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Gas spotted in Venus's clouds could be a sign of alien life
Home TOP STORIES Gas spotted in Venus's clouds could be a sign of alien life
admin, September 14, 2020 September 14, 2020 , TOP STORIES, 0
Airborne life on Venus would be unusual, but perhaps not as strange one might think. Just last month, inspired by the upcoming phosphine findings, MIT astronomer Sara Seager and some of the other coauthors of this new study published a paper about a possible life cycle on Venus that could sustain organisms in the Venusian clouds, emphasizing the fact that the clouds present more temperate and habitable conditions for life. She suggests that life on Venus could exist in droplets at high altitudes that evaporate and leave dried-up spores hanging in the atmosphere. Unlike Earth, Venus's clouds are permanent—providing a more stable environment where these spores would dry out and fall to lower altitudes, rise back up in growing droplets in the cloud layer, and rehydrate to continue their life cycle. The goal, says Seager, was to help "plug a hole" in thinking about this environment.
The phosphine in Venus's clouds was found by Jane Greaves, a planetary scientist with Cardiff University, and her team. They studied the planet using the James Clerk Maxwell Telescope (JCMT) in Hawaii, and the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA) in Chile. Both observe in submillimeter wavelengths that stretch from far infrared to microwave, which allows scientists to more closely characterize the chemical composition of the atmosphere.
The team found traces of phosphine at a concentration of about 20 parts billion. The data suggests the gas is present in regions closer to the equator and at altitudes of about 55 kilometers, where temperatures are relatively cool (about 30 °C) and the pressure is actually similar to Earth's. "That suggests it's part of the global circulation pattern of the atmosphere, where gas sinks before it travels as far as the poles," says Greaves.
Phosphine is created from phosphorus with three hydrogen atoms. On Earth it is primarily produced naturally by life in oxygen-poor ecosystems, says Clara Sousa-Silva, a molecular astrophysicist at MIT and a coauthor of the new study. "We don't know why life on Earth produces phosphine—just that it does," she says. Anaerobic bacteria produce it in places such as sewage, swamps, marshlands, and rice fields, and in the intestines of most animals. It's actually an extremely dangerous molecule for oxygen-breathing life.
In the absence of life you need exceptionally high temperatures and large amounts of energy to make phosphine (like the conditions found deep inside Jupiter's atmosphere). On Earth it is also a product of human industrial activity.
The researchers have so far ruled out any known natural routes for phosphine production on Venus, including lightning, volcanism, or meteoritic delivery.
So where's the phosphine coming from? Is it life? Greaves and her team have no clue yet. "All the theories are pretty challenging," she says. It could be some kind of "exotic chemistry" not seen on Earth, or some hardy organisms capable of surviving very acidic environments on the surface and heating up available phosphorus (though that raises new questions about how phosphorus actually got there).
The team still doesn't know if the gas actually originates at the "temperate" heights observed in the Venusian clouds, or whether it's produced closer to the surface and then rises. And the study's analysis uses models of phosphine behavior based on what we see on Earth; it could be radically different on another planet. "We are not claiming we found life on Venus," Seager emphasizes.
On their own, the findings inspire more interest in Venus. But they present opportunities for scientists to understand possible biological activity on other worlds as well. "We now understand that Venus has everything to do with habitability," says Kane. Though Venus is pretty inhospitable today, "Earth and Venus likely had very similar starting conditions, and recent work has shown that Venus may have been habitable, with surface liquid water oceans, as recently as a billion years ago," he says.
Ultimately, the researchers want to find out more about how phosphine is distributed in the atmosphere, and see whether they can pinpoint a more local source. Other ground-based observations would be useful, but they're still limited in what they can observe. "We hope our work will motivate future space missions that will go to Venus and directly measure the atmosphere," says Seager.
Unfortunately, there are no new missions to Venus slated for the future. But NASA is currently debating two proposals—both orbiters that could help in this sort of investigation. The new findings could help support the case to move forward with either or both of them.
Facebook wants machines to see the world through our eyes
admin, October 14, 2021 October 14, 2021 , TOP STORIES, 0
For the last two years, Facebook AI Research (FAIR) has worked with 13 universities around the world to assemble...
Welcome to the Tokyo Olympics, where public health, money, and politics collide
admin, July 15, 2021 July 15, 2021 , TOP STORIES, 0
It's nighttime on the streets of Ibaraki prefecture in Japan when the Olympic torch comes through. A viral video...
Brazil's most vulnerable are struggling to survive the stress of covid
admin, June 25, 2021 June 25, 2021 , TOP STORIES, 0
His denialism has left medical professionals without support, floundering to care for patients without the proper resources for either...
Spaceflight does some weird things to astronauts' bodies
"The Twins Study gave us a first sketch of the human body's molecular responses to spaceflight, but these outlines...
PM Boris Johnson took part in No 10 Christmas quiz last year
admin, December 12, 2021 December 12, 2021 , TOP STORIES, 0
It was held while indoor mixing was banned, but Downing Street says Boris Johnson took part virtually.
China's Tiananmen anniversary crackdowns reach far beyond the firewall
admin, June 4, 2021 June 4, 2021 , TOP STORIES, 0
The 24-hour vigil started just after 8 a.m. US Eastern Time on June 3—more or less on schedule, and...
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Holistic decision-making in a digitized health-care environment
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Wetherspoon: 66 staff test positive across 50 pubsHorn-Rimmed Glasses: Our Top 6


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new-article 111672282870432 https://lifestyle.livemint.com story https://lifestyle.livemint.com News /news/talking-point/three-predictions-for-productivity-in-2023-111672282870432.html https://images.livemint.com/img/2022/12/29/68x68/Office_1672283424153_1672283424338_1672283424338.jpg
Home > News> Talking Point > Three predictions for productivity in 2023
Three predictions for productivity in 2023
A new model of where and how to work is emerging and it hinges on learning from past mistakes
/news/talking-point/three-predictions-for-productivity-in-2023-111672282870432.html 111672282870432 story
The repurposing of offices to be more social, while making an investment in the experience of work, is growing. (Mint Print)
What will the workplace look like a year from now? The snow globe of work has been undeniably shaken to its core since the arrival of covid-19. And the swirling mist is far from settled. But one thing is clear: The working assumption that office life can "go back" to what it was before 2020 is just wrong.
Also read: A change I want to see in 2023
Three out of every four workers say that working hybrid is now non-negotiable for them. The coming year will see a return of a kind for the office, but one which is organized in a very different way. Here are three predictions for a healthier, happier and more productive workplace.
An End to Flex-Shaming
Early in 2022, the British HR expert Gemma Dale coined the phrase "flex-shaming" in a LinkedIn post. It captures well the bad faith some leaders showed to workers who aren't physically in front of them. Among the most famous is David Solomon of Goldman Sachs who in 2021 called working from home "an aberration we're going to correct as quickly as possible." In October, Solomon told CNBC that about 75% of its people were in the office on any given day of the week pre-pandemic and now it's about 65%. Even if bosses think they can impose their will, legislative changes around the world are favoring flexibility. Over a billion people from Greece to Thailand are already being affected by changes in the law to facilitate remote or hybrid work. What matters is creating a culture of trust and transparency between bosses and employees to reach solutions, not as dry policy but by mutual agreement. There's no place for flex-shaming in 2023.
Softening Hybrid's Hard Edges
This is not to say that hybrid work is a picnic. Recent global data from property consultancy JLL show that compartmentalizing between office and home is a major problem. Some 25% of hybrid workforces feel socially isolated and 59% expect wherever they work to pay attention to their health and wellbeing. Anxiety around social cohesion and productivity in hybrid offices is gaining traction: Marc Benioff, the founder and chief executive officer of technology firm Salesforce Inc., who also sits on the board of the World Economic Forum, recently told a company-wide Slack forum that new hires weren't being productive enough, and asked "are we not building tribal knowledge with new employees without an office culture?"
Joanna Swash, group CEO of the call answering and live chat company Moneypenny, who has built a pub in her Wrexham headquarters in Wales to make her office as attractive as possible nevertheless said, "I'm a big believer in the office, but I'm also a big believer in wherever somebody's working, it's got to be the right environment for them."
In other words, iterating workplace by workplace is the only way forward. Speaking recently at the Global Drucker Forum in Vienna Frauke von Polier of German manufacturing group Viessmann, voted European CHRO of the Year 2022, said that piloting changes for as little as three months or as long as a year should become the new normal until things settle down.
The Workplace as Social Space
In a recent LinkedIn post von Polier said: "How do you ensure that your culture is reinforced? Well, you start from the top and serve food to the people...and of course, dessert must be for free!" Although data shows that 84% of the reduction in office space is associated with hybrid working, the repurposing of both offices to be more social, plus an investment in the experience of work, is growing. The US Office Occupier Sentiment Survey from property firm CBRE shows that 36% of leaders are curating workplace experiences and events as part of their strategy to create community and increase presence in offices. I expect this percentage to grow. People need a reason to come to a place which goes beyond mobile technology they can access from anywhere. That reason is simple: Other people.
Also read: What will the workplace look like in 2023
29.12.2022 | 08:44 AM IST

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


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Facebook's top executives under siege after NY Times alleges PR dirty tricks
November 16, 2018 2:38
by PAUL WALLBANK
Facebook's horror year has continued with the New York Times alleging the social media giant engaged in a series of dirty tricks campaigns against critics under the supervision of COO Sheryl Sandberg.
The New York Times story accuses Facebook of hiring consultants to discredit the service's critics and engaging lobby groups to paint critics as anti-Semitic.
Facebook COO Sheryl Sandberg being interviewed by Axios founder Mike Allen in 2017
The story claims that while Zuckerberg was conducting his public apology tour, Sandberg commissioned an aggressive lobbying campaign to discredit Facebook's critics and thwart legislators.
