Category Archives: Immortality

Move over Hot Girl Summer: 2022 is shaping up to give us Unexpected Album Summer after famed honorary lesbian Drakeone single day after the life-saving announcement of a new Beyonc album and a surprise single from FKA Twigsgifted us with a surprise album last night. Honestly, Nevermind is a instant classic in the Drake genre, even if its missing some of the bombast of last years Certified Lover Boy in which he famously outed himself as a he/they lesbian.

In classic Drake fashion, the album gives us a look into the romantic fears and vulnerabilities of one of the worlds most iconic lovers of womenwhile flawlessly upholding his doomed romantic persona. Its mellow, hilarious, and sexy all at once: another classic Drake combination. Here are a few of the most important truths we uncovered while listening:

This one seems obvious, but theres some deep wisdom buried in here. You cant buy love, and you also cant buy ambition. But you can be an honorary lesbian if you try hard enough.

2. He Doesnt Go to the Met Because They Only Provide a Plus One (Sticky)

A longtime mystery solved at last! Who would Drake bring to the Met if they did give him more than a plus one? And more importantly: what would he wear? The mind boggles.

3. His Mother Wanted Him to Go Corporate (Sticky)

Okay but why work for a corporation when you can BE a corporation, Sandi?

4. He Speaks Beautiful French (Sticky)

Not exactly a surprise because, you know, Canada, but very hot. Imagine Drake calling you cherie. Tell me thats not lesbian culture. Also the fact that the song is called Sticky, I rest my case.

5. His Funeral is Going to Be Lit (Massive)

Thats how he treated people! This is definitely something we already knew, since I personally cant imagine Drakes funeral being anything less than a stadium-filling event with lots of fireworks and possibly a 50-foot Drake hologram. But I dont want to spend too much time on this thought because the idea of a world without Drake is too sad for me to contemplate. More life, naythe most possible life for Drake! Immortality for our favorite honorary lesbian.

6. He Loves the Way They Hang (Jimmy Cooks)

F*ck the silicone! Honestly, this is the energy that makes Drake a beloved honorary lesbian to begin with. He likes you just the way you are, babe, and never forget it. That said, lets not forget that Drake is very surgery-positive. Hes a fan of an enhanced butt (who isnt?) so dont ever fall into the trap of thinking that Drake is trying to surgery-shame anyone. Hes just saying that hes a fan of those big naturals. What dyke isnt?

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6 Things We Learned from Honorary Lesbian Drake's New Album - INTO

UFC 275 gave us so many electrifying moments that we cherished as fans of mixed martial arts. The main event between Glover Teixeira and Jiri Prochazka becoming an all-time classic, the unexpectedly tough challenge for Valentina Shevchenko from Taila Santos, the highlight reel spinning back fist finish by Weili Zhang, and the emotional announcement of the long-reigning former strawweight champion Joanna Jedrzejczyk after her loss to Zhang.

Jedrzejczyks retirement from MMA competition will affect the UFC landscape. Even though she wasnt as active towards the end of her career, all of her fights were extremely impactful for womens MMA. Not only did she always fight high-ranking opponents such as Michelle Waterson and Tecia Torres, she was part of many classic fights in her unsuccessful journey to recapture her title against Rose Namajunas and Weili Zhang. Lets not forget that she was going for UFC immortality by moving up a weight class and fighting for the vacant 125-pound title against Valentina Shevchenko. No matter who her opponent was or where she was fighting, Jedrzejczyk always had many fans around the world watching her when she stepped into the Octagon. The absence of this important figure for womens MMA will definitely leave a void for MMA, but her retirement may be part of something bigger.

We might be witnessing the passing of the torch for many fighters who are part of the key groups that propelled UFC into the mainstream around 2015. Many of those fans grew up watching Joanna reigning over the 115-pound weight class during that time and now retiring in 2022. Also retired in 2022, just the past couple of months ago, are former strawweight contender and title challenger Claudia Gadelha and UFC veteran Felice Herrig.

In addition, fans and media are constantly talking about the future plans of Tony Ferguson and Frankie Edgar, a pair of fighters who were pivotal figures for their respective weight classes and were at the pinnacle of their careers around the same time as Jedrzejczyk. Fans are also persistently questioning how many more fights Conor McGregor has in him, a figure who started the UFCs entrance into mainstream culture.

All sports have eras that are defined by the athletes who are in each respective period, so seeing a changing of the guard like this is only natural. However, since MMA is so new, many fans are experiencing this type of shift for the first time. Witnessing this journey of old faces appearing less and less and new fighters gaining prominence and being inspired by those legends in the past will be very interesting as a fan of this sport.

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UFC 275 Began a Changing of the Guard - MMA Sucka

The Milwaukee Bucks are no longer reigning NBA champions.

After dispatching the Boston Celtics in six games, the Golden State Warriors have reclaimed the NBA title, their fourth time seizing the crown in eight seasons. Steph Curry didnt need it, but he earned his first ever Finals MVP award, adding yet another accolade to the greatest-shooter-of-all-times collection. The Dubs dynasty appears to be alive and well, and a fair portion of Bucks fans are viewing the achievement with a mix of admiration, jealousy, a bit of pride due to the Milwaukee connection, and the slightest hint of schadenfreude.

First things first: most, if not all Bucks fans, are perfectly pleased that the title went to a team thats NOT the Celtics. Milwaukee and Boston have butted basketball heads before, but this last series brewed a fair amount of bad blood between the two fanbases. In particular, the antics of Marcus Smart, Grant Williams, and head coach Ime Udoka rubbed most of us the wrong way, so seeing them fall short of basketball immortality feels...right. Of course, given that the Bucks are only one season removed from their title and the Celtics just made the Finals, this rivalry should remain in good health in 2023 and beyond. Boston and Milwaukee might not be the only teams in the Eastern Conference next year, but it feels like theyre the only two teams that will matter.

