Partnerships for Progress: Working with Communities in Sri Lanka to Provide Water and Sanitation – Sri Lanka – ReliefWeb

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Despite recent progress, too many people in Sri Lanka are at risk of being left behind due to a lack of access to water and sanitation.

Thats why the Water Supply and Sanitation Improvement Project (WaSSIP) aims to extend access and improve hygiene behavior for nearly 700,000 people.

Community Based Organizations have been key partners every step of the way.

The coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemichas reinforced the need for safe drinking water, the benefits of sanitation and the importance of good hygiene behaviors at all times. Even in countries that have already made great strides in these areas, providing treated piped water and extending safely managed sanitation to every household is more vital now than ever.

Thats why Sri Lankas Water Supply and Sanitation Improvement Project (WaSSIP) works to extend access to safe drinking water and sanitation, and improved hygiene behavior for nearly 700,000 people in urban, rural and estate areas in seven districts in Sri Lanka. It aims to reach those in danger of being left out of the progress made in recent years and potentially being left even further behind by the pandemics devastating impacts.

WaSSIP is Sri Lankas third project financed by the World Bank since 1998 to provide drinking water and sanitation. It finances new water supply systems, rehabilitation of existing water supply systems, toilets for households and schools, and septage treatment plants.

Community Based Organizations (CBOs) play a key role in delivering this project. In Sri Lanka, the World Bank has worked with CBOs for decades and this experience has shown that when given access to information, and appropriate technical and financial support, CBOs can effectively deliver basic services.

To ensure sustainability, local CBOs are trained to operate and maintain the water supply systems. Each household agrees to pay a tariff that ensures that operation, maintenance and replacement costs can be covered. This allows repairs to be made as soon as something goes wrong.

A database is being developed that shows all the rural water supply systems in the country. This database allows the Department of National Community Water Supply to track the performance of CBOs and provide CBOs with the information and support that they need. A 24-hour call center has been established, where anyone can call or text for advice or to lodge a complaint for CBO-managed water supply systems.

As a trusted part of the social fabric, CBOs are well-equipped to help respond to the COVID-19 pandemic even in remote areas. The residents of Rideepana a small village located in a highland area were under curfew with limited ability to travel. It was a tough situation - financially and practically, with no water to consume on certain days, as one resident put it. However, due to the collaborative work between CBOs, the authorities and a nearby water plant, these villagers can now access clean water with which to wash their hands.

Elsewhere in Sri Lanka, a CBO that oversees a water plant funded through WaSSIP is providing water to households with motors in the areas of Polgahapitiya and Raththandeniya. This was initiated at the request of the District Secretariat for these areas to help minimize the gathering of crowds. Not only has it helped to flatten the potential curve, it has also instilled good sanitary practices amongst the community.

Changing behaviors to encourage improved hygiene practices is a key element of this project. Around 900 hygiene awareness trainings been conducted so far. Over 100,000 people have attended - 64% of them female in rural areas and 80% of them female in estate areas. Messages have been specifically developed and targeted to encourage different types of behaviors. Resources have been provided in local languages to ensure their relevance and effectiveness. And hygiene programs have been rolled out in schools so young people can share what they learned with their friends and families.

Eight schools have also been provided with improved sanitation facilities, including menstrual hygiene facilities the first from a World Bank-funded project in Sri Lanka. Being able to manage their menstruation safely, hygienically, and with confidence and dignity is critical not just for girls health and education, but also for economic development and overall gender equality.

As of June 2020, WaSSIP has:

Completed 42 new rural water supply schemes benefiting 13,538 households (with another 51 under construction)

Completed seven plantation water supply schemes connecting 2493 households (with another seven under construction)

Completed 93 system rehabilitations

Completed 13,362individual toilets (with another 10,119 under construction)

From its inception in 2015 to its closing, WaSSIP will ultimately benefit nearly three-quarters of a million people across the seven districts, including Menaka from Nartakande in the Central Province of Sri Lanka. Menaka is from a family of five, all of whom have suffered from lack of access to clean water. The basic washing and cleaning necessities of her family previously meant an arduous 500-meter walk to collect water. However, thanks a new water plant funded by the World Bank and operated through a CBO - Menaka and her family now have access to clean water to drink, bathe and keep their household clean.

The project demonstrates a successful model of service delivery that can be continued to deliver universal access to water supply and sanitation for Sri Lanka and showcases the importance of partnerships with community organizations.

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Partnerships for Progress: Working with Communities in Sri Lanka to Provide Water and Sanitation - Sri Lanka - ReliefWeb

Opinion: We need ‘serious progress toward all of our students feeling valued and learning at their full potential’ – BethesdaMagazine.com

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MCPS superintendent calls for greater urgency, purpose in eradicating racism

By Jack Smith

| Published: 2020-07-11 00:49

Most years, I spend the Fourth of July holiday enjoying the company of my family and friends; watching the joy on a grandchilds face during a fireworks display; and reflecting on my whereabouts during the many July 4 holidays Ive experienced.

This year, my social time was distanced; fireworks shows were canceled; and I was thinking of a specific July 4 in Montgomery County history I recently read about the day the last recorded lynching took place not far from where I now sit in Rockville as the superintendent of schools.

Recently, a colleague shared with me that the location of the current MCPS central office building on Hungerford Drive and Mannakee Street is close to the location of the last lynching in our county. I was forwarded an article from The Washington Post that shared the details of this horrible event.

According to the article, on July 4, 1896, a lynch mob of 20 to 30 masked men brutally killed Sidney Randolph, a 28-year-old Black man. Mr. Randolph was accused of killing a 7-year-old white girl.

The article goes on to say that the evidence against Mr. Randolph was circumstantial and conflicting, and that he lacked a motive to commit the crime. Yet, police arrested him and a mob saw fit to hang him from a chestnut tree.

While this horrific lynching occurred more than a century ago, my heart sank and my anger was intense as if it had just happened. My thoughts raced forward in time to the 2020 killings of Ahmaud Arbery and George Floyd.

In the last 124 years, we have traveled to the bottom of the ocean and into space; created the internet; and sequenced the human genome. Yet, as a country, we are still unable to protect, value and respect the life and liberty of Black Americans, specifically Black men.

I believe Montgomery County has made progress toward this goal by being on the forefront of desegregation of schools in the 1950s; by years of equity policies and initiatives in the school system; and by the countys passage of a Racial Equity and Social Justice law in 2019.

However,recent social media posts from students of color in our school system that detail their experiences with racism and bias in our schools are a stark reminder that there is much more work to be done. In some of these posts, students shared allegations of bias, stereotyping and racism at the hands of their peers and, more disturbingly, our staff members.

I am grateful to those who stepped forward to share their painful, personal stories. They help us do the work that must be done.

Many of the experiences highlighted in the social media posts reflect what research has confirmed implicit bias exists across the educational spectrum, including preschool. The research also shows that this bias can contribute to disparities in academic outcomes for students of color.

I have no reason to believe that students and educators in our county are immune. Moreover, we know that public education institutions, including MCPS, have only taught a small fraction of what students should know about the Black experience in the United States, including the barriers that exist to full access and opportunity in education.

The good news is we know that bias can be interrupted and curricula can be enhanced to achieve these goals. The MCPS staff is working to enhance our mandatory equity and cultural proficiency training and practices. Work is underway to integrate cultural proficiency and implicit bias training with effective instructional practice and sound content knowledge into all professional learning experiences.

By changing the experience of our students of color through culturally responsive relationships and expanding learning opportunities, we can truly unleash the potential of our students.

Additionally, we have made significant changes to our elementary and middle school literacy and math curricula. Next, we must work on high school literacy, as well as social studies and other curricula at all levels. Providing curricula that meet the needs of our students and creating equitable access and opportunity across the system must continue to be the priority.

While we have made progress in many areas, we must work with a greater sense of urgency and purpose. I am not naive, but I am committed. We will not be able to eradicate racism overnight.

Based on the story of Sidney Randolph and the aforementioned social media posts, racism and bias have long roots. But I believe we can and must move the needle quickly.

I expect to see serious progress toward all of our students feeling valued and learning at their full potential by the time July 4 arrives next year. We cannot wait another century for change.

Jack Smith is the superintendent of Montgomery County Public Schools.

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Opinion: We need 'serious progress toward all of our students feeling valued and learning at their full potential' - BethesdaMagazine.com

COVID-19 and progress in treatments so far; here’s experts view – CNBCTV18

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More than 6 months after the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic and over 160 days since India reported its first case, the health regulator has approved the first indigenous drug to treat the disease.

Itolizumab is an injectable that can be used only in hospitals and for moderate and severe cases. A single vial costs Rs 8,000 and the treatment will cost Rs 32,000. This is the fifth drug overall to get the green light and the fourth to receive authorisation for emergency use.

So, here is where we stand in treating the disease. Gilead's patented drug Remdesivir is the only drug so far to undergo well designed clinical trials. It is proven to shorten the recovery time but does not cut mortality more data is awaited.

