It’s time to change the way we think about the holidays.We’re heading towards a more connected and sustainable economy. Communities are choosing to work together to solve common problems, rather than going it alone. Companies, cooperatives, and individuals are working together for a common purpose. This can be seen in the growth of the sharing economy, the renewed interest in cooperatives, and the increased amount of new companies that dedicate themselves to a social mission. We’re calling it New Mutualism.With all of this going on, it’s a perfect time to start thinking about holiday gift-giving in a new way. Let’s celebrate the holidays in the New Mutualist spirit!Here are a few ideas for changing the way you buy gifts this year:1. B Corps Holiday GiftsWhen a company is awarded B Corps certification, it means that they’ve met high standards of social and environmental performance. In other words, they’re a sustainable business that is looking to redefine what it means to be a success in the business world. At this point there are over 850 certified B Corp companies from around the world. Lucky for us, they’ve set up a Pinterest board that is full of wonderful (sustainable) gifts. You’ll have no problem finding a New Mutualist gift for your friend or loved one here!2. Newman’s Own Gift BasketYou’ve heard of Newman’s Own, but did you know that all of their after-tax profits are given to the Newman’s Own Foundation and then dispensed to charities throughout the U.S.? It’s true! In fact, they’ve donated over $370 million to thousands of charities since 1982. Not bad, huh? If you buy Newman’s Own, your money goes to charity. It’s that simple. So why not grab some of your favorite Newman’s Own products, put them in a nice basket, and gift it?3. REI Membership / Sports GoodiesA lot of cooperative organizations are hiding in plain sight. Not only is REI one of them, it’s actually the nation’s largest consumer cooperative! They also donate millions to conservation efforts each year. Is there an outdoorsy-type in your life that needs some new gear? Why not buy them a lifetime membership to REI ($20) and some gloves or a scarf to keep them warm this Winter? Check out REI’s membership page to see all of the beenfits that come with being a member.4. Give the Gift of Credit, the Gift That Keeps on GivingDid you have a grandparent open up a bank account for you when you were little and maybe leave $20 or $100 in there? I did. Unfortunately, there have been plenty of reasons to not use big banks in the past couple of years. But everyone needs to keep their money somewhere, so why not open an account for the little one in your life at a local credit union? Credit unions are cooperatively-owned and prioritize the needs of their members over profit margins. We heart credit unions and your nephew probably will too. Not sure where a credit union is in your area? Check out this handy credit union finder.5. ReskuA laptop case made from recycled firefighter uniforms? Yep, that exists. Oh, and did we mention that a portion of each item sold goes towards providing art supplies for children in the developing world? Gathering resources from the local community in order to create new products that benefit those in need? Sounds like New Mutualism to me!6. SERRVGifts are always better when they have a story behind them, right? SERRV partners with low-income artisans and farmers from around the world and works to eradicate poverty by marketing their products and foods. You aren’t going to find these items in stores, and anything that you will won’t be half as cool. They even have a holiday section!7. OurGoodsWho says you even need money for gifts? OurGoods is a community of artists, designers, and other creatives that want to encourage the act of bartering for objects, skills, and space. That’s right, no money is necessary! Sounds like Burning Man without the camping and “cool down” tent, I know. The reality is that if you’re a creative person (and I know you are), you can most likely find someone with some truly unique objects that would make for wonderful holiday gifts.8. Do it YourselfYou’re a creative bunch, freelancers, and just as you should know what your clients want for your projects, it’s good to go into the holidays with an idea of what makes your friends and loved ones smile.Have you heard about this guy? The circumstances are unfortunate, yes, but there’s a lesson there: He knew how to make his wife smile, and by doing so he touched the entire world. And all he did was take a picture of himself in a pink tutu! It could be a picture, a song, maybe just some homemade cookies! As cliched as it is, gifts with meaning and thought behind them are always the best.
New York Freelancers! Have you been the victim of a non-paying client? We want to hear from you!
44% of our members reported issues getting paid in the previous year. On average our members are owed over $10,000 in unpaid invoices and spend 36 hours tracking down each missing payment. A week of full-time work lost to bill collection!These stats suggest that chasing down payment has become common practice for freelancers, and this is completely unacceptable. We’re looking into this issue, and we want to hear from you.Are you an independent worker in entertainment, film, television, journalism, or media?Based on our member data, freelancers working in these industries tend to experience non-paying clients more than others.As we begin to use the power of our group to take steps towards addressing client nonpayment, we need to hear about your experiences.So, please — take the next couple of minutes to fill out this survey.All freelancers deserve to be paid for their work, and we appreciate your help in making sure that happens.
