#this post has been brought to you by selections from the two appearing consecutively on my spotify

[infinitelytheheartexpands]

“third act where [in one case, almost] clergytenor is asked by formerly-cheating soprano significant other to forgive her and eventually he does”

third act of massenet’s manon versus third act of verdi’s stiffelio fight

[thefinishedarticle]

The Ultimate José

This is one hypothetical question which I keep seeing asked: if you had to assemble a starting XI out of all of the players José Mourinho has managed, who would you choose?

I have copied the discussion-prompting efforts of betting companies William Hill and 888 below, which agree on every member of the team apart from the holding midfielder: William Hill chose Michael Essien, whilst 888 opt for Claude Makélélé. But all of the papers have had their attempts as well, with a fair amount of variation in their results, so I thought I’d have a more thorough look to see just how reasonable their choices are.

Interestingly, it’s a question which has already been answered by Mourinho himself. He refused to do so in 2017, stating that to do so would be a disservice to the players who weren’t included. "It’s an answer that I’ve always refused to give and will continue to," he said then. "So many players gave their blood and soul when they played for me, how can I name some and forget others?”

However, this year he bit the bullet and listed a team as follows: Cech, Gallas, Carvalho, Terry, Zanetti, Makélélé, Lampard, Ozil, Ronaldo, Hazard, Drogba. There are a few differences to the teams suggested above, but then Mourinho is not necessary the objective expert here, especially as he had high-profile fallings-out with many of the talents under his management.

So which is correct?

Defence and Goalkeeper

Firstly, we should clarify whether we're choosing ‘the best players to have played under Mourinho’ over their career, or best players whilst playing for Mourinho. I assume the latter, In that case, Ricardo Carvalho is the first name on the team sheet. The pair won five league titles in seven seasons together, across three different clubs in three different leagues, and picked up five domestic cups and two European titles in the same period. 

Carvalho was a major part of Mourinho’s early success with Porto, winning two Portuguese league titles, a domestic cup, the UEFA Cup and the Champions League in 2003 and 2004, with enough of a starring role to be named in the Portuguese team of the season and the UEFA team of the season in respective years. He is the only member of that successful Porto squad with that level of recognition (Paulo Ferreira made the UEFA team in 2003, Maniche made it in 2004, and Deco made the Portuguese team in 2004).

Both Carvalho and Ferreira followed Mourinho to Chelsea, where they continued with their third and fourth successive league titles and three domestic cups in three years from 2004 to 2007. Maniche arrived in the 2004/05 season to share in that title, but he was only a squad player whereas the two defenders slotted straight into the first team. Mourinho then left for Inter Milan, but when he was signed by Real Madrid he brought Carvalho back from Chelsea: his compatriot was again a starring defender as they won the domestic cup in the first season, and remained a starter in their following league winning campaign before injury forced his demotion to the bench, and became a squad player for Mourinho’s acrimonious final year at the club.

Sergio Ramos was there for the full three years, sharing in those cup and league victories as well as twice appearing in the UEFA team of the year, but surely he can’t compete with Carvalho’s level of consistent loyalty and success. I think that John Terry also beats him to the other centre-back spot, because he was a fixture in both that original period of Chelsea success and Mourinho’s victorious return in 2013. The pair won three Premier Leagues titles and four domestic cups in five full seasons together, and Terry appeared in the Premier League team of the year for all three league wins (as well as in the UEFA team twice) to demonstrate his starring role in their success. He and Carvalho can renew their successful partnership. Pepe, Ivanoic, Cahill, Samuel, and others did well, but don’t quite clear this extremely high bar.

I am going to disagree with the examples above again when it comes to the left-back pick. Ashley Cole only really played one full season under Mourinho, having been signed post-title success, and was never part of one of his league-winning sides. William Gallas was his predecessor who starred in that dominant Chelsea team and won back-to-back titles, appearing in the Premier League Team of the Year for the latter. Most would say that Cole was the better player for Chelsea, or across his career, but that’s not what we’re looking for here - a point which will also apply to many Chelsea legends which began under Mourinho but only grew once he’d moved on.

The right flank is probably even more contentious. As noted above, Ferreira was an ever-present for five consecutive seasons and four consecutive league titles. Or you could play Maicon, Mourinho’s main man in Milan and a legend of the position. Both won titles and appeared in the UEFA team once under him. The choice of Zanetti is actually a really strange one: he made the most appearances of any player in those two years at Inter, but he starred on the right side of a three-man midfield rather than in his other role at right-back. 

If we’re just shunting players into that position, Sergio Ramos played at right-back under Mourinho's first season in Madrid, only shifting to the middle once Carvalho had left a centre-back berth empty (and appeared in the UEFA team for both). I’m minded to give him that role, allowing him to play alongside Carvalho and Terry, with Carvalho providing the bridge between the two partnerships, but it’s a tough position to decide and I think it would be fairer to go for an out-and-out right back in Ferreira, given he spent five years doing great work in that actual position. The left has fewer claimants, but Marcelo was a real star at Real (with his own UEFA team appearance) and probably edges Gallas when comparing their short time of two seasons each.

Circling back to goal, Cech’s position is also under pressure. Iker Casillas was more often in the UEFA team (twice to once), and De Gea was more often in the Premier League’s (twice to once, as well as one UEFA appearance). Cech was also relegated to the bench for Chelsea’s third title in 2014/15. He probably just edges it thanks to his longevity (four seasons of excellent goalkeeping compared to three and two), but again you could make an argument either way.

Midfield

Midfield is also interesting. Wesley Sneijder only had one, albeit brilliant, season under Mourinho. He was excellent in Inter’s treble success, but then we don’t credit Maniche and Deco when they led Porto to the Champions League, two titles and a cup. In comparison, Mesut Ozil was one of Real's stars for all three of Mourinho’s seasons in Spain, twice featuring in the UEFA team of the year. 

Essien is an interesting choice, a useful latecomer to both Chelsea and Real, but Mourinho won as much or more with Cambiasso, Xabi Alonso, Di Maria, Khedira, Kaka, Matic, Fabregas, Oscar and others, so there is plenty of room for argument. That’s ignoring the likes of Vieira, Modric, and Carrick who weren't really part of a Mourinho success story but have glittering CVs of their own. 

The one certainty is that Frank Lampard makes it. He was consistently great under Mourinho, and Chelsea’s top goalscorer in both of their title-winning seasons. I will include him alongside Makélélé, who did the defensive equivalent. Ozil could round out the trio and provide creativity for the front three, or it would be good to start Zanetti on the right side as another defensive-minded player, allowing the forwards to run riot.

Forward

Their selection may prove to be the most divisive. Cristiano Ronaldo obviously makes the team, as he would probably make an XI of all teams, but there are question marks over the other two. Mourinho managed forwards including Benzema, Higuain, Ibrahimovic, Eto'o, Milito, Costa, Crespo, Adriano, Torres, Lukaku, and Kane, together with others. People seem to think that Didier Drogba walks into this team, but they are probably thinking along the same lines as with Ashley Cole. He was a Chelsea legend more than he was a Mourinho one. His peak came under Ancelotti, when Mourinho was long gone.

Drogba may have gone on to define Chelsea, but people easily forget that he wasn't the star in their two title-winning seasons. He started fewer than half of their league games in 2004/05, and only scored 10 goals as Eidur Gudjohnsen took the lead role. He played the same number of games as fellow forward Mateja Kezman, who we don’t remember in the same light. In the next year’s league campaign he still only started 20 times, with the line led by new signing Hernan Crespo, and scored 12 goals. He doesn’t make the XI with the most starts for either year:

Cech, Terry, Carvalho, Gallas, Ferreira, Makélélé, Lampard, Mendes, J Cole, Duff, Gudjohnsen

Cech, Terry, Carvalho, Gallas, del Horno, Makélélé, Lampard, Essien, J Cole, Robben, Crespo

He certainly wasn’t the club’s top scorer in either year, let alone anywhere near dominating the league. He only really established himself in 2006/07, when Shevchenko was brought in for Mourinho’s third season, and his famous flop left the space for Drogba to rise. Chelsea didn’t win the title that year, but Drogba’s 33 goals in 60 games across all competions helped them win both of the domestic cups, and he secured glory with winning goals in both finals. 

Unfortunately, his form then dipped again alarmingly over the next two seasons. Chelsea’s rocky start to 2007/08 which saw Mourinho leave Chelsea was reflected by his record of one goal in their opening eight games (he would only score his second goal in their twelfth game of the season, but not before getting sent off in the eleventh). Overall, he had one excellent season under Mourinho, two useful ones, and one truly dire start, which was no blip but the beginning of a two year slump of disappointment, featuring repeated disciplinary issues (including the red card for slapping which lost them the Champions League), goal droughts and agitating to transfer. It’s a mixed memory at best, and tinted rose by his subsequent achievements under other managers.

The question is how that compares to the strikers Mourinho managed at closer to their prime. Diego Milito, for example: he led Inter to the treble with 30 goals in 52 games (he didn’t have a league cup to stat-pad in), including two goals and a Man of the Match performance in the Champions League final, a winner in the semis, and the only goal in the Coppa Italia final. That seems to be at least the equal to Drogba’s one top season, so the question is whether the additional time as a rotation option counts in his favour, or whether it dilutes his overall rating in terms of his performances under Mourinho.

Both Karim Benzema and Gonzalo Higuaín helped to fire Real to a record-breaking league title, and they were consistently top-class over Mourinho’s spell there. Benzema scored 32, 20, and 21 goals in 52, 50, and 52 games respectively, whilst Higuaín managed the slightly more modest hauls of 26 and 18 goals in 54 and 44 games before leaving for Naples. Their numbers are made more impressive when considering that Ronaldo was the team’s main goalscorer.

Then there is Zlatan Ibrahimovic, who served Mourinho briefly but brilliantly at two clubs. He preceded Milito’s sublime Inter season with an excellent one of his own, 29 goals (and 9 assists) in 47 games, including the Golden Boot to fire them to the league title and the final goal in each round of the Coppa Italia. That earnt him a move to Barcelona, but Mourinho offered him a reunion at United eight years later, and he picked up where they’d left off: scoring 28 goals in 45 games, before injury forced an end to his momentum. 

He had a massive impact on the United side as a talisman and leader, dragging them back up to 2nd in the league after their post-Fergie slump and leading them to victory in the EFL Cup and Europa League. He scored twice in the EFL Cup final, including a late winning goal, having kicked off their season by scoring the late winner that won United the Community Shield. Despite being injured in the Europa quarter finals, he recorded the second most goals and assists and duly made the team of the tournament (he was voted third overall). 

It is worth noting that this wasn’t like Drogba hitting his prime in a team of double-champions (United’s previous three top scorers had managed just 17, 14, 19 goals in full, injury-free seasons), but Ibrahimovic hit similar numbers anyway. He beat all of Drogba’s seasons under Mourinho apart from one, and we have to assume he could have beaten those stats if he had been allowed to continue (overall he scored 5 fewer goals in 15 fewer games, and in the league he played 8 fewer games but 3 fewer goals, whilst still beating Drogba for assists). 

His one Inter season was 25 goals and 7 assists in the league, five more goals and three more assists than Drogba’s best season at Chelsea whilst playing one fewer game. That’s two top seasons against one, and at two different clubs where Mourinho was new and needed a win. I know that there was more to Drogba beyond his goals, but the same is true of Ibrahimovic given his physical presence, impact on the team and higher assist tally. If we are looking at how the players performed under Mourinho overall, I thnk he has to edge it. 

People will do doubt mention that Mourinho once said Drogba was the best player to have played under him. This was said whilst Mourinho was manager of Real, with Ronaldo scoring 50-60 goals a season and winning the Ballon d’Or, so unless we accept that Drogba is better than Ronaldo we can’t hold those words up as gospel seven years later. It also seems that Mourinho has fallen for the Drogba nostalgia I alluded to, because in a recent interview he listed him as his highest-scoring striker, with 186 goals in total and 46 per season. Drogba’s actual tally was 78, which would be 19 per season and compares much less favourably to the other figures in Mourinho’s speech (an average of 30, 29 and 26 goals for Milito, Ibrahimovic and Benzema respectively).

Hazard is another player who had one excellent season (Premier League player of the year) under Mourinho, but then went on a drought and saw him fired. Is that better than the forwards listed above, many of whom, like treble-winning Samuel Eto'o, could play wide? Or Arjen Robben and Joe Cole, who won Chelsea's first two Premier Leagues?  Robben was consistently excellent across Mourinho's first three seasons at Chelsea and all the success they brought, but left just before the slump - that makes him a strong candidate, even without his later success. 

This is without even mentioning players like Shevchenko, Pizarro, Luis Figo, Salah, De Bruyne, Mata, Pedro, Sanchez, Willian and Balotelli, or Duff and Wright-Phillips who featured with Cole and Robben in those original Chelsea teams, or even peak Angel Di Maria, who played opposite Ronaldo for Real. Depending on how you play it, there are so many options here. But we should look to get Ronaldo on his preferred right wing, and that means we need a left-sided player, which rules out Robben’s famous trick of cutting in from the right and shooting with his left foot. I have also avoided the temptation to just shoehorn in another striker, as some have done. In that case, I’m happy to concede to the popular demand for Hazard, and hope that this appeases those who will no doubt clamour for Drogba’s inclusion.

The final team is therefore as follows: Cech, Terry, Carvalho, Ferreira, Marcelo, Lampard, Makélélé, Ozil, Hazard, Ibra, Ronaldo. This seems to be the best selection of the basis of the reasoning above, although there were difficult decisions in many areas and I would happily change a number of elements, especially when it comes to midfield: this is set up as a free-flowing offensive team to make the most of the riches of attacking talent on offer, but Zanetti and others could easily come in to make it more secure as and when required. I’m conscious that Inter feel under-represented, but then Mourinho was only there for a short time and many of the stars only joined him for a single year, so a lack of longevity has seen them miss out to players from his longer stints at Chelsea and Madrid.

[thisdaynews]

Garth Crooks' team of the week: Tarkowski, De Bruyne, Alli, Mane, Vardy

New Post has been published on https://thebiafrastar.com/garth-crooks-team-of-the-week-tarkowski-de-bruyne-alli-mane-vardy/

Garth Crooks' team of the week: Tarkowski, De Bruyne, Alli, Mane, Vardy

Liverpool maintained their eight-point advantage at the top of the Premier League with a late winner at Crystal Palace on Saturday.

That 2-1 victory ensures they remain nine points ahead of defending championsManchester City, who beat Chelsea 2-1 to climb to third in the table.

Leicesterare a point above City in second following a 2-0 win atBrighton,whileTottenhammade a winning start under Jose Mourinho as they beatWest Ham3-2.

On Sunday,Sheffield Unitedscored a dramatic late equaliser as they drew 3-3 withManchester United.

Here’s my team of the week – have a read and then select your own below.

Goalkeeper – Nick Pope (Burnley)

Pope:It’s been a good week for Nick Pope. A solid performance and a clean sheet for England away in Kosovo – and then back in time to play for Burnley and stop Watford taking any points at all.

His save with his feet from Gerard Deulofeu’s effort was as intuitive as it was excellent but the save from a free-kick moments later, bent around the wall by the same player, demonstrated Pope’s confidence and the way he has grown into an international goalkeeper.

Did you know?Nick Pope made four saves as Burnley ended an eight-match winless run away from home in the Premier League.

Defenders – James Tarkowski (Burnley), Fernandinho (Man City), Virgil van Dijk (Liverpool)

Tarkowski:If you win 3-0 away from home and keep a clean sheet, the likelihood of getting in my team of the week is very high and James Tarkowski has done just that.

The Burnley defender survived a tricky moment at Watford when he was booked for cynically bringing down Deulofeu, who he simply couldn’t handle in the first half, but the central defender got better and better as the game progressed – and got a goal too.

In the end, Burnley simply ran away with the game.

Did you know?James Tarkowski’s goal was his first in the Premier League in almost a year, last scoring against Brighton on 8 December.

Fernandinho:He might not be the best centre-back in the world, or even the best defender at his club, but what Fernandinho gives Manchester City is composure.

He is also one of the most committed players I have seen on a football pitch. His second half block on N’Golo Kante’s shot, destined for the back of the net, secured the points against Chelsea.

With Joao Cancelo, John Stones and Benjamin Mendy as reliable as a chocolate fireguard, Pep Guardiola has been very astute in keeping Fernandinho around. The Brazilian has brought an element of calm to their defensive ranks when cool heads have been essential.

Did you know?Fernandinho touched the ball more times than any Manchester City player and won a team-high 76.9% of his duels against Chelsea.

Van Dijk:Virgil van Dijk was at it again. This time, he was strutting around Selhurst Park as if he owned the place.

Whenever Van Dijk plays, Liverpool always seem to retain a sense of calm regardless of the circumstances.

Crystal Palace played their best football for some time, created chances and missed them, and seemed to suffer from the occasion more than their visitors. Strange, that.

Did you know?Virgil van Dijk has completed the most passes in the Premier League this season with 972.

Midfielders – Joao Moutinho (Wolves), Kevin de Bruyne (Man City), Dele Alli (Tottenham), Todd Cantwell (Norwich)

Moutinho:What a goal it was by Joao Moutinho at Bournemouth. When he shaped up for the free-kick, I wondered whether he would have the nerve to take the shot. Not only did he have the nerve – he had the technique to score.

The Portugal international is a gifted player and, alongside his superbly taken goal, he ran the show for long periods.

However, there was an element of inevitability about the Simon Francis sending off. When you spend nearly a year out of a Premier League starting line-up, you can’t expect to come back in and not get found out.

Meanwhile, Wolves are fifth. They can’t possibly keep this up.

Did you know?Joao Moutinho’s goal was the fourth direct free-kick Wolves have scored in the Premier League – with three of those arriving in the past two seasons.

De Bruyne:The warning signs were there in the opening exchanges of Manchester City’s win over Chelsea when Kevin de Bruyne flashed a right-footed shot past Kepa Arrizabalaga’s post.

The Belgium international then manipulated the ball on to his left foot and fired a shot that was deflected into the back of Chelsea’s net.

There are very few players in the world who can strike a ball as well as De Bruyne with either foot. It’s one of the reasons he is such an outstanding player.

Did you know?With three goals and six assists, Kevin de Bruyne has been involved in more home goals than any other player in the Premier League this season.

Alli:The move into the space, the turn and the pass from Dele Alli for Son Heung-min to do what he does best was superb.

However, what took place minutes later in the match at West Ham was something out of a box of magic tricks.

The ball is running out of play, it’s caught by Alli while falling to the ground and, while on the floor, the Tottenham forward back heels the ball into Son’s path – who then provides the perfect cross for Lucas Moura to slot home.

If Alli is going to be a success under Jose Mourinho, he will have to do more off the ball. Chuntering under his breath when the manager substitutes him after 70 minutes will not endear him either. Mourinho is only interested in team players.

Did you know?As well as registering an assist, Dele Alli produced more tackles than any of his team-mates as Spurs made a winning start under Jose Mourinho against West Ham.

Cantwell:This lad has made my team of the week before and I’m not surprised he’s done it again. His performance away at Everton was outstanding.

However, this was a bad result for Everton and even worse for Marco Silva. Liverpool are taking the Premier League by storm – meanwhile, on the other side of Stanley Park, their neighbours are hovering above the relegation zone.

While Cantwell is a player, Everton have too many big names not producing big enough performances. Silva can’t take all the blame but it will be a difficult week. We are in the ‘sacking time’ period.

Did you know?Todd Cantwell scored his first-ever away goal in English league football, in what was his 18th appearance.

Forwards – Sadio Mane (Liverpool), Jamie Vardy (Leicester), Son Heung-min (Tottenham)

Mane:Sadio Mane is fast becoming my favourite to win the PFA Player of the Year award. His performances so far this season have been wonderful.

Against Crystal Palace he was, once again, Liverpool’s biggest threat. He refuses to give any defence a moment’s rest.

That said, the Senegal international might have had a hat-trick in a game that could have finished 3-3. Instead, Liverpool tightened their grip on that elusive Premier League title – and much of that is down to Mane.

Did you know?Sadio Mane has scored more Premier League goals (eight) against Crystal Palace than any other opponent.

Vardy:Is it me or has Jamie Vardy’s game developed? Vardy is regarded as one of the best finishers in the country and quite rightly – he’s been among the league’s leading goalscorers for the past three seasons.

However, what I have detected this season, more than any other, is his unselfishness in front of goal.

I don’t know if this is due to the coaching of Brendan Rodgers or not but what I can tell you is Vardy looks a much more accomplished player. He produced a fabulous performance against Brighton and was the difference between the two teams.

