Comets earn second finish as runner-up – YourGV.com

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There have been two rounds of play in Piedmont District golf and Halifax County High School has finished as the runner-up in both rounds.

The Comets finished in a tie for second place with Patrick County High School in Tuesdays district round at Forest Park Country Club in Martinsville, trailing winner Franklin County High School by 17 shots in a contest that was reduced to a nine-hole contest due to weather.

It was the second straight win for Franklin County High School in Piedmont District competition.

Kassidy Irby and Khalil Richardson led the Comets, with both golfers carding a round of 40. Lance Chappell was next in line for the Comets with a round of 41 and Willoughby Gasperinis round of 44 was the final score to be counted toward the Comets team total.

Will Abdi and Henry Morrison also competed for the Comets in Tuesdays contest, with both carding a round of 46. The four best scores from among six players are counted toward the team total.

It was a very good effort by all of our players on a not so good weather day, said Comets Head Coach David Graham.

The team played consistent and steady. We were led by the steady play of Kassidy Irby, and a good round by Khalil Richardson. Lance Chappell was in good form with a round of 41, followed by Willoughby Gasperini with a 44. Except for a few by holes by each player, we are making improvements.

Graham said players are continuing to work on shoring up various aspects of their game.

The players are working hard on some things in practice, Graham pointed out, and I can see some improvement on the course. We will continue to improve as the season goes on. We will be playing a district match at home next week (at Greens Folly Golf Course), and the team is looking forward to playing here.

Franklin County 148, Halifax County 165, Patrick County 165, Tunstall High School 170, Magna Vista High School 180, Bassett High School 197.

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Comets earn second finish as runner-up - YourGV.com

NORTH STANLY FOOTBALL Comets look for fifth winning season in a row – Stanly News & Press

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The past four seasons have been ones of unparalleled success for the North Stanly football program in the schools 55 years of competition.

From 2013-16, the Comets have a 33-16 overall record, including 18-7 with former coach Ralph Jackson, and current head coach Scott Crisco finishing above the .500 mark for four years in a row, a first in the programs history.

Entering his third year, Crisco is only the fifth North coach in school history to have a coaching mark of .500 or better through the first two years of his tenure.

Through two seasons, Crisco is 15-9 overall, the first time since John Herlocker was 13-7 for the 1983 and 1984 seasons.

North graduated seven players last season, but it has close to 60 players out for football this season and returns a number of starters from last years team that finished third in the YadkinValley Conference.

Crisco said one of the positives from last years 7-5 squad was having a number of young players that started on both sides of the ball.

From the middle of the season on out, we probably had four or five sophomores starting on both sides, Crisco said.

Eight juniors started on the team as well, so the Comets enter 2017 with a great deal of experienced players.

North finished second in the county standings, which Crisco said is a point of motivation for the team due to the last-second loss in 2016 at West Stanly.

OFFENSE

One of the reasons the past four seasons have been successful for the Comets has been the teams offensive outputs.

From 2013 to last year, North has posted the four-highest point totals for a season in the teams history, including last seasons 421 points, second all-time and slightly above 2015s mark of 400, third-best.

North also has the highest active streak in the county in terms of avoiding shutouts. The Comets have not been shut out in a game since losing 41-0 to Albemarle on Oct. 25, 2013.

The Comets will be a team that still wants to run the ball well, but Crisco said much attention in the 7-on-7 scrimmages and the offseason has been to improve the teams aerial assault.

Norths focus on the passing game came in large in the Comets 51-42 playoff loss last season at Swain County. They may play more spread offense this season.

Quarterbacks

With a renewed sense of purpose of throwing the football and taking some of the pressure off the ground game comes a focus on the teams starting quarterback.

This season the job goes to Avery Merritt, a senior who threw for 317 yards last season in just nine games.

Avery is a different person, a different player than he has been the last three years, Crisco said. He has been a team leader and really embraced our offense and taken ownership of it.

Merritts backup is a question mark in the preseason, but Crisco said the job may go to Kolby Lamp.

Running Backs

The backfield loses one 1,000-yard rusher but returns another for his junior season.

Playing in his first season in 2016 without current Ohio State running back Antonio Williams, Cameron Davis benefitted from playing by Albemarle transfer Jacobi Emery, who graduated last season after rushing for 1,399 yards and a team-high 26 touchdowns.

Davis led the team in yardage (1,573 yards) and scored 24 touchdowns and is the focal point this season for the Comets running game.

This offseason, Davis has worked hard in the weight room and is one of the teams leaders in terms of strength, according to Crisco.

Davis attended several offseason camps and is being recruited to play at the next level, running the 40 in 4.62 seconds.

He has added some bulk this offseason, hits the hole well and can hide behind the linemen, Crisco said, adding he also has good hands.

The backup for Davis will likely be by juniors Colby Russell, Carter Terry and Jalen Cole.

Wide Receivers

With the focus on the passing game also comes the need for strong play at wideout.

Kolby Lamp is one of the leaders of the corps, has great hands and is not afraid to go across the middle to catch passes, Crisco said.

North also has L.J. Rush returning this season as he missed much of 2016 due to injury, and he gives the Comets pure breakaway speed, Crisco said.

Wes Reynolds will also see time at wide receiver.

At tight end, Rylei Smith will start, with Taylor Chandler seeing time on the field as well.

Offensive Line

The offense lost center Trey Pope to graduation, but it returns the left side of the line including left tackle Logan Chandler and left guard MikeRager.

Matt Harris returns for North and moves into the center position.

Three linemen are still competing for the two starting spots on the right side of the line, including Garrett Clark, Drew Aldridge and Zack Cooper.

Most of the members of the offensive front five have played together since their freshman seasons and are consistent.

DEFENSE

North allowed more points last season than in 2015, giving up 327 points in 12 games last year compared to 276 two years ago.

In 2016, North also posted two defensive shutouts, marking the fourth straight season the Comets have shut out two different opponents in the same year.

The defense will stay with the 4-3 alignment as the Comets return nine starters on defense.

Defensive Line

The front four for North may be one of the strongest units the Comets have had in a number of seasons, according to Crisco.

C.J. Clark returns for his junior season at defensive tackle, tipping the scales at 305 pounds while standing 6-foot, 5-inches tall.

Josh McCorkle also returns for the Comets in the middle of the line.

The Comets return both defensive ends from last season in Taylor Chandler and Wes Reynolds.

Linebackers

North returns two players into the middle of the teams defense.

Drew Little returns for North and will play in the middle, while Carter Terry moves up from JV and will be on the outside.

A player returning for North at linebacker after not playing last season is Elijah Clark, who moves well for his 250-pound frame.

Defensive Backfield

In contrast to last years preseason, where the Comets had questions in the defensive backfield, North is more stable this season in the unit.

L.J. Rush will start at one cornerback position while the other cornerback slot may be filled by either Cameron Davis or Jalen Cole.

A pair of players with nearly matching first names will start for North at safety. Kolby Lamp will be the free safety for North, while Colby Russell will play at strong safety.

As a unit, the backfield has more varsity playing experience this season as well as more depth.

SPECIAL TEAMS

The Comets have several solid returners on special teams.

Both the punting and place kicking game will benefit from highly touted college prospect long snapper Drew Little, who has verbally committed to N.C. State.

Daniel Brabaw took over the place kicking duties last season and was solid, converting 54-of-56 on extra points and 1-of-2 on field goals. The senior returns for North this season.

L.J. Rush, Cameron Davis and Wes Reynolds will return kicks and punts this season, giving North good speed on special teams.

One spot that is a question mark is who will be the teams regular punter. Brabaw may do some punting for North, backed up by Taylor Chandler.

Contact Charles Curcio at charles@stanlynewspress.com or (704)982-2121 ext. 26.

