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What Tight End Options Remain for Titans?

General manager Jon Robinson did not address the position in the 2021 NFL Draft, which means free agents are now front and center. Despite being close a couple of times, according to general manager Jon Robinson, the Tennessee Titans did not address one of their biggest needs at an offensive skill position in the 2021 NFL Draft. They added a pair of wide receivers on the third day with the selections of Dez Fitzpatrick (Louisville) in the fourth round, and Racey McMath (LSU) in the sixth round. However, they stood pat, at least for the time being, with players they currently have in the tight end room. It was expected that the Titans would add a tight end at some point in the draft after Jonnu Smith, their No. 1 tight end from the past two seasons, signed a four-year deal with the Patriots in free agency. The Titans subsequently re-signed role players Anthony Firkser, who could produce more with a larger role, and Geoff Swaim, a veteran who prides himself on his blocking. In addition to those two, the Titans have several untested players (Parker Hesse, Tommy Hudson and Jared Pickney). While Robinson expressed confidence in that group, he did not rule out the possibility of making an addition to the tight end room at some point ahead of the 2021 season. ... We'll continue to evaluate players that are available here after the Draft as we start that process, he said. I've gotten several calls from general managers on other teams that have players on their roster, so the roster building process is never over. But we are excited with the group that we've got back and see how those guys come in and compete and continue to evaluate the players that are available as we continue to move through the offseason. Considering what Robinson said, heres a look at potential free-agent options for the Titans: Delanie Walker: The Titans cut him last March after injuries shortened his final two seasons with the team. He took this past season off to heal and get back into football shape and said teams know what I can do. Ill come back next year strong, faster and healthier. The Titans know very well what Walker can do in full health. He holds the franchises record for receptions by a tight end with 381 for 4,423 yards and 24 touchdowns. A call to the three-time Pro Bowler wouldnt hurt. MyCole Pruitt: Pruitt (pictured) spent each of the last three seasons with the Titans, who did not re-sign him after his contract expired at the conclusion of the 2020 season. He does not add much as a pass-catcher (his career-high is 10 receptions in a season). Like Walker, though, he wouldnt have to acclimate to what the Titans want to accomplish offensively. In his post-draft press conference, Robinson said there is no reason why the Titans wouldnt be interested in bringing Pruitt back. Yeah, we'll see kind of how it goes here and like I said in the post-draft, and as we inch closer to mandatory minicamp and the offseason and training camp, and (Pruitt) has played a lot of good snaps for us, Robinson said. He's done nothing to warrant not being under consideration to come back here. Trey Burton: Burton had a role in one of the most iconic plays in Super Bowl history. In the Philadelphia Eagles Super Bowl LII victory over New England, Burton took a pitch pass, rolled to his right and threw a touchdown pass to quarterback Nick Foles on a fourth-and-goal late in the second quarter. After four seasons with the Eagles, Burton has played for the Chicago Bears (2018, 2019) and Indianapolis Colts this past season. He has 159 receptions for 1,432 yards and 15 touchdowns in his seven-year career. Tyler Eifert: A first-round pick by the Cincinnati Bengals in 2013, Eifert made the Pro Bowl in 2015 after a career season in which he caught 52 passes for 615 yards and 13 touchdowns. He hasnt had the same production since then, though, and has a lengthy injury history, including a dislocated elbow in 2014 and a handful of ankle injuries. Eifert spent seven seasons with the Bengals before signing with the Jacksonville Jaguars last season. For his career, he has 221 receptions for 2,501 yards and 26 touchdowns.

https://www.si.com/nfl/titans/news/tennessee-titans-nfl-free-agency-ti

How did Packers address needs in 2021 NFL draft?

During the lead-up to the 2021 NFL draft, Packers Wire ranked the teams needs by position, highlighting the areas of the roster general manager Brian Gutekunst might want to address over three days of acquiring players. A year after planning for the future in a very obvious way, the Packers were surprisingly focused on filling in the cracks of the current roster entering this season, checking off positional needs one by one over nine total draft picks. Heres a quick breakdown of how the team attacked needs in the 2021 draft: 1. Cornerback: The Packers selected Eric Stokes in the first round and Shemar Jean-Charles in the fifth round, providing immediate competition for returning starters Kevin King and Chandon Sullivan and potential future starters opposite Jaire Alexander and in the slot. The Packers clearly saw cornerback as the top need and attacked it in this draft. This position will be competitive this summer and far more stable past 2021. 2. Offensive line: The Packers lost Corey Linsley, Rick Wagner and Lane Taylor this offseason, so Gutekunst drafted three offensive linemen for the second straight year. Josh Myers (second round) could immediately replace Linsley at center, Royce Newman (fourth round) provides much-needed depth at right tackle and Cole Van Lanen (sixth round) will get a chance to compete for a backup job at guard. Gutekunst wasnt going to leave offensive line coach Adam Stenavich short-handed. Feeding the ascending young position coach with moldable players looks like a strong strategy for keeping the offensive line a strength long-term. 3. Defensive line: The class of defensive linemen wasnt a strong one, so the Packers waited until Day 3 to add a big body up front on defense. Tedarrell Slaton might never be a three-down player, but hes 330 pounds and surprisingly athletic, giving him a chance to eventually play a role as a two-gapping run-plugger. This underwhelming position group probably needed a bigger investment this offseason, but the Packers are bringing back their top four defensive linemen from 2020 and now Slaton can fill the Snacks Harrison role. Story continues (AP Photo/Mark Wallheiser, File) 4. Wide receiver: The Packers didnt take a receiver in the first round, but help here through the draft finally arrived. Gutekunst traded up in the third round to get Amari Rodgers, providing the slot/gadget playmaker that Matt LaFleurs diverse offense probably needs to operate at maximum capacity. It was a moderate surprise that the Packers didnt take a receiver on Day 3, given the contract situation at the position after 2021, 5. Inside linebacker: With far more important needs to address, inside linebacker was mostly neglected again. Isaiah McDuffie can run and he flew around the field at Boston College, but the sixth-round pick probably isnt a long-term answer here. However, he should give the special teams a boost. Thats still a win for a team that was so poor in the third phase in 2020. 6. Safety: The Packers didnt draft a safety, but undrafted free agent Christian Uphoff might have a real chance to make the roster and be an option as the third safety, especially after Raven Greene signed in Tampa Bay. Uphoff was one of the best undrafted free agent safeties available, so this is a little bit like having a 10th draft pick. 7. Edge rusher: No pick here. This felt like a sneaky need, given the fact that Preston Smith probably wont be on the roster in 2022, but the Packers never saw an opportunity to add to this room during the draft. It will be a strong position group in 2021, but an investment might be required in next years draft. 8. Running back: The Packers addressed this need as many expected them to with a Day 3 pick. Smart. Seventh-round pick Kylin Hill is a talented tackle-breaker and could have Jamaal Williams-like versatility as a pro. Strong replacement option for cheap. 9. Tight end: No need for help here. The Packers love providing Matt LaFleur with tight ends, but this position group is at least five players deep with capable options entering 2021. 10. Specialists: A couple of long snappers were drafted, but not by the Packers. The roster already has two players at kicker, punter and long snapper, so using a draft pick on any of the three positions wasnt required. 11. Quarterback: In hindsight, this position needed to be quite a ways up the list, given the Aaron Rodgers conflict. The Packers still didnt draft a quarterback, and theyve yet to sign an undrafted free agent. Two future additions here are likely. Thoughts: The Packers spent their first seven picks on the top four positions in our rankings entering the draft. Almost methodically, Gutekunst went down the needs list and crossed off positions, adding strong competition at key positions and eliminating obvious areas of instability both in 2021 and 2022. There wasnt much help for the defensive front, mostly because the early investments were focused so heavily on the top needs. Also, the class wasnt particularly strong along the defensive line or inside linebacker, but it was at cornerback, offensive line and receiver, so the Packers made use. This was a draft class heavily influenced by need. List

https://sports.yahoo.com/did-packers-address-needs-2021-205208774.html?src=rss

How long will it take for the Houston Texans to be attractive to national TV audiences?

The NFL schedule release is set for May 12 at 7:00 p.m Central Time, but Houston sports fans wouldnt be surprised to see their Texans play in the early game slot on Sunday for 17 weeks. The Texans had one prime time game in 2020, the Thursday NFL kickoff at Arrowhead Stadium against the Kansas City Chiefs. Houston technically had another nationally televised game against the Detroit Lions on Thanksgiving at Ford Field, but their other 14 games were on Sunday afternoons. That was with quarterback Deshaun Watson and defensive end J.J. Watt. One is with the Arizona Cardinals now, and the other is a mere technicality on the roster. Neither will be part of the star power of the 2021 team, if it even has any. Throw in the fact the Texans went 4-12 a season ago and that they play in the AFC South, and there isnt much hope for Houston to even get an NFL Network game in late December. Take for example this list of top-10 games for the 2021 season on NFL.com. The Jacksonville Jaguars are listed twice, once as an actual game on the list and another time as part of an honorable mention. Naturally Houston isnt on there, but neither are other AFC South foes such as the Tennessee Titans or Indianapolis Colts. Therefore, it isnt even a guarantee that playing two playoff teams from a year ago twice will ensure Houston plays in front of a national TV audience. The Texans five-man draft class also did not net any rookies that sports fans would want to watch. As much as fifth-round tight end Brevin Jordan was a steal, the Texans dont have the same cache as they did two years ago when Watson, Watt, and three-time All-Pro wideout DeAndre Hopkins were on the roster. As great teammates as safety Justin Reid, receiver Brandin Cooks, and running back David Johnson are, they dont exactly move the needle for TV executives. Of course, winning ballgames would help the Texans catapult into front of national TV audiences. The most optimistic outlook would have to be 2022 when general manager Nick Caserio has retooled the roster and had the benefit of a first and second-round pick in the NFL draft. As much as it could technically happen, the Texans arent going to jump out to a 10-0 start and force a flex into Sunday Night Football in Week 11. The Texans may be just a Houston thing for quite a while.

https://sports.yahoo.com/long-houston-texans-attractive-national-193341766.html?src=rss

When will Hurricane Dayo Odeyingbo make landfall at Lucas Oil Stadium?

There will come a day, sometime in the near future, when Dayo Odeyingbo will drill a quarterback into the green turf at Lucas Oil Stadium and Rock You Like a Hurricane will pulsate throughout the stadium as Indianapolis Colts fans serenade Hurricane Dayo. Count on it. And for future reference: Credit the song to German heavy metal band Scorpions and the nickname to Indianapolis Colts Director of College Scouting Morocco Brown, who could think of no better way to describe Odeyingbo's long-limbed aggression on the line of scrimmage. As for getting the nickname to stick and finding its way into the mouths of petrified quarterbacks and offensive coordinators around the league, that will ultimately be up to Odeyingbo himself. But make no mistake about it, the Colts second-round pick loves his new handle and is looking forward to the opportunity to live up to it. I definitely see where the name comes from, Odeyingbo said Friday, the first day of Colts rookie minicamp. I definitely think its a solid way to describe the way I play, that disruption I bring to the game. I like the name. I hope it sticks. As of May 7, the Vanderbilt product said, its too soon to tell. He hopes to contribute in 2021, but thats far from a guarantee, as hes still in the earlier stages of his recovery from the torn Achilles he sustained while preparing for the Senior Bowl in late January. We were just going through some drills, and I planted it wrong and went down, said Odeyingbo, who was asked to reminisce on the day that might have pushed him out of the first round of the 2021 NFL Draft. Ended up tearing (my Achilles), so my mindset has been getting back to work and getting back healthy. More Colts coverage: Odeyingbo isnt committed to any one timeline. All he would say specifically about his recovery is that the next big milestone will be jogging. He did, however, reiterate throughout Fridays news conference that while it remains his goal to play for Indianapolis in 2021, neither he nor the Colts are willing to risk his career to get him on the field this year. If the Achilles heals properly and the doctors clear him, hell play. If not, hell do everything he can to maximize his time with the team and prepare for 2022. The Colts, Odeyingbo knows, didnt select him at No. 54 overall as a one-year investment. They drafted him with the mindset that hell be part of their core, long-term. Indianapolis, like other teams interested in him during the pre-draft process, understood that he might not be ready to go in Year 1. And it still felt, as general manager Chris Ballard put it recently, that he was worth the risk. Part of the reason Odeyingbo doesn't have a lot of concrete answers about his timeline is that every injury is different. Another is that he's never suffered an injury of this magnitude during his career. The worst he can remember is a broken hand during college, but he played through that, so he's hasnt traversed the long road to recovery. Fortunately, Odeyingbo said, he has an excellent support system of family, friends and former teammates who have been encouraging from his early days of rehabilitation in California -- where he suffered the injury -- to the next stages at Vanderbilt and up through the draft. And now that he's with the Colts and will soon begin rehabbing with them, he expects he'll find even more support as he continues to recover. Because he won't be able to workout with his teammates during minicamp, the goal these next couple of days, he said, is to start getting acclimated with his new home. Im just hoping obviously to get around the coaches, get around the other rookies and kind of create that bond," he said. "Then obviously, learn from a classroom perspective and just soaking up knowledge on the field and being around coaches and things like that. I also want to get to know the athletic training staff and people around the building. Among the many people he's looking forward to getting to know better is Colts first-round pick Kwity Paye. Since the draft, the two have been acquainted, but they haven't had a chance to talk very much. One thing they appear to have discussed is the reign of terror they're planning on bringing to Indianapolis. "We're excited for the future," Odeyingbo said. I think we both know what we can do together, the disruption and the havoc we can wreak on NFL quarterbacks. I'm excited for that future." Follow IndyStar Colts Insider Jim Ayello on Twitter: @jimayello.

https://www.indystar.com/story/sports/nfl/colts/2021/05/07/colts-news-lucas-oil-stadium-day-odeyingbo/4918419001/

Whats next for Albert Pujols?

Reuters Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James is expected to miss the next three games and return next week for the team's final four regular season games, The Athletic reported Thursday. James was already expected to miss the next two games -- Thursday vs. the Los Angeles Clippers and Friday at Portland -- with Sunday's home game against the Phoenix Suns added to give the superstar more time to heal, per the report. The Lakers play two sets of back-to-back games next week, home vs. the Knicks and Houston, then on the road at Indiana and New Orleans to end the regular season.

https://sports.yahoo.com/next-albert-pujols-163744655.html?src=rss

Which Warriors deserve a chance to help Steph Curry chase a title next season?

Warriors guard Stephen Currys historic scoring surge has come with an unsettling caveat: Hes doing it on a 34-33 team. Though many close to him believe Curry has at least five seasons left of high-level basketball, Golden State should feel urgency. Wasting what remains of Currys prime would be a disservice to the most important player in franchise history. The Warriors front office should be thinking about putting a championship-caliber supporting cast around Curry (age 33), Draymond Green (31) and Klay Thompson (31) next season. Before Golden State can worry about trades or free agents, it must decide who to keep from among its current players in 2021-22. Here is a breakdown of who belongs on next seasons roster, who doesnt and who has more to prove. IN Kent Bazemore: He might not be flashy, but Bazemore is the type of role player the Warriors need next to Curry. His court awareness, defensive versatility, shooting efficiency and hustle are why he ranks third on the team in net rating behind Curry and Green. Assuming the price is reasonable, the Warriors should do all they can to re-sign Bazemore in free agency this summer. Damion Lee: Though Lee is shooting 39.7% from 3-point range this season and boasts a couple of game-winning shots on his resume, his greatest skill is his ability to play off his brother-in-law, Curry. The Warriors would be wise to guarantee Lees $1.9 million contract for next season. He probably isnt a top-eight player on a championship contender, but hes a quality option on the rotations fringes. Kevon Looney: No one has improved his roster standing more in the past year than Looney, whose nagging injury issues were so severe last season that some wondered if his NBA career was over. He is excelling as the starting center and reminding doubters why Steve Kerr has long been high on him. Looneys knack for being in the right spot at the right time, executing dribble-handoffs with Curry and setting textbook screens makes him a serious candidate to start next season over James Wiseman. The Warriors expect Looney to pick up his $5.2 million player option for 2021-22. Jordan Poole: In late December, when the Warriors picked up Pooles third-year option of $2.2 million for the 2021-22 season, it banked on a breakthrough. They got one after he returned from the G League bubble in early March. In Pooles past 31 games, he has scored in double figures 22 times and reached the 20-point mark six times. Its not difficult to envision him offering a contender scoring punch off the bench as a seventh or eighth man. Juan Toscano-Anderson: The Warriors plan to convert Toscano-Andersons two-way contract to a standard NBA deal next week, which should prevent him from becoming a restricted free agent this summer. Not only is Toscano-Anderson a helpful rotation player, he has a chance to become a foundational part of the Warriors long-term future. His court vision, versatility, passing ability, defensive IQ and all-out energy make him an ideal role player in Kerrs system. Andrew Wiggins: He struggled at times as the Timberwolves go-to option, but Wiggins is a good fit as more of a complementary piece on the Warriors. His shooting 47.2% from the field and 38.2% from 3-point range are both career highs. Wiggins has established himself as more of an on-ball stopper, and he has been a mainstay for an injury-plagued team, starting every game this season. Wiggins has cemented his status as the Warriors long-term answer at small forward. OUT Nico Mannion: Few doubt that Mannion is an NBA-caliber facilitator, but his shaky shooting and questionable defense have made it tough for him to earn a rotation spot. Its hard to imagine a scenario where hes on the 15-man roster next season. Mannions best bet may be returning to the Warriors on a two-way contract, but even that seems unlikely. Golden State cant afford to back up Curry with a developmental project. Mychal Mulder: Mulders lot reflects why life is so difficult for fringe players. He has done all the Warriors asked of him this season as a catch-and-shoot specialist off the bench, but hes not elite at any one thing and has yet to grasp the nuances of Kerrs system. His biggest problem might be Golden States interest in bringing over Justinian Jessup the No. 51 pick in Novembers NBA draft from Australia next season. Jessup could fill Mulders role while adding more versatility. Kelly Oubre Jr.: He is not an ideal fit for the Warriors system, but Oubre might still receive a lucrative offer in free agency from Golden State for salary-cap reasons; the Warriors luxury-tax situation prevents them from signing anyone else of Oubres caliber. To bring back Oubre as a trade asset, Golden State might offer him more than any other team in free agency, but hes in the out category because its expected hell sign with a team that can guarantee him a starting role. Alen Smailagic: He was taken with the No. 39 pick of the 2019 NBA draft as a long-term project, but even long-term projects must show progress. Two years in, he is nowhere close to contributing at the NBA level, which leaves the Warriors with one option: releasing him when his contract becomes non-guaranteed at the end of the season. Interactive How Curry's 3-point shooting changed the game Stephen Curry has not only led a Warriors resurgence since entering the league, he has changed the game with his long-distance shooting. MORE TO PROVE Jordan Bell: The Warriors are expected to sign Bell to a two-way contract in coming days. Hes an intriguing reclamation project, having flashed some potential in his first stint with Golden State (2017-19) as a high-energy big man off the bench. Though its unlikely Bell will do enough to warrant a 15-man roster spot next season, he could warrant another two-way contract. Eric Paschall: Before a hip injury that has sidelined him more than a month, Paschall was struggling to crack the rotation. Hes at his best as a small-ball center, but thats a niche role can only be utilized in certain matchups. The Warriors need him to be more dependable at forward. Though his $1.8 million contract is guaranteed next season, Paschall might have a tough time finding minutes. James Wiseman: He still has a chance to blossom into an All-Star center, but his recovery from knee surgery will wipe out his offseason and set back his development in 2021-22. This could force the Warriors to consider packaging Wiseman in a trade for someone who can help them win a title as soon as next season. As great as Wiseman could become, his development doesnt align well with Currys championship window. BOTTOM LINE Including their core of Curry, Thompson and Green, the Warriors have at least nine players who could help them chase a championship next season. The question is whether Golden State can make another big move or two to solidify its status as contenders. Connor Letourneau is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: cletourneau@sfchronicle.com. Twitter: @Con_Chron

https://www.sfchronicle.com/sports/warriors/article/Which-Warriors-deserve-a-chance-to-help-Steph-16160946.php

What if the Yankees Signed Patrick Corbin?

Once upon a time, the New York Yankees made a significant play at signing starting pitcher Patrick Corbin in free agency. Despite his brother wearing a Yankees cap at his wedding, trying to convince him to join the Bronx Bombers, Corbin ultimately chose to sign a six-year, $140 million deal with the Washington Nationals. And as they say, the rest is history. Corbin had a stellar 2019 campaign with the Nationals, going 14-7 with a 3.25 ERA and 238 strikeouts in his first season in D.C. The southpaw took home the Warren Spahn Award, given out to the best left-handed pitcher in baseball. The left-hander was also sensational in the World Series that year, pitching to a 3.60 ERA and picking up the win in Game 7 to help the Nationals capture their first title in franchise history. Throughout the playoffs, Corbin recorded 13.886 strikeouts per nine innings, the third-best strikeout-per-nine ratio in baseball history in a single postseason. While Corbin was dominant from start to finish in his first season with the Nats, he's hit a rough patch ever since. In a COVID-shortened campaign last year, Corbin went 2-7 with a 4.66 ERA, giving up the most hits (85) and posting the highest WHIP (1.569) among qualified pitchers. And this year, he's off to a tough start again with a 1-3 record to go along with an abysmal 8.10 ERA. Ace-less Despite missing out on the Corbin sweepstakes in 2019, the Yankees went out the next offseason and backed up the Brinks truck for ace Gerrit Cole. Cole signed a record nine-year contract worth $324 million. Since then, the right-hander has an 11-4 record with the Yankees, dominating with a 2.38 ERA and striking out 160 batters in 19 starts. During that span, Corbin has been one of the worst pitchers in baseball with a 3-10 record, 5.56 ERA and 78 strikeouts. If the Yankees initially splurged on Corbin the year before, they might have been able to get over the hump in '19 and capture a World Series title. That's a big if, as their bats went cold in their ALCS loss to the Houston Astros, falling in six games. Had Corbin been the ace they chose, it also would've likely meant that New York would not have been able to sign Cole the following offseason. Although the Nationals are grateful for the World Series title he helped them win, Corbin's contract is looking an albatross at the moment given how poorly he's performed as of late. They are still on the hook to pay him big money for the rest of this season, and the next three years after that, as well. Cole on the other hand has pitched like a Cy Young. Without having him as the No. 1 starter in their rotation, the Yankees would be stuck with an underperforming, high-priced lefty in Corbin. So, while it's always fun to reminisce and take a look at the what ifs, in this particular situation, the Yankees have dodged a long-term bullet and were rewarded with one of the best starters in the game. When all is said and done, Corbin might have been the best move that general manager Brian Cashman and the Yankees didn't make. MORE: Follow Pat Ragazzo on Twitter (@ragazzoreport). Be sure to bookmark Inside The Pinstripes and check back daily for news, analysis and more.

https://www.si.com/mlb/yankees/news/what-if-the-new-york-yankees-signed-washington-nationals-starting-pitcher-patrick-corbin-free-agency

What Position are the 49ers Lacking at the Most?

The 49ers solidified a lot of positions this offseason, but there is still one specific area that they are lacking at severely. The 49ers solidified a lot of positions this offseason. They found their franchise quarterback in Trey Lace, beefed up their interior offensive line, and even locked up the running back spot for years to come. However, there is still one specific area that is the Achilles heel of the 49ers. Cornerback. It doesn't take too much brainpower to figure that one out. As it stands, the starting corners for the 49ers are Jason Verrett, K'Waun Williams, and Emmanuel Moseley. Not too shabby of a starting trio at cornerback, but there are certainly concerns. For starters, all three of these players have been dealt injuries the last two years. They are not really the most comfortable players to roll out without fear of injury. Ambry Thomas and Deommodore Lenoir are there for depth purposes. Rolling them out due to injury is not ideal for the 49ers. These two players are better suited to be brought along slowly, not thrown into the fire if someone is injured. That someone who gets injured is likely Verrett. Even though he demonstrated his return to a high level in 2020, he still showed that he consistently sustains injuries. He started out 2020 that way. As great of a player he is, once he falls, the 49ers will be begging offenses to pick them apart. It doesn't matter if the pass rush is strong if the corners cannot hold up. This is why Richard Sherman being rumored to return to the 49ers is a thing. They know they are unfit at the position and need another proven player. However, Sherman is at the end of his rope. He can't really hold up in coverage anymore. Not to mention he also adds to the group of injury prone players, so adding him doesn't really increase the quality of the position. Even if the 49ers looked elsewhere with free agents, there isn't much out there. Cornerback is going to need to be an area where the 49ers emphasize development. They need Thomas and Lenoir to reach an adequate level. Not immediately, but hopefully as mid-season starts to pass. It is definitely a large demand of them and creates a ton of pressure. However, these two players have the mettle to meet that demand. Defensive coordinator DeMeco Ryans will have to have something brewing up his sleeve to make up for the lacking cornerback position. Expect a more aggressive defense out of the 49ers this upcoming season.

https://www.si.com/nfl/49ers/news/what-position-are-the-49ers-lacking-at-the-most

How much do the Cleveland Browns Value Linebackers?

The Cleveland Browns linebacker room is the most enigmatic position group on the roster. Since Joe Woods joined the franchise as the defensive coordinator the linebacker has been in limbo. There is an obvious disconnect between media outlets evaluation of the position group and the organizations overall evaluation of the players on the roster. Yet without a doubt anyone with an opinion of the Cleveland Browns defense understood there was room for improvement this offseason. Andrew Berry address the position group this offseason and added players through free agency and the draft. With the departure of 2020 free agent signee B.J. Goodson, the Browns added the likes of LB Anthony Walker and resigned Malcolm Smith to a one-year deal. Smith was a solid contributor last season playing the second most snaps behind B.J. Goodson. The addition of a young veteran in Anthony Walker from the Indianapolis Colts was a savvy value to signing to fill the void left by Goodson. These two players are the most experienced linebackers the Browns currently have on the roster. The factor that makes the Browns linebacker room an enigma is the young players that fill out the room. Since 2019, the Browns have drafted five linebackers to help improve the second level of their defense. Sione Takitaki and Mack Wilson were drafted in 2019 by John Dorsey in his final season as general manager. The following year Andrew Berry drafted Jacob Phillips out of LSU in the third round. Berry then double dipped at linebacker this year drafting Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah and Tony Fields. For a position group that the Browns de-emphasize that is a significant amount resources used on the position. WILL MIKE SAM Malcolm Smith 6 225 lbs. | 31 Yrs, 10th Season Anthony Walker 6 1 235 lbs. | 25 Yrs, 5th Season Sione Takitaki 6 1 238 lbs. | 25 Yrs, 3rd Season Tackles: 67 (2020) 559 snaps Tackles: 80 (2020) Tackles: 19 (2019); 65 (2020) 434 snaps Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah 61 215 lbs | 21 Yrs, Rookie Notre Dame Jacob Phillips 6 3 229 lbs. | 22 Yrs, 2nd Season LSU Mack Wilson 6 1 233 lbs. | 23 Yrs, 3rd Season Drafted in 2nd Round (2021) Tackles: 22 (2020 9 Games) 169 snaps Tackles: 77 (2019); 36 (2020) 372 snaps Tony Fields 6 1 220 lbs. | N/A, Rookie West Virginia Elijah Lee 6 3 230 lbs. | 25 Yrs, 5th Season Drafted in 5th Round (2021) Special Teams Montrel Meander 6 2 215 lbs. | 26 Yrs, 1st Season Grambling St. Special Teams/Bubble Player Now there is a baseline understanding that the Joe Woods preferential defensive scheme 4-2-5, which only utilizes two linebackers. Traditionally base defenses with an even front would include three linebackers but as NFL offensives continue to evolve the use of defensive back increase. According to Football Outsiders, the usage of Nickel packages outweigh base defense by 29% and the use of Dime packages have increased. This statistic supports the argument of having more defensive backs on the field than traditional linebackers. Pay attention to the term traditional because defenses are beginning to evolve as undersized linebackers that can play space are becoming more valuable. This is evident with the draft selections of linebackers Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah and Tony Fields. JOK is a player that played linebacker in college but also consistently covered players in the slot. He is smaller than a traditional linebacker and is closer to the mold of a safety. While on the other hand Tony Fields athletic traits are more reminiscent of a linebacker than a defensive back. Yet, the pre-training camp expectation is that Fields will be groomed in a similar role as Owusu-Koramoah. Both of these players provide different playstyles to previous draft picks in Jacob Phillips, Sione Takitaki, and Mack Wilson. Jacob Phillips may arguably be the biggest X-Factor in the linebacker group because of his limited play time as a rookie. Phillips was limited to nine games last season and dealt with a nagging knee injury throughout the year. An optimistic evaluation based on his draft stock is that he can grow into a three down player for the Browns defense. Coming out of LSU he showed traits of a player that can run sideline to sideline and was best attacking downhill in run support. One area of his game that needs more seasoning was his play in coverage due to his limited experience in college. If Phillips can develop in coverage he could become a vital cog in the Browns defense. The only issue is you dont know exactly what you have in him as player as he enters his second season. Speaking of sophomore seasons the players drafted in 2019 had very different trajectories last season. Mack Wilson entered 2020 having started fourteen games his rookie season and received valuable experience as a rookie. While Sione Takitaki played majority of his rookie year snaps contributing on special teams. Last season, the Browns saw Mack Wilson experience a sophomore slump as his play time decreased and his missed tackle rate increase. Yet, Takitaki showcased major improvement with more snaps defense and was the second highest graded run defending linebacker (89.3) in the NFL by Pro Football Focus. With the newly added talent to the linebacker group these draft mates are likely competing for the same roster spot. Wilson is player that played well in coverage during his time at Alabama but has suffered from inconsistent play in the NFL. Takitaki has to improve in coverage as well to earn more snaps but his production in the run game carves out a nice role on early downs. Also, there competition for a roster spot comes down to how many linebackers Andrew Berry intends to keep on the final 53-man roster. That is a question that will be answered following training camp as he could retain as little as five or on the higher end with six linebackers. Projecting the final roster for week one is even more difficult as Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah receives a concrete role in the defense. During a draft weekend press conference Chief Strategy Officer Paul DePodesta discussed how the team views their linebackers and hinted at the draft analysis for selecting one. He stated, "We are looking for pretty similar traits, whether they're playing on the strong side or weak side or even playing mike." He also noted, "We want guys who are very rangy, we want guys who can stay on the field, and can play against the run or the pass." Based on DePodesta's comments it make sense how the young players added over the last two drafts are somewhat in a similar molds. Phillips, JOK and Fields are all rangy defenders and don't fit into an exact playstyle. That alone makes it difficult to project exactly where they would fit in a base 4-3 defense. From the outside looking in, the description of a linebacker in the Browns defense is slightly convoluted as each of them brings something different to the table. Now that is not directly a negative as it can be valuable for Woods decision on how he chooses to deploy them. Malcolm Smith and Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah are expected to be heavily used in coverage in passing situations based on their skillsets. Anthony Walker and Sione Takitaki are thumpers and provide strong run support at the line of scrimmage. Players that will need to carve out a role for themselves and provide value on special teams likely come down to Mack Wilson, Tony Fields, Elijah Lee and Montrel Meander. Bubble roster players typically find their way on a gameday roster based on the performance on special teams. Being a depth option is defense is always valuable but dont be surprised if the final input on player is based on special teams coordinator Mike Priefer evaluation. Listen to the BrownsDigest Podcast reviewing the Cleveland Browns 2021 NFL Draft picks.

https://www.si.com/nfl/browns/browns-maven-features/how-much-do-the-cleveland-browns-value-linebackers

Where do Bengals stand in post-draft power rankings?

Now that the Cincinnati Bengals have completed most of the offseasons roster overhaul and have official dates for rookie minicamps, OTAs and training camp, its time to review. Meaning power rankings, of course. Doug Farrar of Touchdown Wire has us covered on that front, listing the Bengals 29th in his post-draft rankings: Well, this matters: The Bengals lost their two best defenders (edge rusher Carl Lawson and cornerback William Jackson III) in free agency and failed to replace them with equivalent talents. The 4-11-1 Bengals could be in for a tough go, though the passing game will be fun to watch. Its all fair, too. As weve written here often, the Bengals will take a big gamble on whether Trey Hendrickson can keep producing at a high level after an outlier of a season and the cornerback room will feature its first three or four names making debuts with the team in Week 1. But as always, the Bengals will have to prove doubters wrong on the field to really start seeing some change in the power rankings. Keep in mind a brand new offensive line is a big part of the equation too. List

https://sports.yahoo.com/where-bengals-stand-post-draft-222413606.html?src=rss

Is there a place to report obnoxious spam emails?

Two weeks ago a site called Conservative Blabber Buzz that I know I never signed up for started sending me literally seven spam emails a day and they havent let up. Ive not clicked their unsubscribe link for fear of malware or just not wanting to confirm my email address. But its a really high level of obnoxiousness, and Id like to report them somewhere in addition to flagging them as junk on my filters, which Ive done. Paul Loeb A: If someone loses money in a scam that started with an email, they are advised to report it to the Federal Trade Commission at ftc.gov/complaint. Otherwise, the government now advises spam recipients to report the spam to their email provider and to the senders email provider, if that can be determined. But the fact is reporting spam is unlikely to produce significant results, since its so easy for spammers to disguise themselves. There is as yet no foolproof way to block spam. Most email programs include spam filters, and you can configure those to be very aggressive in filtering out spam. Of course, it may also filter out some emails you want to receive, so youll want to check the spam filter on a regular basis. Another strategy I use is to reserve one of my email addresses for dealing with companies and other organizations that might be the source of mailing lists raided by spammers. And, just as with the spam filter, I scan that address inbox for email I care about before deleting the massive amounts of spam that I regularly find there. And yes, youre wise not to click on the unsubscribe link in suspected spam. Advertising Related Tech Q&As Read more from Patrick Marshall here >> The only way I can see of finally putting an end to spam is to charge a small fee for all mails sent over the internet. Spam is currently cost-effective because it is essentially free. But if each sent email cost a penny or 5 cents Even if internet service providers agreed to such charges, however, that would further incite spammers to hack into innocent peoples email accounts to send spam. The long and the short of it is that no one has as yet come up with a good solution, alas. Q: My OS used to be Windows 7, within which (as I recall) Outlook would notify me by an alert pop-up on my desktop when a calendar event start time arrived. I migrated to Windows 10 about a year ago and have been unable to replicate this. Obviously, this has resulted in many events being ignored, lost in the hustle of other daily activities. Note: The fact that a calendar and list of upcoming events is off to the right of my Outlook screen is not effective, especially as events, on the arrival of their start time, are automatically removed! I wish that didnt happen as well. Advertising In summary: I want Outlook to notify me by an alert pop-up on my desktop when an Outlook calendar event start time arrives. Ideally, the pop-up should remain until it is cleared. Thomas D. Gaffney A: Its a puzzle to me why that option isnt available on all versions of Outlook but it isnt. If youre using Outlook in Microsoft 365, also known as Office 365, you can set alerts to pop up over other applications in version Version 1804 (Build 9226.2114) or higher. The option is not available in Outlook 2013 or Outlook 2019. If youre using Outlook 365, click on the File menu, then Options and finally Advanced. Scroll down and youll see a section for setting Reminders. There are four checkboxes: show reminders, play reminder sound, show reminders on top of other windows, automatically dismiss reminders for past calendar events. Just click on the checkboxes for all the options you want.

https://www.seattletimes.com/business/technology/is-there-a-place-to-report-obnoxious-spam-emails/

How do I know when to change my wiper blades?

If you cant remember when it was, chances are its time to do so. In fact, manufacturers recommend you replace your wiper blades anywhere from every six months to a year, or as soon as you notice a difference in driving visibility whichever comes first. There are a number of reasons why your blades will deteriorate, both due to the environment and wear and tear from use. For example, it can be caused by ultraviolet light from the sun, exhaust or oil from your vehicle, salt water or acid rain, and debris like sand and mud. These factors can all have an impact on how the wiper blade makes contact with the windshield and can cause it to skip, smear, squeak and ultimately reduce your ability to see the roadway and surrounding traffic properly. As well as performance, manufacturer SilBlade recommends you also inspect your blades regularly for any signs of tears, cracking and discoloration. It suggests maintaining them by wiping them down every three months to remove any dirt and grime that might accumulate around the edge of the blade and where it meets the bracket. As you are doing this, Rain-X suggests you check the blade frame for any broken or detached parts, any corrosion of the metal and that you flex the squeegee-like part to ensure it is flexible and can adjust to the shape of your windshield. Finally, to ensure your wipers last as long as they are recommended to, clean your windshield when you stop for gas by using the squeegees provided at most stations to remove any dirt (check the squeegee to make sure it is clean first), and try not to use your wipers when your windshield is dry. Torstar News Service

https://www.thestar.com/autos/advice/2021/05/08/how-do-i-know-when-to-change-my-wiper-blades.html

Can virtual meeting spaces save us all from Zoom fatigue?

Im playing online Pictionary while chatting with five people Ive never met. This is not at all how I usually spend my Thursdays. Weve all dropped into a virtual meeting space on a site called gather.town, which provides free customisable spaces for anyone who wants to organise a get-together without using Zoom. Gather is a virtual world and you choose an avatar before entering it: imagine a mid-80s Super Mario game in which, instead of jumping over his enemies, Mario has to go to the office. There are pixelated potted palms dotted about my screen, a couple of banks of desks and a sofa area, all rendered in that very specific 2D map style common to early computer games. Im represented by a tiny, blocky avatar: a collection of dots arranged to look a bit like a person. As I move it around with keyboard keys, I can enter and leave conversations when I do so, a small live video of whoever Im talking to appears above the main screen. It might all sound mad, but Gather is 18 months old, has 4 million users, and recently raised $26m in investment. Universities use it to create virtual campuses; individuals use it to host games nights; groups of friends throw parties on it and workers are collaborating on it. It is trying, like hundreds of other new platforms, sites and apps, to provide us all with a solution to a very 2021 problem: despite being ubiquitous since early 2020, video calls arent necessarily helping us work or stay connected effectively. Recent research from Stanford University provided evidence that the Zoom fatigue many of us feel is real. The study showed that the cognitive load of video conferencing is far higher than phone calls or in-person conversation. Where normally we pick up and give out valuable non-verbal cues from body language, theyre missing from videos flat, sometimes delayed and often blurry images. We find the sustained, but often off-kilter, eye contact inherent in video calls hard to tolerate. We find seeing ourselves on screen stressful, too, and being tied to a screen cuts down our mobility (unlike a phone call, during which we can move). James Bore, a cybersecurity expert who runs Bores Consultancy, hosts this open office for a couple of hours every week, inviting anyone working in his field via Twitter and LinkedIn to drop in to discuss issues or make new contacts (he also has a remote office for his own team, and hosts a pub night in a separate room for more informal networking, as well as helping other businesses organise events online through his company ReuniVous). Inviting people to play games such as Pictionary lightens the tone. Virtual meeting space Gather, whose 4 million users are represented by tiny, blocky avatars. Almost every other video platform is very one way, he says. Not on Gather. People can talk at the same time, Bore says. If you move your avatar farther away from someone, their voice will get quieter but you can still catch a bit of the conversation. You can walk up to people, go sit at a table with people, jump into a private chat, play games. You can also walk out of a conversation. Its more natural. Despite attending real-life industry events for years, Bore reckons hes gained far more useful connections in this open office with its random attendees. While some remote workers mourn spontaneous chats and water-cooler moments, serendipity actually happens here, he says. Almost all of the video-conferencing software requires a reason for the conversation. You cant just pop in and say, Lets have a chat like you can here. Gathers other neat trick is keeping the video component low-key the videos are ranged across the top of the screen, rather than dominating, which forces you to look at just one person at a time as they speak, rather than everyone at once, just as in face-to-face conversations. There are hundreds of other sites, platforms and apps vying to become the next Zoom or Microsoft Teams, offering remote workers more than just a gallery of faces on a screen. Some are small, such as the micro-social network phone app Totem, developed to deepen connections within a business and used by companies such as John Lewis as a sort of private Facebook; staff are encouraged to share team successes alongside photos of pets (it also churns out data on engagement and morale). Others are larger, such as Wonder, which provides a simple webpage full of bubbles, each containing a photo of a guest, moving between white circles meant to represent tables on which people can video chat with each other; Wonder raised 11m in seed funding late last year, and counts Deloitte and Harvard as users. Ninety-seven per cent of training now takes place online and, although 70% of it is done via Microsoft Teams, according to research by HR analysts Fosway, companies including insurers Hiscox and the restaurant chain Leon are using gamified training apps. These can allow staff to be put into situations that would be hard to replicate in real life (or on a video call), while also handing out dopamine-inducing micro-rewards, as stars or points. It has increased by a third, to an average of 40% of our waking hours, during the pandemic. Rahaf Harfoush, a digital anthropologist, is director of Red Thread Institute of Digital Culture and an adjunct professor at Sciences Po in Paris. The digitalisation of in-real-life [IRL] experiences is what a lot of companies rushed to do when the pandemic struck, she says. Their thinking was: If we did it in person, lets do it on Zoom. Many of these applications dont make sense and can add to technological fatigue. Nottopia, set up on Mozilla Hubs by Professor Gary Burnett (in avatar form at front) for his students at Nottingham University. Photograph: courtesy of Nottopia Professor Gary Burnett, from Nottingham University, was keenly aware of this risk when he moved one of his engineering degree modules online last autumn. Rather than defaulting to the better-known platforms, he spent much of last summer trialling different fully virtual worlds to host his classes, before settling on Mozilla Hubs, a 3D-rendered meeting space used by Nasa. As I click a link into Nottopia, Burnett or rather his cartoon-like avatar, a floating, hoodie-wearing, grey-haired head and torso meets me in the lobby, a semi-open air vaulted space, next to a large digitised lake. He leads me, still floating, into the virtual pavilion where hes about to hold a product design lesson in creating a driverless taxi. My avatar is a small, red cartoon fox, but I could have chosen from thousands of options, or built my own. Im also floating; I move by using the arrow keys on my keyboard, changing my gaze with the cursor so that I can look around the large room, which has a mixture of bare brick and white walls, and a pale grey floor. Sunlight seems to pour in through the glass roof, casting natural-looking shadows, and most spaces have a view towards blue sky and realistic clouds. Steps and doorways lead into other spaces a smaller area with armchairs for more private meetings, and other larger rooms for exhibitions; one huge wall is taken up by a virtual fish tank. Theres no video here we speak via our avatars, who wobble or move in a human-like way to show who is talking. Joining in as an avatar gives you a veil of anonymity that has made everyone less awkward about speaking up This is a virtual world where practically anything is possible, so Burnett can conjure up a 3D taxi that hovers in the centre of the group as they discuss its features. At one point, several students enable flying mode and hover high above the car. To examine another bit of tech, they all pile inside the taxi, laughing. (Its all the funnier as one students avatar is an astronaut, anothers is a parrot, and a thirds seems to be a rainbow-coloured ghost. Burnett says the students often choose avatars that reflect their personalities the person with the parrot avatar likes ornithology.) Theres no live video involved, and no PowerPoint or slides, just genuine and playful interaction. When a chart appears on the wall, the students whip out virtual pens and start annotating it, and Burnett has placed 3D objects around the room for them to use as they experiment and discuss. Three-quarters of his students report that Mozilla Hubs has helped them with social isolation, Burnett says. You can see that in the way I teach its not a one-way flow of information. His students like Nottopia so much that they come here, via a link, outside lessons and show their friends around (occasionally leaving behind vast joke 3D models, or virtual replicas of Nottinghams famous Canada geese). Joining in as an avatar gives you a veil of anonymity that has made everyone less awkward about speaking up in class, says Rebekah Kay, who is doing a masters in mechanical engineering. In some ways, I feel more present than if I was physically there. Hubs and Gather are genuinely fun to use (and currently free). But there is a more corporate side to virtual life, too. The UKs in-person events and conferencing industry was worth 42.3bn in 2018 (800bn, globally) and, one way or another, the industry wants to get back some of that revenue. At the beginning of the pandemic, there were probably six platforms for virtual events, and now there are more than 100, says Vanessa Lovatt, chief evangelist (her real job title) for Glisser, one such platform, which runs events for Facebook, Uber and the NHS. When we speak she is about to rehearse an online event for 47,000 people; theyve tested the site with an audience of 170,000. A virtual event hosted by the Virtulab. As with much of the so-called future of work, its still early days, both for the tech and, perhaps, for its users. This was painfully evident at the Tory partys virtual conference last October, which was plagued by technical glitches, and criticised by everyone from attendees who couldnt log on and speakers who had no audiences to thinktanks and exhibitors who paid for virtual pitches, at least one of whom reportedly requested a refund. At the time, MP Tim Loughton told PoliticsHome: My first fringe meeting, we had to wait over 10 minutes for the panel to be let in; then we were all cut off and had to be sent a new link, meaning we started again almost half an hour later [Then] it turned out in the first part we had just been talking to ourselves and there was no audience. A slicker attempt at recreating in-person networking has been made by the Virtulab, a British digital technology company that has developed an immersive virtual venue rather like a digitised version of the Edinburgh International Conference Centre. It can be hired in exactly the same way, and already has been by TEDx events and the Institute of People Management. But as an avatar version of me strolls through the cavernous digital hall on my laptop screen, my non-gamer head is spinning. There are realistic-looking bot people on hand to help me if I get stuck, booths to walk into just as at a real trade show staffed by other avatar people who I can speak to in real time (with or without video). There are speed-networking zones and branded video screens on the walls. I can chat with the avatar people I pass and walk around the venue, or teleport between different areas. There are auditoriums where speakers can present to an avatar audience either as their avatar selves or via live video links. The virtual reality office looks like a grey office building, as if their designers recreated a business park in Reading The experience is pretty smooth, if disconcerting its strange not knowing who any of the avatars around me might be (or if they have people attached to them at all the auditorium auto-populates to fill all the seats, so no one has to give a talk to an empty room). Perhaps Im a misanthrope, but I like no longer having to visit exhibition centres several times a year. (I write a lot about hospitality and, pre-Covid, often travelled to the ExCeL centre in Londons Docklands to attend expos about things like packaging, food technology or free-from foods.) I can see how this would be great for brands and event organisers, but Im not totally sold that its good for the rest of us. Dave Cummins, executive director at the Virtulab, disagrees. For him, this isnt a temporary fix while we wait for the pandemic to blow over. We see this from an eco perspective, via the reduction in travel there is a cost in server burn, but its nowhere near what you get from an event. If a virtual reality conference sounds a bit out there, imagine logging into a virtual reality office every day, from home another Virtulab offering. If youre yearning to get back to the office with its random conversations and predictable routines this could be your answer. Although subscribers can build any office they want, the immersive version I visited, via my laptop screen, created for two clients, an events company and a petrochemical company, looked exactly like a normal, grey office building. Its as if they got their best designers to perfectly recreate a business park in Reading. Unlike conventional remote-work platforms, this one also uses lifelike avatars: mine arrives at the building and walks along a corridor, before opening a door, entering an office and choosing a desk. If I was working here for real, Id be able to access things like my companys storage drives, too. The idea is that you come into the platform, open up your browser and start using it just like this is your office, Cummins says. If youre not in a meeting, you can open the door so avatars can just walk in. Were trying to empower that water-cooler moment. If you would come and see me at 10 oclock in the morning in real life, then you would come and see me here. Women working in virtual and augmented reality network on Mozilla Hubs, a 3D-rendered space also used by Nasa. Photograph: courtesy of Mozilla Hubs Businesses such as Green Building Council SA, an association for green companies, and AI Laith Dubai, an events company, are early adopters of the Virtulab. (Other organisations are working on VR offices: Facebook is developing a remote office requiring a VR headset, slated to launch later this year.) For me, the best part is that it recreates access to colleagues: as long as theyre logged on and available, you can talk as the avatar, and with your voice rather than video whenever you fancy, with no need to create a link or calendar invite. There could be downsides, though. A virtual office can create the expectation that you will be digitally present for a traditional eight-hour day, robbing homeworkers of the flexibility they have enjoyed in recent months. Remote-work tools and platforms could easily shade into digitally surveilling employees, even if only in terms of tracking how long you are at your computer. (As well as raising multiple privacy issues, this can be detrimental to engagement and retention: a 2017 study showed that monitoring makes employees feel their organisation is unethical.) One of the best ways for a business to create an insider threat people who will attack your company from within, whether maliciously or through negligence is failing to trust your staff, Bore tells me. When people feel constrained, they will find ways around it. When they feel trusted and accountable for what theyre doing, you prevent insider threats not by saying you must be at your online desk from nine to five. As many as one in five businesses already use surveillance software to monitor staff as they work from home, including French company Teleperformance, which employs 380,000 people in 34 countries. In March, it launched a webcam security system called TP Observer, which uses an AI system with the ability to watch home-working call centre staff, or to track unauthorised phone usage or unknown persons appearing at the desk, and to send screenshots to supervisors. The company insists that webcams for UK staff would be voluntary, and would be used only for meetings and training, or pre-scheduled desk checks, and would not be used for random surveillance, but adds that levels of scrutiny will vary in other countries. On your lunch break, you grab a sandwich and come back to your desk, and race cars, or play golf, or do an escape room Of course, you dont necessarily need new tech to watch your staff Microsoft Teams, for instance, logs screen minutes, number of calls, chats or meetings, collating them into a handy graph for managers. The Virtulab doesnt expect its remote-office platform to be used to track staff attendance (although thats up to the end user). But it does want to keep you in its virtual world. Were looking at gamification, Cummins says. During your lunch break, you grab a sandwich and come back to your desk, and race cars, or play golf, or do an escape room. Its a chance to team-build, and get away from the monotony. He says there are also art galleries and gardens to amble around, though I think Id rather spend my lunch break in an actual park. We do our own health and safety assessments as a company seating positions, desks, chairs and so on. Employers probably want to help people gel, but they risk trying to do too much, says Dr Linda Kaye, who studies the psychology of gaming and online behaviour. Im not saying its not useful in a work context, but when you force it on people it becomes inauthentic. Her research reflects the fact that valuable social connections can be forged online. We see this from an eco perspective, via the reduction in travel: a Virtulab event. Photograph: courtesy of Virtulab Ellie Gibson, a games journalist and host of the Extra Life gaming podcast, is enthusiastic about avatar games where she gets to create an alter ego. I play as a 7ft tall Viking called Avril who is nothing like me. I wouldnt want to be myself, a 43-year-old woman from Catford. She worries about the implications of coming up with an avatar version of yourself in a working environment where presumably the expectation is that you try to represent yourself realistically. For people who have issues with body image, I can imagine this being anxiety-inducing. If youre a larger person thinking: Im going to a meeting, and Im supposed to create this avatar of myself. How am I supposed to do that? Would there be a temptation to make yourself look fatter, to be the first to make a joke of it? Thats why the avatar isnt a 360 capture of your body, Cummins says. It can look like you or someone else. If youve got a harsh workplace, it could be an issue. Much depends on the type of workplace youre in its culture and the sector in which it operates. While Hubs, the platform used by the engineers at the University of Nottingham, could work brilliantly for design, technology or architectural businesses, Im not sure I can see social workers holding a case conference in a virtual world. Similarly, its hard to imagine holding a disciplinary session as a cartoon version of yourself. For some teams and clients, working in a virtual office could feel even more torturous than video calling already is. Aspects of the online work boom will inevitably disappear as pandemic restrictions ease and we are able to pick and choose rather than being forced online. It could be that platforms with fewer frills prove more enduring. One online space that has exploded since launching in spring 2020 is the invite-only social audio app Clubhouse, which already claims to have 10 million users. Social audio is exactly the same as social media you follow individuals and join groups but with live speech rather than text or images. Clubhouse is a simple platform where users create rooms, to have real-time, audio-only conversations about anything they want; Twitter is close behind with its new creation, Spaces. Michael Liskin is an LA-based virtual facilitation expert who has worked as a beta tester for social audio apps. The next big thing isnt as fancy as we might think, he tells me. There is potential for social audio to provide a kind of middle ground, one between fatiguing video conferencing and text-based interaction like Slack, which can be labour intensive and not as intimate. Rather than using virtual-world platforms, he is helping teams connect using Clubhouse. There will soon be a bunch of social audio apps optimised for happy hours, workshops, team-building, book clubs, mentorship and much more. Social audio fosters intimacy. And, as Liskin points out, because its audio rather than video, it can be in your pocket while youre out on a bike. There are even rooms on Clubhouse where people meet to work, mainly in silence, collectively but remotely. Back on gather.town, weve moved on to the pub, much as you might at the end of a traditional working day, and a tiny snowman avatar is playing really the pubs piano. Bore has no intention of calling time on his pub once the real ones reopen. It has put me in contact with people in my field who I would never have been able to reach otherwise, people from all over the world, he says. Its almost impossible to explain unless youre doing it, he laughs. The moment youre in here, it immediately makes sense.

https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2021/may/08/work-can-virtual-meeting-spaces-save-us-all-from-zoom-fatigue

Will Donald Trump's Supporters Remain Impassioned, Or Will He Gradually Fade Like Sarah Palin?

