After locking up Khris Davis on a three-year extension in April, the Athletics have continued to look into long-term deals with some of their key players. The A's have approached Marcus Semien on multiple occasions about an extension, though Semien tells Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle that there haven't been any recent talks between the two sides. Beyond Semien, Slusser notes that the A's have also explored multiyear contracts with Matt Chapman and Matt Olson . This isn't the first time we've heard about Oakland's interest in keeping any of these players, and it seems likely that negotiations will continue on an on-and-off basis for some time to come. Both Chapman and Olson are controlled through the 2023 season, and while Semien can be a free agent after the 2020 season, it could be that talks with the shortstop simply paused once the season began, as most players prefer to save contractual business for the offseason. Both Chapman and his agent, Scott Boras, recently discussed the possibility of an extension with Slusser in separate editions of the "A's Plus" podcast. Boras, as you might expect, took a slightly more bottom-line approach, noting that discussions with the A's carry something of an extra hurdle. "Oakland is in a place where they have a lot of promise that requires definition, that requires sureties that they're going to have a stadium," Boras said. Nonetheless, the agent also said that "We keep our ears open and listen and talk to ownership regularly about" a long-term deal between Chapman and the team. For his part, Chapman wants a deal that "has to be fair for both sides," though he reiterated his desire to remain in Oakland over the long term. "I do want to be a part of this team and I would love to be extended and play a long time….Hopefully, we can get something done," the third baseman said. The Davis contract represented Oakland's first extension in quite some time , as the team focused on something of a rebuild on the fly to amass a new group of talent. After the 2017 season, however, Billy Beane said the A's would now start to look at identifying and then extending the true core members of the roster going forward.


The weather report shows more hot temperatures are in store for Plano, due to last through Sunday, according to drone-powered weather forecasting service Saildrone . Temperatures will reach 91 degrees today and 97 on Tuesday. The immediate forecast also has partly cloudy skies in store for today. Skies will become mostly cloudy beginning on Tuesday. Winds are expected to reach a modest high of 14 mph on Tuesday and continue to be in the teens through Saturday. This story was created automatically using Saildrone's local weather forecast data, then reviewed by an editor. We also incorporate historic weather data from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). Click here for more about what we're doing. Got thoughts? Go here to share your feedback.


Curious just how far your dollar goes in Detroit? We've rounded up the latest places for rent via rental sites Zumper and Apartment Guide to get a sense of what to expect when it comes to hunting down affordable apartments in Detroit if you've got $1,100/month earmarked for your rent. Take a look at the listings, below. (Note: Prices and availability are subject to change.) Hoodline offers data-driven analysis of local happenings and trends across cities. Links included in this article may earn Hoodline a commission on clicks and transactions. 18065 Ilene St. Listed at $1,050/month, this 1,275-square-foot three-bedroom, one-and-a-half-bathroom residence is located at 18065 Ilene St. The unit has hardwood flooring and a fireplace. Building amenities include garage parking and outdoor space. Cats and dogs are not welcome. Expect a $100 administrative fee. According to Walk Score's assessment, the area around this address is somewhat walkable, is fairly bikeable and has a few nearby public transportation options. (Take a look at the complete listing here .) 2072 Wabash St. (Millenium Village) Next, there's this one-bedroom, one-bathroom apartment located at 2072 Wabash St. It's listed for $1,075/month. Building amenities include additional storage space and a residents lounge. The listing also promises hardwood flooring in the unit. Pets are not welcome. The rental doesn't require a leasing fee. According to Walk Score's assessment, the surrounding area is moderately walkable, is great for biking and has a few nearby public transportation options. (Take a gander at the complete listing here .) 458 Marquette Drive (Marina District) Finally, check out this 1,100-square-foot two-bedroom, one-bathroom abode that's located at 458 Marquette Drive. It's listed for $1,100/month. The building features assigned parking. You can also expect in-unit laundry and hardwood flooring in the residence. For those with furry friends in tow, this property is pet-friendly. There's no leasing fee required for this rental. Per Walk Score ratings, the surrounding area is car-dependent, isn't particularly bikeable and has some transit options. (See the complete listing here .) Working with a tight budget? Here are the cheapest rentals recently listed in Detroit . This story was created automatically using local real estate data from Zumper and Apartment Guide , then reviewed by an editor. Click here for more about what we're doing. Got thoughts? Go here to share your feedback.


The LEO position is a critical component of the Pete Carroll defenses that have been so successful for the Seattle Seahawks over the last decade. The player asked to play at that spot - located on the weak side edge - is tasked with stopping the run, rushing the quarterback and, on occasion, dropping back into pass coverage. It's a daunting role, but one that has been played exceptionally well by both Cliff Avril and Frank Clark in recent years. And now, with Avril medically retired and Clark sitting on a big bag of money in Kansas City , the job will fall to veteran Ezekiel Ansah, whom Seattle recently signed . Ansah's ability to perform in the LEO role is NFL.com writer Gennaro Filice's biggest burning question about the Seahawks heading into training camp and, eventually, the 2019 season. Ansah is coming off a shoulder injury that could limit him all the way up until the season starts , which certainly makes this question loom even larger. The Seahawks did add pass rusher L.J. Collier with their first-round pick in the 2019 NFL draft, but he is expected to fill more of a Michael Bennett type role on the defensive line. Ansah is no question the guy at LEO next season, assuming he is healthy. And while he has 48 career sacks and a Pro Bowl berth to his name, Ansah will need to prove not only that he is healthy, but that he can handle the versatility and athleticism necessary to thrive in Seattle's defensive scheme. His ability to do so will be a big hinge in Seattle's defense taking that necessary step forward in 2019. MORE: This flying-knee KO just 10 seconds into a PFL fight had the MMA world in awe Great News: Jimmy Butler Wants to be a Laker Spurs' DeMar DeRozan 'possibly could be on the trade block' to Lakers Packers DC Mike Pettine 'very encouraged' by OLB room Jon Gruden ready for Raiders, new WR corps to stretch the field


Curious just how far your dollar goes in Lakeview? According to Walk Score, this Chicago neighborhood is friendly for those on foot, is quite bikeable and offers many nearby public transportation options. Data from rental site Zumper shows that the median rent for a one bedroom in Lake View is currently hovering around $1,480. So, what might you expect to find if you've got a budget of $1,100 / month? Read on for a roundup of the latest rental offerings, via Zumper and Apartment Guide . (Note: prices and availability are subject to change.) Hoodline offers data-driven analysis of local happenings and trends across cities. Links included in this article may earn Hoodline a commission on clicks and transactions. 1243 W. Newport Ave. First, there's this one-bedroom, one-bathroom apartment situated at 1243 W. Newport Ave. It's listed for $1,100/month. The building offers storage space and secured entry. Pet owners, take heed: cats and dogs are allowed. (See the complete listing here .) 3917 N. Southport Ave., #1W Here's a studio apartment at 3917 N. Southport Ave., #1W that's going for $1,095/month. The building boasts on-site laundry. In the unit, you'll get hardwood floors. If you've got a pet, you'll be happy to learn that cats and dogs are welcome. (Take a look at the full listing here .) 3932 N. Greenview Ave. Next, check out this 700-square-foot studio that's located at 3932 N. Greenview Ave. It's also listed for $1,095/month. In the unit, you'll have a walk-in closet, high ceilings, stainless steel appliances and granite countertops. Both cats and dogs are allowed. Storage space and on-site laundry are listed as building amenities. Future tenants needn't worry about a leasing fee. (See the complete listing here .) 816 W. Waveland Ave., #23 Listed at $1,070/month, this studio apartment is located at 816 W. Waveland Ave., #23. When it comes to building amenities, anticipate on-site laundry. In the apartment, you can anticipate hardwood floors and a dishwasher. Pet lovers are in luck: cats and dogs are permitted. (Check out the complete listing here .) This story was created automatically using local real estate data, then reviewed by an editor. Click here for more about what we're doing. Got thoughts? Go here to share your feedback.


