Liberty Center family builds drive-in theater in their backyard – The … – Toledo Blade

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LIBERTY CENTER, Ohio What began on a nostalgic whim 10 years ago has become a much bigger story of family love.

Meet the Saunders, Rod and Donna, both 53 and owners of the Field of Dreams Drive-In theater in rural Henry County, near Liberty Center and its affiliated Field of Dreams Drive-In theater in Tiffin.

Are they sentimental about the vanishing era of drive-in movie theaters? Guilty as charged. The funny thing is, though, theyre finding out thousands of other people in northwest Ohio and southeast Michigan are, too.

A decade after they rolled the dice and went Kevin Costner on their Liberty Center farm plowing it under and putting up the first of two drive-in theater screens on that site the Saunders are turning a modest profit. Their improbable story is so close to that of fictional Iowa farmer Ray Kinsella, portrayed by Costner in the 1989 film Field of Dreams, that they have used the movie title in the name of both drive-ins.

Though their other drive-in the one in Tiffin doesnt have the same storyline, its also full of charm.

The Tiffin drive-in was originally built in 1948. The Saunders bought it in 2011, four years after they started showing movies on their Liberty Center farm, when they learned its previous owner was about to shut it down. It has capacity for 400 to 500 vehicles, while the Liberty Center site with its 250-vehicle capacity is Ohios smallest drive-in theater.

The couple now can sit back and laugh about the zany, learn-as-you-go experiences that began a decade ago at their Liberty Center homestead as they started chasing a dream they shared since they were youths in Fulton County.

We both went to drive-ins. We had our own memories of them growing up, Rod recalls.

Rod grew up in Wauseon. Donna grew up in nearby Delta. Like many people, both lamented the closing of Wauseons Star Drive-in, which shut down in 1999, whenever they drove along North Shoop Avenue and saw its abandoned screen.

Finally, after a couple of years of hearing her say that, I said somebody ought to open one, Rod says.

Tech-savvy Donna, an information systems professional for Owens-Corning, tracked down a guy in Texas who sold step-by-step instructions on building a drive-in theater from scratch. The plans cost them only $20.

The pages werent even numbered or in order, Rod says with a laugh.

Their first thought was to buy property in Napoleon. Then, after taking a closer look at costs, a friend of Rods came up with a different idea: Put it in your backyard.

They did, somehow navigating their way through a maze of regulations and past zoning board officials who were entering uncharted territory themselves. Along the way, they received untold hours of labor donated by friends and relatives, many of them nearby farmers.

After all of the sweat and money they poured into getting the Liberty Center drive-in ready to open, they had a lot of people pulling for them. But they also said they had a few who called them complete fools, destined to fail.

We got a letter two days before we opened saying how stupid we were, Rod recalls.

Rewind to when they opened in 2007. Among other things, the couple had to learn on the fly how to thread 35 mm movie film projectors to avoid breaks in movies they were showing. Now, of course, its all digitized. Movies are beamed in via satellite, and there isnt nearly as much left to chance in the projector room.

Think its hard enough carving a drive-in theater out of a cornfield? Try doing that as the movie industry is about to go from analog to digital, requiring you to buy four digital projectors two in Liberty Center and two in Tiffin that each cost $80,000 to $90,000.

But, somehow, the Saunders are paying their bills. They even managed to get through the 2008 global financial crisis, which came only a year after they opened.

Theyre not getting rich but say they love what they do, especially the family aspect of their business.

Their son, Denton, 27, a Fremont Middle School special education teacher nine months of the year, runs the Tiffin drive-in throughout the summer. Rod, a Toledo Technology Academy physical education and health teacher, runs the Liberty Center drive-in, along with Donna.

The drive-ins helped put Denton through undergraduate and masters programs at Bowling Green State University and their daughter, Callan, 25, through her Eastern Michigan University program in athletic training. Callan worked two years as a sports trainer at Notre Dame Academy before landing her new job as the director of the Anytime Fitness salon in Wauseon.

One of the biggest ancillary benefits has been the socialization opportunities the Liberty Center drive-in has given their other son, Rockne, 23, who has cerebral palsy.

He started out in the box office and has done everything down to offering friendly waves to drivers.

He likes hanging out around the girls, Donna says, explaining how he likes people-watching of all kinds and has a soft spot in his heart for babies. We laugh and call him our unofficial popcorn-taster. He does entertain customers.

Little things like that give the Liberty Center drive-in its own special charm. Its a throwback to yesteryear and a refreshing break from anything resembling a stiff corporate atmosphere.

Part of the fun is trying to find the site in the first place. Tucked away on quiet, two-lane Township Road 6, the Liberty Center drive-in is barely in Henry County, a quarter mile from the Fulton County line. It should be noted, too, that in calling Township Road 6 a two-lane road, the county engineer apparently had a generous definition for width. It feels more like a wide, one-lane road. Large tractors and other farm machinery can slow down traffic. The theater has been known to fool more than one GPS or cell phone, and when corns about ready to be harvested its easy to drive by the site without knowing it.

For directions, go to fieldofdreamsdrivein.com/liberty_directions.html. On that page is this generous offer, a sign of the familys hospitality: If you get lost, please call Donna at 419-966-2988 and tell her what road you are on.

Between the two drive-ins, the Saunders employ about 44 part-time workers. Many are kids saving up for college, but some also are schoolteachers who want a pleasant summer job.

The Saunders said theyre especially proud of the relationships theyve built with other families. The Ross family, for example, has had three different girls Leah, Meagan, and, now, Brie work for them. They said they enjoy seeing kids grow and mature as employees. Rod calls their youthful workers our kids.

It gets back to the Golden Rule: Do unto others as you have them do unto you, he said. We treat the kids in our workforce like our own kids.

Has it been a well-oiled machine? Not always, the couple laughs.

Like any business, they learn what works and what doesnt over time. But above all, its important to them to maintain that down-home charm.

The fun doesnt begin when the first movie starts. The Saunders have installed a volleyball court, putt-putt golf, and corn hole games. People arrive early to engage in friendly competition and play until showtime.

Theres also a fire pit where older adults are known to hold court and enjoy a cold beverage while kids are off having fun.

Food concessions include freshly grilled burgers and homemade pizza, the latter of which is hand-delivered to people guest who place special flags on their car windows.

Weve learned that being the smallest drive-in in Ohio, we need to listen to our customers, Rod says.

Donna says the drive-ins have been a perfect business for us with Rod being a teacher and having the summers off.

Dentons not the only one whos followed in his fathers footsteps as a teacher. His wife, Olivia, 27, whom he married May 20, teaches sixth grade at Oak Harbor Middle School.

And theres the stars.

Not the movie stars the skyward ones. The Liberty Center drive-in is in such a rural location, far removed from urban light pollution, that visitors cant help but occasionally let their minds wander as they gaze upward.

This is the 84th year for drive-ins. The first one opened in Camden, N.J. in June, 1933, according to the website drive-ins.com. The number of drive-in theaters peaked in 1958 at 4,063. This year, there are 321 left in operation.

Their decline has been accelerated not just by technological changes and the advent of megaplex indoor theaters but also by urban sprawl. As cities sprawled out in the country, prices for rural land shot up. Even many profitable drive-ins were enticed to sell.

Contact Tom Henry at: thenry@theblade.com, 419-724-6079, or via Twitter @ecowriterohio.

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Liberty Center family builds drive-in theater in their backyard - The ... - Toledo Blade

Beautiful Infinity: A Libertarian Theory on Race – Being Libertarian

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Skin color aside, what makes a white person? What makes a black person? If skin color magically disappeared the next morning, along with major physical differences, would you be able to determine who is white, black, Asian, and so on, based on their behavior or living conditions? You could make guesses based on generalizations and averages, but would you be one hundred percent correct? In order to better understand race and its importance, we should see whether or not it is more accurate to judge someone by their race or their individuality. Throughout this essay I shall argue that looking at people as individuals and upholding values of individuality is not only more ethical but more accurate than looking at people as merely members of a collective based upon their skin color. Is race just simply skin color, or is there a much larger picture which involves different behaviors or traits? Is race at all even relevant? In order to answer these questions, we need to establish what race is to begin with.

Definitions involving race seem to heavily emphasize physical differences with no mention of culture. For instance, Merriam-Webster defines race as any one of the groups that human beings can be divided into based on shared distinctive physical traits (Merriam-Webster). Does this definition fit what we commonly view as race? How about if it fits how we commonly view white people or black people? Are we able to identify white or black people based on their physical differences or behaviors? Oxford defines race as Each of the major divisions of humankind, having distinct physical characteristics. Again we see the same situation. Professor Ian Haney-Lpez has a somewhat different definition:

I define a race as a vast group of people loosely bound together by historically contingent, socially significant elements of their morphology and/or ancestry. I argue that race must be understood as a sui generis social phenomenon in which contested systems of meaning serve as the connections between physical features, races, and personal characteristics. In other words, social meanings connect our faces to our souls. Race is neither an essence nor an illusion, but rather an ongoing, contradictory, self-reinforcing process subject to the macro forces of social and political struggle and the micro effects of daily decisions.

Professor Lopez does note physical traits but seems to also include what he says are personal characteristics. What are these personal characteristics though? Is he just repeating himself when talking about physical features, or does Professor Lopez mean something entirely different? Is he referring to behaviors or actions? What behaviors would you describe as white? What behaviors would you describe as black? What are the characteristics of a Latino person if you excluded skin color? What makes a white or black person besides skin color? Perhaps these personal characteristics that Lopez is referring to can be found in the socially significant elements of their morphology and/or ancestry. When discussing socially significant elements were really talking about society, but is society the same globally? A black person in the United States who moves to Sri Lanka is still physically black, regardless of the different society and culture. Even if the country or geographic region were constant, society is always changing. So, will Lopezs definition hold the test of time? Imagine a utopian future where race has suddenly become irrelevant. Does Lopezs definition hold? Unfortunately not. We require a more consistent and universally applicable definition, which is why Id go with those laid out by Merriam-Webster and Oxford Dictionaries. Lopezs view of race embodies a social justice bias that has crept into his definition. We will further examine current social justice views on race as this book goes on.

So, what is race? To put it simply, it is a group of people only held together by physical differences. This is not to mention that these physical differences, which seemingly unites a group, is very diverse as well. There is no one true shade of black or white. There is pale, tan, moderately pink, light brown, dark brown, chestnut. There are large noses, short noses, medium noses, wide noses, thin noses. There are slanty eyes, wide eyes, small eyes, big eyes. Race can only tell us generally what the physical appearance of an individual is. It does not tell us anything about an individuals history, personality, work ethic, or interests.

Here we see a clear divide when it comes to an understanding on race: collectivism versus individualism, a rivalry that isnt limited to just race. Those who view people as members of collective races instead of different individuals also apply different traits and preconceptions about such members. Historically speaking, these could be those people who thought blacks were genetically inferior, and used this stance in order to justify slavery. There are also those who currently fight in the name of social justice, who champion ideas about white people being inherently privileged and people of color being members of an oppressed group. The white supremacist who thinks their race is superior to blacks uses the same lens as the social justice activist who thinks white people are privileged and people of color are oppressed. I shall refer to these people as racial collectivists.

