text:
Calgary to Banff passenger rail costs increase to $1.5 billion
Banff-based Liricon Capital Ltd. has partnered with Quebec-based Plenary Americas to submit an updated proposal to Alberta Transportation, Invest Alberta Corporation and the Canada Infrastructure Bank to move to the design phase of the proposed Calgary to Banff passenger rail project.
Cathy Ellis
Banff train station. EVAN BUHLER RMO PHOTO
BANFF – A $1.5 billion plan for the return of passenger railway from Calgary to Banff is on track to be potentially up and running as early as 2025.
Banff-based Liricon Capital Ltd. has partnered with Quebec-based Plenary Americas to submit an updated proposal to Alberta Transportation, Invest Alberta Corporation and the Canada Infrastructure Bank (CIB) to move to the design phase.
The proposal is to deliver a passenger train service from Calgary International Airport to downtown Calgary, which could include an express service every 15 minutes, and on to the mountains in Canmore and Banff by 2025.
Jan Waterous, managing partner of Liricon, said her family is thrilled that Plenary Americas has joined as co-developers of the Calgary-Banff railway project, which has the potential to be hydrogen-powered.
"We now have a world-class development and engineering team, which allows our ongoing partnership with the government of Alberta and Canada Infrastructure Bank to advance the project to its fourth phase – design – and positions the project for success in achieving its fifth phase – construction – prior to operating services," she said.
The proposal is structured as a public-private-partnership (P3), which contemplates financing from private and institutional capital and the Canada Infrastructure Bank.
The aim is to operate on a new, dedicated passenger line built within the existing Canadian Pacific Railway freight corridor.
Under the proposal, trains would run at high frequency between seven stations – Calgary Airport, Calgary Downtown, Calgary Keith, Cochrane, Morley (Stoney Nakoda), Canmore and Banff.
At this stage of the proposal, net ticket costs from Calgary to Banff for Albertans are estimated to be about $20.
Under the plan, the P3 and Canada Infrastructure Bank will contribute all of the $1.5 billion in capital costs and operate the system.
Liricon's and Plenary's proposal seeks an Alberta government payment of $30 million per year for the project. Under this pitch, the government payments would not begin until construction is complete in 2025 and are contingent on the performance of the train.
Their proposal contemplates private capital and CIB taking the risk that train ticket fare revenues will cover its operating and maintenance costs and more than half of its capital costs.
The press release notes the Alberta government annual performance payment is covering less than half of the project capital costs and would be approximately 20 per cent of the equivalent cost of the province developing the project on its own.
"The proposal is based on conservative estimates of capturing less than 25 per cent of visitors to Banff National Park," states the press release.
During the design phase, Liricon and Plenary plan to work with the Alberta government and engage with Indigenous communities in the Bow Valley about the project, as well as consultations with municipalities.
Canmore Mayor Sean Krausert said regular passenger rail service from Calgary promises benefits that align with a number of the Town's priorities.
"Just to name a few, these include lowering GHG emissions, reducing traffic congestion, and increasing labour mobility to address staffing shortages," he said in the press release. "I expect the train will be well used by visitors and residents alike"
Banff Mayor Corrie DiManno said the Town of Banff is excited to see progress on this proposal to bring back passenger rail.
She said Banff needs convenient and affordable mass transit between Calgary and Banff as the solution to three priorities – reducing traffic congestion, cutting greenhouse gas emissions, and expanding a commuter service for the Bow Valley workforce.
"It would be wonderful to have people arrive without a personal vehicle, walk or cycle around town, then use our transit system to go anywhere in the park," she said in the news release.
"As a town that strives to be a model environmental community, we also look forward to the possibility of a hydrogen-powered train leading the way for low-carbon transit."
Liricon entered into a memorandum of understanding with CP Rail in April 2021 to lease a portion of the railway giant's corridor running 150-kilometres between the Calgary Airport and Banff to be able to build a dedicated line.
About the Author: Cathy Ellis
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Today we're concluding our series called, "Unafraid: Living with Courage and Hope." Throughout this series, we've learned a little about how our brains are designed with a kind of alarm system, a "fight or flight" response to perceived dangers, that help keep us safe; and we've also learned that our imaginations, past experiences, or messages we've received over time can sometimes set off our fear response over something that hasn't and probably won't happen, or that we can get into a practice of catastrophizing, and letting our minds play out worst case scenarios as gospel truth. These types of fears are unhealthy in that they may keep us from experiencing peace, they may cause us to think or behave in unhealthy ways, and they may rob us of joy!
In the face of these fears, we've read scriptures that remind us that God is always with us, even in the midst of our fears. And that sometimes, like David facing Goliath, facing the thing we're afraid of, with God's help, can be a courageous step toward overcoming that fear. We've also reminded ourselves that we live in an era where the 24/7 media cycle and year-round political pundits have learned that fear is the most convincing tactic to sell their news or win your vote. So they convince us to be fearful of violence and crime, when we're actually living in one of the safest periods of human history. And they convince us that our differences are dangerous, which preys of our fears of others. But we were reminded that in the gospel, Jesus was recorded spending time with those who were feared and marginalized by religion and society and that Jesus gave a startling interpretation of God's commandment to love not only your neighbor, but also your enemy. We also spent some time talking about the way our fears, especially those based on thinking the worst about ourselves, or others, can sometimes lead us to withdraw from others, leaving us isolated and lonely. But that the best way for overcoming these fears is to dwell on God's unconditional love for us, and to hold those negative thoughts under the loving gaze of God until we can trust in a loving relationship with God, which can lead us to trust opening ourselves to being in relationships with others. Last week we learned that sometimes our fears can weigh us down, or hold us back from finding meaning and purpose in life, or from following God's call on our life. Like Moses, there are times when we'd rather take the path of least resistance. And we heard that for many of our young people today, there is such a fear of failing, not fitting in, or of being only average, that the pressure can become debilitating. But that God reminds us to be strong and courageous because God will be with us whatever we do, and wherever we go.
Today, we're going to deal with one more of our common fears, and that is the fear of change. You've probably heard some of these sayings about change: "The only thing that is constant is change." "If we don't change, we don't grow. If we don't grow, we aren't really living." (Gail Sheehy) "Nothing is so painful to the human mind as a great and sudden change." (Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley) "Not everything that is faced can be changed, but nothing can be changed until it is faced." (James Baldwin) Sometimes change can be exciting, like looking forward to a promotion at work or getting out of your comfort zone to taste new foods, or experience new cultures. But it's probably safe to say that for some reason, most of us humans don't like change very much! Psychologists say that it's because those complex brains of ours have a need to know – that we are hardwired to resist uncertainty, and that our brains actually prefer a predictable negative outcome over any uncertain one. In other words, there's a reason why some people stay in jobs or other situations that make them miserable instead of looking for something better; it's that old saying, "Better the devil you know than the devil you don't." But the good news is that our brains are also flexible adaptable – they can be trained to thrive even in the midst of change.
So what are you most afraid of changing right now? You could fear a new aspect of your job or academic career… You could fear a change in your living environment… You could fear a change in one of your relationships… You could even fear a change in your health – one that could change your quality of life, or one that could mean the end of life. Sometimes, giving in to the fear of change means watching a business or relationship come to an end, or missing out on the opportunity of a lifetime. These are the kind of fears that can cause us to miss out on the joys of life lived right now.
So, remember I told you that in college, I hit a point in which I had gone right past fear of failure to full-blown failure. I had hit rock bottom and needed help putting my life back together. I knew the life I was currently living was taking me down a road I didn't want to go, but I didn't know how to change course; I was afraid of what that change might look like. For a period of time, I met with a campus counselor I could talk to about some of those negative messages and fears that were swirling around in my mind, in order to figure out how to change them. During that time, she suggested that I also participate in a type of group therapy that used the 12 steps of recovery as a means of helping people learn to deal with life on life's terms. One of the things I heard in those group meetings was that a lot of people seemed to be stuck in a messy life, but they were terrified of doing life any differently. And so, one of the first steps that each of us had to take was to be able to admit that we were already powerless over our lives, and that our lives had become unmanageable. For most of us, that was an easy one. Next, we were asked to believe or trust in a power greater than ourselves that could restore our lives. To me, I remember feeling like that was wishful thinking, at first. But as I listened to other people describe the differences in their lives since they were able to put their faith in God, I slowly came to believe as well. And I was there for restoration, to put my life back together. That's what I wanted. But the next part was the hardest. Step 3 says, we made a decision to turn our will and our lives over to the care of God as we understood him. Turning over our will and our lives; letting go; ready to change… It's probably one of the hardest things I've ever done. And also, without a doubt, the best!
• Breathe in slowly counting to four.
• Hold your breath to the count of four.
• Exhale slowly, counting to four as you exhale.
• Hold the exhale, lungs empty, to the count of four.
Doing this slows down your breathing. It relaxes your body and focuses your mind on the present moment rather than on a fearful future. It is easy to add meditation and prayer to this practice. You can give thanks or recite encouraging scriptures, like God's promise we encountered earlier in the series: "Do not be afraid, for I am with you." Breath prayer, praying one phrase on the inhale, and another on the exhale, is another way of both slowing our breathing and dwelling on God's promises. You could try phrases from scriptures such as, "The Lord is my Shepherd – I shall not want." Or "Be still and know – that I am God." Both of these are ways of seeking, or dwelling on God's care, and turning your will over to God, so that you can dwell in the truth of now, instead of fearing a future that isn't here.
For many of us, the change we may fear most is that of aging or dying. It's a future that is a reality for all of us. Over a year ago, my dad starting having a series of health complications that led to one surgery after another, causing a prolonged hospital stay. And at one point, even though the doctors were confident about his physical progress, my mother noticed his mood changing and realized that he had become so worried about all of the things that could still go wrong, that he had given up on living in the now. He later admitted to my sisters and I that there were a few days when he thought they were his last. You see, my dad was making a huge transition in his life at that time. He had just turned 70, and had made the decision to retire that year. Then, when he experienced a health problem his fears took over. Looking back now, he can see how he let his worries control him. But that doesn't have to be the case. As we age, as we experience health problems and illnesses, and even as we inevitably face death, we can remember that God is walking with us, that God will never leave us or forsake us, and that God gives us courage and strength.
