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Staff Reporters
Sport, Irish Australia
Irish Swan's career takes flight with new contract
Sydney Swans Irish defender Colin O'Riordan has been given a major vote of confidence by his club after accepting a two-year contract extension.
The new deal will see him remain in red and white until at least the end of 2021.
Colin O'Riordan has signed a new contract with the Sydney Swans. Picture: Sydney Swans
Originally from Tipperary, O'Riordan joined the Swans as an international rookie in 2015, following in the footsteps of Kerrymen Tadhg Kennelly and Tommy Walsh.
A star Gaelic footballer and hurler as a teenager, O'Riordan captained Tipperary to the Munster U21 football title in 2015 before deciding to try his luck at Aussie Rules.
He made a seamless transition to the Australian game, earning NEAFL Team of the Year honours in his first season on Sydney's list in 2016.
In Round 17, 2018, O'Riordan's hard work and thriving NEAFL form were rewarded when he was called up for his AFL debut in a six-point win against North Melbourne.
He also captained the Swans NEAFL side in the grand final loss to Southport last year.
After breaking back into the senior team in Round 8 this year, the 23-year-old has not looked back, playing nine games in a row and providing a wealth of drive from the backline. He also scored his first AFL goal against Conor McKenna's Essendon.
Colin O'Riordan pictured in 2015 when he captained Tipperary to the Munster U21 Gaelic football title. Picture: Sportsfile
Swans Head of Football Charlie Gardiner says O'Riordan's new contract is a great reward for tireless effort.
"From the moment Colin walked into the club he had a real determination and desire to become a consistent AFL footballer," Gardiner told the Sydney Swans website.
"Colin's such a driven and competitive person who works incredibly hard to improve each year. He's gone to another level again this year and has emerged to become an important member of the team.
"We're excited he's joined a number of our emerging youngsters in re-signing, and we look forward to seeing what Colin can produce for the remainder of the season and in years to come."
Watch O'Riordan's press conference here.
O'Riordan joins Callum Sinclair, Jordan Dawson, Nick Blakey, James Rowbottom, Justin McInerney and Harry Reynolds, as well as coach John Longmire, in recommitting to Sydney in 2019.
Tagged: Irish players in the AFL, Sydney Swans, Colin O'Riordan
David Hennessy
Irish Australia, Sport
GAA calls time out on International Rules, Wild Geese game
Pearce Hanley is talked by Jobe Watson during the International Rules Series in Perth in 2014
There will no international rules series or Wild Geese Trophy hurling match in 2019, the Irish Echo has learned.
Since the last international rules series in 2017, there had been discussions about bringing the series or at least one of the test matches to America as the AFL looks to promote their game stateside.
But the Irish Echo understands that the GAA has reservations about taking the hybrid code to the US nominating the scale and style of the chosen venues.
Alan Milton, GAA Director of Communications, told The Irish Echo: "The GAA continues to work with the AFL on a five year plan for the International Rules Series. A number of issues, primarily relating to venues, meant it was not possible to stage the series this year."
The AFL has made it clear that the decision to postpone the series was not theirs.
An AFL spokesperson told The Irish Echo: "The GAA has communicated to the AFL they do not plan to play an International Rules Series this year. We are yet to have a detailed discussion as to what the result of the GAA's decision means for the AFL and its players."
The last international rules series took place in 2017 when GAA stars travelled to Australia but lost a tough series to their hosts. Australia took the first test in Adelaide by ten points and although the second test in Perth was closer, it still went to the home team, this time by three.
Action from the Wild Geese Trophy challenge match between Kilkenny and Galway in Sydney last November.
The series has been held every two years on average since its revival in 1998 but there was talk of not revisiting it after a bruising series in 2006 although the series returned in 2008 regardless.
Since that time, the number of Irish players - both male and female - playing Aussie Rules has soared. This weekend, seven Irish players will line out for their AFL clubs: Conor Nash and Conor Glass (Hawthorn), Conor McKenna (Essendon), Colin O'Riordan (Sydney Swans), Mark O'Connor and Zach Tuohy (Geelong) and Pearce Hanley (God Coast Suns).
Meanwhile the apparent financial failure of the Wild Geese Trophy event in Sydney last November appears to have influenced the decision to put that concept on the back burner.
The inaugural Wild Geese trophy match took place at Spotless Stadium, Sydney last November as part of the Sydney irish Festival. Then reigning All-Ireland champions Galway came back from fourteen points down to draw the match with league winners Kilkenny and claimed victory in a 65 yard free-taking contest.
The Wild Geese trophy match was enjoyed by fans in Sydney but the hurling was supposed to be a feature of a two day Sydney Irish Festival that should have also boasted music from Damien Dempsey, Mary Black, Lunasa and Saint Sister. However just five days before the event, it was announced there would be no music stars and the festival was cut to one day.
The debacle fed into a legal case being brought against the GAA by cide brand Bulmers (Magners in Australia).
Many took to social media and other outlets to complain about the poor organisation of the event, late notice, queues at bars and lack of children's entertainment.
Although the Wild Geese Trophy was supposed to have a future, it is understood to have been loss-making prompting the GAA to look at the impact it had on other fixtures.
"The GAA President has also established a Fixture Review Committee to examine the Association's various competition structures," Alan Milton told the Irish Echo.
"In that context it was deemed prudent not to proceed with the Wild Geese competition this year but the staging of competitions such as this will form part of that review process."
Tagged: International Rules, Wild Geese Trophy, GAA, AFL
Six new Irish recruits for AFLW
Australia-born Tipperary GAA star Orla O'Dwyer has signed for the Brisbane Lions in AFLW.
Ailish Considine showed the massive part Irish women can play in the AFLW when she was instrumental in her Adelaide Crows team emerging triumphant in the Grand Final in April and several AFLW clubs have looked to Ireland to improve their squads for next season.
Tipperary dual star Orla O'Dwyer has joined Brisbane Lions. Galway star Mairead Seoighe has penned a deal with North Melbourne. Fremantle have signed Aine Tighe of Leitrim and Kate Flood of Louth while Mayo sisters Niamh and Grace Kelly have moved from the West coast of Ireland to the West Coast of Australia by joining West Coast Eagles.
All five Irish women who competed last season have had their contracts renewed so there are now 11 Irish women on AFLW lists.
It will be a return to Australia for Orla O'Dwyer who was born and spent some of her childhood here.
O'Dwyer, who is also Tipperary camogie captain told The Irish Echo: "I'm really excited about joining the Brisbane Lions. To now have the opportunity to play a new sport like AFLW in a new country is such an experience in itself. I know that I will have a lot to learn and adjust to but I'm looking forward to the challenge ahead and pushing myself and being involved in a professional setup."
She is the Brisbane Lions first Irish signing, something she says makes her feel extremely privileged.
"It's great that they have given me this amazing opportunity and all the staff, background team and players have been so welcoming and helpful which makes me feel more comfortable about the move in October."
Other clubs were chasing O'Dwyer's signature but she decided Brisbane was to be the club for her.
Ailish Considine made history in April when she became the first Irish woman to win an AFLW Premiership with the Adelaide Crows.
"Initially, I had a couple of interviews with AFLW clubs but Brisbane Lions just stood out. They had a great knowledge of my style of play with camogie and ladies football and a plan of how I would benefit the team.
"They have excellent players and I'm excited to meet them all and play with them. Also, they offered me a contract in a matter of hours after the interview which showed me that they knew what they were about, and I'm delighted with my decision. I know Brisbane has a large Irish population, and I am hoping they will get behind me.
"I was born in Australia and my parents lived there for a few years in the late 90s and some of their friends from that time are now living in Brisbane. I hope to catch up with a few when I get over."
O'Dwyer has been inspired by the success of the other Irish players in the AFLW, particularly Cora Staunton.
"I watched with great interest a documentary about Cora Staunton, it documented her move to the AFLW. She has been a great role model for women's sport in Ireland," she said.
Staunton has suffered a setback in her bid to continue her stellar career. The 37-year-old broke her leg while playing in the AFL Sydney Premier Division Women's competition for the UNSW Bulldogs.
Staunton was the first international player to be drafted into the AFLW in 2017, clearing a path for many Irish girls to follow. She has scored 11 goals in 14 games for the Giants. She had already been invited back by the Giants to play in her third AFLW season.
Cora was optimistic in a social media post that showed a picture of her laid up in a hospital bed, saying: "Just want to thank everyone for all the support (calls messages etc) and help. I will be forever grateful to all my @gwsgiants family & unswbulldogs for everything ye have done for me. Sport can be cruel sometimes but hopefully this is only another challenge for me."
Giants AFLW head coach Alan McConnell told The Irish Echo: "It was a shocking injury that Cora suffered, but as always she's taken it head on as another challenge.
"Our medical team has been working closely with Cora in recent days to ensure she has the best care available to be able to get her rehabilitation
under way. There's been a huge amount of support sent Cora's way and all of us at the Giants are very grateful for the love that's been shown."
As the first Irish import, Staunton is credited with inspiring other clubs to look to Ireland.
On this, Cora told The Irish Echo during the past season: "People talk about it being me [that inspired the Irish influx of players] and I'd say next year it will double or treble with four more teams coming into the competition. In part it's to me but in bigger part it's to the Giants and in even bigger part it's probably to Al [McConnell, Giants AFLW head coach].
"I've been extremely, extremely lucky. I've played inter-county senior football for 24 years, since I was 13. I've won everything that there is to be won in the game. I've been lucky with injuries. I've been lucky that my body has let me keep playing."
Tagged: AFLW, Orla O'Dwyer, Ailish Considine, Cora Staunton, Irish players in the AFL
Expat rugby star McDonald to line up against Ireland
Dundalk-born Michael McDonald is a rising star of Australian rugby.
Irish-born scrum-half Michael McDonald is to line up against the country of his birth at the Under 20s Rugby World Championship in Argentina tonight Australian-time.
McDonald and his Junior Wallabies have just come through an impressive Oceanic Championship campaign in which they won all their matches and even produced a big win over New Zealand. But Ireland are also in form after completing a Grand Slam earlier this year. The two meet in Pool B.
"I'm really looking forward to it. It's going to be a tough campaign especially with a pool like ours having Ireland, Italy and England in our first three games but really looking forward to it," McDonald told The Irish Echo. "The team's prepped really well."
The 19-year-old moved from Louth to Australia at the age of 13.
"I can't wait [to play Ireland]: really, really top opposition obviously coming off a really good Six Nations that they've just won but really looking forward to it, can't wait to have a good game against them and the whole team is looking forward to that challenge. It's such a good team to come up against in the early pool stages."
Asked about any divided loyalties, the former Dundalk RFC man is focused on the job in hand.
"The biggest focus for me is I'm representing Australia with this team and I've got a job to do within the team. Obviously everyone in this team wants the same outcome, every individual's got a job to do for the team and hopefully it's successful."
Despite playing in the green and gold of his adoptive home, McDonald says he gets plenty of support from his family and friends in Ireland.
"Of course, they'll always be super proud of me wherever I go. It will be a tough one for my grandmother to get over," he laughs.
"The support from back home has been awesome and my whole family has been really behind me."
Australia came through a strong Oceanic Championship campaign in April and May. The Junior Wallabies won all three of their games against Japan, Fiji and the teenager stood out in their 24-0 beating of New Zealand.
McDonald even had the honour of captaining Australia against Fiji and he kicked 11 of the team's 16 points.
"The Oceanic camp that we had proved to be very successful. Preparation has been really key for us but obviously there's an end goal and that's the World Cup so that's our main focus," he said. "I think any team at this World Cup could do it, they're all top quality sides."
McDonald plays his club rugby with Palmyra in Perth and is also a member of the Western Force squad.
Both sides are unbeaten heading into tonight's clash. Kick-off 11.30pm AEST.
Tagged: Rugby, Under 20s Rugby World Cup, Ireland v Australia, Junior Wallabies, Michael McDonald
Aine Hegarty
Gay Irish rugby star's letter to Israel Folau
Irish rugby star Lindsay Peat with her son Barra. Picture: Inpho/Dan Sheridan
A gay Irish rugby star has written to Israel Folau in an effort to explain to the former Wallaby the dangers of homophobia.
Lindsay Peat, an Irish rugby international, said she felt compelled to respond after Australian star posted that hell awaited homosexuals unless they repented.
Writing for The Sports Chronicle in Ireland, the 38-year-old said: "If I had two minutes with Israel Folau, I would say I'm Lindsay Peat – proud Dubliner, proud wife, proud mother, proud daughter, proud sister, proud rugby player.
"Like you, I've had the honour to represent my country at the highest level in the game… But I'm gay.
"I don't want special treatment. I don't need to sing from any altar that I'm gay I just want to be like everyone else because I am like everyone else. I live and I love. I let live and I let love.
"When you judge me, when you judge all of us, you make me fight. I will fight to not go back to that dark place that you will never understand."
Peat has previously spoken of the homophobic abuse she suffered on the field saying she was called a "dirty dyke" in an All-Ireland final.
The 38-year-old is one of our most talented athletes having represented Ireland in soccer, basketball and rugby as well as winning an All-Ireland GAA football medal for Dublin.
But the mother-of-one said she went through a very dark period when she was younger and was struggling with her sexuality.
Israel Folau has been sacked by Rugby Australia but is considering legal action against his former employer.
She suffered panic attacks, self-loathing, weight loss and drank to oblivion as she struggled with the prospect of coming out to friends and family.
The Dubliner said she even contemplated suicide thinking "it would be better not to be here because I couldn't take it anymore."
"The lying to everyone. The lying TO MYSELF because, in the Ireland that I lived in at that time, it just wasn't ok to be gay – you were judged," she explained.
Peat who works in the HSE as a clerical officer is now happily married to Claire and the couple have a three-year-old son Barra.
Folau was sacked by Rugby Australia over the homophobic post he made on Instagram having been warned last year over a similar tweet.
MORE TO READ: Rebel Wilson pulls out of McDonagh play in Sydney
Folau, a devout Christian, has argued that he shouldn't be punished for expressing his own religious beliefs and according to reports he may now sue for unfair dismissal based on religious grounds.
