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The Extra Point => Offside Forum => Topic started by: Blue In BC on September 28, 2021, 05:20:27 PM
Title: USFL 2022??
Post by: Blue In BC on September 28, 2021, 05:20:27 PM
Anyone hearing information about determining teams, cities involved, hiring of coaches and management? When do they expect to begin recruitment if those decisions aren't in place.
I haven't heard squat since the original announcement.
Title: Re: USFL 2022??
Post by: Blue In BC on November 07, 2021, 01:28:01 PM
Just a re-fresh. Anybody know what's happening with USFL plans to play in 2022? Depending on salary levels we could see some players shift to their rosters as extra income opportunity?
Post by: theaardvark on November 08, 2021, 04:17:38 PM
Saw an announcement on twitter of some of the executives hired and a broadcaster...
Oh, it was XFL2023... https://www.xfl.com/xfl-announces-executive-leadership-team
Here's something about what might happen. All games in a one city bubble. Nothing about coaches or players being signed yet or budgets. I'm wondering if we see some CFL player look at the USFL as an extra opportunity for a paycheck before returning to CFL. Depending on salary, it might create opportunity for the 1st year players or players reaching the end of their possible CFL careers.
The proposed season would end at the beginning of July so that makes possible CFL players crossing over problematic in so much as missing some or all of TC. With so many CFL players approaching possible free agency and not knowing USFL SMS levels, its too early to know impact. Coaches and players might on the move south though.
On October 12, 2021 it was published that the league is in serious discussion with the city of Birmingham, Alabama about the possibility of the USFL playing all of its games in the city. According to initial information, Birmingham will be responsible for housing the players during the season at the price of about $15 million (47,000 hotel rooms), while the league would play the bubble season at Protective Stadium and Legion Field.[16][17]
The proposal includes eight-team 10-week season with two additional playoff rounds, from April 15 through July 3, 2022, with broadcast proposal as follows: 25% on Fox, 25% on NBC, 25% of Fox Sports and 25% of games on the USA Network.[18][19] The Birmingham Stallions is expected to be included in the first season.[1]
Post by: Blue In BC on April 13, 2022, 12:20:53 PM
Ok. 1st games are this weekend. I'm going to watch / channel surf to see what this looks like. Interested to see what attendance is like etc. I only see 2 of 4 games being broadcast though.
Post by: Jesse on April 13, 2022, 03:10:54 PM
I keep hearing things about different leagues, but there are so many start ups, I never know which is which.
Post by: theaardvark on April 13, 2022, 05:17:55 PM
fubotv? never heard of it... supposed to be a free trial, carrying all the games.
So, every game is a Birmingham home game, even if they don't play... so obviously not a gate oriented league...
Quote from: theaardvark on April 13, 2022, 05:17:55 PM
Games are showing up on NBC / Fox here in Vancouver. In theory there are 4 games a week and 40 in total during the season: 8 X 10 divided by 2 = 40 games. I don't know whether all 4 games are being broadcast each week in the US. If that marketplace is only seeing the same 2 games a week that's not going to help.
Since all the games are being played in Birmingham that isn't going to promote live attendance after the 1st week?
I wonder what ticket costs are like but nobody is going to 4 games of anything over a weekend.
Just heard some info on the USFL on US news today.
Footballs will have " chips " which will allow exact tracking of forward distance achieved. That seems like a good idea although the forward point of the ball doesn't always indicate where the runner is touched down. Couldn't hurt though.
Two forward passes allowed behind LOS. Interesting but is there really time and distance behind LOS to try this before getting shmucked by defenders? Getting off a pass to a RB or receiver and him still having time to throw? Not sure how often we'll see this but it was something suggested as a improvement or new rule for CFL.
Players will be mic'd and two will have cameras in helmets. CFL has done something like that with cameras on ref's. Not sure I like the idea of cameras on so many players with up close and personal views. It may create some " dizzying" views at speed and weird angles.
Chips under pads which can track speed and I suppose route running pattern? This might result in a video game analysis by the broadcasters? Could be very useful for coaches during game post game looking at what worked and what didn't. Not sure I need to see broadcasters showing where every little dot ( player ) was during each play or very often. Maybe a couple of big plays being reviewed at half time.
Drones being used. That's ok, just another version of sky cam which they might not have in Birmingham.
Anyway. It will be interesting to see how more technology is used and what is a benefit and where it's just over the top.
On FOX 203 and NBC 202 tonight at 6:30...
Post by: theaardvark on April 17, 2022, 02:23:40 AM
For a first broadcast, not too bad. Mike Riley, 2 Grey cups... not a single mention of his time in the CFL....
Actually entertaining, although Riley shifted to 100% ground game. Difference in the game, 2 misses FG, including a 22 yarder...
I watched most of 1st half and the last few minutes of the game. Overall seemed reasonably entertaining and a close contest. A few bugs to iron out in the 1st broadcast with camera work.
A couple of punts had drone camera from behind the punter. Another punt was an aerial view. I also only saw one helmet cam but as I thought that's not all that informative or interesting. Mic'd coaches was just " noise" from my point of view.
Announced crowd was 17,500 but apparently 40,000 seats sold ( that's stadium capacity ) and that was for the actual home team. I'm not convinced the business model can succeed with every game played in one stadium. Who will go to 4 games every weekend for 10 weeks.
It seems some games are broadcast on subscription networks only ( 2 per week )?? I wonder how many will have the ability to watch every game?
Revenue needs to come from somewhere and this looks like a difficult model.
Playoff games will be moved to Canton so it's a neutral site game. All that makes it difficult to gain an association for any team. No home games etc, etc. Will that build a following?
I'll check out today's game for awhile and see what crowd size is like.
Ticket prices vary from $23 to $55 and and could vary game to game based on supply demand!!! That's optimistic. lol Realistically I envision attendance dropping week to week as the 4 games per week takes it's toll.
What the ?? Game # 2 is delayed due to rain. That means that games # 3 and # 4 are also pushed out since they are all playing in Birmingham. Currently they are re-broadcasting yesterdays game. Why would they schedule games on Easter Sunday?
With Fox Sports the sole owner, and every game being played in one stadium until the playoffs, I'm not sure there is any substance behind actual city names on franchises. No real "home teams"...
I'm working today, and my "Bluecurve" does not get NBC or FOX... can't seem to access it elsewise. Fubo is a paid subscription service, I guess they will see if their subscriptions get a bump after the free trials...
Three games for a day when most of the target audience is off? Sounds like optimal scheduling...
Post by: famicommander on April 17, 2022, 07:04:43 PM
Dead on arrival.
17,500 in the building, 40,000 tickets distributed (not sold; most were given away for free)
Probably about 1,000, maybe less, for game 2.
The TV ratings are even more dire
USFL 2022 game 1 TV ratings: 0.4 rating, 2.93M viewers (Fox and NBC combined)
XFL 2020 game 1 TV ratings: 1.0, 3.30M viewers (didn't complete the season)
AAF 2019 game 1 TV ratings: 0.9, 3.25M viewers (didn't complete the season)
The total viewership doesn't look TOO horrible but you have to remember that this was the first game broadcast on two major networks at the same time since Super Bowl 1.
But the 0.4 rating number? That's catastrophic. The ratings are the numbers that the advertisers pay for. Coming in at under half the mark set by two leagues that didn't even manage to finish their first respective seasons is unspeakably bad.
The numbers are only going to go down from here. There won't be any more simulcasts and several games will be on cable or streaming.
This is a one and done league, and that's assuming they even complete the season.
for perspective, there were CFL playoff games on cable TV in the US last year that pulled a 0.1.
The USFL premiere did a 0.2 on Fox and a 0.2 on NBC for a combined 0.4.
Game 2 was not as interesting as game 1. Looked more like a pre-season game where teams have not yet developed chemistry and being familiar with the play book. No idea which of the 8 teams is projected to be the better teams of the 8 teams.
A few good plays, a few bad plays and a few inept plays. Timing off, wet football account for some of that.
The bigger issue: Were there more than 100 fans in the stands? YIKES!!! The last two games are on subscription networks so I won't be able to see what happens there but that's not a good start for the 1st weekend.
Post by: famicommander on April 18, 2022, 12:23:36 AM
Nobody showed up to game 3 either, and game 4 was canceled due to weather.
Definitely nothing to worry about for CFL fans from this clown shoes operation.
Post by: Blue In BC on April 18, 2022, 12:51:52 AM
Quote from: famicommander on April 18, 2022, 12:23:36 AM
If that's all they accomplished in week 1 then they may not survive the season. Too bad for the players that work so hard.
All the players are getting paid, and all are getting the opportunity to get on NFL or even CFL radar with the exposure. The play calling and D might make a vanilla pudding seem like a flavour explosion, but still, there have been flashes of interesting play.
Haven't really seem any of the rules make a difference, nice to see actual kickoffs though.
The drones are annoying, and the helmet cams even worse. Both need some heavy duty image stabilization to make them even watchable.
Might be the best thing for the players if the league folds just before CFL training camp ;) There have been a couple players I wouldn't mind getting a look at on the wide field.
I think I;d be betting the under on the season lasting 5 games... FOXsports needed this to be a homerun, even with all the partners it is spreading the risk over. I can't see FUBO getting any subscriptions from this, and if anything, NBC has an incentive to use whatever loopholes they have to get out of this and leave FOX holding this big bag of doo doo.
I still don't understand how this keeps being tried.
Quote from: Jesse on April 18, 2022, 02:51:36 PM
There is the NFL, NCAA and there are regional semi-pro leagues... finding a sweet spot post NCAA and under NFL but more than Semipro is that brass ring people / networks are willing to invest in to try and capture lighting in a bottle, and on a small investment, reap huge rewards.
Problem is, no gate, no name recognition, gambling that might actually be worse than roulette, and a quality of talent/play/coaching (not because the coaches are bad, but rather they have no time to coach up players into their systems), this just does not have the capacity to get to a sustainable level of watchable product. FOX will hemorrhage money into this league for a while, but how long until the writing is on the wall? FOX has the ideal viewership for this product (although there should have been more teams based south of the Mason / Dixon) but even FOX knows when to pull the plug. I can't see them getting to the playoffs even...
Getting a crowd in the stands would make a huge difference, if they found a way to promote that and get at least one side of the stadium papered up with fans to get some excitement that might get infectious to the viewers, they might have a chance... give away TShirts or Shiseys of the teams playing in each game with each ticket, sell family packs that include food, shirts and foam fingers and such, it might not be a gate driven league, but fans in the stands are part of the production value. If you aren't putting fans in the stands, eliminate them completely. Focus on the on-field, and eliminate the eyesore of a 90% empty stadium.
We'll see what attendance looks like for next week and possibly the 3rd week. If it doesn't approve quickly I can see the potential to not finish the season. Couldn't find any actual attendance for the other games played yesterday. Don't have access to the game re-scheduled for today so that's another test.
I understand the games being somewhat vanilla as a new league, rosters and no re-season games. That's only a small issue. It all comes down to the ability to generate some revenue. I found it stunning to see nobody in the stands for the 2nd game for the 1st week of games. Horrible indication to start.
Some of the players looked like they could have a future somewhere. OTOH it's a little like watching US college games. Sometimes it's more a matter of unequal competition making some look better than they actual are.
With only one possible "home team" ever building a "Home" crowd, gate is going to be a non starter.
I think by week three, opening the stadium to fans will be a net loss, and that part of the league should be abandoned until they actually have "home games" in the cities the teams are "from".
Will the teams build some cohesion and confidence as they go forward, or will it get worse? No idea where these teams are housed and or are practicing, what kind of facilities they have, where the players are bunking (there is a reference to the league providing hotels at $75/night with the option for 2 players to share), but still, that's about 500 players, and 100 support staff all in one city, needing at least 4 practice facilities (if they share 50/50). There is a lot of infrastructure that needs to be managed, things going on that are going to be huge distractions as compared to a mature, professionally run league. A Div 1 college team probably has more invested in practice facilities and support staff than this entire league.
They are going to get marginally better as time goes by, just through repetition and familiarity, but are they going to get "good"? Are we going to see consistent play that includes both running and passing? It seems they are falling back to ground and pound as soon as anything goes wrong, which you can do in 4 down ball...
I think players are essentially in a type of bubble. Everybody is housed in hotels around the city and use multiple fields to practice. I suppose they might use high school / college fields for example. Since nobody has to fly to games, the non football costs are reduced quite a bit. No time zones to deal with either.
Bad weather on a given weekend can really mess up game scheduling though.
Quote from: Blue In BC on April 18, 2022, 05:51:41 PM
A bubble, eh? Never even occured to me that we haven't heard boo about COVID testing or protocols for the USFL. Biden is providing free RAT's to anyone who asks, betting that's the extent of their COVID protocols...
Not a covid bubble. It's just a bubble because every team is based in Birmingham. Nobody has to fly back to anywhere on a weekly basis. I see this morning one player was released due to breaking some team rules but don't know if that was covid related or not.
Roster costs, coaches costs and living expenses ( food and hotel ) are going to add up quickly. It's possible players have to pay their own living costs. I'd be curious to see the projections of team costs against revenues ( we won't see it ).
With the entire league owned by one entity, and all playing out of one facility, with the players all paid out of one pool, there are no "team" costs. No chance the "Gamblers" go bankrupt, its all or nothing. FOX sports holds the pursestrings and is the biggest client for the product, so it will be easy for them to decide either way, either "run at a loss" or pull the plug, whichever decision is made, FOX is the biggest one affected.
Yes, players are 100% responsible for their expenses, but are guaranteed hotel rooms at $75/night with an option to share that with another player. But they all are eligible for tuition free education... https://xflnewshub.com/alt-football/pr-usfl-to-provide-players-staff-tuition-free-debt-free-college-degree-program/
I know the league is owned by one entity. Team / player costs $75 / night add up whether players share a room or not. That's about $5000 per player for the 10 weeks more or less. It will add about $2M to running the league above roster and coaching costs. Air fare bringing players to Birmingham and then leaving at the end of the season etc.
Team costs are the off field costs I was referring too.
Overall the total cost could be in the $5M - $6M per team X 8 = $40M = $48M operating costs for the league. The question still remains how much of a loss is the " entity " willing to take in the 1st season?
The $5000 per player housing cost comes out of the $45k they pay each player, no need to double count it... nevertheless, yes, the league is going to cost much more than your high estimate of $48 mil. I'd peg it closer to $60-80 mil and maybe more depending on stadium costs, broadcasting infrastructure (they have more cameras and tech than the NFL). FOX is footing the entire bill, and getting some back from broadcasting partners, but I can most of that being performance based compensation dependent on measurables. Which, so far, have been cringe worthy.
The fact that FOX has committed $150-200 mil over 3 years to the league puts the annual budget at $50-66 million, taking into account zero revenue. If they anticipated even a small revenue generation, that would put the projected costs at $60-80 mil. Which about jives.
How long does FOX feed the league? How badly does it need the content? How quickly will partners abandon the league, and it becomes 100% FOX broadcasted? Are 45 3 hour broadcasts worth $60 million? Can they generate $1.333 million per broadcast? Because there is no value in rebroadcasts, or much ancillary revenue when home teams are never in their hoime city...
I was being generous with my low estimate of costs. Everything from equipment, laundry and stadium costs all factor into operational costs. Didn't know the housing costs come out of the salary costs but there are variables like the $1K per player for winning a game. Additional costs moving to Ohio for playoff games.
Anyway. I'll take another look at games broadcast over the next couple of weeks. One to check quality of the games and 2nd to see what happens with attendance. None of the games were blow outs which was a bonus.
They doubled the number of cameras, and added in geolocation chips to the football for better placement and review of scoring plays. But you still need competent directors deciding which cameras to use when, competent drone operators to decide the proper angles to fly the buggers at, and some sort of improved image stabalization for the helmet cams and drones.
Not sure what you mean by quality of the games, if you mean are the teams competitive and are the games full of interesting/exciting plays, pretty sure the calibre of player and the amount of coaching will make that impossible. If you mean production values, sure, those will improve, but how much and how fast, I guess we will see.
As to gate, I think we might have seen its peak at game 1... next week, they should decide whether to only sell the bottom of the tv side of the stadium for $1 ticket and try to get a "crowd" to impress the TV audience, or shut down the stadium completely... this is not going to be a gate driven league, playing out of one stadium... and having a "crowd" of 10k for the Birmingham games and a few hundred for the rest is going to look real bad...
Games could be competitive which help make things interesting. Initially I didn't see many penalties but then started to see dropped passes and bad throws. That could be that chemistry is still a work in progress.
A few good players stood out. Whether that was because they were good or because defences were not good is uncertain. Coaches have good experience which is an advantage.
I guess we will see if a week of practice improve the play...
Post by: TecnoGenius on April 22, 2022, 01:44:11 AM
Ok games. To me it's basically the same as AAF-level play. OK, with a few remarkable players making some good plays. I liked the AAF team names and uniforms more!
Ya, drones were awful. The whining motors on every shot (even when it's not a drone shot the noise is picked up) gets old really fast. Find a tech way to cancel out that noise!! I didn't find the drone shots added much. When they are in fast motion I started getting ill. Too jerky. It's like someone playing Doom on crack.
But I did like the helmet cams. They only used them 2-3 times a game for a replay. But this is mostly because I've never played the game in a helmet. It's like that early scene in the Ladykillers movie. See what it's really like, 1st person! Used a couple of times a game, this is a neat addition. Imagine having the helmet cam from AH on his '19 GC 20+ yard romp!
I get a bazillion of the Shaw packages on the newest tech and I can't even get all the weekly games. WEAK. I gotta subscribe to some stupid new streaming thing to see the rest? Ya, good luck with that.
And some want to change CFL to the same lame boring 4 down model.... we'd look as bad as these USFL amateurs.
Quote from: TecnoGenius on April 22, 2022, 01:44:11 AM
The USFL 4 downs let them shift to a run only O pretty quick. They should adopt 3 downs... ;)
I have no issues with using helmet cams or drones, as long as the tech is watchable. The helmet cams are horrible production value. The picture is jumpy, breaks up and is disorienting. Get a composite camera shot in there, with smoothing and image stabilization. Then I'd love it... but as is, it is worthless. And the drones, I have noise cancelling headphones that cost under $100 with that tech built in, c'mon... unless they are worried about scrubbing out the "crown noise" as well, but that shouldn't be an issue if the crowds continue the current trend...
And yeah, subscriptions to Peacock and Fubo are not in the plans... you want eyes on the games, put it all on FOX. You created the league for content anyways... unless the idea was to get eye from other sources to see the product and then move to FOX when everyone else drops it.
Watched most of the 1st half. Very disappointing. Only a couple of hundred fans in the stands? I suppose when you have a choice of 4 games over a weekend, you might choose only one. That might be the Stallions which is the " home " team in theory. I won't have access to that game but it will be interesting to see if their draw goes up or down after week one.
In fairness, these are totally new rosters and offensive chemistry doesn't exist yet. No pre season games to even fine tune a bit. Now in an 18 game schedule a slow start might not kill your play off chances. In a 10 game schedule it could be an early exit.
Lots of mistakes by coaches and players. Poor use of time outs, challenges etc. An early int on 4th down should have been knocked down not caught. Net result is the defence error cost them 24 yards.
Just saw a blatant face mask. Leagues need a bigger penalty similar to targeting in college football. That was not an incidental face mask. Every ref threw a flag and the player was pulled down by an excessive grab and pull. High risk of injury.
Camera work still needs work. Looking at punts / kicks from above or behind the kicker not useful.
Helmet cam on the opening kick off return is like trying to avoid sea sickness. It makes you dizzy. Same as on one for a RB getting caught in the back field.
I may watch more of the 2nd half and some of tomorrow's game. I don't see how they can attract an audience when only half of the games are broadcast on FOX or ABC. Only 40 games in total and only 20 on network TV. Nobody in the stands for 4 of 5 games to date.
Horrible start continues.
Post by: blue_gold_84 on April 24, 2022, 02:17:48 AM
From what I've seen and read online, it sounds like the USFL is a disaster thus far.
Thought the production values on this game were better... suspicious lack of crowd shots though.
No drone buzz...
Play was marginally better... but still not a professional level game, certainly not a CFL level...
I think the XFL games were better in their short short 1st season. Not great but better than what I've seen so far in the USFL. Part of the problem is not being able to see parts of each game. No fans in the stands is an immediate downer as well.
Another game on at noon today that I'll watch part of in order to see how Dobson is doing.
Breakers rosters I found didn't show a player number for Dobson. I wonder if that indicates he isn't a starter?
EDIT: Dobson isn't listed as a starter. He may be injured, or on their PR. Or he simply was not yet as good as their other OL players.
A few good plays / players in the game by half time. Also some really inept plays, missed tackles. A couple of the cheer leaders are cute. Why do they have cheerleaders but no fans in the stands?
If it looks like a duck, sounds like a duck then it's a duck. Cue taps.
As the sole property of FOX Sports, I don't think they counted on gate, they gave up on gate by haing a single venue.
This is purely TV content. The most surprising thing is that NBC is involved. They must have a contract that is a no lose deal, that they pay for content only if they make money.
With FOX committing $250 mil to the league to operate (obviously that money is based on revenue streams, and not just a gift), if they are getting any traction with advertisers, or can generate sufficient viewership that could potentially be monitized, they will keep it going. But, if they can't see that light at the end of the tunnel, the pin could be pulled at any time.
I'd set the over/under on 5 games, and take the under...
A few good players / players in the game by half time. Also some really inept plays, missed tackles. A couple of the cheer leaders are cute. Why do they have cheerleaders but no fans in the stands?
You noticed, didn't you? Success! Now you know why they are there. ;)
Maybe NBC is involved simply to push those ads for Peacock?
Aards thinks 5 weeks? Haven't they planned finances around a whole season? I don't remember, did either AAF or XFL2 play a whole season and cup? I recall seeing one... maybe it was spring-league though. Someone start taking bets.
$250M? For comparison, what's the total spend of the entire CFL? Less than this? Our product is just so much better. We need to market more in the states... how can Americans tune in for this amateur hour and not the CFL?? Boggles the mind.
Quote from: theaardvark on April 24, 2022, 03:41:41 AM
It looks like they ditched a ton of the drones for this week. The wide-field shots previously would have drones clearly visible in shot. Nothing visible this week. Just the spidercam. Smart move. Put the drones in for special moments like kickoff, then keep them down or far away for most play.
Fans: The first Birmingham "home" game had tons of fans: at least half full. The non-"home" games have almost no one. I thought for a second they were just allowing friends/family of players? If that's full-open to all comers, then the attendance is pathetic. I'd go to non-WPG CFL games at IGF if we had a similar situation, but I'm weird. (Good thing CFL never did that 1-city idea for covid.)
Quarterbacking seems to be the weakest link in USFL league so far. Maybe the CFL cohort isn't so bad after all.
Does anyone know if 66's man LDW is in USFL??
I don't think he is. He was in the XFL IIRC but might now be out of football.
Very hard for a QB to build any repoire with rec's in a few weeks, some have played previously with one or more of thier teamates in college, and at least one has played in his coaches system for a period before.... those QB's seem "better" than the others.
Remember, these QB's are getting the same wage as every other player, IIRC. The best starting QB and the worst backup DB are getting the same paycheck, the DB gets even more if his team wins and the QB's team loses...
I have no idea how.why Sloter played most of the game with a "popped groin". I guess having played for 6 NFL teams and been tried out in 26 different venues over the last few years, he does not want to give up any airtime he might be allowed...
Post by: theaardvark on May 01, 2022, 02:31:31 AM
So, nothing on network TV this week?
Weird...
Post by: Blue In BC on May 01, 2022, 12:46:26 PM
Quote from: theaardvark on May 01, 2022, 02:31:31 AM
There were 2 games on Fox yesterday. I watched parts of both. No fans for the 1st game but there was a crowd of a few thousand for the Birmingham game. Couldn't tell how large it was but the most I've seen since game 1.
Didn't find either game all that interesting. Aside from the quality level of play, I don't have any association with players, team cities involved etc. Part of the fan aspect requires a crowd involvement supporting their team.
I wasn't watching much but I think even that will decrease for me. Time to focus on our draft and up and coming TC.
Post by: theaardvark on May 01, 2022, 06:44:05 PM
Quote from: Blue In BC on May 01, 2022, 12:46:26 PM
Weird, I guess when I set my PVR for USFL, it didn't pick up the FOX channel, just NBC... so I didn't see either broadcast game this week.
Have to wonder if Fubo or Peacock are getting any traffic..
As to association based on city... other than Birmingham, there are no team/city alliances. And not many recognizable names at all... or any that have stood out enough to encourage following them...
Is limiting broadcast games a good way to build followers?
Quote from: theaardvark on May 01, 2022, 06:44:05 PM
I'm wondering the same thing about limiting broadcast games. Two games of four per week are only on the Fubo or other pay type networks.
I don't understand why they did this and what the plans for 2023 might look like. Seems like a horrible business model IMO.
I'm wondering the same thing abut limiting broadcast games. Two games of four per week are only on the Fubo or other pay type networks.
I guess they are trying to cover all the bases, might be trying to prove the league can drive business to the pay networks, and if that fails, next year be 100% FOX content...
Post by: Blue In BC on May 02, 2022, 01:33:46 AM
Viewership was dropping on Fox as well. If they plan to continue with all games in Birmingham that's not good. It's also hasn't built up interest in the other franchise cities in theory. Also the XFL is due to return in 2023 and that overlaps part of their season.
So, for those looking for Dobson in a USFL jersey...
Dave Naylor@TSNDaveNaylor
OL Liam Dobson, No. 3 overall pick of last year?s @CFL Draft, will attend mini-camps with the @ChicagoBears
and @Saints. Had signed a @USFL contract this spring but denied P1 work visa because league does not have $10 million in revenue, according to agent Marty Magid. #bombers
So, the USFL is so lame that you can't get a work visa to play for them... #sad
Well that's interesting. Not good for Dobson. Bears drafted three OL and the Saints at least 2. Even making it to an NFL TC might not happen. So he could be in Winnipeg in 2022. Those camps run May 6 - 16th.
But with his passport.. oh wait... no ratio in the NFL...
The question then moves to, is it better to bounce around looking to get a PR spot in the NFL, or come to Canada and play. Can he land a spot on the Bombers and get on the field? He could easily take Eli's spot, but can he get Dejarlais'? Because if he wants to get a kick at teh NFL, the best bet might be to take the route Dejarlais did...
Desjarlais signed a futures contract and will be at an NFL TC. Dobson is just a mini camp invite.
The Saints just signed 17 UDFA players.
I think Dobson doesn't make it to an NFL TC.
Exactly, but not making a TC doesn't mean you can't work your way onto a PR somewhere along the line... teams are always trying out hoggies... so there is a chance he could find a PR spot eventually. But coming north gets him a PR spot for sure, possibly an AR spot and he could earn the chance to play.
No but for Canadian rookies that's not a good sign. There are probably 50+ import OL that didn't get drafted that have a better chance to at least attend an NFL TC.
Dobson was the 3rd overall pick in the 2021 draft. He'll make the roster on just that basis alone. He might end up as the non dressed player or bump our # 5 or # 6 Canadian OL.
Post by: GOLDMEMBER on May 02, 2022, 10:20:13 PM
You are both right no way he makes it to an NFL camp. Great news more top quality OL Canadian help enroute in time. 8)
The question is, can he figure out that chasing around after an NFL PR spot hinders his development of ever getting to an NFL roster, whereas a couple years of solid CFL coaching and play gets him both a paycheck and an opportunity like Dejarlais just got...
Post by: TecnoGenius on May 05, 2022, 08:22:21 PM
Haha, you're killing me! Optimist :o :o ;D ;D ;D ;)
I watched part of the two games on Fox over the weekend. Actually I've watched less and less as the league has continued into it's 4th week. QB play for the most part is not very good. Football starts and stops with the man in charge.
A few players have stood out but that might be more about the lack of quality opponents. OTOH a few players could have a chance at another NFL look.
With so few fans in the stands it's just depressing to watch. I'll have to check and see what viewer ship is like from week 4. If it continues to decline that's not good.
Watched both games... Bertolet kicking, played in Hamilton last year (was cut in Nov after hitting only 67% during the year). No mention of CFL. Only A&M... so I'm guessing there is a ban on mentioning CFL... they were gushing about his performance and how wonderful the teams scouting as to have found him, and have him come in and make some long FGs.
Games were unimpressive, play was mediocre, refereeing was sadly lacking even with the reviews, production values dropped again, two spider cams, no drones, a few handhelds running around the field, not much mic'd up, no helmet cams.
Looks like they are scaling back production dramatically. And the lack of crowds... yeesh. During the Birmingham game, the commentators actually were mentioning that the teams had to put up with crowd noise for a change... and then jumped to "Not a lot of crowd noise"...
Lots of injuries, players aren't in shape, and aren't working as nice, clean units. One of the commentators was arguing an OPI on a rub route where the receivers had too much separation and the "rub" actually reached out to deflect the DB... and the commentator disputed it was OPI initially...
Lots of time outs for no reason, and the "Clock stops on a first down in the final 2 minutes" did not seem to actually be the case...
I can't see a season 2, I would be surprised if they finish out the season except that they may have contractual obligations that may make it cheaper to play that pay out non performance penalties...
Pretty grim when the 1st pick in their draft is released and picked by another team. QB Shea Patterson.
Post by: Blue In BC on June 28, 2022, 02:46:47 PM
Cue taps after the playoff game this week. I'm not convinced the USFL exists in 2023.
EDIT: In theory the are increasing their roster size from 50 to 75 ( including PR ).