Read on for the most recent top news you may have missed in Denver. Protesters remove U.S. flag, raise Mexican flag at ICE facility Police say they will review video to help them identify protesters who trespassed and pulled down the American flag in front of an immigration detention center in suburban Denver. Read the full story on FOX26 . Man dies from lightning strike on Bear Peak A man died and his wife was injured after being struck by lightning while hiking on the popular Bear Peak trail in Boulder County on Sunday afternoon. Read the full story on 9NEWS . Fire crews find 15-foot pet snake in car Firefighters found a snake crawling out of its owner's vehicle while the driver was passed out in Green Valley Ranch. Read the full story on CBS Denver . No immigration raids as of Sunday Nationwide sweeps on immigrants with deportation orders were expected to start in 10 cities Sunday, including Denver. Read the full story on Denver Post . This story was created automatically using data about news stories on social media from CrowdTangle , then reviewed by an editor. Click here for more about what we're doing. Got thoughts? Go here to share your feedback.


Sugar in all its forms not only adds pounds to your frame, but research shows it boosts your risk of cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes it may even increase your risk for some cancers, too. Sugar addiction is no joke brains can rewire themselves to crave sugar, and you can end up withdrawal symptoms when you don't get enough of the sweet stuff. "Sugar addiction is a measurable, physiological phenomenon many people suffer from," says Ken Berry, MD, author of Lies My Doctor Told Me . "Far too many doctors and dietitians deny its existence, which is very unfortunate. Sugar addiction makes it very difficult for many people to make the dietary improvements needed to improve their health." You hide your sugar habit Some people with a sugar addiction may recognize they're eating too much, but instead of finding ways to cut back, they hide it. "Making excuses or making deals with yourself concerning sweets and desserts is a definite sign of sugar addiction," Dr. Berry says. "No one hides broccoli in their closet; if you hide sweets, or sneak to eat them, you have a sugar addiction." You need more and more to satisfy the craving As with many addictive behaviors or substances, your tolerance to sweets may build over time. "A sign of sugar addiction is the need for more to satisfy the craving," says Erin Akey FNC, KNS, a nutritionist and chef. "At first, one scoop of ice cream does the trick, but as you become more addicted you need more and more to get a fix. If you need reasons to cut back, here are 11 scary things sugar does to your body. You eat sugar even when you're not hungry Stuffed after a big meal but you still have room for a big slice of cake? "The number one sign you have an addiction is that you're turning to sugar when you're not physically hungry," says Lisa Rachel Snyder, intuitive eating coach and founder of the Beautiful Badass Method . You always crave sweets "After a sugar binge, your blood sugar will fall because insulin shoves all that sugar into the cells to prevent sugar damage," explains Carolyn Dean, MD, ND, a health, diet, and nutrition expert and author of Hormone Balance , The Magnesium Miracle , and The Complete Natural Medicine Guide to Women's Health . "That fall causes low blood sugar and more cravings." Watch out for these sneaky sources of sugar. You crave salty foods "Cravings for salty foods are one sign that your body is not getting the nutrition that it needs. This is surprisingly common among those who are addicted to sugary foods, as these people are often deficient in key nutrients," says Lisa Richards, a nutritionist and creator of the Candida Diet . "If you find yourself regularly eating sugary snacks, you're probably not eating enough of the healthy proteins and fats that your body needs. Cravings for salty and savory foods are one way that your body might be telling you to take a break from the sugar and eat something more nutritious. "The inverse is true too," she adds. "If you eat too much salty food, you might find yourself craving sugary foods or simple carbohydrates. The key is balance eating foods that are rich in the micronutrients and macronutrients that your body needs to function and thrive." You try to quit and have unusual symptoms Sugar addiction can be both a behavioral addiction you get used to eating sugar after meals or at certain times of the day and it can also be a chemical addiction. When you quit or interrupt your normal schedule, your body may show signs of distress or withdrawal. "Quitting sugar too abruptly can cause your body to have withdrawal symptoms," says Adam Kadela, founder of Dexafit . "Some of the most common sugar addiction symptoms may include headaches, lethargy or feeling tired, cravings, muscle pain, nausea, gas and bloating, and even insomnia. In most cases, these symptoms intensify after 24 hours. The best way to give up sugar is slowly, by cutting back a little at a time." You use sugar to soothe If you're craving something sweet after a break-up, sad movie, or a bad day, watch out. "A psychological symptom of a sugar addiction is when individuals continuously turn to sugar as a means to cope with life stressors, boredom, or other psychological issues such as depression or anxiety," says Lin Anderson, LMHC, M.A., Ed.M and Aaron Sternlicht, LMHC, CASAC, licensed therapists specializing in addiction at their private practice Family Addiction Specialist . "Indulging in sugar to acquire such emotional relief is extremely unhealthy, as it does not allow the individual to feel their emotions or deal with them properly." And one recent study suggests it doesn't even boost your mood. You know the potential consequences and eat sugar anyway It's a bad sign "if you eat sugar and junk food compulsively, even though you realize the negative consequences," Dan DeFigio, author of Beating Sugar Addiction For Dummies . Here are just some of the ways sugar is making you sick . You go out of your way to get sugar If you're making special late night trips to the gas station to pick up a pint of ice cream, you should take a hard look at your priorities, according to the Addiction Center . This is a clear sign your need for sugar is spinning out of control. You have feelings of guilt about eating sugar Feelings of guilt about eating any food may be a sign of an eating disorder. If you feel shame about your sugar habit, you may want to discuss this with your doctor or a therapist. Watch for these silent signs that you could have an eating disorder . Every product is independently selected by our editors. If you buy something through our links, we may earn an affiliate commission. Related video: How to Break A Sugar Addiction [via NBC News]


CHICAGO   Follow the end of the rainbow to Chicago's "Boystown" neighborhood! More than a dozen crosswalks on North Halsted Street between Bradley Place and Melrose Avenue were repainted rainbow colors to celebrate Pride Month in June. Several city leaders including Ald. Tom Tunney, 44th Ward, were on hand for Thursday's crosswalk dedication ceremony. The crosswalks were all paid for by the Northalsted Business Alliance, the area's chamber of commerce, the Chicago Tribune reports. Chicago's Pride Fest June 22 and 23 and the parade is on June 30.     ©2019 WGN-TV, Chicago Visit WGN-TV, Chicago at www.wgntv.com Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.


Walt Disney's (DIS) release of "The Lion King" this weekend is expected to crack $150 million in U.S. box office revenue, with some estimates calling for $180 million . While Disney's stock is up nearly 30% year to date, Tigress Financial's Ivan Feinseth still sees room for upside. Return To Pride Rock Directed by John Favreau, the new version of "The Lion King" is scheduled for release Friday. The film uses photorealistic computer-generated animation to recreate the classic "Lion King" of 1994. That movie originally grossed $766 million in worldwide box office sales, which at the time made it the second-highest-grossing movie of all time. "The expected success of the new 'Lion King' also preempted other studios from competing against it so the movie will open in the U.S. with very little competition," Feinseth said. Disney aims to leverage its content by launching its streaming service Disney+ on Nov. 12. Given Disney's massive content library, Feinseth said Disney+ is expected be a strong revenue generator for the company. He added that this will provide increasing competition to Netflix. "I believe when Disney+ launches it will also drive increasing adoption of ESPN+ as well as Hulu and will most likely be offered in some type of package subscription deal," Feinseth said. Related video: Why a 'Lion King' remake? (provided by Bloomberg) Other Catalysts Ahead "Lion King" follows the Favreau-directed "Jungle Book" in 2016, which grossed $966 million in worldwide box office sales. Disney also released live-action updates to "Dumbo" and "Aladdin" earlier this year to varying success. The recent debut of Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge at Disneyland in Anaheim has been successful , and the company is expected to introduce this at the Orlando Disney World in August. Disney has recorded massive box office gains in recent years, led by this year's record-breaking "Avengers: End Game." The company has a busy calendar of movies, including "Star Wars Episode IX: The Rise of Skywalker," which is scheduled for release in December. Disney's stock closed Thursday's session at $141.63 per share. Related: Analysts Weigh In On Netflix's Rocky Quarter Analysts Marvel At Disney's Box Office Potential This Year Latest Ratings for DIS Date Firm Action From To Jun 2019 Downgrades Outperform In-Line Jun 2019 Maintains Overweight May 2019 Maintains Buy View More Analyst Ratings for DIS View the Latest Analyst Ratings © 2019 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.


