Bill Gates visited the UAE this week, and, as appears to be the custom, brought along the Microsoft chequebook to announce a round of investment in the region. As part of the trip, Microsoft pledged $235 million to K12 education (covering five to eighteen year olds) in the region, through its Partners in Learning initiative, along with almost too many joint projects to count, covering areas as diverse as data security, government best practice and graduate training.
In a break from the past Gates was willing to speak about both Microsoft's CSR efforts and his own philanthropy - until now a clear line was drawn between the two. But with a new career in the charities sector just around the corner, it seems that he's happy to boost the new venture just as much as the old.
Gates' and Microsoft's approach was noticeably different to that of John Chambers and Cisco. Cisco's investment is very much aimed at the IT industry - boosting IT skills, enhancing regional R&D and encouraging government to adopt IT. The Bill Gates' approach, targeting education in schools and community projects, addresses some of the fundamental problems of the region much more directly.
Kito De Boer, managing director of McKinsey & Co, Middle East, who shared the Dubai platform with Microsoft, made a very valid point - if the Gulf countries are going to continue to develop and harness the phenomenal growth that they have enjoyed, then they need to start addressing the issue of educational standards for K12 and below, which at present are woefully lacking. Otherwise, he warned, the Gulf risked having the GDP of Germany with the educational standards of Ghana.
Just before his trip to the UAE, Gates revealed his vision of 'creative capitalism' at the World Economic Forum in Davos, and it figured heavily in both the speeches he made in Dubai and Abu Dhabi. Creative capitalism is his idea that 'capitalism' per se has only tended to be of most benefit for the richest nations and people - creative capitalism is a challenge to those that hold the wealth, to find ways of working that will help all people and tackle development issues.
As the world's richest man, Gates is in a comfortable position to push this message, but his words are backed up by actions and by the resources of Microsoft. In a region that is becoming ever more wealthy, it is scandalous that education has been neglected for so long; and when more and more companies like Microsoft and Cisco are offering technology, best practices, collaboration and resources to drive educational development; it is shameful that the authorities are not doing more to work together to create world class opportunities for all of their people, and not just for flagship projects in the most high profile cities.


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Concierge Technologies Reports Fiscal 2021 Financial Results
Marygold & Co.2021-09-22T14:43:19-07:00September 22nd, 2021|News|
Revenues increase 49% to $39.9 million
Net income advances more than threefold to $5.8 million
Total assets rise 29% to $31.5 million
San Clemente, Calif., September 22, 2021—Concierge Technologies, Inc. (OTC: CNCG), a diversified global holding firm, today reported sharply higher financial results for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2021, compared with the prior fiscal year.
Revenues rose 49 percent to $39.9 million from $26.7 million for the prior year. Net income for the 2021 fiscal year advanced more than threefold to $5.8 million, equal to $0.15 per share, from $1.7 million, equal to $0.05 per share, for fiscal 2020.
The Company attributed the favorable performance principally to an increase in assets under management (AUM) by its Wainwright Holdings subsidiary, the holding company for United States Commodity Funds and USCF Advisors (together, "USCF"), currently managing two exchange-traded funds and eight exchange-traded products, all listed on the New York Stock Exchange. Average AUM had increased to $4.9 billion for the 2021 fiscal year from $3.0 billion for fiscal 2020.
Concierge Technologies' "Other" operating segment – which consists of Gourmet Foods, Brigadier Security Systems and Original Sprout – registered higher total revenues for fiscal 2021, paced by Gourmet Foods, which completed an acquisition early in fiscal 2021. Total revenue for the "Other" segment was $14.7 million, up from $11.2 million for the prior fiscal year ended June 30, 2020. Net income attributed to the "Other" segment totaled approximately $600,000 for fiscal 2021, as compared with $800,000 for the prior fiscal year. The decline reflected a combination of one-time costs associated with relocation of facilities and the negative effects of the continuing COVID-19 pandemic.
The Company's balance sheet remained strong at June 30, 2021, with total assets of $31.5 million, of which $16.1 million are held in cash and cash equivalents, up from total assets of $24.3 million at June 30, 2020. The Company has essentially no debt.
"Fiscal 2021 was an active and highly productive year," said David Neibert, Concierge Technologies' Chief Operations Officer. "In July 2020, we completed the acquisition of New Zealand-based Printstock Products, which prints wrappers for food products, including Gourmet Foods and others, and whose operations have been consolidated into Gourmet Foods. Our newest subsidiary, Marygold & Co., made excellent progress developing a proprietary banking and financial services app for sending, receiving, spending and saving securely through mobile devices. Marygold is now working toward completion of the testing phase prior to launch and widescale marketing. Brigadier Security Systems has pivoted nicely from residential hardware as a primary market to focus on commercial and public building clientele, where COVID-19 poses fewer restrictions to complete system installations. Lastly, Original Sprout completed a relocation to spacious new facilities in preparation for staging its entry into the big box distribution channel."
Nicholas Gerber, Chief Executive Officer, said, "Adding to our financial services offerings, subsequent to the close of fiscal 2021 we formed a wholly owned subsidiary, Marygold & Co. (UK) Limited, which, in turn, signed a definitive agreement to acquire Tiger Financial & Asset Management Limited, an established and certified investment advisor in the U.K. Tiger's core business is managing clients' financial wealth across a diverse range of products, which eventually we hope will include services as provided by Marygold in the United States. The transaction is expected to close before the end of 2021 calendar year, subject to customary closing conditions, including approval of the U.K. Financial Conduct Authority (FCA.)
"Our strategy of building a profitable, value-oriented business that provides stability for our shareholders is working well, as we build a solid foundation for the long-term. We look forward to continuing our progress in the years ahead," Gerber added.
Gourmet Foods, https://gourmetfoodsltd.co.nz/, acquired in August 2015, is a commercial-scale bakery that produces and distributes iconic meat pies and pastries throughout New Zealand under the brand names Pat's Pantry and Ponsonby Pies. Acquired by Gourmet Foods in July 2020, Printstock Products Limited https://www.printstocknz.com/ , is a printer of specialized food wrappers and is located in Napier, New Zealand. Its operations are consolidated with those of Gourmet Foods.
Brigadier Security Systems, www.brigadiersecurity.com, acquired in June 2016 and headquartered in Saskatoon, Canada, provides comprehensive security solutions to homes and businesses, government offices, schools and other public buildings throughout the province under the brands Brigadier Security Systems in Saskatoon and Elite Security in Regina, Canada.
The Company's USCF Investments operation, www.uscfinvestments.com, acquired as part of the Wainwright Holdings transaction in December 2016 and based in Walnut Creek, Calif., serves as manager, operator or investment adviser to 10 exchange traded products, structured as limited partnerships or investment trusts that issue shares trading on the NYSE Arca.
Acquired by Concierge at the end of 2017, California-based Original Sprout, www.originalsprout.com, produces and distributes a full line of vegan, safe, non-toxic hair and skin care products, including a "reef safe" sun screen, in the U.S. and its territories, the U.K., E.U., Turkey, Middle East, Africa, Taiwan, Mexico, South America, Singapore, Hong Kong, Malaysia, New Zealand, Australia and Canada among other areas.
Marygold & Co., formed in the U.S. during 2019 and operating from offices in Denver, CO, together with its wholly owned subsidiary, Marygold & Co. Advisory Services, LLC, was established to explore opportunities in the financial technology sector. The Company continues in the development stage as it works toward introduction of a fintech mobile banking app. https://marygoldandco.com/
View Financial tables

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


Beats by Dr. Dre, a subsidiary of Apple, have recently announced Powerbeats Pro. Totally wireless, high-performance earphones designed for the passionate music lover and elite athlete. Unveiled only several weeks after the release of second-generation AirPods which shares some technology alongside the new Powerbeats Pro.
Powerbeats Pro has been re-engineered for powerful sound and function, long battery life, exceptional fit, and more. Plus it features the new Apple-designed H1 chip enabling hands-free "Hey, Siri", automatic pairing with your iOS devices, and more.
Beats says during the development, sound was given the highest priority. Engineering teams of both Beats and Apple chose to completely re-engineer the earphones from the inside out. Upgraded linear piston drivers leverage pressurised airflow to create powerful acoustic responses. Resulting in enhanced sound quality with low distortion and great dynamic range.
Nevertheless, a great fit inside the ear goes hand-in-hand in delivering powerful audio. Unlike the one-size-fits-all design of AirPods, the Powerbeats Pro comes with four sizes of ear tips. These along with the redesigned adjustable signature earhook helps achieve the best possible fit for your ear.
In addition, they are 23% smaller and 17% lighter than the previous versions. And are sweat and water-resistant, a must in making these suitable for the gym, while running, and so on.
Both earbuds are equal in design, including identical physical volume and track controls, allowing music and calls to be controlled whether you use the left, right, or both earbuds. And yes, it is possible to use Powerbeats with just one of them in your ear, or both. For example, you may want both in while on the treadmill, but just one in while sitting at the desk at work.
Sensors have also been built-in enabling some automatic functions. Such as automatic play and pausing of music and calls. While a motion accelerometer detects when they are idle, not in use, or are being taken in or out of the charging case.
This doesn't just result in good functionality, but also better battery life, which has been rated at up to 9 hours per earbud. And more than 24-hours with the magnetic enclosed case. In terms of charging, 5 minutes with Fast Fuel will give you 1.5 hours of playback. Or 4.5 hours after 15 minutes of charging.
Because the Powerbeats Pro features the same Apple-designed H1 chip as AirPods, pairing with your iOS devices is simple and easy. They will automatically pair with all your iCloud devices, for example, iPhone, iPad, Mac, or even your Apple Watch.
However, they are also compatible with other devices including Android devices. Class 1 Bluetooth technology offers extended range and exceptional cross-body performance, meaning fewer dropouts.
In Australia, Powerbeats Pro Totally Wireless Earphones are priced at a recommended retail price (RRP) of A$349.95. And come in four colours including Black, Ivory, Moss, and Navy.
They will be released in May and available for purchase from selected retailers and Apple's online store. Apple will be offering free fast shipping and 14-day returns on all purchases.