Peat says she feels "pity" that a player "in such a privileged position, getting paid for doing something he loves doing" chose to use his power to target gay people.
And Ireland rugby star had a positive message for anyone struggling that "better days are ahead."
"I can only imagine having the power and influence that someone like Israel Folau has and how I would use that to do good, to wrap my arms around those that are suffering and give them a bit of hope that there are better days ahead.
"To tell them that life is for living and that it's your own life – no one else's. To tell them that the day you start living your life at the mercy of other people's beliefs is the day you've rendered yours almost lost.
"You risk missing out on all those possible moments of feeling alive and the happiness that come with being yourself."
You can read Lindsay Peat's full letter here.
Tagged: Homophobia, Israel Folau, Lindsay Peat
Irish striker on path to Glory in Australia's A League
Family man: Andy Keogh pictured with wife Natalie and daughters Mia and Kaia.
If the bookies are correct, Dubliner Andy Keogh will become only the second Irishman to claim an A League Premiership by the end of the month.
The talented Perth Glory striker has enjoyed a stellar season, helping his club to their first Premiers Plate, ending a 15 year silverware drought.
Along the way he's scored 17 goals, making him the highest scorer in a single season in Glory's A-League history.
Keogh told The Irish Echo: "I'm very proud. [Winning the Premier's Plate] is long overdue but thoroughly deserved this year. Very happy, delighted to have played a part."
Perth Glory have led the race all season, losing only two games on their way to claiming the plate with two rounds to spare after a 1-0 win over Newcastle Jets on April 14. Glory will next face Adelaide United for a place in the A League Grand Final.
Keogh, 32, joined Perth Glory in 2014 and although he went to play in Thailand a year later, he returned for a second spell with the club in 2016.
He has been Perth's star striker since his arrival and this season, his most prolific to date, helped Tony Popovic's team to the top of the table.
Andy Keogh in action for the Republic of Ireland against Sweden in 2013.
"I'm very happy with [my goalscoring record]", he said. "I can't complain with how the games have gone and the overall season. "Of course, we've come a long way this season and we don't want to stop now. We want to take all the silverware and continue the good form."
Keogh plied his trade with Leeds, Scunthorpe United, Wolves and Millwall and earned 30 caps for Republic of Ireland, scoring two international goals, before making the move to Perth where he had some family. While playing at Millwall, Keogh had a devastating striking partnership with Harry Kane who was on loan from Tottenham and is now England captain.
Keogh would become only the second Irish player to win an A League Grand Final after Liam Miller who claimed the honour with Brisbane Roar in 2014. Miller passed away from cancer last year at the age of 36.
"I played with him many years with the Irish team," Keogh recalled. "To win the Grand Final and join his company as the only Irishmen to win one would be very honouring for me and very good for myself because we used to knock around together."
Keogh says he loves playing A League soccer and believes the appointment of Liverpool legend Robbie Fowler as manager of Brisbane Roar reaffirms the competition's international standing.
"Great. Good profile. Great player. It's always good to have people of that stature representing teams in the A League," Keogh said. "I'm sure he'll bring a lot to the team and the league and attract a lot of good imports, good import players."
Asked if Perth is home now for him and his family, Andy says: "Definitely, we're getting our citizenship soon so it's a place we're calling home for the foreseeable future."
Also key in Perth Glory's successful season was former Aston Villa and Millwall defender Shane Lowry.
Born in Perth to Irish parents, Lowry played for Republic of Ireland up to Under- 23 level before declaring for the Socceroos.
Tagged: Andy Keogh, A League, Perth Glory, Football, Liam Miller
Ailish makes footy history with Adelaide Crows
Ailish Considine of the Adelaide Crows with the AFLW Premiership Cup alongside proud mum Kay.
Asked to descibe the feeling of becoming the first Irish woman, and indeed the first non-Australian, to win an AFLW Premiership medal, Ailish Considine simply said: "unbelievable".
"It doesn't even feel like it's real," she told the Irish Echo after Sunday's grand final win over Carlton.
In her first year with the Adelaide Crows, the Clare woman and her team stormed to a 63-18 final win at Adelaide Oval. Considine's goal in the first quarter put Adelaide into a strong lead that they would not relinquish.
Five Irish women competed with AFLW clubs this year with Yvonne Bonner and Cora Staunton at Greater Western Sydney Giants, Sarah Rowe at Collingwood and Aisling McCarthy, who was nominated by her club Western Bulldogs for the Best First-Year Player Award in the AFLW Players Association Most Valuable Players Awards 2019, making up the Irish contingent.
In the competition's third year, Considine became the first Irish import to win a Grand Final. Asked how it felt to have made such history, she said: "I probably didn't overthink it but it obviously was mentioned. I saw it on media and stuff. It was in the back of the mind and I guess I just left it there.
"It's an amazing achievement and I hope I won't be the last because there's so much talent back home.
"I think definitely a few more will make the trip out and give Australian Rules a go. It's unbelievable but hopefully I'll be the first of many."
The triumphant Adelaide Crows team, 2019 AFLW Premiers. Picture: AFL
The 25-year-old had much support from home and her family made the trip to support her on the big day.
"It's absolutely surreal, the whole weekend was just an absolute whirlwind. My family flew in on Friday night. They were here for the weekend and for the game. It was just an absolutely huge weekend and to come out with the win was just an amazing feeling and it was amazing to have my family there and celebrate with them, for them to be part of it as well. The support from home has been brilliant. My phone has just been hopping."
She marked the occasion of picking up her medal by doing a little jig for the crowd much like Tadhg Kennelly did when he was Ireland's first AFL Premiership winner in 2005.
"The girls were like, 'You have to do something when you get your medal. Make sure it's something Irish being the first Irish woman to win one.' I had to follow through, I guess. I didn't do it very well but at least I did it. I held up my part of the deal."
The game was straightforward for Adelaide who have been in unstoppable form with a one-point loss to Western Bulldogs in Round 1 their only defeat of the campaign: "We approached it like it was just any other game … concentrate on your own game and try and get a good result.
"We did the same thing yesterday and that's probably why it went so well for us. In fairness to the girls, they're a great bunch of girls and they didn't let the week get to them, the build up or the big game or the big crowd. They're a privilege to play with. Our coaches and staff really kept us level-headed for the week as well. We were fortunate enough to come out with the right result."
AFLW clubs only renew contracts annually but Considine knows she would love to back for the next campaign after she returns home to play Gaelic football for her club and county in the summer: "I would love to be back playing here again. I'll have to wait and see and hopefully I'll be back next year."
Tagged: Adelaide Crows, Ailish Considine, AFLW
Sport, Irish Abroad
McIlroy claims 'fifth major' on St Patrick's Day
Rory McIlroy on his way to victory at the Players Championship in Florida. Picture: Lynne Sladky
Rory McIlroy celebrated St Patrick's Day in brilliant style becoming the first Irishman to win the prestigious Players Championship after a thrilling final round at Sawgrass.
McIlroy will take renewed confidence into his bid to win a genuine fifth major title at the Masters to complete the career grand slam.
McIlroy recovered from an early double bogey to card a closing 70 and finish 16 under par, one shot ahead of former Ryder Cup captain Jim Furyk, who had threatened to become the oldest winner in tournament history. Furyk set the clubhouse target with a 67 that included two birdies in the last three holes, the 48-year-old - who is less than a month older than 2005 champion Fred Funk - hitting a brilliant approach to just three feet at the last.
However, McIlroy bounced back from a bogey on the 14th with birdies at the next two holes to move back into the lead and safely negotiated the treacherous 17th and 18th to secure a 15th PGA Tour title after starting the season with five consecutive top-six finishes.
McIlroy told Sky Sports: "It's very special. I just tried to treat it like any other day. Even though I've had all those close calls this year, they didn't mean anything.
"If anything they were good for me, I called them 'remote misses', it gives you even more hope to go forward and go again. I think all those experiences this year led me to this point and ultimately they were good for me because it got me over the line today.
"The birdie on 12 was huge to give me a bit of momentum and the final few holes were tough. To get that birdie on 15 after the dropped shot on 14 was massive.
"I knew 16 was a good chance and to par the last two holes and hit three good shots when I needed to, that gives me a lot of confidence going forward."
The victory comes just weeks before McIlroy will attempt to win the Masters and become only the sixth player to complete a career grand slam.
The 29-year-old Northern Irishman added: "If I hadn't have won today I would have said I don't need a win going into Augusta, but it's very nice to get a win, especially doing it on this golf course, honestly a golf course that played a little bit similar to the way Augusta will play in a few weeks' time.
"I can take a lot from this. It's taken me a few weeks to get to this point but I feel like I'm playing some of the best golf of my life right now and I just need to keep going with it and keep doing the same things."
While Shane Lowry missed the cut, Seamus Power finished in a tie for 35th on three-under. The Waterford' man's third round included a hole-in-one on the 155-yard third hole.
Tagged: Rory McIlroy, Players Championship, Golf
Crime, Sport
Conor McGregor arrested and charged in Miami
Conor McGregor's mug shot from Miami police.
Conor McGregor was charged with felony strong-armed robbery and misdemeanor criminal mischief after an altercation with a fan early on Monday morning local time, according to the Miami Beach police.
The Dubliner allegedly "slapped" the phone out of a man's hand – who had attempted to take the 30-year-old Irish fighter's picture outside of a Miami Beach night club around 5am on Monday.
McGregor allegedly proceeded to stomp on the mobile phone several times, according to the police report. McGregor then picked up the smashed phone and walked away.
The incident was caught on surveillance cameras and McGregor was arrested later on Monday at his Miami Beach home. The Miami-Herald was first to report the news.
McGregor was arrested last April and faced multiple charges related to his attack on a bus ahead of a UFC event in Brooklyn. Prosecutors eventually agreed to drop two felonies and other charges as part of a plea deal McGregor agreed to in July.
The plea agreement did not include a probation term.
Tagged: Conor McGregor
Leinster's Aussie flanker sees no Irish rugby crisis
Australian flanker Scott Fardy in action for Leinster
Scott Fardy, Leinster's superstar Australian flanker, has sought to calm Irish rugby fans fears over a pre-World Cup form slump.
Fardy, who has extended his Leinster contract by a year, said he thought Ireland were still in good shape to have a tilt at winning the Rugby World Cup which begins in September.
"I wouldn't be overly worried about things happening before [the World Cup]" Fardy told The Irish Times. "You've got seven games to win the thing. Sometimes you have small dips but I don't [see an Irish crisis].
"So many things that go in that seven-week tournament. Things can go completely wrong for teams. You saw that with Ireland [in 2015] with injuries."
Fardy signed with Leinster in 2017 and has made 37 appearances since.
In his first season in Dublin, Fardy helped the province to a Heineken Champions Cup and Guinness PRO14 double in a campaign which saw him make 22 appearances and score four tries.
"I've re-signed so I'll be going again for another year," the 34-year-old told reporters.
"I made that decision a while ago, just things had to get sorted out. I'm really happy to be here for another year and continue to go after trophies.
"We're enjoying it, my wife's settled in well and the young fella's growing up pretty quickly. We're enjoying our time here in Dublin.
"With the squad you've got and the leaders here and the staff as well, no one's really selling you anything. With the senior players and junior players here, it's easy to get caught up and enjoy your rugby."
Tagged: Rugby World Cup 2019, Leinster Rugby, Irish rugby, Scott Fardy
Damian Spellman
Martin O'Neill leaves Irish job 'with heavy heart'
Martin O'Neill's five-year term as manager of the Republic Of Ireland has ended.
Mick McCarthy is the front-runner in the race to replace Martin O'Neill as Republic of Ireland manager after his five-year reign came to an abrupt close.
O'Neill, assistant Roy Keane and their staff parted company with the Football Association of Ireland on Wednesday after its chief executive John Delaney had held talks with the 66-year-old in London on Tuesday evening.
The split had looked increasingly inevitable after a poor Nations League campaign which drew to a close with Monday night's 0-0 draw with Denmark in Aarhus, during which Ireland failed to muster a single shot on target.
In a statement released on his behalf by the League Manager's Association, O'Neill said: "I have had the great honour of managing the Republic of Ireland national football team for the past five years and it is with a heavy heart that I leave this role.
"It was one of my lifetime ambitions to take charge of the Irish senior squad and I would like to thank the FAI board for giving me that opportunity."
He continued: "Knowing that the past year would be a transitional phase for the squad, I have capped twelve new players in the last nine games, with the aim that they become significant international contributors in the coming campaign.
"To the players, I reserve great praise and admiration for the phenomenal commitment they have shown whilst wearing the Irish shirt."
O'Neill's departure from a contract which was due to expire after his side's involvement in Euro 2020 was confirmed in a statement from the FAI.
It read: "The board of the Football Association of Ireland have mutually agreed with Martin O'Neill to part company.
"The FAI board will meet promptly to discuss the process of recruiting a new manager."
Delaney was thrilled to unveil his "dream team" management duo in November 2013 and his faith in the pair was initially rewarded when they guided the Republic to the Euro 2016 finals and then to the play-offs for this summer's World Cup.
Delaney said: "I would like to thank Martin, Roy, and the management team for the impact that they had with the Ireland team. I wish Martin, and the management team, the very best for the future."
Poor results - Ireland have won just one of their last 11 games and have not scored in 397 minutes of football - and uninspiring performances in the last year have seen O'Neill and Keane's stock fall alarmingly.
And the boos which greeted the final whistle in last Thursday evening's 0-0 friendly draw with Northern Ireland at a sparsely-populated Aviva Stadium are understood to have brought matters to a head.
Roy Keane also leaves his job as assistant manager to Martin O'Neill.
The FAI is keen to make a swift appointment, with the draw for the Euro 2020 finals due to take place in Dublin on December 2, and, as one of the hosts, they do not want to be seen as presiding over a team in flux as Europe's great and good arrive in the city.
To that end, McCarthy, who took the Republic to the 2002 World Cup finals in the Far East during a previous spell in charge, represents an attractive proposition.