The most successful rookie manager in major league history was Ralph Houk . He took over the 1961 Yankees and won 109 games before beating the Cincinnati Reds in five games to win the World Series. Houk and the Yankees won 13 fewer games in 1962 but won the Series again. That's the path Alex Cora is trying to follow with the Red Sox, following up unprecedented success with another championship. Houk had Mickey Mantle , Whitey Ford , and Roger Maris . Cora has Mookie Betts , J.D. Martinez , and Chris Sale but also such pressures as free agency, controversial visits to the White House, and finding new ways to motivate athletes already making millions. Terry Francona felt that the job of managing the Red Sox became more difficult after he won the 2004 championship because of the burden of maintaining that success. Cora joined the 2005 Red Sox in a July trade, so he understands what Francona felt. But that has not been his experience this season. "Not yet," Cora said during a one-on-one conversation during the last road trip. "Nothing has changed. Obviously it hasn't been the greatest of starts. But then you look at the standings you're like, 'If we feel this bad and we're in striking distance, we must be in a good spot.' "My glass is always half-full. Everybody knows we haven't played great and we're still pretty close." The Sox have essentially the same players as they did a year ago outside of relievers Craig Kimbrel and Joe Kelly . But it's a different team because every group develops its own personality. "Not that there are distractions. But it's a different year for some of them," Cora said. "Free agency is part of it. We had a lot of that going on in spring training." The Red Sox signed Sale and Xander Bogaerts to extensions. But Rick Porcello , Mitch Moreland , and Brock Holt will be free agents after the season with Martinez having that option in his contract. Betts and Jackie Bradley Jr. become free agents after the 2020 season. "They don't know what the big picture holds and that's part of the equation," Cora said. "Last season almost everybody was clean. There was no other stuff on their plate. "It's something you have to talk about but you have to be realistic about it. I know where they're at. But the way I see it, if you perform the way you should and always do, that's going to take care of itself and we'll benefit from it as a team." Cora is also dealing with his own fame, something that wasn't much of an issue during his playing career. "Honestly, if I had to do it again in the offseason, I'd have said no to more stuff," he said. "I watch television and when that stuff comes on about me, I find it a little bit embarrassing, the documentaries and all that. "It's great. People got to know my family and my mom   she stole the show in some of them. But sometimes it's like, ugh, I just turn off the TV. I don't want to see myself. "I'm trying to keep it as simple as possible. It's not about me. In the end my job is to put these guys in a position to be successful with the help of the coaching staff, and they don't get enough credit. So far, we haven't got there. But little by little we're getting there. It's the same routine as last year." Cora has been more cognizant of his time since the season started, turning down requests and refusing some personal appearances and endorsement opportunities. "Back home [in Puerto Rico] I did a few things," he said. "But it got to a point where it was too much." Cora has successfully kept his family life the same as last season, creating a little haven away from the ballpark. Where he lives in Boston, there are neighborhood restaurants where he can eat in peace. "They don't push too hard," he said. The success of the Patriots and Bruins has helped, too. The focus has been off the Sox for long periods of time, although that is about to change. "People turn the page on their team right away now," Cora said. "It wasn't easy what we did last year, even with all the talent we had. I don't want to say it was World Series or bust. But we were going to be judged by October, which I think is fair." Cora disagrees with the idea that the Sox cruised last season, pointing to some of the challenges they faced. He believes that will benefit the team this season. The American League has changed, too. "Although the expectations are there, there are other teams that people have identified as being able to get to the World Series, Houston and the Yankees, because of what they did in the offseason," Cora said. "For us, it's a different motivation. Last year, it was something we almost had to do. This year we want to prove people wrong. Even though it's the same group, you find a different way to motivate them." Cora does not believe the White House visit, which split the team along racial lines , was any issue. "Not at all," said the manager, who elected not to attend. "That didn't divide us as a group at all. I thought, on a personal level, that I was going to hear it at the stadium or whatever, but that never happened." The media environment around the team has changed. The success last season left little room for criticism, not that much was deserved. That has changed with the Sox in third place and the team's decision to not use a traditional closer. Cora, while uncommonly media savvy compared to most other major league managers, hasn't had it as smooth this time around. He made a remark in New York last week that his sisters know more about baseball than some people who cover it. That may well be true, but it wasn't something he would have said last season. "I'm not annoyed," Cora said. "But I try to be as real as possible and now people are taking it too black and white. I'm like, 'Come on. If you didn't learn from me in a year then whatever.' But as I've said, it's a different season. "I am who I am. If you don't know who I am, how can we do this? It's nothing personal but sometimes I feel it's funny." Just how much his life has changed became clear during the offseason when ESPN sent a crew to Puerto Rico to delve into Cora's background. As they filmed at his home in Caguas, a neighbor started cutting his grass and the producer asked Cora if he would mind asking the man to postpone his yard work. "I was like, 'No, no, no, no, no.' But they asked him and he was great about it. But for me it was awkward. Stuff like that; it's not for me. But it has happened. You have to roll with it." The 1962 Yankees, for all their talent, were four games out of first place in June and it wasn't until July that they moved into first place and stayed there. They figured it out and Cora thinks the Sox will, too. "We're going to get it going. We haven't played our best," he said. "This is still a good team and I like our players. It'll get there." SUMMER READING Lineup of books strong this year Father's Day is next Sunday. But you shouldn't need that excuse to buy a good baseball book for your pops or anybody else. Here are seven suggestions with the full disclosure that I personally know several of the authors. ■ "One Base at a Time" by Dave Mellor . You are likely familiar with Mellor because he has been the Red Sox senior director of grounds for the last 18 years and keeps the field at Fenway looking so beautiful. What you may not know is that he was once a promising young pitcher who was struck by a car and seriously injured. Then it happened again after he became a groundskeeper. Mellor's book details his battles with PTSD and how he overcame his physical and psychological injuries with the help of his family and his loyal service dog, Drago. Mellor is one of the most positive and uplifting people I've come across in baseball and his story will inspire you. ■ "Son of Havana" by Luis Tiant with Saul Wisnia   The story of Tiant's journey from Cuba and the obstacles he encountered along the way reads like a movie script. El Tiante is a true baseball original and even his most faithful fans will learn something new about his life. ■ "K: A History of Baseball in Ten Pitches" by Tyler Kepner   Almost everything in baseball hinges on the pitcher standing on the mound with a ball in his hand. Kepner tells the game's story in a unique way by examining the most popular pitches through knowledge gained from more than 300 interviews, including Bob Gibson , Steve Carlton , Nolan Ryan , Mariano Rivera , and Clayton Kershaw . You'll be a smarter fan after reading this book. ■ "Full Count: The Education of a Pitcher" by David Cone and Jack Curry   This book serves as Cone's memoir but it reads like a manual of what it takes to succeed on the mound. Cone pitched 17 years in the majors and has plenty of great stories to tell. Cone is on every baseball writer's list of enjoyable interviews and you'll learn why reading what he has to say. ■ "Mission 27: A New Boss, A New Ballpark, and One Last Ring for the Yankees' Core Four" by Mark Feinsand and Bryan Hoch   This look back at the 2009 World Series champion Yankees features several Red Sox-centric anecdotes, including how much Mark Teixeira wanted to play in Boston before the deal got blown up, and Johnny Damon declining a chance to return to the Sox. ■ "The MVP Machine: How Baseball's New Nonconformists Are Using Data to Build Better Players" by Ben Lindbergh and Travis Sawchik   The use of data in player development is a relatively new field with advances happening quickly. Lindberg and Sawchik are able to explain a complicated process in an entertaining way. ■ "Unwritten: Bat Flips, the Fun Police and Baseball's New Future" by Danny Knobler   Act like you've been there before and read this book about the unwritten rules of baseball and how the game is rapidly changing. ETC. Dodgers sporting five-star rotation Cody Bellinger is having an MVP-type season for the Dodgers. But it's the rotation that has them running away with the National League West. The starters were 31-8 with a 2.81 ERA and a 0.99 WHIP through 63 games. In Walker Buehler , Rich Hill , Clayton Kershaw , Kenta Maeda , and Hyun-Jin Ryu , the Dodgers go five deep and have capable backups in Ross Stripling and Julio Urias . Both are overqualified for the relief roles they're in. "They're legitimately six or seven deep. Who else can say that?" a scout said. "They have so many options. I haven't seen Ryu break 93 [m.p.h.], but he's been so good with how he works the strike zone." Take the Dodgers out and National League starters have a 4.33 ERA. The challenge for manager Dave Roberts will be keeping the group healthy and deciding who drops into the bullpen for the postseason. There's no obvious choice at this point and that's true depth. Extra bases With Dustin Pedroia back home in Arizona contemplating whether   or more likely when   to officially end his playing career , Jackie Bradley Jr. is the longest-tenured player on the Red Sox roster. He made his debut with the Sox on April 1, 2013. But the player with the most experience with the Sox is Xander Bogaerts . At 26, he has already played more than 800 games with the team . . . Through Friday, Tampa Bay pitchers had allowed two or fewer runs 29 times. The Red Sox had done that only 15 times. What the Rays are accomplishing with their use of the opener is only going to get more popular. The Yankees have done it twice this season with Chad Green . Wouldn't the Red Sox be better off with an extra reliever in their bullpen to use as an opener   followed by somebody such as Mike Shawaryn for three innings   instead of giving starts to journeymen such as Ryan Weber or Josh Smith ? . . . The one who got away from Boston, Adrian Beltre , was scheduled to have his No. 29 retired by the Texas Rangers on Saturday . . . In a Double A game on Tuesday, Yankees prospect Matt Lipka bunted with one out in the ninth inning to break up a no-hitter by Hartford. Naturally, benches cleared after the game. But I side with Lipka on this one. It was only 3-0 and it was a combined no-hitter with four pitchers. His job is to get on base whether that offends anybody or not . . . Only Alaska, Montana, New Hampshire, North Dakota, Vermont, and Wyoming didn't have a player selected in the amateur draft. There were 180 from California. Vermont hasn't had a major leaguer since 2014 when Daric Barton (Springfield) last played. New Hampshire had pitchers Ian Hamilton (Dover) and Murphy Smith (Nashua) in the big leagues last year . . . Roger Clemens will be inducted into the Pawtucket Red Sox Hall of Fame on June 21 before the game against Indianapolis . . . Congratulations to Ashley and Chad Jennings on the birth of their son, Jude , last Saturday. Chad covers the Sox for The Athletic . . . Happy birthday to World Series champion Joe Kelly , who is 31. Kelly was with the Sox from 2014-19 and was much better as a reliever (3.31 ERA in 141 games) than as a starter (5.00 ERA in 41 games). He also parlayed a strong postseason performance last fall into a three-year, $25 million deal with the Dodgers that so far has not worked out well at all. Kelly had a 7.91 ERA and 1.81 WHIP in his first 20 appearances. Peter Abraham can be reached at pabraham@globe.com . Follow him on Twitter @PeteAbe . Related slideshow: The 2019 MLB season (Provided by imagn)


