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Why 6 Seeds Matter
Today's series of four late afternoon games are unambiguously momentus for the Buffalo Bills, as well as the three other teams competing for the two remaining AFC wild card spots: Ravens, Titans, and Chargers. As a Bills fan born in 1998, today could shape up to be the best day of my NFL fandom. The odds are slim -- 17% per FiveThirtyEight and 20% from The Upshot -- but a Bills win followed by a Ravens loss or both the Titans and Chargers losing would deliver a generation of Bills fans a sight they've never seen before: a 17th Bills game in a season. Titans fans could also see meaningful January football for the first time in 10 years, and if we want to get technical, LA fans could see the LA Chargers back in the playoffs for the first time in 57 years. No one doubts that any of these four teams earning their first playoff game in at least three seasons would be a refreshing change of pace, and anyone can see the significance of the Bills ending the longest postseason drought in major North American sports. Nonetheless, fans cannot help but think of the futility of wild card games, especially in the AFC since Peyton Manning and Tom Brady entered the league.
In the long run, the outlook is bleak for all four of these teams as well as the Falcons and Seahawks, the two NFC teams in contention for their 6th seed (The Panthers are presently the 5th seed but could still steal the 2nd seed with a lot of help). Only 6 of the 51 Super Bowl champions have been wild card teams, with 2 of the 6 finishing the regular season with 10-6 records and the other 4 having won 11 or 12 games each. It's a certainty that at least one wild card team in the AFC will be 9-7 at best, and as many as three 9-7 teams could sneak in in total. The only 9-7 team to hoist the Lombardi was the 2011 New York Giants, who also won as a wild card team four years earlier. In fact, hosting a wild card game is a heavy lode, as the last team to reach the Super Bowl that didn't earn a first round bye was Joe Flacco's 2012 Ravens. If the point of professional sports is to win the championship (it is) then playing in the wild card round is merely an obstacle that hurts draft stocks, injures players, and almost always only prolongs the inevitable. But fans don't only care about championships. As a Bills fan, I have been waiting my whole life for one measly wild card game and here are just a few reasons why.
17+ Meaningful Games
I hate rooting for my team to lose on week 17, but most seasons, I have done exactly that unless the Bills have had a chance to play spoiler. Waiting until next year sucks, I want every game to be exciting. Football offseasons are long and football fans get fewer games than just about any other sport. It's a waste of a season when not every game matters, and the extra playoff game is the icing on the cake of a complete season. Just the idea of a wild card game has made this the best week 17 I can remember. The last meaningful game for the Bills in week 17 was in 2004. To make matters worse, the Bills had a win-and-get-in scenario against a Steelers team that was resting its starters and still lost.
Watching Fan Favorites Reap What They Sew
A fan of any long suffering franchise can tell you that one of the most bitter pills to swallow is knowing that my team has wasted the better part of many careers. The Bill I'll be the happiest for, if all goes well, is Kyle Williams. The former fifth round pick is the greatest defensive tackle in Bills history and delivers the most inspiring pre-game speeches and post game interviews ever posted to the NFL's Instagram. He's spent all 12 of his NFL seasons in Buffalo, more than anyone else on the roster, and will be a free agent this off-season. If the Bills keep wining, he'll have more games as a Bill for sure and won't have to worry about leaving for a competitor. The Bills already chipped in on making Takeo Spikes the NFL player to play the most seasons without a postseason appearance (15), and I'll lose sleep if Kyle breaks that record. LeSean McCoy will have rushed for more yards than anyone in the league since he joined the Bills, assuming he gets the seven yards needed to surpass the resting Todd Gurley. He's been the Bills' only chance at having a true superstar on the team during The Drought, and the Bills' irrelevance has caused him to get less attention than less productive backs who happen to have a star or a G on their helmet. The same goes for the rookie I believe would have Defensive Rookie of The Year locked up if national media paid attention to his team: Tre'Davious White. Tyrod Taylor is probably a top five all-time Bills quarterback (name one good Bills QB outside of Jim Kelly). The two most famous behind Kelly are better known for getting replaced by Tom Brady and running for vice president (Drew Bledsoe and Jack Kemp). The opportunity to see any of their franchises' unheralded stars shine is not lost on the fan of any long-suffering franchise.
Ending the Suffering
Getting bounced in another team's stadium to end the season can't be fun. But it sure beats 8-8 and no playoffs. The Drought is embarrassing. The Bills are just three seasons away from tying the Saints, and just one loss away from taking sole possession of second, on the longest Super Bowl era playoff drought leaderboard. Perhaps Browns fans and a few other fanbases have had it worse this millenium. But Buffalo fans are the only ones subject to this brand of torture. Year in and year out, seasons pass that amount to nothing. Even the Sabres are on the brink of the longest NHL postseason drought. One good Carolina Hurricanes season could give Buffalo the longest drought in every major pro sport it plays. My last postseason memory as a Buffalo fan is the Sabres blowing 3-1 lead in game 6 on Easter 2011 and then getting blown out two days later in game 7. A playoff berth is far from the antithesis of Wide Right, but for once, I will be able to look back and say that we had a good season.
One possibility I've ignored so far is that some wild card teams actually can win the Super Bowl. The 2017 Buffalo Bills are not one of those teams, and probably not even a wild card team. For those teams that happened to share their division with a juggernaut or got hot in the last few weeks, there is plenty to get excited about immediately. But for the majority of wild card teams, a playoff berth means a step in the right direction, or in the Seahawks or Falcons' case, there is still reason to believe in the team. Any AFC team to reach the wild card this year will have indisputable evidence of an improved team. Even if success doesn't carry over to the next year, the fanbase will see a resurgence of enthusiasm. A 2016 wild card berth didn't do much for the 2017 Raiders, but I can guarantee that their fans look forward to 2018 more than any season from 2004-2015. The Bills haven't been contenders since the 90s, making the playoffs can change that narrative. If the everything shakes out in the Bills favor today, a new era of Bills history is born. The 2000-2(?)?? Bills can be history. The Now Bills might be a few hours away.
As always, pro-football-reference was a huge help in writing this article
Ranking the 13 Movies of 2017 I saw
By Alex Drain
As the 2017 year comes to a close, I always like to reflect on different facets of the year. This year I decided to look back at the movies I saw this year and engage in one of my favorite hobbies: ranking things. Now these are not all the films I saw this year, but simply the ones that were released in 2017 that I saw. There are still 2017 pictures that I didn't get to see for a variety of reasons (I will discuss that at the end), but among the ones I did see, here is a list of them, from worst to best. Full disclosure: I don't see trash movies, so none of these are bad in anyway, and being ranked #13 out of 13 simply means you were the least of the best. Also, while I justify the rankings using details, I include no spoilers, so feel free to read this regardless of whether you've seen the movies or not.
13. Wonder Woman
I, for one, am tired of superhero movies at this point. I've never been a big superhero fan in the first place, but when done well, I can really like them (see: Nolan Batman movies). However, we've reached a point of just constant bombardment, oversaturation and I just can't take it anymore. Just this year, we had this movie, a new Spiderman, a new Guardians of the Galaxy, a new Thor, Justice League, and Logan. I could only see two of those and Wonder Woman was one of them. A lot of beautiful angles and shots and I really liked Chris Pine's performance, and Gal Gadot was solid as well. The World War I reenactment scenes were arguably the best part of the movie and the most impressive film-making. That said, the story runs a bit dry at times, but there are just enough ties to other Justice League characters to make the audience want to see another appearance from WW, which they inevitably gave us a few months later. Overall, this movie is a good, but not great superhero film. There are a lot of worse superhero movies, but it's also not one that I'd rewatch.
12. Darkest Hour
Gary Oldman's performance as Winston Churchill lives up to the hype, but the film as a whole is lacking. Let's start with Oldman. He captures Churchill perfectly, with the mannerisms being excellent, his mumbling and line delivery culminating in a booming oration is brilliant, but he brings another side to Churchill. His emotional side around the King and his wife is also very well done. But boy, if this were not Oldman, then this film might be a 5, because it really has some issues. For one, there is remarkably little character development despite being a BIOPIC. The fact that it's set over a one-month period constrains its ability to dive deeper into the past and enrich the plot. Additionally, there were a handful of strange and unexplored elements, and parts that just felt sloppy. Overall, a subpar movie that is carried by a masterful leading performance.
11. Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2
A very similar film to the first, GOTG2 brings back the same lovable characters and interpersonal relationships we came to like in the first film. The soundtrack is just as stellar as in Vol. 1, and I appreciated the inclusion of Looking Glass's one hit wonder, Brandy (You're a Fine Girl). That said, the use of it as a major plot point felt forced. Yet, despite the increase in plot holes when compared to the first, the emotional content is more real and Vol. 2 is a funnier film. Not much else to say. A quality sequel, which in film, is often tough to accomplish. Good but not near great.
10. Battle of the Sexes
The tale of Billie Jean King's famous match against Bobby Riggs, it does a good job of recreating the match and the surrounding pressures. It could have done more to develop the characters involved, but I felt that Steve Carell and Emma Stone both did terrific jobs transforming into the parts they were playing. Some critics of this film felt it didn't do enough to look into King's backstory, but I think it had the right balance between the two main players and certainly shed light onto Bobby Riggs, which we don't normally get. It's a good but not great movie. Definitely not a waste of time, but not one that I would tell you that you have to see.
On the outside, this movie looks like another boring and bland Fast and Furious type. Guns, explosions, cars, loud music. But it's actually story is much deeper and more intriguing than face value. Like Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2, this movie is carried in part by its excellent soundtrack, with each track fitting the scene of the moment. The actual action scenes are everything you want from an action movie, with the explosions, blood, weaponry, crime, and cool driving stunts. The heists are fun, the getaway scenes are great. Put simply, it's a fun movie. The romance aspect could've been slightly better, but the directors deserve credit for taking a tired old type of movie (action/cars/crime) and making it original. In the end, there's not much to dislike about this movie but not much to love either.
