#benson baker senior

[papercutsunset]

i put this on the wrong blog, shut up, that's fine

anyway, examples

i do think the funniest thing cody and i keep doing is deciding that two autistic characters absolutely HAVE to make extended eye contact with each other because they're being Very Normal And Good At Conversations (it's an in-joke. we're having fun. i think it's funny)

[femslashrevolution]

Popular Pairing List Update

The following pairings have more than 10 recent posts in their pairing tag, and are therefore too popular to be posted on Rarepair Thursdays:

Aerith Gainsborough x Tifa Lockhart (Final Fantasy)

Amelia Collins x Zoe Miller (Class of '07)

Anaïs Davis x Bobbie De Bruyn (wtFOCK)

Aninlaphat Sawetwarit x Pilanthita Kasidit (The Loyal Pin)

Anna x Elsa (Disney Princesses)

Applejack x Fluttershy (My Little Pony)

Azula x Ty Lee (Avatar: The Last Airbender)

Barbara Holland x Nancy Wheeler (Stranger Things)

Bérénice Leblond x Carla Furiani (Ici tout commence)

Blaze x Kristina Corinthos Davis (General Hospital)

Buffy Summers x Cordelia Chase (Buffy the Vampire Slayer)

Cady Heron x Regina George (Mean Girls; Mean Girls Musical)

Cate Randa x May Olowe Hewitt (Monarch: Legacy of Monsters)

Clary Fray x Isabelle Lightwood (The Mortal Instruments)

Darcy Lewis x Wanda Maximoff (Marvel Cinematic Universe)

Delia Ketchum x Jessie (Pokemon)

Dorcas Meadowes x Marlene McKinnon (Harry Potter)

Dorcas Meadowes x Narcissa Malfoy (Harry Potter)

Earth x Sun (23.5)

Eileen Dunlop x Rebecca (Eileen)

Eve Unwin x Suki Panesar (Eastenders)

Falin Touden x Marcille Donato (Delicious in Dungeon)

Fluttershy x Rarity (My Little Pony)

Ginny Weasley x Pansy Parkinson (Harry Potter)

Gwen Runck x Nikki (That 90's Show)

Gwen Stacy x Mary Jane Watson (Marvel Comics)

Jack Danvers x Keeley Jones (Ted Lasso)

Kristi Miller x Marielle (From)

Harper Row x Stephanie Brown (DCU; Gotham Knights)

Harumoto Itsuki x Hayashi Fuyu (Chaser Game W)

Ink x Pa (Bad Buddy)

Jamie x Marian (Drive-Away Dolls)

Jiang Zhaoyun x Lan Ze (Legend of Yunze)

Lady Hideko x Sook Hee (The Handmaiden)

Luce x Rachel (Imagine Me & You)

Margaery Tyrell x Sansa Stark (A Song of Ice and Fire)

Padmé Amidala x Sabé (Star Wars)

Prang x Warang (Love Senior)

Sabine Wren x Shin Hati (Star Wars)

The following pairings have been posted less frequently recently, and have therefore been removed from the popular pairing list:

AJ Campos x Paige Evans (Crush)

Alex Cabot x Olivia Benson (Law & Order: SVU)

Amalia True x Penance Adair (The Nevers)

Amanita Caplan x Nomi Marks (Sense8)

Ana Servín x Mariana Herrera (Madre sólo hay dos)

Anne Shirley x Diana Barry (Anne of Green Gables; Anne With An E)

Ava Coleman x Janine Teagues (Abbott Elementary)

Beca Mitchell x Chloe Beale (Pitch Perfect)

Becky Baker x Imogen Moreno (Degrassi: The Next Generation)

Bette Porter x Tina Kennard (The L Word)

Casey Gardner x Izzie (Atypical)

Deena Johnson x Samantha Fraser (Fear Street)

Eleanor Levetan x Gabbi Broussard (Do Revenge)

Frankie Bergstein x Grace Hanson (Grace and Frankie)

Frannie Langton x Marguerite Benham (The Confessions of Frannie Langton)

Héloïse x Marianne (Portrait of a Lady on Fire)

Imogen Temult x Laudna (Critical Role)

Jen Harding x Judy Hale (Dead to Me)

Jules Vaughn x Rue Bennett (Euphoria)

Keeley Jones x Rebecca Welton (Ted Lasso)

Malini x Priya (The Jasmine Throne)

Maria Hill x Natasha Romanoff (Marvel Cinematic Universe; Marvel Comics)

Riri Williams x Shuri (Marvel Cinematic Universe; Marvel Comics)

Shelby Goodkind x Toni Shalifoe (The Wilds)

[blaringloudandproud]

My dumbass friend @gaym83 describes horror villains based on pictures. He’s semi-familiar with horror. He’s mainly seen modern stuff and the Universal monsters and loves ST so many references. This was so funny

Jason Voorhees (Friday the 13th)-“Would probably cry if I saw him”

Michael Myers (Halloween)-“He’s just like me (hides face too, big knife)”

Freddy Krueger (A Nightmare on Elm Street)-“Hey wasn’t Vecna based off this guy?

FR though I��m jealous of the sweater”

Bubba Sawyer/Leatherface (Texas Chainsaw Massacre)-“He’s got those 80’s goth vibes”

Candyman (Candyman)-“I’m so jealous of that jacket. Warm coats my beloved. I need that for maryland winters”

Cenobites (Hellraiser)-“That’s just a queer friend group”

Brahms Heelshire (The Boy)-“AYO why he kinda giving me gender envy. Idk something about men with scraggly dark hair and piercing yet haunting eyes is just like me FR”

Ghostface (Scream)-“He looks like he’s otw to suck the soul (sfw) out of Sirius Black”

Thomas Hewitt/Leatherface (Texas Chainsaw Massacre 03)-“Love a man with long hair covered in blood”

Chop Top (Texas Chainsaw Massacre)-“No”

Herbert West (Re-Animator)-“Fred Benson if he became evil”

Billy Chapman (Silent Night, Deadly Night)-“I’m Jewish he can’t kill me, Shabbat shalom get the fuck out”

Ginger Fitzgerald (Ginger Snaps)-“Twilight character?”

Art the Clown (Terrifier)-“Similar to my halloween costume”

Pumpkinhead (Pumpkinhead)-“Aquarius syndrome 💔 it’s fatal”

Victor Crowley (Hatchet)-“Behold. A grunt to the big bad in a dnd campaign”

Jack Torrance (The Shining)-“That’s how I look after a semester of college”

Chucky (Child’s Play)-“If he wasn’t accepting of his gendaflooid kid I’d punt him so hard”

Tiffany Valentine (Child’s Play franchise)-“MILF in riot grrrl band”

John Kramer (Saw)-“He looks like me stoned”

Carrie White (Carrie)-“She’s just like me FR. Oh to be covered in blood. My blood though”

Harry Warden (My Bloody Valentine)-“Me at Chernobyl circa April 26th, 1986”

The Tall Man (The Phantasm)-“American senate”

Pennywise (It)-“Homophobic old bitch”

Frankenstein’s Monster (Frankenstein)-“THATS MY MAN” (Hes a frankenstan)

The Bride (Bride of Frankenstein)-“YEAHHHH”

The Grabber (The Black Phone)-“On my knees for him”

Imhotep (The Mummy)-“Me when i have to wake up for work)

Dracula (Dracula)-“Antisocial goth king”

The Wolfman (Wolfman)-“He walked so furries could run”

Invisible Man (Invisible Man)-“Nursing home vibes”

Gil Man (Creature from the Black Lagoon)-“Poseidon?”

The Puppets (Puppet Master)-“My brain cells gathering to fight god”

Firefly Family (Spaulding, Baby, & Otis)(Firefly Trilogy)-“The three genders: Viking, bloody cowgirl, and clown”

Angela Baker (Sleepaway Camp)-“She looks like such a vibe. I’d be her friend in the 80s”

Norman Bates (Psycho)-“He looks like he supports cops”

Bughuul (Sinister)-“He looks like Gerard Way so I trust him”

The Creeper (Jeepers Creepers)-“That was almost the exact aesthetic I wanted at the beginning of my senior year”

Lubdan the Leprechaun (Leprechaun)-“Why you gotta do Irish people like that”

Russ Thorn (Slumber Party Massacre)-“Me when someone takes the food I’ve been waiting for all day”

Driller Killer (Slumber Party Massacre II)-“Thats just my gender”

Ruby Lane (Fear Street)-“Goth evil Nancy Wheeler vibes. I love it. I wish we could Nancy snap at least once”

Tommy Slater/Nightwing Killer (Fear Street)-“Ohhhhh that is a good design for a villain. I’ll have to steal”

Cyrus Miller (Fear Street 1666)-“No cause that’s FR what I look like half the time minus the blood”

Skull Mask (Fear Street)-“Mood”

The Milkman (Fear Street)-“That’s what all old white male American politicians look like”

The Grifter (Fear Street)-“Why is that knight speed boating?”

Billy Barker (Fear Street)-“That’s just a normal little kid”

Asa Emory (The Collector)-“Doctor who villain”

Bo, Vincent, and Lester Sinclair (House of Wax)-“Older versions of Dustin, Mike, and Will”

The Fisherman (I Know What You Did Last Summer)-“Man door hand hook car door”

Wishmaster (Wishmaster)-“I AM THE SENATE”

Lesile Vernon (Rise of Lesile Vernon)-“He needs some malk”

Phantom Killer (The Town That Dreaded Sundown)-“Oh no”

Farmer Vincent (Motel Hell)-“Animal farm (1945)”

Chromeskull (Laid to Rest)-“Babe wake up. New Ghost member just dropped”

The Klowns (Killer Klowns From Outer Space)-“Us”

The Babadook (The Babadook)-“Gay icon”

Jennifer Check (Jennifer’s Body)-“Twilight pt 2.”

Sam (Trick R Treat)-“I want to punt him” :(

[papercutsunset]

to be clear: krampus conflated all three of these people in his head and accidentally combined them into one person for the purposes of this timeline, then introduced him as a desperate attempt to get things back on track after the curse itself took a weird turn that he had no control over. based on these people:

benson baker (senior) is autistic; sands things when he's upset; runs a thrift store and repairs antiques; was a geologist at one point; sews with his son's neurodivergent wife and friends; fantasy nerd; drives a truck; likes women

ben baker (junior) is NOT autistic; is depressed; is a werewolf (recently); bakes, used to repair antiques (still kind of does); drives a truck; doesn't like women but does love his spouse (elton)

and denny duncan is not autistic, does technically have adhd but in that more anxiety-presenting way; who famously has a habit of running off into the woods or whatever area is closest to chill the fuck out; famously a lesbian; naturally kind of hairy due to also being a werewolf;

krampus smashed them all together into one person, benson baker (krampustrick), a fifteen year old boy engaged in a full-on war with heather bradshaw who has a habit of running off into the woods when he's upset (like denny) but takes on a lot of ben's appearance (minus the sideburns-- also denny)

all our rationale behind characterizations for krampustrick has been either "this is getting pulled directly from bloodsaw and silvis's heads" or "KRAMPUS IS A FUCKING IDIOT"

[phroyd]

To all the racist assholes out there, one of the many colors of Welfare Fraud  Queens, ... White! - Phroyd

CANTON — A baker’s dozen of St. Lawrence County residents were wrangled up Friday in what county District Attorney Gary M. Pasqua is calling the largest welfare fraud sweep in county history. They are accused of defrauding the Department of Social Services out of over $104,000.

Of the 13 charged, 11 women were led into Town Court Friday, during the late morning and into early afternoon, by a St. Lawrence County sheriff’s deputy and each pleaded not guilty to charges of felony welfare fraud. Several of the women were additionally charged with felony offering a false instrument for filing.

They were then each released under probation supervision and Mr. Pasqua said there were four other arrests pending.

“Here in St. Lawrence County our welfare benefits provide vital support to genuinely needy families at great cost to honest hard working taxpayers,” Mr. Pasqua said in a news release Friday afternoon. “Those individuals who gain benefits through deception are stealing medicine, groceries, and other necessary provisions from innocent children, vulnerable seniors, working citizens, and others in need.”

County Administrator Ruth A. Doyle said in the release that, “our county stretches limited resources to provide for those in need, therefore it is important to take action against those individuals who unlawfully defraud taxpayers by providing dishonest information to obtain welfare benefits.”

County Sheriff Kevin M. Wells stated that he “is proud of the professionalism and participation of the Sheriff’s Department in carrying out this operation, which is critical to deterring abuse of the taxpayers and ensuring that these critical resources go to those in need.”

James Monroe and David Huber of the Public Defender’s Office took turns representing each of the 11 women, who came from all across the county.

Several of the women wept as they stood before Justice Michael R. Morgan.

Mr. Monroe said the clients he represented suffer from economic hardship and had no criminal record.

He added that this isn’t a simple matter of stealing money, but that the amounts collected through the county Department of Social Services came over a period of time.

Arraigned in Town Court were:

Lynn A. Ryan, 46, of 9403 Route 11, Winthrop, is charged with third-degree welfare fraud and two counts of first-degree offering a false instrument for filing. From Oct. 23, 2015 to Oct. 31, 2017, Mrs. Ryan is alleged to have received $15,894 in public assistance benefits she was not entitled to receive after failing to accurately report income information.

Georgeanna L. Aldous, 47, 169 Rowen Road, Apt. A, Lisbon, is charged with fourth-degree welfare fraud. From June 1, 2018 to Sept. 30, Ms. Aldous is alleged to have received $1,312 in public assistance benefits she was not entitled to receive after failing to accurately report income information.

Nancy G. Sherman, 27, of 242 Hayden Road, Richville, is charged with third-degree welfare fraud and first-degree offering a false instrument for filing. From Jan. 1, 2018 to March 31, 2019, Ms. Sherman is alleged to have received $5,844 in public assistance benefits she was not entitled to receive after failing to accurately report income information.

Crystal L. Lalone, 39, of 6919 County Route 10, Lisbon, is charged with third-degree welfare fraud and two counts of first-degree offering a false instrument for filing. From April 1, 2016 to Sept. 30, 2018, Ms. Lalone is alleged to have received $10,654 in public assistance benefits she was not entitled to receive after failing to accurately report income information.

Kandy L. Butler, 29, of 1106 Washington St., Ogdensburg, is charged with fourth-degree welfare fraud. From Aug. 1, 2014 to Jan 31, 2017, Ms. Butler is alleged to have received $3,906 in public assistance benefits she was not entitled to receive after failing to accurately report income information.

Brandi David, 41, of 210 Montgomery St., Ogdensburg, is charged with fourth-degree welfare fraud. From July 1, 2016 to Sept. 30, 2016, Ms. David is alleged to have received $2,046 in public assistance benefits she was not entitled to receive after failing to accurately report income information.

Sherri A. Scott, 51, of 720 Irish Settlement Road, Heuvelton, is charged with fourth-degree welfare fraud. From Sept. 1, 2017 to Dec. 15, 2017, Ms. Scott is alleged to have received $1,380 in public assistance benefits she was not entitled to receive after failing to accurately report income information.

Amber M. Morrill, 35, of 81 Pyrites Russell Road, Russell, is charged with third-degree welfare fraud and first-degree offering a false instrument for filing. From July 2, 2018 to Feb. 28, Ms. Morrill is alleged to have received $5,108 in public assistance benefits she was not entitled to receive after failing to accurately report income information.

Kerry M. Pelo, 36, of Benson Mines Road, Star Lake, is charged with fourth-degree welfare fraud and misdemeanor fifth-degree welfare fraud. From Dec. 1, 2017 to July 31, 2018, Ms. Pelo is alleged to have received $1,560 in public assistance benefits she was not entitled to receive after failing to accurately report income information.

Ashley N. Debiew, 25, of 252 County Route 46, Massena, is charged with fourth-degree welfare fraud. From Oct. 1, 2018 to Feb. 28, Ms. Debiew is alleged to have received $1,852 in public assistance benefits she was not entitled to receive after failing to accurately report income information.

Jessica L. Driscoll, 29, Ogdensburg, is charged with third-degree welfare fraud and two counts of first-degree offering a false instrument for filing. From July 7, 2017 to March 31 Ms. Driscoll is alleged to have received $3,789.80 in public assistance benefits she was not entitled to receive after failing to accurately report income information.

Two Massena women had been charged later in the day and were arraigned in an unspecified court and were also released under probation supervision.

Star L. Perrin, 39, Massena, is charged with third-degree welfare fraud and two counts of first-degree offering a false instrument for filing. The defendant is alleged to have received $31,573.94 in public assistance benefits she was not entitled to receive after failing to accurately report income information.

Cara E. Dimon, 25, Massena, is charged with fourth-degree welfare fraud. The defendant is alleged to have received $1,739 in public assistance benefits she was not entitled to receive after failing to accurately report income information.

The district attorney notes that citizens may anonymously report incidents of fraud in St. Lawrence County.

To report possible fraud please call 315-379-2145 or go to www.otda.ny.gov/resources/welfare-fraud/to complete the ‘Report Welfare Fraud Online’ form.