A well-known, inexpensive steroid called Dexamethasone is the only known drug that cuts mortality as per the data currently available. Clinical trials are still ongoing by a study in the UK has shown that it reduces deaths in ICU patients by one-third.

Hydroxychloroquine, which emerged as one of the early drugs to treat the disease, has been hit by one controversy after another. Studies by the WHO have questioned its benefits. The US has revoked its emergency use authorisation and even India has removed the drug from the protocol to treat severe cases. It is currently used as a prophylactic and to treat mild cases.

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COVID-19 and progress in treatments so far; here's experts view - CNBCTV18

Court refuses to order Houston to host Texas GOP gathering – Preeceville Progress

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HOUSTON The Texas Supreme Court on Monday upheld Houston's refusal to allow the state Republican convention to hold in-person events in the city due to the coronavirus pandemic.

The court dismissed an appeal of a state district judges denial of a temporary restraining order sought by the state Republican Party. Shortly after the ruling, GOP leaders said they would call a meeting of the party's executive committee to "finalize our path forward." A separate court hearing was ongoing Monday in Harris County, where Houston is located, in which a different judge was hearing the party's arguments to allow the convention to go forward.

The state GOP convention had been scheduled to begin Thursday at Houstons downtown convention centre and was expected to draw thousands of participants.

Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner, a Democrat, said last week that he had directed city lawyers to terminate the contract because he believed the event could not be held safely. He denied that the convention was cancelled due to political differences and cited the potential risk to service workers and first responders if the virus spread through the convention.

The state party sued a day later, alleging the city illegally breached the contract and accusing Turner of shedding "crocodile tears."

"The Party argues it has constitutional rights to hold a convention and engage in electoral activities, and that is unquestionably true," the Supreme Court wrote in its opinion. "But those rights do not allow it to simply commandeer use of the Center."

State District Judge Larry Weiman last week sided with Turner, citing Houston statistics that show major hospitals exceeding their base intensive-care capacity due to an influx of COVID-19 patients.

Texas has set daily records in recent days for the number of COVID-19 deaths and confirmed cases. Top officials in Houston have called for the city to lock back down as area hospitals strain to accommodate an onslaught of patients.

The Texas Medical Association withdrew its sponsorship of the state GOP convention and asked organizers to cancel in-person gatherings. As the virus has surged throughout the state in June and July, Gov. Greg Abbott, the states top Republican, has reversed some business reopenings and broadly required the use of face masks.

State GOP chair James Dickey had insisted that organizers can hold the event safely. Prior to Turners move to cancel the convention, Dickey said the party had planned to institute daily temperature scans, provide masks, and install hand sanitizer stations.

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Court refuses to order Houston to host Texas GOP gathering - Preeceville Progress

1983 – Issue 131: Youth League Progress Blocked At AGM. – Andy Till

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The progress of youth darts has not always been plain sailing. Alchohol and licensing arrangements seem to have been a major stumbling block:

Respected London boss Roger Nickson seems to have been a driving force behind getting an official youth league established. Roger now runs the popular Darts from The Past Facebook group. Perhaps Darts World will seek his views on the progress of those he strongly supported.

The accompanying piece regarding the alteration of formats to give players more time on the oche is another age-old debate. Here it looks well-intentioned in order that young players could gain more experience.

The coverage given here to the A.G.M of the BDO speaks to the importance of the organisation at that time. Sadly, some of the views displayed seem to foreshadow later difficulties.

It should not be overlooked that until very recently the BDO was the driving force behind youth darts, many counties had volunteers who gave time and money to ensure that young players had a way to learn and progress into the other areas of the game. Senior pros from those areas also often helped out. Wiltshires youth was a fine example of this with Steph Venn, Mark Thompson, Dennis Smith, and others, encouraging and developing a fine batch of players. Occasionally they may have even been visited by Bob Anderson.

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1983 - Issue 131: Youth League Progress Blocked At AGM. - Andy Till

YMCA fire: Crews making progress on wildfire burning near Caon City – OutThere Colorado

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Firefighters expect to continue making progress Friday containing theYMCA fire that has burned nearly 300 acres southwest of Caon City, theBureau of Land Management said.

Firefighters started to take the upper hand Thursday on the lightning-caused fire.

The fire was 30% contained as of 8 p.m. Thursday. Helicopters continued making bucket drops of water through the day to cool off hot spots and hit spots that were inaccessible by ground crews.

Much of the smoke produced on Thursday was from interior fuels, the BLM said, which kept the fire from growing significantly. Overnight, it had grown from about 100 acres to 268 acres. The fire is currently mapped at 293 acres.

Although containment is increasing, smoke and possibly flames will continue to be visible from Caon City and neighboring areas.

The fire was reported about 3:37 p.m. Wednesday on Bureau of Land Management-Royal Gorge Field Office lands. No structures are threatened, no evacuation orders are planned.

According to the Caon City Area Fire Protection District, the fire was in the area of Temple Canyon.

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YMCA fire: Crews making progress on wildfire burning near Caon City - OutThere Colorado

Burglary in progress calls lead to two arrests within minutes – Hot Springs Sentinel

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Hot Springs police responding to separate burglary in progress calls Wednesday evening ended up arresting a homeless man and a local teen on felony charges within about 10 minutes of each other.

Sky Starr Daulton, 18, who lists a Helen Street address, was taken into custody at 5:32 p.m. in the 1600 block of Seventh Street and charged with residential burglary, punishable by up to 20 years in prison, and Lawrence Shawn Howell, 44, who is reportedly homeless, was taken into custody at 5:41 p.m. in the 200 block of Pansy Street and charged with breaking or entering, punishable by up to six years in prison.

Both remained in custody Thursday with Daulton being held on a $5,000 bond and Howell being held on a $2,500 bond. They are both set to appear today in Garland County District Court.

According to the probable cause affidavit on Daulton, shortly before 5:30 p.m., officers responded to a residence in the 1600 block of Seventh Street after the homeowner called to report there was an unknown man who had broken into his house through a window in the back and was still inside.

Officers spoke with the owner and called out to the suspect, later identified as Daulton, from the front of the residence, but he refused to come outside.

Officers made entry and utilized K-9 Nitro, who reportedly located and apprehended Dalton in a back bedroom. Officers noted Daulton had broken glass on his clothing so LifeNet was called to the scene to check him out. He was cleared and taken into custody without further incident.

It was noted the back window, valued at $200, and a front glass door, valued at $200, were broken. When interviewed at the police department, Daulton allegedly said he had "scoped out" the residence earlier in the day to "make sure no other people were staying there."

He said he came back around 5 p.m. and tried to break in without causing any damage. He said he put a chair at the front door to keep anyone else from coming in. He reportedly admitted he later heard the homeowner and then heard officers, but still didn't come out until the dog found him.

According to the probable cause affidavit for Howell, around 5:30 p.m. officers responded to a residence in the 200 block of Pansy Street regarding a burglary in progress and upon arrival made contact with Howell at the scene and detained him.

They spoke to the female resident of the house next door who is reportedly the caretaker for the vacant house where the burglary had reportedly occurred. She stated she saw a shed door at the residence was open and then heard someone inside the house. Moments later, she said she saw Howell coming out the front door.

Inside the house, they noted several items that had been removed from the shed, including a folding chair, an ice chest, two toolboxes, a weed trimmer, leaf blower, hand tools and an air conditioning unit.

The owner of the residence came to the scene and indicated she wanted to press charges. It was determined a window screen had been removed off the shed which allowed entry into the house.

When questioned, Howell allegedly claimed he had paid someone he "knows from the streets" $174 to rent the house for the night. He said the person he rented it from had dropped him off earlier that morning and he had unloaded items from that person's truck and put them inside.

Howell denied ever entering the shed on the property. He said the person he rented the house from had opened the front door for him that morning and that he had swept the floors and slept there during the day.

Lawrence Shawn Howell - Submitted photo

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Burglary in progress calls lead to two arrests within minutes - Hot Springs Sentinel

Other Viewpoints: Why is AG Barr going after Google? – The Columbus Dispatch

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For months, President Donald Trumps Justice Department has hinted that it intends to crack down on Silicon Valley. It recently took a big step closer as senior antitrust officials met with their state counterparts to plot out a case against Alphabet Inc.s Google. Quite what they plan to argue isnt yet clear. But as the final months of Trumps first term wind down, and an election draws near, some exceptional skepticism is in order.

One reason for caution is that Attorney General William Barr has not exactly been a disinterested enforcer of competition law. Quite the opposite: In recent testimony, a senior Justice Department whistleblower described how Barr pressured antitrust prosecutors to harass automakers (and others) for transparently political reasons.

Now, according to news reports, Barr has taken an unusual interest in the Google case. Why? In a recent interview with Fox News, he intimated that he hopes to use antitrust law to punish tech companies for censoring conservative viewpoints, a frequent preoccupation of Trumps. Never mind that this accusation is false, and that tech companies would be entirely within their rights to so discriminate if they chose. The whole thing has nothing to do with antitrust.

