<ul class="summary-list"><li>The Flaming Lips performed live from "space bubbles" in January because of the ongoing pandemic.</li><li>About 200 people attended each show, and patrons rocked out inside their own plastic inflated bubbles, too.</li><li>Some <keyword id="6354750" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="health">health</keyword> experts say the bubbles aren't necessarily safe, while others encourage using them.</li></ul><p>Concert-goers punched the tops of their inflated plastic bubbles to the beat of The Flaming Lips last weekend.</p><p>The psych-rock band performed in plastic "space bubbles" on January 22 and 23 in their home state of Oklahoma, <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2021/01/25/arts/music/flaming-lips-bubble-concert.html">The New York Times reported</a>.</p><p>Audience members danced in bubbles, too, to prevent the spread of the <keyword id="1754604" type="PERSON" weightage="60" keywordseo="coronavirus">coronavirus</keyword>. </p><p>"The job of the Flaming Lips is to get you in a room, get you excited, get you to forget about the world's problems and entertain you for an hour," Wayne Coyne, the band's frontman, <a href="https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/wayne-coyne-flaming-lips-space-bubble-concert-covid-19-1078823/">told Rolling Stone</a>. "But if we do that without this pretty radical protection, then we're going to kill you."</p><p><strong><em>Read more: </em></strong><em><a href="https://www.insider.com/what-its-like-working-as-hairstylist-during-coronavirus-pandemic-2020-10">Hairstylists have one of the most dangerous jobs during the pandemic. One NYC stylist shares the drastic changes she's had to make to keep working.</a></em></p><div type="image" title="flaming lips bubble concert" height="1875" width="2500" msid="80490013" hostid="261"></div><h2>The Flaming Lips performed indoors, but everyone was inside a plastic bubble</h2><p>Nathan Poppe, who ran cameras for the event, <a href="https://twitter.com/NathanPoppe/status/1352796697794125824">tweeted</a> that there were 100 bubbles in the crowd with up to three people in each. There were about 200 people at each show, <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2021/01/25/arts/music/flaming-lips-bubble-concert.html">The Times reported</a>.</p><p>In the same thread, Poppe said the bubbles were blown up with leaf blowers, and each one came with a speaker, fan, water bottle, towel, and sign for those needing the restroom.</p><p>Once inside the bubbles, patrons could remove their masks. To leave their bubbles, people had to roll themselves to the exit.</p><p><strong><em>Read more: </em></strong><em><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/coronavirus-risk-by-activity-restaurant-hotel-gym-salon-date-2020-6">How risky daily activities are during the coronavirus pandemic, ranked from safest to most dangerous</a></em></p><div type="image" title="flaming lips bubble concert" height="1875" width="2500" msid="80490014" hostid="261"></div><h2 style="font-weight: 400;"><strong>Some experts aren't so sure that these bubbles are safe</strong></h2><p>Some health experts are wary of the idea of bubble <keyword id="3997287" type="PERSON" weightage="60" keywordseo="concerts">concerts</keyword>.</p><p>"I'd need to see how the air exchange was occurring between the outside and the inside of the bubbles to be able to say if it were safe overall or reduced risk of transmission," Dr. Eric Cioe-Peña, director of global health at Northwell Health, <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2021/01/25/arts/music/flaming-lips-bubble-concert.html">told The New York Times</a>.</p><p>Dr. Sandro Galea, dean of the Boston University School of Public Health, said that preventing the spread of the virus depends on air filtration.</p><p>"In theory, if air filtration is good, protective barriers can helpfully augment and reduce risk of transmission, but I would be hesitant to attend a concert in a bubble at the moment unless this has been assessed further," he told The Times.</p><p><em><strong>Read more:</strong> <a href="https://www.insider.com/second-lockdown-checklist-dos-and-donts-covid-19-coronavirus-2020-11">4 activities you can do safely before a second coronavirus lockdown, and 4 things you should skip</a></em></p><div type="image" title="flaming lips bubble concert" height="1875" width="2500" msid="80490015" hostid="261"></div><h2>Others say space bubble concerts could give people hope and keep them <keyword id="8897280" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="social-distancing">social distancing</keyword></h2><p>If each bubble contains only members of the same household, it could be a good way to keep live <keyword id="6354530" type="CITY" weightage="60" keywordseo="music">music</keyword> going, Joshua Barocas, Assistant Professor of Medicine at Boston University, told Insider. </p><p style="font-weight: 400;">"I think this is an innovative way of allowing people to participate in a normal activity - concert-going - while also doing it in the safest way possible," Barocas said.</p><p style="font-weight: 400;">Barocas said this type of innovation is necessary to keep people motivated to social-distance and wear masks.</p><p style="font-weight: 400;">"People need incentives and people need hope," Barocas said. "Music affords people the opportunity to hope, so if we can find safe ways to let people experience live music or theater or the arts, I encourage it."</p><div type="image" title="flaming lips concert" height="1875" width="2500" msid="80490016" hostid="261"></div><em><strong>Read more:</strong> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/covid-19-safety-risks-of-outdoor-dining-tents-plastic-bubbles-2020-10" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Should you dine in a restaurant tent this winter? It depends on 5 safety factors</a></em>

The Flaming Lips pulled off their first bubble concerts to get around social distancing rules, but health experts question their safety

<p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table float_right click-to-enlarge"><div><div class="image on-image"><a title_source="Leah Millis/Reuters" title_caption="President Trump met with Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey." class="zoomin" href="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/5b1019091ae66219008b495f-960/rtx66vv9.jpg"><span class="sprites click-to-enlarge-icon" title="Click to enlarge"></span></a><p class="source"><span>Leah Millis/Reuters</span></p><p class="caption">President Trump met with Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey.</p></div><p></p></div></div></p><p>Good morning! This is the tech news you need to know this Wednesday.</p><ol><li><strong><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/twitters-ceo-met-with-trump-talked-about-social-media-ahead-2020-election-2019-4?r=US&amp;IR=T">Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey and President Trump met behind closed doors on Tuesday to discuss social media ahead of the 2020 election</a>.</strong> The meeting was held to discuss "the world of social media in general," Trump said in a Twitter post.</li><li><strong><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/president-donald-trump-blasts-twitter-as-discriminatory-on-twitter-2019-4?r=US&amp;IR=T">Trump tweeted on the same day that Twitter is "very discriminatory," and said the social media company removes his followers</a>.</strong> Trump has previously accused social media companies of anti-conservative bias.</li><li><strong><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/teen-sues-apple-1-billion-false-arrest-facial-recognition-2019-4?r=US&amp;IR=T">A teen is suing Apple for $1 billion and claims its facial recognition led to his false arrest</a>.</strong> 18-year-old Ousmane Bah said he was arrested at his home in November and charged with stealing from an Apple Store in Boston.</li><li><strong><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/twitter-q1-2019-earnings-2019-4?r=US&amp;IR=T">Twitter's first-quarter earning beats Wall Street on revenue and profit, but the company is still losing monthly users at a rapid clip</a>.</strong> The company reported net income of $191 million, and earnings per share of $0.25.</li><li><strong><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/snap-q1-earnings-2019-4?r=US&amp;IR=T">Snap beat Wall Streets expectations for Q1 2019. but its user growth stalled</a>.</strong> The company saw $320 million in revenue for the quarter.</li><li><strong><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/tesla-model-s-and-model-x-longer-range-battery-mileage-details-2019-4?r=US&amp;IR=T">Tesla announced improved battery ranges for some Model S and Model X vehicles ahead of first-quarter earnings</a>.</strong> Both vehicles received drivetrain upgrades that Tesla said would improve the battery performance on the long-range version of both cars to 370 miles for the Model S, and 325 miles for the Model X.</li><li><strong><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/tim-cook-apple-fbi-san-bernardino-very-rigged-case-2019-4?r=US&amp;IR=T">Tim Cook said Apple's fight with the FBI in 2016 was a "very rigged case," and he wishes it went to court</a>.</strong> Cook said at the TIME 100 event on Tuesday that privacy has come a long way since Apple opposed the Justice Department's order to assist the FBI in unlocking a terrorist's phone.</li><li><strong><a href="https://markets.businessinsider.com/currencies/news/warren-buffett-softbank-founder-blows-130-million-bitcoin-bet-2019-4-1028130780">A bitcoin bet gone wrong reportedly cost SoftBank founder Masayoshi Son $130 million after he failed to heed Warren Buffett's advice</a>.</strong> "Be fearful when others are greedy and greedy only when others are fearful," said the legendary investor Warren Buffett in 2004.</li><li><strong><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/super-mario-bros-commodore-64-game-shut-down-by-nintendo-2019-4?r=US&amp;IR=T">After a superfan spent seven years re-creating "Super Mario Bros.," Nintendo shut it down</a>.</strong> Nintendo swiftly shut down the project, and issued DMCA takedown notices soon after the re-creation was made available.</li><li><strong><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/tesla-electric-leafblower-elon-musk-twitter-2019-4?r=US&amp;IR=T">Elon Musk says Tesla will develop an "electric leaf blower."</a></strong> Much like the Boring Company's "not-a-flamethrower," electric leaf blowers already exist.</li></ol><p>Have an Amazon Alexa device? Now you can hear 10 Things in Tech each morning. Just search for "Business Insider" in your Alexa's flash briefing settings. You can also <a href="https://newsletter.businessinsider.com/join/free">subscribe to this newsletter</a> here - just tick "10 Things in Tech You Need to Know."</p><p>Want to dive a bit further into the world of private companies? Build out your research toolkit with Crunchbase Pro. <a href="https://about.crunchbase.com/crunchbase-partners-with-markets-insider/?plan=yearly&amp;promo_code=CrunchbaseBIExclusive?utm_source=markets-insider&amp;utm_medium=markets-insider-blog&amp;utm_campaign=announcment-for-biz-partner&amp;utm_content=pro-buy-page&amp;utm_term=cta">Sign up today for 20%</a> off with the code CrunchbaseBIExclusive.</p>    <div class="margin-top">        <h3>NOW WATCH: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/lawsuit-captain-marvel-shazam-superman-comics-dc-superheroes-2019-4">How a $4 million lawsuit created 'Shazam!' and 'Captain Marvel' as we know them today</a></h3>        <div>                    </div>    </div>

10 things in tech you need to know today

<ul class="summary-list"><li><strong>From temporary uses like hanging lights during the holidays or powering tools for a home repair project, to more permanent applications like connecting a floor lamp to that outlet hidden behind the couch, extension cords are a must-have for modern life</strong></li><li><strong>The <a href="https://amzn.to/2WqTWn0" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Coleman 16 Gauge Extension Cord</a> is our top choice because it's durable, flexible, and suitable for just about every application in and around the home.</strong></li></ul><p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Extension cords aren't glamorous. They aren't interesting or exciting, and you probably don't spend much time thinking about them in the course of any given day. But when you need an extension cord - whether to power a leaf blower or saw, to light up the trees and roofline of your property with thousands of festive lights, or to connect the television to an outlet across the room - having the right extension cord is the difference between a quick and easy solution and serious bout of frustration.</span></p><p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The good news is that most well-made extension cords will last for years and years. </span><span style="font-weight: 400;">When considering which is the best extension cord for your needs, think about where you will use it (inside at home, inside at work, outside in a static placement, or outside moving around during use), when you will use it (for winter holiday lights, fall leaf blowing, or summer weed trimming, e.g.) and what devices will be connected to the cord (how many amps does that skill saw need for ideal performance, again?). Read on to read more about the best extension cords.</span></p><h2>Here are the best extension cords you can buy:</h2><ul class="summary-list"><li><strong>Best extension cord overall:</strong> <a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001JTS6UC/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&amp;tag=biipgf_101717_best-extension-cords-20&amp;camp=1789&amp;creative=9325&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;creativeASIN=B001JTS6UC&amp;linkId=43d708fb5f9ed9eedb0c26412bcbe5ad" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Coleman 16 Gauge Extension Cord</a></li><li>Best budget extension cord: <a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00OS7ETIA/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&amp;tag=biipgf_101717_best-extension-cords-20&amp;camp=1789&amp;creative=9325&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;creativeASIN=B00OS7ETIA&amp;linkId=f7da40e278d9add3b7bfc8f54caa82a0" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">AmazonBasics Vinyl Outdoor Extension Cord</a></li><li>Best extension cord for offices: <a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01H14SFRM/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&amp;tag=biipgf_101717_best-extension-cords-20&amp;camp=1789&amp;creative=9325&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;creativeASIN=B01H14SFRM&amp;linkId=b8b19a772c26359c53b5cdc61e56e3d0" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">HOLSEM Power Strip Extension Cord</a></li><li>Best professional extension cord: <a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01NCE6LJX/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&amp;tag=biipgf_101717_best-extension-cords-20&amp;camp=1789&amp;creative=9325&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;creativeASIN=B01NCE6LJX&amp;linkId=722469db3943814921677a1db4ae72a3" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Watt's Wire 14 Gauge Extension Cord</a></li><li>Best indoor extension cord: <a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01F4A8RCS/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&amp;tag=biipgf_101717_best-extension-cords-20&amp;camp=1789&amp;creative=9325&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;creativeASIN=B01F4A8RCS&amp;linkId=646b787fce029c8a1f43c71b502e865b" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Aurum Cables Extension Cord</a></li></ul><p><em>Updated on 10/30/2019 by Monica Chin: Updated pricing, links, and formatting.</em></p><p class="tagline"><p><a href="http://e.businessinsider.com/join/ci/insider-picks">Subscribe to our newsletter.</a><br><br>Find all the best offers at our <a href="https://coupons.businessinsider.com/">Coupons page</a>.<br><br>Disclosure: This post is brought to you by the <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/insiderpicks">Insider Picks</a> team. We highlight products and services you might find interesting. If you buy them, we get a small share of the revenue from the sale from our commerce partners. We frequently receive products free of charge from manufacturers to test. This does not drive our decision as to whether or not a product is featured or recommended. We operate independently from our advertising sales team. We welcome your feedback. Email us at insiderpicks@businessinsider.com.</br></br></br></br></p></p>

