The Meaning of Life According to Harry Potter and Soul – MuggleNet

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by Victor Chan

SPOILERS FOR SOUL AHEAD: PROCEED WITH CAUTION

Dumbledore once described music as a magic beyond all we do here (SS 128), a statement that Joe Gardner, the protagonist of Pixars Soul, would agree with. Indeed, Id like to believe that the magic of music is studied at the Department of Mysteries. Harry Potter and Soul both explore abstract concepts such as being in the zone, along with death and the meaning of life through a humanist approach. In Soul, characters search for their purposes in life, and although Harry was the Chosen One, he still had the agency to choose his life path. Here are three things that Harry Potter and Soul can teach us about the meaning of life.

At the end of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Harry is presented with two choices: go back or go on. Likewise, at the end of Soul, Joe is given another chance at life. Both character-defining moments occur in the heads of Harry and Joe. In Soul, 22 describes the Great Before as an illusion and hypothetical. In Deathly Hallows, when Harry asks Dumbledore where he thinks they are, Dumbledore replies, This is, as they say, your party (DH 712).

At the core of both Harry Potter and Soul is the idea that it is our choices that show what we truly are. The circumstances that we are placed in define us less than how we respond to being placed in those circumstances. In Harry Potter, Hogwarts students are Sorted into Houses based on their personalities and values. Soul explores the concept of a beforelife where souls are readied for life on Earth. One particular scene early on shows souls being assigned personalities, seemingly arbitrary. Joe asks, This is where personalities come from? to which another character replies, Do you think people are just born with them?

However, even though Hogwarts students are Sorted into Houses and souls are assigned personalities, Harry Potter and Soul reject determinism. In fact, in the Great Before, souls need to find their own spark.

In Harry Potter and Soul, characters grapple with the fear of the unknown. In Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, Dumbledore tells Harry that it is the unknown we fear when we look upon death and darkness (HBP 566). In Soul, 22 has a cynical attitude toward what they think living on Earth will be like. In Harry Potter, Voldemort fears what Dumbledore describes as the next great adventure (SS 297). When Joe finds himself on the way to the Great Beyond at the start of Soul, he runs away from the light. Later in Soul, Joe says, Im just afraid that if I died today, then my life would have amounted to nothing.

Fear of the unknown holds people back from chasing that spark that makes life worth living. In Soul, we see an unnamed character with a stable, well-paying job in finance who is unhappy with their life but scared to make a career change.

Dumbledore believes that even though people fear the unknown in death, thats what makes it the next great adventure. This is shown in 22s character arc in Soul. When we first meet 22, they do not want to leave the Great Before to begin life on Earth. However, after they accidentally get sent to Earth and experience simple joys such as tasting pizza, feeling the wind blow, and catching a falling leaf in the palm of their hand, they do not want to return to the Great Before.

In Soul, when Joe tells his mother that music is all he thinks about, she says, You cant eat dreams for breakfast. Joes mother wants him to be realistic and settle on a career. This interaction transported me to Harry Potter and the Sorcerers Stone when we are introduced to the Mirror of Erised. According to Dumbledore, the Mirror shows us nothing more or less than the deepest, most desperate desire of our hearts, and men have wasted away before itnot knowing if what it shows is real or even possible (SS 213). Dumbledore tells Harry not to dwell on dreams and forget to live (SS 214).

This idea of forgetting to live is explored in Soul. In the Great Before, lost souls are souls belonging to people who are disconnected from life because they cannot let go of their obsessions. Those souls are stuck in a state of limbo. In Deathly Hallows, a fragment of Voldemorts soul becomes stuck in limbo at Kings Cross. He was so obsessed with killing Harry that he never considered the possibility of Lily invoking an ancient form of magic, and he was so obsessed with immortality that he never considered that splitting ones soul could cause eternal pain and suffering in the afterlife. In Half-Blood Prince, a conversation between Voldemort and Dumbledore takes place where Voldemort says, Nothing I have seen in the world has supported your famous pronouncements that love is more powerful than my kind of magic, Dumbledore (HBP 444). In truth, Voldemort never searched for the power of magic based on love because he was obsessed with using the Dark Arts to gain power and immortality.

In Sorcerers Stone, Dumbledore tells Harry that people have wasted away before the Mirror of Erised, not knowing if what it shows is real or even possible. When Joe finally gets his big break as a musician, he has an existential crisis. He had been dreaming of this moment his entire life, but when the moment finally arrived, it was underwhelming because he didnt feel any different. During a pivotal scene in the film, Joe realizes that its the little moments of joy that make life worth living, even if they may seem infinitesimal in comparison to the bigger picture at the time.

In Half-Blood Prince, Dumbledore says that Voldemort was in such a hurry to mutilate his own soul, he never paused to understand the incomparable power of a soul that is untarnished and whole (HBP 511). Although Joes dream of a career in jazz is not as extreme as Voldemorts quest for immortality, both Harry Potter and Soul convey the importance of living in the moment and not developing tunnel vision.

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The Meaning of Life According to Harry Potter and Soul - MuggleNet

Lighting candles of hope, peace and joy – Delaware Gazette

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We are halfway through the last month of this long and very strange year. Its time for me to order a new month-at-a-glance calendar with room for notes in which I have recorded for decades my activities and important things that I have learned. Last year when the traditional black, my favorite choice, was unavailable, I had to settle for the sparkly, silver-leather covered calendar that will be added to my stack representing years of ministry, and I am certain it will stand out in a myriad of ways for the rest of my life.

When I first opened the pages, I felt such hope and promise for 2020, the beginning of a new decade. I believed that God would lead in exciting and fresh ways. Never did I imagine that we would experience Gods provision and faithfulness in the midst of an unprecedented global pandemic. I could not have projected that after a few weeks our church would never gather in a building together in one place, that we wouldnt be able to touch or hug, or share a meal or hear the beautiful voices lifted in shared worship, and that something called Zoom would be our new normal. And I certainly wouldnt have seen that, in spite of the distancing and physical separation for the remainder of the year that God would bring our hearts closer together than ever, that we would expand our circle of family and friends, and that we would reunite with others, and that we would experience the power of prayer in such profound ways.

We have lit the first three candles of our Advent wreath: the candles of hope, peace, and joy as we carry on this ritual that began centuries ago. I know of more people than ever this year who are gathering candles and starting a new family tradition. No matter how make-shift or humble our Advent wreaths are, or even if it is in our minds eye, the wreath which has no beginning and no end assures us of the eternity of God, the immortality of the soul, and the everlasting life we find in Christ. The light in our candles reminds us who Jesus is. In him was life and that life was the light of all mankind. The light shines in the darkness and the darkness has not overcome it (John 1:4-5).

According to U.S. Center for Disease Control reports, the United States has the most confirmed COVID infected people, and this country is at the top of the graph of number of deaths. The pandemic is hitting home; we are hearing more and more of sick people and ones that we know being impacted. Mobile morgues are now used in cities in the state of Ohio.

In this darkest time of the year when mornings first light comes so late and the sun falls behind the horizon in afternoons, we long for Christmas light. We need candles of hope and the promise of peace that passes understanding and the source of deep joy. We are grateful for the anticipation of the celebration of the coming of the light of the world. The one whose birth was announced by angelic harbingers in a dark sky over a seemingly inconsequential town in Palestine with the words, Peace on earth!

In some traditions, the second week Advent candle which we call peace is called the Bethlehem candle. It is hard to believe that just a little over a year ago before COVID was a thing and the pandemic never entered conversations, a small group from this area worshipped in a trilingual service at Christmas Lutheran Church just off of Manger Square in Bethlehem. After the service and a quick visit to the crowded Church of the Nativity and a traditional Palestinian lunch, we loaded our big van to travel a short distance to the Shepherds Field located behind the Bethlehem YMCA.

We parked and then followed our guide down a meandering path around rocks and scrubby trees that few tourists traverse to the small opening of a cave overlooking the rocky hillside that looked impossible to sustain any flocks. It was that location that the local descendants of the shepherds identified as the place where generations before their sheep-tending relatives related how suddenly a dark night was interrupted by bright lights and angels declared the end to fear and announced that the promised Prince of Peace had been born in their neighborhood, the place where we had just walked.

