Offshore Oil and Gas: Opportunities Exist to Better Ensure a Fair Return on Federal Resources – Government Accountability Office

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What GAO Found

GAO's analysis indicates that changes in the price of oil and in royalty rates drive changes in the amount companies in the offshore oil and gas industry bid for leases (the amount paid upfront at auction for the right to explore and develop offshore tracts of land). Specifically, between May 1985 and June 2018, peaks in industry bidding coincided with higher oil prices. Additionally, when the Department of the Interior's (Interior) Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) offered leases at lower royalty rates, industry bid somewhat higher amounts per acre. For example, certain leases were sold from 1996 through 2000 with no royalties on initial volumes of production, which GAO estimates resulted in BOEM collecting, at most, nearly $2 billion in additional bid revenue. However, bureau estimates indicate these leases resulted in about $18 billion in foregone royalties through 2018.

BOEM's valuation process might not fully assure receipt of fair market value, based on GAO's analysis of BOEM data. BOEM develops valuations for offshore tracts it assesses to be economically viableassessments of their fair market valueand awards leases so long as the bid is greater than or equal to BOEM's valuation. BOEM's valuations for tracts were generally low relative to industry bids because, according to BOEM officials, they conservatively forecast to account for inherent uncertainties in, among other things, the quantity of oil and gas present as well as exploration and development costs. In addition, GAO identified two ways BOEM's valuation process results in lowering its already conservative valuations that might not fully assure receipt of fair market value:

Unreasonably high depreciation. BOEM forecast that tracts would lose a median of 23 percent of their value in between sales, leading the bureau to accept lower bids because it determined the tracts might be worth even less in the future. Bureau officials told GAO that lower future values are generally due to BOEM discounting the delayed collection of revenue. However, BOEM's forecasted depreciation increased even though tracts are now available twice as frequently as they were prior to August 2017, reducing the time for discounting. Officials said they were unaware of the high rates and the issue warrants further examination. Enlisting a third party to examine the extent to which the bureau's use of delayed valuations assures the receipt of fair market value, and making changes as appropriate, would help BOEM mitigate risks of continuing to accept bids based on poor information on tracts' future values.

Lowered valuations. BOEM officials told GAO that they lower some initial valuations that are slightly above industry's bids and which would therefore be rejected per procedures to assure fair market value. Officials said they prefer to accept bids unless there is high certainty that the bids are inadequate. However, GAO identified bias, or statistical anomalies, where BOEM lowered many valuations that were initially higher than industry's bids. Specifically, from March 2000 through June 2018, BOEM rejected 27 bids for tracts that it ultimately valued at up to double industry's bid whereas it accepted 359 bids in which industry's bid was up to double BOEM's valuation. Tracts for rejected bids are, on average, subsequently sold for more than twice the initial rejected amount, suggesting that BOEM could be forgoing hundreds of millions of dollars in bid revenue by accepting bids that are too low.

Production of oil and natural gas from offshore leases is a significant source of federal revenue, totaling almost $90 billion from 2006 through 2018. BOEM is required to seek a fair return from offshore leasing and production activities in federal waters. Companies generally pay (1) bids for leases for the right to develop tracts, (2) rents on leased but undeveloped tracts, and (3) royalties on revenues from the sale of oil and gas produced from leases. BOEM holds auctions to award leases to the company offering the highest bid so long as the bureau determines the bid represents fair market value.

GAO was asked to examine issues related to offshore federal oil and gas leasing. This report, among other objectives, (1) describes the effect of oil prices and royalty rates on industry bids for leases and (2) examines the extent to which BOEM's valuation process assures receipt of fair market value. GAO reviewed laws, policies, and regulations; interviewed BOEM officials; and developed an empirical model using BOEM data to analyze the effect of royalty rates and other factors on industry bidding.

GAO is making four recommendations, including that BOEM (1) enlist an independent third party to examine whether the use of delayed valuations assures the receipt of fair market value and (2) take steps to ensure its bid valuation process is not biased toward lowering valuations. Interior disagreed with the first and partially agreed with the second, disagreeing with GAO's characterization of BOEM's process. GAO maintains the recommendations are valid as discussed in the report.

For more information, contact Frank Rusco at (202) 512-3841 or ruscof@gao.gov.

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Offshore Oil and Gas: Opportunities Exist to Better Ensure a Fair Return on Federal Resources - Government Accountability Office

‘A Whole New Industry’: N.H. To Work With Neighboring States On Offshore Wind in Gulf of Maine – New Hampshire Public Radio

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New Hampshire, Maine and Massachusetts will work together on large-scale offshore wind development in the Gulf of Maine. Stakeholders from the three states met today in Manchester talk about the possibilities and obstacles for that new industry.

The event was hosted by the Environmental Business Council of New England at the state headquarters of Eversource, which is developing several large offshore wind projects elsewhere in the Northeast.

Taylor Caswell, commissioner of the states Department of Business and Economic Affairs, said at the meeting that he thinks Northern New England could add tens of thousands of jobs building these offshore turbine farms, and the transmission infrastructure to bring their power on-shore.

This is not just a project. This is not just an individual, were going to find a site and put a couple of turbines up, Caswell says. This is the establishment of, really, a whole new industry.

The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management plans to hold the first meeting of a three-state task force on the issue in mid-December. The New England group is the third regionalized wind group BOEM has formed, after ones in the New York area and the Carolinas.

The group's first job would be to help choose specific areas for offshore wind leasing in the federal waters of the Gulf of Maine likely at least 30 miles out to sea.

From New Hampshire state government, the task force will likely include Caswell, state energy program administrator Joe Doiron, marine fisheries chief Doug Grout, and watershed management bureau administrator Ted Diers.

It will also include Maine and Massachusetts officials, plus federal, local and tribal government representatives. Once the group begins its work, officials say turbine development in federal Gulf of Maine waters could happen within the next decade.

The area is thought to have one of the best potential wind resources in the world.

Onshore opportunities

Stakeholders say the best way to utilize that resource will likely be floating turbine platforms, anchored to the sea floor in deep water. Many of the installations huge components will be too big to travel over roads and will have to be made on the adjacent coast.

Its a real large-size industry, says BOEMs Daryl Franois. He says it requires high-tech installation vessels, large cranes, lots of steel and storage space, and turbine blades that could be longer than a football field.

Turbines and related infrastructure construction also poses risks for fisheries, marine science, habitat and wildlife. These have been big obstacles for wind developments in southern New England.

Bill White headed up wind development for the state of Massachusetts before becoming North American executive director for German wind developer EnBW. He says New Hampshire and its neighbors should aim to put up a unified front on the challenges ahead.

If theres a way, a proper way, for the states to reach consensus on these issues particularly on siting, which areas are the priorities and which should be avoided that would go a huge way toward accelerating [the process], White says.

New Hampshire officials emphasized that they hope to collaborate, not compete, with their neighbor states on developing and supplying wind components.

Asked how the state is working to ensure its piece of that pie, Caswell said officials are analyzing the expected needs of an offshore wind industry, and trying to build an ecosystem to bring it here, based on the states existing tech and aerospace sectors.

Eversource offshore wind vice president Ken Bowes says if the Granite State plays its cards right, it could wind up making major contributions to the many gigawatts of wind energy currently in the works across the East Coast, as well as to future projects.

"You have some natural abilities here with the seaport in Portsmouth, also with a tax structure that's very beneficial to manufacturing, Bowes says. So you do have an opportunity here that you should probably think about seizing on in the short-term."

Political uncertainty for state energy procurements

He and others say a key way to accomplish that would be for New Hampshire to set up a large-scale energy procurement program to agree to buy some of the wind power generated.

It could be similar to long-term energy contracts approved by lawmakers in southern New England states, under policies aiming to bring more renewable energy into the region.

Earlier this year, Republican Gov. Chris Sununu blocked a Democratic-led bill that proposed a study commission on renewable energy procurements. That bill was sponsored by state Senate Majority Leader Dan Feltes, who is now running for governor.

Sununu said in his veto message that creating the commission "would open the door to increased [energy] costs for decades to come.

But Caswell and others in Sununus administration now say they think offshore wind development will be a cost-effective opportunity for the state. They argue it will be cheaper for ratepayers than other renewables, in part due to its potential large scale.

From the environmental policy perspective, we want to advance a least-cost option in a region where theres a patchwork of aggressive greenhouse gas emissions reductions [policies], says Joe Doiron of the state Office of Strategic Initiatives. Offshore wind is going to be a big player, and we love this.

Caswell says its too soon to make detailed plans for a procurement program.

But he says the administration wants to proceed "anticipating that we want to have this industry enter Northern New England and New Hampshire, meaning they'll likely talk with the state legislature about issues like wind energy procurement.

State Senate Democrats, including Feltes, recently put out an energy agenda for the 2020 legislative session that emphasizes procurements and participation in regional energy issues, as well as solar power and offshore wind.

As part of that, Sen. David Watters of Dover says he hopes within the next week to propose a set of task forces to coordinate wind siting and industry development at the state level.

State-led aspects of that siting will include substations and transmission infrastructure to distribute power generated offshore. Stakeholders say they hope to build some of that on the New Hampshire Seacoast.

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'A Whole New Industry': N.H. To Work With Neighboring States On Offshore Wind in Gulf of Maine - New Hampshire Public Radio

Ichthys incident highlights offshore divers’ ‘fear’ to speak up – union boss – News for the Oil and Gas Sector – Energy Voice

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The UK diving industry may need to reassess its reporting culture in light of a serious incident off the coast of Australia, according to a union boss.

Seven workers sustained chronic brain injuries while working 273m deep at the Ichthys project off Western Australia in 2017, which is the subject of an ongoing legal dispute.

An independent medical report, published last month by Dr Ian Millar of Melbournes Alfred Hospital, said one group of divers was pressurised excessively and inexplicably fast, however there was not one single obvious cause for the injuries.

The report highlights that the extent of the damage was not immediately known as many of the divers were hiding or at least not declaring their problems in hopes they would resolve and out of concern that their future employment might be compromised.

