WASHINGTON The United States reported more than 55,000 new Covid-19 cases on Thursday, a new daily global record for the coronavirus pandemic, as infections rose in a majority of states.

A surge in coronavirus cases over the past week has put President Donald Trump's handling of the crisis under the microscope and led several state governors to halt plans to reopen their economies after strict lockdowns.

The daily US tally stood at 55,274 late on Thursday, topping the previous single-day record of 54,771 set by Brazil on June 19.

Coronavirus cases are rising in 37 out of 50 US states including Florida, which confirmed more than 10,000 new cases on Thursday. That marked the state's largest daily spike so far and a level that exceeded single-day tallies from any European country at the height of the outbreak there.

California, another epicentre, saw positive tests climb 37 per cent with hospitalisations up 56 per cent over the past two weeks.

Texas Governor Greg Abbott, a Republican who has previously resisted calls to make face masks mandatory, on Thursday ordered them to be worn in all counties with over 20 coronavirus cases. He also barred people from gathering in groups larger than 10.

"In the past few weeks, there has been a swift and substantial spike in coronavirus cases," Mr Abbott said in a video message. "We need to refocus on slowing the spread. But, this time, we want to do it without closing down Texas again."

Texas recorded its second-worst day of the pandemic with 7,915 new cases, according to state health department data on Thursday.

Virus-related hospitalisations expanded by 6.9 per cent to 7,382, the data showed, with medical facilities in Houston and elsewhere showing increasing signs of strain.

The US has now recorded over 131,000 deaths, almost a quarter of the known global total.

The wave of new cases has several governors halting or back-pedalling on plans to reopen their states after months of strict lockdowns, closing beaches and cancelling fireworks displays over the July 4 holiday weekend.

"We are not out of this crisis. We are still in the first wave of this crisis. It requires some level of personal responsibility," California Governor Gavin Newsom, a Democrat, said at a daily briefing on the pandemic.

The sweeping business shutdowns earlier in the pandemic devastated the US economy and threw millions of Americans out of work, leaving governors reluctant to take such draconian steps again, even if the lifting of restrictions likely touched off the new outbreak.

A Labour Department report out on Thursday showed the re-openings had a dramatic impact on hiring, with the US creating jobs at a record pace in June. However, employment remains 14.7 million jobs below pre-pandemic levels.

"Today's announcement proves that our economy is roaring back," Mr Trump told reporters at the White House.

But the latest batch of high-frequency data assembled by Federal Reserve officials, economists and private companies suggests that economic activity stalled in recent days during new clampdowns.

"More than ever, we're concerned about the worsening health situation and its impact on the burgeoning recovery," wrote Oxford Economics analyst Gregory Daco.

"Rebounding mobility and poor use of protective equipment will make for a dangerous summer cocktail," the analyst wrote.

Meanwhile Mr Trump headed to Mount Rushmore yesterday for an early Independence Day celebration with thousands of guests who would not be required to wear masks or observe social distancing.

The show will feature a military flyover and the first fireworks in more than a decade at the mountain in the Black Hills region of South Dakota which is carved with the visages of four American presidents.

"We've going to have a tremendous evening," Mr Trump said on Thursday at the White House. "It's going to be a fireworks display like few people have seen."

Coronavirus cases are rising in 37 out of 50 US states including Florida, which confirmed more than 10,000 new cases on Thursday. That marked the state's largest daily spike so far and a level that exceeded single-day tallies from any European country at the height of the outbreak there.

The mass gathering - which is expected to include about 7,500 ticketed guests - comes as members of Mr Trump's coronavirus task force are pleading with Americans to wear masks and practise social distancing.

Health officials around the country have urged Americans to scale back their holiday plans and celebrate at home. In Los Angeles County, California, the health department ordered beaches closed and fireworks shows cancelled.

"The most patriotic thing they can do this year is to stay at home," said Dr Peter Beilenson, the director of Sacramento County's Department of Health Services, of revellers planning to float on rafts along the American River.

REUTERS, BLOOMBERG, NYTIMES

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US reports world's largest ever daily increase in coronavirus cases - The Straits Times

To err is human and I am about as human as they come.

Of course, no one is perfect and trying to solve natures mysteries is fraught with pitfalls.

I was walking down a trail one morning not too long ago. It had rained heavily the night before and the trail was damp. I had to watch my step because there were so many efts on the trail. I remembered a time when I mistakenly referred to the bright orange amphibians as newts.

I wasnt completely off base, of course, as efts are the terrestrial stage of the newt. After being born in the water and then crawling around the ground as an eft for a while (sometimes a few years), they return to the water to live out their time as a newt.

That is just one example of many mistakes and misidentifications I used to make. Im sure there are some things I currently mistakenly identify and there will certainly be things in the future that I errantly call the wrong name.

Here are some examples I often hear from others that are not correct. There is no judgment, of course, as we have already determined that no one is perfect.

I think I hear the fisher called a fisher cat more often than its proper name. The fierce, large member of the weasel family is simply called a fisher, no cat necessary. Indeed, it is not a cat at all. It is a weasel. Now that the red-bellied woodpecker is expanding its range north throughout New England, it is a good time to remind everyone that it is not actually a red-headed woodpecker. The red-bellied woodpecker does indeed have a mostly red head, but the name red-headed woodpecker is already taken by a bird that does indeed have a fully red head. Adding to the confusion is that the reddish-pink belly of the red-bellied woodpecker is not often seen and not an obvious field mark.

Heres a tough one that took me years and years to get: the difference between a house finch and purple finch. They look very similar and many people automatically default to the purple finch, which is understandable as it is the state bird of New Hampshire and native to New England. House finch, however, is far more common these days even though they are transplants from western U.S. Purple finches are more colorful (at least the males), slightly larger and have more substantial bills. No, not the type of bills that are due every month.

I often hear people think an owl is singing during the day when they hear a mourning cooing. The mourning doves song does have an owl-like quality to it, but it is softer and unique to the dove. The owl that typically sings during the day is the barred owl and its song is much more gruff sounding than the cooing of a dove.

Finally, the osprey is sometimes confused with the bald eagle. Both are large, majestic birds of prey with white heads found near water so the confusion is understandable. The best way to tell them apart is by size. As impressive as the osprey is, the eagle is substantially larger. The typical wingspan of an osprey is about five feet, while an eagles is six-and-a-half feet. Also, the underside of an osprey is white and that of an eagle is brown. Either way, its great to see the population of both species rebounding so significantly.

In the end, whether people get the name or identification correct pales in comparison to the species being noticed and appreciated.

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For the Birds: Correctly identified or not, it's the appreciation that counts, by Chris Bosak - The Keene Sentinel

Im a 50 year old woman just diagnosed with ADHD. I took my first dose of Adderall today and it was a nightmare. I recently found a therapist to address PTSD caused by childhood medical trauma. Ive suffered multiple traumatic experiences during medical care. Plus 45 years of awful experiences with almost every doctor. So I suffer from intense claustrophobia, fear of being restrained, fear of anything over my face. Just about anything related to medical care triggers intense fear and extreme fight or flight response. In this freaky f-ed up COVID world, I melted down and feared I could snap and murder anyone who tried to get me to wear a mask. I found a therapist who started pushing the idea that I needed antidepressants. I said no way, I was open to as needed anti-anxiety meds but could never take anything regularly. Because no matter how hard I try or how many reminder strategies I try to use, I am 100% certain I will miss dosages at least 50% of the time. And I dont need anything else in my life to make me feel like a failure. I was shocked when she told me she saw many flags that I had ADHD. After evaluation and lots of education, I totally see it! And I see Ive struggled with it my whole life always thinking why cant I get my act together

She referred me too a psychologist for med management for PTSD and ADHD. I saw her yesterday. Fortunately, she listened to all my concerns and agreed that anti depressants were not for me. She said if I treat the ADHD, it would allow me more control to dismiss my obsessive thoughts, reduce my anxiety end allow me more success with all the relaxation strategies I have attempted but failed to follow thru. Then I could more easily address therapy for the PTSD. So around 8, I took my first dose of time release Adderall (generic Mfr Par Pharm), I was prepared to feel strange, jitters, racing heart etc. And expected stomach upset just like every OTC med, supplement, etc. I had asked if I was safe to drive and she said I should be more alert and focused. I took it with food, waited about an hour and felt a bit of medicine head, but thought no big deal. So I headed out to vote and run a few errands.

