Category Archives: Progress

Dr. Dre is jumping on the natural body bandwagon!

The legendary rapper/producer lifted his shirt for a Tuesday thirst trap on May 11. He posed in the gym mirror as he snapped his work-in-progress midsection. Dre showed off what he called his "COVID body" and mentioned that he was inspired by Will Smith.

"This is my COVID body. Im about to start getting my s--t together. Going in with @willsmith. Lets Go!!!!" he captioned the shirtless pic.

Dr. Dre joins other celebrities, like Anthony Anderson, who were inspired to share their natural forms by Smith, but Dre inspired another legendary rapper to hit the gym. "Ill be in the gym before u get there doc ," Snoop Dogg quickly commented. Check out Dre's post below and the picture that inspired it all.

It comes as no surprise that Dre is ready to get back in shape because he officially became a single man on April 22! According to legal docs, their lawyers filed a "judgment" in the ongoing nasty divorce case after they agreed to sign off on the "status" of their divorce. However, they have not yet settled the financial part of their case.

In other words, this brutal divorce is long from over, but each party is cleared to get married again. He might be trying to get his post-divorce hotness going!

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Dr. Dre Lifts Shirt To Show Work In Progress, Joining Will Smith's Challenge - TheBlast

LIVINGSTON COUNTY, KY Wondering how construction of the new U.S. 60 Cumberland River Bridge at Smithland, Kentucky, is coming along? A time-lapse video released by Kentucky Transportation Cabinet shows how much progress has been made so far.

KYTC District 1 says the contractor on the $6.3 million construction project will begin working on footers for the main piers closest to the riverbank in the weeks ahead. The project's schedule calls for moving traffic to the new bridge in the spring of 2023. It will replace the current bridge, which was built in 1931.

The cabinet says steel for the main truss of the new bridge has been ordered, and should start coming in during the summer of this year.

Starting in the fall, the 700-foot main span will be put together off-site, then floated to the bridge construction site by barge. It's expected to be ready and lifted into place in the fall of 2022, the cabinet says.

The new bridge will have a 40-foot-wide, two-lane deck. Its lanes will be 12-feet wide driving with 6-foot shoulders. KYTC District 1 says that will allow passenger vehicles to share the bridge with most farm equipment.

Jim Smith Contracting is the main contractor on the project.

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KYTC time-lapse video shows progress on U.S. 60 Cumberland River 'Smithland' Bridge - WPSD Local 6

PAULDING A Paulding Village Council meeting Monday, May 3, includedpark district proposal and several lengthy, sometimes contentious,discussions on several issues.

Aaron Timm, Gary Mabis and GlennTroth, representing the Paulding County Park District, presented aproposed improvement to county-owned land along Flat Rock Creek upstreamfrom the village sewage lagoons at Johnson Road.

The site is across the creek from the old county home farm.

Timmsaid the commissioner have given permission to turn the 15 acres into apark and trailhead. Possibly up to eight campsites may be developed.The organization would perform the work.

The park district wouldlike to create a parking lot for five or six cars by moving an area offence. Timm will create some engineering drawings for the next councilmeeting.

Tempers flared during the evenings longest discussion.Businessman and landlord John Manz complained about water bill increasesdespite councils pro-business stance.

Manz said he received a$644 water bill when the previous bill was $300 or less. He claimed aseries of rate hikes had been enacted over the past year or two plusadditional income tax.

How is that helping business? he asked. The business people in this town are not just revenue sources.

Heenumerated more than a dozen questions and complaints; some receivedcouncil responses and some did not. He also made a couple personalcomments against the mayor and the council as a whole.

Manzwondered if the council voted on an increase in water without anyknowledge of what they voted on and what the consequences would be.Council members countered they spent three months studying figuresbefore voting to raise rates. They said the rate hike was necessary tomake the water system self-sufficient.