We can be confident that the most important thing in human history happened that night long ago, and it is worth celebrating in every way possible, even if we are physically isolated and our gatherings are from a distance. This Advent, we are learning so much about how God takes us by surprise and uses the unexpected to accomplish his plan and purpose. In a time of unprecedented stress and anxiety, confusion and disorientation, we need the hope that God is still breaking into our dark places. What happened in Bethlehem certainly did not stay in Bethlehem!

Let us hear the words of assurance from heaven that echo throughout time that we do not need to be afraid! This dark year may we find the good news in the midst of all we are experiencing. We light the Advent candles of hope, and then peace which is our own Bethlehem candle, and add the light of joy and look forward celebrating the coming of the one who is love incarnate. The Savior child born so many years ago in a dimly lit little town in Palestine will be born over and over again in each one of our humble hearts.

Rev. Ginny Teitt is pastor of Concord Presbyterian Church in Delaware.

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Lighting candles of hope, peace and joy - Delaware Gazette

Opinion/Keep the Faith: Who is this child? – Worcester Telegram

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Rev. Milad Selim| Telegram & Gazette

The incarnation of God has dazzled the minds of the most wise for over 2,000 years. The Unknowable becomes known. The Uncontainable is contained in a womb. The Omnipotent is now meek. How, or better put, why would God, the Creator of all things, take on flesh, be born of a virgin mother, voluntarily give Himself over to death for me and you?

The Triune God-Father, Son and Holy Spirit, existed in full unity before all times. Since creation, Gods only desire was to call His people to repentance and everlasting joy. Prophets, apostles, preachers, evangelists, martyrs and confessors were all sent by God throughout all generations to reveal His will and salvific plan. Similar to the Parable of the Wicked Tenants, one by one they were rejected, persecuted or killed for the sake of the Gospel. When all else failed, God the Father willed that His only begotten son take on flesh, be crucified and rise again on the third day to save His people from the captivity of the devil once and for all. It is important to remember that His incarnation and crucifixion are related and must always be viewed in light of His resurrection. Read this hymn from our Eastern Orthodox Church:

Having beheld the Resurrection of Christ, let us worship the holy Lord Jesus, the only Sinless One. We venerate Thy Cross, O Christ, and we praise and glorify Thy holy Resurrection; for Thou are our God, and we know no other than Thee; we call on Thy name. Come all ye faithful, let us venerate Christs holy Resurrection, for behold, through the Cross joy has come into all the world. Let us, ever blessing the Lord, praise His Resurrection, for by enduring the Cross for us, He has destroyed death by death.

Therefore, we can comfortably say that if we only had the birth of a child, Jesus would have been a mere Prophet or a miracle worker. If we only had the Cross, then a fallen world would remain irredeemable and death would continue to have dominion over us. But when His incarnation, crucifixion, death and resurrection are viewed as being part of Gods redeeming plan, we begin to comprehend His essence and why He did what He did.

So who was Jesus? This is a fair question as I often hear people completely mischaracterize Him, even to the point of uttering heresies. I attribute this to their lack of theological knowledge rather than deliberate denial. In short, the answer is He is God! He is not just a man, but God incarnate who took on flesh for our salvation. His humanity is beyond our worldly understanding of true humanity. The humanity we know is fallen, the humanity he came to reveal to us is free of all sins, untarnished and unpolluted, one that is created in Gods image and according to His likeness. Jesus, the second Person of the Trinity, was the perfect human and because of Him, we now can become human through the process of deification, also known as theosis - brought about by the effects of catharsis (purification of mind and body) and kenosis (self-emptying).

With all that said, His incarnation did not jeopardize or diminish His divinity. At no point in time during His earthly ministry did He separate His dual natures divine and human. These two natures were united hypostatically. St. Athanasius the Great, a 4th century father of the Church, defended this Christian dogma against heretics by saying, For as the reasonable soul and flesh is one man, so God and Man is one Christ.

People who focus on Jesus the man and ignore the fact that He was also fully God diminish His divinity. Jesus was fully human and fully divine, never divided or disunited (For further reading on this, look up the Fourth Ecumenical Council that took place in Chalcedon in the year 451 AD). Jesus came to show us the way towardholiness. We often fall into the temptation of minimizing His divinity to somehow make Him more relatable to our fallen humanity or perhaps to justify our actions, but remember, God is outside of our worldly desires of the flesh. He came into this world to call us out of our fallen humanity. We read in 2 Timothy 1:9-10, [Jesus] has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace which was given to us in Christ Jesus before time began, but has now been revealed by the appearing of our Savior Jesus Christ, who has abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel. And again in Galatians 5:24, Those who are Christs have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.

This is the Savior whom we now celebrate. The redeeming God who became a new-born child for me and you. The Lord of hosts, the Author of creation and the King of peace. Let us embrace Him with hymns of joy. Let us open our hearts and allow Him to enter. He is our hope in times of despair. He is our joy in times of sadness. He is our rock during a storm. While we may not be able to fully comprehend His essence, we know that He took on flesh in order to save me and you. Do not lose hope. Do not put your faith or trust in anything or anyone else.

Christ is born! Glorify Him!

The Rev. Milad Selim is pastor of St. George Orthodox Cathedral in Worcester

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Opinion/Keep the Faith: Who is this child? - Worcester Telegram

Does of the news of Steve Sarkisian taking Texas job become a distraction in CFP? – Touchdown Alabama Magazine

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Nick Sabans coaching rehab at the University of Alabama is two-fold.

It creates opportunities for coaches to reinvent themselves and endear themselves to a passionate fan base; however, it also opens them to other enticing job offers in the future and a coach that was starting to be loved by fans has to part ways from them.

This song and dance happens again with Stephen Steve Ambrose Sarkisian.

After two seasons with the Crimson Tide, the University of Texas desired him and hired him to be its next head football coach.

Before he becomes a full-time Longhorn, Sarkisian operated the nations most explosive offense this season. Hes coached three Heisman finalists, including two in the top-four. Mac Jones (quarterback) and DeVonta Smith (wide receiver) have both done more than enough to grant the Tide its third Heisman winner in school history, but we will see what happens next Tuesday.

For now, the primary question is will the news on Sarkisian become too much of a distraction for Alabama in the College Football Playoff?

He will coach the offense in the CFP National Championship Game versus Ohio State on Jan. 11 at HardRock Stadium in Miami, Fla.

We saw moments with Kirby Smart (2015) and Jeremy Pruitt (2017) where it was not an issue, but we also saw in situations with Lane Kiffin (2016) and multiple coaches in 2018 where it was an issue and it cost Alabama a national title.

Smart and Pruitt both finished the job with national titles, prior to assuming roles as head coaches.Sarkisian is a savvy professional and he wants to finish what he started.

He has a chance to win his first national championship as an offensive coordinator.

The last time he was on top of the college football world was in 2003 as a quarterbacks coach for the University of Southern California.

When it comes to this team, the 2017 class is its saving grace. With six five-stars leading the group, the class arrived under a lot of pressure and expectations.

Despite the responsibility, the 2017 bunch has accomplished a lot. It has an opportunity to be cemented as one of the best classes to come through the program. While the 2009 signing class was a part of three BCS National Championships, the significance of the group was felt in two of them. The 2017 class snatched victory from defeat in the 2018 CFP National Championship, as Tua Tagovailoa, Alex Leatherwood, Najee Harris, Jerry Jeudy, Henry Ruggs III and DeVonta Smith all played versus Georgia.

Saban knew he had recruited the talent in 2017, but he also knew he brought in players with hunger.

Najee Harris is the talker of the group, but he will hurdle you back in place. Mac Jones has been through so much as a first-year starting quarterback, but he refuses to end this season with a championship. Three of the Tides four permanent team captains Mac Jones, DeVonta Smith and Alex Leatherwood were from the 2017 class. Harris, Smith, Leatherwood and Dylan Moses all returned for an opportunity to leave as national champions. Even with their individual accomplishments, this class knows its career is not complete without a second national title ring. Expect a fierce week of practice and complete focus from Alabama, as the 2017 class wont allow distractions to happen. This group is one win away from immortality and becoming the second team of the Saban era to finish a perfect season with a national championship.

