Fired Mets GM Porter suspended by MLB through 2022 season
Fired New York Mets general manager Jared Porter has been suspended by Major League Baseball through at least the end of the 2022 regular season following an investigation that began after a report that he sent sexually explicit text messages and images to a female reporter in 2016 while he was working for the Chicago Cubs.
Ford is betting that solid-state batteries will cut EV costs
Ford has raised its stake in a manufacturer of solid-state batteries โ a move that its chief product and operations officer, Hau Thai-Tang, says will strengthen the companyโs effort to increase the range and reduce the costs of its next generation of electric vehicles.
Oscars add UK hub for broadcast after concerns about travel
FILE - In this Feb. 21, 2015 file photo, an Oscar statue appears outside the Dolby Theatre for the 87th Academy Awards in Los Angeles. (Photo by Matt Sayles/Invision/AP, File)With less than a month until showtime, the 93rd Oscars are taking another pass at the script. The main event will still take place at Los Angelesโ Union station which will include a red carpet component but they are planning something special for the UK location. The show is also working with local broadcast affiliates around the world to provide satellite links for other international nominees. The 93rd Oscars will be broadcast live on ABC on April 25 at 8 p.m. Eastern.
Legislator being investigated for Weinstein backdrop on Zoom
Bickford apologized, calling it "inappropriate and in poor taste." Weinstein is a former Hollywood producer who faced accusations from more than 80 women that he sexually assaulted them. (Maine Legislature via Zoom via AP)AUGUSTA, Maine โ A Maine legislator who appeared for Zoom meetings twice with a background that made a joking reference to convicted rapist Harvey Weinstein is being investigated by the Legislatureโs human resources department. Both times, Bickford quickly changed the background to a lake, which is his typical background for Zoom meetings. โIt was inappropriate and in poor taste.
US jobless claims fall to 684,000, fewest since pandemic
The number of people seeking unemployment benefits fell sharply last week to 684,000, the fewest since the pandemic erupted a year ago and a sign the economy is improving. Thursdayโs report from the Labor Department showed that jobless claims fell from 781,000 the week before. All told, the number of applicants fell below 1 million for the first time since the pandemic. AdNationally, though, the number of recipients in an extended federal jobless benefits program jumped by 730,000 to 5.5 million. Historically, the weekly unemployment claims figure has been considered an accurate reflection of the pace of layoffs.
Plans solidify for 93rd Oscars: No Zoom, no sweatshirts
The 93rd Oscars will be held on April 25. (Photo by Matt Sayles/Invision/AP, File)With nominations set and just over a month until showtime, details are trickling out about the 93rd Oscars and neither sweatshirts nor Zoom made the cut. Theyโve enlisted Emmy and Tony Award winning director Glenn Weiss to direct the live broadcast on April 25. The producers said they plan to treat the event like an active movie set with on-site COVID safety teams and testing protocols. The 93rd Oscars will be broadcast live on ABC on April 25 starting at 8 p.m.
Slow internet? A new WiFi 6 router may help
SAN ANTONIO โ If you keep getting kicked out of Zoom meetings or your kids are complaining about slow internet, the problem may be your outdated router, not your internet service. And, it may be time to upgrade to the latest generation, the Wifi 6 router to fix it. You donโt have to worry about compatibility with older devices because different generations of WiFi are designed to communicate with each other. AdโBecause WiFi 6 routers are more efficient, your older devices may see better performance,โ De Leon said. If you rent your router, check with your internet service provider to see if it offers a WiFi 6 upgrade.
Yankees' Boone back on bench 3 days after pacemaker inserted
This screengrab from a Zoom call, Friday, March 5, 2021, shows New York Yankees manager Aaron Boone. Boone said he's feeling better after getting a pacemaker and said he hopes to return to the team Saturday or Sunday. (AP Photo/Ron Blum)New York Yankees manager Aaron Boone returned to the dugout Saturday, three days after surgery to have a pacemaker inserted. Boone, who turns 48 in a few days, left the club Wednesday to get the pacemaker at St. Josephโs Hospital in Tampa, Florida. Boone, who had open heart surgery in 2009 for a congenital defect, had been experiencing light-headedness and fatigue this winter.