All cases were the result of investigations conducted by the St. Lawrence County Social Services Fraud Unit, the District Attorney Fraud Investigator, and the St. Lawrence County District Attorney’s Office, with assistance from the St. Lawrence County Sheriff’s Department, the Ogdensburg Police Department, the Massena Police Department, the Gouverneur Police Department, and other agencies.

Phroyd

[littlemissxsierra-blog]

 - wait, isn’t that ASHLEY BENSON? no, that’s definitely SIERRA REYNOLDS, the SEVENTEEN year old SENIOR. rumor has it, SHE is a SCHOLARSHIP student but you’d have to ask them to know for sure. you know, i’ve heard they’re quite PESSIMISTIC & SOFT but they can also be CREATIVE & PASSIONATE. [ ━ panda, 23, gmt, she ]

Feel free to message me about any plots or connections you’d like, I promise I don’t bite!

♤     Sierra has always been a creative kid whether that was an instrument or a canvas. Her primary skills were in piano and a paint brush.

♤     Her father is a baker with his own bakery in town and her mother was a painter which is where Sierra gained most of her skill from. 

♤     Her mother died in a car accident - a drunk driver on their phone - which made the spark dissolve in the Reynolds Household. 

♤    Sierra’s dad always told her that she was a constant reminder of her mother like her sister was a reminder of himself with her cooking/baking skills.

♤     He worked hard and ended up helping Sierra get a place at Knox through a scholarship but he also does a lot of discount rates and deliveries to Knox Academy as a means to help her in the school.

[popradar]

Weekly Agenda: 13 of the Coolest Events in Los Angeles

Here’s a baker’s dozen of things to do in Los Angeles this week! 

Follow @christineziemba on Twitter or Instagram for other happenings around L.A. And if you like what you’re reading, please consider donating to Pop Radar LA to help defray the costs of running the site.

MONDAY, JAN. 8

VAN WILLIAM (Music)

Van William starts a three-week Monday residency at the Moroccan Lounge on Monday. He’s promoting his upcoming debut LP Countries, with special guests to be announced day-of-show each week. The new album features contributions from First Aid Kit, Dawes' Griffin Goldsmith and co-producer Brian Phillips. Kera opens the residency this week. Tickets: $5. Ages 21+. 

IF YOU BUILD IT (Comedy)

If You Build It is a stand-up comedy showcase that takes place weekly on Monday night at 8:30 pm at UCB Sunset. Hosted by Kara Klenk, this week’s bill features: Ian Karmel, Jackie Kashian, Tim Dillon, Nick Turner and Danny Solomon. Tickets: $7. 

PHANTOM THREAD (Film + discussion)

The Envelope Screening Series from The Los Angeles Times presents a free screening of Phantom Thread at the ArcLight Sherman Oaks on Monday at 7:30 pm. The film, starring Daniel Day-Lewis as a dress designer in 1950s London. A Q&A follows the screening with actress Vicky Krieps and costume designer Mark Bridges. Standby on a walk-up basis day of for non-subscribers of the LA Times.  

TUESDAY, JAN. 9

DAVID BOWIE BIRTHDAY PARTY (Music)

Celebrate David Bowie’s birthday (a day late) on Tuesday at the Hi-Hat in Highland Park. On the bill: Scary Monsters, Iconique and LoveyDove. 8 pm. Free. Ages 21+.

GETTING DOUG WITH HIGH (Talk + comedy + pot)

On Tuesday night, The Troubadour presents Getting Doug with High, a show wherein comic Doug Benson interviews five (surprise) guests while smoking weed. 7 pm. Ages 21+. Tickets: $15. 

WOMP IT UP! LIVE (Live podcast)

The Earwolf podcast WOMP It Up! Tapes live at Largo on Tuesday night with Jessica St. Clair and Lennon Parham (who co-created and co-starred in the USA show Playing House). Meet Marissa Wompler (St. Clair) and Charlotte Listler (Parham) of Marina Del Rey High School as they welcome special guests Eric “Gutterballs” Gutterman (Jason Mantzoukas) and Wompler’s stepdad Seth Wompler (Brian Huskey) for this very special live taping. Doors at 7 pm, show at 8:30 pm. Tickets: $30.

WEDNESDAY, JAN. 10

The LA Art Show returns to the Los Angeles Convention Center this week. | Installation: ‘Left' or 'Right' by Antuan 

LA ART SHOW (Art)

The 2018 LA Art Show returns to the Los Angeles Convention Center from Wednesday through Jan. 14. There’s more than 200,000 square feet of booth space dedicated to artists represented by prominent art galleries. DIVERSEartLA organizes performance art, installations, exhibits and programs curated by major museums and arts organizations such as LACMA, MOLAA, THE AUTRY and MUSA MUSEUM OF THE ARTS GUADALAJARA. Dialogs LA presents talks and panel discussions led by international curators, esteemed panels comprised of artists, designers, collectors, art influencers and museum directors. Single-day tickets start at $25.  

JOE BIDEN (Book discussion)

The LA Times’ Ideas Exchange and Skylight Books present Vice President Joe Biden live at the Orpheum Theatre in DTLA on Wednesday. In conversation with Patt Morrison, Biden talks about his memoir Promise Me, Dad: A Year of Hope, Hardship, and Purpose. He’ll discuss his life, the big political moments of his career and how he got through some of life’s toughest challenges. Balcony tickets: $60-$75; orchestra tickets range from $125-$145; and mezzanine tickets are $145. All seats include a copy of his New York Times bestselling memoir. 7:30 pm.  

WOMEN CRUSH WEDNESDAYS (Comedy)

NerdMelt Showroom presents Women Crush Wednesdays on Wednesday (natch) at 8 pm. The evening features stand-up comedy from a variety of women comics. Hosted by Marcella Arguello, this week’s lineup includes Laurie Kilmartin, Jenny Yang, Lydia Popovich, Quinta Brunson and Maggie May. Tickets: $10. 

THURSDAY, JAN. 11

AMERICAN GRAFFITI WITH RIAN JOHNSON (Screening + discussion)

Film Independent at LACMA presents An Evening With… Rian Johnson on Thursday at 7:30 pm. Johnson, director of Star Wars: The Last Jedi, selected a film to screen that had a formative impact on him: George Lucas’ American Graffiti. The evening also includes a conversation with Johnson. Tickets: $25 for the general public; $15 for Film Independent and LACMA Film Club members; and $20 for LACMA members, students with valid ID and seniors (65+). 

PACIFIC STANDARD TIME FESTIVAL: LIVE ART LA/LA (Performance)

Pacific Standard Time Festival: Live Art LA/LA is a celebration of art and performance that showcases more than 200 Latin American and Latino artists and performers who are putting on events at more than 25 venues. Organized by REDCAT with several artists and organizations, the festival—which is part of the Getty-led Pacific Standard Time: LA/LA initiative—opens on Thursday and runs through Jan. 21. Performances this week include: Astrid Hadad: I Am Made in Mexico at the Mayan; Lagartijas Tiradas al Sol: Tijuana at the Skirball; and Carmina Escobar at Echo Park Lake. Ticket prices vary. 

SUSANNA FOGEL (Book discussion)

On Thursday at 7:30 pm at Skylight Books, filmmaker and New Yorker contributor Susanna Fogel presents her epistolary debut novel Nuclear Family: A Tragicomic Novel in Letters. Fogel’s work focuses on a “fractured family of New England Jews and their discontents.” 

ITZHAK PERLMAN PLAYS & CONDUCTS (Classical music)

A few seats remain for the LA Phil’s program Itzhak Perlman Plays & Conducts on Thursday at 8 pm and on Friday at 11 am. On the program, the renowned musician performs/conducts: Bach Violin Concerto No. 1 in A minor, BWV 1041; Brahms Variations on a Theme of Joseph Haydn, OP. 56A and Elgar Enigma Variations, Op. 36. Tickets start at $20. 

—by Christine N. Ziemba

[elderperfect]

2020 Best Nursing Homes - Washington

ElderPerfect a leading publisher on senior healthcare across the United States, today announced the recipients of the Best Nursing Homes in Washington for 2020. These awards are designed to recognize providers based on their ability to consistently deliver excellence in the areas of Health Inspections, Quality of Residence Care, Penalties and Staffing. We’ve evaluated over 213 facilities, of which 54 (25%) met our top rating. This report marks the Gold Standard in terms of care for seniors. 0 Ranked Best Facilities  5/5

US Standard vs. Best Facilities

Average Number of Beds: 106 vs 95 Average Occupancy: 81% vs 83% Average Health Inspection Rating: 2.82 / 5.00 vs. 3.90 / 5.00 Average Government Rating: 3.01 / 5.00 vs. 4.49 / 5.00

Rating Methodology

Health Inspections Every year, the government assigns inspectors to conduct a formal review of nursing homes for regulatory purposes to meet the mandates outlined for Medicare and Medicaid, this aims to measure and improve the safety of residents across providers. Facilities may also be inspected when complaints are submitted or based on a reported incident. When noncompliance is identified, the facility is served a citation that indicates which regulation that was identified, along with the severity of the incident. Nursing homes are subsequently required to execute a program of resolution in order to meet compliance. Some scenarios require enforcement actions to be applied, such as a civil monetary penalty or withholding of payment(s), to incentivize resolution in a timely manner. Penalties Facilities are applied 2 types of penalties due to non-compliance / accumulation of incidents. Civil penalties are monetary fines that may be applied to a facility based on citations / infractions identified during a review. The severity of a penalty is defined primarily by the size and frequency of the infraction. Quality of Residence Care There are 3 types of resident care ratings, but for this exercise, we primarily focused on the overall quality measure rating. The quality measures (QMs) include 17 data points that are derived from clinical information reported by the respective nursing home and also from Medicare claims data submitted for payment. Ratings are calculated for the QM domain using the 4 most recent quarters for which data are available. A nursing home receives points contingent on performance on each measure (weighting distribution is not equal). Staffing Staffing research is submitted regularly by the facility and is adjusted for the requirement of the facilities residents. For each of registered nurse staff and total staffing, a 1 - 5 rating is applied according to definitions established for each category. These ratings are subsequently combined to assign an overall staffing rating. As an example, to get an overall staffing rating of 5 stars, nursing homes must earn a rating of 5 stars for both registered nurses and total staffing. Nursing homes could also be assigned a 1 star rating should they not have a registered nurse on-site daily, and do not submit staffing data, or which the data cannot be verified.

Best Nursing Homes in Washington

HEARTHSTONE, THE ROCKWOOD SOUTH HILL PANORAMA CITY CONV & REHAB CTR PARK MANOR REHABILITATION CTR REGENCY AT THE PARK CRESCENT HEALTH CARE, INC ORCHARD PARK HEALTH CARE & REHAB CENTER TOPPENISH NURSING & REHAB CENTER STAFFORD HEALTHCARE AT RIDGEMONT WOODLAND CONVALESCENT CENTER AVALON CARE CENTER - OTHELLO LLC LAKE RIDGE CENTER PARK WEST CARE CENTER RIVERVIEW LUTHERAN RETIREMENT COMMUNITY OF SPOKANE REGENCY OMAK COLUMBIA CREST CENTER LIFE CARE CENTER OF PUYALLUP BUENA VISTA HEALTHCARE LIFE CARE CENTER OF KIRKLAND DISCOVERY NURSING & REHAB OF VANCOUVER CHENEY CARE CENTER GOOD SAMARITAN HEALTH CARE CTR WILLOW SPRINGS CARE AND REHABILITATION SPRINGS AT PACIFIC REGENT, THE MT BAKER CARE CENTER REGENCY WENATCHEE REHABILIATION & NURSING CENTER SULLIVAN PARK CARE CENTER

  PROVIDENCE MOTHER JOSEPH CARE SUMMITVIEW HEALTHCARE CENTER NEWPORT COMMUNITY HOSPITAL LTC BOOKER REST HOME ANNEX CAROLINE KLINE GALLAND HOME JUDSON PARK HEALTH CENTER SUNRISE VIEW CONVALESCENT CTR THE TERRACES AT SKYLINE COLUMBIA LUTHERAN HOME MARTHA AND MARY HEALTH SERVICE BAILEY-BOUSHAY HOUSE CORWIN CENTER AT EMERALD HEIGHTS NORTHWOODS LODGE PARK SHORE TOUCHMARK ON SOUTH HILL NURSING COTTESMORE OF LIFE CARE MISSION HEALTHCARE AT BELLEVUE GARDEN TERRACE HEALTHCARE CENTER OF FEDERAL WAY BRIARWOOD AT TIMBER RIDGE BENSON HEIGHTS REHABILITATION CENTER MIRABELLA SEATTLE LIFE CARE CENTER OF SOUTH HILL LEA HILL REHABILITATION AND CARE CENTER WASHINGTON STATE WALLA WALLA VETERANS HOME FORKS COMMUNITY HOSPITAL, LTCU COLUMBIA BASIN HOSPITAL FIRCREST SCHOOL, PAT N

  Read the full article

[marymosley]

What is Going on at Pierce Bainbridge? Attorneys Heading for the Exits

In 2018, Pierce Bainbridge Beck Price and Hecht LLP proclaimed it was “The Fastest Growing Law Firm in the History of the World.”  The firm was growing rapidly, but then it wasn’t.  Pierce Bainbridge now appears to be careening in reverse.  At least fifteen (15) attorneys have left the firm, including seven (7) partners.  What happened?

The LA Lawsuit, Exposure of John Pierce, and Apparent Financial Instability of the Firm

The reversal of PB’s fortunes appears tied to its own Los Angeles lawsuit against former partner Don Lewis.  The lawsuit was thrown out on jurisdictional grounds, but before it was, Lewis needed to defend himself. The firm claimed that Lewis defamed them on issues of financial malfeasance, which PB’s complaint says: “if true, would constitute criminal activity;” as well as issues of substance abuse, deceptive business practices and more.  To back up his claims, Lewis produced texts, e-mails and public records which appear to paint boss John Pierce as a substance abusing, unstable, dishonest, disloyal and not well-respected boss.  These written indictments of Pierce did not come from Lewis, but rather Pierce’s own personnel. Pierce is not the only one portrayed poorly, messages related to the conduct of Littler Mendelson’s Jeanine Conley, and Putney Twombly’s Michael D. Yim – former legal representatives of Pierce Bainbridge, both of whom have been sued by Lewis – raise questions about their motives and candor. (Many of these items above are covered in a Sanctions Addendum Lewis filed in the LA lawsuit.)

The harshest critics of Pierce appear to be his partner Christopher N. LaVigne, his reported closest confidante Lauren-Schaefer Greene, and the Pierce Bainbridge bookkeeper.  They have collectively crucified Pierce in seemingly every way imaginable. The Lewis Sanctions Addendum – which was rejected based on technical procedural grounds, not on the merits – captures certain of their written scathing musings.    

In addition, the apparent financial distress of the firm, including a reported $1,000,000,000 misrepresentation to litigation funder Pravati Capital LLC, as well as a $9,100,000 default declared by Pravati in March of this year, and reported seeming heavy reliance on debt, have presumably caused concern among the Pierce Bainbridge ranks. 

The Exodus – Fifteen (15) Attorneys Abandon Ship

We previously reported on Pierce’s odd statements about “kevlar and titanium” skinned lawyers who are “willing to swallow some risk.”  His statements were in response to six (6) partners leaving the firm, and suggested they were somehow too soft for the Pierce Bainbridge experience.  The departed six (6) are not run of the mill attorneys; they are highly accomplished senior partners, none of whom stayed at the firm for more than a year.  They had successfully practiced at McKool Smith, Baker & McKenzie, Kasowitz & Benson, Wachtell Lipton, Simpson Thacher, Ropes & Gray, Wilson Sonsini and the United States Attorney’s Office.  One received recognition for her integral role in working with Irving Picard to unwind the fraud of Bernie Madoff.

New news has surfaced of additional attorney defections.  Jeffrey Newton joined Pierce Bainbridge as a partner in October 2018, he apparently left earlier this year to join Kobre Kim.  As with the six (6) other departed partners, Newton lasted only months. 

Named-partner David Hecht’s wife, Kinza Hecht, is out as “Of Counsel;” her LinkedIn page oddly shows no affiliation to the firm; Hecht previously worked at Lowenstein Sandler, and appears to be with Hard IP, LLC, as well as Remote Docket.  In addition, at least seven (7) associates appear to have left: Minoti Patel (Grant & Eisenhofer PA), W. Tyler Perry (Reid Collins & Tsai LLP), Abbye Ognibene (Hagens Berman Sobol Shapiro), Elizabeth DeGori, Cassie Black, Matthew Kokot and Baron Flood.

That is a whopping total of apparently at least fifteen (15) attorneys who’ve quit on Captain Pierce, virtually all of them in the last few months. The Pierce Bainbridge ship is clearly embattled, it will be interesting to see if Pierce can lead his remaining “SEALs” through the choppy waters. 

The post What is Going on at Pierce Bainbridge? Attorneys Heading for the Exits appeared first on Legal Desire.

