EOS, Ethereum and Ripples XRP Daily Tech Analysis July 11th, 2020 – Yahoo Finance

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EOS

EOS fell by 1.00% on Friday. Following on from al 1.15% fall on Thursday, EOS ended the day at $2.6259.

A bearish start to the day saw EOS fall from an early morning intraday high $2.6497 to a mid-morning intraday low $2.5752.

EOS fell through the first major support level at $2.5805 before finding support.

Off the back of late support, EOS broke back through to $2.63 levels before easing back.

At the time of writing, EOS was flat at $2.6260.

EOS would need to avoid a fall through the $2.6169 pivot level to support a run at the first major resistance level at $2.6587.

Support from the broader market would be needed, however, for EOS to break out from Fridays high $2.6497.

Barring an extended crypto rally, the first major resistance level and Fridays high $2.6497 would likely cap any upside.

Failure to avoid a fall through the $2.6169 pivot would bring the first major support level at $2.5842 into play.

Barring another extended sell-off, EOS should steer clear of sub-$2.50 levels. The second major support level at $2.5424 should limit any downside.

Major Support Level: $2.5842

Major Resistance Level: $2.6587

23.6% FIB Retracement Level: $6.62

38% FIB Retracement Level: $9.76

62% FIB Retracement Level: $14.82

Ethereum slipped by 0.33% on Friday. Following on from a 2.07% decline on Thursday, Ethereum ended the day at $241.20.

It was also a bearish start to the day. Ethereum fell from an early morning intraday high $242.12 to mid-morning intraday low $235.56.

The pullback saw Ethereum fall through the first major support level at $236.80 before finding support. Late in the day, Ethereum moved back through to $241 levels to limit the loss on the day.

At the time of writing, Ethereum was down by 0.04% to $241.10. A mixed start to the day saw Ethereum rise to an early morning high $241.58 before falling to a low $241.05.

Ethereum left the major support and resistance levels untested early on.

Ethereum would need to avoid a fall through the $239.60 pivot to support a run at the first major resistance level at $243.69.

Support from the broader market would be needed, however, for Ethereum to break out from Fridays high $242.12.

Barring another extended crypto rally, the first major resistance level and Fridays high should cap any upside.

Story continues

Failure to avoid a fall through the $239.60 pivot would bring the first major support level at $237.13 into play.

Barring another extended sell-off, Ethereum should continue to steer clear of sub-$230 levels. The second major support level at $233.07 should limit any downside.

Major Support Level: $237.13

Major Resistance Level: $243.69

23.6% FIB Retracement Level: $257

38.2% FIB Retracement Level: $367

62% FIB Retracement Level: $543

Ripples XRP slid by 1.69% on Friday. Following on from a 1.13% decline on Thursday, Ripples XRP ended the day at $0.19941.

A bearish start saw Ripples XRP fall from an early morning intraday high $0.20286 to an early morning intraday low $0.19238.

Ripples XRP fell through the first major support level at $0.1960 before finding support. Ripples XRP rallied moved back through to an afternoon high $0.19995 before easing back.

At the time of writing, Ripples XRP was down by 0.14% to $0.19914. A bearish start to the day saw Ripples XRP fall from an early morning high $0.19957 to a low $0.19912.

Ripples XRP left the major support and resistance levels untested early on.

Ripples XRP will need to avoid a fall through the $0.1980 pivot to support a run at the first major resistance level at $0.2041.

Support from the broader market would be needed, however, for Ripples XRP to break out from Fridays high $0.20286.

Barring a broad-based crypto rally, the first major resistance level and Fridays high $0.20286 should cap any upside.

In the event of a breakout, Ripples XRP should test the second major resistance level at $0.2087 before any pullback.

Failure to avoid a fall through the $0.1980 pivot would bring the first major support level at $0.1936 into play.

Barring another extended crypto sell-off, Ripples XRP should avoid the second major support level sits at $0.1877.

Major Support Level: $0.1936

Major Resistance Level: $0.2041

23.6% FIB Retracement Level: $0.3638

38.2% FIB Retracement Level: $0.4800

62% FIB Retracement Level: $0.6678

Please let us know what you think in the comments below.

Thanks, Bob

This article was originally posted on FX Empire

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EOS, Ethereum and Ripples XRP Daily Tech Analysis July 11th, 2020 - Yahoo Finance

Amash not campaigning for re-election to his seat in Congress – The Detroit News

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When U.S. Rep. Justin Amash ended his exploratory bid for the presidency, Libertarian activists held out hope he would run for re-election to his seat in the U.S. House, where he is the first and only Libertarian to serve in Congress.

It seems they are about to be disappointed.

A top Amash aide reiterated this week that the West Michigan congressman idled his congressional campaign back in February.She also indicated Amash does not intend to seek the party's nomination at the Michigan Libertarian Party's convention in Gaylord this weekend.

"He hasn't been campaigning for any office and doesn't plan to seek the nomination for any office," Amash adviser Poppy Nelson said by email.

Amash himself confirmed he isn't seeking re-election to his House seat in a tweet Thursday night.

The congressman's campaign raised only $24,200 for the quarter ending June 30 another indication he's not running for federal office. He previously raised over $1.1 million toward re-election.

That's not to say Amash,40, is done with politics. Those familiar with his thinking suggested he wouldn't have joined the Libertarian Party this spring if he didn't intend to work within the organization and run for office again in the future.

U.S. Rep. Justin Amash(Photo: AP, File)

But Libertarians say they would be disappointed not to see Amash on the ballot after finally seeing one of their own among the ranks of theU.S. House of Representatives a first for the party founded in 1971.

"You can definitely quote me saying that we hope he runs again. I feel pretty confident that applies to every member of the Libertarian Party, no matter where they live,"saidJim Turney, an Amash supporter in Altamonte Springs, Florida, who previouslychaired the national party.

"Because we really admire him a lot. Hes a real hero for us, and we certainly appreciate that he moved over and joined our party."

But after 10 yearsin Congress, the former Republican lawmaker and vocal Trump critic hasparted ways with the conservative House Freedom Caucus he helped to found and has made clear his frustrationwith the hyper-partisanship in Washington.

He has representedthe Grand Rapids area for five terms and sawhis national profile soar after he became the only GOP member of Congress to support Trump's impeachment.

He split from the Republican Party a year ago, became an independent, then signed up with the Libertarian Partyin April before launching an exploratory bid to run for president on the Libertarian ticket.

Amash dropped that possibility after five weeks, citing extreme polarization in the country, resistance in the press to third-party candidates, and limited chances for "lesser-known" candidates to secure media opportunities during the pandemic.

"After much reflection, Ive concluded that circumstances dont lend themselves to my success as a candidate for president this year, and therefore I will not be a candidate," Amash tweeted in May.

The filing deadline for state and federal candidates running withthe Michigan Libertarian Party is Monday the day after their nominating convention concludes.

Gregory Stempfle, state party chair,said the party needs someone like Amash representing his views in Congress but also understands that Amash just might be "tired of everything."

"Justin is the best member of Congress, and itwould just be unfortunate if we didn't have that voice in there," Stempfle said.

"Plus, it would be an opportunity for the party to grow. We've never had an incumbent election campaign before on the federal level. It would have been historic for us."

Some observers say Amash would have faced an uphill fight to retain his seat, despite his advantages of incumbency and name recognition.

It's difficult for third- or minor-party candidates to break through and win election but especially so in times of hyperpolarization, where both the Republican and Democratic bases will be highly engaged and energized in November, said David Dulio, a political scientist at Oakland University.

"Having said that, Justin Amash would have as good of a chance as any third-party candidate given that he has somewhat of an established base of supportfor both votes and fundraising," Dulio said.

Nicholas Sarwark, former chairman of the Libertarian National Committee, said Amash could win the nomination at this weekend's convention if he wanted it, and clinch re-election in the fall with the help of the party's fundraising network.

"Its really up to the candidate, whether they think its the right thing to for their goals and their life and their family," Sarwark said.

"As our first Libertarian congressman I would like to keep that seat," he added. "But I understand if he thinks theres a better way for him to advance the Libertarian Party and improve the conditions of this country that he has to do what he thinks is right."

Nathan Hewer, who represents Amash's congressional district on the state Libertarian Executive Committee, said there's a possibility Amash could be nominated at the state convention even if he doesn't show up in person.

If that happens, Hewer would try to reach the congressman about whether he would accept the nomination, he said."I have no indication what the answer would be," Hewer added.

If Amash is not the nominee, delegates will nominate another Libertarian to run for his seat, Hewer said, though he's personally hoping Amash still runs.

"The feeling is hes been one of the most consistent advocates for liberty weve had in Congress, and I think whatever position he runs for next he will get our full endorsement and full support."

Some party activists in Michigan would like to see Amash run forgovernor in two years, Hewer added, noting that Amashraised the possibilityduring question-and-answer forums he held with Libertarian caucuses during his exploratory bid for president.

"One concern he had was taking a job as a congressman and vacating the position halfway through to take a differentposition. That's a major concern he has," Hewer said.

"I think he just wants to make sure he respects the office and does not take a job that he's not going to carry out to full term."

mburke@detroitnews.com

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This Lansing attorney is running to be the first indigenous justice on the Michigan Supreme Court – Lansing State Journal

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Katherine Mary Nepton(Photo: Courtesy of Katherine Mary Nepton)

Michigan has never had an indigenous justiceon its Supreme Court, according to the states Supreme Court Historical Society.

