Photo Brittany Ferrells activism in Ferguson, Mo., is a focal point of the documentary Whose Streets? Credit Autumn Lin/Magnolia Pictures

Whose Streets?, a documentary about the unrest and activism in Ferguson, Mo., in the wake of the 2014 police shooting of Michael Brown, an unarmed black teenager, is choppy, sometimes unfocused, and in every respect the opposite of slick. Its directors, Sabaah Folayan and Damon Davis, are novice filmmakers, true; but I also suspect this movies form is deliberate, part of its message. This is direct and frequently powerful filmmaking that doesnt much care about meeting my aesthetic standards.

A preview of the film.

Whose Streets? takes off from the night Mr. Brown was shot. One of the movies subjects is David Whitt, a resident of the apartment complex on the street where the shooting took place, who is moved to take his video camera onto the streets to record police action as rioting started. Another thread follows Brittany Ferrell and Alexis Templeton, a couple navigating parenthood and school, and putting themselves at considerable risk as they lead and participate in demonstrations like one in which they formed a human chain to block traffic on a highway.

The movie is punctuated with quotes by black historical figures Martin Luther King Jr.s observation that a riot is the language of the unheard is particularly resonant. Much of the footage is from low-resolution video cameras and cellphones; the most professional-looking material here is from a television interview with Officer Darren Wilson, who shot Mr. Brown, in which he says, You cant perform the duties of a police officer and have racism in you. This is shown in the same section that features on-the-fly shots of off-duty St. Louis police officers puffing their chests at activists at a town hall meeting. Another wrenching scene shows a protester trying to address a black female officer, the only person of color in a defensive line of cops; she holds her position even as tears fill her eyes.

Whose Streets?

Directors Sabaah Folayan, Damon Davis

Stars Brittany Ferrell, Tef Poe, Kayla Reed, Tory Russell, Alexis Templeton

Rating R

Running Time 1h 30m

Genre Documentary

Read more from the original source:
Review: Anatomy of Ferguson, From a Shooting to Activism - New York Times

MARC HINTON

Last updated05:00, August 13 2017

REUTERS

Tom Walsh wasn't the strongest in the world champs shot put field, but he did throw the furthest legally.

It was Jake the Muss in the iconic Kiwi movie Once Were Warriors who brutally encapsulated the delicate balance between "too much weights and not enough speed work". Tom Walsh may just have taken that theory to another level with his world championships shot put triumph in London.

Walsh tipped the shot put form book on its head when he knocked over the heavily favoured American duo of Ryan Crouser and Joe Kovacs to claim his first IAAF World Championships title, and continue his groundbreaking ways.

These are good times to be Tom Walsh, a part-time builder from Christchurch (by way of Timaru) who is laying some impressive foundations as an athlete. Last year he became the first Kiwi male to win a world indoors title; then followed that up by claiming New Zealand's first men's field event Olympic medal (a bronze) in Rio; and also becoming the first bloke from these parts to claim an overall Diamond league crown.

KAI PFAFFENBACH/REUTERS

Tom Walsh throws in the men's shot put final in London.

Now with his world championship triumph early Monday (NZT) at London's Olympic stadium, Walsh has struck a further blow for blokedom, becoming the first Kiwi male to make the podium at the global event. The US$60,000 (NZ$82,000) bonus he achieved for doing so was just a delicious icing on the cake.

READ MORE*Walsh fires up over protests*Groin tear won't hold Walsh back*Walsh banks $82,000bonus

It wasn't easy for Walsh in London as he had to suck up an agonising groin tear on the eve of the event and compete through gritted teeth, and then survive multiple protests from both Crouser and Kovacs in the aftermath that left the final outcome in doubt right up until just minutes before the medal ceremony the next evening.

But the protests were all eventually thrown out and Walsh was able to limp on to the podium to receive a richly deserved gold medal that was a blow not just for the underdog, with Crouser and Kovacs owning the year's 10 biggest throws between them, but also for the comparative "little guy".

Yes, Walsh, at 1.85 metres and around 124kg is pretty damn big to be anyone's idea of small. But these things are comparative.

Crouser, a giant of a man, stands 2.03m and tips the scales around 141kg. The more compact Kovacs is still a full 10kg heavier than Walsh. They are both power men. They muscle the shot put, rather than finesse it.

Brazilian monster Darlan Romani, who was fifth in Rio last year but failed to make the final in London, nudges the scales at 140kg and is reputed to be bench-pressing 300kg in his workouts.

"There are two major ways to throw," says Walsh. "You can be strong or you can be fast. I'm not overly strong and I'm not overly big either. I'm definitely the speed and rhythm kind of guy. Most of the guys are strength kind of guys get very strong in the gym and you'll throw far.

