Author Archives: Danzig

Francis Ellis Ranked THIS GUY As The Funniest Person At Barstool Sports – Barstool Sports

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I'll nip it in the bud now; I disagree with Francis. The honor of the title "funniest person at Barstool" belongs to none other than Jeff Nadu

Nevertheless, the Barstool Chicago office made a pilgrimage to New York City last week. It was a business trip; we were tasked with entertaining the masses on a live stream for Bears vs. Commies in what was undoubtedly the most enthralling NFL game of the season thus far. In the midst of all that, I met two people I had yet to meet in person, Uncle Chaps and Francis.

It was great meeting Uncle Chaps. I don't know how we hadn't yet to met in person, even though we've been internet friends and coworkers for years now, but it was excellent seeing him in spite of his new mustache that makes him look a little too much like Carl. I'm excited for him to move to Chicago, as we discussed starting a video series where we will have smoking competitions between the two of us on NFL Sundays and what have you.

I also met Francis. Truthfully, I didn't know what to expect of Francis. Didn't know too much about the cat. All I knew about Francis was that he's a Harvard grad that got fired for making fun of a dead chick or something. I didn't care too much about the latter, as I've fucked up on the internet many times. I would be a hypocrite if I judged him for that. But I don't have a lot of experience with Harvard grads or people that possess "fuck you" money, so I automatically assumed him and I would be so diametrically opposed to each other in every way and that we wouldn't have much to talk about.

And that, my friends, is why we have the snake drafts. It forces people to have uncomfortable conversations.

Now typically for the snake drafts, we sit in the same order. Ed decided he didn't want to do that for whatever reason today and since what Ed says goes 100% of the time even if it doesn't make sense. That worked this week, however; it forced myself and Francis to have a meeting of minds. He schooled me on the following:

- that having a screened in porch is a sign of status in the northeast (?)- that pit bulls are all predisposed to want to kill everything in their paths- that Beluga whales lay eggs- that red heads do, in fact, have souls

Etc. etc. etc.

It was a trip and I learned a TON about the finer things. By the end of the episode I felt like I owed Francis an apology; just because he's not as well-rounded as me doesn't make him a bad person, it just makes him a different person, and different isn't bad. It's the opposite. I'm looking forward to working with Francis on a more consistent level should he decide to take the plunge and move to Chicago with the other misfits that are moving west.

In the meantime, the Finer Things draft with Francis is LIVE! It was a great one and needless to say I won. Per usual. Check it out:

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Francis Ellis Ranked THIS GUY As The Funniest Person At Barstool Sports - Barstool Sports

Red Oak hopeful to finish season on positive note – KMAland

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(Red Oak) -- A rollercoaster season for Red Oak football concludes on Friday.

Coach Michael Nordeen hopes it ends on a strong note.

The Tigers (4-4) suffered their fourth consecutive loss on Friday night with a 52-7 loss to Clarinda behind a remarkable performance from Clarinda running back Tadyn Brown, who collected Agrivision Equipment Group Player of the Night after rushing for 300 yards and seven touchdowns.

"He had a heckuva game," Nordeen said. "I think it came down to effort. Our guys got in their heads that we weren't playing for anything. They competed hard, but we just didn't put in the full effort we should have."

Red Oak started the season 4-0 with four shutouts over Riverside, West Central Valley, Nodaway Valley and Shenandoah. While the end of the season was less than ideal, the Tigers made leaps in Nordeen's second half.

"It's huge," he said. "This senior class is amazing. They accepted the challenge of a new coach. In the second year, they ran with it. We're going to continue to trend in the right direction and get to where we want to be -- a 2A power."

Fifteen pivotal seniors will don the Red Oak jersey for the final time -- Chase Roeder, Landon Couse, Riley Fouts, Dawson Bond, Jack Kling, Braden Woods, Aiden Bruce, Dante Baucom, Kyle Westover, Jacob Eggerss, Sam Fields, Kyle Rinabarger, Logan Conn, Elisha Vukonich and Cole Thornton.

"The kids had joy playing the game of football," Nordeen said. "We're turning into a football power. It's going to be hard saying goodbye to those guys, but they've given our program and community memories to cherish."

The Tigers' 2022 swan song comes Friday night against Chariton.

The Chargers (3-5) also missed the Class 2A playoffs despite a productive ground game that ran for 1,379 yards during the regular season.

"We've been watching them all season," Nordeen said. "I think it's a good matchup for us. We didn't make the playoffs. We're thinking of this like college. It's a bowl game and an opportunity to play one more game, compete and be with your brothers."

Several Tigers are within reach of school records, such as Roeder (season passing yards), Fouts (season rushing yards), Bond (season and career receiving yards and career touchdown).

"It would be nice to get some of those guys to etch their name in the record book," Nordeen said. "We want to go out on top."

Jesse Schraft is in Red Oak Friday night with reports on the Red Oak Chrysler Football Connection Show. Check out KMA Sports' coverage from 6:20 to midnight on KMA 960 and KMA-FM 99.1.

Click below to hear the full interview with Coach Nordeen.

At KMA, we attempt to be accurate in our reporting. If you see a typo or mistake in a story, please contact us by emailing kmaradio@kmaland.com.

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Red Oak hopeful to finish season on positive note - KMAland

‘I will lay red carpet…’ J-Hope has perfect welcome plan for Jimin as BTS heads to latter’s hometown for con – Zoom TV

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J-Hopes wishes Jimin on his Birthday

While the birthdays of any of the band member brings a lot of joy, it also is time for another tradition. Yes, birthdays mean, J-Hope opening his large archive to select a series of photos and videos and share them to wish the bandmates.

It has been like a cute Jung Hoseok thing where he spams with a lot of pictures wishing the member and now it is time for Jimin. Continuing his tradition, the rapper took to social media to drop several posts.

While sharing one of the videos which looks to be from their time overseas, Jimin can be seen walking on the streets while his Hobi Hyung records him. Our Jiminie always maintain your smile!!!!, J-Hope captioned the clip along with many hashtags.

One of the hashtags read, #WhenJiminComesToHisHomeTownBusan_WeWillSpreadARedCarpet (When Jimin comes to his hometown, Busan, we will spread a red carpet)."

Take a look at the video here. "Why do you look so angry," the Arson singer can be heard asking.

Looking at J-Hopes lovely hashtag for Jimin, ARMY could not help but be in awe of his sweetness. For those who may not be aware, Busan is Jimin and Jungkooks hometown. Since BTS will be holding their free global concert there on the 15th, it becomes meaningful for the two members who are performing in their city.

And it being Jimins birthday around the same time, it is even more special for him. We can surely expect the members to plan a surprise for him on the day.

Meanwhile, the global concert for the WORLD EXPO 2030 bid will be held in Busan on Oct 15.

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'I will lay red carpet...' J-Hope has perfect welcome plan for Jimin as BTS heads to latter's hometown for con - Zoom TV

Photos of the Day: Ranveer turns heads with his colourful casuals, Janhvi stuns in red saree at Mili trailer launch, and more – Zoom TV

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It was a busy Saturday for tinsel town celebrities as a number of stars made public appearances owing to different reasons. While Ranveer Singh was spotted at the airport leaving to attend the convocation at Bennett University, Janhvi Kapoor arrived at the trailer launch event of her next Mili.

As always, the photos of our beloved actors and actresses have been doing rounds on social media. If you couldnt keep a tab on your social feed today, worry not because we are back with the latest edition of Photos of the Day.

Sidharth Malhotra and Rakul Preet Singh stepped out for the promotions of their upcoming film Thank God, which also stars Ajay Devgn. The two co-stars looked sharp as ever as they struck a pose for the paparazzi.

Thank God is slated to arrive in theatres on October 25, alongside Akshay Kumar's Ram Setu.

Mouni Roy once again proved why she is hailed as a style diva. She walked the ramp at a recent fashion show and stole the limelight. The Brahmastra Part One: Shiva actress looked nothing less than breathtaking as she oozed swag with every step that she took.

Ranveer Singh, earlier in the day, was papped at the airport by the shutterbugs as he was leaving to attend the convocation at Bennett University in Noida. For his airport look, Ranveer opted for bright-coloured casuals and as always, made quite a few heads turn with his quirky look.

Janhvi Kapoor raised temperatures at the trailer launch event of Mili as she arrived for the occasion dressed in a stunning red saree. She posed for the paps with a bright smile on her face.

Jacqueline Fernandez made a rare public appearance amid the ongoing conman Sukesh Chandrashekhar controversy. She was spotted clad in a yellow saree.

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Photos of the Day: Ranveer turns heads with his colourful casuals, Janhvi stuns in red saree at Mili trailer launch, and more - Zoom TV

Deering boys come to life to hand Scarborough first loss – Press Herald

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SCARBOROUGHThere will be no perfect Storm this fall.

Thats because the visiting Deering Rams put all of their talent on display Tuesday evening at the Kippy Mitchell Sports Complex and in a memorable regular season finale, stymied Scarboroughs quest for an undefeated mark while in the process serving notice to the rest of the league that theyre just getting started.

The Red Storm, who have run roughshod on a very balanced Class A South region all season, took an early lead on their Senior Night when senior Will Fallona scored in the ninth minute of play, but the Rams, who have struggled finding consistency this season, roared back.

After a foul in the box in the 14th minute, senior captain Adilson Vidal took the ensuing penalty kick and while Scarborough senior goalkeeper Nicholas Ouellette made the save, Vidal was able to score on the rebound to tie the score.

Then, with just over seven minutes to go before halftime, senior Patricio Mowa unleashed a powerful free kick from midfield that bounced off Ouellettes hands and in to give Deering the lead.

The Rams defense then slammed the door from there and with 15:30 to go, senior Carlos Adriano-Muaco produced an insurance goal and Deering went on to a 3-1 victory.

The Rams finished the regular season 10-2-2, moved up the standings and in the process, dropped Scarborough to 13-1.

We came in with the mentality that although they had an undefeated record, we could match up with them, Vidal said. We know were a great team with a bunch of good players all over the field. We just worked together and thats how we got the win. We didnt give up and stayed disciplined to Coach (Joel Costigans) game plan.

Raising the bar

Scarborough was upset in penalty kicks in the regional quarterfinals a year ago and while those on the outside thought that the Red Storm might come back to the pack after Zander Haskell departed, in reality, the Red Storms depth and balance have been unmatched.

Scarborough has been consistently excellent since opening the season with a hard-fought1-0 home victory over Portland. The Red Storm then defeated host Westbrook (8-0), visiting Windham (2-0), host Sanford (8-3) in longtime coach Mark Diazs 300th career win, visiting Kennebunk (2-1), host Biddeford (8-0), visiting Falmouth (2-0), host Thornton Academy (4-0), visiting Marshwood (7-0), visiting Massabesic (10-0), host Noble (15-0), host South Portland (2-0) and host Bonny Eagle (7-0).

As for Deering, for the first half of the season, the Rams were every bit as good as Scarborough, but the second half of the campaign had been a different story.

Deering started with a 2-0 victory at Biddeford, then downed visiting Sanford (6-1), Windham (3-0) and reigning Class A champion Marshwood (2-1). After a 7-1 victory at Noble, the Rams blanked visiting Bonny Eagle (3-0) and Thornton Academy (2-0) before settling for a 2-2 home draw versus rival Cheverus. After beating host Massabesic, 8-0, Deering rallied in the waning seconds to forge a 1-1 home tie against Gorham, then lost at Falmouth in overtime (3-2), dropped a 2-1 decision at Kennebunk and gave Costigan his 100th career victory, 3-1 at Westbrook.

We went four games without winning and it took a toll on us, Vidal said. The guys werent used to that. We had to sit and talk about it.

