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US

‘Bizarre and uncomfortable’: Adams wants photos of city job applicants

'Bizarre and uncomfortable': Adams wants photos of city job applicants

Of current nine and past officials interviewed for this story, most voiced concern that the practice is already leading to staffing decisions based more on race and ethnicity than merit, even if they said they support a diversified workforce. And nearly all of them said it has added another obstacle to an already slow hiring process.

In two emails reviewed by POLITICO, mayoral staffers advised about a dozen high-ranking employees to submit pictures of people they want to bring on board for the mayor’s review.

“Flagging that the Mayor would love all agencies upper leadership in this type of style,” reads an email an Adams staffer sent on April 19, referring to an attached template of existing pictures and job descriptions of agency brass. “Clarifying also that the avatars in the attached should be actual photos as the Mayor likes to begin to recognize folks faces.”

The new protocol, described by officials across several agencies, is widely viewed as a measure to diversify the city’s workforce — a priority for the new mayor, whose slate of City Hall deputies predominantly comprises women and people of color.

“There’s no other way to interpret it,” said a high-ranking city official, who would only speak on the condition of anonymity to talk freely about an internal policy.

The person recalled receiving the instructions verbally, and being told by someone who works in the mayor’s office of appointments that Adams wanted agencies to hire people who “reflect the constitutions we serve.”

“Everyone knew what it was. There was no question. It was the first thing everybody said: ‘We’re going to start counting complexions now,’” one recently-departed City Hall employee said about the practice.

Others say it has slowed the hiring process at a time of increased job vacancies — 8 percent of municipal jobs were unfilled as of April, according to data from the Citizens Budget Commission. And some city staffers questioned whether it is appropriate to make hiring decisions based on demographics.

Adams spokesperson Fabien Levy stressed the policy is “about respect for our colleagues and knowing who they are when we arrive at an event.”

“City Hall reviews the summary of all final candidates for senior level positions at agencies to ensure the mayor and we at City Hall know who is point on projects when working with them,” Levy added. “The Adams administration is hiring the best people for the best jobs in the best city in the world. And we are committed to building a team that reflects the city they serve and the administration they represent. Every hire is judged on their qualifications and whether they will be able to deliver for New Yorkers day after day.”

One of the group emails reviewed by POLITICO, titled “Hiring Slide template,” instructs agency officials to submit to the mayor’s team organizational charts with the names and titles of existing staffers.

The April 15 missive states that Deputy Mayor for Operations Meera Joshi had recently met with Adams to discuss hiring and showed him a slide of his own proposed team.

“The Mayor really liked the org chart and he asked that all DM teams use this as a template moving forward as it relates to team structures,” the City Hall staffer wrote. “I’ve attached a template here for all of you — I’m happy to help for slide design if you need support in this. Note, the avatar are space for you to provide a photo of the team member.”

Two agency employees who are tasked with hiring staff said they are not required to ask job candidates for photos, so long as they can provide images to the mayor. They said they often scour social media sites like LinkedIn for headshots. Once obtained, they must paste the picture into their agency’s organizational chart — which includes photographs and job descriptions of existing officials — and highlight the would-be newcomers in yellow, according to a copy of the PowerPoint reviewed by POLITICO.

“The whole hiring process this City Hall set up is difficult enough, and the photo requirement just takes it from hard to bizarre and uncomfortable,” another high-ranking agency official said, speaking on condition of anonymity.

A New York City-based employment attorney said no law prohibits hiring decisions based upon race and ethnicity if it furthers a goal of diversifying a workforce.

“If a company called me and said, ‘Hey listen we really want to increase the diversity at our company, especially at senior levels, do you think it would help us if we used photos in order to increase it,’ I don’t see how that would be a problem if it actually helped,” lawyer Jeanne Christensen, a partner at Wigdor Law LLP, said in an interview. “They’re entitled to take steps to try to fulfill that diversity goal, providing that in doing that they’re not running afoul of the existing law.”

Her one note of caution: Job candidates should not be required to present photographs, though there is nothing legally barring officials from searching for headshots online. “I would say you better be sure you have their permission and they’re doing this voluntarily,” she said.

In fact, the US Equal Employment Opportunity Commission addresses this matter, noting on its website: “Employers should not ask for a photograph of an applicant. If needed for identification purposes, a photograph may be obtained after an offer of employment is made and accepted.”

When asked about his rationale for the policy on Thursday, Adams reiterated a desire to recognize city workers’ faces.