An individual who views race as irrelevant views all races equally. There are people who look past the color of ones skin in exchange for more valuable information about an individual. Personality, intelligence, work ethic, religion, political leanings, all these are significantly more important than race to these people. Race is almost, if not completely, irrelevant. I shall refer to these people as racial individualists.

A libertarian theory on race would be a theory based upon individualism, one that takes into account the complexity and diversity of individuals. A libertarian would look past race in order to view the true beauty that is individuality. This makes libertarianism aligned with racial individualism. This is not surprising, seeing how many on the left tend to align more with the racial collectivists. The link between economics and race is present. Racial collectivism, interpreted by social justice advocates, is simply an application of Marxist class theory when applied to race. There is an oppressed class (people of color) and an oppressor class (white people). Libertarians are concerned with each individual within society, meaning an absence of one race representing oppressors and another representing the oppressed. This is all very well summed up by former libertarian congressman Ron Paul:

Racism is simply an ugly form of collectivism, the mindset that views humans strictly as members of groups rather than individuals. Racists believe that all individuals who share superficial physical characteristics are alike: as collectivists, racists think only in terms of groups. By encouraging Americans to adopt a group mentality, the advocates of so-called diversity actually perpetuate racism. Their obsession with racial group identity is inherently racist.

In order to make the case for racial individualism or a libertarian theory on race, we must first examine different issues necessary to build a foundation for the principles of individualism when applied to race. The following are different topics which I believe will help us better understand this theory.

What is racism to begin with? The answer may seem easy but the definition has been tampered with in order to fit the political agenda of racial collectivists, more specifically, social justice advocates. Social justice advocates use a definition influenced by sociologist David Wellman, who claims:

The essential feature of racism is not hostility or misperception, but rather the defense of a system from which advantage is derived on the basis of race. The manner in which the defense is articulated either with hostility or subtlety is not nearly as important as the fact that it insures the continuation of a privileged relationship. Thus it is necessary to broaden the definition of racism beyond prejudice to include sentiments that in their consequence, if not in their intent, support the racial status quo.

This definition has prompted many social justice advocates to believe that racism is prejudice plus societal power. This stands in contrast with many objective non-biased dictionary definitions that state that racism is, according to Merriam-Webster: a belief that race is the primary determinant of human traits and capacities and that racial differences produce an inherent superiority of a particular race Just to prove that normal non-biased definitions show a different picture, I will provide another from Oxford: Prejudice, discrimination, or antagonism directed against someone of a different race based on the belief that ones own race is superior So, whos right, the objective unbiased definitions or the sociological definition used usually for political advocacy?

In order to see, lets consider a thought experiment.

Youre walking down the street and you see a group of rich black individuals calling a runaway, homeless white child racial slurs. The child is in tears and the wealthy black group continues to taunt him. Do you intervene? If you abide by Wellmans definition then no. According to social justice advocates, this is not racism because even if the black individuals are wealthy and dressed in nice tuxedos and ball gowns they are still members of an oppressed class. This also means the runaway, homeless white child is a member of the oppressive class. This then simply becomes an issue of the oppressed standing up to the oppressor. Does this seem right? A better way to look at the situation lies in the lens of individualism. What we then see is rude, racist individuals taunting someone because of their race, which is racism. Which makes more sense as an analysis of this incident? The argument could be made that this is a hypothetical situation and rarely happens. Is this an adequate response to the criticism against a social justice definition of racism? Absolutely not. Definitions must have universal application and if all it takes is for one individual instance for your definition not to apply then your definition is broken. We will explore this idea of rare examples more closely in the next section.

Can empiricism be used to justify the stereotyping of individuals of different races? Consider the following two interactions I partook in.

I once had a conversation with a self-proclaimed white supremacist. I asked her to try and legitimize her views, and she listed off a bunch of empirical evidence involving crime, IQ, wealth, and productivity, all leading her to the assumption that whites are superior to blacks. Before you think up your criticisms with this reasoning, please consider another interaction.

I had another conversation with a social justice advocate who claimed all white people were privileged. After asking her to legitimize her views she listed off a bunch of empirical evidence involving wealth, incarceration, police shootings, and so on.

Do you see a connection? Both of these individuals were racial collectivists and used the same methodology, yet reached very different conclusions. Many libertarians who are familiar with the Austrian School of Economics already have their critiques of empiricism, but should we be equally as skeptical when empiricism is used to justify racial collectivism?

Lets start with what empiricism can do. It can tell us generalizations and averages that can explain certain phenomena. For instance, when people say that the disproportionate amount of blacks shot by the police is due to racism, we can better understand this situation by looking at empirical evidence involving crime rates that lead to police encounters instead. This explains the situation without placing blanket statements over an entire group of individuals connected only by their race. So if someone is asking why race a is more likely to be subject to [condition] than race b, we can explain this situation by looking at empirical evidence that shows that race a does more [action] that leads to [condition] than race b. Explanations are all empirical evidence. Evidence is no good when it comes to race unless the sample size includes every single individual member of a race and results in a 100 percentage. Such a thing is impossible, so lets disregard empirical evidence except in the instance of explaining phenomena involving a percentage of members of a race.

Going back to my two encounters, does empirical evidence justify their views and the acts of stereotyping different individuals that arise out of it? Absolutely not. To do so would be both illogical and unethical. Lets consider the first case. The white supremacist listed a bunch of empirical evidence involving crime, IQ, wealth, and productivity. If her assertion that whites are superior are true, then we would have to look at all the individuals involved. Are there people of color who dont commit crimes? Are there no white people who dont commit crimes? Are there no people of color who are smart? The same goes for wealth and productivity. The fact of the matter is that there are white criminals and black criminals, wealthy whites and wealthy blacks, and while the numbers may vary, race is not a sufficient way to look at it. 100 percent of wealthy people are wealthy, what percent of whites are wealthy? Definitely not 100 percent. Same goes for the other issues brought up by the white supremacist.

The social justice advocate is the same exact case. Just because there is empirical evidence that suggests more whites are wealthier than people of color, this does not mean that all white people are wealthy or all people of color are impoverished. The same goes for victims of police shootings and racism. As weve earlier established, white people can be victims of racism. The idea that white privilege is dangerous more dangerous than the ideas of the white supremacist is because its being masqueraded around as an anti-racist term. Most white supremacists know theyre racist and are proud of it. They mostly understand their ideas are going to be hated by the majority of people they encounter. This does not apply to the concept of white privilege. Its being used by social justice advocates to fight racism when whats ironically happening is theyre furthering racism by using the same methodology and collectivist lens that their white supremacist counterparts use. Not all white people are privileged, just like not all people of color are oppressed. Empirical evidence could suggest trends, but it does not provide a substantial assessment about entire groups of individuals connected only by the color of their skin. This makes the concept of white privilege illogical, unethical, obsolete, yet still dangerous.

Culture has been used as justification that there are some inherent differences between races that are not just related to physical differences. This has led to terms such as black culture or white culture. This assumes, going off a racial collectivist analysis, that it is impossible for a white person to be integrated into black culture or that a black person would stray away from black culture. An individualist does not deny culture and its importance, but an individualist more specifically a racial individualist would recognize that cultures arent inherent to certain races.

Think about this geographically. Asians are spread all throughout the world, in North America, Latin America, Europe, Africa, Australia, and obviously Asia. Do all these Asians follow the same culture simply based on the color of their skin? To say so would be ridiculous. For starters, there are different cultures based off of specific countries. Chinese culture is very different from Japanese culture. If they have the same culture why are have the Chinese and Japanese had historical conflicts? Within the country is different cultures as well. For instance, if we were to look at China, the Jiangshu province is much different from the Qinghai province in terms of culture. I shouldnt even have to explain the cultural differences that lie within the Tibet Region and Inner Mongolia. To claim that a culture is inherent or belongs to a certain race is geographically ridiculous.

This also assumes that its impossible for a member of a race to not identify with a common culture. Is there now no such thing as outliers or outsiders? Are there absolutely no Egyptians who follow an Egyptian culture? Do these outsiders not exist? What if these outsiders come in the future? Do we have all the relevant information to accurately say that ones race must obligate them to a culture? We dont, and to say otherwise would be to claim you know every single individual personally on the planet currently, as well as every single individual who has ever lived and ever will live. Many social justice ideas fail when we consider what relevant information is necessary to validate these beliefs, but the idea that a culture is inherent to a race is just one of them.

All of this refutes the famous term used by racial collectivists known as cultural appropriation. Although this concept is used mainly in social justice circles, I will admit it has found its way into unbiased organizations as well. The Cambridge Dictionary even has a definition for it: the act of taking or using things from a culture that is not your own, especially without showing that you understand or respect this culture. So how then does one obtain a culture? Do you have to be Asian in order to eat sushi? Do you have to be Mexican in order to wear a sombrero? The fact is that no individual can own a culture, regardless of their race, and at the same time no individual can be prohibited by a force of nature from taking part in a culture regardless of their race. The concept of cultural appropriation fails because it tries to claim the impossible: that a race made up of diverse and complex individuals somehow claim ownership to a culture.

Diversity of race is something that many have strived for, but why? It would make sense ethically to strive for diversity of race if there is clear racial discrimination, but why do people strive for diversity just for the sake of being racially diverse? Consider what this means. Striving for racial diversity implies that there is something inherently different between a white person, black person, Latino person, etc. What gets accomplished with racial diversity? More representation of people of many races, sure, but what is fundamentally different about them besides skin color? The most famous attempt to force diversity is the implementation of affirmative action programs in colleges across the western world. Individuals are being either penalized or benefitted, not for any merit, but rather due to a physical feature they have absolutely no control over. All in the name of what? Many have argued that there is a point of view and story involved inherently within a race, so therefore you would in turn be supporting diversity of opinion. The problem with this is that not all people who share the same race share the same story. Suppose the argument is made that black people go through financial struggles more than white people, therefore affirmative action must be put in place in order to get that perspective included into discourse between students. What then if an odd coincidence occurs in which the only black students who were admitted to University A were wealthy and well off? Its a very rare thing to see but not impossible. Would you then claim that University A was diverse?

I believe diversity is something to strive for, just not the racial diversity that social justice advocates advocate for. Diversity of personality, thought, religion, and political ideology is all much more important than diversity of race. When we focus clearly on diversity of thought instead of diversity of race, we can better accomplish the goals of a more well-rounded, knowledgeable society. There is nothing inherently different about a white person or a black person besides skin color.