Perhaps Barr was musing idly, and perhaps the department has more legitimate objections in mind. But even under more traditional theories of competition law, Google makes an odd target.

Feasibly, a case might be made against its dominance of the online advertising market, for instance. Combined with Facebook, Google took in about 60% of digital ad spending last year. Yet theres no law against building a good product. And with pressure rising from Amazon and other contenders, online ad rates have fallen by more than 40% in the past decade. That doesnt look like a market lacking in competition.

Nor could anyone credibly argue that Google has harmed consumers, the standard traditionally applied in antitrust analysis. To the contrary, it gives them (among other things) access to limitless email, a smartphone operating system, innovative mapping software and a search engine that ranks among the greatest inventions of the past century all for free. Its targeted advertising has been a boon to businesses big and small. Thats to say nothing of its work on driverless cars, quantum computing or esoteric life-extension technologies.

Even an otherwise blameless company shouldnt get a pass for anticompetitive behavior, of course. And some allege that Google has unfairly privileged its own products, pursued harmful mergers and engaged in other dubious conduct. If the Justice Department imposed targeted remedies for such violations after a transparent investigation, it would be entirely appropriate.

Yet the Trump administration has suggested nothing of the sort publicly. If its track record is any guide, this case is more likely to amount to a political attack with a belabored legal rationale attached. Even if its motives are pure, the administration should be wary: Government intervention in a market where no obvious harm has been caused to consumers and in pursuit of vague or unrelated objectives is a recipe for disaster.

The fact is, for all the criticism leveled at tech companies, they employ hundreds of thousands of people, create immensely useful products, propel what growth the American economy still enjoys and are among the most trusted brands going. They need to follow the rules like everyone else. But abusing antitrust law to clobber them for electoral gain wont end well for anyone.

Bloomberg News

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Other Viewpoints: Why is AG Barr going after Google? - The Columbus Dispatch

ABMS Announces Progressive Leave Policy for Residents and Fellows – PRNewswire

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CHICAGO, July 13, 2020 /PRNewswire/ --The American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS), the leading not-for-profit organization that oversees physician certification in the United States, announced the adoption of a progressive leave policy that will offer residents and fellows more flexibility, reduce stress, and increase autonomy in making life decisions, especially with regard to family and parental leave.

Starting in July 2021, all ABMS Member Boards with training programs of two or more years duration will allow for a minimum of six weeks away once during training for purposes of parental, caregiver, and medical leave, without exhausting time allowed for vacation or sick leave and without requiring an extension in training. Member Boards must communicate when a leave of absence will require an official extension to help mitigate the negative impact on a physician's career trajectory that a training extension may have, such as delaying a fellowship or moving into a full, salaried position.

"The growing shifts in viewpoints regarding work-life balance and parental roles had a great influence in the creation of this policy which fosters an environment that supports our trainees' ability to care not only for patients, but also for themselves and their families,"stated Richard E. Hawkins, MD, ABMS President and Chief Executive Officer."Several ABMS Member Boards have already adopted policies ensuring residents and fellows have the flexibility to manage their training commitments 'when life happens' and not unduly delay achievement of board certification. All of our Member Boards will extend these opportunities to residents as they implement the new policy during the next year."

The development of the new "ABMS Policy on Parental, Caregiver and Family Leave" was initiated following a report from the Accreditation Council on Graduate Medical Education's (ACGME) Council of Review Committee Residents in June 2019. An ABMS Task Force on Parental Leave was established and included Jo Buyske, MD, President and Chief Executive Officer, American Board of Surgery (ABS) and Carolyn Kinney, MD, Executive Director, American Board of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, both members of the ABMS Board of Directors Member; Nancy Rose, MD, representing the American Board of Medical Genetics and Genomics; and Julius Hamilton, MD, a cardiothoracic anesthesiologist and a member of the ABMS Stakeholder Council. ABMS and ACGME co-sponsored a workshop on resident and fellow parental and family leave in early February 2020 that brought together more than 80 multidisciplinary stakeholders to explore this issue and make recommendations for improvement.

"It is gratifying to see the high level of engagement and commitment from ABMS Member Boards to address an issue that is so important to physicians in training," said Dr. Kinney. "Through Member Boards' compassionate and creative efforts, we see that it is possible to maintain high standards for physician training while preserving trainees' physical and emotional well-being."

The newly approved policy offers ABMS Member Boards the flexibility to create a parental, family or medical leave protocol that best suits the training required for their specialty and/or subspecialty. Examples of this tailored approach include the American Board of Anesthesiology's (ABA) recent addition of 40 additional days (8 weeks) of absence from training over and above the existing 60 days absence permitted, subject to approval by the ABA, without extending training, and ABS' six-year residency option, under which a resident may take up to 12 months leave during the training period if needed. The American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology allows a resident to take up to a total of 24 weeks (six months) of leave over the four years of residency, not to exceed 12 weeks in a single year.

Kristy Rialon, MD, one of the authors of the ACGME report, welcomes this change. "By virtue of their ages, residents and fellowsmale and femaleoften find themselves having and raising children, as well as serving as family members' caregivers," said Dr. Rialon, Assistant Professor of Surgery at Baylor College of Medicine and the Texas Children's Hospital. "By adopting more realistic and compassionate approaches, the ABMS Member Boards will significantly improve the quality of life for residents and fellows. This also will support our female physicians, helping to narrow the gender gap in their career advancement by allowing for greater leave flexibility."

About ABMSEstablished in 1933, the American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS) is the leading not-for profit organization overseeing physician certification in the United States. ABMS supports 24 Member Boards that develop educational and professional standards and programs of assessment to certify physician specialists, all dedicated to improving the quality of care to the patients, families and communities they serve. More than 900,000 physicians are certified in one or more of 40 specialties and 87 subspecialties offered by the ABMS Member Boards. For more information about ABMS, visit abms.org or call (312) 436-2600.

SOURCE American Board of Medical Specialties

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ABMS Announces Progressive Leave Policy for Residents and Fellows - PRNewswire

Quote of the Day on the Morality of Those Seeking Heaven – Patheos

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I will be expanding on this, but this point from a regular astute commenter is exactly one that I have touched upon here:

Heaven & Hell Stop You From Genuinely Morally Evaluating

But if you cant be bothered to read that, read(((J_Enigma32)))s recent comment:

Oh, theres a bunch of problems with heaven, but all of it anchors around the reward based-system that religion depends on. Youre never virtuous for your own sake; youre always acting according to your own idea of virtue because you know if you dont, you wont get into heaven. Therefore, one could argue that by your own standards, you arent a virtuous person if you believe in heaven and are motivated by heaven as a potential reward. And thats before we get into the issue of heaven dividing families and the suffering that will inevitably cause. Its what happens when your reward system is individually based rather than focused on something like a society as a whole.The very existence of heaven implies that morality is unimportant; if morality were important and satisfying, then that would be the end goal itself and morality and virtue would be seen as an atelic activity rather than a telic one.

Its a problem that results from all teleological narratives, actually, where they be religious ideas of realitys nature or the historical narratives of the orthodoxy, pushing their particular brand of nationalism, or some libertarian transhumanists, who think were moving closer to something they call a singularity by virtue of their historical narrative of the endless self-improving nature of technology. All of those are wrong, just like heaven is wrong, but theyre all wrong in an understandably human way, and one that fails to account for the hedonic treadmill, which is vital to a discussion like this.

To which marblesanswered:

This was a joy to read, thanks.

one could argue that by your own standards, you arent a virtuous person if you believe in heaven and are motivated by heaven as a potential reward

I actually asked my youth pastor about this when I was around 11 or 12. She laughed and told me not to overthink it, just be a good person for whatever reason I want to.

Addendum: as I see it, if youre only practicing virtue in the hopes of a reward, your true nature shows itself sooner or later. You can always rationalize why youre totally going to Heaven no matter how repulsive a human being you are.

So, can you ever be truly moral, truly alturistic? Its the classic question that I remember debating at school (even then, I surmised that you couldnt). Either way, its even harder with the twin ultimate conceptual blackmails of heaven and hell hanging over you.

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Quote of the Day on the Morality of Those Seeking Heaven - Patheos

How Blockchain For Business Will Develop In 2020 And Beyond – Technology – Ireland – Mondaq News Alerts

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13 July 2020

Mason Hayes & Curran

To print this article, all you need is to be registered or login on Mondaq.com.

Many know blockchain as the innovative technology that allowsthe cryptocurrency Bitcoin to work. The underlying blockchainprotocol can be repurposed for many non-currency purposes. Theblockchain protocol is suitable for anything that requires aprocess to record transactions and track assets, whether thoseassets relate to property, IP, finance or something else. Itpromises more efficient and transparent business transactionscompared to existing solutions.

