rightwingwatch--2019-09-20--Trying to Find the Tea Party at its 10th Anniversary Rally

Fewer than 200 Tea Party activists gathered on the West Lawn of the U.S. Capitol Building on Thursday for a rally declaring socialism its top enemy.  Yesterday’s event was meant to celebrate the Tea Party movement’s 10-year anniversary. In September 2009, tens of thousands of protesters marched under the Tea Party banner in Washington, reported Fox News at the time; the Tea Party’s “Taxpayer March on Washington” demonstration was the conclusion of a “34-city, 7,000-mile bus tour” that began in California. But the size of the crowd at yesterday’s rally in front of the U.S. Capitol was a tiny fraction of the turnout the movement mobilized a decade ago.  Said to be born of a now-infamous on-air rant  by CNBC personality Rick Santelli in which he criticized plans for federal funding for the refinancing of home mortgages in the wake of 2008’s financial crisis, the movement rallied a decade ago on libertarian-styled calls for less government intervention in the economy. Tea Party adherents opposed President Barack Obama and his administration’s agenda, particularly on the issues of healthcare and the government response to the economic crisis. Tea Party rallies were also notable for the racism expressed by some participants in response to Obama’s presidency.  As The New York Times reported in depth, Tea Party leaders organized followers around an agenda that included reducing the national debt and deficit and limiting the government’s involvement the areas of the economy that lawmakers and the Obama administration were attempting to resuscitate. The Tea Party was a major force in local and national politics, helping to elect dozens of politicians  to Congress in the 2010 midterm elections. But in the Trump era, the Tea Party has joined the rest of the GOP in a choir of pro-Trump sycophancy. The Trump-GOP tax bill dramatically increased the debt, but conservative activists, including those once part of the Tea Party, largely supported it.  “We’re not going anywhere. We’re here to tell the President of the United States, ‘Stand strong, keep on the fight, [and] we back you, because you stand between us and them,’” Mark Levin, a prominent conservative political commentator and the headline rally speaker, said during his speech.  Rally speakers yesterday made no mention of the blooming national debt under the Trump administration, massive spending bills passed by GOP-controlled Congressional bodies, or the fact that the Trump administration has offered huge subsidies to American farmers. Instead, the rally borrowed its namesake and message from a line that President Trump declared during this year’s State of the Union address: “America will never be a socialist country.”  As The Intercept noted at this year’s Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC), Republicans have been explicit in stating that their strategy heading into 2020 is to frame the general election as a vote between capitalism and socialism, despite the fact that only one Democratic Party presidential candidate has used the word “socialist” to describe himself and that none have called for the abolition of capitalism. Right Wing Watch has documented numerous instances of the socialism-scare strategy being adopted and deployed in right-wing organizing spheres, including among the religious right.  On the mic, Morgan Zegers, founder of a new youth organization called Young Americans Against Socialism (YAAS), recounted her experience as a lifelong Republican who had a roommate in college who claimed to be a communist  to explain her organization’s plan to produce viral videos to turn young people away from socialism. (Polling has shown that young people are more open to socialist policies than prior generations.) YAAS is advised by Bill Montgomery, co-founder and senior advisor of Charlie Kirk’s conservative youth group Turning Point USA, which has taken a similar tone opposing what it paints as widespread socialist organizing in the United States.  Zegers said that she believed her communist roommate was well-intentioned, but misled. Zegers said she was confused why someone who had been educated in America would have in her room a poster depicting communist leaders, of which Zegers’ description sounded familiar to a mass-produced poster parodying the “Communist Party.” In a direct message on Twitter this morning, Zegers confirmed that poster she was describing was a similar parody poster.  “My generation was raised on participation trophies, so we lack those values of hard work. We went through the education system, where we weren’t really taught about the dangers of socialism and communism,” Zegers said. “So, we’ve got to do something about it.”  “That’s the future of America,” one crowd member remarked to another during Zegers’ speech.  Numerous elected officials joined Tea Party activists in front of the Capitol. Rep. Mo Brooks of Alabama appeared and told the crowd that free enterprise was partly responsible for making the United States “empirically” the best country in the world and that Democratic Socialists, he claimed, were infiltrating government at every level to destroy America.  “There is a conspiracy amongst the socialist Democrats to take our own government from us by allowing non-citizens to [vote to] control our future as a country. That is wrong and we have to fight for our republic,” Brooks said. “The socialist Democrats are an amoral party. They are undermining traditional moral values on a daily basis.”  Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas said that “those Democrats are all about socialism,” claiming that the American free-enterprise system was the greatest enemy of poverty. He urged activists to oppose socialism by adopting cheerful attitudes in contrast to an allegedly joyless left-wing enemy.  “This is all about partisan leftists undermining the Constitution and undermining the Bill of Rights, which means we need to explain why liberty matters,” Cruz said. “Contrast the joy of freedom, of America, with the angry intolerance of the socialist left.”  Rep. Jody Hice of Georgia reminisced about the major Tea Party march in Washington 10 years ago, remarking that it “shook our entire world.” He told activists that Democrats were disregarding the Constitution, citing a hearing earlier in the day in which some Democrats argued for the District of Columbia to become a state. He instilled a sense of urgency in combating what he characterized as a socialist insurgence in America.  “Never, ever, ever, would I have imagined, nor would have you imagined, that we literally would be facing a genuine obstacle, a genuine opponent, trying to force socialism down our throat,” Hice said. “We need another grassroots movement of leaders right now more than ever before.”  Rep. Louie Gohmert of Texas told activists that billionaires are funding socialist causes because they believe that they’ll get to be part of a special ruling class after socialism is implemented, but were doing so to their own demise.  “The billionaires don’t understand. They keep giving millions and millions to turn us socialist. They think they’re going to be part of that tiny little ruling class where all the rest of us are minions,” Gohmert said, going on to warn that billionaires are often put in prison or graves after socialist rule is implemented.  Gohmert also compared the Trump administration’s recognition of Jerusalem as the capital of Israel to Abraham Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation, which the Civil War president issued despite strong opposition.  Levin, who rally participants referred to as “The Great One,” implied that every Democrat seeking the presidency in 2020 was aligned with socialism. Levin went on to cite the food selections available at many grocery stores, airplane travel, and air conditioning as triumphs of American capitalism and constitutional values.  “Socialism is the opposite of liberty. Under socialism you surrender your heart, your soul, and your mind to Elizabeth Warren, to Bernie Sanders, to Cory Booker, and all the rest of them,” Levin said.  He also told activists that journalists in America are actively working against liberty, and said that the press “is supposed to be free to support our principles, our founding principles, which are not hard to support.” The rally was notably covered by a gaggle of BlazeTV employees, but seemingly few reporters from other national outlets. (BlazeTV merged with Levin’s network CRTV last year, and Beck was one of the Tea Party’s most prominent voices during his tenure as a primetime host on Fox News Channel.)  Throughout the rally, echos were heard of the Tea Party’s reputation for harboring racists and activists who embrace more extreme right-wing ideologies. Randy Corporon, a longtime Tea Party activist in Colorado, spoke about his work with far-right political columnist Michelle Malkin and anti-immigrant activist Tom Tancredo in his state against left-wing protesters calling for the abolition of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Corporon said that law enforcement had given their plans for a counter-protest rally this weekend at a location used by opponents of the Trump administration’s punitive policies against immigrants for political demonstrations at an ICE facility in what he described as “very leftist” Colorado.  During an aside in his speech during which Levin argued in favor of military action against Iran, an audience member hoisting a copy of Levin’s latest book above his head yelled: “They’re subhuman cockroaches!”


skynewsus--2019-01-10--The Sopranos stars reunite for 20th anniversary

Widely hailed as one of the greatest TV shows of all time, mafia drama The Sopranos is credited with paving the way for how modern television is made.  Now, the cast of the groundbreaking series have reunited to celebrate the 20th anniversary of its debut and remember its star, the late James Gandolfini, who died in 2013, aged 51.  Gandolfini played New Jersey mob boss and patriarch Tony Soprano, with fans following his trials and tribulations balancing criminal activities with family life, often through his visits to his psychiatrist, played by Goodfellas actress Lorraine Bracco.  Image: (L-R) Edie Falco, Jamie-Lynn Sigler and Robert Iler all attended the reunion  Image: Michael Imperioli and Tony Sirico were also among the cast members at the celebrations  Edie Falco, Jamie-Lynn Sigler and Robert Iler were among those to gather in New York to mark the anniversary, along with Gandolfini's son, Michael.  Falco, who played Tony's long-suffering wife Carmela, spoke to Variety about her experiences on the show.  "It feels very weird," she said. "First of all, that it's 20 years, that's crazy. And not that I don't think of Sopranos, but when I do, I almost feel like it's a dream I had.  "It's a very private relationship with that chapter of my life and then here I am with cast members and realising that they all have a private relationship with it and when we get together it becomes very much alive and it becomes so obviously wrong that Jim (Gandolfini) isn't here.  "Which is not something I think of on a daily basis, but obviously he was an integral part of the show but also of the alchemy of our cast. It's a very unusual, very rich experience, being here."  Image: Iler and Sigler were joined by Michael Gandolfini  The Sopranos, which ran for six seasons and won 21 Primetime Emmy Awards and five Golden Globes, is credited with changing the TV genre and making way for more mature series on the small screen, including The Wire, Breaking Bad and Game Of Thrones.  When the series ended after eight years in 2007, many fans were angered by its famously abrupt ending, which leaves the fate of the Soprano family a mystery.  Image: Series creator David Chase (centre) with Gandolfini and Falco in 2007  However, Falco said she is a fan of the way it finished, saying everyone has "different theories about what it meant and I love that".  A [**Sopranos prequel, titled The Many Saints Of Newark**](https://news.sky.com/story/bada-bing-the-sopranos-set-for-movie- prequel-11282378), is in development.  The screenplay by original Sopranos creator David Chase is set in 1960s New Jersey, and was co-written with another former Sopranos writer, Lawrence Konner.