Katherine Mary Nepton wants to be the first.

She received a pre-nomination for the states Supreme Court, the step before becoming an official candidate. But the 37-year-old Lansing attorney wont learn until July 18 if shell make the ballot for the general election in November.

Nepton, who ran for the Michigan Senate as a Libertarian in 2018, said she can't confirm which political party may nominate her. Her possible nomination is taking placethe same day the Libertarian Party of Michigan will hold itsCandidate Nominating Convention in Gaylord.

If she is nominated, Nepton could become the third indigenous person in the country to be serve on a state Supreme Court after Anne K. McKeig in Minnesota and Raquel Montoya-Lewis in Washington state. The latter two women were appointed in 2016 and 2019, respectively.

The number of indigenous judges at the federal level is also small, with only three in the countrys history, according to theFederal Judicial Center.

The only Native American among 900 federal judges in 2014 was Diane Humetewa in Arizona, according to the American Bar Association. Of the 1.2 million attorneys working in the country that year, a little over 2,600 were indigenous, according to a study from the National Native American Bar Association.

The possibility of serving on the Michigan Supreme Court is something Nepton never foresaw.

Nepton came from humble beginnings in which she worked at Wendys and Menards moving grass seeds to help pay for her law school tuition, she said.

For Nepton, the possibility of serving on the court is about more than making history, though the thought of breaking the glass ceiling also excites her.

Less than 1% of indigenous people get clerkships, which are internships with judges, said Nepton, who never had a clerkship. If me running helps them, thats my win. Thats why Im running. I can do a lot for Michigan in that positionthan the one or two people I help with my firm.

Nepton is a legally recognized member of a First Nations band, a migratory group who are primarily based north of Quebec in Canada.

Nepton grew up in Connecticut with her Montagnais father, Dennis, and her Irish-Scottish and Jewish mother, Mary, before moving to Lansing in 2010 to attend Cooley Law School and then set up her small estate-planning firm.

Life was never predictable for Nepton, whose parents fostered at least 17 children over the years. She shared her two-bedroom, one-bathroom house with 10 others at one point, Nepton said.

Things get hectic, but you learn how to be flexible really quick, she said. My family is my center of gravity. Id get so attached. It takes very little time for them to become yours.

Some of the children were adopted by her parents, she added.

They keep swearing they wont be taking on anymore kids, but every couple of years, we end up with a visitor, Nepton said.

Nepton learned how to interact with different people after having foster siblings who came from different backgrounds and experiences, including sexual assault from their biological families.

It was normal for my 4-year-old sister to say, I dont like the dentist; I dont like things in my mouth, Nepton said. At 15, I knew what that meant.

Her understanding of those who were sexually assaulted is why Nepton worked as a victims advocate in her early 20s in 2006.

Id show up on scenes where an 80-year-old woman was raped, or a 3-year-old child was raped, she said. It was a good job, but it was draining.

Nepton often helped people get into shelters and provided other resources. She also supported them at the hospital and in court, which is what she did for one woman after her husband struck her in the head with a hatchet, Nepton said.

The husband bullied her in front of the judge, Nepton said. Im like, Wait, your honor she hasnt said how scared she is yet. The judge looked at me and growled because Im not supposed to talk.

But Nepton wanted to ensure the woman got a restraining order against the man who abused her.

At the end of the proceedings, the judge granted the womans restraining order and dismissed everyone, except Nepton.

He said, If you speak in my courtroom again, Ill have you arrested. You cant practice law without a law degree, she recounted. I started studying for the LSAT that week.

Ellie Fox met Nepton through mutual friends before working alongside her at Neptons law firm. The two soon became close friends.

We went to Uganda on a mission trip together, Fox said. That bonded us. She is very passionate, loyal and is always thinking of others.

The two visited orphanages, where Nepton often brought paints for the children to make something beautiful, Fox added.

The women have also discussed the experiences of indigenous people, considering Foxs husband, Eric, belongs to the Wikwemikong Unceded Indian Reserve in Ontario, Canada.

Nepton has focused much of her adult life on learning as much about her roots as she can. She has regularly traveled to Canada and applied for her Indian card.

As an Indian-card carrying member of the Pekuakamiulnuatsh band who are also known as the Montagnais peopleNepton is eligible to collect benefits from the Canadian government, which recognizes her as a member of her band.

But she doesnt want to do that.

Its mostly because I am so white passing, she explained. I feel weird taking it. If I ever needed it, Id reconsider my situation to stay alive.

Nepton often thinks about her father, who is not white-passing. He had a harder time because of his darker skin, she said.

My cousin and I were encouraged not to be involved in our culture. It was like, Oh, good! You blend in better than we do', she added. I try not to be angry.

Instead, she focuses on the positive aspects of learning about her culture while engaging in the migratory traditions of her people on route to Canada.

They cant keep me out, she said.

Contact LSJ reporter Kristan Obeng at KObeng@lsj.com or 517-267-1344. Follow her on Twitter @KrissyObeng.

Support local journalism:Subscribe to LSJtoday.

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This Lansing attorney is running to be the first indigenous justice on the Michigan Supreme Court - Lansing State Journal

We’re the accidental Sweden, raising fears Covid-19 will get worse – STAT

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With the Covid-19 pandemic rampaging across the U.S. in April and 20 million people filing for unemployment in that month alone, libertarians thought there was a better way. The Heritage Foundation praised Sweden for preserving economic freedom. The Cato Institute said Swedens response to Covid-19 may prove to be superior from a public health perspective. In early May, Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) said at a committee hearing that the U.S. ought to look at the Swedish approach.

The Swedish approach was to largely allow businesses to remain open. And at first, it seemed to work, with a death count nowhere near what it was in countries such as Italy, Spain, and the U.K. But even as Sweden was being hailed as a model, its cases were steadily rising, and its death rate now exceeds that of the U.S. Sweden also did not seem to stave off the economic damage it was aiming to avoid.

Swedens Covid-19 strategy, adopted in March, emerged from the countrys top epidemiologist and other leaders evaluation of what little science about transmission there was at the time, factoring in economic considerations, and making a considered albeit controversial decision to stop well short of the full shutdown that other countries in western Europe (and many U.S. states) adopted.

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In early summer, parts of the U.S. began following a very similar path but one it has stumbled onto, not chosen based on science. Now, the next few weeks will show the consequences of being the accidental Sweden.

In some ways you could say were doing Sweden, but unintentionally and, crucially, without the guardrails that kept that countrys case count from exploding, said physician David Rubin, director of PolicyLab at Childrens Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP), whose Covid-19 model shows the epidemic resurging through early August almost everywhere in the U.S. but New England.

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In addition to places like Arizona, Texas, and Florida that have been hammered since June, the latest run of the CHOP model identifies Las Vegas, Los Angeles, northern California, Kansas City, Mo., Tulsa, Okla., Greenville, S.C., and Atlanta as poised for widespread transmission. And there are early signs that the virus is moving up busy travel routes, spreading north to Baltimore, Philadelphia, and all of Ohios major cities.

By doing Sweden, Rubin and other experts mean Americans pullback from social distancing that dates from May, when states began lifting stay-at-home orders and other policies aimed at reducing viral transmission. The effect has had many of the failed aspects of Swedens approach, but with none of the steps that kept that country from being a total disaster.

Sweden never imposed a total shutdown of nonessential businesses. It closed universities and banned gatherings of more than 50 people, including sports events, and discouraged domestic travel. But most bars, restaurants, schools, salons, and stores were allowed to remain open, with largely voluntary social distancing. If Spain and Italy got hit by an early Covid-19 tsunami, said Peter Kasson of the University of Virginia School of Medicine and Swedens Uppsala University, Sweden said, lets go swimming.

Many of its citizens, however, didnt jump into the deep end. For one thing, a lot of Swedes went well beyond the official recommendations for social distancing, individually taking the kinds of actions that in other countries were mandated, said Kasson, co-author of a recent study of Swedens strategy. A lot of people self-isolated at home, and companies promoted working from home even though it wasnt mandated. That shows that individual decisions that reduce [viral transmission] can have a substantial effect on national outcomes.

Among those individual decisions: 58% of Swedes didnt meet friends, and 74% stayed home during their spare time, researchers reported in May.

Sweden also issued its distancing recommendations early. Imposing less restrictive policies right away can be more effective at slowing transmission and preventing cases than stricter measures later in an outbreak.

In contrast, if Swedes had done everything they were allowed to do (especially since face coverings were never required nationally), such as shop and socialize at the same levels they had pre-pandemic, it would likely have led to runaway infection, Kasson said. But Sweden is a place with a very strong embrace of government authority. When that authority said keep gatherings small, Swedes took individual actions that went beyond the mandated measures, he said.

Sweden is 18th in the world in Covid-19 cases per million people, with 7,524 as of Tuesday. Thats better than the U.S. (10,626), but much worse than European countries that imposed shutdowns. Sweden is seventh in deaths per million people (with 549; the U.S. is ninth, with 419), though the U.K., Spain, and Italy are worse, possibly because of older populations, denser cities, and more imported cases early on. But a death rate nearly 12 times Norways is hardly reason for celebration. (In fairness, however, there is evidence that one reason for Swedens high death toll is that when elderly people contracted Covid-19, they did not receive aggressive treatment, Kasson found; if they had, about one-third might have survived.)

