Category Archives: Yahoo

TORREY PINES, Calif. Lets start with the hat black, with a swan on it.

This is just my golf club back home, Richard Bland said. I don't have a hat kind of deal at the minute. So if anyone is offering ...

The guy co-leading the U.S. Open (along with Russell Henley) doesnt have a hat deal. And thats just the start of it.

If youre wondering who the hell Richard Bland is, well, join the club. Hes not some newcomer. Hes a 48-year-old Englishman. He played his first major The Open in 1998. He missed the cut. He played his second major the U.S. Open in 2009. He missed the cut there, too. He played his third major in 2017 The Open again, where he briefly held the lead for a single hole and wound up finishing 22nd. And now this, the 2021 U.S. Open. Thats the entirety of his major career, spread out over three decades.

Along the way he played in 477 European Tour events and never won once. The 478th start proved to be the charm, a win at the Betfred British Masters in May, which vaulted him 100 spots up the world rankings (to 134) and more importantly qualified him for the U.S. Open.

So, thats the backstory.

And now you may be wondering, how the hell does a guy stick through 477 losses over 20-plus years?

Golf is all I know, he said. When times got tough and I lost my [European Tour] card two or three times, I think, What am I going to do, go and get an office job? I'm not that intelligent, I'm afraid.

Richard Bland of England waits on the ninth tee during the second round of the 2021 U.S. Open at Torrey Pines Golf Course on June 18, 2021 in San Diego, California. (Harry How/Getty Images)

Hed post a few top-10 finishes every season, a second or third every blue moon and earn a few hundred thousand Euros a year. Just good enough to hang on, but not quite good enough to thrive.

Does that make his career a failure, or does hanging around for 20 years, eking out a decent living playing golf make it a success?

I think any amateur golfer would probably give their right arm to play it as a living, he said. I think they might think something different if they did play it for a living, but yeah, I've always thought of it as I'm very fortunate that I can travel the world and play some of the best courses in the world and some of the biggest tournaments in the world.

Story continues

I'm certainly not looking at my career just now as sort of lack of success or anything like that. I just feel privileged that I can do what I can do.

Having hung on this long, Richard Bland, the guy without a hat deal, is reaping the reward.

On his Twitter bio, Blandy, as hes called, describes himself as a European tour professional golfer during the week (few weekends off).

Is that a bit of a self troll?

Yeah, well, we're in a sport where you're going to miss some cuts, so yeah, he explained. I've had a few weeks off, weekends off in my career, so yeah.

Not this weekend. Now, Richard Bland, the guy without a hat deal, will tee off Saturday in the final pairing of the U.S. Open.

More from Yahoo Sports:

Follow this link:

Richard Bland is leading the way at the U.S. Open ... wait, who? - Yahoo Sports

"Shark Tank" investor Kevin OLeary has a message for corporate America: hiring dyslexics can pay dividends for your business. He should know. The hard charging, say-it-like-it-is business mogul has struggled with the learning disability since he was a child.

In an emotional interview, OLeary opened up to Yahoo Finance about overcoming his Dyslexia and why he views it as a super power that has helped him succeed in business. It's the out of the box thinkers that make companies competitive, the crazy ones, the dyslexic ones, he said.

OLeary considers Dyslexia a competitive weapon for companies. I would hire lots of dyslexics, because I know they can excel in certain things in a remarkable way above the average, he said. What [employers] want are functional employees, and my attitude about people that have Dyslexia is, they are super functional. They're myopically focused on it, because that's what gives them their own identity. And that's the thing that many employers have figured out.

Kevin O'Leary as a child in Montreal, Canada says he missed out on extra-curricular activities like playing soccer because he spent hours at an experimental clinic for dyslexics at McGill Unviersity.

Growing up in Montreal in the 1960s, OLeary said his learning disability shattered his confidence. One of the things that happened to me, I'd be walking down the street, and all of a sudden, the universe would shift 90 degrees. And I was lost. I didn't know where I was," he said.

OLeary, aka, Mr Wonderful, said he is grateful to his mother for enrolling him in an experimental class taught by child psychologists Dr. Marjorie Golic and Dr. Sam Rabinovich at McGill University.

Professor Rabinovich used to say to me, Look, you're the only person in your class that can read a book upside down in the mirror, you have superpowers, no one else can do that, he said. O'Leary credits the educational therapists with making him a ferocious reader who also learned to excel in math.

Kevin O'Leary thanks his mother, Georgette Bukalam O'Leary, for getting him the help he needed as a child to overcome dyslexia.

OLearys personal experience with Dyslexia is what inspired him to launch the educational software company Softkey Software Products in 1983.

Story continues

I was fascinated by what I went through, he said. Starting the company was me working on trying to solve this for parents, so they could do remedial work at home, just like I did in the clinic.

OLeary went on to rename the business The Learning Company and sold it to Mattel (MAT) in 1999 for a staggering $3.7 billion.