What is the beautiful infinity? Ive coined this term to highlight the complexity and diversity of individuals. There are infinite types of individuals and no one individual can fully understand them all, let alone one. There are many of these individuals who are pushing ideas in the name of social justice. These racial collectivists just use the same methodology as racial collectivists of the past, such as white supremacists and the Ku Klux Klan. What is essentially being done is lazy; instead of looking at all these complex and diverse individuals, racial collectivists are lazily grouping people together based on their skin color, a physical attribute they have zero control over. Personality, intelligence, history, geography, and psychology, all tossed aside in the name of laziness and racial collectivism by social justice advocates. Individuals do make up a beautiful infinity. You will never find two individuals who are 100% identical; there are individuals who may act the same, grow up the same, and live the same, but there will always be a difference. The human mind is complex and has led to a history full of diverse individuals, and will lead to a future of the same. To group them based on skin color and then proceed to make assumptions about them is unethical, illogical, and frankly lazy. I shall conclude with a 1973 quote by Austrian economist Friedrich A. von Hayek:

I am certain, however, that nothing has done so much to destroy the juridical safeguards of individual freedom as the striving after this mirage of social justice.

* Stuart Clayton Lee is a far-right anarcho-capitalist who is currently attending college in Washington state. His favorite political philosopher is Robert Nozick, even if he disagrees with him on many issues. He finds himself most in agreement with Murray Rothbard. He is also a contributor to Liberty Hangout. He is currently studying economics and is pursuing knowledge personally in Austrian economics.

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Beautiful Infinity: A Libertarian Theory on Race - Being Libertarian

Auditions begin for the role of Queen Liliuokalani in ‘The Islands … – KHON2

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Auditions began today to fill the role of Queen Liliuokalani, in a feature film focused on Hawaiis history from Captain Cook to the overthrow of the monarchy.

River Rain Productions held the closed, scheduled auditions at the Manoa Innovation Center today for its movie called The Islands.

They are looking for a Native Hawaiian woman between 40 and 60 years old.

Weve been very excited about who weve seen so far, so maybe auditions will close today. Who knows. Well find the right Queen Liliuokalani, producer and director Tim Chey said.

Auditions for the queen and King Kamehameha are expected through late August. If youre interested you can email, casting@theislandsmovie.com.

The company says its budget is 44-million dollars and itll start filming in Hawaii this Fall. The movie is scheduled to be released in theaters next year.

Aspiring actors may see a familiar face sitting-in on auditions, former Lieutenant Governor Duke Aiona.

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Auditions begin for the role of Queen Liliuokalani in 'The Islands ... - KHON2

After Puerto Rico’s Debt Crisis, Worries Shift to Virgin Islands – New York Times

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In the Northern Mariana Islands, the depleted public pension fund was wreaking such fiscal havoc in 2012 that the territory declared it bankrupt, but the case was thrown out. The government then tried cutting all retirees pensions 25 percent, but the retirees have been fighting the cuts, and the fund is nearly exhausted anyway.

Even Guam, which enjoys the economic benefit of several large American military installations, has been having qualms about its debt after Puerto Ricos default.

Puerto Ricos troubles provide a teachable moment for Guam, said Benjamin Cruz, the speaker of the legislature, who recently helped defeat a proposal to borrow $75 million to pay tax refunds. Spending borrowed money is too easy.

But the debt dilemma is now most acute in the Virgin Islands the three main islands are St. Thomas, St. Croix and St. John where the government has been struggling ever since a giant refinery closed in 2012, wiping out the territorys biggest nongovernment employer and a mainstay of its tax base.

Its troubles began to snowball last July, when Puerto Rico defaulted on most of its debts.

In August, Fitch downgraded the Virgin Islands debt to junk, citing the territorys chronic budget deficits and habit of borrowing to plug the holes, like Puerto Rico.

More downgrades followed, and in December, Standard & Poors dealt the territory a rare superdowngrade seven notches in one fell swoop leaving it squarely in the junk-bond realm. That scared away investors and forced it to cancel a planned bond offering in January.

The failed bond deal meant there was not enough cash to pay for basic government operations in February or March. As a stopgap, the territory diverted its workers pension contributions.

The Virgin Islands governor, Kenneth E. Mapp, said he had no intention of defaulting on any bonds.

I didnt ask anybody for debt relief, so dont put me in the debt-relief boat, Mr. Mapp said in an interview at Government House, the ornate seat of the territorial government, perched on a hillside overlooking the lush palms and bougainvillea of the capital, Charlotte Amalie, on St. Thomas.

Still, Mr. Mapp is contending with many of the same problems that proved too much for Puerto Rico, driving it in May to seek bankruptcylike protection under a new law for insolvent territories, known as Promesa. Puerto Rico is now embroiled in heated negotiations over how to reduce its roughly $123 billion in debts and unfunded pensions.

When Congress drafted the Promesa law last year, it made it possible for the other American territories to seek the same kind of help.

Now, even though the Virgin Islands maintains it has no intention of defaulting on its debts and has even given creditors new protections the mere prospect of bankruptcy has spooked the markets, putting borrowed money beyond the territorys reach and greatly limiting its options.

In something of a self-fulfilling prophecy, by giving territories the option to declare bankruptcy, Congress seems to have made such an outcome more likely.

That innocuous provision, when sent to the bond market, said, Heres an escape valve for your debt obligations, Mr. Mapp said. That changed the whole paradigm.

The problem is that in Puerto Rico, Promesa is turning out to shred the many legal mechanisms that governmental borrowers use to make their debts secure. These include liens and allowing creditors access to the courts.

Under Promesa, all the security structures are dissolving, Mr. Fabian said.

Investors who thought they were secured creditors before now find themselves holding moral obligation pledges, which are not enforceable.

After the Virgin Islands bond offer fell through in January, the fuel supplier to its electric authority stopped shipments, saying it had not been paid; the authority was already in court with its previous fuel supplier, which had not been paid either.

Then came the House of Representatives plan to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act. Mr. Mapp saw the federal money that the Virgin Islands relies on for its public hospitals going up in smoke.

Mr. Mapp scrambled. He reactivated a five-year economic plan that had been languishing and pushed higher taxes on alcohol, cigarettes and soft drinks through the legislature. He fought for a permanent electric rate increase. He got $18 million in new federal funds for health care. He struck a deal to tax Airbnb rentals.

He hired collection agents to go after delinquent property and income taxes. He scheduled auctions for delinquent properties. He hired a team to work on the pension system, which is in severe distress, with only about six years worth of assets left.

Until recently, the pension system was chasing high returns by investing in high-risk assets, like a $50 million placement in life viaticals an insurance play that is, in effect, a bet that a selected group of elderly people will die soon. It also made loans to an insolvent inter-island airline, a resort that went bankrupt, and a major franchisee of KFC restaurants. The territorys inspector general has declared the loans illegal.

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After Puerto Rico's Debt Crisis, Worries Shift to Virgin Islands - New York Times

Love Island’s Jess Shears breaks down in tears as she insists she didn’t have sex with Mike Thalassitis after … – The Sun

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JESSICA Shears was left distraught after watching Love Island flame Dom Lever find out she slept with Mike Thalassitis hours after she left the villa.

The beauty insisted she didnt have sex with the hunk, despite sources telling The Sun Online the pair enjoyed a steamy tryst after the show.

ITV

Jessica Shears broke down watching tonights episode in the Love Island Aftersun studio

She weeped: Its making me so angry. I cant even tell him (Dom) because Im stuck

The beauty then went on to tell Caroline Flack: Absolutely nothing happened. Its absolutely laughable.

She was adamant they stayed in separate rooms and added that the only time she went to his room was to knock on his door in the morning to wake him up after he overslept.

ITV

Jess said had she have coupled with Mike in the villa it wouldnt have lasted because her and Dom would have gravitated towards each other.

Mike was equally as adamant, claiming he went straight to sleep when the pair returned to the holding villa after their elimination.

He told Caroline Flack: I was knackered it was mentally draining I fell straight to sleep.

However, their words are at odds with sources who told us the pair romped straight after their exit.

Rex Features

A source close to Jess told The Sun Online: Jess and Mike fancied the pants off each other from the minute they met last night was the perfect opportunity to enjoy time together in private off-camera and they didnt waste a moment.

When they left the villa they dropped off their bags at the hotel where they were both booked to stay, enjoyed a few drinks with the crew and then snuck off secretly.

They had separate rooms but the sexual chemistry between them was too much one thing led to another and they spent the night in bed together.

While another source told OK!: Mike bumped into us at the airport and was talking for ages. He said as soon as they left the villa, they spent the night together not just once, but BOTH nights.

ITV

Fans alleged Jess told Mike she wanted to f**k when they were evicted from the villa just days ago, however, Aftersun cleared up the speculation by replaying the clip, which revealed she said: Lets get f***ing drunk.

Before tonights much-anticipated episode of Aftersun, fans caught Jess resting her hand on Mikes leg.

ITV

ITV

The pair were sitting next to each other on the sofa as they grinned, and Jess swiftly removed her hand as the camera was turned on to them.

Ex On The Beach star Zahida Allen was one of the first to notice it.

She tweeted: Please tell me someone else saw Jess move her hand FAST of Mikes leg on the adverts just now lol! #LoveIsland.

Dom, 26, was left heartbroken on tonights show when he was told about Jesss tryst with Mike by Gabby Allen and Marcy Somerville after the pair received messages from the outside world.

The Sun Online revealed earlier this week that Jess and Mike had sex after being dumped from the ITV2 show just hours after an emotional Jess told Dom: Im yours.

Gabby was given some time to Skype her mum, who was first to reveal that Jess and Mike had been intimate since leaving the villa last week.

Her mum said: Dom needs to give that new girl Tyler a chance because theres a lot of speculation that Jess has been at it with Mike.

Marcel then confirmed the information with two of his former Blazing Squad bandmates Oliver Georgiou and Chris McKeckney, who said: There is a story floating there is a big rumour about her and Mike.

Gabby and Marcel decided to tell Dom, whos since coupled up with new islander Tyler Carr, believing he had every right to know.

Dom who said it "killed him" to see Jess leave the show stormed out of the villa and sat outside in an attempt to come to terms with the shocking news.

After being consoled by Marcel, Dom admitted: I know it was real, I was true to her and I thought it was special.

If shes done what shes done it clearly wasnt as special to her.

Got a story? email digishowbiz@the-sun.co.uk or call us direct on 02077824220

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Love Island's Jess Shears breaks down in tears as she insists she didn't have sex with Mike Thalassitis after ... - The Sun

Gulf Islands National Seashore sites back in business – The Northwest Florida Daily News

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Okaloosa area of the GINS remains closed due to standing water.

Gulf Islands National Seashore officials reopened the Santa Rosa and Fort Pickens areas on Saturday following Tropical Storm Cindy closures. Park crews completed their debris clean up and repair work during the afternoon in the areas allowing them to be reopened. The Fort Pickens Campground opened for walk-in campers on Saturday night.

Campground staff will do their best to accommodate as many campers who arrive on Sunday as possible. Campers should call the office to make arrangements. Reservations for the campground will be honored starting Monday night. The Okaloosa area remains closed due to standing water.