Then-Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump (R) thanks the crowd after receiving Former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palins endorsement at a rally at Iowa State University in Ames, Iowa, January 19, 2016. (Mark Kauzlarich/Reuters ) In yesterdays Morning Jolt, I wrote, While it is inconceivable that Trump would lose a fight over control of the party now, it is conceivable that the air may slowly leak out of the Trump balloon, month by month, year by year. I think Peter Hambys comparison of post-presidency Trump to Sarah Palin is a useful one to keep in mind. In 2009, it looked like a safe bet that Sarah Palin was going to be one of the biggest movers and shakers in Republican politics if not the biggest for the rest of the decade. But she chose not to run in 2012 and gradually faded from the GOP consciousness. By 2015, Fox News chose not to renew her contract, and I had completely forgotten she tried to launch her own subscriber-based online video channel in Obamas second term. And by January 2016, she was something of an afterthought, endorsing the man who had stepped into her old role, Trump. Few of her fans stopped liking her, but they found other political figures who excited them more. As the 2016 election cycle approached, Palin seemed . . . stale. Her stream-of-consciousness speeches were more and more about herself, and less and less about the issues and problems on the mind of her audience. Advertisement A passionate and loyal political fanbase is tough to keep for more than a decade, particularly in todays media environment. People get bored and move on to fresher faces. Tucker Carlson is the biggest controversy and outrage-generating figure on Fox News Channels prime time these days, Josh Hawley is the guy leading the charge against Big Tech on Capitol Hill, and Ron DeSantis is now signing bills live on Fox News. MediaMatters usually a reliable barometer of who on the Right is irking the Left the most is spending time denouncing Tucker Carlson for his vaccine skepticism and Rick Santorum for not sufficiently respecting Native-American culture, and TikTok influencers for pushing dangerous far-right conspiracy theories to their young audience. The political world moves on to other figures and other issues. Advertisement Donald Trump spent five and a half years at the center of American life. By the time Republicans are thinking seriously about their choice for presidential nominee in mid-2023, Trump will be 77 years old, and his last election victory will have been six and a half years ago. Trump is still the safer bet than the rest of the field. But just as his rise was just about impossible to envision in May 2013, the rise of the next big figure in Republican politics may be just about impossible to envision right now.

https://www.nationalreview.com/corner/how-long-do-impassioned-fanbases-stick-around/

Do Dundee Utd need to reach Scottish Cup final to have good season?

Scottish Cup semi-finals: Dundee United v Hibernian Venue: Hampden Park, Glasgow Date: Saturday 8 May Time: 16:00 BST Coverage: Live commentary on Sportsound and text updates on the BBC Sport website & app, plus extended highlights on Sportscene from 22:40 BST Assessing if this been a good season for Dundee United or not depends on who you ask. Some will point to the turbulent summer that bled into their campaign, to the manager appointed late and in haste, and to the fact they have avoided a relegation scrap in their first term in the top flight since 2016. But others will speak of a top-six budget, of a relatively well-appointed squad, and the lingering status of a club more accustomed to jousting with giants. What might unite those disparate groups, though, would be a Scottish Cup final appearance. United face Hibernian on Saturday with not only a place in the 22 May showpiece and a big shiny pot at stake, but also guaranteed European football until December and an estimated 3m wedge for their troubles. Eye-watering money normally, never mind after a season without gate receipts. This season's cup winners will go directly into the Europa League play-off round next term. The opposition will be stiff - we're talking the likes of FC Copenhagen, Cluj, Genk and Alkmaar - but even if they lose, they are assured of a place in the group stage of the new Europa Conference League. Ach, just the likes of Liverpool, Real Betis, Borussia Monchengladbach, Marseille and United's old adversaries Roma. Plenty to play for, then, when Micky Mellon's team trot out at Hampden on Saturday. The latest appearance of the latter came against relegation-threatened Ross County on Tannadice last Saturday. Granted, the visitors were the team with skin in the game, but United's performance was abject. "If you are playing against a team with a bit of pressure on them, it can be difficult to get it right," Mellon said on Thursday as he reflected on that defeat. "As much as you say to them 'get focussed', it can be difficult.' "When the pressure comes off, it seems to be difficult for us. We showed against Aberdeen that we need to be fighting for something. You don't quite see what your team is like until the real bullets start flying." 'Overall it's been successful season' - analysis Former Scotland midfielder Michael Stewart on Sportscene The levels that they reached against Aberdeen were phenomenal, but against Ross County they just did not defend well enough. Micky Mellon must be thinking 'Where is the performance from Pittodrie' because that is what they will need against Hibs. Former Scotland forward James McFadden on Sportscene If you're defending the players [after the County defeat], they've got a huge game coming up and maybe their minds were on that. All season, United have been very up and down. But overall I think it's been a successful season for them.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/56993618

Did a University of Toronto Donor Block the Hiring of a Scholar for Her Writing on Palestine?

In late April, the Canadian Association of University Teachers, which unites a majority of college faculty in the country, took the extraordinary step of censuring the University of Toronto, Canadas top-ranked institution of higher learning. The move amounts to a boycott: the association is asking members not to accept job offers or attend conferences at the school. The censure vote came at the end of a nearly eight-month controversy, which centers on a single rescinded job offer from a tiny program at a small school within a very large university. The entire affair, however, resides at the precise intersection of scholarly freedom, the place of the university in broader political conversations, and the influence that financial donors wield over academic institutions. Last summer, a search committee at the University of Toronto interviewed Valentina Azarova, a human-rights lawyer and scholar based in Germany, for the director job of its International Human Rights Program (I.H.R.P. ), which is housed in the law school. Azarova has worked in the academy and in the field. Early in her career, she focussed primarily on the Israeli occupation of Palestine, writing papers on a variety of legal issues such as the jurisdiction of the International Criminal Court and the legal responsibilities of Israels diplomatic and trade partners. Azarovas more recent work looked at migrant rights, structural violence at international borders, and the use of European Union funds by war criminals. She was an inspired choice, and she had her own reasons to be interested in the job. Azarovas partner of nine years, who is also a human-rights researcher, is a Canadian citizen; his school-age children and elderly parents live in the Toronto area. Suddenly, these things aligned, Azarova told me by phone last fall. The three-person search committee was unanimous. In August, Azarova started corresponding with the university administration and its lawyers, negotiating the terms of her employment and the visa, residency, and work-authorization arrangements that she would need to make. The university wanted her to begin as soon as possible and to relocate to Toronto by the end of 2020. On September 10th, an assistant dean called Azarova to tell her that the law school would not be offering her the job after all; there seemed to be issues with finding a workable visa and contract solution. It was a peculiar conclusion for at least two reasons. A member of the search committee and chair of the faculty advisory committee to the I.H.R.P., Audrey Macklin, who is a leading immigration-law scholar, had been confident that work authorization wouldnt be an issue. And the I.H.R.P., like the rest of the university, was functioning online because of the pandemic, making the directors physical presence almost irrelevant. On September 14th, the dean of the law school, Edward Iacobucci, announced that the search for a program director had been called off for the year. Over the next couple of weeks, Azarova, members of the law schools faculty, other interested parties, and, finally, the Canadian media pieced together what had happened. It emerged that, on September 4th, a high-level university administrator spoke on the phone with David E. Spiro, a tax judge who, individually and as a member of a wealthy family, is a major donor to the law school. Spiro expressed concern about Azarovas work on the Israeli occupation and suggested that her appointment would damage the universitys reputation. The university administrator alerted the leadership of the law faculty, who, in turn, contacted the search committee. Soon Iacobucci reversed the process of Azarovas hiring. (I attempted to reach Spiro through the tax court and a Jewish community organization with which he is affiliated, but he did not respond.) As details emerged, protest took shape. Several members of the law faculty signed a letter opposing the decision to withdraw Azarovas offer, and outside scholars expressed their dismay. Macklin resigned from her post as chair of the faculty advisory committee; the rest of the committee followed. Human Rights Watch discontinued a program affiliated with the I.H.R.P., and Amnesty International threatened to do the same. Samer Muscati, the former head of the I.H.R.P., (now of Human Rights Watch), told me by Zoom, in November, that with these losses the program was effectively dead. Such an intervention in hiring due to political considerations may undermine the project of clinical legal education as a whole, Itamar Mann, an Israeli human-rights lawyer and professor who served as one of Azarovas references, wrote to Iacobucci. He added that it may embolden efforts to boycott Israeli universities, as a form of retaliation for such influence on the part of Jewish organizations. This will doubtlessly be counter-productive from the point of view of supporters of Israel, who I presume would like to help encourage academic exchanges between Israeli universities and universities outside of Israel. In October, the Canadian Association of University Teachers started discussing the possibility of censuring the University of Toronto. The university continued to deny that Azarovas offer was withdrawn because of Spiros intervention. In the face of mounting criticism, it commissioned a retired Supreme Court justice, Thomas A. Cromwell, to conduct an independent inquiry. Cromwell submitted his report in March. What followed resembled the release of the independent counsel Robert Muellers 2019 report on Russian interference in the U.S. Presidential election: exonerating top line, damning body text. Cromwell wrote, Having reviewed all of the relevant facts as fully as I can, I would not draw the inference that external influence played any role in the decision to discontinue the recruitment of the Preferred Candidate. The President of the University of Toronto, Meric Gertler, issued a statemen leading with this quote from the Cromwell report. Gertler expressed hope that the law faculty could move on from the divisive experience, and, separately, sent a letter to Azarova in which he apologized on behalf of the university for the fact that confidentiality was not maintained in the search process. (Gertlers office proceeded to send the letter to an incorrect e-mail address, prompting a second, effusive apology and the promise to ask the accidental recipient of the first e-mail to delete it without reading.) In response to my request for comment from Gertler, the University of Toronto referred me back to the Cromwell report. The seventy-eight-page report itself, however, confirmed the facts that had so upset Azarovas supporters and others back in the fall. Cromwell found that a judge and donor (Cromwell did not identify Spiro by name) learned of the results of the confidential candidate search in an e-mail forwarded from a professor at another institution. The subject line of the e-mail was U of T pending appointment of major anti-Israel activist to important law school position. The e-mail urged quiet discussions with the university to scuttle the appointment. During a scheduled fund-raising call with the universitys assistant vice-president, the judge brought up his concerns, handily summarized by one of the assistant deans: The Jewish community would not be pleased by the Preferred Candidates appointment. I cant understand how, based on the facts, one could conclude there was no interference, Muscati texted me after he read the report. Vincent Wong, a member of the search committee who quit his job at the law school in protest, last fall, said in an e-mail that Cromwell, seeing no conclusive proof that the interference was the sole reason for withdrawing the job offer, took the opportunity to exonerate the university. It is very reminiscent of a lot of human rights cases in which, for instance, sexism or racism cannot be pointed to as the primary factor motivating a decision (because there was no admission, no direct slur, no smoking gun) but all the contextual factors point to discriminatory treatment, Wong wrote. He pointed out, too, that a powerful white man was investigating the conduct of other powerful white menthe university president and the law dean. Folks who brought up the issue (all of whom were not white men), first internally, and then as whistleblowers to the media, are chastised in the report, Wong wrote. Now, he added, Palestinian rights and international law with respect to the Israel/Palestine situation are now demonstrably a taboo subject in the law school.

https://www.newyorker.com/news/our-columnists/did-a-university-of-toronto-donor-block-the-hiring-of-a-scholar-for-her-writing-on-palestine

Should lakefront property owners have to grant public waterfront access for erosion-control loans?

In a successful and pioneering program, the city of Euclid successfully got lakefront property owners to agree to public access in exchange for erosion control work, but the program was voluntary. Cuyahoga County seized on the idea as a possible model for lakefront trails extending over county borders. Now, a new lakefront district has been formed in an agreement among Euclid and 12 Lake County communities to offer lakefront owners low-interest loans for erosion control that the property owners would pay for. The loans would be made possible by a bond issue underwritten by an assessment on participating property owners, with a $300,000 public subsidy aiming at lowering interest costs. Under the plan, there would not be any requirement to allow expanded lakefront access in exchange for participation, but planners believe that more public trails along private lakefront land will be the result. In addition to handling the erosion work themselves, lakefront property owners who participate would be responsible for getting needed permits, with the lakefront district helping them navigate that process. In Greater Cleveland where regionalism is a bad word, the district could also become a model for other lakefront districts formed across county and municipal lines. With heavier rainfall recently and a rising Lake Erie, lakefront erosion poses significant hazards. At the same time, erosion is reducing lakefront homeowners land boundaries under a controversial 2011 high court ruling (sought by property owners at the time) that decreed property rights end at the waters edge -- presumably, wherever that edge may be. Our Editorial Board Roundtable surveys the landscape. Thomas Suddes, editorial writer: Good, but State ex rel. Merrill v. Ohio Dept. of Natural Resources (2011) demands revision: As the Great Lakes Law website put it at an earlier phase of the case, the Ohio Supreme Court ruling equates to saying that, the public has a right to walk along Lake Eries shore, but only by keeping their feet wet when doing so. The ruling undercut the public interest. At the same time, piecemeal erosion control wont work. So, lakefront land owners need to either pick up their share of the cost, or give up their right to restrict public access. Eric Foster, columnist: Shoreline special improvement districts were created to incentivize lakefront property owners to prioritize erosion control. Erosion is an issue that these financially better-off landowners will face, regardless. If they do nothing, their property loses value. Giving private landowners the opportunity to leverage public resources to reduce the cost of erosion control should require that the public get a benefit. Lisa Garvin, editorial board member: An unbroken bulwark along the entire Lake County coastline is the only way to tackle worsening erosion. I hope homeowners will see the bigger picture and capitalize on this rare opportunity to fix their problem while improving lakefront access. If public money is involved, encouraging property owners to grant trail easements should be a key focus of the improvement district. Victor Ruiz, editorial board member: Property owners need to do their part to ensure that our lake and natural resources are properly maintained and preserved. If they need public assistance, then the tradeoff is that they give up access. If they do not want to give up access, then they need to take care of the land on their own. Mary Cay Doherty, editorial board member: The lakefront districts low-interest loans to homeowners will save taxpayers money. If homes fall into the lake, roads will be next. As such, public access should not be a loan requirement. A 30-mile Cuyahoga County lake-access trail thats now being discussed also seems unlikely given probable high costs and the difficulty in securing waterfront access. A public-private partnership to improve lakefront erosion control and also engage waterfront property owners in a process that could lead to improved Lake Erie access for the public sounds like a win-win. Lets not lose sight of the forest for the trees. * Send a letter to the editor, which will be considered for print publication. * Email general questions about our editorial board or comments on this editorial board roundtable to Elizabeth Sullivan, director of opinion, at esullivan@cleveland.com.

https://www.cleveland.com/opinion/2021/05/should-lakefront-property-owners-have-to-grant-public-waterfront-access-for-erosion-control-loans.html

What Is The Best Career Path For Balancing Work And Family?

getty My first concern when I read this question was how binary the choice seemed to this reader yes, you can have a satisfying career and family life, or no, you cant! This makes clear that the primary assumption is Yes, it can be done! The only issue is how one might do it. Finding the physical energy, mental bandwidth and emotional constitution to shine at both work and home is already challenging. This pandemic, with school, activity and childcare options diminished and boundaries between work and home also diminished, has been particularly hard on working moms. There are fewer working moms now about 1.4 million fewer as of January 2021 than at that same time last year. If youre unhappy at your current job and looking for something different, it does take time to find a new job thats additional time from what you spend working That additional time is probably all earmarked for family right now, so youre stuck. Taking a break from work so you can focus on your next move and still have time for family seems appealing. Im all for taking breaks everything short of quitting. Build in proper lunch breaks, take a sick day, use a few days of vacation or ask for a longer leave. If you think your manager wont approve vacation or sabbatical, nows the time to negotiate hard the alternative is quitting with nothing. A big downside of quitting outright is that it just trades one problem (lack of time) for another (lack of a job now creates financial pressure and a red flag for prospective employers). You also cant assume you can readily ramp back up when youre rested and want to work again. If you can afford the cut in pay that likely will result from decreasing your hours, then building a career out of part-time jobs may be one path to better balance work and family. Your current employer is a logical first step to explore this option. They know your work quality and the value you bring so are the most likely to approve a drop to part-time. You also know the environment so can more easily adjust. A part-time schedule allows you to stay involved in your career, maintain your skills and network and still contribute, just at a slower pace. One downside of dropping to a part-time schedule is that you dont really save on the hours; rather, you simply make less. If youre an exempt professional paid for results or a specific scope of work, not by the hour, you may find that youre expected to produce not that much less output as a part-time employee. You also may still get contacted on your off days. Preserving your part-time status will require strong boundary management. Yet another career path is to shift from traditional employment, or working for someone else, to working for yourself either building a business or working in the gig economy as a freelancer. This path gives you maximum flexibility to design the career that works for you the schedule, the responsibilities, the people you serve. Your earning potential is limited only by how much business you can generate. You are the CEO, which can be a satisfying change from middle management or being an individual contributor. With these rewards come the risks of business-building mainly that you have to build the business. You are in charge of selling, pricing, marketing and then doing the work. It takes time and energy to get the business started, or as a new freelancer, to find companies to contract with. You dont earn until you sell so there is money lost and potentially money spent on starting up the business (e.g., licenses if needed, equipment or space, website and other marketing). There is also a risk that if you try the entrepreneurial route and dont like it, you cant readily return to traditional employment. There are multiple career paths, and they all could work Having raised two daughters, now adults, I used all of the above options. I took almost a year off in between traditional jobs, I have worked part-time and I now run a business. Power Moms by Joann S. Lublin features dozens of real-life examples of working moms with satisfying careers and full family lives, and the stories all differ in how each mom came to her balance point. Multiple career paths can work. If we return to the original question that started this post, it depends on how you define satisfying and sacrificing. These are your priorities. These define your boundaries.

https://www.forbes.com/sites/carolinecenizalevine/2021/05/08/what-is-the-best-career-path-for-balancing-work-and-family/

Has there ever been a more important Boston sports figure with a more anonymous profile than Ernie Adams?

In the words of the late, great David Halberstam, Adams was Belichicks Belichick. Adams was Belichicks sounding board, confidant, and consigliere. He was The Man To See and The Decider. Adams was Belichicks Dick Cheney, trusted, invisible, and happy to be in a position of power without ever having to explain himself. He was the J.D. Salinger, New England footballs Garbo in khaki pants, a mystery wrapped inside an enigma. When Ernie worked for Belichick in Cleveland in the 1990s, Browns owner Art Modell famously said, Ill pay anyone $10,000 if they can tell me what Ernie Adams does. Sixty-eight-year-old Ernie Adams retired this past week after serving as Bill Belichicks football research director for 21 seasons and nine Super Bowl appearances. Nobody stepped forward to collect the Ernie bounty. Advertisement I did a deep dive on Adams before Super Bowl XLIX in Arizona in February 2015 (thats the one when Ernie worked on the Go Malcolm goal-line call in the hotel ballroom walkthrough the day before the game). It was at the height of the Deflategate nonsense and the dominant Patriots had not won a Super Bowl in 10 years. Adams did not agree to be interviewed (still wont, and cant say thats a bad call by him), but I interviewed more than a dozen football folks who had seen Adams climb through the Patriot organization starting in 1975 to his position as Bills silent, aide-de-camp. No one was able to explain what Ernie Adams did. We knew there was a dedicated Ernie phone on the Patriots sideline. We knew Adams was in Bills ear the entire game (What have we got, Ernie?) telling Belichick whether or not to throw a challenge flag. We knew Adams ran downstairs to make recommendations at halftime and that the Patriots had an amazing history of great third-quarter play. Advertisement The "Ernie" phone, pictured at Gillette in 2014. Jim Davis/Globe Staff I called Bill Parcells, a Pro Football Hall of Famer who restored the Patriots to respectability in the mid-1990s, to ask about Ernie Adams. I cant really tell you anything about him," said Parcells. I just dont know the guy." Swell. But Bill, I postured, the Giants press guide says that Ernie Adams was your director of pro personnel when you were head coach of the team in 1983 and 1984. He was? Parcells asked, incredulously. I dont remember that. I dont remember him being on my staff. If he was on my coaching staff, I dont remember what he was doing. And I . . . have a pretty good memory. And I didnt have any interaction with him. Perfect. Only Ernie Adams could be director of pro personnel for a Hall of Fame NFL coach and inspire no recollection decades later. It was ever the Ernie Way. Adams was with Parcells in the 1980s because Belichick was with the Giants in those years, winning his first two Super Bowl rings under the Tuna. Belichick and Adams go way back all the way to prep school. Bill and Ernie played offensive line at Phillips Andover in the 1970s and forged a football bond that was not broken until this week when Adams voluntarily stepped down from his ambiguous but important position with the Patriots. Advertisement Adams was an NFLs Rain Man, a grid savant who dazzled Chuck Fairbankss staff in the 1970s, memorizing playbooks in a single day when he worked in the bowels of old Schaefer Stadium. In 1979, at the age of 26, he was Phil Simmss quarterback coach with the Giants. Adams left football in the late 1980s to make a bundle on Wall Street for a few years, but came back to the NFL when Belichick was hired as head coach of the Browns in 1991. For the next 30 years, he was Belichicks Belichick. Last Saturday, in a surprise move, Belichick took a moment to cite Ernies contributions and announce that it would be Adamss final draft with the team. Belichick said he wanted to thank Ernie for all hes done and recognize all that hes done. Three days later, the Patriots announced that Adams was officially retired, effective immediately. There was never anyone like him. There will never be anyone like him. Adams was the power behind the throne. He was legit. A football force. His retirement is the end of an era. Belichick and the Patriots are going to miss him. The Red Sox cost-cutting plan came back to bite them last weekend in Texas. Brock Holt beat Boston with a two-run single Sunday. Holt was let go after 2019 because the Sox wanted cheaper options for a Swiss Army knife reserve player. On the same day Holt beat the Sox, Andrew Benintendi had two more hits, giving him five hits and two homers over two days for the first-place Royals. Meanwhile, Franchy Cordero, the cheaper alternative the Sox acquired for Benintendi, made the final out in Texas on his way to a hitless streak of 0 for 25. Advertisement All those who believe Madison Bumgarner should have been credited with a no-hitter for his seven inning complete game against the Braves, consider this: According to the Elias Sports Bureau, Nolan Ryan on 23 occasions pitched seven hitless innings. Elias counted 497 instances of a starter pitching seven-plus innings of no-hit ball between 1961-2021. Headline last week in the New York Daily News: Hold on to your trash cans, Astros are comin to town. This was followed by WELCOME CHEATERS! one day later, while the New York Post settled on, TAKE OUT THE TRASH! A Globe commenter submitted, Bang The Trash Can Slowly. Just too easy. Quiz: Whitey Ford faced 18 batters at least 100 times. Only one batted over .300 against Ford, hitting .339 off the Chairman of the Board. Name him (answer below). Oscar Robertson compiled 181 triple-doubles while playing in an era that made no note of the distinction. The Big O averaged a triple-double in his second NBA season. Wizards guard Russell Westbrook averaged a triple-double with the Thunder in 2016-17, 2017-18, and 2018-19, and goes into the final week of this season with a chance to pass Robertsons career total. Westbrook had 180 triple-doubles going into the final week of regular-season play. Advertisement Folks from Our Lady of the Valley Regional School in Uxbridge on Thursday broke ground on the Grace Rett Athletic Complex. Rett, a Holy Cross rower, was killed in a Florida traffic crash en route to a training session with her teammates in 2020. The project posthumously fulfills Retts longtime dream for her elementary and middle school to have its own indoor athletic space. The New York Times this past week reported that 78,000 unvaccinated volunteers are scheduled to work the Olympic Games in Tokyo in July. Unless they qualify for vaccination through Japans slow age-based rollout, they will not be inoculated against the coronavirus, the Times reported. For protection, volunteers are being offered little more than a couple of cloth masks, a bottle of sanitizer, and mantras about social distancing. On his way to his fourth MVP award, Mike Trout hit .413 in his first 23 games. Sort of. It turns out Trout is a lifetime .304 hitter against Boston with 9 home runs, 28 RBIs, and 8 stolen bases in 49 games. The Angels make their only trip to Fenway next weekend. Mac Jones and Christian Barmore are the 11th and 12th Nick Saban players drafted by Belichick. Pass Go! and collect $200 if you knew that Barry Bonds hit three of his 73 homers against Curt Schilling in 2001. Mets franchise shortstop Francisco Lindor ($341 million) had a horrible April and got booed by hometown fans, so the Mets fired hitting coaches Chili Davis and Tom Slater. Veteran eyeballs were replaced by analytics. Weak. The late, great Stan Musial would be happy to know he is not forgotten. In a random note about baseball symmetry last week, I failed to mention that Stan the Man had exactly 1,815 hits at home and 1,815 on the road. No less than 20 readers reached out to give Musial his due. The number is engraved in the minds of seamheads. Stan Kasten, one of the Dodgers owners, is a superstitious guy. When the Dodgers led the Rays, 3-2, in last years World Series, Kasten went to the potential clinching game with one of his sons and visited the restroom at Globe Life Field while the Dodgers trailed in the bottom of the sixth. We scored and took the lead while I was in there, so I couldnt leave the [expletive] bathroom," acknowledged Kasten. I ended up watching us win the World Series on a concourse monitor in front of the bathroom." Willie Mays, the Say Hey Kid, turned 90 Thursday. Go to ESPN.com and read Tim Kurkjians Cooperstown-worthy piece on Mays. Kurkjian has first-hand accounts from Mays, Reggie Jackson, Ken Griffey Jr., Pete Rose, Juan Marichal, and just about everyone else who matters. A must-read. Theres a real possibility that the Celtics regular-season finale against the Knicks at Madison Square Garden could have important playoff implications regarding seeding and the play-in round, which will take place May 18-21. Folks at NBC Sports Boston need to stop blaming referees when the Celtics lose. Theyre making NESN look like 60 Minutes." Set against the backdrop of the wartime home front, the tome explores the 1942 Hale America National Open, which Hogan won, and the controversy attached to the USGA decision not to count it as an official US Open. Hogan went to his grave believing hed won five. Quiz answer: Al Kaline. Kaline (April 6) and Ford (Oct. 8) both died in 2020. Dan Shaughnessy is a Globe columnist. He can be reached at daniel.shaughnessy@globe.com. Follow him on Twitter @dan_shaughnessy.

https://www.bostonglobe.com/2021/05/08/sports/has-there-ever-been-more-important-boston-sports-figure-with-more-anonymous-profile-than-ernie-adams/

How much income tax did Washington states biggest companies pay?

As many of us labor over our tax returns (this years filing deadline was extended to May 17), it may be illuminating to see how much or how little some of our biggest corporate neighbors have reported in income taxes. Based on the public filings of Washingtons 10 largest public companies by 2020 revenue, that was Redmond-based Microsoft, which reported $3.5 billion in U.S. federal income tax in fiscal year 2020. Seattle-based timber giant Weyerhaeuser had the highest percentage of its U.S. income going toward taxes: 21.2%. Nordstrom and Expedia both reported zero U.S. federal income taxes for 2020, in part due to losses incurred during the pandemic. Corporate taxes have long been a political flashpoint, with policymakers and experts arguing over whether U.S. companies contribute too much or too little in paying for defense, Medicare, Social Security and other parts of the federal budget. The too much camp got a win in 2017, when Congress passed the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, which lowered the top statutory corporate tax rate from 35% to a flat 21%. Advertising But in April, the Biden administration proposed raising the corporate tax rate to 28% to help cover a $2.3 trillion infrastructure plan. And many tax reform advocates want to eliminate various loopholes that let corporations sometimes pay less of their income in taxes than do individual taxpayers, who are currently taxed at a maximum rate of 37%. In reality, corporations rarely pay the statutory tax rate. Instead, like any taxpayer, companies can use tax deductions, credits and other methods to minimize their federal income tax. They can deduct any state or foreign income taxes, for example. They also enjoy tax-related benefits that individuals dont, such as deductions for stock-based compensation given to employees. As a result, some companies have an effective tax rate income tax as a percentage of profit thats less than the 21% statutory rate. Effective rates can be useful in explaining how much [tax] revenue goes to the federal government to fund programs, says Crystal Finkelstein, a tax expert and associate teaching professor at the University of Washington Foster School of Business. Effective rates are also relevant as policymakers consider deeper reforms of a corporate income tax system that has required companies to shoulder a smaller portion of the federal budget than used to be the case. In 1952, the share of federal revenue from corporate income taxes was around 32%, according to the Tax Policy Center. As of 2019, it was 9%, according to the center. Advertising The list of companies below, arranged from largest to smallest by their 2020 revenue, shows their reported profit, taxes and effective tax rates in 2020. It also comes with major caveats. First, these tax figures come from the companies year-end public filings with the U.S. Securities Exchange Commission. As such, theyre based on the earnings estimates that companies have calculated at the end of their fiscal year (which for most but not all companies ends Dec. 31). By the time companies complete a tax return, which isnt public, with the U.S. Treasury or other taxing authorities, the estimates may have changed, says Finkelstein. As important, there are also critical timing differences between the way the SEC and the IRS treat taxes and other financial information. One key difference relates to the timing of tax deductions, which allow companies to reduce their taxable income. For example, a company that plans to deduct the expense of new equipment is typically required by SEC rules to spread that depreciation deduction over five to seven years in their SEC filings. But under tax law, that same company might be allowed to take the entire deduction in a single fiscal year, and thus lower the amount of cash it actually pays to the U.S. Treasury for that year, says Finkelstein. Advertising Such timing differences can lead to big swings in the amount of taxes that companies report to the SEC from one year to the next, she says. Over time, these two sets of tax numbers typically catch up with each other and the tax numbers in the SEC filings can offer a reasonable approximation of the taxes the companies actually pay over a period of years, says Thomas Gilbert, an associate professor of finance at the Foster School. But looking just at one year can be very misleading, Gilbert adds. In a given year, it may seem as though the tax liability on the [SEC filings] is minuscule or gigantic. Relatedly, there are several ways to measure a companys effective tax rate. In their SEC filings, many companies report an all-in tax rate, which includes all federal, state and foreign income taxes as a percentage of global earnings. The all-in rate can include other tax-related factors as well, such as updates to previous estimates, resolutions of earlier tax disputes and the effects of new tax laws, as well as deferred income taxes that is, tax that gets reported in SEC filings but isnt actually paid until later years. Sponsored The average all-in effective income tax rate for U.S. corporations in 2019 was 24.6%, according to a study by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. Some tax policy experts prefer a narrower, U.S.-only effective tax rate that is, U.S. income taxes as a percentage of a companys U.S.-generated income which is often lower than the all-in rate. In 2018, the U.S.-only effective tax rate averaged 11.3%, according to an analysis of 379 profitable U.S. corporations by the Washington, D.C.-based Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy (ITEP), which scrutinizes the tax filings of Americas biggest companies. According to Matt Gardner, a tax expert and senior ITEP fellow, a U.S.-only effective rate allows for a comparison of a companys tax bill and the 21% statutory corporate rate. In the list below, the U.S.-only effective tax rate is calculated using ITEPs formula, which divides a companys publicly reported U.S. pre-tax income (minus its reported current state income tax, which is deductible) into its reported current U.S. income tax. Amazon Although the Seattle-based retail and cloud-computing services giant is famous for its aggressive tax-reducing strategies it reported no federal income tax in 2017 and 2018, despite billions of dollars in profits for both years the company reported a relatively large 2020 tax bill, thanks in part to a large pandemic-related increase in profit over 2019. In 2020, Amazon reported $1.8 billion in federal income taxes (and around $600 million in state income taxes) on $20.2 billion in U.S. income. Advertising Using the ITEP formula, Amazons effective U.S. income tax rate for 2020 was 9.4%. Amazons all-in effective tax rate for 2020 was 11.8%, based on figures in its SEC filings. Like all corporate taxpayers, Amazon benefits from an assortment of tax deductions. An important one for Amazon and other tech firms lets them deduct some of the value of restricted stock units, or company shares, that are included as part of employee compensation much as companies can deduct the expense of regular salaries. (Employees receiving restricted stock units pay income tax on them.) Amazons taxes, which are publicly reported, reflect our continued investments, employee compensation, and current U.S. tax laws, a spokesperson said in a statement. Costco Costco sales and profit also jumped last year, and that shows in its taxes for its fiscal 2020 (which ended Aug. 30): The Issaquah-based retailer reported $616 million in federal income taxes on around $4.2 billion in U.S. income. That resulted in an effective U.S. income tax rate of 15.5%. Advertising Costcos all-in effective income tax rate for 2020 was 24.4%. That partly reflects the companys relatively large state and foreign tax liabilities and large amount of deferred income taxes. Costco pays taxes in every country in which it operates and is conservative in its tax positions, a Costco spokesperson said. Microsoft In its 2020 fiscal year, which ended June 30, the tech firm reported federal income taxes of $3.5 billion on U.S. income of $24.1 billion, for an effective U.S.-only tax rate of 15.1%. The companys all-in effective tax rate in 2020 was 16.5% and reflected a reported total tax bill of $8.8 billion on worldwide earnings of $53 billion. In 2020, Microsoft reported nearly $1.2 billion in tax savings from deducting stock-based compensation. And like other manufacturers of intangible products, such as software and other intellectual property, which can be easily manufactured in multiple locations, Microsoft has also reportedly enjoyed tax savings by shifting some income-generating operations to countries with lower corporate tax rates, including Ireland and Puerto Rico. Advertising Some of Microsofts tax strategies reportedly have been questioned by the Internal Revenue Service. Microsoft confirmed the Times characterization of its public tax data, but declined to offer additional comment. T-Mobile In 2020, Bellevue-based T-Mobile, the nations second-largest cellular service provider after Verizon, reported $17 million in federal income taxes on $3.5 billion in U.S. earnings, for a U.S. effective tax rate of 0.5%. By contrast, T-Mobiles all-in effective income tax rate for 2020 was 22.3%, in part because of hefty state income taxes. T-Mobiles low federal income tax liability in 2020 reflected several factors, including deductions for stock-based compensation and for investing in expanding its cellular network and tax credits for research and development, the company said. T-Mobile also got tax savings from large net operating losses associated with its 2020 merger with rival Sprint. T-Mobile confirmed the Times characterization of its tax data. Starbucks The Seattle-based coffee giant was hit hard by the pandemic: Profit in its 2020 fiscal year (which ended Sept. 27) was down 74% over 2019. Advertising In its fiscal 2020, Starbucks reported $49.9 million in U.S. income tax on around $905 million in U.S. profit, for a U.S. effective tax rate of 5.8%. Starbucks officials emphasized that SEC tax figures do not represent actual tax payments. In a statement, the company noted that for fiscal year 2020, it actually paid more than $1.7 billion dollars in global income taxes, the majority of which was for U.S. federal income taxes. By way of comparison, Starbucks U.S.-only effective tax rate for 2019 was 46.1%. Starbucks all-in effective income tax rate for fiscal year 2020 was 20.6%. Paccar The Bellevue-based maker of medium- and heavy-duty trucks reported $182.5 million in federal incomes taxes on $1.1 billion in U.S. income for a U.S.-only effective tax rate of 16.9%. Paccars all-in effective income tax rate for 2020 was 21.7%, which reflected reported payments of state and foreign income taxes, according to SEC filings. Advertising PACCAR takes pride in being an outstanding corporate citizen that believes in paying its full tax liability under the law, the company said in a statement, adding that it benefits from tax credits for research and development. Nordstrom The Seattle-based retailer saw its earnings turn negative during the pandemic, and thats reflected in its income taxes. In its 2020 fiscal year, which ended Jan. 30, Nordstrom reported a federal income tax benefit of $501 million on a U.S. loss of $1.21 billion, for a U.S.-only effective tax rate of 41.4%, according to figures from its 2020 SEC filings. (Tax benefits arent necessarily refunds; some are used to offset a companys final tax bill.) Nordstroms all-in effective income tax rate for 2020 was 43.8%, representing a $538 million tax benefit on a $1.23 billion global loss, according to its 2020 SEC filings. (A company reporting a tax benefit on a loss uses a positive percentage for its effective tax rate.) One factor in Nordstroms tax benefit: a provision under federal pandemic legislation, known as the CARES Act, lets companies carry back their 2020 losses to prior years and use them as a credit against income taxes paid at the earlier, higher corporate tax rate of 35%. We have aligned our policies and procedures to ensure were in compliance with all applicable tax laws and regulations, a Nordstrom spokesperson said in an email. Advertising Expeditors International The Seattle-based logistics and freight-forwarding company reported $37.6 million in federal income tax on $325 million in U.S. income for a U.S. effective tax rate of 12.2%. Expeditors 2020 all-in effective tax rate was much higher 27% which was likely due in part to roughly two-thirds of its income being generated and taxed outside the United States. (The company did not respond to questions about its taxes.) Weyerhaeuser The timber company reported $147 million in U.S. income taxes on $723 million in U.S. income for a U.S. effective tax rate of 21.2%. Weyerhaeusers global rate was 18.8%, which partly reflected the inclusion of deferred taxes. Weyerhaeuser confirmed the Times characterization of its tax data. Expedia The Seattle-based online travel company was hammered during the pandemic along with the rest of the travel industry, and its tax bill appears to show the effects. In 2020, Expedia reported a U.S. income tax benefit of $31 million on a loss of $2.4 billion in its U.S. operations, for a U.S. effective tax rate of 1.3%. Expedias global effective tax rate was 13.4%, representing a $423 million tax benefit on a $3.2 billion global loss, according to calculations of data in its SEC filings. Expedia declined to comment on its taxes.

https://www.seattletimes.com/business/economy/how-much-income-tax-did-washington-states-biggest-companies-pay/

Can Eagles Compete to win NFC East This Season?

Not many are giving them a chance to do much in 2021, even the owner expressed his interest in looking beyond this season, but stranger things have happened PHILADELPHIA Not many believe the Eagles have a chance at doing much this season, not after Jeffrey Lurie, sort of, set the expectation that the 2021 season was going to be about building toward a bigger goal in the year or so that follows. Even Vegas doesnt believe in the Eagles this season. After the draft www.BetOnlin.ag set the Eagles over-under win total at a not-so-robust 6.5. Now, Vegas has been off before. That was four wins for those with short memories. So, theres a chance they could be off again. Just look at Nick Sirianni. When weve glimpsed the new head coach in his handful of media snippets, he is an arm-waving, hand-swinging ball of passion and energy. That may invigorate a locker room that has begun a transition to youth. There are still enough veterans that know how to win and will pass that tricky recipe on down the younguns. Throw in the fact that this is the NFC East were talking about, where there hasnt been a repeat winner since the Eagles did in 17 years ago and smelled like rotten eggs last year, and well, maybe it wouldnt be wise to count out the Eagles making some kind of playoff push. In 2016, people were telling us it was going to take five years and we did it (win a Super Bowl) in 12 months, said GM Howie Roseman earlier in the week on the teams flagship radio station, 94WIP. Thats a challenge we want to be better on. We want to do it quicker. We want to win as many games as possible. Everyone is sitting there thinking a certain thing about our football team. We have a lot of good players. We have a lot of good people and we have to keep building on top of that to climb that mountain again and thats what were going to do. Were going to try to win as many games as possible and were going to continue to build the roster. The roster building continues a week after the 2021 NFL Draft when the Eagles claimed RB Kerryon Johnson off waivers from the Detroit Lions. As Roseman added, We dont spend all year trying to make this team as good as possible to not try to compete. Thats crazy. Washington wears the crown of division champs heading into this year, but they won the East in 2020 with just seven wins. Dallas is the favorite this year, per Vegas, with an over-under win total set at 9 games. The Football Team is second at 8.5 with the Giants at 7. The Eagles are last, that doesnt mean thats where they will finish. Here is what each of their rivals did in the draft: COWBOYS Round 1: (No. 12) Micah Parsons, LB, Penn State Round 2: (44) Kelvin Joseph, CB, Kentucky Round 3: (75) Osa Odighizuwa, DL, UCLA (84) Acquired from Eagles in the move down two spots in the first round: Chauncey Golston, DE, Iowa (99) Nashon Wright, CB, Oregon State Round 4: (115) Jabril Cox, LB, LSU (138) Josh Ball, OT, Marshall Round 5: (179) Simi Fehoko, WR, Stanford Round 6: (192) Quinton Bohanna, DT, Kentucky (227) Israel Mukuamu, CB, South Carolina Round 7: (238) Matt Farniok, OG, Nebraska FOOTBALL TEAM Round 1: (19) Jamin Davis, LB, Kentucky Round 2: (51) Sam Cosmi, OT, Texas Round 3: (74) Benjamin St-Juste, CB, Minnesota (82) Dyami Brown, WR, North Carolina Round 4: (124) John Bates, TE, Boise State Round 5: (163) Darrick Forrest, S, Cincinnati Round 6: (225) Camaron Cheeseman, LS, Michigan Round 7: (240) Will Bradley-King, DE, Baylor (246) Shaka Toney, DE, Penn State (258) Dax Milne, WR, BYU GIANTS Round 1: (20) Kadarius Toney, WR, Florida Round 2: (50) Azeez Ojulari, OLB, Georgia Round 3: (71) Aaron Robinson, CB, UCF Round 4: (116) Elerson Smith, OLB, Northern Iowa Round 6: (196) Gary Brightwell, RB, Arizona (201) Rodarius Williams, CB, Oklahoma State Ed Kracz is the publisher of SI.coms EagleMaven and co-host of the Eagles Unfiltered Podcast. Check out the latest Eagles news at www.SI.com/NFL/Eagles and please follow him on Twitter: @kracze.

https://www.si.com/nfl/eagles/news/can-eagles-compete-to-win-nfc-east-this-season

Which of the Jets undrafted rookies are most likely to make the team?

Jets TE Kenny Yeboah at Ole Miss The Jets rookie minicamp got underway on Friday with the team confirming the signing of 12 undrafted free agents. Joe Douglas has been praised for how he moved quickly to acquire a few players many expected to be drafted and wasnt afraid to splash the cash in terms of guaranteed salaries and bonus payments to land his targets. Last years undrafted rookies included four players who remain on the roster for 2021. Cornerback Lamar Jackson started six games and edge rusher Bryce Huff and receiver Lawrence Cager each saw action off the bench. However, the best pickup might have been slot cornerback Javelin Guidry who contributed late in the season, leading the team with four forced fumbles. The lack of resources allocated to the slot cornerback position in the offseason perhaps suggests the Jets anticipate Guidry playing a key role in his second season. Lets consider three of the candidates G Tristen Hoge - BYU One common theme when draft analysts were evaluating Zach Wilson was concern over the fact that he rarely seemed to be under pressure. However, the Jets instead used this to inspire one of their undrafted pickups. Hoge started 25 games at right guard over the past three years and didnt give up a sack in eight 2020 appearances. While he might lack the athletic ability of most of the Jets recent additions, he flashes signs of physical dominance and may bring some versatility because he has worked at center in the past. At 24, Hoge is an older prospect and has some durability concerns having missed games due to injury and illness over the past few years so its easy to see why he didnt get drafted. However, hell give Wilson a familiar face to go through his first offseason with and will compete for a role on a Jets offensive line that is looking for young players to step up and establish themselves as potential long-term contributors. Story continues OLB Hamilcar Rashed Jr. - Oregon State Amazingly, Rashed went from earning some potential first-rounder buzz to completely undrafted in less than a year. Having broken onto the scene as a junior, Rashed almost entered the 2020 draft but his decision to stay in school backfired badly. His production fell off a cliff in 2020 as he dealt with injury issues and criticisms over his effort levels. Rasheds 2019 season had made NFL scouts sit up and take notice as he racked up 14 sacks, led the nation in tackles for loss and was a first team All-American. While questions surrounding effort levels are troubling, its notable that his relentless work ethic was widely praised during and after the 2019 season. Clearly, if he can rediscover the form that led him to register those numbers, Rashed could be a bargain for the Jets. They certainly wasted no time in securing his agreement because he was the first undrafted player reported to have agreed terms with any team. While hes primarily a pass rusher, Rashed also exhibits some ability to set the edge against the run and drop back and match up in coverage. This would make him an interesting fit within the Jets system and a potential candidate to compete for time at the strong side linebacker position. TE Kenny Yeboah - Ole Miss Many were shocked when Yeboah went undrafted following a breakout senior campaign which saw him rack up 524 yards and six touchdowns in just seven games. The Jets, having not addressed the tight end position with any of their 10 draft picks, went above and beyond to get Yeboah signed, as they reportedly agreed to give him $200,000 in guarantees to outbid a few other teams. After four years at Temple, Yeboah transferred to Ole Miss where he thrived as a teammate of Jets second round pick Elijah Moore. Hes more of a pass catching threat than a blocker but is versatile enough to line up in the slot, out wide or in the backfield. The Jets added Tyler Kroft to their tight end room during the offseason so there should be a good competition for roles between him, Chris Herndon, Ryan Griffin and Trevon Wesco. Yeboah, however, arguably has higher upside than any of them, so the Jets could look to find a spot for him if he impresses during the offseason.

https://sports.yahoo.com/jets-undrafted-rookies-most-likely-135616420.html?src=rss

Can Jason Kenney stare down Albertas COVID compliance problem?

