Monthly Archives: September 2021

Ask Ethan: What Impact Could Magnetic Monopoles Have On The Universe? – Forbes

Posted: September 4, 2021 at 6:04 am

Electromagnetic fields as they would be generated by positive and negative electric charges, both at ... [+] rest and in motion (top), as well as those that would theoretically be created by magnetic monopoles (bottom), were they to exist.

Out of all of the known particles both fundamental and composite there are a whole slew of properties that emerge. Each individual quantum in the Universe can have a mass, or they can be massless. They can have a color charge, meaning they couple to the strong force, or they can be chargeless. They can have a weak hypercharge and/or weak isospin, or they can be completely decoupled from the weak interactions. They can have an electric charge, or they can be electrically neutral. They can have a spin, or an intrinsic angular momentum, or they can be spinless. And if you have both an electric charge and some form of angular momentum, youll also have a magnetic moment: a magnetic property that behaves as a dipole, with a north end and a south end.

But there are no fundamental entities that have a unique magnetic charge, like a north pole or south pole by itself. This idea, of a magnetic monopole, has been around for a long time as a purely theoretical construct, but there are reasons to take it seriously as a physical presence in our Universe. Patreon supporter Jim Nance writes in because he wants to know why:

You've talked in the past about how we know the universe didn't get arbitrarily hot because we don't see relics like magnetic monopoles.You say that with a lot of confidence which makes me wonder, given that no one has ever seen a magnetic monopole or any of the other relics, why are we confident that they exist?

Its a deep question that demands an in-depth answer. Lets start at the beginning: going all the way back to the 19th century.

When you move a magnet into (or out of) a loop or coil of wire, it causes the field to change around ... [+] the conductor, which causes a force on charged particles and induces their motion, creating a current. The phenomena are very different if the magnet is stationary and the coil is moved, but the currents generated are the same. This was the jumping-off point for the principle of relativity.

A little bit was known about electricity and magnetism at the start of the 1800s. It was generally recognized that there was such a thing as electric charge, that it came in two types, where like charges repelled and opposite charges attracted, and that electric charges in motion created currents: what we know as electricity today. We also knew about permanent magnets, where one side acted like a north pole and the other side like a south pole. However, if you broke a permanent magnet in two, no matter how small you chopped it up, youd never wind up with a north pole or a south pole by itself; magnetic charges only came paired up in a dipole configuration.

Throughout the 1800s, a number of discoveries took place that helped us make sense of the electromagnetic Universe. We learned about induction: how moving electric charges actually generate magnetic fields, and how changing magnetic fields, in turn, induce electric currents. We learned about electromagnetic radiation, and how accelerating electric charges can emit light of various wavelengths. And when we put all of our knowledge together, we learned that the Universe wasnt symmetric between electric and magnetic fields and charges: Maxwells equations only possess electric charges and currents. There are no fundamental magnetic charges or currents, and the only magnetic properties we observe come about as being induced by electric charges and currents.

It's possible to write down a variety of equations, like Maxwell's equations, that describe the ... [+] Universe. We can write them down in a variety of ways, but only by comparing their predictions with physical observations can we draw any conclusion about their validity. It's why the version of Maxwell's equations with magnetic monopoles (right) don't correspond to reality, while the ones without (left) do.

Mathematically or if you prefer, from a theoretical physics perspective its very easy to modify Maxwells equations to include magnetic charges and currents: where you simply add in the ability for objects to also possess a fundamental magnetic charge: an individual north or south pole inherent to an object itself. When you introduce those extra terms, Maxwells equations get a modification, and become completely symmetric. All of a sudden, induction now works the other way as well: moving magnetic charges would generate electric fields, and a changing electric field can induce a magnetic current, causing magnetic charges to move and accelerate within a material that can carry a magnetic current.

All of this was simply fanciful consideration for a long time, until we started to recognize the roles that symmetries play in physics, and the quantum nature of the Universe. Its eminently possible that electromagnetism, at some higher energy state, was symmetric between electric and magnetic components, and that we live in a low-energy, broken symmetry version of that world. Although Pierre Curie, in 1894, was one of the first to point out that magnetic charges could exist, it was Paul Dirac, in 1931, who showed something remarkable: that if you had even one magnetic charge, anywhere in the Universe, then it quantum mechanically implied that electric charges should be quantized everywhere.

The difference between a Lie algebra based on the E(8) group (left) and the Standard Model (right). ... [+] The Lie algebra that defines the Standard Model is mathematically a 12-dimensional entity; the E(8) group is fundamentally a 248-dimensional entity. There is a lot that has to go away to get back the Standard Model from String Theories as we know them.

This is fascinating, because not only are electric charges observed to be quantized, but theyre quantized in fractional amounts when it comes to quarks. In physics, one of the most powerful hints we have that new discoveries might be around the corner are by discovering a mechanism that could explain why the Universe has the properties we observe it to have.

However, none of that provides any evidence that magnetic monopoles actually do exist, it simply suggests that they might. On the theoretical side, quantum mechanics was soon superseded by quantum field theory, where the fields are also quantized. To describe electromagnetism, a gauge group known as U(1) was introduced, and this is still used at the present. In gauge theory, the fundamental charges associated with electromagnetism will be quantized only if the gauge group, U(1), is compact; if the U(1) gauge group is compact, however, we get magnetic monopoles anyway.

Again, there might turn out to be a different reason why electric charges have to be quantized, but it seemed at least with Diracs reasoning and what we know about the Standard Model that theres no reason why magnetic monopoles shouldnt exist.

This diagram displays the structure of the standard model (in a way that displays the key ... [+] relationships and patterns more completely, and less misleadingly, than in the more familiar image based on a 4x4 square of particles). In particular, this diagram depicts all of the particles in the Standard Model (including their letter names, masses, spins, handedness, charges, and interactions with the gauge bosons: i.e., with the strong and electroweak forces). It also depicts the role of the Higgs boson, and the structure of electroweak symmetry breaking, indicating how the Higgs vacuum expectation value breaks electroweak symmetry, and how the properties of the remaining particles change as a consequence.

For many decades, even after numerous mathematical advances, the idea of magnetic monopoles remained only a curiosity that hung around in the back of theorists minds, without any substantial progress being made. But in 1974, a few years after we recognized the full structure of the Standard Model which in group theory, is described by SU(3) SU(2) U(1) physicists started to entertain the idea of unification. While, at low energies, SU(2) describes the weak interaction and U(1) describes the electromagnetic interaction, they actually unify at energies of around ~100 GeV: the electroweak scale. At those energies, the combined group SU(2) U(1) describes the electroweak interactions, and those two forces unify.

Is it possible, then, that all of the fundamental forces unify into some larger structure at high energies? They might, and thus the idea of Grand Unified Theories began to come about. Larger gauge groups, like SU(5), SO(10), SU(6), and even exceptional groups began to be considered. Almost immediately, however, a number of unsettling but exciting consequences began to emerge. These Grand Unified Theories all predicted that the proton would be fundamentally stable and would decay; that new, super-heavy particles would exist; and that, as shown in 1974 by both Gerard tHooft and Alexander Polyakov, they would lead to the existence of magnetic monopoles.

The concept of a magnetic monopole, emitting magnetic field lines the same way an isolated electric ... [+] charge would emit electric field lines. Unlike magnetic dipoles, there's only a single, isolated source, and it would be an isolated north or south pole with no counterpart to balance it out.