The best extension cords

<p><em><a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/insiderpicks" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Insider Picks</a><span> </span>writes about products and services to help you navigate when shopping online. Insider Inc. receives a commission from our affiliate partners when you buy through our links, but our reporting and recommendations are always independent and objective.</em></p><figure id="img-764717" contenteditable="false" data-type="img" data-e2e-name="image-figure-image" data-media-container="image"><a href="https://rover.ebay.com/rover/1/711-53200-19255-0/1?icep_id=114&amp;ipn=icep&amp;toolid=20004&amp;campid=5338009993&amp;mpre=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.ebay.com%2Fb%2FCars-Trucks%2F6001%2Fbn_1865117" target="_blank" rel="noopener"></a></figure><p><span style="font-weight: 400;"><span>We rounded up the eight best sales and deals happening today to save you time, with savings at Snapfish, Best Buy, Clarks, and Boll &amp; Branch. For even more deals and savings across the web, check out </span><a href="https://coupons.businessinsider.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Business Insider Coupons</a></span><span style="font-weight: 400;"><span>.</span></span></p><p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"><a href="http://snapfish.jedg.net/c/196318/218862/3807?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.snapfish.com%2Fhome" target="_blank" rel="noopener"></a><p class="source"><span>Snapfish</span></p></div><p></p></div></div></p><h2>1. <a href="http://snapfish.jedg.net/c/196318/218862/3807?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.snapfish.com%2Fhome" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Save up to 75% on photo gifts at Snapfish</a></h2><p>With graduation season coming up, you'll soon be taking a lot of photos of the new grads in your life. Whether you're looking to create invitations for graduation parties, framed portraits from their special day, or beautiful photo albums, you'll be able to do it with Snapfish. Right now, you can save big on photo gifts of all kinds. Some of the deals include 75% off two books with the promo code "<strong>75BKAPR</strong>," 70% off cards with the promo code "<strong>70APRCB</strong>," and 50% off everything else on the site with the promo code "<strong>50APR19</strong>" at checkout. </p><h3><a href="http://snapfish.jedg.net/c/196318/218862/3807?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.snapfish.com%2Fhome" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Shop the Snapfish sale now</a>. </h3><p><a href="https://click.linksynergy.com/deeplink?id=EHFxW6yx8Uo&amp;mid=38606&amp;murl=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.bestbuy.com%2Fsite%2Fclp%2Fsale-page%2Fpcmcat185700050011.c%3Fid%3Dpcmcat185700050011" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><span style="font-weight: 400;"><span><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"><p class="source"><span>Best Buy</span></p></div><p></p></div></div></span></span></a></p><h2>2. <a href="https://click.linksynergy.com/deeplink?id=EHFxW6yx8Uo&amp;mid=38606&amp;murl=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.bestbuy.com%2Fsite%2Fclp%2Fsale-page%2Fpcmcat185700050011.c%3Fid%3Dpcmcat185700050011" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Save big on laptops, TVs, tablets, and more at Best Buy</a></h2><p>Best Buy is having a huge four-day flash sale with deals on everything from TVs and smartphones to computers and tablets. Some of the many great deals include up to $400 off Apple MacBook Pros, $200 off the iPhone X with activation, and up to $300 off 4K HDTVs. Whether you're looking to save on tech gifts for new grads or you're splurging on yourself, you'll find plenty of worthwhile bargains here. To potentially <a href="https://coupons.businessinsider.com/best-buy" target="_blank" rel="noopener">save even more at Best Buy, visit Business Insider Coupons here</a>. </p><h3><a href="https://click.linksynergy.com/deeplink?id=EHFxW6yx8Uo&amp;mid=38606&amp;murl=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.bestbuy.com%2Fsite%2Fclp%2Fsale-page%2Fpcmcat185700050011.c%3Fid%3Dpcmcat185700050011" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Shop the Best Buy four-day sale now</a>. </h3><p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"><a href="https://amzn.to/2UQFyHf" target="_blank" rel="noopener"></a><p class="source"><span>Amazon</span></p></div><p></p></div></div></p><h2>3. <a href="https://amzn.to/2UQFyHf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Save $53 on a Hitachi leaf blower on Amazon</a></h2><p>Now that grass is growing and trees and flowers are in full bloom, you're going to have to do some yard work to keep your lawn in good shape. Right now, you can save $53 on a Hitachi leaf blower as an Amazon Deal of the Day. It can be used for clearing up grass and bush clippings now, and leaves when they begin to fall later in the year.</p><h3 id="title"><span id="productTitle"><a href="https://amzn.to/2UQFyHf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Hitachi RB24EAP Gas Powered Leaf Blower, $96.75 (Originally $149.95)</a> [You save $53.20]</span></h3><p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"><a href="http://www.anrdoezrs.net/links/6415797/type/dlg/sid/1556114681163awrbfdl0i/https://www.clarksusa.com/shoe-sale" target="_blank" rel="noopener"></a><p class="source"><span>Clarks</span></p></div><p></p></div></div></p><h2>4.<span> </span><a href="http://www.anrdoezrs.net/links/6415797/type/dlg/sid/1556114681163awrbfdl0i/https://www.clarksusa.com/shoe-sale" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Save 30% when you spend $130 or more at Clarks</a></h2><p>For the last week, Clarks has been running a big sale on shoes, and today is the last day to save. Right now, you can get 30% off when you spend $130 or more by using the promo code "<strong>TAKE30</strong>" at checkout. If you're looking for shoes that find balance between long-lasting comfort and work-appropriate style, this is the sale for you. For additional savings and<span> </span><a href="https://coupons.businessinsider.com/clarksusa" target="_blank" rel="noopener">deals at Clarks, visit Business Insider Coupons here</a>.</p><h3><a href="http://www.anrdoezrs.net/links/6415797/type/dlg/sid/1556114681163a28c2m3r2/https://www.clarksusa.com/shoe-sale" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Shop the Clarks sale now</a>.</h3><p><a href="http://www.anrdoezrs.net/links/6415797/type/dlg/https://www.jbl.com/spring-must-haves-sale/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><span><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"><p class="source"><span>JBL</span></p></div><p></p></div></div></span></a></p><h2><span>5. <a href="http://www.anrdoezrs.net/links/6415797/type/dlg/https://www.jbl.com/spring-must-haves-sale/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Save up to 50% on JBL speakers and headphones</a> </span></h2><p><span>If you like bringing music on the go, JBL is the brand you should look to for audio accessories. The brand's lineup of wireless products includes water-resistant speakers, travel-ready clip-on speakers, and headphones for sports. For a limited time, you can save up to 50% on select Bluetooth headphones, speakers, and at-home sound systems.</span><span></span></p><h3><a href="http://www.anrdoezrs.net/links/6415797/type/dlg/https://www.jbl.com/spring-must-haves-sale/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Shop the JBL sale now</a>.</h3><h2><a href="http://www.pjtra.com/t/TUJGRUZISUJGSEhLR01CRkdFTE5I?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.nordstromrack.com%2Fshop%2FWomen%2FAccessories%2FSunglasses%2FDesigner%2520Sunglasses%3Fcm_sp%3DPROMOTILE-_-TILE2CTA1-_-NRHP" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><span><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"><p class="source"><span>Nordstrom Rack</span></p></div><p></p></div></div></span></a></h2><h2><span>6. <a href="http://www.pjtra.com/t/TUJGRUZISUJGSEhLR01CRkdFTE5I?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.nordstromrack.com%2Fshop%2FWomen%2FAccessories%2FSunglasses%2FDesigner%2520Sunglasses%3Fcm_sp%3DPROMOTILE-_-TILE2CTA1-_-NRHP" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Save up to 79% on designer sunglasses at Nordstrom Rack</a></span></h2><p>A stylish pair of sunglasses can elevate any look during the spring and summer - and Nordstrom Rack has great deals on all of your favorite brands. Right now, you can save up to 79% on designer sunglasses for men and women from brands like Gucci, Yves Saint Laurent, Tom Ford, Jimmy Choo, and Fendi. 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<ul class="summary-list"><li>Colleen O'Shaughnessey has voiced Tails since 2014 and reprises the role in "<keyword id="13577903" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="sonic-the-hedgehog-2" source="Orion">Sonic the Hedgehog 2</keyword>."</li><li>Insider recently spoke with the <keyword id="13597428" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="voice-actor" source="Orion">voice actor</keyword> about the film, and what it meant to be cast in it.</li></ul><p>At the end of the first "<keyword id="13577904" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="sonic-the-hedgehog" source="Orion">Sonic the Hedgehog</keyword>" <keyword id="11897475" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="movie" source="Orion">movie</keyword> in 2020, the reveal of Miles "Tails" Prower <a href="https://www.insider.com/sonic-the-hedgehog-movie-post-credits-scene-easter-egg-2020-2">blew open fans' expectations for the future of the film series. </a></p><p>Known in the greater "Sonic" universe as a gadget whiz and the titular hedgehog's best friend, Tails first debuted in the 1992 game "Sonic the Hedgehog 2." His brief appearance in a mid-credits scene during the first "Sonic" live-action film meant that not only was there hope for a sequel, but that it would include at least one — if not more — classic "Sonic" characters. </p><p>Since that first tease, Tails has been voiced in the "Sonic" films by voice actor Colleen O'Shaughnessey. She brings with her a considerable breadth of experience, not just in voiceover work, but in voicing Tails specifically: O'Shaughnessey has voiced that character since 2014 in shows like "Sonic Boom" as well as assorted "Sonic" <keyword id="12407442" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="video-game" source="Orion">video game</keyword> titles. </p><p>Despite all her credentials, O'Shaughnessey's casting was notable: As <a href="https://www.theatlantic.com/entertainment/archive/2011/10/how-celebrities-took-over-cartoon-voice-acting/247481/">The Atlantic reported in 2011</a>, and <a href="https://collider.com/why-celebrity-voice-actors-are-bad/">Collider in 2021</a>, voice actors are frequently passed over for blockbuster animated film roles in favor of recognizable <a href="https://www.insider.com/how-celebrities-train-their-voices-for-animated-movies-2019-4">celebrity talent</a> who can hopefully draw in audiences.</p><p>O'Shaughnessey spoke with Insider about what that casting meant to her, as well as recording from her closet during the pandemic and meeting Jim Carrey for the first time. </p><p><strong>Warning: Light spoilers for "Sonic the Hedgehog 2" ahead.