Are there any free agents left that the Suns should target? - Bright Side Of The Sun

Late July. The true dog days of summer. The beauty of the NBA is it is a league typically has an 11-month news cycle. We have the NBA Draft, free agency, NBA Summer League, preseason, the regular season, the trade deadline, the playoff race, the playoffs, and the finals. There isn’t much going on for a short period of time between late July and early August.

That doesn’t stop the Phoenix Suns from being in the spotlight. They have been linked to Kevin Durant and every day we are eagerly watching that sweepstakes to see whether or not we are chosen to be the destination for the 12-time All Star. As we patiently wait for that announcement, there are still some viable options available on the free-agent market that the Phoenix Suns could theoretically utilize to fill their roster.

Everything is predicated on the Durant decision, for if he ends up in Phoenix and the depth of the team is gutted, you can expect to hear some of these following names signed to deals that will allow the Suns to field the roster of 15.

We don’t know what would have to go to Brooklyn in an effort to bring Durant here. We all have an idea, but you don’t know until you know. Let’s look at these free agent names through the lens of we aren’t getting Durant. It’s most likely the most viable option anyways.

The Phoenix Suns are currently rushing 14 of their 15 total players. Here is how the roster stands as of the authoring of this article:

The clear need, especially considering the James Jones “three-by-five” philosophy, is the backup to the backup small forward. But the flexibility of newly acquired Josh Okogie and Damion Lee could make up for that deficiency in that position.

What is needed? Another guard? A wing? Who is available? Put on your SCUBA gear, because we’re diving in.

The ‘Go Get ‘Em’ Tier

There aren’t very many players left who we should deem as “go get”. Given that Phoenix is subject to the luxury tax, a $1.5M deal isn’t actually worth that much after taxes. The 2022-23 NBA season will hold a luxury tax of $150.3M, and current Suns’ salaries are currently totaling $167.2M, which is 6th highest in the NBA. The team projects to have a $39.9M luxury tax bill.

Seeing as the Suns are currently $16.9M over the cap, based on the salary that they would pay the incoming free agent, they would pay $3.25 for every dollar over the cap. So if they brought in someone on a $1.75M deal, they would have to pay $5.69M towards the cap.

Therefore, the player you’re bringing in would have to justify that cap hit. I’m sure it’s more complicated than that – you need a PhD to understand all of the complexities of the NBA cap and I don’t have that degree – but here are a couple of players who could fit the bill if needed.

Montrezl Harrell

The Suns appear to be good at the power forward position. But are they? Harrell possesses physicality, size, and energy at the four, which are attributes the Suns could always use.

The 28 year-old Harrell averaged 13.1 points and 6.1 rebounds in 23.1 minutes off of the bench last season for both the Washington Wizards and Charlotte Hornets.

The challenge facing anyone attempting to sign Harrell? He is facing felony drug charges in the state of Kentucky after being stopped with three pounds of vacuum sealed marijuana. So there’s that…

Dennis Schröder

Once upon a time, Dennis Schröder was reportedly offered a four year, $84M contract with the Los Angeles Lakers. He turned it down prior to the start of the 2021-22 season, opting to bet on himself and garner a larger contract elsewhere.

That contract never came.

He signed with the Boston Celtics for 1 year and $5.9M. In 49 games with Boston, Schröder scored 14.4 points and added 4.2 assists. He played in 49 games with the Celtics, starting 25. The team was 31-25 when they chose to trade him to the Houston Rockets for Daniel Theis.

Boston would finish the regular season 16-6 and march to the NBA Finals. Schröder would play in 15 games for the Rockets, starting 4, and become an unrestricted free agent.

He is still unsigned.

He will be 29 years old when the NBA season begins and has 9 years of NBA experience. The former 17th overall pick in the 2013 NBA Draft has history with Chris Paul; the two played together in Oklahoma City in 2019-20, which saw the best production of his career.

Schroder would be an ideal fit with the Suns if he came in, and in true Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson fashion, knew his role jabroni.

Ish Wainright

Because, c’mon, we love Ish!

The ‘I Wouldn’t Mind’ Tier

There are certain names out there who could fit in with Phoenix depending on their skill set and what they could bring to the bench. We’re not searching for expected All-Stars in free agency; rather, we’re looking for guys who can fill in should injuries strike.

Here are a couple of players that I would not mind seeing the Suns add to the roster.

Facundo Campazzo

He annoys you. He annoys me. He could annoy the opposition for both of us. And we’d enjoy the heck out of it.

Campazzo was one of the annoyances of the 2021 NBA Playoffs run for the Suns, and even as Phoenix infamously swept the Denver Nuggets, Facundo Campazzo sparked emotions that would be mirrored by New Orleans Pelicans’ Jose Alvardo a season later.

The 5’10” Campazzo, who averaged 5.6 points and 3.5 assists in 130 games with Denver through two seasons, might be small. But he has a championship level heart, winning the EuroLeague Championship twice (2015 and 2018), Spanish League Championship three times (2015, 2018, 2019), and the Argentine League Championship four times (2010, 2011, 2012, 2014).

The Suns wouldn’t need him often, but when Monty Williams called upon him, he’d get maximum effort.

Carmelo Anthony

I’m just as shocked as you that I would consider this, but if you need someone to come off of the bench and provide an offensive spark – something we shouldn;t expect from Josh Okogie – why not bring in a hired gun who knows how to do just that?

Melo has been doing this for the past few seasons, going from team to team as he seeks his first professional championship. The 10-time All Star has played for six teams, most recently logging minutes in LA. He played 26 minutes a night with the Lakers, scoring 13.3 points in 69 games (3 starts).

The old guy can still score.

He’ll be 38 next season and, if the contract is right, why not? Oh, because of the whole “chemistry” thing? Yeah, I hear you there. Melo is a big personality who demands attention and the ball. But if his banana boat buddy Chris Paul can set the proper expectations of his role, having someone who could contribute offensively never hurts.

The ‘Please Don’t’ Tier

Some guys are left that carry with them recognizable names — a la Carmelo Anthony – but have no place on the Phoenix Suns roster.

Dwight Howard

Phoenix does not need any more depth at the five, let alone in the form of Dwight Howard. Muck akin to Carmelo Anthony, he played with the Lakers last season, hoping that the greatness of LeBron James would equate to another ring (he won one with the Lakers in 2020). Howard averaged 6.2 points and 5.9 rebounds at age 36.

From a locker room standpoint, however, Howard can be troublesome. Last season he got into it with Anthony Davis on the bench, an ominous occurrence as the Lakers had personnel issues and under-performed all season.

LaMarcus Aldridge, Hassan Whiteside, Blake Griffin, and/or Andre Iguodala

There are no viable arguments for bringing any of these players in. If this was 2015, yes, go get them. But if you are looking for price-for-value-paid, you will not find it with any of these players.

Elfrid Payton, Greg Monroe, Markieff Morris, Josh Jackson, and/or Eric Bledsoe

We’ve already seen these players in purple and orange. No need to see them again.

---

James Jones has plenty to focus on. The Durant Sweepstakes continues to dictate any moves going forward. If that deal falls through, however, I am sure there are free agents he is closing monitoring and evaluating as to whether or not they could contribute to this team.

