Changing the Indians team name is simply the right thing to do: Dave Weible – cleveland.com

Posted on by

CHICAGO -- Changing the name of Clevelands baseball team isnt about the game. And its not about political correctness, or any other buzzword that gets hurled around to shock people into their respective Culture War camps.

This is about Cleveland who we are as a people, what we stand for.

I was raised on Cleveland baseball in the 90s. Herb Score and Tom Hamilton were my summer soundtrack in the car, on the porch, and in the garages and yards of every friend I had.

As life has taken me away from Northeast Ohio, the team has been my season ticket back to not just childhood, but home itself. Ive dreamt of those perfect summer nights off the shores of Lake Erie while scoring games from the desert of New Mexico to the bustle of Brooklyn.

Everywhere Ive gone, Ive found fellow fans. And any Clevelander who has physically left home behind whether for the short or long term has experienced that bond that comes when you spot someone in a hometown hat at the airport bar or on an unfamiliar street.

That connection is about more than baseball I sure dont see the same thing among Yankees fans. Its about being from Cleveland.

And theres a reason for that. As its importance in other areas has waned since the middle of the last century, Clevelands sports teams have remained the citys most recognizable symbols on the national stage. They are what people know us for, and, possibly more than any other city in America, how we identify ourselves.

David Weible grew up in Lakewood and is a writer, editor and web strategist in Chicago.

But while our sports teams may be our cultural calling cards, as a people, were of course much more.

In my experience, were the guy who stops to help you change a tire on the side of the highway. Were the lady who doesnt just give you directions, but shows you the way. Were the kid who returns your wallet, untouched, when you drop it on the street.

Were honest, hard-working, decent people. We do the right thing. Were Clevelanders. And somehow, our teams tend to reflect that. Whether theyre the team-to-beat or perennial bottom dwellers, we take pride in them, because they represent us.

Right now, theres a mark on that pride. Our team has a name that many Americans, members of our own community, and, Im willing to bet, some members of the team itself, find counterproductive and hurtful.

It doesnt matter whether you agree with that viewpoint or not. Politics and posturing aside, the undeniable truth is that those feelings are there, and they are real.

I understand that changing the name is a serious undertaking for the organization. And I understand the attachment fellow fans have to things as they stand especially since every single one of us born after 1915 has never known our team as anything else.

But the work is not impossible, and any fan willing to disavow their team simply because of a name change wouldnt seem to be much of a real fan at all especially in Cleveland, where we pride ourselves on loyalty as much as anything.

The organization is obligated to consider things in business terms, though theyve made clear theyll also be involving a range of outside stakeholders. Rightly so.

Even from a purely business standpoint, an opportunity for new merchandise sales, for positive press in a perpetually negative news cycle, and a chance to quiet the ever-growing roar of anger and discord outside the gates of Progressive Field at every home opener ought to carry some weight.

As fans and Clevelanders, we should look at changing the name as the honest and decent thing to do. The right thing to do. Because thats who we are, and, win or lose, thats something we can all be proud of.

David Weible is a writer, editor and web strategist living in Chicago. He was raised in Lakewood and is a graduate of Lakewood High School.

Have something to say about this topic?

* Send a letter to the editor, which will be considered for print publication.

* Email general questions about our editorial board or comments on this editorial to Elizabeth Sullivan, director of opinion, at esullivan@cleveland.com.

See the article here:

Changing the Indians team name is simply the right thing to do: Dave Weible - cleveland.com

The White House Press Corps Should Boycott The Return Of Trump’s Coronavirus Follies | Opinion – Patch.com

Posted on by

By Michael J. Cozzillio and Krista J. Cozzillio, Capital-Star Op-Ed Contributor

-July 22, 2020

For 40 months, President Donald Trump has chosen to use his press conference podium as a bully pulpit in the most literal sense. When he has opted to hide in his bunker, he simply dispatches one of his stooges from the prevarication panel to emcee the surreality show.

One such display of incivility involved a slam at a reporter for wearing a face mask in a crowded Rose Garden. Trump snidely accused the newsman of donning the mask out of "political correctness" as opposed to responsible behavior to protect himself and his fellow citizens from infection. Regrettably, there is no personal protection device that could insulate him from the toxic invective being spewed by Typhoid Donnie.

To recount here the number and pitch of the smug insults that he has levlled at journalists is superfluous. One would hope that even the most casual observers would recognize the litany of boorish, insufferable, spiteful comments visited upon the White House press corps indisputably most often women and people of color.

Sadly, during Trump's absences, his assigned minions have only perpetuated his fantasies and have shown no greater respect for the audience.

When are the victims of this vitriol going to say "enough is enough?"

And when are their employers going to say, "To hell with the story, preserve your dignity, walk out with our blessings, and leave the socially bankrupt host to peddle his inarticulate drivel in a vacuum?"

Further, there should be no amount of job security or journalistic duty that will compel obeisance while colleagues are abused and intimidated, even absent institutional media backing.

Arguments that the press, as competitors, cannot be expected to show some unity and camaraderie are unconvincing as are remonstrations that an empty newsday would be devastating.

The public could survive and might relish the silence while this egomaniac melts away under the garish sun of inattention. After all, what prior president has striven so singlemindedly to be the centerpiece of every day's news, and for the sake of sheer antics rather than for newsworthy deeds?

True, a show of allegiance would require a bonding of erstwhile competitors who may otherwise vigorously joust over a breaking story.

But, history is rife with examples of groups who band together in common enterprise even though the members may be diverse in several ways. We may have differences with our neighbors, but on the night of a fire or other calamity, we are one responder.

We have seen rivals in one context demonstrate remarkable esprit de corps in others. The evolution of labor organizations in professional sports provides a telling illustration.

In numerous labor disputes, players who vie as competitors on the field have stood shoulder to shoulder to contest the leagues' financial exploitation and restrictive intrusion on their contractual freedom.

Admittedly, a boycott, rather than a strike, may be a more pertinent analogy, because it does not presuppose an employer-employee relationship. Nonetheless, that point having been acknowledged, the message remains the same.

Finally, and most apt, the purveyors of daily events have experienced a few labor battles of their own. Militant expressions by the press are by no means novel concepts.

Countless strikes have occurred commencing as early as the turn of the 20th century involving all aspects of that industry, from the "newsies" of 1889 to the reporters and pressmen. While many of the industry's disputes involved only certain members of a particular labor organization, in 1995 members of several different unions participated in a strike in Detroit lasting almost two years.

Labor unions, civil rights' organizations, and town hall gatherings have all reached points where they have said, "We have had it!"

Sacrificing individual ambition, they often epitomized fortitude when family, friends, and the general public counseled more passive resistance.

Clearly, some showing of civil disobedience or discontent is by no means a subversive notion. Indeed, the press manifested its sense of professional courtesy and collegiality several years ago when some of its members voiced support for a Fox News protest against the Obama White House's dismissive comments.

When faced with an adversary that demeans their entire raison d'etre, aren't they all bedfellows, however strange? How many times will a captive media cower before this dominating stalag ubermeister?

Moreover, not only is Trump's behavior inexcusably disparaging, the lack of any meaningful pushback by the victims enables him to convert a dialogue into a rambling campaign speech as evidenced by his recent Rose Garden diatribes.

Stand up. Walk out. Let the empty suit spread his mendacious, self-indulgent pap to a crowd dressed as empty seats.

What will he do when the press walks out stock the room with the Breitbart Brigade? Will he call the Pinkertons? Will he put down this walkout with thugs and brick bats, strikebreakers, all those things that in his distorted, myopic vision would "make American great again?"

Whom will he regale with his delusions of grandeur and fairytale achievements?

His raised voice will create a reverberating echo in the vacant room. The sniggering that he hears will be from the ghosts of the Fourth Estate who for years spoke truth to power in an effort to give the public the information that it craved, and did so without fear of vilification from someone with half of their intellect and none of their zeal.

Michael J. Cozzillio is a former member of the faculty at Catholic University's Columbus School of Law as well as Widener Commonwealth Law School in Harrisburg, where he has served as Emeritus and Distinguished Professor of Law. Krista J. Cozzillio is a graduate of Vassar College and Catholic University's Columbus School of Law. She is a former law school administrator and area piano instructor. Their work appears occasionally on the Capital-Star's Commentary Page.

This story was originally published by the Pennsylvania Capital-Star. For more stories from the Pennsylvania Capital-Star, visit PennCapital-Star.com.

Link:

The White House Press Corps Should Boycott The Return Of Trump's Coronavirus Follies | Opinion - Patch.com

David Tennant says There She Goes left BBC terrified of political correctness backlash for making light of – The Sun

Posted on by

DAVID Tennant has admitted There She Goes left the BBC terrified of political correctness backlash for making light of disabilities.

The comedy sees David and co-star Jessica Hynes play parents of a child with a severe learning disability.

4

The show has just returned for a second series after the first won praise for not suger-coating the trials of parenthood and marriage.

While David's character Simon relies on booze and dark humour to cope, wife Emily admitted in a low moment in season one that she had struggled to love her newborn daughter.

In a chat with The Guardian, David, 49, revealed his pride in the way the show tackles its subject matter, even if it is an uncomfortable watch sometimes.

However, the cast and the BBC had had some trepidation about the show, because it lacked a certain sentimentality and political correctness there was a real fear he said.

4

4

The star also recalled how a journalist had predicted an incoming "s**tstorm" with series one, saying: "He said: You are going to be destroyed for putting this on television.

"We all hoped he was wrong but we feared that he might be right.

One concern was casting a non-disabled actor to play the couple's daughter Rosie, who is non-verbal and has the mental age of a toddler.

Show bosses had explored the route of hiring an actor with a learning disability, but David said: "Anyone who appreciates the kind of challenges that a child like Rosie would have doesnt doubt that it would not really have been possible.

sleep demonsNetflix fans so scared they can't sleep after watching Unsolved Mysteries

Spoiler

REVENGECorrie's Geoff horrified as ex Elaine exposes truth about him to help free Yasmeen

vindicatedFriends' David Schwimmer settles 23-year debate about Ross and Rachel's break up

Spoiler

PORKY PIESEmmerdale's Charity and Sarah hear Priyas lies as they continue hunt for Kirin

soap seasonHollyoaksAutumn return promises wedding woes and an incestuous love triangle

STRUGGLEEmmerdale Samantha Giles 'felt so low she couldn't get out of bed' after quitting

4

There She Goes is based on the experience of the writers Shaun Pye and Sarah Crawford, whose daughter was born with an extremely rare - and still undiagnosed - chromosomal disorder.

David's character Simon is based on Stuart, and the actor admits he would try and catch him out on set.

He said: "Id go: This bit were doing today that didnt really happen, did it? And everything is true.

There She Goes continues tonight at 9.30pm on BBC Two.

Follow this link:

David Tennant says There She Goes left BBC terrified of political correctness backlash for making light of - The Sun

PETER YOUNG: China may be dismissive of the UK – but Britain’s bark still has bite – Bahamas Tribune

Posted on by

The issue of the extent of the involvement in Britain of Chinas huge telecommunications company, Huawei, has finally come to a head. Last week, citing national security concerns, the UK government banned the tech giant from any role in developing the infrastructure of 5G the nations next generation mobile communications network. This effectively reverses the governments decision in January to allow Huawei to play a limited part in this on the grounds the company would be the answer to delivering faster new generation internet. Now, UK firms are banned from purchasing new 5G equipment from Huawei, thus blocking any of its products for the new network, while any of its existing infrastructure equipment must be removed from the 5G network by 2027.

The UK government states the decision was taken in the security interests of the nation and new and highly restrictive US sanctions in May, including removal of Huaweis access to products built in the US, combined with diplomatic pressure appears to have been a game-changer so that the latest decision was claimed to have been inevitable. Earlier, the US had warned of the opportunity for China to spy, steal or attack in this field, and the UKs action is clearly in the interests of the Americans who have welcomed it as good for trans-Atlantic security while at the same time protecting citizens privacy. Equally, the strength of Britains domestic political objection to Huaweis proposed participation in 5G should not be underestimated.

