Monthly Archives: May 2020

1More Dual Driver ANC Pro review-in-progress: Listen to this

The sexy new trend in wearable audio these days are true wireless earbuds and for good reason. When done right, they offer comfort and quality in a bite-sized package.

Still, 1More is living proof that a few wires here and there dont have to be a bad thing. The companys new $150 Dual Driver ANC Pro Wireless in-ear headphones, which are available now for pre-order and officially launch May 21, may not have the instant appeal of a true wireless counterpart. But even during the brief period Ive been able to test them, its evident that 1Mores new, efficient headphones will get you where you need to go.

Allow me, for a moment, to gush over the packaging in which the Dual Driver ANC Pro Wireless arrive.

Essentially, the headphones sit in a display case thats bound like a book, with artistic sketches of the headphones themselves on the inside cover. Competing companies, take note. This is how you make a good first impression.

Beneath the headphones, a smorgasbord of accessories is waiting. Among them are three sets of extra eartips, both a USB-C charging cable and an auxiliary cable, a carrying pouch for the headphones, and various documentation.

After taking the time to find the best-fitting tips for your ears, setup is standard compared to most wireless earbuds. I havent had these headphones long enough to speak to how well the built-in Bluetooth 5 technology works, but I can say that I havent hit any snags yet.

The 1More Music App pairs nicely with the headphones. You dont need the app to connect initially, but I would recommend downloading it. The app provides access to firmware updates, control over active noise cancellation, and smart burn-in options. Ill get to that last part a bit later.

Before I go any further, its time to address the elephant in the room er, ear. From the way the Dual Driver ANC look, its clear to me that I would classify these as earbuds that just happen to be tethered to a neckband by a pair of wires. 1More, however, refers to their new product as in-ear headphones, so Ill use that terminology throughout this review.

The in-ear component of the headphones fits comfortably and securely in my ears and hung in there rather nicely when I decided to audition them during a run around the local park. At the other end of the wire is the silicone neckband, which wraps gently around the neck. The band has buttons for power, volume control, active noise cancellation, and wind noise resistance mode, as well as the option to call upon your preferred voice assistant. They arent flashy, but so far, Ive found them easy to use.

The back of the buds are magnetic, allowing them to clasp together and sit like a hi-res necklace when youre not using them. Thats a nice design accommodation since the Dual Driver ANC dont seem like the easiest headphones to stow and go with.

Dont get me wrong, the neckband is flexible, and it looks like it could withstand some force. The carrying pouch just doesnt give me as much confidence as, say, a more rigid case would when its mixed in with other items in a backpack or suitcase.

That brings me to what I see as an inevitable design flaw with this style of headphone they just wont have the portability or ergonomic footprint that so many people have come to enjoy with true wireless earbuds. Theres a lot the Dual Driver ANC can offer between their features, audio quality, and price point. You just have to be able to make do with something a little more prominent in order to enjoy those traits.

The previous model in this series of 1More headphones, the Dual Driver BT ANC, offered a paltry 7 hours of playback time for either calls or music. It was clearly a weak point, and its safe to say 1More addressed it.

The new Dual Driver ANC claim 20 hours of battery life without ANC and 15 hours with the feature turned on, as well as a quick-charge feature that enables 3 extra hours with just 10 minutes on the charger. I havent had enough time to fully test 1Mores battery life claims, but if the specs hold up, thats a huge improvement.

The Dual Driver ANC have IPX5 waterproof resistance, giving them protection against jet streams of water from any direction. I havent had the chance to get that intense with them yet, but the headphones did make it unscathed through a rain-soaked walk.

In addition to their active noise cancellation capabilities, the Dual Driver ANC also have the previously mentioned wind noise resistance mode, which 1More says is designed to suppress the microphonics caused by wind and keep unwanted distractions out of your listening experience. Weather didnt want to cooperate with me in the time Ive spent testing them to this point, meaning I havent been able to pit them against any strong gusts to see how the feature holds up. As soon as Im able to, however, Ill report back with my findings.

With products like its Triple Driver and Quad Driver in-ear headphones, as well its more recent 1More Stylish true wireless earbuds, 1More has established quite a reputation. In a nutshell, this is a company that delivers quality sound that doesnt cost a fortune.

The Dual Driver ANC, then, have expectations to uphold. To repeat myself for the umpteenth time, I havent listened to these long enough to fully break down their audio chops. However, the early returns are excellent.