“Nothing I think is more disrespectful than when people work for you on your executive team and you don’t know who they are. I should know my employees, I should walk up to them and say thank you, I should know what they look like,” he said after an unrelated press conference in Queens, before arguing that people who believe otherwise are merely angry that he enjoys being elderly.

“Now, for those who have other reasons that I decide that I want an org chart, that’s up to them. You know, a lot of people just start their day with saying, ‘Let me see what I can think hateful about.’ You know, I start my day off saying, ‘Wow, I’m lucky to be the mayor of New York City,’” he added.

“You know, I’m amazed at how many people are upset that I’m happy that I’m older.”

Categories
Technology

The New Mario Kart 8 Deluxe Courses Are Now Live And Coconut Mall Got Its Much Requested Fix

Mario Kart 8 Deluxe Wave 2

The second wave of Mario Kart 8 Deluxe Booster Course tracks just dropped including the very first Australian themed track in Sydney Sprint as well as some absolute banger such as Kalimari Desert and Mushroom Gorge.

These include:

  • Sky-High Sundae (New)
  • Kalimari Desert (Nintendo 64)
  • Mario Circuit 3 (Super Mario Kart)
  • Mushroom Gorge (Mario Kart Wii)
  • Sydney Sprint (Mario Kart Tour)
  • Waluigi Pinball (Mario Kart DS)
  • Snow Land (Mario Kart Super Circuit)
  • New York Minute (Mario Kart Tour)

You can watch a race through Sydney Sprint below:

You can get access to the courses by either being a Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack member or purchase the pack separately. There are still 32 more courses to be released before the end of 2023.

Something that wasn’t expected at all is the fact that Coconut Mall has been updated to once again include moving cars. In the original Wii version of the track, the cars moved back and forth and provided one last roadblock for players, but everyone was disappointed to see that they were static on the Switch version.

Nintendo has not only fixed this, but also taken it to a whole new level as they now drive and spin and are almost impossible to miss as you drive through.

We’d expect there’s likely to be one more drop of courses this year and obviously we’ll let you know as soon as we have more information on these.

Categories
Entertainment

How to make ANYONE like you: Michelle Bowden’s How to Persuade helps you boost charisma

Michelle Bowden, a certified speaking professional, has delivered her Persuasive Presentation Skills masterclass for more than 12,000 people

A communications coach has revealed her go-to tricks for improving your ‘likeability’ and charisma – and says limiting jerky movements having clean fingernails, wearing flattering clothing and projecting ‘warmth’ are key to success.

Michelle Bowden, a certified speaking professional, has delivered her Persuasive Presentation Skills masterclass for more than 12,000 people and works with the who’s who of international business to help them win multi-million-dollar bids and projects.

Now, she’s written her new book How to Persuade to equip readers with the skills, tips and actions you need to get exactly what you want and improve your charisma.

Michelle Bowden, a certified speaking professional, has delivered her Persuasive Presentation Skills masterclass for more than 12,000 people

Michelle Bowden, a certified speaking professional, has delivered her Persuasive Presentation Skills masterclass for more than 12,000 people

‘It’s a fact that likeable people are the ones who get the furthest in life. Even if you’re not the smartest or most experienced, if you are the most likeable, you’ll often be the most persuasive at the moment,’ Michelle says.

‘In contrast, unlikeable people are a turn-off. They destroy the joy and can make people feel uncomfortable, judged and fearful.

‘The four most unlikeable behaviors in others were unsatisfactory grooming, killing the fun, and ignoring or talking over others.’

chicken

What is the biggest turn off?

  • 1. Unsatisfactory grooming 7 votes
  • 2. Killing the fun 5 votes
  • 3. Ignoring people 14 votes
  • 4. Talking over others 11 votes

1.Be attractive

Whether you like this fact or not, attractive people get more breaks in life than their ‘plain’ counterparts.

Business psychologist Tomas Chamorro-Premuzic reported in 2019 that people who don’t fit a society’s dominant aesthetic criteria simply don’t get the same breaks in life as those who do.

And psychologist and researcher at Harvard University Nancy L Etcoff and her colleagues published a 2011 study that found that groomed women who were wearing makeup were seen as more attractive, competent, likeable and trustworthy than women who presented with a bare face. Pretty convincing!

The good news is that ‘attractiveness’ doesn’t really relate to your ‘natural’ beauty. Whatever you look like, you can certainly make the most of your qualities and features.