Cole Custer used a final-lap pass to seal victory in the NASCAR Xfinity Series on Saturday afternoon, surpassing Tyler Reddick in an overtime finish at Pocono Raceway for his third win of the season. Custer started from the pole and led a race-high 58 of the 103 laps in the Pocono Green 250. His Stewart-Haas Racing No. 00 Ford dipped low when Reddick bobbled in the final turn and was .226 seconds ahead at the checkered flag, clinching his first victory at the 2.5-mile track and the fifth win of his Xfinity Series career. RELATED: Race results | At-track photos Chase Briscoe, Custer's SHR teammate, finished just behind Reddick in third place. Ryan Preece took fourth with Christopher Bell completing the top five finishers. Reddick, the series points leader, started near the rear of the field after his Richard Childress Racing crew made a pre-race transmission change in his No. 2 Chevrolet. He quickly rallied, charging into the top five by the completion of Lap 11. Reddick stayed in contention, finishing third and second at the stage breaks, with only a Lap 79 penalty for an outside tire violation briefly slowing his promising run. He took the lead on the final restart and led at the drop of the white flag, but faltered on the final turn with the checkers about to unfurl. Bell recovered after a Lap 17 spin in his Joe Gibbs Racing No. 20 Toyota, an incident where he escaped with minor contact with the outside retaining wall exiting the first turn. Pit strategy helped him regain track position and he grabbed the lead shortly after the start of Stage 2. MORE: Bell continues after spin Brandon Jones, a JGR teammate of Bell's, was less fortunate when he found trouble in Turn 1. Jones lost control of his No. 19 Toyota, which sustained heavy damage after clouting the barrier. He finished last in the 38-car field, credited with completing just six laps. MORE: Severe impact sidelines Brandon Jones Justin Allgaier led 27 laps and won Stage 2 in the JR Motorsports No. 7 Chevrolet. He overshot his pit stall on a late pit stop, then recovered from a late-race spin to finish 11th. The Xfinity Series' next race is the LTi Printing 250, scheduled for next Saturday (1:30 p.m. ET, FS1, MRN, SiriusXM) at Michigan International Speedway. This story will be updated. ]]>