All that said, its difficult to shake the shoulda, coulda, woulda that comes with Milwaukee having been knocked out in the second round, despite being favored by many to return to the championship. Were it not for their All Star forward getting injured in the previous series, Milwaukee would have been at full strength, they could have met the Miami Heat in the conference finals, and they would have returned to the Finals and overwhelmed Golden State with their size. But the game isnt won by hypotheticals, so sooner or later Bucks fans will have to cope with the disappointing ending to yet another promising year within Giannis Antetokounmpos prime. The good news is, so far, that Khris Middleton should be ready to go next season...and the additional time off means some well-deserved rest for the rest of the Bucks roster.

Theres always next year. Thats what weve been saying since last month, what the Celtics have been saying since last night, and what all 29 teams tell themselves when they fall short. Its the necessary coping mechanism of fanbases everywhere. In the case of the Milwaukee Bucks, though, I have a feeling that its more than just talk.

Stay tuned.

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Missed Out: Ruminating on the Milwaukee Bucks-less NBA Finals - Brew Hoops

Cannabis indica, the euphonious Latin name for Spanish marijuana, is a pointer to the weed's hoary history in India.

Called the 'food of the Gods' by Vedic immigrants, it is braided into people's lives. Holi and Shivratri would be mirthless without bhang pakoras and thandai. Shiva himself was partial to bhang it was not 'rang mein bhang' for Shiva, but its flip side, bhang mein rang.

So the news that Thailand becomes the first Asian country to legalise cannabis, native to south Asia, won't cause such a frisson on the banks of the Ganges, where chillums have long been puffed with pleasure.

In the Atharva Veda cannabis is listed as one of five sacred plants along with tulsi, sandalwood, jasmine and neem. Puranic legend has it that Shiva slept under the cannabis plant, and on eating its leaves in the morning felt very energised.

Another charming story narrates the tussle between Asuras and Devas to extract the divine nectar for immortality. Shiva drank the poison Halahala that emerged after the churning of the seas. His throat turned blue, and Shiva became Neel Kanth, adding yet another name to his awesome collection of titles.

Mahadev was a 'cool dude' way before Millennials appropriated the term. No 'Superman' can top this 'Super God' with a Third Eye. And one with a 'boho' appearance and the ability to roll a 'spliff'!

Soon the happy weed spread far and wide. The Nizari Isma'ili of 11th century Persia would smoke hashish before killing the Christian invaders of the Crusades. They were called the Hashishiin from whence the word assassin. Elsewhere Sufis, African cults and Jamaican Rastafari smoked cannabis as an article of faith to create a mystic vision.

The sixties were the golden era of the Hippies, those counter-culturists who made it cool to smoke pot and delve into Oriental mysticism. US college dropouts made Haight-Ashbury, a San Francisco neighbourhood, and Greenwich Village in Manhattan their own Meccas for hanging out.

The first Woodstock Festival over four days in August 1969 in a local farmer's field in upstate New York saw half a million hippies gather to listen to Joan Baez, Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin and many other iconic singers perform in a haze of hashish. Our own sitar maestro Ravi Shankar too mesmerised the listeners with his magical playing.

It was the British rock band The Beatles in the sixties that attracted more proselytes to this lifestyle. Introduced to the drug by Nobel legend Bob Dylan, they visited Rishikesh in 1968 with an entourage of high-profile friends that included the actress Mia Farrow. To practise transcendental meditation under Maharishi Mahesh Yogi and soak in the peace was their express intent. George Harrison even learnt to play rudimentary sitar under Ravi Shankar for a while.

Unfortunately there was trouble in paradise, with allegations of sexual assault made against the Maharishi. The Beatles left variously much earlier than the three months decided upon. This phase was their most creative and includes the classic White Album carrying eighteen of their compositions. It openly castigates the Maharishi in a song called 'Sexy Sadie' that tarnished his image as a global guru.

Bollywood also tuned into the happy theme in the movie Hare Rama Hare Krishna, made in 1971. Zeenat Aman gyrating to the tune of 'Dum maaro dum' in a smoke filled pub still attracts likes on social media.

These days Uruguay, Canada, the Netherlands, South Africa and Spain are the leaders in making grass legal medically and also for recreation with some restrictions. Many other countries are going the same way.

Celebs like Justin Bieber are endorsing weed in business ventures with legit companies. Bieber is truly in a joint venture, with a company in California to market pre-rolled premium joints named after a song of his 'Peaches' while many others including the Dalai Lama are endorsing the use of medicinal weed.

You should try a puff in Goa!

Just a thought, maybe our Sadhus with their dreadlocks and ash smeared bodies and chillums could make an exotic brand endorsing the weed with the name you guessed it Nirvana! And the tagline 'Dum maaro dum'?

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Cannabis, Indicas Gift to the World - The Citizen

(The Conversation) Voyager 1 is the farthest human-made object from Earth. After sweeping by Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune, it is now almost 15 billion miles (24 billion kilometers) from Earth in interstellar space. Both Voyager 1 and its twin, Voyager 2, carry little pieces of humanity in the form of their Golden Records. These messages in a bottle include spoken greetings in 55 languages, sounds and images from nature, an album of recordings and images from numerous cultures, and a written message of welcome from Jimmy Carter, who was U.S. president when the spacecraft left Earth in 1977.

Each Voyager spacecraft carries a Golden Record containing two hours of sounds, music and greetings from around the world. Carl Sagan and other scientists assumed that any civilization advanced enough to detect and capture the record in space could figure out how to play it.NASA/Wikimedia Commons

The Golden Records were built to last a billion years in the environment of space, but in a recent analysis of the paths and perils these explorers may face, astronomers calculated that they could exist for trillions of years without coming remotely close to any stars.

Having spent my career in the field of religion and science, Ive thought a lot about how spiritual ideas intersect with technological achievements. The incredible longevity of the Voyager spacecraft presents a uniquely tangible entry point into exploring ideas of immortality.

For many people, immortality is the everlasting existence of a soul or spirit that follows death. It can also mean the continuation of ones legacy in memory and records. With its Golden Record, each Voyager provides such a legacy, but only if it is discovered and appreciated by an alien civilization in the distant future.