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Agnew brings experience as Utica Comets’ associate coach – Utica Observer Dispatch

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Gary Agnew's career in hockey is long and winding. He has had stints in the NHL, AHL and at the junior level.

UTICA Gary Agnew wants to coach for as long as someone lets him.

Agnews career in hockey is long and winding. He has had stints in the NHL (Columbus, St. Louis and mostly recently, Pittsburgh), the AHL (six seasons leading Syracuse in the early 2000s) and at the junior level. Hes been a head coach as well as assistant.

His varied experience has provided the perspective for what is needed to be successful. His role as a well-traveled teacher is something he relishes, especially after sitting on a beach in Florida last season.

I love the thrill of victory and the agony of defeat, said Agnew, whose previous job was with Pittsburgh in 2015-16. I love the opportunity to help people achieve their goals. Its the competition. Its all those things combined into one with the camaraderie of the locker room.

Agnewhas the opportunity to experience that as the Utica Comets new associate coach. Agnew joins new head coach Trent Cull and assistant Jason King.

Its energizing and its invigorating, Agnew said this week at the Utica Memorial Auditorium. This is a great move for me personally. Its fun to be with(Cull and King)and help them out and hopefully not hinder them.

The good-natured Agnew coached Cull for two seasons in Syracuse. That experience helped make for a smooth transition, Agnew said.

He told me to make sure I brought him the right coffee. So, thats always fun when youre bantering back and forth, said Agnew, who acknowledged he was impressed with Cull when he coached against him in juniors. For me, (Cull) is an enthusiastic, energetic, upbeat guy. Thats who you want to associate with.

While Agnew will coach the Comets defensemen and penalty kill unit, he said it will be a collaborative effort. He continues to adjust his style and philosophy, he said.

Its like any other job. If youre not learning, youre falling behind, Agnew said. In the old days, if you were a 6-foot-4, 230-pound player, typically you were kind of a cumbersome guy. Now theyre skilled and fast. So, youve got to adjust to that. In the old days, you could tell the player to run through the wall and hed run through the wall. Now, he wants to know whats on the other side of the wall. ... Youve got to adjust. Theyve got the answers. Theres no more making stuff up. ... So, they make us better."

Agnewwill be among many new faceswhen the team returns to Utica next month. More than a few players from last seasons squad have moved on. Through trades, free agency and the draft, the parent Vancouver Canucks have a logjam of forwards and defensemen.

Agnew will meet many of the players when the Comets staff travels to British Columbia for the Canucks Young Stars event in early September and then main training camp.

Part of coaching and the coach-player relationship is the ability to give your message and then for the player to accept the message. So, guysI like working with are guys that (are) open to all that," he said."Its nothing personal. Im trying to get you to where you need to be, so heres what I think you should be doing. ... You build relationships. To say theres any one guy Im looking forward to coaching, not really. Im looking forward to coaching with all of them. But, as time goes on, there are probably guys who are taking what you say and doing it. Those are the guys I like working with.

Follow @OD_Birnell on Twitter or call him at 315-792-5032.

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Agnew brings experience as Utica Comets' associate coach - Utica Observer Dispatch

Comets and Wolverines kick off SD FB season – KEVN Black Hills Fox

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Believe it or not, the high school football season has arrived for a handful of South Dakota teams. Many take the field Friday night, but Thursday, Jones County/White River made the trip down I-90 to take on Rapid City Christian.

OUt to the Hart Ranch and a rainy Thursday as the Wolverines try to set an early tone. ---------- First possession for Jones County/White River, Izaiah Sorace takes the pitch, but it's a slick ball and he'll cough it up as Zane Schlabach recovers for the Comets. --------- The drive goes nowhere as the Wolverines get the turnover on downs, but once against Jones County/White River loses the handle. This time Nick Sayler gives it up, the Comets recover, but again, the ensuing drive comes up empty. -------- Onto the 2nd quarter, Schlabach rolls out and lets it fly, but Austin Olson steps in front of it and gets the interception. ---------- Little rough in the first game of the season as Schlabach has his pass tipped and Jake Dowling reels it in for the Wolverine's second interception of the day. ---------- Approaching halftime and the Comets finally knock on the door. Schlabach keeps it himself and finds his way into the end zone for the 7-nothing lead at the half.

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Total solar eclipse may reveal a new comet you can see – CNET – CNET

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A Sungrazer cometrecorded bythe SOHO spacecraft'sLarge Angle Spectrometric COronagraph(LASCO)

When the sun disappears during a total solar eclipse across the United States on Aug. 21, the stars and a few planets should become visible for a moment. But that may not be all you'll be able to see during the odd period of daytime darkness.

There's a slim chance you could spot a so-called "sungrazer" comet next to the darkened disc of our star during the eclipse.

While there's no official definition of what makes a comet a sungrazer, the basic concept is that they make their pass around the sun at a relatively close distance, which can make them hard to see in the process as the intense brightness of our star drowns everything else out.

To spot sungrazers, astronomers use a type of telescope called a coronagraph. It essentially creates a false eclipse by staring directly at the sun while blocking its blinding light with a solid disc that makes it possible to see the more faint objects around it.

"What this means for us is that for a few brief minutes during the eclipse totality, observers on Earth will be seeing more or less exactly what our telescopes are seeing in spaceand that might include a comet!" said Karl Battams, astrophysicist and principal investigator for the NASA-fundedSungrazer Project, in a blog post.

Unfortunately, Battams says August is not a great month for spotting sungrazers due to the viewing geometry involved. He estimates there's about a five percent chance of a comet being near the sun during the eclipse.

Still, Battams and colleagues plan to keep watch.

"If we're really lucky, (we'll) get maybe a day's advance notice that one will be near the Sun during the eclipse."

So he plans to scour images from the big coronagraphic telescopes like the US Naval Research Laboratory'sLarge Angle Spectrometric Coronagraph (LASCO) telescopefor comets in the days leading up to Aug. 21. If there's a chance of seeing a comet, he'll post all the details to his Twitter account a few hours before the eclipse on Monday.

"I will give clear instruction on whether a comet is known to be near the Sun, how bright that object might be, and how/where you might be able to see it," Battams writes. "Our odds truly are slim, but the payoff would be awesome!"

Crowd Control: A crowdsourced science fiction novel written by CNET readers.

Solving for XX:The tech industry seeks to overcome outdated ideas about "women in tech."

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Total solar eclipse may reveal a new comet you can see - CNET - CNET

Mum has perfect way to deal with people who stare at daughter’s psoriasis – Metro

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Charlie was diagnosed with psoriasis at four months old (Picture: Caters)

A baby girl has such severe psoriasis that strangers often make rude remarks or ask if she has a contagious disease.

Mum Ashley Nagy, 29, is showing strangers not to fear her daughter Charlie by kissing and cuddling her in public.

To combat stares and cruel comments from strangers, Ashley, from Queen Creek in Arizona, USA, shows affection to 19-months-old daughter in public.

Charlie was diagnosed with psoriasis at four-months-old after small red dots that appeared all over her skin and later developed into large welts that would peel and flake-off.

The disease, which affects more than 125 million people worldwide, appears in flares and is often brought on by stress, illness and food intolerances.

Parents Ashley and Andrew, 32, have been accused by strangers of letting their daughter get severely sunburnt and others drag their children away fearing she is contagious.

Ashley, who works in property, said: Strangers can be very cruel about it, when weve taken her to the playground the parents of other children have dragged their kids away thinking shes contagious.

The couple call Charlie their Unicorn Baby to reinforce how unique and special she is.

Most people move away, afraid they are going to catch whatever she has or move their kids away so she cant get to close or play with them.

My response is normally to pick Charlie up and kiss her so that people can see she is not contagious and being near her isnt going to hurt anyone.

Others have said they cant believe we have her out in public, but these are just very ignorant people so we ignore them.

