Monthly Archives: March 2021

TikTok domestic worker shows the positives of life in Lebanon – Reuters

Posted: March 9, 2021 at 1:25 pm

BEIRUT (Thomson Reuters Foundation) - There is almost nothing Raquel Barrion doesnt know about the two Lebanese children she has looked after since they were babies. But one day, the Filipina domestic worker decided to find out how much they knew about her.

Barrion, 39, was pleasantly surprised when - by means of a light-hearted quiz game - one of them got her birthday right and both knew her favourite colour as well as he best-loved food.

Many families across the Middle East and beyond might struggle to answer such questions about the live-in workers who cook for them, clean, and care for their children.

The quiz game is one of many upbeat experiences recounted by Barrion on video sharing app TikTok as a way to tell the rarely heard stories of migrant domestic workers in Lebanon, where an economic crisis and COVID-19 have highlighted cases of abuse.

By posting daily videos, which have garnered more than 600,000 likes in a year, Barrion said she hoped to give a voice to Lebanons often-neglected domestic workers and a humanizing glimpse into their hidden lives.

Its a simple message, were domestic workers and work at home, but were also human. We need our freedom, she told the Thomson Reuters Foundation, in a phone interview.

Several hundred thousand migrant domestic workers from countries including the Philippines, Ethiopian, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh live in Lebanon, where the coronavirus pandemic has compounded financial woes.

As the crisis intensified last year, scores of employers dumped live-in domestic workers on the streets, saying they could no longer afford monthly wages often as low as $200.

Reports of inhumane treatment and horrific abuse under the countrys kafala employment system, likened by rights groups to modern-day slavery, spread across the world.

LIKE FAMILY

Barrion, however, said her 11 happy years in Lebanon showed domestic work could benefit both the worker and their employees, and bring positives for the host country too.

She gets paid what she considers a fair wage, $700, gets regular time off, and said her employers treat her like family.

It was the start of Lebanons first lockdown last March when Barrion started posting videos to TikTok because she was forced to spend her days off at home.

She began posting quirky behind-the-scenes videos including tips on how to remain positive, dancing and bread-making.

As time went on, she started to add commentary on the regimented lifestyle that housekeeping work entails, or the difficulties of dating as a domestic worker.

In one, she holds her months pay in her hand before setting aside the lions share to send home to her family, keeping the little that is left for her monthly allowance and savings.

In another, she gives a tour of her humble living quarters -consisting of a narrow bed, shoes stacked in their boxes and a small altar adorned with images of Lebanese saints.

Comments from Barrions mostly Lebanese followers are overwhelmingly positive, and she said the pandemic had motivated acts of kindness towards hard-hit migrant workers.

As thousands of Lebanese emigrated during the crisis, foreign maids also left the country on repatriation flights organised by their home countries last year, including hundreds from the Philippines.

I felt so sad, I had a neighbour who went back and Im alone here now when I go out, Barrion said.

At the height of the lockdown crisis, she and some friends got together to buy groceries for domestic workers who had been kicked out of their homes or fled abusive employers, fondly recalling how her Lebanese employees had chipped in.

Most Lebanese and the new generation have a good heart, she said. They can just be very shy to show it.

Reporting by Timour Azhari @timourazhari; Editing by Helen Popper. Please credit the Thomson Reuters Foundation, the charitable arm of Thomson Reuters, that covers the lives of people around the world who struggle to live freely or fairly. Visit news.trust.org

See the original post here:

TikTok domestic worker shows the positives of life in Lebanon - Reuters

Posted in Wage Slavery | Comments Off

Polarization leads to a sense of social exclusion and deprivation – Stabroek News

Posted: at 1:25 pm

Dear Editor,

The polarization of politics in Guyana did not prevent the holding of free and fair elections. However, the absence of political tension during or after elections in the form of street protests should not be interpreted as a climate of political stability. At the same time, the

maintenance of political stability can easily be jeopardized if sustained efforts and hard work are not done to maintain the countrys macroeconomic fundamentals, ensure good governance, growth in the economy, end corruption, creation of job opportunities, provision of goods and services as well as the provision of a living wage for the Guyanese working people. In polarized societies such as ours, the judiciary is called upon to play a critical role, it must rise and stand above the political fray and not be perceived to be in concubinage with, nor contaminated by a polarized environment and establishment. If at any time, the judiciary were to be perceived as captive of a polarized environment, that would send a strong signal indicating that Guyana has embarked on the road to being a failed state, which as matters stand, is certainly not the case. With the introduction by the colonial powers of social structures of societies based on tribes, slavery, indentureship, ethnicity and religion, historical experience has shown that polarization and marginalization can give birth to political and social forces who champion extremist, and sometimes adventurist positions that can disrupt the peace and good order in society.

It is the echo-chamber that stirs and promotes polarization, political, ethnic or otherwise. The echo chamber is largely responsible for providing a comfort level for those who hold that their view or action is the correct way and any other view or action is not. Refusing to acknowledge what each other stand for is to engage in a dialogue of the deaf. The process degenerates with the introduction of the racial and ethnic factor at every bend of the river. In the recent budget debate the government projected the countrys developmental trajectory whilst the opposition rejected outright the 2021 budget measures. Under these conditions, the culture of the blame game become a convenient political tool. At the same time, little or no attention is paid to the possibility that, with free and fair elections, and with the prospects for change, the policies of a political party may very well have a shelf life of just five years.