Finance Director ZoeMcMaster pulled Manzs bills since the start of the year: $106 forJanuary and February; $153 in March, when a water leak apparentlystarted; $644 for April; and $193 for May. Manz said he had people checkfor a water leak on the property, but none was found.

Mayor GregWhite defended councils tough decision to address water rates, andproclaimed the village has the best water produced in northwest Ohio.

White noted Paulding still ranks in the lower 40 percent for water cost in the state of Ohio.

Beforecutting off the discussion, White said, Heres the bottom line youhad a water leak. It caused you a loss of money. You are responsiblefor it. But you are going to pay your water bills.

Manz responded, I pay my water bills.

Onthat subject, Jim Larson asked why he receives a bill each month at hisproperty on Flat Rock Drive. Theres been no water service for threeyears.

Council responded that Larson is billed a monthly capitalimprovement assessment fee of $40.75. McMaster explained that thevillages USDA loan requires the village charge any property that has awater tap, even without a meter or water/sewer service. Villageadministrator Jason Vance said other vacant properties in town are beingcharged, too, and there is no way to get out of it.

Larson told council he believes this charge is not right.

Manzasked about the intent of the proposed ordinance to establish a vacantbuilding registration program. Councilman David Burtch responded thatsome building owners have buildings empty for years without trying tomaintain, rent or make them livable.

Our goal is to get these buildings refurbished and occupied, Burtch said.

Manzhad questions about rules, variances and exemptions. Burtch suggestedManz read the proposed ordinance, available on the villages website,villageofpaulding.com.

An emergency ordinance, 1619-21, met withsome reluctance among council members, who questioned why the measureneeded to be passed as an emergency on its first reading.

The ordinance establishes the boundaries of the Paulding Community Reinvestment Area (CRA) #6 in the village.

ACRA provides an incentive to assist and encourage development throughrenovating or repairing existing structures or new construction. Theprogram would offer individually negotiated property tax abatements onimprovements of up to 100 percent for up to 15 years.

The village previously established CRAs in limited areas for industrial projects. The new area would include the entire village.

Both commercial and residential projects would be eligible.

Burtchexplained the emergency designation, which bypasses the standard threereadings, is necessary because the CRA must be in place before the UnionBank begins work on its building (the former Masonic Lodge).

Countyeconomic developer Tim Copsey, who has been working with Burtch onsetting up this CRA, provided additional information. After councilapproval, he will send documentation to the state for designation as aCSA zone.

Abatement applications, such as the banks, will besubmitted to the school district for approval before being presented tocouncil for final approval.

Village solicitor Harvey Hyman feltthe emergency designation was appropriate in this case. He added thatthe CRA wont decrease the amount tax revenue being collected.

Were not losing anything. What we currently are getting is not going to change, Councilman Dan Workman stressed.

Afterwhatever abatement period is over, it could result in a verysignificant increase, Hyman said. For commercial development, in thelong run, youre getting tax revenue from those workers plus, youregetting that tax revenue from the actual improvements down the road, ifnot in the short term when its not 100 percent abatement.

A voteto suspend the rules to pass the Paulding Council debates water bill,reinvestment area CRA ordinance was approved by a 5-0 vote withCouncilman Randy Daeger absent. The vote to approve passed 4-1, withCouncilwoman Barb Rife casting the dissenting vote.

The villagewill later designate a housing officer to administer the pro- gram andcreate a Community Reinvestment Housing Council and a Tax IncentiveReview Council.

The next regular council meeting will be at 6:30p.m. Monday, May 17. Watch via Zoom at https://us02web.zoom.us/j/4451352151. The meeting ID number is 445 135 2151.

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Paulding Council debates water bill, reinvestment area - The Paulding County Progress

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US 60 remains closed near Globe as firefighters make progress against wildfire - AZFamily

FRESNO COUNTY, Calif. (KSEE) Fresno County faced some of the most challenging weeks in the pandemic at the end of January when it had a 15% positivity rate and a case rate of about 65 daily cases per 100,000 people. Three months later and the positivity rate is down to 2.5%.