If Im pushing her around in a stroller and see people staring at her, looking at her in pity or trying to move their children away Ill lightly touch her face and kiss her on the cheek.

I want people to see that even though she has psoriasis they dont need to be afraid to touch and love her, I hope they see shes not contagious and are more compassionate.

I dont put her in turtlenecks or hide her, I have her in shorts and am not ashamed of who she is and walk with pride, I know shes beautiful.

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Charlie was two-months old when she had her first psoriasis flare-up and doctors believe she is one of the youngest patients to have such a severe case.

Her parents combat the itchy and painful flare-ups that cover her head to toe with a specialist two-hour bathing routine with essential oils.

Then we lotion her right away so her skin doesnt crack with organic butter bees wax, that has essential oils and other ingredients.

From there, we put her in an oversized cotton t-shirt so that the ingredients can soak into her skin and prevent flare-ups from friction that can be caused when her clothing is too tight.

Ashley is fundraising to help cover her Charlies medical bills, check-ups and treatment, as well as donating to the Phoenix Childrens Hospital who treated her during a bad flare-up.

The family have struggled to find insurance that would cover Charlie as young cases are so rare.

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Mum has perfect way to deal with people who stare at daughter's psoriasis - Metro

In Bangkok, the world’s highest outdoor whisky bar – CNN

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(CNN) Does whisky taste better at higher altitudes?

Billing itself the world's highest outdoor whisky bar, the new Alfresco 64 -- A Chivas Bar, sits on the 64th floor of the city's Lebua at State Tower hotel, 800 feet above ground.

It's the latest addition to a collection of rooftop bars and restaurants at the hotel, collectively referred to as "The Dome" in reference to the golden dome that sits atop the building.

Though Alfresco 64 might not be quite as dramatic as Lebua's stunning Sky Bar, which juts out over the city and has appeared on dozens of "best rooftop bars" lists, it does have its advantages.

Unlike the Sky Bar, which has no seating and is often crowded with selfie-snapping tourists, Alfresco 64's vibe is intimate.

And as expected, the whisky selection is top notch.

Among the rarest bottles in stock at Alfresco 64 is the Royal Salute 62 Gun Salute, which costs $550 a pour.

There's also the Chivas Regal "Lebua blend," which costs just over $6,000 per bottle. It marks the first time Chivas has ever created a whisky blend for just one client and only 96 bottles have been produced.

Incredible views, rare pours greet visitors to the new Alfresco 64 bar at Bangkok's Lebua hotel.

Though you're not going to be able to rock up and order a beer -- staff made it clear this joint serves only whisky -- there's no need to worry if you can't stomach a Yamazaki single malt on the rocks.

Alfresco 64 has a nice menu of excellent, creative whisky-based cocktails, including our favorite -- the Cloud on 64 (check it out in the above video).

Other sophisticated touches include specially selected glasses and carafes designed to enhance the whisky-drinking experience.

"We always want to do things where we change people's perceptions," Deepak Ohri, CEO of Lebua hotels, tells CNN Travel.

"Whisky was a serious pastime and we wanted to bring fun into the experience and create a lifestyle and we are lucky to have brought this aspiration to life with our partnership with Chivas brothers."

So far, says Ohri, the response has been amazing.

"Revenue wise we are doing three times what we budgeted for," he says.

"We serve nothing but whisky cocktails and whisky -- oh and water and ice! The most surprising aspect is that at Alfresco 64 we have more Thai clients than foreigners and this is what we wanted -- to change the way whisky drinking has been."

As for the bar, its design was inspired by the sleek lines of a luxury yacht.

Come sunset, this is the place to be.

The outdoor area juts out over the side of the building and features comfortable couches and teak floors, while a glass railing along the edge offers beautiful views of the Chao Phraya River.

Though it's the views that steal the show, there's a pleasant indoor section -- designed to resemble a yacht cabin -- featuring lacquered rosewood flooring and sunken seating.

Also inside, the Heritage Room is stocked with the bar's best whiskies and can be booked for private events.

Alfresco 64, which opened earlier this year, joins a long list of rooftop bars in Bangkok catering to travelers and locals looking to take in the city's skyline from above.

Next year, Bangkok will welcome a new rooftop drinking experience to eclipse them all -- at least when it comes to height.

Due to open at the end of this year, the 314-foot building will feature a hotel, observatory and multiple dining options.

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In Bangkok, the world's highest outdoor whisky bar - CNN

6 Ways To Travel The World For Free – The Alternative Daily (blog)

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Traveling removes you from the daily grind and renews your spirit. Youll explore new destinations, meet new people, try new foods and even learn things about yourself you never knew. For many though, traveling the world is a pipedream. Thats because travel is so darn expensive or is it?

To travel for free requires an open mind and open spirit. Youll need to seize opportunities as they surface and then go with the flow. So, pack your bags and get ready. Its time to explore the world for free!

Most people have heard of Airbnb experiencing foreign cities like locals through local home rentals. Now imagine the same experience, except for free! Just like Airbnb, youll stay in a locals home. But instead of house-renting, youd be housesitting. Housesitting allows you the opportunity to live in some awesome residential properties that you might normally not be able to afford.

In exchange for free accommodation, homeowners hand over their keys to people willing to take care of their house and maybe pets while theyre away. So, what exactly will your job as housesitter entail? Youll be expected to keep the house safe from intruders, and keep it tidy and in a good condition until the owner returns. You may also be asked to look after pets and water plants when necessary. Some homeowners may request other tasks as well, such as gardening. But this should all be discussed in advance of your arrival.

There are various sites you can check out that match homeowners with housesitters like housecarers.com. Word of advice: Its okay to ask for references from anyone else who has house-sat for the homeowner previously. In addition, make sure to always get the homeowners cell number and email address in case anything goes wrong or you need their home/pet-related advice.

Working as a travel agent has its perks. Most travel agents are offered discounts from hotels, vacation resorts, cruise lines and tour companies. Some travel agents are even offered all-expense paid trips to vacation destinations around the world. Also known as familiarization trips, these perks are offered to those in travel careers. Vacation companies want to build relationships with travel agents in hopes that the agents will then promote and recommend their services to clients. If you live and breathe travel, then you may just want to start a career in the travel industry.

You dont necessarily need to be a travel agent to vacation for free. Travel vloggers (those who video and blog about their travel adventures) are often wooed by airlines and hotels in hopes of having great written reviews. But it takes a lot of hard work to get to that level. You may want to set aside some decent savings, because youll most-likely be funding your own travels in the beginning. Or perhaps you could incorporate some of the other free suggestions to help build your vlog portfolio. Either way, with enough followers and your ability to sell yourself to large corporations you could just make a living at vlogging and vacation for free.

Frequent flyer points may not exactly be a new concept, but its surprising how many travel buffs dont take advantage of racking up travel points. Travel credit cards come in various forms. Some are generic, while others are branded with specific hotel chains or airlines and their affiliates. Regardless, the concept is the same. Each time you swipe your credit card, you rack up rewards points to use towards flights, hotel stays and car rentals.

In fact, if youre dedicated to vacationing for free, forego paying with cash wherever you can, and pay with plastic instead. Just make sure youre vigilant about paying your credit card bill on time. Some travel credit cards even have their own shopping portal that allow you to shop and rack up additional rewards.

If youre looking for a free road trip around North America, then becoming a car courier might be the gig for you. According to The Guardian, drive-a-way companies connect drivers with vehicles that need transporting around the country. Theyll offer a free set of wheels and sometimes a tank full of gas in exchange for delivery of a vehicle to a certain location. For the flexible traveler looking for a cheap ride, this may be a good way to explore America and Canada for next to nothing. But to become a car jockey youll need to be at least 23 years old and have a valid drivers license. Foreign travelers to the U.S. may also need a passport with a valid exit visa and a copy of your drivers record.