The security concerns are based on the growing evidence that Huawei, despite its claims to the contrary, is not independent of the Chinese state but in reality is part of its security apparatus. There is surely little doubt that, as a communist country with centralised control and where dissent is not allowed, China insists its companies cooperate fully with the nations security services the difference between despotism and democracy. No less an authority than a former head of Britains MI6, Sir Richard Dearlove, is quoted as saying publicly that no part of the communist Chinese state is ultimately able to operate free of the control of its communist party leadership.

Huawei, therefore, presents a potential security risk to the UK as the forthcoming 5G network for phones could be used for hidden and underhand purposes. In such circumstances, there seems to be general agreement that it makes no sense to allow a potentially hostile foreign power to be at the heart of the sensitive infrastructure of Britains new communications system.

It is the case, of course, that Huawei is already partially involved in 3G and 4G but the UK government maintains 5G is fundamentally different, more sensitive and vulnerable. Meanwhile, it is interesting that Huawei announced even after having its equipment stripped from 5G - the launch of three new stores in the UK marketing its range of products including its popular smartphones providing internet access, the playing of films and the ability to make phone calls around the world.

The background to all this and the broader context are important. In recent years, China under the leadership of President Xi Jinping for whom the Party rules have now been changed to enable him to retain his position almost, it appears, indefinitely is looking to maximise its power across the globe. As I wrote in a recent column about Beijings controversial new security law for Hong Kong in which its bilateral treaty with Britain had been brushed aside with blatant impunity, China is showing a more belligerent approach to the rest of the world in its quest for global primacy.

It seems to be seeking pre-eminence as the new superpower whether it is Xis Belt and Road initiative or its growing military activity and influence in the South China Sea and renewed threat to Taiwan or its ongoing trade war with the US.

How different the whole picture looked at the time of President Xis state visit to Britain in 2015 when the-then Prime Minister David Cameron spoke of a Golden Age of good bilateral relations with improved exchanges across-the-board - not only enhanced economic cooperation, investment and trade but also links with universities in order to share advanced scientific and technological research. Now, the situation has changed to the extent that some see these as the Chinese infiltrating British universities to obtain intellectual property and sensitive technology to be passed on to the countrys defence establishment.

Five years later, Sino-British relations have soured, with clashes over coronavirus, Hong Kong, Huawei and human rights abuses.

At the weekend, Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab expressed concern about the gross, egregious human rights abuses perpetrated against more than a million Muslim ethnic minority Uighur people in northern China that have caused international outrage. According to reports, not only have they been subjected to intense state surveillance but mosques have been destroyed and thousands have been sent to re-education camps while even enforced sterilisation has been mentioned. Mr Raab described all this as deeply troubling.

As for Huawei, China has condemned the latest decision and its ambassador in London has called it a bad move for Britain itself. He has also criticised the UK for dancing to the tune of the US and warned of a resolute response including the threat of retaliation - especially if, separately, the UK imposes sanctions over human rights abuses or in relation to Hong Kong. What is more, he made the meaningless suggestion that Britain had missed the opportunity to be a leading country. His inappropriate language is likely to be counterproductive, and he might have done better if he had attempted to convince people about Huaweis claimed independence of its own government even if he knows that not to be true; but, as the book says, envoys are sent abroad to lie for their country!

Whatever happens, it is likely Chinese leaders will not want to be seen by the Party faithful to be bowing to the West while at the same time it is in their own interest to maintain good trade relations with Britain. For is part, despite the current difficulties, Britain must surely remain fully engaged with China as a leading player on the world stage, but it has taken firm action by announcing yesterday suspension of its extradition treaty with Hong Kong.

Amid the continuing calls for much-needed effective action to battle racism and police brutality in the US almost two months since the killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis, one of the consequences the other side of the Atlantic of the activities of Black Lives Matter has been an accelerated debate about the woke movement.

While many contend that the growth of illiberalism emanated originally from the US, in Britain this movement is developing as a strange and increasingly insidious phenomenon. There seems to be a growing institutional disdain for freedom of expression so that people are beginning to feel they are no longer living in a free society. Instead, this woke movement seems to consist of those who are trying to enforce their extreme views on others by shaming or ruining those who think differently.

The so-called cancel culture, which is apparently the latest expression of wokeness, looks to be defined as criticising and shaming people often on social media - and attempting to undermine or destroy the professional standing of anyone who deviates from ever-more extreme standards of political correctness. People are now required to submit to a new ruling orthodoxy from which it is a sin to deviate.

Of course, the notion of political correctness has been around a long time. Reportedly, in the 1970s and early 1980s it was first used wittily by liberal politicians to refer to extremism in some left-wing issues. It seems now to be understood by most people as the need to avoid language or behaviour that could offend some individuals or a particular group of people or, more positively, actively using language, behaviour, policies or measures that are intended to avoid offence or disadvantage to them, particularly those who are considered marginalised or discriminated against because of race.

To most people that sounds fair and reasonable, though political correctness is often taken to extremes by those too easily offended without justification and where subjective judgment can be flawed. But, by and large, it works. What is now taking hold in Britain in public life and national institutions, universities and schools, the police, the press and other media, big business and even the Church is the promotion of a woke ideology which demands anyone who departs from the new orthodoxy is decreed evil and beyond redemption.

All this may sound fanciful to some but the woke movement is growing. It is interesting, however, that voices are now being raised in opposition to what is seen as a minority of activists trying to dictate to others how they should live and what they should think. For example,British comedian Ricky Gervais, pictured, has stood up publicly for free speech, describing wokeness as weird as he says, just because you are offended does not mean you are right. In addition, last week a letter was sent to Harpers Magazine by some 150 liberal philosophers, writers and intellectuals denouncing the current intolerant climate of public discourse.

It seems to me there is some doubt about what exactly constitutes the new orthodoxy and who has defined it. There is insufficient space today to make a proper case for free speech. But, generally in the Western world people accept instinctively the need for a logical exchange of ideas and opinions through argument and counter-argument in determining the truth and reaching measured conclusions on an issue as enunciated by the 19th century German philosopher Hegel in the dialectic named after him. In a democracy, shutting down debate, imposing conformity and crushing dissent is unacceptable and should be resisted. As someone said, if you dont support free speech for people with whom you disagree, you dont support free speech.

Despite the gloom and doom of new coronavirus restrictions here at home, I hasten to offer some positive and happy news from faraway Britain. Last Friday, The Queen attended the wedding of her granddaughter, Princess Beatrice who is the daughter of Prince Andrew, at Windsor. Because of social distancing requirements it was a small private event attended only by close friends and family. Prince Philip was also there looking fit and well at the age of 99. It was a rare appearance for him since his official retirement in 2017 and his first public engagement in a year.

Later the same day, Captain Thomas Moore was knighted by The Queen. It was he who had raised earlier this year the enormous sum of about $40 million for the National Health Service by completing 100 laps of his garden in time for his impending 100th birthday. Captain Tom, as he became known, captured the hearts of the nation for his determination in a worthy cause and he was seen as a symbol of hope and perseverance during the coronavirus crisis so that he became a national treasure.

At the unique, open-air, personal investiture ceremony in the grounds of Windsor Castle in brilliant afternoon sunshine, The Queen was reported to have thanked the-now Sir Tom for his extraordinary fundraising efforts and remarked that 100 was a wonderful age, while he himself expressed his own thanks and appreciation for being honoured in this way and with typical humour apparently quipped that, if he had to kneel down for the ceremony, he might never get up again!

So Friday was indeed a happy day to gladden the heart a lovely wedding for the new bride and bridegroom and a fitting climax to the Thomas Moore story. It will also surely not have escaped notice this was the first public appearance by The Queen since the coronavirus lockdown measures and another example of her dedication and commitment to duty at the age of 94 - even in such troubled times. It was certainly a busy day for her.

Read more here:

PETER YOUNG: China may be dismissive of the UK - but Britain's bark still has bite - Bahamas Tribune

The Changing Meaning of Age, Gender and Race in Medical Research – American Council on Science and Health

Posted on by

Much of the ambiguity of RCT's results lies in how closely the treatment and control groups matched to one another. Variables that are continuous along a spectrum, like age, are grouped into "buckets," in an attempt to make the heterogenous more homogenous. But as our knowledge increases, the underlying diversity of variables, even ones we formerly thought were more in the discrete, yes/no category are being challenged. Among the challenged are age, gender, and race.

"See, it's not about racesJust placesFacesWhere your blood comes fromIs where your space isI've seen the bright get dullerI'm not going to spend my life being a color".

- Black and White Michael Jackson

Race

Race has long been a description of phenotype, black, brown, yellow, and white. The more contemporary, and politically charged statement is that race is a social construct a cultural, not "objective" view. This particular view has generated agrowing tempest in medicinearound a standard test of kidney function, the glomerular filtration rate (GFR). GFR measures the ability of the kidneys to detoxify the blood and is a primary marker of kidney health or failure. Actually, measuring GFR requires a 24-hour collection of urine so various nomograms, the new term might be algorithms, estimate those 24-hour values from a single point in time, blood test.

For a variety of reasons, including a belief that black individuals were more muscular than comparable white individuals, and therefore had higher levels of creatinine, the substance measured in GFR, the algorithm adjusted for being black. As a result, clearances for black patients were greater than those for comparable white individuals. The downstream result is that black patients were most likely to have false-negative GFR tests; their kidney function was worse than the GFR would suggest. These factitiously good results not only delayed concern about developing renal insufficiency but adversely impacted their priority on recipient lists for kidney donation. In the last few weeks, UCSF, Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital, the University of Washington, and Vanderbilt, among others, have dropped the racial component of the algorithm, in some cases substituting some indirect measure of muscle mass.

"This equation assumes that Black people are a homogeneous group of people, and doesn't take into account, how Black is Black enough?"- Vanessa Grubbs, MD Associate Professor of Nephrology UCSF

23andMe has made a business of separating us based on our genetics rather than our phenotype. Their calculated equivalence to "race" isancestry composition.To give you a sense of how genetics differs from phenotype, consider the US census that describes six categories [1], and 23andMe which has six main categories with 18 sub-categories and an additional 38 sub-sub categories.

Gender

Our earliest gender assignment was based on the most obvious of phenotypes, our external genitalia male, female, and individuals born with both, hermaphrodites. With expanding knowledge, our definition has progressed to the internal phenotype, the presence of a uterus and ovaries, or prostate and testis, to the presence of sex chromosomes. Today, gender can be measured by the release of hormones, a metabolic pattern. This metabolic definition has come forward in the discussion around long-distance runner Caster Semenya and her ability to compete as a female athlete. [2] Further conflating the problem is the entanglement of gender identity and orientation, which are related but separate. While more and more often, we see that the question of gender on surveys is couched as "gender identified at birth," this wording may meet some political correctness but fails to provide much scientific precision.

Age

You would think that age is pretty straightforward. Even creating buckets of ages should be easy. Of course, it all depends on what you mean by age. In looking at underage drinking, while the definition of underage may vary from locale to locale, the idea of what chronologically is 18 or 19 should be constant. On the other hand, what happens when we want to study health impacts. In this setting, are we interested in chronologic or physiologic age (often considered as frailty or some measure of co-morbidities)? It will make a difference. For example, how important is age versus frailty in the high-mortality associated with COVID-19? Capturing a chronologic value is probably not sufficient.

Medicine - the applied art

All of these categories are basic to applied medical research. And while the cultural positioning around categorizing race, and to a lesser degree, gender burns with a hot white light that may shed more heat than necessary, the concerns they raise are nonetheless valid. We need to develop not only consistent definitions but recognize that the definition changes with what general area we study. This further fractionation of categories may improve precision medicine, letting us compare more apples to apples. Still, it will require far more participants in studies to replace the statistical power lost as categories increase.

[1] White, Black or African American, Asian, American Indian and Alaska Native, Native Hawaiian, and Other Pacific Islander. If you want a deeper dive into how the US Census has categorized race over its entire existence consider this article from Science News,How the US census has measured race over 230 years

[2] ACSH discussed Semenya's confrontation with the International Association of Athletics Federation in a special series, which can be foundhere,here, andhere.