"Yes, I am stronger than probably 99 percent of Kiwis. But in terms of world shot put I'm not overly strong.

"Put it this way, if it was a strongman contest, I'd be way out the arse-end."

But it's not. The pre-throw whirly-gig routine in the circle is as important as the actual release of the 7.2kg silver sphere. And the 25-year-old Walsh is so very good at generating the low-to-the-ground speed that then transfers into power on the throw.

For a big man, he is remarkably light on his feet, and it's an attribute he has honed into a game-changing point of difference.

Not that Crouser, whose only quality throw in London was red-flagged (thus his protest, and then re-protest), can be surprised by what played out. Back in February, when he beat Walsh twice in meets in Christchurch and Auckland by throwing over 22 metres in both, he remarked about the difference in style.

"I'm bigger and stronger than I was last year, so I'm kind of muscling it out there," he said after throwing 22.15m to win the Auckland Track Challenge. "You see Tom is lot quicker and has a lot more finesse than I do, and he's definitely in cleaner form.

"He's an unbelievable competitor, and he's one of those guys you can have a big lead on and he can throw a monster when the pressure is on. You never really beat Tom till that last throw is done."

What Walsh has also become is the most consistent performer on the shot put scene. He had five of the top six throws in London with a series of remarkable quality: 21.38m, 21.64m, 21.75m, 21.70, 21.63m and, then, saving his best for last, 22.03m.

On a day when his rivals struggled to find their best stuff at least legally the smiling Kiwi was quite simply a man apart.

Walsh puts that down to his accent on technique, timing and speed, and a strong mindset that has been a big part of the work undertaken with coach Dale Stevenson and sports psychologist John Quinn.

"Mentally I was in a really good place. I knew exactly what I needed to do and I stuck with that. Dale and John and I always talk about sticking to what's been working in training, and what has been working in training is getting out and around at the back of the circle.

"That means flowing through the back of the circle in terms of acceleration, and then a strong left side. If I've got a strong left side, all my power goes into my left side and it pops up, and that keeps me in the circle."

Remember, the best throws of both Crouser and Kovacs in London (both would have won the gold medal if legal) were red-flagged. The sport is not just about chucking tin a long way. But doing it within the rules of the game.

Walsh does a lot of mental work now. It's something he's, well, got his head around.

"When you're young, you don't think it's important. You think physical attributes are important. I bombed out at the world juniors the year Jacko (Kiwi rival Jacko Gill) won. I went from throwing 20 metres in the warmup area to throwing 18 metres in the competition arena.

"I thought, 'well, what's the reason?'. From there, it's been a long and gradual process over the last seven years to get to where I am now. My routines are very structured and I know exactly what works for me."

The burly Kiwi is also a competitor. "It was great to come in when everyone was talking about those two (Crouser and Kovacs) and do the deed. No one was talking about me, and that was good. Kiwis compete well with a chip on their shoulder.

"It's a great feeling to know we've achieved what we set out to after Rio. We said we'll probably need to throw mid-22s to win in London. I got myself into that shape, but on the day no one managed to throw that far, and I took the cake."

Yes, the sweet taste of success went to not the biggest, meanest or strongest. But the man who figured out that if you don't get the balance between speed-work and weights, there is most definitely a price to pay.

-Sunday Star Times

Read more from the original source:
Anatomy of a world championship: How 'tiny' Tom Walsh shot down the giants - Stuff.co.nz

September 13, 2016

It was the first game of the 2016 NFL season and excitement for the New Miami was at an all-time high. The Dolphins had just signed new head coach Adam Gase and even though we got a sneak peek throughout the preseason, EVERYONE was excited to see his high-octane offense in action. Miamis Week 1 opponent was no slouch as the team traveled cross-country to take on NFC West powerhouse, Seattle Seahawks.

Thirty seconds into the second quarter, something big happened. Down 3-0, Ryan Tannehill heaved a beautiful ball 71-yards downfield. One of the leagues most dynamic wide receivers was wide open...

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!

Most fans remember this as if it were yesterday. It may or may not have been the difference in the end, as Miami went on to lose 12-10. What was most impressive is just how wide open Stills was.

Below is what the play looked like pre-snap.

Stills designed route on the play, was a seam down the middle of the field. However, what truly opened things up was Fosters out-and-up route on the sideline. His route occupied three members of the Legion of Boom. This forces the safety on Stills, who is wide open in the middle of the secondary.

As you can see at the bottom of the screen, Fosters route allows Stills to break free down the middle of Seattles defense. Earl Thomas reacts seconds too late and the rest is pitch and catch for the Dolphins offense. At least thats what we had assumed. Whether Stills was eager to reach the end zone, had a glare in his eyes, just finished eating a greasy hamburger or whatever may had happened, this is a catch he should have made.