The loss of political power allegedly due to polarization in voting patterns and the perceived decrease in the allocation of resources can result in increased struggle by those who, in a democracy, feel a sense of social exclusion and deprivation. In a reconstituted GECOM there are good prospects for constructive engagement between government and opposition. At the Parliamentary level, between 1992 and 2018 approximately 436 Bills and Motions were passed without division in the National Assembly. It seems as though for now, Parliament and GECOM are the only two institutions where good prospects exist to address the challenge of polarization not only from an institutional perspective but for national advancement. Bipartisan cooperation by government and opposition at these two levels can be tested and hopefully, prove to be successful in more than a hundred ways for the good of our country and people.

Yours faithfully,

Clement J. Rohee

View original post here:

Polarization leads to a sense of social exclusion and deprivation - Stabroek News

Posted in Wage Slavery | Comments Off

More rights for Va. disabled and domestic workers – Fauquier Now

Posted: at 1:25 pm

The legislation will require employers to make reasonable accommodation to the known physical and mental impairments of an otherwise qualified person with a disability, if necessary to assist such person in performing a particular job, unless the employer can demonstrate that the accommodation would impose an undue hardship on the employer.

RICHMOND The Virginia General Assembly passed several bills this session expanding employment protections for people with disabilities and domestic workers but killed a pair of workplace harassment bills.

Five bills were introduced during the 2021 session to amend the Virginia Human Rights Act. Three passed the General Assembly. The Virginia Human Rights Act prohibits employment discrimination on the basis of race, religion, age, gender, sexual orientation, among other groups. Virginia last year became the first Southern state to pass sweeping anti-discrimination protections for the LGBTQ community through the Virginia Values Act.

House Bill 1848 extends employment discrimination protection to people with disabilities. The legislation unanimously passed both chambers and Gov. Ralph Northam recently signed the bill into law.

I am very happy that the bill has widespread support, chief patron Del. Mark D. Sickles (D-Fairfax) said in a press release. I cant thank our advocates enough, and am grateful for the leadership in Attorney General Mark Herrings office and for the guidance of the disAbility Law Center.

Workers with disabilities

Employers with five or more employees must make reasonable accommodations to workers with disabilities unless the employer can demonstrate such accommodations would place an undue hardship on the employer. Federal law prohibits discrimination under the basis of disability for employers with 15 or more employees.

Del. Kathy Tran (D-Springfield) said during a House subcommittee hearing that in 2019 the unemployment rate for people with disabilities was twice as high as those without disabilities.

People who have disabilities, who are able to and want to work, I think we should try to help them be part of the workforce, Del. Tran said.

A person who claims they were denied reasonable accommodation must file a complaint with the Office of Civil Rights. They would need to exhaust all administrative processes before pursuing a lawsuit.

Colleen Miller, executive director of the disAbility Law Center of Virginia, an advocacy organization, said the bills passage is an important development for Virginians with disabilities who are in the workforce and wish to be fully employed.

Domestic workers rights

A trio of bills centered on domestic workers rights, dubbed the Virginia Domestic Workers Bill of Rights, were introduced in both chambers this year. Last year, Virginia lawmakers passed a bill guaranteeing minimum wage to domestic workers.

The bills patrons highlighted the impact of excluding domestic workers from employment laws, which they said are bound to the legacy of slavery and Jim Crow-era laws. Domestic workers include occupations such as cooks, waiters, butlers, maids, valets and chauffeurs, according to the bills.

A majority of domestic workers are women of color and are three times as likely to live in poverty than other workers, according to the Economic Policy Institute, an independent economic research organization.

Introduced by Sen. Jennifer L. McClellan (D-Richmond), Senate Bill 1310 extends employment nondiscrimination to employers with one or more domestic workers. It also expands employment protections to domestic workers, including laws regarding the payment of wages.

This is a huge step forward to provide stronger workers rights and a safer workplace for 60,000 Virginia domestic workers, Sen. McClellan stated in a press release. As the daughter, granddaughter, and great granddaughter of domestic workers, I know how essential domestic workers are to the economy and how poorly mistreated theyve been for generations.

Sen. McClellans bill passed the General Assembly and now heads to the governors desk. The House companion bill, HB 1864, from Del. Cia Price (D-Newport News) also passed the General Assembly and awaits the governors signature.

Lawmakers also passed HB 2032, patroned by Del. Wendy W. Gooditis (D-Clarke). The measure does not amend the states Human Rights Act, but it ensures domestic workers are not excluded from employee protection laws. Workers will be able to file complaints regarding workplace safety. Virginia is the 10th state to pass such legislation. Portions of the bill that would include domestic workers under the Virginia Workers Compensation Act were removed.

Failed sexual harassment bills

The two bills amending the Human Rights Act that lawmakers could not advance would have strengthened current workplace sexual harassment laws.