HERE WE GO. I know some people are going to come and badger me about this ranking, but I want to start by saying that I'm a big admirer of Christopher Nolan's work. His decision to shoot on film as opposed to digital video is one I have a lot of respect for and he makes beautiful movies, and Dunkirk is one of those. I'm a big fan of his Batman movies (especially The Dark Knight), I loved Inception, and Interstellar was good but too long. All of that said, this isn't one of his greatest works. As with most of his movies, Dunkirk lacks extensive character development and that fact is particularly revealing when it comes to a war film. We follow several characters around through the whole movie, yet lean literally nothing about them. I give him credit for taking a new angle on an old theme, but we should know more about the characters involved than we do. But, the creation of the movie is excellent, with breathtaking shots and realism. Not the gory realism of Saving Private Ryan, but fabulous all the same. The use of the ticking in the background was also a savvy brilliant move and these aspects make up for a timeline that's tough to follow and lack of characters to some degree. If you want to know what the Battle of Dunkirk looked like, watch this movie. If you want to learn about the struggle of soldiers in wartime, don't watch this movie. A good war film, but not one that can rival those in the pantheon.
7. Star Wars Episode VIII: The Last Jedi
My childhood was pretty much devoted to being a Star Wars superfan, and thus it's been hard for me to rank Star Wars movies as objective movies. But, I'll try to do my best here. Personally, I liked The Last Jedi more than The Force Awakens, particularly because it was far more creative (though still not as much as I want). That said, it was about 20 minutes too long and left a lot of questions unanswered. But the CGI work is fabulous as always, John Williams provides his always stellar score, and it is a beautiful movie to watch. There are no unwatchable scenes, e.g., some of the Anakin and Padme scenes in Attack of the Clones, and overall, as an objective movie, it's good. As a Star Wars movie, I have a lot of nitpicks and issues.
6. Detroit
As a history nerd and a lifelong Michigander, when I heard we were getting a movie about the '67 Riots, I was enthused. Then the reviews started rolling in and they were all over the place, which is understandable for a movie with as clear of a statement about politics and history as this movie has. The wounds of the riots are still present in today's society and in our political discourse and so the controversy makes sense. However, just viewing the movie as a movie, a presentation of events, it is hard to turn away. It's intense and brutal and seeing it in the theater very much helps the experience. Like with Dunkirk, you are transported into a place and time in history. Kathryn Bigelow whips up an incredibly vivid and realistic image of what it was like both in the riots and specifically the Algiers Motel incident. It is a biting and searing commentary on the injustices in the criminal justice system relating to police brutality and also race relations in the United States. That alone will make it controversial. Your stance on that issue will color the way you see this film, but it's hard to deny that it's a movie that makes you think and makes you ask questions. There were some parts that dragged and I'm not sure I liked the ending, but it's very much worth the watch.
A cute and touching movie. It explores the true meaning of family, but also the ideals of responsibility and self determination within life. It's genuinely funny and heartwarming, and the type of story that would almost be cliche if not based on a true one. It serves as a good examination of cross-cultural relationships, but also the diverse America and world that exists within the 21st century. A very strong comedy that tugs at the heart, yet never lets itself become too deep. All of that said, this is a very solid rom-com. Not trashy, and one with a deeper meaning, but also not an all time classic. Worth the 2 hours of your time.
A very well done picture. At its core, it's a well above average horror movie. But then you have to add in the fact that it has the obvious racial undertones, which elevates it even higher. The beginning half of the movie is not a horror film, it's a Hitchcockian thriller, with a sense of dread and eeriness going on the entire time. Just enough jolts to keep the audience on the edge of their seats. But by the end of the film, it has become full-blown horror. There are some parts which I would say are a tad too unrealistic, but I was never fully jerked out. Besides the obvious comparisons to slavery, the Guess Who's Coming to Dinner aspect of racial relationships is intriguing. Enthralling until the last minute, it effectively uses humor to break tension before escalating, which is common for the genre. That said, it was both well done, but also wasn't funny enough for me to call it comedy as a sub genre. It can be seen as a commentary but also as just a plain horror/thriller movie. It has a strong musical accompaniment, and excellent acting to back it up, especially from Daniel Kaluuya. It doesn't need excessive gore to cement its place as a good horror movie, but gives you just enough to round out an overall stellar film.
3. The Disaster Artist
A great modern comedy, The Disaster Artist manages to also have deeper meaning as well. The film is absolutely as ridiculous as The Room, which it is based on. It becomes hilarious because of how bizarre it is at times but also has lessons on friendship, and we grow a strange and sad connection to Tommy, especially when the movie fails yet becomes revived. It develops and constructs deep images of the characters and the pressures leading up to the making of The Room. I give it the edge over Get Out because of technical aspects, particularly how the filmmaking crew reshot entire scenes from The Room with near perfection. Additionally, Franco completely transforms to take over his role as Wiseau and should get Academy Award consideration for that performance. Definitely worth the watch, as it's funny and engrossing while painting a legitimate story.
This was unquestionably the hardest decision on the list. Of these 13 movies, 11 were in one category, and these two were in another. Picking one over the other was extremely difficult. But my best guess places the #1 film a tiny bit ahead of Lady Bird. That said, this is a phenomenal film and it's hard to stop gushing about it. It's funny, relatable, enthralling, emotional, beautiful, and deep, with a near perfect ending. It also explores a mammoth amount of themes, including friendship, love, parental pressure, religion, homosexuality, income/social status, and college. It offers a commentary on the joys and trials of life. Saoirse Ronan and Laurie Metcalf both have terrific performances that should earn them Academy Award nominations. I've spoken to many people who have seen this film and have yet to encounter any who dislike it. A truly great picture.
As is always the case with some of the best movies in a given year, The Florida Project never made it to the big theaters in Ann Arbor and was only at the Michigan Theater for a short time. Luckily, I was able to see it and it did not disappoint in the least. Sean Baker has constructed a true tour de force that is heartbreaking, thought provoking, elegant, agonizing, and beautiful. The harsh story of a young single mother and her daughter in Orlando, it is a masterfully crafted plot to make a message, with great acting by Willem Dafoe, worthy of the awards he will likely receive. Realistic and humanistic, it has some breathtaking shots and camera work that are truly the cherry on top. It makes you think and ask questions, leaving you both painfully aware of the struggles of humanity but also hopeful for the promise of youth. The ending almost certainly ruffles some feathers and it did for me at the time, but it has grown on me over time. This film swept the Detroit Film Critics Society, winning Best Film, Best Director, and netting Dafoe the Best Supporting Actor, which from what I have seen so far, it is totally worthy. If you can see this picture, then do it. And then it will make you want to watch it over and over again.
2017 movies that I haven't seen yet but want to
Of course, due to various factors, I haven't gotten to see all the 2017 movies that I wanted to see and that's what this section is for. There's a few of the Oscar bait ones that I haven't seen simply because they aren't out in Real America yet. These include I, Tonya, The Post, Phantom Thread, and Call Me By Your Name. Most of those will be released here in Ann Arbor in mid-January, but I plan to see all of those. As for other ones I missed, I would like to see Blade Runner 2049 at some point, but I haven't seen the original, so that's probably best saved for a summer binge of both films. I might see Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri and Shape of Water at some point but I'm not sure if I'll get around to it. Lastly, while it didn't get great reviews, I am compelled to see LBJ just to see how Woody Harrelson plays the complex and flawed President.
Pistons Week in Review
Andre Drummond, who is playing like if a lovechild between Shaquille O'Neal and Steve Nash existed, can shoot free throws now. To celebrate, we'll have an article every week whose length is based on Andre's free throw percentage. For example, 0.500 from the line calls for a 500 word article, 0.700 is a 700 word article, and so on. So here we go. Andre Drummond is shooting 0.626 from the free throw line, so here are 626 words on the Pistons' week.
We're going to find a great deal about the Pistons in the coming weeks. This past week yielded middling results, primarily because of a reprehensible 17 point loss to the previously 8 win Mavericks a week ago. The Pistons followed the loss up with a vital three point win against the Knicks and a 24 point thrashing last night versus the Pacers. However, looming over the Pistons and their improving 19-14 record are the key injuries starting to pile up.
Avery Bradley is still not ready to return from a groin injury, and is now being evaluated on a week-to-week basis. The current target is to have him back for the New Year, but nothing is clear at this point in time. Last night, Bradley's backcourt partner Reggie Jackson badly sprained his ankle, and after having an MRI today has been ruled out for 6-8 weeks with a grade 3 sprain. Only after the 6-8 week period will Jackson be re-evaluated, making the true timetable for his return opaque.
The injury comes at an incredibly inopportune time, as Reggie was in the midst of one of his most effective offensive performances of the season. In just 21 minutes, he recorded 8 points and 13 assists, many times finding the right teammate in the right position. Whether it was feeding Andre Drummond near the basket via pick and roll or kicking it out to a scorching Tobias Harris, Reggie was picking apart the Pacers' defense.
*A note on what should have been a historic night for Tobias: he made all seven of his shots in the first quarter, including 5 three pointers, en route to a 21 point quarter. For the rest of the game, he took 4 shots total, ending with 31 points on 10/11 shooting. It's an absolute travesty that he wasn't force-fed, as it was clear he was as hot as a player can possibly be. He should've received at least 25 shots and had 50 points but what do I know.*
The Reggie injury could prove to be disastrous, especially if Avery continues to miss time. For a team with aspirations for a middle to high seed in the conference, the Pistons cannot afford to start Ish Smith and Luke Kennard for weeks at a time. The rotation will be stretched, with either Langston Galloway (who just found out he will be a father to a boy by way of a fun gender reveal you should look up) or two way player Dwight Buycks expected to lead the second unit at point guard for the time being. As for Ish, he will need to adapt his playing style with the starters. He tends to dominate the ball even more so than Reggie Jackson when playing with the second unit, and players like Tobias, Dre, and a (hopefully) healthy Avery will need to get their shots up in order for the team to continue to win games.