Religious beliefs about immortality are numerous and diverse. Most religions foresee a postmortem career for a personal soul or spirit, and these range from everlasting residence among the stars to reincarnation.

The ideal eternal life for many Christians and Muslims is to abide forever in Gods presence in heaven or paradise. Judaisms teachings about what happens after death are less clear. In the Hebrew Bible, the dead are mere shades in a darkened place called Sheol. Some rabbinical authorities give credence to the resurrection of the righteous and even to the eternal status of souls.

Immortality is not limited to the individual. It can be collective as well. For many Jews, the final destiny of the nation of Israel or its people is of paramount importance. Many Christians anticipate a future general resurrection of all who have died and the coming of the kingdom of God for the faithful.

Jimmy Carter, whose message and autograph are immortalized in the Golden Records, is a progressive Southern Baptist and a living example of religious hope for immortality. Now battling brain cancer and approaching centenarian status, he has thought about dying. Following his diagnosis, Carter concluded in a sermon: It didnt matter to me whether I died or lived. My Christian faith includes complete confidence in life after death. So Im going to live again after I die.

It is plausible to conclude that the potential of an alien witnessing the Golden Record and becoming aware of Carters identity billions of years in the future would offer only marginal additional consolation for him. Carters knowledge in his ultimate destiny is a measure of his deep faith in the immortality of his soul. In this sense, he likely represents people of numerous faiths.

For people who are secular or nonreligious there is little solace to be found in an appeal to the continuing existence of a soul or spirit following ones death. Carl Sagan, who came up with the idea for the Golden Records and led their development, wrote of the afterlife: I know of nothing to suggest that it is more than just wishful thinking. He was more saddened by thoughts of missing important life experiences like seeing his children grow up than fearful about the expected annihilation of his conscious self with the death of his brain.

For those like Sagan there are other possible options for immortality. They include freezing and preserving the body for future physical resurrection or uploading ones consciousness and turning it into a digital form that would long outlast the brain. Neither of these potential paths to physical immortality has proved to be feasible yet.

The Golden Records contain a snapshot of Earth and humanity.

Most people, whether secular or religious, want the actions they do while alive to bear continuing meaning into the future as their fruitful legacy. People want to be remembered and appreciated, even cherished. Sagan summed it up nicely: To live in the hearts we leave behind is to live forever.

With Voyagers 1 and 2 estimated to exist for more than a trillion years, they are about as immortal as it gets for human artifacts. Even before the Suns expected demise when it runs out of fuel in about 5 billion years, all living species, mountains, seas and forests will have long been obliterated. It will be as if we and all the marvelous and extravagant beauty of planet Earth never existed a devastating thought to me.

Voyager 1s path, in white, has taken the craft well past the orbits of the outer planets into interstellar space, where aliens may someday come across the relic of humanity.NASA/JPL via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA

But in the distant future, the two Voyager spacecraft will still be floating in space, awaiting discovery by an advanced alien civilization for whom the messages on the Golden Records were intended. Only those records will likely remain as testimony and legacy of Earth, a kind of objective immortality.

Religious and spiritual people can find solace in the belief that God or an afterlife waits for them after death. For the secular, hoping that someone or something will remember humanity, any wakeful and appreciative aliens will have to do.

(James Edward Huchingson, Professor Emeritus and Lecturer in Religion and Science, Florida International University. The views expressed in this commentary do not necessarily reflect those of Religion News Service.)

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What the Voyager space probes can teach humanity about immortality and legacy as they sail through space for trillions of years - Religion News...

Champions dont complain, they are too busy getting better.

That was the motivational message, written in large letters, that greeted Jurgen Klopps squad when they assembled in the western Austrian state of Tyrol after a two-hour drive from Salzburg.

It was late last July and the Liverpool squad were at the midway point of an unprecedented four-week European training camp. Limbs were weary but spirits were high.

With the ongoing effects of the pandemic again ruling out the possibility of a lucrative pre-season tour to either America or Asia, Klopp and assistant Pep Lijnders had free reign to create what they regarded as the perfect base for the challenges ahead.

No long-haul travel, no commercial appearances, no unwanted distractions. They kept things fresh by dividing that precious month away between Salzburg, Tyrol and the French spa town of Evian. Both on and off the field, every box was ticked.

The contrast to the previous summer, when a spate of positive COVID-19 tests led to players isolating in their Austrian hotel rooms and training was hampered by monsoon conditions, could hardly have been more stark.

Liverpool had been running on empty by the end of the 2020-21 season. Their defence of the Premier League title had been derailed by a series of devastating injuries. The players hated the soulless environment of behind closed doors football and the strict protocols which meant they couldnt even eat meals together.

After a gutsy resurgence on the run-in salvaged Champions League qualification, Klopps men had nothing left to give. But when they were reunited in Salzburg two months later the mood was very different.

Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane had enjoyed the rare luxury of an extended summer break and the benefits were there for all to see. Trent Alexander-Arnold was similarly revitalised after a thigh injury in a pre-tournament warm-up game forced him to sit out the European Championship. Englands loss proved to be Liverpools gain.

The feel-good factor was fuelled by the return to the fold of centre-backs Virgil van Dijk, Joel Matip and Joe Gomez after lengthy injury rehabilitation programmes. The spine and structure of the team were being restored.

Groundstaff team manager Warren Scott was there too, at Klopps request, to ensure the training pitches were prepared exactly how the manager wanted them.

Klopp knew that being away from home for so long was a big ask for the players but he passionately explained to them how they would all benefit over the course of the season.

There were punishing double sessions.

Were not going to kill you on the first day I thought wed do that on the second day, roared Klopp.

Players had to complete six 1km runs, with just a minutes rest in between. James Milner once again proved himself to be the king of endurance as he showed others a clean pair of heels.

There was a big emphasis on training drills designed to increase the intensity of Liverpools counter-pressing as well as the fluency and potency of their counter-attacks. Lijnders, who puts together the training programme, spoke about the need to fine-tune the ability to hit opponents with organised chaos. There was a competitive element to every exercise with forfeits such as 30 push-ups for the losers.

