text:
McDonald's and Pizza Hut promote the "dine-in" experience with fast food rebranding moves
Dominic Powell
A recent announcement from McDonald's US that the company will be rolling out table service comes as fast food businesses around the world look to up their service to customers.
Overnight the US arm of McDonald's revealed that the company will be slowly revamping its US stores, including providing table service to customers, reports CNBC.
McDonald's chief executive Steve Easterbrook told CNBC that the move was planned to highlight the fast food giant as a "modern and progressive burger company".
"For the best part of our 60 years we've asked customers to fit around our business model. Now customers are more demanding and we are looking to adapt our business," Easterbrook told CNBC.
"The counter is a barrier."
As the new service rolls out to just 500 of McDonald's 14,000 US stores, according to a McDonald's Australia spokesperson, Australian stores already have "full table service".
"We introduced table service alongside the launch of our gourmet burgers in 2014, it's since been expanded for the entire menu," the spokesperson said.
However, some who work in the business say full table service is easier said than done. A McDonald's store manager in Australia told SmartCompany that the introduction of table service, which the business has rolled out locally since the introduction of its gourmet burger range in 2014, is a "big change".
"[McDonald's] is great at implementing new ideas and getting uniform change across the 600+ stores, but it's a big change in the way we interact with customers. We're not able to pull it off at the moment, and some other stores have had difficulty," the manager says.
"I think it creates opportunities to interact with our customers that we wouldn't normally otherwise have, which is great, but it's so different for us that we have trouble executing."
The manager says his store can only provide table service as the company intends it get provided "4/10 times", and only on limited times on certain days. He told SmartCompany that in Australian stores, table service has been a "massive change in culture".
"McDonald's employees generally resent any change that they perceive makes their job harder (create your taste or table service or menu changes) and struggle to change their mindset," he says.
Senior industry analyst at IBISWorld Andrew Ledovskikh told SmartCompany that McDonald's planned change in the US was "a push to change perceptions".
"McDonald's is seeing a lot of competition from smaller takeaway stores, and more premium fast food stores like Grill'd," Ledovskikh says.
"Consumers are becoming more health conscious and have more desire for higher quality food."
Ledovskikh believes the fast food chain is intending to "up its game", referring to the success of McCafe as a precedent and seeing it as a move to grow the customer base.
Dine-in pizza on the cards in Australia
Back home, fast food operators are pitching potential new "dine in" services.
Pizza Hut has struggled at times in the Australian market, languishing behind competitor Domino's in recent times. However, the business has gotten another lease on life after announcing it will be acquiring collapsed pizza chain Eagle Boys, which went under in July.
The acquisition of the stores will boost Pizza Hut's market share, which currently sits around 25% of the $3.7 billion market, reports Fairfax. The chain will re-brand 50 Eagle Boys stores over summer, boosting the amount of Pizza Hut restaurants to approximately 320. This would put it in line to compete against Domino's 600 store market share.
However the chain could be moving to do more than just open more stores, with Pizza Hut chief executive Lisa Ransom telling news.com.au that the chain could consider bringing back the dine-in experience of the 20th century.
"It's all on the table at the moment," Ransom told news.com.au.
"There's a great deal of heritage in the brand and we are looking at ways to do things differently. We get a lot of demand for dine-in restaurants and we'll absolutely be looking at those opportunities moving forward."
In a statement provided to SmartCompany, Ransom said, "We are looking at every potential option and opportunity to best grow Pizza Hut, so everything is on the table at the moment. Pizza Hut is a much-loved brand by Australians and many people, including me, have great memories of dine-in".
A new avenue of competition
Ledovskikh believes that this is a move by the "underperforming" Pizza Hut to try to open a new avenue of competition.
"There are four main competitive elements when it comes to fast food. Price, convenience, quality and health consciousness," he says.
"Pizza Hut has been underperforming and has had trouble competing on price against Domino's. They've even been struggling on the convenience factor, with Domino's introducing things like GPS tracking of drivers."
The potential revamping of a dine-in option would be an attempt to move away from what the chain has traditionally struggled with, says Ledovskikh, and try to create an experience for customers.
"They're trying to create a new avenue of competition, and hark back to an older time of the business," he says.
However Ledovskikh believes it is a tough market, and that the chain could see serious trouble having success in some areas.
"It's a tough market. They might see success with that model in rural and suburban areas, but they could struggle to get it going in metropolitan areas," he says.
Finally, Ledovskikh believes that both Pizza Hut and McDonald's are attempting to change public perception of fast food.
"This is an attempt to change the perceptions of grandparents and parents who might be on the fence about taking their children to Pizza Hut or McDonald's. If they're offered a dine-in experience, it might encourage them to eat there," he says.
As long as Pizza Hut brings back the all you can eat dessert bar (chocolate mousse FTW!), I'm there.


The U.S. Secretary of State recently designated 30 groups as Foreign Terrorist Organizations pursuant to the Antiterrorism and Effective Death Penalty Act of 1996. Their names have been added to Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control's (OFAC) master listing of Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons. The listing is attached. New Foreign Terrorist Organizations Sanctions regulations also were published by OFAC on October 8, 1997, which are included in the attached Federal Register notice.
In FIL-41-97, dated April 30, 1997, the FDIC provided information about OFAC, and a series of laws administered by OFAC that impose economic sanctions against targeted hostile foreign countries to further U.S. foreign policy and national security objectives. Also provided in FIL-41-97 were details about the availability of computer-based, up-to-date OFAC data.
Please distribute the attached information to the appropriate persons in your institution. For questions about this list or the procedures to block accounts, please call OFAC's Compliance Programs Division on 1-800-540-6322.
1) Office of Foreign Assets Control - changes to list of specially designated nationals and blocked person: http://www.treas.gov/offices/enforcement/ofac/, 2) Federal Register notice from October 8, 1997, pages 52494-52501.
NOTE: Paper copies of FDIC financial institution letters may be obtained through the FDIC's Public Information Center, 801 17th Street, N.W., Room 100, Washington, D.C. 20434 ((703) 562-2200).


text:
Rochester Real Estate
Rochester is a city on the northern outskirts of Metro Detroit, in northeast Oakland County, in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 12,711 at the 2010 census. The area is locally known for its active downtown, high-end shopping and dining, rolling hills and large homes.
The first settlers in what would become Rochester, the Graham family, built a log cabin in 1817. The cabin was located where the Quik Pik and Penn Station stores today exist at the intersection of Main and Second Street. The city was named for Rochester, New York, just like Rochester, Minnesota, as many early settlers to the area were formerly from the state of New York.
The city became an industrial center with abundant water power from the Clinton River and Paint Creek. The interconnected waterways are no longer used for travel or local industry, but provide natural beauty, some fishing, and a healthy portion of the Clinton Watershed. Historically, past industries formerly located in Rochester included a refinery for sugar beets, a paper products company, and the Western Knitting Mills factory, which was later adapted and utilized during World War II for incendiary production—businesses that no longer exist in the area. Rochester was served by two railroads as well as the Detroit United Railway, an interurban to Royal Oak and Detroit.
Chapman Mill Pond, east of downtown, disappeared into the Paint Creek when the dam broke during the flood of 1946. The reclaimed land is the site of the current post office, Rochester Hills library, and Olde Towne Road. Water Street, formerly situated at the edge of the large pond, remains by its name a reminder of the pond's former existence.
Michigan became the 26th state in 1837, and the Village of Rochester was formed on April 12, 1869, within the boundaries of Avon Township. By 1895, Rochester's population was 900.[citation needed] The village became the city of Rochester in 1967, breaking away from Avon Township. Avon Township became the City of Rochester Hills in 1984, following a long court battle, where the city of Rochester annexed 2.2 square miles (5.7 km2) of Avon Township's land. It more than doubled the city of Rochester's size.
5393 Barrington
915 W 3Rd
Rochester Listings Summary
Rochester - Town vs. County Stats
Avg Price in Rochester: $1,031,300 / County Avg $598,700
Avg Taxes in Rochester: $9,400 / County Avg $865,200
Avg Sq. Ft. in Rochester: 3,498 / County Avg 2,226
Avg Price per/sqft in Rochester:$295 / County Avg $269
Avg Walkscore in Rochester: 44 / County Avg 34
Avg Year Built in Rochester: 1982 / County Avg 1978
Avg Days on Website in Rochester: 110 / County Avg 98
Rochester Real Estate Market Health
Areas in Rochester MI
Neighborhoods in Rochester MI
Avondale Park
Campbell Add - Rochester
Carrollton Hills Sub
Curry Hills
Deer Creek Estates Occpn 544
Deer Ridge Condo Occpn 1990
Hidden Hills Occpn 165 - Rochester
Hill Crest No 2
Hillcrest- Rochester
Hillcrest-Rochester
Midtown Condo Occpn 2205
Millers Crossing
New School Sub
Orchard Ridge Occpn 1031
Parkland Hills Occpn 1219
Pine Knoll Estates Condo Occpn 2055
Residence At Royal Park Occpn 2207
Richardson & Adams Add
Rochester Park Condo
South Gate Farms
SuprvrS Plat No 1 - Vlg Of Roch
The Heights Of Oakland Occpn 1306
Twin Oaks
Walnut Park Condo

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


Over the last few months we've been working hard to improve our developer experience for our identity platform. As we continue to improve the Microsoft identity platform, we're addressing the feedback we've heard from developers about our App registrations experience and how it can be simpler.
Today, we're excited to announce the new App registrations experience in the Azure portal is now in public preview. The new App registration experience will be the place to manage all your applications that authenticate Azure Active Directory and personal Microsoft accounts.
To learn more about the improvements we've made, head over to the Microsoft identity platform for developer's blog where Principal Program Manager, Ben Vincent, walks through the detailed improvements.