text:
Jerusalem Post Middle East
Abbas meets family of murdered east Jerusalem teen
Abbas also received the family of Tariq Abu Khdeir, a cousin of the slain teenager, who was reportedly beaten by policemen during the riots in Shuafat.
By KHALED ABU TOAMEH
JULY 8, 2014 05:17
HUSSEIN ABU KHDEIR, father of Palestinian teenager Muhammad Abu Khdeir, holds a poster with his son's picture as he meets PA President Mahmoud Abbas in Ramallah.
(photo credit: REUTERS)
Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas on Monday received in his office the family of murdered teenager Muhammad Abu Khdeir.
Abbas told the families from east Jerusalem that he would pursue their cases at "all international forums so that the culprits would be punished and we would gain all our rights."
Referring to the abduction and murder of the teenager, Abbas said: "Regrettably, we are dealing with people who don't understand the meaning of humanity."
Abbas said the murder "reminds us of things that happened in the past. They shouldn't have done this because they say that they suffered from massacres and killings."
The PA president was referring to the Holocaust.
Abbas told the families that the Palestinians wouldn't remain silent in the face of this "ugly crime."
From now on, he added, "We wouldn't remain silent over these crimes that are being perpetrated against our people. Not only the crimes of killings and torture, but also settlements and settler assaults, cutting of trees and attacks on mosques."
Abbas said Jerusalem will "remain our eternal capital." The PA, he added, is now studying ways of supporting Jerusalem in various fields.
Ishaq Abu Khdeir, a representative of the victim's family, said Shuafat was "proud to have presented a martyr for the homeland. He won't be the first and last martyr."
The representative denied that Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu phoned the family to offer his condolences over the murder. "This is a false claim," he said.
The father of the murdered teenager said he received dozens of phone calls from Israelis and foreigners and peace activists during the day. He said he did not know if Netanyahu was among the callers.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