What is Going on at Pierce Bainbridge? Attorneys Heading for the Exits published first on https://immigrationlawyerto.tumblr.com/

[rickhorrow]

15+5+5 To Watch 8519

15 TO WATCH/5 SPORTS TECH/POWER OF SPORTS 5: RICK HORROW’S TOP SPORTS/BIZ/TECH/PHILANTHROPY ISSUES FOR THE WEEK OF AUGUST 5

with Jacob Aere

Rick remembers Nick Buoniconti. When I was in junior high school and high school, I worshiped #85 middle linebacker Nick Buoniconti as the linchpin of the undefeated 1972 Super Bowl champion Miami Dolphins. After graduating Harvard Law School, I came back to South Florida ready to embark on a sports career. Unfortunately, other than the Dolphins, no major league sports were to be had. I was working with a commercial law firm in Miami, but my dream was to help bring the next set of sports franchises to South Florida. Nick was an established practicing lawyer in Miami, having studied by night at Suffolk Law School while playing for the then Boston Patriots. After meeting him, it became obvious that I wanted to work with him. We agreed that I would work with him and Dolphins owner Joe Robbie to create the first Miami Sports Authority and work to bring other pro sports to South Florida. Nick was my original legal mentor in Miami. His vision, understanding, and mixture of outward toughness and inner compassion would never be forgotten. It was amazing when he announced that he would donate his brain to science two years ago for CTE study; even more amazing that he was known for so many other things beyond football.  I treasured the time with him, and will always honor his legacy.

The Pro Football Hall of Fame on Saturday night at Tom Benson Stadium inducted the "eight newest enshrinees" as part of the Class of 2019. This year's ceremony formally enshrined Champ Bailey, Tony Gonzalez, Ed Reed, Ty Law, Kevin Mawae, Pat Bowlen, Gil Brandt, and Johnny Robinson. As ESPN noted, almost everyone who stepped to the podium "battled, unsuccessfully and happily, to fight back tears, and all struggled mightily to thank those who had significant impacts on their lives, on and off the field, as each feared leaving someone out. But the spotlight on these players will continue to shine for the foreseeable future -- according to JohnWallStreet, enshrinement can extend Hall of Fame inductees’ commercial viability and marketing opportunities by more than 50%. For most NFL players, retirement means the end of lucrative marketing opportunities, but Hall of Fame inductees can find that a six (or seven) figure career awaits. The NFL’s gold jacket represents the “gold standard” for pro football players – it also ensures an extension of the athletes’ commercial viability and immediately enhances their consumer marketability.

The Pro Football Hall of Fame will "expand the number of potential inductees to 20" in 2020 as "part of the NFL’s celebration of its 100th season." Hall of Fame President and Sport Business Handbook Contributor David Baker told the Associated Press and assembled media that "five modern-day players, 10 seniors, three contributors and two coaches could be elected next year." The modern-day group "would be decided by the 48 selection committee voters, as always, on the day before the Super Bowl in February." Meanwhile, the other 15 potential inductees "would be voted on as one bloc, not individually, by the selection committee." They "would be chosen by a 25-member committee that will include Hall of Famers, historians and current voters." Part of the 2020 class would then be "inducted in early August," as is tradition, while the others "would be enshrined about September 17, 2020, the date that marks 100 years from the original NFL game." The mega-enshrinement is only one of a huge slate of commemorative events the NFL has planned to celebrate its centennial.

The cost to attend an NFL game has gone up astronomically over the last decade. As NFL fans prepare to enjoy a full schedule of preseason action this week, ticket prices alone jumped nearly 40% across all the NFL stadiums – the good ones and the bad – from 2008 to 2018, according to data from Team Marketing Report. Today, you'll spend close to $200 per person to see a game at the priciest pro football meccas, say researchers at the University of California, Berkeley. Their fan cost calculations factor in ticket prices, parking, and what you pay for one beer plus one hot dog. Here are the five most expensive NFL stadiums for fans, using numbers from the study. At No. 5 is Gillette Stadium, home of the New England Patriots, average fan cost: $181.98. No. 4 is Levi’s Stadium, the 49ers’ home, average fan cost: $191.50. No. 3 is the Washington Redskins’ FedEx Field, average fan cost: $192.02. At No. 2, Soldier Field in Chicago, average fan cost: $195.15. And coming in at No. 1: AT&T Stadium, home of the Dallas Cowboys. Despite Jerry World having pioneered the SRO concept in stadiums, the average fan cost there is $199.20.

Ninja left Twitch for Mixer. Pro gamer Tyler “Ninja” Blevins has "left Twitch and is taking his video game live streams to Microsoft’s Mixer platform, a stunning switch that could have wide-ranging consequences" for the esports industry, according to the Associated Press. The move ends a "hugely profitable partnership with Twitch." Blevins has "earned millions broadcasting himself playing Fortnite and other video games on Twitch and YouTube," and he has "over 14 million followers on Twitch." Blevins hosted his first Mixer live stream Friday from the Lollapalooza annual music festival in Chicago. While Blevins said that he "will not actively recruit other gamers," if more streamers "follow him to Mixer, it could become a legitimate competitor in a market dominated by Twitch." Mixer launched in 2016 but "hasn’t nearly matched Twitch’s popularity" -- Microsoft "reported 10 million monthly users last year, compared to well over 100 million for Twitch," which launched in 2011. According to Ninja's management company, "the decision was overwhelmingly not driven by the monetary value," but rather the “opportunity to attract new viewers.” It's almost impossible not to believe that Team Ninja didn't see huge dollar signs in the Mixer.

Brooks Koepka is smiling all the way to the bank. The four-time major champion picked up his third non-major victory on the PGA Tour at the WGC-FedEx St. Jude Invitational, but the cash windfall the victory brought with it was perhaps more impressive than his three-shot victory. According to Swing U Clubhouse, the added bonuses that Koepka has accrued culminating with this victory could make a PGA Tour player’s career. In Memphis, Koepka earned a $1.75 million paycheck, but his win also earned him 550 FedEx Cup points, which with only one event left in the regular season — last week’s Wyndham Championship, worth 500 FedEx Cup points to the winner — solidified his spot atop the regular-season standings. As a result, the Tour’s new regular season payout structure, called the Wyndham Rewards, which gives the top-10 players in the FedEx Cup standings at the end of the season a bonus, was wrapped up a week ahead of time by Koepka. For that accomplishment, Koepka earned an additional $2 million. Last, and technically least, Koepka earned the $1 million Aon Risk-Reward Challenge, a competition that uses a scoring system to reward aggressive and well-executed play throughout the year.

A bill being introduced to the U.S. Congress would allow lawmakers to fire the USOPC's "entire board" and would "quadruple the money the federation provides to the U.S. Center for SafeSport." According to the Associated Press, the bipartisan bill, known as the Empowering Olympic and Amateur Athletes Act of 2019, "spurred by Larry Nassar's sex crimes and other mishandled abuse cases," is the "most far-reaching response to 18 months of outrage, investigations and recriminations." It would "increase athlete representation on the USOPC board" and other NGB boards from 20% to 33%, while making the USOPC and NGBs "legally responsible for not reporting sexual abuse or failing to take measures to prevent it." The measure is co-sponsored by U.S. Senators Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) and Jerry Moran (R-Kan.). Blumenthal called the bill a "moment of reckoning" and believes it demonstrates Congress' willingness to create a "seismic cultural shift" in the protection of athletes from abuse, per the New York Times. 

An 18-month Senate investigation has found that the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee and USA Gymnastics "knowingly concealed" the sexual abuse of gymnasts by a team doctor, the New York Times reports. "The investigation described “alarming and dysfunctional systems” that allowed emotional, physical and sexual abuse to persist in sports like gymnastics, swimming, figure skating and taekwondo." As a result of the investigation, the Empowering Olympic and Amateur Athletes Act of 2019 would not only create accountability, but establish procedures -- the USOPC would be required to provide more oversight of governing bodies, while also establishing clear procedures to report abuse; and increase congressional oversight. The bill gives Congress authority to dissolve the board of the USOPC and decertify national governing bodies should they fail to protect athletes. It will also fund nonprofit work: the USOPC currently pays $3.1 million per year to SafeSport, a nonprofit that investigates sexual misconduct in Olympic sports. This bill would require them to pay $20 million annually, instead. 

Under Armour sees North American market share slip. Under Armour last week reported "mixed" second quarter earnings, while it "updated its outlook for the full year and now expects sales in North America to decline slightly." Previously, it "expected revenue on its home turf to be 'relatively flat'" in 2019. But Under Armour has been "struggling to keep pace with rivals Nike, Lululemon, and Adidas in the U.S." Overall, CNBC reports, revenue was $1.192 billion, compared to $1.199 billion expected. UA reported a "narrower net loss" of $17.3 million compared to a loss of $95.5 million in the year-ago period. North American sales fell 3% to $816 million in the second quarter. UA has been "restructuring its operations to cut spending and inventories while reducing promotions as it struggles to keep its market share" in the United States. In the meantime, UA founder and CEO Kevin Plank went to bat for Baltimore, his hometown and UA headquarters, and for embattled Maryland Congressman Elijah Cummings. 

After making a steady stream of strategic investments in the industry, Foot Locker is launching a sneaker-focused design incubator that it has been secretly building for the past few months. According to Hashtag Sports, Foot Locker’s plan for sneaker domination is “Greenhouse.” The plan is for it to be a separate unit designed to gather insight about the current state of the sneaker industry to better respond to sneakerheads. Greenhouse will also offer services to other sneaker brands in the industry. Foot Locker has been quickly expanding its reach over the last year through a series of investments. All of this allows Foot Locker to diversify its revenue stream while keeping its finger on the pulse of diverse and remote parts of the activewear and sneaker industries. Long a reliable mall tenant, Foot Locker has struggled mightily as America has abandoned the mall to do its shopping online. Putting a new shoe concept on an old sporting goods brand can only help.

The Clippers have unveiled renderings for their new sports and entertainment center in Inglewood. Projected to cost $1 billion, as well as serve as the new home for the NBA franchise, it will include the team’s business and basketball operations, training facility, community and retail spaces. The 18,000-seat Inglewood Basketball and Entertainment Center features a three-dimensional oval design with an exterior made up of diamond-shaped metal panels apparently inspired by the concept of a basketball swishing through a net. As well as aesthetics, the panels will have solar power capabilities, with the Clippers’ new campus aiming for net zero greenhouse gas emissions through carbon offset credits and sustainable design features. With plans for the Inglewood project now moving ahead, the Clippers have been quick to champion the benefits of the new build. According to their statement, the complex, when completed, will generate an estimated $268 million in economic activity for Inglewood annually, and more than $190 million in new tax revenue from 2020-2045. That revenue will help support city services such as schools, parks, libraries, and emergency services.

Wanda Sports Group (WSG), the sporting arm of the Chinese conglomerate Dalian Wanda Group, raised $190.4 million in a smaller-than-expected U.S. IPO on July 26. According to JohnWallStreet, WSG priced shares at $8 (below a previously reduced $9-$11 target), valuing the company at around $1 billion. The share price declined -35.5% (to $5.16) on the first day of trading and has continued to slide since. The company's debt-laden balance sheet and a geopolitical climate that has U.S. investors hesitant to invest in Chinese businesses explain why WSG had the second-worst debut of 2019. (The worst IPO of the year was held by another Chinese corporation, Ruhnn Holding.) WSG had initially set out to raise $500 million. Two days prior to the IPO, the company lowered their target to $308 million, so selling less than $200 million worth of shares must be considered a disappointment. Missing the company’s target by 60%, and then watching the share price immediately plunge another 39%, would indicate that WSG either lacks an understanding of the U.S. marketplace or the leadership to pivot when it was determined that the market was too soft for the product.

Kraft Heinz is "highly unlikely" to renew its stadium naming rights deal with the Pittsburgh Steelers when the existing contract expires in 2021, according to SportsBusiness Journal. The 68,000-seat venue has been known as Heinz Field since opening in 2001, but SBJ claims "no one across the naming rights industry" expects the company’s name to be attached to the stadium beyond the current deal. Kraft Heinz is now headquartered in Chicago following its 2015 merger with Kraft Foods Group. The original 20-year deal signed by the Steelers and Heinz was reported to be worth $57 million, working out at $2.85 million each year. Teams in similar markets to Pittsburgh bring in far more money than the Steelers per year. The Philadelphia Eagles, for example, signed a 14-year renewal in May with Lincoln Financial Group worth a reported $167 million, providing the franchise with approximately $12 million per year. Meanwhile, personal finance company SoFi’s rumored deal with the new Los Angeles stadium for the Chargers and Rams will apparently see the firm pay $20 million annually over 20 years. Amid skyrocketing naming rights fees, Kraft Heinz has apparently decided to throw in the Terrible Towel.

FIFA contemplates leaving Switzerland. According to the New York Times, senior executives at FIFA, the world’s governing soccer body, are seriously considering leaving Switzerland, the organization’s home for nearly 90 years. Under current president Gianni Infantino, FIFA has tried to move away from its past, especially the allegedly corrupt reign of past president Sepp Blatter. The discussion surrounding leaving Zurich is driven by many factors, but high on the list are difficulties in hiring staff members from outside the EU and “an acceptance that continuing to base its operations in a country with a reputation for corporate secrecy might not align with the goals of an organization trying to win back the public trust.” Plans could include leaving Zurich entirely or opening subsidiary offices in other parts of the world “to give it better access to, and oversight of, its 211 member associations.” The organization’s current headquarters, known as FIFA House, was completed in 2007 at a cost of over $200 million.

Phillies suing Phanatic creator to keep rights to mascot. According to the Philadelphia Enquirer, in a federal lawsuit filed last Friday in U.S. District Court in New York, the Philadelphia Phillies "accused Harrison/Erickson Inc., the creators and designers of the Phillie Phanatic, of threatening to withdraw" from their 1984 agreement to "let the Phillies use the mascot 'forever.'" According to the lawsuit, the designers have "threatened to obtain an injunction against the Phillies' use of the Phanatic" and "make the Phanatic a free agent." The lawsuit alleges if the Phillies "do not renegotiate with the mascot's creators and pay them 'millions of dollars,'" the designers will sell the rights to the Phanatic to another sports team. The Phillies "initially paid $215,000 for rights to the Phanatic" in 1984. Reuters added that the designers have "threatened to end" the Phillies' use of the Phanatic by next June. No word on whether Gritty, the nearby Flyers' googly-eyed orange mascot, was spotted in the district courthouse taking notes.

 Top Five Tech

Sentinels player Kyle “Bugda” Giersdorf is the first winner of the Fortnite World Cup Finals. The 16-year-old bagged the $3 million grand prize at Arthur Ashe stadium in Queens, with $30 million being awarded overall to competitors at the event. Audiences tuned in massively, with Esports Charts reporting that the final round drew peak viewership of 2.3 million across the various platforms running the event, with 22.5 million hours watched overall. According to Dexterto, it has set the bar higher for esports tournaments being broadcast on Twitch, as 1.3 million concurrent viewers is the new Twitch record for an esports event, beating out CS:GO's ELEAGUE Boston Major 1.15 million and League of Legends’ peak of 1.14 million. Other platforms carrying the tournament were YouTube, Mixer, Twitter, and in-game on Fortnite. This event proves that Fortnite can be taken seriously in the competitive gaming scene and should have a future in esports.

EA's Madden NFL esports championship gets ad backing from Snickers and Pizza Hut. The Madden NFL 20 Championship Series this year has open registration to draw the greatest number of esports competitors in its history. So far, Pizza Hut is the first brand to win naming rights to a virtual football stadium, while Snickers will return as an official sponsor of EA's Madden NFL (MCS) esports tournament. According to Marketing Dive, the esports dates will be synchronized with the NFL kickoff from August 30 to September 1. After that, MCS events will happen during key NFL moments, including the Madden NFL 20 Club Championship on December 18-21 before the playoffs and the Madden NFL 20 Challenge from January 30 to February 1 before the Super Bowl. The series concludes at the Madden NFL 20 Bowl, which coincides with the NFL Draft April 23-25, when 16 top players will vie for the Madden NFL championship title. The Madden NFL 20 Classic will air on the Madden NFL Twitch and YouTube channels. This is the first time a brand will have full naming rights to a virtual stadium, which shows the full dive brands are making into esports.

Online sports news site, The Athletic, hits 500,000 subscribers. The Athletic, a sports-news subscription service that launched in 2016, expects to nearly double its subscription total by the year end. Based in San Francisco, the platform is an ad-free, online-only network for local sports coverage. Subscriptions cost $10 a month or $60 a year, though many customers have signed up at lower promotional rates. The Athletic has expanded to nearly 50 cities in the U.S. and Canada and hired hundreds of sports reporters and editors, often from local newspapers. According to Bloomberg, it covers roughly 270 teams from the NFL, NBA, MLB, NHL, and college sports. The company is also looking to introduce coverage of English Premier League soccer teams this month. Hiring in preparation for that launch has caused a stir in U.K. newsrooms. The site is a test for the digital-subscription model in journalism and backers have provided more than $90 million in funding. It doesn’t seem the rising media entity will slow down anytime soon.