Did you know?Jamie Vardy has scored in five consecutive Premier League games for Leicester, netting seven goals in total in that run.

Son:It’s great to see Son enjoying his football again after the Andre Gomes incident. The South Korea international gave a blistering performance against a West Ham side that couldn’t lay a glove on Tottenham for 60 minutes.

Mourinho’s decision to play Son alongside Harry Kane, Moura and Alli away at the London Stadium proved fatal for the Hammers. It’s still very early days but Son, Kane and Moura could do for Spurs under Mourinho what Mane, Roberto Firmino and Mohamed Salah have done for Liverpool.

Read more about what I have to say about Mourinho’s arrival at Spurs in Crooks of the Matter below.

Did you know?With 19 goals, Son Heung-min is Tottenham’s leading goalscorer in all competitions in 2019 – netting one more than Harry Kane so far this calendar year.

Now it’s your turn

You’ve seen my selections this season. But who would you go for?

Crooks of the Matter

He’s poked a fellow coach in the eye, and argued and pushed others on the touchline, but promises not to make the same mistakes in the future. I’m not entirely sure I believe him.

What is clear is that Jose Mourinho is on a massive charm offensive. How long he can hold it together is anyone’s guess.

The new Tottenham manager has been handed one of the best squads in the country, the best stadium in the world and one of the best academies in the game – and that is all accompanied by state-of-the-art training facilities.

If Mourinho can’t win trophies at this club, he should consider retiring from football permanently.

Let’s face it, that’s why he’s been hired – to win trophies. He can be rude and truculent. However, what he can do is win silverware.

Regular readers will know that I have been one of Mourinho’s biggest critics over the past two years but Spurs are a very different club to Manchester United and this relationship might work.

The moment you start hearing Spurs fans chanting Mourinho’s name, you’ll know it is.

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[magzoso-tech]

New Post has been published on https://magzoso.com/tech/whatsapp-in-2019-all-the-new-features-the-chat-service-added-this-year-2/

WhatsApp in 2019: All the New Features the Chat Service Added This Year

WhatsApp is known for actively developing multiple features simultaneously, and testing them for months before releasing them for the general public. The popular instant messaging platform has been working on big features like dark mode, a new multi-platform system, and new UI elements this year. It brought along features like improved group privacy settings, fingerprint unlock feature, and even Netflix trailer in-app streaming support this year. WhatsApp and Facebook integration was initiated with the introduction of a new feature called Share to Facebook Story. It essentially lets you share your status on Facebook, if you so prefer to do so.

This, and many more WhatsApp features were rolled out, or are being tested this year. Here’s a rundown of all them. Before we proceed, we’ve segregated this post into three sections – features that have already been rolled out and are available for commercial use, features that are being tested in beta, and features that were spotted in to be under development and haven’t been enabled for beta testing as of yet. The last option is the most ambiguous, and some of the features mentioned there may or may not make it to the testing phase. For that matter, some features mentioned in the beta section may also never see the light of the day in a stable rollout.

New WhatsApp Features in 2019 (Stable)

1) WhatsApp Business app for iPhone released, new Catalog feature introduced

After being available on Android for over a year, WhatsApp started rolling out the Business App for iPhone users earlier this year. It was rolled out in seven countries, including India. It is currently available in India, Brazil, Germany, Mexico, the UK, and the US. Furthermore, the company rolled out a new Catalog feature for businesses using the latest WhatsApp Business app on both Android and iPhone in India, Brazil, Germany, Indonesia, Mexico, the UK, and the US. The new feature is designed to help small businesses showcase and share their offerings through a distinct catalogue of products.

To mark the first anniversary of the launch of WhatsApp Business app, WhatsApp also introduced quick replies, labels, and chat list filtering on the Web version as well as the desktop clients of the Business app, in the start of 2019. These features were already available to WhatsApp Business users on mobile, but since January, these can now also be used on the Web version as well as WhatsApp desktop apps.

2) WhatsApp gets new Group Privacy Settings

After testing it out for several months, WhatsApp rolled out the updated group privacy settings globally. To find the updated privacy settings for groups, you need to go to the Settings menu of WhatsApp and then tap Account > Privacy > Groups. You’ll find the My Contacts Except… option that sits next to the existing Everyone and My Contacts options. This new option gives you the control to select which of your contacts can add you to a group on the instant messages. This change has been introduced to curb spam group invites.

3) WhatsApp biometric authentication arrives for iPhone, comes to Android months later

WhatsApp introduced biometric authentication support for iOS users in February this year, while Android users got it months later, after several rounds of testing. Both Android and iOS users can now have the app lock automatically, and unlock only with their fingerprint. Users can also choose how much time the app will automatically lock in, from immediately after closing, to after 1 minute, and after 30 minutes. Users will also be able to choose whether the content of their messages will be visible in notifications, including the sender of the message. WhatsApp for iOS users can also use Face ID to lock the WhatsApp app.

4) Consecutive voice messages feature arrives for WhatsApp Web, Android

As the name suggests, this feature allows for auto-playing of two or more voice messages sent one after the other. This feature was in testing for quite a while, before it was made available to Android users commercially. This feature was already available on iOS from before. Last month, WhatsApp Web also got the ability to listen to listen to voice messages consecutively.

5) WhatsApp Status Updates can be shared to Facebook Stories

Another big WhatsApp feature that was rolled out this year, includes the ability to share your WhatsApp Status on to Facebook Stories. This feature has rolled out to Android and iPhone users both. To let you easily share your status updates to Facebook Stories, a new Share to Facebook Story button under the Status tab appears on WhatsApp after you create an update.

6) WhatsApp rolls out ‘Frequently Forwarded’ label in India

In August, WhatsApp started rolling out the Frequently Forwarded messages label on both Android as well as iOS apps to let users know if the message they have received has been forwarded over five times. Long forwarded messages are also truncated, and users will have to tap to read the full message.

7) WhatsApp Tipline feature introduced

In a bid to crack down on fake news ahead of the general elections in the country, WhatsApp unveiled its ”Checkpoint Tipline” feature where people can check the authenticity of information received. People in India can submit misinformation or rumours they receive to the Checkpoint Tipline on WhatsApp (+91-9643-000-888). Once a WhatsApp user shares a suspicious message with the tipline, Proto’s verification centre will seek to respond and inform the user if the claim made in message shared is verified or not. The response will indicate if information is classified as true, false, misleading, disputed or out of scope. Proto has since clarified the tipline is essentially a research project, and is “not a helpline” that will respond to all of the users’ queries on WhatsApp. Gadgets 360 had shared a number of links and few photos with the Checkpoint tipline, but haven’t received any response yet apart from the automated replies.

8) WhatsApp gets enhanced PiP mode in Android, Web

In June 2019, WhatsApp for Android got an update that enhanced Picture-in-Picture (PiP) feature to allow users to watch videos in a pop-up window even while switching from one chat to another. It also continues to play the video on the floating window when WhatsApp is in the background. This feature was available in iPhone since the rollout for PiP mode last year, but was missing from Android. Also, WhatsApp introduced Picture-in-Picture mode for desktop users last year, but at that time, it only worked for the videos shared by the users themselves. With an update in February, WhatsApp Web users got the ability to use Picture-in-Picture mode for all video links, with support for Facebook, YouTube, Streamable, and Instagram video links introduced. This feature came with WhatsApp Web version 0.3.2041 update.

9) WhatsApp adds Netflix trailer support to video streaming in-app

Earlier in November, WhatsApp was spotted being able to stream Netflix video trailers in-app. WABetaInfo reported that when users share a compatible Netflix link, the recipient will be able to play the trailer video in the messaging app itself. The link will appear as a large thumbnail with a play icon in the middle, as is the case with YouTube video links. This feature is only available for iOS users for now.

10) WhatsApp adds Opi Stickers support

WhatsApp expanded its sticker collection by adding an Opi sticker pack designed by Colombian illustrator Oscar Ospina, in June this year. The pack includes Opi stickers featuring a white-colour bear expressing different emotions. Notably, the new sticker pack is available within WhatsApp for both Android and iPhone users. The Opi sticker pack includes as many as 30 stickers to let WhatsApp users “sneak, snooze, and celebrate” with the bear.

11) WhatsApp limits forwards to 5 chats globally

To combat fake news on its chat platform, WhatsApp limited the forward feature to just five chats. This feature was first rolled out to Indian users in July last year, and in January, the company rolled it out to all users globally. This change came as part of WhatsApp’s aim to maintain the image of a ‘private messaging app’ rather than one infamous for the spreading of fake news.

12) WhatsApp for iPhone gets Reply Privately feature

In the first week of 2019, WhatsApp rolled out an update for iPhone users, bringing many new features like Reply Privately support in WhatsApp Groups, ability to add stickers to photos and videos, and 3D Touch support to preview a contact’s status. The Reply Privately feature allows the participants of a group to reply privately to a chat in their 1:1 chat. To use the feature, the WhatsApp users will have to tap and hold a message in a group chat and select More, then select Reply Privately. Android users got this feature last year.

13) WhatsApp for iPhone gets 3D Touch to preview Status

In addition to reply privately, WhatsApp for iPhone update also got the ability to use 3D Touch to preview a contact’s status in the Status tab. The preview screen also lets the user Mute a status if they desire. It is important to note here that not all iPhone models support 3D Touch. Apple had introduced the 3D Touch support back in 2015 with the iPhone 6s and iPhone 6s Plus models. iPhone SE and older iPhone models don’t include the support for 3D Touch. The iPhone XR also doesn’t include 3D Touch, with Apple choosing to go with Haptic Touch instead, and this tech offers similar UI options as regular 3D Touch.

14) WhatsApp for Android adds group call shortcut

WhatsApp for Android v2.19.9 introduced a dedicated call button in group chats – something that is already available for iPhone users since last year. The newly introduced button can be used to make group calls by adding the participants all at once from a slide-out tray containing the contact cards of all members in a group. Here, you can tap on the names of people you want to participate in your group voice or video call.

New WhatsApp features in 2019 (Beta) 

1) WhatsApp new camera icon being tested

The latest WhatsApp for Android 2.19.328 update brings a change in the Instagram logo-like camera icon inside the WhatsApp app. Earlier, the app had a more Instagram logo-like camera icon, and that has been replaced with a more traditional camera logo. This feature is enabled in the beta app, and is yet to roll out commercially.

2) WhatsApp testing host of emoji-related features

Earlier this month, WhatsApp Android beta version 2.19.315 brought along new emojis and tweaked a few existing ones. The new emojis include more couple emoji variations, colour blocks, yawning face, and a single individual in various postures. An update in May brought along as many as 155 redesigned emojis. This change came with Android beta 2.19.139, and some emojis have got subtle changes in design and aesthetic. For example, the man with turban emoji has changed from a coloured turban to donning a more neutral white turban. Before that, WhatsApp Android beta 2.19.116 brought along a separate Emoji category for the Doodle Picker section. The category lets you choose from the slew of emojis available on WhatsApp to stick on to your status before posting it and it also splits it from the stickers that you will also be able to access via the Doodle Picker in a separate category. The Doodle Picker can be found in the Status Bar. Lastly, WhatsApp beta for Android version 2.19.73 brought an emoji showing a transgender flag. You need to go to the flag emoji section from the emoji menu to see the transgender flag that sits alongside the LGBT and UN flags. Gadgets 360 was able to independently verify the presence of the new flag on the WhatsApp beta build.

3) WhatsApp is working on bringing a new Splash Screen

WhatsApp recently started working on bringing a new Splash Screen for its users. This feature was spotted in Android beta 2.19.297, and a new Light Splash Screen and a Dark Splash Screen was spotted. The Light Splash Screen will show up when Dark Mode is not activated. The Dark Mode feature is also in development as of now. Splash Screen is essentially a new page that shows up initially when the app loads for the first time, with the WhatsApp logo plastered on a white background. This new feature was spotted in Business beta as well.

4) WhatsApp to bring Hide Muted Status Updates

In September, WhatsApp started testing the ability to hide muted status updates. The Hide Muted Status Updates feature brings the ability to completely vanish all traces of muted updates from the WhatsApp Status section. Currently, the muted status updates show up at the end of the scroll, but this new feature will hide that section completely. The feature was first spotted in WhatsApp beta version 2.19.260.

5) WhatsApp is working on bringing audio playback in notifications

WhatsApp has been spotted testing the audio playback feature in iOS beta. It was spotted in 2.19.91.1 iOS beta, and it brings the ability to preview incoming voice messages on notification panel. This feature is being tested on a few iPhone units only, so it may not be working for all beta testers.

6) WhatsApp testing Memoji Stickers on iOS

WhatsApp for iOS beta version 2.19.90.23 brought Memoji Stickers support for users testing the app. A new Memoji Stickers option showed up for beta testers, and the stickers show up in the frequently used section as well, alongside the normal emojis. Memoji stickers are available for iPhone X, iPhone XR and iPhone XS users only, running on iOS 13. To recall, Memoji is a feature introduced with iOS 12 that allows users to create personalised Animoji for themselves. Animoji are themselves likened to animated emojis.

7) WhatsApp working on a Quick Media Edit feature

WhatsApp iOS beta 2.19.80.16 enabled the Quick Media Edit feature for testing purposes. The Quick Edit Media Shortcut will provide editing of media files you have sent or received in an individual WhatsApp chat or a group conversation. A button called Edit will be available next to the share and favourite buttons; once you tap the media file you’ve sent or received on the app.

8) WhatsApp working on bringing animated stickers

WhatsApp is working on bringing animated stickers support to iOS, Android, and even the Web. PLatform watcher WABetaInfo shared screenshots and photos of the feature working on all three platforms. Animated stickers are different from GIFs – they keep alive throughout, while GIFs stop playing after a few seconds.

9) WhatsApp working on increasing audio files limit

WhatsApp is working on bringing a new UI for selecting audio files that allows users to preview (both audio and album art) an audio file before sending, and also lets users send up to 30 audio files at a time. This feature was spotted in development in January, but was later enabled in v2.19.89 Android beta.

10) WhatsApp Short Link feature for iPhone

For iPhone users, WhatsApp rolled out the Short Link feature with Business beta version 2.19.21.5. The feature is already available on both the regular Android and WhatsApp Business for Android apps, and is finally being tested on iOS. Using the new Short Link feature, the business can access a short wa.me URL to share with its customers, so that they can start a WhatsApp chat with the organisation. Once you’re on the latest version, head to Settings to find the Short Link section.

11) WhatsApp for Android redesigned Settings menu

WhatsApp for Android beta v2.19.45 introduces a redesigned ‘Settings’ menu with a slightly different layout and has also brought new icons for a variety of tools. The update brings relocation of certain tools, new icons and the way information is displayed on the screen. The first noticeable change is the addition of a ‘Payments’ option on the main ‘Settings’ page which shows a history of payments and details of the linked bank account. The update also brought tweaks to the ‘Network Usage’ page that now shows the memory usage status with details such as date and time, as well as the total amount of data sent and received by users.

12) WhatsApp for Android Download Single Sticker option

WhatsApp Android beta version 2.19.33 added the ability to download a single sticker from a pack. Earlier, a WhatsApp user was forced to download the entire sticker pack even if the person just wanted to use a single sticker from that pack. There was no option to download one sticker individually and leave out the rest. This download single sticker feature has now been made live in a beta update and is expected to come in the stable update soon. In order to use this download single sticker option, you must be using the latest WhatsApp for Android beta version 2.19.33. After downloading the update, open the in-app WhatsApp Stickers Store and long press on a sticker in a not-yet-downloaded stickers pack. WhatsApp will then prompt to ask if you want to save that sticker as favourite. It will show you the download size of the single sticker and offer a download option at the bottom for saving the sticker in the app. This new feature is very useful, especially for those who want an uncluttered stickers menu with only the relevant ones showing up. It also saves precious data for all the limited pack users.

13) WhatsApp’s new Shared Media Options

WhatsApp for Android beta v2.19.18 revamped the options users see in the Media section of individual or group chats. Users when browsing photos in the Media section will now see new options if they tap the three-dot menu button. These are ‘Show in Chat’, ‘Set as…’ and ‘Rotate’. The first option lets you see where that particular image or video was shared in the individual or group chat. ‘Set as’ isn’t actually new, but instead of individual options for images to be ‘Set as profile photo’, ‘Set as group icon’, and ‘Use as wallpaper’, the menu has instead been simplified, and users can now tap the ‘Set as…’ overflow menu to see ‘My profile photo’, ‘Group icon,’ and ‘Wallpaper’ as the target locations. Finally, the ‘Rotate’ option isn’t new either, but instead of ‘Rotate left’ and ‘Rotate right’ seen in previous builds, users can tap Rotate multiple times to achieve the same effect.

14) WhatsApp working on iPhone app redesign

WhatsApp beta 2.19.120.20 for iPhone brought along a redesign of few elements, and the most notable ones include different cell animations, redesign of read receipts, chat icons, and more. It also redesigned the image that appears when a contact has not added a profile picture and for groups without a group icon. This image now resembles the one that exists in the Android app.A lot more subtle changes are expected to be incorporated in the future.

15) WhatsApp testing Redesigned Facebook Logo

WhatsApp started testing a redesigned Facebook footer with 2.19.331 update. The new Facebook footer is visible on the welcome screen as well as in the settings menu of the latest WhatsApp beta version. Further, it is also available on the Splash Screen.

New WhatsApp features in 2019 (spotted in development, disabled by default)

1) WhatsApp Dark Mode still a work-in-progress

WhatsApp is inching closer to getting the long-awaited dark theme. It has been spotted on Android and iOS beta both, but the feature is yet to arrive in its full-fledged version or even the testing phase. It appears that WhatsApp on iOS will get multiple versions of dark theme that will vary in the strength of black shade applied across the app’s interface. A recent iPhone beta update showed how different shades of black will be provided to users to choose from. The darker theme will be the default theme that WhatsApp will use. The user will be able to switch to the second configuration modifying the device accessibility settings There is also a report that suggests that WhatsApp may launch the dark mode officially as ‘Night Mode’. At the moment, there is no word as to when the dark mode will arrive on WhatsApp for Android via a stable or beta update.

2) WhatsApp working on a Boomerang feature

WhatsApp has been spotted developing a Boomerang feature that would allow users to create looping videos. The feature is currently in a development stage and will be initially available for iPhone users, according to a report. However, it is said to also reach Android users soon after its debut on iOS. WhatsApp sister concern Instagram originally brought a Boomerang app particularly for its users to let them easily create one-second video loops. The Boomerang app was designed to counter Twitter’s Vine that offered six-second video loops segments. The feature would be available for videos that are less than seven seconds. Further, the video loops created through the new development could be shared with WhatsApp contacts through a message or uploaded as a Status update.

3) WhatsApp working on a new multi-platform system

WhatsApp is reportedly building a multi-platform system to enable users to activate one account on a lot of devices. WABetaInfo says that this includes WhatsApp for Windows (UWP), which brings the ability to use WhatsApp on your PC as well. The tracker says that the multi-platform system will work on iPhone, Android, iPad, and even WhatsApp for Windows (UWP) whenever it arrives. This means that users will be able to use the same WhatsApp account on multiple devices, without being kicked out of the main one. Users will be able to use their WhatsApp account on iPad (when the app becomes available) without uninstalling it from their iPhone. Similarly, the same WhatsApp account can be used on iOS and Android devices as well. As recent iPhone beta v2.19.120.20 update had some instances of the rumoured multi-platform system. To get access from a second device to a WhatsApp account, WhatsApp needs a registration code. This code will be sent to the main account used on the primary device, and it will splash a warning. This will enable a more secure way of using the multi-platform feature whenever it gets released in the future.

4) WhatsApp is working on QR code button

WhatsApp beta 2.51.151 is said to have the references for a new QR code button that would allow users to share their profiles and add contacts through specific QR codes. Once you tap the QR code button after going through the Profile section, WhatsApp would show the QR code that would let other users add you to their contacts list. You would also be able to add other users to your contact list by scanning their QR codes using the Camera feature on your WhatsApp.

5) WhatsApp is working on an in-app browser

In March, WhatsApp Android beta version 2.19.74 was spotted to feature an in-app browser every time the user tries to open a link shared over the app. This feature is disabled by default and still under development. The feature is being built to detect unsafe pages using the “Safe Browsing” feature which was added to Android 8.1 last year. It would alert users when a page is infected with malicious content.

6) WhatsApp is working on a Search Image feature

WhatsApp for Android is reportedly also testing a new feature to let users search images that they received or sent to their contacts. The new feature, which is apparently called ‘Search image’, would use Google to search for the images directly from a WhatsApp chat. The Search Image feature is yet to make way to the instant messaging app, but has been spotted as disabled by default in WhatsApp beta for Android version 2.19.73.