MIRROR, ALTA.On a sunny afternoon outside the Whistle Stop Caf, Chris Scott stood in arm-crossed defiance. The restaurant hes owned for almost two years is the size of a two-car garage and sits just off a barren stretch of highway near the Alberta hamlet of Mirror. This week, it had been shut down by authorities, the front door secured with an orange padlock and metal chain. Alberta Health Services says Scotts business has been the subject of a whopping 413 public health complaints this calendar year, amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Scott says hes surprised its not more. Ive been pushing back against these restrictions since Jan. 21, he says. Those people that dont believe in our rights and freedoms and believe that the government needs to keep them safe they have a problem with this. Alberta has been wrestling with the highest COVID-19 rates in North America. Its hospital system is, according to officials, nearing a point of crisis. Amid that state of affairs, Premier Jason Kenney has said his province has a compliance problem when it comes to health restrictions. If thats so, Scott and his restaurant are one face of it. The movement against COVID-19 restrictions represents a minority of Albertans, by all accounts. The degree to which their defiance is contributing to the spread of the virus in the province is impossible to pinpoint. There are other factors, such as variants, demographics and even politics, that are also playing their role. But resistance to government-imposed limitations or lockdowns has emerged as a defining challenge of Albertas crisis with anger boiling over on all sides. People gathered outside the Whistle Stop on Wednesday to drink beer, eat burgers and show support for Scott after Albertas health authority announced it was physically shutting him down after several weeks of trying to work collaboratively with him. We did follow the restrictions at first, says Scott, calling it the perpetual two weeks to flatten the curve. Asked if he was concerned about people catching the virus at his restaurant, Scott said he wouldnt want that, and that he hasnt heard from anyone who has been infected after being there aside from a few on Facebook, but they werent able to back that up, he said. Among the two dozen people who showed up to the Whistle Stop, the mood was relaxed, but the air was full of anti-government sentiment and conversations about bogus public health restrictions. Trucks passing by let out long drawls on their horns; some supporters cheered across the dirt parking lot in response. Such scenes are a worrying prospect for the provincial government, and pose a challenge for Kenney, the leader of a supposedly united Conservative government. Kenney has been roundly criticized by those on the left for failing to take strong enough action during the pandemic amid his extolling of personal responsibility and the importance of protecting business in his freedom-loving province. His government has also been fighting with health-care workers over a contract dispute and facing fierce criticism from teachers throughout the pandemic. A chunk of his own caucus MLAs, mostly from rural ridings, have also openly revolted against public health measures his government has put in place. Kenneys popularity currently sits at the lowest its been since last year, with an Angus Reid poll in April finding about 75 per cent of people said he was doing a bad job during the pandemic. Frank Graves, a pollster with the firm EKOS, suggests Kenney faces a problem in Alberta that is unique in its intensity. Graves has been studying the links between anti-restriction convictions and a political outlook he terms ordered populism, which helped predict who would vote for former U.S. President Donald Trump and which, by Graves research, is represented in Alberta more than any other Canadian province. The people who have this kind of view tend to have a very negative view of government, public institutions, science, climate change, he said. This group, found throughout Canada but more common in Alberta, is likely to oppose coronavirus restrictions heavily. Its not just: I dont like these ideas. Its: Im defiant. Its an affront to my personal liberties, the virus is a hoax its wildly exaggerated, he said. Kenney has struggled during the pandemic because many of his decisions have been based on political interests, said Lori Williams, a policy studies professor at Mount Royal University in Calgary. Part of that was his attempt to appeal to libertarian populists who make up a chunk of rural voters, she said, because it led to mixed messaging. One day, hell say he doesnt think lockdowns work, then the next hell introduce more restrictions, Williams said. This is somebody who was making decisions based on what he thought would benefit him politically instead of what would help with the virus or the economy, said Williams. If hed been more nimble, in terms of how he responded, a lot of things might have been different. Its not that Albertas complex situation is all his fault, she added, but he very much wears this. Kenney this week outlined some factors he said were contributing to his provinces current lot a case count of 308 per 100,000 people, as of last week, which was higher than anywhere else in Canada or the United States. Loading... Loading... Loading... Loading... Loading... Loading... He cited the fact the province has the youngest population in Canada, and COVID-19 tends to spread more quickly among them. Albertans work more, he said, with a higher labour force participation rate resulting in more people mixing with others. The variants of the virus have taken hold in Alberta, too. Out of the 24,156 active cases in the province, 14,358 are linked to a variant of concern. And, Kenney who rolled out a slate of stricter health measures and penalties on Tuesday acknowledged, some people have flouted the rules the government has tried to impose. Obviously, compliance is a critical part of it. During a Facebook Live event Tuesday night, Kenney said its reached a point where there have been threats directed at him and at members of his family. He referenced one statement made online by Ty Northcott, the organizer of the anti-lockdown rodeo, which seemed to reference conspiracy theories and called Kenney a tyrannical being. Tyrannical beings, not even human beings, the tyrannical beings of the current world. What the heck does that mean? Kenney asked on the livestream as comments streamed in. Is that now merging with the David Icke lizard people conspiracy theory? People who are making death threats against me and my family, and are talking about the tyrannical beings that are taking over the world, no theyre not my base, theyre not Alberta conservatives. Theyre not mainstream Albertans. Part of the problem that Kenney faces is that, although it is not a mainstream belief that COVID-19 is a conspiracy orchestrated by tyrants, it is one that lingers in his province. Research by the polling agency EKOS shows that while about 15 per cent of Canadians hold strong anti-government views associated with resisting lockdowns, its closer to 30 per cent of Albertans. Kenneys task therefore, said Graves, is to right the ship using blunt tools such as enforcing restrictions through fines and legal penalties. You dont have time to engage and educate and use moral suasion, so you have to use much blunter tools, he said. No more violins, its hammers now. In the work Graves has done polling people on their willingness to comply with pandemic measures, hes found those most adamantly opposed are unlikely to respond to scientific evidence theyre entrenched in their views and consuming misinformation online. What may make a difference is not Kenneys scolding, but seeing real-life consequences for not complying. I believe a deal-closer will be vaccine passports, Graves said. The private sector is going to do that. It may make a difference if you cant go to an Eric Church tour or get on a plane without a vaccine certificate. One thing Kenney tried to do was appeal to the law-and-order side of people, saying that, even if you dont like it, these restrictions are the law and will be enforced. Luanne Whitmarsh, a Calgary woman who said three family members and 11 friends have died during the pandemic, was glad to see Kenney cracking down. She said the attitude of a minority of fellow Albertans who strongly oppose restrictions is creating a more dangerous and distressing situation for everyone else. Until youve lost someone, it might not mean the same to you that were all at risk, Whitmarsh said. The scenes of Albertans gathered at a protest rally last weekend, and of churches holding large services in defiance of COVID-19 rules, are particularly infuriating to her. What I think is happening, I just think that everyones mad and they dont know who to be mad at so theyre mad at everything, she said. All this Youre infringing on my rights nonsense those people are infringing on my rights because this could have been over. Read more about:

https://www.thestar.com/news/canada/2021/05/08/can-jason-kenney-stare-down-albertas-covid-compliance-problem.html

Will candidates improve access to a family doctor?

While health care is often top of mind for electors, some may not realize it is local elections in which they have the chance to directly elect a health network representative. Its in the same locations and on the same day as municipal council elections, this Monday. In most regions of the province, electors are voting for a Horizon or a Vitalit candidate based on geography with no choice of network, but Albert Westmorland is one of the regions where voters will have a choice whether to cast their ballot for a Horizon or Vitalit candidate, as the region is served by both regional health authorities. For voting purposes, Albert Westmorland includes Albert County, Moncton and areas just north of Moncton but not as far as Saint-Antoine. It reaches just west of the village of Petitcodiac. It does not include Dieppe and the areas east of it. Even New Brunswickers who arent voting in a municipal election on Monday are invited to cast a ballot in health network elections and were sent a voter card by Elections NB, said spokesperson Paul Harpelle. In Albert Westmorland, Subregion B2, residents who want to vote in the Horizon Health Network election have a choice between three candidates: Cassandra Bourgeois, Glenn Miller and Jane Mitton-MacLean. The Moncton Hospital is included in this subregion. Alternatively, residents of Albert Westmorland may choose to vote Subregion A2, in the Vitalit Health Network election and choose between two candidates: Janice K. Goguen or Robert Melanson. The Dr. Georges-L.-Dumont University Hospital Centre is included in this subregion. The Times & Transcript gave all candidates the chance to answer the same questions. Many residents say they cannot get a family doctor and there is also a nursing shortage. Candidates running for Horizon Health Network Subregion B2: Cassandra Bourgeois said current hiring practices need improvement. With the minister of health planning to take over the recruitment process, collaboration between the health network and provincial government is prudent. She is concerned about nurse practitioners graduating from school not being able to get jobs here. She would like to see nurse practitioners set up independent offices and bill directly to medicare to reduce burden on thinly spread resources. Glenn Miller said there has been a doctor and nursing shortage in New Brunswick under multiple governments, a sign the same old methods of recruitment and retention are failing. While some issues may be financial, sitting down with service providers and opening a dialogue about how to restore public confidence in the health-care system and ensure everyone has a family physician would be valuable. Jane Mitton-MacLean said gains have been made recently on this front by the board, which she currently sits on, but the global competition is fierce. In the last six months, Horizon has successfully recruited a total of 28 family physicians across our coverage area in both urban and rural settings who have either already opened a practice or will be opening their practice in the near future, she said. More broadly speaking, a total of 78 family physicians have been hired by Horizon since July 2019 and have either started their work or will start their work in the coming months, but 40 have departed or retired. Candidates running for Vitalit Health Network Subregion A2: Janice K. Goguen said the recruitment and retention issue is complex, requiring the input of government, higher education, labour, municipalities and citizens. Health authorities certainly have a role to play facilitating the dialogue and looking for solutions, she said. Robert Melanson said he does not believe that recruitment should be done by politicians. Hospitals and health boards should do this work, politicians should not be involved, he said. Those on the ground know what is needed, he said, and politicians are missing the boat on this file. Candidates running for Horizon Health Network Subregion B2: Bourgeois said it is this very concern that motivated her to run. She wants the community to know about decisions being made and represent their interests authentically. She plans to use social media as a platform to get feedback from the community and to keep them informed on what is on the table for discussion and being voted on each meeting. Miller said, when a health care system is overburdened and understaffed I can understand why some residents may feel they are not being given enough of a chance for input, he said. He is a firm believer in fostering public confidence through the use of stakeholder groups which gives the government the opportunity to make informed decisions. Mitton-MacLean said, anyone who knows me will say I am not shy about being a strong advocate for all residents, especially those who may feel their views are not being heard. She considers herself transparent and hopes to continue to do work collaboratively and strategically for a third term. Loading... Loading... Loading... Loading... Loading... Loading... Candidates running for Vitalit Health Network Subregion A2: Goguen said she would support a greater level of transparency and information exchange between the board of Vitalit and the clients it serves. She noted many people do not ever realize this election is taking place which is symptomatic of the accessibility the public has to the board itself. Citizens need to be heard in health management decisions, she said. Melanson said increasing transparency and working for the people is why he is running. He is concerned about doctors and health-care workers not being able to speak freely. He believes there are too many in camera (closed door) meetings or too much of some meetings is in camera unnecessarily. In the past, there has not been enough consultation with people and it should never be the case that service recipients arent consulted, he said. Boards should be accountable to the community who pays for these services, he said. Read more about:

https://www.thestar.com/news/canada/2021/05/08/will-candidates-improve-access-to-a-family-doctor.html

Will these health-network candidates fight for rural hospitals?

When New Brunswickers head to the ballot box Monday to choose municipal election candidates, they will also have the chance to vote for a regional health network representative. In most regions, electors are either voting for a Horizon or Vitalit candidate, but in some, residents can choose to vote in either election but can only vote in one. Kent-Westmorland is one of them. Referred to as Subregion B1 in the Horizon Health Network or Subregion A1 for Vitalit, Kent-Westmorland includes Dieppe, everything on the east side of the Petitcodiac River such as Sackville and Shediac and communities along the Northumberland Strait, until, roughly, south of Rogersville. The largely rural region faces significant health-care challenges. The region is home to two hospitals. In Sackville, the Sackville Memorial Hospital is a Horizon hospital. In Sainte-Anne-de-Kent, the Stella-Maris-de-Kent is a Vitalit Hospital. Just over a year ago, both were told their emergency departments would be closing overnight, a decision that has since been reversed. Shortages of health-care workers has also been an ongoing concern. Residents who want to vote in the Horizon Health Network election have a choice between two candidates: Pauline Gallant and Laura Reinsborough. Residents who want to vote in the Vitalit Health Network election have a choice between two candidates: Claire Ephestion and Louis-Marie Simard. Even New Brunswickers whose municipality does not have an election are still invited to vote in health authority elections and were sent a voter card by Elections NB, said Paul Harpelle, spokesperson for Elections NB. The Times & Transcript gave all candidates the chance to answer the same three questions. Laura Reinsborough said her opposition to reforms proposed in 2016 and again in 2020 motivated her run. The proposed reforms were an attack on our rural communities, she said. Shutting down services doesnt solve any of the problems in our health-care system. People living in rural areas deserve equitable access to health care, she said. Currently, urban hospitals cant handle the load and rural hospitals provide relief for areas like day surgeries and lab testing, she said. She is concerned these hospital cuts could come back to the table again and wants to be there to fight them, she said. The second Horizon candidate, Pauline Gallant, could not be reached by press time. T&T: Many residents say they cannot get a family doctor and there is also a nursing shortage. Collaboration, to see the issue from many angles and fix the causes, not the symptoms, is Reinsboroughs goal. She would involve advocacy groups who understand the problems and hear their ideas. Its time to throw out the old ideas of cutting services and instead see where new opportunities lie, she said. Reinsborough said she sees the current public feedback process at Horizon as closed and not enough is being done to help New Brunswickers understand decision-making. Electing collaborative-minded people with open minds would help considerably, she said. Claire Ephestion said, When it comes to life-saving emergencies, budgetary issues should not be the priority. Every citizen must have access to an emergency service within a reasonable distance from home, regardless of the time of day the accident occurs. Decentralization, she added, may need reconsideration. Louis-Marie Simard said services in rural areas should not only be maintained but improved. It is socially and financially wiser to bring services as close to patients as possible when other costs such as transportation, to name but one, are considered. Simard noted that the average cost of an emergency room visit in a smaller hospital is lower. T&T: Many residents say they cannot get a family doctor and there is also a nursing shortage. Ephestion said projected retirements will continue to exacerbate this troubling problem. Solutions proposed include: retention of young doctors, attracting immigration and the facilitation of the equivalence of diplomas for qualified and experienced doctors and nurses. Some consultations, such as prescription, renewals can be done by virtual appointments to gain efficiency, she said. Simard said in the short-term, some tasks could be spread differently between health-care professionals and increase room for families and caregivers in the care work. However, in the mid to long-term, more programs need to be created to help international health-care workers transition, upgrading their certifications, if necessary to practise here. Educational institutions also need to be able to accept more students, said Simard. Ephestion said more needs to be done to understand resident expectations of their hospitals, including evaluating current user experiences and looking for improvements. She believes opportunities for resident-involvement in decision should increase. Simard said concerns and fears expressed by citizens are legitimate, and she believes that national standards are not being followed in how decisions are being made on patient involvement. More is needed, she said. Read more about:

https://www.thestar.com/news/canada/2021/05/08/will-these-health-network-candidates-fight-for-rural-hospitals.html

Whats Next After Vaccinations? Will Inflation Derail The Recovery?

Paris' Mayor Anne Hidalgo (C) arrives to visit a Covid-19 vaccination center in Paris, on May 8, ... [+] 2021, amid the campaign of vaccination against the coronavirus. (Photo by Martin BUREAU / AFP) (Photo by MARTIN BUREAU/AFP via Getty Images) AFP via Getty Images Nils Bohr, the Danish physicist is rumoured to have stated Prediction is very difficult, especially if it's about the future! I agree. Last March with the pandemic in full, terrible flight, I laid out three scenarios for how the coronavirus hit world and its financial markets might develop (link below). To a certain extent, each of my optimistic, medium and pessimistic scenarios played out such was the unpredictability of the virus and the ways in which it and other forces caused economies and political systems to contort themselves. Prognostics In particular, my prediction of a nasty, second wave was largely correct Under this pessimistic (20%) scenario, much of the worlds workforce is disrupted by the virus, and second waves become the norm. Social unrest, political disunity and a breakdown in diplomacy between nations (US and China for instance) are some of the resulting side-effects. Monetary and fiscal policies cannot contain the full effects of bankruptcies and unemployment, to the extent that central banking accidents crop up. The 1930s is the nasty template to follow here. Property markets and alternative asset classes like private equity are hard hit What is striking is the part I got wrong, that financial and market collapse was not the natural consequence of the second wave of COVID and the economic damage it has caused. That much is due to the speedy arrival of vaccines, generous fiscal packages and the seemingly never ending supply of central bank liquidity. This last factor is the one that has made the difference between an ebullient market environment and a cruel and testing real world. Central banks to the rescue In last Marchs note I wrote that the distinguishing feature of the coronavirus passage through societies and economies was its speed, and this continues to be the case. Vaccines have been developed at a record pace, in many countries the US for example - the economic rebound is speedy and the adjustment of businesses to a more digitally driven economy has been rapid. With vaccination rates rising quickly in developed countries Switzerland and France for instance are accelerating their programs it is now time to take stock, and offer a few more predictions, or at least frame some broad scenarios. As background, we know the following truths in the light of the coronavirus crisis. Central banks continue to be the force that holds markets together and loftily above the reality of an at times wretched world. In coming weeks, the beginning of the debate on the Federal Reserves tapering strategy may induce more volatility. Populists not doing well Then, at a country level we do not yet know what kind of model has best withstood the side-effects of the virus, though it is clear that populists (Modi, Trump, Bolsonaro for instance) struggle with the health, social and economic effects of the virus. In addition, the rise of the digital economy and manifest changes to the way we work are increasingly well understood. What is altogether less welcome is the general lack of collaboration between nations (the spat between Britain and France over fishing rights near Jersey is another example of this), and the emergence of a steadfast geopolitical rivalry or Great Game between the USA and China (and Russia), that increasingly incorporates a scramble for scarce resources (rare earths, computer chips, and the Arctic for example). Looking ahead, pent up demand and hefty fiscal and monetary stimuli, together with the fact that different countries are exiting the coronavirus crisis at different times, and the background factor that the crisis begun at the end of one of the longest periods of expansion in economic history, makes forecasting the near future all the more difficult. Notwithstanding that I can think of three scenarios to bear in mind till the end of 2021. Brave new World (30% probability) The Brave New World is one of extremes. In this scenario, the large economies have emerged from the coronavirus and growth is barrelling forward. Despite manifest inflation, central banks are slow to rein in activity. Investment in new technologies is booming Europe leads in green technology, the USA has a 5G revolution and China is the quantum computing leader. Central banks introduce digital currencies faster than many think necessary, drones become the frontier military technology and a debate begins on a new world institution to police the internet. Climate change becomes a significant driver of security across Africa and Asia. In finance, investors increasingly differentiate between new industries and companies and old ones, such that many long established banks, consumer brands and energy companies trade at record high dividend yields. At the margin, asset managers and large family offices build portfolios that include sizeable private asset portfolios (private debt and venture like investments), crypto currency and stablecoin portfolios, agriculture centric assets in Latin America. High food price inflation slows growth in many emerging countries, and in the developed world, falling bond prices cause pension fund crises across Europe. Two Armed Economist (45% probability) This scenario is more probable, but less clear - if that makes sense. The reason for this is that once the initial post-COVID bounce is over, we will enter a world where imbalances are met with market and policy responses, and overall economic and market outcomes will be volatile. For example, it is now clear that the Biden administration is reacting to wealth inequality in the way it is framing fiscal policy, and that in addition extreme price moves in eclectic assets from Ethereum, semiconductor chips to lumber are causing real world economic pain and confusion. This pattern of equilibrium building continues in many countries economic activity becomes better distributed away from capital cities (Paris to Bordeaux, Dublin to Galway) and across regions (Amsterdam to Barcelona, Zurich to Nice?) such that there is a new wave of infrastructure spending on telecoms and public services, and property market growth follows a similar path. There is a slow but meaningful revolution in healthcare and education, and at the universities level, the multidisciplinary complex systems approach is in vogue (again, following Nils Bohrs example). In markets, the lingering coronavirus (and inflation) slows growth in emerging markets, the trend towards the democratisation of risk continues and the apparent rise of inflation causes both the major asset classes, developed world equities and bonds, to underperform somewhat. The surprise is the ongoing failure of the dollar to rise, though printing presses may have something to do with that. Reckoning (25% probability) A reckoning scenario, where many of the risks that are building in the global system (climate damage and super high debt levels) begin to erupt, is in my view likely between now and 2024, but just not in 2021 (I sound like a two armed economist or a central banker!). This scenario will most likely develop around the permanent effects of the coronavirus on the labour force, a macro environment characterised by stagflation, which in turn leads to widespread popular discontent as real wages fall. In such an environment, fiscal policy is effectively spent from the recent rounds of stimuli, and monetary policy is rendered ineffective by rising inflation and low growth. As such markets begin to price in the risks associated with very high debt levels and a credit crisis ensues. In this scenario credit and broad equity markets falls by up to 20%, with short-term government debt in developed world countries gaining. Democratisation of finance type investments suffer a huge liquidity drawdown that produces a numbing democratisation of risk retail investment crisis in the US and China. This is a sobering scenario, but at least it may not play out just yet, not next week anyway.

https://www.forbes.com/sites/mikeosullivan/2021/05/08/whats-next-after-vaccinations-will-inflation-derail-the-recovery/

Were New Orleans Saints About to Draft LSUs Terrace Marshall?

As the New Orleans Saints second round pick, No. 60 overall, drew near, there was one name on the board who had began to slip. LSU's Terrace Marshall Jr., for what was likely injury concerns, fell out of the first round and was sliding a bit further than many of the projections had the former Tigers' standout going. One of the many positions of need for the Saints leading up to the draft was a receiver, preferably a player who could fill that No. 2 outside role next to Michael Thomas. In an inside look at the Carolina Panthers draft weekend, one of the stories was about the selection of Marshall. Carolina held the No. 59 overall pick in the draft, one before New Orleans and according to the story, was tipped off that the Saints were going to select Marshall No. 60 overall. "Marshall was quickly becoming one of those guys whose name was beginning to stick out on the board, with not much space above him, but a lot of space below at his position," Panther writer Darin Gantt wrote. "He was becoming a value guy. Then someone got a call that the Saints were about to take Marshall 60th overall, and the Panthers shifted gears, taking Marshall in the 59th spot instead." To the dismay of many LSU fans, the Saints have not drafted LSU players high in the draft over the last 15 years, the highest being Devery Henderson in the second round of the 2004 draft. If Marshall had fallen to pick No. 60, it would've been an interesting and likely beloved selection for many Louisiana fans of both teams. Marshall of course grew up in Bossier City, Louisiana and was a highly touted recruit, winning a national championship in 2019 in the Superdome, including the final touchdown of the game. Instead, Marshall will now be facing New Orleans twice a year as the Saints selected Ohio State linebacker Pete Werner with their second round selection. He would've filled a need in the Saints offense and while Marshall couldn't have wound up in a much better spot than the Panthers and Joe Brady, it would've been fun watching him in black and gold as well.

https://www.si.com/college/lsu/football/lsu-terrace-marshall-saints

Should The Indians Bring In Albert Pujols?

The big news of this week is certainly that the Los Angeles Angels essentially released who many consider a legend in 1B/DH Albert Pujol out of the last bit of his 10-year contract. Now, this isnt the same home run hitter that we are all familiar with over the years. After all, Pujols has blasted 667 home runs and also has 2112 runs batted in. Even so, this last season of that 10-year contract has been lackluster at best. A .198 average, five home runs and 12 runs batted in are not very good numbers. This in 92 plate appearances on the season. Pujols is 41-years-old and is obviously on the back-end of this legendary career. Right now, the Indians are 17-13 and are coming off a sweep of the Kansas City Royals on the road. It was actually the first time in 48 years of Kauffman Stadium existing that the Indians swept a four-game series in that park. Unreal. Now, the financials within the possibility of Pujols to Cleveland are essentially null and void. The Angels will have to pay the legend for the rest of this season. Its the last of the $254 million dollar contract signed towards the end of 2011. The Tribe may give him the league minimum for a deal of sorts to make it work out. The benefits of Pujols coming to Cleveland are simply the interest a name like that brings to this organization that could always use more fans in the stadium (Covid permitting). Pujols would have to be okay with splitting time with other players on the roster, especially with how the team is playing so well as of late. Many fans are citing the Indians 2013 signing of another home-run-hitting-legend in Yankees bopper Jason Giambi and how that benefitted the team. Well, only time will tell what happens with Pujols and which team he ends up signing with in the coming days or weeks. There is still a ton of baseball to be played this season and he could help a squad compete for a playoff spot, or it could be a complete miss, too. This is a true hit-or-miss idea and the Indians would have to be willing to take that risk.

https://www.si.com/mlb/indians/opinion/should-the-indians-bring-in-albert-pujols

Will Patriots' lack of skill position speed anchor rookie QB Mac Jones?

originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston This website has been your one-stop shop for all your Mac Jones needs over the course of the last week. How he performs, in a vacuum, will help determine whether or not the Patriots are able to achieve Dynasty 3.0 status. No pressure, kid. But Jones' success, whenever he hits the field as Patriots starter, will be based in large part on what's around him. You don't have to go back all that far -- look at how the Patriots offense performed in 2019 and how the Bucs offense performed in 2020 -- to understand how a quarterback's success is in many ways a function of the situation in which that quarterback finds himself. Let's assess the situation, then, assuming there is a chance Jones ends up starting fairly early in his Patriots tenure. Recent league trends would suggest that's not out of the realm of possibility, and I'm of the opinion that, within the Patriots quarterback room as currently constructed, the rookie has the best combination of skills for the type of offense Bill Belichick wants to run. Moving at a different pace First things first: The Patriots are slow. As in, they have arguably the slowest collection of projected starting skill players in the league. Last year around this time, NFL Media's Daniel Jeremiah, a former NFL scout, pulled 40 times for every team in the league and then projected their lineups in 11 personnel (three receivers, one back, one tight end). The Patriots ranked second-slowest with an average 40 time of 4.60 seconds. The Patriots are a little faster this year. So is the rest of the league. Last year, @MoveTheSticks dug up old 40 times and calculated average speeds for the top skill players in projected 11P packages. Tried to update that list for 21. Here are the top-5 rankings: 1. NYG: 4.418 2. WFT: 4.422 3. DET: 4.436 4. ATL: 4.448 5. 28. Eagles: 4.558 29. Saints: 4.572 29. Titans: 4.572 31. Browns: 4.578 32. Patriots: 4.584 Phil Perry (@PhilAPerry) May 7, 2021 Thanks to projected depth charts from Ourlads NFL Scouting Services, we tried to accomplish the same feat this week. Story continues Look at all 32 teams. Project a top 11-personnel grouping for each. Dig up 40 times. Find some averages. Find out who's fast and who isn't. The Patriots came in with an average 40 time for their top 11-personnel group of 4.584 seconds. That ranked 32nd. It included Nelson Agholor, Kendrick Bourne, Jakobi Meyers, Jonnu Smith and Damien Harris as their top 11-personnel grouping. Had we subbed in N'Keal Harry for Bourne (who had the slowest 40 time, 4.68 seconds, of any Patriots wideout), that would've bumped the Patriots down to 28th in the NFL (4.554 seconds), just a tick faster than the Eagles (4.558) and a tick slower than the Chargers (4.550). There would've been no change if we subbed in James White for Harris since they had the same 40 time (4.57). Smith got the nod over Henry since he got more guaranteed money in free agency this year. So the Patriots aren't a fast offensive team. Bill Belichick always says that receivers have two jobs: Get open, catch the ball. A relative lack of speed would seem to negatively impact No. 1. Separation anxiety Lucky for us, thanks to Next Gen Stats, we have more data on just how open these receivers are when a target finds them. The Patriots don't look like a gang of next-level separators, per NGS. Meyers was the best of the bunch last year, ranking 28th among wideouts and tight ends with 3.4 yards of separation per target. Smith, while with the Titans, racked up 3.3 yards of separation per target, placing him 37th. Not bad. After that came Harry (2.9, 83rd), Bourne (2.8, 85th), Henry (2.5, 114th) and Agholor (2.4, 117th). If those numbers seem a little screwy to you, they should to a certain extent. Agholor is the fastest player on the Patriots offense at the moment. He was one of the best deep-ball receivers in the NFL, averaging over 18.5 yards per catch. As it turns out, these NGS figures require a heaping helping of context. In general, short-area receivers see their separation numbers inflated, it was pointed out by FiveThirtyEight.com's Josh Hermsmeyer. In a study he conducted last year using NGS data, he found that defenses tend to sag off shorter routes more often because their primary concern is getting beat deep. So separation is harder to find the further down the field a receiver travels. That would help explain Agholor's low ranking. Ditto for someone like Seattle's DK Metcalf (2.6, 102nd) who is a physical specimen but plays in an offense that leans on the deep ball targets him frequently down the field (average depth of target of 13.6 yards). Patriots Talk Podcast: Matt Cassel on the Mac Jones vs. Cam Newton quarterback competition | Listen & Subscribe | Watch on YouTube Scheme also plays a huge role in the level of separation receivers are able to cook up. Four of the top-10 separators, per NGS, play in offenses that stem from the Shanahan tree: San Fran's Deebo Samuel (4.6, 1st), Green Bay's Robert Tonyan (4.2, 2nd), San Fran's George Kittle (3.9, 7th) and Green Bay's Allen Lazard (3.7, 9th). Rams tight end Gerald Everett (3.6, 13th), coached by Shanahan disciple Sean McVay, is a fifth player from that kind of scheme to land in the top 15. With scheme playing a significant factor in the NGS separation numbers, and with target depth apparently weighing heavily on the results, it can be hard to come to a definitive conclusion on whether or not a player is actually a great route-runner whose physical and technical skill gets him open -- therefore making life easy on his quarterback. Those separation numbers also don't necessarily account for great offensive players who require a great deal of defensive attention and therefore create openings for their teammates to exploit. Still, the NGS numbers are useful. Look at the two AFC representatives in the 2020 AFC title game. Buffalo and Kansas City each had five players land in the top 80 on the NGS separators list. Both teams feature great schemes and great quarterbacks. But both also have bona fide talents at wideout and tight end that helped them achieve those separation rankings. Two of the most explosive offenses in football. Need for speed What's interesting about how the Patriots have been built is that they know they're slow, and they probably don't care. Yes, it seems as though the team would've liked to add a little more speed in last weekend's draft, but they had opportunities to do exactly that ... and passed. Instead of trading up and drafting defensive tackle Christian Barmore, the team could've taken one of the burners who ended up going in the second round like LSU's Terrace Marshall, Purdue's Rondale Moore or Western Michigan's D'Wayne Eskridge. They could've gone for a receiver late, and they didn't until Ernie Adams pulled UCF wideout Tre Nixon's card off the board in the seventh round. We'll see how a lack of speed impacts the Patriots. Our Patriots insider Tom E. Curran foreshadowed difficulty for the New England offense last offseason when Jeremiah's 40-time numbers came to light (the Patriots ranked 31st in the NFL with an average 40 time of 4.60 seconds). But 2021 should be a different story. Even if the Patriots aren't much faster, their talent level has unquestionably improved. Smith and Henry are gargantuan upgrades over Devin Asiasi and Dalton Keene. Bourne had a season last year for the Niners (49 catches, 667 yards) that was better than anything Harry has done in two years with the Patriots. Agholor is a do-it-all player who could present a big boost over what the team had in Damiere Byrd last year as a down the field threat. Agholor will also give Belichick and Josh McDaniels an inside-out threat who could help replace Julian Edelman. While this group may not win an NFL relay race, they'll be stronger at the catch point in contested situations than last year's crew. And they'll be better after the catch. Next Gen Stats has a metric called yards after the catch over expected, which gathers NGS on-the-field data to determine an expected number of yards after the catch based on where a receiver catches the ball and where defenders are positioned around him at the time of the catch. According to NGS, Smith (16th), Agholor (34th) and Bourne (35th) all ranked inside the top 40 in the NFL in yards after the catch over expected in 2020. Final word The Patriots want to play bully ball, as they did to close their Super Bowl run in 2018. And they're built to do it. They have a massive offensive line that includes a 350-pound guard (Mike Onwenu) and a tackle who once weighed in close to 400 pounds (Trent Brown). They signed two big-money tight ends this offseason to help them pound small defensive fronts into submission and take advantage of lumbering fronts through the air. They drafted a 230-pound back in the fourth round, hammering it home to anyone who hasn't been paying attention: The Patriots want to maul teams offensively. That's not most of the NFL in 2021. The need for speed in other locales has been replaced in Foxboro by a thirst for hurt. And that could work. The question is, bringing it back to Jones, whether or not that kind of offense is best for a young quarterback. One could argue that it is. Take pressure off the kid by running the football and running it effectively. That style of play will lend itself to shot opportunities via play-action passes, which tend to help eligible receivers find more openings than they otherwise would. In theory, that could make life easy for a rookie passer. The flipside to that argument is that even with a good running game, offenses are going to occasionally run into third-and-eight situations with the game on the line. In those situations, separators -- guys who can just plain win on the outside -- are required. Without them, particularly for a young quarterback accustomed to throwing to otherworldly talents in college, life could be tough behind center. Let's look at the 40-time numbers one more time. Last year, @MoveTheSticks dug up old 40 times and calculated average speeds for the top skill players in projected 11P packages. Tried to update that list for 21. Here are the top-5 rankings: 1. NYG: 4.418 2. WFT: 4.422 3. DET: 4.436 4. ATL: 4.448 5. 28. Eagles: 4.558 29. Saints: 4.572 29. Titans: 4.572 31. Browns: 4.578 32. Patriots: 4.584 Phil Perry (@PhilAPerry) May 7, 2021 Fast teams, you can see, aren't necessarily good teams. The Giants were on the outside looking in come the postseason. Same goes for the Falcons and Dolphins. And slow teams aren't necessarily bad teams. The Saints, Titans and Browns all made the playoffs last year and two of them (New Orleans and Tennessee) ranked among the top-five scoring offenses in football. Perhaps. Jones won't be Drew Brees any time soon. Nor will he be Ryan Tannehill, who has seen a remarkable career resurgence since changing teams in 2019. That's far from asking him to be what Tom Brady was to the Patriots for the last decade. Caretaker. Game-manager. Whatever you want to call it, there is a recent model for success for the Patriots out in Cleveland. You don't need to be a quarterbacking legend to help a slow-ish group of weapons to the postseason. Lean on the running game. Don't screw it up. If the Patriots do insert Jones to play as a rookie, that will very likely be the crux of what they ask him to do. With their current mix of playmakers, they're just not wired to be explosive. They're built to bludgeon.

https://sports.yahoo.com/patriots-lack-skill-position-speed-215722764.html?src=rss

Could Landon Young be a Draft Steal for the Saints?

2021's sixth-round draft pick, Landon Young, proved to be one of the best offensive tackles in the SEC. Perhaps, he may become another draft steal for the New Orleans Saints. 2021's sixth-round draft pick, Landon Young, proved to be one of the best offensive tackles in the SEC. Perhaps, he may become another draft steal for the New Orleans Saints. Mike Weaver/Special to Courier Journal via Imagn Content Services, LLC Offensive tackle Landon Young elected to stay within his home state and play football at the University of Kentucky to play college football. Young was a former five-star recruit and multi-sport high school athlete. He fits the mold of an NFL offensive tackle towering at 6-7 and 310 pounds. Young started games at both tackle spots in Lexington. Also, his size makes him versatile to play at guard in the interior of the offensive line. PFF ranked Young high, but draft analysts gave him a lower grade despite his fore-mentioned size and ranking as one of the best offensive linemen in the SEC. Most evaluators noticed a lack of lateral quickness, which is a concern as he moves to the next level. The 2020 All-SEC first-team selection joins a New Orleans team with uncertainty at the tackle position at the end of this season. Terron Armstead, 30, is coming off arguably the left tackle's best NFL season and carries a cap hit of approximately $8.3M and a dead cap value of $20.1M in 2021. Ryan Ramczyk is on the opposite side of their offensive line. The former 2017 first-round selection expects to have a huge payday in 2022 for his All-Pro level of play. Young may not be New Orleans' long-term answer at either starting tackle position. New Orleans is taking a flier on an All-SEC player in the sixth round - which may not be a bad choice. One of the newest members of the Black and Gold has a lot of development ahead of him. I expect him to contribute as a reserve tackle in his rookie season immediately. - Young's long-term upside is limitless, especially under the tutelage of former Saints great, Zach Strief. Credit: USA Today Sports ABOUT LANDON YOUNG Strengths: NFL Size Quick Hands in Pass Protection High Potential Weakness: Lack of Lateral Quickness Tends to Play Too Straight Up Athleticism Subscribe to the New Orleans Saints YT Channel: https://news.snts.us/saintsnewsyoutube Subscribe to our Saints News Newsletter: https://news.snts.us/emailsubscribe For more Saints News: https://www.si.com/saints/nfl/ or https://www.saints.media Like us on Facebook: https://news.snts.us/saintsnews-fb Follow us on Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/saintsnews Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/saintsnews For all the latest New Orleans Saints News & Rumors follow: The Saints News Network at www.saints.media. Follow Saints News Networks Writer, Brendan Boylan, on Twitter & Instagram at @btboylan. Continue to follow all Saints coverage on Social Media with Saints News Network at @SaintsNews on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook.

https://www.si.com/nfl/saints/nfl-draft/could-landon-young-be-draft-steal-saints

How close is Canelo Alvarez to GOAT status?

Every step Canelo Alvarez takes in public during a high-profile fight week guarantees that hell have a phalanx of security guards, training staff, friends, relatives, promoters and just hangers-on moving in lockstep with him. That was true when he first came to the U.S. as a teenager in 2008 and the entourage has only swelled with the passage of time (and the dramatic rise in Alvarezs net worth). Hes the best fighter of his generation, one of the best of the 21st century and is hopeful later this year of becoming the first Mexican fighter to hold all of a division's belts in the four-belt era. To accomplish that task, hell need to defeat Billy Joe Saunders on Saturday (8 p.m. ET, DAZN) at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, in a bout for the WBA, WBC and WBO super middleweight titles. And then, if he wins, hell need to defeat IBF champion Caleb Plant. [Watch Canelo-Saunders on DAZN: Sign up now to stream the fight live] Hes already among the greatest boxers ever from Mexico, which is an extraordinary feat in and of itself considering Mexico has produced fighters such as Julio Cesar Chavez Sr., Salvador Sanchez, Ruben Olivares, Ricardo Lopez, Miguel Canto, Vicente Saldivar, Juan Manuel Marquez, Erik Morales, Baby Arizmendi and Marco Antonio Barrera, among others. One of his rivals, Floyd Mayweather Jr., is regarded by some as the greatest boxer ever, though the consensus among boxing historians is that for all of his greatness, Mayweather isnt in the all-time Top 5. Mayweather spanked Alvarez when they met in 2013 and it wasnt close. Alvarez has defiantly said hed knock out Mayweather if they were both at their physical primes, but its something well never know. But there is little doubt that Alvarez is far better today than he was in 2013 when, as a 23-year-old, he was badly outboxed by Mayweather, one of the games defensive savants. Canelo Alvarez looks on against Billy Joe Saunders during the press conference for Alvarez's WBC and WBA super middleweight titles and Saunders' WBO super middleweight title at Live! by Loews hotel on May 6, 2021 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images) The three best fighters hes faced in his career are Mayweather, Gennadiy Golovkin and Miguel Cotto. He was 2-1-1 against them, defeating Cotto in 2015 and earning a hotly disputed draw and an equally as disputed majority decision win over Golovkin in 2017 and 2018, respectively. Story continues He is 15-1-1 against men who have held a major world title either an IBF, WBA, WBC or WBO belt and has won seven of those bouts by knockout. And in an era when fighters routinely avoid the best in their division, Alvarez has been the opposite. Hes always sought out the best opponent and there is no one that made sense for him to face that he has not met. Hes still just 31 years old and, given the kind of condition he keeps himself in, its feasible that he could win as many as 10 or 15 more bouts before he hangs it up. Hes 55-1-2 with 37 knockouts now, so if he wins 10 more without a loss, hed be 65-1-2. Going 15-0 from this point forward would make him 70-1-2. At that point, there would have to be serious consideration given to including him as one of the games Top 15 or Top 25 fighters of all time. Thats a list populated by legends like Sugar Ray Robinson, Muhammad Ali, Chavez Sr., Sugar Ray Leonard, Roberto Duran and, yes, Mayweather. It would be hard to deny him that kind of spot in history were he to end his career with 65 or 70 wins without another defeat. Hes been remarkably consistent throughout his career and outside of the Golovkin fights, hes had perhaps one other bout that was close. That was his 2014 win over Erislandy Lara, which he won by split decision. Other than that, hes blown out an impressive list of opponents. Against Hall of Famer Shane Mosley, he won 11 of 12 rounds on two official cards and 10 of 12 on the third. He faced Austin Trout at the peak of Trouts career, when Trout was 26-0 and a world champion with an awkward style. Alvarez dropped Trout and won that by scores of 118-108, 115-112 and 116-111. Cotto was near the end of his legendary career that landed him in the Hall of Fame when he fought Alvarez in 2015. But the judges gave Alvarez nine, 10 and 11 of the 12 rounds when he fought. When he briefly moved up to light heavyweight, he stopped Sergiy Kovalev after Kovalev had registered back-to-back impressive wins over Eleider Alvarez (no relation to Canelo) and Anthony Yarde. Against fighters who were unbeaten when he fought them and who had at least 15 fights, Alvarez is 6-1-1 with three knockouts. Against fighters with zero or one loss who had 15 or more fights at the time he fought them, Alvarez was 14-1-1. Lastly, his record against fighters who had 20 or more wins at the time he faced them is 28-1-1. All those numbers show is that hes been beating up on a higher caliber of opposition than most of his peers. He has work yet to do, but it would be no shock at all in a few years if we were talking about Alvarez as one of the elite of the elite. Its entirely conceivable he could wind up regarded as not only the greatest Mexican boxer ever, once considered unfathomable given Chavezs grip on the country, but he could also go down as one of the 20 or so best to ever do it. We throw the word great around more loosely than we should, and Im as guilty as anyone. In this case, though, there is no argument: Canelo Alvarez is one of the greatest to ever do it, and he still has a number of impressive mountains to climb. More from Yahoo Sports:

https://sports.yahoo.com/how-close-is-canelo-alvarez-to-goat-status-185707011.html?src=rss

Which 10 ZIP codes in Oregon recorded most new coronavirus cases?

Coronavirus cases fell in Oregon last week for the first time this spring, ending five consecutive weeks of alarming gains. The Oregon Health Authority reported 5,557 confirmed or presumed infections for the week ending Sunday, May 2, down 3% from the previous week. The decline in new cases was severely outpaced by an 18% decline in week-to-week testing. But the drop in cases was viewed as welcome news after major gains for more than a month. And the decline appears on track to continue through the current week, which concludes Sunday. Last week, ZIP codes in central and southern Oregon once again recorded the most new cases, while parts of east Portland and Gresham also posted high numbers. The Oregonian/OregonLive is monitoring state coronavirus data, reporting by ZIP code the areas with the greatest weekly changes. Our analysis also highlights the areas with the most new cases in relation to population. (Click here for an interactive map). Heres a brief summary of the communities that added the most cases for the week ending Sunday, May 2: 97756 Redmond This Deschutes County ZIP code added 150 cases, raising its tally to 2,225. Thats the 16th most in Oregon and 69th most per capita since the start of the pandemic. 97603 Klamath Falls This Klamath County ZIP code added 147 cases, raising its tally to 2,124. Thats the 20th most in Oregon and 31st most per capita since the start of the pandemic. 97702 Bend This Deschutes County ZIP code added 129 cases, raising its tally to 2,159. Thats the 18th most in Oregon and 121st most per capita since the start of the pandemic. 97701 Bend This Deschutes County ZIP code added 126 cases, raising its tally to 1,880. Thats the 27th most in Oregon and 263rd most per capita since the start of the pandemic. 97030 Gresham This Multnomah County ZIP code added 101 cases, raising its tally to 2,689. Thats the 10th most in Oregon and 35th most per capita since the start of the pandemic. 97080 Gresham This Multnomah County ZIP code added 95 cases, raising its tally to 2,651. Thats the 11th most in Oregon and 56th most per capita since the start of the pandemic. 97601 Klamath Falls This Klamath County ZIP code added 94 cases, raising its tally to 1,333. Thats the 51st most in Oregon and 64th most per capita since the start of the pandemic. 97233 east Portland/Gresham (Hazelwood/Glenfair/Centennial/Rockwood) This Multnomah County ZIP code added 93 cases, raising its tally to 3,617. Thats the second most in Oregon and 15th most per capita since the start of the pandemic. 97045 Oregon City This Clackamas County ZIP code added 81 cases, raising its tally to 2,418. Thats the 13th most in Oregon and 122nd most per capita since the start of the pandemic. 97322 Albany This Linn County ZIP code added 77 cases, raising its tally to 1,553. Thats the 34th most in Oregon and 128th most per capita since the start of the pandemic. Heres a brief summary of the communities with at least 30 new cases that added the most new cases per capita for the week ending Sunday, May 2: 97603 Klamath Falls This ZIP code recorded new confirmed or presumed infections of 50 per 10,000 people during the week ending Sunday, down from the previous week. The Klamath County ZIP code added 147 new cases, increasing its total to 2,124. 97009 Boring This ZIP code recorded new confirmed or presumed infections of 48 per 10,000 people during the week ending Sunday, up nearly double from the previous week. The Clackamas County ZIP code added 41 new cases, increasing its total to 461. 97601 Klamath Falls This ZIP code recorded new confirmed or presumed infections of 41 per 10,000 people during the week ending Sunday, down from the previous week. The Klamath County ZIP code added 94 new cases, increasing its total to 1,333. 97756 Redmond This ZIP code recorded new confirmed or presumed infections of 39 per 10,000 people during the week ending Sunday, up slightly from the previous week. The Deschutes County ZIP code added 150 new cases, increasing its total to 2,225. 97739 La Pine This ZIP code recorded new confirmed or presumed infections of 38 per 10,000 people during the week ending Sunday, more than double from the previous week. The Deschutes County ZIP code added 48 new cases, increasing its total to 353. 97055 Sandy This ZIP code recorded new confirmed or presumed infections of 33 per 10,000 people during the week ending Sunday, down slightly from the previous week. The Clackamas County ZIP code added 62 new cases, increasing its total to 1,019. 97023 Estacada This ZIP code recorded new confirmed or presumed infections of 32 per 10,000 people during the week ending Sunday, up slightly from the previous week. The Clackamas County ZIP code added 32 new cases, increasing its total to 465. 97754 Prineville This ZIP code recorded new confirmed or presumed infections of 31 per 10,000 people during the week ending Sunday, up slightly from the previous week. The Crook County ZIP code added 63 new cases, increasing its total to 945. 97030 Gresham This ZIP code recorded new confirmed or presumed infections of 26 per 10,000 people during the week ending Sunday, up from the previous week. The Multnomah County ZIP code added 101 new cases, increasing its total to 2,689. 97702 Bend This ZIP code recorded new confirmed or presumed infections of 26 per 10,000 people during the week ending Sunday, down slightly from the previous week. The Deschutes County ZIP code added 129 new cases, increasing its total to 2,159. -- Brad Schmidt; bschmidt@oregonian.com; 503-294-7628; @_brad_schmidt

https://www.oregonlive.com/coronavirus/2021/05/which-10-zip-codes-in-oregon-recorded-most-new-coronavirus-cases.html

Should Nevada stadiums have their own onsite sportsbooks?