Del. Vivian E. Watts (D-Fairfax) introduced HB 2155 to expand and clarify the definition of workplace harassment and sexual harassment. The bill passed the House but died in the Senate Judiciary Committee by a vote of 6-7. It was the delegates second attempt to pass such protections.

The Senate companion bill, SB 1360, reported out of the Senate Judiciary committee, but was sent back and never picked back up. Patroned by Sen. McClellan, the legislation died over concerns on the bills absence of employers liabilities, especially for small businesses.

Del. Watts said her bill aimed to provide clearer definition of workplace and sexual harassment. The language in the bill comes from federal court harassment case decisions over a span of two decades, Watts said.

Del. Watts measure clarifies that employers would be liable for the supervisors actions. She said committee members who voted against the bill failed to understand the guidance of employers liability is not currently spelled out in Virginias law. Employers may be alleviated from any liability if they can prove they exercised reasonable care to prevent and correct harassment or if employees unreasonably fail to take actions on preventable or corrective opportunities to avoid further harassment, according to the bill.

Both bills defined workplace harassment as an unwelcome conduct based on race, religion, natural origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity and more. Sexual harassment includes a sexual advance, a request for sexual favors, or any conduct of a sexual nature in the workplace.

Del. Watts said her bill will remove a glass ceiling and power differential that contributes to workplace and sexual harassment.

If you don't go along (with the workplace harassment), then you will be denied professional opportunities, work opportunities moving forward, she said. It is a power struggle, and that power struggle makes it a point of leverage.

Prior to her bills death, Del. Watts said there also was confusion over the Senate bills language, referring to the committee's dispute on Sen. McClellans bill.

There wasnt a real focus as there needed to be, Del. Watts said.

Sen. McClellans bill met debate from other lawmakers in the Senate Judiciary committee, such as Chap Petersen (D-Fairfax), over the bills language. Sen. McClellan asked Sen. Petersen if he wanted to add an amendment. He said he didnt.

I just want this bill to go away, Sen. Petersen said.

Sen. Petersen questioned whether his wife asking men to move the furniture for her constituted sexual harassment. Multiple lawmakers said the bills language was too broad.

Sen. McClellan, a gubernatorial candidate, is committed to advancing anti-workplace harassment laws, either as a legislator or governor, according to her spokesperson.

Del. Watts said she will reintroduce her bill next year. She said she will make sure there is an understanding that the bill contains a sound, legal approach to employers liability.

I believe that the majority of the members do believe that this is something that needs to be spelled out to protect employees, and particularly minorities and women, Del. Watts said.

View original post here:

More rights for Va. disabled and domestic workers - Fauquier Now

Posted in Wage Slavery | Comments Off

Yahoo News/YouGov poll: One year into pandemic, a quarter of Americans say someone close to them has died from COVID-19 – Yahoo Sports

Posted: at 1:23 pm

One year ago, on the eve of the eventful day that signaled the start of the COVID-19 pandemic March 11, 2020 a plurality of Americans (44 percent) said the threat of the virus had been exaggerated, according to a Yahoo News/YouGov poll conducted at the time. More people said their peers were overreacting (36 percent) than said they were behaving appropriately (30 percent). Just 6 percent said they had worn a mask. And nearly everyone (88 percent) predicted that fewer than 10,000 Americans would ultimately die from the disease.

['The most unusual day': How March 11, 2020, marked the start of the COVID era]

Now, 12 tragic months later, with more than half a million U.S. lives lost to COVID-19, Yahoo News and YouGov repolled many of those same respondents and found that few have emerged unscathed from the pandemic particularly in communities of color.

According to the survey of 1,629 U.S. adults, which was conducted March 4-8, 2021, nearly two-thirds of Americans (64 percent) say they have either contracted COVID-19 themselves or seen a close friend or family member infected. More than a third (37 percent) say they have seen a close friend or family member hospitalized, or been hospitalized themselves. Nearly a quarter (23 percent) say they have suffered the death of a close friend or family member because of the disease.

And in a sobering sign of the viruss unequal impact, the number of white Americans who say they've been exposed to COVID-19 hospitalization (33 percent) and death (23 percent) is far lower than the number of Black Americans (47 percent/34 percent) or Hispanic Americans (52 percent/45 percent) who say the same.

Looking back, its remarkable how quickly the national consciousness shifted after March 11. In last March's initial Yahoo News/YouGov poll, just 29 percent of Americans said there had been coronavirus cases in their community; by the time Yahoo News and YouGov polled again two weeks later, that number shot up to 60 percent. Over the same period, the share of Americans who said the threat of COVID-19 had been exaggerated fell by half, to 22 percent. A full 62 percent suddenly said the opposite.

Story continues

Personal behavior changed rapidly, too. Between March 11 and March 26 the number of Americans who stopped shaking hands rose from 28 percent to 61 percent. The number who stockpiled food or other supplies rose from 15 percent to 31 percent. The number who avoided crowded public places rose from 37 percent to 70 percent. Meanwhile, 57 percent of Americans stopped eating at restaurants, 67 percent stopped leaving the house except for essential needs and 63 percent stayed 6 feet away from other people in public places.

Yet even then political divisions were emerging that continue to define Americas pandemic response today.

