs, coronavirus test kits virtually all the tools any country needs to fight a pandemic. It's a consequence, experts say, of decades of neglect and lack of spending on public health in a country of nearly 1.4 billion people one that is now hit by the biggest coronavirus wave in the world. "It is disheartening. We are not a rich country. There has always been an inadequate health budget," says Dr. Vineeta Bal, an immunologist at the Indian Institute of Science Education and Research in Pune. Bal notes that India invests less on public health just above 1% of its gross domestic product than most of its peers. Brazil spends more than 9% of its GDP on health; in the United States, the figure is nearly 18%. Enlarge this image toggle caption Stringer/Xinhua News Agency/Getty Images Stringer/Xinhua News Agency/Getty Images "One percent of GDP is a pathetic state of affairs," Bal says. "It's nothing!" At Saroj Hospital, local government officials eventually got a giant tanker to deliver oxygen, replenishing stocks for Gupta's mother and other patients. In the end, they didn't have to rely on the small cylinders that families were able to scrounge up. Other hospitals have not been as fortunate. Hospital SOS: "Kindly help us in procuring [oxygen]" On Tuesday, as many as 24 patients died after the Chamarajanagar district hospital in the southern state of Karnataka allegedly ran out of oxygen. On Saturday, 12 COVID-19 patients died at Delhi's Batra Hospital after an oxygen delivery was delayed by just 90 minutes. Several more such incidents have been reported across the country. And it's not just COVID-19 patients. A children's hospital near the capital put out an SOS notice Saturday, warning that it was running out of oxygen and that six babies in critical care might suffer "severe consequences." "Kindly help us in procuring [oxygen cylinders] for the sake of the babies and mankind," a news release from the hospital said, which was shared on social media. The notice was addressed "to whom it may concern." The Allahabad High Court in northern India on Tuesday declared that hospital deaths from oxygen shortages amount to "genocide." In India, courts frequently work in a suo moto capacity (the term means "on its own"), investigating issues of public concern without the need for a lawsuit to first be filed. In this case, the Allahabad High Court began investigating oxygen shortages because of viral videos showing such shortages in its jurisdiction. Enlarge this image toggle caption Rebecca Conway/Getty Images Rebecca Conway/Getty Images "This wave [of infections] happened so fast! So it was very difficult to manage all the things. People at home also bought [oxygen] cylinders and started using them," says S.D. Mishra, who oversees COVID-19 oxygen supply at the Petroleum and Explosives Safety Organization, a government agency that regulates the transport of oxygen and hazardous substances. "So because of this panic situation, there was a sudden increase in demand in oxygen supply." "We actually have excess production and storage [of oxygen] in eastern India and other areas, but Delhi is having problems," Mishra told NPR by phone from his agency's headquarters in Nagpur, in central India. These shortages have been happening even as the U.S. and many other countries pour aid into India. That includes empty cylinders and oxygen concentrators machines that extract oxygen from the air and concentrate it for medical use. Enlarge this image toggle caption Getty Images Getty Images On April 28, the U.S. dispatched to the Indian capital its first shipment, which included more than 400 oxygen cylinders and 960,000 rapid-testing kits. Since then, at least four more shipments from the U.S., carrying more than 200,000 vials of the antiviral drug remdesivir and additional oxygen support, have arrived in Delhi and Mumbai. Countries around the world, including the United Kingdom, the United Arab Emirates, France, Uzbekistan, Thailand and many others, are sending ventilators, liquid oxygen and oxygen concentrators. Much of that aid has become mired in customs queues. State officials told Indian media that some of it began to be dispatched on Monday night more than a week, in some cases, since it had arrived. During that time, COVID-19 patients were dying of shortages in hospitals only a few miles from these stockpiles. Late Wednesday local time, the Indian government issued a news release saying a "streamlined and systematic mechanism for allocation" of foreign aid supplies had been implemented. "Cargo clearance and deliveries are facilitated without delay," the release stated. All donations received by May 4 have already been allocated to recipient states or institutions, and a "substantial part of it stands delivered," it added. "The challenge now is to transport the oxygen" The Indian government says it has ramped up oxygen production. It has banned the use of oxygen for industries, with a few exceptions for the military, for example and is diverting most of it for medical use. But the problem has been getting the oxygen to medical facilities. Enlarge this image toggle caption Manjunath Kiran/AFP via Getty Images Manjunath Kiran/AFP via Getty Images "The challenge now is to transport the oxygen," Piyush Goyal, a spokesperson for the Home Affairs Ministry, said in a news conference on April 26. Liquid medical oxygen is flammable and in most cases can't be flown. It has to move by road, rail or sea freight. "The demand for tankers [that can be filled with oxygen] has gone up, and we do not have enough tankers available," said Goyal. Mishra, the oxygen supply official, says lots of oxygen-tanker drivers got sick with COVID-19 right at the moment when oxygen demand skyrocketed. Officials had to arrange replacement drivers, and it took time. In some parts of the capital, oxygen demand is up as much as 700%. According to the Delhi government, hospitals are asking for close to 1,000 metric tons of liquid oxygen per day on average, but only 40% of that is being supplied. Most of India's oxygen-generating plants are in the country's east or south. But demand right now is mostly in the north. That means 18-hour trips by tanker truck. India's Air Force has been airlifting empty tankers back to the factories to cut travel time. It has also been picking up extra containers from abroad. On Tuesday night, an Indian Navy ship arrived in Kuwait to pick up donations of liquid oxygen and other supplies. Indian Railways has run at least 27 special trains delivering more than 1,500 metric tons of liquid oxygen to several states. Two such "Oxygen Express" trains pulled into Delhi on Wednesday, Railways Minister Piyush Goyal (no relation to the Home Affairs Ministry spokesperson) announced on Twitter. This week, the government announced that two new oxygen plants would be quickly constructed inside two big Delhi hospitals. They're expected to begin supplying oxygen by Wednesday evening. "Crucial lessons ... were simply not learned" Mad scrambles for oxygen at so many hospitals underscore one of the biggest problems: how bureaucracy has slowed things down. The Indian government has taken over oxygen distribution but still does not have the systems in place to deliver. Dr. Sumit Ray, the critical care chief at Delhi's Holy Family Hospital, has experienced that firsthand. "There are patients dying who come in ambulances, searching from hospital to hospital, and they are brought in dead because they did not find oxygen or the oxygen in the ambulance ran out," he tells NPR. His 275-bed hospital was instructed by the government to handle only COVID-19 patients. It has since expanded to 390 beds by squeezing two or three beds into rooms that were previously for one. Corridors have been sealed off and lined with beds, oxygen cylinders and monitors. In the intensive care unit, stretchers have been placed in between permanent beds. The hospital has run out of ventilators, so technicians have repurposed anesthesia machines from operating rooms to help COVID-19 patients breathe, Ray says. Enlarge this image toggle caption Rebecca Conway/Getty Images Rebecca Conway/Getty Images On April 23, Holy Family Hospital came within 30 minutes of running out of oxygen. Ray describes a mad scramble to hook up patients two to a cylinder and to triage who could be saved. He put in frantic calls to local government officials. "It's not that they were not trying to help, but they themselves didn't know how to go about it. The systems were not in place," Ray recalls. "All the logistics of large-enough tankers moving fast enough, and also coordinating! Because the demand has gone up. So you have to coordinate much more on who gets how much." Local governments are relatively new to this. Most Indian hospitals used to procure their own oxygen directly from suppliers. But in March 2020, when Prime Minister Narendra Modi put India under the world's biggest coronavirus lockdown, the government got involved in regulating essential medical supplies, including oxygen. Hospitals now have to send refill requests to their state government, which in turn asks the central government. The process is overseen by a committee called the Empowered Group 2, a government-appointed body. Last year, Ray says his hospital was asking for refills once a week. Now he says it's using "10 to 12 times as much oxygen" which means he's calling for refills more than once a day. The requests to the government quickly pile up. On April 23, an oxygen tanker eventually pulled up to replenish Ray's hospital, when he had just 30 minutes' supply left. Disaster was averted. And tankers have since been arriving on time, he says. But the close call that his hospital experienced last month says something about India's pandemic preparedness more than a year after the pandemic began. Experts say the country did not use its time wisely, when its coronavirus caseload dropped to record lows in early 2021. "There was a sense of complacency, and many crucial lessons that we could and should have learned what we needed to do to strengthen the health system to prepare for a second wave were simply not learned," says Yamini Aiyar, president of the Centre for Policy Research, a Delhi think tank. "Perhaps no one could have predicted how virulent this surge is." "But our complete lack of preparedness has brought this already-broken system to its knees," she says. | Hospitals in India are running out of oxygen. The shortages are a result of decades of neglect and lack of spending, experts say. India spends less on public health than most of its peers. | ctrlsum | 1 | https://www.npr.org/sections/goatsandsoda/2021/05/05/989461528/why-is-india-running-out-of-oxygen | 0.467642 |
Why Is India Running Out Of Oxygen? | Enlarge this image toggle caption Sajjad Hussain/AFP via Getty Images Sajjad Hussain/AFP via Getty Images MUMBAI, India Sanchi Gupta was running around, trying to get her hands on an oxygen cylinder even an empty one. Her mother was one of 140 COVID-19 patients in Saroj Hospital, one of the best-equipped hospitals in India's capital, New Delhi. She was on a ventilator in intensive care. Then the hospital told Gupta and other families that its oxygen supply had run out. So they had to go out and find oxygen cylinders to bring to the hospital to keep their loved ones alive. "We are not getting full cylinders, so we are trying to find empty cylinders, because we can still get those filled," Gupta explained to local media outside the hospital last month. "We're in contact with NGOs [in the hope that they have tanks that can fill cylinders], everybody! We're using every kind of pressure, every contact. We are desperate." Enlarge this image toggle caption Amal KS/Hindustan Times/Getty Images Amal KS/Hindustan Times/Getty Images She pleaded for answers from strangers on the sidewalk outside the hospital. Why don't we have oxygen?" Gupta cried. Why is this happening?" In India, procuring oxygen is a task that normally doesn't fall to patients' families. But with the country confirming more than 300,000 coronavirus cases a day for the past two weeks, medical supply chains have broken. In addition to oxygen shortages, there are shortages of hospital beds, antiviral drugs, coronavirus test kits virtually all the tools any country needs to fight a pandemic. It's a consequence, experts say, of decades of neglect and lack of spending on public health in a country of nearly 1.4 billion people one that is now hit by the biggest coronavirus wave in the world. "It is disheartening. We are not a rich country. There has always been an inadequate health budget," says Dr. Vineeta Bal, an immunologist at the Indian Institute of Science Education and Research in Pune. Bal notes that India invests less on public health just above 1% of its gross domestic product than most of its peers. Brazil spends more than 9% of its GDP on health; in the United States, the figure is nearly 18%. Enlarge this image toggle caption Stringer/Xinhua News Agency/Getty Images Stringer/Xinhua News Agency/Getty Images "One percent of GDP is a pathetic state of affairs," Bal says. "It's nothing!" At Saroj Hospital, local government officials eventually got a giant tanker to deliver oxygen, replenishing stocks for Gupta's mother and other patients. In the end, they didn't have to rely on the small cylinders that families were able to scrounge up. Other hospitals have not been as fortunate. Hospital SOS: "Kindly help us in procuring [oxygen]" On Tuesday, as many as 24 patients died after the Chamarajanagar district hospital in the southern state of Karnataka allegedly ran out of oxygen. On Saturday, 12 COVID-19 patients died at Delhi's Batra Hospital after an oxygen delivery was delayed by just 90 minutes. Several more such incidents have been reported across the country. And it's not just COVID-19 patients. A children's hospital near the capital put out an SOS notice Saturday, warning that it was running out of oxygen and that six babies in critical care might suffer "severe consequences." "Kindly help us in procuring [oxygen cylinders] for the sake of the babies and mankind," a news release from the hospital said, which was shared on social media. The notice was addressed "to whom it may concern." The Allahabad High Court in northern India on Tuesday declared that hospital deaths from oxygen shortages amount to "genocide." In India, courts frequently work in a suo moto capacity (the term means "on its own"), investigating issues of public concern without the need for a lawsuit to first be filed. In this case, the Allahabad High Court began investigating oxygen shortages because of viral videos showing such shortages in its jurisdiction. Enlarge this image toggle caption Rebecca Conway/Getty Images Rebecca Conway/Getty Images "This wave [of infections] happened so fast! So it was very difficult to manage all the things. People at home also bought [oxygen] cylinders and started using them," says S.D. Mishra, who oversees COVID-19 oxygen supply at the Petroleum and Explosives Safety Organization, a government agency that regulates the transport of oxygen and hazardous substances. "So because of this panic situation, there was a sudden increase in demand in oxygen supply." "We actually have excess production and storage [of oxygen] in eastern India and other areas, but Delhi is having problems," Mishra told NPR by phone from his agency's headquarters in Nagpur, in central India. These shortages have been happening even as the U.S. and many other countries pour aid into India. That includes empty cylinders and oxygen concentrators machines that extract oxygen from the air and concentrate it for medical use. Enlarge this image toggle caption Getty Images Getty Images On April 28, the U.S. dispatched to the Indian capital its first shipment, which included more than 400 oxygen cylinders and 960,000 rapid-testing kits. Since then, at least four more shipments from the U.S., carrying more than 200,000 vials of the antiviral drug remdesivir and additional oxygen support, have arrived in Delhi and Mumbai. Countries around the world, including the United Kingdom, the United Arab Emirates, France, Uzbekistan, Thailand and many others, are sending ventilators, liquid oxygen and oxygen concentrators. Much of that aid has become mired in customs queues. State officials told Indian media that some of it began to be dispatched on Monday night more than a week, in some cases, since it had arrived. During that time, COVID-19 patients were dying of shortages in hospitals only a few miles from these stockpiles. Late Wednesday local time, the Indian government issued a news release saying a "streamlined and systematic mechanism for allocation" of foreign aid supplies had been implemented. "Cargo clearance and deliveries are facilitated without delay," the release stated. All donations received by May 4 have already been allocated to recipient states or institutions, and a "substantial part of it stands delivered," it added. "The challenge now is to transport the oxygen" The Indian government says it has ramped up oxygen production. It has banned the use of oxygen for industries, with a few exceptions for the military, for example and is diverting most of it for medical use. But the problem has been getting the oxygen to medical facilities. Enlarge this image toggle caption Manjunath Kiran/AFP via Getty Images Manjunath Kiran/AFP via Getty Images "The challenge now is to transport the oxygen," Piyush Goyal, a spokesperson for the Home Affairs Ministry, said in a news conference on April 26. Liquid medical oxygen is flammable and in most cases can't be flown. It has to move by road, rail or sea freight. "The demand for tankers [that can be filled with oxygen] has gone up, and we do not have enough tankers available," said Goyal. Mishra, the oxygen supply official, says lots of oxygen-tanker drivers got sick with COVID-19 right at the moment when oxygen demand skyrocketed. Officials had to arrange replacement drivers, and it took time. In some parts of the capital, oxygen demand is up as much as 700%. According to the Delhi government, hospitals are asking for close to 1,000 metric tons of liquid oxygen per day on average, but only 40% of that is being supplied. Most of India's oxygen-generating plants are in the country's east or south. But demand right now is mostly in the north. That means 18-hour trips by tanker truck. India's Air Force has been airlifting empty tankers back to the factories to cut travel time. It has also been picking up extra containers from abroad. On Tuesday night, an Indian Navy ship arrived in Kuwait to pick up donations of liquid oxygen and other supplies. Indian Railways has run at least 27 special trains delivering more than 1,500 metric tons of liquid oxygen to several states. Two such "Oxygen Express" trains pulled into Delhi on Wednesday, Railways Minister Piyush Goyal (no relation to the Home Affairs Ministry spokesperson) announced on Twitter. This week, the government announced that two new oxygen plants would be quickly constructed inside two big Delhi hospitals. They're expected to begin supplying oxygen by Wednesday evening. "Crucial lessons ... were simply not learned" Mad scrambles for oxygen at so many hospitals underscore one of the biggest problems: how bureaucracy has slowed things down. The Indian government has taken over oxygen distribution but still does not have the systems in place to deliver. Dr. Sumit Ray, the critical care chief at Delhi's Holy Family Hospital, has experienced that firsthand. "There are patients dying who come in ambulances, searching from hospital to hospital, and they are brought in dead because they did not find oxygen or the oxygen in the ambulance ran out," he tells NPR. His 275-bed hospital was instructed by the government to handle only COVID-19 patients. It has since expanded to 390 beds by squeezing two or three beds into rooms that were previously for one. Corridors have been sealed off and lined with beds, oxygen cylinders and monitors. In the intensive care unit, stretchers have been placed in between permanent beds. The hospital has run out of ventilators, so technicians have repurposed anesthesia machines from operating rooms to help COVID-19 patients breathe, Ray says. Enlarge this image toggle caption Rebecca Conway/Getty Images Rebecca Conway/Getty Images On April 23, Holy Family Hospital came within 30 minutes of running out of oxygen. Ray describes a mad scramble to hook up patients two to a cylinder and to triage who could be saved. He put in frantic calls to local government officials. "It's not that they were not trying to help, but they themselves didn't know how to go about it. The systems were not in place," Ray recalls. "All the logistics of large-enough tankers moving fast enough, and also coordinating! Because the demand has gone up. So you have to coordinate much more on who gets how much." Local governments are relatively new to this. Most Indian hospitals used to procure their own oxygen directly from suppliers. But in March 2020, when Prime Minister Narendra Modi put India under the world's biggest coronavirus lockdown, the government got involved in regulating essential medical supplies, including oxygen. Hospitals now have to send refill requests to their state government, which in turn asks the central government. The process is overseen by a committee called the Empowered Group 2, a government-appointed body. Last year, Ray says his hospital was asking for refills once a week. Now he says it's using "10 to 12 times as much oxygen" which means he's calling for refills more than once a day. The requests to the government quickly pile up. On April 23, an oxygen tanker eventually pulled up to replenish Ray's hospital, when he had just 30 minutes' supply left. Disaster was averted. And tankers have since been arriving on time, he says. But the close call that his hospital experienced last month says something about India's pandemic preparedness more than a year after the pandemic began. Experts say the country did not use its time wisely, when its coronavirus caseload dropped to record lows in early 2021. "There was a sense of complacency, and many crucial lessons that we could and should have learned what we needed to do to strengthen the health system to prepare for a second wave were simply not learned," says Yamini Aiyar, president of the Centre for Policy Research, a Delhi think tank. "Perhaps no one could have predicted how virulent this surge is." "But our complete lack of preparedness has brought this already-broken system to its knees," she says. | Hospitals in India are running out of oxygen. The shortages are a result of decades of neglect and lack of spending, experts say. India spends less on public health than most of its peers, including the U.S. and Brazil. The country has been hit by the biggest coronavirus wave in the world. | ctrlsum | 2 | https://www.npr.org/sections/goatsandsoda/2021/05/05/989461528/why-is-india-running-out-of-oxygen | 0.53372 |
Where will New Zealand stand in rising tensions between China and other allies? | New Zealand could eventually come under real pressure to pick a side between China and its more traditional allies. Photo / File New Zealand could eventually come under real pressure to pick a side between China and its more traditional allies. Photo / File By Jane Patterson of RNZ Rising tensions between Australia and China have raised the question of where New Zealand would stand if things escalate further. Close transtasman friend and ally Australia is taking a more aggressive stance against China - with South China Sea and Taiwan potential flashpoints. And recent statements from its defence minister about a possible conflict with China have caused some alarm - a prospect that could put New Zealand under real pressure - to pick a side. After a year of heavy trade strikes against Australian exports, diplomatic outbursts and increasing military activity in the region, new Australian Defence Minister Peter Dutton told the ABC conflict with with China over Taiwan "should not be discounted". New Zealand Minister of Foreign Affairs Nanaia Mahuta said she could not comment on "prospective thinking about what may or may not happen", adding New Zealand "values" the important relationship with Australia. It did "make for an uncomfortable situation" to have Australia and China at loggerheads and "where you see your neighbours being treated in such a punitive way", she said. Australia was in a different position to New Zealand and "obviously see things in a certain way, because they have neighbours and are in a part of the region where they feel several things more acutely and we will remain closely connected in the way that we share our view of what's happening in our region", Mahuta said. Tensions between China and its neighbours have been rising in the disputed South China Sea. "New Zealand is very aware that we are a small country in the Pacific," Mahuta said. "And we are also aware that the nature of our relationships, both bilateral and multilateral, require us to be nimble, respectful, consistent and predictable in the way that we treat our nearest neighbours, but also those who we have bilateral relationships with, no matter whether they are big or small relationships." Leading defence analyst Paul Buchanan said storm clouds were gathering and armed conflict was now a "distinct possibility". "Maybe not directly between the Australians and the Chinese, unless there's a miscalculation involving a Australian warship, doing freedom of navigation exercises in the South China Sea," Buchanan said. "But more than likely, as part of a dispute that gets out of control and Australia, as part of a coalition of countries, probably led by the United States, that is duty bound to respond, so for example, Taiwan." Defence analyst Paul Buchanan. Photo / Supplied If such a conflict erupted, that would leave New Zealand "between a rock and hard place" because it would be asked to join that coalition, Buchanan said. That would require some "hard decisions ... that have been in the making for well over a decade when we decided to throw most of our trade ships into the Chinese market". "Now we're in on the horns of a dilemma and a bit of a quandary should our security partners ask us to join them in the common defence of a country suffering from Chinese aggression," he said. | New Zealand could eventually come under real pressure to pick a side between China and its more traditional allies. | ctrlsum | 0 | https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/where-will-new-zealand-stand-in-rising-tensions-between-china-and-other-allies/47NAXEFPZGOXDZPOEBCM572HJI/ | 0.216023 |
Where will New Zealand stand in rising tensions between China and other allies? | New Zealand could eventually come under real pressure to pick a side between China and its more traditional allies. Photo / File New Zealand could eventually come under real pressure to pick a side between China and its more traditional allies. Photo / File By Jane Patterson of RNZ Rising tensions between Australia and China have raised the question of where New Zealand would stand if things escalate further. Close transtasman friend and ally Australia is taking a more aggressive stance against China - with South China Sea and Taiwan potential flashpoints. And recent statements from its defence minister about a possible conflict with China have caused some alarm - a prospect that could put New Zealand under real pressure - to pick a side. After a year of heavy trade strikes against Australian exports, diplomatic outbursts and increasing military activity in the region, new Australian Defence Minister Peter Dutton told the ABC conflict with with China over Taiwan "should not be discounted". New Zealand Minister of Foreign Affairs Nanaia Mahuta said she could not comment on "prospective thinking about what may or may not happen", adding New Zealand "values" the important relationship with Australia. It did "make for an uncomfortable situation" to have Australia and China at loggerheads and "where you see your neighbours being treated in such a punitive way", she said. Australia was in a different position to New Zealand and "obviously see things in a certain way, because they have neighbours and are in a part of the region where they feel several things more acutely and we will remain closely connected in the way that we share our view of what's happening in our region", Mahuta said. Tensions between China and its neighbours have been rising in the disputed South China Sea. "New Zealand is very aware that we are a small country in the Pacific," Mahuta said. "And we are also aware that the nature of our relationships, both bilateral and multilateral, require us to be nimble, respectful, consistent and predictable in the way that we treat our nearest neighbours, but also those who we have bilateral relationships with, no matter whether they are big or small relationships." Leading defence analyst Paul Buchanan said storm clouds were gathering and armed conflict was now a "distinct possibility". "Maybe not directly between the Australians and the Chinese, unless there's a miscalculation involving a Australian warship, doing freedom of navigation exercises in the South China Sea," Buchanan said. "But more than likely, as part of a dispute that gets out of control and Australia, as part of a coalition of countries, probably led by the United States, that is duty bound to respond, so for example, Taiwan." Defence analyst Paul Buchanan. Photo / Supplied If such a conflict erupted, that would leave New Zealand "between a rock and hard place" because it would be asked to join that coalition, Buchanan said. That would require some "hard decisions ... that have been in the making for well over a decade when we decided to throw most of our trade ships into the Chinese market". "Now we're in on the horns of a dilemma and a bit of a quandary should our security partners ask us to join them in the common defence of a country suffering from Chinese aggression," he said. | Tensions between Australia and China have raised the question of where New Zealand would stand if things escalate further. New Zealand could eventually come under real pressure to pick a side between China and its more traditional allies. | ctrlsum | 1 | https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/where-will-new-zealand-stand-in-rising-tensions-between-china-and-other-allies/47NAXEFPZGOXDZPOEBCM572HJI/ | 0.274307 |
Where will New Zealand stand in rising tensions between China and other allies? | New Zealand could eventually come under real pressure to pick a side between China and its more traditional allies. Photo / File New Zealand could eventually come under real pressure to pick a side between China and its more traditional allies. Photo / File By Jane Patterson of RNZ Rising tensions between Australia and China have raised the question of where New Zealand would stand if things escalate further. Close transtasman friend and ally Australia is taking a more aggressive stance against China - with South China Sea and Taiwan potential flashpoints. And recent statements from its defence minister about a possible conflict with China have caused some alarm - a prospect that could put New Zealand under real pressure - to pick a side. After a year of heavy trade strikes against Australian exports, diplomatic outbursts and increasing military activity in the region, new Australian Defence Minister Peter Dutton told the ABC conflict with with China over Taiwan "should not be discounted". New Zealand Minister of Foreign Affairs Nanaia Mahuta said she could not comment on "prospective thinking about what may or may not happen", adding New Zealand "values" the important relationship with Australia. It did "make for an uncomfortable situation" to have Australia and China at loggerheads and "where you see your neighbours being treated in such a punitive way", she said. Australia was in a different position to New Zealand and "obviously see things in a certain way, because they have neighbours and are in a part of the region where they feel several things more acutely and we will remain closely connected in the way that we share our view of what's happening in our region", Mahuta said. Tensions between China and its neighbours have been rising in the disputed South China Sea. "New Zealand is very aware that we are a small country in the Pacific," Mahuta said. "And we are also aware that the nature of our relationships, both bilateral and multilateral, require us to be nimble, respectful, consistent and predictable in the way that we treat our nearest neighbours, but also those who we have bilateral relationships with, no matter whether they are big or small relationships." Leading defence analyst Paul Buchanan said storm clouds were gathering and armed conflict was now a "distinct possibility". "Maybe not directly between the Australians and the Chinese, unless there's a miscalculation involving a Australian warship, doing freedom of navigation exercises in the South China Sea," Buchanan said. "But more than likely, as part of a dispute that gets out of control and Australia, as part of a coalition of countries, probably led by the United States, that is duty bound to respond, so for example, Taiwan." Defence analyst Paul Buchanan. Photo / Supplied If such a conflict erupted, that would leave New Zealand "between a rock and hard place" because it would be asked to join that coalition, Buchanan said. That would require some "hard decisions ... that have been in the making for well over a decade when we decided to throw most of our trade ships into the Chinese market". "Now we're in on the horns of a dilemma and a bit of a quandary should our security partners ask us to join them in the common defence of a country suffering from Chinese aggression," he said. | Rising tensions between Australia and China have raised the question of where New Zealand would stand if things escalate further. Close transtasman friend and ally Australia is taking a more aggressive stance against China - with South China Sea and Taiwan potential flashpoints. | bart | 2 | https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/where-will-new-zealand-stand-in-rising-tensions-between-china-and-other-allies/47NAXEFPZGOXDZPOEBCM572HJI/ | 0.206883 |
Can Washington Find 'Franchise QB' in 2022 NFL Draft? | Scouts are already prepping for the Washington Football Team to find the franchise QB in 2022 The Washington Football Team on paper might be the best roster in the NFC East. Bosses Ron Rivera and Martin Mayhew upgraded at near every positional need entering free agency and doubled down in the NFL Draft. One season and four quarterbacks after finishing 7-9, the hope is 2021 can be a resurgent year for WFT and Rivera. Additions like linebacker Jamin Davis, tackle Sam Cosmi and wide receiver Dyami Brown all should expand their roles as their rookie season moves on. Again, on paper, Washington is ready to win. However, media scouts are wary of the status under center with Ryan Fitzpatrick. Whether he does or doesn't, scouts have already pegged WFT to select the hopeful franchise QB in 2022. READ MORE: Rivera Admits Washington Had 'Big Conversation' About QB Trade In NFL Draft In the way-too-early 2022 NFL mock draft, The Athletic's Dane Brugler believes Washington will miss the playoffs, finishing second in the division, but ending up with the No. 10 pick. Staying in range for a top gunslinger, Brugler has Rivera adding Georgia's JT Daniels to the D.C. franchise. "Georgia's inconsistencies last season can be tied to its issues at quarterback. But over the final few games with Daniels as the starter, the Bulldogs looked like a different team. If he continues to make positive strides he could put himself in the top half of Round 1." Daniels, who transferred to Athens following losing out to Kedon Slovis at USC, started in four games for Kirby Smart's staff last season. Of the three signal-callers who played in 2020, Daniels far and away looked to be the most SEC-ready, throwing for 1,231 yards and 10 touchdowns against two interceptions. In the Peach Bowl against Cincinnati, Daniels finished 26-of-38 passing for 392 yards and a touchdown on the way to a 24-21 victory. Expectations are high for Georgia, who will be only team expected to contend for the SEC title that won't be replacing the games most influential position. Quarterback play has been the storyline for schools winning the championship in Atlanta, as evidenced by Mac Jones, Joe Burrow and Tua Tagovailoa. Even if Daniels isn't the selection for WFT Round 1, the inclination is that Rivera and Co. will add a quarterback after the season. Bleacher Report's Brent Sobleski has them taking Cincinnati's Desmond Ridder at No. 12. USA Today's Luke Easterling has Slovis from USC landing in Landover at No. 8. PFN's Ian Cummings has Washington going with an upside Carson Strong from Nevada at No. 11 while CBS Sports' Ryan Wilson has Oklahoma's Spencer Rattler heading over at pick No. 8. Yahoo Sports' Derrick Klassen keeps the next face of the franchise close to home with the addition of Liberty's Malik Willis. There's an emphasis on Washington failing to add a quarterback in the draft according to most scouts. Fitzpatrick won't likely get the job done long-term ... and WFT will have to find its next budding star early with a roster ready to win now. No matter the outcome of 2021, WFT will probably need to find its franchise QB. Daniels or elsewhere, it makes sense that it would be the top priority entering next offseason. CONTINUE READING: Rivera: Washington Will Take A Shot At More Veteran NFL Free Agents | Scouts are already prepping for the Washington Football Team to find the franchise QB in 2022. | bart | 0 | https://www.si.com/nfl/washingtonfootball/news/washington-football-team-find-franchise-qb-2022-nfl-draft | 0.353086 |
Can Washington Find 'Franchise QB' in 2022 NFL Draft? | Scouts are already prepping for the Washington Football Team to find the franchise QB in 2022 The Washington Football Team on paper might be the best roster in the NFC East. Bosses Ron Rivera and Martin Mayhew upgraded at near every positional need entering free agency and doubled down in the NFL Draft. One season and four quarterbacks after finishing 7-9, the hope is 2021 can be a resurgent year for WFT and Rivera. Additions like linebacker Jamin Davis, tackle Sam Cosmi and wide receiver Dyami Brown all should expand their roles as their rookie season moves on. Again, on paper, Washington is ready to win. However, media scouts are wary of the status under center with Ryan Fitzpatrick. Whether he does or doesn't, scouts have already pegged WFT to select the hopeful franchise QB in 2022. READ MORE: Rivera Admits Washington Had 'Big Conversation' About QB Trade In NFL Draft In the way-too-early 2022 NFL mock draft, The Athletic's Dane Brugler believes Washington will miss the playoffs, finishing second in the division, but ending up with the No. 10 pick. Staying in range for a top gunslinger, Brugler has Rivera adding Georgia's JT Daniels to the D.C. franchise. "Georgia's inconsistencies last season can be tied to its issues at quarterback. But over the final few games with Daniels as the starter, the Bulldogs looked like a different team. If he continues to make positive strides he could put himself in the top half of Round 1." Daniels, who transferred to Athens following losing out to Kedon Slovis at USC, started in four games for Kirby Smart's staff last season. Of the three signal-callers who played in 2020, Daniels far and away looked to be the most SEC-ready, throwing for 1,231 yards and 10 touchdowns against two interceptions. In the Peach Bowl against Cincinnati, Daniels finished 26-of-38 passing for 392 yards and a touchdown on the way to a 24-21 victory. Expectations are high for Georgia, who will be only team expected to contend for the SEC title that won't be replacing the games most influential position. Quarterback play has been the storyline for schools winning the championship in Atlanta, as evidenced by Mac Jones, Joe Burrow and Tua Tagovailoa. Even if Daniels isn't the selection for WFT Round 1, the inclination is that Rivera and Co. will add a quarterback after the season. Bleacher Report's Brent Sobleski has them taking Cincinnati's Desmond Ridder at No. 12. USA Today's Luke Easterling has Slovis from USC landing in Landover at No. 8. PFN's Ian Cummings has Washington going with an upside Carson Strong from Nevada at No. 11 while CBS Sports' Ryan Wilson has Oklahoma's Spencer Rattler heading over at pick No. 8. Yahoo Sports' Derrick Klassen keeps the next face of the franchise close to home with the addition of Liberty's Malik Willis. There's an emphasis on Washington failing to add a quarterback in the draft according to most scouts. Fitzpatrick won't likely get the job done long-term ... and WFT will have to find its next budding star early with a roster ready to win now. No matter the outcome of 2021, WFT will probably need to find its franchise QB. Daniels or elsewhere, it makes sense that it would be the top priority entering next offseason. CONTINUE READING: Rivera: Washington Will Take A Shot At More Veteran NFL Free Agents | Scouts are already prepping for the Washington Football Team to find the franchise QB in 2022 NFL Draft. Washington is expected to select Georgia's JT Daniels in the first round. | ctrlsum | 1 | https://www.si.com/nfl/washingtonfootball/news/washington-football-team-find-franchise-qb-2022-nfl-draft | 0.462257 |
Can Washington Find 'Franchise QB' in 2022 NFL Draft? | Scouts are already prepping for the Washington Football Team to find the franchise QB in 2022 The Washington Football Team on paper might be the best roster in the NFC East. Bosses Ron Rivera and Martin Mayhew upgraded at near every positional need entering free agency and doubled down in the NFL Draft. One season and four quarterbacks after finishing 7-9, the hope is 2021 can be a resurgent year for WFT and Rivera. Additions like linebacker Jamin Davis, tackle Sam Cosmi and wide receiver Dyami Brown all should expand their roles as their rookie season moves on. Again, on paper, Washington is ready to win. However, media scouts are wary of the status under center with Ryan Fitzpatrick. Whether he does or doesn't, scouts have already pegged WFT to select the hopeful franchise QB in 2022. READ MORE: Rivera Admits Washington Had 'Big Conversation' About QB Trade In NFL Draft In the way-too-early 2022 NFL mock draft, The Athletic's Dane Brugler believes Washington will miss the playoffs, finishing second in the division, but ending up with the No. 10 pick. Staying in range for a top gunslinger, Brugler has Rivera adding Georgia's JT Daniels to the D.C. franchise. "Georgia's inconsistencies last season can be tied to its issues at quarterback. But over the final few games with Daniels as the starter, the Bulldogs looked like a different team. If he continues to make positive strides he could put himself in the top half of Round 1." Daniels, who transferred to Athens following losing out to Kedon Slovis at USC, started in four games for Kirby Smart's staff last season. Of the three signal-callers who played in 2020, Daniels far and away looked to be the most SEC-ready, throwing for 1,231 yards and 10 touchdowns against two interceptions. In the Peach Bowl against Cincinnati, Daniels finished 26-of-38 passing for 392 yards and a touchdown on the way to a 24-21 victory. Expectations are high for Georgia, who will be only team expected to contend for the SEC title that won't be replacing the games most influential position. Quarterback play has been the storyline for schools winning the championship in Atlanta, as evidenced by Mac Jones, Joe Burrow and Tua Tagovailoa. Even if Daniels isn't the selection for WFT Round 1, the inclination is that Rivera and Co. will add a quarterback after the season. Bleacher Report's Brent Sobleski has them taking Cincinnati's Desmond Ridder at No. 12. USA Today's Luke Easterling has Slovis from USC landing in Landover at No. 8. PFN's Ian Cummings has Washington going with an upside Carson Strong from Nevada at No. 11 while CBS Sports' Ryan Wilson has Oklahoma's Spencer Rattler heading over at pick No. 8. Yahoo Sports' Derrick Klassen keeps the next face of the franchise close to home with the addition of Liberty's Malik Willis. There's an emphasis on Washington failing to add a quarterback in the draft according to most scouts. Fitzpatrick won't likely get the job done long-term ... and WFT will have to find its next budding star early with a roster ready to win now. No matter the outcome of 2021, WFT will probably need to find its franchise QB. Daniels or elsewhere, it makes sense that it would be the top priority entering next offseason. CONTINUE READING: Rivera: Washington Will Take A Shot At More Veteran NFL Free Agents | Scouts are already prepping for the Washington Football Team to find the franchise QB in 2022 NFL Draft. Washington is expected to select Georgia's JT Daniels in the first round of the 2022 NFL draft. Washington finished 7-9 last season and added four quarterbacks in free agency and the draft. | ctrlsum | 2 | https://www.si.com/nfl/washingtonfootball/news/washington-football-team-find-franchise-qb-2022-nfl-draft | 0.58426 |