</strong></p><div type="image" title="sonic the hedgehog and tails in a small red propeller plane, backgrounded by a giant eggman-esque robot with glowing eyes and mouth in sonic the hedgehog 2" height="879" width="1173" msid="90788616" hostid="261"></div><p><strong>Insider: This isn't the first "Sonic" film that you've been in — you very briefly debuted as Tails at the end of the first film, in what was maybe one of the most hyped post-credits scenes I've ever experienced. </strong></p><p><strong>Colleen O'Shaughnessey</strong>: That was crazy. People lost their minds, it was awesome. </p><p><strong>How did you initially get brought on for that cameo, and what was that response like on your end?</strong></p><p>I recorded the credit scene in, I can't remember if it was August or September of 2019, but only a few months before the movie opened. I didn't know anything about it until they called and said, "Do you wanna do it?" And I said, "Of course I do." I didn't know it was gonna be a credit scene either, they made it sound like it was more like a cameo somewhere in there. Once I was there, I realized it was a credit scene. I'm like, 'That's so cool." I didn't know it was gonna be just Tails. I had no idea, because obviously it wasn't finished yet, so I didn't know. </p><p>People would send me videos of their theaters exploding in excitement, people screaming and jumping out of their chairs. Overwhelming. I mean, I knew people love Tails. I love Tails. What's not to love about him? But the extent to which they were excited, I was like, "Wow."</p><div type="image" title="tails in the first sonic the hedgehog film tapping on a yellow device with a screen. he's a small, fluffy, yellow cartoon-ish fox with two tails" height="645" width="864" msid="90788617" hostid="261"></div><p><strong>The sequel hadn't even been announced yet at the time, but was continuing on as Tails something that was on the table? When did you learn that you'd be voicing him in the second film as well?</strong></p><p>I had no idea. I don't think they knew if they were gonna get to do a second one at that point. So they started production for the second one last year, I guess. They pumped that out fast. Everyone's got this weird COVID timeline, it's so impossible to figure out where you are in time. </p><p>I did not know that I was going to get to play him until like, May-ish, June-ish of 2021. You just never know, and being a voice actor, I really just assumed they would get a celebrity to do it. And I'm so, so thrilled that they didn't. </p><p><strong>What did it mean to have this near-decade body of work as this character recognized, and be able to continue playing him in this way?</strong></p><p>It really means so much to me, honestly. It's so hard to express in words. I love what I do, and I would pick voiceover every single day and twice on Sundays. I've done on-camera stuff, I've done theater, but at the end of the day, it's voiceover for me, it's what I love. It's my passion. It is just the best job ever. </p><p>But we don't typically get to that level of what this movie is. And for me to do this so far into my career is just, I don't know what to say. I don't know what to do with myself because it's just so exciting. You just don't expect it, and it's not that you think you <em>can't</em> do it, it's that it doesn't happen. </p><p>The outpouring of support and excitement from all of my voiceover peers has just been so, so exciting. They're so excited for me, they're excited for the possibility for our whole community. It just means so much to me. I love this character, and that I get to continue on with him is… I'm so happy. </p><p>I think it means so much to the fans too, because they get these characters that they love, and then, their favorite character's gonna be in a movie. And when you change the actor, it changes everything, and I think sometimes it can be disappointing. So the fans too have been overwhelmingly supportive and excited. </p><p><strong>You've spoken previously about developing Tails' character over the course of the television series "Sonic Boom" and other video game titles, but what was it like stepping into an earlier iteration of this character who's just meeting Sonic for the first time in "Sonic 2"?</strong></p><p>It was very interesting, because like you said, we're meeting him at the beginning of this relationship as opposed to a relationship that's already been established. It's also a much bigger scope, it's a cinematic universe. So the performance is definitely more grounded than it's been in the past. </p><p>Especially in a video game, all the energy is way up here. And there certainly are high-energy, high-stakes moments in this movie, but it's a different kind of stakes. It's not "I'm trying to win the game" stakes, it's "I'm trying to save my life" stakes. And then it was matching that up with the rest of the film, to make sure that everything is fluid and works.</p><p>Working with Ben [Schwartz] and finding that relationship was actually kind of a beautiful thing, because we were just getting to know each other, and Sonic and Tails are just getting to know each other. So it all made sense. </p><div type="image" title="ben schwartz and colleen o'shaughnessey standing on both sides of a person wearing a tails from sonic costume. schwartz, on the left, is raising his eyebrows and pointing at tails, while o'shaughnessey is smiling and has her hand on tails' chest." height="2111" width="2815" msid="90788619" hostid="261"></div><p><strong>You two are going back and forth a ton in this movie as Sonic and Tails. You both have improv backgrounds, so were there any particularly memorable moments recording with him that didn't make it into the film?</strong></p><p>The best thing was recording that scene in Siberia. It was so much fun, and they just let us go. We kept really true to the script for a couple of passes, and then they were just like, "go for it." Especially the parts in the middle where we're bumping into each other, we got to just really go for it, and it was so much fun. </p><p>Like you said, we both have an improv background, so it was easy. He's just so wonderful, and when you have a super pro like that who you get to work off of, it just makes your job even easier, you know? </p><p><strong>How many takes do you think the two of you did just spitballing there?</strong></p><p>Oh my gosh, I don't know. Probably five or six maybe of the full thing, and sometimes we'd break it up, and I think I did go back in a few times to add a couple things here and there once they animated. But yeah, it was so fun. You're like, "over this way," "no, that way," or "whoops!" </p><p><strong>You've been recording at home and a bit in the studio during the pandemic and on this film. Has that ever resulted in any funny mishaps with your family?</strong></p><p>I have two giant dogs who luckily are sleeping right now, but a leaf blows by and they're like [<em>mimics barking</em>], so there's that. I have two cats who love to sleep in my closet, and my booth is my closet. My husband is actually currently building me a fantastic booth space, but it's not done yet, so I'm still in the closet. Sometimes he needs socks, so it's like "Oh, please hold for sock retrieval."</p><p>And then for whatever reason during the pandemic, everyone in the neighborhood had their gardeners coming on the same day at the same time, so it was impossible. I would schedule around my gardener, but then all the surrounding neighbors, all I hear is leaf blowers and lawnmowers. Luckily I'm not in a flight path or anything, but every once in a while then, "oh, they decided to jackhammer the street in front of my house."</p><p>And then of course the technical difficulties that we all have faced. I mean, man, talk about the voiceover community coming together. Everybody was helping everybody. Shout out to sound engineers, because my god, they went above and beyond. First, it's hard because there's a delay, so every single line has to be moved. And then they're having to be the IT guy for every actor because we've never used all of these different programs and things before, and they don't know what computer we're using. </p><p>They were so helpful, but they had to be like, 'Well, let's try turning it off and turning back on." That's the go-to, right? Like, "Whoops, I didn't actually plug the microphone into my computer, I don't know why you can't hear me." There was a huge learning curve, because I can do what I can do, but I am not a sound engineer. People go to school for that sort of thing, and I did not. </p><p><strong>There's too many cords, too many interfaces. </strong></p><p>I didn't even know the word interface, or preamp. I'm like, "I'll take the combo please."</p><p>They would have these Zoom meetings for anybody that wanted to join in and they would give us ideas of good microphones, good preamps. And giving us in-betweens, like, "if you only have five bucks, you can get this one," or "if you wanna spend a lot you can get this other crazy one," or "you can get these ones that are in-between."</p><p>But I'm so grateful that we were able to do it. We were like the only ones working, right? Everything was shut down. There was no production happening except for voiceover. </p><div type="image" title="the cast of sonic the hedgehog and director jeff fowler with people in costume as knuckles, sonic, and tails on the blue carpet at sonic 2 family day" height="2637" width="3517" msid="90788620" hostid="261"></div><p><strong>What was it like coming full circle and getting to meet the rest of the cast and crew of this film closer to the premiere?</strong></p><p>It was so great. I met everyone in person for the first time at the family day on the Paramount lot, and I'm so happy that Ben [Schwartz] was there, because we were just like, "You're here, you're in person!" Just hugs galore with every single cast member, they were so lovely. </p><p>I went up to Jim Carrey to introduce myself, and I just assumed he didn't know who I was. So I was like, "Hi, I'm Colleen, I play Tails." He grabbed both of my hands, and he's very tall and I'm very short. So he grabbed both of my hands and he bent over and went, "I know." And it was so sweet. He had the sweetest smile on his face, and I was like, "I'm gonna cry." And I know he said something after that, and I'm sure I said things too, but I have no idea beyond that what either of us said.</p><p>But everyone could not have been more welcoming. James Marsden gave me a hug like we've been friends for years. He introduced me to his kids, I introduced him to mine. It's just been glorious. </p><p>I finally got to meet Idris [Elba] on Tuesday [at the premiere]. I love him and I love his Knuckles. So good, he made me laugh out loud multiple times. </p><div type="image" title="knuckles the echidna in the sonic the hedgehog 2, with red lightning surrounding his fists and a serious expression on his face" height="879" width="1173" msid="90788621" hostid="261"></div><p><strong>Were there any moments working on this film that are going to stick with you?</strong></p><p>I know I mentioned the Siberia scene. But the scene after, there's a couple of those really tender moments that I think are gonna stick with me forever. I don't want to spoil anything for anybody that hasn't seen it yet, but that little Sonic and Tails moment is just really beautiful.</p><p>And when you get to flex those actor chops and really bring a tender moment, and especially then to see it on the big screen, the first time… I mean, tears. It was just so beautiful.</p><p><strong>I wanted to cry when he put his tails over Sonic while they were lying by the fire. </strong></p><p>Oh my god. They did those tails just so much justice. They were just big, fluffy, beautiful tails. </p><p><em>This interview has been lightly edited for clarity and length. </em></p><p><em>"Sonic the Hedgehog 2" is currently in theaters. </em></p>