Whether you like this fact or not, attractive people get more breaks in life than their 'plain' counterparts

Whether you like this fact or not, attractive people get more breaks in life than their ‘plain’ counterparts

You don’t have to spend a lot of money making yourself attractive. Ask yourself the following:

• Is your hair styled the best way for your face? Is it well kept and stylish?

• Do you keep yourself clean and tidy?

• Are you wearing clothes that flatter your body type?

• Are your nose and ear hairs trimmed?

• Do you smell good?

• Are your teeth clean?

• Are your fingernails well kept?

• Do you have clean shoes, and are your clothes laundered and ironed without food stains and mess?

• Did you tuck in your shirt?

You may think this is fussy and no-one else’s business, and the bad news is that you think that at your own peril. This stuff counts when it comes to persuasion.

The three ways to boost your charisma – and why it matters

Why be charismatic?

Charismatic people are attractive, likeable, and respected. They convey a contagious confidence for their point of view and can win people over with their magnetic personality and charm. When someone is charismatic, people want to be like them, and they also want to spend time with them. And when someone is charismatic, they are automatically more believable, no matter their point of view. You will most definitely be more persuasive if you can develop your perceived charisma.

There are three areas to work on if you want to build your perceived charisma with others:

1. Presence

Presence is about a smoothness of activity. Imagine a swan gliding along the water. They seem calm, serene, and controlled. Under the water their legs are kicking and paddling furiously, but you don’t see all that commotion.

To ensure you seem smooth on the surface it’s important to limit stressful behavior such as jerky movements, closed body language, and impulsive comments, or actions.

You can demonstrate power by holding an upright, commanding posture and maintaining direct-connected eye contact

You can demonstrate power by holding an upright, commanding posture and maintaining direct-connected eye contact

2.Power

Power is all about your self-belief and how much you like and back yourself. It’s about an inner confidence that radiates from you and implies success.

You can demonstrate power by holding an upright, commanding posture, maintaining direct-connected eye contact, and by your superior ability to articulate your point through excellent structure and clever storytelling.

Perhaps you could begin to improve your power and charisma by participating in the conversations around you. Try to inject a short story, an example, or a metaphor (even in a small way) into every conversation.

3.Warmth

Warmth is about your perceived care and acceptance of the other person. If you are a charismatic person, you put people at ease and you make people feel amazing!

You make others feel important and as though they matter. This of course can be very alluring and addictive to the people around you. People want to spend time with someone who makes them feel worthy.

If you’re keen to develop this capability aim to do all the activities that build rapport easily, care about others, remember key facts about them.

Interestingly warmth is also very much conveyed through the eyes and facial expressions. If you’d like to improve your warmth and therefore your charisma you could practice looking at people in the same way you would look at a person you care for deeply (don’t be weird about this though!).

2. Smile and ‘smize’

Smiling is a winning behavior recognized internationally as a sign of positivity. Did you know that babies are born with the ability to smile? People who smile are seen by others as confident, positive and attractive.

You appear younger when you smile a lot because of the way smiling affects the muscles in your face. Smiling is even good for you because it releases endorphins and other chemicals that help you relax and feel good.

Unsurprisingly, an American Association of Cosmetic Dentistry study found that people were more likely to remember your smile than the first thing you said.

A wonderful strategy for persuasion is to not just smile but ‘smize’ – or smile with your eyes. This is a term coined by supermodel Tyra Banks.

Over 50 different types of smiles are possible, but the one that is considered the most sincere is the smize – it pushes up into your eyes, your eyes sparkle and you look genuinely happy.

Unsurprisingly, an American Association of Cosmetic Dentistry study found that people were more likely to remember your smile than the first thing you said

Unsurprisingly, an American Association of Cosmetic Dentistry study found that people were more likely to remember your smile than the first thing you said

3. Laugh and use humor to negotiate

Laughing is a wonderful way to build rapport with people because playful communication triggers good feelings and a positive emotional connection.

You probably know that a sense of humor is one of the first things people look for in a life partner – because people who can laugh are more likely to let go of defensiveness, act more spontaneously and release inhibitions.

Funny people are likeable. People who laugh freely are thought of as joyful, light and fun to be around. Who wouldn’t want that?

Humor that’s working for both parties can also help you negotiate more effectively, resolve conflict and move people forward. It’s true that laughter unites people during difficult times. Befriend funny people and watch and read funny things daily.

Whether you are standing or sitting down, aligning your shoulders with the other person and keeping your hands open and obvious suggests that you are interested and engaged in the conversation

Whether you are standing or sitting down, aligning your shoulders with the other person and keeping your hands open and obvious suggests that you are interested and engaged in the conversation

4. Show your hands and don’t fidget

Showing your hands signals safety – the people around you have nothing to fear.

