11 Youth Group Kids Every Church Had to Deal With – RELEVANT – RELEVANT Magazine

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The appeal to youth group is that its all so familiar. While the main church service could be formal and even sort of cold, youth group felt like school, with similar dynamics, social structures and, often as not, insane games and snacks. Thats part of the appeal. Youth group was often so close to the rest of your teen existence that it could get a little predictable. In fact, certain recurring characters pop up in every youth group. Here are a few of the most common ones.

The Kid Who Already Knew the Greek and Hebrew

Like, we get it. You want to be a pastor when you grow up. But where are you, a 14-year-old, getting this seminary-level training?

The Kid Who Clearly Is Just Trying to Find a Date

Dont get us wrong, weve all been there. When you run out of potential significant others at school and work, church is a fallback option. But could you at least try to look semi-interested in the message?

The Kid Who Sure Seems Like They Should Have Graduated Last Year

You do know theres a college/young adult ministry, right?

The Burgeoning Atheist Whos Just Trying to Prove the Youth Pastor Wrong

All are welcome here, Devin, but maybe we can address this after group prayer time?

The Pastors Kid

Who wants to call Pastor Steve and tell him Alexis hitchhiked away from Bible Camp?

The Future Americas Got Talent Contestant

I think 45 seconds of guitar solo on Oceans is plenty, Preston.

The Kid Who Brought a Djembe on Every Youth Group Trip

Just in case we need a little percussion. (Pro tip: We never do.)

The Kid Whose Mom Is Always Last to Pick Him Up From Church Events

Are you sure we cant give you a ride, Ashley?

The Worship Pastors Kid

Who wants to call Pastor Grace and tell her Carissa hitchhiked back toBible Camp?

The Kid Who Takes the Youth Group Games Way Too Seriously

Settle down, Tanner. The NFL isnt scouting Chubby Bunny champions.

The Kid Who Took Sword Drills Way Too Seriously

Marissa, how on earth did you open to exactly Psalm 96:4 in one try?

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11 Youth Group Kids Every Church Had to Deal With - RELEVANT - RELEVANT Magazine

The census shows Australians are becoming less religious but why have we chosen to live without God? – ABC News

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So Friedrich Nietzsche was right, God is dead and we have killed him.

That's what the latest census tells us: the number of faithless is closing in on the number of faithful.

In my lifetime I have seen Australia change from being an almost completely Christian country to one where now just 44 per cent practise Christianity.

This is no surprise. It mirrors a widespread shift away from religion by citizens of the Western world, most of whomwere traditionally Christian, alongside increases in religions like Hinduism which has grown more than 55 per cent in Australia since 2016 as our communities diversify.

Yet the numbers reporting no religion is also increasing and the impactis rapidly gathering pace.

Philosopher Charles Taylor, in his book A Secular Age, warned: "Modern civilisation cannot but bring about a "death of God."

Taylor said we have seen the rise of an "exclusive humanism". We have swapped God, he wrote, for a "culture of authenticity, or expressive individualism, in which people are encouraged to find their own way, discover their own fulfilment, "do their own thing".

Scholar of religion and politics Jocelyn Cesarihas traced the evolution of secular modernity in her book, We God's People. We have now reached a point in Western Europe, she says, where"worldly" things are allthere is.

There is a division between the immanent and the transcendent between what is Caesar's and what is God's. The immanent is the realm of politics.

Believers, she says, "are expected to keep the transcendent to themselves".

Cesari says the nation is now "the superior collective identification" overtaking "religious allegiances."

This is where the West was bound to end up. The tension between secularism and faith emerged out of the Thirty Years War the wars of religion that laid waste to Europe between 1618 and 1648. It's estimated as many as 8million people were killed.

It led to the birth of the modern state and coincided with an explosion of new ideas that we call the Age of Reason or The Enlightenment.

Across Europe reason was elevated above faith. People were encouraged to break with tradition. Thinkers like Rene Descartes the father of modern philosophy told us "I think therefore I am."

The mysteries of the universe were no longer the province of God.

Immanuel Kant summed up the Enlightenment with three words: dare to know.

While historically the West was founded on Christianity, the modern West was shaped by the break with God. People were sovereign. Liberalism prized the individual above all.

SociologistPhillip Rieffsaid we swapped a sacred order for a social order. That accelerated in the 20th century with social revolutions up-ending society and demolishing old ethical and moral boundaries.

French writer Olivier Roy says "secularisation has given way to large scale de-Christianisation." There is now, he says, "a serious crisis surrounding European identity and the place of religion in the public sphere".

The Church has found itself out of step with changing societal values on issues like divorce, abortion or same sex marriage.

Roy says: "Little by little, the very definitions of sexual difference, family, reproduction and parenthood have been redrawn." The scandal of child sex abuse in the church has further stripped religion of its moral authority.

Personal freedom, Roy writes, "prevails over all transcendent standards." Society is now ordered on "new valuesfounded on individualism, freedom and the valorisation of desire."

The West is a place beyond history. The past is another country. Tradition is seen as stifling, old fashioned. No doubt some traditions are well rid of. Which woman or person of colour would want to return to the white, male, dominated 1950s? But what are we left with? Is there still a role for tradition?

HistorianTim Stanleythinks so. He says the "war on tradition"has "translated into a soulless consumerism, and, while some flourished, many felt alienated and unfulfilled."

In his new book Whatever Happened to Tradition, Stanley fears our "liberal order is out of ideas, that's partly because we have deprived ourselves of valuable experience".

For some, the response to this soulless voidhas been a retreat into fundamentalism. We see this in radical Islamic groups like Al Qaeda or Islamic State whichrepresent a rejection of Western modernity.

Similarly right-wing or white-supremacist groups reach back to "tradition" as an attempt to recover some lost glory.

Stanley warns against this fundamentalism, yet he wonders what the secular West offers in response. Across the West, he says, "there is a dearth of purpose and spirit: we can't agree on who we are or what we are about, or even of these big existential questions matter."

Yet if people have turned away from religion it does not mean they are without faith.

Atheism in its own way can become an article of faith.

The new radical atheists quote the likes of scientistRichard Dawkinswith the certainty of scripture. They proselytise with evangelical vigour. In the West, identity is the new faith.

We are free to re-imagine and reinvent ourselves, untethered from the past; from family or faith.

It is a peculiarly Western phenomenon. Elsewhere religion is booming. The heart of Christianity has shifted from Europe to Africa and Latin America.

Officially atheist, China has experienced what's been called a Christian revival. It is estimated that by 2030 China may have the world's largest Christian population.

And despite what the census tells us is happening here, Christianity is not dying. Pew Research shows that in the century between 1910 and 2010, the number of Christians grew from 600million to more than twobillion.

Pew says that by 2060 Christianity will remain the world's largest religion with more than three billion followers.

Islam is the world's fastest growing religion driven significantly by a higher fertility rate. By the end of this century it is thought there will be more Muslims than Christians in the world.

This is a reminder if one is needed that the West is not the world. Indeed in many parts of the world the turn to religion is connected with a rejection of colonialism and Western values.

Sudipta Kaviraj, Columbia University Professor of Indian History, asks: "Why should the history of Europe happen elsewhere?" In Bengal, he says, Hindus in the 19th century "rejected an unconditional embrace of the package of moral values of Western modernity". Modern individualism, he says, was seen as "impoverishing the character and content of collective life".

In modern India, he writes, even the secular "need and desire transcendence as intensely as the devout."

Kavirajcautions against seeing the world through eyes of the West, not to speak, he says, "the facts of one history through the language of another." Yes, the West is more secular, less religious, and hyper-individualistic but that is not how most people live.

Western ideas of progress are founded on burying the past, killing God, and making the human divine. It can be liberating and holds the promise of freedom. But it doesn't speak to all. It doesn't even speak to all in the West who replace old faiths with new faith, who feel alienated and alone and long for somewhere to belong.

As Charles Taylor sees it, the journey of the secular West is from an enchanted age, to an age of disenchantment.

If as Nietzsche said, "God is dead", we in the West might ask what comes next?

Stan Grant is the ABC's international affairs analyst and presents China Tonight on Monday at 9:35pm on ABC TV, and Tuesday at 8pm on the ABC News Channel, anda co-presenter of Q+A on Thursday at 8.30pm. He also hosts the Religion and Ethics Report on RN.

Posted2 Jul 20222 Jul 2022Sat 2 Jul 2022 at 7:00pm, updated3 Jul 20223 Jul 2022Sun 3 Jul 2022 at 9:53am

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The census shows Australians are becoming less religious but why have we chosen to live without God? - ABC News

Everybody should have to follow the rules – Villages-News

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To the Editor:

I get that there are rules, but rules should be for EVERYone, not just those that have received complaints.If you cant have signage, statues, crosses or whatever, then no one should be exempt. If you only make those remove that have complaints, you could just be playing into a neighbor war. what is fair for one should be fair for all.Personally, I feel if I want a cross or a bird or a fish, it should be my choice. I own the property and I pay for taxes, landscaping, yard work, etc.Now I understand that people could take their decorations a bit far, so there should be a limit, but i dont understand how a small white cross is hurting anyone or anything, unless now we are giving in to liberalism whose feelings might be hurt because maybe they are atheist and dont want to look at a cross. Look in Arlington and see what is there, and why they are there. Its called freedom my friends.

JoEtta HinrichsenVillage of Marsh Bend

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Everybody should have to follow the rules - Villages-News

Thor: Love and Thunder review: A romcom with epic battles – BBC

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When Thor (Chris Hemsworth), that big-hearted hunk of a god, accidentally runs into Jane Foster (Natalie Portman) his big-brained, astrophysicist, Earthling ex-girlfriend the encounter is wild even by superhero standards. In the midst of a battle against the latest force of evil, Thor spots Jane, now carrying his very own famously powerful hammer. She is wearing armour and a red cape and has flowing blonde hair. "That's my hammer you've got," he says, as they stare into each other's eyes. "And that's my look." Taika Waititi's Thor: Love and Thunder is a Tale of Two Thors, a romcom interspersed with Universe-saving battles. It might make you wonder: What if Bogart and Bacall had superpowers?

