A Foster Farms poultry processing plant in California has been forced to temporarily close its doors due to the coronavirus.
At least 358 workers have tested positive and eight have died in what health officials say is the "most severe and long-lasting" coronavirus outbreak in Merced County.
"Foster Farms' poultry operation in Livingston, California has experienced an alarming spread of COVID-19 among its workers," California Attorney General Xavier Becerra said, underscoring the need to "hit the reset button" and reopen the plant safely.
A poultry plant in California has been shut down after 358 employees tested positive for the coronavirus and eight died of the disease.
This cluster of cases was reported at a Foster Farms chicken processing facility in Merced County and was described by county health officials as the "most severe and long-lasting outbreak" in the area.
In a statement issued Thursday, the Merced County Department of Health said the number of infected workers is known only because they chose to get screened for COVID-19 and report the positive tests to their employer.
"The true spread of COVID-19 in the Foster Farms Livingston Facility remains unknown," officials wrote.
The case fatality rate in Merced County hovers around 1.3%, but it is up to 2.2% at the Foster Farms facility, the health department said.
In a statement to Insider, Foster Farms confirmed the death numbers, said it had expanded testing measures in recent weeks, and said it would "complete comprehensive testing" of its Livingston complex Friday.
"Foster Farms has provided Merced County Public Health and the State of California with ongoing testing plans, which would continue to enable the company to effectively screen for COVID-19 in the workforce, while maintaining the essential operations that enable us to contribute to the food supply," the company wrote.
According to health officials, the outbreak began as far back as June 29 and prompted trips to the plant, as well as recommendations to curb the infection's spread. Suggestions included "making significant changes to the employee break spaces and performing widespread testing of employees within the facility," Merced County officials said.
However, Foster Farms tested less than 100 people — about 10% — of the department that was hardest hit through late July.
"Over 25 percent of the employees screened at this time tested positive," the statement continued. "However, expanded testing within the department was not completed for an additional three weeks and subsequently, three fatalities were linked to that department alone."
COVID-19 has still not been contained at the plant, officials said
Despite subsequent directives, "the spread of COVID-19 within the facility has not been contained and active outbreaks continue to exist, posing a significant threat to Foster Farms employees and the surrounding community," health officials said, adding that testing remains insufficient.
The Merced County Health Officer ordered the Foster Farms Poultry Processing Plant to close the facility until it has a handle on the outbreaks and can reopen safely, according to the statement. Merced County officials said they attempted to work with Foster Farms, the State Attorney General's Office, and the California Department of Public Health, but the parties involved couldn't come to an agreement about how to mitigate the cluster of infections and keep the food production facility open.
"Our charge is to protect the public's health, even in the face of difficult decisions. The closure of this plant is the only way to get the outbreak at Foster Farms swiftly under control," Dr. Salvador Sandoval, Merced County's public health officer, said in the statement.
California Attorney General Xavier Becerra seconded the sentiment, writing: "Foster Farms' poultry operation in Livingston, California has experienced an alarming spread of COVID-19 among its workers. Nobody can ignore the facts: It's time to hit the reset button on Foster Farms' Livingston plant."
This article has been updated with a comment from Foster Farms.
These platforms offer a mix of recent releases and classic films to choose from.
Some studios are even releasing brand-new movies for early streaming in the comfort of your home.
You can download many of these apps right now on a variety of devices, and completing a rental is as simple as a few clicks.
Remember when renting a movie meant going to a store? Times have changed awfully quick for the movie industry. With video rental chains a relic of the past, online streaming has become the new standard for renting movies to watch at home.
With multiple services to choose from — including Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV, Vudu, Google Play, and FandangoNow — it's never been easier to find a film worth renting on a smart TV, media player, or mobile device. These platforms all allow you to browse through a large catalog of digital films, enabling you to pay for rentals individually rather than as part of a subscription.
And, since most theaters are now closed as a result of preventive measures being taken to help stop the spread of coronavirus, several studios are even renting brand-new movies to stream from the comfort of your living room.
Sitting on the couch and picking up your remote control is your trip to the video store today. While I will always hold onto my ever-growing collection of Blu-rays, I have to admit that the convenience of digitally renting a movie for a few bucks instead of blind buying one at full price is handy. I've saved a small fortune through $5.99 rentals with a simple click of my thumb.
To help make your next movie night at home more enjoyable, we've broken down some of the basics of renting streaming films from a variety of services. So, put a bag of popcorn in your microwave and pick up your controller or tablet — there are a lot of great movies out there waiting to be discovered.
Updated on 8/28/20 by Steven Cohen: Added new in-theater movie titles that are now available to rent or buy.
What services can I rent streaming movies from?
While popular subscription streaming services, like Netflix, Disney Plus, and Hulu, offer film fans a nice catalog of movies to choose from, not everything is available necessarily when you want to watch it. The titles available on subscription platforms are typically limited to certain studios, and newer movies usually take several months to be added.
This is where a digital movie retailer comes in. Instead of offering a select library of films as part of a subscription, platforms like Vudu, Google Play Movies, Apple TV, and FandangoNow all offer a comprehensive assortment of movies that you can rent individually. Amazon Prime Video, meanwhile, actually offers individual rentals in addition to its subscription library for Prime members.
Once you've created an account with any of the above services and added your payment details, renting a title is as simple as a few clicks. In most cases you can simply browse through the platform's website or download the service's app on a variety of smart TVs, mobile devices, and streaming players. After finding the title you want, you simply click on the movie and complete the instructions to confirm the rental.
How much do streaming movies cost to rent?
Amazon Prime Video, Vudu, Apple TV, FandangoNow, and Google Play all let you rent movies for as little as $2.99, though most newer releases top out at $7.99 depending on the resolution you choose. You get 30 days to start watching a title once you rent it, and after you press play you have 48 hours before your rental expires.
If you want to keep a digital movie, you usually also have an option to buy a title so you can stream it whenever you want. Digital movie purchases typically range in price from $4.99 to $24.99 depending on how new a film is. 4K Ultra HD versions of movies are also usually more expensive than HD or SD versions.
It should be noted, however, that digital purchases aren't quite as permanent as buying a disc copy of a movie. When you make a digital movie purchase, you're essentially buying the license to keep streaming that title from the service you've selected. But, if that service somehow goes out of business or it loses the rights to the title you bought, it's possible that you'll lose access to your digital copy.
Can I rent brand-new movies still playing in theaters?
When states began issuing stay-at-home orders as a result of the current health crisis, movie theater chains across the country began closing their doors in the interest of public safety. Several studios have now adjusted to the current situation and are allowing people to rent or buy brand-new streaming movies that would otherwise still be playing in theaters.
Universal and Lionsgate, for instance, initially only allowed viewers to rent their new movies, with prices as high as $19.99 per title. This may seem pricey if you're planning to watch Universal's "The Invisible Man" on your own, but if you're a parent with a passel of kids who would have otherwise spent a small fortune to see "Trolls: World Tour" in a theater — this is a steal. Rental prices are also reduced over time — "Trolls: World Tour," for instance, is now just $5.99 to rent.
On the other hand, studios like Paramount, Sony, and Warner Brothers, are only allowing people to buy their newest streaming movies, with prices as high as $24.99. In many cases, however, rental options are also being rolled out a few weeks after movies are initially offered for purchase.
Some notable early-release and "in-theater movies" currently available to rent or own through Vudu include:
With so many brand-new movies and classic titles available to rent, picking a platform to use really comes down to choosing the service that works best on the devices you own. Below, we've broken down some key details for all of the major digital movie retailers to help you choose which one is right for you.
Apple TV
Apple currently offers a large selection of movies to rent through its Apple TV app on a variety of connected devices. With that said, the Apple TV app lacks the ability to actually complete transactions on many smart TVs. This means that you'll have to complete your rental on an iPhone or web browser before you can watch it through most smart TV apps. The Apple TV app is also not currently supported by Android TV or Chromecast devices.
