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ATP Miami Open Draw Analysis
By Mike McIntyre
Inspired by watching a fantastic week and a half of tennis in Indian Wells, I return to write my first tennis article since the U.S. Open in August. While my passion for tennis is as strong as ever, finding time to properly devote to the sport has been a challenge since becoming a Dad a year and a half ago. It is a challenge that I happily relinquish my writing skills to with every opportunity I have to spend with my wonderful son Emmett. That being said I think I am finally ready (and able) to spend the occasional late night returning to focus on the developments on the ATP World Tour that I have so enjoyed covering for the past eight years.
Here then is my take on the upcoming Miami Open, the final hard court tournament until after Wimbledon in roughly four months.
Well if anyone can complete the Indian Wells/Miami double then who better than world number on Novak Djokovic. Not only did he accomplish that feat last year, but he is also fresh off his 50th career ATP title (one more than his coach Boris Becker) and his 21st Masters 1000 event. Djokovic is certainly the man to beat so far in 2015. He has two tournament victories in the four events he has appeared in and those just happen to be the two biggest draws we have had so far this year (Aussie Open and BNP Paribas Open). Novak will open against either Paolo Lorenzi or Martin Klizan after receiving an opening round bye. Smooth sailing appears to be in his forecast until the quarter-finals where he could meet 7th seeded David Ferrer or perhaps the big serving Ivo Karlovic, seeded 22nd, who beat him earlier this year in Qatar.
Other interesting names in the top quarter include Lleyton Hewitt who appears ready to call it a career after this season, the enigmatic and controversial Alexandr Dolgopolov (who claimed last week that female players have a harder time dealing with injuries than the men) and Gilles Simon who at times looks like he is indeed a top-20 player. Ferrer and Karlovic however seem to be the two most likely to advance to a quarter-final match against the Djoker.
This section of the draw has "fireworks" written all over it with the likes of Milos Raonic, John Isner, Kei Nishikori, Grigor Dimitrov and the returning Juan Martin Del Potro appearing. Nishikori should be able to navigate his way to the quater-finals here, though lookout for veteran Mikhail Youzhny who he could face in the second round. Youzhny has been a shell of his former self over the past year but I would never count him out. Anyone who hits himself in the head with a racquet is a foe I'd hate to face!
In the bottom section of this quarter is where the real fun is set to unfold. Dimitrov draws the worst of the lot by having to potentially face Del Potro in the second round, Isner in the third and then Raonic in the fourth. Ouch! Del Potro is a face that tennis fans worldwide will be happy to welcome back to the sport after only playing a single tournament (Sydney in January 2015) since February 2014 due to ongoing issues with his left wrist. Del Po will have a strong test from Canadian Vasek Pospisil in the opening round. The 24 year old Canuck is on a role lately after playing hero for Canada in closing out their Davis Cup tie against Japan in the 5th and deciding rubber and then winning the Indian Wells doubles title along with Jack Sock. Pospisil is currently ranked 60th in the world but one that many would consider a top 30 talent.
Based on his play of late, another Canadian - Milos Raonic - will have to be considered the favourite to advance in this section of the draw. Raonic has been so consistent over the past year, making 8 of his last 10 Masters 1000 quarter-finals or better. A hard serving battle against Isner in the third round would be fun to watch (if you like that kind of stuff) and a re-match from Davis Cup against Nishikori in the fourth round would also capture our attention.
A showdown between 3rd seeded Andy Murray and 6th seeded Stan Wawrinka is what fans will be looking for in the third quarter-final. Murray seems in-form after a semi-final showing in Indian Wells, while Wawrinka has been underachieving lately. A second round defeat last week at the hands of Robin Haase highlights the up and down nature of the Swiss No. two's game lately. He has cooled since he opened the year with two tournament victories and a 5 set semi-final loss to Djokovic at the Aussie Open. Which Wawrinka will we see in Miami this week? Anyway you look at it the stats will tell you that he has never before advanced beyond the 4th round at this event, but who do you see in his draw (Lopez, Sock) that could realistically take him down?
Rafael Nadal takes Roger Federer's place as the 2nd seed in this event as the Swiss superstar is sitting this one out for some family time. Nadal is admittedly not yet back to his usual self and with the clay court season about to begin I can't imagine he is overly concerned with how he performs in his final hard court event for the next few months. Tomas Berdych is in this section and would be his likely quarter-final opponent. A fantastic third round match could transpire between Frenchmen Gael Monfils and Jo-Wilfried Tsonga. Tsonga is making his first appearance in 2015 after being sidelined with an arm injury sustained in Davis Cup late last year. Too soon to get our hopes up with him, so I'd stick with a Berdych/Nadal quater-final in this section of the draw.
Enjoy this final hardcourt tourney before we switch to two months of red clay followed by a brief transition to grass court tennis. Djokovic appears the man to beat here as he is the defending champion and showed no signs of weakness in last week's tournament victory (minus three untimely double faults to Federer in the 2nd set breaker). I have to give Murray a shot here as well since he has won the event twice before and has a favorable draw to the semis. He might be better rested than Djokovic for this one in fact. Only time will tell.
Posted at 09:55 PM in Andy Murray, Ivo Karlovic, Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, Juan Martin Del Potro, Milos Raonic, Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal, Stan Wawrinka, Vasek Pospisil | Permalink
Tags: Andy Murray, ATP World Tour, Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, Masters 1000, Miami Masters, Miami Open, Mike McIntyre, Milos Raonic, Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal, Vasek Pospisil