Sources: A yearlong push to remove racist bias from kidney testing gains new grounds, Stat

More:

The Changing Meaning of Age, Gender and Race in Medical Research - American Council on Science and Health

Whats Going On In NYC This Week – Jewish Week

Posted on by

SANDCATCHERS

Featuring original music by Tzadik recording artist Yoshie Fruchter that is inspired both by maqam and the Appalachian Trail, Sandcatchers blends the sound of the oud, which has a deep history in the Middle East and tradition spanning centuries, with the lap steel, a much younger entity. A live online concert by the band features Yoshie Fruchter (oud), Myk Freedman (lap steel), Michael Bates (bass) and Tim Keiper (drums/percussion). Saturday, July 25, 6 p.m., Live on Tl-Barbs, barbesbrooklyn.com. Donation requested.

SELF CARE:LEIGH STEIN

Highbrow, brilliant, says New York magazine. Self Care proves Leigh Steins status as a great demolition expert (Kenneth Tynans term for Bernard Shaw) of the influencer era, says The New Republic. A Vulture Best Book of Summer 2020, the new novel is about Maren Gelbs company-imposed digital detox. She tweeted something terrible about the presidents daughter, and as the COO of Richual, the most inclusive online community platform for women to cultivate the practice of self-care and change the world by changing ourselves, its a PR nightmare. Stein appears in an online conversation with Jess Barron. Thursday, July 23, 7 p.m., McNally Jackson Independent Booksellers, mcnallyjackson.com. Free.

Get Jewish Week's Newsletter by email and never miss our top stories Free Sign Up

INON BARTANON, PIANO: TIME TRAVELER SUITE

The New York Times has called the Tel Aviv-born Inon Bartanon one of the most admired pianists of his generation. In this livestreamed recital, hell bring together Baroque dance suites by Bach, Handel and Rameau with movements from more modern works, including Thomas Ads Blanca Variations (2015), which are based on the Ladino folk tune Lavaba la blanca nia. Thursday, July 23, 7:30 p.m., 92Y, 92y.org. $10.

ROBIN WASSERMAN WITH SPECIAL GUESTS: MOTHER DAUGHTER WIDOW WIFE

An enthralling, gritty, and altogether unpredictable read that holds nothing back You will be utterly riveted (BuzzFeed). From the author of Girls on Fire, an NPR Best Book of the Year, comes a new novel centered on a woman with no memory, the scientists invested in studying her Dr. Benjamin Strauss and his ambitious student Lizzie Epstein and the daughter who longs to understand. Wasserman and guests will appear in an online discussion. Friday, July 24, 7-8 p.m., Strand Book Store, strandbooks.com. Free.

Israeli civil rights lawyer Lea Tsempel is the subject of the documentary, Advocate. It airs on PBS documentary series POV next week. Pov.org

ADVOCATE

Attorney Lea Tsemel is a champion in Israeli human rights circles for her longtime defense of Palestinians. But she is seen by some as the devils advocate. Filmmakers Rachel Leah Jones and Phillippe Bellaiche document her trials in Advocate, which was shortlisted for an Oscar in the Best Documentary Feature category. The film airs as part of PBS POV series, Monday, July 27, 10 p.m., Thirteen/WNET, pov.org.

CRIP CAMP Q&A

If ever there were a film about fun, resilience and tikkun olam, Crip Camp is it. No one at Camp Jened, a camp for disabled teens just down the road from Woodstock, could have imagined that those summers in the woods together would be the beginnings of a revolution. The campers-turned-activists shaped the future of the disability-rights movement and changed accessibility legislation for everyone. Join a virtual, live-captioned Q&A with filmmakers. Monday, July 27, 8:30 p.m., Marlene Meyerson JCC Manhattan, jccmanhattan.org. Free. Watch the film on Netflix, netflix.com.

DAVID CROSS NEEDS TO DO STAND-UP

Actor David Cross (Arrested Development) tries his hand at live stand-up comedy during a pandemic. Were just hoping he does his bit about the binary nature of the word Jew. Enjoy socially distanced comedy in Parklifes 4,000-square-foot outdoor yard while enjoying tacos and drinks. Masks are required and all safety guidelines will be adhered to. Monday, July 27, 8:30-10 p.m., Littlefield LIVE@Parklife, 636 Degraw St., Brooklyn, parklifebk.com. $28 (includes two tacos).

JUDY GOLD ON YES, I CAN SAY THAT WITH ROSIE ODONNELL

Join comedian Judy Gold and Emmy Award-winning Rosie ODonnell online for a laugh-out-loud conversation about Golds new book, Yes, I Can Say That: When They Come for the Comedians, We Are All in Trouble. Over the last few years, with the dramatic rise in political correctness and cancel culture, weve seen a dangerous increase in censorship of comedians who cover controversial issues. What are the uncomfortable truths that comedy reveals about our culture and society? Why is free speech the core value of our democratic society and what can be done? Tuesday, July 28, 7 p.m., 92Y, 92y.org. $10.

BERNARD-HENRI LVY IN CONVERSATION WITH THOMAS FRIEDMAN

A French philosopher, activist and filmmaker, Bernard-Henri Lvy is author of more than 30 books, most recently The Empire and the Five Kings and The Genius of Judaism. Few moments in modern history are riper than this one for his sharp lens and iconoclastic insight. Join Lvy in discussion with New York Times columnist Thomas Friedman about his latest book, Virus in the Age of Madness, which lays out a complex collision of catastrophes and whether they will lead to the humiliation of democracies. Wednesday, July 29, 5-6:30 p.m., Virtual Streicker, emanuelnyc.org. Free.

NATAN SHARANSKY & RABBI RICK JACOBS: PRISON, POLITICS AND THE JEWISH PEOPLE

A month before the release of his new book, Never Alone, reflections on the journey hes traveled from Soviet Gulags to the rough-and-tumble of Israeli politics and then to the leadership of the Jewish Agency, Natan Sharansky will join us for a conversation moderated by Rabbi Rick Jacobs, president of the Union for Reform Judaism. Monday, August 3, 5 p.m., Virtual Streicker, emanuelnyc.org. Free.

HAMPTONS TRUNK SHOW

For more than a dozen years, UJA-Federation has presented the Hamptons Trunk Show, a hub of shopping, connecting and raising money for the charity. This year, the trunk show is a virtual experience that UJA promises will rival its big tent event. As always, a percentage of proceeds will benefit UJA including, this year, its response to the ongoing needs created by Covid-19. Each morning at 11 a.m. the trunk show will feature a live segment with trendsetters in the fashion world. Monday, Aug. 3-Thursday, Aug. 6, UJA-Federation of New York, ujafedny.org/event/view/hamptons-trunk-show. Register for free.

Follow this link:

Whats Going On In NYC This Week - Jewish Week

Google Is Working on Tattoos That Turn Your Body Into a Touchpad – Futurism

Posted on by

New Ink

Undeterred by its historic Google Glass flop, Google is still investing heavily in various oddball forms of wearable technology.

Recent projects, according to CNET, include new mixed reality glasses, virtual reality controllers that let you feel the weight of virtual objects, and new smartwatches. But perhaps the most unusual is a high-tech temporary tattoo that basically turns your flesh into a giant touchpad.

CNET reports that the idea behind the tattoo project, dubbed SkinMarks, is to make interacting with technology feel more natural. The SkinMarks can be applied to fingers or parts of the hand that we control with instinctive fine motor skills, so using the sensors through a bend of the finger or a squeeze of the fist could become like second nature.

Through a vastly reduced tattoo thickness and increased stretchability, a SkinMark is sufficiently thin and flexible to conform to irregular geometry, like flexure lines and protruding bones, The Saarland University researchers who were funded by Google to develop the tech wrote in a white paper about the project.

Aside from the market value of beating other tech giants like Facebook or Apple at the wearable game, CNET reports that Google is particularly incentivized to get more people to use wearable devices or literally imprint them on their skin in order to collect even more of that sweet, sweet user data.

Targeted advertising brings Google over $160 billion every year. And the brand new categories of data that devices like these tattoos would generate stands to be even more valuable

READ MORE: Google is quietly experimenting with holographic glasses and hybrid smartwatches [CNET]

More on wearables: Mark Zuckerberg: Wearables Will Soon Read Your Mind

View original post here:

Google Is Working on Tattoos That Turn Your Body Into a Touchpad - Futurism

Scientists Found Something Surprising in Closest-Ever Photos of the Sun – Futurism

Posted on by

NASA just released the closest pictures ever taken of the Sun not to be confused with the highest resolution ones courtesy of the Solar Orbiter, a collaboration between NASA and the European Space Agency (ESA). The close-ups are breathtaking to look at, and also reveal something entirely unexpected as well: small flares theyre calling campfires, all over the stars surface.

The campfires we are talking about here are the little nephews of solar flares, at least a million, perhaps a billion times smaller, said principal investigator David Berghmans, an astrophysicist at the Royal Observatory of Belgium in Brussels, in a a NASA statement. When looking at the new high resolution EUI images, they are literally everywhere we look.

Despite the majority of staff at ground control at the European Space Operations Center in Germany having to work from home during the ongoing pandemic, the team was able to obtain the images from the Solar Orbiter as it made its closest pass on June 15.

The Orbiter came within just 48 million miles of the Sun. Its closest pass within the next year or so will get it within just 26.1 million miles. NASAs Parker Solar Probe came even closer in June, getting to within just 11.6 million miles from the surface.

A closer flyby also means better images. Because the camera itself doesnt doesnt have any zoom capability, that zooming happens by getting closer to the Sun, Daniel Mller, ESAs Solar Orbiter Project Scientist, told The Verge.

These unprecedented pictures of the Sun are the closest we have ever obtained, Holly Gilbert, NASA project scientist for the mission at NASAs Goddard Space Flight Center, said inthe NASA statement. These amazing images will help scientists piece together the Suns atmospheric layers, which is important for understanding how it drives space weather near the Earth and throughout the solar system.

Scientists are still unsure as to the exact nature of these little flare-ups each of them are about the size of a country.

But we might soon know more thanks to the Solar Orbiters other scientific instruments. The Spectral Imaging of the Coronal Environment, or SPICE instrument, can measure the exact temperature of each nanoflare.

So were eagerly awaiting our next data set, Frdric Auchre, principal investigator for SPICE operations at the Institute for Space Astrophysics in Orsay, France, said in NASAs statement. The hope is to detect nanoflares for sure and to quantify their role in coronal heating.

Mller suggested to The Verge that the campfires in total they could add up enough energy to heat the corona. In other words, all these tiny flares could add up to enough energy to heat up the Suns entire atmosphere.

The Solar Orbiter is outfitted with an entire suite of scientific gear. Counting the cameras and the SPICE instrument, the small spacecraft features ten different instruments, all collecting invaluable data about our star.

Scientists werent expecting to find anything groundbreaking from the Orbiters first ever images yet thanks to the Extreme Ultraviolet Imager, astronomers were astonished to discover what they called campfires all over the Suns surface.

We didnt really expect such great results right from the start, Mller, ESAs Solar Orbiter Project Scientist, said in an ESA statement. We can also see how our ten scientific instruments complement each other, providing a holistic picture of the Sun and the surrounding environment.

As part of a different experiment, scientists are excited to soon get a much closer and detailed look at structures of solar wind, massive streams of charged particles released from the Suns corona that make their way through the solar system.

Thanks to yet another instrument, the researchers are also getting an unprecedented look at the Suns magnetic field, particularly at each of its poles.

READ MORE: The closest images of the Sun ever taken reveal tiny solar flares dotting the stars surface [The Verge]

More on the Solar Orbiter: A Space Probe Just Took the Closest Pictures of the Sun Ever

See more here:

Scientists Found Something Surprising in Closest-Ever Photos of the Sun - Futurism

This Star Appears to Have Survived a Supernova – Futurism

Posted on by

A white dwarf star was sent hurtling through the Milky Way at more than half a million miles per hour after experiencing a partial supernova.

White dwarves are extremely dense, Earth-sized cores that are left over after a star has depleted all its fuel and shed its outer layers.