He has a proven track record, already has a relationship with the FAI hierarchy and, perhaps more importantly to a governing body still paying for the redevelopment of the Aviva Stadium, is available without the need to pay compensation after leaving Ipswich in April.
McCarthy is understood to be interested in the vacancy and would relish the opportunity to pick up the reins he surrendered in 2002 once again, although he has recently rejected approaches from two English clubs and remains in demand.
But, asked in 2016 if he could return to the Ireland job one day, he told the Irish Examiner: "If there's no manager in it and I'm out of work and someone asked me to do it, of course I'd do it."
McCarthy is by no means the only candidate, with Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers and Hibernian counterpart Neil Lennon having also been mentioned in dispatches, while Brighton boss Chris Hughton and Dundalk's Stephen Kenny would have popular support, although Hughton in particular appears more than content where he is.
O'Neill's departure may not have come as too much of a surprise, although he had grown increasingly defiant amid a tide of criticism.
Speaking after last month's 1-0 home defeat by Wales, which all but confirmed the Republic's relegation from Nations League B, the former Celtic manager insisted they would qualify for the Euro 2020 finals.
Asked why he was so optimistic, he replied: "Because I'm good."
Tagged: Martin O'Neill, Roy Keane, Mick McCarthy, Football
Ireland World Cup favourites, says All Blacks coach
Ireland's delighted coach Joe Schmidt and captain Rory Best after the historic win.
Steve Hansen has installed Ireland as World Cup favourites following their 16-9 win over his New Zealand side in Dublin.
All Blacks boss Hansen hailed Ireland as the "number-one team in the world" following their superlative victory over his back-to-back world champions at the Aviva Stadium.
New Zealand retained their world number-one status despite losing to number-two side Ireland - but head coach Hansen had claimed before the clash that the winner would swipe the global bragging rights.
The All Blacks boss stuck to his word in the wake of Ireland's triumph, and even labelled Joe Schmidt's Ireland as the front-runners for next year's World Cup.
"As I said earlier in the week this was number one versus number two in the world," said Hansen.
"So as of now they are the number-one team in the world.
"So if you want to make them World Cup favourites, go ahead. I guess they are favourites."
All Blacks coach Steve Hansen at the Aviva Stadium.
Jacob Stockdale's 12th try in just 14 Tests sealed Ireland's second-ever victory over New Zealand, backing up their maiden win over the All Blacks in Chicago in 2016, the 40-29 triumph.
Ireland defended for their lives in the second-half and shut out the All Blacks, with the visitors tryless for the first time against a northern hemisphere nation since the 1995 clash with France.
Ireland boss Schmidt insisted afterwards however that All Blacks coach Hansen installing his men as World Cup favourites should be viewed as a cute ruse.
Asked if Hansen's words should be viewed as kidology, Schmidt said: "I think he probably enjoyed a little bit of banter.
"I've huge respect for Steve, Fozzy, and Scott MacLeod, their coaching staff.
"So for us to be favourites when they have been the world number-one team for nine years, and continue to be the world number-one team.
"We were at home, and they were coming off a long series of games where they have travelled around the world a number of times.
"I thought the crowd were phenomenal tonight. And that's a lot of things stacked in our favour.
"So we'll take tonight, and leave 11 months' time for 11 months' time."
Asked if Ireland are now World Cup favourites, Schmidt added: "The World Cup? In 12 months' time?
"We've got to work hard to make sure we're ready for the USA (next Saturday).
"People will I suppose postulate about who's where, who's favourite. It's a nebulous thing for us."
Tagged: Irish rugby, Rugby World Cup 2019, Ireland v All Blacks
Sport, Melbourne
Irish-born Sinead Diver wins Melbourne marathon
Mayo-mum Sinéad Diver has won the Melbourne Marathon in record time.
Diver, who moved to Melbourne in 2002 and now calls Australia home, set a new course record with a time of 2:25:19 making her the fastest ever Australian female athlete to complete the 42.195km distance in Australia.
It's also the second fastest marathon ever run by an Irish woman after Catherina McKiernan's record of 2:22:23.
"Today was the best marathon experience I've ever had. It's really special to get a PB in my hometown. Finishing in the 'G', with all my family and friends cheering me on was so emotional," said the Irish Australian.
Diver is a three-time World Championship representative, and has a spate of wins to date including the Launceston 10, where she broke a course record and ran the fastest 10km road race by an Australian since 2006.
Diver's best performance came at the Sunshine Coast Half Marathon where she ran 1:09:20, the fastest time by an Australian in eight years and second fastest ever recorded in Australia.
She now sets her sights on the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo.
Sinead Diver crosses the finish line at the MCG.
Tagged: Sinead Diver, Melbourne Marathon, #melbmara
Magpies sign Mayo GAA star for AFLW
Sarah Rowe will play for the Magpies in the AFLW competition.
Mayo forward Sarah Rowe has signed a deal that will see her join Collingwood in the forthcoming AFLW season.
The 23-year-old follows long term Mayo team mate Cora Staunton (Greater Western Sydney Giants) and Laura Corrigan-Duryea of Cavan who played with Melbourne Demons for the AFLW's first two seasons before being delisted recently.
Rowe has represented Republic of Ireland at soccer and has declared her intention to return to Mayo after her five months in Australia to help her county in their bid for the All-Ireland.
Rowe travelled to Australia in April, meeting with several clubs before choosing the Magpies.
"I'm really looking forward to it," she told the Irish Echo. "I don't know exactly what to expect. It's a complete new challenge for me, a new sport, a lot to learn but really looking forward to that aspect of it as well and putting myself out of my comfort zone.
"Football is what I grew up doing so instinct tells me what to do next and I would be able to help people around me whereas now I'm going to need a lot of help off other girls on the team and going to the manager with a lot of questions and stuff. It's going to be a different role for me completely. You want to try prove yourself in one way but you need to learn all the skills first. It's just gonna take time."
Sarah had never been to Australia before she also visited the clubs Carlton, Western Bulldogs, Melbourne, Geelong and North Melbourne.
"Collingwood was the first club I saw. I was extremely impressed, I thought they were so professional with their presentation. They made me feel very much at home very quickly."
Rowe and Mayo were defeated by Dublin in last year's All-Ireland Ladies final. This campaign saw them exit to Galway at the quarter-final stage:
"Hopefully I learn stuff that I can bring back to Mayo. It's always been my dream to win an All-Ireland so I would never turn my back on that but it's great that I get to do both. Going professional is hopefully going to stand to me big time. I'm really looking forward to it. It's very appealing for Irish girls at the minute."
Sarah herself has spoken about the inequalities between men's and women's sport in Ireland. She was encouraged by what she saw in Australia in this aspect: "The girls get as much of an opportunity as the boys to be in an environment where they can excel so I really liked that side of it. In Ireland at the minute it's improving an awful lot, things are looking up but it's still not there yet."
Sarah will arrive in Australia ahead of pre-season training with Collingwood on November 1.
Eighteen other Irish women have arrived in Melbourne to try their luck at the Australian game.
Tagged: AFLW, Sarah Rowe, Cora Staunton, Collingwood FC, Australian Rules
Hawks hand Meath rookie AFL debut
Conor Nash becomes the third Irishman to debut in the AFL this season.
Meathman Conor Nash will debut for Hawthorn FC this weekend, the third Irishman to debut in the AFL in 2018.
The 20-year-old joined the Hawks in late 2016 as a Category B rookie.
A promising athlete in his youth, Nash split his time playing Gaelic football and rugby. He represented Ireland in the U18 rugby side, and was touted as a star in the making due to his pace and stature.
He has since transferred these traits to the game of Aussie Rules, enjoying a breakout season with the Box Hill Hawks while averaging 13 disposals, four marks and just under a goal a game.
"I'm absolutely ecstatic," Nash told Hawthorn's website after hearing the news that he'd be making his AFL debut against the Geelong Cats this weekend where he will come up against Laois-man Zach Tuohy and Kerryman Mark O'Connor who may get his first game for the year.
"When I found out yesterday in front of the family in the car, it was just pure joy."
Nash's parents and young brother and sister were enjoying a holiday in Australia and were preparing to return to Ireland before receiving the news.
"Clarko (coach Alistair Clarkson) asked them if they could prolong their flights until Sunday or Monday," Nash said.
"I can't wait, and I look forward to contributing to the team."
"They'll get to see me play which is a very special moment for them, and for myself as well."
The 197cm utility from Navan has shown an aptitude for several different positions on the ground, and says he'll bring the pressure in whatever role he is given.
"I'll be creating chaos, [creating] pressure as well, and using my speed and athleticism.
"I'm sure I'll be spent after the game."
Nash becomes the third Irish player to debut in 2018 behind Tipperary's Colin O'Riordan for the Sydney Swans and Darragh Joyce for St Kilda. Nash's Irish teammate Conor Glass made his debut last year but none of the trio have been selected this weekend.
Elsewhere, Pearce Hanley is back in action for the Gold Coast Suns, Ciaran Byrne retains his place for Carlton and Conor McKenna starts for Essendon.
Tagged: Conor Nash, Irish players in the AFL
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text:
images of silver ore flotation silver in chile
Escondida Mine, Chile NASA
2000-4-23 This Advanced Spaceborne Thermal Emission and Reflection Radiometer (ASTER) image covers 30 by 23 km (full images 30 x 37 km) in the Atacama Desert, Chile, and was acquired on April 23, 2000. The Escondida copper, gold, and silver open-pit mine is at an elevation of 3050 m, and began operations in 1990.
Escondida Mine, Chile ASTER Image Gallery
This ASTER image covers 30 by 37 km in the Atacama Desert, Chile and was acquired on April 23, 2000. The Escondida Cu-Au-Ag open-pit mine is at an elevation of 3050 m, and came on stream in 1990. Current capacity is 127,000 tons/day of ore; in 1999 production totaled 827,000 tons of copper, 150,000 ounces of gold and 3.53 million ounces of silver.
A history of gold in Chile Economic Geology
1991-10-1 A decline set in as a result of the disturbances of the wars of independence, achieved in 1823.The nineteenth century was a time of political turmoil during which silver (e.g., at Chanarcillo), copper, and nitrate mining, and the attractions of the Californian and Australian gold rushes, lured away many of Chile's gold miners.
The use of seawater as process water at Las Luces
2011-7-1 Ore grades and recoveries by ore type are listed in Table 2. The Altamira ore contains significant silver values, 31 g/t, and the silver recovery is around 81%. Over 50% of the ore treated at the plant site is from the "Las Luces" mineral deposit, which gives its name to the plant.
1 Froth Flotation Fundamental Principles
2009-8-27 Table 1: Grade/recovery performance of a hypothetical copper ore flotation process. Product % Weight % Cu Assay Feed 100 2.09 Concentrate 10 20.0 Tailings 90 0.1 (a) From Table 1, the Ratio of Concentration can be calculated as F/C = 100/10 = 10. If only assays are available, the ratio of concentration equals (20 0.1)/(2.09 0.1) = 10
Boliden Ltd Zinc, Copper, Lead and Silver Mine
As of January 1999, Los Frailes had proven and probable ore reserves totalling 43Mt and grading 3.7% zinc, 0.3% copper, 2.1% lead and 58g/t silver. Measured and indicated resources totalled a further 30Mt at similar grades. OPEN-PIT MINING. Los Frailes used conventional open-pit mining methods to produce ore
The History of Silver at 925-1000
2018-9-17 Improved techniques in ore separation, notably froth flotation (post 1910) that allowed for concentration of silver in lead, zinc, and copper concentrates. Improvements in electrorefining techniques allowing for the easy separation of silver and other base metals from refinery slimes, thus providing an increasingly important source of silver.
Froth Flotation Process 911 Metallurgist
2021-1-20 The Froth Flotation Process is about taking advantage of the natural hydrophobicity of liberated (well ground) minerals/metals and making/playing on making them hydrophobic (water-repel) individually to carefully separate them from one
Mineralogical investigation of gold ores ScienceDirect
2005-1-1 Mineralogical investigation is a critical and integral aspect of any pre-feasibility study as well as one of the quality control measures in the process optimization step (Gasparrini, 1993; Marsden and House, 1993).Mineralogical information must be considered in conjunction with the metallurgical testwork program results to ensure that appropriate processing methods are evaluated and that the
Escondida Mine, Chile jpl.nasa.gov
2001-10-22 This ASTER image covers 30 by 37 km in the Atacama Desert, Chile and was acquired on April 23, 2000. The Escondida Cu-Au-Ag open-pit mine is at an elevation of 3050 m, and came on stream in 1990. Current capacity is 127,000 tons/day of ore; in 1999 production totaled 827,000 tons of copper, 150,000 ounces of gold and 3.53 million ounces of silver.
Escondida Copper, Gold and Silver Mine, Atacama
2020-8-17 The Escondida copper-gold-silver mine is located in the arid, northern Atacama Desert of Chile about 160km southeast of the port of Antofagasta, at an elevation of 3,050m above sea level.. The mine is a joint venture between BHP-Billiton
Silver Mining Photos and Premium High Res Getty
Browse 2,657 silver mining stock photos and images available, or search for gold mining or silver metal to find more great stock photos and pictures. small pieces of strong metal ore silver mining stock pictures, royalty-free photos & images. zinc mine nugget silver mining stock pictures, royalty-free photos & images.
Silver Mining and Refining Education
In this process, crushed ore is placed in a bath. Air bubbles are blown through the mixture to carry the silver to the top of the bath where it forms froth. The silver-rich froth is skimmed from the bath and smelted so that it can be separated from other metals. A diagram illustrating the froth flotation
Silver ore: Mineral information, data and localities.
A generic term for ore containing commercial quantities of silver. This may be in the form of native silver, silver sulphides or chlorides, or it may even be silver-rich galena or other minerals containing a workable percentage of silver.
The world's top 10 largest silver mines in 2020
2021-4-9 Newmont's Penasquito polymetallic mine is Mexico's largest gold producer, consisting of two open pits Peñasco and Chile Colorado containing gold, silver, lead and zinc. Penasquito is an open-pit mine that employs flotation-and-grinding processing, in two 50,000-tonne/day sulphide processing lines and a 30,000-tonne/day high
World's top 10 silver mines MINING.COM
Only six of the top 20 producers are primary silver miners. The polymetallic ore deposits from which silver are recovered account for more than two-thirds of the world's silver resources.
1.1 PHASES OF A MINING PROJECT ELAW
2019-2-4 1.1.5 Ore extraction After a mining company has removed overburden, extraction of the mineral ore begins using specialized heavy equipment and machinery, such as loaders, haulers, and dump trucks, which transport the ore to processing facilities using haul roads. This activity creates a unique set of environmental impacts, such as emissions of
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redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