If you dont mind sleeping in sparse conditions, and of course, working for your keep, then perhaps working on a cruise ship might satisfy your urge to travel the world for free. But make no mistake about it, cruise ships are for paying guests, not the staff. The good news: the food onboard is included in your wage, which means youll spend little to nothing if you choose, while traveling from port to port. So, whatever you earn can be tucked away in savings ready for another adventure.

So, how exactly do you find work on a cruise ship? Just go to a cruise ship website (Celebrity, Carnival, Royal Caribbean, Disney) and look for the careers link. Then choose shipboard careers rather than corporate positions.

There you have it: six ways to travel for free. Stay safe and stay adventurous!

Katherine Marko

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6 Ways To Travel The World For Free - The Alternative Daily (blog)

Watching A Racer Travel The World To Review Local Snacks Is Just Delightful – Jalopnik

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Pro racing drivers compete on circuits all over the world, and World Rallycross driver Andreas Bakkerud definitely makes the best of it with his too-delightful Snakkerud vlogs. Hes so dedicated to snacking, he makes a point to try local treats whenever possible, and the food reviews are a joy.

Bakkerud loves food so much that his helmet design even features his brain mapped out as the various munchies that are always on his mind. Thats dedication.

Thank goodness Bakkerud is adventurous with what he eats and willing to try out whatever fans send even if theyre chips from Jalopnik. One of my favorite episodes so far is the one from World Rallycross trip to Lydden Hill, England. England has all of its great culinary highs and lows all on display, thanks to a supremely fancy package from a fan.

The sweets are lovely, as even Krispy Kremes are available in the country now. Yet Im going to go out on a limb and say that they are not fans of the Marmite, even if they probably should have put it onto something besides a spoon before trying it.

Other times, Bakkerud ropes team chef Pavel into helping him prepare some local eats. The Barcelona trip has a neat, behind-the-scenes look at all the stuff Bakkerud has to do before race right before heading into making some Spanish tapas in the team kitchen.

At Hljes Rallycross in Sweden Bakkerud goes searching for snacks to foist upon the Hoonigan Ford team himself. Bonus points for anything in Bakkeruds color (blue) or that Bakkerud knows the team doesnt like. Holjes is his favorite track, and theyve got miles of cheap snacks.

I dont know if theres anyone else in motorsport who seems this genuinely enthusiastic about both race cars and food. Considering that race cars and food are a large chunk of what I watch on TV, Snakkeruds food-ventures are the most easily enjoyable thing on YouTube right now. The videos also pop up from time to time as part of his Bakkerud Life vlog here.

Now can someone get him some poutine with smoked meat on top when theyre back in Canada? Thanks in advance.

[Thanks to Dusty Ventures for smuggling Bakkerud Canadas best chips while I was out.]

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Watching A Racer Travel The World To Review Local Snacks Is Just Delightful - Jalopnik

Zach, a supercomputer that can hold conversations, is coming to Christchurch – The Press

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CHARLIE MITCHELL

Last updated14:52, August 18 2017

JOSEPH JOHNSON/STUFF

Albi Whale and his father, Dr David Whale, left.

It runs an internationalcompany, helps manage a doctor's office on the side and soon "Zach" will be the face of artificial intelligence (AI) in Christchurch.

Zach is billed as one of the world's most powerful supercomputers, an AI system that interacts with people like they do each other.

It is expected to be on display in a restored heritage building inChristchurch by 2019, withan education centre and virtual classrooms, and ways for the public to have conversations with it.

The non-commercial technologywas bought and adapted by the Terrible Foundation, a social enterprise run by Christchurch-based entrepreneur Albi Whale.

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Whale founded Terrible Talk, a non-profit internet and phone provider.

Earlier this year, Zach became chief executive of Terrible Talk:Itruns virtually the entire company, including handling the company's accounts, making management decisions, andanswering customer queries via email.

Whale's father and colleague, Dr David Whale, said Zach was unlike other AI systemsin that it was built from the ground up around human interaction.

"You can talk to it, write to it. You can draw pictures andit will respond.This is a system that interacts with us the sameway we interact with each other."

One of Zach's most promising applicationswasin the healthcare system, as a digital assistant.

For the last six weeks, Christchurch GP Dr Rob Seddon-Smith has used it to handle tasks in his Hei Hei clinic.

Seddon-Smith who has been teaching the AI, which improves itselfthrough feedback presented his findings on Thursday. He said they were astonishing.

The AI listens to his consultations and writes up the patient notes. It doesn't transcribe, but truncates and expresses the important parts of the conversation ina readable way they were vastly better than Seddon-Smith's own notes, he said.

"He can listen to the consultation, capture the very essence of the words and record them in a recognisable form. It works," he said.

"This set of notes is the first ever, anywhere in the world, to be created only by computer. I didn't type anything, I simply chatted with my patient."

Other AI, such as Apple's Siri,"couldn't do anything close" to what Zach could, he said.

Patients would be able to ring and askit for their medical information,make appointmentsand have questions answered. It recognises voice patterns to verify identities.

Tests attempting to break its security systemshad been unsuccessful, including by its own creators.

What clinched Seddon-Smith's belief in Zach's capabilities was when, unprompted, it put the phone number for a crisis hotline into its notes for a suicidal patient.

It textedhim one night despite not having his phone number to tell him his email inbox was full.

Ittook away all the mundane tasks doctors had to doand allowed him to focus on his patients.

"It can address some of the most complex issues in healthcare and do so efficiently, safely and above all, equitably. It is one technology built from the ground-up to leave no one behind."

Councillor Deon Swiggs said it was expected the AI would be installed in a restored heritage building, mixingthe city's past with its future.

"It's exciting that by 2019, Christchurch will be home to one of the world's largest supercomputers.It's actually reallyincredibleto think about," he said.

"The investment here is huge, and I don't think that can be understated. It will stimulate tech tourism, a massive industry . . . it will increase Christchurch's credentials as a city of opportunity and of technology."

There were lots of questions about the impact AI would have in the future, particularly for people'sjobs, he said.

"I think it's really important to have an AI in Christchurch that we are going to be able to integrate with and engage with, so people can take away the fear of what these things are."

In its current form,Zachcan speak and holdconversations, but its voice capacity is turned off as it is too resource intensive.

By the time it isinstalled in Christchurch, it is expected to have greater capacity, and will be able to hold conversations with the public.

-Stuff

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Zach, a supercomputer that can hold conversations, is coming to Christchurch - The Press

Life Science investment paying dividends – The Recorder

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BOSTON (AP) In his offices at Boston Childrens Hospital, Leonard Zon is busily developing cutting-edge stem cell therapies surrounded by fellow researchers, lab equipment and 300,000 striped, transparent zebrafish.

Zons lab and the zebrafish are the results of an initiative begun nearly a decade ago to make Massachusetts one of the countrys premier life sciences incubators.

That 2008 initiative, signed by former Democratic Gov. Deval Patrick, committed Massachusetts to spending $1 billion over 10 years to jump-start the life sciences sector attracting the best minds, research facilities and the venture capital funding.

By most yardsticks, Patricks gamble has paid off. Massachusetts, and the greater Boston area in particular, are now seen as a top life sciences hub.

For Zon, and other life sciences leaders, the support has been transformative.

In 2013, the Massachusetts Life Sciences Center, which is charged with disbursing the funds, awarded a $4 million grant to Childrens Hospital to help establish the Childrens Center for Cell Therapy. Some of the money went toward replacing the original aquaculture facilities at Zons lab with state-of-the-art systems.

Zon said the changes helped him pursue stem cell therapies taking tissues grown from stem cells aimed at thwarting specific diseases and transplanting them into a diseased organ. Zon said his lab helped develop a drug for treating a blood disease known as Diamond Blackfan anemia in part by developing zebrafish models of the disease.

Massachusetts is the best place in the world for biotechnology, he said. Its been life-changing for us.

