"Arms race" might seem like too dire a phrase for what's essentially an egg-dying contest. But for the two bird species hurrying to outwit each other, it really is a matter of survival. The stakes in this colorful competition are so high, in fact, that they drive evolution at a pace that's rarely seen.
The two birds in question reside in Zambia. One is the tawny-flanked prinia, a petite warbler. The other is the cuckoo finch, a species that's not a cuckoo at all but shares a habit with that family of birds. Some cuckoos are known for sneaking their own eggs into other birds' nests for their unwitting adoption, a tactic called brood parasitism. The cuckoo finch is a brood parasite too. Its target: the prinia.
How difficult it is for an interloping bird to drop off its egg for permanent babysitting depends on its host. Some brood parasites leave giant, obviously mismatched eggs in other birds' nests. Their only precaution is to toss one of the host bird's eggs away in exchange. The hosts, perhaps not bright enough to notice the difference, tend the egg and eventually feed the oversized baby bird alongside (or instead of) their own.
Cuckoo finches, in turn, lay eggs in a variety of colors and patterns similar to the prinia's. They have to spread these eggs around and rely on the odds that at least some of them will match their borrowed nests. This is the only way for their offspring to survive.
Claire N. Spottiswoode and Martin Stevens at the University of Cambridge asked whether competition between the tawny-flanked prinia and its parasite has created an evolutionary arms race. In each generation, prinias with unusual-looking eggs should be better able to avoid brood parasitism. And only cuckoo finches that can make new eggs to match will reproduce.
The researchers gathered eggs from both species in the wild. They also studied preserved eggs from a museum, which had been collected 20 to 30 years earlier. Using spectrophotometry and computer modeling, they analyzed how egg colors and patterns had changed over the decades--not just to human eyes, but as a bird would see them.
Cuckoo finch eggs from the past are a better color match to prinia eggs from the past, and cuckoo finch eggs from the present day match modern prinia eggs. This tells us the color shift over the past few decades was almost certainly not random. Instead, the two species are evolving in response to each other at an amazingly brisk pace.
The color shift hasn't just been in one direction, though. Both host and parasite eggs have become significantly more varied over the past 30 or so years, as if each species expanded the Crayola box it was working with.
But there's no way the birds could have kept up this expansion over thousands or millions of years of evolutionary history. They would quickly run out of colors. The authors speculate that instead, the two species are locked in an unending cycle.
First the color palette expands, as is happening today. Host birds with bigger Crayola boxes have an advantage at escaping parasites, and parasites develop more egg colors to keep up. But once colors get sufficiently wild, host birds that lay average-colored eggs have more of an advantage. When all the parasitic birds are laying eggs at the edges of the color spectrum, they can't match host eggs that are in the center of that spectrum. As the cuckoo finch catches up and starts laying boring-colored eggs of its own, extreme colors once again become beneficial for the prinia, and the cycle starts over.
In another few decades, maybe the prinia and cuckoo finch will be narrowing their palettes again. Forget fossil records: A cold war between host and parasite can drive evolution that's fast enough for us to watch in real time.
Images: Egg rainbow, Spottiswoode and Stevens. Brood parasitism by a cuckoo, Per Harald Olsen/Wikimedia Commons.


Betty is a smart, savvy comic character who is unapologetically ordinary, happy and female. Betty is a truly modern woman - a wife, mother and working woman.
A comic page heroine struggles with the four basic guilt groups: Food, Love, Mother and Career.
Heart's a little girl with a big imagination, and if the world isn't her oyster, it will be soon enough!
Created by Ernie Bushmiller in the 1930s, Nancy is famed for its gentle humor and surrealistic sight gags.
Rose is Rose presents the extraordinary nature of everyday life as seen through the eyes of the Gumbo family.
Jan Eliot's funny and irreverent Stone Soup follows the saga of an extended, blended family, starring two working-mom sisters living just across the fence from each other.


Yogyakarta Special Region (Daerah Istimewa Yogyakarta, DIY) is officially one of the 33 provinces in Indonesia. Yogyakarta is one of the leading cultural centers in Java. Often referred to as the main gateway to Central Java as where it is geographically located stretches from Mount Merapi to the Indian Ocean.
This province is one of the most densely populated areas of Indonesia. The city came into being in 1755, after the Mataram division into the Sultanates of Yogyakarta and Surakarta (Solo). Gamelan, classical and contemporary Javanese dances, wayang kulit (leather puppet), theater and other expressions of traditional art will keep the visitor spellbound. Local craftsmen excel in arts such batiks, silver and leather works. Next to the traditional, contemporary art has found fertile soil in Yogya's culture oriented society.


A broadband service such as DSL available through a local Internet service provider is suitable for what type of organization?
A large company with 2,000 employees, in multiple locations and in a multi-LAN environment.
Which device is a data terminal equipment?
The Internet is an example.
The network predetermines the route for each packet.
Which technology supports long distance SONET and SDH connections using fiber-optic media?
What WAN technology is designed to deliver data, voice, and video simultaneously built on a cell-based architecture?
ISDN PRI is composed of how many B channels in North America?
The ability to connect securely to a private network over a public network is provided by which WAN technology?
What term describes the cabling that connects the customer site to the nearest exchange of the WAN service provider?


text:
indiana state university (20)
student organizations (18)
indiana state teachers college (14)
famous hoosiers (13)
debs, eugene v. (eugene victor), 1855-1926 (11)
karsner, esther (11)
cooper, marguerite debs (7)
debs, theodore, 1864-1945 (5)
wright, alice (2)
hirschman, esther (1)
martin's photo shop, terre haute, indiana (1)
moore, esther (1)
spurlock, esther (1)
2010-08-26; (2)
image/tiff epson perfection v700 epson scan 3.83; 600 dpi 8-bit grayscale (5)
image/tif epson perfection v700 epson scan 3.83; 650 dpi 8-bit greyscale (5)
image/tiff 600 dpi 8-bit grayscale epson perfection v700 photo epson scan 3.83; (3)
image/tiff epson gt-20000 adobe photoshop elements 9; 300 dpi (2)
image/tiff epson perfection v700 epson scan 3.83; 1350; 8-bit grayscale (2)
8x10 black and white photograph 300 dpi (1)
image/tiff 300 dpi epson gt 20000; adobe photoshop elements 2.0; (1)
image/tiff 300 dpi epson gt-20000 epson scan (1)
All fields: Esther
Normal Advance 1913
Journalism; Indiana State Normal School; Indiana State University; Education; Literature; College yearbooks;
A monthly journal written and published by the students and faculty of Indiana State Normal School. The last issue of the school year was dedicated to the graduating seniors and printed in the style of an annual yearbook.
Karsner, Esther 1945-08-04
Receipts (Acknowledgements); Tables;
Photocopy of receipt for the shipping of Eugene V. Debs' table to Marguerite Cooper Debs.
Debs, Eugene V. (Eugene Victor), 1855-1926; Tables;
Photocopy of letter to Theodore Debs, 4/28/45. Tells Theodore Debs that she is glad that the table reached him. Says that she hated to part with it.
Debs, Eugene V. (Eugene Victor), 1855-1926; Debs, Theodore, 1864-1945; Death; Tables;
Photocopy of letter from Marguerite Debs Cooper, 5/8/45. Says that she received Karsner's letter. Writes that Theodore Debs passed away on 4/13/45. Tells Karsner that she will be more than happy to reimburse her for shipping the table.
Photocopy of letter from Marguerite Debs Cooper, 7/23/45. Says that she is writing to find out how much it was to ship the table to Terre Haute, Indiana. Writes that Theodore Debs would have wanted her to pay for the shipping.
Debs, Eugene V. (Eugene Victor), 1855-1926; Karsner, David, 1889-1941; Tables; Death; Debs, Theodore, 1864-1945; Condolence notes;
Photocopy of letter to Marguerite Debs Cooper, 7/30/45. Writes that if Marguerite Debs Cooper is ever in the New York City, New York area that she should come and visit her. Mentions that Eugene V. Debs once paid her and David Karsner a visit when...
Debs, Eugene V. (Eugene Victor), 1855-1926; Tables; Karsner, David, 1889-1941; Death;
Letter to Theodore Debs, 3/5/41. Tells Theodore Debs that there was much about him and Eugene V. Debs that made up the best of David Karsner. Writes that until his death David Karsner remained a poet. Says that there are a lot of materials about...
Debs, Eugene V. (Eugene Victor), 1855-1926; Tables; Terre Haute (Ind.);
Letter to Theodore Debs, 10/17/41. Says that he would like to donate Eugene V. Debs' prison table as well as a few other items to the Eugene V. Debs' memorial in Terre Haute, Indiana rather than give it to the Rand School. Asks that Theodore Debs'...
Celebrities; Legends; Folk Heroes; People associated with agriculture;
James K. Spurlock's transcribed interview of Esther Spurlock's account of how the Laurel Orchard was planted.
Eccentric brothers and sisters, Indianapolis, Indiana
Families; Eccentrics; Legends; People;
Michelle Smith's transcribed interview of Esther Moore about a pair of eccentric sisters. According to Moore, there were two sisters who lived together and one was very sick. After a while, only one sister was seen and she only used the back door....
Robberies; Criminals; Dillinger, John, 1903-1934;
Typescript of an oral history interview with Esther Turk about her knowledge of Dillinger robbing a bank.
Journalism; Indiana State Normal School; Education; Literature; College yearbooks;
A monthly journal written and published by the students and faculty of Indiana State Normal School. The last issue of the school year was dedicated to the graduating senios and printed in the style of an annual yearbook.
Historical Alumni Register
Indiana State Normal School; Indiana State Teachers College; Indiana State University; Alumni & alumnae; Teachers; College administrators; College presidents;
Indiana State alumni directory published in 1930.
Hirschman, Esther 1970-02-17
Postcards; Thank-you notes; Debs, Eugene V. (Eugene Victor), 1855-1926; Biography; Pamphlets; Books; Publications;
Postcard to Marguerite Debs Cooper, 2/17/70. Writes that she appreciated the pamphlet Marguerite Debs Cooper sent about Eugene V. Debs' life. Says that Eugene V. Debs led quite a "purposeful life." Mentions that she enjoyed an article on Eugene V....
Busts; Debs, Eugene V. (Eugene Victor), 1855-1926; Dykaar, Moses Wainer, 1884-1933; Portraits;
Letter to Marguerite Debs Cooper, 9/28/45. Writes that she received the check Marguerite Debs Cooper sent. Says that she would have replied sooner except for the fact that her mother has been ill. Tells Marguerite Debs Cooper that she has a...
Letter from Marguerite Debs Cooper, 1/23/46. Says that Karsner should send her portrait of Dykaar's bust of Eugene V. Debs to the Rand School. Tells Karsner that if ever she and Gertrude Debs are in New York City, New York they will definitely...
Letter from Theodore Debs, 10/24/41. Writes that he knows what she is going through. Says that he is still going through Eugene V. Debs' files and trying to decide what to do with his correspondence. Tells Karsner that he last saw David Karsner...
Debs, Eugene V. (Eugene Victor), 1855-1926; Tables; Karsner, David, 1889-1941; Death; Condolence notes;
Letter from Theodore Debs, 4/2/41. Tells Karsner that David Karsner "possessed those rare qualities that ennoble and dignify the race." Says that it was unfortunate that David Karsner's "bodily strength was not commensurate with his mental...
Prom. Committee for Syc. & Pub. R.
Student organizations; Indiana State University; Indiana State Teachers College;
Prom Committee members. Roy Hunter, Rita Brewer, Gene Burns, Bill Taylor. Second row-Raedeane McKnight, Virginia Allen, Lynn Gruenholz, Roseann Sausaman, Esther McCarty, Daphne George, Betty Sue Kemmerling. Third row-Bob James, Ronald Wambach,...

