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Sports Polling
The Sharkey Institute
Many Think Settlement with Kaepernick is Admission of Collusion by NFL
45 percent of those polled across the nation said they believed the settlement with Colin Kaepernick was an admission of collusion by the NFL.
By 3-to-1, public thinks Kaepernick's chance of a new contract in the NFL has now decreased.
South Orange NJ, March 4, 2019 – In a national poll, 45 percent of the public said that they believe the confidential settlement of Colin Kaepernick's lawsuit against the NFL for collusion was essentially an admission of guilt on the part of the NFL. On the other side, 40 said it was not an admission. Of those polled, 15 percent said they did not know or had no opinion.
White people were evenly divided on whether the settlement amounted to an admission of collusion by the NFL, but African-Americans said they believe it is by a 3 to 1 margin.
Kaepernick is credited with beginning the "anthem protests" in the NFL which drew ire and even boycotts from many football fans as well as President Trump. Although a past poll had shown 32 percent of Americans supported Kaepernick's protests, which were intended to draw attention to racism in America, roughly 44 percent disapproved, with the rest (24 percent) either having no opinion or not knowing.
In the same poll (September 28, 2017), when asked whether or not NFL players should be ordered to stand for the national anthem or be fired from the team as President Trump had suggested, only 18 percent responded "yes."
Kaepernick became a free agent in early 2017 and was not hired by any NFL team. He brought suit against the NFL for collusion in keeping him out of the league. He was not hired for the 2018 season either.
Results consistent with 2017 findings
With 45 percent of those polled across the nation saying they believed the settlement was an admission by the NFL that collusion against Kaepernick took place, the overall finding was consistent with the Seton Hall Sports Poll of 2017, which queried the public on why they thought Kaepernick had not yet been hired by any NFL team. Then "47 percent felt it was because of his protests and 19 percent because he wasn't good enough."
"I would imagine the court settlement stipulated that there was no admission of collusion by the NFL, but in the court of public opinion, not everyone buys that," said Rick Gentile, director of the Seton Hall Sports Poll, which is sponsored by the Sharkey Institute in the Stillman School of Business. "The bottom line is that given that each NFL team has a quarterback and two backups, it's difficult to understand outside of the context of the anthem protests why Colin Kaepernick, who played in a Super Bowl a few years ago, was unable to land a job even as a backup to the backup."
For these most recent findings, 794 adult Americans were polled on both landlines and cellphones, with a margin of +/- 3.5%.
New Job for Kaepernick in the NFL?
Regarding Kaepernick's future prospects of a job in the NFL, the margins weren't nearly as close as those regarding an admission of collusion. By more than a 3-1 margin (41-13%), respondents believed that Kaepernick's chance of being signed to a new NFL contract has decreased because of the settlement.
Impact of Settlement on Protests
The settlement of Colin Kaepernick's lawsuit against the NFL also finds the nation evenly divided on its impact on his protests. By a margin of 44 to 42 percent (14 percent not knowing or having no opinion), the public says the settlement has not diminished the impact of Kaepernick's protest.
While white respondents were evenly divided on whether the settlement diminished the impact of the protests, by 2 to 1, African-Americans believe that it does diminish the impact.
Disapproval of University of Mississippi Basketball Protesters
In a related matter, by a 42 to 29 percent margin (29 percent did not know or had no opinion), people disapproved of the University of Mississippi basketball players kneeling last weekend to protest an on-campus rally honoring Confederate soldiers. That margin draws a close comparison to the September 2017 Kaepernick findings. However, 12 out of 13 African-Americans offered support of the protest.
Results breakdown below; this release may be found online at http://blogs.shu.edu/sportspoll/2019/03/04/many-think-settlement-with-kaepernick-is-admission-of-collusion-by-nfl/
The Official Seton Hall Sports Poll podcast discussing this topic with Seth Everett and Rick Gentile can be found at https://itunes.apple.com/mt/podcast/seton-hall-sports-poll/id1053266467.
ABOUT THE POLL
The Seton Hall Sports Poll has been conducted regularly since 2006.Recently chosen for inclusion in iPoll by Cornell's Roper Center for Public Opinion Research, its findings have been published everywhere from USA Today, ESPN, The New York Times, Washington Post, AP, and Reuters to Fox News and most points in between.
This poll was conducted by telephone February 25-27 among adults in the United States. The Seton Hall Sports Poll is conducted by the Sharkey Institute within the Stillman School of Business. Phone numbers were dialed from samples of both standard landline and cell phones. The error for subgroups may be higher. This poll release conforms to the Standards of Disclosure of the National Council on Public Polls.
Eight men's basketball players on the University of Mississippi team knelt during the national anthem last Saturday in response to a pro-Confederate rally taking place on campus. Do you approve, disapprove or have no opinion of the players' action?
1 – Approve 29%
2 – Disapprove 42
3 – Don't know/No opinion 29
Colin Kaepernick recently won a settlement of a lawsuit from the NFL accusing the league of collusion by teams not signing him because of his protests during the national anthem. Do you think his acceptance of a settlement diminishes the impact of his protest?
1 – Yes 42
2 – No 44
Do you think the NFL's offer of a settlement is an admission that collusion against Kaepernick took place?
3 – Don't know 15
Do you think the settled lawsuit has increased, decreased or has had no effect on Kaepernick's chances of being signed to an NFL contract and continuing his career?
1 – Increased 13
2 – Decreased 41
3 – Had no effect 46
How closely would you say you follow sports, very closely, closely, not closely or not at all?
1 – Very closely 20
2 – Closely 35
3 – Not closely 29
4 – Not at all 15
Media: Media: Marty Appel, AppelPR@gmail.com;
Michael Ricciardelli, Associate Director of Media Relations, Seton Hall
michael.ricciardelli@shu.edu, 908-447-3034
ABOUT SETON HALL UNIVERSITY
One of the country's leading Catholic universities, Seton Hall has been showing the world what great minds can do since 1856. Home to nearly 10,000 undergraduate and graduate students and offering more than 90 rigorous academic programs, Seton Hall's academic excellence has been singled out for distinction by The Princeton Review, U.S. News & World Report and Bloomberg Businessweek.
Seton Hall embraces students of all religions and prepares them to be exemplary servant leaders and global citizens. In recent years, the University has achieved extraordinary success. Since 2009, it has seen record-breaking undergraduate enrollment growth and an impressive 110-point increase in the average SAT scores of incoming freshmen. In the past decade, Seton Hall students and alumni have received more than 30 Fulbright Scholarships as well as other prestigious academic honors, including Boren Awards, Pickering Fellowships, Udall Scholarships and a Rhodes Scholarship. The University is also proud to be the third most diverse national Catholic university in the nation.
During the past five years, the University has invested more than $165 million in new campus buildings and renovations. And in 2015, Seton Hall launched a School of Medicine as well as a College of Communication and the Arts. The University's beautiful main campus in suburban South Orange, N.J. is only 14 miles from New York City — offering students a wealth of employment, internship, cultural and entertainment opportunities. Seton Hall's nationally recognized School of Law is located prominently in downtown Newark. The University's Interprofessional Health Sciences (IHS) campus in Clifton and Nutley, N.J. opened in the summer of 2018. The IHS campus houses the University's College of Nursing, School of Health and Medical Sciences and the Hackensack Meridian School of Medicine at Seton Hall University.
For more information, visit www.shu.edu.
This entry was posted in Advertising, Basketball, Football, General News, Poll Results, Sponsorship and tagged Advertising, anthem protests, College Sports, Collusion, Donald Trump, Football, kaepernick, National Anthem, NCAA, NFL, NFL Settlement with Colin Kaepernick, Poll Results, Sharkey Institute, Sponsorship on March 4, 2019 by Michael Ricciardelli.
Despite NFL Settlement, Nation Evenly Divided on Kaepernick Impact
But by 3-to-1, public thinks his chance of a new contract in the NFL has decreased
South Orange NJ, February 28, 2019 — The confidential settlement of Colin Kaepernick's lawsuit against the NFL finds the nation evenly divided on its impact on his protests.
In a Seton Hall Sports Poll conducted this week, by a margin of 44-42%, the public says the settlement has not diminished the impact of his protest.
By 45-40%, the public believes the settlement is an admission by the NFL that collusion by NFL teams against him took place.
When the question of approval for Kaepernick was asked in September 2017, his support was only 32%, with disapproval at 44%.
While white respondents are evenly divided on whether the settlement diminished the impact of the protests, by 2 to 1 African-Americans believe that it does. Whites are also evenly divided on whether it the settlement is an admission of collusion by the NFL, but African-Americans believe it is by 3 to 1.
794 adult Americans were polled on both landlines and cellphones, a margin of +/- 3.5%.
Despite a fairly close overall division on whether or not the settlement was an admission on the part of the NFL, by more than a 3-1 margin (41-13%), respondents believed that Kaepernick's chance of being signed to a new NFL contract has decreased because of the settlement.
"People remain divided regarding the message of his kneeling during the national anthem," noted Rick Gentile, director of the poll, which is sponsored by the Sharkey Institute in the Stillman School of Business. "But there certainly seems to be a feeling that doors are not going to open for the renewal of his career."
Disapproval of U. of Mississippi Basketball Protesters
In a related matter, by a 42-29% margin, people disapproved of the University of Mississippi basketball players kneeling last weekend to protest an on campus rally honoring Confederate soldiers. That margin draws a close comparison to the September 2017 Kaepernick findings. However, 12 out of 13 African-Americans offered support of the protest.
Results breakdown below; this release may be found online at http://blogs.shu.edu/sportspoll/2019/02/28/despite-nfl-settlement-nation-evenly-divided-on-kaepernick-impact/
The Seton Hall Sports Poll has been conducted regularly since 2006.Recently chosen for inclusion in iPoll by Cornell's Roper Center for Public Opinion Research,its findings have been published everywhere from USA Today, ESPN, The New York Times, Washington Post, AP, and Reuters to Fox News and most points in between.
1. Eight men's basketball players on the University of Mississippi team knelt during the national anthem last Saturday in response to a pro-Confederate rally taking place on campus. Do you approve, disapprove or have no opinion of the players' action?
2. Colin Kaepernick recently won a settlement of a lawsuit from the NFL accusing the league of collusion by teams not signing him because of his protests during the national anthem. Do you think his acceptance of a settlement diminishes the impact of his protest?
3. Do you think the NFL's offer of a settlement is an admission that collusion against Kaepernick took place?
4. Do you think the settled lawsuit has increased, decreased or has had no effect on Kaepernick's chances of being signed to an NFL contract and continuing his career?
5. How closely would you say you follow sports, very closely, closely, not closely or not at all?
This entry was posted in Basketball, College, Football, General News, Poll Results and tagged anthem protests, Collusion Settlement, Confederate Rally, Donald Trump, Football, kaepernick, National Anthem, NCAA, NFL, Poll Results, Seton Hall Sports Poll, Sharkey Institute, University of Mississippi Basketball on February 28, 2019 by Michael Ricciardelli.
Poll: Tiger, Nike, Kaepernick, Trump, Serena and Urban Meyer
Is Tiger Woods an Endorsement Magnet Again? Seton Hall Sports Poll Suggests He Is. Poll Also Queries Attitudes On Nike, Kaepernick, Trump, Urban Meyer and Serena.
South Orange NJ, September 28, 2018 — Tiger Woods's first PGA victory in five years was generally considered a feel-good event for the sport, but can it translate to a return to the endorsement world in which he was once prominent? 70% of respondents said yes, they would expect Woods to get more endorsement opportunities now, to only 16% saying no. Only 9%, however, said they would be more inclined to buy a product bearing his endorsement, while 8% said less inclined and 82% said it would not matter.
Those were the findings of a Seton Hall Sports Poll conducted this week among 780 Americans on land lines and cellphones, with a margin of error of +/- 3.6%. The Seton Hall Sports Poll is conducted by the Stillman School of Business and its Sharkey Institute. Rick Gentile is the director.
Effects of Nike Commercial with Kaepernick
The controversial decision by Nike to use Colin Kaepernick in its commercials resulted in 16% saying they would be more inclined to buy Nike products, 26% less inclined and 52% saying it had no effect. Among African-Americans, people were more inclined to buy Nike by a 6-1 margin.
NFL Anthem Ruling?
Meanwhile, on the issue that started it all – the kneeling for the national anthem – 56% said the NFL should leave things as they are as opposed to issuing a ruling on the issue, which 39% favored. Younger respondents – ages 18-29 – by a 3-1 margin, said the matter should be left as is without the issuance of a new rule.
President Trump Tweets on NFL Protests Divisive?
Asked whether President Trump's tweets about player protests were helpful, 56% said they divided people, 21% said they united people, and 10% said they had no effect.
"A clear majority wants the furor over the NFL player protests put to rest," said Gentile, "and the presidential tweets on the subject to do the same."
The Urban Meyer Suspension at Ohio State
Ohio State's head football coach Urban Meyer suffered a three-game suspension for mishandling a case of domestic abuse by an assistant coach. 34% felt it should have been more severe, and 9% felt it should have been less severe. 32% felt that was an appropriate punishment.
Serena Williams, People Agree Men have More Latitude to Argue in Tennis
Asked for opinions on the Serena Williams clash with tennis officials at the US Open earlier this month, 56% agreed with her that male tennis players are given more latitude to "misbehave" than women players. 37% disagreed. Among men, it was "yes" by a 49-32% margin; among women, it was "yes" by 62-22%.
Asked if race was a factor in her being penalized, 25% said yes, 58% said no. and African-Americans were split evenly.
One of the country's leading Catholic universities, Seton Hall University has been a catalyst for leadership — developing students in mind, heart and spirit — since 1856. Home to nearly 10,000 undergraduate and graduate students and offering more than 90 academic programs, Seton Hall's academic excellence has been singled out for distinction by The Princeton Review, U.S.News & World Report and Bloomberg Businessweek.
Seton Hall, which embraces students of all religions, prepares its graduates to be exemplary servant leaders and global citizens. Its attractive main campus is located in suburban South Orange, New Jersey, and is only 14 miles by train, bus or car from New York City, offering a wealth of employment, internship, cultural and entertainment opportunities. The university's nationally recognized School of Law is prominently located in downtown Newark.
About the poll:
This poll was conducted by telephone September 24-26 among 780 adults in the United States. The Seton Hall Sports Poll is conducted by the Sharkey Institute.
Phone numbers were dialed from samples of both standard landline and cell phones. The error due to sampling for results based on the entire sample could be plus or minus 3.7 percentage points. The error for subgroups may be higher. This poll release conforms to the Standards of Disclosure of the National Council on Public Polls.
The Seton Hall Sports Poll has been conducted regularly since 2006.
1- Do you think the NFL should issue a rule regarding protesting during the playing of the national anthem or do you think the league should leave things alone?
1-Issue a rule 39
2-Leave things alone 56
3-Don't know/No opinion 6
2- Do you think the main effect of President Trump's tweets on the subject of NFL players' on field protesting was to unite people or divide them?
1-Unite people 21
2-Divide people 56
3-Had no effect 10
4-Don't know/No opinion 14
3- Does the Nike TV commercial featuring Colin Kaepernick make you more inclined, less inclined or have no effect on whether you purchase Nike products?
1-More inclined 16
2-Less inclined 26
3-No effect 52