skynewsus--2019-08-13--Friends episodes to hit US cinemas to mark 25th anniversary

Fan favourite Friends episodes will be screened in US cinemas to mark the show's 25th anniversary  Friends fans, the one where you get to see them all on the big screen is finally here.  No, it's not the film announcement viewers have long been hoping for, but it's the next best thing - a special event bringing some of the best episodes to cinemas in the US, as well as exclusive interviews and previously unseen content.  Friends 25th: The One With The Anniversary marks 25 years since Rachel did a runner on her wedding day, introducing the world to Monica, Chandler, Ross, Joey and Phoebe.  The show, one of the most popular TV series of all time, was nominated for 62 Emmy awards during its 10 seasons.  Starring Jennifer Aniston, Matt LeBlanc, Courteney Cox, Matthew Perry, David Schwimmer and Lisa Kudrow, it followed the lives of the six friends as they navigated their 20s and 30s living in New York.  Twelve fan favourite episodes will be screened at more than 1,000 US cinemas over three nights in September and October.  Could we be any more excited? Well, yes, probably, because there is currently no information on whether a similar event might be planned for the UK, so keep those fingers crossed. Otherwise, get yourselves over to the US.  The anniversary celebration has been organised by Fathom Events and Warner Bros, and will feature episodes including The One Where Ross Finds Out, The One With The Prom Video and The One Where No One's Ready, as well as the series' pilot show.  Warner Bros Television president and chief marketing officer Lisa Gregorian said: "The cultural impact that Friends continues to have, 25 years after its premiere, is astounding, a true testament to the genius of [executive producers] Marta Kauffman, David Crane, Kevin Bright and the incredibly talented cast.  "It is so amazing to know that the series is still bringing people of all ages together. We could not be more excited to deliver these digitally remastered episodes to theatres - for the first time ever! - so that together, in a shared experience, our loyal fans can enjoy some of their favourite Friends scenes in a new way."  Tickets go on sale on Friday on the Fathom Events website.


tass--2019-08-02--Festivities of Moscow Olympics 40th anniversary to start 3 weeks ahead of 2020 Games

Festivities of Moscow Olympics’ 40th anniversary to start 3 weeks ahead of 2020 Games

New stadium and giant Olympic Village: How Tokyo changed with a year to go to 2020 Games  MOSCOW, August 2. /TASS/. Celebrations of the 40th anniversary of the Summer Olympics in Moscow will be held three weeks in advance to the opening ceremony of the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo, Honorary President of the Russian Olympic Committee Vitaly Smirnov told TASS on Friday.  At a March session of the Presidential Council on Physical Culture and Sports, Smirnov voiced a proposal to observe the 40th anniversary of the 1980 Summer Olympics in Moscow.  The Russian president said then "It is a good idea," and issued instructions to the Russian Sports Ministry and Moscow Mayor Sergey Sobyanin on backing up the idea.  "The festivities will kick off three weeks before the [2020] Summer Olympic Games in Tokyo," Smirnov said.  Stanislav Pozdnyakov, the president of the Russian Olympic Committee (ROC), announced to TASS in April that the International Olympic Committee (IOC) voiced its plans to take part in the celebrations on the occasion of the 40th anniversary of the 1980 Olympics in the Russian capital.  Smirnov added that invitations to the 1980 Olympics’ 40th anniversary celebrations would be extended to heads of all international sports federations, including to IAAF (the International Association of Athletics Federations) President Sebastian Coe.  "I believe that the invitations will be extended to all international sports federations, there must be no discrimination, moreover, Coe is the champion of the Olympics in Moscow," Smirnov said. "He will certainly get an invitation. Why not?"  At Moscow's 1980 Summer Olympics, Great Britain’s Sebastian Coe won gold in men’s 1,500-meter and silver in men’s 800-meter running. He is also the 1984 Los Angeles Summer Olympics gold medalist in men’s 1,500-meter race.  The 1980 Summer Olympics was held in the Russian capital of Moscow between July 19 and August 3.  The Games, hosted by the then-Soviet Union, were marred by a boycott by a number of foreign countries, including the United States, in protest of Soviet military presence in Afghanistan.  Addressing the first ever World Olympians Forum (WOF) hosted by Moscow in 2015, IOC President Thomas Bach claimed the boycott could have been avoided if the IOC and the world leaders "could have listened to the Olympians at that time and the boycott could have never happened."  The 2020 Summer Olympic Games in Tokyo are scheduled to be held between July 24 and August 9 and the 2020 Summer Paralympic Games will run between August 25 and September 6. The Olympic flame will be lit on March 11, 2020 in memory of the 2011 tragedy and the Olympic torch relay will start on March 26, 2020 from the Fukushima Prefecture.


thedailycaller--2019-02-22--Its The 39-Year Anniversary Of The Miracle On Ice Hockey Game

It’s The 39-Year Anniversary Of The Miracle On Ice Hockey Game

Friday is the 39-year anniversary of the greatest event in American sports history.  On this wonderful day back in 1980, a scrappy group of college hockey players from the USA defeated the Soviet Union in the greatest hockey game ever played.  The two teams took the ice during the winter Olympics in Lake Placid, and what happened next shocked the world forever.  The young American squad led head coach Herb Brooks defeated the Soviet juggernaut 4-3. Mark Johnson, Jim Craig, Mike Eruzione and the rest of the American squad pulled off the unthinkable by beating the Soviets. (RELATED: Watch ‘Miracle On Ice’ Legend Mark Johnson’s Wisconsin Jersey Retirement Ceremony)  Pretty much nobody thought we had any chance. After all, the Russians had crushed in an exhibition game weeks earlier. There was no reason to believe that the Americans would somehow turn it around so quickly.  What the world saw that fateful night in Lake Placid is still celebrated to this day. Against all odds, the Americans didn’t yield an inch on the ice.  When the clock hit zero, the USA was on our way to the gold medal game against Finland. The impossible had happened, and the impact is felt just as strongly today.  Seriously, I question whether or not you love America if watching that game or watching “Miracle” doesn’t give you chills.  I’ve seen grown men cry as they watch the clock tick down, and they do it nearly 40 years later.  I wasn’t alive to watch it happen in 1980, but I probably watch “Miracle” at least once a month right now. I’m that addicted to the underdog story, and I’m that proud of the boys who laced up their skates that night.  It was another beautiful reminder that the United States of America is the greatest, and that communism sucks.


theguardianuk--2019-02-05--Sky News marks 30th anniversary with behind-the-scenes footage

Sky News is celebrating its 30th anniversary by broadcasting non-stop behind-the-scenes footage of its newsroom all day, offering viewers a sanitised insight into the exhausting process of keeping a 24-hour news channel on air.  Staff had been warned in advance not to say or do anything that they would not want to be broadcast, with more than 40 cameras and microphones placed around the Sky News offices on Tuesday. Some journalists had already arranged a post-it note system for awkward conversations. Desks were unusually tidy. News meetings were conducted with the utmost seriousness, with few jokes and no swearing. All of this was overlaid with football-style commentary describing what viewers were seeing, which often provided more insight than the raw footage.  Staff appeared deeply self-conscious that their discussions were being broadcast to an audience of several thousand people, many of them journalists at rival organisations and media reporters desperately hoping to spot an embarrassing mistake. Some tried to look relaxed in what was clearly one of the least relaxing workplace environments ever.  Digital editor Mark Alford, in a morning news meeting with his team, cracked a joke before turning to another member of staff: “Gemma, what have you got on showbiz?”  Gemma replied: “Before showbiz, I don’t know you if you’ve seen this but Adam Parker just sent an email from Staffordshire police saying that four children have died in a house fire.”  Suddenly the tone changed. Staff ceased their awkward laughter and adopted serious expressions, aware that their reactions were being broadcast live. Orders were given to scramble and then send a breaking news alert.  Gemma returned to her showbiz list: “Angelina Jolie is in Bangladesh visiting the Rohingya … Paul McCartney has got a gold Blue Peter badge …”  “For his services to music,” said Gemma, doing her best to do her day job.  “Took him a long time to get a badge!” said someone else.  A few moments later an alert was sent to those with the Sky News app announcing the house fire deaths in Staffordshire.  Every awkward moment is broadcast live. There’s the slip of the tongue in which a staff member accidentally promises an interview on Northern Ireland with the deceased singer George Michael, rather than the former US senator George Mitchell.  A separate news gallery filled with directors had been set up to ensure that footage of the main news gallery could be broadcast live. There was footage of editor-at-large Adam Boulton sitting on his own in a TV studio while waiting to go live, which always carries its risks.  During one discussion on how to cover actor Liam Neeson’s comments on race, news output editor Nick Phipps asked his staff to find someone to go on air and make the argument that the views were “not acceptable”.  “But fundamentally the piece is about Liam Neeson and what impact these comments will have on him and whether people want to see his films,” he added.  At the end of a different news meeting, Sky News reporter Ashish Joshi swept in to ask veteran presenter Colin Brazier how the team meeting went.  “It’s a quiet news day. It’s a patchy news day,” replied Brazier, who then admitted viewers had seen a sanitised version of what really happens behind the scenes: “Normally there’s quite a lot of gallows humour, which we excised from that meeting.”  Sky News editor John Ryley was interviewed by one of his employees, as the on-screen caption described him as “one of the leading figures in British TV news”.  “We feel it is very important that news organisations are transparent about the decisions that we make,” said Ryley, who helped to organise the strangely compelling experiment in newsroom transparency. “I’m keen to demonstrate that.”  What Sky News Raw demonstrates is the effort and level of staffing needed to run Sky’s news output across TV, radio, and online – plus the detailed consideration that goes into every piece of material. But as the saying goes: if you like laws and sausages, you should never watch either one being made.”. Journalism could possibly be added to that list.


theguardianuk--2019-02-18--The Cure Disintegration 30th anniversary shows to debut at Sydney Opera House