These headphones have the name they do for a reason. Theyre comprised of a 13.6mm dynamic driver with a titanium composite diaphragm, as well as 1Mores proprietary balanced armature. Its saying a lot, but if this isnt the MJ and Scottie of headphone components, they sure come darn close.

In other words, name a better duo. Ill wait.

Seriously, though, the time Ive spent listening to the Dual Driver ANC has been quite an experience. In addition to support for audio codecs like SBC, AAC, and LDAC, they expertly navigate between genres of music, digging low for the vibrating rumbles of Lil Nas Xs Panini before climbing for a powerful rendition of Bill Withers Lean on Me. As with all the companys products, the Dual Driver ANC were tuned by Luca Bignardi, a Grammy Award-winning sound engineer, and it shows.

If theres an issue I have with the sound quality, its that I must wait before I can hear the best the Dual Driver ANC has to offer. The headphones app has a smart burn-in feature, which essentially plays tones and signals through your buds to train them, according to 1More. For the best performance, 1More suggests it could take anywhere from a few dozen to hundreds of hours of burning in to reach the optimum level. Call me impatient, but that just seems excessive.

As I said earlier, Ive yet to put the Dual Driver ANCs wind noise resistance mode up against any worthwhile elements. I have, however, briefly tested the headphones active noise cancellation feature on bustling roadways, and I have a few takeaways.

Products from 1More employ hybrid active noise cancellation, where a pair of microphones in each bud analyze sounds both inside the ear and in the outside environment, then block the unwanted sounds out with the help of a dedicated digital signal processor (DSP). The headphones have two different levels of noise cancellation, mild and strong, that can be chosen with the neckband button or in the 1More Music app.

My trials with the ANC features of these headphones were good overall. White noise with the feature in action was minimal, and they generally did a solid job of dampening most outside noises. I would keep expectations realistic, though. They dont approach the cancellation abilities that solid over-ear cans can offer, and some sounds will inevitably get through. Thats not really a knock on 1More, but rather a reminder of the limitations of this style of product. They do well within those constraints.

Ill have to revisit this review after more time listening to these headphones to have a definitive take. But 1More has built excellent, affordable listening devices time and time again in the past, and so far, theyre on the right track once more with the Dual Driver ANC Pro Wireless.

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1More Dual Driver ANC Pro review-in-progress: Listen to this - Digital Trends

(Illustration by iStock/rudall30)

In the report Shaping Inclusive Markets from FSG and The Rockefeller Foundation, I and other authors found thatsome of the most significant progress in creating sustainable and equitable market systems has come during crises. Amid the responses to COVID-19, there are also opportunities for innovative solutions that can further the vision of equitable societies that serve all of their members. To identify, create, preserve, and augment these steps toward more just systems, civil society must support and expand the efforts beyond the immediate response to this crisis.

Foundations have a particularly important role to play. There are more than 260,000 of them around the world. They command roughly $1.5 trillion in assets and spend more than $150 billion a year, according to the Hauser Institute for Civil Society at Harvard University. At FSG, we have partnered with dozens of foundations that are working toward a more equitable world by changing the practices, regulations, and informal norms that make up complex social systems, from business markets to health care to education. Based on this experience, here are three steps foundations can take to play an important role amid a crisis to bring about lasting, positive change:

Use New Crisis Responses to Reassess Old Systems | To further the long-term goals of equitable and inclusive social systems, foundations need to identify and explore the innovative solutions taken in response to the pandemic that may be worth continuing beyond the end of the crisis.

For example, in most developing countries, the traditional measure of education has been children being present in school rather than the quality of education. The crisis offers a unique opportunity to challenge this belief and reshape education as remote learning replaces physical classrooms. The shift allows people to newly inspect the details of the educational experience to find what works best. Activity-based learning, which has been a common part of remote learning and which FSG has been promoting in India to improve educational outcomes more than rote-based learning, may become a more permanent and greater part of educational experiences after the crisis ends.

Empower Champions | New movements and their champions often come to the fore during a crisis. Identifying and empowering them to talk about longer-term issues and pulling them into an agenda for social change will help foundations strengthen their local alliances. In general, the initial identification of such champions in local systems has been a weak point for foundations that sometimes operate from a great distance. One effective method to find them is to partner with local organizations that can identify local individuals to carry a cause forward. In India, an example is Wadhwani Initiative for Sustainable Healthcare (WISH), which identifies senior leaders and officials in government who are open to changing rules that could significantly improve health outcomes. WISH also seeks out and supports civil servants and technical experts within the health system who are willing to innovate.