Pastor Adam ends this section of his book by writing, "It is remarkable to be in the company of people of deep faith, who, like the apostle, are persuaded that death is not the end of their story. They may still feel the physical and emotional fear that originates in the amygdala, but they are not controlled by that fear. They are, as I've used the word throughout this book, unafraid." 2 Corinthians 4:16-18 says, "So we do not lose heart. Even though our outer nature is wasting away, our inner nature is being renewed day by day. For this slight momentary affliction is preparing us for an eternal weight of glory beyond all measure, because we look not at what can be seen but at what cannot be seen; for what can be seen is temporary, but what cannot be seen is eternal." Those of us who believe that Jesus Christ was himself God in the flesh, and came to show us a perfect love that casts out fear, who believe that even though Jesus was put to death on a cross, his resurrection conquered death and separation from God once and for all, then we have God's power to face life – and death – with courage and hope. The same God who created light from darkness shines in our lives today, hiding treasure in earthly vessels, and promising all of us an eternal weight of glory beyond measure. Thanks be to God!


This page is about the alternate reality game. For other uses, see Mystery of the Emblem (disambiguation).
Mystery of the Emblem (or the Fire Emblem ARG) was an ARG created by whizzer0 involving three characters - Thomas, Josh, and Sara - who used player input to stop a revolution by the enigmatic "Archanea Will Be Ours" whilst a mysterious controller watched over them.
3.4 A spot of shopping?
5.4 Let's not go to the city!
5.6 Let's go to the city!
whizzer0 noticed this post and brought it to the attention of other Discord users. whizzer0, nanoi and scoranio soon realised that the numbers represented chapters from the Fire Emblem series of games, and that the first letters of each of these chapters spelt HTTP MISTERIOFTHEEMBLEM ML. The title of the post gave the clue "whyaneye", showing that the Is needed to be changed to Ys.
This led to the website http://mysteryoftheemblem.ml, which showed a blank page entirely tiled with a brick tile from *Fire Emblem: The Sacred Stones*. It was discovered that the actual background image, intheroom.png was made up of multiple tiles whilst a single tile, imageisnottrulyone.png was placed on top as part of the body of the page.
Whilst the title of the page was initially "thomas was lost in thoughts all alone", this later changed to "image is truly two, if not only as an image". Another hint was later given as text was added to the page; "all books have pictures and words. the pictures are on the cover and the words are inside. here is the cover but the words are separated elsewhere."
The main page of the site then updated, removing the "pictures and words" hint and changing the title to "see you soon".
THOMAS: There is a guard here.
This included a strawpoll where users could vote for whether Thomas should attack the guard or run for it.
THOMAS: I got him! Let's go!
THOMAS: Yes! I got a hit!
THOMAS: I'll fight the guard!
The main page also updated, removing the guard and log from the map and showing Thomas' movement.
THOMAS: Where should I go from here? Do you know where I am?
THOMAS: There's a big field, the tower I just came from, and... I think there's a town in the distance?
THOMAS: Okay, I'm outta here.
"Go to the town" was the winner of this poll.
THOMAS: What do you think?
THOMAS: Okay, I made it to the edge of the town. There's a shop here, plus a few (occupied) houses.
THOMAS: I'll head to the town.
"Investigate the shop" won the poll.
THOMAS: I guess we're back to this... fight or run?
THOMAS: And he's seen me take the lance.
THOMAS: I'm sure nobody will mind.
THOMAS: What is here, though, is an iron lance. I might just nick it.
THOMAS: To the shop it is.
The poll was won by "Flee the town".
THOMAS: Anyway... I could try and get as far away from the town as possible, or I could have a look at the tower.
THOMAS: Is he... is he afraid of the tower?
THOMAS: Wait, no. He's just standing there. He doesn't want to follow me.
THOMAS: Whew... I just made it. I think I've lost him.
"Investigate the tower" won the poll this time.
THOMAS: There are ten things that each have a number from 0 to 9 on, and it looks like you can push them in.
THOMAS: The next door is locked. There's some kind of weird unlocking mechanism.
THOMAS: Okay... this hall is empty, although there's a sheet of paper on the floor.
THOMAS: Nervous as I am, I have to remind myself that I'm armed.
THOMAS: I'm going in to the tower.
Continue if you want, but to where, I cannot advise.
THOMAS: Could be a clue, but who would just leave that lying around?
THOMAS: Yeah, I'm not sure what the message on the paper means. I'll keep it for later.
THREE LINES, BUT WHAT WITHIN?
FIRSTLY FIND, BUT ALSO SWITCH.
THOMAS: Nope, I can't figure it out. You keep trying, I'll try and bruteforce the lock, since I'm too weak to bruteforce the door.
THOMAS: I can press in up to four numbers and they'll stay pressed in, but if I try to press a fifth, they all pop out again.
THOMAS: I've fiddled around with the lock some more.
THOMAS: Damn, damn, damn. There are guards here.
THOMAS: 9138? That was it! I'm through!
"Fight the guards" was the winner of the poll after Discord users decided that Thomas was annoying.
THOMAS: Alright, I'll fight the guards! I can do this, right?
? ? ?: Better luck next time..?
? ? ?: Predictable, or maybe intentional. You didn't get him very far, did you?
? ? ?: So, Thomas is dead.
At the same time, all known files on the site were removed except for the main page, /log, and secondhallofthetower.png.
secondhallofthetower.png was also removed from the site.
Haha, just kidding. Help? Really? I'm pretty sure I can handle myself, thanks. I say "thanks", but then you didn't really offer to help. Do you wanna help? Will I let you help?
Well, I'll let you give guidance.
But don't blame me if I don't take it.
So what next, I just leave a cryptic message on the ground or something? Seriously? You aren't that stupid.
Let's go. You must know where.
JOSH: So how about you decide? Left or right?
JOSH: That's... kinda it. Well, there are a couple of guys here with axes. Three if you count myself.
JOSH: Whatever. I'm in a field.
JOSH: I know, that was so difficult to find, right?
JOSH: So... should I take them on or try a more peaceful method?
JOSH: That is, there's a big wall and a couple of guards.
JOSH: Only problem is, I can't get in.
JOSH: Alright! I've found myself a nice city.
JOSH: This'll be a long walk.
JOSH: Left it is, huh? Let's go.
A new strawpoll was added to determine Josh's response to the guards (borderforce.png).
JOSH: Well, try making something up that they're happy with.
JOSH: Why would they need such a thing, anyway?
JOSH: I'm pretty sure I don't have that.
JOSH: Crap, they want an identification number.
JOSH: Let's try talking to them. That sounds safer.
...along with its image counterpart, id.png, which depicted 0123456789abcdefghij with some noise and distortion.
Dreadfully sorry about all that, it's a recent safety measure introduced after some weirdo escaped from prison. You may now proceed to the city.
JOSH: You should've gone right.
JOSH: But it's not like there's anything else to do in this city. It's very dull, really.
JOSH: I know that doesn't sound very interesting.
JOSH: Cities are good for sightseeing, too. Now there's the big question; city centre or city hall?
JOSH: City's pretty big. As cities are. Have you been to a city before? They're pretty big.
JOSH: They've let me in. 71469122, where the hell'd you get that?
The main page also became blank with a darker red background.
JOSH: It's not a very good inn. They won't care.
JOSH: I'll pretend I'm staying another night.
JOSH: Damn, I haven't got any money to pay the inn.
JOSH: What did we agree? That's right, city hall.
JOSH: Maybe bad, who knows.
JOSH: Good morning. Well, kinda good, at least.
JOSH: Just make sure they won't kill me. That'd be bad.
JOSH: Ugh, I can't make my own moral choices. You decide. If killing these guards is okay with you, it's okay with me.
JOSH: If I was an escaped prisoner and tried to kill thse guards, they could probably beat me! So let me in until I do something bad!
JOSH: Is this about that escaped prisoner again? Because that's pretty lame.
JOSH: "Following recent events"? What kind of excuse is that?
JOSH: No entry? At all?
JOSH: Fine... what do they want?
JOSH: Always guards! Everywhere! Screwing everything up!
JOSH: Wait, what? This is guarded too?
JOSH: The one thing there is to see in this city and they can't even make it grand! Ridiculous!
The poll was eventually won by "Go to the city centre".
JOSH: So, I'll head to the other tremendously exciting sightseeing spot, the city centre?
JOSH: Blimey, that took a while. I can't be in three places at once!
JOSH: Whatever. I'll keep looking around. Have a look at the noticeboard if you want.
JOSH: I wonder if this city has a name? Hang on, there's a noticeboard here.
JOSH: And it's a guard-free zone! Woohoo!
JOSH: It's a bit nicer than the city hall, I guess.
JOSH: Right... I'm not really sure what I'm doing here.
JOSH: Gods, there are so many people here.
This revealed that the ARG was set in the fictional Fire Emblem country of Archanea, as well as referencing the song Black Tar from Xenoblade Chronicles X, which would appear again in the ARG's sequel.
JOSH: It's not my city, I s'pose.
JOSH: Or should I just flee?
JOSH: What the hell do I do? Stay here and defend or something?
JOSH: Dear gods! "We strike in ten minutes"? And how long has it been already?
JOSH: Does it say when everyone has to be in the city centre, though?
JOSH: And... this is the city centre!
JOSH: "Archanea will be ours"? That doesn't sound good.
JOSH: Hang on, you found something?
JOSH: It all... smells... nice, anyway.
JOSH: As discussed earlier, I don't have any money.
JOSH: Seems like it's market day.
"Stay here" won the poll.
JOSH: OH GODS, CHOOSE SOMETHING!
JOSH: I have to do something!
JOSH: WHY DID YOU MAKE ME STAY HERE?
JOSH: It's definitely been more than ten minutes. Maybe the message is old?
JOSH: There're just... so many of them!
JOSH: Okay, actually they're quite weak.
JOSH: What the hell? You want me to fight this... hoard?
JOSH: I'm gonna move on to this area towards the city hall.
JOSH: I think we've just about got the central square under control, but they're spreading outwards.
JOSH: Same thing as on the noticeboard, right?