The Cure: Disintegration 30th anniversary shows to debut at Sydney Opera House

British rock group the Cure will be celebrating their landmark eighth album Disintegration with a 30th anniversary live show, which will have its world premiere and Australian exclusive at Vivid Live at the Sydney Opera House in May.  Released in 1989, Disintegration peaked at No 3 in the UK album charts, making it the band’s highest-charting record. Songs such as Lullaby, Lovesong, Pictures of You and Fascination Street cemented the band’s success in the United States too. By 1992, the album, described by this publication as “exquisitely morose”, had sold more than three million copies worldwide.  The Cure will be playing the record with a full band, featuring lead singer Robert Smith alongside Simon Gallup, Jason Cooper, Roger O’Donnell and Reeves Gabrels.  This will be the second time the Cure have played Vivid Live after 2011’s Reflections shows, at which the band played their first three albums in full: Three Imaginary Boys, Seventeen Seconds and Faith.  This time, the band will play Disintegration along with other tracks from their back catalogue.  Announcing the 2019 shows, Smith said: “Our Reflections shows in 2011 were truly memorable experiences, and with the excitement surrounding those early album performances in mind we are more than delighted to be announcing our return.”  While the band has a series of festival dates scheduled across the globe through the year, the Disintegration shows in Sydney are being billed as a “world premiere” – but no other venues or dates have been announced.  The idea for the shows came about after Vivid Live curator Ben Marshall contacted Smith directly asking for footage from the 2011 tour. While chatting, Marshall said he asked if Smith would consider performing Disintegration in its 30th year. Smith said he would love to.  Marshall described Disintegration as an “immaculately glacial, majestic album marrying raw, intense emotion with some of the biggest hits of their career”. He added that the Cure’s choice of venue for their tour’s debut was “both a perfect fit and an immense honour”.  Tickets to the four shows will be available via a ballot system, which is now open for applications. The Opera House says the system will “ensure everyone has an equal chance” at tickets while minimising website congestion.


theguardianuk--2019-07-20--Apollo 11 Buzz Aldrin greeted by cheers on moon landings 50th anniversary

Apollo 11: Buzz Aldrin greeted by cheers on moon landing's 50th anniversary

As Donald Trump reiterated his determination that Americans should walk on Mars, Mike Pence marked the 50th anniversary of the first moon landing at the Apollo 11 launch site in Florida on Saturday.  Buzz Aldrin, the second man to walk on the moon, accompanied Pence to Kennedy Space Center and showed him the pad where he began that momentous journey 50 years ago. Aldrin later got a standing ovation during a speech by Pence.  Mission commander Neil Armstrong, the first man to step onto the moon on 20 July 1969, died seven years ago. Command module pilot Michael Collins, who did not land on the moon, did not attend the Florida celebration.  Pence said Apollo 11 was the only event of the 20th century that “stands a chance of being widely remembered in the 30th century”. The vice-president reiterated the Trump administration’s push to put Americans back on the moon by 2024.  In a presidential message to mark “Space Exploration Day”, Trump said: “Sustained exploration that extends from our Earth to the moon and on to the Martian surface will usher in a new era of American ingenuity, drawing untold individuals into the fields of science, technology, engineering, mathematics, and defense.”  Elsewhere around the US, even as parts of the country sweltered under dangerous heat, anniversary events attracted sizeable crowds.  At the Museum of Flight in Seattle, the spacecraft that carried the three-man crew to the moon and back to Earth was on display as part of a traveling exhibit from the Smithsonian’s National Air and Space Museum in Washington DC.  The Seattle museum added its own artefacts and some from private collections, including engine parts from Apollo missions that were salvaged from deep in the Atlantic ocean by Amazon chief executive Jeff Bezos.  Visitor Gilda Warden sat on a bench and gazed in awe at the Apollo 11 command module, Columbia.  “It’s like entering the Sistine Chapel and seeing the ceiling. You want to just sit there and take it in,” said Warden, 63, a psychiatric nurse from Tacoma.  A celebration planned for Times Square in New York City was moved to a hotel due to the heat wave affecting the east coast and midwest. But the game went ahead at Yankee Stadium, where former space shuttle astronaut Mike Massimino threw out the ceremonial first pitch to former pitcher Jack Aker, who was on the mound when the 20 July 1969 game was interrupted to announce that the Eagle had landed.  Armstrong and Aldrin were “A1, No1, higher than major league,” Aker said.  In the aptly named Apollo, Pennsylvania, located in Armstrong county not far from the town of Mars and Moon Township, the local historical society revived an annual moon-landing celebration. All of the Apollo astronauts have long been honorary citizens of Apollo, the society’s Alan Morgan said.  In Armstrong’s hometown, Wapakoneta, Ohio, a smaller-scale event went ahead as local athletes competed in “Run to the Moon” races.  Wapakoneta 10K runner Robert Rocco, 54, a retired air force officer from Centerville, Ohio, called the moon landing by Armstrong and Aldrin “perhaps the most historic event in my lifetime, maybe in anybody’s lifetime”.  At events around the US, clocks counted down to the exact moment of the Eagle’s landing on the moon, 4.17pm ET, and Armstrong’s momentous step onto the lunar surface, at 10.56pm ET. The powdered orange drink Tang was back in vogue for toasts, along with MoonPies, including a 55lbs, 45,000-calorie MoonPie at Kennedy’s One Giant Leap bash in Florida.  About 100 visitors and staff at the American Space Museum in Titusville, across the Indian river from Kennedy, cheered and lifted plastic champagne cups of Tang at precisely 4.17pm.  “This is what we’re here for, to share the American space experience,” explained executive director Karan Conklin, who led the toast.


theguardianuk--2019-10-11--Westminster Abbey treasures go on display for 750th anniversary

A precious fragment of the shroud of Edward the Confessor and ancient royal manuscripts will be laid on the high altar at Westminster Abbey during a service to celebrate the 750th anniversary of the gothic church.  The abbey was consecrated on 13 October 1269 after Henry III rebuilt a basilica constructed on the same site by St Edward, the Anglo-Saxon king and the first English saint to be canonised by Rome.  The Queen and the Duchess of Cornwall will attend the anniversary event on Tuesday where some of the abbey’s most beloved treasures will be on show. King Edgar’s grant of land in 960 enabling the establishment of the very first Benedictine monastery where the abbey now stands will be placed on the altar. The 14th-century Litlyngton Missal will be opened alongside it.  Two elaborate 13th-century manuscripts signed by Henry III are on public show for the first time in the abbey’s galleries. In tightly written ink script on vellum (calf skin) and with impressive wax seals on silk cords, they reveal Henry’s wish to be buried in his new church alongside Edward, whom he venerated. They also reveal his pawning of gold, precious stones and jewels when he ran into financial difficulty during the extravagant rebuilding.  For centuries, Westminster Abbey has been at the centre of national life, and it has been described as Britain’s Valhalla, after the burial hall of Norse mythology.  The Very Rev Dr John Hall, the dean of Westminster, said: “I don’t think there is anywhere in this country that has precisely this link with our nation’s history.”  Sovereigns have been crowned, married and buried here. Countless heads of state have laid wreathes on the grave of the Unknown Warrior. Some of the country’s leading figures are interred or commemorated within its walls, including Geoffrey Chaucer, Isaac Newton, Charles Darwin and Charles Dickens.  On visiting in 2011 when he was US president, Barack Obama exclaimed: “Here you have the history not only of England and Great Britain but of the Commonwealth and the whole of the English-speaking world.”  The site’s exact history is still a mystery. Monks may have founded a small community here as early as 604. When the Confessor chose the spot to establish his palace, which eventually would become the Palace of Westminster, he built a new monastic church. His Romanesque basilica is depicted in the Bayeux tapestry.  Henry III, a devotee of Edward, began the creation of the abbey as it is known today. The famous west towers would not be added until 1745.  “Westminster Abbey was here before anything else,” said Hall. “We were two miles south-west of London and on a remote damp little island, Thorney Island, just surrounded by tributaries of the Thames and the Thames itself. Now we have the Palace of Westminster, the supreme court, the government offices in Whitehall. So now the centre of government is around here and the abbey is very much part of that particular community.”  Links with royalty and parliament go back centuries. With two exceptions, every English and, subsequently, British monarch has been crowned here since William the Conqueror in 1066.  “The Confessor and the Conqueror were the first sovereigns to associate themselves closely with the abbey, and they also made Westminster their place of residence and the seat of government, hereby connecting church and state in a bond that has lasted and evolved across the subsequent millennium,” writes the historian and president of the British Academy, Sir David Cannadine, in Westminster Abbey: a Church in History, published to mark the 750th anniversary.  It survived Henry VIII’s dissolution by becoming a cathedral. Mary I re-established it as a monastery. Elizabeth 1 established it as a royal peculiar – answerable to the sovereign and outside the jurisdiction of the Church of England – and named it the Collegiate Church of St Peter, Westminster.  Its status as a royal peculiar means other faiths can pray there. It is for all faiths and none. In recent years its services have marked the anniversaries of the Srebrenica massacre, of Kristallnacht, of the liberation of Auschwitz, of the death of Martin Luther King. Its annual Commonwealth Day service is invariably attended by the Queen.  Its fame has been fanned by televised ceremonies including the wedding of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and the extraordinary funeral of Diana, Princess of Wales. It attracts 2 million tourists and worshippers a year.  “It has been a house of prayer and devotion for much more than a millennium. It is a building of outstanding architectural significance and an unrivalled national mausoleum,” said Cannadine. “It’s close and lengthy relations with the parliaments of governments of this country are unequalled by any other church in any other nation.”


theindependent--2019-02-15--Drake releases aposSo Far Goneapos mixtape on Spotify and Apple Music for 10th anniversary

Drake releases 'So Far Gone' mixtape on Spotify and Apple Music for 10th anniversary

