Monthly Archives: July 2020

There’s space in the Jewish community for queer people. I just had to find it. – JTA News – Jewish Telegraphic Agency

Posted on by

This story originally appeared on Alma.

Would you be comfortable with a gay guy being in your cabin?

It was another humid summer day in which some of us had taken shelter back in our cabin to avoid the heat. I remember my breath catching in my chest, feeling out of place as some other people in my aidah, or grade, sat on a bed on a quiet afternoon discussing if another camper our age was gay or not. I was 13.

The guy shook his head.

Of course not. I dont care, he said.

The girl who had asked him looked pensive.

I dont think Id want a lesbian in my cabin, she said. I dont think Id be comfortable with them watching me change.

I averted my eyes, the discomfort starting to flare in my body. I shook my head and willed myself not to give away the guilt I felt, like I always did. I had always tried to be respectful, never looking at the girls in my cabin in that way. But my stomach turned into knots and I reminded myself to keep pretending I wasnt affected by that small exchange.

It wasnt until the previous school year that I noticed my eyes wandering often to the girls in my grade as well as the boys glancing at their bodies in a way that didnt just feel like a comparison to my own, but a distinct desire. I had never heard the word bisexual. My exposure to LGBTQ people was limited to stereotypes that I saw played out on TV and people my age making fun of them. I was already different enough in my own mind without being that. I had dealt with, and still deal with, severe anxiety since I was in elementary school. I had trouble making friends. I felt out of place already. I vowed to ignore my feelings for girls for fear of being othered in my own head more than I already was.

My Jewish camp had always felt like an escape from the pressures I felt at school, to a small extent I still struggled to make friends and find my place as I dealt with my anxiety and the discomfort of my attraction to other girls. I became boy crazy that summer I was 13 not only because I desired the attention I felt like I never had, but also to distract my fellow campers from the way I felt about girls. I hated that summer; it not only caused me to struggle with my budding sexuality, but cemented my feelings of alienation as the people around me made fun of my obsession with boys.

Theres a long-running joke for Jewish institutions: that their sole purpose is to create more Jewish families by introducing young Jews to other Jews who they will eventually marry and have Jewish babies with. But that attempt also comes with the addition of an aggressively heterosexual environment, and the assumption that it operates that way for everyone. At my camp, boys and girls went on what we called Shabbat walks together through the woods. Theyd sneak out at night to hang out with each other, later sharing their exploits with their cabin late at night where no one could keep any secrets. Girls would cuddle each other and sleep together in tiny twin beds, but the idea that it meant anything more than friendship was discarded.

I never truly felt comfortable with my sexuality while at camp, even when I came out as bisexual at 17 and came back as a counselor after high school. I noticed a much more tolerant environment than when I was a camper, but the assumption of heterosexuality still remained. My first summer as a counselor, my campers would make lists of guys they thought I was possibly dating, and I suggested they add girls to the list, which they reluctantly did. As counselors, we were not allowed to discuss our sexualities or private lives with campers, which was well and good in theory. In reality, campers almost always assumed us to be straight, and merely contesting or telling the truth about ourselves could get us in trouble with staff. There was no room for me to completely be myself with my campers, and the fact that I couldnt fully be transparent to campers who could possibly also be queer cut me deeply.

I quit camp near the end of my second summer working there for a multitude of reasons, but mostly because I finally came to terms that I was done trying to fit into an environment I had never fully felt comfortable in.

I also went to high school at a Jewish day school. In my community in the tight-knit northern suburbs of Chicago, kids often would go to Jewish school and camp together until graduating from high school. I saw most of the same people nearly 365 days a year, but at least in high school I was able to meet new friends who had come from other middle schools.

I first learned what bisexuality really meant on Tumblr, and learned most of my knowledge of queer history and structures on the internet. But no one in my school was out, and I still felt alone and terrified as I came out one day in a classroom, surrounded by the watching eyes of my class. While the reaction to my coming out was greatly supportive, it was terrifying being the only out person when I knew many of my peers were making homophobic jokes and rolling their eyes at me and my friends at the same time.

But in time, I became more comfortable with my love for Judaism and my queer identity. I became heavily invested in my Judaic studies classes and spent half of my gap year in Israel studying Talmud. I realized I didnt want to sacrifice my growth and values for a world in which I never felt comfortable. Instead I needed to find a new space, both queer and Jewish, that I could live in and fully be myself.

I was lucky enough to find that community in college, full of accepting and loving people who are queer, Jewish, both or neither. I spent every Shabbat at Hillel, fully comfortable with myself and my devotion to my faith, without any hesitation to try to blend in or waver in my values. As Ive gotten older, Ive begun to see more similarities than differences between queer and Jewish communities. Both value the chosen families of community, and both experience life with a deep sense of pride and the desire to live joyously despite external struggles. Its a life in which I cant choose between, and which I often find myself deliriously happy.

I never formally came out to my synagogue and my community at home, although I will always value my childhood there. I still feel no need to try to force myself into an environment I never felt truly comfortable in. Instead I choose to move forward, to continue to find new chosen homes and Shabbat dinners that feel more like home.

See the original post here:

There's space in the Jewish community for queer people. I just had to find it. - JTA News - Jewish Telegraphic Agency

Actual age of Moon revealed!! Read on to find out – India TV News

Posted on by

Image Source : PTI/AP

The moon was formed from a magma ocean that took up to 200 million years to solidify

According to a new study, the moon was formed from a magma ocean that took up to 200 million years to solidify. This points out to the fact that the moon finished forming about 4.425 billion years ago, or 100 million years later than previously thought.

The study, which recently appeared in the journal Science Advances titled A long-lived magma ocean on a young Moon, was conducted by planetary geophysicists from the German Aerospace Center (DLR), along with researchers from the Technical University of Berlin and the Institute of Planetology at the University of Mnster.

According to Universe Today, When Earth was still in the process of forming roughly four-and-a-half billion years ago, the Solar System was a rather chaotic place. At the time, planetesimals that had also formed from the protoplanetary disk were tossed about and would occasionally collide with a planet. In Earths case, this had the effect of adding to its mass and causing its core region to become denser and hotter.

Over time, heavier elements sunk to the center of the Earth, leading to the formation of its iron-nickel core. At the same time, increasingly large parts of the Earths mantle melted to form a magma ocean. When Theia collided with Earth, this ocean became several thousands of kilometers deep and much of it was expelled into space. This material either was then reabsorbed by Earth or coalesced in orbit around it to form the Moon.

According to the scientists, the is the process by which the moon was formed. As Maxime Maurice, a researcher with the DLR and the lead author on the study, said:The results of our latest modelling suggest that the young Earth was hit by a protoplanet some 140 million years after the birth of the Solar System 4.567 billion years ago. According to our calculations, this happened 4.425 billion years ago with an uncertainty of 25 million years and the Moon was born.

The team found the evidence that as solidification progressed, there was a drastic change in the composition of the remaining magma ocean.