A new agreement between Caesars Entertainment and the Arizona Diamondbacks has spurred some conversations on whether sportsbooks belong in our stadiums and arenas. Allegiant Stadium is seen on Saturday, Dec. 12, 2020, in Las Vegas. (Ellen Schmidt/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @ellenschmidttt Fans watch the action during an Arizona Diamondbacks baseball game against the Philadelphia Phillies at Chase Field in Phoenix, Aug. 7, 2019. (Chase Stevens/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @csstevensphoto Sports wagering still hasnt begun in Arizona, but that hasnt stopped professional sports franchises from preparing for that startup when it occurs later this year. Caesars Entertainment, which acquired the William Hill franchise in Nevada, announced last week that it is partnering with the Arizona Diamondbacks of Major League Baseball to place a sportsbook, sports bar and a broadcast studio at the location formerly known as Game 7 Grill on the Plaza at Chase Field, the Diamondbacks home stadium. The deal additionally enables Caesars/William Hill to provide mobile wagering within the state. The new deal has spurred conversation about whether stadium sportsbooks should be considered in Nevada. The legislation for sports wagering in the Grand Canyon State offers licenses for 20 locations 10 for Arizona sports franchises and 10 for tribal casinos. The states major franchises include the Diamondbacks, the NFLs Arizona Cardinals based at State Farm Stadium in Glendale; the NHLs Arizona Coyotes who play at Gila River Arena, not far from the football stadium; and the NBAs Phoenix Suns who play at downtown Phoenix Suns Arena. That leaves room for other potential sportsbook-supporting venues involved in PGA tournaments and Phoenix Raceway, the home of an annual NASCAR Cup race. There are 20 Indian tribes based in the state, from the Apaches to the Zunis, with some of them already closely engaged with the states sports community. It shouldnt take long for the state to sort out who will be sportsbook licensees. The new Arizona sports venue sportsbook model has generated new conversations about whether sportsbooks should be located in Nevada stadiums. Jeremy Aguero, whose Applied Analysis firm serves as the staff for the Las Vegas Stadium Authority, said he has heard some of the conversations about stadium sportsbooks. I think, from the beginning, it was determined that Allegiant Stadium was going to be neutral ground for sports wagering and thats why it has been written into our agreements that there wont be gambling devices installed on stadium property, Aguero said. It hasnt been brought up as a proposal by anybody, but that doesnt mean that couldnt happen at some point. The likely reason it hasnt come up is that the sports wagering market in Las Vegas is vastly different from Arizonas and other places where in-stadium sportsbooks have been developed, such as Washington, D.C. Nevada has several sportsbooks close to our stadiums. Mandalay Bay and Luxor have their BetMGM books in those casinos. New York-New York and Park MGM are next door to T-Mobile Arena where the NHLs Vegas Golden Knights play. Red Rock Resort is near Las Vegas Ballpark, home of Triple-A baseballs Aviators, and, when it opens, the AHLs Henderson Silver Knights Dollar Loan Center arena will be near Green Valley Ranch. The Knights current home is at Orleans Arena, which has its own book. Its also true that most serious sports bettors have at least one or two sportsbook apps on the phones in their pockets and bettors are able to make wagers whenever they want during a game. The Nevada Gaming Control Board reported last month that more than 60 percent of sports wagers were made with an app in March. Aguero concedes that its always possible something would change the dynamic that could lead to changing the rules at Allegiant Stadium. He said the Las Vegas Raiders havent initiated any requests for sports betting at the stadium. Possibly new sports wagering legislation in California. If Californias NFL teams the Rams, Chargers and 49ers could create a financial advantage over the Raiders with an in-stadium sportsbook sponsorship, there could be a conversation about evening the playing field. Right now, that looks like a long shot at best considering that California has yet to legalize sports betting and the direction California tribes want that to go. Tribes have submitted an initiative petition that calls for sports betting at Californias 69 tribal casinos and four commercial racetracks, a measure that would be on the states 2022 ballot. Professional sports teams, meanwhile, are considering their own sports-betting initiative. Theres no clear path as to how or if sports betting would arrive in California. Contact Richard N. Velotta at rvelotta@reviewjournal.com or 702-477-3893. Follow @RickVelotta on Twitter.

https://www.reviewjournal.com/business/business-columns/inside-gaming/should-nevada-stadiums-have-their-own-onsite-sportsbooks-2349567/

How Can and Should the U.S. Confront China, an Outlaw State with Superpower Status?

Chinese President Xi Jinping applauds as people receive recognitions during a meeting regarding the coronavirus outbreak, at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, China, September 8, 2020. (Carlos Garcia Rawlins/Reuters) A follow-on thought or two to Fridays Morning Jolt The Chinese space program is launching rockets and not caring whether the falling debris lands on populated areas. The regime in Beijing spent the first weeks of the COVID-19 pandemic contradicting doctors on the ground in Wuhan and insisting the virus could not spread from one person to another. Then Chinese companies shipped faulty personal protective equipment all around the world. Their vaccine that they shipped abroad barely works, charging some countries $36 per dose. Chinas regime said they would allow investigators unfettered access to investigate the origin of the virus, and then broke that promise. And they made the nonsensical accusation that COVID-19 originated at the U.S. biological defense program at Fort Detrick, Maryland. Advertisement And thats just Chinas actions relating to the pandemic! They are an outlaw authoritarian state with superpower or near-superpower status. They represent a colossally failed gamble, going back at least three decades and arguably half a century, that greater American and Western interaction with China would soften the regime. President Bill Clinton declared in 2000, the more China liberalizes its economy, the more it will liberate the potential of its people to work without restraint, to live without fear. We now know that belief represented an epic misjudgment. Very few Americans like the thought that were entering an era of growing and worsening conflict with China. Theyre a nuclear power with 1.4 billion people, one of our biggest trading partners if not the biggest trading partner, the second-largest economy in the world, the largest army in the world, and soon the largest navy in the Pacific Ocean. Wargame simulations of a U.S.-China battle over Taiwan end in either a Chinese victory or a pyrrhic victory for the Americans. A lot of American institutions have become used to the benefits of Chinese investment, and a lot of American corporations have become near-dependent upon access to the Chinese market. Heck, even the Biden administrations ambitious plans for electric vehicles, wind turbines and other green-energy infrastructure will require a lot more rare earth metals, and the biggest producer of those is China. Advertisement Even if a nascent Cold War with Beijing never turns hot, its still going to be a long and arduous effort. But if we make like an ostrich and bury our heads in the sand, its only going to get worse. None of our past conflicts with powerful ideological, military, or geopolitical rivals is quite parallel to this one. It took a while, but Communisms internal contradictions eventually caught up with the Soviet Union. Chinas Xi Jinping Thought just enough capitalism to keep the system going, along with an extremely powerful state, massive propaganda and surveillance systems and the social credit system represents a whole new kind of threat to Western democracy, values, and nations. The Beijing regime believes its system consistently offers stability, prosperity, and order, with an acceptable sacrifice of liberty, while Western systems, which seem to offer freedom, keep delivering chaos, paralysis from internal divisions, moral depravity, and decadence. Advertisement Advertisement The challenge before us is pretty colossal. Being held accountable before the world for its role the origin of a pandemic that has killed millions of people!

https://www.nationalreview.com/corner/confronting-an-outlaw-state-with-superpower-status/

What Will We Do With Our Masks Now?

It first emerged as a sign on faces in airports, at hospitals, on the streets that this virus was not to be taken lightly. In the space of a year, the mask sold out; set off scientific debates; became a shield; got sucked into politics; saved small businesses; staved off awkward social encounters and some (but not all) forms of harassment. It appeared at weddings and funerals, on red carpets and the presidential inauguration, and in the Super Bowl halftime show. Masks were everywhere. Now, after 14 months of reliance on the mask for protection, its twilight appears to be in sight in certain parts of the world. In late April, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released new guidelines stating that fully vaccinated people no longer need to wear masks outdoors unless they are in crowds. Already, the CDC had said that small groups of fully vaccinated people more than 1.2 billion doses have been administered worldwide could safely gather indoors unmasked. Some people remain uncertain about giving them up just yet, either because they are awaiting vaccination or holding on to fears of infection, judgment by others for not wearing a mask, or both. (And, masks are still required in most indoor settings.) People who have stopped wearing them daily may still keep their masks; that way when flu season or another pandemic arrives, theyll be prepared. Clearly, however judging by the litter on city sidewalks and in parks many are tossing them. But designers, DIY-ers, curators and environmentalists have plenty of other ideas, aimed at memorializing and reinvigorating the abundant artifacts of our pandemic year. From Fashion to Trashion Early on in the pandemic, clothing and accessory designers pivoted to mask making as demand for face coverings reached a fever pitch. Advertising Baggu, a company known for its reusable totes, introduced its line of masks in the spring; on the first day of sales, it sold 10,000 of them, the company said. Now, it is slowing but not ceasing its mask production. I think the pandemic has shifted perceptions regarding mask usage in North America, said Dan Small, the head of partnerships at Baggu. We feel like there will be a niche role for masks, even as we begin to move ourselves out of the pandemic. Fashion designer Christian Siriano said his company produced nearly 3 million masks. It was key, he noted, that the masks be reusable. I think the amount of disposable product out there right now is unbelievable, he said. Students, too, contributed to the effort. Hannah Conradt, a senior at the Fashion Institute of Technology, had been sketching a wedding dress for a class project when the pandemic hit. I lost all motivation to make a dress no one would wear, Conradt said. It felt so frivolous. So she started making masks from fabric scraps, which she shared with friends, family and her mail carrier. (Im a fast sewer, she said.) When she returned to the wedding dress design, she added a very 2020 twist: a skirt formed by 50 masks on a cage crinoline base, which could be removed and worn if needed. Now, in response to the surge in mask waste, many designers and artists are finding their own ways to upcycle cloth and single-use masks. Advertising Clarisse Merlet, an architect and the CEO of the Parisian company FabBRICK, has found a way to upcycle textiles, including fabric masks, into colorful, decorative bricks that can be used to create furniture, lamps, acoustic panels and wall partitions. I never imagined that I would use masks in my designs, Merlet said. Shanan Campanaro, the founder of the textile design studio Eskayel in New York, has a textile recycling bin thats full of masks to be donated. Mask waste is a huge concern, Campanaro said. I constantly see them scattered on the streets and find myself getting frustrated that they dont make it in the trash. Discarded masks are also making their way into oceans and waterways. Alison Jones, a program coordinator for Clean Ocean Action, said volunteers collected 680 face masks on New York and New Jersey beaches in October 2020. Lynn Adams, the president of the Pacific Beach Coalition in California, said volunteers report an average of 717 masks and gloves each month. This count is a very small percentage of what is actually out there, she said. Marina DeBris, an artist in Sydney, has found close to 300 face masks on beaches since last spring. She has incorporated them into wearable trashion outfits and installations like her Inconvenience Store, which is full of repackaged items she collected from beaches. Its about trying to continuously fight problems, she said of her work. Poramit Thantapalit, an artist in New Jersey, started incorporating masks into his wearable sculptures and installations last year. Previously, he has worked with plastic bottles, egg cartons and other recycled goods. I try to save the environment and get zero waste, he said. Haneul Kim, a designer in Seoul, South Korea, discovered a way to melt used face masks together at high temperatures to create colorful, stackable plastic stools. He said it takes about 1,500 masks to make one chair, and he has made 50 so far. (For those doing the math, thats 75,000 face masks.) Advertising Ultimately, I hope the world comes to where I run out of masks to work on, and the coronavirus pandemic stops, Kim said. DIY-ing and Donating There are other, more accessible ways to combat the problem. DIY makers have turned old cloth masks into all sorts of things, including chin rests for violins and doll clothes. Kristina Wong, a performance artist in Los Angeles and the founder of the Auntie Sewing Squad, whose volunteers have been sewing face masks throughout the pandemic, said they are now starting to think about how to repurpose the face coverings. One volunteer fashioned some into bow ties for her cat, Alex. Joy Cho, a designer in Los Angeles and the founder of the lifestyle brand Oh Joy!, has plans to turn her familys worn out masks into patches for clothes. What better way to use your old fabric masks to give new life to a pair of jeans or a jacket, she said. Miranda Bennett, a designer and the owner of Miranda Bennett Studio in Austin, Texas, plans to wash and repurpose some of her old masks as lavender sachets for closets or lingerie drawers. She sees these creative projects as a way of reframing the mask a symbol of being apart and isolation as something new. Cat Pfingst, a senior fashion design student at Drexel University, had been thinking of turning her DIY masks into wristlets and realized they would be the perfect small makeup bags for lipstick or bobby pins. (She was inspired, in part, by a woman at her hair salon who said she couldnt wait to wear her signature red lipstick again.) Sponsored To me, masks will sort of be the relics of this strange moment in time, she said. Theres good reason to hold on to a few face masks, even as the vaccinated population grows. Some people have taken mask wearing beyond protection and now choose to wear them based on style, Siriano said. And, many epidemiologists say that the next pandemic isnt a matter of if, but when. Pick your top masks and dont throw them away, Bennett said. Dont put them in landfills. The rest you can give away. At the National Museum of African American History and Culture and the New-York Historical Society, archivists have been collecting pandemic objects like masks for future exhibits and are still accepting donations. We want to capture what it was like to live through this pandemic so future generations can understand it, said Margi Hofer, the museum director at the New-York Historical Society. So far, she said, the museum has acquired some incredibly resourceful and very New York masks from local artists and Hofers all-time favorite: a penguin-print mask donated by Dr. Anthony Fauci. )Clean masks can also be dropped off at local textile recycling sites in many cities, where they will be redistributed or turned into new materials. We have an opportunity to do something meaningful, Bennett said. Its a chance to see a silver lining, even in these masks.

https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/health/what-will-we-do-with-our-masks-now/

How much will Ravens rookie WRs contribute in 2021?

The Baltimore Ravens drafted two phenominal wide receivers in Rashod Bateman and Tylan Wallace. The team spend a first-round pick and a fourth-round pick respectively on the two, so they will most likely look for the pair to contribute in some way during the 2021 season. However, its fair to ask just how much both will see the field in their rookie seasons. Its rather safe to say that Bateman will be asked to do more than Wallace on day one. Theres a reason that Baltimore spent the 27th overall selection on Bateman, and he should see immediate snaps in the Ravens offense. He will most likely see the majority of his snaps on the outside, as Baltimore already has plenty of slot options on their roster and Bateman can be extremely physical and aggressive while catching the football. He will also probably be asked to use his sharp route running to get open over the middle of the field, where quarterback Lamar Jackson has favored throwing the football so far during his young career. For Wallace, his situation is a bit different. There will certainly be times where hell be on the field and contributing, but his playing time might be a bit harder to come by. The Ravens now have an extremely deep group at wide receiver, and although Wallace projects as an outside threat, hell be competing with the likes of Bateman, Sammy Watkins, and even potentially Marquise Brown and Miles Boykin for those snaps. Theres no doubt that Wallace has the ability to step up and make an impact if a receiver goes down with an injury, but Baltimore seemingly favors veterans over rookies unless theres a major hole or they were a high draft selection, so in his first year Wallace might be overlooked at times for other players. Even Devin Duvernay or James Proche could get snaps over him due to seniority, although both of them project as slot players, not outside receivers. All in all, the Ravens selected two very talented pass catchers who should be a big part of what the organization does on offense for a very long time. However during their rookie seasons, they could be left on the sideline in some situations in favor of veterans. Thats not to say either cant make a huge impact, and while Bateman will probably see more action out of the gate than Wallace, both will have roles that they can fill nicely.

https://sports.yahoo.com/much-ravens-rookie-wrs-contribute-214716070.html?src=rss

Can USC QB Kedon Slovis Really Become a First Round Draft Pick?

Although the 2021 NFL Draft officially wrapped up one week ago in Cleveland, it's never too early to look ahead at the 2022 prospects. ESPN's senior draft analyst Todd McShay has already put together his 'way-too-early 2022 mock draft', and USC star Kedon Slovis is the first quarterback taken off the board. McShay has Slovis going No. 2 overall to the Detroit Lions, which means he believes the talented QB is the best prospect at his position. McShay writes: "Current Lions QB Jared Goff was part of the return in the Matthew Stafford trade in January, and a lot of what the Lions do with their two first-rounders in 2022 will depend on how he performs in his sixth NFL season. Detroit does have a potential out on Goff's contract after the 2022 season with a $10 million dead cap hit, so it could certainly be in the quarterback market next April. Slovis is 6-foot-3 with a strong arm, and his 70% completion percentage over 2019-20 ranks seventh among FBS signal-callers." Kedon finished the 2020 season with a league-leading 1,921 passing yards and 17 TD passes. The sophomore also led the Pac-12 conference last season in completions per game (29.5, first nationally), passing yards per game (320.2), and points responsible for (17). Not to mention that he also finished second with a 67.0 completion percentage. Even with a nagging shoulder injury during a COVID-19 shortened schedule, Slovis came to play. The Arizona native has high hopes for himself this 2021 season. With the quarterback position becoming so interchangeable around the NFL, Slovis knows that he could be one of the first players selected in the 2022 draft if he plays at an extremely high level. If head coach Clay Helton and offensive coordinator Graham Harrell can make a game plan to fit Slovis' strengths, there is no reason why this talented quarterback shouldn't be considered the top prospect in 2022. Comment and join in on the discussion below! ----- You may also like: [USC Bids Farewell to Star Defender, Next Stop Texas] [USC Remains Aggressive on Recruiting Trail] [Spring Ball Wrap Up: Which USC RB Will be the Odd Man Out?] ----- Be sure to stay locked into AllTrojans all the time! Follow Austin Grad on Twitter: @AustGrad Follow AllTrojans on Twitter: @SI_AllTrojans Like and follow AllTrojans on Facebook For more USC news visit www.alltrojans.com.

https://www.si.com/college/usc/football/kedon-slovis-espn-nfl-draft

How will the Atlanta airport blackout impact national travel?

Sign Up For Newsletters Senate committee to hold markup on controversial voting bill Baltimore to direct some 911 calls to mental health professionals 200 Palestinians hurt in clashes with Israeli police, medics say Bomb near school in Afghan capital kills at least 30 Bo, the Obama's family dog, dies of cancer DHS scraps Trump-era plan to collect more biometric data from immigrants Officials narrow down where Chinese rocket debris could crash CBS News travel editor Peter Greenberg joins "CBS This Morning" to discuss Sunday's power outage at HartsfieldJackson Atlanta International Airport. CBS News travel editor Peter Greenberg joins "CBS This Morning" to discuss Sunday's power outage at HartsfieldJackson Atlanta International Airport. Be the first to know Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. Not Now Turn On

https://www.cbsnews.com/video/how-will-the-atlanta-airport-blackout-impact-national-travel/

Are free school lunches hitting the spot for South Auckland kids?

Flaxmere Primary School students enjoy their lunch. Photo / Supplied Justin Latif, Local Democracy Reporter The majority of South Auckland schools have been getting free government-funded lunches for one term now, and while the programme is getting positive reviews from local principals and the catering businesses involved, some parents still have reservations. Over the last term, 32,336 students from 69 South Auckland schools participated in the Ka Ora, Ka Ako Healthy School Lunches programme, and an additional 24 schools are joining this term. While the Ministry of Education would not comment on the programme's expected expansion, The Spinoff understands schools have been told it will run for another two years at least. Rachel King runs Kainui Brunch Shack and is originally from Ihumtao in South Auckland. Photo / LDR Prior to the initiative's roll-out, concerns were raised regarding the potential food waste it would create, the logistical burden it placed on schools, and the potential to usurp parents' responsibilities. However, for Mngere Central School principal Jacqualene Maindonald, those fears have proven unfounded. "I think it's working for the schools in our area. There's been some teething issues but other than that, it's been pretty good." She said her students were more settled and it had also reduced absenteeism. "We find some children can be unsettled in the morning because they might not get breakfast, but once they've had their lunch they are really engaged and focused," she said. "It's also had an impact on attendance. Families who used to keep their children home if there was no food for lunches are now sending their children to school every day." And she said there was very rarely any leftover food thrown out, as excess was shared with staff and families. Parents raise questions For Toni Helleur and Ana Talakai, two Mngere-based mothers, it has been a different story. Both have had to raise concerns about aspects of the programme with their children's teachers. "The kids are getting the same food every day," Helleur said. "It's a muffin and pretzels plus at least two times a week it's pizza bread. If I wanted my kids to eat that, I would go to a bakery, as that's really a bakery lunch, so my main concern is the high carb content." However, she has come to a compromise with the school and this term she'll provide a homemade lunch a couple of times a week to ensure her kids get some different options. "I think this way if parents want to give kids something unique to them, like taro, tuna or curry, it's a nice balance of providing something that kids are used to, as well as still being part of the initiative." For Talakai, it was the one-size-fits-all approach that concerned her. FED founders David Pilley, Beckie Pilley and Becky Erwood. Photo / Supplied "It's ideal for families who are struggling, but for those families who can afford it, the school should have given an option - with guidelines around the healthy definitions - to provide their own lunches," she said. "I don't think lumping us with everyone is fair, especially with children like my son. He came home one day and said he was really hungry as he had to eat the school-provided lunch, but because he's a picky eater [he didn't eat it]. It's really heartbreaking to hear he was hungry." Both Helleur and Talakai are also worried the scheme reduces parents' personal responsibility. "My first reaction to the lunches was 'awesome', because everyone was going to have a free lunch and our food bill has definitely dropped," Helleur said. "However, on the flip side I also know that it takes away a parent's obligation to be a provider. You're basically giving another handout and in the long term that's a concern. It could create more dependency and a sense of entitlement." Lunches also creating jobs Ministry of Education's deputy secretary for sector enablement Katrina Casey said 13 school lunch suppliers were currently operating in South Auckland and the ministry was open to expanding that number to ensure schools have "flexibility and local choice". For two of those providers, Kainui Brunch Shack's Rachel King and FED's Becky Erwood, the scheme came at an opportune time, as they had both launched startups a year or two earlier that provided lunches and dinners through a subscription-style service. King, who is originally from Ihumtao, started her business after moving back to Mngere from Australia, having worked in the supermarket industry, while Erwood left her role as manager of a large public relations agency to start FED. King provides more than 500 lunches to one school and sources much of her produce from local growers, a marae, and suppliers at the Mngere Markets. "It was personal for me. I wanted to help end child poverty - I never want to see kids go hungry." She also ensured her three children, aged 4, 6 and 14, were involved in the menu development. "They've told me what they want and they're not big fans of vegetables, but if it's in a burger or a slider, they'll eat it. So I have to be really creative as I know if it looks yum, they'll try it." A sample of FED's term two menu for the school lunches programme. Photo / LDR Erwood, who's originally from the United Kingdom, is based in Albany, and provides lunches for nine Mngere schools with the help of Gate Group, a catering business located near the airport. "I read about the pilot scheme in the Hawke's Bay and got in touch with the ministry back then, asking if we could be involved in this. It's been so rewarding." One key difference between this Government's programme and what she remembered of the school lunches scheme in the UK was that "here they've made it really inclusive so therefore there's no shame attached to it". King, who has employed two fellow Mngere locals and is planning to hire a further five people, said the benefits go well beyond just keeping kids fed. "Parents get a lot of flak, and I know what it's like when you're really busy and you're just buying something that's convenient, and you're not putting any thinking into the nutritional value. I think this will benefit everybody - it benefits the teachers as the children are more alert and it's supporting parents who are struggling for time and money to make healthy, nutritious lunches."

https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/education/are-free-school-lunches-hitting-the-spot-for-south-auckland-kids/7A2LVFOVCMOUYTTA4WDIQYXIII/

Are the 49ers Still Super Bowl Contenders?

Offseason additions for the 49ers are essentially a wrap. As usual, the 49ers will be rolling back a nearly identical team in years past. It is both good and bad. The good is that a lot of these players are high-level talents. The bad is that a lot of these players find themselves on the injury list. Still, the 49ers are once again running it back and rolling the dice on health. When healthy, this team is a force to be reckoned with. Entering 2020, they were easily a Super Bowl contending team. The 2021 49ers aren't much different. The roster and the head coach certainly makes it close, but I would hold off on saying they are Super Bowl contenders. It really is based on three reasons. 1.) DeMeco Ryans is a first time defensive coordinator this season. While there is some idea as to how he will call and scheme the defense, this is still uncharted waters for him. He is definitely not the level of Robert Saleh who was a mad genius with his scheme. Ryans still has to prove how far off he is from Saleh. If he can keep the defense to a teetering-top-10 level, then they will be in a strong position to get there. 2.) The offensive line wasn't great in 2020, to say the least. Injuries certainly played a part in the average-to-below-average performances, but there were still issues everywhere outside of Trent Williams. The interior is hopefully getting rounded out with Alex Mack and Aaron Banks now in the fold. The key player here is going to be Mike McGlinchey. If he continues to stay at his current skinny level, then it is going to tough on Jimmy Garoppolo and Trey Lance. 3.) Whoever is playing at quarterback this year really needs to be on. If it is Garoppolo for its entirety, then he will need to be better than 2019. The 49ers are not as elite as they were that season, so there will be more of a demand for him to step up his game. That largely ties to the offensive line play. If it is Lance, he is going to need to expedite his development fast. Unless he comes out swinging Justin-Herbert style, it is going to be tough for the 49ers to reach their Super Bowl aspirations.

https://www.si.com/nfl/49ers/news/are-the-49ers-still-super-bowl-contenders

Can a special assessment overcharge be returned to the condo owners?

Condominium Property Act does not allow condominium corporations to return funds. Find out why. Reviews and recommendations are unbiased and products are independently selected. Postmedia may earn an affiliate commission from purchases made through links on this page. Article content Question: Two years ago, each unit in my condominium building received a special assessment of between $40,000 and $70,000. The total assessment was for more than $3 million. The money was used to repair the condominium building (eg. building envelope, parkade, etc.). Because of the great work of the board, the condominium corporation managed to spend $1 million less than the original estimate. As a result, since I am an owner, I was expecting a refund. However, the condominium corporation says it is not legal to refund the leftover money. We apologize, but this video has failed to load. tap here to see other videos from our team. Back to video This does not seem fair, and I need the money. The reserve fund is now sitting at more than $1.5 million. Please help! Answer: The Condominium Property Act does not allow the condominium corporation to return the funds, which is unfortunate for owners. The money in the capital replacement reserve fund is an asset of the condominium corporation, and no part of that money can be refunded or distributed to any owner of a unit except where the owners and the property cease to be governed by this Condominium Property Act (see: s. 38(3), Condominium Property Act).

https://calgaryherald.com/life/homes/condos/can-a-special-assessment-overcharge-be-returned-to-the-condo-owners

Could kite-flying robots power life on Mars?

Getty Images Who knows what the giant kites would look like (as it's still just an idea) but we hope they end up being as colourful as this artistic impression! Renewable energy being generated on Mars by... robots flying giant kites! While this sounds like the plot of a sci-fi film, it's an idea scientists came up with in response to a competition run by the European Space Agency (ESA). For astronauts to live at a long-term base camp on Mars, they will need to find energy to survive. Scientists at the Delft University of Technology in the Netherlands think using a massive kite flown by robots, to harness high Martian wind speeds, could provide enough energy to sustain several astronauts in their everyday work. To enjoy the CBBC Newsround website at its best you will need to have JavaScript turned on. Producing and storing renewable energy on Mars is not an easy task. Mars is further from the Sun than Earth, so it only gets 43 percent of the sunlight Earth does, making solar power less effective. Also, sending technology such as wind turbines and regular batteries from Earth to Mars is impossible as they are far too heavy. Roland Schmehl at the Delft University of Technology in the Netherlands and his colleagues suggested this unusual technique because the winds on Mars are, on average, faster than on Earth although the atmosphere isn't as dense. "The higher windspeeds and lower density to some degree balance out, but not fully, so we also need to increase the surface area of the kite quite drastically," says Schmehl. He added: "We have seen something similar with the Ingenuity helicopter that is now flying on Mars - this helicopter has much bigger rotor blades than the small drones that you see here on Earth." The kite would have a surface area of 50 square metres - which is pretty huge! It would be attached to a large drum on the ground with a cable, and as the kite flew up into Mars' sky, it would pull more of the cable which would rotated the drum - creating energy! The researchers also propose using 70 square metres of solar cells - which convert light into electricity. Pairing these two methods would, according to the team, provide enough power to sustain a base on Mars, so astronauts could have power at night and store energy for different seasons. And that's not all. The team predicts a short-term energy solution through the use of lithium-sulphur batteries, and a longer term storage system would be made possible by compressing carbon dioxide gas from Mars's atmosphere in underground caverns - this gas could later by decompressed to reclaim the stored energy. This whole system could provide about 127 megawatt-hours of energy per year - equivalent to the power produced by about 75 barrels of oil. "If we relate it to Earth, it would power about 20 households here in the Netherlands or about five households in the US," says Schmehl. "[A Mars base camp] is basically one household, four to five astronauts with a small lab." Let us know in the comments below.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/newsround/57019917

How good are we at predicting the pandemic?

Epidemiological models have been a source of continual controversy from the start of the pandemic, often blamed for fearmongering and inaccuracy. Perhaps the most famous piece of modelling came from Neil Fergusons team at Imperial College London in March 2020, credited with provoking the full national lockdown. Unfortunately, there are repeated claims they estimated 510,000 deaths in Great Britain over two years, but that was a projection under the implausible scenario that nothing was done about the virus. Their model was, if anything, rather optimistic. Even short of a full lockdown, they projected maximum deaths in Great Britain of fewer than 50,000 and the actual total has been far higher. In July 2020, a reasonable worst case scenario predicted 85,000 UK Covid deaths up to 31 March 2021. This seemed pessimistic at the time but, in part due to the unforeseen Kent variant, the truth turned out to be rather worse than the worst case, with about 95,000 deaths. In contrast, when a second lockdown was being contemplated in October 2020, there were leaked projections of a possible peak of 4,000 deaths a day. These outputs were not meant for release and had already been revised down. In early April 2020, DS and his colleagues asked 140 UK experts and more than 2,000 non-experts for quantitative predictions. Experts gave a median estimate of 30,000 Covid deaths by the end of the year, whereas the non-experts said 20,000. The truth was around 75,000; this value was in only a third of the experts prediction intervals and in only 10% of the non-experts. People were both far too optimistic and confident, a common finding. In the words of statistician George Box, all models are wrong, but some are useful. Epidemic models are always full of uncertainty. That uncertainty flows from their simplified structure, their assumptions and data inputs and the unpredictability of real life. Provided we view these models as tools for our understanding, they still can be useful.

https://www.theguardian.com/theobserver/commentisfree/2021/may/09/how-good-are-we-at-predicting-pandemic

Is nowhere safe from the Tory culture wreckers?

Many on the left have blamed Keir Starmer, and the white working classs perceived abandonment by Labours patronising metropolitan elite, for the political survival of the corrupt liar Boris Johnson. And it helps that Johnson showered our body-strewn streets with costly vaccines, like a negligent drunken father suddenly treating his starving children to a spaff-up Saturday dinner at McDonalds. But Starmer alone cannot be held responsible for failing to inculcate a sense of Johnsons mendacity into, for example, the citizens of Hartlepool. They are, after all, people whose forebears hanged a monkey in case it was French. One may as well try to teach wool to sing. In a civilised democracy, a shameless pariah such as Boris Johnson should not thrive. The fact that he can is evidence not simply of Starmers shortcomings, but of a dereliction of duty by the nations cowed media, which have a moral responsibility to explain clearly to the electorate why Johnson is unsuitable for office; and by its trembling cultural institutions, which should be using public funds to discredit Johnson daily in mediums such as drama, sculpture, dance, tasteful nudity and the morris. This is what they are for. Instead, the BBCs political editor, Laura Kuenssberg, is an undaunted Johnson fantasist who looks at the prime minister with the same loyal longing that the Welsh myth-hound Gelert gazed upon his lord Llywelyn, later to slaughter the dog in a hut. Last week, Kuenssberg spaffed 2,000 words up the wall of the publicly funded journalism toilet of the BBC while avoiding calling the prime minister categorically dishonest and finding more than a dozen gently teasing synonyms for lying. What larks! Greater love hath no political editor than to lay down her credibility for her lord. Like many postwar comics writers, the anglophile X-Men scribe Chris Claremont was an accidental seer in pixelated panels. Johnson, according to Kuenssberg and her unnamed sources, chooses to remember certain things or not remember others. Johnsons attitude to the truth and facts is not based on what is real and what is not, but is driven by what he desires, rather than what he believes. Johnson is a fibster, a pseudophile, a verb fluffer and a truth felcher. The white thighs of Johnsons desires are too slippery to grasp the dance pole of truth. The wallpaper paste of Johnsons lie-spaff rarely sploshes on to the decorators radio of fact. And Johnson orders the truth to suit his ambitions. In short, the BBCs political editor blames the feckless universe itself for not conforming to Johnsons view of it. How inconvenient of space and time to bow relentlessly to the unbending laws of physics! All through this land, where Christs foot once did walk, the Conservatives seek to limit broadcasters and cultural organisations abilities to inform and entertain and to hold the proven liar Boris Johnson to account, by stuffing their administrative bodies with supporters and by removing pesky intellectuals and black people. The government attempted to block Mary Beard as a trustee of the British Museum because of her pro-European views and because beards mean beatniks; the former Daily Mail editor Paul Dacre is poised to regulate British media as the new head of Ofcom, a move akin to giving Jimmy Savile the keys to a morgue; the government-appointed BBC chair, banker Richard Sharp, donated 400,000 to the Conservatives. And yet even Sharp must know that a BBC so toothless it allows the clearly wrongful Johnson to reign unchecked, instead of driving the populace to No 10 with flaming torches, is not doing its publicly funded job and must offer his resignation. As should the culture secretary, Oliver Dowden. Aristotelian ethics maintain art should save society from itself. Johnsons rising ratings evidence Dowdens failure to inspire and support creatives. The descendants of those ennobled by William the Conqueror still control the majority of wealth and power in Britain. The Conservatives placement of pliant ghouls in positions of inappropriate influence could strangle our news sources and art funnels for ever. Conscientious board members, such as Royal Museums Greenwichs Sir Charles Dunstone, quit in protest, exposing Britannias white flanks, a culture war win for the Conservatives. But someone, a visionary artist of course, saw this coming. Like many postwar comics writers, the anglophile X-Men scribe Chris Claremont, who bought my bored mother a coffee at the 1979 Birmingham Comics Convention, was an accidental seer in pixelated panels. In 1989, in Marvels Excalibur issue 13, Claremont posited a prophetic storyline. The do-gooding mutants and philanthropic aristocrats of the Arthurian-inspired British super-team Excalibur were partially replaced, at the Conservative governments insistence, with right-leaning loyalist mortals. The Bavarian circus-freak Nightcrawler was substituted for the News of the Worlds 71-year-old Voice of Reason Lord Woodrow Wyatt, who viewed Britains black population as being largely lawless, drug-taking, violent and unemployable. The teenage telepath Shadowcat was benched for TVs 64-year-old Record Breakers fact-fascist Norris McWhirter, a far-right Freedom Association figurehead opposed to sanctions on apartheid South Africa. Meggan the Gypsy bat-girl surrendered her place to Mary Whitehouse, the crimplene-faced 79-year-old sex-arbiter from the National Viewers And Listeners Association. The comics preteen readership was traumatised. Though the Excalibur team still included fan-favourites Captain Britain , the orange space-dragon Lockheed and the alternate Earth incarnation of Phoenix , the Wyatt/McWhirter/Whitehouse version swiftly relocated its headquarters from Lord Braddocks enchanted Cornish lighthouse to the cramped offices of an opaquely funded, right-leaning thinktank, the Policy Study Centre for Centralised Policy Studies, at 55 Tufton Street, London.

https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2021/may/09/is-nowhere-safe-from-the-tory-culture-wreckers

Why are parents so mad in one of Americas best school districts?

This is not the first time we have seen issues around public schools be flash points for controversy, says David Campbell, an expert on civic engagement at Notre Dame University. You can think of school board politics as the gateway drug to greater involvement across the board. History suggests the political impact could extend well beyond school boards. Grassroots activism particularly when driven by strong emotion, as in the case of parents who feel their children are being negatively impacted often leads to broader, and more permanent, movements. Parents have long been a coveted political demographic. But the upheaval of the past year has turned many into passionate local activists, who say they will keep advocating long after the pandemic subsides. Increasingly intense debates have also opened up over educational content particularly the anti-racist curricula that many schools implemented in the wake of last summers Black Lives Matter protests. Some conservative states are banning the teaching of critical race theory. Others, like Virginia, are reevaluating gifted and talented programs and accelerated math tracks. After an academic year like no other, school boards across the country have become lightning rods for political debate. As Zoom classes dragged on and with many public schools even now not fully open heated battles have erupted over how to balance the safety of teachers and students against other concerns such as learning loss and mental health. If youd asked Bonnie Myshrall a year ago who her school board representative was, she probably wouldnt have been able to tell you. In the voting booth, she never thought twice about board candidates shed just follow her partys sample ballot. Yet here I am, firing off emails and starting a Facebook group, says Ms. Myshrall, a lawyer with a middle-school daughter enrolled in Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS), a district in northern Virginia. Last summer, as it became apparent that her daughters school would remain online-only due to the pandemic, Ms. Myshrall founded the OpenFCPS group to lobby for a return to in-person learning. While she and other parents agreed virtual learning made sense at first, they grew increasingly frustrated by what they saw as the districts lack of urgency around getting kids back into classrooms, with board meetings often focused on things like renaming schools or implementing an electric school bus fleet. Why We Wrote This Parents have long been a coveted political demographic. But the upheaval of the past year has turned many into passionate local activists, who say they will keep advocating long after the pandemic subsides. The Titanic is sinking, and they are rearranging the deck chairs, says Ms. Myshrall. The group is now gathering signatures to recall three board members. None of the three members responded to requests to be interviewed by the Monitor. After the upheaval of the academic year, its perhaps not surprising that school boards across the country have become lightning rods for political debate. As Zoom classes dragged on through the fall and winter and with many public schools, including those in Fairfax, even now not fully open heated battles erupted over how to balance the safety of teachers and students against other concerns such as learning loss and mental health. The clashes havent been confined to questions of reopening, either. Increasingly intense debates have opened up over educational content particularly the anti-racist curricula that many schools implemented in the wake of last summers Black Lives Matter protests, emphasizing systemic racism and white privilege. A number of conservative states are passing measures banning the teaching of critical race theory. Other states, like Virginia, are embroiled in fights over achievement and equity, including reevaluating gifted and talented programs and accelerated math tracks. The priorities are messed up, says Bethany Wagner, another Fairfax parent. When your kids are learning from home, and youre seeing issues and trying to reach out to the superintendent and school board members and youre not getting feedback, or the feedback is shallow it makes you want to pay attention. And while it may be school boards in the crossfire now, history suggests the political impact could extend well beyond. Events that give rise to grassroots activism particularly when driven by strong emotion, as in the case of parents who feel their children are being negatively impacted often generate broader, and more permanent, movements. If [people] get involved in one form of politics, it often spills over and they will be engaged in other forms of political activity, says David Campbell, an expert on civic engagement at Notre Dame University. The debate surrounding school segregation in the 1950s, he notes, primed many Americans for broader activism in the 1960s. This is not the first time we have seen issues around public schools be flash points for controversy, says Professor Campbell. You can think of school board politics as the gateway drug to greater involvement across the board. At Luther Jackson Middle School At last weeks bi-monthly school board meeting at Fairfaxs Luther Jackson Middle School, hundreds of people showed up hours early with handmade signs concerning various issues. Some were demanding a full reopening of schools. Others were focused on the Biden administrations American History and Civics Education proposal, which has become caught up in a controversy over schools use of The New York Timess 1619 Project. Still others were upset about a controversial tweet made by one of the Fairfax board members, a young Muslim woman, about Israels colonization of the Holy Land. Ironically, many Fairfax parents say they moved to the area because of the schools. Fairfax, the 11th largest school district in the country, is considered one of the best. My husband was military, and at the end of our service we could have lived anywhere, says Saundra Davis, who has two sons in Fairfax schools. I live in a smaller house than we could have elsewhere so my kids can go to school in this district. Story Hinckley/The Christian Science Monitor Saundra Davis, who has two sons in the Fairfax County school system, voiced her frustration with the county's slow transition back to in-person instruction at a school board meeting. "You have triggered a bipartisan tidal wave of parental pushback, Ms. Davis told the board. That made it particularly upsetting for many parents to watch their children struggle this year with online learning. He was an early reader; he loves reading about history and science. But I see now that his writing has suffered, says Ashley, whose son is enrolled in a Fairfax district school, and who requested her last name not be used for fear of retribution from teachers. Sitting in his room all day disconnected was just so hard. ... His behavior has changed. Fairfax was also slower than other districts to reopen. Not until late April did the district begin offering four days of in-person learning a week, and for select students only. The move, parents noted, came months after the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention had concluded that in-person schooling did not cause increased transmission. FCPS has promised a return to five-day in-person instruction in the fall, and Megan McLaughlin, one of the school boards longest-serving members, says she feels confident things will return to normal. Still, she says shes never seen anything like the level of parental involvement over the past few months. During her decade-plus of service, the board has wrestled with other hot-button issues, such as how to teach sex education. But never before has the debate at hand involved such a broad swath of parents or directly affected school employees. This was universal, says Ms. McLaughlin, who is not one of the members being targeted by the recall effort. Decisions at school board level suddenly become a key focal point of whats going to happen with your childs day to day [life]. The impact is already showing up in more competitive school board elections. According to Ballotpedias analysis of the countrys 1,000 largest school districts in 2016, more than one-third of school board seats went unopposed, with an average of 1.9 candidates per seat. This year, almost two dozen of the countrys largest school districts in five states have already had school board elections, and according to a Monitor analysis, these elections had an average of 2.9 candidates per seat. No seat went unopposed. Additionally, there have been 24 school board recall efforts against 64 board members thus far in 2021 including the current effort in Fairfax. That kind of engagement may very well make its way up the political food chain, says Professor Campbell. Because school board elections are low-profile races with low turnout, and the number of voters compared to a congressional district is small, it means a small group of dedicated activists can make a big difference and thats part of the appeal, he says. Its not uncommon for people running for Congress to describe how they first got involved in school board politics. Miranda Turner, a Democratic lawyer with young children, says she never would have considered running for the Arlington School Board in Virginia before this past year. But frustration over how her area prioritized opening businesses like shops and restaurants before schools led her to throw her hat into the ring. We are right outside D.C., and everyone here is so focused on national politics but its the local elections that really have a much bigger impact on your daily life, she says. Ms. Turner ended her bid this week after losing her partys online caucus, but she has vowed to stay active, tweeting: My advocacy work doesnt stop here. Fairfax County Parents Association While education wars often play out along partisan lines at the national level, many at the local level insist they dont see the issues as partisan at all. The OpenFCPS group is officially nonpartisan and is chaired by one Republican and one Democrat. Along with the satisfaction that comes from feeling like they are advocating for their children, many members say the most rewarding part of their involvement has been working toward the same goal with parents who have different political beliefs. What I like about this group is that people share their thoughts, and I dont agree with all of them, but I dont feel pressure to cancel anyone, says Ms. Wagner. I like that we have a shared purpose. Many parents, such as Ms. Wagner and Ms. Davis, say they agree that racism is a problem in America, but they believe there is room for debate over how the issue should be taught, and what approaches are developmentally appropriate for young children. More to the point, they say public education faces more immediate problems such as still-empty classrooms. Ms. Myshrall says the OpenFCPS group plans on staying around, at least until the board is up for reelection in 2023. They plan to rename themselves the Fairfax County Parents Association. Get the Monitor Stories you care about delivered to your inbox. Your email address By signing up, you agree to our Privacy Policy Anna LaNave is a mother of four, with two Fairfax County graduates and two still enrolled in the district, who describes herself as a pro-teacher, pro-union Democrat. Shes going to vote a straight education ticket this year. People are realizing that we havent been paying attention and its coming back to bite us, says Ms. LaNave. I think this will affect how people vote in local elections for years to come.

https://www.csmonitor.com/USA/Politics/2021/0527/Why-are-parents-so-mad-in-one-of-America-s-best-school-districts

How Long Will Estevan Florial Stay With the Yankees?

NEW YORK The Yankees promoted one of their top prospects on Thursday, calling up outfielder Estevan Florial before a doubleheader against the Blue Jays. Florial's name has come up recently as a possible option in the Yankees' outfield after Aaron Hicks went down with his season-ending wrist injury. Asked prior to Game 1 of the doubleheader about why Florial was called up on Thursday, Yankees manager Aaron Boone mentioned the need for a position player. Designated hitter Giancarlo Stanton wasn't quite ready to return from the injured list Thursday and with Luke Voit headed to the IL with an oblique strain, New York's bench was looking thin. That in mind, there's a good chance Florial could be sent back down following the doubleheader. If Stanton does return on Friday in Detroitwhich has been the expectation for these last few daysthen another corresponding move would need to be made in order to keep Florial around on the active roster. Boone didn't rule out a longer stay than the one day, but said Florial's immediate future will be decided once New York gets through these next two games. "We'll see," Boone said. "Right now with what we've been through the last couple of weeks, and certainly here the last couple days, you never know the twists and turns, but we'll just have to see. Let's get through today first." Florial wasn't concerning himself with how long he'll stay in a Yankees uniform either. The organization's No. 10 prospect, per MLB Pipeline, said he's eager to help his team and do whatever the coaching staff needs him to do while he's in pinstripes. "Just stay ready. It doesn't matter when they give me the opportunity, take advantage of it and do the best I can, help the team," Florial said Thursday. "I think that's the most important thing. It's not just about myself, it's just about the team overall." Florial, 23, made his big-league debut last summer, appearing in one game at Yankee Stadium on Aug. 28. Injuries and last year's pandemic-shortened campaign have kept Florial from developing with consistent playing time over the last few seasons. The prospect has been able to showcase what he's capable of in the minor leagues this season, though. He clobbered four home runs over nine games in Double-A Somerset before a promotion to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. With his first MLB hit already out of the way, and some early success this season in the farm system under his belt, Boone is excited to watch Florial make the most of his latest opportunity. "I think the biggest thing for him is gaining that experience," Boone said. "Allowing him to learn from successes and failures and make the necessary adjustments to be a major league player and major league hitter." MORE: Follow Max Goodman on Twitter (@MaxTGoodman), on Facebook (also @MaxTGoodman), be sure to bookmark Inside The Pinstripes and check back daily for news, analysis and more.

https://www.si.com/mlb/yankees/news/how-long-will-prospect-estevan-florial-stay-with-new-york-yankees-after-getting-called-up

Where Does Dallas Cowboys DE DeMarcus Lawrence Rank Among NFL Pass-Rushers?

The Dallas Cowboys will have a new-look defense under first-year coordinator Dan Quinn in 2021 that will see multiple changes to the way current roster members are utilized. As one of the elder statesmen and leaders of that group, defensive end DeMarcus Lawrence will be expected to carry the load in the pass rush department, alongside a host of fresh faces, including three rookies and a trio of free agents. With those reinforcements on the way, Lawrence looks to be in line for a bounce-back 2021 season, and according to Pro Football Focus, which ranked Lawrence as the seventh-best edge rusher heading into next season, that is exactly what is going to happen. Per PFF: Pass rush is always going to draw headlines for edge defenders. Lawrence has been one of the leagues best in that department, putting up a top-10 pass-rush win rate at the position since 2017. However, he has also been an elite-run defender in recent years. Lawrences 90.1 run-defense grade over the last four seasons makes him one of just seven players at the position to clear the 90.0 mark since 2017. Over the last two seasons, Lawrence underwhelmed statistically, managing just 11.5 sacks, 24 tackles for loss, and 27 quarterback hits in 34 games, including two playoff games. But the Cowboys will tell you he plays hurt. And that he plays hard. With Quinn now calling the shots, and Lawrence getting some much-needed help on all three levels of the defense, the expectations should be as high as ever for the leader of the Dallas defense. You can view the full edge-rusher rankings according to Pro Football Focus, which starts with this list:

https://www.si.com/nfl/cowboys/news/where-dallas-cowboys-demarcus-lawrence-rank-nfl-pass-rushers

Is Gerrymandering About to Become More Difficult?

Well, one thing you can do is to make it a rule. Ohio was the first state to do that, and it happened pretty recently. In 2018, Ohio voters passed a [state] constitutional amendment creating a commissiona not-very-independent commission, it turns outand written into those rules was the goal that the [partisan] share of seats should reflect the share of [statewide] votes. And as far as I know, thats the first spelled-out instance of setting up proportionality as a goal. For a mathematician like me, thats really sensible: State your goals, then we can try to achieve them. But when your goals remain really vague, its very difficult to talk about why one might be better or fairer than the other. I started working on this in 2016. My background in math is in geometry. I started with the intuition that the story is in the shapes, and that if we can just come up with the right shape metric, well [solve it]. I went looking for the authoritative literature on all these compactness metrics that would tell the right story, and to my surprise, there was really classical math and ancient, preclassical math, but there didnt seem to be any kind of post-1900 mathematics in the mix. The geometry of discrete spaces has really exploded in richness and depth in the last 100 years, but I wasnt seeing a lot of those ideas in the mix. And it struck me that districting is really a discrete problem: Theres a finite number of people, and we have these geographic chunks that tell us where they are. So basically, I came to this thinking, Oh, I bet theres something that could be usefully done here. And it has bloomed into a full-time research program. One thing were going to deal with this redistricting cycle that we havent seen in the past is this new differential privacy approach by the Census, that actually changes the underlying data. Yes. So, the Census Bureau has taken it upon themselves to do something cutting-edgewhich always makes people nervous. In this case, they have microdatathe responses to all the census forms in, effectively, a giant table, with all the answers from every single person included in the enumeration. The bureau doesnt release all of that information publicly. Instead, it aggregates it up: Census blocks or block groups will have maybe hundreds or a few thousand people in them, and youll get aggregate statistics rather than individual peoples responsesso there will be a little chunk of a map, and youll know how many people live there and what their responses were, in aggregate. The threat is now this: If you have enough of these aggregate statistics, you can throw them into a computer and actually reproduce the input table that made the aggregate statistics. Risk number one is that you can recover the person-level data. And risk number two, which is really interesting, is that if you pair it with easily available commercial datalike from Facebookyou could work out for all those people what their names and addresses and phone numbers are. All this computing power being brought to bear on elections is generally pretty healthy and pro-democraticpeople are coming up with ideas about making better systems and outcomes. But bad actors are also empowered by computing. Thats the riskand its an interesting one. Under Title 13 of the U.S. Code, the Census Bureau is obligated to protect privacy. The Bureau has decided that the answer is yes. So, they took this idea called differential privacy, which was created by Cynthia Dwork and her colleagues in computer science. It is a gorgeous idea. And the beauty of it is that you can do it in a really controlled way. The Census Bureau announced that they were going to do that, and chaos ensued. Theyve already been sued in a lawsuit led by Alabama.

https://www.politico.com/news/magazine/2021/05/27/redistricting-gerrymandering-2021-moon-duchin-interview-491199

Why Privacy-First Approach Is Critical For Data-Based Innovation?