In the picture below, we see ho many yards Stills has on the safety. When the ball falls mercifully from Stills hands, he has a good 5-10 yards on Thomas.

Im a big fan of Kenny Stills and have to believe this play haunts him on a regular basis. With the type of roller coaster ride weve had thus far in preseason, I felt like this was a better time than ever to revisit the infamous drop from Week 1. Lets just hope with a new contract and a second year in Gases offense, Kenny Stills will have a career year. The Dolphins could certainly use it.

See the original post here:
Anatomy of a play: The drop heard around the world - The Phinsider

Johnni Macke 11:49 am on August 11, 2017

(Photo Courtesy: ABC/Ron Tom)

Greys Anatomy season 14 is set to premiere next month, and fans have been busy predicting what will happen when the series returns.

Withfans already noticing that the cast of Greys Anatomy was filming new scenes for season 14 in the same clothes they donned in the season 13 finale, star Kelly McCreary has confirmed in an interview withEntertainment Weeklythat the ABC doctordrama willin fact pick up right where last season left off!

Theres obviously some damage to the hospital, Kelly McCreary told Entertainment Weekly about the new season, which will start right after the finale explosion. But it is, in true Greys Anatomy style, a completely surmountable obstacle, because we are superhuman doctors. It serves more as a metaphor of the transformation that the show is going to go through tonally.

While there might be some danger, and darkness left over from last season, McCreary, who plays Dr. Maggie Pierce on the show, hinted that come fall, things will be a bit lighter.

This isnt the first were hearing about a lighter side of Greys Anatomy, however, because earlier this week Jessica Capshaw, who plays Dr. Arizona Robbins, teased a righteously hysterical series premiere.

We know what youre thinking if its picking up after the explosion its serious, not funny, but like both McCreary and Capshaw teased, the light-heartedness is coming.

Its very funny. Its very irreverent, and funny and sort of on its side, Capshaw said while talking with E! Newsabout the new season.

Lets be honest there is only so much sadness we can take, so we welcome the lighter side of Greys come season 14!

Greys Anatomy returns with a two-hour premiere to start season 14 on September 28, 2017 at 8 p.m. on ABC.

For the latest pop culture news and voting, make sure to sign up for the Peoples Choice newsletter!

Read more:
'Grey's Anatomy' Star Reveals Where Season 14 Picks Up - People's Choice

Whats the prognosis for Greys Anatomy Season 14? Drama, of course.

But its also going to be a lighter, sexier season, the stars say with new faces joining the show and familiar faces coming back for more action.

The season is still weeks away, though, so our prescription for you is to click through the slides of this gallery. Just be warned: Side effects include spoilers.

Greys Anatomy Season 14 premieres on Thursday, September 28, at 8 p.m. ET on ABC.

Tip: Use keyboard arrows to navigate

Season 14 premieres on September 28

Thats Thursday, September 28, at 8 p.m. ET on ABC, to be exact.

In fact, the last time a season of Greys premiered any time other than the week of September 21-28 was Season 1.

Were getting a two-hour premiere

Twice the episode for twice the fun! Shonda knows how to treat us.

The first episode is titled Break Down the House

It was written by new showrunner Krista Vernoff, whos returning to the show for the first time since Season 7, and directed by exec producer/star Debbie Allen.

Season 14 picks up right where Season 13 left off

The docs will still be reeling from the hospital explosion and from now-departed doc Stephanies brush with death.

Theres obviously some damage to the hospital, Kelly McCreary tells Entertainment Weekly.

But it is, in true Greys Anatomy style, a completely surmountable obstacle, because we are superhuman doctors.

It serves more as a metaphor of the transformation that the show is going to go through tonally.

Season 14 wont be as dark as Season 13

Its lighter this season, Kelly McCreary continues.

The hospital definitely is undergoing some changes in the form of a new crop of students coming in.

Itll look a bit different in certain areas, and some relationships have come to an end or are blossoming, so repairing the damage is more of a metaphor.

Season 14 will introduce a spin-off

This spin-off, as of yet untitled, will focus on the firefighters of Seattle and will premiere in early 2018. (Heres everything we know about that show.)

Owens sister will be back, with a new face

Well see more of Megan Hunt now that shes been found, though shell be played by Timeless star Abigail Spencer.

(Bridget Regan, who played Megan last season, couldnt return because shes filming The Last Ship.)

Teddy Altman will be back, too

We last saw the cardiothoracic surgeon in Season 8, when Owen generously fired her so that she could pursue her dream job at MEDCOM in Germany which happens to be the army facility to which Megan Hunt, Owens sis, was transferreden route to Seattle.