7) WhatsApp is developing an Advanced Search feature

WhatsApp is working on a separate ‘Advanced Search’ feature that will allow users to search for photos, links, audio, GIF images, and even videos, apart from the usual text search that is already enabled. The Advanced Search feature will also show recent searches as well. Notably, the Advanced Search image feature is separate from the Search Image feature reported above. As mentioned, this feature is still under development, and will roll out to all iOS beta app users in a future update.

8) WhatsApp is working on an algorithmic feed for Status

WhatsApp is reportedly working on a new layout to show status updates that will drastically change how stories are populated in the feed. The current iteration of WhatsApp shows the status updates in the order that they were posted, but the company is now experimenting with the idea of an algorithm-driven feed that will list the status updates based on relevance, instead of the existing reverse chronological order. WhatsApp has reportedly begun testing the new feed layout among a small group of users in certain regions. The new algorithm will reportedly give preference to those contacts whose status updates are more frequently viewed by the users. The algorithm will also take into account the frequency of interaction with a particular contact before positioning the status update by the person at a particular location in the feed. Priority will also be given to contacts whose status updates, the users are most likely to view, based on the past interactions. WhatsApp is reportedly testing the algorithmic status update feed with a small set of users on the iOS platform. The experiment is limited to some users in Brazil, Spain, and India.

9) WhatsApp working on a Blocked Contact Notice

WhatsApp was spotted developing a new feature in the recent Android beta 2.19.332 update. It is developing a new feature that will show in the chat when you have blocked or unblocked a contact. Every time you block a contact, WhatsApp will add a bubble in the chat reporting “You blocked this contact. Tap to unblock.” The same happens when you decide to unblock a contact. The tracker notes that this bubble will be added in your chat only, and the contact you have blocked won’t be notified about it. Of course, this feature hasn’t been enabled yet, and is still in the development stage.

10) WhatsApp is working on grouping blocked contacts

Another feature spotted in the latest beta 2.19.332 update is the ability to segregate your blocked contacts into categories. This feature will automatically group your blocked contacts list following a specific criteria, which means all your business contacts will be moved on a different section. The tracker says that the new arrangement will be automatic, and that you won’t have to manually set a contact as Business, WhatsApp will learn which contacts are businesses and they will be moved in the second section. This feature is also still under development that means it hasn’t reached the beta testing phase yet.

[junker-town]

Sidney Crosby’s 30 biggest moments from his road to NHL stardom

The Penguins captain turns 30 today, so let’s celebrate by reflecting on the moments that propelled him to greatness.

Sidney Crosby has officially turned 30 years old. It seems quite incredible that one of the greatest hockey players of this time has reached his 30s, but it’s true! The captain of the Pittsburgh Penguins has hit yet another milestone in his long hockey career.

By NHL standards, Crosby should be in the midst of a decline as a forward in this league. Yet, the last few years have been some of Crosby’s best in the NHL and in international competition. The future generation of hockey players are here in Connor McDavid and Auston Matthews, but Crosby’s recent dominance has shown that he’s not done quite yet. And love him or hate him, he’s here to stay.

As such, we’re here to celebrate Crosby’s long, industrious, and historic hockey career with a list of 30 moments, stories, or general pieces of fun that make up his story to date.

1. His humble origins

Crosby famously grew up practicing hockey in his basement, dinging up the dryer next to the net in the process. That story became so famous that people now believe Crosby actually shot pucks into the dryer itself, as he performed that feat for Jay Leno back in 2005. The machine now resides in the Nova Scotia Sport Hall of Fame, though the misconception of the story lives on.

2. His name is on his hometown’s sign

He’s Cole Harbour’s claim to fame!

3. His younger sister, Taylor, also plays hockey

And her bio at St. Cloud State is quite nonchalant about their relationship.

I love our Captain... but I also love how his sister's college hockey team addresses him in her team bio: http://pic.twitter.com/ZjjZxvQ1dW

— Jody (@jlhorn33) July 14, 2017

4. The Penguins had a 6.3 percent chance to win the 2005 draft lottery

Because of the 2004-’05 lockout, the NHL draft lottery for the following year was based on playoff appearances and draft lottery victories in the last four years. The previous year, the Penguins missed out on the top spot to grab Alex Ovechkin, raising their chance to draft Crosby in 2005 by 2.1 percent.

5. His first career NHL goal was assisted by Mark Recchi

Not a bad way to start your NHL career than on the receiving end of a pass from a future Hall of Famer.

6. At the start of his career, he lived with Mario Lemieux

The championship pedigree runs strong in Crosby’s early career, though he played just 26 games with Lemieux before he retired due to an irregular heartbeat.

7. Despite a strong first season, he did NOT win the Calder Trophy

Crosby’s 102 points were not enough to best Ovechkin’s 106 at the end of the 2005-’06 season, and so the famous “rivalry” began.

8. He’s set records as the youngest NHL player for a lot of things

That includes being the youngest player to:

Score 100 points in a single season (18 years, 253 days old)

Win the Art Ross Trophy (19 years old)

Win the Ted Lindsay Award (19 years old)

Be named to the NHL's First All-Star Team (19 years old)

Score 200 career points (20 years old)

Tally two consecutive 100-point seasons (20 years old)

Win the Stanley Cup as a captain since 1895 (21 years old)

His Art Ross Trophy win also signifies him as the only teenage scoring champion in any major North American professional sport.

9. At the time, he was the NHL’s youngest captain

Crosby was named the captain for the Penguins when he was 19 years and 297 days old, an honor he actually turned down when he was 18 because he didn’t think he was ready. Connor McDavid now has him beat at 19 years and 266 days old, but that record stood for nearly 10 years.

10. His commercials are no better than any other star athlete

Please stop subjecting poor athletes to these things.

11. His pregame rituals are precise

And he eats a peanut butter and jelly sandwich before every game!

12. At one point in his life, he owned a PSP

No news if Crosby has upgraded to a Nintendo Switch these days for those cross-country flights.

13. He’s also on a stamp

In the past, Canada celebrated great hockey legacies with commemorative stamps, and Crosby graced Canada Post’s “2016 NHL Great Canadian Forwards” alongside Phil Esposito, Guy Lafleur, Darryl Sittler, Mark Messier, and Steve Yzerman.

14. He’s the most decorated hockey athlete of his time

To his name across 12 NHL seasons, Crosby has:

Three Stanley Cups (2009, 2016, 2017)

Four Eastern Conference championships (2008, 2009, 2016, 2017)

Two Conn Smythe trophies (2016, 2017)

Two Art Ross trophies (2007, 2014)

Two Rocket Richard trophies (2010, 2017)

Three Ted Lindsay awards (2007, 2013, 2014)

Two Hart trophies (2007, 2014)

Six NHL All-Star selections (2007, 2008, 2009, 2011, 2015, 2017)

A World Junior gold medal (2005)

Two Olympic gold medals (2010, 2014)

A World Cup of Hockey gold medal (2016)

15. He won Canada its first Olympic hockey gold medal on home ice

Crosby’s “golden goal” in the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver gave Canada a 3-2 victory in overtime against the United States, helping the team to its first Olympic gold in the sport on home ice. Canada has hosted the Olympics three times, and its previous attempt in Calgary in 1988 fell short of the medal podium with a fourth-place finish.

16. Alongside all his hockey hardware, he has an Emmy award

Yes, Crosby is one fourth of the way to an EGOT. His role in the Penguins-produced special, “There's No Place Like Home With Sidney Crosby,” won in 2016 in the “sports program one-time special” category.

17. He’s a member of the Order of Nova Scotia

In 2008, Crosby was awarded the highest civilian honor in Nova Scotia for "significant contributions to the province and the country."

18. Growing up, he was a fan of the Montreal Canadiens

Crosby’s dad was drafted by Montreal in 1984 with the 240th overall pick, though he never played at the NHL level.

19. He once skipped the line at a DMV, to controversy!

In Pennsylvania, celebrities get special treatment at DMVs to avoid large crowds at already packed places. In 2013, Crosby skipped the line in Allegheny County and it caused quite the stir with local Pennsylvanians, who said “he should have to sit and wait with everyone else,” according to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.

20. The number 87 has followed him forever

Crosby was born on Aug. 7, 1987 (or 8/7/87) and he wears the number 87 for the Penguins. In his recent contract extension signed in 2012, Crosby negotiated his contract to, wait for it, average $8.7 million per season over the next 12 years.

21. The 2016-17 season was one of his best in recent memory

Despite a concussion in the beginning of the season that kept Crosby out for a few weeks, he managed to put up 44 goals — his best since the 2009-’10 season — to win the Rocket Richard Trophy for the most goals in the NHL. Crosby’s shooting percentage of 17.3 was also his highest for a full season in his career, just barely beating out his 17.1 percent mark in 2009-10.

22. Peyton Manning texted him after his latest Stanley Cup win

From one G.O.A.T. to another!

Crosby said Peyton Manning texted him after the win. "I thought that was pretty cool. Didn't realize he followed hockey that much" -MC

— Pens Inside Scoop (@PensInsideScoop) June 15, 2017

23. He’s not the cleanest player

From allegations of whining that plagued him in his first few years in the league to chopping off part of Marc Methot’s finger and punching P.K. Subban’s head into the ice, Crosby hasn’t had the cleanest NHL career. Yet again, who has?

24. But he’s one of the most punished players in the league

On the flip side, Crosby’s star status means he gets pushed around A LOT by opposing players. One of the reasons the Penguins brought in tough guy Ryan Reaves this offseason is because players take liberties when Crosby is on the ice. Though Crosby sometimes gets the calls, there are a lot of instances that never get caught.

25. Concussions have plagued him throughout his career

To date, Crosby has had five concussions and has missed a total of 114 games due to concussion-related symptoms.

26. He doesn’t know if he’ll play until age 40

In an interview with NHL.com in January, Crosby said he isn’t sure if he’d still be playing at age 40:

"For whatever reason, the last couple years and even playing with a guy like [Matt Cullen], it crosses my mind and I'm thinking, 'He's 40. I don't know if I could do that.' My contract is until I'm 37, so that's where I see myself playing until, and then we'll see from there. You see where your body is and how everything goes.

"But 37 is pretty good. There's not a lot of guys playing at that age these days."

27. Time named him one of the most influential people in 2007

And at age 19 no less. Crosby has certainly come a long way since then.

28. He has a big love for history

Crosby recently took a college course at Southern New Hampshire University in the middle of the season through the NHL Players Association. His topic for his final paper? World War II.

29. He’s a member of the Triple Gold Club

In 2015, Crosby became the 26th member of the Triple Gold Club, hockey’s elite group of players who have won an Olympic gold medal, a World Championship gold medal, and the Stanley Cup.

30. He’s 30 years old and still at the peak of his career

If he can stay healthy, Crosby still has a long NHL career ahead of him. And how lucky we are to have him in the NHL. Happy 30th birthday, Sidney Crosby!

[whittlebaggett8]

Sure, Uber didn’t leave any money on the table, but its IPO was nothing to celebrate and it could haunt the company and its execs for years to come, Defence Online

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Dara Khosrowshahi, CEO of Uber, which observed its shares tumble practically 8% on their initially working day of investing.

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Carlo Allegri/Reuters

Uber’s debut on the public markets was not particularly a disaster. But it sure was embarrassing.

Even worse however for the organization and its executives, the IPO and its aftermath could prove costly in more means than a single.

The application-primarily based taxi support went general public Thursday night time at $45 a share, which was near the reduced conclude of its envisioned range. The pricing gave the firm an preliminary valuation of $75.5 billion – nicely under the $120 billion figure financial commitment bankers were being bandying about final fall.

That was negative enough. But factors received even worse when Uber’s inventory hit the New York Inventory Exchange on Friday. Its shares opened underneath their IPO selling price and stayed down all down day. They ended their to start with session of trading off $3.43, or nearly 8%, to close at $41.57.

It was an inauspicious beginning to 1 of the most extremely expected IPOs in a long time.

Read through this: Uber selected the worst achievable 7 days to have its IPO, and the lousy timing will price tag it billions

As disappointing as it may have been, you just can’t just get in touch with the giving a failure. Soon after all, via the IPO, Uber lifted $8.6 billion. For a enterprise that is been getting rid of revenue hand more than fist for years – and is possible to do so for decades to occur – those new money are probably extra than welcome.

And as considerably as the fall in Uber’s share rate Friday may well have offered the business a black eye from a community-relations point of view, it proposed that the corporation milked its IPO for all it was truly worth and a lot more. The institutional traders who ordered Uber shares on Thursday ended up paying out additional for the stock than day to day investors imagined they had been value. That’s Uber’s get – and the institutional investors’ loss.

Uber lifted significantly less income that expected

Nevertheless, the celebrations at Uber’s San Francisco headquarters are probably heading to be a bit extra muted than could have been expected 6 months or so in the past when that $120 billion valuation figure was becoming floated.

Portion of the reason for that is the IPO elevated considerably considerably less cash than the company could have below former anticipations. Provided the 180 million shares Uber bought in the supplying, it could have elevated $12.8 billion if it actually had gone out with a $120 billion valuation. That would have place an added $4.2 billion in its coffers. For a enterprise that burned through far more than $2 billion in money from its functions and money investments in each of the very last two decades, which is an extra two several years of daily life.

Even if it had just priced its IPO at $50 a share, which was the major of the array it forecast final month, the company would have raised $900 million a lot more than its IPO actually brought in. Once more, imagining in phrases of its funds burn, which is practically an more fifty percent 12 months of daily life.

But the IPO was disappointing and highly-priced to more than just the corporation by itself. For more than three a long time, Uber has been promoting its inventory in personal offerings to traders such as Softbank and Didi Chuxing for $48.77 a share. Those people investments had been all underwater at the IPO cost and were being even further more underneath following the first day of trading.

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Yahoo Finance

Absolutely sure, there have been loads of investors who acquired into Uber at earlier dates who made plenty of funds off the IPO. And late-stage enterprise buyers normally be expecting significantly additional constrained returns than early-stage types. But they virtually unquestionably anticipated to see some instant return when the corporation went community, relatively than to see their investments be formally in the crimson.

The IPO possible disappointed insiders and early buyers

The IPO was also probable personally discouraging for CEO Dara Khosrowshahi, for the reason that he has tens of hundreds of thousands bucks in compensation that are on the line. The organization awarded him 1.75 million inventory possibilities final calendar year that he’ll only get if the firm is either obtained for $120 billion or sees its sector capitalization strike that volume and continue to be at it for 90 consecutive days. Uber’s even farther from that target now than it was final evening.

Some of Uber’s traders and insiders are possible heading to be unhappy in the IPO for one more reason. The stock the enterprise sold in its public featuring all came from Uber’s possess coffers, it didn’t consist of any shares held by insiders or early investors.

As an alternative, insiders and early traders who wanted to sell shares as section of the providing did so by dedicating them to Uber’s overallotment pile, which only consisted of their shares. The overallotment pile is the team of shares that the bankers underwriting an supplying have an choice to invest in from the company at the IPO price tag if they really feel there is adequate need for them or to stabilize a company’s share price tag just after the presenting.

But, as Bloomberg’s Matt Levine laid out, the bankers really do not have to obtain those shares from the enterprise, even if they’ve currently dedicated to advertising the exact same amount to institutional traders. Alternatively, they can just go out and obtain the requisite number of shares on the open up market place if it will make fiscal sense to do so.

With Uber’s shares investing underneath their IPO rate, that seems to be like it will be the situation with the company’s overallotment. Uber’s bankers can acquire the shares they need to have on the open up current market for much less cash than they’d pay for those in the overallotment pile. Assuming they do that, Uber’s insiders and traders are out of luck. Even worse for them, they won’t be observing a fiscal gain from Uber going community for one more six months, since they’ve all signed lock-up agreements that bar them from selling their shares outside the house of all those they devoted to the overallotment for that time period of time.

Of course, it’s difficult to feel much too sorry for people insiders and early buyers. Several of people who planned to market are likely to finally see substantial windfalls even if they can not provide proper absent.

Uber could see a expertise drain

The very same is not always true for the the vast majority of Uber’s rank-and-file staff members. The organization has gone from about 3,500 employees in August 2015 to more than 22,000 at the conclude of previous yr. For a lot of of individuals personnel, a considerable part of their compensation comes in the kind of inventory or solutions to purchase shares.

Uber granted 5.5 million options very last 12 months and 2.9 million the calendar year right before that. It handed out 64.7 million limited shares last 12 months and 41.2 million in 2017.

A lot of of those choices and shares are now in hazard of getting underwater. The selections Uber handed out in 2017 have an typical strike price tag of $41.39, this means that at the shut of frequent trading Friday each and every a single was in the dollars by only 18 cents. The restricted shares it handed out that year every single had a grant value of $40.75, this means their barely truly worth much more than when workforce gained them.

Personnel are in greater condition with the shares and options they acquired previous yr. The selections have an common strike price of $33.45, when the limited shares experienced a grant benefit of $36.73 for every share. Nonetheless, Uber’s inventory wouldn’t have to fall a whole large amount for those also to be underwater.

In Silicon Valley, several workers who join startups consciously and usually enthusiastically take choices and shares in lieu of increased salary. The bet is that their inventory-based compensation will be well worth a lot more than a money income – and will perhaps make them really loaded – when their organizations go community.

But if Uber’s IPO rate is any sign, its workers aren’t heading to see everywhere in the vicinity of the sort of jackpot many were being probably expecting when they signed on.

That could be extra than just a disappointment for Uber staff. It could be a major difficulty for the company. Personnel who really don’t see the payoff they had been anticipating are likely to be additional eager to take into account features from other corporations. Uber could effectively see a big expertise drain if it simply cannot get its stock selling price heading in the right course.

So while Uber’s IPO was not calamitous, it was a disappointment. And its outcomes could linger prolonged after the closing bell sounded on its very first working day of trading.

The post Sure, Uber didn’t leave any money on the table, but its IPO was nothing to celebrate and it could haunt the company and its execs for years to come, Defence Online appeared first on Defence Online.

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[mfangeleeta]

Last Call for Vodka Update

Taking a pause from the super fun Some Sort of Au with @beatricethecat2 for my first update to Last Call for 2017. We’ve got a lot going on in this one. m. A one shot in my favorite universe, Somewhere in London, a season 4 cannon divergence, a cannon contemplation in two parts and alternative to the season that dare not speak its name.  This is also based on one of my all time favorite Bjork albums on repeat. Thanks for reading! 

Homogenic

If travel is searching and home what’s been found, I’m not stopping

The prep for assignments was for most the worst part of the job. You would have to study, plan, observe and repeat for months in order for things to go off without a glitch.

Or without you getting caught.

HG stood and stretched her back. She’d been working on an assignment in Peru that Yuri had begrudgingly given her. He had warned that she was too new as a solo act in the business and that this particular target had proved treacherous for the previous two people assigned this job.

One had been killed in action, the other caught and now sat in prison.

Her predecessors, despite their immense skill and experience, had clearly not set themselves up for success.  The terrain was tricky, the locals untrustworthy, and the escape routes extremely limited.

The prep was the worst part for most, for almost all but HG thrived on it. The careful study and observation, sussing out patterns and misdirection.  Finding those locals who could not only be bought but be swayed to her perception.  Creating escape routes where none thought possible.

That was what she enjoyed most, the planning. Execution was just a pull of a trigger or drop of a poison. That was the easiest part of any job. It was everything else that she lived for.

It was almost-almost-as good as an artifact hunt. Prowling the streets of London with Wolly or McShane or Donnelly.  Searching back alleys or roughing up those who weren’t corporative. Almost as good as those days.

But not quite.

Grabbing a water from the fridge she sat back down at her kitchen table. Pictures, maps and blue prints scattered behind her laptop.  Post it notes with comments and observations covering the table.  She touched a key and the computer sprang to life. It looked  as if she’d finally broken through the firewall. Soon she would have access to her target’s travel plans.

Settling in she refocused on the task at hand . Peru. The impossible target.

She was going hunting.

 You don’t have to speak, I feel

She was back, Helena was back from God knows where and Myka didn’t quite know what to do with herself.

There were hugs and some tears and an embarrassing celebration dance by Pete but Myka still couldn’t quite feel like this wasn’t some artifact induced hallucination.

In all of the excitement she’d been able to avoid speaking with Helena for any great length of time.  Despite being a member of two consecutive Warehouses there was still a considerable amount of paper work to complete and the Regents had to meet before everything could become official.

So after a mid morning surprise and a celebratory lunch in Univille, Helena had been whisked away by Artie and Mrs. Fredric and Myka was left to ponder what to do next in Summers 314.

They had never said anything or done anything that indicated that they could be more but Myka knew deep down that no one else ever had made her feel like Helena had.