Are CEOs living up to the pledges they made after George Floyd's murder? | George Floyd's murder last year forced a reckoning on race that extended to the boardroom. Photo / AP Promises on diversity and racial justice have proved easier to make than to keep. The words "systemic racism" used not to be spoken on US companies' earnings calls. The murder of George Floyd, a black man killed by a white police officer last May, abruptly changed that, putting the phrase into the mouths of the country's top executives and forcing them to consider their part in a system they were now denouncing. Chief executives from Apple's Tim Cook to David Solomon of Goldman Sachs declared that business leaders needed not only to speak up, but to do more to address racial disparities in their own companies. An assessment of the changes they have made in the intervening period suggests that Floyd's death did catalyse corporate diversity, equity and inclusion efforts. But on several key measures, much more still needs to change to turn executives' newly activist rhetoric into reality. American corporations have pledged to spend US$50 billion on racial equity since Floyd's murder, according to a tally of public promises compiled by Creative Investment Research. The funds were to be spread between donations to civil rights organisations, targeted investments in communities of colour and overhauls of their internal recruiting and training programmes. Yet only about US$250 million has actually been spent or committed to a specific initiative, according to an analysis by the research consulting firm. "We looked to see how much cash is there, how much actual money is there, and it was a small percentage of the pledges and that continues to be the case, by the way," said William Cunningham, Creative Investment Research's chief executive. This slow progress has made observers including Cunningham cynical about corporations' sincerity, noting that such pledges can be easily walked back if the company's financial outlook or priorities change before the funds are fully paid out. "Time will tell," said Cunningham. "It's still early. We're one year in and what did we have, 400 years of pain and suffering?" Hiring and pay equity Some of America's largest companies have set hiring and promotion targets, with Amazon, for example, committing to doubling its number of black leaders to about 8 per cent of senior directors this year. Several have also started reporting detailed demographic data, with Goldman Sachs revealing that just 49 of its 1,548 executives, senior officials and managers in the US are black. Hubert Joly, the former chief executive of Best Buy and author of a new book on leadership, said there was "a level of seriousness" about setting public goals by which executives' racial equity efforts can be measured and a wider recognition of the financial case for addressing injustices. "When the city is on fire you cannot run a business," he said. Some companies are resisting more disclosure, however, with Berkshire Hathaway and Johnson & Johnson among those that have fought shareholder proposals to push them harder on diversity. Equally concerning for activists, few boards are yet tying any of their executives' pay to diversity targets. When Just Capital released a "tracker" of companies' commitments to racial equity earlier this month, it found that only 31 per cent of the country's 100 largest companies were analysing how equitably they paid employees of different races and ethnicities. "When we polled black Americans on what are the things companies should do on racial equity, paying a living wage was at the top of the list," said Martin Whittaker, Just Capital's chief executive. "It's pretty clear companies sit on this data until they have a good news story to tell." Of the few companies that conducted pay equity audits, the likes of Lyft, Levi Strauss and Verizon said they had revealed no systemic pay differences between ethnicities. But transparency about pay equity remains limited, making the issue a priority for reformers. Using the power of their platforms Ken Frazier, the outgoing chief executive of drugmaker Merck, who has been one of the few black leaders of S&P 500 companies, said last summer that groups needed "to go to the seat of government" to help create a society that would be good for business. Companies such as Delta Air Lines and Home Depot have been dragged into political battles over new voting laws which are expected to discriminate against black voters, but relatively few have used their political clout that explicitly. Instead, most have preferred to lobby behind the scenes, co-ordinate their responses to specific pieces of legislation through industry groups, and stick to broad statements of principles in public. A few have used the power of their platforms more forcefully with their suppliers, however. A local resident stands next to a mural painted in June 2020 showing George Floyd. Photo / AP "We are demanding much more responsibility and accountability around subcontractors," said Dambisa Moyo, an economist who is a director of companies including 3M and Chevron. She said the companies she works for were scrutinising whether the accountants, law firms and headhunters they employ were sufficiently diverse. Coca-Cola went public with such a demand in January, telling US law firms they must commit within 18 months to having at least 30 per cent of their billable hours be from "diverse" attorneys, half of whom must be black. On current trends, black lawyers could not expect to be equitably represented among law firm partners until 2391, said Bradley Gayton, Coke's general counsel at the time: "We have developed scorecards, held summits, established committees and written action plans. These efforts are not working." Weeks after sending the letter and just eight months into his job, however, Gayton had stepped back to a consulting role. Asked whether Gayton's diversity demand remained in place, the company said only that his successor would take time to "thoughtfully review" its initiatives. The boardroom monoculture shifts The S&P 500 still counts only a handful of black chief executives, but the composition of its boardrooms has started to shift a little faster in the past year as investors, financiers and exchanges prioritise the diversity that, successive studies show, correlates with stronger financial performance. The "glacial" progress historically means 40 per cent of Russell 3000 companies still lack apparent racial or ethnic diversity on their boards, according to Institutional Shareholder Services. And just below board level, black Americans still hold only 3 per cent of executive or senior level roles in companies with 100 or more employees, according to EEOC data. Derek Chauvin listens as the verdict is read. Photo / AP Pressure is building for that to change, with Nasdaq announcing in December that companies on its exchange should have at least one woman and one member of an under-represented minority on their boards. Goldman Sachs similarly said that it would not take companies public from this year without at least two diverse board members, and State Street said it would vote against directors whose companies fail to disclose their boards' racial and ethnic composition. But few large investors are yet voting against non-diverse boards. In an open letter earlier this month, racial justice activists and union leaders noted that large asset managers had re-elected the vast majority of all-white boards last year. The latest annual meeting season has just begun. This year's votes, the letter said, would show whether asset managers' pledges had been meaningful or "cynically performative". Written by: Andrew Edgecliffe-Johnson and Taylor Nicole Rogers Financial Times | CEOs have pledged to spend US$50 billion on racial equity since George Floyd's murder. | ctrlsum | 0 | https://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/are-ceos-living-up-to-the-pledges-they-made-after-george-floyds-murder/B4K5MNGLZYWK63VNSRSLC3JBME/ | 0.447629 |
Are CEOs living up to the pledges they made after George Floyd's murder? | George Floyd's murder last year forced a reckoning on race that extended to the boardroom. Photo / AP Promises on diversity and racial justice have proved easier to make than to keep. The words "systemic racism" used not to be spoken on US companies' earnings calls. The murder of George Floyd, a black man killed by a white police officer last May, abruptly changed that, putting the phrase into the mouths of the country's top executives and forcing them to consider their part in a system they were now denouncing. Chief executives from Apple's Tim Cook to David Solomon of Goldman Sachs declared that business leaders needed not only to speak up, but to do more to address racial disparities in their own companies. An assessment of the changes they have made in the intervening period suggests that Floyd's death did catalyse corporate diversity, equity and inclusion efforts. But on several key measures, much more still needs to change to turn executives' newly activist rhetoric into reality. American corporations have pledged to spend US$50 billion on racial equity since Floyd's murder, according to a tally of public promises compiled by Creative Investment Research. The funds were to be spread between donations to civil rights organisations, targeted investments in communities of colour and overhauls of their internal recruiting and training programmes. Yet only about US$250 million has actually been spent or committed to a specific initiative, according to an analysis by the research consulting firm. "We looked to see how much cash is there, how much actual money is there, and it was a small percentage of the pledges and that continues to be the case, by the way," said William Cunningham, Creative Investment Research's chief executive. This slow progress has made observers including Cunningham cynical about corporations' sincerity, noting that such pledges can be easily walked back if the company's financial outlook or priorities change before the funds are fully paid out. "Time will tell," said Cunningham. "It's still early. We're one year in and what did we have, 400 years of pain and suffering?" Hiring and pay equity Some of America's largest companies have set hiring and promotion targets, with Amazon, for example, committing to doubling its number of black leaders to about 8 per cent of senior directors this year. Several have also started reporting detailed demographic data, with Goldman Sachs revealing that just 49 of its 1,548 executives, senior officials and managers in the US are black. Hubert Joly, the former chief executive of Best Buy and author of a new book on leadership, said there was "a level of seriousness" about setting public goals by which executives' racial equity efforts can be measured and a wider recognition of the financial case for addressing injustices. "When the city is on fire you cannot run a business," he said. Some companies are resisting more disclosure, however, with Berkshire Hathaway and Johnson & Johnson among those that have fought shareholder proposals to push them harder on diversity. Equally concerning for activists, few boards are yet tying any of their executives' pay to diversity targets. When Just Capital released a "tracker" of companies' commitments to racial equity earlier this month, it found that only 31 per cent of the country's 100 largest companies were analysing how equitably they paid employees of different races and ethnicities. "When we polled black Americans on what are the things companies should do on racial equity, paying a living wage was at the top of the list," said Martin Whittaker, Just Capital's chief executive. "It's pretty clear companies sit on this data until they have a good news story to tell." Of the few companies that conducted pay equity audits, the likes of Lyft, Levi Strauss and Verizon said they had revealed no systemic pay differences between ethnicities. But transparency about pay equity remains limited, making the issue a priority for reformers. Using the power of their platforms Ken Frazier, the outgoing chief executive of drugmaker Merck, who has been one of the few black leaders of S&P 500 companies, said last summer that groups needed "to go to the seat of government" to help create a society that would be good for business. Companies such as Delta Air Lines and Home Depot have been dragged into political battles over new voting laws which are expected to discriminate against black voters, but relatively few have used their political clout that explicitly. Instead, most have preferred to lobby behind the scenes, co-ordinate their responses to specific pieces of legislation through industry groups, and stick to broad statements of principles in public. A few have used the power of their platforms more forcefully with their suppliers, however. A local resident stands next to a mural painted in June 2020 showing George Floyd. Photo / AP "We are demanding much more responsibility and accountability around subcontractors," said Dambisa Moyo, an economist who is a director of companies including 3M and Chevron. She said the companies she works for were scrutinising whether the accountants, law firms and headhunters they employ were sufficiently diverse. Coca-Cola went public with such a demand in January, telling US law firms they must commit within 18 months to having at least 30 per cent of their billable hours be from "diverse" attorneys, half of whom must be black. On current trends, black lawyers could not expect to be equitably represented among law firm partners until 2391, said Bradley Gayton, Coke's general counsel at the time: "We have developed scorecards, held summits, established committees and written action plans. These efforts are not working." Weeks after sending the letter and just eight months into his job, however, Gayton had stepped back to a consulting role. Asked whether Gayton's diversity demand remained in place, the company said only that his successor would take time to "thoughtfully review" its initiatives. The boardroom monoculture shifts The S&P 500 still counts only a handful of black chief executives, but the composition of its boardrooms has started to shift a little faster in the past year as investors, financiers and exchanges prioritise the diversity that, successive studies show, correlates with stronger financial performance. The "glacial" progress historically means 40 per cent of Russell 3000 companies still lack apparent racial or ethnic diversity on their boards, according to Institutional Shareholder Services. And just below board level, black Americans still hold only 3 per cent of executive or senior level roles in companies with 100 or more employees, according to EEOC data. Derek Chauvin listens as the verdict is read. Photo / AP Pressure is building for that to change, with Nasdaq announcing in December that companies on its exchange should have at least one woman and one member of an under-represented minority on their boards. Goldman Sachs similarly said that it would not take companies public from this year without at least two diverse board members, and State Street said it would vote against directors whose companies fail to disclose their boards' racial and ethnic composition. But few large investors are yet voting against non-diverse boards. In an open letter earlier this month, racial justice activists and union leaders noted that large asset managers had re-elected the vast majority of all-white boards last year. The latest annual meeting season has just begun. This year's votes, the letter said, would show whether asset managers' pledges had been meaningful or "cynically performative". Written by: Andrew Edgecliffe-Johnson and Taylor Nicole Rogers Financial Times | CEOs have pledged to spend US$50 billion on racial equity since George Floyd's murder. But only about US$250 million has actually been spent or committed to a specific initiative. | ctrlsum | 1 | https://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/are-ceos-living-up-to-the-pledges-they-made-after-george-floyds-murder/B4K5MNGLZYWK63VNSRSLC3JBME/ | 0.619959 |
Are CEOs living up to the pledges they made after George Floyd's murder? | George Floyd's murder last year forced a reckoning on race that extended to the boardroom. Photo / AP Promises on diversity and racial justice have proved easier to make than to keep. The words "systemic racism" used not to be spoken on US companies' earnings calls. The murder of George Floyd, a black man killed by a white police officer last May, abruptly changed that, putting the phrase into the mouths of the country's top executives and forcing them to consider their part in a system they were now denouncing. Chief executives from Apple's Tim Cook to David Solomon of Goldman Sachs declared that business leaders needed not only to speak up, but to do more to address racial disparities in their own companies. An assessment of the changes they have made in the intervening period suggests that Floyd's death did catalyse corporate diversity, equity and inclusion efforts. But on several key measures, much more still needs to change to turn executives' newly activist rhetoric into reality. American corporations have pledged to spend US$50 billion on racial equity since Floyd's murder, according to a tally of public promises compiled by Creative Investment Research. The funds were to be spread between donations to civil rights organisations, targeted investments in communities of colour and overhauls of their internal recruiting and training programmes. Yet only about US$250 million has actually been spent or committed to a specific initiative, according to an analysis by the research consulting firm. "We looked to see how much cash is there, how much actual money is there, and it was a small percentage of the pledges and that continues to be the case, by the way," said William Cunningham, Creative Investment Research's chief executive. This slow progress has made observers including Cunningham cynical about corporations' sincerity, noting that such pledges can be easily walked back if the company's financial outlook or priorities change before the funds are fully paid out. "Time will tell," said Cunningham. "It's still early. We're one year in and what did we have, 400 years of pain and suffering?" Hiring and pay equity Some of America's largest companies have set hiring and promotion targets, with Amazon, for example, committing to doubling its number of black leaders to about 8 per cent of senior directors this year. Several have also started reporting detailed demographic data, with Goldman Sachs revealing that just 49 of its 1,548 executives, senior officials and managers in the US are black. Hubert Joly, the former chief executive of Best Buy and author of a new book on leadership, said there was "a level of seriousness" about setting public goals by which executives' racial equity efforts can be measured and a wider recognition of the financial case for addressing injustices. "When the city is on fire you cannot run a business," he said. Some companies are resisting more disclosure, however, with Berkshire Hathaway and Johnson & Johnson among those that have fought shareholder proposals to push them harder on diversity. Equally concerning for activists, few boards are yet tying any of their executives' pay to diversity targets. When Just Capital released a "tracker" of companies' commitments to racial equity earlier this month, it found that only 31 per cent of the country's 100 largest companies were analysing how equitably they paid employees of different races and ethnicities. "When we polled black Americans on what are the things companies should do on racial equity, paying a living wage was at the top of the list," said Martin Whittaker, Just Capital's chief executive. "It's pretty clear companies sit on this data until they have a good news story to tell." Of the few companies that conducted pay equity audits, the likes of Lyft, Levi Strauss and Verizon said they had revealed no systemic pay differences between ethnicities. But transparency about pay equity remains limited, making the issue a priority for reformers. Using the power of their platforms Ken Frazier, the outgoing chief executive of drugmaker Merck, who has been one of the few black leaders of S&P 500 companies, said last summer that groups needed "to go to the seat of government" to help create a society that would be good for business. Companies such as Delta Air Lines and Home Depot have been dragged into political battles over new voting laws which are expected to discriminate against black voters, but relatively few have used their political clout that explicitly. Instead, most have preferred to lobby behind the scenes, co-ordinate their responses to specific pieces of legislation through industry groups, and stick to broad statements of principles in public. A few have used the power of their platforms more forcefully with their suppliers, however. A local resident stands next to a mural painted in June 2020 showing George Floyd. Photo / AP "We are demanding much more responsibility and accountability around subcontractors," said Dambisa Moyo, an economist who is a director of companies including 3M and Chevron. She said the companies she works for were scrutinising whether the accountants, law firms and headhunters they employ were sufficiently diverse. Coca-Cola went public with such a demand in January, telling US law firms they must commit within 18 months to having at least 30 per cent of their billable hours be from "diverse" attorneys, half of whom must be black. On current trends, black lawyers could not expect to be equitably represented among law firm partners until 2391, said Bradley Gayton, Coke's general counsel at the time: "We have developed scorecards, held summits, established committees and written action plans. These efforts are not working." Weeks after sending the letter and just eight months into his job, however, Gayton had stepped back to a consulting role. Asked whether Gayton's diversity demand remained in place, the company said only that his successor would take time to "thoughtfully review" its initiatives. The boardroom monoculture shifts The S&P 500 still counts only a handful of black chief executives, but the composition of its boardrooms has started to shift a little faster in the past year as investors, financiers and exchanges prioritise the diversity that, successive studies show, correlates with stronger financial performance. The "glacial" progress historically means 40 per cent of Russell 3000 companies still lack apparent racial or ethnic diversity on their boards, according to Institutional Shareholder Services. And just below board level, black Americans still hold only 3 per cent of executive or senior level roles in companies with 100 or more employees, according to EEOC data. Derek Chauvin listens as the verdict is read. Photo / AP Pressure is building for that to change, with Nasdaq announcing in December that companies on its exchange should have at least one woman and one member of an under-represented minority on their boards. Goldman Sachs similarly said that it would not take companies public from this year without at least two diverse board members, and State Street said it would vote against directors whose companies fail to disclose their boards' racial and ethnic composition. But few large investors are yet voting against non-diverse boards. In an open letter earlier this month, racial justice activists and union leaders noted that large asset managers had re-elected the vast majority of all-white boards last year. The latest annual meeting season has just begun. This year's votes, the letter said, would show whether asset managers' pledges had been meaningful or "cynically performative". Written by: Andrew Edgecliffe-Johnson and Taylor Nicole Rogers Financial Times | CEOs have pledged to spend US$50 billion on racial equity since George Floyd's murder. But only about US$250 million has actually been spent or committed to a specific initiative, according to an analysis by a research consulting firm. Some companies are resisting more disclosure, however, with Berkshire Hathaway and Johnson & Johnson among those that have fought shareholder proposals. | ctrlsum | 2 | https://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/are-ceos-living-up-to-the-pledges-they-made-after-george-floyds-murder/B4K5MNGLZYWK63VNSRSLC3JBME/ | 0.720512 |
Will Donald Trump run again? | (CNN) Strike up a conversation with any Republican or really, any person and tell them youre a political reporter and the first question you always get is this: So, is Trump running again? That question is, of course, both absolutely critical to the future of the Republican Party (and the country) and utterly unanswerable at the moment. As you know, its very early, Trump said Tuesday in an interview with Candace Owens on The Daily Wire. But I think people are going to be very, very happy when I make a certain announcement. That sort of winking, you-know-the-deal response about 2024 has become de rigueur from the former President as he ponders his political future. But it also doesnt really mean anything. We are a long way off from the official (or even unofficial) start of the 2024 campaign were only 183 days removed from the 2020 election and Trump still hasnt conceded defeat and he is legendary for changing his mind on a whim. Plus, even if Trump wants to run, its not entirely clear whether his ongoing legal and financial troubles will allow him to do so. That uncertainty has created a fascinating dynamic among would-be candidates attempting to be deferential to Trump (and his wishes) while also courting his support in the event he doesnt run. Texas Sen. Ted Cruz (R) is the latest example of this ring-kissing, traveling to Mar-a-Lago to have dinner with the former President on Tuesday night. Former US Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley felt the need to make clear that she wouldnt run in 2024 if Trump does. Former Vice President Mike Pence touted Trump we made America greater than ever before at a recent speech despite the former Presidents ongoing animosity toward him regarding the 2020 election. While its not yet clear whether Trump will actually run, what is clear is that unless something changes drastically he will: a) be the CLEAR front-runner for the Republican nomination. b) be the CLEAR underdog against President Joe Biden in the general election. Trump remains immensely popular within the GOP base and almost nowhere else. Which, if he runs again, is a huge problem for Republicans because they cant stop him from getting the nomination (see 2016) and he will struggle to win the White House. The Point: Im not at all convinced even Trump knows what he will do in 2024. But the entire Republican political world will be hanging on what he decides. | Donald Trump said Tuesday that he plans to run for president in 2024. John Avlon says it's too soon to tell if Trump will run. | ctrlsum | 0 | https://www.cnn.com/2021/05/05/politics/trump-run-for-president-again-2024/index.html | 0.18596 |
Will Donald Trump run again? | (CNN) Strike up a conversation with any Republican or really, any person and tell them youre a political reporter and the first question you always get is this: So, is Trump running again? That question is, of course, both absolutely critical to the future of the Republican Party (and the country) and utterly unanswerable at the moment. As you know, its very early, Trump said Tuesday in an interview with Candace Owens on The Daily Wire. But I think people are going to be very, very happy when I make a certain announcement. That sort of winking, you-know-the-deal response about 2024 has become de rigueur from the former President as he ponders his political future. But it also doesnt really mean anything. We are a long way off from the official (or even unofficial) start of the 2024 campaign were only 183 days removed from the 2020 election and Trump still hasnt conceded defeat and he is legendary for changing his mind on a whim. Plus, even if Trump wants to run, its not entirely clear whether his ongoing legal and financial troubles will allow him to do so. That uncertainty has created a fascinating dynamic among would-be candidates attempting to be deferential to Trump (and his wishes) while also courting his support in the event he doesnt run. Texas Sen. Ted Cruz (R) is the latest example of this ring-kissing, traveling to Mar-a-Lago to have dinner with the former President on Tuesday night. Former US Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley felt the need to make clear that she wouldnt run in 2024 if Trump does. Former Vice President Mike Pence touted Trump we made America greater than ever before at a recent speech despite the former Presidents ongoing animosity toward him regarding the 2020 election. While its not yet clear whether Trump will actually run, what is clear is that unless something changes drastically he will: a) be the CLEAR front-runner for the Republican nomination. b) be the CLEAR underdog against President Joe Biden in the general election. Trump remains immensely popular within the GOP base and almost nowhere else. Which, if he runs again, is a huge problem for Republicans because they cant stop him from getting the nomination (see 2016) and he will struggle to win the White House. The Point: Im not at all convinced even Trump knows what he will do in 2024. But the entire Republican political world will be hanging on what he decides. | Donald Trump said Tuesday that he plans to run for president in 2024. John Avlon says it's still too early to tell if Trump will run. He says Trump remains the clear front-runner for the GOP nomination. | ctrlsum | 1 | https://www.cnn.com/2021/05/05/politics/trump-run-for-president-again-2024/index.html | 0.195366 |
Will Donald Trump run again? | (CNN) Strike up a conversation with any Republican or really, any person and tell them youre a political reporter and the first question you always get is this: So, is Trump running again? That question is, of course, both absolutely critical to the future of the Republican Party (and the country) and utterly unanswerable at the moment. As you know, its very early, Trump said Tuesday in an interview with Candace Owens on The Daily Wire. But I think people are going to be very, very happy when I make a certain announcement. That sort of winking, you-know-the-deal response about 2024 has become de rigueur from the former President as he ponders his political future. But it also doesnt really mean anything. We are a long way off from the official (or even unofficial) start of the 2024 campaign were only 183 days removed from the 2020 election and Trump still hasnt conceded defeat and he is legendary for changing his mind on a whim. Plus, even if Trump wants to run, its not entirely clear whether his ongoing legal and financial troubles will allow him to do so. That uncertainty has created a fascinating dynamic among would-be candidates attempting to be deferential to Trump (and his wishes) while also courting his support in the event he doesnt run. Texas Sen. Ted Cruz (R) is the latest example of this ring-kissing, traveling to Mar-a-Lago to have dinner with the former President on Tuesday night. Former US Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley felt the need to make clear that she wouldnt run in 2024 if Trump does. Former Vice President Mike Pence touted Trump we made America greater than ever before at a recent speech despite the former Presidents ongoing animosity toward him regarding the 2020 election. While its not yet clear whether Trump will actually run, what is clear is that unless something changes drastically he will: a) be the CLEAR front-runner for the Republican nomination. b) be the CLEAR underdog against President Joe Biden in the general election. Trump remains immensely popular within the GOP base and almost nowhere else. Which, if he runs again, is a huge problem for Republicans because they cant stop him from getting the nomination (see 2016) and he will struggle to win the White House. The Point: Im not at all convinced even Trump knows what he will do in 2024. But the entire Republican political world will be hanging on what he decides. | Donald Trump said Tuesday that he plans to run for president in 2024. John Avlon says it's too early to tell if Trump will run. He says the GOP will be hanging on Trump's every word. Avlon: If Trump runs, he will be the clear front-runner for the GOP nomination. | ctrlsum | 2 | https://www.cnn.com/2021/05/05/politics/trump-run-for-president-again-2024/index.html | 0.201204 |
Should the 49ers Bring Back Richard Sherman? | Richard Sherman was adamant he would not re-sign with the 49ers in December. Now the former All-Pro is changing his tune. As the weeks have gone by, Sherman has softened those comments back in December and is leaving the door open for a return with the 49ers this season. There's always a chance it could end up working back in the Bay, that I head back that way," Said Sherman on ESPN First Take. "Obviously I know the staff, know the team well. Just spent time there and would be ecstatic if something happened there." The starting corners for the 49ers right now are Jason Verrett, Emmanuel Moseley, and K'Waun Williams. The 49ers really need to start rolling out younger talent to allow them to develop. Right now, no. Bringing Sherman in now would indicate that he is the starter. And to be quite frank, I do not believe he is starting caliber anymore, at least not as a corner. Ideally, having Sherman as depth would be a sweet deal, but I sincerely doubt he would be okay with that after being the starter for the last few seasons. I also don't think Kyle Shanahan would allow him to be a non-starter either. Signing Sherman would be best if the 49ers sustain an injury to a cornerback or two, or even a safety, leading up to the season. The 49ers likely can afford to avoid signing Sherman right now because no one else has seriously pursued him. Sherman has mentioned the Seahawks, Raiders, and Saints as potential landing spots, but Sherman himself admitted the Saints likely do not need him. The Raiders also just signed Casey Hayward, so Sherman is likely out of their plans to. Only Seattle looks to be the alternative if the 49ers stand pat. Signing Sherman would be a double-edged sword for the 49ers. The self-inflicting part is that he is no longer the elite corner he once was. That much became evident when he returned from a calf injury, which is why Robert Saleh started incorporating him as a safety. He just can't run anymore. It doesn't matter what coverage or the scheme is for the 49ers. The part where Sherman benefits the 49ers is his leadership and knowledge. Sherman can be a great player to rally behind after Fred Warner. His knowledge to all the young corners like Deommodore Lenoir and Ambry Thomas could serve as a way to expedite their development. The tipping point here is whether or not the 49ers believe Sherman can be a sufficient starter, along with concerns of his health. I do not believe signing Sherman now is wise only because he is assuredly going to start. The 49ers have flipped the page on Jimmy Garoppolo because he is injury prone. Sherman is looking more and more injury prone now to go with his decline in performance. Start Moseley and groom the young corners to set a core for the foreseeable future is the ideal method. | Richard Sherman was adamant he would not re-sign with the 49ers in December. | bart | 0 | https://www.si.com/nfl/49ers/news/should-the-49ers-bring-back-richard-sherman | 0.160767 |
Should the 49ers Bring Back Richard Sherman? | Richard Sherman was adamant he would not re-sign with the 49ers in December. Now the former All-Pro is changing his tune. As the weeks have gone by, Sherman has softened those comments back in December and is leaving the door open for a return with the 49ers this season. There's always a chance it could end up working back in the Bay, that I head back that way," Said Sherman on ESPN First Take. "Obviously I know the staff, know the team well. Just spent time there and would be ecstatic if something happened there." The starting corners for the 49ers right now are Jason Verrett, Emmanuel Moseley, and K'Waun Williams. The 49ers really need to start rolling out younger talent to allow them to develop. Right now, no. Bringing Sherman in now would indicate that he is the starter. And to be quite frank, I do not believe he is starting caliber anymore, at least not as a corner. Ideally, having Sherman as depth would be a sweet deal, but I sincerely doubt he would be okay with that after being the starter for the last few seasons. I also don't think Kyle Shanahan would allow him to be a non-starter either. Signing Sherman would be best if the 49ers sustain an injury to a cornerback or two, or even a safety, leading up to the season. The 49ers likely can afford to avoid signing Sherman right now because no one else has seriously pursued him. Sherman has mentioned the Seahawks, Raiders, and Saints as potential landing spots, but Sherman himself admitted the Saints likely do not need him. The Raiders also just signed Casey Hayward, so Sherman is likely out of their plans to. Only Seattle looks to be the alternative if the 49ers stand pat. Signing Sherman would be a double-edged sword for the 49ers. The self-inflicting part is that he is no longer the elite corner he once was. That much became evident when he returned from a calf injury, which is why Robert Saleh started incorporating him as a safety. He just can't run anymore. It doesn't matter what coverage or the scheme is for the 49ers. The part where Sherman benefits the 49ers is his leadership and knowledge. Sherman can be a great player to rally behind after Fred Warner. His knowledge to all the young corners like Deommodore Lenoir and Ambry Thomas could serve as a way to expedite their development. The tipping point here is whether or not the 49ers believe Sherman can be a sufficient starter, along with concerns of his health. I do not believe signing Sherman now is wise only because he is assuredly going to start. The 49ers have flipped the page on Jimmy Garoppolo because he is injury prone. Sherman is looking more and more injury prone now to go with his decline in performance. Start Moseley and groom the young corners to set a core for the foreseeable future is the ideal method. | Richard Sherman has softened his stance on re-signing with the 49ers. The former All-Pro is no longer the elite corner he once was. The 49ers can afford to avoid signing Sherman right now. | ctrlsum | 1 | https://www.si.com/nfl/49ers/news/should-the-49ers-bring-back-richard-sherman | 0.142974 |
Should the 49ers Bring Back Richard Sherman? | Richard Sherman was adamant he would not re-sign with the 49ers in December. Now the former All-Pro is changing his tune. As the weeks have gone by, Sherman has softened those comments back in December and is leaving the door open for a return with the 49ers this season. There's always a chance it could end up working back in the Bay, that I head back that way," Said Sherman on ESPN First Take. "Obviously I know the staff, know the team well. Just spent time there and would be ecstatic if something happened there." The starting corners for the 49ers right now are Jason Verrett, Emmanuel Moseley, and K'Waun Williams. The 49ers really need to start rolling out younger talent to allow them to develop. Right now, no. Bringing Sherman in now would indicate that he is the starter. And to be quite frank, I do not believe he is starting caliber anymore, at least not as a corner. Ideally, having Sherman as depth would be a sweet deal, but I sincerely doubt he would be okay with that after being the starter for the last few seasons. I also don't think Kyle Shanahan would allow him to be a non-starter either. Signing Sherman would be best if the 49ers sustain an injury to a cornerback or two, or even a safety, leading up to the season. The 49ers likely can afford to avoid signing Sherman right now because no one else has seriously pursued him. Sherman has mentioned the Seahawks, Raiders, and Saints as potential landing spots, but Sherman himself admitted the Saints likely do not need him. The Raiders also just signed Casey Hayward, so Sherman is likely out of their plans to. Only Seattle looks to be the alternative if the 49ers stand pat. Signing Sherman would be a double-edged sword for the 49ers. The self-inflicting part is that he is no longer the elite corner he once was. That much became evident when he returned from a calf injury, which is why Robert Saleh started incorporating him as a safety. He just can't run anymore. It doesn't matter what coverage or the scheme is for the 49ers. The part where Sherman benefits the 49ers is his leadership and knowledge. Sherman can be a great player to rally behind after Fred Warner. His knowledge to all the young corners like Deommodore Lenoir and Ambry Thomas could serve as a way to expedite their development. The tipping point here is whether or not the 49ers believe Sherman can be a sufficient starter, along with concerns of his health. I do not believe signing Sherman now is wise only because he is assuredly going to start. The 49ers have flipped the page on Jimmy Garoppolo because he is injury prone. Sherman is looking more and more injury prone now to go with his decline in performance. Start Moseley and groom the young corners to set a core for the foreseeable future is the ideal method. | Richard Sherman was adamant he would not re-sign with the 49ers in December. The former All-Pro is now leaving the door open for a return with the 49ers. The starting corners for the 49ers right now are Jason Verrett, Emmanuel Moseley, and K'Waun Williams. | pegasus | 2 | https://www.si.com/nfl/49ers/news/should-the-49ers-bring-back-richard-sherman | 0.165691 |
Should Washington Football Team Sign Malik Hooker, Former Colts DB Star? | After failing to address the need at free safety, Ron Rivera should be intrigued by signing Malik Hooker The addition of Jamin Davis was the icing on the cake to a sweet defense for the Washington Football Team. Entering draft weekend, coach Ron Rivera was an athletic linebacker and free safety away from having perhaps the league's top defense. Depending on who one asks, they're still missing that free safety. We say that could be fixed before Week 1 with the addition of free agent Malik Hooker. ... as long as it is understood that there is a large "if'' in the middle of the idea. WFT drafted versatile defender Benjamin St-Juste out of Minnesota with the No. 74 pick to help improve a top-five secondary. The 6'3" Golden Gopher is considered a hybrid player, expecting to take reps at both cornerback and free safety. Of course, should St-Juste hit immediately, WFT could transition Kendall Fuller back inside as the primary slot defender an area he thrived in early coming on in his career. That's an ideal situation but one that is still unknown. Perhaps fifth-round selection Darrick Forrest's cover skills will help him earn some reps during the 2021 season, but Rivera views him as a special-teams ace. Despite second-year standout Kam Curl recording three interceptions, he's better used as a strong safety. If Landon Collins is unhappy moving down to full-time linebacker - something Rivera has discussed with the rehabbing safety - there also is the problem. A healthy Hooker can help. And there's that "if.'' Even in a limited role for the Indianapolis Colts, Hooker's presence was top-notch in coverage. Since coming out of Ohio State, the former No. 15 pick has finished with a coverage grade of 65.4 or better. Hooker also has recorded at least two interceptions and three pass breakups in each of his first three years. The biggest knock against Hooker is his availability. Since 2017, he's missed at least two games or more, with season-ending injuries in both his rookie and final season at the Horseshoe. READ MORE: Barry Sanders Messages New Washington 'Little Guy RB Jaret Patterson The 2019 campaign allowed Colts GM Chris Ballard to toy with the idea of extending Hooker following the decline of the fifth-year option. He recorded a career-high 51 combined tackles, three passes defensed and two interceptions. A Week 2 torn Achilles against Minnesota ultimately ended the conversation. WFT's defense has been heralded for its well-rounded structure at each level. Collins, who also is coming off a torn Achilles, might be best suited playing near the line of scrimmage. Hooker can do it all. He has shown high-end starter capabilities but doesn't have the numbers to back it up. In a full healthy season with WFT, it would be a prove-it season for Hooker to remain a starter and stabilize the coverage. Now to the downside, as Hooker reportedly makes his way to Miami for a workout: A source tells WashingtonSI that in at least one of his recent NFL tryouts, "The medicals didn't work out.'' That might be a gentle way of saying that Hooker is not ready to pass a physical just yet. But a free safety might be the only tool missing here. Hooker adds tremendous value for a bargain price. It's not just a cheap option, it's also one that fits the missing hole in D.C.'s defense. No, it's not worth a contract offer just yet. It's worth a tryout, though ... as a passed physical would make a good defense vault closer to "great.'' CONTINUE READING: Rivera Admits Washington Had 'Big Conversation' About QB Trade In NFL Draft | Washington Football Team should sign Malik Hooker. Hooker is a free safety who played for the Indianapolis Colts. | ctrlsum | 0 | https://www.si.com/nfl/washingtonfootball/news/washington-football-team-sign-malik-hooker-colts-star | 0.456114 |
