Author Archives: Danzig

A burning house – A universal lesson | Shahar Azani | The Blogs – The Times of Israel

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This week we commemorateTisha BAv, the annual day of fasting when we mourn the calamities which had befallen the Jewish people over the generations. One major catastrophe we lament for, deeply seared into our collective psyche, is the destruction of the Second Jewish Temple in Jerusalem in the year 70 C.E. by legions of the Roman Empire. The smoke billowing off the Temple marked the beginning of two thousand years of exile, out of which we only recently emerged, with the re-establishment of the Jewish State in 1948.

Tisha BAv provides us with an opportunity to revisit one of the most famous stories in the Jewish tradition, attached to the destruction of the Temple, that ofKamtza and Bar-Kamtza,told in the BabylonianTalmud,TractateGittin(pages 55b-56a).

Because of Kamtza and Bar Kamtza, Jerusalem was destroyed,the Talmud tells usand continues: A certain man in Jerusalem had a friend namedKamtzaand an enemy calledBar-Kamtza. He once made a party and said to his servant, Go and bring Kamtza. However, instead of invitingKamtza, the man went and brought the hosts arch-rival,Bar-Kamtza. When the host noticed his arch-rival at the event, he turned to him and exclaimed:what are you doing here? Get out!. Bar-Kamtzalooked around and, fearing the immense embarrassment of his banishment from the party, implored the host and offered to pay. First, he offered to pay for whatever he consumed at the party, then he offered to pay for half the cost of the party, and eventually even proposed to cover the hosts ENTIRE expense. Yet, the host adamantly refused, grabbed him by the arm and threwBar-Kamtzaout, in front of everyone. According to tradition,Bar-Kamtzawas so upset with the sages, who sat at the event, noticed the entire affair and did nothing, that he went and incited the Romans against Jerusalem, thus bringing about its destruction.

Like anything Jewish, and especially Talmudic, there are so many interpretations and directions to this story. However, what remains with me is the simplest of outlooks and most important of lessons the notion ofpersonal responsibility to national catastrophes.What we do as individuals in our personal lives has a direct impact on us as a whole. The way we behave towards one another counts, how we carry ourselves on social media counts. This lesson is so fundamental, so basic, it too often goes unnoticed, almost taken for granted. Year in and year out, it seems we are in constant need of being reminded of it. Hatred barricades us with walls, surrounds us with shadows and fears, prevents us from looking at one another in the eye. It guarantees others are forever remote, distant, not like us. It is the engine of estrangement, in an age when positive proximity is whats needed if we are ever to progress, evolve and develop.

This is a lesson that is not unique to the Jewish people, whose power and value are universal, hence its strength. In July 2007, I stood on stage at the center of a Nairobi megachurch. The topic was ISRAEL, but the lesson was personal. A few months before, Kenya experienced a horrible wave of internal struggle following controversial elections. The violence that killed and displaced many in that peaceful country was mainly between Kenyans of different tribes. It was an inferno of incitement and hatred, out of which the country emerged slowly, painstakingly, yet successfully, carrying with it severe wounds both physical and mental. Standing before the crowd on that sunny Sunday noon, dust filled the air as thousands of hopeful eyes were eager to hear a message from Israel. With a translator by my side on stage, I chose to read them the Talmudic story above, ofKamtza and Bar-Kamtza(Hebrew translated to English translated to Kiswahili if youre curious) and implored: be kind to one another, for you alone hold the key for a better future. The message resonated. It sunk, and so did the understanding that we are all one. We are all human, in our faults and merits, and a Jewish lesson of old resonated with Kenyan Christians in the heart of Nairobi thousands of years later.

So it could, and should, resonate today, in the streets of Israel, where demonstrators are marching every night. So it could, and should, resonate today in the beautiful streets of these United States of America, which have seen enough pain and anger.

We dont have to agree to understand we are one and the same, and our future is in our hands. No matter our views, heed the smoke and flames and remember the universal truth spelled in the Book of Genesis:

By the sweat of your brow, you will eat bread,until you return to the ground, since from it you were taken;for dust you are, and to dust, you will return.

Be good, people.

Speaker, Author, JBS Senior Vice President. Formerly Israel's Consul for Media Affairs in NY and diplomat at Israel's Foreign Ministry. Thankful for every day. Hopeful for the future.

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A burning house - A universal lesson | Shahar Azani | The Blogs - The Times of Israel

Love, community, mysticism: The intrigue and observance of Tu B’Av – thejewishchronicle.net

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Tu BAv may not be as well-known as the fast day that immediately proceeds it Tisha BAv but theres more to this minor holiday than you might think.

Imbued with community, romance and a touch of mysticism, Tu BAv might just be the holiday needed in these days of COVID-19 anxiety, racial unrest and pre-election jitters.

To really understand what has come to be known as the Israeli Valentines Day, you must begin several days earlier on the Hebrew calendar, on Tisha BAv, according to Beth El Congregations Rabbi Alex Greenbaum.

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Tisha BAv is the saddest day of the Jewish calendar; Tu BAv is the happiest day of the year, said Greenbaum, noting that modern Judaism marks the destruction of the Temples in Jerusalem on Tisha BAv as well as other bad things in Jewish history.

According to a midrash, Tisha BAv is the day that God told the Israelites they would be forced to wander the desert for 40 years and that the adult generation would perish without stepping foot in Israel. On Tisha BAv night, for the next 40 years, Moses commanded the people to dig their own graves and sleep in them. Every year, a number of Israelites died in those graves. On the 40th year, surprisingly, the remainder of that original adult generation did not die. Thinking they had erred in their calculation of the date, the Israelites repeated the process five more times until Tu BAv when they saw a full moon and knew they were correct in their calculations. The Israelites marked the occasion with a celebration.

The holiday of Tu BAv, or the 15th day of the month of Av, is one of the greatest holidays mentioned in the Talmud, explained Rabbi Henoch Rosenfeld of Chabad Young Professionals of Pittsburgh. As a matter of fact, the Talmud says that there is no greater festival for the Jewish people than the 15th of Av and, believe it or not, Yom Kippur.

Rosenfeld blames the lack of mention in the Torah for the obscurity of the holiday but notes there is definitely a unique spiritual energy to tap into on the 15th of Av.

During the Second Temple period, that energy was channeled beyond spiritual concerns as well.

All the young women of marriageable age would dress in white, Chabad of Squirrel Hill Co-Director Chani Altein explained. They would dress in white gowns so the boys wouldnt be able to recognize who was rich, who was poor, who had more material value, and they would dance in the fields. The young men would pick a woman and they would get married. It wouldnt fly today but it became a day for group weddings and a day of romance and love.

Tu BAv was also the day members of various Israeli tribes were permitted to marry one another, Altein explained. This was the day we could mingle and marry the men of any tribe. Dropping this ban helped create a sense of community.

While the modern celebration includes romance and community, Altein noted, throughout history there have been mystical events of God showing he still loved us.

One of those moments was during the battle of Betar, the last battle of the Bar Kochba rebellion. During the fighting, thousands of Jews were killed by the Romans, who would not allow the Jews to bury their dead. When the Jews finally were able to recover those killed, their bodies were still fresh and intact, they hadnt rotted, Altein said, despite a 15-year gap. The day of the miracle? The 15th of Av.

Rosenfeld pointed out that in more recent times, Tu BAv has become a day of community and celebration.

Its really the hope for redemption among the exile. Any time you have light in the darkness it causes the light to shine that much brighter. Tu BAv is joy among mourning. Traditionally, it has been celebrated by communities coming together. Its been associated with young people coming together.

In Pittsburgh, the young adults at Moishe House are marking the holiday by coming together (virtually) to read queer Jewish love poems and discuss what love means in the modern age.

Moishe House resident Moses* admitted that no one in the house knew about the holiday more than a month ago. He said it was while planning a Tisha BAv event when they came across this other holiday online. We were intrigued by it because none of us were aware of it. We thought it was a cool opportunity to share it with our community.

Love is a fun topic for people, he added.

Greenbaum pointed out that for centuries the holiday was observed only by skipping the tachanun prayer in morning services. It wasnt until modern Israel that people started to embrace it. Its become a Jewish Valentines Day, but I dont know if people are giving flowers to their spouses.