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The first thing to know is that this film is enormous fun. As he did in Thor: Ragnarok (2017), Waititi brings his distinct voice to the Marvel Cinematic Universe's cookie-cutter franchise. His formula balances a tongue-in-cheek tone with adventure, prizing wit over action; a relief from Marvel's more sombre instalments. (Doctor Strange has his qualities but he's not a witty sort.) In Love and Thunder, Waititi injects more emotion than in Ragnarok and goes for weightier themes, about nihilism and belief, love and death. The themes may be half-baked, but they exist.

The next important thing to know is that this is not really Jane's story. Disney's marketing talks a good game about how Jane is wielding the God of Thunder's hammer, Mjolnir, and has become a superhero called Mighty Thor. True enough, but this is still original Thor's film. Fortunately, Hemsworth is better than ever at making the character the most human, lifelike and appealing of gods, a regular guy except when he's saving the world.

Early on, his sidekick, Korg a giant, sweet-tempered pile of rocks with Waititi's voice tells children the story of the Thor-Jane romance, filling in any background a new viewer might want. It's a goofy account that reveals details about their break-up which also manages to name-check Jane Fonda.

Voldemort with a nose

Soon the familiar characters are threatened by a new villain, Gorr (chillingly played by Christian Bale), who has become disillusioned with gods in general. Instead of becoming an atheist or agnostic like a normal person in his situation, he goes for revenge, and becomes known as the God Butcher. Grey-toned from head to toe, he is basically Voldemort with a nose.

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Thor: Love and Thunder review: A romcom with epic battles - BBC

Apologetics conference to feature former Jehovah’s Witnesses – The Pathway

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BONNE TERRE Elaine Bales was a second-generation Jehovahs Witness (JW) who lost her family and friends when she walked away from the false religion. Now a follower of Jesus, she leads a worldwide ministry that replaces the lies of the Watchtower with the truth of Scripture.

Paul Blizard was a third-generation JW who met Jesus in 1982 and was disfellowshipped from the Watchtower for approving a blood transfusion for his daughter.

Christopher Marshall was a Bethelite, working in the Watchtowers headquarters in New York, before meeting Christian apologist Al Stewart and coming to faith in Christ.

All three of these once-devoted JWs are now serving Christ faithfully and are featured speakers at There Is Something Better, the 2022 Witnesses Now for Jesus Conference July 22-23 at Sonrise Baptist Church in Bonne Terre.

The event is free and runs from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and from 9:30 a.m. to noon on Sunday.

Other speakers include Robert Bowman, widely regarded as the leading evangelical scholar addressing Mormon and Jehovahs Witness interpretations of the Bible; Roger Sherrer, a former atheist who now serves as youth pastor at First Baptist Church, Lebanon, Mo.; Charles Smith, a former Jehovahs Witness who serves as director of Witnesses Now for Jesus Midwest; and Rob Phillips, who directs the apologetics ministry of the Missouri Baptist Convention.

This conference is designed to show the power of the gospel to transform lives, says Smith. Each testimony illustrates the deceptive ways Satan keeps people in darkness through false religions. At the same time, conference attendees will hear about the redemptive work of Christ, who shows that when it comes to a search for truth among the worlds religions, there truly is something better.

Apologetics is simply the practice of defending the Christian faith. Apologetics comes from the Greek noun apologia, which means a defense. Every Christian is urged to be ready at all times to defend the faith with gentleness and respect (1 Peter 3:15-16).

For more information about the event, contact Charles Smith at 314-277-3866.

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Apologetics conference to feature former Jehovah's Witnesses - The Pathway

Basic beliefs of Scientific Pantheism World Pantheism

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The World Pantheist Movements basic orienting beliefs (known as Scientific Pantheism) are set out in the WPM belief statement. This is not a creed in the religious sense. It is not something we recite, or that we are obliged to learn and accept every word of. It is a guide to what the WPM is about, a notice on our door that says, if you like this, come in.It is the set of beliefs that the WPM seeks to make widely available as a spiritual option to as many people as possible.They are not so much beliefs as a set of feeling and values about what, thanks to science and our senses, we know to exist.

The central viewpoint is that the Universe and Nature should be regarded with the deepest reverence and wonder, and Nature should be treated with the deepest love and respect and care. Similar views are shared by many people who use other terms, such as religious humanist, religious naturalist, religious atheist, and many other combinations. The WPM is a natural home for those who have this same orientation, whatever terms they use to call themselves.

When we say WE REVERE THE EARTH, we mean it with just as much commitment and reverence as believers speaking about their invisible god or gods. But we are not talking about supernatural powers or beings.

We are saying this: We are at home in Nature and in our bodies. This is where we belong. Nature made us and at our death we will be reabsorbed into Nature and recycled.Nature is our mother, our home, our security, our peace, our past and our future. We are part of Nature. Nature is an interdependent community of living beings, lands, oceans, winds. We should treat natural things and habitats as sacred to be revered and preserved in their intricate and fragile beauty.Earth is the only place where we can find and make our paradise, not some imaginary realm on the other side of the grave. We are living at a critical time where Nature is under unprecedented threat from human-created global warning.More than ever we need to be aware of our individual obligation to live sustainably with Nature, as well as to work in our families and communities so that everyone can do so.

When we say WE REVERE THE UNIVERSE we are not talking about a supernatural being, because we do not believe in supernatural beings. We are talking about the way our senses and our emotions force us to respond to the overwhelming mystery, power and beauty that surrounds us.

The Universe creates us, preserves us, destroys us. Our earth was created from the Universe and will one day be reabsorbed into the Universe. The Universe is an interdependent collective of all that exists. We are part of the Universe. We are made of the same matter and energy as the Universe.

The Universe is deep and old beyond our ability to reach with our senses. It is beautiful beyond our ability to describe in words. Through science we have glimpses into the depth and complexity of the Universe, yet it retains its mystery.

This wonder is everywhere inside you and outside you and you can never be separated from it. Wherever you are, its there with you. Wherever you go, it goes with you. Whatever happens to you, it remains with you.

If you are interested in joining please check out the benefits and subscriptions page or click the Join button on any page.

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Basic beliefs of Scientific Pantheism World Pantheism

Plastic surgery can be an act of self-empowerment – Mail and Guardian

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There is more to plastic surgery than meets the eye just ask award-winning Joburg-based surgeon Dr Brian Monaisa. Monaisa is the founder of Smile Artists Africa, an initiative that raises funds for breast reconstruction surgery for cancer survivors. As one of just 14 black plastic surgeons in South Africa, Monaisa runs Marang Aesthetics Clinic in Krugersdorp, and heads up the plastic surgery department at Chris Hani Baragwanath Academic Hospital. His work, he says, is about restoring hope.

This theme of hope is one that runs throughout Monaisas career, from his days running an HIV clinic at the height of South Africas HIV crisis and working with a large pharmaceutical company to ensure ARV access, to his current portfolio which includes reconstructive hand surgeries for children. There are few things more inspiring than the ability to return function to little children who have been impacted by a disability for so long, and for them to see a new world opening up for them, he says. The same is true for the trauma and cancer patients I work with.

Fear, loss and femininity

Breast cancer ranks in the top five most common cancers for women in South Africa, and is a fear-riddled diagnosis to receive. You fear for your life, and you fear for what will happen to your family if they were to lose you, but you also fear the losses that might come while you are still alive the loss of your breasts and the perceived loss of femininity that accompanies that.

Will I ever have sex again? Will I feel comfortable naked in front of my partner? Am I still a mom to my children if I cant breastfeed them? Monaisa says these are just some of the questions that women grapple with as they come to terms with their diagnosis, and with the possibility of a mastectomy, a life-saving intervention in which the affected breast tissue is removed. It often feels to them like an attack on their femininity and a loss of feminine identity, because breasts are linked to body image, self-esteem and sexuality, he says.

Breast reconstruction, in this sense, can be a reclamation of self and a celebration of life. It can be an act of self-love, and of restoring hope and joy; it can be an act of empowerment, and its a privilege for me to be trusted to walk that road with someone, he says.

Access and affordability still a problem

While strides have been made in cancer diagnosis and treatments, most women still struggle to access reconstructive surgery. The decision to have reconstructive surgery is a personal one, he says, and there are no right or wrong choices; however, many women are stripped of the opportunity to choose, simply because they cannot afford it.

Depending on the type of procedure, it can set a patient back anything from R70 000 to R250 000, and the surgery is not covered by most medical aids. Some women do not have any funds for reconstruction, while others are able to partially fund their surgeries, but not pay the full cost.

This, says Monaisa, is where the Smile Artists Africa initiative comes in: The money raised aims to reduce this burden and help empower female cancer survivors to live life to the fullest.

Art for social good

Monaisa is an avid art collector, and has rallied renowned and rising artists to donate work to be sold in aid of reconstructive breast surgery for cancer survivors who would not otherwise be able to afford it. Im passionate and vocal about my reconstructive work, and a few of my artist friends came to me and asked how they could get involved, and how they could contribute, he explains. Im a problem solver, so I thought about it, and after some deliberation the idea of an art auction came to me.

From humble beginnings the Smile Artists Africa Art Auction has grown into a star-studded extravaganza, and is now one of South Africas most high-profile charity events of the year: Its such a positive opportunity to contribute and to collaborate with so many people from different walks of life, and while it is a glamorous occasion and an exhilarating experience last year we had luxury cars donated for the day and sculptures coming out of the walls we never lose sight of the message. And that message is that ordinary people can join hands to do something amazing, and make a positive impact by doing what they do best.

