Halo Partners with DNA Genetics to Launch Leading World-Renowned Genetics in Oregon – Business Wire

TORONTO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Halo Labs Inc. (Halo or the Company) (NEO: HALO, OTCQX: AGEEF, Germany: A9KN) is pleased to announce that it has signed a strategic partnership agreement with OG DNA Genetics Inc. (DNA Genetics), one of the most awarded names in cannabis, to exclusively develop its genetics in Oregon through breeding, growing, phenotyping and processing. The initial term of the partnership agreement is five years with successive five-year renewals.

Partnership Highlights

- DNA Genetics has garnered over 180 awards in the cannabis industry including High Times top 10 strain of the year, seedbank Hall of Fame, and Trail Blazers award

- Their strains and derivative products command a premium in the market and are highly demanded by cannabis consumers

- 5-year exclusive partnership will expand on Halos already prominent genetics library to establish a new standard of cannabis in Oregon

- Partnership aligns with the 1 acre increase in the grow operation in East Evans Creek

- Halo will be only grower and manufacturer of DNA Genetics brand products in Oregon

Founded in Amsterdam in 2004, DNA Genetics is a leading influencer in the global cannabis industry, developing high-quality seeds using a professional, responsible and technical approach. DNA Genetics created some of the most well-known products by combining high quality genetics and expert growing practices. With a win in every single category of the HIGH TIMES Cannabis Cup, many of the top seed companies in the industry use DNA within their breeding programs.

DNA will take that expertise and award-winning track record to produce strains that will be exclusive to Halo in the state of Oregon. The exclusivity requires that companies in Oregon that seek access to the DNA strains must license them from Halo.

Andreas Met, Co-founder and COO of Halo commented, We have seen that consumers demand quality and the top brands in our industry. DNA Genetics provides just that. We expect that demand for our products across the board will benefit from the co-branding opportunities this alliance presents. Mr. Met went on to state, Our recent cultivation expansion provides us an opportunity to capitalize on the DNA Genetics partnership. We will refine genetics of the cannabis that Halo currently produces while introducing new DNA strains into circulation.

We are very excited to partner with Halo Labs. They have an impressive footprint with first-class established product categories, said Charles Phillips, CEO of DNA Genetics. This is a multiplier for two fast-growing cannabis companies with additional partnership opportunities on the horizon. With both companies actively expanding business activities and global footprint we expect this to be a very successful and mutually beneficial partnership.

Commenting on the full potential Kiran Sidhu, Co-founder and CEO of Halo said, We are excited to partner with DNA Genetics to build upon our strains in Oregon. DNA Genetics is renowned through the cannabis industry as a top breeder. Having exclusive rights to their genetic developments in Oregon reaffirms our leading position in this market and will help the Oregon market reach new heights. He added, We hope this is the first of many markets in which Halo and DNA will collaborate.

About HaloHalo is a global cannabis extraction company that develops and manufactures quality cannabis oils and concentrates, which are the fastest growing segments in the cannabis industry. Halo is a global leader in cannabis oil and concentrates, having produced over 4.5 million grams of oils and concentrates since inception. The Company has expertise across all major cannabis manufacturing processes, leveraging a variety of proprietary processes and products. The forward-thinking company is led by a strong management team with deep industry knowledge and blue-chip experience. The Company is currently operating in California and Oregon, as well as in Nevada with our partner Just Quality, LLC, and in Lesotho with the 205-hectare Bophelo cultivation zone.

With a consumer-centric focus, Halo will continue to market innovative, branded, and private label products across multiple product categories. Halo recently acquired Dispensary Track platform which will alleviate customer flow constraints experienced by dispensaries and enable direct consumer interaction.

For further information regarding Halo, see Halos disclosure documents on SEDAR at http://www.sedar.com.

About OG DNA Genetics Inc.DNA was rooted in Los Angeles and founded in Amsterdam in 2004 by Don Morris and Aaron Yarkoni. Over the last decade, the Company has built and curated a seasoned genetic library and developed proven standard operating procedures for genetic selection, breeding, and cultivation. In a world that is increasingly opening up to commercial cannabis activity, DNA is positioned to become the first, truly geographically diversified company with multiple partnerships with top-licensed producers and brands that have built their companies and global presence utilizing the Powered by DNA model. For more information, please visit http://www.dnagenetics.com.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Information and StatementsThis press release contains certain forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation and may also contain statements that may constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of the safe harbor provisions of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such forward-looking information and forward-looking statements are not representative of historical facts or information or current condition, but instead represent only Halos beliefs regarding future events, plans or objectives, many of which, by their nature, are inherently uncertain and outside of Halos control. Generally, such forward-looking information or forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as plans, expects or does not expect, is expected, budget, scheduled, estimates, forecasts, intends, anticipates or does not anticipate, or believes, or variations of such words and phrases or may contain statements that certain actions, events or results may, could, would, might or will be taken, will continue, will occur or will be achieved. The forward-looking information and forward-looking statements contained herein may include, but is not limited to, statements regarding the partnership with DNA Genetics and the development and distribution of new strains of cannabis in Oregon and elsewhere.

