Opinion | America, Please Don’t Forget the Victims of Agent Orange - The New York Times

forget.indah.link

Forty-six years have passed since the Vietnam War ended on April 30, 1975. While some Americans may prefer to forget its atrocities, and Vietnam is focused on forgiveness and the future, the wounds of Agent Orange victims still demand attention.

Between 1962 and 1971, the U.S. military employed approximately 19.5 million gallons of herbicides in South Vietnam to clear vegetation that was believed to conceal enemy troops and that provided food for them, as part of Operation Ranch Hand. Agent Orange, the most widely used of those defoliants, destroyed five million acres of Vietnamese forests and damaged some 500,000 acres of cropland.

The herbicide contains dioxin, one of the most toxic substances known to science, which remained in the contaminated soil and sediment of water bodies for decades. Before dioxin hot spots were contained and cleanup efforts began, the contamination had spread to fish and shrimp, and, from there, to more people.

On Jan. 26, a French-Vietnamese woman and victim of Agent Orange brought a case against 14 chemical giants before a French court to seek damages for the harmful effects herbicides have had on her and three generations of her family. She seeks to hold the companies, including Dow Chemical and Monsanto (since acquired by Bayer), accountable for their role in making or selling Agent Orange.

At 79, the woman, Ms. Trần Tố Nga, is fighting what may be the last battle of her life. She has cancer, high iodine levels in her blood, genetic abnormalities, among other illnesses linked to Agent Orange. Her children were born with genetic abnormalities; one died when she was only few months old.

With much of the world preoccupied with the pandemic, Ms. Nga’s fight for justice has been largely ignored — the same way the innocent people exposed to herbicides sprayed from American military aircrafts in Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia have been overlooked for nearly half a century.

The first time I heard of Agent Orange was in 1980 when I was 7 years old and living in South Vietnam. A neighbor was standing in our kitchen, pointing at a fish we had caught in a stream close to home. The fish was a great catch, but it had two tails and a gigantic, deformed head.

“Don’t eat that fish,” the neighbor told us, “it has been contaminated by chất độc da cam.”

Years later, after I learned English and came across the term Agent Orange, I wondered why Americans used an ambiguous-sounding name for this deadly chemical while Vietnamese farmers, like my parents and our neighbors, chose instead to address it head-on: chất độc da cam, or, “the poison, Agent Orange.”

In the 1980s, unlike many Americans who had the luxury of choosing their food, my parents did not. Over half a decade had passed since the war ended, but we were still living under the trade embargo America had placed on Vietnam. We were starving. My parents kept the fish alive in a deep bucket filled with water for some days, replacing the water regularly as they debated what to do. They reasoned that we couldn’t be certain the fish’s features were caused by chemical contamination.

In their desperation, they argued that even if the fish was contaminated by those American chemicals, the water drawn from the depths of our well would help flush out the toxins.

In the end, my mother went ahead and prepared the fish, much to my joy and that of my two elder brothers. I remember my stick-thin body trembling as I devoured that protein-rich meal, cooked tenderly in lemongrass and ginger harvested from the garden of my mother’s love.

Years later, I would look back and wonder at that moment and at the war that took so many lives and traumatized many more. To survive, my family and most of our neighbors were forced to consume whatever food we could find.

After I became a mother, I would count the fingers and toes of my newborn daughter, and later those of my son. My eyes would tear up each time.

Many mothers are not as lucky as me. Not Ms. Nguyệt, who wept with me in the yard of the Thanh Xuân Peace Village, an orphanage that provides charity care for Agent Orange victims near Hanoi where I volunteered organizing activities for kids. Ms. Nguyệt’s husband had fought in the contaminated areas in the south and died of cancer. As a single mother who was often out working odd jobs to survive, she had no means of caring for their only child — a boy born with deformities — and had to leave him at the orphanage. It is not known how many parents gave up children born with deformities, but many such orphanages exist throughout Vietnam.