It hit me in the car no idea how to get to my regular voting place, panic, brief flashes of suicidal thoughts, nausea, and think I sat for awhile at a green light unaware of my surroundings. I finally found the building, made it inside, and the scary looking, masked guard asked if I had a mask. I said no and I cant wear one. He simply said third-floor, sorry I had to ask about the mask. I instantly felt faint and started to feel myself collapse. Luckily there was a chair behind me. After some time breathing and reassurance from the guard who knew all about PTSD and said hed never make me wear a mask, I survived voting. I got back in the car and felt extremely drowsy and afraid. So I stopped at CVS to ask the pharmacist if this was normal. She thought my side effects were unusual, but nothing was dangerous and I needed to give it 2-3 days for my body to get used to the new feelings. But if I continued to feel drowsy, I should call my doctor Monday. I felt reassured and went on my way . When I got in the store, I realised I was not where I had planned to go and I just sat down and stared into space, seeming to have no thoughts at allno higher reasoning ability. It never occurred to me that I shouldnt be driving. All I wanted to do was sleep, so eventually I went back to my car to go home. While driving, I suddenly felt my entire body go limp, my hands slipped off the steering wheel like deadweights and I didnt care at all. I thought I might crash and diethats nice. I felt very calm, peaceful and almost euphoric and didnt care what happened. Miraculously, I made it home intending to go to sleep, but called a friend to report my new meds were not good. She said my speech was very slow and I sounded drunk. Its foggy, but I dont think I slept. I got up and read more on this site, told myself Im OK and made lunch. I noticed and stopped myself as I impulsively jumped from one cooking task to another without completing the first. I thought OK, I see that this is working. A little later, I found myself outside wondering how I got there and why the front door was open. I couldnt remember that I must have walked outside to pick up FedEx delivery. This was way more extreme than my usual what did Ill come out here for? episodes. I then tried to read something and didnt seem to recognize what that printed stuff on the page was and I definitely couldnt read. The whole morning cycle repeated again. Panic, Suicidal flashes I looked at the time hoping the meds were wearing off . It was about 4, but I didnt know how to do math to figure out how many hours since starting. Then the sudden limp body, and euphoric feeling and I though how nice it would be to have a gun because I would have no fear of shooting myself in the head and that would be nice. I thought ,this is freaky and called my friend again who kept me on the phone for about an hour until I sounded normal again.

So no more Adderall! Ill call the doc Monday. I dont want to give up on my hopes of an improved life, but Im really freaked out and afraid of trying again. Ive always been very sensitive to any kind of medication and been told thats common for fair skinned red heads. Im cautious with OTC meds and usually start with half the recommended dose just to be sure I dont react badly. It was the lowest dose available to start, but in hindsight, I would have listened to my gut and started with half dose. Also if I try again, I think should avoid time release. And Ill be sure I dont need to leave the house and that someone is available to monitor me. Any thoughts?

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Adderal disaster First time ever on ADHD med ADDitude - ADDitude

A bartender wearing a face mask and gloves checks a patron's ID at Under the Volcano in Houston last month. Texas is one of the states seeing a big uptick in coronavirus cases and hospitalizations. Mark Felix/AFP via Getty Images hide caption

A bartender wearing a face mask and gloves checks a patron's ID at Under the Volcano in Houston last month. Texas is one of the states seeing a big uptick in coronavirus cases and hospitalizations.

About 120,000 Americans have now died from the coronavirus.

While the national number of daily deaths has declined in recent weeks, new confirmed cases are on the rise in almost half the country, including spikes in Florida, Texas and Arizona, where the president is headed Tuesday.

"We saved millions of lives, and now it's time to open up," President Trump said definitively Saturday night during his campaign rally in Tulsa, Okla.

Trump's referring to an earlier estimate that found there could be up to 2.2 million deaths if the country did nothing to contain the outbreak. But he spent months downplaying the virus when health experts were imploring more action sooner. And those experts are now warning it's not time to act as if the pandemic is over.

"[T]hat's why I think you're seeing right now increases in a number of states, because everybody's back to a pre-pandemic mindset," Michael Osterholm, director for the Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy at the University of Minnesota and author of Deadliest Enemy: Our War Against Killer Germs, said on NBC's Meet the Press on Sunday. He warned that the coronavirus is like a "forest fire" that is showing no signs of slowing down.

Early on, the pandemic was largely affecting "blue," or Democratic-leaning areas, especially New York, but now most new cases are in the South and redder parts of the country. The Trump administration and some Republican governors have been blaming increased testing for the rise in cases, but in many places cases are increasing more than testing and that certainly doesn't explain away rising hospitalizations in places like Texas.

The campaign of presumptive Democratic nominee Joe Biden is making competence a core part of its argument against Trump, and it hit him again for it because of other remarks he made Saturday night.

"When you do testing to that extent, you are gonna find more people, you're gonna find more cases," Trump said. "So I said to my people, 'Slow the testing down, please.' They test and they test. We have tests that people don't know what's going on."

The White House says he was being "tongue in cheek," but Trump has repeatedly said testing makes the United States look bad by, in his view, increasing the number of reported cases. A Democratic group has already cut an ad centering on his remarks.

It will be key to watch political reaction on the right if cases and hospitalizations continue to rise in these parts of the country, as things like wearing masks something the president initially encouraged Americans to do have become politicized.

So far, though, Trump's power of persuasion with his base continues to outweigh the coronavirus's shift toward Red America.

1. Possible progressive surge in elections: Five states hold primaries Tuesday Kentucky, New York, North Carolina, Virginia and Mississippi.

State Rep. Charles Booker, pictured, faces Amy McGrath in Kentucky's Democratic primary for the U.S. Senate. Bryan Woolston/AP hide caption

State Rep. Charles Booker, pictured, faces Amy McGrath in Kentucky's Democratic primary for the U.S. Senate.

In Kentucky, the race between the two Democrats vying for the right to take on Republican Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell is coming down to the wire. State Rep. Charles Booker has all the momentum and progressive backing over Amy McGrath, a retired Marine Corps fighter pilot who has all the money and the party endorsement but also lost a congressional race in the 2018 Democratic wave.

Either faces an uphill battle in a general election against McConnell in Kentucky, but a new video from Booker encapsulates a lot of the messages Democrats are trying to push nationally about working class economics, protests and Black Lives Matter.

In New York, pay attention to progressives going after establishment Democrats, especially in the race between longtime Rep. Eliot Engel and Jamaal Bowman, a former Bronx principal who has won the endorsements of Sen. Bernie Sanders and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. Missteps from Engel, who last faced a competitive primary 20 years ago, opened the door for Bowman, who has raised $2 million and is surging.

2. Battleground Arizona, Wisconsin: Speaking of elections, Trump heads to Yuma, Ariz., on Tuesday to survey part of the border fence with Mexico before heading to Phoenix. Vice President Pence, meanwhile, will be in Wisconsin. It's no coincidence that they're heading to those places amid the president's slipping poll numbers. Wisconsin and Arizona could very well be tipping-point states this November.

3. Hearing on DOJ independence Wednesday: Like something out of an episode of Showtime's Billions, Attorney General William Barr announced the resignation of Geoffrey Berman, the U.S. attorney for the Southern District of New York in Manhattan last week. Problem: Berman, who has been investigating people close to Trump, said he didn't resign. Barr later said in a statement that Berman had "chosen public spectacle over public service" and asked Trump to intervene and fire him. Trump did, but added, "[T]hat's really up to him [Barr]. I'm not involved."

And now Congress is involved to investigate it all.

House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jerry Nadler, D-N.Y., is promising to try and secure Berman's testimony. "The whole thing smacks of corruption and incompetence, which is what we have come to expect from this President and his Attorney General," Nadler said in a statement. Nadler was already slated to hold a meeting Wednesday with two whistleblowers on political interference at the Department of Justice.