Raimy Rubin, who lives in Israel, noted that while Hallmark cards, chocolates and flowers dont yet mark the holiday in the Jewish state, over the last several years its been harder to get a restaurant reserved, especially at the nice restaurants.The holiday is a popular day for people to get engaged, added Rubin, manager of impact measurement for the Jewish Federation of Greater Pittsburgh. In fact, he proposed to his wife within a day of the holiday.

Despite COVID-19 forcing social distancing there are ways to celebrate the holiday, according to Rosenfeld.

I would say people can get together with a couple of friends in a safe manner and celebrate your Judaism, have a couple, three or four friends over on your deck, share some drinks, talk about what Judaism means to you, he said. Talk about why you are Jewish, why you are proud to be Jewish. And then when you all leave, dont just stop there, each of you pick up the phone and call a friend and share your conversation with them so that we can continue spreading that community warmth.

And, if you decide to make Tu BAv a night of romance, Altein pointed out that theres no social distancing required with your spouse. Make your own little romantic getaway in the backyard, carve some time out for each other. PJC

Moses last name was withheld by request.David Rullo can be reached at drullo@pittsburghjewishchronicle.org.

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Love, community, mysticism: The intrigue and observance of Tu B'Av - thejewishchronicle.net

SentryHealth Partners with Prescient Medicine to Offer Pharmacogenetic Testing – PR Web

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Using the insights gained from pharmacogenetic testing, we can help individuals achieve significantly better outcomes, both physically and financially, often in a shorter timeframe.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (PRWEB) July 29, 2020

SentryHealth, an industry leader inworkplacehealthmanagement, today announcedits partnership with Prescient Medicine to include LifeKit PreScript pharmacogenetic testing as part of its WellOnMyWay health and wellness program.

"Pharmacogenetics, or PGx, testing is proven to support efforts to improve employee health and lower health care costs for both employees and their employers, said Terry Minton, Prescient Medicines COO-Louisville. Its quickly becoming a new standard of care when prescribing, enabling health care providers to choose the best, most appropriate medications specific to an individual.

With a DNA sample from a quick cheek swab, the Prescient Medicine LifeKit PreScript analyzes an individuals genetic makeup to determine the most effective medications and optimal dosing levels. The test report also informs their health care providers of harmful or ineffective medications to avoid adverse reactions.

LifeKit PreScript will serve as an integral component of WellOnMyWay, targeting critical health care areas such as behavioral health, pain management, cardiac health, and other chronic illnesses. Individuals with these types of issues will benefit from greater support to manage their conditions through better care coordination and tailored health and wellness guidance.

As part of our initiative to guide advanced, hyper-personalized health and wellness journeys, we are pleased to partner with Prescient Medicine, commented J. Kevin Porter, CEO of SentryHealth. Using the insights gained from pharmacogenetic testing, we can help individuals achieve significantly better outcomes, both physically and financially, often in a shorter timeframe.

About SentryHealth

SentryHealthdrives better health and wellness nationwide through personalized, full-service well-being management solutions. Their unique, technology-driven approach redefines employee wellness through a unique fusion of advanced analytics, industry-leading wellness programs, and high-touch employee outreach and incentive management.Learn more by visitinghttps://www.sentryhealth.com.

About Prescient Medicine Holdings, Inc.

Prescient Medicine is a privately held company focused on developing diagnostic tools that advance the precision healthcare movement. Prescient Medicine's mission is to accelerate the development, commercialization and deployment of advanced clinical diagnostics to address the most pressing public health issues in the U.S. Prescient Medicine builds powerful tests and analytic solutions to offer deep predictive insights so doctors and patients have the data they need to make better, more informed clinical decisions, and achieve the best possible patient outcomes.

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SentryHealth Partners with Prescient Medicine to Offer Pharmacogenetic Testing - PR Web

J.C. Penney looks to sell company in bankruptcy to avoid liquidation – USA TODAY

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J.C. Penney has filed for bankruptcy and is closing their doors after being around for almost 120 years. So why does it hurt to see them go? USA TODAY

J.C. Penney is looking to go forward with a sale of the business to avoid a brush with liquidation.

The retailer's attorney, Joshua SussbergofKirkland& Ellis, saidduring a bankruptcy court hearing Wednesdaythat the sale should be completed by the fall under an expedited process and rebuffed rumors of a liquidation of the entire chain.

"We have had not one discussion with our lenders or any other stakeholders about a liquidation. That is simply not in the cards," Sussberg said.

The retailer filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in mid-May with846 stores and 85,000employees at the time of the filing.J.C. Penney has said it hopes to emerge from bankruptcy with about 600 stores and has begun liquidation sales at around 150 stores.(See the latest list here.)

Thanksgiving Day 2020 store closures: Holiday shopping is changing amid COVID-19 pandemic with Best Buy, Kohl's, Walmart, Target closed Thanksgiving

New York & Company store closings: All stores to close in bankruptcy, going-out-of-business liquidation sales now underway

Before the COVID-19 pandemic, J.C. Penney was already dealing with declining sales amid digital competition, sizable debt andfalling foot traffic to shopping malls. The pandemic forced the retailer to temporarily close all of its locations, cratering sales and triggeringthe bankruptcy filing in May.

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All stores have reopened but Sussberg said the company's 173 off-mall locations continue to perform better than the 520 mall locations since reopening.

In mid-July, the company received an extension from certain lenders until July 31 to secure their approval for a business plan to restructure its operations in Chapter 11 bankruptcy and announced plans to cut 1,000 jobs.

Sussberg said Wednesday there are three separate bids being considered for sale of the company's real estate and other assets. He did not name the bidders and called the proposals confidential.He said they were actively in negotiations ahead of the Friday deadline.

During the hearing, Sussberg lambasted an article published earlier this week by The New York Post that reported a $1.75 billion bid by private equity firm Sycamore Partners to buy J.C. Penney and merge with another struggling chain Belk Inc. Sussberg called the report ill-informed."

We are moving forward with a sales process," Sussberg said. We are hopeful."

A spokesperson at Sycamore Partners declined to comment.

The coronavirus has deepened the ongoing troubles for department stores, which have had a difficult time adjusting to the rise of digital threats and nimble physical competitors that offer affordablefast-fashion apparel.

As many as25,000 stores could shutter this yearas businesses continue to feel the impacts of the pandemic, according to a recent report from Coresight Research.

Ascena Retail Group,Brooks Brothers,Lucky Brand, J.C. Penney,Neiman Marcus,Sur La TableandJ. Crew have all filed for Chapter 11 since May.

Other retailers that haven't filed for bankruptcyalso plan to shutter locations, includingVictoria's Secret,NordstromandSignet Jewelers, parent company ofKay, Zales and Jared. Tailored Brands, parent company of Men's Wearhouse, said it will close up to 500 stores.

Bankruptcy is designed to give struggling companies a second chance, so J.C. Penney could survive as a smaller, nimbler retailer with financial sustainability.

Call shopping malls survive?: Coronavirus pandemic calls experiential model into question

Contributing: Nathan Bomey, USA TODAY; Associated Press

Follow USA TODAY reporter Kelly Tyko on Twitter:@KellyTyko

Read or Share this story: https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/2020/07/29/jcpenney-store-closings-2020-chapter-11-bankruptcy/5536947002/

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J.C. Penney looks to sell company in bankruptcy to avoid liquidation - USA TODAY

Harvey Weinstein Wants Bankruptcy Court to Take Over Rejected Sexual Misconduct Settlement – Billboard

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After a New York federal judge blasted a proposed settlement that sought to resolve a host of legal claims brought by women who accuse Harvey Weinstein of varying levels of sexual misconduct, his legal team is taking a shot at getting a revised plan approved this time in bankruptcy court.

The original proposed settlement, which prompted swift backlash from accusers, included: an $18.875 million victims' fund to be paid by insurance companies; no admission of wrongdoing by any of the defendants; a defense fund to cover costs of defending suits from accusers who don't participate in the settlement; a perpetual release of claims against the defendants, who include Harvey Weinstein, TWC board members and execs and Bob Weinstein; and a provision that bars New York Attorney General Letitia James' office from prosecuting any related action.

U.S. District Judge Alvin K. Hellerstein during a July 14 hearing rejected the proposed settlement, calling it "obnoxious" and questioning whether the claims were even appropriate for class action. On Friday, he followed up with a written opinion.

In addition to finding that the proposed class is both too broad (potentially including women who weren't injured by Weinstein) and too narrow (potentially excluding women who were injured), he takes major issue with the fairness of the financial structure of the deal, including that it's impossible to calculate how much the women would receive because there are too many unknown variables.