Salt Lake Stadium, venue for U-17 WC final, handed over to LOC
Kolkata, Sep 10 (PTI) The refurbished Salt Lake Stadium, which will host the fianl of the FIFA U-17 World Cup, was today handed over to the events Local Organisning Committee. Giving it a 10/10 rating, LOC tournament director Javier Ceppi said the revamped stadium is at par with any world-class venue that has hosted a FIFA World Cup final. “If you ask me it looks like a museum, be the entrance or the inside. Or like the teams said it looks the lobby of a five-star hotel,” Ceppi said, thanking West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee for getting the work done in two and half years time. “You see and the stadium looks nothing like it used to before. Thats because the stadium needed to be fit to host a World Cup final, the most important football match to be hosted in Indias history.” “They (West Bengal government) took the challenge. This stadium now can be compared to other stadiums in the world that have hosted a FIFA World Cup final.” The revamp of the stadium, formally known as Vivekananda Yuva Bharati Krirangan, which was taken up on February 1, 2015, cost the West Bengal government more than Rs 100 crore. Banerjee will formally inaugurate the stadium from Uttar Kanya, the branch Secretariat of Government of West Bengal in Siliguri, North Bengal, on September 12. Originally a 120,000 capacity stadium, the YBK is now reduced to an official 66687 for the World Cup after FIFA enforced a guideline following a study with the Sports Grounds Safety Authority of the UK. “Its not a single person more. Thats the capacity of the stadium for a safe evacuation for every part and every spectator of the stadium within eight minutes,” Ceppi said. However, the stadium can accommodate about 80000. The stadium is 98 percent complete and Ceppi said its their responsibility to take it to the next level. “Now, we need the transition from a museum to a football stadium to host the World Cup. Its not major work but just two or three things,” Ceppi said. He, however, refused to compare the YBK with the other five venues which will hold matches during the October 6-28 tournament. “All six of them are like our kids, its impossible to decide the best. Im not being politically correct, but if you go to every single stadium in country the amount of work has gone is fantastic.” “With certain touch-ups it would be a fantastic facility operationally as well. Its not only about looks but substance as well. It does look like a 10/10. Bengalis must feel proud about the stadium now,” Ceppi said after principal secretary (sports) Saeed Ahmed Bawa signed the official document to hand over the stadium. “The handover means we take certain responsibility and certain decision making with regards to last phase of rectification and work so it becomes fully operational for tournament,” Ceppi said. Work on outer areas like a subway, the Media and VIP Tribune are among other things that are in progress. Sports Minister Aroop Biswas said their government has borne the entire cost of the stadium revamp. “101 per cent of the cost is borne by the state government. FIFA never allots money, whatever work youre seeing is funded by the Government of West Bengal,” Biswas said. “It was an old structure. From time to time, we had to take the expert advice of IIT Kharagur and sometimes BESU (Indian Institute of Engineering Science and Technology, Shibpur), so till its fully over we cannot exactly say the amount but its estimated to be more than Rs 100 crore.” Principal secretary, PWD, Indeevar Pandey, was the man- in-charge of the stadium revamp and he conceded having more than 105 meetings to bring up this transformation. “We have had 105 meetings here with intricate details with chief minister directly overseeing the progress. That we are chosen as the hosts for the final makes it the best. Nothing further needs to be said,” Pandey said. PTI TAP AH AHadvertisement
Independence Cup, 1st T20I: Babar Azam’s 86 leads Pakistan to 20-run win vs World XI
A brisk half-century by Babar Azam helped Pakistan to a 20-run victory over a World XI on Tuesday, the first match of a Twenty20 series which the hosts hope will lead to international cricket returning to their country.Azam entertained the near-capacity crowd of 25,000 at the Gaddafi Stadium by smashing 86 off 52 balls, hitting 10 fours and two sixes in Pakistan’s total of 197/5.The World XI’s star-studded batting lineup was then restricted to 177/7 as Pakistan took the lead in a three-match series.Eight years after a terror attack on the Sri Lanka team bus in Lahore caused major teams to shun Pakistan, the country’s cricket board is hoping the series will help to win back the confidence of test-playing nations. The second game will be played on Wednesday followed by the last match on Friday.Morne Morkel, one of five South African players in the World XI, made an early breakthrough when Fakhar Zaman (8) was caught in the lone slip in the first over after captain Faf du Plessis won the toss and opted to field.But Azam, playing his first international match at home, then blunted the World XI’s attack with a 122-run partnership off 81 balls with Ahmed Shehzad (39).His innings got Pakistan up to their match-winning total of 197; @babarazam258 wins POTM for the 1st #PAKvWXI T20I:https://t.co/xuWqhdIPOl pic.twitter.com/HpJvqMxzPu- ICC (@ICC) September 12, 2017With sharper fielding, though, both batsmen could have been removed earlier. Ben Cutting couldn’t hold onto a low one-handed catch off his own bowling which could have dismissed Shehzad on 7. Azam survived on 64 when David Miller misjudged an overhead catch at long-off in Morkel’s return spell.Darren Sammy, the West Indies’ world Twenty20 winning captain, broke the stand with a brilliant low catch at fine leg off Cutting in the 15th over.advertisementAzam followed in the next over as he fell to Lahore-born South Africa leg-spinner Imran Tahir, when Miller didn’t miss a second opportunity in the deep.Shoaib Malik (38 off 20 balls) lifted the total with a little cameo and Imad Wasim (15 not out) hoisted Thisara Perera for two sixes in the last over which went for 21.Hashim Amla (26) and Bangladesh’s Tamim Iqbal (18) gave the World XI a promising start to its run-chase with a 43-run stand. But left-arm seamer Rumman Raees dismissed both batsmen in the last over of batting powerplay.Du Plessis (29) briefly threatened the Pakistan total, hitting four boundaries and a six. But the hosts struck back with leg-spinner Shadab Khan (2-33) removing Du Plessis and Miller (9).Sammy (29 not out) reduced the margin of defeat by hitting three sixes..