During Zuckerberg's apology tour, the Facebook founder spent ten hours appearing before the US Congress over the misuse of data, the rise of 'fake news' and the use of the platform by foreign powers to influence US elections.
He later appeared before a committee of European parliamentarians where he was warned he had created a digital monster.
Included in the New York Times story are allegations Facebook employed a US Republican opposition research firm to discredit activist protesters, in part by linking them to the liberal financier George Soros.
Facebook has 'learnt to be transparent' – claims global marketing VP Carolyn Everson
Marketers need to know the truth about Instagram and Facebook ads
The story also details how the company struggled with US President Donald Trump's skirting of the service's terms and with evidence of Russian attempts to subvert the 2016 election through the platform.
Facebook recently hired former UK deputy prime minister Nick Clegg as its head of communications, following a year in which it was discovered research firm Cambridge Analytica had harvested the personal data of 87m users which was later used for disinformation campaigns during the 2016 US elections.
In June, the company started its fight back against the year's negative publicity with its 'together now' campaign, promoting what it does to fight misinformation and online misbehaviour.
Last month, Futurebrand's 2018 brand sentiment index found the service had fallen 37 places over the past year, with the brand suffering issues in the areas including trust, admiration, passion, innovation and thought leadership.
What might Nick Clegg bring to Facebook?
Forget the threat from Amazon for ad dollars, it's all about the East versus West 'duopoly war'
The year's negative news didn't affect Facebook's revenues, with last quarter's financial statement reporting a 33% jump. However, European user numbers fell slightly while in the US the user base remained stuck at 185m.
A Facebook spokesperson told Mumbrella: "This has been a tough time at Facebook and our entire management team has been focused on tackling the issues we face.
"While these are hard problems we are working hard to ensure that people find our products useful and that we protect our community from bad actors."
The bad news is not over for Facebook, with one of the giants of Silicon Valley's startup community, Salesforce founder Marc Benioff, describing the social media service as being an addiction like Nicotine in an interview to be aired on Sunday night, US time.
topics Facebook, Sheryl Sandberg, The New York Times


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The UK's Premier Online Vintage Clothing Store
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The History Of Tommy Hilfiger
Young Entrepreneur
Tommy Hilfiger, born 24 March 1951 was a small dyslexic boy with a gift nobody expected. His entrepreneurial side was awoken at a young age. In his teen years, he would travel to New York over 200 miles away from his hometown, buy jeans in bulk and tailor or customize them before selling them to his fellow students for a profit.
His money-making prowess was further evidenced after he finished school as an 18-year-old when he set up his own shop. The store was called 'The People's Place' which sold hippie style goods for a high-profit margin and before you knew it, there were multiple stores and Tommy was earning a six-figure salary as a man in his mid-20s ($100,000 in 1977 is $403,000 today). Hilfiger didn't even identify with the hippie movement but saw that there was an unexplored market in his local area.
Ten years after he opened his shop, he moved to Manhattan to chase his dream of becoming a fashion designer. In 1984, Hilfiger began to work with Indian businessman Mohan Murjani. The entrepreneur needed a designer and was one of the few partners Tommy could find who would allow him to use his own (then unknown) name on his sportswear.
The two burst onto the fashion scene with bombastic arrogance, renting a billboard in Times Square implying Tommy Hilfiger was the next Ralph Lauren, Calvin Klein or Perry Ellis. This enraged the designers and caused a lot of talk within the fashion industry against Tommy Hilfiger, although like they say, "there's no such thing as bad publicity". Tommy Hilfiger got their name out quickly and set themselves up as villainous, rebel designers in an industry full of companies with safe, humdrum brand images.
Tommy & Hip Hop
This rebel advertising path quickly picked up. The preppy clothes were selling well amongst their assumed target market, but, to Tommy's surprise, the clothes became extremely popular amongst the Hip Hop community, with the likes of Snoop Dogg, Aaliyah, Raekwon and Q-Tip sporting heavily branded Tommy shirts, jackets and sports bras. When Snoop Dogg performed in this Tommy rugby shirt on SNL, sales were driven to an all-time high.
The popularity of Hilfiger's clothes in the hip-hop world soon fell off in the late 90s when rumours began to circulate that Tommy Hilfiger was a racist, this has neither been proven nor disproven. In a 2012 interview, Hilfiger addressed the rumours and said "It hurt for a long period of time, not from a business standpoint because our business doubled in that time," Hilfiger said. "It went from $1 billion to $2 billion in that time. But it hurt here" [placing hand on his heart].
Loved by consumers, hated by the high fashion industry, Tommy Hilfiger has been one of the staple brands in men's designer wear since the company's controversial beginnings.
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The Best Play-To-Earn NFT Games
Play-to-earn NFT games are great additions to the crypto industry as a whole. They generate value and attract players who are interested in earning money by playing games.
The total value of the crypto industry market is way over $1 trillion when accounted for adjacent industries and projects that are not traded publicly. In this sea of money, the portion of the gaming sector is very minor. However, it may all change very soon. NFT play-to-earn games are our future, as many experts believe while evaluating interesting projects that have emerged during the last 5 years.
What are NFT games in 2022 with play-to-earn mechanics? These titles are popular games or heavily gamified social platforms that offer players a way to make money while doing in-game activities. Some are focused on strategic development, some want you to battle against other players, and some allow you to pet virtual dogs. The extent to which these games are capable of disrupting the existing industry is hard to measure.
Crypto Play-to-Earn Games
The idea of incentivizing players to play by offering them monetary rewards was explored by many companies in the past. One of the most famous examples is the inclusion of the real-money auction house in Diablo III by Blizzard Entertainment. While it did fail spectacularly and was removed after a short period, some users were interested in the concept.
The arrival of cryptocurrencies to the mainstream discourse meant that there now was a completely new domain for any online activities with various perks that were not on the table just a couple of years ago. For example, NFTs are excellent for transferring ownership rights without any legal interactions or paperwork. You don't even have to oversee how NFTs have moved around. Everything is written in a ledger.
Non-fungible tokens have been and still are used primarily to represent ownership of various digital artworks. While it is the most common use, it is not the most practical one. Many experts immediately started talking about the possibility of using these tokens in gaming to represent actual items that can have unique properties in a virtual world of a video game. It looked like these concepts were destined to be used in conjunction with one another.
Today, we have many interesting titles that generate value. You can play certain NFT games to make money. However, these new forms of digital entertainment do not exist in a vacuum and require fine-tuning. Such ecosystems are fragile and can completely break down without governance. Whether such governance corrupts the very concept of decentralized finance is a completely different conversation. In gaming, the best free play-to-earn NFT games must have at least some overseeing body.
The Best NFT Games to Earn Money
Despite being a very young section of the industry, all NFT games have large player bases. While not many achieve the same success as Axie Infinity a year ago or Spider Tanks, the potential is certainly here. You can already engage with dozens of different crypto play-to-earn games and enjoy free rewards that are awarded to the most active and best-performing players.
If you need a comprehensive play-to-earn crypt games list, we've got you covered. Below is our selection of TOP NFT games in 2022, play-to-earn, and others.
#1. Axie Infinity.
Released in 2018 by a Vietnamese game studio Sky Mavis, this title immediately became a huge hit in the Philippines, Malaysia, and Vietnam. The game is an auto-battler where you collect a team of several Axies and make them battle against other players. By beating the competition and rising to higher ranks, players receive new axies and other in-game resources.
The native economy runs on the Ethereum network and offers great flexibility. Recently, the game had to change its direction and fix the economy to avoid a significant recession. The downtrend of their token SLP was caused by both unsustainabilities of their ecosystem and a huge hacker attack that left the Ronin Network without over $640 million. Despite Sky Mavis' statement that some funds will be recovered, the public image of the game was tarnished. A strong token price drop challenges play-to-earn gaming enthusiasts to reconsider their ideas about investing in such games too much.
Currently, the game is still enjoyed by millions of players from the SEA region. The future of the game looks bright with Origin Alpha being live and more updates and seasons announced. The native AXS token has an impressive $1.48 billion market cap and good signs of future growth.
#2. Splinterlands.
Inspired by collectible card games like Magic the Gathering and Pokemon, Splinterlands is a great example of a title that can attract players without fancy graphics and cross-platform play. The game is available as an app, but most players use a browser to engage with its content. While it is a very competitive and demanding title, there is an option where competition is less intense, but without any monetary rewards.
Splinterlands initially issued a drop challenge, play-to-earn gaming is all about NFTs and developers quickly found a way to get the crowd excited. When the first rewards were distributed, players started buying cards to make powerful decks and compete for top spots on the ladder. Some say that it is impossible to achieve high places without paying for better, rare cards. However, skilled players can earn free rewards and make enough money to purchase strong decks without the necessity to invest personal funds.
Cards are spells, creatures, and other things that are used during battles. They have various stats that make them unique:
Health is the number of life points that must be depleted for a creature to die;
Speed determines the order in which a creature performs its actions;
The attack is the strength of a creature and how many health points it removes from a target;
Mana cost is the price a player must play during the battle to play the card.
There are other important stats like splinters, abilities, and armor. Depending on the rarity, these stats can be higher or lower. Unique abilities also define the value of any given card. The SplinterLands collection is available on OpenSea with some cards selling for hundreds of ETH.
One of the most famous and successful metaverse projects that have a thriving economy and a very intense real estate market, Sandbox 3D is a voxel game where you can battle against monsters, build homes, buy land, and engage in social activities with many other users. Recently, it impressed users with unique features, multiple types of gameplay, and some promotional events that reached the mainstream audience.
Initially, the core attraction of the title was the opportunity to trade land. Now, there are several great ways to generate value. Those who want to play NFT games to make money will be more than happy with the amount of stuff they can get:
Unique avatars that are NFT collections with over 10 thousand variations. You can choose from 3 distinctly different collections.
Avatars that you use to visualize yourself in the game world. These are player models that have unique aesthetics.