Life is not just about math and reading. It's actually cognitive skills that matter in the workplace, he said.

Shark Tank stars Barbara Corcoran, Daymond John, and Kevin O'Leary have all be diagnosed with dyslexia.

OLearys not the only Shark on the ABC show with Dyslexia. Both Barbara Corcoran and Daymond John have also been diagnosed with the learning disability.

He also pointed to David Neeleman, the founder and former CEO of JetBlue airlines (JBLU) as an example of someone with Dyslexia who turned what many view as an obstacle into an opportunity.

What worked for me was the never ending support my mother gave me," said O'Leary "but also that Sam Rabinovich would tell me every day, oh, the Superman's back, the guy that carried a book upside down in a mirror.'"

His advice to parents with dyslexic children is to "work with them at a young age to make them understand that they're gifted. That's what they have, they have a super power."

Alexis Christoforous is an anchor at Yahoo Finance. Follow her on Twitter@AlexisTVNews.

Read the original here:

Kevin OLeary: Dyslexia is a 'competitive weapon' in the workplace - Yahoo Finance

Yahoo Sports is previewing all 32 teams as we get ready for the NFL season, counting down the teams one per weekday in reverse order of our initial 2021 power rankings. No. 1 will be revealed on Aug. 4, the day before the Hall of Fame Game.

(Yahoo Sports graphics by Amber Matsumoto)

Sometimes, in this social media-dominated era, one misstep at a news conference can stick with a coach for a long time.

It happened to Jon Gruden. The whole tone surrounding his return to the Raiders changed with his "Im trying to throw the game back to 1998" statement a few years ago. Adam Gase was laughed at from the moment his wandering eyes became a meme at his New York Jets introductory news conference, and he never produced the results to change that.

Dan Campbell has kneecap biting to live down.

When Campbell was introduced, he had a quote that was meant to fire up his players and Detroit as a whole. It was memorable, to say the least.

So, this team is going to be built on, were going to kick you in the teeth," Campbell said. "And when you punch us back, were going to smile at you. And when you knock us down, were going to get up. And on the way up, were going to bite a kneecap off. And were going to stand up and then its going to take two more shots to knock us down. And on the way up, were going to take your other kneecap. And were going to get up and then its going to take three shots to get us down. And when we do, were gonna take another hunk out of you. Before long, were going to be the last one standing. Thats going to be the mentality.

And so, the first impression of Campbell is that's he's a ranting lunatic. He didn't help that image when he said he wanted to have a pet lion at practice. Or when he wore a car racing helmet during a news conference.

If Campbell wins, his wild and harmless quotes will be seen as a positive, a reason for the Lions' turnaround. But it's hard to see much winning this season.

Story continues

The Lions should have moved on from Matt Patricia before he even coached a game. Nothing about his tenure in Detroit, from beginning to end, was promising. He did the typical ex-Bill Belichick assistant thing and acquired as many former Patriots as he could in the name of recreating the "Patriot Way." He alienated players and media. He went 13-29-1 and like all other former Lions coaches, it's doubtful he'll get another shot to be a head coach. It was bad, but at least it's over.

Campbell and new general manager Brad Holmes came in to clean up the mess left behind. The Lions announced they were officially in a rebuild by trading quarterback Matthew Stafford to the Los Angeles Rams for quarterback Jared Goff and, more importantly, two first-round draft picks and a third-round pick. The Lions passed on giving the franchise tag to receiver Kenny Golladay and watched him leave in free agency. Others like receiver Marvin Jones, linebacker Jarrad Davis and kicker Matt Prater left. The Lions re-signed defensive end Romeo Okwara and added some low-cost free agents, but it seemed the emphasis was on clearing salary cap space, adding compensatory draft picks and changing over the roster.

It's not like the Lions won much with Stafford, or before him either. Campbell was a longtime NFL tight end who did a good job as interim head coach of the Miami Dolphins in 2015 and stayed on the head-coaching candidate radar after that. He will try to revitalize the franchise through his motivational tactics.

Long-suffering Lions fans are probably ready to see if some kneecap biting finally turns things around. It's not like anything else has worked.

Is new coach Dan Campbell the answer for the long-suffering Lions? (Photo by Leon Halip/Getty Images)

-

The Lions' offseason can't be viewed simply by what they added or lost. New GM Brad Holmes wanted to get a rebuild started, and the moves he made were about the future. The Lions traded quarterback Matthew Stafford to the Rams for quarterback Jared Goff, first-round draft picks in 2022 and 2023 and a third-round selection this year. It was a downgrade at quarterback, but Goff is a reasonable starter and Detroit got a lot of draft ammunition for the future. It was a smart move for a rebuilding team. Letting receiver Kenny Golladay walk without a sign-and-trade with the franchise tag was curious, but the Lions will get a good compensatory draft pick. They added vets like running back Jamaal Williams, and receivers Tyrell Williams and Breshad Perriman on low-cost deals. Detroit had a solid draft, with offensive tackle Penei Sewell in the first round, a couple defensive tackles and then a pair of intriguing prospects in defensive back Ifeatu Melifonwu and receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown in the middle rounds. It wasn't a banner offseason, but a necessary one to start over.