Tokyo 2020 is set to be the first multi-platform Olympic Games. According to Digiday, thousands of streams and video replays will be available to viewers on a variety of devices, dramatically expanding upon the number of contextual targeting opportunities for brands and the athletes they sponsor. Rather than be an Official Olympic brand, some may opt to place themselves adjacent to the news, commentary, and pictures about the latest events. Tokyo is thirteen hours ahead of the U.S., and a massive portion of U.S. viewing will inevitably be of the time-shifted, digital variety. In the four years since the last summer Games, digital viewing has become dominant. Digital delivery will allow marketers to address their ads not simply on audience demographics, but also contextually. Although Rio 2016 may have been a disappointment for Olympics advertisers, tech-savvy brands will ensure Tokyo 2020 is highly profitable.

New Orleans Pelicans rookie and basketball sensation Zion Williamson has signed a multi-year partnership deal with NBA2K. According to Clutchpoints, the former No. 1 overall pick will be integrated in various game initiatives, consumer events, brand creative, and social activations. He joins an elite list of players with similar deals including LeBron James, Kevin Durant, Anthony Davis, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Stephen Curry, and James Harden, as well as NBA legends Dwyane Wade and Shaquille O'Neal. Williamson says that he has played the game his whole life and that it is an honor to be part of the 2K team. The 19-year-old South Carolina native made 33 appearances in his lone season with the Duke Blue Devils, racking up averages of 22.6 points on 68% shooting from the field (33.8% from beyond the arc), 8.9 rebounds, 2.1 assists, 2.1 steals, and 1.8 blocks in 30 minutes per outing. This is a big business step for the Pelicans and Williamson, who is in the midst of legal battles with a sports marketing company that tried to sue him after he tried to void their contract.

Power of Sports Five

Fields & Futures upgrades school athletic fields, builds futsal courts. Behind F.D. Moon Middle School in Oklahoma City sits an empty excavated field and a slab of concrete. But according to the Oklahoman, Fields & Futures President Tim McLaughlin, co-owner of OKC Energy FC, sees a space rich with possibilities. This summer, the nonprofit organization is renovating fields at seven middle schools, all affected by consolidations across the Oklahoma City school district. Some of the facilities are former elementary schools reconfigured to serve fifth through eighth grade, an age group that needs on-site athletic facilities. The concrete slab behind F.D. Moon will become a futsal pad, where athletes can play a compressed version of soccer that emphasizes footwork and ball control. Soon, every middle school in the Oklahoma City district will have one, resulting from a Fields & Futures partnership with the U.S. Soccer Foundation, Musco Lighting, 7-Eleven, and the Energy Assist Foundation. The cost to install 10 of these “mini pitches” exceeds $500,000. “Soccer’s the world’s largest sport,” McLaughlin told The Oklahoman. “It’s also one of the biggest unifying sports there are.”

Penguins working with AbleGamers to bring hockey and esports to all. A series of connections brought about by video gaming started in May when the Penguins, Cavs Legion, and the Pittsburgh Knights partnered with Point Park University to host an esports event that led to a meeting between the Pittsburgh Penguins Foundation and AbleGamers. In preparation for the event, called the Steel City Showdown, Point Park University's Steve Tanzilli came across The AbleGamers Charity and their COO and Pittsburgh native Steve Spohn. Tanzilli was so impressed by Spohn that he reached out to the Penguins and their Foundation. AbleGamers Charity is a nonprofit that wields the power of gaming to break down barriers of economic and social isolation for children, adults, and veterans with disabilities. With a combination of technologies such as mouth controllers, eye gaze, and customized controllers, they find a way for people to play video games no matter their disability. After the tournament concluded, the Penguins Foundation donated $25,000 to AbleGamers and made a commitment to help them continue their mission.

Kevin Durant's San Francisco parting gift combines art, basketball. As the 10-time All-Star Kevin Durant heads to Brooklyn, he wanted to make sure his name was still going to be associated with the Bay Area by leaving a renovated basketball court at the Hayes Valley Playground in San Francisco. Last week, San Francisco Recreation and Park celebrated the reopening of the Hayes Valley Playground at Buchanan and Hayes streets, a renovation partially funded by Durant's charity as well as Joe Gebbia, one of the founders of Airbnb, according to the San Francisco Chronicle. Local artist Apexer worked with Vintage Contractors to create this masterpiece, which held a lot of detail, including special paint and the right colors for the surface. Durant founded his KDCF (Kevin Durant Charity Foundation) to "enrich the lives of at-risk youth from low-income backgrounds through educational, athletic, and social programs." This latest collaboration clearly meets that goal.

Bryant family makes record $13 million commitment to UCF Athletics. Gary and Barbara Bryant recently made the largest gift commitment in the history of UCF athletics. According to the Space Coast Daily, once funded, their $13 million estate gift commitment will establish the Gary and Barbara Bryant Family Athletic Endowed Scholarship Fund. Annual proceeds from the endowment will provide athletic scholarship support for both men’s and women’s student-athletes at UCF. “We appreciate Gary and Barbara’s investment in our educational and athletic mission at UCF,” says Danny White, UCF vice president and director of athletics. “Their family legacy at UCF will forever provide life-changing scholarship opportunities for hundreds of young men and women to pursue their academic, athletic and personal dreams through the student-athlete experience.” Added Gary Bryant, “Barbara and I have always participated in sports and believe in the transformational, door-opening value of a college education.” This is a terrific show of support for Orlando’s “Hometown Team.”

J.T. Brown finishes sixth at Fortnite Pro-Am, donates $75,000 prize to charity. J.T. Brown continues to use his Fortnite skill for good. The Minnesota Wild forward teamed up with pro gamer CLG Marksman to finish sixth at the Fortnite Pro-Am on Friday, winning a $75,000 prize to be donated to the charity of their choice. Brown is an avid gamer who played 24 consecutive hours on Twitch las year and raised more than $1,300 for Hockey Is For Everyone. After a self-described rough Game 3, Brown/Marksman registered 12 eliminations and a Victory Royale to clinch their finish in Game 4. Brown posted the highlights to his Instagram account and also shared his elation at the result after the event. Brown/Marksman was one of the 50 tandems vying for the $3 million charity prize, which went to record producer RL Grime and his partner Airwaks. The pro-am was one of the highlights of the Fortnite World Cup Finals, a three-day event at Arthur Ashe Stadium in New York that attracted one hundred best players from around the globe.

[doubleattitude]

24/SEVEN Dance Convention, Provo, UT: RESULTS

High Scores by Age:

Sidekick Solo

1st: Stella Brinkerhoff-’Fly

2nd: Mila Renae-’Move’

2nd: Sylvie Win Szyndlar-’Rainbow Connection’

3rd: Monaco Gonzales-’B.E.A.T.S’

3rd: Ivy Mcewan-’Dance Like Your Daddy’

3rd: Finley Nielsen-’Make You Feel My Love’

4th: Malia Tuaileva-’Stupid Cupid’

4th: Navie Mees-’Sweet Child’

4th: Melina Blitz-’The Poet Creature’

5th: Avery Van Cott-’Blood, Sweat and Tears’

6th: Brinley Lulloff-’Speaking French’

7th: Naomi Harper-’Speechless’

8th: Penelope Prager-’Here Comes The Sun’

8th: Kai Diaz de Leon-’What A Wonderful World’

9th: Addalyn Daley-’Smallest Light’

10th: Olivia Foote-’It’s Oh So Quiet’

Mini Solo

1st: Ruby Taylor-’I Got It’

2nd: Tiara Sherman-’..And The Things That Remain’

2nd: Ellary Day Szyndlar-’Snow’

3rd: Elsie Sandall-’Almost Gone’

3rd: Tessa Ohran-’Knock 1-2-3′

3rd: Alexis Alvarez-’Welcome Home’

4th: Kylie Lawrence-’Breathe In’

4th: Karyna Majeroni-’Pistolette’

4th: Kendyl Miller-’Stand By Me’

4th: Kalista Greer-’Yesterday’

5th: Reegan Francis-’Just A Girl’

6th: Kate Baker-’I’ll Stand By You’

7th: London Smith-’Feel My Love’

8th: Brielle Maciel-’Lean On Me’

9th: Anistyn Larsen-’Desire’

9th: Addison Price-’We Will Not Give In’

10th: Claire Hansen-’By The Roses’

10th: Esprit Frank-’Grains’

10th: Brooklyn Ward-’Here I Am’

10th: Khloe Douros-’Not About Angels’

10th: Tabitha Nan-’Torn’

10th: Hadlee Heriford-’Unbroken’

10th: Patience Hughes-’Weird People’

Junior Solo

1st: Brooke Toro-’As The Dust Settles’

2nd: Stella Condie-’Go Away’

2nd: Bella Fernandez-’She Was Running’

3rd: Kylie Kaminsky-’Beneath the Surface’

3rd: Mya Tuaileva-’Can’t Unhear’

3rd: Kamri Peterson-’Crawl When You Can’t Walk’

3rd: Colby Rich-’Exhale’

4th: Taylor Harrison-’Dawn Chorus’

4th: Makaia Roux-’Everything I Wanted’

4th: Abbi Francis-’Feel It Still’

5th: Kortlynn Rosenbaugh-’Concentration’

5th: Victoria Johnson-’Genius’

5th: Brooke Dubbs-’I Know’

5th: Seren Carter-’Natural’

5th: Alita Kneeland-’Spine’

6th: Lena Hirsch-’Forsaken’

6th: Bosco Wong-’Malaguana’

6th: Vivienne Mitchell-’Metamorphosis’

6th: Blakely Bell-’Shifting’

7th: Caroline McGowan-’Everything Evaporates’

7th: Amaya Llewellyn-’Must’

7th: Kanon Greer-’To The Sky’

8th: Mia Olson-’Marionette Mischief’

8th: Stella Paxton-’Punching In A Dream’

8th: Taytym Ruckle-’Ultraviolet’

9th: Anna Hendershot-’Human’

10th: Reese Kringlen-’Enough’

10th: Aida Nielsen-’Heart of Glass’

10th: Reese Newmarker-’Small World’

Teen Solo

1st: Brady Farrar-’And You’ll See Me’

2nd: Beth Anne McGowan-’Informally Cool’

2nd: Izzy Howard-’Labryinth’

2nd: Hailey Bills-’You’

3rd: Allie Andrew-’Coiled’

3rd: Addison Middleton-’Dark Dissonance’

3rd: Jordan Lassiter-’Joyful Girl’

3rd: Sabine Nehls-’No Regrets’

3rd: Oana Barber-’Tenderness’

4th: Alexis Adair-’A.M.’

4th: Zoe Ridge-’A Thousand Eyes’

4th: Ceilidh McSeveney-’Harm Me’

4th: Gabriella Jensen-’Lost In Your Lies’

5th: Luke Barrett-’Eden’

5th: Emersyn Dickson-’Plans We Made’

5th: Jordynn Christianson-’Sideshow’

5th: Indy Benson-’Soundscape’

6th: Olivia Pinon-’Les Mots Bleus’

6th: Rylee Arnold-’Dirty Diana’

6th: Kya Story-’Gimme All Your Love’

6th: Cydney Heard-’I Dream of You Again’

6th: Hailey Nieva-’I Forgot’

6th: Cassandra Wagstaff-’Zucht 2′

7th: Mia Ibach-’Koladi Ola’

7th: Jaylynn Lindley-’Wisdom Cries’

7th: London Ludwig-’Work’

7th: Ella DeVore-’Zeita’

8th: Emma Martin-’Problem’

8th: Tessa Horsley-’Reflections’

9th: Tiffany Robinson-’Touch’

10th: Madison Goulding-’Mad World’

10th: Ava Allred-’Promises’

10th: London Williamson-’Slow Decent’

Senior Solo

1st: Carter Williams-’20 Years’

1st: Abby Dayton-’Acceptance’

1st: Elijah Hatch-’Escaping Darkness’

2nd: Brooklin Hunsaker-’Godspeed’

2nd: Brooke Melillo-’HIT’

2nd: Amanda Taylor-’I Was Wrong’

2nd: Sicily Redd-’Lamentation’

2nd: Natalia Jensen-’The Last Of Us’

2nd: Paige Wagstaff-’These Days’

3rd: Camry Blackhurst-’Airstrike’

3rd: Ashley Wilcox-’Emigre’

3rd: Taylor Tebbs-’Inertia’

3rd: Chloee Lowrence-’Recall’

4th: Emily Marsh-’Destination’

5th: Ambrie Kirkham-’Blues Run The Game’

5th: Remy Wright-’Moments Passed’

6th: Freddie Linden-’Rescue Me’

7th: Kelsey Tippetts-’Never Grow Old’

7th: Savannah Shaw-’Space Is Only Noise’

7th: Sydni Desmond-’Wild As The Wind’

8th: Abigail Crittenden-’Space’

8th: Charley Osterberg-’Woman’

9th: Rachel McEwan-’I Won’t Hurt You’

9th: Eleni Yannias-’Slow Down’

9th: Lyvia Day-’Tides’

9th: Chloe Baddley-’Volcanic’

10th: Caitlyn Lane-’My Strange Addiction’

Sidekick Duo/Trio

1st: Center Stage Performing Arts Studio-’No More I Love Yous’

2nd: Center Stage Performing Arts Studio-’I’ve Got Rhythm’

3rd: Center Stage Performing Arts Studio-’Hound Dog’

Mini Duo/Trio

1st: Center Stage Performing Arts Studio-’Blue Skies’

2nd: Center Stage Performing Arts Studio-’King’

3rd: Danceology-’Do Something’

Junior Duo/Trio

1st:  Center Stage Performing Arts Studio-’Size’

2nd: The Winner School-’Million Dollar Secret’

3rd: Center Stage Performing Arts Studio-’Weightless’

Teen Duo/Trio

1st: The Rock Center for Dance-’Last Light’

2nd: Center Stage Performing Arts Studio-’Not The News’

3rd: Empower Dance-’All My Friends’

Senior Duo/Trio

1st: Center Stage Performing Arts Studio-’I’ll Never Love Again’

2nd: The Winner School-’In Search Of’

3rd: Artistic Dance Project-’Voodoov’

Sidekick Group

1st: Center Stage Performing Arts Studio-’Bird’

Mini Group

1st: The Winner School-’Big Time’

2nd: The Winner School-’Dance Bug’

3rd: The Winner School-’Stand By Me’

Junior Group

1st: The Winner School-’Icon’

2nd: The Winner School-’Searching Together’

3rd: The Winner School-’You Don’t Know Me’

Teen Group

1st: The Winner School-’Free Hand’

1st: The Winner School-’Moving On’

2nd: The Winner School-’Magnificent’

3rd: The Winner School-’War Song’

Senior Group

1st: Artistic Dance Project-’A Little After The Sun’

2nd: Artistic Dance Project-’Letting Go’

3rd: Artistic Dance Project-’Boombastic’

Sidekick Line

1st: Center Stage Performing Arts Studio-’Let’s Get Loud’

2nd: Center Stage Performing Arts Studio-’Scooby Doo’

3rd: Center Stage Performing Arts Studio-’New Girl In Town’

Mini Line

1st: Center Stage Performing Arts Studio-’The Moon’

2nd: Center Stage Performing Arts Studio-’I Work 2020′

3rd: Center Stage Performing Arts Studio-’Uptown Girls’

Junior Line

1st: Center Stage Performing Arts Studio-’Girls’

2nd: Center Stage Performing Arts Studio-’Sad Day’

3rd: The Dance Company-’Entropy’

Teen Line

1st: Artistic Dance Project-’Greed’

2nd: Center Stage Performing Arts Studio-’Sometimes When It Rains’

3rd: The Winner School-’Feel It Still’

Senior Line

1st: Artistic Dance Project-’Storm’

2nd: Artistic Dance Project-’Mother’

3rd: Artistic Dance Project-’Live Another Life’

Mini Extended Line

1st: Center Stage Performing Arts Studio-’Time’

2nd: Artistic Dance Project-’Super Model’

Junior Extended Line

1st: Center Stage Performing Arts Studio-’I Love It’

Teen Extended Line

1st: Center Stage Performing Arts Studio-’Could Look Away’

2nd: Center Stage Performing Arts Studio-’Aquatic’

3rd: Artistic Dance Project-’Can’t Pretend’

3rd: Center Stage Performing Arts Studio-’Pink and Blue’

Senior Extended Line

1st: Center Stage Performing Arts Studio-’Goliath’

2nd: Center Stage Performing Arts Studio-’You’

3rd: Artistic Dance Project-’Knocking On Heavens Door’

Mini Production

1st: Center Stage Performing Arts Studio-’Swagger Jagger’

Junior Production

1st: Center Stage Performing Arts Studio-’Snitches and Rats’

1st: Artistic Dance Project-’Take It’

2nd: Artistic Dance Project-’Swish’

Teen Production

1st: Center Stage Performing Arts Studio-’Diamonds’

1st: Center Stage Performing Arts Studio-’For Dodo’

2nd: Center Stage Performing Arts Studio-’Sexy Back’

Senior Production

1st:  Center Stage Performing Arts Studio-’No Bystanders’

High Scores by Performance Division:

Sidekick Contemporary

Center Stage Performing Arts Studio-’Bird’