Should Washington Football Team Sign Malik Hooker, Former Colts DB Star? | After failing to address the need at free safety, Ron Rivera should be intrigued by signing Malik Hooker The addition of Jamin Davis was the icing on the cake to a sweet defense for the Washington Football Team. Entering draft weekend, coach Ron Rivera was an athletic linebacker and free safety away from having perhaps the league's top defense. Depending on who one asks, they're still missing that free safety. We say that could be fixed before Week 1 with the addition of free agent Malik Hooker. ... as long as it is understood that there is a large "if'' in the middle of the idea. WFT drafted versatile defender Benjamin St-Juste out of Minnesota with the No. 74 pick to help improve a top-five secondary. The 6'3" Golden Gopher is considered a hybrid player, expecting to take reps at both cornerback and free safety. Of course, should St-Juste hit immediately, WFT could transition Kendall Fuller back inside as the primary slot defender an area he thrived in early coming on in his career. That's an ideal situation but one that is still unknown. Perhaps fifth-round selection Darrick Forrest's cover skills will help him earn some reps during the 2021 season, but Rivera views him as a special-teams ace. Despite second-year standout Kam Curl recording three interceptions, he's better used as a strong safety. If Landon Collins is unhappy moving down to full-time linebacker - something Rivera has discussed with the rehabbing safety - there also is the problem. A healthy Hooker can help. And there's that "if.'' Even in a limited role for the Indianapolis Colts, Hooker's presence was top-notch in coverage. Since coming out of Ohio State, the former No. 15 pick has finished with a coverage grade of 65.4 or better. Hooker also has recorded at least two interceptions and three pass breakups in each of his first three years. The biggest knock against Hooker is his availability. Since 2017, he's missed at least two games or more, with season-ending injuries in both his rookie and final season at the Horseshoe. READ MORE: Barry Sanders Messages New Washington 'Little Guy RB Jaret Patterson The 2019 campaign allowed Colts GM Chris Ballard to toy with the idea of extending Hooker following the decline of the fifth-year option. He recorded a career-high 51 combined tackles, three passes defensed and two interceptions. A Week 2 torn Achilles against Minnesota ultimately ended the conversation. WFT's defense has been heralded for its well-rounded structure at each level. Collins, who also is coming off a torn Achilles, might be best suited playing near the line of scrimmage. Hooker can do it all. He has shown high-end starter capabilities but doesn't have the numbers to back it up. In a full healthy season with WFT, it would be a prove-it season for Hooker to remain a starter and stabilize the coverage. Now to the downside, as Hooker reportedly makes his way to Miami for a workout: A source tells WashingtonSI that in at least one of his recent NFL tryouts, "The medicals didn't work out.'' That might be a gentle way of saying that Hooker is not ready to pass a physical just yet. But a free safety might be the only tool missing here. Hooker adds tremendous value for a bargain price. It's not just a cheap option, it's also one that fits the missing hole in D.C.'s defense. No, it's not worth a contract offer just yet. It's worth a tryout, though ... as a passed physical would make a good defense vault closer to "great.'' CONTINUE READING: Rivera Admits Washington Had 'Big Conversation' About QB Trade In NFL Draft | Washington Football Team should sign free agent Malik Hooker. Hooker is a free safety who played for the Indianapolis Colts for three seasons. The former No. 15 pick has recorded at least two interceptions and three pass breakups in his first three years. | ctrlsum | 1 | https://www.si.com/nfl/washingtonfootball/news/washington-football-team-sign-malik-hooker-colts-star | 0.539755 |
Should Washington Football Team Sign Malik Hooker, Former Colts DB Star? | After failing to address the need at free safety, Ron Rivera should be intrigued by signing Malik Hooker The addition of Jamin Davis was the icing on the cake to a sweet defense for the Washington Football Team. Entering draft weekend, coach Ron Rivera was an athletic linebacker and free safety away from having perhaps the league's top defense. Depending on who one asks, they're still missing that free safety. We say that could be fixed before Week 1 with the addition of free agent Malik Hooker. ... as long as it is understood that there is a large "if'' in the middle of the idea. WFT drafted versatile defender Benjamin St-Juste out of Minnesota with the No. 74 pick to help improve a top-five secondary. The 6'3" Golden Gopher is considered a hybrid player, expecting to take reps at both cornerback and free safety. Of course, should St-Juste hit immediately, WFT could transition Kendall Fuller back inside as the primary slot defender an area he thrived in early coming on in his career. That's an ideal situation but one that is still unknown. Perhaps fifth-round selection Darrick Forrest's cover skills will help him earn some reps during the 2021 season, but Rivera views him as a special-teams ace. Despite second-year standout Kam Curl recording three interceptions, he's better used as a strong safety. If Landon Collins is unhappy moving down to full-time linebacker - something Rivera has discussed with the rehabbing safety - there also is the problem. A healthy Hooker can help. And there's that "if.'' Even in a limited role for the Indianapolis Colts, Hooker's presence was top-notch in coverage. Since coming out of Ohio State, the former No. 15 pick has finished with a coverage grade of 65.4 or better. Hooker also has recorded at least two interceptions and three pass breakups in each of his first three years. The biggest knock against Hooker is his availability. Since 2017, he's missed at least two games or more, with season-ending injuries in both his rookie and final season at the Horseshoe. READ MORE: Barry Sanders Messages New Washington 'Little Guy RB Jaret Patterson The 2019 campaign allowed Colts GM Chris Ballard to toy with the idea of extending Hooker following the decline of the fifth-year option. He recorded a career-high 51 combined tackles, three passes defensed and two interceptions. A Week 2 torn Achilles against Minnesota ultimately ended the conversation. WFT's defense has been heralded for its well-rounded structure at each level. Collins, who also is coming off a torn Achilles, might be best suited playing near the line of scrimmage. Hooker can do it all. He has shown high-end starter capabilities but doesn't have the numbers to back it up. In a full healthy season with WFT, it would be a prove-it season for Hooker to remain a starter and stabilize the coverage. Now to the downside, as Hooker reportedly makes his way to Miami for a workout: A source tells WashingtonSI that in at least one of his recent NFL tryouts, "The medicals didn't work out.'' That might be a gentle way of saying that Hooker is not ready to pass a physical just yet. But a free safety might be the only tool missing here. Hooker adds tremendous value for a bargain price. It's not just a cheap option, it's also one that fits the missing hole in D.C.'s defense. No, it's not worth a contract offer just yet. It's worth a tryout, though ... as a passed physical would make a good defense vault closer to "great.'' CONTINUE READING: Rivera Admits Washington Had 'Big Conversation' About QB Trade In NFL Draft | Washington Football Team should sign free agent Malik Hooker. Hooker is a free safety who played for the Indianapolis Colts for three seasons. The former No. 15 pick has recorded at least two interceptions and three pass breakups in each of his first three years at the Horseshoe. | ctrlsum | 2 | https://www.si.com/nfl/washingtonfootball/news/washington-football-team-sign-malik-hooker-colts-star | 0.559045 |
Is Meghan Markle's new children's book an attempt to rewrite her own family story? | Meghan Markle's new children's book, The Bench, features an all-too-familiar illustration of a ginger-haired soldier lifting his cute baby son in the air. Photo / Getty Images The children's book could not have been better timed, to mark Archie's second birthday on Thursday, May 6 as Harry and Meghan prepare to welcome a daughter into the world in the coming weeks. Focusing on fatherhood, the duchess' literary debut, The Bench, is set to share the "special bond between father and son". Featuring an all-too-familiar illustration of a ginger-haired soldier lifting his cute baby son in the air, there is a clear sense that this first foray into the written word could not be more personal for the Duke and Duchess of Sussex. Meghan, The Duchess of Sussex has authored her first childrens book, THE BENCH, about the special bond between father and son as seen through a mothers eyes. It was inspired by her own husband and son and will be published on June 8. It is illustrated by Christian Robinson. pic.twitter.com/d1cWFIk3nO Victoria Murphy (@byQueenVic) May 4, 2021 Indeed, it was based on a Father's Day poem Meghan originally wrote for Harry in 2019, a month after Archie was born. In light of Harry's fractured relationship with the Prince of Wales in the wake of Megxit, opinions will be divided on whether this represents the literary waving of a white flag from across the pond or an act of dramatised defiance. It is no secret that the relationship between the heir to the throne and his younger son is not what it once was. The pair appeared to barely speak after the Duke of Edinburgh's funeral at Windsor Castle on April 17, although it is understood they did have a lengthy conversation afterwards, away from the media gaze. The once close father and son appeared to barely speak after reuniting at Duke of Edinburgh's funeral at Windsor Castle on April 17. Photo / Getty Images The awkward reunion came after Harry, 36, described his father, 72, and his brother William, 38, as being "trapped" in the monarchy during a jaw-dropping interview with Oprah Winfrey in March, in which the Sussexes also accused an unnamed member of the royals of being racist and unsupportive. Revealing Charles "stopped taking my calls" in the lead up to the couple's decision to step down as senior royals in January 2020, Harry painted a picture of a father who had delegated his parental responsibilities to his staff. Naturally, the future king was described as "devastated", "despairing" and "deeply saddened" by the revelations, which sent shockwaves through the House of Windsor. The tensions seemed to deepen further when Gayle King, co-host of CBS' This Morning show and a close friend of Harry and Meghan, revealed on US television that subsequent phone calls between father and son had proved "unproductive". Of course it wasn't always this way. When Meghan, 39, first arrived on the royal scene in 2016, Harry and Charles had arguably never been closer, while William was said to have had the cooler relationship with his father. When the 20th anniversary of the death of Diana, Princess of Wales, came round in 2017, aides begged William to acknowledge his father's role in their upbringing when he addressed journalists before the screening of an ITV documentary but he flatly refused. Charles' only mention came in another documentary for the BBC that year when it was left to Harry to pay tribute, saying: "He was there for us; he was the one out of two left and he tried to do his best and to make sure we were protected and looked after." It is thought this was done with Meghan's encouragement after the American former actress stressed the importance of Harry remaining as close as possible to "the one parent you have left". Harry was once said to be very close to his father, Prince Charles, while his relationship with Prince William was more strained. Now, it is very much the opposite. Photo / Getty Images Both children of divorce, at that point Meghan enjoyed a close relationship with her own father, Thomas Markle Snr, with whom she lived fulltime until her adolescence following the Hollywood lighting director's divorce from her mother, Doria Ragland, in 1987. Yet their once tight bond was irretrievably broken after Markle appeared to conspire with a paparazzi photographer before the royal wedding in May 2018, and then pulled out of the ceremony at the last minute due to ill health leaving the bride with no one to walk her down the aisle. The soon to be newlyweds were so distraught they were both left in tears. Meghan's once tight bond with her father, Thomas, was irretrievably broken after he conspred with paparazzi and then pulled out of her wedding at the last minute. Photo / Twitter Sensing their deep anguish, Charles was only too willing to do the honours for his adored soon to be daughter-in-law in the absence of Markle, 76, who lives in Mexico. He had taken an instant shine to the Northwestern graduate, who shared his passion for holistic remedies and impressed him early on by taking an interest in British military history and the arts. Both Charles and Camilla, the Duchess of Cornwall, took great delight in hosting Doria for afternoon tea when she landed in the UK for the Windsor wedding, with one royal insider describing them as having "got on like a house on fire". Yet as Harry and Meghan began to plan a departure from The Firm in a bid to seek financial independence in the US, which with TV and book deals is now coming to fruition, cracks in familial relationships soon appeared. Although, as the Queen put it, "recollections may vary" as to what exactly happened in the months leading up to the Sussexes' bombshell announcement, it is accurate to say Harry felt let down by his father after he attempted to speak to him and his grandmother face to face, only to be blocked by royal aides. Yet palace insiders have since put a different spin on those events. They claim the Sussexes had a propensity to "blame the staff" when they did not get their own way and according to one well-placed source: "He [Charles] ploughed money into the wedding and into Frogmore [the couple's Windsor home] and did his utmost to make them feel financially supported but then when they said they were upping sticks, he had less and less inclination to take calls." Meghan insists her new book, for which she is believed to have received an advance of between 250,000 and 500,000, involves "warmth, joy and comfort". She said: "My hope is that The Bench resonates with every family, no matter the make-up, as much as it does with me." According to psychologist Linda Blair, even though the book talks about fatherhood in a generic way, "It's always important if you want to make something public that everybody you talk about is on board with it". Both Meghan and Harry are children of divorce, with Charles seperating from Diana, Princes of Wales, in 1992. Photo / Getty Images "When people have a difficult time, they react in one of three ways. The first is to say: 'My past is not going to control me, I'll forge ahead and see what happens'. The second is not to be conscious of it but to idealise it and the third is to remain stuck in misery and feel you can't rise above it. "No one is necessarily able to 'write' their way forward it should be simply an offloading of freedom to let go and not to prescribe the future." Laverne Antrobus, a consultant child and educational psychologist at The Tavistock Clinic, says for those who have experienced trauma in their childhood, becoming a parent can stir things up in a way they can't anticipate. "It really does bring losses into quite sharp focus," she says. "The moment you have your own child, you have that relationship that speaks to the unspoken bits and creates a narrative in your mind that you really have to work hard to understand." Harry and Meghan will both have to "manage something about loss in very different ways", she suggests. "It's incredibly important for this subject matter to be talked about because it's the undoing of a lot of adults who can't get past a loss." While parents will often go to extra lengths to try to create for their own children the childhood they didn't have themselves, it remains to be seen whether putting pen to paper will be enough to heal their own family troubles and persuade Meghan and Harry to take their own fatherly relationships off the bench. | Meghan Markle's new children's book, The Bench, is set to share the "special bond between father and son" It is based on a Father's Day poem Meghan originally wrote for Harry in 2019, a month after Archie was born. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex are expecting their first child in the coming weeks. | ctrlsum | 2 | https://www.nzherald.co.nz/lifestyle/is-meghan-markles-new-childrens-book-an-attempt-to-rewrite-her-own-family-story/D6YWRSYNC4FYJ5KPD77WYU5BBY/ | 0.336544 |
Who Gets Xanadu 2.0, the Gates family mansion? | The couple, worth an estimated $124 billion according to Forbes, announced their split in a joint statement posted to their social media profiles Monday. The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, of which they are co-chairs, said that nothing will change in its organizational structure. But their 66,000-square-foot home on the shore of Lake Washington in Medina is another matter. The sprawling complex which, at the time of a 1995 New York Times story, included a spa, a 60-foot pool, a gym paneled with stone from a mountain peak in the Pacific Northwest, a trampoline room, and a stream for salmon, trout and other fish got the nickname Xanadu 2.0 from Gates biographers. The details of the waterfront compound have been kept incredibly private by the Gates family so much so that a tour of the property went for $35,000 at a charity auction in 2009, according to TechCrunch. The Gateses own multiple other parcels of land surrounding the main property, according to public records, so walking by to catch a glimpse is out of the question. But an intern for Microsoft who made it inside in 2007 was allowed to write about the visit on the companys blog. According to his account, the house is built out of orangey wood and the sand on the beach is imported from Hawaii. The wood is Douglas fir; the origin of the sand, unconfirmed. (Going down Bills driveway is like arriving at Jurassic Park, the intern wrote. The landscaping is just insane.) Advertising Other known details about the house are that it was divided into pavilions that were terraced into a 170-foot hill and that it was designed by architects James Cutler and Peter Bohlin. Bohlins firm later designed the famous Apple cube at the companys store on Fifth Avenue in New York. And, Melinda Gates once said that the mansion caused her to have a mini sort of personal crisis. Bill Gates was already working on his dream home before marrying Melinda Gates in 1994. But construction was halted when she arrived on the scene. The place was a bachelors dream and a brides nightmare, according to a 2008 profile of Melinda Gates in Fortune magazine, with enough software and high-tech displays to make a newlywed feel as though she were living inside a video game. After six months of discussions about whether the entire project should be scrapped, Melinda Gates decided to influence further construction by incorporating her preferences and insisted on making the place a home for a family and not a lone tech wizard. To that end, she hired interior designer Thierry Despont, who has been the creative mind behind the restoration of famous interiors like the Palm Court at the Plaza Hotel in New York and the Ritz in Paris. Still, Bill Gates made big promises about the houses technological powers in his 1995 book, The Road Ahead. He described his vision of a smart home where guests would be given badges that would communicate with sensors around the house. As they moved through the rooms, lights would dim or brighten, music would play and the temperature would automatically adjust to their preference. Its not clear whether these plans panned out. Another aspect of Bill Gates vision was to turn the walls into video screens where he would be able to display digitized works of art. As the house was being built, Gates began to purchase the electronic rights to world-famous pieces from museums like the National Gallery in London through a company called Interactive Home Systems. Advertising These acquisitions were part of an entrepreneurial experiment: Gates imagined that in the future, other people would be able to decorate their homes with digitized artworks just like he was attempting to do. His vision didnt come to fruition. (Interactive Home Systems became Corbis, a rich photography archive, which later sold its image and licensing division to a Chinese company.) Despite the changes she made to the couples home, Melinda Gates recently expressed misgivings about continuing to live there. We wont have that house forever, she told The Times in 2019. Im actually really looking forward to the day that Bill and I live in a 1,500-square-foot house. | Bill and Melinda Gates announced their split in a joint statement Monday. The Gateses own a 66,000-square-foot home on the shore of Lake Washington in Medina, Washington. The sprawling complex got the nickname Xanadu 2.0 from Gates biographers. | ctrlsum | 2 | https://www.seattletimes.com/business/real-estate/who-gets-xanadu-2-0-the-gates-family-mansion/?utm_source=RSS&utm_medium=Referral&utm_campaign=RSS_business | 0.269045 |
Who are the Quebecers most hesitant to get vaccinated? | Fear of negative side effects along with a general distrust in vaccines are the two main reasons cited by those who are reluctant. Photo by John Mahoney / Montreal Gazette Article content For Quebec to reach the vaccination rate of roughly 80 per cent health authorities believe necessary to quell COVID-19, it must find a way to convince one-quarter of the population still reluctant to get their shot. Regular polls taken since the beginning of the pandemic show the number of people hesitant to get vaccinated for COVID-19 has stayed stable at 25 per cent, including eight per cent who are considered extremely reluctant. We apologize, but this video has failed to load. tap here to see other videos from our team. Back to video Among the most hesitant are those in the 25-44 age group, many of whom say they dont feel at risk from the disease. Fear of negative side effects along with a general distrust in vaccines are the two main reasons cited, said medical anthropologist ve Dub, a researcher in the scientific group on immunization of the Institut national de la sant publique du Qubec (INSPQ). Vaccination hesitancy is evenly split among women and men. Quebecers are less likely than most of their provincial confrres to be reluctant, perhaps because there is a greater trust in health authorities here, Dub said. Advertisement Story continues below This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Article content Those with higher levels of education are less hesitant, as are those who live in larger urban centres, surveys found, in part because residents of more remote areas have had less exposure to the disease. Health authorities expressed relief the vaccination problem is much less politicized in Canada than in the United States, where a recent NPR-PBS NewsHour-Marist poll found 49 per cent of Republican men do not plan to get vaccinated. Hope lies as well in the fact that vaccination rates climb as people see numbers rising around them. No one wants to be the first to be vaccinated, or to be in the first group to be vaccinated. Thats normal, Dub said. The more people around us are getting vaccinated, people we know, people we love, it can modify our intentions. Advertisement Story continues below This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Article content That evolution was exemplified in a survey conducted among 2,000 Canadians that found the usage of masks throughout the pandemic increased dramatically as authorities mandated their use. Among the 16 per cent who said they would never wear a mask, their numbers dropped to one per cent by December, when usage became widespread. People are social animals, said Roxane de la Sablonnire, psychology professor with the Universit de Montral and lead investigator of the study coming out next week. They tend to follow social norms. Those who objected to wearing masks were also likely to resist being vaccinated, the study found. Most respondents cited restrictions on their freedoms as their main reason for dissent. Advertisement Story continues below This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Article content A 2014 Sherbrooke University study of 8,700 respondents in the Eastern Townships found vaccine hesitancy on the rise, with one in three reluctant to take vaccines or administer them to their children. Thirteen per cent said they were very vaccine hesitant, 19 per cent somewhat. Reasons cited included the belief that children receive too many vaccines, a healthy lifestyle can eliminate the need, and using alternative medicines offsets the needs for vaccinations. Factors linked to hesitancy included not being vaccinated against the flu, having a low or moderate income, and a distrust in public health authorities. Combatting vaccine hesitancy is complicated by the fact the reasons behind it are so diverse there is no one-size-fits-all strategy. Health Minister Christian Dub said in late April a coercive policy of forcing the 35 per cent of health-care workers who had not yet been vaccinated to endure three COVID-19 tests a week was having an effect. Governments, including Quebec, are suggesting that outings like restaurants or concerts wont be possible without a certain level of vaccination. Advertisement Story continues below This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Article content Offering easier access to low-income workers reluctant to miss work, as Montreal did in Parc-Extension recently, can do a lot to overcome hesitancy, Dub noted. Surveys show younger people who may not be worried about contracting the disease themselves are very concerned about passing it to those more vulnerable, a possible focus for information campaigns. Dr. Caroline Quach-Thanh, professor of immunology at the Universit de Montral and a pediatric specialist at Ste-Justines Hospital, said staff have told her theyre hesitant because theyre pregnant, or because they have family in other countries who tell them people arent getting vaccinated there. The most effective approach she has found is to listen carefully, and try to calmly answer peoples questions. Advertisement Story continues below This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. 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 | Polls show 25 per cent of Quebecers hesitant to get vaccinated for COVID-19. Fear of negative side effects along with a general distrust in vaccines are the two main reasons cited. | ctrlsum | 1 | https://montrealgazette.com/news/who-are-the-quebecers-most-hesitant-to-get-vaccinated | 0.154616 |
Who are the Quebecers most hesitant to get vaccinated? | Fear of negative side effects along with a general distrust in vaccines are the two main reasons cited by those who are reluctant. Photo by John Mahoney / Montreal Gazette Article content For Quebec to reach the vaccination rate of roughly 80 per cent health authorities believe necessary to quell COVID-19, it must find a way to convince one-quarter of the population still reluctant to get their shot. Regular polls taken since the beginning of the pandemic show the number of people hesitant to get vaccinated for COVID-19 has stayed stable at 25 per cent, including eight per cent who are considered extremely reluctant. We apologize, but this video has failed to load. tap here to see other videos from our team. Back to video Among the most hesitant are those in the 25-44 age group, many of whom say they dont feel at risk from the disease. Fear of negative side effects along with a general distrust in vaccines are the two main reasons cited, said medical anthropologist ve Dub, a researcher in the scientific group on immunization of the Institut national de la sant publique du Qubec (INSPQ). Vaccination hesitancy is evenly split among women and men. Quebecers are less likely than most of their provincial confrres to be reluctant, perhaps because there is a greater trust in health authorities here, Dub said. Advertisement Story continues below This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Article content Those with higher levels of education are less hesitant, as are those who live in larger urban centres, surveys found, in part because residents of more remote areas have had less exposure to the disease. Health authorities expressed relief the vaccination problem is much less politicized in Canada than in the United States, where a recent NPR-PBS NewsHour-Marist poll found 49 per cent of Republican men do not plan to get vaccinated. Hope lies as well in the fact that vaccination rates climb as people see numbers rising around them. No one wants to be the first to be vaccinated, or to be in the first group to be vaccinated. Thats normal, Dub said. The more people around us are getting vaccinated, people we know, people we love, it can modify our intentions. Advertisement Story continues below This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Article content That evolution was exemplified in a survey conducted among 2,000 Canadians that found the usage of masks throughout the pandemic increased dramatically as authorities mandated their use. Among the 16 per cent who said they would never wear a mask, their numbers dropped to one per cent by December, when usage became widespread. People are social animals, said Roxane de la Sablonnire, psychology professor with the Universit de Montral and lead investigator of the study coming out next week. They tend to follow social norms. Those who objected to wearing masks were also likely to resist being vaccinated, the study found. Most respondents cited restrictions on their freedoms as their main reason for dissent. Advertisement Story continues below This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Article content A 2014 Sherbrooke University study of 8,700 respondents in the Eastern Townships found vaccine hesitancy on the rise, with one in three reluctant to take vaccines or administer them to their children. Thirteen per cent said they were very vaccine hesitant, 19 per cent somewhat. Reasons cited included the belief that children receive too many vaccines, a healthy lifestyle can eliminate the need, and using alternative medicines offsets the needs for vaccinations. Factors linked to hesitancy included not being vaccinated against the flu, having a low or moderate income, and a distrust in public health authorities. Combatting vaccine hesitancy is complicated by the fact the reasons behind it are so diverse there is no one-size-fits-all strategy. Health Minister Christian Dub said in late April a coercive policy of forcing the 35 per cent of health-care workers who had not yet been vaccinated to endure three COVID-19 tests a week was having an effect. Governments, including Quebec, are suggesting that outings like restaurants or concerts wont be possible without a certain level of vaccination. Advertisement Story continues below This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Article content Offering easier access to low-income workers reluctant to miss work, as Montreal did in Parc-Extension recently, can do a lot to overcome hesitancy, Dub noted. Surveys show younger people who may not be worried about contracting the disease themselves are very concerned about passing it to those more vulnerable, a possible focus for information campaigns. Dr. Caroline Quach-Thanh, professor of immunology at the Universit de Montral and a pediatric specialist at Ste-Justines Hospital, said staff have told her theyre hesitant because theyre pregnant, or because they have family in other countries who tell them people arent getting vaccinated there. The most effective approach she has found is to listen carefully, and try to calmly answer peoples questions. Advertisement Story continues below This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. 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 | Polls show 25 per cent of Quebecers are hesitant to get vaccinated for COVID-19. Fear of negative side effects along with a general distrust in vaccines are the two main reasons cited by those who are reluctant. Quebecers less likely than most of their provincial confrres to be reluctant, perhaps because there is a greater trust in health authorities. | ctrlsum | 2 | https://montrealgazette.com/news/who-are-the-quebecers-most-hesitant-to-get-vaccinated | 0.159819 |
Should Packers file tampering charges against the 49ers and/or Broncos? | The Packers reportedly believe that the 49ers and Broncos may have tampered with quarterback Aaron Rodgers. The Packers reportedly wont be doing anything about it. Maybe they should. Theres one important reason for considering filing tampering charges against the 49ers or the Broncos. Even if the teams have covered their tracks and/or even if the NFL wont look very hard for the evidence and/or even if the league finds evidence and wont do anything about it, filing tampering charges against the 49ers and/or the Broncos would potentially keep any future tampering from happening, if the Packers are intent on taking a play for us or play for no one position with Rodgers. The 49ers have been surprisingly candid about their effort to explore a Rodgers trade. G.M. John Lynch mentioned it during a press conference last week. Coach Kyle Shanahan acknowledged it during an appearance on The Rich Eisen Show. Even CEO Jed York alluded during an appearance on the NBC Sports Bay Area 49ers Talk podcast that Kyle had talked about trading for Aaron. Any public or private statement of interest, qualified or unqualified, in another clubs player to that players agent or representative, or to a member of the news media, is a violation of this Anti-Tampering Policy, says the relevant league document. If the league wanted to apply the policy literally and strictly (something it rarely if ever does), the NFL could find that the public comments already made amount to a violation. Heres the other reality for the Packers. Everybody tampers. So if the Packers officially accuse the 49ers and/or the Broncos of tampering, they open the door to be accused of tampering by other teams. Besides, if the Packers are going to dig in and not judge, it doesnt matter if every other team tampers with Rodgers. The damage to the relationship already has been done. Nothing any team says or does is going to make Rodgers more determined to leave. So its probably smart for the Packers to not push it. But an argument could be made for taking an aggressive position, if only to ensure that all other teams will back off while the drama plays out between the Packers and Rodgers, however it plays out. originally appeared on Pro Football Talk | The 49ers have been surprisingly candid about their effort to explore a Rodgers trade. If the Packers officially accuse the 49ers and/or the Broncos of tampering, they open the door to be accused of tampering by other teams. | ctrlsum | 1 | https://sports.yahoo.com/packers-file-tampering-charges-against-001416155.html?src=rss | 0.234638 |
Should Packers file tampering charges against the 49ers and/or Broncos? | The Packers reportedly believe that the 49ers and Broncos may have tampered with quarterback Aaron Rodgers. The Packers reportedly wont be doing anything about it. Maybe they should. Theres one important reason for considering filing tampering charges against the 49ers or the Broncos. Even if the teams have covered their tracks and/or even if the NFL wont look very hard for the evidence and/or even if the league finds evidence and wont do anything about it, filing tampering charges against the 49ers and/or the Broncos would potentially keep any future tampering from happening, if the Packers are intent on taking a play for us or play for no one position with Rodgers. The 49ers have been surprisingly candid about their effort to explore a Rodgers trade. G.M. John Lynch mentioned it during a press conference last week. Coach Kyle Shanahan acknowledged it during an appearance on The Rich Eisen Show. Even CEO Jed York alluded during an appearance on the NBC Sports Bay Area 49ers Talk podcast that Kyle had talked about trading for Aaron. Any public or private statement of interest, qualified or unqualified, in another clubs player to that players agent or representative, or to a member of the news media, is a violation of this Anti-Tampering Policy, says the relevant league document. If the league wanted to apply the policy literally and strictly (something it rarely if ever does), the NFL could find that the public comments already made amount to a violation. Heres the other reality for the Packers. Everybody tampers. So if the Packers officially accuse the 49ers and/or the Broncos of tampering, they open the door to be accused of tampering by other teams. Besides, if the Packers are going to dig in and not judge, it doesnt matter if every other team tampers with Rodgers. The damage to the relationship already has been done. Nothing any team says or does is going to make Rodgers more determined to leave. So its probably smart for the Packers to not push it. But an argument could be made for taking an aggressive position, if only to ensure that all other teams will back off while the drama plays out between the Packers and Rodgers, however it plays out. originally appeared on Pro Football Talk | The Packers reportedly believe that the 49ers and Broncos may have tampered with quarterback Aaron Rodgers. The Packers reportedly wont be doing anything about it. Maybe they should. Even if the teams have covered their tracks, filing tampering charges against them could potentially keep any future tampering from happening. | bart | 2 | https://sports.yahoo.com/packers-file-tampering-charges-against-001416155.html?src=rss | 0.320487 |
Why Is Ad Tech Targeting So Bad? | Previously we showed that ad tech targeting was bad. But skeptical marketers, who had already spent millions on the ad tech magic sauce, didnt want to believe it. So they asked why is it so bad or how can it be so bad? Well, let me explain. Ad tech targeting parameters are all inferred from the behavior of anonymous users. Most people visit web pages without being logged in. Users rarely give sites their personal information and have never given permission to the ad tech trackers loaded on the pages to harvest their data. So ad tech data brokers have to infer who they are and what they like based on what sites they visited and what web pages they looked at. In the simplest of cases, this might be good enough e.g. if a user visited Sports Illustrated, ESPN, NFL.com, etc. it is likely the user is male; if a user visited Victorias Secret, Sephora, Tampax, etc. it is likely the user is female. Whatever is inferred is a guess at best. And the accuracy of the data goes downhill from there. As documented by previous studies, with just 1 parameter gender the ad tech targeted audience segment was worse than the random control. Accuracy for gender was 42%, when the natural population is closer to 50%. So a spray and pray campaign with no targeting at all would have hit more of the correctly gender randomly than the targeted campaign. With just two targeting parameters gender + age the accuracy drops to 24%, on average. Marketers who paid for this ad tech snake oil will still insist it must be more accurate than this. OK, so lets look at it from a different angle lets ask users how many ads were relevant, out of the ones they were shown. Adalytics, an ad effectiveness research firm, collects ads with a browser extension installed by users. It then asks users whether they recall seeing an ad and whether the ad was relevant to them. In a previously published study, Adalytics found that less than 1 in 100 ads could be remotely considered relevant. While that initial data set was limited, ongoing examples repeatedly corroborate that users overwhelmingly dont think the ads they are shown are relevant to them. Now combine those observations with your own experiences. Others of you may have experienced the other extreme creepily targeted ads the ads that follow you around the web. Those are not due to targeting; those ads are retargeted which means the ad tech companies plant a cookie in your browser when you visit a site or look at a product. Then they repeatedly retarget you with ads from that site or ads with that product in it. Even that is irrelevant, creepy, and crappy because the ad tech companies didnt know you already bought the item; or you were looking for baby clothes for someone elses baby, not your own. That was 534 words to answer the question why ad tech targeting is so bad? No consumers think the ads are relevant; the only parties that do think targeting makes ads more relevant are the advertisers themselves and the ad tech companies that sold them the snake oil oops targeting data. Sorry. Even now, some marketers will still say it must be working because it appears to be working so well. What they mean is that performance seems so much better than before programmatic ad tech came along. Some marketers will remember the days of 0.1% click through rates on banner ads. Today they are seeing 5% - 13% click through rates all the time. Yay! Well, that is if you consider lots of bot clicks to be better for your digital marketing campaign outcomes. The programmatic campaigns appear to perform so well because bots are clicking on the ads to trick marketers into giving them more money. When marketers see programmatic media spend driving much higher engagement than buys from real publishers with real human audiences, they take money away from real publishers with real human audiences and give it to programmatic exchanges. Human marketers just did exactly what the bots wanted them to do - give them more money. More clicks does not mean ads were better targeted and more humans clicked on them. More clicks just means more clicks by bots. click through rates on display ads Augustine Fou In the chart above, you can see click through rates magically jumped by orders of magnitude from the 0.1% range to the 10% range in the years since programmatic took off (circa 2012-13). If you compare that to the chart below, you will see that humans and their usage of the internet, social, and mobile (yellow and green lines) have all but plateaued since 2012-13. But digital ad spend (blue line) continues to shoot upward. Right with bots. Right, with bots. Thats because fake and fraudulent sites can sell mass quantities of ads at low prices, because they dont actually produce any real content, like real publishers do. digital ad spend versus humans usage of internet, social, and mobile Augustine Fou Ad tech salesmen had the perfect storm indeed a trifecta of snake oiliness: large scale, high performance, and low prices with which to dupe marketers into forking over more and more their money. Despite all that targeting, few consumers think ads are targeted well; most joke about actually how bad it is. Marketers are starting to open their eyes to this fact especially like those marketers that turned off or paused their digital ad spending, and noticed no change in business outcomes. Read on, brave marketer. | Ad tech targeting parameters are all inferred from the behavior of anonymous users. With just two targeting parameters gender + age the accuracy drops to 24%, on average. No consumers think the ads are relevant. | bart | 1 | https://www.forbes.com/sites/augustinefou/2021/05/05/why-is-ad-tech-targeting-so-bad/ | 0.322721 |