After finishing primary school, little Bullet was compelled to work in a restaurant to support his family. He cleaned tables, mopped floors and served dishes.
CRY UK partner Jago Foundation, operating in Jharkhand, in the Eastern part of India heard about Bullet's story and spoke to his parents. They counseled Bullet's parents about the importance of education and informed them about the local government programmes which benefit children.
With Jago's encouragement and efforts Bullet was removed from the clutches of child labour and re-enrolled into school.
Today Bullet, a bright student is pursuing his secondary education.
Your contribution will help CRY UK ensure many child labourers like Bullet Yadav return to classrooms. Join us and be a part of this Change!


EPFO Online Balance Status : How To Check EPF India Balance ? Check 2016-2017- epfindia.gov.in .
In order to make the EPF more convenient for the employees the center government has setup a new online method for employees to check their EPF status.
Now the center government is focusing to make everything more easily access able through the way of internet. Though it is also corruption free .And now government has also taken a big step in terms of PF department Of India. The government has completely made this department access able through the mode of internet. Now each and every employee can check their Provident Fund status easily with the help of internet.Now they will need not to go to the department office repeatedly. It is easily accessible and their is no possibility of partiality .
In country ,perhaps , the PF Department was one of the toughest department to be dealt with. An employee who have been working in the company or anything, has to go to the office of PF department several times .Many times the balance of an employee is too low and he/she have to go the office several times.And to get rid of this harassment the employee have to left his balance in the PF Office.
And in terms to make this system better and easily accessible the center government has made this whole process online.Now an employee can get the status of his PF account online. The word online is very simple and short but it is one of the most drastic systems of the modern world. Now an employee need not to go the office to check the status of their PF account,now they can check the status through online mode ,online means they have to just go online and open the website of the Department and provide your concerned details and the status of your PF account will be on your screen ,you can take out a print of this or save it for future.
1. Your PF number = You can find it on your salary slip.
2. A mobile with a number in it that you have registered in the your Pf record.
The word EPFO stands for the Employees Provident Fund Organization.It is a statutory body of the central government which falls under the Ministry of Labor And Employment.It administers a compulsory contributory Provident Fund Scheme, Pension Scheme and an Insurance Scheme. It is also the nodal agency for implementing Bilateral Social Security Agreements with other countries on a reciprocal basis.The scheme covers Indian workers as well as as the international workers who have been working in the Indian territory.It is one of the largest social beneficiary Organisation in terms of provided benefits to a large number of peoples. The EPFO's apex decision making body is the Central Board of Trustees (CBT).
Its is ultimately meant for the purpose too help the EPF members to check their balance and status of their account.
-Initially find the page "Member Balance Information" and then select your state such as DELHI.
NOTE = Hence after the successful submissions of all the details your details will be sent through SMS to your mobile number.
Users can check the status of their account by filling some details via online method.
NOTE:-The EPF online status is not available available in all states,only some states have their own online status check facility.