The Tide will be prepared for Ryan Day and Ohio State.

*Get the BEST Alabama football insider information, message board access, and recruiting coverage today!SIGN UP HEREto unlock oursubscriberonly content!*

Stephen M. Smith is the managing editor and seniorwriter forTouchdown Alabama Magazine. Youcan like him onFacebookor follow him on Twitter, via@CoachingMSmith

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Does of the news of Steve Sarkisian taking Texas job become a distraction in CFP? - Touchdown Alabama Magazine

Amazing Cultivation Simulator blends Taoist philosophy with Dwarf Fortress – PCGamesN

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While its name may be a bit ungainly, Amazing Cultivation Simulator is a management game about achieving spiritual balance. Taking its cues from Dwarf Fortress and Rimworld, Amazing Cultivation Simulator is already a hit in its native China, and now its available on Steam with a full western localization.

As in other colony management games, your job in Amazing Cultivation Simulator is to direct your people to build up your settlement, which in this case is a cultivation sect in the mythical Tiancang era. Youll recruit novices and guide their training, building schools for their physical, mental, and spiritual development. Ultimately, your goal is to achieve immortality.

Unfortunately, to get there youll have to rebuild the Taiyi Sect from the ground up, since the last master got a bit too far out over his skis. There are ancient dangers around the world, which youll have to explore in order to gather the remnants back together. Its all inspired by the Chinese literary tradition of xianxia, which draws from Buddhist and Taoist philosophy.

Heres the trailer:

As you expand, youll run into NPC factions who youll want to befriend or protect yourself against, and youll need to maintain the balance between good and evil in the world while you scour it for relics and artifacts.If this sounds like your idea of a good time, you can find Amazing Cultivation Simulator on Steam right now.

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Amazing Cultivation Simulator blends Taoist philosophy with Dwarf Fortress - PCGamesN

Unexpected discovery about stem cell immortality study – News – The University of Sydney

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Telomeres are the protective caps at chromosome ends. In adult cells, telomeres shorten each time a cell divides and this contributes to ageing and cancer. Pluripotent stem cells, however, are specialised cells that exist in the earliest days of development. These pluripotent cells do not age and have the ability to turn into any type of adult cell.

The surprise finding, published today in Nature, shows that telomeres in pluripotent stem cells are protected very differently than telomeres in adult tissues.

This upends 20 years of thinking on how stem cells protect their DNA, said Associate Professor Tony Cesare, from the University of Sydneys Faculty of Medicine and Health, who is Head of the Genome Integrity Unit at Childrens Medical Research Institute (CMRI) and co-leader of a research team that collaborated on this research.

In adult cells, a protein called TRF2 is essential because it arranges DNA at the chromosome end into a telomere-loop structure. Removing TRF2 from adult cells causes the chromosomes to become stitched together into one long string, which is incompatible with life.

To the researchers astonishment, removing TRF2 from pluripotent stem cells did almost nothing. The chromosomes were normal, the telomere-loops remained, and the cells divided as if nothing happened. Telomeres are therefore protected differently in pluripotent stem cells and adult tissues.

This unexpected finding has major implications for research on ageing, human development, regenerative medicine, and cancer. Previously, researchers expected fundamental mechanisms that protected DNA would be the same in all tissues. This now appears to be incorrect.

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EXCLUSIVE: Hulk Gets a 50 Shades of Grey-Inspired Pseudonym in Immortal Hulk #43 – CBR – Comic Book Resources

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Marvel Comics presents an exclusive preview of Immortal Hulk #43, by Al Ewing and Joe Bennett.

Marvel Comics has given CBR an exclusive preview of Al Ewing and Joe Bennett's Immortal Hulk #43. In the preview, the Grey Hulk, who has control of Bruce Banner's body engages in fraud by pawning some ill-gotten jewelry. When the pawn shop owner asks for his name, he replies "Mr. Grey," which prompts the businessman to reply, "Yeah? As in Christian?" Grey Hulk doesn't deny that this is his name, which is a reference to one of the main characters in E.L. James'Fifty Shadesseries.

You can see CBR's exclusive preview ofImmortal Hulk#43 below alongside the solicitation information for the book.

RELATED: Avengers: How Ultron Wiped Out a Country BEFORE Sokovia

RELATED: Captain Marvel: Thor's Daughter Cemented Her Marvel God Status

Immortal Hulk #43, by Al Ewing and Joe Bennett, goes on sale Feb. 3 from Marvel Comics.

KEEP READING: X-Men: Cyclops and Jean Grey's Costume Change Has a Hidden Meaning

Before WandaVision: How Monica Rambeau REALLY Got Her Captain Marvel Powers

L.D. Nolan is the Features Team Lead at CBR. Prior to writing online, he worked in academia. He's currently trying to work his way through a pile of unread books that threatens to come crashing down, burying everything he loves and cares about, including his cat. You can find him on Twitter @LD_Nolan.

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EXCLUSIVE: Hulk Gets a 50 Shades of Grey-Inspired Pseudonym in Immortal Hulk #43 - CBR - Comic Book Resources

Cobra Kai and Immortal Hulk – The Daily LITG, 6th February 2021 – Bleeding Cool News

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Welcome to the Daily LITG. The world can seem like a terrible and strange place sometimes, but there are highlights. At Bleeding Cool you can still read all about comics, merch, TV shows, games, movies and more. Whether that's Cobra Kai, DC Infinite Frontier, Immortal Hulk or more, the Daily Lying In The Gutters remains a long-running run around the day before and the day ahead. You can sign up to receive it as an e-mail here.

The world keeps turning, and America is beginning to heal from all the burns.

In case you fancied more LITG about comic books.

And Death Note returned for a one-shot.

And Daredevil Daredevil Daredevil Daredevil.

There may still not be much of a party atmosphere right now. All depends on which state you are living in. But comics folk are always getting older and still celebrating that special date.

Interested in more Daily LITG discussion about what this all means? Subscribe to our LitG Daily Mailing List. And we'll see you here tomorrow.

Founder of Bleeding Cool. The longest-serving digital news reporter in the world, since 1992. Author of The Flying Friar, Holed Up, The Avengefuls, Doctor Who: Room With A Deja Vu, The Many Murders Of Miss Cranbourne, Chase Variant. Lives in South-West London, works from Blacks on Dean Street, shops at Piranha Comics. Father of two. Political cartoonist.

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Cobra Kai and Immortal Hulk - The Daily LITG, 6th February 2021 - Bleeding Cool News

Astronomers Spot ‘Fossil Galaxy’ Buried Within Milky Way; Could Revolutionise Understanding of Our Galaxy | The Weather Channel – Articles from The…

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An all-sky image of the stars in the Milky Way as seen from Earth. The colored rings show the approximate extent of the stars that came from the fossil galaxy known as Heracles. The small objects to the lower right of the image are the Large and Small Magellanic Clouds, two small satellite galaxies of the Milky Way.(Danny Horta-Darrington

While astronomers keep discovering one peculiar galaxy after another every other day, the latest study shows that we missed one ancient galaxy, much closer to our home. Scientists have now discovered a fossil galaxy hidden deep inside our Milky Way galaxy. This newly discovered ancient galaxy has been named after the ancient hero Heracles, who, according to Greek mythology, received the gift of immortality when the Milky Way was created.

Scientists say that the results of this discovery can alter our understanding of how the Milky Way evolved as a galaxy and could explain some of its peculiar properties. However, the location of this new mystery galaxy was buried within our galaxy in such a way that the astronomers failed to spot it for so long despite the Milky Way being the most studied galaxy yet.

Larger galaxies evolve by merging smaller galaxies over time. The remnants of the older galaxies are often spotted on the outer haloa large cloud of scattered stars enveloping the main galaxy. The build of the Milky Way is inside out and hence to find the earliest merger of galaxies scientists look at the central part of the halo, which is deep within the disc and the bulge.