National Seashore areas on Santa Rosa Island were closed and the Fort Pickens Campground was evacuated as Tropical Storm Cindy approached the Gulf Coast. The areas and roadways were inundated with high tides and waves pushing gulf waters over roadways. As heavy rains fell on saturated grounds the areas experienced significant flooding. The Naval Live Oaks, Fort Barrancas, and Perdido Key areas remained open and were not impacted by the storm.

The National Park Service implemented its severe tropical weather plan allowing for the areas to be safely evacuated, quick damage assessments to be made, and the areas reopened quickly after the severe weather had passed.

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Gulf Islands National Seashore sites back in business - The Northwest Florida Daily News

tulsa healthcare – craigslist

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tulsa healthcare - craigslist

Senate Republicans face key week as more lawmakers waver in support for health-care bill – Washington Post

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(Bastien Inzaurralde/The Washington Post)

Senate Republicans are facing down an increasingly daunting challenge to secure the votes necessary to pass legislation to dramatically change President Barack Obamas signature health-care law, and several senators said they would like more time to debate and tweak the plan as GOP leaders push for a vote this week.

At least five Republicans have already come out against their partys bill which can only afford to lose two votes and over the weekend, more began expressing serious reservations and skepticism about the proposal.

The mounting dissatisfaction leaves Senate Republican leaders and the White House in a difficult position. In the coming days, moves to narrow the scope of the overhaul could appeal to moderates but anger conservatives, who believe the legislation does not go far enough to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act, known as Obamacare.

A key moment will arrive early this week when the Congressional Budget Office releases an analysis of the bill that estimates how many people could lose coverage under the Republican plan, as well as what impact it might have on insurance premiums and how much money it could save the government.

The stalled Republican effort to pass a sweeping rewrite of the Affordable Care Act was further threatened Sunday when Republican senators from opposite sides of the partys ideological spectrum voiced their disapproval, imperiling hopes for a Senate vote this week and President Trumps chance to fulfill a core campaign pledge.

Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine) on Sunday expressed deep concerns about how the bill would cut expanded Medicaid funding for states, a key pillar of the Affordable Care Act that several centrists in the Senate are wary of rolling back, saying on ABCsThis Week that she worries about what it means to our most vulnerable citizens.

Collins also said she is concerned about the bills impact on the cost of insurance premiums and deductibles, especially for older Americans.

Im going to look at the whole bill before making a decision, she said, later adding, Its hard for me to see the bill passing this week.

Underscoring the challenge facing Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.), speaking on the same Sunday show, also voiced concerns with the bill but for entirely different reasons.

Paul who, along with fellow Republican Sens. Ted Cruz of Texas, Ron Johnson of Wisconsin and Mike Lee of Utah,has already said he cannot support the current bill rejected the Republican plan as not fiscally austere enough but said that in the face of an impasse, he could support legislation that simply repeals Obamas health-care law.

Ive been telling leadership for months now Ill vote for a repeal, Paul said. And it doesnt have to be a 100 percent repeal. So, for example, Im for 100 percent repeal, thats what I want. But if you give me 90 percent repeal, Id probably vote for it. I might vote for 80 percent repeal.

But simply repealing Obamacare or large parts of the law without making any other changes to the nations health-care system is not a realistic political possibility at the moment.

McConnell and his team remain convinced they must call a vote soon to avoid having health-care discussions dominate the summer, when they aim to move on to retooling tax legislation. In their circle, further talks are also seen as an opening for others to bolt.

Its not going to get any easier, Senate Majority Whip John Cornyn (R-Tex.) told reporters on the sidelines of a three-day seminar organized by billionaire industrialist Charles Koch in Colorado Springs. And, yes, I think August is the drop deadline, about August 1.

As senators took to the airwaves Sunday, there were developments behind the scenes as GOP leaders made calls and worked to cobble together votes. But no firm decisions on vote-winning revisions were made.

There was new talk among key GOP figures about wooing moderates by altering the bills Medicaid changes, according to two people involved who would not speak publicly. By tweaking how federal funding is determined for Medicaid recipients and linking aspects to the medical component of the consumer price index, there is a belief that some moderates could be swayed, because they want assurances that funding would keep up with any rises in the cost of care, the people said.

Then would come the tightrope: If some senators can be persuaded to support revisions to the Medicaid portion of the bill, several conservatives are warning that unless their amendments are also included, they are unlikely to support the legislation. The hope is that a combination of those Medicaid changes and amendments from conservatives could pave the way to passage.

Progress in these conversations could postpone a vote for a couple weeks until after the Fourth of July holiday, the people said, but Senate leadership and the White House want to move this week if they can.

The administration itself, meanwhile, is sending mixed signals. An allied leadership PAC is launching an intensive advertising campaign against centrist Sen. Dean Heller (R-Nev.), a no vote, to pressure him to support the bill. On This Week, Kellyanne Conway, counselor to the president, said Trumpis working the phones, hes having personal meetings, and hes engaging with leaders.

Still, the presidents own support for the legislation has at times been lukewarm. Over the weekend, he acknowledged he once called the initial Republican bill, which originated in the House, mean in a private meeting, but also urged senators on Twitter to pass it.

Trumps aides have seemed to signal that the White House is more likely to support the final Senate proposal over the original House bill going forward, and speaking this weekend onFox & Friends, Trump said,I want to see a bill with heart.

Conway added thatthe president and the White House are also open to getting Democratic votes, and asked, Why cant we get a single Democrat to come to the table, to come to the White House, to speak to the president or anyone else about trying to improve a system that has not worked for everyone?

But Democratic support seems unlikely. Senate Minority Leader Charles E. Schumer (D-N.Y.), speaking onThis Week, said Democrats would only sit down with Republicans if they stop trying repeal Obamacare. In an interview with The Washington Post, Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) spoke of trying to postpone a vote on the bill to mount a stronger fight against it.

One of the strategies is to just keep offering amendments, to delay this thing and delay this thing at least until after the July Fourth break, Sanders said. That would give us the opportunity to rally the American people in opposition to it. I think we should use every tactic that we can to delay this thing. In fact despite Trumps campaign promise he would not cut Medicaid the Senate bill includes deep cuts to projected spending on the program, deeper even than the House bill over the long run, and is expected to leave millions without or unable to afford health insurance.

On Sunday, there were attempts to tamp down criticism of the effect the Senate bill would have on Medicaid. Speaking on CBSs Face the Nation, Sen. Patrick J. Toomey (R-Pa.), claimed the Republican plan will codify and make permanent the Medicaid expansion, and added, No one loses coverage. His comments echoed those by Conway, who told This Week, These are not cuts to Medicaid.

The legislation does not outright abolish the expansion of the program, under which 11million Americans in 31states have gained coverage since 2014. Instead, the bill would gradually eliminate the generous federal funding that has propped up the expansion, leaving states without enough money to pay for all their current beneficiaries.

Johnson, the senator from Wisconsin who surprised some fellow Republicans by co-signing a letter asking for more changes to the bill, said on NBCs Meet the Press that there was no hurry to vote before the end of June.

Theres no way we should be voting on this next week. No way, Johnson said. I have a hard time believing Wisconsin constituents or even myself will have enough time to properly evaluate this, for me to vote for a motion to proceed.

At the same time, Johnson said he was not a pure no on the bill.

Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-La.), who criticized the secretive process by which the new bill was crafted and had preferred his own compromise to extend most of the Affordable Care Act, struck a similar tone on Face the Nation. After saying he was undecided, he clarified that small changes could win his vote.

There are things in this bill that adversely affect my state that are peculiar to my state, Cassidy said. If those can be addressed, I will. If they cant be addressed, I wont. So right now, I am undecided.

Progressive activists spent the weekend warning that Republicans such as Johnson and Cassidy could vote for the bill with minor tweaks. In Columbus, Ohio, at the second of three rallies Sanders and MoveOn.org organized to pressure swing-state Republican senators, MoveOns Washington director, Ben Wikler, warned a crowd of at least 1,000 activists that the protests of Senate Republicans might amount to nothing more than theatrical posturing.

This is the week when Mitch McConnell and Republicans are going to introduce these tiny amendments and Republicans are going to say, Oh, the bill is fixed! Oh, I can vote for it now! Wikler warned. Are we going to let him get away with that?

And looming over the discussions is another challenge: the Republican-controlled House, where any revised Senate bill would head and its ultimate fate would be decided. According to a White House official, Trump advisers are keeping in close touch with the conservative House Freedom Caucus which helped tank the White Houses initial health-care push as the Senate considers the bill, making sure that whatever ends up passing could pass muster with House conservatives.

David Weigel reported from Columbus, Ohio. James Hohmann in Colorado Springs contributed to this report.

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Senate Republicans face key week as more lawmakers waver in support for health-care bill - Washington Post

On healthcare, GOP loss could be a win – CNN

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The odds seem minimal that the bill will pass in its current form. Several senators, on the right and the center, immediately voiced their opposition to McConnell's work. Republicans only have a slim 52 majority to work with.

Nor is it clear that President Donald Trump has the political wherewithal to whip up the vote. So in the coming weeks, defeat is a very distinct possibility.

Such an outcome could be a blessing in disguise for the President and his party. There are many ways that passage of this legislation could be a political disaster for the Republicans, even if they have been clamoring for reform since 2011.

The final version of the bill would be unlikely to satisfy anyone. Conservatives will cry that the bill left too much of the Affordable Care Act in place, betraying a key promise from the 2016 campaign, while moderates will feel that any version of the legislation is too harsh.

But if the bill goes down to defeat, unhappiness with the existing health care system will still be directed toward the GOP. To counter this, President Trump and the GOP could move on to more popular issues, like cutting income taxes, and say that for now they can't dive back into the quagmire of health care.

And Democrats will lose an issue that has animated them and been very effective at garnering grassroots fervor.

There is a precedent for a loss helping a President and party move on to greener political grasses. In 1981, President Ronald Reagan took on Social Security. Many Republicans, including the President, had argued for years that the New Deal program was too costly and too generous with elderly Americans who didn't need the money.

Fresh off his stunning victory over President Jimmy Carter, President Reagan put forward a proposal to reduce benefits for early retirees. The proposal constituted the largest cut in the program since Congress created Social Security in 1935.

Liberal organizations mobilized against the proposed cuts and by 1982 the proposal was dead. Social Security came to be known as a "third rail" of politics -- touch it and you die. Reagan would not try to privatize or cut the program again. Indeed, in 1983 Reagan worked with Democrats to shore up the program's finances so that it would be on sound footing for years to come.

Although the vehemence of the opposition was part of the reason Democrats did well in the midterm elections and increased their House majority, the defeat allowed Reagan to get away from trying to cut or privatize the program again. Instead, Reagan could keep his attention on pushing for higher defense spending and taking on communists while enjoying the electoral boost that came when the economy started to recover from the malaise of the 1970s.

Reagan soundly defeated Walter Mondale in the 1984 election and went on to sign a historic arms agreement with the Soviet Union in 1987 that has defined his legacy.

Ironically, as in 1983 with Social Security, this could create an opportunity for Trump and the GOP to strengthen the Affordable Care Act, eventually allowing them to take credit for the program if it works better.