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Inside Britney Spears' Conservatorship
Anthony Harvey/Getty Images
By Esme Mazzeo/Updated: June 24, 2021 10:49 am EST
In the late '90s and early '00s, Britney Spears was an undisputed queen of pop music who achieved icon status thanks to infectious, sweet teen beats, as well as unforgettable live performances. About a decade after her debut single, "...Baby One More Time," dropped, a new and complicated chapter of her legacy unfolded. In 2007 and 2008, Spears had several public mental breakdowns that led those around her to decide that she needed to be placed under a legal conservatorship for her own protection. According to the California court's Handbook for Conservators, the definition of a conservator is "an individual or organization chosen to protect and manage the personal care or finances—or both—of a person who has been found by a judge or a jury to be unable to manage his or her own affairs." The person receiving this protection is known as the conservatee.
Spears' case is a complex one. For one thing, the singer's net worth is $115 million, according to Celebrity Net Worth. Furthermore, she happens to be one of the most famous people on the planet. Fortune combined with celebrity can be a tricky thing to navigate as is (just ask anyone who has been profiled by Behind the Music), but throw a conservatorship in the mix? That's an entirely different beast.
Without further ado, let's unpack all of the details of Britney Spears' conservatorship that we can find.
If you or someone you know is struggling with mental health, please contact the Crisis Text Line by texting HOME to 741741, or call the National Alliance on Mental Illness Helpline at 1-800-950-NAMI (6264).
How Britney Spears' conservatorship began
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Britney Spears' divorce from her ex-husband, dancer Kevin Federline, with whom she shares two children, was finalized in July 2007. But the pressure she felt as a celebrity mom in a stressful relationship was showing itself as early as February 2006, when she was caught driving with infant son Sean Preston Federline in her lap. The following February, TMZ reported that Spears checked out of rehab after less than 24 hours. After she returned to California, she shaved her head. The frequent paparazzi target also attacked a photographer's vehicle with an umbrella. That same week, People reported Spears had checked into another rehab facility.
Spears lost full custody of sons Sean Preston and Jayden Federline in October 2007. The following January, she reportedly locked herself in her bathroom with Jayden during a visitation and refused to turn him over to the child monitor, who called police. LAPD told People at the time that Spears was allegedly "under the influence of an unknown substance." She was rushed to the hospital and placed under a 72-hour 5150 Hold, allowing "a person with a mental illness to be involuntarily detained for a 72-hour psychiatric hospitalization," per the Family Education Resource Center. The conservatorship officially began Feb. 1, 2008, immediately following a second hospitalization for Spears.
Speaking of this time in a 2017 Yediot Ahronot interview (via Cosmopolitan), Spears said, "I think I had to give myself more breaks through my career and take responsibility for my mental health."
Britney Spears' conservatorship was temporary at first
Toby Canham/Getty Images
Britney Spears' father, Jamie Spears, was ostensibly acting in her best interest when he sought and was granted a temporary conservatorship back in 2008. As the Los Angeles Times noted, this gave him control of his daughter's business, financial, and personal life. At the time, The Guardian offered up more details about what this entailed. According to the outlet, Jamie "has the power to bar people from visiting her in hospital, will have sole control over her medical records, and can cancel any contracts she may have signed."
There were concerns regarding who Britney brought into her inner circle then, such as her friend, Sam Lutfi, who claimed to be her manager at the time. (In 2019, Britney's reps told CNN that Lutfi was never her manager.) Britney and Lutfi reportedly first connected in 2007, and in the years that followed, there were a number of allegations and legal battles between him and her parents. In her book, Through the Storm, Lynne Spears called him Britney's "figurative gatekeeper," who "wanted to keep the gate closed to" her kin. Lutfi sued Britney's family for defamation, and according to TMZ, they settled in 2016.
In 2019, CNN reported that Britney and her entire family were granted a five-year restraining order against Lutfi.
Oops...Jamie Spears did it again and again
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Los Angeles courts made Britney Spears' conservatorship permanent by the end of 2008, with Jamie Spears serving as the conservator of her estate and well-being. Attorney Andrew Wallet was hired as a co-conservator to manage the pop star's financial assets, but he stepped down in March 2019. In documents obtained by The Blast, Wallet stated, "Substantial detriment, irreparable harm and immediate danger will result to the conservatee and her estate if the relief requested herein in not granted on an ex parte basis."
In May 2019, Britney's conservatorship had been going strong for a whopping 11 years, when Jamie filed to extend the legal agreement to three states beyond California. Per TMZ, he petitioned to have control of decisions his daughter makes in her home state of Louisiana, as well as in Florida and Hawaii, where Britney reportedly likes to vacation. According to the outlet, Jamie feared that people on the internet were "pulling the strings in the 'Free Britney' movement who might attempt to wrestle her away if she leaves California."
Just a few days prior to Jamie filing his request, Britney appeared in court alongside her mother, Lynne Spears, to request that a judge extend her more freedoms under her conservatorship, per ET. The site referenced court documents stating that the judge had an "expert" review the documents because they were "unbiased" and "independent." ET learned that the judge denied Britney's requests.
The business of Britney Spears
Ethan Miller/Getty Images
It's important to remember that Britney Spears was working throughout much of her conservatorship. It's also crucial to note that this legal arrangement costs Spears a lot of money. In 2019, ET obtained documents detailing the singer's 2018 expenses. Her biggest? Legal conservator fees, which totaled over $1.1 million, the site reported. Jamie Spears pocketed $128,000 of the fees, the same amount he received in 2017.
Britney's assets totaled over $59 million at the end of 2018, so it's not like her legal fees leave her destitute. However, this arrangement doesn't only impact her bank account. As she said in the 2008 MTV documentary, Britney: For The Record, "If I wasn't under the restraints that I'm under right now, you know, with all the lawyers and doctors and people analyzing me every day and all that kind of stuff ... if that wasn't there, I'd feel so liberated and feel like myself."
There are questions regarding how the conservatorship has impacted Britney's output, as well as what its termination would mean for her career. Under the conservatorship, the pop star has recorded four albums, starting with 2008's Circus. She's completed four live tours. And, of course, there was her Las Vegas residency, Britney: Piece Of Me. Sources from Caesars reportedly told journalist Taffy Brodesser-Akner for Matter "that the company had insisted on the conservatorship just in case, and that it must remain throughout her contract."
Fans launched the Free Britney movement
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According to The Washington Post, the phrase "Free Britney" first appeared online in 2009. A decade later, #FreeBritney hit fever pitch. In April 2019, Britney Spears' conservatorship received a great deal of media attention after the Britney's Gram podcast released an episode that presented some startling allegations. The podcast, which typically unpacks Spears' Instagram posts, shared an anonymous voicemail from a former paralegal who claimed he worked for an attorney connected to the conservatorship.
He claimed to podcast hosts Tess Barker and Barbara Gray that Jamie Spears allegedly made Britney cancel her second Las Vegas residency when she allegedly stopped taking medication. The tipster also alleged that Jamie forced Britney into a mental health facility in January 2019. The Britney's Gram hosts claimed to The Washington Post that they verified his identity; Britney's team couldn't identify him and told The Post they believed it was an impostor.
Britney's manager Larry Rudolph told The Washington Post, "The conservatorship is not a jail. It helps Britney make business decisions and manage her life in ways she can't do on her own right now." On the flip side, when her brother, Bryan Spears, was on the As NOT Seen On TV Podcast in July 2020, he said, "She's always wanted to get out of it ... Whether someone's coming in peace to help or they're coming in with an attitude, having someone constantly tell you to do something has got to be frustrating." Basically, it's complicated.
Jamie Spears steps down
Scott Dudelson/Getty Images
In September 2019, Jamie Spears temporarily stepped down as Britney Spears' conservator. He asked to "relinquish the powers of conservatorship ... due to personal health reasons," per documents obtained by TMZ. Jamie had emergency surgery in November 2018 when his colon "spontaneously ruptured," per People. In January 2019, Britney announced on Instagram that the Britney: Domination residency was canceled, citing Jamie's health as the reason for the decision.
Regarding her father's hospitalization, Britney wrote that she and her family are "all so grateful that he came out of it alive, but he still has a long road ahead of him." She added that she "had to make the difficult decision to put my full focus and energy on my family at this time." After Britney checked into a wellness center in April 2019, a source claimed to People that "her dad being sick has taken a toll on her."
Days before Jamie asked to temporarily relinquish his conservatorship role that September, there was a troubling report regarding Jamie and Britney's son, Sean Preston Federline. According to The Blast, Jamie and Sean allegedly got into an argument that escalated to a point where Jamie "broke down a door" and "violently shook" his grandson. As multiple outlets reported, criminal charges were dropped because, as the District Attorney's office said in a statement, "there is insufficient proof that a criminal offense was committed."
TMZ reported Jodi Montgomery, Britney's "personal care manager," took over as Britney's temporary conservator.
Celebrities support #FreeBritney
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Celebrities: They're rooting for Britney Spears just like us. Consider Jersey Shore star Nicole "Snooki" Polizzi, who simply posted a picture of herself on Instagram wearing a Britney Spears tour shirt with the caption, "#freebritney Love you Queen." Or Miley Cyrus, a Spears fan and collaborator who has shouted "Free Britney" at her concerts. Cyrus discussed the issue with iHeartRadio in August 2020, admitting she doesn't know the singer well. "I scream a lot of things at my show," Cyrus said. "I also think Britney, like anyone else, should have the freedom to live the life that's most authentic to her."
Modern Family actress Ariel Winter, who also has a unique legal situation with family, in that she was granted emancipation from her parents in 2015, supports #FreeBritney. About Spears' conservatorship, Winter said on her Instagram Story (via ET Canada), "What her 'father' and team is doing to her is absolutely disgusting and devastating."
Pop icon Cher is another one of Spears' more outspoken supporters. "Does anyone Who's Making $ Off Her Being Sick,Want Her Well?" the singer tweeted in August 2020, along with an article about Spears' sister, Jamie Lynn Spears, seeking some control of her assets. "Someone Who Doesn't Want Anything From Her Should Look Into Her Dr.& Her Meds," Cher concluded.
Britney Spears' mom and sister to the rescue....maybe
Dave Hogan/Getty Images