Last year, in the season opener, host Scarborough blanked the Rams, 2-0.

Monday, on a 58-degree evening, in the Red Storms first home game in two weeks, Scarborough looked to keep the good times rolling, but instead, it ran into a determined Deering squad that beat the Red Storm for the first time since Aug. 31, 2017.

Scarborough got the first chance, two minutes in, but off a corner, Fallona headed the ball just wide.

After Adriano-Muaco shot high for the Rams and junior Kilson Joao was off-target for the Red Storm, the home team got the jump in the ninth minute, when off another corner, Fallona got his head on a serve from junior Dillon MacLeod and directed the ball past Deering junior keeper Adao Lufumbo-Mbenza and in for a quick 1-0 lead.

But that would prove to be Scarboroughs highwater mark.

With 26:22 left in the first half, the Rams got their opportunity to answer, as senior Jeannot Ndayishimiye was tripped up in the box and a penalty kick was awarded.

Vidal did the honors, shooting toward the left corner, but Ouellette dove to make the stop. He couldnt corral the rebound, however, and Vidal settled the ball and sent it into the net to pull Deering even.

Usually on a PK, I go one way, but today, the goalie got in my head a bit, Vidal said. Coach always tells us to never give up on a play. I kept my composure to take an extra touch.

The goal was the first Scarborough had allowed since Sept. 14.

The Red Storm tried to retake the lead, but a corner kick serve glanced off the crossbar, Joao missed high on an open net, Joao redirected MacLeods cross on target but Lufumbo-Mbenza made the save, then MacLeod fired a free kick high.

With 7:16 left before halftime, in a seemingly innocuous play, Mowa set up to take a free kick from midfield. He sailed the ball on target, Ouellette came out to punch it out, but instead, it hit hands and deflected backwards, straight into the goal to make it 2-1 Deering.

I was in the box and usually we have set piece plays but it was too far for that, Vidal said. Their goalie is good, but the ball was wet. You need luck to win games. Its a good thing the luck was on our side. It was a great goal and it definitely put our spirits up for the rest of the game.

I think the weather and the lights played a part in that, Costigan said. Carlos being up top with a big body puts pressure on the keeper. Its a wet night. In that moment, all the elements played a factor.

When the second half began, Scarborough pushed hard for the equalizer, but MacLeod missed high, then an apparent Joao goal (from senior Parker Killiard) was waved off due to Joao being offsides.

After Killiard had a shot saved by Lufumbo-Mbenza, Fallona had a header saved with just over 24 minutes left and Fallonas rebound bid was cleared by a defender.

Then, with 15:30 on the clock, Adriano-Muaco produced an insurance goal, burying a loose ball in the box, to make the score 3-1.

The third goal was definitely one we needed, Vidal said. They were applying a lot of pressure to start the second half, but the third goal got us more comfortable. That helped us keep our heads cool.

Scarborough nearly answered with 8:06 on the clock, as a shot from the side appeared to be heading in, but out of nowhere, Rams junior back Chandrel Mangele Laza cleared the ball off the line to save a goal.

We needed that, Vidal said. Its little moments like that win games. I dont even know why he was there. It was a great save. It was probably the most important play of the game. If that went in, they would have had time to get on us and our heads might have gone down.

Chandrel made the right play, Costigan said. I dont know if he would have made this play in another game, but everyone was on board tonight.

The Red Storm had one more chance, with 2 minutes to play, but sophomore Matt Fallona missed just wide.

Deering managed to run out the clock from there and celebrated its 3-1 victory.

We talked on Friday and brainstormed our tactics, Costigan said. We had an excellent practice yesterday and we executed amazingly today. Everyone had a positive attitude. I didnt even touch them during warmups. They motivated themselves. They were focused. That falls to the leadership on the team. Our captains did a great job keeping guys ready to go and focused and keeping their heads in the game. We had a game plan and we stuck with it. We talked about changes at the half, but we decided to keep whats working and perfect the things we need to perfect.

Deering got eight saves from Lufumbo-Mbenza.

Scarborough had a 9-7 edge in shots on frame and got four saves from Ouellette, but tasted defeat for the first time.

Deerings a good team, said Diaz. Everyone knows what they bring to the table. I thought we actually played pretty well. We did a lot of good things that often results in goals, but thats how this game goes sometimes. Well learn from this and well get better from it. I dont think we handled playing catch-up great. Some of that is my fault. Well approach that better moving forward.

Each team took six corner kicks.

The 1 and 2

Despite Tuesdays loss, Scarborough is the top seed in Class A South and will open the playoffs next week at home in the quarterfinals, likely against Kennebunk or Falmouth.

The road to the crown will go through the Red Storm and Scarborough will lick its wounds and will be up for the challenge.

This didnt change our seeding, Diaz said. Im glad we learned some lessons today and not in the next couple weeks. This is good for us. Im very proud of these guys and what theyve accomplished. They won a really tough conference. Well look at the things we did wrong tonight and well correct them.

Deering projects to be the second seed in Class A South and will host a quarterfinal round game next week, possibly against crosstown rival Portland, which the Rams didnt play in the regular season.

Class A is unpredictable, said Vidal. We need to work hard in practice, stay disciplined and have the confidence to know no matter who were playing, we can beat. Beating Scarborough shows we have a chance. I look forward to the first game of the playoffs.

Weve done this before where weve had really good games, then we get ahead of ourselves, Costigan said. Hopefully, knowing it was Scarborough, this might boost our confidence. We have a serious chance here, we just have to be on board.

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Deering boys come to life to hand Scarborough first loss - Press Herald

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare II Launch Everything You Need to Know Before the New Era Begins with Campaign Early Access* – Call of Duty

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Tor Aksel Eriksen: A Norwegian Marinejegerkommandoen all-around specialist. Considered a modern-day Viking with a full spectrum of abilities, from diving to HALO jumping, E.O.D. to hostage rescue situations.

Calisto Allard: A French-Spanish descendent of Frances last royal family who rebelled to join the elite Chasseurs Alpins of the 27th Mountain Infantry Brigade. An expert of high-altitude combat known for incredible accuracy, especially her preferred weapon: the bow.

Declan Mac"Conor":An Irish Defense Forces insurgency specialist within the Army Ranger Wing. Known for leading counterterrorism, hostage rescue, and special reconnaissance operations.

Fender Takacs: A Hungarian Zszls (Master Sergeant) of the countrys Defense Forces who specializes in high-value targets, demolitions, and urban warfare. Raised without knowing the identity of his father, a great CIA Operator, he was told to always hide his face, doing so with a custom helmet.

Kim Horangi Hong-jin (Beta Operator Skin Reward): A South-Korean gambler turned soldier of fortune, once assigned to the ROK Armed Forces 13th Special Mission Brigade. Expert in subduing high-value targets with extreme risk tendencies.

Darnell Hutch Hutchinson: An American college football athlete turned Marine network and data specialist. With the help of the Call of Duty Endowment, he found employment in the private cybersecurity sector after four years of active-duty service, but ultimately transitioned back once he learned of the Marine Corps Forces Cyberspace Command (MARFORCYBER).

Knig: An Austrian Jagdkommando within his countrys Special Forces, only known to be a mountain of a man with a sniper hood covering his face.

Rozlin Roze Helms: An American Army Ranger, who was formerly contracted by the Jackals to eliminate Al Qatala in Africa, and Shadow Company to seek order in Verdansk. Highly sought after for her proficiency in small-unit tactics and close-combat engagements, she ripped up her contract within the tumultuous company and her dark suits in early 2022 to align with SpecGru.

Salvatrice Stiletto Muselli: An Italian law enforcement officer within the Carabinieris Anti-Mafia and Anti-Drug Task Forces, notorious for her signature switchblade. A fearless urban-warfare specialist that used her experience against the Cammora to train police forces against other crime syndicates and terrorist cells, including those in Las Almas.

Sami Zero Zakaria: An Egyptian Task Force 777 Operator, part of the counter-terrorism unit within the countrys premier El-Saka Forces. His nickname comes from his journey to service: grief-stricken after surviving a nightclub attack that saw him lose his sisters, he sacrificed his opulent and privileged life for a selfless position in protecting others.

Hiro Oni Wantanabe (PlayStation Exclusive): A Japanese descendent of a centuries old samurai clan who left home as a teenager to avoid following his fathers wishes of him joining a crime syndicate. After serving abroad, he joined his countrys Special Assault Team, but was dishonorably discharged thanks to the influence and power of his father, now a leader of that same syndicate. Currently, Oni is a gun for hire who vows for justice under the old samurai code.

Weapons Weapon Platforms and the Gunsmith

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Call of Duty: Modern Warfare II Launch Everything You Need to Know Before the New Era Begins with Campaign Early Access* - Call of Duty

A Grip on Sports: Welcome to postseason baseball, where the cons overcome the pros at least for one day – The Spokesman Review

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A GRIP ON SPORTS Two three-letter words. Pro. Con. Two small words that mean so much as they relate to the Seattle Mariners. As in, The pros of Saturdays win are outweighed by the cons of Tuesdays loss. Yes, they are.

People in the Northwest have long, and short, memories. If they didnt, they wouldnt forget the long-celebrated joy of The Double was washed away by the Cleveland Indians. Or that the magnificence of the 2001 regular season only lasted a week or so in the postseason.

Baseball is like that. The only unbridled delight comes from winning the final game of the season if you make the playoffs. Otherwise, agony is the long-term result. Agony accompanied by what-ifs and should-have-dones. Thats the one truism of a sport that takes hours to play, allows multiple minutes to make decisions and breaks your heart in seconds.

Like yesterday.

For three hours or so, the Ms outplayed the 106-win Houston Astros, the same team that won 12 of 19 regular season meetings between the two and outdistanced the American League West by 16 games. Then? Poof, gone.

Two bad pitches. Two home runs in the final two innings. Seven innings of hard work washed away in a 9-8 defeat.

Baseball.

All the pros, such as Logan Gilberts mostly poised-filled first postseason start, gone. Julio Rodriguezs star turn (he had two hits including a double and a triple, two RBI and scored three times), forgotten. An inning in which the Ms hit for a cycle, immaterial.

Instead the game ends with an entire fanbase second-guessing a decision. Or decisions. And throwing blame around like flags in a late-night Pac-12 football game.

The cons are obvious. The early wasted opportunities to add on even more runs. The Andres Munoz hanging slider cmon, four in a row when a guy has a 100-miles-per-hour fastball? Alex Bregman launched into the seats. The 3-2 pitch that hit pinch-hitter David Hensley in the ninth. The 1-2 slider from Paul Sewald to Jeremy Pena that didnt slide enough and allowed the Astros best hitter, Yordan Alvarez to walk to the plate.

And the con of cons, Robbie Rays hit-me-please second pitch.

You are more than welcome to second-guess the decision to bring Ray, a starting pitcher who has struggled recently and against Houston much of the year, into the game. Second-guess whether using starters in such a situation is good or bad strategy. Second-guess whether Ray should have pitched Alvarez differently, or whether the Ms should have pitched to Alvarez at all or any of a dozen other decisions.

Thats your right as a baseball fan.

But remember this. If Alvarez had been off by a 16th of an inch, the ball doesnt land in the seats. It skies into right field, falls into Mitch Hanigers glove and everyone wonders how Scott Servais got so smart.

Baseball.

Think back 72 hours from Tuesdays heartbreak. Recall the Blue Jays fans shuffling out of the Rogers Centre on Saturday, eyes red, heads bowed, hearts cracking. Every one of them were asking themselves why. How. What. Second-guessing pitches. Second-guessing decisions. Second-guessing their decision to be fans in the first place. An hour before they left the park, they were sure sure their team would win. Not just confident. Sure.

Sound familiar?

Baseball.