GRADE: B-

-

Jared Goff fell out of favor with the Rams, and fast. He went from a Pro Bowl quarterback helping the Rams get to a Super Bowl at age 24 to perhaps being benched for John Wolford last postseason. (It's unclear if Sean McVay would have gone with Goff or Wolford if both were healthy, and we may never know for sure.) Goff was exposed as a quarterback who could play well in ideal conditions but struggles if the supporting cast isn't great, if he's pressured or if a defensive coach can confuse him with coverages. The Lions aren't expected to be good, which isn't ideal for Goff. But the Lions felt they needed a veteran quarterback coming back to them in a Matthew Stafford trade. Goff, a former No. 1 overall pick who is just 26, might not have long to prove he can be the long-term answer before the Lions look for another quarterback in the draft.

-

The Lions' win total is 5 at BetMGM. It's the second-lowest total on the board, with the Texans at 4. Detroit has the fourth-hardest schedule in the NFL, according to analyst Warren Sharp. Still, with a total this low it's hard to take the under. The Lions have a long rebuilding road ahead, but perhaps a coaching change helps. Either take the over or pass.

-

From Yahoo's Scott Pianowski: "We've been spoiled by rookies in recent seasons, with several wideouts turning into instant stars, some quarterbacks smashing from the word, "Go," and plenty of running backs producing right away. Tight end remains the position in which rookies need to be handled carefully; generally, they're not dynamic fantasy options on their first lap. This is my roundabout way of saying I want you to target T.J. Hockenson as he enters Year 3.

"Hockenson showed notable improvement in his second season, though it was partially screened by the collapse of the Lions. With the team's wideout group significantly weakened, Hockenson is likely to lead this team in targets, especially inside the 20, where the touchdowns are. Jared Goff is likely a step back from Matthew Stafford, but he can still be a league-average quarterback. Hockenson is an interesting upside stock to monitor, with a current Yahoo ADP around 50."

-

Matt Patricia was hired for his defensive prowess. In Patricia's three seasons with him and GM Dan Quinn acquiring players to supposedly fit Patricia's scheme the Lions went from 10th to 31st to 32nd in yards allowed per game. Detroit fell from 16th to 26th to 32nd in points allowed per game. The problems start with pass defense. The Lions allowed the most yards per pass in the NFL and the highest passer rating (112.4) in the league. Detroit couldn't rush the passer and couldn't cover anyone. Their former coach was in over his head, but there was a talent deficiency as well. That won't get fixed in one offseason.

-

Can Jeff Okudah turn it around?

The rudderless Lions passed on quarterbacks Tua Tagovailoa and Justin Herbert last year with the third overall pick to take cornerback Jeff Okudah. He seemed like a fine choice (though not the right one if the Lions were going to trade Matthew Stafford a year later), but he was one of the most disappointing first-round rookies in the class. Okudah struggled all season, allowing an NFL-high 579 yards in coverage on 251 snaps, according to Pro Football Focus. There were injuries for Okudah, and Matt Patricia's poor coaching didn't help. Okudah was considered an elite prospect coming out of Ohio State, so he can presumably make a big leap in his second season, but there's a lot more doubt after a poor first season.

-

It's possible Jared Goff plays well enough that the Lions won't miss Matthew Stafford too much. Then they'll have a viable young quarterback and plenty of future draft picks to build around him. While Dan Campbell is a wild card, it's hard to imagine he'll be worse than Matt Patricia. The Lions are unlikely to be a playoff contender, but if Goff plays well, Campbell has a good first season, and young players like Jeff Okudah and T.J. Hockenson have big seasons, there will be some hope for the future.

-

Maybe the Lions' rebuild is going to take multiple seasons. If Jared Goff struggles with a bad cast around him, Detroit has to start over at quarterback. If Dan Campbell's methods are clearly not a good fit for the Lions, that becomes a problem, too. The Lions could finish as the NFL's worst team, which would give them a shot at a quarterback of the future, but it would be a tough blow for a fan base that just wants some success.

-

The history has been discussed often: The Lions have won one playoff game since 1957. They have not won a division title since 1993, when it was the NFC Central. And now Detroit is starting over, trying to get it right this time. The Lions could be a little better than expected this season. There's a reason Matt Patricia has been mentioned often in this preview. He was ruinous for this franchise. Taking him out of the equation can only help.

The Lions still aren't going to be good enough to make 2021 a successful season. Detroit needs to figure out the long-term quarterback situation (it probably isn't Jared Goff) and which young players can be the foundation of a rebuild. Actual wins will be tough to come by. Wish there was better news, Lions fans.