This finding allowed the team to link the formation of different types of rock on the Moon to a certain stage in the solidification process. Ultimately, this led them to conclude that the Moons magma ocean took almost 200 million years before it fully solidified to form the Moons crust. This contradicts what scientists previously thought, which was that it took only 35 million years to solidify.

Fight against Coronavirus: Full coverage

See original here:

Actual age of Moon revealed!! Read on to find out - India TV News

The moon is about 85 million years younger than we thought, new study finds – WDJT

Posted on by

By Scottie Andrew, CNN

(CNN) -- The moon is a constant in our lives. It causes Earth's ocean tides to ebb and flow, it stabilizes the planet's axial tilt and, until recently, it was assumed to have accompanied the Earth for over 4.5 billion years.

A new study has posited that previous estimates of the moon's age were millions of years off.

Scientists from the German Aerospace Center calculated how long it took the moon's magma ocean -- it's a widely held belief that the lunar surface was once molten -- to cool, and they estimated that the moon is actually almost 100 million years younger than previously thought -- about 85 million years younger, to be exact.

So the moon, they say, was actually born at the tail-end of the Earth's formation.

"This is the first time that the age of the Moon can be directly linked to an event that occurred at the very end of the Earth's formation, namely the formation of the core," said Thorsten Kleine, study co-author from the Institute of Planetology at the University of Mnster in Germany.

Their findings were published this month in the journal Science Advances.

Many scientists agree on the moon's origin story: Around 4.51 billion years ago, the Earth was still heating up and changing rapidly. During that time, it collided with a protoplanet called Theia, which sent rock shooting off Earth and into space.

Theia gets it name from one of the titans in Greek mythology, known as the mother of the moon goddess Selene. Nothing remains of the protoplanet.

This debris eventually collected over a couple thousand years and formed Earth's natural satellite -- the moon.

The energy that resulted from the agglomeration of rock created an ocean of magma on the nascent moon's surface. It eventually crystallized and formed the lunar surface as we know it today.

Samples returned from the moon during the Apollo missions and Soviet Luna robototic missions have not helped to provide data for an exact age of the moon. So scientists have had to explore other methods.

Using a computer model, the team of scientists estimated how long it took the moon's magma ocean to cool and solidify. Knowing how long that process of crystallization took clued them into how old the moon truly is.

Previous models estimated that it took up to 30 million years for the magma ocean to cool. This new study has suggested those models were millions of years off.

But how to re-create a process that took place during the very beginning of the solar system's existence? That part required a "great deal of imagination and creativity," the researchers said.

The scientists also needed to calculate the composition of the ancient minerals that formed when the ocean solidified. This helped them link different types of rocks to certain stages of the magma ocean's evolution.

All that modeling found that it took the moon nearly 200 million years to cool from its molten form and create what we now know as the lunar crust.

Scientists looked to the moon's mineral composition to estimate that the moon is around 4.425 billion years old, or 85 million years younger than what previous studies had proven. That's around the time Earth's core settled, the researchers said.

The-CNN-Wire & 2020 Cable News Network, Inc., a WarnerMedia Company. All rights reserved.

Go here to see the original:

The moon is about 85 million years younger than we thought, new study finds - WDJT

Younger by 85 million years! Research reveals surprising insights about Moons actual age, formation and core – The Financial Express

Posted on by

A new research at the German Aerospace Center has thrown light on some new insights regarding the evolution of the Moon. The researchers have estimated that the actual age of the lunar body is 85 million years less than the earlier estimates. The scientists have also found that there used to be a huge and fiery magma ocean on the moon, Space.com reported.

It is believed that around billions of years ago, the Moon emerged out of the collision between the Earth and a Mars size protoplanet. The new research has precisely focused on the estimated timeline of the collision between the Earth and the protoplanet and found that the actual collision happened around 4.425 billion years ago and not 4.51 billion years ago as believed till now.

The scientists reached the conclusion with the help of the mathematical models used to calculate the composition of the Moon over time. With the assumption that the magma ocean was hosted by the Moon, the scientists calculated how the minerals that were formed due to the cooling and solidification of the magma changed over time. Taking the timeline of the Magma ocean as their reference point, the researchers successfully traced their way to the Moons formation.

Co-author of the study Sabrina Schwinger in a statement said that the researchers compared the composition of the Moons rocks with the predicted composition of the magma ocean according to their model. The new research also agrees with the previous research that put the formation of the Moon to the time when the Earth formed its metallic core, the statement added. The new study has been published in the journal Sciene Advances on July 10.

Thorsten Kleine, professor at the Institute of Planetology at the University of Mnster in Germany also said that with the finding of the new study, the age of the Moon for the first time could be linked to an event that occured at the end of the earths formation- the formation of the core.

Get live Stock Prices from BSE, NSE, US Market and latest NAV, portfolio of Mutual Funds, calculate your tax by Income Tax Calculator, know markets Top Gainers, Top Losers & Best Equity Funds. Like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter.

Financial Express is now on Telegram. Click here to join our channel and stay updated with the latest Biz news and updates.

Read more:

Younger by 85 million years! Research reveals surprising insights about Moons actual age, formation and core - The Financial Express

Is veganism the future of food in a post-Covid-19 era? – Daijiworld.com

Posted on by

New Delhi,Jul 23 (IANS): People worldwide are recognising the devastating toll of the animal agribusiness on the environment, human health, and our collective sense of ethics. Theres still a long way to go, however, the tide is turning. With vegan (non-dairy) variants of almost every food product and ingredient available, people are increasingly turning towards sustainable eating as their food preference.

The notion of living a vegan lifestyle as being an expensive one is nothing but a myth. India is culturally inclined to vegetarianism. Many are turning to vegan by excluding the dairy element in their daily diet. The growing inclination towards conscious eating habits, backed by health benefits is set to drive veganism as a way of life in the days to come, says Chef David Edward Raj.

How does this eating habit help in keeping one's immunity in check?

Plants contain no cholesterol, unlike animals, they provide all that we need in terms of fiber to macro and micronutrients. Studies consistently show that people who eat fruit and vegetables tend to enjoy better health.

Research also suggests that vegans have lower rates of heart disease and diabetes. This reduced risk is partly because vegans are statistically leaner and much less prone to obesity than the general population, Raj, who is the Director - Culinary development and Innovation, Elior India, told IANSlife.

"The vegetables and spices we use in our daily meals are great immunity boosters which help us overcome the Covid-19 threat. It has been medically proven that including ingredients like mushrooms, tomato, bell pepper and green vegetables like broccoli and spinach are also good options to build resilience in the body against infections. A high amount of vitamins and mineral content found in them which helps the body ward off diseases and keeps one healthier."

Food items like ginger, gooseberries (amla) and turmeric are natural immunity supplements. Some of these superfoods are common ingredients in Indian meals and snacks. Several herbs like garlic and basil leaves help in boosting immunity. Seeds and nuts like sunflower seeds, flaxseed, pumpkin seeds and melon seeds are excellent sources of protein and Vitamin E.