Drake’s breakout mixtape So Far Gone has been released in its original form to streaming services, including Spotify and Apple Music, for the first time.  The mixtape celebrates its 10th anniversary this month. It was the major catalyst in launching Drake’s international career, having been well-received by critics.  Both “Best I Ever Had” and “Successful” were released as singles from the mixtape, with the release also featuring guest vocals from Omarion, Lloyd, Lykke Li, Lil Wayne and Bun B.  The rapper announced the news on Instagram, thanking a series of people, including his manager Future the Prince, Bun B, actor Ben Baller and Omarion. He also thanked the team behind his record label Ovo, including Noah Shebib, Oliver El-Khatib and Boi-1da.  Shouting out to rapper Trey Songz, he wrote: “a decade ago you were the first person to recognise potential and give me a co-sign.” In reference to basketball player LeBron James, he wrote: “a decade ago you came to my release party at 6 Degrees and made me the biggest artist in the city off your presence alone.”  He also thanked Kanye West, adding: “a decade ago I rapped over your beat cause you just made the best s*** and even though you stay wildin on twitter these days I will never forget what you contributed to the game and my career.”


theindependent--2019-03-19--Metallica announce SampM 20th anniversary concert with San Francisco Symphony

Metallica announce S&M 20th anniversary concert with San Francisco Symphony

Metallica have announced a special concert with the San Francisco Symphony to celebrate the 20th anniversary of their 1999 live LP, S&M.  The show, titled S&M², is scheduled to be the debut show for the city's Chase Center venue on Friday 6 December.  A pre-sale will open on 19 March (Tuesday) from midday PT until Thursday 21 March at 11.59am PT. General tickets go on sale on Friday 22 March at 10am PT.  The band wrote on Instagram: "We're honoured to take part in the grand opening of the Chase Center in San Francisco as we celebrate the 20th anniversary of S&M. Join us at what is sure to become a cultural landmark in the Bay Area for S&M²."  S&M was the last Metallica album to feature former bassist Jason Newsted, and was produced by Bob Rock, James Hetfield, Lars Ulrich and conductor Michael Kamen.  Metallica's most recent album, Hardwired... to Self-Destruct, was released in 2016. The band play a string of UK stadium shows beginning on 18 June at the Etihad Stadium in Manchester.


theindependent--2019-04-10--On the 21st anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement the Brexit elite are putting my familyaposs

On the 21st anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement, the Brexit elite are putting my family's peace at risk

Today is the 21st anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement, when politicians from eight different political parties in Northern Ireland, as well as the British and Irish governments, came together to end decades of bloodshed. Upon the signing of those documents, the text of the agreement was sent to every household across the island or Ireland before it was voted on in a referendum in both nations.  Every year, early April is a time for reflection in Northern Ireland, and usually a cause for more than a little celebration. Indeed, as the Good Friday Agreement spoof twitter account tweeted this morning: "Best birth certificate ever."  I was three years old when the Good Friday Agreement was passed, but I have grown up in the shadows of the Troubles. And though I am privileged to have lived in a time of relative peace, no one should be under any illusions about the challenges of my home nation.  Peace is not a destination; it is a journey and a process. The Northern Ireland Peace Process shaped my upbringing, and I’ve seen first hand the massive difference it has made.  Just over a decade ago, my sister and I were bullied as children, beaten up for wearing the Catholic school uniform in a majority Protestant estate. Now my sister’s children have friends across the religious divide. My sister’s partner is a Protestant, too – the possibility of their relationship a result of this process, and their children the children of peace. If they had been born even 10 short years ago, they would have been called "mules" for being from a "mixed" family.  The Good Friday Agreement was the start, not the end, of peace in Northern Ireland. We are still working on it. It is a gift, and one which has to be earned every single day. To watch members of the Brexit elite so blithely throw that gift away – unwittingly, and without a care in the world – is incredibly frustrating.  I’m worried. I am worried that we are about to crash out of the EU with no safeguards on peace process funding, or guarantees on our border; I am worried that the sectarianism and violence which is never far from the surface in Northern Ireland is on the cusp of bubbling over once more.  We know that any form of Brexit threatens a hard border in Ireland, putting our peace at risk. We also know, unfortunately, that most if not all of the decision makers in Westminster do not appear to understand this.  So on this most auspicious of 21st birthdays, I would like to make a wish: give Brexit back to the people of Northern Ireland and let us decide our own future in a Final Say referendum.  Rosie McKenna is a support of For our Future's Sake. She lives in Northern Ireland


theindependent--2019-04-22--Saved by the Bell cast reunite for 30th anniversary

The cast of Saved by the Bell reunited to celebrate the show’s 30th anniversary.  Mario Lopez, Mark-Paul Gosselaar, Elizabeth Berkley and Tiffani Thiessen – alongside their spouses – got together for a celebratory dinner at Petit Trois in Sherman Oaks, California, according to USA Today.  Posting an image from the dinner to Instagram, Gosselaar wrote: “This is what 30+ years of friendship looks like.”  “Friends forever...” Lopez, Theissen and Berkley all captioned their images with, referencing the title of a song by the show’s fictional band, Zack Attack.  Lopez also shared a video from the meetup, writing that the group ate “an obscene amount of food”. He added: “Great group right here... Now it’s time to play credit card roulette for the bill.”  Saved by the Bell originally ran on NBC from 1989 to 1993, spawning two spin-offs (The College Years and The New Class) and two films.


theindependent--2019-06-26--Pride month Stonewall names Donatella Versace as new ambassador ahead of 50th anniversary

Pride month: Stonewall names Donatella Versace as new ambassador ahead of 50th anniversary

Italian fashion designer Donatella Versace has been named as a new ambassador for Stonewall – a charity that campaigns for the equality of lesbian, gay, bi and trans people across the globe.  On Tuesday, the 64-year-old announced the news on Instagram alongside a photograph of her holding the LGBT+ flag and wearing a T-shirt that features the Versace logo over a glittering rainbow.  “I’m truly honoured to become a Stonewall Ambassador and so excited to be coming to New York for World #Pride and celebrate #StonewallDay!” Versace captioned the post.  “Join me in supporting the initiative that commemorates the 50th anniversary of the 1969 Stonewall Riots and continues to fight for full #LGBTQ + equality.”  Versace has been a long-time supporter of the LGBT+ community, having been a patron of the Elton John Aids Foundation for many years.  Versace’s brother, Gianni, was also one of the fashion industry’s first openly gay designers before his untimely death in 1997.  Speaking to WWD, Versace said she is looking forward to adding her voice to the millions of others who demand change.  “In 2019 it is not acceptable that there are people who live in fear because of the person they love, or worse they are persecuted, thrown out of their homes,” Versace said.  “We all need to voice our concern so that everyone can stop living in fear and is free to be whoever they want to be. We need to stop the hate and the discrimination to create a society that accepts diversity, treats everyone equally and is inclusive.”  In addition to the news, Versace has announced that the Italian fashion house is launching a collection of limited-edition Stonewall T-shirts with proceeds going to support Stonewall Day and Pride Live – a global campaign to highlight the importance of remembering the riots.  The T-shirts will be available to purchase at the brand’s Fifth Avenue boutique and online at Versace.com.  This year, Stonewall Day, which falls on 28 June, commemorates the 50th anniversary of the 1969 Stonewall Riots.  Otherwise known as the Stonewall Uprising, the incident saw members of the LGBT+ community fight back against harassment from the police in Greenwich Village, New York.  The riots, which saw protesters take a more militant approach in which they demanded respect and equality, has long been lauded as one of the first major moments in the LGBT+ community’s campaign for wide-scale social change.  It is expected that more than 50 Stonewall ambassadors, which includes the likes of Madonna, Anna Wintour and Whoopi Goldberg, will attend the commemorative event.


theindependent--2019-07-04--David and Victoria Beckham share throwback photos to mark 20th wedding anniversary

David and Victoria Beckham have marked their 20th wedding anniversary by sharing a series of throwback pictures on Instagram.  On 4 July 1999, the celebrity couple married at Luttrellstown Castle in Ireland, two years after meeting at a charity football match.  Two decades later, the Beckhams have celebrated their anniversary by sharing a collection of photographs taken throughout their relationship on social media, ranging from snaps taken on their wedding day to fashion faux pas.  On Thursday, David's posted several pictures from their wedding, the 2014 Met Gala and of the couple with their four children.  "WOW 20 years, look what we created," the former professional footballer wrote in the caption. "Love you so much."  Victoria, meanwhile, shared a video compilation of throwback pictures on Instagram, writing in the caption: "20 years today. I love you so much xxxxx Kisses x @davidbeckham."  On his Instagram story, David also shared a card he and Victoria were given by their seven-year-old daughter, Harper, for their anniversary.  The card features cartoon versions of the couple and their children, Brooklyn, Romeo, Cruz and Harper.  "You are the best parents in the entire world," the card reads. "We love making memories with you."  Several Instagram users wished David and Victoria congratulations on their relationship milestone.  "Happy Anniversary both," wrote Rebekah Vardy, who is married to England footballer Jamie Vardy.  To see all of David and Victoria's best fashion moments throughout the years, click here.  The Independent's Millennial Love group is the best place to discuss to the highs and lows of modern dating and relationships. Join the conversation here.


newsbusters--2019-12-06--In Face of Impeachment, Jobs Market and Stock Market Steamroll Along

