Monthly Archives: July 2021

It was the Golden Globe controversy before the Golden Globe controversy that got the entire thing pulled from NBCand now, for what its worth, its solved.

The Hollywood Foreign Press Association announced Thursday, according to the Los Angeles Times, that it will, at last, allow films not in the English language, as well as animated films, to compete in the best-film categories at the Golden Globes.

The long-standing policy against those films being eligible for the ceremonys top prizes came in for particularly sharp criticism earlier this year when Minari, an eventual best-picture nominee at the Oscars, was limited to the foreign-language category (which it won). And it had only been a year since The Farewell got the same exclusionary treatment, even as both films were set at least partly in Americafeaturing American actors and made by American filmmakers, though much of the onscreen dialogue was not in English. Actor Daniel Dae Kim summed up the controversy around Minari pretty succinctly:

Despite the controversy around Minari, the Golden Globes went forward as planned in February, even as a Los Angeles Times investigation into the makeup and ethical practices of the Hollywood Foreign Press threatened to overshadow the pandemic-era celebration. It was in early May that the dam began to break, and NBC announced it would not broadcast the 2022 Golden Globes. The network said it would reevaluate the situation after the HFPA fulfilled its commitment to meaningful reform.

The HFPA has since announced planned changes, including admitting Black journalists and increasing its membership by 50%. But in mid-June two members, Wenting Xu and Diederik van Hoogstraten, resigned in protest, writing in a letter to the HFPA board that the majority of the membership resists deep change, despite our lawyers and spokespersons suggesting otherwise publicly. As Xu told Vanity Fairs Rebecca Ford, I know leaving, to the members, might sound like a betrayal and a very cowardly action. However, our goal is to put more pressure on the HFPA, and hopefully it will speed up the real reform this organization really needs.

Changing the qualifying rule for the top film awards is indeed a change, and a visible one given the outcry around Minari last year. But with questions lingering about whether the Golden Globes can ever return to their place of prominenceor return at all, considering how the Critics Choice Awards are rumored to be nipping at their heelsa change to eligibility rules seems a little small. If youre on a sinking shipone, say, the size of the ship that inspired a Golden Globewinning moviewhats the point of rearranging the deck chairs?

More Great Stories From Vanity Fair

The Making of Mare of Easttowns Flirtatious, Sad Bar Scene Elizabeth Olsen on Reclaiming Her Power in WandaVision How William Jackson Harper Brought Hope to The Underground Railroad A Golden Globe Voter Speaks Out About Her HFPA Resignation Why Is Gina Carano on the Emmy Ballot for The Mandalorian? Sign up for the HWD Daily newsletter for must-read industry and awards coverageplus a special weekly edition of Awards Insider.

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Golden Globes Fix Rule That Disqualified Minari and The Farewell From Top Prizes - Vanity Fair

Here's what worked for these golfers and might work for you, too.

Getty Images

Welcome to Play Smart, a game-improvement column that drops every Monday, Wednesday and Friday fromGame Improvement Editor Luke Kerr-Dineento help you play smarter, better golf.

Its Friday, which means youre probably playing golf this weekend. Perhaps thats how you found your way onto GOLF.com looking for a sneaky tip to take to the golf course. In which case youre in luck, because in todays Play Smart column we have not one tip, nor two, but 15 fresh from the oven.

We got there by talking to a few members of our How To Hit Every Shot Facebook Instruction group (which you can join for free right here) who said they recently experienced a breakthrough in their own golf game. We asked them what their secret was, and heres what they came back with

All of our market picks are independently selected and curated by the editorial team. If you buy a linked product, GOLF.COM may earn a fee. Pricing may vary.

This is something GOLF Top 100 Teacher Kellie Stenzel recommends often in her writing: the golden rule of keeping your ball as low to the ground around the green, as often as you can. That means lots of bump-and-runs, which has helped Gilbertsons game:

Even on mishits the ball is within a reasonable range to make the putt, he says.

For mid- and high- handicappers, one of the most important goals is simply getting the ball in play. Advancing your ball predictably from spot to spot, as GOLF Top 100 Teacher Jamie Mulligan says.

Not every hole requires driver off the tee, Garey says, adding that he shot a career best round of 77 with his new strategy, and playing to the middle of the green more.

Patrick Reed is one of the best at getting up-and-down on Tour. Studying the technique of the best especially around the greens, worked wonders for Brian Mullen.

