ri Week 13 NFL betting tips: Redskins' playoff odds look grim, but Ravens are taking off By www.washingtonpost.com Published On :: Tue, 27 Nov 2018 18:16:00 +0000 Baltimore has a good chance at nine wins with 10 and possibly 11 wins within reach. Full Article
ri Alex Ovechkin is putting Wayne Gretzky’s untouchable goal-scoring record within reach By www.washingtonpost.com Published On :: Tue, 04 Dec 2018 14:50:24 +0000 If the Great Eight tops the 50-goal mark in 2018-19 he becomes only the fourth player in NHL history to have at least two such campaigns after the age of 30. While Gretzky's goal scoring started to slow in his 30s, Ovechkin is still going strong. Full Article
ri Harold Baines does not deserve a spot in baseball’s Hall of Fame. Period. By www.washingtonpost.com Published On :: Mon, 10 Dec 2018 15:58:15 +0000 Baines, a six-time all-star, led the league in a batting category just once over a 22-year career. If that' the new bar for the Hall, it's time to talk about Freddy Garcia and Placido Polanco, too. (Note: It should never be time to talk about Freddy Garcia and Placido Polanco.) Full Article
ri Week 15 NFL betting tips: The Patriots are a terrible Super Bowl bet By www.washingtonpost.com Published On :: Tue, 11 Dec 2018 14:56:23 +0000 The Patriots are coming off a devastating 34-33 loss to the Miami Dolphins yet were lucky to maintain their playoff position as the No. 2 seed in the AFC Full Article
ri Thanks to much-improved defense, the Thunder appears to be a legitimate threat to the Warriors By www.washingtonpost.com Published On :: Fri, 14 Dec 2018 12:30:24 +0000 Almost everyone who played for the Thunder in 2017-18 and is also getting major minutes this season has improved their individual defensive rating. Full Article
ri Week 16 waiver wire tips: Surprisingly solid options to win your fantasy football league By www.washingtonpost.com Published On :: Sun, 16 Dec 2018 21:20:33 +0000 Sleep easy knowing that no matter what next week’s injury report reveals, you will have the players you need to secure a year’s worth of bragging rights. Full Article
ri The NCAA’s lousy new metric is going to make March Madness even crazier By www.washingtonpost.com Published On :: Tue, 18 Dec 2018 12:45:56 +0000 The NCAA tournament could be more entertaining than usual, if only because seedings may be less accurate than in past years. Full Article
ri COVID-19 has ravaged ride-hailing companies, but an industry watcher says the crisis could make Uber stronger (UBER) By feedproxy.google.com Published On :: Sat, 09 May 2020 07:32:00 -0400 While ride-hailing has suffered from the impact of COVID-19, Uber is in a good position to survive the crisis, three analysts who cover the company told Business Insider. Uber is in no danger of running of out money anytime soon, said Mark Mahaney, a managing director at RBC Capital Markets. And a series of cost-cutting moves should make the company profitable by next year, said Dan Ives, a managing director of equity research at Wedbush Securities. Uber's food-delivery service, Uber Eats, gives the company an advantage over ride-hailing competitors, since it allows homebound consumers to keep using its app, said Tom White, a senior research analyst at DA Davidson. Are you a current or former Uber employee? Do you have an opinion about what it's like to work there? Contact this reporter at mmatousek@businessinsider.com. You can also reach out on Signal at 646-768-4712 or email this reporter's encrypted address at mmatousek@protonmail.com. Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories. The ride-hailing industry has taken a major hit from COVID-19 as potential customers remain confined to their homes, but Uber is in a good position to survive the crisis, three analysts who cover the company said. "Their business model will be intact on the other side of this," said Dan Ives, a managing director of equity research at Wedbush Securities. A strong cash reserve will help. After ending the first quarter with $9 billion in cash and short-term investments, Uber has the resources to survive a scenario in which the prevalence of COVID-19 and its effect on consumer behavior last for the next two years, said Mark Mahaney, a managing director at RBC Capital Markets. On Thursday, Uber disclosed its first-quarter financial results, reporting an adjusted loss of $2.9 billion on revenue of $3.5 billion during the first three months of this year. Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi said on a call with analysts that the ride-hailing company would cut $1 billion in fixed costs. The company has recently removed its food-delivery service — Uber Eats — from eight unprofitable markets, folded its electric bike and scooter business into Lime (Uber recently led a $170 million investment round in the company), and announced it will lay off about 14% of its workforce. Those moves should help Uber become profitable in 2021 (the company predicted in February that it would turn a profit by the end of this year), Ives said. Uber's management, which had struggled in the wake of the company's 2019 IPO, has performed well in the current crisis by being transparent with investors and quickly moving to reduce expenses, Ives said. Investors signaled their approval of the company's strategy by sending shares up as much as 8% in after-hours trading on Thursday. Uber Eats was one of the highlights of the company's first-quarter results, said Tom White, a senior research analyst at DA Davidson, as gross bookings grew 52% from the first quarter of 