Kim Raver is bringing the character back for multiple episodes in Season 14, and we imagine Teddy will help Megan in her recovery and her acclimation to Seattle.

The cast and crew have been filming in Seattle

Its the first time in a decade Greys Anatomy has filmed where its actually based instead of, yknow, a Hollywood soundstage and these exterior scenes will be interspersed throughout Season 14, Entertainment Weekly reports.

Cast members have filmed scenes on a ferry you know how much Greys loves its ferries! and at the real-life house that plays Merediths house.

Camilla Luddington promises a sexy season

Especially because the Alex-Jo-DeLuca love triangle is still a thing, as Camilla tells TV Guide:

This seasons going to be very sexy I can imagine [Jo] maybe feeling a little bit jealous if DeLuca started dating someone else.

But I think she's at a time in her life right now where she has to deal with her own emotional journey and what shes going through in her past ... before she really jumps straight into a relationship with someone else.

Theres some stuff that she has to work through.

Spoiler alert: Alex and Jo will get back together

Footage from the Seattle set shows Alex playfully chasing Jo in a park, and once he catches up to her, they embrace and kiss.

Paul Stadler, Jos abusive ex, will be back

Alex and Jo better watch out!

Glee alum Matthew Morrison said hell be reprising his Greys role.

I have a big role in Greys Anatomy coming up, he told The Argonaut in an interview published on August 2.

Jo is advancing in her career

We will absolutely explore Jos story more, Camilla Luddington told TVLine.

In fact, Camilla heard rumblings that Jo will take her board examinations and find another mentor.

This season Jo may feel inspired by someone again, she says.

Well meet DeLucas sister, another medical professional

We are bringing my sister [in] as a new character, Giacomo Gianniotti told ETOnline.

She is going to be a new presence at the hospital. She comes from Italy, as my character is Italian, and you get to see us exchanging some blows in Italian, which will be very interesting

Her profession, although we cant disclose it, is a very interesting one. Its going to keep a lot of the doctors on their toes, make some doctors uncomfortable, [and] some people will be glad about [her coming on]. Shell stir things up with a European background and take on medicine.

Carina DeLuca will be played by Stefania Spampinato

The 35-year-old actress and dancer is Sicilian and had a two-episode arc on USAs Satisfaction in 2015.

Eliza Minnick wont be back

Were one step closer to a Calzona reunion, people!

Eliza, the education consultant that wooed Arizona, was fired in the Season 13 finale, and TVLine confirms that Marika Domiczyk wont be returning for Season 14.

Whats the prognosis for Greys Anatomy Season 14? Drama, of course.

But its also going to be a lighter, sexier season, the stars say with new faces joining the show and familiar faces coming back for more action.

The season is still weeks away, though, so our prescription for you is to click through the slides of this gallery. Just be warned: Side effects include spoilers.

Greys Anatomy Season 14 premieres on Thursday, September 28, at 8 p.m. ET on ABC.

Link:
Everything We Know About 'Grey's Anatomy' Season 14 (PHOTOS) - Wetpaint

World oil markets have experienced a fundamental transition in recent years, making the practice of oil price manipulation to be elusive. In the past, oil prices were basically supported by the market being undersupplied, together with the specter of peak oil. Oil market paradigms were based on declining production in countries composing the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), contrasting with rising global demand mostly among non-OECD countries. In the face of such production declines, OPEC and Eurasia (Russia and the former United Soviet Social Republics, USSR) pegged their production to quotas more so associated with global supply than global demand. The resulting anticipation was for a state of secular market undersupply to simply continue, pushing oil prices higher.

However, oil prices collapsed. Market expectations were defeated with the U.S. dramatically increasing production. The production increase in the U.S. shocked markets by demonstrating the capacity to supply 78% of the total global oil demand increase from 2008 to 2015 - something never before experienced from a country or entity in the oil markets. OPEC and Eurasia market quotas, associated with global supply, cemented an oversupplied dynamic.

This oversupply was once thought to be self-limiting, with U.S. producers simply having to shut in production at various declining price levels. 2016 proved this not to be the case. Now, OPEC and Russia seek to regain influence in an oil market that's dramatically altered. Altered in such a way that the past method of controlling prices by controlling supply has simply given way to new technologies. These technologies evolved an oil market where the ability to accumulate market share at historically low prices is paramount. Driving this is the fact that oil production trends have been much more dramatic than trends in oil demand, with both trends favoring oversupplied conditions. Technology is creating the ability to produce more oil at progressively lower costs. Likewise, technology reduces oil demand by creating fuel inefficiencies and alternative modes of energy.