Veganism also contributes to nature in terms of reducing emissions into the environment. According to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, after beef production, cattle milk is responsible for the most emissions (20 percent) on a commodity basis, he points out. "The two major greenhouse gases that are emitting due to animal agriculture are methane and nitrous oxide, because of manure storage and the use of fertilizers, respectively. Hence, veganism as a lifestyle is not just caring about oneself but caring about nature as well."

How is veganism being accepted in the corporate sector?

Raj explains: "With the growing awareness of conscious eating along with the need to maintain a healthy immunity, people are looking for a vegan option in corporate cafeterias. Also, one out of six of Elior's recipes is vegetarian that further turns towards veganism." Elior India caters to Fortune 500 companies across India such as Godrej, Goldman Sachs, Cognizant, Linked In, Ashok Leyland, Visa Master, Daimler, Pfizer, Cisco, MRF, Vellore Institute of Technology, Larsen & Toubro, Panasonic, etc."

See the original post here:
Is veganism the future of food in a post-Covid-19 era? - Daijiworld.com

Is vegetarianism the future of food in post-COVID era? – Sambad English

Posted on by

New Delhi: People worldwide are recognising the devastating toll of the animal agribusiness on the environment, human health, and our collective sense of ethics. Theres still a long way to go, however, the tide is turning. With vegan (non-dairy) variants of almost every food product and ingredient available, people are increasingly turning towards sustainable eating as their food preference.

The notion of living a vegan lifestyle as being an expensive one is nothing but a myth. India is culturally inclined to vegetarianism. Many are turning to vegan by excluding the dairy element in their daily diet. The growing inclination towards conscious eating habits, backed by health benefits is set to drive veganism as a way of life in the days to come, says Chef David Edward Raj.

How does this eating habit help in keeping ones immunity in check?

Plants contain no cholesterol, unlike animals, they provide all that we need in terms of fiber to macro and micronutrients. Studies consistently show that people who eat fruit and vegetables tend to enjoy better health.

Research also suggests that vegans have lower rates of heart disease and diabetes. This reduced risk is partly because vegans are statistically leaner and much less prone to obesity than the general population, Raj, who is the Director Culinary development and Innovation, Elior India, told IANSlife.

The vegetables and spices we use in our daily meals are great immunity boosters which help us overcome the Covid-19 threat. It has been medically proven that including ingredients like mushrooms, tomato, bell pepper and green vegetables like broccoli and spinach are also good options to build resilience in the body against infections. A high amount of vitamins and mineral content found in them which helps the body ward off diseases and keeps one healthier.

Food items like ginger, gooseberries (amla) and turmeric are natural immunity supplements. Some of these superfoods are common ingredients in Indian meals and snacks. Several herbs like garlic and basil leaves help in boosting immunity. Seeds and nuts like sunflower seeds, flaxseed, pumpkin seeds and melon seeds are excellent sources of protein and Vitamin E.

Veganism also contributes to nature in terms of reducing emissions into the environment. According to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, after beef production, cattle milk is responsible for the most emissions (20 percent) on a commodity basis, he points out. The two major greenhouse gases that are emitting due to animal agriculture are methane and nitrous oxide, because of manure storage and the use of fertilizers, respectively. Hence, veganism as a lifestyle is not just caring about oneself but caring about nature as well.

How is veganism being accepted in the corporate sector?

Raj explains: With the growing awareness of conscious eating along with the need to maintain a healthy immunity, people are looking for a vegan option in corporate cafeterias. Also, one out of six of Eliors recipes is vegetarian that further turns towards veganism. Elior India caters to Fortune 500 companies across India such as Godrej, Goldman Sachs, Cognizant, Linked In, Ashok Leyland, Visa Master, Daimler, Pfizer, Cisco, MRF, Vellore Institute of Technology, Larsen & Toubro, Panasonic, etc.

(IANS)

For 36 years, Sambad Group has been redefining Odia journalism and bringing you the news from all corners of the state and beyond. During this pandemic, support Sambad and Kanak News by making a contribution today for our various digital platforms. Help regional journalism survive during these challenging times.

Go here to read the rest:
Is vegetarianism the future of food in post-COVID era? - Sambad English

Cyberpunk 2077 Badlands concept art revealed – VG247

Posted on by

Concept art for the Cyberpunk 2077 Badlands area was recently shared online, offering us an insight into yet another one of the upcoming blockbusters distinct locales.

The new Cyberpunk 2077 Badlands art was shared by the official Cyberpunk 2077 Twitter account. You can check out the tweet below, which features four screenshots of the Badlands themselves.

Sparsely populated by Nomads, the Badlands are the vast plains outside of the city proper, reads the tweet. Unchecked resource extraction, burning oil fields, rampant pollution; this district makes Night City feel like a rich oasis.

But it holds golden opportunities for those in the know.

CD Projekt Red appears to be slowly but surely revealing a range of Cyberpunk 2077 areas. Just yesterday, we got a look at the Heywood district, which is dubbed as the biggest bedroom in Night City, housing the majority of Cyberpunk 2077s population.

Prior to that, we were introduced to the industrial, smog-covered Santo Domingo, as well as the wealthy Westbrook, home to both Japantown and the notorious Tyger Claws.

Weve also learned a lot of other details about Cyberpunk 2077 in recent weeks. For example, you can beat Cyberpunk 2077 without even completing the main quest, Also, it appears that Mox gang member Evelyn Parker who we know from the Braindance scene shown during the prologue gameplay during last months Night City Wire could have cybernetically-engineered Wolverine claws.

If youre unsure what the Braindance is, its basically Cyberpunk 2077s version of Geralts Witcher senses. Also, if you want to know more about the prologue, check out every single way the Maelstrom mission can possibly play out.

If youd like to keep reading up on Cyberpunk 2077, weve got you covered. Be sure to check out our hands-on impressions after having spent four hours with the game Alex called it every video game youve ever played in one cybernetically-enhanced package.

See original here:

Cyberpunk 2077 Badlands concept art revealed - VG247

Former NFL Players to Receive Responsible Gambling and Sports Integrity Education – PRNewswire

Posted on by

WASHINGTON, July 22, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Problem gambling and off-field issues have plagued professional athletes across sports since their inception. Now, former NFL players will attend responsible gambling and sports integrity sessions presented by former athletes on an ongoing basis.

The NFLPA Professional Athletes Foundation, the leading Foundation providing former NFL players with financial assistance and counseling, has signed a two-year agreement with EPIC Risk Management and GVC Foundation US to create, market, and launch live and virtual educational programs for NFLPA members.

"This is the first program that the NFLPA/PAF has ever run on problem gambling education and awareness," said Andre Collins, Executive Director of the NFLPA Professional Athletes Foundation."As the first major professional sports league in the U.S. to undertake this project, we're proud to tackle this issue head-on. We urge all sports leagues to address problem gambling with the seriousness it deserves."