In July 2020, The Blast reported Lynne Spears filed a request with Los Angeles County Courts to "be included in all decisions made" about her daughter's SJB Revocable Trust. According to documents obtained by the site, Britney Spears filed the trust in 2004 to protect most of her fortune. It was also established to "hold and manage her material financial assets during her lifetime, and provide distribution of those assets upon her death," The Blast reported. The trust protects most everything Britney owns including "cash and cash equivalents," as well as "clothing, jewelry, vehicles, and accessories to vehicles, books, paintings" and other items.
Britney lost control of this trust when the conservatorship began in 2008, and her father, Jamie Spears, had control of it until he stepped down as Britney's conservator temporarily. Lynne had not previously played any part in the conservatorship.
Britney's sister, Jamie Lynn Spears, became a trustee of the SJB Revocable Trust in 2018, per the Los Angeles Times. A month after Lynne filed for input in decisions about the trust, Jamie Lynn filed paperwork and "asked that all the assets" of the aforementioned trust "be moved into one or more accounts with Fidelity Brokerage Services with her as the custodian," the Los Angeles Times reported. As the outlet pointed out, it's unclear as to how this fits into the conservatorship battle. At any rate, Spears family lawyers sure stayed busy in the summer of 2020.
Does Britney Spears actually need saving?
Kevin Winter/Getty Images
Since the conservatorship was enacted in 2008, #FreeBritney supporters have believed Britney Spears is being forced to go along with the arrangement. So, how does Spears feel about all of it?
One of the earliest examples of Spears referencing the conservatorship happened in MTV's 2008 documentary, Britney: For The Record. The pop star opened up about feeling like she was "under restraints" and noted that "lawyers and doctors and people" regularly checked in on her. She continued, "I'm kind of stuck in this place, and it's like, how do you deal, you know? And you just cope. And that's what I do, I just cope with it every day."
In April 2019, around the time of her father's health scare, she posted to Instagram asking fans to stop worrying about her so much. "I am trying to take a moment for myself, but everything that's happening is just making it harder for me," she said. "My situation is unique, but I promise I'm doing what's best at this moment. You may not know this about me, but I am strong, and stand up for what I want!" Spears also asked for "a little bit of privacy."
In court documents obtained by the Los Angeles Times in September 2020, her attorney called it a "voluntary conservatorship," adding that Spears "wishes to exercise her right to nominate a conservator of the estate."
The saga of Britney Spears' conservatorship continues
David Becker/Getty Images
In August 2020, Britney Spears' conservatorship was extended to February 2021, at which point a closed hearing would take place to review it, Variety reported per court documents. Britney isn't happy with her father, Jamie Spears, as conservator, and she filed to have him removed from the position and be permanently replaced by the temporary conservator who was hired after Jamie fell ill in late 2018. A judge denied that request in November 2020, despite Britney's lawyer stating (via AP News) that "she is afraid of her father," and alleging mismanagement of her business affairs.
Judge Brenda Penny did approve adding a corporate fiduciary, the Bessemer Trust, to act as co-conservator where issues of Britney's estate are considered, AP News reported. Court documents state that Britney is worried that her father won't work with Bessemer Trust and wants "to retain full functional control of her assets, books and records in the face of Britney's objections." Britney has also made legal moves to keep her conservatorship hearings unsealed.
"At this point in her life when she is trying to regain some measure of personal autonomy, Britney welcomes and appreciates the informed support of her many fans," said a statement from Britney's attorney, per Variety. "Britney herself is vehemently opposed to this effort by her father to keep her legal struggle hidden away in the closet as a family secret."
Will Britney Spears ever reign over pop music again?
Britney Spears hasn't performed live since 2018 and only she knows if she ever wants to grace a concert stage again. That said, someone in her inner circle has a strong opinion on the matter. Her longtime manager, Larry Rudolph, told TMZ in May 2019 that if she is done working, then he has "no desire or ability to make her work again." He continued, "I am only here for her when she wants to work. And, if she ever does want to work again, I'm here to tell her if it's a good idea or a bad idea."
In another statement to Billboard, Rudolph clarified that he did not actually say Spears would never work again. Rather, he was just pointing out that the Las Vegas residency was not happening and that he hadn't heard from her. "She hasn't called me in months to talk about doing anything so I'm not sure if or when she will ever want to work again," he explained. "It's that simple." According to court documents obtained by TMZ in September 2020, Spears says she is "done performing, at least for now."
In August 2020, ET reported Spears' lawyers filed documents that referred to "major changes in her current lifestyle and her stated wishes." Could those "major changes" include hanging up her pop star hat for good? That remains yet to be seen. But hey, if Spears is happy, we're happy.
Framing Britney Spears and the extension of Britney's conservatorship
In mid-December 2020, ET reported that a judge extended Britney Spears' conservatorship until September 2021. Less than two months later, on February 5, 2020, Hulu premiered an episode of "The New York Times Presents," titled "Framing Britney Spears." The program does not reveal any new details of Spears' conservatorship battle, but it did bring the conversation into the spotlight once again, explaining the details of the case to a wider audience, and further fanning the flames of the so-called "Free Britney" movement.
On the same day of the premiere, ET obtained official court documents filed by Britney's lawyer, Samuel D. Ingham III, which stated that "it would be highly detrimental to Britney's interest" for her father, Jamie Spears, to acquire additional power over his daughter's estate. The outlet surmised that Ingham filed the documents in response to Jamie's attempts to make sure that Britney's co-conservator, Bessemer Trust, would never be able to "become the sole conservator of his daughter's estate," as she previously requested. Britney and her legal team wanted that option to remain open.
Britney Spears and her boyfriend Sam Asghari appear to respond to Framing Britney Spears
J. Merritt/Getty Images
Just days after the "Framing Britney Spears" episode of "The New York Times Presents" premiered on Hulu, on February 9, 2021, Britney Spears' boyfriend, Sam Asghari, appeared to respond to the public's renewed interest in her case — and he didn't hold back, expressing his blunt feelings about Britney's father, Jamie Spears, in an Instagram story (via Buzzfeed). "Now it's important for people to understand that I have zero respect for someone trying to control our relationship and constantly throwing obstacles our way," he wrote, adding, "In my opinion, Jamie is a total d**k. I won't be going into details because I've always respected our privacy but at the same time, I didn't come to this country [from Iran] to not be able to express my opinion and freedom."
On March 30, 2021, Britney wrote a now-deleted Instagram post, appearing to express her opinion on "Framing Britney Spears" and other pop culture takes on her life. "It takes a lot of strength to TRUST the universe with your real vulnerability cause I've always been so judged...insulted...and embarrassed by the media...and I still am till this day!!!!" the post read, per Buzzfeed. "I didn't watch the [whole] documentary but from what I did see of it, I was embarrassed by the light they put me in... I cried for two weeks and well....I still cry sometimes !!!!"
Britney Spears' team makes surprising legal moves
Scott Gries/Getty Images
In the months following the premiere of the "The New York Times Presents" episode "Framing Britney Spears," Britney Spears' lawyer, Samuel D. Ingham III, made some surprising requests in court. According to legal documents obtained by Variety, Ingham requested on March 23, 2021 that Britney's father, Jamie Spears, permanently resign from his role as "the current conservator of her person" but not her estate. The documents requested that Jodi Pais Montgomery, who, as previously mentioned, had taken over the role in 2019 when Jamie stepped away because of health issues, take his place. Additionally, the filing stated that "Toxic" singer "expressly reserves the right to petition for termination of this conservatorship."
About one month lather, in what was perhaps the most surprising move yet, Ingham requested that his client address the court herself to review "housekeeping issues" related to the conservatorship (via Billboard). "Conservatee asks the court for a status hearing so she can address the court directly," Ingham reportedly requested during a hearing, adding, "My client has asked that it be done on an expedited basis." Judge Brenda Penny granted the request and a June 23, 2021 date was set.
The New York Times' startling revelations about Britney Spears' secret conservatorship fight
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On June 22, 2021, the day before Britney Spears was expected to speak in court on her own behalf, The New York Times reported previously unknown information about her fight against the conservatorship. The newspaper reported that in a 2014 closed hearing, the pop star requested through her lawyer, Samuel D. Ingham III, that the court consider removing her father Jamie Spears from his role as her conservator. His alleged drinking problem was reportedly one of many reasons for the request.
In a 2016 report uncovered by The Times, a court investigator reportedly wrote that Britney "articulated she feels the conservatorship has become an oppressive and controlling tool against her." Britney also expressed worry that the conservatorship was allowing people around her to abuse her finances. The outlet also reported that in 2019, Britney told the court that the overseers over her conservatorship imposed "a stay at a mental health facility" on her and forced her into performances "against her will."
As of this writing, Jamie Spears is still co-conservator of Britney's estate and her personal choices, and according to the documents obtained by The Times, he did, at times, exude some much control over her personal choices that he dictated everything from her personal relationships to her home decor.
Britney speaks
The world got a taste of what was to come at Britney Spears' conservatorship hearing on June 23, 2021 when her boyfriend, Sam Asghari, appeared on his Instagram story prior to the hearing, wearing a shirt that said "Free Britney." Speaking to the court via the phone, Spears requested her 13-year conservatorship end — with no further evaluations. "I've lied and told the whole world, 'I'm OK and I'm happy.'" she said, per Variety, adding, "I am traumatized. ... I can't sleep. I'm so angry it's insane. And I'm depressed. I cry every day."
Spears also claimed that she did not feel "heard on any level" during her last court appearance, and said she wanted to "sue [her] family," whom she feels is complicit allowing the conservatorship to continue. She alleged that her father "loved the control" he had over her life, and even went so far as to say that he "and anyone involved in this conservatorship," including members of her management, "should be in jail." She took issue with the manner and frequency of her mandated therapy, and claimed that her conservators threatened to withhold everything from money to vacations if she didn't remain publicly silent about the conservatorship and comply with their orders.
Of the many bold claims made by the "Womanizer" singer, perhaps the most shocking was her allegation that her reproductive rights have been restricted. "I have a (IUD) inside of myself right now so I don't get pregnant," Spears claimed, adding, "I wanted to take the (IUD) out so I could start trying to have another baby. But this so-called team won't let me go to the doctor to take it out because they don't want me to have children — any more children."
"I just want my life back," Spears pleaded, concluding with: "I deserve to have a life. I've worked my whole life. ... I feel ganged up on and I feel bullied and I feel left out and alone. And I'm tired of feeling alone. I deserve to have the same rights as anybody does, by having a child, a family, any of those things, and more so."