2019 to $4.7 billion. Eats gives Uber an advantage over ride-hailing competitors that don't have a similar service, as it allows the company to keep homebound consumers using its app, White said. Even after the toll of COVID-19 begins to subside, demand for online food delivery could see continued growth, he added. But there are still challenges ahead for Uber. The company said rides fell by as much as 80% in April, and Ives projects that 30% of the customers for gig-economy companies like Uber, Airbnb, and Lyft won't use a ride-hailing service until there's a vaccine for COVID-19. Yet the pandemic could leave Uber better off in the long run, White said. "I saw and heard enough [during Uber's first-quarter earnings call] that makes it harder and harder for me to think that these guys don't emerge from this pandemic probably in a stronger competitive position and a healthier and leaner operating position," he said. Are you a current or former Uber employee? Do you have an opinion about what it's like to work there? Contact this reporter at mmatousek@businessinsider.com. You can also reach out on Signal at 646-768-4712 or email this reporter's encrypted address at mmatousek@protonmail.com. Read more: Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi says drivers should receive tiered healthcare benefits based on how many hours they work, and that the company would pay for it SoftBank-backed companies laid off more than 3,700 people in 2020 and more than 7,000 in the past year Uber reveals first-quarter losses of $2.9 billion because of the coronavirus — but says business is starting to pick up again Lyft surges 17% after posting a narrower-than-expected quarterly loss as coronavirus hit the ride-hailing industry SEE ALSO: Elon Musk's theater of the absurd is a sign of the times for tech Join the conversation about this story » NOW WATCH: Why Pikes Peak is the most dangerous racetrack in America Full Article
ri These 19 enterprise tech companies are still hiring during the coronavirus crisis — including AWS, Slack, Box, and Okta By feedproxy.google.com Published On :: Sat, 09 May 2020 08:20:00 -0400 Business Insider surveyed enterprise technology companies to determine who's still hiring amid the coronavirus pandemic. Companies like Amazon Web Services, Slack, Okta, Box, and Zoom are actively hiring, while others like Microsoft, Google, and SAP have slowed hiring to prioritize recruiting in key areas. Below is a list of 19 enterprise tech companies that are hiring, and the types of roles they are trying to fill. Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories. As companies across industries slow or stop hiring amid the public health and economic crisis caused by the coronavirus, Business Insider surveyed enterprise technology companies to find out who is still hiring, and the types of roles they're trying to fill. The results include companies actively hiring — such as Amazon Web Services, Slack, Okta, Box, and Zoom — while others like Microsoft, Google, and SAP have slowed hiring to prioritize recruiting in key areas. Responses come directly from companies, but be aware that hiring alone may not paint a complete picture of what's going on at each one. VMware, for example, told Business Insider that it's hiring, particularly in a few key areas related to its cloud business — but also told employees in an internal memo that it was freezing all salaries. Oracle, Nvidia, and Palo Alto Networks declined to comment on whether they are still hiring. Workday, Adobe, IBM, Cisco, Stripe, Qualcomm and HP did not reply to requests for more information. Here are 19 enterprise companies still hiring in some form amid the pandemic, and what they're looking for:Amazon Web Services is actively hiring, with no hiring freezes in place, the company says. Amazon at large has more than 20,000 job postings in US corporate roles. Slack is "actively hiring," in a range of positions including engineers, data scientists, designers and customer experience experts, a spokesperson told Business Insider. The company has moved to a virtual hiring process – all interviews are conducted over video and onboarding happens remotely. Slack has 213 open positions listed on its website at the time of this writing. Box is "currently hiring," a spokesperson said, across roles in engineering, sales, marketing, customer success, finance, compliance, business operations, product and product design. Box's website listed 76 open jobs at the time of this writing. In additional to moving interviews online, the company has introduced new practices like virtual coffee chats with candidates and videos from employees to learn more about Box's culture. For new hires, the company has switched start dates to once per month and started a buddy system to help with onboarding. Zoom is hiring across the US and internationally for positions including in sales, engineering, legal, and security. "We did have an extremely ambitious hiring goal already for this year," Lynne Oldham, Zoom's chief people officer, recently told Business Insider. "So where we're seeing additional need is around the places that we touch the customer." The company had 81 open positions listed on its website as of this writing. DocuSign "has moved forward with its hiring as previously planned," a spokesperson said, and is hiring in roles across customer services, sales and business development, engineering and IT, marketing, finance, legal, and workplace teams. The company is also continuing its internship program virtually and plans to bring