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


text:
It's Supposedly Satire, But It Has The Ring Of Truth:
October 2, 2019 by IWB
REVEALED: China hacked Pentagon to ensure only incompetent officers get promoted.
WASHINGTON — The United States has charged a senior officer in the Chinese People's Liberation Army with orchestrating decades of cyber attacks against US agencies intended to destroy the military talent management system from within.
"The Chinese basically built an algorithm to identify toxic leaders and hacked HR to put them on the fast track to becoming generals and admirals," said an intelligence official familiar with the Chinese efforts. "It could take us years to recover from this."
According to an FBI investigation, Sr. Col. Cha Buduo coordinated with the Chinese Ministry of State Security and a Chinese-based hacking group known as APT4 to attack U.S. Army Human Resources Command, the Air Force Personnel Center, and U.S. Navy and Marine Corps human resource activities. Their objectives included encouraging the most talented junior officers to resign, preventing the promotion of officers with advanced degrees, selecting toxic leaders for senior commands and promoting the most egotistical and venal officers to the flag rank. The Coast Guard does not appear to have been targeted.
"Actually, we're not even sure China knows the Coast Guard exists," the official said.
Chinese hackers also falsified equal opportunity and command climate complaints against hundreds of Tier One operators to disrupt U.S. special operations. Those focused attacks appear to have overwhelmingly targeted Navy SEALs.
"The Chinese know that the American armed forces' greatest strength is their leaders, like Patton, MacArthur, Petraeus and McChrystal," said another intelligence official, who has tracked Cha for years. "They realized they could turn our strength into a weakness by hacking the computer systems that control promotions. So, since at least 2002—and maybe longer—Chinese military hackers have altered the results of every single promotion and command selection board across the entire Department of Defense."
"They booted the best officers and pinned rank on the worst."
Others have pushed back on the FBI's conclusions, however.
h/t GR
Tags satire, supposedly, truth	Post navigation
DEMONRATS LYING AGAIN!
Deep State Update


Are you someone with an active, creative streak? Do you love fast-paced, exciting environments? Are you looking to contribute to making a real impact on many different communities and cultures around the world with the work that you're doing? If so, then we may have the opportunity for you.
This Senior HR Business Partner role will be working closely with the Global Head of HR and Workplace to help define and implement an HRBP function globally. From acting as strategic business partner driving the development of a strategy aligned with the organizational and people needs of their business to more hands-on establishment of the employee relations practices and employee relations investigations policy/guidelines creation. As the HRBP function takes shape this position will partner with the business, drive the execution of the people and culture strategy, create operational plans, and roadmap for the business unit. The HRBP will work in partnership with the Head of Global HR & Workplace, Sr. Director HR Operations and Total Rewards and the Talent Acquisition team as we build out the People function. We are looking for a highly collaborative, execution-focused individual who will dig deep into how to support the business at scale (leadership development, performance plans, success planning, analytics, individual coaching, etc). With our rapid growth, we are constantly looking for ways to develop and support our leaders so our employees have an engaging experience. This is not your typical Investigations role. You will be a steward of KeepTruckin's culture, leveraging insights from your work to identify trends and strategize solutions. As part of our People function, your goal is to empower an exceptional organization that drives KeepTruckin's success.
Help develop and build the KeepTruckin's people culture and strategy based on consultation with the People team, as well as the management team.


This week's picture round is a selection of ten TV comedians. Can you identify them?
The following are all TV pubs, having been the watering hole of a well-known TV programme. Can you identify which programmes the pubs are from?
1. Of which African country is Bamako the capital?
2. How many federal states (Bundesländer) form the country of Germany?
3. Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud is the king of which country?
4. Which is the most southerly city in the UK?
5. You would not find the 'Spanish Steps' in Spain – In which city would you find them?
6. The New Shekel is the currency of which country?
7. How many member states will exist in the European Union after the UK leaves?
8. Which is the longest river in Europe?
9. Which is the largest continent on Earth in terms of both land mass and population?
10. What is the name of the circle of latitude that lies approximately 23 degrees south of the equator?
The following quiz involves the common and scientific names of bones. We will give you the common name and you need to give us the correct scientific term for that bone.
1. The highest ever football transfer fee, as of the end of the transfer window in 2016, was $105 million (£89.3 million). For which player was this sum paid?
2. Which type of animal was the mascot for the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil?
3. What is the maximum amount time a golf player may take to look for a lost ball?
4. How many points in basketball is a successful 'free throw' worth?
5. How many points is a green ball worth in snooker?
6. How many players may one ice hockey team have on the ice at one time?
7. Which American former boxer, who competed between 1977 and 2006, was known as 'The Hitman'?
8. In which year was beach volleyball introduced as an official Olympic sport?
9. How many 'frames' are played in a game of ten-pin bowling?
10. How many players are there on a men's field lacrosse team?
Rap Quiz – The following are ten real names of rappers, but do you know their stage names?
8. Cordozar Calvin Broadus, Jr.
9. Trevor George Smith, Jr.
1. Two pairs of United States Presidents have been father and son – Can you give both surnames?
2. What was the name of the 2016 film sequel to 'Finding Nemo'?
3. Who was the first ever presenter of University Challenge?
4. What is the sum of the prime numbers between 30 and 50?
5. What was the first name of the German philosopher Nietzsche?
6. There are four 'Tate' museums – Where are they all?
7. What type of creature is a dugite?
8. Who wrote the thriller 'Apple Tree Yard', which was adapted into a four-part series by the BBC in 2016?
9. Who was the first narrator of the Channel Four show 'Gogglebox'?
10. In which year was Prince Harry born?


text:
namespace UniQode.Data.Migrations.AdminModel
{
    using System;
    using System.Data.Entity.Migrations;

    public partial class Initial : DbMigration
    {
        public override void Up()
        {
            CreateTable(
                "admin.Accounts",
                c => new
                    {
                        Id = c.Guid(nullable: false),
                        Name = c.String(nullable: false, maxLength: 100),
                        Email = c.String(nullable: false, maxLength: 100),
                        HashedPassword = c.String(nullable: false, maxLength: 200),
                    })
                .PrimaryKey(t => t.Id)
                .Index(t => t.Email, unique: true);

        }

        public override void Down()
        {
            DropIndex("admin.Accounts", new[] { "Email" });
            DropTable("admin.Accounts");
        }
    }
}