"The Bankruptcy Agreement proposes major deductions from the amounts that otherwise would be available to claimants: $13,716,000 to defray the litigation costs of the TWC officers and directors, and $1,500,000 to defray the litigation costs of the Weinstein Brothers," writes Hellerstein. "At the preliminary approval hearing, I observed that favoring these groups at the expense of the people suffering sexual abuse by Harvey Weinstein was 'obnoxious.' I continue to hold to that view. Furthermore, I cannot fully assess the numerous factors related to the size of the potential awards because the proposed class is too indefinite, and the parties proposed process gives insufficient clarity regarding how funds would be allocated."

Now, attorneys for TWC's estate want to take a revised plan directly to federal bankruptcy court judge Mary F. Walrath and remove Hellerstein from the equation.

"The revised framework provides that, in lieu of class action treatment of the sexual misconduct claims, such claims will be placed into a single class in a chapter 11 plan of liquidation and administered in much the same way that many other mass tort cases are handled in bankruptcy cases without the need for a certified class in a class action lawsuit," states the filing. "While this is not the appropriate pleading to describe the full terms of the Revised Plan, for present purposes it is important to note two things about it: first, under the Revised Plan, releases will be granted in favor of Harvey Weinstein only on an affirmative opt-in basis; and second, the global settlement embodied in the Revised Plan will be implemented solely through the Bankruptcy Court-supervised plan process, with no further involvement of the District Court in the pending class action."

Douglas H. Wigdor and Kevin Mintzer, who represent several women with claims against Weinstein and have been vocal critics of the settlement, issued a statement Tuesday in response to the filing. "It appears that Harvey and Robert Weinstein, their insurers and corporate enablers are so desperate to secure the deal that Judge Hellerstein immediately rejected as 'obnoxious' that they are now going to ask the bankruptcy court to approve what Judge Hellerstein would not," the statement reads. "This conduct is downright offensive and the New York Attorney General should immediately make it clear that she will refuse to endorse this end-around scheme."

Two of their clients, Dominique Huett and Wedil David, on July 21 filed a motion to convert TWC's chapter 11 bankruptcy to a chapter 7, which would liquidate the remaining assets. According to their motion, it would also allow "tort victims [to] seek relief from the automatic stay to prosecute their claims, have their day in court before a jury, and pursue recoveries against insurance proceeds."

Weinstein's filing asks the court to hold off ruling on that motion to give them time to hammer out the finer points of a new deal. The hearing is currently scheduled for August 4, and they think they can work out the details of the revised plan by August 31.

"This is a case where all parties to the settlement are continuing to engage in good faith discussions and are working feverishly to develop a mutually acceptable alternative path to consummate the global settlement," states the filing, which is posted below. "This should not be a case where two individual sexual harassment victims pursuing their own agenda should be permitted to hijack the process and deny all other stakeholders, including dozens of sexual harassment victims, an opportunity to settle and develop an alternative plan with wide support, including from the Committee that owes fiduciary duties to all unsecured creditors."

In a statement to The Hollywood Reporter, Weinstein's lawyer Imran H. Ansari of Aidala Bertuna & Kamin defended the agreement. "While there are those who continue to rail against the settlement, the practical reality is that outside the settlement the plaintiffs face an uncertain financial recovery, with The Weinstein Company bankrupt, and Mr. Weinstein incarcerated and defending legal matters, facing debt and judgments, frozen assets, and a line of creditors looking for compensation," Ansari said. "Mr. Weinsteins current and future financial state is far from healthy, not only has his personal liberty been taken from him, but his financial liberty as well. Those yelling loudly seem to ignore that many parties want this settlement to succeed, importantly, it is not just the Weinstein defendants, but the plaintiffs themselves, who likely recognize that it is the route to a realistic recovery."

Thomas Giuffra, the attorney for former TWC employee Alexandra Canosa who's suing Weinstein for sexual assault, also sent THR a statement in response to the filing.

"After being thwarted by Judge Hellerstein who recognized the 'global' settlement was a phony class and a settlement which was unfair to the survivors, the class action lawyers, NYAG and the insurance companies are trying to do an end run to try to force this obnoxious and unfair settlement through the bankruptcy court," said Giuffra. "They are repackaging the same lousy deal to try a second time to get judicial approval. I suspect the bankruptcy court will recognize this shameful scam for what it is and prevent a grave injustice from occurring. It is so obvious that the class action lawyers have no interest in actually litigating these cases. But are only concerned with chasing a payday at all costs. I am appalled that AG James who claims to be an advocate for women would continue to put the power of her office behind a deal which is abusive to the rights of the survivors and puts money in the hands of a convicted rapist. I cannot say that I am surprised by this. It is what I would expect of these self-interested money grabbers."

This article originally appeared in THR.com.

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Harvey Weinstein Wants Bankruptcy Court to Take Over Rejected Sexual Misconduct Settlement - Billboard

Using the Federal Reserves discount window for debtor-in-possession financing during the COVID-19 bankruptcy crisis – Brookings Institution

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This paper outlines how the Federal Reserve can use its non-emergency statutory authority to substantially improve the functioning of debtor-in-possession financing markets during the bankruptcy crisis triggered by the COVID-19 pandemic. The authors argue that, contrary to restrictions on the Feds emergency lending authority in Section 13(3) of the Federal Reserve Act, Section 10B permits the Fed to increase support for bank-led debtor-in-possession financing sufficient to meet the scale that this crisis presents. After explaining in detail the Feds statutory authority to intervene in these markets, the authors discuss several important benefits and manageable costs of this approach. The benefits include, first, better facilitation of bank-based financing for bankrupt firms and the reciprocal reduction of financing from the shadow banking sector and, second, better insight for the central bank into this important sector of the financial system for macroeconomic and financial stability purposes. The costs include perceptions of illegality given the limitations on the Feds emergency lending authority, the risk of undermining the Feds independence for monetary policy, and concerns about central bank meddling in the political prerogatives of Congress and the President. They argue that these costs, though real, are manageable and in any case less than the benefits of intervention.

Read the full paper here

The authors did not receive financial support from any firm or person with a financial or political interest in this article. Neither is currently an officer, director, or board member of any organization with an interest in this article.

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Using the Federal Reserves discount window for debtor-in-possession financing during the COVID-19 bankruptcy crisis - Brookings Institution

Elliott Hits PG&E With New $250 Million Claim Tied to Bankruptcy – Yahoo Finance

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(Bloomberg) -- Elliott Management Corp. is claiming PG&E Corp. cost the activist investor $250 million by breaking a promise to help the hedge fund get rights to buy equity in the utility giant during its massive bankruptcy case.

PG&E was supposed to help Elliott gain access to as much as $2 billion in equity commitments, as part of a settlement struck in January to resolve competing and sometimes contentious restructuring plans, according to a court filing by Elliott.

Elliott said PG&Es failure to follow through resulted in damages of up to 19.8 million shares valued at about $250 million. Thats based on prices as of June 8, so damages could be higher, Elliott said.

Because PG&E allegedly breached its obligation, and concealed that breach until after the evidence had closed with respect to the confirmation hearing, Elliott is now entitled to seek payment of this administrative expense claim, the firm said.

PG&E emerged from Chapter 11 earlier this month after settling wildfire claims tied to its equipment for $25.5 billion. The company raised more than $5 billion in common shares and equity units in a public offering to finance its bankruptcy exit.

Were aware of the lawsuit and are currently reviewing, according to a PG&E representative. Representatives for Elliott -- founded by billionaire investor Paul Singer -- werent immediately available to comment. A hearing on the matter is scheduled for Aug. 25.

Elliott was part of a group of PG&E bondholders that tried to wrest control of the power company in bankruptcy court last year. The noteholders agreed to back PG&Es bankruptcy exit plan after the company offered the group favorable treatment of its debt in its reorganization.

Backstop Equity

Elliott complained that PG&E failed to use its best efforts to persuade other investors involved in the companys reorganization to give Elliott the investment rights.

PG&E breached its promise when it failed to quickly disclose certain details about new financing parties involved in PG&Es plan to raise money for its bankruptcy exit, Elliott said in court papers.

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Elliott Hits PG&E With New $250 Million Claim Tied to Bankruptcy - Yahoo Finance

Bitcoin Rides to Year High on Back of Gold Rally, Dollar Slump – Bloomberg

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Mining machine at a Bitfarms cryptocurrency farming facility.