Whether you are standing or sitting down, aligning your shoulders with the other person and keeping your hands open and obvious suggests that you are interested and engaged in the conversation.

Turning away, twisting your body or hiding your hands means either a lack of interest or disagreement.

You also shouldn’t do a whole lot of other things with your hands if you’re aiming to be trustworthy. For example, don’t cross your arms, put your hands in your pocket, hold your crotch, clasp your hands behind your back, hold your fingers in a steeple position, touch your face or hair, or fidget with your rings or clothes.

These distracting hand movements stop your stakeholder from listening properly. They may even start to distrust you.

Turning away, twisting your body or hiding your hands means either a lack of interest or disagreement

Turning away, twisting your body or hiding your hands means either a lack of interest or disagreement

Michelle has written her new book How to Persuade to equip readers with the skills, tips and actions you need to get exactly what you want and improve your charisma.

Michelle has written her new book How to Persuade to equip readers with the skills, tips and actions you need to get exactly what you want and improve your charisma.

5. Listen and don’t talk about people

Bestselling author of The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People Stephen Covey, wisely said, ‘Most people do not listen with the intent to understand; they listen with the intent to reply’.

Isn’t it just so irritating when you are talking and someone speaks over the top of you? Doing so implies that the person doesn’t value what you’re saying. It breaks rapport and prevents the formation of goodwill.

Try to do what you can to listen when someone is talking. Take a moment of pause before adding your point.

If you focus on these five actions, you’ll be even more likeable than you already are and look out world – because this is one of the skills you need to get what you want!

Edited extracts from How to Persuade: The skills you need to get what you want (Wiley $29.95, 1 Aug 2022) by Michelle Bowden.

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Categories
Sports

Hawthorn coach Sam Mitchell names his top contenders for this year’s premiership

Hawthorn coach Sam Mitchell names his top contenders for this year's premiership

Hawthorn coach Sam Mitchell has named who he believes are the top contenders for this year’s premiership.

The Hawks great was asked by David King on SEN Breakfast to run his eye over who he thinks can win the flag, given his side is out of the race.

I think gelongthey’re perennially top four, and just the way they’re able to handle games this year, I know their finals record is not as good as their home-and-away record over the last few years, but I think they’ re still formidable,” Mitchell said.

“Sometimes we forget about them. I have a chuckle to myself every January when people say they’re going to be the team that slides and they never are.

I think Brisbane are quite similar, they’ve had a loss or two more than you’d think, but they generally lose some games, but they’re always thereabouts and I think they’re quite a formidable side.

“They’re not playing very well at the moment, Brisbane, but their best is excellent.

“Obviously melbourne are the third one and Collingwoodwho feel like they’ve got their nine lives and maybe they’ll just never run out.

“I think those four. We don’t play those teams so I haven’t been looking at them too closely, but they’re the four you’d consider to be right at the top-end.”

Mitchell’s Hawks host Gold Coast this weekend in Tasmania, before finishing the season with Richmond and the Western Bulldogs.





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Categories
US

House GOP tried to remove rape, incest exceptions

House GOP tried to remove rape, incest exceptions

Categories
Business

Southwest passenger shares shock as plane window appears to shatter on flight

A passenger has shared her shock online after it appeared her plane window shattered during a recent flight in the US.

In a viral video shared to TikTok, the traveler Mia can be seen clasping her hand over her mouth, while zooming in on her window, showing it cracked and broken. Watch above.

She doesn’t say anything in the clip, but posts a subsequent video to explain the situation, revealing that in the end it wasn’t as serious as what it appeared.

READMORE: Plane passengers stunned by shocking barefoot act

Passenger shares video of broken window on Southwest Airlines flight
A passenger shared video of broken window on Southwest Airlines flight. (Tik Tok)

Traveling on a Southwest flight from Tucson, Arizona, to Las Vegas, Mia said they had just taken off and flight attendants were taking drink orders when she went to rest her arm on the window sill.

“As soon as my elbow applied any kind of slight pressure, as soon as that happened, the whole window just broke, shattered, the whole thing,” she said in the second video sharing the story.

“So obviously I immediately hit the flight attendant button… she comes over her jaw drops. She’s looking at me, I’m looking at her, she’s looking at the window. She hits a 180 and runs over to the pilots’ cabin and she gets the 4-1-1 from them.”