On the plus side, the Apple TV app is a strong performer when it comes to general video and audio quality. When Apple upgraded its streaming devices to 4K, it made a big splash by upgrading streaming movie libraries to 4K automatically. This means that any SD or HD digital films you purchase via iTunes get upgraded to 4K at no extra cost (if a 4K version is available). They also wrestled the price point down so competitors like Vudu and FandangoNow have had no choice but to lower their prices as well.
Even now, Apple offers one of the largest 4K rental selections, giving you the best overall AV experience for your dollar. As a bonus, the Apple TV app is also home to Apple's new Apple TV Plus streaming service. You have to pay a subscription fee of $4.99 per month to unlock the Apple TV Plus content, but it's a nice option to have in addition to the service's library of streaming rentals.
Device support: Apple TV, iOS mobile devices, computers, Roku, Amazon Fire TV, as well as smart TVs from LG, Samsung, Vizio, and Sony
Vudu maintains a massive inventory of titles to rent at various price points. Unlike Apple, however, Vudu does occasionally charge more for 4K quality versions of its titles. It should also be noted that while Vudu is readily available on many platforms, it's one of the few notable apps missing from Amazon Fire TV devices.
Where Vudu has a feather in its cap, however, is with its "Free With Ads" selection. This collection of titles rotates practically every week, and though there are ads, breaks are rarely lengthy or too intrusive. So, if you're trying to entertain on a budget and don't feel like paying for a rental — this is one of the best options available.
Device support: Chromecast, Apple TV, Android TV, Roku, PlayStation, Xbox, Tivo, iOS and Android mobile devices, as well as smart TVs from LG, Samsung, and Vizio
Like all of the digital rental stores on our list, FandandgoNow offers a large selection of movies to choose from. The platform is also available on most connected devices, with the only major holdout currently being the Apple TV.
The service has been in the 4K streaming game a long time now and they do an impressive job bringing high quality picture and audio to homes. FandangoNow is also the only streaming service currently offering support for the IMAX Enhanced format. This tech offers specially optimized HDR picture and DTS sound on supported Sony TVs. If you have a Dolby Vision compatible TV or a Dolby Atmos audio setup, however, you'll likely want to opt for Vudu or Apple TV since FandangoNow does not currently support those formats.
Device support: Chromecast, Android TV, Roku, Amazon Fire TV, Xbox, Tivo, iOS and Android mobile devices, as well as smart TVs from LG, Samsung, Vizio, Sony, and Hisense
Amazon Prime Video does a lot of things right, and it provides an impressive list of digital rentals. If you're a Prime member you also gain the added benefit of a massive number of movies and shows as part of your subscription. On top of that — similar to Vudu — Amazon Prime offers a small selection of "Free With Ads" titles sponsored by IMDB.
Prime Video is also one of the only digital retailers currently offering support for the HDR10+ format. Similar to Dolby Vision, HDR10+ offers enhanced colors and contrast on compatible TVs. With that said, the platform's Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos support is sorely lacking as there are very few titles that offer those features.
On that note, my main problem with Prime Video is its inconsistent viewing experience. Even with a wired connection, 4K HDR10 or HDR10+ viewing options aren't always available and it's not even always clear whether a title is supposed to include those features or not. You often have to hunt specifically for the 4K UHD version of the movie or show.
Device support: Amazon Fire TV, Chromecast, Apple TV, Android TV, Roku, Tivo, PlayStation, Xbox, iOS and Android mobile devices, as well as smart TVs from LG, Samsung, Vizio, Sony, and Hisense
When it comes to movie selection, Google is basically on par with the other services on our list. The Google Play Movies app is also available on a good number of connected devices, but official app support is missing from the Apple TV and Amazon Fire TV. You can, however, still watch movies purchased through Google Play via the YouTube app on Fire TV
While I like what Google is trying to do, the app for my Samsung and LG TV is clunky at best. It's not always clear which titles are in 4K and/or what if any HDR support is available. The interface for my phone is terrific, however, easily allowing me to find what titles I have in my digital library and what titles offer 4K, as well as navigate new rentals and purchase options, shop deals, and browse what new "in-theater" titles are available.
In other words, I want that phone app interface on my big screen. For now, though, Google's smart TV app is a bit lacking compared to the competition. The service also lacks Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos support, which might be an issue for those who want the best video and audio performance.
Device support: Chromecast, Android TV, Roku, iOS and Android mobile devices, as well as smart TVs from LG, Samsung, and Vizio
AT&T is considering a sale of DirecTV as it seeks to make up for losses incurred at the hands of cord-cutters ditching traditional cable and satellite, according to The Wall Street Journal.
Unnamed sources familiar with the matter told the paper that potential bidders for the business include hedge funds Apollo Global Management and Platinum Equity. The unit could be worth $20 billion, they said, or less than half the $49 billion AT&T paid for it in 2015, according to the report.
The report notes a deal is not certain, and could see AT&T retain a stake in the satellite TV business.
As recently as 2019, AT&T was considering a move to part with DirecTV, The Wall Street Journal reported at the time. Activist investor Elliott Management, which bought up a significant chunk of the company last year in its push for change, also urged a sale at the time.
Asked by analysts in July about AT&T's continued ownership of DirecTV, CEO John Stankey said it was about maintaining relationships with customers who could be enticed to buy other services.
"We like the customer base," he said of DirecTV on a conference call. "It was an opportunity to move that customer base into the right technology platforms moving forward, and that's clearly where we're investing and what we're doing right now, which is building those software platforms that can deliver either live or on-demand entertainment-based content and have that relationship with the customer, use the data and the analytics we pull from that and, hopefully, bridge off other services that those platforms can ultimately deliver."
Shares of AT&T have sunk 23% this year, trailing the overall market. Shares of competitor Dish Network spiked in late trading Friday following the report.
On August 13, the wildly popular game "Fortnite" got an update on Apple and Android smartphones that allowed players to bypass the companies' digital payment systems. Instead of going through Apple and Google, payments went directly to the "Fortnite" studio, Epic Games.
In response, Apple and Google pulled "Fortnite" from their digital storefronts and cited the update as a terms-of-service violation — which caused Epic to sue both companies.
The game is now unable to be updated through the Apple App Store. With the latest "Fortnite" season update, iPhone and iPad players just got left behind.
"These are the final days of the entire 'Fortnite' community's ability to play together," Epic Games said in a mid-August blog post. "Players on iOS devices will be left behind on Chapter 2 - Season 3 while everyone else jumps into the Chapter 2 - Season 4 launch on August 27."
As of August 28, Apple has officially ended Epic's contracts — and all of Epic's other games on the App Store have been pulled.
When Apple yanked "Fortnite" from the App Store on August 13, the move had a ripple effect on the millions of people already playing the game on iPhones and iPads: When the next season launched on August 27, those players would left in the past.
"These are the final days of the entire 'Fortnite' community's ability to play together," Epic Games said in a blog post in mid August. "Players on iOS devices will be left behind on Chapter 2 - Season 3 while everyone else jumps into the Chapter 2 - Season 4 launch on August 27."
In short: When the next season went live, iPhone and iPad players weren't able to move forward or play the next season with their friends on other platforms.
On August 28, the day after the new "Fortnite" season went live, Apple officially ended Epic's developer contracts. The studio's other games were pulled from the store, and they are also unable to be updated — and iOS version of "Fornite" will not be updated for the foreseeable future.
"Once Chapter 2 - Season 4 begins, players accessing 'Fortnite' will still be able to play the 13.40 version of 'Fortnite,'" according to Epic, "but will not be able to access any new content or the new Battle Pass. Cosmetic purchases will still work across all platforms."
There's another option for people who want to play the new season: Since "Fortnite" enables players to carry over progress between platforms, you could log in through another platform — Xbox One, PlayStation 4, PC, Mac, Nintendo Switch, and even Android — and play the next season there. If and when Apple and Epic resolve their squabble, your progress will presumably carry back to the iPhone and iPad versions of the game.
