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It's really easy to talk the talk, but it takes more work to walk the walk. We're determined to do both. We love talking about social responsibility, whilst also doing our part to make this world just a little better than how we found it. Take a look at what we are doing to walk the walk.
STOP ageism
We founded the STOPageism platform to bring together organisations – to build awareness for ageism and make positive changes for people of all ages.
research to deliver change
We are funding academic research with the University of Bath, with research findings made available to all for free.
Serving Our Communities
At Guild Living, the local community is at the heart of our community. From charities to local businesses, artists to schools and social enterprises.
Green Transport
All of our transport options are green or electric — so Guild Members can get around easily and efficiently, whilst also protecting our beautiful towns, cities, and beyond.
Our Journey to Net Zero Carbon
We're proud to say that all of our buildings will have ZERO net release of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere by 2030.
A responsibility to protect biodiversity
We're passionate about not only maintaining the plant and animal life at every Guild Living location, but we also work hard to improve that biodiversity every day.
Reducing, Reusing and Recycling Waste
Our goal is to recycle at least 75% of our waste by having a plan in place that focuses on recycling, food waste and single-use plastics.
At Guild Living, we believe in equal opportunities for all, including a fair salary, equality of opportunity, and safeguarding of all Guild Members and employees.
READ OUR SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY NEWS.


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Give Small Gauges for Small Game a Try…They're both Super-Fun!
Most big game seasons are now one for the record books and even waterfowl, except for some late goose seasons, are already a memory. So what's a hunter to do?
Rekindle your love for hunting for the mere sake of hunting and spending time outdoors—try a late-winter small game season. And while most small game hunting articles point sportsmen toward the merits of the 22 Long Rifle or other tack-driving, rimfire calibers, I'm still a fan of the all-purpose scattergun. But no need to go in over-gunned with the ubiquitous big-bore 12 gauge.
Small game hunting is where small gauge shotguns shine in the field and bring to your efforts a level of challenge similar to planting a soft-lead rimfire round in the precise target area presented by a tree-scrambling squirrel or grazing rabbit. For such hunts, the .410 bore and 28-gauge shotguns are both a true joy to shoot.
Low recoiling, lightweight and ideal for running or moving targets, small gauge shotguns are fun to shoot and at moderate distances do a great job on squirrels, rabbits, and upland birds if wingshooting is more your thing (yes, in many places seasons for grouse and quail linger well into the end of February or early March). When it comes to the .410 (technically a bore and not a gauge), the diameter of the shell in relation to the length make it a tough patterning load that is best kept at distances of 30 yards or less.
Because of its designation as the smallest shotgun gauge available today, the .410 is often mistakenly considered a kid's gun. But because of the relatively low pellet count and correspondingly smaller, less dense patterns, it takes a relatively decent shotgunner to score repeatedly with the .410. In this instance, the 28-gauge is a deal better—still light recoiling, easier to carry, smaller in its stock and length dimensions than a 12 or 20 gauge, but with slightly more shot and better patterning. (A 2¾-inch 28-gauge shell holds a max of 1 ounces of shot compared to a longer 3-inch .410, whose max shot loading is on ¾ ounces.)
Regardless of gauge of gun or age of hunter, taking to the woods this time of year helps break the sportsman's midwinter boredom. And toting a small gauge shotgun in search of game that doesn't need to be aged on the hoof or identified as mature enough to take reminds us all of the simple joy of hunting for hunting's sake. Isn't that enough?

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


This excerpt from Dostoevsky's The Brothers Karamazov contains what might be Dostoevsky's own response to the credo of his Grand Inquisitor. Here Dostoevsky's character, Father Zossima, asserts that "everyone is responsible for all." But how, as Zossima's interlocutors mockingly ask, can this be so? How can I be responsible for you, let alone for all?
The Brothers Karamazov, Fyodor Dostoevsky, trans. R. Pevear, L. Volokhonsky (Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 2002).
Who should we give to and why?How has my family or background shaped who I am?What makes a community strong? What makes it weak?What is my responsibility to the people I lead?How do we define love? How do we show love?How does a person learn compassion?
What do you make of the line, "everyone is responsible for all"?
How did Father Zossima's brother influence him?
What lessons do the priests learn from the Bible about love?
Do you think Zossima prescribes a hopeful message?
How is this message relevant in your own work?
Who should we be responsible for, professionally and personally?
"Father Zossima and His Visitors (The Brothers Karamazov Pt 2 Bk 4 Ch 1"


This weekend's clash was meant to have been at the new-look Three Point Lane, as seasoned Blues fans loved calling it.
But Spurs v Chelsea is staged at Tottenham's default temporary ground, Wembley; a happy hunting ground for Chelsea, with twin towers or arch.
There have been blips. The irritating 2-1 FA Cup Final defeat to Arsenal in 2017, and Fredrik Ljungberg's clinching goal for the Gunners in 2002.
But Wembley has also witnessed glory, with few games as memorable as the one in which Robbie Di Matteo scored after 42 seconds against Boro in 1997.
I watched from a press overspill area, alongside a very excitable young Italian woman.
She turned out to be Di Matteo's sister, Concetta, who is blind. I sat to her right, while her dad sat on her left, shouting into her ear with a running commentary in Italian on events on the pitch.
He was still trying to set the scene when the place went bonkers after what was, at the time, the fastest cup final goal.
Roberto Di Mateo, his achievement celebrated by shoals of Blues fans wearing the number 42 on their replica shirts, went on to be manager, winning the Champions League.
His inevitable sacking (no one lasts at Chelsea) came when he was… 42. The number that defined him and, of course, the answer to everything.


Video chat is not a new field in Romania, it is very profitable and that's why, in recent years they have opened several studios for the chat than the bakers. " the answer is simple: because show's contestants are beautiful, for as the romans are entrepreneurs and they all want a piece of the winnings.The elements that make up a studio and make him look good are known: the decor, the websites with which it works, the percentages, the location of the studio. Essential are the people that you work with, from the team of technical, support, photographer, manager and marketing team.O minube é o meu companheiro de viagem, sempre está comigo em todos os lugares onde quer que eu leve o meu telemóvel. É a quem eu pergunto sobre o que visitar, sobre os restaurantes, hotéis e até pelas passagens aéreas e voos mais baratos quando preciso.E depois de uma viagem, é onde guardo as minhas melhores lembranças para tê-las sempre presentes.O minube tem algo romântico, que tem algo a ver com o seu desenho e com a sua funcionalidade pensados para partilhar e criar uma grande comunidade.Não se trata apenas de criticar ou elevar o pequeno almoço de um hotel, o preço da entrada de um museu ou de descrever um lugar pitoresco, aqui partilhamos experiências de vida com o desejo de que outras pessoas aproveitem e desfrutem os nossos descobrimentos e evitem cometer os mesmos erros. The best way to ensure a great financial income is to choose Gloria Agency, build success through every action we take.To become a successful model, you need to set your goals carefully, but also give yourself the time to get results.
The rooms are individual and ensure the comfort of your home while you are at work, just so you can do the job quiet.All these elements combined make Studio 20 Union a serious competitor of the family Studio 20, besides the studios of Bucharest-Victoriei, Bucharest-Men, Studio 20 Timisoara, Studio 20 Cluj, Studio 20 Craiova and Studio 20 Los Angeles.Studio 20 Men Because I did such a good job of with the girls, we decided to open a studio for the boys.From the point of view of the surface, the Studio 20 Bucharest Victory was the largest studio in Romania in 2015, with over 700 square meters, in two sections of the building office Victoria Business Center.One of these has view to the Victory Square, and the other to the Street Buzesti.
However, the new menu offers a few surprises with its dual-personality of part Start menu and part Start screen.
2110 Jamestown Rd, Williamsburg, VA 23185, 757-253-4838 More ideas: Romantic Getaways in Virginia "Top Romantic Tourist Attractions in Williamsburg, Virginia" Back to Top or More Famous Landmarks, Restaurants, Bars, Cafes, Food near me, Activities, Fall Honeymoon, Downtown Wedding Venues Vacation Spots near Me, Places to Visit & How far is: SF, St Louis, Durham, Cincinnati, Indianapolis, Palm Springs, Boise, Fort Wayne, Galena, Mackinac Island, DC, Wilmington, Austin, Albuquerque, Ventura, OH, Near Houston, NH, Charleston, Pittsburgh, VT, Aquariums, Minneapolis, Houston, Knoxville, Family, Sedona, Norfolk, Jacuzzi, San Jose, Anaheim, San Diego Beaches, MD, OR, HI The Muscarelle Museum of Art is part of the College of William & Mary and is located at Lamberson Hall on campus.