The voice of Tails in 'Sonic the Hedgehog 2' says she nearly cried when she finally met Jim Carrey — and explains why she's 'thrilled' they didn't cast a celebrity in her role

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Users of <keyword id="6360701" type="DEFINITION" weightage="60" keywordseo="spacex">SpaceX</keyword>'s <keyword id="7612156" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="starlink">Starlink</keyword> satellite-internet service said how impressed they were with download speeds in snow and high-speed winds on the <a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/Starlink/comments/i9w09n/list_of_confirmed_starlink_speed_tests/">Reddit Starlink community</a>.</li><li>One user reported speeds reaching 175 Mbps in the colder air, which is 20 Mbps faster than usual.</li><li>The Starlink terminal even withstood a user's 175 mph leafblower.</li><li>The terminal – or "UFO on a stick" – heats up enough to melt the snow on top of it. But some users said <keyword id="6357247" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="Internet">internet</keyword> speeds drop as the snow initially builds up.</li></ul><p>SpaceX's Starlink satellite-internet service gives users rapid speeds reaching 175 Mbps even in high-speed winds, deep snow, and freezing temperatures.</p><p><keyword id="6355315" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="elon-musk">Elon Musk</keyword>'s aerospace company sent <a href="https://twitter.com/thesheetztweetz/status/1341504088253579268?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Etweet">an update email</a> to beta testers Tuesday saying its made upgrades to the service, including a "Snow Melt Mode" for the Starlink dishes.</p><p>Users of SpaceX's "Better Than Nothing Beta" test have posted pictures and videos on the<a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/Starlink/"> Reddit Starlink community</a> proving that the Starlink terminal still works in extreme weather conditions - and in some cases, it's even faster.</p><p>The terminal - or "<a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/spacex-starlink-wesbite-user-terminal-satellite-dish-pictures-beta-test-2020-7?r=US&amp;IR=TIR=T">UFO on a stick</a>" - comes as part of the Starlink kit, which also includes a tripod and a WiFi router costing $499, plus $99 for the monthly subscription.</p><p>In a previous <a href="https://imgur.com/rIqHpBY">email on October 26</a>, SpaceX said users of the public beta test - a<a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/spacex-starlink-satellite-internet-beta-testing-public-service-licensing-military-2020-10"> network of nearly 900 satellites</a> beaming the internet service down to Earth - should expect between 50 and 150 Mbps download speeds.</p><p>From what users have reported online in the past week, it seems the Starlink internet service isn't significantly impacted by the wet and windy weather.</p><p>Users cannot reveal their identity due to a non-disclosure agreement they signed with SpaceX upon receiving the kit.</p><h3><strong>Snow melts off Starlink terminal in freezing temperatures</strong></h3><p>In a Q&amp;A session with <keyword id="334157" type="COMPANY" weightage="60" keywordseo="Reddit">Reddit</keyword>'s Starlink community November 21, <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/spacex-starlink-internet-speed-jobs-outages-engineers-2020-11">engineers working on SpaceX's satellite-internet service</a> confirmed that Starlink has "self-heating capabilities to deal with a variety of weather conditions." </p><p>They <a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/Starlink/comments/jybmgn/we_are_the_starlink_team_ask_us_anything/">said</a> the dish is certified to operate from -30 to +40 degrees celsius, adding that they plan to deploy software updates that will "upgrade our snow melting ability" in the coming months.</p><p>Since October when selected people were able to sign up for SpaceX's satellite internet, the lucky subscribers have taken to Reddit to share their download speeds while the terminal is out in bad weather.</p><p>One Starlink subscriber <a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/Starlink/comments/ki4vtk/first_heavy_snow_no_problem/">posted pictures on the Reddit community</a> on Tuesday of their terminal in a snowstorm. "First heavy snow, no problem," they said, showing a screenshot of their internet speed hitting <a href="https://preview.redd.it/fotejrnzkq661.png?width=1080&amp;format=png&amp;auto=webp&amp;s=63ac3dedbfc88b6e39b62795c0c56ff80a449cc16ff80a449cc1">150 Mbps</a>.</p><p>On December 13, one Starlink customer based in Michigan <a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/Starlink/comments/kbv175/dishy_is_handling_a_snowstorm_pretty_well/">posted pictures</a> of their terminal in the snow and a speed test showing download speeds of 133 Mbps. They said: "Dishy is handling a snowstorm pretty well."</p><p>Another user, who lives in northern US, told Business Insider in November that their Starlink internet speed averages 20 Mbps faster in the colder air at 12 degrees fahrenheit. "I've been getting about<a href="https://www.speedtest.net/result/10390130499.png"> 175 Mbps download average</a> this morning, whereas it has been around 150-160 before," they said.</p><p>Many users who reported November speeds on <a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/Starlink/comments/i9w09n/list_of_confirmed_starlink_speed_tests/">a list compiled by Reddit's Starlink community</a> said they were getting download speeds faster than 150 Mbps. </p><p>The fastest download speed so far is <a href="https://www.speedtest.net/result/10476412172.png">209.17 Mpbs</a>, recorded in New York in November.</p><div type="image" title="Snow is melting on the Starlink user terminal" height="1187" width="1189" msid="79234926" hostid="261"></div><p>The user also posted<a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/Starlink/comments/jqlxo0/thermal_imaging_starlink_terminal_20_ambient_40/"> six thermal imaging pictures</a> which showed the terminal's surface ranging from 32 to 40 degrees, meaning the terminal melts the snow that lands on it.</p><div type="image" title="Thermal Imaging: Starlink terminal 20° ambient, 40° terminal" height="1247" width="1613" msid="79234929" hostid="261"></div><p>But there are reports of the internet service slowing down when heavy snow begins to fall on top of the terminal.</p><p>One user, also in northern US, weighted down their Starlink tripod on their outside table before a 50 mph snow storm set in. The snow reached to three inches in around an hour, and the Starlink app showed "poor connection," they reported.</p><p>The user told Business Insider in November that download speeds initially dropped to around 20 to 30 Mbps and upload speeds fell to three Mbps.</p><p>"Definitely had some higher latency and slower speeds when [snow] was coming down hard, building up on the dish, and winds were blowing, but quickly picked back up as it slowed down."</p><p>"I've still been averaging around 100 [Mbps] download and 15 [Mbps] upload," they said.</p><p>"It's going to be a dream for those folks in the middle of nowhere that don't currently have any options," they added.</p><p>The user said on Reddit he'd prefer to mount the terminal on the roof, but said he didn't know if he would trust it with the winds in Montana.</p><p>In the Reddit Q&amp;A session with SpaceX engineers, they said the dish is "not designed for tropical storms, tornadoes, etc." They advised users to bring the dish inside if they were concerned.</p><p><strong><em>Read more:</em></strong><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/elon-musk-spacex-starlink-satellite-internet-user-terminal-challenges-cost-2020-6?r=US&amp;IR=T?r=kd-sub-sub"> <em>Elon Musk says Starlink's 'most difficult technical challenge' isn't launching satellites - it's dropping the cost of its 'UFO on a stick' devices</em></a></p><h3><strong>Starlink terminal can withstand 175 mph winds</strong></h3><p>Despite concerns about the Starlink terminal surviving strong winds, one user put the Starlink terminal to the ultimate test and blasted it with a<a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/Starlink/comments/jpwpmo/starlink_satellite_dish_vs_175_mph_winds/"> 175 mph leaf-blower</a>.</p><p>Download speeds remained between 110 and 120 Mbps, according to speed tests that the user carried out before and after their experiment. </p><p>The user found that if winds are blowing at the terminal, it automatically adjusts to stay aligned with the satellite.</p><div type="image" title="Reddit user's Starlink terminal in snow" height="1276" width="1724" msid="79234931" hostid="261"></div><p>All four reports come from northern US, where Musk's company has begun<a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/spacex-starlink-enough-satellites-to-launch-public-beta-2020-10"> testing the service</a>, as well as in southern Canada where SpaceX is delivering its satellite-internet to <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/spacex-starlink-internet-first-canada-customer-indigenous-community-pikangikum-musk-2020-12">indigenous communities, such as Pikangikum</a>. </p><p>In October, SpaceX agreed to<a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/elon-musk-spacex-starlink-free-internet-texas-satellite-2020-10?r=US&amp;IR=TIR=T"> provide internet in a Texas school district</a> via its Starlink network of satellites - the first time that SpaceX's Starlink is being offered in southern US.</p><p>Starting early 2021, the <keyword id="41531" type="COMPANY" weightage="60" keywordseo="space">space</keyword> company will initially supply its satellite internet to 45 families who do not have broadband access, and an additional 90 families later on.</p>

SpaceX's Starlink satellite-internet service provides rapid speeds of 175 Mbps in freezing temperatures, high winds, and deep snow, users report

<p>Noise pollution is one of the types of pollution we don't often think about. The World Health Organization, CDC, and researchers worldwide have been warning against the effect it has on human health for decades. </p><p>We spoke with Ted Rueter, founder of <a href="https://noisefree.org/">Noise Free America</a>, and <a href="https://nyulangone.org/doctors/1699931469/kit-s-frank">Kit Frank</a>, an audiologist at <a href="https://nyulangone.org/">NYU Langone Health</a>, about what they think of noise pollution and the damage it can do to our hearing and overall health.</p><p>Noise Free America has been battling noise pollution in America for years. One of their latest approaches was to publish the book "<a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B073WV7KRF/ref=dp-kindle-redirect?_encoding=UTF8&amp;btkr=1">Guide to Modified Exhaust Systems: A Reference for Law Enforcement Officers and Motor Vehicle Inspectors.</a>" Following is a transcript of the video.</p><p>This is not healthy. When you hear about pollution, you might picture; exhaust fumes, littering or oil spills. But there's another kind of pollution, you might not know: noise pollution. Like any other pollution, it's a nuisance to society. Plus, everyone hates it. </p><p><strong>Ted Rueter:</strong> A few years ago, the US Census Bureau did a survey on what people liked and disliked about their neighborhoods. What they found was that noise was Americans' number one complaints about their neighborhoods. The number one reason why they wish to move.</p><p>But comfort isn't all that's at stake. Our hearing, overall health, and well-being of our children is in jeopardy.</p><p>In 2016, 54.5% of the world's population lived in cities. By 2030, it's estimated that that population will grow to be 60%. Noise pollution can be found anywhere, but it's especially bad in cities. Here's a map of the loudest places in the U.S. Not surprisingly, cities top the list. They have background levels between 55 - 67 decibels. That's about as loud as the hum from your air conditioner. You'll notice that's not including random spikes of noise you hear throughout the day.</p><p>The human ear can tolerate noise up to 85 decibels without damage. Anything louder poses a risk of permanent hearing loss. Yet, studies show that anything at or above 65 decibels can trigger an increase in blood pressure, heart rate, and stress hormones in the blood. Over time, we can get used to these sounds but that doesn't make them any less dangerous.</p><p><strong>Kit Frank</strong>: So, I don't think we can build-up a tolerance to sound. Anatomically, there's nothing that changes that can protect you from sound in your ear just because you're around it a lot. It's probably more of a psychological effect, that you don't notice because you hear it all the time. </p><p>In 2007, researchers released results from their study on 200,000 hearing tests worldwide. They discovered that city residents had noticeable levels of hearing loss. Their hearing was what it should have been if they were 10 to 20 years older. Once the damage is done, it's irreversible. We have microscopic hairs in our ears that relay sounds to the brain. They're fine-tuned to detect vibrating frequencies from our eardrum. If those vibrations are too strong, it can bend, break, or even destroy these delicate hairs. But unlike the hairs on your head, these don't grow back. Since we cannot see or feel these hairs, the damage from noise pollution can go unnoticed for years, even decades. According to the World Health Organization, noise is an underestimated threat that can cause a number of short and long-term health problems, such as sleep disturbance, cardiovascular effects, and poorer work and school performance.</p><p>One of the most famous studies on noise pollution was in 1974. It happened here at P.S. 98 in New York City. The east side of the building faces the subway. When trains passed, the noise pollution in the classroom went from an average of 59 decibels to 89. Teachers had to shout over the noise and this happened about every 4.5 minutes for 30 seconds at a time. The two researchers compared test scores and reading levels of students on the East versus the West side of the building. While students on the west side weren't affected, students on the east were on average; four months behind on reading level and they performed worse on achievement tests. More studies have gone on to show that children who live in noisy environments have elevated blood pressure and hormones. </p><p>There is one silver lining to all of this. A pair of inexpensive earplugs is an easy, temporary fix to this problem. For more short-term solutions, various cities have started implementing quiet hours or ticketing people for noise pollution, under the category of "quality of life" fines. </p><p><strong>Ted Rueter:</strong> One great example is, Germany. There, they banned lawn mowing on Sundays. You know, Sundays are supposed to be a day of rest. So, who can rest when all of your neighbors are blasting away with their lawn mowers and leaf blowers? Also in Europe, the European Union generally, they have significant noise restrictions on commercial products like dishwashers, refrigerators, and other household items and lawnmowers and leaf blowers. I also understand that India has now banned the two-stroke gas engine. So, definitely, there are other countries that are taking this issue much more seriously than the U.S. is.</p><p>If there ever is a permanent fix to this problem, it hinges on one question: when will we start taking noise pollution seriously? </p>

Noise pollution is a bigger threat to your health than you may think, and Americans aren't taking it seriously