RELATED: Seve Ballesteros explains how to hit a spinny flop shot, in 55 seconds

Having your pressure too far forward, towards your toes, at setup can create more issues that you realize. It can screw up your rotation in your golf swing, among other things. Baron found out first-hand that the first step to a good golf swing is a good setup which for him meant shifting the weight more towards the arch of his foot, which helped him find a more balanced setup position.

It has made all the difference with shallowing the club and maintaining balance throughout the swing, he says.

This is something that pros think about all the time, and amateurs rarely do. But taking the small steps to eat a little better, warm up more effectively, and play a little smarter throughout can pay huge dividends, as Smargissi found out for himself.

Giving yourself the opportunity for success starts with a game plan, he says.

This is a simple but important point: Keeping your weight forward on your chip shots helps promote a downward strike for crisp contact with more spin. GOLF Top 100 Teacher has a drill to help you with that right here.

It has done wonders for my chipping!, Johnson says.

A bad grip can cause a multitude of problems in your golf swing that can take years to correct. My colleague Tim experiences this first-hand every time he makes a swing, but Dan Rosebach and Brian Baille each took the wise move of correcting their own grips, and their games are better for it. But remember, as GOLF Top 100 Teacher Terry Rowles explains here: While a neutral grip may be the one most teachers teach, the best grip is the one that best suits your unique body type.

It was very awkward and uncomfortable to practice at first but it was critical to reducing my slice off the tee, Rosenbach says.

Similar to an earlier tip, its so important to re-emphasize. For most recreational golfers, the aim of the game is keeping your ball in play, consistently, especially off the tee. As PGA Tour player Marc Leishman says here, you dont need to be a hero. You just need to be predictable.

Scores have lowered and shots have improved, Morin says. There is still more to improve on but its a start.

This is called spot putting, and its a pretty simple way of starting your ball on line. Forget about the hole, just try to move the ball into a spot a few inches ahead of the ball.

Starting your ball on line will dramatically increase success rate, Summa says.

Bad hip mobility is something that hurts a lot of recreational golf swings, and can cost you power. You can and should be stretching your hips, and another way of getting more hip turn in your golf swing is to flare-out your right toe at setup, as you can see GOLFTECs Nick Clearwater demonstrating above (and can read more about here)

Opening up my right hip morehelps me get more turn due to back surgeries, Sureck says.

Having good ball position is so, so important, and recreational golfers often gloss over it. Dont fall into that trap. Make sure your ball position for every club is nailed on, and your game will be better for it.

Better contact. Higher straighter ball flight, Rick says, adding that using Moe Normans ball position is the swing thought that worked for him.

Some really interesting insight from Niki here, who says she used to find the less-crowded areas of the driving range so she could feel more calm and feel less on display around other golfers. Golf is a nerve-wracking and often embarrassing game, but once Niki decided to embrace the nerves as she practiced, her game was better for it. Its the same reason pros like to practice under pressure, and you should, too.

I decided I should actually be practicing where my heart rate gets elevated somewhat because thats what happens a lot when playing a round, she says. It has been a good way to get used to the nerves.

Most golfers tend to come over-the-top during their golf swing. That can lead to pulls, slices, and all sorts of other errors. What most dont realize, as GOLF Top 100 Teacher Sean Hogan explains here, is that your ability to shallow the club can often be linked to your takeaway. For many golfers, a takeaway thats too inside can lead to a loop over-the-top on the downswing. Thats not always the case, of course, but it was for Pushee, and hes been better once he corrected it.

Ive been striking the ball much more consistently, he says.

Yes, but how? Dont worry, Sullivan shares the steps he took:

Start by aiming at the right rough. Slightly stronger top hand at address. Drop the bottom hand a little more under the grip. Hips and shoulders a tad bit closed by dropping the trail foot back a few inches. Take a couple of practice swings, really feeling the inside to out path, by pinning the trail elbow to your side. Add a little side tilt to promote a sweep off the tee. And let it rip!, he says.

And finally, two simple words to end on that coaches everywhere will love.

What does it mean? It means staying open to new ideas, being willing to work, get out of your comfort zone, and stay the course. Do that and youll be a happier, better golfer.

More:

15 real golfers share the tip that gave their own game a breakthrough - Golf.com

Every once in a while, even after spending years watching them, I learn more about why people hate the legislature.