VIA to host virtual job fair for bus operator, mechanic positions
SAN ANTONIO โ VIA Metropolitan Transit will host a virtual job fair from 9 a.m. to noon on Thursday, March 4, to recruit bus operators and mechanics. The virtual job fair can be accessed by phone or on Zoom. AdTo participate in the job fair, interested persons should do the following:Submit an application online . Interested persons may apply after the job fair and their applications will still be reviewed and considered. Go online between 9 a.m. and noon on March 4 to join the job fair online, on Zoom or by phone.
The glam was back at the Golden Globes, albeit at a distance
And they were ready, style wise, as the Globes split hosts, with Amy Poehler at the Beverly Hilton and Tina Fey at the Rainbow Room in New York. Backstage after the show, Sudeikis told reporters he owns a multitude of hoodies but chose the one emblazoned with โForwardโ on the front and โListen + Leadโ on the back as fitting for the unusual night. โI wanted to feel festive and go for it,โ she told NBC. Sarah Paulson held her little black pooch on screen and Emma Corrin's fluffy white cat grabbed a moment for itself. AdLydia Marks, a New York set decorator, told The Associated Press the evening's technical challenges were many.
Happ beats Cubs in arbitration; teams finish with 5-4 record
Happ asked for a raise from $624,000 to $4.1 million during a Zoom session Thursday, Feb. 18, 2021, and the Cubs argued he should be paid $3.25 million. Teams finished with a 5-4 advantage in cases that went to a hearing, their second straight winning record after two consecutive years in which players had an advantage. A day after hearing arguments, arbitrators Frederic Horowitz, Steven Wolf and Jules Bloch decided in favor of Happ's figure rather than the team's $3.25 million. St. Louis pitcher Jack Flaherty ($3.9 million), Braves pitcher Mike Soroka ($2.8 million) and Rays first baseman Ji-Man Choi ($2.45 million) also won their cases. Teams beat Atlanta shortstop Dansby Swanson ($6 million), San Francisco infielder Donovan Solano ($3.25 million), Tampa Bay pitcher Ryan Yarbrough ($2.3 million), New York Mets third baseman/outfielder J.D.
As seen on SA Live - Friday, February 12, 2021
SAN ANTONIO โ Today at 1 p.m., a rodeo spotlight, Valentineโs fashion, crafts and treats, Mardi Gras at SeaWorld and more. Whatโs the worst Zoom/video chat fail thatโs happened to you? Have you seen that video of the lawyer with the cat filter? ๐ What's the worst Zoom/video chat fail that's happened to... Posted by SA Live on Friday, February 12, 2021Jen pays a visit to One & Only Boutique to share three looks for the big, romantic day, and Alamo Pizza and Wings is here with a heart-shaped pizza for your valentine. SA Live airs weekdays at 1 p.m. on KSAT 12.
Getting tired, bored after months of working from home? You might be suffering from โZoom fatigueโ
ORLANDO, Fla. (Ivanhoe Newswire) โ Videoconferencing platforms including the popular โZoomโ have taken over the corporate world. But after months of sitting in front of a screen, many employees are getting tired and bored. Itโs a phenomenon dubbed โZoom fatigue.โโItโs really bad for our mental health to constantly be plugged in,โ said A.J. If youโre sitting for long periods of time, try standing up every 30 minutes. To protect your eyes from strain, try the 20-20-20 rule where every 20 minutes, you take 20 seconds to look at something 20 feet away.
Aging desktop source of attorney's accidental cat filter
This image from video shows a hearing from the 394th Judicial District Court of Texas. A filter that had been activated on the attorney's device obscured his appearance and made him look like a cat. And in Florida, a judge told attorneys they must get out of bed and put on clothing before appearing on video for proceedings. Ferguson, the judge who oversaw Tuesdayโs hearing and posted the video online, told The Associated Press he had no idea the clip would become an instant hit. In one of the more hilarious moments, Ponton tells the judge: โI'm prepared to go forwardโ with the hearing, despite his feline appearance.