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Comic-Con expert shares news, survival tips and 'Game of Thrones' speculation for 2019
The Convention Center dressed in Comic-Con signage, on Day 1 of Comic-Con 2018 in San Diego.
(JOHN GIBBINS)
By Abby Hamblin,
Luis Gomez
It's nearly here, the pop culture party that many people marked on their calendars a year ago, where inside information is as valuable as an invisible jet.
In this world, Kerry Dixon is Wonder Woman.
If you've ever been interested in Comic-Con International or wanted the latest news and updates, chances are you've stumbled across San Diego Comic-Con Unofficial Blog, which celebrates its 10th anniversary this year.
Editor-In-Chief Kerry Dixon and her staff of writers and experts share insider tips, guides, the latest news and information ahead of and during the annual pop culture convention on social media and the blog at sdccblog.com. Despite not being affiliated with the official Comic-Con International, she and her seasoned team often break news or have some of the most up-to-date information.
We brought Dixon back on The Conversation podcast for a second time — her first episode in advance of last year's Comic-Con was super popular with our listeners — to share the latest trends and more. Here are some excerpts, lightly edited.
What's going to be new this year?
"What's going to be new this year is, it's kind of funny — it's almost what's going to be old — is that 'Game of Thrones' is going to be coming back, which no one expected. HBO is also going to be bringing 'His Dark Materials' which is super exciting because Lin-Manuel Miranda of 'Hamilton' he will actually be at Comic-Con for the very first time for that. A lot of people are very excited about that. And if there are any other 'Hamilton' fans, Daveed Diggs will actually also be there for 'Snowpiercer' on TBS. Those are the really big things. Marvel is supposed to be back this year after skipping last year so everyone is excited about that. And then the new 'Top Gun: Maverick' from Paramount, they're supposed to be there as well."
Any hints as to what this 'Game of Thrones' appearance is going to be about?
"The thing with 'Game of Thrones' at Comic-Con is they actually always pretty much showed up after their season ended so it was never really about teasing what was coming up. It was always kind of a victory lap for them. It was just like, 'Hey, we love the fans.' So it could very well be that, they could be using this to tease a little bit of the prequel that they have coming up for 'Game of Thrones.' They could be using it as a launching pad for that. They could even be looking to smooth things over with fans considering reaction to the finale was, you know, a little bit mixed. There's a lot of reasons HBO could be bringing it, but they're bringing quite a few of the cast members, so it's a pretty big deal."
What are some survival tips?
"If you've never been to Comic-Con, it can be pretty overwhelming. The No. 1 thing we always tell people is if you are attending for the first time, try to choose just one thing a day that you really want to do. Shoot for that. After that, anything else on top of that is gravy. No. 2, a portable battery for your phone is your new best friend. There aren't a lot of plugs at the convention center and, with 130,000 attendees, they go really fast so being able to use your phone all day is really important. Staying hydrated is incredibly important. Comfortable walking shoes are also really important. Every year we see people in flip flops or not close-toed shoes and it's just like, why? Don't do that to yourself! … We also recommend that you pack snacks. You're in the convention center pretty much all day long and while they do have some decent food there, you can only subsist on emergency hot dogs and pretzels for so long."
To listen to the full episode, tune in on the player below.
For more on Comic-Con, check out our coverage below.
Wednesday's schedule at Comic-Con 2019
Thursday's schedule at Comic-Con 2019
Friday's schedule at Comic-Con 2019
Saturday's schedule at Comic-Con 2019
Sunday's schedule at Comic-Con 2019
The ConversationLatestOpinionComic-Con
Abby Hamblin
San Diego branch president Clovis Honoré on the NAACP's relevance 100 years later
Clovis Honoré leads the San Diego branch of the NAACP in its 100th year of fighting for equality and against racial prejudice and discrimination.
Cartoonist Lalo Alcaraz's journey from Lemon Grove to Hollywood to improve Latino representation
Lemon Grove native Lalo Alcaraz has long been an advocate for better representation of Latinos in America. Now, it's his day job.
Why San Diego students joined the global climate strike, in their own words
As part of a global climate strike, students from San Diego High School, High Tech High School and other area schools marched to Golden Hall in downtown San Diego to raise awareness.
In Chula Vista, Noel Gallagher says the Foo Fighters should break up instead of trying to reunite Oasis
After the Foo Fighters expressed hopes that Oasis will reunite the band, former member Noel Gallagher suggested the Foo Fighters should break up instead.
At 91, 'The Choice' author Edith Eva Eger shares lessons from surviving the Holocaust for 2019
Edith Eger was 16 when her family was sent to the Auschwitz concentration camp. At age 90 she wrote 'The Choice' to tell her story and help others
San Diego-based health care pioneer Eric Topol looks ahead to the future of medicine
Dr. Eric Topol's new book on artificial intelligence in medicine is just one of his many interesting pursuits as a cardiologist and executive vice president at Scripps Research.
Get Weekend Opinion on Sunday mornings
Most read opinion stories
Steve Breen's Caption Contest
Steve Breen's cartoon caption contest for Jan. 17, 2020
Readers had a blast with this week's cartoon.
Readers React: San Diego needs to fight for real pension reform
Outrageous pension benefits will cause cutbacks to library, parks, and other vital citizen-deserved services.
Editorial: Poway Mayor Steve Vaus should've been more careful in water crisis
Vaus went on TV to say tests had showed the water was fine to drink and that in fact he was drinking it. That was a mistake.
7 Martin Luther King Jr. murals to visit in California
Editorial: Faulconer's bold stance on homelessness should start debate California needs
Unintended consequences of Props 47 and 57 haunt the state


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Q: How to get most frequently used calls from call log in android? Is there any method or query to display all most frequently used calls from call log can be display in one list?

A: Not that I know of.
You could create a wrapper for Log.d/w/e etc and have it keep track of the number of times it encounters each log, then you would be able to figure out the most frequently used calls by sorting your data.
It's a clean way to do it, since you wouldn't need to change anything else.
I wanted this functionality before, but I found that in most cases if I restructured my log calls under conditional statements, I'd get what I wanted without the noise.
You can also create some temporary gui elements in your app to display the same information, or even do away with your log calls and just increment integers in their positions, then do one big log call in the end to see which integer is incremented the most - ie: which log call would have been called the most in its place.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


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Ornamental Slats /
5' Ornamental Fence Privacy Slats Kit For 5/8" Sq. Pickets (25 Slats)
Ornamental Fence Privacy Slats are designed to be used with aluminum or steel ornamental picket fences and are installed by simply snapping the slats over the pickets, adding privacy and isolation to any area, and can easily be adjusted to be used as louvers by opening at a 90° angle to allow for breezeways or viewing scenic areas, depending on the desired application. Fits 5' High x 5/8" Sq. Pickets - Covers Approximately 10 ft.
Part Number: HMSLAT558
5' Ornamental Fence Privacy Slats Louvers Extender Clip
5' Ornamental Fence Privacy Slats Louvers Locking Strip Kit (25 Pack)
Aluminum, steel, and wrought iron ornamental fences are beautiful, however, some applications require privacy, and until now there has been no viable solution for converting an ornamental fence installation into a privacy fence. Ornamental Fence Privacy Slats are designed for doing just that. They can be used with various types of picket sizes and are installed by simply snapping the slats over the pickets, adding privacy and isolation to any area. As an added feature, these privacy slats can easily be adjusted to be used as louvers by opening at a 90° angle to allow for breezeways or viewing scenic areas. Each slat is constructed of a mix of durable PVC plastic with embedded UV resistant materials, meaning they will not fade, discolor or warp when exposed to the sun or other inclement weather conditions.
Installation of the Ornamental Privacy Slats is quick and easy, requiring no tools, special fasteners, or industry experience. Simply snap the slats over the existing ornamental fence pickets and installation is complete, making them ideal for at-home DIY fencing projects. Additionally, these ornamental privacy slats are virtually maintenance-free, making them extremely popular for a wide variety of different applications due to the cost-effectiveness, ease of installation, and overall appealing look.
For some applications, it may be necessary to use Extension Clips for closing the gaps between the outside pickets and posts. They are made to slide down onto either side of the slats and snap into place. Extension Clips are sold individually, however, it is recommended to order 2 per fence section. Lock Strips are also available for installations in which slats are to remain in the fixed 100% private position. The lock strips effortlessly snap onto the back of the privacy slats and prevent them from being rotated and opening up. They can be easily removed if the louvers need to be rotated to the open position. Lock Strips are sold individually, and it is recommended to order one per slat.
• Quick and Easy Installation - Simply Slide Over Existing Pickets
• Cost-Effective Solution For Privacy Fence, Requiring Virtually No Maintenance
• Can Be Used As Louvers - Installed As Privacy Fence, Then Turning 90° For Open Breeze
• Provides Complete Privacy With Slat Edges Overlapping, Adding Seclusion To Any Area With Ease
• Popular Applications: Swimming Areas, Decks, Balconies, Patios, Dumpster and Air Conditioning Enclosures, and Much More
• Picket Size: 5/8" Sq.
• Picket Fence Height: 5'
• Package Size: 25 Slats
• Covers Approximately 10 ft.
• Ideal For Indoor and Outdoor Use
• Material: Durable, UV-Resistant PVC
HMSLAT558
Picket Size


A particular type of fraud has emerged in various countries. In markets where prepaid subscriber rates are high and SMS OTP mechanism is still heavily used by banks and service providers; criminals seized on vulnerabilities in existing processes to renew a subscription via SIM card swap. It can be difficult for Mobile Network Operators to enforce restrictive rules to control the identity of the user while changing the SIM, which means that fraudsters pretending to be users can claim for a SIM replacement while pretending they lost their mobile phone.
To illustrate the problems involved, take a look at this example. Chris was sitting in his Nottingham home a fortnight ago when his iPhone suddenly stopped working. Within 75 minutes the fraudsters who had hijacked his phone had, through his online banking app, emptied his bank account of £1,200 and applied for an £8,000 loan in his name. But Chris is just the latest victim of a financial scam that is sweeping Britain: SIM-swap fraud.
But what is SIM swap fraud?
A fraudster gathers data on a bank customer through "phishing" or "social engineering" to gain access to their online/mobile banking portal.
With this data, the fraudster contacts their mobile operator to get their SIM card replaced and/or change Mobile Network Operator while keeping the same mobile number.
With a new SIM and the same mobile number, the fraudster receives bank account authentication codes and/or payment transaction codes (SMS OTP).
The fraudster is now free to log in, create a new beneficiary's account, transfer and withdraw money.
SIM swap is becoming an increasingly common source of fraud. Asia Pacific, North America and Indian markets are witnessing the most cases of SIM swap fraud. But this phenomenon is global as many countries (UAE, Brazil, Colombia, South Africa, Singapore or Germany, UK to name only few of them) reported SIM Swap fraudulent cases due to the need to fast track enrollment in order to capture potential new customers, while proper identity verification for mobile subscribers is still not enforced.
Mobile phone has become not only a ubiquitous extension of our daily life but also one of our identity master piece allowing banks to identify and authorize credit cards, online transactions, cash withdraw. That is the reason why mobile has also become the main target for criminals.
Clearly, SIM-Swap fraud is a growing problem that needs to be stopped. And we need to address the problem with strong, secure solutions. One solution banks are looking for is to reinforce the end users' identity verification process to improve risk assessment and better respond to fraud management.
This solution cannot only rely on the data coming from the mobile network operators provisioning system. This is not sufficient to properly inform bank risk assessment engine.
To optimize risk assessment, it is important to establish a set of guidelines, which cover multiple conditions or sources of information.
What if banks could get access to real time mobile operator network information to protect the end-user account?
This would include knowing about SIM and device swap scams, but also access to roaming and location data and if needed device specifics, user behavior analysis, IP intelligence and geolocation, among others. Everything would be securely collected and always obtained with the end-user consent.
To show how such a solution would work, imagine a user is asked to validate a transaction with a one-time password sent to their mobile device. The solution gives real-time insight using the date of any SIM swaps.
The bank can then decide whether the targeted mobile subscriber is falling under fraudulent behavior category and if any further authentication is required (customer care call or step up authentication mechanisms). If a customer's mobile account has been taken over, the bank can take appropriate action before the fraudsters can seize on a vulnerability and withdraw funds, change passwords or set themselves up as a new beneficiary for any payments.
Managing user consent in compliance with privacy-by-design regulations is becoming mandatory in a lot of countries. Implicit consent can be managed by a bank contract in some way. But explicit consent is requested more and more by market regulators and requires digital user consent prior to further use by the bank or service provider.
A good way to manage explicit subscriber consent is the use of mobile digital channel communication.
When consent occurs with the subscriber, we can set guidelines based on opt-in models.
Preventing SIM-Swap fraud is really all about stopping that problem at the source, which means making it as difficult as possible for fraudsters to lie about who they are to phone operators and financial institutions.
Are you facing this problem? What solution are you thinking of putting in place?
Will you be interested in those fraud protection and mobile identity services?
Let us know by tweeting us at @Gemalto, or by posting a comment below. To find more on SIM Swap solutions & mobile identity services, visit our dedicated webpage: Mobile Fraud Protection.