Because factors that kept Swedens numbers from being even more dire are largely absent in much of the U.S., there is growing concern that this country will blow past Swedens death rate and exceed its case rate even further.

Some states, especially in the South, began easing restrictions in late April. But many people seemed to take bars and restaurants can reopen with capacity limits as back to normal! An entrenched culture of dont tell me what to do just about ensured the opposite of Swedes placing greater restrictions on themselves than the government did. And thats what happened.

In early-reopening Tennessee, 20- and 30-somethings packed Nashville clubs, skin-to-skin with scores of strangers (and few face coverings). That pattern repeated from pool parties at Lake of the Ozarks to bar openings, such as one in Michigan blamed for more than 100 cases.

Call it individualism, cultural libertarianism, atomism, selfishness, lack of social trust, suspicion of authority, The Week columnist Damon Linker wrote, it amounts to a refusal on the part of lots of Americans to think in terms of whats best for the community, of the common or public good. Each of us thinks we know whats best for ourselves. We resent being told what to do.

The White Houses coronavirus task force, led by Vice President Mike Pence, is now stressing that individual decisions to distance, wear masks, and practice good hygiene can reduce transmission, even as the Trump administration has not rolled out new strategies to address the skyrocketing case numbers in parts of the country.

Swedens light-handed restrictions, Kasson said, produced results similar to those in countries with stricter policies because so much of the population was willing to voluntarily self-isolate. In the U.S., even though phased reopenings have been accompanied by pleas from experts (but not necessarily state or local officials, at least initially) to social distance and wear face coverings, many people have said, nah.

After Memorial Day, social interactions in the U.S. began creeping up to half or more of what they had been during the period of the strictest mandates. By the beginning of April, people were already tiring of stay-at-home and were increasing their movement, said epidemiologist Jeffrey Shaman of the Mailman School of Public Health at Columbia University, so it actually predates the loosening of restrictions that began at the end of April.

Indeed, cellphone data show that, after a month of increases in social distancing, as of April 24, 48 states saw a drop, researchers at the University of Maryland found. Many Americans had said, enough.

Also missing from the U.S.: strong national policy, as Sweden has. Instead, each state and many cities were left to devise their own plans for the initial shutdowns and, especially, re-openings. Although there was federal guidance on what would be safe to do when, based on measures such as case counts and hospital capacity, many states ignored them. Social distancing varied enormously, the Maryland data show: In early May, its index of social distancing ranged from the 50s (on a scale from 0 to 100, with 100 being maximum distancing) in New York, New Jersey, and Massachusetts to the 30s or less in many Southern states.

As a result, risky decisions made in, say, Florida and Texas have started to bleed into surrounding states. We can see the virus moving along travel corridors, said CHOPs Rubin. Even though the number of cases is still low, you can see it in the R, the number of new cases each earlier case is causing.

Swedens Covid-19 messaging was also much clearer than that in the U.S. An important factor in shaping peoples behavior is how governments talk, said epidemiologist Jennifer Nuzzo of the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security. If you talk about Covid-19 as a hoax, you can be pretty much assured that youll be on a path to a rapid acceleration of cases and deaths.

In the U.S., Pence has highlighted the fact that a larger percentage of new cases in states like Florida and Texas are occurring in younger people. But if the virus is spreading in one population, it wont be contained there. As cases rise among younger people, experts expect more transmission to reach older people. That is what happened in Sweden, driving up the countrys mortality rate. Probably because workers brought the virus into care homes for the elderly, Covid-19 raced through such facilities, which have accounted for about half of all deaths in Sweden; people over 70 accounted for some 90% of deaths.

Anders Bjrkman, an infectious disease expert at Stockholms Karolinska Institute, pointed to another problem that has plagued both the Swedish and U.S. response: a slow rollout of diagnostic testing. Both countries effectively limited testing initially to people who were really sick, which he called a clear mistake. Even now in the U.S., as demand has soared along with cases, some people are still unable to get tested or have to wait more than a week for results. That makes it harder for people to know if they should isolate themselves and tell their contacts to stay home as well.

And if an unstated goal of Swedens approach was to get closer to herd immunity, it does not appear to have been realized. Serology studies looking at how many Swedes have contracted the coronavirus and who are then, scientists hope, protected from another infection for some amount of time have ranged from about 6% to 14% in the Stockholm area (though some Swedish scientists say they believe the figure is higher than that based on different signals of immunity). That leaves the country far short of the 60% or so that experts say will slow down transmission.

I was surprised they didnt recalibrate as the serology findings came out, said University of Florida biostatistician Natalie Dean. My concern with Sweden is that theyre going to muddle along at this level and its not going to go down, for longer than the models say.

In the U.S., states outside the Northeast have started to pause their reopenings and, in some cases, reimposed some restrictions in an attempt to gain a handle over the spiraling outbreaks. But the effects of Americans version of Sweden are becoming alarmingly clear. In the CHOP model, current hot spots such as Miami and Houston get worse over the next few weeks. San Francisco and New Orleans surge, as do suburbs of Kansas City, Mo., and Chicago. Philadelphia and New York City also see an increase in cases.

Weve lost control at this point, said CHOPs Rubin. Unless we go back to the very early phase of our reopening, and do it quickly, the fall could be catastrophic.

Lev Facher contributed reporting.

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We're the accidental Sweden, raising fears Covid-19 will get worse - STAT

A ruinous knave leading dolts – Opinion – The Register-Guard

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WednesdayJul15,2020at12:01AM

The Register-Guard ("UO will fight new ICE rules," July 11) reports the University of Oregon is considering ways to collaborate with other universities to push back against a Trump administration policy that forces international students to leave if not enrolled in any in-person courses. It lacks, the UO argues, a public health or educational basis and is unnecessary and xenophobic.

Imagine, if you will, the sources of "information" and "knowledge" on which the current administration relies for making policy.

You dont have to look far into his moronic, cretinous administration to have a good guess as to whether it relies on credible, partisan, or dubious sources or invention via lies, cover-ups, and confabulations in making policy decisions.

Trump and his administration are, it seems, both ideologically distorted liberals centered on a particular notion of freedom as non-coercion and superheated arch-libertarians who define freedom as the right to own and have absolute control over property and the freedom to form corporations with little regulations (e.g., environmental) and where individual freedom, corporate freedom and consumer freedom are absolute.

In addition to being doctrinaire "free" market fundamentalists, its a particularly stupid administration. Really really! dangerous dolts led by a ruinous knave!

Sam Porter, Eugene

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A ruinous knave leading dolts - Opinion - The Register-Guard

Cryptocurrencies Other Than Bitcoin That You Can Use To Bet On Sports – NY Sports Day

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From being an ignored alternative form of digital money, the industry of cryptocurrency had gone a long way. Now, people invest in it, and some people even treat is as the new digital gold. Even in the world of online casino and online sports betting, more and more bookmakers are starting to accept Bitcoin as a mode of payment and withdrawal. However, some people, especially those who are not particularly indulged in the niche of crypto, assume that cryptocurrency is Bitcoin and vice-versa. While that is correct in a way, but Bitcoin is not the only form of cryptocurrency and is in fact not the only cryptocurrency you can use to bet on sports.

Payment method availability is important in sports betting, as not everyone has access to every method of payment there is. For bookmakers, it is always a good idea to support the most means of payment that you can, as this means your site or app will be accessible to more people. You can discover which bookies accept cryptocurrency as a form of payment in this Silentbet guide.

Here are some of the top cryptocurrencies that are also accepted in online sports betting aside from Bitcoin.

Russian-Canadian programmer Vitalik Buterin started Etehrium in 2013. The term etherium technically refers to the platform used for decentralized apps or Dapps, and ether is the token in ti used as a digital currency. However, it has become popularly known as Etherium, and became the second biggest crypto next to Bitcoin.

In its earliest days of conception, Etherium is used for dapps, or mobile applications that are not governed by third parties, such as Google or Apple. Right now, the Etherium project had split into two, giving birth to two different currencies: the ETH and the ETC (Etherium Classic). The ETH remains to be the more popular of the two.

When Bitcoin started to increase in popularity and also in value, the cryptocurrency saw a huge increase in the number of its users and the number of transactions made using it. One of the major problems of Bitcoin is that it has a slow processing capability, only able to process up to seven transactions per second.

This is where Bitcoin Cash (BCH) came in, a fork of the original BTC. Working on bigger blocks, BCH is able to handle and process more transactions per minute than the original Bitcoin. As originally intended by Bitcoin inventor Satoshi Nakamoto, Bitcoin was only meant to be used on a personal level, in a peer-to-peer setup. However, it became bigger than that. The purpose of BCH is to be faster na more efficient in terms of processing capabilities than Bitcoin.

Litecoin is another form of cryptocurrency that is only meant to be used on a smaller peer-to-peer level. It works highly similar to Bitcoin and is sometimes even referred to crypto enthusiasts as the silver to Bitcoins gold.

Litecoin was forked from Bitcoin by Charlie Lee in October 2011. Lew was a former Google and Coinbase employee. He wanted a coin that is still similar to Bitcoin but has a slight difference from it when it comes to features.

The Dogecoin is the form of cryptocurrency that only started out as a joke, but eventually became a serious currency. Its creator, Jackson Palmer, launched the Dogecoin in 2013. The name DogecoinDogecoiin came from the Japanese Shiba Inu dog that became a meme named Doge. Right now, Dogecoins consistently holds its place within the top 30 of all cryptos in use. It is mostly used to provide online tips, especially on Twitter.