Watercolor and Ink on watercolor paper. This isn't for work of any sort, I did this one just for fun.
The ideas and drawings in this book showcase Craig's drawing skill and imagination in a way that must be seen to be believed! Don't wait too long though, cause they're almost gone!
This is how I felt after seeing this steaming pile of a film. I know the reviews were bad and I didn't expect much, but WOW! Seriously, they've got Wolverine getting airsick on a plane as it descends while a bunch of cream puff mutants laugh at him and ask if he "needs a bucket?" This ragtag group of mutants have highly imaginative powers that range from being good at shooting guns, being good at wielding a sword, to having the power to turn on a light bulb with your mind! Now I'm going to sit down with a pile of old Byrne/Claremont X-Men comics to remind me how great this character can be.
Here's a preview page from "Seaweed and the Devil's Cookbook". (Hopefully it will be ready for the San Diego Comic Con 2011!) It shows the interior to the White Library and the first look at the Basilisk that guards the main hall. Sometimes Basilisks are portrayed as large snakes but I prefer the image of a dragon body with a roosters head. Of course he spits rocks and if you look directly into his eyes you'll turn to stone.


text:
//  (C) Copyright 2006-8 Anthony Williams
//
//  Distributed under the Boost Software License, Version 1.0. (See
//  accompanying file LICENSE_1_0.txt or copy at
//  http://www.boost.org/LICENSE_1_0.txt)

#include <boost/assert.hpp>
#include <boost/static_assert.hpp>
#include <boost/thread/mutex.hpp>
#include <boost/thread/thread.hpp>
#include <boost/thread/condition_variable.hpp>

#include <boost/config/abi_prefix.hpp>

namespace boost
{
    class shared_mutex
    {
    private:
        struct state_data
        {
            unsigned shared_count;
            bool exclusive;
            bool upgrade;
            bool exclusive_waiting_blocked;
        };

        state_data state;
        boost::mutex state_change;
        boost::condition_variable shared_cond;
        boost::condition_variable exclusive_cond;
        boost::condition_variable upgrade_cond;

        void release_waiters()
        {
            exclusive_cond.notify_one();
            shared_cond.notify_all();
        }

    public:
        shared_mutex()
        {
            state_data state_={0,0,0,0};
            state=state_;
        }

        ~shared_mutex()
        {
        }

        void lock_shared()
        {
            boost::this_thread::disable_interruption do_not_disturb;
            boost::mutex::scoped_lock lock(state_change);

            while(state.exclusive || state.exclusive_waiting_blocked)
            {
                shared_cond.wait(lock);
            }
            ++state.shared_count;
        }

        bool try_lock_shared()
        {
            boost::mutex::scoped_lock lock(state_change);

            if(state.exclusive || state.exclusive_waiting_blocked)
            {
                return false;
            }
            else
            {
                ++state.shared_count;
                return true;
            }
        }

        bool timed_lock_shared(system_time const& timeout)
        {
            boost::this_thread::disable_interruption do_not_disturb;
            boost::mutex::scoped_lock lock(state_change);

            while(state.exclusive || state.exclusive_waiting_blocked)
            {
                if(!shared_cond.timed_wait(lock,timeout))
                {
                    return false;
                }
            }
            ++state.shared_count;
            return true;
        }

        template<typename TimeDuration>
        bool timed_lock_shared(TimeDuration const & relative_time)
        {
            return timed_lock_shared(get_system_time()+relative_time);
        }

        void unlock_shared()
        {
            boost::mutex::scoped_lock lock(state_change);
            bool const last_reader=!--state.shared_count;

            if(last_reader)
            {
                if(state.upgrade)
                {
                    state.upgrade=false;
                    state.exclusive=true;
                    upgrade_cond.notify_one();
                }
                else
                {
                    state.exclusive_waiting_blocked=false;
                }
                release_waiters();
            }
        }

        void lock()
        {
            boost::this_thread::disable_interruption do_not_disturb;
            boost::mutex::scoped_lock lock(state_change);

            while(state.shared_count || state.exclusive)
            {
                state.exclusive_waiting_blocked=true;
                exclusive_cond.wait(lock);
            }
            state.exclusive=true;
        }

        bool timed_lock(system_time const& timeout)
        {
            boost::this_thread::disable_interruption do_not_disturb;
            boost::mutex::scoped_lock lock(state_change);

            while(state.shared_count || state.exclusive)
            {
                state.exclusive_waiting_blocked=true;
                if(!exclusive_cond.timed_wait(lock,timeout))
                {
                    if(state.shared_count || state.exclusive)
                    {
                        state.exclusive_waiting_blocked=false;
                        exclusive_cond.notify_one();
                        return false;
                    }
                    break;
                }
            }
            state.exclusive=true;
            return true;
        }

        template<typename TimeDuration>
        bool timed_lock(TimeDuration const & relative_time)
        {
            return timed_lock(get_system_time()+relative_time);
        }

        bool try_lock()
        {
            boost::mutex::scoped_lock lock(state_change);

            if(state.shared_count || state.exclusive)
            {
                return false;
            }
            else
            {
                state.exclusive=true;
                return true;
            }

        }

        void unlock()
        {
            boost::mutex::scoped_lock lock(state_change);
            state.exclusive=false;
            state.exclusive_waiting_blocked=false;
            release_waiters();
        }

        void lock_upgrade()
        {
            boost::this_thread::disable_interruption do_not_disturb;
            boost::mutex::scoped_lock lock(state_change);
            while(state.exclusive || state.exclusive_waiting_blocked || state.upgrade)
            {
                shared_cond.wait(lock);
            }
            ++state.shared_count;
            state.upgrade=true;
        }

        bool timed_lock_upgrade(system_time const& timeout)
        {
            boost::this_thread::disable_interruption do_not_disturb;
            boost::mutex::scoped_lock lock(state_change);
            while(state.exclusive || state.exclusive_waiting_blocked || state.upgrade)
            {
                if(!shared_cond.timed_wait(lock,timeout))
                {
                    if(state.exclusive || state.exclusive_waiting_blocked || state.upgrade)
                    {
                        return false;
                    }
                    break;
                }
            }
            ++state.shared_count;
            state.upgrade=true;
            return true;
        }

        template<typename TimeDuration>
        bool timed_lock_upgrade(TimeDuration const & relative_time)
        {
            return timed_lock(get_system_time()+relative_time);
        }

        bool try_lock_upgrade()
        {
            boost::mutex::scoped_lock lock(state_change);
            if(state.exclusive || state.exclusive_waiting_blocked || state.upgrade)
            {
                return false;
            }
            else
            {
                ++state.shared_count;
                state.upgrade=true;
                return true;
            }
        }

        void unlock_upgrade()
        {
            boost::mutex::scoped_lock lock(state_change);
            state.upgrade=false;
            bool const last_reader=!--state.shared_count;

            if(last_reader)
            {
                state.exclusive_waiting_blocked=false;
                release_waiters();
            }
        }

        void unlock_upgrade_and_lock()
        {
            boost::this_thread::disable_interruption do_not_disturb;
            boost::mutex::scoped_lock lock(state_change);
            --state.shared_count;
            while(state.shared_count)
            {
                upgrade_cond.wait(lock);
            }
            state.upgrade=false;
            state.exclusive=true;
        }

        void unlock_and_lock_upgrade()
        {
            boost::mutex::scoped_lock lock(state_change);
            state.exclusive=false;
            state.upgrade=true;
            ++state.shared_count;
            state.exclusive_waiting_blocked=false;
            release_waiters();
        }

        void unlock_and_lock_shared()
        {
            boost::mutex::scoped_lock lock(state_change);
            state.exclusive=false;
            ++state.shared_count;
            state.exclusive_waiting_blocked=false;
            release_waiters();
        }

        void unlock_upgrade_and_lock_shared()
        {
            boost::mutex::scoped_lock lock(state_change);
            state.upgrade=false;
            state.exclusive_waiting_blocked=false;
            release_waiters();
        }
    };
}