By identifying such information and statements in this manner, Halo is alerting the reader that such information and statements are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such information and statements. In addition, in connection with the forward-looking information and forward-looking statements contained in this press release, Halo has made certain assumptions. Although Halo believes that the assumptions and factors used in preparing, and the expectations contained in, the forward-looking information and statements are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on such information and statements, and no assurance or guarantee can be given that such forward-looking information and statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such information and statements. The forward-looking information and forward-looking statements contained in this press release are made as of the date of this press release, and Halo does not undertake to update any forward-looking information and/or forward-looking statements that are contained or referenced herein, except in accordance with applicable securities laws. All subsequent written and oral forward-looking information and statements attributable to Halo or persons acting on its behalf is expressly qualified in its entirety by this notice.

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Halo Partners with DNA Genetics to Launch Leading World-Renowned Genetics in Oregon - Business Wire

Caris Life Sciences, Ambry Genetics Team on New Hereditary Cancer Panel – Clinical OMICs News

Caris Life Sciences has announced it will begin offering Ambry Genetics 67- gene CancerNext Expanded panel to evaluate hereditary risks for cancer. That test will now be available combined with Caris somatic (tumor) tests that analyze a cancers detailed molecular makeup. In a release, Caris says this will be: The most comprehensive, clinically relevant molecular and genetic offering on the market today to guide treatment and management of cancer. The combined Caris and Ambry testing is already available nationwide.

We are committed to providing clinicians with high-quality information they can use to inform treatment decisions, said David D. Halbert, Caris Life Sciences Chairman, CEO and founder. By partnering with Ambry Genetics to better inform patient care, we are able to provide clinicians a greater ability to learn about a cancers molecular composition.

According to the National Cancer Institute, about 10% of cancers are hereditary. Inherited cancers often occur at a relativelyearly age and involve pathogenic variants in one or more genes. The most common hereditary cancer syndromes in women include hereditary breast and ovarian cancer syndrome, Lynch syndrome, LiFraumeni syndrome, Cowden syndrome, PeutzJeghers syndrome, and hereditary diffuse gastric cancer. A hereditary cancer risk assessment identifies patients and families who may be at increased risk of developing certain types of cancer.

Caris currently offers clinicians Caris Molecular Intelligence, a proprietary, comprehensive tumor profiling approach that assesses DNA, RNA, and proteins that are unique to an individuals cancer, among other products. The Molecular Intelligence test reveals a molecular blueprint aimed to guide more precise and individualized treatment decisions.

Through the partnership, Caris will now also offer Ambrys CancerNext-Expandedhereditary cancer panel, which analyzes 67 genes associated with an increased hereditary risk of cancer, including brain, breast, colon, ovarian, pancreatic, prostate, renal, uterine, and many other cancers. This test identifies inherited risks for cancer in order for clinicians to accurately diagnose, treat, and manage cancer risks for each patients needs.

To best diagnose and treat cancer, clinicians must understand whether patients have mutations in genes associated with an increased risk for hereditary cancer, said Aaron Elliott, Chief Executive Officer of Ambry. Caris molecular tests combined with Ambrys germline genetic testing, give clinicians the most comprehensive, clinically relevant molecular profile on the market to guide treatment and management.

Being able to simultaneously conduct comprehensive tumor genomic testing and multi-gene germline sequencing is invaluable, especially for sick patients at the beginning of their cancer journey, said Michael J. Hall, M.D., and chair, Department of Clinical Genetics at Fox Chase Cancer Center. This is information I can immediately begin using for my patients to more accurately diagnose them and to better individualize their treatments.

In further news from Caris, the National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) updated their treatment guidelines for Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC), which stress the importance ofRNA profilingand noteDNA-based next-generation sequencing may under-detectNTRK1andNTRK3fusions.Caris offers a suite of molecular profiling offerings, including whole transcriptome sequencing with MI Transcriptome which they say provides themost comprehensive and unique RNA analysis available and covers all 22,000 genes.

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Caris Life Sciences, Ambry Genetics Team on New Hereditary Cancer Panel - Clinical OMICs News

Extinction of farm animals threatens food security and genetic diversity – ABC News

Australian agriculture is rapidly breeding out diversity within farmed animals, genetics which could one day be the key to stopping diseases and adapting to changing environments.

The University of Western Australia's Catie Gressier said while extinction and biodiversity were issues often associated with native species, heritage and rare breeds of agricultural animals were also under threat, and many had already been lost.

"It's really quite alarming," she said.

"Globally, since the early '90s, we've been losing a breed a month it's a really massive issue.

"With the industrialisation of agriculture, there's been a really strong focus on profitability and there's been a real shift towards a small number of productive hybrids that now dominate the industry almost totally worldwide."

Wessex Saddleback pigs are 'at risk' of extinction in Australia.

(Supplied: James Bennett)

Wessex Saddleback pigs are 'at risk' of extinction in Australia.

Dr Gressier said most breeds had been lost over the past 30 years with market forces dominating what breeds were farmed for meat.

And she said that could be to the peril of agriculture's long-term sustainability.

"Having a biodiverse environment is so critical in order to have a responsiveness and an adaptability to unforeseen changes occurring climatically [and] economically, in terms of consumer preferences, and also in terms of profitability," she said.

Dr Gressier pointed to the current threat of African Swine Fever on the pig industry as a global disease where a range of genetics within existing breeds could be examined for naturally occurring tolerance or resistance.