text:
This article was written for the June 2010 issue of Dogs Today magazine. Illustration by Kevin Brockbank.
Who invented animal training and what can we learn from them?
The question may seem silly. Animal training is older than the hills. For certain, it is as old as the dog.
That said, most of what we call animal training today fits into the folder of "operant conditioning," a term first coined by American psychologist B.F. Skinner in the early 1930s.
Chase it around the room, and operant conditioning is simply learning from consequences.
Skinner codified the basic principals of operant conditioning, and he invented a laboratory-based mechanical-training machine which rewarded animals with food when they pulled levers and pecked at spots.
Skinner's real claim to fame in the world of dogs, however, is that he hired Keller and Marian Breland -- two young assistants who more or less invented the modern art of animal training.
Teaching Pigeons to Bowl
The Breland's made their first big discovery while working with Skinner in 1943.
As odd as it sounds, the goal on this occasion was to train pigeons to "bowl" a ping-pong ball down a short alley to knock down a few pins. Keller Breland decided to use a hand-held switch to trigger a food reward, rather than a purely mechanical device. A small problem was that the pigeons had no interest in pecking at the ping-pong ball! Though Keller waited for hours for the right behavior to express itself, it never happened. In frustration, Keller decided to give the pigeons a reward for doing anything approximating movement in the right direction. To his amazement, the pigeons caught on pretty quickly, and the completed trick was learned in short order.
Thus was born "shaping," or progressive rewards based on approximating a task.
The second big development occurred in 1945. By this time, B. F. Skinner had left the University of Minnesota, and the Brelands had decided to strike out on their own as professional animal trainers.
While shaping tricks, the Brelands noticed that the animals themselves seemed to be paying attention to the noises made by the hand-held food-reward switches.
Keller and Marian Breland soon discovered that an acoustic secondary enforcer, such as a click or whistle, could communicate to an animal the precise action being rewarded, and it could do so from a distance.
The Brelands called this a "bridging stimulus," (now generally called a bridge) and it dramatically sped up animal training by increasing the amount of information going to an animal.
Thus was born clicker training.
The Rise of Commercial Animal Acts
By now the Brelands had created their own animal training company -- Animal Behavior Enterprises. Their first contract, with General Mills, was so successful that other contracts with movies, circuses, museums, fairs, and zoos soon followed.
Over the next several decades, the Brelands trained more than 15,000 animals representing more than 140 species. At one point, the Brelands had more than 1,000 animals under training at a single time -- a jaw-dropping level of production.
The Brelands did not just train animals; they also trained other animal trainers who went on to work at such venues as Busch Gardens, Disney World, and Sea World. The Brelands themselves signed contracts with such major amusement parks as Marineland of Florida, Marineland of the Pacific, Parrot Jungle, and Six Flags.
Rewards-based clicker training worked so well that in 1951, the Brelands authored an article in American Psychologist, in which they said they thought rewards-based clicker training might work on any animal to train just about anything.
And then something happened. They noticed that clicker training was, in certain circumstances, beginning to fail in ways they could no longer overlook.
When Clicker Training Failed
In a 1961 paper entitled, The Misbehavior of Organisms, Keller and Marian Breland described their first experience with the failure of reward-based operant conditioning.
It seems that when working with pigs, chickens and raccoons, the animals would often learn a trick and then begin to drift away from the learned behavior and towards more instinctive, unreinforced, foraging actions.
What was going on?
Put simply, instinct was raising its inconvenient head.
Though Skinner and his disciples had always maintained that performance was driven by external rewards or punishments, here was clear evidence that there was an internal code that could not always be ignored.
The Brelands wrote:
These egregious failures came as a rather considerable shock to us, for there was nothing in our background in behaviorism to prepare us for such gross inabilities to predict and control the behavior of animals with which we had been working for years.... [T]he diagnosis of theory failure does not depend on subtle statistical interpretations or on semantic legerdemain - the animal simply does not do what he has been conditioned to do.
The Brelands did not overstate the problem, nor did they quantify it. They simply stated a fact: instinct existed, and sometimes it bubbled up and over-rode trained behaviors.
Clearly, every species had different instincts, and just as clearly, a great deal of animal training could be done without ever triggering overpowering instinct. Still, the Brelands noted,
After 14 years of continuous conditioning and observation of thousands of animals, it is our reluctant conclusion that the behavior of any species cannot be adequately understood, predicted, or controlled without knowledge of its instinctive patterns, evolutionary history, and ecological niche.
The Problem with Dogs
What does this have to do with dogs?
Quite a lot. You see a small, but vocal and militant group of clicker trainers believe everything a dog does is learned by external rewards, and internal drives are "old school" fiction.
While the Brelands argued that a species could not be adequately controlled without "knowledge of its instinctive patterns, evolutionary history, and ecological niche," the most extreme militants in the world of clicker training now seek to minimize and disavow the very nature and history of dogs.
Dog packs? There are no such things, we are told.
Dominance? It does not exist in feral dogs or in wolves, and never mind the experts who disagree.
Prey drive? Not too much said about that!
Of course, instinctive behaviors and drives do not disappear simply because they are inconvenient.
As Keller and Marian Breland put it,
[A]lthough it was easy to banish the Instinctivists from the science during the Behavioristic Revolution, it was not possible to banish instinct so easily.
Of course, one must be careful to qualify the role of instinct.
Yes, dogs have instincts, but the history of dog breeding has largely been about reducing instinctive drives. As a consequence, most breeds have instinctive drives that are sufficiently attenuated that they are not much of an impediment to basic rewards-based training.
That said, not all dog breeds are alike. Not every dog is a blank slate, as the owner of any herding dog or game-bred terrier will tell you. Prey drive does not disappear because you want it to. Many problematic behaviors in dogs -- especially behaviors in hard-wired working dogs that are being raised as pets -- are self-reinforcing behaviors that express themselves without any external reinforcement at all!
Clicker training, the Brelands remind us, cannot solve everything.
Is rewards-based training the most important tool in any trainer's box of tricks and methods?
Absolutely. There is not much debate there.
But the Brelands remind us that dogs do not come to the trainer as a tabula rasa, nor should we think of all dog breeds as being more or less the same, or that all responses are equally conditionable to all stimuli.
Dogs and other animals, it turns out, are a bit more complicated that white rats, and the real world is not a laboratory.
In the wild and on the farm, animals have managed to learn, all by themselves, since the Dawn of Time and long before clickers came on the scene. How did they do that? Does the real world have as much to teach us as the lab? Keller and Marian Breland thought it did.
Related Links:** Your Dogs are a Mess (and your kids are no prize)
** Clickerless Clicker Training
** Clicker Training Does Not Require Empathy
** The Three Parts of Operant Conditioning
** Dominance Creates and Maintains Wolf Packs
** Cesar Millan: The Secret Is Human Training
** The Devolution of Dog and the Training of Man** A Short History of Dog Training** Are Useful Tools Ever Out of Date?
** How to Train a Cheetah
** How to Train a Scent Hound
** Catching a Mexican Wolf With a Y Pole
** Are You an Old School Dog Trainer?
Labels: Bob Bailey, Brockbank, dog training, Dogs Today, Keller and Marian Breland
A nice read!
What types of reactions do you get from people who read these? Does anyone ever write to the mail column about how awesome the piece is or how wrong you are? Between the "All at Sea with the AKC" article, this one, and everything else you've written for them, I'm surprised no one's shot off their collective mouth at the common sense they read!
I never read the letters column ;)
But no, I have never been overwhelmed by people who wanted to touch the hem of my garment, nor have I ever been drowned out by applause from the audience ;).
You're probably all the better for it.
It's probably the same reason I never allow ratings on some of my YouTube stuff: if I post something original or arty or just a random video, go ahead and say whether or not you like it, but don't DARE rate my opinion or advice, whether or not you dis/agree. It's almost insulting to have someone just say "I don't like this" to the years and sweat that's gone into learning what I know.
Kind of like your assertion that, if someone disagrees and/or has actual, realistic, practical facts that contradict what you say, post them rather than just disagree.
I'm that close to subscribing to the magazine too...I'd really like to see that article on show Labs!
Not only was this an excellent read, but the illustration is hilarious. On the subject of commenting, I confess to feeling I comment here too often. I blame the interesting, eclectic content. (G)
Always love your comments Seahorse! Can't you see my tail wagging?
The ones that are less thrilling are the single-space stream of consciousness ones sent to me by people who need meds, and the ones that ask me dosage rates for their dogs (because they don't want to read the instructions given on the web site), or the ones that ask for some kind of advice and, when it's given (always at a cost to me), they never even send back a note saying "thank you."
** Sigh. **
I have learned that when you write anything, few will take the time to say anything nice, but every crank will take the time to explain the circumstances surrounding your birth while illuminating their own universal theory of perpetual motion and time travel. So in that world, Seahorse, you are a breath of fresh air. THANK YOU!
And of course, when you DO take the time and effort to write, not only do they not say "Thank you," but they most likely just ignore your advice because of "Can't/Won't" excuses, or they'll somehow manage to mess it up, and as a result, mess up their dog. Or something stupid like that. Happens all the time with people who want a 2-second analysis and fix to their dog's behavior problems. It just doesn't work that way, for me, them OR the dog.
I'm afraid I'm one of those stream of consciousness people sometimes...bless your heart for putting up with me :)
No, you're fine Viatecio. Stream of consciousness is several pages without a paragraph return or a single citation.
Yes, I get those.
Patrick, you ought not encourage me. ;) Seriously, I appreciate the extraordinary time and thought, let alone research and attribution, that you put into your wonderful blog. I hesitate for fear of sounding like a ditto-head ("Ditto, Rush!"), so I don't always say thanks, but please know I usually want to. :)
The Dog House said...
Patrick, we don't agree on everything, but I have to give credit where credit is due, and this post is quite simply the best defense of balanced training I have ever read.
Subsequently I have sent the link to quite a few "purely positive" junkies, so my apologies if you get a few quirky comments.
What I've discovered recently is that while the growing pressure against any type of aversive training has reached a near religious fervor, nothing causes more of an uproar than the concept of correcting a puppy.
Obviously we're talking about appropriate corrections. Physically placing the dog in a sit or a down was about the harshest recommendation. The explosion was immediate, and we were labeled animal abusers on site.
We were not suggesting corrections that caused any pain, nor ineffective corrections (correcting after the fact, for example).
I would love to see your thoughts on balanced puppy raising, and whether corrections have their place.
Oh, and keep me in mind if you come across that munchkin article.
Donald McCaig said...
Dear Patrick,
Informative about the Brelands. Thanks. I don't believe the Brelands had much influence on dog training, positive or negative, until very lately when some of us have used them to cudgel the purely positives. Working dog trainers (sheepdog, birddog, policedog) haven't paid much attention to the behaviorists and petdog trainers, until the (1980's?) were on the arc of dog trainers from Von Stephanitz through Bill Koehler and lately Cesar Milan. The first "positive" influence on dog trainers came with Karen Pryor's "Don't shoot the dog" (1985) which managed to demonize traditionalists as "cruel" "Out dated" and "Unscientific" and by simultaneously lowering the standards of what an obedient dog was expected to do, offering convenient excuses for why the dog couldn't do even that ("Oh. He was abused..." and improving management tools (The gentle leader) conquered the dog training world and captured most training revenues.
That's beginning to change. Many, if now most competent "positive trainers" are sensitive to breed differences and use corrections - sparingly. Others, alas, grab for pill bottles rather than lose their self image as Benevolent Person.
Donald McCaig
You are 100 percent correct Donald -- the Brelands did not have much influence on dog trainers because the Brelands could not train dogs. If they could, they would have done so and made a fortune -- you are anticipating a post I will be writing soon. :)
Skinner and the Brelands did two things: 1) trained animals in an entirely artificial world in which all distraction was kept out (the box was a sensory-deprivation chamber) and the animals themselves were at sub-body weight and HUNGRY, and; 2) trained animals to do things on cue that were (for the most part) already part of their genetic code, such as pecking, washing, running, etc.
If the Brelands had been able to train dogs, they would have made their fortune doing that. But of course, they didn't, and their legacy -- Karen Pryor -- could not get her own Border Terrier to stop chasing squirrels because she only used food rewards. For the record, Rudd Weatherwax could not get Lassie to stop chasing motorcycles, and for pretty much the same reason. Pryor and Weatherwax were mostly 'trick trainers" and that's a very cool thing and food and toy rewards are essential. But most dog owners are looking for a dog to NOT do something -- and that's something the Brelands did not do much with.
Bullmastiff nut said...
Great post as usual. Believe me, instincts rule, even after a breed has been "just" a family dog or show dog since 1930. I see it evertime there is a squirrel on the telephone pole and the dogs go nuts, and they even succeed in killing the occasional squirrel. The whole predatory chain is still there.