on more than 100 interns this summer. DocuSign had 338 positions listed on its careers website as of this writing. Dell-owned VMware is still hiring, a spokesperson said, and has "hundreds of open roles across R&D, IT, sales, customer services and support, marketing, finance, HR, legal, and business administration." But the company is also freezing salaries and suspending retirement matching, according to a memo obtained by Business Insider. A spokesperson confirmed that "there have been a number of cost management changes impacting the VMware workforce." VMware interviews take place virtually. Microsoft has frozen hiring for some roles, citing uncertainty related to the coronavirus crisis. "We continue to seek industry-leading talent in a range of disciplines as we continue to invest in certain strategic areas," a Microsoft spokesperson told Business Insider last month. "However, in light of the uncertainties presented by COVID-19, we are temporarily pausing recruitment for other roles." Microsoft declined to provide more information about for which positions it's still hiring, and which roles are seeing a pause in hiring. Microsoft's subsidiaries include LinkedIn and GitHub. German software giant SAP is still hiring in essential areas, but has pledged to reduce hiring and discretionary spending as "precautionary measures" during the pandemic. The company "will continue to hire carefully selected people into roles that will rapidly contribute to our competitive edge,"a spokesperson said, which it said include in "essential areas" such as innovation, and research and development. SAP said its candidate selection has remained the same, but the interviews are conducted virtually. New hires are onboarded virtually and sent SAP-issued equipment to their private addresses so they don't have to go to the office. Google is slowing down hiring for the remainder of the year, CEO Sundar Pichai told the company in an email seen by Business insider. Pichai said the company is enacting a hiring freeze on all but a select few "strategic areas" for the remainder of 2020. He wrote in the email that the company needed to "carefully prioritize" recruiting employees to serve its "greatest user and business needs." Dell Technologies is not "hiring broadly," but subsidiary companies like VMware and Secureworks still are, a Dell spokesperson told Business Insider. Dell Technologies is still continuing its early-in-career programs and summer internships, although they've become remote. "We are constantly evolving our hiring strategy based on business needs," the spokesperson said. Okta is still actively hiring, Okta's chief people officer Kristina Johnson confirmed to Business Insider. "We're continuously evaluating what we need as a business during this time, listening to customers, and tailoring our hiring plans to meet those needs," Johnson said. "Okta is in a unique position during this uncertain time in that we had the right infrastructure in place from the get-go to make remote work and remote on-boarding fairly routine." Okta's main hiring focus areas are in customer service, engineering, and sales, Johnson said. Dropbox has temporarily halted its recruiting efforts to figure out the process for onboarding people remotely. "What we actually ended up doing was we took a pause to just take stock of our onboarding and our approach to onboarding because we wanted to make sure that we weren't bringing people on and that they actually weren't effectively able to onboard," Dropbox COO Olivia Nottebohm told Business Insider. It's still hiring but has slowed down, only hiring for targeted roles, meaning it's up to managers to hire for key, business critical roles. "We're trying to just be prudent and nd not get ahead of ourselves given the macro environment that we're in, but we are moving forward to hiring targeted roles," Nottebohm said. While Dropbox plans to honor pending offers and ongoing interview processes, interviews for new applicants have been put on hold. The college internship program will also take place in the summer remotely. "Fully remote recruiting and onboarding into a new company comes with unique challenges — bringing new hires into Dropbox takes a great deal of collaboration between many teams, including hiring managers, learning and development, IT, benefits, and recruiting," a Dropbox spokesperson told Business Insider. "In order to ensure we're onboarding new hires effectively and managing the strain on these teams during the shelter-in-place orders in effect across the globe, we've paused recruiting efforts temporarily," the spokesperson added. In April, ServiceNow promised not to lay off any of its 11,000 employees and also said it plans to keep hiring worldwide this year. "With this new no layoffs pledge for its 11,000-plus global workforce, ServiceNow continues to take a leading role in how technology companies are responding to this health crisis by helping its own employees and customers get through these challenging and uncertain times," Shane Driggers, vice president of Global Talent Acquisition at ServiceNow, said in a statement to Business Insider. The company expects to create and fill more than 1,000 new jobs in the US and more worldwide by the end of the year, Driggers says. "We are leaning into hiring for engineering and sales roles as well as other functions across the business," Driggers said. Splunk is still hiring for a number of positions across the organization, a spokesperson told Business Insider. Open roles include positions in