Astronomers believe the white dwarf in question, dubbed SDSS J1240+6710, was once part of a binary star system, the BBC reports. First discovered in 2015 some 1,430 light-years from Earth, astronomers detected a highly unusual mix of oxygen, neon, magnesium, and silicon in its atmosphere not the layers of hydrogen and helium white dwarves usually are made up of.

Several years later, using data from NASAs Hubble Space Telescope, an international team of astronomers discovered that the bizarre white dwarf also had carbon, sodium, and aluminum in its atmosphere, the tell-tale signs of a supernova.

Making matters even more unusual, the scientists didnt find heavier elements including iron, nickel, chromium, and manganese, which usually are found after Type Ia supernova, which occur in binary systems where one of the stars is a white dwarf.

This led them to believe that the white dwarf only experienced and survived a partial supernova.

Thats what makes this white dwarf unique it did undergo nuclear burning, but stopped before it got to iron, Gnsicke told Space.com.

This star is unique because it has all the key features of a white dwarf but it has this very high velocity and unusual abundances that make no sense when combined with its low mass, Boris Gnsicke, physics professor at the University of Warwick, UK, and lead author of a paperabout the research published the Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society,said in a statement.

It would have been a type of supernova, but of a kind that that we havent seen before, he added.

Heres what they think might have happened: Both stars in the suspected binary system were shot in opposite directions, like a cosmic slingshot, when the white dwarf suddenly shed a large portion of its mass.

Such an event would have resulted in a blip of light that wouldve been near impossible to detect from Earth.

When it had its supernova event, it was likely just brief, maybe a couple of hours, Gnsicke told Space.com.

We are now discovering that there are different types of white dwarf that survive supernovae under different conditions and using the compositions, masses and velocities that they have, we can figure out what type of supernova they have undergone, Gnsicke explained in the statement.

There is clearly a whole zoo out there, he added. Studying the survivors of supernovae in our Milky Way will help us to understand the myriads of supernovae that we see going off in other galaxies.

READ MORE: Partial supernova blasts white dwarf star across the Milky Way [Space.com]

More on white dwarves: Star Blasts Own Planets Into Shattered Corpses, Devours Remains

Continue reading here:

This Star Appears to Have Survived a Supernova - Futurism

The Conservative Inc. to Big Tech Pipeline – The American Conservative

Posted on by

Section 230 has become a mainstay of our political news cycle, as Senator Josh Hawley and other Silicon Valley skeptics wage daily war on the controversial law which leaves Big Tech platforms immune to liability for content posted by third-parties on their sites. Hawleys forceful condemnation of Big Techs special treatment by the governmentdespite the clear anti-conservative bias and progressive agenda of many of these companiesis a defining element of a particular, ascendant brand of conservatism.

But heated debates over Silicon Valleys special protection precede the Missouri populists arrival on the Hill by years. One of the most memorable crusades against Section 230s unintended consequences saw Sen. Rob Portman (R-OH) leading the charge on the Stop Enabling Sex Traffickers Acta hard title to argue within 2017-18. The bill became law with overwhelming bipartisan support. Only two senatorsunflinching libertarian Rand Paul (R-KY) and Section 230 coauthor Ron Wyden (D-OR)voted against.

SESTAs easy passage came despite the best efforts of Silicon Valley powerhouses like Google, and suggested that these companies old way of operating in D.C. was no longer viable. For a long time, tech giants could count on strong alliances with the Democratic establishment and the progressive movement, together with the pro-business Republican Partys overall aversion to regulation, to ensure general freedom from Washington interference. But a strong Republican House through most of the Obama yearsfollowed by Republican control of all three federal branches after the 2016 elections, and a reconsideration of free-market ideology within the GOPmeant that Silicon Valley needed friends in Washington whose names werent followed by (D-CA).

The Google Transparency Project released a landmark report in December of 2019 detailing the way Google went about making those new friends. It hinges, in large part, on a single person: six-year employee Rachel Whetstone was promoted to senior vice president for communications and public policy in May of 2011not long after a wave of Republicans took control of the House of Representatives. Whetstone is the granddaughter of Antony Fisher, founder of the libertarian mega-donor Atlas Network, and daughter of its current chairwoman. From the GTP report:

Shortly after Whetstone took on her new role, Google began making what would be annual donations to the group her grandfather founded. Google contributed between $25,000 and $99,999 to Atlas Network each year from 2012 to 2015. In 2016 and 2017, as scrutiny of the company intensified, Google upped its support to six figures, between $100,000 and $1 million, earning a spot in Atlas Networks Freedom Champions Circle.

In 2018, Google was again giving less than $100,000 to Atlas Network. But by then, it was also directly funding many conservative groups within the network.

In all, the report found that Google has given money toat least 22 conservative and libertarian organizations, the GTP analysis shows. They include the American Conservative Union, American Legislative Exchange Council, Competitive Enterprise Institute, Heritage Foundation, and the Mercatus Center. The report is worth reading in full.

It is no coincidence that infamously progressive corporate behemoth Google was throwing wads of cash at conservative groups at just the time that a majority Republican Congress was weighing legislation that might chip away at Googles bottom line. Even limited liability for third-party content could cost Google millions, and opportunistic appeals to market-minded Republicans on grounds of freedom and limited government might save substantial amounts of money in the long run.

But even this is just one small part of the bigger picture. Given SESTAs landslide passage, massive donations to conservative institutions may not have been the winning strategy that Google had hoped. Now, as a renewed animus against Big Tech takes hold of D.C. conservatives, another strategy is gaining traction among powerful but anxious tech companiesone focused not on money, but on manpower.

In April of 2019, the Senate Judiciary Committeecontrolled by Republicans and chaired by Ted Cruz (R-TX)rejected a Google witness for a hearing on free speech concerns on Big Tech platforms. The witness, Max Pappas, had just been hired by Google in March of 2017. Pappas was expected to make inroads into the conservative establishment. He had the background for it, after all: immediately before his arrival at Google, Pappas spent four years aschief economist and director of outreach for Ted Cruz. Though this episode hardly worked out in Googles favor, its indicative of the strategy that Google and other tech companies have been shifting toward in recent years: hiring staffers with strong connections in the D.C. conservative establishment, in hopes that those connections will prove more beneficial than impersonal donations to right-of-center nonprofits.

Pappas superiors, for instance, have resumes that ought to raise some eyebrows. Karan Bhatia is a vice president for government affairs and public policy at Google. He came to Google from GE, but before that he served as Deputy U.S. Trade Representative, among a number of other positions in the Bush administration. Bhatia, who heads up Googles D.C. office, remains well known in the citys conservative circles.

Another Google vice president for government affairs and public policy is even more intriguing. Mark Isakowitz has been at Google since October of 2019. Before that, he spent nearly five years as chief of staff to Sen. Rob Portman. The timeline is worth noting: in 2018, Isakowitz was chief of staff to a Republican senator pushing legislation that Google opposed with the full force of its lobbying machine; within a year, Isakowitz became a part of that machine himself. Other corporations are taking note, and testing out their own personnel-centered strategies.

Freddy Barnes spent six years as policy director for Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R-CA), during which time McCarthy was majority leader of the U.S. House of Representatives. Before that, he spent two years on McCarthys floor team while the congressman was majority whip. As of June, Freddy Barnes is employed in U.S. public policy at TikTok, a viral social media company suspected, with its Beijing-based parent company ByteDance, of feeding user information to the Chinese government. This suspicion has inspired serious talk in the federal government of banning the platform altogether.

Derrick Dockery worked for three years as business and intergovernmental coalitions director for House Speaker Paul Ryan (R-WI), following one year as communications and coalitions coordinator for the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform and two in communications for Rep. Ryan. As of June, Derrick Dockery is employed in U.S. government affairs at TikTokrejoining Barnes, with whom he overlapped on Capitol Hill for six years (each serving one of the two highest-ranking members of the House).

David Urban was a senior adviser to Donald Trumps 2016 presidential campaign, and a key player in both the Republican National Convention that year and Trumps general election victory in Pennsylvania. Urban has been tapped for Trumps 2020 Advisory Committee, but the veteran politico will have to split his time between getting the president reelected and representing Chinese corporate interests: as of January, Urbans lobbying firm, American Continental Group, is on the take from TikTok.

These guys are relative newcomers to the scene compared to other Conservative Inc. transplants in Big Techespecially Chinese tech. Donald J. Morrissey has spent over 9 years heading up U.S. government affairs for Huawei, another Chinese corporation suspected of unsavory ties to the government in Beijing. Before taking over lobbying for the foreign tech giantwhose CEO is a former officer in the Peoples Liberation ArmyMorrissey worked on the staff of multiple Republican congressmen, as well as in other notable roles in the D.C. conservative establishment. Among other positions, he was the legislative director of the American Conservative Union.

Nor are these machinations limited to the United States. One of Huaweis top men in Canada is 36-year-old lawyer Alykhan Velshi. Velshis colorful career includes government posts, stints at the neoconservative Foundation for the Defense of Democracies, a host of hawkish op-eds at a multitude of outlets, and a year at the American Enterprise Institute.

These are some of the big fish, but the catalogue of Hill and nonprofit staffers who have landed in the tech world is enormous. Former Steve King aide Robert Babcock is lobbying for Google. Amazon lobbyist Darren Achord spent nearly a decade on the Hill working for Republican politicians, including Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL) and Rep. Steve Scalise (R-LA), whom he served as deputy chief of staff while Scalise was majority whip. The list goes on.

Often, the efforts at personal networking have been targeted and direct. Such was the case with Sen. Mike Lee (R-UT). Once one of Googles most vocal critics in Washington, the chairman of the Senate Antitrust Subcommittee is now all but silent on Big Tech, and at times even openly defensive of it. This is no coincidence: the Tech Transparency Project has shed light on a concerted effort by Google to curry favor with Lee. Besides substantial donationsGTP counted at least $73,600 from tech-affiliated donors for Lees 2016 reelection campaigntech interests began actively recruiting personnel from Lees circle. Max Pappas had been a Lee ally, particularly in his time as executive director of FreedomWorks PAC. Bryson Bachman had been Lees chief counsel on the antitrust subcommittee; he was hired by Amazon in 2018. Meanwhile, Sen. Lees chief counsel on the judiciary committee, Mike Lemon, went on to become a senior director at the Internet Association.

The Internet Association is worth reflecting on here. It was formed in 2012, when the big players in Silicon Valley came together to form a lobbying group that would represent their shared interests in Washington. Google, as always, was a leader in the fieldthis was around the same time that the company was making its connections with the Atlas Network and other institutions of the right. Other giants like Amazon and Facebook were there at the inception, and the group quickly ballooned from 14 members to 40.

This rapid growth was thanks, in large part, to the success of its president and CEO, Michael Beckerman. Beckerman came to the job with plenty of relevant experience: roughly 12 years on Capitol Hill, in positions that included deputy staff director of the House Energy and Commerce Committee (i.e., the legislative body charged with the direction of U.S. internet policy) and chief policy adviser to the committee chair, Rep. Fred Upton (R-MI). For eight years, from 2012-2020, Beckerman used the skills and knowledge he had learned at the center of GOP leadership to navigate the ins and outs of tech policy in D.C., providing invaluable insight to Silicon Valley corporate interests. His new employers must be hopeful that the longtime D.C. power-player can bring that same inside perspective to their playbook in the capital.

As of this March, Beckerman is head of U.S. public policy at TikTok.

See the article here:

The Conservative Inc. to Big Tech Pipeline - The American Conservative

Roku Is A Strong Gatekeeper In Streaming, But Could Be Crushed By Big Tech Analyst – Deadline

Posted on by

Roku has established its position as a strong gatekeeper in streaming, poised to benefit from an influx in advertising, but it is also a small fish swimming in the vast ocean controlled by major tech firms.

Thats the mixed signal from MoffettNathanson analysts Michael Nathanson, who initiated coverage of Roku with a neutral rating and a 12-month price target of $145 on its shares. He issued a 62-page report to clients on Monday identifying the green lights and yellow flags he sees around the company. Roku shares are up about 9% in 2020 to date, having seen significant volatility as investors weighed the puts and takes of COVID-19. The stock was flat in mid-day trading Monday, at about $148.50.