TarakĪ is a movement working to aid Punjabi communities in dealing with the difficulties of mental health. One of key areas of importance is that of awareness and increasing not only the understanding of mental health but the understanding of what services are there to help with it.
In this new multi-part series, we aim to bridge the gap between Punjabi communities and mental health activism by highlighting and profiling different individuals and local organisations working within the field. In doing so we hope to improve the accessibility to such services and progress the transparency around mental health within our culture.
The first interview is with Arun who has suffered with mental health issues and is aiming to help others by combining his passion for the arts with his work and opening a dialogue around the issue.
Hi, could you tell us a bit about yourself, your background and what you do?
My name is Arun Kapur, I am 28 years old of Punjabi descent. I am from Wolverhampton, and work as a duty manager for the Light House Media centre. As well as operating here, I also work freelance as a support artist for film and television, as well writing my own poetry and videography. Most of my creative work is combined with the support I offer within the mental health field. I aim to spread the word of raising awareness within mental wellbeing via a creative outlet. I myself have suffered massively with depression for many years from a young age and have always found it difficult at the best of times to find someone to reach out to. As I have gotten older, more resources have become available, and it is not considered as much as a taboo as it once was, but there is still plenty of work to do.
What are the aims you have for your work?
The key aims of my work are to raise awareness of the taboo surrounding mental health, specifically within South Asian communities, in which it is seen as a topic that should not be openly talked about. My main aim within my work is also to allow individuals to find a platform in order to reach out for support and get the help they needed.
What prompted you to work in mental health?
I was bullied from a young age, and did not always find the greatest of support, especially with it being the people within my own community that were the perpetrators. It made me feel more enabled to support my own people, giving guidance and educating towards thinking differently on the matter.
What do you think are the key barriers to Punjabi communities with regards to mental health?
Most of the thinking we have within the Punjabi communities are intergenerational. The elder generations were very much fixated on a different mind frame, in comparison to how the current generation might be thinking. Mental health within the Punjabi community is still seen as a 'crime' or something that should not be talked about, which is a massive barrier. The understanding of mental health is also not there because it has not been clearly addressed in the past.
How do you aim to change this situation?
I aim to change the situation by working alongside different organisations, and individuals to open up workshops, clubs and other social environments or one-to-one sessions in order to reach out, so we can all unite together and beat the stigmas that are still there.
What has been the highlight of your work so far in Punjabi mental health?
My highlight has been getting to know TarakĪ. They are doing absolutely everything within their power to bring support to the community and offered me a platform to try and target different age groups.
What have you found most difficult in this work?
I have found that not everyone wants to open up about how they feel, and they feel shameful for even thinking or feeling the way that they do, as if they have killed someone. I have found also some people do not understand and it makes it very difficult at times for those, like myself, who want to make a difference and get everyone involved.
People can get involve by contacting me privately, as someone who has suffered and continues to, I would like to be able to help guide others through a path of acceptance and understanding. People can also get involved by attending mental health-based workshops, meeting others from different lives and trying to understand each other. We are all one.
What is your vision for Punjabi communities in the future?
My vision for the future within the Punjabi communities are to no longer see mental health as a taboo, but to see it openly and be able to address it for what it is, not to make anyone feel like an outcast because they are suffering. My vision is to continue spreading the word of support, to see more communities helping each other, and to not be jealous or stigmatise each other.


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Drug Checking in the Medical Journal of Australia
The Medical Journal of Australia has published an article titled "Drug checking to improve monitoring of new psychoactive substances in Australia." The article provides an overview of drug-checking services available in other parts of the world, and it describes some of the concerns raised about these types of services. The concerns include issues such as drug-checking legitimising the use of drugs, liability of drug check staff towards consumers of the substances as well as drug sellers using the service as a quality control mechanism. The authors point out that these concerns have not been supported by evidence from Europe.
Go to "Drug checking to improve monitoring of new psychoactive substances in Australia"
Practices of care among people who buy, use and sell drugs in community settings
An article has been published in the Harm Reduction Journal titled "Practices of care among people who buy, use, and sell drugs in community settings." The article describes the…
Testing Times: Pill testing in Europe and the UK
ABC's Foreign Correspondent recently broadcast an episode titled "Testing Times". Reporter Tom Tilley travelled to the UK and Switzerland to investigate services that provide pill…
Insight Webinar Wednesday 19th of September: Cameron Francis "Testing Times: Drug Checking in the UK with The Loop"
Drug checking services - which test the content of pills and powders in order to reduce drug-related harm - have been increasing around the world. Recently, Dovetail's Cameron…


Saying county beach park leases were vague as to who should pay for cleaning the beach in front of the parks, Okaloosa County's Tourist Development Council recommended that its agency pay the estimated $31,000 annual cost.
For the third time in less than a year, raw sewage had spilled in the vicinity of the Shoal River after a city pipe burst.
The Friends of Eden State Gardens had taken possession of the Governor Stone, a 127-year-old Biloxi Schooner, but were still waiting on government permits in order to construct a dock on the property.
A grand jury asked for an investigation into House Speaker's Ray Sansom's dealings with Northwest Florida State College. State Attorney Willie Meggs said jurors wanted more information on Sansom's conduct when it convened in mid-February.
Construction on a third Publix grocery store in South Walton began.


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Live Music Calendar - Sept. 22-28
Simple Life Tour comes to Collegedale Community Church
September 22nd, 2016 by Casey Phillips	in Chattnow Music
Andrew Greer, left, and Wayne Watson will bring their Simple Life Tour to Collegedale Community Church, 9305 Four Corners Place, at 7 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 24. Watson's career credits include a dozen Dove Award wins, including Male Vocalist of the Year and Song of the Year for "Friend of a Wounded Heart" in 1989. He has been nominated twice for Grammy Awards, for his performance of "Watercolour Ponies" (a multiple Dove Award winner) and Best Pop Gospel Album in 1992 for "A Beautiful Place." Greer is a multiple Dove-nominated singer/songwriter known for his soulful folk/gospel sound. A $10 ticket admits two. Purchase in advance at www.collegedalecommunity.com.
Photo by Contributed Photo /Times Free Press.
ACOUSTIC GOSPEL JAM — Brainerd United Methodist Church, McFerrin Chapel, 4315 Brainerd Road. Jam, 6-7 p.m. each Sunday. After 7 p.m. play anything. 423-698-5928.
CHARLES & MYRTLE'S COFFEEHOUSE — Christ Unity Church, 105 McBrien Road. The Belle Hollows, contemporary folk band from Nashville, 8 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 24. $10 suggested donation. 423-892-4960, www.christunity.org.
CHOO CHOO CHORUS — All Saints Academy, 310 E. Eighth St. Men's barbershop harmony group rehearsal, 7-9:30 p.m. each Monday. All voice ranges needed; not required to read music. 423-894-8559.
CSO CHAMBER SERIES — Silver Ballroom, Read House, 709 Broad St. Chattanooga Symphony & Opera presents "Musical Passport," 3 p.m. Oct. 2. $28 (reduced prices for students). 423-267-8583, www.chattanoogasymphony.org.
CSO MASTERWORKS — Tivoli Theatre, 709 Broad St. Chattanooga Symphony & Opera presents "Strauss and Rachmaninoff," 7:30 p.m. today, Sept. 22. $21-$83 (reduced prices for students). 423-267-8583, www.chattanoogasymphony.org.
GOSPEL, APISON — Breaking Ground Church, 4900 Bill Jones Road. Sacrifice and Allyson Thompson featured, 7-9 p.m. Friday, Sept. 23. 423-617-9140.
GOSPEL, DAYTON, TENN. — Bimbo's Restaurant, 7606 Rhea County Highway. Craig Tyndall featured, 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 27. 423-240-7210.
GOSPEL, DAYTON, TENN. — McDonald's, 130 Able Drive. McDonald's Singers and Grand Voices featured, 7 p.m. today, Sept. 22. 423-240-6027.
GOSPEL, EAST RIDGE —East Ridge Christian Church, 1514 Rebecca Drive. Featured singers, 6:30-8:30 p.m. today, Sept. 22. karenscealf@comcast.net.
GOSPEL, EAST RIDGE — Spring Creek Road Baptist Church, 1312 Spring Creek Road. Open mike, 7-9 p.m. each Tuesday. 423-315-7995.
GOSPEL, HIXSON — Dairy Queen, 5433 Highway 153. Kindred Spirits Vocal Band and guest Booker T. Scruggs featured, 6-8 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 27. 423-593-7217.
GOSPEL, OOLTEWAH— Wendy's, 6009 Ooltewah-Georgetown Road. Jim Ricketts and Crystle Elam featured, 6:30-8:30 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 27. 899-7852.
GOSPEL, OOLTEWAH — Rafael's Italian Restaurant, 5032 Ooltewah-Ringgold Road. Heart to Heart and Redeeming Grace featured, 6:30-8:30 p.m. Monday, Sept. 26. 423-617-9140.
GOSPEL, TRENTON, GA. — American Legion Hall, 13205 N. Main St. Believer's Voice and Chris VanAllman & The Mary Bean Singers featured, 6 p.m. Monday, Sept. 26. 423-939-0065.
LEGENDS OF SOUTHERN HIP-HOP —Memorial Auditorium, 399 McCallie Ave. Concert featuring ensemble performances by Mystikal, Juvenile, Trick Daddy, Bun B, 8 Ball & MJG and Pastor Troy, 8 p.m. Sept. 30. $51, $58 and $77, plus fees. 423-757-5580, www.tivolichattanooga.com.
MARK TWAIN TONIGHT — Tivoli Theatre, 709 Broad St. Tony and Emmy Award-winning actor Hal Holbrook embodies the American author and intellectual, 8 p.m. Friday, Sept. 23. $66-$126, plus fees. 423-757-5580, www.tivolichattanooga.com.
MONROE AREA COUNCIL FOR THE ARTS — Hiwassee Performing Arts Center, Hiwassee College, 225 Hiwassee College Drive, Madisonville, Tenn. The Infamous Stringdusters perform, 7:30 p.m. today, Sept. 22. $10 students, $20 general admission. 423-442-3210, www.monroearts.com.
MOUNTAIN OPRY — Walden's Ridge Civic Center, 2501 Fairmount Pike, Signal Mountain. Bluegrass and mountain music, 8-11 p.m. each Friday. Free. 423-886-3252.
PALACE THEATRE — 72 S. Main St., Crossville, Tenn. All times Central. 931-484-6133. www.palacetheatre-crossville.com.
* Saturday, Sept. 24: Gary West's Johnny Cash tribute, "For the Love of Cash," 7 p.m., $15.
* Friday, Sept. 30: Crossville's Got Talent, featuring 15 performers vying to win cash prizes and studio recording time, 7 p.m., $10. Proceeds benefit Fair Park Senior Center.
* Saturday, Oct. 1: The Cumberland Jamboree, featuring Woodstock salute by local performers, 7 p.m. $12.
PEPPA PIG — Tivoli Theatre, 709 Broad St. Nick Jr. hit TV show "Peppa Pig" on first U.S. theatrical tour, 6 p.m. Oct. 5. $29.50-$59.50, plus fees. 423-757-5580, www.tivolichattanooga.com.
PIK-N-BARN — 491 Allen Burgess Road, Crossville, Tenn. Jam sessions starting at noon, open mike 4-6 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 24 (all times Central). $5 suggested donation/admission for ages 13 and older. 931-788-2751.
POSITIVE BLUEGRASS —Jo Mama's Wraps, 12553 N. Main St., Trenton, Ga. Local musician Carl Towns performs gospel music and "posgrass," 5:30-7:30 p.m. each Wednesday. Free. 706-657-7138, carl@wildernessradio.net.
PRESIDENTIAL CONCERT SERIES — Lee University's Conn Center, 150 11th St., Cleveland, Tenn. ABBA tribute band Arrival From Sweden, accompanied by Lee University Symphony Orchestra, 7:30 p.m. Monday, Sept. 26. $10 adults, $5 students and seniors. Box office open 3-6 p.m. Monday-Friday in Dixon Center, 1053 Church St. NW. 423-614-8343.
RED BANK BLUEGRASS JAM — Grace Nazarene Church, 6310 Dayton Blvd. Jam session for all levels of bluegrass and country musicians, 6:30-9 p.m. each Thursday. Play or listen. 423-877-9948.
SALE CREEK OPRY — Sale Creek Lions Club, 15222 Coppinger Road. Old-time country and gospel music, 6:30 p.m. each Saturday. Free. floydbledsoe@ymail.com.
SCENIC CITY CHORUS — Spring Creek Road Baptist Church, 1312 Spring Creek Road. Women's four-part harmony sessions for all talent levels, 6:30-9:30 p.m. Mondays. Singers needed; visitors welcome. 423-304-9131, 423-488-5087, www.sceniccitychorus.com.
SENIORS DANCE — Teamsters Union Hall, 4431 Bonny Oaks Drive. Band plays line dance, slow country and '50s rock music, 7-10 p.m. each Saturday. $5 donation. 423-867-7185.
SIMPLE LIFE TOUR — Collegedale Community Church, 9305 Four Corners Place. Dove Award winners Wayne Watson and Andrew Greer perform, 7 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 24. $10 ticket admits two. 423-396-5464, www.collegedalecommunity.com.
SNOW HILL BLUEGRASS JAMBOREE — Highway 58 Volunteer Fire Department Training Center, 9100 Snow Hill Road, Harrison. Volunteer firefighters sponsor jamboree by area bands, 5:45-10 p.m. Oct. 1. Free. 423-529-8009.
SODDY-DAISY JAMBOREE — Soddy-Daisy Community Center, 190 Depot St. Pickers and listeners gather, 7-10 p.m. today, Sept. 22. Free. 423-332-3654.
STRING THEORY — Hunter Museum of American Art, 10 Bluff View. Clarinetist David Shifrin and pianist Gloria Chien kick off 2016-17 season of chamber music series, 6:30 p.m. Oct. 4. Preceded at 5:30 p.m. by Art Connections program discussing works in the gallery that relate to the evening's music. $30 Hunter members, $40 nonmembers, $10 students with ID, $25 for groups of 20+. Season subscriptions (six shows) $160 members, $210 nonmembers. 423-414-2525, www.stringtheorymusic.org.


