In the latest salvo in a yearlong battle, Representative Lamar Smith (R-TX) has suggested that a long-dead Democratic president would have backed his legislative proposal to change the grantsmaking process at the National Science Foundation (NSF). But President Harry Truman didn’t address the issue that Smith is raising when he vetoed a bill to create the foundation, says the agency’s historian.Yesterday, presidential science adviser John Holdren publicly criticized Smith’s proposals, which the lawmaker argues would “ensure transparency and accountability” at the $7 billion agency. “I don’t think we should be trying to fix something that isn’t broken,” Holdren said.Today, Smith responded to Holdren’s remarks in a statement. “What is broken is NSF’s refusal to provide Congress and American taxpayers with basic information about how NSF-funded grants are in the national interest,” Smith stated, referencing language in his Frontiers in Innovation, Research, Science, and Technology (FIRST) Act. It would require the NSF director to certify that every grant had the promise of fostering economic growth, improving public health, or safeguarding the nation.Sign up for our daily newsletterGet more great content like this delivered right to you!Country *AfghanistanAland IslandsAlbaniaAlgeriaAndorraAngolaAnguillaAntarcticaAntigua and BarbudaArgentinaArmeniaArubaAustraliaAustriaAzerbaijanBahamasBahrainBangladeshBarbadosBelarusBelgiumBelizeBeninBermudaBhutanBolivia, Plurinational State ofBonaire, Sint Eustatius and SabaBosnia and HerzegovinaBotswanaBouvet IslandBrazilBritish Indian Ocean TerritoryBrunei DarussalamBulgariaBurkina FasoBurundiCambodiaCameroonCanadaCape VerdeCayman IslandsCentral African RepublicChadChileChinaChristmas IslandCocos (Keeling) IslandsColombiaComorosCongoCongo, The Democratic Republic of theCook IslandsCosta RicaCote D’IvoireCroatiaCubaCuraçaoCyprusCzech RepublicDenmarkDjiboutiDominicaDominican RepublicEcuadorEgyptEl SalvadorEquatorial GuineaEritreaEstoniaEthiopiaFalkland Islands (Malvinas)Faroe IslandsFijiFinlandFranceFrench GuianaFrench PolynesiaFrench Southern TerritoriesGabonGambiaGeorgiaGermanyGhanaGibraltarGreeceGreenlandGrenadaGuadeloupeGuatemalaGuernseyGuineaGuinea-BissauGuyanaHaitiHeard Island and Mcdonald IslandsHoly See (Vatican City State)HondurasHong KongHungaryIcelandIndiaIndonesiaIran, Islamic Republic ofIraqIrelandIsle of ManIsraelItalyJamaicaJapanJerseyJordanKazakhstanKenyaKiribatiKorea, Democratic People’s Republic ofKorea, Republic ofKuwaitKyrgyzstanLao People’s Democratic RepublicLatviaLebanonLesothoLiberiaLibyan Arab JamahiriyaLiechtensteinLithuaniaLuxembourgMacaoMacedonia, The Former Yugoslav Republic ofMadagascarMalawiMalaysiaMaldivesMaliMaltaMartiniqueMauritaniaMauritiusMayotteMexicoMoldova, Republic ofMonacoMongoliaMontenegroMontserratMoroccoMozambiqueMyanmarNamibiaNauruNepalNetherlandsNew CaledoniaNew ZealandNicaraguaNigerNigeriaNiueNorfolk IslandNorwayOmanPakistanPalestinianPanamaPapua New GuineaParaguayPeruPhilippinesPitcairnPolandPortugalQatarReunionRomaniaRussian FederationRWANDASaint Barthélemy Saint Helena, Ascension and Tristan da CunhaSaint Kitts and NevisSaint LuciaSaint Martin (French part)Saint Pierre and MiquelonSaint Vincent and the GrenadinesSamoaSan MarinoSao Tome and PrincipeSaudi ArabiaSenegalSerbiaSeychellesSierra LeoneSingaporeSint Maarten (Dutch part)SlovakiaSloveniaSolomon IslandsSomaliaSouth AfricaSouth Georgia and the South Sandwich IslandsSouth SudanSpainSri LankaSudanSurinameSvalbard and Jan MayenSwazilandSwedenSwitzerlandSyrian Arab RepublicTaiwanTajikistanTanzania, United Republic ofThailandTimor-LesteTogoTokelauTongaTrinidad and TobagoTunisiaTurkeyTurkmenistanTurks and Caicos IslandsTuvaluUgandaUkraineUnited Arab EmiratesUnited KingdomUnited StatesUruguayUzbekistanVanuatuVenezuela, Bolivarian Republic ofVietnamVirgin Islands, BritishWallis and FutunaWestern SaharaYemenZambiaZimbabweI also wish to receive emails from AAAS/Science and Science advertisers, including information on products, services and special offers which may include but are not limited to news, careers information & upcoming events.Required fields are included by an asterisk(*)Smith then stated: “President Harry Truman vetoed the first NSF-enabling legislation because he concluded it didn’t protect taxpayers’ right to know about how the agency would spend their money.”Smith is referring to Truman’s 1947 veto of a bill establishing NSF. (In 1950, Truman signed a reworked bill that was more to his liking.)But Truman’s veto message was based on another principle entirely, says NSF historian Marc Rothenberg. “I have seen no evidence that President Truman had ever raised the issue of the taxpayers’ right to know in his discussions with scientists or members of Congress regarding NSF legislation,” according to Rothenberg. “His concern was the authority the proposed legislation would give the National Science Board to name the director.”The vetoed bill, Rothenberg notes, gave that hiring authority to an executive committee of a part-time NSF board, comprised of eminent scientists and academic leaders selected by the White House. Truman objected to that setup, saying in his August 1947 veto message that it would prevent the president from “discharging his constitutional responsibility” to manage the government. That power, Truman explained, would instead be handed over to “a group of individuals who would be essentially private citizens.” In his memoirs, Truman wrote that “[s]ometimes the Congress makes an effort to rob the President of his appointive powers, I would never stand for it.” But Smith takes away a different message from Truman’s veto. “President Truman’s veto statement echoed the need for public accountability at NSF,” explained a Smith aide in a follow-up comment to ScienceInsider.None of Smith’s critics disagree with the importance of transparency and accountability. But NSF officials say they have already taken several administrative steps to address his concerns. And NSF’s oversight board said last week that the FIRST Act “would significantly impede NSF’s flexibility to deploy its funds” by imposing limits on the types of research that could be funded, as well as by tinkering with the process by which those grants are awarded.Holdren cited those concerns in his comments yesterday, but Smith remains unconvinced. “It’s unfortunate that the President’s Science Advisor would rather provide NSF with a blank check than set basic standards of transparency,” Smith stated. “The NSF’s cornerstone remains solid, but its boarded up windows are what need repair.”