These people behave like feral pigs. Instead of truly representing the people, they mirror most other politicians, including those in Congress, in representing their own interests. Lets face it, we all know that you need money to get elected.

Money buys TV ads and, in the worst cases, it buys votes directly. It is exactly the kind of thing that turns people off big time. We recently saw one such example when the legislature, in its wisdom or lack of same, reversed a Covid reform, most probably because the golden rule still reads, them that has the gold rules.

In this case, it was all about how you can buy alcohol. The liquor stores in New York state are a very, very powerful lobby. If you are a politician looking for cheap political support, you follow the money. During the height of the pandemic, when restaurants were having a near death-experience, the rules were lifted and restaurants were allowed to sell booze when they sold a take out meal.

Guess what? All of a sudden, the poor restauranteurs saw that there was gold in selling take out drinks. Naturally, the liquor store lobby was not happy about this. While no one is talking about it, one can certainly assume that the lobby representing the liquor stores has put their money where their interests are. Put another way, the word is representation. We know that the people come second when it comes to having their needs and views represented.

If the idea was to protect people from overindulging in alcohol consumption by saying that they can buy unlimited amounts of spirits in liquor stories, but not buy alcohol when they order out from restaurants, someone thinks we are really stupid.

Of course, this nonsense comes at exactly the same time that cannabis is being sold all over the place. If there is anything that is making the American people sick to their political stomachs, it is their overwhelming need to get high. When that happens, you can predict car crashes, rampant alcoholism, and all the ancillary harms that we bring upon ourselves. But you really cant pick and choose among the small parts of our opiated society in assessing blame.

I have to tell you that I dont drink. I love it when I get a questionnaire that asks if I smoke or ever have. I proudly answer that I dont. I tell you this because I really dont have a horse in the race. I just hate hypocrisy. The legislature, in its unending search for campaign money, is for sale to the highest bidder. Based on the current push to legalize drugs including but not limited to cannabis, one can only be led to the conclusion that the legislature, like Plunkett of Tammany Hall, saw their opportunities and took them.

The people who run the legislature, in this case predominantly Democrats, ought to know better but cant avoid the greedy inner voices that tell them in time honored language to follow the money.

Of course, theres a lot more involved in the issue of whether or not to let restaurants sell booze with take-out meals. That subject probably would not have been worth a column. My issue is with the greedy, compulsive people who milk the system to enhance their personal well-being and who are responsible for the views that people have of their legislators. You can just see why a Donald Trump does so well when people look to him for something different.

It may be the cost of milk or the way we conduct our elections to advantage the incumbents. Or, it may be the fact that they tell us how hard they work on our behalf when we know they are hard at work on politics as oppose to policy. Disgusting.

Alan Chartock is professor emeritus at the State University of New York, publisher of the Legislative Gazette and president and CEO of the WAMC Northeast Public Radio Network. Readers can email him at alan@wamc.org.

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Alan Chartocks The Capitol Connection: We all know you need money to get elected - Troy Record

Trevor Dunnell| Associated Press

Jul. 1A recent study shows North Carolina is one of the most dangerous states to drive in during the Fourth of July weekend as law enforcement is setting out to remind drivers to be extra cautious this year.

Finder is a national website used to help Americans make better life decisions such as finding a credit card, buying a home, and getting health insurance.

According to a release of the most recent Fatality Analysis Reporting System data collected by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration from 2010 to 2019, North Carolina is listed as the 7th most dangerous state.

Between 2010 and 2019, roughly 410 people have died on U.S. roads over Independence Day holiday weekend each year.

In 2019, the Fourth of July weekend was one of the deadliest for driving in the last decade, with 464 fatal accidents resulting in 517 deaths on the road.

North Carolina has totaled 133 deaths between 2010 and 2019, a few less than New York and Pennsylvania with Texas listed as the #1 most dangerous

Vigilance is key

Motor vehicle crashes are the third leading cause of death in the United States.

In Onslow County, Onslow County Sheriff's Sgt. Thomas Marshburn explained the county averages nearly 20 vehicle fatalities a year, with approximately 50% of all crashes resulting from an impaired driver.

With the approach of the July 4th weekend, Onslow County Sheriff Hans Miller is asking all citizens to join him in making the holiday period a happy and enjoyable one for all.