When you think of iconic American sports, baseball, football, and basketball probably come to mind. However, recent youth sports participation data shows that soccer is quickly becoming a force to be reckoned with. In 2016, there were roughly 3 million kids playing in youth soccer leagues. That's over a million more kids than baseball and double the amount of kids who play tackle football!
This boom in youth participation has translated to a more prominent place for soccer in American popular culture. Watching professional soccer on TV or attending a game has become totally mainstream, in a way that it wasn't a decade ago. Rocky Top Sports World has put together a quick look at how soccer has become one of the biggest sports in the United States.
As noted in an article from the Huffington Post, 1996 was supposed to be soccer's big moment in America. Major League Soccer launched its first season with ten teams, and the U.S. had just hosted the World Cup two years ago. However, MLS floundered in its first few seasons, failing to fill seats and losing millions of dollars.
20 years later, it is clear that sports take time to catch on. As more and more kids have gotten involved in youth soccer, "the beautiful game" has grown astronomically. In 1974, only 103,432 kids belonged to a youth soccer league. Today, America has the most youth soccer players in the world.
This explosion of young fans has bolstered MLS, which has now expanded to 20 teams across the nation. Instead of playing in half empty football stadiums, soccer teams now play in their own stadiums. Unlike the 1990s, MLS is now very profitable, with the average value of a team around $157 million.
What separates soccer from other sports is its popularity with both young men and young women, with girls making up 48% of youth participants. Unlike football, which has many female fans but virtually no avenues for girls to participate, soccer is accessible to both sexes at both the amateur and professional levels. In fact, women's soccer sometimes eclipses men's soccer (and other male dominated sports).
For instance, the 2015 Women's World Cup was watched by more people than the World Series, the NBA Finals, and the Stanley Cup Final. With 20.3 million people tuning in to watch the World Cup, you can bet that TV networks and advertisers are taking notice.
"Great facilities do two things. They create increased excitement for the sport and they create better players. As soccer interest and leagues grow, we're going to need to create better soccer players".
Here at Rocky Top Sports World, we couldn't agree more. Our 80 acre sports campus is one of the top destinations for soccer tournaments and camps in the Southeast. We offer seven beautifully maintained fields in the foothills of the Great Smoky Mountains. Located just 4 miles from downtown Gatlinburg, TN, our complex has everything young athletes need to compete and grow. To learn more about us, check out the Rocky Top Sports World Facilities page!
This entry was posted in Trends in Youth Sports on August 12, 2016 by Jason Fishman.


Ichigo finally regains his resolve to fight after a little blunt truth from Kenpachi, while Ichigo's outer body has been completely taken over by his Hollow and now battles Love. Before he is able to execute a cero blast, a high-level Hollow ability, Ichigo regains control after having won the fight against his inner Hollow. As the episode ends Aizen's true target is discovered to be the King's Key, a duplicate of which can be made only by extracting 100,000 souls from the spirit-enriched Karakura Town.


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Interview: John Nosta on How Digital Health Is the Future
by Cox BLUE Editors
A leading voice in the convergence of technology and health, John Nosta is, "maybe the world's first DHP. DHP stands for Digital Health Philosopher, a term Nosta has called himself as the founder of NOSTALAB – a self-organizing neural network dedicated to the advancement of digital health.
Nosta sees himself as a philosopher, emphasizing the importance of being able to envision a future that might sound unrealistic in the present.
When asked to expound on what a DHP is, Nosta begins by explaining our changing world.
"We live in interesting times," he said. "We live at an inflection point of human history in that the evolution of technology – the desire to reform health care, the issues around an aging population, the issues of an empowered patient – is all coming together and things are going to change."
The Meaning of Digital Health
Nosta says "digital health" lives on a continuum. There's digital fitness, where a person might wear a tracker such as a Fitbit and go to the gym; digital wellness, where you use a digital scale to track your weight or log what you eat; and digital medicine, using digital data or technology to develop new drugs or processes.
Digital medicine is changing the way we provide health care. Nosta says we'll be able to detect a heart attack two weeks before it happens and catch a cancerous cell at stage zero sooner than you might think.
"Patients will be empowered," said Nosta. "[With digital technology] you can take control of your data, your life … and craft a plan to live to 150 [years old]."
Data is the New Black
Digital health is about longevity and how technology can help you live longer. If you don't want to take Nosta's word for it, he implores you to simply look where tech companies are putting their money. Nosta cites Google, 23 and Me, and Craig Ventor, the first man to sequence the human genome, as prime examples.
"Push on longevity and where do you go?" asks Nosta. His answer is simply "immortality."
This is where the philosophy part of being a DHP comes in – imagine that as you replace body parts you could begin to live a trans-human reality, you might have a liver that was made on a 3-D Printer. These developments make it clear that as time progresses our health data will be digitally gathered and used to collectively analyze man.
"The data donor is the new organ donor," according to Nosta.
Digital Health and Your Company
The coming advancements in digital health technology could play a huge role in your business life, whether you choose to implement them for your employees as health care options, are looking for your next investment trajectory or just want to be an early adaptor of health technology yourself. While Nosta's idea of immortality may seem a long ways away, innovators and small business owners will no doubt play a huge role in driving our technological advancement.
Categories HealthcareTags health care	Post navigation
How to Engage and Persuade People Through Storytelling
If you aren't using storytelling in your business, maybe after you look over the benefits, you'll reconsider it.


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I Vampiri
Director: Riccardo Freda, Mario Bava
Stars: Gianna Maria Canale, Dario Michaelis, Carlo D' Angelo, Paul Muller, Wandisa Guida
Review: When police find the body of a young woman floating in the river Seine, journalist Pierre Lantin (Michaelis) embarks on a personal crusade, aiming to solve the mystery of the so-called 'Vampire Murders.' The latest in a series of blood-drained corpses leads our intrepid newshound to a castle owned by the Duchess du Grand, whose neice, Gisele (Canale), adds further to a troubled history shared by the Lantin family and her own flesh and blood.
Often referred to as the first Italian horror film, I Vampiri started life as a bet between Riccardo Freda and two Italian film producers who wagered that Freda would not be able to shoot his proposed feature inside 12 days. The rest, as they say, is history. With 2 days left and only 50% of the script translated into film, Freda asked for an extension and was duly turned down. Freda walked, Mario Bava stepped in and managed to complete the film, courtesy of major script changes, the inclusion of stock footage and some truly inspired photography. The end result may occasionally reflect the rather bizarre production deal, but it's still a fascinating and visually impressive film which is strong enough to carry the weight of two great directors.
Freda's love of the macabre is well to the fore here, rubbing shoulders with Bava's already considerable talents to deliver suspense and shock in equal measure. As Bava's grand design unveils eerie candlelit tombs, hidden passageways leading to corpse-ridden rooms and, best of all, a remarkable transformation scene, the excellent cast grow in stature: Micahelis, promoted by Bava from supporting actor to major player; Canale, impossibly gorgeous as the cold-hearted beauty harbouring a dark secret; Antoine Balpetri's harrassed scientist, who is in just as much of a hurry as his director - in this case to produce results for a less-than model patient - and Paul Muller as a drug addict who exists on a supply-and-supply basis. Although Muller's character suffers from the directorial switch (the ligature marks on his neck are, literally, from another film entirely), this should not detract too much from a stylish study in terror which thoroughly deserved its promotion to DVD. While Image's disc presentation looks way too bright and washed-out in places, it generally provides a sharp, stable picture with bags of detail in those wonderfully spooky castle interiors. B+ for the transfer and the same for the film which marked the formative steps of a golden age.
Reviewer: Steve Langton
Mario Bava (1914 - 1980)
Italian director/writer/cinematographer and one of the few Italian genre film-makers who influenced, rather than imitated. Worked as a cinematographer until the late 1950s, during which time he gained a reputation as a hugely talented director of photography, particularly in the use of optical effects.
Bava made his feature debut in 1960 with Black Sunday/The Mask of Satan, a richly-shot black and white Gothic gem. From then on Bava worked in various genres – spaghetti western, sci-fi, action, peplum, sex – but it was in the horror genre that Bava made his legacy. His sumptuously filmed, tightly plotted giallo thrillers (Blood and Black Lace, Hatchet for the Honeymoon, Bay of Blood) and supernatural horrors (Lisa and the Devil, Baron Blood, Kill, Baby...Kill!) influenced an entire generation of Italian film-makers (and beyond) – never had horror looked so good. Bava's penultimate picture was the harrowing thriller Rabid Dogs, while his last film, Shock, was one his very scariest. Died of a heart attack in 1980.