4. Votes on police reform on Capitol Hill expected: The Senate will debate, and possibly vote on, police reform. There's a key procedural vote scheduled for Wednesday. On Thursday, the House is expected to pass the Democratic police reform bill mostly along party lines. You wonder how many people are tuning in to politics for the first time and watching the meat grinder of Congress work and what their impressions are do they turn away, thinking politics is futile and not a great way to effect change, or does it make them more likely to vote?

5. Trump's immigration executive order: Following his administration's loss over the DACA program, Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, at the Supreme Court last week, President Trump is expected to sign an executive order suspending temporary work visas through the end of the year, NPR's Franco Ordoez reports. The suspensions are expected to include visas that affect skilled workers like in the tech industry (H-1B), executives at large corporations (L-1), seasonal workers like hotel and construction workers (H-2B) and research scholars and professors (J-1).

"I said, 'General, there's no way I can make it down that ramp without falling on my ass, general.' "

Trump during his Tulsa rally on Saturday, delivering a defense of his walking down a ramp at West Point. The president noted that he had leather-soled shoes on and didn't want to fall like former President Gerald Ford coming out of the airplane.

Trump went on a long tangent to discuss and, at times, reenact, his gingerly walking down the ramp and questions raised about his using a second hand to drink water. He said he didn't want to get any on his tie. Philip Bump at The Washington Post found Trump spent one out of every eight minutes of his Tulsa speech talking about West Point, or 14 minutes and 53 seconds of a speech that lasted one hour and 43 minutes.

More here:

5 Things To Watch This Week: Coronavirus, Politics And Police - NPR

ALSO TODAY: Bloc Quebecois chef holds end-of-sitting press conference in Chambly Senate mulls over proposal to consider 'systemic racism' as part of estimates review

After dropping off the radar over the weekend, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau heads back to his now familiar spot outside Rideau Cottage this morning for the first time since Friday morning, where, as per his itinerary, hell address Canadians on the latest developments in his governments ongoing response to the current public health crisis. (11 AM)

Also on his agenda today, as per his office: A check-in with European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen and a series of otherwise unspecified private meeting before firing up his webcam to virtually attend a meeting of the Liberal caucus.

Back on the Hill,while the House of Commons haspowered downuntilJuly8, their Senate colleaguesremain on the clock for at least a few more days as they wrap up a lightning-round review of the estimates that got underway last week.

As per the order paper for todays sitting, when the Red Chamber reopens for business this evening, the first item of business will be a proposal to invite Treasury Board President Jean-Yves Duclos to join them for an extended committee-style question-and-answer sessionon the governments latest spending requests.

They may also expand the standard review to reserve additional time to, as an amendment put forward by the Independent Senators Group puts it, examine the estimates as they pertain to the individual and collective responsibility of ministers to combat systemic racism, which would likely involve extending the invitation to includeother key Team Trudeau front benchers.

Outside the precinct, Bloc Quebecois leader Yves-Francois Blanchet will hold an end-of-sitting media availability at a microbrewery in Chambly. (10 AM)

ON AND AROUND THE HILL

In response to what the Bank of Canada describes as numerous requests to photograph or shoot video of newly installed governor Tiff Macklin, hell make a brief in-person appearance outside the banks headquarters in downtown Ottawathis morning. (8:30 AM).

Later today, hell hitthe virtual speaking circuit by delivering a lunch address at an online event hosted by the Canadian Club, during which, as per the advisory, hell share his thoughts on monetary policy in the context of COVID-19. (11 AM)

ON THE VIRTUAL COMMITTEE CIRCUIT

On the Senate side, Employment Minister Carla Qualtrough is booked in for a one-hour Q&A at NATIONAL FINANCE, which is still midway through its examination of the COVID-19 legislation put on the parliamentary fast-track this spring, and has also blocked off an hour to finalize its report back to the Upper House on the latest estimates. (11 AM 1 PM)

Due to the ongoing parliamentary hiatus, most House and Senate committee meetings are suspended until regular sittings resume.

FRESH FROM iPOLITICS

HOT OFF THE WIRES

Committee highlights courtesy of our friends at iPoliticsINTEL.

Dont miss todays complete legislative brief in GovGuide.ca!

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iPolitics AM: Trudeau heads back on the COVID-19 daily briefing circuit after weekend break - iPolitics.ca

The first time Lyell CEO Rick Klausner looked at what PACT Pharma was trying to accomplish with neoantigens, non-viral T cell engineering and cancer, he felt they couldnt get it done. But in the 3 years since theyve launched, Klausner has become a believer.

Now, hes a believer and a partner.

Early Thursday morning, Klausner and PACT CEO Alex Franzusoff announced a plan to jointly pursue one of the Holy Grails of oncology R&D. Blending their technologies and bringing a wide network of leading experts to the table, the two companies are working on a personalized T cell therapy for solid tumors. And an IND is in the offing.

The collaboration joins the Lyell team, which has been concentrating on overcoming the exhaustion that afflicts the first generation of cell therapies, with a PACT group that has developed tech to identify a patients unique signature of cancer mutations and use a non-viral method to engineer their T cells into cancer therapies.

I spent some time on Wednesday talking with Klausner and Franzusoff about the deal, which comes with an undisclosed set of financials as Lyell invests in the alliance.

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What's this? A rival bidder heads back to the table with a better offer for Tetraphase. Antibiotics show faint signs of life - Endpoints News

A grape known as ct in the Cahors region of France and made famous by Argentina continues to build support in the Northwest under the name of malbec.

This red Bordeaux variety has become a rising star in many corners of our region the Columbia Valley, Idahos Snake River Valley and Southern Oregon.

Growers love malbec because it ripens ahead of cabernet sauvignon, and consumers have embraced the brightness of its structure. It does not often carry the toothsome tannins associated with merlot and cabernet sauvignon. And yet, malbec offers a rich and bold drink.

As a result, malbec ranks among the most versatile and food-friendly wines that you can bring to the dining table. Tapas? For sure. Densely flavored proteins such as duck, lamb, venison, braised meats and ribs smoked, dry rubbed or saucy. It does not matter. Malbec will marry well.

Because of its name recognition, those broad food applications and the interest by winemakers and consumers, malbec overtook cabernet franc as the fourth-most-harvested red grape in Washington state in the 2019 vintage.

Here are a few stellar examples of malbec that our panels have evaluated in recent months, and they are available at various price points. Ask for them at your favorite wine merchant, or order them directly from the winery.

Canoe Ridge Vineyard 2018 The Expedition Malbec, Horse Heaven Hills, $17: Theres a rich history behind Canoe Ridge Vineyard, which celebrated its 30th anniversary in 2019, but New Zealand-born winemaker Haydn Mouat also can choose from the Benches and Alder Ridge Vineyard when producing CRV for Precept Wine.

This malbecs provenance shows immediately with aromas of dusty minerality, blue fruit, cocoa powder and clove. Theres pleasing density and richness to the dark blue fruit flavors, which roll in black cherry for a seamless and bright package that is capped by a long finish.

Basalt Cellars 2015 Malbec, Columbia Valley, $28: This Lewis-Clark Valley producer made quite an impression at 2019 competitions, and winemaker Rick Wasem worked with Verhey Vineyard in the western edge of Yakima Valley for this malbec. The beautiful nose of blueberry and dusty violets is realized on the palate with elegance and charming structure.

Dussek 2017 Malbec, Columbia Valley, $30: Last fall at the Great Northwest Invitational, Woodhouse Wine Estates in Woodinville earned a double gold medal a unanimous vote for gold by a judging panel for malbec produced under its Dussek tier.

The nose is full of blackberries, black cherry, parsley, river rocks and chocolate-covered espresso beans. In the mouth, it showcases textural heft with tannins that slowly soften along a floral finish.

Weisinger Family Winery 2016 Gold Vineyard Malbec, Rogue Valley, $32: Second-generation winemaker Eric Weisinger works with Randy Golds namesake vineyard near Talent, Oregon, for this deep, dark, delicious and elegant malbec.

Blackberry and black cherry fruit at the core meld in harmoniously with accents of dark chocolate and spice. It is balanced and pure all the way through. Enjoy with chicken in an Asian barbecue sauce.