Now, we have no proof that the ideas of grand unification are relevant for our Universe, but again, its possible that they do. Whenever we consider a theoretical idea, one of the things we look for are pathologies: reasons that whatever scenario were interested in would break the Universe in some way or another. Originally, when tHooft-Polyakov monopoles were proposed, one such pathology was discovered: the fact that magnetic monopoles would do something called overclose the Universe.

In the early Universe, things are hot and energetic enough that any particle-antiparticle pair you can create with enough energy via Einsteins E = mc2 will get created. When you have a broken symmetry, you can either give a non-zero rest mass to a previously massless particle, or you can spontaneously rip copious numbers of particles (or particle-antiparticle pairs) out of the vacuum when the symmetry breaks. An example of the first case is what happens when the Higgs symmetry breaks; the second case could occur, for example, when the Peccei-Quinn symmetry breaks, pulling axions out of the quantum vacuum.

In either case, this could lead to something devastating.

If the Universe had just a slightly higher matter density (red), it would be closed and have ... [+] recollapsed already; if it had just a slightly lower density (and negative curvature), it would have expanded much faster and become much larger. The Big Bang, on its own, offers no explanation as to why the initial expansion rate at the moment of the Universe's birth balances the total energy density so perfectly, leaving no room for spatial curvature at all and a perfectly flat Universe. Our Universe appears perfectly spatially flat, with the initial total energy density and the initial expansion rate balancing one another to at least some 20+ significant digits. We can be certain that the energy density didn't spontaneously increase by large amounts in the early Universe by the fact that it hasn't recollapsed.

Normally, the Universe expands and cools, with the overall energy density being closely related to the rate of expansion at any point in time. If you either take a large number of previously massless particles and give them a non-zero mass, or you suddenly and spontaneously add a large number of massive particles to the Universe, you rapidly increase the energy density. With more energy present, suddenly the expansion rate and the energy density are no longer in balance; theres too much stuff in the Universe.

This causes the expansion rate to not only drop, but in the case of monopole production, to plummet all the way to zero, and then to begin contracting. In short order, this leads to a recollapse of the Universe, ending in a Big Crunch. This is called overclosing the Universe, and cannot be an accurate description of our reality; were still here and things havent recollapsed. This puzzle was known as the monopole problem, and was one of the three main motivations for cosmic inflation.

Just as inflation stretches the Universe, whatever its geometry was previously, to a state indistinguishable from flat (solving the flatness problem), and imparts the same properties everywhere to all locations within our observable Universe (solving the horizon problem), so long as the Universe never heats back up to above the grand unification scale after inflation ends, it can solve the monopole problem, too.

If the Universe inflated, then what we perceive as our visible Universe today arose from a past ... [+] state that was all causally connected to the same small initial region. Inflation stretched that region to give our Universe the same properties everywhere (top), made its geometry appear indistinguishable from flat (middle), and removed any pre-existing relics by inflating them away (bottom). So long as the Universe never heats back up to high enough temperatures to produce magnetic monopoles anew, we will be safe from overclosure.

This was understood way back in 1980, and the combined interest in tHooft-Polyakov monopoles, grand unified theories, and the earliest models of cosmic inflation led some people to embark on a remarkable undertaking: to try and experimentally detect magnetic monopoles. In 1981, experimental physicist Blas Cabrera built a cryogenic experiment involving a coil of wire, explicitly designed to search for magnetic monopoles.

By building a coil with eight loops in it, he reasoned that if a magnetic monopole ever passed through the coil, hed see a specific signal due to the electric induction that would occur. Just like passing one end of a permanent magnet into (or out of) a coil of wire will induce a current, passing a magnetic monopole through that coil of wire should induce not only an electric current, but an electric current that corresponds to exactly 8 times the theoretical value of the magnetic monopoles charge, owing to the 8 loops in his experimental setup. (If a dipole were to pass through, instead, there would be a signal of +8 followed shortly after by a signal of -8, allowing the two scenarios to be differentiated.)

On February 14, 1982, no one was in the office monitoring the experiment. The next day, Cabrera came back, and was shocked at what he observed. The experiment had recorded a single signal: one corresponding almost exactly to the signal a magnetic monopole ought to produce.

In 1982, an experiment running under the leadership of Blas Cabrera, one with eight turns of wire, ... [+] detected a flux change of eight magnetons: indications of a magnetic monopole. Unfortunately, no one was present at the time of detection, and no one has ever reproduced this result or found a second monopole. Still, if string theory and this new result are correct, magnetic monopoles, being not forbidden by any law, must exist at some level.

This set off a tremendous interest in the endeavor. Did it mean inflation was wrong, and we really did have a Universe with magnetic monopoles? Did it mean that inflation was correct, and the one (at most) monopole that should remain in our Universe happened to pass through Cabreras detector? Or did it means that this was the ultimate in experimental errors: a glitch, a prank, or something else that we couldnt explain, but was spurious?

A number of copycat experiments ensued, many of which were larger, ran for longer times, and had greater numbers of loops in their coils, but no one else ever saw anything that resembled a magnetic monopole. On February 14, 1983, Stephen Weinberg wrote a Valentines Day poem to Cabrera, which read:

Roses are red,

Violets are blue,

Its time for monopole

Number TWO!

But despite all the experiments weve ever run, including some that have continued to the present day, there have been no other signs of magnetic monopoles ever seen. Cabrera himself went on to lead numerous other experiments, but we may never know what truly happened on that day in 1982. All we know is that, without the ability to confirm and reproduce that result, we cannot claim that we have direct evidence for the existence of magnetic monopoles.

These are the modern constraints available, from a variety of experiments largely driven from ... [+] neutrino astrophysics, that place the tightest bounds on the existence and abundance of magnetic monopoles in the Universe. The current bound is many orders of magnitude below the expected abundance if Cabrera's 1982 detection was normal, rather than an outlier.

Theres so much that we dont know about the Universe, including what happens at energies far in excess of what we can observe in the collisions that take place at the Large Hadron Collider. We dont know whether, at some high energy scale, the Universe can actually produce magnetic monopoles; we simply know that at the energies we can probe, we havent seen them. We dont know whether grand unification is a property of our Universe in the earliest stages, but we do know this much: whatever occurred early on, it didnt overclose the Universe, and it didnt fill our Universe with these leftover, high-energy relics from a hot, dense state.

Does our Universe, at some level, admit the existence of magnetic monopoles? Thats not a question we can presently answer. What we can state with confidence, however is the following:

Its nearly 40 years since the one experimental clue hinting at the possible existence of magnetic monopoles simply dropped into our lap. Until a second clue comes along, however, all well be able to do is tighten our constraints on where these hypothetical monopoles arent allowed to be hiding.

Send in your Ask Ethan questions to startswithabang at gmail dot com!

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Ask Ethan: What Impact Could Magnetic Monopoles Have On The Universe? - Forbes

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Cloning its Blowing Rock success in Morganton is the next challenge for Town Tavern – Watauga Democrat

Posted: at 6:04 am

Boone Best of the Best 2021 Best Sports Bar. Accepting the award for Best Sports Bar are, from left, Emily Sullivan, William Dennis, Victoria Bird, Rachel McCloskey, Liz Bell, Lindsey Hiatt, Brett Beaty, Erin Frye and Megan Berry of The Town Tavern.