As per the study, the fossil galaxy is said to have collided with the Milky Way ten billion years agoa time when the galaxies were still in their infant stages. This might have been an important event in the history of the Milky Way as stars that were originally from Heracles makeup around one-third of the mass of the entire Milky Way halo today. This also points out that the Milky way is probably much different than the other galaxies, as most of them are known to have a less-chaotic early life.

The data from the Sloan Digital Sky Surveys' Apache Point Observatory Galactic Evolution Experiment (APOGEE) was used to discover the fossil galaxy.

For the research, the scientists took spectra of stars in near-infrared light, as visible light gets obscured by dust. Observations were made for ten years and more than half a million stars across the Milky way were measured, including those in the core that was obscured by dust previously.

Examining such large numbers of stars is important to identify unusual stars in the centre of the Milky Way. To categorise stars into that of Milky Way and Heracles, the team measured chemical compositions and velocities of stars using the APOGEE instrument.

An artists impression of what the Milky Way might look like seen from above. The colored rings show the rough extent of the fossil galaxy known as Heracles. The yellow dot shows the position of the Sun.(Danny Horta-Darrington

Of the stars examined, a few hundred stars possessed chemical composition and velocities drastically different than the others. The only possible explanation for this peculiarity is that they belonged to a galaxy other than the Milky Way. By a detailed study, the scientists were able to detect the precise location and history of the fossil galaxy.

Though the stars and gas from Heracles constitute a large percentage of the halo, its hidden location inside the Milky Way made its discovery difficult. "To find a fossil galaxy like this one, we had to look at the detailed chemical makeup and motions of tens of thousands of stars," says Ricardo Schiavon, a member of the research team from Liverpool John Moores University (LJMU).

This experiment examines the centre of the Milky Way much deeper than ever before and provides new insight into the formation of our home galaxy Milky Way. The results serve as testimony to the fact that our galaxy is much more complex than previously thought and could behold numerous such secrets buried within itself.

The study was published in the journal Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society today and can be accessed here.

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Astronomers Spot 'Fossil Galaxy' Buried Within Milky Way; Could Revolutionise Understanding of Our Galaxy | The Weather Channel - Articles from The...

How are former Yankees doing in the Hall of Fame voting? – Empire Sports Media

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The voting process for the National Baseball Hall of Fame, Class of 2021, ended on December 31. The ballot has 25 candidates in total, and eight of them spent at least part of their career with the New York Yankees.

Bobby Abreu, A.J. Burnett, LaTroy Hawkins, Nick Swisher, Roger Clemens, Andruw Jones, Andy Pettitte, and Gary Sheffield are among the Yankees that are eligible for immortality.

However, as of right now with 115 ballots published, no one is making the cut to get in. Players in the ballot need to get a minimum of 75% of the votes to gain immortality. So far, Clemens (72.2%) is the closest of the former Yankees, with Barry Bonds and Curt Schilling also flirting with the minimum threshold.

The results will be announced on January 26, and the inductees will be honored in Cooperstown, New York, on July 25, barring any COVID-19-related postponement.

So far, here are the former Yankees and their progress through 115 votes, per NJ Advance Media:

Four first-time candidates were elected to the Hall in the last three years: Chipper Jones and Jim Thome in 2018, and former Yankees legends Mariano Rivera in 2019 (unanimous election), and Derek Jeter in 2020.

Jeters case was notorious, as he fell just one vote short of being the second unanimous election to the Hall after his friend and former teammate Rivera.

Abreu appears destined to get the minimum votes to see his name on the ballot for next year (5%), but Burnett, Hawkins, and Swisher, so far, look as one-and-done candidates.

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How are former Yankees doing in the Hall of Fame voting? - Empire Sports Media

Watch: Kim Jae Hwan Performs On Immortal Songs For The First Time In A Year And A Half – soompi

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Kim Jae Hwan made an appearance on KBSs Immortal Songs for the first time in a year and five months!

During the January 16 episode,MC Kim Shin Young commented that Kim Jae Hwan is insome of the most rewatched videos from the show. Kim Jae Hwan said, [Since its my first time here in a while], Id like to perform last and take the trophy home.

He added jokingly that his junior labelmate, Kim Young Heum, was his biggest rival on the show. I dont want to lose to someone at the same label, he said. He hasnt even made his official debut, but hes already won on this show. And he practices so much. I tried to draw him out bybuying him food andpromising to buy him ice cream. Kim Young Heum quipped, No wonder he kept inviting me out to eat.

For his performance, Kim Jae Hwan performed the late Kim Hyun Siks Making Memories andaccompanied himself on guitar.

In the end, Hwang Chi Yeol took home the final win on the episode.

Watch Immortal Songs below!

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Watch: Kim Jae Hwan Performs On Immortal Songs For The First Time In A Year And A Half - soompi

Disenchantment season 2 ending explained: What happened in the season? – Netflix Life

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Disenchantment season 3 is weeks away from its premiere on Netflix. If you need a refresher on what happened in season 2 of the series, then heres everything you need to remember going in.

While Netflixs first part ofDisenchantmentfromThe SimpsonsandFuturamacreator Matt Groening definitely needed time to find its footing, the second part of the show really solidified it as a wild and fun series, harkening back to the best seasons ofFuturama. It only made the wait from September 2019 to January 2021 feelso much longer for it.

If you dont have time for a rewatch ofDisenchantment, then here are the basic plot points that you need to know when going into season 3 of the series. These are just the basics, of course, to jog your memory versus an in-depth look into the series.

Princess Bean (voiced by Abbi Jacobson) did not have a very easy season 2, like at all. Her mother, Dagmar (voiced by Sharon Horgan), was revealed to be an evil enchantress focused on ruling Dreamland. While Bean is able to escape her mother, she and Luci (voiced by Eric Andre) have to go to Hell in order to bring Elfo (voiced by Nat Faxon) back to life. In order to escape Hell, Luci gives up his immortality for his friends. Bean is not free of her mother either, who haunts her dreams.

The elves, after the destruction of their land, have moved to Dreamland as well, living in the slums. During the course of the season, theyve had a rude awakening of sorts to the realities of the world from getting sick after drinking dirty laundry water to overtaxation by King Zog (voiced by John DiMaggio). Zog, meanwhile, has been dealing with his first wife being evil and a divorce from his second wife, Oona (voiced byTress MacNeille), who left Dreamland to become a Pirate Queen. While he did fall in love again, he remains alone in his rule and trying to repair the relationship with his daughter.

The biggest change inDisenchantmentseason 2, however, is the introduction of Steamland. When a rogue airship sets fire to Elf Alley, the pilot of the ship is imprisoned as a sorcerer. Bean, however, learns all about sky-ence (science) from him and helps him escape. During the escape, shes taken to Steamland, which is Dreamlands steampunk counterpart. She learns of an assassination plot against her father and, taking a gun as proof of sky-ence, she tries to inform them of the plot.

Good old sexism, however, from her Zogs advisors gets in the way. In the fight, the gun goes off, which shoots Zog. His prime minister Odval (Maurice LaMarche) jumps on the opportunity: Bean and her friends are arrested and Prince Derek (voiced byTress MacNeille) installed as the throne as a puppet king. Bean and her friends are able to escape to remove the bullet from Zog, helping him, but they are recaptured.

Before being burned at the stake, however, the trio fall through the ground, landing amongst the Trogs, which are subterranean elves. More terrifyingly, however, Dagmar is there, waiting for them.

And thats whereDisenchantment season 3will pick up on Jan. 15, 2021 on Netflix.

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Disenchantment season 2 ending explained: What happened in the season? - Netflix Life

What is the calendar like? – Explica

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2021 is a year that began with the coronavirus pandemic and will continue with a vaccination framework to eradicate the level of contagiousness of the Sars-Cov-2 virus. The new year will feature a total of 18 holidays, which is expected to serve to prop up tourism after being one of the worst hit sectors in 2020 by restrictions to contain the virus.

The first holiday of the year was January 1, on the occasion of the New Year: the next will be Carnival, Monday 15th and Tuesday 16th February.