Move Quickly | This crisis too shall pass, and the window of opportunity to solidify the changes it has sparked will close. Foundations need to deploy resources and form alliances now, not in weeks or months.

Nothing shows the importance of agility as the crisis itself. A recent study indicated that a three-day delay in introducing social distancing measures in Wuhan could be responsible for the 35 percent increase in the number of cases that occurred outside of the area in late February.

Foundations must realize that this short window of opportunity will not be amenable for multiple approval rounds and the decision-making hierarchy that works in normal times. Empowering teams to make investments, not all of which will be successful, will be a key to success.

Getting through major crises like COVID-19 is extraordinarily taxing for a huge array of organizations. Foundationsalong with nonprofits, governments, and many othersmust address urgent problems within their own ranks and their partners'. At the same time, they cannot simply abandon the long-term goals that are core to their missionsa crisis of course does not make serious inequities suddenly go away. If anything, a crisis exacerbates longstanding social problems, increasing the need for organizations who understand them and know how to respond to them.

By learning from this crisis and others before it, it is my hope that foundations can do moreindividually and as an allianceto identify and prepare themselves and their partners for major threats in the future and their impact on long-term efforts to solve serious social problems. Doing so will help ensure that the opportunities for innovative solutions created by a crisis today become the building blocks of a more just world tomorrow.

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How Foundations Can Make Progress on Long-Term Social Change Amid the COVID-19 Crisis - Stanford Social Innovation Review

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. After more than two months of social distancing, Mike Norvell has been on enough videoconferences to last for the rest of his life.

Yes, Florida States football coach is grateful to have such modern platforms to communicate with his staff and players while scattered about due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

But he also cant help but sometimes daydream about things getting back to normal.

Weve made the most of the situation that weve been dealt, Norvell said during Seminole Boosters weekly Football Fix webinar, but theres nothing like everyone being together in one place.

Even still, Norvell is pleased with what the Seminoles have been able to accomplish virtually, particularly in the classroom.

From Day 1, one of his favorite sayings has been, How you do anything is how you do everything and that most certainly applies to academics.

Which is why Norvell was so thrilled when grades for the spring semester came out last week.

Despite a massive upheaval in their lives and routines, and despite having to complete their coursework online, the Seminoles still managed to post a combined team grade-point average of 3.127.

Thats the highest in the programs history.

Its something that I was really excited (about) for them and really kind of just celebrated a lot of the growth that were seeing from these guys, Norvell said. We expect great things ahead.

How you do anything is going to be how you do everything, and they really made a statement, academically, about the growth and development of where this teams going.

Exactly when the Seminoles are back at practice or inside Doak Campbell Stadium again remains to be seen.

But Norvell believes that a strong performance in the classroom is usually an indicator of good things to come on the field.

More than anything else, I just want to see these guys compete, he said. That mindset of competition goes into the classroom, it goes into the weight room. In every aspect of their life, I want them to compete to be the best they can possibly be.

Lately, Norvell and his staff have spent their time conducting exit interviews with every player on the team. Think of it as a 15-minute check-in where the coaches and player can review expectations, ask questions and voice any observations or concerns.

Normally, of course, those meetings would take place in Norvells office, but a videoconference has made for an acceptable substitute.

Giving a thorough assessment after just two months and three practices together might be the bigger challenge, although Norvell believes hes found enough productive feedback to offer.

Those (meetings) are going really well and are just an opportunity to kind of reflect on some of the strides weve seen. Missing out on the majority of spring practice, we focused on different areas. These guys, theyre excited about what were doing.

And, like their coach, theyre excited about the idea of being together again. Even if its still only an idea.

In something of a cruel irony, Norvell and the Seminoles have now spent nearly as much time apart as they did together from the time of his hiring.

Thanks to technology and a positive attitude, theyve been able to make things work through individualized workout regimens and nutrition plans, as well as virtual team meetings.

Theres one thing, however, that modern technology cant replicate. And thats the camaraderie and bonds formed through working together in the same place and at the same time as part of a team and program.

I definitely miss these guys, Norvell said. You try to spend as much time as you possibly can with each other, but to have that interaction, whether its just a pat on the back or to be able to go through those experiences, thats what makes a football team special everyone coming from different places for a common cause.

Were seeing a lot of great strides in what our guys are doing, but were definitely looking forward to having everybody back in Tallahassee.