Dr Millar, with 35 years of industry experience, goes on to state that divers may not report health issues for fear of losing diving fitness certification and offers of diving employment.

Following that, Jake Molloy of the RMT union in Aberdeen said, although the UK has stronger safety standards, there remains an inherent fear among the diving community that challenging or stopping a job could lead to loss of employment.

Mr Molloy highlighted that he doubts incident like Ichthys would happen in the UK North Sea with standards being relatively good.

He said: It may be, in light of this event, and indeed in light of some events which have occurred here in the UK over the last couple of years, that we need to look at that, we need to change that culture.

We need to build-in a mechanism that enables divers to more readily challenge and more readily say no, thats wrong, were not doing that. I dont think weve got that at this moment in time.

There is an inherent fear amongst the diving community that refusal, which stop the job process could see them taken off the contract and not given more work.

It might just be a perception, it might simply be that we need to change the divers perception because management wouldnt let that happen. But until it is tested we dont actually know.

Well certainly be sharing it with the employers when we sit down with them, well be taking it through and talking about this report.

Moreover we need to talk to the divers about what would make them feel more able and more willing to avoid this kind of scenario because you dont want divers or indeed any worker to be carrying around this kind of trouble around with them.

With a lack of employment and persistent disability, Dr Millar reports several of the Ichthys divers are understood to be in severe financial difficulty, with more than one expressing suicidal intent.

Dr Millar was brought in after the first patient was referred to him.

He then assessed 13 of the 15 divers who participated, with seven suffering major, ongoing disability.

Several had not initially reported the symptoms, which included impaired cognitive functioning, severe headaches, balance disturbance and mood instability.

At certain depths it is expected that divers will suffer some form of high pressure neurological syndrome but the symptoms normally cease in time.

The divers reported issues including absence type seizures where awareness and movement ceases for several seconds, and uncontrollable jittering of jaw muscles in one individual.

The report also said some have symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), similar to combat veterans who have experienced blast concussion injury.

Mr Molloy added: Theres a focus on mental health issues today and this goes to the heart of that issue that theyre carrying this burden and ill-health, this condition, but feel unable to talk about it until several months after the event. I think thats astonishing.

The report states is it not commissioned by any party and is intended to be shared as an expert opinion and general briefing document.

Several divers are in a legal battle with DOF Subsea Australia over the incident.

The firm has previously said it regards the ongoing safety, health and wellbeing of all its employees and contractors as being of paramount importance within the companys operations and among DOF Subseas core values and guiding principles.

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Ichthys incident highlights offshore divers' 'fear' to speak up - union boss - News for the Oil and Gas Sector - Energy Voice

Letter: I hope we recover what we have lost as a nation – SW News Media

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Recently a letter to the editor was published under the heading Trump and supporters reject Golden Rule." Well, I happen to support Trump, so does it follow that I also reject the Golden Rule? The letter was written in such a way that readers could be glad if they agreed with the author. But if there was any disagreement with the author, then the reader should be ashamed because they are clearly taking a position against individuals, minorities, immigrants etc. Words such as hate groups, discrimination and self-righteous individuals were used to make the authors points.

During the course of our nations founding there was much debate. Many different points of view were expressed. And what came out of that environment was the Declaration of Independence and later the Constitution. These documents define the most successful nation in history. Certainly our country is not perfect, but we wont ever find a perfect country on this side of heaven. However, it appears to this citizen that we rarely place competing ideas side by side and then have a rational discussion. And that is to our detriment.

When we respect points of view that differ from our own, a door is opened to a better outcome. By insisting on my way or the highway, we cheat ourselves and those who disagree with us because options develop as opposing ideas are discussed and explored more deeply. For example, many feel that our borders should remain as they have been, relatively uncontrolled. Is this in harmony with the Golden Rule or, more importantly, with the Constitution? What does history have to say about open borders? Countries that cant or wont control their borders do not survive. Perhaps it is better to insist that immigration happen on a controlled, legal basis.

Our borders are just one example. There are many issues that we have allowed to become polarizing. I have watched this happen over the course of my 66 years. This should please none of us. As Ben Franklin said when asked what kind of government had been created, he responded with just a few but weighty words: A republic, if you can keep it. Well, what are we going to pass on to our children and grandchildren? I certainly hope we can recover what we have lost as a nation. But only God knows if we will succeed.

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Letter: I hope we recover what we have lost as a nation - SW News Media

Prince Harry Destroys This Royal Tradition in the Best Way Possible – Showbiz Cheat Sheet

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The royal family has plenty of unusual traditions to follow. They are not allowed to speak publicly about politics, they have to carry black clothing with them whenever they travel in case someone dies, and they have to show they are in mourning. The women in the family have to follow a strict set of rules about the makeup they wear and how they style their hair.

One of the rules the royal family is expected to keep has to do with the press. It has been described as Queen Elizabeths Golden Rule, and it explains her legendary dignity in the public eye.

The queen refuses to get involved with any of the drama stirred up by the tabloids, and insists her relatives always do the same, declaring: Never complain, never explain. But for Prince Harry, following this edict eventually became impossible.

When it first came out that Prince Harry was dating an American actress, the public was enraptured. They could not get enough information about Markle, and people were soon emulating her style.

When they were married in May of 2018, royal fans everywhere tuned in to watch the stunning event. The happy couple was wildly popular all over the U.K.

But the tabloids in England have an appetite for scandal, and soon rumors started to swirl about Duchess Meghan being locked in a feud with her sister-in-law, Kate Middleton. In November of that year, Prince Harry and Markle decided to move out of Kensington Palace. They had been living there along with Prince William and Duchess Kate, and speculation about why they left exploded.

Suddenly, the public was lead to believe that Markle, the American upstart, was causing strife for Middleton, a well-loved English girl and the future queen. As far as the press was concerned, the gloves were off.

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While at Victoria Yards in Johannesburg this afternoon, The Duchess of Sussex had the opportunity to learn more about the importance of, and how to enable a wellbeing economy thanks to Co-Director of the Makers Valley Partnership, Simon Sizwe. Simon was awarded a full scholarship to attend the Young African Leaders Initiative programme initiated by President Obama, and he explained that by investing in the overall well-being of a community and its people, and focusing on that economy, you can enrich everyone for a better quality of life. She also met with the owners of Sobae Frozen, an entrepreneurial duo who created their small business as a solution to food waste, creating vegan sorbet from unused fruit from Victoria Yards. At the end of her visit, The Duchess was moved by the original poetry of Belita Andre, the winner of the Poetry Grandslam. In her reading she said: The Makers Valley is a social and enterprise hub, a wave between my corner of the world and yours. Insisting that beyond the anchors of survival. How to make sure that everyone gets to shore, pass around an ocean of stars, not because our sleepless nights are equal but because our dreams are. #RoyalVisitSouthAfrica

A post shared by The Duke and Duchess of Sussex (@sussexroyal) on Sep 30, 2019 at 11:06am PDT

The tabloids werent satisfied with guesses about the supposed feud, and they started to really dig. Even when Markle became pregnant and eventually gave birth to a beautiful baby boy, the press continued to hound her.

The royal couple insists that many of the damaging stories that have been printed about Markle and their relationship are outright lies.

Then a tabloid known asThe Mail on Sundaygot ahold of a private letter Markle had written to her estranged father, Thomas Markle. They published excerpts from the intensely personal message.

For Prince Harry, it was the final straw.

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has come to an end, but The Duke and Duchess have had the opportunity to look back on an incredible 10 days through South Africa, Botswana, Angola and Malawi. Thank you for following along! Their Royal Highnesss journey took them 15,000 miles across southern Africa where they were greeted by so many amazing people along the way. They witnessed the great partnership between the UK and Africa, met local community groups, leaders, and youth and elders, who all imparted knowledge and inspiration. On their final day of the tour, The Duchess said: Please know that you have all given us so much inspiration, so much hope and above all, you have given us joy. During their tour, The Duke and Duchess unveiled three new Queens Commonwealth Canopy projects, protecting forests and planting trees, and worked with the British Government to announce investment of 8m in technology and skills in the region. The Duke traveled to Angola to focus on the ongoing mission to rid the world of landmines, an extension of the work that was pioneered by his mother, Diana, Princess of Wales. The Duchess announced gender grants from the Association of Commonwealth Universities to improve access to higher education for women, as well as four scholarships for students studying across the commonwealth. Throughout this trip they were able to join an important and essential conversation about the rights of women and girls not isolated to Southern Africa, but also globally. Throughout this visit, The Duke and Duchess were struck by the spirit and generosity from every community they visited. Speaking to young entrepreneurs in Tembisa, a township in Johannesburg, The Duke said: As I raise my own son, I want to make sure that what Ive learned here the value of the natural world, the value of community and friendship is something that I can pass on to him. Thank you to everyone who supported from afar, and those who have followed along the way! We hope you enjoy this wrap up video to the tune of a wonderful song by The Soweto Gospel Choir, a favourite of The Duke and Duchess. Video SussexRoyal

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Although he seems to love and respect his grandmother, the Queen, Prince Harry obviously adores his wife. Whats more, the issue of the press intrusive behavior in his life is painful.

Its rumored Prince Harry always felt regret that he couldnt protect his mother the late Princess Diana from the same treatment, which many believe led to her death. But this time around he is not a child. It was time to leave Queen Elizabeths Golden Rule behind: Prince Harry was ready to have his say.

On a website that was created solely for this purpose, Prince Harry posted an announcement. It stated that the press had been engaging in a propaganda campaign against them, and taking advantage of their silence by publishing things that werent true. He said that they were taking legal action againstThe Mail on Sundayfor publishing Markles letter.

The announcement is unusually emotional and blunt for any communication from the royal family. But although Prince Harry may have disappointed Queen Elizabeth, what he says sounds like a true and loving defense of his wife.

I have been a silent witness to her private suffering for too long, he said. To stand back and do nothing would be contrary to everything we believe in.

It was a brave thing for him to do. One might even sayprincely.