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Home > ICD Code
The International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems, more commonly known as the ICD, is a list of diseases classified by signs, symptoms, and causes. Developed and published by the World Health Organization (WHO), this system allows any health condition to be classified with a code of up to six digits. It is currently in its tenth edition, with an eleventh set to be completed by 2015. The code began in the 1850s as the International List of Causes of Death. When the WHO was created in 1948, it assumed responsibility for the code, publishing its sixth edition and adding causes of morbidity to the list. Having an international standardized coding system for diseases allows doctors or statisticians to analyze the health of population groups, record the incidence and prevalence of disease, store and retrieve vital medical information, and compile statistics.
What is the ICD-10?
Work began on the ICD-10 in 1983 and ended in 1992; the new code was implemented the next year. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) began using the updated code in 1999; however, some U.S. medical organizations like Medicare and Medicaid services will not begin using the ICD-10 until 2013. The ICD-10-CM, the U.S.-specific clinical modification of the code, expands each designation from three digits to six, allowing for continued growth as new medical discoveries are made. The number of possible codes has gone from 13,600 to approximately 69,000. It also allows for greater subtlety; for example, in the case of an ovarian condition, the ICD-10-CM differentiates between the right ovary, left ovary, a bilateral condition, or unspecified.
What is Mesothelioma's ICD code?
Though the tenth version has replaced the ninth in many areas of the world, the ICD-9-CM is still in use in some parts of the United States. Under that system, malignant pleural mesothelioma (chest) is assigned the code 163, peritoneal mesothelioma (abdomen) is assigned 158, and tumors of the heart such as pericardial mesothelioma are assigned 164. In the ICD-10's second chapter, mesothelioma falls under the broad category of malignant neoplasms, specifically those of the mesothelial and soft tissue. Malignant mesothelioma as a whole has the designation of C45, with its types classified as following:
Pleural mesothelioma – C45.0
Peritoneal mesothelioma – C45.1
Pericardial mesothelioma – C45.2
Mesothelioma of other sites – C45.7
Mesothelioma, unspecified – C45.9
American Academy of Professional Coders
ICD 9 Data


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Sporting KC Weekly Update: November 30, 2016
November 30, 201610:28AM CST
Sam KovzanSportingKC.com
Follow@ skovzan
PETER VERMES SIGNS CONTRACT EXTENSION WITH SPORTING KC
Sporting Kansas City announced on Tuesday the extension of Peter Vermes' contract as manager and technical director of the club through the 2019 MLS season. Vermes has served as Sporting Kansas City's manager since 2009, becoming the team's all-time winningest coach and the eighth winningest coach in MLS regular season history. Over the last eight years, he has amassed 103 regular season wins (103-82-61) and 128 victories in all competitions (128-96-70). He has also hoisted three major trophies — the 2013 MLS Cup and the 2012 and 2015 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cups.
Vermes, 50, has led Sporting Kansas City to a club-record six straight playoff appearances since 2011. During this time period, he has become the third coach in league history to win at least 13 games in six consecutive regular seasons. He was named Kansas City's technical director in 2006 and oversees all soccer operations at the club, including scouting, roster management and development of the Sporting Kansas City Academy. (Full story)
SPORTING KC ANNOUNCES ROSTER MOVES AHEAD OF 2017 SEASON
Sporting Kansas City last Wednesday that the club has exercised contract options for the following players ahead of the 2017 MLS season: Saad Abdul-Salaam, Benji Joya, Jimmy Medranda, Lawrence Olum and Seth Sinovic.
In addition, the following players are now out of contract with Sporting Kansas City: Nuno Andre Coelho, Kevin Ellis, Alec Kann, Chance Myers, Paulo Nagamura and Jacob Peterson. The club will extend offers to Ellis and Kann and negotiations for those two players are ongoing. Myers, Peterson and Nagamura are eligible for MLS free agency, which begins at the conclusion of the MLS Expansion Draft on Dec. 13.
Sporting Kansas City will not exercise contract options for Ever Alvarado, Emmanuel Appiah, Connor Hallisey, Jon Kempin and Justin Mapp. Kempin is eligible to participate in Major League Soccer's Re-Entry Draft, with Stage One set for Dec. 16 and Stage Two on Dec. 22. As a free agent, Mapp may enter the Re-Entry Draft or begin free agent negotiations with clubs after the MLS Expansion Draft.
Sporting Kansas City currently has 17 players under contract for next year: the five players whose options were picked up as well as players already under contract for 2017: Matt Besler, Dom Dwyer, Roger Espinoza, Benny Feilhaber, Tim Melia, Soni Mustivar, Ike Opara, Erik Palmer-Brown, Cameron Porter, Diego Rubio, Daniel Salloi and Graham Zusi. For a full list of Sporting Kansas City's offseason roster moves, visit SportingKC.com/tracker.
RANGERS TO RETURN SIX PLAYERS FOR 2017 USL SEASON
The Swope Park Rangers will return six players from the side's inaugural USL season, the club announced Monday. Captain Christian Duke, defender Amer Didic, forward Mark Anthony Gonzalez and forward Nansel Selbol have all had their contract options exercised, while Oumar Ballo has signed a new contract. All five transactions are pending USL and federation approval, while Selbol is also pending the receipt of his P-1 Visa. In addition, midfielder Kevin Oliveira is already under contract for the 2017 season. (Full story)
LINDSEY JOINS U.S. U-17S FOR NIKE INTERNATIONAL FRIENDLIES
Sporting KC Academy defender Jaylin Lindsey has been named to the United States U-17 National Team for the 13th annual Nike International Friendlies in Lakewood Ranch, Florida, taking place today through Sunday at Premier Sports Complex.
Lindsey joins a 20-player roster selected by head coach John Hackworth in an elite youth competition featuring four prominent national teams. The U.S. will face Portugal, Turkey and Brazil in a three-game round-robin competition, marking one of the premier events on the U.S. youth soccer calendar.
This year's tournament features two games on each of the three match days. The U.S. battles Portugal tonight, then plays Turkey on Friday before finishing the competition Sunday against Brazil. All three U.S. matches will be broadcast live on ussoccer.com as well as the U.S. Soccer Facebook page and YouTube channel. (Full story)
SKC ACADEMY TO COMPETE IN USSDA WINTER SHOWCASE THIS WEEKEND
The Sporting Kansas City Academy U-18s and U-16s will compete in the 2016 U.S. Soccer Development Academy Winter Showcase, to be held Thursday through Monday at Premier Sports Campus in Lakewood Ranch, Florida.
The 2016 Winter Showcase includes 72 U-18 and 74 U-16 academy clubs from across the country, spanning 219 games over five days. The annual event will be held in conjunction with the 2016 Nike International Friendlies, a round-robin competition featuring the United States, Brazil, Portugal and Turkey U-17 national teams.
The Sporting KC U-18s and U-16s will play three games apiece, all of which against steams from other USSDA divisions. Led by head coach Jon Parry, the U-18s will face Orlando City SC, the Philadelphia Union and Weston FC (Florida). U-16 head coach Josh Gardner will lead his team versus Empire United (New York), Columbus Crew SC and the Philadelphia Union. (Full story)
ROCKHURST MEN HEADLINE D-II SOCCER CHAMPIONSHIPS AT SWOPE
The national semifinal matchups are set for the 2016 NCAA Division II Men's and Women's Soccer Championships, to be held Thursday and Saturday at Swope Soccer Village in Kansas City, Missouri.
Kansas City's own Rockhurst University headlines the men's field and will be joined by fellow semifinalists Charleston (W. Va.), Wingate (N.C.) and UC San Diego. On the women's side, Columbus State (Ga.), Kutztown (Penn.) and Western Washington will look to dethrone three-time defending national champion Grand Valley State (Mich.).
Both tournaments will culminate with semifinal and championship matches at Children's Mercy Victory Field in state-of-the-art Swope Soccer Village, hosted by the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association and the Kansas City Sports Commission. For ticket information, visit ncaa.com/tickets. Click here for the full championship schedule.
U-14S FINISH FOURTH AT PRESTIGIOUS COPA RAYADOS IN TEXAS
The Sporting Kansas City Academy U-14s earned a fourth-place finish at the prestigious Copa Rayados Internacional tournament last week in The Woodlands, Texas, advancing further in the U-15 age group than any other American club at this year's competition.
Led by head coach Rumba Munthali, the Sporting KC U-14s played six games in five days between Wednesday and Sunday, finishing atop Group C with a 3-0-1 record before falling in the semifinal and third-place matches against Mexican opposition. The spirited performance included group stage victories over Santos Laguna, Houston Dynamo and Queretaro as well as a last-gasp draw against Inter Monterrey that proved decisive in Sporting KC's advancement to the Gold Division semifinals. (Full story)
D-II FOOTBALL CHAMPIONSHIP DEC. 17 AT CHILDREN'S MERCY PARK
The Division II Football Championship will take place at Children's Mercy Park on Dec. 17 at 3 p.m. CT. Tickets for the match are now available and can be purchased at Ticketmaster.com or by calling 888-KC-GOAL.
Defending national champion Northwest Missouri State will enter Saturday's quarterfinal round on a 27-game winning streak, the longest active in college football. The Bearcats are the only team from Missouri or Kansas left in the tournament and are two victories away from returning to Children's Mercy Park, where they claimed the 2015 national title before a sold-out crowd.
FOLLOW SPORTING KC
For news, photographs and instant updates throughout the year, follow Sporting KC on its Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and Snapchat (sportingkc) accounts.
Sporting Kansas City II
Associate Directory
Twitter (Academy)
Script Tracking From Kazoo


text:
package org.apache.catalina.valves;

import java.io.IOException;
import java.sql.Connection;
import java.sql.Driver;
import java.sql.PreparedStatement;
import java.sql.SQLException;
import java.sql.Timestamp;
import java.util.Properties;

import javax.servlet.ServletException;
import javax.servlet.ServletRequest;
import javax.servlet.http.HttpServletRequest;

import org.apache.catalina.HttpResponse;
import org.apache.catalina.Lifecycle;
import org.apache.catalina.LifecycleException;
import org.apache.catalina.LifecycleListener;
import org.apache.catalina.Request;
import org.apache.catalina.Response;
import org.apache.catalina.ValveContext;
import org.apache.catalina.util.LifecycleSupport;
import org.apache.catalina.util.StringManager;
import org.apache.catalina.Logger;