Seven Hills Winery 2018 McClellan Estate Vineyard Malbec, Walla Walla Valley, $40: The McClellan family pioneered merlot in the Walla Walla Valley, planting 4 acres of it in 1982, and founding winemaker Casey McClellan also was the first in the valley to produce malbec more than 15 years ago.

McClellan established it in McClellan Estate Vineyard in 2008, and his oak program tucks baking spice aromas behind sweet blue fruit. It is deliciously bright and spicy with clove and white pepper from start to finish.

Rocky Pond Winery 2016 Double D Vineyard Malbec, Columbia Valley, $42: Business manager Jonathan Kaczmarek earned a finance degree at the University of Wisconsin before making wine at Seattles Soos Creek. The Northwest Wine Academy product now gets the chance to oversee a few small lots at Rocky Pond for the Dufenhorst family.

Kaczmarek has not lost his touch with this malbec. Fruit is dominant from the fragrant berry aroma to the opulent blueberry, blackberry and plum flavors saturating the palate. Nicely integrated oak, brown sugar and a dusting of sweet herbs completes the lovely package.

Zerba Cellars 2016 Malbec, Walla Walla Valley, $45: Brent Roberts has taken over the reins from Doug Nierman as Cecil Zerbas winemaker, and his work with estate fruit continues in the tradition that helped Zerba Cellars earn Wine Press Northwests 2011 Pacific Northwest Winery of the Year Award.

Aromas of dark fruit and hints of toast lead the way to boysenberry jam, ground nutmeg, raspberries and a smoky oak underlay. It is supple and mouth-coating as it heads to a smooth finish.

Eric Degerman operates Great Northwest Wine. Learn more about wine at greatnorthwestwine.com.

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Great Northwest Wine: Bright and juicy malbec grows its audience - The Spokesman-Review

This weekend, in what looks like a blatant effort to kneecap investigations into Donald Trump and his cronies, Attorney General Bill Barr tried to Friday Night Massacre the Southern District of New York and install a crony in the office's top spot. Apparently, he thought no one would notice if he burned the Justice Department down in the dead of night. Whoopsie! But Bill Barr is as incompetent as he is corrupt which is to say extremely so he wound up botching the job, ensuring that a career civil servant will run SDNY for the foreseeable future. And once again, we have been saved from disaster because the Trump administration is stacked with fuckups.

We came in on Saturday to write it up for you (hello, money us!), but the short version is that Barr tried to fire Geoffrey Berman, the US Attorney for SDNY, by Friday News Dump. At 9:30 p.m., Barr announced Berman would be "stepping down" immediately; Craig Carpenito, US Attorney for New Jersey and Chris Christie's pal, would be stepping into the job; and Trump would be nominating SEC chair Jay Clayton, a lawyer with virtually no criminal or prosecutorial experience, to take Berman's place.

At 11:15, in a tweet that is still up on SDNY's Twitter page, Berman announced he hadn't stepped down, that Barr couldn't fire him, and that "our investigations will move forward without delay or interruption." Which sure as hell sounds like he's accusing Barr of trying to get him out of the way to delay and interrupt ongoing investigations, right?

The Justice Department went noodling off to tell CNN and the New York Times that Clayton, who recently played golf with the president, had asked for the job, and Barr was just doing him a favor by clearing the way. Which is just obvious horseshit Clayton will never get confirmed by the Senate Judiciary Committee, which still allows home state senators, i.e. Schumer and Gillibrand, to block nominees.

And even if it were a real nomination, that doesn't account for Barr's insistence that Carpenito needed to take Berman's spot RIGHT FUCKING NOW. The fact that Barr tried to promote Berman out of SDNY, offering him a position as head of the Justice Department's Civil Division, makes it even clearer that Berman wasn't fired for incompetence. He was shoved out of the way for some very specific, as yet unknown, reason. Could it be that SDNY has already indicted chucklefuckers Lev Parnas and Igor Fruman, and is looking into their pal, at Trump's lawyer, Rudy Giuliani? Or is it the investigation of Turkey's Halkbank, which Trump promised Recep Tayyip Erdoan he would make go away, according to John Bolton? Maybe it's an investigation of Trump's creditors at Deutsche Bank? With Trump's business headquartered in New York, the possibilities really are endless.

The Wall Street Journal reports that Berman refused to sign a letter on Friday "criticizing New York Mayor Bill de Blasio for the city's enforcement of social-distancing rules to block religious gatherings but not recent street protests." Sources told the Journal that "Mr. Berman voiced strong objections to the letter, particularly its assertions that Mr. De Blasio imposed a double standard, and described the letter as a political stunt that would strain relations between his office and the city," but it's not clear if this was the "real" reason for the firing. We will just note here that this is the third version of events (after "Clayton asked for the job" and "Berman was going to get promoted") floated by DOJ sources.

An SDNY prosecutor told the Daily Beast, "I can't say whether Rudy or anyone else would have been indicted by now, but the slowdown in grand jury activity [due to coronavirus] has been a blessing for the subjects of the white collar criminal investigations." So, make of that one what you will. (Also we would like to just note that the Daily Beast is now using "fucks up" in news headlines, because hell yeah, it is.)

After we posted on Saturday, Barr fired back in a typically snitty letter, saying, "Unfortunately, with your statement of last night, you have chosen public spectacle over public service. Because you have declared that you have no intention of resigning, I have asked the President to remove you as of today, and he has done so."

The Attorney General, who has no authority to fire a US Attorney or appoint a new one, offered no explanation for his lie about Berman's resignation on Friday night. Presumably, he managed to stick a letter saying "Geoff, U SUCK and UR FIRED" under Trump's nose before the Tulsa rally, and Trump's signature made the dismissal official. Although, as usual, observing that one of his loyal minions had waded into a pile of shit, Trump declined to offer assistance.

But Barr's letter, although phrased as a righteous smackdown, was actually a major concession both to Berman and to the appropriate functioning of the American justice system.

"By operation of law, the Deputy United States Attorney, Audrey Strauss, will become the acting United States Attorney," Barr wrote, "and I anticipate that she will serve in that capacity until a permanent successor is in place." So no henchman will be shoved in to ratfuck the SDNY, and a career prosecutor, who has been in the office since the 1980s, will take over until Clayton gets confirmed. Which will be never. And since Berman was recused from several cases involving Trump anyway, functionally we're at status quo ante. (Gonna go out on a limb and guess that Carpenito and Clayton would have opted not to recuse from Trump-adjacent litigation. Just a feeling, ya know?)

Having headed off whatever dirty play Barr was planning, Berman graciously resigned on Saturday night. And lest it get lost in the shuffle here, Berman is a lifelong Republican who could have taken the promotion and let Barr wreck SDNY the way he did the federal prosecutors office in DC. Remember that Barr had US Attorney for DC Jessie Liu unceremoniously defenestrated right before prosecutors were forced to walk back the Stone sentencing recommendation and drop the charges against Michael Flynn. So big props for Geoffrey Berman, thanks to whom SDNY lives to fight another day.

Trump could still try to fire Strauss and take over that office. But House Democrats are already demanding hearings on this weekend's fuckery, and considering the way the whole thing blew up in their faces, another blatant attempt to take over SDNY would be an extremely expensive political move during an election, kinda like drawing a giant red X saying LOOK FOR CORRUPTION HERE.

So, well played, Mister Attorney General. Slow fuckin' clap.

[WSJ / WaPo / CNN]

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See the original post:

Bill Barr Declares Victory In SDNY Fight, Heads Home To Ice His Balls - Wonkette

Double the trouble, double the fashion!

When it comes to owning the red carpet, Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen are among the best out there for making us stop and stare at their ensembles, whether it be one of their signature all-black looks or trendy showstoppers.

The duo never fails to impress, and often complement one another's looks in subtle but effective ways, making us always look forward to whatever they are walking down the step-and-repeat in.

It's no surprise, either,that the two are always so well-dressed, as the twins have a huge interested in fashion,founding both clothing labels Elizabeth and James (adorably named after their younger siblings,Elizabeth Olsen and James Olsen) and their luxury brand, The Row.

Normally, this month, we'd expect the two to serve us another amazing look at the CFDA Awards, however due to the coronavirus pandemic the award show was postponed from its regular June date until further notice, but have no fear, E! is still giving you your style fix!