The valley was hard hit by COVID-19. For about the first 100 days or something of this year, we had some of the highest rates of COVID infection, hospitalizations, percent positive in California. Us and LA, Kaiser Infectious Disease Physician Dr. Dee Lacy said.

Around 100,000 people in the U.S. have completed their vaccine series, and the vaccine is proving to be effective in California. The state has one the lowest case rates in the country.

In Fresno County, along with its declining positivity rate, its case rate is at 4.9 new daily cases per 100,000 people.

Vaccines and testing are playing a role for the reduction in the rate of transmission in the county.

We were able to test over 24,000 people and vaccinate over 20,000so far, and over 80% of our patients are non-Caucasian communities of color, said Dr. Kenny Banh, the director of the UCSF Mobile HeaL COVID-19 Equity Project.

But as more sectors open up in the state, Central Valley counties still face challenges. Among them, vaccine hesitancy.

Banh said their efforts have shifted to reaching those who are unsure on whether to get the vaccine or not and those who may not have easy access.

Now we have to make sure were getting that group of people who are hesitant, on the fence, or they mean to, but they lack transportation, they lack the means to do it, theyre busy with work, Banh said.

But still, there are those who dont want it at all.

UC Merced Professor of Health Psychology Martin Hagger said reasons for that include younger people thinking they are less vulnerable and the politicization of the virus.

Theres also these concerns about peoples political orientations and how they impact their decision-making around the coronavirus and the mitigation behavior. So that applies to vaccines just as it applies to mask-wearing, social distancing, and so forth, Hagger said.

As case rates decline in the state and more sectors open up, health experts still raise concerns over variants circulating in the U.S.

And Hagger said theres a risk of complacency as more sectors open up.

As case loads drop, things open up, that drives the perception, beliefs in people that were out of it, that were home free, Hagger said.

According to the state, around 52% of Fresno Countys 16 years and older population is vaccinated with at least one dose.

Its time. If you were waiting to see how is this gonna play out, have enough people gotten the vaccine. Its time, youre no longer the leading edge, you can get the vaccine, Lacy said.

Originally posted here:

Progress made, some yet to be made, as pandemic continues in the Central Valley - YourCentralValley.com

Indian customers have been warming up to Apple's (NASDAQ:AAPL) iPhones over the past year thanks to an improved pricing strategy and the company's efforts toward speeding up the availability of its devices produced in-country for sale in that country.

Apple's smartphone market share in India doubled in 2020 on the back of such moves. However, this isn't the only area where Apple is making progress in the world's second-most populous country. Apple's personal computers (PCs) are also flying off the shelves in India, and the company has stepped up its game to take a bigger chunk out of this fast-growing market.

Image source: Getty Images.

According to data from IDC, MacBook sales in India jumped 24.4% in 2020. This is impressive, as overall PC sales in India slumped 6.4% last year. Notebooks, however, were the bright spot with shipments hitting 7.9 million units during the year, jumping 34% over the previous year (after adjusting for a government-sponsored deal in 2019 that inflated sales that year).

IDC's research also reveals that notebook sales spiked sharply in India in the final quarter of 2020, jumping 62% year over year and accounting for more than 75% of total PC shipments. Apple has been a big beneficiary of this trend of fast-growing notebook sales in India. Indian newspaper Business Standard reports that Apple sold MacBooks and iMacs worth 4,000 crore (approximately $533 million at the current exchange rate) in India last year. The company's share of India's PC market increased to 3% in 2020.

IDC credits the growing demand for high-end notebooks for the surge in Apple's sales, driven by an increase in the number of people working or learning from home. The good news for Apple is that the robust demand environment seems to have spilled over into 2021. The availability of MacBooks powered by the M1 chip reportedly remains restricted on account of high demand and tight supply.