Another transitional market dynamic is looming between a state of oversupplied conditions and sovereign budget deficits. Where OPEC countries once enjoyed significant sovereign budget surpluses and associated social services, now worrying budget deficits have persisted since 2014. To bridge the gap, unprecedented bond debt has been issued among the most able, namely Saudi Arabia, with their $17.5 billion global bond issuance in October of last year. The primary method of addressing deficits has been the use of foreign currency reserves, such as in Iraq to fill an approximate $20 billion per year shortfall over the last 3 years. All of this in a region already inflicted with substantial ideological tensions, insurgencies and territorial conflicts.

OPEC once balanced production between supporting prices, while avoiding global economic recession. Now we see OPEC pressured in an unprecedented way, with private company profitability setting oil price discovery. A collapse in OPEC production is the risk as always, but now it is compounded by the new economics of oil price due to technology and not just the customary features of ideology and territory.

According to data from the United States Energy Information Administration (EIA), from 2007 through 2013, global markets were undersupplied with oil 4 years out of the total 7. The undersupply was often significant, with an undersupply of 1.4 million barrels per day (mb/d) in 2007 and 1.24 mb/d in 2011. In 2012, an oversupply of only 140 thousand barrels per day (kb/d) occurred. In 2009 and 2010, the market was essentially balanced, with demand having been eroded by the Great Recession.

In the singular instance of oversupply, the volume of oversupply was minimal. This dynamic supported inflation-adjusted oil prices in the range of $90-105 per barrel. A shift to oversupply came in 2014 with an oversupply of 820 kb/d, gaining to 1.71 mb/d in 2015 and 250 kb/d in 2016. So far in 2017, the first quarter saw a state of balance and the second quarter saw an undersupply of 270 kb/d, primarily attributable to a large decline in Canadian production due to an unscheduled disruption in operations. Of course, it was in the second half of 2014 that oil prices began their collapse as the basic premise of maintaining an undersupplied market showed failure.

Basic to explaining this shift in supply is shale and tight oil production in the U.S. For decades, oil production in the U.S. had been in decline until technology opened a new chapter. Chevron's 10-K for 2016 explains the oil industry's new approach to production by using the Permian basin as an example. According to the company, the "Permian has multiple stacked formations that enable production from several layers of rock in different geological zones." This allows "for multiple horizontal wells to be developed from a single well pad location using shared facilities and infrastructure..."

Such a compounding of wells on a single well pad, near shared facilities and infrastructure, largely explains the countervailing premise of historical oil market dynamics.

The EIA tracks oil production data in a variety of ways. One such way is by tracking production of "petroleum and other liquids," which is similar to barrels of oil equivalents. I will reference this EIA data as barrels of oil equivalents per day (boe/d). In 2009, as the new production technologies were being launched, U.S. production jumped by 630 kboe/d to 9.14 mboe/d, an increase of 7.4% over 2008's level of 8.51 mboe/d. U.S. production increased at similar rates until 2012, when the increase was 980 kboe/d to reach 11.11 mboe/d, up 9.7% over 2011 levels. 2013 saw the U.S. rate of production brake the 1 million mark by increasing by 1.23 mboe/d, 2014 was a banner year with a production increase of 1.73 mboe/d, and 2015 saw a per day increase of another 1.05 mboe/d.

With multiple years of increasing production by over a million barrels per day, and nearly 2 million barrels per day in 2014, U.S. total production found itself at 15.12 mboe/d in 2015. This reflects a 77.6% increase in U.S. oil production from a 2008 level of 8.51 mboe/d. Over 7 years, the U.S. increased its production by a remarkable 6.61 mboe/d.

From 2008 to 2015, total global oil production went from 85.37 mboe/d to 95.78 mboe/d, an increase of 10.41 mboe/d. Of this increase in supply, the U.S. accounted for 6.61 mboe/d, or 63.5% of the increase in total global supply. Over the same period, the largest oil producer, OPEC, saw their production go from 35.72 mboe/d in 2008 to 38.31 mboe/d in 2015, an increase of only 2.59 mboe/d. Most of OPEC's increased production was in 2015, with an increase of 1.96 mboe/d. Still, OPEC's share of total increased global supply was only 24.8%. If one considers that global oil production grew by 10.41 mboe/d between 2008 and 2015, and increased production from both the U.S. and OPEC totaled 9.2 mboe/d, the combined increase in supply from the U.S. and OPEC accounted for 88% of the total increase in global supplies.

Eurasia once was the second-largest oil producer behind OPEC, but this changed in 2014 with the progressing evolution of U.S. production. In 2008, Eurasia produced 12.52 mboe/d, contrasting with the U.S. producing 8.51 mboe/d. By 2015, Eurasia's production advanced to 14.10 mboe/d, while U.S. production saw 15.12 mboe/d. This resulted in Eurasia production growing by a small 1.58 mboe/d from 2008 to 2015, which is only 15% of the total growth in global production of 10.41 mboe/d.