President Trump and the GOP can say they tried to repeal Obamacare and blame obstructionist Democrats for the loss. This could be their theme on Twitter for weeks.

Everything will become a bit clearer when the Senate takes its vote. Who knows? Maybe this has been Sen. McConnell's real play from the start -- let the bill die of its own weight so that Republicans can finally start to govern.

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On healthcare, GOP loss could be a win - CNN

The script is up and running: Democrats stage a health care drama – Washington Times

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Democrats have been busy crafting a political epic, which is the fate of the American Health Care Act. The Trumpcare story may prove to be great family fare with a happy ending, or a heroic saga. No doubt, Democrats would prefer the Republican legislation to either end up as a murder mystery or screwball farce and they are ramping up an intense production. Their language is emotional and follows a strategic script, amplified by a mostly sympathetic news media, which is eager to give the Democrats performance a good review and much coverage.

Sen. Bernard Sanders spent the entire weekend on stage, traveling to Ohio, Pennsylvania and West Virginia to condemn the American Health Care Act before grass-roots audiences, many holding up preprinted signs that read Dont take away our healthcare, some calling out I will die, I will die, among other things.

How can it be a health care bill when it throws 23 million people off of insurance, slashes Medicaid and defunds Planned Parenthood? God knows what the implication of this legislation will be on our children, the elderly and those with chronic illness, Mr. Sanders said in a fundraising outreach to help pay for his tour.

If this legislation was to pass, and if millions of people many of whom are terribly ill today were to lose the health care that they have, there is no question that many, many thousands of our fellow Americans could die unnecessarily, Mr. Sanders told an audience on one of his last stops.

Is this what America is supposed to be about, taking away health insurance from kids with disabilities, from people with cancer in order to give tax breaks to billionaires? That is what this entire debate is about, said the Vermont independent during an appearance on NBCs Meet the Press on Sunday.

Mr. Sanders is not alone in weighing in on the pending legislation. Dramatically.

If theres a chance you might get sick, get old or start a family, this bill will do you harm, said former President Barack Obama.

Forget death panels. If Republicans pass this bill, theyre the death party, tweeted former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, who also advised, This is a critical moment about choosing people over politics. Speak out against this bill.

GRACIOUS IVANKA

What doesIvanka Trump think of her fathers frequent tweets? She offers some insight on President Trumps use of social media in an interview airing Monday with Fox and Friends co-host Ainsley Earhardt.

I try to stay out of politics, she said, then added some appreciative words for her father.

His political instincts are phenomenal. He did something that no one could have imagined hed be able to accomplish, Ms. Trump continued. I feel blessed just being part of the ride from Day 1, and before. He did something pretty remarkable. But I dont profess to be a political savant.

WORRIED, AND NOT WORRIED

As the U.S. Senate begins considering legislation that could significantly change the nations health care system, the cost of health care leads the list of what Americans consider the most important financial problem facing their family. The 17 percent who name health care costs as their familys most pressing financial problem is up 7 percentage points since 2013 and is just 2 points shy of the all-time high of 19 percent recorded in 2007, writes Andrew Dugan, a Gallup poll analyst.

Americans also fret about debt (11 percent), lack of money (10 percent) and college expenses (10 percent). There is some relief, though: the 10 percent of Americans who say low wages are their familys biggest problem this year is the lowest since before the 2008 financial crisis.

Other financial problems Americans mention include the cost of owning or renting a home (9 percent), the high cost of living (8 percent), retirement savings (6 percent), taxes (5 percent), unemployment or loss of a job (3 percent), Social Security (3 percent) and lack of savings (2 percent). The pollster also found that nobody is worried about the stock market, investments, energy costs and gas prices while 1 percent are concerned for the economy and interest rates.

FOR THE LEXICON

Supreme Court Retirement Age Bingo

Convenient new term from HotAir.com analyst Jazz Shaw.

The annual summer ritual has begun. For most Americans it involves a trip to the lake, a cookout or some fireworks. But in the world of political punditry it signals the beginning of the Supreme Court recess and the question of whether or not any of the justices are preparing to bail out on the job and go spend some well-deserved time with their families says Mr. Shaw.

INTERESTING ACCOMMODATIONS

The Watergate Hotel has announced it is in the process of designing a one-of-a-kind Watergate Scandal Room 214. The room itself served as a kind of command post prior to the break-in on June 17, 1972, at the Democratic National Committee offices at the Watergate office complex next door.

No word on the particular design, which pairs Lyn Paolo, the costume designer of ABCs Scandal, with Rakel Cohen, co-owner of the hotel itself. Linens, in-room amenities and closet items will be tweaked to showcase the propertys significant history and underscore the guest rooms allure to so many global travelers, management said.

The hotel already embraces its past; room keys include the phrase No Need to Break-In, President Nixons political speeches are incorporated as hold music in the phone system, and complimentary pencils in guest rooms are engraved with I Stole This from The Watergate Hotel.

POLL DU JOUR

56 percent of U.S. voters approve of the job President Trump is doing fighting terrorism; 88 percent of Republicans, 58 percent of independents and 27 percent of Democrats agree.

55 percent of voters overall approve of the job Mr. Trump is doing with job creation; 89 percent of Republicans, 54 percent of independents and 28 percent of Democrats agree.

55 percent overall approve of the job Mr. Trump is doing with the economy; 90 percent of Republicans, 55 percent of independents and 26 percent of Democrats agree.

50 percent overall approve of the job Mr. Trump is doing with immigration; 84 percent of Republicans, 49 percent of independents and 22 percent of Democrats agree.

48 percent overall approve of Mr. Trump as president of the United States; 86 percent of Republicans, 45 percent of independents and 19 percent of Democrats agree.

Source: A Harvard University/Harris/The Hill poll of 2,258 registered U.S. voters conducted June 19-21.

Murmurs and asides to jharper@washingtontimes.com

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The script is up and running: Democrats stage a health care drama - Washington Times

Tufts teams up with Malden and Medford students – Daily Item

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June 25, 2017

BySTEVE FREKER

MALDEN More than 1,000 local high school students in Malden and Medford have benefited from a unique partnership pairing them with Tufts University staff and students to study genetics.

The students will participate in Tufts Universitys Bioinformatics Inquiry through Sequencing (BioSeq) program with part of the program paid for by a $100,000 grant from the Cummings Foundation.

Were very grateful for Cummings Foundations generosity and its continued commitment to both Tufts University and the goal of enhancing STEM education for young students from our local communities, said Matthew Fierman, Ph.D., BioSeqs program administrator.

BioSeq uses an interactive curriculum to explain genetic science and prepare students for research careers and enhancing understanding of how genetics work can shape and save lives.

The BioSeq program is part of Tufts and Cummings Foundations legacy of support for science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) education opportunities for students in greater Boston.

Founded with funding from the National Institutes of Health Science Education Partnership Award and now in its fifth year, BioSeq has reached many students in Medford, Malden and Somerville schools.

Until recently, genetic sequencing was labor-intensive, slow and expensive. Thanks to next-generation sequencing, however, scientists are employing new tools to gather genetic data and to draw meaningful conclusions on how the data can push the boundaries of medical knowledge and bring the promise of personalized medicine closer to reality.

Despite these tremendous advances, genetic science technology is largely out of the reach of the high school audience.

Because of the Cummings Foundations support, students will have opportunities to learn by asking and answering their own questions about genetics, Fierman said.

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Tufts teams up with Malden and Medford students - Daily Item

House now seeks controlled trial of genetically modified maize – Daily Nation

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Sunday June 25 2017

Kenya imposed a ban on GMO crops in November, 2012, citing danger to public health. FILE PHOTO | NMG

Parliament has called for approval of field trials of geneticallymodified maize because the ban on GMO imports did not apply to controlled growing tests as well.

The National Assemblys Agriculture Committee wants the government to facilitate local researchers to conduct field trials of biotechnology maize as long as they are not for cultivation or commercial use.

This comes weeks after Health secretary Cleopa Mailu has rejected the planned trial of genetically modified maize in Kenya, arguing that the Cabinet in 2012 imposed a ban on the importation and consumption of GMO food.

The National Biosafety Authority should facilitate local researchers to conduct field trials of biotechnology maize to ascertain drought tolerance and insect resistance, as well as collect compositional data for safety analysis, but not for cultivation or commercialisation, the committee said in a report that was tabled on June 15, the day Parliament took an indefinite end-of-term recess.

The National Environment Management Authority stopped the testing of seeds from Kenya Livestock and Research Organisation and the African Agricultural Technology Foundation last October, after the National Bio-safety Authority allowed them to conduct controlled tests.

Kenyan scientists want a permit to conduct field trials of biotechnology maize developed locally using genetic engineering for resistance to a common stalk borer.

The trials, which were expected to take two years were to be conducted nationwide in the Kenya Plant Health Inspectorate Services confined fields and inspected by other State agencies.

Kenya imposed a ban on GMO crops in November, 2012, citing danger to public health.

Unlike other political financiers who show off their riches, Mr Wanjigi is most secretive.

His children go to Genevas 135-year-old Institut Le Rosey a Sh10 million-a-year school.

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House now seeks controlled trial of genetically modified maize - Daily Nation

Science, if used correctly, has no political affiliation: director Scott Hamilton Kennedy on the new documentary … – Salon

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Show us your data and well show you ours. Thats the stance of Scott Hamilton Kennedy, the director of the new documentary Food Evolution, which takes the gasp! position that genetically modified organisms (GMOs) in the agriculture industry might well be the best thing to happen to the planet since solar panels. And hes not alone he enlisted two of the nations most beloved scientists, Neil deGrasse Tyson, who narrates, and Bill Nye the Science Guy, who appears in the film. Incredibly, both affable, smart guys have come to the same conclusion as Kennedy that the science demonstrates that genetically engineered food isnt as damaging as popularly believed, and, in fact, can lead to downright sustainable farming practices.

Kennedy goes deep here with his answers to Salons questions, judiciously explaining what others might consider blasphemy. Still, pardon us for maintaining some journalistic skepticism, especially considering his film was financed by the Institute of Food Technologists (IFT), a food science society the includes academics from the public and private sectors. Note that the president-elect, Cindy Stewart, hails from DuPont and before that, Pepsi. But Kennedy sure does sound reasonable and level-headed (which is reflected in the film) in the following answers. Also, check out the filmmakers statement regarding the IFT.

Keeping an open mind is a key to scientific inquiry, after all. The exclusive clip below (which actually didnt make it to the final cut of the film), in which anti-GMO scholar and activist Vandana Shiva equates writer Mark Lynas pro-GMO stance with being pro-rape, clearly indicates the issue has become way too muddied.

If we all agree that the planet is in a perilous state, its time to consider some radically evolved thinking. Food Evolution opened onJune 23.

How did you maintain objectivity?

Curiosity, skepticism, seemingly endless research, and data, data, data. We tried to never take someones word for something, check their data and check it again. And a great rule we learned from the wonderful science journalist Tamar Haspel: Talk to the smartest people on both sides of any argument.