-

32. Houston Texans

More from Yahoo Sports:

Read the rest here:

2021 NFL Preview: Lions finally move on from Matt Patricia, hope that Dan Campbell is better - Yahoo Sports

For more business and finance explainers, check out our Yahoo U page.

Since 2011, the Federal Reserve has published a chart known as the dot plot, which maps out policymakers expectations for where interest rates could be headed in the future.

The dot plot serves as a guide for financial markets, which tend to dislike policy surprises from the nations central bank.

But the dot plot also runs the risk of sending the wrong message, since forecasts are often wrong.

Four times a year (March, June, September, and December), the policy-setting Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) publishes a Summary of Economic Projections (SEP).

The SEP includes forecasts for where key economic indicators like GDP, inflation, and unemployment will be in coming years.

The release also includes the dot plot, which map out each members projections for where interest rates will be in up to three years (and over the longer-run).

The dots are not labeled with the person who submitted the forecast, leaving it up to Fed watchers to speculate who made what projection.

The FOMC does not coordinate the distribution of the dots. Members of the FOMC can bring up their forecasts in meetings, but the committee does not jointly describe the shape of the dot plot.

An example (from June 2021) of a print of a "dot plot" from the Federal Reserve's Summary of Economic Projections. Source: Federal Reserve

Fed watchers like to look at the median forecasts in the Summary of Economic Projections, which the central bank provides for the numerical prints on inflation, unemployment, and GDP.

In the dot plot, the median dots tend to get the most attention, since they represent the most central possible path for policy.

One challenge with looking at the median dot is that it is unclear if a median dot in one given year was submitted by the same Fed official as the median dot in another given year.

By extension, it is also difficult to discern if the median forecasts for inflation, unemployment, or GDP are tied to those median dots.

This means that the central forecasts provided in the SEP could be representative of no one on the committee.

Story continues

In the aftermath of the 2008 financial crisis, the Federal Reserve slashed interest rates to near zero and bought trillions of dollars in U.S. Treasuries and agency mortgage-backed securities.

The unprecedented degree of monetary stimulus had markets in the dark about when the Fed would ever raise interest rates again. As a tool to offer more forward guidance to markets on its next moves, then-Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke and soon-to-be Fed Chair Janet Yellen invented the dot plot.

As an invention of 2011, the dot plot has not been around all that long. But the post-crisis episode gives one test for how the dots were able to communicate liftoff from near-zero rates.

A chart from Hanlon Research maps out median projections from dot plots of years' past, showing a spotty record on predicting the timing of the the Fed's post-crisis liftoff. Source: Hanlon Research, Federal Reserve

Projections published in 2013 and 2014 forecast interest rates rising much faster than the Fed ended up pacing at.

Even after the Fed kicked off its first rate hike in December 2015, forecasts remained unreliable. Projections from the December 2015 meeting showed the median Fed official expecting four rate hikes in 2016.

There would be only one rate hike that year, in December.

The dot plot got better at forecasting rate moves once the Fed steadied its hiking cycle, but the U.S.-China trade war and the COVID-19 crisis again backed the Fed to near-zero rates.

With the dot plots shaky record on predicting liftoff, Fed Chairman Jerome Powell is again de-emphasizing the predictive power of the dot plot.

Read and watch more of Yahoo U here

Read the latest financial and business news from Yahoo Finance

Follow Yahoo Finance on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Flipboard, SmartNews, LinkedIn, YouTube, and reddit.

Read this article:

What is the Federal Reserve's dot plot: Yahoo U - Yahoo Finance

Chris Noths return to the role of Mr. Big in the Sex and and the City revival almost didnt happen. The actor tells Yahoo Finance Live that at first, he was "hesitant" about reprising his role as Carrie Bradshaw's on-again, off-again main squeeze in the Emmy-winning HBO comedy-drama that originally ran from 1998-2004.

It was a little bit of a sort of creative negotiation because I didn't really feel I had anything to offer in that role again. It kind of felt like I had done it, he said. But [executive producer] Michael Patrick King is just an incredible writer and has incredible creative ideas, and once we got together and talked about the potential of what we could do with the character, I was all in.

Production on the sequel series called "And Just Like That..." is already underway in New York City, and most of the original cast is returning for the 10-episode revival that will stream on HBO Max. Sarah Jessica Parker, Cynthia Nixon and Kristin Davis will all reprise their roles as besties Carrie Bradshaw, Miranda Hobbes and Charlotte York Goldenblatt, respectively. Notably absent will be scene stealer Kim Catrall as Samantha Jones, who declined to join the reboot.

From left to right, Cyntha Nixon as Miranda Hobbes, Sarah Jessica Parker as Carrie Bradshaw and Kristin Davis as Charlotte York Goldenblatt in a scene from the HBO hit comedy, "Sex and the City."