/**
 *

 * This Tomcat extension logs server access directly to a database, and can
 * be used instead of the regular file-based access log implemented in
 * AccessLogValve.
 * To use, copy into the server/classes directory of the Tomcat installation
 * and configure in server.xml as:
 *

 * 		<Valve className="AccessLogDBValve"
 *        	driverName="your_jdbc_driver"
 *        	connectionURL="your_jdbc_url"
 *        	pattern="combined" resolveHosts="false"
 * 		/>
 *

 *

 *

 * Many parameters can be configured, such as the database connection (with
 * driverName and connectionURL),
 * the table name (tableName)
 * and the field names (corresponding to the get/set method names).
 * The same options as AccessLogValve are supported, such as
 * resolveHosts and pattern ("common" or "combined"
 * only).
 *

 *

 * When Tomcat is started, a database connection (with autoReconnect option)
 * is created and used for all the log activity. When Tomcat is shutdown, the
 * database connection is closed.
 * This logger can be used at the level of the Engine context (being shared
 * by all the defined hosts) or the Host context (one instance of the logger
 * per host, possibly using different databases).
 *

 *

 * The database table can be created with the following command:
 *

 *

 * CREATE TABLE access (
 * id INT UNSIGNED AUTO_INCREMENT NOT NULL,
 * ts TIMESTAMP NOT NULL,
 * remoteHost CHAR(15) NOT NULL,
 * user CHAR(15),
 * timestamp TIMESTAMP NOT NULL,
 * virtualHost VARCHAR(64) NOT NULL,
 * method VARCHAR(8) NOT NULL,
 * query VARCHAR(255) NOT NULL,
 * status SMALLINT UNSIGNED NOT NULL,
 * bytes INT UNSIGNED NOT NULL,
 * referer VARCHAR(128),
 * userAgent VARCHAR(128),
 * PRIMARY KEY (id),
 * INDEX (ts),
 * INDEX (remoteHost),
 * INDEX (virtualHost),
 * INDEX (query),
 * INDEX (userAgent)
 * );
 *

 *

 * If the table is created as above, its name and the field names don't need
 * to be defined.
 *

 *

 * If the request method is "common", only these fields are used:
 * remoteHost, user, timeStamp, query, status, bytes
 *

 *

 * TO DO: provide option for excluding logging of certain MIME types.
 *

 *
 * @author Andre de Jesus
 * @author Peter Rossbach
 */

public final class JDBCAccessLogValve
    extends ValveBase
    implements Lifecycle {

    // ----------------------------------------------------------- Constructors

    /**
     * Class constructor. Initializes the fields with the default values.
     * The defaults are:
     *

     * 		driverName = null;
     * 		connectionURL = null;
     * 		tableName = "access";
     * 		remoteHostField = "remoteHost";
     * 		userField = "user";
     * 		timestampField = "timestamp";
     * 		virtualHostField = "virtualHost";
     * 		methodField = "method";
     * 		queryField = "query";
     * 		statusField = "status";
     * 		bytesField = "bytes";
     * 		refererField = "referer";
     * 		userAgentField = "userAgent";
     * 		pattern = "common";
     * 		resolveHosts = false;
     *

     */
    public JDBCAccessLogValve() {
        super();
        driverName = null;
        connectionURL = null;
        tableName = "access";
        remoteHostField = "remoteHost";
        userField = "user";
        timestampField = "timestamp";
        virtualHostField = "virtualHost";
        methodField = "method";
        queryField = "query";
        statusField = "status";
        bytesField = "bytes";
        refererField = "referer";
        userAgentField = "userAgent";
        pattern = "common";
        resolveHosts = false;
        conn = null;
        ps = null;
        currentTimeMillis = new java.util.Date().getTime();
    }

    // ----------------------------------------------------- Instance Variables

   /**
     * The connection username to use when trying to connect to the database.
     */
    protected String connectionName = null;

    /**
     * The connection URL to use when trying to connect to the database.
     */
    protected String connectionPassword = null;

   /**
     * Instance of the JDBC Driver class we use as a connection factory.
     */
    protected Driver driver = null;

    private String driverName;
    private String connectionURL;
    private String tableName;
    private String remoteHostField;
    private String userField;
    private String timestampField;
    private String virtualHostField;
    private String methodField;
    private String queryField;
    private String statusField;
    private String bytesField;
    private String refererField;
    private String userAgentField;
    private String pattern;
    private boolean resolveHosts;

    private Connection conn;
    private PreparedStatement ps;

    private long currentTimeMillis;

    /**
     * The descriptive information about this implementation.
     */
    protected static String info =
        "org.apache.catalina.valves.JDBCAccessLogValve/1.0";

    /**
     * The lifecycle event support for this component.
     */
    protected LifecycleSupport lifecycle = new LifecycleSupport(this);

    /**
     * The string manager for this package.
     */
    private StringManager sm = StringManager.getManager(Constants.Package);

    /**
     * Has this component been started yet?
     */
    private boolean started = false;

    // ------------------------------------------------------------- Properties

    /**
     * Return the username to use to connect to the database.
     *
     */
    public String getConnectionName() {
        return connectionName;
    }

    /**
     * Set the username to use to connect to the database.
     *
     * @param connectionName Username
     */
    public void setConnectionName(String connectionName) {
        this.connectionName = connectionName;
    }

    /**
     * Sets the database driver name.
     *
     * @param driverName The complete name of the database driver class.
     */
    public void setDriverName(String driverName) {
        this.driverName = driverName;
    }

   /**
     * Return the password to use to connect to the database.
     *
     */
    public String getConnectionPassword() {
        return connectionPassword;
    }

    /**
     * Set the password to use to connect to the database.
     *
     * @param connectionPassword User password
     */
    public void setConnectionPassword(String connectionPassword) {
        this.connectionPassword = connectionPassword;
    }

    /**
     * Sets the JDBC URL for the database where the log is stored.
     *
     * @param connectionURL The JDBC URL of the database.
     */
    public void setConnectionURL(String connectionURL) {
        this.connectionURL = connectionURL;
    }

    /**
     * Sets the name of the table where the logs are stored.
     *
     * @param tableName The name of the table.
     */
    public void setTableName(String tableName) {
        this.tableName = tableName;
    }

    /**
     * Sets the name of the field containing the remote host.
     *
     * @param remoteHostField The name of the remote host field.
     */
    public void setRemoteHostField(String remoteHostField) {
        this.remoteHostField = remoteHostField;
    }

    /**
     * Sets the name of the field containing the remote user name.
     *
     * @param userField The name of the remote user field.
     */
    public void setUserField(String userField) {
        this.userField = userField;
    }

    /**
     * Sets the name of the field containing the server-determined timestamp.
     *
     * @param timestampField The name of the server-determined timestamp field.
     */
    public void setTimestampField(String timestampField) {
        this.timestampField = timestampField;
    }

    /**
     * Sets the name of the field containing the virtual host information
     * (this is in fact the server name).
     *
     * @param virtualHostField The name of the virtual host field.
     */
    public void setVirtualHostField(String virtualHostField) {
        this.virtualHostField = virtualHostField;
    }

    /**
     * Sets the name of the field containing the HTTP request method.
     *
     * @param methodField The name of the HTTP request method field.
     */
    public void setMethodField(String methodField) {
        this.methodField = methodField;
    }

    /**
     * Sets the name of the field containing the URL part of the HTTP query.
     *
     * @param queryField The name of the field containing the URL part of
     * the HTTP query.
     */
    public void setQueryField(String queryField) {
        this.queryField = queryField;
    }

  /**
   * Sets the name of the field containing the HTTP response status code.
   *
   * @param statusField The name of the HTTP response status code field.
   */
    public void setStatusField(String statusField) {
        this.statusField = statusField;
    }

    /**
     * Sets the name of the field containing the number of bytes returned.
     *
     * @param bytesField The name of the returned bytes field.
     */
    public void setBytesField(String bytesField) {
        this.bytesField = bytesField;
    }

    /**
     * Sets the name of the field containing the referer.
     *
     * @param refererField The referer field name.
     */
    public void setRefererField(String refererField) {
        this.refererField = refererField;
    }

    /**
     * Sets the name of the field containing the user agent.
     *
     * @param userAgentField The name of the user agent field.
     */
    public void setUserAgentField(String userAgentField) {
        this.userAgentField = userAgentField;
    }

    /**
     * Sets the logging pattern. The patterns supported correspond to the
     * file-based "common" and "combined". These are translated into the use
     * of tables containing either set of fields.
     *
TO DO: more flexible field choices.