4- Tiger Woods lost many non-golf endorsement deals a few years ago because he was perceived to be involved in some scandalous behavior. After his victory over the past weekend do you think sponsors will once again reach out to have him endorse products?
1-Yes 70
2-No 16
5- Would you be more inclined to purchase a product endorsed by Tiger Woods, less inclined or would his endorsement not matter?
1-More inclined 9
2-Less inclined 8
3-Wouldn't matter 81
6- Ohio State football coach Urban Meyer was suspended 3-games for mishandling a case of domestic abuse involving one of his assistant coaches. Do you think the punishment of Coach Meyer should have been more severe, less severe or was it appropriate?
1-More severe 34
2-Less severe 9
3-Appropriate 32
7- In the finals of the US Open Tennis Tournament, Serena Williams was penalized for several rules infractions regarding behavior. She claimed that she was punished more harshly than a male player would have been for the same behavior. Do you think male tennis players are given more latitude to misbehave than female players?
8- Do you think Serena Williams's race was a factor in how she was penalized for her behavior during the match?
3-Don't know 17
9- How closely would you say you follow sports, very closely, closely, not closely or not at all?
1-Very closely 20
2-Closely 37
3-Not closely 32
4-Not at all 11
This entry was posted in Football, General News, Golf, Media, Poll Results, Sponsorship, Sport, Uncategorized, Women and tagged Advertising, anthem protests, Domestic Abuse, Donald Trump, Endorsements, Football, Golf, kaepernick, National Anthem, NFL, Nike, Poll Results, President Trump, Serena Williams, Seton Hall Sports Poll, Sharkey Institute, Sponsorship, Tennis, Tiger Woods, Urban Meyer, Women in Sports on September 28, 2018 by Michael Ricciardelli.
Sports Poll Featured in USA Today, NY Daily News, Yahoo Finance, ESPN and SportsBusiness Daily
The Seton Hall Sports Poll, sponsored by the Sharkey Institute and the Stillman School of Business, was featured in USA Today, the NY Daily News, Yahoo Finance and Yahoo Sports along with ESPN, SportsBusiness Daily and a number of other media outlets.
The most recent poll asked people what they thought about President Trump's comments regarding the NFL national anthem controversy (71% would like him to stop commenting, only 23% said he should continue to do so); what they thought about the efficacy of a plan to deal with the anthem controversy put forward by a number of NFL owners that would keep players in the locker room while the anthem played (63% said "not effective," 27% said "yes"); and whether or not they planned on buying and NFL merchandise over the holiday season (20% said yes, and a whopping 74% said no) and whether the anthem controversy had anything to do with their decision not to buy (a third said it did).
In addition to these questions, the Poll gauged the public sentiment on the current selection format for the college football playoffs, the prospect of Roger Goodell's contract extension, the impact of Jerry Jones, Women in sports broadcasting, and a number of other questions. You can see the release here.
USA Today, "New poll shows fewer people support President Trump's involvement in NFL anthem protests."
NY Daily News, "Most Americans want Trump to shut up about NFL anthem protests, new survey finds."
Yahoo Finance and Yahoo Sports, "Poll: 71% of Americans want Trump to stay out of NFL anthem spat."
ESPN's Darren Rovell (who specializes in the business aspects of sports and has nearly 2 million followers on Twitter) tweeted the findings on NFL merchandise and the anthem controversy.
ESPN editor, William Weinbaum, also reported the poll's findings, "A Seton Hall Sports Poll released Thursday found 71% of Americans oppose & 23% favor President Trump continuing to comment on NFL players' anthem protests. Last month, 55% opposed & 37% supported his involvement in the issue."
Street & Smith's SportsBusiness Daily, "Daily Digit."
This entry was posted in Advertising, Football, Poll Results, Sponsorship and tagged Advertising, anthem protests, Donald Trump, Football, kaepernick, National Anthem, NFL, Poll Results, Seton Hall Sports Poll on December 6, 2017 by Michael Ricciardelli.
Sports Poll Featured in New York Times, Washington Post, Investor's Business Daily, Forbes and More
The Seton Hall Sports Poll was featured in The New York Times, Washington Post, Investor's Business Daily, Forbes and literally hundreds of other media outlets across the United States.
In Forbes, Sports Poll results were part of an article entitled, "NFL Anthem Protests Continue to Smack League's Broadcasters and Sponsors." The article was written by Mike Oznanian who, in addition to being Associate Managing Editor at Forbes, is co-host and Managing Editor of Forbes SportsMoney, a television show which appears on the YES Network and Fox Sports 1.
In Investor's Business Daily, the Sports Poll's Director, Rick Gentile, was cited regarding the decrease in NFL viewership and the Sports Poll's findings that roughly 30% of those who are watching less professional football cite the anthem protests as the reason. "Companies Beware: Partisan Politics And Branding Don't Mix."
Sports Poll findings also appeared in The New York Times and at least a hundred other media outlets via a Reuters news agency article. The article, "Owner of NFL's Texans sorry for 'inmates' comment on protesting players," used the Poll's most recent findings on the NFL's anthem protests within the context of remarks made about the protests by an NFL team owner. The article, syndicated and appearing in media outlets such as Yahoo, ESPN and a number of local and regional radio and TV stations such as AM 1660 The Fan, Duke FM of Fargo and 96.3 Jack FM of Nashville, notes:
A Seton Hall University poll on Friday found 47 percent of respondents believe the NFL should order players to stand during the anthem, while 42 percent do not.
Most people, by a 55-to-37 percent margin, also said it was inappropriate for Trump to launch a recent petition on the Republican National Committee website saying the players should stand.
You can see the article, "Owner of NFL's Texans sorry for 'inmates' comment on protesting players," as it appeared in The New York Times.
In the Washington Post, the Sports Poll and its director were featured in an article entitled "Midway through NFL season, football ratings are down."
Regarding ratings, the article notes:
"It's certainly not cause for panic," said Rick Gentile, a former CBS Sports executive and now a Seton Hall University professor, "but they like to keep going up."
The article also notes that,
Asked about the impact of the protests, NFL spokesman Alex Riethmiller said the league believes the ratings drop is part of a broader trend in television consumption instead of a single issue or controversy.
Yet Gentile, who runs a nationwide poll on sports issues for Seton Hall, said his surveys show differently.
"I was in denial for a while," he said, "but every time we asked the question, 'why do you watch fewer games?' it came back the same way — the protests."
In the last week of September, Seton Hall's poll of 850 people found that half were watching the same number of football games they watched in the past. Twenty-nine percent said they watched fewer games, 5 percent said they watched more and the remainder didn't know. Of the people who watched fewer games, 47 percent said it was because of the protests, by far the most frequent reason cited.
In addition to the Washington Post, the article, a syndicated Top News story from the Associated Press, appeared on ABC News, Fox Business, Fox Sports, Yahoo Sports, the Miami Herald and hundreds of others including the Honolulu Star Advertiser, Indiana's Journal Gazette, The Tribune of San Luis Obispo, The Connecticut Post, Minnesota's Star Tribune, The Reading Eagle and far too many more to list.
You can see the article, "Midway through NFL season, football ratings are down," as it appeared in the Washington Post.
You can see here the most recent sports poll, which included questions that gauged the public pulse on safety issues in youth football, replacing baseball umpires with computers and the abundance of home runs in Major League Baseball in addition to the questions on the NFL's anthem protests.
This entry was posted in Advertising, Football, Media, Poll Results, Sport and tagged Advertising, anthem protests, Donald Trump, Football, kaepernick, National Anthem, NFL, Poll Results, Seton Hall Sports Poll, Sharkey Institute on November 14, 2017 by Michael Ricciardelli.
Americans Throw Penalty Flags at Both Goodell and Trump for their Positions on the NFL Stand/Kneel Issue
Americans Throw Penalty Flags at Both Goodell and Trump for their Positions on the NFL Stand/Kneel Issue; 82% Say 'Advise Parents on Risk of Youth Football'
South Orange, NJ, October 27, 2017 — By a 47% to 42% margin, Americans believe that NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell should have ordered the league's players to stand during the national anthem.
By a wider margin – 55% v. 37% – people said it was inappropriate for President Trump to request that people sign a petition saying that the players stand.
These were among the findings of the latest Seton Hall Sports Poll, conducted this week across the nation among 715 adults, on landlines and cellphones. The poll has a margin of error of 3.7%.
"The president's base, which polls consistently show to be in the 35% area, seems to support him at every turn without wavering, and that extends to his war of words with the NFL," said Rick Gentle, director of the poll, which is sponsored by The Sharkey Institute as part of the university's Stillman School of Business. "The 37% support on this question is consistent with that."
"But clearly," added Gentile, "Goodell's position lacks strong public support. "This is a tough issue for people who love football, love the flag, and still respect freedom of expression."
MATTERS OF HEALTH AND SAFETY IN YOUTH FOOTBALL ADDRESSED
The Poll also asked a number of questions related to the safety of youth football. Asked if football organizing groups should have medical personnel advise parents about the dangers of playing organized football before their child signs up to play, a huge 82% said yes, with only 11% saying no.
Asked if they thought youth football leagues through high school are taking adequate steps to improve the safety of the game, 49% said yes, and only 22% said no.
Respondents were also asked at what age he or she would allow a child to play football, 39% said ages 7-11, 27% said ages 12-15, and only 9% said age 16 and over. 20% responded "never."
"It is significant that one in five – 20% – say 'never' for the sport considered the most popular one in America," noted Gentile.
The Official Seton Hall Sports Poll podcast discussing this topic (and yesterday's release on baseball questions) with Seth Everett and Rick Gentile can be found at https://itunes.apple.com/mt/podcast/seton-hall-sports-poll/id1053266467.
This poll was conducted by telephone October 23-25 among 715 adults in the United States. The Seton Hall Sports Poll is conducted by the Sharkey Institute.
After a meeting with players and owners last week, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell announced he will not order the players to stand for the pre-game playing of the national anthem. Do you agree with his position or disagree?
Agree 42%
Disagree 47
Don't know/No opinion 11
President Trump has asked people to sign a petition saying that they support standing for the national anthem in response to the NFL not insisting its players do so. Do you think it's appropriate for the president to make such a request?
Don't know 8
If you were to allow your child to play football, at what age would you allow him to play, 7-11, 12-15, 16 or older or never?
Never 20
Don't know/No opinion 6
Do you think youth football leagues through high school are taking adequate steps to improve the safety of the game?
Do you think football organizing groups should have medical personnel advise parents about the dangers of playing organized football before their child signs up to play?
This entry was posted in Football, Poll Results, Professional and tagged anthem protests, Concussions, Donald Trump, Football, kaepernick, NFL, Poll Results, Seton Hall Sports Poll, Sharkey Institute on October 27, 2017 by Michael Ricciardelli.
Sports Poll Podcast, with Rick Gentile and Seth Everett 11.21.16
Click below to hear or download a discussion on the findings of the most recent Seton Hall Sports Poll release– featuring veteran sportscaster and analyst Seth Everett with Rick Gentile, Director of the Sports Poll and 10 time Emmy Award winner for his work as Executive Producer and Senior Vice President of CBS Sports.
Streaming link : http://tobtr.com/9624753
Download : https://t.co/1Ao9Tijmcj
This entry was posted in Baseball, Baseball, Basketball, College, Football, General News, Level, Media, Podcast, Poll Results, Professional, Sport and tagged Advertising, Baseball, Cubs, Donald Trump, Football, kaepernick, MLB, National Anthem, NBA, NFL, Poll Results, Presidential Elections, Protests, Rick Gentile, Seth Everett, Seton Hall Sports Poll, Sharkey Institute, Sports on Mobile Devices, Viewership, World Series on November 21, 2016 by Michael Ricciardelli.
Seton Hall Sports Poll Reveals Nation Sides with Obama's Caution on Sons Playing Football vs. Trump's Feeling that 'Head on Tackles are Incredible to Watch'
Fans Who Say they Watch Less Football Cite National Anthem Protest as Principal Reason
South Orange, NJ, November 17, 2016 — This week's Seton Hall Sports Poll, asked Americans how they felt about the concussion/head injury issue in football.
People were asked if they most agreed with President Obama's feelings about having to think twice about letting a son play football, or President-elect Trump's statement that head-on-tackles in the NFL are incredible to watch and the league has gone too soft on the issue of head injuries. 59% agreed with the Obama position while only 23% agreed with the Trump statement.
By gender, women agreed with Obama over Trump by 66%-17%, and men agreed with Obama by 52%-29%.
"That is a decisive margin, and belies the embrace the nation's voters show for Trump's generally tough stances," noted Rick Gentile, director of the Poll, which is sponsored by The Sharkey Institute.
The results came from the poll conducted this week among 913 landline and cellphone adult users across the US. The poll has a margin of error of +/- 3.3%.
Meanwhile, the poll asked respondents if they were watching less football, and if so, asked for reasons. 25% cited the protests during the national anthem, 10% said the match-ups aren't as good, 10% cited too many commercial interruptions, 8% said "too many games on TV," and 3% said "more interested in election." 44% indicated either another choice (unnamed) or no opinion.
As for Colin Kaepernick, the San Francisco quarterback who triggered the national anthem protests, 50% expressed disapproval over his deciding not to vote in the presidential election, with only 14% showing approval. Only 30% of African-Americans disapproved compared to 58% of white respondents.
By a 2-1 margin (61% to 30%), respondents citied the Trump election victory as more surprising than the Chicago Cubs world championship. The Cubs, of course, had not won in 108 years – but no American president had ever gained the presidency from a business and non-political (or wartime) background.
The poll also asked who would be a better role model, 29% said college athletes, 21% said pro athletes, and 9% said politicians. It is worth noting that 42% said "none" or "don't know" without those selections being offered by pollsters.
GOOD NEWS FOR MLB – SERIES MADE ONE IN FIVE AMERICANS
INTERESTED IN FOLLOWING BASEBALL MORE AVIDLY
There was good news for Major League Baseball amongst the findings – 19% the country said that the Cubs victory made them more interested in following baseball.
"For any sports league to have a single event that might turn that many people into more avid fans is a remarkable achievement," said Gentile. "At first glance, one might say, 'well, it's only 19%', but in raw numbers – a fifth of the population is a tremendous number for MLB."
Rick Gentile will be interviewed by Seth Everett for a podcast on the poll's findings.
This poll was conducted by telephone November 14-16 among 913 adults in the United States. The Seton Hall Sports Poll is conducted by the Sharkey Institute.
Media: Media: Marty Appel Public Relations, AppelPR@gmail.com;
Seton Hall Associate Director of Media Relations, michael.ricciardelli@shu.edu
Whom do you think make better role models, politicians, professional athletes or collegiate athletes?
Politicians 9%
Pro athletes 21
College athletes 29
None 35
Which event would you say surprised you the most, the Chicago Cubs winning the World Series or Donald Trump winning the presidential election?
Cubs 30
Trump 61
Neither 5
Has the Cubs' victory in the World Series made you more interested in following baseball?
President Obama has said if he had a son he would have to think twice about letting him play football because of potential head injuries. President-elect Trump has said head-on tackles in the NFL are incredible to watch and the league has gone too soft on the issue of head injuries. Which position do you most agree with?
Obama 59
Neither 10
Why have you watched fewer NFL games? Please pick your main reason from the following.
Match-ups aren't as good 10
Too many games on TV 8
More interested in the election 3
Too many commercial interruptions 10
The protests during the national anthem 25
Colin Kaepernick, the NFL player who sparked the national anthem protests, refused to vote in the recent Presidential Election, also in protest. Do you approve, disapprove or have no opinion about this decision?