Noth's character married Carrie in the first "Sex and the City" movie, but their marriage may be in for some challenges in the sequel, since Carries ex-love, Aidan Shaw (played by John Corbett), is reportedly set to appear in multiple episodes.

While riding his bike in Manhattan, Noth said he passed film trucks on Third Avenue and, "I was like, yeah, that's great ... the city's back."

"We filmed 'The Equalizer' toward the end of the pandemic and we had very strict rules and it worked out. You know, mask wearing and testing every day," Noth said. "It really probably cost the studios and networks a lot of money to do that. And I think that now things are getting back to normal. And I look forward to it."

Story continues

Noth, a Yale School of Drama alumni, said "Broadway is the backbone of tourism in New York. And it's sort of how the Big Apple identifies itself in many ways. So I can't state how important that is. And I'm sure most New Yorkers will agree."

"We really are waiting with bated breath to get back in the theater and find a way to see the shows again," he said. "It's been very, very hard on people in the unions and the costume and the set directors and actors and musicians. It's been very, very difficult for them."

Alexis Christoforous is an anchor at Yahoo Finance. Follow her on Twitter@AlexisTVNews.

Read this article:

Chris Noth was 'hesitant' to reprise his role in 'Sex and the City' sequel - Yahoo Finance

Cryptocurrencies suffered another brutal weekend with bitcoin (BTC-USD) approaching $30,000 and ethereum (ETH-USD) sliding under $2,000 after China toughened its stance on crypto payments. But Coinbase customers now have access to an ethereum competitor called Polkadot (DOT1-USD), which is gaining the attention of Wall Street.

At a recent Yahoo Finance Plus webinar, Capital2Markets President Keith Bliss compared the two developer networks, which are designed to decentralized finance. "Polkadot is an ethereum competitor and a lot of programmers are now using that blockchain to build applications off of, because they consider it a little bit safer. It appears to have plugged in some of the pinholes that you see in the ethereum blockchain that some programmers and engineers have cited as problems going forward," he said.

Both platforms use smart contracts, but polkadot goes a step further, allowing developers to build their own blockchains that can connect to each other. Ethereum 2.0 is expected to add similar functionality when it goes live later this year or in 2021.

Polkadot does face headwinds though, not the least of which are crashing crypto prices, which are souring institutional interest and attracting regulatory scrutiny. Last Wednesday, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission delayed one of the many pending bitcoin ETFs before the agency. There's also no guarantee that polkadot will be widely adopted.

Bliss urges crypto investors to do their own research and make sure the underlying business or concept is bona fide. "[G]iven all the coins that are out there, it's easy to do some research and find the ones that have real businesses underpinning them in their movement, like Polkadot ... [T]hen you could make the investment accordingly if you don't want to have the volatile ride across the entire complex."

Jared Blikre is an anchor and reporter focused on the markets on Yahoo Finance Live. Follow him @SPYJared

Story continues

Upgrade now to stay ahead of the market with Yahoo Finance Plus.

Try Yahoo Finance Plus now

More here:

What is polkadot and how it's catching up to ethereum: former NYSE trader - Yahoo Finance

When actor Chris Noth learned that live music venues were allowed to re-open in New York City during the COVID-19 pandemic, he said it was a big relief.

A relief, not just because Noth is a huge music fan, but because he co-owns The Cutting Room, a live music venue and lounge in the city.

Best known for his lead roles in TV hits like Sex and the City, Law and Order, and The Good Wife, Noth opened The Cutting Room in 1999 with partner and Berklee College of Music alum, Steve Walter.

Noth told Yahoo Finance Live that live music venues in the city were hurting well before the pandemic due to financials and the price of running a venue in Manhattan."

"We are blessed to have the person who owns the building have patience, and he happens to be a music fan, so we were lucky, he said, referring to The Cutting Room's landlord. "A lot of places weren't so lucky."

Gov. Andrew Cuomo lifted nearly all COVID-19 restrictions on June 15, after 70% of adults in New York state had received at least one vaccine dose. State officials have largely left individual establishments to decide for themselves if they will require and enforce COVID protocols.

Many, like The Cutting Room, are working on the honor system and asking that non-vaccinated customers wear masks indoors.

We go with what the CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) says, Noth said. We're going to trust that if someone knows they're infected, they're not going to be out in the public, but right now, with the vaccinations the way they are, we are sort of trusting that the CDC is reliable.

Actor Chris Noth is co-owner of The Cutting Room, a music venue and lounge in New York City. Before hitting it big, Stephani Germanotta, commonly known as Lady Gaga, performed at the club during the early stages of her career.

Noths business partner, Walter, said the club is constantly getting calls from bands anxious to get back to live performances after more than a year of being off the stage. Musicians are dying to play. They're all calling. It's incredible how quickly the calendar is filling up, he told Yahoo Finance Live.

And that includes larger musical acts, that wouldnt normally play more intimate venues. It gives us little guys a chance because they can't play the Garden [Madison Square Garden] and all that the big audiences because the tours weren't set. So we can get some large acts that wouldn't play a room this small, Walter said.