A strong Rabbitohs side will take on the Gold Coast Titans in the final trial game of both teams' 2016 preparations. With Sam Burgess set to make his return, the leadership of Greg Inglis as well as the presence of Adam Reynolds and Thomas Burgess, the clash could be set to provide an insight into what's in store for the new-year.
In last week's Charity Shield clash against the Dragons, players such as Hymel Hunt, John Olive and Zane Musgrove all stood up in the absence of more experienced campaigners – a fact that wasn't lost on Rabbitohs mentor, Michael Maguire.
"The guys really earned their spots from last week's game, it was good to see them performing," said Maguire.
"This sort of enthusiasm is great for a team in really building that competitive spirit that the boys react to extremely well".
But enthusiasm and potential isn't exclusive to the Rabbitohs, with a number of Titans players proving their worth in recent weeks as they look to nail down positions.
Rabbitohs halfback, Reynolds, sounded out that enthusiasm when he spoke to Rabbitohs.com.au earlier in the week.
Members can watch our Live Stream Brought to you By Logitechshop.com.au. It's the only place to watch your Rabbitohs take on the Titans!
"They've got some good young players who are all looking for spots just like in our team, so there'll be a lot of enthusiasm," said the Souths Junior.
Reynolds will don the Red and Green for the first time in 2016 in the Gold Coast trial, a week after helping the World All Stars to victory over the Indigenous All Stars – Reynolds' two goals proving the ultimate difference.
Eyes will also be on Sam Burgess as he makes his first appearance for the Rabbitohs since 2014. Burgess was named at Lock by Maguire on Tuesday, with the Clive Churchill Medallist's brother Tom, being named at prop.
For the Titans, a speedy back-line that will feature the return of injured fullback, William Zillman, is set to test the Red and Green defence, with the custodian enjoying the support of David Mead and Anthony Don on the Titans wings. In the centres, the young-gun pairing pf Nathan Davis and Brian Kelly will be given an opportunity following strong outings in the Auckland Nines.
Sam Burgess will make his long-awaited return to Rugby League and the Rabbitohs on Saturday after a year spent in Rugby Union. The Premiership-winning forward will don the number 13 jersey at lock for the match, with Coach Maguire indicating that the Englishman will play as long as he can as he strives for match-fitness. With stinging defence and no regard for self-preservation, Burgess' progress will be keenly watched by Rabbitohs Members and supporters everywhere.


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Q: Writing data on to CSV file is changing the characters Im using praw to extract data from reddit however when i save it to a csv file its changing some of the characters for example "That's actually really good" is changed to "That's actually really good".
Here is the code I'm using
import praw
import csv
import itertools
from praw.models import MoreComments

    with open ('WriteRow.csv', 'w', newline='',encoding="utf-8") as f:
       fieldnames = ['Submission_ID','Submission_Title','Submission_Comments']
       writer = csv.DictWriter(f, fieldnames=fieldnames)
       writer.writeheader()

       subred = reddit.subreddit("FortNiteBR")

       hot_apex = subred.top(limit=20)

       hot_apex = list(hot_apex)

       for submission in hot_apex:
            if submission.link_flair_text == 'SUGGESTION':
                i = str(submission) # makes i the string version of sub id
                writer.writerow({'Submission_ID' : submission.id,'Submission_Title' : submission.title})
                count = 0
                for comment in sub_id.comments:
                    if hasattr(comment, 'body'):
                       count = count + 1
                       if count < 10:
                          writer.writerow({'Submission_Comments' : comment.body})
                          print ({'Submission_Comments' : comment.body})`

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


Backup recovered by Whatsapp is not correct; did I lose my chats?
Hi! Unfortunately I dropped my Nexus 6P and the screen stopped working, so I had to switch back to my Nexus 5. I put the SIM card in my N5 and got Whatsapp working. I marked the backup option as 'never', because I didn't want the old chats on my N5 to overwrite the backup of my N6P. I thought I prevented this, but I just deleted and reinstalled Whatsapp on my N5, loaded the most recent backup file - which said it was created yesterday night at 02:00, which is impossible because my N6P couldn't back up anything, since I had already logged into my Whatsapp account on my N5, which had the backup option disabled - and then it showed me all the old chats of my N5.
I think I just had a migraine attack because this pisses me off. I disabled the backup function on my N5 to prevent it from overwriting the backup file from my N6P, but it somehow still overwrote it? How?!
Is it possible to get a less recent/previous backup file from Whatsapp, so that I can restore the chats from my N6P? Or is there any other way to restore the backup file from my N6P without having to access the phone itself?
It is no doubt that WhatsApp message losing will cause some troubles, especially when the messages are crucial for you. Thus, Android users are looking for the way to restore deleted, lost WhatsApp messages on their Android devices, but obviously, not all of them can find the ideal solution at once. And sometimes you may spend lots of time to find a solution, and finally find it is useless here. Therefore, in order to save your time and help you solve the trouble, WhatsApp Message Recovery could reocver deleted, lost or formatted WhatsApp messages on all kinds of Android devices easily.
The Android WhatsApp Data Recovery is a professional recovery tool to recover lost or deleted WhatsApp data from Nexus 6P. It supports to restore WhatsApp data like WhatsApp chat history, WhatsApp images, WhatsApp videos, WhatsApp attachments.


Let spring know you've arrived with these insanely comfortable and terrifically versatile shoes.
a spring in your step, because you're comfy.
Comfortable and stylish sandals, sneakers, dress shoes, boots, slippers and more.
Inspired by the superblooms of spring, these perforated designs will have you feeling fresh and comfortable.
durability to carry you through your day.
Our water-resistant options offer comfort, style and durability to carry you through your day.


Children from Years 2-6 will celebrate the day together in the school hall. Children from Nursery – Year 1 will celebrate by doing lots of Welsh activities and will also have some performances from the older children, throughout the day.
Children from Y2-6 will enter art, handwriting and story writing competitions. Y6 will write and submit a poem instead of a story, to compete of the position of The 2015 Baard.
Back by popular demand, the Design and Technology competition will also take place, and we encourage pupils and parents to work together on their project, over half term.
Closing date is 9:30am on the 25th February.
Snorcel dwr a sbectol haul cwl!!
Cen gorwedd yny gwres – ie!
Water snorkel and cool sunglasses.
Off to a sunny place! – Yeah!
Mae'n swnio fel lle gret!
Fel Iwan Llwyd fy met.
Plis ga i fynd nol at Mam?
It sounds like a great place!
with Iwan Llwyd my mate.
Please can I go back to Mum?
Oh mum, I feel sick!
A'r gath wedi sgrapo Joni bach.


essays reflecting the pursuits and methods that experience typified Woodman's personal paintings. The authors that he has always illuminated - specifically Velleius, Horace, Virgil, Sallust, and Tacitus - determine relatively prominently.
After the story of Genji (c. 1000), the best paintings of classical jap literature is the historic narrative the story of the Heike (13th-14th centuries). as well as commencing up clean views at the Heike narratives, this examine additionally attracts recognition to a variety of difficulties headquartered at the interrelationship among narrative, ritual area, and Japan's altering perspectives of China as they undergo on depictions of the emperor's authority, warriors, and marginal inhabitants going the entire as far back as the Nara interval.
Historical and medieval literary texts usually name cognizance to their lifestyles as actual gadgets. Shane Butler is helping us to appreciate why. Arguing that writing has continuously been as a lot a cloth fight as an highbrow one, the problem of the web page deals well timed classes for the electronic age approximately how creativity works and why literature strikes us.
Albert of Aachen's historical past of the adventure to Jerusalem provides the tale of the 1st campaign (1095-1099) and the 1st new release of Latin settlers within the Levant (1099-1119). quantity 2, The Early background of the Latin States, offers a stunning point of element in regards to the reign of King Baldwin I (1100-1118), in particular its prior years and the crusading expeditions of 1101.
Jewish and Christian authors of the excessive heart a long time no longer now and again got here into discussion or clash with one another over traditions drawn from old writings outdoors of the bible. Circulating in Hebrew and Latin translations, those incorporated the 2 self sustaining models of the testomony of Naphtali within which the patriarch has a imaginative and prescient of the Diaspora, a shipwreck that scatters the twelve tribes.


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Microctenopoma ansorgii är en fiskart som först beskrevs av George Albert Boulenger 1912.  Microctenopoma ansorgii ingår i släktet Microctenopoma och familjen Anabantidae. IUCN kategoriserar arten globalt som livskraftig. Inga underarter finns listade i Catalogue of Life.