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Norvell Proud Of Progress, Still Looking Toward Future - Seminoles.com

Even with the shutdown of the Georgia campus due to COVID-19, many Georgia football players are still finding a way to get in workouts and training during the current time. The likes of Eric Stokes and James Cook have both posted highlight videos in recent days.

But neither of those really turned heads in the same way that offensive lineman Jamaree Salyer did with his video post.

The video showed a noticeably slimmed-down Slayer working on his pass blocking skills, as he shuffled through striking a number of pads.

@jamareesalyer69 Developing the Blueprint for you. God Plan 315 pounds right nowwwww @KirbySmartUGA pic.twitter.com/jfnkpBlbQr

BIG DAWGS CLUB, LLC (@CoachKev79) May 13, 2020

The video most notably caught the attention of Smart, who sent out a late-night tweet noticing Salyers work and hinting that hes down to 315 pounds. The official Georgia football roster lists Salyer at 325 pounds.

315

Coach Kirby Smart (@KirbySmartUGA) May 14, 2020

The 2020 season figures to be a big one for Salyer after he had a promising close to the 2019 campaign. He got the start at right tackle in Georgias 26-14 win over Baylor in the Sugar Bowl and played quite well in the win. He also spent most of last season working as the back-up right tackle behind Isaiah Wilson, who was taken in the first round of the 2020 NFL Draft

And with Wilson, Andrew Thomas and Solomon Kindley off to the NFL, Georgia has a number of openings on the offensive line that need to be filled. Salyer is expected to fill one of the tackle openings, with Kindley telling DawgNation he expects Salyer to be Georgias starting left tackle next season.

When all three Bulldogs spoke at the 2020 NFL Draft Combine, they each mentioned they had high expectations for Salyer and the Georgia offensive line this coming year.

Theyre young kids but they work so hard, Kindley said of Salyer and center Trey Hill. Theyre leaders and if you go around them, they have great character. If you go around them, youd think theyre one of us.

Related:Isaiah Wilson on Georgias 2020 offensive line: If youre sleeping on them, then theyre going to wake you up

Salyer is in his third year in the Georgia program and even though he hasnt played as much as some might have thought to this point, this latest video shows hes ready to take that next step and become a key player for the Georgia offensive line. Salyer came to Georgia with high expectations, as he was a 5-star prospect out our Atlantas Pace Academy. He is still the highest-rated offensive line prospect Georgia has signed under Smart.

Salyer will also be learning from a new offensive line coach this year, as Matt Luke takes over Sam Pittman, who is now at Arkansas. Luke did coach Salyer and the offensive line in the Sugar Bowl, so there is already a working relationship there. Georgia also has a new offensive coordinator in Todd Monken.

Related:Jamaree Salyer and his playing time explain why Georgia offensive line is one of the nations best

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WATCH: Jamaree Salyer workout video and progress catches the attention of Kirby Smart - DawgNation

As Michigan begins its third month of the coronavirus crisis, most of the numbers are moving in the right direction, experts agree.

On Monday, the state reported 414 new confirmed cases of COVID-19 and 33 new deaths -- the third consecutive day with fewer than 500 new confirmed cases. There also have been 50 or fewer deaths reported for the last three days out of four.

We are seeing cases decreasing over time, which is what we want to see, said Dr. Teena Chopra, an infectious disease specialist for the Detroit Medical Center. The stay-at-home model is working.

Michigan confirmed its first cases of coronavirus on March 10. Gov. Gretchen Whitmer shut down schools and restaurants as of March 16 and issued a stay-in-place order on March 23 as the number of new coronavirus cases was growing exponentially.

As for May 11, the state has confirmed 47,522 cases of COVID-19 and 4,584 have died of the disease.

Coronavirus appears to have peaked in Michigan during the first week of April. Here is whats happened in the month since.

1. Average number of new cases a day has plummeted.

During the last week of March and first two weeks of April -- March 22 to April 11 -- the state was averaging almost 1,100 new infections a day. That includes more than 1,500 sickened on March 30, according to state data looking at onset of illness.

The average for last week was not quite 350. Thats the lowest seven-day average since the first week of the crisis.

The below charts shows the daily reports of confirmed cases. (The chart is based on when cases were confirmed vs. onset of illness.)

2. Deaths are down 45%.

For the week ending April 11, Michigan reported an average of 131 deaths a day from coronavirus. Last week, it was an average of 72 deaths a day, a 45% decline.

Chopra noted that deaths are a lagging indicator. Its about two weeks behind" the case numbers, she said, reflecting the typical time between the onset of coronavirus and death in situations where the patient has died.