As a major player in ad-supported video on demand [AVOD], Roku is well-positioned, Nathanson wrote in the report. As cord-cutting accelerates, we believe advertising dollars will flow to AVOD services as linear TV ad buyers look to extend TVs reach, leverage data targeting capabilities and control CPMinflation in a brand safe, big-screen, TV-like way, he wrote. By 2024, the total ad market in streaming will more than quadruple, Nathanson predicts, reaching about $14 billion from $3 billion in 2019.

As it has grown to reach more than 40 million U.S. households, Rokus importance in the entertainment ecosystem has only grown. It has had pay-TV-style carriage disputes with major programmers, indicating its willingness to assert its position. Last winter, it clashed with Fox Corp. on the eve of the Super Bowl before reaching a deal. This year, it has declined to accept terms from WarnerMedia or NBCUniversal to add their new streaming services, HBO Max or Peacock.

Roku has built a strong gatekeeper position among streaming media devices (we estimate it is in around 40% of U.S. homes), which is creating a near-term opportunity to extract significant value from OTT companies seeking their shelf space to grow, Nathanson noted. While its noteworthy that Roku is flexing its muscles, the analyst believes that kind of leverage is unlikely to last. The marketplace is incredibly fluid as Alphabet appears interested in re-positioning their floundering efforts and as large media companies consolidate the industry, he wrote.

Since the companys founding in 2002 by noted tech innovator and early Netflix engineer Anthony Wood, questions have hovered over Roku in terms of its strategic path. Specifically, many investors and industry observers have questioned whether it could survive as a small tree trying to grow in a forest of tech redwoods. During these years of skepticism in some corners, however, the company has transitioned from being a hardware maker to a more platform-oriented nerve center for streaming with a more diverse, global revenue mix. Its interface is now on one in three smart-TVs and it has ramped up its advertising efforts significantly.

Nathanson described the company as occupiers of an important, but small, piece of the connected TV landscape. Fundamentally, he continued, Roku is a small company in a marketplace packed with the worlds largest tech and media players who may not be willing to grant them the oxygen they need to flourish over time.

In 2019, total revenue for Roku reached $1.1 billion. Its platforms unit encompassing the share of subscription and ad sales it takes from activity on its platform accounted for 66% of that. Within platforms, Nathanson estimates, video advertising is the largest, and fastest growing, component, with 52% of total platform revenues.

In looking at the market today, there are two key questions for Roku, Nathanson wrote. 1) How well will it monetize this large and growing user base?, and 2) How wide is the moat that they have built over the long term?

See original here:

Roku Is A Strong Gatekeeper In Streaming, But Could Be Crushed By Big Tech Analyst - Deadline

Opinion: Let’s create jobs in the outdoors because hard work pays off for all of us – The Colorado Sun

Posted on by

From 1936-41, workers enlisted as part of the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) helped construct and open to the public Colorados famous Red Rocks Amphitheatre.

One of the most popular of all New Deal programs, the CCC provided 3 million jobs for young men challenged to find employment during the Great Depression. It improved workers physical condition, morale and employability while contributing to the enhancement and care of natural resources.

While its still too early to predict long-term impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on Colorados economy, at Great Outdoors Colorado (GOCO), we see an opportunity. Perhaps our state could prove that, once again, economic resilience can be found in job creation in the hard-working outdoor sector.

The idea is gaining momentum on the national scale with several acts pending. This week, the House is expected to approve the Great American Outdoors Act, which passed in the Senate in June and would invest nearly $2 billion per year in the outdoors, including investments in a fund to support deferred maintenance on federal lands.

In addition, U.S. Rep. Joe Neguse of Colorado has unveiled the 21st Century Conservation Corps for Our Health and Our Jobs Act, ambitious legislation that aims to help economies recover from the pandemic while addressing conservation, forest management and wildfire and natural disaster mitigation on public lands.

Separately, a bipartisan group of senators has proposed the Cultivating Opportunity and Response to the Pandemic through Service (CORPS) Act, which would double AmeriCorps positions available this year to 150,000 and provide 600,000 service opportunities nationwide.

Funding for conservation and outdoor recreation is a powerful economic lever. In its 27 years, GOCO has funded more than 5,300 outdoor projects with Colorado Lottery proceeds, and in the coming fiscal year, will receive as much as $71 million from the Lottery to invest.

READ:Colorado Sun opinion columnists.

GOCO funding supports the on-the-ground projects of people working in local governments park and recreation and open space departments, at nonprofits that protect land, and at Colorado Parks and Wildlife all integral pieces of our outdoor infrastructure and economy.

The projects, from the creation of natural areas and land conservation to park and trail development and management, protect Coloradans shared values. They contribute to our health and well-being. They safeguard our land, air and water for people and wildlife and contribute to critically needed climate resilience. They build up and revitalize communities, and they attract a whole host of new people to this state whether as visitors or new residents.

While protecting and enhancing the outdoors certainly have economic advantages, increased visitation and use bring a greater need for caring for and restoring these spaces.

Colorados great outdoors faced a significant maintenance backlog before the pandemic, and now with more people heading outside, the need to manage the outdoors is even greater.

MORE: See Colorado Sun outdoors coverage

The Colorado Outdoor Partnership council determined Colorados public trails alone require $89 million in backlogged maintenance. But this is part of our opportunity.

GOCO will embark on a new strategic plan next year, but first were focused on helping Colorado recover from COVID-19 impacts. Our board earmarked $15 million for a Resilient Communities program to help partners advance outdoor projects.

This program will augment core capacity and operations for conservation and recreation work, fund critical land acquisitions and support natural resource stewardship efforts.

In addition, this year GOCO will double its investment in Colorado Youth Corps Association (CYCA) to $1 million. CYCA is a statewide coalition of eight accredited conservation service corps that employ and train youth, young adults and veterans on needed recreation and restoration projects, from trail building to wildland fire training.

These service corps offer an incredible opportunity for Coloradans to acquire trade skills, providing employment for 1,700 people annually while helping Colorado accomplish tangible stewardship goals. The additional funding means more people employed and more work completed.

Met Wilder yet? GOCO has invested nearly $30 million over the last few years in Generation Wild, a program supporting 15 community-driven coalitions launching outdoor programs and ensuring equitable access to the outdoors for youth and families.

In each community, GOCO invests in the people and positions needed to direct, manage and administer programs at the local level. As of March 2020, the coalitions had offered 2,025 volunteer, internship and job opportunities; 85% of the jobs and internships were paid.

Already registered? Log in here to hide these messages.

As part of our new plan, GOCO will expand into additional communities while continuing to support existing coalitions with $2.8 million in the next year.

In these unprecedented times, Colorados great outdoors provides a sense of freedom, relief and needed physical release. All the while, our outdoor spaces help us thrive in a different way providing meaningful livelihoods for hundreds of thousands of people. Were proud to support our states outdoor identity and economy.

Lets get to work, Colorado.

Chris Castilian is Executive Director of Great Outdoors Colorado (GOCO).

The Colorado Sun is a nonpartisan news organization, and the opinions of columnists and editorial writers do not reflect the opinions of the newsroom. Read our ethics policy for more on The Suns opinion policy and submit columns, suggested writers and more to opinion@coloradosun.com.

Support local journalism around the state.Become a member of The Colorado Sun today!

See more here:

Opinion: Let's create jobs in the outdoors because hard work pays off for all of us - The Colorado Sun

PFC awards: don’t wing it – BR Research – Business Recorder

Posted on by

In last weeks coverage on Provincial Finance Commission (PFC) awards, it was argued that if the PTI is really serious about the PFC, it should draft a bill with wider political consultation to address the constitutional gaps on local government and its finances.

It was also argued that the bill should emulate the likes of Indian or Nepalese Constitution that has specific articles on constitution, composition, duration, powers, and responsibilities of municipalities including power to impose taxes; and the executive powers of local government in addition to specific provisions related to mayor and deputy mayor of municipalities, term of office of village/municipal assembly, and so forth. (See BR Researchs Provincial finance omission published 16, Jul 2020)

In addition to these, there are at least two other aspects that need to be addressed to make PFCs effective in Pakistan. The first of these revolves around the subject of taxation. That provinces have not devolved property taxes (arguably the biggest source of own revenues at the disposal of local governments) to the local level doesnt speak well of the provincial political leadership. This issue cannot be over emphasized.

In cases where some taxes have been devolved to the third tier, local government laws allow provincial governments to regulate taxes and fees imposed by the third tier, which raises questions over the fiscal freedom of local government. Local governments also do not have complete autonomy to raise revenues and to make expenditure unless previously authorised by the provincial governments.

The issue of adequate representation of local government at the PFC also needs to be addressed. In all the four provinces, the composition of the PFCs as per respective local government laws is such that provincial representation in the PFC is much higher than the representation of local government.

It is understandable that most local government officials lack capacity to meaningfully contribute to such commissions, and that it is difficult to have representation of all the districts in each province. However, it is equally true that capacity issues can be addressed by secondments of finance staff from provincial government or technical representatives appointed by local government itself, whereas the issue of numerous districts could be resolved by creating a system of nominated representatives from various sub-tiers of local government.

Here one could take a cue from New Zealand and South Africa (and even India until of late) where local council associations are recognised by the law and given due representation at forums like the PFC. The issue of inadequate representation at PFC should not be taken lightly because participation and political representation is what third tier is all about. Will the PTI address these long pending concerns or will it simply wing it? Most observers already know the answer, but to give a benefit of the doubt, best wait and see.

Visit link:

PFC awards: don't wing it - BR Research - Business Recorder

Security Council briefing on the situation in the Middle East, including the Palestinian question (as delivered by UN Special Coordinator Mladenov),…

Posted on by

Mister President,

Members of the Security Council,

I brief you today as Palestinians and Israelis are grappling with a complex and potentially destabilizing three-pronged crisis:

An escalating health crisis as both struggle to contain the rapid spike of COVID-19 cases.

A spiraling economic crisis as businesses close, unemployment soars, protests increase, and the economy suffers the financial impact of months of lockdowns and restrictions.

And finally, a mounting political confrontation, driven by the threat of Israeli annexation of parts of the occupied West Bank, and the steps taken in response by the Palestinian leadership.

These developments are not happening in a vacuum. The unfolding dynamics have shed a stark light on the daily reality of the conflict and the imperative to resolve it through negotiations between the parties. They have further exposed the unsustainability of the occupation and the need to update agreements that define the relationship between the two sides in the interest of peace.

In recent weeks, the region and the broader international community have continued to express their firm rejection of annexation. Among these, on 1 July, the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom published an Op-Ed in a leading Israeli newspaper expressing his opposition to annexation and asserting that such a step would violate international law and run contrary to Israel's own long-term interests. Two joint statements issued on 7 July one by the Foreign Ministers of Egypt, France, Germany and Jordan, and the second by Foreign Ministers of nine Arab States and the Secretary-General of the Arab League stressed their staunch opposition to the move and called for a return to negotiations based on UN resolutions and international law.

On 2 July, leaders from Fatah and Hamas held a rare joint video press conference, in an effort to restate their opposition to annexation and to commit to a unified Palestinian front against it.

Palestinian and Israeli women are also making their voices heard. On 9 July, I engaged with some 100 Palestinian women in a high-level dialogue organized by UN Women, marking the 20th anniversary of the adoption of Security Council Resolution 1325. Participants shared their deep concern and uncertainty in the face of both COVID-19 and annexation threats. Ten Palestinian women leaders, supported by 180 women, issued a joint appeal against annexation, calling for the right to live in a democratic state of their own in freedom, dignity and equality.

A separate appeal issued by 22 Israeli women leaders, and later signed by over a hundred others, highlighted that annexation plans pose an irreversible danger to Israelis, Palestinians, and regional stability. Responding to both initiatives 45 global women leaders signed a joint call against annexation and for peace, highlighting the importance of heeding womens voices in situations of conflict.

The Secretary-General and the United Nations will continue efforts to resuscitate a dialogue among all stakeholders, with no preconditions, and in the interest of peace and a negotiated resolution to the conflict. For these efforts to stand a chance of success, there must be political will from all parties. Otherwise, the path to a negotiated solution risks quickly becoming unnavigable, moving instead towards a one-state reality of perpetual occupation and conflict.