text:
← Review: Running Essentials with Michelle Estuar (Trinoma)
Hiking: Anatomy of a Backpacker →
Press Relase: Sermona Defies Bad Weather Ruled Angeles leg
ANGELES CITY, July 22, 2012: Not even the bad weather could stop former MILO Marathon King Julius Sermona and Merdeliza Dizu from topping the fourth leg of the 36th National MILO Marathon held Sunday. Over 6,150 registered runners participated in the race leg, as Angeles City hosted the MILO Marathon elims for the first time.
Sermona, a former member of the Philippine National Team, defied the heavy downpour and crafted a time of 1:13:02 to lead several other runners into the National Finals on December 9 at the Mall of Asia grounds in Pasay City. Having won two silver medals in the 5,000-m and 10,000-m run in the Bangkok Southeast Asian Games in 2007, the 34-year-old Sermona is one of the fastest runners in this year's Finals. He established his personal best of 2:21:53 when he dominated the 42-k track of the 30th MILO Marathon National Finals in 2006.
Sermona claims that training for the qualifying race is his foundation for the finals. "I focused on endurance training, road running, a once-a-week work out, and hard training," he said. "For the finals, I plan to increase the volume and intensity of my routine. I plan to run a few short-distance divisional races and add about 5 to 10-k to my training as well."
"My goal is to win the finals. I want to defeat the Kenyans in the open division, which is why I hope to avoid injuries," he added.
Completing the top three cast in the men's 21-k category are Quisay Alley with 1:14:11 in second place and Ryan Mendoza with 1:17:32 in third place.
Not to be outdone, Merdeliza Dizu stamped class when she outraced fellow veteran Geralden Sealza in the final 200 meters to top the women's division. Sealza settled for second place with a clocking of 1:37:21, followed by Marychiel Minas-Morales with a time of 1:42:04.
"Since school started this June, I have been training everyday for an hour. I focus on endurance since I'm used to being a mid-distance runner," said Dizu. "This is actually the first time I ran the 21-k track. I'm very happy to win."
The 19–year old Dizu added that she has yet to decide whether to pursue the local or open category this year. "It depends on my coach. I am still trying to pace myself and to gauge my capabilities as a runner."
Both Sermona and Dizu will lead 34 other qualifiers into the 36th National MILO Marathon Finals on December 9 at the SM Mall of Asia (MOA) ground in Pasay City. Earlier, former three-time National MILO Marathon King Eduardo Buenavista (1:13:29) and veteran Miscelle Gilbuena (1:37:29) advanced to the National Finals when they topped the Tarlac City elimination leg last week.
Organizers are expecting a total of 40,000 runners, of which over 2,000 runners registered for the 42-k track, to participate in the Metro Manila qualifying leg on July 29 at the SM Mall of Asia (MOA) ground in Pasay City. This marks a record-breaking number of participants for a single race category in the history of MILO Marathon.
The winner in the local category of the 36th MILO Marathon National Finals will receive P 150,000 for the men and women's division, respectively, while a sum of P300,000 will be given to the winners in the Open category. A bonus prize of P50,000 will also be accorded to the runner who can break the 2:15:00 invisible barrier and P20,000 for the male runner who can break the 2:18:53 course record set by Eduardo Buenavista in 2004. Another P20,000 is also offered to the female runner who can break the 2:48:16 record of Jho-Ann Banayag in 2008. National race technical director Rio de la Cruz said that for a foreign runner to qualify in the National Finals, he or she must provide proof of finish in any sanctioned or accredited races by the Association of International Marathons (AIMS) for at least one year before the race day.
To further MILO's vision to inspire and equip underprivileged school children to excel in sports and in life, MILO's "Help Give Shoes" advocacy program, which is now on its third year of staging, will provide 10,000 pairs of shoes to children nationwide. In Angeles City, five schools received shoes through the advocacy program, including Angeles Elementary School, Cutud Elementary School, Teodoro P. Tinio Elementary School, Belen Homesite Elementary School and Abelardo Tinio Elementary School.
After the Angeles City Leg, the qualifying race will shift to Metro Manila on July 29, Naga on Aug. 19, San Pablo, Laguna on Sept. 2, Lipa, Batangas on Sept. 16, Puerto Princesa, Palawan on Sept. 23, Tagbilaran on Sept. 30, Cebu on Oct. 7, Bacolod on Oct. 14, Iloilo on Oct. 28, Gen. Santos on Nov. 4, Davao on Nov. 11, Butuan on Nov. 18 and Cagayan de Oro City on No. 25. The 36th MILO Marathon National Finals is slated on December 9 at the SM Mall of Asia in Pasig City.
The 36th National MILO Marathon is made possible by Timex, the Bayview Park Hotel Manila and Reebok, along with partnerships with the Department of Education and the Philippine Olympic Committee. For more information on the race and its advocacy, visit the MILO marathon website or access the MILO Philippines fanpage on Facebook. Follow MILO on Twitter (@MILOPH).
About the National MILO Marathon
The National MILO Marathon is an annual marathon event open to amateur and professional runners. From its humble beginnings in 1974 as a single marathon race in Metro Manila attended by 747 participants, the National MILO Marathon has grown to be the biggest, longest, grandest national running event in the country attracting more than hundreds of thousands of runners across the country. The race is organized by RunRio, Inc.
This entry was posted in Contest, Events, Health, Running, Sports and tagged Cagayan de Oro, Eduardo Buenavista, MILO Marathon National Finals, National Finals, Philippine Olympic Committee, Puerto Princesa, San Pablo Laguna, SM Mall of Asia. Bookmark the permalink.
1 Response to Press Relase: Sermona Defies Bad Weather Ruled Angeles leg
Pingback: Press Release: Banayag & Agravante Prove Lofty Billings in the 36th National Milo Marathon Metro Manila Eliminations | Kalongkong Hiker