3. Hospitalizations are down 64% from a month ago.

As of Monday, May 11, Michigan had 1,422 coronavirus patients who were hospitalized. That compares to 3,986 on April 12, a 64% drop in the past month.

Of coronavirus patients hospitalized on April 12, 1,570 were in an intensive-care unit and 1,365 were on ventilators. That compares to 684 patients in ICU and 544 on ventilators Monday, May 11.

Incidentally, while case numbers have surged in the Grand Rapids and Kalamazoo areas in the past few weeks, hospitalizations have not kept pace.

In the past two weeks, the number of coronavirus cases went from 1,052 to 2,332 in Kent County and from 327 to 622 in Kalamazoo County. Meanwhile, the number of coronavirus patients hospitalized in the states Region 6, which includes Kent County, increased from 92 to 120 during that time. Hospitalizations in Region 5, which includes Kalamazoo, actually dropped from 62 patients on April 28 to 61 on May 11.

That indicates the majority of new patients involve more mild cases, said Dr. Russell Lampen, who heads the infectious disease division at Spectrum Health in Grand Rapids.

We have not seen a significant jump in the death rate, and hospitalizations have not mirrored the increase in the number of cases were seeing, he said.

4. Testing has almost tripled.

Last week, Michigan averaged almost 11,300 coronavirus tests a day. Thats almost triple the number a month ago, and means Michigan is now above the national average in per-capita testing.

The current goal is test 15,000 people daily. On May 7, the state tested 14,257, the highest number to date.

Testing is seen as critical to managing the pandemic going forward. Michigan Chief Medical Executive Dr. Joneigh Khaldun said Monday that state is hoping to increase that to an average of 30,000 tests administered each day by mid-June.

5. Testing is finding fewer new cases.

Even with more testing, the number of cases has declined. In the first seven days of May, Michigan had 3,754 confirmed new COVID-19 cases, compared to 7,818 during the first seven days of April, a 52% drop.

The first seven days of April, 40% of coronavirus tests performed in Michigan were positive for the virus. That compares to 8.5% percent in the first seven days of May.

Experts at the Harvard Global Health Institute recommend a minimum of 152 tests per 100,000 residents per day. That equates to about 15,140 daily tests in Michigan.

Harvard also says the percentage of positive tests should be no more than 10%, a number they say indicates the testing program is adequately capturing the infected population.

6. Michigan has fallen to 11th in per-capita coronavirus patients.

A month ago, Michigan was third in the nation in total number of coronavirus cases, lagging behind only New York and New Jersey.

There are now four additional states above Michigan: Illinois, Massachusetts, California and Pennsylvania.

In cases per capita, Michigan now ranks 11th behind New York, New Jersey, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, District of Columbia, Louisiana, Delaware, Illinois and Maryland.

In fact, Michigan has fewer active coronavirus cases right now than Indiana and Ohio, according to the Worldometers website, which pulls coronavirus information daily from state and county websites.

The website lists Michigan as having 20,282 active cases of COVID-19 compared to 22,979 in Ohio and 21,396 in Indiana. Active cases is the total number of coronavirus cases minus the number of patients defined as recovered by state and local officials, the website says.

However, a spokeswoman for the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services says it may not be an apples-to-apples comparison. Recovered is not a statistic run consistently between states, Lynn Sutfin said in an email to MLive. Some dont run anything; some use different definitions. So it is difficult to use for cross state comparison.

In per capita deaths, Michigan now ranks seventh, behind New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Louisiana and District of Columbia.

7. A projection model used by the White House projects a sharp drop in Michigans coronavirus deaths in June and July.

Michigan is projected to have another 1,200 deaths during the rest of May as a result of coronavirus, but the number is expected to drop to about 400 deaths during the month of June and about 60 deaths during the month of July, according to a model operated by the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation at the University of Washington.

In fact, the IHME predicts both Ohio and Indiana will have more coronavirus deaths in June and July than Michigan. Its forecasting about 700 deaths during that two-month period in Ohio and almost 1,400 in Indiana as states move to reopen their economies.

In all, the IHME model is predicting Michigan will have a total of 6,517 deaths by Aug. 1. Thats a 42% increase compared to the current total.

The IHME model is projecting that Ohio will see its death toll more than double from 1,360 to 2,940 by Aug. 1, and Indiana will see a 165% increase to from 1,540 to 4,091.