#include <boost/config/abi_suffix.hpp>

#endif

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


text:
Gotham Greens Debuts on the West Coast with Opening of California Greenhouse, Unveils Sustainability Goals as a Newly Certified B Corporation™
New York, NY, Dec. 08, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Indoor farming pioneer Gotham Greens has opened the first phase of its 10-acre, state-of-the-art hydroponic greenhouse near the University of California-Davis campus. With this national greenhouse expansion, Gotham Greens will operate the nation's largest network of high-tech hydroponic greenhouse facilities spanning nine facilities in six U.S. states. The company's sustainable farming practices allows Gotham Greens to grow salad greens and herbs year-round while conserving 300 acres of land and 270 million gallons of water annually compared to conventional farming practices. In fact, Gotham Greens' unique irrigation techniques use less than one gallon of water to grow a head of lettuce compared with up to 10 gallons used in conventional open-field farming.
The company's first greenhouse on the West Coast joins the brand's existing network of hydroponic greenhouses located in New York, Illinois, Rhode Island, Maryland and Colorado and enables accelerated growth for Gotham Greens on both a regional and national scale. Gotham Greens products are available at approximately 3,000 retail locations across more than 45 states. Consumers can purchase Gotham Greens' line of salad greens, herbs, dressings, dips and cooking sauces throughout California, including at Whole Foods Market, Raley's, Sprouts Farmers Market, Good Eggs and Berkeley Bowl, among others.
The expansion bolsters Gotham Greens' strategic partnership with one of the highest-ranked agricultural research centers in the world, University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources (UC ANR) and UC Davis College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences (UCD CAES). The greenhouse facility, located in Solano County, Calif., will foster collaboration on research and innovation focused on advancing the science, workforce, technology, and profitability of the indoor farming industry.
"California is the center of North America's leafy greens production, where water shortages, wildfires and other results of climate change are straining critical agricultural resources. By putting down roots in California, we aspire to be a part of the agricultural industry's solution to the increasingly visible impacts of climate change," said Viraj Puri, Co-Founder and CEO of Gotham Greens. "Our newest greenhouse facility in Northern California is strategically located to service retailers and foodservice providers throughout the region more quickly while conserving precious resources, including land and water. We are excited to continue to expand our footprint, work in partnership with UC Davis and innovate with the agricultural industry in California for a better food system."
Gotham Greens' California greenhouse facility opening coincides with the company's achievement of Certified B Corp™ status––where it officially joins the ranks of vetted, environmentally conscious brands. The certification is a milestone in the company's mission of driving the industry toward a more sustainable food system through industry-leading social and environmental practices.
"Our B Corp certification comes at a pivotal time for Gotham Greens as we celebrate our 10th anniversary, the opening of our California greenhouse and our plans for future growth," said Jenn Frymark, Chief Greenhouse Officer of Gotham Greens. "The certification will add in additional layers of accountability and transparency for our employees, customers, retail and foodservice partners, and investors as we continue to innovate our food system to build a better future for generations to come."
Since its founding in 2009, Gotham Greens has been committed to conserving vital resources through innovative and sustainable technology. The advanced level of technology in Gotham Greens' greenhouses allows the company to grow leafy greens and herbs using up to 95% less water and 97% less land compared to conventional open-field farming. Gotham Greens chooses each greenhouse location with local communities top of mind, not only focusing on creating new "green" jobs and career paths that are long-lasting and sustainable for its employees but also supporting the community through social impact projects. In 2020, 77% of produce sales were delivered within 50 miles of the facility where the product is grown. This comes in sharp contrast to the average field-grown head of lettuce that travels thousands of miles in the U.S. In 2021, Gotham Greens provided more than 75,000 pounds of fresh produce to community partners to increase food access across the country to date. The company also has donated more than 40,000 plant seedlings to local schools and community gardens to support STEM education.
As Gotham Greens looks toward the future, the juncture presents an opportunity for the company to formally announce new and rigorous outcome-based sustainability commitments based on their 2020 baselines, including:
Goal 1: Reduce plastic packaging for leafy greens and herbs by 40% by 2024
Alongside the California opening, Gotham Greens is introducing new lidded film packaging for its salad greens, which reduces plastic packaging for our lettuces by more than 30%. The development marks progress toward the company's goal of reducing plastic packaging for leafy greens and herbs by 40% by 2024 and 80% by 2030.
Goal 2: Achieve a reduction of 5% in our electricity use intensity by 2024 and reduce our Scope 1 and 2 greenhouse gas emission intensity by 5% by the end of 2024
Gotham Greens currently relies primarily on renewable electricity sources to power its greenhouse facilities.
For more information, visit gothamgreens.com.
ABOUT GOTHAM GREENS
Gotham Greens is a fresh food company on a mission to transform the way we approach our food system, putting people and the planet at the forefront. Gotham Greens produces and delivers long-lasting and delicious leafy greens, herbs, salad dressings, dips and cooking sauces all year round to retail, restaurant and foodservice customers. A Certified B Corporation™, Gotham Greens farms with the future in mind through a national network of climate-controlled, high-tech greenhouses in cities across America, including New York, Chicago, Providence, R.I., Denver, Baltimore and Davis, Calif. Since its launch in 2011, Gotham Greens has grown from a single urban rooftop greenhouse in Brooklyn, N.Y., to one of the largest hydroponic leafy green producers in North America.
Jodi Genshaft
Gotham Greens
jodi@gothamgreens.com


text:
Half Of All U.S. Adults Are Now Fully Vaccinated Against COVID-19
Published May 25, 2021 at 1:30 PM CDT
Nearly 130 million U.S. adults have completed their vaccine regimens, the CDC says, with another 70 million vaccine doses currently in the distribution pipeline. Here, Maryland National Guard Brig. Gen. Janeen Birckhead greets soldiers last week at a mobile vaccine clinic in Wheaton, Md.
Updated May 25, 2021 at 2:42 PM ET
The U.S. COVID-19 vaccination program has gone from zero to 50% in less than six months.
As of Tuesday afternoon, the Biden administration said, half of the country's adults are now fully vaccinated against the coronavirus.
"This is a major milestone in our country's vaccination efforts," Andy Slavitt, a White House senior adviser on the COVID-19 response, said during a midday briefing. "The number was 1% when we entered office Jan. 20."
Nearly 130 million people age 18 and older have completed their vaccine regimens since the first doses were administered to the public in December, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said. Another 70 million vaccine doses are currently in the distribution pipeline, according to the agency.
Vaccinations have risen sharply in children 12 years and older, weeks after the Food and Drug Administration said that cohort is eligible to receive the COVID-19 vaccine made by Pfizer-BioNTech. Nearly 5 million adolescents have received at least one dose of the vaccine, according to the CDC's latest data.
The U.S. is pushing to add millions more people to the ranks of the vaccinated. President Biden said this month that his new goal is to administer at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine to 70% of U.S. adults by the Fourth of July.
Nine states have given at least one vaccine shot to 70% of their adult population, Slavitt said at Tuesday's briefing. Acknowledging the welcome return to a more normal life taking place around the country, he urged more people to get the vaccine: "Unless you're vaccinated, you're at risk."
An increasing number of states, businesses and organizations are offering incentives for people to get vaccinated, from free doughnuts to free airline flights. One of the best-known programs is in Ohio, where people who get vaccinated are entered into a $1 million lottery called the Ohio Vax-a-Million.
"Gov. Mike DeWine has unlocked a secret," Slavitt said, noting that Ohio's vaccination rate went up 55% among young adults in the days after unveiling the program. Other states have since announced similar plans.
The stunning speed of the vaccines' development and rollout has helped tame COVID-19 in the U.S., which remains the worst-hit country in the world, despite having less than 5% of the world's population. The U.S. has reported more than 33 million COVID-19 cases, and more than 590,000 people have died from the disease.
Vaccination rates vary sharply across the nation. On the state level, more than half of all adults were fully vaccinated in just 25 states, along with the District of Columbia and Guam, as NPR's Laurel Wamsley reported.
The lowest overall vaccination rates in the U.S. remain in the South, where Mississippi, Alabama, Louisiana and Arkansas have administered the fewest doses per 100,000 adults, according to the CDC. The highest rates are in Vermont, Massachusetts, Hawaii and Connecticut.
Pfizer and BioNTech's vaccine is the most prevalent in the U.S., with more than 155 million doses administered, the CDC said. Moderna is next, with nearly 122 million doses. Johnson & Johnson, whose one-dose vaccine was approved after the two messenger RNA vaccines, accounts for more than 10 million doses.


My name is Rob Mitchell. I am a World Cup trading Champion, have managed and traded millions in the market and I am head trader at IndicatorSmart.com and OilTradingRoom.com . Since 1991 I have been developing statistically significant trading models for trading and traders. The systems we test and trade are like an automated trading strategy that is constantly adjusting itself throughout the trading day. This way, at any given point in the day we know with some reasonably known probability whether the market will continue or not.
The chart you are seeing (in the video below) is the SmartTrend System from IndicatorSmart. Some vendors sell similar systems to this for upwards of $5,000 but IndicatorSmart sells it for a small fraction of this. With the Smart Trend System, you know what your probabilities are. And, the probabilities are similar in markets that trend. This includes the more popular markets such as the ES, TF and CL etc.
When firing a trade, I want it to be with the Smart Trend system. The reason is, as the trend system continues, more and more higher time frame trend players hop on board to support my trade. Then, I simply go down into the system level trading (using a system like SmartPatterns Ultimate Trading System ) where I can find a manageable entry where risk is likely less than reward. The Trend system is a great support system and it is about 87% accurate in predicting the color of the next bar. It makes trading more comfortable because you know things are lined up in your favor. This way, even if you are wrong and have a losing trade, you know you did the right thing and the overall risk is often fairly small. This is extremely important for traders of all experience levels, but particularly beginning and intermediate level traders.
The Smart Trend System includes SmartZones and everything you need to set it up. It also works on any bar type and in any intraday time frame.
The Smart Trend System indicators also work with Shark Indicators BloodHound so you can use them in coding your own strategies.
SKU: STrendSys. Categories: Must Have Indicators, Trading Target Indicators, Trend Trading Indicators, Absolute Best Sellers, Packages, Oil Trading Room Tools, Trading Systems and Strategies, Support and Resistance Indicators, Trading Room. Tag: Smart Trend System.


The instructions charged the artists with portraying "significant events, scenes, phases and episodes in the experience of the Canadian Armed Forces," and required each of the 32 artists hired to produce a certain number of paintings. The instructions make it clear that the WAC highly valued these finished paintings. "Cartoons and sketches" were useful only, the instructions note, "for the re-creation of atmosphere, topography, and details of arms, vehicles, equipment, clothing, participants and terrain, of aircraft and ships."