JOSH: "Archanea will be ours!" That's all I hear except the screams.
JOSH: Yeah, "AWBO" after what they keep shouting.
JOSH: That is, "AWBO", as they seem to be called, are still killing everyone, but we're killing them too.
JOSH: This is going... pretty well, actually.
JOSH: The army's here now.
JOSH: We'll stay together for now.
JOSH: Take that sword there, I'm sure nobody will mind.
SARA: I have some training in swordfighting.
JOSH: Let's get out of here.
SARA: Who are you talking to?
JOSH: What? You can hear her speak too?
SARA: Oh, thank the gods.
JOSH: Okay, I think I can get in. I'm here to help!
JOSH: Wait, there's a house here that's being attacked but not defended!
JOSH: There's just so much chaos!
? ? ?: Or has he proven my point..?
? ? ?: Josh, aren't you forgetting something?
SARA: I do know one place where we could investigate. It's quite a walk from here.
SARA: They have large bases, so it's possible. Their exact locations aren't known, though.
JOSH: Can we attack them before this happens again?
SARA: Of course not. The group... it's huge. It's not just resistors in Archanea, there's a vast amount attacking from Valentia too. They don't just want a revolution, they want to take over the entire world.
? ? ?: But unless my name is Fate, free will certainly exists.
JOSH: Really? Didn't we just take out their entire force?
SARA: But, you know, AWBO will strike again.
? ? ?: No, because I allow you choices.
JOSH: You've done very well.
JOSH: That's this district cleared. The city hall is well fortified now, they won't be getting in there.
? ? ?: Is there such a thing as fate?
SARA: Who the hell are you whispering to? Let's go in.
SARA: Hopefully a lead to AWBO. It's just something I heard.
JOSH: And that'll help us find *what*, exactly?
SARA: Here we are, Josh.
SARA: That's very, very strange, but whatever. If this does actually help, then keep talking.
JOSH: Well... there are these people who I can talk to just by talking. And... they can help. Make decisions, find codes, stuff like that.
SARA: Josh, please tell me who you're talking to.
JOSH: Some strange scratchings next to the door though. And what are these number things?
SARA: What's this? Damn, the next door's locked.
SARA: Are you done yet?
The main page also updated to show Josh and Sara in the first hall of the tower.
JOSH: It's your favourite, fight or run?
JOSH: I'll ask, they tend to know this kinda stuff.
SARA: Can we take them? They don't look that tough.
JOSH: Through here, the- crap.
SARA: Blimey, Josh, and to think I thought you insane.
JOSH: Oh, the key things by the door. Yes, I'll give it a go.
JOSH: 9138? And I just... press those... buttons?
JOSH: Well, take it, I guess. Let's keep going. This place is creeping me out.
SARA: How can that possibly be?
SARA: This body... it's got the same bracelet as min- and yours!
JOSH: Gods... Any weapons on it?
SARA: Oh, gods! It's a body! Someone's died here before!
SARA: Wait, what's this over here?
JOSH: Is that really all of them?
SARA: And... well, that was easy. How're you doing, Josh?
SARA: Ha, not so fast. You can't touch me!
JOSH: Take that! And... well, that was easy.
JOSH: I'll take the closer one, you take the farther.
The ARG's puppetmaster later mentioned that this part was supposed to have Sara's speech also showing up as Thomas' speech to demonstrate how the bracelets worked, but forgot to include this.
Maybe we have met now.
Or am I too difficult?
Do I not warn you?
But you're never too late.
Time stops for you, or does it not?
What was once here was never here.
Is there such a thing as control?
Am I controlling these people?
Who am I controlled by?
SARA: Dear gods, he's jumped out the window!
SARA: Josh? Josh? What's happening?
SARA: Wish me luck. I think I'll need it.
SARA: I'm gonna have toook after him for the night. Make a camp, something like that.
SARA: Thank the gods... he's unconscious, but he has a pulse.
Let's not go to the city!
JOSH: Probably go to that town, or maybe go back to the city to investigate there.
SARA: Well, what should we do now?
SARA: Well, I couldn't risk anything happening.
JOSH: You made a camp?
SARA: Well, you seemed to become possessed and jump out of a window.
SARA: Oh, thank the gods. Are you alright?
JOSH: So... should we ask if anyone knows anything about AWBO?
JOSH: You've been here before?
SARA: Yeah... Oh, it's Sarrow!
SARA: Yeah... but how should we go about it?
JOSH: We've gotta investigate that, right?
SARA: I've heard the same.
JOSH: Well, lots of people have mentioned a house that seems to contain AWBO members.
SARA: Oh, hey. How's your investigation going?
JOSH: Sara! There you are!
JOSH: What is this? You stand for justice? Die! Archanea will be ours!
JOSH: Sounds alright. Wait, how do you act like an AWBO?
SARA: So... we'll pretend to be AWBO?
JOSH: Hey, so, did you hear about the attacks in the city?
SARA: Oh... I'm Sara, uh, Croft. No, we're not together. Just friends.
JOSH: What do you mean? This is my normal voice.
SARA: Your fake laugh is worse than your fake accent!
SARA: They named the town after you!
JOSH: I'm Josh...ua... Sarrow. It's nice to meet you.
SARA: To shut you up.
JOSH: You knocked on the door!
JOSH: And I just stand there, saying nothing? That's not realistic!
SARA: I'll do the talking.
JOSH: How do we greet them? "Hello, we are Mr. and Mrs. AWBO, please tell us your secret plans?"
SARA: I don't know! Just... away!
JOSH: Yes! That's the one. Which're you from?
JOSH: Oh, we're from that base up in... what was it?
SARA: Yes, I know. We know Sarrow isn't a current target, but everything is worth taking.
Let's go to the city!
SARA: But we shouldn't go together. If we both die, nobody will know where the bases are.
SARA: If there's any kind of resistance in there, we should give them the locations of those bases.
JOSH: Well, what do we do? Go in and fight?
SARA: If we'd stayed, we'd be dead. Count yourself lucky.
JOSH: Damn it all! We should never have left.
JOSH: It's fallen to AWBO!
SARA: Where are the guards?
SARA: Gods, what's happened to it?
SARA: Is that the city?
SARA: I'm in. Wish me luck..?
JOSH: She's gone. Wish her luck, everyone.
JOSH: Well, see you later.
SARA: Don't worry, Josh. I'll be back.
SARA: Looks like I'm going in.
SARA: This can't really be real, can it?
SARA: I know it's not really myself, but... really? A magic communication thing?
SARA: Ugh, I feel so weird talking to myself.
SARA: Some who are here, and some who are... gone.
SARA: And yet you can still feel the presence of people.
SARA: I hate this whole damn place and the stupid AWBO!
SARA: Gods, I hate this! I hate this, I hate this, I hate this!
SARA: Well, it's what's left of that house.
SARA: This is that house!
SARA: Dare I venture there to investigate?
SARA: Okay, there's definitely some activity from the city hall.
"Go to the city hall" won the poll.
JOSH: Where are they all going now?
JOSH: Gods, what's all the commotion? Sara! Sara!
JOSH: Do I hear shouting?
JOSH: Well, what do you think?
JOSH: I think I'm gonna have to go after her.
SARA: Well, I'll just keep my head down.
SARA: Gods... is this safe?
SARA: Josh was right, it is ugly.
? ? ?: Or are you just going to leave him there?
? ? ?: So, you have to do something about Josh.
? ? ?: Who am I? I believe you've found out something of me by now.
? ? ?: But the problem is, you and I are the only ones who know.
? ? ?: I'm afraid I must intervene.
The main page's background colour changed back to red.
? ? ?: Sounds like a plan? Good.
? ? ?: And then we'll meet up when it all gets more exciting.
? ? ?: So, I'll keep watching Josh, and you go about doing whatever you do.
? ? ?: What's much more interesting is the final battle, right?
? ? ?: But that's all a bit dull, isn't it?
? ? ?: And so Josh left to save the world in memory of her.
JOSH: You- you could've saved her!
JOSH: Well, why didn't you send her back?
Crauss solved this to lead to this Strawpoll, a character poll which was won by ? ? ?.
The symbolic part of the title was solved by Discord users Crauss and Dr. Dino to be the date 2016-04-04, which when typed whilst holding shift produces ")!^_)$_)$. While the rest of the cipher remained unsolved, Crauss suspected that the full solution was Mystery of the Emblem will return on 2016-04-04.
On 2016-04-05, /u/mysteryoftheemblem posted this text post to /r/gamedetectives, explaining that the ARG would return the next day due to server issues.
? ? ?: Well... is anyone ready?
? ? ?: Are you ready?
? ? ?: Here we are, that is.
? ? ?: So long, but so soon.
JOSH: At least, we've survived the last six or so bases.
JOSH: The resistance is pretty strong, so we'll be fine attacking them.
JOSH: The resistance and I have been following a trail of them for the past week or so, and this is the final one we need to take down.
JOSH: I'm near the last AWBO base.
JOSH: Should I fill you in?
JOSH: Can you hear- woah.
JOSH: Any ideas? I'll ask for a direction if it's unbreakable.
JOSH: Dammit, it seems to be encrypted in some way.
JOSH: Does AWBO cater to tourists now?
JOSH: Hey, look! There's a torn map on the wall!
JOSH: Mind you, there shouldn't be any information we need since this is supposed to be the final base.
JOSH: It works well as AWBO tends to get very distracted by the attack.
JOSH: As is my tradition, I'm heading further into the base to track down any information that could be useful.
JOSH: Our attack seems to have caught them off guard.
JOSH: Okay, we've made it in.
The first label is partially cut off by a tear while the last label may not be accurate due to its low resolution.
? ? ?: Due to further actual complaints, old embeds have been removed.
? ? ?: No users have reported issues with the excessive embeds on this page, but it has been fixed anyway. _old loggings can be found elsewhere. Just because I'm a mysterious controlling force doesn't mean I can't fix website problems.
JOSH: Which way do you think?
"Go to the right room" won the Strawpoll.
JOSH: There are some suspicious scratchings on the wall again.
JOSH: Did AWBO own the tower..?
JOSH: Damn, it's got another of those number locks.
JOSH: Maybe a few AWBO'll get lost without it!