British White cattle is known for its high eating quality but it is listed as "at risk" by the Rare Breeds Trust of Australia.

(ABC Central Victoria: Larissa Romensky)

British White cattle is known for its high eating quality but it is listed as "at risk" by the Rare Breeds Trust of Australia.

ABC Central Victoria: Larissa Romensky

"Different genetic pools have different capabilities to demonstrate resistance to various diseases," she said.

"We need to have that agility for these new risks.

"In terms of improving stock, a diversity of genetics is really valuable but [so is] mitigating against some of the risks around disease and climate changes that are occurring."

Poultry breeders say it is becoming very difficult to get new genetics for some types of ducks and chickens.

(Contributed: Pip Rumble)

Poultry breeders say it is becoming very difficult to get new genetics for some types of ducks and chickens.

Dr Gressier said Australia had no cryo-conservation facilities to collect and store sperm and embryos and laws for some species, such as pigs, did not permit the importation of genetic material.

"The whole conservation effort is in the hands of individual farmers, volunteer organisations, and rare breed societies such as the Rare Breeds Trust of Australia," she said.

She urged consumers to buy meat from rare breed animals in order to support continued commercial production.

"For example, pork that's coming from Hampshires or Tamworths or Wessex Saddlebacks [pig breeds] that are in a really endangered states," she said.

"If you can support farmers that are growing these breeds that's a really positive step.

"To preserve these animals in our economic situation, it really is about finding how they can have some sort of economic viability."

In the West Australian wheatbelt, Linton and Kerry Batt have run a commercial herd of Berkshire pigs for the past 10 years.

Berkshires produce fewer pigs per litter and are slower to grow in comparison to the Landrace or Large White breeds which dominate commercial piggeries.

Mr Batt said he marketed his Berkshire pork as being the wagyu of the pork sector.

Linton Batt supplies a boutique market with his Berkshire pork, which he says competes on flavour.

(Supplied: Linton Batt)

Linton Batt supplies a boutique market with his Berkshire pork, which he says competes on flavour.

"Our production is aimed at a very small niche; it's a domestic market for super premium pork," he said.

"We've done the numbers, and we know that we need a price premium for our production.

"There is only a small market of people who will pay that price but for us, we're small enough to fill that gap, along with some other excellent Berkshire breeders, and it's worth doing."

Mr Batt said in order for his operation, and his pigs' genetics to survive, he is careful to keep the business viable but is concerned about the agricultural sector losing genetics.

"It should be a concern for everybody; we're seeing gene pools shrink and the loss of diversity," he said.

"We're always looking at the numbers to make sure they are viable and that the business stands on its own merit."

Tina the Wessex saddleback pig. Her breed is listed as "at risk" of extinction by the Rare Breeds Trust of Australia.

(ABC Hobart: Damien Peck)

Tina the Wessex saddleback pig. Her breed is listed as "at risk" of extinction by the Rare Breeds Trust of Australia.

Dr Gressier said the Rare Breeds Trust of Australia had a comprehensive list of animals lost, critical, endangered, or vulnerable.

It lists six breeds of sheep as lost, four of pigs, and 10 of cattle.

"In Australia we used to have a really diverse dairy industry with a number of breeds producing milk," she said.

"Now it's about 70 per cent Holstein which produce milk in the kinds of volumes of scale required to meet market demands.

"Chickens are also faring really poorly, particularly meat birds.

"There are very few farmers who are managing to commercially produce meat chickens that aren't the Ross or the Cobb breed."

Dr Gressier is about to lead a UWA-based study of rare breeds being farmed across Australia to understand why farmers stick with rare breed farming and how their work can be better supported.

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Extinction of farm animals threatens food security and genetic diversity - ABC News

How to Shoot the Start of a Relationships End in Marriage Story – The New York Times

In Anatomy of a Scene, we ask directors to reveal the secrets that go into making key scenes in their movies. See new episodes in the series each Friday. You can also watch our collection of more than 150 videos on YouTube and subscribe to our YouTube channel.

The early teasers for Marriage Story were released as two separate vignettes, with each of the lead characters, Charlie and Nicole (Adam Driver and Scarlett Johansson), discussing what they love about the other.

Those montages play in a more extended form at the beginning of Noah Baumbachs film (now in theaters and streaming on Netflix), creating a way to quickly establish the characters while drawing viewers more intimately into their relationship, just before showing that its about to end.

Narrating the scene, Baumbach discusses the challenges of shooting so many small moments in a relationship and making them feel lived-in. He discusses how the films score, by Randy Newman, aids in that goal, and how he shot a lot of footage to capture just the right amount of emotion.

Read the Marriage Story review.

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How to Shoot the Start of a Relationships End in Marriage Story - The New York Times

Anatomy of a search: As rescue workers look for missing boaters near Oregon, they’re also trying to find closure – SaukValley.com

OREGON When Oregon firefighters go to put out a fire, they dont leave until the job is done.

That goes for recovery efforts, too, which is why theyre still on the job, looking for the bodies of two fishermen who went missing after their boat capsized on the Rock River on Nov. 20.

Frustration is taking a toll on the department, but Chief Michael Knoup and Capt. Dustin Champlain arent giving up.