What this means past the next week or so is also unclear. Stan Van Gundy may feel pressed to make a trade to help the team tread water up until the All Star Break, possibly for a wing player. Trading for a point guard wouldn't make long term sense, but a prototypical 3-and-D wing player could prove to be beneficial to the Pistons for the right price. For now, the Pistons need to get through the injuries to their backcourt, and build off their 5 wins in 6 games stretch. They only play two games in the next week, with a game in Orlando and a home game against the Spurs. At least one win in Orlando will be key, since for the next weeks, or months, the Pistons can't afford to drop games against inferior teams.
Max's NBA Christmas Day Betting Guide
By Max Cohen
Philadelphia 76ers at New York Knicks (NY -2.0)
For me, this is one of the more intriguing matchups of the day. Philadelphia comes into The Garden fresh off of five straight losses, four of which were within single digits. Both teams are expecting their star players return, Joel Embiid for the Sixers and Kristaps Porzingis for New York. The Knicks have been up and down the entire year, but one thing they are able to count on is their home court advantage. Philadelphia is 7-9 on the road, while New York holds a home record of 15-5 and boasts that same record ATS at home. I think Kristaps has a huge game and the game ends up close, but the Knicks will pull it out and cover with free throws at the end.
My pick: Knicks
Cleveland Cavaliers at Golden State Warriors (GSW -5.0)
A rematch of the last three finals is definitely the premier matchup of the day with one glaring missing piece, Kyrie Irving. Kyrie, in conservative terms, was the Warriors' kryptonite while on the Cavaliers. He always showed out against them, both in the finals and on Christmas Day last year. Less Kyrie and plus Isaiah Thomas, the Cavs will have to overcome a huge deficit in their ability to score the basketball in late game situations. Steph Curry's status for Monday is still questionable, but coach Steve Kerr said it would be "irresponsible" to play him so I don't expect Curry to suit up for this one. Even without Steph, the Warriors always have an edge against the Cavs, and being in California at Oracle will only add to the intensity. Cleveland is 6-0 ATS as road underdogs, but I expect they'll get their first loss in that category on Christmas.
My pick: Warriors
Washington Wizards at Boston Celtics (BOS -4.5)
A rematch of last year's seven-game conference semifinals between two teams that absolutely hate each other. Additionally, this season each team is equipped with a Morris twin of their own so hopefully we get brother on brother crime because who doesn't love a good sibling fight. Washington has John Wall back and you know he would love to deliver the Celtics a home loss after a crushing game seven defeat last year. The Celtics have cooled off since their scorching hot start to the season and Washington is still trying to regain the regular-season consistency that they have enjoyed over the past few years. The Wizards are 9-3 ATS as underdogs and I am taking them to cover on Christmas Day. I think they get their revenge and not only cover, but win the game as well.
My pick: Wizards
Houston Rockets at Oklahoma City Thunder (HOU -2.5)
Another 2017 playoff rematch with a few more personal storylines. James Harden, the clear MVP favorite this season, faces off against his old team and former Thunder teammate who took home the MVP title last year in Russell Westbrook. The Rockets are coming off two straight losses against the Lakers and Clippers, respectively, while the Thunder are riding in on a four game win streak. In the playoffs last year the Rockets dominated the Thunder but they did not have current weapons Carmelo Anthony or Paul George. Both players have struggled with their shots this season, but being in Oklahoma City should help them and the team. ATS, the Thunder are 6-11 after a win and I don't see that record improving in this post-win matchup either. I have Houston running away with this one.
My pick: Rockets
Minnesota Timberwolves at Los Angeles Lakers (MIN -5.0)
The final game of the night features to teams full of young and talented players. The Wolves have won four of their last five, while the Lakers are coming off a tough stretch of games that has included the Cavs, Houston and Golden State (twice). Staples Center should be rocking as it is the first time since 2013 that the team is exciting and fun to watch on Christmas Day. Los Angeles doesn't have many answers to Karl Anthony Towns' offense so he should be able to put up some big numbers on that end. Although KAT may have a big night I still think the Lakers will be fueled enough by their home crowd and play a close game that comes down to the final possession.
My pick: Lakers
Disclaimer: I am not responsible for any money lost, but am responsible for money earned so if these picks win you a lot of money please venmo @maxcohen17. Thank you.
The Enigma That is Russell Westbrook
Russell Westbrook is one of the most polarizing players in basketball right now. Last year was a peculiar one for Westbrook and the Thunder. Kevin Durant just left Oklahoma City to go play for the team the Thunder lost a 3-1 lead to in the Western Conference Finals the year prior. Coming into the season all eyes were on Westbrook to carry the team on his shoulders, and this meant possibly averaging a triple double. That's exactly what Russ did. He went out every night playing at full speed and tried to put his team in the best position to win games. Coming off of his MVP season where he averaged a triple double, and an offseason where his team added two all stars, the Thunder currently have a 16-15 record and sit in the sixth spot of the Western Conference. The team is underperforming and it is clear to see that their new pieces are not meshing together yet. Arguments have risen from the Thunder about Westbrook and his playing style, questions that have been asked throughout his career, but this season is different. Westbrook lead a crappy Thunder team to 47 wins in a brutal Western Conference just to get obliterated by the Houston Rockets in the first round. After adding Paul George and Carmelo Anthony, one great NBA player and one good NBA player, the Thunder were projected to be a top three team in the West. Right now they are the opposite and Russ may be to blame.
The 2016-17 NBA season for Russell Westbrook was unlike any season for any player ever. Every night the game plan was for Russ to get a triple double, leading hopefully to a Thunder win. That plan worked more successfully than people imagined, but this season is different. Westbrook doesn't need to go out and average a triple double because he has another top 15 player on his team. Currently, Russ is 0.3 rebounds away from averaging a triple double. Why? I couldn't answer that, but because of last season Russ probably thinks he has to for the team to win. Obviously, I am not an NBA player, but as a person who has played a good amount of basketball over my life I can say that if for a long period of time I was told to go out and shoot the ball every time I got, then one day my team said, "change your game," I wouldn't be able to do it so quickly. That's what the Thunder, and media thought Russ could do. Completely change his game over one offseason to make new teammates comfortable. I think changing your mentality is hard for NBA players that have been so used to one thing. Even when Kevin Durant was in Oklahoma City, it was the Durant and Westbrook show. After they got rid of James Harden, Durant and Russ were never surrounded with great talent. For five years now, Westbrook has had a gunner'ss mentality and hasn't been told to do anything different until this summer.
Although I do think Russ needs time to adjust, it is something to take note that his ex teammates are thriving after leaving the Thunder. Over a third of the way through the NBA season and Victor Oladipo is the frontrunner for Most Improved Player. His three point percentage is up from 36 to 42, and he is averaging nearly ten more points than last season. When you watch Oladipo play, he looks like an entirely different player and, at least looking back at last season, Russ may be to blame. Other players that have seen tremendous growth from last season to this season are Domantas Sabonis and Enes Kanter. Both have higher field goal percentages and Sabonis is averaging six more points per game while Kanter averages three more rebounds per game. All of this points out a particular trait from Russ, which is an ability to make teammates better. This is an important characteristic for all basketball players to have, especially great ones. Lebron obviously makes his teammates better (see Mike Miller or Shane Battier), Steve Nash made his teammates great (see Amar'e Stoudemire or Leandro Barbosa). For Russ, this doesn't seem to be the case. Along with not making his teammates better, Kevin Durant left for some reason. It may have been to win a championship, but his team was up 3-1 to the eventual champions so Oklahoma City was definitely a viable option to win a championship. Durant most likely did not enjoy playing with Westbrook and although I do not like Kevin Durant, he is one of the thirty best NBA players ever, and his decision should mean something.
As Russell Westbrook continues his NBA career it will be interesting to watch what he accomplishes and how he does it. In a recent article on theringer.com, Justin Verrier compared Russ to Kobe Bryant, and I think this is more on the nose than some may think. Both players have a shoot first mentality. Both players are elite scorers. And both players do not care what others think of them. Kobe's talent paired with the deep pockets of the Lakers lead to five championships over his career. Russ is not on the same talent level of Kobe and his team doesn't spend like the Lakers, but if he can change his game just a little, like most fans and media thought he would, I think he can win multiple championships. It all depends on how Russ wants to be Russ. If he continues to be a shoot first, play aggressive all the time player, he may suffocate the talent around him. But if he can become a point guard that has a high basketball IQ and knows when to choose his spots, Russell Westbrook can become a revered basketball player rather than one that causes people to ask; Is Russell Westbrook good?
This week was a good week. The holiday season is fully upon us, the time of year we get to spend with friends and family. This is great. Don't get me wrong. But, the Pistons are winning again. So this was a really good week. The Pistons beat the Hawks, Pacers, and Magic this week. None of the three teams are truly talented or scary teams. The Hawks have been repulsive all season. The Pacers are decent, in the same way that an artificial Christmas tree is decent. The Magic's season has been similar to a restaurant that brings you an amazing and delicious spinach and artichoke dip appetizer. You get your hopes up. The night is off to a nice start. This should be a filling, maybe respectable, meal. You order your entrée. Then your waiter/waitress brings you what looks like a catastrophic soup of broth and thawed vegetables around a piece of meat when in actuality you were expecting a nicely prepared 9 ounce sirloin with crisp potatoes and asparagus. Or maybe, in the Magic's case, you actually expected the tragic meat soup to come out of the kitchen. Maybe you didn't have any expectations, and you were only there for the 2 for $20 deal. I don't know. The Pistons nearly blew two huge leads to the Magic and Pacers, but were able to hold on for four and six point victories, respectively. But a win is a win, and the Pistons need as many as they can muster, especially following the disastrous and nearly cataclysmic 7 game losing streak preceding this mini winning streak.
It hasn't been all good news for the Pistons. Avery Bradley, indisputably a top two most important player on the roster, has missed the last two games due to a groin strain. It was announced yesterday that he will continue to sit out, and be reevaluated in a week's time. Although the upcoming schedule continues to look favorable (with games against the Mavericks tonight, then Knicks, Pacers, and Magic), the Pistons can't afford to miss Bradley for much longer. Luke Kennard has started the two games, but Stanley Johnson has played starter minutes in spite of starting the game on the bench.