     *
     * @param pattern The name of the logging pattern.
     */
    public void setPattern(String pattern) {
        this.pattern = pattern;
    }

    /**
     * Determines whether IP host name resolution is done.
     *
     * @param resolveHosts "true" or "false", if host IP resolution
     * is desired or not.
     */
    public void setResolveHosts(String resolveHosts) {
        this.resolveHosts = new Boolean(resolveHosts).booleanValue();
    }

    // --------------------------------------------------------- Public Methods

    /**
     * This method is invoked by Tomcat on each query.
     *
     * @param request The Request object.
     * @param response The Response object.
     * @param context The ValveContext object.
     * @exception IOException Should not be thrown.
     * @exception ServletException Database SQLException is wrapped
     * in a ServletException.
     */
    public void invoke(Request request, Response response,
                       ValveContext context)
        throws IOException, ServletException {

        context.invokeNext(request, response);

        ServletRequest req = request.getRequest();
        HttpServletRequest hreq = null;
        if(req instanceof HttpServletRequest)
            hreq = (HttpServletRequest) req;
        String remoteHost = "";
        if(resolveHosts)
            remoteHost = req.getRemoteHost();
        else
            remoteHost = req.getRemoteAddr();
        String user = "";
        if(hreq != null)
            user = hreq.getRemoteUser();
        String query="";
        if(hreq != null)
            query = hreq.getRequestURI();
        int bytes = response.getContentCount();
        if(bytes < 0)
            bytes = 0;
        int status = ((HttpResponse)response).getStatus();
        if (pattern.equals("combined")) {
                String virtualHost = "";
                if(hreq != null)
                    virtualHost = hreq.getServerName();
                String method = "";
                if(hreq != null)
                    method = hreq.getMethod();
                String referer = "";
                if(hreq != null)
                    referer = hreq.getHeader("referer");
                String userAgent = "";
                if(hreq != null)
                    userAgent = hreq.getHeader("user-agent");
        }
        synchronized (this) {
          int numberOfTries = 2;
          while (numberOfTries>0) {
            try {
                open();

                ps.setString(1, remoteHost);
                ps.setString(2, user);
                ps.setTimestamp(3, new Timestamp(getCurrentTimeMillis()));
                ps.setString(4, query);
                ps.setInt(5, status);
                ps.setInt(6, bytes);
                if (pattern.equals("combined")) {

                      String virtualHost = "";
                      if(hreq != null)
                         virtualHost = hreq.getServerName();
                      String method = "";
                      if(hreq != null)
                         method = hreq.getMethod();
                      String referer = "";
                      if(hreq != null)
                         referer = hreq.getHeader("referer");
                      String userAgent = "";
                      if(hreq != null)
                         userAgent = hreq.getHeader("user-agent");
                      ps.setString(7, virtualHost);
                      ps.setString(8, method);
                      ps.setString(9, referer);
                      ps.setString(10, userAgent);
                }
                ps.executeUpdate();
                return;
              } catch (SQLException e) {
                // Log the problem for posterity
                log(sm.getString("jdbcAccessLogValve.exception"), e);

                // Close the connection so that it gets reopened next time
                if (conn != null)
                    close();
              }
    	      numberOfTries--;
           }
        }

    }

    /**
     * Adds a Lifecycle listener.
     *
     * @param listener The listener to add.
     */
    public void addLifecycleListener(LifecycleListener listener) {

        lifecycle.addLifecycleListener(listener);

    }

    /**
     * Get the lifecycle listeners associated with this lifecycle. If this
     * Lifecycle has no listeners registered, a zero-length array is returned.
     */
    public LifecycleListener[] findLifecycleListeners() {

        return lifecycle.findLifecycleListeners();

    }

    /**
     * Removes a Lifecycle listener.
     *
     * @param listener The listener to remove.
     */
    public void removeLifecycleListener(LifecycleListener listener) {

        lifecycle.removeLifecycleListener(listener);

    }

    /**
     * Open (if necessary) and return a database connection for use by
     * this AccessLogValve.
     *
     * @exception SQLException if a database error occurs
     */
    protected void open() throws SQLException {

        // Do nothing if there is a database connection already open
        if (conn != null)
            return ;

        // Instantiate our database driver if necessary
        if (driver == null) {
            try {
                Class clazz = Class.forName(driverName);
                driver = (Driver) clazz.newInstance();
            } catch (Throwable e) {
                throw new SQLException(e.getMessage());
            }
        }

        // Open a new connection
        Properties props = new Properties();
        props.put("autoReconnect", "true");
        if (connectionName != null)
            props.put("user", connectionName);
        if (connectionPassword != null)
            props.put("password", connectionPassword);
        conn = driver.connect(connectionURL, props);
        conn.setAutoCommit(true);
        if (pattern.equals("common")) {
                ps = conn.prepareStatement
                    ("INSERT INTO " + tableName + " ("
                     + remoteHostField + ", " + userField + ", "
                     + timestampField +", " + queryField + ", "
                     + statusField + ", " + bytesField
                     + ") VALUES(?, ?, ?, ?, ?, ?)");
        } else if (pattern.equals("combined")) {
                ps = conn.prepareStatement
                    ("INSERT INTO " + tableName + " ("
                     + remoteHostField + ", " + userField + ", "
                     + timestampField + ", " + queryField + ", "
                     + statusField + ", " + bytesField + ", "
                     + virtualHostField + ", " + methodField + ", "
                     + refererField + ", " + userAgentField
                     + ") VALUES(?, ?, ?, ?, ?, ?, ?, ?, ?, ?)");
        }
    }

    /**
     * Close the specified database connection.
     *
     * @param dbConnection The connection to be closed
     */
    protected void close() {

        // Do nothing if the database connection is already closed
        if (conn == null)
            return;

        // Close our prepared statements (if any)
        try {
            ps.close();
        } catch (Throwable f) {
            ;
        }
        this.ps = null;

        // Close this database connection, and log any errors
        try {
            conn.close();
        } catch (SQLException e) {
            log(sm.getString("jdbcAccessLogValeve.close"), e); // Just log it here
        } finally {
           this.conn = null;
        }

    }
    /**
     * Invoked by Tomcat on startup. The database connection is set here.
     *
     * @exception LifecycleException Can be thrown on lifecycle
     * inconsistencies or on database errors (as a wrapped SQLException).
     */
    public void start() throws LifecycleException {

        if (started)
            throw new LifecycleException
                (sm.getString("accessLogValve.alreadyStarted"));
        lifecycle.fireLifecycleEvent(START_EVENT, null);
        started = true;

        try {
            open() ;
        } catch (SQLException e) {
            throw new LifecycleException(e);
        }

    }

    /**
     * Invoked by tomcat on shutdown. The database connection is closed here.
     *
     * @exception LifecycleException Can be thrown on lifecycle
     * inconsistencies or on database errors (as a wrapped SQLException).
     */
    public void stop() throws LifecycleException {

        if (!started)
            throw new LifecycleException
                (sm.getString("accessLogValve.notStarted"));
        lifecycle.fireLifecycleEvent(STOP_EVENT, null);
        started = false;

        close() ;

    }

    public long getCurrentTimeMillis() {
        long systime  =  System.currentTimeMillis();
        if ((systime - currentTimeMillis) > 1000) {
            currentTimeMillis  =  new java.util.Date(systime).getTime();
        }
        return currentTimeMillis;
    }

    /**
     * Log a message on the Logger associated with our Container (if any)
     *
     * @param message Message to be logged
     */
    protected void log(String message) {

        Logger logger = null;
        String name = null;
        if (container != null) {
            logger = container.getLogger();
            name = container.getName();
        }

        if (logger != null) {
            logger.log(connectionURL+"[" + name + "]: " + message);
        } else {
            System.out.println(connectionURL+"[" + name + "]: " + message);
        }

    }

    /**
     * Log a message on the Logger associated with our Container (if any)
     *
     * @param message Message to be logged
     * @param throwable Associated exception
     */
    protected void log(String message, Throwable throwable) {

        Logger logger = null;
        String name = null;
        if (container != null) {
            logger = container.getLogger();
            name = container.getName();
        }

        if (logger != null) {
            logger.log(connectionURL+"[" + name + "]: " + message, throwable);
        } else {
            System.out.println(connectionURL+"[" + name + "]: " + message);
            throwable.printStackTrace(System.out);
        }
    }