Entities and art are things that you can use in the world actively or place in your home. Some of them have high prices.
Land and Estate are the most important part of the ecosystem. People can own, lease, and sell land as they see fit. The lowest price of a land piece is 1.33 ETH as of the summer of 2022.
Sandbox 3D already has a defined gameplay loop, interesting social activities, and enough users to sustain a healthy economy. If you wonder how to get NFTs for free, you should check this game out. They regularly give away valuables, award prizes for in-game activity, and offer different perks to paying customers!
#4. Star Atlas.
Surrounded by controversies and questioned for its unclear direction, Star Atlas is still a game that demands your attention if you are interested in how to earn money playing NFT games. Star Atlas had a couple of rough patches and saw a massive downtrend, but it continues to expand with new features and additions.
The game is a mining simulator in space. Players build fleets of ships and send them on mining missions. The rate of success, yields, and safety of each trip depending on the strength of the fleet. Ships return to their bases with cargo hauls and you can sell resources for the currency that you can exchange on external marketplaces.
Ships can be purchased and staked to bolster the economy and generate income for stakers. Most players are using their fleets to gather resources, but you can also participate in battles and complete quests. Rewards for such activities are incomparable to what you get from engaging in economic activities.
Many argue that the direction of the game is wrong and forcing players to only see the commercial aspect of gaming is not a good choice for a game that wants to last for a long time. Nevertheless, it is the only title developed entirely in Unreal Engine 5. It has good graphics, interesting visual concepts, and a big player base.
#5. Thetanarena.
A massive online battle arena with millions of active players, Thetanarena is a fast-paced PVP game that rewards the best players with unique NFTs and has a very active marketplace. Colorful graphics, intense gameplay, multiple modes, and a large selection of heroes make it an amazing example of what top-ranking play-to-earn games look like.
There are 4 separate modes with different rewards, rankings, and matchmaking:
Tower Destroy is a 4x4 game mode where the main goal is to demolish enemy structures.
Super Star is a 4x4 mode where you have to protect and steal superstars.
Deathmatch, as the name suggests, is a 4x4 battle where the team with the most eliminations wins.
Battle Royale is the main mode where the last man standing wins it all.
All heroes are NFTs with different stats and other characteristics. While skill has the biggest impact on your overall performance, there are objectively weaker and stronger heroes. You can purchase them with fiat money or in-game tokens THC. Prices are quite low, especially compared to what other marketplaces have.
Another type of NFT is cosmetics. Emotes, avatars, profile frames, and spaceships are also traded regularly. The variety of unique items is a good thing. With over 24.4 million active daily players, this game is certainly one of the biggest among play-to-earn titles.
#6. Sorare.
Fantasy football is one of the biggest draws that a gambling website can have. However, the concept is great even without actively betting on your favorite players. The concept has many potential prospects for future development. One of them is Sorare, an NFT-based game with lots of opportunities to make money by playing and winning.
Over 280 licensed soccer clubs and 30 MLB teams make a great roster with cards of players from LaLiga, Superlig, Premiere League, and other prestigious national leagues. Cards are placed in rosters that compete against other rosters. Winners are determined by comparing the results of players that they get while playing in real life.
All collectibles can be traded on third-party marketplaces. Players are not governed and can do whatever they want with their cards. Sorare NFTs have over 17.2 registered owners, over 330K different items, and 50K ETH in total volume. While not as active as it used to be, the game still has a very active community with many users regularly hosting independent competitions.
This game is certainly one of the most promising titles in the whole industry. If you are someone who calls NFT play-to-earn games our future, Spider Tanks is the embodiment of this dream. The game is a battler with various mechanized vehicles to choose from. You participate in PVP combat, battle your way to the top of rankings, and earn NFTs that can be later sold for real money.
While it is not yet finished and there are only limited collections that can be purchased on various markets, the current build of the game is quite good. The mechanics are unique and fresh. The concept is very simple which is great for a title that focuses only on combat and nothing else. The development team is experienced and wants to deliver something memorable.
Spider Tanks is a perfect example of what could happen when talented people decide to find a way to express themselves in an environment that welcomes nothing but creativity. The imaginative art style, excellent sound design, superb performance, and a high level of engagement with the community make this game a great game that has a very promising future.
Despite being a relatively young title that did not implement all announced features, it has over 9.9K owners of NFTs, 2.9K ETH in volume, and 180 unique items featured on OpenSea.
The future of NFT P2E games
A hotly discussed topic in the gaming community is whether we need NFTs and blockchain in games. The commonly expressed answer is "no". However, the niche already exists and has many fans. The constant infighting within the international crowd of games is not something that should be under the spotlight. The industry is evolving and NFTs are part of this continuous process.
While you may not be interested in owning a digital asset from a video game, other people may be more than just excited about having an opportunity like this.
NFTs have many potential practical applications in gaming:
Ownership of in-game items. Some argue that these NFTs will be valuable only as long as the game is supported. However, the very proof of ownership will be forever saved on the ledger meaning that you will keep the collectible for as long as you want. We still keep our beloved cartridges with NES games despite them being obsolete. Many still hold their games dearly even without a console to play them!
Transferring digital assets. Land, property, and other virtual items can be effortlessly transferred from one player to another without any third parties involved. While marketplaces are important for trading, a transaction does not require anything but an internet connection. You don't need any external infrastructures to move NFTs.
Rewarding players with unique items. Many games struggle to create rewards that players want. NFTs are a great way to make something truly unique and transfer ownership to someone who earned it. Many contemporary games release NFTs that can be sold for money, but they are initially distributed as prizes for in-game achievements.
Creating a strong incentive to play. The problem with gaming is that it is often considered a time sink. We spend countless hours playing games and earning various items. When we leave, our virtual wealth is transferred back to the game and we don't have anything to show for wasted hours. However, NFT P2E games offer you an opportunity to cash out when you decide to quit.
We still have a long road ahead of us. The mainstream game development industry is still not fully on board with the idea of implementing P2E mechanics in their titles. We still have doubters and those who enjoy nothing but paying corporations to entertain them. However, the change is coming. It may take years, but we will have internationally popular titles that reward players with real money for simply being good!
The main takeaway
You can certainly earn money by playing P2E games. Nonetheless, you should not focus on the monetary incentive alone. There are many merits to playing games like Axie Infinity and Spider Tanks. These are entertaining, creative titles in which developers put their hearts and strongest efforts. Enjoying them for gameplay, art style, and design should be your priority.
Many great titles deserve your attention. Some of them are shameless cash grabs. Some will never take off, due to the lack of talent, dedication, or effort on the part of developers. However, several gems can change the whole industry! All we have to do is find them!


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It's today: Clemens vs. Piazza in Houston
Sports // Astros
Classic matchupClemens, Piazza bring a new chapter to storied past
NEIL HOHLFELD, Copyright 2004 Houston Chronicle
May 16, 2004 Updated: Aug. 14, 2011 1:16 a.m.
Shortly after 1 p.m. today, in either the first or second inning of a game between the New York Mets and Astros at Minute Maid Park, Mike Piazza will step up to the plate against Roger Clemens.
The baseball world will stop, watch and hold its breath. The confrontation goes far beyond the top power-hitting catcher in history against the No. 2 strikeout pitcher of all-time. Piazza and Clemens have a well-documented history, born of the intense rivalry between the Mets and Yankees.
Until today, the two have never faced one another in anything but New York uniforms. Today's confrontation could give Astros fans another moment to remember in Clemens' first season in Houston.
Neither player wanted to speak much about the past episodes, which include a concussion, a thrown bat and four home runs by Piazza in 15 at-bats against Clemens.
"I think in any situation when you have a great hitter and pitcher out there, the fans win," Clemens said. "It's no different than when I face Barry (Bonds) or Mark (McGwire) or (Jose) Canseco or anybody."
But there has been something different about this one ever since Piazza and Clemens became linked by two famous at-bats during the 2000 season. On July 8, Clemens hit Piazza square on his batting helmet during an interleague game. Piazza was knocked unconscious, and the blow forced him to miss the All-Star Game.
The teams met in the World Series, and a bizarre episode in Game 2 put another log on the fire. On a 1-2 pitch in the first inning, Piazza swung at an inside fastball. The ball went into foul territory on the first-base side while the head of the bat splintered and spun toward Clemens.
Piazza started to run to first base. Clemens picked up the sawed-off bat and flipped it in the direction of Piazza. Piazza slowly walked toward the mound, and home plate umpire Charlie Reliford quickly got in front of him.
After the game, Clemens said: "There was no intent. I had no idea Mike was running. I grabbed the bat and slung it toward our on-deck circle where out batboys were. There was no intent."
Ed Montague, the umpiring crew chief agreed, saying: "It was an emotional reaction. I didn't think he threw the bat at Piazza. There was no intent."
In 2001, Yankees manager Joe Torre altered his rotation so that Clemens did not face the Mets. In 2002, Clemens got Piazza to fly out during the All-Star Game. During a regular-season game, Piazza hit a home run in his final at-bat against Clemens.
They did not face each other last year, when Piazza missed three months with a groin strain. When Clemens announced his retirement last season, it seemed the two would never cross paths again. When Clemens reconsidered and signed with the Astros, this weekend's series took on heightened interest.
"I'll worry about it on Sunday," Piazza told Newsday earlier this week. "I really haven't thought about it."
In a twist that intertwined the players again, they achieved career milestones on the same date earlier this season. On May 5, Clemens became the No. 2 all-time strikeout pitcher, going past Steve Carlton with No. 4,137. That same day Piazza hit his 352nd home run as a catcher, passing Carlton Fisk atop the all-time list.
Clemens is an old hand at facing the Mets. In eight career regular-season starts, he is 3-5 with a 6.52 ERA.
Piazza brings a .289 average with seven homers this season into today's matchup against Clemens, who counters with a 7-0 record and 1.99 ERA.