Now to the good news. First, and it's surreal that I'm typing this, Reggie Bullock is playing good basketball. The initial decision to start him over Stanley was puzzling to some, including me, but it now appears Bullock has become comfortable and is playing some of his best basketball. Averaging 15 points per game over the last three games, including a team-leading 20 points against the Magic, Bullock has proved very useful on offense. Coupled with Stanley playing better coming off the bench, Stan Van appears to have made the right decision for now. We're yet to see how the team does with the lineup change against a larger sample size including more capable teams, but it doesn't look dire and desperate like it did last week at this time.
One thing the team needs to improve on is how they finish games. This is a polar opposite compared to games early in the season, when the Pistons dug themselves huge holes early in games and then forced themselves to try to come back. Recently though, the Pistons have built up large leads against lesser teams, have let up, and allowed the opposition to climb back into the game and make it close and competitive. The team should be able to take the Pacers and Magic games as lessons and be able to close out games ruthlessly. Each of the next four games are winnable, even without Avery Bradley, and hopefully the Pistons can cancel out their 7 game losing streak with a 7 game winning streak.
Michigan vs Detroit Mercy Halftime Update
Due to WCBN Sports on-air coverage of Michigan women's basketball today against North Florida, we are unable to call the Michigan vs Detroit basketball from LCA. Instead, I'll be writing a stream of my thoughts during the course of this game.
Pregame, getting ready for tip-off: Michigan is coming off a big win at Texas. UDM is 4-6 and doesn't have many great wins yet. This arena is 90% empty. Wagner is out.
19:00 0-0: Neither team has gotten a good look yet. Teske took a long mid range jumper. Wagner being out really disrupts this team's offensive flow.
17:50 Michigan leads 4-0: Charles Matthews is good. These rims don't like Michigan so far. Teske being in really helps this team's defense.
17:19 Michigan leads 4-0: Kam Chatman is gonna take a lot of shots in this game. I wouldn't be surprised if he scores 30. He has a chip on his shoulder for sure.
16:33 Michigan leads 4-2: Brooks-MAAR-Matthews-Livers-Teske is a tremendous defensive lineup- but an awful shooting lineup. Matthews is great going to the rim but not great at shooting. He's about to shoot free throws…. Missed the first…. MADE THE SECOND. Also, Michigan had two blocks on that last defensive possession.
15:13 Michigan leads 7-2, first media timeout: I've counted about 5 shots that have bounced in and out for Michigan. They've missed 8 total shots. They're giving away free pizza right now. Sidenote: LCA charged $8 for the media meal. I have never been to a stadium/arena that does that. (WCBN Sports alumnus Leo Blavin says it's the norm for non-collegiate/NFL sporting events, I'm still pissed). This Detroit team is really bad. It feels like Michigan should hold them under 40. Austin Davis is in the game now for Michigan.
14:42 Michigan leads 9-2: Davis with an easy layup. If Michigan has 3 true centers that are all playable, it will take a lot of pressure of Wagner to stay out of foul trouble in conference play.
14:05 Michigan leads 9-2: Both teams with in-and-out misses. What's with these rims? Chatman at the line again, he's the only player with points for UDM. He's averaging 17 ppg and 8 rpg for UDM. I don't know how much this program misses him- I think losing Dawkins was more significant.
13:14 Michigan leads 12-4: Duncan Robinson hit a 3. When he was going through his 0-29 stretch, it felt like he should have been unplayable. I still don't think he should be starting. Livers is a better defender and rebounder. Livers-Wagner and Robinson-Teske frontcourt combinations make a lot more sense.
12:39 Michigan leads 14-4: Jordan Poole is so shifty and creative with the ball. He is going to be good. According to Alex Kremer, "He's going to be really good." As I'm typing that, Poole throws down a dunk.
12:24 Michigan leads 16-4, UDM Timeout: UDM looks outmatched. The UDM cheer team is performing to Pitbull right now. I want to take a second to say that Michigan State has a really good chance to run the table and go undefeated in conference. They have arguably the best player in the country in Miles Bridges, and then 4 or 5 other guys who would be the best player on 10 Big Ten teams.
10:55 Michigan leads 21-7: UDM finally made their first field goal, and then Zavier Simpson answered with a 3 pointer. Teske leads all scorers with 6 right now.
9:55 Michigan leads 23-10: UDM is finally having some productive offensive possessions. But Zavier Simpson is playing like late-game takeover Zavier Simpson and maintaining the lead.
9:13 Michigan leads 23-10: Back to back travelling calls go against each team. Thrilling.
8:52 Michigan leads 23-10: That's 3 travelling violations in 4 possessions. High quality basketball right now.
8:40 Michigan leads 23-11: UDM snapped a 2:08 scoring drought with a free throw. Michigan has 6 offensive rebounds and UDM has 9 turnovers, but Michigan has had 3 straight turnovers now. This is a sloppy game and the 30 fans here must be disappointed.
7:35 Michigan leads 26-13: ANOTHER travelling call, this time against UDM. That's 13 combined turnovers. Michigan is 11-26 from the field (and has 26 points), while UDM is 3-13 from the field (and has 13 points). MAAR is 0-3 from the field but has 4 rebounds and 2 assists. Teske still leads all scorers with 6 points; Chatman and Allen have 4 each for UDM and Simpson and Robinson each have 5 for the Wolverines.
5:40 Michigan leads 37-13, UDM Timeout, UDM Points 13-UDM Turnovers 11: Robinson, Simpson, and Watson hit consecutive 3 pointers, and this is getting ugly already.
5:28 Michigan leads 37-13, UDM points 13-UDM turnovers 12: This turnover-points battle is getting interesting.
4:16 Michigan leads 42-13, UDM POINTS 13-UDM TURNOVERS 13: UDM is going on 4 minutes without points, they've missed their last 5 shots.
3:49 Michigan leads 42-13, UDM Points 13-UDM Turnovers 13: UDM points is about to retake the lead with a couple free throws, but it was fun while it lasted. Robinson (11) and Simpson (10) have keyed this run for the Wolverines.
2:23 Michigan leads 45-17, UDM points 17- UDM turnovers 13: Michigan is on a 22-4 scoring run. Make that 25-4 now that Jordan Poole has hit back to back 3s. And make it 27-4 with a MAAR swipe and score.
1:28 Michigan leads 50-17, UDM points 17-UDM turnovers 15: This game is U-G-L-Y.
0:00 Michigan leads 54-19, UDM points 19-UDM turnovers 15: Michigan got a big boost from Jordan Poole in the last 3 minutes of the half. He has 10 points in 8 minutes. Simpson has 12 and Robinson has 11 for the Wolverines while Kam Chatman has 7 for UDM.
Halftime Stats:
Update: I won't be doing this in the second half. It'll get too boring. Final score prediction: Michigan 92-UDM 43.
-Evan Oesterle
Opinions are my own.
Feel free to respond in the comments section or tweet at me (@E____money).
Andre Drummond, who is playing like if a lovechild between Shaquille O'Neal and Steve Nash existed, can shoot free throws now. To celebrate, we'll have an article every week whose length is based on Andre's free throw percentage. For example, 0.500 from the line calls for a 500 word article, 0.700 is a 700 word article, and so on. So here we go. Andre Drummond is shooting 0.612 from the free throw line, so here are 612 words on the Pistons' week.
A few weeks ago, we agreed the Detroit Pistons were a good team. The Pistons today are a different team. The Pistons today are an objectively bad team. The Pistons today are to basketball as Taco Bell is to Mexican food. This, as you may have guessed, is not a compliment. The Pistons today have lost seven games in a row, and look holistically lost. The argument that this stretch of games has been difficult is tired. With losses this past week to the Bucks, Warriors, Celtics, and Nuggets, the Pistons now sit 14-13. The Pistons are staring mediocrity in the face. Losses to the Bucks, Warriors, and Celtics doesn't necessarily tend to throw teams into panic mode. However, the overall attitude and apparent lack of heart exhibited is frightening. Everything was encapsulated in an Oh My God Is This Actually Happening 104-83 loss to the Nuggets at home last night. Andre Drummond failed to score in double digits for the third game in a row, Avery Bradley shot 2-12 as Tobias Harris failed to make any of his seven shot attempts, and Reggie Jackson looked tentative and sluggish while making decisions on offense. Compounding the mess, Stan Van Gundy does not seem to know how to steer the team back to its winning ways.
Last night, SVG benched Stanley Johnson in favor of Reggie Bullock. This move was, at the least, intriguing. At the most, it was irresponsible. Not only because SVG saw it fit to start Bullock, who is regularly the 11th or 12th man, but that Stanley did not receive any meaningful minutes with the second unit until Denver had already ran away with the game. It's an unfair move to Stanley, as he is not a main reason the Pistons have struggled and the move seems to indirectly (or even directly) pin blame on him. This may or may not be true, and we will see what SVG decides to do tomorrow against the Atlanta Hawks. Unless the team starts to put together wins, Van Gundy may start to lose his grip on the locker room.
The schedule does "lighten up", with upcoming games against the aforementioned Hawks, Pacers, Magic, and Mavericks. However, none of the games seem as easily conquerable for these Pistons, who suddenly find themselves in a 4-way tie spanning the sixth through ninth seeds in the Eastern Conference. If the team is going to start to win games for the first time in two weeks, they must display a will to win. Of course, the offense has been absolutely and positively atrocious, with the Pistons averaging under 93 points per game during their skid. But, as always, this team thrives on itself when each player is playing with hunger and heart. The defense has been decent enough, but there has noticeably been less transition opportunities taken advantage of off missed shots and turnovers. The half-court offense has simply been subpar, which may be a result of the team being their own worst enemy and not believing in themselves, or the rest of the league finally having enough film on the new motion offense orbiting around Andre. If it's the latter, the Pistons may have a larger, more permanent problem on their hands, but it does not appear we are at that stage yet. The Pistons have to start attacking the basket with more ferociousness and frequency, opening shots up for guys like Tobias and Avery, and hoping they can get back to their previously sweet stroking ways. And it begins tomorrow, with what feels like as much of a must win game as a matchup in December can feel like against the 6-21 Hawks.