I think everyone here has that burden, Champlain said. I dont want to say we feel responsible, because the accident wasnt caused by us. But its ultimately our responsibility to get them out of the river at some point.

The department is surveying the river with sonar and boats when the weather and available personnel make it possible. A search-and-rescue team from Tampico with top-level sonar equipment returned to the area Wednesday to search for the bodies as well, after first being dispatched when the men went missing.

As of Friday afternoon, there was no new information to report, but crews were once again back on the water.

When the search began, the Oregon Fire Department became the hub of a full-scale search-and-rescue operation. Twelve area fire departments responded with resources, including firefighters and boats.

Knoup was not on duty, so Champlain was thrust into action.

It was a little nerve-racking at first, he said. We started as a small event and found out we actually had victims. It escalated quickly, that first few minutes was trying to process everything and move.

Within 10 minutes, the Sheriffs Office had a command vehicle on site. Champlain worked the operation from there and it made for a calm, collected experience despite the challenges of coordinating all the departments participating. Champain was up 60 hours straight before the initial search was finished.

The weather made the search difficult, and has continued to complicate revcovery efforts. Cold temperatures, high water levels and a swift current put the operation on the brink of being too dangerous.

I dont think people understand how fast that current is, Champlain said. You look at it from the bridge on land and say, Yeah, the water is moving. But really, underneath, the water is really moving at 7 knots. We did have a diver go in at one point, and they say their mask can rip off at 3 knots, potentially.

The scale of the Nov. 20 search was the largest the Oregon Fire Department has seen in the past 4 or 5 years, Knoup said. The last time he worked something comparable was a chemical plant fire in Seward in June 2013.

The Rapid Response Search and Rescue Unit 19, based in Tampico has been helping with the search. Its funded by Christian Aid Ministries, a national Amish-Mennonite nonprofit organization.

The unit was dispatched originally by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources, and its members were asked to return by Ogle County Sheriff Brian VanVickle. Their service comes at no cost to the agencies that use it, but the team accepts donations at https://christianaidministries.org/illinois-sar/.

Fewer than 10 organizations nationwide have the level of equipment that this unit has, team member and state coordinator Ralph Kropf said. They have a command trailer, a sonar-equipped boat and a remote-operated vehicle that can be deployed underwater.

Both sonar and the ROV were used Nov. 21, when the body of one of the men was located underwater about a mile south of the dam, but the swift water prevented the ROV and divers from recovering it before it moved to an unknown location.

The sonar equipment, which uses ultrasound technology, had 4 miles of Rock River bottom totally scanned as of Wednesday, Kropf said.

So far, weve found nothing but logs, he said.

This week a lady stopped, all frantically and said, I seen one of them in the water. So, we went down to that point along Route 2 and got the binoculars out and it was a log. But, any time we get any type of credible information, were investigating and continuing on.

The names of the missing men have not been released. At a news conference Nov. 22, VanVickle said the names will not be released until the bodies are found.

Until then, Knoup, Champlain, Kropf and others will continue to work until the bodies are recovered and peace can be brought to the families.

Until the job is done.

_____

OTHER LIVES LOST NEAR THE DAM

The Rock Rover below the Oregon dam has claimed several lives, among them:

July 22, 2013: Elmer Leeds, 91, of Oregon, whose body was found floating near Kiwanis Park. There was no foul play, and Leeds wasn't fishing, Oregon police said.

July 4, 2012: Reyez Perez, 37, of Chicago. His body was found after dragging the river bottom below the dam a day after the fisherman waded into the water and was swept away by the current.

July 29, 2007: Damiam Folwarkow, 15, of Chicago. His body was found the next day in about 6 feet of water, in the east channel of the river, about 60 yards where he had been fishing below the dam.

Aug. 13, 2006: Samir Zukanovic, 29, of Chicago. His body was found in the west channel of the river, near the state Route 64 bridge. He and his cousin, Adem Zukanovic, Skokie, were fishing on the east bank and tried to walk over to an island in the center of the river when the current knocked them both down. Adem made it to an island and was rescued by the Oregon Fire Department. Samirs body was found 2 hours later, nearly 30 feet from where he was last seen.

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Anatomy of a search: As rescue workers look for missing boaters near Oregon, they're also trying to find closure - SaukValley.com

‘He exposed it’: A punter’s flaw, and the anatomy of Diontae Johnson’s touchdown return – The Athletic

GLENDALE, Ariz. As the football tumbled toward him from the rafters at State Farm Stadium, Steelers rookie Diontae Johnson stood with his heels at the 15-yard line and thought, This is it. While watching film earlier this week, Johnson saw that Arizona Cardinals punter Andy Lee tended to consistently outkick his coverage. The Steelers planned for it. So, when Lee boomed a punt in the first quarter Sunday, the Steelers were set up to spring Johnson.

The strategy started at the line of scrimmage. The Steelers sent six to try to block Lees punt. That way, even if the rush didnt get home it almost did the Cardinals would need to keep most of their men back to protect Lee, and the pressure would force Lee to kick quickly. The line was instructed to hold its initial blocks for two seconds. Thats all the time Johnson required.

Hell do the rest, linebacker Tyler Matakevich said.

Ten seconds after the snap, Johnson was alone in the open...