The funds also go towards raising breast cancer awareness. This is particularly important in the case of triple-negative breast cancer, an aggressive type of breast cancer that is increasingly found in young black women, who have historically been considered a lower risk group. Its not enough to just deal with the aftermath of cancer, Monaisa explains. Were not raising enough awareness, were not screening enough, and by the time we detect the cancer it is often quite advanced; this needs to change!

The decision to go under the knife is a very personal one. While vanity may motivate some, few people are striving for magazine-model perfection. Most women see cosmetic enhancements as a way to address long-standing insecurities and gaining a level of confidence that only comes from being comfortable in ones own body.

Often, the surgery aims to address problem areas that have not been responsive to diet, weight loss or non-surgical treatments, says Dr Brian Monaisa, a plastic surgeon who runs Marang Aesthetics on Gautengs West Rand. Around 95% of the patients he sees in his practice are women, and one of his most popular options is the mommy makeover, which focuses on physical aspects affected by pregnancy and motherhood.

Monaisa says this has emphasised to him something that is often overlooked pregnancy and motherhood, childbearing and childrearing, impacts women in ways that go far beyond their physicality. We always think you get pregnant, have babies, breastfeed and then that is it; after a too-short maternity leave you go back to the way things were. But, he says, that is not the case. Adjusting to motherhood and its demands mean less focus on appearance, less time for self-care, and less time (or inclination) to prioritise diet and a fitness routine. These things add up, and can have a lasting effect on self-esteem, self-worth and confidence.

Common requests include liposuction, tummy tucks and breast rejuvenations. His clients partners are often hesitant; they worry about the safety of undergoing elective surgery and are happy with their wives just the way they are. You will hear husbands tell their wives how much they love them, and how they dont need surgery to be attractive, but after surgery, two things happen, he explains. First, the husband still finds his wife incredibly attractive, but more importantly, she feels very attractive, and this changes everything. This new sense of confidence empowers women and can have a monumental impact on their general wellbeing and quality of life.

Marang Aesthetics also employs a number of scientifically proven non-surgical treatments and therapies, such as body contouring and facial and skin rejuvenation. Vaginal rejuvenations are also popular, especially among the women who have had other surgeries. Women come back to me saying they look great, and want to know what I can do to make them feel even better, he says.

There are a number of non-surgical interventions available to enhance sexual pleasure and boost sexual health, he explains: Our main goal is to empower our clients. We want people to feel good, because we believe that when youre confident and happy, the people around you will be happy too. It has a ripple effect, and that is how we spread joy.

And this, he says, is why cosmetic surgery is not just skin deep. People make fun of plastic surgery as a vanity exercise, but I was approached in a restaurant the other day by someone who wanted to tell me that I bring so much joy into so many homes, and thats the truth of it. I help people find comfort and happiness in their bodies, and that happiness seeps into other aspects of their life too.

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Plastic surgery can be an act of self-empowerment - Mail and Guardian

How to Avoid Tax and Financial Regrets – 5 CPA Tips – TheStreet

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Could-have, should-have, would-have stories are particularly painful when they were easily preventable. Then, self-blame hits hard and sets in. As a tax and financial planner, I compulsively wish for anyone to make informed financial decisions leading to their desired future. Yet, regrets are all too common, especially with health and wealth.

TurboTax Live experts look out for you. Expert help your way: get help as you go, or hand your taxes off. You can talk live to tax experts online for unlimited answers and advice OR, have a dedicated tax expert do your taxes for you, so you can be confident in your tax return. Enjoy up to an additional $20 off when you get started with TurboTax Live.

Graphic:Tax and Financial Regrets? 5 CPA Tips to Break the Cycle

For health matters, we intuitively understand what we should do to avoid and remedy problemssuch as self-care and timely checkups. To help us, our brains, finely attuned to our biological wellbeing, give us bio-alerts like thirst or pain. We may not always be disciplined or proactive about health, but we generally know how to care for ourselves. As such, medical regrets are often expressed as: I wish I acted sooner. By contrast, what will get us in trouble with money isnt always clear. The complexity of financial life keeps growing fast, and the rules regularly change.

Investing among the universe of retirement accounts alone can seem as complex as a moon launch. Then, making that money last a lifetime can feel as hazardous as safely landing back on earth. To boot, our complex and often nonsensical tax code is full of traps for the unwary. Its unfair or it doesnt make sense are words tax-preparers often hear. Sadly, the missteps people make generally have good alternativesif only they had been aware of them. Therefore, financial regrets are often expressed as: I wish I had known sooner.

Bio: Jean-Luc Bourdon, CPA, PFS, Wealth Advisor

To make informed decisions, we need to understand the pros and cons of the possibilities available to us. For financial and tax matters, thats rarely obvious and commonly counter-intuitive. Informed decisions shed light on the forks on the road. They replace guessing with intentionality, confidence, and peace of mind. Thats why we cant afford to ignore tax and financial planning. Its not about money as much as its about avoiding setbacks and securely pursuing our desired future.

One of the saddest client meetings Ive witnessed was with a client who had ignored money matters her entire life. She always got by and felt her lack of financial interest was virtuous. But with her health failing and retirement looming, she started learning about her financial planning options. Mostly, this was very late. As she suddenly realized how mindful financial decisions over her life could have dramatically improved her current options, the weight of that realization had her sink low into her chair. Such heavy regrets were heartbreaking to see.

Today, there are more financial resources than ever before, both good and bad. To make informed decisions, the problem is no longer access to information but finding reliable ones.

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The next challenge is applying reliable information to our personal circumstances. There always seem to be exceptions that make rules-of-thumbs unreliable. Yet, for those committed to financial self-care, resources exist to make it possible.

To get professional care, the financial planning profession is offering a greater number of well-trained planners than ever before. Once a rarity, financial planners with a college degree in financial planning, or a related field, are now common. A wide range of fee arrangements is increasingly available, such as hourly fees for example.

Tax is always the most pervasive element of financial planning. Its like a parasite feeding on every aspect of financial life. Consequently, many CPAs naturally develop financial planning expertise, sometimes adding the Personal Financial Specialist (PFS) credential which is exclusive to specialized CPAs. Similarly, many financial planners add tax planning expertise, generally with the Enrolled Agent (EA) credential.

Here are 4 things you can do right now:

Regardless of the options, you choose to make more informed tax and financial planning decisions, remember theyll help you avoid regrets. Most importantly, theyll empower you to intentionally choose a desired future. The winds of financial empowerment are constantly blowing.Dont ignore unfurling your sail.

Jean-Lucs articles are not intended as tax, legal or financial advice for any particular individual. Theyre information only. The ideas mentioned may not be right for you.

More Tax Advice From Our Partners at TurboTax.com:

Editor's Note: The opinions expressed in this article are those of the authors. The content was reviewed for tax accuracy by a TurboTax CPA expert.

Zachary Faulds contributed to the writing of this article and produced the video and/or the graphics associated with it.

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Tambuwal: Only NYSC Member with Skills ll Benefit from Empowerment Funds – THISDAY Newspapers

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Olusegun Samuelin Yenagoa

Eight corps members would start their service year afresh while seven others have theirs extended out of the 1,831 that participated in the 2021 Batch B, Stream 1, service year in Bayelsa State.

They were sanctioned by the National Youth Service Corp (NYSC) for misconduct bothering on absenteeism and outright abandonment of their one year compulsory national assignment.

Speaking at the passing out parade, the Bayelsa State Government reassured the NYSC of its continued support for the scheme to achieve its set objectives in the state.

The Governor of Bayelsa State, Mr. Douye Diri, gave the assurance during the passing out parade ceremony of the 2021 Batch B, Stream 1 corps members held at the Peace Park in Yenagoa, the state capital.

Governor Diri, who was represented at the ceremony by his Deputy, Senator Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, pledged commitment to improved welfare and security of corps members posted to the state for the mandatory one-year service.

He said that Bayelsa ranked among the best in terms of monthly remuneration and other welfare packages for youth corps members because of the importance the state government accorded to the national civic duty.

He also described the scheme as the shining light of the nation, which boasted of highly educated and patriotic youths, adding that the NYSC represented the countrys hope for a united, peaceful and egalitarian society.

He charged the corps members to remain diligent and patriotic, and to avoid actions that would bring shame to themselves, their families and the NYSC scheme.

According to the governor, Bayelsa is home to all Nigerians, and therefore, encouraged the corps members who had just completed their national service to stay back in the state to pursue their personal and legitimate goals.

He charged them to make best use of the vocational skills they acquired during their service year and be good ambassadors of Bayelsa State wherever they go.

Our government will accord the NYSC scheme all the necessary support it needs to achieve the objectives of the scheme while giving our commitment to the improved welfare and security of corps members still in service. As you get set to be demobilised from service, I charge you to remain diligent and patriotic. Avoid any action that will bring shame to your families and the NYSC.

Let me assure those of you that wish to stay back in the state that Bayelsa State will continue to be a home for you all. For those of you that will return to your states of residence, I charge you to be good ambassadors of Bayelsa State. Tell your people the good stories of this state that had become your home in the past one year and whenever you have opportunity of giving back, dont forget Bayelsa State, he said.

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Tambuwal: Only NYSC Member with Skills ll Benefit from Empowerment Funds - THISDAY Newspapers

Iraqi Youth in Contexts of Conflict: Fragmentation, Divergent Strategies, and the Impossi-bility of Inclusion –

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by Sarah Anne Rennick

What are the various consequences on a young persons life trajectory when she or he comes into adulthood in a context of conflict? What happens to anticipated plans for the future education, marriage, first employment when they are profoundly disrupted by the eruption of conflict, and what types of coping mechanisms and strategies are adopted by youth in the face of such disruptions? And how does the transition into adulthood in a fluid normative context where violence can be abundant, gender traditional roles can be upended, and trauma widespread shape individual political values and beliefs as well as social relations with the community and within the family?