Zons experience isnt unique.

NxStage Medical, Inc., a medical technology company founded in 1998 in Lawrence focused on end-stage renal disease and acute kidney failure, received nearly $1.8 million in tax incentives through the program. In 2013, Woburn-based Bio2 Technologies received $1 million in loan financing, helping it develop bone graft substitute implants.

The states reputation as a magnet for life sciences also can be seen in the surge of construction in Boston and Cambridge, particularly around the Kendall Square area, where glass-lined office and research buildings have sprouted.

Travis McCready, CEO of the Massachusetts Life Sciences Center, also pointed to the influx of grant money from the National Institutes of Health and funds from world-class academic and research institutions.

By pretty much any measure we are considered the leading life sciences ecosystem in the U.S., and among the leading ecosystems in the world, McCready said.

McCready said the 2008 initiative helped create a framework for that growth, even as he acknowledged that not every company or research effort that receives funding succeeds.

Some of these startups are going to fail, but ideas will be tested and intellectual property will be created, he said. Failure is not a negative.

McCready said a top goal of the program is to develop the next generation of researchers. The center funds over 500 life sciences internships each year with about a quarter of those landing full-time jobs at the company where they interned.

He said that talent pool is critical to the next stage in the life science revolution: bio-manufacturing and digital health.

Bio-manufacturing refers to the ability of research labs and life science companies to take their breakthroughs and start manufacturing them on a large scale. He pointed to a decision by Kendall Square-based Alnylam Pharmaceuticals to open a 200,000-square-foot (18,580 square meter) manufacturing space in Norton, just 45 minutes away.

He said the state also is hoping to builds up the digital health sector, where large sets of scientific data are used to look for new therapies and how best to deliver those medicines inexpensively.

Today we are the undisputed global leader in the field, Patrick said this week in a statement to The Associated Press. Public investment not only catalyzed hundreds of millions of dollars in private investment and created thousands of jobs, but contributes meaningfully to the development of life changing treatments and cures for people around the world.

Republican Gov. Charlie Baker is hoping to build on the initiative. In June, Baker announced a proposal to dedicate $500 million over five years to continue strengthening the life sciences with a focus on public infrastructure, research and development, workforce training and education. Baker said he will be supporting the public-private partnerships and strategic investments that have made Massachusetts a global leader in the life sciences.

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Life Science investment paying dividends - The Recorder

How these young Jews found spirituality outside the synagogue – The Times of Israel

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NEW YORK (JTA) Michelle Reyf isnt really a synagogue-goer. Until recently, the 28 year old, who works for a Jewish nonprofit, was perfectly happy to get her spiritual fulfillment at Buddhist prayer services and meditation retreats.

Synagogue did not appeal to her for a variety of reasons she found the crowd to be older and the atmosphere to be impersonal. And as someone who identifies as queer, she felt distanced from the traditional values she encountered in many Jewish spaces.

But in January, a friend invited her to attend Shir HaMaalot, an independent minyan, or prayer community, in Brooklyn. There, Reyf found a place that had some of the very same qualities as the Buddhist community she was a part of and that she had not found in traditional Jewish settings.

It feels like finding a home, and it feels like Im not a bad Jew for wanting different things than were being offered in most synagogues and Jewish communities, said Reyf, a senior digital organizer for the Jewish social justice organization Bend the Arc.

I thought maybe Judaism isnt for me or maybe Im just not doing it right

I thought maybe Judaism isnt for me or maybe Im just not doing it right or maybe Im different or theres something wrong with me that I dont feel like I fit in wherever I go. And then I came to Shir HaMaalot and I was like, These are my people,' she told JTA.

Shir HaMaalot a volunteer-led, nondenominational minyan that defines itself as a traditional-egalitarian havurah meets once a month in Prospect Heights and Crown Heights in Brooklyn, often in space rented and subsidized by a local Reform synagogue, Union Temple of Brooklyn. Following a musical Shabbat service, participants join together for a vegetarian potluck meal. There is no rabbi, and community members take turns leading the services.

Reyf is part of a cohort of millennial Jews finding spiritual fulfillment at independent minyanim rather than in the traditional synagogue. Though the groups vary in prayer style, customs and demographics, many are egalitarian or support increased womens participation in services. They tend to draw a younger crowd than the average synagogue.

Rabbi Elie Kaunfer, the co-founder and executive director of New Yorks egalitarian Mechon Hadar. (courtesy)

Independent minyanim appeal to people looking for a type of religious experience, said Rabbi Elie Kaunfer, the author of a book on independent minyanim and president of Mechon Hadar, a co-educational, egalitarian institution of Jewish learning based in New York.

In my experience the people who are not going to synagogue its not because theyre anti-synagogue its more that theyre looking for something and if the synagogue has it theyll go there, and if the synagogue doesnt they wont. And I think thats where Shir HaMaalot comes in, Kaunfer said.

Kaunfer said Shir HaMaalot, which was founded in 2011, has a reputation for its use of music. In addition, I think also a place gets its own reputation just by who starts going there, so when people think about Where am I going to go on Friday night? now they know they have an option thats appealing to people in their age demographic, and that can also build on itself.

People in their 20s and early 30s have more flexibility in terms of their social groups and commitments

There are over 100 independent minyanim across the country, and they are especially accessible to millennials who often have yet to make commitments to Jewish institutions, Kaunfer said.

What it boils down to in large part is people in their 20s and early 30s have more flexibility in terms of their social groups and commitments, he said.

The young crowd at Shir HaMaalot was a draw for Gabriela Geselowitz, a 26-year-old journalist and part time Hebrew school teacher. Geselowitz knew she wanted to be involved in a Jewish community after college but had assumed she would be the only young person there.

When I moved to Brooklyn, I said I wanted to be near a Conservative shul, because that is generally traditional egalitarian, and I was sort of prepared to be the only young person at things. I did go to local synagogue a couple of times, and I was the only young person, said Geselowitz, who started attending Shir HaMaalot three and a half years ago.

Gabriela Geselowitz and Michael Spitzer-Rubenstein met several friends through Shir HaMaalot. (Courtesy of Spitzer-Rubenstein/via JTA)

At Shir HaMaalot, Geselowitz found both an age-appropriate crowd and an atmosphere that she enjoys.

This was even better than Hillel in college in terms of enthusiasm and volume of people and what Im looking for. I didnt really expect to find a space that would hit all of my buttons in the way that Shir HaMaalot does, said Geselowitz, who lives in Brooklyn.

The mood described by Geselowitz was evident at a recent Friday evening service, which she attended with her husband Michael Spitzer-Rubenstein, a 27-year-old working to launch a media startup.

Around 75 people, mostly young professionals with a few older people and young families sprinkled in, sat in chairs set up in concentric circles around the prayer leader, who alternated between singing slow, soulful melodies and faster, more upbeat ones. At various points throughout the service, when the tempo quickened, a young man started playing a djembe drum and people clapped along to the beat. Afterward they gathered around tables in an adjacent room as they ate the buffet-style potluck and talked.

Andrea Birnbaum enjoys the energetic atmosphere at Shir HaMaalot. (Courtesy of Birnbaum/via JTA)

The majority of Shir HaMaalot attendees are young, said Russ Agdern, one of the minyans founders and a member of its organizing team.

It skews towards 20s and 30s, but its certainly not exclusively that, and thats certainly not our intention, said Agdern, 39, who works as director of recruitment and outreach for the Jewish social justice group Avodah.

Before the minyan was founded in 2011, there were not really any egalitarian spaces with full Hebrew liturgy in this part of Brooklyn, said Agdern, adding that the founders wanted to create a community-driven davening space.

The founders were active participants in the National Havurah Committee, a network of nondenominational grassroots Jewish communities. The organization has its roots in the havurah, or fellowship, movement, of the late 1960s and 1970s, when an earlier wave of young people sought to create Jewish prayer experiences outside of traditional synagogue settings.