The better you play, the more you play. The better you finish, the less you run. The worse you play, the more you run. Natural pressure, explained Lijnders.

Three months later, he would liken Liverpools ravenous front line to the raptors from Jurassic Park after Manchester United had been humiliated 5-0 at Old Trafford.

Away from the turf, the spirit and camaraderie in the squad were enhanced by quizzes, table-tennis competitions, bike rides and karaoke nights.

Towards the end of the Austrian leg of the trip, Klopp organised a party for the 40 or so staff members who had supported the players across the previous weeks. The manager wanted to say thank you for everyones commitment throughout a gruelling period during which many of them had spent a considerable amount of time away from their families. The pandemic meant the creation of two bubbles throughout July, with one set of employees being replaced by another halfway through the camp.

The venue was a mountain cabin set away from the team hotel in a secluded wooded area, high above the alpine town of Seefeld. There was a buffet of smoked meats and cheeses. Attendees could order whatever they wanted from a free bar.

Klopp did not give a speech but ensured he made his way around the room, starting conversations with each person.

It became clear during the course of the evening how highly he valued Harvey Elliott. In one of the UKs national newspapers, there was a story linking Liverpool to Saul Niguez, the Atletico Madrid midfielder who eventually signed for Chelsea. Klopp suggested the story was not true why would it be when Elliott, a teenager recently returned from a successful loan at Championship Blackburn, had trained so fantastically in Austria?

When Liverpool moved on to Evian, Klopp invited TV presenter, author and adventurer Ben Fogle to talk to the players about pushing yourself to the limit both physically and mentally. Fogle drew upon his experiences of rowing across the Atlantic Ocean, running 160 miles through the Sahara Desert and climbing Mount Everest. It went down well with his audience.

I helped them with their mind control and mental agility under pressure through the context of my own expeditions, Fogle said. Already great footballers, the challenge was how to keep on top of their game when it is not one single mountain, but a whole mountain range that you have to climb each season consistency in the face of expectation and pressure.

Attitude comes from the top. A positive mindset is key to success. Jurgen glows with optimism. His smile is infectious.

When the transfer window closed at the end of August, there was a debate raging over whether Liverpool had been active enough in the market to be regarded as serious contenders for the biggest prizes, and a section of the fanbase was restless.

Georginio Wijnaldum hadnt been replaced following his Bosman move to Paris Saint-Germain. The sole recruit was young centre-back Ibrahima Konate, a 35 million signing who had not been a first-choice pick at RB Leipzig, a team a struggling Liverpool had beaten convincingly, 2-0 home and away, in the 2020-21 Champions League last-16. Konate was an unused substitute in both games. It was hardly a booming statement of intent.

When the Kop started singing the Reds have got no money but well still win the league, it was belted out more in hope than expectation.

In contrast, Manchester City had spent 100 million on Jack Grealish and Chelsea 97.5 million on Romelu Lukaku. Manchester United had brought in Jadon Sancho, Raphael Varane and Cristiano Ronaldo.

We cant spend money we dont have, insisted Klopp. You cannot compare to the other clubs. They obviously dont have any limits, but we have limits.

I am more than happy with the squad I have. We have so many things that you cannot sign. You cannot sign counter-pressing, you cannot sign the atmosphere that we create in the stadium, you cannot sign togetherness, you cannot sign Anfield, you cannot sign our anthem. Thats what we have to use.

Klopp was equally bullish behind the scenes as he repeatedly talked up the talent in front of him during team meetings. Being written off suited the manager perfectly in his mission to create an us versus the world mentality.

It had been a summer when Liverpool had prioritised retention. Alexander-Arnold, Fabinho, Alisson, Van Dijk, Andrew Robertson and Jordan Henderson all signed new long-term contracts. As well as key senior players returning from injuries, youthful exuberance had been added to the mix in the forms of teenagers Elliott and Kaide Gordon.

Liverpool would have to evolve with Wijnaldum gone but Klopp felt it would also enable them to be more unpredictable.

There were brainstorming sessions with his staff in Austria. They came up with a plan designed to get more out of Alexander-Arnold by having him operate in pockets of space more centrally, where his range of passing could do more damage. Salahs presence throughout pre-season meant the tactical tweaks on Liverpools right side could be worked on day after day.

Circumstances meant Klopp had rarely been able to field a midfield three of Fabinho, Thiago and Henderson previously. Much more was expected from Thiago in his second season with Liverpool, Henderson had fully recovered from groin surgery in the February and the ease with which Elliott adjusted to a new midfield role also gave them another option in that department.

It would prove to be Wijnaldum, who was in and out of the PSG side all season and started only 18 of their 38 league games and three of eight in the Champions League, rather than Liverpool who had regrets over their parting of ways.

The priority was always to bolster the squad defensively and they landed their top target in Konate. Villarreals Pau Torres, Benoit Badiashile of Monaco and Sevillas Jules Kounde had also been on the shortlist.

Konate was the preferred option because they felt his pace and physicality were ideally suited to playing in Klopps high line. The character references as well as the scouting reports had been glowing. Chelsea, Manchester United and Real Madrid were also interested, but the players heart was set on Anfield after a video call with Klopp.

I saw sincerity on his face, Konate said. Which players dont want to come here? I know if I have a problem in my life, Klopp will help.

Konate grew in stature over the course of his debut season, from being a back-up to starting both the FA Cup and Champions League finals. His aerial prowess proved to be a huge asset at both ends of the field.

Whereas Konate needed a period of adaptation before really coming to the fore, a surprise addition to the squad at the end of the January window got off to a flyer and never looked back.

Liverpool had intended to pursue a deal for Porto attacker Luis Diaz this summer but those plans were urgently brought forward when it emerged that Tottenham were close to securing his signature. By then, Liverpool sporting director Michael Edwards, whose decision to stand down at the end of the season had been revealed by The Athletic in November, was in the process of gradually handing over responsibilities to his successor Julian Ward.