JOSH: So... to the right?
Discord user Crauss noticed the misplaced numbers and suggested that the code was either 8925 or 9136.
JOSH: AGH! HIYAH! TAKE THAT!
JOSH: No... where did they all come from..?
JOSH: GODS! There was some kind of trap... it's set the room on fire!
JOSH: 9136? I'll try it.
? ? ?: But without knowing, you'll never know.
? ? ?: Maybe they would have been interesting only to you.
? ? ?: Maybe there just wasn't anything interesting there.
? ? ?: You can go through and miss things you never knew were there.
? ? ?: Mysteries remain unsolved, but such is life.
? ? ?: But it is the end for now.
? ? ?: Perhaps. Perhaps not.
? ? ?: Is this the conclusion?
? ? ?: Oh dear, we seem to have lost signal.
The puppetmaster was watching Discord, right?
But what if the ARG hadn't been solved publicly?
So what's the one way the puppetmaster could guarantee that the post was found by somewhere like Game Detectives?
By bringing it there myself.
/u/whizzer0 then posted this thread to /r/gamedetectives, revealing themself as the creator of the ARG and detailing information about it.
A sequel/successor to the ARG was later confirmed to be in development, featuring the return of Yukimura and Josh, plus many new characters.


text:
Woomera and WRESAT: How Australia joined the "Space Club"
Friday 10th March 2017 - 8:00pm
Topic: Woomera and WRESAT: How Australia joined the "Space Club"
Speaker: Kerrie Dougherty, Powerhouse Museum
Abstract: 2017 sees the 70th anniversary of the establishment of the Woomera Rocket Range, as well as the 50th anniversary of the launch of Australia's first satellite, WRESAT, launched from Woomera on November 29, 1967. In this presentation, Kerrie Dougherty will explore the origins of the Woomera Range as a weapons-testing facility for the Anglo-Australian Joint Project and how it became the hub of Australian space activities at the dawn of the Space Age. How did early Australian space science using sounding rockets lead to the development of Australia's first satellite? Find out in this fascinating glimpse into Australia's space history.
Biography: Kerrie Dougherty is a freelance curator, historian, educator and writer, with more than thirty years' experience in the space field. Formerly Curator of Space Technology at the Powerhouse Museum, Kerrie is also a member of the Faculty of the International Space University and lectures in Space Humanities in the ISU's Space Studies Program and Southern Hemisphere Space Studies program. She is an elected Member of the International Academy of Astronautics and serves on international committees on the 'history of astronautics', 'space education and outreach' and 'space and museums'. Kerrie has been the recipient of an Australian Space Pioneer Award from the National Space Society of Australia and was the 2015 winner of the Sacknoff Prize for Space History.
Friday, 10 March, 2017 - 20:00

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


Many factors can influence when and where someone seeks help for a mental health issue. Open inquiry about a person's past and preferred experiences of receiving help can greatly improve communication.
What kind of experiences have you had with mental health workers or other helpers in the past? What was most helpful to you?
Have you had difficulties with mental health workers or other helpers in the past? What did you find difficult or unhelpful?
Do you feel that your gender has influenced your ability to get the kind of healthcare you need?
Are you comfortable discussing your sexual orientation? Do you feel that your sexual orientation influences your ability to get the kind of health care you need for your problem or experience?
Some people prefer mental health workers or other helpers of a similar background (for example, age, ethnicity, religion, or some other characteristic) because they think it may be easier to understand each other. Do you have any preference or ideas about what kind of mental health worker or other helper might understand you best?
Kevser has been a carer for many years. In this short film, she describes the steps she took on her quest to find help and support for herself and her daughter.


text:
Latest News & Opinion
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News: Ticket to Die
Did a fatally flawed system cost Timothy Thomas his life?
By Maria Rogers
Jymi Bolden
Timothy Thomas' death in this alley resulted from more than one cop's actions.
Cincinnati Police Officer Stephen Roach did not act alone when he killed Timothy Thomas.
Most of the fury over Thomas' death has focused on Roach shooting an unarmed man in a dark alley and then allegedly lying about it. But the other perpetrator in Thomas' death has gone largely unnoted.
Eleven months after the riot that followed the shooting, the police chief admits Roach should not have had his finger on the trigger. But Roach only fired the gun. The weapon was loaded and aimed by a system that set up Timothy Thomas for tragedy.
A CityBeat investigation of the 14 warrants and capiases from which Thomas was running last April shows police need not have been chasing him in the first place. Analysis of the traffic citations behind the warrants and capiases presents a textbook definition of racial profiling, aggravated by inept traffic-law enforcement and couched in a system that rewards cops for racking up tickets. Finally, as if to make the mix all the more perverse, come hints of a cowboy philosophy on the police department that creates a deadly game of urban tag.
Timothy Thomas did not deserve to die.
Even Police Chief Thomas Streicher now admits it. But the truth is worse still.
Everyone knows two numbers about Thomas' death: He was the 15th African American killed by Cincinnati Police in five years, and he had 14 warrants and capiases for his arrest.
Other numbers, however, have gotten little attention in all of the investigations of his death, even though they tell more about Thomas' relationship with the law than do the numbers 14 and 15.
· Nineteen is the number of times Thomas appeared in court during three months of 2000: quite an attendance record for a man people accuse of ducking the law.
· Sixteen is the number of days Thomas spent in jail for his traffic violations. At one point, as court records show, Thomas believed he had served his sentence and was starting with a clean record.
· Two is the number of jobs Thomas lost for missing work due to court appearances.
· Ten is the number of times police stopped Thomas' car before deciding he should also be cited for having illegally tinted windows.
· Eight is the number of times police had Thomas in custody but, instead of arresting him, simply wrote more tickets.
· One is the number of addresses shown on all of the tickets, raising the question of why police didn't go there and arrest him. One is also the number of cars Thomas drove; he got all of the tickets in the same 1978 Chevrolet. He was anything but hard to find.
This is the short history of Thomas' driving problems. At 2:45 a.m. Feb. 29, 2000, two officers stopped him at 2538 Woodburn Ave., just a few blocks from his home. One officer cited him for loud sound, and his partner wrote a ticket for driving without a license. Six days later an officer cited Thomas for driving without a license and not wearing a seat belt. Six hours after that, a cop cited him for driving without a license and disobeying a traffic device. Four days later he was cited for driving without a license and not wearing a seat belt. Less than five hours later he was again pulled over and cited for driving without a license.
A week later an officer cited Thomas for driving without a license and not wearing a seat belt. Four days after that he was again pulled over, one door from his home, for driving without a license and not wearing a seat belt. The next day he received a ticket for the same offenses: driving without a license and not wearing a seat belt.
Twenty-seven days later an officer issued Thomas a ticket for driving without a license. Three days after that, he was cited for driving without a license, not wearing a seat belt, having a child in the car without a safety restraint and having an illegally tinted window.
Thirteen days later, on May 4, Thomas was cited for the last time, for driving without a license. In the course of 66 days, Cincinnati Police stopped Timothy Thomas 11 times, writing tickets for 22 charges. Eleven of the tickets were for the same offense, driving without a license.
Something is clearly wrong with such a system, according to Officer Scotty Johnson. Officers who stopped Thomas after he had already been repeatedly cited and had skipped court should not have let him go.
"He should have been arrested and held in jail until all of that was cleared up," Johnson says. After the third or fourth citation, "a physical arrest should have been made," according to Johnson, who is president of the Sentinel Police Association, an organization of black Cincinnati cops.
"In my 17 years of experience, if you keep re-citing a guy six or seven times in a month for the same violation, there should have been a physical arrest," he says. "Both parts of the system fumbled here — the police along with the Hamilton County court system. The court dropped the ball on these along the same lines. The court could have consolidated all these citations and had it taken care of in one swoop."
Records at the Hamilton County Justice Center show Thomas' first stay in jail was March 24-27, 2000, for driving without a license and not wearing a seat belt. By that time, he had racked up eight citations for driving without a license. Yet his second stay, on April 2, 2000, was for not paying a fine for loud noise.
Thomas' final citation for driving without a license, on May 4, 2000, led to his being incarcerated until May 16.
Police spokesman Lt. Kurt Byrd says a person cited for driving without a license would have to park his car and not drive home. If other violations have occurred, the car might be towed, Byrd says.
But Angela Leisure, Thomas' mother, says he drove the car home after at least two citations for driving without a license.
Police cannot guard a car for 24 hours, Byrd says. Thomas could have returned to the car when they weren't looking, he says.
How many times can a person be cited for driving without a license before being arrested?
"There's actually not a number there," Byrd says. "Typically for the city of Cincinnati, we issue a citation with a mandatory court appearance."
The pattern of Thomas' driving history — repeatedly cited for the same offenses, then allowed to go on his way — raises serious questions about the way Cincinnati Police enforce traffic laws, according to Johnson.
"Are we now playing a game to get bumps on our work sheet or are we trying to keep somebody from violating the law?" he says.
At a March 19 meeting of the Law and Public Safety Committee, City Councilman David Crowley raised the possibility of ineffectiveness in the way police and the courts handled Thomas' driving offenses.
"Timothy Thomas might be dead today regardless of whether he was arrested and put in jail for six or nine months," he said. "But then again, if he got the table cleared, he might not have been."
Streicher did not try to argue the point.
"I respect that," he said. "That's a very good possibility."
Leslie Blade, a teacher at the University of Cincinnati, has been trying for most of a year to get the city to look at the pattern of police interaction with Thomas. She tried to get the Law Committee to study the issue when she spoke at its meeting May 14, 2001.
"His address is the same on all 12 tickets," Blade said. "If they're so concerned about picking someone up, he didn't move around. He was at the same address and again now we're here a year later and it turns into a mangled mess."
'Behavior that cannot be confronted legally'
As 19-year-olds go, Thomas apparently was not a bad driver. None of his tickets involved traffic crashes. They didn't involve speeding, let alone more serious charges. Indeed, only one of the tickets in Thomas' files was for a moving violation.
Of the 14 warrants and capiases Thomas was wanted on, eight were for operating a motor vehicle without a license and four were for seat belt violations.