Respecting and providing data security to users is one of the most critical steps to move forward in the age of Artificial Intelligence (AI), Machine Learning (ML), and Data Science. These technologies use data to predict outcomes of different scenarios. But that data must be protected. Earning the trust of users with the finest data privacy and security will allow us to move forward, research, and innovate in this era. From massive data breaches to private data sales, consumers are extremely concerned about keeping personal information private and secure. For instance, nearly 80% of respondents in a recent Pew Research study raised questions against companies who own their consumer data. Sensitive information includes electronic medical records, personal genomic data, consumer info, PII (Personally Identifiable Information), employee data, Intellectual Property such as patents and other digital assets, trade secrets and even Government data, Operational & Inventory Information, and other industry-specific data. Data privacy has become a significant concern for users in this dominant technology era. We live in an app-drive world but the use of more apps means increased data collection. This data is intentionally collected by AI tools to improve user experience, but it can have many unintended consequences. However, an intense collection of data brings the risk of data breaches by hackers. This is a serious concern because hackers can access sensitive data such as photos, addresses, credit cards, emails, etc. There have been multiple reports of data breaches across various sectors. For example, in April 2019, Georgia Tech announced that nearly 1.3 million current and former faculty members, students, staff, and student applicants were affected by an education data breach caused by unauthorized access to a web application. Information compromised included names, addresses, dates of birth, and Social Security numbers. Similarly, while direct-to-consumer genetic testing companies have opened up an entirely new world of information on ancestry and disease risk for individuals, many have come under fire for violating user privacy and breaching user trust. There are many such data breaching incidents that have been reported over the past few years. For example, one genealogy company was affected by a security breach that compromised ten million users personal information. Another DNA testing company became subject to an investigation by the Federal Trade Commission over its policy for sharing genetic data. These issues have raised widespread privacy concerns that are impacting the internet sector. People are now reluctant to give their data to these digital companies even for research as there may be a high chance of data leaks. This is a big problem because solutions such as personal genomics can create a lot of value for the tested individuals. Furthermore, suppose the data is shared with researchers, it will enable them to understand human genetics better and possibly help cure diseases and even predict whether a certain disease will show up in a person or cure the disease before it even appears in a person. For example in Photoplethysmography (PPG) the heart rate data can be used to predict if a person will develop certain cardiovascular diseases. EMG (Electromyography) or EEG (electroencephalogram) signals can be used for various studies to treat and predict many diseases. EMG signals can assess the health of muscles and the nerve cells that control them (motor neurons). The bottom line is that no one wants this type of data to be breached, stolen, or sold to any third party at any cost. MORE FOR YOU What Humans Can Learn From 'Human In The Loop' Learning The solution to this privacy issue lies in allowing users to own and control their data privately and securely. Users should also be ensured that their data is safe and secure. There should be new protocols and standards for communication in wireless and fiber optics which provide highly encrypted data transfer. This will minimize the chances of a data breach. Hence, there needs to be a new standard for responsible data to provide consumers with first-of-its-kind control of their data. We need solutions that can safeguard consumers from a data breach. For example, Oasis Labs announced a partnership with Nebula that enables customers to maintain the privacy, ownership, and control of their genomic data. Through Oasis Labs privacy solution called Parcel, Nebulas users will be able to retain ownership and control of their genomic data. Data remains confidential, and users can grant access to their data for specific purposes such as the generation of reports offered by Nebula or analysis by researchers. Each time a users genome is analyzed whether it is to provide reports to the user or for medical research Oasis verifies the user's permission. Nebula users can receive reports and share data access with researchers while keeping their genomic data confidential and protected. Along the same lines, many data privacy startups have cropped up. One of them is InCountry, a data residency-as-a-service platform that helps companies store data locally. It offers the infrastructure to store and retrieve data in its country of origin. It also gives an API that funnels data between InCountrys local data centers provided by AWS (Amazon Web Services), Microsoft Azure, Google Cloud Platform (GCP), and Alibaba Cloud. Another such startup is OneTrust, a data privacy management compliance established to help businesses adhere to the growing array of regulations worldwide, including GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation) and CCPA (California Consumer Privacy Act). OneTrust platform includes a template-based self-assessment tool that allows companies to see how close they are to complying with GDPR and other legal frameworks. Simultaneously, data mapping helps companies understand how data flows through the organization and across borders. TrustArc is another data privacy startup that recently raised $70 million in funding. The platform is about helping companies monitor risk around regulations and identify gaps across various regulatory frameworks. TrustArc can also handle cookie consent preferences for GDPR and facilitate processes for marketing campaigns, including user consent for outbound emails. Another competitor in this area is a London-based startup, Privitar, which has raised more than $40 million. It helps enterprises engineer privacy protection into their data projects, allowing them to leverage large, sensitive data sets while complying with regulations and ethical data principles. The company provides many tools and services to achieve this task. Finally, BigID is a New York-based startup that helps enterprises protect customer and employee data, using machine learning to automatically find sensitive data held on internal servers and databases, analyze it, and ensure that organizations comply with data protection regulations. Big data has also gained popularity in organizations, promising improved operations and new business opportunities. However, big data has increased access to sensitive information, jeopardizing individuals privacy and violating data protection laws. As a result, data controllers and data processors may have imposed tough penalties for non-compliance, like GDPR will take 4% of total annual revenue if authorities determine it took insufficient measures to protect data. Such solutions can usher in the era of personal data by building a distributed platform that will accelerate data generation, facilitate data access, and streamline data analysis. Blockchain and privacy-preserving technologies can enable individuals to maintain control of their data, share it securely, and compensate equitably. This can accelerate the pace of innovation while maintaining data privacy. More and more technology companies should adopt the privacy-first approach to innovation. This brings trust to its user base while helping advance innovation as well.

https://www.forbes.com/sites/taarinikaurdang/2021/05/27/why-privacy-first-approach-is-critical-for-data-based-innovation/

Is the 'extreme situation' of this season the reason Europe's top managers are on the move?

Antonio Conte has left Inter Milan after winning Serie A, Zinedine Zidane resigned from Real Madrid and Tottenham have sounded out Paris St-Germain boss Mauricio Pochettino. Winning the Ligue 1 title couldn't keep Christophe Galtier at Lille, Juventus are reportedly close to sacking Andrea Pirlo and bringing back Massimiliano Allegri, while Hansi Flick's departure from Bayern Munich triggered a domino effect in Germany. The dust has barely settled on the 2020-21 campaign, but already we've seen an unprecedented number of top managers on the move. From financial issues to exhaustion, BBC Radio 5 Live's Euro Leagues experts have been examining why... 'Fallouts caused by an extreme situation' The coronavirus pandemic has had a devastating impact on the finances of football clubs, with Europe's top 32 clubs seeing 6.1bn euros (5.27bn) wiped off their value since February 2020, according to business services group KPMG. In Germany, Flick's departure from Bayern led to a series of changes, including Julian Nagelsmann replacing him and Jesse Marsch joining RB Leipzig. It has been a similar story across Italy, Spain, England and France since. Speaking on BBC Radio 5 Live, German football journalist Raphael Honigstein said: "The common theme that links these resignations is, during Covid-19, we have seen much more internal arguments about money. "A lot of these coaches have walked out because, rather than having another job lined up, they've had enough." He added: "There's an extreme situation here that is very different to what usually happens in an off-season, especially at those big clubs. We don't see big coaches walking away in these numbers. "Flick went after a huge disagreement over transfers and the backdrop is Covid-19. Bayern couldn't spend the kind of money Flick wanted and that's where the argument started." La Liga runners-up Real Madrid topped KPMG's study into Europe's most valuable clubs, however Zidane did not feel backed by the board and president Florentino Perez, according to Spanish football expert Guillem Balague. It was a similar story at Inter, where Conte departed after delivering a first Italian title in 11 years because the club's financial situation means they must reduce the wage bill by 20% this summer. Forwards Romelu Lukaku (left) and Lautaro Martinez (right), who scored 41 Serie A goals between them this season, could be among those Inter look to sell this summer Italian journalist Gabriele Marcotti said: "Conte wanted investment and made demands but instead of getting one or two big signings they have to sell one or two big players. "The mood has changed. Unless you're Pep Guardiola or Jurgen Klopp it's very hard for you to make those demands. Marcotti added: "It's cheaper to bring in a new manager than a bunch of new players. Obviously there is a chain reaction but undeniably a lot is about money, investment and the economy post-coronavirus. "It's a part of why Zidane is no longer at Real, why Conte is no longer at Inter. It's our reality for this transfer window which for managers and players will be very different." Some are exhausted, others want new challenges Raised internal tensions are perhaps to be expected following an exhausting season that has forced clubs across Europe to contend with congested fixture schedules, after the previous campaign was disrupted by the pandemic. And despite some, such as Conte, bringing success despite those challenges, disagreement over transfer funds has proven a tipping point. Zidane failed to win a trophy but led an ageing Real side to within a point of the La Liga title, and a Champions League semi-final in which they were beaten by Chelsea. French football journalist Julien Laurens said: "This was a special season for Zidane because of everything that happened. He caught coronavirus. He took this Real team so far. "Maybe he felt it would be hard to do better than this. Perhaps this is what is at the heart for a lot of these managers changing - 'Can we do better than we have done this season?'. "Galtier thought there's no chance Lille would win Ligue 1 again next season. For Conte, maybe it's the same." Balague added: "The big clubs are changing managers and because big jobs are coming available, there are two or three managers who want to be available to be chosen. "Zidane got tired, he got exhausted. It has affected a lot of managers - certainly Zidane - even though they expect he will go to another job." With so many big-name managers on the move, there's been no shortage of speculation surrounding who might end up where. Conte has been linked with Real Madrid and the vacancy at Premier League side Tottenham. Spurs have made contact with Paris St-Germain regarding former manager Pochettino - though Marcotti told BBC Radio 5 Live Pochettino is also Real's top target. It appears Inter may have external-link Conte's replacement lined up, after Simone Inzaghi left fellow Serie A side Lazio on Thursday. Who knows what is next for Andrea Pirlo, who Juventus will reportedly sack external-link and replace with former boss Allegri. Galtier, who said he had a "deep belief that my time is up here" in leaving Lille, has been linked with the managerial jobs at French sides Nice and Lyon - while former Wolves boss Nuno Espirito Santo is also looking for a new club.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/57276759

Does Mizzou have depth concerns at wide receiver?

This is the way of the world in sports. Geno gets paid $2.4 million a year to deal with these headaches - and he's also free to add anyone else's transfers to his roster. I heard Mack Brown's comments about his QB who said that he didn't want to receive payments from NIL because he didn't want other players to be upset he was getting paid (more). Make the pay out in the open, stop all the clandestine payments. No good comes from secret bag men. A: I think it comes down to fans, coaches and media just being resistant to change or scared of change. Remember, a few years ago college ADs were trying to convince us that the whole system would implode if athletes were given full cost of attendance payments to supplement their scholarships. The Mack Brown/Sam Howell comment was ridiculous if you think about all the college sports that don't offer full scholarships to all their athletes. Baseball players and softball players all take home different kinds of athletic scholarships. Full scholarships, half scholarships, quarter scholarships, etc. Of course not. I assume not everyone in the Post-Dispatch sports department makes the same amount of money. Of course not. NIL is a reflection of how the real world works in a free market. Dave Matter brings you the latest updates from the Mizzou sports scene. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy.

https://www.stltoday.com/sports/subscriber/does-mizzou-have-depth-concerns-at-wide-receiver/article_12e67bef-1d34-5d26-b0f6-a5d5d5e75f51.html

How did the Angels' Shohei Ohtani end up on BART? And why isn't he pitching against A's?

Shohei Ohtani does extraordinary things on a baseball field, but in the face of Bay Area traffic, he is just like the rest of us. Ohtani, the Angels two-way star, was scratched from his pitching start Thursday against the As after he was delayed commuting from the team hotel in San Francisco to the Coliseum. Angels manager Joe Maddon told reporters a team bus hit traffic on the Bay Bridge due to an accident. The bus turned around and Angels personnel on it took BART to the ballpark instead. For us, Shoheis most comfortable because hes pretty much regimented to get everything going at about 4 oclock for a start, so it was exceeded by maybe an hour, Maddon said. Maddon said that an issue with the transformer on the BART added to the delay. BART appeared to take exception in a response on Twitter. First, wow, what an honor to host a baseball superstar like Shohei Ohtani on BART, the agency wrote. We did not experience any issues on our end. We confirmed with Operations Control Center there was no delay for any Coliseum-heading train during the Bay Bridge incident. The Angels delay could have been worse. Plan C I think wouldve been to fly from San Francisco to Oakland somehow, Maddon said, and they wouldve been here tomorrow. Teams in the Bay Area to play the As often stay in San Francisco. Maddon said his teams stayed in Oakland sometimes back in the day but likely wont return to that just because of Thursday. I dont think one instance should merit all that adjustment, Maddon said. And Im not going to take sides with San Francisco and Oakland right now, either. Im not going to upset the Chamber of Commerce. Maddon was also asked his thoughts on commuting to games by gondola, as the As have suggested one linked to their proposed Howard Terminal ballpark at Oaklands waterfront. You mean, like, are we talking like Venice or something more 2021ish? Maddon said. Dont they have bunch of dudes rowing across the Bay? he added. Im not too into that. It would have to be a more significant method. Anyway, Ohtani is now scheduled to pitch Friday against the As and was added to the Angels lineup for Thursdays game at designated hitter. The As faced left-handed pitcher Patrick Sandoval instead. Matt Kawahara covers the As for The San Francisco Chronicle. Email: mkawahara@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @matthewkawahara

https://www.sfchronicle.com/sports/athletics/article/How-did-the-Angels-Shohei-Ohtani-end-up-on-16209059.php

How Rich Are Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson and the Other Top 10 Richest Pro Golfers?

photogolfer / Shutterstock.com Golf is a sport often associated with wealth. It's expensive to play, between the equipment and greens fees. It's quite expensive to join a golf club, and many are considered exclusive (and exclusionary). Show Support: Don't Miss Out on Nominating Your Favorite Small Business To Be Featured on GOBankingRates -- Ends May 31 And if you're a professional men's golfer, it's quite lucrative. From tournament winnings to golf course design firms to endorsements for golf equipment, golfers have plenty of opportunities to rake in the cash. Looking at the top 10 richest golfers, based on Celebrity Net Worth's information, many of the top names aren't surprising. But some of the biggest names in the sport's history are missing. Read on to see some of the other surprises. Last updated: May 27, 2021 Vijay Singh golfer Vijay Singh Age: 58 Major wins: 3 (1998 PGA Championship, 2000 Masters, 2004 PGA Championship) Total Pro Wins: 64 Singh has won 22 times since turning 40, a PGA Tour record. Click through to find out what his net worth is. Find Out: The Richest Athletes in the World Ernie Els golfer Ernie Els Age: 51 Major wins: 4 (1994 U.S. Open, 1997 U.S. Open, 2002 British Open, 2012 British Open) Total Pro Wins: 74 Nicknamed "The Big Easy" for his smooth swing, the South African was one of the "Big Five" golfers (along with Retief Goosen, Phil Mickelson, Vijay Singh and Tiger Woods) to dominate golf in the mid-2000s. Now a member of the PGA Champions Tour, Els also designs golf courses all over the world. See what his net worth has grown to. Read: Most Successful Athlete From Every Decade Jordan Spieth Jordan Spieth Age: 27 Major wins: 3 (2015 Masters, 2015 U.S. Open, 2017 British Open) Total Pro Wins: 15 Spieth took the golf world by storm in 2015 when he became just the sixth player to win the Masters and U.S. Open in the same year. He's considered one of the great young golfers in the game, and he has a huge endorsement deal with Under Armour. Story continues Check out what his net worth is thanks to his wins and deals. See: Pro Athletes Who Have Lost Millions of Dollars Fred Couples Fred Couples Age: 61 Major wins: 1 (1992 Masters) Total Pro Wins: 62 The easygoing golfer known as "Boom Boom" captured the golf world's attention when he won the 1992 Masters, a victory capped when his tee shot on the 12th hole of the final round miraculously hung on the fringe instead of rolling into the water. He has plenty of endorsements for golf equipment and clothing. See what his total net worth is. Rory McIlroy and Nike Rory McIlroy Age: 32 Major wins: 4 (2011 U.S. Open, 2012 PGA Championship, 2014 British Open, 2014 PGA Championship) Total Pro Wins: 28 The popular golfer from Northern Ireland was seen as the next Tiger Woods when he won his third and fourth majors in 2014, and he signed a huge endorsement deal with Nike. However, he has come up short in his attempts to win the Masters to complete the career Grand Slam. Click through to see what his net worth adds up to. Find Out More: Biggest Sports Contracts Ever Gary Player The 2018 Masters Tournament, Augusta, USA - 04 Apr 2018Gary Player of South Africa reacts on the fifth hole during the Par 3 Contest at the 2018 Masters Tournament at the Augusta National Golf Club in Augusta, Georgia, USA, 04 April 2018. Gary Player Age: 85 Major wins: 9 (1959 British Open, 1961 Masters, 1962 PGA Championship, 1965 U.S. Open, 1968 British Open, 1972 PGA Championship, 1974 Masters, 1974 British Open, 1978 Masters) Total Pro Wins: 160 Nicknamed "the Black Knight" for wearing all black while playing, the South African is one of the greatest golfers of all time. He became the third player to win the career Grand Slam and, along with Arnold Palmer and Jack Nicklaus, dominated golf in the 1960s and 1970s. Player's company has designed more than 400 golf courses, and the 5-foot-6-inch golfer has written 36 books on golf instruction and fitness. See how much he is worth. Phil MIckelson golfer- Phil Mickelson Age: 50 Major wins: 6 (2004 Masters, 2005 PGA Championship, 2006 Masters, 2010 Masters, 2013 British Open, 2021 PGA Championship) Total Pro Wins: 54 Mickelson is easily the second-best golfer of the current era, behind Tiger Woods, and holds the record as the oldest Grand Slam winner after claiming the 2021 PGA Championship at the age of 50. In addition to his five major wins, he has 11 runner-up finishes, including six at the U.S. Open. Find out what his net worth is at after all this success. Check Out: LeBron James and More of the Richest Athletes Younger Than 40 Jack Nicklaus golfer Jack Nicklaus Age: 81 Major wins: 18 (1962 U.S. Open, 1963 Masters, 1963 PGA Championship, 1965 Masters, 1966 Masters, 1966 British Open, 1967 U.S. Open, 1970 British Open, 1971 PGA Championship, 1972 Masters, 1972 U.S. Open, 1973 PGA Championship, 1975 Masters, 1975 PGA Championship, 1978 British Open, 1980 U.S. Open, 1980 PGA Championship, 1986 Masters) Total Pro Wins: 117 The Golden Bear sets the standard by which all other golfers are measured. With his astonishing 18 majors (and 19 runner-up finishes), Nicklaus dominated golf for more than two decades. He has gone on to have a successful career in the course-design business. Find out what his net worth is. Big Money: 27 Richest No. 1 NFL Draft Picks Greg-Norman Greg Norman Age: 66 Major wins: 2 (1986 British Open, 1993 British Open) Total Pro Wins: 88 The Australian golfer known as The Shark (or The Great White Shark) has an impressive playing resume, with 331 weeks as the No. 1-ranked golfer in the world, plus a lucrative course-design and apparel business. Norman might be better known for his runner-up finishes, including two heartbreaking losses at the Masters. See what his golf career has helped his net worth grow to. DUBAI, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES - FEBRUARY 02: Tiger Woods of the United States tees off on the 3rd hole during the first round of the Omega Dubai Desert Classic at Emirates Golf Club on February 2, 2017 in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. Tiger Woods Age: 45 Major wins: 15 (1997 Masters, 1999 PGA Championship, 2000 U.S. Open, 2000 British Open, 2000 PGA Championship, 2001 Masters, 2002 Masters, 2002 U.S. Open, 2005 Masters, 2005 British Open, 2006 British Open, 2006 PGA Championship, 2007 PGA Championship, 2008 U.S. Open, 2019 Masters) Total Pro Wins: 109 One of the biggest names in sports, Woods has put together a spectacular career and is considered either the best or second-best golfer (behind Jack Nicklaus) in history. His 15 majors are second only to Nicklaus' tally, and he held all four major Grand Slam trophies at once when he won the 2001 Masters. That might have been the single greatest stretch of domination in golf history. Woods piled up tons of endorsements, including everything from Nike to Rolex to Gillette. Although his career was sidetracked by injuries and scandal, Woods is still considered one of the top draws in sports. See what his net worth sits at now.

https://sports.yahoo.com/rich-tiger-woods-phil-mickelson-150033033.html?src=rss

How Does WFT Defensive End Chase Young Rank In NFL's Pass Rush Heirarchy?

Chase Young can only get better if he can stay healthy. A very good rookie year needs to turn into a great year or a dominant season. ASHBURN, Va. -- The defensive line and pass rush of the Washington Football Team is the pulse of the organization and one of the top reasons why the WFT has a good chance of repeating as division champions in 2021 As good as it is on paper, two criticisms of the defensive unit were their porous run defense, and their inability to slow down quarterbacks in 2020. If this doesn't change in 2021, Washington's chances of an NFC East repeat will be difficult to achieve. READ MORE: No. Despite Washington investing four first-round picks on that side of the ball, on a recent ranking of edge defenders by ProFootballFocus.com (PFF), the highest-ranked Washington edge defender is none other than Chase Young, who slid in at No. 8 in the rankings. The now second-year defender had an overall grade of 87.1/100 by PFF, which was fifth in the NFL among qualifying edge defenders. As PFF notes, Young was even better in the red zone with a league-best grade of 93.3. The scary part when analyzing Youngs first season in the NFL is that there is still clear room for improvement from a pass-rushing perspective. And Young still got out to an 87.1 overall grade as a rookie, fifth in the NFL among qualifying edge defenders. He was at his best in the red zone. Youngs 93.3 overall grade last season in that portion of the field led all players at the position. Young ranks right behind DeMarcus Lawrence and Cameron Jordan, who came in at No. 6 and No. 7, as well as behind stalwarts like Khalil Mack, Nick and Joey Bosa, T.J. Watt, and Myles Garrett. Montez Sweat is the next Washington edge defender on the list at No. 17 with PFF noting that the third-year end had an 87.0 run-defense grade in 2021. Per PFF: Few edge defenders improved more from 2019 to 2020 than Sweat did in his second year in the NFL. His 87.0 run-defense grade last season ranked third at the position behind only Khalil Mack and T.J. Watt, and he bumped up his pressure count from 32 as a rookie to 47 in 2020. Sweat also stood out as one of the best defensive linemen in the league at getting his hands into throwing lanes when rushing the passer. His six batted passes last year ranked second at the position. Thanks to his long arms and elite athleticism, Sweat has quickly become one of the league's top edge rushers, and in conjunction with Young, one of the NFL's premier pass-rush tandems heading into next season.

https://www.si.com/nfl/washingtonfootball/news/how-does-washington-football-team-defensive-end-chase-young-rank-in-nfls-pass-rush-heirarchy

Could Tim Tebow fill a Taysom Hill-like role in Jacksonville?

When it was announced that the Jacksonville Jaguars would be signing 33-year-old Tim Tebow to play tight end (a position hes never played at a high level), it was assumed to be a reflection of Jacksonvilles desperation to find an answer at the position. But according to a recent report, it seems the team might have other plans for the former quarterback. On ESPNs Get Up! episode on Thursday morning, Dianna Russini reported that league sources have expressed to her that Urban Meyer may be looking to use Tebow like the New Orleans Saints use Taysom Hill (as a wildcat quarterback). There are those in the league who think Urban Meyer is bringing Tebow in to play QB at that Taysom Hill role, Russini said. Using him in that wildcat as weve seen him use in the past. Take a look at all of those different offenses [that Meyer coached]. It actually makes a lot of sense. So, yes, he may be on the roster as a tight end, but there maybe more to this Tebow experiment than him playing that position. . @diannaESPN says a lot of people around the league aren't buying that Tim Tebow will be used as a TE. "There are those in the league who think Urban Meyer is bringing Tebow in to play QB at that Taysom Hill role. Using him in that wildcat as we've seen him use in the past." pic.twitter.com/XC7HfFwksz Get Up (@GetUpESPN) May 27, 2021 A quarterback in college at BYU, Hill has seen action all over the field for the Saints since he was claimed off waivers by the team in 2017 after going undrafted. Hes lined up at receiver, tight end, running back, and returner in addition to playing quarterback as the backup to Drew Brees. With Brees now retired, Hill will compete for the Saints starting job with Jameis Winston and Ian Book, the teams fourth-round pick, in 2021. In total, Hill has 809 yards and 11 touchdowns on the ground to go with 336 yards and seven touchdowns through the air. Hes also thrown four career touchdown passes. Story continues Tebow almost certainly wont get the chance to see action at quarterback like Hill did with C.J. Beathard and Gardner Minshew representing very solid backup options to Trevor Lawrence. But he could be a similar utility player to Hill that could contribute all over the field. That may be a bit ambitious for a guy who hasnt been on a 53-man roster in nine years, and Tebows chances of making the team in any capacity are pretty slim given the number of offensive playmakers Jacksonville already has. But if hes able to contribute anywhere on the field (including the tight end position he was originally signed to play), Meyer may be able to justify giving him a spot on the final roster.

https://sports.yahoo.com/could-tim-tebow-fill-taysom-022801847.html?src=rss

Can Trump run again in 2024 election?

(Win McNamee/Getty Images) Donald Trump made history in becoming the first president in US history to be impeached twice by the House of Representatives. But that doesn't mean that he is done with politics and now he has hinted that he may run for the White House again in 2024, telling his supporters they should have hope. The ex-president is free to run again for office as he was acquitted in the Senate for a second time in February. And he dropped his strongest hint yet in a new interview with daughter-in-law Lara Trump on her podcast The Right View. You do have hope, that I can tell you, Mr Trump said in his first on-camera interview since leaving Washington DC in January. You do have hope. We love our country this country. We all owe a lot to our country but now we have to help our country. Ms Trump then asked him if his supporters would ever get to attend another MAGA rally. Oh yeah, sure, I think so. In fact, were thinking about doing one relatively soon just to let everybody know that theres hope in the future, he added. This all became a real possibility when the Senate failed to convict Mr Trump at his trial on 13 February after the shortest impeachment trial in presidential history. Mr Trump was impeached for an unprecedented second time in January in the House by a vote of 232-197, with 10 Republicans joining Democrats against him. He was found guilty by the Democratic-dominated House of Representatives on one charge of incitement for urging his supporters to "fight like hell" before they attacked the Capitol on 6 January and tried to prevent the certification of Joe Biden's election victory. If the Senate had also voted to convict Mr Trump then he could have been barred from ever standing again. However, only seven Republicans voted to convict along with all 50 Democrats on 13 February 10 fewer than the two-thirds majority needed to find the former president guilty. Under the Constitution, judgment in cases of impeachment shall not extend further than to removal from office, and disqualification to hold and enjoy any office of honour, trust or profit under the United States. Story continues However, the recent announcement that the Manhattan District Attorney, Cy Vance, has convened a grand jury in the investigation into Mr Trumps business dealings has prompted questions once again as to whether a 2024 run is possible. As it currently stands, Mr Trump could run again. If he is convicted of a crime, it is still possible he could run. Over the course of history three people have launched presidential bids while incarcerated, while Slate reported legal professor Kate Shaw as saying: When were talking about federal office, the limitations would really be political, not legal. The Constitution actually is really clear about what the qualifications to run for president, or a member of Congress or Senate are. Only three elected officials, former federal judges West Humphreys, Robert Archibald, and Thomas Porteous, have ever been permanently barred from holding future office in American history. The Constitution does not specify if the vote to disqualify needs a super majority, but the Senate has in the past used a simple majority for disqualification. Before the impeachment trial even began 45 out of 50 Republican Senators voted that it was not constitutional and should not go ahead, which made it a long shot to reach the two-thirds required to convict. While the 2024 presidential election is a long way off, Mr Trump remains the most popular figure in his party, with 42 per cent of Republicans saying they would vote for him in four years, according to a Politico/Morning Consult poll. This was down from 54 per cent in the wake of the Capitol riot but still put him ahead of other potential candidates, such as Mike Pence with 16 per cent, Donald trump Jr with 6 per cent, Ted cruz with six per cent, six per cent for Mitt Romney and five per cent for Nikki Haley. Read More John Oliver says Trump's legacy is a wave of politically outlandish candidates Donald Trumps visit to New York for UFC fight cost taxpayers $250k Marjorie Taylor Greene deletes tweet calling Kevin McCarthy a feckless c*** in Holocaust mask row Trump impeachment news live: They could have killed us all says Democrat during powerful trial opening Donald Trump impeachment timeline 2021 what to expect when trial starts Trump impeachment trial opens with video of him telling supporters to march on Capitol and mob turning violent Senators react to shocking video of Capitol assault at Trump impeachment trial

https://news.yahoo.com/trump-run-again-2024-election-152407132.html

Are the Steelers WR making a mistake by skipping OTAs?

So far, the Pittsburgh Steelers have had exceptional attendance at their OTAs. Keeping in mind these are completely voluntary, it has been great to see so many players showing up and working hard. If you played for the Steelers last season, you should be chomping at the bit to get back on the field and wash the bad taste out of their mouths from last season. The most notable absences have been by the Steelers top wide receivers. JuJu Smith-Schuster, Chase Claypool and Diontae Johnson all missed workouts and you have to assume this was a coordinated effort. Smith-Schuster and Claypool are both out in Los Angeles but Johnson has been quiet on social media since mid-March. Pittsburgh was seventh-worst in the NFL at only 5.1 yards per play and ninth-worst in passing yards per attempt. The Steelers also had the most drops among wide receivers in the NFL last season with Johnson among the worst in the league. These all feel like reasons the Steelers receivers might want to be there catching passes from Ben Roethlisberger. But we are asking you all what you think. List

https://sports.yahoo.com/steelers-wr-making-mistake-skipping-042633811.html?src=rss

Where did all of Prince Philip's money come from and how will it be divided?

Prince Philip left an estimated $58.5 million when he died last month. Photo / Getty Images Prince Philip left an estimated $58.5 million when he died last month. Photo / Getty Images After the death of Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh, many were wondering how his large fortune would be divided up. The Duke, who passed away at 99, had amassed quite a large fortune throughout his lifetime, much like his wife and monarch, Queen Elizabeth II. Prince Philip left an estimated $58.5 million when he died last month, and it was reported on Friday that "three key men in his life" were left money from his will, according to a royal insider. Prince Philip and The Queen are said to share a portfolio that includes stocks and land. Photo / Getty Images While the majority of his estate is likely to have been left to the Queen, a source close to Buckingham Palace claimed the Duke also recognised his closest aides. "Unlike some other royals, Prince Philip will be generous to the three men who looked after him," the insider told Fabulous. "These include his private secretary Brigadier Archie Miller Bakewell, his page William Henderson and valet Stephen Niedojadlo." All three men were hugely supportive of the Duke in his final years with Mr Bakewell frequently standing in for Philip when he couldn't make an engagement. Before the Iron Duke became the Queen's husband, Philip was born into royalty as the Prince of Greece and Denmark. His parents, Prince Andrew of Greece and Denmark and Princess Alice of Battenberg, were in line for the Greek throne, before they were exiled when Philip was 18 months old. His parents, Philip, and his four eldest sisters Princesses Cecilie, Margarita, Sophie and Theodora fled to France. It was in France where Philip was educated (in Paris, and later in Germany and the United Kingdom too), before he joined the British Royal Navy in 1939 when he was 18-years-old. Prince Charles leads the royals at Philip's funeral. Photo / AP Come March 1939 and Philip was a British citizen, adopting the last name Mountbatten which came from his mother's family. He had abandoned his Greek and Danish royal titles. This was the significant year that Philip began exchanging letters with Queen Elizabeth II, whom he later married in 1947. By the eve of their wedding, Lieutenant Mountbatten was formally named Duke of Edinburgh, Earl of Merioneth, and Baron of Greenwich, also given the title of His Royal Highness. While he inherited these royal titles, Prince Philip gained a large amount of money and assets. Philip was born into royalty as the Prince of Greece and Denmark. Photo / AP Prince Philip was given a salary, a royal allowance from the Sovereign Grant which was an official expense account which was paid for by British taxpayers. This was around $686,000 per year. Prince Philip retired from his official royal duties in 2017, but it is unclear whether or not he continued to receive this allowance. The Duke maintained access funds which were earned by a private portfolio of properties and land, as well as assets set up by the Duchy of Lancaster in 1399. Prince Philip and The Queen are said to share a portfolio that includes stocks and land which was inherited by the Queen's family, including their Balmoral Castle in Scotland and Sandringham Estate in England. The insider claimed that Philip's grandchildren, including Prince Harry who has launched a number of scathing attacks on the royal family in recent months, will have been "sorted out quite a while ago" when it came to money. They said: "Philip was not the sort of character to punish a grandson [Harry] for misbehaving. He was a very fair, even-handed and lovely man. Never held a grudge." They added: "Philip had plenty of time to sort out all the legal stuff so it wouldn't attract inheritance tax. He was no more of a fan of leaving his cash to the Treasury than anyone else." The source added that the Duke's children Prince Charles, Princess Anne, Prince Edward and Prince Andrew have been told they can "take what they want" from his collection of 13,000 books in his library at Buckingham Palace.

https://www.nzherald.co.nz/lifestyle/where-did-all-of-prince-philips-money-come-from-and-how-will-it-be-divided/WZOAAJGZCQD372L4UB4L6VKWSI/

What are the most iconic kids TV and film catchphrases?

Disney, Hanna-Barbera, Contender Entertainment Famous phrases from Frozen and the Toy Story films have ranked top in a list of children's most iconic TV and film quotes. One thousands parents of two to seven year olds were asked to choose which catchphrases they thought were the best. "Let it go" sung by Elsa in Frozen topped the list, meanwhile Scooby-Doo's "Scooby-dooby-doo" catchphrase came second. Buzz Lightyear's "To infinity and beyond" from the Toy Story movies flew in at third place and Peppa Pig had three catchphrases in the top 20 - including the iconic, "pig snort". You can choose one below, or let us know in the comments.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/newsround/57271659

Who Stands To Lose Most In The Epic Vs Apple Case?

ILLUSTRATION - 02 May 2021, Berlin: The App Store logo is seen next to the Epic Games Store logo on ... [+] two screens. Epic, maker of the popular game "Fortnite," wants to sell digital items in its apps without giving a cut of the purchase price to Apple. The conflict could change how the app and digital content business operates. Photo: Fabian Sommer/dpa (Photo by Fabian Sommer/picture alliance via Getty Images) dpa/picture alliance via Getty Images It will probably take a few months to know the verdict of the Epic Games vs. Apple case, which came to a close on Monday, and although it looks like Apple will win the case, it could have implications for the future of the App Store, most of them probably positive for developers, leading some analysts to claim that Apple may win the battle but lose the war. The case, which has a European spin-off that has managed to align a few companies that are opposed to App Store policies, pits Apple, a company that tends to polarize opinions, against Epic Games, which accuses it of abusing its position. Apple, which in turn has sued Epic for breach of contract, has created an ecosystem that generates enormous value for many developers around the world, but which works because it maintains very clear rules that Apple constantly monitors and controls with an iron fist, which requires significant resources. For some observers, this is a clear cut issue: many small companies consider themselves lucky to be able to place their products on the App Store, but for some, when they become successful, they no longer want to pay Apple its commission. Other companies, such as the highly successful Roblox, which estimates these fees to Apple, Google and console manufacturers at 24.9% of its turnover, accept this as the cost of doing business on these platforms. In contrast, Epic decided to create its own standalone payment option expressly prohibited by Apples policies which prompted its expulsion from the platform. The company knew it was violating those rules and that it would be expelled, as evidenced by the fact that it had its complaint ready to file the next day, along with a parody video. It has been accused by some using Apple to make it big and then bilking on the deal. Hardly. In a few countries it has a market share close to 50%, but in most other places that figure is far lower. Developers who dont like its terms and conditions have plenty of other options: notably Android, gaming consoles or the web. Sure, Apple exercises ironclad control over the user experience, which means its devices have limitations not everyone likes. That doesnt give a company like Epic the right to use the service to establish itself and then break the rules and sue the company. The big question is the value Apple adds. For many people, that means greater security and privacy, versus other ecosystems with less demanding rules. For many developers, Apples value lies in rules that favor the monetization of their applications. In any event, the App Store has generated enormous value since its inception, which has been distributed among millions of developers, and under those rules that now, a few privileged companies whose visibility has been achieved in part thanks to Apple, are now questioning. In the end it comes down to how much youre prepared to pay as a startup for visibility. The case comes at a time of increasing pressure on big tech not only in Europe, which has always been identified with greater regulation, but also in the United States and even in China and Russia, which could possibly contribute to a state of opinion that could also influence the final outcome. One way or another, it will be some time before a verdict is reached and probably even longer before we see the consequences.

https://www.forbes.com/sites/enriquedans/2021/05/28/who-stands-to-lose-most-in-the-epic-vs-applecase/

How Did New York City Politics Become So Boring?

Once, mayors of New York City were towering national figures. Fiorello LaGuardia inspired a musical. John Lindsay, who exuded patrician charisma as he walked the streets of Harlem in the 1960s, was the first of four modern mayors to run for president. The combative Ed Koch even waded into foreign policy, ridiculing the United Nations as a cesspool. More recently, Rudy Giuliani, for all his right-wing toughness on crime, reveled in the title Americas mayor after the Twin Towers toppled. And when New York finally turned to an outsider, it chose Michael Bloomberg, one of the richest men on the planet. Less than four weeks before the June 22 mayoral primary, none of the eight leading Democratic candidates has shown an ounce of the charisma, stature, or sheer force of personality that mayors once used to dominate the headlinesand the city. Most of the leading contenders are competent, to be sure, but it is hard to call any of them inspiring. Even the supposed dynamic outsider in the race, Andrew Yang, has accomplished little in life other than having his presidential campaign peak with an eighth-place showing (2.8 percent of the vote) in the 2020 New Hampshire primary. There are, of course, other reasons, besides personality, to follow the race to succeed Bill de Blasio (emphasis on the blah). The outcome will almost certainly have national implications. New York was, until recently, the national model for the reduction in violent crime, but the recent rise in gun violence threatens to bring back the law and order issue that dogged Democrats during the Nixon and Reagan years. With more than 80 percent of the citys cubicle-dwellers still working remotely, the mostly empty office towers of midtown Manhattan threaten the essence of urban life and the citys tax base. And three years after Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez became a progressive icon by winning a low-turnout congressional primary, the mayors race will test how far left the citys Democratic electorate actually tilts. (Hint: In the last contested mayoral primary, in 2013, 63 percent of the voters were 45 or older, which argues against a youthful leftward surge.)

https://newrepublic.com/article/162555/new-york-city-mayoral-politics-boring-yang

Can K-12 Education Savings Accounts (ESAs) Save Our Schools?

The unconscionable actions of teachers unions in unnecessarily keeping kids out of classrooms long after it was safe to return to them has kindled a growing movement to bust the governments school monopoly. Even before the pandemic, tests repeatedly demonstrated that millions of kids were getting a rotten education. This segment of Whats Ahead discusses the solution: Education Savings Accounts (ESAs). The amount of money the government has come up with as a per-student cost is deposited into individual accounts, which enables parents, if they wish, to send their offspring to nonpublic schools. West Virginia and Kentucky recently enacted ESAs, thereby shattering the government monopoly in those states. The competition sparked by ESAs will force public schools that are failing to get their acts together and properly educate their students or face the loss of money.

https://www.forbes.com/sites/steveforbes/2021/05/28/can-k-12-education-savings-accounts-esas-save-our-schools/

What's safe or still risky to do during the pandemic's second Memorial Day?

Just two days after Memorial Day, all COVID-19 health restrictions will be lifted in Ohio, allowing people to return to some semblance of pre-pandemic life. Whether Memorial Day will be the final holiday the virus affects depends on how the vaccination rollout continues and how fast the virus continues to mutate and spread, said Dr, Mark Herbert, an infectious disease specialist for Mount Carmel Health. Everything from pink eye to concussions So far, 45%, or 5.2 million Ohioans, have received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine. With the lifting of health orders imminent and vaccines widely available, The Dispatch asked Herbert about what people can safely do or what they should still be weary of for the second Memorial Day weekend of the pandemic. The short answer: No, but you can do more than last year. For the most part, it's OK to celebrate the holiday weekend with other people. People who are fully vaccinated can do most things they would normally do for the holiday. Those who have yet to take the jab should still be cautious, he said. "I think it's an encouraging time," Herbert said. "But people who are not vaccinated should be careful." In the past year, new cases of COVID-19 tended to spike after holidays when people gathered. Herbert said he's hopeful Ohio will escape Memorial Day without another surge. Even if there is an increase, Herbert said he thinks it will likely be a more manageable one this time around. The short answer: It's mostly safe. Traveling is reasonably safe right now, especially if people are driving rather than flying, Herbert said. Often, Herbert said traveling for something like Memorial Day is restricted to one family, meaning that people will know their own risks. Of course, being vaccinated makes it safer to travel, Herbert said. The short answer: It depends. Many outdoor gathering places are no longer requiring masks and distancing, which Herbert said is expected as health orders are removed. In central Ohio, the Columbus Zoo no longer requires masks outdoors and the Columbus Clippers plan to return to full capacity in June. When participating in larger celebrations, it's alright to do so with family, especially if everyone is vaccinated. Those who want to take part in a bigger event with people they don't know should proceed at their own peril, Herbert said. "With nicer weather, there's going to be more outdoor gatherings with more unrelated people," Herbert said. "Vaccinated or not, I think we should be reluctant to participate in large activities with people we don't know. You have to assume not everyone is vaccinated." The short answer: Yes and no. It will take everyone some time to adjust. Doing things outdoors versus indoors is a big factor when it comes to whether it's safe to take the mask off, Herbert said. Experts have long said that it's harder for the coronavirus to spread outdoors than indoors. Ventilation and dilution of airflow tend to keep the virus from transmitting as easily outside. This decision will vary from person to person and should also depend on whether participating people are vaccinated or not, Herbert said. "You need to be aware of what looks like a safe environment, what looks like a less safe environment and take the appropriate precautions," he said. When it comes to getting used to going maskless and no longer social distancing, Herbert said it will take each person some time to find their new comfort level. After a year of taking precautions, he said that's to be expected. He compared it to when a traffic law or pattern changes. Despite the change, people become accustomed to their daily practices and have to adjust and remind themselves of the changes, he said. "Though some of the rules have changed, we still need to be aware that there are situations that look unsafe and take appropriate precautions," Herbert said. The short answer: Probably. Regardless, Independence Day probably won't be exactly the same as it used to be, Herbert said. President Joe Biden had previously set July 4 as a marker for when things might return to normal, as long as a majority of Americans were vaccinated. While it's unclear whether that will happen by July 4, Herbert said Memorial Day may indicate how normal the nation's birthday celebration can be this year. "I think we will be moving in the right direction," he said. "I think three weeks after Memorial Day, we will have a sense for how well we will have weathered this ... if we can get through Memorial Day without a new peak in cases, then I'll feel good about July 4." mfilby@dispatch.com @MaxFilby

https://www.dispatch.com/story/news/2021/05/28/whats-safe-during-covid-19-memorial-day/7451979002/

Will the Housing Market Ever Be Normal Again?

On the demand side, demographics are the big, invisible engine driving the machine. Millennials are the largest generation in American history. Having been too financially constrained to buy houses at a normal rate in the previous decade, many of them are now storming into the housing market. Some might feel a desperate need to escape their current apartment, basement, or home after the coronavirus pandemic closed much of the world for more than a year and led to an outbreak of mind-numbing cabin fever. To make things even wilder, homebuyers are flush with cash after a year in which the national savings rate soared to its highest level in decades. On top of all that, interest rates, having basically declined for most of the past 40 years, recently touched new lows, luring more buyers into the market and encouraging higher bids. More generally, the pandemic turned the kaleidoscope of U.S. migration, and many familiesespecially many high-income families with work-from-wherever jobsare shopping around for sunny, spacious real estate and bidding up prices wherever they land. Weve never seen migration like this, executives at Toll Brothers, the real-estate company, recently said on an earnings call. Just shy of half the buyers are coming from out of state in the hottest markets of Idaho, Texas, and Florida. When people leave multimillion-dollar houses in, say, Los Angeles to plunk down $1 million on a house that was worth $500,000 a year ago, they turn a merely frenzied housing market into a once-in-history, hair-on-fire, what-the-hell-is-happening bonanza. Supply issues are just as important. Years of insufficient building and a construction pause during the pandemic have led to low inventory. Seniors, who in previous decades sold their homes to downsize, are now more likely to age in place, which is keeping millions of homes off the market. Plus, some builders are putting their projects on hold because of the sudden tripling of lumber prices, which could delay the construction boom this country so badly needs. The 2021 housing craze feels as sudden and shocking as the pandemic, but it was decades in the making. The emergence of the huge Millennial generation in the 1980s made strong housing demand in the early 2020s entirely predictable. The Great Recessions clobbering of the construction industry made todays housing shortage equally foreseeable. Indeed, McBride, the economics writer, saw all this coming from a mile away. Its not clear at all to me that things are going to slow down significantly in the near future, he said. In 2005, I had a strong sense that the hot market would turn and that, when it turned, things would get very ugly. Today, I dont have that sense at all, because all of the fundamentals are there. Demand will be high for a while, because Millennials need houses. Prices will keep rising for a while, because inventory is so low.

https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2021/05/us-housing-market-records/619029/?utm_source=feed

Is there any hope for already sun-damaged skin?

Anyone who grew up at a time when little was known about the effects of sun damage likely has fond memories of summer afternoons spent soaking up rays while slicked in baby oil. Awareness of the suns effects on our skin has increased exponentially over the past 50 years, but those who spent their youth worshipping the golden orb may think the damage to their skin is a lost cause. As a result, its easy to adopt a laissez-faire attitude toward protecting yourself as you age. A lot of sun damage is done before age 18, Toronto-based dermatologist Dr. Paul Cohen says. Your skin may continue to look healthy through middle age because this damage may not present itself until decades later. But thats when it can have serious consequences. The Canadian Dermatology Association reports that many people older than 60face a high risk for developing skin cancer. Skin-care experts agree that its never too late to adopt sun-safe habits. Its important to continue to take care of your skin even with all the sun damage you did 30 years ago because this is the time when [skin cancer] starts to show up, Cohen says. If you detect it early, you can do something about it. Youre not hopeless. Protecting sun-damaged skin should focus on addressing how early exposure has affected your skins health and appearance, while ensuring you dont cause any more harm. Story continues below advertisement Sometimes called photoaging or photodamage, sun damage is a term used to describe how repeated exposure prematurely ages the skin. When UV light hits unprotected skin, it causes DNA changes to skin cells that results in wrinkling, pigmentation changes such as age spots and freckles, decreased skin elasticity, uneven skin texture, broken capillaries, redness and blotchiness. From a skin health perspective, the Canadian Cancer Society reports that about 65 per cent of melanomas are caused by UV rays. No matter how much you embraced the sun in your youth, you can always add to existing sun damage. Ongoing damage gets worse and accelerates as you get older, says Dr. Stephen Mulholland, a board certified cosmetic and head and neck oncology surgeon and founder of SpaMedica Plastic Surgery Toronto. Look at those old Floridian guys walking along the beach. If they had stopped at 60, they wouldnt look ghastly at 70 and 80. For those looking to counteract any visible sun damage, there are non-surgical treatments that can help reduce its appearance. At SpaMedica, Mulholland recommends a combination of fractional radiofrequency laser for wrinkles and texture, intense pulsed light (IPL) photofacial for brown and red discoloration and radiofrequency tightening devices for lifting. Its an approach that Mulholland says will set you back about $3,000, but such a substantial expense wont pay off without making sun-safe changes to your lifestyle. It makes no sense to do all of that, look great and then go out just so you can damage your face, he says. You want to protect your investment. Its not much to ask to put on an SPF and a nice hat. To protect skin thats already sun damaged from more harm, search out a product with ingredients that counteract the effects of past exposure while protecting you from todays rays. Vichys new LiftActiv Specialist SPF 30 does double duty by combining broad spectrum SPF with ingredients such as Vitamin Cg, peptides, hyaluronic acid and glycolic acid. Elizabeth Ardens Prevage City Smart Broad Spectrum SPF 50 Hydrating Shield has a DNA enzyme complex that helps support skins natural repair process against oxidative stress. In June, La Roche-Posay introduces Mineral One to its Anthelios range. The tinted formula combines mineral broad-spectrum protection with the coverage of a foundation and is suitable for sensitive skin. No matter what your age, Health Canada recommends a sunscreen with UVA and UVB protection and a minimum SPF of 30. Equally important is to keep your sunscreen somewhere that youll remember to apply it even on cloudy days. Its not doing you any good buried in the bottom of your beach bag. A 2020 survey conducted by Harris Poll on behalf of Johnson & Johnson skin-care brands Neutrogena and Aveeno found that, although 92 per cent of Canadian adults think sunscreen use is crucial, only about seven per cent say they wear it every day. With treatments for sun damage and sunscreens consistently becoming more user friendly, the last line of defence is keeping an eye on your skin for suspicious changes. Things are going to pop up with your misspent youth, if you will, Cohen says. Now is the time when you have to be vigilant. Open this photo in gallery Handout Vichy Liftactiv Specialist SPF 30, $62 at drugstores and through vichy.ca. Story continues below advertisement Open this photo in gallery Handout Elizabeth Arden Prevage City Smart Broad Spectrum SPF 50 Hydrating Shield, $88 at Shoppers Drug Mart and Hudsons Bay (elizabetharden.com). Open this photo in gallery Handout La Roche-Posay Anthelios Mineral One SPF50+, $30 at drugstores and through laroche-posay.ca.

https://www.theglobeandmail.com/life/style/article-is-there-any-hope-for-already-sun-damaged-skin/

Did Cowboys Try To Trade LB Jaylon Smith For Surtain Or Horn In NFL Draft?