Approve 14
Disapprove 50
No Opinion 36
This entry was posted in Baseball, Baseball, College, Football, General News, Poll Results, Professional, Sport and tagged Concussions, Donald Trump, Football, Health, kaepernick, NFL, Poll Results, Presidential Elections, Seton Hall Sports Poll, Sharkey Institute, World Series on November 17, 2016 by Marty Appel.
Sports Poll Cited by Media Across the Country
The Seton Hall Sports Poll was cited by media across the country, including Forbes, ESPN, USA Today, CNBC, The New York Times, Sports Illustrated, CBS, ABC, MSN, Breitbart, NY Daily News, Yahoo Sports, The Sporting News, UK's Daily Mail, Star Ledger, Miami Herald, Arizona Republic, San Francisco Chronicle and radio stations all throughout the land. In addition, Benjamin Watson, an NFL player for the Baltimore Ravens, cited to the poll in an article he wrote on SportsBlog.
On ESPN, in addition to a print piece written by sports business analyst Darren Rovell, the Poll's results were featured on the TV shows "First Take" and "Outside the Lines."
The most recent Sports Poll asked the public questions on the declining viewership of NFL games, the potential for "rigging" various sporting events and the presidential election, and what they thought about "locker room talk."
Media highlights include:
USA Today, "Poll: About 50% of Americans Believe Sports, Presidential Election Could Be Rigged"
Forbes, "Will Fans Tune Back In To The NFL After The Presidential Election?"
CBS, "Poll: NFL Ratings Down Due To National Anthem Protests"
CNBC, "There Are a Lot of Reasons for the NFL's Ratings Slide"
ESPN, "Anthem Protests Part of Problem with NFL Ratings"
New York Times, "TV Viewership Falls in N.F.L. and Premier League: A Blip, or Something Worse?"
The Sporting News, "Is Donald Trump Right about Colin Kaepernick and NFL TV Ratings?"
Miami Herald, "NFL's declining TV ratings a needed slap in face for sport that has itself to blame"
Yahoo Sports, "NFL Viewership is Down, but not for Some of the Reasons you Might Think"
Breitbart, "Miami Dolphins Kneeler Doesn't Think NFL Ratings Dip Connected to Anthem Protest"
Breitbart, "Fans Agree: NFL Ratings Fall Due to Anti-American National Anthem Protests"
San Francisco Chronicle, "Twitter Woes; Anthem Protests and Assorted Backlashes"
Legal Sports Report, "Poll: Nearly Half of Americans Think Sporting Events can Be Rigged"
ABC, "Poll Finds Anthem Protests Hurting NFL Ratings"
NY Daily News, "NFL's declining ratings could be due to these three factors: poll"
Sports Illustrated, "About 50% of Americans Believe Sports could Be Rigged"
The Arizona Republic, "California conservatives to observe polling stations"
Daily Mail, "National anthem protests have caused NFL ratings to drop by 12 per cent"
SportsBlog (article from Benjamin Watson, NFL player, Baltimore Ravens), "More than just National Anthem Protests for NFL Players, Teams"
MSN, "Poll: About 50% of Americans believe sports, presidential election could be rigged"
Star Ledger, "People Think Presidential Election, Sports Games could be Rigged, Poll Finds"
NJ 101.5 "Rigged?!? About half of Americans thinks pretty much EVERYTHING might be fixed"
This entry was posted in Advertising, Basketball, General News, Media, Poll Results, Professional and tagged Donald Trump, Football, kaepernick, NFL, Poll Results, Presidential Elections, Seton Hall Sports Poll, Sharkey Institute on November 14, 2016 by Michael Ricciardelli.
By More than 2 to 1, Americans Say that Pros and Colleges Not Doing Enough to Police Sexual Assaults
54% Believe Locker Room Talk is Similar to the Trump Tape
South Orange, NJ, November 2, 2016 — By a 58% to 24% margin, Americans believe that professional leagues and college conferences are not doing enough to police instances of sexual abuse by athletes.
This was the finding of a national poll conducted last week by the Seton Hall Sports Poll. The poll spoke to 841 adults (landlines and cellphones), and has a margin of error of +/- 3.4%.
A total of 58% said "no" on the question of doing enough to police the instances, with only 24% saying enough was being done.
68% felt that universities were commonly hiding instances of sexual abuse by athletes, with only 21% feeling they were not hiding those instances.
76% felt the NFL should have stronger penalties for players involved in domestic violence cases, with only 15% saying "no". A third of respondents – 33% – felt that reports of sexual abuse by athletes make them less interested in following sports.
"The issue of the policing of sex abuse by athletes is not going away, and there seems to be a clear call for the organizing bodies to step up on areas of policing and punishment," noted Rick Gentile, director of the Poll, which is sponsored by The Sharkey Institute.
By 72% to 16%, Americans believe that male athletes discuss their sexual conquests of women in locker room discussions. That finding was evenly placed among men (73%) and women (71%). By 54% to 33% American believe that athletes speak in the manner expressed by Donald Trump in his 2005 tape, with 58% of males thinking "yes, they do" and 51% of women thinking the same.
Rick Gentile was interviewed by Seth Everett for a podcast on the poll's findings, which can be heard at https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/seton-hall-sports-poll/id1053266467?mt=2&i=377401371
This poll was conducted by telephone October 24-26 among 841 ta adults in the United States. The Seton Hall Sports Poll is conducted by the Sharkey Institute.
Media: Media: Marty Appel Public Relations, AppelPR@gmail.com
Michael Ricciardelli, Associate Director of Media Relations, Seton Hall University
This entry was posted in General News, Poll Results, Sport and tagged Donald Trump, Presidential Elections, Seton Hall Sports Poll, Sharkey Institute on November 2, 2016 by Michael Ricciardelli.
Roughly Half Say Sports Events and Presidential Election Could Be 'Rigged'
South Orange, NJ, October 31, 2016 – With the word "rigged" being thrown about in this election season, the Seton Hall Sports Poll asked Americans if they felt that sports contests and the upcoming presidential election "could be rigged by outside influences."
A majority, though in some cases slim, said "yes, they could be rigged."
The results: 52% said "yes" that an NFL game "could be rigged by outside influences" with 42% saying "no." For an NBA game, 51% said yes; 42% no.
For college sports the margins were closer: for a college football game, it was 47% yes, 46% no, and for a college basketball game, it was 46% yes, 45% no.
Of all the questions asked, only baseball's World Series, taking place as the poll was conducted, had a majority that believed its games could not be "fixed," with only 42% saying "yes" and 51% saying "no."
And pointedly, 47% of Americans said "yes" a presidential election "could be rigged by outside influences," while 46% said "no".
In each case, between 7-9% said they did not know.
The poll was conducted last week – October 24-26 – among 841 adults (landline and cellphone) with a margin of error of +/- 3.4%.
Asked whether the presidential election "could be rigged," 47% said yes, and there is a great deal of overlap in the people that believe in rigging – of that 47%, some two-thirds said yes, the NFL or NBA could be rigged, and somewhat fewer – 57% – said the World Series could be rigged.
"The sports organizing bodies rely heavily on the public believing that their games are honest," said Rick Gentile, director of the Poll, which is sponsored by The Sharkey Institute. "This measurement of public perception certainly can't please them, just as people in government are so upset about Donald Trump's charges."
The poll also asked whether some teams having ownership positions with fantasy sports companies opens the door for the rigging of performances of professional athletes to affect the daily fantasy outcomes. 45% said yes, 32% said no, with 24% stating "don't know."
Rick Gentile was interviewed by Seth Everett for a podcast on the poll's findings, which can be heard at https://t.co/jShJhGXMWi
Michael Ricciardelli, Associate Director of Media Relations, Seton Hall University, michael.ricciardelli@shu.edu, 908-447-3034
This entry was posted in Baseball, Basketball, DFS, Fantasy Sports, Football, Gambling, General News, Poll Results, Sport and tagged Baseball, DFS, Donald Trump, Draft Kings, Election Rigged, FanDuel, Fantasy Sports, Football, Gambling, MLB, NCAA Tournament Ban on DFS Ads, NFL, Politics, Poll Results, Presidential Elections, Rigged, Seton Hall Sports Poll, Sharkey Institute, World Series on October 31, 2016 by Michael Ricciardelli.
Seton Hall Sports Poll, January 2016, Super Bowl and Politics
WHEN SUPER BOWL INTERSECTS POLITICAL SEASON, WHAT'S THE MOST COMPETITIVE CONTEST OUT THERE?
And Which Candidate Would You Want Coaching Your Team?
South Orange, NJ, January 28, 2016 — With the Super Bowl coming right as the presidential primary season "kicks off," Americans said they were following the presidential contests by more than a 2-to-1 margin over football, with 60% choosing the political contests, and 24% the Super Bowl. 53% say the political races will be the most competitive, compared to 37% naming the Super Bowl. (By party, 35% name the Republican race, 18% the Democratic race).
The responses came in the latest Seton Hall Sports Poll, which polled 771 Americans (by landline and cellphone across the nation) this week. The margin of error is 3.6%.
Blending sports and politics, Donald Trump was the choice of 32% when the Poll asked "which candidate would you like to have coach your favorite team?" Hillary Clinton, Ted Cruz and Bernie Sanders each received 15%. (Interestingly, among African-American respondents, a third named Clinton, about double any other candidate on the list).
The reasons for watching the Super Bowl are of course, varied. 40% said it was best explained because they were football fans, with 19% saying they were a fan of one of the participating teams, 18% saying it was a "big event," and 10% interested in the commercials. Only 2% said it was primarily because they had a bet on the game, although in another question, 13% said they participated in wagering on the game.
SUPER BOWL COMMERCIALS AND THEIR IMPACT
Regarding commercials, 52% acknowledge that they watch Super Bowl commercials more closely than in other TV shows, with 39% saying "about the same." 88% said seeing a product advertised in the Super Bowl would make no difference in their buying habits, and the remainder is split.
"This news reinforces the prices charged for Super Bowl ads," noted Rick Gentile, director of the Poll, which is sponsored by The Sharkey Institute. "88% may say it doesn't influence them, but when 52% say they pay more attention to ads during the game than in other TV shows– that's a powerful number for advertisers to focus on."
THE MANNING/ AL JAZEERA REPORT
Peyton Manning, whose name emerged recently as having been sent human growth hormones (the report was on Al Jazeera and was recanted by the source), was the subject of a question on whether that report changed opinions about him. (During the polling period, the NFL announced it would investigate the charges). A significant 11% said they thought "less favorably" of him, and 76% said it had no effect. 3% said they felt more favorably towards him.
PETE ROSE AND THE HALL OF FAME
Pete Rose, who will be inducted in the Cincinnati Reds Hall of Fame this year, was the subject of two questions, the first asking whether that was appropriate – to which 47% said yes, 33% no. The second asked if he should be eligible to be elected to the Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, to which 56% said yes, 28% no.
DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND PLAYER SUSPENSIONS
A question was also asked whether a player being investigated for domestic violence offenses off the field should be suspended by his sport or allowed to play. 48% said the player should be suspended, and 39% said the player should be allowed to play. Broken down by gender men said allowed to play by 49%-43% over suspended. Among women, it was 52% suspended, 30% allowed to play.
For a fully produced podcast in which Seth Everett interviews Rick Gentile tonight, you may stream the podcast : http://www.blogtalkradio.com/setonhallsportspoll/2016/01/29/january-2016–super-bowl-pete-rose-hall-of-fame
To download : https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/seton-hall-sports-poll/id1053266467?mt=2
This poll was conducted by telephone January 25-27 among 771 adults in the United States. The Seton Hall Sports Poll is conducted by the Sharkey Institute.
Media: Media: Marty Appel Public Relations, AppelPR@gmail.com; or michael.ricciardelli@shu.edu
Do you plan to watch the Super Bowl on Feb. 7?
Yes 68%
(IF NO SKIP TO QUESTION 3)
2. Which of the following best explains why you'll be watching the Super Bowl?
I'm a fan of one of the teams 19
I'm interested in seeing the commercials 10
I'm a football fan 40
It's a big event 18
I have a bet on the game 2
3. In the next two weeks will you pay more attention to news about the upcoming Super Bowl or the presidential contests?
News about Super Bowl 24
Presidential contests 60
Don't know 16
Which do you think will be most competitive, the Republican presidential race, the Democratic presidential race or the Super Bowl?
Republican race 35
Democratic race 18
Of the following presidential candidates which would you like to have coach your favorite team, Donald Trump, Hillary Clinton, Bernie Sanders or Ted Cruz?
Clinton 15
Sanders 15
Cruz 15
Do you tend to watch commercials in the Super Bowl more closely,
less closely or about the same as in other TV shows?
More closely 52
Less closely 9
About the same 39
Would you be more likely to buy a product advertised on the Super Bowl, less likely or does it make no difference?
More likely 7
Less likely 5
No difference 88
Do you participate in any pools or wagering on the Super Bowl?
Prefer not to say 5
Has the recent news concerning the risk of permanent injury to football players made you more interested, less interested or has it had no affect on your interest in the Super Bowl?
More interested 14
Less interested 9
No affect 73
10. A report last month by the news service Al Jazeera claimed that Peyton Manning and other sports stars were sent human growth hormones in 2011 by an anti-aging clinic despite the fact that it was recanted by the source. Did this story make you think more favorably of Manning, less favorably or did it have no effect on your opinion of him?
More favorably 3
Less favorably 11
No effect 76
Switching to baseball now, it was announced Pete Rose will be inducted into the Cincinnati Reds Hall of Fame and have his number retired by the team. Do you think this is appropriate considering his ban for life by Major League Baseball for betting on games while active?
Do you think Pete Rose should be eligible to be elected to baseball's Hall of Fame in Cooperstown?
The New York Yankees traded for a player who is being investigated by Major League Baseball for a domestic violence incident although he was not charged with a crime by authorities. Do you think players should be allowed to continue to play while being investigated for violent offenses or should they be suspended pending the results of the investigation?
Allowed to play 39
Suspended 48
How closely do you follow sports, very closely, closely, not closely or not at all?
Very closely 18
Closely 41
Not closely 27
Not at all 14
This entry was posted in Advertising, Baseball, Baseball, Football, Gambling, General News, Poll Results, Professional and tagged Advertising, Baseball, Bernie Sanders, Donald Trump, Football, Hillary Clinton, MLB, NFL, Peyton Manning, Presidential Elections, Seton Hall Sports Poll, Sharkey Institute, Super Bowl, Ted Cruz, Which Presidential Candidate Would Make the Best Coach? on January 28, 2016 by Michael Ricciardelli.
The Seton Hall Sports Poll is sponsored by The Sharkey Institute, brought to you by The Stillman School of Business, and directed by Rick Gentile – a faculty member at Seton Hall University and 10 time Emmy Award winner for his work as Executive Producer and Senior Vice President of CBS Sports.
Tweets by @HallSportsPoll
Sizeable Support for Speeding Up Baseball and Increased Scoring; A Majority Likes the Proposed 3-Batter Rule for Relievers
Poll: Equal Pay for Women's Soccer; Women's Tennis has More Followers than Men's Tennis; More Men Follow Women's Golf than Women.
Nearly 40 Percent of NCAA Tournament Viewers Will Watch Online; Twenty-two Percent of Those Who Watch Will Do so at Work
Did Zion's Sneaker Explosion Hurt the Nike Brand? Nearly One in Five Say 'Yes'
In Wake of NFL Post-Season Controversies Public Wants Rule Changes for Pass Interference and OT
Super Bowl Poll: By Nearly 2 to 1, Nation 'Tired of Patriots,' Plus Pass Interference Instant Replay, Overtime Rules, Betting, Game Fixing and More
Poll: 70 Percent More Likely to Watch Game If They Wager on It
31% of Fans Find NFL Less Enjoyable with New Safety Rules This Year
Only 11% Like Way DH Rule Employed in World Series, 35% of Americans Watched
Even in 'Year of Women Running for Office,' Americans Say Women Athletes Preferable to Politicians
michael ricciardelli on Interest in Super Bowl Down, Reflecting Season-long Viewing Trends
Wayne Sorensen on Interest in Super Bowl Down, Reflecting Season-long Viewing Trends
Big Mike on NFL TV Ratings Down; Fans Cite a Host of Factors, Led by National Anthem Protests
Michael Canlas on 84% Support NFL Players' Right to Protest, But Vary on How to Carry that Out; Only 16% Say Protesters Should Be Dropped from Teams
Seton Hall Student Reporting
TLTC Blogs