Sidekick Lyrical

Center Stage Performing Arts Studio-’The Rose’

Sidekick Specialty

Center Stage Performing Arts Studio-’Let’s Get Loud’

Sidekick Musical Theatre

Center Stage Performing Arts Studio-’New Girl In Town’

Sidekick Hip-Hop

Center Stage Performing Arts Studio-’Scooby Doo’

Mini Musical Theatre

The Winner School-’Big Time’

Mini Jazz

Center Stage Performing Arts Studio-’I Work 2020′

Mini Lyrical

Center Stage Performing Arts Studio-’The Moon’

Mini Specialty

Center Stage Performing Arts Studio-’Uptown Girls’

Mini Contemporary

Center Stage Performing Arts Studio-’Time’

Mini Ballroom

Center Stage Performing Arts Studio-’Swagger Jagger’

Junior Contemporary

Center Stage Performing Arts Studio-’Sad Day’

Junior Jazz

Center Stage Performing Arts Studio-’I Love It’

Artistic Dance Project-’Take It’

Junior Lyrical

Artistic Dance Project-’Bright Horses’

Junior Tap

Center Stage Performing Arts Studio-’Birds’

Junior Ballet

Center Stage Performing Arts Studio-’Going to School’

Junior Ballroom

Center Stage Performing Arts Studio-’Girls’

Junior Hip-Hop

Center Stage Performing Arts Studio-’Snitches and Rats’

Teen Contemporary

Center Stage Performing Arts Studio-’Could Look Away’

Teen Musical Theatre

The Winner School-’Next to You’

Teen Tap

Center Stage Performing Arts Studio-’Softly, Heavy’

Teen Jazz

Center Stage Performing Arts Studio-’Sexy Back’

Teen Lyrical

The Winner School-’Moving On’

Teen Ballet

Center Stage Performing Arts Studio-’Sometimes When It Rains’

Teen Specialty

Artistic Dance Project-’Greed’

Teen Ballroom

Center Stage Performing Arts Studio-’Diamonds’

Teen Hip-Hop

Center Stage Performing Arts Studio-’For Dodo’

Senior Ballet

Center Stage Performing Arts Studio-’Lost Light’

Senior Contemporary

Center Stage Performing Arts Studio-’You’

Senior Jazz

Artistic Dance Project-’Boombastic’

Senior Tap

Artistic Dance Project-’I Wanna Dance’

Senior Lyrical

Artistic Dance Project-’Letting Go’

Senior Specialty

Center Stage Performing Arts Studio-’Goliath’

Senior Hip-Hop

Center Stage Performing Arts Studio-’No Bystanders’

11 O’Clock:

Sidekick

Center Stage Performing Arts Studio-’Let’s Get Loud’

Mini

The Winner School-’Big Time’

The Dance Company-’I Feel For You’

Artistic Dance Project-’Super Model’

Center Stage Performing Arts Studio-’Swagger Jagger’

Junior

Center Stage Performing Arts Studio-’Girls’

The Dance Company-’Entropy’

The Winner School-’Icon’

Artistic Dance Project-’Take It’

Teen

The Winner School-’Moving On’

Center Stage Performing Arts Studio-’Could Look Away’

Artistic Dance Project-’Greed’

Senior

Central Utah Ballet-’Embrace’

Artistic Dance Project-’A Little After The Sun’

Center Stage Performing Arts Studio-’No Bystanders’

Studio Showcase:

The Winner School-’Moving On’

Center Stage Performing Arts Studio-’Could Look Away’

Artistic Dance Project-’A Little After The Sun’

[westernmanews]

To address youth smoking, Massachusetts should raise taxes on tobacco products and ban flavored tobacco products, according to advocates and legislators.

"The data is there," Rep. Marjorie Decker said. "When you increase taxes on tobacco you lower the rates of new smokers who are coming in. It works."

The American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network and The 84 Movement have each held events in recent weeks to push for more laws to combat youth smoking, especially vaping, an industry that picked up a new ally this week when former Attorney General Martha Coakley joined the lobbying team at JUUL, where she was a consultant.

The Cancer Action Network held a lobby day last week to push for bills calling for more transparency in health care and programs that assist residents in quitting smoking.

The group's main priority is to adjust taxes on tobacco products, raising the cigarette tax by $1 per pack, creating a 75 percent wholesale excise tax on e-cigarettes and increasing the cigar tax to 80 percent of wholesale. The calls come as lawmakers and Gov. Charlie Baker are showing an openness toward tax hikes, with Baker having put his own plan on the table to tax vaping products.

Rep. Danielle Gregoire said she supports creating a tax for e-cigarettes because the products are not taxed at all right now, and the increased price is a major deterrent to youth.

"Our youth are getting sick and they have no idea what the consequences are, so it is time for us to put a stop to that here in Massachusetts and I'm looking forward to doing just that," she said.

Decker also spoke in support for all of the tobacco tax increases, and plans on offering them as a budget amendment later this month, as well as sponsoring legislation that would create them independently.

"There is no excise tax on e-cigarettes and it doesn't make sense that we don't treat it the same way as cigarettes, cigars and other tobacco products," Decker said.

She said nearby states have higher tax rates for tobacco than Massachusetts.

Currently the tax on a pack of 20 cigarettes is $3.51 in Massachusetts. According to The Campaign for Tobacco Free Kids, as of Dec. 21, 2018, the tax on a pack of cigarettes is $4.35 in New York and Connecticut, $4.50 in the District of Columbia and $4.25 in Rhode Island.

"We need revenue, but more importantly we need to continue saving lives," Decker said. Sen. John Keenan said he supports the tax increases, and has sponsored a bill that would ban all flavored tobacco products. Currently, 142 cities and towns across Massachusetts have some restrictions on flavored tobacco products, but there are no statewide rules.

"It's time that we stand up and we say to the big tobacco industry, the big nicotine industry, and say you are not going to take another generation," he said. "Together we are going to fight you every step of the way."

It's not just adults who are concerned about big tobacco targeting youth; teenagers have noticed as well. The 84 Movement, a statewide tobacco prevention program, gathered activists Wednesday for Kick Butts Day, a youth-led rally for teenagers to advocate for stronger tobacco restrictions.

Hayli Manning, a senior at Holbrook Middle High School, talked about watching her friends try flavored tobacco products from lemon-berry tart to menthol.

"For example, I've seen menthol not only in my community but on a much more personal level as well. I have friends who use mint flavored products," Manning said. "One of them made a comment about mint vape being like gum for your lungs."

Manning also said that of youth between the ages of 12-17 who do smoke traditional cigarettes, 54 percent of them smoke menthol cigarettes.

At the American Cancer Society event, Keenan spoke about visiting a school in his district, where he talked with students about the dangers of vaping and an eighth-grade boy said he worried not only about himself and his friends being attracted to vaping, but his younger brother too.

Rep. Sean Garballey sponsored Kick Butts' Day and emphasized that tobacco companies target kids to get them addicted for life.

"Tobacco companies spend hundreds of millions of dollars each generation to try to get you hooked," Garballey said. "They're not spending it on 50-60 year olds. Why are they targeting you? Because if they get you hooked they have a customer for life."

Lt. Gov. Karyn Polito attended the Kick Butts Day event, and said she was concerned about the perception that e-cigarettes are less bad than regular cigarettes.

"It feels to me like we're not doing our job if we have out there this perception that this is a safe choice," Polito said. "We've got to dispel that perception, make the facts a reality in people's minds and impact cultural norms."

Speakers at both events emphasized the importance of fighting youth smoking, and while the most recent data from Massachusetts in 2017 shows it on the decline, national data showed a jump in e-cigarette use in 2018. It's that jump that advocates are concerned about, as in the past Massachusetts statistics have followed national trends.

In 2017, the Massachusetts Youth Risk Behavior Survey showed that 24.6 percent of high school students reported using any tobacco, including e-cigarettes, in the past 30 days, down from 29.3 percent in 2015. In addition, in 2015, 44.8 percent of students reported ever using "electronic vapor products," and in 2017 that number decreased to 41.1 percent.

However, in February, 2019 the Center for Disease Control released a national report, "Vital Signs: Tobacco Product Use Among Middle and High School Students — United States, 2011–2018," which showed a drastic jump in youth smoking.

E-cigarette use by high schoolers increased significantly from

11.7 percent in 2017 to 20.8 percent in 2018, adding up to approximately 1.5 million additional youths using e-cigarettes in 2018. This increase comes even as the report states that there were no significant changes in the use of any other tobacco products.

"However, current e-cigarette use increased by 77.8% among high school students and 48.5% among middle school students during 2017–2018, erasing the progress in reducing e-cigarette use, as well as any tobacco product use, that had occurred in prior years," said the report.

Marc Hymovitz, the director of governmental relations for the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network in Massachusetts, said the organization has also heard from teachers and employees that there has been a drastic increase in students caught vaping, something he blames on the marketing of flavored e-cigarettes to kids.

"We are mostly concerned because we know that big tobacco is targeting kids," he said. "So that's where we are trying to impact change."

Last session, the Legislature and Baker agreed to a law raising the minimum age to buy tobacco from 18 to 21, which went into effect January.

The Cancer Action Network also advocated for bills to make health care plan choice easier.

A bill backed by Sen. Brendan Crighton and Rep. Jen Benson would make cost and utilization management information available to consumers when they choose health plans. This would mean that during open enrollment consumers can see the list of drugs covered under each plan and what the cost would be to them before purchasing the plan.

The process of choosing a health plan can be especially difficult when someone has cancer or other serious illnesses, when the costs of treatment are much higher and consumers don't know exactly what medicines will be covered and how much it will cost them.

"While you are having the fight of your life against cancer, you shouldn't be fighting the fine print, you shouldn't have to roll the dice with uncertainty as you try to select a health care plan," Crighton said. Benson, who is the House chair of the Joint Committee on Health Care Financing, said the focus on health care reform should be on patients not cost.

"I can say moving forward this session we are focused on health," she said. "Now, you're going to hear a lot about cost. And we all worry about cost because if something is too expensive you're not going to be able to access it. But we also understand that the way to reduce cost in the long term is keeping people healthy."

Patti Morris, a volunteer from the American Cancer Society, spoke about her personal experience with cancer. Twenty-nine of her relatives have had cancer and several of them have passed away from cancer, including her mother, her sister-in-law and her mother-in-law. Morris was shocked when her grandson seemed interested in flavored e-cigarettes, telling her that juuls must be good because it "smells really good."

"I want you guys to know how important our voices are and I have a voice, my mother doesn't have one, my mother-in-law, my sister-in-law they don't have those voices," Morris said. "And I'll be damned if my 9-year-old grandson ever picks up an e-cigarette."

[oselatra]

2018 Arkansas Times Academic All-Star Team

Meet the best and brightest high school seniors in the state.

BENJAMIN EARL ALLEN Age: 17 Hometown: Bella Vista High school: Arkansas School for Mathematics, Sciences and the Arts Parents: Daniel and Gina Allen College plans: University of Arkansas, Fayetteville

Benjamin Allen decided to compete in the 2017 Jolt Hackathon at the Little Rock Venture Center on a whim. The weekend-long contest wrapped a series of cryptography, forensics, social engineering and coding puzzles in a cyber-security theme. It was an endurance test: Participants were expected to down the brand of highly caffeinated soda brand that sponsored the event to make it through the game. Benjamin, who taught himself how to code as a kid, dramatically stepped up his game at the Arkansas School for Mathematics, Sciences and the Arts in Hot Springs, where he's taken nearly every computer science course offered and used ASMSA's partnership with UA Little Rock to complete enough college-level coursework to be about halfway through an undergraduate degree in computer science. Benjamin wrote about the Jolt event in his Academic All-Star essay: "A strong approach to problem solving was required to overcome the puzzles of a hackathon, so I used the strategy used in general programming: If a problem seems too big to solve, break it into smaller problems until each of the smaller problems is manageable. Then solve each miniature problem as it arrives. I take pride in my success because of this strategy, because it's a general strategy for all of life's tasks." In a field of more than 30, Benjamin and his high school friends placed second in the Jolt Hackathon and another similar one held later in Fort Smith, bested each time only by one of their instructors and ASMSA alumni. Despite being No. 1 in his class, with near perfect ACT and SAT scores, Benjamin said ASMSA has been humbling. "You come in and you're used to being the smartest kid in the school, and you take these courses from teachers who challenge you, and you find out there are things that you aren't really good at," he said. "One of the great things about coming here is that you realize all of these people around you are really bright in their own way, and you get a really big appreciation for people who are different than you."

CHRISTIAN RUANO ARENS Age: 18 Hometown: Barling High school: Fort smith Southside High School Parent: Veronica Arens College plans: Princeton University, New Jersey

Veronica Arens left Guatemala in 2004 in search of a better life in the U.S. Christian Ruano Arens, her son and the third of four siblings, was 4. No one in the family spoke English. His mom immediately put Christian in preschool, where he felt "helpless" because he couldn't communicate with the kids around him. His mom also put him and his siblings in a library program. "After two summers and a million books later," Christian and his siblings were fully fluent, he said, and they've excelled ever since. His brother and sister graduated near the top of their classes. One brother studies chemical engineering at Brigham Young University in Utah; his sister is studying to become a nurse at the University of Arkansas at Fort Smith. With a 4.4 grade point average, Christian is on track to graduate second in his class of 526 and will head next year to Princeton, where he plans to study chemical engineering, perhaps en route to becoming a nuclear physicist. He said he dreams of cracking the code on nuclear science's white whale — cold fusion. Christian's mother was a motivating force for him: "I always felt like she deserved to have successful kids. She put in so much work. I felt like I owed it to her to not only make her proud, but to show her that her hard work and patience as a single mother was worth it." Though Christian said it was hard for him to leave Guatemala, adapt to a new place and, more recently, handle the undercurrent of xenophobia among his peers, he's glad to be an immigrant student. "I strongly believe that I have a better understanding of the vast amount of opportunities available in the United States than a normal student. I do not think I would be as ambitious or zealous in my academic career if I were a native-born student because I would not have been forced to reach farther or try harder to achieve my goals. Being an immigrant has allowed me to appreciate the wealth of opportunities and has not only made me a better student, but has also made me a stronger citizen in my community."

MICHAEL BROADWATER Age: 18 Hometown: Little Rock High school: Catholic High School for Boys Parents: Ralph and Anne Broadwater College plans: Undecided

When your life's achievements are compared to those of hundreds (or thousands) of other students seeking college admission, it's good to stand out. Michael Broadwater shouldn't have any problems there: He's a self-taught magician and juggler, and he plays the piano, the melodica and the banjo — Earl Scruggs-style, though he said he's dabbled in clawhammer. In fact, Michael was playing the banjo when his guidance counselor, Fred Baker, happened upon him in the cafeteria, where Michael was entertaining some friends. In the years since that day, Baker said, his appreciation for Broadwater deepened. "We've all seen students who are 'club joiners,' passively appearing at the occasional meeting simply so they can list it on a resume. Michael is the antithesis of this. If he's going to do something, he is going to DO something," Baker wrote. As for the banjo, Michael said: "It was mostly my grandmother's influence. ... She actually had one, and she gave it to me for Christmas one year and paid for a couple of lessons. I got really into it." Headed to college during an unquestionably divisive and volatile political climate, Michael also has the rare distinction of having been a member of both the Young Republicans and the Young Democrats clubs during his high school tenure. "I was interested in politics," he said, "and I wanted to see the different perspectives. ... I realize that a lot of people just kind of yell at each other, and I was able to observe more political discourse." Broadwater was still undecided on college plans when he spoke to the Times, but is "thinking University of Alabama right now."

JENNIFER BOND Age: 18 Hometown: Austin High school: Cabot High School Parents: Lee Ann Benson and Troy Bond College plans: Tulane University, Louisiana

Women make up only 25 percent of the STEM workforce, and racial minorities even less, and that's not because women can't handle science, Jennifer Bond noted in her video presentation to Tulane University. Jennifer, who has been interested in biology since she was a young girl (volunteering to clean the fish her father caught so she could examine their organs) and who did an internship in neurosurgery at CHI St. Vincent Infirmary in 2016, is doing her part to better the odds: She and a friend founded the FemiSTEM group at Cabot High to encourage high school girls to pursue their sometimes stymied interests in science and math. The group — which boys can join — has taken field trips, explored career choices and scholarship opportunities, and has paired students with mentors. The 80-member group has also traveled to Harding University's conference for women in STEM for two years running to hear guest speakers and tour laboratories. (The boy members are engaged with the group, but can't go to the conferences, Jennifer said. They help though — "If we have to transport hydrogen balloons, we make the boys do it," she said, laughing.) The club has also taken its mission to Cabot's elementary school children, presenting fun science experiments, a la Bill Nye the Science Guy. If girls aren't interested in science, technology and math by eighth grade, Jennifer said, "the chances are they won't ever be." Things have improved for women in STEM — the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville's physics department, which once had no women's restroom, now does, according to one of Jennifer's teachers — but Jennifer believes the discouragement of girls to pursue careers in science is stifling innovation in America. In her scholarship-winning video to Tulane, she asks of the minority numbers in STEM, "Does this look like the American Dream to you?"