}

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


Anterior and medial hip disorders affecting athletes' hip include dysfunction and/or pain affecting the anteromedial structures of the hip. These problems may be approached with "The Layer Concept," a classification system that best determines the primary pain generator.1 The 4 layers include osseous (bone), inert (capsule/labrum), contractile (muscles/tendons), and neuromechanical (referred pain from peripheral neurovascular structures and spine).
In regards to cam impingement, there is data to suggest that cutting sports (soccer, basketball, hockey), particularly during the growth years, may lead to increased cam type deformities and impingment.5,12-14 Thus, it is important that younger pre-adolescent athletes participating in sports such as soccer or basketball be educated on avoiding extreme flexion, deep squats, and lunges to prevent the development of such femoracetabular abnormalities at the time of skeletal maturity. 5,12-14 For young athletes participating in sports such as baseball, other recommendations to prevent these abnormalities include rotating playing positions on the field.
FAI (osteochondral layer): anatomical abnormality at the femoral head neck junction or acetabular rim with range of motion of the hip leads to impingement.
Acute muscle strains tend to resolve in the acute phase with basic conservative care (relative rest, ice, compression, and elevation), whereas tendinopathies may continue to progress to chronic phases without proper eccentric strengthening programs. With hip osteoarthritis, progression is seen with further decreases in joint space narrowing, increased osteophyte formation, and bony sclerosis (severity may be graded with Tonnis Grading scale), though this may not always correlate clinically to increased pain or decreased function.15,16 Injuries resulting from untreated stress fractures tend to be more symptomatic at initial onset, but may resolve quickly and only be reproduced with specific activities. However, in the case of femoral neck stress fractures, compression sided fractures should be worked up and monitored with limited weight bearing to start, whereas tension sided stress fractures are to be immediately evaluated by an orthopedic surgeon due to an increased risk toward fracture and displacement .31,32 In respect to return to play, assessing the athlete's level of pain and its effect on functional activities is important.32 General treatment includes a thorough work up of risk factors and treatment followed by relative rest, activity modification, and weight bearing precaution, with activity titrated using pain as a guide during an average period of 4 to 8 weeks depending on the severity of the stress fracture.32 While the stress fracture is allowed to heal, athletes should be encouraged to cross train such as swimming, cycling, or aqua-running, counseled on nutrition, and to be screened for low bone mineral density.32 Athletes who have pain from FAI and labral injuries may improve with a focused rehabilitation program that avoids motions that aggravate and reproduce symptoms.
The current literature does not have any double blinded, randomized controlled studies assessing the benefits of structured rehabilitation for anteromedial hip disorders, compared to surgical options.46 There is also no data as to whether such programs also modify the natural history of degenerative joint changes found in symptomatic FAI.18 In addition, it is not known if the addition of ultrasound guided injections (whether intra-articular or percutaneous needle tenotomy with or without platelet rich plasma) may provide outcomes comparable to those found with surgical interventions.
A comprehensive history should include onset and duration of symptoms, quality and character of pain or dysfunction, location, any radiating symptoms, exacerbating and alleviating factors, whether the disorder is affecting the athlete's sport participation or performance, education (if in school), and functional activities. A past history of similar injuries, nutrition, and menses history (for females) are also relevant details.
Although this varies from disorder to disorder, activities such as transitional movements, walking, stairclimbing, and deep squats are the most commonly reported to be aggravated with most anteromedial disorders. Alternative exercises such as stationary bike or a switch to more cardiac based program may be necessary while an injured athlete undergoes a specific lower extremity rehabilitation program.
No laboratory studies are routinely required unless septic arthritis is suspected. In such cases, a basic cell blood count may show leukocytosis with elevated inflammatory markers (erythrocyte sedimentation and C-reactive protein levels). Disorders involving pelvic inflammation should be ruled out in unusual cases. A full rheumatologic panel should be ordered.
Initial workup should include plain film imaging of the hip (AP, elongated femoral neck) and the lumbar spine to rule out any overlapping spine disorders.17,35 MRI of the hip would be ordered if there is suspicion for a symptomatic labral tear or to assess for any specific tendon or muscular tear (for example, rectus femoris), or fractures.36,37 MR arthrography (MRA) is considered the best imaging modality to assess for labral tears, but this is debated.36-38Musculoskeletal ultrasound has also proved to be useful for both diagnostic and interventional purposes.39 Iliopsoas impingement, bursitis, tendinopathies, and intra-articular hip effusions may be visualized using this dynamic, real-time imaging modality.39,40 However, ultrasound alone does not adequately image the joint itself or the labrum, compared to MRI.
In some conditions there are factors which predict a positive outcome in anteromedial sports disorders. For example, patients without hip OA are more likely to have a positive outcome in the setting of an acetabular labral tear. In addition, similar to management of other non-surgical musculoskeletal diagnoses, the principles of close follow up, compliance with prescribed treatment, and a solid, physical therapy program will generally alleviate and improve patient's ailments.
Environmental factors include whether the sport is played indoor or outdoor, the type of surface or terrain that is used, and any related clothing, equipment, or gear that is used. Hip motion and extremes of flexion and internal rotation can affect the condition of the hip. Athletes may be counseled on modifying these environmental factors in the management of their hip conditions. For example, reducing training during growth years, cross training, or adding orthotics to their shoes if pes planus is found on exam.
When athletes or patients are not actively engaging in their preferred sport or exercise, depressive or anxious feelings may arise. Thus, it is important to educate and counsel athletes, families, and personal trainers/coaches regarding alternative sports and exercises they may safely participate in, while they are being treated.
Education and open communication with the athlete's family, friends, athletic trainers, and coaches is necessary to prevent recurrent injury and to maintain effective physician-team rapport. Special precaution must be considered with varsity college or professional athletes, as there may often be a financial incentive or institutional pressure to return to play sooner. In such cases, emphasis must be placed that the athlete's health, and safety is priority and paramount.
It is crucial that a team, interdisciplinary approach involving the physician(s), family, athletic trainers, coaches, and physical therapists be used to maximize an athlete's healing while they are transitioning to returning to play. It is important that communication remains consistent and that the athlete's diagnosis(e s) be always kept in mind.
As discussed earlier, education regarding an athlete's diagnosis, available treatment options, prognosis, injury prevention, and expected return to play to both the athlete and their family or loved ones is important in their recovery process. In addition, at follow up visits or in the training room, gentle reminders should also be used to reinforce avoidance of specific lower extremity motions and the maintenance of a home exercise program to prevent re-injury.
Besides monitoring the severity and frequency of pain, efficacy of conservative treatment is based on a number of factors such as improvements in core and focal pelvic girdle weakness, lumbopelvic range of motion, and the ability to return to sports specific tasks with minimal discomfort.
Providers should always keep in mind to examine the both the spine and knee as pain patterns at the anteromedial hip may be referred. Initial workup may include imaging of such regions depending upon patient presentation.
The core encompasses the lumbar spine through the thighs. The psoas is the only muscle that has its origin in the spine and crosses to the hip. It works both as a spine stabilizer and hip flexor. All of these elements must be strengthened to return athletes to sports.
Focused hip flexor concentric strengthening can exacerbate symptoms. Focus on strengthening the abductors and core stability. Eccentric and isometric exercises can be initiated as the pain subsides.
Do not view the psoas as being "tight," think of this being a tone issue. Over stretching of the psoas does not usually work.
Femoral neck stress fractures can mimic hip impingement. Always keep it in mind when a patient with risk factors for a stress fracture has multiple impingement signs encountered on physical exam.
If pelvic floor dysfunction or pain is considered in the differential diagnosis, a more detailed social history inquiring any history of physical or sexual abuse should be elicited, as well as any medical history of psychiatric diagnoses.
Draovitch P, Edelstein J, Kelly BT. The layer concept: utilization in determining the pain generators, pathology and how structure determines treatment. Curr Rev Musculoskelet Med. 2012;5:1–8.
Anderson K, Strickland SM, Warren R. Hip and Groin Injuries in Athletes. Am J Sports Med. 2001;Jul-Aug;29(4):521-33.
Davenport KL, Moley PJ, Kelly BJ. Extra-articular Hip Conditions and Sports Injuries. In: Kim YJ, Mamisch TC, eds. Hip Magnetic Resonance Imaging. New York, NY: Springer. 2014:113-125.
Feeley T, Powell JW, Muller MS, Barnes RP, Warren RF, Kelly BT. Hip Injuries and Labral Tears in the National Football League. Am J Sports Med. 2008;36(11):2187-95.
Siebenrock KA, Kaschka I, Frauchiger L, Werlen S, Schwab JM. Prevalence of cam-type deformity and hip pain in elite ice hockey players before and after the end of growth. Am J Sports Med. 2013;41(10):2308-13.
Philippon M, Schenker M, Briggs K, Kuppersmith D. Femoroacetabular impingement in 45 professional athletes: associated pathologies and return to sport following arthroscopic decompression. Knee Surg Sports Traumatol Arthrosc. 2007;15:908–914.
Smoljanovic T, Bojanic I, Hannafin JA, Hren D, Delimar D, Pecina M. Traumatic and overuse injuries among international elite junior rowers. Am J Sports Med. 2009;37:1193–1199.
Boykin RE, McFeely ED, Ackerman KE, Yen YM, Nasreddine A, Kocher MS. Labral injuries of the hip in rowers. Clin Orthop Relat Res. 2013 Aug;471(8):2517-22.
Epstein DM1, McHugh M, Yorio M, Neri B. Intra-articular hip injuries in national hockey league players: a descriptive epidemiological study. Am J Sports Med. 2013;41(2):343-8.
Emery CA, Meeuwisse WH, Powell JW. Groin and abdominal strain injuries in the National Hockey League. Clin J Sport Med. 1999;9(3):151-156.
Tyler TF1, Nicholas SJ, Campbell RJ, McHugh MP. The association of hip strength and flexibility with the incidence of adductor muscle strains in professional ice hockey players. Am J Sports Med. 2001 Mar-Apr;29(2):124-8.
Siebenrock KA1, Behning A, Mamisch TC, Schwab JM. Growth plate alteration precedes cam-type deformity in elite basketball players. Clin Orthop Relat Res. 2013;471(4):1084-91.
Agricola R, Heijboer MP, Ginai AZ, Roels P, Zadpoor AA, Verhaar JA, Weinans H, Waarsing JH. A cam deformity is gradually acquired during skeletal maturation in adolescent and young male soccer players: a prospective study with minimum 2-year follow-up. Am J Sports Med. 2014 Apr;42(4):798-806.
Nepple JJ, Vigdorchik JM, Clohisy JC. What Is the Association Between Sports Participation and the Development of Proximal Femoral Cam Deformity? A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis. Am J Sports Med. 2015;1-9.
Ganz R, Parvizi J, Beck M, Leunig M, Nötzli H, Siebenrock K. Femoroacetabular impingement: A cause for osteoarthritis of the hip. CORR. 2003;417:112-120.
Siverling S, O'Sullivan E, Garofalo M, Moley P. Hip osteoarthritis and the active patient: will I run again? Curr Rev Musculoskelet Med. 2012;5:24–31.
Skendzel JG, Weber AE, Ross JR, Larson CM, Leunig M, Kelly BT, Bedi A. The approach to the evaluation and surgical treatment of mechanical hip pain in the young patient: AAOS exhibit selection. J Bone Joint Surg Am. 2013 Sep 18;95(18):e133.
Bedi A, Kelly BT. Femoroacetabular Impingement. J Bone Joint Surg Am. 2013;95(1): 82 -92.
Bedi A, Chen N, Robertson W, Kelly BT. The management of labral tears and femoroacetabular impingement of the hip in the young, active patient. Arthroscopy. 2008;24(10):1135-45.
Clohisy JC, Knaus ER, Hunt DM, Lesher JM, Harris-Hayes M, Prather H. Clinical Presentation of Patients with Symptomatic Anterior Hip Impingement. Clinical Orthopaedics and Related Research. 2009;467(3):638-644.
Voos JE, Mauro CS, Kelly BT. Femoroacetabular Impingement in the Athlete: Compensatory Injury Patterns. Oper Tech Orthop. 2010;20:231-36.
Hammoud S, Bedi A, Magennis E, Meyers WC, Kelly BT. High incidence of athletic pubalgia symptoms in professional athletes with symptomatic femoroacetabular impingement. Arthroscopy. 2012 Oct;28(10):1388-95.
Deslandes M, Guillin R, Cardinal E, Hobden R, Bureau NJ (2008) The snapping iliopsoas tendon: new mechanisms using dynamic sonography. Am J Roentgenol 190:576–581.
Sankar WN, Matheney TH, Zaltz I. Femoroacetabular impingement: current concepts and controversies. Orthop Clin North Am. 2013;44(4):575-89.
Beck M, Kalhor M, Leunig M, Ganz R. Hip morphology influences the pattern of damage to the acetabular cartilage: femoroacetabular impingement as a cause of early osteoarthritis of the hip. J. Bone Jt. Surg. (Brit). 2005;87:1012-1018.
Martin DE, Tashman S. The biomechanics of femoroacetabular impingement. Operative Techniques in Orthopaedics. 2010;20(4):248–254.
Bharam S. Labral tears, extra-articular injuries, and hip arthroscopy in the athlete. Clin Sports Med. 2006 Apr;25(2):279-92.
McCarthy JC, Noble PC, Schuck MR, et al. The Otto E Aufranc Award: the role of labral lesions to development of early degenerative hip disease. Clin Orthop. 2001;393:25–37.
Groh GM, Herrera J. A comprehensive review of hip labral tears. Curr Rev Musculoskelet Med. 2009;2:105-117.
Bradshaw C, McCrory P, Bell S, Brukner P. Obturator nerve entrapment. A cause of groin pain in athletes. Am J Sports Med. 1997;25(3):402-8.
Diehl JJ, Best TM, Kaeding CC. Classification and Return-to-Play Considerations for Stress Fractures. Clin Sports Med. 2006;25:17–28.
Martin HD, Kelly BT, Leunig M, Philippon MJ, Clohisy JC, et al. The pattern and technique in the clinical evaluation of the adult hip: the common physical examination tests of hip specialists. Arthroscopy. 2010 Feb;26(2):161-72.
Maslowski E, Sullivan W, Forster Harwood J, et al. The diagnostic validity of hip provocation maneuvers to detect intra-articular hip pathology. PM&R. 2010;2(3):174-81.
Clohisy JC, Carlisle JC, Beaulé PE, Kim YJ, Trousdale RT, Sierra RJ, Leunig M, Schoenecker PL, Millis MB. A systematic approach to the plain radiographic evaluation of the young adult hip. J Bone Joint Surg Am. 2008;90 Suppl 4:47-66.
Mintz DN, Hooper T, Connell D, et al. Magnetic resonance imaging of the hip: detection of labral and chrondral abnormalities using noncontrast imaging. Arthroscopy. 2005;21(4):385e93.
Gold SL, Burge AJ, Potter HG. MRI of Hip Cartilage. CORR. 2012;470:3321-31.
Blankenbaker DG, De Smet AA. Hip Injuries in Athletes. Radiol Clin N Am. 2010;48:1155-78.
Finnoff JT, Hall MM, Adams E, Berkoff D, Concoff AL, Dexter W, Smith J. American Medical Society for Sports Medicine (AMSSM) position statement: interventional musculoskeletal ultrasound in sports medicine. Br J Sports Med. 2015;49(3):145-50.
Adler RS, Buly R, Ambrose R, Sculco T. Diagnostic and therapeutic use of sonography-guided iliopsoas peritendinous injections. AJR Am J Roentgenol. 2005 Oct;185(4):940-3.
Mohtadi NG, Griffin DR, Pedersen ME, et al. The development and validation of a self-administered quality-of-life outcome measure for young, active patients with symptomatic hip disease: The International Hip Outcome Tool (iHOT-33). Arthroscopy. 2012;28(5): 595-610.
Martin RL, Kelly, BT, Philippon MJ. Evidence of validity for the hip outcome score. Arthroscopy: The Journal of Arthroscopic & Related Surgery. 2006;22(12):1304-1311.
Klassbo M, Larsson E, Mannevik E. Hip disability and osteoarthritis outcome score. An extension of the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index. Scand J Rheumatol. 2003;32(1):46-51.
Christensen CP1, Althausen PL, Mittleman MA, Lee JA, McCarthy JC. The nonarthritic hip score: reliable and validated. Clin Orthop Relat Res. 2003;(406):75-83.
Thorborg K, Hölmich P, Christensen R, Petersen J, Roos EM. The Copenhagen Hip and Groin Outcome Score (HAGOS): development and validation according to the COSMIN checklist. Br J Sports Med. 2011;45(6):478-91.
Wall, Peter DH, et al. Nonoperative treatment for femoroacetabular impingement: a systematic review of the literature. PM&R. 2013;5(5):418-426.
Yazbek PM, et al. Nonsurgical treatment of acetabular labrum tears: a case series. J Orthop Sports Phys Ther. 2011;41(5):346-53.
Emara K, Samir W, Motasem EL, Ghafar KA. Conservative treatment for mild femoroacetabular impingement. J Orthop Surg (Hong Kong). 2011;19:41-45.
Hunt D, Prather H, Harris Hayes MH, Clohisy JC. Clinical outcomes analysis of conservative and surgical treatment of patients with clinical indications of prearthritic, intra-articular hip disorders. PM&R. 2012;4:479-487.
Meyer WC, Yoo E, Devon ON, Jain N, Horner M, Lauencin A, Zoga. Understanding "Sports Hernia" (Athletic Pubalgia): The Anatomic and Pathophysiologic Basis for Abdominal and Groin Pain in Athletes. Operative Techniques in Sports Medicine. 2012;20:33-45.
Sheen AJ, Stephenson BM, Lloyd DM, et al. 'Treatment of the sportsman's groin': British Hernia Society's 2014 position statement based on the Manchester Consensus Conference. Br J Sports Med. 2014;48(14):1079-87.
Meyers WC, Havens BK, Horner GJ. Core muscle injury (a better name than "athletic pubalgia" or "sports hernia"). Current Orthopaedic Practice. July/August 2014;25(4):321–326.
McGill S. Core training: Evidence translating to better performance and injury prevention. Strength & Conditioning Journal. 2010;32(3):33-46.
Housner JA, Jacobson JA, Misko R. Sonographically guided percutaneous needle tenotomy for the treatment of chronic tendinosis. J Ultrasound Med. 2009;28(9):1187-92.
Finnoff JT, Fowler SP, Lai JK, Santrach PJ, Willis EA, Sayeed YA, Smith J. Treatment of chronic tendinopathy with ultrasound-guided needle tenotomy and platelet-rich plasma injection. PM&R. 2011;3(10):900-11.
Sánchez, Mikel, et al. Platelet-rich plasma in muscle and tendon healing. Operative Techniques in Orthopaedics 22.1 (2012):16-24.
Dave RB, Stevens KJ, Shivaram GM, McAdams TR, Dillingham MF, Beaulieu CF. Ultrasound-guided musculoskeletal interventions in American football: 18 years of experience. American Journal of Roentgenology. 2014;203:W674-W683.
Sánchez M et al. Ultrasound-guided platelet-rich plasma injections for the treatment of osteoarthritis of the hip. Rheumatology. 2011;51(1):144-150.
Battaglia M, Guaraldi F, Vannini F, et al. Efficacy of ultrasound-guided intra-articular injections of platelet-rich plasma versus hyaluronic acid for hip osteoarthritis. Orthopedics. 2013;36(12):e1501-8.
Kon E, Mandelbaum B, Buda R, Filardo G, et al. Platelet-rich plasma intra-articular injection versus hyaluronic acid viscosupplementation as treatments for cartilage pathology: from early degeneration to osteoarthritis. Arthroscopy: The Journal of Arthroscopic & Related Surgery. 2011;27(11):1490-1501.
Ricciardi BF, Fields K, Kelly BT, Ranawat AS, Coleman SH, Sink EL. Causes and risk factors for revision hip preservation surgery. Am J Sports Med. 2014;Nov;42(11):2627-33.