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Alexey Molchanov on diving more than 39 stories deep while holding his breath for four and a half minutes - 60 Minutes - CBS News

If you've never heard of free diving, imagine this. Launching yourself hundreds of feet into the sea with little more than a mask, a If you've never heard of free diving, imagine this: launching yourself hundreds of feet into the sea with little more than a mask, a heavy dose of bravery and one deep breath.

Spear fisherman and pearl divers have been free diving for thousands of years. But a growing number of people are now doing it for sport.

There are hundreds of competitions around the world with athletes testing their limits, and good sense, by diving as deeply as they can without scuba gear. 

You may remember, our Bob Simon gave us a first glimpse into that world nine years ago.

Last September, we brought you the story of one man who is now dominating the sport - 35-year-old Russian free diver Alexey Molchanov. He is known within the diving community as "the machine" -- the undisputed king of the deep.

Off the turquoise coast of Long Island in the Bahamas you'll see Dean's Blue Hole. From overhead it looks like an ink well. 663 feet deep, it is the perfect place for dozens of the worlds elite free divers to try and re-write the sport's history. This is the annual "Vertical Blue Competition."

We went there to meet Alexey Molchanov.

  Alexey Molchanov

To watch him glide through the water is to glimpse something other-worldly. He looks part-Golden Poseidon, part-porpoise, kicking from the sparkling blue water into the dark.    

Molchanov can dive more than 39 stories deep – while holding a single breath for nearly five minutes.

Sharyn Alfonsi: It doesn't seem like a good idea to dive that deep and to hold your breath that long. 

Alexey Molchanov: Right. (LAUGH) For me it does. 

Sharyn Alfonsi: It does?

Alexey Molchanov: Right. I enjoy finding new boundaries and pushing them further because I know I can. I know through all these years and like thousands of hours of training and diving how well I can use my oxygen, how slowly I can use it and how efficient is my technique.

Sharyn Alfonsi: What does it feel like? 

Alexey Molchanov: It feels very much like flying actually. Very much like freedom.  Just pure joy of flying, like staying and feeling no urge to breathe.

Sharyn Alfonsi: But you're enjoying it. 

Alexey Molchanov: Yep. Yeah, without joy it doesn't work.

We were given the sports equivalent of a side-line pass. 

Our photographers circled beneath the surface as free divers tested themselves in four disciplines. With or without fins. With or without the use of a rope to pull them down.

Going into last year's competition, Molchanov held the world record in three of the four disciplines and wanted to break them all. We watched as he prepared for his most ambitious dive attempt 430 feet -- more than the length of a football field.

With judges looking on, he takes in his final breaths. He looks like a goldfish desperate for water, he's packing his lungs with air, then, slips beneath the water's surface, his whale-like monofin helping him fight buoyancy.

At around 65 feet he drops his arms to his side and enters free fall. His lungs are now a third of their surface size and he starts to sink. He is clipped to a dive line that can yank him back to safety. 

Once he reaches his designated depth, he grabs a tag to prove he's gone the distance.  

He's already been under water for almost two-and-half minutes.

Then, he begins the most dangerous part of the dive.

With his last reserves of air and his lungs now a tenth of their normal size, he transfers air between his mouth and sinuses, equalizing the pressure in his body, to prevent his ears from rupturing and makes his way slowly toward the light. 

A team of safety divers circling along the way.

But that's not it. He then has to prove he's alert - not disoriented by the water's crushing pressure – by giving the okay sign within 20 seconds of surfacing and then presenting his tag.

If he's unable to do this in this order, the dive is disqualified.

Alexey Molchanov’s world record dive 05:48

Molchanov does it. Diving 430 feet, for 4 minutes and 33 seconds, setting a new world record with a single breath.

Alexey Molchanov: In free diving during the dive, it's very important to be zen, very important to be relaxed and not to think about the goal, how far or deep you want to go because that will damage your mind state, your current state where you need to stay to be very focused, very still and relaxed.

Sharyn Alfonsi: People think of free diving as this very extreme sport. How dangerous is the sport of free diving?

Alexey Molchanov: The most dangerous side of free diving I would say is if you go out to sea and free dive alone, then that's very dangerous. Because there is a risk of blacking out underwater.

Blackouts happen when divers push their limits too far,

And oxygen reserves are drained. A fate that claims the lives of about 60 recreational free divers each year.  

That's something the world of competitive free diving has worked hard to prevent by adding safety divers, underwater monitoring and doctors at every event.    

There has only been one death during a competition in the last 20 years.  

Sharyn Alfonsi: Have you ever had a blackout?

Alexey Molchanov: I had. When I was a beginner free diver I would be very stubborn and I would push it to the end. I wouldn't listen to the signals my body gives to me. And now I have much better awareness of what's going on.

Sharyn Alfonsi: When I was sitting out there watching you guys dive the other day and I was watching the competitors, a lot of 'em would come up and they would gasp for air. And you emerged from the water, and you smiled. 

Alexey Molchanov: I think that's an essence of being able to do really deep dives and records. Like, it's very hard to do those deep dives being stressed and it would look from outside that it's really easy. But it's not. Of course, by the time I finish my dive, it's hard. My muscles are tired. They're heavy, they-- sometimes burning, muscles will be burning. And, I will feel that. But still I surface, and I train this positive mindset. So I, like, do a couple of recovery breaths. And then-- just this difference between a few seconds before and now, like, when I got those couple of breaths is so big-- that it just gives so much joy.

Alexey Molchanov's famously easy temperament is how 'the machine' earned his other nickname: "the golden retriever."

Sharyn Alfonsi: What's it like to compete against him?

Arnaud Jerald: For me it's like a dream. All the time he's laughing or smiling. All the time he enjoys life. And it's beautiful.

  Arnaud Jerald and Camilla Jaber

Arnaud Jerald and Camilla Jaber are friends and competitors with Molchanov. Jaber holds a national record for Mexico and Jerald has French records to his name.

Sharyn Alfonsi: What makes him so good?

Camila Jaber: That is a very good question.

Arnaud Jerald: I think experience.  

Camila Jaber: He has a very like, sportsman mindset. So, this confidence in himself, in his training, on what he believes on growing the sport. He's also encouraging and pushing other athletes to become better.

26-year-old Jerald is one of the only divers to have beaten one of Molchanov's records.

Sharyn Alfonsi: Do you push each other, do you think?

Arnaud Jerald: Yeah, we push each other – not too much because I'm less competitive than him.  I prefer a more romantic to Alexey. 

Sharyn Alfonsi: He's more competitive, you are more French?

Arnaud Jerald: Exactly.

Only a Russian might think this was a good idea.  

In 2020, Alexey Molchanov swam beneath a frozen quarry outside of Moscow. Holes were cut in the ice in case he needed to surface but he held his breath for nearly three minutes, swimming nearly 600 feet across.

Last spring, he stepped into the ice in Siberia, for a swim. It was 14 degrees outside when he broke another world record: the deepest dive under ice with fins. On a single breath, Molchanov swam to 262 feet deep in 37-degree water.

Sharyn Alfonsi: That does not sound joyful to me.

Alexey Molchanov: That was not. It wasn't as joyful as here for sure.

Sharyn Alfonsi: And does the cold add additional stresses to your body?