Just How Good is Jimmy Garoppolo?
49ers win again, which begs the question: Is Jimmy Garoppolo the best QB in the history of NFL?
The San Francisco 49ers have won their last two games. Jimmy Garoppolo has started for the 49ers their last two games. Coincidence? I think not. What I do think, however, is that he is the best quarterback in the history of the NFL. What did Tom Brady do Sunday? Nothing. Jimmy G? Won by ten and picked apart the Texans defense throwing for over 300 yards, all while being the handsomest quarterback in the NFL. James Garoppolo has thrown for over 600 yards in two weeks and has a winning percentage of 1.000. The bum also known as Tom Brady hasn't even cracked 500 yards his last two outings, and although he has won both, his opponents were the Dolphins and Bills. Not to mention Jimmy has never lost a Superbowl while Terrific Tom has lost two, to Eli Manning for crying out loud. Handsome James G has faced the daunting defensive duo of the Bears and Texans and hasn't shown any rust. The dude flies cross country and gets thrown into a new system and boom, #winningonly. I think it's safe to say that NFL fans have been graced with the presence of the best quarterback in NFL history, so sit back and enjoy James Richard Garoppolo tear apart NFL defenses for years to come.
The Leaders and (Not So) Best
Michigan fell in devastating fashion to Ohio State in Columbus last year.
I want to be clear before I get into this. I have been a Michigan fan since I could walk. I knew I was coming to this school since I knew what college was. The pictures on my walls, the jerseys in my closet, and the license plate on my car all bear the block M. I will always be proud to be a Michigan Wolverine. That doesn't mean I can't be critical of the football program at the University of Michigan. So I am going to do just that.
While I've been alive, Michigan and Ohio State have played 20 times in football. Michigan is 5-15. Michigan won 3 of the first 5 meetings before I could read or ride a bike, but the Buckeyes have won 15 of the last 17. Currently, Ohio State has their second win streak of at least 6 games in the series in the that same time span. (Actually, the two streaks were sandwiched between Michigan's only win in the last 14 years, when Luke Fickell was the interim head coach and the Buckeyes were in the midst of their tattoo scandal. I only count this as a win in the series out of respect for the players who played their hearts out on that field, to eek out a single digit win over the worst Buckeye team of this century.)
Michigan and Michigan State have also played 20 football games in my life. The series is currently 10-10. After Michigan won 8 of the first 11 before I could do algebra, MSU has won 7 of the last 9, some in humiliating fashion, some in heartbreaking fashion. Losing to rivals hurts at any school. But at a school that starts every football game by hearing, "We are the greatest University in the world" from the tantalizing voice of James Earl Jones, at a school that has won the most football games in the history of the sport, at a school that has the biggest football stadium in the country, at a school that pays its head coach nearly $10 million per season, at a school that claims to be the Leaders and the Best, it is especially difficult.
Close losses to rivals have become the norm under Harbaugh.
Since Lloyd Carr retired, Michigan has had 3 head coaches who couldn't beat their rivals or win the conference (0 conference titles since Carr). Two of those coaches (Hoke and Harbaugh) have had average recruiting classes ranked top 10 or better.
Each of these coaches has either had a good offense (Rich Rodriguez), or a good (great?) defense (Hoke, Harbaugh), but not both. Only one Michigan quarterback who played for these three head coaches has taken a snap under center in the NFL. And he was a 5th year senior grad transfer whose first NFL throw was a pick 6, literally last weekend. The offensive line, kicking game, and quarterback have been constant issues for all 3 head coaches. None of them have solved the quarterback problem for longer than a couple weeks.
I'm convinced there has never been a worse decade of Michigan football. Look for yourself: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Michigan_Wolverines_football_seasons
The only comparable decade would be 1959-1968, when Bump Elliott was the head coach. But Elliott's 1964 team won a Rose Bowl. So I still give the current decade the edge for badness.
Wanna talk about struggles against rivals? Damn.
How many decades were there in this school's history where the basketball program was better than the football program? The basketball team was a bad call away from being in a tie game in the National championship. The football team's best season was 2011 when they won the Sugar Bowl and went 11-2 in a season where they still lost to Michigan State and at Iowa (wait sound familiar) eliminating them from national title contention.
Had this clean block not been called a foul on Trey Burke, Michigan would have had the ball down by 3 points late in the 2013 National Championship game.
So now what? Harbaugh is about to be in year 4, with a team made up of 95%+ of his own recruits. The team returns 17 of 22 starters, and could be getting a huge boost from Ole Miss transfers Shea Patterson (QB) and Deontay Anderson (Safety). The schedule is difficult (@ND, @MSU, @OSU, vs PSU, vs Wisconsin) but there are no excuses left. Tim Drevno needs to be fired. The offensive coaching staff, or more specifically, the play calling, wasted this season. If the offensive line and quarterback issues aren't solved over the offseason, I will call Harbaugh's Michigan tenure a disappointment. I won't say he should be fired or is a bad coach, those statements are both lies. But I can say that I'll be disappointed without a conference championship and wins against OSU and MSU. Actually, I'll be devastated. It would take a decade of dominance to offset my entire memory of Michigan football, which starts right around the 2006 game against Ohio State (a 42-39 loss). It would take that same decade of dominance for me to start to have confidence going into games against Michigan State and Ohio State. It hurts knowing that all of those alumni who came before me recognize this as the worst decade of their Michigan fan hood, while that same decade is all I know of Michigan football.
I am proud to be a Michigan Wolverine. In fact, it is great to be a Michigan Wolverine. We are the leaders and the best. My kids will go to this school, and hopefully their kids will after them. Go Blue forever, but I'm sick of losing.
Opinions are my own
Feel free to leave a comment below, or tweet me @E____money


text:
Cleansing / Collection
Waste Recovery
Collection / cleansing
Urbaser Environnement signs its 40th contract in the field of Waste Collection and Cleaning Services
Category: NEWS	 Published: Tuesday, 30 July 2019 12:00
10 years after winning its first waste collection contract in France, Urbaser Environnement signs its 40th contract in the field of waste collection and cleaning Services with the "Métropole du Grand Poitiers"
Image d'illustration
This contract, which will start on 1st October 2019, covers some 152,000 inhabitants across 23 municipalities, including Poitiers, and represents almost €46m in turnover over eight years. Excluding the Île-de-France Region, this is one of the largest contract in terms of turnover ever awarded to Urbaser Environnement.
Métropole du Grand Poitiers has been actively engaged in an ambitious environmental policy for many years, focusing its waste management activities among other aspects on sorting at the source and on exploring different processing channels to enable waste to be transformed into energy or recycling. From December 2009, its waste management activities entered in the frame of the Waste Prevention and Reduction Programme (PPPRD), then of the Waste Objectives and Circular Economy Contract (CODEC) which has been signed with the French government, as part of the "Zéro Gaspillage Zéro Déchet" programme, aiming at wasteful elimination.
The Cleaning Division now has some ten years' experience in waste management
Urbaser Environnement's Technical Office is not just handling increasingly large numbers of tenders (the number of submissions has doubled in three years), but these are also increasingly relevant and personalised in order to respond to a very high level of service. Moreover, the quality, geographical proximity, availability and commitment of the Group's operational divisions make us more than just providers of urban cleaning services, but also true partners for regional authorities, going far beyond the solely contractual business. Urbaser Environnement now offers not only waste collection at a fair price, but also services'evolutions that are scalable from the tender submission date, providing long-term support for regional and local authorities in the necessary development of public waste management services.
This success is all the more important for our teams in that it results from of a competitive bidding process, requiring negotiation, argumentation and defence before the local authority's representatives by our Technical Office, our Development Department, our local Operations' Division and our Head Office Cleaning Service.
Our solution, as selected by Grand Poitiers, is based on five main objectives:
Continuous optimisation of waste collection, including harmonization of the collection methods throughout the territory;
Research into new waste collection systems;
Transparency in relation to the public administration through innovative digital control and monitoring tools;
Communications suited to each stage of development of the services;
Minimum environmental impact of the services.
The first year of the contract will be devoted to analysing and identifying solutions for optimising services, always with the aim of providing an effective, high quality waste collection service for users. During the following years, improvements identified by our teams and selected by the local authority, will be deployed.
More efficient, ergonomic and less noisy vehicles
One concrete example is the technical choice of vehicles. Métropole du Grand Poitiers is committed for adopting a Territorial Climate-Air-Energy Plan (PCAET). Currently at the public enquiry stage, this plans to cut energy consumption by 25% and to source 38% of the Métropole's energy mix from renewables (RenE) by 2030. The inclusion of all-electric vehicles in the fleet of 25 brand-new collection trucks deployed across the territory (the others will run on natural gas) will allow immediate gains to be made in energy consumption and, along with other strong measures, will contribute towards achieving the objectives shortly to be confirmed by the local authority.
All the agents assigned to the present contract will be maintained, in strict compliance with the terms of the collective bargaining agreement. Our agents will be given an induction and training course presenting, collectively and individually, the collection methods chosen by Métropole du Grand Poitiers, market expectations and corporate values. They will be based in a new agency at the heart of the territory, in Poitiers. This newly built location with every convenience (recreational areas, rest zone, offices, workshop, etc.) will strengthen our presence in France's Grand-Ouest Region.
« The awarding of this new contract confirms the dynamic drive of our Group in France which, having recently won two major household waste treatment contracts (operation of the Isséane plant, and construction and operation of the future Trifyl plant), is continuing to expand its Waste collection and Cleaning activity to the complete satisfaction of our clients ».
Claude Saint-Joly, Chairman and CEO Urbaser Environnement
Poland : Méridiam and Urbaser win a major waste-to-energy project
"Today For Tomorrow", the Urbaser Group's institutional film won an award at the Green Awards Festival in Deauville
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redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


System Of A Down guitarist Daron Malakian spoke in an interview with KROQ, and revealed a new update on possibility of new album.