text:
John Mason (Scottish politician)
Infobox MP
honorific-prefix =
name = John Mason
honorific-suffix = MP
constituency_MP = Glasgow East
parliament =
majority = 365 (1.4%)
predecessor = David Marshall
successor =
term_start = 25 July 2008
term_end =
birth_date = birth year and age|1957
birth_place = Rutherglen, Scotland
death_date =
death_place =
nationality = Scottish
spouse =
party = Scottish National Party
relations =
children =
residence =
alma_mater =
occupation =
profession = Accountant
religion =
website =
footnotes =
John Mason (b. 1957) is the Member of Parliament for Glasgow East, a constituency in Scotland. A member of the Scottish National Party, he won the Glasgow East by-election in July 2008, defeating the Labour Member of the Scottish Parliament for the Glasgow Baillieston constituency covering much of the same area, Margaret Curran [ [http://www.theherald.co.uk/news/news/display.var.2409214.0.Labour_concedes_defeat_in_Glasgow_East_byelection.php Labour concedes defeat in Glasgow East by-election] , "The Herald", 25 July 2008] [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/glasgow_and_west/7522153.stm SNP stuns Labour in Glasgow East] , "BBC News", 25 July 2008] .
He was elected as the councillor for the Garrowhill ward in Glasgow at a by-election in 1998 and was re-elected in 1999 and 2003. He was elected in 2007 as the councillor for the new ward of Baillieston, achieving the highest personal vote of any councillor in Glasgow. He led the SNP Group on the Council between 1999 and 2008 and was the SNP's longest serving Glasgow Councillor. As promised during the by-election, he resigned his council seat immediately after his election as MP.
Originally from Rutherglen, he has lived in the East End of Glasgow for 18 years. He is a qualified accountant, having previously worked for housing associations, nursing homes, and with a charity in London. He also spent 3 years in Nepal with an NGO representing churches from all over the world. Mason is opposed to abortion [ [http://news.scotsman.com/scottishnationalparty/Glasgow-East-byelection-Abortion-and.4305158.jp Abortion and embryo controversies back in spotlight for final days of campaign] , "The Scotsman", 19 July 2008] .
Mason is a supporter of Scottish First Division football team Clyde [ [http://www.glasgow.gov.uk/en/YourCouncil/Council_Committees/Councillors/CouncillorsBiography/bio48.htm Councillor John Mason - Biography] , "Glasgow City Council", 25 July 2008] and his other interests include involvement in Easterhouse Baptist Church, hill-walking and camping.
Alien Icarus
EDGE Games
John Mason — may refer to: John Mason (announcer), sports announcer for the Detroit Pistons basketball team John Mason (artist) (b. 1927), ceramic artist from Los Angeles, California John Mason (Australian politician) (b. 1928), Australian politician, member… … Wikipedia
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Mason (surname) — Mason is an occupational surname of English origin,[1] and may refer to many people: Contents: Top · 0–9 A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z … Wikipedia
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John Blaisdell Corliss — (June 7, 1851 ndash;December 24, 1929) was a politician from the U.S. state of Michigan. Early lifeCorliss was born in Richford, Vermont, to Hezekiah and Lydia (Rounds) Corliss. He attended the common schools and the Fairfax, Vermont Preparatory… … Wikipedia


Sweet! Today only, November 15th, Express takes 50% off ALL Sweaters for Men and Women! There is no coupon code required. You'll see the discounted price in red. It looks like prices start at only $24 and there are a TON of super cute options. If you love Express, this would be a great time to grab a few new sweaters for the winter season. Shipping is FREE when you spend $50 or more.


Impressed by his unique and engaging concept of sound and gift of musical architecture, Flinders asked Matthew to choose which works best pair with his compositional voice.
AHE opens its 2019 season with a string quartet program that celebrates Haydn's love of the natural world.
AHE conclude the year with our dear friend and regular collaborator Dr Erin Helyard, director of Pinchgut Opera, performing a wonderful orchestral program inspired by the Enlightenment.
The 18th century arrangement of Beethoven's masterwork, penned by Masi and featuring string quintet, flute and double bass, was discovered by Ensemble members in the British Library's rare music collection.
Formed in 2011, the Australian Haydn Ensemble is now regarded as one of Australia's finest orchestras and chamber music groups.
This program pays homage to the victims of war both past and present. The poignant subtext of Haydn's Mass in Time of War is no less pertinent now as it was when it was written in 1796.
This performance will feature a special new translation by Paul McCreesh, the Artistic Director of the Gabrieli Consort & Players. Don't miss it!
Award winning international guest soprano, Stefanie True and Baritone Simon Loblson feature in a program of Handel and Mozart.
All are welcome to this special Festival Service featuring the St Jude's Singers, Soloists and Instrumentalists.
The season opens with Haydn's beautiful London Flute Trio, and concludes with his famous London Symphony arranged for chamber ensemble by his dear friend, Johann Salomon.
Over the past five years, AHE have formed a wonderful collaborative relationship with regular guest Dr Erin Helyard.


Michael Dubois of Umbagog Trading Co. near Dixfield has established a test plot and nursery to grow ginseng, for which Maine's deciduous forests should provide an ideal habitat. Wild or woods-grown ginseng commands $300 per pound, and in 1992 the U.S. exported more than $100 million worth of both wild and cultivated ginseng. Since wild ginseng is considered endangered, its sale and export must be regulated by a state certification program, prompting the recent approval by the state Legislature of a bill calling for the establishment of a ginseng certification program. Details.
Wardwell, Larry, "Michael Dubois of Umbagog Trading Co. near Dixfield has established a test plot" (1994). Maine News Index – Maine Times. 667.


text:
A Vanderhorstia a csontos halak (Osteichthyes) főosztályának a sugarasúszójú halak (Actinopterygii) osztályába, ezen belül a sügéralakúak (Perciformes) rendjébe, a gébfélék (Gobiidae) családjába és a Gobiinae alcsaládjába tartozó nem.

Rendszerezés
A nembe az alábbi 25 faj tartozik:

Vanderhorstia ambanoro (Fourmanoir, 1957)
Vanderhorstia attenuata Randall, 2007
Vanderhorstia auronotata Randall, 2007
Vanderhorstia auropunctata (Tomiyama, 1955)
Vanderhorstia bella Greenfield & Longenecker, 2005
Vanderhorstia belloides Randall, 2007
Vanderhorstia delagoae (Barnard, 1937) - típusfaj
Vanderhorstia dorsomacula Randall, 2007
Vanderhorstia flavilineata Allen & Munday, 1995
Vanderhorstia hiramatsui Iwata, Shibukawa & Ohnishi, 2007
Vanderhorstia kizakura Iwata, Shibukawa & Ohnishi, 2007
Vanderhorstia lepidobucca Allen, Peristiwady & Erdmann, 2014
Vanderhorstia longimanus (Weber, 1909)
Vanderhorstia macropteryx (Franz, 1910)
Vanderhorstia mertensi Klausewitz, 1974
Vanderhorstia nannai Winterbottom, Iwata & Kozawa, 2005
Vanderhorstia nobilis Allen & Randall, 2006
Vanderhorstia opercularis Randall, 2007
Vanderhorstia ornatissima Smith, 1959
Vanderhorstia papilio Shibukawa & Suzuki, 2004
Vanderhorstia phaeosticta (Randall, Shao & Chen, 2007)
Vanderhorstia puncticeps (Deng & Xiong, 1980)
Vanderhorstia rapa Iwata, Shibukawa & Ohnishi, 2007
Vanderhorstia steelei Randall & Munday, 2008
Vanderhorstia wayag Allen & Erdmann, 2012

Források
Vanderhorstia FishBase
ITIS szerinti rendszerbesorolása
Wikifajok
  1949: Forty-two fishes new to South Africa, with notes on others. Annals and Magazine of Natural History (Series 12), 2(14): 97-111.
  2008: Vanderhorstia steelei, a new shrimpgoby from the Society Islands. Aqua, International Journal of Ichthyology, 14(1): 35-41.
 ;  2012: Reef Fishes of the East Indies. Volumes I-III. Tropical Reef Research, Perth, Australia. 1292pp. Universitiy of Hawai'i Press.

Gobiinae
Halnemek

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


Microsoft has released Visual Studio 2017 for public download. The Visual Studio 2017 is a refreshed version of Microsoft's integrated development environment (IDE). The Visual Studio 2017 supports non-Windows operating systems and the IDEwill facilitate the developers to build cloud and mobile apps on Mac, Linux, and other operating systems.
The Visual Studio 2017 is available for download on the company's official site. Microsoft is also offering free 60 days access to Xamarin University to learn coding.
Microsoft has claimed the Visual Studio 2017 to be the most effective version to date, and it will help any builder, develop any app on any platform. The app development on the Visual Studio 2017 is themed around mobile applications and cloud for any operating system.
The rundown of the Visual Studio 2017 supports fast installation and project load that's three times faster than Visual Studio 2015. It has enhanced navigation, language improvement, CMake support for C++, Linux support for C++, real-time testing of code modules, Xamarin Forms Previewer, cloud connectivity, .NET Core, and DevOps among many other features.
Along with making Visual Studio 2017 available to the public, Microsoft also released the Visual Studio for Mac Preview 4, Team Foundation Server 2017 Update 1, in additions to its Visual Studio Enterprise subscription, and Visual Studio Mobile Center Preview updates.
As the release event was live streamed on Tuesday Microsoft revealed some developments about its developer tools too.
Here are some of the important features available on the Microsoft Visual Cloud 2017.