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'He exposed it': A punter's flaw, and the anatomy of Diontae Johnson's touchdown return - The Athletic

Northern Ireland anatomy of a double cross – The Conservative Woman

WE IN Northern Ireland chew the bitter cud of what Boris Johnson, rejecting Theresa Mays Withdrawal Agreement, told the Democratic Unionist Party in the formal circumstances of that partys conference in 2018.

He first thanked conference for allowing him to deliver an absolutely crucial political promise, then declared: We would be damaging the fabric of the Union with regulatory checks down the Irish Sea and even customs controls between Great Britain and Northern Ireland . . . Now, I have to tell you no British Conservative government could or should sign up to anything of the kind.

With no apparent compunction, he went on to sign up for something very much of the kind and so blithely rent the fabric of the Union. We in Northern Ireland rubbed our eyes before the flagrancy of the double cross sank in.

Goods bound for the Republic of Ireland from GB will be liable for tariffs,perhaps up to 60 per cent of all goods, one expert suggests. Professor Alan Winters adds that the deal is likely to lead to Northern Irish firms re-orientating supply chains away from Great Britain in favour of the Republic of Ireland.

The economist Graham Gudgin, while trying to soften the blow for unionists, has admitted that when Northern Ireland businesses need to lobby for changes in regulation, they will need to work with MEPs elected in the Republic of Ireland. The focus of business will thus rotate away from London and towards Dublin.

Yes, there will be a confirmatory vote on the arrangement every four years in the Northern Ireland devolved Assembly, if it ever reassembles. Every four years, in other words, unionists and republicans will be at loggerheads in those capacities, though under the flimsiest guise of economic well-being.

What Prime Minister Johnson has done is open a fresh front for Irish republicans, who will now sleeplessly seek the economic unity of Ireland as separate as possible from the UK economy.

Johnson has wounded Northern Ireland as one of the four home nations. In classic western-movie style, the Tories are leaving us a canteen of water, a wad of chewing tobacco and a rusty rifle, while the rest of the UK heads for yonder ridge and safety. And we all know what happens when they disappear beyond the ridge: war-whoops from the direction from which the fleeing came.

Those whoops have grown clamorous of late. Republicans are emboldened as never before, and have managed to contract the distance between nationalism and republicanism, between a politics that can cohabit with unionism, and a separatist ideology that nullifies unionism. Letters of appeal are regularly sent from northern nationalists to Leo Varadkar pleading the cause of a united Ireland 100 signatories, 200 signatories, 1,000 signatories.

That tongue-tripping phrase, a united Ireland, it is worth remembering, is by definition the amputation of Northern Ireland from the UK. The demand for a border poll grows ever more insistent, so that the constitutional front in this war of attrition is currently deepening.

By contrast with their unionist counterparts,nationalist professors and lecturers are positively baying, lending a juridical veneer to the republican campaign by linking the cause of Northern Ireland sundered from the UK to deprivation of human rights. I asked a leading academic light of this spurious human rights campaign to identify which rights were withheld and from whom, and he failed to adduce a single one connected to a united Ireland.

And as a prong of the same judicial front, there is the battle over the legacy of the Years of Disgrace, known euphemistically as the Troubles. Here, too, republicans have the momentum, determined as they are to seek revenge on the security forces, reconfigure IRA terrorists as victims, and rewrite history, thus making a united Ireland a mere matter of redress for oppression.

And recently the most worrying front since the IRA terror campaign has opened: the demand for an independent Irish Language Act. As a Canadian citizen, I know what lies behind that and what lies before it.

The status of Irish in Northern Ireland, indeed in Ireland, bears no relationship to the status of Welsh or Gaelic in GB. Think Quebec instead, with its ongoing de-Anglicisation, and you will divine where language in the hands of determined nationalists takes us.

I am not suggesting that official bilingualism would give way to unilingualism as it did in Quebec (French-only), but it would be naive to think that Irish would not be used to try to rewrite the present and hibernicise Northern Irish culture to make a united Ireland severed from the UK seem a logical conclusion.

In Northern Ireland anyone anywhere may learn Irish and speak and write it, save in certain legal circumstances. It is a negligible proportion of Irish, north and south, who can understand, let alone speak or write Irish. But it is a formidable weapon in the republican armoury.

I will give Johnson the benefit of the doubt in thinking him ignorant of the synergistic nature of Irish republicanism, though why should he be as a unionist PM? But it is that synergy that gives his betrayal its apocalyptic note. I doubt if his knowledge would make much difference. For what makes unionists despair is the preference the English show for Irish republicans (whose terrorists warred against them for thirty years) over mere loyal citizens with no charm to their loyalty, only bravery and sacrifice in two world wars.

The Brexit negotiators could have stopped Varadkar in his arrogant tracks by threatening to revoke the Common Travel Area. Is there a name for the practice of blackmailing oneself? If there is, it identifies the English refusal even toappearanti-Irish, let alone take some action that might offend the Irish. It is by this English hang-up that we in Northern Ireland are undone, and Johnson has confirmed it once again.