Ms. Nguyệt and her son are among the several million Vietnamese estimated by the Vietnam Association of Victims of Agent Orange, or the VAVA, to be living with the horrific consequences of the defoliant campaign. The number of Laotian and Cambodian victims is unknown, but researchers have been working on assessing the impact of the herbicides there.

Scientists in Vietnam have confirmed high levels of dioxin in the blood and breast milk of people living in hot spots. And in a growing list, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs has linked many types of cancers and health problems to these chemicals. American veterans and their offspring who meet certain requirements are eligible for benefits. Over the years, U.S. veterans have secured settlements from chemical manufacturers.

Vietnamese and other victims in Southeast Asia are still waiting for the U.S. government to provide a similar level of assistance. It took decades for the United States to commit almost $400 million to clean up hot spots and help victims in the heavily sprayed provinces. The United States still has not taken responsibility for the harmful effects of herbicides in Laos or Cambodia.

Vietnamese, Laotian and Cambodian victims of dioxin have never received compensation from the chemical giants that produced, sold and reaped profits from the sale of herbicides. Ms. Nga’s lawsuit could be the first that results in compensation for a Vietnamese victim, according to the Collectif Vietnam Dioxine, the organization supporting her case.

In 2004, VAVA filed a class-action suit in the United States against chemical manufacturers on behalf of millions of Vietnamese. However, the American court ultimately dismissed the case on the grounds that it lacked sufficient basis in U.S. and international law and that the supplying of herbicides didn’t amount to a war crime.

For years, I have been asking myself this question: Why has the United States offered at least some form of compensation to Americans, but has not done more for the Vietnamese who were also exposed and who have spent years seeking justice?

It is long overdue that we highlight the costs of wars beyond injuries and casualties, to include the damage still inflicted on our health, our families and our environment. It is long overdue that comprehensive actions be taken to help all victims of Agent Orange, regardless of their nationalities.

Nguyễn Phan Quế Mai, Ph.D., is a novelist and journalist. She researches the impact of wars on veterans and civilians. Her first novel in English, “The Mountains Sing,” is a narrative of 20th-century Vietnam.

The Link Lonk


April 30, 2021 at 08:54AM
https://www.nytimes.com/2021/04/30/opinion/agent-orange-vietnam-war-anniversary.html

Opinion | America, Please Don’t Forget the Victims of Agent Orange - The New York Times

https://news.google.com/search?q=forget&hl=en-US&gl=US&ceid=US:en

Forget hyperinflation; Why the U.S. is becoming Japan, not Zimbabwe – Michael Lee - Kitco NEWS

forget.indah.link

As President Joe Biden commits to $6 trillion of stimulus over the next decade, worries of inflation, or even hyperinflation, from both unprecedented monetary and fiscal stimulus take center stage in financial headlines.

Fiscal stimulus from the Biden Administration includes the $1.8 trillion American Families Plan, the $2.3 trillion American Jobs Plan and the $1.9 trillion American Rescue Plan.

Michael Lee, founder of Michael Lee Strategy, said that these hyperinflation fears are overblown, because the velocity of money simply isn’t there.

“I don’t think, in the U.S., we’re going to have meaningful inflation ever again. We’ve Japanified our country. What you’ve done through the endless printing of money, it hyperinflates financial assets, and it crushes the velocity of money through the system. It’s the velocity of money, in my opinion, that is the key driver of inflation,” Lee told David Lin, anchor for Kitco News.

Inflation right now is not going to persistent, Lee said.

“I am in total agreement with Jerome Powell that most of the inflation issues we’re seeing right now are transitory. There are serious supply issues that are pandemic related that will pass. As these things pass, as suppliers and commodity miners and manufacturers, can match supply and demand, because there is a demand surge right now…once that levels out, a lot of that price inflation is going to go away,” he said.

Lee added that the U.S. is headed towards what Japan was in the 1990s, instead of what Zimbabwe experienced when they hyperinflated.

On financial assets, Lee remains bullish on equities.