Cafe Boulud Toronto is not available through our online partner for your requested time.
Description: Located in the flagship Four Seasons Hotel Toronto, Café Boulud, by Chef Daniel Boulud, serves a soulful menu deeply rooted in French tradition, set in the style of a lively French brasserie, and inspired by Chef Daniel's family's meals in Lyon. The kitchen boasts a gleaming rotisserie-the only one of its kind in downtown Toronto-with both vertical and horizontal spits allowing for simultaneous cooking of meat, poultry, fish and vegetables. The menu features the best French classics, as well as unexpected items inspired by Chef Daniel's curiosity and love for travel. The playfully retro-modern restaurant designed by Martin Brudnizki, located in the iconic Yorkville neighborhood, includes a dining counter and private dining room for up to eight guests. The dining room is warm and comfortable, defined by a wraparound bar and intimate, low-banquette seating.
The dinner I had last week at Café Boulud, the iconic Daniel Boulud restaurant at Toronto's Four Seasons Hotel, truly embodied the essence and ideals of Lyonnaise cooking and eating!! – a style that focuses on intensity of sensuous gratification with an acceptance that it is our inherent nature to indulge, and therefore delivers on this, rather than playing the pretense of permanent calorie-counting and ultimately leaving us with a chronic yearning for more! However, this indulgence does not slump to an "all-you-can-eat" tactic, but instead, instigates fulfillment through complex methods of combining and extracting from ultimate ingredients, regardless of how rich they might be! Indeed, the next day was mostly a "salad" day for me, but the memory of what I savoured on this night, as well as knowing that I could eventually repeat the experience, in fact, makes it easier to enjoy a low-cal salad!
Some of the aforementioned attributes were present right from the opening bread/butter standard! Along with butter, came the option of chive accented sheep's ricotta cheese, that had room-tempered butter consistency, adorned with a puddle of olive oil in its center! As expected in a place like this, the contrasting bread textures were impeccable! – a very crispy crust, with a light, airy center, that when broken off, felt more like peeling than tearing!
My first course was a classic steak tartare. Prepared tableside, you can watch the delicious shallots, egg yolks, sauces and garnishes being mixed into the beef, for just the right duration. Accompaniments of toast, thin, waffled potato wedges and hearts of lettuce with an aioli-tasting stripe and capers, act as mini platforms to top with, or dip into the tartare!
The next course was the highlight for me! – a quenelle de brochet, essentially a pike soufflé, which was as ethereal as you'd expect it to be! It was placed in a divine, piping hot, cognac, lobster crème sauce, with floating pungent mushrooms!! On one hand this sauce was so delicate yet felt so satiating!!This dish was quite reminiscent of the lavish and sophisticated style of Boulud's mentor, Paul Bocuse! It went so perfectly with my cocktail, which also featured cognac, as well as Cointreau and fleur d'oranger. These hints of orange added yet one more, subtle dimension to this highly exquisite experience!
For dessert, I felt that the menu's strawberry pavlova would balance things off beautifully, and I think I was right! Masterful Executive Chef, Sylvain Assié enjoys picking fresh strawberries, and apparently this dessert proves that he knows how to put them to good use! This was not your average homemaker's pavlova, of which I've had some delectable samplings! Here, the customary whipped cream was replaced by two contrasting creams housed inside a crunchy meringue dome! One was a rich vanilla bean crème, where one can get that all too elusive genuine vanilla fix, and the other was a gianduja ganache, where the indirect hint of hazelnut added yet another facet to this collage of flavours!! This juxtaposition of multiple creams amidst meringue is seemingly inspired by a Lyonnaise classic, the supreme gateau marjolaine, invented by Bocuse's teacher, Fernand Point! The dome was decorated with slivers of refreshing crystalized mint and surrounded by a soothing strawberry syrup, which was a marvelous balance to the compressed strawberries (there were also rhubarbs) that helped make this dessert a benchmark for all pavlovas!!
The service was amicable, displaying great teamwork! And it was a nice touch when the bartender delivered my cocktail personally!
Pumpkin-coloured leather banquettes with a somewhat contemporary version of those classic French globe lamps gave a cozy, comfortable ambiance!
It feels luxurious and uplifting when "living Lyonnaise" and based on this experience, I'm ready and eager to live it more often!!!
First , I won't come back d bar forever.
2014-7-31 I went to d bar with had my drink Yorkville affair, that was a beautiful drink until I ordered again yesterday, my heart was broken.
Taste bad very bad especially bad.
I won't come back forever.
His chicken is the best.
Get a full roast chicken for your guests and pair it with their frites. Food is excellent. Cobb salad also amazing.
My husband and I stayed at the Four Seasons and had breakfast at Cafe Boulud. Great coffee, delicious omelette and traditional breakfast. To die for blueberry muffins! Seriously, have a muffin. Best muffin I've ever had.
if you want duck confit, steak tartar, fresh oyster with red wine sauce, you come to the good place, even though the service staff is luck of the draw depends where you sit, the chef is of good skill, not Four Season standard we were expecting, but real good ingredients with good portion.
Been to Cafe Boulud Toronto? Share your experiences!


Courses Offered : (1) Paint and Varnish Technology (Technologists') Course and (2) Paint and Varnish Technology (Operatives') Course.
(ii) Residence : Should be domiciled in West Bengal.
Admission Procedure : Advertisement are published with in the last week of June of every year in at least one leading Bengali & English Newspapers than other two/three Bengali Newspapers. Written test is carried out normally in the last Sunday of October of every year, if not changed due to some unavoidable circumtances. Examinations are carried out on Physics,Chemistry, and Mathemetics of B.Sc level and Higher Secondary or its equivalent level for course nos 1 & 2 respectively. All the questions are of objective types. Written test are carried out on 180 marks and viva-voce on 20 marks. Opening day for admission is normally after 15th December of every year and closing day is within 25th January of every year.
Recognation of the Course : Both by the Government of West Bengal and Government of India.