Independent minyanim are not outside of the Jewish mainstream; they are on the margins of it

Tobin Belzer, a sociologist of American Jewry at the University of Southern California, believes that the difference between the havurah movement and the independent minyanim is their attitude toward the Jewish mainstream.

Because it was purposely positioned outside of mainstream institutions, the havurah phenomenon was often referred to as the Jewish counterculture. Participants published books and articles criticizing American Judaism, she wrote in a study of the two movements.

By contrast, minyanim represent a subculture, not a counterculture. Independent minyanim are not outside of the Jewish mainstream; they are on the margins of it, wrote Belzer. In fact, many independent minyanim have strong ties with Jewish institutions. Some receive funding from Jewish foundations, others gather in borrowed spaces in synagogues, and still others use Torah scrolls loaned from area congregations.

Though communities affiliated with the havurah movement vary in terms of practice and affiliation, they are united in the fact that they are egalitarian, mostly volunteer-run and promote wide participation by community members.

Spitzer-Rubinstein likened Shir HaMaalots atmosphere to that of services at Jewish summer camps.

One of the things that I really like about Shir HaMaalot is that people care about and make it something significant

I went to Reform summer camp in California, and it was a similar sort of joy and celebration in praying, he said. I feel like there are a lot of Jewish spaces where praying isnt seen as something that should be fun, and one of the things that I really like about Shir HaMaalot is that people care about and make it something significant.

For Geselowitz, Shir HaMaalots energy reminded me a little bit of teenage Jewish youth group.

The participatory aspect of the minyan appeals to Andrea Birnbaum, a 27-year-old medical student who has been attending Shir HaMaalot for four years.

Its not performative in the sense that sometimes you go to synagogue and theres someone on the bimah [podium] who has the most energy, and theyre trying to get the crowd moving but the crowd has a low energy, said Birnbaum. Its not like that. This is participatory we rotate every time someone leads the davening, the prayer.

For now, Geselowitz and Spitzer-Rubenstein, who attend other independent minyanim in Brooklyn when Shir HaMaalot doesnt meet, dont feel like they are missing anything by not belonging to a synagogue.

Nechama Levy participates in a few Crown Heights independent prayer groups. (Courtesy of Levy/via JTA)

Shir HaMaalot is free were happy to donate to it, but there arent synagogue dues. At this point in my life I actually like having a lay-led community rather than a single rabbinic authority, Geselowitz said.

Participants are also attracted to Shir HaMaalots progressive values.

What also was really cool was that there were a lot of different gender expression, people who werent necessary [conforming to the gender] binary, and for me as a queer person that was really important to see that it isnt a heteronormative place where the gender binary was being enforced, Reyf said.

On its website, Shir HaMaalot encourages people to add your preferred pronouns to your name tag.

Pluralism is an important goal for the minyan, said Gregory Frumin, a 35-year-old social worker who serves on the minyans organizing team.

One of Shir HaMaalots core values is inclusive pluralism. We want to create an accessible and welcoming space for people of diverse backgrounds, identities, accessibility needs, he said.

At the potluck dinner after services, food is served on three different tables vegetarian, vegan and vegetarian cooked in a strictly kosher kitchen. Participants are also asked to list allergens on a spreadsheet prior to services.

I think its also important that Shir HaMaalot takes their religious observance seriously while still being welcoming to basically everyone, said Spitzer-Rubinstein.

Shir HaMaalot participants after Friday night services in Brooklyn, July 14, 2017. (Josefin Dolsten/JTA)

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How these young Jews found spirituality outside the synagogue - The Times of Israel

Spirituality : A bubble of wisdom and peace – The New Indian Express

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CHENNAI: From a five-year old who recited Sanskrit and Tamil slokas, Dushyanth Sridhar has grown into a modern day messenger of peace and love who has delivered over 2,500 live discourses across 12 countries in a short span of time. The spiritual speaker talks to CE about the motivation behind becoming a spiritual icon and how he was not able to strike a balance between corporate life and spirituality. I was in marketing research at Kantar Health and then in the digital marketing team of TCS. I resigned my job because it didnt fill my soul, smiles Dushyanth. It was tough to accommodate both my job and spiritual speaking.

He started his advance Vedanta training when he was 17. We live in challenging times. We go to war for anything and everything. Fighting a war is really easy but bringing peace is difficult. My idea is to connect people through culture regardless of class, creed, language and religion. Culture can connect everything, he opines.

He says that spirituality is meditation too. I believe that a change should happen in every individual and thats how we make this world a better place to live, explains Dushyanth. He states that spirituality and philosophy are relative terms, and that both go hand in hand. If we understand the concept of jeevatma, we will overcome the various extremes of human emotions such as revenge, vendetta, anger, etc. Jeevatma says that it is only body that has different forms but inside, the soul is the same, says Dushyanth, explaining how spiritual learning helps control our mind.

Spirituality will help an individual attain wisdom and peace at the same time. It is all based on the science of death. Everyone will die but people dont understand that. Mostly, they think they are eternal. Even when they mourn for others death, they think that they are immortal. If we understand that life is short, then people can actually live the time period between life and death beautifully, he says.

Dushyanth is an art man. He conceptualises dance ballets, collaborates with musicians to make musical discourses and has penned story for a Sanskrit movie, Vedanta Desika. Why blend art and spirituality? I have a mixed audience. Some want music, some want to act and some like it to be a story. I plan to link them all through stories because stories are full of morals, explains Dushyanth. Thats why I will be performing a Harikatha, Keshadipaatha Varnanam from Naarayaneeyam (a scripture on Lord Krishna today.

This modern day spiritual philosopher, whose roots can be traced back to Kumbakonam, has high regards for Chennai. I come to Chennai every month. This city is so rich in culture that it is hard to stay away from here. The architecture and art of this city is unique and exquisite. I lived four years during my school time and even then it had cultural events every single day. We can never find it anywhere else in this country or world for that matter, he says.

Dushyanth Sridhar is performing today at 6 pm at The Music Academy. For details, call 28112231

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Spirituality : A bubble of wisdom and peace - The New Indian Express

Milton Keynes and Me – this documentary will make you love Britain’s most maligned city – review – Telegraph.co.uk

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Some of the ideas of those involved in its construction were loopy poopy. The Development Corporation, which strove to ensure that Milton Keynes had a cultural and socially inclusive backbone amid all the construction work, planned a sort of downtown Vegas which would include a souk, a wavepool and a rodeo. This was dismissed at the planning stage, but a proper force for good emerged in the form of the Open University, which opened its doors in 1969. Archive footage showed how local residents signed up in their hundreds, some little prepared for the required intellectual rigour. One elderly housewife rued the day she had embarked on a Physics degree: The second unit was on relativity and that really flawed me, she said.

What this documentary showed was that, ultimately, we all strive to be like everyone else. Milton Keynes had started out as a massive social experiment, but those who live there now are concerned less with Nirvana and more with the earthly delights of The Centre MK, a shopping complex with a Carluccios, a Cath Kidston and a Claires Accessories. And thats a shame even though Carluccios does a super macchiato.

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Milton Keynes and Me - this documentary will make you love Britain's most maligned city - review - Telegraph.co.uk

An emphasis on values, empathy and quality time with their children, above all else – Chabad.org

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This years Chabad of Greenwichs parenting conference took an introspective journey into parenting, benefiting both parent and child.

The annual event, held at Carmel Academy at 270 Lake Avenue, is designed to inform, empower and inspire parents in the Greenwich community to become the best parent possible as they encounter the many challenges involved in raising a child.

Over a decadent spread of kosher sushi and wine, parents and peers gathered for an evening of guidance and inspiration. As one mother in attendance, Cori SaNogueira, said: My kids are the most important thing in my lifetheir positive growth is my lifes mission, but I need events like this to teach me and give me strength during the tough times to know I am on the right path.