engineering, sales, finance, accounting, and information technology. Square is still hiring and focusing on roles like software engineering, data science, product design, sales, marketing, operations, and finance, a spokesperson told Business Insider. "We are continuing to hire in the US and internationally, focusing on roles that we believe will be the most important to our customers and our business in the coming months," a Square spokesperson said. Currently, Square has over 100 open roles. Twilio is still hiring across the board and not slowing down, a company spokesperson told Business Insider. There are still open roles in engineering, services, sales, product, and more. Intel has slowed down external hiring, a spokesperson said. "We have slowed external hiring, but we currently have approximately 1000 open positions that we are actively hiring for." Atlassian is still hiring across the board, a spokesperson confirmed. This past March was its strongest month of hiring in its history, the company said, as it brought on about 200 new hires. At the end of March, Atlassian had 4,457 employees. Zendesk is still hiring roles that are "key to our business," but "deprioritizing" the ones that are not as critical. Zendesk is still hiring roles that are "key to our business," but "deprioritizing" the ones that are not as critical, a Zendesk spokesperson said. "In response to the global COVID-19 pandemic, Zendesk has been focused on helping our employees, customers, and community at large navigate their immediate needs and plan for the future in this new world," the spokesperson told Business Insider. The spokesperson said that Zendesk is continuously looking at how to manage its operations to become more efficient and productive, while minimizing disruption to customers. "This is standard for all businesses that are looking at their immediate and long-term strategies in order to position themselves for growth," the spokesperson said. "We believe in the strength of our business and our employees, and the resiliency of our customer base, and are in a good position to weather this crisis and emerge as a better, stronger company." Full Article
ri Dock workers in Belgium are wearing monitoring bracelets that enforce social distancing — here's how they work By feedproxy.google.com Published On :: Sat, 09 May 2020 09:01:00 -0400 Dockworkers in Belgium are wearing bracelets to enforce social distancing. The bracelets were already used to detect if someone fell into the water, but now they will sound an alarm if workers get to close to each other. Manufacturers say there is no privacy issue and the bracelets don't track workers' locations, despite concerns. Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories. Quarantine and social distancing are going high-tech as countries and companies embrace wearables. In Antwerp, Belgium, dockworkers are instructed to wear bracelets that enforce social distancing rules while they work. Europe, where more than 100,000 people have died from COVID-19, is slowly starting to reopen in some places. Stay at home orders are expiring in many countries, while nonessential travel has stopped across the EU, and countries look towards the summer to anticipate what kind of travel might be possible. People are beginning to go back to work, which in some sectors means inevitable close contact, especially in many essential jobs. Social distancing bracelets in Belgium are one idea bing tested to see what the future of work might look like after coronavirus. Here's how it works. SEE ALSO: People arriving in Hong Kong must wear tracking bracelets for 2 weeks or face jail time. Here's how they work. The black, plastic bracelets are worn on the wrist like a watch. They're made by Belgian company Rombit, which says that they are "a fully integrated personal safety and security device, specifically designed for highly industrial environments." Source: Romware Rombit already made bracelets useful in the port setting, which could be used to call for help if a worker fell into the water or another accident occurred. Europe is slowly starting to go back to work, but fears of a second wave are making officials cautious. Contact tracing is one solution being explored around the world, and the manufacturers of the bracelet believe it could also be used for contact tracing. Source: The Associated Press European health guidances say to wash hands, wear masks, and keep at least 1.5 meters, or about five feet, apart. When two workers are less than five feet apart, the bracelets will sound warnings. Rombit CEO John Baekelmans told Reuters that the bracelets won't allow companies to track employees' locations, because the devices are only connected to each other. He says there is no central server. Source: Reuters Workers in the control tower will be the first to test the bracelets early this month. Then, the Port of Antwerp will likely expand the devices to tug boat workers. Baekelmans told Reuters that Rombit already had hundreds of requests in 99 countries, and is hoping to ramp up production to 25,000 in a few weeks. Full Article