Alexey Molchanov: It does. It makes the face numb. And you just lose heat very fast and it-- it gives you a very short period of time when I was able to dive. And I would need to focus fast.

Molchanov gets 'dive ready' on land. He does daily stretches and deep breathing exercises  - something he calls "lung gymnastics" -  to  build diaphragm, rib and back mobility. 

Alexey Molchanov: I will just demonstrate. It's inhale, (BREATHES) full inhale, and then it's relaxation. And then there's this portion in the neck and in the mouth, which I-- which I just grab and then I push it in the lungs. 

Researchers who studied Molchanov and the impact of free diving on his body estimate he takes in two gallons of air before a dive.

It's a technique he learned from his mother, Natalia Molchanova, considered the greatest free diver of all time. She came to the sport at 40 years old after a successful swimming career in Russia.

Alexey Molchanov: She was my coach in swimming. And I was following her trainings. We would go together to the pool. She would do her training, I would do my training. So this transition to free diving and me following her as a free diver coach, that was very natural. She started to be like best, very, very fast and yeah, I was proud. I was very proud of her.

Sharyn Alfonsi: What did she teach you about the sport?

Alexey Molchanov: The main thing that she taught me about free diving is that I should enjoy it. It's not about records. Numbers come later. 

Together they took on the free diving world and commanded it. Alexey achieved his first world record at 21.

By the age of 53, his mother Natalia held 42 world records and 24 gold medals.

In 2015, she was teaching a free diving lesson off the coast of Spain when she disappeared. Her body was never found.

Sharyn Alfonsi: At that point, you kept free diving. No one would've blamed you if you had said, 'You know what, I'm done.' Why did you keep going?

Alexey Molchanov: I felt that free diving is actually the best thing for me to do. It was the best therapy being in the water.

Sharyn Alfonsi: Really?

Alexey Molchanov: Yeah cause it just helped me to be like in peace and helped to just live through that.

Molchanov swimming with a whale

Molchanov seems most at peace underwater, chasing whales, not records, and on land with his new son and wife Elena, a former Olympic swimmer. The family is expanding the free diving schools his mother started, certifying hundreds of instructors in 20 countries. 

And as the sport grows, Alexey Molchanov seems confident about his place in it. At 35, he holds two dozen world records.

Sharyn Alfonsi: You don't think you've reached your limit to free dive as deeply as you could?

Alexey Molchanov: No, no. I don't think that. I know with all the skills I have, with all the mind-control I have, I can go deeper and so because I can, then I will.

Produced by Ashley Velie. Associate producer, Jennifer Dozor. Broadcast associate,Elizabeth Germino. Edited by Peter M. Berman.

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Alexey Molchanov on diving more than 39 stories deep while holding his breath for four and a half minutes - 60 Minutes - CBS News
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Free backpacks, school supplies presented to kids at School Rocks Backpack Giveaway - SILive.com

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- Looks like everyone is getting ready to go back to school.

Children and parents lined up outside of Verizon Wireless for the School Rocks Backpack Giveaway, Sunday afternoon, for a free backpack and school supplies.

Children and parents lined up outside of Verizon Wireless for the School Rocks Backpack Giveaway, Sunday afternoon. (Kayla Simas/Staten Island Advance)

The 10th annual giveaway was hosted by Wireless Matrix, a Verizon Authorized Retailer, at two Staten Island locations, from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.

Children and parents lined up outside of Verizon Wireless for the School Rocks Backpack Giveaway, Sunday afternoon. (Kayla Simas/Staten Island Advance)

The backpacks had multiple compartments and came in several colors -- blue, pink, camouflage, black, and more.

Supplies and backpacks were given while supplies lasted. Supplies included notepads and pencils.

Children and parents lined up outside of Verizon Wireless for the School Rocks Backpack Giveaway, Sunday afternoon. (Kayla Simas/Staten Island Advance)

The locations for the giveaways were 1267 Forest Ave., located at the shopping center near Jewett Avenue, and 658 Forest Ave., at the Verizon Wireless store near Bement Avenue.

Children and parents lined up outside of Verizon Wireless for the School Rocks Backpack Giveaway, Sunday afternoon. (Kayla Simas/Staten Island Advance)

According to the website, students not only received school supplies, but their names were entered to win one of five $10,000 college scholarships.

The first day of classes for New York City public school students is Thursday, Sept. 8. The first day for students attending a Catholic school is Wednesday, Sept. 7.

Children and parents lined up outside of Verizon Wireless for the School Rocks Backpack Giveaway, Sunday afternoon. (Kayla Simas/Staten Island Advance)

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Forever young, beautiful and scandal-free: The rise of South Korea's virtual influencers - CNN

She's got more than 130,000 followers on Instagram, where she posts photos of her globetrotting adventures. Her makeup is always impeccable, her clothes look straight off the runway. She sings, dances and models -- and none of it is real.

Rozy is a South Korean "virtual influencer," a digitally rendered human so realistic she is often mistaken for flesh and blood.

"Are you a real person?" one of her Instagram fans asks. "Are you an AI? Or a robot?"

According to the Seoul-based company that created her, Rozy is a blend of all three who straddles the real and virtual worlds.

She is "able to do everything that humans cannot ... in the most human-like form," Sidus Studio X says on its website.

That includes raking in profits for the company in the multibillion-dollar advertising and entertainment worlds.

Since her launch in 2020, Rozy has landed brand deals and sponsorships, strutted the runway in virtual fashion shows and even released two singles.

And she's not alone.

The "virtual human" industry is booming, and with it a whole new economy in which the influencers of the future are never-aging, scandal-free and digitally flawless -- sparking alarm among some in a country already obsessed with unobtainable beauty standards.

How virtual influencers work

The CGI (computer-generated imagery) technology behind Rozy isn't new. It is ubiquitous in today's entertainment industry, where artists use it to craft realistic nonhuman characters in movies, computer games and music videos.

But it has only recently been used to make influencers.

Sometimes, Sidus Studio X creates an image of Rozy from head to toe using the technology, an approach that works well for her Instagram images. Other times it superimposes her head onto the body of a human model -- when she models clothing, for instance.

An image of Lucy, the Korean virtual human used by Lotte Home Shopping. Credit: Courtesy Lotte Home Shopping

South Korean retail brand Lotte Home Shopping created its virtual influencer -- Lucy, who has 78,000 Instagram followers -- with software usually used for video games.

Like their real-life counterparts, virtual influencers build a following through social media, where they post snapshots of their "lives" and interact with their fans. Rozy's account shows her "traveling" to Singapore and enjoying a glass of wine on a rooftop while her fans compliment her outfits.

Older generations might consider interacting with an artificial person somewhat odd. But experts say virtual influencers have struck a chord with younger Koreans, digital natives who spend much of their lives online.

Lee Na-kyoung, a 23-year-old living in Incheon, began following Rozy about two years ago thinking she was a real person.

Rozy followed her back, sometimes commenting on her posts, and a virtual friendship blossomed -- one that has endured even after Lee found out the truth.

"We communicated like friends and I felt comfortable with her -- so I don't think of her as an AI but a real friend," Lee said.

"I love Rozy's content," Lee added. "She's so pretty that I can't believe she's an AI."