Mia was then assured there were no issues with cabin pressure and they were safe to complete their flight to Las Vegas, but she was able to change seats.

“Good thing, there are two, three windows. I don’t know how to build plans, but you know, good thing that was there. Everything was fine and we were good for a safe landing in Vegas.

“The plane was originally supposed to continue on to another airport, but obviously the plane needed maintenance after that.”

READMORE: Disney World visitors stuck on ‘It’s a Small World’ ride for over an hour

Passenger shares video of broken window on Southwest Airlines flight
She said pilots assured her the cabin pressure was fine as it was only the inside plastic layer. (Tik Tok)

Indeed it was only the inside plastic layer of the window that broke, though the footage still went viral being viewed over 12.3 million times.

“I would instantly cry thinking that I was going to get sucked out the window,” one person commented.

“This would cause me to never fly again tbh,” another said.

Though others weren’t concerned, with one pointing out: “Plans have two windows that’s just the tint.”

Joaquim Martins, a professor at the University of Michigan and expert in aircraft design, confirmed as much, telling Insider the cracked plastic didn’t pose any safety threat as its the outside glass window absorbs all the force.

Non-structural items breaking on planes is “perfectly normal”, he said, adding if it had it been the actual glass panel, “stuff would be getting sucked out, and she would have had to put on an oxygen mask.”

The passenger said she received a US$300 flight voucher from Southwest following the incident.

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plane act man caught watching rude film on flight

Passenger slammed online for ‘gross’ act on flight

Categories
Entertainment

Tori Haschka on a ‘mum friend’ from a pyramid scheme.

Tori Haschka on a 'mum friend' from a pyramid scheme.

The next morning after another ragged night, my eye was clogged with conjunctivitis.

“What do you think?” B messaged with a collection of sunflower emojis. “Did you watch the links?”

“I think I have my hands full,” I felt back. “It’s not for me.” I shared a photo from the doctor’s office where I was with my son, who now had croup.

“I’ll check in with you when you guys get better,” she sent with two cross finger emojis and a kissing face.

Except she never really did.

Over the next few weeks, I got included on emails for discounts on cleansers and two more invitations to join in webinars. Her social media also pivoted and started pushing people to come join her ‘Dream Team’.

I had my suspicions about what this was. I’m certainly not the first woman to have someone befriend them in the name of multi-level-marketing.

I wasn’t a potential friend. I was a mark. We were both links in a chain that went across the world and formed a pyramid, with post-birth, lost and lonely women as easy targets. Of course everyone craves flexible work with a community of like-minded women. It’s just that this version is a miracle.

These are canny structures that prey on vulnerable women. She wasn’t going to make real money from selling products. What really needed was to recruit other people below her. That’s how these schemes flourish. The products, even if they work are mainly window dressing. And when they run out of people to recruit, the money dries up too.

Listen to this episode from The Well on female friendships. Post continues after audio.

Once I stopped buying the products and said not to join the team, she stopped reaching out. She had other people in her sights of her. I did see her once more before they eventually moved back overseas. We were lining up for coffee at the kiosk at the mall. We had some brief chat. She impressed on me how well she was doing, how fabulous things were. I saw that in one of the webinars too. ‘Always project a vision of success.’ That’s another way to lure people in.

The problem was, I no longer really trusted what she said. I just kept on waiting for her to find another pain point to press. I just kept waiting for her to try to close.

I eventually put the most expensive eyelash serum I’ve ever bought into the back of my drawer. All it gave me was gunky eyes. Eventually, with a little more sleep under my belt I could see the world clearer. I went back to writing; working on novels; one of which is about the impossibility of trying to do it all, with threads of social contagion, multilevel marketing and the temptation of optimizing relationships woven through it.

Categories
Sports

David Klemmer to return to Newcastle Knights training, real reason for show-cause notice, news, update, latest

David Klemmer to return to Newcastle Knights training, real reason for show-cause notice, news, update, latest

David Klemmer could reportedly receive a public apology from the Newcastle Knights as the club seeks to defuse the saga following the player’s expletive-laden rant at a trainer.

Klemmer was publicly issued a show-cause notice and stood down from training in the wake of Sunday’s galling defeat to the Bulldogs, in which Klemmer refused to leave the field when directed by trainer Hayden Knowles.

Klemmer reportedly labeled Knowles a “c***” and told him to “shut the f*** up”.