Located off of Immokalee Road just east of I-75, Cypress Woods Naples is a bundled golf community.
Cypress Woods offers numerous lifestyle choices including condominium carriage homes, single-family homes, and garden condos. The country club membership is included with the purchase of a home.
Cypress Woods features a Gordon Lewis designed 18-hole par 71 championship golf course stretching 6330 yards from the tips. The course is rated at 71.7 and has a slope of 136. Opened in 1998, the course is challenging but multiple tee placement makes it very friendly.
Cypress Woods integrates the residences, the course, and the natural environment. Lush, rolling fairways with manicured greens and white sand bunkers mingle with flowering vegetation and tropical landscaping. Freshwater lakes and flowering marshes are found throughout the community and the course.
The Pro Shop serves as the nerve center of the golf operation and is fully stocked with golfing apparel and equipment. A dedicated staff a PGA professionals provide everything you need to improve your game. In addition, there is a driving range and a putting/chipping green.
The beautiful clubhouse offers stunning views of the golf course. Members are offered casual and fine dining at the Restaurant and the Grille Room.
The tennis center offers four lighted Har-Tru courts and a certified USTA professional staff. Cypress Woods offers a heated resort-style swimming pool and a heated Olympic pool and spa. The modern fitness center features many exercise activities and free weights. There are biking/jogging paths throughout the community.
For additional information about Cypress Woods Naples FL, please complete the form below! I or one of my team members will respond to you within one business day.


More sad news for blues and music fans this year. The manager of longstanding musical icon Etta James has stated today that the soul and blues singer is terminally ill with late-stage leukemia.
B.B. King Week: King Plays His First Hit, "Three O'Clock Blues"
Today's B.B. King video is his live performance, on stage at the B.B. King Blues Club, of the song that brought him to widespread fame in 1952, "Three O'Clock Blues".
The brand new album Brighter Days, a live DVD/CD by JJ Grey and Mofro, is finally out as of today. We recently gave Brighter Days a rave review for it's absolutely wonderful energy and richly soulful sound. It's worth a look.
David Gogo's latest album has it all -- southern rock, Stax soul, rollicking blues and even a little bit of Michael Jackson for good measure!
We sat down with the hard-working blues and soul man Hamilton Loomis, where he talked about his Stax/Volt influences and bar-b-qin' and being mentored by Bo Diddley.
The title of Johnny Rawls' new CD "Memphis Still Got Soul" is as descriptive as an album title can get. Johnny's perfect soul voice, horn section, B3, and sultry female backup singers are the perfect soul music combination.