The pros of making the postseason were obvious to every Mariner fan a week ago. Now the cons are too.

WSU: Hey, takeaways have another meaning in football. Not just thoughts on what just happened but key elements of any game. The Cougars want more of them. Colton Clark tells us how they are going to make that happen. Elsewhere in the Pac-12 and college football, Dish and the conference television arm are not seeing eye-to-eye right now. Litigation has begun. Jon Wilner shares that news in the Mercury News. He also has his weekly bowl projections. Oregon State will welcome the Cougars on Saturday and will do it coming off one of the best plays of the season. There was a time not long ago when Washington was overflowing with talented defensive backs. An Oregon player hopes to be granted one more college season. Utah has some problems it needs to fix before hosting USC this Saturday. The Trojans offer a series of challenges, including Travis Dye. The practices are a little faster at Colorado. Arizona needs to bounce back against the Huskies. In basketball news, Arizona held its media day Tuesday. And we thought Tommy Lloyd was a Mariner fan. Colorado has a player who wants to honor his grandfathers legacy.

Gonzaga: Whats the saying? Iron sharpens iron? If its true, then the Bulldogs should be sharp as a razor come the end of their preseason workouts. Theo Lawson has this story on how intense the GU practices have been, and it includes a quote from Mark Few that will bring back good memories for Zag followers. Bree Salenbien is still in the process of rehabbing her injured knee. As Jim Allen tells us, the sophomore guard has yet to practice this season.

Idaho: We can pass along some looks at the Vandals from Montana sources. Elsewhere in the Big Sky, Northern Colorado is trying to put its worst game of the season behind it. UC Davis is locked in for the seasons second half.

Preps: After a long drought, the Shadle Park boys cross country team is looking forward to the postseason. Keenan Gray shares this story on the groups quest to make the State meet. Dave Nichols has a roundup of Tuesdays action.

Mariners: How many stories about the loss do you want to read? You want opinion? We have that, with Larry Stone and Matt Calkins columns from the Times. You want the nuts and bolts? We have that with Ryan Divishs game story. You want more? We have that as well. Marco Gonzales is not on the playoff roster again. We wrote about this earlier this week.

Seahawks: The Hawks are signing Bruce Irvin to the practice squad with the idea the veteran has enough left to help the leaky defense. Maybe if they had re-signed Bobby Wagner they wouldnt be in this spot.

Kraken: The captain-less Kraken will open a new season with new faces in Anaheim.

Big wins. Bad losses. Baseball has both. But damn, why do they have to happen so close to each other? The poor Mariner fans who has never experienced the postseason is getting a Masters degree in the games emotions, arent they? And in a shorter time than it takes to earn an MBA from WGU. Until later

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A Grip on Sports: Welcome to postseason baseball, where the cons overcome the pros at least for one day - The Spokesman Review

Five area volleyball teams headed to regionals – The Clanton Advertiser – Clanton Advertiser

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Published 3:29 pm Friday, October 14, 2022

By Carey Reeder | Staff Writer

Five high school volleyball teams in the Chilton County area punched their tickets to the 2022 AHSAA Regionals with first or second place finishes in their respective area tournament.

Isabella High School won the Class 2A Area 8 volleyball tournament on Oct. 13 with a 3-0 win over Thorsby High School in the final. Both Chilton County schools began the area tournament in the semifinals. Isabella defeated B.B. Comer High School 3-0, and Thorsby beat Fayetteville High School 3-2 to advance to the final.

The whole team played very well, and kept their heads up and kept fighting, Thorsby coach Brittany Maddox said.

Both teams advanced to the Class 2A South Regional Tournament on Oct. 20. Isabella will take on Area 4 runner-up Ariton High School at 12:45 p.m., and Thorsby faces Area 4 winner G.W. Long High School at 11:30 a.m.

We have had a really good season, and we have been going to a lot of bigger schools for tournament trying to get the girls ready for the season, Isabella coach Kacie Adams said. They have responded really well, and I think that set them up for success in the area tournament.

Jemison High School edged Sylacauga High School 3-2, and 15-13 in the final set of the Class 5A Area 8 volleyball tournament on Oct. 12. The Panthers went on the road to Sylacauga to earn the first seed in the Class 5A South Regional Tournament with two wins. Jemison defeated Shelby County High School in straight sets in the semifinals. Jemison faces Charles Henderson High School on Oct. 19 at 10:15 a.m.

Maplesville High School took down the Class 1A Area 7 volleyball tournament on Oct. 12 at their home gym. In the first round, Verbena High School lost 3-1 to Notasulga High School to end the Red Devils season.

Notasulga moved on to face Maplesville and fell in straight sets 3-0, and the Red Devils moved onto the title game. Billingsley High School joined Maplesville in the final with a 3-0 win over Autaugaville High School. Maplesville prevailed in straight sets over Billingsley 3-0, and did not lose a single set in route to the area title.

Maplesville advances to the Class 1A South Regional Tournament where the runner-up from Area 3 Fruitdale High School awaits at 12:45 p.m. on Oct. 19. Billingsley advances to the regional tournament as well and will face Area 3 winner Leroy High School on Oct. 19 at 12:45 p.m.

Chilton County High Schools season came to an end in the Class 6A Area 5 tournament falling to Calera High School 3-1 in the semifinals.

All of the south regional volleyball tournaments will take place between Oct. 19-20 at the Montgomery Cramton Bowl Multi-Plex.

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Five area volleyball teams headed to regionals - The Clanton Advertiser - Clanton Advertiser

Free Online Blackjack – USA Today

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Free Blackjack Game Overview

Welcome to this online blackjack page where you can play the best free blackjack games. The benefits of playing online are that you can learn blackjack rules in no rush and there is no actual monetary loss if you lose! You can click the menu button on the top right corner to read the rules. What's best: We also automatically save your game so you can come back anytime to play blackjack online! Remember, you don't win because you are closer to the value of 21 -- you win because your combined value of the cards is greater than that of dealer.

1. When the value of dealer's revealed card is 4,5 or 6, it may be fruitful to double your bet with an Ace and 4 in hand.

2. You may want to surrender if you have 16 in your hand while the dealer has a 9,10 or A.

3. You should always split if you have a pair of Aces.

4. If you get a pair of 7s, only press hit if the dealer has 8,9,10 or Ace.

Play Blackjack for free now to test whether the strategy works!

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Free Online Blackjack - USA Today

Is the game of blackjack considered a sport? – The Non-League Football Paper – The Non-League Football Paper

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While the origins of blackjack will be debated forever, there is no doubting just how popular it is in the modern world still. Blackjack is a casino banking game that is prominent inside a land-based casino, while also being played online these days using modern-day tools like a sophisticated smartphone device. Although the game is purely a solitary activity, there are instances where it could be considered a sport given the success many teams have had in the past.

Normally, players are only focused on their play and what exactly they have in their hands, but the house can have an advantage if other players around the table are ignored. Unlike making the most of blackjack payout 6 to 5 and other online gaming opportunities, there have been examples in land-based resorts where a blackjack table works together to influence the outcome of every deal and essentially reign supreme in the end.

Tommy Hyland mastered team play

Although Tommy Hyland is an excellent blackjack player in his own right, he also managed to establish a team of players that went on to become one of the most successful in the history of the game. Taking on the role of blackjack team manager, Hyland became obsessed with other players and their playing styles. As a result of this, he assembled the very best players and they managed to bring down the house on numerous occasions. While card-counting skills were utilised, Hyland was like the coach of a soccer team in the way he organised, motivated, and trusted his troops. Like Tommy Hyland, Ken Uston mastered a similar technique and went on to earn millions through a network of talented players that worked with him for several years. While working in a blackjack team is forbidden, there is no doubting that it enabled players to beat the house and ensure more consistent success in blackjack games.

Could blackjack learn a thing or two from poker?

Unless youve been living under a rock for the past decade or so, youll be fully aware that poker has now well and truly entered the mainstream. Featured in video games like Red Dead Redemption and shown on television, pokers reputation has changed somewhat. Even Hollywood celebrities and world-famous sports stars play the game, with Paris Saint-Germains Neymar taking his skills from the beautiful game into a number of hotly-contested poker match-ups. Other famous faces, such as Ben Affleck, also take poker extremely seriously, entering tournaments and coming out on top. For example, in 2004, Affleck beat fellow actor Tobey Maguire and nearly 90 other poker players over a weekend to win first place and $356,400 at a major California poker tournament. As a result of breakthrough events like this, pokers image has significantly changed.

Leagues and tournaments need to be established

In order for blackjack to grow and perceptions to change, it needs the same type of makeover as poker received. Leagues and tournaments need to be established, famous players need to emerge, and television deals need to be signed. Once this happens, its overall package will entice more fans in the same way sporting products do.

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Is the game of blackjack considered a sport? - The Non-League Football Paper - The Non-League Football Paper

Can You Use Chaos Theory To Beat The House? – Casino.Org News

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Savvy gamblers are always looking for a wayto gain an edge over the house, and that includes looking to the world of scienceand math for help.

Here well look at chaos theory at its most basic level and whether you can you use it to gain an advantage in blackjack and roulette.

Chaos theory is a complicated mathematical theory that studies the unpredictable and random nature of complex systems.

A complex system could be something like theweather, or the behavior of water boiling on a stove.

It theorizes that a tiny difference instarting conditions will result in a completely different outcome, which iswhat makes the systems so complex to study.

You might be more familiar with the butterfly effect.

The term was coined by MIT meteorologist and one of the pioneers of chaos theory, Edward Lorenz, when he was developing a weather-prediction model in the 1960s.

He theorized that something as small as abuttery flapping its wings in Asia could be capable of eventually causing ahurricane in the Atlantic.

As is often the case in such discussions ofscientific discovery, many nuances were lost in its simplification forwidespread audiences.

And is also the case in many scientific discoveries,there were punters hoping to cash in.

Edward Lorenzs nuanced take on thepredictability of weather quickly began discussions on whether roulette spinscould be foretold, or whether blackjack shoes were complex systems.

And wherever there are gamblers looking tocash in, there is always someone selling a how-to guide that will make it quickand easy.

And in all fairness, both blackjack and rouletteoutcomes certainly do have a sensitive dependence to initial conditions.

So, lets take a look to see if you can usechaos theory next time youre at the casino.

The beauty of blackjack has always beenthat its not a random game.

The probability of the next card isdetermined by the cards that have been dealt preceding it.

And due to the rules of the game, a largenumber of high-value cards left to be dealt changes the odds, sometimes to thepoint where you have the advantage.

Chaos theory is used to find order inseemingly random data, so there is some sense that maybe it could be applied insome way here.

But that is just smoke and mirrors.

We know the difference that each cardsremoval from the game will make, there is no large change from the subtractionof one Ace from a 6-deck shoe.

Six decks of randomly shuffled cardspresent many opportunities for those that watch what cards have been played andknow the value of cards left to be played.

But it does not rise to the level of acomplex system. No small change to our starting conditions can lead to bigchanges by the end of the shoe.

Modeling of millions of shoes of blackjackdoes not reveal any tipping point where things change suddenly anddramatically.

Rather it shows a simple mathematicalprogression of highs and lows. Almost like a song if you will.

The purpose of a roulette wheel from thehouse side of things is to put together an instrument that creates anindependent trial.

One that randomly selects one of 38different numbers from double zero to 36.

But of course, an ivory ball, a woodenwheel, and a moving metal wheel head are perhaps not the best practical choicesfor such a task.

Trust an engineer to quickly figure out asystems flaws. Thats exactly what Joseph Jagger did way back in 1880 when he famouslybroke the bank in Monte Carlo.

Spotting just one wheel out of dozens that seemedto have flaws, he won about $7 million in todays money in an up-and-down weekthat saw the casino realize the problem and attempt a bait and switch with adifferent wheel head.