EPIC Risk Management and GVC Foundation US will create the program content, which will be tailored to meet the mental health needs of former NFL players, while the NFLPA/PAF will advertise, market, and coordinate the delivery of the program to its members.

"Professional athletes are highly susceptible to problematic gambling behavior. Educating these former players on how to gamble responsibly and act with integrity is a crucial step forward for all sports," said Amani Toomer, former New York Giants wide receiver. As a Trustee for GVC Foundation US, Toomer will help deliver educational sessions throughout the country alongside EPIC Risk Management.

EPIC Risk Management, a gambling harm minimization consultancy, and GVC Foundation US, a responsible gambling nonprofit launched by GVC Holdings, have an existing partnership aiming to co-host educational seminars throughout the U.S. The two groups are further partnering with the Division on Addiction at Cambridge Health Alliance, a Harvard Medical School teaching hospital, to conduct research about elite athletes' relationships with problem gambling through these and other educational sessions.

"Problem gambling is often described as a hidden addiction. The signs are difficult to spot, yet the effects can be devastating. Proactive education offered to vulnerable populations is crucial for curbing problem gambling. We plan to educate former NFL players through motivational talks provided by former professional athletes who've experienced the consequences of problem gambling, first-hand," said Paul Buck, CEO of EPIC Risk Management.

"The gambling industry has a moral responsibility to look after consumers and ensure their wellbeing. Those with gambling disorders and addictive tendencies deserve our unyielding support, and this program is a perfect extension of our mission to provide that," said Martin Lycka, Trustee of GVC Foundation US and Director of Regulatory Affairs for GVC Holdings.

About NFLPA Professional Athletes Foundation

The NFLPA Professional Athletes Foundation provides financial assistance and counseling toward the well-being and benefit of former players. The organization is the leading Foundation assisting NFL Former Players, with over $21 million in financial, medical, and educational assistance granted.

About EPIC Risk Management

EPIC Risk Management (www.epicriskmanagement.com) is the world's leading independent gambling harm minimization consultancy. Working across the highest risk sectors for gambling related harm, EPIC have worked in 14 European countries on ground breaking harm minimization programs, responsible gambling training and class leading advisory. EPIC draws on lived experience to help individuals and organizations across financial services, elite sport, the military, criminal justice, education and the gambling industry to minimize the risks posed by gambling harm.

About GVC Foundation US

GVC Foundation US is a first-of-its-kind nonprofit dedicated to promoting responsible gambling, sports integrity and corporate compliance in the U.S. The Foundation was launched by the GVC Global Foundation and GVC Holdings PLC(LSE: GVC), one of the world's largest sports betting and gaming groups, operating both online and in the retail sector.

SOURCE GVC Foundation US

https://gvcglobalfoundation.com

View original post here:

Former NFL Players to Receive Responsible Gambling and Sports Integrity Education - PRNewswire

Spain’s online gambling ad limits to take effect in October – CalvinAyre.com

Posted on by

Spains harsh new online gambling marketing restrictions will likely take effect in October after the European Commission (EC) voiced no objections to the countrys plans.

On Wednesday, Spains Minister of Consumer Affairs Alberto Garzn announced that he would press the governments Council of State to approve by September the Royal Decree on gambling advertising Garzn unveiled earlier this month. Assuming that approval is secured, Garzn (pictured) believes final approval by the Council of Ministers can be obtained by October.

Spain submitted the latest draft of the Decree to the EC for approval on July 9, slapping an urgency tag on the measure to ensure the EC got his message that childrens lives were in danger (or something). On Tuesday, the EC declared that it had no issues with the Decree, clearing the way for Garzn to forward the Decree to the Council of State.

Spain is seeking to limit online gambling advertising on TV, radio and online video platforms to a narrow four-hour window starting at 1am. A previous draft of the Decree would have allowed advertising during live sports events but this exception was eliminated in the current draft.

Sponsorships of sports teams, leagues and competitions will also be prohibited, with gambling names and logos to vanish from sports jerseys and stadiums. The government is reportedly mulling whether to allow state authorities to decide if they want to permit pitch-side advertising during matches in their respective territories.

Online operators are also facing tough new limits on bonus offers, restricting them to customers who have made a minimum of three deposits, so welcome bonuses would be a thing of the past. The upper limit for acceptable bonus offers was 100 in earlier drafts but the specifics will now be left up to Spains Direccin General de Ordenacin del Juego (DGOJ) regulator.

Operators shouldnt expect much mercy from the DGOJ. Earlier this month, Mikel Arana, who was appointed DGOJ chief in May, effectively told stakeholders to either accept the governments new rules or make a run for the border.

Speaking Wednesday at a meeting of the Joint Committee for the Study of Addiction Problems, Garzn said the advertising curbs were just the first step on the path toward tackling Spains problem gambling issues. Garzn said he and other cabinet ministers were discussing the possibility of reallocating some of the license fees paid by online operators toward problem gambling initiatives.

Garzn also warned that land-based operators shouldnt rest easy, as he would be convening officials from autonomous regions with responsibility for gambling to discuss ways of curbing land-based gambling, with sports betting shops firmly in Garzns sights.

Jdigital, the trade group representing Spanish-licensed online operators, issued a seven-point rebuttal to the ECs decision to bless Spains proposals, including a challenge for the government to produce hard data proving that gambling currently represents a public health problem in the country.

Jdigital also took issue with marketing exemptions granted to the state-run SELAE and ONCE lottery operations, which effectively amount to state-aid (something the EC used to harp about quite a bit). The proposals also pose a barrier to entry for new operators, who will lack state-approved means of raising awareness of their brands.

Jdigital and its fellow trade body Cejuego have made many of these arguments before, all of which fell on deaf ears. Barring a miracle or some legal jujitsu, Spains government shows no sign of letting up on its plans to neuter the online gambling market.

More here:

Spain's online gambling ad limits to take effect in October - CalvinAyre.com

Live Betting Betting of the Future – The Sports Gambling Podcast

Posted on by

Its not news that the face of betting has been changing with the continuous advancements in technology and market demands. Consequently, we can now enjoy live betting or in-play betting, as some players call it. Regardless of the name, most players would agree that live betting brings an absolute thrill to the overall gambling experience.

For these and many more reasons, we think live betting has been introducing us to the way betting is going to look in the future. Lets go over some advantages of live betting and all the possibilities that go along with it.

When talking about the future of betting, we need to consider eSports since there is a higher demand for eSports now than ever. Many professionals that play eSports compete in dozens of tournaments and championships worldwide. This makes for an exciting betting market that draws in many bettors.

So, seeing the game in action might make you change your mind about your initial bet or give you some new ideas about which bet to place. If you can easily spot trends or changing tides in a game, live betting is the right choice for you. Moreover, you will get unbelievable odds on live bets.

Creating new betting options and widening the range of betting opportunities goes hand in hand with live betting. Interestingly, many bets are simply not possible to make before a match has started. In cases like that, live betting steps in.

These options could include bets such as the next team to score, next player to score, or time of the next goal.