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


While you're waiting for your fix of DMotR this week, check out Girl Genius. I discovered this when a friend sent me the first graphic novel, but the entire series is online. In a nutshell, it's a steampunk-victorian world where certain people are called "sparks" – blessed with an innate gift of genius for creating mechanical marvels. Just imagine: a world literally dominated by mad scientists. Some of the visuals are almost Miyazaki-esque in their imaginativeness. And some less so; the heroine tends to work in her underwear, though she really is a wholesome type, it's just accidental. On her part anyway.
You can get up to speed with the "GG 101" class andthen when finished, start reading the "Advanced Class". The 101 Cast List is also very useful as a side reference. New comics come out M-W-F so it's very satisfying. It's well worth your time.
Have you ever run across Kenji Tsuruta's Miss China (the central figure of his "Spirit of Wonder" manga). This is also set in a Victorian-like setting — and features mad inventors and the like. there have been some anime adaptations of bits and pieces of this — but all may be out of print.
Note: Tsuruta is one of Abe's acknowledged inspirations.
Can't say I've ever heard of it, to be honest. I still have a kind of cultural impasse when it comes to delving too deeply into japanese mediums. I enjoy (some) anime but I've just been unable to really grok manga of any sort. The best anime isnt so Japanese as much as it is thouhgt provoking; this is why Haibane Renmei and Kino's Journey were so satisfying, they were more abstract. My "experience with Steamboy":http://www.haibane.info/2006/12/20/steamboy/ was a massive disappointment, I wonder if the Japanese themselves have too much trouble really grokking Western culture too.
To tell the truth, I actively dislike (or am totally disinterested in) almost all anime and manga. Mostly what I've seen and like is closely tied to Japanese cinema (which I love). There is a lot of dross out there — but still because there is simply so much (and it is so varied), there are also plenty of (very scattered) treasures.
I think Japanese artists' familiarity with (and understanding of) Western culture needs to be assessed on a case-by-case basis. Some are quite canny — some are clueless. Given the clueless goofiness of American productions like "Last Samurai" and "Memoirs of a Geisha" — lack of US-Japanese cultural comprehension is clearly a two-way street.
One Victorian-setting anime/manga series you might like is "Victorian Romance Emma". Sort of an "Upstairs, Downstairs" story — but with a tighter focus on the young male and female leads. Sweet, intelligent, well-drawn. Only draw-back — still only fan translated materials (not sure if this has been licensed yet in the US — and whether commercial releases will ever actually show up here).


It was a sad day in many respects. Skipper Bob of the delivery crew flew home and early tomorrow Gary does the same. We are in that "between period" as we, the new crew, take over and re-sort everything and tidy up.