Make your paint job last longer with these pro tips Pick the right paint Stumped by the wide variety of paints on the store shelf? You're not alone. Whether you're out to paint your whole house or simply touch up the back fence, selecting the best exterior paint or stain for the job can be confusing. No one type of paint or stain is best for all surfaces, especially on the exterior where it takes a beating from the weather. We'll list the common exterior painting tasks and then recommend the best exterior paint or finish for the job. But keep in mind that certain materials or weather conditions may warrant different choices, especially when painting over old coatings. Talk to the staff at a local full-service paint store for additional advice. Bare wood Primers fill the pores in wood and form a good adhesion base for topcoats. They're lightly pigmented to help the topcoats cover better. Here's more on how to pick primers and how to use primer. Oil-based (alkyd) primers are the old favorite, but high-quality acrylic latex primers are now available and a popular choice of many pros. Both work well. In either case, be sure to buy a quality product and spread it to the proper thickness. Better primers are more expensive. Read the directions on the label to determine the ideal application thickness. A common mistake is applying it too thinly, like a wash, rather than as a regular coat. When priming cedar or redwood, use an alkyd primer or a stain-blocking acrylic latex primer. Cedar and redwood have water-soluble tannins in their heartwood that, when moist, will leach out and "bleed" through the topcoats, leaving dark, ugly stains. Alkyds and stain-blocking acrylics bind the tannins and hold them in the primer. Buy a brand from a dealer who will guarantee the product's performance. Knots can also bleed through the topcoats. To prevent this problem, double-prime them. First prime just the knots with the alkyd or stain-blocking acrylic primer or pigmented shellac (such as BIN). Let the primer dry, and then prime the entire wood surface. TIP: Choose your paint first, then read the label and buy the primer recommended by the manufacturer. Some paints perform best when used with the same brand of primer. Fences In this category, we're including any smooth or rough surface wood that's fully exposed to the weather, like exterior railings, gazebos and arbors. The trade-offs between paints and stains are the same for fences as for decks (see "Decks," below). Film-forming finishes like paint and solid stains last longer and have stronger colors, but will inevitably peel and require more effort to renew. Semi-transparent oil stains won't last as long. However, if you apply them properly, they don't form a film, so they won't peel and they're easier to recoat when they weather and fade. Make sure you know these paint pre trick before you star your next paint job. Smooth siding Acrylic latex resists the corrosive effects of sunlight better than oil-based paint. It lasts longer too. The labels on latex paints can be confusing. Top grades will say 100 percent acrylic latex to distinguish them from other types like acrylic latex or vinyl acrylic latex, which usually cost less and don't perform as well. Siding paint has a flat, non-reflective finish, so your house won't shine like a brand new automobile. In addition, flat paint hides chips, dents and other siding imperfections; higher-sheen paints highlight them. "Eggshell" paint has also become popular. It has a flat appearance too, but also a smoother, easy-to-clean surface. The few extra dollars spent for high-quality paint will pay off. High-quality paints have a higher volume of better pigments for more thorough coverage and better resins for superior adhesion. They also contain additives that make the paint brush out smoother without dripping or sagging. All these factors save time and money in the long run. Latex paints are more temperature sensitive than oil-based paints. Unless the label says otherwise, avoid using latex paints in temperatures below 50 degrees F or in direct sunlight, which can cause them to dry too fast. Here's how to make your paint job last longer. Smooth trim Painting trim involves a lot of time-consuming prep work and brush work, so choose a premium paint for the longest-lasting protection gloss or semigloss 100 percent acrylic latex. They're more durable than flat latex because they have a higher resin content. The additional resin also delivers that glossy sheen, but because the trim covers a relatively small area, the shine isn't prominent. Some painters prefer oil-based trim paints because they have slightly higher initial gloss and brush out smoother. However, they'll dull and fade within a few years if the sun hits them. Glossy paints highlight surface flaws, so if your trim is worn, stick to the semigloss or even a satin sheen in highly visible areas. TIP: If the old coat is oil-based, you can paint latex over it. However, you must sand the old surface to ensure good adhesion. Check out the painting tools the pros use. Porch Paint for floors and stair treads Exterior wood floors that are exposed to rain and sun always take a beating. Foot traffic wears away the finish. And the simple fact that paint slows the drying process once the wood gets wet will compound the problem by encouraging rot. No protective coating will be low-maintenance. A specially formulated exterior floor and porch paint usually works best. Floor deck paints usually contain harder resins to withstand abrasion. (Some manufacturers also call this paint an enamel, which simply means that it has a high resin content for maximum adhesion.) Still, expect to scrape and renew peeling areas every few years. TIP: One way to extend paint life is to prime all sides of the flooring before laying it. These paints will be glossy, and sometimes slippery when wet. Gritty additives can provide good traction in the short run but may soon wear off in high-traffic areas. We're applying a non-skid surface coat that contains grit. Look for anti-slip paint at full-service paint stores. Try these tips on painting your outdoor furniture to color coordinate. New hardboard or cementboard Hardboard has a factory-applied finish, and each brand has specific painting instructions. Painting methods vary, so read those instructions. Usually a primer and two coats of 100 percent acrylic latex will do the job. Think about your paint colors after looking at the 19 most popular exterior paint colors. TIP: Prime well any cut ends and nailheads driven through the surface. Hardboard can deteriorate where the raw fiber is exposed. Rough siding Semi-transparent oil stains work best. They soak into the rough fiber and protect the wood from weathering, but they don't form a surface film and therefore won't peel. They contain enough pigment to color the wood and partially shield it from the sun, but not so much as to hide the texture and grain. Weathering, especially sunlight, causes stains to break down, erode and fade. They typically last only three to six years on the sunny side of the house. But renewal requires only a thorough cleaning and recoating. Solid stains contain more pigment and deliver stronger colors. They'll often last a year or two longer than semi-transparent oil stains. However, they tend to form a thin film and often peel, requiring more time-consuming prep work before you can apply a new coat. This is especially true of solid acrylic latex stains. Semi-transparent stains that contain a combination of oil-based resins in a water solution also perform well. Paint usually doesn't adhere well to rough wood, and it's tough to scrape and sand off loose paint once peeling begins. So avoid using film-forming finishes like paint and varnish. Do you know the paint color that will increase your home's value $6,000? Decks To slow rot and other deterioration and keep the deck paints in good condition with the least effort, simply apply a water repellent preservative every year or two. If the deck wood is damp much of the year, clean it and kill the mildew every few years with a deck cleaner (sold at home centers). For a more attractive appearance, apply a semi-transparent oil stain. Use lighter stains for deck boards; heavier pigmented types show wear faster and are more difficult to renew. You'll have to strip the deck paints and renew the stain every two to four years. Clear exterior finishes, intended to preserve the natural color of the wood, will last only a year or two before they peel and the wood begins to turn gray. Check out these 14 seriously cool deck add-ons you'll want for your deck. Concrete, concrete block, stucco and brick walls Sound and clean concrete, stucco and masonry accept paint well. But beware. Moisture that gets under the surface will eventually cause the paint to peel, especially on horizontal surfaces. And you'll have a tough job scraping and prepping the rough surfaces. For best results on vertical exterior surfaces, select 100 percent acrylics. They breathe, meaning water vapor can move through them, which allows any low level of moisture that gets inside to evaporate without lifting the paint. Avoid oil-based paint because surfaces that contain cement typically are strongly alkaline and can soon shed the paint. If the wall has a lot of small cracks, a better option is often an acrylic elastomeric paint, which is a thicker, more flexible version of regular acrylic paint. But always discuss options and warranties with an experienced paint dealer before trying an elastomeric. It costs about 15 percent more per gallon but has a lower coverage rate. In the end, it'll cost two to three times as much as standard acrylic paint. Concrete stain is a better choice for sprucing up horizontal surfaces. It wears more slowly than paint and is easier to renew. Galvanized steel and aluminum Let new galvanized steel and aluminum weather for six months, or wash the bare surfaces with an all-purpose household cleaner or TSP to remove oily residues. Then apply 100 percent acrylic latex. You won't need a primer. However, if galvanized steel has rust spots, sand off the rust and apply a rust-inhibiting metal primer to those spots first.