Mister President,

Regrettably, the situation on the ground is rapidly being affected by the dramatic increase in COVID-19 cases in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, and in Israel.

To contain the pandemic, the Palestinian Authority (PA) has re-imposed movement restrictions across the West Bank as well as some closures in the worst-hit governorates. Israel has also re-imposed limitations on gatherings and certain non-essential businesses, as well as lockdowns in specific areas. Movement between Israel, the West Bank and Gaza remains heavily restricted, and the Rafah crossing between Gaza and Egypt has been closed in both directions since 15 May.

The challenge of confronting the rapid increase in cases in the West Bank and boosting prevention efforts in Gaza has been significantly compounded by the ending of coordination between the Palestinian Authority and Israel. The PAs refusal to accept any clearance revenues transferred by Israel has exacerbated an already concerning fiscal crisis and impacted service provision. It has effectively blocked the ability of patients to travel from Gaza for treatment outside of the Strip and has led to delays in delivering humanitarian assistance and materials intended for the COVID-19 response and other health support and services.

In response, the United Nations has engaged with all sides to ensure the continued and unimpeded provision of humanitarian assistance. The UN has reached agreements with the PA to make exceptions for coordinating humanitarian deliveries and with Israel to streamline its administrative procedures, considering the COVID-19 crisis. I want to thank the authorities for their openness and cooperation with the United Nations on these challenges. Having said this, I am also concerned that we are far below the level of coordination that existed in the beginning of the year, when the first wave of the virus hit. This situation could have serious repercussions on the ability to control its spread and its impact on peoples lives.

Over the past weeks, because of the unprecedented circumstances, the UN has offered to increase its intermediary role between the parties. This includes COVID-19 response as well as a greater role in the facilitation of patient referrals from Gaza. Nevertheless, there are limitations to what the UN and other organizations can be expected to do. Any increased responsibilities in this context should be limited and time-bound and not designed to replace the roles and responsibilities of the Palestinian Authority or the Government of Israel.

While the COVID-19 pandemic and the breakdown in cooperation between Israeli and Palestinian authorities have raised new concerns and complicated the speedy transfer of patients outside of Gaza, it is important to recognize the long-standing, underlying fragility of Gazas own healthcare system.

Mister President,

On the economic side, the Palestinian Ministry of Finance announced on 2 July that it would pay partial Government salaries for the month of May. The May salary payments were delayed due to an 80 per cent reduction in Palestinian revenues stemming from the economic impact of COVID-19 and from the PAs refusal to accept the monthly transfers of its clearance revenues. It is unclear whether the Palestinian Government will have sufficient resources to make any future salary payments or, indeed, to continue to carry out its governing functions in the coming months.

The suspension of coordination between the PA and Israel has also impeded the ability of Palestinian Security Forces (PSF) to move through Areas B and C of the West Bank, undermining their capacity to enforce COVID-19-related restrictions.

Mister President,

During the reporting period, daily violence continued throughout the occupied West Bank, including East Jerusalem. Overall, one Palestinian was killed by Israeli Security Forces (ISF) and 65 Palestinians, including ten children, and two Israeli soldiers were injured in various incidents.

Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza organized protests against Israels plan to annex parts of the West Bank. Overall these protests remained peaceful. On some occasions Israeli Security Forces used rubber-coated bullets and tear gas, declared closed military areas and set up checkpoints near protests.

On 9 July, ISF shot and killed a 34-year-old Palestinian man and shot and wounded a 17-year-old Palestinian in the central West Bank village of Kifl Hares. ISF released a CCTV video allegedly showing the two throwing Molotov cocktails toward a military patrol and soldiers opening fire in response.

Meanwhile, settlers perpetrated some 13 attacks against Palestinians, resulting in nine injuries and damage to property, about half the number of such incidents recorded during the previous month.

There were some 25 incidents also in which Palestinians threw stones or Molotov cocktails at Israeli-owned vehicles, injuring seven Israeli civilians, including one child, and causing damage to property.

In Gaza, while the relative calm continued, Palestinian militants fired five rockets towards southern Israel. One fell short inside Gaza, one was intercepted by the Iron Dome system and the others hit in open areas in Israel, causing no injuries or damage. On all occasions, the IDF carried out retaliatory strikes against Hamas targets, including underground infrastructure in the Strip, with no injuries reported. Over the month, militants also test fired an unusually high, 69, rockets and mortars towards the sea, with 44 projectiles launched on 1 and 3 July, alone.

Economic tensions brought out dozens of Palestinians on 5 July, who demonstrated in front of the Legislative Council in Gaza City against the deteriorating situation, poverty and unemployment.

Mister President,

In the past month, the Israeli authorities demolished 48 Palestinian-owned structures due to a lack of Israeli-issued building permits. Another five structures were self-demolished by their owners following the receipt of demolition orders. Of the buildings demolished, 39 were in Area C and 14 in East Jerusalem. Consequently, 34 people, including 17 children and ten women, were displaced and over 250 people were otherwise affected.

I note that the latest information available from Israeli authorities indicates that, as of 31 May, the number of Palestinian detainees, including minors, in Israeli prisons is at its lowest level in years. The number of Palestinian minors in Israeli prisons has declined by some 30 percent, from 201 in February to 142 in May. While still too high, I welcome this development, particularly in light of the recent calls to release detainees and reduce their numbers during the COVID-19 crisis.

Mister President,

Turning briefly to the region, in Lebanon, the economic situation continues to deteriorate, with inflation rising as the Lebanese lira falls against the U.S. dollar. As the health and education sectors come under increased stress, and with growing concerns over food insecurity, the Government and the International Monetary Fund remain engaged in talks over a potential assistance package. In parallel, Lebanon has witnessed a spike in daily COVID-19 infections, with 2,542 confirmed cases as of 15 July.

The situation in the UNIFIL area of operations remained mostly stable, notwithstanding several instances of weapons being pointed between Israel Defense Forces and Lebanese Armed Forces along the Blue Line. On 2 July, under COVID-19 restrictions, the UNIFIL Head of Mission and Force Commander chaired a tripartite meeting attended by senior delegations of the Lebanese Armed Forces and the IDF to prevent tensions along the Blue Line.

On the Golan, while generally calm, the situation remained volatile, with the continued violations of the 1974 Disengagement of Forces Agreement. On 15 July, the Alpha side informed UNDOF that they had eliminated a position within the area of separation which they believed was a violation and a threat. UNDOF did not observe this activity but observed an explosion in the area of separation consistent with the report from the Alpha side.

Mister President,

In closing, I would like to emphasize that confronting the current crises requires unity of effort, strength of purpose, and a clear understanding of the multifaceted risks we are facing.

The ferocity of the COVID-19 virus and its devastating human and economic toll demand extraordinary measures measures that must rise above politics-as-usual. Immediate efforts to curb the virus and to mitigate its impact must be prioritized.

Israeli and Palestinian leaders have a duty to protect the lives and livelihoods of their populations.

With unemployment in Israel surging to over 20 per cent, and with thousands of Israelis taking to the streets to demand greater financial support from their Government, many have highlighted the staggering financial and, potentially, human cost of moving forward with potential annexation plans.

I reiterate the Secretary-General's call on the Israeli Government to abandon plans to annex parts of the occupied West Bank.

With an 80 per cent reduction in its income, the Palestinian Authority faces the risk of a total collapse at a time when Palestinians throughout the occupied territory need the services and support of their Government more than ever.

I call on both sides to work with the United Nations in ensuring that those forms of civil and security coordination that are vital to preventing the continuing spread of the corona virus are reinstated immediately. This should be done without prejudice to the political position of either party. It is necessary to do that in order to protect lives in the face of rapidly growing infection rates.

We will continue to work with all sides to ensure that humanitarian and health needs are met.

For the United Nations, protecting lives will always remain our highest priority.

The complexities of the pandemic also require us to examine how we arrived at this pivotal, and destructive, point in the history of the conflict and what it will take to reverse the current course.

Last week, I spoke with representatives of Palestinian and Israeli civil society organizations engaged in peacebuilding efforts. Their resilience, creativity and commitment to a peaceful solution are deeply inspiring, and we, in the international community, would do well to follow their lead.

Today, however, it is not enough to restate our opposition to annexation. Today we should discuss what can and must be done to improve the situation on the ground, preserve the prospect for a two-state solution, increase the chances of meaningful negotiations for a peaceful resolution of the conflict, and protect these efforts from spoilers, radicals and extremists.

To this effect I reiterate today the Secretary-Generals call to the members of the Middle East Quartet, the Arab countries, the Israeli and Palestinian leadership to urgently re-engage.

We need to restart diplomacy!

Over these past years, these types of discussions have been dormant for too long, allowing both parties to move further apart along diverging paths. Unilateral action and the threat of unilateral action have made the goal appear ever more distant. Only by engaging together, based on shared principles and aspirations, can we identify realistic steps to avoid increasing polarisation and advance the goal of two states, living side-by-side in peace, security, mutual recognition, integrated into the region.

We must use the opportunity presented by the current crises to move forward, to and to regain the path towards a negotiated two-state solution, built on a just and sustainable resolution to the conflict in line with relevant UN resolutions, bilateral agreements and international law.

Thank you.

Original post:

Security Council briefing on the situation in the Middle East, including the Palestinian question (as delivered by UN Special Coordinator Mladenov),...

Trump tweets photo of himself wearing a mask in apparent U-turn: ‘Many people say that it is Patriotic to wear a face mask’ – MSN Money

Posted on by

Getty Images U.S. President Donald Trump said on Sunday: I dont agree with the statement that if everyone wears a mask everything disappears. But he appears to be softening his stance on the issue.

President Trumps resolve may be cracking at least when it comes to face masks.

At Tuesdays 5 p.m. daily presser, Trump said, I have no problems with the masks. If youre close together, I would put on the mask. In response to a question about whether hed experienced a sudden a change of heart on both masks and social distancing. Im getting used to the mask ...I will wear it where appropriate. Ive always agreed with that. Ive never fought either one.

A day earlier, the president tweeted (TWTR)a photo of himself wearing a mask with a presidential seal: Many people say that it is Patriotic to wear a face mask when you cant socially distance. CNN (T)reported that the presidents falling poll numbers likely played a role in his latest decisions to wear a mask and resume his daily 5 p.m. update on the coronavirus pandemic.

On April 3, the Trump administration and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reversed their policies on face masks and said all Americans not, as they previously said, just medical workers should wear cloth face coverings. As of Wednesday, COVID-19 had claimed at least 140,909 lives in the U.S. and infected more than 3.9 million people.

Unlike New York Mayor Bill de Blasios mandate to wear masks in stores, however, the federal governments recommendations are voluntary. Whats more, Trump at the time signaled his staunch resistance to wearing a mask. I dont think Im going to be doing it, he said. Wearing a face mask as I greet presidents, prime ministers, dictators, kings, queens I just dont see it.

Anthony Fauci, the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases for three decades and one of the leading experts on pandemics in the U.S. for four decades, did not attend Tuesdays White House daily briefing, and prevoiusly said he has not officially briefed the president since June 2. He has advocated the use of face masks since April along with the CDC and WHO.

But the public appear to have responded favorably to Faucis message. Most voters said they approved of the doctor, although the majority of Republicans said so by a whisker, according to a New York Times/Siena College poll of 1,337 registered voters from June 17 to June 22. Overall, 67% of voters gave Fauci the thumbs up, including 81% of Democrat and 51% of Republicans.

Trump has stopped short of a federal mandate. During an interview on Fox News, journalist Chris Wallace asked Trump if he would introduce a federal mandate to wear face masks in public places where social distancing is not possible. No, I want people to have a certain freedom, Trump replied. I dont agree with the statement that if everyone wears a mask everything disappears.

Asked if he took responsibility for not having a federal policy on coronavirus during the interview, Trump replied, Look, I take responsibility always for everything because its ultimately my job too. I have to get everybody in line. Some governors have done well, some governors have done poorly. We have more testing by fair than any country in the world.