JORGE LUIS GONZALEZ Age: 18 Hometown: De Queen High school: De Queen High School Parents: Enedina Lopez, Cirilo Gonzalez College plans: Henderson State University

Jorge Gonzalez's drive for exemplary academic performance is inseparable from his profound sense of responsibility to his family. When his parents emigrated from Puebla, Mexico, he said, "They gave up everything to move at a very young age — and haven't seen their parents in decades — all because they wanted their children to have more opportunities." This commitment is his greatest inspiration: "It is the least I can do to show [my mother] her sacrifice was worth it." According to Jorge, living in a town the size of De Queen means people are aware of their neighbors' strengths as well as their needs. "I love the closeness of the town and how people can help each other out," he said. From canned food drives for local food pantries to the senior citizen Thanksgiving luncheon, Jorge is always ready to be of service, he said, because "there's always somebody in a worse position, and it feels great to help out somebody who really needs it." Throughout high school, Jorge deftly balanced rigorous schedules in athletics (he ran cross country and track and played soccer) and academics (he's on pace to graduate No. 1 in his class), two realms that he now believes are interconnected in beneficial ways. "The same focus, effort and practice were required for both," he said, "and that kept me motivated." This balance is further reflected in his ultimate career goal: to be a mathematics teacher and a coach. His own track coach, he said, pushed him to "stay confident and never give up," and he wants to give the same gift to students in the future.

CLAIRE ELIZABETH BUNN Age: 17 Hometown: Marion High school: Marion High School Parents: Caryn and James Bunn College plans: University of Georgia

As a kid, Claire Bunn would read anything she could she could get her hands on. Fiction proved especially transporting for someone growing up in small-town Marion (pop. 12,362). "From an early age, reading was my solace, allowing me to embark on unique adventures from the comfort of my room," Claire wrote in her All-Star essay. Athough she cites Betty Smith's classic novel "A Tree Grows in Brooklyn" as her all-time favorite, her reading interests have broadened into nonfiction, books on science and economics in particular. Like many readers, Claire has long loved to write. Her enthusiasm convinced the sponsor of the Marion High School school newspaper, Patriot Expressions, to allow Claire to join the staff as a sophomore, a year earlier than the school had historically allowed. As the editor of a staff of eight this year, Claire has worked to increase digital readership and maintain a weekly publication schedule while also writing about everything from animal shelter donations to "cutting edge stem-cell regeneration treatments" and "equal opportunities in education in an impoverished school district." This summer will be her last year to serve as a counselor at a wetlands camp at the Jean Lafitte National Historical Park and Preserve, south of New Orleans, where kids learn about biology and conservation. She's been going there every summer since she was 6 years old. "It's the place where I really fell in love with science," she said. In the fall, she'll attend the University of Georgia as a Foundation Fellow, a generous scholarship that covers full tuition, room and board and provides frequent international travel opportunities. Claire plans to major in biochemistry and statistics en route to getting her MD/Ph.D. She'd love to be a pediatrician who also does research. Asked about the stereotype that scientists aren't often passionate readers and writers, Claire said, "If you're a science major who can't write, you can't share your idea."

SPENCER DAVIS Age: 18 Hometown: Little Rock High school: Pulaski Academy Parents: Tom Davis and Cindi McConnell College plans: Undecided

At 18, Spencer Davis is already exhibiting all the classic symptoms of the brilliant but absent-minded professor. On his 13th birthday, Spencer got a ukelele (his guitar-playing never panned out, he said: "I was a whopping 90 pounds soaking wet and the thing was huge"). He lost track of time with the new endeavor, plucking away for a good six hours until he developed the requisite callouses on his fingers for stamina and, he said, "had accomplished something on my own. ... I had essentially learned the fundamentals of an entire instrument in a day." Now, he said, the ukelele is his "go-to zen place." The meditative practice is clearly effective. Spencer, a straight-A student with a perfect score on the ACT, is president of his school's Young Democrats club and volunteers at the Little Rock Animal Village and the Ronald McDonald House. For his Senior Thesis class, he is writing a 50-page paper covering "the contemporary Religious Right and their impact on American politics, focusing mainly on their impacts on abortion and gay marriage," he said. Spencer settled on that topic in the middle of playing a soccer game. "I don't quite know how," he said. "I think that I probably took a header too hard." He's still weighing his options for college (University of Southern California and Purdue University among them), and said he'll "attempt a double major in computer science and political science. When the workload overwhelms me, I'll probably end up doing computer science and mathematics."

FATEEMAH FAIQ Age: 18 Hometown: Arkadelphia High school: Arkadelphia High School Parents: Saba Chaudry College plans: Stanford University, California

Fateemah Faiq attributes her deep and guiding sense of empathy to the fact that not only has she met many people who engage the world from perspectives different from her own, she has already navigated a number of watershed moments in her own life. By the age of 12, she had moved from her birthplace of New Jersey to Pakistan, and then to Malaysia, before returning to the U.S. and Arkansas. These cultural and geographic transitions, she said, taught her to "appreciate the differences that make our world so diverse and impressive." A drastic constriction of her family's financial means further developed her ability to relate to people from various socioeconomic backgrounds, as it wrought both major and minor changes in her life. Rather than resentment, she feels gratitude for the "new view on life" it has given her. "It has improved me as an individual, and I am proud of the person I have become," she said. In addition to earning a 4.193 grade point average, maintaining leadership roles in school organizations, playing clarinet in the band, playing tennis, and tutoring, she also served a crucial role in the CONE Foundation, a philanthropic endeavor through which students raise funds to award grants to community projects and institutions seeking support. Fateemah will attend Stanford University on a QuestBridge National College Match scholarship, which covers the full cost of her tuition, room and board. Though she doesn't yet have a particular career in mind, she said, her priority is to go somewhere she can "thrive and serve," living in a way that will have a "positive impact on as many lives as possible. ... I believe that all people deserve support and that every person has a responsibility to care for others, no matter where they are from or how 'different' they seem."

SIDRA HANSON Age: 18 Hometown: Hot Springs High school: Lakeside High School Parents: Angie Macri, Karl Hanson, Wade Derden College plans: Hendrix College, Conway

Connection and curiosity are the twin impulses that have led Sidra Hanson to her passion: writing. On a whim, she remembered, she joined the yearbook staff in her freshman year and "absolutely fell in love with it." Since then, Sidra has been recognized for her achievements in journalism at the annual Arkansas Scholastic Press Association conference, in both pre-submitted and on-site copy competitions. As copy editor of the Lakeside yearbook, she feels remarkably in tune with the daily lives of her fellow students, and senses that it gives her a unique "outside perspective" on the goings-on of the school and the student body. Beyond offering her a mode of exploration and expression, being part of the yearbook production team also plugged her into an invaluable network of supportive friends. In order to connect with — and reach out to — people who are not in her immediate peer group, Sidra has volunteered each summer at CHI St. Vincent in Hot Springs. Not knowing what she might encounter at the hospital each day, working there opened her up to a number of "monumental experiences," she said. She observed a Caesarean section and — in the same day — comforted a mother who was grieving the loss of her newborn. "Seeing people alone or alienated — or meeting them at a major moment in their lives, when they just need someone to talk to," she recalled, reframed her understanding of the role communication plays. With a 4.24 grade point average, Sidra is on track to graduate second in her class at Lakeside. Looking forward to her studies at Hendrix College, Sidra hopes to engage with subjects to which she hasn't yet been exposed. With such a persistent curiosity about the unknown, there is one thing she said she knows for sure: "As long as I'm writing, I'll be happy."

CHARLES MORRISS HENRY Age: 18 Hometown: Fayetteville High school: Fayetteville High School Parents: Paul and Mary Jo Henry College plans: Clemson University, South Carolina, or Southern Methodist University, Texas

Charles Morriss Henry loves being outside. "I'm actually outside right now," he said when a reporter reached him recently. He was preparing for a soccer game then, but it could have been any number of pursuits. Charles has served as captain of the Fayetteville High School varsity cross country team, he's played varsity soccer for FHS for four years and spent tons of time outdoors in the long ascent to the rank of Eagle Scout. He spent 75 hours on his Eagle Scout project, a permanent outdoor classroom for the students at his hometown's Holcomb Elementary School, he reported in his All-Stars essay. "I study outside sometimes and I just wanted to make sure that other people got to do that as well," Charles said. (That must have worked out for him, by the way. Charles is ranked first in his class, with a grade point average of 4.25, and is an AP Scholar with Distinction.) "Basically, what I did was design eight benches by their concrete garden — it's made out of cinder blocks and they have the students plant things there. ... And they use them a lot, apparently; I got a letter in the mail thanking me for my work there and saying how much they appreciated them." Charles plans to be pre-med, taking courses in microbiology and chemistry. In doing so, he'll be following in the footsteps of his father and grandfather, both opthalmologists. He's watched an eye surgery "and I found that really fascinating," he said. "They've shown me that they love what they do."

SABRINA ABIGAIL JONES Age: 18 Hometown: Russellville High school: Arkansas School for Mathematics, Sciences and the Arts Parents: Kurt and Sandra Jones College plans: University of Arkansas, Fayetteville

The members of the Arkansas Times Academic All-Star Team are so piercingly bright that you wonder, why bother with college? Go straight to grad school! Sabrina Jones, having patiently tried to explain to this reporter what was involved in her research project "The Gamma-Glutamyl-Glutamine Induced Neoplastic Transformation of NIH 3T3 Cells," gave this reporter a little extra help by providing her layman's synopsis of the research. In clear and concise terms, it explained she'd confirmed that certain chemicals encouraged cancer cell growth but another could slow the transformation down. "If we deny cells what they need to become tumors, we can stop cancer before it starts," she wrote in the synopsis. Sabrina said the lab experience, at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, was "humbling" and ignited an interest in research. She's looking at a new field, biophysics, which combines research into how, for example, voltage and molecules interact in the human body. To blow off steam from all her brain calisthenics, Sabrina runs: Half marathons are her favorite distance. "It's stress relieving. You can see from my course record I haven't chosen the most relaxing course load throughout my high school experience," she said. Running, she said, is a "metaphor for embracing pain but with the knowledge that something good is going to come out of it." Sabrina is not, of course, skipping college on her way to finding a cure for cancer: ASMSA's top student, a ranking she shares with All-Star Benjamin Allen, got a Bodenhamer Fellowship to attend the UA, which will provide her $70,000 and is awarded to only five or six students a year. On top of that, she was awarded a Governor's Distinguished Scholarship of $10,000 a year.

CHANCE KRAWCHUCK Age: 17 Hometown: Lowell High school: Springdale High School Parents: Todd and Crystal Krawchuck College plans: Purdue University, Indiana

Chance Krawchuk lived in Hong Kong from age 5 to 13. "There, I always considered myself as American," he said, "but coming back it was very clear to me and everyone else that I was nothing at all like my peers." Then Chance found his community in robotics. It wasn't something he'd grown up dreaming about. His only friend asked him to come along to robotics club. "I wasn't the least bit interested, but I did want to spend time with someone I knew," Chance recalled. It wasn't too long after joining the club, though, that Chance began to introduce himself as a roboticist. "Even when I played varsity football, or I made the JV wrestling squad, or when I was my party's candidate for state treasurer at Boy's State, if someone asked me who I was, I started with my name and then added the title "captain of a robotics team," Chance wrote to the Times. It's been a hugely successful run for Chance and the Springdale High School Gear Hogs. In recent years, they've won five tournaments, received three awards and competed in a world championship match. Chance even started the nonprofit FIRST Robotics, which has as its mission the sustaining of robotics programs and encouraging other young people to start their own. No. 1 in a class of 651, Chance probably could coast on his intellect and land a scholarship to a strong college. Asked why he worked so hard, he brought up football: "I was godawful for the first two years. I never got off the bench. It hurt getting tackled. But it also hurt my pride. ... I'd gotten complacent. I learned that you are who you settle for. No matter how good you are, you're always going to be someone else's mediocre. And I don't like the idea of being unremarkable. So I decided not to be." In his senior year, Chance learned the entire defensive scheme and started games as linebacker, cornerback and safety. At Purdue, he plans to major in aerospace engineering, en route to getting involved in a field that isn't yet off the ground: asteroid mining.

MARGARET LIM Age: 18 Hometown: Searcy High school: Searcy High School Parents: Annie Luy and Jayton Lim College plans: Cornell University, New York

Margaret Lim's record of high achievement began at a young age. In sixth grade, she won first place in the national Level I Letters About Literature Writing Competition for her essay on Sharon Draper's novel "Out of My Mind," about a girl with cerebral palsy. Margaret wrote about how the book had expanded her perceptions of disabilities and, as an honor for the prize, Searcy's Southwest Middle School Library was awarded $10,000. (She later won first in the contest in Arkansas in 2014 and 2016.) Margaret has been pegged for greatness from a young age. She's the youngest of four; all of her siblings were Academic All-Stars (three siblings was a record; four may be insurmountable) who all went to prestigious colleges. Margaret concedes there's been some pressure to be the last one through high school, but said, "It's nice to have siblings who have been through this before. They're a big part of my support system. I can always call them for help to figure out how to balance everything." She probably had to make a number of calls this year: She's taking six AP classes — every AP course Searcy offers, plus two additional ones through the state's Virtual School — and playing in the band and on the tennis team. She's managed the load well: She's on pace to graduate atop her class, with near-perfect ACT and SAT scores. She advanced to the quarterfinals of the state tennis tournament. She also made All-State band. During marching season, Margaret played vibraphone. For concert season, she switched to oboe. Though everyone told her she sounded like a "squawking duck" when she began playing, she's stuck with it. "Though I am a solo oboist," she wrote the Times, "playing in concert band has taught me when to project my melody, but also when to integrate myself into a kaleidoscope of sound." It'll be a music-filled summer for Margaret. She and her sisters plan to see Taylor Swift in concert, and she'll march with the Searcy High School band in the Washington, D.C., Memorial Day Parade.

GOPI LUKHI Age: 17 Hometown: Conway High school: Conway High School Parents: Govind and Rasila Lukhi College plans: University of Alabama

Gopi Lukhi is a devoted practitioner of her religion, Hinduism. It affects "every decision I make in my life," she said, from the way she eats — she's a vegetarian — to how she treats others. "I am a kind and innocent girl who would never intentionally harm someone," she wrote in her essay for the Times. In fact, she hopes to heal: At the BAPS temple she and her family attend in North Little Rock — a "big part of my life" — Gopi discovered a love for taking care of babies. Now she's thinking neonatology is the career she'll pursue, a specialty that will allow her to take care of babies born in critical condition. Gopi, who is ranked first in her class at Conway High and whose grade point average is 4.3962, also plays trumpet in the school band and is in the All-State Symphonic Band. When she's not studying for her four AP classes or playing in the wind ensemble, she likes to spend time with her best friend in Little Rock, hiking or going to parks. Her parents and her friend's parents come from the same part of India and both girls speak Gujarati (rather than the Spanish that strangers have spoken to Gopi because of her Indian complexion). Gopi said her parents moved to America so she and her older sister could get a good education, and so they have. For example, Gopi combined her love of biology and science with a significant accomplishment in history, traveling to Washington, D.C., to present a group documentary for National History Day, "The Rights and Responsibilities Concerning Tissue Research: Henrietta Lacks," about the woman whose cancer cell line was appropriated by researchers without consent of the family. "I think it ended up really well," Gopi said. She is likely to end up well, too.

NICHOLAS POWELL Age: 18 Hometown: Little Rock High school: Little Rock Christian Academy Parents: Michael Powell, Melissa Powell College plans: University of Arkansas, Fayetteville

Nicholas Powell embraces the opportunity of every new experience. "I've always wanted to learn and discover as much as I can and push myself to grow," he said. From attending culinary camp to volunteering as the assistant teacher of an ESL program, Nicholas has not let inexperience or discomfort hold him back. This year, he made his theatrical debut in his school's production of "The Sound of Music." "It was out of the blue," he said, "and no one expected it from me. But I can't confine myself to a classroom. I have to find new ways to express myself and find creativity in everything." For his senior capstone project, Nicholas again refused to limit himself to what was easy or comfortable, and in so doing laid a foundation for what he now believes will be his career: "I spent the last year designing and creating a functional, 3D-printed, prosthetic hand," he said. Through a program that matches people in need of prosthetics with people who can make them, Nicholas connected with a second-grader named Caitlin who was born with what he called a "debilitating hand deformity." Taking full advantage of the technology available to him in his school's engineering department, he created a prosthetic hand that he said will "restore some functionality and regularity to Caitlin's life." The project confirmed his thinking about studying biomedical engineering, and, specifically, pursuing a career in prosthetic research and development. In this field, the Little Rock Christian valedictorian plans to apply his creativity and knowledge to work that can improve lives. "It all comes back to giving back the way people have given to me. Even if people don't know your name or what you're doing," he said, "you can still make an impact for the betterment of the world."