text:
Q: Are CRAN checks publicly logged? When we run something along the lines of R CMD check mypackage_1.2.0.tar.gz --as-cran are there public logs available? (e.g. through an API perhaps)
I am interested to know because it could be useful info for package maintainers to know. Note: I am aware a package maintainer could set up Ci tools themselves, but it could still be of interest to know the status of checks.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


We improved the pathfinding and flying AI, so now ships will fly full speed and use boost whenever they safely can. They will also maneuver a lot smarter, for example through sectors with lots of objects like asteroid fields. Keep in mind that this will make the game harder, since you won't be able to run from enemies as easily as before!
We added improvements to the AI for harvesting, ie. mining and salvaging. Before, this was done by the same AI that's responsible for attacking enemies, making mining look silly and be rather inefficient. We've now implemented a separate AI for harvesting, which will improve some behavior of miners and salvagers a lot.
We reworked the player fleet management window. Aside from obvious layout and overview improvements, it can now display every ship's plan so you can easily see which is which. You can also rename your ships in this window now, and it shows you what each ship is doing, and where it is - including a button to show you on the map.
The above groundwork allowed us to do the following: Inter-Sector commands for ships! You can now command ships over the galaxy map even when they're not in the same sector as you. But that's not all: We're also adding command queues, so you'll be able to order your ships to fly to one sector, mine asteroids, trade goods or attack enemies, and then jump to yet another sector. And you'll be able to loop these commands as well, so you can now have ships doing more complex things all over the galaxy.
VERY IMPORTANT INFORMATION FOR MODDERS AND SERVER ADMINS: We've added extra security for calling functions remotely, THIS WILL BREAK YOUR OLD MODS if you're using client-server remote invocations. Check out the patch notes for 0.20.0 for more details!
The game becomes more and more finished and it is really nice to see it advance.
Keep up the great work and make this the greatest space game ever!
These changes are fantastic. I especially liked the AI improvements that made fighting pirates a challenge. However, I brought the game out again for another spin specifically because I saw the cross-sector commands have been added. Unfortunately, though the new display tells me that my ships in other sectors are mining, scavenging, etc., they don't seem to be doing it or those sectors aren't simulating.
We'll add icons that will show if a sector is being simulated or not. That should clear things up.