A cop doesn't know a driver has no license until he pulls the driver over. The same is true of seat belt violations. These two offenses — driving without a license and driving without a seat belt — are often cited in studies of racial profiling by police. A CityBeat investigation last year, for example, showed Cincinnati Police cited more than twice as many African Americans for driving without licenses and for not wearing seat belts than they did whites — even though blacks are a minority of the city's drivers (see Moving Violations issue of March 8-14, 2001).
Blade believes harassment was behind the extraordinary number of traffic tickets Thomas received.
"From Feb. 29 through May 4 — so we're talking 65 days that this young man got 12 citations, which honestly I think is statistically impossible unless someone's hounding you," Blade told the committee. "I mean, it's just kind of obvious on its face."
Attorney Kenneth Lawson, who represents Thomas' mother, agrees. Lawson also represents the Black United Front in a lawsuit in federal court over racial profiling by Cincinnati Police. He has seen the pattern that swept up Thomas' life.
"All they're doing really is pulling him over checking him for drugs," Lawson says. "Their intent was to take him to jail, but not for traffic."
But for all his encounters with police, Thomas never had any drug charges on his record.
"Not everybody down there is dealing drugs and not everybody who runs from the police is doing something illegal," Lawson says.
Police frequently harassed young black men in the family's neighborhood in Evanston, according to Leisure. Police would jump out of cars and force the men to the ground and search them, only to let them go.
"I thought half of the young black men over there were profiled," she says.
Byrd says he is unaware of the incidents. Citizens who witness misconduct by officers should file complaints so police can investigate them, he says.
Police were less than discreet about their feelings toward those who lived in the neighborhood, Leisure says.
"Whenever they came, they would turn on their loudspeaker and tell people to get off their sidewalk," she says.
Once Leisure and her son Timothy watched as police threw a neighbor down and searched him in front of their apartment building.
"Tim was like, 'Man, Mom! They're always doing stuff like that. You know if it was nighttime it would be worse,' " Leisure says.
Thomas was terrified of police, his mother says. "He had been thrown up against the wall and on the ground with the kneecap in the back of the head in broad daylight," she says.
This happened twice, Leisure says.
"I witnessed both of those times myself," she says.
She also remembers the disrespect implicit in the way police asked young black men if they had any drugs.
"They would always call them by their first name," Leisure says. "It was black cops, too."
Why did Timothy Thomas run from police April 7, 2001? Perhaps the better question is why wouldn't he run.
"A lot of people are running from the police not because they're doing anything illegal, but because they're tired of being harassed," Lawson says.
At the May 14, 2001, hearing, City Councilman Jim Tarbell rejected the suggestion police had harassed Thomas.
"I can assure you that in my experience these police officers have a whole lot more to do than to hone in on any individual who has misdemeanor violations in the form of a personal vendetta," Tarbell said. "It simply doesn't happen in my 30 years of experience in Over-the-Rhine."
But then Tarbell unwittingly framed the case in the very terms used to define racial profiling: police action against people for reasons that have nothing to do with breaking the law.
"If there is something that seems unusual, it is usually because there is something else going on," Tarbell said. "There is another form of behavior that cannot be confronted legally, so they will use whatever means possible they can to address that individual's behavior. I'm not saying that's the case here, but that is frequently the case."
Tarbell then made a shocking suggestion: Perhaps police cited Thomas for minor violations but deliberately let him go on more serious ones.
"When you see, as we did here, safety belt violations, in my experience — this is just my experience — that would suggest there's something else going on, that there was a more serious violation such as running a stop sign and rather than give a ticket for running a stop sign, which is not going to be paid, they will stop the individual so as to see if there's anything else more serious going on," Tarbell said. "If they look at the record and yet another running a stop sign citation seems superfluous, they will do something to justify the fact that they stopped them and usually it will fall to the least of the offenses."
Byrd, the police spokesman, says he was not close enough to the situation to comment on the Thomas case. But speaking more generally, he offers an explanation for the frequency with which police stopped Thomas.
"You have a tendency to start noticing the same person, so that face implants in your mind," he says.
But that explanation leads right back to the first question: If Thomas were familiar to officers as a man wanted on multiple traffic tickets, why didn't they go to his house and arrest him? Thomas lived at the same Woodburn Avenue address for all of the year 2000. All of his tickets listed the same address.
"He was at the same address at all times," Leisure says.
The 480 Club and 'dead time'
Writing tickets often means police officers have to spend time in courtrooms. This, in turn, can translate to extra money in their paychecks. Perhaps the most odious explanation for giving Thomas so many tickets is the easiest to understand: overtime pay.
The arrangement can be lucrative. According to Byrd, if a first-shift officer testifies during his regular work day, he gets no additional credited hours —- it is considered part of his shift. If a second-shift or third-shift officer testifies in his off-schedule hours, he is credited three hours of time. This credited time applies whether or not the officer actually spends three hours in court.
"Five minutes or two hours — you get three hours back," Byrd says.
It gets even better. For officers on third shift, there's also what's known as "dead time." Any time an officer goes into court within eight hours of getting off duty, they receive credit for "dead time." An officer who gets off work at 7 a.m., for example, gets two hours of dead time, at straight pay, in order to appear in court at 9 a.m.
Under federal law, an officer can accumulate only 480 hours of compensatory time during his career. After that is accumulated, the time spent in court is paid to the officer. An officer who has already reached the level of 480 accumulated hours receives pay for any additional hours credited for court appearances.
Byrd denies this creates an incentive for officers to write tickets. In fact, some of the officers dislike the system, he says.
"There's a lot of guys who like that 480," he says. "There's a lot of guys who dislike it."
But Johnson says the overtime rules can be a motivation for officers.
"Absolutely it's an incentive," he says. "Do we have officers that take advantage of the 480 compensation? Absolutely."
When an officer writes tickets that he knows are unjustified, Lawson says, he expects the drivers to make plea bargains, so the cop probably won't even have to testify.
"The chances of a cop having to commit perjury knowing that he's lying when he's writing a ticket is slim," Lawson says.
Even if cops testify falsely, they know a judge is going to believe them rather than the drivers, according to Lawson.
"I think a lot of tickets are written not only for court time," he says. "It's twofold. It's not only money, but it's also harassment. Yeah, overtime has something to do with it and I think harassment has something to do with it."
When Roach shot Thomas, police hadn't chased him for almost a year — after twice chasing him the year before. He missed six court appearances between March and June 2000. But Thomas also appeared in court at least 19 times between March and May.
Leisure says he lost two long-term assignments with a temporary agency because he missed so much work due to court appearances. One job paid $11 an hour.
'I'm locking you up next time'
Sitting in her Golf Manor home, Angela Leisure looks with pain at copies of her son's traffic tickets. They're the reason given for his death.
"I know he had been trying to get it taken care of, but I also know he was frustrated, too," Leisure says.
Thomas and his fiancée had a baby. The couple was preparing to marry. After May 4, 2000, Thomas didn't receive another traffic ticket. According to his mother, he thought the mess was over.
On April 13, 2000, he pleaded no contest to driving without a license, and a seat belt charge was dismissed. Municipal Judge John Andrew West ordered Thomas to pay $200 and court costs by June 13.
During the trial, West noted Thomas had been cited three times for driving without a license.
"Don't come back on a fourth," West told him. "I'm locking you up next time. Understand?"
But West was apparently ignorant of the scope of Thomas' record. By that time, he had actually been cited eight times for driving without a license.
On May 16, 2000, Thomas again appeared before Judge West, after spending 12 days in jail. The judge sentenced Thomas to the 12 days already served. But that unfortunately only took care of one of the tickets — something Thomas apparently did not understand.
"He thought it was over," Leisure says. "When he got out of jail, he said, 'Well, Mom, now I don't have to worry about the tickets.' "
Thomas quit driving after that date, she says, and the traffic tickets quit coming.
In another court transcript — six days later, on May 22, 2000 — Thomas seemed to indicate a belief his legal problems were nearing an end.
In the hearing, Assistant Prosecutor Alan Triggs told Judge West, "Mr. Thomas looks familiar to me, because I think he was just here last week. Mr. Thomas has one, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine pending NDL (no driver's license) charges before you, which are on different dates. He was cited on Feb. 29, March 6, March 10, March 17, March 21, March 22, April 18, April 21 and May 4, all this year (2000)."
The judge then questioned Thomas about whether he was free on bail or locked up.
"No," Thomas said. "The cases was dismissed."
Thomas said he had served 12 days in jail because of the tickets.
But the prosecutor was skeptical.
"They're all NDL," Triggs said. "I can't see how they would all be dismissed. I think they need to all be consolidated if he's gonna get an attorney and have them work it out."
The judge then sent Thomas to get a public defender.
"Just a word to the wise: If you do not have a valid license, do not drive," the judge told Thomas.
Three days later Thomas was back in West's court, explaining he had gone to the public defender's office and was trying to get the cases rescheduled to June 14, 2000.
"Hopefully, we can get them done and over with," Thomas told the judge.
The proceedings concluded with West saying he wanted to verify who the public defender was before setting all the cases.
But Thomas never went back to court. His next contact with the police came in July and August 2000, running from officers when they chased him.
Almost a year went by before the police made contact with him again. This time, the last time, the chase turned deadly.
Both Johnson and Byrd say police don't have time to go to people's homes and arrest people wanted on minor offenses.
"You just don't have the manpower to run around and arrest people on minor misdemeanor capiases," Johnson says.
But if officers see a wanted person on the street, Byrd says, they have a duty to attempt an arrest.
"If you see a wanted person and he runs, generally younger policemen chase a fleeing subject," he says. "If we see him drive by or walk by, then we try to take the opportunity to make the arrest."
But officers have to decide when and how to chase suspects, according to Johnson.
"We're given a great deal of discretion, and who you chase and how much vigor you put into the chase is totally up to the individual," he says. "You have to use discretion on a lot of different things."
For example, if an officer sees a person run a red light on Reading Road when children are leaving school, he has to decide whether it is safe to chase that person. In light of the potential danger to children, Johnson says, he may choose not to.
"If you happen to be chasing someone on a misdemeanor violation and you feel it's getting dangerous, absolutely you have a right to stop," Johnson says.