BLOWING ROCK Success in the Blowing Rock hospitality market led Town Tavern owner Justin Davis and his associates to consider expansion of their brand. But, Davis said, they had to be careful not to cannibalize their existing business in Blowing Rock.

Davis Town Tavern does more than serve up burgers, Philly cheesesteaks, or fish and chips with customers favorite beverages. It also provides a gathering place for watching top sports competitions on large screen TVs and accommodates small to larger groups to enjoy each others company in a comfortable ambience, indoor or outdoor.

It is a formula that has worked for us in Blowing Rock, said Davis. As it turns out, we have a lot of customers come up here from Morganton just because they like our restaurant, bar, and the atmosphere that we provide. So we decided that Morganton would be the perfect opportunity to expand our brand, but far enough away that we would not cannibalize our success in the Blowing Rock and High Country market.

There are aspects to expansion, though, that have been challenging. Once they identified their preferred market, they had to find the right location within that market.

Town Tavern on Main Street has become a fixture in Blowing Rocks hospitality industry. One reason is its participation in fun community events and activities, such as this ice sculpture entry in the 2019 Winterfest.

We found a place right on the river. It used to be a restaurant, so at least some of our outfitting requirements will already have been met. We think it is the perfect location for our Morganton Town Tavern. It gives us the opportunity to offer that market another dining, beverage, and entertainment option, said Davis.

The location is in the River Village shopping center and for 15 years was home to the popular Friday Friends restaurant. They were unable to survive the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, according to an article in the Morganton New Herald on April 14, 2021. After closing the doors of the restaurant, River Village shopping center owners L.H. and W.C. Kirksey began actively seeking a new tenant for the space. Enter Davis and Town Tavern, which proved to be a successful model in Blowing Rock, attracting both residents and tourists.

Davis said that while the space was previously a restaurant, they will have to do some extensive renovations of the interior to fit their business model and replicate, to an extent, what they have in Blowing Rock.

Were going to have the same menu, as well as a lot of the features that have contributed to Blowing Rocks success. Sure, it is a different market, but we think a lot of our Blowing Rock appeal is universal.

Town Tavern in Morganton is planned to be open in late October or early November in time to capture the last half of the football season.

That is our plan but there have, of course, been challenges to hiring the tradesmen to do certain things, said Davis.

Responding to other questions about rumors that he and a partner might be looking at the more than two acres on Valley Boulevard, near the Blowing Rock Fire Station as a possible site for another venture, Davis dismissed the idea.

We looked at it. Certainly from a location standpoint it is appealing for, maybe, a fast food restaurant, but we just couldnt make it work, Davis said. We hired an architect to get some design ideas, but restaurants really change the dynamics of a location vs., say, an office. In addition to parking per table, there are a number of other variables, such as accommodating garbage collection and management, where you place a dumpster, food and beverage deliveries, landscape needs, watershed and water usage, and such.

It is a wonderful location, but there are some problems, such as one way in and one way out ingress and egress from Valley Boulevard, the way the traffic flows, said Davis. Then there are issues with the setbacks are on that lot, as well as the NCDOT right of way. That lot is actually deceiving. It is about two and a half acres, but there is really only less than an acre that is usable, at least for our purposes. Without spending a ton of money on a 45-foot retaining wall and cutting back into the mountain, it just didnt make sense.

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Cloning its Blowing Rock success in Morganton is the next challenge for Town Tavern - Watauga Democrat

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Unknown Hard Error, Nothing Helps (Not BSOD) – Windows Crashes and Blue Screen of Death (BSOD) Help and Support – BleepingComputer

Posted: at 6:04 am

Hello! I always make extensive efforts to search the web and so forth in order to fix my own problems, since I'm pretty adept with Windows. But I've spent the last two weeks trying everything I can find, yet nothing helps (the overwhelming majority of the sites I've checked are near duplicates, right down to the syntax and other errors. But to be fair, I've submitted this post elsewhere.)

Here's the situation: I have one SSD containing the system I'm using right now, which works quite well. But I want to copy this system partition to another SSD, more specifically a pair of identical SSDs setup in a RAID 0 configuration (Intel soft RAID). That RAID configuration has worked perfectly for several years. However, when I make any kind of clone, but the most appropriate type (IMHO) of clone for an OS partition is a byte-for-byte copy (although I've tried other types with the same result). I've tried cloning with the following applications: DiskGenius Pro, Acronis Disk Director 12.5, EaseUS Partition Master Pro v16.0, and AOMEI Partition Assistant Pro. All cloning operations work properly, with no error messages. A visual inspection of the clone seems fine, and I can run all the applications off the clone that I've tried.

But...

When I try to boot from the new clone, the Windows 10 bootloader correctly allows me to choose to boot the clone (and the BCD is entirely correct), then I correctly see the rotating circles both before and after the BIOS page, then the logon screen correctly shows up, whereupon I enter my password, which is accepted.

Then I see a very bright, mostly white screen (it looks like a photo negative of the normal screen) with a dialog box in the center with the title bar reading: "sihost.exe - System Warning", with the actual message reading: "Unknown Hard Error". Thereupon the screen flashes roughly every second and the logon fails. But if I press CTRL-ALT-DEL, it correctly brings up the task manager, and there I see all the correct startup tasks. But that's all I ever see from then on.

I have the advantage that I can boot from the single, working SSD and easily work on the system volume on the RAID disks. Thus I don't have to boot from the repair or installation disk(s), although I've tried that too and run startup repair and double-checked the BCD and other such procedures. I've run CHKDSK both from the working online system as well as during boot up.

I've also tried running DISM offline repairs and offline SFC, but none of the sites which claim to provide instructions for those procedures are correct; they always produce syntax errors or the like, and as I said, nearly all of those sites are just plagiarized from each other (with minor variations) so I can't perform DISM or SFC according to their instructions.

Therefore, I've turned to the posters here. Can any of you offer help, please? Even the correct instructions and command lines for offline DISM and SFC would be a tremendous help.

Thanks!

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Unknown Hard Error, Nothing Helps (Not BSOD) - Windows Crashes and Blue Screen of Death (BSOD) Help and Support - BleepingComputer

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The Bad Batch season 2: everything we know so far – TechRadar

Posted: at 6:04 am

The Bad Batch season 2: key info

- Release date coming in 2022- Some crossover with elements of The Mandalorian expected- Likely to focus on the Clones being phased out by the Empire- Voice cast expected to return- Could young Boba Fett turn up next season?

The Clone Wars may be over but Clone Troopers still have a major role to play in that galaxy far, far away. The Bad Batch season 2 will continue the adventures of Clone Force 99, a ragtag group of unique troopers genetically engineered to possess traits that make them superior soldiers.

While the first run of 16 episodes took a while finding its reason to exist, the show eventually carved out its niche in Star Wars canon, with potentially significant implications for The Mandalorian. The Bad Batch season 2 seems set to expand the mythology further, as Hunter, Tech, Wrecker, Echo, Crosshair and their young sidekick Omega try to find their place in a universe where the newly formed Empire is starting to throw its weight around.

So, with the shows return confirmed for 2022, weve sent our troopers on a covert mission to tell you everything you need to know about The Bad Batch season 2 release date, story, cast and more. Spoilers follow for season 1.

Release date: The shows been confirmed for a 2022 return. If we were gamblers like Lando Calrissian, wed bet on a May debut.