Nationally, the model is projecting 137,184 deaths across the U.S. by Aug. 1, a 67% increase from the current total.

PREVENTION TIPS

In addition to washing hands regularly and not touching your face, officials recommend practicing social distancing, assuming anyone may be carrying the virus.

Health officials say you should be staying at least 6 feet away from others and working from home, if possible.

Use disinfecting wipes or disinfecting spray cleaners on frequently-touched surfaces in your home (door handles, faucets, countertops) and carry hand sanitizer with you when you go into places like stores.

Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer has also issued an executive order requiring people to wear face coverings over their mouth and nose while inside enclosed, public spaces.

Read all of MLives coverage on the coronavirus at mlive.com/coronavirus.

Additional information is available at Michigan.gov/Coronavirus and CDC.gov/Coronavirus.

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Complete coverage at mlive.com/coronavirus

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7 indicators that show Michigans positive progress in the coronavirus crisis - MLive.com

Over the past 14 months swine health officials and scientists have been tracking the movement of a novel bacterial infection in swine, Streptococcus zooepidemicus.

The infection, which results in sudden death, was identified in Canada in March 2019 and has since been found in several US states.

Speaking to Farmscape, Dr Matheus Costa, an Adjunct Professor with the University of Saskatchewan's Western College of Veterinary Medicine and an Assistant Professor with the University of Minnesota, says Strep zoo is a normal part of the microbiome of several species and typically doesn't cause disease.

"Streptococcus zooepidemicus is present in healthy pigs so that becomes a bit of a challenge when differentiating who could be carrying a potentially dangerous Streptococcus zooepidemicus versus the other pigs that are carrying the normal ones that don't do anything to pigs," explains Dr Costa.

"We're trying to explore that right now in order to prevent and control the disease.

"The other thing we have learned is that there seems to be a very specific Streptococcus zooepidemicus called ST-194 that causes disease in pigs.

"That's what we're working on right now is, what makes this Streptococcus zooepidemicus type problematic for pigs in comparison to the other ones that they have had for years.

"It really looks like this disease flares up once pigs have been exposed to some kind of intense stress event, such as a long haul or even a comingling of many different animals from many different sources.

"If you can minimise stress at any point, that is always welcome and it seems to help prevent flareups of disease associated with Strep zoo."

Dr Costa acknowledges this infection is rare and scientists are just scratching the surface trying to deal with this bug.

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New progress reported from researchers investigating Strep zoo in North American pigs - The Pig Site

DES MOINES, IowaIowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig Monday commented on the Iowa Crop Progress and Condition report released by the USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service. The report is released weekly from April through November.

Planting has moved at a near-record pace this spring and with that comes the risk of a late frost. Most of the state was under frost and freeze warnings over the weekend and some stations set new record lows, said Secretary Naig. We expect warmer and wetter weather towards the end of the week, which is welcome news for farmers who are closely monitoring emerging corn and soybean crops.

The weekly report is also available on the USDAs site atnass.usda.gov/ia.

Crop Progress

There were 4.7 days suitable for field work during the week ending May 10, 2020, according to the USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service. Showers early in the week briefly slowed planting progress and below normal temperatures delayed emergence.

Topsoil moisture levels rated 4% very short, 15% short, 78% adequate and 3% surplus. Subsoil moisture levels rated 2% very short, 8% short, 86% adequate and 4% surplus.

Iowa farmers have planted 91% of the expected corn crop, almost a month ahead of last year and 2 weeks ahead of the 5-year average. Less than 5% of the crop remains to be planted in Northwest and North Central Iowa. One-third of the expected corn crop has emerged. The soybean crop moved to 71% planted, a full month ahead of last year and over 2 weeks ahead of the average. Northwest and North Central Iowa also lead the way in soybean planting with less than 20% remaining to be planted. Only 2% of Iowas expected oat crop remains to be planted, with 77% of the oat crop emerged. The first oat condition rating of the season was 0% very poor, 2% poor, 19% fair, 67% good and 12% excellent.

The first hay condition rating of the season was 0% very poor, 3% poor, 26% fair, 61% good and 10% excellent. Pasture condition rated 62% good to excellent. Cooler than normal temperatures slowed growth in pastures and hay fields. Livestock conditions were good with little to no stress reported.