Why Is Ad Tech Targeting So Bad? | Previously we showed that ad tech targeting was bad. But skeptical marketers, who had already spent millions on the ad tech magic sauce, didnt want to believe it. So they asked why is it so bad or how can it be so bad? Well, let me explain. Ad tech targeting parameters are all inferred from the behavior of anonymous users. Most people visit web pages without being logged in. Users rarely give sites their personal information and have never given permission to the ad tech trackers loaded on the pages to harvest their data. So ad tech data brokers have to infer who they are and what they like based on what sites they visited and what web pages they looked at. In the simplest of cases, this might be good enough e.g. if a user visited Sports Illustrated, ESPN, NFL.com, etc. it is likely the user is male; if a user visited Victorias Secret, Sephora, Tampax, etc. it is likely the user is female. Whatever is inferred is a guess at best. And the accuracy of the data goes downhill from there. As documented by previous studies, with just 1 parameter gender the ad tech targeted audience segment was worse than the random control. Accuracy for gender was 42%, when the natural population is closer to 50%. So a spray and pray campaign with no targeting at all would have hit more of the correctly gender randomly than the targeted campaign. With just two targeting parameters gender + age the accuracy drops to 24%, on average. Marketers who paid for this ad tech snake oil will still insist it must be more accurate than this. OK, so lets look at it from a different angle lets ask users how many ads were relevant, out of the ones they were shown. Adalytics, an ad effectiveness research firm, collects ads with a browser extension installed by users. It then asks users whether they recall seeing an ad and whether the ad was relevant to them. In a previously published study, Adalytics found that less than 1 in 100 ads could be remotely considered relevant. While that initial data set was limited, ongoing examples repeatedly corroborate that users overwhelmingly dont think the ads they are shown are relevant to them. Now combine those observations with your own experiences. Others of you may have experienced the other extreme creepily targeted ads the ads that follow you around the web. Those are not due to targeting; those ads are retargeted which means the ad tech companies plant a cookie in your browser when you visit a site or look at a product. Then they repeatedly retarget you with ads from that site or ads with that product in it. Even that is irrelevant, creepy, and crappy because the ad tech companies didnt know you already bought the item; or you were looking for baby clothes for someone elses baby, not your own. That was 534 words to answer the question why ad tech targeting is so bad? No consumers think the ads are relevant; the only parties that do think targeting makes ads more relevant are the advertisers themselves and the ad tech companies that sold them the snake oil oops targeting data. Sorry. Even now, some marketers will still say it must be working because it appears to be working so well. What they mean is that performance seems so much better than before programmatic ad tech came along. Some marketers will remember the days of 0.1% click through rates on banner ads. Today they are seeing 5% - 13% click through rates all the time. Yay! Well, that is if you consider lots of bot clicks to be better for your digital marketing campaign outcomes. The programmatic campaigns appear to perform so well because bots are clicking on the ads to trick marketers into giving them more money. When marketers see programmatic media spend driving much higher engagement than buys from real publishers with real human audiences, they take money away from real publishers with real human audiences and give it to programmatic exchanges. Human marketers just did exactly what the bots wanted them to do - give them more money. More clicks does not mean ads were better targeted and more humans clicked on them. More clicks just means more clicks by bots. click through rates on display ads Augustine Fou In the chart above, you can see click through rates magically jumped by orders of magnitude from the 0.1% range to the 10% range in the years since programmatic took off (circa 2012-13). If you compare that to the chart below, you will see that humans and their usage of the internet, social, and mobile (yellow and green lines) have all but plateaued since 2012-13. But digital ad spend (blue line) continues to shoot upward. Right with bots. Right, with bots. Thats because fake and fraudulent sites can sell mass quantities of ads at low prices, because they dont actually produce any real content, like real publishers do. digital ad spend versus humans usage of internet, social, and mobile Augustine Fou Ad tech salesmen had the perfect storm indeed a trifecta of snake oiliness: large scale, high performance, and low prices with which to dupe marketers into forking over more and more their money. Despite all that targeting, few consumers think ads are targeted well; most joke about actually how bad it is. Marketers are starting to open their eyes to this fact especially like those marketers that turned off or paused their digital ad spending, and noticed no change in business outcomes. Read on, brave marketer. | Ad tech targeting parameters are all inferred from the behavior of anonymous users. With just two targeting parameters gender + age the accuracy drops to 24%, on average. No consumers think the ads are relevant; the only parties that do think targeting makes ads more relevant are the advertisers themselves and the ad tech companies. | bart | 2 | https://www.forbes.com/sites/augustinefou/2021/05/05/why-is-ad-tech-targeting-so-bad/ | 0.275802 |
Can COVID-19 vaccines affect my period? | It's not known, but researchers are starting to study the issue. Vaccines are designed to activate your immune system, and some experts have wondered if that could temporarily disrupt menstrual cycles. So far, reports of irregular bleeding have been anecdotal. And its hard to draw any links to the vaccines since changes could be the result of other factors including stress, diet and exercise habits. There's also a lack of data tracking changes to menstrual cycles after vaccines in general. If scientists do eventually find a link between the vaccine and short-term changes in bleeding, experts say that would be no reason to avoid getting vaccinated. The benefits of taking the vaccine certainly way outweigh putting up with one heavy period, if indeed theyre related, said Dr. Mary Jane Minkin, a gynecologist and a professor at the Yale University School of Medicine. Researchers recently launched a survey to begin gathering data. The findings wont determine whether theres a relationship between COVID-19 vaccines and menstrual changes, but could help form the basis for further research, said Katharine Lee, one of the researchers, who is based at Washington University in St. Louis. Dr. Jen Gunter, an obstetrician and gynecologist in the San Francisco Bay Area, said a link is possible, since the uterine lining, which is shed during menstruation, contains immune cells that help protect the uterus. Theres no evidence that any vaccines, including COVID-19 vaccines, affect fertility, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. ___ The AP is answering your questions about the coronavirus in this series. Submit them at: FactCheck@AP.org. | Researchers are starting to study whether COVID-19 vaccines can temporarily disrupt menstrual cycles. | ctrlsum | 0 | https://www.sfgate.com/living/article/Can-COVID-19-vaccines-affect-my-period-16155588.php | 0.284531 |
Can COVID-19 vaccines affect my period? | It's not known, but researchers are starting to study the issue. Vaccines are designed to activate your immune system, and some experts have wondered if that could temporarily disrupt menstrual cycles. So far, reports of irregular bleeding have been anecdotal. And its hard to draw any links to the vaccines since changes could be the result of other factors including stress, diet and exercise habits. There's also a lack of data tracking changes to menstrual cycles after vaccines in general. If scientists do eventually find a link between the vaccine and short-term changes in bleeding, experts say that would be no reason to avoid getting vaccinated. The benefits of taking the vaccine certainly way outweigh putting up with one heavy period, if indeed theyre related, said Dr. Mary Jane Minkin, a gynecologist and a professor at the Yale University School of Medicine. Researchers recently launched a survey to begin gathering data. The findings wont determine whether theres a relationship between COVID-19 vaccines and menstrual changes, but could help form the basis for further research, said Katharine Lee, one of the researchers, who is based at Washington University in St. Louis. Dr. Jen Gunter, an obstetrician and gynecologist in the San Francisco Bay Area, said a link is possible, since the uterine lining, which is shed during menstruation, contains immune cells that help protect the uterus. Theres no evidence that any vaccines, including COVID-19 vaccines, affect fertility, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. ___ The AP is answering your questions about the coronavirus in this series. Submit them at: FactCheck@AP.org. | Researchers are starting to study the issue. There's no evidence that any vaccines, including COVID-19 vaccines, affect fertility, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. | ctrlsum | 1 | https://www.sfgate.com/living/article/Can-COVID-19-vaccines-affect-my-period-16155588.php | 0.155528 |
Can COVID-19 vaccines affect my period? | It's not known, but researchers are starting to study the issue. Vaccines are designed to activate your immune system, and some experts have wondered if that could temporarily disrupt menstrual cycles. So far, reports of irregular bleeding have been anecdotal. And its hard to draw any links to the vaccines since changes could be the result of other factors including stress, diet and exercise habits. There's also a lack of data tracking changes to menstrual cycles after vaccines in general. If scientists do eventually find a link between the vaccine and short-term changes in bleeding, experts say that would be no reason to avoid getting vaccinated. The benefits of taking the vaccine certainly way outweigh putting up with one heavy period, if indeed theyre related, said Dr. Mary Jane Minkin, a gynecologist and a professor at the Yale University School of Medicine. Researchers recently launched a survey to begin gathering data. The findings wont determine whether theres a relationship between COVID-19 vaccines and menstrual changes, but could help form the basis for further research, said Katharine Lee, one of the researchers, who is based at Washington University in St. Louis. Dr. Jen Gunter, an obstetrician and gynecologist in the San Francisco Bay Area, said a link is possible, since the uterine lining, which is shed during menstruation, contains immune cells that help protect the uterus. Theres no evidence that any vaccines, including COVID-19 vaccines, affect fertility, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. ___ The AP is answering your questions about the coronavirus in this series. Submit them at: FactCheck@AP.org. | Researchers are starting to study the issue. There's no evidence that any vaccines, including COVID-19 vaccines, affect fertility, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. | ctrlsum | 2 | https://www.sfgate.com/living/article/Can-COVID-19-vaccines-affect-my-period-16155588.php | 0.149323 |
Why Isnt Anyone Seriously Challenging The Big Bang? | This image represents the evolution of the Universe, starting with the Big Bang. Despite how ... [+] counterintuitive the Big Bang picture is, and the number of scientific attempts to come up with viable, testable alternatives, the Big Bang remains the only modern theory in the context of General Relativity to explain our observations of the Universe. NASA / GSFC In the early half of the 20th century, even after the discovery of the expanding Universe, physicists considered a wide variety of origin stories for our Universe. In the mid-1960s, the cosmic microwave background widely interpreted as the leftover glow predicted by the Big Bang was discovered. While many considered that the decisive evidence in favor of the Big Bang, others dug in harder to non-standard positions. Alternative cosmologies didnt just persist, they grew in number and in detail. As recently as 20 years ago, the Big Bang was one of many ideas that scientists continued to entertain: quasi-steady state theory, plasma cosmology, and quantized redshifts remained mainstays in the scientific literature. But today, its largely crackpots and a few fringe contrarians who muster even the flimsiest of challenges to the consensus position: that the Universe began with a hot Big Bang. Lets dive in and find out. A visual history of the expanding Universe includes the hot, dense state known as the Big Bang and ... [+] the growth and formation of structure subsequently. The full suite of data, including the observations of the light elements and the cosmic microwave background, leaves only the Big Bang as a valid explanation for all we see. As the Universe expands, it also cools, enabling ions, neutral atoms, and eventually molecules, gas clouds, stars, and finally galaxies to form. NASA / CXC / M. WEISS If we want to examine any scientific theory, the first thing we need to do is understand what the theory assumes, what it predicts, and to compare those predictions with whats been measured. The big idea of the Big Bang came about as scientists began to investigate the mathematical properties of Einsteins General Relativity: the theory of gravity that was put forth in 1915 to supersede Newtons law of universal gravitation. Unlike Newtonian gravity, General Relativity: brought gravity into a framework that was consistent with the speed of light being the cosmic speed limit, was able to explain the orbit of Mercury and how its perihelion precessed over the centuries, and predicted novel effects like the bending of starlight, gravitational lensing, gravitational time delays, and gravitational redshifts and blueshift. By the end of 1919, it was clear that General Relativity succeeded where Newtonian gravity did not, and that its consequences of spacetime being a fabric whose curvature was determined by matter and energy could not be ignored. Thats the first assumption: that General Relativity is our theory of gravity. The results of the 1919 Eddington expedition showed, conclusively, that the General theory of ... [+] Relativity described the bending of starlight around massive objects, overthrowing the Newtonian picture. This was the first observational confirmation of Einstein's General Relativity, and appears to align with the 'bent-fabric-of-space' visualization. The Illustrated London News, 1919 From there, people started searching for, finding, and working out the consequences of various exact solutions in General Relativity. Unlike in Newtonian gravity, this is incredibly difficult. In Newtonian gravity, if you can describe the positions and masses of every object in your Universe at any one moment in time, you can know the effects of gravity everywhere and always. But in Einsteins General Relativity, only a few spacetimes are exactly solvable, and theyre all relatively simple cases. For instance: We can solve an empty Universe: thats Minkowski space. We can solve for a Universe with one uncharged, non-rotating mass: the Schwarzschild solution. We can write down the equations for a Universe containing one massive, rotating object: the Kerr solution. And we can solve the equations governing spacetime for a Universe thats uniformly filled with matter and radiation: we get the Friedmann equations. This last option, as was recognized almost immediately, could represent our Universe. If our Universe is homogeneous (the same in all location) and isotropic (the same in all directions), even on average, even only on the largest of cosmic scales, the Friedmann equations will tell us how the Universe evolves over time. The expected fates of the Universe (top three illustrations) all correspond to a Universe where the ... [+] matter and energy combined fight against the initial expansion rate. In our observed Universe, a cosmic acceleration is caused by some type of dark energy, which is hitherto unexplained. All of these Universes are governed by the Friedmann equations, which relate the expansion of the Universe to the various types of matter and energy present within it. There's an apparent fine-tuning issue here, but there may be an underlying physical cause. E. Siegel / Beyond the Galaxy Specifically, it must evolve and cannot be static: it has to either expand or contract. When galaxies were identified as being objects outside of the Milky Way, and then observed to have greater redshifts at greater distances, it was clear that the picture of an expanding Universe, consistent with the Friedmann equations (and hence, an isotropic, homogeneous Universe) remained valid. One but not the only interpretation of that involved a tremendous extrapolation: the Big Bang. What the Big Bang hypothesized was that the volume which the objects within our Universe occupied increased over time, and hence the Universe got less dense as time went on, as well as cooler, as light within it became shifted to longer wavelengths and lower temperatures. But in addition to extrapolating forwards, we could extrapolate backwards in time as well: to a hotter, denser state. In fact, there was no limit to this, in principle. We could go back to arbitrarily high temperatures and arbitrarily large densities, and if the Big Bang were correct, the act of expanding and cooling during the evolution of the cosmos would lead to three major predictions, in addition to the expanding Universe. Galaxies comparable to the present-day Milky Way are numerous, but younger galaxies that are Milky ... [+] Way-like are inherently smaller, bluer, more chaotic, and richer in gas in general than the galaxies we see today. For the first galaxies of all, this ought to be taken to the extreme, and remains valid as far back as we've ever seen. The exceptions, when we encounter them, are both puzzling and rare. NASA and ESA 1.) A cosmic web of growing, evolving structure. If we go back in time, we should find galaxies that are smaller, less massive, filled with younger stars, and are less evolved in their shape. Over time, they gravitationally grow and merge together, so galaxy clusters and a large cosmic web should be richer at late times (and close distances) and sparser at early times (and larger distances). And, going way back in time, we should see eras where there are no galaxy clusters, no galaxies, and eventually, not even any stars. The formation of structure is an enormous success for the Big Bang, with dark matter and dark energy being necessary but sufficient ingredients to get our observations to match the models predictions exquisitely. Galaxies grow, evolve, become richer in heavy elements, and cluster together in precisely the fashion that the Big Bang predicts. Even with the advent of modern deep galaxy surveys, the agreement is spectacular. According to the original observations of Penzias and Wilson, the galactic plane emitted some ... [+] astrophysical sources of radiation (center), but above and below, all that remained was a near-perfect, uniform background of radiation, consistent with the Big Bang and in defiance of the alternatives. NASA / WMAP SCIENCE TEAM 2.) A low-energy, omnidirectional, leftover glow of radiation. If the Universe were hotter, denser, and more uniform in the past, eventually youd reach a point where it was so hot and dense that even neutral atoms couldnt form. The instant an electron bound to an atomic nucleus, a sufficiently energetic photon would come along and reionize that atom, preventing neutral atoms from stably forming. Only when the Universe expanded and cooled sufficiently would these photons lose enough energy that the Universe could become neutral, releasing that radiation which would stretch its wavelength as the Universe expanded. This release typically occurs at a temperature of a few thousand Kelvin, meaning that the temperature of this background today should be only a few degrees above absolute zero. Moreover, this radiation should have the spectrum of a perfect blackbody, with only tiny imperfections at the ~0.01% level or less. This leftover glow originally called the primeval fireball and today known as the cosmic microwave background was discovered in the mid-1960s, and has been verified to be blackbody in spectrum and to have imperfections in it at the 1-part-in-30,000 level. In many ways, it is the most spectacular confirmation of a scientific theory in history. From beginning with just protons and neutrons, the Universe builds up helium-4 rapidly, with small ... [+] but calculable amounts of deuterium, helium-3, and lithium-7 left over as well. This nuclear fusion chain that occurs in the early stages of the Big Bang explains the overwhelming majority of the light elements, which exist even before any stars have formed. E. Siegel / Beyond The Galaxy 3.) A particular set of ratios for the light elements, even before any stars were ever formed. Even before neutral atoms could form, it was hot and dense enough that the Universe couldnt even form atomic nuclei. Only free protons and neutrons could exist, as the instant they fused together to create deuterium, another particle would come along and blast them apart. Only after sufficiently cooling could deuterium stably form, whereupon it would combine with other protons, neutrons, deuterons, and the elements that formed subsequently to produce whatever was possible. But because of how quickly the Universe expands and cools, these reactions can only take place briefly. After the dust settles, the Universe becomes about 75% hydrogen, 25% helium-4, 0.01% each helium-3 and deuterium, and about 0.0000001% lithium-7. The science of Big Bang Nucleosynthesis the process by which these elements are formed is now standard fare for graduate students, and has been observationally validated for galaxies, quasars, gas clouds, and from the cosmic microwave background as well. According to the tired light hypothesis, the number of photons-per-second we receive from each ... [+] object drops proportional to the square of its distance, while the number of objects we see increases as the square of the distance. This leads to a very different predicted set of deep galaxy counts compared to the Big Bang's view of the expanding Universe. The data favors the Big Bang and refutes the tired light hypothesis. Even factoring in galaxy evolution results in a changing surface brightness that's fainter at great distances, consistent with what we see. WIKIMEDIA COMMONS USER STIGMATELLA AURANTIACA The overwhelming agreement between the Big Bangs predictions and these observations including in greater and greater detail was what led to its widespread acceptance. Initial alternatives fell by the wayside as: non-relativistic ideas, like the Milne Universe, failed to account for the subsequently verified tests of General Relativity, like the Pound-Rebka experiments, the idea of tired light cosmology, where redshift was due to light losing energy as it traveled through space, was discredited by the observed sharpness of distant galaxies, and the idea of the early Steady State Theory, which predicted a low-energy, background glow of reflected starlight, failed to match the observed spectrum of the cosmic microwave background. Still, new challenges emerged. Some, like the quasi-steady state model, added proverbial epicycles to the earlier incarnations of contrarian ideas, seeking new physics or new phenomena to bring their theoretical predictions in line with the now-robust observations that contradicted the earlier predictions. Still others sought to pursue alternatives rooted in gravitational theories other than General Relativity; the ones that made testably different predictions from Einsteins theory have all been ruled out. But one type of alternative took longer to rule out: those rooted in observational skepticism. This histogram, from 2007, shows the number of discovered quasars (y-axis) as a function of redshift ... [+] (x-axis). Note that the redshifts of these objects form a continuous distribution, and that there is no evidence of quasar redshift quantization. This overwhelming data completely undermines one of the Big Bang's most serious challenges of the late 20th century. D. Schneider et al. (2007), arXiv:0704.0806 In particular, when very distant galaxies and quasars began to be discovered, they appeared to have an unusual property: their redshifts appeared to come in at specific values that were all multiples of one another. This suggested that redshifts might be quantized, and perhaps had a non-cosmological origin. Geoffrey Burbidge, William Tifft, and Halton Arp all explored alternative cosmologies that accounted for this, but large-area deep surveys have shown that galaxy and quasar redshifts arent quantized, after all. Although a few people still pursue these lines, the evidence is overwhelmingly against it. Additionally, laboratory experiments on plasmas showed that electromagnetic effects could easily dominate gravitational ones, and so plasma cosmology rebranded a few decades ago as the electric Universe was developed to further flesh out this idea. Unfortunately, its predictions were in absurd conflict with observations: the Universe was always expanding and never contracting (a necessary component for plasma oscillations), gravitation dominates the Universe and is required to explain the details of the cosmic web, and the spectacularly blackbody nature of the cosmic microwave background all combined to rule this alternative out. The Sun's actual light (yellow curve, left) versus a perfect blackbody (in grey), showing that the ... [+] Sun is more of a series of blackbodies due to the thickness of its photosphere; at right is the actual perfect blackbody of the CMB as measured by the COBE satellite. Note that the "error bars" on the right are an astounding 400 sigma. The agreement between theory and observation here is historic, and the peak of the observed spectrum determines the leftover temperature of the Cosmic Microwave Background: 2.73 K. Wikimedia Commons user Sch (L); COBE/FIRAS, NASA / JPL-Caltech (R) Today, the only serious challenges to the standard Big Bang picture come in the form of add-ons: Universes where exotic forms of matter or energy (including dark matter and dark energy) are present, Universes that depart significantly (but within the observational limits) from isotropy or homogeneity, Universes with a different theory of gravity than General Relativity (but that dont conflict with any of General Relativitys already-observed successes). All of the modern alternatives still possess a hot, dense, uniform, and rapidly expanding early state, which expands, cools, and gravitates to form the Universe we see today. Two major events: the collection of large suites of high-quality data, which validated the Big Bangs major predictions to incredibly high precision, and the fact that the main advocates of the alternatives once they no longer became defensible on their own merits got old and died. If any scientifically viable alternatives to the Big Bang ever arise, almost every modern cosmologist would thoroughly welcome it, and then immediately put it to the test. The problem is that every such alternative is already ruled out by the evidence in hand. Until an idea arises that meets those necessary criteria, the Big Bang will stand alone as the only idea compatible with the full suite of data we now possess. | The Big Bang remains the only modern theory in the context of General Relativity to explain our observations of the Universe. | bart | 0 | https://www.forbes.com/sites/startswithabang/2021/05/06/why-isnt-anyone-seriously-challenging-the-big-bang/ | 0.178012 |
How High Can Carmelo Anthony Climb Up NBA's All-Time Scoring List? | Carmelo Anthony recently moved up to 10th on the NBA's all-time scoring list. CLICK HERE TO SUBSCRIBE TO THE FREE ALL SYRACUSE NEWSLETTER TO GET THE LATEST ORANGE UPDATES SENT TO YOUR INBOX! Anthony is 36 years old. That remains to be seen, but he is still a very effective offensive player. Anthony is currently 75 points behind ninth place (Moses Malone), 1,262 points behind eighth place (Shaquille O'Neal) and 4,085 points behind seventh place (Wilt Chamberlain). Let's take a look at a few different scenarios. RETIRES AT AGE 40 If Carmelo Anthony plays past his 40th birthday (2023-24 season) and then retires, he will play three more full season beyond this year. There are 82 games in a season, but let's take a conservative approach and say he averages 72 games played each year. Currently, Melo averages 13.7 points per game. Let's assume he keeps that up for the final six games of the regular season this year and that takes a slight dip to 12 points per game over the next three seasons. At 12 points per game in 72 games in each of three seasons, along with 13.7 points over the next six games this year, that is another 2,674 points. His total as of May 5, 2021 was 27,334. Add those two together and Melo would have a career total of 30,008 points. In that scenario, Melo would pass Moses Malone and Shaquille O'Neal to claim 8th place all time. SUBSCRIBE TO ALLSYRACUSE.COM NOW TO GET ACCESS TO EXCLUSIVE INSIDER CONTENT! SIX MORE SEASONS Few players play significantly beyond age 40, but some have. If Carmelo plays six more seasons, he would have to average at least 9.5 points per game while playing at least 72 games in order to pass Wilt for seventh place on the list. If Melo averages 10 points per game over those six seasons while averaging 72 games, or plays in 74 games each season while scoring 9.5 points per game, Anthony would pass Dirk Nowitzki for sixth place. Carmelo would need to average at least 11.3 points per game over six seasons and play at least 72 each year to pass Michael Jordan for 5th on the all-time scoring list. BECOMES OLDEST PLAYER TO PLAY IN A GAME IN NBA HISTORY Going much further than Jordan will be extremely difficult. The oldest player to play in an NBA game was just less than 46 years of age. That was Nat Hickey, who was 45 years and 363 days old in 1948. If Carmelo Anthony makes history and plays until he is 46 years old, that would mean he plays for another 10 season after this one through the 2030-31 campaign. In order to pass Kobe Bryant for 4th place, Anthony would need to average 8.7 points per game over those 10 seasons while playing at least 72 games per year. In order to pass Karl Malone, who is currently in 2nd place but would likely be 3rd at that time, Anthony would have to average 13.3 points per game while playing at least 72 games per season over 10 years. Note: LeBron James is currently 3rd all-time. He is so far ahead of Melo and averaging nearly double the points per game. Outside of James retiring in the next year or two and Anthony playing for a decade beyond that, Melo will not pass James. James could pass Malone for 2nd place next season. FINAL THOUGHTS As Carmelo Anthony continues to move up the scoring list, the most likely ceiling for him is eighth place with an outside shot at getting to sixth. It will depend on how many more seasons he wishes to play, which will likely be determined by how his body holds up over the next few years. | Carmelo Anthony recently moved up to 10th on the NBA's all-time scoring list. | bart | 0 | https://www.si.com/college/syracuse/basketball/carmelo-anthony-how-high-climb-nba-scoring-list | 0.308165 |
How High Can Carmelo Anthony Climb Up NBA's All-Time Scoring List? | Carmelo Anthony recently moved up to 10th on the NBA's all-time scoring list. CLICK HERE TO SUBSCRIBE TO THE FREE ALL SYRACUSE NEWSLETTER TO GET THE LATEST ORANGE UPDATES SENT TO YOUR INBOX! Anthony is 36 years old. That remains to be seen, but he is still a very effective offensive player. Anthony is currently 75 points behind ninth place (Moses Malone), 1,262 points behind eighth place (Shaquille O'Neal) and 4,085 points behind seventh place (Wilt Chamberlain). Let's take a look at a few different scenarios. RETIRES AT AGE 40 If Carmelo Anthony plays past his 40th birthday (2023-24 season) and then retires, he will play three more full season beyond this year. There are 82 games in a season, but let's take a conservative approach and say he averages 72 games played each year. Currently, Melo averages 13.7 points per game. Let's assume he keeps that up for the final six games of the regular season this year and that takes a slight dip to 12 points per game over the next three seasons. At 12 points per game in 72 games in each of three seasons, along with 13.7 points over the next six games this year, that is another 2,674 points. His total as of May 5, 2021 was 27,334. Add those two together and Melo would have a career total of 30,008 points. In that scenario, Melo would pass Moses Malone and Shaquille O'Neal to claim 8th place all time. SUBSCRIBE TO ALLSYRACUSE.COM NOW TO GET ACCESS TO EXCLUSIVE INSIDER CONTENT! SIX MORE SEASONS Few players play significantly beyond age 40, but some have. If Carmelo plays six more seasons, he would have to average at least 9.5 points per game while playing at least 72 games in order to pass Wilt for seventh place on the list. If Melo averages 10 points per game over those six seasons while averaging 72 games, or plays in 74 games each season while scoring 9.5 points per game, Anthony would pass Dirk Nowitzki for sixth place. Carmelo would need to average at least 11.3 points per game over six seasons and play at least 72 each year to pass Michael Jordan for 5th on the all-time scoring list. BECOMES OLDEST PLAYER TO PLAY IN A GAME IN NBA HISTORY Going much further than Jordan will be extremely difficult. The oldest player to play in an NBA game was just less than 46 years of age. That was Nat Hickey, who was 45 years and 363 days old in 1948. If Carmelo Anthony makes history and plays until he is 46 years old, that would mean he plays for another 10 season after this one through the 2030-31 campaign. In order to pass Kobe Bryant for 4th place, Anthony would need to average 8.7 points per game over those 10 seasons while playing at least 72 games per year. In order to pass Karl Malone, who is currently in 2nd place but would likely be 3rd at that time, Anthony would have to average 13.3 points per game while playing at least 72 games per season over 10 years. Note: LeBron James is currently 3rd all-time. He is so far ahead of Melo and averaging nearly double the points per game. Outside of James retiring in the next year or two and Anthony playing for a decade beyond that, Melo will not pass James. James could pass Malone for 2nd place next season. FINAL THOUGHTS As Carmelo Anthony continues to move up the scoring list, the most likely ceiling for him is eighth place with an outside shot at getting to sixth. It will depend on how many more seasons he wishes to play, which will likely be determined by how his body holds up over the next few years. | Carmelo Anthony recently moved up to 10th on the NBA's all-time scoring list. Anthony is 36 years old, but he is still a very effective offensive player. | pegasus | 1 | https://www.si.com/college/syracuse/basketball/carmelo-anthony-how-high-climb-nba-scoring-list | 0.371282 |
How High Can Carmelo Anthony Climb Up NBA's All-Time Scoring List? | Carmelo Anthony recently moved up to 10th on the NBA's all-time scoring list. CLICK HERE TO SUBSCRIBE TO THE FREE ALL SYRACUSE NEWSLETTER TO GET THE LATEST ORANGE UPDATES SENT TO YOUR INBOX! Anthony is 36 years old. That remains to be seen, but he is still a very effective offensive player. Anthony is currently 75 points behind ninth place (Moses Malone), 1,262 points behind eighth place (Shaquille O'Neal) and 4,085 points behind seventh place (Wilt Chamberlain). Let's take a look at a few different scenarios. RETIRES AT AGE 40 If Carmelo Anthony plays past his 40th birthday (2023-24 season) and then retires, he will play three more full season beyond this year. There are 82 games in a season, but let's take a conservative approach and say he averages 72 games played each year. Currently, Melo averages 13.7 points per game. Let's assume he keeps that up for the final six games of the regular season this year and that takes a slight dip to 12 points per game over the next three seasons. At 12 points per game in 72 games in each of three seasons, along with 13.7 points over the next six games this year, that is another 2,674 points. His total as of May 5, 2021 was 27,334. Add those two together and Melo would have a career total of 30,008 points. In that scenario, Melo would pass Moses Malone and Shaquille O'Neal to claim 8th place all time. SUBSCRIBE TO ALLSYRACUSE.COM NOW TO GET ACCESS TO EXCLUSIVE INSIDER CONTENT! SIX MORE SEASONS Few players play significantly beyond age 40, but some have. If Carmelo plays six more seasons, he would have to average at least 9.5 points per game while playing at least 72 games in order to pass Wilt for seventh place on the list. If Melo averages 10 points per game over those six seasons while averaging 72 games, or plays in 74 games each season while scoring 9.5 points per game, Anthony would pass Dirk Nowitzki for sixth place. Carmelo would need to average at least 11.3 points per game over six seasons and play at least 72 each year to pass Michael Jordan for 5th on the all-time scoring list. BECOMES OLDEST PLAYER TO PLAY IN A GAME IN NBA HISTORY Going much further than Jordan will be extremely difficult. The oldest player to play in an NBA game was just less than 46 years of age. That was Nat Hickey, who was 45 years and 363 days old in 1948. If Carmelo Anthony makes history and plays until he is 46 years old, that would mean he plays for another 10 season after this one through the 2030-31 campaign. In order to pass Kobe Bryant for 4th place, Anthony would need to average 8.7 points per game over those 10 seasons while playing at least 72 games per year. In order to pass Karl Malone, who is currently in 2nd place but would likely be 3rd at that time, Anthony would have to average 13.3 points per game while playing at least 72 games per season over 10 years. Note: LeBron James is currently 3rd all-time. He is so far ahead of Melo and averaging nearly double the points per game. Outside of James retiring in the next year or two and Anthony playing for a decade beyond that, Melo will not pass James. James could pass Malone for 2nd place next season. FINAL THOUGHTS As Carmelo Anthony continues to move up the scoring list, the most likely ceiling for him is eighth place with an outside shot at getting to sixth. It will depend on how many more seasons he wishes to play, which will likely be determined by how his body holds up over the next few years. | Carmelo Anthony recently moved up to 10th on the NBA's all-time scoring list. Anthony is currently 75 points behind ninth place (Moses Malone) If Anthony plays past his 40th birthday and then retires, he will play three more full season beyond this year. | ctrlsum | 2 | https://www.si.com/college/syracuse/basketball/carmelo-anthony-how-high-climb-nba-scoring-list | 0.356649 |
What is behind the dispute over fishing rights around Jersey? | The immediate threat to which the prime minister was apparently responding when he dispatched the patrol vessels on Wednesday evening was a mooted blockade by French fishing boats of the port of St Helier, Jerseys main entry point for supplies. French fishers accuse the Jersey authorities of limiting access to the waters around the Channel island and being in breach of the post-Brexit arrangements agreed between the EU and the UK in its Christmas Eve trade and cooperation agreement. A flotilla of boats full of angry fishers did indeed gather at the port on Thursday morning under the watchful gaze of two Royal Navy River class patrol vessels. The bigger picture, however, is the rancour and tension between Britain and EU member states after a bruising few years since the June 2016 referendum result. When the UK left the EUs single market and customs union on 31 January 2020 the so-called transition period following the end of the countrys membership of the bloc it left the common fisheries policy that has peacefully divvied up the spoils of Europes waters since the 1970s. It also ended the Bay of Granville agreement, signed in 2000 by Britain and the Channel Islands government, which had established a pattern of rights for French boats up to three miles from the islands coasts. Within the Brexit trade and cooperation agreement struck last Christmas Eve there is a new EU-UK fisheries agreement that offers French fishers the continuation of the status quo in a zone between six and 12 miles from the UKs shores up to 2026, if they can prove that they had previously been operating in those waters. Jersey published on Friday a list of licences issued for 41 French boats of more than 12 metres that could prove they had met the requirement they had fished in the islands waters for at least 10 days over a period of 12 months within the past three years. The licences also show what species of fish they were fishing and the numbers of days spent at sea. An extended amnesty on providing such proof has been offered to smaller vessels. But there are 17 larger boats that have been unable to provide the evidence required and those who were granted access complain that additional conditions were set on securing the licences. Those extra conditions were that dredgers could only have 12 lines coming off them and that the vessels respected the closure of the bream nesting areas for a small period of time to allow scientific research to be undertaken. The French government said those conditions were null and void claiming they were were not arranged or discussed with them. The European Commission has also said that the conditions are in breach of the trade and cooperation agreement. The trade and cooperation agreement foresees that both the fisheries agreement maintaining the status quo in the Channel and the UKs retention of access to the EU single market in energy ends in 2026. On Tuesday, the French minister for maritime affairs, Annick Girardin, made the link between Jersey continuing to benefit from three sub-cables from France supplying the island with energy and the smooth running of the fishing deal. The agreement contains retaliatory measures, she had told the French national assembly. Well, we are ready to use these retaliatory measures; Europe, France has the means, it is written into the agreement. So as far as Jersey is concerned, I would remind you, for example of the transport of electricity by sub-marine cables. Whenever armed forces get involved in disputes of this sort there is a risk, however small, of mistakes and escalation. A dispute between the UK and Iceland over fishing waters nown as the cod wars led to violence on the high seas at various points from the 1950s to the 1970s, with ramming and net cutting abounding. In the early 1970s, the Icelandic prime minister at the time lafur Jhannesson even reportedly asked the US to send jets to bomb the British frigates. But the dispute seems eminently fixable. The Jersey authorities are looking for a compromise. | Jersey authorities limiting access to the waters around the Channel island. Fishermen accuse the Jersey authorities of limiting access to the waters around the Channel island. | pegasus | 0 | https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2021/may/06/what-jersey-fishing-rights-dispute-boris-johnson-patrol-boats | 0.10086 |
Can COVID-19 vaccines affect periods? | It's not known, but researchers are starting to study the issue. Vaccines are designed to activate your immune system, and some experts have wondered if that could temporarily disrupt menstrual cycles. BREASTFEEDING MOMS WHO GET COVID-19 VACCINE PASS ANTIBODIES TO BABY, STUDY FINDS So far, reports of irregular bleeding have been anecdotal. And its hard to draw any links to the vaccines since changes could be the result of other factors including stress, diet and exercise habits. There's also a lack of data tracking changes to menstrual cycles after vaccines in general. If scientists do eventually find a link between the vaccine and short-term changes in bleeding, experts say that would be no reason to avoid getting vaccinated. "The benefits of taking the vaccine certainly way outweigh putting up with one heavy period, if indeed theyre related," said Dr. Mary Jane Minkin, a gynecologist and a professor at the Yale University School of Medicine. WOMAN GIVES BIRTH TO TWINS CONCEIVED 3 WEEKS APART Researchers recently launched a survey to begin gathering data. The findings wont determine whether theres a relationship between COVID-19 vaccines and menstrual changes, but could help form the basis for further research, said Katharine Lee, one of the researchers, who is based at Washington University in St. Louis. Dr. Jen Gunter, an obstetrician and gynecologist in the San Francisco Bay Area, said a link is possible, since the uterine lining, which is shed during menstruation, contains immune cells that help protect the uterus. CLICK HERE FOR COMPLETE CORONAVIRUS COVERAGE Theres no evidence that any vaccines, including COVID-19 vaccines, affect fertility, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. | There's no evidence that any vaccines, including COVID-19 vaccines, affect fertility, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. | ctrlsum | 0 | https://www.foxnews.com/health/can-covid-19-vaccines-affect-periods | 0.226901 |
Can COVID-19 vaccines affect periods? | It's not known, but researchers are starting to study the issue. Vaccines are designed to activate your immune system, and some experts have wondered if that could temporarily disrupt menstrual cycles. BREASTFEEDING MOMS WHO GET COVID-19 VACCINE PASS ANTIBODIES TO BABY, STUDY FINDS So far, reports of irregular bleeding have been anecdotal. And its hard to draw any links to the vaccines since changes could be the result of other factors including stress, diet and exercise habits. There's also a lack of data tracking changes to menstrual cycles after vaccines in general. If scientists do eventually find a link between the vaccine and short-term changes in bleeding, experts say that would be no reason to avoid getting vaccinated. "The benefits of taking the vaccine certainly way outweigh putting up with one heavy period, if indeed theyre related," said Dr. Mary Jane Minkin, a gynecologist and a professor at the Yale University School of Medicine. WOMAN GIVES BIRTH TO TWINS CONCEIVED 3 WEEKS APART Researchers recently launched a survey to begin gathering data. The findings wont determine whether theres a relationship between COVID-19 vaccines and menstrual changes, but could help form the basis for further research, said Katharine Lee, one of the researchers, who is based at Washington University in St. Louis. Dr. Jen Gunter, an obstetrician and gynecologist in the San Francisco Bay Area, said a link is possible, since the uterine lining, which is shed during menstruation, contains immune cells that help protect the uterus. CLICK HERE FOR COMPLETE CORONAVIRUS COVERAGE Theres no evidence that any vaccines, including COVID-19 vaccines, affect fertility, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. | Theres no evidence that any vaccines, including COVID-19 vaccines, affect fertility, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. | pegasus | 1 | https://www.foxnews.com/health/can-covid-19-vaccines-affect-periods | 0.236982 |