I wouldn't be surprised to see this sales momentum continue for the remainder of the year and beyond, thanks to both near-term and long-term catalysts.

Notebook demand in India could soar once again in 2021. An executive at HP India predicts that notebook sales in the country could jump in the double digits this year, while IDC also has a similar view. These forecasts don't seem surprising given that major parts of India are already under some form of lockdown due to a rapid rise in the number of coronavirus cases.

The second wave of the pandemic has sent the country's healthcare infrastructure reeling as daily new cases are increasing at an alarming pace. As a result, major employers in the country are sticking to a work-from-home modelto keep their operations running during such difficult times.

More importantly, the remote work model is expected to stay in India. This is evident from an estimated 57% increase in sales of work-from-home-related furniture in the country being projected over the next five years. Similarly, Technavio expects the online education market in India to clock a compound annual growth rate of 20% through 2025.

These catalysts can lead to sustained growth in laptop and notebook sales in India, and Apple is setting itself up to take advantage of this opportunity by giving that market a higher priority. The company's new product range, including the iMac, will be available for sale in India from April 30, just like in other markets such as the U.S., the U.K., Japan, and China. India used to be a low-priority market for Apple, with the company's products hitting the country's shores much later than their international launch.

Additionally, Apple is resorting to a smart pricing strategy for its PC lineup in India. The entry-level iMac has been pricedat 119,900 Indian rupees (around $1,600). That's impressive considering that the same price would have fetchedIndian consumers a 21.5-inch iMac a couple of years ago.

So, don't be surprised to see Apple sustain its impressive momentum in India's PC market. Investors would do well to take note of the same as the market is expectedto pull in $7 billion in revenue this year (desktops and notebooks combined) and looks set to become bigger in the future. Apple is already generating nice sales over there, as last year's estimates tell us. Its new and improved products could help Apple push the bar higher, giving this tech stock a nice shot in the arm over the long run.

This article represents the opinion of the writer, who may disagree with the official recommendation position of a Motley Fool premium advisory service. Were motley! Questioning an investing thesis -- even one of our own -- helps us all think critically about investing and make decisions that help us become smarter, happier, and richer.

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Not Just iPhones, Apple Is Making Solid Progress in Another Key Market in India - Motley Fool

Despite the COVID-19 pandemic, Baltimore County appears to be on schedule with plans to help ease school overcrowding, especially in the northeastern part of the county.Work crews are clearing land on Rossville Boulevard at Gum Springs Road to make way for the start of construction of a new elementary school. The county is about to build a $50 million elementary school complex that is set to open for students and staff members by next summer."There's tremendous progress," said Pete Dixit, the school district's executive director of school facilities, management and strategic planning. "There's tremendous growth in the eastern and northeastern part of the county, and we expect a deficit of seats -- around 1,000 seats."Students at nearby Perry Hall Middle School have been learning in portable classrooms for some time now. The Rossville Boulevard elementary school project is expected to go a long way toward dealing with overcrowding throughout eastern Baltimore County."Councilwoman (Cathy) Bevins and I working, with the county executive, have been pushing for new schools in this area. We are very excited that now as we come out of this pandemic, we are starting to move on some of these projects," said Baltimore County Councilman David Marks, R-District 5.And it hasn't gone unnoticed in the community."I drove by it this morning and talked to a parent and a 2-year-old who can't wait. The 2-year-old will likely go to that school," Baltimore County Board of Education Vice President Julie Henn said.Besides the new elementary school, Baltimore County is set to build a $100 million middle school on county-owned property on King Avenue, and there's also a new northeast high school on the drawing board to build nearby.

Despite the COVID-19 pandemic, Baltimore County appears to be on schedule with plans to help ease school overcrowding, especially in the northeastern part of the county.

Work crews are clearing land on Rossville Boulevard at Gum Springs Road to make way for the start of construction of a new elementary school. The county is about to build a $50 million elementary school complex that is set to open for students and staff members by next summer.