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Cryptocurrencies Other Than Bitcoin That You Can Use To Bet On Sports - NY Sports Day

The Rise of the Use of Cryptocurrencies in Online iGaming – Siliconindia.com

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Cryptocurrencies are no longer new when it comes to the online world. It has been around for over a decade now and it was just recently when people gave it the attention it deserves. There have been many attempts of establishing something similar to cryptocurrencies in the earlier days of the internet, but it was Bitcoin that mainly started everything.

Bitcoin was developed in 2008 by an identity called Satoshi Nakamoto. Until today, it remains unknown whether this is a name of a person or a group of people. Bitcoin was made for online transactions and it was in 2009 when it became available to the public. A few years later, more cryptocurrencies appeared in crypto arenas like Ethereum, Ripple, and DogeCoin.

It was in 2017 when Bitcoin made a lot of noise as it was when its value peaked. At some point in that year, a Bitcoin was valued at around 20,000 US dollars. This makes people see the potential of digital currencies and even businesses started to embrace it.

Many industries, including the gambling industry, are now allowing cryptocurrency transactions. There are now many online casinos and bookies that accept this mode of payment and some even only cater to Bitcoin users. You can check many cricket betting sites reviews on thetopbookies.com.

People still mainly see Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies as digital assets rather than an actual currency. This is understandable as many countries are still in debates regarding the validity of this currency. However, in Malta, this is already recognized as a currency and is equal to currencies like USD and AUD.

Many countries are also looking into regulating their use. For now, only a few countries have laws that are particularly for the use of cryptocurrencies like South Korea and Japan. Many of the cryptocurrency users would invest with their cryptos or would play real money casino games.

One may wonder why people are now shifting to this even if digital wallets are around and even if its easy and safe to pay with credit and debit cards online nowadays. There are a few advantages that this way of making online transactions have and here are some of them:

Security and Anonymity

Its virtually impossible to hack into a Bitcoin or cryptocurrency wallet. These wallets wont be giving away your information every time you make a transaction. Youll only be known as a wallet address and thats it.

Because of this, many people are enjoying the anonymity of transacting online. This is a safer option for people whod like to gamble online. Especially to those who do not want their gambling activities to be exposed. Every time you make a payment, you just need a wallet address. Theres no need to disclose your personal and even banking information.

Faster Transactions

Another thing that you should know about cryptocurrencies is that it runs on a decentralized nature. This means that no one else is involved in making your transactions aside from you and the person you are trying to pay. This makes it a direct transaction and so it is faster than other payment methods.

When it comes to online casino betting and gaming, many punters or players are trying to avoid transacting with their bank accounts. This is because banks are generally strict when it comes to gambling activities and sometimes, it may take a few days before banks clear out gambling transactions.

Many online casinos and betting sites are also based offshore and this can also be a hassle if you will be using your bank account. Banks will also need approvals for such transactions to go through. Well, this can all be avoided if you use cryptocurrencies because you can be anywhere in the world and still be able to use this.

Generally Cheaper to Use

Since cryptos are decentralized and no one else is involved to process transactions with these, theres no one else that needs to be paid. If you will use this outside the country, theres no need for conversion because a Bitcoin is a Bitcoin wherever you are.

Using cryptocurrencies is a cheaper alternative for operators or sellers and buyers or players and when it comes to online casinos, the ones that are purely dedicated to crypto users typically have the best promos bonuses because they can afford it. Most of them dont hire third-party services anymore to process crypto payments.

Overall, cryptocurrencies remain to be seen as the future of online transactions. It has been a while since Bitcoin surpassed the value of 10,000 USD, but experts are predicting that before anytime now, the value of a Bitcoin may peak once again.

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Your Complete Guide To The Newly Reopened Governors Island – Gothamist

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Ever since it opened to the public as a park in 2003, Governors Island has been one of the city's best getaways, a minutes-long ferry ride to a largely undeveloped, 172-acre oasis. Over the years, the Governors Island Trust has spruced up the joint, adding "attractions" like Slide Hill, Hammock Grove, and overnight glamping via Collective Retreats (which is up and running, you can make reservations here). But there's still an untamed spirit about the place, and it remains an ideal destination for an easy, unscripted adventure.

This year, of course, the COVID-19 pandemic delayed the seasonal opening of Governors Island by about two months, but this week the public was finally allowed back onto the mid-harbor haven, and I must say that in all my years of coming here, it has never felt so relaxing and restorative. Some things have changed, and not everything has reopened, so here's what to expect if you make the journey there.

The Governors Island ferries, whether from Manhattan's Battery Maritime Building, or, new this year, from Brooklyn's Atlantic Basin in Red Hook, are limiting entry to about a third of their usual capacity of 1,200, requiring advance reservations for e-tickets which are scanned before boarding. Four hundred people on a ferry may sound like a lot, but the ferries are large, and on opening day only a handful of folks were on all the boats that I witnessed disembark and/or rode.

At this point no one on the planet should need to be told that masks are required on the ferries, and also whenever you're around other people on the island (or anywhere), but in case you forgot about the virus that has killed tens of thousands of New Yorkers since March, here's your reminder: wear your mask, keep it on the whole time, make sure it's covering both your mouth and nose, don't pull it down when you speak.

If you don't bring your own lunch there are plenty of food options out here this summer, including three new vendors worth getting excited about. The butchers at Meat Hook have joined the Threes Brewing with a menu of sausage sandwiches (think Serrano Cheddar, Green Chorizo, or Classic Beefy Boy) and (coming soon) a burger or two. Fauzia's from the Bronx is slinging their famous Jerk Chicken and other Caribbean delights. And Yard Pizza shipped over two massive new ovens to fire up both Neapolitan pies and Sicilian-style slices.

Other dining choices include Island Oyster and Taco Vista, looking out toward Lower Manhattan; Venezuelan hot dogs from Perros Y Vainas; Sea Biscuit's barbecue, which comes with views of the Statue of Liberty; Little Eva's crowd pleasers like Mac & Cheese and Island Salads; sweet treats from People's Pops, Melt Bakery, Wafels & Dinges, and Everything About Crepes; and a Joe Coffee booth which now also scoops four flavors of Oddfellows ice cream.

The great Urban Farm will be open for "passive visits" on the weekends this year. Although they had to cancel their public school programming in the spring, the Learning Garden, which is managed by GrowNYC, has remained active, donating their crops some 4,000 pounds of vegetables so far to the Black Feminist Project in the Bronx and the Brooklyn-based Chilis on Wheels. And don't forget to check out the composting chickens!

There's cool public art throughout the park, the huge lawns are extra-plush from lack of use (this makes for excellent nap material), the tattered-but-stately old buildings are as charming as ever, and the island's signature red Adirondack chairs, scattered about by the dozens, make it a breeze to secure a quiet, extremely distanced spot for reading or chatting or whatever you want.

Once you're on the island you can't go inside Fort Jay and Castle Williams, which are closed, nor let your kids run wild in the free-form, "junk"-filled playground called The Yard, which is mostly emptied and completely overgrown. The indoor gallery spaces in Nolan Park and along Colonels Row are also closed to the public.

While you can't go inside of the old buildings, you can give yourself a little walking tour of them here's a guide to the abandoned buildings of Governors Island.

The bathrooms are open, the water-bottle refilling faucets are running, and not only are there sanitizer dispensers in key locations, there's even a whole hand-washing station, complete with soap and running water, near Slide Hill.

The Island will be open daily, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on weekdays, and 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. on weekends.

Manhattan ferries will continue to run out of the Battery Maritime Building at 10 South Street. Brooklyn ferries, which are usually located in Brooklyn Bridge Park, have relocated to Red Hook's Atlantic Basin.

Ferry ticket reservations can be made at govisland.org. Tickets cost $3 for adults, children under 12 ride free, as do all NYCHA residents and seniors 65 and over. Additionally, ferries are free to all on weekends before noon.

Once you're there, you can walk around, or get some wheels. Thankfully, the bike rental place is open, and Citi Bike still has their three big docks here, so it's easy to get out to Picnic Point and back, or take in the expansive views from atop The Hills.

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Your Complete Guide To The Newly Reopened Governors Island - Gothamist

Tove Lo Is Inviting Fans to Her Animal Crossing Island for a DJ Set – Billboard

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Step aside K.K. Slider, Tove Lo is the new Animal Crossing star.

The singer took to Instagram on Thursday (July 16) to reveal that, like the rest of us, she's been "hooked" on the Nintendo game since the beginning of quarantine because "its cute animals and tropical islands lol."

In celebration, Tove Lo announced that she will be inviting six villagers to come "party like it's pre COVID" on her island with a Animal Crossing New Horizons DJ set on Saturday (July 18).

So, how does one get a Dodo code to head to Tove Lo's island? "you gotta dress to impress to enter," she wrote. "Design an outfit for your#ACNHcharacter and post with#ToveLoAnimalCrossingto enter.Ill pick my favorites on Friday and send winners a dodo code for entry."

See the full announcement (and Tove's characteristically cool ANCH character) below.

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Tove Lo Is Inviting Fans to Her Animal Crossing Island for a DJ Set - Billboard

Venture Capitalist Todd Chaffee Puts His $30 Million Island Mansion on the Market – Architectural Digest

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Just five years after completing his dream home on Belvedere Island just outside of San Francisco, venture capitalist Todd Chaffee is putting the one-of-a-kind property up for sale.