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Staff Picks: Our Favorite Anime of 2017
Alex Osborn
Welcome to the third and final entry in our Staff Picks series, in which we count down our favorite anime, manga, and video games of the past year. This time we're talking about anime, and what a year it's been for Japanese animation! 2017 saw the US release of a number of highly anticipated anime films, including the worldwide smash hit your name. (now slated for a Hollywood remake). On the business side, Netflix and Amazon leaned in hard on anime streaming rights, picking up multiple popular exclusives and frustrating the efforts of established players like Crunchyroll and FUNimation. The biggest results of those investments had to wait until 2018 to manifest, with Netflix releasing Devilman Crybaby to wide acclaim just as Amazon shut down their Anime Strike service. Despite the fracturing of the streaming market, fans found a lot to love, even within the typically maligned medium of 3-D animation. Anime is evolving fast thanks to a mix of technological advancements, the decline of the domestic home video market, and increased overseas attention, and 2017's unlikely success stories point to an exciting future for the medium.
And with that, enjoy the list of our favorite anime of 2017!
#3: Fate/Stay Night: Heaven's Feel Part 1
Fate/Stay Night: Heaven's Feel has carried the ignominy of being "unadaptable" for so long that I started to believe it. The route in the original visual novel is a long, meandering read. Half of it is spent in the kitchen cooking dinner; the other half of it is sweaty, relentless banging in the bedroom. Plot happens at the end but not after hours of Kinoko Nasu failing to get to the point.
FSN readers generally believe "Unlimited Blade Works" is the best route in the game and have aligned their issues with the writing in "Heaven's Feel" to place the blame on Sakura, a purple-haired childhood friend trope with a whisper-soft voice and little agency in the hot-blooded shonen manga battles of the Holy Grail War. Leave it to Ufotable to adapt the first part of the "Heaven's Feel" theatrical trilogy as a superpowered slasher film in which legendary heroes go down like hormonal teens at summer camp. It's a gorgeous, moody film that evokes the spirit of Garden of Sinners , another Ufotable joint that is somehow 10 years old now. The vision here is greater than simply adapting text-to-screen, it's all about making a good film, leaning into the strengths of the Fate franchise while respectfully cutting the fat from the source material. Hopefully the remaining films can match or surpass this excellent beginning.
#2: Kemono Friends
Take a second to forget about the Kadokawa drama and search for that moment in time when Kemono Friends took the world by storm. Crystallize it and hold it dear. Kemono Friends should not have, could not have existed in a world such as this. Media giants are poised to consume one another and stamp out all the good in the world. It has always been this way. Somehow, Kemono Friends was broadcast on TV Tokyo. By the last episode, hundreds of thousands of viewers were in an animalistic fervor for this show. Anime fans have never beheld a work as pure, joyous, and heartfelt as Kemono Friends . It came from nowhere, from nothing, and it became everything for us. It gave me the power to slug through my day-to-day as I followed it.
"I have to live. I have to watch Kemono Friends ."
Kaban-chan, Serval-chan, all the Friends we met on the way. With their help, I rediscovered some ephemeral, nameless thing in creative work. Something compels us to create. Sometimes it goes away, sometimes it comes back, sometimes it goes away again and it doesn't come back for months. Writing these blogs, writing in general takes time, effort, energy, and an iota of love for my own craft, just an iota to write it even with the shrill voice in my head telling me that no one reads these things and that it's not worth the effort.
Kemono Friends was a dead smartphone application before the anime adaptation became a cultural phenomenon. Technically, that means there are more people reading the Ani-Gamers blog, specifically my writing, than there are people in the whole world playing the Kemono Friends mobile game. I'll write my damn blog because of this truth.
#1: Kizumonogatari Part 3
What more do you want me to say?
" Kizumonogatari Part 1 is the experience of having all my hopes and dreams realized, and then surpassed."
" Part 2 loosens up and charges forward with a maniacal glee – washing the world in theatrical arterial sprays and small intestines uncoiling in mile-long arcs."
"These three films are a singular artistic effort, the like of which, realistically, won't be repeated for some time."
"This is the best possible Kizu animation we could have gotten, and we are all immensely blessed to have lived long enough to see it."
I might be wrong, but I think myself to be a reasonable person. Reasonably, I can be allowed one or two things to be irrationally passionate about. If you know me personally, if after all this time you have not seen the Kizumonogatari trilogy despite my having spent a lifetime online gushing about it, we can't be good friends. I'm drawing the line in the sand here. We can be friends, just not good friends. You cannot call yourself a good friend of mine if you haven't seen Kizumonogatari . Between us, there will be a distance, a permanent, unresolvable distance that cannot be bridged by any act of kindness or gesture of goodwill, except for watching Kizumonogatari . Having friends that aren't good friends is good, actually. People you only feel 6/10 happy to see is still a positive. It's a low-energy positive that doesn't require a lot of effort to maintain.
So I'm Definitely Not Mad about people being really into garbage media like 2-D idols and F2P shooters over Kizumonogatari and the Monogatari Series. Kizumonogatari is great, it's for me alone, and I will share it with no one.
#3: The Eccentric Family 2
You know what Two Car: Racing Sidecar fell short on? Mascots. The sheer show-don't-tell conversion of novel-based dialog to facial reactions and sets in the second installment of The Eccentric Family builds upon the competency in the first adaptation with an emboldened sense of maturity. (In reality, I just love boy-meets-girl stories.) These are characters that have become very dear to my heart, and seeing them grow (no matter how) is an honor. I feel somewhat uneasy naming a sequel as an "of the Year" pick, but the degree to which this season of this anime amps up the previous season's ambitions is as noticeable as it is enjoyable.
#2: Girls' Last Tour
Even in the season of a revived and re-envisioned Kino's Journey , Girls' Last Tour feels like the spiritual successor to the original Kino's . Light on the surface but ponderous beneath, Girls' Last Tour is charming and engrossing. It feels like a puzzle-platformer video game but develops worlds of wonder from the exploration of desolate areas of a post-apocalyptic world. The youths balance each other out via their unbalanced blends of optimism and pessimism, and this odd couple formula, mixed with the contrast of cute girls doing cute things against the setting, creates something truly special. The only flaws in the series are that it does not take place on the Isle of Man and that it only has enough protagonists for a single kneeler team.
#1: your name.
If Two Car: Racing Sidecar involved every pair of racers switching souls with one another and then again with the racers on other teams, it would only be a slightly lesser masterpiece compared to Makoto Shinkai's body-swapping epic your name. I love this movie on multiple levels. Any movie that necessitates a second watch is worth valuing above the average anime. Shinkai accomplished something truly spectacular in terms of storytelling: he made the world weep and laugh together during a theatrical release that crept across the globe against all odds (I mean, c'mon … it's anime) like a fulfilled Wyld Stallyns prophesy. But I'd be lying if I said this was his best work as a director. ( Garden of Words forever!) Even so, your name. is a tour de force in that it made a non-Ghibli anime, featuring multiple instances of adolescent boob fondling, palatable and beloved to a worldwide audience.
#3: Land of the Lustrous