IPL 2019: Bairstow-Warner bromance before Ashes wins hearts on social media
When an Australian hugged an Englishman at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium in Hyderabad on Sunday, cricket fans on social media went berserk. Sunrisers Hyderabad openers David Warner and Jonny Bairstow got to the crease to face Royal Challengers Bangalore on Sunday and broke a few records – they now own the highest opening stand in the history of the IPL.No mercy was shown by Warner and Bairstow towards RCB’s bowlers. Right from the first over, bowled by Moeen Ali, both batsmen were relentless. Virat Kohli tried everything he could as captain but it was impossible to stop Bairstow and Warner on a hot Sunday afternoon in Hyderabad.Jonny Bairstow and David Warner broke the record for highest opening partnership in the IPL as the duo added 185.The previous record was held by an Indian (Gautam Gambhir) and an Australian (Chris Lynn) for Kolkata Knight Riders. Incidentally, like England and Australia, India and Australia also have a great cricketing rivalry, although the latter is a far more recent phenomenon.Bairstow scored his maiden IPL century off 54 balls and Warner, his partner at the other end, smashed his first century of the season, 100 not out off 55 balls.WATCH: @davidwarner31 – @jbairstow21 ‘open’ up about their 185 run standThe explosive opening duo discuss their individual s against RCB and their ‘unique’ ways of celebrating it! By @28anand @SunRisers #SRHvRCBFull Interview – https://t.co/qSjQxIWDKa pic.twitter.com/ojfKkLEXkyIndianPremierLeague (@IPL) April 1, 2019This is what the IPL does! A highly strung aggressive Aussie runs down the wicket to hug a pretty expressive Englishman in an Ashes year!! @SunRisersadvertisementHarsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) March 31, 2019Watching @jbairstow21 & @davidwarner31 bat. Must say everything about their partnership has been extraordinary. Some serious shots and hard running between the wickets in this heat. Truly remarkable…#SRHvRCB pic.twitter.com/X4Xl1fpfv1Sachin Tendulkar (@sachin_rt) March 31, 2019After a spectacular celebration, the world witnessed something rare – an Aussie-Englishman hug, just 3-4 months before the Ashes. Even Kevin Peterson questioned Bairstow, asking him if he can tell the world about that hug in an Ashes year.This is what Bairstow had to say about batting with Warner.”It was great to bat here – between the wickets it’s one of the bigger pitches in India so getting the gaps and constantly rotating the strike is tough – fantastic pitch out there. I’m not sure I’m superhuman, I’m absolutely cooked, but as long as you’re getting your head through the ball it’s alright – only if you fall over, you’ll miscue it,” Bairstow said.”It was fantastic to bat in the middle with Warner – and it’s fantastic he’s got the Orange cap. The crowd is amazing, the fans are fanatical, and we are fortunate to have them,” he added.Warner also agreed with his opening partner, saying, “I think the 12 months have done me well – I think I am refreshed. A fantastic partnership – a fantastic innings by Jonny (Bairstow). Half the job is done.”Here’s how fans and cricket pundits on social media reacted:That was extraordinary @jbairstow21 … Great to see England players lighting up the #ipl2019 !!Michael Vaughan (@MichaelVaughan) March 31, 2019The one thing that won’t get much of a mention but should are @jbairstow21 & @davidwarner31 fitness levels … 40 degrees and they are taking 2s for Fun … if you want to be World class ya need to be a fitness freak as well as a Cricket freak … #IPL2019Michael Vaughan (@MichaelVaughan) March 31, 2019One hard-hitting Australian: @davidwarner31 + one explosive Englishman : @jbairstow21 = a pair that have hit three 100+ partnerships in three games, including the highest opening partnership in @IPL history today! https://t.co/9kTAEoHzbYICC (@ICC) March 31, 2019An Englishman and an Aussie hug each other four months before the Ashes.What a moment. That’s the beauty of IPL. #SRHvRCB #Warner #Bairstow #IPL2019 pic.twitter.com/a6DYrH9eBdMandar (@Maddy_CFC) March 31, 2019What a partnership this is … Bairstow and Warner #VivoIPL2019 Great understanding / awareness … brilliant running between . It’s a dream combo @SunRisers Tough to dislodge as hardly take chances.. they both got plenty options of scoring .Russel Arnold (@RusselArnold69) March 31, 2019#SRHvRCB #IPL2019 @MClarke23 @MitchJohnson398what a partnership between warner and bairstow …. can’t see them having banter in Ashes later this year ..this is the beauty of IPLShrikant (@MrShrikantK413) March 31, 2019It will be fun seeing Bairstow and Warner against each other in the ashes @cricbuzz #Haveyoursaymeet mehta (@MRmeet_mehta17) March 31, 2019Only in IPL it happens.. Warner hugging Bairstow but be sure Ashes series will be totally different….Enjoy the moment as of now pic.twitter.com/J8nUf75UEwadvertisementSsanjay Taannk (@SsanjayTaannk) April 1, 2019When an Englishman and an Australian bat together, they create #Ashes of other teams @IPL #IPL2019 #VIVOIPL #DCvKKR #SRHvRCB #Bairstow #Warner @bhogleharshaKunal Sood (@swaggedout5abi) March 31, 2019Commentators- v have nvr seen moment like any Aussie hugs English emotionally 3-4 month before ashes , playing for the crowd,(Commentators to bairstow)Kevin- wat was feeling with David Warner on d strip,Jhonny Bairstow – that’s what IPL passion, #SRHvRCB #OrangeArmy #IPL2019 pic.twitter.com/zpjDhQeO2IAbhi Ojha (@AbhiOjha236) March 31, 2019
No Alexis but City still the team to beat
Manchester City Aguero shines after Alexis snub to prove Man City are still the team to beat Sam Lee Last updated 1 year ago 17:00 1/21/18 FacebookTwitterRedditcopy Comments(0) 
Getty Images Manchester City Premier League Raheem Sterling Guardiola Yaya Touré İ. Gündoğan Kevin De Bruyne Leroy Sané Sergio Agüero A. Sánchez The league leaders decided not to sign their priority target on the same day they were beaten at Liverpool, but few could say they are struggling Manchester City’s usual suspects struck against Newcastle to ensure the Blues bounced back from their first defeat of the season and prove that missing out on Alexis Sanchez is not the end of the world.Another set-back would have been the last thing City needed but Raheem Sterling, Leroy Sane and Sergio Aguero, not to mention the support behind them, provided a timely reminder of exactly why City are well-placed in all four competitions this season.It is true that City pulled out of the Alexis deal on their own terms, but it remains the case that the Blues wanted the Chilean – both last summer and this month – because they believed he would make a huge impact on their season, particularly in the Champions League. Article continues below Editors’ Picks Lyon treble & England heartbreak: The full story behind Lucy Bronze’s dramatic 2019 Liverpool v Man City is now the league’s biggest rivalry and the bitterness is growing Megan Rapinoe: Born & brilliant in the U.S.A. A Liverpool legend in the making: Behind Virgil van Dijk’s remarkable rise to world’s best player The 29-year-old was regarded as a ready-made addition to the squad, somebody who could provide the kind of cutting edge that is deemed to be sometimes missing from this team.But while that is the belief of Pep Guardiola and his coaching staff – so it holds plenty of weight – it should be remembered that this team has already scored 70 league goals this season, at least 16 more than anybody else in England. They have 12 more points than their nearest challenger, too. And thanks to their 3-1 win against Newcastle, there are no signs that the wheels are about to come off.You could imagine the mood at Old Trafford over the next 10 days had City slipped up. With Alexis gearing up to make the kind of impact Guardiola had anticipated, only for Jose Mourinho’s team, there would be a sense at Carrington – misguided or otherwise – that a nine- or 10-point lead could be overhauled in the coming weeks.On a day when Arsenal, Chelsea and United all won – a rare occurrence this season – it would have been particularly bad timing for City to come up short.But they have put paid to any of those worries before Alexis has even put pen to paper. With the Blues welcoming West Brom in their next league game as United travel to Spurs, the pressure is already back on the chasing pack.