Once again, they will be on baseball's center stage. The venue is different, but the players and their intensity remain the same.
NEIL HOHLFELD


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View Route 61 Germantown Industrial Park Schedule
Route 6 - (New Berlin Industrial Park Express) travels from Port Washington Road & Capitol Drive along Capitol Drive, 108th Street, Bluemound Road, and Moorland Road to New Berlin. This route began August 24, 2014. This route provides services daily with convenient hours for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd shifts employees.
Route 279 - (Menomonee Falls Industrial Park Express) primarily travels along Fond Du Lac Avenue from 35th Street to the Park Place business park and then on to the Menomonee Falls business park. This route began August 24, 2014 and provides services Monday through Friday with convenient hours for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd shifts.
Route 61 - (Germantown Industrial Park) travels from 35th & Capitol Drive going west on Capitol, on to Keefe Ave, then to Appleton, west on Silver Spring (passing the Walmart), briefly on Interstate 45 and then loops back on Appleton Ave. in Menomonee Falls, goes the distance of the various retail stores and restaurants on Appleton Ave., to the major retail area that includes Target, JC Penny, Aldi's, and Walmart. This route ends in the Germantown Industrial Park.
Staffing company insists on strict dress code for job seekers
View Route 279 Menomonee Falls Industrial Park Express Schedule
View Route 6 New Berlin Industrial Park Express Schedule
NEW MCTS ROUTES 279 & 6 WILL IMPROVE JOB ACCESS
Individuals across Milwaukee County have relied on the Milwaukee County Transit System as their main source of transportation. With construction taking place all across the county, driving has become a serious headache for some. The four-year reconstruction project of the Zoo Interchange has left many drivers in a commuter's obstacle course as they figure out the best way to avoid traffic hassles.
These new routes will connect individuals to jobs and those who enjoy shopping to nearby malls. Routes 6 and 279 were made possible because of a settlement agreement between representatives from the Milwaukee Inner-City Congregation Allied for Hope and Black Health Coalition of Wisconsin with the State of Wisconsin Department of Transportation. The new routes are as follows:
New bus routes from city to suburbs 'off to a good start
BHCW/MICAH Routes
"Focusing on the Highest Quality of Life for African Americans"
Milwaukee Healthy Beginnings Project
WI African American Eliminating Disparities Institute
BHCW/MICAH Bus Routes
JOB LINES
New Routes New Moves ~ Transit and Jobs Go Together
Media Campaign by BHCW & MICAH in conjunction with MCTS
(Click on each image below to access videos.)
Copyright © Black Health Coalition of Wisconsin Inc. All rights reserved.


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NASCAR Hauler Parade Returns to Sacramento Thursday, June 20
Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series haulers will kick off the series' annual visit to Northern California by rolling through the streets of Sacramento at the 9th annual NASCAR Hauler Parade on Thursday, June 20.
The NASCAR haulers, which will be en route to Sonoma Raceway for the Toyota/Save Mart 350, June 21-23, will make their way over the Tower Bridge and around the State Capitol on their way to greet Northern California NASCAR fans ready for the big race in Sonoma.
You can expect to see haulers from the Joe Gibbs Racing, Hendrick Motorsports and Team Penske racing teams, and most every other driver on the Monster Energy Series circuit. For almost a decade, Northern California and raceway officials have thrilled some of racing's most avid race fans with the unique parade in Sacramento.
The parade will begin promptly at noon on Thursday, June 20, as the haulers cross the Tower Bridge, heading for the State Capitol. The route is as follows:
Cross Tower Bridge towards Capitol Mall.
Right turn on 3rd Street.
Left turn on N Street.
Left turn on 16th Street.
Left turn on L Street.
Haulers will then be directed to the freeway and head South on Hwy. 80 to Sonoma Raceway, where they will be parked in the garage for the race weekend. The haulers will arrive at the raceway at approximately 2 p.m.
Race fans can catch the haulers all along the parade route, but are encouraged to head to the corner of 11th and L streets for the best view.
In addition, State Senator Bill Dodd from 3rd Senate District will present the Transporter Drivers of Motorsports Association (TDMA) an official State Senate Proclamation, officially naming June 20, 2019, "NASCAR Day" in California. A $5,000 donation will also be made to the Sonoma Chapter of Speedway Children's Charities, the charitable arm of Sonoma Raceway, on behalf of TDMA.
Don't miss your chance to give the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series a warm Sacramento welcome as the haulers rumble through town on Thursday, June 20. Download the Sonoma Raceway app to view the parade route map, as well as best viewing points.
For tickets or more information on the Toyota/Save Mart 350, visit SonomaRaceway.com/nascar or call 800-870-RACE (7223).


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Review: Green Day - ¡Dos!
Green Day hits the garage.
By Jordan Richardson on November 14, 2012 10:00 AM |
The tenth studio album for Green Day is ¡Dos!, the middle portion of a trilogy of records that began with ¡Uno! and will end with the upcoming ¡Tré!. While ¡Uno! set the tone with a collection of party pop-punk tunes, this record finds the trio a little more entrenched in the shindig to the point that the floor is beset with empty beer cans and cigarette butts and all the "cool people" have gone home.
That is, of course, a damn good thing. ¡Dos! plainly makes a lot of sense in what is shaping up to be one hell of a trilogy from Green Day. The "Kill the DJ" tones of the first entry have locked Billie Joe Armstrong (vocals, guitar), Mike Dirnt (bass, vocals) and Tré Cool (drums, percussion) in the garage.
Less punk and more rock and roll, ¡Dos! is at once wisely set apart from American Idiot and 21st Century Breakdown yet a step toward identification as an accomplished outfit. Green Day knows they have something more to prove with each record and the lean ¡Dos! is another strong statement of intent.
Clocking in at just less than 40 minutes, the album carries an immense melodic core and a lot of heart.
Many have (and will) take issue with Armstrong's swing in terms of lyrical content. While some consider the absence of more overt political content to be a shame, ¡Dos!, like its cousin ¡Uno!, is actually still a dogmatic animal ("Baby Eyes").
The "problem" is that Armstrong's buried the lead, stumbling through avenues of suburban ennui, crumpled love and other subjects that still take root in fragmented times with fragmented plans. To suggest that the lyrics are decidedly "less important" by virtue of their human connection is horseshit.
After a brief minute of acoustic introduction, ¡Dos! gets the show on the road with "Fuck Time." Commencing with a drumbeat that reminds of Neil Young's "Fuckin' Up," Green Day kicks the song into gear with a little 50s swing by way of grunge rock. The dirty ditty even crosses the runaway centre line into surf rock while still maintaining its punk rock heart.
Elsewhere, "Stop Where the Red Lights Flash" kicks up a frantic storm while "Stray Heart" errs on the side of sweetness. The garage punk of "Ashley" is a blast from the past, with coursing guitar and spikey backing vocals from Dirnt.
Green Day closes ¡Dos! with the lovely "Amy," an ode to the now-departed Amy Winehouse. Led by some beautiful guitar picking, Armstrong raises the emotional temperature: "Amy don't you go/I want you around." When he asks her if she wants to be his friend, it's hard not to get chills. Armstrong's lyrics are among his very best and his austere presentation suits the material stunningly.
¡Dos! happily fits right in the middle of Green Day's ambitious but realistic trilogy. With notes of garage rock tossed in with the punk rock spasms, this is perhaps a more profound rung on the ladder. It has more meat on its bones and seems dirtier and grimier than ¡Uno!, creating an undoubtedly shaggy trip that is every bit of fun as its predecessor.


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UN: 12 cases of extrajudicial executions in Colombia in 2018
A 62-page report published by the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Michelle Bachelet, on international humanitarian law in Colombia during 2018, reveals that there have been 12 cases of extrajudicial executions.
Thursday, 13 Jun 2019, 09:14
The extrajudicial executions (known as falsos positivos) occurred in 12 departments of the country, namely Antioquia, Huila, Arauca, Norte de Santander, Cesar, La Guajira and Magdalena, and saw the involvement of police officers and members of the National Army.
Furthermore in six of the cases, members of the Police would be involved and in the other six, of the Army.
High Commissioner Bachelet said that "several UN experts have indicated that the use of the Army in the fight against crime can lead to an increase in Human Rights violations."
More in HUMAN RIGHTS
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Violations of rights in Van prisons increase
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Baylor Magazine • September/October, 2003
Search Baylor:
Baylor>Alumni, Parents & Friends>Baylor Magazine - September/October, 2003
'Real-Time' War Coverage
If there never before was a war quite like the late (or, more accurately, ongoing) unpleasantness in Iraq, should we wonder that no previous war was ever covered quite as this one was? Embedded reporters! Real-time shoot-outs! Would not Richard Harding Davis, on seeing it, flip his pith helmet?
The truth is, my longtime profession, the media, will be assimilating and weighing for some time the implications of how, and how well, the Iraq war was reported, but here are some of my preliminary thoughts and observations.
A grim measure of the seriousness the war inspired in the media was the media death toll -- 14 photojournalists, translators and correspondents killed: an astonishing ratio of more than one for every nine dead American soldiers. Two prominent American journalists died -- Washington Post and Atlantic Monthly columnist Michael Kelly and NBC-TV correspondent David Bloom. By comparison, just four journalists were killed in the Gulf War and eight in Afghanistan. The wartime journalistic population in Iraq was high in the first place, with more than 100 outlets from around the world represented (including superstars like ABC's Ted Koppel). There is poignance, nonetheless, in the death of so many civilian professionals lured there by danger, the call of duty or a fetching combination of both. To die so that others may live freely is a thing we understand and rightly value; to die so that others may know is a reality less easily taken in.
Second, media-military hostilities dating from Vietnam days eased without vanishing altogether. The Pentagon, which had kept the media on a tight leash as recently as the Afghan campaign, this time "embedded" reporters in military units. The reporters lived with the troops, talked with the troops, often came to love and admire the troops. This was refreshing, frankly, in view of the media's proven distaste for the military as supposedly narrow, bellicose and homophobic, among other disabilities.
