Monthly Archives: March 2021

Social Norms of the Erewhonians – The Great Courses Daily News

Posted: March 11, 2021 at 12:29 pm

By Pamela Bedore, Ph.D., University of ConnecticutSamuel Butler presents the difference between the Europeans and the Erewhonians in Erewhon. (Image: Sohel Parvez Haque/Shutterstock)Religion in Erewhonian Society

Erewhon has two religious movements, both containing substantial humor: the Musical Banks and the goddess Ydgrun. The Musical Banks are the official churches of Erewhon. These are beautiful edifices and all the people insist that the currency traded at the Musical Banks is worth far more than the worldly currency with which they dirty their hands every day.

Higgs visits the Musical Banks with great interest, only to find that theyre mostly emptycompletely respected by lip service, but in actual fact considered old, empty institutions. Theres nothing subtle about constructing devotion as lip service, or about constructing the Church as a kind of bank, thus underlining the intersections of religious institutions with money and power.

Higgs also learns that many Erewhonians actually worship the goddess Ydgrun. Ydgrun an anagram for Grundy, as in Mrs. Grundy, from an 18th-century play, a namesake for hypocrisy and prudery.

And Ydgrun is the goddess that Erewhonians arent supposed to care about, but that most of them actually worship secretly. In Erewhon, maybe like everywhere else, hypocrisy is publicly denounced but secretly accepted.

This is a transcript from the video seriesGreat Utopian and Dystopian Works of Literature. Watch it now, on The Great Courses Plus.

Another interesting feature of the Erewhonian society is the approach to illness and criminality, which might be Butlers best joke of the whole novel.

In Erewhon, a person faces punishment for having a physical ailmentjail time or even, in the case of incurable or chronic conditions, execution. If you commit a crime, on the other hand, you get medical attention and a whole lot of sympathy from friends and family.

If you have a headache, you would never mention it to anyone but your most intimate acquaintances. Higgs is initially astonished by the seemingly uniform beauty and health of the Erewhonians, but this becomes a bit more understandable as he learns that they disguise minor ailments and are jailed or executed for major ones.

Learn more about the origins of utopian genre.

The Erewhonians, are just as surprised to hear about the European approaches to health and crimecompletely misguidedas Higgs is to learn about theirs. They explain that there are physicians living secretly among them and these arent actively prosecuted.

After all, its understandable that people would want to hide their illnesses to avoid punishment and might even abet family membersin doing so. But if doctors were allowed to become frequent visitors in every household, one of the Erewhonians explains to Higgs, their organization and their intimate acquaintance with all family secrets would give them a power, both social and political, which nothing could resist.

Theres a certain comedy of errors element to Higgssand perhaps the readersmisunderstanding about the treatments of criminality and illness, but is there something else going on? What does it mean to imprison or even execute those who are ill? Is this a form of eugenics?

Following Charles Darwins incredibly influential Origin of Species in 1859, other thinkers, most notably Darwins half-cousin Francis Galton, began to speculate on the possibility of selective mating for humans.

It wasnt a new idea, Plato suggested it in the Republic, but it started to gain traction in the Victorian period.

Eugenics, a Greek compound, meaning good genes, wasnt named until 1883, by Galton. But still, the ideas were circulating in 1872 when Butler wrote Erewhon, and the Erewhonians seem to practice negative eugenics, the idea of limiting reproduction by the less fit, but not positive eugenics, the idea of encouraging reproduction in the more fit.

So what exactly is Butler saying about eugenics? Well, thats a hard question to answer, given that Erewhon is a true utopia, with a blendmaybe even a balanceof positive and satirical representations. The reader is certainly not meant to take seriously all the Erewhonian ideas.

A promising young Erewhonian would attend one of the Colleges of Unreason, whichnurture scholars inthe advanced study of hypothetics as well as the basic disciplines of Inconsistency and Evasion.

Higgs is toldbut absolutely refuses to acceptthat the problem with Reason is that it, betrays men into the drawing of hard and fast lines, and to the defining by languagelanguage being like the sun, which rears and then scorches.

The topics of study are funny, and the reader may certainly enjoy a superior laugh along with Higgs at the very concept of the College of Unreason. But still, its an interesting thought, isnt it? That Reason justifies the human tendency to see the world in black and white; that the notion of language as rigid, as able to accurately represent the world, contains perils that are for the Erewhonians very real.

Learn more about science and technology in Victorian Britain.

Higgs tells the readers at some length about the Erewhonians long battle in figuring out what to do about vegetarianism. At one point, centuries ago, a major thinkeran expert in Unreasonmade a decree that animals are intelligent creatures and should thus not be killed. It was considered fine to eat the meat of animals that had died of natural causes, including suicide. Heres how Higgs puts it:

It was found that animals were continually dying natural deaths under more or less suspicious circumstances. Suicidal mania, again, which had hitherto been confined exclusively to donkeys, became alarmingly prevalent even among such for the most part self-respecting creatures as sheep and cattle.

Things continued on in this absurd way until another Unthinkercame along and made another argument, this one even more extreme: vegetables are intelligent creatures, too. The result? The Erewhonians stopped worrying about eating intelligent creatures, since they certainly couldnt survive with neither animal nor vegetable substance, and the Erewhonian mindset on the important issue of what to eat changed again, nimbly and without any great stress.

This is how Butler presents the difference between the Europeans and Erewhonians, within a satirical construct which, at first glance, is laughable.

Erewhon has two religious movements: the Musical Banks and the goddess Ydgrun.

In Erewhon, a person faces punishment for having a physical ailmentjail time or even, in the case of incurable or chronic conditions, execution.

In Erewhon, a promising young person would attend one of the Colleges of Unreason, whichnurture scholars inthe advanced study of hypothetics as well as the basic disciplines of Inconsistency and Evasion.

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Will mankind be extinct in a few years? – newagebd.net

Posted: at 12:28 pm

New Eastern Outlook

ITS no secret that Bill Gates and the advocates of the UN Sustainable Development Agenda 2030 are also devout promoters of human eugenics, the thinning of the human herd as Britains misanthropic prince Philip once put it. Some such as Joachim Schnellnhuber, climate adviser to the Pope, openly welcome a human population below one billion as sustainable. Now serious research is emerging that one of the most effective reducers of the human population is being spread by so-called modern scientific agriculture through the select use of toxic agrochemicals, pesticides deemed safe which are anything but safe.

According to a new book by Dr Shanna Shaw, Count Down, the male sperm count in western industrial countries, including the European Union and the United States, is falling at a dramatic rate. Shaw estimates that over the past four decades the average sperm count has dropped by 50 per cent or more. In other words a young male today seeking to have a family has only half the sperm count his grandfather did, half the chance to conceive. Shaw estimates that unless toxic chemical exposures in agriculture and the environment are dramatically altered, we may not have the ability to reproduce naturally much longer, and that by 2050 most human beings in the industrial countries, including China, will need technological assistance to procreate.

Shaws book is a further elaboration of a 2017 peer-reviewed scientific paper which Shaw and colleagues published. In the paper, Shaw carefully analysed a total of 244 estimates of sperm concentration and Total Sperm Count, or TSC, from 185 studies of 42,935 men who provided semen samples in 19732011. What they found was alarming to the extreme. But beyond a few media headlines, no changes of consequence resulted, as the powerful agrochemical corporations such as Bayer-Monsanto, Syngenta, DowDuPont (now Corteva) lobbied regulators to ignore the findings.

Shaw found that Among unselected western studies, the mean sperm concentration declined, on average, 1.4 per cent per year with an overall decline of 52.4 per cent between 1973 and 2011. The same group of males, had an average decline in mean TSC of 1.6 per cent per year and overall decline of 59.3 per cent. That is a sperm count decline as of a decade ago of more than 59 per cent in men, unselected by fertility, from North America, Europe, Australia and New Zealand. And it continues to decline year by year.

Because of lack of serious support for new studies, updated data is limited. Fifteen years ago, over half of potential sperm donors in Hunan Province, China, met quality standards. Now, only 18 per cent do, a decline blamed on endocrine disrupting chemicals according to one study. A similar fall in sperm count was registered by researchers in Taiwan, as well as a similar result for Israel. Shaw concludes, male reproductive health, not just semen quality by the way, is in trouble, and this has consequences, not just for the ability to have a child, but it also impacts the health of the man. She cites as examples, low sperm count, infertility, testicular cancer, and various general defects. One of them is undescended testicles, another one is a condition where the opening of the urethra is not where it should be.