text:
Blue Origin Completes Construction of Rocket Engine Factory in Alabama
Accepted submission by takyon at 2020-02-19 12:34:09
takyon [soylentnews.org] writes:
Blue Origin opens rocket engine factory [spacenews.com]
Blue Origin formally opened a factory Feb. 17 that the company plans to use to produce engines both for its vehicles and for United Launch Alliance's Vulcan rocket.
A ribbon-cutting ceremony marked the completion of a 350,000-square-foot factory [in Huntsville, Alabama] that will produce BE-4 and BE-3U engines. The factory, built in a little more than a year, will host more than 300 employees and produce up to 42 engines a year.
[...] While the building is complete, Blue Origin is not yet ready to start producing engines there. Employees will start moving into the factory this week, company officials said, with tooling and other equipment to start arriving in the coming weeks. The factory should be ready to start building BE-4 engines this summer, starting with a "site certification" engine that will be fired at both at Blue Origin's West Texas test site and a test stand at NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center that the company is refurbishing.
Blue Origin is currently building BE-4 engines at its headquarters in Kent, Washington. That work includes a series of engines used in testing and two "flight readiness" engines that Smith said in his remarks will be delivered to United Launch Alliance in May for integration on that company's Vulcan rocket for testing. The first engines intended for flight will also be produced there.
The company plans to transition production over a couple of years from Kent to Huntsville. Once the BE-4 production line is stabilized, Huntsville staff will be trained in Kent and then return to ramp up engine production in Huntsville. Ultimately the factory will be able to produce 42 engines a year, split roughly evenly between the BE-4 and the BE-3U engine that will power the upper stage of New Glenn. The company expects to take two to three years to reach that production rate.
SpaceX is planning to return to the Port of Los Angeles [teslarati.com] after previously abandoning plans for a Starship factory there.
Previously: Blue Origin Will Build its Rocket Engine in Alabama [soylentnews.org]
Blue Origin Wins Contract to Supply United Launch Alliance With BE-4 Rocket Engines [soylentnews.org]
Blue Origin Starts Construction of Rocket Engine Factory in Alabama [soylentnews.org]