"Legal highs", sometimes called NPS (New Psychoactive Substances), are a type of drug that contain various chemical ingredients. These ingredients may be illegal whereas some may not be illegal. They produce similar effects to illegal drugs like cocaine, cannabis and ecstasy.
Since 26th May 2016 it has been illegal to supply any "legal highs" or NPS in the UK for people to take. This includes selling them or giving them away for free (including to your friends).
FRANK give friendly, confidential drugs advice. Visit their website or call them on 0300 123 6600.


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Stone relief from Sayburç, Sanliurfa
Leave a Comment / Archeology, World / October 14, 2022 October 14, 2022
In Sayburç (one of the Taş Tepeler* sites in Şanlıurfa Province) a five-figure scene consisting of two humans, leopards, and a bull was unearthed.
Sayburç was found in 2021 after the Şanlıurfa Archeology Museum was informed that obelisk parts were used in the garden walls of the village. Considered to be contemporary with the last periods of Göbekli Tepe, the Sayburç is also one of the Taş Tepes in Şanlıurfa, which consists of Göbekli Tepe and eleven other archaeological sites around it.
During the 2021 excavation season, a circular planned pit-bottomed building was found that was carved into the limestone bedrock. Along the wall of the building, which is about 11 meters in diameter, there is a bench about one meter high, also carved from the bedrock. In a small area that survived the destruction at the rear end of the 60-70 cm wide bench, the wall of the building still stands.
On the front of the bench, five interrelated figures in reliefs are carved into the bedrock surface. Among the three figures on the right-hand side, there is a human depicted from the front and two leopards facing him on either side, which are identical in form. Both leopards are sideways, their mouths open, their teeth visible, and their tails depicted above.
The male figure in the middle is holding his phallus with his right hand, and his left hand is on his stomach. The lines in the form of a triangular necklace or collar around the neck of the male figure are seen in many of the Neolithic human figures in this region.
To the left of this scene is another person, whose back is turned to these figures, and who is understood to be a male by the extension of the phallus. This figure, depicted from the side like the leopard, is facing a bull. This person, who appears to have six fingers on his left hand, is holding an upside-down snake with his right hand. The face of this figure is looking towards the bull.
Taş Tepeler* (literally meaning Stone Hills) is a region of settlements in the Anatolian and Upper Mesopotamian region that has the oldest established settlements, spanning 200 kilometers from one end to the other.
by Merike Joosep
Armenian feast day Vardavar
How German people get rid of diseases
Armenian virtuoso violinist
Dresden, the cultural treasury of the world


The Ateliers Varan is a place for seing, making, thinking and discussing documentary films and approaching news ways to read the society and the world. It develops and show creativity and a deep sense of artistic, cultural and social commitment. The Varan project is part of the worldwide experiments which diversify forms of expression, creativity and communication through images. Its aim is a country's social and cultural development and its inhabitants and artists creativity. Indeed, the Ateliers' public is professional artists and beginners.