"There's tremendous progress," said Pete Dixit, the school district's executive director of school facilities, management and strategic planning. "There's tremendous growth in the eastern and northeastern part of the county, and we expect a deficit of seats -- around 1,000 seats."

Students at nearby Perry Hall Middle School have been learning in portable classrooms for some time now. The Rossville Boulevard elementary school project is expected to go a long way toward dealing with overcrowding throughout eastern Baltimore County.

"Councilwoman (Cathy) Bevins and I working, with the county executive, have been pushing for new schools in this area. We are very excited that now as we come out of this pandemic, we are starting to move on some of these projects," said Baltimore County Councilman David Marks, R-District 5.

And it hasn't gone unnoticed in the community.

"I drove by it this morning and talked to a parent and a 2-year-old who can't wait. The 2-year-old will likely go to that school," Baltimore County Board of Education Vice President Julie Henn said.

Besides the new elementary school, Baltimore County is set to build a $100 million middle school on county-owned property on King Avenue, and there's also a new northeast high school on the drawing board to build nearby.

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Progress made toward construction of new schools in northeastern Baltimore County - WBAL TV Baltimore

One year ago, Microsoft launched an Open Data Campaign to help close the data divide between those countries and companies that have the data they need to innovate and those that do not. We learned quickly that this continued divide risks leaving some people behind, without the ability to put data to work and without the ability to generate economic wealth and opportunity more broadly.

To address the challenges of tomorrow, we need to make it easier to open, share and collaborate around data today. Thats why were sharing 10 key lessons from the first year of our campaign to help other organizations of all sizes unlock the power of data.

Before I dive into the lessons, I want to share an update on the progress weve made toward our goals, as well as our focus areas for the year ahead.

Weve made steady progress toward closing the data divide, but we still have a long way to go. The data divide persists and continues to threaten the democratization of data but we also see a lot of reason for hope and optimism. Microsoft President Brad Smith and I recently discussed the challenges, what weve learned since the campaign launched and our ambitions going forward. I encourage you to watch our conversation, where we also heard from thought leaders who are advancing the cause of open data.

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Learning by doing

The biggest takeaway from our work this past year and the one thing I hope any reader of this post will take away is that data collaboration is a spectrum. From the presence (or absence) of data to how open that data is to the trust level of the collaboration participants, these factors may necessarily lead to different configurations and different goals, but they can all lead to more open data and innovative insights and discoveries.

Here are a few other lessons we have learned over the last year:

To get started, we suggest that emerging data collaborations make use of the wealth of existing resources. When embarking on data collaborations, we leveraged many of the definitions, toolkits and guides from leading organizations in this space. As examples, resources such as the Open Data Institutes Data Ethics Canvas are extremely useful as a framework to develop ethical guidance. Additionally, The GovLabs Open Data Policy Lab and Executive Course on Data Stewardship, both supported by Microsoft, highlight important case studies, governance considerations and frameworks when sharing data. If you want to learn more about the exciting work our partners are doing, check out the latest posts from the Open Data Institute and GovLab.

Moving forward

Using these lessons learned and building on the progress weve made alongside our partners, we plan to spend the next year focused on the practical aspects of data sharing and making the process easier.

Scaling data stewardship

One key insight we gained this past year is the strong interest and need for guidance when it comes to data stewardship. Many organizations want to do more around open data and data sharing, but when it comes to the practical aspects of how to do it, they often dont know where to start. Building on the success of this years Data Stewardship Executive Course, the Open Data Policy Lab is today publishing its course materials so that organizations everywhere can use these resources to guide their data reuse strategies.

Additionally, the Open Data Policy Lab will focus on scaling data stewardship guidance for the public and private sectors. To help address these needs, a new Data Stewardship Academy will be designed for a much broader reach. Second, the Open Data Policy Lab will develop an Open Cities initiative to build community and share insights among cities that are opening and using data to innovate and drive change. The Open Data Policy Lab will also continue to drive new research on open data and data reuse, including a closer look at the value of open data.