<p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"><p class="source"><span>Hollis Johnson/Business Insider</span></p><p class="caption">Tesla Model 3.</p></div><p></p></div></div></p><ul class="summary-list"><li><strong><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/category/tesla">Tesla</a> has begun delivering the $35,000, base-priced version of its <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/category/tesla-model-3">Model 3</a> sedan, three customers have told Business Insider.</strong></li><li><strong>The beginning of standard-range Model 3 deliveries is a landmark for <a href="https://markets.businessinsider.com/stocks/tsla-stock">Tesla</a>, but the company has been unusually quiet about it.</strong></li><li><strong>The company has only made reference to the milestone near the bottom of an April 11 <a href="https://www.tesla.com/blog/update-our-vehicle-lineup">blog post</a> about an update to its product offerings.</strong></li><li><strong><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/?hprecirc-bullet">Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.</a></strong></li></ul><p>Tesla has begun delivering the $35,000, base-priced version of its Model 3 sedan, three customers have told Business Insider. <a href="https://electrek.co/2019/04/15/tesla-delivers-35000-model-3/">Electrek</a> first reported on April 15 that Tesla had started delivering the $35,000 Model 3, known as the standard-range trim.</p><p>The beginning of standard-range Model 3 deliveries is a landmark for Tesla, but the electric-car maker has been unusually quiet about it. While Tesla posted on its <a href="https://www.tesla.com/blog/35000-tesla-model-3-available-now">website</a> and <a href="https://twitter.com/Tesla/status/1101246410446430209">social media</a> <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/Bucfo-knrPL/">accounts</a> when it began allowing customers to order the standard-range trim in February, the company has only made reference to the beginning of deliveries near the bottom of an April 11 <a href="https://www.tesla.com/blog/update-our-vehicle-lineup">blog post</a> about an update to its product offerings.</p><p><em><strong>Read more:</strong> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/tesla-model-s-and-model-x-longer-range-battery-mileage-details-2019-4">Tesla announced improved battery ranges for the Model S and Model X and brought back the lower-cost version of both cars</a></em></p><p>Tesla's low-key approach to the milestone is surprising, as CEO <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/category/elon-musk">Elon Musk</a> in a <a href="https://www.tesla.com/blog/secret-tesla-motors-master-plan-just-between-you-and-me">2006 blog post</a> described one of the company's primary, long-term goals as using the proceeds from high-end electric cars to fund the development of affordable models. Musk would later frame the Model 3 as the fulfillment of that goal and a turning point for Tesla from a luxury automaker to a mass-market one. The <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/tesla-325000-orders-model-3-one-week-2016-4">hundreds of thousands of pre-orders</a> Tesla received for the Model 3 suggested demand for electric vehicles extended beyond early-adopters willing to pay luxury prices.</p><p>Tesla <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/teslas-model-3-launch-deliveries-begin-photos-features-2017-7">began delivering</a> high-end versions of the Model 3 in July 2017, but struggled to hit production targets for the next year due to excessive automation at its Fremont, California, assembly plant. As the company smoothed out its production process, Musk said it needed more time to make the standard-range Model 3 profitably.</p><p>In February, the company began allowing customers to order the standard-range Model 3, but less than two months later, it <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/jet-airways-shuts-down-after-running-out-of-money-2019-4">removed the standard-range trim</a> from its online-order page, saying customers could only order it by phone or in one of the company's stores. Tesla said demand for the standard-range trim was much lower than for the standard-range-plus trim, which starts at $39,500, and said removing the standard-range trim from the online menu would increase efficiency and lower costs. The company also said that standard-range customers would receive standard-range-plus Model 3s with software that would reduce their range and restrict some capabilities.</p><p>Tesla did not immediately respond to a request for comment on its communication strategy for the beginning of standard-range Model 3 deliveries.</p><p><em>Have you worked for Tesla? Do you have a story to share? Contact this reporter at<span> </span><a href="mailto:mmatousek@businessinsider.com">mmatousek@businessinsider.com</a>.</em></p><ul class="read-more-links"><li>Read more:</li><li><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/tesla-earnings-short-interest-at-2019-high-ahead-of-report-2019-4" data-read-more-link="" data-e2e-name="read-more-link">Elon Musk's most hated group of investors are ratcheting up their bets against Tesla ahead of the company's earnings</a></li><li><a href="https://markets.businessinsider.com/news/stocks/should-i-buy-tesla-stock-2019-4-1028135445" data-read-more-link="" data-e2e-name="read-more-link">Tesla's 'Autonomy Day' fell flat with analysts - now Wall Street is bracing for its Q1 results</a></li><li><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/tesla-electric-leafblower-elon-musk-twitter-2019-4" data-read-more-link="" data-e2e-name="read-more-link">Elon Musk says Tesla will develop an 'electric leaf blower'</a></li><li><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/tesla-earnings-3-things-investors-are-looking-for-2019-4" data-read-more-link="" data-e2e-name="read-more-link">Investors are looking for 3 things from Tesla's earnings</a></li></ul><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p class="tagline">Get the latest Tesla stock price<a href="http://markets.businessinsider.com/stock/TSLA-Quote"> <strong>here.</strong></a></p>    <div class="margin-top">        <h3>NOW WATCH: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/donald-trump-airline-shuttle-transportation-pan-am-eastern-new-york-2019-1">The rise and fall of Donald Trump's $365 million airline</a></h3>        <div>                    </div>    </div>

Tesla has achieved one of its biggest goals by delivering the long-awaited, $35,000 Model 3 - but the company has been oddly quiet about it

<p>A video by YouTuber ScottDW shows people's faces being blown back in slow motion, and it's weirdly fun to watch.</p><p></p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"></div><p></p></div></div><p>First <a href="http://sploid.gizmodo.com/seeing-peoples-faces-get-blown-by-air-in-slow-motion-is-1723945753">spotted by Gizmodo's Sploid</a>, the video shows people with props like hot dogs and Gatorade in crazy winds.&#xa0;</p><p>Here's the full video:</p><p><div></div></p><p class="embed-spacer">&#xa0;One viewer speculated in the comments that maybe ScottDW used a leaf blower, but he&#xa0;said that wouldn't have worked.</p><p></p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"></div><p></p></div></div><p>Here's the behind-the-scenes video that shows how he did it.</p><p><div></div></p><p class="embed-spacer">&#xa0;</p>    <div class="margin-top">        <h3>NOW WATCH: <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/skating-tony-hawk-health-workout-morning-routine-2015-8">Tony Hawk is still skating at 47 - here's his secret</a></h3>        <div>            <div>        <div class="ooyala-video-player" data-video-autoplay="false" data-video-id="U5Z2w2djrGR_i_-hB34ghWQgMl1EsK76" data-player-variable="ooyalapopvideo" id="ooyalaplayer_popvideo" style="width:1280px;height:720px"></div>        </div>        </div>            </div>

This video of people's faces being blown back in slow motion is weirdly mesmerizing

<p><em><a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/insiderpicks" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Insider Picks</a><span> </span>writes about products and services to help you navigate when shopping online. Insider Inc. receives a commission from our affiliate partners when you buy through our links, but our reporting and recommendations are always independent and objective.</em></p><p>We rounded up the eight best sales and deals happening online today, with savings on Adidas sneakers and apparel,  Sennheiser wireless headphones, and the new Google Pixel 3a smartphone. For even more deals and savings across the web, check out <a href="https://coupons.businessinsider.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Business Insider Coupons</a>.</p><p><a href="https://rover.ebay.com/rover/1/711-53200-19255-0/1?icep_id=114&amp;ipn=icep&amp;toolid=20004&amp;campid=5338009993&amp;mpre=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.ebay.com%2Fe%2Ffashion%2Fadidas-050619%3F_trkparms%3D%2526clkid%253D2989392151001475032" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><em><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"><p class="source"><span>Adidas</span></p></div><p></p></div></div></em></a></p><h2>1. <a href="https://rover.ebay.com/rover/1/711-53200-19255-0/1?icep_id=114&amp;ipn=icep&amp;toolid=20004&amp;campid=5338009993&amp;mpre=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.ebay.com%2Fe%2Ffashion%2Fadidas-050619%3F_trkparms%3D%2526clkid%253D2989392151001475032" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Save up to 60% on Adidas sneakers and apparel on eBay</a></h2><p><a href="http://adidas.7eer.net/c/196318/264102/4270?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.adidas.com%2Fus&amp;subid2=1557325445388arzx175fb" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Adidas' website</a><span> </span>is probably the first place you'd look for sale items, but many of the brand's products are also available on eBay for less. By shopping at Adidas' official eBay store today, you can save up to 60% on sneakers and apparel. The sale includes great deals like the <a href="https://rover.ebay.com/rover/1/711-53200-19255-0/1?icep_id=114&amp;ipn=icep&amp;toolid=20004&amp;campid=5338009993&amp;mpre=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.ebay.com%2Fitm%2Fadidas-EQT-Support-Ultra-Primeknit-King-Push-Shoes-Mens%2F153179434841" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Adidas King Push EQT Support for $103.99</a>, which is <a href="http://adidas.7eer.net/c/196318/264102/4270?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.adidas.com%2Fus%2Feqt-support-ultra-primeknit-king-push-shoes%2FDB0181.html%23opi2925219664" target="_blank" rel="noopener">currently listed for $220 on Adidas.com</a>. Even if you're not specifically in need of new gear, some of these deals are too good to pass up. For more deals and<span> </span><a href="https://coupons.businessinsider.com/ebay" target="_blank" rel="noopener">coupons on eBay, check out our coupons page here</a>.</p><h3><a href="https://rover.ebay.com/rover/1/711-53200-19255-0/1?icep_id=114&amp;ipn=icep&amp;toolid=20004&amp;campid=5338009993&amp;mpre=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.ebay.com%2Fe%2Ffashion%2Fadidas-050619%3F_trkparms%3D%2526clkid%253D2989392151001475032" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Shop the Adidas sale now</a>. </h3><p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"><a href="https://amzn.to/2YjZRtZ" target="_blank" rel="noopener"></a><p class="source"><span>Sennheiser</span></p></div><p></p></div></div></p><h2>2.<span> </span><a href="https://amzn.to/2YjZRtZ" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Save $235 on the best wireless headphones we've tested</a></h2><p>We named the Sennheiser Momentum 2.0<span> </span><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/best-headphones-wireless-bluetooth" target="_blank" rel="noopener">the best wireless headphones you can buy</a><span> </span>because of their premium construction, sound quality, and comfortable over-ear fit (you'd hope so for a $500 price tag). Right now, they're $235 cheaper on Amazon. If you're looking for unbeatable comfort and luxurious sound in a pair of wireless headphones, this is an excellent deal.</p><h3><a href="https://amzn.to/2YjZRtZ" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Sennheiser Momentum 2.0 ANC Bluetooth Headphones, $264 (Originally $499.95)</a><span> </span>[You save $235.95]</h3><p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"><a href="https://click.linksynergy.com/deeplink?id=EHFxW6yx8Uo&amp;mid=38606&amp;murl=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.bestbuy.com%2Fsite%2Fgoogle%2Fgoogle-pixel-3%2Fpcmcat1537476543972.c%3Fid%3Dpcmcat1537476543972" target="_blank" rel="noopener"></a><p class="source"><span>Hollis Johnson/Business Insider</span></p></div><p></p></div></div></p><h2>3. <a href="https://click.linksynergy.com/deeplink?id=EHFxW6yx8Uo&amp;mid=38606&amp;murl=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.bestbuy.com%2Fsite%2Fgoogle%2Fgoogle-pixel-3%2Fpcmcat1537476543972.c%3Fid%3Dpcmcat1537476543972" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Get a free $100 Best Buy gift card when you buy the Google Pixel 3a or 3a XL</a></h2><p>Yesterday, Google released one of its most affordable smartphones yet. Starting at $399, the new Google Pixel 3a features a vibrant OLED display, unlimited storage with Google Photos, and Google Assistant built-in. While the phone is already a great deal, Best Buy is making it better. You can get a free $100 gift card when you buy an unlocked phone or with qualified activation at Verizon or Sprint. For more deals and <a href="https://coupons.businessinsider.com/best-buy" target="_blank" rel="noopener">savings at Best Buy, visit Business Insider Coupons here</a>. </p><h3><a href="https://click.linksynergy.com/deeplink?id=EHFxW6yx8Uo&amp;mid=38606&amp;murl=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.bestbuy.com%2Fsite%2Fgoogle%2Fgoogle-pixel-3%2Fpcmcat1537476543972.c%3Fid%3Dpcmcat1537476543972" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Shop the Google Pixel 3a and 3a XL on Best Buy now</a>. </h3><p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"><a href="http://www.anrdoezrs.net/links/6415797/type/dlg/https://www.berries.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"></a><p class="source"><span>Shari's Berries</span></p></div><p></p></div></div></p><h2>4. <a href="http://www.anrdoezrs.net/links/6415797/type/dlg/https://www.berries.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Save 20% on orders of $29 or more at Shari's Berries</a></h2><p>Mother's Day is this Sunday, and if you still haven't found a gift, Shari's Berries may be a good option. Right now, you can save 20% on edible gifts over $29. The sale includes everything from classic chocolate-covered strawberries and chocolate-covered Oreos to cheesecakes, cake balls, and bundles with roses. If your mom has a sweet tooth, we're pretty sure you'll find a great gift to send her here. 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As a deal of the day, the Greenworks sale includes lawn mowers, weed whackers, leaf blowers, hedge trimmers, chainsaws, and more for up to 32% off. All of Greenworks' tools are electric, so you won't need to buy gas to power them.</p><h3><a href="https://amzn.to/2H9m4oJ" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Shop the Greenworks sale on Amazon now</a>. </h3><p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"><a href="https://click.linksynergy.com/deeplink?id=EHFxW6yx8Uo&amp;mid=37353&amp;murl=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.containerstore.com%2Fcampaign%2FclosetSale2019&amp;u1=1557324310324abwuvh19y" target="_blank" rel="noopener"></a><p class="source"><span>The Container Store</span></p></div><p></p></div></div></p><h2>6.<span> </span><a href="https://click.linksynergy.com/deeplink?id=EHFxW6yx8Uo&amp;mid=37353&amp;murl=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.containerstore.com%2Fcampaign%2FclosetSale2019&amp;u1=1557324310324abwuvh19y" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Save up to 25% on closet storage essentials at The Container Store</a></h2><p>If you've been stuffing clothes and shoes into your closet in no order whatsoever, today is the day to finally bring some organization to your space. 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We operate independently from our advertising sales team. We welcome your feedback. Email us at insiderpicks@businessinsider.com.</br></br></br></br></p></p>