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


1. How far in advance do I need to order?
You may place your order as soon as you know the date for your event. For quality reasons, CakeFest Sugar Art only makes a limited number of custom cakes each week based on the complexity of designs requested. We recommend you place your order at least 3-4 weeks in advance. All orders are subject to availability and last minute requests (those placed less than 2 weeks in advance) may incur an additional rush fee. To check for availability, simply fill out our contact form or email your party date to cakes@cakefestshop.com.
For a no obligation design quote, just fill out our contact form or email us at cakes@cakefestshop.com. All quotes will be done by email, so please include your party date, number of cake servings, and a few design ideas you are considering. You may even up-load photos to help plan your custom cake design (the party invitation, photos of your bridal gown, cake pictures, etc.). Pricing is largely based on design, so let us know what styles you like, and then CakeFest Sugar Art will price out a few design options for you at different price points. This gives you the flexibility to pick and choose design elements based on your preferences and budget.
3. I'm planning my wedding. What are your bridal services?
On your wedding day, you will be given a separately packaged "tier-for-two" cake to either enjoy during your honeymoon, or to freeze for your first anniversary.
4. I saw a picture of a cake I like. Can you re-create something similar for me?
Our portfolio showcases a variety of styles done over several years of cake decorating experience. But we are interested in learning your preferences as we plan a special design just for you. So yes, show us what you like. Maybe it's the shape/lines of a cake, the use of sugar décor, or the contemporary pattern that catches your eye. Any of these elements could be used in endless design combinations.
5. How much do your cakes cost?
More detailed design elements will incur additional costs. These include gumpaste flowers, intricate piping, detailed painting, 3D sculpting, etc. These prices will be discussed during the design planning process. Prices are always subject to change. But once you lock in your date with your down payment, your design quote will be honored (assuming the design doesn't change).
6. How do I schedule a wedding cake tasting?
You will be sent a list of tasting appointment dates to pick a time that works with your schedule.
7. Is there a charge for wedding cake tastings?
Wedding cake tastings are complimentary for couples with an estimated guest count of 50 or more guests. For smaller weddings, a tasting consultation may be scheduled for a $50 fee.
Three flavors from the cake menu are included in the tasting. If you wish to sample more than three flavors, you may do so for just $15 per additional flavor.
8. How do I make the most from my tasting appointment?
Come with a few design ideas. Bring your invitation, color swatches, pictures…..anything that can be used for inspiration in planning your special design. If you are interested in adding a groom's cake, please bring your ideas for that as well. Tasting appointments generally last 45-60 minutes.
We respectfully ask you to limit your tasting party to no more than 4 people. This is to ensure that enough time is allowed to discuss your design preferences. CakeFest requests a courtesy 48 hours notice to cancel or change appointments. This is to ensure your tasting cakes are as fresh as possible.
9. Do you offer tastings for non-wedding cakes?
For all birthday and special event cakes, there is a $50 fee for a tasting consultation. This includes three flavors from the CakeFest menu. Additional flavors are $15 each. CakeFest Sugar Art will gladly answer any design questions you may have through email, so tastings are not essential for ordering your custom birthday or special event cake.
CakeFest Sugar Art's delivery service starts at $35 for Springfield, VA. Fees vary by distance, and delivery is subject to availability. Delivery to locations with restricted parking access or security checks (some DC restaurants, museums, boats, military bases, etc.) require extended delivery times and will be charged accordingly. Applicable tolls and/or parking garage fees will be included in the delivery service charge (based on location).
11. Can I pick-up my order?
Yes, you can schedule a time to pick up your cake from CakeFest Sugar Art in Springfield, VA. CakeFest Sugar Art is "By Appointment Only" because we often have deliveries and pick-ups scheduled on the same day. So pick-up times must be confirmed when placing your order. If you need to change your pick-up time, just call in advance to ensure someone will be here to assist you at the new time.
12. Do you ship cakes?
No, we do not ship cakes at this time.
13. When do I need to make a down payment?
A 35% non-refundable down payment is required. This will hold your date, therefore it is advised to make the deposit as soon as you choose CakeFest to ensure availability.
14. When is final payment due?
The balance of your order is due no later than two weeks before your event, or your order may be canceled. If your order changes from the time you made your down payment (i.e. your guest count changes dramatically, you choose to alter your design, etc.), your final invoice will be adjusted accordingly.
15. Do you make sugar-free, Vegan, or allergen-free products?
Almost all of CakeFest's cakes and cupcakes contain sugar, wheat flour, eggs, and various fresh dairy products. Nuts may be omitted from certain recipes upon request. CakeFest cannot, however, guarantee its products are 100% nut-free since ingredients used may have come into contact with nut products during processing.
16. What is fondant and what are its advantages?
Fondant is a thin sugar icing used for decorating cakes. All CakeFest Sugar Art cakes come with fondant included in the starting price. Our cakes are first iced with Italian meringue buttercream, and the fondant is applied as a thin outer layer. Fondant offers great versatility in design and it creates a satin smooth finish to your cake. If you choose a white cake, fondant will be a truer white than a buttercream finish. If you want to color your cake, fondant takes to colors much better than buttercream. Most importantly, your design options truly become limitless with fondant, since it can be creatively sculpted, texturized, and hand-painted, etc.
Think of fondant as your cake's edible packaging. It's main purpose is to protect your custom cake, and it offers endless design options. But fondant also very easy peels back from your cake (if any of your guests choose not to eat it).
17. Do you do outdoor receptions?
CakeFest Sugar Art will do cakes for outdoor receptions, but please be advised that our cakes are perishable and cannot set out in hot temperatures for extended periods of time. For these venues, we will need to know if you will have adequate refrigeration available onsite for the cake. Alternatively, a custom decorated display (fake) cake may be ordered with additional sheet cakes for your guests (assuming the sheet cakes could be kept indoors).. These options will be discussed during your consultation.


It's only 70 questions ALL multiple choice. No in-depth analysis here.
You can stop the test and resume it multiple times within 48 hours.
It's considered an open note exam.
Now I'm not saying that the exam is a cakewalk and just anyone with an Internet browser, a few open tabs and a false sense of confidence can pass. However, the fact is that if you spend a solid amount of time preparing, you should be all good to go. Looking back at my results, I want to write about a few things that I thought really helped me and what things I would have done differently.
First time watching: Pick up on the general concepts of each video. Don't get too caught up in the smaller details.
Second time watching: Now that you have an idea of how the data is organized, go back and watch again. Learn the smaller details with how everything interacts with each other. Could you tell me the difference between a filter and a segment?
Third time watching: Use this to drill into your brain the previous concepts one last time as well as air out any other subjects in which you were confused on.
Some people may need to watch more times and others may be completely fine after the first one but this strategy worked nicely for me. Watch it until you're pretty confident the subject matter.
The biggest place I went wrong when studying for my exam was to only look at the videos on the Analytics lessons. There's more to the test then that. I've heard people say that they assume Google would update these videos if they were going to ask questions that weren't on them. This assumption is wrong. You also need to go through some of the Help Articles to get an up to date education on all of the features that Analytics offers. Ignore these at your own peril.
After you've done ConversionU there's no better time than to go on Analytics and start practicing the things you've just learned, even if it's only for an hour or two. Go ahead and create a new profile and just start experimenting with things. After you watched the videos, you'll start to notice things that you didn't beforehand. Make sure you can implement obvious things such as creating goals, segments and filters. Also be sure you go the process of slicing your data in different ways. The more practice and familiarity you get with the program after you've watched the videos, the better off you'll be.
Like I said, I didn't personally use them because I thought they were a little overwhelming when I was first trying to learn everything, however they may be useful to some.
Once you've spent a solid amount of time doing all the exercises above and feel pretty comfortable with all the material, it's time to take the exam. Before you rush off to the test and start mindless answering questions, take a little time to queue up your resources. Here is what I had open for my test.
If you want more resources, check this great blog post that aggregates a bunch of very useful sources that you can use for the exam.
If you've done all this and done it well, I see no reason for you not to come out with a passing exam. I hope this article serves you well for giving you some guidance on what to expect when exam day comes. Once you pass the certification is valid for 18 months. For those of you who were planning to seize this opportunity to impress your friends or pick up girls at the bars: Sorry, Google offers no badge for passing.


Our solid wood flooring is made from carefully selected locally grown trees from sustainable woodlands in the Scottish Borders. We process the logs at our own workshop, producing small batches of bespoke solid wood flooring. The result is a high quality product with a distinctive character – grown in Scotland and made by craftsmen.
Below you can see some examples of our finished floors. For more information see our Solid Wood Flooring page.