What makes in-play bets accessible is that most bookmakers cannot quickly change the odds on some plays, making it possible for bettors to place bets on odds that havent yet changed.

However, pay attention to some other betting options that might seem too good to be true as most of them have very high odds but are unlikely to happen, and their initial role is for players to have fun. Keep your eye on the prize and dont let your emotions get the better of you.

The combination of live betting and live streaming is a beneficial situation for any online betting site that offers this service. Although players can find many live streams on separate streaming sites, most of them prefer to have the option of placing bets while watching a live stream of the game on the same website.

Thus, betting sites that offer a combination of these two are highly profitable sites where you can find top-notch odds on individual bets while not taking your eyes off the game.

Most sites offer HD live streaming services, but hopefully, the live streams will additionally improve in the future and incorporate other features that will make them stand out among the crowd.

Ultimately, you will need to make the right decision at the right time pay close attention to the players on the field and study their every move.

More:

Live Betting Betting of the Future - The Sports Gambling Podcast

Gaming, Gambling & the Future – Geek Vibes Nation

Posted on by

The lines between gaming and gambling have become increasingly blurred over the past few years, with the two sectors now inextricably linked.

From a gaming perspective, advancements in technology have allowed developers to create multi-level titles that bear little resemblance to the earliest video games.

It is a similar story in the gambling industry, with tech helping to power feature-rich creations across genres such as slots, bingo and many more.

Read on as we take a closer look at both gaming and gambling, and assess where things are heading in the future.

Boom Time for Gaming and Gambling

The gaming and gambling industries are booming right now, with both sectors generating huge annual revenues.

On the gaming side of things, the likes of Sony and Microsoft have collectively sold more than 150 million units of their latest consoles.

The gambling is also in rude health, with experts predicting that that yearly global revenues could top $60 million by the end of 2020.

Advancements in technology across each sector should drive further growth, but it is the crossover between the two that perhaps offers the biggest potential.

Gamification Powering Gambling Growth

Online casinos are now unrecognisable from the original sites that sprang up during the 1990s, with tech transforming what operators are able to offer.

Gamification the process of adding more game-like features to gambling has been central to this, taking casino play into a completely different stratosphere.

Modern games are not just about winning the jackpot, but are now more about the journey a player takes to get to that point.

Gamification encourages greater engagement with the different types of casino games and undoubtedly helps to increase the level of enjoyment from playing them.

Consoles Bring Gaming into the Mainstream

Tech has driven huge growth in gambling and that has been mirrored by developments in the gaming sector too.

The launch of consoles in the 1980s took gaming into homes across the world, but it was the creation of the internet during the following decade that took things to another level.

Sony and Microsoft have been at the forefront of the charge, with various incarnations of the PlayStation and Xbox proving to be huge commercial successes.

The launch of their next-generation consoles during the latter of part of 2020 will only serve to keep gaming in the forefront of public consciousness.

Bringing the Two Sectors Together

Gamification changed the way casino games were played and modern console tech looks poised to add another layer into the mix, further cementing the crossover between each sector.

Previous consoles didnt really cater for online casino players, but the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X have the potential to change that forever.

Some leading developers have already started to integrate gambling elements into their games and more are tipped to join the party over the coming months.

The prospect of enjoying an immersive casino experience on console is an enticing one, opening the door for the lines between gaming and gambling to become even more blurry.

Gaming & Gambling The Final Word

It is impossible to dispute that gaming and gambling are joined at the hip, with each one having at least one foot firmly in the other camp.

The trend towards gaming-type experiences in gambling is unlikely to slow down any time soon, while the prospect of casinos migrating onto console is an exciting prospect.

With eSports also in the mix to bring gaming and gambling even closer together, it is highly likely that the two sectors will become even more intertwined over the next few years.

A few of my favorite things include my pet dragon (Drogon), Game of Thrones, Disney movies and theme parks, the MCU, DC movies, Star Wars, sports, and my rather large Funko Pop collection. Daenerys Targaryen is my queen, Robert Downey Jr is my man crush, and Simba is my spirit animal.

Like Loading...

Related

See the article here:

Gaming, Gambling & the Future - Geek Vibes Nation

At This Point, Betting on Chesapeake Stock Is Nothing More Than Gambling – InvestorPlace

Posted on by

In late June, after weeks of speculation, Chesapeake Energy(OTCMKTS:CHKAQ) finally officially filedforChapter 11 bankruptcy, which allows a company to operate and work out deals with creditors while effectively wiping out common equity holders. Things dont look great for CHK stock.

Source: IgorGolovniov / Shutterstock.com

On June 29, the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) suspended the company and de-listed shares. Since then, the company has moved to the over-the-counter market and is still trading publicly.

However, the Chesapeake stock is likely to remain highly volatile and long-term investors should not buy the shares.

The Oklahoma-based company voluntarily filed for Chapter 11 to facilitate a comprehensive balance sheet restructuring. It may be tempting to blame the effects of the pandemic and volatility in oil prices in 2020 for the demise of the company, its woes had started some time ago.

The group was founded in 1989 and went public in 1992. Chesapeake Energy was number309 on the 2019 Fortune 500list. It was included in theS&P 500 Mid-Cap indexuntil late February.

When the pandemic hit our shores and the oil crisis started in March, CHK stock was already in a fundamentally compromised situation. It had $9 billion in debt.

Over the past decade, management had bet aggressively on Americas natural gas boom. However, it had failed to account for the decline in the price of gas down mostly as a result of fracking.

In 2016, there had been rumors of a potential bankruptcy filing, too. But it had managed to pull through those difficult days. At the time,researchpublished by David Larcker and Brian Tayan of Stanford University highlighted poor corporate governance at the firm.

Analysts have been warning about the extremely high levels of debt for quite some time. By the beginning of 2020, the price of oil was around $60 a barrel, which already had made it difficult for Chesapeake Energy to service its debt.

Then as oil and gas prices went into free fall in March, Chesapeakes cash flow decreased. And the end became inevitable.

On April 13, the group announced 1-for-200 reverse stock split, stating: The reverse stock split is intended to, among other things, increase the per share trading price of the Companys common shares to satisfy the $1.00 minimum bid price requirement for continued listing on the NYSE.

In other words, without such a move, CHK stock would have been delisted in April. And CFRA analyst Paige Meyertagged the stock with a strong sell rating and a $0 price target.

Recent research led by Monika K. Sywak of Villanova University highlights, equity is the last in line to receive whats available to be distributed in a bankruptcy proceeding. Ahead of the common stockholders in line, are secured lenders, suppliers, employees and even unsecured creditors. Even if a company successfully reorganizes, the future of common stock is very uncertain.

Seasoned investors realize that such a bankruptcy filing will make Chesapeake stock worthless. The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC)clarifieswhat happens when a public company files for protection under the federal bankruptcy laws.

It says Bankruptcy laws determine the order of payment Stockholders owners of the company, have the last claim on assets and may not receive anything if the Secured and Unsecured Creditors claims are not fully repaid.