I already wrote up the Land of the Lustrous manga for my manga Staff Picks, but it's doing double duty this year so here I go again! Studio Orange's anime adaptation retains most of the appeal of the original series, with atmospheric environments, surreal effects, and a meandering story that has a surprising amount to say despite not really coalescing into a single focused narrative. But the true achievement of the anime version of Lustrous is its CG animation, which blows away its contemporaries. Featuring translucent materials, copious simulation effects, dynamic virtual camera work, and expressive acting backed by both keyframe animation and motion capture, Lustrous is a new breed of CG anime that captures the appeal of traditional animation while taking full advantage of digital tools. The deft mixing of 2-D and 3-D animation in some scenes has been discussed at length and is indeed worth highlighting, but as a fan of CG animation who has been consistently disappointed by its use in anime, I want to believe that Land of the Lustrous represents the beginning of a CG renaissance, not just deference to the old ways of hand-drawn anime.
#2: Little Witch Academia
Little Witch Academia 's move to TV brings with it a few downsides: less ambitious animation and background art, simplified character designs, and a story stretched a tad too thin. But despite it all, the strong cast and unique brand of family-friendly magical adventure means it still maintains much of its original charm. Akko, the excitable and untalented young heroine, is just as stupid and lovable as ever (in fact, she might be even stupider this time around) as she joins Luna Nova Academy and works toward her dream of being a great witch. The series excels at episodic comedy vignettes, but it also tries out, with mixed results, a darker direction via both the backstory of Akko's role model, Shiny Chariot, and the introduction of a direct antagonist. There's also more time spent with her classmates, including two standout episodes focusing on her two sidekicks: a literal look inside the head of the morose and sarcastic Sucy and a visit to the family home of the timid bookworm Lotte. The world around them still has the whimsical design sensibility that made the originals so unique, with ornate architecture and mechanical design that showcases a magical world whose ancient origins collide with modern technology. And then there's the staff at Studio Trigger, who have clearly fallen in love with this series. They delight in bringing its characters, creatures, and machines to life on screen with springy animation recalling the glory days of their time at Gainax. Little Witch Academia 's TV series is sometimes inconsistent, but when the stars align it makes for absolutely delightful viewing.
#1: In This Corner of the World
A mini-phenomenon in Japan when it came out in 2016, In This Corner of the World chronicles the everyday struggles of a young married woman in the shipbuilding town of Kure, near Hiroshima, during World War II. Based on the original work by Hiroshima native and manga artist Fumiyo Kouno ( Town of Evening Calm, Country of Cherry Blossoms ) and directed by Sunao Katabuchi ( Mai Mai Miracle ), In This Corner is a film with genuine heart and an unprecedented sense of historical verisimilitude thanks to the absurdly detailed research the filmmakers undertook during pre-production. It's a WWII movie, so there's a heavy dose of tragedy, but also love, laughter, and beauty. What makes it the year's best anime is the way that these contradictory emotions inform and accentuate each other. The effect is a story that's layered and thought-provoking, surpassing even Ghibli's masterpiece Grave of the Fireflies . By mixing comedy and drama, In This Corner builds a richer view of the psychological and moral contradictions of war, and leaves its audience with a profound understanding of the sacrifices made by civilians under siege. The film is essential viewing, not just because it captures the reality of war in 1945, but because it can inform our understanding of war today.
2017 delivered a healthy assortment of both quality TV series and unforgettable feature-length films. I've already put together a video rundown of my top 5 anime series of the year, so I'm sticking strictly to movies for these picks.
#3: A Silent Voice
Tamako Market and K-On! director Naoko Yamada crafted an emotionally gripping and visually astounding coming-of-age film that will stick with me for a very long time. A Silent Voice addresses bullying, disability, and depression with a level of care and authenticity rarely seen in the medium. Shoya Ishida's transformation from an indifferent, thrill-seeking brat into a broken, lonely, and suicidal teenager is harrowing, and sets the stage for what is ultimately a cathartic tale of one's desperate journey to find genuine friendship and redemption.
The animation is expressive and fluid, the painterly backgrounds are stunning, and the character designs are diverse but maintain a visual coherency. While the inclusion of The Who's "My Generation" during film's opening didn't really work for me, Kensuke Ushio's restrained, yet deeply affecting score marries beautifully with the themes and overall tone of A Silent Voice .
I must say I'm glad I decided to dive into Yoshitoki Ōima's manga after having watched the movie, as the film's lack of development for the secondary characters would have been far more glaring had I already been familiar with the source material. Still, given the constraints of a 130-minute film, Yamada delivers an admirable adaptation that has me eager to see what she does next.
Grave of the Fireflies holds a special place in my heart as one of the finest World War II dramas of all time. I honestly never thought Studio Ghibli's animated masterpiece would ever be topped. Then I watched In This Corner of the World . Set in WWII Japan, director Sunao Katabuchi's astounding war drama provides an admirably accurate depiction of Hiroshima before and after the devastating effects of the atomic bomb.
Ani-Gamers editor-in-chief Evan Minto called the studio MAPPA production a "masterpiece war anime," and I couldn't agree more. He spoke with the film's producer, Masao Maruyama, about the incredible amount of work that went into recreating the experience of WWII, and their monumental effort really shows.
The carefully-researched production depicts life during WWII through the perspective of a young woman named Suzu, and expertly weaves moments of endearing comedy into what is ultimately a heart-wrenching drama. Despite the unnerving tragedies Suzu faces, her story is ultimately one of hope. In This Corner of the World delivers a conclusion that, for me, puts the film ahead of Grave of the Fireflies as the greatest animated WWII drama of all time. MAPPA created a breathtaking adaptation of Fumiyo Kōno's manga, with distinct and beautiful character designs by Hidenori Matsubara, and music by Kotringo that seamlessly shifts from solemn to uplifting, rounding out what is a near-flawless production.
I missed the opportunity to see your name. when it debuted at Anime Expo 2016, so I had to wait for its theatrical debut in the US the following year. In that time, the mounting critical praise and commercial success it received in Japan elevated my excitement to ridiculous heights. When I finally got my ticket for a matinee showing in April, I entered the cinema with near unattainable expectations, and somehow the film managed to not only meet those expectations, but exceed them, leaving me a satisfied, albeit blubbering mess by the time the credits rolled.
your name. is the culmination of director Makoto Shinkai's career up to this point, fully realizing the "lovers separated by distance" premise that's served as the focal point of nearly all of his prior works. In addition to being his most technically polished production, your name. integrates the best elements found in his prior works, yielding one of the most emotionally gripping romance anime I've ever seen.
I love how it takes the well-worn "body swapping" trope and subverts expectations, using it as a springboard to tell what is a deceptively-profound and thought-provoking love story that also has something to say about spirituality and the devastating effects of natural disasters. The leads are instantly endearing, the comedy is almost always on point, and the lovingly-crafted backgrounds, as expected from a Shinkai film, are a marvel to behold. The soundtrack, composed by Radwimps, is my favorite of the past few years, and on top of that, one of my favorite artists, Masayoshi Tanaka, did the character designs. your name. is basically the perfect blend of everything I love.
For more 2017 Staff Picks, check out our manga list and video game list!
In addition to contributing to Ani-Gamers, Alex writes news (and the occasional anime review) in a freelance capacity for IGN. You can follow him on Twitter and check out his video content on YouTube.
Girls' Last Tour
In This Corner of the World
The Eccentric Family
The Best Anime of the 2010s
Ani-Gamers Podcast #077 – It's Your Name! We're Swappin' Bodies!
Ani-Gamers Podcast #085 – Talking TRIGGER with Studio PR Tattun
Friday, Oct 13, 2017
Otakon 2014: Katabuchi blurs reality and fiction through teary eyes and tireless effort
Review: Kizumonogatari Part 3: Reiketsu-hen