"I have a lot of material, a lot of music, and I'm a little bit more clear on where I'm at with my life right now when it comes to releasing my songs. It took a while to figure out what's going on with System and if we're gonna make a record or not, so I just kind of held on to a lot of music to see what was going on with that.
We just couldn't see eye to eye with certain things on that stuff, so it was just time for me to start putting out my music.
"I think my material usually works for both bands, so if SYSTEM decides to make a record at some point, I think I'll have material for that. But the thing is I'm just not waiting anymore to see what's going on.
You can watch the entire interview below. Click here to the source of the statement.


Offer prayers to the deities with Borosil's beautifully designed Puja Thali made of the finest copper, which will add elegance and charm to your Puja room. Each Thali is individually handcrafted and is embossed with an OM motif around the sides and centre. The Thali pack comprises of a Diya, a Bell, a Roli/Kumkumkatori, a Dhoop and Agarbatti holder, a Panchamrut set with a spoon and essential Pujan Samagri. USAGE AND CARE Cleaning Instructions:- Wash the Thali, Diya, Roli/Kumkumkatori, Dhoop and Agarbatti holder, and Panchamrut set with cleaning powder that is meant for Brass.- Do not scour with steel wool as it will damage the product.- Wash the bell with liquid soap and running water Cleaning Instructions:- Wash the Thali, Diya, Roli/Kumkumkatori, Dhoop and Agarbatti holder, and Panchamrut set with cleaning powder that is meant for copper.- Do not scour with steel wool as it will damage the product.- Wash the bell with liquid soap and running water (the bell is made of copper-plated brass).


Social Workers must be refined observers when interaction with clients. It is a skill that we must develop. This assignment requires each student to conduct an observation of the child (Infant to 11 year old). Student are often nervous are feel awkward when silently observing someone, but this skill is important to build. In the past, student observed a child within the mall, at lunch , church , park, games, etc.
1)Developmental stage observed , age of the person observed (guess, if unknown) Where? Date? Times?
2) What did you see? Describe only what you observed.
3)What are the biological and psychological/ cognitive expectations of this age group?
4)How do your observation "fit" with the developmental task described in #3? Did the child exhibit what is expected, explain.
5) What biological and psychological/cognitive stresses might affect this individual according the text?
6) Based on the observations, how would you feel about working with children within this developmental stage? Why?


text:
Sustainable Development Goal 07 - Affordable and Clean Energy
Ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all : The following Pacific priority actions relate to Goal 7: a) reaching universal access to energy; b) increasing the share of renewables in the energy mix; c) energy efficiency measures in the transport, industry, and building sectors; d) institutional, legislative and regulatory reforms in the energy sector; e) collecting, centralizing, analysing and disseminating energy-related data and policy relevant information; Several countries have reported increases in the share of population accessing electricity over the last decade, with the increase in national electrification levels largely coming from household access to off-grid systems such as photovoltaic solar home systems. Many countries have achieved, or are close to achieving, universal access to electricity, resulting in gains in the average electrification rate in the region. In PNG, Vanuatu and the Solomon Islands however, there remain significant gaps in electricity and/or fossil fuel access; Some low-income households still use little petroleum fuel or electricity due to high costs, even though these can be easily accessed; Given the potential impact, overall energy efficiency investments at the national level appear more attractive than renewable energy but have generally not been a priority of countries nor development partners.
PDH.stat dataset
Sustainable Development Goal 12 - Responsible Consumption and Production
Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns : Inadequate waste management practices and restricted land availability are contributing to increased volumes of solid and hazardous wastes in the region; Organic waste constitutes approximately 44 per cent of the waste stream, and over 80 percent of ocean litter is derived from land-based sources; There is currently limited data on recycling rates and hazardous waste treatment in the Pacific, although these are identified as priorities for sustainable development.
Sustainable Development Goal 01 - No Poverty
End poverty in all its forms everywhere : Poverty in the Pacific is focused on hardship and lack of economic opportunity and social exclusion. While food and extreme poverty remains relatively low, an estimated one in four Pacific islanders are likely to be living below their country's basic-needs poverty line (BNPL). Children are especially vulnerable to poverty and inequality because of their dependency on adults for care and protection, and for food. Deprivation and lost opportunities in childhood can have detrimental effects that may persist throughout a child's life. If a child does not receive adequate nutrition, stunting may result, and intellectual development may be impaired. Poorly nourished children are more vulnerable to disease, tend to perform worse in school, and less likely to be productive adults.
Sustainable Development Goal 17 - Partnerships for the Goals
Strengthen the means of implementation and revitalize the Global Partnership for Sustainable Development Finance : Goal 17 encapsulates the need for a transformational approach to development if prosperity, equality for all and a protected environment, are to be achieved. This includes harnessing policy coherence, developing multi-stakeholder partnerships, accessing public and private finance, durable trading relationships, effective adoption of science and technology, and improving collection and use of data; While understanding that Pacific countries are responsible for their own sustainable development, addressing many sustainable development challenges requires enhanced cooperation and international support. ODA and other external development financing streams remain significant in many countries; The integration of the SDGs into national and regional planning and budgeting brings an unprecedented demand for data and information. The strength and development of national statistical systems is covered in Goal 17.
Sustainable Development Goal 06 - Clean Water and Sanitation
Ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all : Water and sanitation coverage in the Pacific is low, and accessibility varies widely across, and between, Pacific countries and territories. The combined coverage levels of basic water and basic sanitation are lower than in any other region in the world, and nearly one-third of Pacific people still rely on surface water sources for drinking (largely due to the high reliance of surface water in rural PNG); Children and their families are most vulnerable to the WASH-related impacts of climate change.
Sustainable Development Goal 11 - Sustainable Cities and Communities
Make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable : The 2017 World Risk Report identified the Pacific as the region of highest risk, measured over a five-year timeframe; In the last three years, the Pacific has faced a number of disaster events causing significant economic impacts, injury and loss of life. Post-disaster needs assessments indicated significant damages and losses, equivalent to 30% of national GDP in Fiji (2016), and 64% in Vanuatu (2015) for example.
Sustainable Development Goals (all)
Contains available data on Pacific Sustainable Development Indicators selected by the region and endorsed by Forum Leaders in the Pacific Roadmap for Sustainable Development. Data is collated from a number of sources, including national household collections, civil registry data, education management information systems, health information systems, treasury papers, and published reports from countries and development partners.
Sustainable Development Goal 16 - Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions
Promote peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development, provide access to justice for all and build effective, accountable and inclusive institutions at all levels : The inclusiveness and transparency of institutions is addressed in Goal 16, although defining and measuring this is difficult. Associated with this is the adoption of legislation or policies to guarantee freedom of information, and while adoption is low in the Pacific, awareness is increasing; Birth registration is necessary to safeguard individual rights and promote access to justice and social services. The Pacific region has seen improved levels of registration of children under five years due to co-ordinated regional efforts under the Brisbane Accord Group (BAG); Violence in all its forms, and the official reporting of violence to competent authorities, is also a component of Goal 16. There is currently limited data to report on.
Sustainable Development Goal 05 - Gender Equality
Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls : The region has made progress in achieving gender equality and empowering women and girls, particularly in education and health and to a lesser extent women's participation in formal employment and national policy making. This is attributed to growing awareness of the need to address gender inequalities; While almost all countries in the Pacific have adopted specific gender policies and strategies, the resources for integrating and implementing these priorities are limited. Budgets for national women's offices are less than one percent of national appropriations; Gender inequality is highlighted by the high prevalence rates of violence against women (more than 60 percent in Melanesia, and more than 40 percent in Polynesia and Micronesia). Sexual and reproductive health and rights issues also remain substantial challenges to be addressed under Goal 5. Fertility rates, especially teenage fertility, remain high in some.
Sustainable Development Goal 10 - Reduced Inequalities
Reduce inequality within and among countries : Pacific SIDS require special assistance to guarantee a share in the benefits of sustainable development. Their role in international organisations, with respect to membership and voting rights, is one element in this process; Goal 10 also seeks to measure inequality within countries, by looking at the change in per capita income or consumption of the poorest four-tenths of the population relative to the national average.
(-) Niue (58)
American Samoa (43)
Cook Islands (62)
Federated States of Micronesia (69)
Fiji (Republic of) (68)
French Polynesia (52)
Kiribati (79)
Mariana Islands (CNMI) (42)
Marshall Islands (Republic of) (70)
Nauru (69)
Pitcairn Islands (23)
Samoa (74)
Solomon Islands (75)
Tokelau (52)
Tonga (75)
Tuvalu (73)
Vanuatu (Republic of) (80)
Wallis and Futuna (43)
(-) .Stat Dataset (58)
Digital Library Document (77)
News & Reports (75)


text:
WOMB OP MIRACLE
Doctors performed groundbreaking keyhole surgery on unborn baby with spina bifida
Sherrie Sharp, 29, had the procedure when 27 weeks pregnant with Jaxson
By Shaun Wooller
Updated: 18 May 2019, 2:24
DOCTORS performed keyhole surgery on an unborn baby with spina bifida — in the first op of its kind in the UK.
The surgeons say it is not a cure but could enable the child to walk.
Mum Sherrie Sharp gave birth to Jaxson weeks after he underwent surgery
Mum Sherrie Sharp, 29, had the revolutionary procedure when 27 weeks pregnant with son Jaxson.
She said her "miracle" baby is now moving his legs after being born six weeks later.
Sherrie was given a "number of options" after she was told her baby had spina bifida at her 20-week scan.
His spinal cord was bulging out of his back and his nerves were suffering damage, risking paralysis and incontinence.
Keyhole surgery was offered by specialists at King's College Hospital in South London — but she was warned her baby could be born prematurely.
Sherrie, from Horsham, West Sussex, had received a blood transfusion at the same hospital while in her mum's womb after developing anaemia.
She said: "I'm here today thanks to the specialists at King's so I wanted my baby to have the same chance."