Story continues

In addition to live music, The Cutting Room also serves food in a supper-club atmosphere. With the exception of some of its kitchen staff, Walter said nearly all of the clubs employees are returning.

In the true spirit of entrepreneurship, Noth found synergy at the club for another one of his business ventures. In 2018, the actor bought a majority stake in the ultra-premium tequila brand Ambhar Tequila, which is now the official tequila at The Cutting Room.

Actor Chris Noth is a majority shareholder and brand ambassador for Ambhar Tequila. The boutique brand produces about 300,000 bottles of tequila a year.

The actor, who is reprising his role as the notorious Mr. Big in the Sex and the City sequel series, And Just Like That, said hes glad his club can be a showcase for all the great music out there.

They just need a place to come to be able to play their music. That was our original philosophy because we love music. We grew up in the '70s and '80s and late '60s and that's how our love for music was formed, Noth said.

When you think of all the venues that have disappeared, The Bottom Line, CBGB's, to name just two of the most famous, he said. I've always hoped that, when there's an empty space, that the city wouldn't give the tax breaks, so that when a small business comes in and they are willing to rent at a reasonable price, they give it to them, instead of waiting for a bank or a drugstore to take it, who have all the money in the world.

Alexis Christoforous is an anchor at Yahoo Finance. Follow her on Twitter@AlexisTVNews.

Read the original post:

Actor Chris Noth on the return of live music in NYC - Yahoo Finance

Philadelphia 76ers fans have been marinating in negativity since the team was stunningly bounced from the playoffs by the Atlanta Hawks. But just two days after their unceremonious exit, GM Daryl Morey is fighting back against that negativity and taking a positive view of his team and where they are.

"A lot of what I'm reading I frankly don't understand," Morey said in his end-of-season news conference Tuesday via ESPN. "People [are] saying the Sixers are in a bad situation.

"I don't choose to come here, [coach Doc Rivers] doesn't choose to come here if this is a bad situation. I mean, really 25 or 26 teams in this league would love to be in our situation with an MVP-caliber top player and All-Star, near All-Star, great young players who are signed for the long term, good veterans.

"So, we've got a good foundation. We just have to do better, I have to do better, everyone has to do better."

Despite Morey's optimism about the team's future, two days hasn't been quite enough for him to get over such a difficult loss. Not only were the Sixers the No. 1 seed in the East, they had multiple chances to demoralize the Hawks and run away with the series. Instead, they blew a 26-point lead in Game 5 and couldn't close the deal in Game 7, losing 103-96 tantalizingly close, but not enough.

"We need to be a better offensive team," Morey said via ESPN. "I mean we're two days after ... you can tell it's a little raw, still. I think if you replay that Game 7 a bunch of times and, you know, we execute better, then we win. But look, reality is reality. We didn't do it and, and frankly if we're squeaking by the second round that just tells me we're not, we're unfortunately not good enough, probably to win the title so we need to get better.

"But, you know, the game, that series, is still incredibly painful."

Morey laid out the honest truth: the Sixers' performance in the semifinals proved that they simply weren't good enough to win it all.

Story continues

Much of the Sixers fans' negativity has centered on Ben Simmons, and for good reason. His clear unwillingness to shoot the ball constantly hurt the team in the playoffs, especially in the Eastern Conference semifinals.

With Simmons' future on everyone's mind, Morey was asked "on several occasions" if he'd commit to having him on the roster next season, according to ESPN. Despite some fans' desire to load Simmons into a trebuchet and fling him into another state, Morey wouldn't say anything either way about Simmons' future with the team.

"We have a very strong group we believe in," Morey said via ESPN. "None of us can predict the future of what's going to happen in any, in any place. We love what Ben brings, we love what Joel [Embiid] brings, we love what Tobias [Harris] brings, in terms of what's next we're gonna do what's best for the 76ers to give us the best chance to win the championship with every single player on the roster."

More from Yahoo Sports:

Continued here:

Sixers GM Daryl Morey quiet on Ben Simmons' future, but says most teams 'would love to be in our situation' - Yahoo Sports

American Airlines canceled nearly 600 flights over the weekend through Monday, and is cutting about 1% of its flights in July. That could be just the beginning of a rocky summer for travelers and a robust one for airlines. Delays, cancellations and higher fares could be the norm.

One word of advice for voyagers: "patience," said Helane Becker, longtime airline analyst. She laid out to Yahoo Finance Live the reasons behind the delays, and why they could very well continue.

First up is a central reason cited by American Airlines: worker shortages. Some are a factor of the COVID-19 pandemic, and some are due to typical airline operating procedures. American and other airlines like Delta Air Lines have announced they're ramping up hiring, but it will take time.