“You end up just pulling stock returns, you depress bond returns, you crush savers, and you pull stock returns forward. I’d say the stock market is going to go crazy until the money stops printing,” he said.

The Link Lonk


May 01, 2021 at 08:43AM
https://www.kitco.com/news/2021-04-30/Forget-hyperinflation-Why-the-U-S-is-becoming-Japan-not-Zimbabwe-Michael-Lee.html

Forget hyperinflation; Why the U.S. is becoming Japan, not Zimbabwe – Michael Lee - Kitco NEWS

https://news.google.com/search?q=forget&hl=en-US&gl=US&ceid=US:en

Forget Wide Receiver, It's Time to Get Excited About Eric Stokes - Zone Coverage

forget.indah.link

Yesterday was such a quiet day in Green Bay Packers World leading up to the draft. While Adam Schefter and Ian Rapoport reported one rumor after another about all sorts of player prospects and teams, Packers fans kicked their feet up and enjoyed a relaxing Thursday afternoon as they awaited the start of the circus that is the NFL Draft.

Nothing else happened during the day. Nothing.

When the night was over, the Packers had stayed at 29 and added Eric Stokes, a cornerback from Georgia. Fans should embrace this pick. But when an exhausted Rodger Goodell announced Stokes’ name, one side of the fanbase mercilessly complained about the selection because it wasn’t a wide receiver. The Packers could’ve drafted an NAIA reserve wideout with the pick 29, and there would’ve been some fans screaming, “FINALLY!” like a group of unhinged lunatics.

The belief that they had to take a receiver in the first round this year because they didn’t take one in the first round last year has spiraled out of control. However, good luck getting that point across to the select group of people who have Doritos crumbs all over their shirts as they feverishly pound their keyboard in the comments sections.

If you’re wondering, “Wait, is he talking about me?” I absolutely am, Todd, Gary, Brian, Steve, Ronald, Albert, Stanley, Greg, Mike, John, and Joe. I am.

Stokes has the intriguing combination of size and incredible speed at the cornerback position. He ran a 4.29 40-yard dash at his Georgia pro day back in March, which had scouts drooling. It also caught the attention of general manager Brian Gutekunst.

“The 4.29 (40) always gets your attention,” he said. “Pat Moore, our area scout, does a fantastic job, was very high on him early. Before he tested, before we got to see him as an athlete, we interviewed him. And he’s such a genuine human being. I think Packers fans are going to love him.”

The clips showcasing Stokes’ speed speak for themself.

I mentioned the acceleration that seems like a Madden glitch with Stokes. Imagine lighting up a QB before he finishes a quick drop. pic.twitter.com/dDm1QLygId

— Peter Bukowski (@Peter_Bukowski) April 30, 2021

Welcome to Green Bay, Eric Stokes👀

pic.twitter.com/4cn3MMONgr

— PFF Draft (@PFF_College) April 30, 2021

While his length is great and his speed is top shelf, there are elements of his game that look pretty raw.

His technique needs some fine-tuning, and he tends to tug the jersey at the breaking point or the top of routes. It led to him drawing some penalties at Georgia, but they are issues that aren’t cemented in as “part of the package” and can be worked on at the next level.

Stokes best profiles as a press cover corner who relies on his speed and size to disrupt opposing wide receivers, but his hips could use a little more twitch and fluidity to them. The hips aren’t stiff, per se, they are just hesitant at times. Despite some of the things that need to be worked on, Gutekunst was smitten with him.

“He played a lot at Georgia from an early time there and steadily grew as a player,” he said. “The things that really stuck out about him, his explosiveness is off the charts. He’s a strong, strong athlete, and I think they do a great job down there at Georgia training those guys. As he continued to play in the SEC, I think you saw his confidence continue to grow and grow and grow. That led him to have the year that he had this year.”

If, after all of this, you’re still in the category of, “They messed up by not taking a receiver,” let’s revisit the Packers’ 2020 season.