I personally saw a rather eccentricEnglishman, who went by the pseudonym Harry Gatto, beat two separate wheelheads for more than $300K back in the early 90s after tracking them for months.

There is little doubt that roulette wheelshave been susceptible to attack in the past due to poor maintenance and flaweddesign.

The question is whether they still are, andwhether chaos theory can help in that pursuit.

Here again, on the surface, it appears thatsmall deviations in starting conditions can cause large changes in results.

A slightly bent fret on a wheel head, aworn ball, a groove in the ball track, a slight tilt to the spindle any ofthese can cause a number or segment of numbers to hit more often than theyshould.

But most of these issues are best describedby everyday physics, and while the turn of the roulette wheel and thesubsequent landing of the ball is affected by many more things than you mightat first think, its simply untrue that small differences in things as obscureas humidity or the temperature make a large difference in the speed or,more importantly, the number the ball ultimately lands in.

As far back as the late 70s physicsstudents from UCSC were tackling roulette with computers.

It turns out that by accounting for thespeed of the ball and the speed of the wheel, and then using other calculationsfor the scatter of the ball once it descends onto the wheel head, that theycould bet sections of the wheel that would net them north of a 40% advantage.

The issue here, much as counting cards, is that it is almost instantly observable by a trained professional.

You must first get the info on where theball is, where the wheel head is, and the speed of both, and then stillhave time to get your bets down where a hidden computer tells you to.

While it can now be accomplished by apps onyour phone, you can imagine the frantic betting back in the 80s.

But again, the late betting of coincidingnumbers on the wheel head is a dead giveaway. And this is one of many reasonswhy phones are almost never allowed to be out anywhere near a roulette game.

In rare cases, casinos may wave off newbets after just one or two revolutions of the ball to prevent this type ofadvantage play.

Other approaches from the late 80s and 90sthat looked for tilted wheel heads or other physical issues with the wheelshave also largely been fixed.

Its not uncommon for a larger casino inthe states to do wheel maintenance once a week, or even more.

This will include looking for any issues withfrets and canoes or ensuring that nothing sticky has gotten on a number toprevent the ball from bouncing out easily.

It will also employ a level to make surethe wheel isnt tilted in some way, which may have been how my Mr. Gatto managedto beat those roulette games.

And while collecting reams of data onroulette wheel decisions is what is generally prescribed for locating abeatable game, please note that most casinos already pull that data directlyfrom their electronic roulette scoreboards where it can then be analyzed bypowerful software looking for anomalies.

My advice on anyone wanting to sell you a chaostheory-derived roulette system is, as always, Run, dont walk.

While roulette remains susceptible toseveral different advantage plays, most of these are easily defeated byproperly trained staff and have nothing to do with chaos theory.

And perhaps the best protection of all issimply keeping two balls on the table of differing weights and sizes.

Even the best physics models or anabsolutely stunning supercomputer using some version of chaos modeling wontget far if they are unsure of the starting conditions that they need to make anaccurate prediction.

For something similar, check out:Can Quantum Entanglement Really Help You Win At Blackjack?

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Best Online Casinos in Canada (2022) List of the Best Canadian Casinos for Real Money Casino Games – CBS 6 News Richmond WTVR

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Finding the best online casinos in Canada is no easy task. Because there are so many casinos that you can use, it can get quite hard to decide which one to use and why - especially if you are new to gambling.

To help you out, we have done extensive research and managed to find the best online casinos for Canadian players.

We have focused on numerous factors, including the game variety, banking options, bonuses, and user experience, among others. After rigorous research, we found Spin Casino to be the best option for Canadian gamblers.

Sounds good? Lets dive right in.

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Pros:

Cons:

Spin Casino is our top online casino overall and for a reason. By partnering up with leading providers in the industry, this online casino manages to ensure the highest quality of games. To make things even more exciting, it offers a number of generous bonuses and promotions. Sounds like something you might like? Lets discover more.

Game Variety: 4.8/5

Spin Casino has it all skill gamers, hardcore slots enthusiasts, and sportsbook vets are equally well-considered here.

Their full-fledged online sportsbook lists money lines and competitive odds across dozens of betting markets. Youll find popular mainstream sports like baseball and MMA alongside specialty options that include trotting, surfing, Gaelic Hurling, and eSports.

Their online casino library isnt slacking, either youll find 480 traditional best online casino games here. Players can wager across 378 high-RTP slot machines, 15 of which are progressive jackpots that can pay millions with one lucky spin.

Additionally, skilled gamers can access 47 live casino games that account for several variants of poker, baccarat, roulette, and blackjack.

Bonuses & Promotions: 4.7/5

If you are a fan of generous bonuses (lets be honest, who isnt?), you will definitely love the welcome offer of Spin Casino.

When you sign up and make your first deposit, Spin Casino will reward you with a 100% match up to C$400 and there are two other variations of the welcome offer not too shabby, right?

There is one thing to remember, though the wagering requirement for the welcome bonus of Spin Casino is 70x which is a bit high. Make sure to keep this in mind before you decide to activate this welcome offer. Although it is not impossible to meet, you should expect to work a little bit to withdraw bonus funds.

On the bright side, Spin Casino has amazing offers for existing players as well. Wanna learn more? Dont hesitate to visit Spin Casinos website and check out its current offers - this way; you wont miss out on the newest and most exciting opportunities.

Banking Options: 4.6/5

Spin Casino lists an industry-leading 15 payment methods.

Youll be able to make deposits here using your credit or debit card, Interac, eChecks, iDebit payments, PaySafeCard, MuchBetter, ecoPayz, Flexepin, ecoVoucher, NeoSurf, or instant transfers from all Canadian banks these are really good selection of payment methods that should be enough for any gambler.

Another thing that we liked is their dedication to e-wallet compatibility and their accessible deposit limits - youll need to put down just C$5 to start gaming, although you have to deposit C$10 or more to claim your deposit matches.

Withdrawals are usually processed very fast, without any fees charged by this online casino.

Mobile Compatibility: 4.8/5

Spin Casino has a downloadable mobile app for iOS and Android devices. Their app runs butter-smooth, and we had no problems finding our favourite games within a few seconds.

You can spin through their selection of 378 slots and 15 progressive jackpots while on the go, as well as have unrestricted access to Spin Casinos online sportsbook.

That said, some of their table games arent mobile-friendly, and there also are some games that haven't been added to their mobile app yet.

Click here to view the best Spin Casino bonuses

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Jackpot City is famous for its multi-million dollar reels. Some lucky players have already received their share of jackpots - could you be next?

Game Variety: 4.8/5

Jackpot City is aptly named they host 379 traditional slots and tens of progressive jackpot reels; each of them can pay well into the millions.

Big fish hunters searching for a rush of anticipation should check out Major Millions and Mega Moolah both reels are known for their high RTP percentages and huge payout potentials.

That said, youll also have plenty to do in between spins. Youll find 53 live casino games and a variety of table games like poker, blackjack, baccarat, and roulette, among many more.

Jackpot City is strictly a traditional casino you wont find a sportsbook here.

Bonuses & Promotions: 4.7/5

If you are just getting started, there is a great welcome offer waiting for you at Jackpot City. All it takes to activate the welcome offer at Jackpot City is to make your first deposit of up to C$500, and you will receive a 100% deposit match.

This is not all!

Jackpot City will also reward you with 20 free spins on a famous game called All Lucky Glover 5. Want more? There are 4 additional variations of the welcome bonus at Jackpot City make sure to check them out before you decide which one to activate.

In order to be able to withdraw your wins made with the bonus money, this online casino required you to meet the wagering requirement of 50x while it might sound a bit high, it is very much average for the industry.

Banking Options: 4.7/5

Jackpot City and Spin Casino share the same slew of 15 banking options.

Youll be able to deposit funds here using a credit or debit card, sending an eCheck, or going through iDebit, MuchBetter, ecoPayz, Flexepin, NeoSurf, ecoVoucher, and PaySafeCard.

You can also enjoy instant deposit transfers from any Canadian bank as well.

In order to start betting here, youll only need to deposit $5. However, to claim your welcome bonus, youll have to put down at least $10.

To their credit, withdrawals here are totally fee-free. Payouts at Jackpot City are also quite fast and usually depend on the payment option you choose to use.

Mobile Compatibility: 4.65/5

Jackpot City hosts a dedicated app for mobile devices but if you do not want to download any additional applications, you are also able to use the mobile-optimized version of this online casino with no issues whatsoever.

Thankfully, their mobile website and their app are nearly indistinguishable from each other. Both options allow players to enjoy the full scope of Jackpot Citys gaming library while on the go.

Their apps user interface is very well-designed, and we had no problems loading up their hundreds of slots within seconds. Their app also has a dedicated live dealer section which will make you feel like you are in a real-life casino no matter where you are.

View all the latest Jackpot City bonuses and promos here

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Royal Panda is the best casino online for Canadian players in search of betting options. They offer a leading variety of high-quality slots, live casino games, and as well as amazing sports betting categories what more could you ask for?

Game Variety: 4.7/5

If youre looking for a traditional casino site with a strict no boredom policy, youll find your home with Royal Panda. Youd be hard-pressed to find a larger variety of your favorite casino games anywhere else!

At Royal Panda, you will have the opportunity to spin through 1,100+ high-quality slot reels, many of which are progressive jackpots that can pay into the hundreds of thousands.

In between slots sessions, players can enjoy 25 live casino variants of roulette, blackjack, poker, and baccarat. Youll also find yourself playing through 35 specialty card and dice games that are exclusive to Royal Pandas library.

Royal Panda will also appeal to sports bettors youll have access to competitive odds across hockey, football, eSports tournaments, snooker, surfing, volleyball, MMA, golf, boxing, motorsports, and 15 additional categories that include politics and religion.

Bonuses & Promotions: 4.7/5

Royal Panda offers a very generous welcome bonus for new sign-ups.

With your first deposit totalling $10 or more, youll qualify for Royal Pandas 100% deposit match up to $1,000. Their very reasonable 35x playthrough brings this bonus to life you wont have to wager endlessly to cash out your winnings!

Youll meet their wagering requirements rather quickly as you play their live casino games, spin through their 1,100+ reels, and try something new with Royal Pandas 35 exclusive specialty provisions.

Banking Options: 4.65/5

In comparison to our higher-ranked picks, Royal Pandas banking menu is rather limited. In their defence, they cover all the basics for new sign-ups.

Youll be able to make your deposits here through Visa, MasterCard, iDebit, Interac, PaySafeCard, and MuchBetter.

Their low deposit limits allow bettors to get started and claim their welcome bonus with as little as $10. Withdrawals here are 100% fee-free, but no matter what option you choose, the processing time can be quite a lot which is something that definitely needs improvement.

Mobile Compatibility: 4.7/5

Royal Panda offers two dedicated apps for Android devices - youll have to download separate applications to access their sportsbook and casino libraries.

Once again, iOS players are relegated to placing their wagers through Royal Pandas mobile-optimized website.

However, there should not be any concerns for iOS users, as the website of this online casino is perfectly optimized for mobile use.

Click here to explore 1,100+ slots at Royal Panda and claim your welcome bonus

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Slots.lv is a great online casino in many regards, but it shines especially bright when it comes to the promo front, offering some of the best casino bonuses. No matter what attracts you to the welcome bonus, it is very likely to find it at Slots.lv.

Game Variety: 4.6/5

Avid slots enthusiasts who occasionally wager across table games and specialty provisions will find their new home here.

Youll have the chance to spin through 195 high-RTP slot reels and have a chance to win great generous jackpots. Big fish hunters should know that many of their progressive reels pay well into the millions. Additionally, you can enjoy tens of crypto-exclusive machines not found anywhere else.