Save $235 on the best headphones we've reviewed, originally $500 - and 7 other sales and deals happening now

<p><em>Hello, everyone! Welcome to the new edition of <keyword id="9095853" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="insider-today">Insider Today</keyword>. Please </em><a href="https://www.insider.com/insider-today"><em>sign up here</em></a><em>.</em></p><h2><strong>QUOTE OF THE DAY</strong></h2><p>"<strong>What happened in <keyword id="92788" type="COMPANY" weightage="60" keywordseo="Portland">Portland</keyword> over the weekend, it was not only unlawful and unconstitutional, it's just plain wrong … Sending armed, untrained police into the streets wearing fatigues without the knowledge or consent of the local police actually caused more violence.</strong>" — Judge Andrew Napolitano on Fox News, talking about the presence of masked, unidentified federal agents in Portland. President Trump <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/national/defending-portland-crackdown-trump-pledges-to-deploys-feds-to-chicago-and-other-us-cities-led-by-democrats/2020/07/20/fda42b8a-caaa-11ea-89ce-ac7d5e4a5a38_story.html?hpid=hp_hp-top-table-low_portland-525pm%3Ahomepage%2Fstory-ans&amp;itid=hp_hp-top-table-low_portland-525pm%3Ahomepage%2Fstory-ans-ans">vows to expand</a> the use of federal agents in American cities. </p><h2><strong>WHAT'S HAPPENING</strong></h2><p><strong></strong></p><p><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/trump-resuming-regular-coronavirus-briefings-amid-sinking-approval-rating-2020-7"><strong>President Trump will resume daily coronavirus briefings this afternoon.</strong></a> He stopped doing them in April after making gaffes and giving dangerous health advice, but he believes renewing the briefings could revive his popularity.</p><p><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/joe-biden-vp-four-black-women-being-considered-2020-7"><strong>Four Black women are among Biden's VP candidates. </strong></a>The Democratic nominee didn't name names, and didn't commit to naming a Black woman, but said four are being seriously considered. </p><p><a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/us-china-covid-19-vaccine-research/2020/07/21/8b6ca0c0-cb58-11ea-91f1-28aca4d833a0_story.html?tidr=a_breakingnews&amp;hpid=hp_no-name_hp-breaking-news%3Apage%2Fbreaking-news-bar-bar"><strong>US accuses Chinese hackers of targeting vaccine research. </strong></a>According to a DOJ indictment, two hackers were spying on biotech firms both for their own profit and for the Chinese government. Last week, the US accused Russia of hacking vaccine researchers. </p><p><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/john-yoo-bush-torture-memos-confirms-working-trump-bypass-congress-2020-7"><strong>Torture memo author is working with Trump to help him expand presidential power.</strong></a> John Yoo confirmed that he's advising the White House on ways the president can bypass Congress and not enforce laws he doesn't like. </p><p><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/china-ppe-exports-uighur-labor-nyt-2020-7"><strong>China used forced Uighur labor to make PPE exported to the US</strong></a><strong>. </strong>According to a NYT report, 17 factories in Xinjiang use a Uighur labor program to make PPE. China denies that the labor is compelled.</p><h2><strong>VIEWS OF THE DAY</strong></h2><p><strong><div type="image" title="Trump Portland" height="1000" width="2000" msid="77095089" hostid="261"></div></strong></p><p><strong>As Trump sends unmarked troops to US cities, remember — this is how democracy and the rule of law die.</strong></p><p>When we talk about the rise of dictatorships and fall of democracies, we often imagine that the change happens overnight.</p><p>We go to bed in charge of our government, and we wake up under the control of an authoritarian regime.</p><p>In fact, these transitions usually happen gradually, over many years. In the guise of doing what needs to be done to fix their countries, proto-dictators increase their power in incremental steps. And then, one day, the transition is complete.</p><p>Hitler took <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/hitler-trump-comparisons-2016-10">over Germany's democracy this way</a>. Putin <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vladimir_Putin">did the same in Russia</a>. So did <a href="https://www.britannica.com/biography/Benito-Mussolini/Rise-to-power">Mussolini in Italy</a>.   </p><p><keyword id="6354484" type="PERSON" weightage="60" keywordseo="Donald-Trump">Donald Trump</keyword> has displayed his authoritarian tendencies since long before he was elected. Over the past three years, invoking the usual story about acting for the good of the country, he has continually pushed against the restraints placed on leaders in a democracy — and, in so doing, continued to expand the boundaries. </p><p>Each new step has triggered complaints. Sometimes, temporarily, the complaints have forced Trump to take a half-step back. But then time passes and he takes another full step. And slowly but surely...</p><p>Trump long ago figured out that a clever way to get around the constitutional check-and-balance of Senate approval was to appoint loyalists and call them "acting." Here's what Trump's acting Secretary of Homeland Security <a href="https://thehill.com/policy/national-security/department-of-homeland-security/508176-acting-dhs-secretary-i-dont-need">just said</a> about sending federal troops to Portland, Oregon over the protests of local and state authorities — an action that would once have appalled members of a political party that used to champion states' rights:</p><p>"I don't need invitations by the state, state mayors or state governors to do our job. We're going to do that, whether they like us there or not."</p><p>So, now, in Trump's America, this <a href="https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2020/07/americas-interior-ministry/614389/">latest step in the transition to authoritarianism</a> is complete. <em>— HB</em></p><p><strong>What Trump's campaign should learn from the Wall of Moms</strong> </p><p><div type="image" title="wall of moms portland protests" height="1250" width="2500" msid="77095091" hostid="261"></div></p><p>Operation Legend, the Trump administration's plan to invade American cities with federal agents — ostensibly to reduce a spike in violence — is provoking a huge response in Portland. Since unidentified federal agents in unmarked vans began yanking Portlanders off the street, the <a href="https://www.oregonlive.com/news/2020/07/portland-protests-continue-for-54th-night-amid-controversy-surrounding-federal-officers-presence.html">nightly demonstrations in Portland have only gotten bigger</a>. Notably, a Wall of Moms has shown up to stand between BLM protesters and the feds, while a group of Portland dads brought leaf blowers to the demonstrations to redirect tear gas.</p><p>President Trump, who thrives on chaos, seems overjoyed at the conflict on the streets between American citizens exercising their right to peaceably assemble and the masked, anonymous jackbooted federal thugs he sent to harry them. <a href="https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/criminal-justice/ct-chicago-police-dhs-deployment-20200720-dftu5ychwbcxtg4ltarh5qnwma-story.html">He's planning to assault more cities with DHS forces</a>.</p><p>But the Wall of Moms counterpunch reveals something important about the presidential campaign. With Trump, you always begin with the premise that everything he does is to feed his own ego, not serve the nation, and the chief way he wants to feed it is by winning reelection. (For example, the White House decided this week to bring back presidential COVID briefings not for any policy reason, but because they think the briefings improved his poll numbers in the spring.)</p><p>Given his fixation on reelection, it's weird that Trump has not realized that the more he agitates the left, the worse his reelection chances are. He is trapped in a 2016 paradigm. In that campaign, agitation benefited him, because he was able to gin up immense fear and hatred about Hillary Clinton, while he himself remained an unknown quantity. </p><p>The <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/president-trump-high-risk-2016-campaign-strategy-failing-reelection-2020-7">positions are reversed now</a>. Negative partisanship benefits Biden more than Trump. In 2020, the left despises, detest, abhors Trump as much or more than the right did Hillary Clinton in 2016. That's how you get a Wall of Moms. But <a href="https://www.vox.com/policy-and-politics/2020/7/20/21326267/biden-trump-2020-winning-polls-polarization-election">as Ezra Klein explains in Vox,</a> the right does not loathe Biden nearly as much. Biden is an old white guy who doesn't trigger most of Trump's supporters.  "80% of Biden supporters have a very unfavorable view of Trump, while only 53% of Trump supporters have a very unfavorable view of Biden." </p><p>Trump would almost certainly rise in the polls if he said less. If he acted more typically presidential, some of the rage on the left would dissipate, and the fever Democrats feel about voting in November might subside. Bring the troops home from Portland, nod politely along as Dr. Fauci talks, express sorrow at the suffering caused by Covid and the recession. </p><p>But sharks gotta swim. The chances of Trump doing anything other than trying to lather up his base and savage Democrats is nil. And who knows, maybe he'll be able to foment enough chaos that he convinces voters he's the solution, that only he can stop Biden from gathering a lefty mob to sack Washington and burn the suburbs. <em>— DP</em></p><p><strong><em>If you're enjoying this article, <a href="https://www.insider.com/insider-today">sign up here</a> for more daily insights from Henry Blodget and David Plotz delivered right into your inbox.</em></strong></p><p><strong>After weeks of nothing but bad news about coronavirus, hope is finally knocking at the door.</strong></p><p><div type="image" title="Oxford University coronavirus vaccine test" height="600" width="1200" msid="77095096" hostid="261"></div></p><p><a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2020/07/20/world/covid-coronavirus-vaccine.html">Three vaccine trials</a> are showing enormous promise, and<a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/science/health/news/serum-institute-of-india-to-soon-apple-for-local-trials-of-astrazeneca-oxford-covid-vaccine/articleshow/77077382.cms"> mass vaccine testing</a> will begin shortly in India. A trial suggests treatment with interferon beta may <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2020/07/20/world/covid-19-treatment-synairgen-interferon-beta.html">reduce the severity of COVID</a>. Those alarming stories warning that coronavirus antibodies disappear in a few months <a href="https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2020/07/could-covid-19-immunity-really-disappear-months/614377/">may be overstated</a>. </p><p>And researchers are getting clever about figuring out how we can return to normal(ish) life: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/german-scientists-host-concert-to-study-how-the-coronavirus-spreads-2020-7">Check out this plan in Germany to stage an indoor pop concert for 4,000 fans</a>, and use it to study potential transmission: fluorescent hand sanitizer to track surface touching and fog machines to track air flow. It's encouraging!  <em>— DP</em></p><p><strong>More incumbents should face primary challenges</strong></p><p><strong><div type="image" title="Rep. Eliot Engel" height="1296" width="2592" msid="77095098" hostid="261"></div></strong></p><p>Rep. Eliot Engel of New York conceded he lost to his Democratic primary challenger and middle-school principal Jamaal Bowman. </p><p>When Engel was first elected to represent a district comprising parts of the Bronx and Westchester in the 1988 election, Ronald Reagan was president. Ed Koch was the mayor of New York. Mario Cuomo was the governor. </p><p>That's a long time in one job.  </p><p>And in an industry where the consolidation of <a href="https://www.thenation.com/article/politics/why-is-gop-money-going-to-democratic-congressman-eliot-engel/">power and influence</a> is considered the metric of a successful career, maybe it's too long in one job. It leads to <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2020/06/03/politics/eliot-engel-hot-mic-primary-comment/index.html">complacency</a>, <a href="https://theintercept.com/2020/05/26/eliot-engel-primary-defense-industry-pro-israel/">cronyism</a>, and sometimes corruption.  </p><p>That's not how Engel sees it. That "safe" Democratic seat was his by right until he was ready to relinquish it. But when Bowman proved to be a competitive progressive competitor to the hawkish centrist Engel, some Democrats backed the insurgent.</p><p>Engel <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2020/07/20/politics/eliot-engel-reaction-democratic-primary-fight/index.html">told CNN yesterday</a> that party members supporting primary challengers to influential incumbents like himself is "not something that should be done." </p><p>"I think that it's a very dangerous thing for party unity if members are going to start putting up primary challenges to other members in the same caucus."</p><p>Au contraire. </p><p>Primary challenges are important and all too infrequent. They can keep an incumbent from losing touch with their constituency or getting too entrenched in the lobbyist swamp, and they can ensure that new ideas are regularly introduced into the national political conversation.</p><p>It's a better solution than term limits, and it allows each of the two major parties to represent a wider berth of philosophies under each big tent.</p><p>Americans should more regularly throw the bums out, and because of most House districts are deep blue or deep red, change has to happen at the party primary level.  <em>— AF</em></p><h2><strong>Today's Must Read</strong></h2><p><strong><div type="image" title="ruth bader ginsburg" height="790" width="1581" msid="77095100" hostid="261"></div></strong></p><p><a href="https://slate.com/news-and-politics/2020/07/the-women-of-harvard-law-rbg-1959.html"><strong>The Story of RBG's Harvard Law School Classmates:</strong></a> Slate's Dahlia Lithwick and Molly Olmstead track down the nine other women in Ruth Bader Ginsburg's Harvard Law School class, recount their lives as pioneering women lawyers, and — most remarkably — interview Justice Ginsburg herself about her classmates. <a href="https://slate.com/news-and-politics/2020/07/ruth-bader-ginsburg-interview-transcript.html#marilyn">"It's amazing to me how distinctly I remember each of these women"</a>  </p><p>The project shows us a moment American life began to change, and how these women--all extraordinary, one legendary — helped make the change real for millions to follow. <em>— DP</em> </p><h2><strong>BUSINESS &amp; ECONOMY</strong></h2><p><strong><div type="image" title="Jeff Bezos" height="1000" width="2000" msid="77095103" hostid="261"></div></strong></p><p><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/jeff-bezos-added-13-billion-net-worth-monday-bloomberg-2020-7"><strong>Jeff Bezos added $13 billion to his net worth on Monday</strong></a>, which is probably the most anyone has ever added in a single day. His net worth is $189 billion, up $74 billion this year. </p><p><a href="https://markets.businessinsider.com/news/stocks/coronavirus-stimulus-eu-recovery-fund-agree-historic-860-billion-plan-2020-7-1029413313?_ga=2.225179866.1977374182.1595244294-163033034.1594207157"><strong>EU establishes an $860 billion pandemic recovery fund.</strong></a> Angela Merkel led the bailout plan, which will give grants to the struggling countries, and will for the first time have the EU, rather than individual nations, issue debt.</p><h2><strong>LIFE</strong></h2><p><strong><div type="image" title="NBA coronavirus" height="700" width="1400" msid="77095105" hostid="261"></div></strong></p><p><a href="https://www.insider.com/nba-bubble-coronavirus-free-after-latest-tests-zero-positive-results-2020-7"><strong>The NBA bubble is virus-free. </strong></a><strong> </strong>All 346 players tested for coronavirus, zero positives. The season is set to restart July 30. </p><p><a href="https://www.insider.com/apollo-11-deepfake-nixon-speech-anniversary-mit-scientific-american-2020-7"><strong>Disturbing deep-fake video shows Nixon announcing the lost of the Apollo 11 mission.</strong></a> A lab at MIT created the video, which shows "Nixon" delivering the speech he would have given had the moon landing failed.</p><h2><strong>THE BIG 3*</strong></h2><p><strong><div type="image" title="Walmart Black Friday" height="1500" width="3000" msid="77095107" hostid="261"></div></strong></p><p><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/personal-finance/average-401k-balance"><strong>The average 401(k) balance by age, income level, gender, and industry</strong></a><strong>: </strong>The median is only $22,200. If you're 45-54, the median balance is still only $40,200.</p><p><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/walmart-will-close-stores-on-thanksgiving-ending-black-friday-tradition-2020-7"><strong>Walmart will close stores on Thanksgiving Day.</strong></a> It ends a tradition of beginning Black Friday sales on Thursday evening.</p><p><a href="https://www.insider.com/redwood-city-blm-mural-trump-supporter-maga-2020-7"><strong>California city removes its Black Lives Matter mural</strong></a>...after a local lawyer petitioned to be allowed to paint MAGA 2020 on the same street. The city said it removed the mural because it was a traffic hazard.  </p><p><em>*The most popular stories on Insider today.</em></p>