Aaron Rodgers wins MVP. They have a historically good offense. Green Bay proceeds to go 13-3, earning the No. 1 seed in the NFC. They host the NFC Championship and fall to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Were the receivers the problem in the NFC title match? Last I checked, fans were irate with Kevin King and the defensive struggles right out of the gate against Tampa Bay, not the offense.

Drafting Stokes was a selection to solidify the secondary and make the team better. A selection of a wide receiver, based on who was available at No. 29, would’ve been a pick to try and make Rodgers less upset.

At the end of last year, the complaints were largely with the defense after the offense displayed one jaw-dropping performance after another. Drafting a wide receiver in Round 1 last year wouldn’t have changed the outcome against the Bucs. The Packers WR2, Marquez Valdes-Scantling, had four receptions for 116 yards and a touchdown in that game.

So what could’ve flipped the script and catapulted the Packers over the top against Tampa Bay last season? A cornerback with speed and size like Stokes. And now they have him.

The events of yesterday will overshadow the Stokes pick. The pod of people who weren’t going to be satisfied unless they took a receiver will only make it more unbearable. That same group that wanted a wideout are the same people who ripped King to shreds after the final game of the season last year.

Stokes has an opportunity to make an immediate impact. And if Green Bay strikes gold with the pick, imagine the duo of him and Jaire Alexander at cornerback in the years to come. The Packers chose him, intending to fill a glaring roster need in the first round, and got someone they valued at No. 29.

Now it’s time for No. 21 to show out.

First-round #Packers CB Eric Stokes will wear No. 2️⃣1️⃣ for the green & gold! #PackersDraft | @_jamane_ pic.twitter.com/L0LQuTorys

— Green Bay Packers (@packers) April 30, 2021

And if you still don’t like the selection, can we all hug it out and sing Kumbaya around the campfire while appreciating the fact that Eric Stokes doesn’t like Tom Brady?

I hate Tom Brady 😭

— Eric Stokes Jr (@_jamane_) January 24, 2016

Tip of the cap, young fella. Now go ball out for the cheeseheads.

The Link Lonk


May 01, 2021 at 01:11AM
https://zonecoverage.com/2021/packers/forget-wide-receiver-its-time-to-get-excited-about-eric-stokes/

Forget Wide Receiver, It's Time to Get Excited About Eric Stokes - Zone Coverage

https://news.google.com/search?q=forget&hl=en-US&gl=US&ceid=US:en

Opinion | America, Please Don’t Forget the Victims of Agent Orange - The New York Times

forget.indah.link

Forty-six years have passed since the Vietnam War ended on April 30, 1975. While some Americans may prefer to forget its atrocities, and Vietnam is focused on forgiveness and the future, the wounds of Agent Orange victims still demand attention.

Between 1962 and 1971, the U.S. military employed approximately 19.5 million gallons of herbicides in South Vietnam to clear vegetation believed to conceal enemy troops and which provided food for them, as part of Operation Ranch Hand. Agent Orange, the most widely used of those defoliants, destroyed five million acres of Vietnamese forests and damaged some 500,000 acres of cropland.

The herbicide contains dioxin, one of the most toxic substances known to science, which remained in the contaminated soil and sediment of water bodies for decades. Before dioxin hot spots were contained and cleanup efforts began, the contamination had spread to fish and shrimp, and, from there, to more people.

On Jan. 26, a French-Vietnamese woman and victim of Agent Orange brought a case against 14 chemical giants before a French court to seek damages for the harmful effects herbicides have had on her and three generations of her family. She seeks to hold the companies, including Dow Chemical and Monsanto (since acquired by Bayer), accountable for their role in making or selling Agent Orange.

At 79, the woman, Ms. Trần Tố Nga, is fighting what may be the last battle of her life. She has cancer, high iodine levels in her blood, genetic abnormalities, among other illnesses linked to Agent Orange. Her children were born with genetic abnormalities; one died when she was only few months old.

With much of the world preoccupied with the pandemic, Ms. Nga’s fight for justice has been largely being ignored — the same way the innocent people exposed to herbicides sprayed from American military aircrafts in Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia have been overlooked for nearly half a century.