In between spins, you can play through 8 poker games and participate in 6 active poker tournaments. Youll also find 8 versions of online blackjack, 5 live casino provisions, 6 virtual roulette wheels, 4 baccarat tables, and more.

Bonuses & Promotions: 4.8/5

Slots.lv offers generous welcome bonuses for crypto and fiat bettors. If you decide to make your first deposit using a cryptocurrency of $10 or more, youll qualify for their 300% welcome match up to $1,500.

If you dont want to use crypto, you can still receive a very generous welcome offer on your first fiat payment: with your first fiat deposit of $20 or more, youll qualify for their 200% match up to $1,000.

The best thing is that the bonuses do not end here. Slots.lv has many more to offer, which ensures a great gaming experience for the users. Players are advised to frequently check out their website to ensure they are not missing out on new opportunities.

The welcome bonus of Slots.lv comes with a wagering requirement of just 35x, which is very competitive.

Banking Options: 4.7/5

Banking at Slots.lv is a breeze this online casino supports as many as 10 different payment options, among them are four digital coins Bitcoin, Ethereum, Bitcoin Cash, and Litecoin.

Not a fan of crypto? No worries, you can use traditional payment options here as well, including debit and credit cards. Depending on the option you choose to use, you will have to deal with different fees and waiting times.

Usually, it is better to use crypto payments as they are processed in the shortest period of time and cost less than traditional banking options.

Mobile Compatibility: 4.6/5

Some might think that since there is no mobile application for Slots.lv available, it might not be the best option for mobile gaming. But thats not true at all. The website of this online casino is perfectly optimized for mobile use which makes Slots.lv a great casino to gamble on the go.

Youll enjoy a high degree of compatibility across their entire casino library. Whether youre spinning through the slots, sitting in with a live dealer, or playing any other game available at Slots.lv you wont encounter any perceivable lag.

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Cafe Casino is our top-ranked pick for mobile bettors. Youll enjoy seamless, full-fledged compatibility across their entire gaming library from your smartphone!

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Best Online Casinos in Canada (2022) List of the Best Canadian Casinos for Real Money Casino Games - CBS 6 News Richmond WTVR

Jim Ross Is Glad That "Big Time Player" Bray Wyatt Is Back In WWE TJR Wrestling – TJR Wrestling

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Add Jim Ross to the list of people happy to see Bray Wyatt back in WWE with JR calling the former Universal Champion a big time player.

Even though Jim Ross works for AEW, he spent about 25 years of his career working in WWE as an announcer as well as an executive. During that time, he called Bray Wyatt matches along with many matches from Brays dad Mike Rotunda aka Irwin R. Schyster.

After spending 12 years in WWE, the company decided to release Wyatt in July 2021 due to budget cuts. No official reason was ever given, but there were apparently times where Wyatt butted heads creatively with former WWE Chairman Vince McMahon.

Ever since McMahon retired on July 22nd, there were rumors that Wyatt was going to return under the new creative regime led by Triple H. Over the last month, there were White Rabbit clues that led to Wyatt returning at Extreme Rules on October 8th. That was followed up on the October 14th Smackdown when Wyatt spoke from the heart thanking the fans for saving his life by showing him so much love during his WWE career.

On the latest edition of the Grilling JR podcast, Ross talked about Wyatts WWE return:

I think hes a big-time player and Im glad hes back. Im not sure where theyre headed with that deal, nor would I like to know, I like to watch it all unfold when I get a chance. Somebody earlier asked if I watch WWE, I watch it sometimes, but I do because Im a wrestling fan. Ive got my brand, AEW is my brand, and thats what Im buying my groceries on but I think hes a hell of a talent.

JR also referenced Wyatts father and grandfather (Blackjack Mulligan) saying that Wyatt has wrestling in his blood.

Hes got that Blackjack Mulligan and Mike Rotunda blood running through his veins, hes athletic as hell for a 300-pound guy. Im glad hes back, Im glad anybody is back for any company if everybody is on board. In other words, I believe that this is going to make Bray Wyatt very happy and very fulfilled and I think thats a good thing.

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What Casino Game Has the Best Odds? – Review42

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Casino games are designed to provide bettors with fun and entertainment, but sometimes it can seem like the odds are stacked well against you, and winning can appear impossible. Though gambling should never be considered a way to build wealth or a way of living, constantly losing doesnt bring much fun or joy.

That is why in this article, we decided to uncover what casino game has the best odds and mention close runner-ups, which can also bring you better chances of winning.

We will also mention the worst odds games you should steer clear of and give you some tips on improving your chances of winning.

Some might be surprised to learn that you have the best odds of winning when taking part in casino table games. Although playing against a dealer and other players might seem intimidating, the odds are always on your side.

With a 49% chance of winning, blackjack offers some of the best odds in casino table games. If you are unfamiliar with the rules of this game, we will try to give you a short crash course on how to play blackjack. The main objective of blackjack is to beat the dealer, and all bettors compete against the dealers hand.

Both the dealer and the players aim to get as close as possible to 21 or hit 21 directly to win the game; however, dont be fooled into thinking that this game is based on luck; quite on the contrary, blackjack is based on numbers. The house edge in blackjack can be between 0.5% and 1% depending on your experience and expertise as a player since, in this game, your moves determine your fate.

Craps is the second-best on our best casino game odds list. This dice-based game comes with a wider house edge between 0% and 16.67% due to the multiple betting options it offers. Unlike blackjack, this game is partly based on guessing and luck, which is why the craps table is known to bring the most thrill and excitement in a casino. Simply put, in Craps, one player called a shooter rolls the dice while the other players place their bets on how they think the dice will turn out.

The bets that come with the lowest house edge are the simple ones (Pass or Dont Pass). As a player standing on the sidelines, if you bet on a pass, the shooter must score a 7 or 11 for both of you to win. If the shooter rolls a 2, 3, or 12, you lose. However, if they roll any other number, the game goes on, and the shooter needs to roll the same number one more time before having a go at 7 or 11 again.

When it comes to roulette, we must assess casino odds by game style. For example, the European version comes with a 2.7% house edge, while American roulette has a house edge of 5.26%. However, there is also another factor RTP (Return Per Player), which helps us decide which game style offers better odds.

Nonetheless, the odds are still in favor of European roulette with a 97.3% RTP; but just in case you are more fond of the American version, you should know it offers more than a solid return of 94.7%.

Some sources say that the probability of winning is just below 50% when placing bets on either black or red. Of course, betting on numbers can bring larger pay; however, placing wagers on color is the best way to minimize losses and maximize payouts.

When played well, Baccarat can offer players an RTP of almost 100%. Even though this game might not be among the usual popular picks due to its high minimum bets of $25 to $50, the house edge is what earns its place on the best casino game odds list. The house advantage in Baccarat can often be as low as 1.01%.

When playing Baccarat, just the thought that you are betting blind on whose hand might be the closest to 9 in total can make you feel uneasy. However, by choosing the right type of table and making the right moves, you can be at a great advantage. One of the most important things to remember is to never take the tie and bet on the banker to increase your winning potential, as this option often offers the lowest house edge and the best return.

Just as you might often wonder what clothes you should wear to a casino, questioning which are the worst odds in casino games you should steer clear from is also reasonable. But before we go on to explain why these games have the worst odds, we must note that there are no bad games at casinos, just games like the ones we will discuss that have bad short-term odds.

We are all equal in the eyes of slot machines; there is no strategy or level of expertise that can give a player some advantage, and sadly there is no way to better the odds as well. So when playing slots, you simply rely on your luck and hope for the best.

The house edge for slot games varies between 2% and 15% based on the type of machine, limits, casino location, and more. Though you might think these are similar to the odds of winning at craps, that is not the case. While the total number of play lines can increase your chances of landing a winning line, there is no guarantee nor a way to predict the outcome, as slot machines operate based on a Random Number Generator (RNG).

Wheel of Fortune might be a fun game to play, but its odds are in no way promising. In this casino game, you bet on wherever you think the wheel will stop, meaning you have $1, $5, $10, $20, and a joker as your options.

While you might think that betting on $1 is your safest option, this isnt the case, as the house edge is still 11%. The house edge when a player places his bet on a joker can be up to 24% which also does not run in your favor. So if you are looking around a casino seeking the best odds at casino games, the Wheel of Fortune is not your friend.

Keno is widely considered the worst game to play in a casino much like other lottery games, it is based on luck rather than skill. So even if you want to calculate the mathematical possibilities involved, it is no use as there is a very little chance that it will be worth your while.

There are 80 numbers in total in this game, the house chooses 20 of those, and your winnings are calculated based on how many of those you have guessed right. Unfortunately, the house edge here varies between 20% and 40%, indicating that your chances of winning are very slim.

One independent survey showed that the worst odds in casino slots belong to airport machines. The odds of casino games available on cruise ships are also not favorable, as companies are well aware that your options are limited in that scenario. In contrast, Las Vegas is famous for providing players with the best experience and often with the best odds, depending on the establishment you choose.

DID YOU KNOW: According to gambling statistics, your chances of winning a slot machine game are somewhere between 1 in 5,000 and 1 in 34 million.

Although gambling is just a source of fun, you might want to make the most of it when reaching into your pocket. The first thing you should keep in mind is that there is a lot more to winning than figuring out what game has the best odds in a casino.

Cheating is not recommended as this is likely to get you banned; however, there are some things that you can do to increase your chances of winning, no matter if youre playing a game of luck or skill.

Before you pull up a chair and join others on the Blackjack table or throw the dice in Craps, you should know that having little to no information about the game rules is a major disadvantage.

By making learning the rules a priority, you guarantee yourself both more fun and success when playing. Of course, you might have to go through many how-to guides or request the assistance of a casino dealer, and it will take you some time before you get the hang of a game, but it is well worth it.

While on the lookout for the best odds at casino games, it is easy to get carried away and compromise your finances. Often gambling apps and gambling online altogether might even carry greater risk as the moment of checking your wallet is amiss.

Nonetheless, no matter your preferred gambling type, it is important to set a budget beforehand and be aware of how much money you can afford to lose.

The RTP percentage is a measurement that can help us determine if a casino game is worth playing or not. It represents the amount of money that comes back to you over time. So when youre wondering what game has the best odds at the casino, just check the RTP.

By knowing the RTP, you can also easily determine the house edge. For example, if the RTP is set at 93% and you bet $100, you can expect to win $93 while the remaining $7 go to the casino.

Whether engaging in online casino games or playing in a physical setting, your chances of winning are the same, as both online casinos and land-based casinos offer the same players edge (RTP). However, this is only true for casinos that are consistent with the RTP they offer.

Be careful, as even if the odds of an establishments casino games seem convenient, they are at an unfair advantage if they hire unfair dealers or use rigged software. That is why it is important to make sure the casino you play in is properly licensed.

Online casinos get their license by hiring a third party to test RNG and the results of their games. MGA and AGA are some of the gaming commissions in charge of regulating licensed operators; some examples of fully licensed online casinos include Ignition Casino, Chumba Casino, BC.Game, etc.

On the other hand, land-based casinos must also offer fair odds of winning at casino games and use sealed cards only and regulated precision dice.

DID YOU KNOW: Counting cards while playing casino card games is not illegal; however, using electronic devices to help you in counting cards is.

When taking part in casino games, gambling responsibly is crucial for an optimal gambling experience. However, as we discussed throughout the article, knowing the ins and outs of the games can give you a better perspective and ensure you are entering a casino well-prepared.

Though knowing the best and worst odds at casino games is surely helpful, choosing a casino that obeys the regulations set by commissions is also of high regard.