ri Ring lights, loved by influencers and YouTubers, are now being snatched up by work-from-home employees for Zoom calls and video chats By feedproxy.google.com Published On :: Sat, 09 May 2020 10:00:00 -0400 Millions of people have quickly had to adapt to working from home during the pandemic, leading some to scramble to look presentable over video chats with colleagues. One strategy workers have used is the purchase of a ring light, a product that can be used in your video set-up to to improve lighting of your face on-camera. Right lights have already been popular buys for influencers, vloggers, and TikTok creators who adopt various tools to produce professional-quality videos uploaded online. Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories. The ring light is beloved by YouTubers and aspiring TikTok creators for casting a flattering, even glow across anyone's face. Now, ring lights are seeing widespread interest among people tuning into Zoom work calls from their poorly lit homes during the pandemic. Video conferencing software has exponentially grown in use in recent months, and employees now find themselves in situations online creators have been dealing with for years: Looking their best in front of the camera while in the comfort of their own homes. Lockdown orders have coincided with a recent surge of interest in ring lights, especially in the U.S. where work-from-home rolled out to non-essential employees starting in early March. Twitter users have been sharing with followers their recent ring light purchases for classes, work meetings, and happy hours taking place over Zoom and FaceTime. Ring light set-ups provide the benefits of a professional photo studio without the cost, casting your face in a shadow-free, flattering hue while you're in front of the camera. Ring lights on Amazon go for between $60 and $150, depending on how powerful of a light or complicated of a set-up you want. Many of these ring-lights come with tripods and pieces to hold your phone or camera. Although newly work-from-home employees may just be discovering ring lights for the first time, they've long been a trick for creators whose bedrooms have doubled as their studios. While ring lights have been especially vital for makeup tutorials and beauty vloggers, they've since become commonplace to set-ups for young people starting out on YouTube and TikTok. Now, they're just one of the products with appearance-adjusting features catered to influencers, such as specific camera models that come with skin-smoothing filters. As dates for returning to the office continue to get pushed back at some companies, sales will likely continue to rise for ring lights. However, it's probably on the more expensive side of simple tips and tricks to implement to look for presentable on your video calls. For those that don't want to splash out cash for a ring light, Zoom has a little-known filter on its platform that users can apply to give their faces a softer look and minimize imperfections. The "touch up my appearance" can be turned on directly within the Zoom app (you can find the steps for activating it on Business Insider).SEE ALSO: WhatsApp is touting steps taken to cut the viral spread of coronavirus misinformation, but experts question whether it's done enough Join the conversation about this story » NOW WATCH: What makes 'Parasite' so shocking is the twist that happens in a 10-minute sequence Full Article
ri The Polaris Slingshot is a car-motorcycle mashup that costs $33,000 and can do 0-60 mph in 5 seconds — on 3 wheels. By feedproxy.google.com Published On :: Sat, 09 May 2020 12:13:00 -0400 I tested a roughly $33,000 Polaris Slingshot R, a three-wheeled "autocycle." The three-wheeler category includes vehicles from Can-Am and Harley-Davidson, offering a motorcycle experience in a less demanding package. My Slingshot R had a new, Polaris-developed, 203-horsepower engine and an automatic transmission. In all but three US states, no motorcycle license is required to operate the Slingshot (New York, Massachusetts, and Alaska continue to require the motorcycle certification). The Slingshot is insanely fun, with a modest learning curve — it's a great alternative to a two-wheeler, although the price is definitely steep for the Slingshot R. Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories. Motorcycles are cool, but they aren't for everybody. Fortunately, there are some alternatives out there that offer an equally compelling, open-air experience. One of the most popular is the the Polaris Slingshot, manufactured by the Minnesota-based powersports company. Until recently, Slingshots were available only with manual transmissions and GM-sourced engines, but for 2020, Polaris has updated the autocycle with an in-house motor and an automatic. The automatic transmission in particular really broadens the Slingshot's potential. So I was excited to sample the machine, which I first saw about five years ago. Polaris was kind enough to loan me a tester for a few weeks. Here's how it went:FOLLOW US: On Facebook for more car and transportation content! The Polaris Slingshot is a three-wheeled autocycle/motorcycle that Polaris industries has produced since 2014. My 2020 Slingshot R tester cost about $33,000 and was outfitted in a menacing red-and-black paint job. The cheapest Slingshot is about $20,000. This wasn't my first crack at a Slingshot. Polaris brought the vehicle to Insider's New York offices when the vehicle first launched. And I generally have a gander at the Slingshot when I visit the annual New York motorcycle show. The Slingshot is classified as either a motorcycle or an autocycle, depending on which state it's being operated in. Yep, it looks like the Batmobile. Or Batcycle. Hard to avoid feeling like a superhero when you're behind the wheel. In all but three US states, no motorcycle license is required to drive the Slingshot. In New Jersey, you are required to wear a helmet. Up front, you have 18-inch forged aluminum wheels, with an 20-incher