Fostering new data collaborations

Well continue to identify and help launch data collaborations to address societal issues focused on sustainability, health, and equity and inclusion.

To help address climate challenges, together with the Open Data Institute, we are committed to launching and supporting three data collaborations to address climate change. These three data collaborations will each focus on one of the six priority areas that we identified in the report, Accelerating Progress on Tackling the Climate Crisis Through Data Collaboration.

Additionally, in partnership with the Open Data Institute, well be announcing an open call for a new Peer Learning Network for data collaborations to participate and learn from each other. Another focus area with the Open Data Institute is to build momentum through case studies across sectors that highlight the value of opening and sharing data that would otherwise not be realized.

Growing data analyst skills and data literacy

We also want to help connect those who currently work with data or would like to explore a career in data analysis with related, in-demand skills, in partnership with the Microsoft skills initiative. This work includes sharing opportunities to obtain Microsoft Certifications on data and AI fundamentals and courses for data analysts.

Making data sharing easier

We must make data sharing easier through scalable tools and technologies. Technologies, such as differential privacy, made more accessible through the first-ever open source differential privacy platform, SmartNoise, are critical to preserving privacy when sharing data. Additionally, continuing work on legal and licensing tools such as the Open Use of Data Agreement (O-UDA) and Computational Use of Data Agreement (C-UDA), both initiated by Microsoft in 2019 and now stewarded by the Linux Foundation will encourage and simplify broader data sharing. We will continue to focus on development of these frameworks, resources and technologies that make data sharing more accessible and achievable.

Advancing policy discussions

A robust data reuse regime necessitates good governance frameworks. Increasingly, policymakers are taking measures to improve existing open data initiatives and are exploring data governance mechanisms.

To fully realize the benefits of data, policymakers must work with industry, academia and civil society to develop incentives, infrastructure and mechanisms to responsibly share public and private sector data within and across organizational and national boundaries that are in line with the rule of law and safeguard human rights, while allowing for effective data re-use for innovation. In addition to properly maintained and funded national open data programs, data governance frameworks create trust in the integrity of the data sharing ecosystem by ensuring that the benefits of data are equitably shared and by providing adequate safeguards to protect cybersecurity, human rights and privacy.

At Microsoft, our mission is to empower every person and organization on the planet to achieve more. Closing the data divide wont happen overnight, but if we continue to build a bold, diverse movement committed to this work, we know the impact will benefit future generations in pursuit of a safer, healthier world.

Tags: broadband access, COVID-19, Open Data, Open Data Campaign, SmartNoise, sustainability

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Building on a year of open data: progress and promise - Microsoft On the Issues - Microsoft

Outside of live performances, every note of music youve ever heard in your life has been electronically processed before reaching your ear. Recording, mixing and mastering capture passing moments of inspiration, maximize their sonic potential and preserve them for perpetuity. The technology to do this has been constantly evolving since the birth of recorded music in the second half of the 19th century. Microphones and portable tape machines enabled the recording of folk music in open fields and hotel rooms in the 1920s. Later, deluxe recording studios were designed to audio-friendly specifications. Eventually, luxury live-in facilities were built where artists shut out the world for months at a time to immerse themselves in the creative experience. Nowadays, people record music at home on their laptops, upload it to the Internet and become superstars.

The 2018 documentary Recording In Progress champions the professional recording studio and examines how its been impacted by digital technology, both good and bad. It was directed by Justin L. Fisher, a musician and audio engineer who is a veteran of St. Louis SmithLee Productions, a full service commercial recording studio that has weathered many of the storms currently embroiling the music and recording industry. It is currently available for streaming on Amazon Prime.