While the liberal media continue their ongoing impeachment obsession, and with Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) directing her chairmen to draft articles of impeachment, the jobs market and stock market continue to steamroll along.  “Total nonfarm payroll employment rose by 266,000 in November, and the unemployment rate was little changed at 3.5 percent, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today”[emphasis added], according to a Dec. 6 United States Bureau of Labor Statistics News Release. “Notable job gains occurred in health care and in professional and technical services. Employment rose in manufacturing, reflecting the return of workers from a strike” [emphasis added]. And the stock market is also rallying. Investor’s Business Daily released a Dec. 5 story with the following headline: “Dow Jones Led By Gains From Nike, Apple; Stocks Defy Trump Impeachment News.”  CNBC called the jobs market results a “stellar performance,” and further noted that the “266,000” figure for November was “better than the 187,000 expected by economists polled by Dow Jones.” And CNN even admitted Dec. 6 that a “couple of generations of people have not seen this kind of unemployment rate."  CNSNews.com reported Dec. 6, “158,593,000 Americans were working in November, the 24th record of Trump's presidency.” CNSNews.com also noted that “average hourly earnings for all employees on private nonfarm payrolls rose by 7 cents to $28.29. Over the last 12 months, average hourly earnings have increased by 3.1 percent” [emphasis added].  The 3.1 percent increase in average hourly earnings even slightly beat expectations of economists (3.0 percent) polled by Dow Jones, acknowledged CNBC.  CNBC also noted that the jobs growth was “the best since January,” and the BLS report cited one possible reason for this:  “Manufacturing employment rose by 54,000 in November, following a decline of 43,000 in the prior month. Within manufacturing, employment in motor vehicles and parts was up by 41,000 in November, reflecting the return of workers who were on strike in October” [emphasis added].  “[T]he job gains were spread among a multitude of sectors. Health care added 45,000 positions after contributing just 12,000 in October,” [emphasis added] CNBC reported.  Other sectors continued an upward trend as well, including leisure and hospitality, which the BLS noted, “continued to trend up (+45,000). The industry has added 219,000 jobs over the last 4 months.” Transportation and warehousing also continued “an upward trend in November (+16,000). Within the industry, job gains occurred in warehousing and storage (+8,000) and in couriers and messengers (+5,000),” the BLS reported.  Financial activities employment also continued an upward trend (+13,000), “with a gain of 7,000 in credit intermediation and related activities. Financial activities has added 116,000 jobs over the last 12 months.”  So much for the liberal media’s summer nervous breakdown over “recession” fears.  In the stock market, the news was also positive for President Donald Trump’s economy.  Investor’s Business Daily noted the following: “Multiple Dow Jones stocks traded in key buy zones, including Nike (NKE), Disney (DIS) and Microsoft (MSFT). Dow giant Apple (AAPL) gained 1% intraday after an analyst upgrade. IBD 50 component RH (RH) vaulted 12% higher on a strong earnings beat.”  The stock market “remains in a confirmed uptrend, despite the Trump impeachment news,” The Daily reported. “Markets reacted mildly to the news of the House moving to formally impeach the president. As of now, it appears likely that Trump will be acquitted by the Senate and not be removed from office, which explains the very mild market reaction,” [emphasis added].  The President tweeted in response to the news Dec. 6: “Stock Markets Up Record Numbers. For this year alone, Dow up 18.65%, S&P up 24.36%, Nasdaq Composite up 29.17%. ‘It’s the economy, stupid.’”  It appears that despite the ongoing media-hyped impeachment charade, the Trump-era economy has continued to defy the odds.  >>Help fight back against the media's impeachment crusade.<<


npr--2019-07-03--This California City Has The Nations Worst Job Market Im Applying Everywhere

This California City Has The Nation's Worst Job Market: 'I'm Applying Everywhere'  To visit California's Imperial Valley is to enter a sleepy place worlds away from the glamorous boomtowns of California's coast. Pickups outnumber BMWs. Vast farms irrigated by the Colorado River stretch as far as the eye can see. Few tourists walk its hot, dusty streets.  Yet the valley lies just two hours from the beaches and swanky subdivisions of San Diego, in the hard, rocky desert terrain near the Mexican border.  The valley is different in another way, too. While the United States is enjoying the healthiest job market in half a century, the metropolitan El Centro area has what the U.S. Labor Department says is an unemployment rate of 16.2%, the highest in the nation. By comparison, the rate for the country as a whole is 3.6%.  For people like 57-year-old Graciela Panduro, who lost a job at Walmart two years ago because of poor circulation in her legs, good jobs can be hard to find. "I'm applying everywhere and they always say, 'Leave us the application over here and we'll call you.' But no calls," Panduro says. She and her adult son — also unemployed — live off the money her husband makes as a handyman.  Panduro was standing inside the community center in the little valley town of Heber, where the county has set up a food bank. Outside, a line of people waiting to get in snakes around the parking lot. Many carry umbrellas to protect themselves from the brutal sun overhead.  Some 250 families show up at the center each month to get free food — milk, cheese and meat — distributed by volunteers and paid staff.  Many of the jobs here are agricultural: The Imperial Valley is home to thousands of acres of farms that grow cauliflower, potatoes and spinach and require a large seasonal workforce. Some of the farmworkers live here; many others cross the border from Mexico a few miles away to work every day.  Once they become too old to work in the fields, however, few jobs are available other than retail and fast food. And even those can be hard to get, says Alba Sanchez, who works for the Imperial Valley Food Bank.  "We have a lot of stores closing down right now," she says. "Sears closed down. We have a lot of other stores closing at the mall that employed these families and they're out of jobs."  The Imperial Valley does have middle class residents, many of whom work in government and law enforcement. U.S. Customs and Border Protection, which patrols 71 miles of the Mexican border nearby, is a big local employer.  Two state prisons are also located nearby and the valley was delighted to get them, says El Centro City Council member Cheryl Viegas-Walker.  "When everybody else was saying, 'Not in my backyard,' the whole NIMBY thing, 'Don't dare site those prisons here,' we were like, 'Please. Bring them here. Bring the jobs here,' " she says.  Viegas-Walker herself came to El Centro as a young woman after her husband took a job at a local law firm. At first, she was less than thrilled to live in the valley. Today, she says she has become its biggest cheerleader.  She likes the small town feel of the city, the fact that she can drive to work in six minutes. Unlike most of California, El Centro is also affordable: A nice house on a palm tree-lined street in the better part of town can be had for about $200,000.  Like Viegas-Walker, many local officials argue that the unemployment rate is lower than the Labor Department claims and is skewed by the large number of seasonal workers in the area, many of them coming from the much larger city of Mexicali, Mexico, next door.  City officials also say their efforts to lure new businesses have been hurt by California's comparatively high minimum wage, which they say has driven some jobs into Arizona and even Mexico.  But no one disputes that there aren't enough good jobs.  "It's one thing to have a job. It's another thing to have a job that pays a [good] wage and has some upward mobility, and certainly that's where [the Imperial Valley] economy continues to fall short," says Mike Bracken, chief economist at Development Management Group, which advises local businesses and communities on development.  Viegas-Walker acknowledges that people with college degrees tend to leave El Centro for greener pastures. She knows that firsthand: Her own two grown sons now live in Oregon and New York.  "We do have a brain drain. I mean, my two sons will not return to the valley. They won't come back," Viegas-Walker says.  Many of those who remain have few options for work. In the United States, the poverty rate was 12.3% in 2017. In El Centro, it was more than twice that.  "Our economy is not diversified. It's a very narrow economy. It's either farm or government or teaching or low-income, with a few other exceptions," says Sara Griffen, executive director of the Imperial Valley Food Bank.  A few years ago, Jessica Solorio, who grew up in El Centro, noticed a growing number of homeless people gathering in a local park. She decided to cook up a meal of chicken teriyaki and rice and take it to them. It soon became a regular thing.  "Me and my friend fed the homeless one night, and we posted on Facebook, then we asked who was going to take the next night. And from there we've just been feeding the homeless every night," she says.  Today she heads Spread the Love, a drop-in center where homeless people can spend their afternoons sleeping on cots or just sitting in the air conditioning.  Among those stopping by is Henry Lee Poston, who says he has spent much of his life in prison or on the streets. Raised in Oklahoma, he's never gotten used to the heat in the valley. It makes being homeless that much harder.  "One thing is it's too dang hot here," says Poston. "I have blackouts because of the heat. And there's nothing I can do about it."  Poston has been looking for work in the valley for a long time with no success.  "I've tried and tried and tried and tried," he says wearily. "They keep telling me the same thing. 'You're not socially acceptable.' Whatever the hell that means."  If he ever does get a job, he has one goal: To leave the valley and return home to Oklahoma.