Photographer: Christinne Muschi/Bloomberg

Photographer: Christinne Muschi/Bloomberg

Bitcoin surged to the highest in almost a year as the slump in the dollar and rally in gold bolstered the notion that cryptocurrencies will emerge as a viable alternative to traditional monetary systems.

The largest digital token climbed as much as 15% to $10,944, the highest price since August. The rally accelerated after the coin breached $10,500, a level that it had failed to sustain gains after surpassing in June and February.

Bitcoin, which crypto fans have often touted as digital gold, is in favor as the yellow metal hits record levels, concerns rise about the health of the world economy and the dollar falls. Advocates tout cryptocurrencies as a way to protect wealth from government action such as stimulus measures, which are often viewed in inflationary.

Its attracting the momentum players, said Matt Maley, chief market strategist at Miller Tabak + Co. And of course, the momentum players play such a big role nowadays that its giving Bitcoin the big move.

Also, last week, the U.S. Office of the Comptroller of the Currency said American banks can provide custody services for customers crypto assets, which could help boost the asset classs appeal with some investors.

The cryptocurrency had been hovering near its 50-day moving average for weeks before pulling above it in the past couple of days.

Bitcoin has enjoyed above-average flows this year, and those flows are relatively high versus their five-year average when compared with those of exchange traded funds in other asset classes, according to a report from JPMorgan Chase & Co. strategist John Normand on Friday.

With assistance by Kenneth Sexton

Before it's here, it's on the Bloomberg Terminal.

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Bitcoin Rides to Year High on Back of Gold Rally, Dollar Slump - Bloomberg

$11,000 Bitcoin Just Happened: Whats Fueling the Massive Pump? – CCN.com

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Bitcoins price blew past $11,000 Monday for the first time since 2019, signaling the end of a multi-year downtrend and pointing to further gains over the horizon.

The bitcoin price peaked at $11,417.11 Monday evening, up more than $1,500 on the day. At the time of writing, the digital asset was sitting on a gain of 13% at $11,233, according to TradingView.

From a technical standpoint, bitcoins price far exceeds the 50-period and 200-period moving averages. The relative strength index on the hourly chart points to overbought conditions.

A similar observation is made on the daily chart:

At its current price point, bitcoin has a total market cap of nearly $205.2 billion. That accounts for 63.1% of the overall crypto market, which is presently worth almost $327 billion.

The rally caught the attention of mainstream media and casual traders who have grown accustomed to seeing bitcoin rejected in and around the $10,500 mark. After months of lateral moves, the largest cryptocurrency by market capitalization is finally breaking out.

Bitcoin is surging at a time when goldthe worlds most trusted haven asset is trading at all-time highs against the U.S. dollar.

In both cases, investors appear to be hedging their bets against a shaky economic recoveryone that could dismantle the stock-market rally over the medium term.

While bitcoin still has a long way to go to prove its an established store of value like bullion, the digital currency continues to defy the odds with jaw-dropping returns.

Despite being written off in mainstream circles due to its volatility and regulatory scrutiny, bitcoin is up nearly 60% year-to-date. It remains the best-performing asset of the past decade.

If bitcoins proponents are correct, the digital currency is about to enter another bullish cycleone that could end with 10x returns by the end of 2021. For that to happen, adoption will have to keep growing in the face of record central-bank stimulus, ballooning budget deficits, and worsening economic conditions.

Although central banks like to pretend inflation doesnt exist, investors flocking bitcoin and gold are preparing for an alternate scenario where the value of their local currency depreciates rapidly.

The inflation story has a lot of merits, according to Gavin Smith, the chief executive of crypto consortium Panxora.

In an email interview with Billy Bambrough of Forbes, Smith said:

Our view is that we still believe the markets are pulled on the one hand by the inflation hedge story driving bitcoin higher

But thats only one part of the story. Smith added:

while at the same time the global economy is suffering a massive demand shock with the potential to drive bitcoin lower.

He believes bitcoin will end the year sharply lower before resuming its uptrend next year. Smiths view still lines up with the four-year-cycle theorists (video above) who believe we will see a new, parabolic high by the end of 2021.

Disclaimer: This article represents the authors opinion and should not be considered investment or trading advice from CCN.com. The author owns bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies.

Last modified: July 28, 2020 12:50 AM UTC

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$11,000 Bitcoin Just Happened: Whats Fueling the Massive Pump? - CCN.com

Militias’ warning of excessive federal power comes true but where are they? – Houston Chronicle

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(The Conversation is an independent and nonprofit source of news, analysis and commentary from academic experts.)

Amy Cooter, Vanderbilt University

(THE CONVERSATION) Militias and many other Second Amendment advocates have long argued that their primary desire to own firearms often, many of them is rooted in a need to protect themselves and their families from a tyrannical federal government, or to discourage the government from becoming tyrannical in the first place.

But with the mayor of a major U.S. city warning that tyranny and dictatorship have already arrived on the streets in the shape of unidentified federal troops using questionable tactics militia groups appear reluctant to throw their lot in with protesters. In fact, many have been supporting government action to suppress peaceful demonstrators.

Certainly the scenes in Portland have alarmed civil liberties groups:Heavily armed and camouflaged federal officers, wearing no name tags or other insignia, are on the streets of Portland, Oregon, and have teargassed and arrested seemingly peaceful protesters with little or no provocation. President Donald Trump has said similar forces are coming to other cities many run by Democrats.

To some, it may look exactly like what the militias have been warning of.

As a scholar of the U.S. domestic militia movement, I have seen in recent months a new divide emerging in these groups.

Some, often calling themselves the boogaloo movement, see the current political unrest as an opportunity to wrest power from an overbearing federal government. Others support police and their enforcement of strict law and order, even if that means authorities using powerful weapons and overwhelming force.

Shifting online dynamics

Assessing what these groups are doing, and how they are discussing recent events, has become more difficult for observers like me in recent weeks. On June 30, Facebook announced it had removed hundreds of accounts and groups allegedly related to the boogaloo movement.

The move came in the wake of several arrests of alleged boogaloo adherents across the country, including three in Nevada accused of plotting to firebomb federal land and one in Texas accused of killing one police officer and critically injuring another.

Boogaloo groups still have a social media presence and, until recently when the portion of the site they used was closed, a large presence on the Reddit discussion site, where comments are loosely regulated and people can post anonymously.

Now the movements public face is smaller and harder to find without insider knowledge. For instance, until recently it was common to see groups with the words big igloo in their names, a play on the word boogaloo. After Facebooks crackdown, some groups are using the word icehouse or other synonyms that may not be as obvious. They are therefore harder for algorithms to find, but also for people to find whether to observe or to join in.

Backing the boog

The groups who back the boogaloo imply, or even outright declare, that the U.S. is no longer a free country, and generally call for supporters to oppose, violently if necessary, federal forces and the government they represent.

In the days after George Floyds death, I saw some of these groups call for members to participate in protests opposing police violence. But I have not seen similar calls in response to federal officers violence in Portland.

That may change if federal forces do appear in other places, especially areas geographically closer to active back the boog supporters. It is also possible that the groups are discussing protests or other actions in less public ways, in private messages or on platforms like Parler, that have marketed themselves as friendlier toward a variety of conservative views.

Backing the blue

There are still militia members who support police, often called back the blue groups. Commentators have observed that silence from them and other Second Amendment supporters certainly seems to be hypocritical, at best, and possibly supportive of tyranny in the current context.

Thats not the way they see it. They argue that one of the few legitimate functions of the federal government is to protect citizens from others who might infringe on their rights or safety. They support police who say that Portland authorities have failed to protect regular people from violent protesters.

Thats also what these groups claimed happened in Seattles autonomous zone though they rely on news sources that describe the protesters as inherently dangerous and hampering business and free association. They seemingly ignore or discount other reports that these characterizations are exaggerated. In my research, I found that militia members were likely to exclusively trust sources like Fox News or even more conservative sites for their information, and recent data confirms that such sources may strongly shape viewers understanding of political and other events.

Mistaken perceptions?

This view of protesters as violent is amplified by some back the blue members belief that the demonstrators are Marxist members of antifa, a mostly nonviolent leaderless collective movement generally opposing fascism.

For example, one Facebook group shared a video of Christopher David, the Navy veteran beaten by federal officers in Portland, talking about his experience. A commentator responded, The end of the video tell[s] the tale, hes going to raise money for [Black Lives Matter]! He is a liar he went there to stand with his commie comrades.