Darryl Hutchinson, facing camera, is hugged by a relative during a funeral service in Los Angeles in July for Hutchinson's cousin Lydia Nunez, who died from COVID-19. (Marcio Jose Sanchez/AP)

Among Republicans, 58 percent initially believed that the threat of COVID was exaggerated; one year later, a nearly identical majority (57 percent) feels the same way. Meanwhile, the share of Democrats who consider the threat of COVID exaggerated has consistently fallen from 29 percent on March 11, 2020, to 12 percent two weeks later, to just 6 percent today.

This fundamental disagreement over the seriousness and severity of the pandemic persists across every aspect of public opinion. Among those who have not yet been vaccinated, Democrats (54 percent) are nearly twice as likely as Republicans (29 percent) to say they will get a shot as soon as its available to them, while Republicans (47 percent) are nearly three times as likely as Democrats (17 percent) to say they will never get vaccinated.

Today, 83 percent of Democrats say they are either very worried or somewhat worried about the newer, potentially more contagious variants of COVID-19 now spreading in the U.S.; just 38 percent of Republicans say the same. A mere 6 percent of Democrats say they wear a mask in public only some of the time or never; among Republicans, that number is six times as high (36 percent). And while 89 percent of Democrats say masks should be mandatory in public, two-thirds of Republicans now say the opposite.

Nowhere is this partisan divide more striking or more relevant right now than on the subject of reopening.

With cases down from their post-holiday highs, red states such as Texas and Mississippi have recently ended their mask mandates and reopened businesses at full capacity. But while a clear majority of Americans (57 percent) say they disapprove of this decision at a time when variants are spreading and most of the country remains unvaccinated, an even larger majority of Republicans (62 percent) say they approve.

Overall, the new Yahoo News/YouGov poll found signs of growing optimism among Americans, with the share who say theyve received at least one vaccine shot ticking up from 17 percent to 23 percent over the last two weeks and the share who say the worst of the pandemic is behind us rising nearly as much (from 37 percent to 41 percent). A plurality of Americans (49 percent) say now is the right time to reopen schools; a majority (52 percent) say now is the right time to reopen indoor bars and restaurants at partial capacity.

[Also read: An oral history of March 11, 2020, the day COVID 'became real' for Americans]

Yet after a year of COVID-19, most now recognize the need to proceed cautiously. Late last March, 59 percent of Americans told Yahoo News and YouGov that Easter, which fell on April 12, would be too soon to open the country up for business, even though then-President Donald Trump had repeatedly said he hoped to do just that a number that parallels the 57 percent who now oppose the full reopenings in Texas and Mississippi. Last March, just 20 percent said Easter would be about right.

At the time, Republicans were 24 percent more likely than Democrats to say Easter was about right for reopening and 33 percent less likely to say Easter was too soon. Since April 12, 2020, more than 496,000 Americans have died from COVID-19.

__________________

The Yahoo News survey was conducted by YouGov using a nationally representative sample of 1,629 U.S. adults interviewed online from March 4 to 8, 2021. The respondents all participated in a prior Yahoo News survey conducted either March 10-11, 2020, or March 25-26, 2020, and were contacted to participate. This sample was weighted according to gender, age, race and education based on the American Community Survey, conducted by the U.S. Bureau of the Census, as well as 2020 presidential vote (or non-vote) and voter registration status. Respondents were selected from YouGovs opt-in panel. The margin of error is approximately 3.4 percent.

____

Jose Ramirez, Franmil Reyes away from team for violating protocols with haircut, dinner – Yahoo Sports

Posted: at 1:23 pm

Cleveland Indians offensive standouts Jos Ramrez and Franmil Reyes are away from the team after breaking COVID-19 protocol, manager Terry Francona said Sunday from spring training in Goodyear, Arizona. It is the second violation for Reyes, who also missed time in July.

Francona said the two drove to Friday's Cactus League game against the Chicago Cubs in Mesa, Arizona. Afterward, they went for a haircut and ate dinner inside a local restaurant, per Mandy Bell of Cleveland.com.

They arrived at the facility Saturday morning and told the medical staff of their travels, initiating an immediate directive to head home.

We sent them home and self-reported to the league what they did, Francona said, via Cleveland.com. We turned it over to the league and were waiting to follow up. They have not had access to us.

Reyes has been in trouble before for breaking MLB safety protocol. He was not allowed at the team's summer training camp at Progressive Field in Cleveland last July after being spotted maskless at a July 4 party. The issue was discovered on an Instagram post days before he turned 25.

He joined the squad in 2019 in a trade with the San Diego Padres. Reyes hit .275 in the 2020 season with 34 RBI and nine home runs.

Ramrez is entering his ninth professional season, all with Cleveland, and led the league with 45 runs in 2020. He hit .292 with 46 RBI and 17 home runs.