Can police be taught to stop their own violence? | Revisiting the video in any form remains upsetting. We will almost certainly see it again when Thao, Kueng, and Lane go on trial, scheduled to start August 23. The three former officers face charges of aiding and abetting second-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter. But one section of the video offers a near-textbook example of how tragedy might have been averted. THE KILLING OF George Floyd is a recurring national nightmare. It played out again during the trial of his murderer, former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin nine minutes and 29 seconds of Chauvin kneeling on Floyds neck, ignoring Floyds pleas and the shouts to stop from people nearby. What has been relatively less examined is the behavior of the other officers at the scene: Tou Thao, who stood facing the crowd, stopping people who were trying to help; J. Alexander Kueng, who held Floyds waist; and Thomas Lane, who held his legs. Advertisement Minutes into the arrest, Lane asked, Here, should we get his legs up, or is this good? Leave him, Chauvin said. A few moments later, as recorded on Lanes body camera, Lane asks another question about repositioning Floyds body, only to be rebuffed: Lane: Should we roll him on his side? Chauvin: No, hes staying put where we got him. Lane: OK. I just worry about excited delirium or whatever. Chauvin: Well thats why we got the ambulance coming. Lane: OK, I suppose. Lane was a rookie with four days on the job and Chauvin, with 19 years experience, was senior officer on the scene. Lane twice spoke up, if tentatively, to express concern about Floyds condition, comments Chauvin brushed away. Perhaps deferring to Chauvins rank and experience, Lane stopped questioning. Neither of the other officers apparently said or did anything to stop him. Moments later, George Floyd was dead. Advertisement Things could have gone differently, says Ervin Staub, a professor emeritus of psychology at the University of Massachusetts Amherst and an expert on the science of intervention. Many factors figured into Floyds murder, including race and a lack of accountability for Chauvins past violence (18 formal complaints were filed against him in his 19-year career, although only one led to a reprimand). Staub believes a police training program he helped develop would have taught the other officers how to effectively intervene with a superior officer in a moment of crisis. Staub is the guiding mind behind a program making its way across the countrys police forces. Called ABLE for Active Bystandership for Law Enforcement its based on Staubs decades of research into how passive police bystanders become active intervenors to stop a situation from getting dangerous. The decision to intervene in such cases is not just a question of innate courage or moral impulse, Staub says. Instead, intervention is a teachable skill that helps overcome common inhibitors like rank or seniority that can hamper police officers from interceding with a fellow officer when they know they should. ABLE lowers barriers to action by explaining the psychology of intervention, teaching practical techniques, and setting up scenarios that the officers can rehearse just like we practice car stops or building entry, says Captain Phillip Terenzi, commander of the Training and Education Division of the Boston Police Department. Thats whats good about ABLE. The program is also designed to be ongoing, with reminders about it at roll calls and annual follow-up training modules, among other steps. In April, Terenzis division started training new Boston recruits in ABLE, and expects to offer it as in-service training for the departments more than 2,000 officers starting in July. Advertisement Training police to intercede with each other was a key component of police reform legislation Massachusetts passed in December. While just one piece of many that are needed for broad reform, ABLE is exactly the kind of program we hoped would come out of the duty to intervene language in the bill, says Democratic state Representative Russell Holmes, a Mattapan legislator who has pushed for police reform for years. State Representative Russell Holmes called for duty to intervene language to be part of the police reform bill passed by the Massachusetts Legislature in 2020. Harry Scales for The Boston Globe While the Minneapolis police already had a legal duty to intervene, officers there had not been properly trained. Advocates hope ABLE will address that gap. The New Hampshire Police Standards and Training Council adopted ABLE training last fall, in part because it reverses previous top-down approaches. As a young officer, I was taught that if you were told something, you did it, says Lieutenant Justin I. Paquette, a law enforcement training specialist at the academy. He says ABLE empowers the junior officers to take action. This is a pivotal moment in police reform, as viral videos have exposed a cascade of police violence toward people of color even after Floyds widely publicized death. Many of those cases could have been prevented if only one of the officers at the scene had intervened. Advertisement Even in the worst of times, there are some people who care. Ervin Staub ERVIN STAUB credits his life to the intervention of others. As a 6-year-old in Hungary in 1944, he was walking up a Budapest street with the familys maid and nanny, Maria Gogan, when Nazi tanks rolled into town. As the Nazis began rounding up Jewish people, Gogan, a gentle Christian woman who had lived with the Staubs since before Ervin was born, hid him and his sister with a Christian family, saying they were her cousins from the country. Gogan went on to repeatedly help shelter the family. Years later, a friend asked Staub what he had learned from the Holocaust. Even in the worst of times, he replied in a letter, there are some people who care. After the war, Staubs family opened a clothing business in Hungary. He left the country in the aftermath of the failed Hungarian Revolution of 1956, and eventually made his way to the United States. He earned an undergraduate degree from the University of Minnesota and did graduate work in psychology at Stanford University, where he met Perry London, a psychologist who did pioneering studies of people London called rescuers European Christians who helped Jews during the Holocaust. Having grown up with rescuers, Staub became curious about the forces that shape them. While an assistant professor at Harvard University and then a professor at UMass, he conducted dozens of experiments to understand what influences people to help. In one that took place near Porter Square, Staub instructed an assistant to collapse on a street, and then observed whether passersby would stop to help. Some rushed over, while others averted their eyes or crossed to the other side of the street. In another experiment, Staub found that when young children working on a drawing heard a crash and a moan in an adjacent room, they jumped up to help. But by sixth grade, that impulse had nearly vanished. Older children would explain they thought they should keep working, or werent sure if they had permission to leave. Advertisement To measure the influence of bystanders, Staub put one of his assistants in a room with someone else. They would hear a crash and sounds of distress from the next room. If the assistant said not to worry, only about 1 in 4 of the subjects went to help. If the assistant said That sounds bad but stayed seated, about two-thirds went to help. But when the assistant said, That sounds bad. Ill go find the experimenter. You go see what happened, and then left the room, every one of the subjects took action. This study would greatly influence Staubs later work with police. Staub studies what motivates people to take action during a crisis. zack wittman for the boston globe Staub also studied the Holocaust, the Cambodian genocide, and other mass killings. He saw how in a troubled society, people might commit small acts of aggression that could become a cascade of force if ignored. Thats what allows the violence to increase, says Staub, a trim man who at 82 still speaks with a mild Hungarian accent. The aggressors deny the target groups humanity an othering that insists victims deserve ill treatment. Yet in the face of such cruelty, a small number of rescuers may perform acts of courage, like Darnella Frazier, the 17-year-old who took video of Chauvins actions that day in Minneapolis. Such was the case when the residents of the rural French village of Le Chambon followed the example of their pastor and sheltered more than 3,000 Jews during World War II. Staub refers to such people as active bystanders, another concept he would bring to police training. Staubs introduction to working with police came in 1991, after Rodney King, a Black man, was beaten by four Los Angeles police officers while 17 other officers stood by and watched all of which was caught on video by a bystander and made public. A commission formed to investigate the incident called on Staub to speak about his research on the roles of bystanders. After hearing his testimony, state officials asked him to create a peer intervention training program for police, hoping to improve police-community relations. Staub spent months developing the course, and in July 1992 after massive riots in response to a jurys acquittal of the officers on assault charges presented it to a committee of civilians and police. He says it seemed to go well until he mentioned role-playing would be essential to the training. I dont do role-playing, Staub recalls a police captain saying, and the session went downhill from there. They never called Staub back. STAUB CONTINUED his human rights work, designing anti-bullying curricula for schools and working on reconciliation projects in several countries, most notably post-genocide Rwanda. He spent 17 years visiting the country for three weeks at a time along with his wife, Laurie Anne Pearlman, a psychologist who specializes in trauma treatment. He also wrote nine books on the psychology of good and evil. It wasnt until 2012 that he got another chance to work with police, when the federal government put the New Orleans Police Department under a consent decree, a legal agreement to make a series of reforms. Civil rights lawyer Mary Howell has spent decades litigating against the New Orleans police, which had been one of the nations most corrupt and violent departments. (She had asked Staub to provide expert testimony for a 1993 case involving the beating death of a suspect in police custody.) Shes worked on cases of police committing murder, terrorizing neighborhoods, and trafficking in drugs. And shes seen police protect each other with their code of silence. Ive also represented police whistle-blowers, says Howell, whose rapid-fire monologues and tireless pursuit of justice are the model for the Toni Bernette character on the HBO series Treme. Ive seen the pain thats inflicted on people who intervene. When the consent decree was put in place, Howell saw the chance for more effective reform than just suing the New Orleans police for brutality. She introduced the idea to Christy Lopez, one of the US Justice Department officials overseeing the process, and active bystander training was included in the agreement. Getting a requirement to train to intervene was a defining moment, Howell says. For the next two years, Staub consulted with Howell, Lopez, community leaders in New Orleans, and most importantly police officers and a new chief who took over in 2014 to develop a curriculum based on the one he created some 20 years earlier. One key difference: In addition to framing the program as a way to improve community relations, they made it about looking out for your partner protecting him or her from making a career-ending mistake. They also stressed that it could benefit the officers personally, since people caught in bad situations suffer psychologically, says Staub, with higher rates of substance addiction, family problems, and suicide. Finally, they made sure members of the department took the lead in developing the training, thus gaining buy-in. Mary Howell (left), with Fuki Madison in April 2012, after police officers who had killed Madison's son and other New Orleans residents were sentenced. AP/FIle The New Orleans program was called Ethical Policing Is Courageous, EPIC for short. It consisted of lectures, discussion groups, and role-playing. Starting in 2016, every member of the department trained with it, from new recruits to the chief. It didnt always go smoothly. Some officers refused to comply and had to be re-assigned or dismissed, according to Jonathan Aronie, a partner at the Washington, D.C., law firm Sheppard Mullin who was assigned by the Justice Department to oversee the agreement. But gradually the initiative took effect. Police shootings declined; for two years there were no police shootings at all. Taser discharges dropped by nearly two-thirds from 2014 to 2018, according to an Office of the Consent Decree monitoring report, and civilian complaints declined as well. Granted, multiple factors affected those outcomes, including other reforms enforced by the consent decree. But one measure of the programs effectiveness in local police culture is that EPIC became a verb, as in I EPICed my partner who was losing control. One officer spoke of EPICing herself after a driver insulted and spit at her. Some members of the New Orleans Police Department became evangelists for the program, giving lectures to other departments and urging them to adopt peer intervention. A few did, including in Ashland, North Carolina, and Charleston, South Carolina. Other departments developed their own programs. The police in Washington, D.C., for example, have a practice called tapping out, in which officers step in if they see their partner getting too agitated. But the killing of George Floyd galvanized longstanding reform efforts. So, over the course of last summer, members of the original EPIC team, including Staub, worked under the auspices of Georgetown Laws Innovative Policing Program to create Project ABLE. Meant for adoption by police nationwide, it includes more science, real-life stories, role-playing, and practical tactics. I think of it as EPIC 5.0, says Aronie, who is chair of the ABLE board of advisers. It builds on the foundation of EPIC but significantly improves upon it by incorporating many of the lessons we learned over the last five years. The goal of the training is not only to teach a technique, but to permeate a departments culture. The training had to work on cultural change, Staub wrote when he conceived of the program. It had to transform the meaning of good teamwork, so that an officer preventing or stopping a fellow officer from harming an innocent civilian is seen as [an example of] good teamwork and real loyalty. It starts with an eight-hour session for new recruits, followed by annual two-hour refresher courses, in-service training each year for veteran officers, plus a written commitment from the agencys leadership to fully support the program and whatever policy changes are necessary to maintain it. Our approach is to give officers the skills and tactics to make it easier to intervene. Jonathan Aronie, Project ABLE Recently, Aronie, who also leads ABLE trainings, described how it works. The sessions begin with three scenes based on real-life incidents in which police made damaging or dangerous decisions. In one, a suspect cuffed to a bench in a waiting area taunts a Latina desk officer with sexist and racist slurs until she cant take it anymore, strides over to him, and smashes his head against the wall. In another, a detective who had worked several shifts in a row thoughtlessly makes fat jokes in the presence of media, while standing over the corpse of an obese man. In the third, a rookie notices a sergeants haphazard search and handcuff of a man hes arrested, but feels too intimidated to speak up. The suspect, when seated in the back of the patrol car, frees his hands, takes out a gun the sergeant had missed, and murders the officer driving the car. These are horrible stories, but we dont let the recruits discuss them right away, Aronie says. We want them to be thinking about them during the day. Instructors then conduct a series of seminars, working their way from the theoretical to the practical. They start by describing famous psychological studies on obedience to authority, peer pressure, and leadership. Staubs studies of bystanders and the roots of goodness and evil are recapped. Then they discuss inhibitors those things that get in the way of taking action, such as fear of being disloyal, embarrassing a fellow officer, or jumping ones rank. The process of deciding to intervene takes barely a second in real life, but in the training its dissected in detail. Finally, the instructors discuss what to do if it becomes necessary to publicly contradict a superior. That process can start by raising a question (Lieutenant, are you sure this is normal procedure?); progress to issuing a challenge (Lieutenant, I can see hes not breathing. We need to let him up.); and escalate to shouting a command and physically intervening (Youre killing him! Im taking over! and pulling the officer off the suspect). Most interventions dont need to follow the entire sequence. A minor situation such as tempers rising over a traffic stop can be easily resolved. (Ill take it from here. Why dont you go and check on his warrants?) At the end of the day, its time for the trainees to give their opinions on how they would avert the situations they heard about that morning. Some of them are simple, some of them are brilliant, some are complicated, Aronie says. Most say that they could have prevented violence and saved their Latina colleague from disciplinary action by paying attention to the suspect instead of ignoring him, and moving him, or the officer, to another room. Some say they would have stopped the overtired detective as soon as he uttered the first remark about the victims weight. Early intervention is best, says Justin Paquette, the New Hampshire state police trainer. The longer you wait the harder it becomes to intervene. Correcting the sergeants improper search could be more complex, because it involves a rookie challenging a superior in public. Heres where a bit of tact can be helpful, says Phillip Terenzi, because it doesnt trigger the sergeants defenses, which are likely to be heightened in a tense situation. The rookie could have said, Hey Sarge, I need some practice in pat-downs and searches, can I take a try at that? " Or he could have reminded the sergeant that its policy to do an additional search before putting the suspect in the police car. Concern about the sergeants feelings might sound absurd in a life-or-death situation, but Terenzi says those are exactly the moments where a small bit of tact can defuse emotions. The point is, you dont have to make a big deal of it, he says. Aronie explains that in hierarchical cultures such as police departments, the inhibitors to contradicting a superior can be strong. For that reason role-playing in ABLE training includes pairing up rookies with senior officers so the veterans get used to accepting intervention. Other professions have confronted the same problem. Years ago, after a series of air crashes related to human error, the airline industry instituted a program to teach copilots to speak up and pilots to listen. The medical industry did the same with nurses and doctors in the operating room. We make this mistake of not understanding how powerful the inhibitors are, even among good people, Aronie says. We explain it away by telling ourselves that the cops who dont intervene are bad people. But plenty of times, theyre not. Of course not. Our approach is to give officers the skills and tactics to make it easier to intervene. SINCE THE NEW PROGRAM launched last fall, Aronie and his colleagues have trained about 475 instructors from more than 100 departments in 30 states lessons they hope will change the practices of more than 100,000 officers who serve some 50 million people. In Boston, Terenzi and nine other ABLE-trained instructors at the academy taught the program to Aprils class of nearly 100 recruits and it will soon be made part of required in-service training for veteran officers. Paquette has taught ABLE to between 150 and 200 recruits since the fall in New Hampshire. New York Citys police department recently started using the program, and New Jersey will require the training for its 33,000 state and local police officers. Captain Phillip Terenzi, head of Boston's police academy and training division, says a new duty to intervene training program will help improve policing. Harry Scales for The Boston Globe ABLE-type training is no cure-all. Systemic racism is rife in our justice system, including police departments. Some departments have an adversarial history with their communities, as seen in Ferguson, Missouri, and elsewhere. Police officers also face mission creep, as they are asked to respond to situations better suited to social workers or mental health professionals. A code of secrecy among police is another problem. Its true that theres a problem of protecting ones own, just as in the military and there was in the church, Staub says. Being an active bystander, he says, should include refusing to cover up any form of a colleagues misbehavior. The police reform bill that Governor Charlie Baker signed in December does not address qualified immunity, the legal doctrine that makes it almost impossible for citizens to sue public officials, including the police, for violating their rights. It does seek to address many other problems, including having a civilian review board with subpoena and enforcement powers, banning chokeholds as a form of restraint, requiring a duty to intervene, and putting strict limits on no-knock entry and other dangerous practices. A similar broad police reform law recently was passed in New Hampshire. Yet even in the best of circumstances, with 18,000 police forces in America, hundreds of thousands of police, and tens of millions of police-citizen interactions per year, its impossible to ensure all of those interactions go well. State Representative Holmes says ABLE training is only a beginning. You need training, you need oversight, and you need to demilitarize the police, he says. Still, he feels that many police officers have become much more socially conscious. They understand the system is broken and that they need to do something about it. Staub acknowledges that peer intervention cant address every problem that will arise between citizens and police. Yet he sees reason for hope. If this becomes part of the consciousness of the country, and certainly, therefore, the consciousness of the police, then things may begin to change, he says. Citizens benefit from better policing. Police officers benefit because they dont get into trouble. The police department benefits from positive relationships with the community, who are more willing to come forward as witnesses to crimes. As I see it, everybody wins. Douglas Starr is a Boston-area writer with a special interest in science and the justice system. His most recent book is The Killer of Little Shepherds: A True Crime Story and the Birth of Forensic Science. Send comments to magazine@globe.com. | Three former Minneapolis police officers are on trial for the murder of George Floyd. The officers are accused of failing to stop Derek Chauvin from killing Floyd. Expert: Police can be taught to stop their own violence. | ctrlsum | 1 | https://www.bostonglobe.com/2021/05/06/magazine/can-police-be-taught-stop-their-own-violence/ | 0.170817 |
Can police be taught to stop their own violence? | Revisiting the video in any form remains upsetting. We will almost certainly see it again when Thao, Kueng, and Lane go on trial, scheduled to start August 23. The three former officers face charges of aiding and abetting second-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter. But one section of the video offers a near-textbook example of how tragedy might have been averted. THE KILLING OF George Floyd is a recurring national nightmare. It played out again during the trial of his murderer, former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin nine minutes and 29 seconds of Chauvin kneeling on Floyds neck, ignoring Floyds pleas and the shouts to stop from people nearby. What has been relatively less examined is the behavior of the other officers at the scene: Tou Thao, who stood facing the crowd, stopping people who were trying to help; J. Alexander Kueng, who held Floyds waist; and Thomas Lane, who held his legs. Advertisement Minutes into the arrest, Lane asked, Here, should we get his legs up, or is this good? Leave him, Chauvin said. A few moments later, as recorded on Lanes body camera, Lane asks another question about repositioning Floyds body, only to be rebuffed: Lane: Should we roll him on his side? Chauvin: No, hes staying put where we got him. Lane: OK. I just worry about excited delirium or whatever. Chauvin: Well thats why we got the ambulance coming. Lane: OK, I suppose. Lane was a rookie with four days on the job and Chauvin, with 19 years experience, was senior officer on the scene. Lane twice spoke up, if tentatively, to express concern about Floyds condition, comments Chauvin brushed away. Perhaps deferring to Chauvins rank and experience, Lane stopped questioning. Neither of the other officers apparently said or did anything to stop him. Moments later, George Floyd was dead. Advertisement Things could have gone differently, says Ervin Staub, a professor emeritus of psychology at the University of Massachusetts Amherst and an expert on the science of intervention. Many factors figured into Floyds murder, including race and a lack of accountability for Chauvins past violence (18 formal complaints were filed against him in his 19-year career, although only one led to a reprimand). Staub believes a police training program he helped develop would have taught the other officers how to effectively intervene with a superior officer in a moment of crisis. Staub is the guiding mind behind a program making its way across the countrys police forces. Called ABLE for Active Bystandership for Law Enforcement its based on Staubs decades of research into how passive police bystanders become active intervenors to stop a situation from getting dangerous. The decision to intervene in such cases is not just a question of innate courage or moral impulse, Staub says. Instead, intervention is a teachable skill that helps overcome common inhibitors like rank or seniority that can hamper police officers from interceding with a fellow officer when they know they should. ABLE lowers barriers to action by explaining the psychology of intervention, teaching practical techniques, and setting up scenarios that the officers can rehearse just like we practice car stops or building entry, says Captain Phillip Terenzi, commander of the Training and Education Division of the Boston Police Department. Thats whats good about ABLE. The program is also designed to be ongoing, with reminders about it at roll calls and annual follow-up training modules, among other steps. In April, Terenzis division started training new Boston recruits in ABLE, and expects to offer it as in-service training for the departments more than 2,000 officers starting in July. Advertisement Training police to intercede with each other was a key component of police reform legislation Massachusetts passed in December. While just one piece of many that are needed for broad reform, ABLE is exactly the kind of program we hoped would come out of the duty to intervene language in the bill, says Democratic state Representative Russell Holmes, a Mattapan legislator who has pushed for police reform for years. State Representative Russell Holmes called for duty to intervene language to be part of the police reform bill passed by the Massachusetts Legislature in 2020. Harry Scales for The Boston Globe While the Minneapolis police already had a legal duty to intervene, officers there had not been properly trained. Advocates hope ABLE will address that gap. The New Hampshire Police Standards and Training Council adopted ABLE training last fall, in part because it reverses previous top-down approaches. As a young officer, I was taught that if you were told something, you did it, says Lieutenant Justin I. Paquette, a law enforcement training specialist at the academy. He says ABLE empowers the junior officers to take action. This is a pivotal moment in police reform, as viral videos have exposed a cascade of police violence toward people of color even after Floyds widely publicized death. Many of those cases could have been prevented if only one of the officers at the scene had intervened. Advertisement Even in the worst of times, there are some people who care. Ervin Staub ERVIN STAUB credits his life to the intervention of others. As a 6-year-old in Hungary in 1944, he was walking up a Budapest street with the familys maid and nanny, Maria Gogan, when Nazi tanks rolled into town. As the Nazis began rounding up Jewish people, Gogan, a gentle Christian woman who had lived with the Staubs since before Ervin was born, hid him and his sister with a Christian family, saying they were her cousins from the country. Gogan went on to repeatedly help shelter the family. Years later, a friend asked Staub what he had learned from the Holocaust. Even in the worst of times, he replied in a letter, there are some people who care. After the war, Staubs family opened a clothing business in Hungary. He left the country in the aftermath of the failed Hungarian Revolution of 1956, and eventually made his way to the United States. He earned an undergraduate degree from the University of Minnesota and did graduate work in psychology at Stanford University, where he met Perry London, a psychologist who did pioneering studies of people London called rescuers European Christians who helped Jews during the Holocaust. Having grown up with rescuers, Staub became curious about the forces that shape them. While an assistant professor at Harvard University and then a professor at UMass, he conducted dozens of experiments to understand what influences people to help. In one that took place near Porter Square, Staub instructed an assistant to collapse on a street, and then observed whether passersby would stop to help. Some rushed over, while others averted their eyes or crossed to the other side of the street. In another experiment, Staub found that when young children working on a drawing heard a crash and a moan in an adjacent room, they jumped up to help. But by sixth grade, that impulse had nearly vanished. Older children would explain they thought they should keep working, or werent sure if they had permission to leave. Advertisement To measure the influence of bystanders, Staub put one of his assistants in a room with someone else. They would hear a crash and sounds of distress from the next room. If the assistant said not to worry, only about 1 in 4 of the subjects went to help. If the assistant said That sounds bad but stayed seated, about two-thirds went to help. But when the assistant said, That sounds bad. Ill go find the experimenter. You go see what happened, and then left the room, every one of the subjects took action. This study would greatly influence Staubs later work with police. Staub studies what motivates people to take action during a crisis. zack wittman for the boston globe Staub also studied the Holocaust, the Cambodian genocide, and other mass killings. He saw how in a troubled society, people might commit small acts of aggression that could become a cascade of force if ignored. Thats what allows the violence to increase, says Staub, a trim man who at 82 still speaks with a mild Hungarian accent. The aggressors deny the target groups humanity an othering that insists victims deserve ill treatment. Yet in the face of such cruelty, a small number of rescuers may perform acts of courage, like Darnella Frazier, the 17-year-old who took video of Chauvins actions that day in Minneapolis. Such was the case when the residents of the rural French village of Le Chambon followed the example of their pastor and sheltered more than 3,000 Jews during World War II. Staub refers to such people as active bystanders, another concept he would bring to police training. Staubs introduction to working with police came in 1991, after Rodney King, a Black man, was beaten by four Los Angeles police officers while 17 other officers stood by and watched all of which was caught on video by a bystander and made public. A commission formed to investigate the incident called on Staub to speak about his research on the roles of bystanders. After hearing his testimony, state officials asked him to create a peer intervention training program for police, hoping to improve police-community relations. Staub spent months developing the course, and in July 1992 after massive riots in response to a jurys acquittal of the officers on assault charges presented it to a committee of civilians and police. He says it seemed to go well until he mentioned role-playing would be essential to the training. I dont do role-playing, Staub recalls a police captain saying, and the session went downhill from there. They never called Staub back. STAUB CONTINUED his human rights work, designing anti-bullying curricula for schools and working on reconciliation projects in several countries, most notably post-genocide Rwanda. He spent 17 years visiting the country for three weeks at a time along with his wife, Laurie Anne Pearlman, a psychologist who specializes in trauma treatment. He also wrote nine books on the psychology of good and evil. It wasnt until 2012 that he got another chance to work with police, when the federal government put the New Orleans Police Department under a consent decree, a legal agreement to make a series of reforms. Civil rights lawyer Mary Howell has spent decades litigating against the New Orleans police, which had been one of the nations most corrupt and violent departments. (She had asked Staub to provide expert testimony for a 1993 case involving the beating death of a suspect in police custody.) Shes worked on cases of police committing murder, terrorizing neighborhoods, and trafficking in drugs. And shes seen police protect each other with their code of silence. Ive also represented police whistle-blowers, says Howell, whose rapid-fire monologues and tireless pursuit of justice are the model for the Toni Bernette character on the HBO series Treme. Ive seen the pain thats inflicted on people who intervene. When the consent decree was put in place, Howell saw the chance for more effective reform than just suing the New Orleans police for brutality. She introduced the idea to Christy Lopez, one of the US Justice Department officials overseeing the process, and active bystander training was included in the agreement. Getting a requirement to train to intervene was a defining moment, Howell says. For the next two years, Staub consulted with Howell, Lopez, community leaders in New Orleans, and most importantly police officers and a new chief who took over in 2014 to develop a curriculum based on the one he created some 20 years earlier. One key difference: In addition to framing the program as a way to improve community relations, they made it about looking out for your partner protecting him or her from making a career-ending mistake. They also stressed that it could benefit the officers personally, since people caught in bad situations suffer psychologically, says Staub, with higher rates of substance addiction, family problems, and suicide. Finally, they made sure members of the department took the lead in developing the training, thus gaining buy-in. Mary Howell (left), with Fuki Madison in April 2012, after police officers who had killed Madison's son and other New Orleans residents were sentenced. AP/FIle The New Orleans program was called Ethical Policing Is Courageous, EPIC for short. It consisted of lectures, discussion groups, and role-playing. Starting in 2016, every member of the department trained with it, from new recruits to the chief. It didnt always go smoothly. Some officers refused to comply and had to be re-assigned or dismissed, according to Jonathan Aronie, a partner at the Washington, D.C., law firm Sheppard Mullin who was assigned by the Justice Department to oversee the agreement. But gradually the initiative took effect. Police shootings declined; for two years there were no police shootings at all. Taser discharges dropped by nearly two-thirds from 2014 to 2018, according to an Office of the Consent Decree monitoring report, and civilian complaints declined as well. Granted, multiple factors affected those outcomes, including other reforms enforced by the consent decree. But one measure of the programs effectiveness in local police culture is that EPIC became a verb, as in I EPICed my partner who was losing control. One officer spoke of EPICing herself after a driver insulted and spit at her. Some members of the New Orleans Police Department became evangelists for the program, giving lectures to other departments and urging them to adopt peer intervention. A few did, including in Ashland, North Carolina, and Charleston, South Carolina. Other departments developed their own programs. The police in Washington, D.C., for example, have a practice called tapping out, in which officers step in if they see their partner getting too agitated. But the killing of George Floyd galvanized longstanding reform efforts. So, over the course of last summer, members of the original EPIC team, including Staub, worked under the auspices of Georgetown Laws Innovative Policing Program to create Project ABLE. Meant for adoption by police nationwide, it includes more science, real-life stories, role-playing, and practical tactics. I think of it as EPIC 5.0, says Aronie, who is chair of the ABLE board of advisers. It builds on the foundation of EPIC but significantly improves upon it by incorporating many of the lessons we learned over the last five years. The goal of the training is not only to teach a technique, but to permeate a departments culture. The training had to work on cultural change, Staub wrote when he conceived of the program. It had to transform the meaning of good teamwork, so that an officer preventing or stopping a fellow officer from harming an innocent civilian is seen as [an example of] good teamwork and real loyalty. It starts with an eight-hour session for new recruits, followed by annual two-hour refresher courses, in-service training each year for veteran officers, plus a written commitment from the agencys leadership to fully support the program and whatever policy changes are necessary to maintain it. Our approach is to give officers the skills and tactics to make it easier to intervene. Jonathan Aronie, Project ABLE Recently, Aronie, who also leads ABLE trainings, described how it works. The sessions begin with three scenes based on real-life incidents in which police made damaging or dangerous decisions. In one, a suspect cuffed to a bench in a waiting area taunts a Latina desk officer with sexist and racist slurs until she cant take it anymore, strides over to him, and smashes his head against the wall. In another, a detective who had worked several shifts in a row thoughtlessly makes fat jokes in the presence of media, while standing over the corpse of an obese man. In the third, a rookie notices a sergeants haphazard search and handcuff of a man hes arrested, but feels too intimidated to speak up. The suspect, when seated in the back of the patrol car, frees his hands, takes out a gun the sergeant had missed, and murders the officer driving the car. These are horrible stories, but we dont let the recruits discuss them right away, Aronie says. We want them to be thinking about them during the day. Instructors then conduct a series of seminars, working their way from the theoretical to the practical. They start by describing famous psychological studies on obedience to authority, peer pressure, and leadership. Staubs studies of bystanders and the roots of goodness and evil are recapped. Then they discuss inhibitors those things that get in the way of taking action, such as fear of being disloyal, embarrassing a fellow officer, or jumping ones rank. The process of deciding to intervene takes barely a second in real life, but in the training its dissected in detail. Finally, the instructors discuss what to do if it becomes necessary to publicly contradict a superior. That process can start by raising a question (Lieutenant, are you sure this is normal procedure?); progress to issuing a challenge (Lieutenant, I can see hes not breathing. We need to let him up.); and escalate to shouting a command and physically intervening (Youre killing him! Im taking over! and pulling the officer off the suspect). Most interventions dont need to follow the entire sequence. A minor situation such as tempers rising over a traffic stop can be easily resolved. (Ill take it from here. Why dont you go and check on his warrants?) At the end of the day, its time for the trainees to give their opinions on how they would avert the situations they heard about that morning. Some of them are simple, some of them are brilliant, some are complicated, Aronie says. Most say that they could have prevented violence and saved their Latina colleague from disciplinary action by paying attention to the suspect instead of ignoring him, and moving him, or the officer, to another room. Some say they would have stopped the overtired detective as soon as he uttered the first remark about the victims weight. Early intervention is best, says Justin Paquette, the New Hampshire state police trainer. The longer you wait the harder it becomes to intervene. Correcting the sergeants improper search could be more complex, because it involves a rookie challenging a superior in public. Heres where a bit of tact can be helpful, says Phillip Terenzi, because it doesnt trigger the sergeants defenses, which are likely to be heightened in a tense situation. The rookie could have said, Hey Sarge, I need some practice in pat-downs and searches, can I take a try at that? " Or he could have reminded the sergeant that its policy to do an additional search before putting the suspect in the police car. Concern about the sergeants feelings might sound absurd in a life-or-death situation, but Terenzi says those are exactly the moments where a small bit of tact can defuse emotions. The point is, you dont have to make a big deal of it, he says. Aronie explains that in hierarchical cultures such as police departments, the inhibitors to contradicting a superior can be strong. For that reason role-playing in ABLE training includes pairing up rookies with senior officers so the veterans get used to accepting intervention. Other professions have confronted the same problem. Years ago, after a series of air crashes related to human error, the airline industry instituted a program to teach copilots to speak up and pilots to listen. The medical industry did the same with nurses and doctors in the operating room. We make this mistake of not understanding how powerful the inhibitors are, even among good people, Aronie says. We explain it away by telling ourselves that the cops who dont intervene are bad people. But plenty of times, theyre not. Of course not. Our approach is to give officers the skills and tactics to make it easier to intervene. SINCE THE NEW PROGRAM launched last fall, Aronie and his colleagues have trained about 475 instructors from more than 100 departments in 30 states lessons they hope will change the practices of more than 100,000 officers who serve some 50 million people. In Boston, Terenzi and nine other ABLE-trained instructors at the academy taught the program to Aprils class of nearly 100 recruits and it will soon be made part of required in-service training for veteran officers. Paquette has taught ABLE to between 150 and 200 recruits since the fall in New Hampshire. New York Citys police department recently started using the program, and New Jersey will require the training for its 33,000 state and local police officers. Captain Phillip Terenzi, head of Boston's police academy and training division, says a new duty to intervene training program will help improve policing. Harry Scales for The Boston Globe ABLE-type training is no cure-all. Systemic racism is rife in our justice system, including police departments. Some departments have an adversarial history with their communities, as seen in Ferguson, Missouri, and elsewhere. Police officers also face mission creep, as they are asked to respond to situations better suited to social workers or mental health professionals. A code of secrecy among police is another problem. Its true that theres a problem of protecting ones own, just as in the military and there was in the church, Staub says. Being an active bystander, he says, should include refusing to cover up any form of a colleagues misbehavior. The police reform bill that Governor Charlie Baker signed in December does not address qualified immunity, the legal doctrine that makes it almost impossible for citizens to sue public officials, including the police, for violating their rights. It does seek to address many other problems, including having a civilian review board with subpoena and enforcement powers, banning chokeholds as a form of restraint, requiring a duty to intervene, and putting strict limits on no-knock entry and other dangerous practices. A similar broad police reform law recently was passed in New Hampshire. Yet even in the best of circumstances, with 18,000 police forces in America, hundreds of thousands of police, and tens of millions of police-citizen interactions per year, its impossible to ensure all of those interactions go well. State Representative Holmes says ABLE training is only a beginning. You need training, you need oversight, and you need to demilitarize the police, he says. Still, he feels that many police officers have become much more socially conscious. They understand the system is broken and that they need to do something about it. Staub acknowledges that peer intervention cant address every problem that will arise between citizens and police. Yet he sees reason for hope. If this becomes part of the consciousness of the country, and certainly, therefore, the consciousness of the police, then things may begin to change, he says. Citizens benefit from better policing. Police officers benefit because they dont get into trouble. The police department benefits from positive relationships with the community, who are more willing to come forward as witnesses to crimes. As I see it, everybody wins. Douglas Starr is a Boston-area writer with a special interest in science and the justice system. His most recent book is The Killer of Little Shepherds: A True Crime Story and the Birth of Forensic Science. Send comments to magazine@globe.com. | Three former Minneapolis police officers are on trial for the murder of George Floyd. The officers are accused of failing to stop Derek Chauvin from killing Floyd. Experts say the officers could have done more to stop Chauvin if they had been taught to intervene more effectively in a crisis. | ctrlsum | 2 | https://www.bostonglobe.com/2021/05/06/magazine/can-police-be-taught-stop-their-own-violence/ | 0.132592 |