In case you missed what states have amnesty programs going on currently, I thought I would send you a link to COST's (Council on State Taxation) quick summary.
Amnesty can be a great tool for states and taxpayers, but sometimes a voluntary disclosure agreement is a better option.
What is an Amnesty Program?
An amnesty program is generally a time period established by a state to allow taxpayers who are delinquent on their taxes to come forward, and pay those taxes without penalties being imposed. Usually interest is still imposed, but sometimes it may be waived as well. Each state amnesty program is different or unique; meaning, they each contain their own set of rules, guidelines and qualifications. Amnesty programs usually pertain to certain tax periods, specific tax types, and taxpayers who meet certain criteria. In other words, "look before you leap."
Taxpayers who are eligible for an amnesty program, but don't take advantage of the program, are often faced with harsh penalties if caught after the program has ended.
When amnesty programs are not in effect, most states still have what they call "Voluntary Disclosure Agreement" (VDA) programs which allow taxpayers to come forward on an anonymous basis, limit the number of prior years required to be filed (usually 4), and pay taxes and interest. Under most VDA programs, penalties are waived, but not interest.
Remember, a voluntary disclosure agreement is only able to be utilized if the state has not already contacted the taxpayer (in most cases). If the state contacts the taxpayer first, the state can make the taxpayer file returns for all previous years in which the company had nexus in the state.