Scholarship on conservative groups argues that they use anti-communist language to cast political opponents as not real Americans who have thus have forfeited any protections U.S. citizens should have.

Anti-liberal rhetoric

Some other back the blue members see hypocrisy in liberals, noting that few, if any, on the left objected when federal officers killed LaVoy Finicum during the 2016 standoff between federal officials and armed supporters of rancher Cliven Bundy during a land dispute elsewhere in Oregon.

There are sharing pages like one on a well-known conservative satire site that suggests the same Oregon authorities opposing federal officers tolerate violent behavior from protesters because of identity politics the idea that certain groups favored by liberals, in this case, Black people, are held to a different and more lax standard.

Several Facebook pages shared an image of a modified Gadsden flag, with a Black Lives Matter fist and promising we will tread as proof that Portland protesters would take away others rights, including the right to bear arms, if given the chance and thus do not deserve protection themselves. One comment in support of such a post read, I[m] glad to see Im not the only person happy to see these commies being snatched up and dragged away. Yes, I know that this could just as easily be turned around and that we could also be dragged away in broad daylight. But if they arent stopped now, and they do somehow manage to gain complete power, well get dragged away anyways. Better them than us, before its too late.

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Federal intervention has not stopped the Portland protests from growing, but some analysts expect Trump to increase the response in an attempt to appeal to his supporters as the country heads into the November election. Many people fear that move would spark violence.

The back the blue militia members generally respect law and order enough to not fulfill their threats of violence or criminal action but the back the boog groups may not be so restrained. The back the blue groups may also act if federal action escalates, and members believe they are needed or useful to help defend the interests of average citizens.

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article here: https://theconversation.com/militias-warning-of-excessive-federal-power-comes-true-but-where-are-they-143333.

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Militias' warning of excessive federal power comes true but where are they? - Houston Chronicle

Smith, Hawley author bill to safeguard Service Members’ Right to Carry – MDJOnline.com

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Congressman Jason Smith (R-MO) and Senator Josh Hawley (R-MO) introduced the U.S. Military Right to Carry Act to allow members of the United States Armed Forces to renew their concealed carry permit by mail if they are stationed outside of the state. States that fail to comply run the risk of losing federal funding.

Smith was notified of this problem by an active duty service member from southern Missouri who was stationed at Ft. Bragg in North Carolina. After reaching out about how to renew a concealed carry permit, he was told by county officials he had to visit the office in person and be physically living in the state of Missouri to complete his renewal. This was not possible. Often, because of their service in uniform, military members are unable to travel back to their home state to take care of these types of personal matters.

Smith was seriously concerned about any impediment standing in the way of an Americans Second Amendment rights, let alone those of our service members. He introduced this legislation to make it absolutely clear that the burden is on the states, not on our service members.

The brave men and women of the United States military should not face any discrimination when it comes to their concealed carry permits, said Congressman Smith. If a member of the U.S. Armed Forces holds a concealed carry permit, they should be able to renew that permit by mail or be treated as a resident of the state in which they are stationed. My bill is a critical step in ensuring the constitutional rights of our military members are protected regardless of where theyre stationed, allowing them to protect themselves, their families, and their communities.

Senator Hawley joined Congressman Smith, introducing the legislation in the Senate. He talked about his commitment to standing up for our men and women in uniform.

The military men and women who serve our country shouldnt face endless red tape in order to exercise their constitutional right to carry firearms and maintain their concealed carry licenses, said Senator Hawley. Im proud to stand up for our service members and for their Second Amendment rights with this legislation.

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Smith, Hawley author bill to safeguard Service Members' Right to Carry - MDJOnline.com

Hong Kong wants a massive new island, but where will it get the sand? – Nikkei Asian Review

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Award-winning writer Vince Beiser is the author of The World in a Grain: The Story of Sand and How It Transformed Civilization.

Plagued by a shortage of land on which to house its swelling population, Hong Kong has come up with a simple-sounding solution: make more! That's the central idea behind "Lantau Tomorrow," a plan to build 1,700 hectares (17 sq. kilometers) of artificial land with housing for up to one million people in the ocean waters off of Lantau.

The project's multibillion-dollar price tag and its potential impact on local residents and the environment have sparked plenty of controversy. Much less attention is being paid to the crucial question of where and how to obtain the project's most vital component: sand.

Trivial though it seems, sand is actually the most important solid substance on Earth. We humans consume 50 billion tonnes of this natural resource every year -- more than any other except water. It is the main ingredient inthe concrete and glass that our cities are made of, and the silicon chips that our computers and cellphones run on. And it is the go-to raw material for building artificial land, a practice that is surging all around the world.

In recent years, advancing technology has enormously increased our power to "reclaim" land by dredging titanic volumes of sand and silt from the ocean floor to create new land where there was no land before.

For coastal megalopolises long on population but short on physical space, land reclamation offers an easy way to make room and profits. Dubai's famous palm-tree shaped "islands" are the most famous example, but cities from Lagos to Copenhagen to Singapore are similarly expanding their physical footprints. All told, according to the Dutch research group Deltares, since 1985 human beings have added 5,237 sq. miles (13,563 sq. kilometers) of artificial land to the world's coasts -- an area about as big as Jamaica.

China is a major contributor to that total. From 2006 to 2010, cities on China's coast built an average of 700 sq. kilometers of new land each year. In 2010 alone China created the equivalent of two Manhattans worth of new real estate. Hong Kong has a long history of land reclamation. The international airport, the local Disneyland, and the 34-mile bridge connecting Hong Kong to the mainland all sit on human-made land. In fact, some 6% of Hong Kong's total area, housing one-quarter of the population, was reclaimed from the sea.

Development Secretary Michael Wong Wai-lun has claimed that locally sourced construction waste will provide "a considerable percentage of the amount of fill" for the Lantau land. That seems unlikely, given that Hong Kong produces only enough construction waste each year to reclaim about 60 hectares (0.6 sq. kilometers). Sand dredged from the ocean will have to provide most of the rest. All told, the Lantau project will require an estimated 260 million cubic meters of material.

Sucking that much sand from the ocean floor can inflict calamitous damage on the environment. First off, the habitat of whatever marine life was living down there will be annihilated. The stirred-up sediment also clouds the surrounding water, which can suffocate fish, crustaceans, and other creatures, and block sunlight from reaching plants below the surface. All of which can affect people, too. Fishers and environmentalists in Indonesia are currently trying to shut down a sea-sand mining operation they fear will wipe out local fish stocks.

Where and how the sand gets dumped back in the water to create new land can also be devastating. Land reclamation along China's coasts has decimated fish and bird populations, increased water pollution, and destroyed mangrove forests.

Those hazards can be reduced by carefully scouting out less vulnerable areas of the ocean from which to dredge. But the further the sand has to be transported, the more it costs. So where will Hong Kong's sand come from, and at what cost -- both financial and environmental? The nonprofit news agency Factwire recently reported that Guangxi Province, one potential source relatively nearby, is currently facing its own shortage of marine sand, which could send the cost of the Lantau project skyrocketing. The bill to mine and haul the sand alone could reach $60 billion Hong Kong dollars ($8 billion), according to Factwire.

That increases the temptation for unscrupulous developers to traffic in grayer markets. The Philippines has long accused Chinese dredgers of stealing their sand. And a recent report by the U.S.-based Center for Advanced Defense Studies found that Chinese ships are likely dredging sand from North Korean waters in violation of international sanctions.

If Hong Kong really needs to build new land -- and there's a strong argument that it doesn't, with more efficient and smarter use of existing territory able to provide plenty of space for more housing -- it must do so carefully, without inflicting the kind of damage to the environment that so many other such projects have. Lantau Tomorrow must not come at the expense of the ocean today.

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Hong Kong wants a massive new island, but where will it get the sand? - Nikkei Asian Review

East Kilbride hairdresser is delighted to be back doing what she loves – Daily Record

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An East Kilbride hairdresser whose family have run a salon for nearly 40 years were among the businesses finally allowed to reopen last week.

It came with the easing of lockdown and the country moved in to Phase 3.

Nikkola Steele, who runs Red Heads in Greenhills Shopping Centre, is delighted to be back.

She told us: I must have had about 70 clients wanting booked in when we had to go into lockdown.

Obviously we have had to change how we work, which isnt easy when you are a small operation like this.