The result on Saturday provided yet more proof that City are already miles clear of the rest, even if they were not quite at their dominant best. Sergio Aguero is less than happy with his situation and would have been less so had Alexis arrived, but he personally bounced back from a difficult afternoon at Anfield with a perfect hat-trick – left foot, right-foot, header. That those goals were laid on by an inch-perfect Kevin De Bruyne cross, a penalty won by Sterling’s trickery and a breathtaking run by Sane serves as another reminder that things really aren’t that bad at all, particularly in the front line.Guardiola and his bosses are making plans for the future regardless. The Catalan said on Friday that City are trying to “anticipate” the market, and they are working on deals this month to avoid Alexis-like summer sagas. Senior officials have been trying to tie up a deal for Shakhtar Donetsk midfielder Fred , while Nice’s Jean Michael Seri is also on the radar. One or both could be signed this month to arrive at the end of the season.Moves for a top-class centre-back and Alexis replacements, as it were, will have to wait for the summer.
Jonny Evans could yet come in and contribute to the rest of the campaign, even if the 30-year-old former United centre-back may not set many pulses racing, especially if he is City’s only January arrival. He, too, has his place in the grand plan – even if that is as fourth-choice centre-back come the start of next season.There are currently no plans to sign a left-back, either now or the summer. Guardiola says he has a “big problem” in that department given Fabian Delph’s injury, yet that situation also serves to highlight how well City have coped with every set-back this season. After all, few gave them a chance should Benjamin Mendy, their only left-back, get injured, and he has been out since September.Delph, who was allowed to join Stoke City last summer, has deputised so well that his own absence is now regarded as a blow, but Guardiola may have yet another ace up his sleeve. A little over a year ago, City CEO Ferran Soriano told staff at an internal meeting that it was very possible that two of the club’s 2016 summer arrivals would never play for the club. Oleksandar Zinchenko and Marlos Moreno, two hot prospects with burgeoning reputations, apparently did not have much of a chance of making the grade at the Etihad Stadium.Yet at the end of a week when Moreno had a disappointing loan spell with City’s sister club Girona cancelled so he could be sent back to South America with Flamengo, Zinchenko is proving that he may well have what it takes after all.It was said the 21-year-old elected to join City over Borussia Dortmund in the first place because the German side wanted him to play left-back, where he had played only a handful of times for FC Ufa, but it turns out he’s quite good at it.His performances there have not all been perfect but it is obvious that he is getting better by the game, and if he can deputise for the deputy, City’s hunt for silverware should continue unhindered.There are improvements to be made as City strive for European domination, and the failure to land Alexis may well come back to bite them in the latter stages of the Champions League, but while Guardiola is planning for the future, it should not be forgotten that present is going pretty well. Check out Goal’s Premier League 2019-20 fantasy football podcast for game tips, debate and rivalries.
Province Funds Community Groups Municipalities to Support Northern Region Seniors
Seniors in Scotsburn, Pictou Co., will soon be teaching young people to play shuffleboard and “pickle ball” as part of a seniors’ socialization and fitness project. The project, by Scotsburn Recreation’s 55+ Club, is one of 59 — including nine in northern Nova Scotia — to receive a portion of nearly $440,000 in funding being awarded to support seniors’ participation in communities across the province. The grants were announced today, Feb. 2, by Len Goucher, Minister of Seniors. “These grants represent more than just funding for community-minded organizations,” said Mr. Goucher. “These initiatives have been selected because they’ll offer new opportunities for seniors, often by seniors, that are sustainable and which bring together different generations.” Forty-two non-profit organization projects will be supported through the Positive Aging Fund and 17 projects will be co-funded by municipalities through the Age-Friendly Communities Program. The Positive Aging Fund helps non-profit community organizations create projects that advance Nova Scotia’s Strategy for Positive Aging. The strategy is a long-term guide for planning for the province’s aging population, with a focus on the health, well-being and community participation of seniors. Successful applicants can receive up to $10,000 for projects through the fund. The Age-Friendly Communities Program helps municipalities create or adapt structures or services to be accessible, and inclusive of seniors, so they are able to lead healthy, active lives. Participating municipalities jointly fund the grants, which can also be up to $10,000 per project. “At a time when there are more seniors than ever before, these municipalities are recognizing the value of making sure seniors have full enjoyment of all the community has to offer,” said Mr. Goucher. “It’s equally important that communities have the benefit of all that seniors have to offer them.” The Department of Seniors received more than 120 applications for funding under the grant programs. Applicants will have another opportunity to apply in the fall. More information on the program and full lists of grant recipients are available at: www.gov.ns.ca/scs/agefriendlyComm.asp and www.gov.ns.ca/scs/positiveagingfund.asp .
Pradhan bats for direct flights between Bhubaneswar Dubai
Bhubaneswar: Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan has sought prompt steps to launch direct flight services between Bhubaneswar and Dubai to boost the development of Odisha, which is emerging as a “growth-engine”. Noting that the government has created “ground- breaking” progress in developing regional air connectivity through the UDAN scheme, the Petroleum and Steel Minister said at present Bhubaneswar is only connected to Bangkok via direct flight service. Also Read – Uddhav bats for ‘Sena CM’ In a letter to Civil Aviation Minister Hardeep Singh Puri, he said Odisha is “emerging as a growth-engine for eastern India under Prime Minister’s ‘Purvodaya vision'”, and improving direct international connectivity will further give a fillip to the region’s developmental prospects. There has been a long-pending request from various quarters for introducing a direct flight from Bhubaneswar to Dubai, Pradhan said in the letter dated September 17. Also Read – Farooq demands unconditional release of all detainees in J&K “I am made to understand that there are more than 15,000 Odia people residing in different parts of the United Arab Emirates, who are forced to undertake an indirect route for travelling to Odisha. “I also understand the Odia Society of UAE had a meeting with GM Air India Middle-east and Africa regarding viability of a direct Air India flight between Bhubaneswar and Dubai, based on favourable traffic data between these destinations,” the minister said. Pradhan also emphasised that Bhubaneswar is an educational, healthcare and cultural hub with rich potential for medical tourism, cultural tourism and educational exchange programmes. “Keeping in mind the welfare of communities to and from Bhubaneswar – Dubai and the larger potential for development of Odisha, I request your personal intervention in launching a direct fligt between Bhubaneswar and Dubai at the earliest,” he added.