In exploring how youth navigate their own lives and construct themselves when the transition to adulthood occurs in a context of conflict, evidence shows that conflict acts as both an opportunity and a constraint to youth in terms of livelihood opportunities, pathways for wellbeing, experiences of political inclusion, and feelings of empowerment and disempowerment. At the same time, though, youth trajectories during contexts of conflict are neither linear nor strictly dependent on the structure of available opportunities. Indeed, how youth make decisions with regards to their own lives, and the factors that influence their decision-making, demonstrate complex processes involving specific contextual factors, the configuration of social relations, and positionality within conflict dynamics, among others. In this sense, youth trajectories in contexts of conflict are both highly diverse and often unexpected but also, critically, can shift repeatedly. Unpacking this complexity is of critical importance, though, if we are to grasp the multiple and even contradictory ways in which conflict impacts the trajectories of young adults. It also critical to understanding the broader implications at the societal level in terms of future patterns of political participation, beliefs, and attitudes as well social and gender relations within and between communities and generations.

From 2020-2021, the Arab Reform Initiative undertook a broad research program to investigate the personal trajectories of youth in conflict, focusing on those who have come into adulthood since 2011 in Libya, Iraq, and Syria. This research, based on 75 qualitative semi-structured interviews in each country and, where possible, focus group discussions, has investigated the perceptions and decision-making processes of youth and broader-term implications in political, economic, social, and personal terms. More precisely, this research investigated youth trajectories and broader social and political implications through analysis at three distinct levels. At the micro-level, the research investigated the personal narratives of youth and how they view the impact of the conflict in terms of personal self-construction. This included investigating their decision-making matrices and aspirations, the coping strategies they have found, as well as how they have felt empowered/disempowered in the context of conflict. At the meso-level, the research explored the contextual factors mediating youths decision-making and their margins of maneuver, including war and peacebuilding economies, existing programming and external aid for youth, shifting power structures and social hierarchies, and normative fluctuations, conducting intersectional analysis to understand how different social positions (ethnicity, religion, gender, class, etc.) shape different narratives and strategies. Finally, at the meta-level, the research sought to assess the diverse political and peacebuilding content with regards to youth values, agency, and forms of engagement, focusing in particular on youth meaningful political participation, everyday practices of peacebuilding, and the establishment of gender equality if and where it occurred.

The study presented here relays the outcomes of the research undertaken with Iraqi youth, where field interviews took place in 2020 in the cities of Mosul and Basra, sites where different types of conflict have occurred, ranging from the violent conflict with ISIS to the transformative social conflict of the Tishreen protest movement. In taking stock of these in-depth and highly personal interviews, this study contributes new knowledge and insights regarding how the transition to adulthood under conflict has impacted the acquisition of experiences and skills, needs and aspirations, and changes in perceptions and perspectives of Iraqi youth. The research presented here thus explores how youth narrate their personal trajectories and the impact of events on their own lives, but also how they understand the countrys political evolution and the nature of the conflict itself. The study explores what factors (moral, ideological, political, social, economic, personal, or other) motivate or drive their decisions, how they perceive of opportunities and constraints for their own pathways, and how they find or create opportunities for themselves. The study also investigates how gender norms and gender performative roles been transformed as a result of the conflicts and the impact of these changes in their own social relations and aspirations for the future. Finally, the study sheds light on Iraqi youths personal attitudes towards violence and non-violence, what concepts such as peace, justice, and reconciliation actually mean to them and what they look like in practice, and the extent to which youth perceive of agency in their own lives and the roles they seek to play in renewing the political order and social contract of Iraq.

In exploring these variety of themes, this study also has crucial policy relevance. Youth face particular forms of precarity that render them among the most vulnerable population groups in the transition out of conflict and reconstruction phase, yet at the same time they are a key demographic in sustaining stability and peace and in leading broader conflict transformation processes. Despite this, youth as a particular population subset are often under-investigated, and under-serviced by policy-makers and external stakeholders implementing programming for conflict relief and post-conflict recovery. Much attention is paid to children (meaning those in adolescence or younger), given the rights-based approaches that have been adopted in the global arena and the existence of large-scale policy frameworks and organizations that care for them such as UNICEF. At the same time, transition process in post-conflict contexts are often dominated by adult gatekeepers (such as regional elites, village elders, etc.) that limit youth participation, in particular in political processes. As a result, youth can find themselves doubly excluded. Just as importantly, discursive notions of youth in contexts of conflict are often understood within ideological frames and definitions that push forward certain lines of programming that can be detached from their actual lived experiences, needs, and understandings. The dominant discourses surrounding youth in contexts of conflict tend to focus on youth as development investments, or as threats to security, or as agents of change. Such discourses largely guide the types of interventions made by external actors seeking to mitigate conflict or promote peacebuilding. Yet, such interventions and vocabularies can be tinged with paternalistic attitudes and the imposition of social and cultural norms and expectations that are disconnected from how youth themselves view their lives, their interpretations of their context, and their ambitions for themselves and their communities.

In publishing this study, the Arab Reform Initiative is contributing new knowledge on Iraqi youth in the context of the post-ISIS conflict and current Tishreen uprising, taking as its point of departure how youth themselves narrate and navigate their trajectories, choices, aspirations, and interpretations and the heterogeneity of youth lived experience. In turn, this ground-up, evidence-based research can be utilized to adapt policies, programs, and responses designed for, with, and by youth to ensure that they account for the diverse realities of Iraqi youth today, and to ensure that they are not left behind in the post-conflict period.

The views represented in this paper are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Arab Reform Initiative, its staff, or its board.

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Job Club: Creating independence in employment for people with disabilities – Traverse City Business News

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The spiking cost of living impacts people with disabilities equally as much as people without, creating a need to seek supplemental income.

Despite this need, people with disabilities experience higher unemployment rates and face barriers to employment which contribute to a significant discrepancy in employment for people with disabilities when compared to those without.

According to the Bureau of Labor, in 2021, 11.9% of all people surveyed had a disability, half were over the age of 65, but only 19.1% of the people with disabilities surveyed were employed. The unemployment rate of people with disabilities seeking work was twice that of individuals without disabilities.

There are many Michigan agencies with work programs to assist individuals with disabilities. However, these agencies are not immune to the staff shortages that plague every industry in todays economy, often causing minimal assistance and delays in aiding people with disabilities seeking employment. Disability Network strives to bridge the gap in employment for people with disabilities.

People with disabilities are often qualified to fill employment positions, yet face barriers to joining the work force, from the initial job-seeking stage through the application and hiring process and continuing throughout the employment period.

Disability Network created a program called Job Club in response to these barriers. Job Club is designed to assist individuals with disabilities who are contemplating employment or preparing to begin new employment. The program is divided into two series which focuses on career assessments, accommodations, skills, applications, mock interviews, resume and cover letters, self-employment and social security benefits planning.

The creation of Job Club has provided an interesting perspective on themodern trends ofobstacles whichprovide challenges in obtaining employment for people with disabilities. One obstacle isrelaying work history and relevant experience on applications and resumes. Gaps in employment or late admission to the workforce are common with disability and can be difficult to explain on a resume.

One Job Club participant needed a lengthy break from paid employment to provide care for her ailing mother for many years. Eventually, the time came to rejoin the work force, but she was concerned about the 10-year gap in her work history. She joined the two series of Job Club to assist her in preparing for employment to create a resume and complete applications in applying her education and experience despite the break in employment history.

Job Club helped her to realize that her volunteer work during the break and the direct caregiving duties she provided for her mother were all relevant experiences that the right employers would be interested in. Furthermore, she disregarded her nursing degree received over 20 years ago because she hadnt worked in the nursing field. Job Club taught her that this was still appropriate to list on her resume and applications. After this individual completes the two segments of Job Club, she will work with Disability Network staff on finding employment.

Another obstacle that many people face in seeking employment when they have a disability is a lack of confidence in presenting employable skills and presenting themselves confidently in an interview. Job Club helps individuals to understand their skills and abilities and how these are valuable in employment settings, allowing participants to become more confident in discussing these with potential employers. One common example is skills with computers, programming and technology. But because these skills are often developed outside of work experience, many individuals overlook this as a skill that employers might find valuable.

A second Job Club participant worked at a large agency as a COVID tester. The position was this individuals first job and he had no further experience in competitive employment. As the COVID rates improved in his county, he was informed that his services as COVID tester would be unlikely to continue much longer. He joined Job Club to assist him in entering competitive employment so that he could look for new work.

Before beginning Job Club, he reported having no employable skills and lacked confidence in his ability to hold any other work. After completing Job Club, he learned that his skills in customer service and volunteer work running another program the agency offered were skills that he could report on applications and resumes. This encouraged him to speak with his employer and the human resources department to inform them he was looking for new work, but wanted to advocate for the creation of another position within the agency because he enjoyed working for them.

He reminded them of his skills, that he had never missed a day of work, that he completed all the work he had been trained to do pursuant to his job description and then took on many additional duties as was asked of him. As a result of his self-advocacy, the agency created a new position to keep him employed with the agency. He would like to continue working with Disability Network to learn more about self-employment to fulfill his life dream of owning and running his own store.

Disability Network encourages employers to remember that people with disabilities are employable, and to be as open to accommodations in the application and interviewing process as you would be during employment. If you need any assistance or are interested in learning more, please visit disabilitynetwork.org.

Alanna Lahey is the associate director for Disability Network of Northern Michigan in Traverse City.Disability Network Northern Michigan is the first stop for people with disabilities and their families in northern Michigan with a mission to promote personal empowerment and positive social change for people with disabilities.

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Job Club: Creating independence in employment for people with disabilities - Traverse City Business News

Obama Foundation taps Tina Tchen for new role, a year after she resigned from Time’s Up following Gov. Andrew Cuomo scandal – Chicago Tribune

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Nearly a year after Tina Tchen resigned amid controversy from heading a national charity aimed at fighting sexual harassment, the Obama Foundation on Wednesday announced it has tapped the longtime Chicago attorney to serve in a new leadership role.