According to Johnson, most foot chases involve younger officers. Every situation is different, and officers have to weigh whether a chase justifies the risk. Nothing in police policy says officers have to chase, he says.
In other words, Roach did not have to enter that alley. He could have halted the chase at any time.
"You're not obligated to chase anybody," Johnson says. "That's what the radio's for and that's what common sense is for."
Byrd admits police have a right to stop a foot pursuit.
"We can't run forever," he says. "There's a point either you've caught him or he's gotten away."
Or, as in Thomas' case, the suspect is killed.
If Thomas were wanted on nothing but misdemeanor warrants and capiases, why did Roach seem so intent on chasing him through a dark alley in Over-the-Rhine? Tarbell points out dispatchers hadn't explained Thomas was just a traffic-ticket dodger, not a danger to anyone.
But even if Thomas had been wanted on violent felonies, Roach had no justification for shooting him, according to Streicher.
"No matter what the charges were that a person's wanted for, the charges that he is wanted for, the warrants themselves he was wanted for, never ever ever can be justification for a use of force," he said.
The only time police can use deadly force is to prevent serious injury or death to the officer or another person, according to Byrd. Running from arrest is not grounds for shooting someone, Streicher said.
"Running from the officer never rises to that level," Streicher said. "You can be wanted for jaywalking and murder at the same time. Just because you're wanted for murder doesn't give me the authority to use force against you."
In the case of Timothy Thomas, the equation between crime and punishment is all the more uneven.
"Tim Thomas shouldn't be dead because he didn't have a driver's license," Johnson says.
If Roach didn't have to chase Thomas and had no cause to shoot him, what can explain the chase to the death on April 7, 2001?
In his testimony March 19 before the Law Committee, Streicher might have shed light on what happened, hinting at a kind of cowboy attitude played out in urban streets. Chasing people is not something police dislike, Streicher said.
"The cops like a good foot pursuit," he said. "It's fun. Catch a bad guy. The thrill of victory. The agony of defeat. There's kind of a competition between the cops and the bad guys out there. Chasing somebody is not this giant dilemma for us in policing. It's not. It's a matter of catch (sic) and mouse." ©
Cause of Death: Timothy Thomas' brief, tragic driving record
·Feb. 29, 2000, cited for loud sound and driving without a license
·March 6 at 4:50 p.m., cited for driving without a seat belt and driving without a license
·March 6 at 10:33 p.m., cited for disobeying a traffic device and driving without a license
·March 10 at 5:25 p.m., cited for driving without a seat belt and driving without a license
·March 10 at 10:20 p.m., cited for driving without a license
·March 17, cited for driving without a seat belt and driving without a license
·April 18, cited for driving without a license
·April 21, cited for driving without a seat belt, driving without a license, driving with a child not in a safety restraint and illegally tinted windows
·May 4, cited for driving without a license
·July 8, police chase Thomas, who runs; warrant issued for obstructing official business
·August 11, police chase Thomas, who runs; warrant issued for obstructing official business
© 2023 Cincinnati CityBeat


Now I know why I had so much trouble getting this blog started. My laptop's hard drive has crashed! The cost of a new hard drive,restoring my files (fortunately, everything I needed was already backed up!) and buying the software is the same as getting a new computer. Not in the budget. Now I am using an ancient laptop that will have to come along on our trip with us instead. At least it is nice and small. We'll wait for December to make a new purchase, because for now all of our resources are going to travel. Grrr…timing is everything! Will go back to packing now.
This entry was posted in Uncategorized on August 29, 2013 by ayoelkers.
The two of you look beautiful. Sorry about the laptop but you'll be fine no matter what. Have a great 3 months!
You look well rested and tanned already. Hope the weather is great and we are sure you will have lots of good food and lots and lots of Spanish wines. I heard they stocked up extras for Raymond.
I am now changing your names it Lucy and Ricky. 24 hours and this trip is already action packed!!
Screw the computer; enjoy the sun, surf, sangria and Spanish wines!


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Author: Devin Garner
Written By: Devin Garner
On Monday, Nov. 2, St. Mary's College of Maryland (SMCM) athletics announced that Reava Potter had been hired as the head coach of the cross country and track and field teams. In the spring of 2020, it was announced that SMCM would be adding track and field to the list of varsity sports on campus, and Potter will build the new program as well as take the reins of the already established cross country team.
Potter graduated from Temple University where she competed on the NCAA Division I track and field team for all four years. She served as a captain during her senior year, and qualified for the Atlantic-10 Championship in multiple events, including the heptathlon, triple jump, pentathlon and relays for all four of her seasons. Potter also received the Spirit and Sportsmanship Awards and served as a member of the NCAA Student Athlete Advisory Committee from 2007-2009.
After graduating from Temple, Potter served as a graduate assistant coach to the track team and led her alma-mater to an Atlantic-10 Championship during the 2009-2010 season. After three years of working as a graduate assistant at Temple University, Potter became an assistant coach at Shaw University in Raleigh, North Carolina. The following year, Potter took an assistant coaching position at Bethune-Cookman University for one year where she coached seventeen All-Conference athletes and led the men's team to its first ever Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference Championship. Under Potter's guidance, three student-athletes at Bethune-Cookman University were named United States Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association All-Americans.
After her successful season at Bethune-Cookman University, Potter served as an assistant coach at the University of Alabama at Birmingham for four years, where she worked specifically with the multi-event, jumping and throwing athletes. During her time in Alabama, Potter coached three athletes to All-Conference titles in the NCAA Division I Conference USA. After coaching at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, Potter arrived at Emmanuel College where she has spent the last two years as the head coach for both the cross country and indoor/outdoor track and field teams. While at Emmanuel College, Potter coached the women's cross country team to the 2018 GNAC Championship as well as the women's indoor track and field team to the GNAC Championship in 2020. Potter earned the accolades for 2020 GNAC Indoor Track and Field Women's Coach of the Year.
In the announcement released by SMCM Athletics, first-year athletic director Crystal Gibson noted that "Coach Potter from the beginning of the process, emerged as a top candidate through her ability to not only coach and recruit young men and women student-athletes, but also develop them into leaders in the sport and community." Gibson continued to add that Potter "has proved her ability to recruit top-level student-athletes, athletically and academically – developing them into highly competitive athletes and leaders. Reava is an outstanding fit for the St. Mary's College of Maryland community and I am confident she will bring a high level of success in building these programs for top level competition."
Tyler Wilson ('22), a member of the SMCM men's cross country team, explained that the cross country team found out about the hiring of Coach Potter in mid-October, and that the cross country team had the opportunity to meet with her over Zoom before she was officially hired. Wilson stated that the team was told that Potter would start as the head coach on Nov. 16, which potentially means that she could be responsible for assigning workout schedules over winter break. Workout schedules right now, Wilson explained, are being assigned by an assistant coach.
Wilson mentioned that he is excited for Potter to take over the program and that he believes her prior experience as an athlete and as a collegiate coach will benefit the SMCM cross country and track and field programs. He stated, "I think Coach Potter's experiences have prepared her for this moment, her experiences as a runner allow her to put herself in our shoes, and her experiences as a coach allow her to know their intricacies of form and other training techniques to help us all improve."
It will be exciting to see the impact that Potter will have on the well-established cross country program, as well as the incoming track and field program. In the SMCM Athletics announcement, Potter stated: "I am very excited about the opportunity to take over the cross country teams and start a new track and field program. I would also like to thank Athletic Director Brendan McWilliams and Andy Yosinoff for giving me an opportunity to become a head coach at Emmanuel College. I am excited to see what I can accomplish at St. Mary's College of Maryland!"
Senior captain Juwan Kearson.
The St. Mary's College of Maryland (SMCM) Men's Soccer team has been a force to be reckoned with under the leadership of head coach Alun Oliver ('04). Despite not having a season, they have continued to maintain their vision as a well-run program. The team has been holding practices throughout the fall semester that abide by COVID-19 regulations put in place with the hope of possibly having a season in the spring.
When asking Josh Luongo ('22) of the impact that head coach Alun Oliver has had on the team throughout the global pandemic, he stated: "he has been really helpful and supportive during these hard times… He is always telling us to stay positive and be flexible during these hard times. Coach [Oliver] is a very positive person and it wears off on the team." While the postponement of the season has been difficult for many members of the team, Oliver has nevertheless been a stabilizing force to lead his team.
As a result of the season being postponed, the team has also had to find creative ways to meet as a team. Aidan Kelley ('22) remarked that the team has found ways to continue to connect as he states, "As a team, we try to meet on Zoom at least once a week in order to include those who are off campus this semester." Jacob Breslauer ('22) states that the team has also found a way to connect for those who are on campus for the semester as he remarks, "Everyone on the team gets along, so everyone on campus will go to the docks or somewhere else where we can be together safely but still enjoy being around as a family."
In addition to connecting with the team as a whole, the upperclassmen have had to find a way to mentor their first-year teammates. While this has not been an easy task with the current regulations in place, the upperclassmen have continued to find a way. Luongo responded by saying that the upperclassmen have been mentoring the younger players by "Giving them tips on how stuff around campus works and making sure they are following COVID-19 regulations. We have also been helping them with their classes. The upperclassmen have set a high standard both on and off the field." Kelley went on by stating that "We have just tried to be as positive and as helpful as possible. All of us understand that this year has been very different from past years, so we all have been reaching out more than usual to make sure we are still making them feel welcome to the team."
While a potential season is still up in the air, the future of the SMCM men's soccer team is very bright. As Luongo argues, "The future of this team is exciting. We have a winning culture and a coach who is always going to do what is best for the team. [Oliver] is always going to make SMCM men's soccer a good program." Under the leadership of Oliver and the talented upperclassmen, SMCM men's soccer is in good hands for years to come.
ARLINGTON, TX – OCTOBER 17: Justin Turner #10 of the Los Angeles Dodgers celebrates with Manager Dave Roberts #30 after the Dodgers defeated the Tampa Bay Rays in Game 6 of the NLCS at Globe Life Field on Saturday, October 17, 2020 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Kelly Gavin/MLB Photos via Getty Images)
On Nov. 1, 2020, Major League Baseball (MLB) free agency began. After a shortened season filled with disappointment for many major league teams, each team has hope to acquire players during this period that will improve their roster. Headlining the list of free agents this season include pitcher Trevor Bauer, catcher J.T. Realmuto, outfielder George Springer, outfielder Marcell Ozuna and infielder DJ LeMahieu.