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


text:
IBM Honored with Inaugural BEQ Pride Corporate Eminence Award
By BEQPride Magazine | August 1, 2017
Corporate Eminence Award Winner
IBM Honored with BEQ Pride Corporate Eminence Award
By BEQ Pride Editorial Board and Awards Review Committee
Our definition of Eminence is a conferred high status or importance due to marked superiority in LGBTQ business equality. The BEQ Pride 2017 LGBTQ Corporate Eminence Award is a designation of distinction for one of our 107 LGBTQ Business Equality Excellence Awardees in their outstanding efforts to include the LGBTQ business community.
Ideal candidates are actively engaged with both certified LGBTQ business enterprises and in growing their outreach to the overall LGBTQ business community. Candidates consistently demonstrate leadership, creativity and commitment to LGBTQ business development and diversity and inclusion through LGBTQ procurement, technical, operational and managerial assistance and/or sponsorship of or to related programs.
The four finalists for the 2017 BEQ Pride LGBTQ Corporate Eminence Award represent the Electric Services, Banking and Insurance industries. Each organization's approach to LGBTQ inclusion is unique and demonstrates their commitment to diversity and business equality. Congratulations to Ameren, JPMorgan Chase and Nationwide.
It is our honor to announce that the winner of the 2017 BEQ Pride Corporate Eminence Award is IBM.
A Pioneer in LGBT Inclusion
IBM has long been a pioneer in the area of LGBT inclusion. The company added sexual orientation to its nondiscrimination profile in 1984, implemented domestic partner benefits in 1996 and introduced the LGBT constituency into its global supplier diversity program in 1999. Core to IBM's corporate culture is the belief that diversity goes beyond fair hiring practices and protection for all employees. It includes a focus on how those disparate pieces fit together to create an innovative, integrated whole.
"Simply put, it's what we do together that sets us apart because we truly recognize that we are only as good as our people. All of our people, regardless of race, gender or sexual orientation," said Michael Robinson, Program Director, Global Supplier Diversity.
IBM was the first Founding Corporate Partner of the National Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce, and in 2016 was recognized with the inaugural APEX award by the Human Rights Campaign and the NGLCC in recognition of the company's commitment to inclusion of LGBT individuals and equitable opportunities for LGBTBEs.
Championing Supplier Diversity from the C-Suite
IBM's corporate policy provides diverse businesses with opportunities to participate in all areas of the company's marketing, procurement and contracting activities. Supplier diversity, and providing opportunities to the LGBT community, are directly tied to the Chief Procurement Officer's performance plan and cascaded throughout the entire supply chain's performance appraisals. That level of commitment from the C-suite translates to a comprehensive supplier diversity mandate throughout the organization.
IBM's global diverse spend in 2016 was $2.6 billion, of which $2.1 billion was with Tier 1 diverse suppliers. Although spend per diversity category is not public, the company reports that spend with LGBTBEs exceeded previous years. But there is still work to do.
"The dollar amount spent with LGBTBEs is not what we wanted, but it did increase incrementally," Robinson said. "To continue increasing this amount, we have a policy where we seek diverse suppliers in every RFQ in every geography in which we operate. This means there are opportunities for LGBT suppliers in over 170 countries."
Enhancing Tier 2 Accountability
In 2016, suppliers reported $576 million in Tier 2 spend to IBM, exceeding the annual goal by $14 million.
Additionally in 2016, IBM enhanced their Tier 2 initiative by placing additional focus on the global program. This enhancement requires Tier 1 suppliers to report their subcontracting spend by geography as well as diverse category.
"As one of the few, if not the only, programs that is global, we are ensuring that diverse suppliers are given opportunities to compete for our Tier 1 suppliers' business while increasing our supplier diversity performance," Robinson said.
Global Tier 2 spend reached $20 million in 2016. The company anticipates that number will increase with the change to the initiative.
Striving for Global Equality
NGLCC co-founders Justin Nelson and Chance Mitchell cited the company's status as the first Founding Corporate Partner as evidence of IBM's commitment to LGBT diversity and inclusion in the supply chain, marketplace and workforce. Further, they said, IBM is an active supporter and participant in global LGBT diversity.
"As NGLCC expands globally, IBM's support of the LGBT community is unwavering both within U.S. borders and beyond. IBM's commitment to global LGBT diversity should be commended as their peers in the corporate space look to IBM's example for their own efforts towards enterprise-wide diversity and inclusion."
In 2016, IBM facilitated face-to-face meetings in several countries between the NGLCC and IBM's procurement teams in India, South Africa and Latin America, in addition to the United States. The company also has a supplier diversity team which focuses on LGBT business needs globally, providing assistance from a technology viewpoint to help LGBTBEs globally grow and compete.
Last year, as a result of an IBM-initiated LGBT Executive Forum, IBM India initiated Project Vayati. In collaboration with like-minded companies, Project Vayati partnered with Interweave Consulting and the Solidarity Foundation (an NGO) to mobilize, engage and up-skill transgender persons who are highly marginalized in society, and attempt to bring them into mainstream vocations. The pilot program intends to understand the challenges and facilitate placement of transgender individuals into jobs.
"Our goal is to advocate a program that provides economic opportunities to traditionally disempowered diversity groups in each country in which we operate, in adherence to local legal requirements," Robinson said.
Supporting Diverse Businesses Through Supplier Development
Supplier development is a key attribute of IBM's supplier diversity program, focusing on education offerings for its suppliers. IBM Global Supplier Diversity participates in and provides several scholarship programs for diverse suppliers:
Tuck Minority Business Executive Program, Dartmouth College
Kellogg Graduate School of Management, Northwestern University
WBENC's Women's Accelerator Program
WBENC's Dorothy Brothers Scholarship
TUCK/WBENC Executive Program
"We seek LGBT suppliers to participate in these programs so they can increase capacity, increase innovation and provide products and services to IBM globally," Robinson explained. "We have had LGBTBEs take advantage of these offerings, which are available to all diverse groups."
IBM also participates in mentoring programs for both commercial suppliers and federal suppliers. These programs foster relationships and provide advice and counsel to small and disadvantaged businesses.
"Our goal through mentoring is to not only make the diverse supplier a better IBM supplier, but a more effective and resilient supplier to all corporations within their respective industry," Robinson said.
A Legacy of LGBT Business Equality
For nearly five decades, IBM has been a leader in supplier diversity. They are at the forefront of LGBT inclusion in the workplace and in the supply chain through innovative supplier development programs and a global supplier diversity initiative that provides opportunities to LGBTBEs in 170 countries.
In addition to receiving the inaugural Apex Award from the HRC and NGLCC, IBM has been recognized for its support of LGBTBEs as World's Most LGBT-Inclusive Company by the Workplace Pride Foundation, as a Star Performer LGBT-friendly workplace by the Stonewall Global Equity Index, consistently scored 100% on the HRC Corporate Equality Index and been honored by a broad spectrum of organizations and publications.
Now IBM can add the BEQ Pride Corporate Eminence Award to their well-deserved honors for outstanding leadership, creativity and commitment to LGBTQ business development.
Corporate Eminence Award Finalists
Ameren Corporation
St. Louis-based Ameren is actively engaged in outreach opportunities to promote and support LGBTBEs. The company partnered with the Gateway Business Guild and the Small Business Administration to host a Ready, Set, Go series in St. Louis, where local LGBT business owners were educated on ways to grow their business to the next level.
Ameren's Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender Employees and Allies Network (GLEAN) successfully partnered with Human Resources and Diversity and Inclusion to add transgender-inclusive health care coverage to Ameren's benefit package, which went into effect in 2016.
"Ameren's commitment to LGBT equality is rooted in our core value of respect. When co-workers, suppliers and community partners feel accepted for who they are and what they can bring to the table, we have a team that is positioned for success," said Warner Baxter, Chairman, President and CEO.
A founding member of the NGLCC, JPMorgan Chase is dedicated to helping remove the obstacle of access to capital from small and diverse businesses. As part of that mission, the company led an Access to Capital panel discussion at the NGLCC annual conference in 2016. Subject matter experts from across the company spoke on topics such as accessing capital and navigating the SBA.
JPMorgan Chase & Co. is the only financial services company to receive a perfect score for each consecutive year on the HRC's Corporate Equality Index since the benchmarking survey began.
For each of the last five years and continuing, Nationwide sponsored a supplier diversity development series specific to the LGBT business community in conjunction with PLEXUS, an NGLCC Ohio affiliate. This year, Nationwide expanded this NGLCC specific development series to include the Nashville NGLCC affiliate.
Collaborating with other third party organizations, Nationwide deploys cutting edge Professional Development Programming all over the country for all diverse suppliers including NGLCC members. Thus far, events have been held in Chicago, Dallas, Las Vegas and Austin with more than 500 diverse suppliers participating.
Related ItemsAmerenCorporate Eminence AwardFeaturedIBMJPMorgan ChaseNationwideSeptember 2017Vol 2 Iss 3
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The Management Service should be installed on a secure server behind the firewall, and it cannot share the same server as the Policy Distribution Service (with the exception of a single server installation, see Section 3.0, Performing a Single-Server Installation). The Management Service should not be installed outside the network firewall, for security reasons. After the server is selected, note the server name, both the NETBIOS and Fully Qualified Domain Name (FQDN). Deployment of the Management Service on a Primary Domain Controller (PDC) is not supported for both security and functionality reasons.
Ensure access to a supported directory service (eDirectory or Active Directory).
If you are deploying using an eDirectory™ service, create an account password that never changes to use for Management Console authentication (see Section 7.2.1, Adding eDirectory Services).
Ensure Endpoint Security Client to MS server name resolution: validate that the target computers (where the Endpoint Security Client is installed) can ping the MS server name. If successful, this is the value entered in the installation. If unsuccessful, you must resolve this before continuing with the installation.
Enable or install Microsoft Internet Information Services (IIS), ensure ASP.NET is enabled, and configure it to accept Secure Socket Layer (SSL) Certificates.
If you are using your own SSL certificates, ensure that the root CA is loaded on the machine and that server name validated in the previous steps (whether NETBIOS or FQDN) matches the Issued to value for the certificate configured in IIS.
If you are using your own certificates, or you have already installed the Novell Self Signed Certificate, you can validate SSL as well by trying the following URL from a machine that has the Endpoint Security Client installed: https://MS_SERVER_NAME/AuthenticationServer/UserService.asmx (where MS_SERVER_NAME is the server name). This should return valid data (an html page) and not certificate warnings. Any certificate warnings must be resolved before installation.
Ensure access to a supported RDBMS (Microsoft SQL Server 2000 SP4, SQL Server Standard, SQL Server Enterprise, SQL 2005). Set database to Mixed mode.
Copy the ESM Setup Files directory that contains the Policy Distribution Service Setup ID and Root SSL Certificate for the Policy Distribution Service into the installation directory of this server.


I was recently invited to give Factor 75—a Chicago based prepared-meal delivery service that ships deliciously healthy prepared meals to your front door— a try. I was super excited because I've been trying to add more nutritious (and delicious) meals to my diet. These days it seems like I'm always on the go. Whether I'm on location for a work related assignment or at home writing for the various sites I freelance for, I often forget about eating a balanced meal. Enter Factor 75! Factor 75 was created by Nick Wernimont to offer affordable, optimally nutritious and delicious prepared meals to enhance mind and body performance. With that being said, Factor 75 IS NOT a diet.
Factor 75 meals come in temperature-controlled packaging (which are super easy to store in the fridge) and can last 4-6 days. Meals come in two sizes, medium (which I got) and large, and costs $10.95 and $12.95, which is a great value! Last weekend I had the incredible opportunity to enjoy four delicious meals from Factor 75.
The Porto Pizza Tower is gluten free, dairy free and paleo friendly! Talk about a healthy spin on a guilty pleasure (who doesn't love pizza?) This yummy dish consists of a layered portabella mushroom cap with sautéed organic spinach, house-made turkey sausage, oven roasted tomato, mozzarella cheese and fresh basil. To top that off, it's served on a bed of quinoa and drizzled with olive oil. This isn't your average slice of pizza but it's equally as delicious!
Like the Porto Pizza Tower, the Meatloaf is also gluten free and paleo friendly. I know what you're thinking, healthy meatloaf? Is that even possible? Well with Factor 75 it is! Served with whipped sweet potatoes (so yummy), fresh baby spinach and a side of traditional marinara sauce, this satisfying meal makes the perfect dinner!
Grass-fed ground bison is mixed with Dijon mustard and egg, and then grilled while being basted with bacon fat to make this incredibly delicious dish. Unlike traditions burgers, there's no need to add bread or buns. Not only is this meal super yummy, it's also an excellent source of protein, vitamin A, vitamin C, and iron.
My favorite meal of the four (although all were excellent), the butternut squash lasagna is a flavorful mixture of homemade sausage and butternut squash thats layered and baked with marinara sauce. I'm a huge lasagna lover and I have to admit this might be the best lasagna I've ever tasted.
My favorite thing about Factor 75 is that they deliver meals that don't force you to choose between taste and health! You can decrease your planning and cooking time and increase the number of healthy meals in your life by signing up for Factor 75!
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text:
Q: How to get rid of "on behalf of" in Outlook? I have a webapp sending emails via Amazon SES.
If my customers open my emails from outlook, they see "on behalf of" with amazon email.