Faithful contemners of the military grumped about the loss of "objectivity" that came with the embedding process (as if some canon of journalism required doling out grief in equal measure to both sides). At that, much early reportage was gloomy and hangdog, as Iraqi ambushes claimed American lives. Very soon, American successes began to pile up; these generated the excitement and acclamation we had been led to not necessarily look for.
The hookup that took place in Iraq between reporters and blue-collar American soldiers may come to overshadow all other implications of wartime media coverage. What can be amiss with post-Vietnam journalists watching young Americans die for a country whose sins excite more media attention than its homely virtues?
Third, technology provided viewers an experience first suggested during Vietnam, which was known as the war TV "brought into your living room." Iraq was "real-time" war; it brought excitement and urgency to the home front. Viewers came to know, if only superficially, the "actors," from generals to buck privates. The enterprise thus was made personal in a way even Ernie Pyle -- the World War II dogface's advocate and friend -- could not have foreseen.
Fears of "Saving Private Ryan"-style carnage under American roofs never materialized, and actually could not have. Carnage is remarkably hard even for hand-held cameras to record and make sense of. Fresh bodies -- Iraqi bodies -- came into view, but only as aftermath. The cameras, all the same, imparted a sense of immediacy. "You Are There," as Walter Cronkite used to inform the viewers of his Sunday evening historical depiction show in the 1950s. If you were there, the matter became considerably less abstract and more important than otherwise would have been the case.
No coverage of an imperfect world is ever perfect. What strikes me concerning Iraq is how unpredictably good and absorbing the coverage proved. If we fought a new kind of war, so we seem to face a new kind of world, one in which accurate information about powerful, often grotesque realities becomes a priority more urgent than ever before. The media -- our media -- rose to the occasion.
William Murchison is the Radford Distinguished Professor of Journalism at Baylor. He is a nationally syndicated columnist and serves as senior columnist at the Dallas Morning News, where he has been since 1973. His most recent book is There's More to Life Than Politics.
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451 Doodle Went to Town
January 04, 2013 by Dave Michels
This week the Yankee Group Research was acquired by 451 group. It's another indication of how the analyst business is changing.
Yankee's history involves several owners. The firm was founded in 1970 by Howard Anderson, and then sold to Primark in 1996 for $34 million. In 2000 it was sold again to Reuters for $72.5 million. In 2004 Reuters sold it to Decision Matrix Group (DMG) for around $30 million. DMG had planned to merge it with its META Group. Gartner bought META, so DMG then sold Yankee to Alta Communications in 2005 for about $33 million. Yesterday, The 451 Group acquired Yankee for $1 (unconfirmed).
Yes, Alta killed Yankee. Alta placed Emily Green in charge, she had experience with Forrester, and she undertook an aggressive plan to transform Yankee into a smaller and nimbler Forrester Research. The problem with aggressive strategies is sometimes they fail. Yankee wasn't able to penetrate enterprise accounts like Forrester or Gartner. Zeus Kerravala, a Senior VP at the time, said there was a notable shift in focus from ongoing client relationships toward more generic quantity reports.
Terry Waters replaced Green in 2010 with the direction to find a buyer for the business. Yankee wasn't easy to sell with most of its star analysts gone and few recurring customers. The business went into the red in 2012. Reportedly, the 451 group agreed to acquire the firm for $1 and assume approximately $700k in debt. The 451 Group intends to keep Yankee as a separate subsidiary as it did with its previous acquisitions of the Uptime Institute and Change Wave. It's a nice theory, but doesn't explain how 451 intends to reverse Yankee's losses.
The story of Yankee is just a small illustration of how technology analysis is changing.
Originally, analysis or "advisory" firms targeted computer hardware vendors with rich competitive information. Gideon Gartner came up with the idea of targeting enterprises with similar content. He introduced continuous open ended research for clients as opposed to fixed consulting efforts from vendors such as McKinsey and Booz Allen. Gartner's approach offered scalability and efficiencies. Gartner than expanded by leveraging its research for additional constituencies such as investors and vendors. Even better, new clients contributed to Gartner's visibility. The data became richer and more valuable as the business grew.
Gartner today, like Avaya, is a Silver Lake company. Its impact and influence over vendors and enterprises remains significant – particularly via its Magic Quadrant report (the firm published over 150 MQ reports last year). Gartner's impact is so significant that some believe the firm sucks the life out of the enterprise analysis market.
Gartner isn't the only giant – along with IDC and Ovum these firms are industry stalwarts, and Yankee found that the club isn't easy to crash. Instead other analyst firms are specializing with different approaches and new markets. Consider the following major trends that are creating new opportunities.
Categories are Resisting Definition: It doesn't matter where you look, but things just don't fit into categories any more. Everything is becoming a big blur such as consumer vs. enterprise; software, hardware, and services vendors; voice and data, desktops and mobiles, and so on. It is more than technical trends – consider the merging roles of analyst, consultant, and media. Today, a UC expert must be knowledgeable in APIs, VoIP, messaging, video, standards, virtualization, SIP, DECT, Wi-Fi, contracts, contact center, and so on.
The IT Decision Maker is Different: We are approaching a world where everyone is an IT decision maker. Different buyers require different types of information and have different questions and paths to implementation. IT decision makers include CIOs, CMOs, CEOs, IT Directors, other directors, other managers, Joe, and you.
Social Media: As categories clash and decision makers change, confusion ensues. People turn to online social communities for answers. Experts don't need Yellow Pages ads in every city, they need an online voice on Twitter, blogs, and various social communities.
There is always a market for experts, and the experts are analysts in various firms and niches. For example, Aberdeen and Nemertes focus on end user surveys. Frost specializes on global coverage. Current Analysis focuses on competitive differentiators. MZA specializes on market share. Opus Research on speech technologies. And so on. Of course there is overlap among these firms.
Perhaps most interesting, and dearest to my heart, is the rise of independent analysts. Thanks to an ever connected society via blogs, Twitter, and personal relationships; independent analysts are now viably able to share insights and opinions with multiple constituencies. There is always demand for experts. Also new are loose confederations of like-minded, big thinkers such as UCStrategies, Altimeter, and Constellation Research.
Special thanks to Zeus Kerravala of ZK Research and Dan Miller of Opus Research for filling in some holes for me on this post.
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Duncan Chapple January 4, 2013
Thanks for linking to my article. We have a lot of the same analysis, but I'm afraid you've taken one error from my report. Howard Anderson confirmed to me that while he initially got $34m for the firm, the final payment was $51m. I asked Yankee and 451 about the $1 and $700k figures you give: they say they are mistaken.
Dave Michels January 4, 2013
Thanks for the correction. The $1/$700k debt does seem like a steal. I've heard it as accurate, but I added "unconfirmed" above. I wonder why 451 won't confirm a figure?
451 can't confirm the figure, because they and the other parties, who knows the actual amount, have signed a non-disclosure agreement. But I'm sure they were not lying when they told me that those were not the figures. Indeed, if the deal is to assume Yankee's current debt, I could easily imagine that even their CFO might know exactly what Yankee's liabilities were on the day until a few weeks have passed.
Over the weekend I got to see copies of the Letter of Intent and associated financials. They look legit, but I can't verity authenticity. The LoI was from Lhasa Partners, the sole shareholder of 451, and addressed to Terry Waters at Yankee Group Research dated 12/21/12. It stated a purchase price of $1 "plus assumption of the Assumed Liabilities."
The liabilities totaled 731,635.77, but that appeared to include mixed currencies so actually about $750k in US dollars.
Arthur Rosenberg January 6, 2013
Interesting history! (I knew Gideon Gartner when we both worked for System Development Corporation, a software development spinoff from the Rand Corporation in the early days of computers.)
What I think is now becoming the real game changer for computer and communications technology is the shift to hosted/managed "cloud" services, rather than CPE, for online business applications that are mobile and UC-enabled. That means that CEBP applications will start showing up through vertical market application developers to support a variety of mobile user and desktop interfaces (and OSs) that wireless service providers will be offering to all types of BYOD users (consumers and business users) through a variety of "app stores"
So, the metrics for Gartner's Magic Quadrants will obviously shift to the final packaging (functionality, integrations, manageability, security, reliability) of mobile application services (both business and communication apps) that are software based, constantly changing, and not developed or supported by in-house IT. The carriers have already started offering 4G wireless connectivity to all end users, including business-oriented access to UC-enabled applications.
So, end user "hardware" will come into play primarily with mobile endpoint devices and all end users will be getting them primarily as consumers through their wireless carriers, in addition to any specialized mobile devices for non-BYOD work needs. That doesn't mean wired desktop endpoints are going away overnight, but many will be easily displaced by mobile tablets.
Ludovic Leforestier January 9, 2013
Good post and history.
What it doesn't say though is what are they selling exactly and to whom.
And what I'm wondering is how much influence they both have with technology and services buyers?


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By: Clément Levin
What is DNA fingerprinting?
Just like your fingerprint is unique to you, the DNA sequence in your cells contains certain variations that makes it unique as well. In fact, only 0.1% of your genome differs from any other individual. DNA fingerprinting is a technique to identify individuals based on their DNA sequence. Let's review the best method and tools in DNA fingerprinting.
What makes your DNA unique?
Short tandem repeats (STRs), or minisatellites, are locations in the chromosomes that contain short and repeated nucleotide sequences. These short sequences of repetitive DNA show greater variation from one person to the next than other parts of the genome. This variation is exhibited in the number of repeated units in the sequence. Since each variant act as an inherited allele, they can be used for parental or personal identification.
Since the length of a given minisatellite region varies between individuals, simultaneous detection of lots of minisatellites can be used to identify unique patterns in an individual. This is DNA fingerprinting. This technique is now used for several applications, such as forensics and parentage testing, but also zoology, botany and agriculture.