It was Ward who led the negotiations with Porto and managed to out-flank Spurs. An initial fee of 35 million, potentially rising to 50 million, was agreed. A key element for the cash-strapped Portuguese club was Liverpools willingness to transfer 7 million instantly so they could pay debts and stave off the threat of being banned from European competition by UEFA.

Klopp said the signing of Diaz was made with one eye on tomorrow but the Colombia international was a man in a hurry. He lit up Anfield on his debut off the bench against Cardiff City in the FA Cup and quickly established himself on the left side of Liverpools front line.

His impact was such that Klopp opted to utilise Mane as his No 9, and that switch worked a treat.

With Diaz on board, Liverpool had a new dimension. Bringing in someone of such calibre gave everyone in the dressing room a lift.

After Liverpool scraped into the Champions League by winning their final game of the season against Crystal Palace at Anfield, Klopp went on holiday for nearly eight weeks.

It was his longest summer break since becoming Liverpool manager in October 2015. For the first seven days, he left his phone in his suitcase and did not even look at it. The separation afforded him a period of reflection.

He had hated pandemic football. It seemed like a different sport.

Klopp is an emotional coach. Liverpool are an emotional club. Performing in empty stadiums felt like his wings had been cut in half. You try to fly but it is pretty difficult, he later concluded.

Matches were usually the reward for hard weeks work. The atmosphere in the stadium would energise the players. Now, playing felt like an extension of everyones toil.

Training also suffered. Klopp was not allowed to drive to work with a colleague on the coaching staff, as he sometimes does. He was not allowed to eat his breakfast at the same table as someone else. The players got changed separately and, during COVID-19 outbreaks, were encouraged to keep their distance from one another even while outside in the fresh air.

The pandemic world did not afford the closeness that he craves and needs to have an impact. Liverpools 2020-21 season nearly collapsed for all sorts of reasons. The conditions did not favour them and the injuries stacked up. Klopp felt he was able to deal with the death of his mother in Germany despite not being allowed to fly home for the funeral. Yet the circumstances of his job meant he was under immense pressure all of the time.

He felt support from Liverpools owners, particularly Mike Gordon. His relationship with Fenway Sports Groups president, it is said, will outlast his tenure at the club. There is a brotherly instinct between the two men a rare respect, the sort that is difficult to find in football. FSGs involvement in the European Super League project did not rock that, even though Klopp privately and publicly was firmly against the idea.

Klopp felt as though Gordon had been compassionate throughout Liverpools struggles. He also felt guilty about not reciprocating such kindness because he had been so down about his performance as a coach.

He was obsessed with solving Liverpools problems that between January and May last year, Klopp barely took a day off. He had never thought more about football. How could he make it work? Was he missing something obvious?

He hated hearing it when Liverpool were described as the Premier Leagues worst-ever defending champions but he came to realise he possessed the ability to be calmer than he thought when the going got really tough.

During this period, Liverpool lost six consecutive home matches a club record.

Explaining defeats was a lot more difficult than detailing victories. Sometimes, it was impossible for Klopp to say what he really believed because there was always another match just around the corner in a compressed season that began later than usual after 2019-20s three-month hiatus and had to finish in time for the postponed-by-a-year Euros. It added to the feeling that he was living in a cage.

He would go home to Formby, considering what had gone wrong again: individual and collective performances, injuries, the weather and decisions from the match officials had all gone against Liverpool. He felt guilty about earning so much money but not being able to come up with any solutions.

Liverpool went into the final day only joint-fourth, ahead of Leicester on goal difference, but secured a third-placed finish. Klopp considers it one of his greatest achievements.

Yet by the end of May, after that last win over Palace, the pursuit had drained him more than hed ever been. He did not care about what came next. The pursuit of trying to sign this player and sell that one could wait. For a while, he was done. It had been the hardest time of our football lives.

By the middle of the July, however, Klopp was ready to go again.

Liverpools long pre-season camp made him feel confident about the teams prospects. There were big early wins, over Atletico Madrid away in the Champions League and then battering Manchester United on their own pitch five days later. That Sunday at Old Trafford, his wife Ulla was in the away end. She was in with the travelling fans again six months later when Liverpool returned to Manchester to face their title rivals at the Etihad. Though Liverpool could not beat City that day, Ulla returned home telling her husband about how much Liverpools fans loved him.

Whereas Liverpool had stumbled from game to game in the previous season, the rhythm was now back. Klopp, who leaves most of the coaching to Ljinders during any week, could see his players were responding to his words when he stepped into the routine the day before a match.

The quadruple was not a realistic target for him, but the possibility of it made him think again about his future at Liverpool.

The club, he concluded, had not even felt the positive impact of the new training ground in Kirkby yet because of COVID-19 restrictions. He was building a second great team at Liverpool something he had not really been able to do in any of his previous jobs. Could he just hand over everything hed built to someone else?

He and Ulla were in their kitchen when Klopp started the conversation about extending his contract, which was due to expire in two years time. It became clear Ulla was just as happy living in Formby as her husband. Klopp called his agent, Marc Kosicke, who then contacted FSGs principal owner John W Henry. Klopp was not seeking a pay rise, just an extension. FSG had been keen to open negotiations but did not want Klopp to feel pressurised.

The other key element for Klopp was the future of his staff. He only wanted to be with them. Had some decided to move on, maybe hed have thought differently about extending. Instead, an agreement was reached with a month of the season remaining. The news he was staying until 2026 came just at the right time, sharpening excitement among the fanbase.

Two days later, Liverpool won at Newcastle in the league to maintain their pursuit of the title; three days after that, they secured their third appearance in the Champions League final in five years.

These are the days, read a banner in the away end at the semi-final second leg away to Villarreal.

They certainly were.

Klopp gathered his players together in the meeting room at the AXA Training Centre and delivered a passionate speech about what needed to change. Those present in January described it as a crucial reset.

The first month of the calendar year has traditionally been a time when Liverpools fortunes have dipped during Klopps reign and there were fears that history was about to repeat itself.