Tchen will lead the development, implementation, and monitoring of the foundations strategy, as well as working with alumni from President Barack Obamas White House and a program that seeks to empower adolescent girls around the world, according to a foundation release.

After advising the foundation informally for months, Tchen, beginning Monday, will be its executive vice president and chief strategy and impact officer, according to a foundation spokeswoman. In the release, Tchen said she was honored to join the Obama Foundation as we work to realize the legacy of President and Mrs. Obama, to inspire, empower, and connect those working for change around the world.

The move to hire Tchen follows local and national controversies, most notably her role advising disgraced New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo during a #MeToo scandal that ultimately led to her resignation as president and CEO of the nonprofit Times Up.

Tchen was criticized following reports that Cuomo and his aides sought her advice on how to handle a growing harassment scandal while she simultaneously led the nonprofit, which was founded to help those who have been sexually harassed or assaulted.

Tchen at first apologized and said she was used as cover and that she only got involved because she thought Cuomos office was interested in doing the right thing for women.

She later resigned from Times Up at the end of August 2021, saying she wanted to end battles between women and activists involved in the #MeToo movement who should be working together to fight for change.

Tchen also faced criticism from some Chicago-area #MeToo advocates for endorsing Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle when she ran for Chicago mayor in 2019. Preckwinkle faced scrutiny over her handling of sexual assault accusations against her former chief of staff. The Tribune revealed Preckwinkle knew about an alleged assault for six months before firing that staffer one day before launching her mayoral bid. Tchen said the endorsement was made in her personal capacity, not as the head of Times Up.

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Tchen worked in the White House for all eight years of Obamas administration, first as director of the Office of Public Engagement and then as chief of staff to first lady Michelle Obama. While there, she also was executive director of the Council on Women and Girls, a program designed to ensure that federal programs addressed gender inequalities in wages, work and health. That work has continued under the foundation as an adolescent empowerment program called Girls Opportunity Alliance.

Asked why Tchen was tasked with this program given the controversies, Obama Foundation spokesperson Courtney Williams said, Tina has spent a career fighting for positive change for women. Her lifes work has been geared toward making workplaces fair and equitable and safer for women.

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Fellow Obama White House alum Valerie Jarrett, the foundations CEO, described Tchen in Wednesdays release as an accomplished lawyer, an advocate for gender equality, and a longtime adviser to the Obamas and the foundation. Her commitment to creating the next generation of leaders coupled with her vast experience as a national changemaker will help drive the impact of our work.

Tchen also made news for her involvement in the Jussie Smollett scandal. Early in the investigation involving Smollett, Cook County States Attorney Kim Foxx withdrew from overseeing the prosecution, revealing shed had contact with a member of Smolletts family at the request of Tchen. In correspondence provided to the Tribune, Tchen said that she was acting on behalf of Smollett and his family. A relative later exchanged texts with Foxx.

After leaving the White House but before working for Times Up, Tchen headed the Chicago office of the Buckley law firm, where she founded a practice advising companies on corporate culture, according to the foundation release.

According to an American Bar Association biography, Tchen helped author a 1983 bill in the Illinois General Assembly that helped modernize Illinois rape laws to include sexual assault and other abuses and worked on the National Organization for Womens campaign to ratify the Equal Rights Amendment in Illinois.

Her legal career began at Kirkland & Ellis. She went on to clerk for District Court Judge John F. Grady and work for two decades at the Chicago office of Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom before joining the White House.

aquig@chicagotribune.com

ayin@chicagotribune.com

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Obama Foundation taps Tina Tchen for new role, a year after she resigned from Time's Up following Gov. Andrew Cuomo scandal - Chicago Tribune

Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi: Modi Cabinet sensitive about all weaker sections, symbolism no guarantee of secularism – The Indian Express

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Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi is in the process of completing the formalities of his departure from the Rajya Sabha and the Union Cabinet, including vacating his official residence. The exit of one of the BJPs most prominent minority faces for the last two decades means the party has no Muslim minister at the Centre nor a Muslim MP now.

Naqvi, who has been in the Rajya Sabha since 2002 and is a one-term Lok Sabha MP, says he would rather not dwell on the speculation of him being picked as the NDA vice-presidential candidate. Nor would he be disappointed if the Narendra Modi government didnt choose him. As per many senior leaders in the BJP, at 63, Naqvi is too young to be considered for the post.

To those who see his long career in the BJP as tokenism, which has also come to an end now, Naqvi counters that filling up posts for the sake of symbolism was not a guarantee of secularism and development. Excerpts:

What, according to you, is your biggest contribution towards minorities, especially Muslims? And what do see as the highest and lowest points of your career?

The highest point to me was Prime Minister Modi asking me to take over the sensitive and crucial Minority Affairs Ministry at a time when there was a perception that Modiji would not do anything for the minority Muslims. But this government has proved that development can be done without discrimination, and I have fulfilled that commitment with his support. Even opponents cannot allege that we have discriminated against Muslims on development.

During my term, around 5.5 crore minority scholarships were distributed, which then resulted in reducing dropouts, especially among minority girls, from 73% to 32%. I am confident that it will soon reach zero. I set up Hunar Haats that gave a platform to artisans and craftsmen from minority communities to market and sell their products. Today there are 41 Hunar Haats there across the country and more than 10 lakh artisans got employment through these. More than three lakh have enrolled for them, and can set up stalls free of cost. They are also benefiting from government e-marketing places.

My role as Parliamentary Affairs Minister (in the Atal Bihari Vajpayee government and the Modi government) was also challenging. In the Rajya Sabha (Naqvi was the Deputy Leader of the House), the BJP was in a minority, but with coordination and communication, we could get all the Bills passed. I managed to have cordial relations with other party leaders.

As far as the lowest point is concerned, I think there are always challenges and we have to handle them carefully and effectively. There are attacks and expectations from all sides and I always tried to have faith in what I do.

Did the association with the BJP also lead to criticism against you in your personal life?

Its always there. As far as I am concerned, I have always tried to do things properly and as advised. Ahead of the Babri Masjid verdict, I called around a hundred people to my residence. The instruction and appeal to them was that no one should overreact. Na jeet ka jashn, na haar ka hahakar (Neither will we celebrate if the verdict is in our favour, nor create an uproar if it isnt) this was the appeal. That really helped. I feel happy about it. See, there is a perception about the BJP that it will not get Muslim support. But see the Rampur (bypoll) result. I was given the responsibility of that constituency which has more than 55% Muslims, and it was a BJP vs SP fight. Still, the BJP won. (Rampur is considered the bastion of SP leader Azam Khan; the BJP fielded an old aide of his in the recent by-election).

Did you know that you would not be given a fourth term in the Rajya Sabha by the party?

I knew that. I am satisfied with the work I have done. The Prime Ministers trust in me and his support makes me happy. As far as new responsibilities are concerned, I think its just an issue of your feelings about what you do. I always feel my responsibility is to work for the people, especially for the downtrodden.

Were you asked to contest the Rampur bypoll (Naqvi won his only Lok Sabha election from the seat, back in 1998)?

Yes, there were some discussions initially. I told the party I would do whatever it wanted me to.

You have been the minority face of the BJP at the Centre for long. How do you see this situation where the party no longer has a Muslim face in Parliament or Union Ministry?

I think people who are in the Cabinet are sensitive about development and empowerment of all weaker sections. I do not think symbolism is a guarantee of secularism and development.

Do you think the BJP should have one Muslim face? And should the post of vice-president of India be given as a tokenism?

I have never expected any particular position for myself in my public life. Whatever is given to me I have fulfilled to my best effort.

You worked with an NDA government under Vajpayee and now Modi. Has the BJP changed over the years?

I started in the BJP in the 1980s and had different roles as a youth wing leader, general secretary, vice-president and then minister. There is not much difference in the BJP. In the name of secularism, some have exploited minorities. Modiji has not exploited minorities in the name of secularism, but he has empowered them.

How do you see the recent controversies regarding the statement made by BJP leader Nupur Sharma against the Prophet, her suspension, the Udaipur killing as a fallout, and the reactions to it?

The BJP took the right stand at the proper time against (Sharmas) remark. But the way radical organisations like Al-Qaeda reacted to it (threatening attacks) is not acceptable. Such threats are unacceptable in any democracy. And the Udaipur killing (where a tailor was killed for supporting Sharma) is absolutely condemnable.

Why do you think Muslims dont vote for the BJP? Do others in the party share your view?

Its not like that. It depends on the capability of a candidate. The party chooses candidates based on winnability. The BJP does not believe in ticket tokenism. What you need is efforts to empower and help them. The previous governments brought out reports, but what did they do for minorities? The BJP has been holding progressive panchayats in Muslim-dominated areas to convey the message that our government is for everyone.

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Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi: Modi Cabinet sensitive about all weaker sections, symbolism no guarantee of secularism - The Indian Express

TransUnion and Epsilon Collaborate to Bring ID-Agnostic Audiences to Connected TV and Streaming Audio Campaigns – GuruFocus.com

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CHICAGO, June 07, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- TransUnion (: TRU) announced today a partnership to make data from Epsilon, a global advertising and marketing technology company, available via the TruAudience Data Marketplace.

The relationship marks one of the largest audience targeting partnerships across Connected TV, smart speakers and gaming consoles. Brands and agencies can now access audience insights from Epsilons top-ranked consumer database of 250 million U.S. consumers mapped across TransUnions household identity graph covering more than 80 million U.S. connected homes. Through this partnership, brands and agencies can create custom audiences based on thousands of attributes, thereby allowing them to reach each person with personalized messages across channels.

Approximately 80% of OTT viewing time occurs on home-based devices like connected TVsi and 100 million Americans own at least one smart speakerii, neither of which generate cookies and often do not have device IDs.

TransUnions patented method combines many digital signals and identifiers from these connected devices as well as personal devices to create a view of each connected household. This makes the audience-verified integration of Epsilon data into the TruAudience Data Marketplace ID-agnostic and able to withstand the deprecation of cookies and other identifiers across streaming media.