Endocrine disruptors

SWAN, today with the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai in New York, believes the cause is to be found in the huge rise in toxic chemical exposures in recent decades, especially of chemicals known as endocrine disruptors or hormone disruptors. She points to chemicals that make plastics soft, which are phthalates, or chemicals that make plastics hard like Bisphenol A, or chemicals that are flame retardants, chemicals that are in Teflon, and so on, pesticides.

The last, pesticides, is the group that should send loud alarm bells ringing because it is proven to get into groundwater and the human food chain. Today the two most widely used pesticides in the world are Bayer-Monsantos Roundup containing the probable carcinogen, glyphosate, and Azatrine made by Syngenta, which today is owned by ChemChina.

Atrazine effects

IN 2010, a renowned University of California, Berkeley scientist, Tyrone B Hayes, professor of integrative biology, led a major study of the effect of Atrazine exposure for frogs. He found that the pesticide, widely used on US corn crops and sugarcane, wreaks havoc with the sex lives of adult male frogs, emasculating three-quarters of them and turning one in 10 into females. He found ,These male frogs are missing testosterone and all the things that testosterone controls, including sperm. Moreover, Hayes noted that the 10 per cent of frogs exposed to Atrazine that turn from males into females something not known to occur under natural conditions in amphibians can successfully mate with male frogs but, because these females are genetically male, all their offspring are male. Hayes declared, I believe that the preponderance of the evidence shows atrazine to be a risk to wildlife and humans.

Atrazine is a potent endocrine disruptor. Atrazine is also the second-most widely used herbicide in the US behind Monsantos glyphosate product, Roundup. Despite the evidence, in a controversial ruling the US Environmental Protection Agency, in 2007 ruled that Atrazine does not adversely affect amphibian sexual development and that no additional testing was warranted. End of story? Hardly. But in 2004 the EU banned Atrazine saying Syngenta failed to prove its safety in drinking water.

Another agrochemical that has been determined to be an endocrine disruptor is Monsantos Roundup with glyphosate. Roundup is the worlds most widely used pesticide, in over 140 countries including Russia and China. Its use on US genetically modified crops has exploded in recent years as almost 90 per cent of US corn is genetically modified, and a similar percentage of its soybeans. Between 1996 when genetically modified Monsanto corn and soybeans were authorised in the USA, and 2017, Americans exposure to the chemical grew 500 per cent. It has been tested in drinking water, cereals in stores and in urine of pregnant women. Almost all meat and poultry is saturated with glyphosate from animal feed.

A recent study carried out in Australia by researchers at Flinders University found that Roundup killed the cells that produce progesterone in women, causing their levels to drop. Glyphosate and Roundup have been linked to birth defects, reproductive problems and liver disease, and it has been shown to have the potential to harm the DNA of human umbilical cord, placental and embryonic cells.

In 2015, scientists in Nigeria examined the effects of combined exposure to both glyphosate and Atrazine on rats. They found the combination was even worse with effects on sperm, testosterone synthesis and male reproductive organs.

In 2016, Chinas state-owned chemicals giant, ChemChina, bought Syngenta for a colossal $43 billion. At the time ChemChina had distribution rights in China and other Asian countries for Monsanto Roundup as well. On the ChemChina website it lists Atrazine among the herbicides it sells, calling it a safe and efficient herbicide for corn fields. ChemChina is also the leading producer of glyphosate for the Chinese agriculture market.

Today China is facing, by its own admission, a major agriculture crisis and is also struggling with ways to insure food security. Reports are that an increased role for genetically modified crops with Chinese patents will be a central part of a new five year plan which would undoubtedly mean using glyphosate and Atrazine. At the same time the state is increasingly alarmed by the falling birth rate which has not improved despite relaxations on the one child policy. With Chinese farmers using significant amounts of pesticide chemicals including glyphosate and Atrazine to improve yields, they are pursuing a disastrous combination that will not only not solve the growing food crisis, but also may destroy the reproductive potential of a major portion of its 890 million rural population, as well as countless millions of urban citizens.

Are these dangerous endocrine disrupting agrochemicals allowed worldwide because of bureaucratic ignorance of the damage caused by glyphosates, Atrazine and other endocrine disrupters on the human reproduction? Is it only because of corporate greed for hyper profits that they exist? A 1975 quote from Henry Kissinger, author of the eugenics document NSSM-200 during the Nixon-Ford era is instructive: Depopulation should be the highest priority of foreign policy towards the third world, because the US economy will require large and increasing amounts of minerals from abroad, especially from less developed countries. And from Bill Gates: The world today has 6.8 billion people thats headed up to about nine billion. If we do a really great job on vaccines, health care, reproductive health services, we could lower that by perhaps 10 to 15 per cent. Or the grand old dog of eugenics, prince Philip: I must confess that I am tempted to ask for reincarnation as a particularly deadly virus. (In his foreword to If I Were an Animal United Kingdom, Robin Clark Ltd, 1986).

We are rapidly making the human species extinct as we continue to ignore the dangers of these toxins to human and other life forms.

New Eastern Outlook, March 9. F William Engdahl is a strategic risk consultant and lecturer.

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Teaching Geoscience History in Context – Eos

Posted: at 12:28 pm

The summer of 2020 brought a renewal of calls for racial justice around the world. For the first time, many scientists, including those in the geosciences, began to confront the ways in which racism and colonialism are systemic within their fields and institutions. In seeking ways to dismantle the systemic disenfranchisement of BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and People of Color) scholars, one group of geoscientists looked back on the origins of their field.

The way that were being trained today is similar to the way people were being trained at the turn of the [20th] century. The science we can envision doing, what we expect these tool sets to allow us to do, is limited in this framework, said Tamara Pico, an ice age geodynamics and feminist science studies researcher. Pico is part of a team of scientists who developed GeoContext, a set of supplementary teaching modules that aims to give the social and political context of geoscience history.

If we keep using the same tool sets without being a little critical and maybe skeptical of what these tools were designed to do, we are unknowingly perpetuating a lot of the same practices of exclusion and practices of exploitation, Pico added. Thats why we use GeoContext as our title, because giving the context of the past might help students see where their tools come from and how, if we keep using those tools, then we wont get a different outcome.

Eos staff writer Kimberly Cartier spoke with four of the scientists behind the development of the GeoContext curriculum: Pico, who will be an assistant professor at the University of California, Santa Cruz; geologist Christine Y. Chen, who conducted this research as a postdoctoral fellow at the California Institute of Technology in Pasadena and is now a postdoctoral researcher at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory in Livermore, Calif.; Seth Olinger, a Ph.D. student studying glacial geophysics at Harvard University in Cambridge, Mass.; and Wesley Wiggins, a geoscience undergraduate student at Princeton University in Princeton, N.J. Our conversation, below, has been edited for length and clarity.

Eos: What is scientific racism? In what ways is it present in the geosciences today?

Pico: Scientific racism is using science to create or justify racist ideas.Sometimes we think scientific racism is something of the past, but it exists in science today. Its pretty common to think that the Earth sciences are separate from social issues. But early geology, especially the early American geology that is [often] seen as the foundation of our field, was largely motivated by social issues, and especially issues of race.

Wiggins: There are not a lot of people of color in the geosciences, and part of that has to do with the values that these fathers of geoscience perpetuated through their work and through their teachings.Confronting our own history in our field is important for acknowledging those divisions and healing and repairing from the damage that has been done and also allowing new ideas to come in that arent based in those ideologies.

Audio: Minik and the MeteoriteWhere do the samples in our museums come from? Christine Chen explains how one of the worlds most famous meteorites is connected to the tragic story of a boy named Minik. Click here for a transcript of the recording.

Chen: For the longest time, Id also bought into this idea that all science, including my field of geology, was apolitical and separate from social issues. To find out that some of geologys foundational leaders were involved in these kinds of studies was really surprising to me. Id heard stories about the eugenics movement in biology, and I thought, Okay, well, thats a biology problem. But disciplines were not as siloed back then as they are today, and in fact, the eugenics movement was borne out by the very same people who led the field that Ive been working in.I have to hope that if we know more about the true history of our field, not the censored whitewashed history that we are generally taught, perhaps we will stand a better chance at not perpetuating deeply problematic ideals that dont represent who we want to be today.

Olinger: In general, we love stories and narratives. The most compelling way to teach the history of a field, in the case of science or anything else, is often by using the tales of specific people who exerted a strong influence on the discourse or ideas within that field. And unfortunately, in the case of the geosciences, a lot of the people in 1800s who exerted a strong influence on the direction of the field also were involved in scientific racism.Its important that, moving forward, educators recognize the negative influences that those people had as well and make their students aware of them so that theres a full picture presented and that those ideas dont become implicitly accepted.

Eos: That resonates a lot with the time of reckoning were in now as people work to confront the racism thats systemic throughout society, science, and academia. Why is it so important to teach the context in which geoscience got started?