A statement from Sheriff Miller said, "Traditionally during the July 4th holiday, our highways experience one of the highest traffic flows of the year," as he is reminding all residents to follow these safety tips.

Tips for driving-

Always shift your attention every few seconds, constantly scanning the road ahead and behind you. Never blankly stare ahead nor fix your gaze on one point on the road.

When passing an automobile, always glance at the ground beside the front wheel of the car you intend to pass. You will know instantly if the car is about to veer giving you an extra few seconds to respond.

You should pull out into the opposite lane of traffic when passing while you are still well behind the car in front. This should give you some time and space to build up speed and will enable you to pull back into your own lane should the need arise. Never cut abruptly out of your lane into the opposite lane when passing.

Always signal your intentions with your brake lights, turn signals, horn, and/or headlights so that other drivers will see you well before you change course.

Drivers should always "aim high" in steering. That is, you should glance frequently at points well ahead of you. Not only will this help your steering, but it will also help you check the position of vehicles in front of you as well as on-coming ones.

Never follow too close. Remember that, as your speed increases, it takes you substantially longer to stop. Also remember that it's good to have an extra cushion of space in front of you if you're being tail-gated, on a slippery road, or in low visibility conditions.

If it is raining, turn your headlights on.

"Lastly, I would remind all motorists to practice the Golden Rule when driving. Be courteous and tolerant of other drivers. Please don't get angry with bad drivers or reckless ones just get out of their way," Sheriff Miller said in closing, "Let's make this summer a safe one on the roads in Onslow County."

Fireworks Safety

Even "legal" fireworks can cause serious damage, but it doesn't mean you can't use them responsibly this weekend.

Here are some tips to remember when enjoying personal fireworks from the Jacksonville Fire Department.

Fireworks are not toys.

Always read directions.

Always have an adult present Supervise the children at all times.

Use fireworks outdoors only.

Never use near dry grass or other flammable materials. Keep a safe distance from all structures

Light one at a time.

Have a bucket of water and a hose handy.

Never attempt to re-light or "fix" fireworks.

Do not wear loose-fitting clothing.

"Be aware that even sparklers are dangerous and cause one-half of fireworks injuries in children age 5 and younger" said JFES Chief Tee Tallman. "Illegal fireworks are basically anything that spins on the ground, leaves the ground, or is exploded legal fireworks are stationary. Legal fireworks in North Carolina cannot launch a projectile, explode, or be self-propelled."

A few other tidbits to take into account is to dispose of used fireworks safely. Completely extinguish in water before placing in trash.

Think about your pet. Animals have sensitive ears and can be extremely frightened or stressed by fireworks. Keep pets indoors to reduce the risk that they will run loose or be injured.

If you see something that you believe is a violation of the law, contact the police department.

Certain roadways are expected to be more congested this weekend than normal as holiday periods bring an increase in traffic to Jacksonville.

"In general, there are just more people on the roads as they are off from work for the holiday period," said Magill.

JPD Lt. Sean Magill explained traffic is traditionally heavy in the retail corridors during holiday leave periods, as people are out shopping, eating at restaurants, among other things.

Crime Stoppers offers a cash rewards of up to $2,500 for information that is deemed of value or assistance to law enforcement. Information can also be anonymously texted via Text-A-Tip by typing TIP4CSJAX and your message to 274637 (CRIMES). Callers to Crime Stoppers may remain anonymous and never have to reveal their identity.

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North Carolina one of most dangerous states to drive in during July 4th, study shows - Burlington Times News

1 July 2021, 17:01

The Love Island line-up always looking stunning as they're dressed to impress for their summer of romance... but what clothing rules do they have to follow? It's stricter than you'd think!

Love Island contestants may be donning swimsuits during the majority of their time at the villa but you may be surprised by the clothing rules they have to adhere to during the summer of their lives!

When the stylish contestants get all dolled up for their dates, they have to keep in mind a few restrictions to the way they dress...

Will Shannon Singh Return To Love Island? Inside Fans' Casa Amor Theory

What clothing rules do they have to follow?

There is one golden rule... no logos!

Contestants had to leave the branded clothing at home, logos are the only no-no when it comes to villa apparel!

According to this publication, the rule is: You shall not wear anything which is branded or have visible logos such as clothing, accessories or footwear (except as directed by us)."