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Northern Ireland anatomy of a double cross - The Conservative Woman

20 Wild Revelations About Rick Grimes’ Anatomy – TheThings

In every zombie apocalypse, there's got to be a valiant knight in shining armor. Fortunately forThe Walking Dead universe'scharacters, there is Rick Grimes. Sheriff Rick is a hard-nosed survivor who doesn't just fight walkers, he also fights the injustice that's prevalent in this crumbling society! He might not always be the friendliest among the bunch, but there's no question that he has a heart of gold. Of course, that doesn't mean Rick is a saint...he's still as fragile and complex as any survivor who's getting by in this post-apocalyptic nightmare.

What separates Rick from the usual heroic protagonist tropes? Well, for starters, Rick's optimism is off the charts. It's almost bordering on either naivety or utter insanity! Rick's sense of justice and morality remain sound in even the direst times. He always clings to the notion of rebuilding society, despite having lost so many loved ones already. Fans of the series know that Rick isn't the type to give up, despite how much the odds are stacked against him.

However, every heroic leader hides a side that not many know about and Rick is no exception. Aside from being a lawful cowboy, there are some aspects of Rick's personality that simply do not add up. In fact, some facets of Rick's anatomy might leave some fans scratching their heads! After all, it's hard to stay consistent in a world where anyone can perish at any given moment, right? Here are 20 startling revelations that Rick would rather keep to himself.

Rick is always on the side of hope and justice, even when despair and vengeance are all he sees around him. The zombie apocalypse gives him so many reasons to doubt humanity, yet he remains adamant in his ideals. Given how many he had lost already, to both walkers and selfish humans alike, it's almost unbelievable, and even impractical, how much he insists on sticking to his moral code.

No matter how hard things get, Rick always seems to know how to handle the situation. Whether he's dealing with people or walkers, he usually finds ways to overcome obstacles. It's as if he's got some kind of foresight powers! In the comics, Carl even asks him how he can see the future. Rick told him that it's just a feeling. Well, that's some Nostradamus-level feeling he's got right there!

Rick is such a likable protagonist that fans just want to see him survive all the way through. While that might be the case in the TV adaptation, the same can't be said in the comics. Unfortunately, Rick eventually succumbed and turned into a walker, shortly after being shot consecutively by the cowardly Sebastian Milton. After everything he accomplished, he definitely didn't deserve this type of exit.

Rick had always been a good father to his son, Carl. In the comics, however, he actually traumatized him! Well, not purposefully, though. When Rick reanimated, Carl was hesitant when it came to putting down his own dad. In fact, his dialogue with Michonne suggests that he wanted to keep Rick alive, even when he's already a walker! Poor Carl, his father just meant that much to him.

Carl might be one of Rick's better-known kids, but he's not the only significant member of the Grimes family. Aside from Judith, Rick also has a kid with Michonne, who is named RJ! Although Rick's a lot lonelier in the comic version since Judith didn't even survive in that universe. Well, you can't have it all, Rick.

Ever since Rick got one of his legs broken, he required a cane just to get around. There's even a point in the comics when he could barely stand without it! However, he eventually got rid of the cane. He explained to Carl that he either healed up or had just gotten used to walking without it. Earth to Rick, people don't just get used to walking with broken legs!

When it comes to being a leader, Rick undoubtedly has what it takes. To this former sheriff, leading a group almost seems natural. Rick's people always seem to believe in him, too. This is mostly due to the fact that he's a staunch peacekeeper whose optimistic ideals persist, even in a dangerously unpredictable. post-apocalyptic world.

Persuasion is vital in a chaotic world, where fear and distrustpermeate the air. Fortunately for Rick, he has the power of persuasion at his side. In fact, his ability to convince people is astounding! He's capable of rallying crowds to his cause with just his words. Rick was once able to convince an entire town to oust their leader, using nothing but a compelling speech!

It's no surprise that Rick can take pain like a champ given how tough he was as a sheriff. However, his pain threshold is so insane that it's almost ridiculous! In the comics, Rick survived a savage beating as a disabled person who could barely stand. He was brutally tortured in the TV adaptation, yet he's still alive somehow. How Rick fights through this much punishment is anybody's guess.

Even heroes have a tough time coping with loss and Rick is no different. Ever since Rick lost his first wife, he had incessant hallucinations of having full-blown conversations with her. This was true in both his TV series and comic book counterparts. While he did recover from this eventually, there's no doubt that it left a permanent fracture on his mental state.

Before Rick's name was known to most of his people, he used to have different monikers. Aside from being referred to by his title as sheriff or police officer, his close relatives call him by a different name. Rick's younger brother revealed that his big bro was known as Richie back then. Although Rick himself might've already forgotten that since virtually nobody calls him that nowadays.

If fans were wondering why Rick is so stubborn when it comes to upholding his moral code, that's because he got it from his father. His dad was a noble person who taught him values that turned him into quite a reliable leader. Despite the fact that other survivors are becoming more ruthless towards each other, Rick never loses his humanity, all thanks to his father's teachings.

Some might not know that Rick actually had a little brother named Jeffrey. He would get into all sorts of trouble just to protect Jeff. He even got beaten up multiple times just to save his little bro! In the comics, Jeff never really forgot about Rick's courageous efforts either. He even planned to sail halfway across the globe just to see him again.

Rick never really responds whenever he's asked whether he's a righty or a lefty. However, he's been shown to be efficient in using weapons in either hand on numerous occasions. This led some to believe that he might actually be ambidextrous. No wonder he can still be a force to be reckoned with, even after losing his hand. That trait is pretty, well, handy!