at the back. The brakes have two-piece composite rotors. Permanent open-air motoring isn't for everybody. Polaris does sell and older model, the Grand Touring, which has a cockpit canopy. The Polaris R has a waterproof interior and drain holes in the floorboards, should you get caught in bad weather. My tester was the top-level "R" trim, complete with dual roll bars for drier and passenger. Let's talk fender fairings! The Slingshot's are dramatic and large — I was reminded of Chevy Corvettes while driving this thing. Like a motorcycle, there's no rear-view mirror, so you have to adjust slightly to using the sideviews. There's a new engine under the hood. Previously, Polaris used a 2.4-liter, four-cylinder GM-sourced Ecotech motor, making up to 175 horsepower. But my R had a ProStar four, also at 2.4-liters, cranking out 203 horsepower with a five-speed automatic transmission (a manual remains available). It's an in-house engine that was impressive in action. The top speed is limited at 125 mph, and the 0-60mph run, according to Polaris and confirmed by yours truly, is about five seconds. The four-banger redlines at 8,500 rpm and even with the automatic transmission does a pretty fair imitation of proper motorcycle acceleration. The auto is a tad crunchy, but in this context, that's a plus. It keeps you aware of what the engine is doing. The rear wheel — fat and wide — is yoked to the motor and transmission with a belt drive. The suspension is surprisingly compliant, but you do have to be mindful of bumps, potholes, and manhole covers if you want to preserve you lower spine. Polaris says the interior has been upgraded for 2020. No one would call it premium, but for a vehicle like this, it's rather comfortable. The steering wheel is leather-wrapped, multifunctioned, and flat-bottomed to make getting into and out of the driver's seat easier. The instrument cluster is a basic analog affair with a central digital display. The red button to on the right steering-wheel spoke allows you to switch between Comfort and Slingshot modes (the latter being the high-performance option). The bucket seats are waterproof and extremely well-bolstered, with three-point seat belts. The Slingshot's tubular frame is apparent in the doorless frame. Not really much cargo capacity here, although I did use the Slingshot for a grocery-store run and quick jaunt to Target to buy a basketball. There is a place to stow a smartphone, located just above the push-button gear selector. The Slingshot also has push-button start-stop. The glove compartment is the only other storage available ... ... And it's actually pretty roomy. One could stash a rain jacket in there, for example. The RideCommand infotainment system is basic — but good! On a vehicle such as this, I wasn't expecting much, but the audio setup sounded decent, the screen was responsive, and Bluetooth and USB connectivity was on-par with what you'd find in any modern automobile. There's even GPS navigation, which can display a map and provide turn-by-turn guidance. The ride-mode selector is doubled in the infotainment system. So what's the verdict? I love three-wheelers. They aren't as cool as two-wheeled motorbikes, but they provide easy access to open-air motoring, and the driving/riding experience is much more engaging than what you find in convertible automobiles. For anybody who dislikes the impracticality of motorcycles but wants to partake of the open-road lifestyle, machines like the Slingshot (the Can-Am Spyder and the Harley-Davidson Freewheeler, to name two) are ideal. Not for nothing, they also offer aging riders a chance to yank their helmets and biker jackets out of storage to pursue moderately safer riding. With the Slingshot, gearing-up isn't necessary. The trade-off, of course, is price. The Slingshot R that I tested costs more than an entry-level car or SUV. So, an expensive plaything. But there's nothing wrong with that. Everybody needs a hobby. No doubt about it, the Slingshot captures attention. I lost count of how many little kids a stopped in their tracks as I tooled around the Jersey suburbs. The last vehicle that provoked such astonishment was the Lamborghini Huracán Performante. If you become a Slingshotter, prepare to be pointed at and asked for photo-ops. Driving-wise, the Slingshot scratches an itch: on the road, the experience is unexpurgated — you don't have to be constantly vigilant, as you would on a bike, but you do need to remain aware. Highway trips are demanding. And noisy. And exhilarating. The Slingshot R is also fast and torque-y and the power goes to the single back wheel, so the while the two-wheeled front is stable, the back end can get pretty wiggly, especially in Slingshot mode, if you stomp the throttle. I had iffy springtime Northeast weather to contend with, so I took the Slingshot out only on warm and sunny days; the rest of the time, I parked it in my garage. But the vehicle can handle being rained on, and one could also buy a cover to protect it from the elements. To be honest, however, I think it's a better choice in warm, dry climates. The performance is aggressively go-kart-y. This thing will make you a better drive, thanks to its point-and-shoot steering, crisp suspension, and easy access to power. It's insanely fun on curves and into corners. But it's also worthy of short road trips. In fact, the relative comfort was a shocker: I took the Slingshot out for a few hours one day and suffered no ill-effects to my lower back. Drawback? The design is thoroughly sporty, so if you don't go in for that, the Slingshot might not be your bag. It isn't a throwback, nor is it at all steam-punky. It also isn't a motorcycle, in that there aren't any handlebars, you don't throw a leg, and the single wheel takes up the rear. But the Slingshot is a absolute blast, and if you're a weekend warrior who wants to carve up a canyon or a country road without having the grapple with a motorcycle's demands — and you don't mind dropping some dollars — the Slingshot is perfect. Full Article