Hes listed the 7,500-square-foot house on Belvedere Avenue with Golden Gate Sothebys Lydia Sarkissian and William Bullock, with an asking price of $29.5 million.

Completed by architectural firm Aidlin Darling in 2015, the sleek, modern abode incorporates natural materials like stone, leather, bronze, and reclaimed oak. Floor-to-ceiling windows frame exquisite views of downtown San Francisco, the Golden Gate Bridge, the hamlets of Sausalito and Mill Valley, along with towering Mount Tamalpais.

The houses formal dining and living spaces are located on the ground floor, along with three bedrooms, a workout room, and an Infinity pool and sun deck. The master suite upstairs is worthy of a five-star resort, according to the listing.

An outdoor seating area in a Marin County, California home now on the market for nearly $30,000,000.

In all, the house includes six bedrooms, six bathrooms, and two offices one for Chaffee and one for his wife, Kat.

Creating indoor-outdoor spaces suitable for entertaining was a prime concern for the couple. Guests can congregate in an interior courtyard or nestle around a fire pit right off the living room.

Like the house, the furniture is all custom-made, and comes with the house if someone wants it, Chaffee said.

Less than one square mile around, Belvedere Island was first developed in the 1890s as a summer getaway for well-to-do San Franciscans, today its one of the wealthiest enclaves in the U.S., with just over 2,000 residents.

Architectural styles range from Queen Anne and Mission Revival to Mediterranean and mid-century modern and beyond, and several properties are listed on the National Register of Houses.

The areas tranquil character is preserved by strict construction codes that prevent major alterations to the landscape. There are no stores or restaurants, either residents hop over to nearby Tiburon for shopping and dining, or to catch the ferry to San Francisco.

The magic of Belvedere Island is that its an unbelievable place and a world-class location, Chaffee told Bloomberg. The luxury of it is I can pop to the city for meetings, pop up to wine country, or Im two minutes away from going sailing.

A view of the hillside on Belvedere Island outside of San Francisco, California.

He praised the locale as an understated, friendly, conscious community.

Chaffee can credit his investment savvy for enabling him to live so large. Hes put money into tech-winners like Netflix, Kayak, Yahoo, and Pandora and was an early investor in Twitter. His company's $44 million investment in the social media platform ultimately delivered a return of nearly $5 billion, according to Forbes.

Though most venture capitalists put down stakes in San Francisco or Silicon Valley, Chaffee has lived in three different houses on Belvedere Island since 2000. This current home sits on nearly 27,000 square feet of meticulous gardens and landscaping, including a courtyard lined with imported olive trees.

Theres also a two-car garage and carport, and a separate 800-square-foot guest house for overnight visitors.

Chaffee and his family are decamping for Southern California, but he hasnt lost his passion for new construction. Their new home in Tahoe will also be built from the ground up.

Should he get his asking price, Chaffee should make a tidy profit off of his island paradise: Construction, landscaping and the land itself cost him about $25 million.

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Venture Capitalist Todd Chaffee Puts His $30 Million Island Mansion on the Market - Architectural Digest

Staten Island mom petitions for Sandy Ground to be required in DOE curriculum – SILive.com

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STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- On Staten Islands South Shore sits a rich piece of history, and a Staten Island woman has created a Change.org petition to make it a required part of the New York public school curriculum.

Sandy Ground, located in Rossville, was an oystering village established, in part, by people who were freed from enslavement in 1827.

It is the oldest continuously inhabited free settlement for persons of African descent in the United States; is believed to have been a stop on the Underground Railroad; and is now home to landmarked historic structures and the Sandy Ground Historical Society.

The woman who created the petition, who asked to be identified by her first name, Renee, was disappointed to see that the iconic piece of Staten Island history wasnt included in her sons fourth grade social studies curriculum.

The 39-year-old Rosebank mom said that part of the fourth grade curriculum set by the Department of Education (DOE) is the history of New York.

We got [my sons] social studies textbook in the mail from the DOE, Renee told the Advance/SILive.com. The book is actually really good, and it has the history of Irish, Italian, Jewish immigrants, Native Americans, and some Black history, too. It just made me think -- hey, what about Sandy Ground?

Sylvia DAlessandro, executive director and founding member of the Sandy Ground Historical Society, is a descendant of the original families of the community and grew up there.

It should be told as a part of Staten Islands story, DAlessandro said. This community made significant contributions to Staten Island since it began. Its an important part of New Yorks history as a whole.

Public historian Debbie-Ann Paige, whose expertise is in the history of communities of color on Staten Island, agrees that Sandy Ground is a vital part of New Yorks past.

If youre telling the story of New York, you would have to include Sandy Ground, as a free community that is still in existence, said Paige. The community carries through all of the nuances in terms of the history of Black people in the nation.

A SHARED HISTORY

Renee says she first learned about Sandy Ground 20 years ago while attending the College of Staten Island, when a friend who is a descendant of the settlement taught her about it.

For her kids, and for the diverse youth on Staten Island, Renee says learning about Sandy Ground will allow them to claim ownership and be proud of their home borough.

My kids were born and raised on Staten Island, and I want them to have that type of pride in the borough that theyre from, she said. I think having history thats relevant to the kids in New York City is important. The kids of New York City are from all different backgrounds.

Connecting students to the settlements history is among the goals of the Sandy Ground Historical Society -- the Society hosts onsite field trips, mainly for Staten Island students from third to fifth grade, though schools in Brooklyn and Manhattan have started visiting in recent years, DAlessandro said.

It should be taught in the schools, by the teachers, in the textbooks as they talk about Staten Island and its growth, said DAlessandro. All of the people that make the community up need to be included.

Learning about people from diverse backgrounds also helps tackle racism at its root, says Paige.

Its not just that children of African descent need to see themselves reflected in school literature, but children who have been racialized as white -- which most of us have been -- and identify as white need to see the importance and the contributions of people of African descent to the nations founding and continuous history, Paige explained.

Students need to learn that everybody is included in the greatness of the United States. We are all shared in that history, Paige added.

WHERE BETTER THAN THE EDUCATION SYSTEM?'

The time is right to seek change, says Renee.

Across the nation, there has been a reinvigorated conversation about racial equity and justice, following the death of George Floyd, a Black man who died in police custody in Minneapolis on Memorial Day.

If were going to make a lot of changes, where better than the education system? Renee asked.

She also wants to break down barriers on Staten Island.

Everyone has the stereotype of Staten Island, that its a certain type of way, she told the Advance/SILive.com. And the truth is that its not like that, and it has never been like that.

Its not just a new thing that Staten Island [is] diverse; its always been diverse, she added.

DAlessandro agrees.

Staten Island is not presented as a place that is particularly diverse, she said. This gives a different perspective of Staten Island. The [Sandy Ground] community was allowed to continue and exist here on Staten Island through the turmoil that the country went through.

Paige says records exist as far back as the 18th century that illustrate the boroughs diversity. The 1790 Census shows 20-25% of the people who lived on Staten Island at that time were of African descent, she said.

Over the years, people have come to assume that the South Shore has always been a white community, and it just happened to have this enclave of people of African descent living there, but historical documents show thats not so, Paige explained.

And there is so much more, too, for students to learn about the rich history of communities of color on Staten Island, from North Shore stops on the Underground Railroad to early integrated communities in Stapleton.

Of the Underground Railroad on Staten Island, Paige says she sometimes refers to the borough as The Gateway to Freedom.

When we talk about Staten Island, were talking national and international history, Paige explained. If you talk about the history of people of African descent in New York, you have to include Staten Island in it.

REPRESENTATION, ACCURACY AND DIVERSITY

Renee is pushing to get as many signatures as she can on the petition she started. As of Thursday, nearly 700 people had signed.

All NYC children have the right to learn their history, the petition reads. All NYC children need culturally relevant history. The history of NYC is incomplete without teaching about Sandy Ground and the rich history of African Americans on Staten Island.

Currently, the petition is addressed to the DOE, NYC Schools Chancellor Richard Carranza, Mayor Bill de Blasio, and District 31 Executive Superintendent Anthony Lodico.

We are demanding that Sandy Ground and the robust African American history of Staten Island be a required part of NYC DOE Curriculum for all students, the petition says. Representation, accuracy and diversity is paramount in teaching history.

After sending an initial letter, Renee plans to get her petition and message in front of different schools, parent-teacher associations and anyone who will listen and help.

DAlessandro said that if action is taken from the petition, the Sandy Ground Historical Society will absolutely coordinate with the DOE to help create educational materials.

I believe that they are open to these things, and I believe that we can make this change, Renee said. I think this is a victory that can be easily won once brought to the DOEs attention.

While not a required part of DOE curriculum, a spokesperson for the agency said that their Passport to Social Studies program encourages curriculum that explores the citys diverse people and cultures.

Weve made unprecedented strides to foster culturally responsive education for all our students, and weve worked to ensure DOE-created curricula includes a diverse range of communities and topics, said DOE spokeswoman Danielle Filson.

Our Passport to Social Studies curriculum recommends a field trip to Sandy Ground and while schools choose their own curricula, we encourage them to integrate important local history like this into their lessons, she said.

The Passport to Social Studies curriculum -- which includes lesson plans about different ethnicities, the LGBTQ+ community, and more -- has been adopted by 80% of elementary and middle schools, according to Filson.