Preliminary Weather SummaryProvided by Justin Glisan, Ph.D., State Climatologist, Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship

Iowa experienced cooler and drier conditions during the first full week of May. Measurable rain was reported statewide, though a majority of stations observed below average totals. A notable Arctic air intrusion brought below average coldness towards the end of the reporting period. Temperature departures were six to ten degrees below normal with eastern Iowa experiencing the coldest conditions. The statewide average temperature was 48.9 degrees, 9.0 degrees below normal.

Spotty showers moved through central Iowa during the late morning hours on Sunday (3rd) though partly to mostly sunny skies were reported for the rest of the day. Highs reached the mid to upper 70s, with locally warmer spots, under variable winds shifting out of the northeast into early Monday (4th) morning. Temperatures remained in the 40s and low 50s in southwest Iowa, slightly warmer than average. Another wave of light to moderate rain pushed into the state during the day ahead of a low pressure system over the Dakotas, leaving measurable rain across much of Iowa. The system spun into southern Minnesota early Tuesday (5th) propagating southeast through central Iowa and clearing the states southeast corner close to midnight. Daytime conditions were unseasonably cold with statewide highs averaging 54 degrees, 14 degrees colder than normal. Two-day rain totals reported at 7:00 am on Wednesday (6th) were highest in eastern Iowa with multiple stations in Scott County reporting from 0.97 inch to 1.07 inches. Totals into western Iowa were generally between 0.25 inch to 0.50 inch; the statewide average was 0.42 inch. Winds shifted to the northwest through the day under cloudy conditions as highs stayed in the upper 50s and low 60s.

Starry skies greeted Iowa overnight into Thursday (7th) with morning lows in the 40s; upper 30s were reported in western Iowa. Another low pressure center moved slowly through western Iowa into the evening hours, bringing moderate rainfall across the region. Rain totals were generally at or under 0.50 inch in Iowas southwest corner with lighter amounts moving into central Iowa; Clarinda (Page County) observed 0.54 inch while on the eastern periphery of the system, Indianola (Warren County) reported 0.05 inch. Skies cleared into Friday (8th) with gusty northerly winds as daytime temperatures remained unseasonably cool in the low to mid 50s. A late season cold blast blanketed much of the upper Midwest, prompting freeze warnings overnight into Saturday (9th) with morning lows plummeting into the upper 20s and low 30s across Iowa. Several stations reported record lows for the date with Waterloo (Black Hawk County) reporting 27 degrees, breaking the station record set in 1945; the statewide average was 29 degrees, 17 degrees below normal. Temperatures quickly rebounded under southerly winds and mostly sunny skies. Daytime highs peaked in the mid 60s though a cold front swept west to east across Iowa into the nighttime hours, bringing light showers and localized gusty winds. Rain totals reported Sunday (10th) morning were under 0.20 inch with the highest totals in northern Iowa; New Hampton (Chickasaw County) reported 0.17 inch. Morning lows combined with strong northerly winds were brisk, generally in the upper 30s west to low 40s east.

Weekly rain totals ranged from 0.10 inch at Oelwein (Fayette County) to 1.07 inches at a rain gauge in Le Claire (Scott County). The statewide weekly average precipitation was 0.56 inch while the normal is 0.99 inch. Clarion (Wright County) reported the weeks high temperature of 83 degrees on the 4th, 16 degrees above average. Elkader (Clayton County) and Stanley (Buchanan County) reported the weeks low temperature of 21 degrees on the 9th, on average 23 degrees below normal. Four-inch soil temperatures were in the low to mid 50s as of Sunday.

(contributed press release)

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Good Weather Allowed Crop Planting to Progress, Frost and Freeze Warnings A Concern Last Week - kwbg.com

General Motors recently posted its Q1 2020 financial results, surprising analysts and Wall Street with $300 million in income on $32.7 billion in revenue. GM was the only one of the big three U.S. automakers to post a profit. During the recent first-quarter 2020 earnings call, GM CEO Mary Barra addressed a number of crucial topics, including an indication that the automakers highly profitable full-size SUVs were on-track for shipping in June, and that the companys future EVs were on track despite disruptions from the COVID-19 pandemic. Whats more Barra said she was very pleased with the progress made by the GM Cruise autonomous vehicle division.

During a Q&A session, Bank of America-Merrill Lynch analyst John Murphy asked Barra if she was rethinking the dollar commitment required to develop the GM Cruise autonomous vehicle technology, citing a $1 billion annual investment without any associated revenue.

Barra backed the companys commitment to AVs, saying: Well, first, Im very pleased with the progress that were making from a technology perspective at Cruise. Just reviewed that earlier this week. So I think that we are continuing to hit milestone after milestone there.