I tried to configure FROM_MAIL in SES without success.

I need one of the 2:

1.) Configure SES somehow, so the outlook will see that the email came from my address

2.) Explain to my customers how they can disable "on behalf of" in their outlook clients

Can someone help me with one of these?

A: This means Sender and From MIME headers are different in your emails. Why that happens is a different question.


In the late fall of 2017, what was once George and Sue Lane's property in Gladwin County was donated to The Little Forks Conservancy. This was a collaboration between the Conservancy, the Leon P. Martuch Chapter of Trout Unlimited, and Chippewa Watershed Conservancy. George was a longtime Conservancy supporter, a former board member and a conservation easement donor.
The Lane property is 270 acres with three quarters of a mile of frontage on the North Branch of the Cedar River. The property includes important forestland habitat, open grasslands, and scenic views of the surrounding area. George and Sue's stewardship ethic led to dramatic improvements to the property, specifically regarding wildlife habitat, removing sediment from the river and controlling erosion along the river. The North Branch of the Cedar River is one of a limited number of cold-water trout streams located within the northern reaches of the Saginaw Bay Watershed. The Lane family initially protected the property with a conservation easement and now the property will be a nature preserve to not only benefit the natural resources of the land, but also the local community.
With George and Sue's vision for their land in mind and with partners like Trout Unlimited and Chippewa Watershed Conservancy alongside of us, we cannot wait to see what projects we can accomplish on the first Little Forks preserve outside of Midland county, a strategic goal of the last two strategic plans for the organization. The riparian corridor will be managed by the Leon P. Martuch Chapter of Trout Unlimited with the Conservancy managing the remainder of the property and Chippewa Watershed Conservancy holding the conservation easements.
In 2018, we began building trails, installed boundary markers, removed an old house and installed a parking area. The property can be accessed from a parking area located on Shearer Road approximately 1/3 mile south of M-18. "The George and Sue Lane Preserve has a lot of potential; we are starting with a mile of trail but hope to expand in the years to come" said Sara Huetteman, Little Forks' Stewardship Coordinator.


text:
Bir aktif yaratmak için şunlar gerekli :
* Geçerli bir varlık sembolü
* 0 (sıfır)dan büyük maksimum arz

Hassasiyet , varlığın destekleyeceği ondalık hane sayısını belirler.

Varlık yaratmanın masraf ücreti öncelikle varlığa ait sembolün uzunluğuna bağlıdır.

Ücretlerin nekadarını tutacağınızı da piyasa ücreti ile yüzde olarak belirtebilirsiniz.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


text:
package com.memsql.spark.examples.avro

import collection.JavaConversions._
import org.apache.spark.sql.types._
import org.apache.avro.Schema

// Converts an Avro schema to a Spark DataFrame schema.
//
// This assumes that the Avro schema is "flat", i.e. a Record that includes primitive types
// or unions of primitive types. Unions, and Avro types that don't directly map to Scala types,
// are converted to Strings and put in a Spark SQL StringType column.
private object AvroToSchema {
  def getSchema(schema: Schema): StructType = {
    StructType(schema.getFields.map(field => {
      val fieldName = field.name
      val fieldSchema = field.schema
      val fieldType = fieldSchema.getType match {
        case Schema.Type.BOOLEAN => BooleanType
        case Schema.Type.DOUBLE => DoubleType
        case Schema.Type.FLOAT => FloatType
        case Schema.Type.INT => IntegerType
        case Schema.Type.LONG => LongType
        case Schema.Type.NULL => NullType
        case Schema.Type.STRING => StringType
        case _ => StringType
      }
      StructField(fieldName, fieldType.asInstanceOf[DataType], true)
    }))
  }
}


text:
debra.cleaver
Debra Cleaver
Follow @debracleaver
Debra Cleaver has been working at the intersection of technology and democracy since 2004. She is the founder of VoteAmerica, Vote.org, ElectionDay.org, Long Distance Voter, FutureVoter.com, and Ready Set Vote. She's an alum of both Y Combinator and Pomona College, a former DRK distinguished entrepreneur. She frequently speaks at relevant conferences nationwide, including SXSW, Harvard Law, the Harvard School of Government, University of Michigan, and the SUMMIT Ideas Festival. Debra's work has been featured in The New York Times, Washington Post, MSNBC, C-SPAN, WIRED, SOCAP, Bloomberg, BBC, Buzzfeed News, Forbes, and more.
Registering More Young People to Vote is the Way to Save Democracy
Beyond the Voter File: How Relational Organizing Can Expand the Electorate & Help Us Win
The $5000 Nonprofit: Free or Low-Cost Resources and Tools to Help You Win
Everything You Know about Voter Turnout is Wrong
Using SEO for Social Change, Profit and Fame
Using SEO for Social Change, Profit and Fame!
SMS Outreach: What Works, What Doesn't, and What's a Waste of Your Time and Money


Adventures in good eating takes into consideration two key elements - good food and good friends; and Rising Son is the perfect place to bring the both of these elements together.
Satisfy your palate for that taste of Japan with our range of dishes, made to order by loving hands with only the freshest of ingredients and served with passion.
Experience the sushi chef's artistic impression of our special maki rolls if you fancy a mix of tastes that will surely keep you guessing.
Or if you are up for some easy bites, go for our lovingly prepared temaki hand rolls along with some sushi and sashimi.
Japanese classics are not in short order as well. Our teriyaki and teppanyaki bento sets are great in taste and value.
And don't forget some sake or our house special mixed drinks too!


The Skill is a communications firm founded on competence.
We examine the contents and find the most effective and elegant way to convey them..
The Skill offers services for many but not for all.
We are professionals and we put quality first.
Competence, truth, honesty, dedication and loyalty.
We believe in work ethics and generosity.
Our professional approach is based on precision and by attempting to constantly improve ourselves.
We consider respect for people and courtesy more important than a turnover.
SERVICES FOR MANY BUT NOT FOR EVERYONE.
The strategy who guides politics.
We manage trials by media in conjunction with law firms.
Prevention is better than cure. It is also possible to fight corruption through communication.


Admissions are open for 2017 in undergraduate and graduate programmes of B.Tech, M.Tech, M.B.A, B.C.A, B.B.A. Admission will be made on the basis of merit of qualifying exam by Institutional level admission committee and have to go through; submission of completed admission form with all relevant documents, group discussion and personal interview.
All the courses are offered with an objective of transforming higher education in India to secure the highest ranks each passing year making us proud.