Pico: The reason its so important to teach this fuller context is to help us see the ways that the tools were being given are reproducing the same harm that imperialists were doing. For example, we learn how to map out territory. Why do we learn that? Its because thats what historical geologists were doing. They were making maps of the land so they could make claims to the land and use it for their purposes.

Olinger: People agree that better science is done when more perspectives are included and a more diverse range of people are engaged in the science process.If we want to make a field thats more welcoming and will be a field that people who have a diverse range of backgrounds want to join, its important that the education process is honest about what the legacy of the field is and to indicate that we want to make a change moving forward.

If I dont go scurry up this really scrambly steep scarp to go look at that rock, I will be less of a legitimate field geologist than if I looked at a nice rock outcrop that happens to be by a road.Chen: For example, as a field-going geologist, I have come across the belief of fieldwork being this domain of the rugged masculine straight white man. This archetype persists today, both subtly and overtly. That picture of the ideal field scientist definitely plays a role in why so many people who do not fit that classic archetype feel excluded, disillusioned, or unsafe or even experience some level of traumatization in the field. And for me, one of the materials that [Olinger] presented was really striking to me.John Tyndall was well known for being an accomplished mountaineer, and his theory of glacial flow mechanics happened to prevail over this other guys theory at the time. And the reason why it prevailed was not because he had better data or better science, but rather because he was seen as more of an accomplished mountaineer.

Even today, outdoorsmanship is conflated with academic prowess and credibility, where the difficulty, remoteness, dangers of fieldwork are tied to the perceived scientific value of the ideas and the expertise of those involved.Ive encountered this in my field training where, if I dont go scurry up this really scrambly steep scarp to go look at that rock, I will be less of a legitimate field geologist than if I looked at a nice rock outcrop that happens to be by a road. This is a very ableist mindset. Ideas about who makes the best field geologists not only affect who can do that science and who can gain legitimacy in these spaces but also affect the actual scientific ideas that then get promulgated and researched.

Eos: What was the catalyst that brought you together to discuss the issues of scientific racism and racism in the geosciences and develop a tool to address it?

Chen: In the aftermath of George Floyds murder this past June, there was a reinvigoration of the Black Lives Matter movement. Within STEM [science, technology, engineering, and mathematics], there was a particular movement called #ShutDownSTEM, which was a day where science departments would take one day to think about the ways in which structural racism permeates our spaces and affects not only the people who do science but also science itself. If you had not engaged with these topics very much before, it was a day where you were supposed to do just that and put a pause on your normal business-as-usual activities.

My very first meeting during #ShutDownSTEM day was with this lovely group of people [the GeoContext team]. We had all this information on things that we wish we had known when we were getting trained as geoscientists, and we asked, Whats next?

Pico: One of the people in our group, Harriet Lau, wanted to put into her lecture slides pictures of people of color and of women who were famous geoscientists and she struggled to find them for historical slides. But she explained to me, This is why its hard.So we thought, why dont we replace those slides with something that explains why the field looks the way it does today?

The modules are very short, about five slides each, and theyre meant to be easy to incorporate into existing lectures.Eos: And from those discussions, you developed GeoContext?

Pico: Yes. We created a set of teaching modules that are meant to be supplementary for geoscience education. They span a range of topics that are generally included in geoscience, whether its an intro geoscience class or many of the standard classes that get taught for majors and graduate students. The modules are very short, about five slides each, and theyre meant to be easy to incorporate into existing lectures. Our hope is that the flexibility allows instructors to choose how to include this information however they want.People dont always have time to look into this on their own.

Eos: Thats one of the most common things that I hear when I talk to professors or teachers about why they arent talking about issues like this in classrooms. They say, I want to but I dont have enough time to do it from scratch or I dont know enough about it to create a slide on my own.

Pico: That is exactly the idea. We got together and figured out how to split topics so that it was manageable and done in a way that would help people not have to do that work.

Eos: What do some of the modules look like?

Wiggins: My module was about links between oceanography and the Atlantic slave trade and specifically related to one figure named Matthew Fontaine Maury. He was most known for being in the Navy, and he has been known as the Pathfinder of the Seas. He spent a lot of time looking at the trade winds and did a lot of work in the Atlantic Ocean. But there are a lot of other things that are less known about him and definitely surprised me. Essentially, his motivation behind work in the ocean was to profit off of enslaved people.He was pro moving slaves to Brazil and having them still be owned by American slave owners. And then the trade winds would optimize the market and make it very efficient for agricultural products produced by enslaved people.

Looking at that cinched for me. Its so surprising and yet not surprising at the same time. Of course, people will conduct work in oceanography to more efficiently trade goods, and of course, at that time, goods meant enslaved people.

Pico: The one I did was on landscape science and geomorphology. You might know John Wesley Powell for talking about rivers, but while he was writing these theories about rivers, he was also writing about the inferiority of Native American languages in the canyonlands of the United States. He actually spent most of his time doing that.We also mention William Morris Davis, whose work is used in geomorphology today. He would say, Warm climates are what makes these races stupid, and thats why Scandinavians are the best, or things like that. Im paraphrasing, but he would make arguments about climate and location of continents to justify a hierarchy of human races. Ultimately, we can trace these ideas to some of the eugenics movements that were used by the Nazi government.

Olinger: My slides are titled Glaciology, Race, and Masculinity. One slide addresses the fact that Indigenous Peoples are faced with a much higher level of hazard associated with glacial processes, including things like sea level rise, glacial lake outburst floods, and water scarcity associated with draining glaciers. Yet theres not a ton of work within glaciology that deals directly with Indigenous Peoples.

I cite a paper in which the authors examine descriptions for different types of snow used by the Smi people, who are an Indigenous People from Scandinavia. They find that, unsurprisingly, these folks who have been working in a glacial environment for a long time have incredibly interesting observations about the material properties of snow that would probably go unnoticed by scientists who havent spent any time in that area. Not only is it our duty to make an inclusive field, but the field is also improved by including other peoples perspectives.

Eos: The content you covered touches on some very heavy topics: slavery, white supremacy, eugenics. How did it feel personally to engage with these topics in the context of geosciences?

As an early-career researcher, you could imagine thinking, Louis Agassiz might be proud that I figured out global ice volumes or This was a continuation of his work, but actually, he wouldnt be proud of me. He didnt want me to exist.Pico: I study the ice age. And when learning about the ice age, Louis Agassiz was someone I revered very much. He really contributed a lot to the field, and it wasnt until the end of my fourth year as a graduate student that I learned about his work [perpetuating] scientific racism. And it felt like the carpet was being pulled out from under me.That, personally, was a feeling of I dont know what Im standing on anymore. As an early-career researcher, you could imagine thinking, Louis Agassiz might be proud that I figured out global ice volumes or This was a continuation of his work, but actually, he wouldnt be proud of me. He didnt want me to exist.

Wiggins: I definitely relate to that experience, though Im thinking about Princeton with Arnold Guyot. Guyots ideas about climate-based superiority of races were part of his ideology thatI just learned about this past summer. I havent been back in Guyot Hall, which is the home of the geoscience department, since then. But now, in some ways, it plagues my memories of the building because its a building that I personally loved, and thats the legacy that I have to think about every time I think of the building now.

Its really important to not memorialize these individuals. Put them in a museum, maybe, but make sure you talk about who they actually were.They did good things, but they also did pretty terrible things, and acknowledging that and not memorializing them is the first step to healing. This is our pathway to take a deeper dive into not only these individuals legacies but also the legacy of the field itself.

When I saw this project [GeoContext], it filled me with so much joy because this is what Ive known that my geosciences education has been missing this whole time.Its not that every single moment has been oh so happy. There have been times in this project that I walked out of my room to my dad and I said, Hey dad, I just want to scream right now.But it really felt, in my own way, that I could give back. Its something that I could use to help change the field of geoscience, coming from someone who hasnt even graduated college yet. There are not a lot of other Black geoscientists out there, and this helps me to make my mark and to be the change that the geoscience field really needs.

Eos: In what ways are you hoping this project grows and shapes the future of the field?

Chen: This first release focuses on the historical roots of various subdisciplines in Earth sciences. Were all hoping this project will expand to focus on issues more in the present day to help people reflect on what we as geoscientists can do now to reduce harm and even redress past harms to marginalized communities like Indigenous groups.

Pico: Were really hoping that this will be a growing resource that can be contributed to by the community. On our website, if people want to contribute, we would be happy to keep growing these resources through contributions. This was our first release, and in our next set, well focus on Indigenous Knowledges and Indigenous interactions.