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Prince Harry Destroys This Royal Tradition in the Best Way Possible - Showbiz Cheat Sheet

Old Town Road By Lil Nas X Goes Diamond And You Should Too In Business – Forbes

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NEWARK, NEW JERSEY - AUGUST 26: Billy Ray Cyrus and Lil Nas X speak onstage during the 2019 MTV ... [+] Video Music Awards at Prudential Center on August 26, 2019 in Newark, New Jersey. (Photo by Mike Coppola/Getty Images for MTV)

Old Town Road by Lil Nas X received Diamond Certification by the RIAA this week. It became the 33rd in history and the fastest to achieve the honor. Not bad for a song that was originally produced in Atlanta for less than $50.

Diamond is 10 times platinum, when a single achieves the equivalent of 10 million units when combining sales and streaming. Here is a list of the 33 courtesy of Business Insider which includes three singles by both Eminem and Katy Perry. Diamond symbolizes the top honor in the recording industry, but it is also the new standard for achieving prosperity in business. Acting in accordance with the Diamond Rule is the next evolution of managing relationships and winning in sales. Its the 4.0 version that tops silver, golden and platinum approaches in business.

Lets look at 1.0, 2.0, and the 3.0 versions for background:

The Silver Rule is do no harm. As stated by Zigong, a disciple of Confucius, in the book Analects, What I do not wish others to do unto me, I also wish not to do unto others. The Silver Rule merely shares what not to do. Its not a bad start. Case in point, beginning in 2000, Google famously coined Dont be evil as part of the companys corporate code of conduct. The problem with Silver is that its not prescriptive. It doesnt tell you how to treat others in business.

Throughout nearly every culture and religion, the Golden Rule has become the gold standard of human dynamics. The Golden Rule is simply treating others the way you would like to be treated.

If the Silver Rule deals in what not to do, the Golden Rule broadens it to all situations. In 2015 with the founding of Alphabet, Google revised its motto of Dont be evil to Do the right thingfollow the law, act honorably, and treat each other with respect. This approach by Google is more aligned with the Golden Rule. Marriott even has an entire advertising campaign around the Golden Rule.

Unfortunately, in sales and managing relationships, the Golden Rule a bad rule.

Heres why: In most sales organizations, an acceptable conversion rate is about 25 percent, which means that only one out of every four opportunities converts into a sale. Because you were taught to follow the Golden Rule, its fair to assume you know what your clients want based on what you would want if you were them. Unfortunately, just looking at the conversion rates tells us that theres an issue. If anything else in our businesses was failing 75% of the time, we would immediately look for ways to improve.

The Golden Rule leads to suboptimal results. This is because not everybody wants the same thing or to be treated the same way. We always assume that if something is good for us, then it must be good for everyone else. And, that if we want to be treated in a certain way, then that must be how everyone else wants to be treated. Turns out, that assumption couldnt be further from the truth. It leads to failed sales opportunities and strained client relationships all the time!

NEW YORK - CIRCA 1961: Entertainer Perry Como rehearses on set of his TV show "Perry Como's Kraft ... [+] Music Hall" in New York. (Photo by Donaldson Collection/Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images)

FACT: Gold is worth significantly more per ounce than silver. It can be as much as 100 times more valuable. It is also the denser of the two metals, which makes a specified volume of gold worth far more than an equal volume of silver. The very first Gold Certification Award by the RIAA was earned in 1958 to Perry Como for his hit single Catch A Falling Star.

The next level of the Golden Rule was popularized by Dr. Tony Alessandra in 1996. It simply is treating others the way that they want to be treated. Grounded in emotional intelligence, the Platinum Rule asks you to accommodate the feelings of others.

Dave Kerpen outlines the shortcomings of the Golden Rule in his book The Art of People. Kerpen writes,

"The Golden Rule, as great as it is, has limitations, since all people and all situations are different. When you follow the Platinum Rule, however, you can be sure you're actually doing what the other person wants to be done and assure yourself of a better outcome."

The Platinum Rule is more outward facing in its approach. The focus shifts from, this is what I want, so I'll give everyone the same thing to let me first understand what they want . . . and then I'll give it to them. One of the challenges when completely focusing on the other person is that we can overlook how were feeling and reacting to a situation. For example, we may go into a meeting with the best of intentions to apply the Platinum Rule, but then something happens where we feel upset or disrespected or unheard, and then our capability to actually apply the Platinum Rule is interrupted. Therefore, while the Platinum Rule is aspirational, we must also be true to ourselves and neutralize our biology in order to be capable of addressing the needs of others.

Considered one of the wealthiest Americans of all time, John D. Rockefeller, business magnate and philanthropist, clearly understood the intrinsic value of the Platinum Rule. He said that,

the ability to deal with people is as purchasable a commodity as sugar or coffee and I will pay more for that ability than for any other under the sun.

When you play the game of business by following the Platinum Rule, every game is an away game. You never have the home field advantage because success in the game is filtered through the needs and concerns of the other person. Your playbook focuses only on knowing how others want to be treated and whats important to them.

Johnnie Taylor

FACT: Platinum is more sought after than gold because it is rarer. Only 160 tons of platinum are mined annually around the world, as opposed to 1,500 tons of gold. Also, platinum is denser than gold; a platinum ring will weigh significantly more than a same-size ring in gold. Platinum is the new symbol of prestige. Think of the platinum credit card, which often has better benefits and privileges than the gold card. In the 1970s, the RIAA awarded the first Platinum Single Award. It was earned by Johnnie Taylor for the song Disco Lady.

The Diamond Rule takes the Platinum Rule to the next level. The key here is understanding both our own biology as well as that of our prospects and customers. Treating someone the way they want to be treated is tricky enough under normal circumstancesbut what happens when things start to get heated? In the immortal words of former boxing heavyweight champion,

Everyone has a plan until they get punched in the mouth.

Pressure can trigger a biological response that causes us to act in an unpredictable and irrational manner. Under pressure, our brain activates a hard-wired survival strategy every time it detects a perceived threat.

Why is the Diamond Rule so critical in sales and managing relationships?

The answer is simple. A sales situation is inherently full of pressure. To quote the late artists David Bowie and Freddie Mercury in Under Pressure, Pressure pushing down on me. Pressing down on you. Pressure can make things unstable. In sales, you need to manage yourself and your prospect/client through these difficult situations. The Diamond Rule combines elements of both Gold and Platinum. Said simply, the Diamond Rule is the art of managing yourself under pressure and addressing the needs of others to avoid their triggers.

Rooted in the understanding of our own behavioral style and the style of others, the Diamond Rule allows you to solve problems and achieve prosperity in the pressure-filled game of business.

Practicing the Diamond Rule requires two elements: 1) you have to see your own predictable behavioral style when pressure hits, and 2) you need the capability to assess prospects/clients relative to four different, predictable behavioral styles based primarily on how people respond biologically to pressure.

Since we all tend to be pretty strong in only one of the four styles of Control, Influence, Power or Authority, its no surprise that we tend to connect with those whose style is similar to ours but find ourselves challenged to connect with those who have a different style. Therefore, when working outside of our own category, we may be less effective, leading to upwards of a 75 percent failure rate in sales conversion.

The Diamond Rule is the most advanced approach for working effectively with other people. As a combination of the Golden Rule and the Platinum Rule, it requires you to consider and satisfy your own instinctive concerns and needs while simultaneously addressing the needs of others. While it takes keen awareness and presence to pull this off, it is truly the Holy Grail of human dynamics.

Diamond Rule behavior means effectively managing your identity (personal brand) with others even when your biology (survival response to pressure) is getting triggered (feeling under attack) in the game of business.

When you adhere to the Diamond Rule, you rise above pressure, reaching an elevation that makes it easy to focus on solving client problems and reducing the pressure they feel. This makes you stand out as unique and better in the eyes of your client, dramatically increasing your ability to win business.

A diamond is a symbol of wealth and wisdom. The more you mine for diamonds in your pursuits, the more success you will reap. Unlike Gold or Platinum which can be molded, you need to work with the natural elements of Diamonds and the natural reactions of human biology.

Are you ready to go Diamond to win in sales and managing customer relationships?

Singer Elton John performing a rewritten version of his song 'Candle in the wind' as a tribute to ... [+] Diana, Princess of Wales, at her funeral. Over a million mourners lined the route of the funeral procession through London. (Photo by PA Images via Getty Images)

FACT: Diamonds are crystals of pure carbon that have formed under a combination of high temperatures and extreme pressure in the Earths mantle. Diamonds are not found on the Earths surface, they must be mined with a pick-axe while tunneling deep in the ground. Given the process of sourcing diamonds and their value, they are much more precious and expensive than gold and platinum combined. CASE(S) IN POINT: Its no coincidence that Diamond Medallion is the highest status on Delta Airlines. Status has four levels: Silver, Gold, Platinumand Diamond. To achieve Diamond Medallion status, you must travel 125,000 medallion qualifying miles a year. Thats exactly the amount of Gold (50,000) and Platinum (75,000) combined. Candle in the Wind by Elton John was the first single to achieve Diamond certification status by the RIAA.

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Old Town Road By Lil Nas X Goes Diamond And You Should Too In Business - Forbes

Blending Memoir And Reporting, ‘The In-Betweens’ Dives Into An Otherworldly Community – NPR

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Your brain performs a little trick every time you turn around to look at something. Instead of presenting you with a disorienting blur of ocular input before your eyes can adjust to the new field of vision, it backfills your memory a few seconds using whatever you're looking at now.

It's a subtle piece of business. You usually don't even notice, unless you look too quickly at a blinking light and feel for a moment that one of those blinks is taking awfully long. If you ever looked quickly at a flashing alarm clock as a child and felt like you could momentarily control time, that's why.

Saccadic masking is also more or less the experience of reading Mira Ptacin's The In-Betweens, a deft account that begins as a social history of Spiritualism and moves into memoir so quickly it can take a second to realize you've backfilled something that wasn't quite there.