Through the course of this film, one of the ways I came to determine the legitimacy of a person or organization, a shill metric if you like, was to look at their endgame. What were they really trying to achieve as a scientist, activist, farmer, politician, business person, etc.?

In creating the GMO Rainbow Papaya, scientist Dennis Gonsalves endgame was very clear: Can he find a safe and affordable way to save the papaya industry from a terrible virus, without losing any of the quality of their beloved papaya? And he succeeded by using GMO technology.

But often the inverse wasnt as clear; with many people and organizations who were opposed to GMOs including Dennis papaya I often struggle with what their endgame truly is. While they often say its about things like safety, sustainability and transparency, their actions and inability to accept information that goes counter to their ideologies seems to contradict those goals. Is their endgame about safety or to get an ideological victory no matter what the data says? Are they trying to have their kale and eat it too?

Though we as filmmakers are far from perfect at this, the goal is to always remain skeptical yet humble. Skepticism as a scientist, journalist or documentary filmmaker is pretty obvious: Dont take things at face value (also includes, beware of the Single Study Syndrome); triangulate your position based on the information out there; look for and be aware of your own financial or ideological dogs in the fight; but ultimately be led and anchored by those things that have been objectively proven to be true while recognizing that science is just a snapshot at any given time of the current body of scientific knowledge. Which leads into the second goal: Have some humility, because it is essential to being able to admit when you are wrong. Theres a really interesting graph we came across during our journey that essentially shows that the less expertise you have in a given subject, the more likely you are to be certain that your views are right, whereas the more expertise you have, the more comfortable you are with the notion you might be wrong. That really brought into focus the whole debate and critical thinking in general.

Whats the strongest argument for the positive development of GMO foods?

In figuring out the core communications of the film we came to a few must-have tenets: 1) GMO, or more correctly, GE (genetic engineering) is a process, not a product. It is a breeding method, similar to the ways farmers have been manipulating and improving plants for the last ten thousand years, but now it is done in a lab. 2) GMO is not owned by any one company or industry. So the strongest argument for using GMO technology is that it works. Then the question becomes: Is it the correct fix for the given situation, and that is another of our core tenets: 3) take all future GMOs on a case-by-case basis, just like any other technology. Is it safe, is it helping, is there a better way to solve the problem? And in many situations, like the papaya in Hawaii and the bananas in Uganda, no other method could stop the devastation of that crop except for GE.

As Neil deGrasse Tyson has said, Weve been doing this for 10thousand years but now that were doing it in a lab, now you have a problem with it? And while that might be oversimplifying the difference between genetic engineering and previous seed breeding techniques, it really does capture the spirit of and motivation behind what scientists are trying to do with this technology.

The problem is GMO has become such a catch-all for all the issues in our food system that not a lot people actually know what it is. And part of that is because a GMO, a genetically modified organism, is not only a really terrible name that instantly makes average consumers a bit suspicious, but it is scientifically meaningless because at its essence every living thing in our world has been genetically modified relative to their ancestors.

So what are we talking about? I think the term GMO needs to be better defined so average people can be better educated on this issue. OK, so here we go, a GMO is simply the product that results from the process of genetic engineering, which at its core is the latest, much more precise method of breeding better seeds, which is generally undertaken when 1) a specific problem needs to be addressed (climate change-resilience, disease-resistance, vitamin-fortified, etc.) and 2) there is not a conventional breeding alternative.

So with that in mind, the strongest argument for genetically modifying foods is that it provides scientists and farmers with a tool to fight major food and agricultural problems that in most instances cannot be fought any other way. Are there some GMOs, notably RoundUp-Ready, that are a bit more complicated? Because theyre part of a more complicated debate over pesticide use and farm production systems in general? Yes, but dont throw the baby out with the bathwater. Debate that specific GMO, not the process of genetic engineering itself. Because if we follow the lead of the antis, and use their arguments against RoundUp-Ready to ban the entire technology, which they advocate globally, then not only will we be trying to take on the specific global challenges facing farming with one arm tied behind our back, but it will cause suffering around the world.

Is it fair to call you and the film pro GMO?

I can see why some people would call the film pro GMO, but we always saw it as pro-science, pro-data, pro-scientific method to help all of us make the best decisions we can. And the GMO controversy was just a metaphor for what can happen if people allow their ideologies to lead their decision making over using the scientific method.

Some say our film is pro-GMO but we would counter we are simply pro-science because currently every major scientific institution and all the data and peer-reviewed science tells us, as a process, it is as safe, if not safer, than any other seed breeding technique available.

After watching your film, I am still not convinced GMOs dont somehow increase the dependence on damaging herbicides or damage the environment in other ways. For all the stats you use, I imagine there being counterpoints. It probably comes down to a case-by-case approach. Your thoughts?

Your concern was very much Bill Nyes concern, and while he was skeptical of the long-term impacts of GMOs on the environment, he took the time to do more research, including visiting Monsanto, and after this research he changed his mind and determined the current products are safe for the planet and safe to eat. And further, that in most cases they are a net positive in terms of environmental impact improvement.

And, forgiving the mild snarkiness, may I also answer with one of my favorite Neil deGrasse Tyson quotes: Science doesnt care about your opinion. We have to check ourselves and think twice beyond just our opinions, gut feelings and tribal echo chambers.

In the case of herbicide-tolerant GMOs, people dont realize that this is not an issue specific or unique to GMOs or, more accurately speaking, genetic engineering. It is a question on pesticide use in general, and even more broadly, part of a vastly oversimplified debate on farming in general that most media insist on framing as a binary, either/or approach. Weve met big farmers who adopt organic principles and organic farmers who adopt some big practices. Its a continuum, and which production system the farmer chooses is based on their own specific circumstances, and not some ideological, usually over-romanticized notion of one being good and the other being bad.

And getting down into the weeds of it (pun intended), Alison Van Eenennaam states it best in the film when she relates a story from a farmer she met who is trying to comply with recent regulations in his county banning the use of glyphosate (i.e., Roundup); she asks Charles Kimbrell, paraphrasing here, Now that hes been forced to give up glyphosate, what do you think hes going to use? Hes going to go back to using more toxic herbicides. . . Now how does that make any sense? Is glyphosate perfect? No, weeds will always be a major challenge for farmers and its vastly more sustainable than what farmers were previously doing. And in near future, science and tech will continue to evolve, moving away from chemicals and turning to more biologically based approaches, and an even more sustainable solution to weeds will become available. Thats progress. Incrementally better, more sustainable solutions.

I cant believe that Monsanto/Pharmacia can be a trustworthy source of information considering their history and the fact that they have so much to gain financially from GMOs (Roundup, etc.). Do you?

Of course we shouldnt take any one industrys opinion on anything without having other checks and balances in place, and if you look at the thousands of studies that have been completed on the safety of GMOs both in the U.S. and around the world, they overwhelming conclude that the current products are safe for ourselves and the environment, and again, in many cases have had a positive impact on the environment, such as lowering toxic inputs.

And while our film is clearly pro the scientific method, in no way are we trying to say that science or scientists are infallible. All of us and all of our systems need checks and balances. But still, we human beings have not found a better system of checks and balances than the scientific method. So you cant rely on single study; it needs to be repeated, and repeated by people who might want to see you fail. What a great system!

Id also first want to get clarity on what appears to be an assumption in the question itself. . . . Are you implying that the sole source of information on GMOs is from Monsanto? I wouldnt think so but do want to be certain that that is clearly not the case with our film or scientific knowledge in general (the recent NAS report on GMOs is a good, independent source to start from. . . ).

Moving beyond that, of course they have a motive, a drive for profits, that must be taken into consideration when looking at any information directly from them. But what matters is, again, what has been objectively proven through independent, peer-reviewed science. And as it relates to the safety of their GMOs, the science has been confirmed to be on their side. And I dont subscribe to the conspiracy theories out there that the global scientific consensus on the safety of GMOs (see the list of institutions referenced in the film) has been bought or compromised by their influence. We had a phrase in the edit room that our editor came up with that I quite liked, What if Darth Vader helped invent the polio vaccine? Now thats probably hyperbole on both sides of that statement but you get the idea, a company with a questionable track record can still be part of developing a worthwhile technology.

Were Neil deGrasse Tyson or Bill Nye wary about being associated with the film? Are they supporting its release with any events?

I asked Neil exactly that question and he said when he saw our film he thought: Its about time somebody told this story correctly, using sound scientific information. But again, Neil didnt make the film with us to defend GMOs, he made the film to defend science. Or as he said on camera at our DOC NYC premiere (and we can share this clip): Its not a matter of being pro or anti-GMO. I think many people will presume that thats the message of the film, but I did the film because we need a more scientifically literate electorate so that we can make informed decisions about the future of our democracy, and this is an example of where they can be more informed.

Neil has been great in his support of the film; just saying yes to being our narrator and script consultant drastically increased the scientific gravitas of the film.

Thanks for the exclusive clip of Dr. Vandana Shiva equating Mark Lynas pro-GMO stance with being pro-rape. Its so inflammatory! Why didnt it make it to the final cut of the film?

It was difficult not to include it, but we had so much other great footage. As a documentarian or really any kind of storyteller, you are always asking yourself does a scene serve the purpose of the entire film or is it making it too long, and in this case we thought the film was better served without it. And, that tough decision was softened by the fact that we knew this and many other scenes would live again online.

Its ironic that pro-GMO seems like a stance that pro-business President Trump would be for. And yet, the film relies on science to make its case, not exactly Trumps strong suit. Care to parse that?

One of the great things about science is that, if used correctly, it has no political affiliation. It isnt blue or red, rich or poor, big or small; it is the best system for determining the truth that we have at our disposal. Or again, as Neil said at DOC NYC, When results are repeated and found to be true that is objective, scientific truth. That is the kind of truth people should base legislation on. If you start basing laws that are not anchored in objective truths, it is the beginning of the end of an informed democracy. And just to bring it back to Trump, Neil made this statement just days after Trump was elected. His point was made.

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Science, if used correctly, has no political affiliation: director Scott Hamilton Kennedy on the new documentary ... - Salon

Bluebird Reports Early Results From Upgraded Gene Therapy – Xconomy

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Xconomy Boston

One of the years most closely watched clinical studies could lead to a landmark approval of a gene therapy and throw wide open the debate over how to pay for expensive drugs. The first drips of data have emerged.

Bluebird Bio (NASDAQ: BLUE) says the first three patientsof 15 total expectedhave had good results from a revised version of its LentiGlobin gene therapy to treat certain genetic variants of the rare blood disease beta-thalassemia, which causes severe anemia and requires frequent transfusions.

Bluebird has changed the way it manufactures the product, which requires extracting a patients bone marrow cells, altering their DNA outside the body, then reintroducing the cells to the patient. This study, called NORTHSTAR-2, is the first test of the improved process, which regulators said last year would not require rewinding its clinical program back to the beginninga sigh of relief at the time for the company and its shareholders.