Chen: If there is one thing that I hope for this project, it is that it will dispel the idea that geoscience, or any science for that matter, is apolitical and independent of human societal concerns. We, the Earth sciences community, have yet to collectively acknowledge and come to terms with our dark past. I hope the project shows how the social and political context of our science has, and continues to have, a huge impact on our ability to practice truly objective and empirical science. Who does the science? How does this impact what science is prioritized, funded, or considered elite? Who benefits or is harmed from the science?

Kimberly M. S. Cartier (@AstroKimCartier), Staff Writer

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Analysts Are Betting On Novavax, Inc. (NASDAQ:NVAX) With A Big Upgrade This Week – Yahoo Finance

Posted: at 12:27 pm

Celebrations may be in order for Novavax, Inc. (NASDAQ:NVAX) shareholders, with the analysts delivering a significant upgrade to their statutory estimates for the company. The analysts have sharply increased their revenue numbers, with a view that Novavax will make substantially more sales than they'd previously expected.

Following the upgrade, the current consensus from Novavax's four analysts is for revenues of US$5.0b in 2021 which - if met - would reflect a huge increase on its sales over the past 12 months. Prior to the latest estimates, the analysts were forecasting revenues of US$4.2b in 2021. The consensus has definitely become more optimistic, showing a nice increase in revenue forecasts.

View our latest analysis for Novavax

earnings-and-revenue-growth

Another way we can view these estimates is in the context of the bigger picture, such as how the forecasts stack up against past performance, and whether forecasts are more or less bullish relative to other companies in the industry. It's clear from the latest estimates that Novavax's rate of growth is expected to accelerate meaningfully, with the forecast 9x annualised revenue growth to the end of 2021 noticeably faster than its historical growth of 57% p.a. over the past five years. Compare this with other companies in the same industry, which are forecast to grow their revenue 18% annually. Factoring in the forecast acceleration in revenue, it's pretty clear that Novavax is expected to grow much faster than its industry.

The most important thing to take away from this upgrade is that analysts lifted their revenue estimates for this year. The analysts also expect revenues to grow faster than the wider market. Seeing the dramatic upgrade to this year's forecasts, it might be time to take another look at Novavax.

These earnings upgrades look like a sterling endorsement, but before diving in - you should know that we've spotted 2 potential risk with Novavax, including major dilution from new stock issuance in the past year. For more information, you can click through to our platform to learn more about this and the 1 other risk we've identified .

Another way to search for interesting companies that could be reaching an inflection point is to track whether management are buying or selling, with our free list of growing companies that insiders are buying.

This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.

Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com.

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Analysts Are Betting On Novavax, Inc. (NASDAQ:NVAX) With A Big Upgrade This Week - Yahoo Finance

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One of the greatest fighters of all time isnt done yet – Yahoo Sports

Posted: at 12:27 pm

If Roman Gonzalez were a heavyweight for most of his incredible career and not a flyweight, wed be asking if he is as good as Tyson, Holyfield, Lewis or Louis.

If he were a heavyweight, hed be treated like royalty as opposed to a guy who could stand on Las Vegas Boulevard for an hour and not have a single person recognize him.

But despite his size hes the only fighter in history to have won titles in each of the four lightest weight classes Gonzalez is a giant in the sport of boxing.

He fights Juan Francisco Estrada in a rematch on Saturday at the American Airlines Center in Dallas on DAZN for the WBA and WBC super flyweight titles. Win or lose, hes a first-ballot Hall of Famer.

Hes won 50 of his 52 fights and, with any luck, could have won one of the two he lost. That was a March 18, 2017, bout with Srisaket Sor Rungvisai at Madison Square Garden in New York, in which he dropped a majority decision.

Hes scored 41 knockouts among his 50 wins, but isnt simply a Mike Tyson-esque puncher. This is a brilliant boxer who knows how to break down his opponents and, even at the advanced age of 33 for a super flyweight, gets better as the fights wear on.

The question isnt whether hes a Hall of Famer or whether hes the best fighter 115 pounds or under in boxing history.

No, its pretty clear given his record, his performance and his quality of opposition that Gonzalez is one of the 25 greatest fighters who ever lived.

Roman Gonzalez, left, punches Moises Fuentes during their bantamweight boxing match Sept. 15, 2018, in Las Vegas. Gonzalez won by TKO. (AP Photo/Isaac Brekken)

To see him fight is a privilege. To see him in a significant fight in a rematch against a longtime rival like Estrada is something that anyone who calls himself or herself a boxing fan couldnt possibly miss.

Gonzalez is all but unknown among American sports fans and is only marginally better known among boxing fans in this country.

Hes a humble, unassuming guy who doesnt care to promote himself. But as he nears the end of a legendary career, hes finally getting the accolades he should have gotten years ago.

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Its not like he cares, though. He doesnt.

I consider myself a man whos done the best that I could, Gonzalez said. I had difficult times growing up, but in the end, it worked out well. Life has taught me a lot of things, and I learned. And I feel and think that Ive already conquered many things in boxing. What comes now with this title is just extra.

I never imagined myself getting to where I am now. But wow, it is still hard. It costs me because I train the right way. I do things the way they should be done. But I like it. And its what let me help my family, help my kids. But I dont complain because I thank God for where I am now.

Estrada is favored at BetMGM at -170, while Gonzalez is +140. Estrada himself is a future Hall of Famer and is three years younger than Gonzalez.

Estrada is at his peak now, but its difficult to say that Gonzalez is on the decline. His only losses were back-to-back to Rungvisai. He lost a majority decision to Rungvisai in the first bout, one that many media at ringside, including Yahoo Sports, felt Gonzalez had won. Rungvisai decisively won the rematch, knocking him out in the fourth round on Sept. 9, 2017.

Rungvisai defeated Estrada by majority decision on Feb. 24, 2018, but Estrada came back to win the rematch on April 26, 2019, by unanimous decision.

It would be a monumental victory for Gonzalez if he can win, and though hes the underdog, hes the kind of guy who performs best when his back is to the wall.

He told the story of how he spent time at his countryman and idol Alexis Arguellos home before a Jan. 20, 2006, bout against Roberto Meza, and he got so relaxed he got dropped in the first round.

It was just his fifth pro fight and Gonzalez was just 18 years old. Getting dropped early could have caused him to lose his composure, but he instead came back to drop Meza three times later in the first.

I always respected all the orders Alexis gave me because hes a three-time champion, Gonzalez said of Arguello, who took his own life in 2009. Its an honor. He was like my father. We were very close. Sometimes, he invited me to his house, and I remember being at his house, eating and I got relaxed, and he dropped me off at my fight. That day was the first time that I got hit hard.

I was scared, but I got up and knocked the guy out. But those are life experiences that I had with him where I learned. Because I think I could not have gotten up after that punch. But due to the conditions, it made me get up again. Alexis was a very demanding person in the gym.

Gonzalez learned those tough lessons, and more, and now as this jockey-sized fighter storms down the backstretch of his career, it would be wise to remember that were not just watching a good, or a great fighter.

We are watching one of the best to have ever done it and realize what a treat this has been.

2021 NFL free agency: Top 7 QBs available in free agency (and 5 others who could be traded) – Yahoo Sports

Posted: at 12:27 pm

One reliable trend in nearly 30 years of NFL free agency is that teams better not go into it looking for a franchise quarterback.

QBs who hit the market are almost always too old, coming off injury, irreparably flawed or, in Kirk Cousins' case, significantly overpaid. Sometimes there's a Peyton Manning or Drew Brees who beat the odds coming off a major injury, but good luck investing in those lottery tickets.

This year is no different. The unrestricted free agents are either backups or gambles, and sometimes both. But there's extra intrigue due to the trade market.

While the carousel might never spin like some hyped in the offseason, it could take just one key trade to set other moves in motion. Since finding a quarterback in free agency is usually a fool's errand, let's combine the quarterbacks who can be free agents along with others who have been involved in trade rumors.

5. Marcus Mariota, Las Vegas Raiders: Mariota played only one game last season, but that's the trick. He looked good replacing an injured Derek Carr in that game against the Chargers, and that was the last impression of him. NFL teams are prone to recency bias, which is why you hear plenty of buzz for Mariota possibly being traded.

4. Sam Darnold, New York Jets: In two months, have you heard one argument for Darnold that didn't center on former head coach Adam Gase being terrible? Gase was a problem, but it's not like Darnold has played well. If you buy Darnold doing well in his second stop that's reasonable, but it's based solely on Gase being a bad coach and not Darnold being a good player (yet).

3. Jimmy Garoppolo, San Francisco 49ers: It seems hard to believe the 49ers will move Garoppolo without securing a replacement, but it's not out of the realm of possibility. For all the criticism of Garoppolo, if the 49ers get a stop on "Jet Chip Wasp," Garoppolo has a Super Bowl ring and those who overrate that would look at him in a totally different light.