"Fortnite" was pulled from Apple's App Store and the Google Play store on August 13 following an update issued by Epic that gave users the option to bypass the companies' digital payment systems (seen above).
Instead of buying in-game virtual money (known as V-bucks) through Apple or Google, players could buy it directly from Epic — at a 20% discount, no less. Apple and Google said the update was a terms-of-service violation for any developer with an app on the App Store or Google Play.
"Epic enabled a feature in its app which was not reviewed or approved by Apple, and they did so with the express intent of violating the App Store guidelines regarding in-app payments that apply to every developer who sells digital goods or services," Apple said in a statement.
In response, the two main smartphone conglomerates pulled "Fortnite" from their respective digital storefronts. Epic Games, anticipating as much, filed suits against each company.
Epic had filed for a temporary restraining order against Apple that would've put "Fortnite" back on the App Store, and enabled Epic to update the game (as well as its other games on the App Store), at least while the legal battle between the two is ongoing.
The request for that temporary restraining order was partially denied in a decision issued late on Monday night, meaning that "Fortnite" will stay off the App Store.
At the same time, the court did make a decision in Epic's favor, when it blocked Apple from revoking its access to key iPhone and Mac development tools that would've had major implications for any games made with Epic's game creation tools, Unreal Engine. Apple had previously said that Epic's access to its development tools would be revoked as soon as August 28, but is now barred from following through for the time being.
Despite being pulled from Google's official Android storefront, "Fortnite" players on Android are able to bypass the Play store and download the game directly from Epic.
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Disney Plus is an on-demand, ad-free streaming service with a growing collection of movies and shows from Disney, Pixar, Marvel, Star Wars, National Geographic, and 20th Century Fox.
You can also bundle Disney Plus with Hulu and ESPN+ for $12.99 a month, which is about $6 per month less than you'd pay if you subscribed to each service separately.
A new streaming service has joined the ranks of Netflix, Hulu, Amazon Prime, and the many other platforms jostling for control of your TV. Disney Plus features TV and movie content from names we're all well familiar with: Walt Disney Studios and Walt Disney Television.
The platform includes a mix of classic titles from Disney's vault and new programs developed exclusively for subscribers. Monthly and yearly plans are available, and the service can even be bundled with Hulu and ESPN+ for more streaming options.
Learn more below about how the Disney Plus streaming service works, including what shows and movies are included, how much it costs, and more.
Updated on 8/28/2020 by Steven Cohen: Added information about the release of "Mulan" on September 4.
When are the global release dates for Disney Plus?
Disney Plus is now live and available to stream in the US, Canada, the Netherlands, Australia, New Zealand, Puerto Rico, Austria, Germany, Ireland, Italy, France, Spain, Switzerland, India, and the United Kingdom.
Disney Plus is set to launch in Belgium, Denmark, Iceland, Finland, Norway, Portugal, Sweden, and Luxembourg on September 15, 2020.
Disney Plus costs $6.99 per month or $69.99 per year in the US. For that price, you get ad-free access to all of the service's streaming titles spanning many different genres and interests. Though the service initially offered a free seven-day trial for new subscribers, this promotion is no longer available.
There's also an option to buy a bundled package with Hulu and ESPN+, which costs $12.99 per month for all three services. Individually, the ad-supported version of Hulu is currently $5.99 a month, and ESPN+ is $5.99 a month. Subscribing to the bundle, rather than signing up for each service individually, saves you about $6 per month.
Current subscribers to Disney Plus or ESPN+ can also easily upgrade to the bundle without having to cancel their existing subscription. You can upgrade your current plan to the bundle here.
If you haven't explored the world of streaming services fully yet, the bundle could be the perfect opportunity to do so for a competitive price. Hulu offers many popular movies and original shows, while ESPN+ provides access to tons of sports content, including UFC events.
Yes. If you're looking for a great gift for that special Disney fan in your life, you can get them a Disney Plus subscription card. The gift subscription is available for one year of the streaming service and costs $69.99. It's sent via email on a date of your choice. Gift subscriptions can only be redeemed by people who are not already signed up for Disney Plus.
What features and formats are supported on Disney Plus?
Disney Plus includes several features that make using the service more convenient for its subscribers.
The platform supports up to seven profiles per subscription. This allows different members of a household to each create their own profiles with their own avatars and personalized settings. A special Kids Profile option can also be used for children. This feature restricts Disney Plus streaming access to titles that are rated TV-7FV and G.
Disney Plus also allows simultaneous streaming on up to four different devices. Unlimited downloads are provided as well via the Disney Plus app on up to 10 different smartphones and tablets. This makes it easy to save titles to watch offline later during situations when you don't have access to an internet connection.
When it comes to video formats, Disney Plus supports up to 4K Ultra HD resolution on select movies and shows. High Dynamic Range (HDR), using the HDR10 or Dolby Vision format, is also available on some movies and shows. This feature offers enhanced colors and contrast on compatible TVs. Dolby Digital surround sound and Dolby Atmos audio formats are supported on several titles as well.
Disney Plus is an ideal service for Disney fans, whether they're Marvel geeks or animation aficionados. It's especially suitable for families with children who want to immerse themselves in the vast world of Disney.
Though the current lineup of original programming is a bit limited, more exclusive shows are set to be added over the coming months, including new Star Wars and Marvel shows. For now, however, Disney Plus is more of a draw for people who want to watch recent Disney movies and older Disney titles from the studio's vault.
If you're someone who always ends up searching for Disney shows and movies on another streaming service anyway, you might want to consider subscribing to Disney Plus because it holds all that content in one convenient place. Disney is also removing its content from a lot of other streaming services, including Netflix, so Disney Plus will soon become the only subscription streaming platform with access to many of its titles.
In short, virtually all of the Disney shows and movies that have already been released. You can cry through Pixar's "Coco" and "Up", learn about the world around you through a Nat Geo documentary, and satisfy your comedic itch with an episode of "The Simpsons." You'll have access to classics like "Snow White" along with recent hits like "Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker."
With that said, some Disney titles are still temporarily missing from Disney Plus. Their absence is due to existing licensing deals with other services and networks, and all of the missing titles will be added at a later date.
Disney Plus also includes all-new, exclusive original programming, such as a Star Wars TV series focused on a Mandalorian bounty hunter, a retelling of "Lady and the Tramp" featuring Tessa Thompson and Justin Theroux, and a new film adaptation of the popular book series "Artemis Fowl."
Along with original shows, Disney Plus has exclusive musical content, including a film version of the hit Broadway show "Hamilton", and "Black is King," a new visual album from Beyonce.
In addition to everything that comes included with your subscription, Disney Plus is also now experimenting with "Premier Access" releases. Premier Access titles cost extra to unlock, granting buyers early access to certain films. The first Premier Access movie will be "Mulan," which will cost $29.99 to buy starting September 4.
While the Disney Plus library of exclusives is relatively small right now, the platform's upcoming lineup of original content will allow Disney Plus to compete better against other services with more exclusive shows, like Netflix and Amazon Prime Video.
These are the best original shows and movies to watch on Disney Plus right now:
"The Mandalorian" The Western-style take on "Star Wars" takes place five years after the fall of the Empire and focuses on a bounty hunter who journeys far out into the galaxy.
"Pixar in Real Life" This hidden camera show features interactions between Pixar characters and people in the real world.
"The World According to Jeff Goldblum" Journey along with Jeff Goldblum ("Jurassic Park," "Thor: Ragnarok") as he travels the world to explore subjects that are of interest to him, including how tattoos, ice cream, and sneakers are made and developed.
"Marvel Hero Project" The "Marvel Hero Project" pays tribute to extraordinary kids who have helped their community. In each episode, the kids will be surprised with the honor of being made into a Super Hero with their very own Marvel Comic.
"Lady and the Tramp" This live-action retelling of the 1955 Disney classic "Lady and the Tramp" has an all-star cast, including Tessa Thompson ("Westworld," "Thor:Ragnarok") as the voice of Lady and Justin Theroux ("The Leftovers," "Maniac") as the voice of Tramp.