We reported on NFL Draft night that Dallas was talking to the Dolphins about trading up. And not for Micah Parsons. And involving a 'Cowboys veteran.' Think back to the way our Mike Fisher crafted his scoop on NFL Draft night on the subject of a Dallas Cowboys attempt to trade up. He wrote: "Sources insist to me that Dallas examined the idea of a trade-up to the No. 6 spot as they sensed the two coveted cornerbacks were about to become scarce before the Cowboys' pick at No. 10. ... The Cowboys did get a bit itchy when they realized that cornerbacks Jaycee Horn and Patrick Surtain were about to go off the board before Dallas spot at No. 10. And I think I can prove the in the scramble to get the cogs turning in the right direction, the name of a Cowboys veteran or two may have come up in trade-minded conversation with Miami (at No. 6).'' The "Cowboys veteran'' name Fish was allowed by his source to hint at, but not reveal, I can tell you now: Jaylon Smith. That story is now floating around out there on the internet, and a Cowboys source denies to me that it ever got serious. But the name came up in the Dallas war room, at the very least. Fish was right about the "Cowboys veteran'' report. And watch as with time, Fish's exclusive on Dallas' attempts to move up - to take a corner over their "top-rated defender Micah Parsons'' - will also turn out to be right. What we will never know: Would the Dolphins have given Jaylon his precious No. Speaking of which ... *If his play continues to trend in the wrong direction, linebacker Jaylon might wind up paying almost a half-a-million dollars to rent a jersey number for 16 games. With the Cowboys drafting linebacker Parsons, Smith could be a 2022 contract casualty. Hell likely never own No. 9 over Tony Romo. Same as he didnt come close to yanking No. 54 away from Randy White or Chuck Howley. It is Smiths money, and the guy is nothing if not charitable off the field. But its difficult to fathom a bigger waste of resources. *I cant be the only Dallas Mavericks fan getting nauseous/furious at the breathless fawning over Playoff Rondo. Heres DFWs experience with Rajon Playoff Rondo. ... In 2015 the Mavs acquired him from the Boston Celtics, but he never meshed with head coach Rick Carlisle. The two didnt see eye-to-eye, and in one game yelled at each other on the court after the coach wanted up-tempo and the point guard stubbornly strolled. In Game 2 of the Mavs first-round playoff series against the Houston Rockets, Rondo visibly quit on his team. In the first half, he committed a 10-second violation while absurdly slowly walking the ball into the front-court. In the third quarters first 34 seconds, he threw a bad pass, twice fouled James Harden and picked up a technical foul. Carlisle benched him. Instead of joining his teammates on the bench, Rondo sat on the court. He was never seen in a Mavericks uniform again, and his teammates voted not to award him a share of their playoff money. READ MORE: Rondo's Clippers Vs. Mavs - Full Playoff Coverage Here So please, TV talking heads, spare us the warm-and-fuzzy tales of how Playoff Rondo always raises his level of effort and production in the postseason. Rondo has won rings. But he wont help the Los Angeles Clippers win this series. And hell never redact how he sabotaged the Mavericks once upon a time, yes, in the playoffs. *Biggest surprise in baseball has been the explosion of the Texas Rangers Adolis Garcia. Dude has already hit 15 homers, including a club-record tying 10 this month. At this pace hes a lock for Rookie of the Year, where hed join Mike Hargrove (1974) and Neftali Feliz (2010) as the only Rangers to win the award. The Rangers. Inexplicably, Garcia did not make the teams Opening Day roster and might still be in Triple-A had it not been for the injury to first baseman Ronald Guzman. Garcia has done all this damage, and he didnt become a Ranger until April 13. *Be careful, here comes Tardy Gras. I admit to missing sports fans during the pandemic. The roar of the crowd. The heightened intensity. Yes, even the shots of the fat guy falling asleep in the 6th inning and spilling hot dog mustard down the front of this expansive shirt. COVID reminded us all that fans are a part of the fabric of sports. But we gotta behave, people! One of the lessons the pandemic taught us was that sports are a luxury, not a necessity. Attending games in person is a privilege, not a right. It was all taken away and, sure enough, the world kept spinning. Now America is opening back up, returning to normal. But its so far, so bad. At the PGA last Sunday fans bum-rushed security personnel and engulfed Phil Mickelson on the 18th fairway. Thousands packed shoulder-to-shoulder, barely allowing the golfer and his caddy to make it to the green. After a year of social distancing, it was jarring. Alarming. A Byron Nelson security guard told me a couple weeks ago that an obnoxious, over-served fan so heckled Brandt Snedeker that the golfer brandished his putter as a weapon in the general direction of the fan before being ushered away. Now comes the NBA Playoffs, and crowds of more than 15,000 expected over the weekend at American Airlines Center. I know weve been cooped up and sheltered-in-place without going to games and our frenzied fandom is desperate for a release. Last time the AAC was packed was March 11, 2020 and Friday night just might be the most charged Mavs atmosphere since Game 5 of the NBA Finals 10 years ago. But there has to be an amount of decorum, and civility. A fan in Philly dumped popcorn on Russell Westbrook this week. At Madison Square Garden a fan spit toward Trae Young. Lets cheer. Lets chant. Lets boo the Rondo out of Rajon. But please, I implore you, lets act like weve been here before. Lest we be banned again, forever. *Im a born-n-bred Texan baptized in Dont Mess With Texas and all that, but sometimes we suck. While the rest of America has extended emergency pandemic unemployment funds through Labor Day, Gov. Greg Abbott is stopping aid to Texans in June. And, after a brutal year that has seen families lose jobs, houses, everything, our legislature is proposing a bill that would make homeless encampments illegal. The collective message: Were not giving you any more money, and if youre out of money we dont want to have to look at you. Sympathetic compassion should trump staunch pride. In Texas, we often get it backward. *Its not just that Luka Doncic made that off-balance, one-legged, 27-foot 3-pointer early in the shot clock in the third quarter of Game 2. Its that he had the confidence the audacity to even consider taking it. Its the kind of shot you throw up after a foul has been whistled or when Mom yells that dinners ready. It is not, by any stretch, the shot you take during a tight NBA playoff game. Unless, that is, youre Luka. *Best news out of Cowboys OTAs this week: Dak Prescott, Tyron Smith and Lael Collins are all healthy, full participants. If they can say the same seven months from today ... the Cowboys will be making playoff plans. *Didnt think the Mavs would win this series. Now Im convinced they cant lose it. They are the 32nd team in NBA history to win the first two games of a series on the road. Of the previous 31, 27 went on to win. Ill take 87-percent favorable odds only a 13-percent chance of catastrophe in almost everything in life. *Went for an eye exam this week and the reigning champion of gripping intense anxiety are the seemingly endless seconds you sit waiting for that puff of air. *Like Phil Mickelson winning last weeks PGA at age 50, DFW has never enjoyed a half-a-hundred primo athlete. But weve gotten close. *It took a pandemic to prove me right, but I said for years how silly it was that NBA coaches wore suits and ties on the sidelines during games. Casual golf shirts or pullovers are the norm. And were never going back. *Hot. *Not. *Sunday he wins the PGA by the ocean. Thursday he shoots +3 and is tied for 87th at the Colonial in Fort Worth. If Mickelson cant duplicate superb golf, you should be a little easier on yourself for fluctuating between 89 and 102. So far, that's another story. I have lots of friends that were unable to watch Mavs-Clippers Game 2 because it was blacked out in the Metroplex. *The Clippers are more 'basket case' than 'basketball.' After eliminating the Mavs in the bubble last Summer they led the Denver Nuggets, 3-1, in the West semifinals. They blew that lead, and havent won a playoff game since. Five post-season losses in a row, for arguably the most talented team on the planet. Their problem is their mindset. Paul George said there is no concern about being down 2-0 and heading to Dallas. (Hint: COVID). I mean, if Im a Clippers fan and I am most certainly not I dont want panic but I would appreciate at least a smidge of consternation. The Clippers are too much style, not enough substance. They seem consumed with not so much winning, but portraying the image of excelling via minimum effort. Theyre, in short, too cool for school. READ MORE: How Maxi 'Beat' Kawhi In 'Dunk Contest' The biggest two passionate, towel-waving, jump-off-the-bench moments for the Clippers in this series were after Kawhi Leonards dunk over Maxi Kleber and Georges crossover that sent Kristaps Porzingis sprawling. Flexing. Menacing. The works. But their energy is clearly channeled inefficiently. The Mavs may be losing the YouTube highlights battle, but theyre winning the war. *I grew up on Sunday mornings where church was mandatory and shopping was prohibited. Because of blue laws, lots of stores were closed on the holy Sabbath. (Thankfully, quizzically, the same didnt apply for sports. Hmm.) Still today, Texas liquor stores must be closed on Sundays and you cant buy beer or wine before noon. Its as antiquated as it is awful. Progress is, maybe, on the horizon. *A year ago we all felt good about Andy Dalton backing up Dak. Buddy of mine asked me this week who the backup quarterback was this season. Me neither. *Easiest explanation for Mavs 2, Clippers 0: Dallas is +33 on 3-pointers, making 35 so far to L.A.s 24. You can have every other stat, Ill take the team that makes the most 3s. *A group of lawmakers has banned critical race theory and the teaching of woke philosophies in Texas schools. So, like I wasnt, students will never be taught about oh, say, the Red Summer. In 1919 race riots broke out all over America and Texas in response to Jim Crow laws that kept Blacks disenfranchised, segregated and subjected to lynching for crimes such as indecent advances toward a white woman. Racism still exists. In some dark corners, it remains flourishing. Im just not sure that pretending it doesnt happen and refusing to revisit how we breathed life into it is a winning strategy going forward. Confederate monuments stand. George Floyd never happened. Got it. *More Luka lunacy: Hes the first player in NBA history with 250+ points (256), 70+ rebounds (76) and 70+ assists (70) in his first eight playoff games. READ MORE: Luka Wins Game 2; Dirk Approves More amazing is that the Mavs have a 2-0 lead despite him scoring only a combined five points in the fourth quarter. *2022 NFL salary cap committed money: 1. Packers $237M; 2. Cowboys $228; 3. Rams $212; 4. Saints $208; 5. Giants $202. *Last time the Mavs returned from L.A. with a 2-0 series lead was 2011. Wound up sweeping the Lakers in the West semis and we love how that movie ended. *Only thing I understand about Bitcoin is its volatility. If you invested $10,000 in the digital currency seven years ago itd be worth $3.2 million. If you invested $10,000 in the digital currency seven weeks ago itd be worth $5,400. *RANGERS RISK: We all think the Texas Rangers are going to be putrid this season. Our lil roundtable revealed predicted win totals of anywhere between 61 and 78, but no one thinks .500 is plausible. Lets put our money where our mouth is. Im going to bet a virtual $100 against the Rangers every game this season and, after six months and 162 games, see where I wind up. Ill keep a running tab right there each Friday and come September Ill (wink) disperse my profits to my most loyal readers. RECORD: 22-30 TOTAL: -$384. *Memorial Day is the unofficial start of summer, but also more importantly a federal holiday honoring and mourning the military personnel who died in the performance of their duties. So in between burgers and bikinis and basketball, take a second to be thankful for those that died to protect Americas freedoms. Friday is for watching hoops, Mavs-Clippers. Saturday is for playing hoops with Big Brothers Big Sisters lil bro Ja. Sunday is for watching hoops, Mavs-Clippers. I sense a theme. As always, dont be a stranger.

https://www.si.com/nfl/cowboys/news/dallas-cowboys-try-trade-jaylon-smith-surtain-horn-nfl-draft

Is Center Erick McCoy the New Orleans Saints Next Dominant Offensive Lineman?

Whether he lines up at center or at guard, the versatile Erik McCoy has the traits to become New Orleans' next dominant offensive lineman. The New Orleans Saints traded up in the second round of the 2019 NFL Draft to select offensive lineman Erik McCoy out of Texas A&M. McCoy played predominantly guard in college was expected to fill the big shoes of retired perennial Pro Bowl center Max Unger. Historically, the most successful Saints offenses boasted a dominant offensive line. Today, New Orleans has plenty of offensive line talent to keep their dominating tradition alive. New Orleans' tackles Terron Armstead and Ryan Ramczyk are considered one of the best tackles tandem in the league. Left guard Andrus Peat has three Pro Bowls visits, and C/G Cesar Ruiz was added in the first-round of 2020's draft to replace perennial Pro Bowler Larry Warford. With that said, it's their 2019 second-round choice that is developing into a dominant performer, Erik McCoy. New Orleans quarterback Drew Brees (9) throws a pass against the Minnesota Vikings as center Erik McCoy (78) blocks. Mandatory Credit: Chuck Cook -USA TODAY MCCOY THE ROOKIE During the 2019 NFL Draft, New Orleans traded two draft picks to the Miami Dolphins to move up from the No. 62 overall to No. 48 to select McCoy. The Saints coaching staff moved him from guard to the center, where he quickly won the starting job. McCoy has been a pillar of durability at a demanding position. Hes not only started all 35 games of his two-year career with six snaps missed during his rookie year. In 2019, McCoy anchored an offensive line that finished 9th in total yardage, 3rd in points, and allowed only 24 sacks during the regular season. He committed just five holding penalties and was voted onto the 2019 NFL All-Rookie team. New Orleans Saints center Erik McCoy (78). Mandatory Credit: Chuck Cook-USA TODAY MCCOY'S 2020 SEASON The referees flagged McCoy twice for holding penalties while playing 1,074 offensive snaps in 2020. His dominant run blocking helped the New Orleans rushing attack finish sixth in the league and led the NFL with 30 rushing touchdowns. Last season, McCoy provided superior pass protection and surrendered one of the 29 sacks on the Saints' quarterbacks. MCCOY EXCELS IN THE RUN AND PASS McCoy, 23, is 6-4, 314-pounds and has a rare mixture of power and athleticism for an interior lineman. He sets a powerful base as a pass blocker and plays with excellent leverage despite his height. McCoy's speed allows him to get outside on rushing plays or screens, and he's typically in the position to be a lead blocker downfield. He packs a powerful initial punch as a pass blocker to knock rushers off balance. The former Aggie has outstanding footwork and recognition to move into position for double-teams and handle athletic pass rushers. At times, his base is too wide as a pass blocker, but he showed significant improvement in that area during his second season. New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees (9) looks to pass as center Erik McCoy (78). Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports McCoy has terrific recognition of opposing defenses, allowing him to make accurate protection adjustments for the entire line. He fires off with great power as a run blocker and handles power rushers or speed rushers with equal effectiveness in pass protection. Some prognosticators project McCoy may move to guard this coming season. The transfer will allow second-year lineman Cesar Ruiz to move to his more natural position of center. Whichever interior position Erik McCoy plays in 2021, he seems poised to become the next elite interior offensive lineman for the New Orleans Saints. Follow Bob Rose on Facebook or on Twitter @bobbyr2613. Don't miss out on any Saints news and analysis! Take a second and sign up for our FREE newsletter and get breaking Saints news delivered to your inbox! Subscribe to our Saints News Newsletter: https://news.snts.us/saintsnewletter Subscribe to the New Orleans Saints YT Channel: https://news.snts.us/saintsnewsyoutube For more Saints News: https://www.si.com/nfl/saints/ or https://www.saints.media Like us on Facebook: https://news.snts.us/saintsnews-fb Follow us on Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/saintsnews

https://www.si.com/nfl/saints/editorial-opinion/erik-mccoy-next-saints-dominant-offensive-lineman

How's Washington Football Team DE Chase Young Rank Among NFL Pass-Rushers?

Chase Young can only get better if he can stay healthy. ASHBURN, Va. -- The defensive line and pass rush of the Washington Football Team is the pulse of the club and one of the top reasons why the WFT has a good chance of repeating as division champions in 2021 As good as it is on paper, two criticisms of the defensive unit were their porous run defense, and their inability to slow down quarterbacks in 2020. If this doesn't change in 2021, Washington's chances of an NFC East repeat will be difficult to achieve. But it starts with the rush. It starts with Chase Young. READ MORE: No. Despite Washington investing four first-round picks on that side of the ball, on a recent ranking of edge defenders by ProFootballFocus.com (PFF), the highest-ranked Washington edge defender is none other than Young, who slid in at No. 8 in the rankings. The second-year defender had an overall grade of 87.1/100 by PFF, which was fifth in the NFL among qualifying edge defenders. As PFF notes, Young was even better in the red zone, with a league-best grade of 93.3. The scary part when analyzing Youngs first season in the NFL is that there is still clear room for improvement from a pass-rushing perspective. And Young still got out to an 87.1 overall grade as a rookie, fifth in the NFL among qualifying edge defenders. He was at his best in the red zone. Youngs 93.3 overall grade last season in that portion of the field led all players at the position. Young ranks right behind DeMarcus Lawrence and Cameron Jordan, who came in at No. 6 and No. 7, as well as behind stalwarts like Khalil Mack, Nick and Joey Bosa, T.J. Watt, and Myles Garrett. Montez Sweat is the next Washington edge defender on the list at No. 17 with PFF noting that the third-year end had an 87.0 run-defense grade in 2021. Per PFF: Few edge defenders improved more from 2019 to 2020 than Sweat did in his second year in the NFL. His 87.0 run-defense grade last season ranked third at the position behind only Khalil Mack and T.J. Watt, and he bumped up his pressure count from 32 as a rookie to 47 in 2020. Sweat also stood out as one of the best defensive linemen in the league at getting his hands into throwing lanes when rushing the passer. His six batted passes last year ranked second at the position. Thanks to his long arms and elite athleticism, Sweat has quickly become one of the league's top edge rushers, and in conjunction with Young, one of the NFL's premier pass-rush tandems heading into next season. They figure to get even better ... which means the WFT figures to do the same.

https://www.si.com/nfl/washingtonfootball/news/washington-football-team-chase-young-rank-nfl-pass-rushers

How much money do IndyCar drivers make?

The answer is complicated and, as most series fans know, somewhat of a taboo subject within the paddock. It might sound strange in a world where the salaries of professional athletes in almost all major sports are public knowledge. If you want to know how much Indianapolis Colts quarterback Carson Wentz makes, all you have to do is type those words into Google, and, poof, there it is. (He signed a 4-year, $128-million contract in June 2019.) If you want to know how much money hes ever made playing professional football, rinse and repeat. But its not that way in North Americas premier open-wheel series. When a driver signs a new contract, the details of the deal seldom leak. Why that is true is up for debate, but one source familiar with the situation within the paddock made an educated guess at one part of the reason. Probably if there was more money in the sport, people would be more open to transparency, the source said. I think because everyone operates on such fine margins, theres probably more desire to keep that information confidential. As you know, no one gets rich off of racing. At least none of the teams and team owners." Full Indy 500 starting grid:A guide to the 33-car starting lineup Print it out:A great guide to the Indy 500 starting lineup Another possible reason is that the concept of driver pay is so nebulous, its hard to get a handle on. If there are 24 full-time drivers in the series, few have similarly structured contracts, the same source said. Its not as simple as a team signing a driver to a flat salary. Many, if not most, arent paid only a flat salary. They might earn some of their annual compensation in salary, but the rest is determined by a number of factors. One might be the sponsorship they bring to a team. As an example, if a driver brings $2 million worth of sponsorship, he or she might earmark $500,000 for themselves as salary. However, if its a better team, and that driver really wants to race with that program, she or he might take less out of that $2 million in order to do so. Some drivers will bet on themselves bringing in new sponsorship during the year and will negotiate with teams to take a percentage of that. It's risky, but a confident driver has a chance to make more money that way if the season goes the way he or she hopes. A slice of sponsorship is only one piece of the pie. Just about every driver also receives performance bonuses. If they win one race, they get X dollars; if they win two, double it. That sort of thing. If they win the Indianapolis 500, thats usually where the biggest bonus comes even more so than winning the series championship. Sometimes, that bonus will come from the team, but it often comes from a team partner or sponsor. As a hypothetical, if Scott Dixon won the 105th running of the Indianapolis 500 this year, PNC Bank might pay him a bonus as a reward for all of the added exposure. As drivers win more races and gain more experience in the series, they also tend to earn a higher percentage of the purses. However, outside of Indianapolis, purse money at most races, said another source familiar with the salary structure in IndyCar, are still an embarrassment to the whole thing. That source said the standard driver's portion of the purse used to be about 40%, but believes it has crept closer to 50% in recent years -- at least for the more-seasoned veterans. There are also "perks." Some drivers' contracts will include a motorhome as well as expenses (fuel, cleaning, etc.) to maintain it. Team and now series owner Roger Penske has been known to take care of his veteran drivers in lieu of paying them premium salaries, one source said. That can mean any number of things, but includes helping set up his drivers with car dealerships or making other business arrangements where they can earn money away from the track. "Some of them are set up in business for life," the source said. "A guy like Rick Mears probably doesn't have a worry in the world (after his racing career was over)." Driver compensation is complicated. Ask just about anyone this question, and the answer comes back the same: Scott Dixon. Again, these are just educated guesses, because his contract is not public, but multiple sources speculated the six-time series champion makes somewhere between $3.5 million and $4.5 million annually, making him the highest-paid driver in the series -- which he has been for some time. Even off the record, sources didnt want to mention names. Typically though, its the drivers who have to bring a lot of budget to their teams to get a ride, they said. Its not unheard of for some drivers not to take a salary during a season, though most do. On the low end for this season, one source guessed: maybe $250,000-$350,000. Of the 24 regular-season drivers, everyone is compensated to some extent. No one is driving for free. Its just a matter of what that funding is. As a reminder, thats among full-time drivers. One-off entries in the Indianapolis 500 can run the gamut. Not long ago, Conor Daly reminded us of that. The Noblesville native took out a loan to cover the remaining cost of his entry in the 2018 Indianapolis 500 and told the Indianapolis Star, Im not scheduled to make any money on this deal unless I finish in, like, the top four. Daly finished 21st in that race and didnt see a dime of the $200,305 he won in that race. Again, thats almost impossible to say and changes from year to year. However, one source speculated 14 to 16 drivers make $1 million or more. The source guessed there might be as many as six drivers in the upper echelon with Dixon at the top of the pecking order. Thats tough to answer. Overall, multiple sources agreed, there is less money in the sport than during its heyday in the '80s and '90s. Near the turn of the century, a source said, even a one-car program could cost about $13 million. Now you can run two cars, pretty much, on that budget, he said. The infamous Split of 1996 had an adverse effect on budgets and driver salaries, the source added. The biggest part of the dip probably occurred around 2007 or 2008, just before unification. But over the past five or six years, salaries have been on the rise. Theres more money for drivers than there was even five or six years ago, a source said. A second source speculated that Dixon's salary now is probably higher than the cream of the crop even before the split. Again, the answer to this varies from driver to driver and team to team. On the team side, many owners negotiate the deals themselves. Others have team presidents, CFOs, COOs or someone else of that ilk to conduct negotiations. On the driver side, a select few will negotiate deals themselves, but most have some sort of representation, an agent or a manager, who negotiate their contracts. It depends on the drivers personality, one source said. Some dont want the distraction of dealing with that and just want to focus on driving the car. . Some drivers dont want the added expense of paying for a manager. But a majority of drivers have someone who act for them. Mario, Michael and Marco Andretti for example, have worked with agent/lawyer John Caponigro, for decades. The former CART president and COO has clients that span all of sports. Among his more famous clients, hes represented racing stars Brad Keselowski and Sam Hornish as well as Michigan State basketball coach Tom Izzo and Notre Dame football coach Brian Kelly. In 2018, he negotiated Graham Rahal's most recent contract extension with Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing. But not all drivers hire agents or managers to do their negotiating. Pieter Rossi, Alexander Rossi's father, has typically been the point person in his sons contract negotiations, while former Formula 1 and CART driver Stefan Johansson has served as Dixons agent for years. He has represented other drivers in the series, as well, including Arrow McLaren SP's Felix Rosenqvist. Follow IndyStar sports reporter Jim Ayello on Twitter: @jimayello.

https://www.indystar.com/story/sports/motor/indy-500/2021/05/28/how-much-money-do-indycar-drivers-make/7459729002/

Do L.A.s pop-up chefs and nomadic restaurants have a post-pandemic future?

On Tuesdays, the sisters behind Bungkus Bagus shop for ingredients. On Wednesdays, they line their Glendale driveway with steel tables and spend hours chopping chiles and garlic for their Balinese-food pop-up, while Thursdays are dedicated to frying aromatics, long beans and sambal goreng. On Fridays, Celene and Tara Carrara trim banana leaves to wrap bungkus, their bundles filled with coconut rice and fragrant curries and hard-boiled eggs, and on Saturdays, they set up a booth reminiscent of their childhood in Indonesia and greet their customers just inside the gate to their home. Sometimes, the line stretches all the way to the sidewalk. The Carrara sisters never intended to enter the restaurant industry a year ago, Celene worked as a doula and Tara was a makeup artist. But they, like so many others, had to seek new ways to make money as the pandemic ravaged entire sectors of the economy. I dont think that without COVID, and without the birth of the underground [food] movement, that wed be doing this, said Celine Carrara. Its bittersweet because so much of the landscape has shifted, and weve seen restaurants close that we love, and yet theres all this new stuff on the horizon, which is also really exciting. Its kind of surreal. For professional chefs, bartenders, servers and others in the hospitality industry, cooking and selling food from home sometimes with L.A. County permits and licenses, and sometimes without offered a new means to survive while restaurants and bars were shuttered. They were joined by people like the Carraras who had no restaurant experience, swelling the ranks of L.A.s home bakers and cooks who have offered social-media-savvy Angelenos special menus, direct access to makers and some of the most exciting dining the area has seen in years. Advertisement Items for sale at Bungkus Bagus, a Balinese pop-up in Glendale. (Christina House / Los Angeles Times) Often, all it takes from customers is a few taps on Instagram. Once an order is placed, an address is revealed or a delivery is scheduled, and some of L.A.s best new food is available, in the form of croissants or fried chicken or bentos or cheesecakes or naturally dyed dumplings. Sometimes the options seem endless. Now, on the brink of a statewide reopening set for June 15 L.A.s pop-up chefs, nomadic restaurants and home cocktail purveyors might need to pivot again as indoor dining and drinking returns to what could very well feel normal. Some of them are ready to resume their day jobs. Others want to stay independent and underground, or they want to grow their businesses more traditionally in a commercial kitchen. A few just want to keep the party going, as long as they can. Current and proposed statewide regulations could also mean change for those operating home kitchens, though they might not help home vendors until 2022. Currently, California allows only approved cottage food operators to prepare foods including some baked goods, herb blends, dried pasta and preserves at home. Class A operators can sell directly to consumers from their homes and at temporary events such as bake sales, at farmers markets and through agriculture subscriptions. Class B operators must be inspected and permitted annually, and can also offer their goods at restaurants, markets and food trucks. Neither class allows gross annual sales to exceed $50,000, and neither allows for items that require refrigeration disqualifying hundreds of L.A.s underground pop-ups from legal vending. With AB-377 and AB-1144, this could change. AB-377 became law in 2019 and allows microenterprise home kitchen operations to prepare and sell refrigerated and other non-cottage-food items from a private residence. But its up to county governments to opt in and authorize such ventures. Before the pandemic, Los Angeles County officials from several departments were discussing whether to allow them, according to Liza Frias, the director of environmental health services, whose department oversees the cottage-industry program. But the health crisis stalled any decision on the matter. At this point, everybodys really all hands on deck on the pandemic response, and making sure that were of course mitigating that, Frias said. Im sure in the future I dont know whether thats six months to a year that topic will come back up, and well present it for the board [of supervisors] to consider. Frias added, When youre permitted and youre registered, you care about what youre providing; you want to be able to make sure that your customers know that you care. If not, thats when they contact us and make a complaint. Advertisement Jess Wang is permitted for her bakery, Pique-Nique; her pickle business, Pickl, isnt eligible for permitting but under AB-377 it could be, if L.A. County opts in. Tired of waiting, Wang is now looking for a commercial kitchen space where she could prepare butter mochi and hand pies as well as pickles instead of earning money through Zoom-based Pickl pickling classes, which she has taught throughout the pandemic. AB-1144, which passed the Assembly on May 20 and was sent to the state Senate, would allow Class A cottage-food operators to sell up to $75,000 in gross sales; those with Class B permits could net up to $150,000 in gross annual sales. Laura Hoang, at home in Monterey Park, sells baked goods under the name Largwa. (Christina House / Los Angeles Times) That increase could help independent bakers such as Laura Hoang, a pastry chef who sells under the moniker Largwa and whose operation is growing in popularity and reach. Advertisement When downtown L.A. restaurant Buddys temporarily closed at the start of the pandemic, Hoang lost an outlet for her pies, cakes and cookies. She also was supposed to begin work at a local coffee shop, which opened days before the shutdown and closed soon after. She found direction, and eventually income, through an operation she ran via Instagram: Heartened by the protests demanding justice for George Floyd, she began selling via direct message, and a portion of the proceeds from her cookies and other treats was donated to mutual-aid groups and nonprofits. Now she sells through retailers such as Chinatowns Thank You Coffee, still sharing updates through her Instagram account. Working independently has given her new self-assurance and direction; shes recently moved to a larger home kitchen, one with ventilation, and one she plans on having certified for a Class B cottage-food permit. She says she sees no need to return to restaurant kitchens, at least not immediately especially when the industrys systemic issues of sexual harassment, verbal abuse and underpayment remain rampant. Laura Hoangs peach nectarine mini pies. (Christina House / Los Angeles Times) The pandemic has given food makers a safe release from that toxic environment, but it did not spit us into a more stable one, she said. It very much was like, Figure it out, and I feel lucky to have been able to figure it out. Advertisement Ai Kennedy, who sells sushi made in her home kitchen in Pasadena, also is reluctant to rejoin a restaurants staff. The former Sushi Enya and Q chef hosts her weekend bento pickups in an art gallery she manages but she wants to take the next step, whether that is renting a commercial kitchen or opening her own full restaurant someday. She just wishes for herself and others that rent were less expensive in Los Angeles. But even though shes looking to be part of the system, and though restaurants are reopening and pulling potential orders from L.A.s pop-ups, she believes the underground is here to stay. I think its still expanding, she said. People learned that there are options like this they dont have to go to restaurants and there are so many interesting chefs doing interesting things. Even the inspectors agree. Advertisement I think were always going to have an underground industry, said Frias, of the L.A. County Department of Public Health. My hope is that well get more people that would want to grow. Weve seen successes with cottage food, and then they transition into a shared kitchen, and then they end up starting their own business. I mean that, to me, is a success: being able to have your own business. Some entrepreneurs are vocal about not wanting to evolve into a more formal restaurant operation. Laura Hoangs chocolate chip rye cookies. (Christina House / Los Angeles Times) Lazy Js fries fish every first and third Sunday on the patio behind Sticky Rice in Echo Park. Chefs James Seitz and Jae Hee Lee and operations manager Justin Hodgson needed a reprieve from traditional kitchens and wanted more of a casual, food-focused party where anyone is welcome and the Budweiser flows freely. At each Lazy Js pop-up, the music blasts, there are cocktails from Sticky Rices bar, Spirit House, and the team fries until they sell out. Advertisement Theres a difference between having fun and making it a hang, and making it a restaurant and seating people, Hodgson said. We mostly want to keep it a hang and a slow burn. As for the Carraras, theyve been able to watch the grapevines grow overhead as theyve fried, tossed, simmered and folded their bungkus for 11 months. Theres a fountain in their backyard that bubbles all day. The serene home setting has inspired them and kept them tied to their childhood. I think something thats really cool about our setup is it uses the home and the business, and that is a very Bali thing, Tara Carrara said. In Bali, you dont have strict delineation between commercial and residential areas, so there are a lot of businesses that are run out of family compounds. Theyve been weighing their options for the future of Bungkus Bagus. If they grow their pop-up in a commercial kitchen, they worry it could become too sterile. Theyre not sure they want to give up their home, so theyre also considering a private-events path, which would allow them to bring their experience to another backyard with live cooking, an expanded menu, incense, offerings and music. Advertisement Thats part of the magic of it, Tara Carrara added. The whole experience is meeting us, seeing our home, hanging out the lush plants and if it was just delivery, you would miss out on a big part of the equation, which is the connection, the community, the personality and the warmth of a real human being.

https://www.latimes.com/food/story/2021-05-28/will-la-pop-up-chefs-nomadic-restaurants-survive-return-to-normal

Why is 90 Day Fianc and its spinoffs so popular?

TLC executives sensed demand for more about these couples. So they obliged. And then some. There are a whopping 18 variants of the original, the newest called 90 Day Fianc: Foody Call on the Discovery+ streaming service where couples from past shows cook favorite dishes while dishing advice about keeping the romance spicy. Discovery+, in fact, has been home to seven spinoffs, all released since January. 90 Day is currently TLCs most popular franchise, beating staples such as Dr. Pimple Popper and My 600-lb Life. And TLC is not shy about airing expanded two-hour-long episodes every Sunday night without fear of diluting their audience or testing their patience. Of the 100 most-watched shows among 18-to-49 year olds the past eight months on broadcast and cable TV, 90 Day Fianc and four spinoffs of that show made the cut. Four 90 Day shows also made the top 100 amongst all viewers, each drawing more than 3 million viewers. 90 Day Fianc brought in more viewers in the 18-49 demo than NBCs New Amsterdam, Foxs The Resident and ABCs The Goldbergs. It also trounced Bravos The Real Housewives of Atlanta. TLC executives knew they had a great concept in 2014 that complemented shows at the time like The Little Couple and Breaking Amish. But they had no clue it would become such a genuine hit until season two when word of mouth enabled them to cast a more dynamic cast including the rocky marriage of Ohio resident Danielle Mullins and Tunisian-born Mohamed Jbali. That was a game changer, said Dan Adler, the shows executive producer. We were really able to push the envelope with that couple. Monica King, a 50-year-old Alpharetta resident who works in corporate regulatory affairs at a healthcare company, said she is drawn in by the authenticity of the relationships. They feel human, not like cartoon characters on The Bachelor, she said. They seem like real people seeking true everlasting love. I really want to find out what happens next in their lives. Once TLC realized through social media how rabid the fan base had become, they began casting shows focused on relationships prior to the K-1 visa process (Before the 90 Days) and shows featuring couples well past the 90-day period (Happily Ever After?). They delved into the lives of now single people whose K-1 visa relationship failed. They follow Americans who do the reverse and move to another country to marry someone. They even have a meta-style show where popular 90 Day couples sit in bed (Pillow Talk) and make snarky comments while watching another 90 Day show. One of the most popular couples in the shows history hails from Atlanta: nurse Chantel Everett and Pedro Jimeno, a man she fell in love with while on a trip to the Dominican Republic. She brought him back to Atlanta to start the K-1 visa process while lying to her family, saying he was on a more permissive student visa. Her wary family did not like Pedro at first, and Pedros family in the Dominican Republic clashed with her family. It became a case of Romeo and Juliet-style star-crossed lovers that viewers ate up. After appearing on Happily Ever After? TLC gave them their own show The Family Chantel. It featured Chantels brother Royal also seeking a foreign bride, finding his in the Philippines, and Pedros sister Nicole dating a married man. The second season aired last year. Adler said it did well despite the fact a good portion of the dialogue is in Spanish. Chantel, in an interview, said she was very nave at first. I went into the show thinking it would prove to the world how lovely and perfect my relationship was, she said. That was not reality. Instead, she said people were fascinated by the clashing family dynamics, the cultural misunderstandings and the communication limitations given that Pedros English was very poor when he came stateside five years ago. They debated whether to do the spinoff show, but Chantel said they decided it might help people understand the K-1 visa process better so others could benefit from our mistakes and find comfort that our struggles are normal. The producers would regularly question their motives and actions that in a way helped make their relationship stronger, Pedro said. Its therapeutic, he said. You can heal yourself. Talking about problems is better than hiding them. Loren and Alexei Brovarnik are part of the latest TLC "90 Day Fiance" spinoff called "Foody Call" debuting on Discovery+ May 29, 2021. TLC Credit: Discovery+ Credit: Discovery+ Jason Sarlanis, senior vice president for development at TLC, said he loves how theyve been able to highlight people of all races and cultures. Its one of the most diverse shows on TV. Weve told stories about LBGTQ couples and how different countries view marriage. To Sarlanis, I think this show really gives people out there hope that no matter where you look in this world, your other half is out there. Some fans do watch with more cynicism. Bobby Gaines, a 50-year-old Bowdon resident, said he began binging the various 90 Day shows during quarantine and enjoys it more than his wife. Over the last year, I had my toe amputated, he said. My life felt pretty bad. But after watching 90 Day Fiance, I feel like the king of the world. I dont have problems compared to these people! TLC is continuing to mine the franchise and has more spinoffs planned. They glean a lot from the fan base. Sunday night social media commentary, Sarlanis said, is like a live real-time focus group. And a surprising number of the couples remain together, Adler noted. We dont put these people together, he said, alluding to shows like WE-TVs Married at First Sight, which is generating its own share of spinoff shows. They fall in love. One of the TLC spinoffs of "90 Day Fiance" couples watching episodes of other "90 Day Fiance" shows and commenting about them in real-time called "Pillow Talk." TLC Credit: TLC Credit: TLC Spinoff Heaven These are the 18 90 Day Fianc spinoffs to date, some of which aired on TLC, some which were on the Web only and for seven more shows, on Discovery+, the streaming service. A few are glorified clip shows. A look at the couples after the 90 days. A TLCGo web series that looked at couples from multiple shows. 90 Day Fianc: Before the 90 Days: Couples wondering if they should go through the K-1 visa process. 90 Day Fianc: Pillow Talk: Couples reacting to other 90 Day shows in real time while relaxing in bed. 90 Day Fianc: The Other Way: Americans falling in love and moving to other countries. 90 Day Fianc: Just Landed: A TLCgo original web series chronicling the first day a couple enjoys in the United States. The Family Chantel: Atlantas Chantel Everett and Pedro Jimeno and their wacky families. 90 Day Fianc: Self Quarantined: A series during the pandemic. B90 Strikes Back! The 90 Day couples respond to social media critics and other couples. Darcey & Stacey: A look at Darcey and Stacey Silva, American twins and their Albanian and Bulgarian beaus. HEA Strikes Back! Happily Ever After couples clap back at critics. The seven spinoffs below all have debuted on Discovery+ with Foody Call starting May 29: 90 Day Bares All! A talk show featuring 90 Day couples. 90 Day Diaries: Couples shoot video of themselves. 90 Day Journey: A clip compilation of each couples journeys from beginning to now. The Other Way Strikes Back! The Other Way couples talk about what others are saying about them. 90 Day: The Single Life: Former 90 Day folks who broke up and are now single. 90 Day Fianc: Love Games: A trivia game show. 90 Day: Foody Call: Couples cook dishes from their native countries.

https://www.ajc.com/life/radiotvtalk-blog/why-is-90-day-fiance-and-its-spinoffs-so-popular/BZRIJC5S7FB2ZDG5XHXYXE6EZU/

How do I tell my brother his diet could be harmful?

Im in my late 40s and have a brother who is a couple of years younger than me. Hes been happily married for almost 20 years and has a lovely daughter, who is in her early teens. Some years ago, he was treated for cancer (he has been in remission since), and I am happy he has managed to find his way in life. Our parents died two years ago, and we are all the family we have; weve had our differences, but in reconciling we probably understand each other better than ever. However, I cant get over the horrible feeling that the food he and his wife provide for the family is far from healthy, and actually harmful. My niece is overweight and under-exercised. When I visit, the food is greasy, heavy on carbs and meat, oversweetened and wholly unbalanced the kind of diet teenagers would cook for themselves. They have no sensibility for fresh produce or anything healthy. My brother is also overweight, which is a touchy subject, and I am at a loss as to how to address their eating habits, as I fear it could lead to a huge row. Raising the subject of food, weight or exercise with someone else has to be done very sensitively, if at all. Its important to also think about what you hope to achieve. It isnt clear whether your brother and his family have always eaten like this, or if this is a more recent thing and maybe a reaction to grief, fear and loss: not only of losing his parents, but also about his illness. Of course, not eating healthily, being overweight and not exercising enough is suboptimum, but simply telling him youve observed this isnt going to change it. Its far more likely that he will feel humiliated and more wretched about himself, which could be counterproductive. I consulted Avi Shmueli, a psychoanalyst, about your problem. We agreed that at the heart of your letter was, understandably, fear of losing the family you have left. As we go into middle age, Shmueli said, we tend to focus more on our own and others mortality, but here theres the added background of your parents dying and your brothers cancer. Losing someone makes us feel not only more fragile ourselves, but more fearful for those around us. I couldnt help thinking how your letter was about not just food, but family, and that there are two significant people missing at your table, and how that must feel. Shmueli also wanted to draw your attention to your use of the word horrible. Its a word that seems to say a lot without saying much at all. Many feelings can be subsumed under the term horrible, he explained. I thought a lot about this. Shmueli pointed out that sometimes we might use it to hide feelings wed prefer not to focus on, feelings that are more hurtful or make us feel more vulnerable. Beyond your age, you offer nothing of yourself. That must feel like a lot of responsibility. If you want to talk to your brother, it needs to be about what you really feel. It might start something like this: I really love you and I worry about losing you. But remember that hectoring is a poor teacher. Sadly, there isnt a magic sentence you can say to fix this and keep everyone fit and well thats beyond your control. On these walks you may also find space to talk about great recipes youve tried, or food markets youve found, and maybe, eventually, voice your fears. That way you get to spend more time with him, and you both get some exercise. Every week Annalisa Barbieri addresses a family-related problem sent in by a reader. If you would like advice from Annalisa on a family matter, please send your problem to ask.annalisa@theguardian.com. Annalisa regrets she cannot enter into personal correspondence. Submissions are subject to our terms and conditions. Conversations With Annalisa Barbieri, a new podcast series, is available here. Comments on this piece are premoderated to ensure the discussion remains on the topics raised by the article. Please be aware that there may be a short delay in comments appearing on the site.

https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2021/may/28/my-brother-diet-harmful

How do I get cash prizes from Californias $116-million COVID vaccine lottery?

California has announced $116.5 million in prizes for people who have or will receive COVID-19 vaccines. The idea of the Vax for the Win program is to increase interest in vaccinations a critical step to keeping disease rates low and continuing to allow schools and the economy to reopen. Heres how the program works. There will be $1.5-million cash prizes given out to 10 winners, who will be selected on June 15. With certain exceptions, all California residents regardless of immigration status who have received at least one COVID-19 vaccine dose will be eligible for these prizes. There are some people who are ineligible, such as incarcerated people and some public employees, such as workers of the California Department of Public Health, California State Lottery, California Health and Human Services Agency, the Government Operations Agency, the governors office, and their immediate families. No. Any California resident who has received at least one vaccine dose is automatically registered; vaccination records are filed with the states vaccine registry. Dont fret. Even if you were among the earliest recipients of the vaccine back in December, youre eligible for the drawings of $1.5 million and $50,000. The California Department of Public Health will provide a list of random number identifiers representing each eligible participant identifiers that can only be connected with persons identities by [the department] to the California Lottery, which will conduct the random drawing using standard practices applicable to drawings that ensure randomness and integrity of the draw. Only if the winners want to be identified. Yes. The California Department of Public Health will try to contact you by phone. If they cant reach you on the first try, they will try again, repeatedly, between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. But if you cant be reached within 96 hours after the first attempt at contact, they may drop you and move on to the next eligible prospective winner. The winnings will go into a savings account, and the child will be able to gain control of the funds when they turn 18. California residents who begin to get vaccinated starting on or after Thursday are eligible for a $50 prepaid card or a $50 grocery card for supermarkets like Ralphs, Food 4 Less, Albertsons, Vons, Pavilions, Safeway and Andronicos. Advertisement There are 2 million gift cards available. Incarcerated persons are not eligible. Youll get a redemption code by text or email within seven to 10 days after the last vaccination. (The Pfizer and Moderna vaccines require two doses, spread apart by several weeks; the Johnson & Johnson shot requires only one shot.) If you dont have a mobile phone or email address, call (833) 993-3873 to get a physical card seven to 10 days after your vaccination. If you dont have a permanent address, call the same number to coordinate delivery of the card. The cash for the vaccination incentive program will come from Californias general fund, a budget spokesman for Gov. Gavin Newsom said. State tax revenues are projected to exceed earlier estimates by more than $75 billion by next summer, allowing the governor and lawmakers to fund a variety of programs. Advertisement Newsom intends to tap into money set aside for pandemic disaster relief and later replenish that account with a portion of the states $27-billion share of federal COVID-19 relief funds recently approved by Congress and President Biden. Officials say its an imperative public policy objective to increase vaccinations as much as possible. A high vaccination rate will keep people healthy and reduce the risk of outbreaks among unvaccinated people, which will enable schools to continue reopening and the economy to gain steam. About 54% of California residents have received at least one dose of vaccine. Advertisement But officials say theres need to boost demand. California has seen its average daily number of vaccine doses administered fall from a peak of 400,000 in early April to 200,000 a day now. And California still needs to make progress on reducing troubling racial and ethnic disparities in who is getting vaccinated. This week, a pair of season tickets to Kings or Galaxy games is in the mix. Advertisement L.A. County adult residents who get their first vaccine between Friday and June 3 at vaccine sites run by L.A. County, the city of Los Angeles or St. Johns Well Child and Family Center clinic will be eligible for a drawing for a pair of season tickets to the Los Angeles Kings or to the Los Angeles Galaxy. Aside from its being inadvisable from a health perspective, Newsom emphasized that getting vaccinated beyond the recommended regimen two doses for Pfizer and Moderna, and one for Johnson & Johnson will not boost a residents odds of winning. If you want to get vaccinated again, you think you can have your name in twice, its not going to work, he said. So dont go back and get vaccinated again. It wont make any difference.

https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2021-05-28/how-california-covid-19-vaccine-lottery-works

Why Is The EPA Denying Science In Its Air Office?

Biden press secretary Jen Psaki gives a briefing with EPA administrator Michael Regan, May 12. Getty Images The Environmental Protection Agency is walking back a commitment to science-backed policy at its air office. On May 14th, Americas biggest environmental regulator issued a notice to rescind new cost-benefit analysis requirements at its Office of Air and Radiation. It was just last December that the Trump administration finalized the regulation now being tossed out, which aimed to shore up EPAs flailing analytical practices. The EPA is already supposed to do cost-benefit analysis of the consequences of various air pollution regulations. The repealed cost-benefit rule, as it is known, would have put teeth into such requirements, which have historically been weak. And it would have required the agency to follow certain best-practices. Key effects: it would have made the agency consider multiple alternative options before settling on a final approach, and extended some analytical requirements to so-called significant rulemakings (which have historically flown under the radar). Perhaps most important, it would have required air rules to be based on the best available science. None of this should be controversial. The EPA, like other executive branch regulatory agencies, is already required to produce an assessment of the potential costs and benefits of its significant regulatory actions under a separate Clinton-era executive order. The problem is that EPA has too often failed to comply with the order, focusing on a narrow a range of impacts or ignoring important tradeoffs. The EPAs self-binding rule sought to change these dynamics by creating a stronger enforcement mechanism. Some Democrats, like former Obama regulatory chief (and cost-benefit analysis supporter) Cass Sunstein, have had nice things to say about the rule. Others have remained skeptical, however. One provision that created controversy related to co-benefits, a fancy term for benefits from a regulation that are ancillary to the problem a policy is intended to address. For example, in a highly controversial Obama-era air pollution regulation targeting mercury emissions, the overwhelming majority of the benefits in EPAs analysis came from reducing a different pollutant, particulate matter. The cost-benefit rule would have required that different categories of benefits be identified in a summary section in the rulemaking. Despite how the regulation was sometimes represented in the media, the EPA was never going to ignore co-benefits. Rather, its air office would simply have to transparently report where a regulations benefits come from. The irony is that the requirement for how to present benefit information was arguably one of the less important parts of the cost-benefit rule. The Biden Administration could easily have dropped that provision if it found it questionable. Then, the hard-to-argue-with parts of the rule could have remained intact. Instead, the Administration scrapped the whole thing. The notice rescinding the cost-benefit rule stated that the Trump EPA did not explain how the pre-existing ample public process was inadequate and further that it failed to articulate a rational basis for the rule, and did not explain that an actual or theoretical problem existed. Actually, the problems the cost-benefit rule was addressing are myriad. Here are just a few: To start, the analysis the EPA typically produces to comply with existing executive orders is based on an arbitrary, hard-to-define notion of social welfare. There may be value in measuring whatever EPA is measuring, but its not an assessment of the potential costs and benefits, as is required. Second, EPAs analysis is irrational. The EPA evaluates how a rulemaking will affect wellbeing from the perspective of the current moment in time only. It is what psychologists call present biased, in that it gives inordinate weight to the short term at the expense of long-run concerns. Relatedly, critical impacts of rules go systematically overlooked at EPA, such as the impacts of displaced investments over time. EPA administrator Michael Regan testifies before the Senate, April 20. Getty Images For reasons like these, the EPA is not complying with existing executive orders related to regulatory analysis. Moreover, oversight from the Office of Management and Budgettasked with enforcing the existing cost-benefit requirementshas historically been weak, as evidenced by the overall low quality of analysis. This suggests other enforcement mechanisms are needed. The repeal of the cost-benefit rule follows another controversial action from the Biden EPA to dismiss the members of two key science advisory boards that give advice to the agency. Historically these members have been appointed to multi-year terms and have carried over from one administration to the next, so as to maintain some bipartisan balance and independence from politics. Not so this year. By taking the unusual step to dismiss the members, the Biden EPA is sending a clear message: If the science doesnt give the Administration the answers it wants, then it will find new scientists. By throwing out a commitment to adhere to sound analytical practices, Bidens EPA may find it easier in the short run to justify expensive air regulations. But there will be long-run consequences. Ultimately what is at stake is the EPAs credibility. An openly hostile attitude to science and rigorous economic analysis will not just mean worse outcomes for citizensit will erode the publics trust in a system that many Americans already feel is working against them.

https://www.forbes.com/sites/jamesbroughel/2021/05/28/why-is-the-epa-denying-science-in-its-air-office/

Who needs Paris?