In March , the holiday of the 24, for the National Day of Memory for Truth and Justice. The following month theApril 2(Veterans Day and those who died in the Malvinas War and Good Friday) and later on May 1 (Workers Day).

He 25 of May, will be a holiday for the May Revolution, then the June 20th, for the passage to the Immortality of General Manuel Belgrano.

In 2021, the last permanent holidays will be theJuly 9th(Independence Day),December 8(Day of the Immaculate Conception of Mary) and theDecember 25th(Christmas).

Portable holidays will be the June 17 (Step to the Immortality of Gral. Gemes), which will be commemorated onJune 21; he 17 of August (Passage to the Immortality of General Jos de San Martn), which will be commemorated onAugust 16th.

Then the holiday of October 12 (Day of Respect for Cultural Diversity), which will be commemorated onOctober 11thand theNovember 20(National Sovereignty Day).

Finally, holidays for tourism purposes will be el May 24, October 8 and November 22.

The Government informed by means of the decree established in the calendar of holidays, that with the incorporation of the long weekend extended from Friday 8 to Monday 11 of October, the national Government encourages tourist getaways in spring, to replicate the successful experience from the recovery of the Carnival Holidays and continue to reactivate the sector, hit worldwide by the Covid-19 pandemic .

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What is the calendar like? - Explica

We Are All Related: Artists, Writers, and More Share Wishes for 2021 | Magazine – MoMA

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As we leave a very difficult 2020 behind, were grateful to have had so many incredible voices as part of Magazine, and for the places their words, ideas, images, and music have taken us. We asked some of our contributors to share a wish for 2021 in a form of their choosing; something theyre looking forward to, something they hope for, or something theyd like to see. Their responses below show the connections we still find through artand the uninhibited dancing in a crowd we still seek.

In 2021, may we welcome a world that is closer together. The pandemic has made us understand that we are one species, sharing similar goals and aspirations. The pandemic has also acted as a mirror, reflecting our good traits and exposing the hate and anger that all too often is the weak response to challenge. May we see this point in history as an opportunity for global compassion and kindness.

Read "Taken for Granite: A Climber Sees Yosemite from a New Vantage Point."

Image courtesy of Conrad Anker.

Image courtesy of Conrad Anker

I am reading a great novel called The Ministry for the Future by Kim Stanley Robinson. My wish for 2021 is that this becomes a massively popular book that youd see on the coffee table in every home. This book encourages the kind of innovative thinking humanity needs. I also wish for all artists, musicians, and creative people to come out of this stressful time with healthy minds, so they can get back to making beautiful things.

Listen to "A Portable Embrace."

A wish for 2021: for a continued widening arc of engagement, critical discourse, and art-work that is responsive to the seismic transitions of this present moment. This hope is that the growth and learning we have done together both in art and in the world over this past year continues to expand our perspectives and transform us alongside the transformations we see in the world.

Read "Re-Imaging America."

In a year that has brought so much radical change to so many people, my wish is for a 2021 that brings increasing clarity and perspective, inner calm and balance alongside enduring attention and commitment to systems of creative and holistic care of workers and artists and art workers through and beyond institutional spaces. I'd also love to see it become possible to reconvene again on a dance floor as a collective celebration of continuing to hold and make space; the imagination and possibility there is one we've all longed for as we've sashayed across our living room floors alone with the speakers bumping at different points. Movement spurs thought and so my hope is for more ways to movemove our bodies, move one another, move the world.

Read "Re-Imaging America."

Like everyone, I wish for the return of civility and liberalism in our national discourse and the retreat of the virus that is COVID and the sickness that is Trumpism. In addition, I wish for antidepressants that dont have sexual side effects; my childrens recovery from the relative isolation that the virus has engendered; an honest reckoning with police brutality; more things sold with less packaging; travel; easeful death for people I love who are in decline; recovery for other people I know who are in decline; a boom market; more curiosity in my children; a release from the bonds of the screen for people who grow lonely as they interact with it; reduced anxiety; cures for what wants curing but not for anything else; art that is full of complex meaning but also looks nice on the wall; to stay the age I am a while longer; to keep my children from telling lies; to see the opioid epidemic stemmed rather than revenged; a pair of brown monk strap shoes; an end to global warming; peace in the Middle East; peace outside the Middle East; a new generation dedicated to equality but also respectful of merit; the end of the stigma around, indeed the word for, appropriationism; the rebuilding of the American educational system; beauty and truth in every day; a Pulitzer prize; a cure for psychosis; the cancellation of Brexit; a chance to go into orbital flight; the reuniting of separated children at the US border with their parents; immortality; the breakup of oppressive monopolies; athletic grace; and the ability, for me and everyone, to learn from human suffering.

Listen to "The Case for Artistic Genius."

I figure the planet-level stuff is sort of obvious. Personally, though? That Shuhada Sadaqat (Sinead OConnor) feel good and put out another record, that my fifteen-year-old start listening to me about her posture, that I get better about forgiveness and finishing things.

Read "Another Country" and listen to "The Deepest Cuts."

I dont have a wish per se, but I have a new song and video called "Cant Escape into Space," which is kind of a wish.

Wolfgang Tillmans, "Can't Escape Into Space." Music written by Wolfgang Tillmans, Tim Knapp, Bruno Breitzke. Produced by Tim Knapp, Bruno Breitzke and Wolfgang Tillmans. Vocals and lyrics by Wolfgang Tillmans.

Listen to "On My Own."

Here's my wishI wish people would stop dying from Covid-19. I wish a vaccine was just a shot, a neutral thing that prevented a deadly disease. That's a privileged position. Vaccines, like illnesses, are always loaded with cultural and political meaning. We are collectively deciding how much trust to place in our government institutions (and pharmaceutical companies), perpetrators of systemic white supremacy and violence against marginalized bodies. I hope we can trust these shots, and the trust is not broken. I hope we can be free.

Look at "Love Sick."

I wish that in 2021 we will be able look back on this strange and terrible year with relief and satisfaction that it's over, and some prideeven joyon how we and our friends and colleagues and neighbors responded to its many challenges with dignity, responsibility, solemnity, but also creativity and humor. And that the habits and abilities forged in crisis don't leave us too quickly or fully.

Read "Can Drawing Be a Crime?"

My wish for 2021 is to de-center the human and to foreground the phenomenon within nature.

Read and watch "Cooking with Artists: Anicka Yi."

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We Are All Related: Artists, Writers, and More Share Wishes for 2021 | Magazine - MoMA

Pando: the aspen colony that might be the oldest known living organism – SB Nation

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Nature doesnt have to be horrible. I know thats a weird thing to say at Secret Base, where we have enjoyed exploding ants, tongue-chomping parasites and trees that kill birds for the lols. But evolution has produced some curiosities that arent a combination of bizarre and heinous, and perhaps its time to lighten up with a discussion of one of the most impressive curiosities of all: Pando.

Pando is possibly the oldest, heaviest living thing on Earth. These things are difficult to determine; its definitely one of both. It lives in Fishlake National Forest, and is a quaking aspen. Sort of.

Because we live on the macro scale, were used to thinking of living being as discrete entities. A person is a person, a dog is a dog, and a tree is a tree. But, as we encountered with our exploding ants, thats not always the most sensible way of understanding the natural world, which tends to be at least a little indifferent to the entire concept of individualism.

The oldest individual trees in the world are Californias bristlecone pines, windblown* subalpine conifers which can live for thousands of years. The oldest known living specimen, Methuselah, has been verified at a staggering 4,852 years old. No matter how you slice it, this is an impressive figure, and while its abnormally high for a bristlecone there are plenty around only a couple millennia younger.

*Fun fact: theres a word for the weird, wind-sculpted trees that you see on shorelines or mountains. Theyre called krummholz trees, and they are gorgeous.

Pando, meanwhile, is significantly older. Until recently, rough estimates had it at something like 80,000 years old; this has been revised down significantly in light of the fact that the area of Utah in which it lives was covered by an ice sheet 20,000 years ago, a problem even the most badass tree would have trouble surviving. Pandos now clocking in at a mere 15,000 or so.