This is how democracy dies

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Even with the COVID-19 pandemic slowing down production, <keyword id="2370" type="COMPANY" weightage="60" keywordseo="hollywood">Hollywood</keyword> managed to put out a slew of exciting new projects full of ambitious stunts and special effects.</li><li>From the massive battle scenes in <a href="https://www.insider.com/disney-live-action-mulan-movie-review">"Mulan"</a> to the gripping <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/inside-wild-stunts-and-fights-of-birds-of-prey-2020-2">fight sequences</a> in <a href="https://www.insider.com/birds-of-prey-movie-review-2020-2">"Birds of Prey,"</a><a href="https://www.insider.com/netflix-extraction-chris-hemsworth-one-take-fight-scene-2020-5">"Extraction,"</a> and <a href="https://www.insider.com/the-old-guard-fight-coordinator-charlize-theron-injuries-2020-7">"The Old Guard,"</a> this year's action films pushed actors and stunt performers to undergo extensive weapons and <a href="https://www.insider.com/how-the-airplane-fight-in-the-old-guard-was-done-2020-7">combat training</a>.</li><li>With Pixar's <a href="https://www.insider.com/how-pixar-revolutionized-way-clothes-are-animated-digital-cloth-technology-2020-3">"Onward"</a> and Netflix's "<a href="https://www.insider.com/netflix-over-the-moon-review">Over the Moon,"</a> 3D-animated films found innovative ways to animate and <a href="https://www.insider.com/netflix-over-the-moon-animators-light-scenes-in-animated-movies-2020-11">light</a> their characters and worlds, the likes of which we've never seen before.</li><li>Boundary-pushing digital effects made <keyword id="406" type="ENTERTAINMENT" weightage="60" keywordseo="Movies">movies</keyword> like <a href="https://www.insider.com/dolittle-movie-review-robert-downey-jr-2020-1">"Dolittle,"</a> <a href="https://www.insider.com/every-version-sonic-the-hedgehog-1991-today-evolution-2020-2">"Sonic the Hedgehog,"</a> and <a href="https://www.insider.com/call-of-the-wild-real-life-dog-2020-4">"The Call of the Wild"</a> possible by combining CG animals with live-action humans and environments.  </li></ul><p><em>Following is a transcript of the <keyword id="21654" type="COMPANY" weightage="60" keywordseo="video">video</keyword>.</em></p><p><strong>Narrator: </strong>2020 was in many ways a rough year for Hollywood, with the COVID-19 pandemic pushing back some of the year's most anticipated movies. But the industry rallied by releasing no shortage of ambitious and exciting new projects, which brought their own set of breakthroughs in the world of special effects.</p><p>From massive battle and fight sequences to some of the most realistic practical effects we've ever seen, here's a behind-the-scenes glimpse at the biggest films of the year. Three, two, one!</p><p>To play the legendary warrior <keyword id="3026859" type="PERSON" weightage="60" keywordseo="Mulan">Mulan</keyword> in Disney's live-action film, Liu Yifei spent three months training for up to seven hours a day. This demanding regimen paid off. The film's cinematographer, Mandy Walker, told insider that Yifei was able to execute about 90% of her own stunt work.</p><p>In preparation for the film's acrobatic fight sequences, Yifei and her castmates were schooled in everything from weapons handling and archery to military marching and horseback riding. The performers did their most dramatic midair stunts while attached to wires or beams so that it looked like their characters were flying or spinning through the air.</p><p>All in all, the film's action sequences required 90 horses, 80 trick riders, 4,000 prop weapons, 281 sets of armor for the Chinese army, and 730 pieces of armor for the Rouran army.</p><p>How do you create a terrifying monster out of nothing? It turns out, with a lot of clever camera and stunt work. This scene from "<keyword id="920693" type="ENTERTAINMENT" weightage="60" keywordseo="the-Invisible-Man">The Invisible Man</keyword>," where the titular villain throws Elisabeth Moss' character across the table, is actually a bunch of shots stitched together.</p><p>First, the crew filmed Elisabeth as she was about to be thrown. Next, they swapped in the actor's stunt double and filmed her being thrown by another stunt performer in a green suit. Then they swapped in Elisabeth again. In postproduction, VFX artists combined the plates, then digitally erased the green-suit performer and the ropes used for the stunt.</p><p>For it all to match up perfectly, the crew had to shoot the whole thing with a motion-controlled camera, which could be programmed to perform precise, repeatable camera movements.</p><p>That wasn't the only bit of camera trickery in the film. On the last day of shooting, when filming this scene, the camera team had to get what they called "an impossible shot" -- one that involved passing a camera out of a moving car into another moving car, all in one smooth handoff.</p><p>"Extraction" marked the directorial debut of Sam Hargrave, the veteran stunt coordinator behind "Atomic Blonde" and a number of Marvel movies. Naturally, then, the Netflix thriller was full of daredevil stunt work -- just as much from the camera crew as from the actors and stunt performers.</p><p>The centerpiece of the film was what the crew referred to as "the oner" -- an extended fight scene made to look like one continuous shot. Sam is familiar with big, long action sequences from working on the famous one-shot fight in "Atomic Blonde." But this one for "Extraction" required Sam to take us right into the middle of the action, even strapping himself to the hood of a chase vehicle. Just to get this one smooth shot taking us from outside to inside a car, he had to unstrap himself from that one car, run over to the other vehicle, and then repeat the same shot twice. This is what you call a stitch point, one of the invisible cuts that joined about 36 different segments into what looks like one long, seamless 12-minute take.</p><p>For the third installment in the "Bill &amp; Ted" franchise, special effects legend Kevin Yagher created special bodysuits for scenes where Bill and Ted meet future versions of themselves.</p><p>The process began with lifecasts of Alex Winter and Keanu Reeves' bodies, which were then used to sculpt the shape of the actors' suits, both the muscle suits they wear in the prison scene and Keanu's fat suit worn in a different scene. Kevin and his team sculpted and spray-painted tiny details like pores and veins onto the muscle suits and added bags of beads into Keanu's fat suit to get just the right jiggle in his belly.</p><p>[beads shaking]</p><p>The rollout of the "<keyword id="163980" type="COMPANY" weightage="60" keywordseo="Sonic">Sonic</keyword>" movie got off to a rough start when the first trailer was met with backlash from fans who objected to this Sonic's disturbingly realistic appearance. In response, the VFX artists gave the character an overhaul, making his eyes bigger, his mouth more animated, and his nose and limbs more cartoonish, more like the original design in the video games.</p><p>Just about everyone liked the redesign better, including the man behind the hedgehog, actor and comedian Ben Schwartz. Ben not only lent his voice to Sonic, but also provided facial motion capture to inform the character's animation. On set, they used different stand-ins for Sonic to give costars like James Marsden something tangible to interact with, whether it was a blue stuffy or just a ball on a tripod.</p><p>We saw CGI turn man into hedgehog. What about turning man into dog?</p><p>In this year's remake of "The Call of the Wild," veteran motion-capture performer Terry Notary provided an incredible mo-cap performance for the movie's canine protagonist, Buck. Having Terry on set provided a raw-size reference for the other actors and gave costars someone to interact with emotionally.</p><p>For Buck's design, the filmmakers used the reference of a real-life shelter dog, whose own name happens to be Buckley. To help guide the animation of the many dog and wolf characters in the film, the team brought in five other dogs for a mo-cap playtime session. But don't worry; no pups were involved in the filming of this scene, where Buck and John Thornton navigate a treacherous river.</p><p>The filmmakers enlisted a stuntperson to shoot the real deal on a river in British Columbia. They then combined the on-location shots with blue-screen footage of Harrison Ford paddling on a canoe gimbal, filmed on a motion-controlled camera that allowed for some particularly cinematic, sweeping shots. Finally, VFX artists digitally added Harrison's canine friend into the mix in postproduction.</p><p>The character in "Onward" that presented Pixar with the most challenges was this guy, known simply as Dad. He's introduced when Ian, voiced by Tom Holland, carries out a spell to conjure up his late father, but only half of his body appears.</p><p>Pixar's animators spent a lot of time on Dad's first scene to make sure it would capture the force and unpredictability of magic. They even took turns blasting each other with a leaf blower to get a feel for what the conjuring effect should look like.</p><p>From there, the challenge was giving life to a pair of pants, a task that forced Pixar to bring its cloth technology to a new level. The studio used a process called simulation to program how a character's clothing should respond to his or her movements and the different forces acting on them. But because Dad's upper half is all clothes and no body, simulation played an even bigger role than usual.</p><p>To figure out how a person would move if he were missing his top half, Pixar's animators took turns putting on green suits with khakis and moving around in front of a green screen. Later, they digitally removed their top halves and used the footage as reference for what Dad's body language might look like.</p><p>"The Call of the Wild" wasn't the only film where CG animals figured prominently. The majority of scenes in "Dolittle" feature live-action humans and CG animals interacting in some way.</p><p>The tricky part of that: making sure the humans were looking in the right places during filming. Nailing the eyelines was especially challenging with a character like Betsy the giraffe. To help guide the actors on set, the crew used stuffy props as stand-ins for the CG animals and got creative from there.</p><p>Like with Betsy, for instance. They ended up sticking a giraffe head on a long pole, which got driven around on a motor cart. In another scene, Robert Downey Jr. needed to ride the ostrich Plimpton into Buckingham Palace. So they devised a gimballed riding rig that they could later replace with a CG creature, voiced by Kumail Nanjiani.</p><p>The action-heavy "<keyword id="3367480" type="PERSON" weightage="60" keywordseo="Birds-Of-Prey">Birds of Prey</keyword>" involved a lot of physical preparation, with each actor's training program tailored to her particular character. Since Harley Quinn is a whimsical and unpredictable fighter, Margot Robbie's stunt work involved a lot of gymnastics.</p><p>Black Canary's fighting style was supposed to be more grounded with a lot of legwork, so Jurnee Smollett-Bell's preparation combined tae kwon do and kickboxing. And Mary Elizabeth Winstead adopted judo, jujitsu, and karate to play Huntress, the deadly-accurate assassin who's all about precision.</p><p>Early on in Netflix's "Project Power," there's an unforgettable scene where Machine Gun Kelly's character spontaneously bursts into flames. To figure out how to turn MGK into a human fireball, the effects team first set stuntpeople on fire in a series of camera tests.</p><p>Then they came up with a breakthrough: an LED suit that would be embedded within layers of burn prosthetics. The LEDs were programmed to illuminate the actor as his character is seen exploding in flames. The gruesome prosthetics helped hide the LED strips, along with all the wires and battery packs.</p><p>For MGK, this meant spending five hours in the makeup chair every day of shooting to get hundreds of prosthetic pieces glued on over 95% of his body. The process was so intensive that the rapper started just sleeping in his body prosthetics, and did so for five days straight, even wearing them for a night out on the town with costar Jamie Foxx.</p><p>For Netflix's "Jingle Jangle," the biggest challenge was creating a fantastical world where magic and spontaneous musical numbers would feel right at home.</p><p>To make Jeronicus fly in this scene, the crew attached Forest Whitaker to wire rigs, later removed in postproduction.</p><p>Another particularly fun sequence, the kids' factory escape, was shot in front of a blue screen, with the two young actors rigged to the wooden chest. VFX artists later added in the tunnel and the giant fan and fireball.</p><p>In this comic-book adaptation, Charlize Theron's character is supposed to have 6,000 years of martial arts experience, ranging from Greco-Roman wrestling to Filipino stick work. Charlize had to do intense combat training so she could look effortless handling both modern and ancient weapons.</p><p>Of course, the star is no stranger to this kind of hardcore training, having done a lot of her own stunts for "Atomic Blonde" and "Mad Max." The "Old Guard" fight coordinator, Danny Hernandez, told Insider that Charlize and Kiki Layne spent four months training for the film's major fight sequence, where their characters engage in epic hand-to-hand combat inside a plane mid-flight.</p><p>The payoff? The actors were able to pull off 90% of the fight themselves, without stunt doubles.</p><p>How does this shot become this? Through the process of CG lighting, which was especially important to building the magical worlds of Netflix's animated film "Over the Moon."</p><p>Creative lighting helped emphasize the dreamy light coming from the moon, which plays a central role in the story. In this shot, the lighting team is perfecting the big, bright moon reflections in Fei Fei's eyes. And in this shot, they're balancing the different light sources coming from the moon, the kitchen, and the colorful lanterns.</p><p>These decisions about the intensity and placement of lights are laid out early on in color scripts, which are like artistic blueprints, expressing the mood of any given scene.</p><p>For the scenes set on Lunaria, the artists wanted the light to be overpowering and the colors vibrant and bold to give an otherworldly aura to the moon kingdom and invoke a sense of awe in the audience.</p><p>The horror movie slash political satire "The Hunt" follows a group of liberals hunting conservatives for sport, so there were lots of opportunities for practical gore <keyword id="37533" type="ENTERTAINMENT" weightage="60" keywordseo="Behind-the-scenes">behind the scenes</keyword>.</p><p>But the most talked-about sequence was the climactic kitchen fight between Betty Gilpin and Hilary Swank. To make the head-to-head between these two characters feel as messy as possible, the crew designed a special set that was made to be destroyed.</p><p>The set included foam floors, a chimney rigged with squibs, and a bunch of household-item breakaway props that were built to be broken, just like this glass window, which shatters in this scene. It was like a twisted jungle gym, meant to serve as the ideal backdrop for all the chaotic violence.</p><p>So, did we miss anything? And what do you think were the most impressive effects of 2020?</p><p>Let us know in the comments.</p>