This year the theme focused on cultivating respect and how to raise a child with an attitude of gratitude, particularly in a community as materially well-off as Greenwich.

The first half of the conference was divided into two smaller seminars: one for parents of younger kids and one for parents of teenagers, each followed by a question-and-answer session.

(This reporter attended the seminar for teenagers, thinking she could gain some much-needed guidance about her rising sixth-grade boy, who already possesses all the fixings of a teenager. And she did.)

The quiet, steady focus of the crowd of teenage parents conveyed their anticipation of Chabads Rabbi Yossi Deren and his words of wisdom: He is the father of 10.

Deren smiled generously and started the discussion with his customary humor wrapped around a truth: Without a question of a doubt, a parent of a teenager is not just a parent, but a hero.

We are in a unique position as a parent of a teen and must remember when they make mistakes that we have taught them well, but now they need to find their place as they figure out who they are and how to live on their own, unique path.

Deren offered advice for parenting different age groups and answered questions from the audience.

Deren recommended three fields of empowerment and transition during these older years:

1. Transition from teaching our children to respecting our children. Our job is to pull out their potential as they work to figure out their identity.

2. Focus our parenting tactics from discipline to love. As children grow older, their need for love grows even more as they encounter many difficulties in their lives, whether it be academically or socially.

He said a parents reaction to a crisis in their childs lives can completely change the trajectory of the relationship. If we react with shock and awe rather than showing our kids that we can identify and connect with their feelings, the outcome will be vastly different.

3. Move from more talking to more doing. The familiar adage, Do as I say, not as I do, does not hold up, according to the rabbi. Teenagers are very, very smart today, and our actions as parents say everythinglet them become the teenagers that we want them to become and set good examples for them.

When asked what kind of impact social media has on teenagers, particularly with an increase in online bullying and constant exposure, he said: Embrace its power for the good of life lessons [he referred to the recent suicide of a young boy whose friend had been an accomplice] and let them be exposed to the dangers of it in order to help them navigate through those dangers. Its our job to create that safe space and promote our teenagers peace of mind.

Deren discussed the importance of Shabbat in the Jewish religion (Shabbat entails a full day of rest and spiritual enlightenment, devoid of all technology) beginning at sunset every Friday evening and ending at nightfall on Saturday.

Its a sacred time for people to be completely unplugged and just focus on talking and being with family and friends, he said.

As the crowd shifted in their seats, Wolff posed a question to parents of their children: How are we going to create gratitude within them?

The second portion of the night featured an inspiring talk titled Raising a Child with Soul, powerfully delivered by keynote speaker Slovie Jungreis Wolff, a noted author, teacher and lecturer, as well as daughter of Rebbetzein Esther Jungreis, founder of the Hineni Heritage Center, and an international inspirational speaker and mentor.

For more than 30 years, Wolff has been teaching weekly classes for couples and families, helping them focus on the meaning of kindness and gratitude in a fast-paced, complex society.

While guests grabbed a coffee and a cookie, the crowd instantly quieted when Wolff walked up to the podium and shared a painful story of loss: Many of her family members perished in Auschwitz.

When you go through difficulties in life, dont sit in the darkness, said Wolff.

Its a gift to raise children, but kids need a spiritual foundation if we are to raise kids who stand for truth, honesty and have an attitude of gratitude, said Wolff.

Wolff discussed how kids today are growing up in a disposable society where they are always wanting more. Today, kids have no patience and have a need for instant gratification with too much of everything at their fingertips.

She referenced the many parents who are quick to replace a lost sweater or pair of shoes, or continually provide their children with everything they want and desire, presuming its the panacea that will make them happy and peaceful.

Wolff shared the story of a family she had once worked with. They lived in a gorgeous mansion, filled with every game and toy imaginable, and yet their child would sit in the middle of it all and say to her parents, Im so bored. Theres nothing to do.

As the crowd shifted in their seats, Wolff posed a question: How are we going to fix this in our childrens character and create gratitude within them?

Wolff says it starts with a simple thank you. The following are her suggestions for raising a child with soul:

Teach kids to be thankful for all the people in their livesto say thank you to ones parents, grandparents, teachers, bus drivers, etc., for all that they do. Wolff said to encourage kids when baking cookies or challah to donate them to a charity or to the police, who are always helping others.

Convey how time together with family is a privilegeone for which kids should have gratitude (Wolff mentioned that its often when we lose a family member what regret not having more time with them.) With too many material things to focus on, especially our phones, kids tend to stop appreciating the people in their lives.

Wolff went on to observe that the phone calls from the people on board the hijacked planes of Sept. 11 spent their last minutes confessing their love and their sadness that their time with loved ones would endnothing else.

Parents also need to show appreciation for one another in the home and set the example. When Mom or Dad thank one another for making a nice dinner, or for working a long, hard daythat has a huge impact on the family unit.

Wolff said its important to teach kids to be inclusive of the child that no one chooses on the team during gym class or for a playdate. Teach your child that you can change the world that way, and that compassion makes the world a better place.

We need to foster a home filled with less presents, and more presence in the home, Wolff said. We live our lives in black and white, and lose the color by letting little things get to us.

Wolff told a touching story about a young boy who kept asking his highly successful, yet preoccupied father how much money he made per hour. The parents were upset by this pointed question and were wondering where it came from.

So the father said $20.

The boy went away, and then came back holding his piggy bank and a $20 bill that he had saved up.

He gave it to his father and said: If I give you this, then you can get off your phone for just one hour and spend time with me?

This story originally appeared in the Greenwich Sentinel on Aug. 4 and on its online version Aug. 9.

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An emphasis on values, empathy and quality time with their children, above all else - Chabad.org

CASIS awards Audacy grant to test radio on space station – SpaceNews

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Audacys constellation is designed to provide high-availability mission critical communications to users anywhere in near Earth space. Credit: Audacy

The nonprofit Center for the Advancement of Science in Space (CASIS) awarded a grant Aug. 17 to Audacy that will enable the Silicon Valley startup to demonstrate its high data-rate radio on the International Space Station.

Audacy, a company established in 2015 to create a commercial space-based communications network, plans to send the Audacy Lynq demonstration mission to the space stations NanoRacks External Payload Platform on a NASA commercial cargo fight in late 2018.

We plan to demonstrate the efficacy of Audacys high-rate customer terminal, as well as the utility of Audacys communications services for downloading science and imagery data from customers onboard the ISS, Ellaine Talle, Audacy project lead, said by email.

On Aug. 8, Audacy announced a related project. The firm is working with Scotlands Clyde Space to send a cubesat into orbit in 2018 to demonstrate the performance of terminals customers flying small satellites can use to transmit data to Audacys ground stations.

Talle declined to say the value of the CASIS award but said it was large enough to cover the cost of launching Audacy Lynq on a commercial cargo flight and a six-month test of Audacy K-band antenna and radio on the space station.

In 2019, Audacy plans to launch three large satellites into medium Earth orbit to relay data from spacecraft in low Earth orbit to ground stations. Audacy is establishing a global network of ground stations to communicate with its future relay satellites and to support customers operating missions beyond the relay satellites field of view, Talle said.

While we hope future ISS demonstrations will utilize the relays, this initial mission will only exercise the ground segment, she added.

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CASIS awards Audacy grant to test radio on space station - SpaceNews

Watch NASA Livestream Six Hour Spacewalk from International Space Station – Newsweek

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A six hour-long spacewalk will take place on the International Space Station (ISS) today and NASA will be livestreaming the whole event.

Russian cosmonauts Fyodor Yurchikhin and Sergey Ryazanskiy will be going outside of the space station to launch several nanosatellites, perform structural maintenance and collect research samples. The event will start at 10am ET, with commander Yurchikhin and flight engineer Ryazanskiy exiting through the Pirs airlock at about 10.45am.