A simple look would make her breath catch. A simple touch on the shoulder would make her head spin. And when she smiled.

Well, Myka didn’t want to think about those things at work.

 But they had never said or done ANYTHING that indicated they could be more.

 But why would Helena offer to sacrifice herself in the forest? And why did she keep having those horrible nightmares about Helena saving them all while she died in a fire?

For a moment she let herself remember that gut wrench dream and she nearly cried in the middle of the Warehouse.

They had never said or done anything that indicated that they could be more but Myka couldn’t wait any longer to find out.  She had to know.

Tonight after dinner, they would talk.

 I’m a fountain of blood in the shape of a girl

She loved Myka. Despite the darkness and the madness and the unquenchable thirst for the end of all things she loved Myka.  They had never discussed it, only acted on it with a few hasty and stolen kisses while on missions or at the bed and breakfast.

But her empty soul still held one spark of warmth for the thoroughly modern woman who was all that she’d hoped and dreamed for in the bronze.

Love was a distraction. A complication. Something that she was not capable of.

Yet here she was at Charles de Gaulle, the parts of the Minoan trident wrapped and packaged for transport to the Colonies.  She had been researching the most effective location for the strike and the semi-dormant caldera under Yellowstone National Park was perfect.

 She was in love with Myka Bering.

 Frowning, she pulled out her notebook to review her plans and countermeasures. The compact was already on its way to Pete’s paramour as a distraction. Knowing that Myka would never leave her partner in a desperate moment of need, she was sure she would be free to complete her mission. One that she’d dreamt about for over a century.

 The destruction of the world.

She was in love with Myka Bering.

 She had never met another who could challenge her, question her thought process while understanding it simultaneously.  Someone who could keep up with her in all aspects-mental, physical, spiritual-and was a liberated woman, free of familial and romantic entanglement.  Yes, it had taken her a few moments to process that her most beloved author was a woman but once that hurdle was overcome, it had been glorious. Not since her brother had she sparred and analyzed her thought processes for story concepts and the science behind them.

 She must avenge her daughter and reset this Godforsaken world.

She was in love with Myka Bering.

 Baby, you can’t handle love, it’s obvious

She supposed this was the anger part the five stages of grief.  

They had been so carefree, so perfect, so everything that Myka had wanted before Egypt and Yellowstone. For one bright and beautiful moment she’d let herself think of the possibility of forever.

(Well that had been an unmitigated disaster.)

So then she made due with a “consciousness” in what Claudia had called a Pokeball.  Helena in holographic form appearing from time to time to help their little Scooby Gang solve the artifact mystery of the weak.  The Horn had been rough but after than things seemed to settle.

Pete relented in his hatred and Claudia toned down the hero worship.

And you were skilled enough to hide the bitterness and pain that HG Wells brought to your world.

Then Emily Lake and Sykes and “old times” had given you a glimmer of hope.  After much soul searching you’d forgiven Helena of her trespasses because part of you (the incredibly foolish and childish part) had thought there still might be a future.

But as quickly as you’d vanquished Walter Sykes, your artificer had been taken away by the Regents. You knew (because you had pestered) that Artie had pushed for HG’s reinstatement as an Agent but instead she’d been given a special top secret mission.

Fuck all that.

Of course everything became clear thanks to Artie’s brush with madness. How this had been the timeline he’d created thanks to Helena’s ultimate sacrifice that made it possible. How he had changed time to make sure the Warehouse survived.

And how the love of your life had given hers to save you.  At least Artie had been honest about that part.

(And there was not enough time to process how you really felt about that. Jesus Christ on a cracker.)

 But that had been half a year and a lifetime ago. Helena had told you that Nate was an ordinary yet a good man. That Adelaide was a great kid. And that Boone, Wisconsin was where she had felt the most welcome, the most at home in this century.

And you wanted to barf. To punch something. To call Helena on her bullshit.

But you couldn’t because damn it all to hell you still loved her. And knew that at some point she’d realized the gigantic lie she was telling herself.

 Twist your head around, it’s all around you, all is full of love

You looked over at the woman who has captured your soul as you packed up the world you had known in this century.  In a past life you had helped select the very ground that the Warehouse had been built on. And at one point you might have held sway over the first generation of Agents who walked its aisles, but madness and bronze closed that door to you decades ago.

Instead you find yourself guiding a 26 year old in the art of training new Agents as you pack up centuries of history and magic. Given the current political climate in the United States it had been determined that Warehouse 14 was needed. After careful deliberation (and consideration for things such as climate change and population distribution)  Botswana would be its new home. And as with all Warehouse relocations, the home country chose its Agents.

Which left one of the most decorated and most vilified Agents in the history of the Warehouse without employment or a permanent residence. (The Bed and Breakfast would close since Abigail wanted to resume her career in photography.)

Pete and Steve had signed on to train the next generation of the Warehouse. This new world and new location would need the best of the best and the partnership of Latimer and Jinks had proven almost as skilled as Wells and Wolcott.

With far less insanity and time traveling tendencies.

So your main enterprise, the one that had sent you traveling the path of endless wonder. The occupation that had sent you through time both literally and figuratively was over.  There was no more need to traipse across the globe in hunt of curiosities.  

That job was complete and it was on to your most important task next to being a mother.

Loving Myka Bering (now Bering-Wells).

A job that you took far more seriously than any other in the 20th or the 21st century.

 “This is the last of it,” Myka sealed the final box in your shared room.  “Hard to believe our lives are over.”

“Far from it my love,” you smile, “we have just begun.”

[bahamas-paradise-island]

Charzia Curtis, bottom left, as Dorothy; Jordan Gibson, bottom right, as Scarecrow; Kaden Jones, top right, as Tin Man; and Joshua Ferguson, top left, as the Cowardly Lion, make ready for their turn in the spotlight as Broadway Over Queen’s brings “The Wiz” to the stage at the Geoffrey Brown Auditorium, March 26 to 28, with nightly shows at 7:30 p.m. and a 2 p.m. Saturday matinee. GREGORY DEANE The rehearsals of the cast of “The Wiz”, a production of Broadway Over Queen’s, has so impressed Shawn Turnquest, vice principal, head of Queen’s College (QC) High School, to the point that she promises patrons will be amazed by the cast, their performance and the production in general ahead of the final show and what she terms a must-see performance. “This year, the music…the singers, the cast, rivals any cast on Broadway,” said Turnquest ahead of the production. “Their voices are amazing. Charzia (Curtis, who plays Dorothy) is worth coming to see. You don’t have to go to New York to get a taste of Broadway, it’s Broadway at QC,” said Turnquest. She sings the praises of the vocal ability of Curtis and says her performance will rival that of well-known singers that have had the role in the past. This trip down the yellow brick road is the 1978 adaptation of the 1939 classic “The Wizard of Oz” – an upbeat retelling of Dorothy’s journey to find her way home from the magical city of Oz. When Harlem schoolteacher Dorothy tries to save her dog from a storm, she’s miraculously whisked away to an urban fantasy land called Oz. After accidentally killing the Wicked Witch of the East upon her arrival, Dorothy is told about The Wiz, a wizard who can help her get back to Manhattan. As Dorothy goes in search of the Wiz, she’s joined by the Scarecrow (played by Jordan Gibson), the Tin Man (played by Kaden Jones) and the Cowardly Lion (played by Joshua Ferguson). It’s a storyline that speaks to self-discovery, believing in oneself and courage. Curtis, Gibson, Jones and Ferguson are just four people in a cast of approximately 140 as the production expanded this year to include the primary school. The show will be accompanied by a 20-piece live band and soulful pit singers, under the direction of Karel Coleby. Gregory Deane selected “The Wiz” for the stage this year because of the popularity of the musical, and the fact that he had identified Curtis and Ferguson two years out for the roles of Dorothy and Lion. “Charzia (Dorothy) was a firecracker in grade eight when we did Grease and was out-acting everyone on stage; she has a beautiful singing voice and personality. Joshua has been a part of QC’s band when we put them in the Music Project. He’s a talented singer, affable young man and the perfect Lion. I saw those characters in Charzia and Joshua, and just had to find my Tin Man and Scarecrow and built it around them (Charzia and Joshua) in mind.” Curtis and Ferguson have been researching their roles since they were tapped by Deane, who encouraged them to go onto YouTube to study and learn about the characters they would play. He held auditions the third week in September for the rest of the cast; full rehearsals started in October. He said audiences can expect to see his touch in some of his jokes and hints of Bahamian flavor in the costuming and definitely in terms of set design. “I had this vision of what ‘The Wiz’ should be if I got the chance to direct.” He is taking advantage of it. “A beautifully-imagined set is already in construction atop the school’s center stage. All involved are working tirelessly to make this an unforgettable experience.” He wants the students and audience to take to heart the message of “The Wiz”, which he said is about being brave and having courage. “I want them to remember that having courage in themselves and the fact that they can do anything, even when they’re down and out. People may think they’re brave-less, but find the courage to step up to the plate and do something, not just for themselves, but for others. It’s about being brave, finding their own purpose and finding their own courage.” “The Wiz” will take to the stage at the Geoffrey Brown Auditorium at Queen’s College from March 26 to 28, with nightly shows at 7:30 p.m. and a 2 p.m. Saturday matinee. Deane said the Broadway Over Queen’s production is an opportunity for the audience to witness musical theater at its finest at home from a talented cast of singers, dancers and actors. “I want to encourage the theater-loving audience and those who’ve never experienced theater on this scale to come to see this because this is a big production in terms of the money being spent and production value, with lights, sound, set and costuming,” he said. With this production, Deane himself will be easing on down the road, and the three-day event will be extra memorable for him as it is expected to be his final time producing and directing Broadway Over Queen’s. “To everything there is a season,” he said. “It’s a lot of work, especially at the level Mrs. [Shawn] Turnquest and myself like to put them on. It is a tremendous amount of work and my body is getting older, so I need to start to step back.” Stepping back, he said, would allow for a younger person to step up to the plate. But even as he steps away, he said the feeling is “bittersweet” as in the middle of preparations for a show, he said, his creative juices are flowing and he lives for the adrenaline rush, which he will miss along with dashing around and micromanaging, which he identifies as a fault as he likes to ensure that i’s are dotted and t’s are crossed. But at the same time, he said, he’s usually totally exhausted. While Deane looks to step aside after his sixth consecutive production, Turnquest said Broadway Over Queen’s will continue. She said the institution has people in the pipeline who they feel will continue the program, as at QC , the performing arts is an important pillar of education that they offer to their students. “It’s important we continue to offer avenues for students interested in the performing arts,” said Turnquest. “The performing arts certainly speak to some students but not everyone is a performer. Not everyone is an academician or athlete, and some are interested in the performing arts and enjoy a role in a play or enjoy being a part of the crew, [while] others enjoy simply attending, so to be a school that offers something for every child is important. “Everyone has come to accept QC to excel academically and we have grown to become an athletic force as well, but for many decades, since I was a student here, even in grade seven, I was a part of the cast of ‘Noah’s Flood’ – QC has had a tradition of excellence to the performing arts.” She recalled the ‘70s when productions like “Oklahoma!”, “Oliver!” and Fiddler on the Roof” were presented, and continued in recent years with Broadway Over Queen’s productions under Deane’s direction of “Guys and Dolls” in 2014, “Grease” in 2016 and “West Side Story” in 2018; and two revue shows – “Broadway Over Queen’s 1” and “Broadway Over Queen’s Act II” in 2012. Turnquest described the production of “The Wiz” and all productions they’ve brought to the stage over the years as “massively rewarding” and an “amazing event that’s hard to even quantify in value”. “It lifts the cultural quotient of the entire nation. It enriches the cultural landscape of our country. QC is happy to be a part of enriching the cultural environment nationally and salute Mr. Deane who is happy to have played a role as well,” she said. This year Broadway Over Queen’s showcases “The Wiz” as the school celebrates its 130th anniversary. The production is one in a series of celebratory events. As Deane directs his swan song production, Turnquest said she understands his desire to step aside. “Mr. Deane has been doing this for many years and it’s a large time commitment and takes a toll on his energy. He almost takes a whole year to prepare for it, and he is thinking that this will be his last one.” She believes it’s important for people who have attended shows in the past directed by Deane to show their appreciation to what he has offered in the performing arts, not only at QC but in The Bahamas. “The shows he’s produced here [at QC] rival shows produced anywhere in the world. This year, the music…the singers…the cast, rivals any on Broadway, and their voices are amazing. Charzia is worth coming to see, especially as this is his swan song and he’s going out with a bang. You don’t have to go to New York to get a taste of Broadway, it’s Broadway at QC,” said Turnquest. Run time for “The Wiz” is approximately two hours 30 minutes, including a 20-minute intermission. Student tickets are $15 and adult tickets are priced at $20. For tickets, contact the box office at 677-7616, or visit the box office located in the Queen’s College high school and primary school offices, or Carey’s Fabric and Uniform Store, Mackey Street, telephone 393-0758. The post The lessons: self-discovery, belief in oneself and courage appeared first on The Nassau Guardian. source https://thenassauguardian.com/2020/03/16/the-lessons-self-discovery-belief-in-oneself-and-courage/

http://scuba-ct.blogspot.com/2020/03/the-lessons-self-discovery-belief-in.html

[shervonfakhimi]

The NBA Characters Who Can Shape the Second Half of the NBA Season

The 2nd half of the NBA calendar is nearly upon us. After going through the seemingly endless malaise of the dog days of the NBA season, the tone was set for the end of the season with that jaw-dropping, epic All-Star game on Sunday Night. However, there is still plenty to be sorted out between now and June. With that being said, there are a few players that can determine how the rest of the season (or beyond) shapes out. So let’s go through some of them! 

Ja Morant PG Memphis Grizzlies: Vegas projected the Grizzlies at 27.5 wins to start the season. They’re already at 28 wins with 28 more games to go, in large part because of rookie sensation Ja Morant. We all know Ja can fly effortlessly and nearly end careers, but that isn’t nearly half of what makes Ja special. Not only is he an insane athlete, but he’s great at reading the floor and making the right play off of it, and can use his speed to help him do so. Give him space and dare him to shoot from deep, he can do that too and make you respect his jumper, as evidenced by him shooting 35.8% from three. He’s unselfish too and great at not only pushing the ball up the floor himself in transition but throwing the ball ahead to get his teammates easy dunks, a key reason why the Grizzlies are fifth in the league in pace and have had an offense in the top half of the NBA for the last two months. Though their defense ranks in the bottom half of the NBA (16th in defensive efficiency, per NBA.com), the Grizz occupy the 8th seed and lead the 9th seeded Portland Trail Blazers by four(!) games, giving them plenty of breathing room for the time being. If this Grizzlies squad with Jaren Jackson Jr., fellow rookie Brandon Clarke, and Dillon Brooks, headed by Ja Morant keeps this up and holds off the scorching Damian Lillard and the scintillating fellow rookie and former AAU Teammate of Ja Morant Zion Williamson and his New Orleans Pelicans, the next generation of the Grit n’ Grind Grizzlies will be back in the playoffs. Not only would we get a very fun playoff series were that to take place, but we’ll also get plenty of highlights in the process, courtesy of the future of the NBA: Ja Morant.

Kyle Kuzma SF/PF Los Angeles Lakers and Buyout Candidates: Not much has changed from the time I wrote about Kuzma at the beginning of the season, and that is kind of the problem. Kuzma has shown flashes this season, including a 36 point barrage against the Oklahoma City Thunder that I was there to see, but still, there have been stumbling blocks as the third-year player acclimates to a title-contending team, whether it be mishaps defensively, rushed shots early in the shot clock or simply not reading the floor properly. Though the boost in effort on the glass and on defense has been nice to see, he just hasn’t been able to put all of the little things together consistently to prove he absolutely *should* be on the floor in crunch time situations. A possible (should be?) closing lineup of Kuzma, LeBron James, Anthony Davis, Danny Green, and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope has a Net Rating of +23.3, per NBA.com. When Kuzma shares the floor with James and Davis, the Lakers Net Rating is +17.9, a very solid number (that number drops to -17.7 when LeBron is the one of those three that exits the floor). At this stage, even as a Kuzma optimist, Kuzma feels like more of a wild-card that can flip the outcome of a playoff game should he get hot more so than a guy who can be a reliable contributor to a championship team. The more he can flip that perception the better the chances the Lakers have of winning the championship.

Ben Simmons PG/PF and Joel Embiid C Philadelphia 76ers: I think it is important to remember that it wasn’t always the case that the Sixers had issues offensively when Simmons and Embiid to share the floor. Sure, their skill sets don’t properly mesh with Simmons’ inability to shoot even 15 footers, let alone threes, but that hasn’t stopped two monster talents to be a major problem for the opposition. Among lineups that played at least 100 minutes in 2017-18, the Sixers’ starting lineup of their two All-Stars, JJ Redick, Dario Saric, and Robert Covington had the seventh-best Net Rating in the entire NBA of +20.5 points per 100 possessions, and an offensive rating of 115.4. Last season, with Jimmy Butler and Wilson Chandler in the spots of Saric and Covington, the Sixers’ Net Rating was +12.6 and boasted an offensive rating of 116.3. With Tobias Harris in Chandler’s spot, it jumped even higher to a +19.4 Net Rating and an offensive rating of 121.9. That lineup was able to host their stars, a tough rugged playmaker able to create his own shot and finish in the clutch in Jimmy Butler, one of the best shooters in the league in JJ Redick and a guy in Tobias Harris who could do a bit of everything offensively. This season after not retaining Redick and Butler, however, has brought some difficulties. After bringing in Al Horford and Josh Richardson to replace Redick and Butler in the starting five, that lineup’s Net Rating has fallen to +8.5; solid thanks to an astounding 97.1 Defensive Rating (better than any previous lineup but it wasn’t as if those lineups were yearning for defense) but an offense that averages nearly 10 fewer points per 100 possessions.

There is no team where it is easier to scheme its primary option away from his sweet spot than the Sixers and Embiid. Simmons already camps out in the dunker spot; Horford may be a good shooter from deep but that doesn’t mean he wants to stay there permanently. A zone instantly throws this team off. Without a true playmaking guard (Josh Richardson and new addition Alec Burks are capable) to truly put fear in defenses from all levels, scoring has been difficult to come by, especially on the road, where Philadelphia’s shooters haven’t been able to enjoy the comforts of their own building to give them a boost (the Sixers have shot 37.5% from three at home, as opposed to 33.6% on the road). In some different universe, there’s a world where a completely healthy Washington-Markelle Fultz fixes all of this and is the extra star added to the original lineup in 2017-18 and is the difference that takes Philadelphia over the top. Unfortunately, that isn’t this universe, meaning Simmons and Embiid have to find a way to coexist better than they have before. Maybe their game against the Clippers is the start of that; the Sixers benched Al Horford (whom the Sixers actually have a negative Net Rating when he shares the floor with Ben Simmons and Joel Embiid) for Furkan Korkmaz, which looked like it freed up the Sixers offense a little. They still have the talent and time to make up ground in the East. Their stars have to do what it takes to help the Sixers do so, or changes aplenty could be made there.

Eric Bledsoe PG Milwaukee Bucks: The Milwaukee Bucks are a wrecking ball. They’re on pace for 70 wins should they want it. Their point differential lead over the next highest point differential (+4.7) is essentially the same gap from the second-highest point differential (the Lakers at +7.4) to the 11th-highest point differential (the Thunder at +2.6). The Bucks are so good, they have a Net Rating of +7.5 points per 100 possessions… when the reigning MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo (who is only playing just below 31 minutes a game) *isn’t* on the floor. Khris Middleton more than deserves his second consecutive All-Star selection. They only play solid, smart players who know what they’re doing on both ends of the floor. But if they have a question mark, even more so than if Giannis can make jumpers to keep defenses honest, is if Eric Bledsoe can do so.

Bledsoe had a great season last season and is having another one this season. However, when they needed him the most, Eric Bledsoe turned into a pumpkin. As Prodigy once said, Bledsoe was shook, and that wasn’t a first for him. In his first playoff series as a starter with the Bucks, there was the infamous back-and-forth with former Celtic Terry Rozier, which included Rozier hitting big shots over him and the Celtics ending the Bucks’ season. The season after didn’t do Bledsoe many favors either. Taking out the so-called ‘series’ against the Blake Griffin-less Pistons, Bledsoe shot 45-126 from the field for a modest 35.7% and shot 20.7% from deep. Those numbers were even worse in the Eastern Conference Finals against the Toronto Raptors, where he shot 29.8% from the field and 16.4% from deep. He posted an effective field goal percentage of 48.2% and 45.7% in his first two postseasons in Milwaukee. This important because if defenses aren’t going to respect Giannis’ jump shot and take away his special ability to attack the rim and if Bledsoe isn’t going to make shots from deep, then they’ll help off of Bledsoe and send even more attention Giannis’ direction. However, perhaps there is some positivity on this front. The Athletic’s Eric Nehm wrote earlier this season about Bledsoe’s jumper and how Milwaukee is working on improving it. You can see him launch with more confidence on pull-up threes, whether it be in the half-court or transition. The Bucks are very good and could very well win the title this season. But they’ll need Bledsoe and his jumper to help them get there.

Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown F Boston Celtics: The Celtics are really good. Kemba Walker has been everything as advertised both for his play and leadership, Gordon Hayward looks more and more like his former Utah self (his player option this summer is going to be a very interesting decision, I think), and, perhaps most importantly, Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown appear to have taken a leap. While Brown was not named an All-Star (though he certainly had a case and easily could have made it), Tatum showed us a little bit of everything the night before All-Star weekend where he outplayed and completely took out Kawhi Leonard late in the 4th quarter and overtime. Both Brown and Tatum are averaging over 20 points per game and shooting over 38% from 3. Both have bought more into their roles off the ball and improved their shot selection (though Tatum could still improve shooting from two-point range). The Celtics are in the top 5 of both offensive (fifth) and defensive efficiency (third); only the Milwaukee Bucks and the Los Angeles Lakers can say the same. They are legit title contenders. But can these two keep this up in the postseason? Tatum and Brown were great in the 2018 postseason but saw their production tumble last year. In clutch situations (when a game is within the last 5 minutes and the score is within 5 points), per NBA.com, the duo of Tatum and Brown have both been more efficient than All-Stars Kemba Walker and Gordon Hayward. We saw glimpses of Kemba struggling to get good shots off late in games in the FIBA World Cup of 2019 when Frank Ntilikina played better defense on him than Jackie Moon trying to not give up free corn dogs (interestingly enough, the night against the Clippers when Tatum was dominating, Kemba took the final shot before overtime, where he missed a contested jumper). Boston’s going to need to close very good teams out, and they’ll need Tatum and Brown to help them do so.

Victor Oladipo SG Indiana Pacers: The Indiana Pacers were off to the quietest 30-17 start in NBA history (someone out there reading this has to get the show!), but have dropped six of the eight games Oladipo has played upon his return. The Pacers have played very admirably in his absence; Domantas Sabonis turned into an All-Star and Malcolm Brogdon showed much more as a number one option than anybody could have expected. Oladipo coming back settles everyone into roles more suited for them. It’s going to take Oladipo time to get in a rhythm and get his timing back to what it was before his injury and his career 2017-18 season when he pushed the LeBron-led Cavs to a Game 7 in the first round, but if he can get to that level, he can absolutely flip the fortunes of many this postseason. He still has yet to crack 30 minutes in a game this season, but he did provide a glimmer of the potential he possesses when he hit this shot to send the game to overtime against the Chicago Bulls in his first game back. How Oladipo looks on the floor will be very fascinating for the duration of the season.

Jamal Murray PG/SG and Michael Porter Jr. SF/PF Denver Nuggets: Jamal Murray has always been an enigma for me. I don’t see a budding star like many do, but he will give flashes of brilliance like his 32 point, 10 assist outing against the Lakers before the All-Star break. Murray’s numbers this season have been essentially the same as they were last season when the Nuggets were bounced off their own floor in Game 7 of the Western Conference Semi-Finals. He can score, but the consistency has not been there as much as I would like it to be. The same could be said for the even more volatile and raw Michael Porter Jr., whose flashes may be the most fun and tantalizing in all the NBA. It is too much to ask MPJ to become the scoring dynamo the Nuggets did to take some pressure off Nikola Jokic, but it isn’t hard to imagine the potential of the Nuggets as title contenders if they can get the dynamic scoring ability in tough situations that Murray and Porter Jr. can provide. The Nuggets are 7th in offensive efficiency and 10th in defensive efficiency, the marker of a legit playoff team. The Nuggets can play with anybody, but their offensive firepower is still in question. Murray and Porter Jr. need to answer those questions to boost their title chances.

Donovan Mitchell SG Utah Jazz: What exactly are the Jazz? They boast a top 8 offense and defense but have a record below .500 against teams that are above .500 this season. They’re a very good team with two very deserving All-Stars in Rudy Gobert and Donovan Mitchell, but are teams going to fear them in the postseason? They brought in Bojan Bogdanovic through free agency, Fayetteville’s Finest Mike Conley and Jordan Clarkson via trade, and elevated Georges Niang to the rotation to alleviate some of the ball-handling duties away from Mitchell and give him more room to operate, and that has helped him have an All-Star season and the most efficient one of his young career so far. His usage rate has gone down from 30.9% a year ago to 30.4% this season and 29.9% since Christmas once all of their acquisitions have gotten time to acclimate to the team. He put it all together against the New Orleans Pelicans roughly a month ago, dropping a career-high 46 points on their heads. The Jazz have great depth and arguably the best defensive anchor in Rudy Gobert, but do they have enough firepower to get through the loaded western conference? They may have enough to win a series, but I’m not sure they have enough for three series. Is Mitchell ready for shootouts like the one he took part in against Brandon Ingram and the Pelicans? If he is, then Utah shouldn’t have much to be worried about, because he again will have to do a brunt of the heavy lifting for the Jazz offensively if they can’t get Conley back to his previous Memphis self. If he isn’t (this isn’t to blame him because Mitchell is a great player and a player I really love watching), then Utah’s goals will likely fall short of what they were before the season.

PJ Tucker PF/C and Russell Westbrook PG/SG Houston Rockets: It’s been six games in the Rockets’ experiment to forego a center and play super small. On the season, they have the 4th most efficient offense and the 15th most efficient defense, not exactly championship material. Their offense has hovered around the 113 points per 100 possession mark in these last six games, but their defense has been a little worse in that span. However, over the course of the season, when PJ Tucker is on the floor without a center (Clint Capela, Tyson Chandler nor Isaiah Hartenstein have played center for the Rockets this season), their offensive rating sits at 116.4 points per 100 possessions, which would be second in the NBA behind the Dallas Mavericks, but have a defensive rating of 111.8, which is the same mark as the New York Knicks (if you’re ever doing something the Knicks are doing, that’s never something good). Their rebound percentage (46.4%; an estimate of the percentage of available rebounds a player grabbed while he was on the floor) would be dead last in the NBA with that non-center lineup and has been even worse since Jan 31st, the first game of their new style of play. This is quite the sacrifice they’ve made to get the most out of Russell Westbrook, but the reason nonetheless why they made this move.

I’m not the biggest fan of Russell Westbrook’s game. I didn’t think he should’ve won his MVP, but who cares he won it. His shot selection has been a major factor in drawing my ire (his defense, which is drastically overrated in my opinion, has been another), but that’s started to disappear during these six games. The Rockets have essentially unleashed him as a 6’3” Ben Simmons to rampage through the paint with spacing galore. In five of the six games (he missed a game against Phoenix), he’s averaging 34 points per game and, more importantly, has shot just 11 threes in that span, important when considering Westbrook is literally the worst three-point shooter in NBA history amongst those who meet the volume pre-requisite. There was a game against Portland this season where he shot 11 threes in that one game alone!

I still am pessimistic about the Rockets and their ability to ride this style of play into a deep playoff run. However, they need the best version of Russell Westbrook possible to even think about doing something and are getting it now. PJ Tucker will need to hold up and Westbrook will have to keep this up. Will either, let alone both, happen? I don’t think so. But it’s going to be interesting nonetheless to find out and see what happens.

Spencer Dinwiddie G Brooklyn Nets: It has been a weird season for the Brooklyn Nets. Though this season was always going to be a transition season of sorts while some 7-foot dude recovers from a torn Achilles, it still has to be rather disappointing to be on the bottom of the Eastern Conference playoff standings after their splashy summer. However, this has put another spotlight on the young core of the Nets, most notably Spencer Dinwiddie. Kyrie Irving has played only 20 games. Caris LeVert has played only 28 games. This has thrust Dinwiddie into the role of a primary option, a role he has done well with to keep the Nets alive as the 7th seed. His efficiency has dipped a little bit with the increase in usage from last season to this one (Last season, Dinwiddie used 24.2% of Brooklyn’s possessions. This season, his usage rate has gone up to 29%.), but that is par for the course for the boost in usage. He’s still averaging a career-high in points, rebounds, assists and an assortment of advanced statistics. The issue is, he and Kyrie have similar strengths and weaknesses. Though the Nets have been fairly successful with both Dinwiddie and Irving on the floor, the Nets went 1-4 upon Kyrie’s return when both were in the starting lineup and 3-1 with Dinwiddie coming off the bench (though basically, any lineup could’ve beaten the Nets twice and the Bulls). You’d have to wonder whether or not the Nets re-sign Dinwiddie this summer once he is a free agent given the redundancy and the possibility to address more glaring holes on the roster, but Kyrie Irving reaggravating his shoulder injury complicates matters. Dinwiddie is a very good and fun player who has revived his career in Brooklyn and has hit numerous big shots while giving them plenty of scoring when they’ve needed it this season. The Nets aren’t going anywhere this year. The last couple of Eastern playoff spots are up for grabs. Spencer Dinwiddie will have something to say about it.

[thrashermaxey]

Ramblings: Tavares, Stamkos, Murray, Campbell, Dahlin, Barn Burners, & College Signees (March 26)

​

    Monday’s schedule was chalked full and Pittsburgh and New York got things started in an early affair. The lottery-bound Rangers jumped out to a 2-0 first period lead off the sticks of Brendan Lemieux and Vinne Lettieri.

  That was all the waking up the Pens needed as they rattled off five straight to take this one 5-2. Matt Murray stopped 33/35 for his third straight victory, and fifth straight quality start. The 24-year-old limped through the first 11 contests of the campaign with an 0.877 save percentage. Since that time, he’s 23-7-4 with three shutouts and a 0.931 save percentage mark.

  All is well with Murray.

  Jared McCann grabbed an assist on the fifth goal to give him 13 points in his last 15 contests. The 22-year-old former first-round selection is on his third organization but appears to have found a fit. McCann has great wheels, a heavy release, and loads of tenacity. He’s finally cracked the second power-play unit, but 31 of his 34 points have come at even-strength or while shorthanded.

  There remains some intriguing upside with this player, especially if he maintains his space in the top six moving forward. He skated alongside Phil Kessel in this one 

  **

Freddie Andersen has been an unmitigated tire fire during much of the fantasy hockey playoffs. Monday night’s games represented either the first or second week of the Championship matchups. Freddie owners were praying to the Hockey Gods to get their number one netminder back.

  The Leafs took on a flailing Panthers squad with hopes of righting the ship. They scored two goals on their first four shots and chased Samuel Montembeault. The first frame in this one has been clipped and sent to Webster’s Dictionary to be placed next to ‘firewagon hockey’. It wrapped with the Leafs up 4-2.

  If either coach gave their dressing rooms an earful after 20 minutes to get back to some tight-checking affair, it didn’t work. The final result was a 7-5 victory for Toronto. Andersen stopped 31 of 36 – not exactly the result that was hoped for.

  John Tavares owners weren’t mad though. The first-year Leaf scored four goals for the first time in his 10-year career. His 45 goals on the season trail only Alex Ovechkin. His 86 points are one behind a career-high. 

  Not a bad first act.

  A trio of goals plus one for the road.

What a game and @Enterprise hat trick for @91Tavares! pic.twitter.com/eVv7ZLVIzE

— NHL (@NHL) March 26, 2019

  **

Jonathan Huberdeau tallied two goals in this one to give him 19 points in his previous 10 contests. He’s just three goals away from setting career-highs in goals, assists, points, shots, power-play goals, power-play points.. you get the point.

  **

If the Leafs-Panthers game was a barnburner, the Bruins and Lightning were must-see-tv. The top two teams in the Eastern Conference met in Florida on Monday and got at it.

  Steven Stamkos scored two first period goals sandwiched between a Brad Marchand tally. The Bruins then scored three second period goals to head into the final 20 minutes up 4-2. Seems like a fairly safe lead, no?

  No.

  Victor Hedman brought the Bolts to within one, and then Nikita Kucherov did was Nikita Kucherov does. Absolutely snipe one while coming down the off-wing.

  Snipe. @86Kucherov pic.twitter.com/QkVxTxbIDw

— NHL GIFs (@NHLGIFs) March 26, 2019

  That tied things with seven minutes left to play. All that remained was an Anthony Cirelli tally with under a minute remaining to steal win number 59. That places them as the third-most prolific team in NHL history. One win away from the 1976-77 Montreal Canadiens, and three shy of the 1995-96 Red Wings.

  Granted, the Bolts have had the benefit of overtime and the shootout but their 53 regulation victories would still put them as a top-15 club. They have five games left on the schedule to push for history.

  Stamkos added two assists in this one as well. He’s now up to 93 points on the season, and the Lightning boasts three players with at least 90 (Stamkos, Kucherov, and Brayden Point). It's been seven long years since Stammer has been in the 90-point zone. It's good to have him back. 

  **

The Bruins top line each contributed two points in this one. Despite the loss, that trio is as deadly as they come.

  **

Another start and another victory for Jordan Binnington as the Blues defeated the Golden Knights 3-1 on Monday. The 25-year-old stopped 24 of 25 to improve his record to 21-4-1 with a 0.930 save percentage. This is some crazy mumbo jumbo that going on in Missouri these days.

  I’m up on back-to-back ramblings this week, so expect a bit of dive into Binnginton tomorrow attempting to evaluate him heading into drafts next fall.

  **

The Kings left Ilya Kovalchuk at home to work with the skills coach but brought their game with them to Calgary. LA knocked off the Western Conference leaders 3-0 with Jack Campbell grabbing the shutout with an impressive 42 stops.

  Campbell hadn’t posted a victory since February 5th, but that’s not such a damning portrayal of him as it is the Kings in general. The 27-year-old has outplayed Jonathan Quick despite receiving some of the worst run support in the league.

  Campbell: 8-13-1 0.926 SV%

Quick:  15-21-6 0.891 SV%

  It’s not as if the Kings are throwing softballs to Campbell. His last five starts have been against Calgary, Winnipeg, Arizona, Tampa Bay, Washington, and Boston.

  Who knows where the Kings go from here (they’re hoping right into welcoming Jack Hughes), but the crease situation is a clear as mud heading into 2019-20.

  **

Cory Schneider made a season-high 45 saves, and Pavel Zacha scored a goal an added two helpers as the Devils defeated the Sabres 3-1.

  Rasmus Dahlin grabbed a primary assist at even-strength to improve his total to 41 points in 75 contests. That ties him with Bobby Orr for the second most points by a U19 blueliner in the history of the NHL. He trails only his coach, Phil Housley’s 66.

  It’s been a remarkable season for the youngster. I’m not sure many people will be betting against him breaking the 50-point plateau next season. Maybe we should be talking about 60?

  **

Juuse Saros made 29 stops, Ryan Johansen scored a shorty, and the Pred blanked the Wild 1-0 to clinch their fifth consecutive playoff appearance.

  The Wild are digging themselves a hole. With five games left on the schedule, they sit two points out of the final wild-card spot. They’ve also played more games than Arizona and Colorado – the two teams they trail.

  To give some positivity to the realm, I’m quite enjoying the trio of Jordan Greenway, Luke Kunin and Ryan Donato. Those three have been lining up together at even-strength and on the team’s second power-play unit.

  All three possess decent multi-category upsides.

  **

Tyler Seguin and Radek Faksa each scored two goals as the Stars beat up the Jets 5-2. Dallas was the better team in this one – which unfortunately has been something of a common theme for Winnipeg’s opponents of late.

  Connor Hellebuyck made 32 stops – a few bell ringers to keep this one ‘close’. Jacob Trouba continues to be leaned on heavily on a backend that sorely misses Dustin Byfuglien and Josh Morrissey. Trouba logged a game-high 26:37 while chipping in an assist, two shots, two hits, and two blocks.

  Of note, Byfuglien took part in the morning skate on Monday. He was wearing a non-contact sweater, but it’s a good sign. He’s apparently closer to returning than Morrissey, but it’s difficult to imagine the coaching staff rushing either back. Perhaps a game or two before the playoffs would be ideal, but they need them at full health for the second season.

  **

Despite controlling much of the play, the Sharks continued their recent slide by falling to the lowly Red Wings 3-2 in the late affair. That’s six straight losses for San Jose – four of which came at the hands of non-playoff teams. They're missing Joe Pavelski in a big way, and we haven't heard much on his condition. 

  Brent Burns was a minus-one but peppered nine shots on goal over 29 minutes. 

  Don't look now, but recently signed college free-agent Taro Hirose has four assists in his four NHL games while bouncing around the bottom six. He's been seeing a few seconds of second unit deployment as well. The 22-year-old tied for the NCAA lead with 50 points in 36 games this season, so he knows how to find the scoresheet. 

  He'll be an interesting one to watch in camp next fall to see if he can plant himself a secure job in the top nine and maybe even push for top six opportunities. 

  **

Some prospect talk:

  Tis the season for university squads to say farewell to their top prospects. Most schools hope and expect to hold onto a real asset for two seasons – three if they’re lucky. But every now and again, we see the one-and-done kid.

  That’s exactly what happened on Monday when Flyers’ top prospect, Joel Farabee signed his entry-level contract. The most recent 14th overall selection is expected to rehab an injury in Philadelphia before heading to the AHL for the Phantom’s playoff run. His NHL deal will kick in next fall.

  Farabee had a tremendous freshman campaign, taking home Hockey East Rookie of the Year honours after producing 36 points in 37 contests. That mark was the third highest for any first-year skater. He also led all freshman in shots (131) and shorthanded tallies (3).

  Making these totals even more impressive was the fact they were accomplished on a Boston University squad that struggled for most of the season.

  Those in keeper leagues should have Farabee firmly on their radar. The 19-year-old is already an accomplished two-way player which should allow him to see NHL ice quickly. His upside screams productive, top-six winger.

  Joel Farabee, ladies and gentlemen! Wow. #GoBU pic.twitter.com/qeeAol3ebX

— BU Men's Hockey (@TerrierHockey) March 3, 2019

    **

  Farabee wasn’t the only Terrier to exit BU today. Dante Fabbro (NSH), Jake Oettinger (DAL), and Chad Krys (CHI) all signed pro deals.

  Fabbro signing in Nashville is big. Rumours had long swirled that the 17th overall selection from 2016 may consider playing his senior season and opt for unrestricted free agency rather than attempt to climb the gauntlet that is the Predators’ backend. Nashville is sure happy he didn’t.

  Oettinger, the 27th overall pick in 2017 wrapped up a junior season where he stopped 92.6 percent of the shots he faced over 36 games. He’s the clear option for the Stars long term and has definite upside.

  Krys, a 2016 second-rounder is an offensive, left-shot defender who will try and navigate the Hawks’ depth chart. He needs a good amount of seasoning.

  **

  Follow me on Twitter @Hockey_Robinson

from All About Sports https://dobberhockey.com/hockey-rambling/ramblings-tavares-stamkos-murray-campbell-dahlin-barn-burners-college-signees-march-26/

[thisdaynews]

Dirk Schlegel and Falko Götz: The East Berlin footballers who fled from the Stasi

New Post has been published on https://thebiafrastar.com/dirk-schlegel-and-falko-gotz-the-east-berlin-footballers-who-fled-from-the-stasi/

Dirk Schlegel and Falko Götz: The East Berlin footballers who fled from the Stasi

Götz (left) and Schlegel (right) pictured in 1984 – a year after what Schlegel calls their “great adventure”

Dirk Schlegel and Falko Götz had been friends for years by the time they decided to risk everything.

They had grown up together, two football-obsessed kids from the same side of a divided Berlin. They lived close to the wall that had defined their city since it was built in 1961. Their world as children was divided into good and bad, west and east, capitalist imperialism and communist utopia. They both knew not to mention the western TV they secretly watched at home.

Schlegel and Götz rose through the same Dynamo Berlin youth teams. They were part of a sporting organisation embraced tightly by the Stasi – East Germany’s brutal and invasive secret police. Erich Mielke, the infamous Stasi leader, was Dynamo’s honorary president.

The two players had something else in common. In the eyes of the state, neither could be fully be trusted.

“We both had problems with the authorities and with Dynamo because our history was the same,” Schlegel says.

“He had family in West Germany and I had an aunt in England. That kind of thing was not good for our future. There was suspicion. But it was better for our friendship.”

Götz made his senior debut for Dynamo in 1979, at the age of 17. Schlegel made his two years later, aged 20.