"Because of the pandemic, a lot of pilots that may not have retired until 2021 or 2022 or '23 accelerated their retirement to last year," said Becker, a senior analyst at Cowen & Co. For pilots who were temporarily sidelined when airline demand plunged, "it takes about a year to bring a pilot up from a furlough and get him or her ready to fly again."

For pilots who are working, "there's what I call the 16-13-10-hour rule, that basically says pilots can work 16 hours during the day, 13 hours overnight and need 10 hours of rest between shifts." That means the lower number of pilots can, for safety reasons, only work so much.

Secondly, not only are there fewer pilots, there are also fewer planes.

"Last year, you may remember, airlines accelerated retirement of a lot of aircraft," Becker said. One example was American, which permanently grounded 156 of its planes in 2020; Delta also said an early farewell to some of its Boeing jets as a result of the pandemic.

Finally, there's a perennial summer problem that's only intensified as a result of climate change: weather-related delays and cancellations.

Story continues

The final version of the 737 MAX, the MAX 10, takes off from Renton Airport in Renton, Wash., on its first flight Friday, June 18, 2021. Boeing's newest version of the 737 Max jetliner made its first test flight Friday, taking off near Seattle for an expected two-hour trip that the company hopes will signal improving fortunes for its most important plane. (Ellen M. Banner/The Seattle Times via AP, Pool)

"Pop-up thunderstorms wreak havoc with the industry, and you don't know when they're coming," said Becker.

Not only has the amount of precipitation increased in recent years that rain increasingly comes in what the Environmental Protection Agency calls "extreme one-day precipitation events." Tropical storm intensity has also risen.

The reason all of these issues are particularly problematic for travelers is that they've come amidst a surge in demand. This week, passengers traveling through Transportation Security Administration (TSA) checkpoints surpassed 2 million in a single day for the first time since March 2020. Monday's passenger traffic of 2.03 million compares with 2.72 million on June 21, 2019, according to the TSA.

That could mean a strong summer for airlines, said Becker and other analysts. That optimism, though, is not necessarily reflected in recent stock action. While American (AAL), for example, is up some 40% this year, the shares are down nearly 3% from a 52-week high in early June. Delta (DAL) has risen about 12% year-to-date, but is down 10% since a high in early April. United Airlines (UAL) and Southwest Airlines (LUV) have also sold off from highs earlier this year.

Julie Hyman is the co-anchor of Yahoo Finance Live, weekdays 9am-11am ET. Follow her on Twitter @juleshyman, and read her other stories.

Read the latest financial and business news from Yahoo Finance

Follow Yahoo Finance on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Flipboard, SmartNews, LinkedIn, YouTube, and reddit.

Visit link:

3 reasons why airline delays and cancellations could persist this summer - Yahoo Finance

3D bioprinted soft tissue scaffold with vascularization channels perfused with red ink designed and produced using 3D Systems' and CollPlant's expertise and solutions.

3D bioprinted soft tissue scaffold with vascularization channels perfused with red ink designed and produced using 3D Systems' and CollPlant's expertise and solutions.

High resolution 3D bioprinted soft tissue matrix mimics patients anatomy, enables in-growth to facilitate healing and enhanced outcomes

Unlimited supply of plant-based recombinant human collagen (rhCollagen) does not require animal or human sources to produce

ROCK HILL, S.C. and REHOVOT, Israel, June 22, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Today, 3D Systems (NYSE:DDD) and CollPlant Biotechnologies (NASDAQ:CLGN) announced they have signed a co-development agreement for a 3D bioprinted regenerative soft tissue matrix for use in breast reconstruction procedures in combination with an implant. The soft tissue matrix is intended to support the lower portion of the breast while expanding the implant pocket and providing increased coverage of the implant. Using 3D bioprinting, these matrices can be designed to match the patients anatomy to support the breast implant.

According to the World Health Organization, 2.3 million women were diagnosed with breast cancer globally in 2020, of which, a large majority required partial or full removal of breast tissue. Survival probabilities are 90% or greater due to highly effective treatments which is increasing the focus on delivering improved options for reconstruction. The majority of breast reconstruction procedures use soft tissue matrices derived from human cadavers or animals. These sources are associated with supply shortages and batch-to-batch variability, as well as the possibility for eliciting immune response which impacts healing.

Through this co-development agreement, 3D Systems and CollPlant with combined expertise in 3D printing, healthcare, bioprinting and bioinks will develop 3D bioprinted soft tissue matrices using rhCollagen. The 3D bioprinted soft tissue matrix product in development is designed to meet the required physical and mechanical properties while promoting cell infiltration and proliferation by using bioink formulations based on rhCollagen that promote tissue regeneration. The companies believe their efforts will result in tissue matrices that offer superior performance, consistency and safety due to their plant origin and identical match with natural human collagen which does not elicit an adverse immune response in humans.