A profitable business

Social media doesn't just enable virtual influencers to build a fanbase -- it's where the money rolls in.

Rozy's Instagram, for instance, is dotted with sponsored content where she advertises skincare and fashion products.

"Many big companies in Korea want to use Rozy as a model," said Baik Seung-yup, the CEO of Sidus Studio X. "This year, we expect to easily reach over two billion Korean won (about $1.52 million) in profit, just with Rozy."

He added that as Rozy grew more popular, the company landed more sponsorships from luxury brands such as Chanel and Hermes, as well as magazines and other media companies. Her ads have now appeared on television, and even in offline spaces like billboards and the sides of buses.

Lotte expects similar profits this year from Lucy, who has brought in advertising offers from financial and construction companies, according to Lee Bo-hyun, the director of Lotte Home Shopping's media business division.

The models are in high demand because they help brands reach younger consumers, experts say. Rozy's clients include a life insurance firm and a bank -- companies typically seen as old-fashioned. "But they say their image has become very young after working with Rozy," Baik said.

It also helps that, compared to some of their real-life counterparts, these new stars are low-maintainance.

It takes Lotte and Sidus Studio X between a few hours and a couple of days to create an image of their stars, and from two days to a few weeks for a video commercial. That's far less time and labor than is required to produce a commercial featuring real humans -- where weeks or months can be spent location scouting and preparing logistics such as lighting, hair and makeup, styling, catering and post-production editing.

And, perhaps just as important: virtual influencers never age, tire or invite controversy.

Lotte decided on a virtual influencer when considering how to maximize its "show hosts," said Lee.

Lotte Home Shopping hires human hosts to advertise products on TV -- but they "cost quite a lot," and "there will be changes when they age," Lee said. So, they came up with Lucy, who is "forever 29 years old."

"Lucy is not limited to time or space," he added. "She can appear anywhere. And there are no moral issues."

A question about beauty

South Korea isn't the only place to have embraced virtual influencers.

Among the world's most famous virtual influencers are Lil Miquela, created by the co-founders of an American tech startup, who has endorsed brands including Calvin Klein and Prada and has more than 3 million Instagram followers; Lu of Magalu, created by a Brazilian retail company, with nearly 6 million Instagram followers; and FNMeka, a rapper created by music company Factory New, with more than 10 million TikTok followers.

But there's one major difference, according to Lee Eun-hee, a professor at Inha University's Department of Consumer Science: virtual influencers in other countries tend to reflect a diversity of ethnic backgrounds and beauty ideals.

Virtual humans elsewhere have a "uniqueness," while "those in Korea are always made beautiful and pretty ... (reflecting) the values of each country," she added.

An image of Rozy, the virtual influencer developed by Sidus Studio X in South Korea. Credit: Sidus Studio X

And in South Korea -- often dubbed the "plastic surgery capital of the world" for its booming $10.7 billion industry -- there are concerns that virtual influencers could further fuel unrealistic beauty standards.

Younger Koreans have begun pushing back against these ideals in recent years, sparking a movement in 2018 dubbed "escaping the corset."

But ideas of what is popularly considered beautiful in the country remain narrow; for women, this usually means a petite figure with large eyes, a small face and pale, clear skin.

And these features are shared by most of the country's virtual influencers; Lucy has perfect skin, long glossy hair, a slender jaw and a perky nose. Rozy has full lips, long legs and a flat stomach peeking out under her crop tops.

Lee Eun-hee warned that virtual influencers like Rozy and Lucy could be making Korea's already demanding beauty standards even more unattainable -- and heightening the demand for plastic surgery or cosmetic products among women seeking to emulate them.

"Real women want to become like them, and men want to date people of the same appearance," she said.

An image of Lucy, the Korean virtual human used by Lotte Home Shopping. Credit: Courtesy Lotte Home Shopping

The creators of Rozy and Lucy reject such criticism.

Lotte representative Lee Bo-hyun said they had tried to make Lucy more than just a "pretty image" by crafting an elaborate back story and personality. She studied industrial design, and works in car design. She posts about her job and interests, such as her love for animals and kimbap -- rice rolls wrapped in seaweed. In this way, "Lucy is striving to have a good influence in society," Lee said, adding: "She's giving a message to the public to 'do what you want to do according to your beliefs.'"

Baik, the Sidus Studio X CEO, said Rozy isn't what "anyone would call beautiful" and that the firm had deliberately tried to make her appearance unique and veer away from traditional Korean norms. He pointed to the freckles on her cheeks and her wide-set eyes.

"Rozy shows people the importance of inner confidence," he added. "There are other virtual humans that are so pretty ... but I made Rozy to show that you can still be beautiful (even without a conventionally attractive face)."

'Digital blackface'

But concerns go beyond Korean beauty standards. Elsewhere in the world there is debate over the ethics of marketing products to consumers who don't realize the models aren't human, as well as the risk of cultural appropriation when creating influencers of different ethnicities -- labeled by some as "digital blackface."

Facebook and Instagram's parent company Meta, which has more than 200 virtual influencers on its platforms, has acknowledged the risks.

"Like any disruptive technology, synthetic media has the potential for both good and harm. Issues of representation, cultural appropriation and expressive liberty are already a growing concern," the company said in a blog post.

"To help brands navigate the ethical quandaries of this emerging medium and avoid potential hazards, (Meta) is working with partners to develop an ethical framework to guide the use of (virtual influencers)."

But one thing appears clear: the industry is here to stay. As interest in the digital world booms -- ranging from the metaverse and virtual reality technologies to digital currencies -- companies say virtual influencers are the next frontier.

An image of Rozy, the virtual influencer developed by Sidus Studio X in South Korea. Credit: Sidus Studio X

Lotte is hoping Lucy will move from advertising to entertainment, perhaps by appearing in a television drama. The firm is also working on a virtual human that will appeal to shoppers in their 40s to 60s.

Sidus Studio X has big ambitions, too; Rozy will launch her own cosmetics brand in August, as well as an NFT (non-fungible token), and the firm hopes to create a virtual pop trio to take on the music charts.

Baik points out that most fans don't meet real celebrities in person, only seeing them on screens. So "there is no big difference between virtual humans and the real-life celebrities they like," he said.

"We want to change perceptions of how people think of virtual humans," Baik added. "What we do isn't to take away people's jobs, but to do things that humans can't do, such as work 24 hours or make unique content like walking in the sky.

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Houston Rockets Face Important Decision With Kevin Porter Jr. Free Agency Looming - Forbes

Next summer, with point guard Kevin Porter Jr. eligible for restricted free agency, the Houston Rockets will encounter what could be considered the first major financial decision of their rebuild. Earlier this summer, they traded big man Christian Wood and re-signed swingman Jae’Sean Tate to a cap-friendly deal, but those were both non-controversial moves, particularly given the small figure on Tate’s contract.

Porter, however, has been a bit of a lightning rod - supremely talented but plagued by maturity concerns. He was suspended for a game earlier last season for getting in his car and leaving the arena at halftime of a 124-111 loss to the Denver Nuggets.

Currently, Porter projects to be the starter at point guard next to shooting guard Jalen Green in Houston’s backcourt. But the Rockets feel strongly about second-year guard Daishen Nix and used the 29th pick in the draft on point guard TyTy Washington. This is all to say that there is insurance at the position if it is decided that Porter is not a long-term fit.