Källor

Externa länkar

Abborrartade fiskar
ansorgii

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


The original "Awesomenauts", released in 2012 featured highly-addictive and satisfying 2D multiplayer battle action for the PS3, Xbox 360, PC and OS X. Essentially reframed as "Awesomenauts Assemble!" for a release to the PS4, the game remains largely the same but has been updated in terms of its visuals, menus and netcode. Needless to say, the game offers a smashing good time and it doesn't appear to take itself so seriously (as clearly evidenced by its puffed-up J-Pop-ish title song), which is slightly refreshing in today's market that's filled with uber-gritty titles attempting to hit that next level of intense realism. Instead, "Awesomenauts Assemble!" presents us with a colorful, romping platformer experience that also happens to feature some truly excellent multiplayer interactions.
The first thing that most will notice about AA! is its very defined and vibrant graphical / art style. Although this game is decidedly 2D in scope, side-scrolling being featured throughout, it does an excellent job of implying 3D depth and various with its dazzling array of backdrops. Of course the real draw is the onscreen action which, needless to say, can get quite hectic at times.
Those who might have already experience this game on the PS3 will find that this isn't merely a lackluster port to the PlayStation 4. Instead, "Awesomenauts Assemble!" is a fully fledged redesign of the now classic title which includes extra characters, stealth-based levels, as well as other critical content.
However, where "Awesomenauts Assemble!" truly soars is in its gameplay, which is nothing short of astoundingly satisfying. You typically start off facing off in PVP (Player vs. Player) matches of 3 on 3 where the goal is to destroy the other team's "solar collector". Of course that's easier said than done as each group has its own turrets, droids and assets to prevent the other from achieving their objective. The average match might last from anywhere between 5 to 25 minutes (a great length that's perfect for casual consumption) and features the sort of action-based strategic gameplay that's very addictive.
Starting out, you choose your particular character which possesses their own method of locomotion, special moves and standardized attack. Moreover (and amusingly enough), each mercenary also has their own theme song which will blare loudly when you find yourself on a particularly emotional killing spree. In order to build upon your character's level you must collect Solar, which functions as XP or currency within the game. Since everyone can see what level each character on the opposing team has reached, those with the highest rating tend to be dealt with more carefully. It's these kinds of subtle gameplay elements which make "Awesomenauts Assemble!" such a tactful title.
If you're looking for a wholly satisfying and colorful PS4 arcade title which is very much multiplayer-centric, then look no further, AA! will definitely hit the spot. Furthermore, retro gaming fans will find plenty to love in the title's updated 2D stylings as well.
Quite the adventure game. Fun and love the fact that you can include others in on it too.


Alan Garrec is the founder of 118 Taxi - UK's largest taxi directory, a business linking people who need a taxi but don't know which number to ring.
Alan went on to legally change his name to 118 TAXI, as a publicity stunt.
He said: "I thought it would be a great way to promote the business. I've already got my degree so all my degree certificates say Alan Garrec on them.
"My parents weren't too surprised. I think they've come to expect this sort of thing of me.
"Most of my friends think it's a bit of fun and they've started calling me 118 or Mr Taxi or Tax for short.
Alan is a graduate of Warwick University, finishing a three year degree in psychology.
Alan said he started the company after a friend of his was assaulted in an unlicensed taxi at university.
His company has gone to join forces with over 11,000 taxi firms nationwide to offer a service manned by a call centre and using a national telephone number 118 8294, thus spelling out 118 TAXI on a telephone's keypad.
The service operates simply by asking for the customer's location, before putting them through to a local licensed taxi company in that area.
Alan Garrec Reached final of the HSBC Unipreneur Awards and Bizcom with 118 Taxi. He's also appeared on the Graham Norton Show.
There is also an iphone application for 118Taxi.
118 Taxi now has over 15 employees, with over 25,000 turnovers annually.


Smile Quote No. 19: A Smile can Brighten the Darkest Day!
It would be fantastic if you had such an awesome smile that on a gloomy day your presence could add a sparkle like no one else's could do. However, if your teeth are preventing you from doing this because you have overbite, then Beecroft Orthodontics has a life changing solution available for you.
An overbite is quite a common orthodontic problem and it is when your top teeth almost completely cover the bottom row. A 100% overbite is when the row of top teeth completely covers the bottom row. Many people do have overbite to varying degrees but often not so serious that treatment is necessary. With new treatment options such as Invisalign which are teeth aligners that straighten teeth and clear braces such as Lingual braces more people are opting for the treatment of overbites.
Beecroft Orthodontics suggests that if you have overbite it can lead to a number of problems involving jaw function and poor teeth appearance. Unnecessary eroding of tooth enamel can increase the risk of gum disease and tooth decay. A serious overbite could alter your facial appearance and may even cause you to appear not as attractive as you could be.
An orthodontist has a variety of options available for treatment including teeth straightening, braces or, in the worst situation, surgery. A serious overbite could take two and a half years to correct. The best time to correct this condition is in childhood before full development of the jaw.
If you would really like to brighten up someone's day with a brilliant smile but your overbite is preventing you from reaching your potential, then arranging a consultation with Beecroft Orthodontics will be the first step to your dream smile.


text:
Calories Burned vs Calories Consumed: The Mathematics of Weight Loss
5 Tricks to Lose Weight Just By Sitting at Your Desk
How Free Snacks Can Contribute to Health in the Workplace
How to Lose Belly Fat to Live a Longer and Healthier Life
What is the Best Diet to Lose Weight?
Aaron Yang
With almost 40 percent of U.S. adults classified as obese, it's isn't hard to see why it seems like almost everyone is looking for the best diet to lose weight. But with so many diets out there, from the keto diet to the paleo diet, picking the right one can get pretty overwhelming. So what should you be looking for in a diet? And how do you know which one is right for you?
What to look for in a diet
Journalist and professor Michael Pollan coined a great rule of thumb to follow when starting a diet: "Eat real food. Not too much. Mostly plants." The most important thing when it comes to the best diet to lose weight is whether or not it consists mostly of "real" food. That is, minimally processed food with an ingredients list that doesn't include anything you wouldn't recognize as being food —say, something like "sodium tripolyphosphate." Once you take care of that, the next thing to make sure of is to "always leave the table a little hungry" so you don't overeat. And when you do eat, be sure to eat plenty of plants, as they contain lots of fiber, which reduces appetite and helps you lose weight.
Still unconvinced? Even Dr. Oz, who has come under fire for promoting "miracle diet pills," admits that "most of weight loss...is about the food choices you make," and "what works for most people is a diet based on real foods — food that comes out of the ground and looks the way it looks when you eat it, that's not been processed."
So now that you know what goes into a healthy diet, which one should you choose?
More of the same?
As it turns out, most healthy diets at least roughly follow the guidelines listed above, and are thus very similar to each other. Therefore, the specific diet you choose may matter less than you think. Even diets that may seem relatively unrelated are actually more alike than different. Don't believe me? Let's take a look at two of the most popular diets today, the keto and Mediterranean diets, and what Healthline says you should eat and avoid on each:
Butter and cream
Low-carb veggies
Condiments, including various healthy herbs and spices.
Avoid:
Sugary foods
Grains or starches
Beans or legumes
Root vegetables and tubers
Highly processed low-fat or diet products
Some condiments or sauces
Unhealthy fats, like trans fats and refined oils
Healthy fats, including avocados
Refined grains
Trans fats
Refined oils
As we can see, these two diets are actually quite comparable. Even though the Mediterranean diet de-emphasizes the red meat and fatty foods favored by the keto diet; and keto eschews the legumes, tubers, and grains of the Mediterranean; seven of the ten things to spring for on the keto diet are included in the Mediterranean diet, and five of the six things to avoid on the Mediterranean diet are to be avoided on keto as well. And, as both are lauded for their fat-busting capabilities, you probably can't go wrong on either one.
Similarities continue when we look at macronutrient ratios across diets. For example, a paleo diet might include 19 to 35 percent protein, 22 to 40 percent carbs, and 28 to 47 percent fat; while a vegan macro ratio may consist of 25 to 30 percent protein, 40 to 45 percent carbs, and 30 to 35 percent fat. On the surface it may seem like these two diets can't be any more dissimilar, with the former favoring lean meat and fish and the latter avoiding animal products altogether — but when it comes to the basic macronutrients being consumed, they're actually almost the same.
Eat what you like
At the end of the day, there's no singular best diet to lose weight. Everybody's body works slightly differently. What works for one person may not for another. What's important is to do your research, and once you start a diet, to stick with it. It can take days, even weeks for your body to adjust to a new diet, and no matter what you do, you'll almost never see results immediately. So if you're thinking of starting a new diet, do your research, make a list of healthy diets you might be interested in, and pick the one you think you'd enjoy the most. That way you'll maximize your chances of staying true to it long enough to see results.
With so many diets out there, it's hard to tell which one is the best. And what are the actual differences between diets, anyway?


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Great Bend (Kansas), siège du comté de Barton ;
 Great Bend (New York) ;
 Great Bend (Dakota du Nord) ;
 Great Bend (Pennsylvanie) ;

Homonymie de localités aux États-Unis


text:
Judge Drops Hints Bill Cosby's Case Won't Be Dismissed
by Rachel Stockman | 4:04 pm, February 3rd, 2016
LawNewz.com's Beth Karas is at Bill Cosby's hearing in Pennsylvania. She contributed to this report.
Pennsylvania Judge Steven T O'Neill may decide soon on whether or not to dismiss the criminal case against Bill Cosby in Pennsylvania. Cosby's attorneys contend that a promise not to prosecute by a former district attorney prevents the case from moving forward. Former Montgomery District Attorney, Bruce Castor, testified Tuesday that he didn't think there was enough evidence to charge Cosby back in 2005. Cosby says he only waived his right not to incriminate himself during a civil deposition because of the alleged agreement. Andrea Constand says that Cosby raped and drugged her more than 10 years ago. She filed a lawsuit against him, and prosecutors want to use Cosby's deposition in that case as evidence of the crime. Many courtroom observers are reporting that the judge may not be buying into the defense's argument that the entire case should be thrown out because of this agreement.
Here are some indications from the judge that Cosby might NOT be off the hook yet:
Judge O'Neill said only a small part of the Bill Cosby affidavit included his civil deposition. The state is also relying on statements from 2005 from both alleged victim Andrea Constand and Bill Cosby. Judge O'Neill said in court, "You brought it up. The statement of probable cause includes extensive statements by Ms. Constand and Mr. Cosby. The state is relying on statements from 2005 from both of them. They also said they will rely on the deposition which can be subject to suppression." This is an indication that the judge is considering not dismissing the case all together — but, instead, preventing prosecutors from using Cosby's civil deposition in their criminal case.
On Tuesday, the judge seem to "puzzled" over testimony of former Montgomery County District Attorney Bruce Castor, and he asked him lots of questions when he was on the stand. Castor testified that he didn't think there was enough evidence to charge Cosby, and that he believed that Constand would be better off suing him.
Judge O'Neill continues to pepper the defense witnesses (including Cosby's attorney) with questions throughout the hearing.
Stay with LawNewz.com for coverage from the courtroom.
[h/t and screengrab Fox 29 in Philly]
beth karas, Bill Castor, bill cosby, dismissed, hearing, judge


text:
Tebow shows off power, speed in MLB tryout
By Brian D. Fox, Jr. on August 30, 2016 • ( Leave a comment )
LOS ANGELES, CA- Former Florida football star Tim Tebow held his MLB tryout today.
According to multiple reports, Tebow showed off excellent speed and power. Tebow does have much to work on in order to make an MLB roster.
There were more than forty scouts from 28 major league teams. ESPN has reported that five teams took advantage of an opportunity to meet and speak with Tebow after the practice, indicating some level of interest.
Tebow ran the 60-yard dash in a quick 6.65 seconds and crushed eight home runs during batting practice including a 430-foot shot to right-center field.
However, during the live pitching portion, Tebow struggled. Tebow managed to hit only four of the first twenty pitches thrown, and only one of those hits were seen as sure fire base hits.
"I thought he was OK. Better than I expected, to be honest," said one major league scout who spoke to USA Today "For not having played as long as he had, I thought he did OK.
"That's a big dude, for as fast as he can run. The power was impressive, but I wish he could have translated it maybe a little better (against live pitching)."
Tebow told reporters afterward that he plans to pursue baseball "as hard as he can."
Tebow signed a merchandise contract with Adidas shortly before the workout and was decked out in Adidas gear from head to toe for the tryout.
Categories: Baseball, Football
Gators GK Marckese wins SEC Defensive Player of the Week
Come tailgate with The Gator Chomp on Saturday