MORE ON THE RICH HISTORY OF SANDY GROUND

Ferry boat operator Capt. John Jackson became the first person of African descent to own property on Staten Island at Sandy Ground on Feb. 23, 1828, seven months after slavery was abolished in New York.

Sandy Ground was settled by other persons of African descent who were oystermen from Chesapeake Bay fleeing the restrictive industry laws of Maryland. Within walking distance of the Princes Bay docks and the abundant oyster beds of the Raritan Bay, they found prosperity and freedom from persecution there.

Once a flourishing community of more than 150 families of African descent, a collection of historic structures are still found at Sandy Ground, five of which are designated as New York City landmarks, including a church, three residential structures and the cemetery.

Historians have suggested that the center of the community, the A.M.E. Zion Church, may have been a stop on the Underground Railroad, as Capt. Jackson brought people who were enslaved to Staten Island and New Jersey aboard the ferry boat he owned and operated. Descendants of Sandy Ground settlers still worship at the church.

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Staten Island mom petitions for Sandy Ground to be required in DOE curriculum - SILive.com

UPDATED | Funding Cuts Imperil Kemp’s Ridley Sea Turtle Program At Padre Island National Seashore – National Parks Traveler

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Padre Island National Seashore's highly acclaimed sea turtle recovery program is to be scaled back by the National Park Service, which says it's too costly/Rebecca Latson file.

Editor's note: This adds National Park Service comments, reaction from the Center for Biological Diversity, along with additional details from the review report.

A National Park Service review of the renowned Kemp's ridley sea turtle recovery program at Padre Island National Seashorein Texasis calling for substantial funding cuts and programmatic changes that would greatly hamstring the program and amount to "conservation malpractice," Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility charged Thursday.

Thecuts are called for in a June report that reviewed the history of the recovery program. While the review noted the Sea Turtle Science and Recovery Program has drawn widespread acclaim for its work in boosting numbers of Kemp's ridley turtles, the most endangered of the five species of sea turtles, it said that funding for the program "is disproportionately high compared to the number of partners involved and the percentage of the turtle population being addressed."

"The program should not rely on additional parkwide base fund allocations or short-term project funding to cover long-term operational costs," it added.

The report also questioned how the program has been run, called for a "formal 5-year strategic plan," and said the recovery program should focus on protecting turtle nests and not an incubation program. It also expressed concern about the amount of overtime accrued by the program staff, and said that fuel charges constituted "possibly as much as half of the parkwide fuel used in a season."

Dr. Donna Shaver, who long has overseen the program and is considered one of the world's leading sea turtle experts, was under a gag order and could not discuss the review or the funding cuts.

At the National Park Service's Intermountain Region Office in Denver, which signed off on the review document and its recommendations, spokesperson Vanessa Lacayo said the recommendations will improve the turtle program.

"The National Park Service review not only underscores the importance of this program to the park, but also outlines goals to strengthen its mission, clarify its priorities, and expand opportunities for the programs shared stewardship," she said in an email. "The National Park Services only plan forward is to strengthen the program, which is built by the support of our employees and volunteers."

That perspective was dismissed by Kieran Suckling, executive director of the Center for Biological Diversity.

"Slashing the National Park Services sea turtle research and conservation program is a disaster. Totally unacceptable," said Suckling. "There would be no Kemps ridley sea turtles in the United States were it not for Park Services incredibly successful, incredibly popular reintroduction program starting in 1978. The Kemps population is steadily growing and has started to expand into Alabama, but its still endangered with just 262 nests in Texas this year. The Park Service should be increasing its sea turtle budget to get the Kemps turtle over the line to full recovery, not pulling back."

"The bureaucrats argument that they need to slash the budget now, when funding is healthy, because funding might decline in the future makes no sense at all," Suckling added. "Its a cover for the Trump administrations attack on science and conservation within all federal agencies."

PEER said it was acting on Dr. Shaver's behalf by filing a legal complaint under the federal Information Quality Act demanding that the review of the sea turtle program "be retracted due to many misleading findings, inaccuracies, and actions that violate law as well as NPS policy. One of many issues is new restrictions placed on the scope of sea turtle research, in violation of the agencys Scientific Integrity Policy."

The National Park Service has 60 days to respond to the complaint and Dr. Shaver may appeal any denial of her demand for retraction.

Within its 28-page complaint PEER said the review's recommendations to scale back the turtle recovery program are contrary to the Park Service's mission to work to recover species listed as threatened or endangered under the Endangered Species Act.

The Kemp's ridley sea turtle has been listed as endangered since 1970. The green and loggerhead sea turtles, which also appear at Padre Island National Seashore, also are listed as endangered.

"NPS personnel have a duty to proactively protect these species with practicesthat are proven to be successful here and elsewhere in the world, contrary to the conclusions ofthe review," PEER's filing said.

The review, however, maintained that the national seashore's practice of incubating eggs from green and loggerhead sea turtles at the seashore and then releasing them into the Gulf of Mexico isn't warranted and should be discontinued.

"There seems to be no conservation reason tomaintain this practice, and no (environmental assessment), (Biological Opinion), or other directive exists to support this managementaction. The majority of organizations interviewed suggested that this practice should stop," said the 51-page document signed off on by Michael Reynolds, the director of the Park Service's Intermountain regional office.

The document also said the turtle recovery program's$2,196,055budget represents nearly a quarter of the national seashore's entire annual budget, to the detriment of other programs.

"The Science and Resources Management divisions budget ($248,670 in FY20), which isused to manage all other natural and cultural resources science and stewardship, planning andcompliance, and Native American relations, is only 4.3 percent of the parks base budget," it noted. "The perception of some park staff is that most natural and cultural resource managementprograms have been largely ignored as a result of the intense and disproportionately highallocation of financial and staff resources applied to the sea turtle program."

Although the turtle program has a 20-year record of successfully landing grants and other funding, the review document said those sources can't be expected to continue forever and so the program's budget should be reined in by 30 percent. At the same time, the document suggested the park look to friends groups and outside non-governmental organizations for financial support.

Padre Island is cannibalizing one of its best and most important programs for bureaucratic reasons having nothing to do with the recovery of sea turtle populations, said Jeff Ruch, PEER's Pacific director. The steps Padre Island is now pursuing will result in many needless sea turtle deaths.

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UPDATED | Funding Cuts Imperil Kemp's Ridley Sea Turtle Program At Padre Island National Seashore - National Parks Traveler

Flashback: Early days of trolleys and trains on Staten Island – SILive.com

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The following is an excerpt from an article that was previously posted on SILive.com in 2011:

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- If its possible to conjure a more picturesque scene than cars jamming up at traffic lights on Victory Boulevard or Richmond Terrace, imagine orange and red open-air trolleys cruising along those roads.

Trolley fever, known in some local circles as delirium electricum, was raging on Staten Island just after the turn of the 20th Century.

On July 1, 1892, Staten Islands first trolley line opened, transporting eager riders along a route from the former Bergen Point Ferry entrance, near the intersection of Richmond Terrace and Richmond Avenue in Port Richmond, to Prohibition Park in what is now Westerleigh.

The line was run by the parks management, which wanted to draw crowds to its 4,000-seat auditorium for lectures, exhibitions and movies.

On Independence Day of that year, 5,000 people rode the orange cars that were powered by overhead wires fed from a power plant.

In the early 1930s, the city ordered trolleys to be eliminated from the Island, and the lines were gradually replaced by buses. The last Island trolley ran from Clove Road to St. George on Jan. 26, 1934.

***

View the short video above to see vintage images of trolleys and trains that have crossed Staten Island streets in the past.

If you have any visuals to share, please send them to my email at jsomma@siadvance.com. Vintage photos and video clips are welcome! Also, please let me know if there are any places you'd like to see highlighted in an upcoming installment of "Flashback Staten Island."

A playlist of past Staten Island flashbacks is available on YouTube.

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Flashback: Early days of trolleys and trains on Staten Island - SILive.com

The spirits guide me here: Daufuskie Island native describes fight to save her home in O Magazine spread – WSAV-TV

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DAUFUSKIE ISLAND, S.C. (WSAV) Sallie Ann Robinson has been fighting to preserve and share the history of Daufuskie Island for years.

Her efforts caught the attention of Oprah Winfrey, or Miss O as Robinson calls her, and she was featured in a spread for the July/August edition of O Magazine.

Robinson describes having a sheltered childhood growing up on the island as a sixth-generation native in a large Gullah family.

We just thought we were doing everything people was and wasnt, said Robinson.

As she got older, she left the island and lived in Philadelphia and Savannah.

Her time away from Daufuskie allowed her to develop not only a stronger affection for her home but also sparked her desire to share the Gullah culture that is ingrained in the island.

She has written several of her own cookbooks, sharing traditional Gullah recipes, and has appeared in a number of other publications.

Regardless of where she went in life, she says the spirit of her ancestors kept bringing her back to the island.

I would say, Whew, why me? And the spirit would say, Why not you?' she said. The spirits guide me here.

WSAV.com NOW spent the day with Robinson on the island to learn more about her effort to protect, save and share the history and culture of Daufuskie.

Much like the song, her journey started in the summer of 1969. That year, Pat Conroy came to Daufuskie to teach 18 native children on the island.

Robinson was one of his students and says it was a treasure to have him as their teacher.

She says that living on this island a few miles away from mainland South Carolina made them unaware of the outside world.