Presented by the World Economic Forum First in Global Translations French President Emmanuel Macron and South Africa President Cyril Ramaphosa are set this morning to launch a new drive for vaccine manufacturing in Africa, with the financial backing of the World Banks International Finance Corporation, and the development finance arms of the U.S., French and German governments. According to draft internal documents seen by Global Translations, the announcement is heavy on intent and light on financial and timeline details. Send your tips and thoughts: [email protected], or follow Ryan on Twitter. Mexico is in the run-up to June 6 mid-term Congressional elections, where citizens will also vote for 15 of the countrys 32 governorships. Etellekt, a political consultancy, tallies 88 political candidates or office holders have been murdered since September 2020; more than 280 have faced a violent attack. RUSSIA YOUR FLIGHT HAS BEEN CANCELED DUE TO GEOPOLITICS: An Austrian Airlines flight from Vienna to Moscow was canceled Thursday after Russia refused to authorize a new route avoiding Belarus, the airline said. That follows the cancellation of an Air France flight to Moscow for operational reasons after Russian authorities similarly refused to greenlight a new route. Aeroflot canceled a flight from Moscow to Vilnius after Lithuania barred arriving flights that have crossed over Belarus. With the EU severing flight links to Belarus, roughly half of Thursdays flights to and from Minsk were canceled. The U.N. International Civil Aviation Organizations governing council decided Thursday to conduct an investigation into the forced downing of a Ryanair flight Sunday, with an interim report planned for June 25. A series of shareholder actions and court judgments Wednesday, rather than an update to the global Paris Climate Agreement or a new U.S. law, may be remembered as the most important day of climate news in 2021. The new climate courses forced onto Exxon, Chevron and Shell could see Western-owned oil companies shift into a managed decline of fossil fuel production and towards greener forms of energy. Europe moves goalposts further left: It took years for shareholders to nudge American oil majors to be more European. The very day an activist investor group succeeded in electing two members to Exxons board and forcing new lobbying transparency measures, and Chevrons shareholders voted to reduce the companys emissions, a Dutch court ordered Shell to cuts its 2019 emissions levels by 45 percent by 2030. This monumental ruling reframes Shells climate legal obligations around the companys social license to operate rather than the companys financial interests. Shell must do its part to contribute to combating dangerous climate change, the court said. Donald Pols, director of Friends of the Earth Netherlands, which brought the case with 17,000 co-plaintiffs, said: The judge has left no room for doubt: Shell is causing dangerous climate change and must stop its destructive behavior now." Greenest and brownest oil companies: Carbon Tracker think tank released a report analyzing and ranking the net-zero commitments of the top 10 oil and gas producers. Italys Eni comes out on top, thanks to its existing 2030 emissions reduction target; Chevron and Exxon were bottom. Fightback Republican state governments mobilize to block banks dropping coal: A group of 15 Republican treasurers are threatening to remove their states assets from financial institutions who refuse to lend to or invest in the fossil fuel industry. FUTURE OF WORK EU TO CLOSE HALF ITS BUILDINGS: More than 90% of our staff is very much in favour of having two to three days per week of teleworking" said EU Administration Commissioner Johannes Hahn. That spells radical change for Brussels EU district one of the worlds least-loved administrative capitals and, if the trend spreads, will make it harder for governments to hit climate emissions targets unless they undertake expensive building renovations. Thats because private homes are usually less efficiently heated and cooled than newer, larger structures, reports Dave Keating. Emissions from private buildings in Europe are roughly double that from private transport canceling out any emissions saved from fewer people commuting. TAX DIGITAL TARIFFS ON OUR RADAR: U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai could be announcing tariffs resulting from investigations into a string of European governments implementing digital services taxes which are expected to deliver about $1.1 billion into European treasury departments in 2021. USTR has a June 6 statutory deadline to announce any action. That could make for awkward G-7 finance ministers meetings taking place today and June 4-5. The Trump administration collapsed global negotiations in 2020, when they were close to success. SOFT POWER RUSSIANS, CHINESE AMERICAN DEMOCRATIC IDEAS: Eurasia Group Foundation surveyed 5,000 people in 10 countries on how they view Americas role in the world under the Biden administration. Mark Hannah and Caroline Gray, the reports authors, write that they found a tension between Americas efforts to simultaneously project hard and soft power: hard power hinders rather than helps the promotion of American democracy, which itself has been undercut by Americas domestic problems with democracy. Surprising result: Russians and Chinese are more likely than Germans or Japanese to like American ideas of democracy. But interventionism and hypocrisy are key sore points: Those with unfavorable views of the U.S. are the ones who most dislike American interventionism, while the biggest reason for disliking American democracy was the U.S. idea of democracy is hypocritical ordinary voters dont actually have power. FREEDOM A LESS SENSATIONAL, MORE DANGEROUS JOURNALIST ARREST: By now you know about the dramatic arrest of Belarusian journalist Roman Protasevich a horrible situation that is at least garnering the worlds attention, and the penalties governments are applying to Belarus as a result. The arrest of Danny Fenster, an American journalist detained at Yangon airport, represents a more immediate danger, and is a more common example of what happens when journalists are arrested for political reasons abroad. Frontier Myanmar, his employer, believes he was transferred to Yangon's Insein Prison, but Rep. Andy Levin (D-Mich.), who has been working to raise attention to Fensters arrest, told POLITICO that we have not received a response on his location or condition, nor has the family. The Committee to Protect Journalists Shawn Crispin has called for Fensters immediate release, but notes that he is the fourth foreign journalist to be detained in Myanmar since the February 1 military coup. A State Department spokesperson told my colleague Nahal Toosi the government is deeply concerned, adding that consular officers from the U.S. Embassy, Rangoon, have sought to visit Daniel, but have thus far not been afforded access to him by regime officials. The diplomats will continue to press for access, the spokesperson said. In this March 26, 2017, file photo, police detain journalist Raman Pratasevich, center, in Minsk, Belarus. | Sergei Grits/AP Photo SUMMITRY BIDEN DOES EUROPE SUMMIT WISH LISTS AND TESTS: Ahead of President Joe Bidens first foreign trip for G-7, NATO, EU and Russia summits interest groups have begun to issue their wish lists and measures to assess success or failure. Send your hopes and dreams to [email protected]. G-7 tests: Matthew Goodman at CSIS says the G-7 has a high bar to clear after years of political relegation at the hands of the G-20 and Donald Trump. Host Boris Johnson is determined that it should be not just a forum for leading economies, but an organizing space for defending democracy. The question is whether Johnson can engender a sense of unity of purpose among leaders and collective determination to deliver tangible action Goodman said. The biggest win would be a G-7 agreement on a global minimum corporate tax rate, but China lurks behind almost every issue: summit guests Australia, India and South Korea have seen the sharp end of Beijings economic and diplomatic coercion, and its not pretty. Civil society voice ActionAid USAs wishlist: the G-7 should agree on an intellectual property waiver for Covid-19 vaccines, additional climate action and refocus an upcoming U.N. Food Systems Summit to agree that food is a human right. Open Skies Treaty a no-go: Ahead of a June 16 bilateral summit, the Biden administration informed Russia on Thursday that it will not rejoin the treaty enabling surveillance flights over military facilities that President Donald Trump withdrew from. The only major arms control treaty left between the nuclear powers is the New START treaty. Bidens Nordstream II truth serum: The president has acknowledged that his administration offered a sanctions waiver to the main company and CEO behind the Nordstream II gas corridor because the pipeline is virtually ready to open. Rep. Michael McCaul (R-Texas) let rip, calling the step back from sanctions "the cost of admission to the Putin summit on June 16. A message from the World Economic Forum: In his latest book Stakeholder Capitalism: A Global Economy that Works for Progress, People and Planet Professor Klaus Schwab shows us that there are ways for everyone at all levels of society to reshape the broken pieces of the global economy andcountry by country, company by company, and citizen by citizenglue them back together in a way that benefits us all. Buy your copy of Stakeholder Capitalism today. INCLUSIVE RECOVERY SPOTLIGHT HOW THE GLASS CEILING SURVIVED THE PANDEMIC: Emma Codd, Deloittes Global Inclusion Leader told Global Translations that non-inclusive behavior, ranging from harassment to microaggressions, has persisted even in a remote or hybrid working environment, calling the pervasiveness of such behavior a stark reality. Codd was speaking about a new survey by Deloitte of 5,000 women in 10 countries, which found that 52 percent of those surveyed said they experienced harassment or non-inclusive behavior during the past year. Twenty percent of the women surveyed plan to leave their employer within the next year, citing lack of work/life balance as the main reason. The number rises to 57 percent within two years. The pandemic severely blurred the lines between work and home, Codd said, meaning increasing workloads for all professionals because latent cultures of presenteeism carried over into our new video conference world. While policies are important, they arent going to make an impact if the organization doesnt have an inclusive everyday culture where employees can actually feel they can take advantage of policies like flexible hours and job-sharing. Leadership must set the tone from the top. she said. Women of color are three times more likely than white women to say they have heard negative comments about their communication style: 15 percent versus 5 percent. HOW TO REBUILD PUBLIC TRANSPORT AFTER THE PANDEMIC: 12 experts weigh in on how to get transit systems back on track, and be more inclusive of the people who need them most. POLITICO visualized Covids toll on transit and other American infrastructure. MORNING CONSULT INEQUALITY INDEX: A new Inequality Index based on data from 260,000 monthly interviews will track consumer confidence, employment outcomes, employment expectations and financial vulnerability. The first findings: while the economic recovery that began in January has produced a decrease in inequality, that trend stopped in May because of low job growth. GLOBETROTTERS RUFUS GIFFORD TO BE STATE DEPARTMENT CHIEF OF PROTOCOL: The announcement could come as early as today, my colleagues at West Wing Playbook report. Gifford was a deputy campaign manager for Biden during the general election and was ambassador to Denmark during the Obama administration. TRENDING TRANSATLANTIC DIPLOMATIC HANGOVERS: Its the diplo equivalent of getting drunk at prom. Officials, foreign diplomats and journalists are ditching their masks and diving right back into the social scene in Washington and Brussels, and finding the next morning that they had one or two okay, several drinks too many. But based on the text messages Global Translations has been receiving, theyve never been so grateful for a sore head. Summer party season is back: The Italian embassy opens up Villa Firenze Jun. 1 to celebrate Italian National Day and to farewell Amb. Armando Varricchio. Theyll be looking to outdo the Brits, who were treated at their summer reception Wednesday night to a spontaneous toast by presidential adviser Symone Sanders to the unbreakable bond across the pond. CHANGE AT POLITICO EUROPE: POLITICOs sister publication dominates the Brussels media scene, and will have a new CEO from June 15 Claire Boussagol, who joins from leading APCO Worldwides Paris and Brussels offices, succeeding Shhrazade Semsar-de Boissson, a Georgetown board member who led the company from its 2015 founding. Semsar-de Boissson will remain on the publications advisory board. GLOBAL PARLIAMENTARY ASSEMBLY: Over 1,000 parliamentarians and experts from 135 countries connected this week for the 142nd assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary Union. MPs love elections and awards, so of course they created a new award for the MP of the year (yet to be awarded). And they elected Egypts Sahar Albazar a Harvard graduate as president of the IPUs Young Parliamentarians forum, and Ukraines Lesia Vasylenko as president of the Forum of Women Parliamentarians. A message from the World Economic Forum: In his latest book Stakeholder Capitalism: A Global Economy that Works for Progress, People and Planet Professor Klaus Schwab reimagines our global economy so it becomes more sustainable and prosperous for all. By accurately describing our real situation, Stakeholder Capitalism pinpoints achievable ways to deal with our problems. Chapter by chapter, Professor Schwab shows us that there are ways for everyone at all levels of society to reshape the broken pieces of the global economy and country by country, company by company, and citizen by citizen glue them back together in a way that benefits us all. Buy your copy of Stakeholder Capitalism today. BRAIN FOOD THE PRICE OF MONOPOLY: New York Universitys Thomas Philippon has estimated that monopolies led by the tech sector cost each American household an average $300 a month. EXPORTING AUTHORITARIANISM: Freedom Houses Nate Schenkkan explains why the Belarus skyjacking isnt just an isolated act of evil, but part of trend where authoritarian regimes increasingly seek to apply the brutal tactics they use at home to exiles and members of diasporas. Additional Freedom House research. REBOOT: Global Translations welcomes another global policy podcast into the arena, Foreign Policys Global Reboot, which launched this week with a John Kerry interview. Thanks to editor Ben Pauker and Nahal Toosi. Follow us on Twitter Ryan Heath @PoliticoRyan

https://www.politico.com/newsletters/global-translations/2021/05/28/who-needs-paris-493046

Will the Ravens Make Lamar Jackson the NFL's Highest-Paid QB?

OWINGS MILLS, Md. The Ravens and Lamar Jackson have kicked the tires on a contract extension. Those discussions could heat up in the coming weeks. Patrick Mahomes jolted the market for quarterbacks with a 10-year extension worth up to $503 million with the Chiefs. The deal is the most lucrative in North American sports history, surpassing the previous mark set by Los Angeles Angels outfielder Mike Trout, who signed a 12-year, $426.5 million deal in 2019. Texans quarterback Deshaun Watson inked a four-year, $156 million extension in September and that would be a better model for a potential new deal for Jackson. Quarterback Dak Prescott reached a four-year, $160 million contract with the Dallas Cowboys. He reportedly gets $126 million in guaranteed money and he will earn $75 million dollars next season, the most of any player in a single season in NFL history. General manager Eric DeCosta said earlier this offseason that Prescott's deal won't impact negotiations with Jackson. "I think when you look at a contract like Dak's, and hes a great player As an executive, when youre talking about these kinds of contracts, its like if you go to the Bentley dealership or the Ranger Rover dealership, you know what the cars are going to cost," DeCosta said. "Youre not going to get much of a discount; they all cost about the same. You go in there with the idea that youre either going to buy the car, or youre not going to buy the car. "So, all of these contracts, there are bells and whistles, and theyre all different in some ways, and theyre all alike in some ways. There are a lot of different ways to look at these contracts. Theres average. There are guarantees. Theres money in the first three years, cash flow and all these different things, time length and all of that. But in the end, theyre all very big contracts for outstanding players. Theyre quarterback deals. Theyre marquee players, and you know youre going to pay a lot, but youre going to get a lot in return. Jackson ultimately will be looking for a deal worth around $40 million or higher per season. The Ravens picked up his fifth-year portion earlier this month, which cost the team $23.016 million. Jackson has stated his desire to stay in Baltimore. But ultimately, it will be a costly endeavor for the franchise. I spoke with Mr. EDC probably like a month or two ago. I would love to be here forever," Jackson said. "I love Baltimore. I love the whole organization. I love everybody in the building. But hopefully, well be making something happen pretty soon or whenever.

https://www.si.com/nfl/ravens/news/ravens-jackson052821

Can Lovie's Texans Win With Jacob Martin and Jonathan Greenard Switching Positions?

"That transition going down,'' Culley said, "(is) because of the type of players that that they are.'' The Houston Texans now feature a new 4-3 defense ... now featuring linebackers being converted into defensive ends. Jonathan Greenard and Jacob Martin came to Houston as linebackers to fit into a 3-4 defense. There is a change in the way Greenard and Martin - who have played their entire career at linebacker - line up. A football player is a football player,'' said new head coach David Culley. "Those guys right there are two guys that are able to put their hands down on the ground and be productive players ... It is really not a big adjustment other than the fact that you understand right now its a little bit dirtier down there than it is when youre playing with your hands up. "Those guys understand that and those guys have embraced that. Culley is right in the sense that the job of getting to the ball-carrier and getting to the QB is unchanged. But there is a "transition'' here as the Texans, right or wrong, prioritize "system'' over the particular talents of certain players ... Unless this ends up being a win-win for Greenard, for Martin and for Houston. READ MORE: Houston 'Hot Seat' As Texans Coach Culley Talks Watson, OTAs "I have no problem with it, whether I'm standing up or hand in dirt," Greenard said back in March. "I mean, I really just want to play. Just tell me what I need to do.'' Greenard, who played some end in high school, was drafted last year by the Texans as an outside linebacker from Florida. At 6-3, 263, he may want to get bigger in order absorb some of the abuse he will take as a D-lineman. Martin, who was listed as a defensive end coming out of high school, begins his third season in Houston after being acquired as an outside linebacker from the Seahawks in the 2019 trade featuring Jadeveon Clowney. Martin is 6-2, 242, and again, not the ideal size for the position. But ... "That transition going down,'' Culley said, "(is) because of the type of players that that they are.'' Maybe. Or maybe it's because Smiths is changing Houston's D to a 4-3, and the present guys on the roster are being dragged along as part of the alteration. But that doesn't prevent this from working ... as long as "football players are football players.'' READ MORE: With Rookie QB Davis Mills Signed, The Houston Texans Post-Deshaun Era Begins

https://www.si.com/nfl/texans/news/lovie-texans-win-jacob-martin-jonathan-greenard-switching-positions

What does 2022 cap news mean for Dolphins young talent?

The final figure for the 2022 salary cap is yet to be determined, but at the very least we should expect to see a rebound after the salary cap reduction of 2021. Seeing the cap dip by approximately $15M this offseason was a major unforeseen wrinkle for most NFL franchises who promptly needed to pivot with any number of adjusted strategies to fill out their rosters. For some, it meant cutting talent. Contract restructures. It meant bridging the gap with one-year contracts at several key positions and relying on their young talent developing at others. Granted, Miami still found some room for notable signings like WR Will Fuller and backup QB Jacoby Brissett. But both are in Miami on one-year contracts and the team will need to be keeping a watchful eye on both talents and their long-term viability with the team. Some of that, of course, will be rooted in the price being right. But the 2022 salary cap ceiling as been set this week after the NFLPA and NFL owners agreed upon a figure of $208.2M for the cap ceiling. Thats great news, given that its some $23M higher than the current cap although expecting the league to hit that ceiling may be ambitious. In reality, it will probably fall somewhat short of that number. But such a lofty ceiling indicates an expectation that, via television deals and the return of full capacity stadiums, the league will have plenty of financial spending power incoming for teams and a major leap in the cap is still expected. If the cap checked in at $208.2M, the Dolphins would currently be scheduled to own over $66.5M in cap space, with plenty of additional room available to be created. And thats great news for talents like Fuller and Brissett, 2020 free agent addition Emmanuel Ogbah and talents drafted by the team like Mike Gesicki and Jerome Baker. If the cap were stagnant, the Dolphins would likely be facing a very difficult decision about signing X number of talents and letting Y number of talents walk in free agency as each of the big four starters from that group (Fuller, Ogbah, Gesicki and Baker) are likely to command annual average salaries on their next contracts that exceed $10M per season. For Gesicki and Baker, that may feel lofty. But Baker is a three-down linebacker who enjoyed the most productive season of his career in 2020 with more complementary talent around him on defense and Gesicki is a rising talent who plays an x-factor position that weve seen a major increase in spending on over the last year thanks to market resets from Austin Hooper, Travis Kelce and George Kittle (plus two $12.5M contracts given out by New England this year in free agency). Fuller already commands $10M+ this season and a long-term extension would mean things went well in 2021 and Miami wont get him for cheap if that is the case. And Ogbah, who averages $7.5M per season, was the teams best pass rusher in 2020 and would warrant a raise if hes back. But again, theres good news for the Dolphins in the news of the cap ceiling. Theres about to be an influx in spending power, which means Miami could retain all four of these young talents to be cornerstone pieces to the team and then simultaneously, courtesy of salary cap manipulation via signing bonuses and otherwise, have plenty of room in 2022 to add any key pieces the team deems necessary to add into the fray, too.

https://sports.yahoo.com/does-2022-cap-news-mean-142249251.html?src=rss

What will Texas lawmakers accomplish for students in the final days of session?

How schools can help students through the pandemic and how educators address racism in the classroom are among major debates lawmakers tackled this session that ends Monday. Legislators are making decisions that could guide schools for at least the next two years that include reforms to STAAR tests to how districts can spend billions in federal education funding to changes in civic education to whether homeschool students should participate in public school sports. Not all of the measures considered will make it to the governors desk or into classrooms this fall. The House and Senate must work out remaining differences, and then Gov. Greg Abbott has until June 20 to veto or sign bills into law. Heres where key education proposals stood going into the final weekend of the Legislature. STAAR reform The pandemic took a toll on students as learning environments were disrupted. Lawmakers recognized that would impact how students performed on the State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness exams. Legislation giving high school seniors who failed multiple sections of the state tests a path to graduation gained Senate and House approval and will soon be on its way to the governor, according to the bill author. This is particularly significant in a year when STAAR is only offered in person but many students remained learning from home. Meanwhile, another proposal approved by the Senate would establish accelerated learning committees for students who fail their reading and math exams in third, fifth and eighth grade. The committees will help craft plans to catch students up. Texas planned to administer all STAAR exams online by 2022-23. But the legislators want to roll that back after a statewide glitch impacted 250,000 testers. The House and Senate each approved a bill that would remove the online administration deadline, giving education officials more time to make the change. The House must either accept the Senates changes to the bill or send it to conference committee before it can get final approval from Gov. Greg Abbott. More money for schools Early on in the session, state leaders announced public schools will receive funding based on enrollment from the previous school year because of unusual attendance drops due to the pandemic. The announcement meant schools avoided unexpected state funding cuts in the middle of a school year that already stretched educators, students and resources. School leaders were relieved that, in the final days of session, lawmakers backtracked on legislation that could have tied up billions in federal funds aimed at pandemic relief. Congress approved roughly $19 billion in federal education funding throughout the pandemic to help Texas students recover from the COVID-19 learning slide. Texas sent the first batch of funds, totaling about $1.3 billion, to schools but cut state aid by the same amount. Then in late April, state leaders announced the rollout of $11.2 billion in federal pandemic aid as supplemental support to school districts. On Wednesday, Sen. Larry Taylor, R-Friendswood said the final $5.5 billion would also be distributed with no restrictions from the state. He withdrew a proposal that would have meant districts essentially saved about 40% of that money. Tim Tebow bill Home-school students could be playing on public-school teams this fall, owing to bills approved by the House and Senate. The legislation would allow school districts to let non-enrolled students take part in sports, music and debate competitions and other activities overseen by the University Interscholastic League, the states governing body of public school extracurriculars. Similar legislation -- known colloquially as a Tim Tebow bill, named after the former Heisman Trophy winner who starred as a home-school athlete in Floridas interscholastic league -- was pushed in the previous four legislative sessions by Rep. James Frank, R-Wichita Falls, but had never come to a floor vote in the House. Critical race theory legislation In keeping with its theme of championing red-meat issues this session, both the House and Senate passed versions of a bill that aims to root out critical race theory in the classroom. Their arguments echo former President Donald Trump and conservative leaders in other states, who label the academic framework as a divisive and harmful way of thinking. But critical race theorys meaning has become obscured in the debate and conflated with a wide range of anti-racist ideas. Dozens of education, civics and business groups oppose the legislation and are hoping it dies ahead of the May 31 deadline. They say it would have a chilling effect on classrooms, where teachers are trying to guide students very real questions about race and racism in America. District leaders also warn the legislation could interrupt plans for teachers professional development and curriculum development. Education How critical race theory came to dominate education debates in Texas The current critical race theory debate misinterprets the intentions of those of us who are working to build more inclusive schools, said Richardson ISD Jeannie Stone. By and The future of virtual schooling The Legislature appears poised to allow districts to open virtual schools that serve their own students. The Senate gave its approval to a bill that would fund local online schools in the same manner as brick-and-mortar campuses. The legislation comes with guardrails, including that if a student isnt performing well in the virtual environment, local officials are empowered to bring them back into an in-person classroom. While the vast majority of students learn better in-person, district leaders say this legislation gives them the necessary flexibility to serve the small percentage of kids who figured out during the COVID-19 pandemic that they can thrive in virtual school. Dyslexia reform Advocates hoped lawmakers would improve access to dyslexia services by ensuring all kids suspected of having the learning disability received a more thorough evaluation. Change is necessary to make sure all students get the help they need, advocates said. Plus, Texas remains under federal scrutiny because of continuing problems related to identifying and serving students in special education. The legislation is headed to a conference committee, where legislators will have to decide whether they are ready to update the dyslexia identification processes or simply direct the State Board of Education to study the issue and report back on its findings next year. Redshirting young students Some parents want their children to be able to repeat a grade, given the disruptions caused by the pandemic. The Legislature approved a bill giving families more of a say in the decision of whether their child is held back a year. More kids were missing from public schools in early grades than any other, according to state data. Stay connected to the latest in education by signing up for our weekly newsletter. The DMN Education Lab deepens the coverage and conversation about urgent education issues critical to the future of North Texas. The DMN Education Lab is a community-funded journalism initiative, with support from The Beck Group, Bobby and Lottye Lyle, Communities Foundation of Texas, The Dallas Foundation, Dallas Regional Chamber, Deedie Rose, The Meadows Foundation, Solutions Journalism Network, Southern Methodist University and Todd A. Williams Family Foundation. The Dallas Morning News retains full editorial control of the Education Labs journalism.

https://www.dallasnews.com/news/education/2021/05/28/what-will-texas-lawmakers-accomplish-for-students-in-the-final-days-of-session/

Where does the floral wreath worn by the winning Indianapolis 500 driver come from?

Julie Harman Vance, the owner of the Buck Creek in Bloom flower shop in Yorktown, Indiana, will wake up early Saturday to make the hour-long drive to Indianapolis to deliver precious cargo: the winner's wreath. For the last 29 years, Harman Vance has made the wreath that adorns the winning Indianapolis 500 driver in victory lane. She got the job in 1992 after being recommended by the former florist behind the wreath. Ever since, the week before the race has become her own tradition. She receives the 33 orchids one for each driver that go on the wreath on the Monday or Tuesday before the race. She then makes the wreath on Wednesday or Thursday, taking around four hours to complete. Kissing bricks and drinking milk:Indianapolis 500 traditions start before the race and continue after After delivering the wreath to Indianapolis Motor Speedway, Harman Vance returns to Yorktown and it's back to work on her daily business, whether it be arrangements for funerals, weddings or proms. Harman Vance has pitched the idea of changing the appearance of the wreath before. "They said no," she said. "It's tradition." That tradition almost had to change this year. When Harman Vance received the white orchids, they were damaged and unusable. Replacement orchids were still nowhere to be found as of Wednesday evening. "It was almost the year of the silk wreath," Harman Vance laughed Thursday evening. She also had multicolor orchids she could have used like the ones used in last year's wreath. After a nearly sleepless Wednesday night, her stress was relieved the next morning: the white orchids arrived. She spent over eight hours Thursday making two wreaths: one for race day and one for the traditional day-after photo shoot. Harman Vance hopes to keep making the wreath for the 500 for decades to come: "...another 30 or 40 years, or until someone steps in and takes my glory."

https://www.indystar.com/story/sports/motor/indy-500/2021/05/28/indy-500-wreath-orchid-flowers-created-yorktown-florist-29-years/7470244002/

Will Louisville Make The NCAA Tournament?

The Cardinals find themselves in an unfamiliar place ahead of Selection Monday: on the bubble. (Photo of Dan McDonnell: Steven Branscombe - USA TODAY Sports) LOUISVILLE, Ky. - With college baseball's conference championship week currently in full swing, there are only a few days left until Selection Monday, where the NCAA Tournament field is revealed. For Louisville, this is typically a week filled with very little drama. In Dan McDonnell's tenure as the head coach of the Cardinals, they have only missed the tournament once since his hiring in 2007, and have hosted a regional nine times. At the very least, there is some debate on who they will face, and if they will have home field advantage. However, this year has not been a typical year for Louisville baseball. The offense has been anything but consistent, and the pitching staff has been absolutely decimated by injuries, and the bottom fell out during the last month of the regular season. The Cardinals lost 10 of their final 14 games heading into the ACC Tournament, going from regional hosting lock to bubble team extremely fast. After going 1-1 in pool play, culminating in getting bounced from Charlotte, N.C. thanks to an extra innings heartbreaker to Georgia Tech, and Louisville has a long wait until Monday. The program has done their part, and now their fate is in the hands of the selection committee. Well, you can make a case for both sides. Louisville finished the year at 28-22 overall and an even 16-16 in the Atlantic Coast Conference. While neither record seems very noteworthy, the conference record actually is. Since the tournament field expanded to 64 teams, over 50% of the ACC teams who go at least .500 in conference play make the Big Dance. There are a few noteworthy victories attributing to the conference record, too. Their series split with Notre Dame; series wins over FSU, Virginia, and Duke; and series sweep over NC State all are regarded as Quadrant 1 wins. Not to mention, they have a pair of non-conference Q1 wins over Vanderbilt and USC Upstate. But, the Cards also have some ugly blemishes on their resume. They were swept by Clemson, who is not a tournament team, and have individual losses to Cincinnati, Morehead State, EKU and Western Illinois. Their road record is also far from impressive, as they went 8-12 away from Jim Patterson Stadium (compared to 19-9 at home). The biggest detractor to their tourney chances undoubtedly comes from their RPI ranking, as it comes in at 74th following their loss to Georgia Tech in the ACC Tournament. For context, the lowest RPI to make the tournament in 2019 was 59th, held by TCU. However, their RPI may not be a killing blow. The COVID-19 pandemic led to uneven scheduling across the college baseball landscape, with many teams not only having their initial amount of games limited, but also having them wiped out completely because of the virus. As a result, RPI is not as reliable this season as it normally is. For example: Fairfield, who has the No. 149 SOS, has the No. 2 RPI in the country, and were at No. 1 for a chunk of the season. They didn't play a single non-conference game all season, as all of their games came in MAAC play. Louisville finds themselves in a somewhat similar situation, as the ACC opted to play more games in league play, and shorten the non-conference schedule. That, among other reasons, could be a reason the selection committee uses caution when using RPI as a reference. Even college baseball experts are torn on whether or not Louisville is in. In their most recent tournament projections, Baseball America had them among the 'Last Four In', and D1Baseball had them as the last team out (sound familiar?). At the end of the day, a case can be made to either exclude or include the Cardinals. One thing is for sure though: it will be a nervous wait for the Selection Show. You can follow Louisville Report for future coverage by liking us on Facebook & following us on Twitter: Facebook - @LouisvilleOnSI Twitter - @LouisvilleOnSI and Deputy Editor Matthew McGavic at @GeneralWasp

https://www.si.com/college/louisville/othersports/will-louisville-baseball-make-ncaat

How will the next Dalai Lama be chosen?

THE DALAI LAMA turns 86 in July. By all accounts he is in good health, but questions about his successor become more complicated with each birthday. Tenzin Gyatso, the 14th Dalai Lama, is the highest spiritual figure in Tibetan Buddhism and the founder of the Tibetan government-in-exile, based in Dharamsala in northern India. His incumbency has encompassed a period of rule in Tibet by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), which annexed Tibet in 1951. For decades the Dalai Lama has been a thorn in the side of the CCP. Tibetan Buddhists believe that the next Dalai Lama will be reincarnated and identified by a council of senior disciples. The Chinese government insists it has the right to anoint his successor. In recent months America and India have entered the fray. The Economist Today Hand-picked stories, in your inbox A daily email with the best of our journalism Sign up In Tibetan Buddhism, each Dalai Lama is a tulku, a reincarnated custodian of the teachings of Avalokitevara, the bodhisattva (enlightened being) of compassion. When a Dalai Lama dies, it normally takes years to identify his reincarnated form. Tenzin Gyatso was identified in 1937, four years after the 13th Dalai Lama died. Senior monks interpreted signs from the 13ths death, such as an unusual star-shaped fungus that grew on his shrine apparently pointing to the north-east, to direct their search. Various clues and spiritual masters led them to two-year-old Tenzin Gyatso, then known as Lhamo Dhondup, who was the right age to be the reincarnated tulku. Young Tenzin correctly identified items belonging to the deceased Dalai Lama and on February 22nd 1940 was enthroned as the 14th Dalai Lama. According to Chinese law the central government must approve the next Dalai Lama, or indeed of any other senior living Buddha. The atheist regime has long weighed in on matters of spiritual succession. On May 14th 1995, a six-year-old called Gedhun Choekyi Nyima was declared by the Dalai Lama to be the 11th Panchen Lama, the second-most senior monk in Tibetan Buddhism. Three days later he disappeared; he has not been seen in public since. The Chinese government named its own Panchen Lama, who is rejected by most Tibetans. The Dalai Lama has condemned Chinese efforts to appoint his successor as brazen meddling. He has even raised the possibility that he may be the last Dalai Lama. But the dispute is not just between China and the Tibetans. Another option floated by the Dalai Lama is that his reincarnation may be identified outside Tibet, perhaps in India, where he fled to in 1959 after a failed Tibetan uprising against Chinese rule. An Indian tulku would inflame an already tense relationship between India and China. In May 2020 a skirmish broke out on the disputed border between China and India (Tibet sits on the Chinese side). Indias secretive Special Frontier Force, a military unit composed mainly of Tibetans who fight at high altitude, was involved. That India hosts the Tibetan government-in-exile is a security buffer as well as a soft-power resource, says Dibyesh Anand of the University of Westminster. This is particularly apparent in disputed territories such as Arunachal Pradesh in north-east India, which is inhabited by many Tibetan Buddhists. A Chinese-anointed Dalai Lama could be weaponised by China to lay claim to the region, notes Mr Anand. In April Bloomberg reported that senior government officials in Delhi were discussing how to influence the choice of the next Dalai Lama. America has also weighed in. In December Congress passed the Tibet Policy and Support Act. It states that only Tibetans can choose the next Dalai Lama and that Chinese officials who interfere will be subject to sanctions. The Dalai Lama is aware of these tensions. He says that when he is around 90 he will consult other high lamas for advice. The irony is that despite being called a splittist by the CCP, the Dalai Lama advocates only Tibetan autonomy within China, and has acted as a moderating force against those calling for full independence, and perhaps a violent uprising. If the Chinese government meddles with the reincarnation process, it will only strengthen those who want full independence for Tibet. That would be even more worrying for Chinese rulers than a Dalai Lama they cannot control.

https://www.economist.com/the-economist-explains/2021/05/28/how-will-the-next-dalai-lama-be-chosen

Does Deion Sanders think Julio Jones should join Patriots or not?

originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston Deion Sanders has an opinion about where Julio Jones should play next, and we're not sure how New England Patriots fans should feel about it. The Falcons wide receiver reportedly has requested a trade from Atlanta and could be moved shortly after June 1. Amid a week of busy trade rumors, Sanders -- a former Pro Bowl cornerback for the Falcons -- chimed in with his thoughts on Jones' next move. If Im @juliojones_11 Ive got to go to a winner which means a playoff team or a team that traditionally wins like @Patriots. I would be careful of going to a cold climate city when youve always played in a dome. That matters tremendously. Im helping u narrow it down. #Truth COACH PRIME (@DeionSanders) May 27, 2021 The good news for New England fans: Sanders mentions the Patriots by name as a team Jones should consider. Jones also admitted to FS1's Shannon Sharpe he "just want(s) to win," and while the Patriots went 7-9 last season following Tom Brady's departure, they loaded up in 2021 free agency and appear poised to compete for a playoff spot under legendary head coach Bill Belichick. Sanders warns against Jones joining a team that plays in cold weather after playing the majority of his NFL games in Atlanta's domed stadium and the warm climates of the NFC South. That would seem to rule out New England, where temperatures often dip near or below freezing by the season's midpoint. Story continues The Tennessee Titans and San Francisco 49ers are among Jones' other possible suitors and check both of Sanders' boxes, so they could be teams to watch as the Jones sweepstakes heat up. Then again, we have no idea if Jones will actually consider Sanders' advice. A host of current NFL players -- including Patriots offensive lineman Trent Brown -- have tried to sell the seven-time Pro Bowler on their team, but we haven't heard of any of those pitches making an impact to date. What we do know is that Jones wants to go to a contender, and if doesn't mind a little chilly weather, we'd imagine Cam Newton and Co. would welcome him with open arms.

https://sports.yahoo.com/does-deion-sanders-think-julio-153956709.html?src=rss

Does Hall of Famer Gil Brandt believe Washington can repeat as NFC East champions?

Gil Brandt is one of the NFLs legendary figures. The longtime front-office executive of the Dallas Cowboys created many of the scouting techniques used by NFL teams today. Brandt, who worked the Cowboys from 1960-88, helped construct the roster of some of the greatest Dallas teams of all time, which included two Super Bowl titles. Brandts outstanding body of work earned him a place in the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2019. Now, at 89-years-old, Brandt is still working for NFL.com, churning out columns with his one-of-a-kind insight. Recently, he took a look at every NFL division for 2021, assessing the 2020 division winners chances of repeating in 2021. The NFC East hasnt had a repeat winner since the Eagles won four straight titles from 2001 through 04. Washingtons dominant defense gives the team a chance to break that streak but the squad is hardly a shoo-in. The Cowboys automatically become legit contenders again with the return to health of QB Dak Prescott, who missed most of 2020 with an ankle injury. Daniel Jones has been given a plethora of weapons by the Giants as he attempts to take another step in his development as a quarterback in Year 3. Even with Philadelphia rebuilding, this division is tight enough that I wont be surprised if the winner fails to finish with double-digit victories for the third straight season. Predicting the NFC East in any year is almost like flipping a coin. Its probably the same again in 2021. However, dont discount Washington just because it won the division with a record of 7-9 in 2020. The Football Team finished No. 2 in total defense and should improve on that side of the ball with the additions of linebacker Jamin Davis, cornerback William Jackson III and safety Bobby McCain. Another reason to be optimistic about Washington in 2021 is the improvements it made on offense. The additions of quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick and wide receivers Curtis Samuel and Dyami Brown almost certainly mean the WFT will be more explosive in 2021. The NFC East will be close in 2021. The Giants will be better. The Cowboys are going to be better just by having Prescott back. And Washington made lots of moves this offseason. It should be another wild and entertaining 2021.

https://sports.yahoo.com/does-hall-famer-gil-brandt-170916335.html?src=rss

What Is After-Hours Trading and How Does It Work?

SARINYAPINNGAM / Getty Images/iStockphoto Every weekday at 9:30 a.m. EST, a bell signals the opening of the New York Stock Exchange and the beginning of the trading session that runs until 4 p.m. EST. This is the period when most trading activity takes place. However, advancements in technology have made the dream of a 24-hour stock market close to reality. Trades can still happen before the exchange opens and after it closes. Support Small: Its Not Too Late To Nominate Your Favorite Small Business To Be Featured on GOBankingRates Extended to June 5 Outside of regular trading hours, investors can engage in extended-hours trading, which includes both premarket and after-hours trading. Although after-hours trading is convenient, its also a type of trading that carries a special set of risks. Although the vast majority of stock market trading is performed during traditional market hours, investors looking to buy or sell stock after the market closes might still be able to execute trades. Volume is typically light after the market closes for the day; if youre looking to trade, youll generally have the best luck with large, liquid names. Some stocks dont trade at all in the after-hours session. If you follow financial news, you might notice that after-hours stock quotes are often different than the closing prices of stocks during regular market hours. This is due to investor activity in the after-hours trading market. Price changes that occur after-hours work in the same way as a price change that occurs during market hours. This means that a price change occurring at any time can affect the market and send investors clamoring to buy or sell specific stocks. It is possible to place orders to buy stocks on the weekend because the electronic market is open all the time. However, after-hours systems work by matching buyers and sellers who have similar price requirements. There is less activity in the market after the stock exchanges close, so you may not be able to find a stock available in your price range. Back to top How After-Hours Trading Works Although many popular brokers offer investors the chance to buy and sell stocks in the after-hours session, available trading times vary slightly from broker to broker. Fidelity, for example, offers an after-hours session from 4 p.m. EST to 8 p.m. EST., whereas Schwabs after-hours window runs from 4:05 p.m. EST to 8 p.m. EST. The rules governing after-hours trading differ from regular session rules, so trades are limited. Traders can use limit orders, but orders with special conditions arent allowed. This means that buyers and sellers specify the price theyre willing to accept. The computer then searches for available buyers and sellers with matching price demands. Just like during regular market hours, supply and demand rule the after-hours market. If there are more buyers than sellers in the after-hours session, stock prices will trend higher and vice versa. One indication of how the after-hours market is doing is the Nasdaq 100 after-hours indicator, which is similar to the live Nasdaq-100 index price youll see while the market is open. After-hours trading does not necessarily affect a stocks opening price at the next regular trading session. In fact, the opening price can look dramatically different from the prices seen in the electronic market. This is especially true if the market reacted to a company announcement or news headline that could potentially impact a business or industry. After-hours trading takes place through an electronic market. Electronic markets work as order matching systems, pairing up individuals who want to buy stock with those who want to sell. Any investor with an online trading account held at a brokerage firm can trade during the available hours. Schwab, Fidelity and TD Ameritrade all offer this service. Nows the Time: 26 Smartest Ways To Invest Your Money During the Pandemic Back to top Risks of After-Hours Trading After-hours trading appeals to some investors because its convenient, but its not without its share of risk. Investors should educate themselves about the risks and benefits before attempting to execute trades. One of the main benefits of trading during regular market hours is the liquidity it offers. As billions of shares of stocks trade hands every day during market hours, most stocks offer orderly trading patterns and give investors the ability to get into or out of a stock at the then-current price. In the after-market session, however, liquidity typically drops dramatically. With fewer participants, stock price movements can be greatly exaggerated. A lack of liquidity makes it more difficult for investors to get their desired price, let alone have the order executed at all. Other risks to trading in the after-hours include higher volatility, wider spreads and market-moving news announcements. Take a Look: These Industries Will Make the Biggest Comeback From COVID-19 Another risk is the lack of consolidated quotes in the after-market. When the market is open, youll see the best available price to buy or sell a stock. In the after-market, however, you might only see limited quotes, with higher prices available from other brokers. Youre also often competing with professional traders who tend to have more experience trading.

https://news.yahoo.com/hours-trading-does-180000662.html

Is Eddie Rosario ready to get hot and stay that way for the Cleveland Indians?

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 Eddie Rosario is riding a seven-game hitting streak and had a pair of extra-base hits in Thursdays win over Detroit. Manager Terry Francona says the Indians wont stand in the way if Rosario wants to start getting hot at the plate. Paul Hoynes and Joe Noga talk about what a streaking Rosario could mean to the Indians lineup on Fridays 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. No surgery for Plesac and 3 other things MLB suspends Mickey Callaway through 2022 for sexual harassment McKenzie recalled for one-and-done start against Tigers

https://www.cleveland.com/tribe/2021/05/is-eddie-rosario-ready-to-get-hot-for-the-cleveland-indians.html

What are the rules of engagement for guests on Secwpemc territory?

Hereditary leadership from the Secwpemc Nation recently published protocol that can be used as guidelines for how to conduct yourself while on the land, says hereditary Matriarch Miranda Dick. When extractive industry, allies, honoured guests or supporters enter any Indigenous territory it comes with a responsibility to honour the knowledge of the Indigenous Peoples. Dick developed the Secwpemc Free Prior and Informed Consent Protocol with her father, Secwpemc hereditary Chief Saw-ses, with support from her lawyer, Anushka Azadi. She says its been years in the making, culminating in five days of writing, reflecting and revising before it was shared on Facebook earlier this month. We, the Secwpemc People, know whats best for the territory and the lands, whether its dealing with watershed protected areas, gathering or fishing sites, says Dick. By publishing protocol, Dick says they are legitimizing the hereditary family structure and enacting its authority. [We are] dealing with the non-government organizations coming into our territory and causing a lot of destruction in their path of money, Dick says. She names the Trans Mountain Pipeline project specifically. Trans Mountain has broken almost every protocol ever set forward. So thats us putting them on notice as well, she says. Dick stands accused of being in civil contempt of a court-ordered injunction granted to Trans Mountain on June 1, 2018. Shes due to appear in B.C. Supreme Court along with seven other arrestees in August. They will be representing themselves and are raising funds to cover basic costs (e.g. gas money and accommodation for witnesses) through a GoFundMe campaign. Dick says that the FPIC protocol will serve as another supporting document in this case as they seek to ask Canada to justify its claims to jurisdiction over the land without title. Thats us putting [Canada] on notice as well, Dick says. Its not just extractive industry, its Canada and their acts of genocide against Indigenous Peoples. So we have to put our foot down at the same time and enacting that is the main key. While Dick developed the protocol in part as a response to Trans Mountain, she says the question at the heart of it is: How can we, in relation, care for mother earth and the water with protocols that come with the territories? And this can be taken and adapted to anywhere, she says. The reason why we left it really open-ended is so it could be used in other territories with those base fundamentals. She points to the escalating tensions at Fairy Creek, where IndigiNews has been on the ground reporting on mass arrests of old growth defenders and their concerns about RCMP officers conduct as they enforce a court-ordered injunction So take Fairy Creek, where they have a large number of Indigenous Peoples on the island, Dick says. At the same time, they have non-Indigenous almost leading the forefront of that, [but] then you see most of the arrestees are Indigenous. Thats been part of the issue, she says. Loading... Loading... Loading... Loading... Loading... Loading... As stated in the FPIC protocol (see #11), what one does affects the greater whole, and thats a message Dick says she really hopes people will take to heart. What you do in the Secwpemc Nation affects everyone. Everything is connected and family is the governance systems of the Nation. You are responsible to the Secwpemc Nation for everything you say, do and decide, the FPIC protocol states. Read more about:

https://www.thestar.com/news/canada/2021/05/28/what-are-the-rules-of-engagement-for-guests-on-secwpemc-territory.html

What is open and closed on Memorial Day weekend?

Around 37 million Americans are expected to travel more than 50 miles this Memorial Day weekend, according to American Automobile Association. Some people and families are planning to travel as COVID-19 restrictions and mask mandates for those vaccinated have eased since last year. Whether you are out and about or staying at home, be aware that some usual services and stores may be closed this weekend. Memorial Day became a federal holiday in 1971. Originally, it was known as Decoration Day, a Civil War-era tradition in which loved ones decorated the graves of soldiers at the end of May. Today, it honors soldiers who have died in uniform. Whether enjoying the holiday's sales or preparing for a road trip, here's a list of what will be open and closed on Memorial Day. Grocery stores and restaurants Major grocery stores will remain open although their normal businesses hours may be adjusted. You can check your local grocery store's website for their hours of operations. An alternate option would be Amazon Fresh, Shipt or Instacart, which delivers groceries even on Memorial Day. However Costco Wholesale will be closed on Monday. :Walmart, Home Depot open; Costco closed Monday Mail Services The United States Postal Service, FedEx and UPS will not deliver mail. Although critical services such as FedEx Custom Critical and UPS Express Critical will continue operating. Depending on the location, some FedEx Office will remain open will operate on modified hours. Amazon views Memorial Day as a shipping holiday. What not to this weekend:Here's when NOT to hit the road for a Memorial Day trip Memorial Day sales:Memorial Day 2021: Amazon is having a secret summer sale right now Convenience Stores Convenience stores such as Walgreens and CVS will be open on modified hours depending on the location. Gas stations with convenience stores such Wawa and QuickTrip will remain open. Stock Markets The New York Stock Exchange, Nasdaq and bond markets will be shut down on Monday. However foreign markets will remain open. Banks While most banks will be closed, ATMs and banks' mobile apps can complete general banking transactions. The Federal Reserve Banks will also be closed. Schools If not already on summer break, most private and public schools will be closed on Memorial Day. Follow Gabriela Miranda on Twitter: @itsgabbymiranda

https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/2021/05/28/memorial-day-holiday-hours-usps-stores-whats-open-and-closed/7465668002/

Where Were Several Current Chelsea Players During the 2012 Champions League Triumph in Munich?