Porter averaged 15.6 points, 6.2 assists, and 4.4 rebounds per game in 2021-2022, his second season with the team after being acquired from the Cleveland Cavaliers in a trade. However, he played only 26 games for the Rockets in 2020-2021. It was an up and down season for Porter, plagued by turnover problems to start the year, but highlighted by drastically improved three-point accuracy. On the year, Porter shot 37.5% on 6.8 3-point attempts per game.

The Rockets currently project to have over $70 million in cap space next summer, in 2023, with the contracts of John Wall and Eric Gordon completely rolling off the books. An early extension for Porter could eat into that space but could also secure him long term at a favorable discount in the event he continues his improvement next season.

If the Rockets submit a qualifying offer after this season, Porter’s fourth, he would become a restricted free agent. He can be extended for up to four seasons beyond the last option season in his contract, bringing the total contract length of his new deal to five seasons. In general, the salary in the first year of an extension to a rookie scale contract may be any amount up to the player’s maximum. This is usually the 0-6 year maximum, which is 25% of the salary cap. Raises in a rookie scale extension are limited to 8% of the salary in the first year of the extension.

A reasonable annual average value for Porter might range anywhere from $10 million to $15 million.

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With buses fare-free, SEAT ridership rises - theday.com

Joleen Johns boards the No. 3 SEAT bus Monday, July 25, 2022, at the New London transportation center. (Sean D. Elliot/The Day)

Christina Barrett rides the No. 3 SEAT bus Monday, July 25, 2022, from New London to her job in Waterford. (Sean D. Elliot/The Day)

Passengers ride the No. 3 SEAT bus Monday, July 25, 2022, from New London to Groton to Niantic. (Sean D. Elliot/The Day)

New London — With the cost of living increasing, Southeast Area Transit passenger Christina Barrett said it’s nice to be able to go to places for free and save money.

“I can get to work,” said Barrett, who took the bus Monday morning from Norwich to New London and then transferred to another bus to get to her job at Big Lots in Waterford. “I can get to just about anywhere I need to.”

Barrett, who is saving up for a car, was among eight people sitting quietly on the air-conditioned bus, some on their way to work, running errands or holding reusable bags for shopping. The bus dropped people off in Groton, New London, Waterford and East Lyme.

With buses fare-free since April, ridership has been trending upward, SEAT general manager Michael Carroll said. Ridership in June was about 18% higher than the pre-pandemic June of 2019.

The jump in ridership comes as people are getting used to the idea that the buses are free, and also are facing inflation and high fuel costs, Carroll said. Overall, SEAT is at about 91% of its pre-pandemic ridership levels on its regular bus runs, after ridership plummeted during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Easing pressures as costs increase

Passengers said the fare-free buses help as groceries and other expenses increase.

Around 5 p.m. on Monday, Ashley Clarke, and her 5-year-old daughter, Kayden, of New London talked happily to each other on the drizzly evening as Clarke was taking her daughter home from camp.

Clarke takes the bus Monday through Friday to her job at LensCrafters at the Crystal Mall in Waterford. “It’s free. It’s convenient. It gets me to work on time,” she said.

She normally has to pay $15 a week to get to work, but she is now able to save that money and instead use it for food for her daughter.

Philip Plotch, principal researcher at the Eno Center for Transportation, said public transit has benefits not only to the bus rider, but also the general public, which is the reason why governments subsidize buses and trains.

The bus riders save money — the average new car price in Connecticut is $47,000 and the average used car price is over $30,000 — and there’s also an equity issue, he said. Without access to transit, people can lose out on seeing their family, getting a job, going to a doctor or going to school.

Public transit also brings benefits to the public, from reducing traffic on highways, to air quality and climate change benefits, as it takes more vehicles off the road, he said.

Jacob Lawrence Wasserman, research project manager at the UCLA Institute of Transportation Studies, said fare-free transit can provide a lot of benefits, including allowing people who already take transit to use it more often, which can be of immense help to people living paycheck to paycheck. It also can speed up bus service by eliminating the need for people to line up at the fare box, and reduce the potential for escalations during fare checks.

But he said research has found it doesn’t have a huge impact on attracting new riders, who may have invested already in a car or have a commute that is inaccessible by bus. There’s also the question of how agencies replace fare revenues, though fares do not make up a huge percentage of most agencies’ budgets. In SEAT’s case, fares account for about 20% of its revenues, according to Carroll.

Marisa Auguste, research assistant at the Connecticut Transportation Institute at the University of Connecticut, said a lack of transportation can slow down access to employment opportunities, medical and mental health resources, and activities such as shopping and dining, if those services aren’t located where people live.

“There’s a lot of barriers that public transportation helps lower, if it’s available,” she said.

Younger people, elderly people, lower-income families and households, and people with disabilities are among the populations that use public transportation the most.

Trevor Bogue of New London, who lost his car four years ago after someone crashed into it, was taking the bus Monday evening to read and browse books at Books A Million in Waterford.

As a senior, he would normally pay 85 cents a ride, but now can ride free.

“I think it’s a good deal,” Bogue said. “It makes a small difference. I take the bus five or six days a week, so it adds up.”

Chasity Murphy of New London, who was taking the bus after work at her job at Marshalls department store in New London, said that as grocery prices increase, it’s a help to not have to shell out for bus fare.

“It’s not really in people’s budget right now,” she said.

She said saving about $15 a week on bus fares may not seem like a lot, but the savings mean she can spend that money on food for her cats or on necessities for herself.

Murphy, who is saving up for a car, has been taking the bus for the past five years and knows she can rely on it to get to work on time and get home. But she said even a lot of people who have a car now are taking the bus regularly, as gas prices rise, and she also sees kids taking the bus during programs.

She said rising prices for groceries and other expenses are “just a very stressful thing, so anything that takes stress off people right now is good for their mental health.”

Carroll said New London’s micro-transit service will charge fares again in August, but all other SEAT services will remain free until Dec. 1. He said the state has promised to reimburse the transit district for the fares.

The hope is that once SEAT returns to collecting fares on Dec. 1, many people will decide to continue to ride the bus and SEAT will maintain the same level of ridership and hopefully grow a little bit, Carroll said. “The goal is to get us back to pre-COVID levels.”

Plotch said Connecticut is not alone in going fare free, as transit agencies around the world have been setting up temporary and permanent zero fare programs, from free buses in Salt Lake City in February, to three free bus routes in Boston. In Luxembourg, all buses, trains and trams are free.

Kate Rattan, planner and transportation program manager with the Southeastern Connecticut Council of Governments, said public transit is important to the region, helping people get to places such as work and health care appointments.

“We strive to provide the best service we are able to but it is also cost constrained,” said Rattan, She cited recent improvements such as on-demand service in Stonington and New London.

Ridership increasing across state

CTtransit, which covers the Hartford, New Haven and Stamford regions, also saw ridership increase from 1,537,325 passenger trips in March, to 2,111,472 passenger trips in April when the system went fare free, according to data from the state Department of Transportation. Ridership reached 94.8% of pre-pandemic levels in April and June, and 82.7% of pre-pandemic levels in May.