ri Mortgage rates hover near historic lows as investors assess where economy is headed By www.washingtonpost.com Published On :: Thu, 07 May 2020 14:30:27 +0000 The 30-year fixed-rate average moved slightly higher this week, increasing to 3.26 percent. Full Article
ri Michelle Obama goes low and leads Team USA to victory in celebrity dodgeball match on ‘Late Late Show’ By www.washingtonpost.com Published On :: Tue, 18 Jun 2019 17:03:07 +0000 The former first lady and her A-list friends triumphed over late-night host James Corden and his squad. Full Article
ri Kamala Harris wants Trump to watch Ava DuVernay’s Central Park Five documentary By www.washingtonpost.com Published On :: Thu, 20 Jun 2019 18:51:46 +0000 The Democratic presidential candidate criticized the president for saying there were “people on both sides” of the exoneration of the men wrongly accused of raping a jogger. Full Article
ri Rihanna has a message for President Trump about immigration By www.washingtonpost.com Published On :: Mon, 24 Jun 2019 14:51:48 +0000 The native of Barbados apparently doesn't like Trump's immigration policies. Full Article
ri SNL’s Kate McKinnon has her Marianne Williamson impression ready to go By www.washingtonpost.com Published On :: Sun, 30 Jun 2019 19:19:44 +0000 The "Saturday Night Live" star debuted a brief impression on "Late Night with Seth Meyers." Full Article
ri Harry and Meghan make surprise appearance at major league baseball game in London By www.washingtonpost.com Published On :: Sun, 30 Jun 2019 19:36:01 +0000 The new parents showed up at the first official MLB game in Europe on Saturday. Full Article
ri ‘American Idol’ and ‘The Voice’ winners describe what happens after the show — including a gig on ‘A Capitol Fourth’ By www.washingtonpost.com Published On :: Wed, 03 Jul 2019 17:22:36 +0000 Laine Hardy and Maelyn Jarmon may have won different shows, but their experiences are very similar. Full Article
ri Cory Booker and his ‘boo,’ Rosario Dawson, take their relationship on the campaign trail By www.washingtonpost.com Published On :: Sun, 07 Jul 2019 16:51:34 +0000 Low-key no longer: The presidential candidate and his actress girlfriend appeared together at public events over the holiday weekend. Full Article
ri Human rights group asks Nicki Minaj to cancel performance in Saudi Arabia By www.washingtonpost.com Published On :: Mon, 08 Jul 2019 19:03:14 +0000 The "Megatron" rapper is set to perform in the country next week despite calls to quit the gig over the government's alleged human rights violations. Full Article
ri Are you there, Oprah? A-list celebrity endorsements for 2020 candidates are slow to come. By www.washingtonpost.com Published On :: Thu, 11 Jul 2019 20:28:56 +0000 The presidential election is closer than you think, but thus far the celebrities are staying pretty far away. Full Article
ri Alyssa Milano faces backlash for supporting a Marianne Williamson fundraiser: ‘I know. I know.’ By www.washingtonpost.com Published On :: Wed, 17 Jul 2019 17:11:44 +0000 The "Charmed" actress defended her decision to help raise money for the controversial Democratic candidate, saying Williamson is addressing the "soulful ache of the nation." Full Article
ri Cause Celeb: Kimberly Williams-Paisley lobbies for funding to help women in developing countries By www.washingtonpost.com Published On :: Thu, 18 Jul 2019 19:50:50 +0000 The "Father of the Bride" star spent two days meeting with lawmakers to press for foreign assistance funding. Full Article
ri During the Mueller hearing, the hallway was really the place to be By www.washingtonpost.com Published On :: Thu, 25 Jul 2019 20:13:19 +0000 Outside the committee room Wednesday, several lawmakers got to see and be seen. Full Article
ri Trump sends envoy for hostage affairs to Sweden ‘on a mission’ to bring back A$AP Rocky By www.washingtonpost.com Published On :: Wed, 31 Jul 2019 18:02:09 +0000 The president wants the rapper, who is accused of assault, returned to the United States. Full Article
ri Mario Lopez criticized for saying it’s ‘dangerous’ for parents to accept their young kids as transgender By www.washingtonpost.com Published On :: Wed, 31 Jul 2019 20:17:45 +0000 The “Saved by the Bell” star later apologized for stirring controversy in a resurfaced interview with conservative Candace Owens. Full Article
ri Tomi Lahren apologizes after saying Kamala Harris slept her way to the top By www.washingtonpost.com Published On :: Thu, 01 Aug 2019 16:24:40 +0000 The Fox Nation host got plenty of criticism for her tweet about the Democratic presidential candidate — including from fellow Fox-ers. Full Article
ri Rihanna, Cardi B, John Oliver and more lash out at Trump after deadly mass shootings By www.washingtonpost.com Published On :: Mon, 05 Aug 2019 17:54:53 +0000 Stars criticized the president after two mass shootings that occurred less than 24 hours apart in El Paso and Dayton, Ohio. Full Article