Recording In Progress describes the recording studio in mythical terms, the holy mountain where musical ideas are magically transformed into artistic masterpieces. Producer Matt Ross-Spang compares them to Templar Knight churches, audio technology professor Mark Rubel calls them temples of sound, and studio engineer Jason McEntire describes them as a the safe space for an artist to go. In theory, the perfect studio should provide an environment where the musician can focus solely on their performance and offer limitless sonic opportunities to ignite their imagination and bring their compositions to life.

At their peak, recording studios were built from the ground up with clinical precision to maximize their audio quality and comfort level. They required lots of space and expensive wood for live rooms, isolation booths and control centers. Recording equipment cost a lot and many studios were stocked with top of the line instruments the musicians themselves couldnt afford. As engineer Gary Gottlieb tells us, We could have anything we wanted. We had all the best studios, we had all the best gear, the best musicians, the best engineers, the best producers, the best writers. Recording wasnt cheap and artists were often at the mercy of their labels to fund recording sessions.

Starting in the 1980s, advances in digital technology made recording both more affordable and more portable. A decade later, digital file sharing would ravage music income streams by essentially making all recorded music free. While streaming audio was seen as an updated means of distribution, its current royalty rates only benefit the biggest artists. Recording studios felt the pinch from both sides, as record labels cut their recording budgets to offset losses and artists were increasingly able to deliver home recordings that were good enough for release.

Producer Eric Mixerman Sarafin says, the music business is just a little microcosm of the fucked-up-ness of the whole fucking system right now. As in many industries, wages have stagnated since the mid 1980s while costs have gone up. The key to survival for todays recording studios has been to adapt. While some studios now offer a wider range of services, from television scoring to record manufacturing, others have downsized. Is it a perfect solution? No. Has something been lost? Yes. As Gary Gottlieb notes, a generation of listeners and musicians who have only ever heard music on earbuds or the speakers on their laptop, dont know how good music could sound. Tragically, many legendary recording studios have closed.

While Recording In Progress has no shortage of curmudgeonly middle-aged men lamenting the state of music, its also realistic about where the industry is going and acknowledges the benefits of the new technology. The democratizing effect of laptop recording and Internet marketing has enabled a new generation of artists who, in the words of Guns N Roses guitarist Richard Fortus, are unaffected by labels and producers and people telling them how it should be. Musicianship and recording quality sometimes suffers but not everyone wants to record at a state of the art facility or create immaculate recordings. Home recording allows musicians to be off the cuff, according to St. Louis musician Andy White, who says, It can be cheap and shitty and still have personality.

While Recording In Progress has no shortage of curmudgeonly middle-aged men lamenting the state of music, its also realistic about where the industry is going and acknowledges the benefits of the new technology.

While Recording In Progress intentions are beyond reproach, its execution could be better. Beautifully shot, it has an overabundance of incredibly smart people saying very intelligent things, so much that it reminds one of a highlight reel rather than a narrative documentary. At around an hour, it feels rushed and Fisher would have done well to focus on less for longer. However, his affection for the subject matter and optimism overcomes any flaws. Rather than dwell on an idealized past, the film accepts a complicated future, where the recording studio has transformed from, a fancy place with beautiful wood walls and floors, as Gary Gottlieb says, to anywhere where talented people get together and create.

Benjamin H. Smith is a New York based writer, producer and musician. Follow him on Twitter:@BHSmithNYC.

Watch Recording In Progress on Amazon Prime

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'Recording In Progress' Celebrates The Art Of Music Recording And Ponders Its Future - Decider

Lynne Sladky / AP

Alabama head coach Nick Saban and offensive lineman Alex Leatherwood hold the trophy after their win against Ohio State in an NCAA College Football Playoff national championship game, Tuesday, Jan. 12, 2021, in Miami Gardens, Fla. Alabama won52-24.

By Mike Grimala (contact)

Friday, April 30, 2021 | 2 a.m.