Usually, DNA fingerprinting include the following steps:
DNA sampling and extraction
STR analysis: PCR is used with a predefined set of primers labeled with fluorescent tags to target highly polymorphic regions of STRs (usually between 17 and 20 loci). Gel electrophoresis is then used to separate DNA fragments of different lengths. Each fragment passes by a laser which causes the fragments with fluorescent tags to glow with a specific color. The output is displayed as a series of colored peaks (as shown in the image below) highlighting the color. and length of each STR sequence.
Illustration showing the steps in DNA profiling. Image credit: Genome Research Limited and yourgenome.org.
Tools for DNA fingerprinting
The resulting images produced by DNA fingerprinting are sometimes difficult to interpret, and multiple tools have been developed to simplify this task. The workflow to analyse DNA fingerprinting images generally include the following steps: Image Acquisition, pre-processing, lane detection, band detection, normalisation, and fingerpring comparison. Here are some great tools to analysis fingerprinting images:
GelCompar II: A software tool for the analysis and comparison of electrophoresis patterns. It offers unique advanced features, including phylogenetic and dimensioning algorithms, group verification methods, database quality control techniques, GLP and database protection tools, history recording, ODBC and SQL compatibility, database sharing tools, client-server database exchange over Internet, and more.
GelQuant Pro: A suite of core analysis tools for quantitative image analysis applications. It contains modules for 1D electrophoresis gel and western blot analysis, array/dot blot/slot blot analysis, colony counting & basic 2D spot measurement and general feature-based image analysis.
PyElph: An open source Python based software for gel images analysis which can be used for different molecular biology or genetics studies. PyElph is able to analyze genetic variations of the DNA molecules from different species or populations.
Discover more DNA fingerprinting tools on our dedicated tool category.
https://www.yourgenome.org/facts/what-is-a-dna-fingerprint
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DNA_profiling
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Ron Taylor
Best Mets Of All Time: No. 65 Robert Gsellman
In 2016, the Mets pitchers were falling by the wayside. The team was already in a precarious position in terms of the Wild Card race, and they desperately needed an arm or two to step up and help the Mets stay afloat. One of those arms was Robert Gsellman.
Starting with this debut, Gsellman would go 4-2 with a 2.42 ERA in seven starts and one relief appearance that season. One interesting tidbit about that season was he was dealing with a torn labrum in his non-pitching shoulder limiting him to bunt attempts. Despite, that in his last start of the season, he would actually get his first Major League hit.
When Gsellman made his Mets debut, the Mets were 4.5 games behind the St. Louis Cardinals for the second Wild Card. After that first relief appearance, the Mets were 3.5 games back. When Gsellman picked up his third win of the season, the Mets had a one game lead over the San Francisco Giants for the top Wild Card spot, and that's where the Mets would be in his final start of the year.
Many expected Gsellman's career to take off from that point, but that didn't quite happen. In front of a poor Mets defense, the sinkerball pitcher would struggle in 2017 as a starter leading to the team moving him into the bullpen. In the bullpen, Gsellman has had some great stretches.
Gsellman opened the 2018 season as a reliever, and he was great at the start. Over the first month of the season, he was 3-0 with a 1.80 ERA. He'd struggle to handle the workload not just of a reliever, but also Mickey Callaway going to the whip with him. Gsellman would rebound to have a strong August before tiring the rest of the way.
Again, Gsellman got out to a good start in 2019. Looking over his splits, he was good in every month he pitched but June. While he rebounded in July, he began to strain under the workload, and he missed the rest of the season with a triceps injury. Despite having the injury, Gsellman did all he could do to try to get back on the mound to have the same impact in 2019 as he did in 2016. Unfortunately, he could not make it back.
Through it all, Gsellman has proven himself to be a Major League caliber reliever, and someone who could still yet make an impact in the rotation again. He helped push the Mets into the 2016 postseason. Overall, he has established himself as the best Mets player to ever wear the number 65.
Al Leiter , AndAndres Gimenez , Andres Torres , Armando Benitez , Art Shamky , Bartolo Colon , Bernard Gilkey , Bob Ojeda , Carlos Beltran , Casey Stengel , Chad Bradford , Cleon Jones , Curtis Granderson , Daniel Murphy , Darryl Strawberry , David Cone , David Wright , Desmond Jennings , Drew Smith , Dwight Gooden , Edgardo Alfonzo , Frank Viola , Gary Carter , Gary Gentry , Gil Hodges , Howard Johnson , Jacob deGrom , Jenrry Mejia , Jerry Koosman , Jesse Orosco , Jeurys Familia , Johan Santana , John Stearns , Jon Matlack , Jose Reyes , Keith Hernandez , Lenny Dykstra , Mackey Sasser , Matt Harvey , Michael Conforto , Mickey Callaway , MIke Piazza , Mookie Wilson , Noah Syndergaard , Oliver Perez , Orel Hershiser , Pedro Feliciano , R.A. Dickey , Rey Ordonez , Rick Reed , Rick White , Robert Gsellman , Ron Taylor , Scott Schoeneweis , Sid Fernandez , Skip Lockwood , T.J. Rivera , Terry Leach , Tim Peterson , Todd Hundley , Tom Seaver , Tug McGraw , Wally Backman , Wayne Garrett , Yoenis Cespedes
Best Mets Of All Time: No. 60 Scott Schoeneweis
As we have seen through this list of the Best Mets of All-Time, we see the choices for some uniform numbers are quite limited, and that is certainly the case with the number 60. The last to wear is was P.J. Conlon who made team history by being the first Irish born player to play for the team, and really the first in the Majors in nearly a century.
There was also Jon Rauch, who had two claims to fame. The first was surpassing Eric Hillman by an inch to become the tallest player in Mets history. The next was his dousing Matt Harvey in ice water as a way to haze the rookie. Other than that, his Mets career was productive (o.4 WAR) but relatively unremarkable.
Then, there is Scott Schoeneweis who had a very complicated two years with his hometown team.
His first season with the Mets was simply a struggle, which was due in large part to a severed tendon in his knee. To his credit, he gutted it out and continued pitching in what was an increasingly depleted Mets bullpen. It should also be noted he did exactly what he was signed to do.
In 2007, Schoeneweis limited left-handed batters to a .204/.208/.247 batting line notably not allowing a single homer and just four extra base hits. It needs to be noted even in a season where he really struggled and dealt with injuries his .262 wOBA against left-handed hitters was the best in the National League.
In fact, from 2007 – 2008, Schoenweis' .249 wOBA was the second best in the Majors among those who had more than 50 IP against left-handed batters. Simply put, Schoeneweis was signed to be a left-handed pitcher in the bullpen to get left-handed batters out. If he had been limited to just doing that, perhaps his Mets career would have gone better.
For what it is worth, he was much better in 2008 with a healthy knee. In that season, he was 2-6 with a 3.34 ERA. Again, it should be noted he did the job he was supposed to do in getting left-handed batters out. In a memorable scene, he and Billy Wagner would also help the grounds crew get the tarp on the field.
In terms of Schoeneweis, while injured he was durable making 70+ appearances in consecutive seasons en route to becoming just one of four MLB pitchers to accomplish that feat from 2005 – 2008.
Unfortunately for Schoeneweis, he is not going to be primarily known for getting left-handed batters out, his durability, or for his helping get the tarp on the field. No, his lasting image as a Mets pitcher is his surrendering a home run to the right-handed hittin Wes Helms, who had pinch hit for the left-handed hitting Mike Jacobs on the final game of the 2008 season. That made him the losing pitcher in the final game ever played in Shea Stadium.
Despite that, Schoeneweis posted a respectable 0.8 WAR for a LOOGY in 2008. That's the highest WAR out of any of the three players who has worn 60 with the Mets, and that is why he is the best Mets player to ever wear that number.
Al Leiter , Andres Torres , Armando Benitez , Art Shamsky , Bartolo Colon , Bernard Gilkey , Billy Wagner , Bob Ojeda , Carlos Beltran , Casey Stengel , Chad Bradford , Cleon Jones , Curtis Granderson , Daniel Murphy , Darryl Strawberry , David Cone , David Wright , Dwight Gooden , Edgardo Alfonzo , Eric Hillman , Fernando Salas , Frank Viola , Gary Carter , Gary Gentry , Gil Hodges , Howard Johnson , Jacob deGrom , Jenrry Mejia , Jerry Koosman , Jesse Orosco , Jeurys Familia , Johan Santana , John Stearns , Jon Matlack , Jon Rauch , Jose Reyes , Keith Hernandez , Lenny Dykstra , Mackey Sasser , Matt Harvey , Michael Conforto , Mike Jacobs , MIke Piazza , Mookie Wilson , Noah Syndergaard , Oliver Perez , Orel Hershiser , P.J. Conlon , Pedro Feliciano , R.A. Dickey , Rey Ordonez , Rick Reed , Rick White , Ron Taylor , Scott Schoeneweis , Sid Fernandez , Skip Lockwood , T.J. Rivera , Terry Leach , Todd Hundley , Tom Seaver , Tug McGraw , Wally Backman , Wayne Garrett , Yoenis Cespedes
Best Mets Of All Time: No. 59 Fernando Salas
When it comes to the number 59 in Mets history, there are a lot of bad memories. That started with the first to wear it, Guillermo Mota, shaking off Paul Lo Duca and throwing a pitch which would change the entire course of the 2006 NLCS.
After Mota, there was Josh Smoker who had durability issues, and Antonio Bastardo. Bastrardo struggled so much the Mets actually welcomed back Jon Niese. That brings us to Fernando Salas, who was one of the few players to do something positive in a Mets uniform.
The Mets had obtained Salas from the Los Angeles Angels at the end of the waiver trade deadline. At that point, the Mets were 1.5 games of the Wild Card, and they were in desperate need of bullpen help. Like Addison Reed the year before, Salas was great over the final month of the season.