Cast: Dee Bradley Baker will return to voice the main cast of characters Hunter, Tech, Wrecker, Echo, Crosshair and any other clones they might encounter. We wouldn't bet against seeing the return of Ming-Na Wen as Fennec Shand and maybe some other deep cuts from Star Wars lore will turn up.

Story: With the Clones being phased out by the end of season 1, we expect to see the galaxy changing further around our characters in season 2. What happens to the dispossessed Clones is likely to come up more in future seasons, too.

On August 5, just ahead of the two-part season 1 finale, Disney Plus confirmed confirmed (via StarWars.com) that the show will return. All we know for sure about The Bad Batch season 2 release date is that it will be some time in 2022. But, seeing as the first run kicked off (rather appropriately) on May 4 (aka Star Wars Day), we wouldnt be surprised if season 2 debuts on the same date not least because it falls on a Wednesday in 2022, which (after Loki and What If?) now appears to be Disney Pluss new favorite day for original launches.

Its still early days for a proper Bad Batch season 2 trailer. The first season 1 teaser didnt appear until late March, just over a month before the shows debut, and wed expect to see a similar pattern for the follow-up. In the meantime, you can enjoy the announcement teaser that debuted on Instagram in August 2021.

Spoilers follow for The Bad Batch season 1. If you're yet to watch it on Disney Plus, proceed with caution.

Like its counterparts at Marvel, Lucasfilm isnt in the habit of giving away major story details ahead of a Star Wars movie or TV shows release. It would be a massive surprise, however, if The Bad Batch season 2 didnt pick up where its predecessor left off.

Following the Imperial fleets brutal destruction of Tipoca City and the cloning facilities on Kamino, Hunter, Tech, Wrecker, Echo and Omega parted ways with ex-Clone Force 99 member Crosshair. Even though Crosshair told the Bad Batch that his Order 66-initiated inhibitor chip had been removed a fact confirmed by head writer Jennifer Corbett in an interview with StarWars.com his allegiance remains with the Empire.

As hes so fond of reminding his brothers, good soldiers follow orders, but the question remains: will the Empire value his services now that Clones are being phased out in favour of conscripted TK Troopers, the forerunners of Imperial Stormtroopers?

The Bad Batch, meanwhile, are likely to have some big decisions to make after theyve departed Kamino in their ship, the Havoc Marauder. We didnt want to have everyones purpose locked in at the end of season 1, supervising director Brad Rau told StarWars.com. Its something that they deal with in a big way as we move into season 2. What is their purpose from all of their different points of view? Its going to be a big deal, something we really wanted to dig into.

Although the Bad Batch are on the run from Imperial forces, theyre yet to take up arms in earnest against the Emperors totalitarian regime. As they see more and more of the oppressive tactics employed against the populace, however, it seems unlikely theyll continue doing odd jobs for former Jedi informant/information broker Cid when they could be joining the fight.

So will Clone Force 99 have a role to play in establishing the Rebellion against the Empire?

The Martez sisters appearance in season 1 strongly hinted the duo are involved in some kind of resistance movement, and their contact looked a lot like Rebel Alliance bigwig (and Leias adopted dad) Bail Organa. (That said, we know from Star Wars Rebels that the Alliance wont come together for over a decade, so theres a limit to how pivotal the Bad Batch can be in its formation.)

We also expect The Bad Batch season 2 to tell us more about the backstory of Omega, the unique female clone of Jango Fett whos become Hunter, Tech, Wrecker and Echos travelling companion. Although still a child, shes actually older than the members of Clone Force 99 who like their Clone brothers had their growth rate accelerated by the Kaminoans. Omega knows that the Batch were created with desirable genetic mutations to make them into superior soldiers and theres surely more to learn about her own origins.

We can also expect to learn more about the Clones spread throughout the galaxy in the wake of the Clone Wars. We will not let that storyline go undiscussed, for sure, confirmed Rau. It remains to be seen, however, whether that means Clone Wars veteran Rex and his future Rebels sidekick Gregor will see more action, or the introduction of new Clones.

The Bad Batch may be animated but its just as important to Star Wars canon as its live-action counterparts. As the first TV show or movie to dive into the early days of the Galactic Empire, its travelling to previously unexplored regions of the Star Wars timeline and has surprisingly major implications for The Mandalorian season 3.

The final scene of The Bad Batchs first season saw chief Kaminoan scientist Nala Se arriving at an Imperial outpost concept art suggests this is Mount Tantiss on Wayland, a planet that appeared in the (now non-canonical) expanded universe. Intriguingly, the Imperial scientist who greets Nala Se is wearing the same uniform as Dr Pershing, the geneticist who used Grogu (aka Baby Yoda) as a test subject in The Mandalorian.

Its long been speculated that Pershings experiments are part of Palpatines long-standing plan to clone himself a project that came to fruition in The Rise of Skywalker so theres a good chance Nala Se will be laying the groundwork for the Emperors nefarious schemes. Where Nala Se is, what Nala Se is doing, should be a mystery to the audience, Corbett told StarWars.com, and we hope to explore that in the upcoming season.

Bounty hunters always integral to the Star Wars mix also help to tie The Bad Batch season 2 into existing canon.

In the first season, Kaminoan prime minister Lama Su hired The Clone Wars biggest Clint Eastwood fan, Cad Bane, to track down Omega, prompting Nala Se to dispatch Fennec Shand to protect her. Shands presence is unlikely to be a coincidence.

The infamous Boba Fett saved her from death by on the surface of Tatooine in the first season of The Mandalorian, and the bounty hunting duo subsequently became associates to the point that theyre the two leads in spin-off show The Book of Boba Fett. Could The Bad Batch set more than 20 years earlier detail the beginnings of their friendship?

With Fett still in his teens at this point in the Star Wars timeline, theyll both be young bounty hunters making their way in the universe. We also know from The Clone Wars that the young Fett had associations with other representatives of the trade, including Dengar, Bossk and Aurra Sing.

Assuming he does turn up in The Bad Batch season 2 (Fennec Shand actor Ming-Na Wen was cagey when TechRadar asked her about his return back in June), Fett is likely to have a particular interest in Omega. After all, like him, shes an unaltered clone of their father, Jango.

With the show set between the prequel trilogy and the original trilogy, most of the major characters in the franchise are potentially in play. While its unlikely Han Solo, Luke and Leia will make an appearance (the twins are just infants at this point in the timeline), the cargo bay doors are open for the likes of Darth Maul, Grand Admiral Thrawn and even Darth Vader to cross paths with Clone Force 99.

Official confirmation of The Bad Batch season 2 cast is yet to emerge, but it would be a surprise of Death Star-shattering proportions if the headliners dont look something like this:

Put simply, there would be no Bad Batch without Dee Bradley Baker. Having voiced legions of Clone Troopers throughout The Clone Wars, the actor plays the five lead roles in the show, giving unique personalities to Hunter, Tech, Wrecker, Echo and Crosshair. He also voiced additional Clones in season one, including a couple of veterans of The Clone Wars and Rebels, Rex and Gregor.

Michelle Ang is likely to be back as the Bad Batchs sister Omega, and wed be surprised if Cheers Rhea Perlman doesnt return as Cid. With Kaminoan scientist Nala Se now working at an Imperial facility, wed expect to hear more from Gwendoline Yeo, while Noshir Dalal is likely to lead the Empires pursuit of Clone Force 99 as Vice Admiral Rampart.

Beyond those regulars, were into less predictable guest star territory.