How does Disney Plus compare to other streaming services?
While services such as Netflix and Hulu cast a wide net over movie and TV entertainment, Disney Plus is much more focused and narrow in scope by revolving entirely around Disney content. Luckily, it doesn't actually feel that limited since Walt Disney Studios and Walt Disney Television create everything from animated kids' movies to action and sci-fi thrillers.
It's a major plus that Disney Plus (for the time being) has zero ads. We don't know whether that will change down the line, or whether it will add tiered ad pricing like some other streaming services, but in the meantime, we always appreciate ad-free streaming.
At less than $10 a month, it's very affordable compared to major competitors. If you find the Disney content of other streaming services lacking, subscribing to Disney Plus is an affordable way to fix that problem.
Of all the major streaming services, it's also one of the most generous in the areas of multiple-device streaming, profile additions, and downloads. Disney Plus also offers 4K HDR streaming and Dolby Atmos audio on select titles for no additional cost. This is in contrast to Netflix, which requires subscribers to pay for its most expensive plan in order to receive 4K support.
You can sign up for Disney Plus directly through the Disney Plus website. To start streaming, you simply need to create an account by entering in an email address and payment method.
Read everything else you should know about Disney Plus here:
The coronavirus pandemic has inspired people to make their own sourdough and banana bread, why not hand sanitizer and cleaning wipes too?
It's especially not a bad idea in light of the FDA's warnings that some hand sanitizers are useless or potentially deadly.
Those that contain the toxic chemical methanol can be poisonous — leading symptoms like drowsiness, dizziness, headache, nausea, vomiting, and confusion — if they're ingested or absorbed through the skin.
Experts also say you should also avoid those with insufficient alcohol, expired products, and any sanitizer when soap and water are available.
Insider talked to Miryam Wahrman, a biology professor at William Paterson University and the author of "The Hand Book: Surviving in a Germ-Filled World," about exactly how to make your own hand sanitizer so it's both safe and effective.
Your final product must be at least 60% alcohol to be effective
All you really need is alcohol, either isopropyl (rubbing) or ethyl (used in beer, wine, and spirits). As long as the solution is at least 60% alcohol, you can rub the liquid into your hands and let them air dry, then you'll have effectively sanitized them.
"The bottom line is that alcohol is the active ingredient" in hand sanitizer, she said.
To make the experience a little gentler on your skin, you can moisturize after the alcohol has dried. You can also add a few drops of aloe vera to the rubbing alcohol, but make sure the liquid is over 60% alcohol so that the aloe doesn't dilute it too much.
"If you drop below 60%, the effectiveness drops very dramatically," Wahrman said.
OregonLive recommends mixing two-thirds of a cup of 91% isopropyl alcohol with one-third of a cup of aloe vera. You can also add eight to 10 drops of scented oil if you want to smell nice.
Ideally, you can forgo the hand sanitizer and just wash your hands thoroughly and frequently. Handwashing, which removes germs from your skin, remains the best way to protect against the coronavirus and other pathogens.
Hand sanitizer, by contrast, kills most germs but doesn't remove them from your skin, Wahrman said.
"Handwashing is the most important first step, and you shouldn't be bashful about it," she said.
Alcohol is also the key ingredient in disinfecting wipes
To make your own disinfecting wipes, simply take a paper towel or tissue, dab it in rubbing alcohol (or any type of solution that is at least 60% alcohol), and wipe down whatever surface you'd like to clean.
Even before the coronavirus outbreak, Wahrman did this to her phone daily. She also does it to remote controls when traveling.
After cleaning her phone with an alcohol-moistened tissue, "it looks nice and squeaky clean," she said, adding, "And I know most of the germs I've picked up along the way have been killed and somewhat removed."
All new iPads are now powered by an operating system known as iPadOS. At its core, it's very similar to the iOS software on an iPhone, but contains features exclusive to the iPad.
When installing new software or features, you might need to know what version of iPadOS you have. Luckily, it's easy to find out in just a few taps.
How to find which version of iPadOS you have on your iPad
There's two ways to find your version number.
The first goes through the "About" menu.
1. On your iPad, start the Settings app.
2. Tap "General."
3. Tap "About."
The About page gives you a lot of additional information about your iPad. It lists your iPadOS version along with the iPad's serial number and model number, plus how much storage is available.
The second method goes through the "Software Update" menu.
1. Start the Settings app and tap "General."
2. Tap "Software Update."
3. On the Software Update page, you can see which version of iPadOS is installed and if an update is available. If an update is available, you can tap to install it.
You can also control whether your iPad automatically downloads and installs iPadOS updates here. Tap "Customize Automatic Updates" to change these settings.
Disney CEO Bob Chapek says the decision to debut "Mulan" on Disney Plus as a "Premier Access" title isn't an attempt at a new business model for future movies, according to Variety.
Disney's "Mulan," a live-action reimagining of the Chinese folk hero, will debut on Disney Plus on September 4 as a premium title. A new trailer showcases significant departures from the animated "Mulan" released in 1998, including a new witch character named Xian Lang and choreographed action scenes that exceed the imagination of the original film.
While 1998's "Mulan" was a family comedy with musical numbers and comedic characters, like the talking dragon Mushu voiced by Eddie Murphy, the new film is rated PG-13 and strikes a more serious tone. Also, unlike Disney's recent live-action remakes of "Aladdin" and "The Lion King," the new "Mulan" won't feature any musical performances from the cast.
While the new film doesn't adopt the songs and musical stylings of the original, the soundtrack does feature a new version of the song "Reflection" updated by the original artist, Christina Aguilera. "Reflection" was one of the first singles of Aguilera's career, and she's produced another song called "Loyal Brave True" for the new film's soundtrack as well.
"Mulan" was originally scheduled to hit theaters in March and even had a Hollywood premiere event before the coronavirus pandemic forced theaters around the world to close. Now, the film led by Liu Yifei, Donnie Yen and Jet Li will be available online via Disney Plus, while countries where theaters have re-opened will still have the option for a theatrical release.
"Mulan" isn't the first Disney movie to find its way to Disney Plus after COVID-19 caused theaters across the United States to close, but it's the first to require an additional payment beyond the subscription fee. Pixar's "Onward" was also fast-tracked to Disney Plus in March after its theater run was cut short by the coronavirus. "Artemis Fowl" was scheduled to hit theaters in May but premiered on Disney Plus in June with disappointing reviews.
Marvel's "Black Widow" was due out in May but Disney has yet to reveal its plans for Scarlett Johansson's superhero film. According to Variety, Disney CEO Bob Chapek said the release of "Mulan" on Disney Plus is a special situation, rather than the company adopting a new business model.
Updated on 8/28/2020 by Kevin Webb: Added details about the how the live-action version of "Mulan" is set to differ from the original animated movie, along with new information about the film's soundtrack.
How to watch 'Mulan' on Disney Plus
"Mulan" will be available to stream on Disney Plus starting September 4. To watch, you'll need a monthly or annual Disney Plus subscription, and you'll have to pay the $29.99 premium access fee. With that said, "Mulan" is not a one-time rental. Instead, once purchased, Disney Plus members will continue to have access to "Mulan" for as long as they remain a subscriber.
Streaming via Disney Plus will be the only way to watch "Mulan" since it wont be released in theaters in the United States and it's not yet available on Blu-ray. The movie will eventually be available to all Disney Plus subscribers, but it's unclear how long it will be reserved for Premier Access.
If you're interested in watching Disney's earlier interpretation of the Mulan story, the animated version of "Mulan" is already available on Disney Plus for all subscribers.
What is Disney Plus and how does it work?
Disney Plus is a subscription streaming platform with on-demand access to Disney's iconic library of movies and TV shows. Along with "Mulan," "Toy Story 4," "Frozen 2" and Disney's other latest theater releases, you'll find classic franchises like "Star Wars," "The Simpsons" and Marvel's "Avengers."