Some people lose their sleep when India hits back at terrorists Modi
Amroha (UP): Some people lose their sleep when India hits back at terrorists, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said here on Friday while launching a broadside against opposition parties who he claimed were putting the lives and future of the people in danger. Addressing a rally in this Uttar Pradesh town ahead of the 2019 Lok Sabha elections beginning April 11, the prime minister said “some people” did not like the fact that terrorists were being given a reply in their own language. Also Read – India gets first tranche of Swiss bank a/c details “After the terrorist attack, should I have remained silent or attacked,” he asked the gathering, referring to the February 14 terror attack on a CRPF convoy in Pulwama. “Terrorists are being given a reply in their own language… this is not liked by some people who lose their sleep when India hits back,” he said. When Pakistan is exposed in front of the world, “these people” start speaking in its favour, Modi said. “Be it the Congress, the SP or the BSP, they have put your life and future in danger,” the prime minister told the crowd gathered in this Uttar Pradesh town with a sizeable Muslim population. Also Read – Tourists to be allowed in J&K from Thursday The governments of ‘Bua’ (Mayawati) and ‘Babua’ (Akhilesh Yadav) released terror accused and were kind to them, Modi alleged. The prime minister said he had not let the country hang its head in shame in the five years he had been in power, stressing that the country’s reputation and image was higher than it had been ever been. “I would like to thank the government of UAE and people of UAE for honouring me with the Zayed medal…this is not an award given to Modi but to the Indian people,” he said. He said on Thursday that he accepts the prestigious ‘Order of Zayed’ conferred on him by the United Arab Emirates with utmost humility.
Fake Police Officer Arrested in Casablanca
Casablanca- According to news outlet, the police arrested a man in Casablanca’s Ain Chock neighborhood for impersonating a police officer. The arrested man had allegedly stopped a car and requested the driver to hand him his driving license before attempting to rob him off his phone and flee away. The police found that the 22-year-old had already been arrested for similar infringements. During police interrogations, the fake police officer quickly admitted the charges held against him. The accused will be prosecuted for attempted theft and police impersonation. Insecurity in CasablancaNew kind crimes have started surfacing in the economic city, ranging from armed bank robbery to police impersonation. However, phone robbery is the most frequent among all street crimes in the kingdom, and tensions between robbers and victims sometimes leads to serious injuries or even murder. The lack of police authority in zones where robbery and other sorts of crimes are rampant is one factor among many that account for the shocking pervasiveness of these phenomena. “I was stopped by a woman who seemed not in shape the other day,” a red taxi driver shared with me, “She said she was forced into a car by someone near Ai Diab beach in Casablanca. The man threatened to harm her if she did not hand him all valuable things she had on her. When the guy saw that she had a bank car, he asked her to give him her password under the threat of killing her if she lied.” “He said he would take her to the nearest bank agency to check the accuracy of the password before he released her,” the taxi driver continued, “Miraculously, she managed to convince him that she wasn’t lying and that there wasn’t much money in her bank account. Well, she actually lied! Her bank account contained everything she and her husband had been saving for their children’s education. The woman had heart issues, and I could see the effect of that shocking incident on her. She could barely breathe,” he added. © Morocco World News. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, rewritten or redistributed
Space technology pours clean drinking water into Kenitra Morocco
Fez – Students at the University of Kenitra are putting waste water back to use with the help of a cutting edge water treatment facility. The water cleaning equipment uses technology first designed by the European Space Agency (ESA) to filter urine and waste water and recycle it into potable drinking water.Water in the village of Sidi Taibi near Kenitra, just a thirty-minute drive outside of Rabat, has recently become unsuitable for consumption due to the high amount of nitrates and fertilizer found in the groundwater there, according to a report by ESA. The University of Kenitra teamed up with UNESCO and ESA to find a sustainable solution to provide clean drinking water to residents. The Moroccan Minister of Higher Education, Lahcen Daoudi, was on site to sample the drinking water during the opening ceremony of the sustainable water treatment facility in Sidi Taibi earlier this week.Photo courtesy ESAESA has been working for the last twenty years to develop water-recycling technology to produce clean water and oxygen for astronauts living in space. “One solution ESA is working on is to use bacteria, algae, filters and high-technology together so the organisms produce oxygen, water and food from waste,” according to ESA.The water treatment facility at the University of Kenitra is applying the same methods to supply their residents with a greater amount of clean drinking water. One of the processing systems uses a membrane filtering system with holes so microscopic they are 700 times thinner than a strand of human hair. “These tiny pores can filter out unwanted compounds in water, in particular nitrate,” according to the ESA report.The green facility is self-sustainable and uses solar panels and wind energy to power the system. This model is the first of its kind to be assembled in Morocco and will provide for 1200 university students. The extra water and energy that is generated will be supplied to the local community. If the filtration system works as planned, the entire system could be augmented to provide clean drinking water to the surrounding population and neighboring areas.Water Treatment Unit. Photo courtesy ESA© Morocco World News. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, rewritten or redistributed
13yearold girl charged after stolen SUV crashes into car Hamilton police
A 13-year-old girl has been charged after she stole her father’s vehicle and it crashed into a car early Thursday.Shortly after midnight, police say a white Toyota Highlander ran a red light and struck a grey Toyota sedan in the intersection of John and Main streets. The Highlander fled the scene and was spotted a short time later on Spring St. Police say two young girls were seen getting out of the SUV and checking out the vehicle’s damage before driving off.Just before 2 a.m., officers located the SUV in a residential area on Hamilton Mountain. The driver, a 13-year-old girl, was arrested at the scene. Police found out the SUV belonged to the girl’s father who was unaware his daughter had taken the vehicle. The man did not press charges against his daughter for taking the SUV.Police said they were unable to identify which if the 13-year-old girl or her 13-year-old passenger was driving at the time of the crash. The teen that was found driving when police found the SUV is charged with drive motor vehicle no licence. She is scheduled to appear in court on June 7.
Those blocking Somalia peace will be held accountable UN Security Council
“The Security Council condemns those who obstruct the peace process and stresses that those who persist on the path of confrontation and conflict will be held accountable,” the Council President for February, Ambassador Wang Guangya of China, said in a presidential statement agreed on by the 15 members. The Council urged the Somali parties to build on progress made so far and to “swiftly conclude the Somali National Reconciliation Conference with a durable and inclusive solution to the conflict in Somalia by establishing a viable transitional government,” he said.The President also voiced the Council’s concern over the continued flow of weapons and ammunition to Somalia, calling on States and entities to cooperate with a Monitoring Group set up to oversee the international arms embargo against the country.The National Reconciliation Conference is taking place in Kenya under the auspices of the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD). The statement urged international support for IGAD, as well as for the African Union (AU), which is prepared to send a military observer mission to Somalia.