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Akania es un género monotípico perteneciente a la familia Akaniaceae cuya una única especie Akania bidwillii es originaria de Australia, desde el sudeste de Queensland hasta el nordeste de Nueva Gales del Sur.

Descripción
Es un árbol que puede alcanzar los 12 m de altura con corteza rugosa y oscura. Las hojas son principalmente parapinnadas divididas en 8 a 31 folíolos lanceolados, de bordes espinoso dentados, con ápice acuminado y base obtusa o algo cordiforme, de haz color verde oscuro brillante y envés más pálido y apagado, con marcadas nervaduras. Cada uno mide 10 a 28 cm de largo por 2 a 4,5 de ancho. Las flores, blancas o rosas y olorosas, surgen en panículas de unos 8 a 15 de largo. El fruto es una cápsula con forma ovoide o de pera, de color rojo pardo que contiene 1 o 2 semillas amarillas.

Historia
Si bien solo se ha descrito una especie actual del género Akania, el género estaba más diversificado y difundido en Sudamérica durante el Paleoceno; concretamente, en Argentina se han recuperado fósiles de A. americana y A. patagonica.

Taxonomía
Akania bidwillii fue descrita por (Hend. ex Hogg) Mabb., y publicado en The Plant-Book: A Portable Dictionary of the Higher Plants 707. 1989.
Sinonimia
Lomatia bidwillii Hend. ex Hogg (1860). basónimo
Akania hillii Hook.f. in G.Bentham & J.D.Hooker (1862).
Cupania lucens F.Muell. (1862).
Akania lucens (F.Muell.) Airy Shaw (1940).

Referencias

Enlaces externos

A. bidwillii en PlantNet

Akaniaceae
Flora de Australia

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


Q. Is your full name Javaid Iqbal Hussain?
Q. Mr Hussain, are you a forensic scientist by occupation?
A. At the forensic laboratory in Birmingham.
A. I am a Bachelor of Science, a degree in Zoology.
Q. What is your specialism at the forensic science laboratory?
A. Fingerprint detection and enhancement.
Q. On 19th March last year on the request of the Greater Manchester Police did you attend 24 Tandle Hill Road Royton Oldham?
Q. Did you go into the rear room on the ground floor where Detective Sergeant Abbot indicated to you three areas of possible blood staining?
Q. Would you like to look at exhibit six, please. Do you have those in front of you?
Q. Would you like to look at photograph one. Does that show the area in which that possible blood staining was present?
Q. Were all three areas treated with chemical reagents in order to reveal any fingerprint details that might have been present in the staining?
Q. Can you explain what a chemical reagent is?
A. It's a reagent which is applied in order to reveal or to enhance any possible fingerprint detail which is present.
Q. What is a reagent?
A. It's usually a chemical solution.
Q. I am going now, my Lord, to page 77a. Was the first reagent that you used on those three areas an iodine spray?
Q. Was that applied on 19th March after you had completed your initial visual examination?
Q. What is the purpose of applying the iodine reagent?
A. In order to enhance the fingerprint detail which was already partially visible.
Q. Is the enhancement achieved by the formation of a visibly blue product?
A. It is with iodine reagent, yes.
Q. Did you apply the iodine in the form of a very fine iodine spray?
Q. Did you achieve visual enhancement of the three areas of staining?
Q. Were you satisfied that there had been no damage, diffusion or distortion of those three areas?
Q. Then did you apply a second reagent?
Q. Is that called ninhydrin?
A. It's called ninhydrin reagent, yes.
Q. Can that react with various blood constituents which might be present in latent fingerprints?
A. Yes, it can react with amino acids or urea or various properties.
Q. Is that, therefore, another reagent used in fingerprint detection and enhancement?
Q. And does that now produce when it is applied a visible purple product?
Q. How long would it take to achieve makimum enhancement of a fingerprint?
A. Maximum enhancement can be achieved from a period almost immediately to about perhaps 14 days, it depends on the conditions.
Q. Did you apply ninhydrin to the wall as a fine stream of solution from a water bottle?
Q. Was visual enhancement evident to you?
Q. How long after you application?
A. It was evident approximately 20 minutes after application.
Q. Were you satisfied there had been no damage or distortion to the stained area as a result of that application?
Q. On 24th March did you re-attend the scene?
Q. At that time had you been informed that fingerprint details had been revealed as a result of your previous visit?
Q. Were you requested to treat the areas of staining with a further reagent which would enable you to express an opinion as to whether or not these areas had been laid in blood?
Q. So this was not now a fingerprint test but merely to find out whether the fingerprints were, infact, in blood?
Q. Did you apply a further reagent that day, 24th March?
A. It's called trtra-amino biphenyl.
Q. Does that react with the haemoglobin present in blood?
Q. What form of product does that produce?
A. It forms a dark brown insoluble product.
Q. Did you treat all three areas with that chemical on 24th March?
Q. What did they demonstrate?
A. All three areas demonstrated a positive dark brown reaction and there was no atypical reactions.
Q. So you have now applied three different reagents, is that right?
Q. You said that in respect of the last reagent there was no atypical reactions?
A. There was nothing unusual in the way the material behaved which would lead me to believe that perhaps something untoward was happening. The material behaved exactly as I would have expected had it been blood.
Q. Did the material behave exactly as you would expect blood to behave in respect of each of the three reagents?
Q. Can you think of any other material which would have had a similar appearance and which would have given a similar reaction to those three reagents?
A. No, I can think of no other material which would have behaved in that way.
A. Save for blood, yes.
Q. What was your opinion as a result of that particular product testing?
A. Based on my visual examination and the results I obtained with all three reagents , it's my opinion that all three areas were made in blood.
Q. Were you able to distinguish between human bloold and animal blood in reaching that conclusion?
A. That's because haemoglobin is present in the blood of many species and on the basis of the test which I performed it's not possible to distinguish between the blood of different species.
Q. Would you stay there, please?
Q. You applied a total of three solutions to each of these stains, did you not?
Q. A chemical called ninhydrin which you applied using a washing-up liquid bottle, did you?
A. It's a plastic bottle with a fine jet.
Q. And you soaked the surface, did you?
Q. Might that cause whatever is on the surface to run?
Q. Does it not have a tendency?
Q. It is about the third test that I want in particular to ask you questions. That was an application of a substance called tetra-amino biphenyl?
Q. Is there a short word one can use for that?
A. I tend to call it TAB.
Q. The use of TAB for this purpose is a relatively new technique, is it not?
Q. And consequently operational experience, practical experience, of its use is still rather limited?
Q. As a result of that limited experience, is it your opinion now that, although the three areas of staining may be blood, you cannot state that categorically to the exclusion of other haemoglobin bearing substances?
Q. You recognise that you are unable to distinguish between human blood and animal blood? I am saying that there is room for doubt as to whether it is blood at all?
A. I am certain in my opinion that the material there was blood. I concede that that is not proof positive.
Q. Would you agree then, and I am referring to an earlier statement from you which I can show you: "" cannot state categorically that these stains were blood to the exclusion of all other materials""
Q. This is a passage, a part of the house where food was regularly conveyed by trolley?
Q. And there has been some evidence that food was splashed on the walls. Is that the sort of source that might contain haemoglobin?
MR JUSTICE HUTCHINSON: Sorry, is what the sort of source?
MR CARUS: Food splashing on the walls.
MR JUSTICE HUTCHINSON: Might food contain haemoglobin, food for human consumption?
A. It would have to be food which contained haemoglobin.
MR CARUS: Exactly. Thank you Mr Hussain.
Q. Obviously, one substance which contains haemoglobin is blood?
Q. Can you think of any other materials which would have produced those marks on that wall which reacted in the same way to the reagents that you applied?
Q. So your opinion that you expressed, the certainty that the material was blood, was part based on the application of these reagents and part upon the physical appearance of the substance?
Q. Thank you very much, Mr Hussain.