Story continues

In January of this year, we announced our intention to increase the investment in regenerative medicine and focus on developing and commercializing solutions to change how healthcare is delivered and bring substantial benefits to patients, said Dr. Jeffrey Graves, president & chief executive officer, 3D Systems. Through this project were embarking on with CollPlant, were exploring a novel application that could offer a new reconstruction treatment for breast cancer survivors. Its inspiring to be involved in a project that has the potential to have such a positive impact on the human condition.

Weve joined forces with 3D Systems to offer a regenerative soft tissue matrix that may significantly increase the addressable market for soft tissue reinforcement in breast implant procedures. A regenerative solution can increase safety, eliminate product variability, and enhance results by promoting new tissue growth, stated Yehiel Tal, chief executive officer, CollPlant. We are pleased to deepen our collaboration with 3D Systems as part of CollPlants strategy as a leader in regenerative medicine.

About 3D Systems More than 30 years ago, 3D Systems brought the innovation of 3D printing to the manufacturing industry. Today, as the leading AM solutions company, it empowers manufacturers to create products and business models never before possible through transformed workflows. This is achieved with the Companys best-of-breed digital manufacturing ecosystem - comprised of plastic and metal 3D printers, print materials, on-demand manufacturing services and a portfolio of end-to-end manufacturing software. Each solution is powered by the expertise of the companys application engineers who collaborate with customers to transform manufacturing environments. 3D Systems solutions address a variety of advanced applications for prototyping through production in markets such as aerospace, automotive, medical, dental and consumer goods. More information on the company is available at http://www.3dsystems.com.

About CollPlantCollPlant is a regenerative and aesthetic medicine company focused on 3D bioprinting of tissues and organs, and medical aesthetics. The Companys products are based on its rhCollagen (recombinant human collagen) produced with CollPlants proprietary plant based genetic engineering technology. These products address indications for the diverse fields of tissue repair, aesthetics, and organ manufacturing, and are ushering in a new era in regenerative and aesthetic medicine. CollPlant recently entered a development and global commercialization agreement for dermal and soft tissue fillers with Allergan, an AbbVie company, the global leader in the dermal filler market. For more information about CollPlant, visit http://www.collplant.com

Safe Harbor for Forward-Looking Statements This press release may include forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements may include, but are not limited to, statements relating to CollPlant's and 3D Systems objectives, plans and strategies, as well as statements, other than historical facts, that address activities, events or developments that CollPlant and 3D Systems each intends, expects, projects, believes or anticipates will or may occur in the future. These statements are often characterized by terminology such as "believes," "hopes," "may," "anticipates," "should," "intends," "plans," "will," "expects," "estimates," "projects," "positioned," "strategy" and similar expressions and are based on assumptions and assessments made in light of management's experience and perception of historical trends, current conditions, expected future developments and other factors believed to be appropriate. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied in such statements. Many factors could cause CollPlant's and 3D Systems actual activities or results to differ materially from the activities and results anticipated in forward-looking statements, including, but not limited to, the following: the CollPlants history of significant losses and its need to raise additional capital and its inability to obtain additional capital on acceptable terms, or at all; CollPlants and 3D Systems expectations regarding the timing and cost of commencing clinical trials with respect to tissues and organs which are based on its rhCollagen-based BioInk; the CollPlants and 3D Systems or its business partners ability to obtain favorable pre-clinical and clinical trial results; regulatory action with respect to rhCollagen-based BioInk, including but not limited to acceptance of an application for marketing authorization, review and approval of such application, and, if approved, the scope of the approved indication and labeling; commercial success and market acceptance of the CollPlants rhCollagen-based BioInk and 3D Systems technologies; CollPlants ability to establish sales and marketing capabilities or enter into agreements with third parties and its reliance on third-party distributors and resellers; the CollPlants and 3D Systems ability to establish and maintain strategic partnerships and other corporate collaborations; CollPlants and 3D Systems reliance on third parties to conduct some aspects of its product manufacturing; the scope of protection CollPlant and 3D Systems are able to establish and maintain for intellectual property rights and the companies ability to operate their business without infringing the intellectual property rights of others; the overall global economic environment; the impact of competition and new technologies; general market, political, and economic conditions in the countries in which the companies operate; projected capital expenditures and liquidity; changes in the companies strategy; and litigation and regulatory proceedings. More detailed information about the risks and uncertainties affecting CollPlant and 3D Systems is contained under the heading "Risk Factors" included in CollPlant's most recent annual report on Form 20-F and 3D Systems most recent annual report on Form 10-K, and in other periodic filings, that CollPlant and 3D Systems have filed with the SEC. The forward-looking statements contained in this press release are made as of the date of this press release and reflect CollPlant's and 3D Systems current views with respect to future events, and neither company undertakes, and each company specifically disclaims, any obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/2c40dd6e-f1d5-4ed3-8cb2-588c56a1e8d6

Go here to see the original:

3D Systems and CollPlant Enter Co-development Agreement to Deliver Bioprinted Solutions for Improved Breast Reconstruction Treatments - Yahoo Finance