“Without a doubt there has been an increase in ridership following the move to make bus systems fare-free,” DOT Spokesman Josh Morgan said. “However, we are unable to determine how much of the increase can be attributed to the suspension in fares, as opposed to seasonal increases that are frequently seen in the spring and more businesses and in-person activities resuming.”

He added that research is planned following the fare-free period to get a better picture of what actually occurred on the roadways.

The governor will be taking a close look at ridership numbers over the coming months.

Gov. Ned Lamont signed legislation passed by the General Assembly that included allocating funds for free public buses until June 30 and then later signed the budget adjustment legislation bill that extended the free rides through Dec. 1, according to a news release from the governor’s office.

“Governor Lamont enacted the fare-free buses to provide some relief to the state’s residents so that they can save money on transportation in getting to work, as well as recreational opportunities,” David Bednarz, a spokesman for Lamont’s office, said Wednesday. “Over the coming months, the governor and his administration will work with the legislature to analyze the ridership numbers and determine what to do beyond December.”

k.drelich@theday.com

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Caesars UFC Promo Code: $1,500 Risk-Free, Fight Bonuses - bleachernation.com

It’s a great time to be an MMA fan and this Caesars UFC promo code is a big reason why. UFC 277 is packed with a championship bout, big-time fighters, and plenty of intrigue. It’s going to be a massive pay-per-view event for UFC fans.

New players who sign up with Caesars UFC promo code BLEACHERXL15 will be eligible for a $1,500 risk-free bet. Any potential losses on that initial wager will be completely refunded in site credit. Additionally, these new players can choose from a handful of UFC 277 odds boosts this weekend as well.

There is something special about a major UFC event. That goes double when there is a title belt on the line. Julianna Peña is looking to retain her bantamweight title after knocking off Amanda Nunes. But that’s just one of the big fights this weekend. This Caesars Sportsbook promo is the key to unlocking a risk-free bet for UFC 277. Hit the ground running with this massive offer, one that stacks up as a top UFC promo.

Click here and input Caesars UFC promo code BLEACHERXL15 for a $1,500 risk-free bet and over a dozen UFC 277 fight parlay bonuses.

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While other sportsbooks offer risk-free bets ranging from $250 to $1,000, Caesars Sportsbook is raising the stakes to $1,500. Of course, bettors don’t need to place a $1,500 bet to lock in this offer. Rather, anything up to that number will be fully insured with this offer.

For example, someone who loses on a $500 wager will receive a $500 free bet. This refund will provide new players with a second chance to win big. It doesn’t get much better than that.

Scoring this Caesars UFC promo code only takes a few minutes. In fact, players who want to get in on the action can sign up by following this handy breakdown below:

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• Download the Caesars Sportsbook mobile app using the App Store or Google Play Store.
• Place a $1,500 risk-free bet on any fight at UFC 277.

UFC 277 Fight Parlay Bonuses

This risk-free bet is a great way to get started, but it isn’t the only way to win on UFC 277 this weekend. Caesars Sportsbook is rolling out a ton of odds boosts and fight parlay bonuses for this massive pay-per-view event. Here are a few of the options for new and existing users:

• Joselyne Edwards, Blood Diamond & Nicolae Negumereanu All Win: +850
• Alex Morono, Don’Tale Mayes, Drakkar Klose & Drew Dober All Win: +800
• Amanda Nunes, Derrick Lewis, Kai Kara France & Alexandre Pantoja All Win: +1300
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• Brandon Moreno Win By KO/TKO/DQ vs Kai Kara France: +525
• Julianna Pena Win By Submission vs Amanda Nunes: +525

Click here and input Caesars UFC promo code BLEACHERXL15 for a $1,500 risk-free bet and over a dozen UFC 277 fight parlay bonuses.

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Alex Jones files Free Speech Systems bankruptcy amid Sandy Hook trial - Austin American-Statesman

Johnson Behavioral offering free depression screenings for teenagers - KSLA

SHREVEPORT, La. (KSLA) - Johnson Behavioral Health Group is offering free depression screenings for teenage students ahead of their return to school.

From August 1st to the 5th, Johnson Behavioral is offering free depression screenings to teenagers. The owner, Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Abigail Johnson says they will be conducting all of its services 100% through telehealth and will be providing medication management, diagnoses, then treatment of depression, anxiety, PTSD, ADHD, bipolar, schizophrenia, substance use, eating disorders, ect.

“I am very passionate about mental health but especially within our adolescent population. As we all know suicide rates are rising and is currently the second leading cause of death within the ages of 15-18. If this free event brings awareness to at least one person, I will consider this a success,” stated Johnson.

If you are interested in getting a free screening for your child to see if they are struggling with depression the process is simple. Simply visit this page to get started, https://www.johnsonbehavioralhealthgroup.com/depression-screening. Your child will be asked 4 questions and nothing else is required of them. If patients screen positive, they will receive a free telehealth appointment with Johnson or one of her medical providers.

Johnson hopes to provide teens with the resources to help them in their struggle with depression.

Johnson Behavioral offering free depression screenings for teenagers.(Johnson Behavioral)

Copyright 2022 KSLA. All rights reserved.

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NBA opens investigation into Sixers' free agency, James Harden's pay cut, per report - NBC Sports

The NBA has reportedly opened an investigation into the Sixers' moves during free agency.

ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski reported Friday night that the league is investigating “possible tampering and early contact centered on the franchise’s summer free agency class of James Harden, P.J. Tucker and Danuel House." Sixers president of basketball operations Daryl Morey and the team have begun cooperating with the league, Wojnarowski reported.

Free-agent negotiations were officially permitted to begin at 6 p.m. ET on June 30. Within 15 minutes, the Sixers were expected to finalize a three-year, $33.2 million deal with Tucker and had a two-year, $8.5 million agreement with House, a source confirmed that night to NBC Sports Philadelphia.

It’s not unusual for rumors of mutual interest between a team and free agent to leak before negotiations can technically start. The expected Tucker-Sixers pairing was widely reported in the week before free agency. Jalen Brunson to the Knicks was another such example this year. 

Wojnarowski reported the NBA's investigation “is expected to include interviews with team personnel and the organization turning over electronic correspondence and phone records to league investigators."

After a draft-night deal to acquire De’Anthony Melton from the Grizzlies, Morey emphasized the Sixers did not have anything set in stone for free agency. 

“We’re excited for free agency,” Morey said. “Don’t know how it’ll play out, but (managing partner Josh Harris and co-managing partner David Blitzer) have given us every ability to do whatever we need to do in free agency to make the team better now. Add hopefully another rotation piece.

“That’s a little ways away and who knows how it’ll play out. But people want to play here, people love our team, people love playing with Joel (Embiid), love playing with James, love playing with Tobias (Harris). We’re optimistic about free agency but have no idea how that one’s going to play out.”

Morey did sound quite confident that Harden would remain a Sixer, a consistent message from all parties since the 10-time All-Star arrived in Philadelphia.

“Well, we can’t talk yet. I would expect … actually, I don’t know,” Morey said. “We’ll have conversations with him. As you guys have heard, it’s a mutual lovefest, so we feel like we’ll work it out.” 

Harden ultimately declined his player option of $47.4 million, eventually signing a new contract that will pay him $33 million next season and has a $35.6 million player option for 2023-24.