Read the original:

Every Time Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen Won the Red Carpet - E! Online

By Valerie Tate

SundayJun21,2020at9:00AM

Our area is at high risk for scab (Fusarium head blight) this year. If infected, all or part of the head will have a white, bleached appearance. Kernels may be absent or shriveled and shrunken. Scab occurs when wet conditions and moderate temperatures are present during flowering and early grain fill. One concern when scab is present is the production of mycotoxins. Non-ruminant animals, like pigs, cannot tolerate grain infected with mycotoxins in their diet. Ruminant animals, like cattle and sheep, are more tolerant of low concentrations.

Be cautious when saving seed wheat from a field showing signs of scab. The fungi that causes scab will remain in the seed and can cause problems in the following crop. Crop rotation and residue management are effective ways to reduce the occurrence of scab. The disease occurs more frequently in wheat planted into corn, grain sorghum or wheat residue.

To determine the effect the disease will have on yield, count the number of heads in a square foot. Multiply that by 43,560 square feet per acre. Count the number of kernels per head on several heads and take the average. Multiply it by the number of heads per acre to find the number of kernels per acre. On average, there are 15,500 kernels per pound in soft red winter wheat. If the wheat kernels are small use a larger number, if kernels are large, use a smaller number. Divide the number of kernels per acre by the number of kernels per pound. Divide by 60 pounds per bushel to determine the bushels per acre. Estimate the yield in several places within the field to find a representative yield for the field.

For more information, contact Valerie Tate, agronomy specialist for the University of Missouri Extension at tatev@missouri.edu or at 660-895-5123. MU Extension programs are open to all.

Valerie Tate is an agronomy specialist for the University of Missouri Extension.

Read more from the original source:

Field Notes: Estimating the yield of soft red winter wheat - Chillicothe Constitution Tribune

THERE are times when only a takeaway will do, and when restaurants and pubs are shut, those times are now.

Perhaps the fanciest takeaway in our area is Tomahawk on Yarm High Street. You can find it beneath a dramatic design of a red bulls head, although really it is an upmarket KFC with suitably upmarket prices.

Petra, my wife, turned her nose up at the menu because it is all meat: rotisserie chicken, parmos, shawarma kebab and a couple of beefy bits culminating in an 8oz fillet steak for 24. I tried to tempt her with a side dish of halloumi fries, which featured chilli, pomegranate, spring onion and mint yoghurt (4.50), to no avail.

So the rest of us booked some meat. It is, though, Red Tractor meat, so it was farmed within the UK with care.

The Tomahawk website was very simple to use: choose a 15 minute time slot for collection (or delivery within seven miles), choose your food, and enter your card details.

The outlet on Yarm High Street is small, but unmissable due to the large red bulls heads everywhere, and, at 7.15pm on a balmy Saturday evening, there was a socially distant queue snaking out of its door.

Most other venues weve reviewed recently have delivered the food direct into your car to minimise any chance of contamination. In Tomahawk, you have to go in to the low-ceilinged shop, announce your arrival and wait after 10 weeks of not being in a confined space with strangers it felt claustrophobic, even though everyone was at pains to keep their distance.

The food was promptly handed over the counter in a designer bag, featuring the said red head, and it kept warm well on the 20 minute ride home.

Theo, our son, had chosen a Yorkshire Pudding Wrap, at 5.95 one of the cheapest items on the menu although he augmented it with a portion of Ziggy fries (2.95). The pudding around the outside obviously couldnt have any crunch, but it kept its shape well, and was packed with shredded rotisserie chicken.

The menu said it included the ultimate rooster gravy, which was almost entirely absent. It certainly could have done with it, although it did contain tarragon and onion stuffing which was superbly fragrant.

Genevieve, our daughter, had chosen the peri peri chicken breast for 11.95, which was just a butterflied chicken with some chips in a tinfoil tray with a plastic container of perfunctory green salad and two pots of mild sauce.

It didnt look much, but the chicken was nicely cooked, tender and juicy, and the sauce was really pretty good. Everyones crinkly cut chips were fine.

I had chosen the Chicken Coop Box which was described as the ultimate boneless box (10.95). As well as my Ziggy fries, it contained three croquettes, which were tasteless and pointless, some mini fillets and popcorn chicken, plus a southern fried fillet. All of the chicken was nicely cooked, and had none of the finger-licking grease of a KFC which can even dribbled down to your elbows.

I really enjoyed the spicey kick and peppery taste of the southern fried fillet.

I thought Id ordered some medium Tomahawk Chicken Sauce to go in my box, but it came with a pot that was suspiciously similar to the peri peri dressing. However, the added kick of the medium heat raised the rating of the sauce from really pretty good to addictively great I liked it a lot.

Apart from the ordinary green salad, the food was all very beige even the sauces were orangey beige and Theos Tomahawk Ketchup was reddy beige and lacked vegetables. Perhaps we should have added a spicy slaw side dish to our order.

The bill was 33 for the three of us, which in pre-pandemic times would certainly have been more than a fish-and-chip takeaway or a KFC, but worth it in terms of enhanced quality, and certainly sustainable in a hipstery place like Yarm.

But the pandemic is changing pricing levels. Now restaurants doing takeaways have dropped their prices to these sort of levels.

As eating out has transformed into eating in, it has become much more affordable you can get a three course gourmet for two with a very good bottle of red wine from a gastropub that would have been 80 or more to eat in for 50 now.

Will takeaways have to adjust their pricing to this new normal?

But Tomahawks meat is certainly hard to beat.

Food quality: 7

Social Distancing: 6

Logistics: 10

Value for money: 7

Tomahawk Takeaway,

89 High Street, Yarm, TS15 9BG

Website and ordering: tomahawk-chickenhouse.co.uk

Info (but no phone orders): 01642 781 333

Read more from the original source:

Tomahawk Takeaway, Yarm reviewed: Meat that's hard to beat - The Northern Echo

**Randa El Ozeir: **A group of people on the street flinched showing signs of apprehension and repulsion. They are Yemenis living in a remote area where volunteers, from the Yemen Red Crescent Society (YRCS) in their protective masks, put informative posters as part of a comprehensive awareness campaign about COVID-19. The group of people was scared to contract the disease from these masked individuals. Little by little, the group of people bombarded the volunteers with questions, and their eyes brightened with an aha moment! when they learned the answers.

Once again, it becomes clear how local actors and volunteers play an invaluable role in communities they know like the back of their hands. They speak the language, are familiar with the traditions, and recognize the prevailing mindset. Zamzam Saleh Saed Jaeem, the Deputy Communications manager in YRCs Dhamar Branch, said, There were rumors that made some people flinch when they saw us wearing masks, as if we were sick and contagious! But we stood our ground and persevered in identifying for them the wrong practices and correcting their misinformation, so they ended up helping us to put up the posters!.

In Yemen, a country affected by war for over five years, the YRCS has been one of the few humanitarian organizations to freely continue executing its activities and missions all over the country doing what they most excel at: humanitarian support for communities affected by conflict and natural disasters, medical services especially for women and children, nutrition aids, prevention campaigns to tackle the risks of diseases as cholera and malaria, and lately, societal awareness through field campaigns around the countrys 22 governorates to stave off the dangers of COVID-19. These campaigns are implemented by the Heads of Communications in the YRCs Branches, accompanied by the ambulance drivers and 44 volunteers, through posters and by playing recorded messages with preventive measures.

Nisrine Ahmed, the YRCs Media Officer, said, Before setting out to implement an activity, a coordination with all authorities in the country has to be done to commence a field awareness campaign directly with the people as to bridge the gap in all rugged locations. The geographical nature, ranging from mountains to deserts, coasts, and frontiers, has been aggravated by the poor phone and internet coverage and the unreliable electricity and made these places unattainable. Ultimately, the coordination to carry out the activity becomes centralized with the local authority at the governorate level.

In an innovative way revealing a deep understanding of the local environment, the YRCS worked with the International Committee of the Red Cross to produce audio flashes containing simplified awareness messages people can incorporate into their daily lives to smoothly change their behaviours. Some of these messages promote using hand sanitizers, protecting your own food during COVID-19, how to keep yourself and your family safe, how to protect yourself and others, what to do when you start having symptoms, and when to wear a mask.