โIโm not a cat,โ lawyer tells judge during Zoom call cat-filter faux โpawโ
Video of the court proceedings, released by Judge Roy Ferguson on social media and on YouTube, shows how the call happened. IMPORTANT ZOOM TIP: If a child used your computer, before you join a virtual hearing check the Zoom Video Options to be sure filters are off. #lawtwitter #OhNo @zoom_ushttps://t.co/I0zaj0wu6K โ Judge Roy Ferguson (@JudgeFergusonTX) February 9, 2021โMr. AdโCan you hear me judge?โ Ponton says. โ Judge Roy Ferguson (@JudgeFergusonTX) February 9, 2021Watch the video in full in the player below:Related: Sheriff making changes at the Bexar County jail to address court case backlog
Owner of Mets and hedge fund leaves Twitter, citing threats
This photo from a Zoom press conference shows New York Mets owner Steve Cohen, Tuesday, Nov. 10, 2020. (New York Mets via AP)NEW YORK โ The owner of the New York Mets says he has dropped off Twitter because his family received threats that he attributed to โmisinformation" that was not tied to the baseball team. Hedge funds that shorted GameStop have lost billions as small investors bid up the company's shares. One of the short sellers, Melvin Capital, announced this week that it received a $750 million infusion from Point72. The Mets tied for last place in the National League East division last season.
Michigan official shows gun after public meeting criticism
Ron Clous, an elected member of the Grand Traverse County Board of Commissioners, was at home during the livestreamed meeting Wednesday, the Traverse City Record-Eagle reported. โThe only thing I know about them (Proud Boys) is when they came and spoke to us," Clous said. "To have a public official do that during a public meeting is horrendous.โBetsy Coffia, a fellow county commissioner, labeled Clous' action โdeeply disturbing." โI am not a member of Proud Boys,โ Hentschel said Wednesday. Iโve met Black Proud Boys, Iโve met multi-racial Puerto Rican Proud Boys and they inform me they also have gay Proud Boys.
Attorneys: Ex-governor charged in wrong county over Flint
Attorneys for Snyder are telling prosecutors that the Flint water case should be dismissed because he was charged in the wrong county. (67th District Court in Flint via AP)LANSING, Mich. โ Attorneys for former Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder are striking back, telling prosecutors Tuesday that the Flint water case should be dismissed because he was charged in the wrong county. Snyder,โ Lennon told the judge. Snyder was one of nine people charged in a new investigation of the Flint water crisis, including former state health department director Nick Lyon.
New York Mets fire general manager after he sent explicit texts to female reporter
This screen grab from a Zoom call shows New York Mets general manager Jared Porter Monday, Dec. 14, 2020. Mets general manager Jared Porter sent graphic, uninvited text messages and images to a female reporter in 2016 when he was working for the Chicago Cubs in their front office, ESPN reported Monday night, Jan. 18, 2021. (Zoom via AP, File)NEW YORK โ Mets general manager Jared Porter was fired Tuesday after sending graphic, uninvited text messages and images to a female reporter in 2016 when he was working for the Chicago Cubs in their front office. โWe have terminated Jared Porter this morning,โ Cohen wrote Tuesday. She said the Cubs employee told her Porter wanted to apologize in person, but she didn't want to see him.
Browns delay practice for Steelers after 2 positive tests
(AP Photo/Bill Kostroun)The Browns didn't begin preparing for the Steelers on the field but rather via Zoom calls. The Browns, who have nine players currently on the COVID-19 reserve list, will make the postseason for the first time since 2002 with a win. After learning of the positive tests, the team closed its facility to do contact tracing and Stefanski said players were doing virtual meetings โ something that has become standard in 2020. "โI donโt think it would come as a surprise for a positive test in that market. The Browns did have a good development as starting right guard Wyatt Teller was cleared to practice after missing two games with a sprained ankle.
15 things we all did in 2020 that became part of โquarantine cultureโ
So here is a list of the wild and crazy things that became a part of our quarantine culture. Many of us got really into baking when quarantine started, and one of the most popular things to bake was sourdough bread. During a time in which we didnโt have much control over our lives, it was certainly fun to have control over a sourdough starter. Just like feeding sourdough starter, accumulating an obnoxious number of house plants this year became very popular. What was your favorite (or least favorite) thing about quarantine culture?