text:
Q: GKSession displayNameForPeer prevents releasing the session (iOS 4.0, 4.1) I can reliably crash the simulator with this when releasing the GKSession after calling displayNameForPeer for another peer (not self), and I'm not sure if it's something I'm doing wrong or if it's a bug with Apple's Gamekit framework (and whether I need to worry about it, since I only see the crash under 4.0 and 4.1, not 4.2+).
The output is:
found available peer; checking name and ID... m4, 26176566
*** -[GKSessionInternal lock]: message sent to deallocated instance 0x7508900

Here's the minimal reproducible code set -- note that another GKSession must be visible on the network (so that there's an available peer found to call displayNameForPeer on)  to trigger the crash. Running this same code on another device but without the makeUnavailable and killSession calls is adequate.
- (void)viewDidLoad
{

[self createSession];
[self makeAvailable];

peerListAvailable = [[NSMutableArray alloc] initWithArray:[currentSession peersWithConnectionState:GKPeerStateAvailable]];
for (NSString *peer in peerListAvailable)
{
    // this method guarantees the crash on session release
    NSLog(@"found available peer; checking name and ID... %@, %@",[currentSession displayNameForPeer:peer], peer);
}
[peerListAvailable release];
peerListAvailable = nil;

[self makeUnavailable];
[self killSession];

[super viewDidLoad];
}

- (void) createSession
{
if (!currentSession)
{
    currentSession = [[GKSession alloc] initWithSessionID:@"GKTester" displayName:nil sessionMode:GKSessionModePeer];
    currentSession.delegate = self;
    currentSession.disconnectTimeout = 30;
    [currentSession setDataReceiveHandler: self withContext:nil];
}