KARI SI Age: 17 Hometown: Fayetteville High school: Fayetteville High School Parents: Jianlin Si and Renhua Wang College plans: Cornell University, New York

For many of our 2018 Academic All-Stars, college may be the biggest transition of their lives thus far — new friends, new digs, new demands to meet. Kari Si (pronounced "sigh") got an early start in life transitions. Kari grew up with her grandmother in a small seaside village on China's Shangdong peninsula. At age 5, she moved to Fayetteville to be with her parents, Jianlin Si and Renhua Wang, who had been studying there. "Dazed," her nomination essay reads, she was "unable to function." But after her mother enrolled her in a dance class, she said, she found herself opening up to her peers. "I feel like as children, you just hang out even though you don't know how to communicate," she said. Mastering English and a new dialect of Mandarin to speak with her parents was, no doubt, a test of resilience, but it's one that Kari seems to have used to catapult her personal drive and sense of inquiry. Kari danced competitively for nine years in jazz, lyrical, ballet and hip-hop genres. She's ranked first in her class. She's a four-time Arkansas State Music Teachers Association champion in piano. She served as president of Fayetteville High School's National Honor Society, Green Team and World Language Club, and she started a school-supply donation program called "Shooting for the Stars." Though her grade point average is 4.38 and her test scores are through the roof, Kari emphasized, "I don't feel like I'm inherently smart, I'm just insanely hard-working. I have to hold myself to a certain standard, and I set that standard for myself." Kari, drawn to Cornell on her brother Beau's testimony, was accepted to the Ithaca, N.Y., university as an early decision candidate. There, she'll study economics or engineering.

MARY KATHRYN STRICKLAND Age: 18 Hometown: Little Rock High school: Mount St. Mary Academy Parents: Reese and Julia Strickland College plans: University of Arkansas, Fayetteville

You might find it odd that Katie Strickland, No. 1 in her class at Mount St. Mary, wrote her Academic All-Stars essay about failure. She wrote that she did not make the school's premier choir, her Mock Trial team didn't qualify for the semifinals as it had the year before, and though she campaigned "passionately" for student body president, she didn't win. But that, Katie said, made her able to "welcome challenges with open arms ... face opposition with a smile and to embrace new doors when one shuts." Such setbacks produced unforeseen blessings, she wrote, and made her unafraid to "push the boundaries of my comfort zone." Katie's school record appears to be one, however, of a very comfortable and high-achieving young woman, with nothing but A's since ninth grade. Those A's come in AP calculus, chemistry and physics, but Katie said she tries to be an "all-around" girl and the subjects she favors are history and English. "The way I'm wired, I can write a paper [more easily] than sit down and formulate a math problem," she explained. As she's grown older, Katie said her interests in various histories have changed: When she was "really little," it was in the shipwreck of the Titanic. "I could tell you who was the captain of the ship who rescued" the survivors, she said. Then it was the Romanovs. Then World War II. "And I really liked learning about the Golden Age of France and the Russian Revolution," she added. Now, it's American history that's captured her heart, and she plans to use her love of history to major in international studies, to learn "how we can take history and influence where we are going now. What has worked? What hasn't worked?" Katie is also getting ready to combine that love of American history with the arts: A dancer, she's rehearsing for her recital at Shuffles & Ballet, where she'll tap dance to "The Schuyler Sisters," the lively feminist song from the Broadway musical "Hamilton" ("Look around, look around! The Revolution's happening ..."). Sister Joan Pfauser, Katie's counselor, wrote in her All-Stars recommendation for Katie that she "fits no adolescent mold that I know. She is honest, plays no games with you, totally invests herself in all that she does and, despite having firm opinions, is always open to the ideas of others." Sounds like a good trait for someone going into international relations.

CHUANG L. TANG Age: 18 Hometown: Little Rock High school: Central High Parents: Puteri S. Sillenneon and L.E. Tang College plans: Princeton or Yale universities

Interested in learning Java programming language? Well, pick up the e-book that Leck (as he's called) Tang wrote. It made the "What's Hot" section of iTunes in September last year. If that subject sounds like someone talking in code to you — well, it is. The young author and coding whiz has shared what he knows in other ways: He co-founded the Little Rock Math Outreach Program and coached kids at Pulaski Heights Middle School, an experience he found profoundly moving because of the appreciation expressed by the students with whom he worked. "I would say anything you can imagine you can build in code," Leck said. And, he added, "If you can write a good program, you can really help people build better lives." Leck has also conducted independent research in graph theory. He put that research to use in a science project, "Efficiently Predicting Traffic Bottlenecks via Max Flow Analysis in Weighted Digraphs," that sounds like it could be helpful to the Arkansas Department of Transportation (and taxpayers, too) should it alter interstate-building strategies. But that's not the road Leck plans to take. He wants to keep studying economics in college, because it's "fun." He thinks statistics are fun, too: "The big picture is made of small parts." Leck describes himself as a "jack of all trades," grounding himself in the fundamentals of many areas of math and physics. "It's good to have a solid foundation, to test out where you want to go," he said. No. 1 in his class, with 20 AP classes and a grade point average of 4.481 under his belt, Leck is sure to find himself on the right road to success.

REID MANSUR Age: 17 Hometown: Crossett High school: Hamburg High School Parents: Leslie and Steve Mansur College plans: Undecided

Reid Mansur epitomizes the fact that intelligence is not a question of what you know but how you use your knowledge. He knows a lot: As the regional Quiz Bowl MVP, a three-year alumnus of Duke University's Talent Identification Program, an accomplished musician and an insatiable reader, the range and depth of his knowledge is remarkable. But, according to his coaches, teachers and mentors, what makes him stand out most is his deportment. His guidance counselor remembered that what first caught her attention about Reid was his confidence, school spirit and "self-efficacy." His Quiz Bowl coach called Reid "the glue that holds the [Quiz Bowl] team together." He knows who he is and he believes in himself — surely a powerful trait to possess so early in life. Whether at meetings of his own Quiz Bowl team or at statewide and regional convocations, opportunities to connect with students who can match his intellectual energy and interests have been among "the best experiences of his life, as he felt he belonged in those environments," his counselor recalled. He translates that sense of belonging into all of his encounters, and it gives him the ability to discern when to lead and when to follow. When reflecting on his various leadership roles in his school — most especially Student Council — the Hamburg High valedictorian said that one of the crucial insights he has gained is that "followers are leaders in their own right." By all accounts, Reid exhibits respect for himself, respect for others and respect for the objective at hand. Though he is still deciding what step he will take next in his education, Reid feels a strong attraction to fine arts and performing arts. "The arts in many ways are a cycle. Creating leads to more curiosity, which in turn leads to the desire to create more," he said.

SAMUEL MOON RHEE Age: 17 Hometown: Little Rock High school: Episcopal Collegiate Parents: Sung W. Rhee and Eunju Kang College plans: Undecided

As a new student at Episcopal Collegiate in the eighth grade, Samuel Rhee tried out for the school's fall play. "As an eighth-grader in a new school who had never acted before, I wanted desperately to become part of the community," he wrote to the Times. But it wasn't to be. "I was crushed to discover that I did not make the cut," he said. But Samuel said he forced himself to ask the director for tips and prepared for weeks for the spring musical. He got a role. Since then, he's acted in seven school productions and two community theater shows. Earlier this month, he starred as Tevye in Episcopal's "Fiddler on the Roof." Episcopal counselor Tricia Davis said Samuel could regularly be found singing unabashedly through the halls. Samuel said he loves the community aspect of theater: "You create this moment with every performance that is impossible to really capture or recreate down the line. Each performance is totally unique because there's a connection you form between you and your audience." Also a leader on Episcopal's Quiz Bowl team, Samuel said his strong suits are random pop culture, math and Bible facts (he teaches Sunday school). He also recently memorized the periodic table for Quiz Bowl purposes. Nothing seems out of reach for him: He's the first student in the history of the school to take six AP classes in one year. He scored a perfect 36 on his ACT and a 1580 on his SAT. He had an internship with Lt. Gov. Tim Griffin and worked alongside Dr. Wendy Ward as part of the Arkansas Children's Hospital Research Fellowship. During the latter, he said he was moved by seeing a Latino family bring a child into Children's and struggle to communicate with doctors. "That communication barrier created such a sense of emotional loneliness. The reality is that we're surrounded by people who struggle to communicate with their doctors. ... It made me wonder what I could do to help, whether it's learning Spanish or advocating for creating an infrastructure where we provide more translators in hospitals."

PEYTON WILSON Age: 18 Hometown: Springdale High school: Har-Ber High School Parents: Vance and Bridget Wilson College plans: Boston College, Massachusetts

It's not unusual for a college applicant's pitch to include her experience from early school years — junior high, even. College admissions offices, after all, want to pick a team with a track record. For Peyton Wilson, though, it was at age 7 that she marched into her house and announced that she wanted to follow in the footsteps of the Wilsons3Foundation, a child abuse prevention-focused charity that Peyton's parents, Vance (a former Major League Baseball catcher) and Bridget Wilson, had started in Northwest Arkansas. Her elementary school consortium of five and their lemonade stand — "Peyton's Pals," it was called — swelled into dozens. Fire trucks showed up full of firefighters in search of lemonade and cookies. The kids raised $1,700 for an adjacent charity called EOA Children's House. So, consider this: Peyton is a person who was born in the year 2000 and, nevertheless, has the words "Peyton's Pals, est. 2007" on her resume. As her nomination essay put it, rather conservatively, "The power of potential in youth is overlooked." Peyton is first in her class of 661 at Har-Ber High School, a drill captain and All-State percussionist for the school's Wildcat Marching Band, captain of the varsity tennis team, and a member of the National German Honor Society. Her band director writes that she is "committed to the success of her peers" and that "her attitude toward playing her instrument [is] fearless." When Peyton was asked about those glowing recommendations, the first words out of her mouth were about her parents, who she said are "very determined to find the good in people." In keeping with her Catholic faith, she'll attend Boston College this fall, where she'll major in international studies.

2018 Arkansas Times Academic All-Star Team

[airoasis]

Finest inspirational speakers in Nigeria ▷ NAIJ.COM

What do you know about inspirational speakers? They are more and more individuals engaging in this course all over the world. Our country is not an exception to this pattern. Let's browse the best motivational speakers in Nigeria!

Really, motivational speakers are talented and talented individuals like comics and singers, and they have a strong desire to motivate, challenge, encourage and provide hope to individuals through motivation. Nowadays, the motivational speaking market in Nigeria is a fast-growing one. As an outcome of this, we have some fantastic females and guys here doing a great task. Let's take an appearance at a few of these inspirational speakers: He is a professor of Analytical Chemistry. Vincent Anigbogu returned to his native country Nigeria in order to satisfy his passion of transforming lives after an intense lecturing career in the US. In accordance with his vision, the professor developed the popular Institute for National Improvement in 2007, one year after his go back to the country.

The institute, which happens to be his platform for carrying out his life change vision, has training centers in Kenya, Nigeria, Uganda, Rwanda, Ivory Coast, South Africa, and even London in the UK, and Atlanta in the United States. His objective is to "develop over 20 million leaders worldwide."Also, Vincent Anigbogu works as an expert for churches, federal government, various organizations of greater learning, and service establishments.

The next one is Ubong Essien, who is understood to be the first motivational speaker in West Africa to have been awarded with a Qualified Speaking Professional. Really, he has actually touched numerous lives in Nigeria and throughout the world with his passion for assisting people to find and to improve themselves.

Ubong Essien is the author of"Dare to Dream and Be successful ","The Complete Speaking Course", and "The Entrance to Riches". He is the dean of The Public Speaking Training Center, of the School of Eloquence based in London and Lagos. By the way, he has actually worked as a consultant to big companies like Nigerian Tribune, NLNG, May and Baker, UAC PLC, and many others.Oluwafeolami Durotoye(also referred to as Fela Durotoye )is a family name. He is widely known as a skilled inspirational speaker who has an enthusiasm for reaching Nigerian youths. With a clear mission to "build the people that will build the country ", Fela has participated in many jobs over the years in a quote to help make Nigeria realise its dream. Also, he is the C.E.O of Noticeable Impact, one of the avenues through which he is reaching his objective. He likewise has other tasks like GEMS (Generation that will be Empowered, Encouraged, and Stirred to run with Natural Excellence ), RAISE, and so on. By the way, in 2012, Fela Durotoye climaxed of the greatest variety of books checked in one sitting by a single author. At the time, he transferred 10,000 of his book "17 Tricks of High Flying Students"in 8 hours 49 minutes.The next one is Sam Adeyemi, who is the founder and senior pastor of the Daystar Christian Centre. Sam is a honey-mouthed incentive who has actually touched numerous lives through motivational speaking, utilizing the Christian religion as his platform. He anchors programs on television and radio, and he is also the president of the non-profit company called Success Power. It is an avenue he utilizes to fulfill his vision of impacting lives. Sam has actually authored many books, some of which are" Parable of Dollars", "Who you Are", and "2nd Revolution". George Essien(born in 1982)is the first motivational speaker in Nigeria to be designated PPC(Peak Performance Consultant ). He is a young, dynamic speaker who began his profession in 1995 and ended up being a professional speaker in 2005. Due to his self-determination and perseverance, George has arrived and is now identified in his objective to motivate and encourage young individuals by utilizing his story. Really, George speaks at workshops and conferences throughout the country and is the organizer of PowerMinds Community.Then we have Niyi Adesanya. He is an expert on the subject of leadership and human capital advancement, who began his expert speaking career in 2005. He is the president of Niyi Adesanya Mass Empowerment Effort(NAME-IT), Alliance of Change Empowerment Speakers(ACES ), and Fifth Gear Consulting Company. By the way, Niyi has actually used his services to such huge business as Etisalat, Chevron, and Texaco. He released a number of books consist of "The Speaker", "The Politics of Profession and Organisation", and "Private Competitiveness".

Well, Steve Harris is likewise called a growing force in the motivational speaking market. He is a brilliant speaker who was noted amongst the world's top 100 business coaches to follow on Twitter in April 2016. As for now, he is the managing director of "EdgeEcution", a company of management consultant, and a certified member of such highly regarded organizations as International Licensed Professionals Association, Canada, Life Coaches Association of Nigeria, and International Coach Federation (ICF). He has composed his own inspirational books, among which is titled "The Quickest Range Between Where You Are And Where You Desired To Be".

Another top Nigerian motivational speaker and consultant is Uju Onyechere. His aim to help people explore themselves made him take up freelance writing for newspapers. He tried to reach out to more people during the early years of his speaking career.

Finest inspirational speakers in Nigeria He was as soon as estimated to have stated that he"mentored professors even as a first-degree holder". Actually, Uju is the C.E.O of "Edwards and Benson Group", and has actually authored books like "Models and Mentors", and "Managing Executive Tension".

The next one is Patricia Omoqui, an American lady wed to a Nigerian guy, making her Nigerian by marital relationship. Generally, the Princeton graduate has been a substantial effect on the lives of lots of people all over the world.

She is also widely understood as The Idea Doctor. She wants Nigeria and reveals this enthusiasm through her space as a writer in numerous Nigerian newspapers and magazines like Appeal, Lead, and so on. You can see Patricia on different TV stations in numerous nations, where she encourages individuals with her enriching video.

The last one is Olakunle Soriyan. He is the Principal Change Strategist at his Olakunle Soriyan Business, and a pastor at Fountain Life Church. In fact, Olakunle has a powerful life story of how he went from somebody to no one and after that reversed from no one to someone when more. To encourage other Nigerians and give them hope, he talks about the many mistakes and incorrect choices he had actually taken in life, and how he increased above them.So, we have had a look at simply 10 of the many speakers we have in the growing motivational speaking industry in Nigeria. Like lots of other countries, Nigeria is flooded with unmotivated, aimless youths who need the motivation to stay activated.To offer this inspiration to other individuals, you have to be an inspired and talented speaker. In any case, here are 10 of the most popular inspirational speakers in Nigeria, who can inspire us to do excellent things and to inspire other people. Think in yourself!

[foryourart]

Josely Carvalho (Brazilian, b. 1942),  Waiting, 1982Silkscreen and crayon on paper (diptych). 30 1/8 x 22 1/4 (76.5 × 56.5 cm) each. Courtesy of Josely Carvalho. Artwork © the artist. Image courtesy of the Hammer Museum. 

Thursday, September 21–Wednesday, September 27

Thursday, September 21

Special: Signal Tide, LACMA (Miracle Mile), 9:29am.

African Masks from June Harwood Collection (Silent auction) and "Sharpener" (Faculty Exhibition), Pasadena City College Art Galleries (Pasadena), 12–1pm. Also October 13.

Artist talk: Jaime Guerrero, Skidmore Contemporary Art (Santa Monica), 4pm.

Talk: Meditation and Art—Dutch Paintings, LACMA (Miracle Mile), 4pm.

Historia Plantarum, The Huntington (San Marino), 4:30–6pm.

Dialogue: Leonard Koren and Mário Ramiro on Zines, University of San Diego (San Diego), 5:30pm.

Picturing Prince: An Intimate Portrait by Steve Parke, Mouche Gallery (Beverly Hills), 6–8pm.

Radical Women Walk-through: Beatriz Cortez, Hammer Museum (Westwood), 6pm.