The first time I heard of Agent Orange was in 1980 when I was 7 years old and living in South Vietnam. A neighbor was standing in our kitchen, pointing at a fish we had caught in a stream close to home. The fish was a great catch, but it had two tails and a gigantic, deformed head.

“Don’t eat that fish,” the neighbor told us, “It has been contaminated by chất độc da cam.”

Years later, after I learned English and came across the term Agent Orange, I wondered why Americans used an ambiguous-sounding name for this deadly chemical while Vietnamese farmers, like my parents and our neighbors, chose instead to address it head-on: chất độc da cam, or, “the poison, Agent Orange.”

In the 1980s, unlike many Americans who had the luxury of choosing their food, my parents did not. Over half a decade had passed since the war ended, but we were still living under the trade embargo America had placed on Vietnam. We were starving. My parents kept the fish alive in a deep bucket filled with water for some days, replacing the water regularly as they debated what to do. They reasoned that we couldn’t be certain the fish’s features were caused by chemical contamination.

In their desperation, they argued that even if the fish was contaminated by those American chemicals, the water drawn from the depths of our well would help flush out the toxins.

In the end, my mother went ahead and prepared the fish, much to my joy and that of my two elder brothers. I remember my stick-thin body trembling as I devoured that protein-rich meal, cooked tenderly in lemongrass and ginger harvested from the garden of my mother’s love.

Years later, I would look back and wonder at that moment and at the war that took so many lives and traumatized many more. To survive, my family and most of our neighbors were forced to consume whatever food we could find.

After I became a mother, I would count the fingers and toes of my newborn daughter, and later those of my son. My eyes would tear up each time.

Many mothers are not as lucky as me. Not Ms. Nguyệt, who wept with me in the yard of the Thanh Xuân Peace Village, an orphanage that provides charity care for Agent Orange victims near Hanoi where I volunteered organizing activities for kids. Ms. Nguyệt’s husband had fought in the contaminated areas in the south and died of cancer. As a single mother who was often out working odd jobs to survive, she had no means of caring for their only child — a boy born with deformities — and had to leave him at the orphanage. It is not known how many parents gave up children born with deformities, but many such orphanages exist throughout Vietnam.

Ms. Nguyệt and her son are among the several million Vietnamese estimated by the Vietnam Association of Victims of Agent Orange, or the VAVA, to be living with the horrific consequences of the defoliant campaign. The number of Laotian and Cambodian victims is unknown, but researchers have been working on assessing the impact of the herbicides there.

Scientists in Vietnam have confirmed high levels of dioxin in the blood and breast milk of people living in hot spots. And in a growing list, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs has linked many types of cancers and health problems to these chemicals. American veterans and their offspring who meet certain requirements are eligible for benefits. Over the years, U.S. veterans have secured settlements from chemical manufacturers.

Vietnamese and other victims in Southeast Asia are still waiting for the U.S. government to provide a similar level of assistance. It took decades for the United States to commit almost $400 million to clean up hot spots and help victims in the heavily sprayed provinces. The United States still has not taken responsibility for the harmful effects of herbicides in Laos or Cambodia.

Vietnamese, Laotian and Cambodian victims of dioxin have never received compensation from the chemical giants that produced, sold and reaped profits from the sale of herbicides. Ms. Nga’s lawsuit could be the first that results in compensation for a Vietnamese victim, according to the Collectif Vietnam Dioxine, the organization supporting her case.

In 2004, VAVA filed a class-action suit in the United States against chemical manufacturers on behalf of millions of Vietnamese. However, the American court ultimately dismissed the case on the grounds that it lacked sufficient basis in U.S. and international law and that the supplying of herbicides didn’t amount to a war crime.

For years, I have been asking myself this question: Why has the United States offered at least some form of compensation to Americans, but has not done more for the Vietnamese who were also exposed and who have spent years seeking justice?