text:
Tag: CA
Lessons for the ECB's bold venture into uncharted territory
If you're not a fan of switch hits, midgame firework displays, or any of the T20 fanfare, and would much rather tune into a test match with a copy of Wisden in hand and a cup of tea by your side, look away now. This is going to get ugly.
I'm not going to patronise you, for I too am a traditionalist. I'd much prefer to watch a patient test ton than a T20 slogathon. For me, there is less glory in the shortest form of the game; matches are quickly forgotten and the performances within them fade swiftly from memory.
But this is the direction cricket is headed. What was once seen to be revolutionary is now the norm. T20 has connected with a generation of cricket fans that must be entertained to remain invested. The ECB and counties that voted in favour of 'revolutionising' cricket in England are simply following a well-trodden path.
What concerns me most about this new tournament is that it will run in conjunction with the 'Blast'. Already there are 133 games of T20 cricket played during the summer. If the new franchise tournament is to follow a four-match home and away structure, this figure will balloon out to 165 – and that's without considering the extra finals matches.
If these numbers don't get your blood boiling as a cricket purist, nothing will. The truth is, in another 10 years, this will seem perfectly normal. The County Championship and One-Day Cup will have shrunk significantly by then. Just ask Adil Rashid and Alex Hales. Both have pulled up stumps on their respective red-ball careers in favour of the shorter formats. And fair do's to them both. They have identified that going on the T20 circuit is the best way to earn a crust in an era of reduced test match scheduling and vast franchise riches.
With the emergence of a second T20 tournament, the prevalence of short form specialists like Hales and Rashid will increase year-on-year. Since the days of World Series Cricket, players have gone in search of rock star-sized paychecks. In many ways, the players of that era are responsible for normalizing the contract processes – such as IPL auctions – we now take for granted.
In that spirit, let's take a look at what the new English franchise competition can learn from one of the biggest T20 tournaments in the short history of the format.
Why the BBL works
Believe it or not, the BBL hasn't always been as successful as it is today. In its early years it struggled to draw crowds and attract a television audience. When free to air network, Channel 10, bought the rights for $100 million on a five-year deal in 2013, the competition suddenly gained traction. In 2016/17, the BBL averaged 1.03 million television viewers per match; there was a slight fall in viewership this year, with 947,000 tuning in each night. Compare these figures to the 'Blast', and you begin to see why the ECB had no choice but to implement a franchise competition – and why it was necessary for a FTA broadcaster to obtain the rights to show some games. T20 Finals Day in 2015, which saw Lancashire take out the crown, averaged an audience of 388,000 on Sky Sports. Attendance figures in the 'Blast' are also smashed every year by the BBL, which sees well over 1.5 million people pass through the stadium gates each season.
In addition to exposure on FTA television, the BBL can attribute some of its success to the popularity of its high profile overseas stars. As is the case in several sports around the world, the superstars of the game bring with them an extra element of excitement. Afghanistan leg-spinner Rashid Khan stunned the Adelaide Strikers faithful in the most recent season of the BBL. He, along with other big-name players like Dwayne Bravo, Tymal Mills, Shadab Khan, David Willey, Carlos Brathwaite and Kevin Pietersen, develop interest in the tournament; they are the BBL's major selling point and are indirectly responsible for increases in grassroots participation.
While the 'Blast' also features a whole host of international players, they are spread across 18 counties, rather than 8 franchises, and are scarcely able to commit to the full two months of competition. But this is all common knowledge by now, and no doubt contributed to the ECB's push for a franchise-based tournament. Nevertheless, in order for the new competition to flourish, international stars must take centre stage. In the BBL they are the face of marketing campaigns and television advertisements. Without them, many would see tournaments like the BBL as little more than a glorified version of the fatiguing one-day cup.
The ECB will have no trouble selling a franchise competition to the masses, especially if it is played during the school holidays. The BBL runs across the summer break in Australia, with all games played at family-friendly hours, and tickets sold at family-friendly prices. This is important, and has been a contributing factor to the tournament's longevity. There are concerns, however, that expansion is counterproductive to T20 cricket. The tournament was extended to 40 matches plus finals in 2017/18 and was met with a subsequent drop in television ratings.
The T20 paradox
One of the problems with T20 cricket is that it quickly becomes repetitive. Most matches follow a similar storyline by virtue of their brevity. Seeing a ball sail into the grandstand every night at 6 o'clock can only remain enjoyable for so long. T20 doesn't ebb and flow the way test matches do either. If a team limps to a first innings total there is no time to put things right.
There is a school of thought amongst Australia's leading scribes that the BBL has reached its breaking point as a result. Any further changes to the way the product is sold and packaged will turn fans away. The ECB's new competition must avoid trying to oversell itself the way Australia has in recent times. With two tournaments running in tandem, there is a good chance fans will suffer fatigue. How are the ECB going to deal with this? It's an important question and will ultimately decide how long the tournament remains relevant.
In this day and age, cricket must move with the times. CA has done this exceptionally well; the BBL is still among the best-supported sporting ventures in the country. Can the ECB find a balance between its thirst for cash and the limits of T20 cricket the way Australia has? Or will it fall into the trap of pushing it beyond its limitations and be flogging a dead horse before five years are up?
Posted on April 1, 2018 April 1, 2018 by Jordan CrickPosted in BBL, County Cricket, CricketTagged Australia, BBL, Blast, CA, ECB, England, Franchise cricket, T20. Leave a comment
More than money – the dark underbelly of Australian Cricket's pay dispute.
Image Source: Cricket Country.
We have been told by those in the know that at some point over the next few days the pay dispute engulfing Australian cricket is set to be rectified. This is fantastic news on a number of fronts but the damage, it seems, has already been done. Not to those who are the poster boys of the Players' Association – who have been unemployed for the better part of a month – but to those on the fringes of breaking into the Australian cricket team.
When news first broke that a settlement between the Players' Association and CA had not been reached by the June 30 deadline, my mind immediately thought of the upcoming test tour of Bangladesh. Last time Australia were due to travel to the region, back in 2015, they pulled out due to security risks. This made sense because many other teams were doing the same and using the very same tired old excuses. All they had to do was go along with it and they got off touring scot-free.
This time around, however, the 'security risk' excuse doesn't hold up thanks largely to England, and others, who have toured the region without consequence over the last year. So for CA to announce that their cricketers would not be touring again in 2017 due to the dangers posed by the countries citizens simply wouldn't make an iota of sense. 'England can do it but not you?' – 'Why?'
So Cricket Australia, looking for an out, decided that if the pay dispute was to extend beyond the tour of Bangladesh in August, it wouldn't have to, let alone be able to, send its players to a faraway land where the chance of losing to a perceived second-rate team before the Ashes is high and the generation of revenue is the poorest of all the test series' held across the globe.
Part of this conspiracy theory was the idea that the players had already signed an agreement with CA long before the deadline, and were keeping it under wraps until the day of the first test in Bangladesh rolled around.
Why my mind immediately thought of this as a plausible reason for the pay dispute that continues to ravage Australian cricket with every passing day goes to show just how money orientated I believe CA are. It made sense. Sign an under the table deal with the players long before the deadline but keep it hidden from the public until such a time as the tour of Bangladesh can be abandoned. That way the national team can avoid any undue scrutiny before the Ashes, the side will not undergo any reshuffling, and CA aren't required to splash the cash on a tour that is unattractive to television broadcasters and hence will not fetch top dollar.
Smith and Warner walking off the Gabba – Image Source: Perth Now.
Every angle you look at this pay dispute, you can tie it back to money. The players want more because they feel they are the ones that have grown the popularity of cricket and are therefore entitled to a greater slice of the pie that CA are currently keeping for themselves. They argue that without the product, the store cannot operate, let alone make a profit. So what would they sell to keep themselves afloat? A sponsor-less BBL featuring club cricketers?
From this stance it seems the players have all the bargaining power in this dispute. Think about it – if the players are still unemployed come a fortnight out from the first Ashes test in Brisbane, CA would lose sponsors, be forced to remunerate the fans the full price of their tickets, face an unwinnable court case with the ECB who will claim that both they and their players have lost hundreds of thousands of dollars (imagine that, a united front – players and administrators standing together for a common cause), and face the television broadcasters both here and abroad that will have also lost millions of dollars. Then there are the travelling supporters that would also be out of pocket. Court cases would pop up left, right and centre and CA would soon go bankrupt. So no, they will not let it get to this stage. Which makes you think, is this all just one big conspiracy?
For a sceptic like me it certainly appears this way. But there is more to this dispute than money. Players' reputations, their futures in the game, are at stake. And I'm not talking about your Steve Smith's and David Warner's, I'm talking about your state cricketers who are next in line to crack the glass ceiling and make their debuts in the Baggy Green.
Most of them are still being payed to this point due to the fact the contracts they have with their individual states were signed long before the dispute began. But they are the ones that are going to suffer the most if it continues to drag out beyond the end of this month. In fact, as I said in the opening paragraph, they have suffered enough already.
Australia A were set to tour South Africa last month but due to the pay dispute, players followed through on their threats and opted against travelling in the interest of their quest for increased salaries. You might argue that, given it was the players choice to call the tour off, they have dug their own graves and now must lie in them if they fail to score runs over the coming season and miss out on ever playing for Australia, or make another A team. This A tour might have been a breakthrough series for some members of the squad. The kind of series that suddenly puts you on the selector's radar. Whatever the case, the bottom line is you chose not to tour and must suffer the consequences.
James Sutherland Addressing the media. Image source: Cricket Country.
There are a few reasons why this shouldn't be how we look at it. Firstly, like workers from the local milk factory on strike, you stand as one. Every member of the factory must fight for the same cause or its messages will be far less potent. Say Bill, Eric and 10 others decide not to stand arm in arm with their fellow colleagues on the main road outside the factory while the other 50 workers are waving pickets and hoisting flags, and opt instead to continue operating the cap sealing machine because they are trying to pay off their respective mortgages. What is the employer likely to do? If it was financially viable, they would either sack those outside picketing on the spot and replace them with fresh workers, or give them an ultimatum – return to work now on the same income or face unemployment. For some workers, just like those state cricketers looking to crack international cricket, they cannot afford to spend their days browsing the want ads. Therefore, standing as one becomes their only option.
So I pose the same question as I did before: can you really blame the players for pulling out of a tour when their peers are pressurising them into doing so?
Imagine you're a young cricketer who has been selected for Australia A after just a few seasons of first class cricket. This is your opportunity to shine. An opportunity to show the selectors that when Warner and Smith are too old or losing form a few years down the track, you are the man for the job. But the senior players of the A squad are discussing the dispute and that, no matter what happens, we must stand together or miss out on a pay rise that we are more than entitled to. Of course, you're going to conform. Stray from the group and there is the risk you will be offside with the future captain of Australia, maybe even your future opening partner. As a young player you have no choice.
But opting to accept the views of the group in the interest of remaining loyal to your fellow players is just as damaging to your reputation as not going on that tour at all. The selectors won't see you. It might be the one and only opportunity you had to make an impression. Injury might strike a season later, slowing down the speed you once possessed with the ball in hand or ruining your timing with the bat.
How can a player possibly push their case if they aren't playing any cricket under the very structures that have been created to identify cricketers of the future? The members of the Australian A squad are, after all, the heirs to the Baggy Green throne.
This is why the pay dispute is cutting scars deeper than first thought. We can all form conspiracies around why money is the driver of both parties, but this would be to miss the point completely.
The dispute is damaging more than just the players' hip pockets – it is damaging careers.
Posted on July 21, 2017 July 21, 2017 by Jordan CrickPosted in Australia v England, BBL, CA, Cricket, UncategorizedTagged 2017, Australia A, CA, Cricket Australia, Pay dispute, Player's Association, Steve Smith, The Ashes. Leave a comment
Bangladesh-bound – analysis of Australia's 13-man squad
Australia made a few surprising changes to their squad for Bangladesh. Photo: IBTimes India
Australia have named their test squad to tour Bangladesh at the end of August, with a number of familiar faces rejoining the side.
The biggest news to come out of the announcement was that Steve O'Keefe, Australia's 19 wicket hero in last February's tour of India, has been dropped from the squad following comments he made about a female cricketer at NSW's end of season awards night.
This is without doubt the right call. Although, Trevor Hohn's statement tends to suggest that O'Keefe was dropped on form, not for his alleged 'booze fueled' antics that have seen him receive a ban from this year's Matador Cup; a competition he may not have featured in anyway.
"Whilst Steve O'Keefe bowled well in Pune, he did not maintain this level in the remaining matches of the series and we believe the timing is right for Ashton to enter the set-up and test his all-rounder ability,"
In fact, at no point in Cricket Australia's article on the announcement of the 13-man squad are his actions mentioned. Disappointing given the progress of women's cricket in this country. Surely we must at least acknowledge it to show that a precedent has been set and that such irreverence will not be tolerated.
Starc has also been left out of the squad, and while his omission is cited as being the result of an injury, it is hard to think that this is indeed the case given his participation in the Champions Trophy recently.
"…despite playing in Australia's failed Champions Trophy campaign, the left-armer's injury has not fully healed and he has subsequently been ordered rest with an Ashes campaign on the horizon."
I understand him being rested for the Ashes, but to use an injury as just cause after participating in a world tournament that concluded no more than a week ago is unfair to paying supporters and Bangladesh Cricket, who are trying to cement their spot in the test playing ranks and earn more regular fixtures against the world's leading side's. Still, though, they are treated like second rate citizens.
It seems to be yet another example of CA refusing to send their best team to play in a test series that is perceived as meaningless and where television rights are purchased at bottom dollar, even though they will look the fools if Bangladesh embarrass Australia just like they did England at the back-end of last year.
Starc's omission has, however, opened the door for Pattinson to return to the side. Young all-rounder Hilton Cartwright, whose selection before last summer's Sydney test caused quite a stir, has also been included in the squad, meaning Australia will travel with a total of two all-rounders following the announcement of Agar's selection as cover for O'Keefe.
Unsurprisingly, there was no room for Shaun Marsh who, it appears, has used up all his credit with the Australian selectors; Khawaja has instead been reinstated after missing the tour to India in February.
This is a big tour for the elegant left-handed batsmen who has fallen out of favor with selectors in recent times on tours to the sub-continent.
Since Graeme Swann got the better of him in the 2013 Ashes series, and following his torrid tour of Sri Lanka this time last year, Khawaja's susceptibility to the turning ball has seen him miss a significant amount of cricket in Asian conditions.
This tour might finally settle the score and decide what role he plays in future tours to the sub-continent. My tip is that his class will outshine the guile of Shakib and the immense talent of Mahedi Hasan.
The rest of the team is as expected. All that is left to be finalised now is the MOU. Hopefully we receive some clarity on this matter in the not to distant future.
Posted on June 16, 2017 June 16, 2017 by Jordan CrickPosted in Bangladesh v Australia 2017, CricketTagged 2017, Australia, Bangladesh, Bangladesh v Australia, CA, Squad announcement, Steve O'Keefe, Test Cricket. 2 Comments
BBL popularity a product of Scorchers' success
It was pleasing to see the Perth Scorchers romp to victory over the Sixers in last night's BBL decider and lift the trophy for the third time in the competitions six-year history. As a Brisbane fan, you might think that I'm still bitter from Friday nights epic which saw the Sydney based franchise overcome the Heat on their home patch, in front of a record-breaking domestic crowd and during a super-over that had more twists and turns than a Bollywood drama. But I'm not. Last night typified exactly why this competition continues to go from strength to strength in terms of popularity while other t20 competitions around the world are stagnating. Teams like the Perth Scorchers, on beautifully sunny summer evenings at intimate grounds like the WACA, are what defines the competition. The three trophies the Scorchers now have stowed away in their trophy cabinet have not only set a precedent for the other franchises, but layed the foundations for future rivalries, traditions and has given the BBL a sense of history and context.
Perth Scorchers, three titles in four years.
Given that t20 domestic league fixtures give fans instant gratification, but rarely last long in the memory, shows what the success of the Perth Scorchers in the third, fourth and sixth edition have done to give the BBL a platform from which it can grow its brand, allowing the fan to buy into the history of a contrived competition whose aim will always be to raise revenue and subsidise the less popular formats, but has managed to grow an unprecedented backing simultaneously.
Next year the competition will grow, with CA confirming in the days just past that each team will play an extra game, increasing the competition from 32 matches to 40. This is a win for both the fan, who craves more of the history that this years' BBL has created, and the administrators, who use it as a vehicle for increased revenue and participation rates. Only one of the aforementioned by-products doesn't promise to trigger a self implosion.
A packed Gabba crowd watch the opening BBL fixture.
The Australian Open TV ratings have been smashed by those of the Big Bash this year and this comes as no surprise when you consider how CA have marketed its love child. The casual tennis fan couldn't recall who won the 1976 Australian Open because its history, while steeped in glory, stretches right back to just after the turn of the nineteenth century and not a lot has changed since. Not the coverage, the fan or the structure. The BBL, on the other hand, is hip, modern and resonates with the young and old because of team's like the Perth Scorchers, that have given a previously listless competition relevance and delivered excitement around match results in an era where immediacy determines a viewers enjoyment levels.
For now, the Big Bash will be in the back of our minds as the end of the cricket season signals the rather swift transition into the marathon football season which begins to warm up next weekend. But as soon as the 2017/18 competition rolls around – with its new look and expanded geographical reach that keeps it from becoming repetitive and hence unattractive to the viewer who tunes into the cricket for one and a half months every year – all of the memories of season's past return to give the competition context, prompting excitement in a way that only test matches against the big three have been able to previously.
Posted on January 29, 2017 by Jordan CrickPosted in BBL, CA, Cricket, UncategorizedTagged BBL, Brisbane Heat, CA, Perth Scorchers, T20. Leave a comment
Technological innovations are both a blessing and a curse for t20 cricket
Brad Hodge on the mic during the IPL – Photo: Wisden India
Cricket has a lot to thank for the introduction of various technological innovations that have made the t2o format a more engaging and entertaining product. From helmet cams – that were brought in as a way of allowing the viewers to share the players view from the sanctity of their own living room – to on-field mic's – which have allowed each and every person that tunes into the television coverage to get a sense of what is going through a captains mind, or what area of the ground a batsman is looking to target – cricket has gone through many different stages of development and now looks more technically savvy than ever. These have led to some of the most memorable moments in the brief history of t20 franchise cricket. But just last week, BBL host broadcasters Channel Ten crossed the fine line that divides entertainment and contest integrity, which must be upheld if the hit-and-giggle format is to maintain a semblance of legitimacy and be taken seriously.
The access to the players that Channel Ten and their viewers are granted during each contest is groundbreaking and undoubtedly one of the great pleasures of tuning into a franchise slog-fest. Listening to Kevin Pietersen as he describes his approach to the art of batting, albeit in the t20 format, is as close as you can get to a money can't buy experience and gives both the casual observer, who mightn't have the foggiest idea about the intricacies and strategies behind scoring runs, and the traditionalist a unique insight that helps one study their own approach against that of a well-trained professional who has succeeded at the top level. But the on-field mic, which was designed for t20 cricket and has become a mainstay ever since, is a gimmick that should remain exclusive to t2o cricket. There is no place for it in the longer formats where a players attention must go undivided and where, like stealing pages from the playbook, on-field comments could be noted down and used to strategise in the oppositions next team meeting. Fancy having David Warner or Alastair Cook micd up during the first over of an Ashes test match. The players piecing together their thoughts and emotions like a jigsaw puzzle in a pressure cooker environment would be a remarkably insightful experience, but its hard to argue that it would not have some kind of influence on their concentration levels or put their decision making off kilter. And that's without even mentioning how tacky and modern it would make the coverage of a traditional rivalry, which thrives off the charm of its history, appear to the millions of viewers that expect the cricket be played in its purist form.
The events of last week, which saw a Channel Ten commentator deliver statistics to the micd up Brad Hodge at a crucial junction during the BBL clash between the Thunder and Strikers, caused a stir amongst fans and led to CA issuing a rather candid statement, but, quite strangely, failed to mention that they would be taking any action on the matter. It is also the perfect example of why player mics, helmet cams and anything that may influence or change the course of events should be limited to the shortest form only, ensuring that the integrity of a game is never compromised by stats, dossiers or otherwise.
The scene of the crime
The comments made on air rolled heads at the time they were made, including that of Kevin Pietersen who has been vocal on the need to ensure that the entertainment factor of t20 cricket is upheld at all times as this is, by and large, what has allowed the format to reach out to a new audience. But even his umbrage towards the exchanging of information was plain to see when he repeated the phrase 'very naughty' and began to giggle uncontrollably as Brad Hodge signalled to Ben Laughlin that he would be bowling to his 'bunny' Shane Watson in the very next over.
Of course, players are given access to the kind of data that was disseminated to Brad Hodge by the Channel Ten commentary team before each game and its hard to imagine that he wasn't already aware that Shane Watson had a weakness to the off-pace bowling of Ben Laughlin. Particularly when the statistical outlier is so obvious it would be staring the teams' statistician in the face when he runs through the 'Form Guide' in the lead up to the game. But the fact that the information which passed hands changed the course of events, and was given during a crucial period in the game by a third party that has no business in relaying information to players, makes this an easy case to solve.
Setting up a network between well informed commentator and under pressure captain is not what we want to see the player mics used for. Just like we wouldn't want our footballers to be tipped off about a goal kickers record from a particular angle prior to a conversion attempt by Ray Warren or Phil Gould. Not only would it detract from the legitimacy of the game, it could change who steps up to take the kick.
The role of the broadcaster is to educate the viewer if they manage to stumble upon a statistical anomaly in their dimly lit commentary box that looks more like the Big Brother confession chamber than a place of opinion filled by those who are most qualified to comment. They mustn't abuse their access to the big name players or have that privilege taken away from them like a misbehaving spoilt child who has their favourite toy confiscated by their parents. Channel Ten have done wonders for the game of cricket in this country and their coverage and commentary is to be applauded. But their ignorance and inexperience in this case has shown that cricket's broadcasters must tip toe with caution across the tightrope that divides technological innovations and the integrity of a tournament that is quickly gaining validity amongst fans, but continues to have some of the traditional rules and regulations bent because its primary goal is to entertain the masses and maximise revenue.
Posted on January 23, 2017 by Jordan CrickPosted in BBL, CA, Cricket, UncategorizedTagged BBL, Brad Hodge, CA, Channel 10, T20. Leave a comment
How the BBL's unprecedented rise is endangering the popularity and relevance of test cricket in Australia
Andre Russell's black painted bat, which he brandished during the Sydney Smash three nights ago, is another blatant example of cricket's bold journey into uncharted territory.
The t20 format's brief history is rife with groundbreaking innovations that have made the game a more attractive product that appeals to a wider range of audiences and Dre Russ' colourful blade, when the chinks are worked out, will undoubtedly continue this legacy.
Zing Bails, boundary-side dancers, music played after each delivery, flamethrowers and rocket men are just some of the features that have made the shortest form as unique and flashy as many of America's major sporting codes. And these are the components of cricket that will become commonplace amongst each and every format of the game when Australia's next generation – who will be totally unaware of how the Big Bash rose to prominence after its humble beginnings on pay TV as a state based competition – are introduced to the game.
Channel Ten's advertising campaign sprouts the idea that the beginning of the Big Bash season marks the true start of summer, just as the Boxing Day test once put a punctuation mark on the festive season. And they might just be on the money with this assumption.
It's no longer test cricket that steals the limelight at this time of year and any matches played prior to the beginning of the t20 season are in danger of loosing their relevance in the not to distant future. After all, most concertgoers skip the front bands in favour of the local pub because they are only really interested in the main event.
Can you name the fights that preceded the Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather bout in 2015? No? That's because they held far less importance in the context of the event as a whole.
The Australian reported recently that BBL player payments will increase under CA's new payment scheme in a move that is likely to have major ramifications for the Sheffield Shield and Matdor BBQ's ODC competitions.
When the BBL television rights are once again put up for sale next year, the $20 million price tag Channel Ten snapped them up for last time they were on the open market is tipped to increase astronomically.
Cricket's bold journey into a new and uncertain decade. Getty Images
A raise in BBL player payments, to a level that well and truly supersedes the average retainer for a state cricketer, will force players to question which career route is the most viable for them and what benefits the can derive from participating in all three formats. A decision that may be affected by a number of variables.
The short life span of fast bowlers in the longer forms of the game is likely to sway their thinking while living arrangements and age are two other factors that will influence a players career move.
Expanding the competition into other Australian regions and increasing the number of fixtures played across the summer is the ideal way to grow the competition, expand its geographical reach and give more players the opportunity to compete at a professional level. But cricket is a case unto itself. Other popular sports around the world don't have multiple formats and are incapable of cutting off their noses despite their face in a way that cricket can by giving the most profitable format all the resources and attention it needs to outperform the others. And this is exactly what CA are risking by increasing the number of games in a season and by giving its players greater incentive to pursue a lucrative career in the shorter form of the game, which is over in just three hours and provides as many opportunities as a long career in the Baggy Green, less the injuries.
The West Indies is home to a swathe of specialist franchise players and the national side, in all formats outside of t20 cricket, has seen sharp declines in performance as a result of the unavailability of their star players, who have been lost to the world's biggest tournaments.
Gayle, Bravo and Russel, some of the West Indies most gifted cricketers, have spent their careers traveling from country-to-country like cricketing gypsies to take part in the various franchise competitions and have made as much, if not more, than their test-playing counterparts in doing so. In this case though, it was the board's failure to pay its players an adequate wage that set them on the rebel path to franchise stardom, it wasn't a matter of the governing body putting all their eggs in one basket and leaving its other formats to die off without anyone raising an eyebrow – although there are multiple parallels that can be drawn between the irresponsibility of the two cases.
Australia does not want to experience a mass exodus on a West Indian like scale.
CA has created a popular product and deserves to lap up their new found fortunes but could make minced meat of test cricket's popularity in this country and its major breeding ground (Sheffield Shield) if the Big Bash continues to grow without restraint.
Television and t20 cricket are a more dynamic pairing than Starsky and Hutch and this partnership doesn't look like taking a dive anytime soon. The NRL and AFL received in excess of $1 billion following their last broadcast rights deal and by the time the Big Bash manages to eclipse these numbers the cricketing landscape will have experienced dramatic rearrangements and scheduling changes that benefit both the broadcaster and CA, who require the revenue generated by the Big Bash to subsidise their investments in the Shield and domestic one day competitions – the running of which provides CA with little financial gain.
The BBL has become far more popular than test match cricket in Australia and this is a truth the traditionalists must accept.
Its move to FTA television three years ago has given it the legs to overtake the traditional form in terms of TV viewership and crowd figures. But we risk diluting the pool of talent at state level and test cricket's importance if BBL games are let to spread across the summer like a super virus.
CA's new found admiration for the shortest format is obvious but it must allow all formats to coexist if we are to maintain interest across the board. And that starts with keeping the schedule as it is – so not to disrupt the Sheffield Shield any more than is currently the case – and keeping player wages equal across all formats to disparage specialisation.
T20 innovations have made an imprint on test cricket and are the precursor to a entirely different cricketing landscape that is already beginning to take shape.
Posted on December 23, 2016 December 23, 2016 by Jordan CrickPosted in BBL, CA, CricketTagged Australia, BBL, CA, Test Cricket, West Indies. Leave a comment
New chapter set to be written in Australia's long search for an all-rounder
Western Australian ace Hilton Cartwright is set to become the latest member of a long and esteemed list of Australian all-rounders when the boxing day test begins next week.
Australia have cast their net far and wide in search of an all-rounder capable of consistently producing runs in the number six position, but have come up short in recent years, forcing them to settle on a full-time batsman who adds stability in times of crisis – as Nick Maddinson's selection showed. It was an overly protective decision and one which shows how close Australia are to being exposed for the second time in just two short months.
The selectors are still on the defensive and won't be willing to make any rash decisions during a major series until the wounds inflicted by South Africa and Sri Lanka begin to heal.
The revolving door of all-rounder selections, which has seen Glenn Maxwell, Mitchell Marsh, Moses Henriques and James Faulkner (to name a few) pass through without making themselves household names, continues to swing violently with each entry and exit of another potential applicant, showing the spectrum of Australia's long and unsuccessful search.
The Hobart test, which saw Australia bundled out for 85 in just over two sessions, changed the selectors mindset towards the all-round role and saw them opt in favour of a batsman rather than an extra bowling option. A move totally against the grain of what has worked so well for Australian sides in the past with the likes of Miller and Waugh, who forged long and successful careers as Australia's designated all-rounder. But the near miss at the Gabba, coupled with Nathan Lyon's hot and cold form and the need to prioritise the wellbeing of Australia's fast bowlers in the lead-up to the Indian tour, has made them reconsider the value an extra seamer could have in the remaining two test matches.
Cartwright is a legitimate all-round option with a bright future whose Shield credentials place him in the top echelon of young talent. But his shock selection is less an unprecedented call up and more a carefully considered plan when you consider how he will be used.
Australian selectors have one eye firmly fixed on India already and are well aware that sub-par performances in the sub-continent will compound the issues lying just below the surface. They're also aware that they won't be able to thwart the effectiveness of spin-twins Ashwin and Jadeja, nor take the wicket of batting colossus Virat Kohli, without anything other than their first string side.
Cartwright can be seen then as the guardian of Australia's fast bowling brigade in Melbourne and Sydney – a workhorse to take a load off the shoulders of Starc, Hazlewood and Bird – and could be made the scapegoat who unsettled the side if Pakistan take out the series. A no-win situation in a side who have long stuck with a batsman at number six.
But he will remain on the Australian radar even if these circumstances do eventuate, and will become a regular fixture when the Australian selectors decide to come out of hiding and regain full confidence in their players and the systems that groom them.
Hilton Cartwright drives through cover while on duty for WA. Image: Sporting News
Their fear of reliving the Hobart disaster is inhibiting them from making rational decisions and it's the kind of uncertainty that can derail a tour to India where losses are inevitable.
There is a school of thought in the cricketing world at the moment that all-rounders add the balance and versatility required to avoid regular failure. They are also the glue that binds a well-oiled machine who are unlikely to ever replicate Australia's performance in Hobart because they bat right the way down.
England are a side packed from top to bottom with all-rounders. They've hit a roadblock of late but have shown how valuable a second line of defence can be in saving the sides bacon in the event of a top order collapse. A quality Australia could use going into a challenging year with an inexperienced side.
The logic behind taking the all-round route is obvious: the more competent batsmen you have, the more likely you are to rack up big totals. This doesn't necessarily have to mean that specialist batsmen and bowlers are condemned, it means you have more players skilled in both arts at key positions in the order. Moeen Ali is ranked fifth on the 2016 run scorers chart and is valued as much for his bowling as he is for his batting – even if some will contest this statement.
Since the mid 2000's, Australia's all-rounders have been more prolific in one suite than the other, or poor altogether and are yet to achieve the perfect balance between bat and ball.
Watson was a flash in the pan that lasted ten years while Marsh showed glimpses but was ultimately underwhelming. Could Cartwright buck the trend to become the first all-rounder since the enigmatic Andrew Symonds to average above 40? It's a sad indictment of Australian cricket and its systems that this average still stands. But then again, you can count the number of all-rounders who have been in the Australian side since Symonds' departure on one hand.
Cartwright looks to be a once in a generation cricketer who made a blip on the Australian radar through sheer weight of numbers in the first-class arena where he averages 44.50 with the bat and 41.93 with the ball – albeit in just 16 matches.
Australia have been crying out for an all-rounder for years and its been one of their weak points on tours away for the last decade. Not since the unearthing of Steve Waugh have they struck pure gold in this department.
Youth has proven to be a successful policy for the Australian side this summer and it may continue if Cartwright is given his chance. But without the selectors backing and support, it's likely he'll end up like the mistreated Mitchell Marsh and the selection musical chairs will continue.
Posted on December 21, 2016 December 22, 2016 by Jordan CrickPosted in Australia v Pakistan, Boxing Day Test, Cricket, UncategorizedTagged All-rounder, Australia, Australia v Pakistan, Boxing Day, CA, Hilton Cartwright, Hobart, Pakistan, Test Cricket. Leave a comment