Blockchain is still an evolving technology. In the legal worldwe are keeping a close eye on 'smart contracts' that useblockchain. We are also looking forward to seeing how blockchainfor business develops alongside other disruptive technologies, likebig data analytics, the Internet of Things and artificialintelligence.

As we enter this new decade, continued collaboration betweengovernment and private enterprises is needed to help blockchain forbusiness gain momentum. It is vital for the technology to gain thetrust of stakeholders to encourage greater uptake. As blockchainfor business matures and the technology and standards develop toaddress the challenges around data protection, regulatorycompliance and long term stability, many more projects are likelyto progress past the proof of concept phase.

We expect to see increased government and private sectorawareness and investment. Other trends to watch out forinclude:

Building on a current trend, organisations withbusiness-critical services or with sensitive data will opt for'blockchain for business' private, permissioned blockchainnetworks rather than public blockchain networks. The identitymanagement feature of a private, permissioned network that onlyallows selected participants to join is better suited for businessto business (B2B) use cases.

Consortiums and individual organisations are exploring theability for blockchain to provide an efficient, transparent form ofdigital ID for individuals or businesses. This will be valuable forfacilitating access to government services or streamlining customeron-boarding and 'know your client' checks.

The 'tokenisation' of assets is the process of issuing ablockchain token that digitally represents ownership of a realtradable asset. Although tokenisation is in its early stages, thetokenisation of assets and trading, and exchanging those tokens,will pick up speed in sectors such as financial services and realestate, improving operational efficiency and decreasing tradingcosts.

There is a strong belief at an EU level that blockchaintechnology can help build Europe's Digital Single Market. Assuch, we expect to see significant steps this year on the draftingand adoption of appropriate legal and regulatory frameworks forblockchain to help foster innovation and harmonise standards forthe Digital Single Market.

From an Irish perspective, Ireland has made progress tocapitalise on the opportunities that blockchain for businessoffers. However, more work is needed to keep upwith othermember states. To continue operating at the leading edge, Irelandneeds a clear plan and vision for blockchain. Building trust willbe crucial.

Regulation doesn't need to mean the end of innovation. As asmall nation it is possible to implement a 'blockchainfriendly', innovative and technology-neutral regulatoryframework. Countries like Gibraltar, Liechtenstein and Malta areleading the way. It is important that the newly formed governmentis on board to help drive the agenda for our businesses at anational and EU level.

Stakeholders, such as technology experts, banks and professionalservices, need to actively work together to promote blockchain forbusiness-use cases. Ultimately, success will depend on support fromthe wider community, through a mix of investment, collaboration andinnovation.

The content of this article is intended to provide a generalguide to the subject matter. Specialist advice should be soughtabout your specific circumstances.

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How Blockchain For Business Will Develop In 2020 And Beyond - Technology - Ireland - Mondaq News Alerts

Blockchain Technology Market Size to Flourish with an Impressive CAGR during 2019 2025 – Cole of Duty

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Blockchain Technology Players/Suppliers Profiles and Sales Data:Company, Company Basic Information, Manufacturing Base and Competitors, Product Category, Application and Specification with Sales, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin, Main Business/Business Overview.

The report presents a highly comprehensive and accurate research study on the globalBlockchain Technology market. It offers PESTLE analysis, qualitative and quantitative analysis, Porters Five Forces analysis, and absolute dollar opportunity analysis to help players improve their business strategies. It also sheds light on critical Blockchain Technology Marketdynamics such as trends and opportunities, drivers, restraints, and challenges to help market participants stay informed and cement a strong position in the industry. With competitive landscape analysis, the authors of the report have made a brilliant attempt to help readers understand important business tactics that leading companies use to maintainBlockchain Technology market sustainability.

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Global Blockchain Technology Market to reach USD 51045.4 million by 2025.

Global Blockchain Technology Market valued approximately USD 242.4 million in 2016 is anticipated to grow with a healthy growth rate of more than 81.2% over the forecast period 2017-2025. The driving factor for Smart Lock market is One of the latest trends gaining traction the advent of artificial intelligence (AI). BT powered by AI is the most advanced IT development taking place in the blockchain and cryptocurrency market. AI is providing several features to manage decentralized monetary systems. AI algorithms should be used to predict the value of bitcoins, which can help bitcoin traders to handle bitcoin transactions, it will also help the customers to have an easy access to a comparative information and will allow many investors to get better informed before deciding about their financial plans. This, in turn, will strike growth in the global BT market during the forecast period.

The objective of the study is to define market sizes of different segments & countries in recent years and to forecast the values to the coming eight years. The report is designed to incorporate both qualitative and quantitative aspects of the industry within each of the regions and countries involved in the study. Furthermore, the report also caters the detailed information about the crucial aspects such as driving factors & challenges which will define the future growth of the market. Additionally, the report shall also incorporate available opportunities in micro markets for stakeholders to invest along with the detailed analysis of competitive landscape and product offerings of key players. The detailed segments and sub-segment of the market are explained below:

oBy Application

oPayments

oExchanges

oSmart contracts

oDocumentation

oDigital identity

oSupply chain management

oGovernance, risk and compliance management

oBy Provider

oApplication and solution provider

oMiddleware provider

oInfrastructure and protocol provider

oBy Organization Size

oSmall and Medium-Sized Enterprises (SMEs)

oLarge enterprises

oBy Industry Vertical

oBanking, Financial Services, and Insurance (BFSI)

oMedia and entertainment

oTransportation and logistics

oReal estate

oIT and telecommunications

oTravel and hospitality

oRetail and eCommerce

oHealthcare and life sciences

oGovernment and public sector

By Regions:

oNorth America

oU.S.

oCanada

oEurope

oUK

oGermany

oAsia Pacific

oChina

oIndia

oJapan

oRest of the World

Furthermore, years considered for the study are as follows:

Historical year 2015

Base year 2016

Forecast period 2017 to 2025

Some of the key manufacturers involved in the market are AWS, IBM, Microsoft, Ripple, Chain, Inc, arthport, Coinbase, Bit fury, BTL Group, Digital Asset Holdings, Abra, Factom, Alphapoint. Acquisitions and effective mergers are some of the strategies adopted by the key manufacturers. New product launches and continuous technological innovations are the key strategies adopted by the major players.

Target Audience of the Global Blockchain Technology in Market Study:

oKey Consulting Companies & Advisors

oLarge, medium-sized, and small enterprises

oVenture capitalists

oValue-Added Resellers (VARs)

oThird-party knowledge providers

oInvestment bankers

oInvestors

Have Any Query Or Specific Requirement?Ask Our Industry Experts!

Table of Contents:

Study Coverage:It includes study objectives, years considered for the research study, growth rate and Blockchain Technology market size of type and application segments, key manufacturers covered, product scope, and highlights of segmental analysis.

Executive Summary:In this section, the report focuses on analysis of macroscopic indicators, market issues, drivers, and trends, competitive landscape, CAGR of the global Blockchain Technology market, and global production. Under the global production chapter, the authors of the report have included market pricing and trends, global capacity, global production, and global revenue forecasts.

Blockchain Technology Market Size by Manufacturer: Here, the report concentrates on revenue and production shares of manufacturers for all the years of the forecast period. It also focuses on price by manufacturer and expansion plans and mergers and acquisitions of companies.

Production by Region:It shows how the revenue and production in the global market are distributed among different regions. Each regional market is extensively studied here on the basis of import and export, key players, revenue, and production.

About Us:

We publish market research reports & business insights produced by highly qualified and experienced industry analysts. Our research reports are available in a wide range of industry verticals including aviation, food & beverage, healthcare, ICT, Construction, Chemicals and lot more. Brand Essence Market Research report will be best fit for senior executives, business development managers, marketing managers, consultants, CEOs, CIOs, COOs, and Directors, governments, agencies, organizations and Ph.D. Students.

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Blockchain Technology Market Size to Flourish with an Impressive CAGR during 2019 2025 - Cole of Duty

Blockchain in Telecommunication and Post Services Market 2020 Global Industry Trends, Growth, Share, Size and Forecast to 2026 – Daily Research…

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Global Blockchain in Telecommunication and Post Services Market 2020 Report comprises of strong research of global business which empowers the consumer to look at the possible requirement as well as foresee the implementation. The restraints and drivers have been assembled following a deep study of the global Blockchain in Telecommunication and Post Services Market proficiency. The development ratio thats requested from the viewpoint of the rational analysis offers detailed info of the global Blockchain in Telecommunication and Post Services industry. Blockchain in Telecommunication and Post Services Market Research report has analyzed all current trends and previous status of business under the supervision of business specialists. By which report supplies impending assessment of Blockchain in Telecommunication and Post Services Market that includes market size in value and volume by region, manufacturers, kind and application.

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Top Companies in the Blockchain in Telecommunication and Post Services Market Report:IBMAccentureMicrosoftCoinbaseSAP SEJuniper NetworksEarthport PlcAtos SEBitfury GroupBlockchain Tech Ltd

Description:

In this report were presenting our clients with the most in detailed records of the Blockchain in Telecommunication and Post Services Market and as the global markets are converting very rapidly especially in the last few years the markets are becoming tougher to get a hold of and subsequently our analysts have organized a detailed review while considering the history of the marketplace and a very specific forecast in accordance with the past.