Despite the lay-off in between appointments, Nikkola was overwhelmed at the response from her clientele.

Not only the kind messages of support throughout lockdown, but by talking with their feet.

Exclusive peek inside new East Kilbride shopping development

Thankfully the salon is fully booked until the middle of August with clients desperate to get their unruly locks under control after months of salons being closed.

But the return to work isnt without its challenges and Nikkola admits its been one of the hardest periods she has faced in business.

She added: There is only myself and my assistant and when the business was closed I had nothing business owners, unfortunately, dont get furloughed.

On the positive side of things my phone has been ringing non-stop as people are desperate for a hair cut.

But everything is now in place, we have disposable gowns, towels and aprons, the cleaning regime has increased everything is cleaned and sanitised after every client.

However, all of that takes time which makes the day-to-day running more difficult but it has to be done.

Its harder for us as there is only myself and my assistant.

The new way of working means that, at most, Nikkola can take just two or three clients at a time because of the social distancing that includes the seats at the reception.

She added: Everyone has been really understanding though and I have to thank folk for their support at such a challenging time.

My mum ran the salon before me and we have had our ups and downs for sure.

But these last few months have been the most difficult we have faced and I am just so glad we are back up and running.

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East Kilbride hairdresser is delighted to be back doing what she loves - Daily Record

We are the champions! – The Navasota Examiner

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A well written sports story or movie features an underdog, disappointment, perseverance and the thrill of victory. Grimes County Machine Pitch All Stars played the role of stars to perfection battling from the losers bracket to win the District 13 Little League All Star Machine Pitch Tournament in Bellville.

A group of players from three machine pitch boys teams in Grimes County were selected to represent the Grimes County Little League All Stars (GCLL) and with just a little over a week of practice represented the league with the best allstar performance in years.

GCLL lost in a hardfought heartbreaker to open tournament play Thursday, July 23, falling to Hempstead 19-18 in an extra-inning battle that lasted nine-innings. The loss sent GCLL into the treacherous waters of the losers bracket.

Our boys faced adversity in the first game but never gave up, never wavered, kept their heads up, remained calm and fought their way out of the losers bracket, said GCLL coach Wes Male. After falling into the deep end of the losers bracket, GCLL began swimming against the current fighting tirelessly one game at a time toward their ultimate goal of a championship.

GCLL defeated Bellville Black 15-5 Friday, July 24 to earn a Saturday showdown rematch against Hempstead. This time GCLL had revenge on their mind and knocked the little sluggers from Hempstead out of the tournament with a 16-10 victory.

The win over Hempstead on Saturday, July 25, set up a seemingly impossible matchup with previously unbeaten Bellville Red. With GCLL advancing from the losers bracket and one loss already under their belt, and Bellville entering from the winners bracket, it meant GCLL must not only beat Belville but had to double-dip (beat them twice) them to secure a championship.

Although tired from battling to the championship, GCLL continued fighting stroke by stroke upstream and edged out a 12-11 win over Bellville Sunday, July 26 setting up a winner take all game.

In their first doubleheader of the season, GCLL showed relentless effort battling toe-to-toe in the championship bout, and in true underdog fashion knocked off the topranked contender Bellville Red by a score of 13-7.

Our team got better each game and we are so proud of them and their accomplishments, stated Male. This is a great group of boys who have great parents. They buckled in with us on this roller coaster ride. Congratulations boys, you made Grimes County proud earning District 13 All Star Champions.

Male also expressed gratitude to Kyle Warzon owner of 4 Fifteen Construction who sponsored uniforms for the team.

GCLL Machine Pitch All Star team members

Coaches: Wes Male, Joe Young and Keith Zimmerman.

Players: Ryder Sechelski, Jaxon Male, Coney Haynie, Travis Cowthon, Garrett Ham, Evan Zimmerman, Damacio Rodriguez, Sawyer Young, Owen Smith, Carson Small, Tobias Blankenship, Dax Williams, Gracen Currie, Caleb Jackson and Bryce Allen.

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We are the champions! - The Navasota Examiner

Courtney Love hopes Jeffrey Epstein burns in hell after her name appeared in his address book – The Independent

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Courtney Love says that she hopes Jeffrey Epstein burns in hell after learning that her name was in his infamous little black book.

The musicians name was one of a number of high profile figures to feature in the book that surfaced in 2015 in court proceedings after Epstein's former house manager Alfredo Rodriguez tried to sell it in 2009.

Epstein died in jail of apparent suicide last year while awaiting trial for multiple charges including sex trafficking.

Sharing the full story, not just the headlines

Hey. About my name in Epsteins address book, its creepy as f*** that Im in that thing I agree, Love tweeted.

I didnt know him, never met him, didnt know who he was. Apparently he collected celebrity phone numbers. The end. Hope he burns in Avci hell.

The singer then linked to the Wikipedia page for Avci, which is described as the lowest level of hell in Buddhism.

Also among the celebrity names to feature in Epsteins book were Donald Trump, Alec Baldwin, Ralph Fiennes and Mick Jagger.

Despite not being named in the book, model Chrissy Teigen was recently forced to distance herself from Epstein after alt-right trolls shared a conspiracy theory that claimed she flew on Epsteins private plane, dubbed The Lolita Express.

Why would I be such a public paedophile, tweeting about it?? she asked. It was about how anyone who watches it needs to go to jail. Its not hard Everyone thinking Im guilty because Im defensive. You understand you are calling me a paedophile, correct?

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Courtney Love hopes Jeffrey Epstein burns in hell after her name appeared in his address book - The Independent

Amazon compared to heroin dealer as Bezos, Zuckerberg, Cook and Google CEO accused of squeezing out com – The Sun

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AMAZON boss Jeff Bezos had his company compared to a "heroin dealer" during a historic anti-trust hearing today.

On Wednesday, Amazonboss Bezos, Facebook's Mark Zuckerberg and Sundar Pichai of Alphabet Inc Google's parent company Apple's Tim Cook were accused of squeezing out competitors and small businesses.

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The highly successful tech moguls were all sworn in to address lawmakers at the Rayburn House Office Building inWashington, DC.

Congressman David N. Cicilline said small businesses the committee had spoken to compared their relationship with Amazon to that of heroin pusher or "drug dealer."

"[Amazon is] exploiting its monopoly power,"Cicilline said. "It's dual role [with sellers]... is fundamentally uncompetitive."

Likewise, Zuckerberg was grilled by Rep PramilaJayapalabout whether he had threatened competitors like Instagram founder Kevin Systrom and Snapchat's Evan Spiegelabout their product's features.

Jayapal recounted for her fellow lawmakers how Systrom felt Zuckerberg would go into "destroy mode" if he refused to sell Instagram.

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When she directly asked the tech mogul if his company ever copied features from other organizations, his answer was vague.

"We've certainly adapted features ... as have others," he said, before denying that Facebook had threatened to clone a competitor while trying to buy it.

"Not that I recall," he added as Jayapal reminded Zuckerberg that he was "under oath."

The congresswoman also referenced a 2012 email wherein Zuckerberg noted that it would be a "while before we can buy Google.

"[You've] used Facebook's power to threaten smaller competitors and to ensure you always get your way," Jayapal declared.

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Earlier, Rep Neguse asked Zuckerberg whether he has a monopoly, which he denied.

"Facebook, Facebook Messenger, WhatsApp, Instagram are the most downloaded apps of the last decade," the congressman noted.

"Your company, sir, owns them all. We have a word for that. That word is monopoly."

Zuckerberg, Bezos, Cook, and Pichai were all asked to swear an oath not to use slave labor in their respective companies during the lengthy hearing.

Bezos launched into his testimony first shortly after 1.30 pm, followed by Pichai, Cook, and Zuckerberg who described Facebook repeatedly as an "American success story."

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All three of the businessmen emphasized the innovation of their respective companies and the significant job creation while bring grilled by Committee members.

Rep Raskin asked Zuckerberg about election interference on Facebook, fake profile pages, and "alt-right racist" content.

Zuckerberg said their AI systems aim to identify this "with the goal of getting this stuff down before people even see it."

Speaking about their 6.5 billion fake accounts, Zuckerberg said they try to remove billions of accounts every year a small amount of these are "nation states" trying to interfere, he said.

Rep Sensebrenner also raised the issue of Trump promoting hydroxychloroquine during the hearing.

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"We do not prohibit discussion about trials of drugs," Zuckerberg said. "But if somebody is going to say it's proven when it's not..."