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HomeYanush Ben-Gal, Yom Kippur War Hero, Dies at 79
Yanush Ben-Gal, Yom Kippur War Hero, Dies at 79
JTAFebruary 14, 2016IDF Photo
IDF Photo
Yom Kippur War hero Maj.-Gen. Avigdor 'Yanush' Ben-Gal was buried in Israel's Kiryat Shaul military cemetery.
Ben-Gal, credited with holding Syria back during the war in 1973, died on Saturday at the age of 79 and was buried on Sunday.
"During the darkest days of the Yom Kippur War, when the fate of Israel hung in the balance, Yanush and his brave soldiers defended our northern border with their bodies. They blocked the Syrian advance and afterwards went on the offensive that led the IDF to the gates of Damascus," Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in a statement.
"Yanush was a dedicated soldier with extraordinary courage and inspiration. He will be remembered as one of Israel's greatest commanders," he said.
Ben-Gal fled Poland for the Soviet Union with his parents in 1939. His parents disappeared shortly afterwards, Ben-Gal and his sister traveled from Iran to Israel as part of the "Tehran Children" aliyah and were reunited with their father,
In addition to the Yom Kippur War, Ben-Gal also was a corps commander during the first Lebanon war.
After he left the army in 1985, Ben-Gal served as chairman of Israel Aircraft Industries.
He is survived by his wife and seven children, and grandchildren.
This story "Yanush Ben-Gal, Yom Kippur War Hero, Dies at 79" was written by JTA.