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2. Russell Wilson, Seattle Seahawks: We're still unpacking where the relationship between Wilson and Seattle stands. The Seahawks have always done things differently than other teams and if there's a franchise that could trade an all-time great quarterback in his prime so it can focus on the run game, maybe it's the Seahawks. A no-trade clause limits who can even discuss Wilson with the Seahawks, but if he's traded it would be a seismic move around the NFL.

1. Deshaun Watson, Houston Texans: If Watson gets traded, he'll become the most talented quarterback ever to get dealt anywhere near a prime age. He's fantastic. He wants out of a dysfunctional franchise, and perhaps a team will bowl the Texans over with an offer. To be clear, the Texans would be making a mistake to trade away a quarterback that good. It wouldn't be their first mistake.

Will Deshaun Watson be traded this offseason? (Photo by Carmen Mandato/Getty Images)

7. Alex Smith, Washington Football Team: Smith was a great story and an easy pick for NFL Comeback Player of the Year. But it's not like Smith played all that well. His days as a preferred starter are likely over. Washington released him last Friday and he could be a great backup and mentor for another team.

6. Andy Dalton: He started poorly for the Cowboys after Dak Prescott's injury before settling into what he'll be the rest of his career: A good, reliable backup who can keep a team afloat for a few weeks. There aren't many available quarterbacks who have three Pro Bowls and are still at a capable age. Dalton is going to fill this role for many years.

5. Cam Newton: What to make of Newton after his 2020 season? He struggled throwing, but he didn't have much to work with on the offense. He became a throwback quarterback, relying far more on his running ability than his arm. Newton threw eight touchdowns and 10 interceptions. Is it possible he's done as a starter? Any team signing him would be gambling on a physical rebound.

4. Mitchell Trubisky: In 2018, Trubisky made a Pro Bowl. It's true. It was due to being an injury replacement, but it still happened. Trubisky didn't continue to develop, but a decent finish to last season could revive hope for the former No. 2 overall pick. There's never a shortage of teams that think they can turn around a high draft pick who failed elsewhere.

3. Ryan Fitzpatrick: The quarterback everyone roots for showed last season he's still capable of some good stretches of play. Fitzpatrick's experience is a big reason he can come off the bench cold and give a team an instant spark (the Don Strock role, for the older football fans out there). He still has at least a year or two left as a capable backup who will resurface during games or on the odd week when the starter is hurt.

2. Jameis Winston: The analysis of Winston typically ignores that he can do some good things. You can't lead the NFL with more than 5,000 passing yards if you can't play. We all know, of course, that the turnovers overshadow any positives. Winston made the shrewd move of signing for practically nothing with the New Orleans Saints, aligning himself as a potential replacement if Drew Brees retires. A return to New Orleans is the most likely outcome for him in free agency, though some team would sign him as a fix for its issues.

1. Dak Prescott (UPDATE: Prescott signed an extension with the Cowboys): Not that anyone was surprised the Cowboys retained Prescott, but on Monday they officially took him off the market by inking him to a four-year, $160 million deal.

Warning over ‘creeping’ threat hiding in Australian education – Yahoo News Australia

Posted: at 12:27 pm

Australia's higher education system remains under threat from researchers working discreetly on behalf of foreign governments, despite authorities being more alert to the problem in recent years.

A parliamentary inquiry into national security risks affecting Australia's higher education system held its first day of public hearings on Thursday as the government continues to grapple with the issue.

Foreign nationals working in Australia's universities and research centres are often targeted in talent recruitment programs, most notably run by the Chinese government, in order to "harvest information" in critical areas of defence technology, cryptography, telecommunications and other critical infrastructure, critics warn.

While international collaboration on research between universities is considered vital, the government ties of some researchers are sometimes "not fully disclosed," says Mr Alex Joske, an analyst of the Chinese Communist Party for the Australian Strategic Policy Institute.

Australian universities are under pressure to protect against foreign threats. Source: AAP

The sector has shored up its vetting processes in the past two years after the US began cracking down on researchers affiliated with the Chinese government at its own universities, he said, but Australian institutions are still catching up to the problem.

Speaking to the parliamentary committee on Thursday Mr Joske urged universities to "strengthen their investigative capabilities" when it comes to academic relationships.

Mr Joske said some instances of fraud, theft, interference and espionage through universities require a strong law enforcement involvement.

He said the threat was coming primarily from China" but there are also concerns from countries like Russia and Iran.

We should be concerned about these activities regardless of which country theyre coming from, he said.

"Recruits are encouraged to transfer technology to China and commercialise it, including technologies with military and security applications," he said in his written submission to the committee earlier this year.

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He pointed to a former University of Queensland professor who provided AI-enabled surveillance technology to authorities in Xinjiang where China is accused of running concentration camps, to highlight the human rights implications of such technology transfer.

Officials from Home Affairs and ASIO (the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation) also fronted the inquiry on Thursday. Home Affair official Marc Ablong said the government was still working out which critical and emerging technologies will incur more rigorous scrutiny when it comes to collaborations with overseas researchers.

"We will be publicly communicating that" he said. "We're not quite there yet."

Acting as Education Minister, Dan Tehan blocked taxpayer grants to top university scientists due to fears over foreign relationships. Source: AAP

Last month The Australian reported that top scientists at Australian universities were denied lucrative research grants when then education minister Dan Tehan stepped in to block their approval over fears about projects that could hand military or economic advantage to foreign adversaries.

Meanwhile the Director-General of Security at ASIO, Mike Burgess, said the scale of foreign interference in universities is higher than at any time since the Cold War. ASIO had 60 engagements with universities in 2020 over the issue, he said.

Controversial University of Queensland (UQ) student Drew Pavlou was also due to front the inquiry on Thursday.

In his written submission, he warned of an "authoritarian creep" happening on Australian campuses due to a growing reliance on Chinese funding and students.

Former University of Queensland student and activist Drew Pavlou and others protest in support of Hong Kong in Brisbane. Source: AAP

"In my experience as a campus human rights activist opposed to Chinese government atrocities, I believe universities like UQ are now so economically dependent on China that they are willing to censor Chinese government critics to safeguard positive ties.

"This authoritarian creep illustrates the insidious danger Chinese state interference poses to our national security and democratic way of life."

The inquiry is due to hand down its findings in July.

Some academics and university officials have expressed concerns an overreaction by Canberra that could impact important research and collaboration across borders.

Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@yahoonews.com

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‘Disgrace to the game’: Cricket world explodes over ‘disgusting’ farce – Yahoo Sport Australia

Posted: at 12:27 pm

Danushka Gunathilaka was given out obstructing the field. Image: BT Sports

Sri Lanka's ODI clash with the West Indies has exploded in controversy after Danushka Gunathilaka was given out for obstructing the field.

West Indies claimed the first one-day international of their three-game series, winning by eight wickets on Wednesday.

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However it was Gunathilaka's dismissal that had the cricket world talking.

The Sri Lankan batsman made 55 and put on 105 in an opening stand with captain Dimuth Karunaratne, which seemed to put Sri Lanka on course to a commanding total.

But the match became erupted in controversy in the 21st over when Gunathilaka was judged to have obstructed the field when he trod on the ball while Kieron Pollard was attempting to affect a run out.

After Pollard bowled a short ball which Gunathilaka fended away, Pathum Nissanka set off for a single but was sent back by his partner,

Gunathilaka then stepped back into his own crease, stepping on the ball and knocking it backwards in the process.

Pollard immediately appealed and on-field umpire Joe Wilson gave a soft signal of out before television umpire Nigel Guguid ruled that Gunathilaka had deliberately attempted to foil the run out.

However there seemed to be little evidence the batsman had acted deliberately.

Danushka Gunathilaka in action for Sri Lanka against West Indies. (Photo by RANDY BROOKS/AFP via Getty Images)

He does take a little glance down as hes about to take that second step there, but I dont know, Im not convinced in my mind that he actually knew (where the ball was) when he glanced down, West Indies great Ian Bishop said in commentary.

It looks bad there, so thats what the television umpire is seeing.

Former England captain Michael Vaughan tweeted: Its official, cricket has gone bonkers!!!

West Indies star Darren Sammy said: Dont think that was wilful at all. I wouldnt appeal but hey."

Aussie great Tom Moody added: Wilful obstruction no way was that wilful #shocker #WIvSL.

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Former Australian women's captain Lisa Sthalekar tweeted: Just saw it oh please! Not out."