However, the past few months have seen many retail investors betting on bankrupt companies stocks. Other names that day traders have been flocking include Hertz Global(NYSE:HTZ), JCPenney(OTCMKTS:JCPNQ) andWhiting Petroleum(NYSE:WLL).

In an article titled Gambling on the Stock Market: The Case of Bankrupt Companies, Luis Coelho and Richard Taffler of Warwick Business School conclude that retail investors trade more extensively on the stock of bankrupt firms than sophisticated investors do. They highlight individual investors own, on average, 90% of the stock of firms undergoing Chapter 11 reorganization.

It is possible to say that most of them are simply betting on it like a lottery ticket. Believing Chesapeake stock is due for better days is daydreaming.

Most companies go bankrupt because they cannot pay their bills. Investing in bankrupt names like Chesapeake stock in effect means wagering against a legal process that wipes out shareholders.

So it is not investing, but sheer reckless speculation. If you decide to play that daily game, it is important to appreciate the risks involved fully.

Market participants see price spikes in any one of these bankrupt names quite regularly. However, long-term investors would be best served if they did not include any of them in their portfolios.

If you are a rather risk-averse investor who wants to invest for the long run, broader markets offer plenty of solid companies.

TezcanGecgil has worked in investment management for over two decades in the U.S. and U.K. In addition to formal higher education in the field, including a Ph.D. degree, she has also completed all 3 levels of the Chartered Market Technician (CMT) examination. Her passion is for options trading based on technical analysis of fundamentally strong companies. She especially enjoys setting up weekly covered calls for income generation.As of this writing, Tezcan did not hold a position in any of the aforementioned securities.

Original post:

At This Point, Betting on Chesapeake Stock Is Nothing More Than Gambling - InvestorPlace

The Long Con: Steve Donoughue on the forces of UK gambling regulation – CalvinAyre.com

Posted on by

The past couple of years for the United Kingdoms gambling industry has seen escalating regulations, expectations and fear campaigns, driven by a certain type of politician. To put it all into perspective, our Becky Liggero Fontana spoke with Steve Donoughue, Founder, GamblingConsultant.co.uk, after their recent iGaming NEXT POWER Hour.

Especially as Covid-19 shut everyone inside, fears ratcheted up about problem gambling, and reports are now being delivered which suggest gambling has to be massively curbed. We believe that there should be a regulated gambling industry, he said. We obviously have different views to what extent it should be but what were not is outrightly against gambling, which is what the All Party Group Gambling Harms are.

Donoughue isnt impressed with the All Party Group, and he offered some perspective on how such groups decide on their mission. What you have to remember about select committees, there is a tendency to pick topics that are either in the newspapers or actually will make sure you get a lot of press coverage, because politicians are whores for press coverage, I know that I come from political family, he said.

There have been a lot of questions about exactly how bad problem gambling is. Donoghue explained what hes seen. We do the numbers through a variety of methods, but they are basically surveys of people of the population where they are asked questions, which is a sight screen, and dependent on their answers they are scored as being problem gamblers or lower, at risk, etc., he said. By and large, over the last 20 years, and in that time the amounts of gambling has doubled, the amounts of problem gamblers remains basically the same, with there being massive questions about the veracity of the numbers, because there are questions about the methodology, etc.

This is mostly a problem of perception, then, and Donoughue noted that theres really no other way to explain it than politicians picking a fight that no one can criticize them for. But for all the work GamCare and GambleAware have done, theres no new evidence to suggest our knowledge on problem gambling has advanced. I have asked more than once, why is it twenty years later we still dont know really anything more? And my argument is, thats because its never been really in anyones interest to nail down what causes problem gambling.

And quite simply, the government funded therapists and researchers have no interest in providing a definitive answer, and for pretty selfish reasons, Donoughue guessed. What they want is a whole load more money given to research because thats, as academics, is what pays their wages, he said. So no research, lets get more research done, obviously if you solve what the problem is that ends the research. So rather than looking at what causes problem gambling, lets look at the amounts of gambling in 16 to 17 year-olds who spend time youth offending who are over four-foot but below 6-foot, and were born on the second Tuesday in March.

Watch the full episode of this weeks The Long Con to see Donoughue offer up his wisdom on how the situation around gambling regulation came to be, and what the Industry can do next, its a lot of fun. And dont forget to subscribe to theCalvinAyre.com YouTube channelto see The Long Con each and every Monday.

Go here to see the original:

The Long Con: Steve Donoughue on the forces of UK gambling regulation - CalvinAyre.com

Man charged with gambling some of millions in ill-gotten PPP funds in Vegas and on stocks – CBS News

Posted on by

Los Angeles A California man was arrested and ordered held without bond Thursday on federal charges of fraudulently obtaining some $9 million in coronavirus relief funds and using some of the money to gamble in Las Vegas.

Andrew Marnell, 40, a resident of the Beverly Grove neighborhood of Los Angeles, was accused of submitting a number of fraudulent loan applications in relation to the coronavirus pandemic and obtaining millions in Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) funds.

Prosecutors say he used some of the money to make risky stock market trades and squandered hundreds of thousands of dollars at the Bellagio Hotel and Casino and other gambling establishments in Las Vegas as recently as last weekend.

The PPP loans were part of the unprecedented $2.2 trillion CARES Act, which provided aid for millions of Americans suffering the economic effects of the pandemic.

Authorities said Marnell, who was due back in court next Tuesday, faces up to 30 years in prison on the bank fraud charge.

Read the original:

Man charged with gambling some of millions in ill-gotten PPP funds in Vegas and on stocks - CBS News

Bitcoin Founder Satoshi Nakamoto Mined $10.9 Billion Worth …

Posted on by

Whale Alert has recently published the report in which it states that Satoshi Nakamoto, a mysterious founder of Bitcoin (BTC) also known as Patoshi, is supposed to mine 1,125,150 BTC what worth around $10.9 billion.

Satoshi Nakamoto, the inventor of Bitcoin has mined $10.9 billion judging from recent reports by the analytics firm Whale Alert a few days ago.Satoshi Nakamoto, who also uses his alias, Patoshi was found to have protected the Bitcoin network in its infancy through his mining operations. Even though these facts were not obvious in the beginning, they are starting to emerge, according to the recent report.

The name Patoshi was linked to the inventor by the analyst Sergio Demian Lerner. He discovered that the two identities belonged to the same person after using the mining pattern of the rig which showed a definite signature. This particular pattern is evident at the beginning of the network, and also in the mining blocks. Satoshi sent the gained coins to Hal Finney, who was the first person to receive BTC from the network. So by connecting the dots, the analysts at Whale Alert deducted the coins that were mined by Satoshi.

Another finding from Whale Alert is that Patoshi adjusted his mining speed between blocks. This was to maintain the average time of ten minutes which is the standard Bitcoin transmission period for block confirmation. It became obvious that the purpose of the execution was to guard the network from 51% attack. This is a malicious takeover of the network by bad actors, an event that would have been feasible at the early stages of the Bitcoin existence. Patoshi made sure he maintained 60% of all processing power while he left enough blocks for other miners as well.