Caveats abound. The results are not only a small sample size, they are also early. Typically data from three patients in a study would not be worth singling out. But Bluebird, of Cambridge, MA, is trying to produce a type of medicine never approved before in the U.S. (Two have been approved in Europe, but one never took hold.)

And the FDA has already shown willingness to consider approval of medicines for rare diseases based on tiny sample sizeswith considerable controversy, in the case of a drug approved last year to treat Duchenne muscular dystrophy.

In one NORTHSTAR-2 patient, the healthy version of the blood protein hemoglobin has reached normal levels six months after a single dose of treatment. The second patients healthy hemoglobin levels are rising but lower than the first patient after three months. The third patient is only two months out from treatment.

For patients with good results, the treatments staying power will be crucial. Bluebird wants it to be a one-time cure, as of course will patients. Insurers will undoubtedly want the samebut what to do if something that costs hundreds of thousands or more than a million dollars, stops working after a few years?

Bluebird officials say they have already begun talking to payers about pay for performance arrangements. Our hope is to tie outcomes of the patient to the value generated, says chief financial and strategic officer Jeff Walsh. It can come in many different forms. (Xconomy reported on several creative drug-pricing ideas in this article.)

Bluebird hopes to make a case for approval for beta-thalassemia before U.S. and European regulators, perhaps in 2019, using data from the NORTHSTAR-2 trial and from previous trials that used the older LentiGlobin version. The main goal of NORTHSTAR-2 is for patients to produce enough of their own healthy hemoglobin to eliminate the need for regular blood transfusions. The first patient has reached that goal, says chief medical officer David Davidson.

The new version of LentiGlobin product, among other things, squeezes more copies of the correct gene into each targeted cellmore shots on goal to change each malfunctioning cell for the better, in other words.

The NORTHSTAR-2 patient with six months of results to report has fared better than similar beta-thalassemia patients six months after they received the previous version of LentiGlobin in a study called HGB-204. The NORTHSTAR-2 patient is producing 13.3 g/DL of hemoglobin, within the normal range for a woman; the median production among 10 HGB-204 patients after six months was 9.7 g/DL.

A doctor working on the study is presenting the data, along with updates from its LentiGlobin treatment for sickle cell disease, at the European Hematology Association meeting this weekend.

Alex Lash is Xconomy's National Biotech Editor. He is based in San Francisco.

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Bluebird Reports Early Results From Upgraded Gene Therapy - Xconomy

The 3-D Printed Under Armour ArchiTech Futurist Just Released – KicksOnFire.com

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Under Armour made a big splash today as they have officially released the ArchiTech Futurist, a 3-D printed training sneaker.

The Under Armour Architech Futuristreflects past, present, and future UA innovations. Past influence comes with the compression lacing system with a center-placed 1/4 zipper for a tailored fit. The present comes courtesy of the Speedform Upper, a premium, microfiber synthetic leatherthat molds to your foot. Finally the future can be seen on the sole unit with the 3-D printed midsole that contains a dynamic lattice network that provides infinite cushioning and support.

Additional details include debossed Under Armour branding on the heel, a full-length Micro G midsole that provides a stable platform built for versatile performance, and rubber outsole pods with rounded, mini-lug pattern for excellent traction & durability.

You can pick up the Under Armour ArchiTech Futurist at select UA retailers now for $300.

via: Sneaker Politics

Available Now on Kixify & eBay

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The 3-D Printed Under Armour ArchiTech Futurist Just Released - KicksOnFire.com

Neil DeGrasse Tyson Says "We’re Not Likely Alone in the Universe." – Futurism

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In Brief Renowned astrophysicist, author, and science communicator Dr. Neil deGrasse Tyson appeared on CSPAN to discuss his feeling that we are not alone in the universe.

Neil deGrasse Tyson is one of the (if not the) most well-known astrophysicists. He is also an accomplished author and science communicator/entertainer, and the Frederick P. Rose Director of the Hayden Planetarium at the Rose Center for Earth and Space in New York City. Also, he doesnt think that we are alone in the universe.

Appearing on C-SPANs In Depth, he explained how the chemistry of life makes it extremely unlikely that Earth is the only place in the universe where life has formed. He said, Whatever happened on Earth, its not likely to be rare or unique. Because carbon chemistry, on which life is based, is the most fertile kind of chemistry there is. And carbon is abundant across the universe.

However, Dr. Tyson does separate the questions of whether there is life elsewhere in the universe, and if intelligent life exists,from if we have been visited by any intelligent life. What the UFO community puts forth as evidence is weak on a level that, in any scientific circle, would be kicked out of the lab room.

The basis of this argument boils down to the foundations of the scientific method. Eyewitness testimony is nowhere near enough evidence to support a claim as fantastical as alien visitors. Current evidence of chemistry is enough to allow scientists to assert that there is life on other planets, but that evidence does not extend as far as intelligent life.

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Neil DeGrasse Tyson Says "We're Not Likely Alone in the Universe." - Futurism

Why You Should Never Go on the Internet Without a VPN, and How … – Futurism

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Futurism only supports companiesthat we trust. Disconnect is one of those companies. We may collect a share of the sales from the items featured on this page.Learn about Disconnect here. Privacy in the Age of Information

Once upon a time, the internet felt like a private and obscure place. But the reality of todays cyber climate is that every move we make is traceable and, in case you werent aware, that data is a desirable commodity. Whether its for innocuous advertisement purposes or for hacking crimes, all of our clicks are watched and collected.

This is an issue that has recently been brought to the forefront of conversations, as the Federal Trade Commission recentlyruled to letproviders sell users informationas long as there is some mention of it in the contract and the user can opt outa condition thats not very helpful, as the average internet user is often unaware of their rights or the current regulations.

In reaction, more and more people are talking about virtual private networks, or VPNs.

A VPN is a software tool used to create privacy on the web. It gives people the freedom to click without being tracked by creating an encrypted and secure network connection between the users device and the server.

To break this down a bit more, service providers are able to track our every move on the web, so are people who have access to public networks (AKA hackers) and the government. A VPN essentially scrambles our requests before sending them, which means that people who have access to our activity are unable to discern what were doing. Its basically like translating a transcript into a gibberish language that no one can decode, thus providing browsers with the reliable privacy theyre entitled to.

Security is the most alluring aspect of VPNs, but leading VPN providers like Disconnectoffer more than that. Disconnect, an app compatible with iOS, Android, Windows and Mac OS X, will block trackers from third parties that are harvesting data, but Disconnect goes a step farther by letting you know what tracking requests youre receiving, whether its social media, advertising, content, or analytics. It does this because not all tracking is dangerous or beneficial to block.

Some tracking helps to enhance your web experience and other tracking helps content providers keep track of their demographics if theyve stated so in their terms of use. A little tracking is respectful and useful, and Disconnect aims to bring transparency to both sides of the track.

The app will let you know what you cant see on the web, and in addition to giving you a sense of safety online, Disconnect will also increase your browsing speed. Trackers and malware puta huge strain on your device. By blocking tracking requests, Disconnect allows your web to process faster and, in return, it increases your battery life.

Moreover, while you might not often run into issues with this, Disconnect also unblocks locked content. Whether youre trying to watch Canadian Netflix and cant get to it because your location tag is routing you towards the United States Netflix, or whether youre searching for content that is blocked in the particular country youre browsing from, you wont have any trouble finding it with Disconnect.

For only $49 you can get a lifetime subscription to Disconnect so you can rest assured knowing that youre not being followed, your identity is private, and your webis operating at top speed.

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Why You Should Never Go on the Internet Without a VPN, and How ... - Futurism

Freedom players encouraged by Cedar Beach performance – Allentown Morning Call

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The Freedom girls basketball program enjoyed a breakthrough 2016-17 season.

The Patriots' play during the Cedar Beach Basketball Showcase has them looking to take another step toward contending for titles in 2017-18.

Freedom handled all the local competition it saw this weekend. University City (N.J.) proved to be the one team too tough for the Patriots, beating them twice Sunday, including a 51-40 victory in the title game.

Tournament MVP Danielle Robinson scored a game-high 20 points as University City used a late 18-4 run to pull away. Hailey Selfies scored 19 points to pace Freedom and earn a spot on the all-tournament team.

"The thing that I'm really happy about the whole weekend is we battled," Freedom coach Dean Reiman said. "We had nine kids here today. We played with a lot of guts and courage and came back. We got down to them both times and came right back into the games both times.

"We showed a lot of character. All positive things to build off of."

Freedom earned its first league tournament berth since 2006 and first District 11 slot since 2010 over the winter. It graduated Meckenzie Herman, Kaitlyn Swint, Giselle Sanchez and Jaiden Coyne from that team, which went 14-10.

The Patriots lost both of their postseason contests in the winter, falling to Bethlehem Catholic in the EPC quarterfinals and Parkland in the District 11 6A quarterfinals. They still are trending upward thanks to returning talent like Silfies and a freshman team that went 18-0.

Silfies, a 5-11 rising senior wing, scored a team-best 11 points in Freedom's 33-25 win over Parkland in the winners bracket semifinals. She had 16 more when the Patriots beat Boyertown 51-37 to set up their second matchup against University City.

Jenn Kokolus led Freedom with 17 points against Boyertown. Fifteen of her points came in the first half, when the Patriots built a 31-19 lead.

"We knew that they were trapping because they were leaving their girl," Silfies said. "So we knew to skip the passes and move the ball quickly to get open layups.

"We knew they were going to be tough coming in, but we knew we had more size than them, so we attacked the boards and used our size as an advantage."

Freedom played with plenty of energy in its final game of the day. The Patriots trailed by 14 points early but used a 27-10 run to take 34-31 lead. Silfies put them ahead with a 3-pointer.

University City answered with the next 11 points. It never trailed again, winning the tournament in its first Allentown appearance.

"It was fun playing them," Reiman said. "I already exchanged numbers with their coach to try to play them in the fall. Maybe we'll schedule them because they have an open game. They're very athletic, quick.

"You keep playing teams like that and you're only going to get better. For summer, for us, that's what it's all about."

samiller@mcall.com

Twitter @mcall_smiller

610-820-6750

A tiring run

Boyertown lost its tournament opener to Nazareth on Friday, leaving it with a long road back through the losers bracket. The Bears reached the losers bracket final after winning three games Sunday but fell to Freedom 51-37.

Kylie Webb led Boyertown with 15 points. The Bears won the PIAA Class 6A title in March but graduated three key players from that team, including Bucknell recruit Abby Kapp and co-captain Alli Marcus.

"They're just trying to figure out their roles on the team," Boyertown varsity assistant and JV coach Troy Sweisfort said. "It's going to take time, but I think we'll be fine.

"I thought we played well here today. We weren't quite sure what to expect, because you come in with young kids. But they stepped up to the challenge and played very well."

Go, West

Pocono Mountain West reached Sunday's winners bracket semifinals before falling to University City (N.J.). The Panthers rebounded to knock Allen from the tournament but ended their run by forfeiting a matchup with Boyertown to attend an awards ceremony.