The producers can ask contestants to remove any item of clothing if it doesn't align with their guidelines.

"If asked to do so by us, you shall immediately remove or change any item of clothing, accessory or footwear and our decision in this regard shall be final."

Even without branded outfits they still all look out of this world!

Not only can islanders pack clothes from home to impress their fellow contestants but they also get access to a selection of outfits once they arrive in Majorca not shabby!

The reality stars in the making reap the rewards of partnerships the show has with clothing companies

ISAWITFIRST is the official sponsor of Love Island 2021, so you may be seeing your favourite islanders donning some of their threads very soon...

For all the latest gossip from the villa, download and subscribe to the official Love Island: The Morning After podcast. Available on Global Player, the Love Island App or ask Alexa to play the Love Island Podcast.

> Here Are All The Ways You Can Listen To Capital

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The Clothing Rules Love Island Contestants Have To Follow - Capital

AKRON, Ohio, June 29, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Valmark Financial Group has been named a Top Workplace by The Plain Dealer for the second year in a row. The list is based solely on employee feedback gathered through a third-party, with the results of top performers published in the Plain Dealer. The survey is anonymous and uniquely measures 15 drivers of engaged cultures that are critical to the success of any organization, including alignment, execution, and connection.

Being named a Top Workplace two years in a row, amidst a global pandemic and the many challenges it created, is an incredible testament to our people and culture, said Caleb Callahan, President, Valmark Financial Group. I am once again humbled by this achievement, especially because the judges were our employees.

On top of it, Valmark received the highest satisfactions scores in the firms history through its annual customer survey earlier this year. It is no coincidence that these two measures were achieved simultaneously, said Larry J. Rybka, Chairman and CEO, Valmark Financial Group. Being recognized as a Top Workplace further demonstrates the strength of our internal team and our ability to create value for the firms and retail clients we serve.

Valmarks employee-focused culture is well represented by its employee engagement program, simply called Engage. The program is made up of a team of employees from various departments who work together to organize a variety of activities for employees throughout the year. A subset of the committee also implemented a holistic wellness program this year to encourage whole-person wellness. The program provides transferable tips and hosts activities to promote healthier lifestyles among eight areas of Wellness, including: physical, occupational, financial, environmental, social, intellectual, emotional, and nutritional. Our hope is that working at Valmark helps you become the best version of you not just for your career, but for your family and yourself, said Callahan. To me, that is an inspiring purpose.

For the last five years, Valmark has given particular focus to improving its internal teams engagement and productivity. One example is getting consistent feedback from all employees through a quarterly survey and using it to create specific action steps to improve overall employee engagement.

This is the ultimate competitive edge in serving our Member Firms, said Rybka. Attracting and retaining talented team members who can help leverage our firms success is a two-way street. When our firms grow, we, in turn, become more profitable. I think one of our greatest strides in improving overall engagement this past year was the sense of everyone being connected to our purpose to Bring the Golden Rule to Life.

To view Valmarks profile on the Top Workplaces website, click here.

About Valmark Financial Group, LLCValmarkFinancialGroup is a holding company of several subsidiaries, including: Executive Insurance Agency, Inc., a national producer group; Valmark Securities, Inc., a broker-dealer and member of both FINRA and SIPC; Valmark Advisers, Inc., a U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission registered investment adviser; and the Valmark Policy Management Company, LLC, which provides ongoing policy management and monitoring services for life insurance policyholders. With a proud history of workingwith independently owned financial servicesfirms committed to high ethical standards in over 30 states throughout the United States, Valmarkoffersa wide range of insurance and investment solutions for high net-worth clients. Headquartered in Akron, Ohio with operations in St. Paul, Minnesota, Valmark, through its affiliated entities, has helped itsmemberfirms place over $50 billion of life insurance death benefits and manage insurance policies with a cumulative cash value of over $8 billion. Valmarks affiliated RIA, Valmark Advisers, has an estimated $5 billion in assets under management, including approximately $2.5 billion in variable sub-account assets withinits TOPSfunds. To learn more about Valmark Financial Group, visitwww.valmarkfg.com.

Securities offered through Valmark Securities, Inc. Member FINRA/SIPC.

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/3a6aac18-07f3-493b-9755-c0fc280fc134

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The Plain Dealer Names Valmark Financial Group a Cleveland Top Workplace Award Winner for the Second - GlobeNewswire