Hot is Cool Summer Film Series, Palm Springs Art Museum (Palm Springs), 6pm.

BORDERS, Self Help Graphics & Art (Downtown), 7pm.

Film Night: The Mahabharata, Laguna Art Museum (Laguna Beach), 7pm.

THE PAWNBROKER / MUDHONEY, Hauser & Wirth Los Angeles (Downtown), 8–10pm.

Sorry, Atlantis: Eden’s Achin’ Organ Seeks Revenge by Asher Hartman, Machine Project (Echo Park), 8:30pm. $20–40.

Charlotte Dos Santos, Center for the Arts, Eagle Rock (Eagle Rock), 9pm. $10–15.

Art Matters Fall 2017, Santa Barbara Museum of Art (Santa Barbara), $60–75. Also September 28 and October 5, 12, 19.

Friday, September 22

The Artist Business, The Mistake Room (Downtown), 3–5pm. RSVP recommended.

Educator Open House: The Scratch and Sniff Museum, Santa Barbara Museum of Art (Santa Barbara), 4–6pm.

Ism, Ism, Ism: Experimental Cinema in Latin America, REDCAT (Downtown), 7pm. $8–10. Through September 24.

Mercado Los Olvidados, pskaufman... gallery (Downtown), 7pm. Through September 24. $10–35.

Facing, BBQLA (Downtown), 7–11pm.

Cool World, Previously Invisible To Me, and YIELD: Poems and Drawin's, Club Pro Los Angeles (Downtown), 7–11pm.

Latinas Out Loud: ¡Pa’rriba!, Hammer Museum (Westwood), 7:30–10:30pm.

Saturday, September 23

Around the Table, Long Beach Museum of Art (Long Beach), 8:30–10:30am.

Dino Fest, Museum of Natural History (Downtown), 9:30am–5pm. Continues September 24.

Flower Arranging: Succulent Wreaths, The Huntington (San Marino), 10am–12pm.

Latin American and Latinx Art Via South Bay/Long Beach Shuttle Art Tour, various locations (throughout Los Angeles and beyond), 10am–5pm. Continues September 24.

Workshop: Feeling One Self (a relational practice) with Melanie Maar, Pieter (Lincoln Heights), 11am–3pm. $30.

unDocumenta, Oceanside Museum of Art (OMA) (Oceanside), 11am–5pm.

¡Murales Rebeldes! L.A. Chicana/o Murals under Siege, LA Plaza de Cultura y Artes (Downtown), 12–6pm.

Smithsonian Magazine Presents Museum Day Live!, Pasadena Museum of California Art (Pasadena), 12–5pm.

Chakra Mapping And Art Workshop, Women’s Center for Creative Work (Frogtown), 1–5pm. $24–30.

Children’s Flower Arranging: Mini Succulent Wreaths, The Huntington (San Marino), 1–2:30pm.

ECLIPSE: A Discussion and Q&A, Art Center College of Design (Pasadena), 1pm.

Talk: From the Kilns to the Grave: Pottery from the Three Kingdoms Period of Korea, LACMA (Miracle Mile), 2pm.

From Latin America to Hollywood: Latino Film Culture in Los Angeles 1967–2017, Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (Beverly Hills), 2pm.  

Marathon Sketching: En Plein Air, Pasadena Museum of California Art (Pasadena), 2–5pm.

A Woman's Place…, The William Grant Still Arts Center (West Adams), 3–6pm.

RESTORE: Modeling Alternatives to the Criminal Justice System, OCHI Projects (Mid-City), 3pm.

Billy Al Bengston: Dentos, 1965 - 1970, parrasch heijnen gallery (Downtown), 3–6pm.

Jaime Guerrero Artist Talk, Craft in America Center (Beverly Grove), 4pm.

Film: "Chocolate" and "Still Alice", LACMA (Miracle Mile), 4pm.

Robert Rauschenberg: Horsefeathers Thirteen and John Baldessari: Hands & Feet, Gemini G.E.L. (West Hollywood), 4–7pm.

LA / LA / LA, Robert Berman Gallery (Santa Monica), 5–8pm.

Artist talk: Kathy Curtis Cahill: Childhood Matters, Diane Mann: ...Continued, Carole Garland: I <3 DTLA, Elyse Wyman: Positive From Negative, TAG Gallery (Santa Monica), 5–8pm.

Alfredo Ramos Martinez and Latin American Modernism, Louis Stern Fine Arts (Beverly Hills), 5–7pm.

HANS BURKHARDT IN MEXICO, Jack Rutberg Fine Arts (Fairfax), 5–8pm.

Coastal/Border and Southbay / Long Beach Hub Opening Reception, Angels Gate Cultural Center (San Pedro), 5pm.

Frank Bowling, Marc Selwyn Fine Art (Beverly Hills), discussion with Gavin Delahunty, Senior Curator of Contemporary Art, Dallas Museum of Art, 5:30–7:30pm.

Christina Fernandez: Prospect, Gallery Luisotti (Santa Monica), 6–8pm.

Axé Bahia: The Power of Art in an Afro-Brazilian Metropolis, Fowler Museum (Westwood), 6–10pm. Opening day programs, September 24.

Skip Arnold: plus ou moins and Stephen Neidich: not necessarily necessary, ltd los angeles (Mid-City), 6–8pm.

Retna: Mano A Mano, New Image Art (West Hollywood), 6pm.

David Armacost and Nilay Lawson: Untitled, 2017, AA|LA (West Hollywood), 6–9pm.

Pedro Friedeberg: Tetragrammoebius, M+B (West Hollywood), 6–8pm.

Claire Anna Baker: Suspended Wire: Suspended Wire, Moskowitz Bayse (Hollywood), 6–9pm.

Amir H. Fallah: A Stranger In Your Home, Shulamit Nazarian (Hollywood), 6–9pm.

Jagdeep Raina, Grice Bench (Downtown), 6–9pm.

Renaud Jerez, Jenny’s (Silver Lake), 6–8pm.

Live Broadcast of Carmen, Exposition Park (Downtown) and Santa Monica Pier (Santa Monica), 7pm.

Sonorama! Latin American Composers in Hollywood, Getty Center (Brentwood), 7pm.

A Cut Above / aka In Taglio, Loft at Liz's (Mid-City), 7–10pm.

D*Face: Happy Never Ending, Kristen Liu-Wong: Conflict/Resolution, Ray Caesar, Corey Helford Gallery (Downtown), 7–11pm.

The Neutra Contemporary 2017, Neutra Institute Gallery & Museum (Silver Lake), 7–10pm.

Recuerdos de un cine en español: Latin American Cinema in Los Angeles, 1930-1960, UCLA Film & Television Archive (Westwood), 7:30pm.

Summer Happenings at The Broad: Basquiat, The Broad (Downtown), 8:30pm. $25.

Sunday, September 24

Get The Job: Résumé Crafting, Women’s Center for Creative Work (Frogtown), 9am–1pm. $48–60.

KIDS SCREENINGS: Family Flicks Film Series: Duck Soup, Hammer Museum (Westwood), 11am.

L.A. Artist Grant Opportunity Workshop, Craft in America Center (Beverly Grove), 11am–12:30pm.

City of L.A. Master Artist Workshop, Craft in America Center (Beverly Grove), 11am.

Coffee and Conversation with the Artists, Studios of Echiko & Minoru Ohira (San Gabriel), 11am–1pm.

Caribbean Festival, Museum of Latin American Art (Long Beach), 11am–5pm.

Axé Bahia Opening Day Programs, Fowler Museum (Westwood), 12–4pm.

Ruben Ortiz Torres: White Washed America, Royale Projects (Downtown), 12–5pm.

Marco Kane Braunschweiler: MONKEY, Human Resources (Chinatown), 12–4pm.

A Clay Workshop with Andres Payan, Craft and Folk Art Museum (Miracle Mile), 1–5pm. $50–60.

Jesse Benson: Miracle Grow, Michael Benevento (Koreatown), 1–3pm.

Super Workshop: Design Your Very Own Superhero, 356 Mission (Downtown), 1–5pm.

Chalk it Out, California African American Museum (Downtown), 1–3pm.

Families: On-Site: North Hollywood—Imagining the Shakyamuni Buddha Today, LACMA (North Hollywood), 1:30pm.

TOURS & TALKS: Radical Women Curator Walk-through, Hammer Museum (Westwood), 2–3pm.

Danza Azteca: Honoring the Past, Blessings for the Future, Beta Main (Downtown), 2–3pm.

China Art Gardens, China Art Objects (Highland Park), 2–6pm.

Artist Walkthrough: Lineage Through Landscape with Fran Siegel, Fowler Museum (Westwood), 3pm.

The "Minor Players" of Art History: Reassessing the Field, MOCA Grand Avenue (Downtown), 3pm.

7th Annual Beyond Baroque Awards Dinner, Beyond Baroque Literary | Arts Center (Santa Monica), 6––10pm. $60–70.

Getting Real With Money, Women’s Center for Creative Work (Frogtown), 7–10pm. $60–75

Monday, September 25

Pinch, Slab, Coil, POT! A Clay Workshop with Andres Payan, Craft & Folk Art Museum (Miracle Mile), 1–5pm.

Families: On-Site: North Hollywood—Art Workshop, North Hollywood Amelia Earhart Regional Library (North Hollywood), 2pm.

Lecture: Old 'New Media': Xerox Art in Brazil, University of San Diego (San Diego), 6pm.

Screening: Teach us All, California African American Museum (Downtown), 7–9pm.

The Isherwood-Bachardy Lecture - Isherwood, Auden, and Spender Before the Second World War, The Huntington (San Marino), 7:30pm.

Tuesday, September 26

Film: The Wiz, LACMA (Miracle Mile), 1pm.

ARTIST TALK: Rodney McMillian, Art + Practice (Leimert Park), 7pm.

Wednesday, September 27

Suzanne Lacy & Pablo Helguera at the Art, Design & Architecture Museum, UC Santa Barbara (Santa Barbara), 5–6:30pm.

Talk: Panel Discussion—The Diversity Bonus in the Knowledge Economy, LACMA (Miracle Mile), 7pm.

In Conversation: Malik Gaines and Tavia Nyong'o, California African American Museum (Downtown), 7–9pm.

SCREENINGS: Las Madres: The Mothers of the Plaza de Mayo and Después de Terremoto: Two Films by Lourdes Portillo, Hammer Museum (Westwood), 7:30pm.

[arsenalhistory]

May 6th In Arsenal's History

On this day in 1868 Henry Boyd was born in Pollockshaws, Scotland. After playing for Sunderland Albion, Burnley & West Bromwich Albion, centre forward Boyd signed with Woolwich Arsenal in May 1894. He scored eight goals in his first four matches. Sadly for Boyd he then broke his leg and was kept out of the game for over a year. All in all Boyd scored 32 goals in 41 appearances before he was sold to Newton Heath in January 1897 for £45. Today in 1914 future Arsenal captain Billy Blyth joined the club. He made 12 appearances before the outbreak of World War I. After the war he went on to make a total of 343 starts for the club scoring 51 goals and played in Arsenal's first ever FA Cup final in 1927. He finally left for Birmingham City in 1929. Arsenal played a benefit match today in 1916. It was to raise funds for the widow of the tragic Bob Benson who died while an Arsenal player. They invited a team made up of a Rest of London XI. The match ended in a 2-2 draw. Never officially an Arsenal player, Freddie Steele was born in Hanley, England today in 1916 aswell. He played numerous times for Arsenal as a guest player during World War II. Today in 1922 the aforementioned Billy Blyth scored the goal that gave Arsenal a 1-0 win over Bradford City at Highbury in the last match of the season. After a dismal season which included 5 consecutive defeats Arsenal rounded off with 4 wins and a draw in the last 5 to finish 7th in the league. Henry White was the club's top scorer with 19 goals. Herbert Chapman ended his final (complete) season with a 3-1 defeat at Bramall Lane against Sheffield United despite a Frank Hill goal. Arsenal had already won the league for the second time in three years. Cliff Bastin's 33 goals made him top scorer for the season. Champions Arsenal went to Carrow Road for a post season friendly on this date in 1935. Ray Parkin got the only goal of the match in Arsenal's 0-1 win. Arsenal players George Male, Eddie Hapgood, Cliff Bastin, Jack Crayston, Ray Bowden and Wilf Copping were all in the England eleven that played Austria today in 1936 at the Prater Stadion, Vienna. Hapgood captained the side that was managed by Tom Whittaker but lost the match 1-2. In 1939 today it was the last match in an Arsenal shirt for Eddie Hapgood. The Gunners beat Brentford 2-0 in the match at Highbury courtesy of Ted Drake and Alf Kirchen's goals. Arsenal had finished 5th and Drake's goal added to his top scorer's tally for the season of 16 goals. The action was filmed and used in the movie 'The Arsenal Stadium Mystery'. Captain and left back Hapgood retired after playing 440 times for the club. He had been with Arsenal since 1927 when he signed from Kettering Town for £950. Four other players took their final bow after this match. Midfielder Jack Crayston also retired after 187 performances in Arsenal colours, another retiree was right winger Alf Kirchen who had signed off with his 45th goal in his 101st match. It was the last of two matches for goalkeeper George Marks who was sold to Blackburn Rovers in 1946 after the war and centre forward Andrew Farr also played his second and final first team match before moving on to Aidrieonians in 1940. In the Football League South today in 1944 Brentford were at White Hart Lane to play Arsenal. Ted Drake scored and Reg Lewis bagged two in a 3-1 win for Arsenal. In 1948 on this date the Gunners continued to enjoy the sunshine in Portgual where they were beaten 3-2 by Oporto in a friendly. On the final day of the season today in 1950 Arsenal enjoyed themselves with a 2-5 win over Stoke City at the Victoria Ground. Reg Lewis and Ian McPherson both scored and Doug Lishman got a hat trick. The Gunners finished in 6th place with Lewis getting top honours for goals scored with 24. Today in 1954 Arsenal played their second friendly in Switzerland. The day before they had beaten by Grasshoppers today they faced Young Boys. Cliff Holton opened Arsenal's account but no one could add to it and the Swiss side won the match 3-1. Today in 1955 Highbury was in use again for a Representative match between England and Young England. The senior side won the match 5-0. The same two sides met at Highbury again today in 1960 when England beat Young England 2-1. Arsenal were at Old Trafford on this date in 1963. Goals from Joe Baker, Alan Skirton and Geoff Strong managed a hard fought 2-3 win over Manchester United. George Eastham was at Wembley Stadium today in 1964 as he played for England in an international friendly with Uruguay. 55,000 watched a 2-0 England win over the South American side. Stoke City were at Highbury today in 1967 but left empty handed after Arsenal beat the Potters 3-1. Frank McLintock and John Radford scored for the Gunners and Stoke put through their own net. Ray Kennedy joined Arsenal on this day in 1968 as an apprentice. Before leaving in 1974 he had notched up 212 appearances and scored 71 goals for the Gunners. In 1972 this was the date that Arsenal as FA Cup holders lost 0-1 in the Centenary Final to Leeds United at Wembley Stadium. Arsenal travelled for a post season friendly today in 1974 with Kettering Town. John Radford, Brian Hornsby and Charlie George all scored in a 0-3 win. It was the first time that Arsenal would play apprentice John Matthews who would make his official debut in the opening match of the new season. In 1978 today Arsenal were back at Wembley. Unfortunately they lost another FA Cup final, this time to Ipswich Town in a 0-1 defeat. At Highbury today in 1985 it was Arsenal versus Southampton and Graham Rix scored the only goal of the match for the 1-0 win. The Gunners nicked another 0-1 win today in 1989 at Ayresome Park. Martin Hayes got the goal for the victory over Middlesbrough. In 1990 today it was not a good day for Tony Adams as after crashing his car he was found to have four times the legal limit of alcohol in his bloodstream. It was a 1-3 win over Manchester United at Highbury today in 1991 thanks to a Smudger Smith hat trick. Before the match Arsenal had the pleasure of the northerners forming a guard of honour to welcome the Gunners onto the pitch as champions. Smith finished top scorer for the club and top scorer in the league for the season with 27 goals. It was the second time they had won the title under George Graham, with just one defeat all season. Into the Premiership era and it was defeat at Hillsborough on this date in 1993. The Gunners failed to score and lost 1-0 to Sheffield Wednesday. Arsene Wenger gave two players their debuts in the match. 20 year old right back Scott Marshall (picture middle right) played for the senior side for the first of his 26 times and Gavin McGowan made the first of his 7 appearances ater graduating from the academy. It was this date in 1998 that Arsenal suffered what should have been a crushing 4-0 defeat to Liverpool at Anfield but they were still celebrating after securing Arsene Wenger's first Premiership title the match before at Goodison Park. Theirry Henry got both the goals today when Arsenal played Chelsea at Highbury today in 2000. It ended in a 2-1 Gunners win over the Pensioners. Before the match Thierry Henry was presented with the Player of the Month Award for April. Finally, it was Chelsea again when Arsenal next played on this date when Arsenal got a 1-1 draw at the Emirates in 2007 thanks to a 43rd minute Gilberto Silva penalty.