}

-(void) killSession
{
if (currentSession)
{
    [currentSession disconnectFromAllPeers];
    [currentSession setDelegate:nil];
    [currentSession setDataReceiveHandler:nil withContext:nil];
    [currentSession release]; // crash occurs after this
    currentSession = nil;
}
}

-(void) makeAvailable
{
while (currentSession && !currentSession.available)
{
    [currentSession setAvailable:YES];
    [NSThread sleepForTimeInterval:.5];
}
}

-(void) makeUnavailable
{
while (currentSession && currentSession.available)
{
    [NSThread sleepForTimeInterval:.5];
    [currentSession setAvailable:NO];
}

}

A: You have an over-release in your code:
[currentSession disconnectFromAllPeers];
[currentSession setDelegate:nil];
[currentSession setDataReceiveHandler:nil withContext:nil];
[currentSession release]; // This is an over-release
currentSession = nil; // You are trying to access a variable after it's been released

You should release the currentSession member variable in dealloc only, like so:
- (void)dealloc
{
    [currentSession release];
    [super dealloc];
}

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


text:
Trump's win serves as Mass. reality check
What does Donald Trump's stunning victory mean for Massachusetts?
Most likely, the Bay State's 11-member congressional delegation will be assigned to total irrelevancy.
President-elect Trump doesn't need Massachusetts — and a governor who disavowed him — to get his presidency off the ground, revamping the Obama administration's laws and policies that influenced Tuesday's outcome.
Under eight years of President Barack Obama, our delegation had a chance to tweak the medical and economically destablilizing ObamaCare, but it did nothing — except to criticize Republicans bent on repealing the law.
Well, now, the Bay State bunch will have no choice. Reform will be the result of a GOP-dominated Washington (and soon, a less liberalized U.S. Supreme Court).
During the presidential campaign, U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts led the Democrat charge in taking pot shots at Trump, calling him a "disaster" and "unfit" to serve. Hey, this newspaper did the same. But we don't have to work with the new commander-in-chief; Warren does.
Warren called for a "truce" with Trump, and that's a start in the right direction. However, the election shows she's out of touch with average Americans, as are most Democrats.
America's forgotten men and women — economically depressed and abandoned — went to the polls in record numbers and repudiated Obama's "progressive" agenda. Democrats killed their coal-mining jobs, shut down pipeline projects, and outsourced jobs to foreign nations without doing anything to reverse the damage.
The disenfranchised were told to get with it; the transformation was real, and America had to save the planet.
For eight years, the quietly forgotten seethed in Pennsylvania, Ohio, Wisconsin and elsewhere, biding their time. On Tuesday, they spoke — backing a flawed candidate who nonetheless understood their pain and suffering.
Few pollsters, political observers or party elites on both sides of the aisle sensed it — least of all the Clinton campaign.
We're fortunate in Massachusetts. We don't have it as hard as Rust Belt workers who've seen millions of jobs vanish. Still, the Bay State is not immune to its own mounting problems.
The economic inequality gap between the state's rich and poor is widening. Stagnant wages, coupled with soaring health-care costs, are robbing decent middle-class folks of their prosperity. Tuition costs for their kids are exorbitant, putting more pressure on household finances. Anxiety levels are rising.
When the unrest fully surfaces, like it did in America's Heartland, will the Massachusetts delegation say it was unaware?
Hopefully, our elected officials won't let it get that far. Because their days of promising to fix ObamaCare and curtail federal overreach — while doing nothing — are over. They have no choice but to work with President-elect Trump to get things done.
Or they can stay irrelevant and leave it to the rising number of Bay State forgottens to take action into their own hands at the voting booth.


text:
Department Organization
The West Norriton Township Police Department is currently comprised of 27 sworn officers. The department is lead by the chief of police who is the executive officer of the Police Department. The deputy chief is second in command of the department and is in charge of day-to-day operations of the various divisions and the school resource officer. The divisions consist of patrol, detective, and support staff.
The Patrol Division is comprised of four platoons, each consisting of a sergeant, a corporal, and three patrol officers. The Detective Unit is comprised of a sergeant and three detectives, one of whom is specifically assigned to investigate incidents involving juveniles. The school resource officer is assigned to the Norristown Area High School.
Ancillary Duties
Many officers have ancillary duties, which include traffic safety, special weapons and tactics, bicycle patrol, major incident response, range instruction, weapons maintenance, taser instruction, self defense instruction, and first aid instruction.


Every stag party needs a chance to sit down, catch up and carb-load before a bellyful of great Belgian beer! Make your meal count with this classic option - a basic man dinner in a quality piano bar just outside Brussels city centre.
You'll get a massive four course meal for the group, featuring aperitifs, starter, mains and dessert. There's even the option to add an open bar to the dinner for a small extra cost! Turn up, tuck in, and sink a few Trappist brews. Just remember, these beers are way stronger than your average lager. No sculling unless you want to be on the floor by 8pm!
There's entertainment throughout the meal, in the form of rock n roll piano geniuses playing massive tunes on the ivories. We're talking great food, big hits and a huge atmosphere. What more could you want from a stag party nosh-up?
How about club entry? The restaurant turns into a party bar when the food service stops, and with a bunch of Belgian brews under your belt you'll have plenty of reasons to get up and start dancing. We reckon you won't find a better way to eat with the boys, anywhere in Brussels!


Presented by Fathom Events, Pure Flix and Paulist Productions, this documentary follows five single people as they navigate the changing dating scene in. Catch these top 10 date movies with your girlfriend, and she'll think you have great taste in films. We all love a good rom-com, but it doesn't mean that movies tell the truth about dating.
SPIRITUAL SINGLES DATING SITE Sarah then starts going on numerous dates, but they all turn out to be terrible. Nothing seemed more exciting than creepy Jareth; so I understand why a vampire named Edward—with his awesome power and magnetic pull—could easily steal the hearts of young girls waiting to fall in love for the first time. The movie also movies about dating us that we need to stick to it and persevere in order to succeed. Do movies like Twilight portray unhealthy relationships or do they bare no impact at all? We all swooned when Johnny rebuffed Baby before eventually falling for her fervently.
Movies about dating That year, I listened to the Labyrinth soundtrack ad nauseam movies about dating my uncle gave me his David Bowie record collection. The date then goes horribly wrong, since he admits that the dog is not his. This movie is about a recently divorced teacher — Sarah — around year-old. The next date goes waaay more smoothly but ends up in a funny and awkward drive through the city in search of condoms, which ruins the mood for both of them, movies about dating. Jake also goes on a date with another woman. Would I have eventually fallen for a manipulative creep—a real-life goblin, metaphorically speaking? Morse, for instance, redefined what she wanted from a partner throughout her 20s.
Her family urges her to start looking for another partner, but movies about dating has a lot on her head. Young brains do not distinguish between real-life memories and what we file away from books and films. The next date goes waaay more smoothly but ends up in a funny and awkward drive through the city in search of condoms, which ruins the mood for both of them, movies about dating. The date then goes horribly wrong, since he admits that the dog is not his. It seems doubtful that caring, sensitive and doting heroes will ever replace the bad-boy breed.


We are disturbed by the arrest in Saudi Arabia, over the past two weeks, of a number of activists and human rights defenders working on issues relating to women's rights. Since 15 May, it appears that at least 13 activists, mostly women, have been arrested, although four of the women were reported to have been subsequently released.
Given the significant loosening of certain restrictions on women's activities in Saudi Arabia in recent months, including the forthcoming ending of the ban on women driving, it is perplexing why both women and men engaged in campaigning for such positive developments are now being targeted by the authorities.
According to Saudi media reports, the allegations against the remaining six women and three men known to have been taken into custody, appear to be very serious, and could lead to draconian sentences. The detainees' whereabouts are unknown, and it is reported that most of them have only been permitted to make a single telephone call to their families since they were arrested. One woman has allegedly been detained completely incommunicado.
We urge the Saudi Arabian authorities to reveal their locations, and ensure their rights to due process guarantees. These include the right to legal representation, the right to know the reason for their arrests, the nature of the charges against them, the right to have access to their families, the right to challenge the legality of their detention before a competent, independent and impartial tribunal and if charged with an offense, the right to be brought to trial within a reasonable period of time.
If, as it appears, their detention is related solely to their work as human rights defenders and activists on women's issues, they should be released immediately. We are concerned that the lack of transparency surrounding their situation could open the door to abuse of their physical and psychological integrity, and remind the Saudi authorities of the total prohibition of torture and harmful or degrading treatment under international law.
We are also concerned by the apparent arbitrary detention and disappearances of other people, without explanation or apparent due process. A recent example is Nawaf Talal Rasheed, a prince from the Al-Rashid dynasty, and the son of the late poet Nawaf Talal bin Abdul Aziz Al-Rashid. He is a dual national (Qatari and Saudi Arabian) and was allegedly deported from Kuwait on 12 May, and has not been heard of since. We urge the Saudi authorities to immediately provide information concerning his whereabouts, and make clear whether or not he has been arrested, detained or charged, and if so on what grounds. And, as in the case of the women's rights activists, we call on the authorities to ensure his right to physical and psychological integrity as well as due process.
Violence against women in Afghanistan, including so-called "honour killings", too often goes unpunished, despite concrete efforts by the Government to criminalise these practices, with victims often pressured into agreeing to mediation, instead of the alleged perpetrator being brought to trial, a UN report published on Tuesday has said.
The report by the UN Human Rights Office and the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA), Injustice and Impunity: Mediation of Criminal Offences against Women, examines the wide use of mediation by community leaders, Shuras, Ulemas and Jirgas, as well as Elimination of Violence against Women (EVAW) institutions to resolve criminal offences against women.
It is based on 237 documented cases of violence against women between 1 August 2015 and 31 December 2017, 280 cases of murder and "honour killings" in 2016 and 2017 and focus group discussions with 1,826 mediators. It also details the experience of survivors who underwent mediation after initially having registered a complaint with the authorities.
"The wide use of mediation when a woman or girl has been beaten, mutilated or murdered, or when she has been the victim of that awful concept of 'honour killing', normalizes such violence and makes it much more likely to recur. It also erodes the confidence of women – and the wider public – in the legal system," said UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Zeid Ra'ad Al Hussein.