The two friends broke into their country’s strongest team, despite difficult years in the youth academy. They say they were often wilfully overlooked, and their parents were told it would not be correct politically to see them rewarded – not with their background.

But their talent was impossible to ignore. As they developed, both players also began to appear for East Germany’s national youth teams. As athletes, they were part of a very select number of citizens who travelled abroad – always under close scrutiny.

The Stasi monitored every aspect of East German daily life, gathering intelligence through a network of informers – and informers who informed on the informers. Some estimates suggest it employed one in every 63 people.The structure was sophisticated, bold, all-powerful. The purpose was to keep order: to further the Communist cause. Football also played its role.

Mielke believed Dynamo should become the most successful side in East Germany. They won the league a record 10 consecutive times between 1979 and 1988. There were often accusations of officials giving them preferential treatment,and – as Schlegel recalls – opposition fans hugely resented their victories.

While playing for East Germany’s Under-21s in Sweden, Götz began to seriously consider an alternative.

“As I started to play regularly for Dynamo’s first team, and internationally too, I began to understand more about what a career in football could mean,” he says.

“I had to then ask myself the question: Where do I want it to take me? Do I want to play all the time in East Germany with a club that doesn’t offer the best treatment? That from one day to the next could say, ‘thank you but now because of who you are, football stops’?”

Schlegel was having similar thoughts, brought to a head by the experience of playing abroad in May 1982 at a youth competition in France.

By the summer of 1983, the friends had decided. They had to get out of East Germany. And they had a plan. But they would have to be careful.

You couldn’t just talk anywhere, not about something like this. Schlegel and Götz did a lot of walking – just the two of them. They would go off for hours in the forest. It was the only safe place.

“We discussed it,” says Schlegel. “Could we do this big thing? It was not so easy.

“We had to think about the Stasi and the other people in our club. It was a big secret for me and Falko – no-one else.”

As champions of East Germany, Dynamo would qualify each year for the European Cup. In those days, the competition featured a straight knockout format – home and away in each round. The best Dynamo achieved was reaching the quarter-finals in 1980, when they lost to eventual winners Nottingham Forest.

The first idea was to try to escape wherever the competition might take them that season – 1983-84. The draw was kind.

In the first round came Jeunesse Esch – champions of Luxembourg. It was an easy tie that would guarantee another chance to escape if the opportunity didn’t present itself. And they had a friend who they thought might be able to help.

The first leg was at home. Götz opened the scoring in a 4-1 victory. The second leg was on 28 September 1983.

Their friend had recently been granted permission to move to West Germany – there was an official process by which it was difficult, but not impossible, to legally emigrate – and was living close to the border with Luxembourg.

They had considered the possibility of getting him to meet them and whisk them away in his car, but the timing was off. The friend wouldn’t be able to help – he still hadn’t received his full identification papers and so couldn’t travel across the border into Luxembourg from his new home in West Germany.

Still, Götz and Schlegel thought there might be a chance.

Götz pictured in Dynamo Berlin kit as a 17-year-old in 1979, the year of his senior debut

In private, Götz told his father about their intentions. All he said was there was a possibility he would be leaving for good – sometime soon. Schlegel did not say a word to anyone – not even his mum and dad.

The match was played in Esch-sur-Alzette, right on the border with France. Belgium was only another 10km to the west and West Germany about half an hour’s drive to the east. Götz and Schlegel were on the lookout for anything they could take advantage of. Any moment of quiet or confusion that might allow them to slip away.

“It just wasn’t possible,” Schlegel says. “We had no opportunity at all.

“Everywhere we went – to the hotel, to lunch, to training, to the stadium – we were all together, accompanied by a lot of our ‘friends’ from the Stasi. We had even flown there in Erich Mielke’s private plane. It wasn’t an ordinary tourist trip. It was simply too dangerous for us.”

Dynamo won 2-0, and the players returned to Berlin. Just days after discussing the possibility of not seeing him again, Götz’s father welcomed his son home.

They would have another chance very soon.

Dynamo were next drawn against Partizan Belgrade – the champions of what was then Yugoslavia. This was even better.

In Luxembourg security was tight, but this would be different. Yugoslavia was a fellow Communist country, though not in the Eastern Bloc of states officially allied with the Soviet Union, like East Germany. Surely it would be considered low risk?

Again, Dynamo were at home in the first leg. Again, Götz scored the opener – in the first minute. It finished 2-0 to the East Germans. Bring on the return fixture – in Belgrade.

At about midday on the day of the match – 2 November 1983 – the team travelled together by bus into the centre of Yugoslavia’s capital city.

As they pulled up, a member of Dynamo’s staff rose out of his seat and told the players: “You have one hour free time. We meet back here at 13:00.”

Schlegel and Götz were sitting on opposite sides of the bus.

Schlegel (right) made his Dynamo debut two years later than Götz, in 1981

“We didn’t talk; we only looked each other in the eyes,” says Schlegel. “We realised it was the moment. And we knew how dangerous it was going to be.”

As their team-mates filed off, Schlegel and Götz had still not spoken. They said nothing of the risk they were taking, nothing of the gravity of this one pivotal moment in a life’s course.

“I remember we were angry about all the moments we’d already tried to get away but couldn’t,” Götz says. “On the first day after training it was too risky, the same thing next morning after breakfast. There were too many people around.

“But now in these few seconds we were totally clear on what had to happen. We had everything in our pockets. Papers, a little money. One view of it was enough – this was our chance. Now or never.”

The clock was ticking. The rest of the Dynamo squad wanted to spend the hour shopping. Götz and Schlegel tagged along. Their first stop was a record store close by.

As the two went in, Götz spotted something to the side of the building – a slightly hidden entrance and exit, separate to where they had come in. He and Schlegel gave nothing away.

“We tried to stay very close to each other,” Götz says. “All the guys around us were buying used records for their families.

“The one special moment was when we saw the door. We saw there was a way you can get out of the shop without anybody noticing. When the time was right, that’s when we said: ‘Let’s go.'”

They steadily peeled away from the larger group. They made sure they weren’t being watched. They moved to the door, then went through it. And ran.

“Once we’d made it outside, you’re not really thinking about anything,” Götz says. “We were only thinking about running. To quickly get as far away from our team as possible.

“We ran for about five minutes in one direction. Then we saw a taxi. We got in but then there was a panic because he didn’t want to take us to the West German embassy.

“We had to hail a second cab. As we got in I gave the driver 10 Deutschmarks. He must have driven us about one kilometre – it probably would have been easier to go by foot.

“We looked back to see if anyone had followed us. We couldn’t see anybody.”

Half an hour earlier, they had been sitting with their team-mates. Now they were inside the West German embassy, talking to staff about what they should do next.

“We were incredibly nervous,” says Schlegel. “It was just very incredible what we’d done. Suddenly we were discussing a plan to get us out of Yugoslavia and into West Germany. We were coming up with a schedule for our lives.”

The plan began to take shape. First they would be driven to Zagreb, about four hours away. The embassy staff thought it best to get them out of the building – and out of Belgrade – as quickly as possible. The embassy would be the first place the authorities would come looking.

As their car emerged from the underground car park, the players were sitting in the back seats.

“On the way, the deepest thinking was only about surviving this situation,” says Götz.

“You are afraid something might happen because you made the first step in a big story. That is why the biggest emotion is just to live through it. That you can do it, you have to do it. Because in something like this, when the end is not good you will have a lot of trouble. A lot of trouble.”

In Zagreb, the plan was finalised. At the West German consulate there, Götz and Schlegel were given false papers – two new West German identities to help get them out of Yugoslavia.

Staff told them that driving out, across the Yugoslav border with Austria, would normally cause no issues. But things were a little different that week, they said, and it wasn’t totally safe. The pair never got a full explanation but it was decided it would be best to go by train. They were to say they had been on holiday, had lost their passports and had to get new ones, and were on their way ‘home’ to Munich.

The advice was to travel on the night train from Ljubljana. It would leave at midnight, and they should arrive as close to departure as possible. It was now about 6pm – they had been on the run for six hours.

They were given some food. The staff seemed relaxed – this had been done before, and they were calm and confident of the plan’s success. To some extent, this succeeded in soothing the pair’s worries. But still, the level of danger they faced was hard to ignore.

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The BBC reports from the scene as the Berlin Wall goes up

Back in Berlin, Götz’s father tuned in to watch Partizan v Dynamo. The broadcast began at 7pm. Kick-off was 8pm. His son wasn’t in the starting XI. Strange – he was one of their best players. Schlegel was missing too, and neither were even on the bench. No explanation was given, but he knew. It must have happened. Had they been successful? Or had they been caught?

There was one final hurdle to clear.

Schlegel and Götz were driven to Ljubljana. They arrived at the station just before their train was set to depart, tickets in hand, the owners of new identities. Schlegel’s name was Norman Meier. Götz can’t recall who he was supposed to be.

The train set off. There were about 30 kilometres to cover before it would arrive at the border and Yugoslav customs.

Then the train halted.

In the half light, sitting up in their sleeping compartment, the pair could hear the taps on doors.

They could hear the approaching sound of heavy boots, the guard dogs panting and the jangle of their chains.

“We were both so incredibly nervous but the policeman looked at our documents and said ‘OK, fine’ and left. It was maybe 20 seconds,” Götz says.

“It was so easy. It was nothing.

“For the whole day, we had existed in this state of high tension, where in your mind you are always worried.

“We didn’t know what we had started. We didn’t know what kind of dangers we might face. But when we got past the Austrian side and the train hadn’t been stopped to get the two footballers off, we knew we were safe.

“I think we arrived in Munich at about 6am. I can’t believe it today, but we even slept a couple of hours.”

In the newspaper stands around the station that morning, their names were already in the press. The headlines read: ‘East German players escape to West.’

But the story wasn’t quite over. There would be consequences.

The West German diplomatic staff who arranged their false papers had given Schlegel and Götz instructions on what to do. They were to travel to Giessen, where there was a facility that processed refugees.

They arrived late in the afternoon. It was about 7pm by the time either could make a phone call home. Schlegel rang his mum.

“She was a little bit worried,” he says.

“It was a big surprise. She knew nothing of our plans but she had heard about our escape from reports on West German TV. I said it was all OK, that I was safe and that was it. We knew the Stasi would be listening.”

Götz also rang home.

“My parents directly gave me word to say they were not alone,” he says.

“It was: ‘OK fine, you are OK, good, we talk later.’ Because when something like this happens, you know the authorities are in reaction mode.”

Both players realised they would have to be very careful.

“When a player from Dynamo Berlin leaves the club, he is not a good boy,” Schlegel says.

“Falko and I had decided that in all interviews we should not talk at all about politics, not about any criticisms of the East, to only talk about football. It would not have been safe – for us or our families.

“We knew that the Stasi also have a lot of people in the West too. That there were people watching us. Spies.”

Götz and Schlegel called upon Jorg Berger, a former East Germany youth coach who had fled to the west in 1979.

Berger helped arrange contact with prospective new clubs. They chose to sign for Bayer Leverkusen, but would have to wait a year to make their debuts – Dynamo Berlin would not acknowledge the move. Fifa’s 12-month playing ban was seen as a compromise to smooth over their illegal transfer.

At the time, Berger was manager of KSV Hessen Kassel, then in the West German second tier. Before he died in 2010 at the age of 65 after suffering from cancer, he wrote an autobiography in which he claimed he was targeted for assassination in the 1980s, that he was poisoned by a Stasi agent.

Berger also spoke several times about Lutz Eigendorf, a former Dynamo player who defected to the west on the way back from a match in Kaiserslautern in 1979. He had been especially vocal in his criticisms of East Germany after defection.

In March 1983, eight months before Schlegel and Götz arrived secretly in Munich, Eigendorf died in a car crash. Berger believed the accident showed the signs of a Stasi operation – where the driver of a vehicle would be blinded by a bright light while driving at high speed. Tests showed alcohol in Eigendorf’s blood, but his friends said he had not been drinking before getting into his car.

Schlegel (far right) and Götz (third from left) pictured in their debut season for Leverkusen, 1984-85

Götz and Schlegel had made it to the Bundesliga. They trained with Leverkusen, they settled into their new surroundings, but their old lives were never far behind. They were being watched very closely.

“That’s why the Stasi was so famous – for what they did,” says Götz.

“They watched us in Leverkusen, and they followed my parents all day long. Not in secret, they wanted them to see. There were interviews, interrogations, pressure. When I was able to access my files at the Stasi archives, when they were made available after German reunification, I found things that I would now rather not talk about.

“But for me at that time, it was important not to say that everything in East Germany is bad, that communists are bad, not only because I knew what the reaction to this would be but also because it wasn’t.

“My time in Dynamo made a very good player of me. I had 12 years at the club. They helped me start a professional career. Our motivation was not politics.”

As the Cold War thawed towards the end of the 1980s, both players were able to keep up more regular contact with their families, while also contributing on the pitch after their suspensions expired. That they would appear every Saturday night on the Bundesliga highlights programmes – still watched secretly in so many East Berlin homes – was a source of great pride for their parents.

Götz stayed at Leverkusen until 1988. After winning the Uefa Cup, he left to join Cologne.

Schlegel left Leverkusen in 1985 and had a season with Stuttgart before signing for Blau-Weiss Berlin in 1986. He now lived on the west side of the city where he was born. But of course, he could never cross to the other side.

He only managed to see his mum and dad again in 1987, in Czechoslovakia. For Götz it was the summer of 1988, in Hungary.

Then came 9 November 1989.

Schlegel was in a hotel with his team-mates when he heard the news. He’d just got back from training when someone shouted over from the bar: “Hey Dirk, the wall has come down.”

He thought it was a joke – for at least five minutes he wouldn’t believe it, even after he’d seen the TV pictures, the thousands of smiling East Germans walking through checkpoints, past the barbed wire, past the spotlights, past the stunned border officials. What now exactly?

“I said: ‘Oh come on! The wall came down and I was not in Berlin!’ We could hardly have been further away in Germany too – we were playing an away match against Schalke,” says Schlegel.

“That was just a crazy experience for me; it was unthinkable. Watching it, I thought maybe it’s a drama or a movie. It was something unbelievable.

“On the weekend, I came back from the game at Schalke and my family finally came over to visit me with two friends. We had dinner at home, talking, drinking.”

It wasn’t until December that Götz returned to the East side of Berlin for the first time since he and Schlegel had left with their Dynamo team-mates in 1983. He went back home – “nothing had changed, it was exactly the same” – and spent time with his family during that season’s winter break. His mother could finally pass on the few belongings she had been able to hide and keep safe for him.

Thirty years on, the friendship between Schlegel and Götz endures.

They enjoy looking back on their daring feat and speak regularly – usually by phone as Götz still lives on the other side of the country.

“My son is very proud,” says Schlegel as we talk at a cafe near his west Berlin home.

Now he has to go. He and Götz are employed as scouts; work is calling.

I don’t even have to ask the final question.

“I have been asked on many occasions,” Schlegel says. “Would I do it again?

“Absolutely. Without question. Every time. I did it for my life. It was about setting up my future, shaping my life, choosing my own path.”

Schlegel was a youth coach with Hertha for several years – here celebrating A-Juniors Club Cup victory in 2004

Götz (right) was Hertha’s manager from 2004 to 2007. Pictured here in 2006, his assistant (left) is ex-Celtic player Andreas Thom – who made his European debut for Dynamo on the night Götz and Schlegel fled

Two women walk along Sebastianstrasse, along which the Berlin Wall once ran, in October 2019. The photo underneath shows the same location in 1963

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Archive: Brian Hanrahan reports on the rapid developments that led to the collapse of the Berlin Wall

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WhatsApp in 2019: All the New Features the Chat Service Added This Year

WhatsApp is known for actively developing multiple features simultaneously, and testing them for months before releasing them for the general public. The popular instant messaging platform has been working on big features like dark mode, a new multi-platform system, and new UI elements this year. It brought along features like improved group privacy settings, fingerprint unlock feature, and even Netflix trailer in-app streaming support this year. WhatsApp and Facebook integration was initiated with the introduction of a new feature called Share to Facebook Story. It essentially lets you share your status on Facebook, if you so prefer to do so.

This, and many more WhatsApp features were rolled out, or are being tested this year. Here’s a rundown of all them. Before we proceed, we’ve segregated this post into three sections – features that have already been rolled out and are available for commercial use, features that are being tested in beta, and features that were spotted in to be under development and haven’t been enabled for beta testing as of yet. The last option is the most ambiguous, and some of the features mentioned there may or may not make it to the testing phase. For that matter, some features mentioned in the beta section may also never see the light of the day in a stable rollout.

New WhatsApp Features in 2019 (Stable)

1) WhatsApp Business app for iPhone released, new Catalog feature introduced

After being available on Android for over a year, WhatsApp started rolling out the Business App for iPhone users earlier this year. It was rolled out in seven countries, including India. It is currently available in India, Brazil, Germany, Mexico, the UK, and the US. Furthermore, the company rolled out a new Catalog feature for businesses using the latest WhatsApp Business app on both Android and iPhone in India, Brazil, Germany, Indonesia, Mexico, the UK, and the US. The new feature is designed to help small businesses showcase and share their offerings through a distinct catalogue of products.

To mark the first anniversary of the launch of WhatsApp Business app, WhatsApp also introduced quick replies, labels, and chat list filtering on the Web version as well as the desktop clients of the Business app, in the start of 2019. These features were already available to WhatsApp Business users on mobile, but since January, these can now also be used on the Web version as well as WhatsApp desktop apps.

2) WhatsApp gets new Group Privacy Settings

After testing it out for several months, WhatsApp rolled out the updated group privacy settings globally. To find the updated privacy settings for groups, you need to go to the Settings menu of WhatsApp and then tap Account > Privacy > Groups. You’ll find the My Contacts Except… option that sits next to the existing Everyone and My Contacts options. This new option gives you the control to select which of your contacts can add you to a group on the instant messages. This change has been introduced to curb spam group invites.

3) WhatsApp biometric authentication arrives for iPhone, comes to Android months later

WhatsApp introduced biometric authentication support for iOS users in February this year, while Android users got it months later, after several rounds of testing. Both Android and iOS users can now have the app lock automatically, and unlock only with their fingerprint. Users can also choose how much time the app will automatically lock in, from immediately after closing, to after 1 minute, and after 30 minutes. Users will also be able to choose whether the content of their messages will be visible in notifications, including the sender of the message. WhatsApp for iOS users can also use Face ID to lock the WhatsApp app.

4) Consecutive voice messages feature arrives for WhatsApp Web, Android

As the name suggests, this feature allows for auto-playing of two or more voice messages sent one after the other. This feature was in testing for quite a while, before it was made available to Android users commercially. This feature was already available on iOS from before. Last month, WhatsApp Web also got the ability to listen to listen to voice messages consecutively.

5) WhatsApp Status Updates can be shared to Facebook Stories

Another big WhatsApp feature that was rolled out this year, includes the ability to share your WhatsApp Status on to Facebook Stories. This feature has rolled out to Android and iPhone users both. To let you easily share your status updates to Facebook Stories, a new Share to Facebook Story button under the Status tab appears on WhatsApp after you create an update.

6) WhatsApp rolls out ‘Frequently Forwarded’ label in India

In August, WhatsApp started rolling out the Frequently Forwarded messages label on both Android as well as iOS apps to let users know if the message they have received has been forwarded over five times. Long forwarded messages are also truncated, and users will have to tap to read the full message.

7) WhatsApp Tipline feature introduced

In a bid to crack down on fake news ahead of the general elections in the country, WhatsApp unveiled its ”Checkpoint Tipline” feature where people can check the authenticity of information received. People in India can submit misinformation or rumours they receive to the Checkpoint Tipline on WhatsApp (+91-9643-000-888). Once a WhatsApp user shares a suspicious message with the tipline, Proto’s verification centre will seek to respond and inform the user if the claim made in message shared is verified or not. The response will indicate if information is classified as true, false, misleading, disputed or out of scope. Proto has since clarified the tipline is essentially a research project, and is “not a helpline” that will respond to all of the users’ queries on WhatsApp. Gadgets 360 had shared a number of links and few photos with the Checkpoint tipline, but haven’t received any response yet apart from the automated replies.

8) WhatsApp gets enhanced PiP mode in Android, Web

In June 2019, WhatsApp for Android got an update that enhanced Picture-in-Picture (PiP) feature to allow users to watch videos in a pop-up window even while switching from one chat to another. It also continues to play the video on the floating window when WhatsApp is in the background. This feature was available in iPhone since the rollout for PiP mode last year, but was missing from Android. Also, WhatsApp introduced Picture-in-Picture mode for desktop users last year, but at that time, it only worked for the videos shared by the users themselves. With an update in February, WhatsApp Web users got the ability to use Picture-in-Picture mode for all video links, with support for Facebook, YouTube, Streamable, and Instagram video links introduced. This feature came with WhatsApp Web version 0.3.2041 update.