On the bounty hunter front, were predicting returns for Ming-Na Wen and Corey Burton as Fennec Shand and Cad Bane, respectively. And if Boba Fett does make an appearance in The Bad Batch season 2, that could mean a return for Daniel Logan, who played the young version of the bounty hunter in both Attack of the Clones and The Clone Wars.

As for the Imperials, its likely Stephen Stanton will crop up again as future Grand Moff Tarkin. A Palpatine cameo, meanwhile, would probably prompt the return of Sam Witwer, who voiced the character in Rebels and later episodes of The Clone Wars as well as playing Darth Maul. (While Ian McDiarmid reprised his live-action role as Palpatine in the first episode of The Bad Batch, the scene was lifted from his performance in Revenge of the Sith.)

Part of the fun with any of the Star Wars animated shows, however, is listening out for big-name actors cropping up in the soundtrack, whether theyre Star Wars legends (Billy Dee Williams appeared as Lando in Star Wars Rebels), or simply fans of the franchise (Simon Pegg cropped up as bounty hunter Dengar in The Clone Wars). The Bad Batchs first season featured a cameo from Fleabags Sian Clifford as a protocol droid.

Behind the camera, the principal production team remains largely unchanged, with Jennifer Corbett as lead writer, Brad Rau as supervising director, and Dave Filoni (a veteran of The Clone Wars and Rebels, the creator of The Bad Batch, and Lucasfilms executive creative director) serving as executive producer.

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Use These Self-Empowerment Tips To Thrive In Your Negotiations – Forbes

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Professor Dr. Kasia Jagodzinska is a busy professional. An academic, she teaches at universities in France, Italy, Poland, and Switzerland. She is also a trainer with the Schranner Negotiation Institute, where she works with negotiators from almost every industry. On top of that, she also acts as a senior advisor to the United Nations on multi-stakeholder negotiations. And, if all that were not enough, shes also an author!

Her book, Negotiation Booster, aims to combine the tactics traditionally taught about negotiation with self-empowerment. It got its start when Jagodzinska was in the early days of her career. Having started her first job in Paris, she got a call from her native Poland asking her to lecture. Unwilling to quit a job she had just started, she began her life of working in both business and academia, with lots of travelling when she could research.

I was always travelling and doing a lot of research on the plane, Jagodzinska says. And I came across research that said that for female negotiators, tactical preparation and training is not enough for them to negotiate to their full potential. The research intrigued her, not least because she was a woman starting out in business. And she began to wonder if the reason, that women needed additional empowerment, actually applied to everyone.

an adult woman shows strength

The need for empowerment is universal

As Jagodzinska explored the issue in her career she began to realise that there was not, in fact, a gender difference and that the need for self-empowerment was universal.

When she started working with high-level business professionals, she would discover that, in the safe and relaxed training environment, everyone has the same insecurities. She describes how, after an exercise, the mask comes off, they say look, Im not convinced about my opening, Im hesitant, I dont believe I can win this. Jagodzinska identified that although they were teaching lots of different strategies and tactics, they were not doing anything to give people the resources to manage their emotions, so they had the confidence needed as a foundation for the tactics.

Negotiation Booster

Jagodzinskas book aims to provide some of what her training offers, giving readers not just information of negotiation strategy or tactics, but also a broader, human, understanding that can underpin what people do, taking some of the stress out of negotiation. Each chapter will, deliberately, refer to both negotiation and non-negotiation resources.

People will often refer to a life of death negotiation, but if you read Edith Egers The Choice you will quickly redefine what a life-or-death negotiation is, she says. It is a common human trait to overstate the importance of negotiations, and even experienced negotiators do this. The danger is that by adding unnecessary emotional stress, the negotiators is undermining their own effectiveness.

Perhaps underneath it all is the fact that all negotiation is personal, even if the parties arent representing themselves. Whether they are negotiating on behalf of a corporation or a nation state, at the end much will come down to the personal relationships that exist around the table.

It isnt just about emotional intelligence, Jagodzinska says. Its also understanding. We are emotional beings, and you have to acknowledge that. You cannot skip managing your emotions and rely on using the negotiation strategies and tactics that are out there.

Having trained thousands of people over the years, Jagodzinska has learned to recognise that everyone can have that moment of hesitation when they start a negotiation, and everyone can have moments of imposter syndrome. Recognising that universality, and acknowledging it as a common, human trait a shared experience is not only empowering but can help create a mutual respect that benefits negotiations.

Confidence is the key

For Jagodzinska, confidence is the most important thing. Indeed, it comes full circle to the research she was reading on a plane early in her career. While its important to recognise that everyone has moments of doubt, its more important to have the self-belief that you can overcome that doubt.

Visualising success can be enormously helpful. Its a useful practice just to play out how negotiations might go, so you are prepared for different eventualities. But its also incredibly useful to spend some of the time just thinking about how success might look, and how you can make it happen, so you start negotiations with those possibilities in your mind.

I think its the biggest takeaway from my book, says Jagodzinska, is that it starts with whats in your mind. The biggest failure can start there, but the biggest success starts there as well.

Check out Jagodzinskas full episode here.

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Review: ‘The Heart Principle,’ By Helen Hoang – NPR

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In a time when social media platforms like TikTok have made it shockingly easy for content to go viral (search for the "Watermelon Sugar" Hi! pet trend, you'll thank me later), Helen Hoang's The Heart Principle answers the question: What happens when the fame you never wanted is keeping you from actually having a career you love?

When Anna Sun, a professional violinist, goes viral on YouTube for a performance, it changes her life forever ... but not for the reasons she anticipates. Not only does she get musician's block, it's clear her family and her boyfriend Julian don't understand so she decides to go to therapy. When Julian decides he wants an open relationship before he agrees to settle down, Anna, who is tired of pleasing everyone but herself, goes on a dating app and meets our leading man Quan Diep who readers may recognize from Hoang's previous books. "Stop masking. Stop people pleasing. Revenge on Julian. Learn who I am. Self empowerment," Anna says at one point, reminding herself to go through with the plan.

What was supposed to be a no-strings-attached one-night stand, however, turns into a tangled tapestry of heady makeout sessions, watching animal documentaries together, and divulging the kinds of secrets that border on couple territory, which have both characters reconsidering their decision to use sex as a BandAid for their inner turmoil. For one, Anna has intimacy issues and has never had a one-night stand before. And Quan, who recently recovered from a serious illness, has his own body image insecurities. But together, they understand each other in a way no one else has tried or cared enough to and thus, a new kind of intimacy blooms between them, in true Hoang fashion.

If The Kiss Quotient teaches intimacy and The Bride Test nurtures it, then The Heart Principle pushes its characters not to be ashamed by it. It's only when Anna and Quan stop putting pressures on themselves that they can truly let go in every sense. I would've loved to see Quan and Anna step outside their bubble and interact in more social settings together, but it feels just as good to see them learn about each other without external influences (although her family certainly tries).

It's a little on the nose to say that Hoang's new romance is sex-positive, but it's important to show how she neutralizes the social pressures around physical intimacy. When Anna says no to a sexual act, she thinks that it "might be the hardest thing I've ever done. But I did it. Part of me is still queasy from how unnatural it felt. Another part of me, however, is drunk with power."