Is Former Gators DT T.J. Slaton the Answer For the Packers Up Front? | The Green Bay Packers' offseason has been one overshadowed by the controversy surrounding the face of their franchise in quarterback Aaron Rodgers. With reports surfacing about Rodgers' disdain for the front office due to a long-brewing fracture in communication between both parties Thursday afternoon, the Packers were forced to enter draft night with the concerns of mending a broken relationship floating around the back of their minds. Taking on the process with a level head, Packers general manager Brian Gutekunst operated in a sustainable fashion. Electing to utilize the strategy of drafting strictly based on need, Green Bay did not bring in the flashy bunch many gravitate towards when recapping draft winners but undoubtedly got better in the process. While their best pick may have been wide receiver out of Clemson Amari Rodgers to provide an enticing complement to Davante Adams and Robert Tonyan in the passing game, Gutekunst targeted four linemen (three offensive, one defensive), proving he is adamant about strengthening the trenches on each side of the ball. As the lone defensive big man selected by Green Bay, former Florida Gators defensive tackle Tedarrell "T.J." Slaton travels to Lambeau to provide a monstrous presence to the middle of the Packers front four. Green Bay suffered from brief incompetence against the run last season, culminating in a rushing explosion by Dalvin Cook and the division-rival Vikings in the unforeseen loss to Minnesota at home in week 8. Allowing a combined 226 yards and four touchdowns to Cook on that day, the Packers were in dire need of answers upfront. Patching the hole until the seasons close, the problems they faced early last season were still lying beneath the surface for them to address. Targeting a nose tackle prospect in the draft to provide the run-stopping ability, Green Bay looked to get a project piece that could be developed into a contributor in the limited defensive tackle class. By acquiring Slaton, who tallied 37 tackles, 3.5 TFL, and 1.5 sacks in his first year as a full-time starter for Florida, the Packers look to maximize his potential to stop the run. Despite the overall struggles seen by the Gators defense, Slaton assisted the unit against the run to be drastically better against the rush than against the pass. (71st ranked rushing defense compared to 100th against the pass). For example, Slaton recorded a team-leading five total tackles to help Florida bounce back from a 75-yard touchdown run by Zamir White just 12 seconds into the UF vs. UGA game this past season. Facing a historically talented Georgia Bulldogs rushing attack, Slaton would be vital for the Gators to hold the ground game to just 90 yards (165 yards total) and zero scores from that point forward. Slaton will be utilized as an interior lineman as he was at Florida, asked to eat up space in the middle of the Green Bay defense beside Kenny Clark as the Packers' nose tackle. Standing at 6-foot-4, 330-pounds, Slaton immediately became the heaviest player on the Green Bay roster upon his selection. As a result, the Packers front is now set to display an abundance of mass to opposing offenses, with Slaton playing at 1-tech and Clark playing at 3-tech at least in some packages. Dating back to pre-draft last offseason, Slaton has been considered an NFL-caliber defensive tackle. With a physical makeup that suggests Slaton is ready for the NFL game, continuing to grow from a technical standpoint will determine the volume in which he operates early on in his career. The downsides of Slaton's game are his relative inexperience as a starter, playing in 45 games but starting in just 14 (12 in 2020, two in 2018) through his career and his low stamina resulting in a significant dropoff in production with higher snap counts. Slaton weighed as much as 373 pounds during his UF career but after trimming down over the years, he was able to weigh-in at 330-pounds at Florida's pro day, something that could aid him from growing quickly fatigued at the next level. While there may be more the organization needs to figure out in the coming months from a personnel standpoint, Slaton's standing as a first and second down contributor with his size (ranked in the 92nd percentile in weight of defensive tackles) and all-around average-or-better athleticism brings high upside for his future as a run stuffer. Even if his playing time comes limitedly in year one, Slaton can be a crucial factor in providing relief for Clark in the middle upon his arrival and bring increased depth to the Packers' defensive front as a rookie. | Former Florida Gators DT T.J. Slaton was selected by the Green Bay Packers in the first round of the 2014 NFL draft. | ctrlsum | 0 | https://www.si.com/college/florida/football/florida-gators-tedarrell-slaton-green-bay-packers-fit-nfl-draft-analysis | 0.14594 |
Is Former Gators DT T.J. Slaton the Answer For the Packers Up Front? | The Green Bay Packers' offseason has been one overshadowed by the controversy surrounding the face of their franchise in quarterback Aaron Rodgers. With reports surfacing about Rodgers' disdain for the front office due to a long-brewing fracture in communication between both parties Thursday afternoon, the Packers were forced to enter draft night with the concerns of mending a broken relationship floating around the back of their minds. Taking on the process with a level head, Packers general manager Brian Gutekunst operated in a sustainable fashion. Electing to utilize the strategy of drafting strictly based on need, Green Bay did not bring in the flashy bunch many gravitate towards when recapping draft winners but undoubtedly got better in the process. While their best pick may have been wide receiver out of Clemson Amari Rodgers to provide an enticing complement to Davante Adams and Robert Tonyan in the passing game, Gutekunst targeted four linemen (three offensive, one defensive), proving he is adamant about strengthening the trenches on each side of the ball. As the lone defensive big man selected by Green Bay, former Florida Gators defensive tackle Tedarrell "T.J." Slaton travels to Lambeau to provide a monstrous presence to the middle of the Packers front four. Green Bay suffered from brief incompetence against the run last season, culminating in a rushing explosion by Dalvin Cook and the division-rival Vikings in the unforeseen loss to Minnesota at home in week 8. Allowing a combined 226 yards and four touchdowns to Cook on that day, the Packers were in dire need of answers upfront. Patching the hole until the seasons close, the problems they faced early last season were still lying beneath the surface for them to address. Targeting a nose tackle prospect in the draft to provide the run-stopping ability, Green Bay looked to get a project piece that could be developed into a contributor in the limited defensive tackle class. By acquiring Slaton, who tallied 37 tackles, 3.5 TFL, and 1.5 sacks in his first year as a full-time starter for Florida, the Packers look to maximize his potential to stop the run. Despite the overall struggles seen by the Gators defense, Slaton assisted the unit against the run to be drastically better against the rush than against the pass. (71st ranked rushing defense compared to 100th against the pass). For example, Slaton recorded a team-leading five total tackles to help Florida bounce back from a 75-yard touchdown run by Zamir White just 12 seconds into the UF vs. UGA game this past season. Facing a historically talented Georgia Bulldogs rushing attack, Slaton would be vital for the Gators to hold the ground game to just 90 yards (165 yards total) and zero scores from that point forward. Slaton will be utilized as an interior lineman as he was at Florida, asked to eat up space in the middle of the Green Bay defense beside Kenny Clark as the Packers' nose tackle. Standing at 6-foot-4, 330-pounds, Slaton immediately became the heaviest player on the Green Bay roster upon his selection. As a result, the Packers front is now set to display an abundance of mass to opposing offenses, with Slaton playing at 1-tech and Clark playing at 3-tech at least in some packages. Dating back to pre-draft last offseason, Slaton has been considered an NFL-caliber defensive tackle. With a physical makeup that suggests Slaton is ready for the NFL game, continuing to grow from a technical standpoint will determine the volume in which he operates early on in his career. The downsides of Slaton's game are his relative inexperience as a starter, playing in 45 games but starting in just 14 (12 in 2020, two in 2018) through his career and his low stamina resulting in a significant dropoff in production with higher snap counts. Slaton weighed as much as 373 pounds during his UF career but after trimming down over the years, he was able to weigh-in at 330-pounds at Florida's pro day, something that could aid him from growing quickly fatigued at the next level. While there may be more the organization needs to figure out in the coming months from a personnel standpoint, Slaton's standing as a first and second down contributor with his size (ranked in the 92nd percentile in weight of defensive tackles) and all-around average-or-better athleticism brings high upside for his future as a run stuffer. Even if his playing time comes limitedly in year one, Slaton can be a crucial factor in providing relief for Clark in the middle upon his arrival and bring increased depth to the Packers' defensive front as a rookie. | Green Bay Packers select former Florida Gators defensive tackle Tedarrell "T.J." Slaton. Slaton will be utilized as an interior lineman as he was at Florida, asked to eat up space in the middle of the Green Bay defense. The 6-foot-4, 330-pounds Slaton immediately becomes the heaviest player on the Packers roster. | bart | 2 | https://www.si.com/college/florida/football/florida-gators-tedarrell-slaton-green-bay-packers-fit-nfl-draft-analysis | 0.396493 |
What's the difference between a Crockpot and a slow cooker? | On my 27th birthday, my Mom gave me a gift I hadn't even asked for: My first slow cooker. I wasn't too thrilled at first (I was hoping for cash! ), but within weeks I realized that it was probably one of the best gifts I had ever gotten. Not only did it make my meals a whole lot tastier, it also made my Sunday evening meal prepping way more convenient (yes, despite the name slow cooker it even saved me time). Here's the thing, though: Every time that I'd be sitting at home Googling slow cooker recipes, this one simple word would keep popping up in every recipe that I found: Crockpot. Let's dive right in. After a little more research it becomes pretty clear: A Crockpot is a type of slow cooker but not every slow cooker is a Crockpot. Crock Pot Slow Cooker|8 Quart Programmable Slow Cooker with Digital Countdown Timer, Black Stainless Steel - SCCPVFC800-DS - amazon.com 59.99 Shop Now Crockpot is, in fact, the name of a brand that debuted the first slow cooker variation (a bean cooker marketed toward working mothers) over 40 years ago. Today, the Crockpot is a brand of slow cookers (and pressure cookers), and while there are other slow cooker brands (for example KitchenAid and Black+Decker), Crockpot is arguably the most popular one, especially considering the name is even being used interchangeably with the term slow cooker, even though they're not the exact same thing. You could compare that to brands like Kleenex and Band-Aid, that have become originators in their niche in the past (Who even uses the term facial tissue?!) only to go through a process called genericization when they got too popular. But thats neither here nor there. Now that we know that every Crockpot is a slow cooker but not every slow cooker is a Crockpot, let's have a look at the technical differences. The most basic Crockpots offer three settings: On/Off, low slow cook, and high slow cook, which is comparable to many other slow cooker brands. Models have advanced over the years though, and now come with digital timers, a keep-warm setting, and other special options like this Crockpot that you can conveniently control with an app on your phone. Instant Pot DUO60 6 Qt 7-in-1 Multi-Use - amazon.com 89.00 Shop Now When we look at the material, it's evident that slow cookers and Crockpots consist of the same three components: Glass lid, pot, and heating element. However, Crockpots generally have ceramic or porcelain pots, while most slow cookers have a metal pot. As with a lot of cooking appliances, the biggest difference comes from the distribution of heat. The pot of the slow cooker usually sits on a base that houses the heating element on the bottom, while Crockpots have their pots inside of a container (or crock) and get heating from all sides. Therefore, slow cookers heat up slower than crockpots, with the heat level higher on the bottom of the pot. This results in food cooking slightly differently. Both slow cookers and Crockpots look quite similar with their pots, lids and heating elements and both use moist heat to cook food over an extended period of time. Obviously, both are great options to make your meals healthier, cheaper and more convenient. Since the heating element of most slow cookers sits on the bottom, some dishes might burn or stick to the bottom if not stirred. If you're planning to cook your meals mostly when you're not home or overnight, then sticking to a Crockpot might be a better choice, since the heat distribution is more even and there is no need to stir at all. Additionally, a Crockpot can cook bigger pieces of meat more evenly than a slow cooker and it makes them exceptionally tender. There are plenty of slow cooker brands and some specialize in cooking specific things like stews, soups or meat, so it's important to know what you want from your future slow cooker. The brand aside, you should also pay attention to styles and sizes of slow cookers. For example, a 1-to-3 quart slow cooker is ideal for singles and couples, while larger families should go for 6-to-7 quart products. Being the proud owner of both a Crockpot and another slow cooker brand, I'd say that the Crockpot is better for beginners and also a bit more convenient. I love the fact that I can 'set and forget' with the Crockpot and have a delicious meal ready for me when I get home from work. Also, if you're not vegetarian or vegan, a Crockpot might also be the better choice just because it makes the meat insanely tender and juicy. I'm personally not too much into soups and stews, so Crockpot is a better choice for me. Take this with a grain of salt though After all, I didn't even know what slow cookers and Crockpots were until I was 27. | A Crockpot is a type of slow cooker but not every slow cooker is a Crockpot. Crockpot is the name of a brand that debuted the first slow cooker variation over 40 years ago. | pegasus | 1 | https://www.sfgate.com/shopping/article/Difference-between-Crockpot-and-slow-cooker-16154433.php | 0.18792 |
What's the difference between a Crockpot and a slow cooker? | On my 27th birthday, my Mom gave me a gift I hadn't even asked for: My first slow cooker. I wasn't too thrilled at first (I was hoping for cash! ), but within weeks I realized that it was probably one of the best gifts I had ever gotten. Not only did it make my meals a whole lot tastier, it also made my Sunday evening meal prepping way more convenient (yes, despite the name slow cooker it even saved me time). Here's the thing, though: Every time that I'd be sitting at home Googling slow cooker recipes, this one simple word would keep popping up in every recipe that I found: Crockpot. Let's dive right in. After a little more research it becomes pretty clear: A Crockpot is a type of slow cooker but not every slow cooker is a Crockpot. Crock Pot Slow Cooker|8 Quart Programmable Slow Cooker with Digital Countdown Timer, Black Stainless Steel - SCCPVFC800-DS - amazon.com 59.99 Shop Now Crockpot is, in fact, the name of a brand that debuted the first slow cooker variation (a bean cooker marketed toward working mothers) over 40 years ago. Today, the Crockpot is a brand of slow cookers (and pressure cookers), and while there are other slow cooker brands (for example KitchenAid and Black+Decker), Crockpot is arguably the most popular one, especially considering the name is even being used interchangeably with the term slow cooker, even though they're not the exact same thing. You could compare that to brands like Kleenex and Band-Aid, that have become originators in their niche in the past (Who even uses the term facial tissue?!) only to go through a process called genericization when they got too popular. But thats neither here nor there. Now that we know that every Crockpot is a slow cooker but not every slow cooker is a Crockpot, let's have a look at the technical differences. The most basic Crockpots offer three settings: On/Off, low slow cook, and high slow cook, which is comparable to many other slow cooker brands. Models have advanced over the years though, and now come with digital timers, a keep-warm setting, and other special options like this Crockpot that you can conveniently control with an app on your phone. Instant Pot DUO60 6 Qt 7-in-1 Multi-Use - amazon.com 89.00 Shop Now When we look at the material, it's evident that slow cookers and Crockpots consist of the same three components: Glass lid, pot, and heating element. However, Crockpots generally have ceramic or porcelain pots, while most slow cookers have a metal pot. As with a lot of cooking appliances, the biggest difference comes from the distribution of heat. The pot of the slow cooker usually sits on a base that houses the heating element on the bottom, while Crockpots have their pots inside of a container (or crock) and get heating from all sides. Therefore, slow cookers heat up slower than crockpots, with the heat level higher on the bottom of the pot. This results in food cooking slightly differently. Both slow cookers and Crockpots look quite similar with their pots, lids and heating elements and both use moist heat to cook food over an extended period of time. Obviously, both are great options to make your meals healthier, cheaper and more convenient. Since the heating element of most slow cookers sits on the bottom, some dishes might burn or stick to the bottom if not stirred. If you're planning to cook your meals mostly when you're not home or overnight, then sticking to a Crockpot might be a better choice, since the heat distribution is more even and there is no need to stir at all. Additionally, a Crockpot can cook bigger pieces of meat more evenly than a slow cooker and it makes them exceptionally tender. There are plenty of slow cooker brands and some specialize in cooking specific things like stews, soups or meat, so it's important to know what you want from your future slow cooker. The brand aside, you should also pay attention to styles and sizes of slow cookers. For example, a 1-to-3 quart slow cooker is ideal for singles and couples, while larger families should go for 6-to-7 quart products. Being the proud owner of both a Crockpot and another slow cooker brand, I'd say that the Crockpot is better for beginners and also a bit more convenient. I love the fact that I can 'set and forget' with the Crockpot and have a delicious meal ready for me when I get home from work. Also, if you're not vegetarian or vegan, a Crockpot might also be the better choice just because it makes the meat insanely tender and juicy. I'm personally not too much into soups and stews, so Crockpot is a better choice for me. Take this with a grain of salt though After all, I didn't even know what slow cookers and Crockpots were until I was 27. | Crockpot is the name of a brand that debuted the first slow cooker variation (a bean cooker marketed toward working mothers) over 40 years ago. Crockpots generally have ceramic or porcelain pots, while most slow cookers have a metal pot. Slow cookers heat up slower than crockpots, with the heat level higher on the bottom. | bart | 2 | https://www.sfgate.com/shopping/article/Difference-between-Crockpot-and-slow-cooker-16154433.php | 0.648431 |
What does Liz Cheney do next? | (CNN) Liz Cheney seems utterly resigned to the fact that, as soon as next week, she will be ousted by her colleagues as the third-ranking GOPer in House leadership. Unlike the previous (and failed) attempt to get rid of Cheney in early February, the Wyoming Republican appears to be putting up little resistance, not working the phones or cajoling colleagues in an attempt to save her skin. Its not clear (at all) whether Cheney could even save her leadership job theres ample reporting that suggests she has lost support since that February vote but it is notable that she isnt fighting to keep it. Luckily for us, we dont have to guess at the answers to those questions. Cheney wrote an op-ed in The Washington Post on Wednesday night that, read carefully, makes clear why she is doing what she is doing and where she is heading. Lets start with the why. The Republican Party is at a turning point, and Republicans must decide whether we are going to choose truth and fidelity to the Constitution, wrote Cheney. For her, this isnt about political calculation or some internal party fight about how strongly they should come out against President Joe Bidens infrastructure plan. This is far more fundamental, going beyond party to the founding principles of the country. As Cheney noted: I am a conservative Republican, and the most conservative of conservative values is reverence for the rule of law. Each of us swears an oath before God to uphold our Constitution. The electoral college has spoken. More than 60 state and federal courts, including multiple Trump-appointed judges, have rejected the former presidents arguments, and refused to overturn election results. That is the rule of law; that is our constitutional system for resolving claims of election fraud. Now for the whats next. While Cheney may not have political calculus front and center in her decision-making process about her views on former President Donald Trump, the January 6 insurrection and the effort to remove her from office, its impossible to consider her decisions outside of the context of politics. Cheney understands that there is simply no road forward for her in the current iteration of the Republican Party in Washington. Thats been made plain not only by House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy and Minority Whip Steve Scalises willingness to turn on her to pay homage to Trump but also by the person New York Rep. Elise Stefanik being touted to replace her. Stefanik, a one-time moderate, has become a national figure thanks to her aggressive defense of the former president during both of his impeachment trials. And for her willingness to not just support but vote for Trumps Big Lie about the election being stolen in 2020. Rather than charge at the windmill that is Trumps total dominance of the current GOP, Cheney is hopping off her horse voluntarily. Which is a short-term loss (obviously you have more clout as a member of party leadership than you would as a rank-and-file member). What Cheney is banking on is that at some point in the not-too-distant future, Republicans writ large will wake up from this Trump fever dream. And that she will be able to say not just I told you so but also note that she was willing to give up a career (or, at a minimum, her powerful role as a leader of the party) because she believed so strongly in the need for Republicans to get away from Trump. If there is a turn from Trump color me skeptical that such a turn is on the way anytime before 2022, or maybe more realistically 2024 then Cheney is now positioned to be the most prominent person who stood on conservative principle when everyone else was kowtowing to a cult of personality. History is watching. Our children are watching, wrote Cheney in the op-ed. We must be brave enough to defend the basic principles that underpin and protect our freedom and our democratic process. I am committed to doing that, no matter what the short-term political consequences might be. Which sounds like a line from a Cheney for President announcement speech coming to Iowa and New Hampshire in the not-too-distant future. | Liz Cheney is set to be ousted as the third-ranking GOPer in House leadership. John Avlon says it's not clear whether Cheney could even save her leadership job. | pegasus | 1 | https://www.cnn.com/2021/05/06/politics/liz-cheney-elise-stefanik-kevin-mccarthy-donald-trump/index.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+rss%2Fcnn_allpolitics+%28RSS%3A+CNN+-+Politics%29 | 0.100524 |
Will Javonte Williams Be Better than Travis Etienne? | North Carolinas Javonte Williams was not the first running back selected in the NFL Draft, but oddsmakers like his chances of being better than a first-round pick, at least for his rookie year. Oddsmakers at the site BetOnline released prop bet lines for players selected in last weeks NFL Draft, and Williams matches up well with another ACC product. Travis Etienne of Clemson was taken by the Jaguars with the 25th pick in the first round. He was the second running back selected, behind Alabamas Najee Harris. He went 10 picks before Williams, who was taken 35th overall, with the third pick of the second round by the Denver Broncos. Despite the one-round difference in draft pedigree, however, BetOnline has Williams as the favorite to rush for more yards than Etienne this season and to score more touchdowns. More Rushing Yards in the 2021 Regular Season Travis Etienne +110 (11/10) Javonte Williams -150 (2/3) More TDs in the 2021 Regular Season Travis Etienne EVEN (1/1) Javonte Williams -140 (5/7) Williams is also on the board in the betting on NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year. At 25-to-1 odds on winning the award, hes even with Etienne and a better bet than first rounders Kadarius Toney and Rashod Bateman NFL Rookie Awards Odds 2021-22 Offensive Rookie of the Year Trevor Lawrence 7/2 Justin Fields 11/2 Trey Lance 13/2 Mac Jones 8/1 Ja'Marr Chase 9/1 Zach Wilson 10/1 DeVonta Smith 12/1 Kyle Pitts 12/1 Davis Mills 16/1 Jaylen Waddle 16/1 Najee Harris 16/1 Javonte Williams 25/1 Travis Etienne 25/1 Elijah Moore 40/1 Kadarius Toney 40/1 Kyle Trask 40/1 Rashod Bateman 40/1 Rondale Moore 40/1 Terrace Marshall Jr 40/1 Kellen Mond 50/1 Trey Sermon 50/1 | North Carolinas Javonte Williams was not the first running back selected in the NFL Draft, but oddsmakers like his chances of being better than a first-round pick, at least for his rookie year. Travis Etienne of Clemson was taken by the Jaguars with the 25th pick in the first round. | bart | 2 | https://www.si.com/college/unc/football/will-javonte-williams-be-better-than-travis-etienne | 0.230261 |
Are U.S. firms ready to do more than voice concerns on trans rights? | Article content * Major U.S. firms speak out on conservative trans bills * Statement seen reflecting bolder stand on rights issues We apologize, but this video has failed to load. tap here to see other videos from our team. Back to video * Some LGBT+ advocates want tougher corporate response By Matthew Lavietes NEW YORK, May 6 (Thomson Reuters Foundation) Leading U.S. companies have become more vocal in criticizing proposed laws restricting transgender rights and taking a stand on LGBT+ issues but have failed so far to take concrete action against states with such legislation, advocates said. Nearly 100 companies, including Facebook, Pfizer and Dell, said late last month they were deeply concerned about a slew of trans-related legislative proposals presented recently in conservative states, calling the bills discriminatory. Anne Lieberman, director of policy and programs at Athlete Ally, a U.S.-based nonprofit LGBT+ athletic advocacy group, said the joint statement underscored the broader willingness of American corporations to step into the political arena. Since George Floyds murder over the summer, that was really a moment where you saw businesses across the country really taking a strong stance in wading into political water in ways they havent done before, Lieberman said. Advertisement Story continues below This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Article content Republican lawmakers have introduced a record 175 bills in at least 32 states on trans issues so far this year, according to Human Rights Campaign (HRC), the countrys largest LGBT+ advocacy group. Most of the legislative proposals seek to stop trans girls and women from competing in school sports, and to restrict childrens access to gender transition-related medical care. Proponents of the measures say they want to protect young people from medical procedures they could later regret and have voiced concerns that trans athletes have a physical edge that disadvantages girls and women. It is not the first time big companies have taken a stand on LGBT+ rights issues. Last year, 36 firms signed a statement condemning a Tennessee law allowing adoption agencies to turn away LGBT+ couples on religious grounds. The sheer volume of businesses that engage is higher, said Jessica Shortall, director of corporate engagement at Freedom For All Americans, an LGBT+ advocacy group that coordinated the statement with HRC. And honestly, practically speaking, theres strength and safety in numbers, Shortall added. Advertisement Story continues below This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Article content POLITICAL WATER The business communitys stance against conservative trans legislation came soon after leading companies spoke out against U.S. state voting curbs that activist groups say unfairly target Black and other racial minorities. Apple, Amazon.com and Starbucks were among more than 100 companies to sign a letter in April opposing any discriminatory legislation or measures that restrict or prevent any eligible voter from having an equal and fair opportunity to cast a ballot. Still, some trans rights advocates want business leaders to take a stronger line as some companies did in North Carolina after the state passed the so-called bathroom bill in 2016. The legislation banned trans citizens from using the public restrooms that correspond with their gender identity, prompting companies including PayPal, Adidas and Deutsche Bank to axe expansion plans in the state. In an open letter in April, the HRC advocacy group urged companies to refuse new business in states where trans athletes were barred from competing and pull their support from sporting events where trans athletes cannot compete. Advertisement Story continues below This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Article content Although we certainly appreciate those efforts, they are not enough, the letter said. More recently, Jennifer Pritzker the worlds first trans billionaire and a Republican has threatened to move her familys business out of Tennessee due to a range of restrictive trans-related bills, several of which have passed. Despite the dozens of proposals presented this year, so far only Arkansas, Tennessee, Mississippi and South Dakota have pushed through measures banning trans women and girls from playing in female sports. Idaho passed a similar law last year that has been blocked by federal court. Last month, Kansas Governor Laura Kelly, a Democrat, and North Dakota Governor Doug Burgum, a Republican, vetoed bills in their states that aim to restrict trans athletes, with Kelly calling her states version of the bill regressive. Both chambers of Arkansass state legislature passed a measure that would have made the state the first in the country to criminally punish doctors for providing certain types of care to trans youth. Arkansas Governor Asa Hutchinson, a Republican, vetoed the bill shortly afterwards, saying it would be vast government overreach, however his veto was overturned by the legislature. But despite the reprieve in some states, more such bills are bound to become law particularly if lawmakers do not fear repercussions for their local economies, Lieberman said. Money, not morals, shifts the conversation far too often, said Lieberman. (Reporting by Matthew Lavietes //news.trust.org) Share this article in your social network Advertisement Story continues below This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Shopping essentials Advertisement Story continues below This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. NP Posted Sign up to receive the daily top stories from the National Post, 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 NP Posted will soon be in your inbox. We encountered an issue signing you up. Please try again Trending | Major U.S. firms speak out on conservative trans bills. Statement seen reflecting bolder stand on rights issues. | pegasus | 0 | https://nationalpost.com/pmn/news-pmn/crime-pmn/are-u-s-firms-ready-to-do-more-than-voice-concerns-on-trans-rights | 0.381165 |
Are U.S. firms ready to do more than voice concerns on trans rights? | Article content * Major U.S. firms speak out on conservative trans bills * Statement seen reflecting bolder stand on rights issues We apologize, but this video has failed to load. tap here to see other videos from our team. Back to video * Some LGBT+ advocates want tougher corporate response By Matthew Lavietes NEW YORK, May 6 (Thomson Reuters Foundation) Leading U.S. companies have become more vocal in criticizing proposed laws restricting transgender rights and taking a stand on LGBT+ issues but have failed so far to take concrete action against states with such legislation, advocates said. Nearly 100 companies, including Facebook, Pfizer and Dell, said late last month they were deeply concerned about a slew of trans-related legislative proposals presented recently in conservative states, calling the bills discriminatory. Anne Lieberman, director of policy and programs at Athlete Ally, a U.S.-based nonprofit LGBT+ athletic advocacy group, said the joint statement underscored the broader willingness of American corporations to step into the political arena. Since George Floyds murder over the summer, that was really a moment where you saw businesses across the country really taking a strong stance in wading into political water in ways they havent done before, Lieberman said. Advertisement Story continues below This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Article content Republican lawmakers have introduced a record 175 bills in at least 32 states on trans issues so far this year, according to Human Rights Campaign (HRC), the countrys largest LGBT+ advocacy group. Most of the legislative proposals seek to stop trans girls and women from competing in school sports, and to restrict childrens access to gender transition-related medical care. Proponents of the measures say they want to protect young people from medical procedures they could later regret and have voiced concerns that trans athletes have a physical edge that disadvantages girls and women. It is not the first time big companies have taken a stand on LGBT+ rights issues. Last year, 36 firms signed a statement condemning a Tennessee law allowing adoption agencies to turn away LGBT+ couples on religious grounds. The sheer volume of businesses that engage is higher, said Jessica Shortall, director of corporate engagement at Freedom For All Americans, an LGBT+ advocacy group that coordinated the statement with HRC. And honestly, practically speaking, theres strength and safety in numbers, Shortall added. Advertisement Story continues below This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Article content POLITICAL WATER The business communitys stance against conservative trans legislation came soon after leading companies spoke out against U.S. state voting curbs that activist groups say unfairly target Black and other racial minorities. Apple, Amazon.com and Starbucks were among more than 100 companies to sign a letter in April opposing any discriminatory legislation or measures that restrict or prevent any eligible voter from having an equal and fair opportunity to cast a ballot. Still, some trans rights advocates want business leaders to take a stronger line as some companies did in North Carolina after the state passed the so-called bathroom bill in 2016. The legislation banned trans citizens from using the public restrooms that correspond with their gender identity, prompting companies including PayPal, Adidas and Deutsche Bank to axe expansion plans in the state. In an open letter in April, the HRC advocacy group urged companies to refuse new business in states where trans athletes were barred from competing and pull their support from sporting events where trans athletes cannot compete. Advertisement Story continues below This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Article content Although we certainly appreciate those efforts, they are not enough, the letter said. More recently, Jennifer Pritzker the worlds first trans billionaire and a Republican has threatened to move her familys business out of Tennessee due to a range of restrictive trans-related bills, several of which have passed. Despite the dozens of proposals presented this year, so far only Arkansas, Tennessee, Mississippi and South Dakota have pushed through measures banning trans women and girls from playing in female sports. Idaho passed a similar law last year that has been blocked by federal court. Last month, Kansas Governor Laura Kelly, a Democrat, and North Dakota Governor Doug Burgum, a Republican, vetoed bills in their states that aim to restrict trans athletes, with Kelly calling her states version of the bill regressive. Both chambers of Arkansass state legislature passed a measure that would have made the state the first in the country to criminally punish doctors for providing certain types of care to trans youth. Arkansas Governor Asa Hutchinson, a Republican, vetoed the bill shortly afterwards, saying it would be vast government overreach, however his veto was overturned by the legislature. But despite the reprieve in some states, more such bills are bound to become law particularly if lawmakers do not fear repercussions for their local economies, Lieberman said. Money, not morals, shifts the conversation far too often, said Lieberman. (Reporting by Matthew Lavietes //news.trust.org) Share this article in your social network Advertisement Story continues below This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Shopping essentials Advertisement Story continues below This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. NP Posted Sign up to receive the daily top stories from the National Post, 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 NP Posted will soon be in your inbox. We encountered an issue signing you up. Please try again Trending | Major U.S. firms speak out on conservative trans bills. Statement seen reflecting bolder stand on rights issues. Some LGBT+ advocates want tougher corporate response. | pegasus | 1 | https://nationalpost.com/pmn/news-pmn/crime-pmn/are-u-s-firms-ready-to-do-more-than-voice-concerns-on-trans-rights | 0.378592 |
Are U.S. firms ready to do more than voice concerns on trans rights? | Article content * Major U.S. firms speak out on conservative trans bills * Statement seen reflecting bolder stand on rights issues We apologize, but this video has failed to load. tap here to see other videos from our team. Back to video * Some LGBT+ advocates want tougher corporate response By Matthew Lavietes NEW YORK, May 6 (Thomson Reuters Foundation) Leading U.S. companies have become more vocal in criticizing proposed laws restricting transgender rights and taking a stand on LGBT+ issues but have failed so far to take concrete action against states with such legislation, advocates said. Nearly 100 companies, including Facebook, Pfizer and Dell, said late last month they were deeply concerned about a slew of trans-related legislative proposals presented recently in conservative states, calling the bills discriminatory. Anne Lieberman, director of policy and programs at Athlete Ally, a U.S.-based nonprofit LGBT+ athletic advocacy group, said the joint statement underscored the broader willingness of American corporations to step into the political arena. Since George Floyds murder over the summer, that was really a moment where you saw businesses across the country really taking a strong stance in wading into political water in ways they havent done before, Lieberman said. Advertisement Story continues below This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Article content Republican lawmakers have introduced a record 175 bills in at least 32 states on trans issues so far this year, according to Human Rights Campaign (HRC), the countrys largest LGBT+ advocacy group. Most of the legislative proposals seek to stop trans girls and women from competing in school sports, and to restrict childrens access to gender transition-related medical care. Proponents of the measures say they want to protect young people from medical procedures they could later regret and have voiced concerns that trans athletes have a physical edge that disadvantages girls and women. It is not the first time big companies have taken a stand on LGBT+ rights issues. Last year, 36 firms signed a statement condemning a Tennessee law allowing adoption agencies to turn away LGBT+ couples on religious grounds. The sheer volume of businesses that engage is higher, said Jessica Shortall, director of corporate engagement at Freedom For All Americans, an LGBT+ advocacy group that coordinated the statement with HRC. And honestly, practically speaking, theres strength and safety in numbers, Shortall added. Advertisement Story continues below This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Article content POLITICAL WATER The business communitys stance against conservative trans legislation came soon after leading companies spoke out against U.S. state voting curbs that activist groups say unfairly target Black and other racial minorities. Apple, Amazon.com and Starbucks were among more than 100 companies to sign a letter in April opposing any discriminatory legislation or measures that restrict or prevent any eligible voter from having an equal and fair opportunity to cast a ballot. Still, some trans rights advocates want business leaders to take a stronger line as some companies did in North Carolina after the state passed the so-called bathroom bill in 2016. The legislation banned trans citizens from using the public restrooms that correspond with their gender identity, prompting companies including PayPal, Adidas and Deutsche Bank to axe expansion plans in the state. In an open letter in April, the HRC advocacy group urged companies to refuse new business in states where trans athletes were barred from competing and pull their support from sporting events where trans athletes cannot compete. Advertisement Story continues below This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Article content Although we certainly appreciate those efforts, they are not enough, the letter said. More recently, Jennifer Pritzker the worlds first trans billionaire and a Republican has threatened to move her familys business out of Tennessee due to a range of restrictive trans-related bills, several of which have passed. Despite the dozens of proposals presented this year, so far only Arkansas, Tennessee, Mississippi and South Dakota have pushed through measures banning trans women and girls from playing in female sports. Idaho passed a similar law last year that has been blocked by federal court. Last month, Kansas Governor Laura Kelly, a Democrat, and North Dakota Governor Doug Burgum, a Republican, vetoed bills in their states that aim to restrict trans athletes, with Kelly calling her states version of the bill regressive. Both chambers of Arkansass state legislature passed a measure that would have made the state the first in the country to criminally punish doctors for providing certain types of care to trans youth. Arkansas Governor Asa Hutchinson, a Republican, vetoed the bill shortly afterwards, saying it would be vast government overreach, however his veto was overturned by the legislature. But despite the reprieve in some states, more such bills are bound to become law particularly if lawmakers do not fear repercussions for their local economies, Lieberman said. Money, not morals, shifts the conversation far too often, said Lieberman. (Reporting by Matthew Lavietes //news.trust.org) Share this article in your social network Advertisement Story continues below This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Shopping essentials Advertisement Story continues below This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. NP Posted Sign up to receive the daily top stories from the National Post, 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 NP Posted will soon be in your inbox. We encountered an issue signing you up. Please try again Trending | Major U.S. firms speak out on conservative trans bills. Statement seen reflecting bolder stand on rights issues We apologize, but this video has failed to load. tap here to see other videos from our team. Some LGBT+ advocates want tougher corporate response. | pegasus | 2 | https://nationalpost.com/pmn/news-pmn/crime-pmn/are-u-s-firms-ready-to-do-more-than-voice-concerns-on-trans-rights | 0.367271 |