**Nisrine Ahmed **explained how the messages are being delivered via portable loudspeakers on ambulances that roam the districts and neighbourhoods of secluded areas within each governorate. We are distributing in 10 communities the flyers and posters consisting of crucial info about COVID-19, its transmission, and the ways to prevent it.

The YRC focuses on 440 areas across Yemen but does not go door-to-door. The awareness messages are broadcasted on loudspeakers and disseminated by posters. Only when faced with specific inquires, the Heads of Communications in the YRCs Branches explain the content about COVID-19 face-to-face. Those volunteers train yearly on communication skills, community activities, and media on the ground to perform their communication duties within the Branches, but also they have been trained by health staff on COVID prevention and on frequently asked questions. They are competent enough to spread awareness, achieve media documentation, and do live interviews. We carry these awareness campaigns in coordination with the Danish Red Cross (DRC), the German Red Cross (GRC), the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent (IFRD), and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC).

While they need the bare necessities for a normal life, its hard to ask people to stay home and stick to the recommended safety measures to prevent COVID-19, said Jaeem adding, people dont have money to buy a mask or gloves to use when they go outside. We encountered a tuned-out society when we first started. We were met with obstacles to persuade the population and change their ideas about the virus. We raised the level of awareness among people and helped them. And we consider this to be an accomplishment in and of itself.

As usual, we see the YRCS present and giving the most important info that helped us to correct some of the misconceptions about COVID-19. Our situation is dire, and we need protective equipment that we cannot buy. We dont have water, and when we have it, it can barely suffice for drinking, so how should we can be careful to wash our hands regularly?, asked Ahmed, a resident of a remote area, and called on everyone to provide the required aids along with spreading awareness about the virus.

General Background:

The Yemen Red Crescent Society (YRCS) is an independent voluntary relief organization. It was founded half a century ago, in 1968, for humanitarian purposes. YRCS works as an aid organization in the domains of humanitarian services across the country, and practices its activities according to the Yemeni Constitution, Geneva Conventions, and the basic principles of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement that YRCS performs its activities as part of them.

Read more from the original source:

Awareness Campaigns and Rumors' Busting about COVID-19 Throughout All Governorates in Yemen - Yemen - ReliefWeb

Summer arrived on the Greater Red Bank Green (and, possibly, elsewhere) with the solstice Saturday evening, and redbankgreen found no shortage of local folks ready to demonstrate their joy with an ecstatic jump.

Among them, as youll see if you scroll all the way to the end, was an infant and her family with something special to celebrate. (Photos by Trish Russoniello. Click to enlarge. Jump to feel young.)

Front and center in this gang of Red Bank jumpers was tiny Edie Rose ONeill, in the arms of her mother, Bridget ONeill.

Back in January, at just three months of age, Edie was the recipient in a liver transplant after a desperate search for a rare match ended with a donation by a cousin, Becky ONeill.

Bridget tells redbankgreen that Edie is doing great as she heads into her first summer.

If you value this kind of intensely local news coverage, please become a paying member of redbankgreen. Click here for details about our new, free newsletter and membership information.

Oh, and check out our past Jump into Summer pix as well.

See more here:

ON THE GREEN: ECSTATIC LEAPS INTO SUMMER - redbankgreen

Only two percent of the worlds population sport red hair find out in our fun facts about ginger hair why redheads are biological unicorns with super powers.

If you are a born redhead, consider yourself lucky gingers are a rare species that stands out from the crowd. Its not a coincidence after all that 30 percent of all women that dye their hair opt for a red shade.

However, the copy cats both male and female will never hold a candle to the natural gingers. No matter if you are a redhead yourself or fancy one, check out our ten facts about ginger hair and impress your next date with your newly found insights (make sure to read to the very end!).

Less than two percent of the global population have ginger hair, thats about 140 million people in total. Scotland has the highest number of natural redheads with 13 percent, Ireland comes in a close second with ten percent.

If you are a ginger with blue eyes, you won the golden ticket according to our fun facts about ginger hair thats the rarest combination worldwide and estimates show theres only one million people of your kind around the globe.

Wondering why theres so few gingers? Its a biological thing. In order to have a redhead baby, both parents must carry the ginger gene MC1R.

That doesnt mean they necessarily have to sport red hair themselves though. A couple with one ginger and one blond or brunette carrying the red gene has a 50 percent chance of producing a natural redhead for two non-ginger carriers the chance is still one in four.

While redheads are most commonly spotted around Northern Europe, they arent unique to a geographical area or race. Theres even a small portion of Jamaicans sporting red hair.

Unlike popular belief, our facts about ginger hair also show that the beautiful shade didnt originate anywhere near Ireland or Scotland but in Central Asia some 100.000 years ago.

Gingers have an average of 90.000 hair strands whereas blondes have 110.000 and brunettes a startling 140.000. However, that doesnt mean that redheads are more likely to get bald.

Red hair is generally thicker than other shades, which perfectly compensates for the lower number and makes the head look just as full.

Due to their lower melanin-concentration, redheads cant absorb vitamin D just as quickly as the rest of the world. But theyve managed to turn the disadvantage into a super power.

Gingers have a greater ability to produce their own vitamin D, meaning once the sun is out, they create more of it in a shorter amount of time compared to people with a different hair colour.

Worried about ageing? Relax. Gingers skip the process of slowly turning grey, they just turn to rosy-blonde colours and later to silvery-white.

Whats more, red hair retains its natural pigment longer than any other shade, meaning you will most likely always look younger than other people your age.

According to a report by Upstream Analysis in 2014, 30 percent of all TV commercials run during prime time in the US sport a redhead. Keeping in mind that only two percent of the worlds population are gingers, thats a whopping high percentage.

So, if you have red hair and are looking for a second career in the spotlight, you might have won the genetical lottery.

Scientists at McGill University in Montreal found out that ginger women could tolerate up to 25 percent more pain than their counterparts. Considering that, according to other researchers, they are generally more sensitive to pain, we think its safe to say that female redheads are real super women.

On the other hand, they are harder to sedate. They require up to 20 percent more anaesthesia to be put to sleep for a surgery.

One of the strangest facts about ginger hair is that, apparently, its a bee magnate. While there isnt enough scientific proof yet, gingers regularly take on the internet to share their experience.

Researchers believe the reason behind it might be that the red colour reminds bees of bright flowers.

Blondes might have more fun in life in general but when it comes to mating, gingers are most likely to get lucky. According to German scientist Werner Habermehl, redheads have a more active sex life than those with blonde, brunette or black hair.

The reason behind it is unclear but our guess is their beautiful appearance just knocks their potential partners off their socks.

Read this article:

Top 10 facts about GINGER HAIR that you NEVER KNEW - Meanwhile in Ireland

If there was one shade rising up the ranks as the hottest hair trend of 2020, it's red. Blonde and brunette may have dominated the space, but finally, red is firmly having its moment in the sun. Just this week, Dua Lipa debuted a brand new, bright cherry bob that's just about convinced us to reach for the dye.

While natural titian's like Karen Gillan have always known what's what, red has been building more momentum since last summer when both Rihanna and Zendaya decided to give the shade another spin. And existing redheads like Madeline Brewer and Dianne Buswell have been taking their shades brighter since the start of the year. At the SAG awards in February, Madeline traded in mahogany strands for flame red.

Top hair expert, Josh Wood, also foresaw its ascendance, when, during the AW20 Alexander McQueen show, he sent models down the runway with "hi-vis" red hair. Even better, he's been working on a range of four wash-out glosses to deliver the red in a wearable way to suit all undertones (the most comprehensive red collection I've seen in my time as a beauty editor). "After 30 years of colouring hair, I know how important finding the right shade of red can be," Josh said. "I've also heard from many redheads in our community who feel disappointed, or even ignored, when it comes to red at-home hair colour. I know they want the same modern, contemporary reds that can be achieved in the salon." Especially since red is one of the fastest colours to fade.