The report showed that as more miners joined the network giving it better security, the founder decided that it was strong enough to withstand the attack. Therefore, sometime in 2010, Satoshi ceased his mining operations.

At a point, it was difficult to track Patoshis blocks and to understand the link between Patoshi and Satoshi. Analysts had also wondered if he continued to mine with another rig after 2010. These speculations have been laid to rest by the recent report. Whale Alert reported that the node used to mine Patoshis block had been turned off around May 2010. So in total, 907 BTC was expended from the Bitcoins mined on it, which left 1,122,693 BTC unspent.

Satoshi was active in BitcoinTalk forum till December 12, 2010. His last verified communication was an email to Gavin Andersen.

Chuks is a blockchain enthusiast and finance researcher that has covered the crypto sphere for several years. He believes that the evolving technology would change how we do business.

You have successfully joined our subscriber list.

See more here:

Bitcoin Founder Satoshi Nakamoto Mined $10.9 Billion Worth ...

Satoshi Nakamoto Mined More Than 1 Million Bitcoin – Report

Posted on by

Source: Adobe/Dmitry

Bitcoins (BTC) pseudonymous creator Satoshi Nakamoto may have mined more than 1 million bitcoin in the early days of the cryptocurrency, according to analysts at crypto transaction tracker Whale Alert.

The early Bitcoin miner known as Patoshi mined BT 1,125,150 during BTCs infancy, when Patoshi controlled a constant 60% of the networks processing power, presumably in order to ensure no other miners would be able to carry out a 51% attack on the new and vulnerable network, analysts said in a blog post.

The new report, which builds upon work from 2013 by crypto researcher Sergio Demian Lerner, further said that it is known for certain that the miner dubbed Patoshi was indeed Satoshi. The reason for this, it said, is that the distinct saw pattern that characterizes Patoshi appeared at the birth of the network, and it mined the block that contained the bitcoins that were sent to Hal Finney the first-ever recipient of a bitcoin transaction sent from Satoshi.

The fact that Satoshis mining power was kept at a constant 60% of the entire network, combined with among other things the lack of spending, also suggests that Satoshi was only interested in growing and protecting the young network, according to Whale Alert.

In addition to eliminating the risk of a 51% attack by controlling 60% of the network, this practice also helped Satoshi to maintain his ideal block time of around 10 minutes, in particular during periods when there was either too much or not enough activity on the network, the report said.

Given this information, Whale Alert was able to determine that an estimated 22,503 blocks out of the first 54,316 blocks mined, were indeed mined by Bitcoins creator. Further, the team also concluded that at least 18 of the spent blocks were Satoshis, which means that the pseudonymous Bitcoin creator in total spent BTC 907, with a price of less than USD 0.01 per coin at the time. This also means that BTC 1,122,693 were left unspent by Satoshi, Whale Alert wrote.

They concluded that the manner in which the early mining by Satoshi was carried out suggests that the bitcoins mined were possibly a mere byproduct of his efforts to keep the network safe and stable. This makes it unlikely that the remaining 1.12 million BTC will ever be spent, the article said, although it also added that the question remains why Satoshi didnt simply burn them in this case.

However, the practice of using nonce (the number that Bitcoin miners are solving for) patterns to determine the amount of bitcoin Satoshi mined has previously been called into question by BitMEX Research. According to a 2018 blog post, there is reasonable evidence to support the claim that a dominant miner in 2009 mined around 700,000 BTC. Whether that miner was Satoshi, however, is certainly not conclusive.____Learn more: Someone Just Moved 50 Bitcoins, Prompting Speculations It's Satoshi NakamotoSatoshi-era Bitcoin Miner Calls Craig Wright a Fraud Using "His" BTC Addresses

Read more:

Satoshi Nakamoto Mined More Than 1 Million Bitcoin - Report

Satoshi Nakamoto owns a Bitcoin worth $ 10.9 billion …

Posted on by

Whale Alert, an expert in interesting blockchain transactions, provides the most accurate estimate of the bitcoins owned by Satoshi Nakamoto.

Whale Alert, an expert in interesting blockchain transactions, provides the most accurate estimate of the bitcoins owned by Satoshi Nakamoto.

Extensive analysis focused on the recognition of mining activity through extranonce values.

In the image above, you can see the extranonce values at a block heights below 20,000, each block creating a saw like pattern. The analyst assigned almost vertical lines to Satoshi, because his pattern appeared as soon as the network was fully created, and the bitcoins were sent to Hal Finney.

Whale Alert also found other evidence, specifically:

the last byte of the nonce was always within the ranges of 0 to 9 or 19 to 58 whereas all other miners used the full range of 0 to 255.

This discovery made it easier to attribute blocks to Patoshi by removing the ones with nonces outside of the range.

Other interesting findings include the revelation of the average speed of Satoshis mining, which was constant throughout. According to the information obtained, Satoshi adjusted the speed between the blocks to maintain a certain average.

for the entire range of blocks between height 2,000 and 16,000 the average number of blocks mined by Patoshi per hour was almost exactly .6 per 10 minutes,

According to Whale Alert, there can be two reasons for this:

We suspect that Patoshi was comprised of at least 48 computers, with one machine for coordination and more on standby in case of an attack, which would explain the missing range of [1018].

As soon as Satoshi deemed the network strong enough he reduced Patoshis blocks per 10 min target to give others a better chance at mining a block.

Although the research is extensive and precise, even the creator himself cannot confirm with certainty that Satoshi stopped mining after block 54,316, and therefore we only have to argue about whether we have at least partially approached reality.

Read also: The discovered e-mail from 1999 was probably written by Satoshi Nakamoto

Follow our social media and get news on time

869 Views

LikeLoveHahaWowSadAngry

4

Go here to read the rest:

Satoshi Nakamoto owns a Bitcoin worth $ 10.9 billion ...

Americans Are Googling Bitcoin in the Middle of the Night – Cointelegraph

Posted on by

The hourly data from Google Trends shows that US-based searches for Bitcoin have consistently peaked around 1 AM Eastern time for the past week. This hourly data is only available seven days into the past, so we dont know if this is an established pattern or a new development.

The latest Google Trends data for Bitcoin searches. Source: Google Trends.

Out of 50 states, California is the most search-happy at this hour, possibly because 1 AM Eastern represents just 10 PM local time on the west coast. Plenty of reasonable browsing time left in the evening.

Google Trends data for Bitcoin searches. Source: Google Trends.

Its also not surprising that the peak search interest in Bitcoin over the past 30 days coincided with this weeks notorious Twitter hack. As Satoshi Nakamoto once noticed under similar circumstances, it would have been nice to get this attention in any other context.

Meanwhile, it is still not too late for some of the victims to get their Bitcoin back.