Which quarterbacks are available for the Packers? | The Green Bay Packers are in need of a quarterback, regardless of whether Aaron Rodgers returns or not, and the team is expecting to add one or two new quarterbacks at some point in the near future. Adam Schefter of ESPN reported Thursday that the Packers are already exploring the quarterback market, and veteran options are possible. Both a veteran insurance option and an undrafted free agent worthy of development are strong possibilities for the Packers. Heres a look at which quarterbacks are available to the Packers at this point: Undrafted free agent options Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports A few undrafted options available: Zac Thomas, Appalachian State Kevin Thomson, Washington Zach Smith, Tulsa Brady Davis, Illinois State D.J. Hammond, Air Force Noah Johnson, South Florida Nick Mullens Joe Nicholson-USA TODAY Sports Mullens, an undrafted free agent from Southern Miss, has been in San Francisco with Kyle Shanahan since 2017. He's played in 19 games with 16 starts, including eight starts in 2020. An elbow injury ended his season last year. He's completed 64.5 percent of his passes with a passer rating of 87.2 during his career. Still only 26, Mullens might be the best option left in free agency. Matt Moore Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports Moore turns 37 in August, but he has a ton of experience as a backup, including the last two seasons in Kansas City behind Patrick Mahomes. He'd be an ideal veteran to help Jordan Love as he develops this offseason. Moore has played in 53 games and made 32 starts, including one against the Packers in 2019. Blake Bortles Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Blake Bortles (5) throws a pass during the first half of an NFL football game against the Seattle Seahawks at EverBank Field in Jacksonville, Fla., Sunday, Dec. 10, 2017. Bortles, the third overall pick in 2014, played for Packers offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett in Jacksonville and had two stints with Sean McVay as a backup for the Los Angeles Rams. He's played a lot of football (73 career starts) and will have a foundational understanding of the offense. Story continues Brian Hoyer Joe Nicholson-USA TODAY Sports Hoyer is 36 years old, but he's well-versed in a variety of offenses including Kyle Shanahan's and experienced as a starter, having made 39 starts over 12 seasons. He spent the 2020 season as a backup in New England. Hoyer could provide a valuable resource for Jordan Love during the offseason. Kurt Benkert Aaron Doster-USA TODAY Sports Benkert spent his first three seasons as a backup on the practice squad in Atlanta. An undrafted free agent from Virginia, Benkert has good size and an NFL-caliber arm. He's still only 25. Brett Hundley (Photo by Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images) The Packers took Hundley in the fifth round of the 2015 draft and developed him for three years behind Aaron Rodgers in Mike McCarthy's offense. He made nine starts in place of Rodgers in 2017. Probably doubtful. Hundley has been in Arizona as a backup the last two seasons. Matt Barkley Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports Barkley, now 30, has been in the NFL since the 2013 season. He's played for six different franchises but was most recently the backup to Josh Allen in Buffalo. His career passer rating is a devilish 66.6. Kyle Sloter Vikings quarterback Kyle Sloter makes an off-balance throw against the Bills. Another quarterback from Southern Miss. Sloter (6-5, 211)has bounced around over the last few years after sticking with the Minnesota Vikings as a backup in 2017 and 2018. He was released by the Las Vegas Raiders last month. Other veterans A few others available: Robert Griffin III Tyler Bray Kevin Hogan Jake Rudock Sean Mannion 1 1 | The Green Bay Packers are in need of a quarterback, regardless of whether Aaron Rodgers not. A veteran insurance option and an undrafted free agent worthy of development are strong possibilities for Packers. | pegasus | 1 | https://sports.yahoo.com/quarterbacks-available-packers-131946723.html?src=rss | 0.162843 |
Which quarterbacks are available for the Packers? | The Green Bay Packers are in need of a quarterback, regardless of whether Aaron Rodgers returns or not, and the team is expecting to add one or two new quarterbacks at some point in the near future. Adam Schefter of ESPN reported Thursday that the Packers are already exploring the quarterback market, and veteran options are possible. Both a veteran insurance option and an undrafted free agent worthy of development are strong possibilities for the Packers. Heres a look at which quarterbacks are available to the Packers at this point: Undrafted free agent options Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports A few undrafted options available: Zac Thomas, Appalachian State Kevin Thomson, Washington Zach Smith, Tulsa Brady Davis, Illinois State D.J. Hammond, Air Force Noah Johnson, South Florida Nick Mullens Joe Nicholson-USA TODAY Sports Mullens, an undrafted free agent from Southern Miss, has been in San Francisco with Kyle Shanahan since 2017. He's played in 19 games with 16 starts, including eight starts in 2020. An elbow injury ended his season last year. He's completed 64.5 percent of his passes with a passer rating of 87.2 during his career. Still only 26, Mullens might be the best option left in free agency. Matt Moore Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports Moore turns 37 in August, but he has a ton of experience as a backup, including the last two seasons in Kansas City behind Patrick Mahomes. He'd be an ideal veteran to help Jordan Love as he develops this offseason. Moore has played in 53 games and made 32 starts, including one against the Packers in 2019. Blake Bortles Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Blake Bortles (5) throws a pass during the first half of an NFL football game against the Seattle Seahawks at EverBank Field in Jacksonville, Fla., Sunday, Dec. 10, 2017. Bortles, the third overall pick in 2014, played for Packers offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett in Jacksonville and had two stints with Sean McVay as a backup for the Los Angeles Rams. He's played a lot of football (73 career starts) and will have a foundational understanding of the offense. Story continues Brian Hoyer Joe Nicholson-USA TODAY Sports Hoyer is 36 years old, but he's well-versed in a variety of offenses including Kyle Shanahan's and experienced as a starter, having made 39 starts over 12 seasons. He spent the 2020 season as a backup in New England. Hoyer could provide a valuable resource for Jordan Love during the offseason. Kurt Benkert Aaron Doster-USA TODAY Sports Benkert spent his first three seasons as a backup on the practice squad in Atlanta. An undrafted free agent from Virginia, Benkert has good size and an NFL-caliber arm. He's still only 25. Brett Hundley (Photo by Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images) The Packers took Hundley in the fifth round of the 2015 draft and developed him for three years behind Aaron Rodgers in Mike McCarthy's offense. He made nine starts in place of Rodgers in 2017. Probably doubtful. Hundley has been in Arizona as a backup the last two seasons. Matt Barkley Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports Barkley, now 30, has been in the NFL since the 2013 season. He's played for six different franchises but was most recently the backup to Josh Allen in Buffalo. His career passer rating is a devilish 66.6. Kyle Sloter Vikings quarterback Kyle Sloter makes an off-balance throw against the Bills. Another quarterback from Southern Miss. Sloter (6-5, 211)has bounced around over the last few years after sticking with the Minnesota Vikings as a backup in 2017 and 2018. He was released by the Las Vegas Raiders last month. Other veterans A few others available: Robert Griffin III Tyler Bray Kevin Hogan Jake Rudock Sean Mannion 1 1 | The Green Bay Packers are in need of a quarterback, regardless of whether Aaron Rodgers returns or not. Heres a look at which quarterbacks are available to the Packers at this point: Nick Mullens, Matt Moore, Blake Bortles, Brian Hoyer and Matt Barkley are among the options. | ctrlsum | 2 | https://sports.yahoo.com/quarterbacks-available-packers-131946723.html?src=rss | 0.730275 |
Why is Mumbai handling its second wave better than Delhi? | W HEN THE world sees images of Indias covid-19 crisis, it is through the eyes of the citizens of Delhi.That is not just because most foreign correspondents and photographers liveand are stuckthere. The capitals caseload has been among the highest and deadliest of any city in the country. On May 3rd alone, 448 deaths were reported and untold numbers died unrecorded. One in every four tests is coming back positive, typical of an outbreak that is out of control. On May 5th the Supreme Court, situated in Delhi, told the national government, which is there too, to look to Mumbai and take note of its successes in managing the supply of oxygen. But the city has a lot more to teach. Even proportional to its somewhat smaller, if denser, population, a fifth as many people are dying there each day as in the capital.The positivity rate of tests, at around 11%, is less than half of Delhis. There are thousands of vacant beds. Of the beseeching tweets and WhatsApp messages asking for beds or oxygen, few give an address in Mumbai. In interviews with the local media, the commissioner of the Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai ( MCGM ), an enthusiastic marathon-runner named Iqbal Singh Chahal, describes an immense, data-driven operation in which information and action-plans are managed and co-ordinated through a distributed network of 23 war rooms, or control centres, one for each of the citys administrative districts. An online dashboard, visible to the public, is constantly updated by each war room and every hospital, displaying the availability of beds and a trove of other data. About 40% of Mumbais present capacity is in jumbo field hospitals, built during the first wave and wisely kept in a state of readiness even as emergency operations in other cities were closing shop. Mr Chahals task-force is already at work drawing up plans to combat an inevitable third wave, which it expects will arrive in July. Seen from Delhi, such foresight sounds like science fiction. The answer comes down to administration, in three different ways. The first is the structure of government. Mumbai has a unitary municipal corporation, whereas Delhi is a morass of overlapping authorities. There is no equivalent of Mr Chahal in Delhi. Instead, executive functions are divided messily between the national government; the elected quasi-state government, currently run by Arvind Kejriwal, its chief minister; and five municipal corporations, including one controlled by the armed forces. The national parliament voted recently to grant veto power over Mr Kejriwals government to a lieutenant-governor appointed by Narendra Modi, the countrys prime minister. It is bad enough that Delhi has no dedicated government looking out for the city. Worse is that the overlap of interests means it also lacks what Yamini Aiyar of the Centre for Policy Research, a think-tank in the city, calls political maturity. Mr Kejriwals government is hamstrung at the best of times but, at times like this, the politicking between different levels of government is frantic. Party workers are hiring auto-rickshaws to deliver oxygen to hospitals and tweeting evidence of their heroics, since it is parties, not administrators, that are top of mind. By contrast, Daksha Shah, a senior health officer at the MCGM , explains that one of the biggest benefits of her citys unified chain of command is apparent in its system of triage. People who are afraid that they may not be able to get life-saving treatment are inclined to hoard it, like Westerners with loo roll last year. The MCGM s war rooms see test results before any of the citys patients do. That way their field agents can bring the news to the identified cases and escort them to and from hospital beds exactly when and where the best treatment can be provided, to maximise efficiency. Second, Mumbai may have had an advantage of administrative boundaries, too. Indias second wave started in the state of Maharashtra, of which the city is the capital. When cases began to rise in the central and eastern parts of the state, that caused warning lights to flash early for the local government. Likewise some of Delhis disadvantages may be because of its neighbours. The city spills over its borders to take in the most urbanised bits of two states with much worse health care. Neelkanth Mishra, a strategist for Credit Suisse, a bank, guesses that Delhi may be absorbing desperate cases from a wider area. Lastly, the fact that the national government has some role to play in directly running Delhi may have contributed, too. When it gets it right, the city benefits. But when it is sluggish and dithering, as in recent weeks, that affects the people of Delhi more directly than those of any other region. The result has been to make Indias capital, in normal times a synonym for the country, the face of its catastrophe. Dig deeper All our stories relating to the pandemic and the vaccines can be found on our coronavirus hub. You can also listen to The Jab, our podcast on the race between injections and infections, and find trackers showing the global roll-out of vaccines, excess deaths by country and the viruss spread across Europe and America. | Mumbai has a unitary municipal corporation, whereas Delhi is a morass of overlapping authorities. Mumbai has an immense, data-driven operation in which information and action-plans are co-ordinated. | ctrlsum | 1 | https://www.economist.com/asia/2021/05/06/why-is-mumbai-handling-its-second-wave-better-than-delhi | 0.151397 |
Why is Mumbai handling its second wave better than Delhi? | W HEN THE world sees images of Indias covid-19 crisis, it is through the eyes of the citizens of Delhi.That is not just because most foreign correspondents and photographers liveand are stuckthere. The capitals caseload has been among the highest and deadliest of any city in the country. On May 3rd alone, 448 deaths were reported and untold numbers died unrecorded. One in every four tests is coming back positive, typical of an outbreak that is out of control. On May 5th the Supreme Court, situated in Delhi, told the national government, which is there too, to look to Mumbai and take note of its successes in managing the supply of oxygen. But the city has a lot more to teach. Even proportional to its somewhat smaller, if denser, population, a fifth as many people are dying there each day as in the capital.The positivity rate of tests, at around 11%, is less than half of Delhis. There are thousands of vacant beds. Of the beseeching tweets and WhatsApp messages asking for beds or oxygen, few give an address in Mumbai. In interviews with the local media, the commissioner of the Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai ( MCGM ), an enthusiastic marathon-runner named Iqbal Singh Chahal, describes an immense, data-driven operation in which information and action-plans are managed and co-ordinated through a distributed network of 23 war rooms, or control centres, one for each of the citys administrative districts. An online dashboard, visible to the public, is constantly updated by each war room and every hospital, displaying the availability of beds and a trove of other data. About 40% of Mumbais present capacity is in jumbo field hospitals, built during the first wave and wisely kept in a state of readiness even as emergency operations in other cities were closing shop. Mr Chahals task-force is already at work drawing up plans to combat an inevitable third wave, which it expects will arrive in July. Seen from Delhi, such foresight sounds like science fiction. The answer comes down to administration, in three different ways. The first is the structure of government. Mumbai has a unitary municipal corporation, whereas Delhi is a morass of overlapping authorities. There is no equivalent of Mr Chahal in Delhi. Instead, executive functions are divided messily between the national government; the elected quasi-state government, currently run by Arvind Kejriwal, its chief minister; and five municipal corporations, including one controlled by the armed forces. The national parliament voted recently to grant veto power over Mr Kejriwals government to a lieutenant-governor appointed by Narendra Modi, the countrys prime minister. It is bad enough that Delhi has no dedicated government looking out for the city. Worse is that the overlap of interests means it also lacks what Yamini Aiyar of the Centre for Policy Research, a think-tank in the city, calls political maturity. Mr Kejriwals government is hamstrung at the best of times but, at times like this, the politicking between different levels of government is frantic. Party workers are hiring auto-rickshaws to deliver oxygen to hospitals and tweeting evidence of their heroics, since it is parties, not administrators, that are top of mind. By contrast, Daksha Shah, a senior health officer at the MCGM , explains that one of the biggest benefits of her citys unified chain of command is apparent in its system of triage. People who are afraid that they may not be able to get life-saving treatment are inclined to hoard it, like Westerners with loo roll last year. The MCGM s war rooms see test results before any of the citys patients do. That way their field agents can bring the news to the identified cases and escort them to and from hospital beds exactly when and where the best treatment can be provided, to maximise efficiency. Second, Mumbai may have had an advantage of administrative boundaries, too. Indias second wave started in the state of Maharashtra, of which the city is the capital. When cases began to rise in the central and eastern parts of the state, that caused warning lights to flash early for the local government. Likewise some of Delhis disadvantages may be because of its neighbours. The city spills over its borders to take in the most urbanised bits of two states with much worse health care. Neelkanth Mishra, a strategist for Credit Suisse, a bank, guesses that Delhi may be absorbing desperate cases from a wider area. Lastly, the fact that the national government has some role to play in directly running Delhi may have contributed, too. When it gets it right, the city benefits. But when it is sluggish and dithering, as in recent weeks, that affects the people of Delhi more directly than those of any other region. The result has been to make Indias capital, in normal times a synonym for the country, the face of its catastrophe. Dig deeper All our stories relating to the pandemic and the vaccines can be found on our coronavirus hub. You can also listen to The Jab, our podcast on the race between injections and infections, and find trackers showing the global roll-out of vaccines, excess deaths by country and the viruss spread across Europe and America. | Mumbai has a unitary municipal corporation, whereas Delhi is a morass of overlapping authorities. Mumbai has an immense, data-driven operation in which information and action-plans are co-ordinated through a distributed network of 23 war rooms, or control centres. | ctrlsum | 2 | https://www.economist.com/asia/2021/05/06/why-is-mumbai-handling-its-second-wave-better-than-delhi | 0.150183 |
Could sending criminals to prison be good for their kids? | I N A FORTHCOMING paper in the American Economic Review, one of the disciplines most prestigious journals, three economists conclude that [p]arental incarceration has beneficial effects on some important outcomes for children. Unsurprisingly the study has provoked outrage from keyboard warriors. Some are uncomfortable with the very notion that prison could have anything other than wholly malign effects. Others worry that the research, however well intentioned, gives politicians ammunition to double down on punitive penal policy. In reality, though the study has some uncomfortable findings, it should help governments devise better policy. The authors analyse 30 years worth of high-quality administrative data from the state of Ohio. They study children whose parents are defendants in a criminal case. Using a clever methodology, they in effect divide the children into two groups, which are identical except in one crucial respect: whether or not one of their parents was sent to prison. In some cases, parents who committed relatively minor crimes were on the wrong side of harsh judges, whereas others got off scot-free for the same offence. The paper reports a number of outcomes, not all of which are improved by a parental stay in prison. The estimates on academic performance and teen parenthood are imprecise, the authors say. But a parents incarceration lowers the chance of their child going to prison from 12.4% to 7.5%. It also appears to cause the children to go on to live in better-off neighbourhoods, which could be a sign that household earnings rise. Perhaps having a parent go to prison scares a child straight; or perhaps removing a bad influence from a family allows those left behind to thrive. Hardly. The papers findings suggest that the overall costs of the prison system, including the money spent on housing inmates, are likely to outweigh the benefits. The true messages of the paper are subtler. Any effort to reduce Americas sky-high incarceration rate, though noble, would need to reckon with the costs that it might impose on some children. It is a sorry state of affairs that American kids could stand to gain when their parents are locked up. The challenge for economists and politicians is to find policies to help them that are not as socially destructive. A version of this article was published online on May 5th 2021 | A study by three economists in the American Economic Review has provoked outrage from keyboard warriors. The authors analyse 30 years worth of high-quality administrative data from the state of Ohio. A parents incarceration lowers the chance of their child going to prison from 12.4% to 7.5%. | bart | 2 | https://www.economist.com/finance-and-economics/2021/05/06/could-sending-criminals-to-prison-be-good-for-their-kids | 0.119129 |
How far along is the US in reopening schools? | United States President Joe Biden has met his goal of having most elementary and middle schools open for full, in-person learning in his first 100 days, according to new survey data, but the share of students choosing to return has continued to lag far behind. The survey, conducted in March by the Education Department and released Thursday, found that 54% of public schools below high school were offering full-time classroom learning to any student who wanted it. It marks progress since January, when the figure was 46%. But even with that milestone achieved, most students continued to learn at least partly away from school. Almost 4 in 10 students continued to take all their classes remotely, the survey found, and another 2 in 10 were split between classroom and remote learning. The disparity reflects a trend that has alarmed education officials at all levels: Even when schools reopen, many families have opted to keep students at home for remote learning. It has been most pronounced among Black, Hispanic, and Asian American students, most of whom spent no time in a classroom in March, the survey found. Education Secretary Miguel Cardona applauded the nations progress but also drew attention to racial disparities, saying schools must do more to reach all students. While weve made important progress, I will not be satisfied until 100% of schools are safely open for full time in-person learning for all students, Mr. Cardona said in a statement. The department will continue to work with students, families, educators, states and districts, to ensure our education system serves all students, not just some. Among students of all races, there was a modest shift toward classroom learning in March, but gains were largest among whites. Just more than half of white students were learning entirely in-person, compared to about a third of Black and Hispanic students. Only 15% of Asian Americans were learning entirely in the classroom. Progress has been equally uneven based on geography, the survey found. Half of all students in the South and Midwest were learning entirely in-person in March, compared to less than 20% in the West and Northeast. Still, the Northeast saw the largest gains, with Connecticut doubling its share of fourth grade students learning fully in-person, from 17% to 35%. Wyoming had the largest share of fourth grade students attending full-time in the classroom, at 94%, while California had the lowest, with 5%. Schools in rural areas were the most likely to be opened, while schools in cities have been the slowest to reopen. Across the country, younger children they are less likely than adults to get seriously ill from COVID-19 have returned to the classroom at higher rates. As of March, more than 4 in 10 fourth grade students were back in the classroom full-time, the survey found, compared to a third of eighth graders. The latest survey reflects a period of growing momentum in the push to open schools. In March, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said students could sit 3 feet apart in classrooms as long as theyre wearing masks, down from a suggested 6 feet. Several states adopted the smaller recommendation, allowing more students to return to schools. At the same time, Mr. Biden was pushing states to make teachers and other school workers a priority in vaccine rollouts. Some governors went on to order some or all of their schools to reopen in March, including in Arizona and Oregon. Since then, schools have continued to reopen. States including Massachusetts and New Hampshire have ordered districts to invite students back to the classroom, and major districts elsewhere have started to reopen, including in San Francisco. The Biden administration started the survey this year to track the pandemics effect on schools and students. Its based on responses from 3,500 public schools that serve fourth graders and 3,500 schools that serve eighth graders. Several states have declined to participate, including Montana, West Virginia, and Utah. The survey does not include high schools, which pose additional challenges and have been the slowest schools to reopen. Mr. Biden has acknowledged that high schools will take longer to reopen because of the higher risk of contagion among older students. Schools have been a priority for Mr. Biden as he works to jump-start the economy and address learning setbacks among students. In March he signed a $1.9 trillion relief bill that included $123 billion to help schools reopen and recover from the pandemic. Last month he proposed a budget that would significantly expand education funding, with a proposal to double Title I funding for low-income schools. Mr. Biden in December pledged to reopen the majority of our schools in his first 100 days in office. In February he reframed the goal, promising to have most schools from kindergarten through eighth grade opened five days a week in that period. Mr. Cardona has rallied behind Mr. Bidens efforts, saying schools will need help addressing disparities that were worsened by the pandemic. On Thursday, he urged schools and education officials to maintain a high level of urgency even as more schools reopen. This success is the result of hard work and intentional collaboration between the administration, states, school districts, educators, and families across the country, he said. Nothing can replace in-person learning, and thousands of schools have made that a reality for millions of students. This story was reported by The Associated Press. | President Joe Biden has met his goal of having most elementary and middle schools open for full, in-person learning in his first 100 days. | pegasus | 0 | https://www.csmonitor.com/USA/Education/2021/0506/How-far-along-is-the-US-in-reopening-schools?icid=rss | 0.159057 |
How far along is the US in reopening schools? | United States President Joe Biden has met his goal of having most elementary and middle schools open for full, in-person learning in his first 100 days, according to new survey data, but the share of students choosing to return has continued to lag far behind. The survey, conducted in March by the Education Department and released Thursday, found that 54% of public schools below high school were offering full-time classroom learning to any student who wanted it. It marks progress since January, when the figure was 46%. But even with that milestone achieved, most students continued to learn at least partly away from school. Almost 4 in 10 students continued to take all their classes remotely, the survey found, and another 2 in 10 were split between classroom and remote learning. The disparity reflects a trend that has alarmed education officials at all levels: Even when schools reopen, many families have opted to keep students at home for remote learning. It has been most pronounced among Black, Hispanic, and Asian American students, most of whom spent no time in a classroom in March, the survey found. Education Secretary Miguel Cardona applauded the nations progress but also drew attention to racial disparities, saying schools must do more to reach all students. While weve made important progress, I will not be satisfied until 100% of schools are safely open for full time in-person learning for all students, Mr. Cardona said in a statement. The department will continue to work with students, families, educators, states and districts, to ensure our education system serves all students, not just some. Among students of all races, there was a modest shift toward classroom learning in March, but gains were largest among whites. Just more than half of white students were learning entirely in-person, compared to about a third of Black and Hispanic students. Only 15% of Asian Americans were learning entirely in the classroom. Progress has been equally uneven based on geography, the survey found. Half of all students in the South and Midwest were learning entirely in-person in March, compared to less than 20% in the West and Northeast. Still, the Northeast saw the largest gains, with Connecticut doubling its share of fourth grade students learning fully in-person, from 17% to 35%. Wyoming had the largest share of fourth grade students attending full-time in the classroom, at 94%, while California had the lowest, with 5%. Schools in rural areas were the most likely to be opened, while schools in cities have been the slowest to reopen. Across the country, younger children they are less likely than adults to get seriously ill from COVID-19 have returned to the classroom at higher rates. As of March, more than 4 in 10 fourth grade students were back in the classroom full-time, the survey found, compared to a third of eighth graders. The latest survey reflects a period of growing momentum in the push to open schools. In March, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said students could sit 3 feet apart in classrooms as long as theyre wearing masks, down from a suggested 6 feet. Several states adopted the smaller recommendation, allowing more students to return to schools. At the same time, Mr. Biden was pushing states to make teachers and other school workers a priority in vaccine rollouts. Some governors went on to order some or all of their schools to reopen in March, including in Arizona and Oregon. Since then, schools have continued to reopen. States including Massachusetts and New Hampshire have ordered districts to invite students back to the classroom, and major districts elsewhere have started to reopen, including in San Francisco. The Biden administration started the survey this year to track the pandemics effect on schools and students. Its based on responses from 3,500 public schools that serve fourth graders and 3,500 schools that serve eighth graders. Several states have declined to participate, including Montana, West Virginia, and Utah. The survey does not include high schools, which pose additional challenges and have been the slowest schools to reopen. Mr. Biden has acknowledged that high schools will take longer to reopen because of the higher risk of contagion among older students. Schools have been a priority for Mr. Biden as he works to jump-start the economy and address learning setbacks among students. In March he signed a $1.9 trillion relief bill that included $123 billion to help schools reopen and recover from the pandemic. Last month he proposed a budget that would significantly expand education funding, with a proposal to double Title I funding for low-income schools. Mr. Biden in December pledged to reopen the majority of our schools in his first 100 days in office. In February he reframed the goal, promising to have most schools from kindergarten through eighth grade opened five days a week in that period. Mr. Cardona has rallied behind Mr. Bidens efforts, saying schools will need help addressing disparities that were worsened by the pandemic. On Thursday, he urged schools and education officials to maintain a high level of urgency even as more schools reopen. This success is the result of hard work and intentional collaboration between the administration, states, school districts, educators, and families across the country, he said. Nothing can replace in-person learning, and thousands of schools have made that a reality for millions of students. This story was reported by The Associated Press. | President Joe Biden has met his goal of having most elementary and middle schools open for full, in-person learning in his first 100 days. But the share of students choosing to return has continued to lag far behind. | pegasus | 1 | https://www.csmonitor.com/USA/Education/2021/0506/How-far-along-is-the-US-in-reopening-schools?icid=rss | 0.181935 |
What Questions Should We Be Asking About Cell-Based Meats? | Cell-based meat. getty Cell-based meat, also known as cultivated meat, cellular agriculture or lab-grown meat, is one of the biggest recent trends in food technology. By cultivating such proteins in-vitro in large fermentation vats similar to those used to brew beer, researchers, marketers and investors hope to attract a broad base of customers. The hope is that many people want to enjoy meat without the cruelty and the destructive health, climate and environmental impacts of concentrated animal feedlots. Billions of dollars in speculative investment have flowed into this space, especially in the wake of Singapores approval of cell-based chicken analogues. Given this capital tsunami and the growing public relations push, the entry of such products into the global food system at scale seems likely. Lets start with a couple of examples from food history as context. Over a hundred years ago, Procter & Gamble introduced hydrogenated oils, or trans fats, into the food supply, an innovative trend that took off during the Great Depression and World War Two years when butter was scarce. With growing concerns connecting these oils to inflammation, heart disease and cholesterol, much of the food industry started moving away from trans fats for the last two decades (and unfortunately switched to palm oil, but that is another story). A few decades ago, the biotechnology sector introduced the world to genetically modified organisms (GMOs). Within a few years, farmers rapidly adopted the new crop technologies due to beneficial traits that controlled pests, suppressed weeds and increased yields. Today, nearly 90% of cash crops such as corn, soy, canola and cotton are genetically modified, and their ingredient derivatives are found in the majority of processed foods. But after decades of denial and obfuscation, the companies that make the chemical inputs necessary for cultivating GMO crops, particularly glyphosate which is the active ingredient in RoundUp, have been the subject of cancer lawsuits, health and environmental concerns and hefty settlements. Fermentation tanks, commonly used for beer or wine. The volumes of meat needed to turn a profit for investors will necessitate millions of pounds or gallons of nutrient mix annually. Feed conversions ratios for live chicken is 1.6:1, meaning 1.6 pounds of feed for 1lb of chicken. Likewise, for a beef cow, the feed ratio is 6:1, 6 pounds of grain to 1 pound of meat. And feed conversion for a healthy, young dairy cow is about 4:1. Industrial scale meat. 2017 Bloomberg Finance LP Or perhaps the technology should be put into the public sector, especially if research is underwritten by public funds (like previous large scale tech endeavors such as the internet, cellular networks, and LCD technology) in order to ensure that its commercialization does not add to the critical levels of inequality, food apartheid, inaccessibility and precarity so common in the food industry. A public sector solution could ensure that all such information can be in the public domain, open sourced and accessible, with patents waived. Considering the competition, this should not be a high bar to overcome. Lentils and beans: tasty, cheap, and excellent sources of protein. (AP Photo/Hermann J. Knippertz) ASSOCIATED PRESS These are some of the many questions we should be asking about this new food technology as it enters the market. Transparency and openness, a clear understanding and mitigation of production externalities, plus justice and equity in business models will be signs that cell-based meat companies are a new breed of food tech. Meanwhile, ethical, meat-averse consumers still have healthy, delicious and compelling alternatives to both cell-based and CAFO meat. But we can hope to cultivate trust and accountability. (Disclosure: The author is a Board Member of the Non-GMO Project, a non-profit organization that believes that everyone has a right to know what is in their food.) | Cell-based meat, also known as cultivated meat, cellular agriculture or lab-grown meat, is one of the biggest recent trends in food technology. | bart | 0 | https://www.forbes.com/sites/errolschweizer/2021/05/06/what-questions-should-we-be-asking-about-cell-based-meats/ | 0.114982 |
What Questions Should We Be Asking About Cell-Based Meats? | Cell-based meat. getty Cell-based meat, also known as cultivated meat, cellular agriculture or lab-grown meat, is one of the biggest recent trends in food technology. By cultivating such proteins in-vitro in large fermentation vats similar to those used to brew beer, researchers, marketers and investors hope to attract a broad base of customers. The hope is that many people want to enjoy meat without the cruelty and the destructive health, climate and environmental impacts of concentrated animal feedlots. Billions of dollars in speculative investment have flowed into this space, especially in the wake of Singapores approval of cell-based chicken analogues. Given this capital tsunami and the growing public relations push, the entry of such products into the global food system at scale seems likely. Lets start with a couple of examples from food history as context. Over a hundred years ago, Procter & Gamble introduced hydrogenated oils, or trans fats, into the food supply, an innovative trend that took off during the Great Depression and World War Two years when butter was scarce. With growing concerns connecting these oils to inflammation, heart disease and cholesterol, much of the food industry started moving away from trans fats for the last two decades (and unfortunately switched to palm oil, but that is another story). A few decades ago, the biotechnology sector introduced the world to genetically modified organisms (GMOs). Within a few years, farmers rapidly adopted the new crop technologies due to beneficial traits that controlled pests, suppressed weeds and increased yields. Today, nearly 90% of cash crops such as corn, soy, canola and cotton are genetically modified, and their ingredient derivatives are found in the majority of processed foods. But after decades of denial and obfuscation, the companies that make the chemical inputs necessary for cultivating GMO crops, particularly glyphosate which is the active ingredient in RoundUp, have been the subject of cancer lawsuits, health and environmental concerns and hefty settlements. Fermentation tanks, commonly used for beer or wine. The volumes of meat needed to turn a profit for investors will necessitate millions of pounds or gallons of nutrient mix annually. Feed conversions ratios for live chicken is 1.6:1, meaning 1.6 pounds of feed for 1lb of chicken. Likewise, for a beef cow, the feed ratio is 6:1, 6 pounds of grain to 1 pound of meat. And feed conversion for a healthy, young dairy cow is about 4:1. Industrial scale meat. 2017 Bloomberg Finance LP Or perhaps the technology should be put into the public sector, especially if research is underwritten by public funds (like previous large scale tech endeavors such as the internet, cellular networks, and LCD technology) in order to ensure that its commercialization does not add to the critical levels of inequality, food apartheid, inaccessibility and precarity so common in the food industry. A public sector solution could ensure that all such information can be in the public domain, open sourced and accessible, with patents waived. Considering the competition, this should not be a high bar to overcome. Lentils and beans: tasty, cheap, and excellent sources of protein. (AP Photo/Hermann J. Knippertz) ASSOCIATED PRESS These are some of the many questions we should be asking about this new food technology as it enters the market. Transparency and openness, a clear understanding and mitigation of production externalities, plus justice and equity in business models will be signs that cell-based meat companies are a new breed of food tech. Meanwhile, ethical, meat-averse consumers still have healthy, delicious and compelling alternatives to both cell-based and CAFO meat. But we can hope to cultivate trust and accountability. (Disclosure: The author is a Board Member of the Non-GMO Project, a non-profit organization that believes that everyone has a right to know what is in their food.) | Cell-based meat, also known as cultivated meat, cellular agriculture or lab-grown meat, is one of the biggest recent trends in food technology. By cultivating such proteins in-vitro in large fermentation vats similar to those used to brew beer, researchers, marketers and investors hope to attract a broad base of customers. | bart | 2 | https://www.forbes.com/sites/errolschweizer/2021/05/06/what-questions-should-we-be-asking-about-cell-based-meats/ | 0.338373 |