Sa-wad-dee-pee-mai jow!!! Happy New year Thailand!
I'm now into the 3rd day of celebrating Thai new year (Songkran) which involves everybody regressing to children to join in the biggest water fight ever! I believe waterfights are held all over Thailand but in Chiang Mai its mainly around the moat area. Tonns of people joined in, kids, old men, grannies, monks, thais and foreigners all come to together to soak each other over and over. All the bars are open, music blaring, and ice cold water is smashed into your face, whilst someone cheerfully calls out happy new year! Its a really happy celebration, and i think the best part is everyone joins in, no one is exempt. In fact the rule at the hostel was if someone's dry they're just asking to be soaked! In the morning everyone in the hostel worked together to terrorise the people on the main road outside. Our rules were not in the faces of people driving mopeds (dangerous) but passengers were definitely allowed a facefull. Old western men with young Thai brides, people wearing tie-dye and people with football shirts of opposite teams were all decided by the people in the hostel as good targets too! The best was when a songtaow full of people (public busses) went by whereby the driver would slow down so we could launch buckets of water through the windows, great fun!
In the afternoon we made our way to Tha Pae gate, where everyone was on foot. There were huge stages with music pumping out and there had been a huge foam party, and people were going along on floats giving out free stuff; hats, water pistols and plastic cases so things didn't get wet! The amount of people there was crazy, and water was constantly being dunked on us from all directions, some of it dirty river water, some with ice in that was freezing, some perfumed that people used little silver containers to pour on us so we were blessed. We stopped in a bar to refuel with water, and had a few drinks and jelly shots, then carried on to follow the crowd and ended up at the end of a procession through the old town, where all the more religious celebrations were happening. People danced in thai dress, and the monks sat outside the temples blessing people with holy water.
In the evening all the water from the songkran festivities had turned into rain showers, as the humidity had soaked all the water up. Ironically people were soaked from water fights but still walking around with umbrellas. When the sun went down people stopped playing and the saturday night market opened up right near the hostel, so i was able to buy lots of gifts and souvenirs.
Pai is a hippy village at the top of the mountains. It takes 3 hours to get there by minivan from Chiang Mai and was a tough ride, because the drivers really put their foot down and there are lots of windy roads to get to the top. 763 in total, which left a few people on our bus feeling very sick. Inon, Susan and I decided to head for Pai, as everyone kept mentioning how laid back and nice it was, plus Jenn was there already and had emailed to invite us to stay at her resort, so we decided to go. The bus ride cost 150THB (£3) one way, and we arrived in Pai on Saturday at about 3pm. Since its all in the mountains, everything is a little spread out so we decided to hire a moped each (100THB per day). The resort we stayed at was called Tropical backpackers resort, and was out of the main Pai centre, but it was worth it as it was built on a hill and the view was pretty incredible. The resort is very laid back and hippy. It has 16 "bungalows" that were triangular shaped huts made from dried leaves, that cost 180THB a night (£2.) Inside the hut is a double bed slightly raised form the floor by wooden poles and a window that opens at the end made from bamboo. They were very basic but pretty cute. There was a communal shower and toilet area, also made from bamboo and leaves. The bungalows were at the bottom of the hill and at the top was the communal area, with cushions and fairy lights. You could tell you were in hippy village, it was basic but clean, and everyone was friendly. We met Jenn and took the bikes out over the hills to look at the good views and then got some dinner in the centre, and did some shopping. After coming back to the resort we showered and got ready then walked the back roads to town and spent the evening in a bar called Edible Jazz. Everyone there was very laid back, there was an area with hammocks but most people were sat on cushions on the floor, and a guy played a guitar and sang for us all evening. At night time, the air was so much cooler, actually had to sleep with blankets wrapped round me it was so cold!
The next day we continued exploring on the motorbikes. First we went to the Canyon, which was about a 50 minute drive away, and then a 10 minute climb to the top. The views were good and there were lots of different species of trees with signs and their names on. Next we drove to a waterfall. There are 2 in Pai and I'm not sure which one is which, but this one was on the way back to Pai from the Canyon, up a very steep hill that says its only 5km away on the sign but isn't. Theres a short walk from the car park and theres a small waterfall with a cold pool. Whilst there the 4 of us met a Spanish woman, Alicia, and 2 guys from Switzerland, who decided to join us as we went to find the cave. Following the map we realised it was really far away. We stopped to speak to some locals who told us it was over 80km away, so thought that was too far to accomplish on bikes, but she recommended the other waterfall which was nearby so we went there. This waterfall was much more impressive! It took a long time up a windy dusty road to get there, but once there we realised why the other one wasn't so busy, everyone was at this one! Theres lots of rocks that many people had climbed on, with a pool up in the rocks but also a pool at the bottom. Thai kids were using the rocks as a natural slide, throwing themselves down it into the pool at the bottom which I guess was deep enough. It was quite high up that where the thai little boys were starting, and I assume it wasn't too comfortable on the rocks as one kid came out clutching him bottom with a rip in his pants. I stayed on the grass and watched the people around me, as everyone else jumped in and climbed the rocks. Once most people had given the slide a go, and i'd had a nap, we left to head back into town to get some food, and another girl from Canada joined us, so in total there were 8 bikes!
On the way down i could feel myself getting close to the edge of the road so tried to turn into the right, to get back in the middle when my wheels hit dust and I fell. I was going about 40kmph, and I think I had time to break but I hit the floor face first with the right side of my body bearing the brunt of the fall. The bike fell on top of my foot, but I somehow managed to get up and get myself to the edge of the road, by which time everyone else had stopped and was surrounding me, and I totally freaked out. There was blood everywhere, my clothes were ripped and ruined and as my nose had hit the ground it was bleeding, but in my shocked state I thought my nose had fallen off, but it was fine, though everywhere else was bleeding too. Two french guys who saw the accident came to help me, and tried to wash my wounds with water and alcohol, but my foot had a really deep cut, and lots of dirt in so someone made the decision I should go to hospital (I was freaking out too much to make much sense at this point.) It was decided i would leave my bike there and get on the back of Inons' bike, who dropped me off at the local hospital, while he and Jenn went to the bike place to tell them what happened and to get the bike back.
At the hospital, Susan let me squish her hand as the doctor cleaned and bandaged my wounds, whilst I screamed the place down, and he gave me antibiotics for the pain afterwards! Alicia then took me on the back of her bike to the resort, via a pharmacy to get more gauze to change the wounds and dinner at a restaurant. That night I took all the medicine and slept soundly, though I probably wouldn't have managed without Susan there to help me hobble to the bathroom and up and down the hill, as well as changing the dressings for me. I'm so grateful to her so if you're reading this Thank You!
I am also extremely grateful to Tony and Oi, the owners of Chiang Mai backpack house. When I arrived all bandaged up they got straight to work worrying over me, and Tony got the first aid kit out and cleaned again my wounds and covered in bandages. He was worried they were infected so in the morning he took me to the hospital where they got me a wheel chair and took me round to a room where they thoroughly cleaned my wounds (Tony let me squish his hand as I was in so much pain) and put Iodine on everything to try and dry them up. The also cut some of the skin on my foot away to get some stubborn gravel out. I spent all day resting in the lobby with the other guests and today I went back to the hospital, and this time Oi, Tonys wife took me, to change my bandages and clean wounds again. Yesterday it cost 200THB (£4) and today 100THB (£2) so not worth bothering the insurance over! The nurses were friendly and said this evening I can leave my knee unbandaged so that it can dry out, but they are still worried about my foot (and I still cant walk) so to keep going back every day as the wound is really deep.
Everyone is getting ready for Songkran (Thai new year = water fight) and I really want to be able to join in, so hoping ill be recovered soon as it starts in 2 days!
The next few days I decided I needed to rest! I spent thursday morning going to Chiang Mai Ram hospital to get a chest x-ray for my Australian Working Holiday visa. I was pretty impressed with how everything ran smoothly and at each part I hardly had to wait to see someone. I had to fill in a few forms, get passport copied, and have height and weight checked and blood pressure done, then some more forms and then I was taken to be x-rayed. I got changed and was x-rayed, and everything took less than an hour and half, which went quite quickly! I was also given a laminated hospital pass with my name, photo and details on should I ever need to go again. At the end I was charged 1,500THBt, so £30, which I thought was reasonable. In the afternoon I paid 300THB (£6) to use the swimming pool in a posh hotel about a 15 minute walk away. It was a lot of money, but was nice to be pampered. Jenn met me there later and we read our books, chatted and had a cocktail whilst sitting in the pool, before she had to get her bus to Pai.
The next day was also spent relaxing, this time with Susan (from USA also) who joined me in my female dorm at the hostel. The hostels owner, Oi, took us to a local outdoor swimming pool near her daughters school, called Chiang Mai Land, where the pool was HUGE! It was only 60THB (£1) for the day to use, and we paid an extra 30THB to rent out a sun lounger for the day. If anyone wants a bit of peace and quiet away from the city then I recommend this place, it was cheap but really nice. In the morning it was empty and only got fuller with the childrens' swimming lessons. It was also nice that there was a mixture of thai people and foreigners there. They also served food (western and thai) that was cheap but tasty. To get back we were able to flag down a red songteow and pay 30THB back to the hostel. In the evening we met up with Inon, who had finished his trekking, and went for thai food in the old quarter.
The following day we all woke up about the same time, and had breakfast at the hostel. Inon was picked up and taken off for his 3 day trekking in the jungle, whilst Jenn, Pierce and I decided to go to Tiger Kingdom. Our hostel offered to take us in the Jeep (aircon yay) for 100THB each (£2) and as it's over an hour drive away we thought that was pretty good. The driver also waited for us to finish and drove us back, and also took us to lunch and once again waited! This hostel (Chiang Mai backpack house) is really so kind, I can't recommend it enough. At the end of the trip the driver even said don't worry about paying, and I said no he had been fantastic! Tiger Kingdom is free to just look around but you have to pay to go inside the enclosures. To go see the babies its 600THB or the adults 400THB. I paid 1900THB (£40) to go to see babies, small1, small2, medium, and adults, and have a free CD made with a professional photographer in one enclosure (babies.). I figured I wouldn't get the opportunity again and I wanted to make most of it, but to be honest the babies are small, and the rest of the tigers are big and the adults are huge, so you probably don't need to go to all enclosures! There are other deals too, depending on how many different aged tigers you want to see.
Me and Jenn paid to see all, and Pierce just paid for the adults, so we all went round together taking photos. The babies were obviously adorable, and quite playful. One of them that I was posing with had a dream and rolled over into my arms!
However some were alert and awake and to prove it when we were in the small2 enclosure, as it was just Jenn and I and no other tourists the carers played with the tigers and got a toy that they could run around and catch. Having 5 near fully grown tigers fighting 5 foot in font of you over a toy is definitely a unique experience. I got some great shots of the tigers jumping. After the tigers I came back to the hotel and ended up speaking to the owners for 4 hours! Just about why they chose to open a hostel and how cute their daughter is (Think Boo from Monsters Inc!) Later that day I met Jenn at her hostel and went to check out the Night Bazaar, but we didn't get very far as ended up in an american style restaurant eating dinner.
The day started with being picked up and driven for an hour into the countryside!
I was really excited for this day as I had booked it online, a 2 day elephant training course at Woodys Elephants. [Please note I did research and these elephants are really well looked after, Woody thinks of them as his family, he gives them lots of breaks and he always puts the elephants first. There are no tricks or shows here.] When I arrived I was told it was just going to have to be a day training for me as they thought I would be with a friend and didn't want me to stay overnight on my own, which was a real shame, and I was gutted, but I still had the day to enjoy at least! Woody came in and introduced himself and told us how much the elephants mean to him and why he does this! We were then taught some basic commands in thai, and as everyone started writing them on their arms I'm glad I know some thai language already!
We went down to the areas where the elephants were kept and fed them bananas, where after each time they would give us kisses!! Also met the babies, called Happy and Sky, My elephant was called Fah, which is Thai for Sky, and she was Woodys favourite. I can tell why as she was really well behaved! To start training we had to learn how to first climb on the elephant, which is harder than it looks. You have to grab the top of the elephants ear with right hand then shout Yuk Ka! so the elephant lifts its leg up, then put your left foot onto one side, and your right foot on the elephants knee, then shout soong, and the elephant lifts you higher so you can then somehow throw your left leg round and end up on the elephants neck. None of mine were that elegant, but i got up! (See pics below) Once up we were then taught how to use the hook (its blunt, and not used to harm the animal) but to gently press on the temples on the opposite side of the way the elephant has to go, whilst kicking the elephants ear, and shouting in Thai. So, if you want to go left, you use your left hand to put the hook onto the elephants right temple and shout "Sai" whilst kicking your right foot. All the time using your other leg to hold on round the elephant neck because there is no other way to hold on and when the elephant moves its really difficult! Also practised the other way and Yut- stop! Then I got back down. Getting down is the reverse of getting up, but every time I missed her foot and sort of just slid/fell off of her. I said sorry in Thai each time.
After learning how to turn, we then tried getting on the elephants and going forwards and backwards, then gave the ele's a break and cleaned the shed for a bit. Lunch was included so after cleaning ourselves we had potatoe soup, rice, sweet and sour chicken and lots of pineapple.
The afternoon was the best part. We once again climbed on the elephants, sat on its neck and went on a trek round the whole area! Its really hard as there is nothing to hold on to and you bounce around, and going up and down hills means you're falling about lots too, but it was really fun. Halfway the elephants got a break and we were taught how to make a straw from a banana leaf so that we could all have a drink of water. At the end of the trek, the elephants were given "candy" – sugar cane, as a treat. One of the mahouts told me we could eat it too, and used his teeth to peel it for me. It was pure sugar! I wanted a photo of me eating the sugar cane and the elephant too, but as I went to pose the elephant used its trunk to grab the cane out of my hand. Guess it didn't like me stealing its sweets from her!
After another rest the elephants went into the river and were told to lie down. We were given brushes and told to get in too, to give them a clean, but really it was a huge water fight, the elephants winning as they squirted at us with their trunks. The baby also joined in and was such a cutie, mainly falling around and loving all the attention!
We got out the water and climbed onto the elephants again and this time we went into the deep lake, so that the elephants could go swimming with us on their backs, was hilarious and a few people nearly fell off! At the end I paid just for the one day training, not 2, and it cost me 2000THB, so roughly £40 and worth every penny!
I was super happy with the day and when I got back to the hostel it was made better by being invited by 2 guys (Pierce from UK and Inon from Israel) to go get drinks. We ended up in a rooftop bar overlooking Chiang Mai and inviting another girl who was sat alone (Jenn from USA) to join us, and had a really good night meeting new people.
Chiang Rai and the North!
I got picked up at 7.30am by the tour company in a mini van then after driving for an hour we arrived at the hot springs. Since I live by the hot spring in khaochaison this wasnt that exciting for me, but least it broke down the journey. We drove for another hour and half until we were in Chiang Rai, and visited the White Temple, whose correct name is Wat Rong Khun. I got talking to 2 girls from Hong Kong who were in the same minivan and we went round together taking photos. It was really beautiful, and even the koi carp in the river were white and matching too. To get to the actual temple, which represents paradise you have to walk through 'hell' first, which shows lots of hands and skulls as you cross the bridge to it. Its a one way system to enter the temple as its so busy with visitors, and inside they are still painting it. On one side the decorations were typical of a temple but on the other side there were paintings of the twin towers, of superman, doremon, and lots of cartoon characters, which was odd. Another interest in the temple was a building all painted gold, which was in fact toilets. The nicest toilets around!
We then got back in the bus and drove another 2 hours to the Golden Triangle, which is where the river separates Thailand, Myanmar and Laos. We climbed into long thin woden boats and the cruise took us along the river and stops in Myanmar and Laos. In Laos there was a market selling local gifts. One of the wierdest gifts was a bottle of whisky with a snake inside. A chinese man helped me take photos with the Laos signs, and I took some of him too. On the boat back to Thailand I got speaking to an Australian couple from Adelaide who were on the same tour but different bus, and I bumped into them at all the next stops too.
Half hour later we arrived at a buffet lunch, then continued another half hour to the Northern most point of Thailand, where there's a bridge to cross to be let into Myanmar and a market area. We stopped for half an hour so some people could do visa runs and others could go shopping.
Another hour drive and we met the Karen tribe. These are people originally from Myanmar that fled to live in Thailand where they are more welcome. They have long necks because they have metal coils stretching and holding their necks up. Its only the women that do it, so even the little girls have started! They live a simple life in the mountains making gifts and scarfs to sell to tourists as income. The ride back to Chiang Mai was 3 and half hours, and on the way I got talking to a South African couple who live in Dubai and ended up discussing world cultures and the whole bus joined in, which made the journey go a lot quicker!