text:
Jared Ruddy
Studio Specialisms
Clustermarket + Forward Studio: navigating an early-stage pivot and building foundations for scale.
We welcomed Clustermarket into the Forward portfolio earlier this year. It's an exciting new investment with clear potential to have disruptive impact on an industry that has been at the forefront of conversation through the COVID-19 pandemic - life sciences research.
Clustermarket is building the world's leading operating system for life-sciences laboratories. Their goal is to bring the management of research into the digital age, democratise access to expensive equipment and services and ultimately to enable life sciences innovators to get ideas to market faster than ever before. Their award-winning lab management software and resource marketplace help labs to manage, connect and share resources - no matter where they are.
The company was founded in 2015 by a team of three business school colleagues all with personal experience of the limitations and frustrations of 'modern' laboratories.The three realised that the cost of equipment and services was a huge barrier to the speed and commercialisation of research. And that expensive equipment would often lie under-utilised. The team initially set out to create a marketplace that would allow researchers to share and monetise expensive equipment and services. However through their early years discovered barriers to adoption - and ultimately to achieving the scale they had hoped for.
In the last two years Clustermarket have shifted the direction of the business - leading them into the successful £3.5M fundraise that brought us together. By the time we met, the team had successfully pivoted and validated the huge potential for scale they always knew existed. We were lucky enough to have the opportunity to work together with them, following their raise, as they took a step back to tackle some big challenges and get ready to realise this potential.
We caught up with the team recently, a few months on, to discuss reflections on their journey to date and our first project together. We've pulled together our 6 key takeaways and reflections - as well as an overview of how we put our thinking to work.
"It has been extremely valuable to take a step back. In a startup you hustle every day and rarely find time to really discuss things." - Tobias, Clustermarket.
We'd love to hear your thoughts - please tweet us with your insight, your stories, or any questions for our studio team.
Key takeaway 1: Listen to your early adopters - you might just find a more fundamental pain-point (and bigger opportunity).
A pivot in the early stages of a high-growth business is common, because as we engage more closely with a growing audience we learn more about their pains and problems - about what they care about, what they think and how they behave.
The Clustermarket team discovered that legacy lab management processes were slowing down research teams - and creating a barrier to innovation. In order to thrive as part of a resource sharing community, labs needed to feel in control of internal lab management - particularly equipment/resource efficiency, utilisation and scheduling.
The team created a simple, yet effective piece of software that would support teams to manage utilisation of and access to equipment and resources in one place. They decided to offer it for free, seeing opportunities both to embed the marketplace into the tool as well as to partner with equipment manufacturers interested in utilisation data coming from the laboratories using their kit.
Bookkit, Clustermarket's lab management software, was a huge success. In the 18 months before we began working together they saw 20% user growth month on month. Their software was now being used by more than 60,000 scientists across research laboratories in life science companies and universities around the world, including Illumina, Artios Pharma, Tessa Therapeutics, Evonetix, and universities: MIT, Stanford, Harvard, Johns Hopkins, Imperial College London and Cambridge and Oxford.
Key takeaway 2: a successful pivot isn't your win - it's the scale that follows (if you're ready for it).
Many of the businesses we rely on today wouldn't be in our lives without a pivot early on in their journey. Youtube started out as a dating site and Shopify debuted as an ecommerce site for snowboarding enthusiasts.
Since Eric Ries and Steve Blanc coined the term as part of their exploration of lean startup thinking, the internet has exploded with 'fail-fast' pivot success stories. But for every success story there are hundreds that have tried and failed - or perhaps that have succeeded in finding product market fit, only to discover it's the next bit that trips you up.
The word suggests an effortless glide around a central point of focus into a new space. On the contrary, making such a big change requires completely re-calibrating and re-aligning an internal team around a new vision - often building new products/services from scratch. It also requires serious heavy-lifting from a brand perspective, in order to avoid killing the traction a business has worked so hard to build with early adopters.
In Clustermarket's case a bold pivot saw the business grow faster in a matter of months than it had done in the 4 years it had been operating. This made the move a success. But this fast rate of growth presented new challenges.
Key takeaway 3: watch out for unnecessary complexity - it creeps up on you.
Clustermarket created a new brand for their lab management software. 'Bookkit' had a website of its own and was communicated as one of two products from Clutermarket - distinct from the original marketplace. The approach created a fast route to pushing a clear message and driving acquisition, without needing to explain anything to Clustermarket's existing audience. After all, a 'new product' is easier to explain to your early adopters than a change in direction, which might come across as flighty. The strategy was extremely effective - Bookkit was completely new to the market, and it was easier and cheaper to use than anything else out there.
However, as the user-base grew, this distinction started to create confusion.
Sub-brands can be an effective tool, either when you need to differentiate distinct products sold to the same audience, or when a brand needs to engage a new audience. But blur the lines and users get confused. Clarity and consistency in branding are key to building trust with customers, especially for startup companies in the early stages. So anything that creates confusion can become a real problem. In practice, for Clustermarket, the marketplace and management software have always been features of the same platform - with the same target audience. So although initially creating a separate identity for 'Bookkit' reduced friction, it was not easily sustainable long-term.
The team found an increasing number of calls coming in from customers wanting to clarify the relationship between the two products and how to access one or the other. Many customers that had been targeted by Bookkit campaigns were not aware that Bookkit was part of Clustermarket. This complexity in the brand was also causing internal challenges - with the team now operating separate websites, marketing campaigns and social media accounts for each of the products (yet targeting the same audience).
Key takeaway 4: a brand review should give you more than a good-looking set of guidelines - it's a powerful re-alignment tool.
Your brand is your shared identity. It defines not just how your audience perceives you and connects with you, but how you connect internally and how effectively you work together as a team. When things are moving at breakneck speed it's easy to fall out of alignment, as each of you is getting on with getting on.
Allowing your team to step outside the day-to-day hustle to reset and re-align is really important. The process and output should empower your team to move forward fast with consistency across all areas of the business. Decisions made through workshops can form the basis of future marketing, SEO, product strategy and development, sales conversations, supplier relations and more.
We worked together with the Clustermarket team over one month to both develop strategic thinking and align key stakeholders, but importantly to put these ideas straight to work.
We brought the group together through a series of workshops to align around a shared vision, goals and objectives.
We worked to streamline and simplify the Clustermarket brand architecture and narrative.
We developed a confident new visual identity and voice.
And we applied all of this immediately to clustermarket.com, quickly designing and building a new website that consolidated Clustermarket and Bookkit.
Going forward, a consistent narrative will build stronger brand affinity, strengthen positioning in the competitive landscape and also enable the team to work towards ambitious growth targets with greater confidence.
Learn more from our case study, about how we worked with Clustermarket to build a brand set for scale.
"Working with the studio team has been like having a therapist bring us together and guide us in the right direction. We needed an external view of how we think and how we express ourselves - it just wouldn't work if one of us were to facilitate these conversations." - Francisco, Clustermarket
Key takeaway 5: It's easy to become blinkered by short-term growth targets when things are moving fast.
In a competitive marketplace thinking ahead is essential - because you must always be exceeding expectations to survive. A free lab management tool with a great user experience is genuinely revolutionary for many life-sciences labs - right now. But it's likely not to be for long, and when the market shifts Clustermarket needs to be adding value beyond competition. Your brand narrative plays a key role in enabling the flexibility required to achieve this. Your brand needs allow for change and progress, without it ever feeling jarring or in-authentic.
It's often short-term growth metrics and targets that are our everyday focus, because they enable us to track progress in real time, make quick decisions and agile moves. This isn't wrong, but it should be grounded in well-defined long-term objectives that keep actions aligned and everyone thinking ahead to lofty future heights.
Key takeaway 6: timing is important when it comes to making big changes.
Fail fast. Work agile. Test lean. As entrepreneurs, almost anything we read tells us that speed is key. And it is - but there is a caveat. For many businesses there are easier and harder times to make changes. Consider seasonality or major events that might affect demand.
For Clustermarket, late spring was a great time to confront a big challenge, as the industry slows down towards the summer. This gave the team time both to develop and implement new ideas, communicate these to existing customers and start to rebuild traction/SEO at a quieter moment.
Growth wrangler. Marketer. Customer champion.
Jared has spent his career building great customer experiences. He's started up. Sold. Built new things, including a newspaper. A robot dog. An omni-directional wheelchair. The most visible screen in London. And for a time, the world's biggest picture. Before Forward he led marketing and growth for Marketplace business Plentific, helping them to pivot, scale their business across Europe and raise a $30m round.


What Does a PCP Shortage Mean for Your Health?
Home » What Does a PCP Shortage Mean for Your Health?
In both past and recent news, there has been discussion about the availability of primary care physicians. The question being asked is if there is a PCP shortage across the country-and the answer has been yes (there is). These are the doctors you see on a consistent basis, who get to know you and your medical history to best serve you. They are able to assist you on a wide range of problems, as well as refer you to specialists if the need arises.
If we're seeing a decline in the number of these doctors, then you might be wondering what a PCP shortage mean for you and your health.
You will need to find a PCP alternative.
Visiting a PCP means you're probably going to go to the same doctor's office every time, see the same nurses, and have the same physician treat you. While this is beneficial, it's not always possible, especially if you live in an area where you cannot find a doctor's office accepting new patients. When this turns out the case, it is important to know about other resources available to you and for your health concerns. This might include visiting a walk-in or extended-hours health clinic.
You might have to rehash medical history.
Since a PCP is someone who gets to know you and your medical history over time, visits to the doctor are a little easier. They will have your medical history on file and in many cases, will be familiar with you as time goes on. This allows you to get prompt treatment and helps your doctor to offer you the best advice. If your doctor knows something hasn't worked for you, they will have a better idea of what to suggest next time around.
Without this convenience, you may find yourself having to explain your medical past to any new doctor you end up visiting. This might require a little thinking on your part-you'll have to mention any drug allergies or reactions, for example. As long as you take the time to explain important details of your health, your doctor will be able to help you just as good as any.
It isn't all bad, though.
If you haven't been able to find a PCP, you can still enjoy a pleasant doctor's office experience. Walk-in health clinics, such as PrimeCare in Conway, offer patients easily accessible care. Open later than traditional doctor's offices, patients can come in during extended-hours and without an appointment. We offer a wide range of services, such as allergy testing, vaccinations, and treatment for common illnesses such as cold or flu.
While there is no denying the critical role PCP's play in the healthcare industry, it is still important to note the value of other healthcare resources made available in the absence of attaining one to visit. If this is ever the case for you, or even if you just need a quick visit to get treated, PrimeCare in Conway has two locations available.


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Sandra Uptagrafft (born April 12, 1971 in Singapore) is an American sport shooter. At the 2012 Summer Olympics, she competed in the Women's 10 metre air pistol, and finished in 28th place.  She also competed in the Women's 25 metre pistol event and also finished 28th in that. She has won gold and silver medals in the Pan American Games.

She has qualified to represent the United States at the 2020 Summer Olympics.

Personal life
Uptagrafft graduated from Beverly Hills High School in 1989 and from Troy State University in 1998. She is married to fellow sports shooter Eric Uptagrafft and is based in Phenix City, Alabama.  She is a Staff Sergeant in the US Army Reserves.

References

1971 births
Living people
American female sport shooters
American military Olympians
United States Distinguished Marksman
Olympic shooters of the United States
Shooters at the 2012 Summer Olympics
Shooters at the 2015 Pan American Games
Pan American Games medalists in shooting
Pan American Games silver medalists for the United States
Shooters at the 2011 Pan American Games
Pan American Games gold medalists for the United States
Shooters at the 2007 Pan American Games
Shooters at the 2003 Pan American Games
Shooters at the 2019 Pan American Games
Medalists at the 2007 Pan American Games
Medalists at the 2011 Pan American Games
Medalists at the 2015 Pan American Games
Medalists at the 2019 Pan American Games
Shooters at the 2020 Summer Olympics
United States Army non-commissioned officers
United States Army reservists
21st-century American women
20th-century American women