@babarazam258 is the Man of the Match for his outstanding innings #PAKvWXI #cricketkihalalala pic.twitter.com/nPSPyKiJ1G- PCB Official (@TheRealPCB) September 12, 2017On a historic entertaining night in Lahore, World XI captain @faf1307 was gracious in defeat after the 1st T20I. #PAKvWXI pic.twitter.com/NgUQgl7L9P- ICC (@ICC) September 12, 2017
Fed up of rejection, Pakistan pacer tries to immolate himself
Fed up with constant selection rejections, a young cricketer in Pakistan tried to immolate himself during a first-class match at a stadium here, accusing selectors of demanding bribe to give him a chance.Ghulam Haider Abbas, a right-arm fast bowler, barged into the Lahore City Cricket Association (LCCA) ground while a match was in progress and tried to pour petrol on himself.Some alert onlookers watching the match of the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy rushed and stopped the budding cricketer and raised an alarm after which some LCCA officials pacified him.Abbas, who belongs to the east zone in the Lahore association, said that he was fed up with false promises by officials that he would get a chance to play in first-class cricket matches for the Lahore team.”I have been performing well at the club and zonal level but they keep on ignoring me because I am from a poor background,” the pacer claimed.”At the end, they finally told me that if I want to play for the Lahore team, I should pay them money. Today I came here totally fed up and wanted to end my life,” he said.Abbas warned that if his plea is not heard by the Pakistan Cricket Board, then he would set himself on fire at the main entrance of the Gaddafi stadium.”If I die, the east zone officials and the LCCA head should be held responsible for it because they are not selecting players on merit,” Abbas added.
Back injury threatens Nathan Coulter-Nile’s Ashes dream
Australia fast bowler Nathan Coulter-Nile could miss the Ashes series against England after breaking down with another back injury.Coulter-Nile, who had been expected to be among four quick bowlers selected in the hosts’ squad for the first Test in Brisbane starting on November 23, has been ruled out for an indeterminate period of time.”Nathan experienced some pain in his back following the two-day tour match against England last week,” Cricket Australia’s Sports Science and Sports Medicine manager Alex Kountouris said.”Subsequent scans have revealed an early stage aggravation of his old stress fracture.”Whilst this is a setback, the good news is that it has been picked up early so we are only considering a short break from bowling while we monitor him.”We expect he will have further scans over the next month which will determine when he can return to bowling.”It is a massive blow for the 30-year-old, who has played 21 one-day internationals and 19 Twenty20 internationals but has suffered a long list of injuries and is yet to make his Test debut.He would likely have been the fourth-choice quick bowler in the squad behind Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood and Pat Cummins.However with the Gabba wicket traditionally providing some assistance to pace bowlers he also could have been in the mix to make his Test debut in Brisbane.Tasmania’s Jackson Bird has been withdrawn from his side’s Sheffield Shield match to join Starc, Hazlewood and Cummins in Brisbane for a pre-Test training camp.
South Korea considers scrapping exercise with US for Olympics
South Korea is considering scrapping a regular military exercise with US forces next year to minimise the risk of an aggressive North Korean reaction during the Winter Olympics in the South, the Yonhap news agency reported on Thursday.North Korea denounces regular military exercises between South Korean and US forces as preparations to invade it, and it has at times conducted missile tests or taken other aggressive action in response.The Winter Olympics will be held in South Korea from February 9 to February 25, with the Paralympics on March 8-18.The South’s Yonhap news agency, citing an unidentified South Korean presidential office official, said the option of scrapping the exercise had been considered for “a very long time”.The Blue House presidential office said in a statement no decision has been made on the exercise. Officials at the defence ministry declined to comment.The South Korean and US militaries usually hold a military exercise in March and April called Key Resolve and Foal Eagle, which involves about 17,000 US troops and more than 300,000 South Koreans.South Korea is hopeful that North Korean participation in the games could help improve their fraught relations. The South has said any North Korean athletes who are eligible for the competition would be welcome.A North Korean figure skating pair has qualified to compete but their participation has not been confirmed.Tension on the Korean peninsula has been high for the past year with North Korea developing its nuclear weapons and missiles in defiance of international condemnation and U.N. sanctions.advertisementWhile North Korea has not conducted any tests over the past two months, it has repeatedly vowed to never give up the weapons it deems it needs to protect itself against what it sees as U.S. aggression.