Why can't Sen. Kyrsten Sinema be more like Rep. Ruben Gallego? | Im all for civility, except sometimes. Like when an ignorant kook says something truly insulting or outrageous. For example, when Georgia Republican Rep. Marjorie Taylor Green, the conspiracy spouting Trump sycophant who was stripped of House committee assignments over dangerously inflammatory comments, like endorsing the assassination of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, recently said that Democrats are the enemy within. That was not a nice thing to say. Especially to a Democrat. 'Shut your ... mouth,' Gallego tweeted Arizona Rep. Ruben Gallego is a Democrat. During his time in Congress, Gallego been very vocal in defense of his beliefs, like when the Marine combat veteran said that veterans linked to the Capitol riot should lose their benefits. So, in response to Taylor Greenes comment he tweeted: I was trying to figure what type of pen to stab your friends with if they overran us on the floor of the House of Representatives while trying to conduct a democratic transition of power. So please shut your seditious, Qanon loving mouth when it comes to who loves America. Democrats in Arizona find themselves wishing that Sen. Kyrsten Sinema would take a page or two perhaps even an entire chapter from Gallegos playbook. Not necessarily to be as combative, but at least a little more pugnacious. Sinema is taking a different approach Sinema has different concerns than Gallego, of course. It might not suit her personality to be so assertive. And doing so would be more politically risky. Gallego represents a largely Democratic district. Sinema must campaign statewide. Still, Sinemas belief in reaching across the aisle even when it only gets her hand slapped is leaving many Democrats frustrated. The senator told The Arizona Republics political podcast, The Gaggle, Theres a lot of talk about, Oooh, the pressure is mounting and the pressure is out there. But as everybody knows, I don't bend to pressure from either party, and I just stay focused on what I think is right, and delivering for Arizonans. Im not sure about that delivering for Arizonans stuff. The biggest threat to Arizonans these days is the ongoing assault on the democratic process being orchestrated by the Republicans who run the Arizona Legislature. Its happening in Republican-controlled legislatures across the country. Voter suppression. Voter list purges. A return to restrictions that come very close to the Jim Crow laws that kept minorities from the polls for generations. Surrender isn't an act of civility Sinema points out that she is an original co-sponsor of the Democrat-led For the People Act, which would expand voters rights, provide election security and assure independent redistricting, among other things. But being a sponsor means nothing if the bill has no chance of being passed, and Sinemas steadfast belief in the Senates filibuster rule which requires a 60-vote majority to approve legislation will keep that from happening. Sinema has explained her support by saying, I have long said that I oppose eliminating the filibuster for votes on legislation. Debate on bills should be a bipartisan process that takes into account the views of all Americans, not just those of one political party. A vast majority of Americans support the protections in the For the People Act. Its just the Republicans in the Senate who dont want it. There is nothing in the Constitution about the filibuster. The rule already has been altered in order to approve the appointment of judges by a simple majority vote. Sinema may very well believe in compromise, but thats only effective if the belief is shared by the opposition, and the Republicans in the Senate arent in the mood to protect voting rights. In fact, they have a distinctly uncivil, undemocratic view on the subject. Refusing to take on a bully is not an act of civility. Its not compromise. Its surrender. Reach Montini at ed.montini@arizonarepublic.com. For more opinions content, please subscribe. | Sen. Kyrsten Sinema, D-Arizona, is facing tough re-election battle this year. She is taking a different approach than Rep. Ruben Gallego, a Democrat. | ctrlsum | 1 | https://www.azcentral.com/story/opinion/op-ed/ej-montini/2021/05/06/kyrsten-sinema-should-be-like-ruben-gallego-filibuster/4971590001/ | 0.165948 |
Can Collin Morikawa Join Select Group Next Week as Repeat PGA Winner? | Only two players - including Tiger Woods - have won it back-to-back since 1937. Cal alum Collin Morikawa will try to join an elite club next week at the Ocean Course at Kiawah Island off South Carolina. He will attempt to win back-to-back PGA Championship titles. Yes, he did. And Tiger Woods has done it twice in 1999-2000 and 2006-07. But thats Tiger Woods. No else was Tiger Woods in his prime. Aside from those two, no one has won the event in consecutive years since Denny Shute, the American-born son of an English golf pro, who took the PGA in 1936 and 37. For those of you who are math-impaired, that was 84 years ago. Walter Hagen won four in a row, but did it nearly a century ago. Jack Nicklaus won five PGA titles, including three in a span of five years. Never two in a row. Arnold Palmer never won the PGA Championship. Winning any golf tournament is tough. Winning a major is tougher. And winning it twice in a row is rare and special. Morikawa, who values the majors enough that he took last week and this week off to rest and prepare, delivered a magical performance at Harding Park in San Francisco last summer to win the PGA. The event is back in its normal spring slot on the calendar and returns to Kiawah Island for the first time since 2012, when Rory McIlroy won. Morikawa, ranked No. 6 in the world, will get a lot of attention next week as the defending champ. The William Hill Sportsbook lists him at 22-1 to emerge victorious. That gives him the ninth-best chance of winning, according to the oddsmakers. No surprise that world No. 1 Dustin Johnson is the favorite, at 11-1. Max Homa, the ex-Cal standout who is defending his title this week at the Wells Fargo Championship at Quail Hollow in North Carolina, is listed as 70-1. Byeong-Hun An, another former Golden Bear, is 150-1. Here are the top 10, according to William Hill: Dustin Johnson 11-1 Jon Rahm 12-1 Justin Thomas 14-1 Bryson DeChambeau 14-1 Jordan Spieth 16-1 Xander Schauffele 16-1 Rory McIlroy 16-1 Brooks Koepka 18-1 Collin Morikawa 22-1 Hideki Matsuyama 25-1 Meanwhile, CBS Sportsline used a computer to simulate the PGA results 10,000 times and came up an unexpected winner: Bryson DeChambeau. Heres what CBS wrote about DeChambeau: One huge shocker the model is calling for at the PGA Championship 2021: Bryson DeChambeau, the fifth-ranked player in the world and the 2020 US Open champion, stumbles big-time and barely cracks the top 10. DeChambeau is powerful off the tee and leads the Tour in driving distance, but his driving accuracy percentage ranks 136th, and that weakness will be magnified at the Ocean Course. But the CBS computer simulation also likes Morikawa. Another surprise: Collin Morikawa, a massive long shot at 22-1, makes a strong run at his second PGA Championship title. Morikawa won this tournament at TPC Harding Park last year in just his second career start in a major. This year, he enters the Ocean Course playing his best stretch of golf with four top-10 finishes, including one win, over his last nine events. Morikawa is exceptionally balanced in all parts of his game and ranks among the top 10 in both driving accuracy percentage (70.45) and greens in regulation percentage (72.85). No one on tour has gained more strokes in approaching the green, which has helped him reach a 4.64 birdie average, fourth-best among all golfers. The Ocean Course is one of the most difficult in the world with its tree-lined holes and breezy conditions, but Morikawa's game of precision and accuracy is well-suited for the course. Cover photo of Collin Morikawa by Rob Schumacher, USA Today Follow Jeff Faraudo of Cal Sports Report on Twitter: @jefffaraudo | Collin Morikawa won the PGA Championship at Harding Park in San Francisco last summer. Only Tiger Woods and Denny Shute have won back-to-back PGA titles. Morikia, ranked No. 6 in the world, is listed at 22-1 to win next week at Kiawah Island, South Carolina. | pegasus | 2 | https://www.si.com/college/cal/other-sports/pre-pga-2021-golf | 0.256848 |
Will the Seahawks make a move to bring Kerryon Johnson to Seattle? | originally appeared on NBC Sports Northwest Former second-round pick running back Kerryon Johnsons days as a Detroit Lion has officially come to an end. NFL Network insider Ian Rapoport reported Wednesday evening that Johnson has been officially waived by the Lions. The #Lions are waiving RB Kerryon Johnson, source said. Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) May 5, 2021 During his time in Detroit, Johnson was marked with high potential but injuries made it difficult for him to release his full potential. Listen & Subscribe to the Talkin' Seahawks podcast In his rookie year, he came out the gate and rushed for 641 yards and three touchdowns. Sadly his rookie year was cut short after a knee injury in week 10. The following year, Johnson had another knee injury that held him to just eight games in 2019. Johnson did play all 16 games for the first time last season, but only started in just two games and had 181 yards. But the thing is: Johnson is still very much a young player in the NFL. He is only 23 years old. Back in the 2018 draft, the Seahawks did show interest in Johnson and were high on his pass blocking abilities. And since the Seahawks didnt pick up on Rashaad Pennys fifth-year option, Johnson could be a good replacement and nice addition to Chris Carson. The problem is Johnson and his health. If he can stay healthy, Johnson could be a really nice addition to the Seahawks running game. And most likely would be for a low price as well. Johnson will head to the waive wire as of now and be a free agent. If John Schneider and Pete Carroll decide to go and bring Johnson in, they will be looking to see if his health is in order in the first place. | Kerryon Johnson has been waived by the Detroit Lions. The Seahawks were interested in drafting Johnson in the 2018 draft. | ctrlsum | 0 | https://sports.yahoo.com/seahawks-move-bring-kerryon-johnson-193317917.html?src=rss | 0.198572 |
Will the Seahawks make a move to bring Kerryon Johnson to Seattle? | originally appeared on NBC Sports Northwest Former second-round pick running back Kerryon Johnsons days as a Detroit Lion has officially come to an end. NFL Network insider Ian Rapoport reported Wednesday evening that Johnson has been officially waived by the Lions. The #Lions are waiving RB Kerryon Johnson, source said. Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) May 5, 2021 During his time in Detroit, Johnson was marked with high potential but injuries made it difficult for him to release his full potential. Listen & Subscribe to the Talkin' Seahawks podcast In his rookie year, he came out the gate and rushed for 641 yards and three touchdowns. Sadly his rookie year was cut short after a knee injury in week 10. The following year, Johnson had another knee injury that held him to just eight games in 2019. Johnson did play all 16 games for the first time last season, but only started in just two games and had 181 yards. But the thing is: Johnson is still very much a young player in the NFL. He is only 23 years old. Back in the 2018 draft, the Seahawks did show interest in Johnson and were high on his pass blocking abilities. And since the Seahawks didnt pick up on Rashaad Pennys fifth-year option, Johnson could be a good replacement and nice addition to Chris Carson. The problem is Johnson and his health. If he can stay healthy, Johnson could be a really nice addition to the Seahawks running game. And most likely would be for a low price as well. Johnson will head to the waive wire as of now and be a free agent. If John Schneider and Pete Carroll decide to go and bring Johnson in, they will be looking to see if his health is in order in the first place. | Kerryon Johnson has been waived by the Detroit Lions. The Seahawks were interested in drafting Johnson in the 2018 draft. Johnson has struggled with injuries in the past. He is still very much a young player in the NFL. | ctrlsum | 1 | https://sports.yahoo.com/seahawks-move-bring-kerryon-johnson-193317917.html?src=rss | 0.182578 |
Will the Seahawks make a move to bring Kerryon Johnson to Seattle? | originally appeared on NBC Sports Northwest Former second-round pick running back Kerryon Johnsons days as a Detroit Lion has officially come to an end. NFL Network insider Ian Rapoport reported Wednesday evening that Johnson has been officially waived by the Lions. The #Lions are waiving RB Kerryon Johnson, source said. Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) May 5, 2021 During his time in Detroit, Johnson was marked with high potential but injuries made it difficult for him to release his full potential. Listen & Subscribe to the Talkin' Seahawks podcast In his rookie year, he came out the gate and rushed for 641 yards and three touchdowns. Sadly his rookie year was cut short after a knee injury in week 10. The following year, Johnson had another knee injury that held him to just eight games in 2019. Johnson did play all 16 games for the first time last season, but only started in just two games and had 181 yards. But the thing is: Johnson is still very much a young player in the NFL. He is only 23 years old. Back in the 2018 draft, the Seahawks did show interest in Johnson and were high on his pass blocking abilities. And since the Seahawks didnt pick up on Rashaad Pennys fifth-year option, Johnson could be a good replacement and nice addition to Chris Carson. The problem is Johnson and his health. If he can stay healthy, Johnson could be a really nice addition to the Seahawks running game. And most likely would be for a low price as well. Johnson will head to the waive wire as of now and be a free agent. If John Schneider and Pete Carroll decide to go and bring Johnson in, they will be looking to see if his health is in order in the first place. | Kerryon Johnson has been waived by the Detroit Lions. He was a second-round pick in the 2018 NFL draft. The Seahawks were interested in signing Johnson. He could be a nice addition to the Seahawks running game if he can stay healthy. He is only 23 years old. | bart | 2 | https://sports.yahoo.com/seahawks-move-bring-kerryon-johnson-193317917.html?src=rss | 0.355211 |
What's the difference between Champagne and Prosecco? | When it comes to sparkling wine, there are a ton of different options out there, but for many it comes down to the choice of Champagne versus Prosecco. It's a battle of Italian versus French sparkling wines. If youre not familiar with the differences between the two, it goes beyond the nationalities of each sparkler, and involves the grapes used, the production process, and even when you might drink each one (though theres no bad time for either, in our book). Read on for the differences between Champagne and Prosecco, according to certified sommeliers. The production process Veuve Clicquot Brut Yellow Label Champagne - drizly.com 59.99 Shop Now When we talk about Champagne, we're talking about wines that undergo a specific process known as the traditional method or the mthode Champenoise and that are made, specifically, in the region of Champagne, France, says Hannah Selinger, a Certified Sommelier and freelance lifestyle writer. The easiest way to understand this production is that grapes are fermented, turning their sugars into alcohol, yielding a byproduct of carbon dioxide, which is not contained. The resulting wine is then bottled and fermented a second time, but this time the carbon dioxide is captured, says Selinger. The result is a wine that is double-fermented and bubbly. I don't want to get too far in the weeds here, but there are also only certain grapes that can be used in Champagne (technically seven, but the three most prominent varieties are Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Pinot Meunier). Champagne also undergoes a process called Riddling. Riddling refers to what happens during Champagnes second fermentation in the bottle. Its essentially a gentle tilting of the bottle over the course of months and months so that the neck of the bottle collects the dead yeast cells, which are then extracted from the bottle, says Selinger. Sometimes this is done by hand, sometimes the winemaker uses a machine called a gyropallette. Proseccos process is a little simpler, and accounts for the difference in taste and the carbonations texture. Prosecco, which comes from the Veneto region of Italy, is made using the so-called 'tank method,' says Selinger. A still wine is produced, just like in Champagne, and then the wine is fermented a second time in an enclosed tank that prevents the carbon dioxide from escaping, thus making the wine bubbly. La Marca Prosecco - drizly.com 16.99 Shop Now This is why you might find the bubbles in Prosecco to be a little rougher than the smooth little pearls floating up from a glass of Champagne. The bubbles, or bead, in tank method wines will be larger and coarser, and the wine will have a less uniform texture than wines made by the traditional method, says advanced sommelier Michael Scherzberg. However, this method is appropriate and even preferred for sparkling wines emphasizing fruit and varietal aromatics rather than the toasty, nutty, creamy flavors derived from the breaking down of the yeast lees in the traditional method. The traditional method, in this case, refers to how Champagne is made. In other words, Prosecco has larger and coarser bubbles and a fruitier flavor, while Champagne is smoother, with smaller bubbles and warmer, earthier flavors. Where the wine comes from Youve probably heard this before, but where the wine is made is integral to its name. Case in point: If youre drinking sparkling wine from France that isnt officially labeled as Champagne, its probably not even if its made using the mthode Champenoise, says Selinger. Instead, its probably something called Crmant. Other sparkling wines that come from France that are made in the same way but that are not in the designated region are allowed to use the title Crmant, which specifies that they are mthode Champenoise, but not from the area of Champagne, she says. Crmant can also be made from all different kinds of grapes, not just those used in Champagne, so Selinger says the difference in taste might be noticeable even to casual drinkers. Thats not a knock, though, she says Crmant is super delicious its just different. It's just a matter of what a grape tastes like, she says. Its the same for Italys Prosecco: Just like how all French sparkling wine isnt Champagne, not all Italian sparkling wine is Prosecco though Prosecco is the most important and renowned Italian sparkler, says Michelle Erland, a Certified Sommelier through the Court of Master Sommeliers and an Italian Wine Ambassador through Vinitaly International. Prosecco, says Selinger, is a designation of place and grape. She says that Prosecco can only be produced in its specific Italian denominazione di origine controllata (designation of origin, or DOC) and only from one grape: the Glera. Authentic Prosecco DOC is easily distinguishable by the government seal, which must be applied on each bottle, adds Erland. Aside from sheer brand recognition (what drink screams fancy more than Champagne?) a lot of the price comes from the more elaborate production process, which not only involves the delicate riddling process, but in general takes longer than you might expect. Basically, there is more labor and more equipment and more time involved in making Champagne, making it more expensive, says Selinger. Champagne takes at least 18 months to go to market, which means winemakers have to charge more for it. And thats an accelerated timeline Vintage Champagnes are aged for up to three years! Prosecco, on the other hand, can be made in just 30 days, which accounts for its comparatively cheaper price. The purpose While both are delicious for drinking on their own, one is probably the winner if you want to mix the sparkling wine with other elements. No one disagrees that a splash of Champagne makes for a great topper for some cocktails, but if youre wanting to get serious about mixed drinks, Proseccos relatively affordable price tag makes it a better option. It pairs well with the traditional Italian dishes as well as other international cuisines, says Erland and a decent Prosecco drinks well on its own. With its moderate alcoholic strength, Prosecco DOC can be used for aperitifs, toasts and at social gatherings, she says. Personally, I use it for cocktails, like bellinis, for which it's well suited, adds Selinger. To me, Champagne is a more serious wine, but not in a bad way. I prefer Champagne to Prosecco if it's just a matter of drinking. | Champagne and Prosecco are two very different sparkling wines. Champagne is made using the traditional method, while ProseCCo is made with the tank method. | bart | 1 | https://www.sfgate.com/shopping/article/What-s-the-difference-between-Champagne-and-16157356.php | 0.544846 |
What's the difference between Champagne and Prosecco? | When it comes to sparkling wine, there are a ton of different options out there, but for many it comes down to the choice of Champagne versus Prosecco. It's a battle of Italian versus French sparkling wines. If youre not familiar with the differences between the two, it goes beyond the nationalities of each sparkler, and involves the grapes used, the production process, and even when you might drink each one (though theres no bad time for either, in our book). Read on for the differences between Champagne and Prosecco, according to certified sommeliers. The production process Veuve Clicquot Brut Yellow Label Champagne - drizly.com 59.99 Shop Now When we talk about Champagne, we're talking about wines that undergo a specific process known as the traditional method or the mthode Champenoise and that are made, specifically, in the region of Champagne, France, says Hannah Selinger, a Certified Sommelier and freelance lifestyle writer. The easiest way to understand this production is that grapes are fermented, turning their sugars into alcohol, yielding a byproduct of carbon dioxide, which is not contained. The resulting wine is then bottled and fermented a second time, but this time the carbon dioxide is captured, says Selinger. The result is a wine that is double-fermented and bubbly. I don't want to get too far in the weeds here, but there are also only certain grapes that can be used in Champagne (technically seven, but the three most prominent varieties are Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Pinot Meunier). Champagne also undergoes a process called Riddling. Riddling refers to what happens during Champagnes second fermentation in the bottle. Its essentially a gentle tilting of the bottle over the course of months and months so that the neck of the bottle collects the dead yeast cells, which are then extracted from the bottle, says Selinger. Sometimes this is done by hand, sometimes the winemaker uses a machine called a gyropallette. Proseccos process is a little simpler, and accounts for the difference in taste and the carbonations texture. Prosecco, which comes from the Veneto region of Italy, is made using the so-called 'tank method,' says Selinger. A still wine is produced, just like in Champagne, and then the wine is fermented a second time in an enclosed tank that prevents the carbon dioxide from escaping, thus making the wine bubbly. La Marca Prosecco - drizly.com 16.99 Shop Now This is why you might find the bubbles in Prosecco to be a little rougher than the smooth little pearls floating up from a glass of Champagne. The bubbles, or bead, in tank method wines will be larger and coarser, and the wine will have a less uniform texture than wines made by the traditional method, says advanced sommelier Michael Scherzberg. However, this method is appropriate and even preferred for sparkling wines emphasizing fruit and varietal aromatics rather than the toasty, nutty, creamy flavors derived from the breaking down of the yeast lees in the traditional method. The traditional method, in this case, refers to how Champagne is made. In other words, Prosecco has larger and coarser bubbles and a fruitier flavor, while Champagne is smoother, with smaller bubbles and warmer, earthier flavors. Where the wine comes from Youve probably heard this before, but where the wine is made is integral to its name. Case in point: If youre drinking sparkling wine from France that isnt officially labeled as Champagne, its probably not even if its made using the mthode Champenoise, says Selinger. Instead, its probably something called Crmant. Other sparkling wines that come from France that are made in the same way but that are not in the designated region are allowed to use the title Crmant, which specifies that they are mthode Champenoise, but not from the area of Champagne, she says. Crmant can also be made from all different kinds of grapes, not just those used in Champagne, so Selinger says the difference in taste might be noticeable even to casual drinkers. Thats not a knock, though, she says Crmant is super delicious its just different. It's just a matter of what a grape tastes like, she says. Its the same for Italys Prosecco: Just like how all French sparkling wine isnt Champagne, not all Italian sparkling wine is Prosecco though Prosecco is the most important and renowned Italian sparkler, says Michelle Erland, a Certified Sommelier through the Court of Master Sommeliers and an Italian Wine Ambassador through Vinitaly International. Prosecco, says Selinger, is a designation of place and grape. She says that Prosecco can only be produced in its specific Italian denominazione di origine controllata (designation of origin, or DOC) and only from one grape: the Glera. Authentic Prosecco DOC is easily distinguishable by the government seal, which must be applied on each bottle, adds Erland. Aside from sheer brand recognition (what drink screams fancy more than Champagne?) a lot of the price comes from the more elaborate production process, which not only involves the delicate riddling process, but in general takes longer than you might expect. Basically, there is more labor and more equipment and more time involved in making Champagne, making it more expensive, says Selinger. Champagne takes at least 18 months to go to market, which means winemakers have to charge more for it. And thats an accelerated timeline Vintage Champagnes are aged for up to three years! Prosecco, on the other hand, can be made in just 30 days, which accounts for its comparatively cheaper price. The purpose While both are delicious for drinking on their own, one is probably the winner if you want to mix the sparkling wine with other elements. No one disagrees that a splash of Champagne makes for a great topper for some cocktails, but if youre wanting to get serious about mixed drinks, Proseccos relatively affordable price tag makes it a better option. It pairs well with the traditional Italian dishes as well as other international cuisines, says Erland and a decent Prosecco drinks well on its own. With its moderate alcoholic strength, Prosecco DOC can be used for aperitifs, toasts and at social gatherings, she says. Personally, I use it for cocktails, like bellinis, for which it's well suited, adds Selinger. To me, Champagne is a more serious wine, but not in a bad way. I prefer Champagne to Prosecco if it's just a matter of drinking. | Champagne and Prosecco are two very different sparkling wines. Champagne is made using the traditional method, while ProseCCo is made with the tank method. Proseucco has larger and coarser bubbles and a fruitier flavor, while Champagne has smaller bubbles and warmer. | bart | 2 | https://www.sfgate.com/shopping/article/What-s-the-difference-between-Champagne-and-16157356.php | 0.720491 |
Can Biden imbue foreign policy realism with moral values? | The intended message of this new brand of realpolitik is that America is trying to defend democracy, not that it is abandoning its values. But his main international preoccupation is a reinvigoration of democratic governance in the face of increasingly assertive autocratic regimes such as China. He is gathering support for such an initiative among U.S. friends around the world. The U.S. military presence in Afghanistan, and efforts to denuclearize North Korea, have not had their intended effects. So Mr. Biden is trying more modest, measured, and longer-term moves involving U.S. allies. The Biden administration is updating the old foreign policy doctrine of realpolitik by acknowledging the reality of limits on U.S. power today. But it is trying to give the new version a decidedly moral twist. Not the 19th-century German version, which came to imply hard-nosed pursuit of national interests regardless of moral concerns. But a new iteration, being realistic about the limits to Washingtons unilateral power in todays world. As President Joe Biden takes on a pair of foreign policy challenges that have bedeviled the United States for two decades Afghanistan and North Korea he is adopting a policy with a long history: realpolitik. Realpolitik, version 2021. That may best describe the new direction President Joe Biden is taking on a pair of Asian policy challenges that have bedeviled U.S. administrations for the past two decades: Afghanistan and North Korea. In Afghanistan, Washington is winding down its 20-year military involvement with the intention of pulling out all its troops over the next four months. The new tack on North Korea will focus on seeking a gradual rollback of its nuclear weapons program as part of an eventual denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula. Why We Wrote This The Biden administration is updating the old foreign policy doctrine ofrealpolitik by acknowledging the reality of limits on U.S. power today. But it is trying to give the new version a decidedly moral twist. What they have in common where the new realpolitik comes into play is a recognition of the limits to unilateral U.S. power in todays world, while using Washingtons still superpower-sized resources to build more effective alliances with other democracies. Old-style realpolitik conveyed something slightly different. The term, literally the politics of realism, has its origins in 19th-century Germany and came to imply the hard-nosed pursuit of national interests, regardless of moral concerns such as human rights and political freedoms. But President Biden in stark contrast to his predecessor, Donald Trump has explicitly prioritized such issues in his foreign policy. He has defined the competition between democracies and autocracies as the key struggle of the modern world. Arguing that were now at a make-or-break point, he has committed the United States to working with allies to ensure that democratic values and institutions prevail. Yet the politics of realism in Afghanistan concluding there is no more that American troops can do there, and withdrawing them does carry serious human rights risks. The Islamist Taliban have already regained control of about half of the country. They seem, at a minimum, poised to regain a share of national power once U.S. and NATO troops go, potentially threatening freedom of expression, independent political and social organization, and, most dramatically, the rights of women all of which have taken firmer root since American and allied forces ousted the Taliban regime in 2001. In North Korea, the human rights picture is even bleaker. Thats not going to change as long as dictator Kim Jong Un remains in place. Amid a deepening economic crisis exacerbated by the pandemic, Mr. Kim clearly views his nuclear arsenal as a key safeguard for political survival. The realpolitik v2021 calculation that Mr. Biden seems to have made is that existing U.S. policies are no longer fit for the purpose, and are not going to deliver either a stable, democratic government in Afghanistan or a non-nuclear North Korea. So the emphasis is shifting toward a combination of more modest, measured, and longer-term moves. The administration is still trying to enlist a range of interested external parties in a diplomatic attempt at a power-sharing agreement for Afghanistan. But theres no sign yet of success. Athit Perawongmetha/Reuters/File North Korea's leader Kim Jong Un. The Biden administration has chosen to keep diplomatic channels open with North Korea, so as to pursue its policy of gradual denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula. Nor on North Korea. There, Mr. Biden is in effect splitting the difference between his two predecessors. Barack Obama resisted substantive diplomatic engagement, demanding that Pyongyang first demonstrate a serious commitment to abandoning its bid for nuclear weapons. Mr. Trump opted for high-stakes summitry with Mr. Kim, aiming to trade an end to all American economic sanctions for an end to North Koreas nuclear weapons program. Mr. Kim said no to both U.S. leaders. The Biden administration intends to keep all diplomatic channels to Pyongyang open. But no early breakthrough is either promised or expected. The hope is to chart a more gradual path toward the Trump administrations goal of full denuclearization. Mr. Bidens major policy thrust, meanwhile, is on the longer-term priority he sees as an essential foundation for a whole range of U.S. interests, from economics and security to human rights: leading a resurgence and reinvigoration of democratic governance in the face of increasingly assertive autocratic regimes on the world stage. The symbolic centerpiece will be a Summit for Democracy hes planning for later this year. But the day-to-day spadework is already underway. The president, Secretary of State Antony Blinken, and other foreign policy officials have repeatedly raised political and human rights concerns in their dealings with China, Russia, and other autocratic or populist governments. Theyve also been working to create an explicitly pro-democracy Asian counterweight to China, by strengthening coordination with Japan, South Korea, India, and Japan. Each of those countries was represented in London this week as Mr. Blinken joined a foreign ministers conference to prepare for this summers summit of Group of Seven economic powers in the United Kingdom. British Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab echoed Mr. Bidens own calls for a cluster of countries to defend democratic values. Britain has also expressed interest in joining the U.S. in closer political and security coordination with Chinas democratic neighbors. Get the Monitor Stories you care about delivered to your inbox. Your email address By signing up, you agree to our Privacy Policy The intended message of this new brand of realpolitik is that America is addressing the longer-term challenge of ensuring a strong, international defense of democracy, not that it is abandoning its political values. | The Biden administration is updating the old foreign policy doctrine of realpolitik, but it is trying to give the new version a decidedly moral twist, says Julian Zelizer. | ctrlsum | 1 | https://www.csmonitor.com/World/2021/0506/Can-Biden-imbue-foreign-policy-realism-with-moral-values?icid=rss | 0.413545 |
Can Biden imbue foreign policy realism with moral values? | The intended message of this new brand of realpolitik is that America is trying to defend democracy, not that it is abandoning its values. But his main international preoccupation is a reinvigoration of democratic governance in the face of increasingly assertive autocratic regimes such as China. He is gathering support for such an initiative among U.S. friends around the world. The U.S. military presence in Afghanistan, and efforts to denuclearize North Korea, have not had their intended effects. So Mr. Biden is trying more modest, measured, and longer-term moves involving U.S. allies. The Biden administration is updating the old foreign policy doctrine of realpolitik by acknowledging the reality of limits on U.S. power today. But it is trying to give the new version a decidedly moral twist. Not the 19th-century German version, which came to imply hard-nosed pursuit of national interests regardless of moral concerns. But a new iteration, being realistic about the limits to Washingtons unilateral power in todays world. As President Joe Biden takes on a pair of foreign policy challenges that have bedeviled the United States for two decades Afghanistan and North Korea he is adopting a policy with a long history: realpolitik. Realpolitik, version 2021. That may best describe the new direction President Joe Biden is taking on a pair of Asian policy challenges that have bedeviled U.S. administrations for the past two decades: Afghanistan and North Korea. In Afghanistan, Washington is winding down its 20-year military involvement with the intention of pulling out all its troops over the next four months. The new tack on North Korea will focus on seeking a gradual rollback of its nuclear weapons program as part of an eventual denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula. Why We Wrote This The Biden administration is updating the old foreign policy doctrine ofrealpolitik by acknowledging the reality of limits on U.S. power today. But it is trying to give the new version a decidedly moral twist. What they have in common where the new realpolitik comes into play is a recognition of the limits to unilateral U.S. power in todays world, while using Washingtons still superpower-sized resources to build more effective alliances with other democracies. Old-style realpolitik conveyed something slightly different. The term, literally the politics of realism, has its origins in 19th-century Germany and came to imply the hard-nosed pursuit of national interests, regardless of moral concerns such as human rights and political freedoms. But President Biden in stark contrast to his predecessor, Donald Trump has explicitly prioritized such issues in his foreign policy. He has defined the competition between democracies and autocracies as the key struggle of the modern world. Arguing that were now at a make-or-break point, he has committed the United States to working with allies to ensure that democratic values and institutions prevail. Yet the politics of realism in Afghanistan concluding there is no more that American troops can do there, and withdrawing them does carry serious human rights risks. The Islamist Taliban have already regained control of about half of the country. They seem, at a minimum, poised to regain a share of national power once U.S. and NATO troops go, potentially threatening freedom of expression, independent political and social organization, and, most dramatically, the rights of women all of which have taken firmer root since American and allied forces ousted the Taliban regime in 2001. In North Korea, the human rights picture is even bleaker. Thats not going to change as long as dictator Kim Jong Un remains in place. Amid a deepening economic crisis exacerbated by the pandemic, Mr. Kim clearly views his nuclear arsenal as a key safeguard for political survival. The realpolitik v2021 calculation that Mr. Biden seems to have made is that existing U.S. policies are no longer fit for the purpose, and are not going to deliver either a stable, democratic government in Afghanistan or a non-nuclear North Korea. So the emphasis is shifting toward a combination of more modest, measured, and longer-term moves. The administration is still trying to enlist a range of interested external parties in a diplomatic attempt at a power-sharing agreement for Afghanistan. But theres no sign yet of success. Athit Perawongmetha/Reuters/File North Korea's leader Kim Jong Un. The Biden administration has chosen to keep diplomatic channels open with North Korea, so as to pursue its policy of gradual denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula. Nor on North Korea. There, Mr. Biden is in effect splitting the difference between his two predecessors. Barack Obama resisted substantive diplomatic engagement, demanding that Pyongyang first demonstrate a serious commitment to abandoning its bid for nuclear weapons. Mr. Trump opted for high-stakes summitry with Mr. Kim, aiming to trade an end to all American economic sanctions for an end to North Koreas nuclear weapons program. Mr. Kim said no to both U.S. leaders. The Biden administration intends to keep all diplomatic channels to Pyongyang open. But no early breakthrough is either promised or expected. The hope is to chart a more gradual path toward the Trump administrations goal of full denuclearization. Mr. Bidens major policy thrust, meanwhile, is on the longer-term priority he sees as an essential foundation for a whole range of U.S. interests, from economics and security to human rights: leading a resurgence and reinvigoration of democratic governance in the face of increasingly assertive autocratic regimes on the world stage. The symbolic centerpiece will be a Summit for Democracy hes planning for later this year. But the day-to-day spadework is already underway. The president, Secretary of State Antony Blinken, and other foreign policy officials have repeatedly raised political and human rights concerns in their dealings with China, Russia, and other autocratic or populist governments. Theyve also been working to create an explicitly pro-democracy Asian counterweight to China, by strengthening coordination with Japan, South Korea, India, and Japan. Each of those countries was represented in London this week as Mr. Blinken joined a foreign ministers conference to prepare for this summers summit of Group of Seven economic powers in the United Kingdom. British Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab echoed Mr. Bidens own calls for a cluster of countries to defend democratic values. Britain has also expressed interest in joining the U.S. in closer political and security coordination with Chinas democratic neighbors. Get the Monitor Stories you care about delivered to your inbox. Your email address By signing up, you agree to our Privacy Policy The intended message of this new brand of realpolitik is that America is addressing the longer-term challenge of ensuring a strong, international defense of democracy, not that it is abandoning its political values. | The Biden administration is updating the old foreign policy doctrine of realpolitik by acknowledging the reality of limits on U.S. power today. But it is trying to give the new version a decidedly moral twist. In Afghanistan, Washington is winding down its 20-year military involvement with the intention of pulling out all its troops over the next four months. | bart | 2 | https://www.csmonitor.com/World/2021/0506/Can-Biden-imbue-foreign-policy-realism-with-moral-values?icid=rss | 0.535492 |
Where Do The Longhorns Stand in Stadium's Way-Too-Early Top 25? | Behind a host of incoming transfers and returning difference makers, Chris Beard's Longhorns have recorded a good deal of off-season praise The Texas Longhorns men's basketball team has seen a major makeover this offseason, and the pundits are beginning to take notice. On Thursday, Stadium college basketball analyst Jeff Goodman updated his way-too-early preseason top-25 rankings, with the Texas Longhorns and new head coach Chris Beard now sitting with the No. 10 overall ranking "Im betting on Chris Beard and his staff," Goodman said of the Longhorns." He still has to add more pieces to the roster, but hes already brought on four impact transfers and will bring back Jones and Ramey. Theyll be more." READ MORE: Longhorns Basketball Earns Commitment From Standout Vanderbilt Transfer Dylan Disu The Longhorns began their makeover following their early exit from the NCAA tournament when they moved on from former head coach Shaka Smart and hired beard to replace him. Following the hiring of Beard, and the exits of Kai Jones, Kamaka Hepa, Donovan Williams, and Royce Hamm, an influx of transfers began to flood into Austin, including Kentucky transfer Devin Askew, Vanderbilt transfer Dylan Disu, Utah transfer Timmy Allen, and Creighton transfer Christian Bishop. READ MORE: Longhorns Courtney Ramey Announces Return For Final Season Beard was also able to convince starters, Andrew Jones, Brock Cunningham, and Courtney Ramey, as well as role player Jase Febres to return. Beard hopes to do the same with forward Greg Brown and Center Jericho Simms, who are testing the waters of the upcoming 2021 NBA Draft. Comment and join in on the discussion below! Sign up for your premium membership to LonghornsCountry.com today, and get access to the entire Fan Nation premium network! Follow Longhorns Country on Twitter and Facebook | Stadium college basketball analyst Jeff Goodman updated his way-too-early preseason top-25 rankings, with the Texas Longhorns now sitting with the No. 10 overall ranking. | ctrlsum | 1 | https://www.si.com/college/texas/news/beards-longhorns-ranked-in-top-10-of-stadiums-way-too-early-top-25 | 0.524379 |
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