After a brief recess due to tech issues, the committee resumed and Jayapal grilled Bezos about Amazon using sellers' data.

She asked him about whether the policy againstusing seller specific data was really enforced after employers claimed it was "like a candy shop."

"The fact that we have such a policy is voluntary I dont think any other realtor has such a policy," Bezos said, after saying he "can't answer that question [with a] yes or no" when it came to violations.

Rep McBath concluded her address to Bezos asking if Amazon used "bullying,fear and panic" to control their sellers.

She played a recording to one book seller begging Bezos to get back on track."

Pichai was the first to be grilled by Cicilline, who said small businesses had accused Google of stealing content.

He also queried why Google shows what ever is profitable rather than relevant when users are looking for something.

"I disagree with that characterizations," Pichai responded, citing the 1.4 million small businesses they assist.

Cicilline also accused Google of stealing content from Yelp, describing it as "anti-competitive."

"Google is increasingly a walled garden that keeps users on its own sits," Cicilline said. "Virtually ensuring that any business that wants to be seen on the web, has to pay Google a tax."

Congressman Gaetz also threw a series of China-related questions at Pichai, who denied Google was in cahoots with the communist country.

Gaetz cited claims that his company was "directly aiding the Chinese military" via their AI Center and working with universities.

Pichai denied these claims.

Rep Jordan also expressed his concerns that Google would assist Joe Biden over Donald Trump come November and "electioneering."

Pichai said they complied with laws in 2016 and that their work was non-partisan.

Lawmakers also quizzed Cook about claims that Apple changes the app rules as they go to benefit the phone giant at the expense of developers.

"We treat every developer the same," Cook insisted. "It's a rigorous process ... We do look at every app before it goes on."

Cook said it wasn't correct to say that some app developers were favored over others, however.

Just before 4.30 pm, the committee went on another recess.

After the recess, McBath questioned Cook about Apple excluding apps from the app store that it may deem competition.

"Before [Apple's app] screen time existed, there were other apps that limited kids [screen time]... You removed these competing apps from the app store Why did apple remove competing apps?

"We were concerned about the privacy and security of kids," Cook said. He added that there are now "over 30 apps" today.

Cicilline questioned Zuckerberg about a Breitbart video showing doctors promoting the drug hydroxychloroquine as a cure for COVID-19 and face masks not being necessary.

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He questioned how the video amassed over 20million views in 5 hours before being removed.

"A lot of people shared that. And we did take it down because it violates our policies," Zuckerberg said.

Cicilline insisted that Facebook "polices" its own platform and alleged the only person holding the platform accountable is itself.

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Amazon compared to heroin dealer as Bezos, Zuckerberg, Cook and Google CEO accused of squeezing out com - The Sun

Who wants to cancel cancel culture? The voiceless or the privileged? – Coconuts

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The term cancel culture has been thrown around a lot in Singapores internet-sphere lately, with targets including online provocateur Xiaxue and former political candidate Ivan Lim.

In the brief time since its birth with the #MeToo movement, the social media phenomenon has gone from holding the most powerful accountable to broad application across the realms of culture and politics. But is it leveling the playing field to make the world more just, or, as critics argue, a blunt instrument of mob rule?

The term recently entered the lexicon of Singapores culture wars at a time when more voices, especially on the political right, are speaking critically of its alleged threat to expression, with Singaporean influencer Xiaxue joining the likes of Harry Potter author J.K. Rowling in calling for people to reject it.

Coconuts Singapore tracked the evolution of cancel culture and how it has unfolded on our shores.

Canceling traditionally means discontinuing plans or deleting something. But that definition evolved to also mean ending support for a person and their work after the #MeToo movement emerged three years ago.

Cancel culture, or delegitimizing someone because of their wrongs real or perceived, can be traced to victims of Hollywood sexual predator Harvey Weinstein, whose impunity went unpunished because their voices were not heard.

It wasnt just a way to impose consequences on someone for their wrongdoing, but also a means to empower those denied power.

Weinsteins downfall began In 2017, when enduring whispers against the powerful movie producer of Hollywood juggernauts such as Quentin Tarantinos Kill Bill and the Lord of the Rings came to public attention.

Long ignored by the media, it took multiple victims going on the record with Ronan Farrow in The New Yorker before the criminal charges were filed against then-66 Weinstein in 2018. More than a dozen women had rallied to accuse him of sexual misconduct including rape, which eventually led him to being sentenced to 23 years in prison.

Cancel culture proved liberating for those women and even encouraged other sexual assault victims to speak out. Not long after, a separate group of victims came forward to give voice to long-standing rumors about American comedy giant Bill Cosby, who was later convicted of sexual assault in 2018.

Since then, cancel culture has become more widespread, particularly online and in American pop culture. Celebrities and social media personalities have quickly become targets for cancellation. So much so that it seemed increasingly easy for individuals like certain Beauty YouTubers to lose subscribers and fans to cancel culture.

Three noteworthy targets were Say So singer Doja Cat and beauty YouTubers Shane Dawson and Jeffree Star. Hashtags like #DojaCatIsOverParty, #ShaneDawsonIsOverParty and #JeffreeStarIsOverParty even trended on Twitter when the controversies happened.

Not that they came out of nowhere. Fans were reacting unhappily to actions deemed to promote racism, homophobia and even pedophilia. Doja Cat, who is openly bisexual, had apologized for using a homophobic slur in the past and years later apologized again for participating in an alt-right online chatroom but denied participating in racist conversations.

Online stores discontinued products by Dawson and Star after the former drew a backlash for his pedophilia jokes and wearing blackface in his sketches. The latter was caught making racist slurs in previous videos.

How effective those cancel campaigns were remains to be seen. Doja Cat still has her career intact; Star has just announced a new skincare line.

Meanwhile in Singapore, whats now called cancel culture seems to have been around even before the term was popularized.

Complaining and doxxing, reporting people to the police, and setting up petitions have successfully cancelled people in the city-state, some even before the #MeToo movement.

A woman named Amy Cheong fled for Australia after her racist Facebook rant about Malays drew a backlash and police attention.

A petition by a mainly Christian group prompted the authorities to cancel a gig by Swedish black metal band Watain a move that drew a counter-backlash for happening in a nominally secular nation.

In recent weeks, however, more Singaporeans have used cancel culture to impact individuals in positions of bigger power and influence.

Clicknetwork TV dropped influencer Xiaxue over the divisive way she addressed her past racist and xenophobic comments. Ivan Lim withdrew from the ruling political partys candidate roster after several people accused him of elitist and abusive behavior.

In June, popular entities being held accountable by society was witnessed in the Okletsgo episode after Malay women rallied against the podcast hosts misogynistic content. The podcasters rejected complaints until President Halimah Yacob stepped in to demand the trio issue a proper apology and promise to review their content. They quickly did.

Using cancel culture to empower disenfranchised communities seems like a good thing, but some people are increasingly perceiving it as a threat to unwelcome opinion, or worse, mob justice.

In the past month, people resisting cancel culture have come out to criticize it as a form of intolerance and threat to freedom of speech. Because of their efforts to shut it down, the victims inadvertently use the phrase cancel culture more often than anyone else.

After British author J.K. Rowling was accused of transphobia earlier this month, she signed an open letter denouncing cancel culture in support of freedom of speech. The letter was also signed by 150 other authors and academics, including novelists Salman Rushdie and Margaret Atwood.

The letter said that it was becoming too common to hear calls for swift and severe retribution in response to perceived transgressions of speech and thought. It also condemned the disproportionate punishments institutions had meted out to cancel culture targets amid panicked damaged control.

Wendy Cheng, aka Xiaxue, also tried to cancel cancel culture after being fired by Clicknetwork TV. In a fearmongering video post, the Trump-loving 36 year old told her viewers that the obsessed online mob was out to cancel everyone, and that people should start standing up against it.

But regardless of which camp youre in, its pretty clear at this point at least that the ones opposed to cancel culture tend to be those held to account in positions of power, influence and privilege. On the flipside, those who support and promote cancel culture usually arent.

Other stories you should check out:Clicknetwork TV drops divisive Xiaxue over racist tweetsOkletsgo issues apology after President Halimah Yacob tells them off for misogynistic remarksBye Ivan, Hello Yao Quan: PAP replaces Jurong GRC candidate after backlash

Support Coconuts and rep your city

Now you can wear your love of Coconuts proudly across your chest. Thats right, were getting into the merch business with the launch of our official online store, The Coconuts Shop.