If one combines the U.S., OPEC and Eurasia production increases, the three grew production from 2008 to 2015 by 10.78 mboe/d, while total global production increased at a smaller rate of 10.41 mboe/d. This numerical discrepancy shows that production from the above three assisted in offsetting production declines in other areas, such as the North Sea having a decline of 1.24 mboe/d and Mexico declining by 570 kbo
e/d. Add in Canadian production increasing by 1.46 mboe/d, together with minor advances and declines in other areas, and one can see that the increase in U.S. production of 6.61 mboe/d fundamentally altered the global oil market.

From 2009 through 2011, U.S. oil production steadily crept higher, gaining by about 500 kboe/d. That rate of production doubled in 2012, hitting nearly one million barrels per day of new oil that previously wasn't anticipated. OPEC generally keeps its share of total global production at about 40%, and Eurasia similarly keeps its share in the 15% range. The U.S., on the other hand, expanded its share of total global production from 9.9% in 2008 to 15.8% in 2015. In so doing, it accounted for 63.5% of the increase in total global supply and is the essential reason for the increase in global supply.

Looking at the demand side of the equation, production in the U.S. appears to have averted a looming energy crisis. In so doing, a progressing undersupply imbalance was corrected, at the expense of high oil prices. In 2008, total global consumption stood at 85.78 mboe/d and reached 94.07 mboe/d by 2015, resulting in an increase of 8.29 mboe/d. Of course, total global oil supply increased by 10.41 mboe/d over this period, showing an oversupply of 2.12 mboe/d. This oversupply assisted in compensating for more periods of substantial undersupply than rare periods of meager oversupply.

With the U.S. increasing its production by 6.61 mboe/d from 2008 to 2015, and total global demand increasing by 8.29 mboe/d, the increase in U.S. production addressed 78% of the increase in global demand and, together with OPEC and Eurasia production, an oversupply resulted. Over the 7 years prior to 2008, an opposite dynamic prevailed where supply grew by 7.6 mboe/d and demand grew by 10.3 mboe/d, with an undersupply of 2.7 mboe/d. Undersupply was the essential premise of oil markets, and when the U.S. shale revolution became apparent as a continuing development, prices collapsed.

Originally, it was assumed that the oversupplied condition would be self-correcting. That is, the falling price of oil due to changes in market dynamics would inevitably weed out U.S. shale production. However, as observed by Chevron's John Watson in his Q4 2016 earnings call, "I have been surprised at how resilient production has been in many locations around the world[,] some of that is we just keep getting better."

One such location of production resiliency is certainly the U.S. In January 2016, the EIA projected that U.S. petroleum production would fall into a run rate of 14.5 mboe/d and stay there, if not go lower, through 2017. This contrasts with a run rate in the 15.20 mboe/d range seen in 2015, a decline of 700 kboe/d. By June 2016, the EIA projected U.S. production to fall as low as 14.22 mboe/d, a decline of 980 kboe/d versus 2015 levels. Interestingly, EIA projected continuation of oversupply through 2017 despite projections of significantly declining U.S. production. The essential reason was forecasts of OPEC increasing production, thereby offsetting U.S. declines. It wasn't until December of 2016 that OPEC resolved to cut production by 1.8 million barrels of crude per day. The reason: By December of 2016, both OPEC and the EIA had recognized the resiliency of U.S. production.

Though U.S. production did decline, it didn't do so to the extent thought. It consistently defeated projections to the upside throughout 2016 by around 200 kboe/d. Ultimately, U.S. production decreased by only 290 kboe/d compared with 2015, despite oil prices rarely exceeding $50 per barrel, going as low as $27 and ranging between $50 and $40. In 2016, the market remained oversupplied by 350 kboe/d, assisted by OPEC increasing its production by 610 kboe/d.

OPEC's agreement in late 2016 to cut production by 1.8 mb/d boosted oil price optimism. But the agreement was more so a last-ditch response to OPEC's disappointed expectations of U.S. shale production collapsing. Through the first half of 2016, both OPEC and the EIA projected declining U.S. production, with OPEC's expectations being much more aggressive. In the second half of 2016, it became apparent that U.S. shale production could function in an environment of sustained low pricing. Consequently, the EIA began to revise projections for U.S. production upwards.

Currently, U.S. production has returned to the upward trajectory previously witnessed. In January 2017, the EIA projected U.S. first-quarter production to be 14.76 mboe/d, while the actual production was 15.01 mboe/d. Same with the second quarter, where the projection was 15.04 mboe/d with an actual rate of 15.36 mboe/d. By the fourth quarter of this year, the EIA projects U.S. production to reach 16.24 mboe/d, exceeding the high mark reached in 2015 of 15.20 mboe/d. OPEC is also projected by the EIA to exceed previous records of production by reaching 39.91 mboe/d by the end of 2017.