Jameka Pilgrim scored 11 points in Pocono Mountain West's 34-26 win over Allen.

Tip-ins

Parkland was the other local team to reach the winners bracket semifinals. The Trojans fell to Freedom 33-25 before Boyertown eliminated them with a 35-24 win. ... Allen won two losers bracket games Sunday before Pocono Mountain West eliminated it. Kion Andrews scored 41 total points in the Chicks' wins over Whitehall and Nazareth. She earned a spot on the all-tournament team.

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Freedom players encouraged by Cedar Beach performance - Allentown Morning Call

Freedom defeat Grizzlies on the road again, go for series sweep today – User-generated content (press release) (registration)

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Balls carried off hitters bats on Saturday at GCS Ballpark, as the Florence Freedom, presented by Titan Mechanical Solutions, rode three home runs and a strong start from Tony Vocca to a 6-2 win over the Gateway Grizzlies.

Jordan Brower opened the scoring with a solo home run off Grizzlies (10-29) starter Will Landsheft (2-4) in the top of the fourth inning. The home run was Browers third of the season, and his second of the year at GCS Ballpark. The following inning, Jose Brizuela and Andre Mercurio drew consecutive walks with two out. Collins Cuthrell then drove a Landsheft pitch over the left-field wall for a three-run homer, extending the Freedom (26-12) to 4-0.

The Grizzlies would trim Florences lead in half in the bottom of the fifth, as Matt Hearn followed up base hits by Chase Simmons and Max Bartlett with a two-run bloop single to left-center field off Vocca (5-2). Though he allowed six runs and three walks over six innings, Vocca went on to record his sixth quality start of the season, stranding baserunners by inducing weak contact and benefitting from strong, error-free defense by the Freedom.

With Jackson Sigman on the mound in relief for Gateway in the top of the sixth, and after Austin Wobrock had doubled and advanced to third on a groundout, Daniel Fraga hit a high infield chopper that allowed Wobrock to score in spite of a drawn-in infield. Jose Brizuela added the final run of the night for Florence with a no-doubt solo home run, his team-leading seventh of the season, leading off the seventh.

Keivan Berges, Patrick McGrath, Evan Bickett and Michael Maiocco combined for three innings of scoreless relief. Berges encountered a bases-loaded, one-out jam in the seventh, but a snap throw by catcher Garrett Vail nabbed Cody Livesay at third, and Berges struck out Craig Massoni swinging to strand both remaining runners.

Collecting one hit each in the game, Fraga and Wobrock extended their hitting streaks to twelve and ten games, respectively.

The Freedom will play for the series sweep on Sunday, with first pitch scheduled for 6:05 p.m. at GCS Ballpark. Left-hander Marty Anderson (5-1) will start for the Freedom against Gateway right-hander JaVaun West (1-3).

The Florence Freedom are members of the independent Frontier League and play all home games at UC Health Stadium located at 7950 Freedom Way in Florence.

Florence Freedom

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Pentagon welcomes greater freedom under Trump but is wary of blame – Washington Times

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Pentagon officials are welcoming the greater autonomy and decision-making authority under President Trump, after what they say were years of Obama administration micromanaging.

Within the hallways and offices of the Pentagon, top military brass and national security leaders have lauded the actions taken by the Trump administration, saying privately that the Defense Department now has an opportunity to take the fight to Americas enemies after being freed from the White Houses heavy yoke under President Obama.

Mr. Trumps decision to grant Defense Secretary James Mattis the authority to set U.S. troop levels for Afghanistan and the fight against Islamic State could ease the bitter bureaucratic battles that divided the Obama White House and the department over war strategy.

Mr. Mattis and his aides are now weighing whether to send 3,000 to 5,000 more troops into Afghanistan in the face of recent gains by the Taliban and Islamic State. Mr. Mattis, who said Mr. Trump remains heavily involved in setting the overall strategy, is expected to make his recommendations by next month.

Defense hawks on Capitol Hill have praised the approach, arguing that the military leaders have a much better sense of what it takes to fight and win in battle zones such as Iraq, Syria and Afghanistan.

What a novel idea for the commander-in-chief to turn to his commanders and say, What do you need to win? Sen. Lindsey Graham, South Carolina Republican, told Mr. Mattis at a budget hearing last week. Obama was a pretty lousy general.

Some skeptics warn that with great power comes uncomfortable responsibility for the Defense Department, given Mr. Trumps record of casting blame down the chain of command when certain operations go awry. If campaigns such as the one in Afghanistan fail to make progress, then the Pentagon will shoulder far more of the blame with far less political cover.

Mr. Trump previously agreed to give U.S. and coalition commanders in Iraq and Syria greater freedom on ordering airstrikes, further ingratiating the new administration into the good graces of top military brass.

Mr. Trump has finally given the military what it needed to win in Afghanistan, Iraq and elsewhere, said David Sedney, a onetime Obama administration aide and now a senior analyst at the Center for Strategic and International Studies.

As Mr. Obamas deputy assistant secretary of defense for Afghanistan, Pakistan and Central Asia from 2009 to 2013, Mr. Sedney had a front-row seat to the administrations efforts to run war policy from the White House.

It took 11 months to come up with an Afghanistan policy, which [Mr. Obama] kept reviewing over and over again, Mr. Sedney said in an interview, recalling the endless White House meetings tied to the administrations internal debates over the Afghanistan War. Beguiled by artificial timelines and artificial troop caps with no relation to the situation on the ground, Mr. Obamas Afghanistan plan was a half-measure that extended the conflict instead of ending it, he said.

Mr. Obama cast a wary eye on the Pentagon during his tenure, reportedly complaining that the generals and admirals were trying to box him in to choose a military option in debates such as the one over troop levels in Afghanistan.

A lack of strategy?

Some analysts say the stepped-up tempo of military action under Mr. Trump including a cruise missile strike to punish Syria for using chemical weapons and the dropping of the worlds most powerful conventional bomb on Islamic State targets in Afghanistan are meant partly to obscure the fact that Mr. Trump has yet to formulate a concrete military and diplomatic strategy for either Afghanistan or the war against Islamic State.

Lots of DOD folks are Republicans and did find Obama frustrating, so I have little doubt that at an emotional level, there is some relief. But dropping a few more bombs isnt a strategy, and without effective strategies, the emotional uplift of having a new president wont last long, said Michael OHanlon, a senior fellow at the Brookings Institution.

I think its too early to draw conclusions [and] Id counsel folks at the Pentagon to avoid too many spikes of footballs in the end zone just yet, he said in an interview.

The presidents penchant to delegate blame when things go wrong is the negative flip side of the Pentagons freedom, said Hal Brands, a defense official in the Obama administration and now a senior analyst at the Washington-based Center for Strategic and Budgetary Assessments.

Critics cite in particular Mr. Trumps remarks after an inconclusive covert mission in Yemen that he approved just days after taking office in January. Administration officials said the raid yielded valuable intelligence, but Navy SEAL Chief Petty Officer William Ryan Owens and a number of civilians were killed.

The raid, Mr. Trump later told Fox News, was started before I got here and was something that, you know [the Defense Department] wanted to do.

He added, My generals are the most respected that weve had in many decades and they lost Ryan.

In some ways, that leads to chaos, Mr. Brands said. I am sure that is creating frustration, and not just in DOD.

Policy planners inside the Pentagon are keeping a wary eye on their social media accounts for fear of being undercut by the next tweet from the White House, he said.

In the end, the Defense Department may ultimately not be happy with what they get from this administration, he said. When things go wrong, this is not a president who will say, The buck stops here.

Chain of command

Frustration with interference from the White House under Mr. Obama appears to have peaked near the end of his second term. Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman John McCain, Arizona Republican, observed in late 2015 that theres a level of dissatisfaction among the uniformed military that Ive never seen in my time here.

National security policy faced significant White House scrutiny and interagency oversight over seemingly mundane matters under Mr. Obama, Mr. Brands said. While it was not unprecedented, it was fairly higher than the norm.

But Mr. Obamas apprehension over handing the U.S. military too much tactical control, over fears that those decisions would have political impacts far beyond the battlefield, catered to a narrow domestic audience at the expense of the overall war effort, Mr. Sedney said.

It kept getting us distracted. That was all inside-the-Beltway, navel-gazing, he said. It was really irrelevant to what was going on in the war.

Early setbacks

U.S. military leaders have suffered some setbacks while taking advantage of their newfound authorities on the battlefield. In March, U.S. Central Command chief Joseph Votel was forced to defend multiple cases of mass civilian casualties tied to increasingly aggressive U.S. airstrikes against Islamic State in Iraq and Syria.

Command and coalition leaders conducted three inquires that month into U.S. airstrikes against Islamic State positions, including one in the western Mosul neighborhood of al-Jadida, which reportedly leveled several buildings and left hundreds of Iraqi civilians dead.

These are absolutely tragic and heartbreaking situations, Gen. Votel told the House Armed Services Committee at the time. He said each allegation of civilian casualties tied to U.S. operations is taken seriously.

Lt. Gen. Stephen Townsend, the top U.S. commander in Iraq and Syria, acknowledged days after the attack that there was a fair chance a U.S. airstrike played a role in the destruction and carnage in al-Jadida.

We probably had a role in those casualties, the general said, adding that the enemy had a hand in this. He was suggesting Islamic States use of civilians as human shields and questioning why so many civilians would voluntarily gather in a single building under assault by American air power.

The Pentagon on June 2 acknowledged that civilian casualties in the Middle East had risen sharply since Mr. Trump took office, reflecting in part the nature of urban warfare in the campaigns against Islamic State fighters in Raqqa, Syria, and Mosul, Iraq.

At least 484 civilians have been unintentionally killed by coalition strikes since 2014, U.S. Central Command, or Centcom, said in the June 2 statement. That number was up from 199 just four months earlier. Private watchdog groups say the civilian deaths from U.S. and allied bombing strikes are far higher.

The dropping of the Mother of all Bombs or MOAB on an Islamic State tunnel complex in Afghanistan may have secured a tactical win, but it also became an instant Islamic State recruiting tool, Mr. Brands said.

U.S. forces deployed in Afghanistan and the Middle East are filled with sets of capable, intelligence and sober military leaders, Mr. Brands said. But their battlefield decisions are driven strictly for tactical reasons, which at times usurp considerations for the strategic or political fallout, he added.

Gen. John Nicholson, head of all U.S. and coalition forces in Afghanistan, or any member of the command staff could have predicted that kind of reaction from the MOAB use, Mr. Brands said.

The hope inside the Trump White House that expanded tactical authority at the Defense Department will achieve strategic successes likely will not materialize, he said. I do not know if that is realistic.

Mr. Sedney said strategic considerations given so much heft by the Obama White House should mean less to combatant commanders on the ground. Gen. Nicholsons deployment of the MOAB was not driven by public opinion in Washington, he said.

Gen. Nicholson was trying to win a war, Mr. Sedney said.

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Pentagon welcomes greater freedom under Trump but is wary of blame - Washington Times