The given document specializes in prominent manufacturers of Blockchain in Telecommunication and Post Services marketplace and discusses aspects such as organization profiles, production, fee, cost, sales, product photograph and specification, potential, and other essentials to make it big in the market. Upstream raw materials, device, and additives, and downstream demand evaluation are also discussed. The Global Blockchain in Telecommunication and Post Services market growth developments and advertising and marketing channels are also taken into consideration.

Blockchain in Telecommunication and Post Services Market Segmentation by Types:

Digital Asset TradingVoice/Data ServiceValue-Added Service Identity as A ServiceContent Services and Hosting Services

Blockchain in Telecommunication and Post Services Market Segmentation by Applications:

Payments and TransactionsSmart ContractNetwork ManagementReporting and AnalysisOther

Get DiscountedReport @https://www.reportsintellect.com/discount-request/825472

Table of Content:

1 Market Overview2 Companys Profiles3 Sales, Revenue and Market Share by companies4 Global Market Analysis by Regions5 North America by Country6 Europe by Country7 Asia-Pacific by Regions8 South America by Country9 Middle East & Africa by Countries10 Market Segment by Type11 Global Blockchain in Telecommunication and Post Services Market Segment by Application12 Market Forecast13 Sales Channel, Distributors, Traders and Dealers14 Research Findings and Conclusion15 Appendix

The file can help to understand the marketplace and strategize for commercial enterprise growth for this reason. In the approach analysis, it gives insights from advertising channel and marketplace positioning to capacity boom strategies, presenting in-intensity evaluation for new entrants or exists competitors within the Blockchain in Telecommunication and Post Services industry.

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Blockchain for Supply Chain Market Share, Revenue, And Average Price By Manufacturers Shared In A Latest Research Report – 3rd Watch News

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Blockchain for Supply Chain Marketreport covers the COVID 19 impact analysis on key drivers influencing market Growth, Opportunities, the Challenges and the Risks faced by key players and the Blockchain for Supply Chain market as a whole. The complete profile of the worldwide top manufacturers like (Accenture, IBM, Microsoft, SAP SE, AWS, Huawei, Oracle, Guardtime, Tibco Software, Auxesis Group, BTL Group, Bitfury, Omnichain, Vechain Foundation, Chainvine, Digital Treasury Corporation, Blockverify, Nodalblock, Peer Ledger, Openxcell, Applied Blockchain, Recordskeeper, Transchain, Datex Corporation, Ownest) is mentioned such as Capacity, Production, Price, Revenue, Cost, Gross, Gross Margin, Sales Volume, Sales Revenue, Consumption, Growth Rate, Import, Export, Supply, Future Strategies, and The Technological Developments that they are making are also included within this Blockchain for Supply Chain market report. The historical data from 2012 to 2020 and forecast data from 2020 to 2026.

Get Free Sample PDF (including full TOC, Tables and Figures)of Blockchain for Supply Chain[emailprotected]https://www.researchmoz.us/enquiry.php?type=S&repid=2339828

In-Depth Qualitative Analyses Include Identification And Investigation Of The Following Aspects: Blockchain for Supply Chain Market Structure, Growth Drivers, Restraints and Challenges, Emerging Product Trends & Market Opportunities, Porters Fiver Forces.

Scope of Blockchain for Supply Chain Market:Blockchain offers a shared ledger that is updated and validated in real time with each network participant. It enables equal visibility of activities and reveals where an asset is at any point in time.

On the basis on the end users/applications,this report focuses on the status and outlook for major applications/end users, shipments, revenue (Million USD), price, and market share and growth rate foreach application.

Retail and Consumer Goods Healthcare and Life Sciences Manufacturing Oil and Gas Logistics Others

On the basis of product type, this report displays the shipments, revenue (Million USD), price, and market share and growth rate of each type.

Software Services

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Blockchain for Supply Chain Market Regional Analysis Covers:

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Chernobyl is one of the best TV shows you can watch right now – Polygon

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This weekend, the number one movie at the American box office was Empire Strikes Back. Yes, George Lucas 1980 sequel to Star Wars returned to drive-ins and the few open theaters in the United States to gross nearly $500K, topping well, other old movies back in circulation. Hollywood continues to kick the can of new releases as it contends with the coronavirus pandemic, leaving the future of large-scale entertainment uncertain.

Meanwhile, those of us at Polygon are turning to home entertainment to fill the expansive void of new releases. A few absorbing new films arrived to streaming this weekend, including Netflixs The Old Guard, Hulus Palm Springs, and the VOD sci-fi release Archive. But most of us found ourselves plowing through our backlogs; case in point, our editor-in-chief Chris Plante finally found time for HBOs award-winning 2019 miniseries Chernobyl, which he found had uncanny connections to the present moment. If you can stomach the unsettling, almost Lovecraftian true story, its a must-see.

Chernobyl wasnt the only thing those of us at Polygon watched this weekend. Below, weve collected our other favorites from the weekend, in hopes of offering a suggestion or two of what you should watch this week. Be sure to let us know in the comments what you enjoyed over the weekend, too.

I watched all five episodes of HBOs Chernobyl miniseries this weekend, and Im unsure if now is the worst or best time to recommend the historical recounting of systemic governmental failure in the face of catastrophe.

On one hand, I get enough nihilism when I read the Washington Post and the Austin Chronicles reporting on the failures of our government on national and local levels. I skim Twitter and see militias defending statues to racist traitors, police brutalizing protestors, and old friends partying as hospitals hit capacity. Do I really need a show that spends one episode tailing a band of men forced to execute dogs and cats that have been exposed to extreme radiation? Isnt life grim enough?

On the other hand, Ive been magnetized to media that confronts anxiety inducing dilemmas head on. Not disaster movies or post-apocalypse thrillers. No, Ive become obsessed with stories about institutional failure, about the challenge of relating to others with vastly different life experiences, about poisoned systems and structures. Ive appreciated documentaries like The Thin Blue Line and Harlan County, USA, and dramas like Kurosawas High and Low and Asghar Farhads A Separation.

Chernobyl is arguably the most extreme example of this fixation, and the most flagrantly similar to our moment. Here is a disaster unprecedented for those experiencing it, one worsened by layers of inexperienced leadership who, time and again, act out of self-interest, costing the lives of the people theyve sworn to protect. And yet, the bravery of people with far less power and far more to lose, prevents the complete and utter ruin of their nation. This isnt a happy story with a simple hero. Nobody saves the day and receives a big reward. Most characters die, and those who dont suffer lives scarred by tragedy. The pleasure of the story, if you can call it that, is not personal, but universal. Its knowing that we all of us are part of something bigger than ourselves; that doing what is right might not always be best for the individual, but serves the greater arc of civilization.

So yes, now is the best time to Chernobyl.Chris Plante

Chernobyl is streaming on HBOGo and HBOMax.

And everything else we watched...

Polygons Karen Han and I got to chatting about our favorite Korean war movies on Twitter a while ago, bonding over Taegukgi: The Brotherhood of War and The Admiral: Roaring Currents. But Id never seen The Age of Shadows. This weekend I rectified the situation.

Directed by Kim Jee-Woon and starring Song Kang-ho (Parasite), its an action-packed thriller with some brilliant gunplay and snappy cinematography. Imagine Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy set in 1920s Korea during the period of Japanese colonial government and youve just scratched the surface. At nearly two-and-a-half hours, its pretty dense. Ill be giving it a second watch soon. Charlie Hall

The Age of Shadows available on Blu-ray or a DVD.

I have my kids trained pretty well with regard to streaming services. While we have the Netflix and the Disney Plus accounts locked down, they still know they need to ask me and/or mom before they embark on a new series. Thats mostly how we ferret out the weird, knock-off Disney princess movies from Russia and what not. But, we have different concerns for The Babysitters Club, which just 20 minutes in sold us as a greenlight for the kids.

Not only do they keep the spirit of the original books, but theyre all cleverly updated for a new generation. I strolled in from the grill on Sunday to find my oldest daughter watching a bunch of powerful young women setting up a barricade with a canoe to protest classist fees at the sleepaway summer camp. Plunking down, I then marveled as the camp director defused the situation, while also empowering everyone involved.

Netflix, my oldest is wondering if you could please make three more seasons? We dont need another Bunkd situation on our hands. And dont fritter away the momentum like you did with Project Mc2. CH

The Babysitters Club is streaming on Netflix.

On the recommendation of a friend for a new half-hour Watch It While I Eat show, this weekend I tucked into the first couple of episodes of Dorohedoro, based on the manga by Q Hayashida. The anime takes place in a grim world of urban poverty and magical horror, where sorcerers from another dimension practice their abilities on the largely powerless inhabitants of a grime-covered city. The setting full of drippy tenements, inventive character designs, and buckets of blood, is a bit like Junji Ito and Clive Barker teamed up to make a Studio Ghibli film.