Editor's note: The opinions in this article are the author's, as published by our content partner, and do not necessarily represent the views of MSN or Microsoft. (Bloomberg Opinion) -- Iran's decision to scale down its commitments under the 2015 nuclear deal abandoned by President Donald Trump signifies a serious foreign policy failure for the EU and its member states. They have acted too meekly and ineffectively in the face of unilateral U.S. sanctions, and this unnecessary softness may well come back to haunt them as the U.S. use of extraterritorial sanctions expands. Last year, after Trump pulled the U.S. out of the agreement known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, meant to restrict Iran's nuclear program, European leaders refused to follow suit and moved to protect the deal as the U.S. reimposed harsh sanctions on Iran. First, the EU expanded an existing device, the so-called blocking statute, meant to protect European companies against extraterritorial U.S. sanctions. The statute declares it a transgression to comply with the sanctions, nullifies any foreign court decisions based on them and enables European companies to seek compensation in EU courts for any damages arising from them. Then, the EU moved to set up a special purpose vehicle to enable trade with Iran to bypass normal financial channels, which would have exposed such trade to U.S. sanctions enforcement. After months of buck-passing, Instex, the Instrument for Supporting Trade Exchanges, was set up in France at the end of January. These measures were meant to show Iran that Europe was willing to confront the U.S. in order to protect JCPOA. The reason they failed to work is that, as implemented, they amounted to no more than window-dressing. The blocking statute doesn't guarantee European firms any reasonable compensation for potential U.S. fines because European courts' rulings are unenforceable in the U.S. Besides, it's not even implemented , for example, in French national law, which exposes Iran's erstwhile business partners such as oil major Total or the French carmakers to U.S. sanctions without any protection. In any case, the statute provides firms with an easy way out: They don't even have to pay small fines in Europe for complying with U.S. trade restrictions if they can prove to the European Commission that trying to bust the sanctions would result in serious damage to their operations or to EU interests. Most large firms have taken this path. The only time the blocking statute ever helped the EU was back in 1997 and 1998, when the bloc used it as a negotiating tool in hammering out deals with the Clinton Administration that protected European firms from U.S. measures linked to Cuba sanctions. These deals recently have been put into question by the Trump Administration's decision to toughen the Cuba restrictions. And in general, Trump appears to be uninterested in any compromises with European allies when it comes to sanctions that project U.S. policy beyond its borders. They are expected to acquiesce, or else. Instex, for its part, is, for now, merely a mechanism for humanitarian deals permissible under the U.S. sanctions. It avoids money transfers to and from Iran, making it possible instead for Iran's European trading partners to pay each other as they sell or receive goods of equal value from the Islamic Republic. But the U.S. may still go after it for potential anti-money-laundering violations, making it risky for any private company to use. Besides, as my colleague Lionel Laurent noted last week, Instex is yet to start operations. Iran now demands more from the European signatories of the JCPOA and threatens to stop observing uranium enrichment restrictions in 60 days unless they deliver more trade. Not much can be done within that time frame with the EU's current toolbox: It doesn't offer private business substantial protection from U.S. ire. But Europeans can and should work to defang extraterritorial U.S. sanctions. Otherwise the EU, the member states and European multinationals are exposed to the unpredictable vicissitudes of domestic U.S. politics. What if Trump, with his disrespect for allies, gets re-elected in 2020? What if he, or Congress as it tries to tie his hands, pushes through crippling sanctions on China, Russia or Europe's other major trading partners? None of this can be ruled out, and it's possible that the U.S. will choose to act more as Europe's competitor than its friend regardless of who sits in the White House. U.S.-proofing European economic interests is a necessity. That's not a hopeless cause, even if European concerns about a possible trade war with the U.S. make drastic action difficult. For example, the EU is probably right not to exert more pressure on the Brussels-based global financial messaging service, Swift, to scale down its compliance with U.S. sanctions. It could create chaos in the global financial system and lead the U.S. to punish the EU with trade restrictions. Going to such lengths just to make a case against extraterritorial sanctions probably wouldn't be smart. There is, however, something Europe can do: use the U.S. legal system to curb the U.S. government's sanctions ambitions. Sascha Lohmann of the German Institute for International and Security Affairs in Berlin suggested as much in a brief earlier this year. He noted that the U.S. executive branch's increasingly expansive interpretation of the international reach of U.S. sanctions barely has been litigated in U.S. federal courts. Foreign companies charged with sanction-busting choose to make a deal and pay a fine rather than fight such battles. And yet, Lohmann noted, the U.S. Supreme Court recently may have made legal challenges easier by strengthening the so-called presumption against extraterritoriality. The EU could proactively mount legal challenges in the U.S. to the way sanctions legislation is interpreted and enforced. This would, of course, take time   probably too much time for JCPOA to be saved. But at least using the U.S. legal system to challenge executive overreach is not the kind of hostile action that would justify a trade war. It would be respectful enough and at the same time potent enough to at least try to secure Europe's economic interests. Even if the legal challenges fail, the message to Washington will be that U.S. dominance, where it doesn't serve a greater good, will be challenged. Besides, Europe should exhaust its options before contemplating more forceful, and potentially more costly, pushback against the U.S.   and in any case, it'll be better than simply turning the other cheek as the EU has done so far despite all the rhetoric to the contrary. To contact the author of this story: Leonid Bershidsky at lbershidsky@bloomberg.net To contact the editor responsible for this story: Therese Raphael at traphael4@bloomberg.net This column does not necessarily reflect the opinion of the editorial board or Bloomberg LP and its owners. Leonid Bershidsky is Bloomberg Opinion's Europe columnist. He was the founding editor of the Russian business daily Vedomosti and founded the opinion website Slon.ru. For more articles like this, please visit us at bloomberg.com/opinion ©2019 Bloomberg L.P.


The embattled maker of OxyContin is attempting to " cry poverty " to avoid accountability for the company's role in the nation's opioid epidemic, Connecticut Attorney General William Tong said Monday, as the state expanded its lawsuit against Purdue Pharma . Tong filed an amended lawsuit that alleged hundreds of millions of dollars were fraudulently transferred from Purdue Pharma to the Sacklers, the family that controls the company, to evade liability. "Purdue Pharma and the individual former directors of the company vigorously deny the allegations filed today in Connecticut and will continue to defend themselves against these misleading attacks," Purdue Pharma said in a statement in response to the amended complaint. "We believe that no pharmaceutical manufacturer has done more to address the opioid addiction crisis than Purdue, and we continue to work closely with governments and law enforcement agencies on this difficult social issue." The lawsuit seeks to claw back transferred funds and a court order to prevent any additional transfers of money. (MORE: Illinois attorney general sues Oxycontin maker for 'deceptive marketing practices') "We will not allow Purdue Pharma to cry poverty after illegally transferring hundreds of millions of dollars to members of the Sackler family unearned funds these individuals reaped as Connecticut families suffered," Tong said in a statement. Connecticut, along with a number of other states, sued Purdue in December 2018, alleging the company pushed patients toward OxyContin even as opioid addictions skyrocketed. The company recently settled a lawsuit with Oklahoma for $270 million. Illinois' attorney general also filed a lawsuit against the company earlier this month . (MORE: OxyContin maker Purdue Pharma reaches $270 million settlement related to opioid crisis) "Our investigation has left no room for doubt Purdue and the Sacklers ignored all human cost while pushing deadly opioids in blind pursuit of profit," Tong said. Purdue and the Sacklers pushed a false narrative telling doctors that addiction was "not caused by drugs" but instead was the result of "susceptible individuals," the amended complaint said. It also alleged Purdue insisted patients suffered from "pseudoaddiction" caused by inadequate dosage. To treat it, the lawsuit said doctors needed to up the dosage. The company has accused the different states of cherry picking the most damning information from their internal documents. Purdue Pharma did not immediately return ABC News' request for comment on the Connecticut attorney general's amended suit.


Recent tensions between Iran and the West have been taking place near the Strait of Hormuz. Two oil tankers have been attacked, and Tehran has shot down a US drone, as well as seizing and harassing several British oil tankers. The narrow strait is the most important chokepoint for the world's oil supply. Some 21 million barrels - or $1.197 billion worth of oil - pass through the strait every day. Iranian President Hassan Rouhani has threatened to close the strait amid ongoing tensions, which would disrupt global oil supply and send prices shooting up. Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories . Tensions between the West and Iran have bubbled to a historic height in recent weeks, with both sides seeming to goad each other into war and Tehran appearing to isolate itself from the West. A series of maritime scuffles have taken place in the past month alone: President Donald Trump on Thursday said a US warship - USS Boxer - shot down an Iranian drone that came too close to it. (Iran has denied it .) Earlier that day, Iran's paramilitary Revolutionary Guard said it seized a "foreign vessel" in waters south of Iran on Sunday. Images of the seized ship appeared to be the MT Riah, a UAE-based ship that went missing around the same time. Less than 24 hours later, Iran seized two British tanker ships sailing in international waters near Iran. One, the Mesdar, was quickly released, but the other, the Stena Impero, remains in Iranian custody as of Saturday. Last week, the UK government accused Iran's Revolutionary Guard corps of trying - unsuccessfully - to seize a British tanker in the Persian Gulf. Last month, two oil tankers - belonging to Norway in Japan - traveling in the Gulf of Oman were also attacked, and the US accused Iran of being involved. Exactly a week after that, Iran shot down a US drone flying near the same area. What all these incidents have in common is their proximity to the Strait of Hormuz, the narrow body of water linking the Persian Gulf to the Gulf of Oman, which feeds into Arabian Sea and the rest of the world. Why is the Strait of Hormuz important? Though the strait is tiny - at its narrowest point it is just 33 km (21 miles) across - it's a geopolitically and financially crucial chokepoint. It's the world's busiest shipping lane, chiefly because there are limited alternatives to bypass the strait. Most of the oil that passes through the strait come from Saudi Arabia, the US Energy Information Administration (EIA) reported . Some 21 million barrels of crude and refined oil pass through the strait every day, the EIA said, citing 2018 statistics. That's about one-third of the world's sea-traded oil, or $1.17 billion worth of oil a day, at current oil prices . How important is the strait to the US? Shortly after the drone attack, President Donald Trump questioned the US' presence in the region, and called on China, Japan, and other countries to protect their own ships passing through the Strait of Hormuz. Trump noted that much of China and Japan's oil flow through the strait, and added: "So why are we protecting the shipping lanes for other countries (many years) for zero compensation." "We don't even need to be there in that the US has just become (by far) the largest producer of Energy anywhere in the world!" the president tweeted. While a large proportion - 76% - of oil flowing through the chokepoint does end up in Asian countries, the US still imports more than 30 million barrels of oil a month from countries in the Middle East, Business Insider's Alex Lockie reported , citing the EIA. That's about $1.7 billion worth of oil, and 10% of the US's total oil imports per month. How do US-Iran tensions affect it? Ongoing tensions between Iran and the West could result in Tehran shutting down international oil shipments in the strait, as President Hassan Rouhani threatened in late June. "We have always guaranteed the security of this strait," Rouhani said, according to Deutsche Welle . "Do not play with the lion's tail; you will regret it forever." Iran has threatened to close down the strait multiple times in the past, as Business Insider's Christopher Woody pointed out last year. If it were to follow through on its threats, it would likely cause huge disruption to the global oil trade. As the strait is so narrow, any sort of interference in tanker traffic could decrease the world's oil supply, and send prices shooting up. Global oil prices have proven vulnerable to tensions between Iran and the West before. After the Trump administration said in April that it would stop providing sanctions waivers to countries who purchase Iranian oil, prices rose to their highest level since November, Axios noted . And because the US would be affected by global oil prices, regardless of the origin of the oil, Washington would still have an interest in protecting the Strait of Hormuz. Kenneth Vincent, an economist at the Department of Energy, told a 2017 conference , cited by The Atlantic : "The origin of whatever molecules are consumed in the United States does not matter." "What matters is that if there's a shooting war somewhere in the Middle East, those molecules will cost more and that will harm the American economy," he said. The US has recently been trying to get allies' support to help it step up surveillance of shipping lanes on the strait to stop Iran from attacking commercial vessels, Reuters reported , citing unnamed sources familiar with the matter. But the allies have been reluctant to commit new weaponry or forces to the region, an unnamed senior Pentagon official told the news agency. How likely is Iran to shut down the strait? Iran is more likely to disrupt traffic in the Strait of Hormuz than to engage in an all-out conventional war with the US, which is much stronger militarily. But doing so comes with high costs to Iran. To close down the entire strait, Iran would have to place at least 1,000 mines with submarines and surface craft along the chokepoint, security researcher Caitlin Talmadge posited in a 2009 MIT study . Such an effort could take weeks, the study added. Disrupting oil traffic on the strait would also result in oil importers around the world looking beyond the Middle East for their sources, and further reduce reliance on the region. Iran's oil industry is already suffering after the US imposed sanctions designed to stop countries from importing Iranian oil earlier this year. As Michael Knights, a Middle East expert at the Washington Institute think tank, told The Atlantic in May : "They'd be cutting their own throat if they close the strait."