As a continuation of the exhibition UNBUILDING WALLS at the 16th Architecture Biennale in Venice, the curators of the German Pavilion, the architects GRAFT and the politician Marianne Birthler, are initiating and awarding two UNBUILDING WALLS travel grants worth 3,000 euros each.
In addition to classical research and design projects, initiatives, media documentaries or other conceptual ideas dealing with the subject of UNBUILDING WALLS will also be supported.
Carried by the idea of sensitizing the next generation to walls, boundaries and their implications, the curators would like to deepen the topic as a field of research. Students can apply with architectural and artistic projects about built, physical or strategic interventions aimed at overcoming barriers. The aim of the work may be designs and investigations on physical interventions or on the social and political significance of walls and borders.


Brands: De Ruijter, Koninklijke De Ruijter B.V.
Sugar, fat-reduced cocoa, cocoa butter, emulsifier: lecithin (contains soy), fractioned milk fat (hard fraction), flavouring.
Product added on February 7, 2017 at 11:33:33 PM CET by openfood-ch-import.
Last edit of product page on January 29, 2019 at 12:56:00 PM CET by foodrepo.
Product page also edited by kiliweb, openfoodfacts-contributors, tacite, tacite-mass-editor, usda-ndb-import, yukafix.


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● they develop the ability to listen to and respond to stories.
Children enjoy hearing the same story over and over again. This helps with comprehension and vocabulary development. Each time children listen to a book read aloud, they understand more about the story.
Be sure to read the whiteboard outside the classroom to see what the class has been reading. Check the book out of the library and you and your child can read it together.
Books without words are fun! Let your child tell the story from what they see in the pictures. Ask open ended questions to enhance the conversation as you read.
Books that the classes have made are a great way to connect with your child's day at school. The children are so proud of these books and can't wait to share them with you.
Visit the library often and take advantage of all the wonderful books. Also, don't miss the many choices of books at our Banister Bookstore in the foyer of the school!
Why does your child come home from school many days with an empty bag?
"Process not Product". You have probably heard this phrase many times. In preschool this is a teacher's mantra and such a truth because young children enjoy the experience rather than the product of that experience.
Watch a young child painting at an easel; he enjoys moving the paint with his fingers, mixing the colors and the feel of the medium more than the actual picture he may be creating. If we want to support these innate experiences in children, we need to value the process of these moments and put less importance on the product and more emphasis on the discovery.
I counted, measured used my eyes, ears and head.
So please don't say "Did you only play today?
Why should you be happy when your child comes home from school with muddy clothes?
Immersing themselves in large puddles to gauge depth…are my boots REALLY high enough?
There is SO much happening outside every day on our playground! That's why your children's boots are filled with sand, their mittens are caked with mud, and their snow pants are soggy. As we spend time on our playground carrying out our philosophy of "learning by doing," the end result is usually happily messy!


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President Maithripala Sirisena condoles with Japanese earthquake victims
President Maithripala Sirisena, in a message to His Imperial Majesty Emperor Akihito, expressed his deepest condolences and sympathies to the victims of the earthquake that struck the Kumamoto Prefecture in Japan on the 14th and 16th of April 2016. The President, further in his message, expressed confidence that the resilient people of Japan will overcome the calamity with their indomitable spirit and courage. The President also expressed the readiness of the government and people of Sri Lanka to stand by with the people of Japan, in a spirit of friendship and solidarity at their time of difficulty.
It is reported that 37 people have died in the series of earthquake that struck the Kumamoto Prefecture in Japan while 2000 people are reported to have been injured and over 73000 people have been evacuated from their home.
The Sri Lanka Embassy in Japan, citing Japanese government sources, has informed that no fatalities or injuries of Sri Lankans have been reported so far.
Ministry of Foreign Affairs,
Colombo.


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911 dispatcher talks caller from jumping off bridge (NC)
by AllThingsECC.com | Jan 18, 2023 | Comm Center News
ASHEBORO — A 911 telecommunication was honored for talking a 13-year-old teenage from jumping off a bridge.
On Dec. 29, 2022, a 13-year-old female of Asheboro called 911. The juvenile was experiencing an emotional crisis and threatening to jump off of a bridge near her home.


If you're excited to get your kids on skis, hold on. It's not as easy as bundling them up and sending them down a sledding hill.
Other avid skiers agree. "Do anything to make it a good day," advises Patrick Fitz-Gerald, who skis with his six-year-old daughter Larkin.
"The first couple days are make-it or break-it days and are key to creating lifelong learners," says Barry Hanson, general manager of Keystone's Children's Ski & Ride School, Special Programs.
So, how do you make those first times on the slopes positive? Here are tips from parents and instructors on how to inspire a love for the slopes.
Most ski schools begin at age three with ski/play programs. But Rob Nevitt, a parent and veteran kids instructor at Eldora, thinks age six is when they've attained the mental and physical maturity needed for learning. By then, their muscles and balance are developed, they've been through kindergarten, have less separation anxiety, and do well in class situations.
Just like adults, kids must have a good boot fit and proper size skis to do well. Ski school packages usually include rentals. Many in-town ski shops offer seasonal rentals, or allow you to buy skis new or used, then trade for larger size anytime during or after the season. Beginners don't need poles; they just get in the way. "Poles are useful when they start to do well on blue slopes," says Nevitt. "It's the instructor's call." Kids think helmets are cool, so customize them with paint, stickers, or fun head pieces. Goggles, not sunglasses, should fit snugly on the helmet. If you're worried about your kids' skis separating while they ski, Edgie Wedgie is a helpful device that clips on ski tips to keep them close together.
Dress them in layers: base layer, fleece or sweater, waterproof jacket and pants, thin ski socks, and mittens (easier to get on and warmer than gloves) clipped to their sleeves. "Neck gaiters keep their necks warm even if they unzip their jackets, and they will because they get hot from falling and getting up a lot," says Fitz-Gerald. He also stuffs a business card with his cell phone number in his daughter's pocket.
Make a list, check equipment, and lay everything out the night before. Dress kids fully in the lodge. Fitz-Gerald has a foolproof command when helping to dress his daughter: "Point and Push." Legs into pants. Toes into boots. Hands into sleeves. Fingers into mittens. Done. "Dress them before dressing yourself 'cuz it gets hot working on it," he adds. He "gets one layer out of the way" by having Larkin sleep in long underwear. Pack a backpack with all the gear, extra gloves and socks, water, and snacks, and have them wear snow boots to walk from car to base. Don't let them walk on wet floors in socks; wet socks in ski boots keep feet cold all day.
Avoid bad weather days for the first time, if possible "Everything they know about skiing is that first impression," says Nevitt. "Wind is a deal breaker," says Fitz-Gerald. "It makes everything miserable." But lessons don't cancel due to weather. It is, after all, a snow sport. "When it snows, we play different games like being in a snow globe and catching snowflakes with our tongues," says Brigid Kenny, a coordinator at Beaver Creek Children's Ski & Snowboard School.
A pre-winter visit to Snobahn, the indoor ski teaching treadmill at Southglenn, can help kids find their ski legs without intimidating obstacles of weather, crowds, and unfamiliar slopes. At Camp Keystone, Hanson developed Mountain Maze, an indoor interactive first experience kids can try with ski boots on.
Nevitt recommends the book Ski Tips for Kids: Fun Instructional Techniques with Cartoons ($15, Falcon Guides) that breaks down the basics of teaching never-evers for parents and kids to read together.
Denver native Claudia Carbone is an award-winning journalist covering food and travel for magazines and websites.


Zombie Prep Kit | Are You Prepared?
It's the end of the world and you are now involved in an epic battle against a hoard of zombies!
Evading zombies will be a crucial part of surviving the zombie apocalypse. Make a Zombie Distractor (Indoor Version, aka DJ Roomba!) and use it to confuse the zombies so you can escape!


Once these were out of the oven and piping hot, we lined up the most ridiculous row of jams, jellies, and honey you've ever seen. We prefer these with honey drizzled over top (which was especially good since Ginny brought us honey from Prague!) or topped with Macallan Orange Marmalade (yes, that jelly has scotch in it – I don't know, ask Gardner).
Maybe you've seen this post a little too late to make these today…but try them tomorrow, maybe. How will you eat them? What will you put on top/inside?? Let us know!
If only everyone could have honey from Prague!