According to Law 37. 1 in the ICC's official rules: Either batsman is out obstructing the field if he wilfully obstructs or distracts the fielding side by word or action. In particular, but not solely, it shall be regarded as obstruction and either batsman will be out obstructing the field if while the ball is in play and after the striker has completed the act of playing the ball, he wilfully strikes the ball with: (i) a hand not holding the bat, unless this is in order to avoid injury. (ii) Any other part of his person or with his bat.

Gunathilaka became just the second batsman since 2015 to be given out obstructing the field in a one-day international.

Sri Lanka'S innings lost its way from that point and from 2-112 the tourists were all out for 232 in 49 overs.

The West Indies surpassed that total with Shai Hope making 110 and his opening partner Evin Lewis adding 65.

"We got a nice start but but we lost a couple of wickets," Karunaratne said.

"In the end we were short of 30-40 runs.

"If me and Danushka could have batted longer it would have been a different story."

with AAP

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NFL Power Rankings: Ranking every team from most interesting to least interesting in free agency – Yahoo Sports

Posted: at 12:27 pm

The Jacksonville Jaguars' rebuild might come along faster than anyone expects. That's what happens when you're about to grab a generational quarterback prospect in the draft and also have the most salary-cap space in the NFL to work with in free agency.

The Jacksonville Jaguars are about to take center stage this offseason, an unusual spot for a team that is often bad and ignored. Drafting Trevor Lawrence first overall will change the latter, at least. So will buzzy new head coach Urban Meyer.

Lawrence is an easy bet to go with the first pick to the Jaguars, and they have the ability to build around him. Given that Lawrence will be on a rookie deal for at least three years, it allows the Jaguars to hand out a few long-term contracts without too much worry about what it means for the cap. Any big deals they'd sign this offseason will come off the books about the time Lawrence is ready to sign a long-term deal, which will happen if he's as good as advertised.

You don't need your favorite team to have the first pick or oodles of cap space to be excited for the offseason. Each NFL team will be reshaping itself in free agency, which officially begins on March 17 after the so-called legal tampering period starts March 15. Some teams won't have the cap space to make many moves, and others lay low in free agency as a team-building philosophy. But we're about to get some interesting action around the league for the next month and a half.

The Jaguars are the team to watch this offseason. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack)

Here is a ranking of the most interesting teams to watch in free agency, with last year's record and the current cap space as of Wednesday morning via Spotrac based on an estimated $185 million cap (Pro Football Talk reports the cap will be closer to $182.5 million) along with the team's biggest priority over the next few weeks:

32. Kansas City Chiefs (14-2, cap space: minus-$18.7 million, biggest priority: offensive line depth)

It's a tale as old as time: Pay your quarterback a half a billion dollars, lose the flexibility to be a player in free agency. The Chiefs can probably make a few under-the-radar moves once they get under the cap, perhaps getting a discount from free agents who want to be with a contender, but it'll likely be a quiet offseason for the Chiefs.

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31. Detroit Lions (5-11, cap space: $12.1 million, biggest priority: wide receiver)

The Lions already shook things up by trading away Matthew Stafford for Jared Goff and picks. That signaled a rebuild is underway, which means the Lions likely aren't going to be very aggressive signing players. Not giving the franchise tag to receiver Kenny Golladay was a curious way to start free agency, especially since Marvin Jones could depart too. This roster could look really rough by the end of the offseason.

30. New York Giants (6-10, cap space: minus-$5.5 million, biggest priority: edge rusher)

The Giants probably aren't in for a splashy offseason. They somehow don't have much cap space despite a quarterback on his rookie deal and not many other stars to pay. The Giants used a lot of the little space they had to franchise tag defensive lineman Leonard Williams. New York could add a few players but nothing major.

29. Pittsburgh Steelers (12-4, cap space: $7.7 million, biggest priority: offensive line)

The Steelers are in a tough spot. They seem lukewarm on quarterback Ben Roethlisberger coming back, but had little choice given his contract. They have some key free agents, but not a lot of cap space to do much about them.

28. Tennessee Titans (11-5, cap space: $16.8 million, biggest priority: No. 2 receiver)

The Titans are probably going to have to make a decision between tight end Jonnu Smith and receiver Corey Davis, if they can re-sign either. It seems unlikely there would be another major addition if they can retain one of those two, but the front seven on defense could use some help too.

27. Atlanta Falcons (4-12, cap space: minus-$11.9 million, biggest priority: edge rusher)

The Falcons haven't made the playoffs in three straight seasons but are still in a bad salary cap situation. That's a rough combination. There will be Matt Ryan speculation, but it doesn't seem anything is happening right away. The lack of salary cap space means there isn't much to see here until the draft.

26. Minnesota Vikings (7-9, cap space: minus-$1 million, biggest priority: defensive line)

It's hard to fault the Vikings for swinging big on Kirk Cousins a few years ago. It's hard to find a quarterback if you don't have one. But everyone knew Cousins' deal would impact the Vikings' cap for a long time. That means the team is still in transition, trying to clear out some veteran deals while still trying to be competitive.

25. Cincinnati Bengals (4-11-1, cap space: $46.6 million, biggest priority: protecting Joe Burrow)

Joe Burrow is coming off a torn ACL, and the team was blamed for not doing enough to fix the offensive line to protect last year's No. 1 overall pick. The Bengals are notoriously cheap but it would be a shock if they didn't spend on an offensive lineman or two. They need to invest in keeping Burrow upright.

24. Las Vegas Raiders (8-8, cap space: $36.2 million, biggest priority: defensive backs)

The most predictable part of every offseason is the Raiders being linked to every possible free agent and trade target. Agents should give Jon Gruden a commission for all of the leverage they've been able to create by strategic media leaks about the Raiders, even if none of those big signings or trades ever happen. The Raiders were making strides last season until another late-season collapse. They'll probably make a big move or two, especially to bolster the pass defense, but they likely won't do much else, no matter how many tweets include them on every free agent's list of possible destinations.

23. Arizona Cardinals (8-8, cap space: $17.5 million, biggest priority: retaining their own free agents)

The Cardinals already made their big move, luring J.J. Watt with a big contract. What comes next is figuring out how to retain some of their own free agents like linebacker Haason Reddick and cornerback Patrick Peterson. Part of grading the Watt addition will be seeing how many other starters Watt's contract costs the Cards this offseason.

22. Dallas Cowboys (6-10, cap space: $4.5 million, biggest priority: defense)

Now that Dak Prescott is signed to a long-term deal, the Cowboys have a better idea how much capital they'll have to attack the defense, a weakness that was glaring last season. The Cowboys will need to refresh the offensive line too, but this offseason is all about defense now that the biggest question has been answered.

21. Los Angeles Rams (10-6, cap space: minus-$29.6 million, biggest priority: linebacker)

The Rams' big move was made, paying a ton to get Matthew Stafford in a trade. The Rams typically don't worry much about things like "draft picks" and "financial responsibility" so while it seems impossible they'd make any more bold moves given their cap situation, it can't be ruled out completely.

20. Green Bay Packers (13-3, cap space: minus-$5.8 million, biggest priority: receiver, still)

Well, we know they won't be signing a receiver or tight end. They have a tough call on Aaron Jones, and that move will dictate what else the Packers do in the offseason. It seems reasonable they'd want to spend now to maximize their changes to win with Aaron Rodgers, but that hasn't been the case lately and it makes them a tough team to predict.

19. Carolina Panthers (5-11, cap space: $22.3 million, biggest priority: upgrading at QB)

Carolina is in the same situation as a few other teams, with a good amount of cap space and no quarterback to spend it on. The Panthers are seemingly looking to upgrade from Teddy Bridgewater but that might have to happen in the draft. In the meantime, they could continue to build up a defense that was very young last season.

18. Buffalo Bills (13-3, cap space: $4.6 million, biggest priority: offensive line)

Josh Allen hasn't gotten his big extension yet, which gives the Bills a little wiggle room for an impact player on a one-year deal. They don't have a ton of cap space but they are a championship contender and will be creative and aggressive to add to the roster.

17. Philadelphia Eagles (4-11-1, cap space: minus-$25.3 million, biggest priority: not losing too much while cutting cap)

The Eagles are suddenly a mess. They traded Carson Wentz after an uncomfortable few months. They need to restructure multiple deals or cut some players just to get under the cap. It's a team that was bad last season and needs improvements in free agency, but could be shedding some expensive veterans instead.

16. New Orleans Saints (12-4, cap space: minus-$55.2 million, biggest priority: getting the cap under control)

It's a bit strange that Drew Brees hasn't announced the retirement everyone seems to know is coming, but presumably that will happen. The Saints are in a weird spot, probably needing to rebuild but with enough stars (other than quarterback) that it's hard to tear things down. They didn't make it easier with their surprising move to give the franchise tag to safety Marcus Williams. How the Saints manage to shed enough salary get under the cap yes, that number above is real, and shocking will be one of the stories to watch this offseason.