The Boston Celtics could use Marcus Smart right now. The NBA Finals-hopeful team has racked up two straight losses against the top-seeded Milwaukee Bucks, and they are having a hard time stopping Giannis Antetokounmpo and his buddies at the moment. Smart, who has been out since he final game of the regular season with a left oblique tear, is a tenacious defender. He would also add more dynamism on the offensive side of the ball, and could help the Celtics find a way to run on all cylinders instead of just farting around as they often do. The Oklahoma State product had been ruled out for the entirety of the first two rounds of the playoffs, and now Smart is starting to resume basketball activities. According to Celtics coach Brad Stevens, Smart has the potential to practice with the team on Sunday as he tries to get back into a position to play in the postseason. Via Twitter: Brad Stevens says that "all indications" are that Marcus Smart will participate in practice tomorrow, but that because the Celtics will have a practice without much activity in it he'll probably do something either before or afterward.   Tim Bontemps (@TimBontemps) May 4, 2019 These playoffs have been the story of injured players coming back and contributing for their team despite injury. Oklahoma City Thunder star Paul George and his shoulders, Portland Trail Blazers big man Enes Kanter and his left shoulder, Stephen Curry and whatever ails him at the moment, James Harden and his bloody eyes… the list goes on. Getting Smart back on a floor for Boston wouldn't fix everything for the Celtics. Antetokounmpo and the Bucks are still the favorites, and they would be hard to beat even if Boston had Smart back at full strength. But the return of a player like Smart could be both a production and emotional boost, and it's good to see that he is getting back into practice at the very least.


WhatsApp is testing a feature that will allow users to share their Status posts to Facebook and other services, according to The Verge . WhatsApp Status is basically the app's equivalent to Stories, and the new feature would make it possible for users to directly port their Status over to their Story on Facebook. Status content can also be shared to Instagram, Gmail and Google Photos. The feature is available through WhatsApp's beta program. According to The Verge , WhatsApp won't require users to directly link their Facebook account to the chat app in order to port their Status to their Story. Instead, the transfer is made via the data-sharing API used by iOS and Android. While the content will be shared across apps on a person's device, the accounts won't be linked. There is also no option to automatically share a Status to another platform -- users will have to actively choose to share it. Engadget has reached out to Facebook for additional information and will update this story if we hear back. Creating a direct link between WhatsApp and Facebook has been a sensitive subject, as the social networking giant promised it wouldn't start collecting data from the messaging service when it acquired it back in 2014. Then it started doing exactly that just two years later. European countries have frowned upon the company's data sharing practices, with the European Commission fining Facebook for misleading regulators during its acquisition of WhatsApp. The Verge


While many of Outlander 's enthusiastic fans watch the show for its passionate love stories, rich exploration of history, and gorgeous costumes , at its core, the Starz series is rooted in science fiction. Claire Randall's entire life shifts when she travels back in time through the stones at Craigh na Dun , and without that journey, there would be no plot to thwart the Battle of Culloden, no stunning historic clothing, and no steamy sex scenes between Claire and her 18th-century husband, Jamie Fraser. Those stones are pivotal to the Outlander story. Unfortunately for those loyal viewers seeking to see Craigh na Dun in real-life, it's a fictional place, so there's not an exact real life location to plan a trip around. But here are a few places where you can catch a glimpse of the Outlander magic. The scenes where Claire goes through the stones were filmed at Kinloch Rannoch in Perth, near the eastern edge of Loch Rannoch. But don't travel there expecting to see the standing stone circle. For the show, the stones were created out of styrofoam and temporarily placed on site. "We built the stones at our studio. The stones are made out of styrofoam. You could pick them up by yourself," explained showrunner Ronald Moore on the Outlander Podcast . "They were sculpted by an artisan, a craftsman and painted to look like actual stone. And then we hauled them out to the actual location and we planted them in the ground." The look of the stones was rumored to have been inspired by the Callanish Stones, which are located on the Isle of Lewis, but crafting the look of the props perhaps proved simpler than finding a location for the scene. "It took a long time to find the actual location for Craigh Na Dun because it had to fit a lot of masters," Moore explained. "It had to be big enough for all these stones to stand in a circle. It had to be level enough that dancers could actually dance around on it. It had to be on a hill with a bit of a view because we were going to have to climb up to this hill and then run back down it. It wasn't easy to find." If it's just the name you're interested in, there's a Craig Dunain (close, but no cigar) graveyard near Inverness. There is also a standing stone circle known as Clava Cairns near the city where Claire first fell through the stones. For those making a full day of visiting Outlander locations , it is very close to the Culloden battlefield, and open to the public. No plans to travel to Scotland anytime soon? You might be interested to know that stone circles exist in a number of different countries including Ireland, Italy, Somalia, and Ethiopia, among other places. If you prefer the armchair traveler life, season five of Outlander is expected to return to Starz in 2020, but production is already underway. Related video: You Can Live The Hobbit Life In This Themed Home (Provided by Buzz60)


Billionaire Warren Buffett, a vocal opponent of super-PACs, said he cut a $25,000 check to super-PAC Ready for Hillary last year because he didn't know it was one. Ready for Hillary is a group designed to lay the groundwork for a possible Hillary Clinton presidential run in 2016. Some noted Buffet's donation was at odds with his historic opposition to super-PACs. "It's a good one, because I did not know it was a super-PAC. They had a maximum   which was $25,000   I think of super-PACs as these things with hundreds of thousands or millions in them," he told CNN's Poppy Harlow in an interview published online on Thursday. "I did not know it was a super-PAC." "I am not for super-PACs, but it's absolutely true that I contributed $25,000 dollars which I later found out was [to] a super-PAC," he said. In 2012, Buffett he told Harlow he doesn't " like unlimited money in politics." He reiterated his concerns about money in politics this week. "I just don't believe that the election should be decided by the super-rich," he said, before adding that he understood why candidates accepted large contributions from wealthy donors. "You can't blame anybody. If you pour your heart and soul into running for election and your opponent's outspending you, obviously it's very tempting to take a very big check for somebody who has a special interest," he said. Buffett said that he would not personally make any astronomical donations to a Clinton campaign, should it materialize, but that he would help them fundraise   and he said he was as staunch a supporter for the former secretary of state as he had ever been. The Berkshire Hathaway mogul brushed off concerns about Clinton's use of a personal email account while she was serving at the State Department. "I'd like to see your emails, too, Poppy, but there's a curiosity factor," he told Harlow. "What I care about is what she believes in and her ability to get what she believes and turn it into law."