The social pressures go beyond intimacy too. When Anna learns that she may be autistic, Quan is the one who's there for her, while her sister dismisses it as a plea for attention. And after a personal tragedy sends Anna home to a family that loves her but struggles to understand her, Quan is the one who becomes her safe haven and helps her through an autistic burnout. But when her family has other plans for her, which don't include Quan, she needs to figure out how to follow her heart and speak up for herself.

It's an emotional journey, but a fulfilling one to watch Anna and Quan not only reconcile with the limits of their bodies and health but wield enough power to stand up for themselves.

Perhaps one of the hardest parts of reading this book is the visceral reaction to seeing other people mistreat Anna and Quan because of their differences. We want to protect them while we collectively bemoan their loss of agency. So much of the story manifests the act of grieving. There is the literal grieving of a family member, but there's also the mourning over loss of self and identity Quan for the life he had before his illness and Anna for the person she could've been, had she gotten proper support earlier in life.

But like the final stage of grief, acceptance isn't too far off for these characters. It's an emotional journey, but a fulfilling one to watch Anna and Quan not only reconcile with the limits of their bodies and health but wield enough power to stand up for themselves. In fact, it's evident that while Anna's autism is a turning point for her, it's not meant to define her or the story; if anything, it's just the missing puzzle piece that lets her fully love herself without a nagging sense of uncertainty. "No one should need a diagnosis in order to be compassionate to themselves ... Maybe for now, just this once, I can experiment with a different kind of love. Something kinder."

Having read all three of Helen Hoang's books, I can confidently say she's a consummate wordsmith of soulful romances, with soft, honest-to-goodness love stories paired with euphoric steaminess. The Heart Principle wears its heart on its sleeve. While it's thematically heavier than her previous books, Hoang's writing breathes with the kind of kinetic power and acceptance that feel freeing because she lets her characters fully realize themselves even when those around them can't.

Kamrun Nesa is a freelance writer based in New York. Her work has been featured in The Washington Post, Bustle, PopSugar, and HelloGiggles.

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The Legacy Of Beyonc – Essence

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Often when one thinks about legacy, its understood to be a gift or bequest thats handed down, endowed, or conveyed, from one person to another, after theyve passed. However, legacy is more about sharing the things that were learned not earned and instilling values as opposed to material wealth. Influence and inspiration are also a part of a persons legacy, and that can be put into play while still one is still alive.

September 4, 1981 brought about a new legacy, one that would ultimately impact the entertainment industry and permeate popular culture for years to come. On that summer morning, BeyoncGiselle Knowles was born in Houston, Texas. Since then, she has created a legacy that is unparalleled. She rose to fame in the late 1990s as the lead singer of Destinys Child one of the highest-selling girl groups of all time, along with a lucrative acting career, appearing in films such asAustin Powers in Goldmember,The Pink Panther,Dreamgirls,Cadillac RecordsandThe Lion King.

It wasnt until 2003 that her music career and life truly blossomed. In June of that year, Beyoncreleased her debut solo studio album,Dangerously in Love. In the years that followed, the Texas native rose to icon status, becoming one of the most respected figures in the world. Embarking on a solo career allowed Beyonc to grow both personally and professionally, and it gave her the opportunity to create a legacy outside of Destinys Child.

Since her last solo project, Beyonc has released a compilation album with her husband entitledEverything is Love. She also createdHomecoming, a documentary and concert film focused on her 2018 Coachella performances, and voiced Nala in the remake ofThe Lion King. This led to the curation of the films soundtrackThe Lion King: The Gift, as well as the visual albumBlack is King.

Her numerous accolades and achievements in almost every field of human endeavor show why Beyonc is revered by so many people. Her legacy thus far is undeniable, and she has accomplished more in her 40 years on this earth that most have done in a lifetime. In celebration of Beyoncs 40thbirthday, we look back at her solo albums and the impact theyve left on the music industry, as well as their parallels to the entertainers own life.

Dangerously in Love (June 20, 2003)

In what was a mixture of ballads and uptempo songs,Dangerously in Lovealso incorporated elements of traditional R&B, hip-hop and soul music. It was the first time Beyonc would record an album outside of Destinys Child, and her solo debut was praised by critics and fans alike for its artistic creativity and chart-topping singles. The album received numerous accolades, also earning Beyoncfive Grammy Awards at the 46thAnnual Grammy Awards on February 8, 2004.

During the fall of 2002, 03 Bonnie & Clyde was released. It heightened speculation that Beyoncand rapper Jay Z were in a relationship. Many of the songs onDangerously in Lovewere personal, which also led the public to believe that they were inspired by her newfound union. At a time when Beyonc was coming into her own as a woman, she was also finding her voice as an artist. As a part of Destinys Child, that type of growth may not have been possible, for her focus was more on the group as a whole, rather than her as an individual.

BDay (September 4, 2006)

Released on her 25thbirthday, Beyoncs second studio album was recorded at a very important time in the singers life. She createdBDaywhile filmingDreamgirls, an adaptation of the 1981 Broadway musical of the same name. Her involvement with the film also influenced the sound and lyrical content of her second album. With a musical style drawn from 1970s funk, live instrumentation, along with her normal usage of urban contemporary elements,BDaywas considered a leap in creativity for Beyonc.

Debuting at number one on the US Billboard 200,BDaysold over 541,000 in its first week of sales. That, and theDreamgirlsrelease in December of 2006 marked Beyoncs official recognition as a bonafide superstar.

I Am Sasha Fierce (November 12, 2008)

Beyoncs third album,I Am Sasha Fiercewas originally formatted as a double album. Each disc was a representation of her two artistic personas.I Amcontained slow and mid tempo R&B ballads,while Sasha Fierce her on-stage alter ego had uptempo songs that blended more pop elements. AlthoughI Am Sasha Fiercewas not as popular with critics as her previous two albums, it garnered a record setting six awards at the 52ndAnnual Grammy Awards.

In what was a perfect example of art imitating life, the albums second single, Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It) told the story of Beyoncs personal life at the time. In April of that year, Beyonc and Jay Z wed in a secret ceremony, after years of dating. I Am Sasha Fiercebecame the culmination of Beyoncs work as a musician, and a testimony of the new chapter she was beginning in her life.

4 (June 24, 2011)

After a hiatus from the music and film industry, Beyonc released her fourth album, aptly titled4, in 2011. During this time away, she was inspired to create an album focused on traditional R&B that emphasized female empowerment and self-reflection.

2011 was a year of ups and downs for Knowles. After personal issues and severing professional ties with her father and manager, she shifted her music to more mature and intimate content. The multiple television performances and festival appearances served only as a footnote to the 2011 MTV Video Music Awards. When concluding her epic performance, she announced to the world her pregnancy, sending shockwaves around the world.

Beyonc (December 13, 2013)

Beyoncs eponymous fifth release was developed as a visual album, and also marked a crescendo in the singers creativity. In what was a surprise release, its songs were accompanied by short films that represented the intimate subject material showcased within the album. As her career progressed, Beyonc became more open to giving the public a glimpse into her famously private life.

She also directed and produced the television film,Life Is But a Dream, which was a collection of footage and photographs from previous years. This autobiographical release documented her marriage, her miscarriage, the birth of her first child Blue Ivy in 2012, and her aforementioned professional split from her father. Her openness to her personal life led to a new level of expression in her music.