Presenting a very healthy Veg Oats Idli recipe for breakfast and evening snacks. Idli is a popular South Indian recipe and i have twisted this a bit. Try this now.
Oats is a neural and basic ingredient that gives it the advantage to be added to any food making it healthier. Usually my kids don't like the authentic Quaker oats with milk, and since they love idli, I thought of sneaking some oats into it, and make it more nutritional. Oats idli really takes away the overnight soaking of rice, and much of the elaborate prep work associated with the traditional recipe. I can think of making it while my kids are still in bed, and get it served on the table by the time they come for breakfast. It's that fast and easy.
Idli is a popular South Indian breakfast item, so much so that it is THE most iconic thing about the region that makes it world famous, along with Dosa and Sambar. This is really good to taste, and the perfect salty, spongy cake like savor, its made with a batter of mainly rice and urad dal. Meanwhile, Oats is highly nutritious; not only are they the powerhouse of vegan protein, they are also a rich source of soluble fibers, that helps reduce cholesterol and is good for diabetic patients as well. Oats idli is ideal for weight watchers, and vegans, to enjoy a good meal that fulfils the appetite not only for healthy food, but also tasty food.
I am using eno in the batter, to make the idlis spongier and puffed up. Doing this is optional; whereas, if you do use it then be careful, and add the eno right before putting the batter to the mould and don't whip the batter after adding it, just mix gently. You can store the batter for later use, but never store with the eno mixed, then it is likely to ferment. Add eno only to the batter you are going to steam and add it immediately before steaming.
That been explained, this recipe is easiest to cook for an idli. Its really tasty and wholesome, 2-3 idlis in the morning is heavy enough to keep you energized till lunch. Enjoy with some coriander or mint chutney.
With recipes like this, gourmet cuisine takes globalization to new heights, beyond boundaries and prejudices, winning people's hearts beyond any propaganda. That's what I call, a great invention of civilization.
Oats Idli is a very healthy South Indian Recipe which can be served as breakfast.
Put oats in a grinder and grind into fine powder.
Put semolina, oats, and yogurt in a mixing bowl and mix it well. Cover it and let the batter rest for 15-20 minutes.
After 15 minutes uncovered the batter and add finely chopped carrot, french beans, asafoetida and salt. Now add water gradually and make a smooth batter. Keep on adding water until you get the proper consistency. Batter should not be very thick or thin. The consistency of the batter should be pourable or medium thick.
Batter is ready now but before adding eno keep the water for boiling and grease the mould.
Take a deep pan and pour 1 1/2 glasses of water in it and let the water boil. Make sure that the water should starts boiling before placing the idli mould in it.
Now take an Idli mould and grease the idli moulds with some oil and keep aside.
At the very end add eno and mix it well. After adding eno/soda do not stir too much otherwise bubbly effect will go away. After adding eno fruit salt doesn't keep batter for long time otherwise Idli will not be spongy so spread the batter immediately.
Put the idli mould in boiling water, cover with the lid and cook it for 7-8 minutes on medium flame.
After 7-8 minutes uncovered the lid and you will see the Oats idli has become fluffy. Take out the idli mould from the pan and let it cool down for sometime. Once it cools down a bit scratch the sides with knife or spoon and remove the Oats Idli from it.
Serve Oats Idli hot. It goes well with coconut/nariyal chutney but if you do not have nariyal chutney can serve with any coriander chutney or tomato ketchup.