The book takes place largely around Camp Etna, a Spiritualist enclave in Maine over a century old. At one point it was a veritable Disneyland of table-tipping, spirit photography, and barbershops, and Ptacin nimbly traces the movement from the early days when Spiritualism offered women (often via mediumship) a public voice and sense of authority to its heyday as a ghostly carnival, into the public backlash at the hands of skeptics like Harry Houdini, to the New Age of crystal healing and the even newer age of high-tech ghost hunting.

Now, Camp Etna is the home of a few holdouts from the last generation of Spiritualists before the New Age, and some of those New Agers hoping to reinvigorate the community and the business of Spiritualism. This is where things get personal, as Ptacin visits the various Spiritualists living at Camp Etna and experiences some of that table-tipping, dowsing, and aura-reading firsthand.

Increasingly, as she spends time at Camp Etna, Ptacin finds herself believing: if not in a particular tipped table, than in the ideals of Spiritualism, where believers emphasize the Golden Rule of kindness, the importance of intuition, and the power of things not seen. For Ptacin, this last which ties into how Spiritualism treats death, grief, and mourning proves powerful. But Ptacin has an eye for how to balance the loving (occasionally breathless) portraits of practitioners with the inevitable surreality of the situation; at one point she passes "an assemblage of Buddha statues and one large angel holding a chalkboard with the word vibration written on it."

And there's that saccadic masking, where it can seem as if something has been touched on, when you were really just passing by it. In particular, though Ptacin clearly takes note of the sage, the Buddhas, the name-the-chakras singalong set to "Do Re Mi" (a chilling thought), she never presses her subjects about the ways modern Spiritualism borrows deeply from Indigenous and Eastern traditions with little but some lip service in return. Even when attending a powwow (which spurs sweepers like "Despite all that had been destroyed and taken from them, the Native Americans still lived in reverence with Mother Nature"), there's precious little perspective to be found from the people from whom Spiritualism and its related trends have so liberally and profitably borrowed.

That Ptacin left such topics untouched can give the social history the air of a scrapbook from a beloved summer camp rather than a particularly journalistic endeavor. But that's not a surprise; even in her moments of ambivalence, she's deeply sincere about the residents of Camp Etna, and her desire to understand Spiritualism and, inevitably, herself. Luckily, she brings a dry eye with her for the detail work, and even if things wrap a little neatly, at its best The In-Betweens captures its own chaotic energy a flawed community of colorful characters whose generational or ideological differences can usually be smoothed over in the name of healing, belonging, and walking your cat.

Genevieve Valentine's latest novel is Icon.

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Blending Memoir And Reporting, 'The In-Betweens' Dives Into An Otherworldly Community - NPR

Guest editorial: Vilification of anyone opposed to Welcoming Schools program is unwarranted and wrong – The Park Record

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I am a woman, a Jew, a doctor, the mother of a gay son, and a feminist who attended an elite womens college. My youngest son is a junior at Park City High School and his brothers are in college, so the proposed Welcoming Schools curriculum at Trailside Elementary will not affect my family directly, yet this program concerns us.

I understand why the parents who filed the cease and desist order have done so anonymously. The vilification of anyone not toeing the party line is horrible. Just read the letters that have been written to the editor. Or read the quote by Andrew Caplan, president of the Park City Board of Education, who likened these parents to hood-wearing Klansmen.

My gay son was sickened during the bear spray attack at PCHS. I have not seen the level of condemnation for this attack as is being directed towards parents concerned about the proposed curriculum at Trailside. In fact, some have said the attack that injured my son, a member of the LGBTQ community this curriculum is designed to welcome, is justified because he is conservative. The hypocrisy is palpable.

As a life-long feminist, I am concerned with the attempt of the transgender movement to erase many gains we women have made over multiple decades. In recent years, transgender athletes have decimated womens sports by shattering records thereby dashing biological females life-long dreams. Hard fought Title IX protections are vanishing. Rapists identifying as women are being moved to womens prisons; battered womens shelters are forced to admit biological males identifying as women who could endanger the residents the shelter hoped to protect; and transgender women with penises are openly using locker rooms where I, other women, and young girls change. Many liberal democrats and prominent members of the gay community are concerned as well. What about our safe spaces?

As a doctor, teaching gender fluidity is politics, not science. Women have two X chromosomes and men have an X and a Y chromosome. As a libertarian, I truly believe that you can identify as whatever you choose, share your bedroom with whomever you love, and raise your kids however you believe, but you should not be able to force your beliefs on me nor mandate how I raise my children.

Each family is unique with its own issues. As a Jew, I worry about the 2017 FBI statistics showing 58% of religion-based hate crimes in our country are perpetrated against us, and, on a per capita basis, Jews are 3 times more often victims of hate crimes than members of the LGBTQ community. I became a single mother when my children lost their father at ages 7, 9 and 11. At home, we read special age-appropriate books written by elementary experts to help process our loss. I am not asking the school district to read from the Torah or enact a special program to help other families in the school understand the trauma of losing a parent. Other children in similar circumstances could benefit from such a program. Yet asking the entire student body to participate would be ludicrous.

We all need to teach our children to live by the Golden Rule. It should be applied regardless of religion, color, gender, political affiliation or sexual orientation. Programs geared towards certain special groups will, by definition, marginalize others.

Many of you disagree, and I respect that. Thankfully, we live in a country where that is our right. Because of this disagreement, this is a subject matter best left to parents to address at home. We moved to Park City in part because of the highly ranked school district. According to US News and World Report, PCHS dropped from 200 in the nation in 2011 to 3,381 in 2019. Graduates are only 37% proficient in reading and 40% in math. The new PCSD administrators should focus their attention on academics, and let the parents worry about the rest!

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Guest editorial: Vilification of anyone opposed to Welcoming Schools program is unwarranted and wrong - The Park Record

Nature: Bioethics Is Obsolete – Discovery Institute

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I have been covering the bioethics movement since the late 1990s, writing several books (one award-winning) on the subject.

When bioethics began, there was a great internal intellectual struggle for dominance between Paul Ramseys traditional Christian-focused sanctity-of-life thought and the lapsed Episcopalian priest Joseph Fletchers crassly relativistic autonomy utilitarianism. Alas, Fletcher won that battle and the mainstream movement became, if not strictly utilitarian, certainly utilitarianish.

Bioethics also veered sharply left politically with ambitions of leading the technocracy in which movement luminaries would be the new high priests establishing public health policies, funding priorities, and determining the ethics of medicine (such as obliterating the rights of medical conscience). You certainly saw that paradigm in action in the administration of the Affordable Care Act, although the laws most dangerous technocratic threats were blunted by subsequent events, such as the repeal of the Independent Payment Advisory Board (IPAB).

For a time, it looked like bioethics would assume broad societal power. But now, Nature perhaps the worlds most prestigious science journal has published a long, and I must say surprising, piece concluding that at least with regard to biotechnology, bioethics is obsolete. From, Ethical ResearchThe Long and Bumpy Road from Shirked to Shared, by Sarah Franklin, the chair of sociology and director of the Reproductive Sociology Research Group at the University of Cambridge.

Just as the ramifications of the birth of modern biology were hard to delineate in the late nineteenth century, so there is a sense of ethical bewilderment today. The feeling of being overwhelmed is exacerbated by a lack of regulatory infrastructure or adequate policy precedents. Bioethics, once a beacon of principled pathways to policy, is increasingly lost, like Simba, in a sea of thundering wildebeest.

Exactly true. For example, rather than push hard for international regulatory controls of CRISPR germ line genetic engineering techniques in humans, bioethicists mostly wrung their hands and advocated a non-binding self-restraint until the technology becomes safe.

Franklin says bioethicists have ceased being thought leaders but merely so many PR professionals in the service of Big Biotech:

The field no longer relies on philosophically derived mandates codified into textbook formulas. Instead, it functions as a dashboard of pragmatic instruments, and is less expert-driven, more interdisciplinary, less multipurpose and more bespoke.

In the wake of the turn to dialogue in science, bioethics often looks more like public engagement and vice versa. Policymakers, polling companies and government quangos tasked with organizing ethical consultations on questions such as mitochondrial donation (three-parent embryos, as the media would have it) now perform the evaluations formerly assigned to bioethicists. Journal editors, funding bodies, grant-review boards and policymakers are increasingly the new ethical adjudicators.

And here I thought the power of bioethics was alarming! But the virtual moral anarchy dictated by the golden rule (he who has the money makes the rules) Franklin describes is even worse.

In a social-media-saturated age wary of fake news, the new holy grail is the ability to create trustworthy systems for governing controversial research such as chimeric embryos and face-recognition algorithms. The pursuit of a more ethical science has come to be associated with building trust by creating transparent processes, inclusive participation and openness to uncertainty, as opposed to distinguishing between is and ought

The result is less reliance on specialized ethical expertise and more attention to diversity of representationThe implication of this new model is that the most ethical science is the most sociable one, and thus that scientific excellence depends on greater inclusivity. We are better together we must all be ethicists now.

In such a milieu in which there really is no right and wrong, who needs bioethicists?

The huge problem Franklin ignores is that we are not having the kind of democratic discourseabout the future of biotechnology that Franklin envisions. Good grief, these issues barely break into the news.

Franklin is right that bioethics has lost substantial influence in biotechnology, which is a distinction without a substantial difference as the movement has mostly served as a rubber stamp for approving controversial research in the media and halls of government anyway.

But it is much too early to put the movement into hospice care. Bioethics still exerts tremendous influence in the public policy of healthcare. So, we are stuck with the worst of both worlds. We stand helpless before a biotechnology sector creating inventions of almost limitless power beyond substantial ethical or legal control as our medical system is dominated by so-called experts who deny the sanctity and intrinsic dignity of human life.

Unless there is a great ethical awakening, this will not end well.

Photo credit:Ousa Chea viaUnsplash.

Cross-posted at The Corner.