Stream every game of every round of the 2022 NRL Telstra Premiership Season Live & Ad-Break Free During Play on Kayo. New to Kayo? Start your free trial now >

O’Brien’s time at Knights running out? | 02:43

MORE NEWS

‘Biggest joke ever’: Reynolds takes stand as Klemmer call leaves teammates ‘frustrated’

‘The whole thing’s weird: ‘Naive’ Knights under fire amid Klemmer conspiracy theory

‘Could be sacked’: Shock Klemmer twist could spark possible player revolt

Jimmy Brings: O’Brien’s explosive dressing room blow-up revealed

The Sydney Morning Herald’s Michael Chammas initially reported Knowles lodged an official complaint to HR, with the Knights following the official policy of owners Wests Group by standing down the player.

On Friday I clarified it wasn’t actually initiated by the trainer.

“Management of the Newcastle Knights (Wests Group) instigated the investigation by HR,” he tweeted.

“Bizarre choice of action from head office. Might all be sorted today.

The Herald claims that Klemmer was set to front Newcastle’s board next week, but discussions are ongoing with the player’s union and Klemmer’s management which could see him return to the fold on Friday.

After suggestions Klemmer could even be terminated over the issue SEN’s Michelle Bishop claimed the tables had turned to the point the show cause notice could now be retracted.

“David Klemmer won’t be sacked,” Bishop said on SEN 1170 Breakfast.

“In fact, my sources say there could even be a public apology coming his way.

“I understand that’s what he’s requested out of the investigation so far.”

Bishop reported that Klemmer had been able to prove that his actions were “common practice” at the club.

It comes amid a scathing critique of the incident from club legend Matty Johns, who labeled Newcastle’s public handling of the incident an ‘overreaction’ to a scene he witnessed “a thousand times” in his successful career.

Johns told Fox League on Thursday: “It’s led to a big situation. The situation itself (isn’t a big deal) – I’m really surprised. I sprayed a trainer, I didn’t want to come off. He’s been stood down, apparently his Knights career is in the balance for refusing to leave and giving a trainer a spray.

“I’ve seen that a thousand times. I just think it’s an over-reaction. Even if it isn’t, and you want to address it, I don’t know why and how it’s turned up in the public domain … I can’t get my head around it.”

“You see it a million times, a bloke’s going (off) to the trainer – there’s always argy-bargy,” he added.

There have been widespread rumors this week that the Knights were considering tearing up Klemmer’s contract in the wake of the incident, something which former Roosters and Souths star Bryan Fletcher declared would be ‘a disgrace’.

Fletcher said on Fox League: “Are they trying to move him on? We know he’s on big money. If they are and this is the reason, I think it’s a disgrace.”

Major “Reboot” need for Knights – Buzz | 01:08

O’BRIEN ‘AT A LOSS’

Johns labeled it “an absolute bludger of a week for the Newcastle Knights”, from the announcement that superstar Kalyn Ponga would take no further part this season due to repeated concussions, to Sunday’s home defeat to the Canterbury Bulldogs, and even O’Brien’s controversial comments in the post-match press-conference.

Johns said: “the press conference after the game, (after which) Adam O’Brien was criticized for a lot of his comments, talking about his four premierships as an assistant.

“I can’t be too critical of Adam with this – he’s a coach without answers for a fanbase asking a lot of questions. He’s really at a loss at the moment.”

O’Brien reportedly has ‘no issue’ with Klemmer, who sent a message apologizing to the coach on Sunday night for his behavior on-field.

‘Silly thing to say’: O’Brien slammed for ‘talking himself up’ amid Knights slump

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Categories
US

NOAA still predicts above-average Atlantic hurricane season

NOAA still predicts above-average Atlantic hurricane season

Comment

When it comes to the tropics, the Atlantic usually starts heating up quickly as the calendar flips to August. This year, however, there’s nothing on the immediate horizon. There are no strong disturbances and no reliably modeled storms or hurricanes as a stubborn lid of Saharan dust helps keep tropical activity at bay over much of the Atlantic.

Despite the meager prospects in the short term, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration announced Thursday that it is still expecting an above-average season, with three to five major hurricanes likely and a dozen or more named storms probable.

It’s been a slow start to hurricane season — but it’s still early

NOAA’s confidence levels have hardly changed, either, since its previous assessment in late May, during which the agency called for a 65 percent chance of an above-average season. Now it is saying there is a 60 percent likelihood that the season winds up above-average.

All told, NOAA’s expectation is for 14 to 20 named storms reaching tropical storm strength or better, compared with an average of 14 in a season. Of those storms, the agency thinks six to 10 will become hurricanes, and three to five will reach Category 3 strength or better with winds surpassing 110 mph.