But in the midst of all the horror trappings the books full of teeth, the faces peeled off, the dishes made from mushrooms growing on dead bodies we have what are almost slice-of-life comedy stories about our protagonist, Caiman. Caiman cant remember anything about his life before a sorcerer practiced on him, bestowing him with a great big spiked lizard head. Now, in-between leaning on his friend Nikaido to make him tons and tons of gyoza, and working at a hospital for practice victims, he searches for the sorcerer who made him this way, so he can kill him and undo the magic.

He does this by popping the head of every sorcerer he meets inside his mouth, where they meet the man who lives inside his mouth, who can tell whether or not theyre the sorcerer who gave Caiman his lizard head. Caiman has never been able to see the man inside his mouth. He has no idea who the man inside his mouth is. The show is extremely weird, and extremely funny. Susana Polo

Dorohedoro is streaming on Netflix.

I watched the first series of Fullmetal Alchemist back when you had to buy anime on DVD and it would cost like a billion dollars because each disc had like two episodes on it and every anime series was 1,000 episodes long. It was good though.

Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood is a redux that more closely follows the manga series, and it goes unbelievably hard while feeling entirely fresh. I burned through the five seasons in about two and a half weeks, and while sometimes convoluted, but its an always-entertaining story about two brothers on a quest to heal the physical and spiritual injuries they suffered while delving into taboo magic. From there, the plot is full of deep state conspiracies, will-they-wont-they friendships, and cool monsters.

I dont want to yell at you about how you absolutely need to watch another anime so Ill just hit ya with three selling points:

1. The fights are good. The alchemy in the shows title refers to a form of magic and/or science that allows certain people to do very cool things. If youve seen Avatar: The Last Airbender, you know the drill. Cool martial arts choreography, mixed with fantastical powers. The shows animation is consistently good, but when characters start fighting, it can get virtuosic. There were moments where I had to immediately rewind and watch bits again, because I couldnt believe what I had just seen.

2. The tone is good. FMA: Brotherhood does an outstanding job balancing incredibly dark plot points and painful moments with tons of silliness and genuine warmth. Its nice.

3. The cast is good. Just about everyone the show introduces you to is weird and lovable. The show really hits its stride in the later seasons when the cast has expanded, been broken into mismatched troupes, and scattered to the wind. Imagine a version of Game of Thrones where the author deeply, deeply loved all of their creations. I cant count how many times the show served up what I assumed would be a background character or disposable villain, only to see that character stick around and play a substantial role for the remainder of the series. Patrick Gill

Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood is streaming on Netflix.

This year, the annual Annecy Animation Festival was held online for the first time, due to the coronavirus outbreak. That meant it was the first time I got to participate, and I was hugely excited to see what Annecy was like. But like so many of the other film festivals that have tried to move online, Annecy ran up against limitations, presumably because of producers and studios who were concerned about their work streaming online ahead of release. A lot of the years most exciting animation offerings were only offering short excerpts instead of entire features. The upside, though, was that I got to experience the first seven minutes of The Legend of Hei, a thrilling Chinese animated feature about the secret community of shape-changing demons operating in modern society. This weekend, I sought out and watched the rest of the film, and its marvelous.

The Legend of Hei is the feature-length expansion of a web animation by a Chinese artist who goes by MTJJ. Its popular enough to have spawned a mobile game and a graphic novel, but the franchise isnt well-known in America. That should change once Legend of Hei gets discovered by one of the many streamers or companies picking up anime (like Crunchyroll and Netflix) or international animation in general (looking at you, GKIDS). Legend of Hei is packed with action, as two factions of demons (or goblins or monsters, depending on your translation) face off for the future of their kind think what Isao Takahatas Studio Ghibli curiosity Pom Poko would look like if there was a second group of tanuki with a much more aggressive stance against humanity.

But its also a film about an adorable, scrappy, egotistical little cat-demon-boy named Hei whos trying to survive on his own in the world, and navigate a war he doesnt understand yet, and come to terms with his own powers. Legend of Hei is packed with colorful and memorable characters, and big explosive action, but the most memorable scenes may just be Hei trying to face off a stronger foe with all the tiny defiance in his big-eyed little kitty body. Tasha Robinson

The Legend of Hei is not yet available in the U.S., but translated episodes of the original web animation are streaming on YouTube

Theres nothing like watching super strong, competent athletes doing stunts while you sit in your pajamas at noon drinking coffee you couldnt be bothered to reheat. That might sound sad, but it feels great knowing that rock climbers and pole dancers and parkour instructors have tackled the four levels of the Beast so I dont have to.

Like other Netflix-produced stunt shows, Ultimate Beastmaster features an inconsistent commitment to its premise; the outside of the course is shaped like a gigantic, demonic jungle cat and features a pool of blood (water, lit red) for players to safely drop into. Some obstacles sport body-adjacent names like Brain Matter and Throat Erosion while others are just nonsense power-words Mag Walls and Energy Coils. That aside, its amazing to see the ease of these athletes passing through the unbelievable challenges and just as hilarious to watch the accidental-slapstick the results from somebody failing to time a tricky jump off a treadmill.

The show features teams from multiple countries, each repped their own hosts, and part of the joy is seeing these local celebrities interact with each other, and alternate between smack-talking and supporting the competition. The editing is smart and tight, breezing through the highlights of competitors who dont make it far so you can get invested in those that do. If youd like to hear Terry Crews bemoan players slipping into the blood for a few hours and who doesnt! Ultimate Beastmaster has you covered. Jenna Stoeber

Ultimate Beastmaster is streaming on Netflix.

Ive heard nothing but good things about the FX series based on Jemaine Clement and Taika Waititis What We Do in the Shadows, but I loved the 2014 movie so much I avoided the show out of fear of disappointment. What a fool I was: The series is a gosh darn delight. Created by Clement, it follows another group of vampire roommates who are (un)living in Staten Island instead of the films New Zealand. Though the show maintains the offbeat humor and mockumentary style of the movie, and the characters embody similar archetypes, it still feels like a fresh adaptation.

One of the archetypes reinvented for the show is the human familiar who serves a vampire master in the hopes of eventually being turned into one. With all due respect to Jackie van Beek, who plays the role in the film excellently, the shows familiar Guillermo is absolutely perfect. As he tells us in the pilot, Guillermo has wanted to be a vampire ever since he saw Antonio Banderas in Interview with the Vampire. Played by Harvey Guilln, Guillermo is sweet and funny and serves as the emotional heart of the show. I would die for Guillermo.

I watched the first half of season 1 this weekend and cant wait to catch up. Emily Heller

What We Do in the Shadows is streaming on Hulu.

Before Alfred Hitchcock was renowned Hollywood director Alfred Hitchcock, he was British thriller expert Alfred Hitchcock. 1935s The 39 Steps came out of an early period in the directors career in which he was literally cranking out spy stories and tension-filled tales; he was only 36 at the time of release, but The 39 Steps was his 24th directorial effort. And while the film is regarded as a sketch for true wrongfully-accused-man-on-the-run masterpieces like North by Northwest, its not amateur hour: In adapting John Buchans novel of the same name, Hitchcocks agile, angular filmmaking is on full display.

Robert Donat stars as Richard Hannay, a regular Joe thrust into the world of espionage when a woman he brings home after a night at the theater turns out to be a spy and, eventually, a spy with a knife in her back. Accused of murder, Hannay flees London for Scotland, hoping to solve the mystery of the the 39 steps while avoiding a country-wide manhunt. Hitchcock pulls out the stops: A foot chase on a train is packed with gags (Watch out for that man carrying a giant tray of champagne glasses!) and buttoned with an iconic high-angle view of a bridges icy drop. A sequence at a farm house, in which Hannay hopes two bumpkins might stash him away from the police, overflows with character quirk and tension. When a pair of spies capture Hannay and handcuff him to a witness, a no-bullshit woman named Pamela (Madeleine Carroll), the two make a getaway that turns them into a golden-age-of-Hollywood romantic pair. Per usual, Hitchcocks misogyny and gaze gets in the way of Pamelas arc, but for a movie made in 1935, The 39 Steps introduces a set of female characters who flex agency in the face of authority. Like every turn in the film plot- of character-wise its unexpected.

Turning on a black-and-white movie can feel like a chore. So many films from the pre-1940s fail to stand the test of time, and the chasm between old-fashioned and modern performance styles reasonably turns off viewers. But Id argue The 39 Steps transcends the time period: part Bond movie, part comedic caper, and anchored by a performance that feels Ryan Goslingian, its a black-and-white movie that feels alive and contemporary. Matt Patches

The 39 Steps is streaming on HBOMax.