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Bo Dallas and 4 other members of Bray Wyatt’s family who have been wrestlers in WWE & WCW – Sportskeeda

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Bray Wyatt's family members who have been in WWE

Bray Wyatt made his first appearance on WWE television since his return at Extreme Rules last Saturday. He was on SmackDown and cut an emotional promo about the past year of his life.

However, Bray Wyatt is not the only member of his family to have wrestled in the company. In the world of professional wrestling, it is common for an athlete's son to want to follow in his father's footsteps and pursue a career that has brought prestige to his family's name. Cody Rhodes, Randy Orton and Roman Reigns come from legendary wrestling families.

CONTINUE READING

Sometimes, over three generations follow the route taken by their forefathers. The Windham-Rotunda family isnt an exception in this case. They are the early pioneers of the wrestling business, whose legacy is currently being carried on by Bray Wyatt (Windham Rotunda).

In this list, we will look at five members of Bray Wyatts family who have been wrestlers in WWE and WCW.

Popularly known as Blackjack Mulligan during his time in WWF, Robert Windham was Bray Wyatts maternal grandfather. He was a part of the WWE Hall of Fame Class of 2006 and was inducted alongside Blackjack Lanza.

Mulligan made it to WWWF after a successful run in the National Wrestling Alliance. A multi-time NWA champion, Blackjack was involved in multiple high-profile WWE matches, including Andre the Giant and the legendary Bruno Sammartino.

Robert Windham's most notable moment was with John Lanzo. Dubbed The Blackjacks, they would go on to win the tag team championships in 1975. Mulligan was also an interview show host, which went by the name BlackJack Barbecue in the mid-1980s.

Robert Windhams last performance inside the squared circle came in 1993. The patriarch of the Windham family died in April 2016 after battling heart disease for several months.

Barry Windham is another popular figure in the Windham family. He is the son of Blackjack Mulligan and Bray Wyatts maternal uncle. Barry was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2012, as a member of The Four Horsemen.

Nicknamed The Widowmaker, Barry was trained by his father and made his wrestling debut on November 1979 against J.J. Dillon. Following a notable run with Lex Luger as the Twin Towers in NWA, he joined hands with the Four Horsemen.

Subsequently, Barry Windham had various championship matches and team-ups in WWE before he turned to the role of a producer for the company from 2007-08.

A former NWA Heavyweight Champion, Windhams last performance was in the 2010 American Combat Wrestling event. The 62-year old veteran is doing well in health after surviving a near-death situation in 2011.

Brother to Barry Windham, Kendall had a brief run in WCW mostly when the promotion went into heavy losses. He retired in 2002 shortly after the fall of WCW and is yet to be inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame as compared to his brother.

Kendall Windham made his wrestling debut in 1985 as part of Florida Championship Wrestling. He became a five-time Heavyweight Champion and eventually made it to the big leagues of WCW. Kendall is well-known for being a member of the Yamasaki Corporation, a spin-off of the Four Horsemen.

Kendall and Barry Windham eventually defeated Harlem Heat in 1999 to win their first tag team championship as a team. They had brief stints in FCW as well as All Japan Pro Wrestling before dropping the WWC tag titles to La Artilleria Pesada. The brothers lost a rematch to them in January 2001, with it marking Kendall Windhams last match.

Also known as Mike Rotunda, Lawrence is Bray Wyatts father. He is an exceptional figure in professional wrestling due to his performances as well as character portrayals. Despite retiring in 2003, Mike made multiple sporadic appearances in WWE before being released in 2020.

Lawrence Rotunda began his wrestling career after being trained by The Destroyer (Richard Beyer) in 1981. He joined his brother-in-law Barry Windham in WWE and won the tag team championships multiple times as the U.S Express.

In WWE, Lawrence is renowned for his portrayal of Irwin R. Schyster or I.R.S. The gimmick of a tax collector became an instant favorite and fans loved his catchphrases like pay the fair share. He eventually joined Ted Dibiase to form the infamous Money Inc. in 1993 and the duo won the WWE Tag Team Championships thrice.

Lawrence Rotunda eventually left the company to side with WCW. Debuting as V.K. Wallstreet, the veteran joined the New World Order. I.R.S was eventually rehired by WWE as a road agent. He last fought in the 15th Anniversary Battle Royal in 2007 which was won by his former partner, Ted Dibiase.

The younger brother of Bray Wyatt, Taylor Rotunda is best known for his time in WWE as Bo Dallas. He worked in the promotion for 13 years before being released in April 2021 after a neck injury sidelined him for months. Rumor has it that Dallas will be returning soon as part of Bray Wyatts Firefly Fun House.

Dallas started wrestling at the age of 18 during which time he won the state championships in Florida. Subsequently, he became a part of WWEs developmental brand FCW. Bo Dallas is a three-time FCW Heavyweight Champion and a two-time tag team champion with Husky Harris (Bray Wyatt).

However, he is mostly renowned for his 260-day reign as NXT Champion in 2013. Dallas debuted on the main roster in 2014. While he embarked on a winning run, he made his way to the mid-card. He had a brief run in the Social Outcasts as well as The Miztourage, before forming a tag team with Curtis Axel known as The B-Team.

Bo Dallas last wrestled in a house show in Zurich in November 2019. He teamed with the Dirty Dawgs (Dolph Ziggler and Rober Roode) but failed to defeat Shorty G (Chad Gable) and the Lucha House Party.

A legend thinks Bray Wyatt should be booked like Hulk Hogan. More details here.

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Is the West Ready for the Second Russian Revolution? – The National Interest Online

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A new Holy Roman Empire has formed across the world. It is a new nomosthe phrase Carl Schmitt borrowed from the Greeks to outline the scope of a new Europeof territorial and resource acquisition. In this new Europe, borders collapse and civilizational economic, political, and cyberspace diasporas harken to the real dark age, that of modernity. The worlds existential crisis is not only the makings of the mad Tsar but a competition for the grossraum (empire-building) of resource scarcity and areas of influence. The nomos is not written over maps or borders. It is spherical rather than linear and revolves around several dimensions as civilizational states ebb and flow, and competition extends into space and technology. Traditional ideologies of Left and Right become superfluous as the new technological materialism ushers in a tsunami of crises, wrapped in uniform elite manipulation of the political.

At present, the Western media consensus is correct about Russian aggression and aggrandizement. However, the underlying tectonic plates have shifted to a concerted new alliance. This alliance is a New Holy Roman Empire that does not sit in the heart of Europe but on the peripheries. The U.S.-British alliance is Atlanticism dressed in the old robes of liberality but the main player is the new grossraum of elite competition. The origins of the alliance are not only material and resource-oriented but also cultural. The United States has once again placed itself at the epicenter of the liberal order. Liberalisms values are essentially against the other and presume a moral superiority that is exported through missionary ventures. It is no wonder that George Soros is a big fan of Atlanticism and keen to dismantle the main threat to the United States: the Molotov-Ribbentrop marriage of convenience between Russia and Germany. For Soros, a strong European powerhouse like Germany shifts the balance back to Europe. The United States has the strategic support of Great Britain. However, while the United States is driven by raison dtat, the British are driven by Palmerstons assertion of self-interest dosed with a vindictive streak for enemies. Therefore, Great Britains enemies are Russia and Germany in equal order. Of course, this is all dressed up in the pretty verbiage of liberal values. The essential realpolitik is to weaken Germany, stoke the flames of Europes eastern borders, and destroy a Russo-German collaboration that would establish a super-powerful grossraum in Europe. Germany, already the dominant force in the European Union (EU), is, despite its post-war liberal fawning, essentially a culture state like Italy,

The Russian response reflects the structure of the two hegemonic blocks: the Atlantic alliance of the United States and Great Britain, and the Chinese-Russian grossraum. Ukraine represents the grinding tectonic plates of the hinterland. However, it is represented almost universally in U.S. and British media as a fight between authoritarianism and democracy. Yet, in 2015 The Guardian described Ukraine as the most corrupt nation on earth. The trend towards authoritarianism is a chimera as it has occurred in all political systems, not only ostensibly authoritarian ones. The geopolitical policy of the West is shrouded in the language of humanitarian global moral rights. War, away from the battlefield, amounts to a battle of media narratives, and here the cannon fodder is the modern man confined to the economic realm. Yet liberal democracy suffers from an internal weakness when it confronts civilizational states: the lack of homogeneity. While differentiation and individualism benefit isolated people in the economic marketplace, the world of realpolitik is suited to homogeneity, irrespective of any moral take on this position.

The value-driven world of the Western knowledge class is at odds with the productive class, represented by the schism shown in the shift to populism and democracy in European countries such as Italy, Sweden, and Hungary. The neoliberal dream of deterritorialization and degradation of the nation-state and civilizational realmsconsidered part of the raison dtat of a globalized marketis seen as a major threat by Russia. The Russian policy of pushback in Ukraine has been long nurtured by Russian analysts. It is not a recent reaction of some hardliners in the Kremlin, or an idea dreamed up by the mad Tsar. It is deemed sacrosanct that globalization on the scale so far seen is a strategic disaster for Russian interests due to the hegemonic effects of U.S. financial and technological monopolization of the world. Consequently, for Russia, the war in Ukraine serves two purposes. One is the expulsion of NATO from Eastern Europe and the second is to foment a crisis of confidence in globalization and build new blocks of cooperation in the east.

Russia, China, and a resurgent Germany would represent an existential threat to U.S. interests, which are already suffering from internal dissonance and social breakdown. U.S. institutions are failing to represent the heterogeneity that existed after World War II. The United States, due to this internal dissonance, always needed a foe, first communism then Islam. At the same time, this allowed for massive spending and a wartime economy that was an exportable commodity. Military aid to Ukraine is the global tax on such a system. As Vladimir Lenin apparently noted (although the quote was never attributed to him), at the heart of the Western mission is a contradiction. When the time comes to hang the capitalists, they will sell us the rope. This contradiction is more noted when liberal democracy attempted to legitimate capital through a global liberal values-based system.

The reason why the Ukraine conflict is so essential to Russian interests is that it has its roots in the legacy of the Russian revolution. In essence, the Soviet republics were never part of a civilizational Soviet Union. It was a forced marriage and outside of European Russia;the nomenklatura of the Soviet Union had little in common with the Kazakhs or the Tartars. This is why the war with Ukraine has existential connotations for Vladimir Putin and Russia. It could lead to the collapse of the Soviet system. Everywhere the world is facing a return to populism and federalism. In the United States, this is a fundamental reaction to state aggrandizement of the liberal knowledge class. Although populism is highly democratic, as seen with the Brothers of Italy partys recent victory, it is savaged by the liberal knowledge class since it poses a threat to their extraction of state funding through blocs like the EU. Likewise, in other regions of the world, from the post-Soviet space to Iran and Great Britain, there is a nascent democratic urge to move away from centralization. The elites of the world are battling each other for resources and financial aggrandizement but the removal of the elites would benefit a move to a Westphalian system of federation and autonomy for homogenous, civilizational states. The 1648 Treaty of Westphalia heralded a definition of respect for borders, religious tolerance, an end to the Thirty Years War, and the Holy Roman Empire. A new system based on these tenets could revitalize Europe by demolishing the liberal universalism of the EU and respecting ethnic diversity. At Westphalia, precedent and tradition were merged with law and reason. We stand now at a similar juncture. The liberality of the Enlightenment descended into the dogmatism of modern liberal democracy. Dostoevsky correctly diagnosed the descent into nihilism and materialism of modernity, writing that If nations fail to live by superior disinterested ideas, by the lofty aims of serving mankind, and merely to serve their own interests, they must unfailingly perish, grow benumbed, wear themselves out, die.