Those odds are not indicative of whether a storm will make landfall, never mind on US soil. There have been active or even hyperactive Atlantic seasons with minimal US impact, as well as comparatively quiet seasons that brought calamitous effects stateside. At a broad glance, the 1992 Atlantic hurricane season, during which seven named storm formed, looks like a dud — until closer inspection reveals that the first storm was Category 5 Hurricane Andrew, which razed much of South Florida at the end of August.

NOAA cited an ongoing La Niña as a main driver in its prognosis, since this atmosphere-ocean pattern tends to weaken high-altitude winds over the tropical Atlantic. The slackening of those winds, which are ordinarily hostile to tropical development, makes it easier for fledgling tropical waves to grow tall and organize. La Niña is the opposite of El Niño, both of which first begin as anomalies in water temperatures measured across the eastern tropical Pacific.

In early July, the National Weather Service stated that there was a 62 percent chance that La Niña would continue during August, September and October — peak hurricane season. The odds of an El Niño cropping up are a negligible 2 or 3 percent.

NOAA’s continued aggressive predictions for hurricane season in 2022 are echoed by the sentiments of other prominent forecasters, including Philip Klotzbach, a hurricane researcher at Colorado State University with a strong track record. In the short term, meaning the next two weeks, his team is expecting near-normal activity. But it hinted that things could get busier after that.

“There are indications that a [tropical cyclone] could potentially form in the central tropical Atlantic in about 10 to 14 days,” read his biweekly report. “There is also potential for [tropical cyclone] development off the US East Coast in week two.”

Over the next two weeks, weather models are highlighting above-average wind shear, or a change of wind speed and/or direction with height, over the tropics. Wind shear is highly disruptive to tropical systems, pulling them apart in a tug-of-war fashion or knocking mature hurricanes off-kilter. That should change by mid-August.

“We do anticipate that there could be a reduction in vertical wind shear near the end of the two-week forecast period,” he wrote.

Thereafter, his team is still anticipating a busy season, and experts across the board have noted that the seemingly slow start is more on par with what is typical.

“It’s not as weird as it feels,” wrote Bryan Norcross, meteorologist for Fox Weather and former hurricane specialist at the Weather Channel, in a recent Facebook post. “On average, the third tropical storm is not named until August 3, so we’re still slightly ahead of the game for the moment.”

The season thus far has featured three storms — Alex, Bonnie and Colin — but has been silent since Independence Day. Bonnie formed at the start of July and became a rare “crossover” storm, transiting Central America and reaching hurricane status in the Pacific.

The peak of hurricane season in the Atlantic is usually anchored around mid-September, lagging a few months behind the summer solstice since it takes a while to heat up the ocean waters — the elixir of life for tropical systems. Because of that “thermal inertia,” or slow-to-change nature of sea surface temperatures, the oceans often remain warm well into the autumn, the reason the “official” end to hurricane season isn’t until Nov. 30.

Sea surface temperatures over large areas of the western Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico are several degrees above average, indicating that there will be plenty of energy to support some dangerous storms. And in an era in which hurricanes are demonstrably becoming wetter, more intense and more prone to bouts of rapid intensification because of human-induced climate change, the lull we’re experiencing may very well simply be the calm before the storm.

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Australian house prices: 300 suburbs that have significantly dropped in value

Australian house prices: 300 suburbs that have significantly dropped in value

As skyrocketing interest rates smash the Australian housing market, a dozen suburbs have already seen property prices fall by more than $500,000 since March.

PropTrack’s automated valuation model (AVM) data show more than 300 suburbs across the country where dwelling values ​​have experienced six-figure falls over the quarter.

In percentage terms, the worst-performing suburb in the country was South Hedland in WA’s Pilbara region, where units dropped by 24.81 per cent to a median value of $213,791 in June 2022 – a loss of more than $70,000.

That was closely followed by Booval in Queensland, where unit prices were down 24.64 per cent, or more than $121,000, to $370,231.

But it was wealthy suburbs in the capital cities that experienced the largest falls in dollar terms, with parts of Sydney’s northern beaches and eastern suburbs, Melbourne’s Mornington Peninsula, as well as inner-city Perth and Canberra all experiencing falls in excess of half a million dollars.

Former Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull’s eastern suburbs home of Point Piper recorded the biggest fall in dollar terms, with units there losing nearly $715,000 in value – a 14.82 per cent fall from $4.82 million to $4.11 million.