As of Wednesday, COVID-19 had infected nearly 15 million people globally. It had killed more than 616,990 people worldwide, according to Johns Hopkins Universitys Center for Systems Science and Engineering. New York, once the epicenter of the virus in the U.S., has still had the most deaths of any state (32,520), followed by New Jersey (15,737) and Massachusetts (8,450).

CityWatch: CDC confirms that coronavirus already spreading in New York City when European travel ban went into effect in March

On Feb 29, the surgeon general tweeted his opposition to the public wearing masks. Seriously people: STOP BUYING MASKS! he wrote. They are NOT effective in preventing general public from catching #coronavirus, but if health-care providers cant get them to care for sick patients, it puts them and our communities at risk! He reversed course in April.

The public was confused. N95 masks appear to be effective for health-care workers. One study says N95 medical-grade masks do help filter viruses that are larger than 0.1 micrometers. (One micrometer, um, is one millionth of a meter.) The coronavirus is 0.125 um. The masks have efficacy at filtering smaller particles and are designed to fit tightly to the face, the study said.

The markets appear torn between optimism on the momentum behind positive vaccine research results and the impact of new infection surges, particularly in California, Arizona, Florida and Texas. The Dow Jones Industrial Index (DJIA)and S&P 500 (SPX)closed higher Tuesday as investors looked toward the prospect of further fiscal stimulus. The Nasdaq Composite (COMP)ended lower.

Video: Trump gives mixed messaging on mask debate (NBC News)

UP NEXT

Read the original:

Trump tweets photo of himself wearing a mask in apparent U-turn: 'Many people say that it is Patriotic to wear a face mask' - MSN Money

Litecoin (LTC) Up $0.18 On 4 Hour Chart, Outperforms All Top Cryptos to Start the Day; Crosses 20 and 50 Day Moving Averages – CFDTrading

Posted on by

Litecoin 4 Hour Price Update

Updated July 22, 2020 03:19 PM GMT (11:19 AM EST)

Litecoin closed the previous 4 hours up 0.28% ($0.12); this denotes the 2nd candle in a row it has gone up. Out of the 5 instruments in the Top Cryptos asset class, Litecoin ended up ranking 2nd for the four-hour candle in terms of price change relative to the previous 4 hours.

The choppiness in the recent daily price action of Litecoin continues; to start today, it came in at a price of 43.81 US dollars, up 4.38% ($1.84) since the day prior. The price move occurred on stronger volume; specifically, yesterdays volume was up 102.03% from the day prior, and up 33.32% from the same day the week before. Litecoin outperformed all 5 assets in the Top Cryptos asset class since the day prior. Below is a daily price chart of Litecoin.

Notably, Litecoin crossed above its 20 and 50 day moving averages yesterday. The clearest trend exists on the 14 day timeframe, which shows price moving down over that time. For another vantage point, consider that Litecoins price has gone down 6 of the previous 10 trading days.

For laughs, fights, or genuinely useful information, lets see what the most popular tweets pertaining to Litecoin for the past day were:

#LTC hit 272.466 Thash/S the last 24 hrsSecurity is a facet of a decentralized #cryptocurrency that can be overlooked, but can also be more important than price.Dont be fooled by price. #Litecoin dominates Scrypt & is valued by minersThe hash rate cannot be manipulated.

Hey $LTC frenz! Im trying to get @SatoshiLite as a guest on @mineyour_bizI have questions about the social history of crypto at the time of the #Litecoin fork related to my crypto tribalism research. I understand his Twitter is still frozen. Does anyone know what else he uses?

Bitmex is launching a $LTCUSD quanto perpetual swap contract with up to 33x leverage on 30 July 2020. This is the fifth quanto contract to be launched on the #BitMEX platform, offering users further diversification of trading opportunities. $LTC #LTCUSD #Litecoin

For a longer news piece related to LTC thats been generating discussion, check out:

Litecoin vs. XinFin: Why Permissioned Blockchains are the Need of the Hour | by Vinn | Medium

Due to using the PoW protocol, the Litecoin network has so far delivered a record transaction speed of 56 transactions per second.Block Creation Time and Block Reward Transaction speed brings us to block creation time.It can be questioned that the block reward for mining is lower in the case of XinFin as compared to Litecoin, but lets not forget that the block creation time, and hence the energy consumed to create one block on XinFin is far lesser than that of Litecoin.This is the reason why a blockchain such as XinFin, which renders the features of a permissioned or private as well as a permissionless blockchain, is important to exist and bring the enterprise sector into the blockchain industry.

Read this article:

Litecoin (LTC) Up $0.18 On 4 Hour Chart, Outperforms All Top Cryptos to Start the Day; Crosses 20 and 50 Day Moving Averages - CFDTrading

Crypto Currency Market 2020 Industry Covid-19 Impact on Size, Growth, Share Evaluation, Trends, Supply, Segments, Demand, Revenue and Forecast to 2025…

Posted on by

Crypto Currency Market 2020 Industry Research Report provides an analysis on the vital trends, size, share, growth with higher growth rate expected to impact the market outlook from 2020-2025. This report has analyze research on supply consumption, export, import, revenue, specification and costs analysis, sourcing strategy, technology, and market effect factor.

Get Sample Copy of this report https://www.orianresearch.com/request-sample/1654811

The LEADING COMPANIES profiled in this report include:

Bitfinex

BitFury Group

Bitstamp

Coinbase

Coinsecure

Litecoin

OKEX Fintech Company

Poloniex

Ripple

Unocoin Technologies Private

ZEB IT Service.

..

The report firstly introduced the Crypto Currency basics: definitions, classifications, applications and market overview; product specifications; manufacturing processes; cost structures, raw materials and so on. Then it analyzed the worlds main region market conditions, including the product price, profit, capacity, production, supply, demand and market growth rate and forecast etc. In the end, the report introduced new project SWOT analysis, investment feasibility analysis, and investment return analysis.

Enquire more or share questions if any on this report- https://www.orianresearch.com/enquiry-before-buying/1654811

What You Can Expect From Our Report:

Total Addressable Market [Present Market Size forecasted to 2025 with CAGR]

Regional level split [North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, South America, and Middle East & Africa]

Country wise Market Size Split [Important countries with major market share]

Market Size Breakdown by Product/ Service Types [ ]

Market Size by Application/Industry Covid-19 Impact on verticals/ End Users [ ]

Market Share and Revenue/Sales of 10-15 Leading Players in the Market

Production Capacity of Leading Players whenever applicable

Market Trends Emerging Technologies/products/start-ups, PESTEL Analysis, SWOT Analysis, Porters Five Forces, etc.

Pricing Trend Analysis Average pricing across regions

Brand wise Ranking of Major Market Players globally

Secondary Research: Secondary research studies critical information about the industrial value chain, core pool of people, and applications. We also helped market segmentation based on the Industry Covid-19 Impact ons lowest level of Industry Covid-19 Impact on, geographical markets and key developments in market and technology-driven core development.

Market segmentation, by Product Types:

Bitcoin

Litecoin

Etherium

Zcash

Others.

Market segmentation, by End Uses:

Private

Enterprise

Government

Others.

Development policies and plans that can be immediate impact on worldwide market. The study is a collection of primary and secondary data that contains valuable information from the major suppliers of the market. The forecast is based on data from 2020 to the present date and forecasts until 2025, Easy to analyze other graphs and tables people looking for key Industry Covid-19 Impact on data in easily accessible documents.

Order a copy of Global Crypto Currency Market Report @ https://www.orianresearch.com/checkout/1654811

Major Points from Table of Contents:-

CHAPTER 1 MARKET OVERVIEW

CHAPTER 2 GLOBAL MARKET SEGMENTATION

CHAPTER 3 Europe MARKET SEGMENTATION

CHAPTER 4 AMERICA MARKET SEGMENTATION

CHAPTER 5 ASIA MARKET SEGMENTATION

CHAPTER 6 OCEANIA MARKET SEGMENTATION

CHAPTER 7 AFRICA MARKET SEGMENTATION

CHAPTER 8 GLOBAL MARKET FORECAST

CHAPTER 9 GLOBAL MAJOR COMPANIES LIST

PART 10 MARKET COMPETITION

PART 11 CORONAVIRUS IMPACT ON Crypto Currency INDUSTRY COVID-19 IMPACT ON

PART 12 Crypto Currency INDUSTRY COVID-19 IMPACT ON SUMMARY & CONCLUSION

Customization Service of the Report:-

Orian Research provides customization of reports as per your need. This report can be personalized to meet your requirements. Get in touch with our sales team, who will guarantee you to get a report that suits your necessities.

This report can be dispatched within 24-48 Hours.

About Us:

Orian Research is one of the most comprehensive collections of market intelligence reports on the World Wide Web. Our reports repository boasts of over 500000+ Industry Covid-19 Impact on and country research reports from over 100 top publishers. We continuously update our repository so as to provide our clients easy access to the worlds most complete and current database of expert insights on global industries, companies, and products. We also specialize in custom research in situations where our syndicate research offerings do not meet the specific requirements of our esteemed clients.

Contact Us

Ruwin Mendez

Vice President Global Sales & Partner Relations

Orian Research Consultants

US: +1 (415) 830-3727 | UK: +44 020 8144-71-27

Email: [emailprotected]

Read this article:

Crypto Currency Market 2020 Industry Covid-19 Impact on Size, Growth, Share Evaluation, Trends, Supply, Segments, Demand, Revenue and Forecast to 2025...

How Loma Linda University Health is addressing racial disparities in the medical workforce – Loma Linda University Health

Posted on by

Education is one of the effective ways to help break the poverty cycle and increase job opportunity among racial minority populations who are more than two times as likely to be poor than non-Hispanic whites and represent only 8% of the STEMand 11% ofthe physicianworkforce in the United States, according to Marino De Leon, PhD.

As director ofLoma Linda UniversitySchool of MedicineCenter for Health Disparities and Molecular Medicine(CHDMM), De Leon says he has witnessed how Black and Hispanic students have benefited over the years from educational interventions to increase their participation in biomedical fields.

Racial minorities experience health disparities primarily because of a variety of social determinants of health, including poverty, inadequate access to healthcare, educational opportunities and discrimination, he says.

Established in 2005 with an award from the National Institutes on Minority Health and Health Disparities, the center has recruited and trained hundreds of racial minority students into the fields of medicine and health sciences helping to diversify the workforce in the local community and nationwide.

The CHDMM brings together a diverse team of over 30 researchers that serve as mentors. This team has conducted hundreds of studies, published more than150 scientific papers while training a new generation of health disparities scholars.

The centers investigators are actively doing research on biological determinants in cancer, diabetes, neuropathy pain and traumatic stress that are linked with social determinants, which help explain mechanisms behind health disparities, De Leon says.

Researchers at the CHDMM are currently funded by grants from the National Institutes of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS), National Cancer Institute, and the National Institutes for Diabetes and Kidney diseases. The center addresses health disparities through research by engaging the local community and expanding the participation of underrepresented minority students in STEM (science, technology, engineering, math)and biomedical fields.

De Leon says 63% of students in the centers program have expressed experiencing discrimination and social, economic or educational disadvantages prior to enrollment.

Its programs include:

Apprenticeship Bridge to College (ABC)Program An eight-week summer internship in health disparities research for high school students living in Southern Californias Inland Empire who are from disadvantaged backgrounds or belong to groups that arenationally underrepresented in STEM disciplines. 271 research internships have been awarded.

Today, about65% of past ABC program have completed their undergraduate degreein a STEM discipline, almost four times the rate shown for underrepresented racial minority students nationwide, De Leon says.

Undergraduate TrainingProgram A two-month summer research internship for undergraduate college and university students, focusing onpractical lab research experiencealongside distinguished faculty, while providing mentorship in support of their future academic and research goals. More than 270research summer internships have been awarded.

Our students are given a competitive advantage and with 80% going on to pursue PhD or MD programs at Loma Linda University or other top-tier universities around the country, De Leon says. More than 200 program alumni have gone on to work in academic, clinical or pharmaceutical positions.

Medical TrainingProgram Open to students following their first year in medical school, this summer program enablesunderrepresented racial minority medical studentsto gain basic research and scientific experience on a selected summer research project with prominent scientists. Students are compensated with a stipend during the program through funding.