It is long overdue that we highlight the costs of wars beyond injuries and casualties, to include the damage still inflicted on our health, our families and our environment. It is long overdue that comprehensive actions be taken to help all victims of Agent Orange, regardless of their nationalities.

Nguyễn Phan Quế Mai, Ph.D., is a novelist and journalist. She researches the impact of wars on veterans and civilians. Her first novel in English, “The Mountains Sing,” is a narrative of 20th-century Vietnam.

The Link Lonk


April 30, 2021 at 08:54AM
https://www.nytimes.com/2021/04/29/opinion/agent-orange-vietnam-war-anniversary.html

Opinion | America, Please Don’t Forget the Victims of Agent Orange - The New York Times

https://news.google.com/search?q=forget&hl=en-US&gl=US&ceid=US:en

Don't forget the sunscreen this weekend - WQOW TV News 18

forget.indah.link

The end of April will be pleasant and bright. Expect plenty of sunshine with low 60s with a very light breeze.

April was just slightly above average with it's high temperatures this month. We had 80 twice in the first week, but it was all 40s, 50s and 60s from there. It was also a very dry month, with a deficit of over an inch of rain.

High pressure is keeping the sunshine around for Friday and temperatures will be near the average of 65 degrees. Overnight, a weak wave will bring us a chance for a few stray showers, but most of us will stay dry.

It will be a bit breezy this weekend. Southerly winds will bring gusts up to 30 mph Saturday afternoon.

If you don't have outdoor plans for Saturday, make some. Summer makes a return Saturday afternoon with high temperatures heading towards 80+ degrees.

The UV Index this weekend will be a 7 to 8 across western Wisconsin. That means burn times will be within 20 minutes on unprotected and exposed skin. Make sure to apply the SPF 30+ every 2 hours to prevent sunburn.

The great weather won't last into Sunday. Temperatures will still get into the upper 60s, but scattered rain and thunderstorms may cut into outdoor fun in the afternoon.

The Link Lonk


April 30, 2021 at 06:08PM
https://wqow.com/2021/04/30/dont-forget-the-sunscreen-this-weekend/

Don't forget the sunscreen this weekend - WQOW TV News 18

https://news.google.com/search?q=forget&hl=en-US&gl=US&ceid=US:en

Forget curtains and cash – Johnson’s legacy will be the bitter taste of Brexit - The Guardian

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Amid slippages, losses, vanishing investments and export drops, the drip, drip of Brexit damage never stops. I collect examples every week, as if picking up spent mortar rounds from a battlefield. On Wednesday, it was 450 jobs lost as car parts manufacturer Toyoda Gosei prepares to shut factories in Rotherham and Swansea, and relocate to the Czech Republic.

A breathtaking £800 roll of gold wallpaper distracts our eye. A prime minister who caused tens of thousands of bodies to pile high, while apparently fixing taxes for pals and contracts for cronies, has our eyes out on stalks. No one knows how deep in slurry Boris Johnson can sink and still swim out.

But history will record one great political crime above all the others, his tawdry dishonesties mere illuminations round its edges. The delinquent who miss-sold Brexit to half the nation with a stardust of false promises to secure himself the throne will leave behind the Brexit breakages long after he has gone.

The most serious so far is imperilling peace in Northern Ireland, as Arlene Foster is brought down by Brexit’s impossible contradictions. There were warnings: two former prime ministers spoke in Derry just before the referendum, when Tony Blair said there “would have to be checks between Northern Ireland and the rest of the UK, which would be plainly unacceptable”, while John Major warned of a “historic mistake” that would destabilise the Good Friday agreement. But Foster, an ardent Brexiter, dismissed this a “deeply offensive” remain scare story.

The DUP’s impossible Brexit stance will be inherited by whichever unlucky candidate succeeds her. Why back Brexit when Northern Ireland was against it and the border dilemma flashed a red warning? Why back Boris Johnson when, of course, he would rat on her with his UK-splitting protocol? Why didn’t the DUP demand the whole UK stay in the single market?