While Rick's future in the TV adaptation still remains uncertain, his fate in the comic book version is most definitely sealed. His legacy still lives on though. He eventually became a venerated martyr that served as a symbol of hope and inspiration to his people. The community even built a statue to commemorate his valiant deeds! His story lives on through Carl, who now follows his father's footsteps.

It's almost hard to recognize Rick, given how much he changes his appearance over time. From looking like a smooth-talking, clean-shaven debonair guy to turning into a shaved-headed, long-bearded biker, Rick has so many looks! Unfortunately, he lives in a world filled with mangled survivors and fetid walking corpses...looking good is the least of his worries.

Don't be fooled by Rick's righteous moral conduct. The amount of enemies he has slain probably outnumbers the lives he has saved! In fact, Rick is one of a handful of individuals with the highest body count of both living and undead. Whether it's in the TV series adaptation or in the comics, Rick is frequently regarded as one of TWD's apex predators.

It's no secret that Rick is quite the ladies man. He had two wives and a couple of girlfriends. While it might sound like he's some sort of player with infidelity issues, that's not exactly the case. Rick keeps looking for new relationships simply because he keeps losing his loved ones! Poor Rick, he's jumping from one relationship to another not because he wants to, but because he has to.

Given Rick's deteriorating physical state, some believe that his time will come sooner rather than later. However, he defies all expectations by surviving with just one hand and a broken leg! According to THR, Rick was supposed to expire back in season 8, until the idea was scrapped. In the comics, it took a whopping 192 issues before he eventually met his demise. He's more resilient than the walkers!

Sure, Rick might be a righteous man, but that doesn't automatically mean he's also the religious type. In the TV adaptation, Rick is often seen questioning God more than actually praising him. He even got into arguments with Father Gabriel whenever religion was involved! It's heavily implied that he's either an atheist or agnostic. After all, it's kinda hard for religion to thrive in a world filled with zombies and outlaws.

See more here:
20 Wild Revelations About Rick Grimes' Anatomy - TheThings

Heard Around the Watercooler – The Hudson Independent

by Maria Ann Roglieri

914INC Women in Business awards celebrated 20 2019 honorees at a luncheon in November at the DoubleTree in Tarrytown. Congratulations to three honorees who do a lot of business in our towns: Geri Eisenman Pell, Private Wealth Advisor & CEO, Pell Wealth Partners; Astara N. Crews Director of Regulatory Affairs/Compliance & Privacy Officer, ENT and Allergy Associates, LLP in Tarrytown; and Sarah Jones-Maturo, President, RM Friedland LLC.

Phelps Hospital welcomed Dr. Yafell Serulle, a board-certified interventional neuroradiologist, as the Director of Neuroendovascular Surgery. Neuroendovascular surgery, a subspecialty of neurosurgery, is a minimally-invasive surgery performed on a patients blood vessels to prevent conditions such as headaches, seizures, or stroke.

Dr. Serulle holds a Ph.D. in neuroscience from New York University School of Medicine (NYU) and an M.D. from Universidad Nacional Pedro Henriquez Urena in his native Dominican Republic. He completed several years of postgraduate training in neuroradiology, diagnostic radiology, and internal medicine at the University of Maryland Medical Center in Baltimore and at NYU. Before joining Phelps/Northwell, Dr. Serulle was the Stroke Medical Director at Aventura Hospital and Medical Center in Aventura, Florida. Prior to that, he was a neurointerventional surgeon at two regional medical centers in FloridaWestside Regional Medical Center in Plantation and Kendall Regional Medical Center in Miami.

I am excited to lead the new neuroendovascular service at Phelps and to be able to bring world class care to the Westchester community, said Dr. Serulle. I am very proud of the phenomenal team we have assembled here, with a state-of-the-art neuroscience center covering all subspecialties of neuroscience. This speaks of the high level of commitment that Phelps Hospital and Northwell Health have to deliver the best possible care to our patients in Westchester.

Dr. Serulle lives in Dobbs Ferry with his wife and three children.

Blue Hill at Stone Barns in Pocantico Hills was awarded two Michelin stars, while The Cookery in Dobbs Ferry was among eight Westchester County restaurants listed for the first time this year in the 2020 Michelin Guides NYC edition. Also listed was Cookery chef/owner David DiBaris Eugenes Diner and Bar in Port Chester; RaaSa Fine Indian Cuisine and Shiraz Kitchen, both in Elmsford; Southern Table in Pleasantville; Cafe Alaia in Scarsdale; and Dubrovnik and Maria Restaurant, both in New Rochelle. The eight Westchester restaurants are among 133 Bib Gourmand distinctions, which are restaurants Michelin commends for quality food at a good value, typically two courses and a glass of wine or dessert for $40 or less.

As an international reference and trusted companion for travelers for more than 120 years, Michelin is honored to recognize the evolution of gastronomy and culinary talent in Westchester County, said Michelin Guide International Director Gwendal Poullennec. Inspectors were particularly impressed by the technique and highest quality of ingredients that they discovered during multiple visits to the area.