Liverpool had kicked off 2022 by letting a two-goal lead slip in a 2-2 draw with Chelsea at Stamford Bridge. Klopp had been forced to watch those events unfold at home after testing positive for COVID-19. Alisson, Joel Matip and Roberto Firmino were absent for the same reason.

Salah, Mane and Naby Keita flew straight from London to Cameroon to play in the Africa Cup of Nations.

By the time Liverpools next Premier League game, at home to Brentford, came around two weeks later, the gap to City had grown to 14 points. Although Klopps men had two games in hand, talk of trying to catch Pep Guardiolas defending champions appeared fanciful.

Liverpool had taken just two of the previous nine points available. There had been mitigating circumstances, not least away to Tottenham, where Klopp had been forced to hand a first top-flight start to 19-year-old midfielder Tyler Morton with Fabinho, Thiago and Henderson all out.

Klopp had raged at referee Paul Tierney after the 2-2 draw that followed for his failure to award a penalty when Diogo Jota was barged over by Emerson Royal and the decision not to send Harry Kane off for a wild lunge at Robertson, who was later dismissed himself.

I have no problems with any referees, only you, he told Tierney.

Liverpool then ended the calendar year with a dismal 1-0 defeat in Leicester three days after Christmas.

Klopp felt the balance of the team wasnt right. There were too many gaps to be exploited and game management was letting them down. The protection had to be better. They needed to tighten up collectively. He wanted them to be more aggressive out of possession.

Before those draws with Spurs and Chelsea, Liverpool had also relinquished winning positions away to promoted Brentford and at home to Brighton. Novembers defeat at West Ham had also exposed a lack of solidity.

Klopp struck a defiant tone in that meeting room in January about what could still be achieved if you commit with all you have. He told his players this was the deepest, most gifted squad hed ever worked with and that everyone would have a part to play. Lets go on an unbeaten run, give it our best and see where it takes us, he said.

We had to readjust, to be honest, Klopp later admitted. We had to agree on defence first, because otherwise youre like any team. Hard-fought, gritty 1-0 wins over Burnley and West Ham underlined that his message had got through. It helped that Van Dijk was back to his imperious best after the ruptured ACL that rocked his world early the previous season and his defensive partner Matip produced the best form of his career.

During AFCON, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Curtis Jones, Takumi Minamino and Jota all stepped up and made pivotal contributions. When Salah, Mane and Keita returned, the landscape looked considerably brighter. Thiago had also recovered from a hip problem and momentum was growing. The Spaniards influence on the team grew as his midfield double act with Fabinho gave Klopp the perfect combination of silk and steel.

The dressing room has evolved in recent years following the exits of Adam Lallana and Wijnaldum. New leaders have emerged. Alexander-Arnold, Robertson and Alisson were voted on to the expanded captains group last summer.

Klopp listens to his senior players and takes feedback on board like allowing recovery sessions to take place at home. One change that went down well with the squad in the second half of this season was the decision to train earlier in the day, with most sessions starting at noon.

Previously, training times had fluctuated significantly depending on the kick-off of the next match. Now, only the session the day before a game tends to be at 4pm, usually to fit in with travel and hotel arrangements. Players felt training earlier meant they had more energy in the sessions and had a positive impact on their personal lives.

The Carabao Cup final triumph over Chelsea in late February helped propel Liverpool forward. You have a taste of it and then you want more, says goalkeeping coach John Achterberg.

Klopps faith in second-choice keeper Caoimhin Kelleher was richly rewarded as the Irishman, who pulled off some smart saves during a goalless 120 minutes, then scored from the spot as a shootout went to sudden death, before opposite number Kepa Arrizabalaga blazed the final penalty over.

Henderson, who sets the tone for Klopp on a daily basis with his professionalism, thrust the trophy into Kellehers hands and ushered him towards the army of pitchside photographers before standing back to applaud him.

As Liverpool ate into Citys lead at the Premier League summit with a run of 10 straight wins from January to April, while also advancing in both the Champions League and the FA Cup, talk of pulling off an unprecedented quadruple intensified.

Publicly, Klopp dismissed the idea as crazy. no British team has ever done it because its so difficult.

Behind the scenes, he urged his players to just embrace the situation. This is opportunity, not pressure. Lets enjoy the journey, he told them.

Salah had provided the inspiration in the first half of the season. He scored 23 of his 31 goals before AFCON.

At times, it felt like he was having a goal of the season competition with himself. There were breathtaking individual efforts against City and Watford, a hat-trick in that Old Trafford drubbing of United and a double in the 4-1 rout of Everton at Goodison Park.

However, Salah was stung by the punishing setbacks of losing both Februarys final of AFCON and a World Cup play-off the following month to Manes Senegal.

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Inside Klopps Liverpool a season that flirted with immortality and ended in heartbreak - The Athletic

Scientists discovered that adopting five or more healthy lifestyle practices boosted life expectancy even in those over the age of 80 and notably, people with chronic health conditions.

Osaka University researchers discovered that adjusting lifestyle behaviors can have a significant impact on lifespan, even in those with chronic health issues.

Ever since the beginning of civilization, humans have wanted to live longer. Whether it be the Fountain of Youth, Gilgameshs secret plant of immortality, or the elixir of life, the idea of immortality is incredibly prevalent in humanitys oldest and most well-known stories.

Unfortunately, immortality is only a myth. The average lifespan in the United States is nearly 79 years and it is unlikely to increase dramatically in the next few years. Still, scientists have been researching how to increase our longevity and have found promising results.

Idioms and proverbs emphasizing the significance of good health have been passed down for centuries. Many emphasize how closely health is linked to happiness and the ability to live a full and joyful life. A study published in Age and Ageing on May 11, 2022, by The Japan Collaborate Cohort (JACC) Study group at Osaka University examined the impact of adjusting lifestyle habits on life expectancy from middle age onwards. The researchers discovered that adopting five or more healthy lifestyle behaviors boosted life expectancy even in those over the age of 80, and, importantly, including those with chronic conditions.