Unionists, like too many Britons, were beguiled by that magic word sovereignty: what irony that it may now break the union. Of this, Johnson and his wrecking crew knew nothing and cared less. There was always Kate Hoey, doughty unionist, to keep promising: “Brexit won’t hurt Northern Ireland at all – instead it will brighten its future.” Now, in riposte, protesting against the protocol, she claims that “Northern Ireland has not got Brexit”.

Just so. No one has got whatever Brexit they imagined because none was ever palatable or viable. That was the craftiness of the leavers: they never said what kind of Brexit, because any version was a killer. So here we are with the worst of all Brexit deals. Next week’s elections in Scotland look certain to deliver a nationalist majority: the more repellent the Westminster Conservatives, the more appealing Holyrood independence. As the European parliament endorsed Brexit this week, Scottish cultural leaders begged MEPs to welcome Scotland back into the EU.

This week leading UK arts organisations wrote to Johnson calling on him to fix the visa, customs and work permit crisis that prevents them touring in the EU, providing earnings they need to survive. Johnson promised them last month that he would “fix this”, but he can’t “fix” things, as every sector from fish and finance to ballet begs for some “special deal”. There is no finagling his hard Brexit: it’s the same deal every third country gets. As the European commission’s president, Ursula von der Leyen, stressed: “Faithful implementation is essential.” No wonder the EU parliament added a resolution this week recording Brexit as a “historic mistake”.

No big bangs so far, but Brexit silently haemorrhages power and money: far more than the £350m a week on the infamous bus is lost already, Prof Nigel Driffield of Warwick Business School tells me: £1.3tn already fled from the City, while “the discounting of gilts since the referendum is worth a whole bus”. JP Morgan’s CEO tells shareholders that EU cities are taking over London business, and that “Europe has the upper hand”.

Vast lost inward investment goes unrecorded: Pernille Rudlin, a leading consultant on Japanese business, tells me: “The UK is attracting fewer new companies from Japan than other countries in Europe since Brexit. Before 2016, the UK was the number one destination for Japanese investment in Europe.”

Yesterday, the Commons environment, food and rural affairs committee confirmed the woes of fishing and farming, as EU imports flood in while UK exports are stuck, warning that “businesses will relocate activity to the EU or stop exporting to Europe”.

This week, too, Make UK, representing manufacturers, responded to official figures showing profits at their lowest for more than a decade, blaming a “unique cocktail of circumstances” melding Covid with Brexit. To take just one example, James Greenham, managing director of medical equipment maker EMS Physio, says he is paying a fortune in new exporting costs, and losing customers: a Swedish company, finding three-day deliveries arriving four weeks late, has turned to another supplier in the Netherlands. He grits his teeth in irritation at government ads telling him to trade with Mexico instead – where, he says, there are huge regulatory hurdles. “We were sold a lie.” Every week I collect reams of these tales.

Wallpaper and lies may bring Johnson down, but Brexit is the crime against the country for which he will be for ever damned. Riots and the fall of Arlene Foster imperil the peace agreement in Ireland, and the UK’s breakup is on a knife edge. A necessary trigger will come to hand soon for Labour to lead the charge against the bad Brexit deal. In his wild rant at prime minister’s questions, Johnson accused Labour of voting against it, and many wish it had – though between a rock and a hard place, no deal wasn’t an option. Well before the next election, Labour will lead the cause of guiding Britain towards a return to the single market, and the safer haven of a Norway solution.

The Link Lonk


April 30, 2021 at 04:07PM
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2021/apr/30/curtains-cash-johnson-brexit-peace-northern-ireland

Forget curtains and cash – Johnson’s legacy will be the bitter taste of Brexit - The Guardian

https://news.google.com/search?q=forget&hl=en-US&gl=US&ceid=US:en

Has COVID-19 Caused You to Forget About Heart Disease? - Medscape

forget.indah.link

Find the latest COVID-19 news and guidance in Medscape's Coronavirus Resource Center.