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Nature: Bioethics Is Obsolete - Discovery Institute

Why You Should Find Time to Be Alone With Yourself – The New York Times

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Time with your thoughts sans social distractions can also be restorative, build your confidence and make it easier for you to maintain boundaries, Ms. Roberts said. In addition, it can boost productivity, engagement with others and creativity, and a study published in Current Directions in Psychological Science found that brainstorming was enhanced when participants alternated between brainstorming alone and with a group.

In a twist on the golden rule: treat yourself as you would treat others. Dont flake. Be open to exploring new interests. Make space in your life and put in the time, even if its just spending 30 minutes a week reading at a cafe.

If youre just getting started, take small steps, Dr. Grice suggests. Time spent alone is a great opportunity to explore new interests, but it doesnt mean you have to totally push yourself outside of your comfort zone. And if the thought of spending time alone is especially stressful or triggering, that could be an important sign that you may need professional support, Dr. Grice adds.

But if youre at a loss as to how to jump in, plan out something that you know that you will enjoy doing, maybe something that helps you feel more productive, or helps you be more relaxed, Dr. Nguyen said.

If youre having an especially hard time listening to the thoughts inside your head, journaling can be a great way of working through and evaluating those emotions, Ms. Roberts said. And though its tempting, try not to be on your phone, because its too big of a distraction. Instead, Dr. Coplan suggests reading, making crafts, going to a movie, grabbing a meal, visiting a park, trying to learn a new skill or any one of the infinite options available besides making your alone time about other people and obsessively checking social media.

Ultimately, each person will have a different ideal balance between how much time they spend alone and with others, but nobody is going to be optimally served by doing only one or the other, he said.

Above all, the most important step in being able to reap the benefits of time alone is simple, Dr. Nguyen said: Take the opportunity to say, This is the time where I can give something to myself, and just endorse that, in this moment, you are your first choice.

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Why You Should Find Time to Be Alone With Yourself - The New York Times

UK Treasury on course to exceed this year’s deficit target by 16bn – The Guardian

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The government is on course to overshoot its deficit target this year by 16bn after a series of spending pledges, a slowdown in the economy and the spiralling cost of student loans stripped the Treasury of 43bn.

The Resolution Foundation, an independent thinktank, warned that the 27bn of spending headroom set aside by former chancellor Philip Hammond in March to cope with the costs of Brexit had evaporated over the last six months, leaving the government with a hefty deficit.

In a report that was due to be released ahead of Sajid Javids first budget on 6 November, which was scrapped last week, the independent thinktank said the Treasury was going to be left with little option but to break its rule that caps the annual shortfall in spending at 2% of GDP.

Labour has criticised Javid for refusing to publish official budget forecasts by the Office for Budget Responsibility, which are expected to be cancelled along with the budget, knowing they are likely to show the government has breached its deficit rule.

A slowdown in the economy this year following a slump in manufacturing and construction activity has reduced government income by more than 10bn in the next financial year, the report estimated.

Revisions to the treatment of government liabilities, including student loans, many of which are unlikely to be repaid, added a further 19bn to the total deficit. Extra spending commitments on hospitals, police and schools added another 13bn, the report said, increasing the shortfall between income and expenditure since March to 43bn.

Without tax increases or a retreat on spending pledges, the deficit next year was likely to be nearer 3% and possibly higher should Brexit knock GDP growth, hitting government income further.

Richard Hughes, an economist at the foundation, said Javid should ditch inflexible fiscal rules that can only be met with short-term decisions that harm the economys future.

He sad: Fiscal rules have guided, if not always bound, tax and spending decisions over the past 20 years from Gordon Browns golden rule to George Osbornes goal of eliminating the deficit.

But with the UKs current fiscal rules set to expire next year, and the government on course to miss them by 16bn anyway, the chancellor should take this opportunity to rewrite the fiscal rule book and set a new framework to guide government policy over the coming decade.

The UKs new fiscal rules should reflect current economic realities such as record low interest rates, and the broad political consensus around the need to invest in improving productivity, tackling climate change, and renewing our public service infrastructure.

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UK Treasury on course to exceed this year's deficit target by 16bn - The Guardian

East vs. West in annual Turkey Bowl Nov. 2 – NNY360

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WEST CARTHAGE Helping those with cancer for several decades, the annual Turkey Bowl will be played at noon, Saturday, Nov. 2, at the Danny Dorchester Memorial Field at Donald F. Getman Memorial Park, 23 Franklin St.

The Turkey Bowl is a touch football game which pits the East Carthage and West Carthage teams against one another. The game is held to raise money to directly help people in Jefferson, St. Lawrence and Lewis counties through contributions to Fund for Hope, Ryans Wish, Jefferson/Lewis Cancer Services and Gouverneur Breast Cancer Fund. Several events are held throughout the year to contribute to fundraising efforts.

During the game, concessions will be available at the Anna Rounds Snack Shack.

The game is followed by an awards dinner and dancing at the Carthage Elks Lodge, 511 Fulton St., Carthage. The dinner is booked but the public is welcome to come for the dance at 9:30 p.m. with music provided by Tough Luck.

Each year the Turkey Bowl committee selects honorary cancer survivors. Laurie Simser, Bobbie Cheal, David Ward, Jim Taylor, Kathy McIntosh and Scott Benson have been named as this years honorees. The honorary cancer survivors will lead the half-time Jana Patchin Walk Of Hope which all cancer survivors are invited to join.

Mrs. Simser of Natural Bridge, has been a professional pet groomer for 24 years but has been unable to work for the past 20 months.

After having irregular periods and two surgeries, doctors told her a hysterectomy not needed. However when she went to Syracuse to consult about the surgery, the gynecologist did a biopsy and diagnosed her with Endometrial Cancer.

I should of listened to myself and pushed to have the hysterectomy years earlier, she said. Having to tell my husband and children was very hard and it was a very scary time.

Following the hysterectomy the doctor said the cancer was more than 50% through the wall lining so further treatment would be needed. A second opinion at Dana Farber in Boston confirmed that chemotherapy needed to be started soon. Gall bladder surgery delayed treatment. Mrs. Simser decided to also have radiation.

Three treatments of Chemo the Chemo was a very, very strong dose and it took about eight to nine hours each time I went to have a treatment. Then I did 25 days of radiation. And then another three treatments of the chemo, said the survivor. The chemo really did a number on me. I was sick, tired, fatigued. I was in the ER four different times with back, sternum and stomach issues.

She said losing her hair had not bothered her much and had a hair shaving party, with her sisters, daughter-in-law and my best friend.

Mrs. Simser did not let the cancer treatments stop her life.

During the treatments my beautiful daughter got married at our house with about 160 people invited, she said. Of course I was feeling like crap, but I was not going to miss the wedding for anything and I did make it through.

After 21 months, Mrs. Simser said she is still not feeling herself.

Ive been to two different physical therapist, had a scope to look into my stomach and now I am seeing a neurologist to try and find out what is the matter with my sternum and back, the survivor said. My last treatment was October 2018 and my best friend was diagnosed with breast cancer November 2018. Cancer really sucks! You go thru so many emotions when told You have Cancer. Shock, denial, frustration, scared, anger, emotional and physical distress. Cancer has really stopped me from living the life Ive been used to. Not working effects our income with having only one of us working now.

Mrs. Simser said she is honored to be a Turkey Bowl Honorary Survivor.

Im not a person who likes to be the center of anything, but the cause is so very needed. Ive known of the Turkey Bowl and very humbled to be part of it. Im so ready to get my life back and do things i used to, she said. If I can get one women to listen to their own body and not let a doctor tell you no it will be so worth it.

Mrs. Cheal of Natural Bridge, is the best friend Mrs. Simser spoke of. Mrs. Simser had her last chemotherapy treatment in October 2018 and Mrs. Cheal was diagnosed in November with breast cancer.

Mrs. Cheal was diagnosed through a follow up ultrasound after having two biopsies with negative results at the Elizabeth Wende Breast Center in West Carthage.

They found a different spot, said Mrs. Cheal. It came back as stage 1 ductal carcinoma, she said. After three surgeries, four chemo treatments and 33 radiation treatments I am cancer free since June 7.

The medical records clerk at Carthage Area Hospital was out of work for two and a half months.

My uncle Dennis was having treatments the same time I was having treatments, Mrs. Cheal said. Cancer does not care who it picks or when it picks you. Our lives are forever changed. Its hard to explain how it changes you.

She said she was helped by some of the organizations that the Turkey Bowl donate to.

The Turkey bowl is very important to this community, said the cancer survivor. Every person they had me contact was friendly and helpful. Every single one of them offered me rides, advice and if I just needed to talk to someone. I am forever grateful for them.

Mrs. Cheal and her family have supported the Turkey Bowl for a number of years and her son plays in the football game.

I am very proud they asked me to be an honorary, she said. You never know when its going to be you needing them. I never thought I would.

After being hoarse and having a sore throat for a long time, Mr. Ward of Carthage, was diagnosed in 2017 with laryngeal carcinoma cancer of the vocal cords.

Although there was family history with both parents having throat cancer that was ruled out and an ears, nose and throat doctor found cancer on Mr. Wards vocal cords.

He underwent 25 radiation treatments and in November 2018 was cancer free. With effects from the radiation swallowing was made it difficult and his voice has been effected.

Being honored is a good thing it helps knowing that so many have gone through some form of cancer and we havent gone through it alone, said Mr. Ward in an email.

Mr. Ward has supported Turkey Bowl in the past, building and donating a Yankee chair with the help of his brother, Kevin, and wife, Pauline.

The Turkey Bowl is a wonderful charity because they help locally they put so much time and effort into raising money that help out cancer patients with the added expense that some people dont think about such as gas to get to treatment, parking, food it all adds up and being able to receive a help for the small things is a big deal.

Mr. Taylor of Natural Bridge was diagnosed with prostate cancer in 2007 and again in 2017.

He was treated in Utica and at the Walker Cancer Center in Watertown receiving chemotherapy, radiation and hormone therapy.

According to Mr. Taylor, who is retired from the Carthage Central School District, he will receive the hormone therapy for the remainder of his life.