Brian Patrick Bolger studied at the London School of Economics. He has taught political philosophy and applied linguistics in Universities across Europe. His articles have appeared in The National Interest, The Montreal Review, The European Conservative, The Salisbury Review,The Village, New English Review, The Burkean, The Daily Globe, American Thinker, and Philosophy Now. His new book,Coronavirus and the Strange Death of Truth, is now available in the United Kingdom and United States. He can be reached at[emailprotected].

Image: Reuters.

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The New Nigeria juxtaposed with US and China: From consumption to production through technology – TheCable

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The United Nations, while addressing Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 12, said that sustainable consumption and production is about doing more and better with less. It is also about decoupling economic growth from environmental degradation, increasing resource efficiency, and promoting sustainable lifestyles. With that in mind, what could be a better tool to address resource efficiency than Technology?

The 21st century has been one of great change and advancement, especially when it comes to technology. This has had a profound impact on the way we live and work, as well as the way businesses operate. One country that is feeling the effects of this shift is Nigeria. In the past, Nigeria has been largely dependent on other countries for its consumption needs. However, with the rise of technology, Nigeria is now beginning to produce its own goods and services. This change is having a positive impact on the Nigerian economy, as well as its relations with other countries.

Moreover, we all are aware that the world is changing, and so is the way we consume as humans. The way we produce is also fast changing, and there is a big push to move countries from consumption to production. Evidently, technology is at the forefront of this change, hence the need for this discussion. In this article, we will explore how technology is moving a country from consumption to production. We will look at the different technologies that are being used and how they are making an impact. We will also look at the challenges that need to be overcome and what the future may hold for this area of change.

The current state of affairs reveals that Nigeria is a country rich in resources, yet its people are among the poorest in the world. The country has great potential for economic growth, but it has been held back by years of mismanagement, corruption, and conflict. The current administration is committed to reforming and increasing Nigerias production and export of goods and services. One of the ways it is doing this is by investing in technology. The government is working to improve infrastructure and increase access to technology in order to make Nigeria more competitive in the global marketplace.

Recent initiatives include the construction of a new broadband network and the launch of a national digital economy plan. These efforts are intended to attract more foreign investment and create jobs. If successful, they could help Nigeria move from being a country that relies on imports to one that produces its own goods and services. We however can learn a thing or two from others that have successfully implemented technology like the United States and China.

Technology has played a vital role in production in the United States for many years, with almost all the leading tech giants with headquarters in America. The use of technology in production has allowed the United States to become one of the most productive countries in the world. Technology has made production more efficient and has helped to reduce the cost of production as the United Nations posited in SDG 12. It has also made it possible to produce more goods and services in a shorter period of time. The use of technology has made it possible to improve the quality of products and services and by extension the quality of her citizens lives. Technology has helped to improve communication and coordination among workers, which has resulted in better-quality products and services.In recent years, there has been a trend toward using more advanced and sophisticated technology in production. This trend is likely to continue as companies seek to gain a competitive advantage by using the latest and most advanced technology available.

However, there are challenges related to moving a country from a consumption-based to a production-based economy some of which are that it requires a major shift in the way a countrys economy is structured. A production-based economy is one in which the focus is on producing goods and services, rather than consuming them. This shift can be difficult to achieve, as it requires a change in the mindset of both businesses and consumers. Such a mindset shift will require a strong leadership brokerage for successful implementation.In a production-based economy, businesses invest in research and development in order to create new products and services. They also focus on increasing efficiency and productivity, so that they can produce more goods and services at lower costs. This helps to make businesses more competitive and ultimately drives economic growth. Consumers also need to change their behavior in a production-based economy. Rather than spending money on unnecessary items, they should save or invest it. This will help to ensure that there is enough money available to finance businesses investment in new products and services. Ultimately, the challenge of moving to a production-based economy is one of changing peoples behavior. If businesses and consumers can embrace this change, then a countrys economy can be transformed.

There are, however, a lot of benefits of driving towards a production-based economy. A production-based economy is one that focuses on the production of goods and services, rather than entirely on consumption. With our focus on China, a production-based economy has several benefits.

First, a production-based economy is more efficient than a consumption-based economy. This is because production requires fewer resources than consumption. For example, producing one ton of steel requires less coal and iron ore than buying one ton of steel from another country.

Second, a production-based economy creates more jobs. This is because manufacturing and other production activities require workers. In China, millions of people have been lifted out of poverty as a result of the countrys switch to a production-based economy.

Third, a production-based economy is more self-sufficient than a consumption-based economy. This is because producing goods and services domestically reduces the need for imports. In China, the switch to a production-based economy has helped the country become more self-sufficient in many key industries.Fourth, a production-based economy can be more resilient to external shocks. This is because domestic producers are less reliant on foreign markets and supply chains than consumers are. In China, the resilience of the countrys production-based economy was put to the test during the global financial crisis of 2008/09. While many countries around the world were plunged into recession, Chinas export-oriented factories kept humming along thanks to strong domestic demand for their products.

Finally, a production-based economy is able to realize more tax from producing companies hence more internally generated revenue. Everyone wins in a production economy, hence must be encouraged and nurtured.

In recent years, China has been focused on becoming a world leader in production. To achieve this goal, the country has been investing heavily in technology, including artificial intelligence (AI) and data analytics. AI and data analytics are playing an increasingly important role in enhancing production in China. By helping to optimize processes and improve decision-making, they are making Chinese factories more efficient and competitive.In the future, AI and data analytics will become even more essential for Chinese manufacturers as they strive to maintain their edge in the global marketplace as The Worlds Factory. So much that we can learn from China and how this has brought their GDP to $17.7 trillion only second to that of the United State at $23.0 trillion and a much higher Purchasing Power Parity (PPP) of $27.3 trillion with a rate of annual growth at 8.1 percent. Both countries, US and China have individual GDP percentage shares larger than 168 others (Nigeria inclusive).

Nonetheless, technology is playing an important role in Nigerias economy. For example, the use of mobile money has grown rapidly in recent years, with over 50 million Nigerians now using it to make payments. This is having a positive impact on businesses and individuals alike, as it makes transactions faster and easier. In addition, the use of mobile phones and the internet is helping to connect people and businesses across the country. There are also a number of initiatives that are using technology to boost economic growth in Nigeria. One example is the Agricultural Transformation Agenda, which is using technology to improve agricultural productivity. This is important as agriculture is a key sector of the Nigerian economy. Another initiative is the Power Sector Recovery Programme, which is using technology to improve power generation and distribution in Nigeria. This is vital for businesses and households as they need reliable electricity to function properly. It is clear that technology is starting to play a big role in Nigerias economy. If this trend continues, it could help to transform Nigeria into a prosperous country.

A recent study by the World Economic Forum found that a move from consumption to production can be achieved through technology. The study found that countries that have moved from consumption to production have experienced an increase in GDP per capita and employment, while those that have not made the shift have experienced a decline in these indicators. The study looked at a number of factors that contribute to this shift, including the availability of technology, the level of education, the willingness of the government to support businesses, and the existence of a strong private sector. All of these factors are necessary for a country to make the transition from consumption to production. The study found that countries that have made the shift tend to be small and open economies. This means that they are more nimble and able to adapt to change quickly. They also tend to have a high degree of integration into global value chains. This allows them to access new markets and new technologies more easily. The study provides a number of recommendations for policymakers who want to support this transition.

First, they need to create an environment that is conducive to innovation and entrepreneurship. Second, they need to provide support for businesses as they make the transition from consumption to production. Third, they need to ensure that there is access to finance for businesses. Fourth, they need to provide training and education for workers so that they are able to take advantage of new opportunities created by the transition. All of these point to the reality that a movement from consumption to production is a collective effort, everyone needs to have their skin in the game, especially in a third-world country like Nigeria.

With the aforesaid, Nigeria is not without huge potential for contribution to the world. It has the potential to become a major producer of food crops such as maize, rice, and cassava due to its vast amount of land area and conducive environment. Nigeria could also become a major producer of livestock such as cattle, pigs, and chickens, especially in processed forms. Nigeria has the potential to become a leading manufacturer of consumer goods such as processed foods, textiles, and footwear. Ranking amongst the highest quality globally, Nigeria has been a consistent supplier of leather to European and Asian markets. One such example is the unique Red Sokoto goatskin leather. Such could be processed further into finished goods rather than sold as raw material. The country could also become a major exporter of manufactured goods such as machinery and vehicles. Nigeria has the potential to become a leading provider of services such as transportation, telecommunications, banking, and tourism. The country could also provide exportable services such as education and healthcare, through a deliberate focus on mass training and development of doctors and nurses with the use of technology leverage.

In conclusion, there is no doubt that technology can play a major role in helping Nigeria to move from being solely focused on consumption to becoming more production-oriented. By investing in the latest technologies, businesses can increase their efficiency and productivity, which in turn will lead to more economic growth and development. In addition, by using technology to connect with consumers and clients from all over Africa, and the world, businesses can expand their reach and tap into new markets. With the right approach, and focus on what works, technology can be a powerful tool for driving positive change in any economy.

I remain open to deliberate conversations on Nation Building and personal development. Follow me on Medium: http://www.medium.com/@roariyo. Also, we can connect and chat as you send me an email: [emailprotected]

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The New Nigeria juxtaposed with US and China: From consumption to production through technology - TheCable

‘Science, Technology, Innovation To Drive Nigeria To Top 20 Economies By 2030’ – Leadership News

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The Minister of Science Technology and Innovation (STI) Dr. Adeleke Mamora has expressed optimism that Nigerias potential in the STI, when adequately harnessed, can put the country among the top 20 economies of the world by 2030.

Dr. Mamora made this known during a critical stakeholders meeting to inaugurate the planning committee of the STI 2023 Expo in Abuja.

The 2023 Expo with the theme Actualising Effective Diversification of the Nigerian Economy through Science, Technology and Innovation will be held from the 16th to 20th of January 2023.

The minister noted the critical role of STI in all facets of human endeavours and its importance in the transformation of the Nigerian economy from resource -based to knowledge-based economy.

It spans through all the Ministries, Departments and agencies such as technology science, agriculture, aviation, Industry, Energy, health, Space Education, Entrepreneurship, Military amongst others. This is the reason for this dialogue today, to discuss the way forward for Science Technology and innovation and most especially the coming event of the Ministry, the Science technology and innovation Exposition 2023, Mamora said.

The Minister recalled that the previous editions of the STI Expo had given Presidential Awards to the best Engineers and Scientists.

The 2022 reviewed Science Technology and innovation policy was launched during the opening ceremony of the Expo in March 2022 to enable Science Technology and innovation maximally impact on the national social economic development landscape with a view to ensuring that Nigeria actually and in reality emerges and remains among the top 20 leading economies in the world before the year 2030 and beyond, he said.

According to the Minister, the 2023 STI Expo would be declared open by President Muhammadu Buhari and would feature award ceremony, investors and researchers forum, technical sessions, and special days for interested partners among others.

He lauded the contributions of partners that made the event of the last editions a success even as he tasked them to strengthen their support to make the 2023 edition even more successful.

Also speaking during the inauguration, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry Mrs Monilola Udoh, who was represented by the Director of Health, Biotechnology and Science in the ministry, Mr David Erabhahiemem, recognized the contributions of the private sector in nation building, stressing that their investment towards industrialization has been enormous.

I particularly welcome and appreciate participants from the private sector. The government cannot do without the contribution of the private sector as seen in the developed countries. It is the private sector that utilizes the policy of the government to accelerate industrialization.

I can assure you that the government needs the private sector and academia to fully get on board and ride on its policies and venture on demand driven research development and also to invest in viable products and services already invented or innovated, she said.