India has abiding commitment to advance partnership with Bhutan: Swaraj
New Delhi, Feb 21 (PTI) External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj today reaffirmed Indias “abiding” commitment to advance the special and privileged partnership with Bhutan, asserting that it was built on shared values and aspirations, utmost trust and mutual respect.She was speaking at the Bhutan embassy here at an event to mark the 50th anniversary of the establishment of Indo-Bhutan diplomatic relations, coinciding with the birthday celebrations of the king of Bhutan.Bhutanese Foreign Minister Lyonpo Damcho Dorji was also present at the function.”We are proud of the special and exemplary ties of friendship and cooperation that we share with Bhutan, which are built on shared values and aspirations, utmost trust and mutual respect. It is a unique partnership built on the historical and cultural linkages between the two countries,” Swaraj said.”Let me reaffirm, on behalf of the government and the people of India, our abiding commitment to nurture and advance our special and privileged partnership with Bhutan,” she added.The minister also noted that since the joint launch of the special commemorative logo last month in New Delhi and Thimphu, a number of events have already been held both in India and Bhutan, setting in motion befitting celebrations for the rest of the year.She said the two sides also propose to organise 50 commemorative events and exchanges, cultural and sporting activities across different states in India and Bhutan that will truly epitomise their friendship.Swaraj also welcomed the opening of the consulate of the Bhutan government in Guwahati in the golden jubilee year, saying it would further strengthen contacts and cooperation, for mutual benefit. PTI PYK ZMN -advertisement
Crazy for Lionel: Man gets barber to shave Messi’s face on his head
With the 2018 FIFA World Cup set to start in few hours, the football fever among the fans have reached a crescendo.From buying jerseys, making tattoos to painting their house in the colours of their favourite team, fans have regularly opted for unique methods to express their support.However, the fans of Argentina’s Lionel Messi have opted for the most unique method – shaving their hair in the face of the Barcelona forward.And there’s one person to thanks for the Messi haircut – Mario Hvala from Novi Sad city of Serbia.The barber has been shaving the face of world’s greatest footballer into the back of the head of Messi fans. The most astounding thing about his work is the likeliness of the haircut to the footballer’s face.Hvala started offering “hair tattoos” nine years ago when he drew a tarantula into a customer’s hair. He has also shaved Cristiano Ronaldo’s face into peoples’ hairs.”The portraits are the most complex when doing the hair tattoos,” Hvala was quoted as saying by Sky Sport.”It takes five to seven hours. When I made Ronaldo’s portrait I got many positive comments and people were amazed.”The unique haircut, however, would put a fan back by a 150 Euros.
Afghanistan’s Test debut ends in 2 days: Stats from a historic match
India beat Afghanistan by an innings and 262 runs on Friday to register its first-ever two-day win and the biggest innings victory in Test cricket.Batting against the world-class Indian bowling lineup was always going to be Afghanistan’s biggest challenge but there was hardly any competition between bat and ball on Day 2 as India bowled out the Test debutants twice in two sessions in Bengaluru.Following on in the second innings, Afghanistan were skittled out for 103 runs in 38.4 overs in the third session with Ravindra Jadeja (4/17) and Umesh Yadav (3/26) being the star performers in the third innings while Ishant Sharma picked up two wickets.(MATCH REPORT | HIGHLIGHTS)Captain Asghar Stanikzai (25) and Hashmitullah Shahidi (36 not out) were the only two batsmen who managed to score more than 20 runs for Afghanistan.The visitors were earlier bowled out for 109 in their first innings and trailed by 365 runs in the second session as Ajinkya Rahane decided to enforce follow-on.Indias superiority in the match was on display throughout the two days and as a result, the number one team in this format managed to break and set a plethora of records.Game! Set! Match!#TheHistoricFirst #INDvAFG pic.twitter.com/wjlmCYapuVBCCI (@BCCI) June 15, 2018A LOOK AT THE NUMBERSThis was the biggest innings win for India surpassing the innings and 239-run win against Bangladesh in Mirpur in 2007. In the process, Rahane now has a 100 per cent win record as a captain in Test cricket. He has now won both the Tests he has captained in.advertisement24 wickets fell in the days play which is the third-most in a Test match. The Ashes Test match between England and Australia at the Oval in 1896 had also seen 24 wickets fall on Day 2. The Test between England and Australia in 1888 at Lords saw 27 wickets fall on Day 2 which is the most in a match in whites.