There's a well-known problem with resolutions: most of those ambitious goals for the new year fall off the radar by Valentine's Day. And as a business owner, you know that just isn't good enough.
Automation isn't just for CNC machines. There are automated software solutions to many time-consuming tasks, from invoicing customers to tracking maintenance schedules to monitoring payments. There are also newer apps and cloud-based tools that use machine learning to help with work that's less routine, like regulating energy consumption, monitoring safety, adjusting inventory levels, alerting you of needed vehicle maintenance and expediting job orders.
Automate wherever possible to help get things done.
Allow others to share responsibility. It's not always easy to relinquish control, but taking your business to the next level can be next to impossible on your own.
Practice delegating. Allow others to take the reins when they have special expertise. Bring in someone to help get your social media platform off the ground and running. Bring in someone to revamp your website with the latest tools. Talk to a sales coach to devise a strategy to reach customer targets that you've struggled with. Search for people within your company who have underused skills. Give them some control, and let them work for you.
Write down your goals and your action plan. Gradual progression is key. Start with attainable goals that build toward more significant accomplishments. This is the roadmap that will allow you to reach those far-off goals.


Most women go into pregnancy thinking they are perfectly healthy.. but then find out they have a condition that's diagnosed in about 200,000 cases a year in the United States.. We're talking about gestational diabetes.
Dr. Kirk Brody was our guest.
Dr. Brody says gestational diabetes is a type of diabetes that occurs only during pregnancy. Like other forms of diabetes, gestational diabetes affects the way your body uses sugar.
-The baby's body is larger than normal-called macrosomia.
-The baby's blood sugar is too low-called hypoglycemia.
-The baby's skin turns yellowish and the whites of the eyes may change color-called jaundice.
-The baby may have trouble breathing and need oxygen or other help called Respiratory Distress Syndrome.


Anthony Grzembski scored twice and Kody Morio added a goal to lead the eighth-ranked Indians (7-0-1) past the host Highlanders (4-2-1). Brian Tondel made five saves in the shutout.
Updated: Saturday, Sept. 28, 2013, 7:23 p.m.


At the outset, I would like to express my happiness to be with this august gathering on the occasion of "Book Preview and Signing'Program. I thank you Ms. Lakpa Sherpa for giving this opportunity.
I love to read literary books. I read the book 'Musa Masala' with deep interest and happy to talk about this.
As you know that Mountains are our identity, our property and our source of civilization.
We Nepali are always proud of white Himalayas that is standing tall in the Northern part of Nepal. Particularly, Sagarmatha is a symbol of our self-esteem, pride and national identity.
Mountains are not only a source of incredible rivers that supports the livelihoods of millions of people living in Nepal and other South Asian Countries but also a fountain of eastern philosophy, spirituality and culture. This book depicts a beautiful and adventurous scenario of this mountainous region of Nepal in a simple and fictitious manner which is really worth-reading.
Sherpas are the ornaments of Nepalese mountains that illuminates the whole Nepal. Main character of this book 'musa', who is brave, kind and helpful, truly represents Sherpas.
Nepal is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the world. Our serene and beautiful mountains attract hundreds of thousands of trekkers and mountaineers in Nepal. Khumbu Valley and Everest Base Camp is one of the most fascinating trekking routes in the world. This book is all about a thrilling glimpse of this Shangri-La and a sweet story of 'musa', a mountain girl of the Himalayas.
This book is a unique example of pictorial fiction writing. Interesting story of 'musa' goes along with the introduction of a trek of Namche bazar to Everest base Camp. I do believe that this information is useful and important to all trekkers and mountaineers to make their journey safe, healthy and enjoyable.
While talking about the fascinating Himalayas, its beauty, adventure, huge potential and contribution to the tourism industry in Nepal, we also should be very sensitive about the severe impacts of climate change in this region. Level of snow is melting down, glaciers are exploding, avalanches are occurring frequently causing the death of many mountaineers every year and the livelihood of the people of this region is being difficult. In this context, effective steps should be taken to mitigate the negative impacts of climate change in the Himalayas.
In the same way, garbage piles up in serene mountainous region critically and the noble efforts to clean up this are not sufficient. We should also pay proper attention in this regard.
I am particularly happy to know that Ms. Lakpa Sherpa is going to utilize the money earned from the sale of this book towards the construction and operation of the non-profitable Wongchhu Sherpa Memorial Hospital in the impoverished and earthquake ravaged village of northern Nepal. I hope this will contribute to realize the incomplete dream of your father.
I wish you all the best in your praiseworthy endeavors.
My best wishes for a successful program.


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Lady Gaga Reveals She Sometimes Feels 'Lonely' and 'Ugly'
By Scott Baumgartner 10:06 AM PDT, August 30, 2018
Jacopo Raule/Getty Images
Just because a celebrity is seemingly on top of the world doesn't mean they don't experience moments of self-doubt, just like anyone else.
Lady Gaga sat down for an interview recently to discuss her acting role in Bradley Cooper's directorial debut, A Star Is Born, where she got candid about the insecurities that plague her.
"It's very lonely being a performer," she tells the Los Angeles Times. "There's a certain loneliness that I feel, anyway—that I'm the only one that does what I do. So, it feels like no one understands. And the urge to use is because you're searching for a way to quell the pain. When I first started to perform around the country doing nightclubs, there was stuff everywhere, but I had already partied when I was younger, so I didn't dabble. I was able to avoid it because I did it when I was a kid."
Must of this introspection was brought on by becoming Ally, a struggling singer who finds guidance from established musician Jackson Maine (played by Cooper) in the upcoming film. According to Gaga, Cooper wanted raw vulnerability from her in order to capture the essence of an artist struggling to continue to perform.
Although she was already a Golden Globe-winning actress for her role on American Horror Story: Hotel, she was asked to do a screen test for the part because people "don't' really know what I look like," she explained. When she arrived for the audition, she was wearing makeup, which Cooper asked her to remove.
A post shared by Lady Gaga (@ladygaga) on Aug 30, 2018 at 4:48am PDT
"It put me right in the place I needed to be, because when my character talks about how ugly she feels—that was real," she states. "I'm so insecure. I like to preach, but I don't always practice what I preach."
Although the parallels between her and her character are numerous, Gaga clarified that Ally's hopelessness early in the film has never been how she's internalized the low points in her life.
"When we meet Ally, she's given up on herself. And that's very different from me. I just wasn't overwhelmed by the odds. The truth is, if we were not sitting here today and I hadn't sold as many records as I have, I'd still be in a bar somewhere playing the piano and singing. It's just who I want to be," she says. "I was dragging my piano from dive bar to dive bar to play music. I was calling people, faking being my own manager to get gigs. I really believed in myself that I could do this and that I wasn't going to stop until I made it."
The 32-year-old singer recently jetted off to Europe ahead of the premiere of A Star Is Born at the 75th Venice Film Festival. And on Thursday, Mother Monster made quite the arrival to Italy's Floating City, riding in on a water taxi while wearing a black '80s-inspired dress featuring a high slit. She completed the look by wearing her blonde locks pulled into stylish pin curls for the lavish event.
Never one to shy away from making a statement, Gaga has also shared a number of risqué photos in recent days from photographer and frequent Kanye West collaborator, Eli Russell Linnetz. In some images, her familiar face and figure are warped into eerie shapes. In others, she poses totally nude. However, at this point, it's anyone's guess what she's promoting, if anything.
A Star Is Born arrives in theaters on Oct. 5.
Lady Gaga Continues With Cryptic Posts -- What Do They Mean?!
Lady Gaga and Bradley Cooper's 'A Star Is Born' Soundtrack Details Revealed
Lady Gaga Continues to Share Distorted Images of Herself
Lady Gaga's Red Carpet Evolution