Manly came in second place with losses of nearly $680,000 in house prices, representing a 13.8 per cent fall from $4.92 million to $4.25 million.

Ingleside on Sydney’s northern beaches saw house prices fall nearly $610,000 to $2.77 million, while Flinders in Melbourne suffered a $600,000 fall to $2.51 million.

Other suburbs where house prices fell by more than $500,000 include Clontarf, Dover Heights, North Bondi, Bronte, Rose Bay and Bondi Beach in Sydney, Peppermint Grove in Perth and Griffith in Canberra.

Close behind in the $400,000 range were the likes of Double Bay and Tamarama in Sydney, Red Hill – both in Victoria and Canberra – and Mulgoa at the foot of the Blue Mountains.

“Price falls are largely being led by the ‘high end’ of the market and higher value suburbs,” said PropTrack senior economist Eleanor Creagh.

“Manly and Tamarama in Sydney have all posted declines in quarterly values.

“Previously popular suburbs in the Central Coast and Melbourne’s Mornington Peninsula have also seen values ​​decline.

“It’s often the case that the upper end of the market experiences larger price declines, and at the moment it’s the suburbs that are home to more expensive properties that are seeing bigger price falls than more affordable properties.”

It’s not all bad news for homeowners, however.

House prices in some suburbs are still rising, led by Balmain East in Sydney’s inner west, which saw house prices rise more than $329,000 over the quarter to $3.48 million.

New Farm in Brisbane was second with house price growth of more than $295,000 to $2.65 million, followed by Coledale in NSW’s Illawarra region, which was up nearly $289,000 to $2.47 million.

Other suburbs where dwelling values ​​rose more than $200,000 were Newcastle East, The Rocks and Waterloo in Sydney, and Brisbane’s Bowen Hills, Tenerife, Highgate Hill and West End.

“While the current cycle of exceptional price growth is winding down Australia-wide, there are some parts of the country bucking the falling price trend,” said Ms Creagh.

“Parts of Brisbane, Adelaide and regional Australia are proving more resilient.

“With the pandemic driving a boom in remote working, housing markets in parts of regional Australia have emerged, with sea and tree changers looking for lifestyle locations, larger homes, and beachside living.”

The ongoing low supply of properties available for sale, combined with relative affordability advantages driving heightened demand, are causing prices to continue to rise in some regional areas or only just beginning to fail as the impact of higher interest rates weighs on the market.

“As the home price cycle has matured and interest rates are now rising, some suburbs in previous regional hot spots on the Sunshine Coast, and in the Southern Highlands and Geelong regions are starting to see larger price falls, with affordability advantages having been eroded since the pandemic onset,” Ms Creagh said.

“Suburbs like Lorne, Sunshine Beach, Minyama and Noosa Heads have all seen quarterly declines in unit or house values.”

She added it was a similar picture in the capital cities, with markets that led the upswing like the “lifestyle and coastal locations of the northern beaches and eastern suburbs now seeing larger price falls”.

It comes after the Reserve Bank hiked interest rates for the fourth month in a row on Tuesday.

The 50 basis-point increase at the central bank’s August meeting brings the official cash rate to 1.85 per cent, up from the record low 0.1 per cent it was up until May.

Governor Philip Lowe said the RBA had made the decision to raise the rates in a bid to drive down the current 6.1 per cent inflation figure.

In a statement, he said the path to returning to inflation under 3 per cent while keeping the economy on an even keel was something that would take time.

“The path to achieve this is a narrow one and clouded in uncertainty, not least because of global developments,” Dr Lowe said.

“The outlook for global economic growth has been downgraded due to pressures on real incomes from higher inflation, the tightening of monetary policy in most countries, Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, and the Covid containment measures in China. Today’s increase … is a further step in the normalization of monetary conditions in Australia.”

Already, the rise in interest rates has pushed house prices down in most major cities as borrowers stare down the barrel of higher monthly payments.

PropTrack’s Home Price Index shows a national decline of 1.66 per cent in prices since March, but some regions have seen much sharper falls.

“As repayments become more expensive with rising interest rates, housing affordability will decline, prices pushing further down,” Ms Creagh said earlier this week.

Last week, the Australia Institute’s chief economist, Richard Dennis, told NCA NewsWire the RBA was one of the biggest threats to the economy at the moment.

“If we keep increasing interest rates because inflation is higher than we’d like, we might cause a recession,” he said.

“Increasing interest rates won’t help us prepare for a slowing global economy … but they might actually further dampen the Australian economy.”

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– with NCA NewsWire

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