Growing up on Daufuskie was a blessing and a curse because you were able to isolate yourself from certain things, but it was detrimental when we went out in the world, she said.

Conroy, in her opinion, taught them lessons they had never learned and gave them new experiences so they were prepared to eventually leave the island.

He took the students to Beaufort to go trick-or-treating, he taught them about the Great Lakes and he even brought them to Washington D.C.

Her experiences in Conroys class and living on the mainland made her realize how important it was to share the culture and history of the island with the world.

Im doing it so that the generations to come will have some idea or some information so they can understand the time before their time, said Robinson.

She moved back to Daufuskie about four years ago and has since started her own tour, called Sallie Anns Authentic Gullah Tour.

The three-hour tour takes passengers to the only Gullah cemetery, the old schoolhouse and to other areas all across the island.

Robinson says her biggest fear is that people only see the island as a tourist destination and do not respect it for its rich culture and history.

[The tourists] put us in jeopardy, she said. You get to go back to where you live. We have to stay here and deal with the situations they cause.

She says she hopes the tours remind people there is still a community living on the island and that she can get enough money from the tours to restore some of the old Gullah homes that have fallen into disrepair.

I know that I have a mission, that Im going to continue until I cant anymore, she said. My Pop used to say, A house stays alive based on peoples breath. Minute you take it away, it starts to depreciate.'

Aside from the tours, interviews for publications, recent features on shows for Netflix and work on Daufuskies historic foundation, Robinson works to take care of the only Gullah cemetery on the island.

She and other natives do all they can to preserve the cemetery, but she admits she needs help.

Still, whenever shes asked about why she does all she does, she has one response.

The spirits wont let me not do it.

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The spirits guide me here: Daufuskie Island native describes fight to save her home in O Magazine spread - WSAV-TV

Staten Island Academy re-entry plan: Full in-person learning experience to be offered – SILive.com

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STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- Staten Island Academy in Dongan Hills is anticipating opening its campus for a full in-person learning experience for its students in pre-K3 to 12th grade for the 2020-2021 school year.

Eileen Corigliano, assistant head of school, said the school will be able to serve all of its students for in-person learning on campus, while also following social distancing procedures in the wake of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

One of the benefits for us is that we were already a small school, she said. So our class sizes can be as small as one student to 15 to 16 students and thats always been the case for us, even before all of this. That was one of the appeals to us -- the small class sizes. When I say one [student], we have children who are studying something that they were really passionate about, so we created a course for them -- but I would say on average our classes are anywhere from six to 15.

Large classrooms and already small class sizes will allow students to social distance when they return to class this fall, according to the school. Desks will be spaced apart and the school is looking at other safety options -- such as personal protection dividers or partitions.

Students and staff will also be required to wear a face mask during the school day.

Additionally, students and faculty will take advantage of the schools 12 acres of property. Outside spaces will be used for instruction and lunch -- weather-permitting. Staten Island Academy will also be putting up tents outside for additional coverage to provide an open-air learning experience.

We will be spending more time outside than usual, Corigliano said. Weve taken advantage of our campus always, everything from science outside, to reading with little kids outside, to obviously playtime and recess outside, but really pushing that even further.

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And for those who may be high-risk for severe illness in the case they contract the coronavirus, there will be options for remote learning, Corigliano said.

We understand that there may be students or faculty who may not be well, have immune deficiencies or compromised immune systems that wont allow them to attend campus, so were in the process of wiring all of our classrooms with cameras and sound capability so that a child and/or a faculty member who is unwell -- or for any restrictions for quarantining or whatever reason -- can still engage in the learning process remotely, although we will be on campus, said Corigliano. So that will hopefully provide an opportunity where people dont have to miss out in a day and age that they may be missing more school than normal.

The seven different buildings on campus will each have air purification -- whether it is installed in air conditioning units or systems, or stand-alone purification systems. Screens have been added to windows to provide fresh air circulation, as well.

And there will be more efforts when it comes to cleaning and disinfecting the campus.

Weve historically had a maintenance staff during the day and a cleaning crew at night, so our staff is on campus from 7 a.m. to midnight prior to COVID in cleaning and disinfecting the buildings and the campus all year round. But of course, were upping that, were switching and making sure we have some cleaning crew people on campus during the day to just be constantly cleaning handrails and doorknobs -- and obviously bathrooms and any places where kids are eating , Corigliano said.

The schools cleaning crew is working with the recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention, as well as safety guidelines and regulations.

In-class instruction is whats best for our kids -- but doing it safely, so were trying to make sure that we can tick both sides of those boxes, Corigliano said. For the kids who cant come to the school, theyll have the opportunity to attend classes remotely.

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Staten Island Academy re-entry plan: Full in-person learning experience to be offered - SILive.com

Can Vanderpump Rules and Temptation Island Still Exist in a Coronavirus World? – BU Today

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Can the stars of reality shows like Real Housewives work with just a barebones crew, and learn how to properly light and mic themselves to film a new season in this coronavirus world? Housewives producers think so, and this is what theyre banking on as shows prepare to resume shooting after being shut down for four months due to the coronavirus pandemic.

On Wednesday, the College of Communication and the Alumni Association cohosted a virtual talk with three alums working in reality production, development, and management who shared their predictions for the future of the industry. Those reality shows that have continued to air through the pandemic are posting higher viewership numbers this summer, no doubt because people are stuck at home due to coronavirus.

The trio chatted during the hour-long Dealing with a New Reality: Whats Next for Reality TV? Part of the popular, newly launched COMTalk virtual speaker series, which brings together experts to talk about how professionals are approaching communication issues today, the event was moderated by Mariette DiChristina (COM86), dean of COM, and featured Ashleigh Di Tonto (COM06), senior vice president at Trailblazer Studios, Jessica McWilliam (COM14), a freelance producer, and Adam Wescott (COM06), partner at Select Management Group.

In the seemingly unreal world caused by the pandemic, reality TV offers more than an escape, DiChristina said during her introduction. It offers a chance to connect with other humans as they strive to grapple with challenges, get fit, flip a house, or even find love. At the same time, these unscripted programs have had to undergo a number of changes because of the pandemic.

BU Today listened in on the conversation. Below are some highlights:

Breaking through the noise is increasingly difficultin May 2020, more than 60 reality shows premiered. I think the networks are looking for escapist programming and loud ideas. What is their Tiger King? Di Tonto said, referring to the runaway Netflix hit miniseries about outlandish, fighting zookeepers that debuted in March. Everyone wants to break through the noise.

McWilliam said her work on Temptation Island (a show that sends several couples to live with singles in order to test their relationships), sent her to Mauiwhere she carried the casts belongings. She jumped on board a helicopter ride with the shows stars, and rode a zip line through the rain forest while listening to the casts conversations on her headset, mentally making notes for editing. During the virtual panel, she showed a picture of herself sitting on the ground in West Hollywood the first night Lisa Vanderpumps Tom Tom bar opened, taking field notes.

Some shows in production were recently nixed if they appeared tone-deaf to the times, Di Tonto said. But that means there are holes to fill with new shows starring people of color, and networks want them quickly. Anyone in our world realizes you have to pivot and move, she said. The perk of working in reality TV is that you can learn to move quickly and change. This year has been crazier than ever.

Reality TV doesnt require the elaborate (and expensive) sets, makeup, and special effects that Game of Thrones required, so there are ways to produce it even in quarantine. You are trying to find the next best way to work around the hiccups, McWilliam said. There is a pandemic and its not going away. We have to use our creative liberties to still get people feeling and thinking things. Reality TV is a little pandemic proof because now more than ever we need stories, and because of iPhones, computers, tech, we can get those stories told.

TLCs 90 Day Fiance, for instance, works because the couples can do the interviews over Zoom, from their homes, the panelists said. But The Bachelor takes place on a very controlled set. [For] Temptation Island, there is no way we could have cast members hooking up with each other right now, McWilliam said. But TLC recently announced that cast and crew will quarantine together for the new season.

Shows are hiring coronavirus compliance officers to help ensure show sets remain safe, instilling guidelines for use of masks, enforcing social distancing whenever possible, and providing heavy cleaning. On some shows, cast and crew will quarantine together in a hotel before they start shooting for the season, McWilliam said. And networks are now paying the insurance premiums that they didnt want to at the start of the pandemic.

Fans of reality TV should rest assured that producers are working overtime to think of new creative ways to keep churning out the shows, albeit with tweaked formats and less exotic locations than what theyre used to.

Can you use animation? Di Tonto said. What can you do with interviews? Westcott predicted game shows could be something we see more of, too.

Half the battle is making sure whoever is on your show is a character, Di Tonto said. Their sound bites are going to come through. It needs to be an authentic story, but if the character isnt there, theres only so much you could do.

The panelists joked about how the Kardashians are still filming at home. Theyre still in hair and makeup, Westcott said. Theyre quarantined with their entire squads, I guarantee it.

Everyone has their own timeline, said Di Tonto. So, give yourself the grace and patience to figure out what it is that you want to do and it might not be the first job, but maybe it is.

And dont be afraid to make your own stuff while in quarantine, Westcott said. We have the ability to be out there, creating, whatever the platform is, he said.