(IND vs AFG: R Ashwin now among India’s top-4 wicket-takers in Tests)Afghanistan managed to score just 212 (109 & 103) just in both innings which is the fewest a team has managed against India.India bowled just 399 balls in the Test match which is again the fewest they have ever managed in a Test.Getting Test status for Afghanistan was a big achievement but they would like to forget this debut as soon as possible and look to improve from here on. They would like to forget some of the statistics from this game.The visitors scored 103 in their second innings which is the third lowest total scored by a team in their inaugural Test.They also became the team to play the fewest number of overs an inaugural Test their inaugural Test. The Afghans played 27.5 overs in the first innings and were bowled out after 38.4 overs in their second. Bangladesh hold the third spot in the list of least overs played in an innings with 46.3 against India in Dhaka in 2000. In the last 50 years, only one side has got dismissed twice in fewer over in a Test than Afghanistans combined 66.3 in this Test and the team is Pakistan. The sub-continent team were dismissed twice in 56.4 overs against Australia in Sharjah in 2002.However, despite lasting longer in their second innings, they failed to score less runs in their second essay (103) compared to their first (109). Their totals were also the lowest totals at the M. Chinnaswamy in a Test match. Australia scored 112 versus India in 2017 and they are third in the list of lowest scores in Bengaluru. Pakistan (116 in 1987) and India (118 vs West Indies in 1975)
Faf du Plessis asks ICC for harsher ball tampering punishments
South Africa captain Faf du Plessis has called on the International Cricket Council (ICC) for harsher punishments towards players found guilty of ball tampering.The entire debate over ball tampering began when Cameron Bancroft and Australia captain Steve Smith sensationally accepted to an orchestrated ball tampering during the Cape Town Test against South Africa.While Bancroft was caught on camera tampering with the ball, he and Smith accepted it in the press conference after the end of the day’s play.Following the sensational developments and the reactions from world over, Smith, Bancroft and vice-captain David Warner received suspensions from Cricket Australia (CA).While Cricket Australia’s punishments were long and harsh, according to ICC’s rule book, Smith was suspended just for a month and 100 per cent of his match fees was deducted. For Bancroft, only 75 per cent of his match fees was cut.Also read – ‘We are good mates’: David Warner denies talk of rift with Steve SmithDu Plessis, who was a part of that fateful match, had said that the punishments given to Smith and Warner by CA were too harsh but he has now called for tougher punishments and rules from ICC.”I know they (ICC) met a while ago but it doesn’t look like anything has changed. It’s still the same rules and stuff, so they need to change that,” Du Plessis, who has twice been found guilty of ball tampering, told reporters ahead of South Africa’s tour of Sri Lanka.”The penalties needs to be harsher for ball tampering.”advertisementAlso read – Ball-tampering saga: Smith, Warner ‘paid a heavy price’, says WatsonBall tampering incidents have rocked the sport this year, prompting the ICC to contemplate stricter punishments after admitting that fines were not enough to serve as a deterrent.”I have probably said it too much but there are too many grey areas when it comes to the ICC and the rules,” the 33-year-old right handed batsman added.”One, you want clarity and, two, you want consistency and that’s definitely something that’s not been part of that body of laws for a while now.”Currently both Smith and Warner are part of the Global T20 Canada tournament. While Smith scored 61 runs on his return to help his team Toronto Nationals beat Vancouver Knights by 6 wickets, Warner was bowled out in the second ball he faced.(With Reuters inputs)
BlackBerry Ghost to sport massive 4000mAh battery, India launch this summer
Blackberry is coming back. BlackBerry is working on a flagship phone that it is making exclusively for the Indian market, as reports claim. The device in question is the BlackBerry Ghost. We have already come across several rumours and reports about the phone in the past. A new report coming from a trusted tipster Evan Blass brings information about the launch timeline of the BlackBerry Ghost and also some new specs details about the phone. BlackBerry Ghost is tipped to launch in India this summer.Summer is already here. Meaning, the BlackBerry Ghost can launch anytime. Blass tweeted, “After nothing new on these BlackBerry Ghost handsets from Optiemus for awhile, finally hearing that a summer release is expected.” BlackBerry, however, is yet to confirm the launch timeline of the BlackBerry Ghost.Blass also revealed that BlackBerry Ghost will have the biggest battery setup found in any flagship device till date. “One more Ghost tidbit: it’s got a 4,000mAh battery, which would be one of the largest in a flagship-class device,” Blass tweeted. BlackBerry phones have been known for its good battery life, similar was the case with its last phone — BlackBerry KeyOne. The BlackBerry Ghost is expected to be backed by a massive 4,000 mAh battery. Battery this big is rarely found in flagship phones. We have seen much massive batteries in only mid tiers phone segment. Hence, this probably will be BlackBerry Ghost’s selling point.BlackBerry Ghost will be an India-exclusive device with which the company will try to gain back its long-lost market position.advertisementRumours say, the BlackBerry Ghost will be a bezel-less phone. The phone will come with a QWERTY keypad like other BlackBerry phones. Now that most flagship phones launching right now come with Snapdragon 845, chances could be Blackberry will also include Qualcomm’s latest chipset in Ghost. The BlackBerry phone is expected to sport dual cameras on the rear, and single sensor on the front. Following the current market trend, BlackBerry Ghost is expected to come with a display with an aspect ratio of 18:9.