Lemonade (April 23, 2016)

Lemonade the most acclaimed album of Beyoncs career, built upon her increasing transparency she highlighted throughout her previous release. Accompanied by an hour-long film on HBO, this album encompassed a variety of musical genres, and themes of infidelity, trauma, feminism and culture as it pertains to African-Americans. Placed at number 32 on Rolling Stones 500 Greatest Albums of All Time, Lemonade was an artistic high point for Beyonc, but the albums construction was not without its tribulations.

Beyoncs sixth album was heavily influenced by her personal life, and her emotional journey in the aftermath of her husbands infidelity. It was also a special project due to her exploration of the economic and social structure of America, and the history of people of color the good as well as the bad. Lemonade was an open book into the mind of Beyonc Knowles, and in it contained her best body of work to date.

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Sewing empowerment: Winnipeg partnership sends needed menstruation products overseas – Winnipeg Free Press

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NOBODY in the Sudanese refugee camp told Wedan Hamad about periods.

When Hamad first soaked through her underwear, she was frustrated and confused. She figured shed have to hide the blood, until her aunt stepped in and helped.

"My mom never talked with me," Hamad said. "Our culture, sometimes, is very tough."

Decades later, Hamad is working in the basement of First Lutheran Church in Winnipegs West End to ensure hundreds of girls across the globe have access to menstrual products.

She and four other immigrant women have sewn 600 reusable pads and holding bags. The women regularly attend sewing sessions, English classes and child-care drop-offs through the Excel Empowerment Centre, which is stationed in the church.

The centre partnered with Mennonite Central Committee four months ago. On Wednesday, MCC representatives collected the volunteer-made goods, which will be shipped to school-age girls and incarcerated women in Ukraine next month, as part of the charitys dignity kits.

"They learn (about personal hygiene) at the school, they talk to them openly its not like us. Im happy to hear (that)," Hamad said, getting emotional.

Achol Majer marvelled at the snap buttons shed helped to sew into the pads. Shed received pads when she was in a South Sudanese refugee camp, but there was no way to fasten them theyd fall out often.

GABRIELLE PICHE / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS

Help for Ukraine - Immigrant women band together in the basement of First Lutheran Church to sew menstrual products for vulnerable girls.

"Some girls, if you have your period, and you dont have money to buy the... pads, you refuse to go to school," she said. "(You) have a shame in front of your (peers), and people will laugh at you. The best way is to stay home."

Destigmatizing periods boosts confidence, Majer said. "Some years later, you will be somebody. You will see yourself in a different angle."

The volunteers some of whom have sewing certificates can finish a product in five minutes. They take two strips of pre-cut cloth (provided by MCC) and sew them together, adding elastics and buttons after.

"The idea of this program is to empower immigrant women to do the work (with the knowledge) that they came with," said Rebecca Deng, centre executive director.

Right now, the women are volunteers. Hopefully soon, theyll be paid for their skills, Deng said.

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"Finding a job is one of the challenges in Canada... because of the language barrier."

The women sew tote bags, masks and cultural garb. The pads have been their latest challenge; those will be shipped in buckets with underwear, towels, soap and other hygiene items. MCC has sent such kits to other countries, including South Sudan.

"Its a lot of people power here," said Sophia Bezoplenko, material resources co-ordinator for MCC Manitoba. "Im so grateful that these women have volunteered... to do this."

She called the kits life-changing for recipients and said MCC hopes to continue its partnership with the Excel Empowerment Centre.

The public can support the centre by sending monetary donations to First Lutheran Church or giving online at canadahelps.org. Information on making dignity kits is available at mcccanada.ca/kits.

gabrielle.piche@freepress.mb.ca

Gabrielle PichReporter

Gabby is a big fan of people, writing and learning. She graduated from Red River Colleges Creative Communications program in the spring of 2020.

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Miami Marlins’ GM Kim Ng takes break from baseball to attend US Open, where her idols played – USA TODAY

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Alex Coffey| Special for USA TODAY

Why Serena Williams' legacy is cemented, regardless of getting No. 24

Mackenzie Salmon and Analis Bailey look at Serena Williams' lasting legacy on tennis and the sports world.

Sports Seriously, USA TODAY

NEW YORK Mets shortstop Francisco Lindor made an appearance at the U.S. Open on Thursday afternoon, a few hours before his game against the Miami Marlins. It did not go unnoticed.

The U.S. Open tweeted about it from their official account. The ESPN broadcast shared a video of Lindor throwing a tennis ball back and forth with his new pal, Alexander Zverev, who recently advanced to the third round. Its safe to say that fans knew he was there.

Few people noticed Marlins general manager Kim Ng, who braved biblical flooding the night before to watch Sloane Stephens take on Coco Gauff from the Arthur Ashe Stadium presidents suite. Ng, who is close friends with a member of the USTAs board of directors, Kathleen Francis, was sitting next to Anna Wintour, the editor-in-chief of "Vogue", who inspired the movie "The Devil Wears Prada." A photo of Wintour began to circulate on Twitter. Ng is pictured right next to the fashion icon albeit, out of focus and people still didnt recognize her.

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Ng wasnt complaining. The GM isnt one to thrust herself into the spotlight (which has become a bit of an issue since she was hired by the Marlins last year, the first woman to become a general manager of a mens team in the history of major North American sports). She was perfectly content to blend into a crowd, particularly at an event that carries such personal significance for her.

Long before baseball, tennis was the first sport that Ng loved. Her parents played it, her grandparents played it, so she started playing it, when she was four, and continued throughout high school. The sport filled her with a sense of empowerment and in some ways, brought out the doggedness shes become known for as an executive but it also connected her to two role models that had a profound effect on a young woman looking to chart a path that was largely uncharted.

"I was a little bit young to follow Billie Jean King, but by the time I got to high school, I really started to understand what she had done for the sport and for women, in general," Ng said. "Martina (Navratilova) was much more my sweet spot, age-wise 10-years-old through college. Amazing athlete. The thing that always really grabbed me about Martina was that she took the sport to another level, for women. She redefined what many people thought of as a female athlete. She just raised the bar. Her physique, the way she trained.

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"It was also the idea that she was not afraid to be different. She was her own person, and she told it like it was and didnt take anything from anybody. I think that really helped me in terms of thinking about how I should be growing up. And things that I should be thinking about. And that it was okay to be different. I got a lot of that from my family, but I think externally, it was important for me to see somebody else living that credo."

On the day she accepted the job as Marlins GM, Ng listed Navratilova and King as mentors. Standing outside the visitors dugout at Citi Field on Thursday, she clarified that in reality, they meant much more.

"Idols,"she said. "Those two speaking out and being as vocal as they were, allowed a little kid like me to become aware of what I was capable of. ... It helped me fight those preconceived notions of what I could be, and what I should be, and really just going after what I want."

The examples that King and Navratilova set only drew Ng to the sport more. By the time shed graduated from the University of Chicago, she was seriously considering a career in tennis simply because that was where shed seen the most women in positions of power.

"When I was thinking of getting into sports… what you see is what you think is available to you," she said. "I was thinking about tennis, maybe working in sports marketing or operations. It was a sport that had more women in it."

Obviously, Ng went a different route one that is arguably more emblematic of the impact that King and Navratilova had in the tennis world but remained drawn to the sport. In her mind, she sees tennis as a vehicle for womens empowerment, and makes an effort to support it in person when she can, often by attending the Open. Shes made trips to Flushing Meadows while working in the Los Angeles Dodgers front office, the New York Yankees front office, and in the MLB Commissioners office, so, when the Mets-Marlins game was rained out Wednesday night, she couldnt pass up a chance to see two female athletes gutting it out, just a few feet from the court.