Original post:

Americans Are Googling Bitcoin in the Middle of the Night - Cointelegraph

Tips from Scotland – on how to make sure your absentee ballot arrives on time for the US election – The London Economic

Posted on by

By: Kat Cary, FL voter in Edinburgh, Scotland

Can I tell you a secret? Its quite easy to vote overseas nowadays. I was active duty military for over a decade, and I have voted more times overseas than I have under them. Its gotten so much easier over the years, and Id like to share some tips on voting from overseas, and ensuring your absentee ballot arrives on time.

First things first, register and request your ballot athttps://www.votefromabroad.org. I recommend using your mobile device, as long as you have a pen and piece of paper handy, you can take a photo of your signature and get it done in one sitting. It takes about the same amount of time as reading this article. Make sure to check submission rules, primary and general election deadlines for your state or territoryhttps://www.votefromabroad.org/states/to identify the best voting option for you.

I recommend requesting ballot delivery by email you can even leave two email addresses to ensure you receive your ballot I have received both an early sample ballot, and my election ballot by email for the last 4 years and I have never had an issue with it. Election officials are required to send out ballots 45 days before the day of the general election. Primaries, special, and run-off elections generally arrive 30 days prior to the election date. Requesting a ballot via email ensures you will receive your blank ballot with the maximum time to return it within the required timeframe.

Its so important to turn in your completed absentee ballot as soon as possible. My voting state emails sample ballots, so I am ready to fill in my ballot as it arrives, but you can also access a sample ballot via Ballotpedia.

Concerned you havent received your blank ballot in time? You can fill out a back-up ballot, officially called a Federal Write-In Absentee Ballot (FWAB) by following the instructions atwww.votefromabroad.org/fwab.

There are currently 29 states that accept voted ballots by email, fax, or online upload. This eliminates a lot of hassle of relying on the postal services, paying for expensive courier fees, or using the services at your local US embassy, but there are a few things to keep in mind for submitting a ballot electronically:

No matter what method you choose to vote from abroad, you should receive a confirmation email that your ballot has been received and counted. I love receiving that email I consider it a personalised I Voted sticker. Voting from overseas is really rewarding. Staying involved in the democratic process while living overseas has given me greater perspective in these troubled times. I find it very empowering when I make my voice heard by taking part in the democratic process.

Related: Donald Trump wishes Ghislaine Maxwell well ahead of high-profile trial

See more here:

Tips from Scotland - on how to make sure your absentee ballot arrives on time for the US election - The London Economic

Fast tracking the construction industry back to work – SHPonline

Posted on by

SHP Meets

SHP speaks to Ian McKinnon, Managing Director, of CHAS, about how the supply chain risk management firm has been supporting the construction industry in getting back to work safely from helping members demonstrate they are COVID Secure to enabling organisations to monitor worker health.

How did CHAS cope as a company during lockdown?

Ian McKinnon (IM): It was a test of our business continuity plan and it passed with flying colours. We were able to continue to offer all of our services effectively. CHAS has a reputation for excellent customer service so we were delighted when our Feefo scores actually improved during the lockdown period.

CHAS is going through a period of rapid growth, transforming from a health & safety accreditation specialist to encompass a broader supply chain risk management offering did you have to put the brakes on in response to the coronavirus outbreak?

(IM): No, thankfully weve been able to do everything we planned and more. This was really important because strengthening our own organisation has meant we have been in an even better position to support our members and make sure they come out of the crisis in the best possible shape to build their businesses.

We have developed new services, adapted existing products and made several key appointments. We were also in the process of agreeing a number of collaborations many of which have now come to fruition, including agreements with the construction software specialist, Causeway Technologies, the cloud-based supply chain platform, Local Supply Chain and the trade directory Checkatrade. This will further enhance employment prospects for our members and ensures contractors who are committed to operating to high standards of health & safety have the best employment opportunities which is only right.

How do you think the construction industry coped with the coronavirus?

(IM): The response from the construction industry has been excellent. The Construction Leadership Council quickly produced clear and detailed guidance on how the industry could operate safely which has been regularly updated and is complemented by more bespoke guidance from other trade bodies. Combined with the Governments guidance for the construction sector and advice from the HSE the industry has a thorough framework for operating in a way that is COVID Secure.

What has CHAS been doing to help?

(IM): As well as keeping our members up-to-date with the latest industry guidance, we have added a Statement of Best Practice (COVID-19) to our member packages so CHAS contractors can quickly and easily demonstrate that they are COVID-Secure and clients have an efficient way of sourcing compliant contractors.

For contractors to comply they simply need to login to the contractor portal and upload and submit evidence to show they meet the necessary requirements. Meanwhile CHAS clients log on to the CHAS Client Portal and they can instantly see whether a contractor has completed their Statement of Best Practice (COVID-19).

For organisations who arent already CHAS Clients who would like to access our database of COVID-Secure contractors, it is quick, easy and completely free to register to become a CHAS Client and includes a range of business benefits.

We have also extended our CHAS People worker verification tool to include a Health Wallet so that the industry can track workers symptoms and upload COVID-19 antigen or antibody test results to track their fitness to work if and when this is required.

What issues are front of mind as the construction industry adjusts to a post-lockdown world?

(IM): While infection rates have dropped, experts believe further outbreaks in the future are likely so the industry must stay firmly focussed on remaining COVID-19 Secure. Close attention to health & safety in general is also paramount because history tells us that when the economy picks up, accidents rise.

The coronavirus crisis has also highlighted the need for the industry to be able to quickly and easily demonstrate and share evidence of compliance so we will likely see a further increase in uptake in accreditation schemes. The Common Assessment Standard, which is a streamlined industry-led system that was introduced in 2019, is fast becoming the gold standard for third-party accreditation in the construction industry and is already being specified by leading employers including the Crown Commercial Service (CCS) and HS2.

The Common Assessment Standard also has the benefit of covering other compliance areas which are rising up the agenda such as financial stability, sustainability and modern slavery which has been making the headlines recently. In fact businesses can expect to see closer scrutiny around the issue of modern slavery as we have seen increased demand for our worker verification tool, CHAS People, in recent weeks which can help with compliance in this area.

What is encouraging is that in general the construction industry is seeing much closer attention being paid to how workplaces can be kept safe and hygienic with an increased focus on whether people feel safe at work so the challenge now is to make sure this is sustained through the post-lockdown period and beyond.

Coronavirus has become a top priority for employers all over the world. The pandemic event is putting pressure on already stretched employers to do more to keep up to date and protect the health, safety and welfare of their employees. Download this free legislation update to understand all the latest guidelines, laws and regulations. The eBook covers:

Fast tracking the construction industry back to workSHP speaks to Ian McKinnon, Managing Director, of CHAS, about how the supply chain risk management firm has been supporting the construction industry in getting back to work safely from helping members demonstrate they are COVID Secure to enabling organisations to monitor worker health.

Safety & Health Practitioner

Draft Building Safety Bill announced by UK government

Coronavirus: Safety screens developed for taxis

Coronavirus advice for employers

See the article here:

Fast tracking the construction industry back to work - SHPonline