The EIA forecasts a balanced oil market this year, going into moderately oversupplied next year. However, such a forecast for 2017 looks to be based essentially on flat Canadian production. Since the rescission, Canada has consistently increased production. In the fourth quarter of 2016, their production reached 4.95 mboe/d, and it was at 4.92 mboe/d in the first quarter of 2017. In the second quarter of 2017, production fell to 4.52 mboe/d due to disruptions arising from a fire at Suncrude Canada Ltd.'s bitumen processing plant. For the third and fourth quarters of 2017, the EIA is projecting Canadian production to be at 4.78 mboe/d. Given the country's history of increasing production, and given a production rate of 4.9 mboe/d prior to the second quarter disruption, it appears more likely that Canadian production will reach the 5.0 mboe/d level. Such an event would result in a slightly oversupplied market for 2017.

OPEC's production cuts are showing signs of declining enthusiasm. June's compliance rate decline to 78% versus high 90% rates in previous months. There is a market dynamic at play which OPEC has yet to address, at prices more so implying the need for difficult social transition than simply the margin efficiencies obtained by private oil companies.

Disclosure: I/we have no positions in any stocks mentioned, and no plans to initiate any positions within the next 72 hours.

I wrote this article myself, and it expresses my own opinions. I am not receiving compensation for it (other than from Seeking Alpha). I have no business relationship with any company whose stock is mentioned in this article.

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The Anatomy Of An Oil Market Evolution, Its Sustainability, And Consequences - Seeking Alpha

Human, empathetic, rational, emotional, brave and agile just a snapshot of the essential attributes a modern marketing leader must possess.

From being data literate and adept at driving sales, to having the ability to tell a rich brand story, marketers can feel under real pressure to excel at every aspect of the role in order to succeed. This pressure, coupled with the shrinking length of CMO tenure, is putting marketing leaders under the microscope like never before.

To examine the key skills and attributes required by a modern marketing leader in 2017 Marketing Week has carried out an in-depthqualitative and quantitive study, mapping out the Anatomy of a Leader

The first part of the study looked at the core responsibilities of a marketing leader, with our survey of more than 600 marketers finding thatsales and commercial awareness (74%) is considered the most important responsibility for marketing leaders.

Now, switching the focus to the essential attributes of a modern leader, it is strategic thinking that most marketers (86%) believe is imperative.

Relationship building came in a distant second (61%), followed by people management (60%), vision (59%) and problem solving (57%).

Conversely, visual presentation emerged as the least important skill for a marketing leader (14%), followed by practicality (15%), general knowledge (16%), specialist knowledge (16%) and written communication (20%).

READ MORE:Take our quiz to find out if you have the Anatomy of a Leader

Recognition of the importance of strategy is welcomed by Marketing Week columnist Mark Ritson: In recent years, marketing has become more and more tactical and we have lost the art of developing clear strategic direction first. We like to debate the knobs and dials of communication, but do not have a clear strategy for our brands first.

Adaptability (87%) was identified as the attribute growing most in importance for marketing leaders, followed by strategic thinking (83%), vision (81%) and technical proficiency (77%).

The fact that strategic thinking, commercial awareness and vision are now seen as being more important is unsurprising since more marketing leaders are moving into roles with a broader set of commercial and customer accountabilities, says Direct Line Groups marketing director, Mark Evans.

What is perhaps surprising is that more marketing leaders believe that technical proficiency has simultaneously become more important. I suspect that this relates to being literate and staying fresh with regards to all things digital. However, there is a risk of being a jack of all trades and a master of none.

Evans recognises that not all digital skills are a must-have for marketing leaders and while it is helpful for CMOs to understand developments in digital, it is better to remain channel agnostic.

CMOs may feel pressure to personally build digital skills, but I dont think its something to lose sleep over if you have invested in your team, he adds.

Bacardi head of creative excellence, Zara Mirza, agrees it is less about being a super CMO who can do it all and more about building strong teams. At Bacardi, we have more than one CMO. We have me, we have a head of data, head of PR. Together we figure it out and we all report into the CEO.

Thats a smart move as theres not going to be one person as a super CMO. Having lots of perspectives and figuring it out together will give you a better chance of success.

READ MORE:Russell Parsons The modern marketing leaders might not be who you think

Looking ahead, problem solving (77%), the ability to listen (74%), resilience (74%), people management (67%) and risk taking (67%) are key attributes that marketers say are becoming the DNA of a marketing leader.