Students are sending teachers, professors signs of appreciation over Zoom calls and it will warm your heart
Weโve all had to adjust to the craziness of this year, but some students across the world, from preschoolers to graduate students, had to learn virtually, and itโs been difficult on the students and teachers. Thatโs why a lot of students are showing their appreciation for teachers and professors everywhere as theyโve had to get creative and figure out how to teach curriculum on a Zoom call. This group of students from the College of New Jersey said thanks to their professor over Zoom, and his reaction is just priceless. Here is another of students surprising their college professor. These students said thanks to their Spanish teacher, and her reaction is so heartwarming.
New Phillies boss Dombrowski plans retool, not rebuild
This screengrab from a Zoom call shows David Dombrowski, the Philadelphia Phillies' new president of baseball operations, during a Zoom call Friday, Dec. 11, 2020. (Zoom via AP)Dave Dombrowski wants to win again sooner rather than later. So he finalized a deal Friday to become the Philadelphia Philliesโ president of baseball operations, convinced the team is not far from its first World Series title since 2008. Phillies president Andy MacPhail called again Saturday, and Dombrowski said he was told of the nebulous expansion timetable by MLB on Monday and Tuesday. โIt was John reaching out and really trying to make me part of the Phillies organization,โ Dombrowski said.
Zoom reports big 3Q gains, but slowing growth sinks stock
Zoomโs revenue more than quadrupled from the same time last year to $777 million, yielding a profit of $198 million, up from just $2.2 million a year ago. Zoom ended its latest quarter with 433,700 customers with at least 10 employees, an increase of 63,500 customers from July. In each of the previous two quarters, Zoom had added more than 100,000 customers with at least 10 employees. In a reflection of the high hopes for Zoom, analysts polled by FactSet predict the companyโs revenue next year will reach $3.1 billion. That would be a roughly 20% increase from revenue of nearly $2.6 billion that Zoom is projecting for this year.
6 ways to make virtual Thanksgiving entertaining for everyone
With many medical experts urging Americans to make this yearโs Thanksgiving scaled down, many of us will probably only see people in our โbubble,โ so holiday is going to feel a little bit different. Thanks to technology, you can still gather with your extended family.
New Yorker fires writer Jeffrey Toobin after Zoom incident
NEW YORK โ The New Yorker has fired longtime staff writer Jeffrey Toobin after he reportedly exposed himself during a Zoom conference last month. He had already been on suspension and is also on leave from CNN, where he is chief legal analyst. โI was fired today by @NewYorker after 27 years as a Staff Writer. I will always love the magazine, will miss my colleagues, and will look forward to reading their work,โ Toobin tweeted Wednesday. He is a former associate counsel in the Department of Justice who for the New Yorker has written about everything from the O.J.
12 last-minute Halloween costume ideas that are perfect for 2020
(Photo by APEX/MEGA/GC Images) (2020 MEGA)Who: The other star of Netflixโs irresistible โTiger King." What youโll need: Your hair pulled back in a bun, glasses, a judgeโs robe and a fancy white collar. What youโll need: A banana costume and a loaf of bread to carry around. (Photo by Chris Jackson/Getty Images) (2020 Getty Images)Who: A video conferencing program that became very popular once the pandemic started in early 2020. What youโll need: A piece of cardboard cut with a whole in the middle to look like a screen.
Japanese director known for single shots releases Zoom film
This undated photo provided by the @One Cut of the Dead Mission: Remote shows Shinichiro Ueda, director of One Cut of the Dead Mission: Remote, a YouTube spinoff of his 2017 award-winning film. A comedic horror film centered around teleworking, "One Cut of the Dead Mission: Remoteโ was released earlier this year and shared for free on YouTube. It features the same characters from his award-winning 2017 film โOne Cut of the Dead,โ which has one shot that was 37-minutes long. Uedaโs style incorporates slapstick comedy and focuses on visual, rather than explanatory verbal storytelling, an approach relatively rare in contemporary Japanese film. โItโs only after 200 or 300 bad films you will have that one great film,โ he said.
No new jury trials order frustrates many defense attorneys
SAN ANTONIO โ Faced with the prospect of no jury trials for the next three months, the only option for criminal defense attorneys is to attempt to resolve cases through Zoom hearings. โIโm used to doing deals across the table usually ending in a handshake,โ veteran defense attorney James Tocci said Thursday. โThe Pandemic doesnโt allow for that.โDefense attorney Joseph โMickโAguilera said remote hearings are often a challenge. Those situations are the focus of the bulk of the remote hearings, according to Tocci. Both men agreed that decreasing revenues as a result of no jury trials has also become a serious problem.