The Rush: WWEs The Miz challenges Tom Brady and Rob Gronkowski to a tag team match – Yahoo Sports

Posted: at 1:23 pm

MMA Weekly

Saturday's championship heavy fight card is set now that the UFC 259 weigh-in results are official. All three title fights got the green light on Friday with all six athletes in the championship bouts stepping on the scale within the first 25 minutes of the two-hour weigh-in window. While UFC light heavyweight champion Jan Blachowicz weighed in at 205 pounds on the nose, the top end of the limit, his opponent took a remarkedly different approach. When most fighters get as big as possible and then have a drastic weight cut during fight week, middleweight champ Israel Adesanya didn't follow the norm. He stepped on the scale at 200.5 pounds, pizza box in hand, in his quest to become a two-division champion. The UFC 259 co-main event features double-champ Amanda Nunes putting her featherweight title on the line against Megan Anderson. Nunes was first to the scale on Friday, weighing 145 pounds. Anderson was the last title fight athlete to the scale, weighing 144.5 pounds for the title tilt. The third championship bout on the UFC 259 fight card features bantamweight titleholder Petr Yan making the first defense of his belt. He'll square off against No. 1 contender Aljamain Sterling after both easily made weight. Yan tipped the scale at 135 pounds; Sterling at 134.5 pounds. Askar Askarov misses weight for UFC 259 All but two fighters weighed in during the first 30 minutes of the two-hour window. Askar Askarov and Kennedy Nzechukwu had yet to weigh in with one hour and 30 minutes left. Askarov took to the scale with about an hour left during the weigh-in window. He missed weight by one pound, weighing 127 pounds for his flyweight fight with Joseph Benavidez. If Benavidez's team agrees to the bout, Askarov would likely forfeit 20 percent of his fight purse to Benavidez to keep the bout intact. Nzechukwu was the final fighter scheduled on the card to the scale, making weight for his bout with just under an hour left during the weigh-in window. Glover Teixeira makes weight as UFC 259 main event back-up Light heavyweight contender Glover Teixeira stepped on the scale after Nzechukwu, weighing 204.5 pounds. He will serve as an emergency back-up if anything happens to either of the UFC 259 main event fighters. It's not often that a fighter pulls out after weigh-ins, although it has become a bigger concern during the pandemic, as COVID-19 protocols have forced several fighters out on the day of the event. TRENDING > Dana White says UFC will be first to open up to Texas crowds UFC 259 weigh-in results UFC 259 weigh-in results: Israel Adesanya (200.5 pounds) UFC 259 Main Card (10p ET on ESPN+ Pay-Per-View) Main Event - Light Heavyweight Title Bout: Jan Blachowicz (205) vs Israel Adesanya (200.5)Co-Main Event - Womens Featherweight Title Bout: Amanda Nunes (145) vs Megan Anderson (144.5)Bantamweight Title Bout: Petr Yan (135) vs Aljamain Sterling (134.5)Lightweight Bout: Islam Makhachev (156) vs Drew Dober (156)Light Heavyweight Bout: Thiago Santos (206) vs Aleksandar Rakic (206) UFC 259 Prelims (8p ET on ESPN and ESPN+) Bantamweight Bout: Dominick Cruz (136) vs Casey Kenney (136)Bantamweight Bout: Song Yadong (135.5) vs Kyler Phillips (136)Flyweight Bout: Joseph Benavidez (125.5) vs Askar Askarov (127)Flyweight Bout: Rogerio Bontorin (126) vs Kai Kara-France (125.5) UFC 259 Early Prelims (5:30p ET on ESPN+ and UFC Fight Pass) Flyweight Bout: Tim Elliott (125.5) vs Jordan Espinosa (126)Light Heavyweight Bout: Kennedy Nzechukwu (205.5) vs Carlos Ulberg (205)Welterweight Bout: Sean Brady (170.5) vs Jake Matthews (169.5)Womens Strawweight Bout: Livinha Souza (116) vs Amanda Lemos (116)Lightweight Bout: Uros Medic (156) vs Aalon Cruz (155)Bantamweight Bout: Mario Bautista (135.5) vs Trevin Jones (134.5) UFC 259 weigh-in video: Israel Adesanya comes in light for shot at Jan Blachowicz (Subscribe to MMAWeekly.com on YouTube) UFC 259 weigh-in video: Amanda Nunes vs. Megan Anderson (Subscribe to MMAWeekly.com on YouTube) UFC 259 weigh-in video: Petr Yan vs. Aljamain Sterling (Subscribe to MMAWeekly.com on YouTube)

Follow this link:

The Rush: WWEs The Miz challenges Tom Brady and Rob Gronkowski to a tag team match - Yahoo Sports

Posted in Yahoo | Comments Off

The Yahoo Posse | Letter From The Editor | Memphis News and Events – Memphis Flyer

Posted: at 1:23 pm

In case you were ever worried about the GOP-dominated state government of Tennessee not having the best interests of its citizens at heart, you can relax. Our boys are on the case, battling against the vast, nefarious invasion of transgender young people into high school sports, standing firm against college basketballers who kneel for the National Anthem, and, of course, battling for the right of every Tennessean to pack a gun pretty much anywhere.

Legislators are also planning to tackle the vital issue of East Tennessee State's men's basketball team kneeling for the National Anthem on state property. Look for some overtly unconstitutional legislative foofawfery soon. Never mind that the First Amendment right to protest and free speech is every bit as sacred and protected as, well, the Second Amendment "right" to openly carry a gun into Costco.