By contrast the research finds that experience (11%), specialist knowledge (10%), tactical execution (9%) and assertiveness (7%) are the attributes marketers are most likely to identify as becoming less important to the make up of the modern leader.

LinkedIn CMO ShannonStubo believes asking the right questions and using the answers to solve problems is the hallmark of a successful leader. Reflecting on her own background in PR, Stubo explains that despite not having the typical marketing experience of most CMOs, she understands how to set a vision, hire great people and build excellent teams.

Marketing leaders need to be able to identify the right talent, but also be relationship-focused with key stakeholders. They need to be able to dedicate time to mentoring and coaching to help teams develop, as well as navigate and adapt to increasingly fast-moving trends, she adds.

READ MORE: LinkedIns CMO on being a marketing boss with PR DNA

Reflecting on the skills he feels are missing from the top survey findings, Britvic CMO Matt Barwell highlights the ability to lead creatively and encourage an environment of creative thinking, which he argues are attributes far more likely to deliver true breakthroughs.

Humanity and empathy are the stand-out traits of a brilliant marketing leader in the opinion of Tommy Hilfiger CMO Avery Baker, who argues that leading without an ego is the only way to get the best out of people.

However, these softer skillsfail to impress Ritson. All this wank about humanity and bravery is the outcome of sitting around on yachts in Cannes feeling each others pain. Its time for marketers to wake up and smell the coffee. Our role is as a fundamental part of organisational success, not some personality-driven, self help group for sensitive people.

Peugeot marketing director Mark Pickles disagrees, arguing that marketers ultimately have to be brave and adaptable in order to succeed.

It is only by understanding the core desires, motivations and demands of consumers, and being brave enough to consider how to quickly adapt the enterprise to deliver these that the modern marketer can survive and prosper.

However, in the opinion of IBM CMO Lisa Gilbert, the perfect marketing leader is T-shaped. She defines this as a mixture of general leadership skills, like the ability to set a vision or the tenacity to bring an idea over the finish line, combined with expertise such as the ability create a compelling narrative or get to the root of a data problem.

This mix of skills is underpinned by empathy and the ability to manage your energy, explains Gilbert.

Being a leader in this fast-paced industry takes stamina. Fortifying yourself with people who lift you up, coupled with a few good nights sleep are critical to winning the marathon of leadership versus the sprint.

At its core Marketing Weeksresearch reaffirms how essential it is for marketers of any level to possess strong commercial awareness and strategic thinking, talents that are superseding functional skills such as copywriting and design.

To be a successful marketing leader the key is to recognise that you do not need to be good at everything and that fundamentally it is far more valuable to ask the right questions, listen to the answers and empower your teams to execute your vision with confidence and creativity.

Marketing Week will further explore the necessaryqualitiesfor leadership on the Realising YourPotential stage at the Festival of Marketing in October. For tickets, visit festivalofmarketing.com

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Anatomy of a Leader: The practical skills you need to get to the top - Marketing Week

A new romance might be in the air when Greys Anatomy returns.

After the season 13 finale hinted at a potential romance for Jackson (Jesse Williams) and Maggie (Kelly McCreary), fans of the ABC medical drama have spent the hiatus wondering if Japril is out and Jaggie Mackson? is in. April (Sarah Drew) pointed out the potential in the finale, telling Maggie she believes her ex-husband and the cardio doc who grew close when Jackson treated Maggies dying mother have feelings for one another.

What April said to her literally had not crossed her mind, so I think its a question shes grappling with whether theres any truth to that, and if there is, what to do with it, and if theres not, how to manage if theres truth for Jackson in that, McCreary tells EW. Shes on fertile ground trying basically to find out whether April was onto something shes unaware of.

When Greys Anatomy returns this fall, the series will pick up right where the finale left off following the hospital explosion, which means Aprils words will still be ringing in Maggies ears. So, will Maggie take a shot with Jackson? The truth is that still remains to be seen, McCreary says. Whats ironic is that all of the reasons the fans might not want Jackson and Maggie to get together are the exact things that make really great drama. Thats true of life, too, the stuff that makes things a little bit messier is the stuff we think we dont want, but ultimately makes us stronger, so if thats where it goes, then theres probably good story to mine and good lessons to teach there about humanity and god knows what else.

And if it doesnt go there, McCreary continues, theres still so much potential in that relationship because Jackson and Maggie havent spent a lot of meaningful time together, April and Maggie havent spent a lot of meaningful time together those are new relationships that are absolutely as worthy of exploration as Amelia and Maggie and Meredith and Maggie, so why not?

Greys Anatomy returns with a two-hour premiere on Thursday, Sept. 28 at 8 p.m. ET on ABC.

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Grey's Anatomy: Will Jackson and Maggie really get together? - EW.com (blog)