Unlike the bristlecones, which can be dated accurately through tree rings, its pretty hard to get a fix on Pandos exact age. This is because Pando is a tree colony. Quaking aspens have the curious property of being able to reproduce themselves clonally, sending up new seedlings from their roots. These ramets function, for all intents and purposes, as baby trees, living and dying just like youd expect any stand-alone aspen to.

But theyre all the same organism. Pando is a 13 million pound collective of more than 40,000 stems, genetically identical and all grown from the same massive (100+ acres, easily) root system. It cares about individual stems just about as much the average person might fuss about individual hairs on their head.

How does anyone know any of this? How can they begin to guess at Pandos biology? Establishing the genetic identity of the trees is fairly straightforward these days, but the whole colony? As it turns out, quaking aspen have an extremely hard time reproducing through non-clonal in the American West, where the climate turned unfavorable several thousands years ago. As Mitton and Grant justified the age estimate in their 1996 paper, Genetic Variation and the Natural History of Quaking Aspen:

Part of the rationale behind current age estimates for aspen clones is that sexual reproduction is effectively frustrated by the rareity of a favorable suite of conditions in semiarid environments. Clonal age, in the strictest sense, truly applies only to the individual genome, which is the single element of clone identity that would be continous across such time spans. ... Perhaps DNA sequence data from various parts of the clone could be used to estimate age from the accumulation of mutations.

As far as I could find out, that last study has not actually been executed, but given the conditions in which Pando lives its very, very clear that its an extraordinarily ancient organism. And its not just ancient while bristlecone pines are studies in endurance in the face of deep time, Pandos a very different story. Instead of fortitude, it invokes dynamism. Decadent stasis might be an interesting fantasy, but nature is built from Pandos, systems that masquerade as individuals and persist into what might as well be eternity.

If the theories of the origins of life I was taught at university are correct, some billions of years ago, a chemical cell in a deep-sea volcano managed to bud off a copy of itself, and has echoed its way to chaotic, confounding immortality. The entire biosphere is, in some ways, a Pando, genetically drifting its barely-perceptible way to quaking aspens, tongue-eating lice and us.

Humanity is only just beginning to understand how biology actually operates. Darwinian evolution is 160 years old, and the structure of DNA was only determined in the early 1950s. Hell, Antonie van Leeuwenhoeks discovery of microscopic life was less than four centuries ago. For most of Pandos thousands of years existence, humans wouldnt even have been able to recognize it. Theyd literally miss the forest for the trees.

Theres something profound in that emergent reality. Theres also something perverse there too. Since the 80s, Pando seems to be struggling, unable to bring its ramets to maturity fast enough to replace falling stems. In 2019, Rodgers and ebesta produced this uneasy paragraph:

While it is clear the base cause of the current trajectory is not mature tree mortality, but chronic browsing of regenerating aspen suckers, we are left wondering how this iconic organism survived and thrived likely for millenniathe exact age is unknownwhile it appears to be dwindling suddenly during our time. Changes in ungulate herbivore management over recent decades provides the most plausible explanation, though exacerbating agents, such as increased human presence and warming/drying climatic conditions likely play a role. Collectively, both direct and indirect human impacts are negatively influencing Pando.

We live in the first age that is able to grope its way back towards the true mysteries of biology. We also live in an age that seems preternaturally gifted at disrupting that biology, and in a civilization that only barely cares about the consequences.

Pando will probably get along ok we dont let celebrities go that easy. We can fence off regions to prevent overgrazing of young stems, that sort of thing. But a Pando is just a Pando; without taking better care of the supra-organizational systems that support these miracles ... well end up killing many of them off just as were learning to appreciate them.

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Lincoln Red Imps respond to Celtics world first tweet after quadruple-treble triumph – Pundit Arena

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Hold my beer.

On Sunday, Celtic achieved Scottish footballing immortality. A nerve-shredding shootout victory over Hearts in the Scottish Cup final lifted Neil Lennons side to the quadruple-treble.

A perfect dozen. 12 competitions, 12 wins. An unprecedented feat or so Celtic thought.

After seeing off Hearts in the Hampden Park decider, the Hoops tweeted: A world first. The #QuadrupleTreble winners, Celtic Football Club.

However, Gibraltar side Lincoln Red Imps took exception to the second and third word of that tweet.

Responding to Celtics tweet, the minnows said: Hold my beer. The #QuintupleTreble 2003/04, 2004/05, 2005/06, 2006/07 and 2007/08.

Lincoln won the Gibraltar Football League, the Rock Cup and the Gibraltar League Senior Cup every year between 2004 and 2008.

However, prior to 2014, Gibraltar was not recognised as an official Uefa nation.

Of course, this is not the first time the Red Imps have been a thorn in Celtics side. In 2016, they produced one of the greatest shocks in recent history by beating the Scottish Premiership champions in their Champions League qualifier.

The result marked a humiliating start to Brendan Rodgers reign as Celtic boss. The Glasgow giants did bounce back, however, running out 3-0 winners in the return leg at home to progress to the next qualifying round.

Speaking after Celtics win over Hearts, Martin ONeill who managed Lennon at Celtic said he was delighted for his former player.

Im delighted for him, ONeill told BBC Scotland.

Hes taken a lot of stick in recent months, I think its really uncalled for as well because we are witnessing the 12th successive domestic trophy which hes been a large part of in many aspects.

I really cant believe it. It saddens me to think of him under that kind of pressure. Its not respite for him anymore; its a great evening for them.

Read More About: Celtic, Neil Lennon

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Jersey Shore football headed to 1st state final with victory over Lampeter-Strasburg – Williamsport Sun-Gazette

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MARK NANCE/Sun-GazetteJersey Shore football players celebrate the 39-35 win over Lampeter-Strasburg in the PIAA semifinal at Lampeter Strassburg Friday night.

LANCASTER As Black and Orange-clad fans rose in excitement, Cam Allison took the pitch and ran right. His blockers perfectly executed and Allison and his teammates ran right into Jersey Shore immortality. The 9-yard first-down run clinched a win which once seemed so unfathomable.

For so long, the state championship was a game that always felt like it was for someone else. For so long, the only way Jersey Shore could reach a state final was in its dreams.

Friday night, dream became reality. Jersey Shore, there is a state final and your gritty, hard-nosed Bulldogs will be playing in it. Your Bulldogs are the Eastern Regions best Class AAAA football team.

Branden Wheary found Cayden Hess for a go-ahead 5-yard, fourth-quarter touchdown, Allison ran for 130 yards, and the defense made a final stand inside the 15-yard line as Jersey Shore captured the Eastern Region championship, defeating Lampeter-Strasburg, 39-35, on its home field in a game that was heart-pounding from start to finish.

A program which won three games in four years prior to 2013 has become a state power and will play defending champion Thomas Jefferson in Saturdays state final. Wheary threw for 252 yards and three scores, Hess caught 13 passes for 162 yards, Owen Anderson topped 100 yards receiving, Dalton Dugan returned a third-quarter interception 32 yards for a touchdown and Jersey Shore (10-0) became the first area team since South Williamsport in 1997 just the fourth overall to reach a state final.

MARK NANCE/Sun-GazetteJersey Shore's Cayden Hess (24) makes a pass reception over Lampeter-Strasburg's Ian Herr (81) in the first quarter.

All our hard work, all the stuff we did in the offseason pays off so much. Nobody thought we were supposed to be here but we knew deep down we were going to make it back down here, Wheary said. We knew we had the guys. We knew that we were going to work hard enough to get here. Its just gratification. I dont even know what to say Im so excited.

So were all those Jersey Shore fans who traveled 2 1/2 hours to watch their team make history. Hesss end zone interception ended Lampeter-Strasburgs final scoring threat with 4 minutes, 19 seconds remaining. From there the offensive line and Allison took over as Jersey Shore converted three third downs and ran out the clock.

Allison went over 1,000 yards rushing for the season and scored twice. His final run will long live in Jersey Shore lore. Facing a third-and-four from the L-S 39-yard line, Allison followed his blockers, beat pursuing defenders to the outside and clinched the biggest win in program history.