They wanted disruption in 2016. Now they're Trump defectors
They wanted change and disruption, until they found out what that actually looked like under a President Trump. โI was super proud that day I walked out of voting,โ said Jensen, who voted for Trump in the primary and general election in 2016. James Farr, a 77-year-old evangelical Christian who lives in Kissimmee, Florida, voted Republican in large part because of his opposition to abortion. While working as a Bible translator in Papua New Guinea in 2016, he voted for Trump by absentee ballot. On Nov. 8, 2016, Jensen posted on Facebook, โCNN having a meltdown,โ referring to Trumpโs unexpected win.
3 tips to a successful job interview on Zoom
If youโve never used Zoom, donโt worry -- experts are here to assist you. Workforce Solutions Alamo has some insight on how to have a successful Zoom interview. It wonโt hurt to ask a friend or family member to hop in a Zoom meeting with you so you can test everything out. [Related: SAQ: We want to know what questions you have about finding a job in Bexar County, Job shopping? This group provides countless immediate openings in your area]Preparing for your Zoom job interviewNow that youโre feeling good about using Zoom, itโs important to prepare for your video interview.
Images of 9/11 attack, porn interrupt voting machine hearing
The hearing in the long-running fight over Georgia's voting machines began Thursday afternoon and continued Friday. They've asked U.S. District Judge Amy Totenberg to order the state to use hand-marked paper ballots for the November election. During the two-day hearing, Totenberg heard from experts in computer security, election technology and statistics, as well as from state and local election officials. Elections officials testified that switching to hand-marked paper ballots in time for the November election would be extremely difficult. ___APโs Advance Voting guide brings you the facts about voting early, by mail or absentee from each state: https://interactives.ap.org/advance-voting-2020/
Man accused of making bomb threat against Texas university during Zoom lecture
A man has been arrested after being accused of making a bomb threat against the University of Houston during a Zoom lecture. Ibraheem Ahmed Al Bayati was set to make his initial court appearance Tuesday afternoon, according to U.S. Attorney Ryan Patrick. Investigators allege his discussion about the Islamic State was a reference to the terrorist organization. Al Bayati has been charged with making threats or conveying false information to destroy by means of fire or explosives and making a threat over interstate commerce. If convicted, Al Bayati faces up to 10 years in prison.
Zoom stock surges, market value tops Boeing, Starbucks
NEW YORK A Zoom call has become an integral part of daily life during the coronavirus pandemic. On Tuesday, Wall Street acknowledged as much by boosting the videoconferencing company's market value above that of more established companies such as Citigroup, Boeing and Starbucks. Zoom's revenue more than quadrupled from the same time last year to $663.5 million and profits blew past Wall Street forecasts. At the current level, Zoom's market value exceeds the combined value of two storied automakers, General Motors and Ford, and is more than double the aggregate value of the nation's four biggest airlines. The forecast is now more than double the $910 million revenue that Zoom had anticipated as it began its fiscal year.
Zoom is down in San Antonio-area as businesses, students lean on virtual meetings, classes
SAN ANTONIO The popular video conferencing app Zoom is reporting issues nationwide, including some areas of San Antonio. The Zoom website states that officials have identified the issue causing users to be unable to authenticate to the Zoom website and unable to start and join Zoom Meetings and Webinars and that they are working to fix the issue. Popular website Downdetector.com shows San Antonio, Austin, Houston and Dallas as having issues with users trying access the Zoom website. According to Zooms status page, there appear to be partial outages with Zoom meetings, video webinars, web portals and web clients. We are continuing to work on a fix for this issue, Zoom officials said.
Edison High School student lifts shirt up, makes sexual advances at teacher during virtual class
SAN ANTONIO โ Some Edison High School students were witnesses to a disturbing incident during a virtual art class Tuesday. And I know he was upset,โ said Mariana Rodriguez, whose son, Eduardo Corpus, was in the virtual class and witnessed the incident that he says involved several students. โThey were pulling their shirts off and saying, like, really disgusting stuff to the teacher, making her feel uncomfortable,โ Corpus said. In the recording, you can hear what appears to be a student saying โWhy you so sexy Msโ followed by the student saying he would perform a sexual act on her. Rodriguez said she understands that it may be hard for kids to stay focused during a virtual class.
