Quote: @Akvike said:
@ MaroonBells said:
@ purplefaithful said:
New York (CNN Business) — Fans will be in the stands for this Major League Baseball season, after all — just not real ones.
Fox ( FOX) Sports will debut "virtual fans" in its live MLB broadcasts during the shortened 2020 season, the network announced Thursday. Baseball kicks off Thursday night as the Washington Nationals take on the New York Yankees on ESPN. But Fox will air dozens of games this season, and they'll replace empty seats and quiet stadiums with CGI fans and fake crowd noise.The move is the latest effort to bring back fans — and advertisers — to baseball during the Covid-19 pandemic, after the league announced that spectators would not be allowed to attend games in person.These fans, developed by Silver Spoon Animation, will look and move like real people, and can be customized for each game.
"If it's an 8-1 game, the crowd can be thinned out," Brad Zager, executive producer and executive vice-president for Fox Sports, told Variety in an interview.Empty baseball stadiums have given the preseason an eerie quality. Some stadiums are pumping in crowd noise, while others have cardboard cutouts of fans.
![This screen grab from FOX Sports depicts virtual fans that will fill the stands for MLB games]( "Image: null") This screen grab from FOX Sports depicts virtual fans that will fill the stands for MLB games
The regular season will have its own challenges. The league announced that each team will play only 60 games this season, compared to the standard 162. Fewer players and personnel will be allowed in dugouts to maintain social distancing.
But, so far, networks have been selling advertising space at an even faster ratethan usual. Fox Sports has sold more than 90% of its ad inventory for the regular season, while a Disney ( DIS) ad sales spokesperson previously told CNN that ESPN "sold out of inventory for the opening week and the rest of the regular season."
I thought they might, and should, do this. Curious to see what this looks like, but with technology the way it is, I wonder if we'll notice much of a difference.
Sounds like a great idea---imagine purchasing the avatar rights to a particular virtual fan with real time uploadable capabilities. Maroonbells Virtual fan could be jumping up and down screaming cursing etc. while wearing a major brewery Tshirt making coin as joe fan for the regular man.
Oh damn...you're either on something or onto something. B)
Can you imagine being able to manipulate your avatar in the stands---but now that you mention it I am on so decent pain meds for a blocked vein
[quote]
@ MaroonBells said:
@ Akvike said:
@ MaroonBells said:
@ purplefaithful said:
New York (CNN Business) — Fans will be in the stands for this Major League Baseball season, after all — just not real ones.
Fox ( FOX) Sports will debut "virtual fans" in its live MLB broadcasts during the shortened 2020 season, the network announced Thursday. Baseball kicks off Thursday night as the Washington Nationals take on the New York Yankees on ESPN. But Fox will air dozens of games this season, and they'll replace empty seats and quiet stadiums with CGI fans and fake crowd noise.The move is the latest effort to bring back fans — and advertisers — to baseball during the Covid-19 pandemic, after the league announced that spectators would not be allowed to attend games in person.These fans, developed by Silver Spoon Animation, will look and move like real people, and can be customized for each game.
"If it's an 8-1 game, the crowd can be thinned out," Brad Zager, executive producer and executive vice-president for Fox Sports, told Variety in an interview. Empty baseball stadiums have given the preseason an eerie quality. Some stadiums are pumping in crowd noise, while others have cardboard cutouts of fans.
Quote: @purplefaithful said:
This be MB's avatar in the stands....
Sporting the MAGA hat & Donald Pump Tank.
![[Image: 1*5Z4gc0OfPsbam4G-ypOl2Q.jpeg]](https://miro.medium.com/max/720/1*5Z4gc0OfPsbam4G-ypOl2Q.jpeg)
...ironically.
[quote]
@ purplefaithful said:
@ MaroonBells said:
@ Akvike said:
@ MaroonBells said:
@ purplefaithful said:
New York (CNN Business) — Fans will be in the stands for this Major League Baseball season, after all — just not real ones.
Fox ( FOX) Sports will debut "virtual fans" in its live MLB broadcasts during the shortened 2020 season, the network announced Thursday. Baseball kicks off Thursday night as the Washington Nationals take on the New York Yankees on ESPN. But Fox will air dozens of games this season, and they'll replace empty seats and quiet stadiums with CGI fans and fake crowd noise.The move is the latest effort to bring back fans — and advertisers — to baseball during the Covid-19 pandemic, after the league announced that spectators would not be allowed to attend games in person.These fans, developed by Silver Spoon Animation, will look and move like real people, and can be customized for each game.
"If it's an 8-1 game, the crowd can be thinned out," Brad Zager, executive producer and executive vice-president for Fox Sports, told Variety in an interview.Empty baseball stadiums have given the preseason an eerie quality. Some stadiums are pumping in crowd noise, while others have cardboard cutouts of fans.
The guy in the blue t-shirt and flannel top looks like he's been getting away with murders in the area for the last 10 years and police don't have a clue.
Fauci says he has been assigned personal security after receiving 'serious threats' to his family
Dr. Anthony Fauci, the top infectious diseases expert on the White House coronavirus task force, says he and his family have been assigned personal security after receiving "serious threats."
Speaking on CNN's "The Axe Files" podcast, Fauci said the threats were of a different magnitude from those he received while working on the federal government's response to the HIV/AIDS pandemic in the 1980s and 1990s.