I just want to present our community the best we can and make it proud, said Allison, who also made a fantastic touchdown-saving pass breakup a play before Hess interception. Not to sound cheesy, but winning this and seeing the support we had just fills your heart. It makes you feel so warm. Its just awesome.

This win was classic Jersey Shore. This game featured four lead changes, 999 yards of offense and enough fireworks to light up New York City. So many times it appeared Lampeter-Strasburg (9-1) had taken the momentum and was threatening to break away. So many times Jersey Shore responded, twice overcoming second-half deficits.

MARK NANCE/Sun-GazetteJersey Shore's Owen Anderson (15) stiff arms Lampeter-Strasburg's Matt Weese (30) in the second quarter.

Pioneers quarterback Sean McTaggart threw for 473 yards and three touchdowns. Beau Heyser caught 10 passes for 220 yards and three touchdowns, and Ian Herr added 141 more receiving yards. But the defense stiffened in the second half, frequently pressured McTaggart, and allowed just seven more points against a team averaging 47.4 per game.

Jersey Shore trailed 28-21 at halftime, but never wavered. Allison, Dugan and Hess scored second-half touchdowns and the Bulldogs completed a journey eight seasons in the making. Fans and players threw Hersheys Kisses around the field following the game, players jumped higher than possibly ever before and this team created a performance and a moment which it and its community will never forget.

Our team has worked so hard for this. We deserve it so much, Hess said after becoming the areas all-time leader in receptions with 139. We wouldnt be here if not for the kids in that locker room and the work they put in. Its crazy all the effort everyone has put in.

Its the best feeling ever, defensive tackle Karter Peacock said after playing his first game since Week 2 and collecting two sacks. Im keeping some goodies, some Hersheys Kisses for later in life. I can always look at them and remember what we did.

What Jersey Shore did is win a game which rivaled, and possibly surpassed, the thrills produced in last years triple overtime state quarterfinal win against Pottsville. The Bulldogs erased two seven-point deficits and went ahead to stay in the fourth quarter when they mounted a six-play, 62-yard touchdown drive.

MARK NANCE/Sun-GazetteJersey Shores Hayden Packer (44) and Quincey Myers hit Lampeter-Strasburg quarterback Sean McTaggart during Friday nights PIAA Class AAAA semifinal at Lampeter-Strasburg High School.

Although it was early in the fourth quarter, Jersey Shore sensed this might be its last shot at taking the lead and linemen Joe Lorson, Cadan Smith, Eddie Woodring, Lee Springman and Colin Samar shined bright, clearing the way for the games signature play, Allisons 41-yard run to the 12-yard line.

Allison and Wheary ran for 7 combined yards on the next two plays, bringing up a third-and-3 at the 5. Wheary then rolled right and looked for Hess near the right pylon. Hess was covered well, but the line gave Wheary time to throw and Hess improvised, cutting back the other way. Wheary hit Hess between his numbers and Jersey Shore had a 39-35 lead with 9:14 remaining.

Thats one of our go-to plays, the roll out and throw to Cayden, Wheary said after completing 19 of 36 passes. They always say if its not there, find the open space and he did that and I was able to get it to him. It was gratification again because we knew our defense would make the big plays when we needed them.

It did. And it overcome some potentially demoralizing blows to do so. L-S was facing a second-and-16 early on the ensuing series and McTaggart was nearly sacked as three defenders swarmed him. He threw up a prayer high into the night sky and Herr caught it, gaining 26 yards. Later in the drive, it appeared Jersey Shore had recovered a fumble at the 25 when it looked like the ball popped out of the receivers arms before he fell to the ground. But the officials ruled him down by contact and the Pioneers drive continued.

Unfazed, Jersey Shore made its fourth stop over the last two weeks inside the 15-yard line. Dugan forced a hurried incompletion on second-and-10 before Allison extended his body and made a spectacular knockdown in the middle of the end zone.

MARK NANCE/Sun-GazetteJersey Shores Dalton Dugan makes a falling catch for a 35-yard gain in the first half of Fridays PIAA Class AAAA championship game at Lampeter-Strasburg High School. Jersey Shore advanced to the first state final in school history with a 39-35 win.

On fourth-and-10, L-S went with one of its bread-and-butter plays, but Hess was ready. Jersey Shore again pressured McTaggart well and Hess intercepted his sixth pass this season in the back of the end zone.

He dropped back and I saw his guy running the slant which had done on the last five plays. I knew he was coming that way, Hess said. All the linemen in there did a great job getting to him and he just threw the ball up and I was there and in a good position.

L-S had all three timeouts remaining when Jersey Shore took over at its own 20, but the Bulldogs shined on third down and started their march toward Hershey. Hess caught a 14-yard pass on third-and-7, forcing L-S to burn its final two timeouts after that. Allisons 9-yard first-down run sealed it and Jersey Shore lined up for its most satisfying victory formation yet.

That game was what high school football is all about. That was two great teams and it was back and forth all night and Im really happy for the kids, Jersey Shore coach Tom Gravish said. They just battled. It was emotional plays on our side, emotional plays for them and as soon as we would get an emotional play they would answer back and then so would we. There was a lot of good football being played here.

Lampeter-Strasburg led 28-21 at halftime, but the Jersey Shore defense forced a big three-and-out before putting together a well-balanced, well-conceived 14-play, 83-yard drive. Allisons 9-yard touchdown run pulled Jersey Shore within a point and, a play later, it had the lead.

MARK NANCE/Sun-GazetteJersey Shores Hayden Packer carries the ball during the first half of the PIAA Class AAAA semifinal on Friday night at Lampeter-Strasburg High School.

Dugan jumped a swing pass from his defensive end position on the Pioneers next offensive play and returned it 32 yards for a touchdown giving Jersey Shore a 33-28 lead. A 54-yard screen pass to Andrew Knapp set up McTaggart for a 2-yard touchdown run late in the third quarter and L-S went back up, 35-33, entering the fourth quarter.

Like it was against Pottsville last year, Jersey Shore was behind in the fourth quarter. Just like last year, Jersey Shore took over and won.

We said at halftime that weve been in these situations before, Gravish said. We told them to just keep battling and sooner or later our conditioning is going to take over and I think it did.

The first half produced an aerial show which likely had Don Coryell smiling somewhere. Wheary, Anderson, Brady Jordan and McTaggart combined for 602 yards as teams exchanged big plays like they Wall Street stock brockers.

Allison broke a 24-yard touchdown run for the games first score and Anderson caught a perfectly thrown Wheary deep ball for a 55-yard score early in the second quarter. L-S scored twice in a row and took a seven-point lead before Wheary found Hess for a game-tying 5-yard touchdown pass.

Jersey Shore was 3 yards from regaining the lead on its next possession, but L-S held and then went 97 yards on three plays with Heyser breaking a tackle on a short pass and going 83 yards for a touchdown.

That turn of events could have doomed some teams, but Jersey Shore is not like most teams. The Bulldogs executed excellent game plans on both sides of the ball and different players took turns producing critical plays which sparked the comeback.

Dugan, Peacock, Samar, Quincey Myers and Ben Webb wreaked defensive havoc in the second half. Linebackers Hayden and Gabe Packer were all over the field, and Hess and Anderson kept making key catches on pin-point Wheary throws.

Yes its a clich, but this again was a team effort. And what a team Jersey Shore has become.

Its incredible. Its years of hard work paying off for all these guys, Allison said. I love my teammates so much.