A behind-the-scenes look at 2020's biggest movies

The Statue of Justice wearing a blindfold signifies that Justice must be meted out impartially, without fear or favour. But what is preventing us from safeguarding those whom the Law is meant to protect? There was Satyendra Dubey, murdered in 2003 for exposing corruption in a government-run highway project where he was an engineer. There was Manjunath Shanmugam, an official working with a public sector oil major, who was shot dead by the petrol adulteration mafia in 2005. And more recently in 2012, bureaucrat SP Mahantesh succumbed to his injuries following an attack, after whistleblowing on irregular land allotments.<br />
 <br /> It took the <keyword id="145182" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="40" keywordseo="Indian-Parliament">Indian Parliament</keyword> nearly half a decade to pass a law to set up a national corruption ombudsman. It remains to be seen how many whistleblowers will have to pay with their lives before they have a law to shield them.<br />
 <br />
<strong>Trial and error</strong><br /> The central government’s spin doctors will, undoubtedly, point to the Whistle-Blowers Protection Bill, 2011, as evidence of their commitment to the cause of protecting India’s whistleblowers. And they will blame the Opposition for holding up the Parliament (ironically, on charges of government corruption), which has prevented <keyword id="250148" type="ENTERTAINMENT" weightage="40" keywordseo="The-Bill">the Bill</keyword> from getting passed.<br />
 <br /> They will also deflect questions about the apathy that prevailed since 2004, when the <keyword id="6354977" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="40" keywordseo="Supreme-Court">Supreme Court</keyword> had first instructed the government to create a robust whistleblower mechanism, in the wake of the Satyendra Dubey tragedy.<br />
 <br /> The government’s response at the time was disappointing. It instructed the corruption watchdog, the <keyword id="55819" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="80" keywordseo="Central-Vigilance-Commission">Central Vigilance Commission</keyword> (CVC), to do something so that the fig leaf for compliance could be presented to the courts. A look at the <a href="http://cvc.nic.in/pidpi.htm">relevant section</a> of the CVC’s website dealing with whistleblowers will amply illustrate that it is a poor apology even for a fig leaf.<br />
 <br />
Despite widespread corruption that led to the currently popular ‘India Against Corruption’ initiative, data show that the CVC only registered around 1,300 complaints between 2005 and 2008. Moreover, in around 950 cases, the action recommended by the CVC was not implemented by the concerned authorities. While tigers could be close to extinction in India, it seems there is no shortage of toothless tigers when it comes to fighting corruption.<br />
 <br />
The much-vaunted Bill does no better, unfortunately.<br />
 <br />
<strong>The not-so-fine print</strong><br /> A quick comparison of the present draft of the Bill with the <keyword id="6368295" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="60" keywordseo="law-commission">Law Commission</keyword>’s recommendations on whistleblowing in 2001 and the international laws governing whistleblowing throws up some glaring deficiencies.<br />
 <br />
Anonymity of the complainant is most crucial for the effectiveness of whistleblowing. Yet, the Bill does not guarantee this, leaving it to the CVC’s discretion to disclose the identity of the complainant. The Law Commission report had left the decision to go public to the complainant.<br />
 <br />
Disclosures can only be made against public servants and not elected representatives. In a country where politicians in power and bureaucrats operate an unholy nexus, reversing the Law Commission’s recommendation is borderline farcical.<br />
 <br />
Victimisation or harassment of a complainant through transfer or other administrative measures is left undefined. Therefore, seeking protection against such acts will be difficult. Forget the US and the UK; even Ghana’s laws have specific provisions regarding victimisation and penalties for the same.<br />
 <br />
Although the Law Commission has recommended that inquiries should be completed between 6 months and 2 years after a complaint comes in, the Bill has not prescribed any time limit for investigation or disposal. More discretion and more opportunities for abuse.<br />
 <br />
Most modern laws on whistleblowing are not just limited to corruption but also cover negligence and maladministration. However, in a country that has seen a spate of train accidents and declining standards of safety in the public sector monopoly that runs the Indian Railways, the Bill will not entertain any potential whistleblower.<br />
 <br />
The most damning indictment of the Bill, however, lies in the status quo regarding the power of the CVC to enforce action against those found guilty. Ignoring the Law Commission’s recommendation that the CVC should be empowered to direct criminal proceedings, the Bill has continued to hobble the CVC by not allowing it to go beyond recommending measures to the concerned authorities.<br />
 <br />
This is despite the CVC’s recommendations having been blithely ignored in the past!<br />
 <br />
<strong>High treason</strong><br /> As India plays catch-up with modern democracies, the public debate should also reflect on how all the whistle-blower protection in the world did not prevent the US from persecuting Ed <keyword id="6423563" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="40" keywordseo="Snowden">Snowden</keyword>. Condemned as a traitor even though the US courts have different legal opinions regarding his acts and in spite of the public opinion firmly in his favour, Snowden has to take refuge in a foreign country today. It seems patriotism could be the last refuge of crooks who can hide blatant examples of malfeasance under the cloak of secrecy and security.<br />
 <br />
India’s whistleblowers don’t lack the courage to do what is necessary for public good. So it is time for the masses to blow the whistle on a weak Bill that betrays its very purpose.<br />
<br />
Image: ThinkStock<br />

India’s
Whistleblowers Can’t Escape Foul Play

<p><div class="image-container float_right" style="width:480px"><div class="image"><p class="source">AFP/Martin Aircraft Company Limited</p><p class="caption">A personal jetpack developed by Martin Aircraft Company with a pilot strapped in place, pictured August 2013. The personal flying machines are to cost an estimated $150,000-$200,000 when they go on sale.</p></div></div>The New Zealand developers of a personalised jetpack said Tuesday that aviation regulators have issued the device with a flying permit, allowing for manned test flights.</p>
<p>Martin Aircraft chief executive Peter Coker said the certification was a significant milestone in the development of the jetpack, which the company hopes to begin selling next year.</p>
<p>"For us it's a very important step because it moves it out of what I call a dream into something which I believe we're now in a position to commercialise and take forward very quickly," Coker told <keyword id="68053" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="60" keywordseo="AFP">AFP</keyword>.</p>
<p>The jetpack is the brainchild of inventor Glenn Martin, who began working on it in his Christchurch garage more than 30 years ago.</p>
<p>Inspired by childhood television shows such as "Thunderbirds" and "Lost in Space", Martin set out in the early 1980s to create a jetpack suitable for everyday use by ordinary people with no specialist pilot training.</p>
<p>His jetpack consists of a pair of cylinders containing propulsion fans attached to a free-standing carbon-fibre frame.</p>
<p>The pilot backs into the frame, straps himself in and controls the wingless jetpack with two joysticks.</p>
<p>While the jetpack's concept is simple enough -- Time magazine likened it to two enormous leaf blowers welded together -- fine-tuning it into an aircraft that is safe and easy to use has been a lengthy process.</p>
<p>Coker said the latest prototype, the P12, incorporated huge design improvements over earlier versions.</p>
<p>"Changing the position of the jetpack's ducts has resulted in a quantum leap in performance over the previous prototype, especially in terms of the aircraft's maneuverability," he said.</p>
<p>Coker said a specialised version of the jetpack designed for the military and "first responder" emergency crews such as firefighters should be ready for delivery by mid-2014.</p>
<p>A simpler model aimed at the general public is expected to be on the market in 2015.</p>
<p>The price of your own personal flying machine is estimated at US$150,000-250,000, although Coker said the cost was likely to come down over time.</p>
<p>It comes with a rocket-propelled parachute if anything goes wrong.</p>
<p>In May 2011, a remote control Martin jetpack carrying a dummy pilot soared 1,500 metres (5,000 feet) above the South Island's Canterbury Plains as its creator watched anxiously from a helicopter hovering nearby.</p>
<p>The New Zealand Civil Aviation Authority said the jetpack had now been issued with an experimental flight permit for development test flying, which allows someone to pilot the aircraft.</p>
<p>It said the test flights would be subject to strict safety requirements, with flights not allowed any higher than 20 feet (six metres) above the ground or 25 feet above water.</p>
<p>The flights are also limited to test areas over uninhabited land.</p>
<div class="nc_footer">
<p>Copyright (2013) AFP. All rights reserved.</p>
</div>
<p></p>

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