text:
Candidate for IUCN President
By Malik Amin Aslam Khan
Malik Amin Aslam Khan
IUCN Global Vice President
Advisor to the Prime Minister on Climate Change
Why should you be president of the IUCN?
Firstly, I possess the essentially required experience. The post-COVID19 world does not extend the luxury of "learning on the job" and the new leadership at the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) will have to possess the experience of understanding IUCN right from day one. My exposure to this extremely complex union has developed over several years while serving at different tiers vertically (National Committee to twice Council Vice President) as well as horizontally (Governance, finance, Congress preparations and the DG search committees). All this ensures I remain abreast of the prevailing challenges and possess the essential skills and a clear vision for IUCN's future progression.
Secondly, I offer an influential global outreach. Having served in national parliament, international climate/COP negotiations and the federal Cabinet twice (including the current), I bring a wealth of global influence and highest level network connections to the access and benefit of IUCN. I have also a developed skill set of not only overseeing diverse policy formulations, ranging from climate to forests to wildlife, but also the tenacity to deliver them on the ground. All this is needed currently for policy deliverance and profile enhancement of IUCN.
Finally, I can offer IUCN a practical knowledge of innovative "Green" financing. I have recently overseen the increased access to concessionary global finance for our Ministry (now reaching US$ 500 million) through the national "Eco-system Restoration Fund" (ERF) in Pakistan. This ability for "out of the box" thinking is something which, as President, I can leverage for IUCN to attract innovative avenues of financing.
What is the principal challenge facing nature conservation, and how will you lead the IUCN to address it?
Nature has given us a stark warning, amplified by the ongoing COVID crisis, of what can potentially happen when thresholds are crossed and the balance of our relationship is adversely disturbed. Nature has also shown us that an opportunity exists to build back green and have a nature based recovery. The choice for the world is clear and IUCN has to be the organization to lead this nature positive growth—which can balance the protection of nature with the provision of livelihoods and green jobs.
In this context, my vision for IUCN, based on the four elements outlined below:
Regain and enhance global relevance by fully capitalizing its unique convening power backed by knowledge based tools
IUCN's strategic governance needs to be broadened to rise from the micro to the macro level and so energized to deliver global directions and solutions.
The membership engagement of IUCN needs to be formally structured and strengthened to leverage this passionate force while also expanding across new partnerships—such as with youth, local knowledge providers, and responsible private sector.
Clarity of vision, impact driven delivery and diversification towards innovative financial resources all have to be intertwined to sustain an enhanced role for IUCN into the future.
I believe that the world needs an engaged and re-ignited IUCN, more now than at any other time in history, and I remain committed to ensure that this happens.
Describe a direct personal experience that has shaped your view of zoos and aquariums, and how it will shape your vision for partnership between the IUCN and zoos and aquariums?
Many years ago, when I was Minister of State (2006), we found an orphan snow leopard cub in the north of Pakistan. We knew we did not have the facilities at the time to look after it to the best of its needs. I was therefore responsible, with IUCN in getting the Government of Pakistan, to work with the Bronx Zoo, and get the necessary permits from CITES to translocate the cub to the snow leopard breeding program run by WCS, in the Bronx Zoo in New York.
This cub named "Leo" by its keepers in Pakistan, became a subject of diplomacy and friendship between the U.S. and Pakistan, and both Presidents of the USA and Pakistan appreciated our work. Leo is still in the Zoo and I have visited him often, where he has spawned many generations of cubs that will help the species survive. In turn, we have also received assistance in setting up a rehabilitation center in Pakistan, and the usefulness of the partnership between a zoo and our government has been very beneficial.
I am currently engaged in many other such issues, and from both personal and political experience know well the value of zoos and aquaria in the future of species survival. The current crisis facing planet Earth is the loss of biodiversity and impact of climate change. This loss of biodiversity, impacts negatively, endangered species the most. The zoos and aquaria represent through their education and breeding programs, the great hope that we can restock and re wild the wilderness and prevent extinction of so much that we value.
With zoonotic diseases and COVID-19 taking center stage, what role do you see for IUCN in combating wildlife trade (both legal and illegal) that poses a risk to human or animal health?
IUCN needs to up its game in addressing the issues of human health and biodiversity in the COVID scenario. It is clear that the links to biodiversity loss and the wildlife trade need to be amplified and demonstrated as a critical cause of human well being and livelihoods. We need to invest in combatting the wildlife trade and ensuring that habitat loss and agricultural pressures as part of the livestock trade are also addressed. We need to learn the lessons and to practice the solutions that have emerged in terms of the huge human and wildlife loss that are inextricably linked in this pandemic.
A preponderance of evidence suggests that we are losing the struggle to save animals from extinction and to conserve the planet's biological diversity—losing badly. Do you agree, and where do you see a reason for optimism?
Yes I agree and also believe that this "mass extinction" is one of the biggest challenges our generation faces within the larger ambit of climate change and biodiversity loss. The optimism arises out of a renewed focus, and realization of, investing in nature as a means for rebalancing our relationship with nature. This shift towards "nature-based solutions", especially at the global policy level remains a silver lining in the otherwise catastrophic direction. IUCN has rightly stepped forwards to propose global standards for nature-based solutions which I was privileged to have been a part of during the global launch.
Also the "Red List" of species and the "Green List" of protected areas all combine to provide beacons of hope for not only saving the remaining habitats but also the declining species pool still surviving in them. The associated issue of "natural capital valuation" and financing for biodiversity also have seen an upshot in terms of global appetite, especially in the post-COVID environment. Pakistan is in the midst of this cutting edge debate on performance based "Nature Bonds". All these developments, around nature protection, provide a beacon hope and optimism to me. IUCN remains the perfect platform to further this optimism in a structured and institutionalized manner which will be a service for humanity and the world.
Read more about the IUCN Presidential race in Dan Ashe's blog. Visit the IUCN website to explore the full slate of candidates for IUCN Council.
Bold Actions for Wildlife at CITES CoP19 »
Technology Supports the Guest Experience at Cultural Attractions »
Annual Conference Staff Picks »


Parksville boasts a big reputation for RV travelers, hikers or outdoor enthusiasts who enjoy exploring nature and combing sandy beaches! Walk along side a skittish sandpiper on a sandy bay that empties at low tide by nearly a mile, or see ancient Douglas fir park lands that close in around the only local fruit and arts market in the world with goats living on the roof!
Blue Haven Bed & Breakfast - Relaxed Elegance, minutes away from sandy beaches, restaurants and shops, and the world famous Parksville mini golf.
Your Guide to a wide range of exceptional artists & their studios throughout Nanoose Bay. Most of our studios are open year round, check individual listings for studio hours.
Nature-inspired abstract acrylics capture your eye through interesting textures and vivid colours. View her work at the TOSH10 Gallery in The Old School House in Qualicum Beach.
Oil and encaustic paintings, portraits, animals, landscapes, deep space images. Also mixed-media, watercolors, charcoal drawings.
Lovely gallery with a stunning view of the Englishman River Valley. Watercolors and encaustics. Additional gift items, including cards and quilting.
Inspired by the love of nature, Sharon creates simplistic & unique shadow box pictures using pebbles, shells and driftwood. Diamond Willow walking sticks are handcrafted by Allen.
The Gallery contains multiple oil and water colour paintings on various subjects. The Gallery also displays paintings by other artists.
Luxurious artisan handcrafted natural soap and body products made by the ocean and from the ocean.
Hand painted arcylic art, entitled "The Winter Wolf".
Contemporary artist, landscapes, still life, acrylic & mixed media. Prints & cards available. "When the scenery leaves you speechless, put it down on canvas for all to enjoy!"


text:
A ghost in the machine can spice up sport no end
The built-in obsolescence of gadgets brings its advantages and disadvantages, none more so than when watching a big game
Sat 14 Nov 2009 19.05 EST First published on Sat 14 Nov 2009 19.05 EST
Communism, outside of North Korea, is perceived to be dead and buried but it still enjoys a few laughs from beyond the grave, not least with the concept of obsolescence. Until recently if you wanted a product that came with only one guarantee, that it would fall apart within the week, then East Germany and the rest were the places to shop. Now with capitalist companies facing a crisis of demand they have resorted to building obsolescence into their goods to stimulate orders. An economic system that used to have as one of its guiding principles "if it ain't broke, don't fix it" has progressed to the rather shoddy "if it's broke, don't fix it, because it is cheaper to buy a new one [from your original supplier]".
All of which is profoundly depressing if you have a reputation for tightness to maintain and are loathe to start buying things willy-nilly. At time of writing the following are broken beyond (my abilities to) repair: the printer, the dishwasher, two mobile phones, a laptop and, scarcely credibly, the potato masher. How do you break a potato masher? I had always assumed they were indestructible.
Causing most concern, however, is something that is not wrecked but hobbled. The television, or more specifically the Sky Box through which we have to pass to access the television, has been playing up now for nearly a year. It works most of the time but when you most want it to work it, with a quite loud phutt followed by an ominously quiet phutt, ceases to work. What's more, like a committed trade unionist, it times its strikes for maximum impact. We will be, en famille, watching Dermot O'Leary say "and the act who will be going home this week is..." and phutt (forte), phutt (pianissimo) the screen will go blank. Cue much screaming and shouting and attribution of blame.
So frequent and well-timed have these interruptions become that we suspect that "a thing" has invaded the Sky Box and in effect taken control over our remote control. The children have even give a name to the ghost within the machine, calling him Little Donny after the midget whom Donny Osmond, in clear breach of the rules, invited around to do the cooking and serving up when it was his turn to host a dinner on Celebrity Come Dine with Me.
Suffice to say, Little Donny and I come bottom of the public vote every week. We are for ever applying for re-election. Rather than become rivalrous, however, I have become increasingly fond of Little Donny for he has added an extra frisson to my sports watching. The more exciting a game gets, the more one dreads his intervention. They say no one is bigger than the game but, for us, Little Donny is definitely bigger than the game, every game.
And while we may have missed much thanks to him, the children have at least gained some insight into our childhoods. To those who cannot get their heads round a phone being attached to a wall, the concept of a power cut is unfathomable. Thanks to Little Donny they now know what it was like to be brought up in the 70s.


In today's edition of "Love the Gloves" we celebrate an unsung hero of the AbbyShot website. Known as the leather gloves that "go with everything", these adaptable black gloves are the perfect accessory to any piece in your wardrobe. They go perfectly with ANY AbbyShot garment: From looking elegant and classy with a Tenth Doctor's Coat to looking mysterious and sleek with a Kingdom Hoodie, the Associate Gloves are like the chameleons of the clothing world – able to fit in anywhere!
(And hey, what are those fine-looking gloves that were used in the Squall Jacket photo shoot?
Not only do the Associate Gloves look great in any circumstance, they're also very high quality. Made of smooth black leather with a soft interior lining, these gloves are made to keep your hands warm and well-protected but never uncomfortably so.
The Associate Gloves came to my mailbox today, and was about to initiate mortal combat with the darn envelope because I couldn't find a knife to open it with fast enough!
The gloves feel so smooth to the touch, and they fit me nicely! It's going to get so much colder here in Norway, so I'm so relieved that I won't have to freeze my hands off in the mornings when I go to school!
I only wanted to let you know that these gloves make my day a bit less horrible (-10c in the mornings now, expecting it to drop to -30c in the next month :/ ), so thanks a lot !
The post Love The Gloves Part 4: The Associate Gloves appeared first on .