Staff faculty bring kids to work
John Arseneau, centre, and Ross Horsley, right, learn chest compressions and administering oxygen as Elizabeth Horsley demonstrates.There were a few more teenagers than usual on campus this week when Brock faculty and staff participated in Take Our Kids to Work Day.Ninth graders joined their parents at work in departments such as Student Health Services and Facilities Management. About 30 youth participated in the Nov. 2 event.Among them was Ross Horsley, who joined his mom Elizabeth, who is co-ordinator of the Learning Resource Centre in the Department of Nursing. The Sir Winston student also brought his friend, John Arseneau, from St. Francis.The pair had an action-packed day that included learning to do chest compressions and sitting in on a second-year class discussing full cardiac arrests.“I don’t want to be a nurse,” said Ross, 14, who has his sights set on being an economist. “But it turns out (his mom’s job) is a lot more interesting than I thought it was.”Robbie McDonnell, a 14-year-old Holy Cross student, joined his dad Gary, who is assistant supervisor of electronics in Brock’s Technical Services. He was joined by friend Nick Campanella.“It’s been great having them here, although students aren’t uncommon here,” Gary McDonnell said. “So far today, we’ve done some fun demonstrations.”The students started the day at Market Hall, where they participated in activities and learned more about the University.From left, Nick Campanella, Robbie McDonnell and Gary McDonnell participate in Take Our Kids to Work Day.
Is ChiefsRams A Super Bowl Preview Meh Probably Not
PHI74PHI73DAL 27, PHI 20-0.5– 20158DEN3✓GNB2DEN 199512OAK4DAL1✓DAL 20076NWE1✓DAL5NWE 199110HOU4WAS1✓WAS NO64NO71NO 51, CIN 14+2.6– Playoff %Playoff % ATL78ATL76CLE 28, ATL 16+0.8– But even if it won’t change the playoff race or give us a sneak peek at Super Bowl LIII, the Rams and Chiefs’ tilt should be fun. And once it’s over, we can look ahead to Week 16’s Saints-Steelers battle for yet another potential Super Bowl preview … that probably won’t contain both conference champs, either.FiveThirtyEight vs. the readersYou can check out FiveThirtyEight’s Elo ratings in our NFL prediction interactive, which simulates the rest of the season 100,000 times, to track how likely each team is to make the playoffs and win the Super Bowl. On top of that, you can also pick against the Elo algorithm in our prediction game. You’ll be playing for bragging rights, and the chance to climb up our giant leaderboard.Using data from the game, here are the games in which Elo made its best — and worst — predictions against the reader picks last week: 20155CIN5SEA4CIN CAR70.813.9DET3.63.417.21525 199415SDG4✓SFO2✓SFO 201215NWE1SFO3✓SFO 201015BAL5NOR2BAL 201811KAN2LAR4? PICKWIN PROB.PICKWIN PROB.ResultREADERS’ NET PTS DAL25.512.5ATL21.711.323.81535 Less playoff success7856196 TB1.71.5NYG0.20.11.61398 IND56IND52IND 29, JAX 26-5.0– The best matchups of Week 11Week 11 games by ranking of average Elo ratings (using the harmonic mean) plus ranking of total potential swing for the two teams’ playoff chances, according to FiveThirtyEight’s NFL predictions 19979NWE4GNB1✓GNB 200017IND4MIN5IND WSH66.412.9HOU70.110.122.91507 GB61GB69GB 31, MIA 12+3.9– 19927KAN4DAL5✓DAL TEN62.517.7IND11.89.827.51506 PIT61PIT57PIT 52, CAR 21-5.4– OUR PREDICTION (ELO)READERS’ PREDICTION 199013BUF3✓PHI5BUF 20177NWE1✓ATL3NWE AFCNFC 199015BUF3✓NYG2✓BUF 19926KAN5PHI3KAN ARI0.10.1OAK<0.1<0.10.11354 One of these teams might be special. The other, not so muchHow each team in a midseason “Super Bowl preview” game fared, on average, by the level it reached in the playoffs. 199714KAN4SFO1KAN 20089TEN2GNB5TEN TB54WSH51WSH 16, TB 3+3.8– 20147DEN1SFO3DEN MIN62.9%±17.5CHI70.1%±17.034.51565 199317HOU4SFO2HOU 199313MIA4DAL1✓MIA KC88KC93KC 26, ARI 14-0.1– Three of the last four midseason Super Bowl previews featured 50 percent of the eventual Super Bowl matchup: New England and Atlanta played at foggy Foxboro in Week 7 last season (itself a Super Bowl rematch), and the Patriots later went to the Super Bowl. Seattle and New England reprised their own earlier Super Bowl matchup in Week 10 of 2016, and the Pats also went to that season’s Super Bowl. And in 2015, the Broncos used a Week 8 win over the Packers as a stepping-stone along their Super Bowl path. The exception in that stretch was Arizona-Cincinnati in Week 11 of 2015 — which sounds like an absurd potential Super Bowl, except that both teams were a combined 15-3 going into the contest, long before an injury to Andy Dalton ruined Cincy’s season.But if one team tends to emerge from these kinds of games on a championship path, the other usually stalls out well before the Super Bowl. Here’s a breakdown of how often each team in our sample of games ends up making each round of the playoffs, depending on how much playoff success they had: 199615DEN1GNB2✓GNB 201610NWE1✓SEA3SEA SeasonWeekTeamElo RkMade SB?TeamElo RkMade SB?Won Show more rowsSource: pro-Football-Reference.com In the grand scope of the NFL universe, having slightly better than a coin-flip’s odds to make the divisional round of the playoffs isn’t too bad an outcome. But for a pair of teams coming into a midseason game with Super Bowl aspirations, it is striking how rare it is for both to ultimately make significant playoff runs. Instead, one usually is left behind along the road to the championship. And, in case you were wondering, the winner of the Super Bowl preview advanced deeper into the postseason just 60 percent of the time, so it’s tough to say which team will be which, regardless of who wins the “preview.”Either way, this Rams-Chiefs game will treat the fans to some points. The over-under on the game is 63½ points — one of the highest point totals in NFL history. And according to our matchup quality metric (determined by the harmonic mean of the teams’ Elo ratings in each game), this is also the best game of the entire NFL season so far. The only factor holding this particular Super Bowl preview back might be game importance — i.e., how likely it is to swing either team’s odds of making the playoffs. Both teams have all but clinched playoff spots, so K.C.