Estimation for lifetime gain and 95% interval confidence (95% CI) according to the number of modifiable healthy lifestyles. Credit: 2022 R.Sakaniwa et al. Impact of modifiable healthy lifestyle adoption on lifetime gain from middle to older age. Age and Ageing

Lifespan is influenced by social factors such as socioeconomic level, policy factors such as subsidized healthcare access, and lifestyle factors such as diet and exercise. The current study used a baseline survey from the JACC study, a large research effort involving 49,021 people performed in 45 locations in Japan from 1988 to 1990. The goal was to learn about what variables that lead to cancer and cardiovascular disease death, therefore the questionnaire included questions on diet, exercise, alcohol use, smoking status, sleep duration, and body mass index. Each healthy activity was given a point, and the impact of changing these lifestyle habits on the expected lifetime was evaluated.

Estimation of lifetime gains at the age of 50, 65, and 80 years according to the number of modifiable healthy lifestyles among patients with none, single, double, and triple or more comorbidities. Credit: 2022 R.Sakaniwa et al. Impact of modifiable healthy lifestyle adoption on lifetime gain from middle to older age. Age and Ageing

The study continued until December 2009, by which time 8,966 individuals had died. The studys primary author, Dr. Ryoto Sakaniwa said. The results were very clear. A higher number of modified healthy behaviors was directly associated with great longevity for both men and women. The lifetime gains were highest for reducing alcohol intake, not smoking, losing weight, and increasing sleep, adding up to 6 years of life for healthy 40-year-olds.

This benefit was prominent even among older individuals (80 years or more) and those with one or more major comorbidities including cancer, cardiovascular disease, hypertension, diabetes, and kidney disease, and in each life stage from middle age onwards. This is a particularly important finding given that the prevalence of chronic diseases has increased globally and is a major cause of death in older populations, says Senior author, Prof. Hiroyasu Iso. This is one of the first studies to measure the impact of improvements to health behavior among older individuals in a country with a national life expectancy achieving almost 85 years.

Comparison of estimated life expectancies age at 60 years. Credit: R.Sakaniwa

The finding that lifestyle improvements have a positive impact on health despite chronic health conditions and older age is an empowering one, especially given the increasing prevalence of chronic conditions and longer life. The findings of this study will contribute to the design of future healthcare settings, public health approaches, and policies that work in partnership with patients to promote healthy lifestyle choices.

Reference: Impact of modifiable healthy lifestyle adoption on lifetime gain from middle to older age by Ryoto Sakaniwa, Midori Noguchi, Hironori Imano, Kokoro Shirai, Akiko Tamakoshi, Hiroyasu Iso and The JACC Study Group, 11 May 2022, Age and Ageing.DOI: 10.1093/ageing/afac080

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Researchers Discover How Nearly Everybody Can Increase Their Lifespan - SciTechDaily

LIVING AND DYING WITH MARCEL PROUST by Christopher Prendergast

This year marks the 100th anniversary of Marcel Prousts death, and writers on both sides of the Atlantic are producing books on every aspect of his life, just as museum curators are organizing relevant exhibitions and musicians are recording the work that influenced the writer. (Proust even wrote texts meant to be recited to piano music by his boyfriend, Reynaldo Hahn.)

Proust has become the premier novelist of the 20th century. Every aspect of his uneventful but hugely productive life has been studied. Jean-Yves Tadi has devoted his adult life to researching his biography. In Search of Lost Time has been translated into nearly every language and several times into English. Library shelves groan under the thousands of volumes about the originals for his memorable characters, the theater he loved, the few cities he visited, his bizarre sex practices and so on. Christopher Prendergasts splendid new book, Living and Dying With Marcel Proust, revisits all the various threads woven into this intricate tapestry. Sometimes reading him feels like, say, seeing all of Venice in a gondola, seated beside a patient, smiling, all-knowing art historian though at moments we just want to be quiet and listen to the water.

Most of Prousts devoted readers concentrate on characters and on the roles of time, memory, art and love in his vast masterpiece. Prendergast, a fellow of Kings College, Cambridge, and the general editor of Penguins reissue of Prousts work, has drawn on his encyclopedic knowledge to cohere Prousts wide-ranging, scattered references: everything from the crucial device of metaphor to a wonderfully playful chapter on food, especially naturally pastry. A madeleine dunked in a tisane may catalyze the entire novel, but the narrator is equally beguiled by dishes prepared by his childhood cook, Franoise, the boeuf la mode served to a vacuous diplomat, the wonderful croissants accompanying his breakfast coffee, even the look and taste of asparagus, steeped in ultramarine and pink. Asparagus leads him into a discussion of Chardins still lifes as well as to the post-asparagus stench of the chamber pot.

But what of the titular living and dying? Prendergasts organization is more fruitful than logical. His chapters, typically, are named Days, My Name Is Might-Have-Been or The Quiver of Life. These headings allow Prendergast to quarry nuggets of gold from the vast complexity of Prousts book. He reminds us again and again of the delights of daily life, of sex, food, music, painting (though not of friendship, for which the narrator has little respect), but also of the equal and final majesty of death. Prendergast feels the entire long novel is death-haunted and cites Prousts verdict: Our love of life is no more than an old affair that we do not know how to discontinue. Its strength lies in its permanence. But death, which interrupts it, will cure us of our desire for immortality.

Prousts techniques of foreshadowing, of weaving anecdotes, of extended reveries, of philosophical summary are all developed here. Prendergast is not biographical or historical, though he is able to draw on his knowledge of Prousts tastes and foibles. He can relate asthma to the labyrinth of his sentences (Prendergast reminds us that Walter Benjamin traced the very syntax of Prousts sentences to his ailment) and to his devotion to music in his compositional practices.

As Prendergast knows, Proust rated abstract intelligence very low, compared to the ecstasy of art or the warmth of family love. In his words: Daily, I attach less value to the intellect, while arguing that only the intellect can see through its ephemeral blandishments.