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Top of the range township schools
28 September 2016 - On Friday 23 September MEC Panyaza Lesufi opened the Nellmapius Secondary School. The school is one of 17 top of the range educational facilities that the Gauteng Department of Infrastructure Development (GDID) will hand over to the Gauteng Department of Education (GDE) in townships across the province each month until 2017.
The expansion of the Nellmapius area, situated in the Northern Development Corridor of Gauteng Region, south-west of Mamelodi, has seen a high demand for learner placement in recent years. This has necessitated the construction of new, modern educational facilities to equip learners with the relevant skills as envisioned by the Gauteng Provincial Government's Radical Transformation, Modernisation and Re- industrialisation strategy.
Nellmapius Secondary School is the first school built in this area and will go a long way to relieve pressure in other surrounding schools.
Quality of education in townships
The school is one of 17 schools that the Department of Infrastructure Development will hand over to the Gauteng Department of Education as top of the range educational facilities in townships are planned across the province each month until 2017.
The schools boast high end learning facilities as GDE MEC Lesufi has committed that "Our learners will get quality education where they reside." Children in the area will no longer travel long distances and this will reduce scholar transport demand currently offered by the GDE.
The school is a modern information technology based facility with a design based on a prototype that incorporates the Department of Basic Education (DBE) National Schools Infrastructure Norms and Standards. The school falls in the mega school category due to its size that responds to the demand trends encountered across the province.
"The provision of schools with modern facilities in townships will go a long way to improve and transform the quality of education in the townships. It will also change the township economy," says MEC Lesufi. "The school design follows a new template for secondary schools, which among others include smart classrooms, smart science labs, sports facilities, and green facilities," says GDID MEC Jacob Mamabolo.
MEC Mamabolo has issued the Gauteng Department of Education with a certificate of completion of construction of the more than R104 million state of the art facility. The document is to certify that the construction of school has been delivered, as per the DBE's requirements and specifications.
Unique facilities and features:
30 Smart Classrooms
2 Smart Science laboratories
2 Smart Multi-purpose rooms
1 computer laboratory
A library
Nutrition centre and dining
A guard house
Covered walkways
Soccer and rugby field
Combi courts (to accommodate netball, basketball and tennis courts)
Refuse yard
Pump Room
Generator room
The school is also a green school equipped with the following:
Roof Insulation (reduces energy loss from the buildings)
Glazing (that maximises natural light into the building and reduces energy loss from the building)
Energy saving lighting (LED Light fittings)
Insulated walls for heat conservation and soundproof
120m3 Underground rainwater harvesting tank
The total cost of the project is R104 130 421.60
History and renaming
Nellmapius Secondary School has come a long way from sharing the same yard with Nellmapius Primary School in 2003 when the school was established. In 2004, Nellmapius Secondary School relocated to Mamelodi West in the old campus of M.L Msezane Primary School.
The new SGB will look into the renaming of the school, which is by default currently named after Alois Hugo Nellmapius, (5 May 1847 - 27 July 1893). Nellmapius was a South African businessman, industrialist and pioneer conservationist, born in Budapest, raised in Vienna, and trained as an engineer in the Netherlands; he arrived in South Africa on board the ship Nathan in 1873. Nellmapius is believed to have been very good friends with President Kruger, and the Centurion suburb, Irene, was named after his daughter. Source: www.revolvy.com.
Source: Media statement issued by Gauteng Provincial Department
Gauteng District Teacher Development Centres (DTDCs)
Tablets for principals
South Africa turns on digital classrooms
Public-private partnership builds school of excellence
World-class science school for Mandela's birthplace


Liberia's history of recent is largely replete with economic and human rights related crimes. Two debacles, if not checked and corrected, will continue to undermine and erode economic and political advancement of our country. Without efforts by the International Community and Liberians themselves, at home and abroad, to consolidate concrete actions in dealing with these menaces, the revival and restoration of our Country and its weak institutions, will be visited with failure and faltering.
Liberia is so jaundiced and held hostage by forces with heavy burden of war and economic crimes, gallivanting around the political and business platforms where they insidiously rise to power and fame by manipulating our ever weak and greedy voters. These war lords and economic plunderers are no longer satisfied with legislative seats, rather they are yearning for the common presidency, on the other hand, who can blame them when some of the current leaders wear the golden crown of human blood and ghosts of our civil war?
In a country where war lords and perpetrators of economic crimes are rewarded by system of undermined sovereignty and national integrity, we have fallen prey to the venomous and verminous acts of these plunderers who are busy exsanguinating us to our very death.
Will we keep rewarding acts of malfeasance?
The trend of globalization in international politics and fight against crimes is changing. First, we ourselves must begin to initiate a prompt stance and seek remedy in collaboration with international partners and institutions. Rewarding these inane vampires (to use Ellen Johnson Sirleaf's words) sends a signal that we are complacent with the state of our minds and national situation. Meaning, "What is wrong with us, is us". Only by concrete civil and/or legal action, to punish crimes that threaten our very survival that will set the basis for our Country's affability for international actors to help our situation.
We, intellectuals, technicians, politicians, activists, religious leaders, traditional leaders, etc need now than ever before to demonstrate a cocksure nature and approach to fighting the ills of war and economic crimes in our national existence. Our real problem is we easily coax each other toward wrong tendencies in our personal interests than harmonizing our differences and resolve towards solving national problems. Liberia's convalescence, following years of war and greeted with almost 12 years of economic degradation and erosion, (a period in which we have also witnessed the metamorphosis of crooks, killers and plunderers into Kings, Queens and tycoons) can be midwived into a better society if we ignite justice against crimes that are hunting down our overall progress.
to war. This is a vain threat intended to delay people's might and action. Surely public revenge through justice of the law is more urgent than ever before. Sierra Leone, our closest neighbor is a perfect example where people's power has out weighted the glory of killers and plunderage of war.
The global community and their institutions have always offered a hand of partnership, especially if their own interest is involved. For instance, western superposition over the African and sub regional influence saw Nigeria hand over Charles Taylor (former Liberian President). The sub regional political dynamism that has brought strong willed leaders like Nigeria's Mohammed Buhari, amongst others needs to super pose its own machinery to punish perpetrators of war and economic crimes within the sub region, if West Africa must build on the pillars of an integration of people in a stable environment. We have seen over times that corruption and undemocratic tendencies- bad governance or for Liberia's situation, worse governance, which undercut the attainment of human security and survival, have all served as recipes for instability in West Africa. We follow the history of a region of coups that later were elevated to brutal civil wars spreading from Liberia like tornado.
Recently, revolutionary forces in Burkina Faso did not only deny long serving Blaise Campaore extension of term of office, but also ejected him off the presidency. This indeed was a bloodless exercise growing out of the people's power. Eventually, their action has paved the way to hold Campaore accountable for crimes he committed during the untimely murder of Captain Thomas Sankara and others and the deployment of several Burkinabe (who may not be accounted for) in Liberia for warfare assignment during the brutal Liberian civil war. The scourge engineered by Blaise Campaore via Cote D'Voire, we are quite aware, spread to Sierra Leone, and later to Guinea.
Blaise Campaore will/should not go down alone. His Liberian partners that aided him in the Thomas Sankara episode should be called to book. Their political status in Liberia must not deter the sub Region. The Liberian Legislature or Executive mansion therefore provides easy delivery to justice as the Charles Taylor's case has proven. Abuja, West Africa's most powerful capital must not, in these circumstances provide safe haven for war lords. Already, with credible news filtering around about a list of suspects in the possession of disciplinarian Buhari, one can be certain, that in partnership with other members of the international community, the old man Baba Buhari will help clean some of the mess around here.
Similarly, western partners in whose countries suspected Liberian thieves have deposited huge savings and investments are under obligation to demonstrate goodwill. As in the FIFA case, they need to go beyond freezing accounts, to actual arrest and prosecution. America and Europe cannot afford to grant these suspected criminals sanctuary.
The recent harsh interaction/exchanges between the U.S. government (through its Ambassador in Liberia) and the Liberian President over a U.S. human rights report is a welcoming adventure. The U.S. Embassy stood its grounds on the report and daringly challenged the Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf's government to disprove any aspects of the report. Since then, there has been guilty silence. Silence of course means "consent". But the U.S needs to go further than just cataloging human rights violations. It needs now, with the stability we have growing out of their support, focus on the setting up of war and economic crimes court to arrest and bring to trial those war and economic vampires. Washington, under the leadership of President Barack Obama needs to exert strong will and leadership here. He needs to follow the good example of former president George Bush who would not take "no for an answer".
The Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf's administration has to be called to account for the millions it presiding over. Fortunately, at the end of the civil war, ECOWAS commissioned an audit. Based on the audit report, Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf led government prosecuted former Chairman Gyude Bryant and others for economic crimes. This was/is a classical example and demonstration of holding individuals (who hold the public trust) accountable. Her government and others before her must be held accountable.
While this is unfolding, we must note President Sirleaf never attempted to raise the issue of war crimes against anyone. (My subsequent issue will delve into the why).
Over the years, failed attempt to reach the presidency and other key related positions have baptized many Progressives into the symbiosis problem of self survival, and the see the Ellen Johnson Sirleaf administration as the last stage of destiny. These group of people who, in the seventies and eighties propelled the society into action on key national issues, are dormant silent like the environment of a mid night grave yard in rural community. "Here too, people are fighting for belly full", someone lamented to me. "In Ellen's case, she is a master player", one political observer told me. "She has them to herself and makes good job offers and controls their thinking and lips.
One has to think now about resting with his/her fat salary and benefits, of course prestige too, then to open your mouth and you are axed out. With age weighting them (Progressives) down, where else can they comfortably survive? It is not in their younger ages when they could run to Europe or America and cut eight hours to earn living, I dare them now.
The Progressives sit silently around issues like "level the mansion, we will rebuild it", "I contributed USD$10,000.00 for children welfare". The corruption deeply rooted and now vampire, but in this game, who will cast the first stone?.
The 2017 presidential elections and it results could spark renew tension amongst war lords and very powerful tycoons. The rivalry between and amongst war lords, tycoons and stand by forces, if not checked by the international community who have dumped in their millions and the sub region that has borne the burden of human and material loss, Liberia will fail. Abuja has much to do with this, because if trouble breaks out, she bears the huge costs of it.
The reasons I stress the urgent involvement of the international community or the sub region, Liberians and their institutions are weak, porous and vulnerable. Liberia's former minister of Justice Cllr. Christina Tah, in her letter of resignation declared "President Johnson-Sirleaf herself is the chief under miner of the rule of law". Not much is desirable in our judicial system. Shielding corrupt officials and gross human rights violators has been at the core of the present government gimmick. It fears if it "pulls rope, rope will haul/pull bush".
Today, for example the former security advisor to former president Charles Taylor is spokesman for President Johnson-Sirleaf's government. General Prince Johnson is a darling political golden egg to president Sirleaf as evidenced by General Prince Johnson's overt support to President Sirleaf's 2011 second term bid.
In the judiciary, sits on the Supreme Court bench, a former commander and spokesman of LURD. In the legislature are seated indictees of GAC audit reports for allegedly plundering thousands of State funds. They are comfortable as long as they dance to the rhythm of the power that be. Can't we see danger ahead?? I surely do see! Open your eyes!!.