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From breast enlargement to botox, plastic surgery has long been considered a hush-hush topic in the Hollywood hills.
But with a year-on-year rise in Brits going under the knife, A-listers are no longer afraid to get candid on the work they've had done.
The fashion designer reportedly underwent breast enlargement surgery back in 1999 and had them reduced in size a decade later.
While some celebrities have had the works even if they're still not quite sure it's worth the price tag.
Back in 2002, actress Jamie Lee Curtis revealed that she may as well have a plastic surgeon on speed dial.
From Kylie Jenner's not-so-secret lip fillers to Gwyneth Paltrow's botox, these are the celebrities who have openly admitted to having plastic surgery.


Before you finish reading this, one individual will have ended their life by suicide—because they think they have no other choice. According to the World Health Organization, a massive 800,000 people take their lives every year—one death every 40 seconds. That's 3,000 a day. For millions who suffer from deep sadness and despair, "EXIT" points to a better way. This compelling movie shines a powerful light in the darkness and offers true hope to those who think they have none. Someone you know may be secretly considering their exit. Watch "EXIT," and share it with those you love.
You are not a cosmic accident; you are not here by chance. The Bible says God formed you in your mother's womb. You are special, unique, and handcrafted by the Creator; and because of that your life has meaning. No matter where you've been, what's happened, or what you've done, nothing can ever erase the incredible value God has placed on you as His creation.
The Bible says, "God is love." He not only knows your turmoil and pain, He cares deeply and promises that if you draw near to Him, He will draw near to you. You can be adopted into His family as His beloved child.
The Bible tells us that by trusting in Jesus we have a "living hope," a hope that is an anchor for the soul. If you don't know God personally, you can, through genuine repentance and faith in Jesus Christ. Your sins will be washed away. His Spirit will come to live within you and will never leave you, and you'll be given a new heart with new desires. The meaning and purpose of your life is to truly love God and walk with Him. You can find healing, forgiveness, and hope in Christ.
Tell those closest to you. Confide in a parent, relative, friend, or school counselor, or find a respected Christian psychologist. Dragging a heavy load by yourself can be overwhelming, but if you let someone help carry your burden, it becomes far lighter.
Call a hotline. You can call the "Suicide Prevention Lifeline" and talk with someone right now. It's free, confidential, and available 24/7. You can call them at 800-273-8255 or visit them online at SuicidePreventionLifeline.org.
Speak with a local pastor. If you don't attend a Christian church, on this page you will find an icon with the heading "Speak with a Local Pastor"—it will help you find a church in your area.
Whatever you do, please, please don't end your life.
Call and speak with someone right now. It's free, confidential, and available 24/7.
Click here for a list of phone numbers outside the U.S.
Find certified counselors who use the Bible as their final authority.
As a board certified clinical neuropsychologist who has been in the mental health field for 25 years, I am thrilled to see you address the issue of suicide head on. I loved 'EXIT.' It's both powerful, and very sound.
Ray Comfort's movies are always filled with truth and loving instructions on how to interact with people desperately in need of the love and grace of Jesus Christ. 'EXIT' opened my eyes to the anguish of so many who mistakenly believe suicide is the only answer to depression. We all need Jesus. Without Him, there is no life. With Him, there is life abundant.
I just watched 'EXIT.' It was powerful and effective...I hope this reaches a wide audience and turns many to the hope of the gospel.
I screened 'EXIT' to our elders and wives last night. Very encouraging and powerful. We pre-ordered 2,000 copies of the DVD to give out for free. We plan on ordering many more.
I cannot tell you how moved I was by 'EXIT'...absolutely amazing.
Sometimes, when we feel a little down, all we need is a good tonic—a little pick-me-up to help us through the day. These short words of encouragement come in the form of 365 daily readings of the entire Bible—in chronological order—with a very brief shot-in-the-arm commentary (originally created as 140-character tweets).
Get the free PDF eBooklet by signing up for our free e-newsletter.
You have our joyous free permission to host a public screening of our faith based movies, including "EXIT," at your church, high school or college campus, or event. You can use these files to help promote it.


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text:
Monodiscodes dimorphus är en stekelart som först beskrevs av Mercet 1921.  Monodiscodes dimorphus ingår i släktet Monodiscodes och familjen sköldlussteklar. Inga underarter finns listade i Catalogue of Life.