9) WhatsApp adds Netflix trailer support to video streaming in-app

Earlier in November, WhatsApp was spotted being able to stream Netflix video trailers in-app. WABetaInfo reported that when users share a compatible Netflix link, the recipient will be able to play the trailer video in the messaging app itself. The link will appear as a large thumbnail with a play icon in the middle, as is the case with YouTube video links. This feature is only available for iOS users for now.

10) WhatsApp adds Opi Stickers support

WhatsApp expanded its sticker collection by adding an Opi sticker pack designed by Colombian illustrator Oscar Ospina, in June this year. The pack includes Opi stickers featuring a white-colour bear expressing different emotions. Notably, the new sticker pack is available within WhatsApp for both Android and iPhone users. The Opi sticker pack includes as many as 30 stickers to let WhatsApp users “sneak, snooze, and celebrate�� with the bear.

11) WhatsApp limits forwards to 5 chats globally

To combat fake news on its chat platform, WhatsApp limited the forward feature to just five chats. This feature was first rolled out to Indian users in July last year, and in January, the company rolled it out to all users globally. This change came as part of WhatsApp’s aim to maintain the image of a ‘private messaging app’ rather than one infamous for the spreading of fake news.

12) WhatsApp for iPhone gets Reply Privately feature

In the first week of 2019, WhatsApp rolled out an update for iPhone users, bringing many new features like Reply Privately support in WhatsApp Groups, ability to add stickers to photos and videos, and 3D Touch support to preview a contact’s status. The Reply Privately feature allows the participants of a group to reply privately to a chat in their 1:1 chat. To use the feature, the WhatsApp users will have to tap and hold a message in a group chat and select More, then select Reply Privately. Android users got this feature last year.

13) WhatsApp for iPhone gets 3D Touch to preview Status

In addition to reply privately, WhatsApp for iPhone update also got the ability to use 3D Touch to preview a contact’s status in the Status tab. The preview screen also lets the user Mute a status if they desire. It is important to note here that not all iPhone models support 3D Touch. Apple had introduced the 3D Touch support back in 2015 with the iPhone 6s and iPhone 6s Plus models. iPhone SE and older iPhone models don’t include the support for 3D Touch. The iPhone XR also doesn’t include 3D Touch, with Apple choosing to go with Haptic Touch instead, and this tech offers similar UI options as regular 3D Touch.

14) WhatsApp for Android adds group call shortcut

WhatsApp for Android v2.19.9 introduced a dedicated call button in group chats – something that is already available for iPhone users since last year. The newly introduced button can be used to make group calls by adding the participants all at once from a slide-out tray containing the contact cards of all members in a group. Here, you can tap on the names of people you want to participate in your group voice or video call.

New WhatsApp features in 2019 (Beta) 

1) WhatsApp new camera icon being tested

The latest WhatsApp for Android 2.19.328 update brings a change in the Instagram logo-like camera icon inside the WhatsApp app. Earlier, the app had a more Instagram logo-like camera icon, and that has been replaced with a more traditional camera logo. This feature is enabled in the beta app, and is yet to roll out commercially.

2) WhatsApp testing host of emoji-related features

Earlier this month, WhatsApp Android beta version 2.19.315 brought along new emojis and tweaked a few existing ones. The new emojis include more couple emoji variations, colour blocks, yawning face, and a single individual in various postures. An update in May brought along as many as 155 redesigned emojis. This change came with Android beta 2.19.139, and some emojis have got subtle changes in design and aesthetic. For example, the man with turban emoji has changed from a coloured turban to donning a more neutral white turban. Before that, WhatsApp Android beta 2.19.116 brought along a separate Emoji category for the Doodle Picker section. The category lets you choose from the slew of emojis available on WhatsApp to stick on to your status before posting it and it also splits it from the stickers that you will also be able to access via the Doodle Picker in a separate category. The Doodle Picker can be found in the Status Bar. Lastly, WhatsApp beta for Android version 2.19.73 brought an emoji showing a transgender flag. You need to go to the flag emoji section from the emoji menu to see the transgender flag that sits alongside the LGBT and UN flags. Gadgets 360 was able to independently verify the presence of the new flag on the WhatsApp beta build.

3) WhatsApp is working on bringing a new Splash Screen

WhatsApp recently started working on bringing a new Splash Screen for its users. This feature was spotted in Android beta 2.19.297, and a new Light Splash Screen and a Dark Splash Screen was spotted. The Light Splash Screen will show up when Dark Mode is not activated. The Dark Mode feature is also in development as of now. Splash Screen is essentially a new page that shows up initially when the app loads for the first time, with the WhatsApp logo plastered on a white background. This new feature was spotted in Business beta as well.

4) WhatsApp to bring Hide Muted Status Updates

In September, WhatsApp started testing the ability to hide muted status updates. The Hide Muted Status Updates feature brings the ability to completely vanish all traces of muted updates from the WhatsApp Status section. Currently, the muted status updates show up at the end of the scroll, but this new feature will hide that section completely. The feature was first spotted in WhatsApp beta version 2.19.260.

5) WhatsApp is working on bringing audio playback in notifications

WhatsApp has been spotted testing the audio playback feature in iOS beta. It was spotted in 2.19.91.1 iOS beta, and it brings the ability to preview incoming voice messages on notification panel. This feature is being tested on a few iPhone units only, so it may not be working for all beta testers.

6) WhatsApp testing Memoji Stickers on iOS

WhatsApp for iOS beta version 2.19.90.23 brought Memoji Stickers support for users testing the app. A new Memoji Stickers option showed up for beta testers, and the stickers show up in the frequently used section as well, alongside the normal emojis. Memoji stickers are available for iPhone X, iPhone XR and iPhone XS users only, running on iOS 13. To recall, Memoji is a feature introduced with iOS 12 that allows users to create personalised Animoji for themselves. Animoji are themselves likened to animated emojis.

7) WhatsApp working on a Quick Media Edit feature

WhatsApp iOS beta 2.19.80.16 enabled the Quick Media Edit feature for testing purposes. The Quick Edit Media Shortcut will provide editing of media files you have sent or received in an individual WhatsApp chat or a group conversation. A button called Edit will be available next to the share and favourite buttons; once you tap the media file you’ve sent or received on the app.

8) WhatsApp working on bringing animated stickers

WhatsApp is working on bringing animated stickers support to iOS, Android, and even the Web. PLatform watcher WABetaInfo shared screenshots and photos of the feature working on all three platforms. Animated stickers are different from GIFs – they keep alive throughout, while GIFs stop playing after a few seconds.

9) WhatsApp working on increasing audio files limit

WhatsApp is working on bringing a new UI for selecting audio files that allows users to preview (both audio and album art) an audio file before sending, and also lets users send up to 30 audio files at a time. This feature was spotted in development in January, but was later enabled in v2.19.89 Android beta.

10) WhatsApp Short Link feature for iPhone

For iPhone users, WhatsApp rolled out the Short Link feature with Business beta version 2.19.21.5. The feature is already available on both the regular Android and WhatsApp Business for Android apps, and is finally being tested on iOS. Using the new Short Link feature, the business can access a short wa.me URL to share with its customers, so that they can start a WhatsApp chat with the organisation. Once you’re on the latest version, head to Settings to find the Short Link section.

11) WhatsApp for Android redesigned Settings menu

WhatsApp for Android beta v2.19.45 introduces a redesigned ‘Settings’ menu with a slightly different layout and has also brought new icons for a variety of tools. The update brings relocation of certain tools, new icons and the way information is displayed on the screen. The first noticeable change is the addition of a ‘Payments’ option on the main ‘Settings’ page which shows a history of payments and details of the linked bank account. The update also brought tweaks to the ‘Network Usage’ page that now shows the memory usage status with details such as date and time, as well as the total amount of data sent and received by users.

12) WhatsApp for Android Download Single Sticker option

WhatsApp Android beta version 2.19.33 added the ability to download a single sticker from a pack. Earlier, a WhatsApp user was forced to download the entire sticker pack even if the person just wanted to use a single sticker from that pack. There was no option to download one sticker individually and leave out the rest. This download single sticker feature has now been made live in a beta update and is expected to come in the stable update soon. In order to use this download single sticker option, you must be using the latest WhatsApp for Android beta version 2.19.33. After downloading the update, open the in-app WhatsApp Stickers Store and long press on a sticker in a not-yet-downloaded stickers pack. WhatsApp will then prompt to ask if you want to save that sticker as favourite. It will show you the download size of the single sticker and offer a download option at the bottom for saving the sticker in the app. This new feature is very useful, especially for those who want an uncluttered stickers menu with only the relevant ones showing up. It also saves precious data for all the limited pack users.

13) WhatsApp’s new Shared Media Options

WhatsApp for Android beta v2.19.18 revamped the options users see in the Media section of individual or group chats. Users when browsing photos in the Media section will now see new options if they tap the three-dot menu button. These are ‘Show in Chat’, ‘Set as…’ and ‘Rotate’. The first option lets you see where that particular image or video was shared in the individual or group chat. ‘Set as’ isn’t actually new, but instead of individual options for images to be ‘Set as profile photo’, ‘Set as group icon’, and ‘Use as wallpaper’, the menu has instead been simplified, and users can now tap the ‘Set as…’ overflow menu to see ‘My profile photo’, ‘Group icon,’ and ‘Wallpaper’ as the target locations. Finally, the ‘Rotate’ option isn’t new either, but instead of ‘Rotate left’ and ‘Rotate right’ seen in previous builds, users can tap Rotate multiple times to achieve the same effect.

14) WhatsApp working on iPhone app redesign

WhatsApp beta 2.19.120.20 for iPhone brought along a redesign of few elements, and the most notable ones include different cell animations, redesign of read receipts, chat icons, and more. It also redesigned the image that appears when a contact has not added a profile picture and for groups without a group icon. This image now resembles the one that exists in the Android app.A lot more subtle changes are expected to be incorporated in the future.

15) WhatsApp testing Redesigned Facebook Logo

WhatsApp started testing a redesigned Facebook footer with 2.19.331 update. The new Facebook footer is visible on the welcome screen as well as in the settings menu of the latest WhatsApp beta version. Further, it is also available on the Splash Screen.

New WhatsApp features in 2019 (spotted in development, disabled by default)

1) WhatsApp Dark Mode still a work-in-progress

WhatsApp is inching closer to getting the long-awaited dark theme. It has been spotted on Android and iOS beta both, but the feature is yet to arrive in its full-fledged version or even the testing phase. It appears that WhatsApp on iOS will get multiple versions of dark theme that will vary in the strength of black shade applied across the app’s interface. A recent iPhone beta update showed how different shades of black will be provided to users to choose from. The darker theme will be the default theme that WhatsApp will use. The user will be able to switch to the second configuration modifying the device accessibility settings There is also a report that suggests that WhatsApp may launch the dark mode officially as ‘Night Mode’. At the moment, there is no word as to when the dark mode will arrive on WhatsApp for Android via a stable or beta update.

2) WhatsApp working on a Boomerang feature

WhatsApp has been spotted developing a Boomerang feature that would allow users to create looping videos. The feature is currently in a development stage and will be initially available for iPhone users, according to a report. However, it is said to also reach Android users soon after its debut on iOS. WhatsApp sister concern Instagram originally brought a Boomerang app particularly for its users to let them easily create one-second video loops. The Boomerang app was designed to counter Twitter’s Vine that offered six-second video loops segments. The feature would be available for videos that are less than seven seconds. Further, the video loops created through the new development could be shared with WhatsApp contacts through a message or uploaded as a Status update.

3) WhatsApp working on a new multi-platform system

WhatsApp is reportedly building a multi-platform system to enable users to activate one account on a lot of devices. WABetaInfo says that this includes WhatsApp for Windows (UWP), which brings the ability to use WhatsApp on your PC as well. The tracker says that the multi-platform system will work on iPhone, Android, iPad, and even WhatsApp for Windows (UWP) whenever it arrives. This means that users will be able to use the same WhatsApp account on multiple devices, without being kicked out of the main one. Users will be able to use their WhatsApp account on iPad (when the app becomes available) without uninstalling it from their iPhone. Similarly, the same WhatsApp account can be used on iOS and Android devices as well. As recent iPhone beta v2.19.120.20 update had some instances of the rumoured multi-platform system. To get access from a second device to a WhatsApp account, WhatsApp needs a registration code. This code will be sent to the main account used on the primary device, and it will splash a warning. This will enable a more secure way of using the multi-platform feature whenever it gets released in the future.

4) WhatsApp is working on QR code button

WhatsApp beta 2.51.151 is said to have the references for a new QR code button that would allow users to share their profiles and add contacts through specific QR codes. Once you tap the QR code button after going through the Profile section, WhatsApp would show the QR code that would let other users add you to their contacts list. You would also be able to add other users to your contact list by scanning their QR codes using the Camera feature on your WhatsApp.

5) WhatsApp is working on an in-app browser

In March, WhatsApp Android beta version 2.19.74 was spotted to feature an in-app browser every time the user tries to open a link shared over the app. This feature is disabled by default and still under development. The feature is being built to detect unsafe pages using the “Safe Browsing” feature which was added to Android 8.1 last year. It would alert users when a page is infected with malicious content.

6) WhatsApp is working on a Search Image feature

WhatsApp for Android is reportedly also testing a new feature to let users search images that they received or sent to their contacts. The new feature, which is apparently called ‘Search image’, would use Google to search for the images directly from a WhatsApp chat. The Search Image feature is yet to make way to the instant messaging app, but has been spotted as disabled by default in WhatsApp beta for Android version 2.19.73.

7) WhatsApp is developing an Advanced Search feature

WhatsApp is working on a separate ‘Advanced Search’ feature that will allow users to search for photos, links, audio, GIF images, and even videos, apart from the usual text search that is already enabled. The Advanced Search feature will also show recent searches as well. Notably, the Advanced Search image feature is separate from the Search Image feature reported above. As mentioned, this feature is still under development, and will roll out to all iOS beta app users in a future update.

8) WhatsApp is working on an algorithmic feed for Status

WhatsApp is reportedly working on a new layout to show status updates that will drastically change how stories are populated in the feed. The current iteration of WhatsApp shows the status updates in the order that they were posted, but the company is now experimenting with the idea of an algorithm-driven feed that will list the status updates based on relevance, instead of the existing reverse chronological order. WhatsApp has reportedly begun testing the new feed layout among a small group of users in certain regions. The new algorithm will reportedly give preference to those contacts whose status updates are more frequently viewed by the users. The algorithm will also take into account the frequency of interaction with a particular contact before positioning the status update by the person at a particular location in the feed. Priority will also be given to contacts whose status updates, the users are most likely to view, based on the past interactions. WhatsApp is reportedly testing the algorithmic status update feed with a small set of users on the iOS platform. The experiment is limited to some users in Brazil, Spain, and India.

9) WhatsApp working on a Blocked Contact Notice

WhatsApp was spotted developing a new feature in the recent Android beta 2.19.332 update. It is developing a new feature that will show in the chat when you have blocked or unblocked a contact. Every time you block a contact, WhatsApp will add a bubble in the chat reporting “You blocked this contact. Tap to unblock.” The same happens when you decide to unblock a contact. The tracker notes that this bubble will be added in your chat only, and the contact you have blocked won’t be notified about it. Of course, this feature hasn’t been enabled yet, and is still in the development stage.

10) WhatsApp is working on grouping blocked contacts

Another feature spotted in the latest beta 2.19.332 update is the ability to segregate your blocked contacts into categories. This feature will automatically group your blocked contacts list following a specific criteria, which means all your business contacts will be moved on a different section. The tracker says that the new arrangement will be automatic, and that you won’t have to manually set a contact as Business, WhatsApp will learn which contacts are businesses and they will be moved in the second section. This feature is also still under development that means it hasn’t reached the beta testing phase yet.

[alanajacksontx]

How did the 2018 SERP changes impact organic search?

Search industry has seen its share of updates over the years. The folks that have been in the industry long enough know Google introduces multiple changes in its search algorithm yearly.

These changes range from being minor to major changes. Panda, for instance, affected the search engine result page (SERP) in substantial ways.

When such changes happen, there tend to be various articles in the industry notifying the trend and changes.

Usually articles are news based in nature: “Google launched this change or those changes.” But they lack an informative recommendation on how the reader should digest this information.

In this article, we’ll review the major SERP changes brought to us in 2018. For each update, we’ll discuss a practical tip to respond accordingly.

2018 SERP changes and recommendations 

2018 was not a dull year! Google released several SERP feature updates.

As Google updates its algorithm to better align with users, the SERPs have gone through a look and feel makeover.

These changes always create new challenges for the Search Engine Optimization (SEO) professionals. We must constantly develop new SEO strategies to ensure that our content is still optimized to be featured in SERPs.

Let’s take a look at some of the changes we see in today’s SERPs.

One of the biggest changes that has occurred? Gone are the traditional text-only SERPs.

Today’s SERPs highlight video, images, featured snippets, knowledge graphs and related products.

Therefore, one has to consider the different content format that are being displayed in the SERPs. And develop strategies to create and optimize these group of content types.

1. The HTTPs rigmarole

In July, it was confirmed that chrome security warnings were really happening.

After the initial warnings, Chrome 68 began marking all non-HTTPS sites as “not secure.” The idea behind this change was that HTTPs provided more encrypted connections and more security.

This also altered the way the SERPs looked. The regular HTTP sites started to fall behind.

On plain HTTP, your connection is not encrypted when you load a website. This means that anyone on the network can see, gather, and alter all and any information.

Recommendation

The recommendation here is simple one. Make encryption easy — migrate or build your site on HTTPS.

2. Mobile first

Mobile first has almost become a buzz word.

The mobile first update was more geared towards recognizing the mobile content consumption and ensure that the mobile speed were taken into account for the SERP.

Today adults in the US spend an average of 3 hours and 35 minutes per day on mobile.

The mobile page speed update takes into account the page loading speed for mobile results. These changes were rolled out in July.

In an effort to deliver the best experience for searchers across all devices, mobile-first indexing means Googlebot will only crawl and index the mobile version of a page. And of course, this has directly affected the SERP we see.

The better the page load speed, the higher the performance in SERPs.

Recommendation

As a business owner you can leverage Accelerated Mobile Pages (AMP), Google’s open source project. It will allow you to dramatically improve the performance of the mobile web.

Secondly, leverage the user intent in the keyword used for content and tags. Even image alt attributes have become more relevant in mobile search.

3. Featured snippets and knowledge panels

Technically speaking this one came in December 2017, but its impact resonated throughout last year.

Google made changes to the way SERPs are laid out. Primarily, we started seeing expanded Featured Snippets, improved Knowledge Panels, and suggested content.

All three of these elements align with user intent and improve the user’s search experience.

Featured snippets

Let’s take the feature snippets first.

Most featured snippets are triggered by long-tail keywords.

There are several kinds of featured snippets – numbered, bullet points, tables, and paragraph.

For larger B2B enterprise clients, the paragraph snippets are most relevant.

Paragraph featured snippets result from the content that Google pulls straight from your website. This content can best attempt to answer the searcher’s question directly within the SERPs.

Paragraph types are the most prevalent category of featured snippets.

These snippets usually provide answers to question queries, such as “how to,” “what is,” or “why is.”

However, these are a double edged sword. They cannibalize organic search clicks because user queries are often answered directly in the SERP and the user doesn’t have to click the link.

Recommendation

If your page already ranks on the first page for your target keywords, you can increase your chances of being featured by optimizing the content to give a better answer and organize information and facts.

Knowledge panels

Google leverages Google Maps or Google My Business listings for these.

Therefore you see such panels related to brands, businesses, or organizations. These can include images, facts, social media links, and related searches.

Recommendation

Ensure that your image tags are appropriately optimized, and that business listings are up to date. Doing so will allow for accurate and desired information to display.

4. Related products

Google has also started providing related products within the SERPS.

They display brand logos that are clickable. However, there is no defined statement by Google on how they are selecting these featured products.

There is a theory that Google observes the users making consecutive searches for similar entities and the related tweaks they then make in their quereis.

One can say that Google provides the user with not just the related search query, but almost deliver the best search suggestion.

They take the user behavior and intent into account to generate the best SERP.

Recommendation

How can we as business owners influence this SERP?

If we make an educated guess, we can leverage internal links. These links signal to the search engines about a site’s navigation, architecture, hierarchy, page authority, and product relationship.

All of this will allow Google to display the related products.