"This is feel good, temporary fun colour," Josh adds. "I designed my glosses to use between colouring at home or in the salon, to refresh the vibrancy and condition of your hair colour so it can truly shine." Cherry is a true cherry red with warm tones to suit darker skin tones and brighten existing red hair. Berry Brunette was created for mid to light brown hair for a sophisticated burgundy, berry colour. Rose Brunette is a cool rose brown, that youd usually only find in salons it works perfectly on mid to dark hair. And Copper Gold adds a golden warmth that's great for dark blondes, strawberry blondes, plus natural and coloured red heads. Those are the loose guidelines, but of course you can play around with any shade you fancy. The best part is that it's a colour treatment and deep conditioning mask in one to leave hair feeling extra glossy and nourished. Apply it all over hair, like you would a mask, leave it for 20 minutes and rinse out.

It's non-committal, since it shampoos out after 6 washes. However, if you have lighter hair or highlights and you want to ensure it doesnt leave any trace, you can apply a hair mask underneath your application of the gloss. This wont affect the colour result, it'll just protects the hair where the cuticle might be damaged and absorb more colour than you might like.

The only downside? It's not out until July. So keep your eyes peeled. Alternatively, Lime Crime offer up the longer lasting semi-permanent Unicorn Hair Tints that fade slowly and evenly over time and L'Oreal's Colorista Washout Semi-Permanent Dye lasts a couple of weeks.

Go here to read the rest:

Cherry Red Hair Is Taking Off And Here's How To Wear It - GLAMOUR UK

OTTAWA At 12 years old, Kevin Brown had decided that he was done with the game of football after suffering an injury.

It was crazy. We were having a cookout, and my aunts, my dad and my mom all ganged up on me and were like, So what are you gonna do? How are you gonna get college paid for?' Brown said to OttawaREDBLACKS.com. I said I was just going to do an academic scholarship and they said I should just play football.

I remember my aunt called me soft, and it was over after that. It just felt like they were poking and prodding me to keep pursuing something other than academics.

From the University of Cincinnati to the pro ranks, Brown has turned a passion he picked up later in life into a career, becoming one of the top defensive players on the Ottawa REDBLACKS.

RELATEDSteinbergs MMQB: Making the best of a difficult situation Sutton: Questioning the future of injustice Ferguson: The art of throwing to the sticks

The 26-year-old played defensive back coming up as a kid, after taking a break from the game, he returned to play in his junior year of high school.

He was thrown right into the recruiting process and had a learning curve when it came to picking up schemes on defence.

I feel like the most natural part was running and hitting. The good thing about it is thats the base of football, Brown said. The xs and os in high school football arent too complicated, but I just remember my first day, the defensive coordinator and explained cover 2 to me and I didnt understand it at all.

I just remember the terminology and he could tell that my head was spinning, so he just said, Dont let anybody beat you deep. And I said, OK, I can handle that.'

Brown had played in high school with Tre Roberson, who was a four-star recruit at quarterback at the time. He was able to go to the Indiana commit to get some pointers on how to go about the recruiting process.

From there, Brown attended some junior camps and started to catch the attention of some programs. He said that Western Michigan was the first team to offer him a scholarship, then the other teams in their conference followed suit.

He had offers from Wisconsin, Indiana and Cincinnati on the table, and he decided to join the Bearcats, as they had everything he was looking for in a school.

The main things I was looking at was if they had the major I wanted, did they have nice jerseys and did they play in a big stadium. Cincinnati checked all of those boxes, Brown said. I didnt want to stay home but it was close to home. It was only an hour and 45 minutes away. I wasnt too far away so my family could come watch me play.

Cincinnati was also one of the lone schools that recruited Brown to play his natural position at safety. Many looked at him as a player that could occupy the WILL or SAM linebacker positions for their respective squads.

He had played defensive back during his freshman year, but a new head coach came in ahead of his sophomore campaign and made the decision to switch him to nickelback a defensive back- linebacker hybrid spot.

I almost took it as disrespect. I was going to transfer, Brown said. Because I was like, Hes going to disrespect me. Im athletic enough, I was a true freshman and I was on the field. But he told me that the way the game was going, I would be a good linebacker.

Going into his senior year, Brown was a backup, but after the player ahead of him was kicked off the team, he was moved into a starting role. He was at WILL linebacker at the time, but he was shifted in to play MIKE linebacker.

Throughout his time in football, Brown had made an appearance at every position except defensive end and tackle.

Following his college career, Brown was once again ready to leave the game behind. He was set on getting a job and starting his life away from the game, however, a chat with his dad changed things.

If I was a bum and he thought I couldnt play (professionally), hed be the first to tell me, Brown said. He said that he would have no problem telling me that and I believe him because he keeps it 100 percent with me. So I know when he was telling me I could still play, that unconfident guy got a little bit more confidence just enough to start training again.

Brown had his eyes on the CFL from the start, because he wanted to get more tape at linebacker.

He was able to get a workout with the Toronto Argonauts and was signed ahead of their first game of the 2016 season. But he was released following that game. Despite that, he was on the radar now and the REDBLACKS scooped him up after that.

He spent some time on the practice roster, something he described as terrible but

In his first full CFL season, Brown finished with 15 tackles, 11 special teams tackles and a sack in 11 contests.

A year later, the extended opportunities led to a career-best campaign, where he had 55 tackles, 17 special teams tackles, two sacks and an interception in 16 games.

The REDBLACKS were able to make it to the 106th Grey Cup presented by Shaw but came up just short against Calgary.Despite the defeat, it gave something for Brown to strive for in the future.

It was just like, Man, you can get to the pinnacle of CFL football, which is the Grey Cup. Thats the whole reason we play the game is to get to the end and we had a chance to win it,' Brown said. Just being in that environment, it was almost like a drug. It was like I need more, I need more of that.

Theres no way I cannot get back to the Grey Cup. I have to get back to the Grey Cup.

Episode 214: Nate Behars raw essay + Orlando Bowen from injustice to activism

EPISODE OVERVIEW:Nate Behar joins Donnvan Bennett and Brodie Lawson to discuss the powerful essay on race he wrote for Medium, a self described stream-of-consciousness turned to paper. Then, former CFL player turned activist Orlando Bowen joins the show to share his own personal story of injustice turned to activism.

EPISODE RUNDOWN:Nate Behars inspiration to write an essay (6:45); On active caring (11:20); Racist incidents from the past (23:30); Reaction to the article (29:50); Orlando Bowen joins the program (33:35); Bowen on his own incident with police (37:48); Bowens organization One Voice, One Team (44:50).

Brown signed an extension with the REDBLACKS this off-season and is ready to get back to work with his teammates.

With a new coaching staff in place including defensive coordinator Mike Benevides Brown and the Ottawa defence will look to turn around their fortunes after a tough 2019 that saw them go 3-15.

Brown has always kept life after football in the back of his mind. During the off-season, hes been looking at houses to try and gain some more assets. He also has a Rottweiler puppy thats keeping him busy in the meantime.

From a player that was nearly out of the game entirely, Brown has created a foothold for himself north of the border and is now looking to prove that hes among the leagues elite at the linebacker position.

I just dont think anyone is better than me, and Im sure every competitor feels the same way, Brown said. I dont want to be number two. Like Ill be number two on the field to another starter, but Im not trying to be number two at my position. I need to be at my best and I need to be the best WILL linebacker in the league.

Thats my goal; to be the best that I can be. Because the people who came before me and didnt get the chance to play professionally and live out their dream, I dont take that for granted at all. I dont take that lightly. Im coming at everybody every single game and Im trying to be the best. Im trying to make as many plays as I can and turn as many heads as I can.

Continued here:

REDBLACKS' Brown ready to turn heads in 2020 - CFL.ca

A detail of Jean-Michel Basquiat's Untitled (Head), 1982, oil stick, ink, and acrylic. Courtesy of Sotheby's

Text size

Sothebys will offer Jean-Michel Basquiat Untitled (Head), 1982an oil stick, ink, and acrylic drawingas a highlight of its live-streamed New York contemporary evening auction on June 29.

The work, which Sothebys describes as one of Basquiats most exceptional renderings of a head, is estimated to sell for between US$9 million and US$12 million. Basquiats heads are among his most recognizable imagery, and, according to Sothebys, were a key conceptual anchor for the artist throughout his career.