Originally posted here:

Can Vanderpump Rules and Temptation Island Still Exist in a Coronavirus World? - BU Today

Outer Banks island ravaged by storms and virus restrictions – ABC News

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OCRACOKE, N.C. -- When Hurricane Dorian pounded the wisp of earth that is Ocracoke Island, a wall of Atlantic seawater flooded Bob Chestnuts home, surf shop and four vehicles.

Seven months later, his shop was ready for business. But the coronavirus pandemic kept the doors locked. Now, as the abbreviated summer season shifts into high gear, Chestnut is focused on economic survival, welcoming crucial tourists while hoping the potentially deadly virus never arrives.

Since we already lost the fall season and the spring season, this is it," a masked Chestnut said on the steps of his shop, Ride the Wind. This is the one time period that we've got a shot to make some money.

This secluded tourist destination on North Carolinas Outer Banks is recovering from the most damaging hurricane in its recorded history while in the midst of one of the worlds worst pandemics.

Virus-related restrictions on visits were lifted in May. But just over half of the hurricane-ravaged businesses have reopened, welcoming tourists like a smile with missing teeth. The island is now also casting a wary eye toward August, which is when the hurricane season is expected to heat up again.

Ocracoke is a paradise on good days, said Tom Pahl, a Hyde County commissioner who lives here. But when things go bad, they go really bad. And we're aware of that. We dig in, and we help each other get through it.

He added: This has been an unprecedented level of really bad.

Hurricane Dorian struck Ocracoke on Sept. 6 and launched a 7-foot (2-meter) storm surge over parts of the island's village, which measures about a square mile.

About 400 of the island's nearly 1,000 year-round residents were forced out of their homes, many of which had flooded for the first time. Dozens of structures have had to be demolished.

Many people are still displaced or waiting for houses to be raised higher off the ground. The island's one school, serving about 170 students, is being rebuilt. Metal debris containers remain in some yards, while backhoes and bulldozers still share roads with golf carts and beach cruisers.

Chip Stevens, whose Blackbeards Lodge hotel is still being rebuilt, expressed various worries, including the loss of tax revenue from both the hurricane and the pandemic-related business closures.

We have a big reckoning coming, he said.

The island has attracted the likes of singer Jimmy Buffett over the years. And its businesses rarely require shoes. Now theyre requiring masks.

Ocracoke is reachable only by plane or boat, and the island has reported no confirmed cases of the virus. But people are arriving from places where COVID-19 remains a deadly reality and is even surging.

Kari Styron, rental manager for Ocracoke Island Realty, said even at a reduced capacity, the island is very busy right now.

And yet Ocracoke remains an ideal destination during a pandemic, boasting miles of undeveloped beaches as well as spaced-out rental homes and a handful of mostly quaint hotels.

Visitors have included Mark Aaronson, 46, who lives in the Philadelphia suburbs and has been visiting Ocracoke since he was a kid.

We can do the whole social distancing thing with a much better view, he said in late June outside a coffee shop with his family.

For the first time in months, Aaronson said he was able to sit at a bar, in Howard's Pub, albeit spaced out from other customers. It felt liberating" and prompted him to send photos to friends.

Aaronson said the pandemic was never going to interfere with his vacation plans. But he said he was a little freaked out at times by the lack of mask wearing on parts of Ocracoke compared to what he sees back home.

Since then, North Carolina's governor has imposed a statewide mask requirement, which took effect June 26. The following week, North Carolina saw a new high in coronavirus cases in other parts of the state.

Meanwhile, island residents like Chestnut are trying to adjust and survive. For his shop, that means teaching surfing classes in the age of social distancing.

People can spread out on the beach for the beginning part of the lesson, but instructors still need to hold the back of a customer's surfboard while in the water.

People want to come here, Chestnut said. I'm encouraged by it. But we're in hurricane season already. Another storm that takes out the road for a couple weeks is just not going to be pleasant.

Even if a hurricane does blow through, Scott Bradley said he and his family won't evacuate their island home unless it's a Category 4 or Category 5 storm.

Where would you go with the virus out there? asked Bradley, who is president of the nonprofit Ocracoke Foundation, which supports community projects and aims to preserve the island's maritime heritage. This is probably the safest place to be.

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Outer Banks island ravaged by storms and virus restrictions - ABC News

AREA SPORTS BRIEFS: Lefties have new Vancouver Island rival – Peninsula Daily News

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NANAIMO, B.C. The Port Angeles Lefties and the rest of the West Coast League learned the name of their newest Vancouver Island rival during a name unveiling ceremony Wednesday evening.

The newest WCL summer baseball team will be named the Nanaimo NightOwls with team colors of navy, gold and white.

General manager Jim Swanson said the name recalls the Nanaimo Owls baseball team that was champion of the regions City League in 1921, and Night is a tribute to the city of Nanaimos work to install lighting at Serauxmen Stadium.

The NightOwls will begin play in 2021 as the 13th WCL franchise. The teams field is located 73 miles north of the MV Coho ferry landing in downtown Victoria.

Lefties owner Matt Acker said the teams addition will help with league travel as teams can circuit through Nanaimo to Bellingham via the Vancouver, B.C., ferry or take the MV Coho between Victoria and Port Angeles.

The NightOwls also unveiled an alternate Nanaimo Bars logo to be emblazoned on alternate gold uniforms for matinee games. Swanson said the club has partnered with Save-On-Foods on a plan to ensure concession stands are stocked with Nanaimo bars for road games.

Future Riders survey

PORT ANGELES The Port Angeles Future Riders Youth Football program is gauging the interest of the community in offering flag football instead of tackle football this fall.

The one-question survey is available at tinyurl.com/PDN-FlagFB.

Ms seat fleet

SEATTLE Seattle Mariners fans can still take a seat at T-Mobile Park this season through the teams Seat Fleet promotion.

Fans can submit individual photos to be used on personalized seat cutouts that will be placed throughout the park as the club observes social distancing practices this summer.

The cost is $30 and a portion of proceeds will be donated to COVID-19 relief efforts.

For more information, visit http://www.mlb.com/mariners/fans/seat-fleet.

Originally posted here:

AREA SPORTS BRIEFS: Lefties have new Vancouver Island rival - Peninsula Daily News

Grand Island Planning Board deals blow to project believed to be Amazon – Buffalo News

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The Town of Grand Island is just the wrong place for this massive industrial complex, said Duchscherer, speaking at Mondays Planning Board meeting shortly before the vote.

He also said he wants to know the tenants identity, the length of the lease and how much the property owner would pay in taxes or in lieu of taxes under an incentive agreement.

Rayhill said she believes more people will oppose the project as they learn more about it. Within the last two weeks, she helped organize a group of opponents who met on a Zoom video call last Friday to strategize.

I firmly believe in the voice of the people, said Rayhill, who wants the question settled by a formal public vote.

Anti-Amazon lawn signs also are sprouting up on the island.

But does this vocal opposition reflect the views of average islanders?

Supervisor John Whitney said Project Olive inspires strong feelings on both sides.

He said the Town Board is stillgathering data from consultants it hired to assess the projects effect on traffic, wildlife and plant life, wetlands, infrastructure and other areas.

Within the next month, Whitney said, the Town Board could vote on whether it thinks the project would significantly harm the environment and whether to grant the rezoning request.

Excerpt from:

Grand Island Planning Board deals blow to project believed to be Amazon - Buffalo News

Love Islands Molly Mae shows off her curves in a plunging top as she launches new shoe range – The Sun

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LOVE Island star Molly-Mae Hague has shown off her gorgeous figure while launching her very own shoe collection.

Molly, 21, was snapped clutching a branded bag from the EGO range as she stepped out in Manchester.

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Showing off her enviable figure in a low-cut white bodysuit, Molly looked stunning as she made her way down the street in her new home city.

The star, who found fame in the 2019 series of Love Island, was also showing off a super-long crimped ponytail.

Holding her mobile phone in her other hand, Molly - who is building up a healthy bank balance thanks to all her latest endeavours - looked like she meant business.

Beauty blogger Molly has hand-picked her Molly Mae x EGO range and couldn't wait to slip into them herself.

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In a new set of photos, the blonde reality babe can be seen showing off the heels, boots and mules in a series of sensational photographs.

Shot at a warehouse in Manchester, Molly teamed her footwear range with oversized shirts, tight bodysuits and even a trench coat.

One picture shows the star crouched on the floor while wearing a low-cut white shirt and camel-coloured cargo pants.

She can be seen wearing a neutral sparkly catsuit in another, a full black outfit in one photo and a pair of sexy nude thigh-high boots in another.

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Molly-Mae has also shown off her perfect pins in a series of other shots, including one where she is wearing black leather shorts.

Speaking about her edit with the brand, Molly said: "I have a LOT of shoes and when collaborating with EGO to create my own collection I wanted to make statement pieces as well as keeping it simple with heels that can be worn from day to night.

"My favourite pair is definitely the thigh high sparkly nude boots. It feels so good to be able to share with you all what I have been working on for the last few months and I hope that my new shoe collection gives people confidence like it does for me."

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The new photos of Molly come after she was forced to slam cruel trolls who made hurtful jibes about her weight.

Not only was the stunner branded "lardy", she was also told to "go on a diet" after being snapped on a beach in Ibiza.

Molly, who was whisked to the White Isle for a last minute holiday with boyfriend Tommy Fury, raged: "I would genuinely love to know who writes these comments? Like how can you actually write s*** like that and sleep at night? Beyond me."

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Love Islands Molly Mae shows off her curves in a plunging top as she launches new shoe range - The Sun