Avengers at Centre Court to watch Wimbledon 2018 men’s final
The Wimbledon final has always been a star-studded affair and this year’s summit clash at Centre Court has been the same.As Novak Djokovic and Kevin Anderson fought it out in the heat of London, the stands saw some of the biggest stars from the world of sports, cinema as well as British royalty on Sunday.Tom Hiddleston, Benedict Cumberbatch and Tom Holland were seen enjoying the game as Djokovic and Anderson fought it out on the grass of All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club. Actors Eddie Redmayne and his wife Hannah as well as Hugh Grant, who came with his wife Anna Eberstein, were also present in the stands.The Duke of Cambridge Prince William and Duchess of Cambridge Kate Middleton were also seen in the Royal Box along with Britain’s Prime Minister Theresa May and her husband Philip May.They’re assembling…is there something we should know about?#Wimbledon pic.twitter.com/0zG5t12lgJWimbledon (@Wimbledon) July 15, 2018 From left to right: Kate Middleton, Prince William and Britain’s Prime Minister Theresa May at the Royal Box for the Wimbledon 2018 final (Reuters Photo)Former South Africa pacer Morne Morkel was also in attendance in Centre Court as Djokovic dominated the game against eighth seeded South African.The Serbian completely outplayed his 32-year-old counterpart in the first two set and took a 2-0 lead. Anderson, who played for more than six-and-a-half hours before edging John Isner 26-24 in the fifth set of the semi-finals on Friday showed some signs of fatigue. Djokovic also had his fair share of marathon games as his match with Rafael Nadal continued on Saturday after the Wimbledon curfew halted the match on Friday. The 31-year-old needed 5 hours, 15 minutes to get past Nadal in a match that ended on Saturday but his dominance on Sunday, didn’t tell the story of his hard fought qualification.advertisementDjokovic converted two break point opportunities to cruise through the opening set of the final 6-2. The Serbian was helped along the way by Kevin Anderson’s nine unforced errors. Anderson won only three points on Djokovic’s serve as the first set flashed by in 29 minutes.Anderson, bidding to become the first South African man to lift the Challenge Cup, came into the match having launched 172 thunderbolt aces but he struggled to get his strongest weapon firing on Sunday, adding just two in the first set. Novak Djokovic took the first two sets against Kevin Anderson in the Wimbledon 2018 men’s final (Reuters Photo)In pursuit of a 13th Grand Slam title, the Serb was in relentless form as he made only one unforced error. Djokovic has not lost to the South African since their first meeting, in the second round in Miami 10 years ago and he had not plans to change that at least by the looks of it.In the second set, Djokovic hammered Anderson 6-2 again as the South African struggled to cope with Djokovic’s relentless attack from the baseline. At 2-5 down, the 32-year-old earned his first break point of the match when Djokovic was serving for the set. But Anderson came off second best in a 15-shot rally to lose that chance and two points later, the Serbian bagged the set with a service winner.
Fugitive Nirav Modi spotted in London: New look, £8-million flat and a new diamond business
Fugitive billionaire diamantaire Nirav Modi, one of the prime accused in the Punjab National Bank scam, has been tracked down to the United Kingdom.The 48-year-old most wanted man now lives in an 8 million pound apartment in London’s West End and is now involved in a new diamond business, UK-based newspaper The Telegraph has reported.As per the report, rent of the three-bedroom flat, occupying half of a floor of the landmark Centre Point tower block, is estimated to cost £17,000/month or Rs 15 lakh.The UK daily has also released a video of Nirav Modi walking freely on the streets of London. Sporting a handle-bar moustache, wearing an Ostrich Hide jacket,estimated to cost 10,000 pounds, Nirav Modi is no longer bald.Exclusive: Telegraph journalists tracked down Nirav Modi, the billionaire diamond tycoon who is a suspect for the biggest banking fraud in India’s historyhttps://t.co/PpsjGeFEsy pic.twitter.com/v3dN5NotzQThe Telegraph (@Telegraph) March 8, 2019As he is confronted by the newspaper over various allegations levelled against him, Nirav Modi says “no comments” and continues to smile.The report says despite his bank accounts being frozen by the Indian authorities and an Interpol red notice being issued for his arrest, Modi is involved in a new diamond business based in London.A source has told the the UK daily that Modi had been given a National Insurance number by the Department for Work and Pensions, meaning he can legally work in Britain, and has used British bank accounts.advertisementThe intel agencies had earlier provided input the Nirav Nodi had changed his appearance to disguise people. Then and now: Handlebar moustache, grey beard, India’s most wanted man Nirav Modi has been spotted in London in a new avatar.The MOST WANTED MANAn extradition request against Nirav Modi is pending since September last year before the UK authorities.The investigative agencies told India Today that they are not happy with the UK authorities over the developments in connection with Nirav Modi’s extradition.”After a Red Corner Notice was issued against Modi, we sent an extradition request to UK authorities with his address. The authorities were expected to provisionally arrest Modi so that judicial process can start but till date no action has been taken,” said a senior officer.The senior officials of the Enforcement Directorate also sent multiple reminders to the UK authorities to arrest Nirav Modi, but no action was taken.Recently, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) attached properties of Nirav Modi worth Rs 147.72 crore in connection with the Rs 13,000 crore Punjab National Bank (PNB) fraud case.The ED had registered a money laundering case against Nirav Modi and others on February 15, 2018.Allegedly, Nirav Modi, Mehul Choksi and others committed the offence of cheating against Punjab National Bank in connivance with certain bank officials by fraudulently getting the LOUs issued without following prescribed procedure and caused a wrongful loss to the bank.Several properties in India and abroad worth Rs 1,725.36 crore were also attached earlier. In addition, gold, diamond, bullions, jewellery and other valuables worth Rs 489.75 crore belonging to Nirav Modi Group were also seized.A prosecution complaint has been filed in this case against Nirav Modi and others for the offense of money laundering.ALSO READ | Boom! And Nirav Modi’s Rs 100-crore bungalow is goneALSO WATCH | Nirav Modi spotted roaming freely on London streets
IOWANS URGED TO TEST HOMES FOR RADON EVERY TWO YEARS
With the arrival of winter weather, Iowans are spending more time indoors so it’s a good time to have your house tested for radon. The odorless, colorless gas can cause cancer. Anthony Salcedo (sal-SEE-doe) is service manager at Thrasher Basement Systems in Omaha-Council Bluffs and says this region is inundated with radon.Audio Playerhttp://kscj.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/radon1.mp300:0000:0000:00Use Up/Down Arrow keys to increase or decrease volume.OC……………:20 “of all homes”Radon is the second-leading cause of lung cancer behind only cigarettes. You won’t know if you have the deadly gas lurking in your home until you do a test.Audio Playerhttp://kscj.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/radon2.mp300:0000:0000:00Use Up/Down Arrow keys to increase or decrease volume.OC…………………:10 “scope of the home”Do-it-yourself radon test kits can cost as little as $10 at the hardware store. If there are high levels of radon in your home, specialists can fix the problem or systems are available you can install yourself.