Barra did not elaborate on exactly what those milestones were. However, in response to a question proposed by Murphy with regard to integrating GM Cruise technology into the existing GM product portfolio, Barra talked about the GM Super Cruise semi-autonomous driver assist feature, saying:

As it relates to bringing the technology into our fleet of vehicles on the road today, thats really occurring through Super Cruise and we continue to add miles, add roads, add features, and youll see us as we spread it across the portfolio, starting with Cadillac and then moving to others.

As was announced last June, the Super Cruise semi-autonomous driver system gained an additional 70,000 miles of usable highway driving last year, bringing the grand total to 200,000 miles of divided highway driving throughout the U.S. and Canada for customers. The GM Cruise-derived technology will see widespread implementation throughout the Cadillac lineup, including with the all-new 2021 Cadillac Escalade, while availability is expected to expand to 22 vehicles total by 2023, and will include non-Cadillac vehicles as well.

Meanwhile, the Cruise Origin driverless taxi was unveiled back in January.

Check out a full transcript of the earnings call below, and subscribe to GM Authority for ongoing GM news coverage.

GM Q1 2020 Earnings Call - Mary Barra On GM Cruise Progress

John Murphy Bank of America-Merrill Lynch Analyst

Okay. And then just a second question, I mean the commitment to Cruise, seems like its unwavering. But there is about $1 billion a year going out the door without any revenue. Im just curious if youre rethinking that dollar commitment on an annual basis, the potential business and monetization of it. And one phrase that I think you mentioned superhuman driving experience sounds really appealing to me. Is there the potential that you could lead some of this technology into your existing product portfolio over the next few years if you dont see the monetization of an AMoD fleet anytime in the near future?

Mary T. Barra GM Chairman and Chief Executive Officer

Well, first, Im very pleased with the progress that theyre making from a technology perspective at Cruise. Just reviewed that earlier this week. So I think that we are continuing to hit milestone after milestone there. So Im very positive about whats happening at Cruise from that perspective. So I see huge opportunity. And so our commitment, as you said, is unwavering.

As it relates to bringing the technology into the our fleet of vehicles on the road today, thats really occurring through Super Cruise and we continue to add miles, add roads, add features and youll see us as well as spread it across the portfolio, starting with Cadillac and then moving to others. So definitely have an aggressive plan to further roll out and improve the capability of Super Cruise.

Jonathan Lopez

Jonathan is an automotive journalist based out of Southern California. He loves anything and everything on four wheels.

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GM CEO Mary Barra Is Very Pleased With GM Cruise Progress - GM Authority

A Furnace Full of God: A Holy Year on the Camino de SantiagoREBEKAH SCOTT(PEACEABLE PUBLISHING, 264 PP, 12.21)

According to a pre-lockdown double-page spread in The Times, pilgrimages are making a comeback. For 2,000, one can enjoy a mentally and spiritually refreshing walking holiday organised by the Catholic Herald. But there are cheaper options, and to prove it this author has published an illuminating report of how, in 2006, she and her husband left journalistic jobs in the United States to found a refuge their home to this day for some of the pilgrims who hit the road to the shrine city of Santiago de Compostela, Spain, every year: 300,000 of them in the Holy Year of 2010 alone.

Glamorous is hardly the word to describe life in Moratinos, a tiny, sparsely populated town in the middle of the 500-mile, 1,000-year-old pilgrim trail, but Rebekah Scott has turned their adventure, and the adventures of the disparate wayfarers who passed through Peaceable Kingdom the name they gave their far-from-luxurious farmhouse into a beacon of warmth on the way west via Palencia.

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Pilgrims' progress - The Tablet

The NHL and NHL Players Association were in discussion again Tuesday through the Return to Play Committee, trying to navigate through a number of issues and eventually finding a path to a potential puck drop.

Hockey fans are hungry for answers. Hey, so are the media.

What about the draft? The playoff format? The hub cities in the proposed four-site scenario? What about Phase 2, which is the next step?

The NHL and NHLPA are plugging away at it.

The reality is that its still a very fluid situation, Bill Daly told The Athletic on Tuesday night after another long day of meetings and phone calls for the NHLs deputy commissioner.

Look, I think theres some optimism, Daly said. The trending is positive right now in most of our markets. We have businesses and economies opening up, and thats a good thing. Dont know yet what it means to us. But were going in a positive...

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LeBrun: Bill Daly provides update on NHL's progress toward a resumed season - The Athletic