Surgeons made three small cuts in her stomach, where they inserted a thin camera, light and tools into her womb.
They took the exposed spinal cord, freed it from surrounding tissue and pushed it back.
A special patch was used to cover the spinal cord before closing up the muscles and skin to prevent fluid leaking.
MEDICAL FIRST
As well as Sherrie, doctors also sedated Jaxson during the three-hour procedure to prevent him from wriggling.
Until recently, surgeons would have waited to perform such a "delicate" op until the tot with spina bifida was born.
But evidence suggests surgery in the second trimester reduces nerve damage and the risk of long-term problems.
Baby Jaxson arrived early last month, at 33 weeks, and was looked after in neonatal intensive care.
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Sherrie said: "He's got movements in his legs. We were told he'd have minimal movements if we didn't have the surgery.
"I've got high hopes for him. From day one he's done things, he's amazed us all.
"He makes me proud every day — he's just a miracle."
King's consultant Dr Marta Santorum-Pere said: "The foetus is very small and inside the womb, so obviously it's a very delicate operation."
Sherrie has high hopes for Jaxson now he has been born
First UK surgery in the womb for baby with spina bifida at Great Ormond Street Hospital
GOT a story? RING The Sun on 0207 782 4104 or WHATSAPP on 07423720250 or EMAIL exclusive@the-sun.co.uk


text:
aboutMark Bulley2019-07-08T11:19:54+10:00
Why book with Japan Holidays ?
Japan Holidays' goal is to provide our customers with the best possible Japan Experience…
Our team of travel specialists have expert knowledge on the country which is unsurpassed by many travel companies. They hold a strong bond with Japan having either lived there or visited many times. Having specialists proficient in the language will make you feel confident in the having your travel plans managed thoroughly.
Japan Holidays is supported by an office in Japan staffed with local experts who are available to assist you in case of need whilst touring the country.
Our itineraries are tailor-made to include your interests, tastes and budget. Through consulting with you we are able to create an individual itinerary within your budget with an absolute commitment to quality. Key to this commitment is using locally-owned services wherever possible and therefore supporting the local people and providing more insightful and enjoyable experiences.
Official representative office
Japan Holidays Pty. Ltd.
Tokyo Metropolitan Government Authorised Travel Service Operator No.20079
Room 803 MFShinbashi | 24-3 Shinbashi 4- Chome,
Minato-ku | Tokyo 105 | Japan
May 2020 Japan Golf Tour
Please fill in the details below – we will send you a copy of the May 2020 Japan Golf Tour – escorted by Tony and Judy Luxton – when finalised.
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Japan Holidays keys to success ( click to expand)
Personalized Your holiday itinerary is designed in consultation with you Experiences and interests enjoyed at your own leisure Accommodation to suit your style Specialist support throughout Specialists Our staff have lived in Japan or travelled extensively throughout. Local office in Japan staffed by experts who are available to support your travel Itineraries are designed to make the most efficient use of time and budget Specialist staff who not only plan your holiday but welcome your feedback on return Guides Japan Holidays Guides have been specifically chosen for their knowledge and experience Japan Holidays guides cover all regions of Japan from major centres to the most remote regions Guides for special interest activities including trekking, cycling and various creative experiences. Gain insights from Guides that know real authentic facts and can convey knowledge in a way that will ensure you the most efficient use of time and budget.
Tony LuxtonOwner | Director
Japan Holidays was established by Anthony (Tony) Luxton with the support of the travel industry in Japan.
Tony lived and worked in Japan for many years and established relationships that have been invaluable in placing Japan Holidays at the forefront of Specialists Agents dealing with Japan in such a short time.
Complimented by a strong Travel Industry background in destination marketing with Tourism Australia, Tourism Queensland and Air New Zealand and Ansett International,Tony commenced Japan Holidays in 2007.
Judy LuxtonOwner | Director
Judy has been travelling internationally since 1972 when she was the youngest member of the Australian Olympic Swim Team to the Munich Olympics (Dual Olympian 1972 & 1976).
Since that time Judy has travelled extensively with sport, business and holidays.
Bachelor- degree-qualified in Sports Science with a Graduate Diploma in Education, Judy has been invited on several occasions to Japan to assist in sport, business and international relations.
Judy joined Japan Holidays after 15 years in executive recruitment and has been passionate and well-travelled throughout Japan since the 70's.
Special interest areas are snow skiing, golfing, food and culture.
Juliane Suzuki Senior Travel Consultant
Juliane brings a wealth of experience and intimate knowledge of Japan, having lived and worked in the country for many years.
During her time in Japan, she and her Japanese husband raised two children and lived in both large cities and rural parts of Japan, giving her an insight into the varied customs in different regions of Japan.
In her role as a Senior Travel Consultant, Juliane provides quality service with unique itinerary inclusions exclusive to Japan Holidays. As well as handling bookings on behalf of retail travel agents and clients she is responsible for developing new programs and escorting tours.
Kahoru MizutaTravel Consultant
Kahoru has vast experience in Japanese travel.
Born in the historic hub of Nara rich in Japanese culture and traditions, Kahoru had long been passionate about exploring all the fascinating parts of Japan.
Kahoru has been employed by Japanese travel industry leaders JTB and HIS both in Australia and Japan.
As a Travel Consultant, Kahoru promotes the magnificent Land of the Rising Sun with the most adept, passionate and dedicated team at Japan Holidays.
Lawson DibbWholesale Travel Consultant
Lawson Dibb's fluency in Japanese language as well as his extensive background in creating custom-tailored travel packages makes him an ideal Destination Specialist for Japan Holidays.
In particular, Lawson's professional experience covers the entire range of custom trip planning, from flights to accommodations to itinerary recommendations tailored to our customers' needs.
From an early age, Lawson has always had a keen interest in all things Japanese, primarily stemming from his passion for Japan's pop culture and martial arts. Lawson has parlayed his interests into a Bachelor's Degree in International Business with a major in Japanese language studies.
He has lived and worked in Japan for several years, and is comfortable and conversant in Japanese language and culture – an asset for English-speaking travellers who want to travel there. Lawson has served as the Gold Coast "ambassador" to its sister city in Japan, where he not only taught English, but was active in promotional and PR events there on behalf of the Gold Coast.
As our Destination Specialist, Lawson is responsible for planning itineraries to any destination in Japan. He maintains close relationships with our suppliers in Japan to ensure a positive experience for our travellers. His broad knowledge of Japan's unique national treasures makes it easy for him to create the perfect, memorable holiday trip.
Debbie ColemanBookkeeper
Debbie has more than 12 years' experience in accounts/bookkeeping. She has degrees in both Accounting and Hospitality Management and has worked more than 15 years in the food & beverage and conference & banqueting industries.
Debbie's extensive background in the hospitality industry has enabled her to specialize in working with boutique owner-operated businesses. She brings a wealth of knowledge to Japan Holidays, and has been integral to developing systems and streamlining procedures for all accounts-related travel matters for our team.
Debbie's work experience spans hotels and venues in both the UK and Australia as well as contract positions. .
Lindy YorkAdministration and Marketing Coordinator
Lindy's passion for Japan spans 25 years, as she has not only lived there, but worked extensively for Japan Airlines and the hotel industry serving Japan. She brings a unique blend of fluency and cultural understanding to her position at Japan Holidays.
Over many years, Lindy has worked closely with customers, travel agents, VIPs and passengers in a variety of positions. She has also interfaced with a broad spectrum of ages and backgrounds teaching in both Japan and Australia, making her ideal to take on the social media, database marketing and website tasks for Japan Holidays.
With our business growing online as well as through traditional outlets, Lindy plays a key role getting our message out to our customer base as well as prospective travelers utilizing Japan Holidays for their travel needs.
Our Japan Holidays Official Guides
Kazunori (Ken)Tokyo, Morioka and Kyushu regions
Ken's unique background makes him an exceptional guide ideally-suited for English-speaking tourists in Japan.
Born in Yatsushiro City, Kumamoto Prefecture, on the island of Kyushu in southern Japan, Ken moved to the USA as a teenager. He was immersed in American culture and language, which he combines with his deep understanding of Japan's colourful history in a way few tour guides accomplish.
Ken has a distinguished service record with the U.S. Marines, after which he gravitated to a career in marketing, working for large international airlines. He has held senior management positions with the Australian Tourist Commission, Tourism Tasmania and Tourism Victoria, giving him a deep bond with Australian tourists. For more than a decade, he has served as Yatsushiro City's and Kumamoto Prefecture's official destination marketing manager.
Ken's passion for and profound knowledge of southern Japan's history and key historical sites plus his fluency in English make him the perfect guide for English-speaking tourists here. He is a rare combination of military precision, comprehensive knowledge, and genuine connection, qualities invaluable as a tour guide for both large groups or smaller custom tours. Ken has more than a decade of experience guiding groups.
ShigetoshiTokyo & Hakone regions
Shigetoshi was born in Kansai region, near Osaka and moved to Tokyo for university.
His business career started at a travel agency in Tokyo and about 10 years later joined an US airline as a passenger sales representative.
He began studying foreign languages again to become a professional tour guide and qualified for English & French guiding in 2014.
Since then he has been escorting many international customers in Hakone area as a member of Odawara-Hakone Goodwill Guide Service Club (volunteer guide club in foreign languages). His interests include Japanese history and traveling. .
NorikoMt Koya region
Noriko has been a tour guide of Koyasan for more than twenty years.
From a casual private tour to the formal Ambassadors Tour, she has a wide range of guide experiences. Also, she is well known as a pioneer of "Koyasan Guide." She has been awarded a prize by JNTO for her long and excellent guide activities.
She was born in Tottori Prefecture, moved to Kyoto for university, and worked for a trading company in Osaka. Now she lives near Koyasan.
As a licensed national guide, she has a chance to guide in the Kyoto and Osaka areas, however, she believes Koyasan is her home ground. Her personality is honest and happy. She believes that chance encounters with people make her life beautiful. She is looking forward to meeting you in Koyasan. .