Jersey Shore 39, Lampeter-Strasburg 35

Jersey Shore7 14 12 6 39

L-S7 21 7 0 35

First Quarter

J Cam Allison 24 run (Allison kick), 2:49

L Beau Heyser 42 pass from Sean McTaggart (Andrew Reidenbaugh kick), :13

Second Quarter

J Owen Anderson 55 pass from Branden Wheary (Allison kick), 11:21

L Heyser 3 pass from McTaggart (Reidenbaugh kick), 8:58

L Berkeley Wagner 35 pass from McTaggart (Reidenbaugh kick), 7:35

J Cayden Hess 5 pass from Wheary (Allison kick), 5:36

L Heyser 83 pass from McTaggart (Reidenbaugh kick), 1:37

Third Quarter

J Allison 9 run (kick failed), 3:43

J Dalton Dugan 39-yard interception return (pass failed), 3:31

L McTaggart 2 run (Reidenbaugh kick), 1:55

Fourth Quarter

J Hess 5 pass from Wheary (run failed), 9:14

TEAM STATISTICSJSL-S

First Downs1919

Rushes-yards34-16728-41

Passing yards318473

Total yards485514

Comp-Att-Int21-38-024-47-2

Fumbles-lost1-00-0

Penalties-yards3-206-50

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

RUSHING: Jersey Shore, Cam Allison 20-130, 2 TD; Hayden Packer 8-25; Brady Jordan 3-17; Kooper Peacock 1-(-2); Branden Wheary 2-(-3). L-S, Sean McTaggart 16-19, TD; Andrew Knapp 6-15; Giovanni Malatesta 1-4 ; Owen Fikkert 2-2; Drew Harris 3-1.

PASSING: Jersey Shore, Wheary 19-36-0, 252 yards, 3 TD; Anderson 1-1-0, 33 yards; Jordan 1-1-0, 33 yards. . L-S, McTaggart 24-47-2, 473 yards, 3 TD.

RECEIVING: Jersey Shore, Cayden Hess 13-162, 2 TD; Anderson 6-119, TD; Dalton Dugan 1-35; Jordan 1-2. . L-S, Beau Heyser 10-220, 3 TD; Ian Herr 9-141; Knapp 2-59; Berkeley Wagner 2-41, TD; Fikkert 1-12..

INTERCEPTIONS: Jersey Shore, Dugan, Hess.

SACKS: Karter Peacock 2, Hayden Packer, Quincey Myers.

RECORDS: Jersey Shore 10-0. Lampeter-Strasburg 9-1.

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Jersey Shore football headed to 1st state final with victory over Lampeter-Strasburg - Williamsport Sun-Gazette

SEGA Confirms Creative Assembly FPS Is Still Being Worked On; Studio Also Looking at New IPs – Best gaming pro

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Its been a while since we heard anything about the Creative Assembly FPS that was first discovered through a job listing two and a half years ago. The Horsham-based UK studio, mainly known to the mainstream public for its two decades of work on the Total War strategy franchise, later confirmed the existence of the Creative Assembly FPS in early 2019, when they also showed the game to renowned movie director Neil Blomkamp.

Everything went silent for almost two years, though, leading to all kinds of speculation of development issues. However, in a new interview with GamesIndustry published earlier this week, Tim Heaton (Chief Studios Officer at SEGA Europe) confirmed that the Creative Assembly FPS is still being worked on. Furthermore, he added that the studio is looking to further branch out by growing new teams around new IPs, which is brand new information.

Total War Saga: Troy Review Immortality! Take it! Its yours!

Each one of our studios really does own a franchise, and theyre all mature now by and large. So what were trying to do now is look at new IP. Theres a new FPS game coming from Creative Assembly, and theyre growing teams around new IPs. Our internal studios have this two-pronged strategy: do more with what youve got, and think about new IP.

Unfortunately, we still have no idea of what this game could be about. The brightest foray of Creative Assembly outside of Total War is undoubtedly Alien: Isolation, but this title is apparently set in a new IP, so it cannot be a sequel or even spiritual successor; besides, fans would be disappointed if that incredibly tense survival horror game was turned into a shooter.

That said, with the Creative Assembly FPS now several years in the making, we can definitely hope to get to see it relatively soon. The upcoming The Game Awards Show hosted by Geoff Keighley and scheduled for December 10th could be a more than suitable venue for it.

Stay tuned on Wccftech, and well keep you up to date when it comes to any rumors and news on the upcoming Creative Assembly FPS.

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SEGA Confirms Creative Assembly FPS Is Still Being Worked On; Studio Also Looking at New IPs - Best gaming pro

all the secrets of Middle-earth that Tolkien revealed in 2021 – The Courier

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JRR Tolkien fans know it well: the British author not only wrote The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit, he created a real universe, huge, dense and extremely rich. As evidence, his novel La Chute de Gondolin was published in 2018 45 years after his disappearance. A new Tolkien font will be released today in 2021.

According to information from The Guardian, Harper Collins will publish a collection of Tolkiens texts, The Nature of Middle-Earth, an unpublished article by the author.

In this work, due out next year, Tolkien imagines all of Middle-earths secrets. The British writer, who died in 1973, brings his thoughts and many details to the geography of the Kingdom of Gondor, but also to the secrets of immortality among the elves.

As Deb Brody, vice president of Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing, which will publish the book in North America, explains, the author has always imagined exploring Middle-earth as a whole world and writings on the nature of Middle-earth reveal the journeys he is making undertook to better understand his creation.

The collection, which will be released on June 24, 2021, was compiled by Carl F. Hostetter, an expert on Tolkiens universe who directs the Elvish Linguistic Fellowship, an international organization dealing with fictional languages created by JRR Tolkien .

At the moment we dont know if we will have the right to a French translation of The Nature of Middle-Earth, but we imagine that this new writing by Tolkien could perhaps end the famous debate about the hairiness of women. Dwarfs who animate so many fans of the writers works.

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all the secrets of Middle-earth that Tolkien revealed in 2021 - The Courier

Joe McKenzie: Taking care of the little things – Salina Journal

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Little things: Listening to the wisdom of Bobby Bones in the Morning on 99KG. Caught the end of an inspirational tale with the advice and reminder that a lot of people want to do big things, but dont always know how to get started. Bobby sincerely said you do it by paying attention to and doing all the little things well and then good things will happen. What are the little details in your world?

Socks: Socks are a good example of a little thing, even if you have big feet. You can take care of this little thing by taking new socks to Salina Shares at 155 S. 5th as part of its fourth annual Sock-it-to-Salina in November. As they say, it is a big need with a simple solution. And, while you may not be so simple, you can be part of the solution and good things will happen.

Pleasing you: As I searched for a recipe for cinnamon buns from the old Newport Grill that used to be at 112 S. 7th, I found a Newport matchbook cover on eBay. Remember the time when diners could have a smoke after eating breakfast? Seems like a long time ago. The message on the matchbook cover was Pleasing You Pleases Us. And, they advertised homemade pies. But, if you have the recipe for the cinnamon buns, it would please me. Thanks.

Crazy generous: Saw a young man running east on Iron Street who was so generous, he was only wearing shorts, socks, shoes and gloves on a 29 degree gray day. Thats right. He must have given the shirt off his back to a colder and more needy person.

Moonrise: Saturday night will feature a blue moon, one of those second full moons in the same month, which is cool. I never paid attention to when the moon actually rises, but its a thing. It changes 20-70 minutes each day. Same moon. Different time. Sunrise and sunsets get all the attention. But keep an eye on the moon and when it shows up each day. What are you too busy turning back your clocks?

Nutrislice: Love the name of the Salina schools lunch menu. It sounds healthy and the students need to eat. One day theyll have whole-grain cereal and the next a chocolate chip oatmeal bar and milk for breakfast. And for lunch they might have a chicken fried steak. Not bad.

Cave dining: Enjoyed lunch in a small cave at Horse Thief Canyon on that last warm day in October. It was quiet. A distinctive feature of contemporary cave dining are walls, ceiling and rock floors covered with the carved initials or names of previous visitors seeking immortality in sandstone. There are actual Native American petroglyphs in other areas of Kanopolis, but these initials were just destructive.

Leaving: Bobby Bones followed his wisdom on taking care of the little things in life (like socks) with the country song "Even Though Im Leaving" by Luke Combs. You may know this song. One of the YouTube videos has been viewed more than 11 million times. If youve never listened to this song, check it out. It will connect to your heart. I swear I didnt cry as I was driving down the road listening well, not much.

Joe McKenzie is interested in your comments and observations about life around Salina. What are you seeing? And, what about that recipe? Let him know at joesalinanews@gmail.com.

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Joe McKenzie: Taking care of the little things - Salina Journal