Speaking of ... If any of these guys ever has the nerve to say "Blue Lives Matter" again, they should be, well, arrested. Open carry laws are opposed by almost every major law-enforcement organization, by district attorneys groups, and by around 80 percent of American voters in recent polls. But Governor Bill Lee and his yahoo posse are more interested in pleasing the NRA and the 20 percent of the population that thinks gun regulations are a violation of the Second Amendment, even though most of them couldn't spell "amendment" if you spotted them the vowels.

Then there was the egregious piling on by several Republicans of the Shelby County Health Department in the wake of the discovery of 2,400 expired or wasted COVID vaccine doses.

Eighth District Congressman David Kustoff, for example, was shocked and outraged and demanded an investigation into this chicanery. This is the same buffoon who backed Donald Trump's ignorant and deadly approach to the pandemic for 11 months and who appeared, sans mask, slavishly praising Fearless Leader at rallies. He also voted to overturn the results of a free election after a mob violently demanding the same thing trashed the capitol building where he works, but yes, do demand an investigation into those who are trying, however imperfectly, to save people's lives.

Lee also weighed in with his concerns, as did several other Republicans. Where was this concern when much smaller (and whiter) Knox County "lost" more than 1,000 doses earlier in February?

Look, there is no denying that Shelby County screwed up some aspects of the vaccine roll-out, but let's not lose sight of the fact that this scenario is being replicated all over the country.

Dr. Ashish Jha, dean of the Brown University School of Public Health, told NBC News earlier this month: "This kind of thing [having to throw away] vaccines is pretty rampant. I have personally heard stories like this from dozens of physician friends in a variety of different states. Hundreds, if not thousands, of doses are getting tossed across the country every day. It's unbelievable."

COVID-19 vaccines have a short shelf life once they are thawed out for use, Jha said. And because of federal and state mandates, many hospitals and other healthcare providers would rather risk a dose going bad than give it to somebody who isn't scheduled to get a shot.

So yeah, we've had some issues with vaccine distribution, but so have a lot of places. More than 120,000 people have been vaccinated in Shelby County, so it's not all bad. It's fair to point out mistakes, but let's keep the performative politics out of it.

View post:

The Yahoo Posse | Letter From The Editor | Memphis News and Events - Memphis Flyer

Posted in Yahoo | Comments Off

NCAA March Madness betting: UConn back in Big East tournament, and they might win it – Yahoo Sports

Posted: at 1:23 pm

Conference tournament betting previews: ACC

The dumb conference realignment shuffle of the past 10 or so years finally got something right when UConn came home to the Big East. When the Huskies officially re-entered the Big East last summer after a few seasons away, it just felt right.

This week UConn is in a familiar position, as a good bet to win the Big East tournament.

Connecticut has been the hottest team in the league, which plays its conference tournament this week at Madison Square Garden. Let's take a look at the teams to watch in the Big East tournament, with odds from BetMGM.

Connecticut was trudging along this season at 8-5, not giving anyone much reason to believe they could be a factor in the Big East tournament.

That has changed. UConn won six of its last seven, with the last five wins all by double digits. It's a Huskies team that plays slow but is efficient on both ends and is elite on the offensive glass. Sophomore guard James Bouknight leads the way at 20.2 points per game, but UConn's depth has been a major factor during the late-season surge. They're peaking at the right time.

Dan Hurley has a good chance to make UConn's return to the Big East tournament a memorable one.

Connecticut forward Josh Carlton (25) and the Huskies are peaking late in the season. (David Butler II/Pool Photo via AP)

The Wildcats are a good team, though a touch disappointing given their position as a preseason title contender. Now they're dealing with some rough injury issues as they head to New York.

Story continues

Villanova lost Collin Gillespie for the rest of the season due to a knee injury last week, and then in the season finale Justin Moore suffered a sprained ankle. Those two players are second and third on Villanova in minutes and points this season.

Considering Villanova coach Jay Wright called Moore's ankle injury "pretty severe," it seems unlikely the Wildcats would rush him back for the conference tournament even if he could play. Villanova is still a good team but it's hard to see them winning the Big East without two of its three best players.

St. John's fell behind 18-0 against Seton Hall on Saturday. They still won 81-71.

St. John's won nine of 12 down the stretch and is positioned to make a run in the Big East tourney. In their first game at Madison Square Garden the Red Storm get a rematch against the Seton Hall team they just beat by 10. Then they would likely get a banged-up Villanova team in the semifinals. Freshman guard Posh Alexander, perhaps the Red Storm's best player, has been out with a hand injury but St. John's played well last week without him and he could return for the conference tournament.

There are some flaws for St. John's, but they could end up being a great value at +2000.

Creighton +200

Villanova +300

UConn +300

Seton Hall +1200

Xavier +1400

Providence +2000

St. John's +2000

Marquette +2500

Georgetown +8000

Butler +10000

DePaul +10000

Influencer Natalie Noel, 24, bringing body positivity to Sports Illustrated Swim: ‘Someone normal and not stick thin’ – Yahoo Lifestyle

Posted: at 1:23 pm

Natalie Noel is the latest social media star to be added to the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit roster as a rookie for 2021.