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Concern about lack of Arctic development in U.S. and Canada
Mia Bennett
Posted: Friday, January 6, 2012 at 14:59
In recent days, two op-eds on the Arctic have been published in North American newspapers. In the Canadian daily, the Toronto Star, Michael Byers, a professor at the University of British Columbia and an expert on the Arctic, penned a piece lamenting Northern Canada's lack of development compared to Russia.
Since he is currently a visiting professor at Novosibirsk University, located in south-central Russia near Kazakhstan, he has an on-the-ground view of Russian politics and the country's development of its northern region. In his article, he focuses on Russia's growing Arctic infrastructure, especially with regard to transportation links like the Northern Sea Route, the expansion of the Trans-Siberian Railway, and the possibility of building a tunnel under the Bering Strait to Alaska.
In a lengthier op-ed he wrote for Al-Jazeera, he goes into more detail on Russia's history of development in its Arctic region, concluding, "the Russian Bear still dominates the Arctic."
In both articles, he notes that the U.S. opposes that parts of the Northern Sea Route, north of Russia, and the Northwest Passage, within the Canadian Arctic Archipelago, constitute internal waters. The U.S. instead prefers to guarantee the right of passage for its ships. For now, the U.S. has agreed to disagree with Canada and Russia.
Does the U.S. need to 'catch up' to Arctic neighbors?
In the Washington Post, Heather Conley, Senior Fellow and Director of CSIS's Europe Program, wrote an op-ed entitled somewhat facetiously, "The colder war: U.S., Russia, and others are vying for control of Santa's back yard." She worries that the U.S. is running out of time to catch up to its Arctic neighbors in terms of capacity. The country needs to level the playing field, especially by investing in properly equipping its Coast Guard for Arctic operations, she suggests. She is right to worry about the lack of an operational heavy-duty American icebreaker, and the fact that we have to lease them from other countries.
However, some of her references to other countries upping their game in the Arctic are perhaps overblown. For instance, she notes, "Even China has entered the Arctic race; it constructed the world's largest non-nuclear icebreaker to conduct scientific research in the Arctic." The race in the Arctic, if we want to call it as such, has more to do with extracting its resources. Building icebreakers for scientific research, while a notable accomplishment, will still not allow China to stake any material claim to the Arctic, so it is not a true player in the race for the resources. China and its entrepreneurs can, however, attempt to play a secondary role in the race for resources by doing things such as purchasing land or investing in development. Yet still, countries with actual sovereignty in the Arctic, such as Iceland, can thwart these attempts.
All three op-eds make use of cold war puns or imagery in their titles, which in way tends to promote the idea that there is a conflict in the Arctic. Let's not forget that the Russian air force and NORAD recently cooperated in a joint counter air-terrorism exercise, Operation Vigilant Eagle, over the Bering Sea. And that all eight member states of the Arctic Council signed the historic Search and Rescue Agreement in May 2011.
Both Byers and Conley worry that their own countries are falling behind while others move ahead. I think one would be hard-pressed to find a similar op-ed from a Russian journalist criticizing the state of their country's progress up north, even though the country has a gargantuan task ahead of it in upgrading its infrastructure, like all of the Arctic nations. But I will do my best.
← Update: Rescue of remaining beluga whales halted in Russia
New historic sites discovered in Finland's North →
Mia Bennett is an assistant professor in the Department of Geography and School of Modern Languages & Cultures (China Studies Programme) at the University of Hong Kong. Through fieldwork and remote sensing, she researches the politics of infrastructure development in frontier spaces, namely the Arctic and areas included within China's Belt and Road Initiative. Read Mia Bennett's articles


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A Review of Jonathan Franzen's The Corrections
The style is edged in irony as one might expect with such a subject but there are few quotable passages. Franzen is more concerned with the production of a seamless narrative. Although there are no solecisms, a few sentences are clumsy enough to require re-reading.
Reviewed by Bob Williams
The Corrections
Farrar, Straus and Giroux
"Every unhappy family is unhappy in its own way."
And that certainly explains why so many novels feature the dysfunctional family. The dysfunctional Lamberts consist of parents Alfred and Enid and the three children Gary, Chip and Denise. Alfred and Enid live in Iowa but the children are all on the East Coast. Once we get a good look at the parents, we can understand why they live no nearer. Alfred is on the slippery slope of senile dementia and Enid is a silly woman who nags and torments her children at every opportunity.
Chip meets his parents in New York. They are about to embark on a pleasure cruise. He takes them to his apartment in time to meet his
girl friend. She is just leaving as in "I'm leaving for good." Chip's concern over this is greater than his concern for his parents. He leaves them to his sister and pursues the departing girl friend. His adventures will take him to Lithuania in the company of a dishonest former diplomat and together they will use the Internet to swindle American investors.
Denise is a lesbian and has left behind her a number of maladroit sexual encounters. She is also a dedicated chef and receives an important job from a man whose lover she will become for one night after the end of her love affair with his wife.
Gary is married to Caroline and completely dominated by her. All disagreements between them break down into a withdrawal of warmth and a refusal to discuss their problem. They batter at each other in a cold rage. Gary gets the worst of it since Caroline has allies in two of their three sons.
Enid is insistent that her children spend Christmas with them in St. Jude. It is, of course, impossible that such a visit should be anything other than pure hell but Gary and Denise are willing. Caroline hates Enid and is not willing. Chip, already established as self-centered and self-indulgent, is unlikely to leave Lithuania for such a purpose.
But the reunion takes place. Gary comes by himself. Denise is there but reduced to the edge of insanity by Enid and by the obvious failure of
Alfred. Chip, driven out of Lithuania by a civil war, arrives last of all. Alfred collapses so spectacularly that even Enid recognizes that
drastic steps are necessary.
A number of subsidiary plots and other devices are involved. The brother of one character (Robin, Denise's lover) is a psychopath and another character on board the same cruise as Enid had a daughter murdered by a psychopath. The term "corrections" first appears as a stock market term for the adjustment of a market in which the values are inflated. It then becomes a subtly urged term for the minor but important adjustments that the characters make in their lives. There are other motifs that tie the
book together. Many of the characters are familiar with The Chronicles of Narnia and Aslan, the hero of this series, turns out to be the name of a personality-altering drug, illegal in the United States but available from a funny and sinister Dr. Feelgood aboard Enid and Alfred's cruise ship.
The style is edged in irony as one might expect with such a subject but there are few quotable passages. Franzen is more concerned with the
production of a seamless narrative. Although there are no solecisms, a few sentences are clumsy enough to require rereading.
A writer may take his characters wherever he pleases and make whatever conclusion suits his needs but a reader may have other ideas. In the
conclusion the rigid Gary walks off from his father's collapse to return home. Chip takes his father into his care, sees to his hospitalization
and visits him. The transformation of the heartless Chip into a tender, loving person stretches the reader's credulity. That the confused Denise fades from the picture is acceptable but the change in Enid's personality after the death of Alfred is not. Enid shows suddenly an intelligence and insight that we are not prepared for. Still, these are conventions of the (comparatively) happy ending that many readers will find acceptable. Such an ending may be seen as no more than the final authorial flourish to indicate that the book is finished. But, as the finish to a book that has been relentlessly honest, it will strike many readers as peculiar.
This National Book Award winner will be widely read and deserves this but rereadership, the proof of the value of any book, will be small.
For more information about The Corrections , or to purchase a copy, visit Corrections
About the Reviewer: Bob Williams is retired and lives in a small town with his wife, dogs and a cat. He has been collecting books all his life, and has done freelance writing, mostly on classical music. His principal interests are James Joyce, Jane Austen and Homer. His writings, two books and a number of short articles on Joyce, can be accessed at:
http://fracman.home.mchsi.com/
Tags: fiction literature
← A Review of Saul Bellow's Humboldt's Gift
A Review of Banana Yoshimoto's Asleep →


The theatre opened its doors on 4 July 1808, for a short summer season. The corps de ballet from Covent Garden with such luminaries as Wybrow, King, and Thomas Blanchard performed five pieces. Two of them, La Heroine Incomparable and The Maid of Hornsey were played every night. Several of the performers brought their wives.
The company was under the management of Holland, Louis, and Grant—all of Covent Garden. Ryall arranged most of the choreography. It is impossible to determine how many nights the season lasted, as there are few existing records from the first decade of the Sans Pareil's existence.
During the evening's performance, there were songs by Woolf and King. Included among the titles were "Black-Eyed Susan," "May the King Live Forever," and "The Wig"—the last by Charles Dibdin, the younger. It was King who made Dibdin's "songs 'Giles Scroggins' Ghost' and 'Call Again Tomorrow' with many others, so popular" (Charles Dibdin's Memoirs, p. 54).
Andrew Campbell performed his popular imitations of familiar actors in their best-known roles.
During the pantomime Beauty; or, Harlequin of the Black Isles, Signor Saxoni was engaged for twelve nights to walk the tightrope. Charles Dubois, following in his famous father, Jean Baptiste Dubois's footsteps was "clown to the rope." This character was a buffoon who kept the audience amused while the ropedancer was not in motion. The clown attempted some of the tricks himself, and by his utter failure amplified his master's achievement.
Thomas Blanchard, the Pantaloon, had a long career. He was said "to be a magnet at the minors" (Dibdin's Memoirs, p. 136). He did reappear at the Adelphi in the early twenties and was successor to Richard Norman at Covent Garden, but the Times was not overly impressed with him.
Blanchard's Pantaloon is clever, but it wants humour. The real Pantaloons should be a kind of Polonius in Motley. Everybody admits that he deserves to be beaten and cheated, but then one is sorry for him, on account of his gray hairs and the foolishness of his old age as when the other "meddling fool" is stabbed behind the arras. The fault of Mr. Blanchard is that he excites no sympathy. If he is knocked down, or jumped upon, or even killed, you are glad of it (27 December 1828, qtd. in David Mayer, Harlequin in his Element, p. 43).
Mrs. Ridgway was the wife of the Harlequin who appeared with Charles Dibdin at Sadler's Wells. She had sons who later appeared at the Adelphi, and according to Dibdin, they possessed "much merit, and promise to follow the steps of their father who was, in his grade of performing, taking skill and versatility of talent together, unrivalled" (Memoirs, p. 90).
Besides the headliners, there were also those who made a living but not a splash—Miss Vallency (or Valancy) who played a barmaid was still playing small roles fifteen years later. For example, she appeared once as a stand-in at Drury Lane in 1823 dancing Columbine for the frequently ailing Ann Maria Tree in The Golden Axe (James Winston, Drury Lane Journal, p. 63).
Woolf sang the famous "Description of a Storm" by George Alexander Stevens, which became such a familiar favorite at the Adelphi in subsequent years.
The season was successful; a clipping in the Adelphi Scrapbook states, "on Saturday week the corps de ballet of Covent Garden Theatre will close their labours at the Sans Pareil in the Strand. It appears they have made a successful campaign by their efforts to please the public."
Cast supplemented from Adelphi Scrapbook. Sargant's name is also spelled "Sargeant"
Sans Pareil Theatre. Doors open 6:00, curtain 7:00, half price 8:45.
Ticket prices: box 4/-, pit 2/-.