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Chernobyl is one of the best TV shows you can watch right now - Polygon

CS Interview: The Russo Bros. Talk Coen Bros. & Star Wars – ComingSoon.net

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ComingSoon.net had the opportunity to speak with Joe and Anthony Russo about their weekly series Russo Bros. Pizza Film School, specifically about their love for the Coen Brothers after hosting No Country for Old Men star Josh Brolin for Episode 5,in addition to their views on Star Wars following Episode 4 which featured Mark Hamill and the group discussingThe Empire Strikes Back.

RELATED: Taika Waititi Joins This Weeks Russo Bros. Pizza Film School

ComingSoon.net: You guys had a great conversation with Josh about No Country, and youre clearly big fans of the Coens. I want to know, what do you think of the idea of Blood Simple, Fargo, and No Country as a kind of informal trilogy? Because you talk about the importance of tone.

Joe: Trilogy?

CS: Yeah, you talk about the importance of tone. And to me, those three films have a very specific tone and subject matter amid the Coens very eclectic filmography.

Anthony: No question. I think they are. And I think that they, like jazz artists, the Coens will do riffs on similar themes or similar tones. And you can sort of see it throughout their career. Sometimes they will do something, you know, just radically outside of their canon, like when O, Brother came out, but you could still find the roots to it in Raising Arizona. So I do think that those films are all a variation on the same tone and the same theme.

CS: Yeah. And the Coens, some of their movies really embrace nihilism, like Barton Fink or Burn After Reading or A Man Who Wasnt There or No Country. But then, they make other movies that feel more moralistic, like Serious Man or Fargo. Do you think the Coens are truly nihilistic, or is that just a tool that they use sometimes?

Anthony: I have to believe

Joe: Heres the thing, their entire canon is imbued with nihilism in some way or another. But they are inherently existential individuals, right? Thats how they perceive the world. But they have a sense of humor about it, which is amazing, right? Its Pinter-esque in that regard, right, or its Beckett. They have a sense of humor about their existentialism, so thats why we love them so much, because I think again, growing up in Cleveland, for the hardnosed town where we came from that went bankrupt and industrial machine collapse during our youth. And so, we have a very existential view on life as well. And I think its why we gravitate towards the Coens so much. I think its hard to take that existential philosophy without a sense of humor, which would make their movies very difficult to watch if they didnt have any, even though Country is devious in its execution. I mean, there are lots of witty moments in that film that are equally entertaining as they are depressing, you know?

RELATED: Russo Bros. Pizza Film School Episode 5 Details Revealed!

CS: But and then in terms of your Empire Strikes Back episode, it brought up something that has always kind of bugged me about Star Wars, which is that I feel like in the prequels, sort of the choice that Anakin has to make, where hes choosing between the Jedi and saving the woman he loves, its a compelling choice. Its a wrenching choice. But in both the original trilogy and the new trilogy that just came out, I feel like Luke and Rey, theyre basically being offered a power grab. Rule the universe with me. And its pretty anathema to both of their characters. Theres never really a feeling like these guys are actually going to go for that. And I wanted to get your take on that. Would you have done that differently?

Anthony: Well

Joe: I mean I think being such Star Wars fanatics, we wouldve probably focused on the Luke Skywalker story. And so, to me, there was the potential for three movies focusing on that arc coming to completion. But different choices you can make. I think you know, the fact that Star Warsis so important to us growing up, we got to make our Star Wars empire in Infinity War and Endgame. That was really our expression of what those commercial films meant to us as children and what we took away from them and the patterns of narrative structure that were so profound to us. We were able to replicate those patterns in those movies. So I think we speak to those films rather than the Star Wars films.

Anthony: I was going to say, you make a very good point about Luke and Rey. Thats a really good point in a sense that you dont really think they dont seem very likely to make that choice, but it just reminds me of how similar our enjoyment of these movies is to something like opera in the sense that there can be these crude sort of narrative beats that maybe dont play in a very subtle or sophisticated way, but theres something about their resonance and theres something about the way the rest of the cinema surrounds that moment and then the music and the iconography and the drama of it all that somehow creates emotion and sort of excitement and thrill and danger and peril. Its just a reminder to me when youre pointing your finger at something that seems weak or fit, at like how much the other elements, that sort of cinematic experience perceived is to what we walk away from a movie with, you know?

You can watch every episode of Russo Bros. Pizza Film School on their YouTube channel here!

(Photo by Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images for Disney)

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The Dark Side of Science: Shooting Barred Owls as Scapegoats for the Ravages of Big Timber – CounterPunch

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Barred Owl. Photo: USFWS.

The United States Fish & Wildlife Service faced a difficult problem. The Northern Spotted Owl was vanishing from the forest, in spite of being listed as threatened, in 1990, under the Endangered Species Act, assigned critical habitat on public lands, and special protections related to the activities of local timber companies. Its numbers had continued to drop at a rate of 4% a year. Now suspicion was turning to the Barred Owl, whose assertive appearance in the Pacific Northwest could be causing the decline. So eight years ago the United States Fish & Wildlife Service convened a study group, to discuss the moral and practical dimensions raised by this imminent peril.

Heretofore the Northern Spotted Owls dwindling numbers had been thought to relate to the destruction of the ancient forests of the Pacific Northwest, which was the owls habitat. The United States, the world leader in commercial logging, had produced and consumed more wood than any other country. Now less than 15% of forests remained which were more than 100 years old.

However, another possible agent might be the increased presence of Barred Owls, a larger and less specialized species, which had gradually moved in from the east. This species was soon stigmatized as invasive, and its possible role in the disappearance of the Spotted Owl began to be studied.

Verification of such a role was determined to be impossible without the drastic experiment of killing Barred Owls in specified areas, and observing the effect. This occasioned some moral uncertainty: the dark side of science.

As the late Lowell Diller, biologist for Green Diamond Timber Company, described shooting an owl: When I went out to do it the first time, I was shaking. I had to steady myself. I wasnt sure I could actually do it. It was so wrong to be shooting a beautiful raptor like this. It continues to be awkward to this day.

An avalanche of computer model studies followed. Barred Owl killing caused immediate repopulation of habitat by Spotted Owls. Effects were frequently temporary, however. Many studies contradicted each other.

The USFWS-convened study group, or Barred Owl Stakeholders Group, was composed of government officials, timber industry representatives, environmental NGOs, indigenous tribes, and wildlife rehabilitators. They were provided with reading lists, including works by Aldo Leopold and Plato.They were trained in collective decision-making by Group Dynamic specialists. An Animal Ethicist attended their field trips and retreats. This was designed to be a Mount Sinai moment.

After lengthy deliberation, the Group concluded that Barred Owls were the driving force behind poor population performance of Northern Spotted Owls. Even the fact that the two species interbred was condemned as genetic swamping.

The USFWS decreed that Barred Owls should be destroyed.

Now, eight years later, thousands of Barred Owls have been shot, and the practice is expanding. Locally, Green Diamonds new Habitat Conservation Plan has opened up its entire holdings to their extermination. In Washington and Oregon, and on public lands, Barred Owls are lured to a nearby branch and shot point blank.

Friends of Animals, a 63-year-old international nonprofit, had sued USFWS in 2014 over killing Barred Owls, in violation of the Migratory Species Act. They lost.

Now they are suing the feds for abuse of the ESA itself.

When Barred Owls are killed on private land, Northern Spotted Owls replace them. The USFWS decreed that, in exchange for shooting Barred Owls, termed mitigation, on their timberlands, the companies would be allowed to take the habitat of the returning Spotted Owls. Since such individual Spotted Owls are floaters, and therefore not shielded by regulations, they do not have the status that protects the forest they are reinhabiting.

According to USFWS, the take of Spotted Owls on the temporarily reoccupied sites is more than offset by the value of the information gained from this experiment and its potential contribution to a long-term Barred Owl management strategy.

This obsessively overzealous, deranged enforcement policy mirrors the nihilism of the current Administration, in its swift shredding of the Endangered Species Act. The very purpose of the ESA is to protect wildlife, in all its dynamic complexity. Science is being corrupted to the point of legalistic reductionism, and flies in the face of the rights of Mother Earth.

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The Dark Side of Science: Shooting Barred Owls as Scapegoats for the Ravages of Big Timber - CounterPunch

Wykoff residents recognized for their service to the livestock industry – Fillmore County Journal

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In the 86-year history of the Minnesota Livestock Breeders Association Hall of Fame, there have been three inductees from Wykoff. Hog breeder, Henry A. Derenthal was inducted in 1949, and this past March, Normen and Doris Peterson were inducted for providing exceptional service to the livestock industry.

The Petersons are good and honest people who treat their customers very well, describes Doug Tuman, President, Minnesota Livestock Breeders Association, who has known the couple for years. Normen and Doris strive to please their customers.

The Petersons own and operate Petes Auction and Photo Inc., petesauctionandphoto.com, located on the family farm, Toppy Hill, north of Wykoff. The farm has been in the family for close to 150 years.

Normen Petersons interest in the dairy industry began as a charter member of the local 4-H club, which lead to owning a herd of registered Ayrshires and Holsteins. Petersons first business was fitting cattle for sales and shows, followed by a long career as an auctioneer and a livestock photographer.