A monthly subscription costs $6.99 per month while an annual subscription gives a small discount at $69.99 per year. Those looking for additional streaming content can sign up for a bundle with Disney Plus, ESPN+ and Hulu. The bundle costs $12.99 per month, which is about $5 less per month than it would cost to subscribe to each service separately.
Disney Plus is available to stream on Apple, PC, iOS, and Android devices, Xbox One and PlayStation 4, and streaming devices from Amazon, Roku, and Chromecast. Disney Plus is also supported on smart TVs, including those from Samsung, LG, Sony, and Vizio. An internet connection is necessary to stream, but Disney Plus does provide an option to download movies and shows for offline viewing
All Disney Plus subscriptions include ad-free streaming and unlimited downloads for a growing library of films and TV series. Disney Plus supports up to 4K resolution video on select titles, as well as Dolby Vision HDR and Dolby Atmos audio with applicable devices.
What other brand-new movies can I rent at home?
Disney isn't the only movie studio to make its planned theatrical releases available on streaming services. Universal Studios debuted "Trolls World Tour" as premium rental on multiple services for $20. Following the film's success, Universal announced a new deal to bring future theatrical releases to streaming services less than a month after they reach theaters.
Other studios, like Sony, Lionsgate, Paramount, and Warner Brothers, have also been offering streaming rental or purchase options for select titles that were originally planned for theaters. "In-theater" digital rentals or purchases can be made through a variety of services, including Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV, Vudu, FandangoNow, and Google Play. For more information about digital rentals, check out our guide to streaming rental services.
The Instagram Story link tool is just one way you can spice up your Instagram Story.
The link feature lets you drop a hyperlink directly into your Story, pointing watchers to websites, news articles, videos, and more. To access it, all your followers have to do is swipe up on your Story and they'll be redirected.
The tool is great for media organizations, influencers, and more, who can attract website visitors through links. This is likely why the link tool is restricted to bigger accounts — you need to be verified or have over 10,000 followers.
If you're eligible to add a link, make sure it works after publishing by opening your Story and swiping up. Stories and their links erase after 24 hours, but if you want to publish a longer-lasting or permanent link with the Story, make the Story a highlight.
For those ready and able to add a link to their Story, here's how to do it.
2. Tap the blue plus sign (+) located on your profile photo.
3. Take a photo or upload one for your Story.
4. In the top menu, tap the chain link icon that appears. (If your account isn't Instagram-verified or you don't have 10,000 followers, you won't be able to see or use this feature).
5. Open a new tab on your phone's preferred web browser and go to the site you want to link in your Story.
6. Copy the site URL then re-open the Instagram app.
7. Paste the URL into the Story link box.
8. Tap Done in the upper right corner to finalize your Story.
9. Tap Your Story to publish and share your link with your followers.
Since 2007, Apple has released over two dozen models of the iPhone. If you've had yours for a while, you might have forgotten which model you even have.
That's not a problem, though, because it's easy to find out in your iPhone's Settings app.
3. If your iPhone is running iOS 12.2 or later, you should see the model name listed on the third line.
If you have an older iPhone that can't upgrade to iOS 12.2, you'll have to do a little more sleuthing. You won't see an entry for the model name, but you will have a model number.
However, don't just trust the code listed next to "model number." For whatever reason, Apple doesn't actually list the model number by default — that's the SKU code, which won't help you here.
Instead, tap that SKU code, and it'll be replaced by your actual model number. This is a shorter code that starts with an "A." This is the model number of your iPhone, and you can easily use this to look up your model name.
Understanding iPhone model numbers
Using the model number from Settings, you can find out which iPhone model you have. Apple describes every model name and number on its support pages, but here's a summary that's much easier to browse:
Right-wing news outlets, a social media mob, and public relations firms hired by Uber and Lyft are playing a role in the tech firms' attempt to keep paying drivers as contractors, per a CNET report.
Uber, Lyft, Postmates, DoorDash, and Instacart created and funded Proposition 22 to be exempt from AB5, a California law passed in late 2019 that forces them to pay gig workers as employees.
The report comes as the companies ramp up efforts to push Prop 22 past the finish line in the upcoming November election.
"This effort is an attempt to exploit workers who are without any labor protection, which is what the California Supreme Court and the legislature are concerned about. These companies are trying to muddy the waters," Stanford law professor William Gould told Business Insider.
Uber and Lyft have reportedly aggressively ramped up efforts to promote Proposition 22, a controversial ballot measure in California that would let the firms continue paying drivers as contractors, not full-time employees.
Per a Friday report from CNET's Dara Kerr, the makers of the measure — Uber, Lyft, DoorDash, Instacart, and Postmates — have poured at least $100 million into their Yes on Proposition 22 campaign and have hired 18 public relations firms, three of which have a track record of working for Republican candidates and conservative causes, for opposition research, social media management, and other tasks.
Conservative news outlets and ardent online opponents to Assembly Bill 5 — the law passed in September that forced Uber and Lyft to pay their drivers as employees — are also contributing to get Prop 22 over the finish line. And as one expert told the outlet, the PR firms are resorting to what seems to be "targeted harassment as a service" to get the job done. Many list social media as part of their skill set, per the report.
"It's clearly a coordinated campaign," William Fitzgerald with the strategic advocacy firm The Worker Agency told CNET. "What Uber is doing now with this is way further than anything I've seen. It's a totally different ballgame."
Uber and Lyft did not immediately respond to Business Insider's request for comment.
Online users have propagated the false claim on social media that a University of California Hastings law professor named Veena Dubal authored AB5, per the report. Dubal is an outspoken supporter of the law, but the author is actually Assemblywoman Lorena Gonzalez. Dubal told the outlet that she's been subjected to social media harassment, and a Twitter user posted Dubal's home address online in late March. One of the PR firms also submitted a public records request to access Dubal's email communication with labor activists and unions.
Conservative news sites like Communities Digital News and RedState have written articles decrying AB5 and have incorrectly cited Dubal as the author of the law, per the report. Communities Digital News writer Jennifer Oliver O'Connell and RedState Deputy Managing Editor Jennifer Van Laar have taken part in speaking out against both Dubal and Gonzalez online along with the rest of the anti-AB5 community. A Yes on Proposition 22 campaign spokesperson told CNET that it hasn't paid or supported the outlets and their writers in their anti-AB5 reportage.
There's also a growing online network of Facebook groups and pages, websites, Twitter and Instagram accounts, and YouTube channels trained on condemning AB5, per the report.
University of Utah assistant professor Marshal Steinbaum co-wrote a letter to Congress that states how Uber and Lyft drivers should be classified as employees. Steinbaum told CNET that he's been fielding social media jabs as well from anti-AB5 activists, a community that he referred to as "a cultivated troll army."
'These companies are trying to muddy the waters'
Uber and Lyft have pushed back hard on AB5, which would dole out a serious blow to business models built around paying drivers as contractors. Doing so has allowed them to skirt hefty labor costs, and some drivers have accused the firms of exploiting them to save a buck, as Business Insider's Tyler Sonnemaker reported. Upgrading them to employee status could add up to 30% in labor fees, according to the San Francisco Chronicle.
The firms maintain that drivers enjoy the flexibility they have to work when and how they please, a freedom that they say is stripped by AB5. Uber and Lyft — along with DoorDash, Postmates, and Instacart — created Proposition 22 as a means to exempt themselves from the gig work law.
"This effort is an attempt to exploit workers who are without any labor protection, which is what the California Supreme Court and the legislature are concerned about," Stanford law professor William Gould told Business Insider. "These companies are trying to muddy the waters."
AB5 impacted not just ride-sharing drivers but independent contractors across the news, trucking, and other sectors. Although the law was designed so that employers would hire more contractors as employees, some freelancers in various industries pushed back on AB5. Freelance journalists, for example, claimed their careers would suffer since AB5 capped the number of submissions they could send to editors at 35 per outlet. Subsequent amendments have been made since then, including one that is currently in the works, AB 1850, that would exempt news professionals.