A collection of images from the varied coastline of Devon. Click on a thumbnail to see a larger version.
Be aware that images viewed on a computer screen may appear different from prints in 'real life'. Print technologies use a completely different method to reproduce colour than computer monitors, and monitors themselves vary enormously in quality and settings. Just altering your screen brightness a notch or two can have a marked effect.
I take great care to control my colour handling process to ensure even tone and colour fidelity. The better your monitor is set up, the closer your display will match the printed product.


You just worked it out. Now it's time for the cool down. You AND your wear.
Machine wash cold and machine dry low.
Returns must be made within 14 days from delivery date. Once we receive your package at our distribution centre, we will process it and send you an email.
All gear must be unwashed, unworn and in the original packaging.
To help protect those glorious trees out there, please send us an email at info@kor-nyc.com if you wish to exchange or return an item.


There are proportions of the body that you should memorize and always keep in the back of your mind…and once you do this, the human body isn't so hard to draw at all. It is just these facts that should pull all everything together for you. Bookmark this page and come back to it for when you need it.... Pencil Drawing. I wrote this article after discovering the numerous benefits of pencil drawing and I want to share with you how it can truly add to the quality of your life.
27/02/2010 · your brain is not accurately understanding what your eyes readily can. Also a very strong familiarity of your subject helps. If you want to draw a person from your mind in a realistic way then you need a strong understanding of anatomy at the very least.... Draw to Win shows you how to take your business ideas and draw them in a simple step by step format. This book is much more than that though. There are profound lessons between the pages.
Sometimes when you look at a blank page, your mind goes blank too. You want to draw or paint, but what? Here are six sources of inspiration to get you started drawing, painting, or even scrapbooking.... I found I could tap into my subconscious mind and visualize what is hidden away by doodling without paying much attention to the creative process.


text:
Otzoloapan é um município do estado do México, no México. O nome vem do náuatle 'Oceloapan', que significa "rio dos linces". Ele está localizado na parte sudoeste do estado na fronteira com o estado de Michoacán.

Municípios do México (estado)

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


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Should William and Catherine have a prenup?
Should William and Catherine have a prenuptual agreement? Such an agreement would specify how marital assets would be divided in the event of divorce. It might also specify custody arrangements of any children born to the marriage, as well as a post-divorce title for Catherine. What other provisions might such an agreement have?
I have read that Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden and her husband Prince Daniel have one and so do Crown Prince Frederick of Denmark and his wife Princess Mary.
My question was inspired by William and Kate.
I imagine that there will be a prenup to protect William's legacy from the Queen Mother, the late Earl Spencer as well Diana, Princess of Wales.
And quite frankly, I think the BRF has learned from the divorces of Andrew/Sarah (saying she didn't get enough money) and Charles/Diana (I believe the Queen loaned Charles the divorce money). Really its the best thing...everyone understands what is going on and in the even of a divorce, who gets what.
Yes, I believe they should have one.
It's my understanding that a pre-nup or "marriage contract" has been the standard among royals for hundreds of years. Obviously, they originated to protect land and real estate, but I don't know of any royal couples that have not had a pre-nup. Perhaps someone who is better informed could provide an example of when this has been the case.
Just to clarify a marriage contract is a very ancient pratice but is a very different thing from a prenup.
In a traditional marriage contract it would be stated the bride's dowry, ie, what she would take would her from her family; what the bride should receive from the groom's family (it could include wedding presents as well as long time support) and what she would receive in case of widowhood (usually she was entitled to receive at least the value of her dowry).
So, a marriage contract plans a financial situation at time of the celebration of the matrimony and throughout the married life, a prenup prevents what happens in case of divorce/dissolution of said marriage. Nowadays a prenup includes lots of the things marriage contracts used to plan on, but they are still very different.
About the case it hand, I think William and Catherine should make a proper prenup. I think the problem with Sarah and Diana's divorce was the lack of a reference that forced difficult decisions to be taken when people weren't at their kindest (the money settlements, the HRH issue, the access to children, etc).
I'd be stunned if they don't. It may never be announced but that and an iron-clad confidentiality agreement should be mandatory!
As romantic as a wedding/marriage is or is supposed to be, the business side is also very important to look at.
So yes, I think it would be very wise and recommendable to have a prenuptial agreement.
nothing wrong with a prenup.I believe they should have one.
absolutely have one! who knows what the future holds? Don't take risks and sign a prenup! I'm surprised to learn they might be the first BRF couple to do so!
I read in the article posted that Princess Diana's secretary remarked that Middleton should get a good prenup. What does he mean by that? I'm assuming the prenup includes standrd things, such as custody of children will lie with BRF, no money for the outsider (in this case, Kate),no tell all books and interviews etc... Basically all in William's favour.
I would expect the pre-nup to state what the financial arrangements would be for Kate on divorce - even depending on what rank William has at the time e.g. less now as 2nd in line but more if he is the heir and even more if he is the King.
No, there's no need for one. The Royal family always retains what is theirs and Catherine of Wales would know what was rightly hers. The legalities of such royal marriages are already in place.
It was never a requirement for British royal marriages, but times have indeed changed and I believe there will be a prenuptial agreement.
The divorce of Diana and Charles was very expensive, contentious and hurtful to the image and standing of the monarchy. They will want to avoid any potential for conflict by settling many of these issues upfront before they marry.
Pre-nups seem to be so sad and cynical to me. It's a shame that they seem to be necessary in this day and age.
It's unlikely that any past royal marriage involved a prenuptial agreement. Prenups have only been considered legally binding in English law at all for just a few weeks, and the courts have not yet determined how much they should be relied upon in divorce cases. A report on whether they should be formally allowed won't be made until 2012, and the law wouldn't change for a while after that. If William and Kate do enter into one (and I don't see anything wrong with prenups personally; they're perhaps not consistent with a fairytale view of romance, but reality usually isn't), there will be a good chance that it will be meaningless in the unhappy event of a divorce.
Personally I think everyone should have a prenup if you have somethign of value.
Yes, its very unromantic but guess what...so is life...and love dies.
People wake up one day and don't want to be married anymore and might not love that person. And sometimes, the person you thought was the love of your life isn't so nice when you divorce. Its best to protect EVERYONE's interest.
In the past, I used to do a weekend shopping trip to NYC with some girlfriends. One year a friend was going thru a very bad divorce and her ex was suing to get money from stock options that she earned before and while they were married. Another said that it was unromantic. But guess what...the unromantic one is getting divorced and getting taken. She had a small townhouse she coudl afford when they married, now she has a house (with no equity cause she used HER CASH equity to buy the new house for the both of them) that she can't unload and they can't afford. But hey...he is moving in with the new girlfriend and she (and their daughter) is moving in with her sister.
Its unromantic but you have to protect your assets. Kate needs to get an experienced lawyer to make sure her interests are protected. No one hopes for divorce but you should always be ready.
"I promise to love, honour and cherish till death do us part and although I'm making these vows solemnly in front of God the meaning of these vows and the value I place on them goes only so far because I do not really trust my new spouse 100% as she/he might very well run off with someone and so to avoid her/him taking me for a ride we've signed a pre-nup"
"With this ring (which I might want back as part of our agreement) I thee wed, with my pre-nup I thee endow"
Most couples go into a first time marriage beleiving it will last forever but statistics suggest that many of them won't make it.
Being prepared for that eventuality - particularly if family wealth is involved and one partner is a lot better off then the other is prudent.
After what happened with Diana and Sarah I am sure that the royal family will won't to ensure no repeats and a pre-nup can do that and stop the bitterness and anger that came with the negotiations over the settlements.
The pre-nup though would have to ensure that Kate was properly cared for in the case of divorce - to prevent another Sarah situation whereby the royal family didn't do the right thing in hindsight.
The whole point of getting married is that you are sure of the person you are marrying and want to spend the rest of your life with them. If you are so unsure that you feel you need a pre-nup agreement then you have no business getting married in the first place.
But nobody would ever get married if that was how it worked. It's simply impossible to tell the future in that way.
If that is the point in marriage, why are there still divorces?
You cannot predict the future, and looking at the track record of most royal brides, a pre-nup is necessary.
Agreed, as romantic as a marriage is supposed to be - the path of staying together until death do you part is today by no means a certainty. Times have changed, how unfortunate that may be.
It's nothing shameful to have your assets protected and I would consider it a very wise thing to do.