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'Science, Technology, Innovation To Drive Nigeria To Top 20 Economies By 2030' - Leadership News

Minister Wilkinson Launches Phase 2 of the Regional Energy and Resource Tables – Canada NewsWire

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OTTAWA, ON, Oct. 13, 2022 /CNW/ - Canada's abundant natural resources and its ability to develop them sustainably and inclusively are a significant comparative advantage in the global transition to a net-zero economy. That transition presents a generational economic opportunity for Canadians from coast to coast to coast. A key question on which Canada must collectively focus on is how to build on its regional comparative advantages in a manner that will create good jobs, economic opportunity and prosperity for all Canadians.

A significant part of the answer to that question is the Regional Energy and Resource Tables.

Today, the Honourable Jonathan Wilkinson, Minister of Natural Resources, announced five more provinces and territories are formally joining the Regional Energy and Resource Tables initiative, which is a partnership between the federal and provincial and territorial governments to support strong communities and job creation in every region of Canada.

With the addition of New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, the Northwest Territories, and the Yukon, a total of eight provinces and territories are now participating in the Regional Energy and Resource Tables after British Columbia, Manitoba and Newfoundland and Labrador helped launch Phase 1 on June 1, 2022. The federal government is setting up these tables during the next several months with the goal of establishing them with all 13 provinces and territories by early 2023.

At the federal level, the Regional Tables are an initiative led by Natural Resources Canada, involving multiple federal institutions, including Innovation, Science, and Economic Development Canada, the Regional Development Agencies and the Canada Infrastructure Bank. The Regional Energy and Resource Tables are collaborative fora that will bring the federal, provincial and territorial governments together with Indigenous partners, union partners, municipalities, industry, workers, experts and civil society to advance the top economic priorities in the natural resources space in every region of Canada through the development of place-based economic strategies. The Regional Energy and Resource Tables will gather input from relevant partners and seek to align resources, timelines and regulatory approaches to capitalize on key regional opportunities and priorities.

This collaboration will significantly advance the realization of economic opportunities that could range from mining critical minerals for made-in-Canada electric vehicles and batteries, to hydrogen in several regions across the country, to building small modular reactors. Other initiatives might include developing biofuels, making greater use of technologies such as carbon capture, utilization and storage, or advancing wind projects on the East Coast to generate clean electricity.

The Regional Energy and Resource Tables will help ensure that federal funding from existing sources are directed toward top regional priorities and projects, including the $8-billion Net Zero Accelerator, the $35-billion Canada Infrastructure Bank and the $3.8 billion allocated in Budget 2022 to implement Canada's first Critical Minerals Strategy. The Regional Energy and Resource Tables will also identify areas in which incremental resources may be required.

At the federal level, the Regional Energy and Resource Tables are being led by Natural Resources Canada while involving multiple federal institutions, including Innovation, Science and Development Canada; the Regional Development Agencies; and the Canada Infrastructure Bank.

By working together, Canadians will create the good jobs and enduring prosperity that will come with the unprecedented economic opportunities of building a net-zero world.

Quotes

"Just as any successful business must be capable of interpreting and reacting to changes in the business environment, countries must also be capable of thoughtful response and action to sustain and enhance their level of prosperity. This initiative will enable provinces, territories, the federal government and key Indigenous partners to collectively accelerate economic activity and position Canada as an economic leader in the global shift toward a low-carbon future."

The Honourable Jonathan WilkinsonMinister of Natural Resources Canada, Government of Canada

"With the highest tides and some of the best offshore wind in the world, we're using our natural resources to our advantage in Nova Scotia to develop our renewable energy markets. Through the Regional Energy and Resource Tables, we look forward to further collaboration with our colleagues across Canada to reach our ambitious climate change goals and create green jobs here at home."

The Honourable Tory RushtonMinister of Natural Resources and Renewables, Government of Nova Scotia

"As a province, we are very clear that our transition to net zero is a top priority. We know we require more resources to achieve our ambitious climate goals and look forward to working with the federal government and key partners to ensure a sustainable future for Prince Edward Island. We have unique circumstances in the Atlantic region, and we anticipate important discussions surrounding battery storage, carbon capture, electrification and other innovative ideas and technologies we can implement on the path to net zero."

The Honourable Steven MyersMinister of Environment, Energy and Climate Action, Government of Prince Edward Island

"We look forward to the Table discussions and applaud Minister Wilkinson for this important initiative, which will help us align with the federal government on our provincial priorities such as small modular reactor development and hydrogen production and provide an opportunity for our key stakeholders to give input as we transition our economy to a net-zero world."

The Honourable Mike HollandMinister of Natural Resources and Energy Development, Government of New Brunswick

"The Northwest Territories is well positioned for economic growth and prosperity while deploying the energy solutions we need to make a successful transition to a low-carbon economy that runs on reliable, affordable energy. The territorial 2030 Energy Strategy advances several transformational energy projects such as transmission lines to bring clean hydro to diesel communities and the Taltson hydroelectricity expansion project to develop NWT clean energy potential. Through the spirit of collaboration and partnership at the Regional Energy and Resource Tables with all levels of government, including Indigenous leadership, we can advance priorities important to all 33 communities in the Northwest Territories, create lasting economic opportunities, and promote the well-being of northerners for generations to come."

The Honourable Diane ArchieMinister of Infrastructure, Government of the Northwest Territories

"The Northwest Territories' resource sector is at an exciting moment in its history. With a rich supply of critical minerals and a regulatory framework that places environmental protection and Indigenous rights at the centre of decision-making, we are at the heart of ESG-I and future green energy solutions. We will continue working with our partners to create a strong, responsible resource sector that contributes to a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions in Canada and supports our goal of becoming a leader in Canada's low-carbon economy."

The Honourable Caroline WawzonekMinister of Industry, Tourism and Investment, Government of the Northwest Territories

"The Yukon has many of the resources needed for the transition to a low-carbon economy and our government is proud to be advancing the territory to a green future. We look forward to continuing to work with the federal government, First Nations and all partners through the Regional Energy and Resource Tables to support a responsible and sustainable resource sector that keeps our environment and the generations to come in mind."

The Honourable John StreickerMinister of Energy, Mines and Resources, Government of Yukon

Quick facts

Backgrounder: Progress Update on the Regional Energy and Resource Tables

The Regional Energy and Resource Tables are a collaborative initiative between the federal government and the provinces and territories designed to identify, prioritize and pursue opportunities for sustainable job creation and economic growth in Canada's natural resource sectors as the world transitions to net zero.

The Regional Energy and Resource Tables were launched on June 1, 2022, with the Government of Canada partnering with British Columbia, Manitoba and Newfoundland and Labrador in Phase 1.

Phase 2 of the Regional Energy and Resource Tables was launched on October 13, with New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, the Northwest Territories and the Yukon.

Progress to date under Regional Energy and Resource Tables Phase 1

Since the launch of Phase 1, the Government of Canada has engaged in regular discussions at multiple levels with the participating provinces of British Columbia, Manitoba and Newfoundland and Labrador, as well as with Indigenous partners and organizations in those three provinces.

These efforts have led to the identification of a number of shared priorities, the creation of work streams and the first steps toward developing action plans to align resources, timelines and regulatory approaches to seize those opportunities.

The following are snapshots of the early progress made through Phase 1:

In addition, the federal government and all three provincial governments remain committed to working in close collaboration with relevant experts and key stakeholders such as industry partners and labour representatives.

Roll out of Regional Energy and Resource Tables Phase 2 and Next Steps

In the coming months, officials from the Government of Canada and provincial and territorial governments will engage formally to:

Through the Regional Energy and Resource Tables, the federal government will continue to work with the provinces and territories to grow the economy, create sustainable jobs and lower emissions from coast to coast to coast.

Follow us on Twitter: @NRCan (http://twitter.com/nrcan)

SOURCE Natural Resources Canada

For further information: Natural Resources Canada, Media Relations, 343-292-6100, [emailprotected]; Keean Nembhard, Press Secretary, Office of the Minister of Natural Resources, 613-323-7892, [emailprotected]

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Minister Wilkinson Launches Phase 2 of the Regional Energy and Resource Tables - Canada NewsWire

Executive Secretary participates in Russian Energy Week to advocate for decarbonization in the UNECE region ahead of COP27 – UNECE

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UNECE Executive Secretary Olga Algayerova took part in a panel discussion at the Russian Energy Week today aimed at fostering international cooperation on hydrogen (H2).

Hydrogen offers the prospect to decarbonize the energy sector and large sectors of the economy. The shift to a decarbonized hydrogen-based economy could help achieve carbon neutrality by 2050 in line with the objectives of the Paris Agreement. This would require a rapid and extensive expansion of renewable and low-carbon hydrogen production. For this to happen, massive investments and appropriate policy support will be needed.

During her intervention, the Executive Secretary expressed her solidarity with the people of Ukraine, called for the application of the resolutions of the General Assembly of the United Nations on Ukraines territorial integrity, the respect of the principles of the UN Charter and adherence to international law. She reiterated the UN Secretary Generals urgent calls for an immediate cessation of hostilities.

She also invited the Russian Federation to take its share of responsibility in the collective effort to deliver carbon neutrality and to limit global warming.

UNECE member States and other stakeholders still disagree on how to quantify the sustainability of hydrogen, said UNECE Executive Secretary Olga Algayerova. In view of the climate emergency and energy crisis the world is facing, we have no time to lose in decarbonising the energy sector and our economies. UNECE offers a unique platform to define and develop the future hydrogen-based economy. I invite member States to use our Committee on Sustainable Energy to overcome their differences and develop a comprehensive classification for hydrogen.

In 2020, under the auspices of its Groups of Experts on Gas, Renewable Energy and Cleaner Electricity Systems, UNECE established a Task Force on hydrogen, which launched a project to improve the capacities of countries of the Commonwealth of Independent States (Azerbaijan, Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Republic of Moldova, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan) to develop sustainable hydrogen production strategieswhile raising awareness and overcoming economic, technical, policy and investment barriers.

The Policy Brief on hydrogen published in November 2021 highlighted H2s potential to decarbonize the economy, described the state of play in the UNECE region and listed a series of recommended policy commitments.

Finally, last month theCommittee on Sustainable Energy mandated UNECE to develop specifications to apply the United Nations Framework Classification for Resources (UNFC) and the United Nations Resource Management System (UNRMS) that is under development to hydrogen projects, through pilot projects and case studies.

In addition to its work on the production of H2, UNECEs regulatory work ensures the safe use of hydrogen through:

TheUnited Nations Model Regulations on the Transport of Dangerous Goodscontain provisions for the safe transport of hydrogen and other dangerous goods by all modes of transport. These provisions, developed by theECOSOC Committee of Experts on the Transport of Dangerous Goodsserviced by UNECE, are then incorporated into all modal instruments for air, maritime and land transport.

International regulations developed by UNECEs World Forum for Harmonization of Vehicle Regulations provide the basis to scale up the use of hydrogen and Fuel Cell Vehicles (HFCVs) through theUN Global Technical Regulation (UN GTR) No. 13, under the 1998 Agreement andUN Regulation No. 134(mirroring the same provisions in the framework of the type approval system), under the 1958 Agreement.

A number of industrial activities produce or use hydrogen, e.g. chemical, nuclear or pharmaceutical industry, oil refineries, packaging activities, etc. Hydrogen is covered as a hazardous substance under the provisions of theUNECE Convention on the Transboundary Effects of Industrial Accidents, which supports countries to strengthen prevention, preparedness and response in the case of an accident.

UNECE will continue supporting its member States in enhancing the understanding of the role of hydrogen to attain carbon neutrality and develop resilient energy systems across the region, in particular through hydrogen-related technical dialogues at COP 27 on 7 November 2022 and the Almaty Energy Forum on 14 November 2022.

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Executive Secretary participates in Russian Energy Week to advocate for decarbonization in the UNECE region ahead of COP27 - UNECE