A group of freelancers has also formed online to advocate for the repeal of AB5, referring to themselves as the "Lollipop Guild," according to the CNET report. The lollipop reference likely harkens back to a May hearing for an AB5 amendment during which Democratic State Sen. Hannah-Beth Jackson said, "I appreciate the frustration people have. It's kind of taking away the lollipop that they had, the ability to decide essentially when they worked."
Gonzalez, the California assemblywoman who penned AB5, has admitted herself that the law wasn't perfect when it passed last September, according to CNET. And Gould similarly told Business Insider that he doesn't "think this legislation is perfect by any means."
"They made a great effort, but they didn't really provide all these exemptions," Gould said.
Uber and Lyft are now fighting tooth and nail for an exemption. But Gould said Uber and Lyft's money and connections have given them an advantage, helping them stay fairly unregulated.
"It stands to reason that some of these companies have very deep pockets and they are able to spend — you see all the propaganda they put together," Gould said.
Californians will vote on Prop 22 in the November election.
Neuralink, the neural tech company founded by Elon Musk in 2016, is holding a public demo of its much-hyped brain-machine interface technology on Friday in a livestreamed event.
Neuralink is working on an AI-powered "brain chip" connected to wires which fan out into the human brain, capable of both recording brain activity and stimulating it.
It's unclear what exactly Neuralink will reveal on Friday, but Musk tweeted earlier this week that the broadcast will include a live demo of a "working device," and he has previously made ambitious claims that the technology could enable human "symbiosis with artificial intelligence."
Scientists are impressed by some components of Neuralink's design and its potential to help people with people with neural conditions and disorders, but they've expressed skepticism about just how much it has advanced the decades-old field.
STAT News also recently reported that, ahead of the demo, some former employees have described internal chaos, tight deadlines, and a strategy that's "immature at times."
Elon Musk's neural tech company, Neuralink, is set to hold a live demo on Friday of its much-hyped AI-powered brain chip.
Neuralink, which Musk co-founded in 2016, has been working on a brain-machine interface that involves a tiny microchip that could, theoretically, be implanted behind a person's ear with tiny threads containing electrodes fanning out into the brain.
The company has not offered details about what exactly it will show off to the public on Friday, but Musk tweeted earlier this week that the demo would feature a "working Neuralink device."
During a Q&A session at a live presentation in July 2019, Musk surprised his Neuralink colleagues by announcing that the firm had tested its technology on monkeys with some success, though the company has yet to produce any evidence supporting that claim.
Musk has even wilder ambitions for Neuralink, claiming that, in addition to treating neural conditions such as Parkinson's, he hopes the chip could one day facilitate a "symbiosis" between humans and AI.
While scientists have expressed skepticism about many claims from Musk and the company, they have been impressed with some of the company's breakthroughs, most notably the "sewing machine" it developed to insert ultra-thin wires into the brain.
STAT News also reported earlier this week that several former Neuralink researchers expressed concerns about a chaotic culture within the company characterized by a clash between tight deadlines and the slower pace typical of scientific research.
They told STAT that the company is using tech's favored "move fast and break things" approach to building a medical device, and that "the strategy is very immature at times."
Microsoft Windows – the operating system running on most of the world's computers – is a vast and complex program made up of about 50 million lines of code.
It's packed with features you use every day along with less common tools you rarely need, and you probably keep one hand on the mouse to make use of its countless tools. But if you would prefer to keep your hands on the keyboard to type more efficiently, it pays to learn some keyboard shortcuts.
You certainly don't need to master them all, but learning the shortcuts for features you use most often will dramatically improve your speed and efficiency every time you sit in front of the PC.
Here are the top 43 keyboard shortcuts for Microsoft Windows. You can use this list for reference, and if you need a more detailed explanation of a shortcut, scroll down.
Navigating in Windows
Open the Start menu: Win
Open the right-click Start button menu: Win + X
Search: Win + S
Open Settings: Win + I
Open the Action Center: Win + A
Open File Explorer: Win + E
Open the Game Bar: Win + G
Open the Run window: Win + R
Open the Ease of Access Center: Win + U
Show or hide the desktop: Win + D
Open Task Manager: Ctrl + Shift + Esc
Lock Windows: Win + L
Open Lock Screen: Ctrl + Alt + Del
Talk to Cortana: Win + C
Working with Windows
Snap a window: Win + Left Arrow or Win + Right Arrow
Minimize all open windows: Win + M
Restore minimized windows: Win + Shift + M
Minimize everything except the active window: Win + Home
Maximize the height of a window: Win + Shift + Up Arrow
Minimize the selected window: Win + Down Arrow
Close the current window: Alt + F4
Working with apps
Cycle through apps in the taskbar: Win + T
Cycle through open apps: Alt + Tab
Switch to an app on taskbar: Win + [number]
Right-click an app on the taskbar: Win + Alt + [number]
Working with virtual desktops
Open the Task View: Win + Tab
Add a new virtual desktop: Win + Ctrl + D
Switch to the next virtual desktop: Win + Ctrl + Right Arrow or Win + Ctrl + Left Arrow
Taking screenshots
Screenshot the entire desktop: PrtScn
Screenshot the selected window: Alt + PrtScn
Save a screenshot of the desktop: Win + PrtScn
Essential shortcuts
Select All: Ctrl + A
Copy: Ctrl + C
Cut: Ctrl + X
Paste: Ctrl + V
Undo: Ctrl + Z
Redo: Ctrl + Y
Close: Ctrl + W
Delete immediately: Shift + Delete
Cycle through options: Tab or Shift Tab
Rename a file or folder: F2
Windows 10 help online: Win + F1
Refresh: F5
Windows keyboard shortcuts explained
If you find that the purpose or use of a keyboard shortcut listed above isn't obvious, refer to it below in this expanded list for more information.
Navigating in Windows
Open the Start menu: Press the Windows key. You can also press Ctrl + Esc.
Open the right-click Start button menu: Press Win + X to open the menu you see when you right-click Start. This is also known as the Quick Link menu.
Search: Press Win + S to put focus in the Start Search box at the bottom left of the taskbar.
Open Settings: Press Win + I to open Settings.
Open the Action Center: Press Win + A to open the Action Center pane on the right side of the screen.
Open File Explorer: Press Win + E to open a File Explorer window. You can open multiple windows this way.
Open the Game Bar: Press Win + G to open the Game Bar and gaming controls.
Open the Run window: Press Win + R to open the Run window for quickly starting programs, opening locations on your computer, and more.
Open the Ease of Access Center: Press Win + U to open the Ease of Access section of the Settings app.
Show or hide the desktop: Press Win + D to minimize all windows and show the full desktop. Press it again to restore the windows – but you can only restore windows automatically if you do it right away.
Open Task Manager: Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open the Task Manager.
Lock Windows: Press Win + L to instantly lock Windows.
Open Lock Screen: Press Ctrl + Alt + Del to open the lock screen, which provides multiple options for locking Windows or switching user accounts.
Talk to Cortana: Press Win + C to put Cortana in "listening" mode (if Cortana is enabled).
Working with Windows
Snap a window: Press Win + Left Arrow to snap the active window to the left half of the screen. Press Win + Right Arrow to snap it to the right half of the screen. You can also press either shortcut repeatedly to cycle through all the window position options.
Minimize all open windows: Press Win + M to minimize all windows and reveal the desktop.
Restore minimized windows: Press Win + Shift + M to restore all windows, if you do it right after pressing Win + M.
Minimize everything except the active window: Press Win + Home to minimize all windows except the active one. Press it again to restore all windows.
Maximize the height of a window: Press Win + Shift + Up Arrow to make the active window as tall as the desktop without changing its width.
Minimize the selected window: Press Win + Down Arrow to minimize the selected window. It's like the opposite of Win + Home.
Close the current window: Press Alt + F4 to close the current window or program. You might be asked if you want to save your work before the window closes.
Working with apps
Cycle through open apps: Press Alt + Tab to see all the open apps. Press Alt + Tab repeatedly to cycle through the options.