As each team has their own needs heading into the offseason, many seek after the big names that headline the market. With the big spending that took place last season during free agency with the acquisitions of players such as Anthony Rendon and Gerrit Cole, many free agents this year are likely to be highly paid for their services.
The 2020 MLB Cy Young Award Winner is the most highly sought after pitcher in this year's free agency. In 2020, Bauer posted a 1.73 earned run average (ERA) across 73 innings pitched. According to ESPN: "He went 5-4 with an NL-best 1.73 ERA in 11 starts, helping the Reds to reach the playoffs for the first time since 2013. Animated on the field and outspoken off of it, the 29-year-old right hander struck out 100 in 73 innings and led the majors with two shutouts…" Potential suitors for the pitcher include the New York Mets, Los Angeles Angels and Atlanta Braves.
Another impact player who many teams have their eye on is former Philadelphia Phillies catcher, J.T. Realmuto. Not only is Realmuto a well-renowned catcher, but he is also a force to be reckoned with in the batter's box. Realmuto has a career batting average of .278. Potential suitors for the well-renowned catcher are the Washington Nationals, Philadelphia Phillies, New York Yankees, New York Mets and St. Louis Cardinals.
2017 World Series Champion outfielder George Springer is another player that MLB executives hope to build their outfield around. According to Brian McTaggart of MLB.com: "Springer, 31, will be one of the biggest names on the free-agent market this offseason and will be looking to cash in following a regular season in which he posted an .899 OPS with 14 homers and 32 RBIs in 51 games. He hit four postseason homers, giving him a franchise-record 19 in the playoffs." Teams that have expressed interest in the stud outfielder include the Houston Astros, St. Louis Cardinals, Boston Red Sox, New York Mets and Washington Nationals.
Infield phenom DJ LeMahieu is another player who has hit the open market with aspirations of making big money. LeMahieu has been a significant force in the New York Yankees lineup since 2019 after arriving from the Colorado Rockies. He holds a career .305 batting average and numerous accolades since his MLB debut in 2011. Possible destinations for LeMahieu include the New York Mets, Los Angeles Dodgers and the St. Louis Cardinals.
Regardless of where the big-named players land in free agency, they are sure to leave an impact. As teams continue to pursue these highly sought-after players, fans can sit back and root for their favorite team to sign one of these players.
Washington Football Team Head Coach Finishes Final Round of Chemotherapy Treatment
LANDOVER, MD – OCTOBER 11: Washington Football Team head coach Ron Rivera shakes hands with Washington Football Team starting quarterback Kyle Allen (8) before the game between the Washington Football Team and the Los Angeles Rams at FedEx Field on Sunday, October 11, 2020. (Photo by Toni L. Sandys/The Washington Post via Getty Images)
On Aug. 20, The Washington Football Team announced that head coach, Ron Rivera had been diagnosed with squamous cell cancer. While this was sure not to be an easy fight for coach Rivera, he and other members of the front office reassured fans that he would still be the coach of the team throughout his chemotherapy treatments. After seven weeks of treatment, on Monday Oct. 26, the team announced that Rivera had finished his last cancer treatment.
When originally diagnosed in August, Rivera said in an interview with CNN, "I was stunned… But I was angry because I feel like I am in the best health that I have been in." While the news was shocking to many, the team remained calm and rallied behind their well-renowned head coach. In the case that Rivera could no longer assume the role of head coach throughout his treatment, the team came up with a plan B that would give defensive coordinator Jack Del Rio the title of interim head coach while Rivera recovered.
However, throughout his treatment process, he only missed a few practices and never missed a game. While he did receive treatments during halftime of some games, it never affected his ability to coach the team. Many of the players and coaches even used Rivera's courage to inspire their play and coaching. In an interview with Nicki Jhabvala of The Washington Post, offensive coordinator Scott Turner says, "I think if Coach can come to work and push through what he's dealing with, none of us have any excuses."
Now that Rivera's treatment is completed, there will still be struggles that he faces along the way. According to John Keim of ESPN, Rivera will have several follow-up appointments and scans. However, now his cancer treatment is finished and he is on the road to recovery. As guard Brandon Scherff said in an interview with Keim in regards to what Rivera has overcome, "It's amazing… Talking to him on the field, you would never know what he is going through."
As Rivera's team heads into the bye week of the NFL season after knocking off the division rival Dallas Cowboys, they find themselves in the midst of the NFC east playoff race with the Philadelphia Eagles and Dallas Cowboys. Whether or not they rally behind the feat of their head coach in the final weeks of the season to clinch a berth in the playoffs is yet to be determined.
Whether or not the team is able to clinch a berth in the playoffs or not, it should not overshadow what their coach overcame to allow his team to even be in the position in which they are in. Several weeks of fighting through what many would consider impossible just to ensure that he was still able to lead his team on and off the field. As stated by team president Jason Wright on Twitter in regards to the accomplishments of Rivera, "The complexities of culture change on a young team, a (weird) NFC East race, a pandemic, while fighting with [his] family, emotionally and physically, on a journey to health… We bear witness to something special."
St. Mary's College of Maryland Women's Soccer Continues to Stay Focused
As the fall season was postponed due to COVID-19, the St. Mary's College of Maryland (SMCM) women's soccer team has had to find a way to continue to work for seasons to come. Led by head coach Peter Krech ('09) the team has continued to stay connected as a team and have kept their eye on a potential season.
Two players who have been key leaders for the team both on and off the field are Madison Webb ('21) and Lauren Baker ('22). Both Webb and Baker have continued to push their team to the next level. When asking Baker how she has served as a mentor to her younger teammates, she said, "I have been trying to mentor younger players by building good relationships with them so they have someone to look up to. I have been working my hardest on and off the field so that [the younger players] have an example to look up to. I am also always available for questions." Baker has truly been a stabilizing influence for the team throughout these treacherous times and has helped to keep the team together through virtual team meetings, workouts, movie nights and trivia.
Madison Webb has also been an important player for the program in her time at SMCM. As a senior at the college, she has placed her focus on mentoring beyond athletics. She states, "my main focus for my younger teammates is to make sure that they are enjoying their experiences at St. Mary's." She continues by saying, "Yes, winning games is important, but you are more likely to remember the good times that were had and how you felt playing with teammates, rather than the final score of every game played." When asking head coach Krech on the impact of Webb in her time at SMCM, he had glowing remarks as she started off as a walk-on to the team and not an official recruit. He states, "She has had to deal with a lot of adversity over the years and is currently dealing with a bit of an injury, but she has persevered and been a great captain over the last two years." In continuing to remark on the impact of Webb he remarks: "She is someone that will check on and drop what she is doing to help someone else if needed. I am very proud of her development as a leader and that is probably the biggest area we will lose from her when she graduates."
Though the players are not playing in real games, they have still found ways to get better. The team began training together on Sept. 24 and are practicing three to four days together for the remainder of the fall semester. While they are practicing as a team, Krech acknowledged that many of the athletes are also working on their own to stay prepared. When asking Webb on how her team is making up for not playing this fall, she argues: "While we are not allowed to play any form of contact soccer yet, it is great to be out on the field with all of the girls. Since I will not be getting a 'true' senior season, it is nice to still have practice with everyone."
As the team continues to work throughout the fall semester, they acknowledge that the future of the team is promising. Baker remarks: "We have a really good outlook for our team in the upcoming years. We have a lot of younger players that will be able to continue to build our program." Krech adds his remarks by saying, "While it is too early to judge exactly where we are at from a soccer specific level, the outlook is positive for sure… The hope is that we can set the necessary foundation related to our team culture, core values, expectations to hit the ground running in the North Eastern Athletic Conference next Fall."
The team has put in the work to be successful for seasons to come. Be sure to go out and support the SMCM women's soccer team when they play again as they will be a force to be reckoned with.
Washington Nationals Extend The Contract of World Series Champion Manager, Dave Martinez
After the Washington Nationals won the 2019 World Series under the leadership of second year manager, Dave Martinez, they knew that they had to lock him up for years to come. His contract was set to expire at the end of the 2020 season. Martinez received a three-year, seven and a half million dollar contract, according to ESPN.
When arriving in Washington to become the manager in 2018, he had high expectations after the team had not won a playoff series since returning to Washington. Not only had the team not won a playoff series since returning to Washington, they also had recently let go of highly-renowned manager, Dusty Baker. Upon the hiring of Martinez, General Manager Mike Rizzo argued in a statement to Eddie Matz of ESPN, "Winning a lot of regular-season games and winning divisions are not enough." He went on to say that, "Our goal is to win a World Championship."
While the bar was set high for Martinez upon his arrival in Washington, his team scuffled greatly in his first year as manager. The team finished with a record of 82-80 and missed out on the playoffs. Numerous fans and Major League executives were calling for the dismissal of the first- year manager as his team had failed to even make the playoffs with an elite lineup and a star-studded pitching rotation. In an interview done by RADIO.com with former Major League Baseball executive Jim Bowden in regards to what he would have done during the dismal season, "I would have fired [Martinez midseason] and brought in Joe Girardi, try to win right now." In continuing to remark on the moves that he would have made, he states: "That is what I would have done. That is a 95-win club. Why are [The Nationals] at .500? They let Dusty Baker go because they thought Dave Martinez would do a better job in October. Well, you got to get to October."
Facing sharp criticism, Martinez remained at the helm of the team heading into the 2019 season. However, the team once again faced another horrible start as their record hit 19-31 on May 23 and they had a 3.4% chance of winning the World Series. The future looked bleak and it appeared that the second manager would soon be headed out the door.
However, Martinez remained calm and collected and did not let the chatter of being fired affect him. He continued to manage his team and let his veteran players guide them through the tumultuous stretch. The team quickly turned around their season and soon found themselves in the playoff picture. The team added key players such as Gerardo Parra, Asdrubal Cabrera and Daniel Hudson. Martinez continued to believe in his players and they continued to believe in him. At the end of the season, the team finished with a record of 93-69 and clinched a wildcard spot in which they would face off against the Milwaukee Brewers at Nationals Park in Washington, D.C.