A recap of Week 4 in the Big 12
Overall, it was a pretty promising week for fans of the Big 12. What looked on paper to be a pretty lackluster slate of games turned out to be an exciting night of college football around the country.The ‘Noles almost went down without Famous Jameis, and the Mad Hatter couldn’t pull off the comeback that has become his trademark.So, as we do every week, let’s take a look at what went down within the Big 12 Conference.Kansas vs Central MichiganThese aren’t the Dan LeFevour-led Chippewas of old (seen here stretching out an ESPN college football analyst), but the Jayhawks got the win in Lawrence nonetheless.Jayhawk RB, Tony Pierson, took it 74 yards to the house on the first offensive play of the game. Things wouldn’t remain this simple for Kansas, however, as the game entered the 4th quarter in a 10-10 tie.Montell Cozart, who ended the game with 226 yards and 2 TD’s, hit Justin McCay on a 60-yard TD pass to break the tie and put the Jayhawks ahead for good. Cozart added another TD pass to Corey Avery late in the game, which all but sealed the deal.The Kansas defense looked much improved, giving up only 279 total yards to Central Michigan while also forcing 3 turnovers.Ideally this win over a somewhat notable opponent will give Charlie Weis and his squad something to build upon heading into their first Big 12 game next week.[1. Ed. note: Nope, still going badly for Chuck.] We’ll find out fairly quickly if the Jayhawks are to contend in the conference this year, as Texas heads to Lawrence next Saturday.Final ResultKansas – 24Central Michigan – 10This WeekTexas @ homeKansas State vs AuburnHow could you watch Bill Snyder roam the sidelines Thursday night against an SEC opponent, and NOT root for the Wildcats?
I feel like K-State is the one team in the Big 12 every other fan will root for if they aren’t playing your respective team. I know they’re that team for me.The Wildcats had so many opportunities to take control of the game, but failed to every single time. It all seemed to stem from the three crucial field goals missed by Jack Cantele.
You gotta feel for the guy, who was on the Lou Groza Award watch list in the preseason so this had to be a shock to everyone involved with K-State football.Jake Waters threw for 245 yards on the evening, but threw two untimely interceptions (one in the Auburn end zone) as the K-State offense struggled to establish a presence all night long.Even Tyler Lockett, who has been gashing Big 12 defenses for four straight years, dropped a would-be touchdown. Curry Sexton was a bright spot for the K-State offense, however.Lockett being doubled by Auburn defenders most of the night left Sexton with single coverage, and he took full advantage. He ended the evening with 11 receptions for 121 yards, many of which were for crucial first downs.The Wildcat defense also played incredibly hard, and essentially stopped the Auburn rushing attack all night. However, Nick Marshall made the critical plays when he had to as he got the Tiger passing attack going late in the game. Turnovers and missed opportunities seemed to keep both teams in the game, and it was Auburn who made the plays down the stretch to escape Manhattan with a hard-fought victory.Final ResultAuburn – 20Kansas State – 14This WeekUTEP @ homeWest Virginia vs OklahomaWell, it was a close game until Samaje Perine decided to go all Terrell Davis (because that’s who I immediately thought of) on the West Virginia defense.Both guys have tree trunks attached to their hips.
You know what’s crazy? If Joe Mixon doesn’t KO a girl, Perine might not even see the field at all this year. Anyway, the freshman had himself a night as he rushed for 242 yards and 4 TDs on 34(!!!) carries.Clint Trickett had another impressive game, throwing for 376 yards and 2 TDs. He went to his favorite target, Kevin White, early and often.White, who is quickly becoming one of the best receivers in the country, hauled in 10 receptions for 173 yards. He picked on Zack Sanchez all night long, and let him know about it after every catch.Imagine that.
Trevor Knight had a respectable game, as he managed things well for the Sooners. Knight threw for 205 yards and one interception, but he also hauled in a touchdown pass on a perfectly executed reverse pass.
The Oklahoma defense really picked up the pressure on Trickett in the second half, forcing a fumble that really seemed to firmly establish momentum on the side of the Sooners.The only real complaint Sooner fans can have after this one is for Trevor Knight to improve his accuracy throwing the ball. His timing seemed to be off on some routes early in the game, but it wasn’t a real concern with Perine doing the things he did.All things considered, Coach Stoops and the Sooners went into a tough environment and got the win against a scary opponent.Final ResultOklahoma – 45West Virginia – 33This WeekOklahoma – ByeWest Virginia – ByeLet’s get rowdy Thursday night, eh?
If you’re looking for the comments section, it has moved to our forum, The Chamber. You can go there to comment and holler about these articles, specifically in these threads. You can register for a free account right here and will need one to comment.If you’re wondering why we decided to do this, we wrote about that here. Thank you and cheers!