ri Pete Buttigieg plays the didgeridoo and other unexpected musical talents of the 2020 candidates By www.washingtonpost.com Published On :: Wed, 07 Aug 2019 11:00:21 +0000 You know about Beto O'Rourke on the guitar, of course, but what about Bernie Sanders's spoken-word album? Full Article
ri Brightest Young Things brings the millennials to the revamped International Spy Museum By www.washingtonpost.com Published On :: Sun, 11 Aug 2019 18:42:13 +0000 A mostly millennial crowd explored the upgraded and interactive museum. Full Article
ri Priyanka Chopra is confronted by Pakistani at Beautycon over tweets about India By www.washingtonpost.com Published On :: Mon, 12 Aug 2019 19:11:26 +0000 The "Quantico" actress was called out during her appearance for a tweet sent during military hostility between the neighboring, nuclear-armed countries. Full Article
ri ‘Free, Melania,’ an unauthorized biography of Melania Trump, set to hit shelves this December By www.washingtonpost.com Published On :: Tue, 20 Aug 2019 16:43:38 +0000 The tome will be written by CNN's East Wing correspondent, Kate Bennett. Full Article
ri Viola Davis will play Michelle Obama in Showtime anthology series ‘First Ladies’ By www.washingtonpost.com Published On :: Mon, 26 Aug 2019 22:04:34 +0000 The acclaimed actress and her husband, Julius Tennon, will also serve as executive producers. Full Article
ri Full transcript: The toasts of President Trump and Prime Minister Scott Morrison at the state dinner for Australia By www.washingtonpost.com Published On :: Sat, 21 Sep 2019 01:55:07 +0000 The dinner was the second for the Trump administration. Full Article
ri James Comey and Trump will face off again in new miniseries starring Jeff Daniels and Brendan Gleeson By www.washingtonpost.com Published On :: Mon, 07 Oct 2019 20:57:08 +0000 The CBS Studios show will be based on the former FBI director's best-selling memoir. Full Article
ri Drag queen Pissi Myles causes a stir with unexpected appearance at the impeachment hearings By www.washingtonpost.com Published On :: Wed, 13 Nov 2019 18:40:06 +0000 Myles stole the show with a towering blonde wig and shiny red mini-dress. Full Article
ri Ariana Grande is the latest celebrity to show support for Bernie Sanders, calling him ‘my guy’ By www.washingtonpost.com Published On :: Thu, 21 Nov 2019 21:26:12 +0000 The singer posted photos of the duo embracing after one of her concerts. Full Article
ri Jason Momoa and Jaden Smith are serious about clean water. Just ask Chris Pratt. By www.washingtonpost.com Published On :: Wed, 04 Dec 2019 22:05:32 +0000 When it comes to getting schooled on plastic water bottles, look no further than Aquaman. Full Article
ri Whoopi Goldberg tells Meghan McCain to ‘stop talking’ during heated exchange on ‘The View’ By www.washingtonpost.com Published On :: Mon, 16 Dec 2019 19:34:50 +0000 A discussion about the impeachment hearings turned into a showdown between the co-hosts. Full Article
ri Obama’s favorite movies of 2019 include one big snub and a few surprises By www.washingtonpost.com Published On :: Mon, 30 Dec 2019 19:22:25 +0000 From "The Irishman" to "Little Women," his list was mostly consistent with popular critical thinking. Full Article
ri Dan Crenshaw defends Ricky Gervais’s Golden Globes monologue: ‘He’s illuminating their hypocrisy.’ By www.washingtonpost.com Published On :: Tue, 07 Jan 2020 23:18:17 +0000 The Republican congressman chastised entertainment culture for being "divisive." Full Article
ri Alyssa Milano on why she went to Trump’s impeachment trial, and how Schiff’s presentation was like ‘watching a one-man show’ By www.washingtonpost.com Published On :: Fri, 24 Jan 2020 00:17:15 +0000 The actress and activist wants to encourage the public to get involved because “showing up is participating in how this all works.” Full Article
ri Stephen Miller marries Katie Waldman at the Trump International Hotel — with president in attendance By www.washingtonpost.com Published On :: Tue, 18 Feb 2020 21:15:55 +0000 The president stopped by the event for Miller, a senior adviser, and Waldman, press secretary to Vice President Pence, after attending the Daytona 500. Full Article
ri Dua Lipa for Bernie? Cher for Biden? Here’s where the celebrities stand on Super Tuesday. By www.washingtonpost.com Published On :: Tue, 03 Mar 2020 23:10:59 +0000 Stars tweeted their support for their candidates of choice leading up to one of the most significant days in the Democratic primary race. Full Article
ri Celebrities including Emily Ratajkowski and Mark Ruffalo send messages of thanks to Bernie Sanders By www.washingtonpost.com Published On :: Wed, 08 Apr 2020 23:30:57 +0000 Famous supporters flocked to social media as Sen. Bernie Sanders ended his presidential campaign. Full Article
ri Are we telling the right story of America? By www.washingtonpost.com Published On :: Thu, 27 Jun 2019 17:45:21 +0000 Review of "This America" by Jill Lepore and "The Heartland" by Kristin L. Hoganson Full Article
ri How would we repair the damage in a post-Trump America? By www.washingtonpost.com Published On :: Fri, 05 Jul 2019 16:00:22 +0000 Two new books critical of the president -- one from the left, one from the right -- imagine a path beyond our current divisions. Full Article
ri The inherently, intrinsically and inevitably flawed case for American nationalism By www.washingtonpost.com Published On :: Thu, 31 Oct 2019 14:00:07 +0000 Review of 'The Case for Nationalism: How It Made Us Powerful, United, and Free' by Rich Lowry Full Article
ri Donald Trump Jr.’s ‘Triggered’ reads like a campaign book for 2024 By www.washingtonpost.com Published On :: Fri, 03 Jan 2020 16:00:23 +0000 Full Article