Our first product is that ultimate wardrobe mainstay: the white T-shirt.

If you want to rep your city, weve also launched Coconuts City Logo Tees for Bangkok, Manila, Singapore, Hong Kong, KL, Jakarta, Bali, and Yangon.

Theyre all sold exclusively at The Coconuts Shop at a special introductory price of S$29 until Sep. 30, 2020!

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Who wants to cancel cancel culture? The voiceless or the privileged? - Coconuts

‘You Do the Right Things, and Still You Get It’ – The New York Times

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They are amazing nerds, Ms. Roman, 38, said of her parents.

Sheryl Roberts, 65, understood the perils of the pandemic she had diabetes, asthma and heart disease, which could put her at higher risk. Her husband had chronic lung disease and a stent to open a blocked coronary artery.

We have been so careful, so very careful, and stayed away from people, Ms. Roberts said. Her husband began working from home in the spring when Washington State, New York and then other areas around the country were hit hard. Mr. Roberts occasionally made a supermarket run during senior hour; the couples only big, hot date in recent months, Ms. Roberts said, was to view wildflowers from their car.

Their younger daughter was diligent as well. But then she came back from work sneezing one day in mid-June and thought it was allergies. Soon she had a cough, fever, headaches and diarrhea, and lost her senses of taste and smell, telltale symptoms of the coronavirus.

She told me, I dont know whats going on, Mom, but I wore a mask, I wore gloves, I washed my hands, Ms. Roberts said. You do the right things, and still you get it.

Elaine Roberts, who tested positive for the coronavirus, did not become seriously ill. But for her parents, it would be much worse.

Mr. Roberts and his wife started sneezing, then coughing, just like their daughter, and developed fevers and severe body aches. Then he got awfully sick, awfully quickly, Sheryl Roberts recalled. He became confused on June 22. Alarmed, she tested his oxygen level. It was low, and she called her older daughter to take him to an emergency care center, the second visit in two days.

Before he left, his wife asked him to make a promise.

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'You Do the Right Things, and Still You Get It' - The New York Times

Pittsburgh-based Steelers reporter quits PennLive in protest of site calling a Nazi rally "peaceful" – PGH City Paper

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CP photo: Jared Wickerham

Jacob Klinger

Many people online criticized the post, saying that a racist group that advocates such causes could hardly be called peaceful." PennLive deleted the tweet, changed the headline, and updated some language of the original story. PennLive also repacked the reporting in adifferent story which included some different language, too.

But for Jacob Klinger, a Pittsburgh-based PennLive reporter who covers the Steelers, his newspaper had not done enough. Klinger announced on Twitter today that he has quit, and that the papers coverage of the Neo-Nazi protest was the main reason why.

In his statement on Twitter, Klinger also said the body of the original article frames false equivalencies of the put-off passersby and the armed, Seig Heil-ing, Swastika-wearing, Nazi-flag flying Nazis.

He acknowledges that the headline and the article were later altered, and that a follow-up article was also written, but he had issues with that as well. The follow-up article, titled National neo-Nazi group holds illegal protest in Pa. park: cops, ran on July 20 and added descriptions not seen in the original story, like that the group openly supports the oppression of minority groups. However, Klinger notes that the follow-up, repacked story still said in the lead paragraph that the NSM members were the same as the group that marched at the Unite the Right rally in Charlottesville, Va. in 2017, but referred to that group as a so-called Neo-Nazi group. Marchers at the 2017 Unite the Right rally chanted, Jews will not replace us, and one of its participants murdered an anti-racist counter protester named Heather Heyer.

Screenshot taken from Twitter

In July 2020, one of our reporters knew they could get away with calling avowed Nazis, so-called Neo-Nazis, and those people killed my family, so I quit, said Klinger.

He also is open about what he hopes to accomplish with his resignation, and the splash it might make. He understands that reporting softly on racists, the alt-right, or Nazis doesn't necessarily mean reporters are advocating for those subjects, but says it doesnt matter if the PennLive reporting was due to "a lack of intellectual curiosity or just being unbothered." He says going softly on those subjects is unacceptable.

It is a product of the culture, says Klinger of his former employer. He says before announcing his resignation on Twitter, he had a meeting with Patriot-News publisher Cate Barron, which he says he appreciated, but his mind was already made up.

Barron did not respond to a request for comment by press time.

Klinger hopes that his resignation will motivate PennLive and the Patriot-News, as well as other newsrooms, to change how they cover the the alt-right and hate groups. I would not have done this the way that I did it, if I didnt think it would give PennLive the most likely chance of changing, said Klinger.

In his statement, he mentioned that he was chastised for covering protests of Trump's Muslim ban that popped up in Pittsburgh on January 29, 2017. Klinger acknowledges his beat is the Steelers, but also says he was one of only a few other PennLive reporters stationed in Pittsburgh at the time. He also said that an editor killed a story in 2016 he had started to report about a Pittsburgh Holocaust survivor who was critical of Donald Trump.

Upon leaving the paper, Klinger says he left PennLive management some suggestions. These include: identifying Southern Poverty Law Center hate groups as such; during coverage of such hate groups, giving a voice to populations hate groups target; offering context in those stories of the nationwide rise in hate crimes; noting that the FBI has reported that members of these hate groups have infiltrated local police forces; and to acknowledge that the initial coverage of the Nazi protest was wrong and share some next steps.

Klinger says that he did enjoy many parts of his job at the paper, including covering the Steelers and the NFL. In his statement, he said he respects and believes in many of his former coworkers. But he says the frustration over the culture he says PennLive is enabling led to the failures in the Nazi protest coverage. He is hoping that amplifying his story will lead to some change.

I am not the first person to quit out of frustration, and there is a level of privilege that I have that knows I will be okay for a month a so, says Klinger. But I did want to make this as loud as possible.

He also hopes this will remind other publications of some issues in a lot of their own coverage, especially of protests. He says that people could search many publications and media outlets and find substantial reporting issues, even if they are less problematic than being soft on Nazis.

Right now, a lot of coverage is showing unsubstantiated state power being used against people with water bottles, and that is being framed as an even fight, says Klinger.

In Pittsburgh, some media outlets were still referring to Blacks Lives Matters protests in late May and early June as riots, despite that more than 90% of the people arrested at those events have had all charges dropped, and documentations of a protest on June 1 in East Liberty shows that Pittsburgh Police fired tear gas and sponge rounds at marchers, before marchers started throwing water bottles back.

These are not games, says Klinger. They are peoples lives.

Link:

Pittsburgh-based Steelers reporter quits PennLive in protest of site calling a Nazi rally "peaceful" - PGH City Paper

What is alt text in WordPress? How to add the accessibility feature – Business Insider – Business Insider

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Alt text is a short text description of an image published to the internet that can be read aloud by accessibility programs for the blind and visually impaired, including screen readers.

But there's another reason to include alt text: Google and other search engines use alt text to better understand your photos' content, which affects your website's page ranking in search results.

Because WordPress is a popular web site publishing tool, it includes the ability for you to add alt text to images contained in those web pages. The best time to add alt text to an image is when you upload it to WordPress. This way, the image has alt text right from the start, and the text is already there every time you add the image to a web page.

If the image is already in the WordPress media library and you are merely selecting it to insert in the post, there may already be a description in the alt text field in the Attachment Details pane. If the alt text is appropriate, insert it into the post. But if you prefer, you can edit the alt text before adding it.

While alt text is not required, you should strive to add useful, well-crafted alt text to every image you publish via WordPress so all users and search engines can better understand your content.

Here's how to write and add alt text in WordPress.

Because alt text describes the image to a visually impaired person, try to make the alt text as useful as possible. That will also help search engines rank your web pages appropriately for relevant keywords. Here are some things to keep in mind:

1. While writing a post in WordPress, click "Add Media" at the top of the page.

Start adding alt text by clicking the Add Media button near the top of the page. Dave Johnson/Business Insider

2. Add the image to your media library, either by browsing or dragging it to the web page.

3. After the is uploaded, the Attachment Details page should appear on the right side of the screen. Enter a description of the image in the Alt Text field.

Enter alt text in the field on the right side of the page. Dave Johnson/Business Insider

4. Complete any other entries you need to add, such as the caption and media credit.

5. Click "Insert into post."

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What is alt text in WordPress? How to add the accessibility feature - Business Insider - Business Insider