The 24-year-old, best known for being the assistant to internet sensation David Dobrik, announced her inclusion in the iconic magazine on Wednesday with a post on Instagram. She also shared a video of her friends reacting to the news.

"IM A SPORTS ILLUSTRATED SWIM MODEL!!!!" Noel also known by Natalie Mariduena captioned her post. "Definitely still in shock."

According to the comments, however, the spot seems well deserved. "You're beautiful and I have a similar body type to you and this made me feel really beautiful!" one person wrote. Another said, "Honestly this will be so inspirational and will give confidence to so many people to see someone normal and not stick thin."

SI Swimsuit, led by editor MJ Day, has become known for representing inclusive body types as women of all shapes, sizes, backgrounds and ages appear across the magazine's pages. Day has also made a point to select women with empowering stories to tell. In a post revealing this year's first rookie, she said that Mariduena's entrepreneurial spirit was one of the biggest reasons that the influencer was selected. "She recognizes the importance of changing the industry, using her following and her notoriety to help others," Day wrote.

"Being at the forefront of industry change, Natalie beautifully blurs the line in a world that too often tells women that they have to pick a lane and stay in it. We are proud to celebrate a woman like Natalie, a like-minded individual, who is passionate about seeing the SI Swimsuit message through," Day's statement continued. "She has created her own success story through her entrepreneurial spirit, business acumen and relatable mentality. We are excited to share her message in hopes of inspiring others."

Story continues

Aside from Mariduena's work for Dobrik's personal brand, the Chicago native has amassed a following of more than 4 million people on her own Instagram account where she posts authentic, relatable and impactful content that encompasses body positivity and political initiatives. She also showcases her personal business ventures through her own line of merchandise, sponsored content and her role as Head of Brand for a new social app, Dispo.

Access Softek Survey: Financial Institutions Need Universal Mobile Biometrics to Modernize the User Experience – Yahoo Finance