Citywide If you're a fan of the arts, mark your calendars: there's plenty to do when it comes to artsy events in San Francisco this week, from an art opening to a flamenco performance. Hoodline offers data-driven analysis of local happenings and trends across cities. Links included in this article may earn Hoodline a commission on clicks and transactions. 'The Hidden Face' by Anas Etan: Free Opening Reception From the event description: Come join us to experience Anas Etan's artworks, meet the artist and enjoy some snacks and drinks. Through a human/machine dynamic, Anas Etan's work expresses and symbolizes a new global, social and cultural civilization that is mutating with the help of new technologies. When: Friday, Aug. 9, 5-8 p.m. Where: International Art Museum of America, 1023 Market St. Price: Free Click here for more details, and to register 'Four Acts of Light and Wonder' From the event description: Award-winning choreographers Janice Garrett and Charles Moulton return to the Yerba Buena Center for the Arts to present "Four Acts of Light and Wonder," an evening of radiant dance and live music celebrating the irrepressible nature of the human spirit. The production features a stellar cast of more than 40 dancers and musicians and the premiere of three new works. From the fiercely exuberant "Gojubi" to the hauntingly introspective "The Over-Soul," the evening offers a vibrant array of uplifting works that affirm our common humanity and capacity for joy. When: Friday, Aug. 9, 8 p.m. Where: Blue Shield of California Theater at Yerba Buena Center for the Arts, 700 Howard St. Price: $24 (Side Orchestra); $31 (Center Orchestra) Click here for more details, and to get your tickets Uprise West II: Of Rhythm and Light From the event description: Join us for our second edition of Uprise West, this time featuring the work of artists Christina Watka and Katrine Hildebrandt-Hussey. Uprise West is a bi-coastal collaboration offering a platform for artists to cross disciplines, expand their processes and create large-scale installations to reach a diverse audience. When: Saturday, Aug. 10, 7-9 p.m. Where: The Midway, 900 Marin St. Price: Free Click here for more details, and to register Cheaper Than Therapy Stand-up Comedy From the event description: Cheaper Than Therapy offers a healthy dose of live stand-up comedy every Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday, year-round. Located in San Francisco's historic Shelton Theater in the heart of Union Square, Cheaper Than Therapy is convenient to get to, whether you live in the Bay Area or are just visiting. When: Saturday, Aug. 10, 8-9:30 p.m. Where: Cheaper Than Therapy, 533 Sutter St. Price: $20 Click here for more details, and to get your tickets Carolina Lugo and Carolé Acuña's Ballet Flamenco From the event description: Artistic director Carolina Lugo, her daughter Carolé Acuña and their talented company of singers and musicians bring the sultry and sensuous flamenco dance to vibrant life. Their show combines the pulsating sounds of footwork, song, castanets, syncopated hand clapping and guitar for a riveting display of this true Spanish art form. This award-winning ensemble has been providing Bay Area audiences with passionate performances for more than 20 years, bringing artists from Spain and abroad to appear with them. When: Saturday, Aug. 10, 7 p.m. Where: Peña Pachamama, 1630 Powell St. Price: $10.99 Click here for more details, and to get your tickets Parking in San Francisco can be tough, especially during popular events. To find free or cheap parking and to book parking in advance, see this map of San Francisco parking from SpotAngels. And to get there by public transportation, check BART or MUNI for nearby stations and schedules. This story was created automatically using local event data, then reviewed by an editor. Click here for more about what we're doing. Got thoughts? Go here to share your feedback.


Cordarrelle Patterson has made plays as a receiver, running back and kick returner over the course of his career and he made enough of them to convince the Bears to give him a two-year, $10 million contract as a free agent. In return for that money, it sounds like the Bears are going to be asking Patterson to do all of the above and perhaps a little bit more during the 2019 season. Head coach Matt Nagy said there's "not a limit" to what Patterson can do for the Bears. As you'd imagine, that's music to Patterson's ears. He called it "kind of a no-brainer" to sign on to play for Nagy, who put Tarik Cohen in position to make plays across the board last year, and suggested a new nickname to go with his new team. "I'm one of those guys where you'll be like, 'Damn!'" Patterson said, via the Chicago Sun-Times . "You'll see me and you'll just say, 'Damn!' I'm telling you, just call me, 'Damn!' because when I get the ball it's like, 'Damn, he's about to do this.' It's crazy." The Bears have talked about pushing the envelope offensively this year. Having players like Cohen and Patterson on hand plays right into that plan.


Editor's note: The opinions in this article are the author's, as published by our content partner, and do not necessarily represent the views of MSN or Microsoft. Donald Trump is many things: billionaire, businessman, celebrity, president of the United States, and if you take his word for it, the most mistreated man in history. No, really, that's his story, and he's sticking to it. As he moves into the 2020 election campaign, Trump's stage is set. The conclusion of special counsel Robert Mueller's investigation and its indeterminate results have allowed him to capitalize on the commonly held belief that it's just Trump versus the world. In an interview with ABC News's George Stephanopoulos, Trump lambasted Mueller's "witch hunt" and claimed, "There's never been a time in the history of our country when somebody was so mistreated as I have been." Certainly, Trump has faced extraordinary obstacles: congressional pushback and demonizing press coverage, to name a few. But none are exclusive to his presidency. Each one of Trump's predecessors was met with political opposition and rivalry, the cost being stalled agendas, negative attention, and for some, life itself. Abraham Lincoln was one such president. But not even he makes Trump's cut. "Although they do say Abraham Lincoln was treated really badly   I must say that's the one, if you can believe it, Abraham Lincoln was treated supposedly very badly," Trump said. "But nobody's been treated badly like me. And this way I can fight the dishonest media, the corrupt media, the fake news." Lincoln might beg to differ. He inspired such violent opposition that states tried to leave the union upon his election, and then later he became the victim of assassination. So too did Presidents James Garfield, William McKinley, and John F. Kennedy. Ronald Reagan and Teddy Roosevelt survived assassination attempts. That's a bit worse than Trump's treatment. And there are many nonpresidential Americans who have been treated worse than Trump. Take Ohio resident Ricky Jackson, for example, who spent 39 years behind bars for a crime he did not commit . Wrongly accused of murder when he was 19 years old, Jackson narrowly avoided the death penalty, and it wasn't until half of his life had passed him by that he walked free. Negative press coverage is hardly comparable. Yes, the media's coverage of Trump is biased and more often than not unfair. Is it unjust? Maybe. If anything, a combative press is a sign of a healthy republic: Better for the press to rise up and check the government than to roll over and worship its executive. Of course, Trump's appeal to victimhood is an absurd exaggeration and should be treated as such   we know better than to take the man's word literally. But this narrative should draw more than just eye rolls. It serves a strategic purpose: It turns Trump into a martyr, crucified by the establishment, burnt at the stake by a politically correct Inquisition. If today's polarization has taught us anything, it's that victimhood is a cheap commodity until it's politically expedient. Trump's agenda is largely intact, his judicial appointments are successfully reshaping the courts, and his party still controls half of Congress. These many successes are important, but Trump would rather focus on alleged wrongs. Trump's claim to victimhood does a disservice to those whom justice failed. Injustice has many targets, and the president of the United States is not one of them.