newyorkpost--2019-01-06--New York has become a hot buyers market for job seekers

New York has become a hot buyer’s market for job seekers

If you woke up on New Year’s Day resolving that this will be the year you finally quit complaining about your job and get a new one, your timing is perfect. While the unemployment rate hovers near all-time lows nationwide, jobs in the Big Apple are being created at a faster clip than almost anywhere in the US.  “Overall, job growth in New York City is tremendous,” says Raleen Gagnon, managing director of global market intelligence at ManpowerGroup Solutions, one of the largest recruitment firms in the world.  Why the boom? New York City is now the birthplace of more than 7,000 new startups, it houses some of the world’s largest finance, fashion, entertainment and technology employers and is a mecca for tourists who eat, sleep, shop and consume here. And, as the nation’s largest city, it has a budget of more than $89 billion, much of which will be paid out to city workers.  For New Yorkers, this translates not only to choices in employers and professions, but also whether they want to be on someone’s payroll, hang their own shingles or work a series of gigs. As a result, companies who need to hire find themselves in an interesting predicament. What can they do to win the talent that everyone else needs, too?  “We’re increasingly watching our clients step up their games and make stronger offers,” says Jonathan Silverman, a recruiter at Atlas Search in Midtown.  We’re not just talking about money. “It could also be a flexible schedule or the number of days off. There are lots of ways to negotiate,” says Gagnon.  Needless to say, the hotter the job, the greater your leverage. We looked at data and reports from the Conference Board, Indeed, LinkedIn, ManpowerGroup, the New York City Economic Development Corporation and Tech:NYC, and these are some of the areas where jobs are growing the fastest.  Thanks to the booming economy and regulators who force companies to comply with a gazillion regulatory rules, the demand for workers in accounting and finance in New York City is growing at as much as 83 percent, according to ManpowerGroup. Hot job titles range from auditors, to certified public accountants to tax accountants. “This is unlike any market we’ve ever seen,” says Silverman.  The need to hire people to move goods to, from and across the city, and then door to door, is huge — and it keeps growing. All it takes to get started in this profession is a set of feet, wheels and an ability to follow directions; although, in some cases, a state ID, driver’s license and good driving record are also required.  Jobs can be found in person at small businesses and restaurants, on Web sites, or by simply signing up on apps like Amazon Flex, Grubhub for Drivers, Postmates Fleet and others.  Right now, New York is generating these jobs more quickly than Silicon Valley. The demand for blockchain developers, data scientists, machine learning specialists and software developers is growing faster than the city’s universities, worker development organizations and tech boot camps can train them. Consequently, the New York technology ecosystem has created more than 326,000 jobs, according to Julie Samuels, executive director of Tech:NYC, a group that represents New York-based tech firms. And with Amazon and Google expanding their presence in the city, 31,000 entirely new jobs are now in the pipeline.  Some of the jobs this industry creates aren’t even in technology. “They might be in finance, sales, media, real estate or fashion,” says Samuels, pointing to Spotify, which also hires for roles in areas like artist and label marketing, content programming and marketing strategy.  The experts were pretty much blindsided by this, but there’s a scarcity of blue-collar workers. Restaurants are having trouble finding enough waitresses, dishwashers and cooks. Building maintenance, HVAC workers, and groundskeepers are in short supply. Never mind home health aides, nursing assistants, hard hats and day laborers.  This might be because “these jobs are not easy,” says Gad Levanon, chief economist at the Conference Board, a highly respected research group which released a report on the new finding in December. Also, baby boomers in these professions are retiring, while millennials and Generation Z are going to college rather that choosing blue-collar careers.  Employers are responding to this by treating these workers better. “Wages are rising rapidly,” says Levanon. “Some blue-collar workers are already making as much as white-collar workers,” he says.  Amazon will start hiring in Long Island City later this year and they’ll be bringing in a diverse pool of workers — some 25,000 over the next several years, according to a company spokesperson.  They will be looking for talent in everything from robotics to cloud computing and coding, as well as “people on the business side [and] workers who will keep everything running,” says a company spokesperson. While there will be a wide range of salaries, the average is projected to be $150,000. You can look out for job ads on the Web, as well as Amazon job fairs.  “When we hire, we look for diverse, talented candidates who are passionate about what they do and who want to innovate with us,” says Ardine Williams, vice president of people operations and worldwide human resources at Amazon. “We know firsthand that New York is brimming with talent that is a great fit for Amazon.”


npr--2019-05-20--Hot Job Market Is Wooing Women Into Workforce Faster Than Men

Hot Job Market Is Wooing Women Into Workforce Faster Than Men  Gaby Gemetti thought she was failing. After having a second child, she struggled to be a good mom and also a good employee.  "I felt like I wasn't a good mother," she says. "I was waking up in the middle of the night thinking about, 'Oh, my presentation,' or just work in general."  So, even though Gemetti was moving up the management ranks at a top tech company in Silicon Valley, she gave up the job four years ago to stay home in Santa Clara, Calif. As hard as it was, Gemetti's decision was particularly driven by her son's needs, when he started requiring regular therapy.  But she missed working on team projects. And recent headlines spotlighting the need for women in technology piqued her interest in looking for a job again. So she got back to work.  Over the past three years, women in their working prime such as Gemetti have been entering the workforce at more than double the rate of men.  Don't see the graphic above? Click here.  That recent rise comes at a time when the economy is humming along and the unemployment rate has reached historic lows, which means there are more opportunities for workers seeking higher pay and better benefits.  Those benefits appeal to working mothers like Gemetti. In March, she started a "returnship," a new type of program to recruit and retrain women like her who are looking to resume their careers. The new gig, managing a team at Cisco Systems, gives her time to occasionally pick up her kids from school.  Women returning to jobs at higher rates since 2015 dramatically reverses the trend of the previous three years, when women were leaving the workforce at twice the rate of men. It is also a reversal of a nearly two-decade drop in the percentage of working women.  During World War II, women started entering the labor force in large numbers. That trend didn't stop for decades. Until 2000. Then it started to dip — a decline that continued through the Great Recession and ended in 2015.  Now, many employers are struggling to find workers and are trying to lure them with more family-friendly benefits, such as flexible hours and paid leave. That's attractive to women, who continue to remain the primary caregivers for children and elderly parents.  There are other things contributing to the expanding female workforce — the growth of industries such as health care and education that rely heavily on women, for example.  Women also are making inroads in historically male-dominated fields such as manufacturing and construction, says Martha Gimbel, research director at the job site Indeed, an NPR sponsor.  "In a tight labor market, employers are willing to look at applicants that they might have dismissed in the past," she says.  Another draw for women: Employers competing for workers are paying more. But is it enough, given a number of other financial barriers to women working?  Their return to work means there is greater demand for child care, which is harder to find. And, unlike Canada and Europe, the U.S. doesn't subsidize child care.  "If a woman has a relatively low hourly wage, maybe it makes more sense for her to take care of her own children," says Claudia Goldin, an economics professor at Harvard University who researches women in the workforce — even if that means earning less later in life when a woman goes back to work.  "Can wage growth support workers paying for more expensive child care?" Gimbel asks.  The employment gains American women have made in recent years pale in comparison to countries such as Canada and Sweden, where a higher percentage of women work.  "This is a real indication that there's something wrong," Goldin says.  Women in the U.S. face greater financial headwinds. Much of that is tied to their role as default caregivers in many families. Paid time off to care for children and sick family members remains relatively rare. Some cities and states require it, but federal law does not.  That makes it harder to keep a job.  There's another disincentive, Goldin says: Married women with working spouses are taxed at a higher rate.  The calculation to work, or not, is personal and practical. But that choice has also long been judged and criticized as a subject of culture wars. In the 1980s, it centered on "latchkey children" — kids of working parents who unlocked their own homes after school and looked after themselves.  The #MeToo movement reignited workplace debates, including inequity in pay and women's representation in executive ranks. Many employers are now trying to address that.  They're adding retraining and mentorship programs to encourage women to return, and are explicitly recruiting women, says Sonu Ratra. She took a career break and founded a staffing firm and a job-placement and support group called Women Back to Work.  "There has been a cultural shift in the last two years," Ratra says. "Women are being celebrated more today than ever."  And that shift isn't just felt by women.  When Gaby Gemetti decided to go back to work, both she and her husband shifted their schedules.  "We were like, 'Oh God, child care. What are we going to do about the kids?' " she says.  Gemetti is fortunate. Her mother and a part-time sitter can pick up the children from school most days, while Gemetti and her husband alternate on others. But between her daughter's swimming and dancing lessons and her son's baseball practices, it's still a daily logistical challenge.  That juggle hasn't gotten any easier, she says: "Practice is at 5:30, so you have to leave work at 4:30 in order to get them ready to scramble, and then what are you going to do about dinner?"  It's all part of the calculus Gemetti and other women are making as they return to the workforce.


npr--2019-11-01--Job Market Resilient In October Despite GM Strike, Beating Expectations

U.S. employers added 128,000 jobs in October as the unemployment rate inched up to 3.6%.  Friday's report from the Labor Department suggests job growth remains resilient, despite the ongoing trade war and temporary setbacks such as the United Auto Workers strike at General Motors, which was settled a week ago.  Job gains for August and September were also revised upward by a combined 95,000.  "Overall, it was a very strong report when you consider some of the headwinds," said senior economist Sarah House of Wells Fargo Securities. "While the labor market might not be growing quite as quickly as it was in 2018 or even in the early part of this year, it's not collapsing by any means either. Employers are still out there hiring. More people are collecting a paycheck. And that's all a good sign for consumer spending."  Investors welcomed the better-than-expected report. The Dow Jones Industrial Average and the S&P 500 index both jumped sharply in the first hour of trading.  Don't see the graphic above? Click here.  The GM strike did take a bite out of manufacturing employment. Factories shed 36,000 jobs in October. Some 46,000 GM workers are now back on the job after 40 days on the picket lines.  "They were starting to feel a little bit of the pinch, but they're glad to be back," said Randy Freeman, president of UAW Local 652 in Lansing, Mich. "They're glad to be working, and having this behind them, and going into the holiday season."  Manufacturing has also suffered from slowing demand in the rest of the world as well as the president's trade war. A separate report from the Institute for Supply Management showed manufacturing activity contracted in October for the third consecutive month.  That was offset in the October jobs report, though, by strong growth in the much larger services side of the economy. Services — such as hospitality and health care — are typically consumed locally, and so are less affected by global forces.  The modest rise in the unemployment rate came as hundreds of thousands of new people entered the workforce.  "That's encouraging that folks feel like there's job opportunities out there," House said. "We're getting more people coming in and looking for work."  Average wages over the past 12 months have increased 3%, a slight acceleration from the previous month.  The U.S. economy is growing more slowly now than it was earlier in the year — dragged down in part by weak business investment. On Wednesday, the Commerce Department reported that the economy grew just 1.9% between July and September.  Eventually, that slower growth could become a drag on the job market and that in turn would cut into consumers' buying power. But Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell told reporters this week he's not worried yet.  "That's a risk that we've been monitoring, but we don't see it yet," Powell said.  The central bank cut interest rates by a quarter percentage point on Wednesday to guard against further slowing. But Powell suggested that might be the last rate cut for a while, unless the economy worsens.  "Consumers are doing well and are focused on the good job market and rising incomes," he said. "That is the thing that is pushing the economy forward and it doesn't seem to have been affected so far by weakness in the other areas."