15. Washington Football Team (7-9, cap space: $41.5 million, biggest priority: QB)

Washington has a ton of cap space. They also don't have a quarterback. This is a multi-year project to build up the roster and Ron Rivera's team made strides last season, so Washington is on the right track. They could certainly add some good pieces in free agency while they figure out what to do at QB.

14. Denver Broncos (5-11, cap space: $35.2 million, biggest priority: upgrading from Drew Lock)

John Elway isn't building the roster anymore, and we get to learn about George Paton's philosophy. Elway was always aggressive in free agency, and the Broncos do have a good amount of cap space. They'd presumably love to use that cap space on Deshaun Watson but it's hard to see how they could offer enough to get the Texans to deal. Assuming that doesn't work and it's another season of Drew Lock at QB, perhaps Plan B is adding to the defense. Von Miller's future is a big component of that.

13. Indianapolis Colts (11-5, cap space: $50.6 million, biggest priority: replacing Anthony Castonzo at LT)

Landing Carson Wentz, and not giving up too much to do it, answers a big quarterback question after Philip Rivers' retirement. Regardless of whether Wentz can rebound, the Colts won't spend all offseason chasing a QB. That allows them to use their cap space, built up through years of responsible spending, on other areas of need. But the Colts have typically avoided any big long-term deals, so they might not be as active as the cap space would indicate they could be.

12. Chicago Bears (8-8, cap space: minus-$20 million, biggest priority: figuring out QB)

Ryan Pace and Matt Nagy are back, which didn't make many Bears fans happy. That duo has to know it needs to win or else. Could that lead to an offseason of reckless spending as they look to make the playoffs in 2021? We've seen that happen before from lame-duck GMs and coaches. Though salary cap problems will make that difficult anyway.

11. Los Angeles Chargers (7-9, cap space: $32.7 million, biggest priority: offensive line)

The Chargers might be one strong offseason from being one of the NFL's sleeper contenders. Justin Herbert was great as a rookie, and he's still cheap. That allows Los Angeles to chase high-end free agents with a good amount of cap space. There's already talent on the roster and a great opportunity to add some more. Keep an eye on the Chargers; this might be the team we're talking about a lot over the summer.

10. Cleveland Browns (11-5, cap space: $26.9 million, biggest priority: safety)

Will the Browns ever run out of cap space? It seems they go into every offseason with the ability to spend big. A step forward in 2020, their typical generous approach to the offseason and the possibility of an Odell Beckham Jr. trade makes them a team to watch.

9. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (11-5, cap space: minus-$397K, biggest priority: keeping the band together)

Chris Godwin got the franchise tag and will stay. Shaq Barrett didn't get the tag and might be gone. Same goes for Ndamukong Suh, Rob Gronkowski, Antonio Brown and Leonard Fournette. Bruce Arians was confident the Buccaneers could keep their free agents, but it won't be easy. Signing Lavonte David to an extension on Tuesday helped. How the Super Bowl champs navigate keeping their core together for another run will be a big story this month.

8. San Francisco 49ers (6-10, cap space: $28.6 million, biggest priority: cornerback)

I think Jimmy Garoppolo returns, mostly because the 49ers don't have a decent replacement. But if they can find a new quarterback and Garoppolo is on the move, the 49ers become interesting in a hurry. They're already a great rebound candidate for 2021, with plenty of talent on hand and a cap situation that should allow them to add a couple pieces. Figuring out the cornerback position is a must.

7. Houston Texans (4-12, cap space: $34 million, biggest priority: showing signs of competency)

Interesting teams aren't always the best teams. There's a train wreck element to the Texans after the past couple years. The biggest potential move in the NFL this offseason is Deshaun Watson being traded. Whether he stays despite letting the world know he's unhappy, or gets traded, it's a big story. The Texans could turn the offseason on its head.

6. Baltimore Ravens (11-5, cap space: $26.6 million, biggest priority: going all-in during a championship window)

The Ravens have a good amount of cap space, thanks to Lamar Jackson still being on his rookie deal. Assuming Jackson will get paid soon, the window for the Ravens to make some luxury short-term signings is now. The Ravens are very good and if they're able to add a couple good free agents, they could be a title contender again.

5. New York Jets (2-14, cap space: $72.5 million, biggest priority: building an offense around whoever the QB will be)

The Jets can make a huge move if they decide to make a big play for Deshaun Watson. The second pick would be enticing in trade talks because it would allow the Texans to replace Watson with an exciting rookie. If that doesn't work, the Jets seem likely to draft a quarterback at No. 2, though building around Sam Darnold is a possibility too. The Jets are one of three teams with way more cap space than anyone else, which means that no matter who the quarterback is, he should be getting some new teammates to work with. This could end up being the team to win the offseason.

4. Seattle Seahawks (12-4, cap space: $24.8 million, biggest priority: fixing the Russell Wilson relationship)

How the Seahawks attack the offseason will get dissected more than usual. If they don't get offensive line help, is that a message to Russell Wilson? If they do add to the offense, is that a sign they're allowing Wilson more say in how they go about their business? Then again, maybe the Seahawks throw a wrench into the whole offseason by trading their future Hall of Fame quarterback.

3. Miami Dolphins (10-6, cap space: $35.6 million, biggest priority: either trading for Deshaun Watson or building around Tua Tagovailoa)

All of the Dolphins' maneuvers to add draft picks and cap space are starting to pay off. The big question is, will the Dolphins use some of that extra capital to land Deshaun Watson, moving on quickly from Tua Tagovailoa? Will they stick with Tua and trade the No. 3 pick to a team desperate at quarterback, or stay put and take an impact receiver or offensive lineman third overall? Miami has a lot of paths to improve a roster that came along quickly last season, and they could end the offseason as a serious challenger to the Bills for the AFC East title.

2. New England Patriots (7-9, cap space: $72.6 million, biggest priority: adding talent everywhere)

The Patriots have a ton of cap space. They have spent big before, but that was when they were clearly Super Bowl contenders. This is a different situation, with a team that doesn't want to do a long-term rebuild but has many questions starting at quarterback and going through the rest of the roster. How the Patriots approach free agency will provide valuable clues on how close Bill Belichick thinks his team is to making it back to the playoffs.

1. Jacksonville Jaguars (1-15, cap space: $72.8 million, biggest priority: making sure Trevor Lawrence has a good infrastructure)

Not long after having to shed a bunch of bloated contracts, the Jaguars are in a fun spot. They have the first overall pick and the most salary cap space in the NFL. Considering their next quarterback will be Trevor Lawrence on his rookie deal for a while, there's no reason Jacksonville can't spend on a couple of big-ticket free agents. This is a recipe for the Jaguars transforming from one of the NFL's worst franchises into a must-watch team this season and beyond.

Horizon Global Reports Financial Results for the Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2020 – Yahoo Finance

Posted: at 12:27 pm

Fourth Quarter and Recent Highlights

Net sales of $175.9 million; increase of $33.6 million, or 23.6%, compared to prior year comparable period

Operating loss of $0.8 million, $32.9 million improvement compared to prior year comparable period

Net loss from continuing operations of $5.8 million; $26.2 million improvement compared to prior year comparable period

Adjusted EBITDA(1) of $7.3 million; $23.8 million improvement compared to prior year comparable period

Entered into $225.0 million term loan, including $125.0 million delayed draw facility; proceeds repaid existing term loan and will repay outstanding convertible notes; reduced interest rate with flexible financial covenants in support of Company's long-term strategic initiatives

Full Year Highlights

$39.1 million of cash generated from operating activities; $107.6 million improvement over prior year

Cash and availability(2) of $83.4 million; $38.5 million improvement over prior year

Net sales of $661.2 million; decrease of $29.2 million, or 4.2%, compared to prior year

Operating loss of $6.9 million; $50.3 million improvement compared to prior year

Net loss from continuing operations of $37.5 million; $72.5 million improvement compared to prior year

Adjusted EBITDA(1) of $26.4 million; $34.7 million improvement compared to prior year

Horizon Global Corporation (NYSE: HZN), one of the worlds leading manufacturers of branded towing and trailering equipment, today reported fourth quarter and full year financial results for 2020.