Källor

Sköldlussteklar
dimorphus


text:
Urdu Daily Bulletin
این بی اے پاور رینکنگ ، دن 4: چار ٹیم ٹائٹل ریس۔ رنگر
Basketball. Is. Back. I'm ranking all 30 teams and slotting them into tiers. In our four-part series, we've looked at teams eyeing the future, teams at the crossroads, and teams on the brink of contention. Today, we're focusing on my top four NBA Finals favorites: Milwaukee and Philadelphia in the East, and both Los Angeles teams in the West. None of them is an overwhelming favorite like Golden State was in recent years, or LeBron's Heatles were at the start of the decade. This decade is closing quite differently from how it began, with more parity than in any other year.
That's what makes this season so different. There are only a handful of teams in the West without any chance of making the playoffs, and virtually every team in the East could grab an honorary playoff spot as the 8-seed. It's the first year in a long time when there's not an overwhelming Finals favorite, or any clarity about which 16 teams will actually make the playoffs. So what happens in games during the long regular season will matter. We will get a season with twists and turns, more big trades, and lots of drama.
I'll always have fond memories for this decade of basketball in how the game evolved and the incredible moments along the way, but I'm especially looking forward to this season more than any other because of the parity. I'm offering up what I think will be the major talking point, story line, or theme for each of these final four teams of this series. Let's get this started.
Finals Favorites
Can Giannis Antetokounmpo get better? And if he can, what would that look like? He narrowly missed out last year on joining Michael Jordan and Hakeem Olajuwon as the only players to ever win both MVP and Defensive Player of the Year in the same season. That it wouldn't be a total shocker if Giannis were to make another run at both awards in 2020 is a testament to his emerging greatness.
Giannis gets knocked for his jumper, but his accuracy has gotten better; he shot 34 percent on 153 dribble-jumper 3s and 31 percent on 42 catch-and-shoot 3s since Christmas last season, including the playoffs and the 2019-20 preseason. It's a tiny sample but his form looks smoother. His playmaking, on the other hand, has stagnated.
There were times in the playoffs last season when four or five defenders would be in the paint and he'd force a shot rather than kick it out, like here in Game 5 against the Raptors:
If Giannis can get better at reading those situations, the Bucks offense will be even more lethal. Their roster makes total sense: Brook Lopez earned the nickname Splash Mountain, and now his brother Robin will be raining 3s, too. Khris Middleton is the perfect complement to Giannis, and they have a bunch of other shooters. In preseason, Giannis was noticeably aware of his targets when on the break:
Giannis's development as a passer would add range to Mike Budenholzer's offense, and render Antetokounmpo that much more of a threat to make positive plays for his teammates no matter where he is on the floor. It would also lessen Milwaukee's dependency on Eric Bledsoe's playmaking. Malcolm Brogdon's departure left the Bucks searching for a secondary playmaker. He was replaced by Wesley Matthews and Kyle Korver, neither of whom are in the same class as Brogdon as a passer or defender. He was an integral part of Milwaukee's best lineups last season. At times, he was even their second-best player, ahead of Middleton.
The Bucks should keep their eyes open for a better playmaker than Bledsoe, who was a stink bomb in the playoffs. In July, I suggested Chris Paul if he looks good this season. Bledsoe, Ersan Ilyasova, and George Hill for Paul would work financially; OKC would need to move players to create roster space, and more assets would be exchanged. Paul is old and expensive, but could he be a risk worth taking in pursuit of a title?
A reliable point guard—whether it's Paul, Kyle Lowry, or someone else—would take pressure off Giannis and allow Budenholzer to be more creative with actions that get Antetokounmpo rolling toward the rim using on-ball screens and dribble handoffs. Or, if he improves his own playmaking, the Bucks front office could use assets to chase another wing defender, which could prove to be valuable in a potential Finals series. Milwaukee is close to being a Finals contender, but it feels like one piece is missing. It may not matter: Giannis himself could prove to be enough. It feels like one piece is missing.
3. Philadelphia 76ers
The Sixers will have the NBA's best defense. We're talking about 2004 Pistons potential here. Joel Embiid is one of the league's most impactful rim protectors, and Ben Simmons is a deserving All-Defensive player. Now they have the long and feisty Josh Richardson to contain opposing point guards. They added Al Horford, who fills a gaping hole behind Embiid.
Horford will start next to Embiid, but he'll also be the NBA's best backup center. In the preseason, Brett Brown staggered Horford with Embiid after the opening minutes to always keep a quality rim protector on the floor. Embiid should realistically enter the playoffs healthy and load-managed thanks to Horford. Toss in Matisse Thybulle, who already looks like one of the league's best wing defenders, plus lengthy wings in Tobias Harris and James Ennis, and you have a matchup-proof defense.
The Sixers can play with jumbo-sized lineups: Embiid, Horford, Simmons, Harris, and Richardson. Or they can be more versatile with Thybulle in the game over Horford or Embiid. Heck, they can even go small with Simmons at center. Brown will be able to dictate matchups with his defense against most teams in the East. In a potential series against the Bucks, Brown has plenty of defenders to throw at Giannis in the half court, and the bodies to build a wall to contain his scary transition attacks.
The elephant in the room is the shooting. Embiid isn't an outside threat and Simmons shoots with the wrong hand. The reserves have a lot to prove, whether it's Thybulle and Ennis, or Zhaire Smith and Shake Milton. Harris, Richardson, and Horford will need to shoot the lights out. We're about to find out how much size actually matters on offense. The Sixers could theoretically bully-ball opponents in the post. Brown could even get creative and run double-big pick-and-rolls close to the rim, which we've seen the Bucks do with Giannis. Philadelphia will almost always have a size advantage, which means Simmons will have to beat guys smaller than him, and Embiid will need to make quick reads when double-teams come.
The Sixers also have to come up with a reliable crunch-time plan now that Jimmy Butler is in Miami. Simmons can't yet be relied on in those situations because of his lack of a jumper, so it'll likely have to be Harris or Richardson. I made the case last month that Richardson will absorb that role. Brown has been experimenting with using Richardson in a backup point guard role behind Simmons. If Philly can find this go-to scorer, it could mean the difference in a playoff game or a series.
The Sixers get an edge over the Bucks because of their top-end talent and potentially historic defense, even though they have more questions facing their offense. The league is set up for a paradigm shift: Can Philadelphia force teams to start thinking big?
2. Los Angeles Clippers
The first Clippers fan I ever met is my friend and Ringer coworker Isaac Lee. He often wears all black, an appropriate symbol for the sadness he's long felt for his favorite team. For as long as I've known Isaac, he's never had much hope for the Clippers because, as he told me, there's a "foreboding premonition in the back of my mind that disappointment is inevitable. You can't argue against history." Well, even the most melodramatic Clippers fans like Isaac are starting to feel some hope.
Kawhi Leonard and Paul George will do that to you. The duo joins a group that features last season's nastiest pick-and-roll duo—Lou Williams and Montrezl Harrell—plus a knockdown shooter in Landry Shamet and the world's most hostile defender, Patrick Beverley. Now Kawhi will get to benefit from this supporting cast:
Sacrifices had to be made for the Clippers to add so much star power (farewell, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander!), but Maurice Harkless and JaMychal Green are nice veteran additions, and rookie Terance Mann could eventually carve out a spot in the rotation.
The Clippers have the personnel to match up against anyone. Beverley can hound smaller opposing scoring guards like Steph Curry and Damian Lillard, while Kawhi and George can bother LeBron James. Conversely, there aren't many teams that can stop Kawhi and George. Kawhi will take on alpha responsibilities, while George can abuse the opponent's second-best wing defender and attack rotating defenses that have their hands full with Kawhi.
The Clippers could use one more ball handler—watch out for Andre Iguodala if he hits the buyout market—and a thick big man better than Ivica Zubac for a potential series against Nikola Jokic and the Nuggets. But we're nitpicking. The Clippers have assembled a nearly perfectly squad.
All that really matters is that this team is healthy heading into the playoffs, but seeding is also important in a loaded conference, so George's early-season absence is noteworthy as he recovers from double shoulder surgery. Doc Rivers said George will miss at least the first 10 games. The timeline is unclear, though. I reported this summer that he could miss closer to six weeks, which would mean he's out for 20-25 games. By the time he's back, we'll either be talking about how much he's missed or how Leonard is mounting a case for his first MVP.
Kawhi said he won't be under a load management plan anymore now that he's healthy. He doesn't go balls to the wall on defense anymore since he paces himself for the playoffs, but he can still turn it up in big moments. There will be many of those early in the season, before George returns, with games against the Lakers, Rockets, and Bucks. And we already know what he can do offensively after he went full MJ last postseason.
The Clippers haven't just changed their roster, they're changing the way they play. Their shot selection is shifting: They ranked 27th in 3-point shooting frequency last season, but were closer to league average during preseason exhibition games. The Clippers attempted 38.8 percent of their shots from 3, which is the fifth-highest shift from the season to the preseason, trailing behind just two teams that had front office regime changes (Washington and Minnesota) and two teams that hired a new head coach (Cleveland and Chicago). The stylistic shift sticks makes sense: The more space for Leonard and George, the better off they'll be.
The Clippers are the safest bet to win the NBA Finals. I'm ranking them just a sliver behind the Lakers because I feel the purple and gold have slightly higher upside. Besides, should we really set expectations so high for Clippers Nation? They're underdogs at heart.
1. Los Angeles Lakers
There's been so much focus on how depth, durability, and drama could derail the Lakers' season, but their best-case scenario is overwhelming. News flash: LeBron James and Anthony Davis—two top-five stars with synergistic skills—play on the same team now. These two have never played with anyone like each other. It isn't an exaggeration to say they could compose the greatest pick-and-roll duo the NBA has ever seen.
LeBron can score from anywhere and pass in any direction. Now his favored target is Davis—a guy who can pop for 3s, attack off the dribble, or throw down dunks. And we don't talk enough about just how great Davis himself is as a passer.
He can handle like a wing; his passing chops began to manifest last season, when he averaged 3.9 assists per game. Keep your eye on Draymond Green in the clip above. He claps his hands and shakes his head in frustration even before Davis lobs the ball to JaVale McGee. The play is over as soon as LeBron makes the entry pass. With the help defense rotating over to stop Davis's drive, Avery Bradley is wide open for 3 and McGee is for the lob. If the defense doesn't help, then Davis is scoring.
Davis's playmaking minimizes the need for head coach Frank Vogel to lean on Rajon Rondo to generate offense when LeBron is off the floor. AD can be a creator. But the Lakers will rely heavily on LeBron and Davis to run the offense because of that dearth of options. Increased media attention means that LeBron's and AD's durability will get more coverage than other players with similar concerns, such as the Clippers' stars. But the Clippers have more players who can effectively run an offense in the event of an injury. The Lakers don't. Look for them to target Iguodala, who should eventually be available in the buyout market.
This isn't to say the Lakers have a bad supporting cast. Danny Green is established as one of the league's best 3-and-D players; he will be LeBron's best friend as a cutter and spot-up shooter. Bradley has hit 37.9 percent of his catch-and-shoot 3s in the past six seasons and can be a pest defending smaller guards. Kentavious Caldwell-Pope is flawed but solid. Then you have competent shooters like Quinn Cook, Troy Daniels, and Alex Caruso; a reliable veteran in Jared Dudley; and a spark-plug scorer in Kyle Kuzma. I'm not the biggest Kuzma fan, but he gets buckets and tries hard on defense, even if he makes some goofy mistakes. If you just read the critiques of the Lakers' bench, you'd think LeBron was still surrounded by Boobie Gibson and Sasha Pavlovic.
The Lakers are easy to poke fun at because their centers are McGee and Dwight Howard. But McGee is better than his reputation, and Howard needs only to play a limited role. These bigs give the Lakers lineup versatility. They can put Davis at the 5, with Kuzma and LeBron at forward to play more modern lineups. Or McGee or Howard can get plugged in at center if they want to go jumbo, like in a Finals series against a team like the Sixers. By the way, have you seen Dwight? He looks lean. He's lost his plastic-action-figure shoulders, and he's moving with a youthful fluidity. I'm not about to overreact to his preseason, but he looked capable of helping this team. All the Lakers really need from Dwight is to give them good minutes against opposing bigs like Nikola Jokic and Embiid, and to finish around the rim on cuts and rolls. The tough part for Howard will be to resist hijacking offensive possessions by demanding post-ups.
This team will go as far as LeBron's and Davis's health takes them. AD always seems to be dealing with some injury, and LeBron is almost 35 and has played 56,284 minutes in his career, which is more than any player ever through their first 16 years, including the playoffs. Whatever doubts there are about James's durability are also the ones that make this season so interesting, and potentially historic for LeBron. Doubt once fueled Michael Jordan to a three-peat after he returned to basketball, and now LeBron is facing similar questions about his future. LeBron is ready for revenge, but his body will need to handle the burden as rising stars leading new contending teams come for his crown.
NBA Finals: Lakers over Sixers in 7
Most Valuable Player: Stephen Curry, Warriors
Rookie of the Year: Ja Morant, Grizzlies
Most Improved Player of the Year: Caris LeVert, Nets
Defensive Player of the Year: Anthony Davis, Lakers
Sixth Man of the Year: Lou Williams, Clippers
Coach of the Year: Michael Malone, Nuggets
Predictions are hard. A few missed games can drastically alter a player's odds at earning votes—that's why Morant gets the nod over Zion Williamson here. But as discussed in Part 3 of this series, award voters historically love a good story. I bet on the Warriors being good, so I'd give Curry the edge over Giannis as MVP. LeVert, after his heartbreaking injury last season, looks geared for a big season next to Kyrie Irving. And while the Sixers should have the best defense in the league, Embiid probably won't appear in enough games to earn the votes over another nominee like Davis.
I can't remember a time with more parity. It's a reflection of the talent across the league. There are so many stars both young and old, and so much depth on each roster. It feels like anything is possible. Enjoy the ride.
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