5. Video optimization

One of the more visual changes in the SERPs has been the inclusion of video carousel in the search result. There seems to be absolutely no competition between the carousel and any of the other SERP features. The video carousels solely compete with organic results for SERP space and can appear next to any combination of other features.

Which URLs Appear in the Video Carousel? When it came to the vast majority of the accompanying URL are from YouTube.  That said accompanying URLs is another element that is changing.  Now Google is actually giving weightage to video on the domain than YouTube. Of course, they have to be an optimized asset to be featured. This change rolled out in June.

Recommendation

As a business owner you can enhance your URL’s reach by ensuring the video is embedded on your page and you have applied the traditional best practice with regards to video optimization. Such as, providing the appropriate tag and having relevant textual content around the video that describes it.

6. Image search

Images have had multiple level changes. One the image packs are now part of the traditional SERPs. Second, when a user clicks on an image, they’ll be taken to Google Images. Do note that the user is still not taken to the website directly. Third, the image search now displays filter options right on the top the results. Lastly, the images itself have a short tag line below it.

Recommendation

This makes use of image alt tags and relevant keywords within the tag a critical step in image optimization.

7. Extension of length of titles and descriptions

This one had two level of changes, one where the character limit was increased and second when the changes we rolled back and the older character limits were restored.

This change actually is a good warning for all.

Recommendation

Don’t give a knee jerk reaction to any changes. Test them out. View your result and plan a more comprehensive roll out.

Tanu Javeri is Senior Global SEO Strategist at IBM.

The post How did the 2018 SERP changes impact organic search? appeared first on Search Engine Watch.

from IM Tips And Tricks https://searchenginewatch.com/2019/01/21/2018-serp-changes-impact/ from Rising Phoenix SEO https://risingphxseo.tumblr.com/post/182190823995

[kellykperez]

How did the 2018 SERP changes impact organic search?

Search industry has seen its share of updates over the years. The folks that have been in the industry long enough know Google introduces multiple changes in its search algorithm yearly.

These changes range from being minor to major changes. Panda, for instance, affected the search engine result page (SERP) in substantial ways.

When such changes happen, there tend to be various articles in the industry notifying the trend and changes.

Usually articles are news based in nature: “Google launched this change or those changes.” But they lack an informative recommendation on how the reader should digest this information.

In this article, we’ll review the major SERP changes brought to us in 2018. For each update, we’ll discuss a practical tip to respond accordingly.

2018 SERP changes and recommendations 

2018 was not a dull year! Google released several SERP feature updates.

As Google updates its algorithm to better align with users, the SERPs have gone through a look and feel makeover.

These changes always create new challenges for the Search Engine Optimization (SEO) professionals. We must constantly develop new SEO strategies to ensure that our content is still optimized to be featured in SERPs.

Let’s take a look at some of the changes we see in today’s SERPs.

One of the biggest changes that has occurred? Gone are the traditional text-only SERPs.

Today’s SERPs highlight video, images, featured snippets, knowledge graphs and related products.

Therefore, one has to consider the different content format that are being displayed in the SERPs. And develop strategies to create and optimize these group of content types.

1. The HTTPs rigmarole

In July, it was confirmed that chrome security warnings were really happening.

After the initial warnings, Chrome 68 began marking all non-HTTPS sites as “not secure.” The idea behind this change was that HTTPs provided more encrypted connections and more security.

This also altered the way the SERPs looked. The regular HTTP sites started to fall behind.

On plain HTTP, your connection is not encrypted when you load a website. This means that anyone on the network can see, gather, and alter all and any information.

Recommendation

The recommendation here is simple one. Make encryption easy — migrate or build your site on HTTPS.

2. Mobile first

Mobile first has almost become a buzz word.

The mobile first update was more geared towards recognizing the mobile content consumption and ensure that the mobile speed were taken into account for the SERP.

Today adults in the US spend an average of 3 hours and 35 minutes per day on mobile.

The mobile page speed update takes into account the page loading speed for mobile results. These changes were rolled out in July.

In an effort to deliver the best experience for searchers across all devices, mobile-first indexing means Googlebot will only crawl and index the mobile version of a page. And of course, this has directly affected the SERP we see.

The better the page load speed, the higher the performance in SERPs.

Recommendation

As a business owner you can leverage Accelerated Mobile Pages (AMP), Google’s open source project. It will allow you to dramatically improve the performance of the mobile web.

Secondly, leverage the user intent in the keyword used for content and tags. Even image alt attributes have become more relevant in mobile search.

3. Featured snippets and knowledge panels

Technically speaking this one came in December 2017, but its impact resonated throughout last year.

Google made changes to the way SERPs are laid out. Primarily, we started seeing expanded Featured Snippets, improved Knowledge Panels, and suggested content.

All three of these elements align with user intent and improve the user’s search experience.

Featured snippets

Let’s take the feature snippets first.

Most featured snippets are triggered by long-tail keywords.

There are several kinds of featured snippets – numbered, bullet points, tables, and paragraph.

For larger B2B enterprise clients, the paragraph snippets are most relevant.

Paragraph featured snippets result from the content that Google pulls straight from your website. This content can best attempt to answer the searcher’s question directly within the SERPs.

Paragraph types are the most prevalent category of featured snippets.

These snippets usually provide answers to question queries, such as “how to,” “what is,” or “why is.”

However, these are a double edged sword. They cannibalize organic search clicks because user queries are often answered directly in the SERP and the user doesn’t have to click the link.

Recommendation

If your page already ranks on the first page for your target keywords, you can increase your chances of being featured by optimizing the content to give a better answer and organize information and facts.

Knowledge panels

Google leverages Google Maps or Google My Business listings for these.

Therefore you see such panels related to brands, businesses, or organizations. These can include images, facts, social media links, and related searches.

Recommendation

Ensure that your image tags are appropriately optimized, and that business listings are up to date. Doing so will allow for accurate and desired information to display.

4. Related products

Google has also started providing related products within the SERPS.

They display brand logos that are clickable. However, there is no defined statement by Google on how they are selecting these featured products.

There is a theory that Google observes the users making consecutive searches for similar entities and the related tweaks they then make in their quereis.

One can say that Google provides the user with not just the related search query, but almost deliver the best search suggestion.

They take the user behavior and intent into account to generate the best SERP.

Recommendation

How can we as business owners influence this SERP?

If we make an educated guess, we can leverage internal links. These links signal to the search engines about a site’s navigation, architecture, hierarchy, page authority, and product relationship.

All of this will allow Google to display the related products.

5. Video optimization

One of the more visual changes in the SERPs has been the inclusion of video carousel in the search result. There seems to be absolutely no competition between the carousel and any of the other SERP features. The video carousels solely compete with organic results for SERP space and can appear next to any combination of other features.

Which URLs Appear in the Video Carousel? When it came to the vast majority of the accompanying URL are from YouTube.  That said accompanying URLs is another element that is changing.  Now Google is actually giving weightage to video on the domain than YouTube. Of course, they have to be an optimized asset to be featured. This change rolled out in June.

Recommendation

As a business owner you can enhance your URL’s reach by ensuring the video is embedded on your page and you have applied the traditional best practice with regards to video optimization. Such as, providing the appropriate tag and having relevant textual content around the video that describes it.

6. Image search

Images have had multiple level changes. One the image packs are now part of the traditional SERPs. Second, when a user clicks on an image, they’ll be taken to Google Images. Do note that the user is still not taken to the website directly. Third, the image search now displays filter options right on the top the results. Lastly, the images itself have a short tag line below it.

Recommendation

This makes use of image alt tags and relevant keywords within the tag a critical step in image optimization.

7. Extension of length of titles and descriptions

This one had two level of changes, one where the character limit was increased and second when the changes we rolled back and the older character limits were restored.

This change actually is a good warning for all.

Recommendation

Don’t give a knee jerk reaction to any changes. Test them out. View your result and plan a more comprehensive roll out.

Tanu Javeri is Senior Global SEO Strategist at IBM.

The post How did the 2018 SERP changes impact organic search? appeared first on Search Engine Watch.

source https://searchenginewatch.com/2019/01/21/2018-serp-changes-impact/ from Rising Phoenix SEO http://risingphoenixseo.blogspot.com/2019/01/how-did-2018-serp-changes-impact.html

[evaaguilaus]

How did the 2018 SERP changes impact organic search?

Search industry has seen its share of updates over the years. The folks that have been in the industry long enough know Google introduces multiple changes in its search algorithm yearly.

These changes range from being minor to major changes. Panda, for instance, affected the search engine result page (SERP) in substantial ways.

When such changes happen, there tend to be various articles in the industry notifying the trend and changes.

Usually articles are news based in nature: “Google launched this change or those changes.” But they lack an informative recommendation on how the reader should digest this information.

In this article, we’ll review the major SERP changes brought to us in 2018. For each update, we’ll discuss a practical tip to respond accordingly.

2018 SERP changes and recommendations 

2018 was not a dull year! Google released several SERP feature updates.

As Google updates its algorithm to better align with users, the SERPs have gone through a look and feel makeover.

These changes always create new challenges for the Search Engine Optimization (SEO) professionals. We must constantly develop new SEO strategies to ensure that our content is still optimized to be featured in SERPs.

Let’s take a look at some of the changes we see in today’s SERPs.

One of the biggest changes that has occurred? Gone are the traditional text-only SERPs.

Today’s SERPs highlight video, images, featured snippets, knowledge graphs and related products.

Therefore, one has to consider the different content format that are being displayed in the SERPs. And develop strategies to create and optimize these group of content types.

1. The HTTPs rigmarole

In July, it was confirmed that chrome security warnings were really happening.

After the initial warnings, Chrome 68 began marking all non-HTTPS sites as “not secure.” The idea behind this change was that HTTPs provided more encrypted connections and more security.

This also altered the way the SERPs looked. The regular HTTP sites started to fall behind.

On plain HTTP, your connection is not encrypted when you load a website. This means that anyone on the network can see, gather, and alter all and any information.

Recommendation

The recommendation here is simple one. Make encryption easy — migrate or build your site on HTTPS.

2. Mobile first

Mobile first has almost become a buzz word.

The mobile first update was more geared towards recognizing the mobile content consumption and ensure that the mobile speed were taken into account for the SERP.

Today adults in the US spend an average of 3 hours and 35 minutes per day on mobile.

The mobile page speed update takes into account the page loading speed for mobile results. These changes were rolled out in July.

In an effort to deliver the best experience for searchers across all devices, mobile-first indexing means Googlebot will only crawl and index the mobile version of a page. And of course, this has directly affected the SERP we see.

The better the page load speed, the higher the performance in SERPs.

Recommendation

As a business owner you can leverage Accelerated Mobile Pages (AMP), Google’s open source project. It will allow you to dramatically improve the performance of the mobile web.

Secondly, leverage the user intent in the keyword used for content and tags. Even image alt attributes have become more relevant in mobile search.

3. Featured snippets and knowledge panels

Technically speaking this one came in December 2017, but its impact resonated throughout last year.

Google made changes to the way SERPs are laid out. Primarily, we started seeing expanded Featured Snippets, improved Knowledge Panels, and suggested content.

All three of these elements align with user intent and improve the user’s search experience.

Featured snippets

Let’s take the feature snippets first.

Most featured snippets are triggered by long-tail keywords.

There are several kinds of featured snippets – numbered, bullet points, tables, and paragraph.

For larger B2B enterprise clients, the paragraph snippets are most relevant.

Paragraph featured snippets result from the content that Google pulls straight from your website. This content can best attempt to answer the searcher’s question directly within the SERPs.

Paragraph types are the most prevalent category of featured snippets.

These snippets usually provide answers to question queries, such as “how to,” “what is,” or “why is.”

However, these are a double edged sword. They cannibalize organic search clicks because user queries are often answered directly in the SERP and the user doesn’t have to click the link.

Recommendation

If your page already ranks on the first page for your target keywords, you can increase your chances of being featured by optimizing the content to give a better answer and organize information and facts.

Knowledge panels

Google leverages Google Maps or Google My Business listings for these.

Therefore you see such panels related to brands, businesses, or organizations. These can include images, facts, social media links, and related searches.

Recommendation

Ensure that your image tags are appropriately optimized, and that business listings are up to date. Doing so will allow for accurate and desired information to display.

4. Related products

Google has also started providing related products within the SERPS.

They display brand logos that are clickable. However, there is no defined statement by Google on how they are selecting these featured products.

There is a theory that Google observes the users making consecutive searches for similar entities and the related tweaks they then make in their quereis.

One can say that Google provides the user with not just the related search query, but almost deliver the best search suggestion.

They take the user behavior and intent into account to generate the best SERP.

Recommendation

How can we as business owners influence this SERP?

If we make an educated guess, we can leverage internal links. These links signal to the search engines about a site’s navigation, architecture, hierarchy, page authority, and product relationship.

All of this will allow Google to display the related products.

5. Video optimization

One of the more visual changes in the SERPs has been the inclusion of video carousel in the search result. There seems to be absolutely no competition between the carousel and any of the other SERP features. The video carousels solely compete with organic results for SERP space and can appear next to any combination of other features.

Which URLs Appear in the Video Carousel? When it came to the vast majority of the accompanying URL are from YouTube.  That said accompanying URLs is another element that is changing.  Now Google is actually giving weightage to video on the domain than YouTube. Of course, they have to be an optimized asset to be featured. This change rolled out in June.

Recommendation

As a business owner you can enhance your URL’s reach by ensuring the video is embedded on your page and you have applied the traditional best practice with regards to video optimization. Such as, providing the appropriate tag and having relevant textual content around the video that describes it.

6. Image search

Images have had multiple level changes. One the image packs are now part of the traditional SERPs. Second, when a user clicks on an image, they’ll be taken to Google Images. Do note that the user is still not taken to the website directly. Third, the image search now displays filter options right on the top the results. Lastly, the images itself have a short tag line below it.

Recommendation

This makes use of image alt tags and relevant keywords within the tag a critical step in image optimization.

7. Extension of length of titles and descriptions

This one had two level of changes, one where the character limit was increased and second when the changes we rolled back and the older character limits were restored.

This change actually is a good warning for all.

Recommendation

Don’t give a knee jerk reaction to any changes. Test them out. View your result and plan a more comprehensive roll out.

Tanu Javeri is Senior Global SEO Strategist at IBM.

The post How did the 2018 SERP changes impact organic search? appeared first on Search Engine Watch.

from Digtal Marketing News https://searchenginewatch.com/2019/01/21/2018-serp-changes-impact/

[srasamua]

How did the 2018 SERP changes impact organic search?

Search industry has seen its share of updates over the years. The folks that have been in the industry long enough know Google introduces multiple changes in its search algorithm yearly.

These changes range from being minor to major changes. Panda, for instance, affected the search engine result page (SERP) in substantial ways.

When such changes happen, there tend to be various articles in the industry notifying the trend and changes.

Usually articles are news based in nature: “Google launched this change or those changes.” But they lack an informative recommendation on how the reader should digest this information.

In this article, we’ll review the major SERP changes brought to us in 2018. For each update, we’ll discuss a practical tip to respond accordingly.

2018 SERP changes and recommendations 

2018 was not a dull year! Google released several SERP feature updates.

As Google updates its algorithm to better align with users, the SERPs have gone through a look and feel makeover.

These changes always create new challenges for the Search Engine Optimization (SEO) professionals. We must constantly develop new SEO strategies to ensure that our content is still optimized to be featured in SERPs.

Let’s take a look at some of the changes we see in today’s SERPs.

One of the biggest changes that has occurred? Gone are the traditional text-only SERPs.

Today’s SERPs highlight video, images, featured snippets, knowledge graphs and related products.

Therefore, one has to consider the different content format that are being displayed in the SERPs. And develop strategies to create and optimize these group of content types.

1. The HTTPs rigmarole

In July, it was confirmed that chrome security warnings were really happening.

After the initial warnings, Chrome 68 began marking all non-HTTPS sites as “not secure.” The idea behind this change was that HTTPs provided more encrypted connections and more security.

This also altered the way the SERPs looked. The regular HTTP sites started to fall behind.

On plain HTTP, your connection is not encrypted when you load a website. This means that anyone on the network can see, gather, and alter all and any information.

Recommendation

The recommendation here is simple one. Make encryption easy — migrate or build your site on HTTPS.

2. Mobile first

Mobile first has almost become a buzz word.

The mobile first update was more geared towards recognizing the mobile content consumption and ensure that the mobile speed were taken into account for the SERP.

Today adults in the US spend an average of 3 hours and 35 minutes per day on mobile.

The mobile page speed update takes into account the page loading speed for mobile results. These changes were rolled out in July.

In an effort to deliver the best experience for searchers across all devices, mobile-first indexing means Googlebot will only crawl and index the mobile version of a page. And of course, this has directly affected the SERP we see.

The better the page load speed, the higher the performance in SERPs.

Recommendation

As a business owner you can leverage Accelerated Mobile Pages (AMP), Google’s open source project. It will allow you to dramatically improve the performance of the mobile web.

Secondly, leverage the user intent in the keyword used for content and tags. Even image alt attributes have become more relevant in mobile search.

3. Featured snippets and knowledge panels

Technically speaking this one came in December 2017, but its impact resonated throughout last year.

Google made changes to the way SERPs are laid out. Primarily, we started seeing expanded Featured Snippets, improved Knowledge Panels, and suggested content.

All three of these elements align with user intent and improve the user’s search experience.

Featured snippets

Let’s take the feature snippets first.

Most featured snippets are triggered by long-tail keywords.

There are several kinds of featured snippets – numbered, bullet points, tables, and paragraph.

For larger B2B enterprise clients, the paragraph snippets are most relevant.

Paragraph featured snippets result from the content that Google pulls straight from your website. This content can best attempt to answer the searcher’s question directly within the SERPs.

Paragraph types are the most prevalent category of featured snippets.

These snippets usually provide answers to question queries, such as “how to,” “what is,” or “why is.”

However, these are a double edged sword. They cannibalize organic search clicks because user queries are often answered directly in the SERP and the user doesn’t have to click the link.

Recommendation

If your page already ranks on the first page for your target keywords, you can increase your chances of being featured by optimizing the content to give a better answer and organize information and facts.

Knowledge panels

Google leverages Google Maps or Google My Business listings for these.

Therefore you see such panels related to brands, businesses, or organizations. These can include images, facts, social media links, and related searches.

Recommendation

Ensure that your image tags are appropriately optimized, and that business listings are up to date. Doing so will allow for accurate and desired information to display.

4. Related products

Google has also started providing related products within the SERPS.

They display brand logos that are clickable. However, there is no defined statement by Google on how they are selecting these featured products.

There is a theory that Google observes the users making consecutive searches for similar entities and the related tweaks they then make in their quereis.

One can say that Google provides the user with not just the related search query, but almost deliver the best search suggestion.

They take the user behavior and intent into account to generate the best SERP.

Recommendation

How can we as business owners influence this SERP?

If we make an educated guess, we can leverage internal links. These links signal to the search engines about a site’s navigation, architecture, hierarchy, page authority, and product relationship.

All of this will allow Google to display the related products.

5. Video optimization

One of the more visual changes in the SERPs has been the inclusion of video carousel in the search result. There seems to be absolutely no competition between the carousel and any of the other SERP features. The video carousels solely compete with organic results for SERP space and can appear next to any combination of other features.

Which URLs Appear in the Video Carousel? When it came to the vast majority of the accompanying URL are from YouTube.  That said accompanying URLs is another element that is changing.  Now Google is actually giving weightage to video on the domain than YouTube. Of course, they have to be an optimized asset to be featured. This change rolled out in June.

Recommendation

As a business owner you can enhance your URL’s reach by ensuring the video is embedded on your page and you have applied the traditional best practice with regards to video optimization. Such as, providing the appropriate tag and having relevant textual content around the video that describes it.

6. Image search

Images have had multiple level changes. One the image packs are now part of the traditional SERPs. Second, when a user clicks on an image, they’ll be taken to Google Images. Do note that the user is still not taken to the website directly. Third, the image search now displays filter options right on the top the results. Lastly, the images itself have a short tag line below it.

Recommendation

This makes use of image alt tags and relevant keywords within the tag a critical step in image optimization.

7. Extension of length of titles and descriptions

This one had two level of changes, one where the character limit was increased and second when the changes we rolled back and the older character limits were restored.

This change actually is a good warning for all.

Recommendation

Don’t give a knee jerk reaction to any changes. Test them out. View your result and plan a more comprehensive roll out.

Tanu Javeri is Senior Global SEO Strategist at IBM.

The post How did the 2018 SERP changes impact organic search? appeared first on Search Engine Watch.

from Digtal Marketing News https://searchenginewatch.com/2019/01/21/2018-serp-changes-impact/