This article addresses some of the key issues concerning the draft Withdrawal Agreement from the key principles contained within it to whether it is even likely to come into effect.
Given the hurdles that the Withdrawal Agreement will need to overcome simply in order to come into force, page 3 of this article addresses some of those issues while pages 1 and 2 address some of the legal principles contained with the draft agreement.
The range of issues and volume of specific legislation affected means that it is not possible to address each and every element in detail. In the event that you require advice on a particular consequence of the Withdrawal Agreement then please get in touch with your usual Ashfords contact who will be happy to assist you.
It is the culmination of negotiations between the EU and the UK over the last two years and sets out the terms of ongoing relations between the EU and the UK during a transition period from 29 March 2019 (the date the UK leaves the EU) and the end of 2020. During this transitionary period the EU and UK will negotiate and agree the 'future trade agreement' (FTA) which will govern the relationship once the transitionary period is over. The UK and EU have published an "Outline Political Declaration" (currently just 26 pages long) that sets out the framework and guiding principles that will determine the nature of the FTA.
The Withdrawal Agreement may be extended for an unspecified one-off period by agreement. Any such extension must be agreed before 1 July 2020.
In broad terms little will change during the transitionary period - existing EU law will continue to apply to the UK as if it were a member state and the UK will continue to participate in the EU Customs Union and the Single Market. The key difference will be that the UK will no longer take part in the decision-making bodies of the EU. The direct effect and primacy of EU law will be preserved during the transition period.
If, by the end of the transition period, the UK and EU are unable to agree a FTA that avoids a hard border in Northern Ireland then the UK will be obliged to request an extension to the transition period or enter into an ongoing customs union with the EU. Such an arrangement would prevent the UK from negotiating its own free trade deals. It is this position, combined with the fact that the UK will not be able to unilaterally pull out of the Withdrawal Agreement, that is cited as one of the primary stumbling blocks to the Withdrawal Agreement being passed by the House of Commons.
Goods placed on the market in the EU or UK before the end of the transition period may continue to circulate freely in between these two markets until they reach their end users, even if they reach the end user after the end of the transition period. It should be noted that live animals and animal products are an exception to this principle.
Cross border access for financial services will continue during the transition period under the Withdrawal Agreement.
The UK will continue to participate in the CAP during the transition period but this will cease at the end of 2020 irrespective of whether the Withdrawal Agreement is extended beyond that date.
The Withdrawal Agreement requires that the UK maintains consistent interpretation of the case law of the Court of Justice of the European Union for the duration of the transition period. UK courts will also be required to "pay due regard" to CJEU case law following the end of the transition period.
The UK will continue to be bound by the working time directive and other labour legislation "with the aim of ensuring the proper functioning of the single customs territory".
EU citizens in the UK and UK citizens in the EU will be entitled to "stay and continue their current activities".
Freedom of movement will continue during the transition period, entitling citizens to continue to move to live and work throughout the UK and the EU. Citizens that take up residence before the end of the transition will be able to remain beyond transition and those that remain for 5 years will be allowed to remain permanently.
The Withdrawal Agreement confirms that EU trademarks and designs will continue to be valid in the UK.
The UK will continue to apply existing data rules during the transition period and is likely to look to maintain data protection safeguards which are essentially equivalent to those in the EU following the conclusion of the transition period.
Click here to view our Brexit infrographic.
The Withdrawal Agreement was ratified at a summit of EU leaders on 25 November 2018.
The next step in the process is for the Withdrawal Agreement to pass a vote in the House of Commons, expected to be in early December 2018. If the Prime Minister loses this vote she will have 21 days to put forward a revised plan.
The final stage will be for the Withdrawal Agreement to be passed by the European Parliament and the EU Council.
What might happen if the House of Commons does not pass the Withdrawal Agreement in December 2018?
Given the level of opposition to the Withdrawal Agreement expressed by Conservative and DUP MPs there is a real possibility that the House of Commons will not approve the draft Withdrawal Agreement. Labour MPs are likely, for other reasons, to oppose the Withdrawal Agreement as well.
It has been suggested that if the Prime Minister could not pass the Withdrawal Agreement then she could look to renegotiate its terms and/or ask for an extension of time to the 29 March 2019 deadline to allow more time to negotiate a revised agreement. On 19 November 2018, the former President of the European Council, Herman Van Rompuy, told the BBC that there "was almost no room" for re-opening discussions on the terms of the Withdrawal Agreement.
It is possible that Conservative MPs could trigger a vote of no confidence in the Prime Minister. In order to do so they will require 48 letters supporting that position. Once secured a vote could be held as quickly as within 48 hours. If Mrs May lost, there would be a leadership election to determine the new leader of the Conservatives and therefore Prime Minister. If Mrs May won any such vote, she could not be challenged again for a further 12 months.
It has also been suggested that there may be a General Election - whether called by Mrs May if she cannot pass the Withdrawal Agreement, or if she is removed from power. Two thirds of MPs would need to vote in favour of such an election.
There is also lobbying taking place in favour of a second referendum – the so-called "People's Vote". It is not clear what such a referendum would do – although its supporters claim that it would give the public a decision on whether to accept the final terms of withdrawal or opt to remain in the EU. It is not clear, however, what would happen if such a referendum showed a majority wanted to remain in the EU – for example would the EU agree to the UK being able to "re-join" on the same terms as existed prior to the UK triggering its departure from the EU on 29 March 2017.
What happens if the Withdrawal Agreement does not come into effect?
In the absence of either: a replacement Withdrawal Agreement having been agreed and passed; or an extension to the 29 March 2019 deadline under Article 50 having been agreed, then the UK could be leaving the EU under a 'no deal' scenario on 29 March 2019. The consequences of which are beyond the scope of this article. In the event that you require advice on this scenario then please get in touch with your usual Ashfords contact who will be happy to assist you.


Experience the true power of petrol, with the Renault DUSTER. Its revolutionary new engine is tuned perfectly to generate exceptional power and torque. But power is nothing if it's not delivered dynamically. That's why the DUSTER's new petrol engine comes mated with a state-of-the-art X-tronic CVT (continuously variable transmission). The DUSTER also comes with a powerful 1.5 litre diesel engine. Available in two avatars, the AWD variant is designed to adapt to any terrain while the 6-speed Easy-R AMT variant makes driving effortless even in the harshest conditions. With its astounding features, the Renault DUSTER truly lives up to the term, the true SUV.
Today, the all-terrain vehicle is often synonymous with being large, a preconception that the Renault Duster breaks down. Measuring 4.31m long and 1.82m wide, the Renault Duster is compact.
The Renault Duster has been designed to suit all types of roads across the world. In order to satisfy these different needs, the Renault Duster is available in a 4x4 and 4x2 version.
The Renault Duster's reinforced chassis is suitable for off-road use thanks to its high ground clearance of 210mm, short overhangs (822mm at the front and 820mm at the rear) and large off-road angles.


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Home » Microgreens » What are microgreens and why should I care?
What are microgreens and why should I care?
Microgreens are far more than just tasty
Microgreens have been around for quite some time, but still many people don't know what all the craze is about. Coming out of California during the 1990s, these delicious plants not only pack a high flavor profile, they also have an exceptionally high nutritional content. Over the past 30 years, microgreens have grown into a prized addition to top chef's plates across North America.
What Are Microgreens
Microgreens are simply the adolescent stems and leaves of a more common herb, vegetable or fruit that is harvested shortly after the seeds germinate (begin to grow). Some common microgreens include pea shoots, cabbage, radish, mustard, basil and spinach. To grow microgreens, the seeds are often planted much closer to one another than they would conventionally be if the plant was to grow to maturity. Each plant is harvested within the first 10-20 days (depending on the species) of seedling emergence. Harvesting these plants in their earliest stages allows consumers to take advantage of the plant's unique properties due to where they are in the growing cycle. Given that these plants are harvested during the plant's cotyledon stage, the plant is rapidly processing nutrients and cells for growth and filled with more nutrients than its mature counterpart (Janosvska, Stockova and Stehno, 2010).
Microgreens are full of many bioactive components that are extremely important to human health such as vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants (Mir and Shah, 2016). In fact, various microgreens have been found to have as much as 260 times greater amounts of vitamin C, E, and K and minerals like calcium, magnesium, iron, and zinc than their mature counterparts (Michell et al, 2020). Apparently, it's true that small things do pack the strongest punch!
At Sky Harvest, we take tremendous pride in producing microgreens and ensuring consumers get top of the line greens without producing a negative environmental impact. Our Richmond farm was Canada's first Certified Organic urban farm and all of our greens are delivered by bike to local customers.
Microgreens are truly a small plant that packs a hell of a punch. Bring some extra flavor to your dish today @ https://skyharvest.ca/home/shop/
Janovska, D., Stockova, L. and Stehno, Z. (2010). Evaluation of buckwheat sprouts as microgreens. Acta Agri. Slov. 95:157–162.
Michell, Isweiri. "Microgreens: Consumer Sensory Perception and Acceptance of an Emerging Functional Food Crop." Journal of food science 85.4 (2020): 926–935. Web.
Mir, Shah. "Microgreens: Production, Shelf Life, and Bioactive Components." Critical reviews in food science and nutrition 57.12 (2016): 2730–2736. Web.
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Sky Harvest grows high-quality organic microgreens and specialty greens for restaurants, chefs and grocery stores in Vancouver, BC.
Our Richmond farm is Canada's first Certified Organic urban farm, and our greens are delivered by bike to local customers.
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Minimum order $30. Free farm curbside pick-up available or free delivery for orders over $60 in our bike zone. Dismiss


Many define vision as the ability to see something to come. In business, that definition in my opinion is very limited.
To me, vision as related to business, has a two dimensional definition: (1)the ability to look in the intangible and see something tangible; while (2) having the ability to either position oneself in a variable manner to take advantage of it or be cushioned from it.
What good is it to know what's coming without positioning yourself in a manner to be protected or to benefit from it? In business we must have this ability or bring someone on board who has this ability. You could be in an industry that is on the brink of drying up! A new invention, fraud, a new law or regulation can greatly impact any industry.
What would you do if the industry where the majority of your income comes from dried up today?
Most people unfortunately can't answer that question. Take some time to think about this.