Cycle through apps in the taskbar: Press Win + T repeatedly to cycle through the apps in the taskbar. When you reach the app, you want to run or expand, release the keys and press Enter. To cancel, press Esc.
Switch to an app on the taskbar: To open or expand a particular app in the taskbar without cycling through them, press Win and the number that represents where the app is in the taskbar. For example, if you want to open a web browser, which is the first entry on the left side of the taskbar, press Win + 1.
Right-click an app on the taskbar: To open the right-click context menu for a particular app in the taskbar, press Win + Alt and the number representing where the app is in the taskbar.
Working with virtual desktops
Open the Task View: Press Win + Tab to open the Task View that shows your available virtual desktops and your app timeline.
Add a new virtual desktop: Press Win + Ctrl + D to create a new virtual desktop.
Switch to the next virtual desktop: Press Win + Ctrl + Right Arrow to cycle through all virtual desktops in the order they appear at the top of the Task View. You can also press Win + Ctrl + Left Arrow to cycle through them in the opposite order.
Taking screenshots
Screenshot the entire desktop: Press PrtScn, which you can usually find in the top row of your keyboard, to capture a screenshot of the whole desktop. It is copied to the clipboard.
Screenshot the selected window: Press Alt + PrtScn (look for this key in the top row of your keyboard) to capture a screenshot of the active window. It is copied to the clipboard.
Save a screenshot of the desktop: Press Win + PrtScn (look for this key in the top row of your keyboard) to capture a screenshot of the entire desktop. It is automatically saved to the Screenshots folder in Pictures.
Essential shortcuts
Select All: Press Ctrl + A to select all the items in the current folder or location.
Copy: Press Ctrl + C to copy the selected items or content to the clipboard.
Cut: Press Ctrl + X to cut the selected items or content and place them in the clipboard.
Paste: Press Ctrl + V to paste the clipboard contents to the current location.
Undo: Undo the last action you took by pressing Ctrl + Z.
Redo: Press Ctrl + Y to perform the last thing you did again if it's possible. If Windows can't redo the previous action, nothing will happen.
Close: Press Ctrl + W to close the current window (it's the same as Alt + F4). You might be asked if you want to save your work before the window closes.
Delete immediately: Press Shift + Delete to delete the current item right away, without going to the Recycle Bin first. If you delete a file or folder this way, it cannot be undone or recovered.
Cycle through options: Press Tab repeatedly to cycle through a list of options. You can press Shift Tab to cycle through in the opposite direction.
Rename a file or folder: Press F2 to edit the name of a selected file or folder.
Windows 10 help online: Press Win + F1 to open a web browser to the Windows 10 help and support page.
Refresh: Press F5 to reload or refresh a web page.
The heavy favorites to win the Tour de France, which starts Saturday, are Egan Bernal of Team Ineos Grenadiers and Primož Roglič of Team Jumbo-Visma.
No one's really talking about the underdog American team EF Pro Cycling winning the race, but it could surprise, just as it's done by winning nearly every big race in the sport.
EF team boss Jonathan Vaughters spoke with Business Insider from Nice, France, on Thursday about how his guys hope to upset the top favorites — and why you won't be seeing them at the front of the peloton very much.
Everyone's talking about two riders from two teams winning the Tour de France, which starts on Saturday: Egan Bernal, of Colombia, who rides for the Ineos Grenadiers team, and Primož Roglič, of Slovenia, who leads the Jumbo-Visma squad.
No one's really talking about the American EF Pro Cycling team winning the three-week race. But the boys in pink could surprise. They tend to do that kind of thing.
Like in 2017, when no one was talking about Colombian climber Rigoberto Urán. He won a big mountain stage and finished second overall in Paris, after handing Britain's four-time champ Chris Froome his narrowest winning margin of 54 seconds.
There was the 2012 Giro d'Italia, when no one was talking about the Canadian all-rounder Ryder Hesjedal, who won the race dramatically on the final stage by 16 seconds.
Just two weeks ago the team upset the favorites again, snagging the weeklong Tour tuneup Critérium du Dauphine, thanks to the tenacious up-and-coming Colombian climber Dani Martínez.
In February, the team won the Tour Colombia, too, with Sergio Higuita taking the win on his native soil, beating defending Tour de France champ and compatriot Bernal in the process.
Beyond stage races, the team has executed its share of stealthy coups in the greatest one-day classics, as recently as last year at the Tour of Flanders, the biggest race in cycling-mad Belgium, with the Italian all-rounder Alberto Bettiol.
There was also Paris-Roubaix in 2011, with the Belgian Johan Vansummeren slipping away to victory on a flat tire, shocking just about everyone.
And don't forget Irishman Dan Martin's no-luck-needed triumphs at Liège-Bastogne-Liège in 2013 and Giro di Lombardia in 2014.
In nearly all those races, and through its all various iterations, the team now called EF Pro Cycling has been the underdog, a moniker EF team boss Jonathan Vaughters seems to relish.
For years he's had to work with a budget that's a fraction of that of Ineos and some other top WorldTour teams, à la "Moneyball." Think $20 million versus $50 million. He has scouted talented young riders in Colombia and elsewhere, signing guys who showed promise but were undervalued.
So you can count EF out of landing a top result, but don't be surprised if they do just that.
The man in charge told us how that might happen.
"For us the ideal situation is exactly what happened in the Dauphine," Vaughters told Business Insider by phone on Thursday night, referring to the team's upset win this month. "We're not going to be able to overpower the race, like Ineos or Jumbo. That's not going to be our place in the race.
"But I do see ourselves, especially after the Dauphine, as the darkest of dark horses, where we're sort of like the solid dark-horse contender. What we have to do is wait for those two teams to exhaust themselves, like pounding on each other, and then take advantage of that situation. That's where we fit in.
"I'll say it right now, like, for all you television viewers out there waiting for our team, or who are going to comment on my Twitter feed saying, 'Why aren't your riders pulling on the front to protect your leaders?!' I'm going to give you a big spoiler: 'We're not going to be doing that.'
"One, because that's not the best tactic for us to win the race. And two, because we don't have as much horsepower. We're not just going to line up next to Ineos and Jumbo and pull on the front. And guess what? That has risks and rewards. Our riders might get caught up in more crashes because they're going to be farther back in the peloton. They might end up in a crash where they lose time or actually crash out of the race. It happens.
"But if we're talking about how to win the race — how does EF win the Tour de France — trying to match Ineos and Jumbo is a bad plan. We might keep our riders safer, but have no gas left when it's time to go. At the Dauphine, our team was not very visible. We were not right on the front very often like those teams were. We were 40 guys back. And that's where we're going to be in the Tour as well.
"That chance we have of winning the race is saving for a few crucial moments and then exploiting the opportunities when they arise, in those few crucial moments. So our objective is David and Goliath, to create a major upset that no one is expecting, and that probably no one even believes can happen.
"It's almost like I'm waiting for the comment section to say, like, 'Oh my God! This guy's out of his mind!' You know? It's like — perfect! Keep saying that. That's what we want.
While there's no single leader or "protected rider" on his Tour squad, Vaughters said, the three Colombian climbing "banditos" — Urán, Higuita, and Martínez — will look for opportunities in the mountains.
That could mean stage wins. Or something bigger — like a step on the podium in Paris.
The three have a great rapport, Vaughters said, with the veteran Urán a sort of paternal figure to the two up-and-comers. They listen and learn from the 2017 Tour runner-up.
Supporting these fast climbers in this climbing-heavy Tour are Bettiol, Britain's Hugh Carthy, Belgian Jens Keukeleire, and two Americans: Tour rookie Neilson Powless and nine-time Tour rider Tejay van Garderen.
With the dynamic trio stalking the big teams in the high mountains, surprises, and upsets, could follow.
If you'd like to upload a video to Vimeo, here's how.
How to upload a video to Vimeo on desktop
1. On Vimeo's homepage, click "New Video" in the top-right corner.
2. From the drop-down list, select "Upload."
3. Choose your privacy settings and select what video you want to upload from your computer or cloud service, and then follow the on-screen instructions.