prisonplanet--2019-09-12--The Signs Of A Slowing Job Market Are Visible And Many

Signs that the job market is slowing have been piling up this week. One of the “brightest” and most touted pieces of the American economy is showing cracks, and many are taking notice.  It took a little time, but United States businesses have warned over the past year that the effects of tariffs would ripple into the labor market.  We continued to warn that the effects of this trade war on the American worker and consumer would be felt heavily, while the nation of China is left largely unscathed. But until now, it appears that not many have listened.  According to Business Insider, the Labor Department on Tuesday said the number of job openings fell by 31,000 in July to a seasonally adjusted 7.2 million, the latest sign of weakening labor demand. The results showed openings remained plentiful, but they came just days after the department reported weaker-than-expected figures for August employment.  “Last week’s jobs report sparked a debate over whether the slowdown in hiring is due to an economy hitting full employment, but today’s JOLTS report indicates that this is actually a labor market that is losing momentum,” said Nick Bunker, an economist at Indeed Hiring Lab.  The US added 130,000 nonfarm payrolls in August, a slowdown from a month earlier and compared with forecasts for an addition of 160,000. Economists said the real increase was closer to 105,000 last month, however, without taking into account a wave of temporary workers hired for the 2020 census. Earlier Tuesday, the National Federation of Independent Business said small firms reported fewer open positions that they could not fill in August as outlooks for the economy dimmed.  “The good news — relatively — is that capex plans rose a point, though the trend remains weak and continues to signal a clear downshift in business investment through the end of this year and into early 2020,” said Ian Shepherdson, the chief economist at Pantheon Macroeconomics according to Business Insider.  The downturn in the economy has been obvious for a little while, and Trump’s trade war is shaking things up in the wrong way. A majority of Americans think a recession will hit the U.S. next year, and most are blaming Trump for starting an economically devastating trade war.  This article was posted: Thursday, September 12, 2019 at 5:12 am


redstate--2019-01-15--Veteran Unemployment At All Time Low Thanks to Booming Job Market but Hurdles Still Lay Ahead

Veteran Unemployment At All Time Low Thanks to Booming Job Market, but Hurdles Still Lay Ahead

For years it hasn’t been looking good for veterans trying to find a job after serving their country, but according to new data, veterans are finding it easier to be employed now more than ever.  According to the Military Times, a number of veteran service organizations and popular brand names began working on the problem and before we knew it, the Bureau of Labor Statistics is reporting that veteran unemployment rates for the latest generation of soldiers dropped below four percent in 2018:  For veterans of all generations, the unemployment rate was similarly low, dropping to 3.5 percent from 3.7 percent last year.  The 3.8-percent annual unemployment rate for 2018 continues a seven-year trend of declines since 2011, when post-9/11 veteran unemployment peaked at 12.1 percent – more than triple the 2018 rate.  These figures are below what economists have traditionally considered “full employment,” and some would say it’s worth celebrating — especially since the 3.8-percent rate was on par with nonveterans in 2018. And nationally, the economy is looking up, with the U.S. hitting three consecutive months of a 3.7 percent unemployment rate last year, a low the country hadn’t seen since the 1960s.  A good economy that employs its soldiers after they complete their service is definitely worth celebrating, and Robert Lerman, a labor economist at the Urban Institute tends to agree.  “Right now, I would say it’s a massively good time to look and find something,” said Lerman who added that the unemployment rate “calls for a big celebration.”  “It’s also something that we want to try to sustain, which is the harder part, but you know, for now, jobs are plentiful, and that’s a lot better than jobs not being plentiful,” he said.  While this is all good news, it’s not the end of the story. The Military Times noted that while employed veterans is a societal plus, it’s not the end of the road. With the economy and job market looking good, it’s time now to focus on getting veterans jobs that best suit them. This is important as many veterans report leaving their first jobs within the military in less than a year:  Armstrong said underemployment is a common complaint among veterans who transition into the civilian workforce. This problem is being dealt with, however. “The conversations and focuses of employers, as well as those who serve veterans in this space, are shifting from, ‘Let’s make sure you get a job’ to ‘Let’s make sure the job is a good fit,’” said Nick Armstrong, senior director of research and policy at the Institute for Veterans and Military Families at Syracuse University.  All we need to do is keep the economy rising and our veterans will have a much easier time finding meaningful work after they served our country.


skynewsus--2019-12-06--Trump hails 'blowout' job numbers as stock markets bounce

US economic growth has slowed this year but pay growth has remained steady and demand for workers is strong  Donald Trump has tweeted his satisfaction after a closely-watched report suggested the US economy was in a healthier place than feared.  At the end of a week dominated by an escalation in the US president's trade war, which pulled US indices back from record highs, it was revealed that hiring in the American economy jumped to its highest level since January last month.  The numbers in the non-farm payrolls report smashed market expectations on every level.  It showed the US jobless rate falling to 3.5% - matching its lowest level for 50 years.  In all, 266,000 net new jobs were created across the economy. Economists had expected a figure around 180,000.  The Labor Department also reported wages rising by a better-than-expected figure of 3.1% compared with a year earlier.  It also revised sharply higher the number of jobs created in both September and October.  The report showed a minimal contribution from seasonal workers ahead of Christmas.  The figures were a surprise in that the US central Bank has cut rates three times back-to-back amid signs the US economy was slowing sharply - a consequence of falling confidence and damage from the effects of the trade war with China.  Markets took fright earlier this week when Mr Trump signalled he was in no rush to find a settlement with Beijing.  He also threatened to open new trade war fronts through tariffs on goods from Argentina, Brazil and France.  But sentiment shot up when the jobs report was published on Friday.  The president tweeted: "Stock Markets Up Record Numbers. For this year alone, Dow up 18.65%, S&P up 24.36%, Nasdaq Composite up 29.17%. "It's the economy, stupid."  US stock markets did open almost 1% higher while in London the FTSE 100 built on earlier gains to trade more than 1% up shortly after the numbers were published.  The dollar - also knocked by the trade war developments - rose against a basket of currencies, including sterling which saw its value climb back above $1.31 on Wednesday.  The jobs report was published ahead of the latest meeting of the Federal Reserve's rate-setting committee next week.  It had already signalled a wait-and-see approach, suggesting no further rate cuts this year as economic growth remained strong despite a slowdown.  Commenting on the non-farm payroll report Neil Wilson, chief market analyst at Markets.com, said: "Should we worry about the Fed pivoting again? I don't think so and the market clearly thinks the same.  "The Fed can stand this sort of hot reading for a while yet - jobs growth is averaging only 180k this year vs 223k last year.  "And whatever privately you might think about whether the Fed should be maintaining an easing bias in this environment, it's made it very clear that it will take a sustained and pronounced rise in inflation to warrant a hike.  "The danger is that the jobs numbers start to run so hot that individual members start thinking about hiking again to cool things down."


sputnik--2019-10-02--Marketing Company Shuts Down Social Media After Shaming Bikini-Wearing Job Applicant

A marketing company has removed all of its social media and has shut down its website after shaming a job applicant online on Wednesday.  The company in question, Kickass Masterminds, seemed to find a bikini-clad photo of Emily Clow from Texas, who applied for an internship position with the firm, problematic.  In response to the application from the 24-year old, the company reposted a screenshot of the picture and put it on their own Instagram Story, shaming her and calling her out for not being "professional".  Clow took to Twitter in response, furiously saying: “I was objectified earlier today by a company because of a picture of me in a bikini. They claimed it made me an 'unprofessional'" They screenshot the photo, posted it on their insta story and called me out. I am still baffled that the company handled it in such a manner”.  She posted the company's Instagram story post of her photo which they had captioned with a message for applicants.  “PSA (because I know some of you applicants are looking at this): Do not share your social media with a potential employer if this is the kind of content on it," the caption allegedly read. "I am looking for a professional marketer – not a bikini model.”  "Go on with your bad self and do whatever in private. But this is not doing you any favours in finding a professional job."  In a dramatic turn, however, the company's entire social media presence seems to have been scrubbed from the net. Their Twitter, Instagram, and website have all since been deleted.  Clow's story generated widespread sympathy from all over Twitter, with positive responses coming from many who were left baffled by how she could have been considered unprofessional.  The CEO of the company, Sara Christensen,  was accused of hypocrisy by users online for sharing photos of herself in her bra.  Some users even called for Clow to sue the company.


thedailycaller--2019-01-02--15 Minimum Wage And A Booming Job Market Crush Army Recruiting As It Struggles In Liberal Cities

$15 Minimum Wage And A Booming Job Market Crush Army Recruiting As It Struggles In Liberal Cities

U.S. Army recruiters are finding their jobs harder and harder as a booming economy and healthy job market draw away potential recruits, especially in the blue cities where the Army is shifting its focus.  “We want to go into Boston, Pittsburgh, Kansas City,” Maj. Gen. Frank Muth, head of Army Recruiting Command, told The New York Times. “These are places with a large number of youth who just don’t know what the military is about.”  The Army moved its goal of 80,000 recruits in fiscal year 2018 down to 76,500. But it still fell short with 70,000 recruits, reported Army Times. Army retention, however, remains high at 86 percent.  So the Army is changing its recruitment strategy. It will have a “big push” in 22 cities, from Baltimore to Denver, as well as advertise on social media like Facebook and livestreaming platform Twitch, reported The New York Times. (RELATED: Iraqi Cleric Who Called US A ‘Great Serpent’ Is Mad He Didn’t Get Advance Notice Of Trump’s Christmas Visit)  Recruiters are playing up how the Army can set young people apart in the job market and help them pay for education. But with unemployment at a 49-year low, many potential recruits are able to envision viable careers for themselves without an assist from the Army.  The New York Times story focused on struggling recruiters in liberal, techie Seattle, where e-commerce giant Amazon is headquartered. The $15 an hour minimum wage for many employers in Seattle makes joining the Army seem less appealing than it does to potential recruits in the South and Texas. That’s where a disproportionate amount of recruits hail from.  Even high school administrators try to make the Army recruiters’ jobs harder. Sometimes recruiters are greeted by protesters who bring up civilian deaths in Iraq and Afghanistan or military sexual assault.  “Legally, the high schools have to let us in, but a lot of times, they’ll just ignore our calls,” Sgt. First Class Jeremiah Vargas, chief of Seattle’s only recruiting station, told The New York Times. “A lot of schools don’t want us to talk to their kids. They want them to go to college, and see the military as a last resort.”  Content created by The Daily Caller News Foundation is available without charge to any eligible news publisher that can provide a large audience. For licensing opportunities of our original content, please contact licensing@dailycallernewsfoundation.org.