Edmund White is the author of Marcel Proust: A Life and 30 other books, most recently the novel A Previous Life.

LIVING AND DYING WITH MARCEL PROUST

By Christopher Prendergast

256 pp. Europa Editions. Paper, $17.

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How to Navigate the Proust-Industrial Complex - The New York Times

Who Was Pythagoras?

Most of what we know about Pythagoras today actually comes from the writing of other philosophers, including Plato and Aristotle. Both of them credit Pythagoras with significant contributions to philosophical and religious thought. He was a firm believer in metempsychosis, the immortality and transmigration of souls.

That means, once you die, your immortal soul would migrate into a new body possibly a human but also other kinds of animals.

According to philosopher Porphyry on his biography of Pythagoras, Pythagoras believed that all things with souls should be regarded as akin.

It was this belief that lead to Pythagoras practice of vegetarianism and to the rise of Pythagoreanism. Although it has been called a cult, Pythagoreanism followers mostly adhered to his basic beliefs in metempsychosis and vegetarianism. Though, to be fair, even this is hard to prove, as Pythagoras wrote no books himself and demanded absolute secrecy of his followers. The result? There are no written records of their practices and teachings.

But while vegetarianism wasnt necessarily that rare in ancient times (biographer and philosopher Plutarch and Greek biologist and philosopher Theophrastus were both proponents of meat-free diets), Pythagoras absolute rejection of beans was certainly unique. More specifically, fava beans.

There are a few theories about Pythagoras avoidance of fava beans. A popular one is that he believed fava beans were potentially vessels for the souls of the dead (due to their flesh-like texture and their shape), so eating them would be a form of cannibalism. Additional theories say the aversion could have been due to something else from the fact the beans resemble fetuses, human heads, or male and female genitalia (depending on who you ask) to the hollow stem of the plant being the gates of Hades.

Whatever the reason, beans were a definite no-no for Pythagoreanism followers.

Credit: Public Domain via Wikimedia Commons.

Unfortunately, Pythagoras aversion to fava beans might have been the reason for his death.

When the son of a wealthy nobleman was denied the chance to join Pythagoreanism (apparently, being rich did not give you the right to bypass the rigorous training and deep contemplation required to be allowed to join), he turned the townspeople against Pythagoras, leading to a massacre from which only a few were able to escape.

Pythagoras was one of the lucky ones, but only for a brief moment. As he was running from a burning building, he came upon a fava bean field. His only chance to escape was to trample through the field, stepping and crushing beans on his way to safety. Legend goes he couldnt do it, and as he stood there frozen, his enemies caught up with him and stabbed him to death.

While the details on Pythagoras death might be a little sketchy, one thing is for sure: we wont be looking at beans the same way from now on!

By Diana Bocco, contributor for Ripleys.com

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Source: Meet Pythagoras: Mathematician, Philosopher, and Bean Hater

by Ripley's Believe It or Not!

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Meet Pythagoras: Mathematician, Philosopher, and Bean Hater - CFJC Today Kamloops

Mead is the oldest drink known to man, the very nectar of the Gods, says Paul Peterson, Owner of Black Dragon Meadery in New Buffalo. The tasting room, located at 910 W. Buffalo Street, is cozy and inviting, accented with warm colors: deep burgundy and merlot, bright gold and, coincidently, honey yellow. A massive dragon head sits perched atop the fully stocked retail shelves, protecting the products like bejeweled treasure.

With bright smiles, Paul and Brenda greet everyone with enthusiasm and excitement, elated to have the opportunity to share libations with new customers. Mead is typically referred to as honey wine, and though it is sometimes made with hops, it is neither beer nor wine. The process of fermenting honey and water with additional ingredients like fruit, spices, and grains, delivers the most refreshing, sippable, gulpable, beverage.

While spending three years in Germany with Special Forces during the Cold War, Paul fell so in love with a certain black beer that upon his return to the states, it had him brewing and steeping in his attempt to recreate it. Through trial and error, Dragons Breath was born: a nearly-perfect replica that he introduced into the Renaissance Faire circuit, gaining many followers thirsty for his next creation. Naturally, this opened a door into the world of mead, where he began fashioning recipes based on the opinions of tasters from Ren Faires. His mead hit the shelves in 2015, and his logo and brand were created from Dragons Breath to draw in the patrons he acquired while pedaling brews across the region.

Since opening his first retail space in New Buffalo, Black Dragon Meadery has been diligently working to bring people into the new tasting room. Paul has a huge following in Indiana and the Chicago area already, and it will not be hard for him to win over the taste buds of we Michiganders. On June 18th, the Viking Warrior Festival in Marshall will debut his new mead Immortality, which he created specifically for author Treasa Kloths The Harrow Vikings book series. The mead created for her book titled Desolation is a cranberry orange mead, and is currently ranked #1 on untapped.com. Immortality will be a plum vanilla mead.

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(artwork by Nate Baranowski)

The Magnum Mead Ale is semi-dry, made with clover honey and magnum hops, and it is sweet, refreshing, and luscious. The Blackberry Cyser I sampled is well-aged, semi-sweet, and made with apple cider from Coloma. It is a little fruity, a little floral, and offers the perfect amount of sweetness. All fermentation is done on site, and Paul uses local ingredients whenever possible: blueberries from Sawyer, honey from Eau Claire, and he frequents Coloma Frozen Foods often.

Im open to the possibility of a franchisee for the future, Paul says. Then we could truly expand into the Michigan market. Michigan retailers that are interested in selling Black Dragon Meadery products can contact Eagle Eye Brands, a distributor based in Michigan that is quickly expanding internationally.

Black Dragon Meadery is open Thursday through Monday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m, with the option of hosting groups and parties just call in advance. Themed parties are always on the table, too, says Paul, Well dress like pirates!For a detailed list of all of the meads and their ingredients, where to buy, and which local restaurants serve it, visit blackdragonmeadery.com. Congratulations and welcome!By Jocelyne Tuszynski, MOTM Contributor

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Black Dragon Meadery Opens in New Buffalo - Moody on the Market