"Those two are off the charts,"she said of Gauff and Stephens. "Ive seen Venus (Williams) at the Open there as well. Thats who Coco reminds me of, is Venus her build, her aggressiveness, her poise.

"It was tremendous to see that type of athleticism up close. Just incredible talent. I figured the stars were aligned; I love tennis and I love baseball. It would have been a great day if we had been able to see both, but it was still a great day, because I got to spend most of it watching those two play."

Follow Alex Coffey on Twitter @byalexcoffey.

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GHWCC to host The Woodlands North Houston Conference for Women – hellowoodlands.com

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Greater Houston Womens Chamber of Commerce (GHWCC) will host The Woodlands North Houston Conference for Women on November 18, 2021 at The Woodlands Resort.

Hello Woodlands interviewed SuzanDeison, CEO/President/Founder of Greater Houston Womens Chamber of Commerce, Shayla White, Executive Director GHWCC Womens Business Center, and Natalie Saikowski Goertz, co-chair of the Woodlands North Houston Conference for Women and Senior Vice President at Guaranty Bank & Trust.

What is the Greater Houston Womens Chamber of Commerce?

The Greater Houston Womens Chamber of Commerce (GHWCC) is a nonprofit business organization of highly influential and diverse women and men dedicated to the advancement and empowerment of women through avenues of leadership, education, advocacy and mentoring.

We are the place where women do business in Houston. We provide women with a platform to make your voices heard and to build valuable business relationships. We provide opportunities to enhance your leadership skills. We advocate for your business with our legislators on the local, state and federal levels. We host educational workshops to help you expand or start your business. We educate our membership on the benefits of preventive healthcare. We engage dynamic executive women to build relationships, generate provocative ideas, thoughts and solutions to impact the future of healthcare. We provide unlimited opportunities for women and girls to develop and enhance their leadership skills with a strong focus on science, technology, engineering, arts and math (STEAM). We provide scholarships for our next generation of women leaders. Read more about GHWCC on their website at ghwcc.org.

How can members of the community become a member?

SuzanDeison, CEO, President, and Founder of Greater Houston Womens Chamber of Commerce, shared, The GHWCC membership levels are based upon a business number of employees.The Greater Houston Womens Chamber of Commerce (GHWCC) is the fastest growing womens chamber in the US. We represent over 1200 member businesses, from Fortune 500 companies to small women led businesses. Men are also welcomed to join to not only support women, but to do business with women.

Tell us about the GHWCC SBA WBC.

Shayla White, Executive Director GHWCC Womens Business Center, responded, The GHWCC SBA Womens Business Center serves as a catalyst to enable women entrepreneurs and their leadership teams to start or take their business to the next level through organization, innovation, and engagement. The GHWCC SBA WBC empowers women-led organizations by introducing resources that provide tools, access to capital, and valuable business relationships.

GHWCC WBC is dedicated to enhancing opportunities for potential entrepreneurs and small business owners to become self-sustaining and successful contributors to their communities, with special assistance for women, low-income, minority, veterans, and non-profit businesses in Montgomery County, East Harris County and Chambers County.We have a diverse Advisory Board of 18 that represents the chambers geographic service area who assist and support the WBC activities including business consulting and hosting workshops.The GHWCC SBA WBC Advisory Board members serve as advisors for the WBC team, sharing insights and strategies to help women entrepreneurs succeed.

The GHWCC SBA WBC provides educational workshops and events to build capacity, make connections and overall elevate entrepreneurs business acumen to remain competitive in the marketplace. For a comprehensive understanding of our offerings, visitwww.ghwcc.org, emailinfo@ghwcc.org, or call 713-782-3777.

How can members get involved?

SuzanDeison said, GHWCC Members have many opportunities for leadership and engagement!

GHWCC Programs include: The SBA Womens Business Center and LAUNCH, helping women-led businesses start or expand their business by providing valuable education, tools and resources including access to capital, Women On Board Institute, an initiative to increase the number of women serving on corporate boards by helping them become board-ready, and STEAM Town USA, an initiative to increase at-risk third grade girls interest in math and science through STEAM concepts, and encourage them to pursue STEAM careers.

GHWCC committees include Governmental Affairs, Womens Health Network of the Texas Medical Center, Education, Marketing, 40 Under 40, Ambassadors, and HR Roundtable. We also have regional chapters; Central Houston/Energy Corridor, Southwest Houston/Fort Bend County, Baytown, Bay Area and The Woodlands North Houston.

Tell us about the Volunteer of the Year, Chapter Chair of the Year, and other annual awards.

The GHWCC hosts five signature events each year that recognize women who are leading in their respective fields, who support gender diversity and who are making a positive difference in our community. They are the GHWCC Annual Meeting and Awards, The Greater Houston Conference for Women, Women in the Fast Lane of STEAM Luncheon and Style Show, The Woodlands North Houston Conference for Women and the Greater Houston Hall of Fame Gala, said SuzanDeison.

What and when is theGHWCC Conference in The Woodlands area? What can attendees expect and how can people register?

SuzanDeison responded, The Woodlands North Houston Conference for Women will be held November 18, 2021 at the Woodlands Resort.

The Greater Houston Womens Chamber of Commerce (GHWCC) is excited to host The Woodlands North Houston Conference for Women on November 18, 2021 at The Woodlands Resort, 10:30 am to 2:00 pm. Demonstrating to our business community that women truly have no limits, and highlighting your support of gender diversity, we want you to be a part of it. We encourage you to seize this opportunity to influence over 400 members of our business community at our Conference. Sponsors will earn recognition through a variety of media from videos to pre-event PR, e-blast and advertising.

The GHWCC is the fastest growing womens chamber in the country, and The Woodlands North Houston Chapter continues to have tremendous support. Our events host nationally and internationally recognized speakers, from First Ladies Laura and Barbara Bush, to the first Asian woman to receive a Pulitzer Prize, Sheryl WuDunn, to Tiffany Pham, of Mogul and Amy Lacy of CaliFlour Foods. Our panel of CEOs and C-suite executives will share invaluable business insights that members can take back to the office and use for creating real change. We will honor twelve Trailblazers at the Conference, outstanding leaders who are recognized for being trailblazers in their industries and in their career, thus opening doors for our and the next generation of women.

We are excited to have the leadership of Natalie Saikowski Goertz as a co-chair of the Woodlands North Houston Conference for Women. Natalie also dynamically serves as a co-chair of The Woodlands North Houston Chapter and the GHWCC Board of Directors.

Natalie Saikowski Goertz, Co-Chair of the Woodlands North Houston Conference for Women, shared, I got involved in the Greater Houston Womens Chamber of Commerce because I wanted to cultivate new relationships with other business women in our community. I continuously to seek opportunities to lock arms with other women and have everyone rise to the occasion together. Serving others is something I have always been passionate about, so I jumped right in to getting involved with the Chamber. One of the characteristics of this Chamber that was attractive to me is the diversity of the members, which has been beneficial to my personal and professional growth.

For more information about the Greater Houston Womens Chamber of Commerce and to register for The Woodlands North Houston Conference for Women on November 18, 2021 at The Woodlands Resort, visitwww.ghwcc.org.

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GHWCC to host The Woodlands North Houston Conference for Women - hellowoodlands.com

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