theconservativetreehouse--2019-08-22--US Jobless Claims Drop Unexpectedly a Sign of Continued Labor Market Strength

U.S. Jobless Claims Drop “Unexpectedly”, a Sign of Continued Labor Market Strength…

According to the U.S. Department of Labor [data here] companies hiring American workers are not complying with the media “recession” narrative.   Yes, another day, and yet another data point reflecting the “unexpected” & continued strength of Main Street.  WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The number of Americans filing applications for unemployment benefits fell sharply last week, suggesting the labor market was holding firm despite a manufacturing slowdown and concerns the economy is on a path toward recession. Initial claims for state unemployment benefits dropped 12,000 to a seasonally adjusted 209,000 for the week ended Aug. 17, the Labor Department said on Thursday. The decline was sharper than expected. Economists polled by Reuters had forecast claims would drop to 216,000 in the latest week.  […]  The four-week average for new unemployment benefits claims was lower than the corresponding week in July, a positive signal for employment during the month. There are few signs a bitter trade war between the United States and China was spilling over to the national labor market, although growth in manufacturing jobs has slowed this year. (read more)  Most democrats, like most Wall Street media pundits, know absolutely nothing about how a free and independent U.S. Main Street economy works.  CTH has been saying since Trump’s announcement in 2015 there’s almost two generations of people who have no concept of an independent U.S. economy; and all of the subsequent ramifications therein.  Now we are seeing an odd benefit to their lack of knowledge.  If the politicians don’t know how Main Street works, specifically during the reversal period where policy operates in the space between Wall Street and Main Street, then they can’t find a tool to ruin it.  PS. With the continued devaluation, subsidy maneuvers and continued efforts at transnational shipping from China, it might be a good recommendation for President Trump to raise the initial steel tariffs from 25% to 35-40% range.


thedailyrecord--2019-08-05--Tesco to axe 4500 jobs as supermarket giant announces UK-wide store closures

Tesco to axe 4,500 jobs as supermarket giant announces UK-wide store closures

Around 4,500 staff at Tesco are set to lose their jobs in the latest round of redundancies at the UK's biggest supermarket , the company has announced.  The majority of workers will go from Tesco's Metro stores - of which there are around 30 in Scotland - with other positions going at some Express and larger stores, Tesco said.  Bosses want to overhaul the Metro stores, which are bigger than Express stores but smaller than larger supermarkets, saying that shoppers tend to use them for top-up shops, rather than buying bigger baskets.  The company said in a statement: "The Metro format was originally designed for larger, weekly shops, but today nearly 70% of customers use them as convenience stores, buying food for that day."  The changes to stores will include fewer products in the back of the store, with more moving straight to the shop floor when they are delivered.  Staff will also be expected to be more flexible, working across different departments and adding more focus on keeping stock levels high during busy lunchtime rushes, among other tasks.  There will also be a "leaner management structure" and workers will be given headsets to communicate more easily throughout the stores, the company added.  In 134 Tesco Express stores - out of 1,750 - there will also be a reduction in opening hours due to low footfall.  Jason Tarry, Tesco UK and Ireland chief executive, said: "In a challenging, evolving retail environment, with increasing cost pressures, we have to continue to review the way we run our stores to ensure we reflect the way our customers are shopping and do so in the most efficient way.  "We do not take any decision which impacts colleagues lightly, but have to make sure we remain relevant for customers and operate a sustainable business now and in the future."  Earlier this year Tesco revealed it would be cutting 9,000 staff as it slimmed back its store offerings, shutting deli counters in some outlets and reducing the amount of time they are open in others.  Shopworkers' trade union Usdaw, which represents over 160,000 Tesco staff, said it is calling for Government action to tackle the crisis in retail.  Pauline Foulkes, Usdaw National Officer, said: "Our members at Tesco are shocked and dismayed by yet another round of potential job losses, coming just months after 9,000 staff were put at risk in stores.  "We will be working hard to make sure that any members potentially affected by these proposals are supported at this difficult time and throughout the consultation period.  "This issue is not confined to Tesco, our high streets are in crisis, with jobs being lost due to shops closing, retailers folding and businesses engaging in significant restructuring to survive. We need the Government to address the worries and concerns of shopworkers and our members."


theguardianuk--2019-02-02--What 2000 job cuts tell us the free market kills digital journalism

What 2,000 job cuts tell us: the free market kills digital journalism

In December 2016, Jonah Peretti, the charismatic founder of the digital news and entertainment company BuzzFeed, penned his annual memo to his 1,400 staff. The memo outlined some of Peretti’s frustrations after that year’s US presidential election had revealed how much shoddy and misleading content was circulating online. His own news site had revealed some of the biggest stories in the “fake news” scandal that engulfed Facebook. But Peretti’s remedy was not regulation or chastisement of Facebook, but a concern that the old guard of so-called “legacy media” were also to blame.  “Media companies have been much too slow to shift to digital,” he wrote. “They’ve clung to print and broadcast, even when it was clear audiences are moving elsewhere. This means the budgets for quality journalism are focused on the wrong places, creating a void that is filled by the cheapest possible content, often from questionable sources.”  In New York City, in January 2019, it is brutally cold. Winter has arrived with savage consequences for digital publishers, including BuzzFeed. In the space of two weeks, about 2,100 jobs have been lost across the media, with many disappearing from purely digital publishers. BuzzFeed’s layoffs amounted to 15% of its total staff, a loss of around 220 jobs across all departments, including in its widely admired New York newsroom. On Friday, Vice, another media company once associated with fast growth, said it would lay off 10% of its workforce, while last month, the phone company Verizon, which owns Huffington Post and Yahoo, cut 800 workers in its media division. In the UK, the Pool, a website aimed at women launched in 2015 by radio presenter Lauren Laverne and magazine editor Sam Baker, went into liquidation, with 24 journalists facing redundancy.  Many of these layoffs played out in real time on Twitter as journalists reported on the fumbling and often ineptly cruel ways in which they were let go. Reporters at Vice knew of the layoffs and sometimes had their email accounts closed before being told by the company they were among the casualties.  Job losses in the media are not unusual. In newspapers, particularly in the local and regional press in the US, the past decade has been catastrophic. Between 2008 and 2017, the number of newsroom jobs in US newspapers dropped by 45%, to 39,000, and all US newsroom jobs, including TV and radio, declined by 23% overall. Among the layoffs so far in 2019, newspaper companies McClatchy and Gannett have announced early retirement and redundancy rounds. But the polar vortex that has engulfed digital publishing, though relatively small by comparison, has left the industry, and journalists in particular, reeling. The long slow decline of newspapers has been well documented, as advertisers and readers have increasingly shifted their attention to digital platforms. But for the companies that were lauded for having understood the social web faster than legacy media to falter sends a signal too dire for many media companies to contemplate. Many of us are concluding that the commercial internet makes profitable journalism exponentially harder, and in many cases impossible.  Media consumption habits on the mobile social web have changed radically. Around 68% of adults in the US get at least some of their news from social media platforms, and the majority of those cite Facebook as the primary source. Facebook’s valuation is now above $470bn (£360bn). Google’s market value has risen from $200bn in 2012 to almost $800bn. Google and Facebook between them dominate the digital advertising market. In the same week that BuzzFeed announced its job losses, Facebook reported record revenues of almost $17bn for the last quarter of 2018. Despite a year of horrible publicity, from being blamed for contributing to genocide in Myanmar to a series of scandals around data and privacy, Facebook’s business appears as strong as ever.  The primary mistake most digital publishers made was to imagine that platform companies, and particularly Google and Facebook, had any serious interest in helping them sustain their businesses. The amount of data large platform companies collect and control enables them to offer far more efficient advertising than any publisher, and the business of making online content profitable is rigged against anyone who wants to run even a sparsely resourced newsroom with experienced reporters.  Peretti’s memo to staff after the layoffs was instructive about what would be needed to be sustainable: “We can build a profitable media businesses on top of Facebook and YouTube,” he writes, “but only when the content we make is high quality, with massive scale and relatively low production costs.”  Whatever this content might be it is unlikely to be in-depth investigative reporting, which is neither cheap to produce nor generally something that attracts “massive scale”. If BuzzFeed, Vice and other digital publishers who suffered despite a booming advertising market cannot make the social web work for them, it is likely that those who do will not be reliant on advertising.  It is also likely that this year’s job losses are merely the beginning of a new publishing depression. In regions such as the US, which has relied almost entirely on a free market to hold the powerful to account for the past 70 years, the lack of well-funded and abundant civic or public media is particularly sharply felt. In what seems like an attempt to apply a sticking plaster to an amputation, both Facebook and Google are now funding efforts at the local level to increase reporters and newsroom resources through schemes such as Report for America.  Between them, the digital duopoly is spending $600m over the next three years on supporting journalism. But involvement of big tech in serious reporting is both ethically awkward and, so far, largely ineffective.  It was not the deliberate intention of Google, Facebook, Twitter and others to drain the advertising pool that supported journalism, but they did not particularly care whether publishers survived or failed. BuzzFeed had an almost symbiotic relationship with Facebook, collaborating on projects and helping it promote its tools to other publishers. However, reports suggest that after adjusting its algorithm to demote news, Facebook’s traffic to BuzzFeed and other publishers’ sites has dropped dramatically.  Plenty of people tout advice for what might work for news outlets, be it podcasts or newsletters, or having a very small niche audience, or the increasingly popular membership models or new types of subscription. And there are real examples of where different models are working, notably in non-profit and niche sectors. The New York Times and Washington Post (which operates under the protection of the billionaire Amazon founder Jeff Bezos) are large, well funded and have both been growing their newsrooms when others are shrinking. Both have seen success with charging readers subscriptions, but there are very few organisations that can replicate either their brands or their resources.  The future of journalism will generally be smaller and more challenging in the short term and remains uncertain in the long term. However, the problem now is so clear that even the most advanced digital thinkers can see it: a digital free market for journalism doesn’t work.  Emily Bell is professor of professional practice and director of the Tow Center at the Columbia Journalism School, New York