Since Jon Gruden returned to the Raiders before the 2018 draft, he has been on a peculiar mission. That mission: To field two stud offensive tackles, by any means necessary.

Thats why Gruden chose an offensive tackle with his first selection in the 2018 draft, nabbing Kolton Miller out of UCLA with the 15th overall pick. The following offseason, Gruden continued his Captain Ahab-like quest by giving Trent Brown the biggest free-agent contract ever for an offensive lineman.

While Miller grew into his role as the franchise left tackle, Brown flamed out on the other side of the line, suffering through two injury-plagued campaigns before being jettisoned to the New England Patriots this offseason in a trade for a late draft pick.

So it shouldnt come as a surprise that Gruden got back on his horse and took another shot at landing his second foundational tackle on Thursday, when he took Alabama blocker Alex Leatherwood with the No. 17 pick.

The move was widely viewed as a reach, as higher-rated tackles such as Virginia Techs Christian Darrisaw and Oklahoma States Teven Jenkins were still on the board at the time, but Gruden and general managerMike Mayock have proven theyre not concerned with conventional wisdom when it comes to evaluating college prospects. They identified Leatherwood as their guy, homed in on him and didnt hesitate to make him a linchpin of the teams reconstructed offensive line.

For all the questions about draft value and reaching and not trading down, the most important way to evaluate the pick will be whether Leatherwood can do the job on the field.

Theres no doubt he was a beast at Alabama, as the 6-foot-4, 312-pound Florida native started his final three years with the Crimson Tide and blocked for some of the most explosive offenses in college football. He earned All-SEC honors in 2019 and 2020, and as a senior last season he was named to the All-America team.

Its easy to see why Gruden fell in love with Leatherwood during the draft process.

The first thing that stands out about Leatherwood is his ability to push defenders downfield in the running game. On this play, he fires off the ball and into the second level, where he targets a linebacker and simply overpowers him, driving him 15 yards past the line of scrimmage and taking him completely out of the play:

Not only does it take mammoth strength to do that, it takes quick feet and good recognition of angles. Leatherwood certainly has those skills.

Watch how fast he gets to the inside linebacker on this play, and then how completely he walls him off from the running lane:

Las Vegas running back Josh Jacobs is an expert at slipping through the tiniest of openings; Gruden probably envisions Leatherwood jumping out to the second level and opening up actual holes for Jacobs, allowing him to break big plays on a more regular basis.

The passing game is where Leatherwood will likely need work. His nimble feet dont quite translate to pass protection, as edge rushers were too often able to beat him with quickness and change of direction moves.

Against Notre Dame in the college football playoffs there were some plays where Leatherwood was left grasping at air as his man rushed past him. Here he is beaten so badly and so quickly he is forced to reach back and commit a blatant holding penalty in order to keep his QB from getting killed:

Leatherwood holds up much better when rushers try to take him head-on with power. He can stonewall with the best of them:

The advanced stats seem to mesh with the eye-test conclusion that Leatherwood is a strong run-blocker who has to improve in pass protection. According to Pro Football Focus, Leatherwood posted a run blocking grade of 85.4 last season, while his pass-blocking grade lagged behind at 73.4.

Ultimately, you'd probably like to get a more refined prospect when using a first-round pick on a lineman, but Leatherwood has talent. The task of molding him into the right tackle Gruden has always wanted will fall to offensive line coach Tom Cable, who has done a good job with the Raiders unit in recent years, so odds are good Leatherwood will get up to speed.

If Las Vegas can iron out the wrinkles and get Leatherwood to reach his full potential, fans probably wont care that he was taken a dozen picks too early on draft day theyll be too busy watching him pave the way for Jacobs and Derek Carr to do their thing.

Mike Grimala can be reached at 702-948-7844 or [emailprotected]. Follow Mike on Twitter at twitter.com/mikegrimala.

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Analysis: Raiders' top pick Alex Leatherwood is a work in progress - Las Vegas Sun