"As mobile IDs and cookies continue to deprecate, having the ability to leverage audiences from Epsilon in an ID-agnostic way across our leading activation partners will enable greater scale and reach, said Michelle Swanston, VP of Media and Entertainment and Head of Data Marketplace at TransUnion. This relationship will help meet the ever-increasing demand for advanced audience targeting across streaming media.

The TruAudience Data Marketplace is a privacy-conscious, end-to-end solution for executing high-fidelity streaming and omnichannel campaigns with consistency and scale. The marketplace is the most leveraged audience targeting solution across leading streaming publishers, demand-side platforms (DSPs) and supply-side platforms (SSPs). Clients can create custom audiences and reach consumers with the right message across multiple channels.

Epsilon has developed the most complete set of transactional data assets to be used across all marketing channels. Epsilon also hosts one of the largest cooperative transactional database in the U.S. with more than 3,000 contributing brands in key B2C and B2B categories. Epsilon data covers demographics, lifestyles, financials, market indicators, healthcare, automotive, propensity models/market trends, and opted-in survey data.

"Marketers must have data thats protected, relevant and actionable. Most importantly, it has to be connectable across devices and channels, said Kyle Antoian, Managing Director of Data at Epsilon. Our partnership with TransUnion gives marketers the ability to tap into high-fidelity audiences and reach people across connected TV and streaming audio in the moments they are most receptive.

About TransUnion (:TRU)TransUnion is a global information and insights company that makes trust possible in the modern economy. We do this by providing an actionable picture of each person so they can be reliably represented in the marketplace. As a result, businesses and consumers can transact with confidence and achieve great things. We call this Information for Good. A leading presence in more than 30 countries across five continents, TransUnion provides solutions that help create economic opportunity, great experiences and personal empowerment for hundreds of millions of people.

About TruAudience by TransUnionPowered by a three-dimensional view of people, households and devices, TruAudience solutions provide scalable identity to enable audience targeting and consumer engagement across offline, digital and streaming environments. To learn more visit: http://www.truaudience.com

About EpsilonEpsilon is a global advertising and marketing technology company positioned at the center of Publicis Groupe. We connect advertisers with consumers to drive performance while respecting and protecting consumer privacy and client data. Epsilon accelerates clients ability to harness the power of their first-party data in order to enhance, activate and measure campaigns with confidence. We believe in an open, privacy-first advertising ecosystem. Over decades, weve built the industrys most comprehensive identity graph to give brands, agencies and publishers the ability to reach real consumers across all channels and the open web. For more information, visit epsilon.com.

David BlumbergTransUnion312-972-6646[emailprotected]

i Convivas State of Streaming Q4 2021, Conviva, 2021

ii Edison Research, The Infinite Dial 2022

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Economies thrive when men champion diversity, inclusion and gender equality and women lift as they rise – Mail and Guardian

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Do you recall the screenshot of a PowerPoint slide titled Who led your digital transformation? which made rounds on social media as lockdowns intensified and virtual meetings and remote work became our reality?

Under the title were three options:

A. CEO

B. CIO

C. Covid-19

C was circled, in essence implying that for some businesses, it was only once the crisis began and trade became virtual that some companies started to make some of the required changes necessary to optimally function in a digital era.

The vast majority of the worlds political leaders responded to the pandemic in a shocking and disappointing way, leaving their people with little or no trust in them. I am of the opinion that leaders in the private sector should not be spared from accountability either.

It has been 33 years since the origination of the term VUCA: an acronym first used in 1987 and based on the leadership theories of Warren Bennis and Burt Nanus, which stands for Volatility, Uncertainty, Complexity and Ambiguity.

If you are in the private sector anywhere in the world, especially in a leadership function or responsible for the lions share of the decisions about the parameters that define how your organisation operates, you should be familiar with the term. Although the VUCA concept is over three decades old, it gained popularity in recent years when conversations around technology, digitalisation and the New World of Work began to take centre stage in business. According to the VUCA world, the essence and framework of the VUCA concept takes a fresh approach to management and leadership to guarantee positive results under changed circumstances.

In a VUCA world, leaders are challenged to find their own way. They will need to understand the psycho-logic of (and develop empathic behaviour for) humans and their needs. From this premise, meaning and purpose take a central role in business activities, and the willingness to engage in genuine cooperation and take on clear responsibilities are a basic prerequisite for innovation. This requires freedom, creativity, speed, flexibility and a corporate culture that connects people with the organisation.

Having entered the first Half (H1) of 2022 with yet more UNCERTAINTY was enough to push even the strongest to their limits, providing greater evidence as to why human-centric workplaces have an advantage and continue to enjoy better returns over those that are still stuck on a capitalist approach and profits at the expense of their people.

As a Strategist and a Leadership and Entrepreneurship Development professional, my focus throughout the pandemic has been on finding practical ways to alleviate the burden on leaders and entrepreneurs in Africa. I do this by equipping them with the necessary tools, skills and exposure to be the type of leader their people need, especially at times like these. There are many other unprecedented times to come this is a VUCA world brace yourself, more crises are underway.

At SAWIL we focus primarily on women, but we do cater to and accommodate men. In my upcoming book You Survived, Now What, I explore various leadership traits and their impact on the bottom line. There are several variants of the leadership debate, based essentially on the traits and characteristics of a leader. One observer associates it with different phases: the first phase refers to the traits of a leader, the second to styles of leadership, the third to a contingency approach, which distinguishes between people-oriented and task-oriented leaders. Studies have also been conducted on charismatic and transformational leadership, and the success of many female politicians in managing the Covid-19 pandemic has started a gender-based leadership debate.

At both the organisations that I lead, greater focus has been placed on solutions that will drive conscientious leadership. Women have demonstrated throughout the pandemic that indeed, not only are we capable, but we are what the world needs now from a leadership perspective. This is not to say that men cannot learn and use the same skills in fact, we encourage men to dig deeper and find meaningful and impactful ways to lead. However, for the purpose of this deliberation, I will focus on our efforts at SAWIL.

Let me start by sharing some of the milestones from the first half of 2022:

The SAWIL Journal:

Leadership Training and Development:

Global Board Training and Placements:

Networking, Masterclasses and Golf:

SAWIL Leadership Team Highlights:

We began the year by bidding a bitter-sweet goodbye to Dr Tebogo Mashifana (my first CEO since the foundation of SAWIL), who accepted a senior role with the University of Johannesburg as Head of Department: Chemical Engineering. Mashifana, who was also a Top 10 SAWL Trailblazer in 2020, continues to blaze new trails. She recently obtained her first Board Seat when she was appointed Editorial Board Member with the Chemical Engineering Journal. Has also been appointed as an Accreditation Assessor with the Engineering Council of South Africa. She is a Rising Star Awards Semi-Finalist Most Talented Young Professional Under 40. To name but a few!

Marie-Rose Daya, SAWIL Cameroon Head and Francophone Regional Director, is the General Manager; Customer Experience & Service at MTN Cameroon, where she was appointed by the CEO as Vice-President for their Women Development Programme, which now has 180 MTN women since its inception in March 2021. SAWIL Cameroon continues to boast the second-highest number of members after our home country, South Africa.

Nollie Maoto, a 2020 SAWIL Trailblazer Top 10 winner, was appointed to head up South Africa, then promoted to Interim CEO, succeeding Mashifana. Maoto recently made waves when she was promoted from Executive Head of Business Intelligence, Analytics, Planning and Monitoring at First National Bank South Africa to Chief Data and Analytics Officer. She was also recently recognised as a 2022 Global Top 100 Innovators in Data and Analytics Leader by Corinium Global, made the Global Data Power Women 2022 list and was named the CDO Ambassador for South Africa by MIT CDOIQ Program, CDO Magazine, and the International Society of Chief Data Officers (isCDO), and she is also a finalist in the inaugural Data Analytics Leader of the Year awards for South Africa.

Ncumisa Hlapo, whos first interaction with SAWIL was at the Inaugural SAWIL Trailblazers Awards in 2020, was at the beginning of the year appointed as the acting South Africa Head for SAWIL, succeeding Nollie Maoto. She continues to blaze trails as a Data Analytics professional. Hlapo has enjoyed an illustrious 12 months of career growth since her first leadership role as a Senior Specialist Business Intelligence Lead with Medscheme in 2021. She is a renowned speaker in the Data Analytics space, where she has graced and shared stages with experienced captains of industry.

Dr Malebogo Bakwena, a Top 10 SAWIL Trailblazer 2021, was recently appointed as the SAWIL Country Head for Botswana. She is the Head of Department at the University of Botswana, as well as the Chairman of the Board of the Competition and Consumer Authority, among others.

We continue to amass greater support from our community of trailblazers. The likes of Mapule Bodibe, MTN SAs Chief Consumer Officer, who has afforded various members of our community opportunities in their private capacity. Gwendoline Abunaw, MD of Ecobank Cameroon and CEMAC Cluster Head, who graciously supported our Lean-In-Circle on Authentic Leadership. Patricia Pedhom Nono, Transformation and Technology at PWC Francophone, was a trailblazer highlight during our nominations run in May 2022, where she shared pearls of wisdom with our community.

Finally, our partnership with the Mail & Guardian, made possible by my champion and a member of my advisory board, Janine Hills, is certainly a highlight worth noting (wink!)

These are only a few of the highlights that immediately come to mind and can be shared without jeopardising our own privacy and that of our members and community at large.

The object of sharing this is to showcase what women can achieve when given the opportunity to grow. Africa does not lack talent: what we lack are leaders who are passionate and intentional about diversity, inclusion, and the gender equality agenda. We have shared at length and demonstrated in our capacity as SAWIL and through other research bodies that companies that prioritise diversity and inclusion achieve better results than those that do not. In a country such as South Africa where 96.6%of all CEOs on the JSE are male, 87.2% of CFOs are male, and 91% of executive directors are male, its evident that very little is being done about the status quo. How can we prosper as a country when the minority of the minority are the majority decision makers?