Congratulations to Sarah Clayton for becoming a National Merit Scholarship semifinalist and to Devin Batheja, Emma Guarnieri, Tess Kaplan and Ryan Schatzel for being recognized as Commended Students by the National Merit Scholarship Program (NMSC). These five SHHS students are among 34,000 high-performing students across the nation. More than 1.5 million students took the PSAT last October and were entered into the National Scholarship Program. The NMSC Programs mission is to promote academic excellence and to recognize students who achieve these goals.

Sleepy Hollow resident George Lence, co-founder and President of Nicholas & Lence Communications, has been chosen for another consecutive year as a member of the City & State Westchester Power 100, a group of the most influential individuals within Westchesters sectors of advocacy, academia, media and business. He was recently celebrated at the Whitby Castle in Rye at a special reception for the honorees, which also highlighted the current landscape of Westchesters politics and various industries.

In November, Tarrytowns Main Street became home to a new art gallery, Main Street Atelier. The gallerys first exhibit will feature artwork by resident artists, student artists, and local artists. For more information about the gallery, go to http://www.mainstreetatelier.com.

Link:
Heard Around the Watercooler - The Hudson Independent

The ultimate hack to fight performance anxiety – Quartz

Professional sports are full of stories of elite athletes choking emotionally and mentally under the pressure of competition. One famous example is golfer Greg Norman, who was leading the 1994 US Masters by six strokes at the beginning of the final round, but then lost by five strokes to Nick Faldo. And England football teams are well known for their struggles in penalty shoot outs.

But the occasion I remember most vividly was watching the late, great Jana Novotna facing Steffi Graf in the 1993 Wimbledon final. Having dominated the match, and leading the final set 4-1, Novotna served a double fault. After this simple error, Novotnas match fell apart, and she ended up quickly losing the set 6-4. It was as if someone had flipped a switch, turning her from elite professional into nervous club player.

Many of us who have played a sport can sympathize with the phenomenon of choking. And as a sports psychologist, I am interested in what happens mentally during those crucial moments before catastrophic drops in performance. Understanding the processes and factors involved could allow us to develop ways to help athletes avoid choking, or regain control after it takes hold.

Researchers have shown how performance anxiety can be split into a mental (cognitive) component, represented by worry (I am worried that I may not perform as well as I can) and self-focused attention (I am conscious of every movement I make), and a physiological anxiety represented by arousal (fast heart rate) and tension (feeling on edge).

The ability to respond positively to anxiety reflects the level of control the athlete feels they have over a given situation, and their own response (I believe I have the resources to meet this challenge). This perception of control is important, because it reflects whether athletes see the situation as a threat or a challenge, which ultimately might change the way they perform.

Many anxiety interventions focus on ways in which we can control our physiology to ensure that athletes keep a cool head. The simplest of all relaxation strategies is slow diaphragmatic breathing, similar to that used in meditation and yoga. We now know that breathing in this way can have a number of benefits.

The most obvious benefit is the immediate effect upon our physiology. If you feel yourself becoming stressed, you will notice how your heart rate increases and your breathing becomes more shallow and sporadic. Concentrating on your breathing and aiming to slow it down will reduce your heart rate and make you feel more calm and in control.

This type of breathing allows us to hijack the bodys natural blood pressure regulation system and to increase our heart rate variability (HRV). HRV is the varying interval in our heart rate, where an increase is reflective of a greater capacity to deal with stress.

This is because our heart is required to adapt appropriately and quickly to environmental demands (from a state of rest to a fight response, say), in order to drive other physiological systems such as the delivery of oxygen to the muscles. If your heart can go from slow to fast and back again quickly, you are more adaptable to the demands you may face, moment by moment.

In our work with elite athletes, we use a technique called HRV biofeedback. For this, we ask athletes to pace their breathing at around six breaths per minute, while providing visual feedback of the effect this has on the heart.

This breathing rate automatically results in a synchronization between breathing and heart rate, such that our heart rate increases on inhaling, and decreases on exhaling. This coherence, technically known as respiratory sinus arrhythmia, naturally increases heart rate variability, while decreasing blood pressure and lowering our average heart rate.

Our aim in using HRV biofeedback is to teach athletes to control their breathing without a visual guide. Then, when they feel under pressure, they have a go-to intervention which helps them return to their ideal performance state. It also allows them to focus on what is important in the environment and in their mindpositive, logical, helpful, and controllable thinking.

Our athletes have found this technique helpful, both preparing for, and during competition, and we are beginning to use it in very specific contexts such as the taper period in elite swimming. The taper period is the final training phase (two to three weeks) before an important competition such as the Olympics, where athletes reduce the volume of training they are doing. This a period of emotional turmoil for swimmersand we are looking at how we can address this with HRV biofeedback.

But the benefits of HRV biofeedback are not reserved for elite athletes. Modern life is stressful for everyone, with many sources of hassle at work and home. Evidence indicates that adopting a regular, long-term schedule of breathing practice at around six breaths per minute for 10 minutes every day could help improve the bodys ability to manage stress.

Simple breathing pacer apps on smartphones, or cheap heart rate monitors, can be used to practice becoming more aware of your breathing, and controlling your heart rate. In times of pressure and amid the stresses of modern life, anyone can breathe to win.

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.

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The ultimate hack to fight performance anxiety - Quartz