In 17 appearances, Salas was 0-1 with a 2.08 ERA, 0.635 WHIP, and a 9.9 K/9. Remarkably, he did not walk one batter while striking out 19 batters. Over that stretch, no one in the league made more appearances than he did, and he would have the seventh best WHIP. Overall, he proved to be the missing key to that bullpen which helped the Mets go from the outside looking in for the 2016 postseason.
Salas would return to the Mets after signing a deal in the offseason. He got off to a hot start with seven scoreless appearances and a 2.89 ERA over his first nine. However, he would eventually wilt after Terry Collins kept going to the whip with him. After his struggles, he was released a few weeks prior to the anniversary of the day the Mets obtained him.
While things did not end well, and Salas was not up to the rigors of pitching in the bullpen for Collins, he was everything the Mets needed him to be in 2016. It is very likely without Salas' performance in 2016, the Mets might've missed a Wild Card they claimed by just one game over the St. Louis Cardinals. For that 2016 performance, he is the best Mets player to ever wear the number 59.
Addison Reed , Al Leiter , Andres Torres , Antonio Bastardo , Armando Benitez , Art Shamsky , Bartolo Colon , Bernard Gilkey , Bob Ojeda , Carlos Beltran , Casey Stengel , Chad Bradford , Cleon Jones , Curtis Granderson , Daniel Murphy , Darryl Strawberry , David Cone , David Wright , Dwight Gooden , Edgardo Alfonzo , Fernando Salas , Frank Viola , Gary Carter , Gary Gentry , Gil Hodges , Guillermo Mota , Howard Johnson , Jacob deGrom , Jenrry Mejia , Jerry Koosman , Jesse Orosco , Jeurys Familia , Johan Santana , John Stearns , Jon Matlack , Jon Niese , Jose Reyes , Josh Smoker , Keith Hernandez , Lenny Dykstra , Mackey Sasser , Matt Harvey , Michael Conforto , MIke Piazza , Mookie Wilson , Noah Syndergaard , Oliver Perez , Orel Hershiser , Paul Lo Duca , Pedro Feliciano , R.A. Dickey , Rey Ordonez , Rick Reed , Rick White , Ron Taylor , Sid Fernandez , Skip Lockwood , T.J. Rivera , Terry Collins , Terry Leach , Todd Hundley , Tom Seaver , Tug McGraw , Wally Backman , Wayne Garrett , Yoenis Cespedes
Best Mets Of All Time: No. 58 Jenrry Mejia
If you want to talk about one of the most truly bizarre Mets careers, you need not look much further than Jenrry Mejia. Really, it started that way, and it ended that way.
Mejia was shockingly a member of the Opening Day roster for the 2010 Mets at the behest of Jerry Manuel. Seeing his power arm, Manuel wanted the Mets to eschew his development as a potential front line starter and make him the bullpen arm the team needed. The Mets would acquiesce and give Manuel some conditions, ones Manuel would ultimately by and large ignore.
That started a strange four year odyssey where the Mets could not figure out if they wanted Mejia to be a starter or reliever. Initially after sending him down in 2010, they wanted to stretch him out to be a starter, but time and again, they would move him back to the bullpen. That may have been a factor in his needing Tommy John surgery in 2011.
You could somewhat understand the Mets thinking. Mejia was one of the best pitchers in the organization, and for a team in perpetual need of bullpen help, you could see why they wanted him on the Major League roster. However, when he did get the rare chance to start, he would show flashes of being great.
Mejia had a good stretch in the Major League rotation in 2013, and before he was shut down for innings limits in 2013, he appeared to have locked down a spot in the Major League rotation. In fact, he would be a part of the 2014 Opening Day rotation, and he would actually start the season quite well including another terrific start against the Nationals.
Mejia would weaken over the first month of the season, and he would again be moved to the bullpen. This time, he would stick there, and after the retread arms of Kyle Farnsworth and Jose Valverde were released, Mejia was named as the teams' closer. He proved up the to task.
From May 17, when he recorded his first save, until the end of the year, he recorded 28 saves, which was tied for 11th most in the Majors. It is also the 17th highest single-season save total in Mets history. Again, this needs the added context of this being named the closer after a month-and-a-half of the season had passed and while pitching for a sub .500 team.
During that time, Mets fans thought they had the closer of the future, and he would electrify the crowd with what had become known as the "Mejia Stomp" after he converted a save. What should have been the launching point of his career turned into his being a flash in the pan.
On Opening Day of 2015, Mejia injured his elbow warming up to earn a save. He'd land on the DL with elbow inflammation, and he would receive the first of his PED suspensions. In total, he'd only make seven scoreless appearances for the 2015 Mets before being levied with PED suspensions leading to what was then a permanent suspension from baseball. He would be the first such player to serve such a suspension in MLB history.
Despite that, Mejia has performed better than any of the four players who has worn the number 58, and as a result, him and his stomp are the best to ever wear that number in Mets history.
Al Leiter , Andres Torres , Armando Benitez , Art Shamsky , Bartolo Colon , Bernard Gilkey , Bob Ojeda , Carlos Beltran , Casey Stengel , Chad Bradford , Cleon Jones , Curtis Granderson , Daniel Murphy , Darryl Strawberry , David Cone , David Wright , Dwight Gooden , Edgardo Alfonzo , Frank Viola , Gary Carter , Gary Gentry , Gil Hodges , Howard Johnson , Jacob deGrom , Jenrry Mejia , Jerry Koosman , Jerry Manuel , Jesse Orosco , Jeurys Familia , Johan Santana , John Stearns , Jon Matlack , Jose Reyes , Jose Valverde , Keith Hernandez , Kyle Farnsworth , Lenny Dykstra , Mackey Sasser , Matt Harvey , Michael Conforto , Mookie Wilson , Noah Syndergaard , Oliver Perez , Orel Hershiser , Pedro Feliciano , R.A. Dickey , Rey Ordonez , Rick Reed , Rick White , Ron Taylor , Sid Fernandez , Skip Lockwood , T.J. Rivera , Terry Leach , Todd Hundley , Tom Seaver , Tug McGraw , Wally Backman , Wayne Garrett , Yoenis Cespedes
Best Mets Of All Time: No. 57 Johan Santana
Mostly due to Nolan Ryan, there have been 12 no-hitters thrown by pitchers after they left the Mets. There have been 10 pitchers to throw no-hitters before coming to the Mets. Hideo Nomo is the one pitcher who threw a no-hitter before and after pitching for the Mets. Through it all, the swinging bunts, the bloop singles, the defensive misplays, everything, there has been just one man who has thrown a no-hitter in a Mets uniform.
Johan Santana.
If he did nothing else in his Mets career, this would have been enough to make Santana the best ever Mets pitcher to wear the number 57. However, his career would prove to be much more than this moment.
Santana originally came to the Mets after the collapse of the 2007 season. Omar Minaya waited out the field, and he eventually got the Twins to accept the trade, and then, he got the Mets to make Santana the highest paid pitcher in the game. It was all designed to prevent another 2007, and really handle the unfinished business from 2006.
It was actually a slow start for Santana in his first season with the Mets, which shouldn't have been all the surprising as that is what he typically did with the Twins. However, in June, Santana turned it on, and he was phenomenal in a Cy Young worthy season. Somehow, he only finished third in Cy Young voting despite leading the league in ERA, GS, and IP.
However, as we know, with aces it is not just about the win-loss record. It is about stepping up when your team needs it most. That's exactly what Santana did. Really, he was simply brilliant down the stretch. In the second half, he was 8-0 with a 2.17 ERA and a 1.096 WHIP. People may have wanted to give credit to the managerial switch or something else, but fact, is the biggest driver of the Mets turning it around was Santana being Santana.
That included him demanding the ball on the penultimate game of the season. With the Mets in a position where they could not afford to lose another game, Santana took the mound on three days rest and threw the last great game a Mets pitcher would have at Shea. He shut out the Marlins allowing just three hits while striking out nine. The fact he did this on an injured knee made this start all the more incredible.
That would prove to be the last time the Mets won at Shea, and it would be the last start Santana would make with the Mets being contenders.
Partially due to the injuries setting in, people tend to forget Santana was still a very good pitcher over the ensuing two years, which included his being named an All-Star in 2009. Over the first two years in Citi Field, Santana had a 131 ERA+. As noted, the injuries would mount with him needing surgery on his knee, elbow, and shoulder in successive seasons.
The last surgery to repair a torn anterior capsule in his pitching shoulder cost him all of the 2011 season. Simply put, pitchers really don't recover from that surgery. Santana somehow did even if it was for a short duration. In his first 11 starts, which includes the famed 134 pitch no-hitter, Santana was 3-2 with a 2.38 ERA and 1.029 WHIP. Essentially, Santana was back, but unfortunately, the wear and tear of pitching every fifth day proved to be too much. His entire career would last just 10 more starts.
Through all of it, Santana had established himself as one of the best starters in Mets history. He has the sixth best ERA+ with the 10th best K/BB. If you take out his 2012 season, he would rank higher in those and other categories, but then again, if you take out that season, you miss the only no-hitter in Mets history. For that no-hitter and all the great things he did in a Mets uniform, Santana is the best Mets player to ever wear the number 57.