Posted: at 1:23 pm

TipRanks

Hi tech is the cool kid of investment sectors, offering an unbeatable combination of cutting edge chic and long-term stock market returns. Its understandable; our digital world has clearly passed a point of no return in the integration of tech with our daily lives. Tech companies, whether large or small, are clearly in a position to gain from this trend, offering the products and innovations that will facilitate and expand the growth of our high-tech footprint. Artificial Intelligence, or AI, is at the forefront the tech wave. AI systems, which allow machines to learn from experience, adapt to change, and process more information faster than ever before, are powering the evolution of tech. New AI systems are making possible autonomous vehicles, personalizing sales and marketing, and speeding up the networked systems that hold the digital universe together. From an investor standpoint, the companies that are building and using AI systems now are in position for gains in the near future. AI is here, and its only going to expand its presence. With this in mind, weve opened up the TipRanks database to get the scoop on three "Strong Buy" stocks, according to the analyst community, which are making profitable use of AI technology, and jockeying for position out of the gate. iCAD, Inc. (ICAD) Well start in the medtech segment, where iCAD produces solutions, including advanced image analysis, radiation therapy, and workflow to facilitate early identification and treatments for cancer. iCAD offers a comprehensive platform of hardware and software. The companys ProFound AI Risk tool is an integrated platform that streamlines the diagnosis and treatment of breast cancer; the VeraLook platform uses similar advanced technology to improve image processing in the detection of colon polyps. Medical technology is in high demand, and iCADs AI-powered platforms take common diagnostic tools and improve their accuracy. Its part of a natural trend in medtech, of greater integration of tools and treatments. The field, like much of the medical industry, is growth, and iCAD reported $10.5 million in revenues for 4Q20, a sequential gain of 47%, which was powered by a 70% sequential gain in product revenue from ProFound AI. Year-over-year, quarterly revenue was up 11%, and the ProFound AI sales, in particular, gained 21%. Covering this stock for Oppenheimer, analyst Francois Brisebois sees ProFound AI as powerful gainer for the company. "We believe growth investors will be rewarded over the years as ICAD gains further share in a growing TAM by providing transformative AI-driven breast cancer detection products as well as targeted, efficient, cancer therapy solutions (quality over quantity). We believe ICAD represents an attractive vehicle for investors looking for exposure to biotech innovation themes and AI data growth waves. Ultimately, while ProFound AI Risk is in its very early stages of launch, we believe it represents a great example of AI's potential in changing treatment paradigms," Brisebois opined. Unsurprisingly, Brisebois rates ICAD an Outperform (i.e. Buy) along with a $27 price target. This figure implies a 63% one-year upside. (To watch Brisebois track record, click here) The unanimous Strong Buy consensus rating on ICAD shares shows that Wall Street is in broad agreement with Oppenheimers analyst; there are 7 Buy-side ratings on ICAD shares. The $21.57 average price target implies an upside of 30% from the $16.55 trading price. (See ICAD stock analysis on TipRanks) Baidu, Inc. (BIDU) Not every high-end AI stock is based in the US. Shifting our view to China, well take a look at Baidu, the Asian giants largest search engine. In fact, Baidu is the largest internet search platform in the worlds largest language, used daily by well over 1.3 billion people. Baidu has a massive userbase, and just because Western and Chinese internet systems arent interconnected doesnt mean that Western investors should overlook BIDU stock. Baidus gains are driven by a series of initiatives. The company benefits, like Google, from placing targeted ads on the search platform, ads that are powered by AI software. In addition, Baidu has been expanding the potentialities of its AI, moving into cloud computing and autonomous vehicles. In the past year, the company has even begun launching an autonomous vehicle system, the 14-passenger Apolong bus, in Guangzhou. In February, Baidu reported 4Q20 earnings and revenues, with slightly mixed results. The top line revenues came in at $4.6 billion, just below the forecast of $4.7 billion, but was still up 12% year-over-year; EPS on the other hand, at $3.08, slipped 25% yoy despite beating the forecast by over 10%. Among BIDU's bulls is Fawne Jiang, a 5-star analyst with Benchmark, who writes: BIDU is making great strides monetizing new AI initiatives including smart transportation and intelligent driving, which should fuel the Companys longer-term growth. We believe BIDU is well positioned to grow into a meaningfully expanded TAM capitalizing on growth opportunities in cloud, smart transportation, intelligent driving and other AI initiatives. In line with these upbeat comments, Jiang rates BIDU as a Buy, and sets a $385 price target that indicates confidence in a 65% upside potential. (To watch Jiangs track record, click here) With 14 recent Buy ratings, opposed to only 4 Holds, the BIDU shares have earned a Strong Buy from the analyst consensus. The stock is selling for $232.68, and its $343.44 average price target implies ~48% upside from that level. (See BIDU stock analysis on TipRanks) Five9 (FIVN) Lets look into the cloud now, where Five9 offers a scalable contact center platform using an AI cloud technology. Contact centers have been a successful growth segment in the past couple of decades, and cloud computing has changed the way we use software. AI, by making computers smarter and data analysis faster, more efficient, and more accurate, has revolutionized both; contact centers using AI smart clouds can track and route calls, process information, and direct callers and service agents to each other faster for better results. In 4Q20, the most recent reported, the company showed 39% year-over-year growth in revenue, to $127.9 million a company record. EPS, however, was negative, with the loss hitting 11 cents per share. This was an unfortunate turnaround from the 1-cent EPS profit posted in the year-ago quarter. On a more positive note, the company finished 2020 with $67.3 million in operating cash flow, up 31% from the prior year. Also of interest to investors, Five9 on March 4 announced that it has been selected as the cloud computing vendor for CANCOM, a leading UK IT company. The partnership makes Five9 the platform that CANCOM will use to expand its call center services, and gives Five9 a strong foothold in the European market. Weighing in for Craig-Hallum, 5-star analyst Jeff Van Rhee noted, Digital transformations have been kicked into high gear by COVID and the genie is not going back in the bottle. In addition, FIVN has been very aggressive over the past few years moving to public cloud for the entire stack and layering in outstanding AI capabilities. Demand for AI was noted to be playing an extremely important role in many of the largest deals theres little doubt about the momentum, performance, and remaining opportunity for FIVN. Van Rhee puts a Buy rating on the stock, along with a $215 price target implying a 40% one-year upside. (To watch Van Rhees track record, click here) Once again, we are looking at a Strong Buy stock. The analyst consensus rating here is based on 17 recent reviews, including 15 Buys and 2 Holds. Shares are trading for $153.81 and have a $202.31 average price target, making the 12-month upside ~32%. (See FIVN stock analysis on TipRanks) To find good ideas for AI stocks trading at attractive valuations, visit TipRanks Best Stocks to Buy, a newly launched tool that unites all of TipRanks equity insights. Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the featured analysts. The content is intended to be used for informational purposes only. It is very important to do your own analysis before making any investment.

Excerpt from:

Access Softek Survey: Financial Institutions Need Universal Mobile Biometrics to Modernize the User Experience - Yahoo Finance

Posted in Yahoo | Comments Off

Monthly Archives: March 2021

TikTok domestic worker shows the positives of life in Lebanon – Reuters

Polarization leads to a sense of social exclusion and deprivation – Stabroek News

More rights for Va. disabled and domestic workers – Fauquier Now

Yahoo News/YouGov poll: One year into pandemic, a quarter of Americans say someone close to them has died from COVID-19 – Yahoo Sports

Jose Ramirez, Franmil Reyes away from team for violating protocols with haircut, dinner – Yahoo Sports

The Rush: WWEs The Miz challenges Tom Brady and Rob Gronkowski to a tag team match – Yahoo Sports

The Yahoo Posse | Letter From The Editor | Memphis News and Events – Memphis Flyer

NCAA March Madness betting: UConn back in Big East tournament, and they might win it – Yahoo Sports

Influencer Natalie Noel, 24, bringing body positivity to Sports Illustrated Swim: ‘Someone normal and not stick thin’ – Yahoo Lifestyle

Access Softek Survey: Financial Institutions Need Universal Mobile Biometrics to Modernize the User Experience – Yahoo Finance

The Prometheus League

Breaking News and Updates

Prometheism

Forbidden Fruit

The Evolutionary Perspective

Transtopia Menu

Library Updates

Library Books

Future Euvolution

Lucid Dreams from Childhood

Genetic Revolution

Speciation + Self-Directed Evolution