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PPO Home > WSU Sudden Oak Death Program > Sudden Oak Death Research > Pacific Northwest broadleaf hosts
Pacific Northwest broadleaf hosts
One of the major factors that will affect the potential spread of Phytophthora ramorum in western Washington forests is the ability of this exotic pathogen to sporulate on known and potential hosts within these forests. In California, the ability of P. ramorum to produce large quantities of inoculum on California bay laurel is a major factor in the epidemiology of sudden oak death in their forest ecosystems. Tanoak appears to be the most important epidemiological host associated with the spread of P. ramorum in southwestern Oregon forests. In the United Kingdom, sporulation on rhododendron within forests appears to be responsible for the spread of this pathogen to several forest trees.
Western Washington is considered to be at high-risk for the spread of P. ramorum. Limited information is available regarding the sporulation of P. ramorum on hosts in western Washington forests. Research is underway to determine the potential for P. ramorum to sporulate on known and potential hosts that commonly occur in western Washington forests. This information will increase our understanding of potentially important epidemiological hosts and provide insights on the role they may play in the spread of P. ramorum in forest ecosystems where other important epidemiological hosts, such as California bay laurel and tanoak do not occur.
Studies with known conifer hosts, such as Douglas-fir, indicate that infection occurs during the early stages of shoot emergence. Thus, sporulation on hosts such as madrone and big leaf maple which potentially have foliage within the mid to upper canopy of the forest probably pose the greatest threat to spreading the disease to established conifers. Although one small preliminary study suggests that P. ramorum does not produce sporangia on infected Douglas-fir and grand fir shoots, additional tests are needed to confirm this and determine the potential for it to sporulate on other conifer foliage within Washington's forests. Although potentially less important as a source of inoculum for standing trees, sporulation on understory shrubs, like Pacific rhododendron and salal, may be important sources of inoculum that may contaminate logs during harvest.
A laboratory study using detached leaves of some common broadleaf hosts found in the PNW was undertaken in summer of 2009 and 2010. Leaves were inoculated with a zoospore suspension of an NA1 isolate of P. ramorum and lesion area and infection frequency was evaluated. If P. ramorum was recovered from a leaf that did not show a visible lesion, it was considered to be infected asymptomatically. Sporulation potential of foliage of each plant species was also determined.
In general, the results of this study indicate that western Washington forests are not at high risk for damage caused by P. ramorum, based on the host plants tested. However, this is a subset of the many plant species that occur, and there may be a host species that is either extremely susceptible to infection or a prolific sporulator, that was not tested in this study. Plants posing the smallest risk of P. ramorum establishment were generally invasives and/or riparian species. The highest risk plants were commonly found in forested environments. These were fairly susceptible to infection and produced more chlamydospores than sporangia in their foliage.
Chlamydospore production was higher than sporangia production on many hosts in western Washington forests that were examined in this study. In other systems, such as bay laurel (Umbellularia californica) in California, and Rhododendron ponticum in the UK, P. ramorum outbreaks are driven by high concentrations of sporangia produced on foliage of these hosts. None of the Washington hosts tested produced as many sporangia as U. californica. Chlamydospores are a means by which P. ramorum can persist on a site in soil and decaying foliage, but will probably not produce large amounts of inoculum unless they germinate directly into sporangia, which can occur in flooded soils.
Phytophthora ramorum isolated from California bay laurel inflorescences and mistletoe: possible implications relating to disease spread 174 KB
Gary A. Chastagner, Kathy Riley, and Norm Dart
Contact: Gary Chastagner, 253-445-4528 | WSU Puyallup Research & Extension Center, 2606 West Pioneer, Puyallup, WA, 98371-4998 USA


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Thank you for the visit. Today's video is 「Very Easy!! How To Drawing 3D Floating Letter "F" - Anamorphic Illusion - 3D Trick Art on paper」 In response to many request, I challenged it. ※I am sorry. I'm not so good at English, so my english sentence might be wrong. Please forgive me because I am studying English more.
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Welcome to 「PIN KORO - YouTube」♪ Thank you for the visit. Today's video is 「Very Easy ! How to draw turn word NOBITA(Nobita Nobi -Doraemon)step by step into a Cartoon - Learning Cute transformation doodle trick art on paper for preschool kids & beginners - turning words into pictures」 Let's learn how to drawing Kawaii doodle with me. In response to many request, I challenged it.
Welcome to 「PIN KORO - YouTube」♪ Thank you for the visit. Today's video is 「Very Easy ! How to turn Numbers 1-5 into the cartoon "Cute Kitchen Items" step by step - art game on paper for kids」 A Numbers Transform game video in doodle style. Step by step - Easy to create and draw together with your kids.
Welcome to 「PIN KORO - YouTube」♪ Thank you for the visit. Today's video is 「Very Easy!! How To Drawing 3D Floating Letter "H" - Anamorphic Illusion - 3D Trick Art on paper」 ※I am sorry. I'm not so good at English, so my english sentence might be wrong. Please forgive me because I am studying English more.
Welcome to 「PIN KORO - YouTube」♪ Thank you for the visit. Today's video is 「Very Easy ! How to draw turn word PANDA step by step into a Cartoon - Learning Cute transformation doodle trick art on paper for preschool kids & beginners」 In response to many request, I challenged it. Let's learn how to drawing Kawaii doodle with me.
Welcome to 「PIN KORO - YouTube」♪ Thank you for the visit. Today's video is 「Very Easy ! How to draw turn word Rarity(My Little Pony)step by step into a Cartoon - Learning Cute transformation doodle trick art on paper for preschool kids & beginners - turning words into pictures」 Let's learn how to drawing Kawaii doodle with me. In response to many request, I challenged it.
Welcome to 「PIN KORO - YouTube」♪ Thank you for the visit. Today's video is 「Very Easy ! How to draw turn word ANGEL step by step into a Cartoon - Learning Cute transformation doodle trick art on paper for preschool kids & beginners」 Let's learn how to drawing Kawaii doodle with me. In response to many request, I challenged it.
Welcome to 「PIN KORO - YouTube」♪ Thank you for the visit. Today's video is 「Very Easy ! How to draw turn word "Selfie" step by step into a Cartoon - Learning Cute transformation doodle trick art on paper for preschool kids & beginners - turning words into pictures」 Let's learn how to drawing Kawaii doodle with me. In response to many request, I challenged it.
Welcome to 「PIN KORO - YouTube」♪ Thank you for the visit. Today's video is 「Very Easy!! How To Drawing "2 colours arrows" Trick Art on Paper for kids - Optical Illusion doodling step by step for Kids - Easy and Cute Trick Art on paper」 Let's learn drawing doodle with me.
Welcome to 「PIN KORO - YouTube」♪ Thank you for the visit. Today's video is 「Very Easy ! How to draw turn word BOOK step by step into a Cartoon - Learning Cute transformation doodle trick art on paper for preschool kids & beginners」 Let's learn how to drawing Kawaii doodle with me. In response to many request, I challenged it.
Welcome to 「PIN KORO - YouTube」♪ Thank you for the visit. Today's video is 「Very Easy ! How to draw turn word Anais(Anais Watterson)"The Amazing World of Gumball" step by step into a Cartoon - Learning Cute transformation doodle trick art on paper for preschool kids & beginners」 Let's learn how to drawing Kawaii doodle with me. In response to many request, I challenged it.
Welcome to 「PIN KORO - YouTube」♪ Thank you for the visit. Today's video is 「Very Easy ! How to draw turn word RAIN step by step into a Cartoon - Learning Cute transformation doodle trick art on paper for preschool kids & beginners - turning words into pictures」 Let's learn how to drawing Kawaii doodle with me. In response to many request, I challenged it.
Welcome to 「PIN KORO - YouTube」♪ Thank you for the visit. Today's video is 「Very Easy ! How to draw turn word FOX step by step into a Cartoon - Learning Cute transformation doodle trick art on paper for preschool kids & beginners - turning words into pictures」 Let's learn how to drawing Kawaii doodle with me. In response to many request, I challenged it.
Welcome to 「PIN KORO - YouTube」♪ Thank you for the visit. Today's video is 「Very Easy!! How To Drawing 3D Floating Letter "A" #2 - Anamorphic Illusion - 3D Trick Art on paper」 ※I am sorry. I'm not so good at English, so my english sentence might be wrong. Please forgive me because I am studying English more.
Welcome to 「PIN KORO - YouTube」♪ Thank you for the visit. Today's video is 「Very Easy!! how to draw step by step 3D Floating Annoying Dog(Undertale)- Anamorphic Illusion - how to draw for beginners step by step 3D Trick Art on paper」 Today, In response to many request, I challenged "Draw a picture related to UNDERTALE". ※I am sorry. I'm not so good at English, so my english sentence might be wrong. Please forgive me because I am studying English more.