YoshikiKyoto region
Born in Kyoto and raised in Tokyo & Kyoto, JAPAN. Dedicated my teenage winter seasons to the Inari Grand Sanctuary as a shrine maiden
A.A. in English at Doshisha Women's College & B.A. in Psychology at California State University, Northridge,USA. Worked for Daikin Industries, Ltd., a Japanese top-leading air-conditioning and fluorochemical company as a bilingual/executive secretary and travelled around Tokyo, Hakone, Nikko, Osaka, Kyoto, Nara & Nagano etc. with more than hundreds of English speaking businessmen, politicians, officials, artists & high school students. Awarded an honorary citizen at the State of Alabama, USA in 1997. Since 2002, freelance translator and tourist guide (National Guide Certificate No.EN00314). Love traveling both for business and pleasure, reading, walking, and meeting new people. Happily married with a teenage son!
SatokoKyoto, Tokyo, Hakone, Nakasendo & Nikko regions
English and French-speaking licensed tour guide.
National certificate for English in 2009 and French in 2011. Satoko loves her job allowing her to meet people from all over the world.
Footpath Walking and Running, Back Country Skiing, Onsen & Sento (Public bathhouse) , Railway Trip,
Folk Crafts (Baskets, Pottery, Handwoven fabrics ), Old Houses and landscape, Tea Ceremony and related things,
Cuisine (cooking, eating & drinking), Cafés, Chat with local people…
AkiraKanazawa region
Hishida-san has been a tour guide for the Kanazawa area since obtaining tour guide qualifications in 2010
Hishida san comes to tour guiding after a long career with Nikko Ceramics, which saw him have many long oversees postings and experiences working in foreign countries, including the United States and Algeria.
An excellent speaker of both English and French, Hishida san is a lively and informative guide with a passion for learning and sharing.
NobukoHiroshima & Miyajima regions
Nobuko has been working as a tour guide for English-speaking visitors mainly in Hiroshima for about 14 years. She has been guiding Japan Holidays clients for the past 10 years receiving exceptional feedback.
Being born and raised in Hiroshima, she always tries to do her best in making her clients feel close to the spirit of Hiroshima.
In addition to Peace Memorial Park & Museum, Miyajima Island is a highly recommended, 'must-visit' site. Miyajima is almost a hometown to Nobuko, being the birthplace of her father. She always enjoys showing the scenery of this beautiful island and telling the history, culture and lifestyle of the local people.
Nobuko says seeing her customers smiling and relaxing is her greatest joy! Nobuko is hoping to meet you one day and be your best personal guide to Hiroshima and Miyajima. .
KumikoSpecialist Guide for Hiroshima
Kumiko Tanimoto has more than two decades of experience as an official tour guide for Hiroshima city. As our Specialist Guide at Japan Holidays, Kumiko brings a wealth of knowledge and experience on the area for English-speaking travelers to her city.
Hiroshima's long history pre-dates the nuclear bombing at the end of World War II. Kumiko brings to life the centuries of castles, conflicts and post-war rebuilding as she leads groups to the best sites in this vibrant city. Kumiko's tours include popular Miyajima Island in the sunny Seto Inland Sea, World Heritage sites such as the Peace Memorial Park, castles, shrines, temples and museums unique to Hiroshima. A day with Kumiko can end with a fun stop at a local sake brewery for tastings and shopping.
In addition to Kumiko's extensive experience as a tour guide, she has taught English to a wide range of ages in Japan. She maintains her proficiency as an active member in Toastmasters. Kumiko's English fluency and deep knowledge of her home town makes her an invaluable Specialist Guide for our travelers to Hiroshima in Japan.
YoshieKanazawa region
A Kanazawa native, Yoshie has been an official tour guide since 2014.
As a long-time, local resident, Yoshie has a wealth of knowledge of the area, with an intimate knowledge of all the best local shops, back streets, and friendly sushi restaurants.
Having worked with elementary school students for over 10 years, Yoshie is also a practitioner of Japanese calligraphy, with over 30 years experience – and always happy to provide a sample to those she guides as a small memento of their trip.


text:
Details: C1903A00003
Sugar Rebate Abolition Act 1903
- C1903A00003
Act No. 3 of 1903 as made
An Act to abolish the Rebate of Excise Duty on Sugar.
Date of Assent 30 Jul 1903
Date of repeal 06 Aug 1934
Repealed by Statute Law Revision Act 1934
SUGAR REBATE ABOLITION.
No. 3 of 1903.
[Assented to 30th July, 1903.]
BE it enacted by the King's Most Excellent Majesty, the Senate, and the House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Australia, as follows:—
Short title.
1. This Act may be cited as the Sugar Rebate Abolition Act 1903.
Abolition of rebate.
2. The Schedule to the Excise Tariff 1902 is hereby amended by the omission of the provision for a rebate of excise duty on sugar.
No further rebate to be paid.
3. After the commencement of this Act no such rebate as aforesaid shall be paid to any grower of sugar-cane or beet, and no rebate note for any such rebate shall be issued.


text:
2 Cheap Dividend Stocks You Shouldn't Miss
Cisco and Seagate offer fat dividends at really cheap valuations.
Harsh Chauhan
(TMFTechJunk13)
Harsh has been covering technology, and sometimes retail, since 2011. He is focused on finding great businesses for the long run. You can follow him on twitter @techjunk13
Follow @techjunk13
The technology sector's average dividend yield is just 1.2% because companies in this sector try to stay ahead of the curve by reinvesting earnings into their business, with top-line growth and market share gains as their top priorities. In fact, industrial goods and healthcare are the only two sectors that rank below tech when it comes to yields. But there are certain names in the tech sector that could be an income investor's dream.
In this article, I look at two such tech stocks -- Cisco Systems (NASDAQ:CSCO) and Seagate Technology (NASDAQ:STX) -- that carry nice dividend yields. What's more, both companies are cheaply valued, so investors don't have to pay outrageously to take advantage of their fat yields.
Cisco has been paying a dividend since 2011, and has raised it every year.
CSCO Dividend data by YCharts
The stock currently sports a forward annual dividend yield of 2.8%, significantly higher than the technology sector's average. More important, its payout ratio of 52.5% isn't too aggressive, either, so it shouldn't have much difficulty in sustaining its dividend.
But investors need to know that Cisco is in the midst of a transformation. The company has realized that it needs to change its business model from selling devices such as routers and switches to software-centric offerings, so it has become more flexible and has started software sales independent of the underlying hardware.
This transformation hasn't been without pain for Cisco. In the last reported quarter, its net income grew 3% year over year to $2.4 billion even though revenue dropped 2%. But the outlook for the second quarter calls for year-over-year revenue growth between 1% and 3%, indicating that things are gradually getting better.
The good news is that Cisco's switch toward software is gaining traction. It got 32% of its revenue from recurring sources in the last-reported quarter, an increase of 3 percentage points from the year-ago period. A higher proportion of recurring revenue bodes well for Cisco, because its spending on customer acquisition and servicing will ideally drop. This is probably why the company's earnings increased despite a shaky top-line performance last quarter.
More important, the contribution of recurring revenue sources to Cisco's top line will keep increasing given the growth in its deferred revenue. Last quarter, the company's deferred revenue related to software and subscription sales increased 37%, outpacing the 10% jump in overall deferred revenue.
Analysts expect Cisco's bottom line to grow at almost 9% a year over the next five years, which is substantially higher than the 4.8% growth it has clocked over the last five. So Cisco looks well positioned to keep raising its dividend in the long run as the shift in its business model will accelerate bottom-line growth, making the stock an enticing pick considering its valuation.
Cisco trades at 21.5 times last year's earnings, significantly below the 34.9 industry average. The stock's forward earnings multiple of 16.8 makes it even more attractive, since it points toward a stronger earnings performance going forward.
In all, Cisco's business is moving in the right direction, making it a top pick for investors looking for a cheap dividend-paying stock.
Storage specialist Seagate Technology sports a really fat dividend yield of 4.9%. It has been paying a dividend for 15 years now, though its last dividend hike came almost three years ago. Still, investors shouldn't be complaining, because the size of the company's dividend is quite substantial.
Its payout ratio of 58.3% looks very aggressive when compared to rival Western Digital, which has a 16.4% payout ratio. But Seagate seems quite capable of maintaining its impressive payout, or even increasing it down the line because of its focus on earnings growth.
STX Net Income (TTM) data by YCharts
Seagate's net income rose 8.3% year over year during the first quarter of fiscal 2018, with its gross margin coming in at 28%. The company's gross margin during the second quarter will rise to 30%, while its operating expenses will drop in the ballpark of 3% to 5% sequentially. So Seagate looks set for stronger earnings growth once again, a trend that it should be able to maintain for a long time.
Seagate is benefiting from the broader industry trend of an increase in the average storage capacity of drives, which is helping it push down costs. The company shipped 88 exabytes of hard-disk drive (HDD) capacity during the recently concluded second quarter, a jump of 29% from the prior-year period.
But at the same time, HDD unit shipments were almost flat year over year at 40 million units, pushing the average capacity per HDD to 2.2 terabytes from 1.7 terabytes in the year-ago period. So Seagate is packing more memory into each hard drive to meet the rising enterprise demand, improving its cost profile.
This is because the cost per gigabyte of a drive declines as the size of the HDD increases, raising Seagate's profitability in the process. Data storage demand is expected to rise fourfold by 2025, so the average capacity of an HDD should keep rising. In fact, the possibility of a 100 terabyte HDD by 2025 cannot be ruled out as storage density increases.
Seagate, therefore, looks primed for strong earnings growth, with analysts estimating a 15% compound annual earnings growth for the next five years as compared to an annual earnings erosion of 13% during the last half-decade.
Finally, Seagate is cheaply valued. It trades at 11.9 times forward earnings, compared to the 25.5 industry average, making it an ideal pick for investors looking for a combination of earnings growth and a fat dividend at an attractive price.
NASDAQ:CSCO
Seagate Technology plc
NASDAQ:STX
NASDAQ:WDC
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