By taking a substantial pay cut, Harden enabled the Sixers to sign former Rockets teammates Tucker and House with the standard mid-level exception and bi-annual exception, respectively. 

“I had conversations with Daryl, and it was explained how we could get better and what the market value was for certain players. I told Daryl to improve the roster, sign who we needed to sign and give me whatever is left over,” Harden told Yahoo Sports’ Chris Haynes on July 17. “This is how bad I want to win. I want to compete for a championship. That’s all that matters to me at this stage. I’m willing to take less to put us in position to accomplish that.”

ESPN reported Harden's pay cut is “one of the central elements" of the league's investigation and that “around the league, there have been questions about whether there's already a handshake agreement in place on a future contract -- which would be in violation of collective bargaining rules."

The Bucks, Heat and Bulls were penalized for violating NBA rules “governing the timing of this season’s free agency discussions” last year. Each team lost its next second-round pick. 

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Report: 76ers under investigation for tampering in free agency - NBA.com

The NBA will investigate whether the Sixers circumvented league rules with several free agents, including James Harden.

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — The Philadelphia 76ers are being investigated by the NBA for possible tampering in offseason free-agency moves involving James Harden, P.J. Tucker and Danuel House, a person familiar with the situation told The Associated Press on Friday night.

The person, speaking on condition of anonymity because the investigation is ongoing, said the team is cooperating with the investigation.

Harden signed a deal worth slightly over $68 million, paying him about $33 million this season with a $35 million player option for the 2023-24 season. Harden, though, will make about $14.5 million less this coming season than he could have earned under his previous deal. Harden had a $47.4 million option for this coming season that he declined last month, saying he wanted to give the 76ers flexibility to improve their roster and compete for a championship.

ESPN reported Friday there are questions involving Harden and the Sixers having “a handshake agreement in place on a future contract.”

“Taking less money this year to sign as many players as we needed to help us contend and be the last team standing was very, very important to me,” Harden said in an interview this month with The Associated Press. “I wanted to show the organization, the Sixers fans and everybody else who supports what we’re trying to accomplish, what I’m trying to accomplish individually, that this is what I’m about.”

Tucker signed a $30 million, three-year contract and House signed for $8.4 million over two years. The Sixers were able to sign Tucker to the full mid-level exception and sign House to the bi-annual exception because Harden declined his option.

If Harden had opted in before his June 30 deadline, Philadelphia would have had a much more difficult time in finding financial pathways toward luring free agents.

The NBA approved stiffer penalties for tampering in 2019 and stripped a draft pick from both the Chicago Bulls for early contact with Lonzo Ball and the Miami Heat for doing the same with Kyle Lowry in the summer 2021.

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Larry Josephson, Champion of Free-Form Radio, Dies at 83 - The New York Times

His dyspeptic morning show helped make WBAI-FM in New York a vibrant, eccentric, alternative radio haven. “I was the first angry man in morning radio,” he said.

Larry Josephson, a cranky practitioner of free-form radio on noncommercial WBAI-FM in New York who helped shape the station into a vibrant, eccentric, alternative radio haven, died on Wednesday in Manhattan. He was 83.

His death, at a nursing facility, was most likely caused by complications of Parkinson’s disease, said his daughter, Jennie Josephson.

Mr. Josephson, who later in his career produced and hosted public radio programs, mixed personal confession, satire, political talk, phone calls, music and puns in his morning program. He was considered a pillar of the station, along with his fellow hosts Bob Fass and Steve Post.

“But I was the first angry person in morning radio, and it was genuine,” Mr. Josephson told Newsday in 1989. “I couldn’t get used to getting up at 5 a.m., so, on the air, I’d slam down the telephone, throw fits, be late and be guilty that I was late.”

He added: “Today, Howard Stern is doing a bad imitation of ’60s me and getting a million dollars a year for it. I am getting nothing for ’90s me.” (He never earned much in public radio and died with very little money, his daughter said.)

Marty Goldensohn, a former news director at WBAI, said in a telephone interview that Mr. Josephson had been an independent thinker who “was not simplistic in his embrace of progressive ideas.”

“He didn’t go for rightist or leftist claptrap,” he said.

Soon after Mr. Josephson began hosting his show, “In the Beginning,” in 1966, The New York Times radio and television critic Jack Gould described him as “really less a disc jockey than an aural happening.”

He was inspired, for example, to play the Beatles song “Lady Madonna” over and over for two hours after its release in 1968, and to spend two days playing every available recording of “Celeste Aida,” from the first act of Verdi’s opera “Aida.”

Mr. Josephson opened one of his shows in 1967 with a version of “The Darktown Strutters’ Ball” and declaring over it: “From the Chutzpah Room of the Hotel Sinai, it’s the music of Gamal Abdel Nasser and his Orchestra. How ’bout that, peace fans!”

Frank Millspaugh, a general manager of the station in the 1960s and ’70s, said listeners had empathized with Mr. Josephson’s eternal grumbling about waking up early. But some board members of the Pacifica Foundation, which owns the station, were displeased with the countercultural tone of Mr. Josephson, Mr. Fass and Mr. Post.

“They wanted a more serious, more respectful sound to the station,” Mr. Millspaugh said in a phone interview. But when they understood how effective those hosts were in raising money for the station, “they softened their criticism.”

In the mid-1970s, Mr. Josephson served for two years as the general manager of WBAI, which routinely operated on a shoestring. During one urgent financial crisis, the station turned to listeners to raise $56,000 to meet its monthly expenses. Within four days, $25,800 had poured in, most of it cash.

“We will survive,” Mr. Josephson told The Daily News in 1976. “We have to raise more money and spend less. It’s just like New York City,” which was dealing with a much larger financial crisis of its own at the time.

Norman Lawrence Josephson was born on May 12, 1939, in Los Angeles. His father, Adrian, at one point owned a woodworking company; his mother, Marian (Tyre) Josephson, was a homemaker.

Larry had loved radio since childhood but did not initially pursue work in it. Instead, he enrolled at the University of California, Berkeley, and studied linguistics, then went to work for I.B.M. as a computer engineer in the New York area. (He did not finish his bachelor’s degree until 1973.) He began volunteering at WBAI in the 1960s and was hired to host the morning show in 1966 because, he said, the station couldn’t find anyone else who would wake up that early.

“I’m a night person myself,” he told The New Yorker in a short profile in 1967, “and the only conscious position I had was to be Against the Morning. What I didn’t realize was that there was a tremendous audience out there — I don’t know how many millions — with a tremendous need for someone to be natural, to be grumpy.”

He left WBAI in 1972 and hosted a program at KPFA, a Berkeley radio station also owned by Pacifica, before returning to WBAI in about 1974. He stayed for several more years, hosting “Bourgeois Liberation” on Sunday mornings before becoming an independent producer.

Mr. Josephson helped revive the comedy team of Bob and Ray by producing their syndicated “Bob and Ray Public Radio Show” and their Carnegie Hall shows in the 1980s. He also produced audiocassettes and CDs of their best routines.

“We’re doing this because I think they should be on radio,” Mr. Josephson told The Associated Press in 1984. “It’s as much for radio as for Bob and Ray. They need each other.”