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The American Society of Addiction medicine (ASAM) has released a new definition for Addiction following a four-year consultation process. Addiction is now defined as a chronic brain disease and not just a collection of symptoms such as cravings and mood swings, according to a team of more than 80 experts.
When people see compulsive and damaging behaviours in friends or family members—or public figures such as celebrities or politicians—they often focus only on the substance use or behaviours as the problem. Addiction is about a lot more than people behaving badly,' said study author Dr. Michael M. Miller. This was true whether the addiction was drugs and alcohol, gambling or compulsive eating. "Many behaviours driven by addiction are real problems and sometimes criminal acts. But the disease is about brains, not drugs. It's about underlying neurology, not outward actions," he added.


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Charity Screening
All proceeds to Veterans Charities
Doors: 2.30pm Film: 3pm
Journey's End (PG)
Northern France, 1918: Raleigh requests to be sent to the company led by Captain Stanhope, his old school friend. Once he gets there, the men agonisingly wait on the front line for a major German offensive.
For the 100th anniversary of the first world war's end, here is an excellent new film version of RC Sherriff's classic play, brought to the screen with thrilling power and passion, thanks to director Saul Dibb's hard-hitting urgency and the superb acting from a talented cast.
Charity Screening
Peter Bradshaw
For the 100th anniversary of the first world war's end, here is an unassumingly excellent new film version of RC Sherriff's classic 1928 stage play, adapted by Simon Reade and directed by Saul Dibb. It is expertly cast and really well acted: forthright, powerful, heartfelt. The dramatic action is opened out, while always conveying the essential, cramped claustrophobia of this tragic ordeal. Cinematographer Laurie Rose's coolly observant, dynamic camerawork helps drive the dramatic momentum and the sinuous musical score by Hildur Guðnadóttirand Natalie Holt creates a growing sense of horror and dread.
Asa Butterfield plays the young Second Lieutenant Raleigh, newly arrived at the front in 1918. In all his moon-faced naivety, he asks to join C company in the trenches, because the commanding officer there is Captain Stanhope (Sam Claflin), who was a few years ahead of Raleigh at school and a family friend. The artless innocence of his beamingly casual attitude, so imminently to be ruined, is made even more ironic by the nepotism.
Raleigh doesn't use his connections to avoid combat, but to be in thick of it; his uncle is a senior officer who is pained at Raleigh's crashingly tactless request, but at last gruffly asks him how his father's crocuses are doing. On hearing bad news on this point, he shrugs and says he's planting them at the wrong depth. It is a quietly horrible vignette of innocence: an Edenic world where the health of crocuses is something to worry about.
The meeting of Raleigh and Stanhope is a silent cymbal clash of horror. To Raleigh's dismay, Stanhope is not the boy he knew. The war has made him an aggressive, careworn, self-hating alcoholic, who is horrified to see young Raleigh and realise how he must look in the eyes of someone who once liked and rather hero-worshipped him. Their very juxtaposition is an obscene insertion of the Arcadia of their earlier, innocent civilian life into this cauldron of hell and despair. And what makes it even more painful is that Stanhope has an unofficial understanding with Raleigh's sister, back at home and poignantly awaiting letters. Stanhope realises – as the younger man does not – how likely it is he will break this young woman's heart by dying, or by coming home an angry, unloving spectre. Each is a grotesque sort of mirror to the other because Raleigh, perhaps without yet fully realising it, can see in Stanhope what he will become. In the quiet intelligence of their performances, Butterfield and Claflin convey all this.
Paul Bettany is excellent as the sadly smiling Lieutenant Osborne, the pipe-smoking former schoolmaster whose nickname "Uncle" neatly conveys his avuncular wisdom, while underlining the general tragic lack of anything like a parent or anyone who can love these soldiers, most of them nothing more than boys. Stephen Graham is the rough-hewn and capable Second Lieutenant Trotter; Miles Jupp has a telling cameo as the drily cynical Captain Hardy and Toby Jones is the humorous cook, Mason, apologising for having to replace tinned pineapples with tinned apricots, or serving "oniony" tea.
The movie interestingly shows what a trial the officers' dugout mealtimes are. They are occasions when the strict formality of rank is theoretically relaxed, but, in fact, eating and drinking are a new source of tension. Food and drink is all they have to obsess over: the nearest they have to indulgence, or simply to feel like human beings. Whisky is the drug they all crave, and this luxury is the most fundamental necessity of all.
Their horrible situation of boredom and nerve-shredding tension suddenly becomes even more unspeakable when the order comes through that Osborne and Raleigh are to lead a raiding party, in broad daylight, into enemy lines to capture a German soldier for intelligence purposes. What becomes queasily clear is that the raid has been planned for daytime for no good reason other than getting it completed for the report that will precede the formal dinner. More incredibly, it is to go ahead without any dummy run, or dress rehearsal with some British squaddie acting the part of the German so that this manhandling can be practised. They are just expected to do it. The aftermath of this grisly adventure brings all their despair into yet sharper focus.
The first world war is one of the 20th century's oldest, grimmest tales of futility and slaughter. Dibb and his excellent cast put new passion into it.
Writer: Simon Reade, R.C. Sherriff
Starring: Sam Claifin, Paul Bettany, Toby Jones, Asa Butterfield
Total Film - ★★★★★
Empire - ★★★★★
Mark Kermode Review


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Is Stoke City vs Leicester City on TV? Live stream details and team news for FA Cup clash – Leicestershire Live
Leicester City begin their FA Cup campaign on Saturday when they take on Stoke City at the Bet365 Stadium.
While matches continued to be played behind closed, fans in the UK will at least be able to watch all 32 ties, either on BBC and BT Sport, their digital channels or through The FA Player.
Eight fixtures will be live across the BBC's platforms, 16 across BT Sport's digital channels and the remaining eight fixtures broadcast free to supporters on the FA Player.
Here's what you need to know ahead of the third round tie…
When does Stoke City vs Leicester City kick-off?
The match at the Bet365 Stadium gets underway at 3pm on Saturday, January 9.
No fans will be present at the game due to the ongoing Coronavirus restrictions around the country.
Tap to play
Is the game on TV?
Yes, the match will be available to watch on the BBC iPlayer service and the BBC Sport website via your smart TV, laptop and mobile device.
If you don't already have one, you'll need to register for a free BBC account in order to access the services.
It should also be on the BBC's red button.
VAR situation
Nine of the 32 ties will use Video Assistant Referees. It will be used in the ties played at Premier League venues only.
With Stoke being in the Championship, the system will not be used in Saturday's tie.
Will there be a replay?
No, all games in this year's FA Cup will be decided on the day, without going to replays.
That means there will be extra time if the scores are level after 90 minutes, and a penalty shootout should the teams not be separated in the extra 30 minutes.
Why should you sign up?
In our daily Leicester City bulletin, we'll be bringing you the latest breaking news, transfer features and comment pieces, as well as the key talking points for fans.
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Leicester City are expected to be without Jamie Vardy and James Maddison for the trip, with the two rested due to ongoing injury niggles.
Winger Cengiz Under is also a doubt with an ankle problem.
Despite being back in training the game also comes a little bit too soon for Ricardo Pereira.
Stoke City will be without Steven Fletcher, who suffered a groin injury in the defeat against Bournemouth last weekend, while Lee Gregory and Tyrese Campbell will miss the match with longer-term problems.
Chelsea to make announcement on first January transfer after Frank Lampard admission – Football.London
FA Cup third round clockwatch: Everton v Rotherham and more – live! – The Guardian