-L.A. drops to sixth place among Week 11 games once we account for a mix of matchup importance and quality: 199116KAN5SFO3SFO 199513KAN3DAL1✓DAL LAR69LAR74LAR 36, SEA 31+1.1– More playoff success100%97%75%58% Elo’s dumbest (and smartest) picks of Week 10Average difference between points won by readers and by Elo in Week 10 matchups in FiveThirtyEight’s NFL prediction game Home teams are in bold.The scoring system is nonlinear, so readers’ average points don’t necessarily match the number of points that would be given to the average reader prediction. CIN34.217.2BAL24.413.230.41511 KC99.90.1LAR>99.9<0.10.11661 There’s a new team atop FiveThirtyEight’s NFL Elo rankings this week, and it’s the one we discussed in this space last time around — the red-hot New Orleans Saints. Fresh off an impressive victory over the Los Angeles Rams, New Orleans turned around and walloped the Bengals 51-14 in Cincinnati. Based on how they’ve been playing recently, there’s no team more deserving of the No. 1 slot than Dem Saints.However, New Orleans is also the fourth different team to hold the top spot in Elo so far this year, joining the Patriots, Eagles and Chiefs. That’s tied for the most handoffs of the No. 1 spot through Week 10 of a season since 2002 (when five separate teams held No. 1 to that point in the schedule). So we still don’t have a great sense of who exactly will be meeting up in Atlanta in February. In fact, there’s still a decent chance it might just be the two teams that are scheduled this week for an epic Monday Night Football clash — the Chiefs and Rams.Both teams sport 9-1 records, and they have similar strengths and weaknesses. According to Pro-Football-Reference.com’s Simple Rating System (SRS) metric, the Chiefs rank second in the league on offense and 19th on defense; the Rams rank third in offense and 14th on defense. K.C. is led by a couple of 23-year-olds: quarterback Patrick Mahomes, who leads the NFL in passing yards, and running back Kareem Hunt, who ranks fourth in rushing. L.A.’s pair are both 24: QB Jared Goff (second in passing yards) and RB Todd Gurley (first in rushing).A nationally televised matchup between two exciting, young, star-studded teams in opposite conferences is sure to have a Super Bowl feel to it. And our model does give the Chiefs the AFC’s best odds of winning the Super Bowl, while considering the Rams to be the NFC’s second-most likely winner (behind New Orleans). But it also bears remembering that prospective “Super Bowl previews” on the midseason calendar usually don’t predict the actual Super Bowl very well (though they do often come close).To gather a sample of similarly huge AFC-NFC showdowns from seasons past, I filtered our database of games for ones that:Happened in Week 5 of a season or later (to give Elo time to “catch up” with how good each team is).Featured two Top 5 NFL teams at the moment of the game, according to Elo.Matched up teams from opposite conferences.Going back to the start of the current NFL playoff format in 1990, there have been 36 regular-season games that could have been considered Super Bowl previews, according to the rules laid out above. Of those, only two — Bills-Giants in December 1990 and 49ers-Chargers in December 1994 — ended up actually foreshadowing the Super Bowl to come. (The Giants flipped their regular-season loss on its head, while the 49ers obliterated the Chargers both times.)There have been plenty more regular-season games where the eventual Super Bowl combatants met months beforehand — think Patriots-Rams in 2001 or Giants-Patriots in 2007. But few were hyping those as potential Super Bowl previews at the time (even if coaches had their occasional premonitions about meeting up in the postseason). And on the flip side, when it comes to games highlighted for their Super Bowl potential, the exact matchup often finds a way to get derailed over the remainder of the season.Of those 36 regular-season matchups in our data-set, 23 did contain at least one of the eventual conference champions — so the odds aren’t bad that either K.C. or L.A. will make their way to Atlanta on Feb. 3. LAC76LAC82LAC 20, OAK 6+1.2– Share of teams reaching round 20015BAL1GNB4GNB Team that had …Wild CardDivisionalConf. ChampSuper Bowl NE63NE74TEN 34, NE 10-16.6– Game quality is the harmonic mean of the Elo ratings for the two teams in a given matchup.*Average change is weighted by the likelihood of a win or loss. (Ties are excluded.)Source: ESPN 199517PIT4✓GNB5GNB 20035IND5TAM1IND PIT92.35.8JAX2.52.38.01547 PHI26.49.2NO98.51.610.81634 20049PIT4PHI1✓PIT LAC91.95.8DEN1.41.77.51519 Another week, another loss for the readers against Elo, which now has beaten the field in nine of 10 weeks so far this season. This time, it was the Patriots’ surprising road loss to the Tennessee Titans that ended up costing readers the whole week — on average, they lost 16.6 points in that matchup, in a week where they lost by 12.5 total points. However, even though the readers have followed up their lone win of the season in Week 7 with three more losses in a row, they are getting better: In the season’s first six weeks, they lost by an average of 38.9 points per week; over the past three weeks, they’ve only lost by an average of 8.6 points.Among those readers who aren’t mired in a losing streak, congrats to David Ryborz, who topped all identified users in Week 10 with 148.6 points, and to Brian Hake, who continues to lead the season-long leaderboard with 808.4 points. Thanks to everyone who has been playing — and if you haven’t, be sure to get in on the action! You can make picks now and still try your luck against Elo, even if you haven’t played yet.Check out our latest NFL predictions. 19998DEN5MIN2MIN A brief history of regular-season “Super Bowl previews”NFL games after Week 4 in which both teams ranked among the Top 5 in FiveThirtyEight’s Elo ratings and were in opposite conferences, since 1990 199716DEN3✓SFO2SFO Source: Pro-Football-Reference.com 20136NWE2NOR5NWE 200612NWE3CHI5✓NWE CHI65CHI67CHI 34, DET 22-0.1– 20026NWE4GNB5GNB NYJ63NYJ64BUF 41, NYJ 10-2.9– GB23.113.0SEA29.112.725.61515 200912NWE3NOR2✓NOR SF67%SF62%NYG 27, SF 23+4.7– Team ACurrentAvg. Chg*Team BCurrentAvg. Chg*Total ChangeGame Quality 20088PIT3✓NYG4NYG 201511CIN4ARI3ARI
Wrestling Ohio State places second in Big Ten championships records two individual
No. 1 Myles Martin of Ohio State scores a single leg takedown on Mason Manville of Penn State in the 184-pound bout of the Ohio State-Penn State dual. Martin won the bout by major decision, 18-6. Ohio State lost the dual against Penn State 28-9. Credit: Sal Marandino | For The LanternComing in with three conference championships in the past four years, Ohio State could not overcome Penn State in the Big Ten Wrestling Championships this weekend, finishing second with a 122.5 team score behind the Nittany Lions’ 157. But Ohio State had nine wrestlers earn automatic bids to the NCAA Tournament, recording two individual championships. Myles Martin, the 184-pound senior who came in with an undefeated record and the No. 1 seed in the weight class, continued that streak. Seventh-ranked Penn State senior Shakur Rasheed took a medical forfeit in the match, giving Martin his first Big Ten championship. Ohio State senior Joey McKenna, No. 3 at 141, earned his fourth conference championship, defeating Nebraska sophomore Chad Red in a 9-2 victory. Earning Pac-12 titles in his freshman and sophomore season at Stanford, McKenna earned his second Big Ten championship at 141. In the Big Ten title bout at 149, Ohio State redshirt senior Micah Jordan did not find as much success, falling to Rutgers redshirt senior Anthony Ashnault, who came in with an undefeated record as the No. 1 seed, in an 8-6 decision. Redshirt junior Kollin Moore also came up short in his rematch with Penn State’s Bo Nickal in the 197-pound championship, losing 10-3 as the Nittany Lions’ senior recorded 2:51 in riding time. Ohio State junior Like Pletcher also fell in the title match at 133, losing to Rutgers junior Nick Suriano in a 4-1 decision. Ohio State freshman Malik Heinselman earned the chance to compete in the NCAA Championships with a 8-5 win against Wisconsin sophomore Ethan Rotondo. The first session of the NCAA Championships begin on March 21 at noon in Pittsburgh.