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This floral nail art has been in my wishlist for a long time and I'm glad that I finally got around to doing it. I have seen several nail art enthusiasts create this design bringing in their own personal styles to it and I would like to be part of that roster. I find this such a dainty floral design.
I wanted some depth on my poppies but I am not particularly good at shading so I thought of using the watercolor technique to achieve a similar effect. It is my first time to do something like this and it was surprisingly quite easy to do.
I chose Dazzle Dry At First Blush in 3 coats as background. White would be an obvious preference, but I wanted a subdued base color. I think it made the nail design look more dainty and I love it.
This freehand nail art was painted using a detail nail art brush and acrylic paints.
I've seen a lot of watercolor inspired nail art and decided to do it a little different for my poppies. I slightly watered down my acrylic paint and started drawing the flowers in a circular motion until the paint is almost dry. The circular brush strokes will result to visible streaks and will spread the color unevenly, creating depth. I was also careful to push the paint on the edges so that it would create an outline for the poppies.
From the close up photo, you'll be able to see the brush strokes. The best thing is that I didn't have to worry about being so precised as I was normally used to. And it is very manageable to paint even with my non-dominant hand. So if you're looking for a flower inspired nail art that is easy to do, I would definitely recommend this technique.
To finish the look, I added short black stems and dabbed some black paint to determine the center for each poppy.
I would certainly explore this technique more in furture nail art designs. Have you tried the watercolor technique or something like this?
There you have it, my "Pretty Poppies" nail art. I'm bias to the color red, but I really love the way how this turned out. How about you, what do you think?
It's nice to know people appreciate my work.
These are amazing, Rins. Beautiful work. I don't know if I would be able to do it, but I'm certainly going to give it a try. :) Thanks for sharing the details with us so that we can give it a go.


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Biz Style
Shawn Heng: Super-sizing the Grab experience
Features, People
by fredrik
Grab's Head of Business Development shares the tech start-up's journey from ride hailing platform to a super app for your everyday needs
Grab reached a milestone last year when it became Southeast Asia's first decacorn, a company worth at least US$10 billion. It is one of less than 20 privately-held companies in the world to have achieved that status, according to a report by Google and Temasek.
The Singapore-based company's financial heft has been accompanied by a flurry of new offerings on its app, as it aims to expand from just a ride-hailing and food delivery platform to a "super app" catering to the everyday needs of consumers across Southeast Asia. New services launched this year alone include hotel bookings, on-demand video streaming, ticket purchases and a trip planner.
The super app strategy aims to fuel Grab's future growth as it attempts to embed itself into the lives of its users. Already, the app has been downloaded 163 million times in eight countries. Given ASEAN's population of around 640 million, Shawn Heng, Grab's Head of Regional Business Development, believes there is plenty of room to expand. We speak to Mr Heng to get his view on Grab's super app strategy.
Describe Grab's journey from a ride hailing app to a super app for consumers in Southeast Asia.
Most people got to know us for our contribution to building up the ride hailing industry in SEA. We've done a good job there, but we need to constantly improve to give our customers what they want. It has been a constant evolution. When customers wanted a ride faster, we aggregated supply pools (JustGrab today) so they could get faster driver allocations. When they wanted cheaper alternatives, we introduced GrabShare, GrabHitch and GrabShuttle.
Building on our leadership in ride hailing, we added deliveries and food to our offering. All this needed to be tied together with one thing; and that's where GrabPay plays a critical role. Payments is the lubricant that ties these services together under one roof. Today, we are the only company in Southeast Asia to have an e-wallet licence in six countries.
Whilst we continue to focus on improving these core businesses, we want to ensure we give our users more reasons to spend time with us. Which is why we have expanded the vision for our platform to become the 'Everyday Everything App' by adding new service offerings through partnerships.
Our goal is to curate and offer high-quality services that are most important and relevant to our customers daily lives – all through one app
What is the vision for the role that Grab will play in people's lives?
Ultimately, it's about creating habits to drive user growth and engagement; giving you more reasons to use the app. In 2017, the only reason you opened our app was because you wanted to get a ride, but today we want to be useful for customers throughout the day, where they would use Grab at various times for different purposes. Let me give you an example.
Let's say you wake up at 7am, and you order a quick breakfast through GrabFood. Then you take a Grab ride to the office at 9am. At the office, you pay for your coffee at the store nearby using GrabPay.
You've got a lunch meeting with your team — at noon, you order lunch in using GrabFood at noon. Later in the day, you head out for another meeting and plan to take a train. On the way to the station, you pick up a Grab e-scooter to get you there quicker.
When you're done with the meeting, you realise you need to deliver something from the office, so you use our delivery service. Back at the office at around 5pm, you're thinking about catching a movie with the family on the weekend, you order tickets through the app.
At 8pm, you get a Grab ride home; and at 9pm you decide to relax by watching your favourite series on Hooq in the Grab app. Before going to bed, you remember that the September school holidays are coming up, so you think about booking your vacation through the app.
Why would someone use Grab to book a hotel versus going direct to, say, booking.com?
We have partnered with Booking Holdings to enable users to book hotels via booking.com and Agoda. So essentially users are still booking their hotel via booking.com, the main difference being that their entry point is different.
There are many consumers in SEA that have yet to be introduced to booking travel online. As mobile penetration continues to grow and more Southeast Asians come online, they are more likely to be first introduced to simple services in Grab like taking a ride from point A to point B. Our core businesses are faster acquisition points for new users, from which we can introduce more aspirational offerings like travel. That is why our partners like Booking Holdings see value in leveraging the Grab platform to access and educate users to their offerings quickly.
We also help our partners access new segments. There are many users that need to travel domestically frequently and have been doing so in more traditional ways. However with the ability to access preferential hotel rates directly on the Grab app (which they already use every day for transport), triggers them to change their behaviour.
What are the key challenges in executing Grab's super app strategy?
Learning quickly and executing flawlessly are big challenges. That's why partnerships are core to our super app ambitions. We don't believe in building everything ourselves. Rather, we partner with companies that are best-in-class at what they do. This allows us to scale into new verticals quicker, bringing more services to our customers faster, at the same time our partners can leverage our reach and assets to fuel their own growth too. We've launched three new partnered services in Singapore this year alone (tickets, hotels and videos).
What are the next steps in this journey?
Our partnered offerings will continue to grow and you can expect additional new categories to emerge in the coming months. As we do so, we will also focus more on tying together how users interact seamlessly with both our core businesses and partnered offerings. Our aim is to ensure services are surfaced in a contextually relevant way for users, at the right time and right place, so they are useful and meaningful for users.
Mr Shawn Heng was the most recent speaker at the Singapore Business Federation's In Conversation Series where we invite business leaders to share their insights and experience. Don't want to miss the next one? Email us at advocacy.actions@sbf.org.sg.
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In a small New England town at the close of World War I, Jeremy "T. stands for Trouble" Chance is eagerly awaiting the return of his brother, Davey, from the war. He distracts himself by exploring the woods near his home and psyching himself up to leap from his second-story window into the huge snowdrift below–a rite of passage for boys his age. Jeremy lands in real trouble when he declares his father wrong in a less than neighborly dispute with Mr. Cutter, who owns the land next door. Jeremy's father is furious, and the rift between them gives the impetuous Jeremy all the incentive he needs to run away to Boston, in hopes of meeting his brother's ship.
He catches a freight train at the edge of town and hooks up with a "traveling man" named The Professor, who gives him some tips on the hobo lifestyle. In Boston, Jeremy is wowed by the crowds, the tall buildings, and the El. He enjoys his first restaurant meal and is tempted by rum balls at a market stall. Suddenly, a big explosion rocks Boston, and Jeremy's quick-witted resourcefulness becomes crucial to saving a firefighter's life.
Set in one of the most storied eras of our history, this tale of a simple disagreement that escalates into an all-out battle between father and son highlights the courage it takes to question a parent and the strength that is necessary to know when to forgive.


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Tech Transformers
Chinese e-commerce giant JD.com is developing a drone that can deliver packages weighing as much as one ton
Published Sat, Jun 10 201712:23 AM EDT Updated Sat, Jun 10 20172:07 AM EDT
Arjun Kharpal@ArjunKharpal
JD.com headquarters logo sign outside building in South section of Beijing, May 19, 2016.
China's second largest e-commerce giant is developing a drone that can deliver packages weighing as much as one metric ton throughout rural areas of the country, according to JD.com's Chief Technology Officer (CTO).
"So today, as you have seen in China, e-commerce is huge but in remote villages most people are not benefitting from e-commerce… so to solve that problem we will develop our drone program," Chen Zhang told CNBC at the Consumer Electronics Show in Asia on Thursday.
Chen explained JD.com has seven different types of delivery drones in testing or operation across four provinces in China.
The company has drones that can fly up to 100km per hour, delivering packages weighing from 5kg to 30kg, and is testing drones which can carry as much as 1,000kg - or one metric ton. The maximum distance they can travel is approximately 100km before recharging.
While JD.com's drones are now able to carry heavier weights and travel further at a faster pace, Chen bemoaned the industry's persistent struggles with battery power. He explained, "The battery cost today is still very high… it is a major issue we need to address."
'We can fully operationalize our drone delivery program'
A JD.com drone taking off in Suqian, China
"This is a radical industry right? Once the industry has solved the battery issue, we believe at that time our technology will be mature and we can fully operationalize our drone delivery program," Chen said.
The Beijing-based firm also said it would continue to work on developing fully automated warehouses in order to improve the company's efficiency. Chen suggested that if JD.com converted its warehouses in this way, it would be able to store up to 10 times as many goods in the same space.
JD.com has been developing its drone capabilities since October 2015 via its JDX innovation lab. It started trialing flights in June 2016, and is currently in operation or being tested in four provinces: Beijing, Sichuan, Shaanxi and Jiangsu, the company said.
JD.com isn't the only company looking at delivery by drone. Amazon has partnered with the U.K. government to test drone deliveries and recently designed a UAV (unmanned aerial vehicle) with robotic wingtips and legs that act as landing gear to help them touch down on uneven surfaces.
The U.S. based e-commerce giant also announced it would open a 60,000 square foot development center in the U.K. focused on artificial intelligence (A.I.) and drone delivery research.
— CNBC's Lucy Handley contributed to this report.
— Correction: The story was revised to show the number of drones in development is seven; clarify the drone capable of carrying one metric ton is in development; change the weight to 5kg to 30kg and distance to 100km for drones in operation; and specify the locations of operation.
JD.com Inc
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