Al Leiter , Andres Torre , Armando Benitez , Art Shamsky , Bartolo Colon , Bernard Gilkey , Bob Ojeda , Carlos Beltran , Casey Stengel , Chad Bradford , Cleon Jones , Curtis Granderson , Daniel Murphy , Darryl Strawberry , David Cone , David Wright , Dwight Gooden , Edgardo Alfonzo , Frank Viola , Gary Carter , Gary Gentry , Gil Hodges , Hideo Nomo , Howard Johnson , Jacob deGrom , Jerry Koosman , Jesse Orosco , Jeurys Familia , Johan Santana , John Stearns , Jon Matlack , Jose Reyes , Keith Hernandez , Lenny Dykstra , Mackey Sasser , Matt Harvey , Michael Conforto , Mookie Wilson , Noah Syndergaard , Nolan Ryan , Oliver Perez , Orel Hershiser , Pedro Feliciano , R.A. Dickey , Rey Ordonez , Rick Reed , Rick White , Ron Taylor , Sid Fernandez , Skip Lockwood , T.J. Rivera , Terry Leach , Todd Hundley , Tom Seaver , Tug McGraw , Wally Backman , Wayne Garrett , Yoenis Cespedes


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Secretary Antony J. Blinken At the African and Diaspora Young Leaders Forum
Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken delivers remarks at the African and Diaspora Young Leaders Forum in Washington, D.C. on December 13, 2022. [State Department photo by Freddie Everett/ Public Domain]
National Museum of African American History and Culture
SECRETARY BLINKEN: Good morning, everyone. Wow, it is wonderful to see this incredible auditorium full. I think hopefully you managed to get a little breakfast before this. But I'm here simply to say this: Welcome to the African and Diaspora Young Leaders Forum.
Your Excellencies, President Weah of Liberia is in the house. (Applause.) President Maada Bio of Sierra Leone in the house. (Applause.) Thank you. Thank you both for traveling to Washington for the U.S.-Africa Leaders Summit. It means a great deal to have this time in person with you.
And I also saw in the house Greg Meeks, the chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee. (Applause.) There may be some other members of Congress here as well. It's wonderful to have you this morning.
So to everyone joining us this morning – members of the African diaspora, African and American youth leaders, students in the United States and Africa who are tuning in virtually – thank you for all that you do to strengthen the bonds between African countries and the United States.
Now, it is fitting that we are meeting here at the National Museum of African American History and Culture, a national treasure. On its top floor – and I don't know if you've had the opportunity to visit, but on the top floor of the museum there is an exhibit called "Cultural Expressions." It explores, in part, the contributions of the African diaspora and how its members have shaped American culture and life – through fashion, the arts, dance, language, food, music.
Across the exhibit and museum, we see the unique culture in objects like a recipe book brought by Pierre Thiam, a great chef who brought the flavors of Senegal to New York City through his beloved Teranga restaurant. Or a flag of the United States whose colors have been replaced by the colors of the Pan African flag, titled "The African American Flag," which has served as a symbol of African American and African pride in protest movements throughout our history.
As this museum shows, the United States continues to be enriched immeasurably by the African diaspora: from the piercing comedy of Trevor Noah, who we will miss on "The Daily Show" – (applause) – to the Alté of Tems, who I happen to have on my phone – (applause) – to the speed-skating of Maame Biney, who I don't have on my phone – (laughter) – among so many others.
Often, we see members of the diaspora return to the countries to which they're connected, and empower people there. This past August, I was in the Democratic Republic of Congo, and I met with someone who may be familiar to some of you – a certain NBA Hall of Famer, Dikembe Mutombo, whose foundation has provided high-quality health care to more than 30,000 patients, regardless of their economic status. I can also say Dikembe is very, very tall – a wonderful, wonderful person.
The importance of the diaspora – to the past, to the present, to the future – of both African nations and the United States is why this is one of the very first events of the Africa Leaders Summit.
Earlier this year, in South Africa, I had an opportunity to set out the administration's new strategy for sub-Saharan Africa. It's a strategy rooted in one key word – partnership – and in recognition that we can't solve any of our shared priorities unless we work together. And it's a strategy that recognizes the immense role that the African diaspora and young people will play in shaping and strengthening that partnership. And in fact, that's exactly what you're already doing. Back in August I had a chance to meet with members of the diaspora and African American youth leaders right here in Washington to hear a little bit about some of the work that they were doing.
One young leader, who has mobilized climate finance to make the water sector more resilient in South Africa, is now sharing the lessons that she learned at a U.S. government agency. Another, fresh off her experience fighting infectious disease in Malawi, was sharing her insights with nonprofits and businesses in the United States. Others were expanding educational opportunities for children, conducting environmental research, creating job opportunities for youth in both African countries and the United States, and demonstrating exactly why the diaspora is such an unparalleled asset for people on both continents. It's these interconnections, the back and forth, and the benefits that flow to African nations and the United States alike that is so incredibly powerful.
The United States is committed to ensuring that young people can continue to bring their talents and hard work to the benefit of people across the continent and to the benefit of people in the United States. We've got a number of programs that are doing just that – programs like the Young African Leaders Initiative – and through our economic development programs, like the Academy for Women Entrepreneurs program. Now, since its inception in 2019, that program has provided more than 5,400 women throughout Africa with the training and the networks that they need to start and to scale small businesses.
Over the next few days, we will be announcing additional investments to make it easier for students to participate in exchange programs between our countries, to increase trade opportunities for members of the African diaspora, and to support African entrepreneurs and small businesses. Each of these investments is guided by one overarching goal: to continue building our partnership so that we can better address the shared challenges we face. And ultimately, we can build a safer, more secure, more prosperous future for all of us.
And now I have the great pleasure and the honor of introducing his excellency President Weah of Liberia. Now, President Weah, I happen to have been in Qatar for the World Cup, and I didn't get an opportunity to speak to you in detail then, but I wanted to thank you for all you've done to strengthen the bonds between Liberia and the United States – (applause) – including through your support of the Liberian diaspora. And thanks for all that you and your family have done to support that goal too, including, quite literally, by scoring a few goals. (Laughter.)
So I was there – first match between the United States and Wales, and I got to cheer your son, Timothy, scoring the first goal for the United States Men's soccer team in the World Cup. (Applause.) But the best part of that was turning around and getting a quick look at your face as you watched your son score that goal, and I could see the extraordinary pride that was there and an entire stadium cheering him on. So I guess the apple just doesn't fall too far from the tree in this case. Ladies and gentlemen, the president of Libera. Thank you very much.
Secretary Antony J. Blinken, U.S.-African Leaders Summit
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FALL 2020 SUMMER 2016
j. david nichols
I agreed prior to the Covid-19 pandemic
to deliver, in person, a presentation at the Cattle
U Seminar meeting in Garden City KS. Sev-
eral weeks later... I was notified that the meeting was going Virtual with ZOOM.
It is hard to teach an old dog new tricks and this old dog struggles to just master social distancing, and face masks with all the people who I "rub shoulders" with almost every day.
But I agreed to give it my best shot with a Power Point Presentation that was and is Nichols Farms road map for the future of the beef business and Nichols Farms role in it.
The presentations started with Mark Gardiner. He had a beautiful pre- sentation of the cattle and pastures of Gardiner Angus Ranch. And his words about his dad, Henry, and his family, were memorable and gave insight into his faith, family, and friends.
Iowa Cattlemens Foundation: 05/2017
The grass fires that have consumed thousands of square miles of Kansas, Oklahoma, and Texas have shocked anyone who has stayed up half the night to watch one of their kids' heifers calve.
Our hearts go out to those brave souls who fought the flames, lost cattle, feed, fences and especially those that mourn their families and friends who died trying to save their cattle.
— Continued on page two
Big Pete with Rey – Rey was the Champion Quarter Horse 1944, Southwestern Livestock Show, El Paso, Texas and maternal grandsire to AQHA Hall of Fame stud -Sugar Bars
Big Pete, Little Pete, and Jay Reynolds: An Historic Ranching Family
Jay Reynolds of Demopolis, Alabama is part of an historic ranching family that migrated east in the 1950s from Texas to escape a series of droughts. The family had an extensive ranching opera- tion headquartered in Marfa, Texas, which is near El Paso and the Mexican border.
In fact, his great-grandfather and grandfa- ther ranched on both sides of the border, driving a large number of stocker cattle into Mexico each year to graze. When the grazing season was over, the yearlings were then trailed back into the U.S. and loaded on railcars for shipment to the cen- tralized stockyards to market. They also ran cows in Texas and New Mexico.
It was while they were in Mexico that they became a foundation Quarter Horse herd when the breed was founded in 1941. The registry was formed by primarily Texas ranchers who wanted to preserve the unique and useful ranch horses that had developed over time. Because the Reynolds family was in Mexico, they missed the Quarter Horse formational meeting, but had their remuda inspected and registered while still in Mexico, becoming one of the breed's Founda-
tion Herds. They are also one of only 14 Legacy Herds that has registered a horse every year the Association has been in existence.
country, but there is also a good bit
of crop ground in the region. It is there that the family has been in the commer- cial cow-calf business since migrating
to Alabama. Jay's father, Pete, was also diversified with stockyards and a feedlot, but Jay has concentrated on strictly having a commercial herd.
Jay's grandfather even diversified with a ranch in Montana. However, they were plagued by droughts, which forced them to largely de-stock during the worst ones. During one particularly bad drought in the 1950s, Jay's grandfather visited his former foreman who had moved to Ala- bama. Once there, he was so impressed by all the green that he packed up and moved the operation to Alabama.
Jay reflected on the people who have influenced him, "I got the love and knowl- edge of horses from my grandfa- ther, but the cattle
They settled in the "black belt," which was named because of the rich black soil that made it a major cotton growing region in the 1800s. It is excellent cow
met Dave and took a tour of his cattle and breeding operation he was in heaven."
In terms of Jay's operation, it is built
— Continued on page three
BY BOB HOUGH
It was Pete who first met Dave Nichols when traveling in Iowa in the mid-1990s. Since then, Nichols not only has been supplying the Reynolds family with bulls, but Dave and Pete have also become good friends. This has involved trips by the Reynolds to Iowa to hunt pheasants and a trip by Dave to Alabama to deep sea fish in the Gulf. Although Pete is retired, he and Dave still keep in touch over the phone.
Dad. He lived and breathed breeding, feeding and mar- keting cattle for 50-plus years. When he
— Dave and Pete —
around the "Queens" of Southern cows—
side was all my