Local couple ties the knot via Zoom in hospital ceremony
SAN ANTONIO โ Motherโs Day will be even more memorable this year for one local couple. When Ausenett was hospitalized, the couple thought their wedding plans would have to be put on hold. That is, until nurses at St. Lukeโs were able to put together a ceremony that was officiated via Zoom. According to St. Lukeโs, nurses made flower bouquets out of tissue paper, signs and served as Ausenettโs bridesmaids. After the ceremony, nurses also provided entertainment during the wedding reception, which featured a dance to โSigned, Sealed, Delivered, Iโm Yours,โ by Stevie Wonder.
How to get camera-ready for your next Zoom work meeting
With a lot of Americans working from their homes for the time being, meetings on Zoom have become the new normal. Just because you might be having your meeting from the comfort of your bed doesnโt mean that the professionalism of your workplace canโt exist at home -- so itโs a good idea to make sure youโre looking your best. StyleWise style editor Jon Jordan has a few simple ways you can easily transform your Zoom meeting aesthetic from casual at-home to business chic. Jordan says there are a few easy things you can do to improve the way you look on Zoom, including having a background with pop of color and having the perfect lighting. Check out Jordanโs latest StyleWise video, and make sure you like and subscribe to see more.
Dwight from โThe Officeโ hosting a Zoom call with pets
Have you had a Zoom meeting recently that was interrupted by dogs barking in the background or a cat jumping on your laptop, demanding your undivided attention? Well, on Thursday, you can have a chance to get in on a Zoom meeting in which pets are actually encouraged to join -- not be hidden in the background or behind closed doors. From 2 to 2:30 p.m. Eastern time Thursday, actor Rainn Wilson, in collaboration with Freshpet, is hosting a Zoom meeting with pets, where pet owners and their loved ones around the country can socialize together. You probably know this, but Wilson is best known for playing Dwight on the classic comedy, โThe Office.โThe public is invited to the Zoom call, but participants must register here. For once, you wonโt have to try and silence or hide your pet on Zoom!
Comics keep laughs coming even with clubs closed by COVID-19
In this April 20, 2020 photo, a pedestrian walks underneath a marquee advertising a "Laughter is Healing" stand-up comedy livestream event at the Laugh Factory in Los Angeles. Haddish was performing at the venerable Los Angeles club the Laugh Factory, where she got her start as part of a kidsโ comedy camp more than 20 years ago. With comedy clubs from California to New York dark due to social-distancing mandates, comedians are finding ways to keep bringing the laughs to the public. As to what's the attraction โ the comics are being paid little to nothing โ most echo the words of Haddish. Laugh Factory owner Jamie Masada started streaming live comedy shows Monday through Friday afternoons shortly after California ordered all non-essential businesses closed.
Zoom Blunders in the Age of COVID-19: Shirtless Lawyers, Flatulence and Naked Spouses
Memo to self during Zoom meetings: put some darn clothes on, hit the mute button when not talking, and make sure there is a towel in the bathroom before stepping in the shower. As the coronavirus pandemic forces much of America's workforce to toil from home, some folks have learned the hard way that they can actually be seen and heard by those on the other end of live Zoom video meetings. This week, a Florida judge in Broward County wrote a stern letter to lawyers appearing online in his court hearings. Put a shirt on! And get out of bed!
Texas couple ties the knot on Zoom during coronavirus pandemic
So, off to self-quarantine they went, however, not without tying the knot that coronavirus seemed destined to loosen. Jack and Mariah McElligott said theyโve already had been through a lot -- planning a wedding, only to be pummeled by a pandemic. โSo, we found this out the day before the 28th when we were supposed to get married,โ Mariah said. "Yeah, the day before weโre supposed to get married we found out we had to be quarantined for 14 days,โ Jack said. โWe probably had about a hundred, Iโd say, two thirds of our wedding participants on Zoom, which was really cool, you know?โ Mariah said.