Viewers can watch the event through NASA Television or via the livestream below.

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Ryazanskiy will begin the schedule of extravehicular activities with the manual deployment of five nanosatellites from a ladder outside the airlock, the space agency said in a statement. The satellites, each of which has a mass of about 11 pounds, have a variety of purposes.

One of the satellites, with casings made using 3D printing technology, will test the effect of the low-Earth-orbit environment on the composition of 3D printed materials. Another satellite contains recorded greetings to the people of Earth in 11 languages. A third satellite commemorates the 60th anniversary of the Sputnik 1launch and the 160th anniversary of the birth of Russian scientist Konstantin Tsiolkovsky.

Yurchikhin and Ryazanskiy will also be installing handrails outside the space station to improve future spacewalks, while they will collect samples from various locations outside the Russian part of the ISS.

Expedition 52 commander Fyodor Yurchikhin holds one of the five satellites set to be deployed during the Russian spacewalk. NASA

This will be the seventh spacewalk of 2017 and the 202nd since construction began on the space station in 1998. The longest spacewalk ever to be undertaken was in March, 2001, when NASA astronauts Jim Voss and Susan Helms spent eight hours and 56 minutes carrying out maintenance and installation work on the station.

Astronauts are well prepared for spacewalks. Clayton C. Anderson, a NASA astronautwho performed six spacewalks during his time on the ISS, recently explained what would happen if an astronaut floated away into space in a Quora question.

He said assuming the astronaut is on an ISS spacewalk and that they have somehow become untethered from their vehicle, they will then resort to using a jet back called SAFER Simplified Aid for EVA Rescue .

These jetpacks, which he says are straight out of a Buck Rogers comic book, allow astronauts to fly back to the ISS where they can reattach themselves and continue going about their business. SAFER gives astronauts basically one-shot to come home, he wrote. Limited in fuel, and governed by the laws of orbital mechanics, it is not simply a leisurely task to fly back to safety.

Anderson explains there are several steps the astronaut must take and that they are extensively trained to do this through virtual reality on Earth. These are as follows:

While untethered spacewalks have taken place in the past, so far no astronaut has ever accidentally come free and floated away.

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Watch NASA Livestream Six Hour Spacewalk from International Space Station - Newsweek

Blue Bell blasts into orbit in trip to International Space Station – Dallas News (blog)

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This is not the first long-haul trip for Blue Bell.

"Our products have made several trips to space," spokeswomanJenny Van Dorfsaid in an emailed response. "It seems to be an astronaut favorite. We first sent Blue Bell to space in 1995, and it has been on several missions since [then], including the 2006 Space Shuttle Atlantis and in 2012 on SpaceX.

"We did not sell to NASA directly, but we are glad they think our ice cream is out of this world."

Brenham-based Blue Bell is still working on reclaiming turf on Earth that it vacated as part of a nationwide recall. The pullbackwas prompted by findings of Listeria in the company's plant and product.

The Listeria outbreak sickened at least 10 people who had been hospitalized for other medical issues. Three patients died.

All product now is tested and held in cold storage before being released to the public.

Twitter: @krobijake.

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Blue Bell blasts into orbit in trip to International Space Station - Dallas News (blog)

SpaceX Dragon delivers scientific bounty to space station – ABC News

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A SpaceX shipment arrived at the International Space Station on Wednesday, delivering a bonanza of science experiments.

The SpaceX Dragon capsule pulled up following a two-day flight from Cape Canaveral. NASA astronaut Jack Fischer used the space station's hefty robot arm to grab the Dragon 250 miles (400 kilometers) above the Pacific, near New Zealand.

The Dragon holds 3 tons of cargo, mostly research. The extra-large science load includes a cosmic ray monitor, a mini satellite with cheap, off-the-shelf scopes for potential military viewing, and 20 mice for an eye and brain study.

Lucky for the station's six-person crew, a big variety of ice cream is also stashed away in freezers, including birthday cake flavor. U.S. astronaut Randolph Bresnik turns 50 next month.

"Congratulations on a job well done," Mission Control radioed from Houston. "You guys have just won yourselves some fresh food."

It was 13th supply shipment by SpaceX.

"The crew stands ready to rock the science like a boss," Fischer said, giving a rundown on the research inside the Dragon's "belly."

It's enough for more than 250 experiments in the coming months, he noted.

"Need to get back to work. We've got a Dragon to unload," Fischer told Mission Control.

SpaceX is one of NASA's two prime shippers for station supplies. Orbital ATK is the other; its next delivery is in November from Wallops Island, Virginia. The two companies have taken over the cargo hauls formerly handled by NASA's now retired space shuttles.

Online:

SpaceX: http://www.spacex.com/

NASA: https://www.nasa.gov/missionpages/station/main/index.html

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SpaceX Dragon delivers scientific bounty to space station - ABC News

Space station crew to get 3 chances at solar eclipse – CBS News

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The Crew of the International Space Station will enjoy multiple views of the Aug. 21 solar eclipse during three successive orbits, giving the astronauts a unique opportunity to take in the celestial show from 250 miles up as the moon's shadow races across from the Pacific Ocean and the continental United States before moving out over the Atlantic.

"Because we're going around the Earth every 90 minutes, about the time it takes the sun to cross the U.S., we'll get to see it three times," Randy Bresnik said Friday during a NASA Facebook session. "The first time will be just off the West Coast, we'll actually cross the path of the sun, and we'll have (a partial) eclipse looking up from the space station."

For the station crew, the first partial eclipse opportunity will begin at 12:33 a.m. EDT (GMT-4) and end 13 minutes later.

Floating in the European Columbus laboratory module, Bresnik showed off a solar filter shipped up to the station earlier, saying "we've got specially equipped cameras that'll have these solar filters on them that allow us to take pictures of the sun. That's going to be pretty neat, we'll have a couple of us shooting that."

Space station astronaut Randy Bresnik shows off a solar filter that will be used by the crew during multiple opportunities to photograph the Aug. 21 solar eclipse from their perch 250 miles up.

NASA TV

One orbit later, the station will cross the path of the eclipse in the extreme northwest following a trajectory that will carry the lab over central Canada on the way to the North Atlantic. From the station's perspective, 44 percent of the sun will be blocked in a partial eclipse. But the crew will be able to see the umbra, where the eclipse is total, near the southern horizon.

"We'll be north of Lake Huron in Canada when we'll be able to see the umbra, or the shadow of the eclipse, actually on the Earth, right around the Tennessee-Kentucky (area), the western side of both those states," Bresnik said. "That'll be an opportunity for us to take video, and take still pictures and kind of show you from the human perspective what that's going to look like."

During the second of three successive orbits, the space station crew, passing just south of Hudson Bay, will have a chance to see and photograph the moon's shadow as it moves across western Kentucky and northwestern Tennessee some 1,100 miles away.

NASA

The umbra, defining the 70-mile-wide shadow where the sun's disk will be completely blocked out, will be at its closest to the space station at 2:23 p.m. The moon's shadow will be about 1,100 miles away from the lab complex, but from their perch 250 miles up, the astronauts should be able to photograph the dark patch as they race along in their orbit.

"And then the third pass is actually just off the East Coast," Bresnik said. "We'll come around one more time and from the station side we'll see about an 85 percent eclipse of the sun looking up (at 4:17 p.m.). So we should be able to get really neat photos, with our filters, of the sun being occluded by the moon."

NASA plans to provide four hours of eclipse coverage, starting at noon EDT, on the agency's satellite television channel, in web streams and via social media, including Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.

"We have a lot of options to share all this," Bresnik told a Facebook questioner. "It's U.S. taxpayer dollars. ... You're paying us to take these pictures, and they go to you. They're free to everybody, and you can access them from the NASA website."

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Space station crew to get 3 chances at solar eclipse - CBS News