"2020 was a transformational year for Horizon Global as reflected by significant year-over-year improvements in profitability and cash flow generation," stated Terry Gohl, Horizon Globals President and Chief Executive Officer. "We entered 2020 with great momentum and high expectations for the turnaround of the Company. While we immediately faced unprecedented macro-economic challenges due to the global pandemic, the team maintained its focus and ultimately delivered significant value to our shareholders as well as all of our key stakeholders. To offset commercial headwinds in early 2020, we accelerated the execution of our operational improvement initiatives, including the operational transformation of Mexico manufacturing and Americas distribution, streamlining our Americas product portfolio and rationalizing our Europe-Africa distribution footprint. This resulted in improved productivity and throughput, which enabled us to deliver on customer commitments and further solidified Horizon Global as the supplier of choice during the second half of the year. Our strong financial performance allowed us to opportunistically address our full capital structure in early 2021, resulting in a new term loan with a lower interest rate, flexible covenants and other favorable terms that enable us to pursue our long-term strategic plan."

Story continues

2020 Fourth Quarter Segment Results

Horizon Americas. Net sales increased $24.7 million, or 34.3%, to $96.8 million. The net sales increase was primarily driven by a $13.3 million increase in the aftermarket sales channel, as well as a $7.5 million combined increase in the retail and e-commerce sales channels. Gross profit increased $15.6 million, due to higher net sales and operational improvements and manufacturing efficiencies, including favorable manufacturing costs, as well as lower scrap and inventory reserves. Horizon Americas generated operating profit of $8.6 million, an increase of $24.8 million compared to the prior year comparable period, driven by the segment's favorable gross profit, coupled with $8.6 million lower SG&A. Adjusted EBITDA(1) increased to $10.9 million for the quarter, as compared to $(5.6) million for the prior year comparable period.

Horizon Europe-Africa. Net sales increased $8.9 million, or 12.6%, to $79.1 million. The net sales increase was primarily driven by a $5.9 million combined increase in the automotive OEM and automotive OES sales channels, as well as a $3.1 million increase in the aftermarket sales channels. Gross profit increased $9.2 million, due to higher net sales coupled with favorable material input costs and labor efficiencies. Horizon Europe-Africa generated an operating loss of $(2.4) million, an improvement of $9.9 million compared to the prior year comparable period, driven by the segment's favorable gross profit. Adjusted EBITDA(1) increased to $2.5 million for the quarter, as compared to a loss of $(5.9) million for the prior year comparable period.

Balance Sheet and Liquidity. Cash and Availability(2) was $83.4 million, an increase of $38.5 million compared to the end of the prior year comparable period. Working Capital(3) was $55.6 million, a reduction of $34.0 million compared to the end of the prior year comparable period. Gross debt increased $25.2 million to $266.1 million over the prior year comparable period, primarily reflecting increased borrowings in the first two quarters of 2020 to strengthen liquidity in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Summary

Gohl commented, "Horizon Globals 2020 performance is testament to the hard work and dedication of each and every member of our global team. We established a culture of continuous improvement and we are not taking our foot off the gas in 2021. We will build on our positive momentum and remain laser focused on our strategic plan and operational excellence. With our current open order book, brand recognition and customer confidence, we believe we are well positioned to drive margin expansion, profitability improvement and increased cash flow generation."

Conference

Horizon Global will host a conference call regarding fourth quarter and full year 2020 earnings on Thursday, March 11, 2021 at 8:30 a.m. Eastern Time. The conference call will be hosted by Horizon Global's President and Chief Executive Officer, Terry Gohl, and Dennis Richardville, Chief Financial Officer. Participants on the call are asked to register five to ten minutes prior to the scheduled start time by dialing (844) 825-9786 and from outside the U.S. at (412) 902-4185. Please use the conference identification number 10152299.

The fourth quarter and full-year 2020 results and supplemental materials, including a presentation in PDF format, will be distributed before the market opens on March 11, 2021, and will be available on the Companys website at http://www.horizonglobal.com prior to the start of the call.

The conference call will be webcast simultaneously and in its entirety through the Horizon Global website. Shareholders, media representatives and others may participate in the webcast by registering through the investor relations section on the Companys website.

A replay of the call will be available on Horizon Globals website or by phone by dialing (877) 344-7529 and from outside the U.S. at (412) 317-0088. Please use the conference identification number 10152299. The telephone replay will be available approximately two hours after the end of the call and continue through March 25, 2021.

About Horizon Global

Headquartered in Plymouth, MI, Horizon Global is the #1 designer, manufacturer and distributor of a wide variety of high-quality, custom-engineered towing, trailering, cargo management and other related accessory products in North America and Europe. The Company serves OEMs, retailers, dealer networks and the end consumer as the category leader in the automotive, leisure and agricultural market segments. Horizon provides its customers with outstanding products and services that reflect the Company's commitment to market leadership, innovation and operational excellence. The Companys mission is to utilize forward-thinking technology to develop and deliver best in-class products for our customers, engage with our employees and realize value creation for our shareholders.

Horizon Global is home to some of the worlds most recognized brands in the towing and trailering industry, including: Draw-Tite, Reese, Westfalia, BULLDOG, Fulton and Tekonsha. Horizon Global has approximately 4,000 employees.

For more information, please visit http://www.horizonglobal.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

This release contains "forward-looking statements" as defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements contained herein speak only as of the date they are made and give our current expectations or forecasts of future events. These forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of forward-looking words, such as "may," "could," "should," "estimate," "project," "forecast," "intend," "expect," "anticipate," "believe," "target," "plan" or other comparable words, or by discussions of strategy that may involve risks and uncertainties. These forward-looking statements are subject to numerous assumptions, risks and uncertainties which could materially affect our business, financial condition or future results including, but not limited to, risks and uncertainties with respect to: the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the Companys business, results of operations, financial condition and liquidity; the Companys ability to maintain compliance with the New York Stock Exchanges continued listing standards; the Companys debt, including the Companys ability to comply with the applicable financial covenants related thereto; liabilities and restrictions imposed by the Companys debt instruments; market demand; competitive factors; supply constraints; material and energy costs; technology factors; litigation; government and regulatory actions including the impact of any tariffs, quotas, or surcharges; the Companys accounting policies; future trends; general economic and currency conditions; various conditions specific to the Companys business and industry; the success of the Companys action plan, including the actual amount of savings and timing thereof; the success of the Companys business improvement initiatives in Europe-Africa, including the amount of savings and timing thereof; the Companys exposure to product liability claims from customers and end users, and the costs associated therewith; the Companys ability to meet its covenants in the agreements governing its debt; factors affecting the Companys business that are outside of its control, including natural disasters, pandemics, including the current COVID-19 pandemic, accidents and governmental actions; and other risks that are discussed in the Companys most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q or Current Reports on Form 8-K. The risks described herein are not the only risks facing our Company. Additional risks and uncertainties not currently known to us or that we currently deemed to be immaterial also may materially adversely affect our business, financial position and results of operations or cash flows. We caution readers not to place undue reliance on such statements, which speak only as of the date hereof. We do not undertake any obligation to review or confirm analysts expectations or estimates or to release publicly any revisions to any forward-looking statement to reflect events or circumstances after the date hereof or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events.

(1)

Please refer to "Company and Business Segment Financial Information" which details certain costs, expense, other charges, that are included in the determination of net income attributable to Horizon Global under GAAP, but that management would not consider important in evaluating the quality of the Companys operating results. The Companys management utilizes Adjusted EBITDA as the key measure of company and segment performance and for planning and forecasting purposes, as management believes this measure is most reflective of the operational profitability or loss of the Company and its operating segments and provides management and investors with information to evaluate the operating performance of its business and is representative of its performance used to measure certain of its financial covenants. Adjusted EBITDA should not be considered a substitute for results prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP and should not be considered an alternative to net income attributable to Horizon Global, which is the most directly comparable financial measure to Adjusted EBITDA that is prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP.

(2)

"Cash and Availability" refers to cash and cash equivalents and amounts of cash accessible but undrawn from credit facilities.

(3)

Working Capital defined as "total current assets" excluding "cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash", less "total current liabilities" excluding "current maturities, long-term debt" and "short-term operating lease liabilities".

Horizon Global Corporation

Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets

(Dollars in thousands)

December 31, 2020

December 31, 2019

(unaudited)

Assets

Current assets:

Cash and cash equivalents

44,970

11,770

Restricted cash

5,720

Receivables, net

87,420

71,680

Inventories

115,320

136,650

Prepaid expenses and other current assets

11,510

8,570

Total current assets

264,940

228,670

Property and equipment, net

74,090

75,830

Operating lease right-of-use assets

47,310

45,770

Goodwill

3,360

4,350

Other intangibles, net

58,230

60,120

Deferred income taxes

1,280

430

Other assets

7,280

5,870

Total assets

456,490

421,040

Liabilities and Shareholders' Equity

Current liabilities:

Short-term borrowings and current maturities, long-term debt

14,120

4,310

Accounts payable

99,520

78,450

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Horizon Global Reports Financial Results for the Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2020 - Yahoo Finance

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