Jeff Bezos ocean expedition recovers parts from the Apollo 11 engines
Many people aren’t really aware of what happens when we launch something into space. Engines are built to fire in stages, continuously propelling a craft into space. During this process, the parts from the previous stage of the engine are released and it either falls back down to Earth or drifts away into space depending on when in the process the release happens.During the twelve minute ride from the surface to the edge of space, the Saturn V rocket burned through multiple F-1 engines across several stages. The discarded parts of those engines returned to Earth and plummeted into the ocean, and for the longest time it was assumed they would never be seen again. Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos wanted to change that, and launched an expedition nearly a year ago to recover parts of the Saturn V from the sea bed.In March 2012, Bezos announced that deep ocean sonar had detected what they believed to be parts of the five F-1 engines from Apollo 11 some 14,000 feet down. His goal was to go down there, photograph what he could, and recover anything that had survived the 40+ year tomb these parts had been sent to.In his recent blog update, Bezos shares his experiences on the bottom of the ocean, and offers up a gallery of photos showing both recovered engine parts and images of Saturn V pieces that will take much more time to fully recover.At least as far as the core purpose of the mission goes, Bezos was successful. There’s still plenty to do down there, however, so it is highly unlikely that this is the last update we’ll see from the project.There’s been enough recovered so far to display two of the five F-1 engines that made up the launch engines of Saturn V. The plan now is to restore the engines and treat them to prevent further corrosion, after which time they will be placed on display. It’s unclear where exactly they will be on display, or how long the restoration will take, but that information will likely be made available once a proper exhibit for the engines has been created.In his post, Bezos explained that it was his goal to recover a piece of something that had inspired him as a young boy and put it on display to help inspire other. Mission accomplished, I’d say.
Ferdinand spoke about Ronaldos beginnings
Cristiano Ronaldo has been one of the best players of this decade but back in 2003, he was just an unknown teenager at Sporting Lisbon where Sir Alex Ferguson discovered him for Manchester United.Rio Ferdinand opened up on this experience as he remembers that the Red Devils played a friendly game against Sporting and Ronaldo stunned everyone – and within just one week, United managed to sign him.The former United centre-back spoke about his former teammate as he said, according to 101 Great Goals:“I first saw him up close when I was playing for Manchester United in a pre-season friendly to mark the opening of Sporting Lisbon’s new stadium in 2003.”“It was plain that this was a potential superstar. An 18-year-old Ronaldo ran the show as we lost 3-1.”
Maguire says United need to build on today’s win George Patchias – September 14, 2019 Harry Maguire wants his United teammates to build on the victory over Leicester City.During the summer, Harry Maguire was referred to as the ultimate…“We were on the bus for ages afterwards waiting for chief executive David Gill and the boss Alex Ferguson.”“We were just willing them to sign Ronaldo. Within a week he was our player.”“From the very start in training, you could see he was supremely talented.”“He had all the skills but what really stood out was his work ethic. This was no show pony.”“He wanted to be out there afterwards with the ball improving, learning to use both feet.”
No charges to be filed against Venus Williams in deadly crash
PALM BEACH GARDENS, FLA. (WSVN) – Investigators have announced that no charges will be filed in a deadly crash involving tennis star Venus Williams.Jerome Barson, 78, died from his injuries sustained in the June 9 accident. Barson’s wife, Linda, was driving a 2016 Hyundai Accent when she T-boned Williams’ Toyota Sequoia in an intersection in Palm Beach Gardens.Barson died nearly two weeks later.Williams was not injured in the crash.Palm Beach Police said neither Williams or Linda Barson will be charged.Please check back on WSVN.com and 7News for more details on this developing story.Copyright 2019 Sunbeam Television Corp. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Colins Blazin 5 Prediction Podcast NFL Week 14
It’s time for Colin’s Blazin’ 5 Prediction Podcast, and his weekly sit down with RJ Bell from Pregame.com to see where there’s agreement and disagreement from the Vegas wiseguys on his NFL Week 14 Blazin’ 5 picks.Colin had a small hiccup in last week’s Blazin’ 5, going 2-3 after three winning weeks in a row. He’s still 10 games clear of .500 (37-27-1) on the year, and loves the Week 14 slate of games.In Week 14, Colin likes Drew Brees and the Saints’ offense getting points in Tampa; the Packers as home dogs facing the Seahawks; the Denver D, getting a point at Tennessee; Miami over Arizona at Joe Robbie, and the Ravens getting a touchdown, on the road, against the Pats on Monday night is his game of the week.Here are Colin’s Week 14 Blazin’ 5 plays. So, what do the wiseguys say?Saints (+2.5) at BucsBroncos (+1) at TitansCardinals at Dolphins (-1)Seahawks at Packers (+2.5)Ravens (+7) at PatriotsThe Blazin’ 5 Prediction Podcast is available every Saturday through the end of the football season. Download and subscribe to it exclusively at TheHerdNow.com, iHeart Radio, Google Play, or iTunes. Don’t be a mark!