"I've seen a side of society that I guess is understandable, but it's a little bit disturbing," he said. "Back in the days of HIV when I was being criticized with some hate mail, it was, you know, people calling me a gay-lover and 'what the hell are you wasting a lot of time on that?'"
"I mean, things that you would just push aside as stupid people saying stupid things," Fauci said.
But the criticism this year is "really a magnitude different now, because of the anger," he said.
"As much as people inappropriately, I think, make me somewhat of a hero — and I'm not a hero, I'm just doing my job — there are people who get really angry at thinking I'm interfering with their life because I'm pushing a public-health agenda," he continued.
He said he received "not only hate mail but also serious threats — it's not good. I don't see how society does that. It's tough. Serious threats against me, against my family … my daughters, my wife — I mean, really? Is this the United States of America?"
https://www.businessinsider.com/fauci-given-personal-security-after-threats-family-2020-7
Quote: @MaroonBells said:
Fauci says he has been assigned personal security after receiving 'serious threats' to his family
Dr. Anthony Fauci, the top infectious diseases expert on the White House coronavirus task force, says he and his family have been assigned personal security after receiving "serious threats."
Speaking on CNN's "The Axe Files" podcast, Fauci said the threats were of a different magnitude from those he received while working on the federal government's response to the HIV/AIDS pandemic in the 1980s and 1990s.
"I've seen a side of society that I guess is understandable, but it's a little bit disturbing," he said. "Back in the days of HIV when I was being criticized with some hate mail, it was, you know, people calling me a gay-lover and 'what the hell are you wasting a lot of time on that?'"
"I mean, things that you would just push aside as stupid people saying stupid things," Fauci said.
But the criticism this year is "really a magnitude different now, because of the anger," he said.
"As much as people inappropriately, I think, make me somewhat of a hero — and I'm not a hero, I'm just doing my job — there are people who get really angry at thinking I'm interfering with their life because I'm pushing a public-health agenda," he continued.
He said he received "not only hate mail but also serious threats — it's not good. I don't see how society does that. It's tough. Serious threats against me, against my family … my daughters, my wife — I mean, really? Is this the United States of America?"
https://www.businessinsider.com/fauci-given-personal-security-after-threats-family-2020-7
Not really what I ever thought would be a "Great Society", I guess I am just naive. Whats the opposite of the Midas Touch.
[quote]
@ StickyBun said:
@ purplefaithful said:
@ MaroonBells said:
@ Akvike said:
@ MaroonBells said:
@ purplefaithful said:
New York (CNN Business) — Fans will be in the stands for this Major League Baseball season, after all — just not real ones.
Fox ( FOX) Sports will debut "virtual fans" in its live MLB broadcasts during the shortened 2020 season, the network announced Thursday. Baseball kicks off Thursday night as the Washington Nationals take on the New York Yankees on ESPN. But Fox will air dozens of games this season, and they'll replace empty seats and quiet stadiums with CGI fans and fake crowd noise.The move is the latest effort to bring back fans — and advertisers — to baseball during the Covid-19 pandemic, after the league announced that spectators would not be allowed to attend games in person.These fans, developed by Silver Spoon Animation, will look and move like real people, and can be customized for each game.
"If it's an 8-1 game, the crowd can be thinned out," Brad Zager, executive producer and executive vice-president for Fox Sports, told Variety in an interview.Empty baseball stadiums have given the preseason an eerie quality. Some stadiums are pumping in crowd noise, while others have cardboard cutouts of fans.
The guy in the blue t-shirt and flannel top looks like he's been getting away with murders in the area for the last 10 years and police don't have a clue.
That's the Uncle Bob, the one you never leave alone with the kids at the family reunion picnic...
Trump's national security adviser Robert O'Brien has coronavirusNational Security Adviser Robert O'Brien has tested positive for the coronavirus — making him the highest-ranking official to test positive so far.
WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump's National Security Adviser Robert O'Brien has tested positive for the coronavirus — making him the highest-ranking official to test positive so far.
That's according to two people familiar with the situation who spoke on condition of anonymity because they weren't authorized to discuss it by name.
The White House confirmed that O'Brien has mild symptoms and “has been self-isolating and working from a secure location off site,” adding that: “There is no risk of exposure to the President or the Vice President" and that the "work of the National Security Council continues uninterrupted.”
The news was first reported by Bloomberg News, which said O’Brien came down with the virus after a family event.
A personal valet to the president and the vice president's press secretary previously tested positive for the virus, which has now infected more than 4 million people nationwide.
Senior White House staff and anyone who comes into close contact with the president and vice president are tested for the virus every day.
Google will let employees work from home until at least next summer (CNN) — Google ( GOOG) will let employees work from home until at least July 2021, a company spokesperson said on Monday.
The company had previously said most employees would be working remotely through the end of 2020, with some employees being allowed back into the office sooner. But the decision to extend the remote work policy well into next year indicates that one of the world's largest tech companies is bracing for a long pandemic — and could prompt other businesses to follow suit. In a memo to employees, a copy of which was obtained by CNN Business, Google CEO Sundar Pichai said the company has reopened 42 offices around the world.
"To give employees the ability to plan ahead, we'll be extending our global voluntary work from home option through June 30, 2021 for roles that don't need to be in the office," Pichai wrote. "I hope this will offer the flexibility you need to balance work with taking care of yourselves and your loved ones over the next 12 months."
https://www.cnn.com/2020/07/27/tech/goog...index.html
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