We have had a hard struggle with life itself, said Mr. Taylor. We have just been helped by the Turkey Bowl and I cant thank them enough. Its very hard to ask for help from anyone at all and I so appreciate it from the bottom of my heart knowing someone is there to help us need.

Ms. McIntosh of Lowville was a registered nurse for 20 years at Samaritan Medical Center, Watertown, and has been disabled since 2001.

I found my breast cancer on self exam in November 1998, said Ms. McIntosh. I was 38 years old and had two children ages 4 and 13. I had chemo and radiation 1998-1999. I returned to work I thought I was cured. In 2001 the cancer came back in my spine and ribs. More chemo and radiation. I was not able to work and went on disability. In 2004 headaches brought me to the diagnosis of metastasis to my brain. Had more radiation to my brain and then a procedure called gamma knife radiation at Roswell Cancer Center in Buffalo, I continued chemo until 2009 when the doctors felt there was no more cancer. Now at 2019 I am remission after 21 years from stage 4 breast cancer.

The cancer affected her life in many ways.

I am not able to work, had no energy and had constant side effects related to long term treatment, she said. Over the years my children were first in my mind. I wasnt going to die til they grown, which they are, but the journey has affected them as well.

Although she had not heard of the Turkey Bowl, Ms. McIntosh said she was proud to be a survivor and was excited they had asked her to be a part of the event.

They are a great support for survivors, she said, noting she has been involved with American Cancer Society and Relay for Life. I support all fundraising for cancer support and research and encourage everyone to support these valuable funds.

Mr. Benson of Carthage is a bus driver for Carthage School District.

Pancreatic Cancer was detected May 25, 2016, during a scan due to pancreatitis, said Mr. Benson.

He had a Whipple surgery in 2016, underwent a long recovery from surgery and then many rounds of chemotherapy in Syracuse.

It was thought to be dormant but on latest scan in August but due to a recent hospitalization it was shown to be active and new spots had developed on the liver as well, said Mr. Benson. I will start another round of chemo again this coming Oct. 29.

Mr. Benson said his cancer has taught him to never take life for granted and it (cancer) can happen to anyone.

Due to his illness, Mr. Benson was out of work for three months after surgery and now will have to travel to Syracuse for treatments at a minimum of once every two weeks.

The financial strain is that we are a two income household and it was all on my wife while I was laid up because as we know the bills dont stop and of course it has caused things to fall in arrears but we do the best we can, he said.

Mr. Benson said he is honored to be part of the Turkey Bowl and to be among the wonderful people that have been honored before me.

He feels the public should support the Turkey Bowl because of the great things it does for those having a tough time and helps to give one less thing to stress about.

Each year, the Tehonica family gives honors someone in memory of Lily Techonica.

The Lily Award is given in honor of a person teaching and living the Golden Rule, said Matthew Tehonica. What this young lady started at the age of 25 was and is spectacular. For nine years she has helped people in need voluntarily and has created a network of over 4,000 people in Central New York Mom would be proud of this young lady.

Working through Facebook Keri Lynn Courtright organized a network of connecting people in need with those who can help free of charge Pay It Forward CNY

Ms. Courtwright, who works in the janitorial department at Syracuse Universitys Carmelo Anthony Center, with co-administrators has help hundreds of people who are in emergency need following a fire or medical emergency as well as those who are struggling to make ends meet on a weekly basis. Besides providing for day-to-day needs the group provides school supplies to start the academic year, baskets at Easter and dinners for Thanksgiving.

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East vs. West in annual Turkey Bowl Nov. 2 - NNY360

‘If clients are stretching their budget it has to be affordable now and in the future’ Marketwatch – Mortgage Solutions

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In the 11 years since the financial crash, house price growth has outstripped wage growth. However, that seemed to ease in April when data from the Rightmove Property Index showed the average wage outgrew house price inflation for the first time.

Despite this, the affordability of houses in the UK has remained a hot topic and research from Cogent suggested people were overstretching themselves, breaking the 28 per cent golden rule by committing more than a third of their salaries to mortgage payments in order to get onto or remain on the property ladder.

This week, Mortgage Solutions asked:Do you follow the 28 per cent golden rule of how much income should be spent on mortgage payments when advising?

The so called 28per cent rule, also called the 28/36 rule, of how much income should be spent on household costs is a common sense rule used by lenders to assess whether they want to lend to an individual.

As far as I am aware, most of the lenders applying this rule originate from the USA.

As mortgage intermediaries, VA Mortgages do not adopt such a rule specifically. We do, however, carry out a careful and thorough fact find with our clients assessing both hard and soft facts so that we can agree with them an affordable monthly budget for mortgage costs.

Given our current low interest rate economy, it is also important to discuss the impact of future interest rate increases.

If the 28per centrule is valid today, it may well not be in a couple of yearstimeif interest rates go up at a faster rate than earnings.

Mortgage intermediaries are obliged to assesswhether or notany recommended mortgage contract is suitable for a prospective client; included in this is the need to consider the expected criteria of the proposed lender including the expected affordability criteria.

As all intermediaries will know, there isnt a one size fits all approach with affordability criteria from UK lenders.

We think a far better approach is to treat each set of clients as individuals and arrive at a sensible budget for both their present day and future circumstances before making a suitable recommendation.

Locking them in to a static, arbitrary, debt to income ratio could lead to a recommendation of an unsuitable mortgage and future problems for both client and intermediary.

Matt Tilbury, senior mortgage and protection adviser at Just Mortgages

The area of the country I work in Im based in Bury St Edmunds in Suffolk is a property hotspot, so the climate of the last few years has been one where house prices have been outstripping income.

This inevitably means that there is pressure on the 28 per cent rule on more occasions than previously, and as result it is being exceeded purely so peopleare able tobuy a house.

However, this is only ever done with a strict and thorough budget planning and analysis.

If the clients are going to stretch their budget, it has to be affordable nowand in the future, so we will spend a lot longer going through bank statements to a near forensic level, to ensure we have a full picture of lifestyle and spending habits.

Only then provided the clients total outgoings remain within 75 per cent of net income do we proceed.

In summary, the rule is still useful and should stand, butas long asstrict controls are in place to ensure clients are not overburdening themselves with repayments they cant afford, a certain amount of flexibility should also be allowed, perhaps with regional variations on the percentage.

We are an evolving nation with a dynamic propertymarket,so mortgages and the industry more widely need to adapt to reflect this.

PiersMepsted, managing director of Financial Advice Centre

To many the rule may seem unrealistic, but every enquiry received by a broker should be investigated, understood and advised upon on its own merit.

Many borrowers push the boundaries of borrowing to the maximum that lenders offer in this climate as the house prices rise faster than the rise in average income.

Many factors are to consider here and again, every set of circumstances must be evaluated.

Low interest rates are currently supporting affordability we help borrowers exercise caution and consideration if the rates increase particularly at an accelerated rate for many borrowers.

Another factor is clients looking to push their capacity to leapfrog ahead to avoid the costs of multiple moves. For example, first-time buyers looking to buy what would be their third or fourth home in a higher interest rate climate.

Every personal situation is different and must be taken in its own merits.

As an advising brokerage looking at long term advice when considering mortgage borrowing we do see a concern if the market moves quickly in say the next five years with increased borrowing rates.

Generally, we cant ignore a statistic like this when advising clients however rather than sticking to percentages its more important to make sure borrowing is sustainable and as future-proof as possible with each clients desired lifestyle.

Shekina is a reporter at Mortgage Solutions. She has over two years experience in the B2B publishing market, with previous industries including the pet, funeral, hospitality, retail and jewellery trades.Follow her on Twitter at @ShekinaMS

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'If clients are stretching their budget it has to be affordable now and in the future' Marketwatch - Mortgage Solutions

NRL to discuss amendments to golden point and other contentious rules – Sporting News AU

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The NRL's competition brains trust will enter into a meeting nextThursday to discuss some of the game's most contentious rules as a means for improving the spectacle in 2020.

As revealed by The Daily Telegraph and NRL.com, a key focus of the meeting will be amendments to the structure of golden point, following a number of games in 2019 that were cruelly decided by a field goal.

Key minds within the game such as NRL CEO Todd Greenberg, incoming ARLC chairman Peter V'Landys, former chair Peter Beattie andKangaroos coach Mal Meninga will all form a part of the 12-man committee.

An adoption of the NFL "sudden death" system will be debated, where if one team kicks a field goal during golden point, the opposing team has a right of reply. However, when a try is scored, the game is decided.

More: South Sydney Rabbitohs confirm immediate retirement of Sam Burgess

Another option to be discussed is whether either a golden try or 10 minutes of extra time should be implementedinstead.

The NRLsuggestedit would consider overhauling the golden point rule post-season, off the backa number of golden point controversies rocked the competition earlier in the season.

The Daily Telegraph's Phil Rothfield reported in Aprilthe NRL would consider an AFL-style system in its end of season committee meeting, where the distribution of points would be reconfigured.

Under this system, the winning team would gain four points, losers would get one point, while golden point would be scrapped altogether and both teams would be awarded three points for a draw.

Beyond the golden point rule, the involvement of team trainers behind play will also be top of the agenda, following the grand drama that took place in the grand final.

Just two minutes into this year's finale, Roosters trainer Travis Touma was struck by the ball following a Raiders charge down, however the tricolours were controversially handed back possession.

It brought to a head the furore which has so often surrounded trainers behind allowed on the field so freely during games.

Meanwhile, its understood the competition committee will also discuss reintroducing a five-minute sin bin, along with a captain's challenge, among other gameplay issues, with the hope of reinvigorating the game.

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NRL to discuss amendments to golden point and other contentious rules - Sporting News AU

Ramblin Rhodes: For 49 years, country music column has helped good things happen – The Augusta Chronicle

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It was on Halloween Day, Oct. 31, 1970, this weekly column originally titled as Rambling Rhodes was published for the first time in the Saturday afternoon edition of the Savannah (Ga.) Evening Press.

Never in a million years much less with the passing 49 could I have expected this simple column about country music and its related forms would still be around with the myriad of changes in the daily newspaper publishing industry and my own personal life.