My advice and plea to corporates is for them to stop with the excuses and start putting meaningful strategies in place to address the leadership transformation gap in our country.

In closing, I will share this extract with you from a dear brother and fellow African champion on all things progressive and beneficial to our beloved continent, by NJ Ayuk:

I lived, studied and worked in the United States and one thing that stood out to me was this: The American sense of optimism and a belief that women can lead. Even now, during these troubled days, that mindset is still there. Living in America offers unique opportunities. People can start with very little, work hard and make a better life for themselves, their children and the generations that follow.

Achieving those things the American Dream doesnt happen for everyone. But it does happen enough to make it more than a myth or fantasy. In May 2020, aNew York Timesarticle assured readers of that very fact, noting that 86% of Americans raised in low-income brackets now earn more than their parents did. Capitalism isnt broken, the editorial states. Hard work does pay off. Workers do enjoy the fruits of their labor.

I saw it with my own eyes. So, can Africans aspire to the same things? Can African women dream big dreams like their American counterparts breaking the glass ceiling orBreaking the Gas Ceiling,as author Rebecca Ponton calls it in the title of her book? Can we achieve an equally powerful African dream that includes or is led by women? A dream of stability and prosperity? My answer is a resounding YES.

After all, Africa has plenty of unique strengths and resources, from our talented young people to the oil in the ground. The African Dream is within our reach if women take charge and lead it.African men certainly need to adjust our thinking.So, what is holding us back? Ourselves.

If we want to see widespread change for the better, we need to stop dwelling on our obstacles or blaming people, governments or circumstances for our difficulties.

If we want to make things better, then we need to be the ones to make it happen. We need to find unique solutions for our unique challenges and work as long and hard as necessary to make our strategies successful. Essentially, we need to pull ourselves up by our bootstraps. We need to let women lead the way. Seriously, men need to step back a little. Ive shared those ideas in the past, and people dont like them.

They tell me Im failing to consider Africas history of colonisation and oppression. They tell me I dont understand the corrupt government systems we have in Africa put in place by the colonial powers. They say poverty, lack of infrastructure and dangers are everyday realities for many. You cant just say, Women cannot take on these challenges and fix them. Women are not ready to deal with this.

My response to that is, Im not for a minute diminishing Africas painful history or dismissing the problems the continent faces today. I just wonder, how long are we going to use our hardships as excuses not to move forward? Women can lead us out of this mess, so why stand in the way? Because, if we can agree we want more and commit to doing the really hard work that it takes to get it, we can make transformational changes in Africa.

SAWIL is a vehicle for women leaders, entrepreneurs and professionals in Africa seeking to advance their careers through leadership training, executive coaching, entrepreneurship training, masterclasses, board training, mentorship and networking. With the sole objective of transforming and diversifying leadership composition, particularly in the private sector, our ultimate goal is to bring a more strategic approach towards womens development and empowerment.

What we offer

We aim to be a leading world-class example of what women can accomplish when given equal opportunities to lead!

Executive Coaching

Training and guidance by experienced professionals aimed at helping you excel.

Networking

By accessing our community of SAWIL members, you can share ideas, insights and opportunities.

Business Matching

Connecting businesses with mutual interests for business development, partnership and other opportunities.

Personal Branding

Opportunities for you to build your personal and professional brand.

Board Training

Knowledge and skills needed for you to effectively carry out your role as a board member.

Brand Exposure

Providing exposure opportunities for your brand across all our platforms.

Access to Talent

Access to the top women talent on the continent for all your recruitment and placement needs.

Chapter Launch

Visit http://www.sawil.africa to register for the much-anticipated SAWIL Flagship Chapter launch to be held at the JSE, with Professor Bonang Mohale doing the keynote address.

Promotion:

A ticket to this event or a membership subscription gives you a complimentary three-month subscription to the Mail & Guardian. Already an M&G subscriber? Dont worry well freeze your subscription for three months.

Seipati Mokhuoa is Founder and Executive Chairperson of SAWIL

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Economies thrive when men champion diversity, inclusion and gender equality and women lift as they rise - Mail and Guardian

The Anarchists Trailer Revealed by HBO – VitalThrills.com

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HBO has revealed the trailer for The Anarchists, an HBO Original six-part documentary series directed by Todd Schramke and produced by Blumhouse Television. You can watch the trailer using the player below.

The Anarchists debuts Sunday, July 10 (10:00-11:00 p.m. ET/PT) with new episodes airing subsequent Sundays at the same time on HBO and will be available to stream on HBO Max.

In 2015, Jeff Berwick, a Canadian entrepreneur turned provocateur, launched a conference in Acapulco, Mexico in hopes of promoting anarchy in its purest form an ideal espousing the absence of government with absolute individual self-rule.

The event, called Anarchapulco, draws an international array of libertarians, fugitives, and families seeking to unschool their children to protect them from the bureaucracies of modern life, as well as crypto-currency evangelists and others attracted to the idea of creating a stateless community, free from governments and central banking systems.

Unfolding over six years, The Anarchists chronicles a strange and deadly series of events. What begins as an impulsive one-off gathering, turns into a full-on, annual event, growing in size and attracting sponsorship from crypto-currency companies featuring speakers such as Ron Paul and BitCoin investor Roger Ver.

And when rule-avoidant freedom activists come together in one of the most dangerous cities in the world, utopian ideology collides with the unpredictability of human nature. Relationships are fractured, rivalries are forged and ultimately, lives are lost.

With intimate access to the main players, The Anarchists features candid, first-hand accounts from Berwick, the reluctant figurehead of the movement; anarchy activists Lisa and Nathan Freeman who left the United States with their children to find a freer life in Mexico; and John Galton and Lily Forester, American fugitives on the run from drug charges, among others.

The docuseries follows individuals engaged in this movement with full access to the drama that ensues as a community tries to live alongside tourists and drug cartels with only the principles of anarchy as their guideposts.

The loosely defined ideology proves unable to hold the community together and many of the radical expats eventually find their dream of an anarchist paradise crumbling around them.

Ultimately, this stranger-than-fiction tale evolves from a critique of our modern culture into a dramatic observation of the limitations of ideological thinking and the consequences of rejecting consensus.

The Anarchists is directed by Todd Schramke. The executive producers are Jason Blum, Jeremiah Crowell, Kim Kylland and Todd Schramke for Bird Murmur, Chris McCumber, Jeremy Gold, Mary Lisio, James Buddy Day, Andre Gaines, and Allen Bain.

The co-executive producer is Ben Parry. For HBO, the senior producer is Tina Nguyen and the executive producers are Nancy Abraham and Lisa Heller.

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The Anarchists Trailer Revealed by HBO - VitalThrills.com

Lido Token Jumps 24% as Staked Ethereum Slowly Repegs – Decrypt

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Lidos native token LDO has skyrocketed by more than 24% in the last 24 hours, hitting a weekly-high of $0.66 cents.

Meanwhile, Lidos Staked Ethereum token, called stETH, appears to have grown in value with Ethereum. Both rose a little over 5% overnight with the staked version trading at $1,091 and Ethereum trading at $1,127.

The current gap between Ethereum and stETH does, however, still represent a discrepancy of roughly 3% for Lidos staked token.

While this is significant, at the height of its de-peg last month, stETH fell 6% short of the mark, according to a report by blockchain analytics company Nansen.

Lidos surging LDO token is for protocol governance, enabling holders to help manage fees and token distribution, approve and remove Lido node operators and vote on governance proposals in the Lido DAO.

Anyone can become an Ethereum 2.0 validator, provided they have 32 Ethereum to lock up to activate the software and earn rewards for storing data, processing transactions, and adding blocks to Ethereum.

For those lacking those funds, though, Lido offers another option.

Lido is a staking pool that allows people to stake any amount of their ETH through smart contractsautomated self-executing financial contracts. Users earn yields in stETH, which currently cannot be redeemed 1:1 for Ethereum, though after the merge it will be. It can also be lent, staked and traded for other tokens.

Staked Ethereum is issued by Lido to represent Ethereum that has been locked up in Ethereums Beacon Chaina network that in August will be merged with Ethereums mainnet in an upgrade that will transition the entire network to a proof-of-stake consensus mechanism and, reportedly, render the network 99.95% more energy-efficient.

Lido was at the center of controversy last month after crypto lender Celsius froze withdrawals to stop a bank run that could have further depleted the price of stETH. It came to light that Celsius had staked customer funds on Lido and currently holds at least $449 million worth of stETH in a public wallet, according to Nansen.

Lido currently ranks as Ethereums fourth-largest DeFi protocol with a total value locked (TVL) of $4.79 billion. The platform also accounts for the lions share of depositors (31.6%) on the Beacon Chain.

Despite centralization concerns, 99.8% of Lidos DAO voted to keep the protocols Ethereum staking capacity uncapped.

Lidos view is not a popular one, with many, including Ethereums founder Vitalik Buterin, Beacon Chain community manager Superphiz, and Ethereum Foundation researcher Danny Ryan all publicly tweeting that staking dominance would lead to centralization.

In response, Lido insists its staking is not contrary to the ethos of Ethereum, stating that it was formed to prevent centralized exchanges from gaining the lion's share of staked Ethereum and to keep Ethereum decentralized.

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Lido Token Jumps 24% as Staked Ethereum Slowly Repegs - Decrypt

Hubble telescope spots enormous galaxy with mysterious shells | Space

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The Hubble Space Telescope has captured a stunning new view of a gigantic galaxy that is more than twice the size of the Milky Way.

The elliptical galaxy, known as NGC 474, is located approximately 100 million light-years from Earth. The Hubble telescope captured an up-close view of the central region of the galaxy, revealing its enormous size.