Untitled (Head), which Basquiat held until his death at age 27 in 1988, is being sold by a private collection, and is among the last highlights of the June 29 sale to be revealed.

Other previously announced highlights of the auction (originally scheduled for May) include Francis Bacon Triptych Inspired by the Oresteia of Aeschylus, 1981, estimated in the range of US$60 million; Roy Lichstein White Brushstroke I, 1965, with an estimate between US$20 million and US$30 million; and Clyfford Stills 1947-Y-No. 1, estimated between US$25 million and US$35 million.

Basquiats brightly colored drawing on paper bears echoes of Untitled, 1981, a nearly 7-foot high acrylic and oil stick painting on canvas in the collection of the Broad museum in Los Angeles, Sothebys said. It was originally sold in 1990 by the Robert Miller Gallery, which held a major exhibition of Basquiat drawings that year, and has been held in four private collections since.

Also newly on offer at Sothebys evening auction will be Vija Celmins Night Sky #7, 1995, an oil on canvas representing a dark, starlit night. The work is expected to fetch between US$6 million and US$8 million, which would be a world auction record for the Latvian-American artist, age 81.

Night Sky was exhibited at a major retrospective of Celmins workwhich often takes nature as a subject in paintings, drawings, sculpture, and printsat the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York last September. Most of Celmins Night Sky paintings are in museums, Sothebys said in a news release.

Another new highlight is American minimalist artist Donald Judd Untitled (DSS 25), 1962his first three-dimensional wall relief. The work, made with light cadmium red oil and sand, black and white oil, galvanized iron, and nails on wood, according to the catalog entry, marks the artists radical shift into dimensionality. Its estimated to sell for between US$4 million and US$6 million.

Lewis V. Winter bought the wall hanging originally in 1963 from the Green Gallery, owned by Richard Bellamy and its been in his family since. In a press release, Laura Paulson president of Gagosian Art Advisory, which is representing the Winter family, said the collector was drawn to art that was radical for its time and continues to be important and influential.

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Sothebys Adds Basquiats Head Drawing to New York Sale - Barron's

Good Morning,

Welcome back to another addition of The Red Seat Podcast. On this special episode of the show we have the entire crew together to discuss the draft. The Red Sox were down a pick and employed a strategy that shocked many fans and draft evaluators alike. We discuss the following:

In addition to all of this we spend a significant amount of time discussing our thoughts on all four of the players drafted by the Red Sox. We look into each players scouting reports to find out what their strengths and weaknesses are and to discuss the ceiling and floor of each player. We also briefly review some of the UFAs signed with the Red Sox for $20,000.

At the top of the show, before we dive into the draft, we get our heads together to discuss the recent comments from Rob Manfred concerning this years baseball season. Yep, we are still discussing these painful negotiations between the owners and the players. 2020 has been a real gem.

We hope you enjoyed the show and if you did, make sure you subscribe to us on iTunes, Google Podcast, Spotify, or Stitcher. Also give the show a review. Five star reviews help us get in more ears and grow the show. Be sure to also follow us on Twitter. You can find Keaton @TheSpokenKeats, you can find me @DevJake, and you can find Matt @MattRyCollins. Thanks for listening!

Originally posted here:

Boston Red Sox Podcast: Reviewing the Red Sox Draft Class - Over The Monster

BILLINGS We had some light sprinkles moved to the Billings area at 2 p.m. Tuesday. Outside of that are, things are just little on the cool side. Our 2 p.m. temperature was 65 degrees in Billings.

Around the rest of the state, the temperatures were mostly into the 50s and 60s out in the west and 60s and 70s back in the northeast.

The thunderstorm outlook for Tuesday shows a stray thunderstorm or two across much of Montana. Only the northeast corner of the state will see the big stuff there. On Wednesday, even that disappears and heads over to the Midwest.

However, out in west-central and southwest Montana we have a whole slew of Winter Weather Advisories, Winter Storm Warnings and Winter Storm Watches.

All with varying amounts of snow above the 5,000-foot level ranging anywhere from 3 to 6 inches to as much as 15 inches of snow through Wednesday into Thursday morning. There is even a Red Flag Warning for Johnson County of northern Wyoming.

Right now, the Doppler radar shows scattered light rain showers continue to push out of the southwest, into southern Montana and up to the north-central part of the state.

The high-resolution forecast model shows the rain will continue to push into the Billings area again at 8 p.m. Tuesday then spin around and come right back about 1:30 p.m. Wednesday.

The computer models suggest Billings could see as much as an inch of rain out of these storms over the next two days.

We expect to warm up to 66 degrees by 3 p.m. Tuesday, then roll back down to the 50s in the morning and back to 55 degrees at 2 p.m. Wednesday.

We will top out at 59 on Wednesday, then work our way up to 85 degrees for a high on Sunday, then 86 degrees on Monday.

BILLINGS FORECAST

TONIGHT: Mostly cloudy with an 80% chance of rain showers and a slight chance for thunderstorms in the evening. Then a chance of showers overnight. West winds 5 to 15 mph. Low 50 degrees.

WEDNESDAY: Mostly cloudy with a 90% chance for rain showers the morning, then more rain showers and a chance for thunderstorms in the afternoon and cooler. West winds 5 to 15 mph. High 61 degrees.

THURSDAY: Mostly cloudy with a 60% chance for rain in the morning, then rain showers likely with a slight chance for thunderstorms in the afternoon. Northwest winds 5 to 15 mph. High 67 degrees.

Excerpt from:

Q2 Weather: Snow in the southwest, rain on the plains in Montana - KTVQ Billings News

My fathers mission was to tame the stupidity out of me a powerful blessing too few children are experiencing now.

My dad had his work cut out for him.

Over the years, I shattered a picture window with a baseball, accidentally broke neighbors lamp posts and once hit a golf ball through a neighbors window (I mowed a lot of lawns to pay for the repairs).

The high point of my stupidity occurred when I was 10.

Too lazy to go upstairs to the kitchen to dispose of an apple core, I tossed it into the basement toilet. It produced the mother of all clogs and my father was beside himself when he discovered his idiot son flushed an apple core down a commode.

My dad was tough on me because he needed to be. He knew he had a potential lifelong idiot on his hands one bearing his otherwise well-regarded name and had a limited amount of time to tame the stupidity out of me.

As I got into my teens, I made his work harder. I added stubbornness to my skill set. I saw it as my duty to butt heads with him or, to be more precise, he saw it as his duty to butt heads with me.

He grew up without a father and remembered the dumb things he did in his youth. He knew that any young man is only one or two knuckleheaded decisions away from heading off in a dangerous direction a direction he was headed toward until his football coach became the father figure hed long desired and guided him onto a productive path.

He never backed down when he saw me being stupid.

I wanted to use my work savings in high school to buy a car, but he made me put that money in a college fund. I was furious but as I got older and graduated from college with minimal student debt, I was grateful that I lost that battle.

When I was a boy of 14, a saying attributed to Mark Twain goes, my father was so ignorant I could hardly stand to have the old man around. But when I got to be 21, I was astonished at how much hed learned in seven years.

I wish every child had a father like mine. Stubborn fellows like him are the absolute best creatures on Earth to tame the reckless impulses of their young sons formative years.

But fewer children have fathers around.

The U.S. Census Bureau reports that 19.7 million children, more than one in four, lack a father in the home.

Consequently, says the National Fatherhood Initiative (NFI), there is a father factor in nearly all social ills facing America today.

According to NFI, kids without fathers are more likely to grow up poor, drop out of school, go to jail and encounter numerous other struggles in life than are kids who grow up with dads.

The friction my father caused me, I now know, was also the basis for my respect for him. He knew friction is the only way to polish an average lump of coal into a diamond.

And I was incredibly blessed to have a stubborn father who never tired of taming the stupidity out of me.

Tom Purcell, author of Misadventures of a 1970s Childhood, a humorous memoir available at amazon.com, is a Pittsburgh Tribune-Review humor columnist. Send comments to Tom at Tom@TomPurcell.com.

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The blessings of having a stubborn father - Red Bluff Daily News