José Manuel Cerqueira Afonso dos Santos, known as José Afonso, Zeca Afonso (Portuguese pronunciation: [ˈzɛkɐ aˈfõsu]) or just Zeca (2 August 1929 – 23 February 1987) is among the most influential folk and political musicians in Portuguese history. He became an icon in Portugal due to the role of his music in the resistance against the dictatorial regime of Oliveira Salazar. He is still widely listened to, not only in Portugal, but also abroad.
José Afonso was born in Aveiro on 2 August 1929, at 10:30 am.
In 1930, his parents travelled to Angola, a Portuguese colony at the time, where his father had been placed as a judge in the city of Silva Porto (present-day Kuito). José Afonso stayed at Aveiro, in a house near the "Fonte das Cinco Bicas", due to some health problems with his aunt Gigé and his uncle Xico, who called himself "republican and anticlerical". In 1933 Zeca travelled to Angola at his mother's request. On the ship Zeca met a missionary who became his companion during the voyage. José Afonso stayed for three years in Angola, where he began his primary education.
In 1936, he returned to Aveiro and in 1937 he travelled for the second time, this time to Mozambique, another Portuguese overseas territory in East Africa, where his parents were then living, with his brother and sister, João and Mariazinha.
He returned to Portugal in 1938, this time to the house of his uncle Filomeno, mayor of the town of Belmonte. There he finished the fourth grade. His uncle, a fierce fascist supporter, made him a join the "Mocidade Portuguesa", a paramilitary style political indoctrination youth organization conceived by the right-wing regime of Salazar and the Estado Novo, to provide regime aligned cadres and future leaders. Zeca came to regard those years as among the worst of his life.
He went to Coimbra in 1940 in order to continue his studies. He studied in the D. João III high school and lived with his aunt Avrilete. His family went from Mozambique to East Timor, also a Portuguese overseas territory at that time, where his father continued his job as a judge. Mariazinha went with them while his brother João returned to Portugal. With the occupation of Timor by the Japanese, José Afonso received no news from his parents for three years, until the end of World War II in 1945.
Azulejo in homage at the house in Coimbra, where José Afonso, O Zeca, lived. Known as the troubadour of liberty.
Soon after enrolling at university, Zeca started singing his first songs as a bicho (a non human ugly or scary creature), a traditional rank of the University of Coimbra for caloiros (1st year rookies). Thus, José Afonso being a freshman, become known as a bicho-cantor (singing creature), which earned him the right to not become rapado (head shaved) by the organized troups (frats) of older students (sofmore and seniors) who were guardians of the university's traditions.
From 1946 to 1948 he worked to finish his freshman year, as two prior exam attempts failed due to his chaotic lifestyle spent among the older students. He met Maria Amália de Oliveira, whom he married secretly due to his parents' opposition. He traveled with some of the most important university musical groups, such as Orfeon Académico de Coimbra, and played football for the Associação Académica de Coimbra. In 1949 he started studying History and Philosophy at Coimbra University.
In January 1953, his first son José Manuel was born and later on, his first recordings were released, of which no copies remain today.
Between 1953 and 1955, he served compulsory military service and was stationed in Macau, by then still Portuguese territory, but was sent home due to health problems. After returning from Macau, Zeca was stationed at Coimbra until completing military service. There, he experienced many economic difficulties and divorced his wife. Discharged from military service and with two young children, son José Manuel and daughter Helena that had been born in 1954, Zeca completed his studies managing to average 11 points out of 20 (55%), for a thesis about Jean-Paul Sartre.
In 1956, he released his first record, Fados de Coimbra. In 1956 and 1957, he became a teacher and worked in the south of Portugal. Due to his financial problems he sent his children to the Portuguese overseas territory of Mozambique in 1958, where his parents were at the time. In that year he became enthralled by Humberto Delgado's presidential campaign; Delgado lost due to massive electoral fraud perpetrated by the authoritarian Estado Novo regime. In 1959, he started singing in his trademark musical style, coloured with political and social connotations, touring with many popular groups around the country, gradually becoming a favourite among the working class and the rural population. In 1960 his fourth record, Balada do Outono (Autumn Ballad), was released. From 1961 to 1962 he paid close attention to the pro-democracy student strikes and demonstrations demanding the end of the authoritarian Estado Novo regime, which were brutally repressed by the police. He continued releasing many of his songs and introduced important new guitar arrangements. He played in Switzerland, Germany, and Sweden, in a fado guitar group with Adriano Correia de Oliveira, José Niza, Jorge Godinho, Durval Moreirinhas and the singer Esmeralda Amoedo. In May 1964, José Afonso played in the Musical Society Workers' Brotherhood in Grândola, where he found the inspiration to compose the song "Grândola, Vila Morena", which would become the signal (broadcast by the national radio channel) for the start of the Carnation Revolution in April 1974. Also in 1964 the album Baladas e Canções was released. From 1964 to 1967, José Afonso was in Lourenço Marques (now Maputo) and Beira, Mozambique, with his second wife Zélia, where he reunited with his children. In his last two years in the overseas province, he taught in Beira and composed music for the Bertolt Brecht play The Exception and The Rule. In 1965 his daughter Joana was born and by 1967, marked by the colonial reality and the Portuguese Colonial War returns to Lisbon. However, he left his older son, José Manuel, with his grandparents in Mozambique. Back in Portugal, José Afonso took up a secondary school teacher position in Setúbal, where he developed a severe health crisis which left him hospitalized for 20 days. After receiving hospital discharge, he found out that he had been expelled from public school teaching because of his leftist political ideals and the regime censors considered his songs highly subversive. His book Cantares de José Afonso (José Afonso's songs) was published. The Portuguese Communist Party leadership invited him to become a party member but Zeca refused. In that year he signed a contract with the Orfeu label, which would record 70% of his works. Dismissed from the government teaching job, he became a private tutor for some students and started singing more regularly with popular groups from the south bank of the Tagus river, Margem Sul do Tejo, a fiercely Communist supporting region that even before the revolution had strong popular local movements and associations and to this day, remains a Communist Party stronghold. For Christmas, Zeca in collaboration with Rui Pato, released the album Cantares do Andarilho, the first album recorded for Orfeu. His contract was very special one, for he was paid 15,000 escudos per month, a princely sum at the time, on condition that he recorded an album per year.
In 1969, with the replacement of hardliner António de Oliveira Salazar by the more moderate Marcelo Caetano as head of the Estado Novo regime, the nation got a slight taste of democracy, such as permission to rebuild a democratic Labour Union movement. José Afonso joined the movement and supported it by all the means he could while also taking part in the second wave of student rebellion against the regime in the university town of Coimbra. That year, the single Menina dos Olhos Tristes and the Contos Velhos Rumos Novos album were released. Best album for 1969 was awarded and again for his work in 1970 and 1971. For the first time on a Zeca album, an instrument other than the guitar was used. His fourth and last son, Pedro, was born.
In 1970, the album Traz Outro Amigo Também (Bring Another Friend Too) was recorded in London at the Pye studios and later on released. It was the first album without Rui Pato, who had been forbidden to travel by the regime's political police. On 21 March the Portuguese press gave Zeca an award for his "high quality work as singer and composer and for his decisive influence upon Portuguese popular music". He participated in an international festival in Cuba and at the end of 1971, the famous album Cantigas do Maio (Songs of May), recorded near Paris, in the Château d'Hérouville studios, was released. This album is generally considered the best album of his career. In 1972, the album titled Eu Vou Ser Como a Toupeira (I Will Be Like the Mole), was recorded in Madrid at Cellada studios.
In 1973, José Afonso continued his "pilgrimage", singing all over Portugal. Many of his appearances were forcibly cancelled by the PIDE/DGS. In April he was arrested and sentenced to 20 days in Caxias prison (a facility used mostly to jail political prisoners) until the end of May. In the prison he wrote the poem Era Um Redondo Vocábulo. For Christmas, he released the album Venham Mais Cinco, recorded in Paris and on which José Mário Branco collaborated. Janine de Waleyne from the Blue Stars of France and a prominent vocalist in French chanson, guested on the title track. On 29 March 1974, there was a full house at the Coliseu in Lisbon, for José Afonso, Adriano Correia de Oliveira, José Jorge Letria, Manuel Freire, José Barata Moura, Fernando Tordo, and many others, who ended the concert by singing "Grândola, Vila Morena". Some of the conspiring officers behind the revolutionary movement that in April would take part in the Carnation Revolution and the MFA, were in the audience and chose "Grândola" as the anthem for the Revolution. A month later, on 25 April, the Estado Novo regime was overthrown in a nearly bloodless military coup and the album Coro dos Tribunais (Courthouse Chorus) recorded in London, again at Pye studios with musical arrangements by Fausto, was released shortly thereafter. The album includes two Brechtian songs, composed in Mozambique in the period between 1964 and 1967: "Coro dos Tribunais" and "Eu Marchava de Dia e de Noite".
From 1974 to 1975 he became directly involved in the popular revolutionary movements. The PREC (Ongoing Revolutionary Process) became his passion. He performed on 11 March 1975 (the day of a failed coup led by António de Spínola) in the RALIS (a leftist military stronghold) for the soldiers. Zeca established a collaboration with the extreme-left movement LUAR. LUAR released his single "Viva o Poder Popular" (Hail to the People's Power) with "Foi na Cidade do Sado" on the B-side. In Italy, the revolutionary organizations Lotta Continua, Il Manifesto and Avanguardia Operaria released the album República, recorded in Rome on 30 September and 1 October. The money received from the sales of the album went to support the striking workers of the newspaper República. The album is almost unknown in Portugal and includes the songs "Para Não Dizer Que Não Falei de Flores", "Se os Teus Olhos se Vendessem", "Foi no Sábado Passado", "Canta Camarada", "Eu Hei-de Ir Colher Macela", "O Pão Que Sobra à Riqueza", "Os Vampiros", "Senhora do Almortão", "Letra para Um Hino" and "Ladainha do Arcebispo".
In 1976 he supported Otelo Saraiva de Carvalho's presidential candidacy. Otelo was an important commander of the 25 April military operations, and Zeca supported him again in 1980. He released the album Com as Minhas Tamanquinhas.
The album Enquanto Há Força, released in 1978, again with Fausto, shows some of Zeca's concerns about colonialism and imperialism and is also a critique of the Catholic Church.
In 1979 the album Fura Fura was released with the help of the popular artist Júlio Pereira. It contains many songs that were meant for the theater. He participated in the Anti-Eurovision Festival in Brussels.
In 1981, after two years of silence, he returned to Coimbra with his album Fados de Coimbra e Outras Canções. He played in Paris at the Théâtre de la Ville.
In 1982 he started to develop the first symptoms of the severe disease amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (motor neurone disease, or Lou Gehrig's disease in the US). He played in Bruges at the Printemps Festival.
On 23 January 1983, Zeca, weakened by the disease, played with some difficulty in a huge show with a full house at the Coliseu dos Recreios, Lisbon, with Octávio Sérgio, António Sérgio, Lopes de Almeida, Durval Moreirinhas, Rui Pato, Fausto, Júlio Pereira, Guilherme Inês, Rui Castro, Rui Júnior, Sérgio Mestre and Janita Salomé. At that show the live album Ao Vivo no Coliseu was recorded. After that, José Afonso performed one last concert, on 25 May 1983, at the Coliseu in Oporto.
At the end of 1983 he released Como Se Fora Seu Filho, a political testemonial. It contained the following songs: "Papuça", "Utopia", "A Nau de António Faria", "Canção da Paciência", "O País Vai de Carrinho", "Canarinho", "Eu Dizia", "Canção do Medo", "Verdade e Mentira" and "Altos Altentes". The city of Coimbra awarded him its Golden Medal. "Thanks Zeca, this is your house", the mayor, Mendes Silva, told him. "I don't want to become an institution, but I feel very grateful for the homage", Zeca answered. After that the president, Ramalho Eanes, wanted to give him the Order of Liberty, but Zeca refused to fill in the papers.
In 1983 José Afonso was reinstated in his official teaching position, whence he had been expelled in 1968; he was sent to Azeitão. His sickness started spreading and his health got worse.
In 1985 his last album, Galinhas do Mato, was released. Zeca was unable to sing all the songs on the album, being replaced by Luís Represas ("Agora"), Helena Vieira ("Tu Gitana"), Janita Salomé ("Moda do Entrudo", "Tarkovsky" and "Alegria da Criação"), José Mário Branco ("Década de Salomé", duet with Zeca), Né Ladeiras ("Benditos") and Marta Salomé ("Galinhas do Mato"). Musical arrangements are by Júlio Pereira and Fausto. The album also included "Escandinávia Bar-Fuzeta" and "À Proa".
In 1986 he supported the presidential candidacy of Maria de Lourdes Pintasilgo, a progressive Catholic woman; she was not elected.
José Afonso died in Setúbal at 3 am on 23 February 1987, aged 57, a victim of the sclerosis that had been diagnosed in 1982. His funeral in Setúbal was attended by 30,000 people. The procession took two hours to cover 1300 meters. His coffin was covered with a red flag with no symbols, as he had wished, and it was borne by, among others, Sérgio Godinho, Júlio Pereira, José Mário Branco, Luís Cília and Francisco Fanhais.
On 18 November 1987, the Associação José Afonso was created with the objective of fulfilling Zeca's intentions in the areas of Portuguese music and art.
In 1991, the city of Amadora inaugurated a 3.7 metres (12 ft) statue of Zeca Afonso in the city's Central Park.
On 30 June 1994, as part of Lisboa-94, European Capital of Culture, a festival in homage to Zeca took place. Many Portuguese musicians, both veterans and younger artists, joined in the tribute festival, called "Filhos da Madrugada" ("Children of Dawn", the title of one of Zeca's most famous songs). Earlier that year, BMG had released an album with the same title as the festival, and with the same artists performing their own versions of Zeca's songs.
Performers at this event included Brigada Victor Jara, Censurados, Delfins, Diva, Entre Aspas, Essa Entente, Frei Fado D'El Rei, GNR, Madredeus, Mão Morta, Opus Ensemble, Peste & Sida, Resistência, Ritual Tejo, Sérgio Godinho, Sétima Legião, Sitiados, Tubarões, UHF, Vozes da Rádio, and Xutos & Pontapés.
Thirteen years earlier, Zeca had remarked that "If rock is the musical style that the young prefer, then we should ask for good quality rock music".
In 1995 José Mário Branco, Amélia Muge, and João Afonso, Zeca's nephew, released another album in homage to Zeca, called Maio, Maduro Maio, that included many of his songs and two previously unreleased ones, "Entre Sodoma e Gomorra" and "Nem Sempre os Dias São Dias Passados".
For the 10th anniversary of Zeca's death, in 1997, EMI released for the first time in CD format the 1964 album Baladas e Canções.
In 1998, Vitorino and Janita Salomé took part in a concert in homage to José Afonso, included in Expo'98's programme.
In 2007 he was elected the 29th Greatest Portuguese.
1967 – José Afonso, ?
This page was last edited on 3 January 2019, at 10:24 (UTC).