Internet FastLanes Would Be Banned Under Planned FCC Proposal
This hands-on workshop will give you the tools to authentically connect with an increasingly skeptical online audience. 2 min read Free Workshop | August 28: Get Better Engagement and Build Trust With Customers Now February 3, 2015 A new Federal Communications Commission proposal expected this week has the potential to be a game-changer in the debate over net neutrality.FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler is expected to propose that high-speed Internet service be reclassified as a telecommunications service, rather than an information service, under Title II of the Communications Act, according to The New York Times, which cites various anonymous sources from the telecommunications industry.The step would allow the FCC to regulate Internet service providers (ISPs) like public utilities, including ensuring that ISPs cannot block any Internet content. They would also be prohibited from creating so-called Internet fast-lanes for companies and websites willing to pay for faster delivery of their content.These issues have been at the heart of an intense debate over so-called net neutrality, the idea that all Internet traffic be treated equally. The outcome could have profound implications for consumers and telecommunications companies.In November, President Barack Obama publicly urged the FCC to adopt the “strongest possible rules” to enforce net neutrality by regulating broadband providers more like public utilities. He argued that “the Internet has become an essential part of everyday communication and everyday life” and therefore requires strict regulation. Opponents of net neutrality have claimed that stricter regulation of ISPs could impair growth and innovation.The Times does note that the proposal from Wheeler — a former cable and wireless industry lobbyist appointed as FCC chairman by Obama in 2013 — is likely to stop short of some of the strictest forms of regulation reserved for public utilities, including oversight of pricing.Last year, Wheeler offered a proposal that would have avoided reclassifying ISPs while allowing cable companies and telecoms to negotiate contracts that would let content providers like Netflix pay for faster streaming speeds, as long as the deals are “commercially reasonable.” Wheeler’s initial proposal sparked intense criticism from opponents who said it would give a huge advantage to wealthy companies that could afford to pay for faster Internet service while leaving everyone else in the slow lane.Wheeler’s latest proposal, which should have the support of Obama and other proponents of an open Internet, is expected to be submitted to FCC commissioners on Thursday. A vote would likely come later this month, the Times reported. Enroll Now for Free This story originally appeared on Fortune Magazine
MasterChef films epic cooking challenge on Pacific Jewel
The contestants from Network Ten’s MasterChef Australia were recently given their biggest ever challenge – to cook for almost 2,000 passengers onboard P & O Cruises’ Pacific Jewel.MasterChef’s blue and red teams were vying to win the tastebuds of passengers at their traditional Sail Away party.Each team had to produce 4000 canapes featuring four different recipes, with passengers voting at the end of the challenge to determine the winner.The MasterChef challenge was filmed in just eight hours onboard Pacific Jewel in Darling Harbour as the ship was readied for a 10-day cruise to New Caledonia and Vanuatu.Commenting on the challenge, Sture Myrmell, Vice President Hotel Operations for P&O Cruises, said: “Our highly experienced chefs are used to preparing daily meals for 2000 guests – it’s not easy but the MasterChef teams controlled their nerves on the day and pulled it off.”MasterChef’s Pacific Jewel challenge will air on Wednesday June 2 at 7.30pm on Ten. (L-R): MasterChef judges Matt Preston and George Calombaris on Pacific Jewel. Source = e-Travel Blackboard: C.F
Mentally I would struggle with that Is the chal
“Mentally I would struggle with that.”Is the challenge then figuring out when to walk away knowing you can still play?“It’s not something that you wake up in the morning and say, ‘Oh, I’m done.’ It’s something that kind of is bubbling for awhile and I think you just know. When I talk to guys — because that’s one thing I always do. I always reach out to guys, players, and I pick their mind and ask them questions about the transition and when did they know. I kind of want to understand their thought process going into it so I’m a bit more informed; just trying to gather as much information as possible so you can make an informed decision when that point comes.”Have you thought about what you want to do next?“I have a plethora of things that I’m involved in but right now I’m still very passionate. I love to play. I enjoy being out there with the guys. That part of it is not a struggle. It’s not like pulling teeth.”How much do you weigh the quest for a Super Bowl ring?“That’s huge. That’s the only reason I’m playing at this point. From the personal standpoint and things I’ve accomplished, they’re fine but the thing that you will say is out of your control because you’re in a team sport is a championship. I love the fact that you can influence the play of other guys around you, motivate them, inspire them. I like that aspect of team sports.” 0 Comments Share “Surprised? No. I can still play at a high level. You have to that confidence and you have to have that ability to compartmentalize what’s going on; good, bad or indifferent and never lose your confidence. And that never happened. I never felt like I couldn’t play any more. I knew if my number was called I could still make the play. I’ve proven that over the last few years, again, and that’s the way I still feel.”Now that Carson Palmer is on a new throwing program, do you notice a difference in his arm strength?“I never saw really a difference last year. I don’t run too many routes past 20 yards so his arm strength looked great to me. Those are questions for ‘Smoke’ (John Brown) and J.J. (Nelson) and them guys like that. All of his throws to me always hit me right in the face. I mean, they’re always accurate and on time. I never personally saw anything that was off.”Is it important to you to be able to walk away (whenever that may be) still playing at a high level?“Yeah. The end is never really pretty for elite athletes. It never looks good for the most part. You watch Michael Jordan in a Washington Wizards uniform or see Tony Dorsett playing for the Denver Broncos or Shaquille O’Neal playing for the Boston Celtics. It’s weird because you’re used to seeing them when they’re at their most dominant stage. Willie Mays running around with bad knees. It’s not pretty. For me, I really want to be able to play and do things at a high level and be able to walk away and still be someone who can play at a high level. That’s something that I pride myself on. I don’t want to be a stealer, I don’t want to steal like that.” Top Stories Derrick Hall satisfied with D-backs’ buying and selling How much will Arians’ and Palmer’s decisions after this season affect your own decision?“I don’t really make any decisions based off anybody else. I never have. I don’t know what the future holds, that’s why this year is just so much more important because we don’t have to think about what we’re going to be doing after February 4th. It doesn’t matter. The only thing that matters is from today until then and how we can improve and get better and do what we need to do to give ourselves an opportunity just to get into the playoffs and possibly win the division and try to win the NFC Championship Game and get to the Super Bowl. That’s really what’s important. The long-term doesn’t mean anything at this point.”Follow Craig Grialou on Twitter (AP Photo/Matt York, file) GLENDALE, Ariz. – In the offseason, Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald said he would address his future one time in training camp.That time was Sunday, Day 2, following the morning walk-through.As expected, there was no big announcement.Fitzgerald is entering his 14th season, and last under contract with the only team he’s played for in the NFL.Over the course of a nearly 13-minute press conference, Fitzgerald addressed a number of topics, mostly about his future, with reporters. Is 2017 going to be it for you and your playing career?“I feel good right now. When that changes, I’ll let you know. But it will never be in front of a podium and there will be no tears and none of that stuff. That’s not how it ever will be. That’s not how I am. I’m just one player out of 1600 in the National Football League. It’s a lot bigger than me. It’s never going to be like that.”Is there a player you’ve watched walk away that maybe you’d like to emulate?“Calvin (Johnson) for different reasons. Calvin was still playing at a really, really high level when he decided to say he was finished. Tim Duncan was still a 20-10 guy when he walked away from the game. Did it with no fanfare. There’s a lot of guys who just for some reason they say they want to move on and it’s time, not because they can’t play or they were showed the exit. Most times athletes don’t have the chance to retire. They get retired, so when you do have the chance to retire I think it’s a privilege and you have to understand that if you hang around too long, you will eventually get retired. I think you have to be honest with yourself and always kind of assess where you are.”Could you still be apart of this team even if you weren’t at the highest, highest level? The 5: Takeaways from the Coyotes’ introduction of Alex Meruelo Former Cardinals kicker Phil Dawson retires You’ve said that training camp isn’t your favorite thing, has anything changed or feel any better about it?“No. It is what it is. We finished the season in a position that we all didn’t want to be in, so it’s a week earlier to get back to try to replicate what we were able to do two years ago and it starts with this. We have to have a better camp. We had a good start yesterday. We’re just going to have to keep stacking those kind of practices and when we finally get to gametime situations, we have to be better and it has to start earlier.”How excited were you when Coach Arians told you that you weren’t playing in the Hall of Fame Game?“He didn’t tell us anything. Somebody texted me and said, ‘Fitz, you’re not playing in the game.’ I said, ‘I didn’t hear anything about it’ and that’s how I found out. As a player you play when you’re told to play and you play as long as you have to play and once you get out there on the field, it’s ball, the same game I’ve been playing since I was 6 years old. You play hard and play as long as you need to play, that’s how I look at it.”Were you thinking you were going to get back to a point where you were going to have a couple of 100-catch seasons when Arians arrived? Are you surprised by that? Grace expects Greinke trade to have emotional impact