Measuring roughly 250,000 light-years across, NGC 474 is 2.5 times larger than our own galaxy, the Milky Way. But the size of NGC 474 is not its only unique feature, according to a statement from NASA (opens in new tab), which released the new image May 18.

Related: The best Hubble Space Telescope images of all time!

The recent Hubble observations show that NGC 474 has a series of complex layered shells that surround its spherical core. Although the source of these shells is unknown, they may be the result of a galactic merger in which NGC 474 absorbed one or more smaller galaxies, according to the statement.

During a galactic merger, the absorbed galaxy could create waves, forming the layered shells observed in NGC 474. This process is similar to how a pebble dropped in water creates ripples.

"About 10% of elliptical galaxies have shell structures, but unlike the majority of elliptical galaxies, which are associated with galaxy clusters, shelled ellipticals usually lie in relatively empty space," NASA officials said in the statement. "It may be that they've cannibalized their neighbors."

The new image of NGC 474 was taken using Hubble's Advanced Camera for Surveys. Researchers also used data from Hubble's Wide Field and Planetary Camera 2 and Wide Field Camera 3 to get a comprehensive view of the massive galaxy.

Follow Samantha Mathewson @Sam_Ashley13. Follow us on Twitter @Spacedotcom and on Facebook.

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Hubble telescope spots enormous galaxy with mysterious shells | Space

Want to tell a good story? Come here! – Long Island Advance

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Linda Leuzzi

Good stories have their magic. Personal stories move us in books, movies, on the radio, and lately YouTube, Facebook and other platforms. But the ones that involve climbing on stage, facing an audience, and sharing an affecting moment has built a groundswell fan momentum thanks to The Moth, a non-profit group dedicated to the art and craft of storytelling. Theyre celebrating 25 years.

Find out how to tell a good story at the Mama Farm B & B stage, July 9, at 6 p.m. The Moth senior directors and co-authors of How to Tell A Story: The Essential Guide to Memorable Storytelling from The Moth, Jenifer Hixon and Kate Tellers, will guide you through. Mama Farm executive director Elettra Wiedemann is hosting the event that includes dinner with Bellport native chef Francis Derby.

Besides the new B & B, Wiedemann is known for the family friendly events offered. But what got her to The Moth folks?About 12 years ago I attended a Moth StorySlam in New York City at a huge event space in Chinatown, she said. One was an astronaut, his story was terrifying and enthralling, another was abandoned by a scuba ship for a day and the thoughts that went through his head in the water and the scary creatures he encountered, and there was one by a young hair stylist who found herself giving David Bowie his iconic haircut.

As Wiedemann said, theres a simplicity to the act. Theres no music, its pure concentration. I started listening to The Moth Radio after that and always wanted them here.

Tellers and Hixon spoke to the Advance about the process and the lure.Whats the biggest stymie for people?

I would say that people dont believe they have a story to tell or that its not important, Tellers said. Stories make us vulnerable and thats scary.And someone might be okay to tell their story at the dinner table but not on stage because they feel its more formal, Hixon added.(Both women have told their stories on stage. Catch Tellers relating A Car of Ones Own, and Hixons Where Theres Smoke on YouTube.)

Their book is a collective collaboration that also includes Meg Bowles, Catherine Burns and Sarah Austin Jenness. What prompted it?People share their lives on stage and we spent many years refining how we do that, answered Tellers. At 25 years we wanted a record, so putting it in book form, its a way to share.

Hixon said theres a language, phrases, syndromes that come up again and again in stories.Also, we wanted to inspire more people, she said. Were always looking for people to share their stories.

In the book, astronaut Mike Massimino, talks about the time he broke the Hubble Telescope in his story A View of the Earth. He accidently stripped the screw while he was floating in space, tethered to the shuttle. He redeemed himself; but before that he thought `Gabby and Daniels dad broke the Hubble Space Telescope.So were all thinking, `oh my God, he almost lost it, but his thought was `this will be the legacy my kids will know and the disappointment to his children. Its so humanizing, Hixson said.

The storytellers do stay in touch. People are lifers, Hixson admitted. They continue to pitch.Massimino has told stories several times and many are repeat storytellers or they stay friends.It becomes a family. We rehearse together and then theres the show.Not all the venues are large, but there have been whoppers. Hixson mentioned the Sydney Opera House with 6,000 in the audience; Tellers added the summer stage at Central Park with 3,000 on the lawn, Lincoln Center with 3,850 people, and the Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall in Portland, Oregon at 2,776.

As for the evenings rollout, Wiedemann said the gates open at 6 p.m. Our chef will be preparing an incredible dinner, slow roasted pork shoulder or roasted eggplant for vegetarians, with alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks, and well do ground tours.You havent lived until you come to Mama Farm in Brookhaven off South Country Road. An organic CSA, the animal kingdom includes heritage chickens, turkeys, and bees. A Lincoln sheep, Frida Kahlo, was grazing near Wiedemann during the interview, along with her friends in the field. It was pointed out that a male turkey was loitering around the outside of the cage where the girl turkeys resided. Did he get out?

Isabella Rossellini, who established the farm in 2013 and is Wiedemanns mother, was on the grounds. She commented it was a wild turkey who wanted to mate with the others and get food. Smart boy.Why stay out in the wild when theres a food concierge team, joked Wiedemann.The Learn to Tell Your Story with the Moth presentation will take place after dinner at 7:30 p.m. with a Moth storyteller. Then The Moth team will go on stage and play back how the story was constructed, Wiedemann said.For more information and tickets, go online at http://www.mamafarmus.com

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Want to tell a good story? Come here! - Long Island Advance

How to watch the ‘super-est’ supermoon, coming Tuesday night – The Cincinnati Enquirer

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Dean Regas| Special to Cincinnati Enquirer

Solar astronomers around the world are monitoring our sun, 24 hours a day.

The sun seems like a steady ball of light, but using safe solar viewing equipment and state-of-the art satellites, astronomers are able to detect dramatic explosions from sunspots, solar flaresand coronal mass ejections that arc off the surface and even blast into space.

The suns activity has been slowly ramping up this year.After months of relative quiet, more violent magnetic storms are popping up. This increase is part of an expected 11-year cycle that astronomers have noted since the 17th century.

When the solar activity peaks, it is called solar maximum.And although solar maximum is not expected until 2024 or 2025, solar activity should be on the rise this year, giving us dramatic images and videos from space telescopes.

An enormous comet is heading toward Earth this month: Here's how to watch it pass by

On Tuesday night, astronomers celebrate perigee syzygy.But the moon-loving backyard stargazers and general public have a catchier term for this regular astronomical event: a supermoon.

About every 14 monthsthe full moon makes a slightly closer pass to the Earth. When this supermoon occurs, the moons diameter can appear 14% larger and its surface shines 30% brighter than the furthest full moon of the year, also known as the puny moon.

Celebrating the supermoon is not an ancient tradition.It became a mainstream term only in 2011 when the media picked up on this annual phenomenon.Since then, it has become a popular annual event, and the next supermoon is due to grace the night skies on Tuesday, July 12 and into the morning hours of July 13.

As the moon orbits the Earth, it slowly changes its distance from us.It varies from about 252,000 miles at its farthest, to around 221,000 miles at its closest.

The best time to see the supermoon is just as it rises.Look for it cresting the southeastern horizon just after sunset.

When it is low in the sky, the moon often takes on a reddish appearance.That tint is caused by the moonlight scattering through the Earths atmosphere much in the same way a sunset turns red.

The moon always looks larger near the horizon, but its merely an illusion.Technically, the moon will be more than 1,000 miles closer to you just after midnight when it will be higher in the southern sky.So, stay up late to experience that Super-est Moon.

The James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) is not designed to observe themoon, but is instead primed to peer to the planets, stars, galaxies and into the deepest regions of our universe.

Launched from Earth on December 25, 2021, the JWST has made a one-million-mile journey into space to circle the sun and study the distant universe.

It's the largest and most advanced space telescope ever made.Its mirrors can gather 6.5 times as much light as the Hubble Telescope.It will also be able to detect fainter energy by seeing in the infrared wavelengths, light not visible to the eye.

The main focus of the telescope will be to examine distant galaxies and peer at the farthest objects in the universe.Astronomers hope to gain new insights on the earliest stages of the universes creation in unprecedented clarity.

Now that testing is complete, the JWST is ready to start imaging, what astronomers call first light.The first official picture is scheduled to be released on July 12.

Placing a large telescope one million miles from Earth is a risky venture.If anything breaks, astronauts will never be able to visit it.Instead, engineers on Earth will have to conduct all repairs remotely.

In June, NASA reported that a dust-sized meteoroid (a tiny speck of space dust) struck the telescope and caused minor damage.The impact has not significantly affected the resolution of the instruments but was noticeable to those monitoring data coming to Earth.

Tune in Tuesday night to see the first light pictures from the James Webb Space Telescope, but then be sure to get outside and behold the closest full moon of the year, the supermoon.

Dean Regas is the Astronomer for the Cincinnati Observatory, and author of the books 100 Things to See in the Night Sky and How to Teach Grown-Ups About Pluto. He can be reached at dean@cincinnatiobservatory.org

What:Learn all about the Sun, see it through safe solar-viewing equipment, and eat ice cream sundaes.

Where: Cincinnati Observatory, 3489 Observatory Place.

When: Sunday, July 10, 1-4 p.m.

Tickets:$15, $10 children;$12, $7 children advance; cincinnatiobservatory.org.

What:Join us forsupermoonviewing party. Bring blankets, lawn chairs, and set up outside on the Observatory hillside. Supermoon will also feature guests in costume from a galaxy far, far away

Where: Cincinnati Observatory, 3489 Observatory Place.

When:Tuesday, July 12, 8-10 p.m.

Tickets:$15, $10 children;$12, $7 children advance; cincinnatiobservatory.org.

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How to watch the 'super-est' supermoon, coming Tuesday night - The Cincinnati Enquirer