It never would have begun in the first place if not for Tom Coffey and Wally Davis (managing editor and city editor respectively of the Evening Press and Savannah Morning News) who wanted me to write it.

And it could have ended a little over a year later in November 1971 when I transferred within Southeastern Newspapers Inc. to the Augusta Herald. But managing editor David Playford and city editor John Barnes wanted me to continue it.

Chronicle Publisher William S. Billy Morris III in December 1972 had my column moved from the Saturday afternoon Herald into the combined Sunday edition of the Herald and The Chronicle, and that began boosting its circulation and readership.

And Im eternally grateful to him for all the good things that developed from that including giving scores of area civic club talks, authoring three regional and four national books, writing album notes for several artists, having my articles published in almost every major national bluegrass and country music magazine, being nominated in the non-performer category to the Georgia Music Hall of Fame and being inducted into the Atlanta Country Music Hall of Fame.

In 1996, The Chronicle went online and so did my column, literally expanding its readership worldwide. My first online column (Dec. 6, 1996) was about the death of Tip Toe Through The Tulips ukulele playing Tiny Tim and his visit to my home in Belvedere during one of his Augusta trips.

And thanks to some wonderful editors over the years, including current Applause editor Mary Frances Hendrix, my column has survived.

For many of you, the first time that you read about George Strait, Garth Brooks, Dolly Parton, The Judds, Luke Bryan, Reba McEntire or Barbara Mandrell most likely was in this column when I was interviewing those unknown newcomers about their first or other early released singles.

Thats when they were making their first area appearances with Brooks at the Ninth Street Riverwalk amphitheater before it was named for Jessye Norman; Strait with his Ace in the Hole band at McKinneys Pond near Millen, Ga.; Parton going solo (after her years performing with Porter Wagoner) with her new family band in North Augusta High School; The Judds singing in a field at Uncle Toms bluegrass festival near Edgefield, S.C.; Bryan at A Day in the Country festival at Augusta Riverfront Marina; McEntire in a small auditorium in Greenwood, S.C., and Mandrell performing three shows a night for an entire week at the Country Carousel nightclub on Broad Street.

For many years, big city publicists for major stars heading for Augusta would ask me what The Chronicles circulation was, and that often would determine whether they would set up a phone interview with their famous client. Some publicists still asked that question for a few years after the worldwide web came into being. But I would just reply, My circulation is exactly the same as The Wall Street Journal or The New York Times.

I soon came to realize the influential power of the internet and that we at The Chronicle no longer were writing for just Augusta area readers.

Thats when I started getting emails about my Ramblin columns from James Brown fans in Russia, country music fans in South America and bluegrass music fans in European nations.

It seems very fitting that a few days ago in Nashville, Tenn., the Country Music Association held a ceremony to induct into its Hall of Fame four individuals: Ray Stevens, Kix Brooks and Ronnie Dunn (Brooks & Dunn) and Jerry Bradley.

Unless we crossed paths at some Nashville party, I dont recall meeting Bradley, who was chief of RCA Records Nashville division. However I did once meet his father, Owen Bradley, also an inductee into the CMA Hall of Fame, briefly in the main back hallway of the Grand Ole Opry House.

Owen produced scores of Decca Records hits of Patsy Cline, Kitty Wells, Red Foley, Loretta Lynn, Brenda Lee, Ernest Tubb and a bunch of other legends.

Its a different story with Georgia native Stevens and Oklahoma native Dunn whom I have known since the very beginning of their musical careers.

Stevens, born in Clarkdale and raised in Albany, performed for a sock hop in my gymnatorium in Chamblee (Ga.) High School in the early 1960s with a then unknown local singer named Mac Davis opening for him.

Dunn will tell you that I did the first professional interview with him in May 1983, seven years before he was paired with Brooks. He was singing for the independent Churchill Records label in Tulsa owned by music industry giant Jim Halsey, who had created the Augusta Sound label to release recordings of our own local legend James Brown.

Nineteen years ago in observing the three decades anniversary of this column I concluded it writing:

My mother, father (Ella and Ollen Rhodes) and stepmother (Jean Swann Rhodes) taught me to follow the golden rule and treat others as you want to be treated. So for me the greatest and proudest moments come when this column helps something good happen to someone else.

It doesnt seem like I have been doing this column for 30 years, and I have no idea how much longer I will continue to write it. Its been a great journalistic journey, and I thank God and all of you for sharing it with me.

That also seems like a good ending for this one.

Reach out to Ramblin Rhodes at don.rhodes@morris.com.

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Ramblin Rhodes: For 49 years, country music column has helped good things happen - The Augusta Chronicle

Should The Cincinnati Bengals Shelf A.J. Green for the Season? – The Stripe Hype

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When A.J. Green injured his ankle in the first practice of training camp, the city of Cincinnati collectively held its breath. They did not want to see their star wide receiver face yet another injury riddled season. Fans let out a gasp of relief as further evaluation came in. Green would avoid the injured reserve list, meaning that a return before week 8 was possible and he could even return sooner.

Yet, as the Cincinnati Bengals head to London for Week 8, they do so knowing that they will once again be without their best player

On the surface, the team should be eager to get Green back on the playing field as soon as possible. Perhaps he could alleviate some of the offensive problems, lure a few extra fans into Paul Brown Stadium once they return to Cincinnati, and get first year head coach Zac Taylor his ever elusive first victory.

However, if the organization is thinking long term, the Bengals would be wise to keep Green on the sidelines for the rest of the season.

A lot of trade talk has been circulating with the deadline approaching and Green has been at the center of most of it. When asked about it, Taylor has repeatedly said Green wont be dealt, a sentiment likely shared by the front office.

Perhaps that is a wise decision with a new quarterback possibly on the horizon for the team. The former Georgia Bulldog would be a great mentor and safety valve for any signal caller trying to make his way into the league. Look at what Larry Fitzgerald has done for Kyler Murray in Arizona.

Green is in the last year of his deal, but both sides have given every indication that something will get done. Thus, if the above line of thinking is indeed one of the main reasons Mike Brown and the front office have elected to not trade Green, they need to make sure he is ready to go for training camp next year.

There is no reason to risk re-aggravating his injured ankle. Even if his ankle is fully healed, number 18 is currently 31 years old, but considering the time he has missed from injury and the extra recovery he would get from sitting the rest of the season out, he would, in theory, have the mileage of a receiver who is much younger.

Beyond that, the Bengals have been in some tightly contested games this season. If Green returns, there is a chance he flips some would-be losses into victories. Winning is always the goal, especially for a team that hasnt done so yet. Still, that could start to bump the Bengals back in the draft order and jeopardize their freedom to have their pick of top quarterbacks in next years draft, should they desire nabbing one,

Regardless of how badly fans want to see Green in action this season, there is one golden rule in the NFL. Finding a franchise quarterback is the most important piece to the puzzle of turning a franchise around. Nothing should interfere with Cincinnatis chances of getting the cornerstone quarterback they have desperately been searching for.

Its understandable why fans, the Bengals organization, and A.J. Green himself wouldnt want to mark this season as a total loss. Green has undoubtedly put in a tremendous amount of work to play this season. Mike Brown and company want to pull fans back into Paul Brown Stadium. Taylor wants his players to buy in to what he is trying to do. All of this is short sided though.

By waiting until next season, Green can hopefully remain a Bengal, return better than ever and hope to enjoy an injury free campaign. Moreover, the seven time Pro Bowler might get a chance to start fresh with a young quarterback. This version of A.J Green will put Taylor in a much better position to win. With that, the players will begin to better buy into his culture.

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Should The Cincinnati Bengals Shelf A.J. Green for the Season? - The Stripe Hype

Heres the stock-market trade this hedge-fund star is most excited about right now – MarketWatch

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Whos got a subscription?

Larry Hite is a long-time successful hedge-fund manager who doesnt believe he or really anyone can predict what the stock market (and other markets) will do next, or which seemingly successful companies will suddenly crash. (Just remember Enron, he says.)

Nor does he care much for Wall Streets standard buy-and-hold advice for small investors.

Rather, the 78-year-old has become fabulously wealthy using computer programs to detect and follow price trends and by following one simple rule: cutting his losses early. He founded Mint Investment Management Co., and the composite of funds achieved a compounded annual rate of return above 30% before fees during his 13-year run there. He now runs Hite Capital, a family wealth management firm.

I love making money, he says.

Hite expounded on his approach to investing in his new book, The Rule: How I Beat the Odds in the Markets and in Lifeand How You Can Too. He discussed his investment style, a current trade and some of his best and worst trades in an email interview with MarketWatch.

Question: Which of your current trades are you most excited about?

Answer: Im interested in stocks that went from selling software to subscription models. Companies with a recurring subscription model like Apple AAPL, -0.01%, Netflix NFLX, +3.64% or Amazon AMZN, +0.98% have not only a recurring revenue, but also a captive revenue.

Q.: Why did you make it? And when?

A.: Within the last few years because we are all electronically hooked up and companies like Apple are the amplifiers. Subscription models are a revolution in retail because the monthly or annual revenue generates a steady stream of cash.

Q.: What would make you get out of it?

A.: If the share price hits my stop-loss threshold of 2%. Im always measuring the risk and move quickly. If it drops, I get out and preserve my capital and look forward to the next opportunity.

Q.: How many trades do you have on at a time, on average? And, on average, how many others are you monitoring for an entry point?

A.: We are technical traders and the number of trades we have could have at any given time is driven by numbers: price, volume, averages, etc. As for monitoring for trades, that is driven by the methodology we trade on and the universe of stock and commodities that we have defined. Currently in our systems we are monitoring 600 stocks, and we could have a maximum of 30 in active trades.

Q.: On average, how long are you in a trade?

A.: I go trade by trade and really focus on the price and the trend. I watch the markets and ride the momentum. To quote David Ricardo who had three golden rules Never refuse an option when you can get it; cut short your losses and let your profits run on.

Q.: Whats been your best trade ever, and why did you make it? And you got out because..?