Nearly 120medical students have participated and have advanced to become physicians and research scientists leading the way in the examination of health disparities, De Leon says.

Initiative for Maximizing Student Development (IMSD)Program Nearly 60awards have been made through this NIH funded year-round educational graduate training program that providesfull support(tuition and salary) for PhDstudents enrolled in the LLU Integrated Biomedical Graduate Studies Program in the School of Medicine. The program strengthens graduate education by increasing diversity among students graduating with a PhD degree in a biomedical discipline at Loma Linda University, which is one of 41 research universities in the U.S. that are funded by NIGMS to implement the IMSD program.

Our program graduates are leading the way as faculty or scientists in academia, industry and government working to eliminate health disparities across the nation," De Leon says.

To learn more about minority health disparity research or apply to one of the Center for Health Disparities and Molecular Medicines education programs, visit theirwebsite.

Continued here:

How Loma Linda University Health is addressing racial disparities in the medical workforce - Loma Linda University Health

Myriad Genetics Expands Board of Directors with New Member and Announces Upcoming Retirement of Walter (Wally) Gilbert, Ph.D. – BioSpace

Posted on by

Daniel M. Skovronsky, M.D., Ph.D. Elected to Myriads Board of Directors. Walter (Wally) Gilbert, Ph.D., announces upcoming retirement from the Board of Directors

SALT LAKE CITY, July 22, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Myriad Genetics, Inc.(NASDAQ: MYGN, Myriad or the Company), a global leader in molecular diagnostics and precision medicine, today announced the election of Daniel M. Skovronsky, M.D., Ph.D., age 47, to its Board of Directors, effective immediately, expanding the Board to ten members. Additionally, Dr. Skovronsky was appointed to the Research and Product Innovation Committee of Myriads Board.

Dr. Skovronsky serves as Chief Science Officer and President of Lilly Research Laboratories at Eli Lilly and Company. He previously served as the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Avid Radiopharmaceuticals, Inc. which used non-invasive imaging to detect the early changes in the brain related to Alzheimers disease. Dr. Skovronsky received his M.D., Ph.D. from University of Pennsylvania where he also completed sub-specialty training in neuropathology.

We are honored to welcome Dr. Skovronsky to the Myriad Board, said Louise Phanstiel, Chair of the Board of Myriad. Dan brings a wealth of experience and expertise in research and development in multiple areas related to our diagnostic product development, including oncology, neuroscience, and anti-inflammatory diseases. He will be instrumental in providing product development strategic insights in executing our global strategy for molecular diagnostics and precision medicine.

The Company also announced today that Director, Vice Chair of the Board, Walter (Wally) Gilbert, Ph.D., will retire from the board at the Companys Annual Meeting of Stockholders in December 2020. Dr. Gilbert, co-founder of Myriad, has been on the board since March 1992. Dr. Gilbert received a Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 1980 for his development of a rapid DNA sequencing technology. I am proud that Myriad has grown to realize its founders dream of using tests based on genetic information to identify a patients predisposition to disease, said Dr. Gilbert. Myriad is dedicated to providing critical, life-changing information to people to help define their individual medical needs. I have enjoyed helping the company grow over the years. I am confident that Myriads important work for patients will continue.

In commenting on Dr. Gilberts pending retirement, Louise Phanstiel said, The Board owes a tremendous debt of gratitude to Wally for all of his countless contributions to the company and to the board over the years. His relentless focus on the pursuit of scientific excellence and compassion for our patients as well as our Myriad team are qualities we all aspire to emulate. The board, the company and I will greatly miss his wisdom, counsel and passion. We wish Wally all the best.

About Myriad GeneticsMyriad Genetics Inc., is a leading personalized medicine company dedicated to being a trusted advisor transforming patient lives worldwide with pioneering molecular diagnostics. Myriad discovers and commercializes molecular diagnostic tests that: determine the risk of developing disease, accurately diagnose disease, assess the risk of disease progression, and guide treatment decisions across six major medical specialties where molecular diagnostics can significantly improve patient care and lower healthcare costs. Myriad is focused on three strategic imperatives: transitioning and expanding its hereditary cancer testing markets, diversifying its product portfolio through the introduction of new products and increasing the revenue contribution from international markets. For more information on how Myriad is making a difference, please visit the Company's website: http://www.myriad.com.

Myriad, the Myriad logo, BART, BRACAnalysis, Colaris, Colaris AP, myPath, myRisk, Myriad myRisk, myRisk Hereditary Cancer, myChoice, myPlan, BRACAnalysis CDx, Tumor BRACAnalysis CDx, myChoice CDx, Vectra, Prequel, Foresight, GeneSight, riskScore and Prolaris are trademarks or registered trademarks of Myriad Genetics, Inc. or its wholly owned subsidiaries in the United States and foreign countries. MYGN-F, MYGN-G.

Safe Harbor StatementThis press release contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including statements related to Dr. Skovronsky providing product development strategic insights in executing the Companys global strategy for molecular diagnostics and precision medicine; Dr. Gilbert retiring from the Companys board at the Companys Annual Meeting of Stockholders in December 2020; and the Companys strategic directives under the caption "About Myriad Genetics." These "forward-looking statements" are based on management's current expectations of future events and are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially and adversely from those set forth in or implied by forward-looking statements. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to: uncertainties associated with COVID-19, including its possible effects on our operations and the demand for our products and services; our ability to efficiently and flexibly manage our business amid uncertainties related to COVID-19; the risk that sales and profit margins of our molecular diagnostic tests and pharmaceutical and clinical services may decline; risks related to our ability to transition from our existing product portfolio to our new tests, including unexpected costs and delays; risks related to decisions or changes in governmental or private insurers reimbursement levels for our tests or our ability to obtain reimbursement for our new tests at comparable levels to our existing tests; risks related to increased competition and the development of new competing tests and services; the risk that we may be unable to develop or achieve commercial success for additional molecular diagnostic tests and pharmaceutical and clinical services in a timely manner, or at all; the risk that we may not successfully develop new markets for our molecular diagnostic tests and pharmaceutical and clinical services, including our ability to successfully generate revenue outside the United States; the risk that licenses to the technology underlying our molecular diagnostic tests and pharmaceutical and clinical services and any future tests and services are terminated or cannot be maintained on satisfactory terms; risks related to delays or other problems with operating our laboratory testing facilities and our healthcare clinic; risks related to public concern over genetic testing in general or our tests in particular; risks related to regulatory requirements or enforcement in the United States and foreign countries and changes in the structure of the healthcare system or healthcare payment systems; risks related to our ability to obtain new corporate collaborations or licenses and acquire new technologies or businesses on satisfactory terms, if at all; risks related to our ability to successfully integrate and derive benefits from any technologies or businesses that we license or acquire; risks related to our projections about our business, results of operations and financial condition; risks related to the potential market opportunity for our products and services; the risk that we or our licensors may be unable to protect or that third parties will infringe the proprietary technologies underlying our tests; the risk of patent-infringement claims or challenges to the validity of our patents or other intellectual property; risks related to changes in intellectual property laws covering our molecular diagnostic tests and pharmaceutical and clinical services and patents or enforcement in the United States and foreign countries, such as the Supreme Court decisions in Mayo Collab. Servs. v. Prometheus Labs., Inc., 566 U.S. 66 (2012), Assn for Molecular Pathology v. Myriad Genetics, Inc., 569 U.S. 576 (2013), and Alice Corp. v. CLS Bank Intl, 573 U.S. 208 (2014); risks of new, changing and competitive technologies and regulations in the United States and internationally; the risk that we may be unable to comply with financial operating covenants under our credit or lending agreements; the risk that we will be unable to pay, when due, amounts due under our credit or lending agreements; and other factors discussed under the heading "Risk Factors" contained in Item 1A of our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2019, which has been filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, as well as any updates to those risk factors filed from time to time in our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q or Current Reports on Form 8-K. All information in this press release is as of the date of the release, and Myriad undertakes no duty to update this information unless required by law.

Media Contact: Jared Maxwell (801) 505-5027 jmaxwell@myriad.com

Investor Contact: Scott Gleason(801) 584-1143sgleason@myriad.com

See the original post:

Myriad Genetics Expands Board of Directors with New Member and Announces Upcoming Retirement of Walter (Wally) Gilbert, Ph.D. - BioSpace

WHY DOES COVID-19 KILL SOME AND NOT OTHERS, GLOBAL STUDY FINDS – MENAFN.COM

Posted on by

(MENAFN - MENAFN) Qatar Foundation''s Qatar Genome Programme is the first and only active participant from an Arab country in the COVID-19 Host Genetics Initiative, a global initiative to elucidate the role of host genetic factors in the susceptibility and severity of the SARS-CoV-2 virus pandemic.

Why does a 17-year-old with no underlying health conditions succumb to COVID-19 while a 75-year-old great grandmother makes a full recovery? The wide variation in severity makes it seem like they did not have the same disease, except they did. One of the most mysterious features of this disease, which has killed more than half a million people globally, is the difference in severity. Some people don''t even show symptoms, some die and many more are somewhere in the middle.

Age, sex, and underlying health conditions clearly play an important role. But geneticists believe the difference in severity could be linked to the natural variation in people''s genetic code. This is what launched the COVID-19 Host Genetics Initiative (HGI), led by Mark Daly and Andrea Ganna from the Finnish Institute for Molecular Medicine (FIMM) and the Broad Institute in Boston.

The initiative aims to bring together the scientific community to study the role of the human genome in explaining COVID-19 susceptibility and severity. Twenty countries are currently contributing to the study, with the majority of studies being conducted in Europe (55%) and the US (28%). United Kingdom (10%) and Italy (9%) being the top two countries in terms of genomes contributed from Europe.

Qatar Genome Programme (QGP), the initiative''s only active participant from the Middle East, has so far contributed with over 13,000 genomic results. ''The contribution of Qatar Genome to COVID-19 HGI is very important because it adds diversity to the initiative and highlights the importance of including populations which are traditionally unrepresented in genetic research, but still highly impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic,''said Dr. Andrea Ganna, Co-founder of the COVID-19 HGI and Group Leader at the Institute for Molecular Medicine, Finland.

Results from the latest round of the global study show strong evidence of genetics playing a role in COVID-19 severity. A site on Chromosome 3 has been identified to have a solid link to COVID-19 severity. The identified site is home to six genes; hence it is not yet possible to say exactly which one of them influences the course of COVID-19. Further investigations are underway to pinpoint exactly which gene this is.

Dr. Hamdi Mbarek, a geneticist, who led QGP''s participation said, ''These results are very interesting and timely. We now have a target region in the genome, and the next challenge is to understand the link between the six genes and COVID-19 severity. Identifying the gene linked to COVID-19 severity will be very valuable in drug development.

''Now that we now know that genetics is a big factor in determining COVID-19 severity, this information can help the healthcare sector prioritize which group of individuals should be first in line to get a vaccine once one is developed.''

If researchers are able to identify exactly which gene is responsible for COVID-19 severity, it could be a potential game-changer in swiftly determining which patients are high-risk and need more aggressive treatment. Previously, this study identified a variation at another spot in the human genome. The identified spot consisted of the gene that determines blood type. Patients with Type A blood, for example, were found to be at greater risk of being severely affected by COVID-19.

''We are glad to have contributed to this initiative with the genomes of an Arab population, which has added valuable diversity to the study. The diversity in the participating genomes strongly indicates that COVID-19 indiscriminately affects populations from all around the world,'' added Dr. Said Ismail, Director of Qatar Genome Programme.

QGP''s participation in this study is a testament to QF''s commitment to doing meaningful research. The COVID-19 HGI is proof of how crucial research is in finding a way forward in uncertain times. How research must be resilient, and not be impeded by closed borders and travel restrictions. Despite the challenges, researchers worldwide have found ways to come together, build new ties and collaborate like never before, all motivated by a single, common goal: defeat COVID-19.

MENAFN1972020000452288ID1100506011

The rest is here:

WHY DOES COVID-19 KILL SOME AND NOT OTHERS, GLOBAL STUDY FINDS - MENAFN.COM