Peterson proudly pointed out a painting on the wall of a registered Ayrshire and her triplets. Burton Dairymaid, imported from Scotland, was the national grand champion at the National Dairy Cattle Congress in Waterloo, Iowa, in 1959. In 1960, she was reserve grand champion at the International Dairy Show in Chicago just a few days after having the triplets.

At that time, Peterson (22) was told that he was the youngest farmer to win a national grand champion.

The International Dairy Show was held in December, and due to a snowstorm, the official livestock photographer was not able to get to Chicago. Peterson did not get a professional photo of Dairymaid. They did not have the All-American cow that year because they did not have a picture to submit with the nomination. At that time, there were only three or four livestock photographers in the United States.

Peterson realized there was a need for livestock photographers in the Midwest. Sixty years later, Petersons library contains 45,000 photos of dairy cattle from 25 states and four foreign countries.

Normen Petersons wife of 60 years, Doris, grew up on a Wisconsin dairy farm milking shorthorn cattle.

Doris Peterson self-identifies as the companys support staff. Walking into the office and a few minutes chatting with the two of them, it is clear that support staff is not a 100% accurate description of her role. Doris Peterson manages the office and does the bookwork. In the beginning, she developed the film. Now you will see her setting in front of a computer post-processing digital images and designing auction catalogs.

Her husband spoke up and stated that his wife is also a photographer and takes wedding pictures. There are 1,000 wedding photos in their library representing six states and England.

The most memorable stories are frequently the ones when things dont go as planned, as in the following two stories shared by Sue Krahn, the Petersons employee for the last 40 years.

Krahn explained that she and Normen were headed to a photoshoot in North Dakota. It was not the perfect day to take photos as it was windy, causing the camera and tripod to blow over. After a successful shoot, the duo headed back to Wykoff only to find out that all the photos were lost. Getting back in their vehicle, Peterson and Krahn headed back to North Dakota to retake the pictures.

Lesson number two.

Leaving at four in the morning from California, Normen and Krahn headed back to Wykoff to pick up their gear before heading to Wisconsin for a photoshoot. Arriving at the farm in Wisconsin, the farmer immediately told Normen that he needed to call his wife ASAP. He did and found out he forgot his camera. They hit the road and headed to La Crosse to meet Doris. Turning around, they head back to the farm to take photos. Krahn mentioned that they did not tell the farmer why they had to go back to meet his wife.

Doris Peterson believes that her husbands interest in auctioneering began as a young boy attending farm auctions with family members, listening to the auctioneers chant. Peterson began auctioneering as a young man fine-tuning his talent late at night on the drive home after dates with his wife-to-be. A few years later, he attended the World Wide College of Auctioneering in Mason City, Iowa.

Throughout his career, Peterson managed and auctioneered sales in eight states, including five national breed sales. He is now primarily working as a livestock broker.

As an auctioneer, Peterson has served as the auctioneer for the countys 4-H livestock auction for over 25 years. He has also donated his auctioneer services for area fundraisers, including the ever-popular pie auctions.

Peterson shared that at one local fundraiser, he auctioned off three sour cream and raisin pies selling for $600 each.

The Petersons story is not complete without mentioning their three children Brad (Sherry), Jodie (Bill) Jacobson, and Jana (Joe Lieffring) Peterson Groski. The couple also has four grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.

In 1993, Brad Peterson joined the family business. Along with his parents, they own Toppy Hill Holsteins and White Crest Ayrshires, winners at county, district, and national dairy cattle shows.

Norman Peterson mentioned that last year four generations of the Peterson family showed at the Fillmore County Fair.

In addition to the prestigious Hall of Fame, the Petersons have been recognized for their service by the Fillmore County American Dairy Association (2001), the Minnesota Holstein Association (2001), Fillmore County 4-H (2008), and the Minnesota Purebred Dairy Cattle Association (2018).

The Hall of Fame nomination highlights the Petersons volunteer service. Normen Peterson served nine years on the Minnesota Holstein board of directors, was a member of the executive committee of the 1989 National Holstein Convention held in Minnesota and chairman of the national sale that year. The couple also assisted with the National Holstein Convention sale when it took place on the stage of the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville, Tenn.

The couple has also served on the Fillmore County Extension Committee. Both are lifetime members of the Wykoff Methodist Church.

Doris Peterson summarizes that the most rewarding part of their business is the friends they have made over the years.

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Wykoff residents recognized for their service to the livestock industry - Fillmore County Journal

Everyday People: Former band director finds passion in painting – Daily Astorian

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As he wandered around the art galleries of Jackson Hole, Wyoming, Edward Peterson found himself admiring the work of a young painter named Carrie Wild. She was painting bison.

Curious, he stopped to talk. He would have never guessed that a year later hed return with his own bison paintings for a solo exhibition at Wilds gallery, Gallery Wild.

Edward Peterson stands with one of his acrylic paintings.

An art career was a new beginning for Peterson after 38 years as Snohomish High Schools celebrated band director.

His exhibition has become one of the fondest moments of his life.It still, you know, brings tears to my eyes, said Peterson, whosework is displayed at Tempo Gallery in Astoria. You couldve painted your whole life and be really good, and never get an opportunity like that.

At 88, hes been painting for nine years.Clocking 12 hours a day, seven days a week at the easel, he attributes his success to practice.

Every painting has tremendous failures, and then finally, it works, he said. He likened the experience to amarriage; you disagree and scrap ideas, but you always end up still madly in love.

Although his art career seemed to have been by accident, Peterson is sure this part of his life is meant to be. Thats how he felt about being a band director, too.

In an adventurous time conducting the Panther Band at Snohomish High School southeast of Everett, Washington, he took his students to play concerts around the world.

Among the highlights, the band played the Montreux Jazz Festival in Switzerland in 1971, the same year as Aretha Franklin. They played for President Ronald Reagan in 1985. Three years later, they were invited to perform a concert on the Great Wall of China.

The band won Washington state championships in 1979, 1989, 1991 and 1992.

Edward Peterson's most recent bison painting.

I look back at that very honestly and I wonder how on earth did all of that really happen? And why did it happen? he said. I gave it everything I had, and thats the same thing that translates into my art. Its the best thing I can do.

For all the accolades the Panther Band earned during his run Peterson is in the Snohomish High School Hall of Fame he feels that part of his life was more about his students.

I got a lot of nice compliments and all that stuff with the bands and choirs I had.You know, it was always the kids, not me," he said. "With painting it was me, and its really been difficult for me to accept compliments.

Now, Peterson finds the most important thing in life is to look forward and be himself. His art career has given him a new level of confidence.

Through the Tempo Gallery, he has met local artists he has a great appreciation for, as well as other people he has encountered in Astoria.

Being in my 80s is the first time in my life that Ive been comfortable in my own skin. I always thought I had to be something better, or I was inferior to, he said.

Ive learned to be happy with me. I wish Id learned that a long time ago.

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Everyday People: Former band director finds passion in painting - Daily Astorian

Man accused of murder after body found at homeless camp in Mead – The Spokesman-Review

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Deputies have arrested a man on suspicion of murdering another man at a homeless camp in Mead.

The Spokane County Sheriffs Office said deputies responded to the camp in the 2300 block of East Farwell Road near Northwood Middle School and the Newport Highway at about 10:40 p.m. Saturday.

According to the sheriffs office, the caller, Robert J. Tolliver, 37, said he had discovered his friend was deceased, then waited at the roadway and walked deputies and firefighters to the camp.

There, deputies found a man lying partially on a couch inside a tent with significant head trauma, according to court records.

The victim was identified in court records as 41-year-old James H. Peterson, who had lived at the camp for about 10 months.

A witness told deputies that Peterson and Tolliver had been fighting recently because Petersons bike had gone missing.

Another witness told deputies Tolliver texted her multiple times Saturday, saying he had an emergency and needed help.

According to court records, Tolliver told the witness he and a friend had gone to Petersons camp to look for stolen bike parts. Tolliver told the witness he left the friend at Petersons camp after Tolliver found his missing bike parts.

Tolliver claimed his friend contacted him hours later, saying things had gotten out of hand and Peterson was dead, the witness told deputies.

Tolliver repeatedly told the witness, Youre my alibi, on Saturday night, according to court records. Tolliver also sent the witness a video in which he threatened to cut off Petersons thumb, according to court records.

Tolliver was arrested Sunday afternoon. In an interview, he allegedly told deputies he had been in a fight with Peterson over the stolen bike parts several months prior but had not been to Petersons camp in several months. Tolliver said he had planned to confront Peterson but backed out.

Tolliver was jailed in lieu of a $500,000 bond and faces a charge of first-degree murder. Petersons death remains under investigation. The sheriffs office said anyone with information should call Crime Check at (509) 456-2233 with the reference number 10086228.

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Man accused of murder after body found at homeless camp in Mead - The Spokesman-Review