A.: In the mid 70s, the coffee markets prices were extremely low; there was a glut of supply and farmers were getting hurt. I researched 50 years of weather patterns and supply/demand data and saw that coffee consumption had been rising for a long time but prices hadnt yet responded. I bought calls on coffee options futures betting their value would rise and I rode the trend from 60 cents to $3.10. My initial $500,000 investment went up to $15 million. When the trend reversed and went down, I got out with $12 million.

Q.: Can you talk about a big trading mistake and what you learned from it?

A.: I was trading orange juice years ago and my computer showed me a price, but when I went to sell I wasnt able to get the same price. I got very angry and stubborn which was really stupid. After I lost enough money, I stopped being stubborn and learned a valuable lesson.

Q.: Youve made lots of money as a trend trader, and you write in your book that you make money because you do what the market tells you do. If only it were that easy! Why, in your opinion, is this not a more crowded strategy?

A.: A lot of people adhere to Wall Streets conventional advice, which tells investors to buy and hold with a passive approach to their portfolio. In this school of thought, you should do nothing when prices drop and not to pay attention to fluctuations in the market, but rather wait it out, because over time they believe the stock market always rises and you will always do well. Trend following is my bible and I feel its the safest thing you can do and the best way to make money.

Q.: What advice would you offer a small investor looking to emulate you? Whats your No. 1 rule?

A: I always have a stop-loss order in place which will automate a sell-off once an asset declines by an amount that you predetermined based on what you have decided you can lose.

Q.: Jim Cramer said earlier this month that you have to be out of your mind to have any conviction about this stock market right now. Do you agree? Is todays market that different than those of the past?

A.: No, its not. I respect the intelligence and devotion of economists and historians who have tried to understand global markets and develop a theory of human behavior and market dynamics. But when you start believing you have remarkable market-predicting powers, you get into trouble every time.

Q.: How has your own approach to trend following evolved over the years? Have you shifted over the year in what you trade, say commodities vs individual stocks vs the broader market? Are trades generally longer now? Or shorter?

A.: My approach hasnt changed significantly. Risk management and a diversified portfolio remain important factors in my overall strategy.

Q.: Do you take into account a companys fundamentals like earnings forecasts and how fast it is growing vs. its sector, valuation measures like P/E ratios, and other factors, or is that all irrelevant as a trend follower?

A.: I look at the price and the other factors are irrelevant. I continue doing whatever is making me the most money. I have done research and run thousands of simulations over the years and what I see convinces me that peoples emotions dont change. Its not intellect that moves the markets, its emotions.

Q.: Why do you prefer trend-following over other strategies, including buy and hold? Is it just better suited to your personality, or is there a deeper reason?

A.: I believe in adaptive systems. Trend following empowers you to see clearly that you can make the right choice for right now. It gives any motivated person a chance to invest in the markets with managed risk.

Q.: Now for some questions away from trading. Whats the best thing youve bought recently?

A.: I was very happy to give my daughter a really beautiful wedding recently and I am looking forward to more grandchildren. Family is everything.

Q.: And what do you hate spending money on?

A.: Jewelry. I would much rather invest the money.

Q.: If you werent trading the markets, what would you be doing?

A.: Studying history.

Q.: And whats your retirement plan?

A.: I will keep doing this 20 years after Im dead. I enjoy what I do and I love making money.

Originally posted here:

Heres the stock-market trade this hedge-fund star is most excited about right now - MarketWatch

Arsenal: You all deserve everything Granit Xhaka did – Pain In The Arsenal

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Do unto others as you would have them do unto you. Thats the Golden Rule. The one way to make the world a better place. Just dont be a jerk and treat people with respect. Arsenal fans do not obey this rule and for three years, neither did Granit Xhaka, though just at opposite ends of the spectrum.

Xhaka accepted brutal treatment, death threats, harassment of his wife and newborn and all he wanted was to do the club proud, to get the armband, to do it all for the badge.

Arsenal fans continued to berate the guy, never expecting there to be any repercussions. Never expecting that their grotesque actions would actually lead to them being disrespected as well.

Granit Xhaka snapped on Arsenal match-goers (Ive stopped calling them fans) after being jeered off the pitch upon being subbed. And people acted incensed, as if they didnt understand how he could possibly behave this way. Ian Wright was disappointingly much of the same.

You treat any human that way for three years and he is bound to, at some point, resist the unfair treatment that he is receiving. And before you say waaaaah, but it is fair, waaaaaah ask yourself how you would react in a similar situation, from your office job, if a horde sauntered in and criticized even the most minute of mistakes for three straight years.

Ill go ahead and answer that for youyou wouldnt make it three years. But would it change anything if you were held to a higher standard?

No.

It wouldnt.

You want to say that he should be held to a higher standard being a player. You say that wearing the armband, he has to conduct himself better. But its not that simple. This is the effect that a bunch of angry idiots can have on another human being.

I honestly cant believe that there are so many people who actively defend themselves and say that they cant believe what Xhaka did. For me, its the most real thing Ive seen since he arrived. This is a product of awful match-goers, thats it.

I was reading the comments on a couple of the post-match articles that Andy posted, and people were wondering if I was crying into my Xhaka pillow. Unfortunately, I dont have one, though I am open to gifts. That said, I think the problem is that no one sees Xhaka as a human being. They see him as an obstacle to their petty goals. Thats what this is.

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Arsenal: You all deserve everything Granit Xhaka did - Pain In The Arsenal

Reviews Fleabag, National Theatre Live Performing Arts – ArtsHub UK

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Phoebe Waller-Bridges one-woman show leaves you wanting more so luckily theres two seasons of the TV series too.

Wednesday 30 October, 2019

If you havent heard of Fleabag by now, youve been deliberately avoiding the world. Phoebe Waller-Bridges uproarious one-woman show, first seen at Edinburgh Fringe in 2013, was turned into a phenomenally successful TV series of the same name by BBC and then distributed internationally through Amazon Prime. The show was nominated for 11 Emmy awards this year, winning four. National Theatre Live filmed the stage version at the Wyndham Theatre in London.

Fleabags character (who is never named) is a scabrous, hypersexualised version of her character Lulu in the Channel Four series Crashing (also conceived and written by Waller-Bridge), albeit much more provocative, damaged, and even more blackly hilarious. The stage version of the story differs in a few small details from the TV series but its pointless to compare them. The show opens and closes with an awkward loan interview (here a voiceover is included, as with a few other scenes), which goes wonderfully and inappropriately wrong, letting us into her characters vulnerability and her disregard for the rules.

Read: Fleabags feminist rethinking of tired screenwriting tools

Waller-Bridge is a big performer with a comic timing all of her own. Shes unafraid of extensiveness, of making her audience wait, and her facial expressions are divinely telling. It is a heightened performance with smaller and larger moments projected so that nothing is unmissable. Memorably drawn-out moments of excruciating hilarity include a conversation with her sister at a feminist talk and her impersonations of her hapless rodent boyfriend. She excels in tension-filled silences which are as revealing as her utterances, and she waits for you to get a joke before continuing. You see where she employs the golden rule of less is more, although it doesnt feel like it as the show is chock-a-block full of emotion and personality. Much of the fun of the TV series is her speaking directly to the camera and of course with her live show you get this most of the time.

On the surface, Fleabags story is about her wonky love life and difficult family relationships but really, its about her being a lonely human whos something of an arsehole on occasion. And about her despair and grief over the loss of her mother and of her best friend and caf co-owner, Boo, whose death came about inadvertently via the results of poor decisions in Fleabags own recent past.

The show runs for 65 minutes. It doesnt feel like a one-woman performance at all. Fleabag leaves you wanting more. Luckily, there is with the TV series. Fleabag is entrancing, uncomfortable, familiar and honest. Waller-Bridge is every bit as charismatic on stage as she is on screen. She cant do any wrong, it seems.

4.5 stars out of 5

FleabagNational Theatre LiveWritten and performed by Phoebe Waller-BridgePresented by DryWrite, Soho Theatre and Annapurna TheatreDistributor: Sharmill FilmsRelease date: 11 October 2019

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Reviews Fleabag, National Theatre Live Performing Arts - ArtsHub UK

Are Louise Mitchell and Keanu Taylor leaving EastEnders? The pair announce tonight theyre moving to P – The Sun

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EASTENDERS' Louise Mitchell and Keanu Taylor will leave their friends and family in Walford shock tonight as they announce their plans to move to Portugal.

Fans of the BBC One soap will seeSharon Mitchell pretend to be surprised bythe news when she returns to the Square from her holiday in the sunny country.

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But when theyre alone, Keanu pleads with Sharon to stop her step-daughter from leaving, and to his surprise she tells him that they need to play along with Mel Owen.

Viewers know that the grieving mum whos played by departing star Tamzin Outhwaite - has been resorting to disturbingly desperate measures to get what she wants from Sharon.

So are Keanu and Louise really about to leave the Square for good?

Heres what we know

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In a word, no. While it would probably be a good move for the pair to get away from Walford and bring up their baby somewhere with less drama, there are no plans for either character to leave as far as we know.

Neither the EastEnders bosses or Tilly Keeper and Danny Walters who play Louise and Keanu have made any announcements about leaving the BBC soap.

In fact, it looks like both characters will be around for the long haul, following the reveal that Keanu is the father of Sharons unborn baby, as well as her step-daughters.

Actress Tilly teased earlier this year that her pram-face character will turn evil when the news of Keanu and Sharons affair becomes public knowledge.

The actress - who has played Louise since 2016 in the BBC soap - has hinted the pregnant schoolgirl will embrace her Mitchell legacy as a villain to take revenge on Keanu and Sharon.

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Speaking exclusively to The Sun Online, Tilly said: "It would be so interesting for Louise to go full psycho.

"When I was introduced into the show Louise did have a villainousstreak to her so it would be lovely to explore that again.

"And the golden rule is you never cross a Mitchell so we'll see."

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Are Louise Mitchell and Keanu Taylor leaving EastEnders? The pair announce tonight theyre moving to P - The Sun