The One Stat That Has to Change If OSU Is Going to Be Successful in 2015
I was doing a little research for the 2015 season recently, and I stumbled upon a pretty interesting stat and corresponding correlation. The appropriately-named fbsdrivestats.com has drive charts for every FBS school in the country dating back to 2005 which is incredible. I started digging in and found something that intrigued me in this chart.This shows what percentage of possible yards OSU gave up on drives in a given season (black dots) and what percentage of possible yards OSU gained on drives in a given season (orange dots). So if your offense starts on its own 20 and scores a TD, that would be 100 percent of yards gained. It it gets to the opposing team’s 20 that would be 60 yards gained out of a possible 80, or 75 percent. You obviously want the orange dot to be higher than the black.The orange and black numbers are how many wins OSU had each season.
As one would expect, Mike Gundy’s first year in 2005 (far left) was an abomination. OSU gained 30 percent of possible yards on every drive. So if it started every drive at its own 20 it advanced, on average, to the other team’s 46. That’s not good. It also gave up over 50 percent (!) of total possible yards.You can see why that team went 4-7.But 2015 wasn’t a whole lot better. OSU gained only 40 percent of possible yards on a given drive and gave up 46 percent. You can see why that team went 7-6. Obviously 2010-11 are the gold standards. In 2011, OSU gained 62 percent of possible yards on a given drive and only surrendered 44 percent. A joke, really. Incredible.If the Pokes reverse last year’s numbers they should have a 9-win or even 10-win season. Basically, 2012 without the QB-go-round.If you’re looking for the comments section, it has moved to our forum, The Chamber. You can go there to comment and holler about these articles, specifically in these threads. You can register for a free account right here and will need one to comment.If you’re wondering why we decided to do this, we wrote about that here. Thank you and cheers!
Audio: OKC Rapper Creates Rap Song Supporting Zach Sinor’s Heisman Case
The Sinor for Heisman campaign has new life thanks to OKC-based rapper and Game Day host Les Thomas, known as “B-Les,” who dropped an epic track making a case for the Cowboys starting punter.The song, simply titled #Sinor4Heisman, piggybacks on Sinor’s campaign he kicked off earlier this summer which came custom-made with a website, tee shirts, and pamphlets which he handed out at Big 12 media days.Here’s the lyrics and the audio from rapper B-Les’ website.Kick that Ball (6 times) OSU #PuTChaPistolsUpHe’s hot somebody call the fire man,Cast your vote, Sinor for HeismanAint no big deal..we just kickin itAint no running with the ball they just fielding itThey screaming Heisman before its game timeCall’em Jordan cause he got that crazy hang time#29 it aint hard to findYou can count on him when the game is on the lineMadison said only skill players would shineBut 65% lands inside the 20 yard lineNow aint that skill Just keepin it realMason is my boy butZach a pretty big dealSo cast your vote in the winter month of DecemberIt would be dope if our punters the newest member<a href=”http://b-les.bandcamp.com/track/sinor4heisman” class=”external” target=”_blank”>#Sinor4Heisman by B-Les</a>If you’re looking for the comments section, it has moved to our forum, The Chamber. You can go there to comment and holler about these articles, specifically in these threads. You can register for a free account right here and will need one to comment.If you’re wondering why we decided to do this, we wrote about that here. Thank you and cheers!
Bundesliga Twitter mocks Pulisic’s failed celebration
WTF Bundesliga Twitter mocks Christian Pulisic’s failed celebration Ben Valentine @bvalentine14 Last updated 2 years ago 08:51 21/9/2017 FacebookTwitterRedditcopy Comments(0) 
WTF Hamburger SV v Borussia Dortmund Borussia Dortmund Hamburger SV Bundesliga The Borussia Dortmund attacker’s goal celebration didn’t go as planned against Hamburg and the league’s social media account took notice Christian Pulisic had a pretty good day in Borussia Dortmund’s 3-0 win over Hamburg on Wednesday, but a little awkward moment meant it wasn’t quite perfect.The attacker, who celebrated his 19th birthday Monday and was nominated for the Golden Boy award on Tuesday, capped his side’s dominating performance with the third goal in the victory, the club’s 3,000 goal in Bundesliga play.Dortmund 21/10 to beat Real in CL Article continues below Editors’ Picks ‘I’m getting better’ – Can Man Utd flop Fred save his Old Trafford career? Why Barcelona god Messi will never be worshipped in the same way in Argentina Lyon treble & England heartbreak: The full story behind Lucy Bronze’s dramatic 2019 Liverpool v Man City is now the league’s biggest rivalry and the bitterness is growing Pulisic went to slide in celebration, a move he’s done before, only this time it ended with an awkward tumble, though it wasn’t clear if it was intentional.
The Bundesliga Twitter account took notice, and decided to have a little fun with the teenager.Good job they’ve put that celebration on #FIFA18, @cpulisic_10 pic.twitter.com/bJoLsyQfiU— Bundesliga English (@Bundesliga_EN) September 20, 2017“Good job they’ve put that celebration on #FIFA18,” the account wrote.The good news for Pulisic is that it looks like he may get plenty of opportunities to work on his goal celebrations this year. The attacker now has two goals in five Bundesliga games and has also scored in the DFB Pokal and German Super Cup this season for Dortmund.