4. While your video is uploading, fill in the title, description, and other necessary fields. When you're finished, scroll down and click "Save."
5. Once the video has finished uploading, you can click the thumbnail image to view it, share it, and more.
How to upload a video to Vimeo in the mobile app
1. Open the Vimeo app and tap the plus icon at the bottom of the home screen.
2. Choose the video you want to upload from your phone's camera roll.
3. If you'd like to trim or edit your video in any way, do so and then tap "Done" in the top-right corner. If you don't, do nothing and tap "Skip."
4. Fill in the information section and choose your privacy settings, then tap "Upload" in the top-right corner to finish.
When you take part in a Webex meeting, you can share your screen with the other attendees – anyone can "take control" of the meeting and share content. Of course, only one person can share at a time, so if you start sharing, Webex will disable the previous presenter automatically.
No matter how you are joined to a Webex meeting – from the Windows or Mac desktop app, a web page, or mobile app – the process to share is almost identical, though the controls vary somewhat once you are sharing.
While a meeting is taking place, tap the "Share" button at the bottom of the screen. Most of the time, you should be able to see the "Share" symbol (a U with an upward arrow) to the right of the "Start Video" button. If you don't see it, tap the three-dot menu to see more options and you will find it there.
Choose the kind of content you want to share. The first option should be to share the screen. If that's what you want, tap it. Otherwise, you can browse the other share options, such as a specific app or browser window, or even a whiteboard you can draw and write on. On the mobile app, you'll also have the option to share photos from your camera roll.
The sharing experience varies depending upon what device or app you are using to share:
Windows or Mac desktop app: When you start sharing, you'll find a menu at the top of the screen. You can click "Share" to change the kind of content you are sharing. Click "Pause" to freeze the view that other participants see, or "Stop Sharing" to disable the screen share.
Browser: While you're sharing, you can click the "Share" button to view or hide a pop-up that displays a preview image of your shared content. Click "Stop sharing" to end the sharing session.
Mobile app: While you're sharing your screen, you may leave the Webex app to show content from other apps. To stop sharing, tap the red time display at the top left of the screen and then tap "Stop." You can then return to the Webex app and tap any blank part of the screen to return to the meeting.
Vimeo is an online video platform, like YouTube, that allows users to upload and share videos with people worldwide.
While the platforms share a lot in common, one of the most significant differences between them is their privacy settings. You can set a video private on YouTube, making it so only people with a direct link can view it.
But with Vimeo, you have a few more options. It's easy to change your video's privacy settings so that only you can see it, but you can also password protect your video, granting access to the small group of people you've shared it with. That's a feature YouTube doesn't have.
But turning a video to private or password protecting it isn't always enough. When you're looking for a more permanent solution for managing your videos, you can also delete them altogether. Here's how to do it on Vimeo.
You can download a Webex recording of a video meeting whether you have a paid account or a free account.
To download a meeting stored in the cloud, go to the Webex web page and click the "Recordings" icon in the navigation pane on the left.
If you've made local recordings to your computer (which you can do with a free account), they will be saved to whatever location you selected when you started the recording.
As the host of a Webex meeting, you can record the session for reference or to share it with other participants later.
You can make two kinds of recordings: local recordings on your computer, or recordings that are stored in the cloud on Cisco's servers for you. You can find either kind of recording in just a few clicks.
Be aware, though, that you can only make cloud recordings with a paid subscription to Webex. Otherwise, you can only make local recordings.
How to download a Webex recording from the cloud
If you made a cloud recording with your paid subscription, you can locate and download it from the Webex website.
1. Open the Webex website in a browser and log in if you're not already.
2. In the navigation pane on the left side of the webpage, click the "Recordings" icon. It's the round circle just above the gear-shaped "Preferences" icon.
3. Find the recording you want and click "Download." Then, specify where on your computer you want to save the file.
How to find local Webex recordings
You can also make local recordings of your Webex meetings. If you are using a free account, this is your only option, in fact.
When you record a meeting, Webex opens a folder dialog to let you choose where it will save the recording. After the meeting is over and recording is completed, it will generally take Webex a few minutes to process and save the file, but this is where you can find it.
Vimeo is a video platform, much like YouTube, that allows users to watch and share videos with each other online.
Compared to YouTube, which offers every video under the sun, Vimeo's library tends to be more polished and professional — so it's not hard to find a Vimeo video you might want to share with others.
Embedding a Vimeo video is a simple way to share that video with users of another site. When you put the embedded video on your site, users can view it directly from your page, instead of having to go to Vimeo.
Before you embed videos, note that not every video can be embedded anywhere. Premium Vimeo users can pick and choose where their their videos can be embedded — that might not include your favorite sites.
These users can also choose what they want their videos to look like when embedded. So not every embedded video will look the same.
1. Go to Vimeo, and find the video you want to embed. There, click the "Share" button on the right side of the video — it looks like a paper airplane.
2. At the bottom of the pop-up that opens, you'll see an "Embed" header, underneath which is the embed code. You can copy this code right away, or click "Show Options" to the right of the "Embed" header.
If you click "Show Options," you'll be able to choose how you want the embed to appear and function on your site. Whenever you make a change here, you'll have to re-copy the code.
3. Go to the site you want to embed the video onto, and paste the code into the appropriate spot. Depending on which site it is, and how the site is built, the way you do this will differ.
Mark Zuckerberg said Facebook should have taken down the page and event listing promoting a militia group that called for armed citizens to defend Kenosha, Wisconsin, amid ongoing protests there.
The event listing was removed after 17-year-old Kyle Rittenhouse was accused of opening fire in Kenosha on Tuesday, killing two people. He's been charged with first-degree intentional homicide.
Zuckerberg said there was no evidence to show Rittenhouse was following the event page or was invited to the event that called for armed citizens to "protect" the city.
The event was flagged to Facebook at least 455 times after it was created, BuzzFeed reported.
Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg said the social-media network was slow to remove a listing that encouraged armed civilians to go defend Kenosha, Wisconsin.
The event, titled: "Armed Citizens to Protect Our Lives and Property," and the page, "Kenosha Guard," were removed after two people were killed in a shooting there on Tuesday.
On Thursday more charges, including first-degree reckless homicide, and first-degree reckless endangerment were filed against Rittenhouse by the Kenosha County district attorney, Michael Graveley.
"He came in from Illinois with a long rifle and was able to just walk the streets, freely, like that's something normal we should just come to expect," Barnes said.
In the video posted on Friday, Zuckerberg said that the page and the event violated the company's policies and should have been removed sooner.
However, he also said there was no evidence to show that Rittenhouse was following that page or was invited to the event that called for armed citizens to "protect" the city.
I spoke to Facebook employees at our weekly company Q&A about what’s happening in Kenosha and wanted to share.
BuzzFeed reported that the event was flagged to Facebook at least 455 times after it was created. The outlet said it reviewed a copy of an internal report that showed four moderators cleared the event and labeled it as "nonviolating."
"To put that number into perspective," a Facebook worker said in an internal memo about user reports concerning the event page, "it made up 66% of all event reports that day."
In a statement to Business Insider, a Facebook spokesperson said: "We launched this policy last week and we're still scaling up our enforcement of it by a team of specialists on our Dangerous Organizations team."
Zuckerberg said the issue wasn't picked up until a second round of reviews.
"The contractors, the reviewers who the initial complaints were funneled to, didn't, basically, didn't pick this up," Zuckerberg said. "And on second review, doing it more sensitively, the team that's responsible for dangerous organizations recognized that this violated the policies and we took it down."
The Facebook CEO didn't specify whether any of the reviewers were reprimanded for not removing the event or the page.
Protests in Kenosha began after the Sunday police shooting of Jacob Blake, a 29-year-old Black man. His injuries have left him paralyzed from the waist down, his father said on Tuesday. Protests eventually erupted in cities all across the US reigniting a conversation about police brutality and racism.