The rest is history as the ballclub was able to knock off the Milwaukee Brewers, Los Angeles Dodgers, St. Louis Cardinals and Houston Astros in stunning fashion to win a World Championship. While many were calling for the manager to be fired, he proved them wrong and showed them that he indeed was the right choice for the job.
Now, Martinez is getting rewarded for his stellar performance as the manager of the Washington Nationals and will find himself managing the team for years to come. In an interview with Jesse Dougherty of The Washington Post, the Nationals ace pitcher and face of the franchise, Max Scherzer, had glowing remarks on the contract of his manager. He stated that, "[Martinez] is everything you want in a manager," as he goes on to state, "That's why I am happy the organization was able to sign him back. He just has the feel for the game."
Dave Martinez will now head into the offseason with reassurance as he knows that he will be returning to manage the red and white on South Capitol Street. As a lifetime baseball player and coach who has preserved through many obstacles, nobody deserves this more than Dave Martinez, the 2019 World Series Champion manager.
St. Mary's College of Maryland Welcomes Aboard Crystal Gibson as New Athletic Director
Following the retirement of longtime athletic director Scott Devine, the school welcomes back former St. Mary's College of Maryland (SMCM) women's basketball coach Crystal Gibson as the new Athletic Director. According to Inside SMCM, Gibson spent the last three years at Susquehanna University as the associate director of athletics and the interim director of athletics.
Gibson is no stranger to SMCM athletics as she previously served as the women's basketball coach from 2011 to 2017. When asking Gibson what brought her back to the school, she stated, "St. Mary's always felt like a special place to me, from the first time I interviewed here nine years ago for the head women's basketball position. The people, the eagerness and intelligence of the students and the ability to communicate across campus are all things that brought me here initially and I was very excited to be able to return."
She brings an impressive resume into her tenure at St. Mary's. Following her graduation, Gibson began working in athletics at Lebanon Valley College. At Lebanon Valley, she held numerous roles including assistant women's basketball coach, assistant track and field coach and worked directly with the athletic director. After leaving Lebanon Valley, she went onto Frostburg State University to become the top assistant coach for the women's basketball team. After gaining experience at Frostburg State, she went on to become the head women's basketball coach at Arcadia University in Pennsylvania where she also served as the assistant sports information director. Upon leaving Arcadia, she came to SMCM to become the head women's basketball coach and even held the senior woman administrator position, where she helped to establish the first Title IX review. Following her time at SMCM, she became the associate director and then interim director at Susquehanna University. In regards to the abundance of experience that she brings to St. Mary's, Gibson remarks: "It has been a journey, but an amazing ride. I cannot wait to continue here."
With the abundance of experience that Gibson comes in with, she is sure to handle the responsibilities of athletic director in stride. At SMCM, she holds duties such as overseeing and supporting coaches and staff, departmental budgets, staffing, and working with numerous offices across campus. She must also stay informed with NCAA regulations.
Gibson also has goals for her tenure at SMCM. She argues: "I want to continue to push the envelope and improve athletics and student-athletes relationships across campus. I believe by working together it only makes this amazing place even better." She states that there are three big initiatives that she has pushed for her staff since arriving. Those include the areas of diversity and inclusion, mental health awareness and leadership development. She also states, "I want to continue providing and improving on the experience of our student-athletes, from game environment, to competitiveness, to growth in and outside their support."
While Gibson has a lot of goals in mind, she acknowledges the phenomenal staff that she has in place already. She glowingly states, "I believe we have an amazing group of coaches and staff members in the athletic department, all working together to try and achieve the same mission, providing a first-class experience for our student-athletes." When continuing to ask her if her previous history of coaching women's basketball will lead her into assisting the SMCM women's basketball team, she remarks, "I plan to be an amazing fan!"
With an abundance of experience and a love for SMCM, it is obvious that the college chose the perfect person for the job. Gibson will be sure to provide student-athletes and students a college athletic experience like no other.
WASHINGTON, DC – SEPTEMBER 26: Manager Dave Martinez #4 of the Washington Nationals looks on against the Philadelphia Phillies during the eighth inning at Nationals Park on September 26, 2019 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images)
St. Mary's Volleyball Continues to Work, Hopeful For Possible Season
As the Fall 2020 season was postponed earlier in the summer, the St. Mary's College of Maryland Women's Volleyball team has had to find a way to stick together. Despite some of the players deciding to go fully remote this semester, they have still found a way to workout and bond. Taylor Wigglesworth ('22) and Fatima Bouzid ('22) have been key players for the team in years past and have had to find a way to adjust to having the season postponed.
Wigglesworth opted to go fully remote this semester. While going fully remote can come with challenges, she has handled it in stride. She stated, "Since I am off campus, it takes more effort to make sure that I am still connecting with my teammates." To accommodate the players that are off campus, she remarked that the team has been holding bi-weekly Zoom meetings. While the zoom meetings have not been the same as being in-person, they still have given players an opportunity to connect and hang out with one another. As she states, "It's really hard not being at school together since the volleyball team is my main group of friends, so I enjoy having the opportunity to connect over Zoom."
In these difficult times, coaches have had to step in and keep their team together. When asking Bouzid of how the team's head coach Kelly Martin has had an impact throughout this time, she argued that, "Coach Martin has done an awesome job by keeping us updated whenever she can and by being very understanding when things pop up during these odd times." Experienced players have also had to take a bigger role in leading their younger teammates through this time. When asking Wigglesworth of how she has served as a mentor to her younger teammates, she stated, "When the pandemic began, we began weekly Facetimes with each freshman entering the program… It was the perfect opportunity to get to know each other better and give the freshman a chance to ask questions to ease any anxiety about the transition into college."
While Bouzid acknowledges that the first practice had been pushed to Sept. 23, many of the players remain hopeful for a potential Spring season. Wigglesworth shared her excitement about the possibility of a Spring season by remarking, "We are very hopeful that we will be able to compete in the Spring. Although we do not want to get our hopes up… we are still staying focused." Training comes with a lot of detail and hard work. As Wigglesworth argues about the efforts of the team, "We are continuing to work hard to make sure our bodies and minds will be ready to compete in the Spring if we are given the opportunity."
Regardless of whether or not there is a Volleyball season in the Spring, the efforts and the preparation of the team have not gone unnoticed. As Bouzid explained, "I am just so proud of everyone for adapting to this situation and still working hard even though we cannot compete at this moment." When the team does get back in action, be sure to go out to the Michael P. O'Brien Athletic Center to support the hard work put in by the St. Mary's Volleyball program.
Under New Leadership, the Washington Football Team Begins the Season Strong
After ousting former head coach Jay Gruden in the middle of the 2019 season, the Washington Football Team seemed to be at a crossroads. Not only was the team struggling on the field, they were also struggling off the field with numerous conduct violations. Washington knew that they must hire a head coach who could change the culture of the team while also being a stabilizing figure, something that the team has not had for many years. Therefore, owner Daniel Synder went out and hired former head coach of the Carolina Panthers, Ron Rivera as the new head coach. After a 27 to 17 victory over the Philadelphia Eagles at FedexField on Sunday, Sept. 13, it appears that the Washington Football Team might have finally found the right coach for the job.
Rivera was diagnosed with squamous cell carcinoma in a lymph node in the Summer, but stated that he still has plans on coaching his football team. However, he did acknowledge that he would be occasionally unable to attend practices, which would leave veteran defensive coordinator Jack Del Rio in charge of the team's operations. Even though Rivera has begun his treatments, he still found a way to coach and inspire his players in their victory over the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday, snapping the six-game win streak that Philadelphia had previously held against Washington.
On Sunday, the head coach's first challenge came when he was unable to address his team at halftime due to the fact that he had to receive an IV for his cancer treatment. In Rivera's absence, second-year quarterback Dwayne Haskins stepped up and addressed his team as they were down at halftime. Les Carpenter of "The Washington Post" states that, "the fact it was Dwayne Haskins, the team's 23-year-old, second-year quarterback and the player that Rivera has perhaps pushed hardest to be a leader, seemed to please [Rivera] more."
While the team started out slow in the first half facing a 17 point deficit early, many Washington Fans considered this season to be a repeat of last season, when the team finished 3 and 13. However, in the hands of the new and experienced coaching staff and with the help of the stacked defensive line, Washington was able to rally together a win for their team, their city and most importantly, their ailing head coach.
The defensive line was a major factor in Washington's victory. With the addition of second overall pick and Ohio State phenom, Chase Young, the defense looks nearly unstoppable. The Washington defense sacked Philadelphia quarterback Carson Wentz eight times for a loss of 62 yards, according to "CBS Sports." Every player on the Washington front looked impressive, however, Ryan Kerrigan and Chase Young stuck out. According to "Pro Football Focus," Young was the highest graded rookie in the first week of play. In addition, Ryan Kerrigan surpassed Washington great Dexter Manley on the all-time sack leaderboard with 92 sacks. When asked about his feelings about standing atop the all-time Washington leaderboard on sacks, Kerrigan had glowing remarks in his interview with "106.7: The Fan." He stated, "I did not know what to expect when I was drafted here in 2011. I wanted to come in and be a contributor, and now to be at the top of the sack list of the franchise's history… to think about guys that have come through here, like Dexter, it's pretty cool." Numerous other members of the defensive line made their presence felt as well, such as Montez Sweat, Matt Ioannidis, Daron Payne and Jonathan Allen.
Regardless of what the predictions are for the team for the rest of the season, it is important that fans appreciate what the team did in week one. Behind their new coaching staff, newly schemed offense and defense and a second-year quarterback at the helm of the team, Washington was able to do something that they had not been able to do for the last couple of years: beat the Philadelphia Eagles. Rivera has kept one goal in mind throughout his brief tenure in Washington and he vows to keep it that way. His goal is to establish a culture. According to Les Carpenter of "The Washington Post," "So much of this year for Rivera is about creating a culture upon which the team can build into a winner."
Whether or not the team is able to have a winning season, the fans must sit back and appreciate the leadership of head coach Ron Rivera. He is building the team into a contender that will be built to win for years to come.