Chelsea are in their third Champions League final, and the first since the triumph over Bayern Munich in their home stadium in 2012. The Chelsea squad has changed drastically since then, with starting centre-back pairing David Luiz and Gary Cahill both leaving the club in the summer of 2018, after John Terry moved on in 2017, and Petr Cech moved across London to join Arsenal in 2015. Mateo Kovacic Despite having won the Champions League three times consecutively with Real Madrid, Mateo Kovacic has never featured in any of the three finals - he was an unused sub in the 2017 and 2018 finals, and was not in the squad for the 2016 win over Atletico Madrid. The Croatian midfielder was 18 at the time of Chelseas last Champions League final, and was in his second senior season at Dinamo Zagreb, the club he joined as a 13-year-old. Kovacic was already a regular for the Croatian side, and missed just five league games out of a potential 30, contributing 11 goals and assists, as Zagreb won the league 21 points ahead of second place. (Photo by PA Images/Sipa USA) Zagreb also reached the Champions League Group Stage that season, having overcome three qualifying rounds to reach the tournament. Kovacic played in every Group Stage game, including frequently on the left wing, although his side were knocked out having lost every game. This included 6-2 and 7-1 defeats to Real Madrid and Lyon, respectively, although Kovacic did score the consolation in the latter game. Jorginho The Brazilian-born Italian midfielder was 20 at the time of Chelseas Munich success, and was plying his trade at Hellas Verona in Serie B, having spent the previous season on loan at Sambonifacese, who were in the fourth tier of Italian football at the time. Jorginho joined Veronas academy at the age of 16, having moved to Italy a year prior. (Photo by PA Images/Sipa USA) Jorginho had a tough start to the 2011/12 season, missing 11 of the first 15 Serie B games. However, the midfielder broke into the first team for the second half of the season, missing just one of the final 27 games, as Verona finished 4th, qualifying for the play-offs with a chance of promotion to Serie A. Jorginho played in both legs of the play-off semi-final versus Varese, however Verona lost 3-1 on aggregate. Verona earned promotion the following season, and Jorginho joined Napoli, and Maurizio Sarri, after one season in the Italian top flight with I Gialloblu. Olivier Giroud Olivier Giroud is one of the most senior members of the current Chelsea squad, and was 25 at the time of the Blues win over Bayern Munich. Giroud was playing his second season at Ligue 1 side Montpellier, and had a brilliant season for the club, an integral member of La Paillades first ever Ligue 1 title in their history. (Photo by PA Images/Sipa USA) Giroud only missed two league games for the club across the season, and contributed 21 goals and 12 assists. This put him level with PSG forward Nene for the Ligue 1 Golden Boot, whilst ex-Blue Eden Hazard also bagged 20 goals. Girouds goals secured Montpellier's first Ligue 1 title, finishing three points above PSG, the fourth different team to win the French title since 2009. Giroud was also named in the Ligue 1 Team of the Year, and his form earned a move to Arsenal in the summer of 2012 for roughly 9.6million, whilst he also made his France debut versus the USA earlier that season. NGolo Kante Ngolo Kante has had a meteoric rise to success in footballing terms - going from playing in Ligue 2 to winning the Premier League twice, FA Cup and World Cup in just three years. At the time of Munich 2012, Kante was 21, and playing at Boulogne in Ligue 2. (Photo by Xinhua/Sipa USA) Kante made his debut, and only appearance that season, for the club in the final game week - an 11 minute cameo off the bench in a 1-2 loss to AS Monaco. Boulogne were already relegated by this point - finishing nine points off safety, winning just seven games. Kante truly broke into the Boulogne team the following season in the third tier of French football, missing just one league game, before earning a move back to Ligue 2 with Caen. Cesar Azpilicueta Club captain Cesar Azpilicueta is Chelseas current longest serving player, and was 22 at the time of the Munich triumph. Azpi was playing his second season at Marseille in Ligue 1, and his fine form in France earned him a move to Chelsea the following summer for 7million. Having joined Marseille from his boyhood club Osasuna in 2010, Azpi played 44 games for the club across the 2011/12 season, with the vast majority of minutes coming at right-back. Despite a disappointing league campaign where Les Phocens finished 10th, just 10 points above the relegation zone, the club earned passage to the Europa League third qualifying round by winning the Coupe de la Ligue, a domestic competition abolished last year. EFE/Kiko Huesca/Sipa USA Azpi played every minute of the final, when Marseille overcame Lyon 1-0 after 30 minutes of extra time. Marseille also reached the quarter-final of the Champions League, losing 4-0 to Bayern, and Azpi played every minute of the knockout stage as Marseille knocked out Inter on away goals, and beat Borussia Dortmund 3-0 in the group stage. It was these impressive displays that saw Azpi poached by Chelsea in the summer following the Champions League success; the club also adding Eden Hazard, Oscar and Romelu Lukaku to the squad. Follow Absolute Chelsea on: Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | YouTube

https://www.si.com/soccer/chelsea/fan-opinions/where-were-several-current-chelsea-players-during-the-2012-champions-league-triumph-in-munich

When a Twitter war gets ... respectful?

Meanwhile, Mr. Baileys arguments might not have forced Mr. Friedersdorf to abandon his positions, but by nudging him a little bit here and there ... over time, that means a big change. Even when I actually disagree with you on these issues, I can still see that your goal really is to try to improve journalism and also discussions, Mr. Bailey said to Mr. Friedersdorf. Twitter is not generally synonymous with civility. But when the Monitor brought together two partisans often locked in Twitter battles, it became clear that social media can accommodate passion but also respect. So he invited them to chat to see why they were able to disagree without descending into the rejection and anger that typifies so much of the political conversation these days particularly on social media. The result was a 90-minute conversation that underscored something the two men had long aspired to: proving that thoughtful, respectful conversations are possible on social media, and that taking time to recognize the humanity of the person on the other side matters. The Monitors Stephen Humphries noticed that the simmering Twitter war between journalists Conor Friedersdorf and Issac Bailey never got ugly. The sparring was vigorous, but the blows were never below the belt. Most days, Conor Friedersdorf and Issac Bailey throw punches at each other. The two journalists take part in one of the most popular participation sports in America: arguing on Twitter. But unlike so many people who get into the ring of social media with the intention of beating up someone on the other side, Mr. Friedersdorf and Mr. Bailey engage in respectful sparring. Their jabs never go below the belt. The gloves never come off. After each round, the two writers retreat to their respective corners Mr. Friedersdorf leans libertarian; Mr. Bailey is a progressive as sizable crowds of Twitter spectators score the fight in their own minds. The bouts never end with a knockout in which one of the two combatants blocks or unfollows the other. Why We Wrote This Twitter is not generally synonymous with civility. But when the Monitor brought together two partisans often locked in Twitter battles, it became clear that social media can accommodate passion but also respect. Yet despite these battles, the two men had never met in real life. As someone who follows both Twitter accounts, I wondered what would happen if I invited the two ideological adversaries for a meeting on Zoom. Mr. Friedersdorf is a staff writer for The Atlantic and is based in Los Angeles. Mr. Bailey is a former senior writer for The Sun News in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. He teaches journalism at Davidson College in Davidson, North Carolina. On a recent weekday afternoon, the three of us met on Zoom. The conversation was wide-ranging, from their backgrounds to policy arguments to moments of agreement some of them unexpected. They came to just be Conor and Issac. And in the end, the exchange underscored something the two men had long aspired to: proving that thoughtful, respectful conversations are possible on social media, and that taking time to recognize the humanity of the person on the other side matters. I started out by asking how each felt about a push for racial equity by the Biden administration and private institutions. The discussion soon turned to Issacs past, He said hed grown up poor in St. Stephen, South Carolina. His school was effectively segregated. It didnt have AP classes, let alone a science lab. When his dad got drunk, hed beat Issacs mother. The family was also dealing with the murder conviction of one of Issacs brothers for stabbing a white man which Issac covered in his 2018 book, My Brother Moochie. The book explores why so many Black men end up in prison, and many of Issacs other brothers also got in trouble with the law. So he asked Conor: How exactly would you propose actually creating an equality of opportunity for 9-year-old me and 9-year-old Conor? His tone wasnt angry or accusatory it was an earnest query. The tone of Conors response was empathetic. Equality of opportunity is a goal worth striving for, Conor said, but believes that the equality of outcome can never be achieved given that everyone is dealing with unique and unpredictable circumstances such as having a parent whos abusive. Even so, he added, there are things that governments can do to improve the environment that children grow up in. Theres a relationship between housing and school segregation, said Conor. If you changed everything from zoning laws, to how school districts are drawn, to where people can live, to how much youre allowed to build and the relationship that that has to cost, you would pretty radically transform the amount of opportunity a lot of people have. From May 17 Zoom meeting Conor Friedersdorf (above), a writer with The Atlantic, chats with author Issac Bailey and the Monitor on May 17, 2021. Later, the conversation turned to the term woke. Its a slang adjective that the Oxford English Dictionary describes as alert to injustice in society, especially racism. Many on the social justice left initially adopted the term to describe themselves. But Issac now views the term as derogatory. Republicans now invoke woke as an insult, he said. As soon as you label us as woke, what you have done is flatten us, slurred us, demeaned us. Conor agreed that the term has been weaponized by some, but noted that even former President Barack Obama has used it. While terms such as woke or political correctness or social justice warriors can be imprecise, Conor said, they are trying to describe a real phenomenon of censoriousness and intolerance on the left. (He also decried the same for the Trumpian right.) Yet he also mentioned that Issacs objection to the term is helpful to his writing because he wants to understand how others perceive the word. Agreeing to ... agree There were areas where the two dovetailed. On Twitter, Issac recently chastised a prosecutor in Georgia for seeking the death penalty for the Atlanta spa shootings suspect, despite the fact that shed once campaigned with her opposition to it. Conor had retweeted Issacs thoughts. The political event that shaped my life earliest was two things, actually, when I was about 11. The Rodney King beating and then the L.A. riots, said Conor. Before then my only interaction with police officers at all had probably been one police officer coming in [to school] and talking about Say no to drugs. And it was just a kind of sudden awakening to like, Oh, wow, people in power can abuse it horrifically and then lie about it and then get away with that. It was one of several instances during the meeting in which each participant made a point of proactively pointing out where they agreed with each other. I, too, actually have this libertarian streak in me, Issac piped up, pointing to his defenses of free speech for those with whom he disagrees. I even sided with the Trump administration and [former Education Secretary] Betsy DeVos, for instance, in terms of how they revamped guidelines about how to deal with rape allegations, et cetera, in colleges and universities. Real people on the other side of tweets The gracious and conciliatory in-person conversation was a stark contrast to the pointed repartee between the two on Twitter. Both men admitted having had moments when their language on social media was sharper than it should have been. But they also try to maintain a basic level of respect. On my best days, I would say that I am very cognizant about my tone and also that I actually tried to get myself into a good state of mind. At least in ways that I can have these sharp exchanges, disagreements, et cetera, but not go off into, like, the crazy, said Issac. Both men laughed. Indeed, both said that, even through the veil of social media arguments, both could see the good in what the other was trying to accomplish. And that has helped sharpen their own views. Even when I actually disagree with you on these issues, I can still see that your goal really is to try to improve journalism and also discussions, Issac said to Conor. Over the course of time with this, I have been either actually forced to clarify my own original thinking or rethink in a subtle but important way. Were often arguing on Twitter about pretty small micro examples of different things and kind of about a meta discourse almost, responded Conor. Its never like, Oh, I came in with opinion A. And by the end of this Twitter thread, I am of opinion B now theyve persuaded me. Its more like they kind of nudged my priors a little bit here and there and maybe, over time, that means a big change. After 90 minutes, both men warmly said goodbye to each other. A few days later, I emailed each participant individually to ask them if the Zoom conversation had affected how they now viewed the other person. Conor replied: Long audio conversations lend themselves to different kinds of interactions, with broader parameters and more room for nuance and expansive understandings, than do exchanges on Twitter. I certainly felt empathy for Issac when he discussed the unimaginably difficult time that he went through due to his brothers circumstances. I think its probably too early to tell if our Twitter exchanges will change due to the experience. But its always nice to put a face and a voice to an avatar, and I very much hope that the person that I got to know better thrives in life. Get the Monitor Stories you care about delivered to your inbox. Your email address By signing up, you agree to our Privacy Policy A few days later, Issac emailed. It humanized him more for me, which is good, Issac wrote. I believe that has affected how I word some of my tweets, particularly when Im reacting to something he posts. It hasnt changed my willingness to challenge or ask follow-ups. But it has forced me to not give in to my knee-jerk [reactions] so easily with him and others, frankly. Its kind of easier to visualize that there are real people on the other side of tweets now, not just his.

https://www.csmonitor.com/USA/Society/2021/0528/When-a-Twitter-war-gets-respectful?icid=rss

Can rowdy T-Mobile Arena make Game 7 difference?

The Golden Knights and Minnesota Wild meet in Game 7 of a playoff series Friday night in the venue that NHL players voted the best for atmosphere. Golden Knights fans cheer before the start of Game 5 of a first-round NHL hockey playoff series against Minnesota Wild at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas on Monday, May 24, 2021. (Chase Stevens/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @csstevensphoto Golden Knights fans cheer before the start of Game 5 of a first-round NHL hockey playoff series against Minnesota Wild at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas on Monday, May 24, 2021. (Chase Stevens/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @csstevensphoto The moniker was created during that magical expansion season of 2017, a storyline nearly as popular off the ice as that which occurred on it. T-Mobile Arena: The NHLs best atmosphere. Nothing like the venues first Game 7 to prove it. It has reached the summit, this divisional playoff round between the Golden Knights and Minnesota Wild, a best-of-seven series to be decided Friday night. The winner heads to Colorado for a second-round opener Sunday; the loser slowly grits its way through a handshake line. You play all season chasing significant goals, the obvious being to hoist the Stanley Cup. But along such a challenging pursuit is the idea that having home ice in the most critical of moments affords you a substantial edge. Might want to score It really doesnt in hockey certainly not to the extent of other sports but its what you tell yourself after blowing a 3-1 series lead for the third time in three seasons. And yet the former might actually hold true Friday. Really. It might be the one thing capable of propelling the Knights to play on. That, and actually scoring. I jest. I also misspelled Gritty. It doesnt matter how you got here you have one game to advance, and you have to make it your best game, said Knights coach Pete DeBoer, who is 5-0 in Game 7s. Whatever that looks like. Rely on the foundation you have built all year, and weve got a pretty good one. Weve done a good job of pushing this to a one-game opportunity in our home rink, and we have to take advantage of that. It was really the Wild that pushed. The Knights just couldnt stop it from happening. There is no denying the passion and uproar that reverberates throughout T-Mobile Arena on game night. A fan base whose mastery of hockeys entangled elements has expanded over time has a distinctive opportunity Friday. There again will be 12,000-plus in attendance. It will sound like twice that. But it all flies in the face of what is expected during the NHL playoffs, which is to say things like sleeping in ones own bed for an extra day hasnt proven much of an advantage at all over time. In fact, home teams have a winning percentage of 58.0 in 181 all-time Game 7 matchups in the Stanley Cup playoffs. Not an overwhelming edge. But the team that scores first in those games has won 75 percent of the time. So, you know, dont either side be afraid to actually rush forward this game. The Knights were 21-5-2 at home in the regular season, and yet its true part of such a sparkling mark was the fact that the University of Massachusetts could have finished fifth in the West Division. Still, the Knights have also won nearly 70 percent of home games since entering the league. Voted the best In a 2019 poll of NHL players, T-Mobile Arena was voted to have the best atmosphere at an overwhelming 42.5 percent. The next closest was Bell Centre in Montreal at 21.2 percent. Tell it to the Wild, who are 3-0 all time in Game 7s. With all three wins coming on the road. The important part is to not get too bottled up with it, Minnesota coach Dean Evason said. Its Game 7, and when the puck is dropped, well play as hard as we possibly can and see where we sit at the end of the night. Weve been a desperate hockey club and will continue to do that. T-Mobile Arena welcomes all of that and more Friday. Lets see what sort of difference if any it can make in the outcome. Ed Graney is a Sigma Delta Chi Award winner for sports column writing and can be reached at egraney@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-4618. He can be heard on The Press Box, ESPN Radio 100.9 FM and 1100 AM, from 7 a.m. to 10 a.m. Monday through Friday. Follow @edgraney on Twitter.

https://www.reviewjournal.com/sports/sports-columns/ed-graney/can-rowdy-t-mobile-arena-make-game-7-difference-2365070/

Can Richard and Jane afford an expensive renovation without infringing on Janes retirement plans?

Open this photo in gallery Jane and Richard. Glenn Lowson/The Globe and Mail Richard is 59, retired and collecting a defined benefit pension, not indexed, of $39,660 a year. He also has substantial savings and investments. Jane is 53 and works in health care, earning about $80,000 a year. She has recently joined her pension plan at work and has the option of buying back some years of service. She wonders if it makes sense financially to do so. She hopes to retire from work at age 60. They also wonder whether they can afford a major renovation to their small-town Ontario house without infringing on Janes retirement plans. Can we afford to indulge our interest in architecture with a major modern home renovation valued at $300,000 and still have Jane retire when she turns 60 years of age? Richard asks in an e-mail. Their house is valued at $700,000 with a $215,000 mortgage that they took out some time ago to invest. As a result, the mortgage interest is tax-deductible. They have cash and short-term investments of about $139,000. Story continues below advertisement We asked Matthew Ardrey, a financial planner and vice-president of TriDelta Financial in Toronto, to look at Richard and Janes situation. What the expert says Jane is earning $73,320 a year, plus $6,800, which her employer contributes to her registered retirement savings plan, Mr. Ardrey says. Jane and Richard maximize their tax-free savings account contributions annually. Any surplus they earn is being saved for their renovation, planned for 2022. With no buyback, Janes pension will be $9,360 a year at age 60 indexed to inflation plus a bridge benefit of $2,280 until age 65. If she purchases the buyback for $168,000, the pension increases to $18,840 at age 60 plus a bridge of $4,560. To fund the buyback, Mr. Ardrey assumes Jane transfers her existing RRSP and locked-in retirement account, which together amount to $114,000, to her pension plan. The remainder would come from their $50,000 guaranteed investment certificate and $4,000 from the joint bank account. Whether or not she chooses the buyback will impact the funding for the renovation, so we will look at each scenario independently, Mr. Ardrey says. The average rate of return for their investment portfolio is 5.16 per cent, with an average management expense ratio of 0.29 per cent resulting in a net return of 4.87 per cent. The assumed rate of inflation is 2 per cent. They estimate their Canada Pension Plan benefit will be $1,100 a month for Richard and $1,000 a month for Jane at age 65. The forecast assumes they take Old Age Security benefits at age 65 as well. In the first scenario, Jane does not take the pension buyback. They take all of their cash savings, which amount to $150,000 by mid-2022, for the renovation, financing the rest of the work on their line of credit at a rate of prime plus 0.5 percentage points, or 2.95 per cent. The forecast assumes they pay this off over 10 years. Story continues below advertisement Using the cash, which has a negative real rate of return after inflation and taxes, is a good place to start, the planner says. For the remainder, using debt over cashing in investments is preferred. With a rate of interest of only 2.95 per cent, the hurdle rate to earn more than that on their investments is low. That being said, they certainly have the assets to pay off the entire renovation, Mr. Ardrey says. If they were to pay for it all with investment proceeds and then borrow against the line of credit to re-establish those investments, the interest would be tax-deductible. They should watch interest rates, the planner says. If rates rise, the hurdle rate would become higher and it may be more beneficial to pay off the debt rather than reinvest it. In retirement, they plan to spend $65,000 a year after tax and adjusted for inflation. At Janes age 90, there will be an estate of $8.4-million (with inflation), including investments and real estate. If instead of leaving a large estate, if they exhaust all of their investment assets, leaving only real estate, they can increase their spending in retirement by $48,000 per year, Mr. Ardrey says. In the second scenario, he looks at what happens if Jane takes the pension buyback. As this impacts their cash savings for the renovation, they will need to borrow $210,000 from the line of credit, he says. The result is surprisingly similar. With the increased pension and larger loan, we would expect to see a difference, but in fact the two scenarios play out almost identically, the planner says. The most likely reason is the rate of return used in the forecast and the discount rate for the pension plan are virtually the same, Mr. Ardrey says. (The discount rate is the rate of return assumed by the actuaries when calculating the current value needed to fund a future pension.) Story continues below advertisement Since the quantitative factors are identical, Jane and Richard need to look at other factors when making the pension buyback decision. These would include Janes life expectancy, the expected rate of return on the portfolio, their willingness to assume the investment risk versus the certainty of receiving pension income, the need for financial flexibility and how much interest rates are expected to rise over time. The main risk in each analysis is the asset mix of their investments, Mr. Ardrey says. Their asset mix is 10 per cent cash, 3 per cent fixed income, 35 per cent preferred shares, 4 per cent in alternative investments and 48 per cent equities, of which about 80 per cent is in Canadian stocks or stock funds. With about 75 per cent of their portfolio invested in Canadian stocks and preferred shares, some additional geographic diversification would be beneficial, he says. With preferred shares, an increase in interest rates can lead to a decline in value. As well, preferred shares can be more volatile than their traditional fixed-income counterparts such as corporate bonds, he adds. Dividend income could also affect Old Age Security benefits. Dividends are grossed up and an offsetting dividend tax credit is given to reduce the overall tax payable. The problem with this is that the grossed-up dividend is used in the OAS calculation, increasing the chances for the OAS clawback. To increase their diversification, Richard and Jane might consider adding some real estate investment trusts, private or publicly traded, to their investment mix, the planner says. REITs that invest in a large, diversified residential portfolio or perhaps specific areas like wireless network infrastructure are preferable to one that has a large exposure to retail, Mr. Ardrey says. The plan: The pension decision depends on considerations such as investment expectations, risk tolerance and their outlook for interest rates. Diversify their portfolio geographically. The payoff: A clear view of their options. Monthly net income: $8,820 Assets: Cash $89,000; GIC $50,000; his non-registered stocks $360,000; his private investment $60,000; his TFSA $100,000; her TFSA $88,000; his RRSP $510,000; her RRSP and locked-in retirement account $114,000; his defined contribution pension plan $100,000; estimated present value of his pension $700,000; his locked-in retirement account $52,000; residence $700,000. Total: $2.9-million Story continues below advertisement Monthly outlays: Mortgage $905; property tax $380; home insurance $50; utilities $180; maintenance, garden $320; transportation $755; groceries $670; clothing $135; gifts, charity $305; vacation, travel $670; dining, drinks, entertainment $630; personal care, club membership $55; pets $150; sports, hobbies, subscriptions $170; health care $115; disability insurance $70; communications $275; RRSP $565; TFSAs $1,000. E-mail finfacelift@gmail.com. Some details may be changed to protect the privacy of the persons profiled. Be smart with your money. Get the latest investing insights delivered right to your inbox three times a week, with the Globe Investor newsletter. Sign up today.

https://www.theglobeandmail.com/investing/personal-finance/retirement/article-can-richard-and-jane-afford-an-expensive-renovation-without-infringing/

Could a Duke Johnson Jr. return interest the Browns?

The Cleveland Browns have two of the best running backs in the NFL, Nick Chubb and Kareem Hunt, in a run-centered offense under Kevin Stefanski. Last year, Chubb ran for over 1,000 yards on less than 200 carries while Hunt tallied 841 yards, also on less than 200 carries. The two combined for 18 rushing touchdowns and only one fumble lost. Not a lot to complain about at the position as both are able to handle the load while complimenting each other and keeping each other fresh. Hunt was used far more often in the passing game with 38 receptions for over 300 yards while Chubb had only 16 catches for 150 yards. DErnest Johnson was the third back for most of the year but only had 33 carries and three receptions. The Browns brought in Demetric Felton with their final pick in the 2021 NFL draft looking to capitalize on his versatility as a runner and pass-catcher. While Browns fans may be excited about Felton and feel comfortable with DErnest Johnson as the third back, the team with Super Bowl aspirations is always looking to bring in competition and improve. Duke is currently a free agent after finishing out the contract he signed with the Browns before being traded to Houston. He ranks as Pro Football Focus 14th remaining free agent at this time. Last year, in only 11 games with the Texans, Duke ran the ball 77 times for 235 yards while catching 28 passes for 249 yards. Combined he had two touchdowns. With the Browns and Texans, Duke Johnson Jr. was often dinged up but didnt miss a game until the 2020 season when he missed five. A return to Cleveland could be a sweet return and give the Browns a third versatile back while allowing Felton to adjust to the NFL as a rookie. Adding Duke Johnson Jr. would set up a Johnson and Johnson competition for a roster spot with DErnest Johnson. (All of Browns media is rooting against a return so they can just use a last name instead of constantly having to list a full name, or use just a first name while talking about the backs.) The former Brown is a better pass catcher with more experience while the current Brown has return skills that could keep him on the field. Odds are that Duke Johnson Jr. is waiting for an opening somewhere, whether due to injury or a trade, where he can compete to be a teams second back. A return to Cleveland is unlikely given the presence of Chubb and Hunt but Duke could provide an extra spark if the two sides were able to come together.

https://sports.yahoo.com/could-duke-johnson-jr-return-212337635.html?src=rss

How did the Vikings fare in PFFs 2021 season simulations?

Pro Football Focus is at it again. The outlet simulated the 2021 NFL season 10,000 times and the Vikings averaged lackluster results. Heres how PFF did it: Using the PFF Elo rating system, PFF grades and available market data, we can simulate the 2021 season 10,000 times to accurately assign distributions for win totals, divisional title odds and the percentage each team makes the playoffs. We can also look at how often each team makes it to and wins Super Bowl 56. Minnesota had an average win total of 7.9. The Vikings had a playoff percentage of 31.7%. The team had a Super Bowl victory percentage of 0.9%. Its average draft position was 13.9. So if PFF is any indication, its not gearing up to be a stellar 2021 season for the Vikings. That said, I think a lot of their success in the division will depend on whether Aaron Rodgers stays with the Packers or not and if Justin Fields starts for the Bears right away. Minnesota still has a chance of making it to the postseason. Im not so sure.

https://sports.yahoo.com/did-vikings-fare-pff-2021-211956477.html?src=rss

Who's behind recent rise in US anti-Semitic attacks?

Clashes between pro-Israeli and pro-Palestinian groups erupted in Times Square earlier this month As the world watched fighting rage in Israel and Gaza, US Jews endured an increase in anti-Semitic attacks on a scale not seen during previous Middle East conflicts. Experts say it is too early to tell if the high-profile assaults - including a daylight brawl in New York City's Times Square - point to a trend, or are a part of already high levels of such incidents seen across the country in recent years. Violence and harassment targeting American Jews broke out coast-to-coast amid the 11 days of fighting between Israelis and Palestinians that ended in a ceasefire on 20 May. Incidents included outdoor diners in Los Angeles who were physically attacked by a group carrying Palestinian flags, violence against orthodox Jews in New York City - home to the largest population of Jews outside of Israel - and Nazi imagery posted on a synagogue in Alaska this week. Pro-Palestinian protests and anti-Jewish vandalism at synagogues - which are quickly stepping up security due to the attacks - have also been documented in Illinois and Florida. President Joe Biden wrote on Twitter on Monday: "The recent attacks on the Jewish community are despicable, and they must stop." According to New York City police, there have been 80 anti-Semitic hate crime reports made this year, compared to 62 in the same period last year. They have stepped up patrols in Jewish communities, especially in orthodox Jewish neighbourhoods where the visibility of traditional Jewish clothing increases the likelihood of attack. The Anti-Defamation League (ADL), which tracks incidents of anti-Jewish violence and bias, says they saw a 75% increase in anti-Semitism reports to the agency's 25 regional offices after Israeli-Palestinian fighting began. The figure jumped from 127 incidents in the two weeks prior to fighting to 222 in the two weeks after violence broke out. Oren Segal, vice-president of the ADL's Center on Extremism, says similar surges have occurred in previous Israeli-Palestinian conflicts. Story continues "Usually it's not surprising to see a spike because of the invective and anger that comes with a conflict," he says. "A lot more protests, a lot more grievances and at times that leads to a lot more expression of anti-Semitism and incidents of anti-Semitism." In the US, Judaism is a religion whose adherents profess a diversity of political beliefs. Critics of Israel sometimes conflate Israel, the only Jewish nation in the world, with Judaism the religion. One of New York's orthodox communities ardently support Palestinian rights Social media has also played a major role in the spike, says Segal. The ADL has tracked increased references on Twitter to pro-Nazi hashtags since the fighting began. Anti-Semitism in the US went up only "very, very little" during other wars in Israel's history - in 1967, in 1973 and during Palestinian uprisings in the 1990s and 2000s, says Yehudah Mirsky, a professor at Brandeis University who studies modern Jewish history. "We've seen things like this before," says Mirksy. "It's all too early to crunch the numbers. But this seems a bit much. This seems more." He adds that the conflict is sometimes used by US activists from across the political spectrum to "manufacture social division", from corners as diverse as far right ex-Trump adviser Steve Bannon and by antifa, the loosely knit group of far-left activists. "In many respects a national struggle - between two national groups - gets transposed into the American framework of seeing it as a civil rights struggle," he says of the conflict. "In recent years with people tossing around terms like 'apartheid' and 'ethnic cleansing', those terms kind of take Israel out of the realm of politics and into pure moral struggle." Mirsky says the moral battle distracts from the reality that the conflict is "an incredibly complicated political situation". "And it just becomes this stark black and white morality tale for which the bad guys can have no justification at all - and the bad guys become the Israelis and the people who support them." An annual report released by the ADL in April found that 2,024 anti-Semitic incidents were reported in 2020, dropping 4% from an all-time high in 2019. Last year saw the third-highest number of reports of assault, harassment and vandalism toward American Jews since the ADL first began tracking the data in 1979. Experts say the recent attacks are being driven more from the political left than ever before. It comes as pro-Palestinian supporters blame American Jews for Israeli government policies. "For four years it seemed to be stimulated from the political right, with devastating consequences," the ADL's Jonathan Greenblatt told the New York Times. But in the most recent attacks "no one is wearing Maga hats", he added, referring to the Make America Great Again Hats worn by Trump supporters. Much anti-Semitism in the US still comes from the far-right, including the gunman who killed 11 people at a synagogue in Pittsburgh in 2018. At a 2017 rally in Charlottesville, far-right activists chanted "Jews will not replace us" But the ADL's Oren Segal says it's not important which side of the political aisle is instigating the anti-Jewish movement. "Anti-Semitism is not a right-wing issue. It's not a left-wing issue. It's a problem in and of itself. It's unique, in that no matter where someone is on the ideological spectrum, they're able to manipulate anti-Semitic tropes to make a point if they want to. "Sometimes it's not necessarily coming from an extreme left or an extreme right, but it's just an anti-Semite." He says public figures such as Georgia congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene, who has likened coronavirus masking measures to the Holocaust, which killed six million Jews, have played a major role in the general rise in anti-Semitism in the US. "Any public official, whether left or right, who is normalising tropes commonly used by anti-Semites, that's a problem," he adds. "Normalising anti-Semitism, I think, has more to do with the rise in anti-Semitism than people might think."

https://news.yahoo.com/whos-behind-recent-rise-us-213334206.html

How will Man City, Chelsea line up in UEFA Champions League Final?

Usually, the How will (Team X) line up? posts ahead of a big game are pretty straight-forward on at least one if not both sides of the trophy, but not this time. Thanks to the men making the lineups for Saturdays UEFA Champions League Final salt-and-pepper-shaker tacticians Pep Guardiola and Thomas Tuchel Manchester City and Chelsea could line up any number of ways. This is more perilous than it sounds on the side of the favorites, where Pep Guardiolas men are significant favorites if he rolls with a 4-3-3 or some sort of formation that has best delivered his system to the masses. But hes got a reputation for over-thinking himself in one-off situations, enough so that we consider Pep versus himself one of the key battles of the final. More Champions League Three key battles for Chelsea Man City in Champions League Final Manchester City Chelsea: How to watch, odds, injury news, start time,... UEFA Champions League: How to watch Manchester City Chelsea, odds,... Pep v Tuchel all-time Much has been made of Chelseas twin wins over Man City this season with Tuchel at the helm, the Blues besting the champs in a must-win (for them) Premier League match and in an FA Cup semifinal. But Tuchel had been winless in five against Pep before that, all coming when Guardiola was the favorite, too, as Bayern Munich boss versus Borussia Dortmund and Mainz. Oct. 19, 2013 Bayern 4-1 Mainz Peps 4-1-4-1 v Tuchels 5-4-1 March 22, 2014 Mainz 0-2 Bayern Tuchels 4-2-3-1 v Peps 4-2-3-1 Oct. 4, 2015 Bayern 5-1 Dortmund Peps 3-5-2 v Tuchels 4-3-1-2 March 5, 2016 Dortmund 0-0 Bayern Tuchels 4-3-3 v Peps 4-2-3-1 May 21, 2016 Bayern 4-3 Dortmund Peps 4-1-4-1 v Tuchels 3-4-2-1 Story continues April 17, 2021 Chelsea 1-0 Man City Tuchels 3-4-2-1 v Peps 4-2-3-1 May 8, 2021 Man City 1-2 Chelsea Peps 3-1-4-2 v Tuchels 3-4-2-1 So Pep has never lined up in a more focused 4-3-3, something with which hes had great success this season, against Tuchel. Hmmm. Thats where projecting Chelseas lineup is tough. That said, Tuchel may dare Guardiola by playing the same lineup, more or less, as the team that knocked City out of the FA Cup, albeit with a few changes. Mendy or Kepa Thiago Silva Rudiger Azpilcueta James Kovacic Jorginho Chilwell Pulisic Mount Werner We consider the experienced back three an easy call, though Tuchel could opt to play Zouma and push Azpilicueta into a fullback spot. We have Christian Pulisic in for Hakim Ziyech. If Tuchel does go for this back three, perhaps his twist will be plugging Callum Hudson-Odoi at right wing back instead of James. So, yes, were thinking a 4-3-3, with a bit of a twist in that Phil Foden and Riyad Mahrez both drop back to deliver more in the middle of the park, sacrificing Raheem Sterlings speed to the bench. Perhaps, given the lack of true star power at left back, Guardiola plays center back Aymeric Laporte there when Chelsea has the ball and a back three when in possession. That could mean Joao Cancelo at right back over Kyle Walker. The rest of the lineups writes itself, though youd have to say that longshot-to-start Sergio Aguero makes some sense on a number of levels. But Pep has either been hiding the departing Argentine or just doesnt think Aguero is his best choice. He was limping at the end of training this week. If hes fine, he starts. originally appeared on NBCSports.com

https://sports.yahoo.com/man-city-chelsea-line-uefa-170252987.html?src=rss

How Can We Build The Next United Nations? Institutions Need Investing, But What Shape Will They Take?

(200923) -- NEW YORK, Sept. 22, 2020 (Xinhua) -- United Nations (UN) Secretary-General Antonio ... [+] Guterres addresses the general debate of the 75th session of the UN General Assembly at the UN headquarters in New York, on Sept. 22, 2020. The General Debate of the 75th session of the UN General Assembly opened on Tuesday with the theme of "The future we want, the United Nations we need: reaffirming our collective commitment to multilateralism -- confronting COVID-19 through effective multilateral action." (Eskinder Debebe/UN Photo/Handout via Xinhua) (Xinhua/Eskinder Debebe via Getty Images) Xinhua News Agency/Getty Images The most startling comment from Dominic Cummings, formerly chief adviser to Boris Johnson, in his parliamentary committee testimony on his previous boss was In any sensible rational government, it is completely crazy that I should have been in such a senior position". This and the swathe of Cummings performance underlines the attractions of British politics as the very best (blood) sport in international political economy. The Brexit series has only heightened this sense of entertainment and stupefaction. It also emphasises that many governments face fiercest opposition from within, and the degree of disorder and degradation that have beset the workings of Downing Street. Boris Johnsons poor response to the outbreak of COVID (he was apparently writing a book on Shakespeare) is masked by chaos elsewhere, and the absence of both decisive international leadership, and a coordinated global response to the crisis. As I write, two of the major news items refer to the lack of a coordinated global roll-out of vaccines, and to President Bidens commissioning of a report into the origins of the virus. To put it mildly, this is not a great way to embark on the road towards a new world order as many politicians now term it, or the building of the post COVID economy. The success, productivity and durability of that new world order will depend very much on the kind of rules of the game and institutions that marshal it. As the recent cyber-attacks on an oil pipeline in the USA and on the Irish health system show, we do not yet have frameworks in place to deal with the negative outcomes of new technologies. Democracy, the mechanics of government and institutions need massive investment. In the new order we will need institutions that can bring order to issues such as the future of money (digital currencies, crypto), cyber warfare and cyber crime, policing climate damage, the incorporation of mental health into healthcare systems internationally and genetic editing, to name a few of the challenges looming on the horizon. In this context the crucial question, given the context of a multipolar world driven by very different values, is how to realise the institutions of the 21st century. Here, I can think of maybe four options. Crash and crisis the first option follows the thread of recent history, in particular the policy responses to the global financial crisis and the euro-zone crisis where apparently obvious risks and imbalances caught policymakers off guard, and where they then scrambled inelegantly to put in place rules so that a debt crisis could never happen again (I give it three years). I worry that a major and catastrophic (in terms of resulting human fatalities) cyber-attack could be the catalyst that, following a direct military response, forces the introduction of rules of the game for cyber. East versus West. It is worth remembering that the current international institutional order (i.e. UN) has its origins in the desire of the prospective victors of the second world war to shape the post war world order, and the location of institutions like the UN, IMF and WHO is testament to that balance of power. More recently as the economic centre of gravity in the world shifts, we are beginning to see China both infuse itself into the bureaucracy of the UN (it controls a number of committees) and cultivate Asia centric institutions such as the Asian Development Bank. A world where we have Western and Eastern multilateral institutions would be a truly divided one, though there is the hope that these institutions could speak to each other, and that this dialogue might be facilitated by smaller nations from Switzerland to the UAE. Multiple Actors Two cojoined elements of the new world order that are striking are the facts that the challenges posed by innovation and technology (genetics, data, cyber) are closely tied to the corporate and financial worlds and those corporations are of such a size that they are now important global actors in their own right (25% of US stock market capitalisation is made up of the top five technology companies). Under this approach, the institutional solutions to climate damage are collaborations between disparate actors mayors of large cities, large strategic corporations (i.e. Microsoft), governments, activists and some universities. Santa Fe - a variant on the above approach is that it is driven by experts, from very different fields and who bring both a specific expertise and an appreciation of the interlinking causes of many of the challenges the world faces. I term this approach the Santa Fe one after the Santa Fe institute which is likely the exemplar in applying a cross disciplinary approach to complex problems and systems. In many ways this is the most enlightened approach to building the institutions of the future, though a somewhat less democratic one. I suspect that this last option is the least likely. World wars spurred the creation of the League of Nations and the United Nations, lets hope we dont need the world to get worse so that it can get better.

https://www.forbes.com/sites/mikeosullivan/2021/05/29/how-can-we-build-the-next-united-nations-institutions-need-investing-but-what-shape-will-they-take/

How can I access new emails in Outlook without having copies kept on a server?

I had been using Windows Live Mail in POP3 mode, until I was told that it would no longer be supported. So I switched to Outlook, and am getting more and more frustrated. I just want to download all new emails when I connect, and not have copies kept on a server. Don Janssen A: Most email service providers, including Microsoft, allow users to access their email account using either POP3 or IMAP. Related Tech Q&As Read more from Patrick Marshall here >> With POP3 your messages are stored on the server only until you connect and download them. That, of course, saves space on the server. With IMAP when you download messages to your device they also remain on the server until you delete them. That can quickly fill up your allotment of mail storage but it has the advantage that you can access your email from multiple devices. If you open an email on your laptop computer, for example, its still on the server and can be accessed from your smartphone. And if you delete a message on one device it is deleted on all devices that access that account. When you use Outlook to connect to your email account if the service provider supports both POP3 and IMAP, Outlook by default will automatically set it up for IMAP. If you prefer POP3 youll need to set up your email account in Outlook manually. Youll find the appropriate settings for Microsoft-hosted email accounts here. Advertising Before setting up access to your email account using POP3, be sure to disable your current IMAP account in Outlook. The simplest way to do that is to change the password so that Outlook cant log into the server. Q: I have heard that Windows 10 Professional includes an embedded key logger that sends all keystrokes back to a Microsoft server, no matter how one sets the privacy settings in the Settings tab. Couger Kat A: There are some conspiracy theories being floated that theres a key logger built into Windows 10, but there is no actual evidence that is the case. And bear in mind that there are a lot of technically proficient people who are capable of detecting keylogging if it was built into the operating system. Beyond that, it doesnt make sense to me that Microsoft would want the massive amounts of data that would be generated by the millions of computers running Windows 10. I mean, mining that amount of data for anything useful would be a massive challenge, and if a key logger was to be found it would expose Microsoft to massive liability. It just doesnt make sense. So, no, while Ive not seen definitive proof that there is no key logger just as theres no definitive proof that leprechauns dont exist Im more than skeptical about the rumors of a Windows 10 key logger. Q: I keep getting pop-ups asking if I wish to install WinZip drivers. I dont know if this is an official Microsoft Windows application or something that I should avoid. I am running a Lenovo Flex 5 laptop with Windows 10 that is up to date. I try to avoid the clickbait that is out there but I suspect that I may have stepped in something. Norm Bottenberg A: WinZip is a legitimate third-party program used for compressing files. But that doesnt explain why you keep getting those pop-ups so, yes, you may have stepped in something. You may want to try installing a pop-up blocker. Ive found them to be very effective.

https://www.seattletimes.com/business/technology/how-can-i-access-new-emails-in-outlook-without-having-copies-kept-on-a-server/?utm_source=RSS&utm_medium=Referral&utm_campaign=RSS_business

How Saints RB Alvin Kamara Ranks in the Top 10 Explosive Runners?

Where does New Orleans All-Pro running back rank among the NFL's Top 10 Explosive Runners in 2020. It's hard to imagine Alvin Kamara as just average since he's one of football's most exciting players. Whether he's racking up yards on the ground or catching the ball, the All-Pro running back is fun to watch. NFL writer Nick Shook examined last season's most explosive ball carriers in the NFL. Shook extrapolated NextGen's data that tracked "distance and speed measurements" of these dynamic rushers. The three criteria used to make the list: 1. A minimum of 100 carries in 2020. 2. At least 20 carries of 10-plus yards. 3. The defining metrics: the total number and percentage of 15-plus mph runs. Surprisingly, Alvin Kamara is one of the most dangerous dual-threats in the league but Shook ranked him at No. 7 among the explosive runners. Saints RB Alvin Kamara - Credit: USA Today Sports NextGen Stats produced these results based on Kamara's 2020 performance: 10+ yard runs: 27 10+ pct: 14.14% 15+ mph runs: 40 15+ mph pct: 21.4% Yard per routes (RB): 2.3, 2nd Forced missed tackles (pass): 20 TDs outside tackles: 12, 1st Yards per attempt inside tackles: 6.6, 1st Kamara's numbers for this model are modest compared to Kyler Murray, who edged out last year's most explosive runner Lamar Jackson. Murray had 94 plays over 15 mph at 70.7%, Jackson posted 85 plays at 53.5%. Don't miss out on any Saints news and analysis! Take a second and sign up for our FREE newsletter and get breaking Saints news delivered to your inbox! Only Derrick Henry (Tennessee), J.K. Dobbins (Baltimore), Dalvin Cook (Minnesota), and Nick Chubb (Cleveland) were the running backs ahead of Alvin Kamara. Indy's Jonathan Taylor, Rams Darrell Henderson, and Pats Damien Harris were the other running backs to complete Shook's top ten. Sep 22, 2019; Seattle, WA, USA; New Orleans Saints running back Alvin Kamara (41) runs the ball in for a touchdown against the Seattle Seahawks during the first half at CenturyLink Field. Mandatory Credit: Steven Bisig-USA TODAY Sports NextGen Stat's Top 10 Explosive Runners of 2020 Kyle Murray, QB, Arizona Lamar Jackson, QB, Baltimore Derrick Henry, RB, Tennessee J.K. Dobbins, RB, Baltimore Dalvin Cook, RB, Minnesota Nick Chubb, RB, Cleveland Alvin Kamara, RB, New Orleans Jonathan Taylor, RB, Indianapolis Darrell Henderson, RB, Los Angeles Damien Harris, RB, New England Many a Saints fan have observed Kamara's great acceleration, top-notch breakaway speed, agility, and strength to shed tacklers since entering the league in 2017. He has excellent hands and can become a game-changer in short routes out of the backfield - recall his amazing 52-yard touchdown versus Green Bay in Week 3 of 2020. These physical traits and his football intelligence are what sets him apart from other running backs. Kamara's versatility makes him one of the best overall running backs in the National Football League. Alvin Kamara is not only an explosive player, but AK41 is an explosive play waiting to happen every time he touches the football. Subscribe to our Saints News Newsletter: https://news.snts.us/saintsnewletter Subscribe to the New Orleans Saints YT Channel: https://news.snts.us/saintsnewsyoutube For more Saints News: https://www.si.com/nfl/saints/ or https://www.saints.media Like us on Facebook: https://news.snts.us/saintsnews-fb Follow us on Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/saintsnews

https://www.si.com/nfl/saints/editorial-opinion/how-explosive-is-alvin-kamara

How large was the undercount of COVID-19 deaths across California?

Californias COVID-19 death toll could be far higher than current figures suggest, with up to thousands of additional deaths from the disease hiding behind other causes. New research shows that these additional deaths were particularly concentrated in certain parts of the state. Researchers at Boston University and the University of Pennsylvania calculated the number of deaths that occurred in every U.S. county in 2020 and compared them to predicted deaths in that county in a non-pandemic year. They used historical mortality data from 2011 to 2019 to estimate the number of predicted deaths for 2020. Epidemiologists refer to the difference between predicted and actual mortality numbers as excess deaths. The Chronicle examined how each California countys official COVID-19 deaths compared with the number of excess deaths for the states 47 counties with over 30,000 residents. We found that 42 counties had excess deaths in 2020 above predicted levels in a non-pandemic year. And of those, 29 had excess deaths that were not assigned to COVID-19, including 14 of the states 15 most populous counties. We refer to those excess deaths not accounted for by COVID-19 as residual deaths. In Los Angeles County, 27% of excess deaths during 2020 were residual deaths. In Alameda County, 37% of excess deaths were residual. The implication here is that there were potentially hundreds of missing or hidden deaths that are not being accounted for in the official statistics, Andrew Stokes, a professor at Boston Universitys School of Public Health and a lead author on the excess-deaths study, told The Chronicle, referring to Alameda Countys 37% residual death rate. Statewide, according to an April study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association, about 32% of Californias excess deaths were residual. Thats higher than the U.S. overall rate of almost 28%. This is not just a triviality for academics to study, Kirsten Bibbins-Domingo, chair of the UCSF Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, told The Chronicle. These numbers are large. Some of these residual deaths can be attributed to factors related to the pandemic, like accelerating drug overdoses or lower standards of care driven by overwhelmed hospitals and individuals reluctance to seek health care in person during a pandemic. For instance, Mendocino County, which had a residual excess death rate of 1.4 per 1,000 people, the highest of any county we analyzed, saw increases in deaths due to heart disease, diabetes, suicide and influenza pneumonia, according to county health spokesperson Laura Arms. In San Francisco, the countys high residual death rate about 50% of the countys excess deaths werent assigned to COVID-19 appears to be mostly tied to its soaring fatal drug overdose count. Drug overdose deaths in the city spiked by 61% in 2020 compared with the previous year, going from 441 to 712 deaths. Stokes methodology for predicted deaths did not account for such a large increase in overdose deaths; he told The Chronicle that excess deaths were likely to reflect in part the effects of increases in drug overdoses in 2020. While not as extreme as San Francisco, California saw an overall spike in fatal drug overdoses last year, too. The state had a year-over-year 45% jump in overdose deaths as of October 2020, according to preliminary CDC data. Still, many of the residual excess deaths that California recorded last year are likely COVID-19 deaths that werent counted as such, researchers said. Stokes noted that some counties had fewer deaths than a normal year; those were probably counties with relatively few COVID-19 deaths that also had fewer deaths related to other causes, like other infectious diseases or traffic accidents, because of stay-at-home orders and other public health measures. An additional factor that might help explain Californias higher-than-average residual excess death toll is how it assigns causes of death. For deaths that happen outside of hospitals, the state relies on a sheriff-coroner system, which means there is an elected official who doesnt have to have a medical degree. An analysis for Stat News found that counties with a sheriff-coroner typically had higher rates of residual deaths compared with counties with state or local medical examiners. In addition to lacking thorough medical training, Stokes said, sheriff-coroners might be swayed by their political leanings. The politicization of coronavirus deaths during the Trump administration could have influenced some politically conservative sheriff-coroners away from attributing suspicious deaths to COVID-19. If some of these sheriff-coroners ... have partisanship or political leanings, that could certainly affect the propensity to assign COVID to the death certificate, Stokes said. Bibbins-Domingo noted that digging deeper into residual excess deaths was important for a few big reasons: First, excess mortality appears to be concentrated in populations that are already hard hit by COVID-19 suggesting that theres an even wider disparity than the current data suggests between wealthy, white populations and poorer populations of color. If (these) numbers hold, it suggests were underestimating even the degree to which these groups are being affected, she said. Second, the sheer magnitude of these residual deaths could mean that Californias tier system is based on incomplete figures. Poor data might lead to reopening a county prematurely where theres still a lot of virus around, she said. Adding to that point, Stokes said more accurate death counts could help individuals with their decision-making around the virus, too. If we fully account for these hidden deaths, and those are appearing in the obituary section of local newspapers as COVID deaths, that helps to compel people to act in a way that's more consistent with public health guidelines and to get vaccinated, he said. Susie Neilson is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer, and Nami Sumida is a Chronicle data visualization developer. Email: susan.neilson@sfchronicle.com, nami.sumida@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @susieneilson, @namisumida

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