Over the next two decades, he hosted and produced “Modern Times,” a national call-in show that was distributed by American Public Radio; “Bridges,” on which he interviewed conservatives like Milton Friedman, Charles Murray, Ralph Reed and Norman Podhoretz; and “Only in America: The Story of American Jews,” an eight-part documentary series whose guests included the Supreme Court associate justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg.

Mr. Josephson produced nearly all of his post-WBAI work from a radio studio that he built in the third bedroom of his Manhattan apartment. He derived income by renting it out to others with projects to pursue, among them the BBC, the Boston Radio station WBUR, Al Gore, Samuel L. Jackson, Garrison Keillor, the CBS newsman Ed Bradley and the Rolling Stones.

The actor Alec Baldwin wrote in an email how pleased he had been to find a studio one block from his apartment. “I recorded countless projects there,” he said, including his podcast, “Here’s the Thing,” “and found Larry to be not just a great historical resource of all things related to radio but a lovely man as well.”

In 2012 Mr. Josephson performed a one-man, one-performance show, “An Inconvenient Jew: My Life in Radio,” at the Cornelia Street Cafe in Greenwich Village.

In 2018 he fractured a vertebra and needed spinal fusion surgery, prompting him, because of his precarious finances, to start a GoFundMe campaign. It raised nearly $28,000 to help pay for a home health attendant.

In addition to his daughter, Jennie, he is survived by his stepdaughter, Rebecca Josephson; his stepson, Gregory Alker; his sister, Susan Josephson; and two grandchildren. His marriages to Charity Alker and Valerie Magyar ended in divorce.

Mr. Josephson said in 1989 that public radio had let him say nearly everything he wanted.

“When push comes to shove,” he told Newsday, “I’d rather work for nothing and do exactly what I want without any interference from vice presidents or format experts.”

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Free Agent Season for Billionaires - The Wall Street Journal

The island of Mallorca in Spain, which does not have a tech industry like Jack Ma could find in the U.S.

Photo: Clara Margais/Zuma Press

Instead of wasting time on the phone listening to communist dictator Xi Jinping pretend that he speaks for the Chinese people, President Joe Biden should be welcoming more of them to a place where they’ll be free to speak for themselves. For some time this column has been urging U.S. presidents to recruit more Chinese entrepreneurs to bring their talents to America. Perhaps the most talented of them all is still receiving incentives to leave Beijing.

The Journal’s Jing Yang and Raffaele Huang report from Hong Kong:

Billionaire Jack Ma plans to relinquish control of Ant Group Co., people familiar with the matter said, part of the fintech giant’s effort to move away from affiliate Alibaba Group Holding Ltd. after more than a year of extraordinary pressure from Chinese regulators.

The authorities halted Ant’s $34 billion-plus IPO in 2020 at the 11th hour and are forcing the technology firm to reorganize as a financial holding company regulated by China’s central bank. As the overhaul progresses, Ant is taking the opportunity to reduce the company’s reliance on Mr. Ma, who founded Alibaba.

Mr. Ma, a 57-year-old former English teacher and one of China’s most prominent entrepreneurs, has been the target of government action that appears designed to reduce his influence and the power of his companies.

China’s government is run by perhaps the world’s foremost authority on restricting individual autonomy and that doesn’t seem likely to change in the immediate future. The Journal’s Chun Han Wong reports:

Chinese leader Xi Jinping is elevating trusted subordinates into party and government posts that command key levers of political power, galvanizing his authority as he prepares to extend his rule for another five years.

Poised to claim a third term as Communist Party chief at a twice-a-decade party congress this fall, Mr. Xi has assigned associates to senior roles overseeing law enforcement and propaganda in recent weeks, clearing their paths toward higher office. Some vocal Xi supporters won promotion, while one prominent ally retained his position in the face of public anger over his recent performance. Others out of favor with Mr. Xi have been eased into less-important roles.

The Chinese leader also stepped up a broad propaganda drive in recent months to celebrate his decade in power. Top lieutenants have sung Mr. Xi’s praises with rising fervor, calling on party members to swear loyalty to their lingxiu—a reverential title that means “leader” and is most closely associated with Mao Zedong, whom the party honors as its weida lingxiu, or “great leader.”

Mao can make a strong claim to be history’s most prolific killer, which is bound to raise doubts about a regime that still calls him a great leader. There is little doubt that the regime under Mr. Xi has been hostile to entrepreneurs.

The timing for a U.S. recruitment is compelling. While U.S. professional basketball and hockey fans think of summer as the season when teams attempt to sign free agents, summer also presents opportunities for the country as a whole.

Following the Journal’s report on Mr. Ma, Bloomberg’s Lulu Yilun Chen and Abhishek Vishnoi added some enticing details:

Jack Ma is taking a weeks-long tour in Europe after largely disappearing from public view for almost two years, adding to signs that China’s government is easing pressure on the entrepreneur as he steps back from a business empire that had made him one of the country’s most powerful people.

The 57-year-old co-founder of Alibaba Group Holding Ltd. has popped up at restaurants in Austria, toured a university in the Netherlands to learn about sustainable agriculture and docked his yacht off the Spanish island of Mallorca, according to reporting by Bloomberg and local media.

While it’s not Ma’s first trip outside China since he criticized Communist Party officials in 2020 over regulation of his fintech giant Ant Group Co., it’s a stark change from the days when the billionaire was being advised by the government to not leave the country. In one sign of how skittish investors had been about the tycoon’s fate as recently as two months ago, Alibaba shares briefly lost $26 billion after a state media report that authorities had imposed curbs on a person surnamed Ma. Subsequent information made clear the report was referring to someone else.

Perhaps the Biden administration could persuade the entrepreneur named Jack Ma to pop up in Silicon Valley or Austin or even Miami.

***

Annals of Government Finance
The Journal’s Melissa Korn reports:

The Education Department will likely lose $197 billion on loans it made over the past 25 years, a massive swing from its predicted $114 billion in income, according to a federal watchdog.

The Government Accountability Office said in a report Friday that because of policy changes and updated estimates on how much borrowers will actually repay, the Direct Loan program, which had $1.4 trillion in debt outstanding at the end of the last fiscal year, will fall far short of its original plan to make money for the federal government. Instead, they said, it will run deep in the red.

***

Annals of Government-Created Shortages
PBS NewsHour reports:

The nationwide baby formula shortage is now in its sixth month. Despite tons of imports and domestic production rebounding, formula supplies are still low for parents across the United States.

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There Is No Free Energy
Taxpayers experiencing sticker shock over the alternative energy subsidies in the pending reconciliation bill should remember that subsidy recipients will also leave large environmental footprints. The Manhattan Institute’s Mark Mills writes:

. . . all the favored energy-transition technologies — solar, wind and batteries — require a lot more stuff to be mined, refined, fabricated and constructed to replace the same amount of energy provided by the hydrocarbon-based energy infrastructures that power the world today. In many cases, we’re talking about an unprecedented 3x to 70x increase over today’s use of not only a wide array of metals such as copper, nickel, aluminum, lithium and neodymium, but also a 10x jump in the use of basic materials such as steel, glass and concrete.

***

James Freeman is the co-author of “The Cost: Trump, China and American Revival.”

***

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(Teresa Vozzo helps compile Best of the Web.)

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