WebMD's Chief Medical Officer, John Whyte, MD, speaks with Nancy Brown, CEO, American Heart Association (AHA), and Tom Koutsoumpas, CEO, National Partnership for Healthcare and Hospice Innovation (NPHI), about the role of COVID-19 in heart disease and the fact that heart disease is still the No. 1 cause of death in the U.S. and globally.

This interview originally appeared on WebMD on April 28, 2021

Follow Medscape on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube

Webmd © 2021 WebMD, LLC

Any views expressed above are the author's own and do not necessarily reflect the views of WebMD or Medscape.

Cite this: Has COVID-19 Caused You to Forget About Heart Disease? - Medscape - Apr 29, 2021.

The Link Lonk


April 29, 2021 at 10:22PM
https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/950120

Has COVID-19 Caused You to Forget About Heart Disease? - Medscape

https://news.google.com/search?q=forget&hl=en-US&gl=US&ceid=US:en

SwitchArcade Round-Up: 'Battle Axe', 'Before I Forget', 'Mom Hid My Game 2', and Today's Other New Releases and Sales - Touch Arcade

forget.indah.link

Hello gentle readers, and welcome to the SwitchArcade Round-Up for April 29th, 2021. Relative to some weeks, we don’t have a whole pile of new releases to look at today. Just a dozen or so. But there are quite a few games of interest in that bunch, so you may end up spending big anyway. Of course, tomorrow has its own treats to enjoy. Aside from the new releases, we’ve got some incoming and outgoing sales to check out as well. Let’s get to it!

New Releases

Mom Hid My Game 2 ($4.99)

SwitchArcade Highlight!

I really like the Hidden My Game By Mom/Mom Hid My Game series. The puzzles are fun to figure out, and there’s usually some sort of clever ending to them. Sure, you won’t get hours and hours of entertainment out of them, but that’s fine sometimes. You can play these games on your mobile device and I think they’re fine over there, but five dollars to play on the Switch isn’t such a bad deal. If you haven’t played any of the series before, you should probably go grab the original game first. After playing it, you’ll probably want this second one too.

Arcade Archives Thunder Cross II ($7.99)

SwitchArcade Highlight!

Hey, it’s a Konami Arcade Archives release that isn’t in the anniversary set. That means it is decidedly of interest. This 1991 sequel to the original Thunder Cross is a fairly predictable follow-up, but it’s quite good. I mean, it’s definitely in the B-tier of Konami shoot-em-ups, but a B-tier by Konami standards is a safe A compared to most others. Note that this is one of those shoot-em-ups that allows for two players simultaneously. Hamster has done its usual fine work with this version, adding the usual options and features.

Before I Forget ($7.99)

SwitchArcade Highlight!

Okay, first of all: this is a short, narrative experience. It takes about an hour to get through, so if you’re not comfortable with that value proposition, this might not be for you. The main character is a woman named Sunita, and the setting is a house. I don’t want to tip too much more of the story than that, but Sunita suffers from dementia and it sits at the core of this game’s story. Your discoveries about Sunita and her life are as surprising to her as they are to you. It’s a bit… I don’t know, a bit sad? But also kind of happy in a way? This game made me feel. If you also would like to feel something today, pick it up and give it a go.

Fly Together! ($15.00)

SwitchArcade Highlight!

This is the follow-up to Conduct Together!, and it’s safe to say that if you liked that one you should give this one a go. Not sure why trains and planes appear to go together in gaming, but I suppose there are a lot of common elements between the two. Anyway, this takes the concept to the skies and ends up being just as much fun. Plan routes, mess with the other players, earn coins, unlock new stuff, and just have a good time. Up to eight players can join in via local multiplayer, so this is a good one for parties. All those parties we’re having right now. No online, sorry. Solo players will find plenty to enjoy in the campaign mode, at least.

Battle Axe ($29.99)

SwitchArcade Highlight!

Battle Axe is a gorgeous top-down action brawler with pixel art by Henk Nieborg and a soundtrack by Manami Matsumae. Choose from a few different characters and head out on a sorceress hunt to save your land. Two players can go together via local co-op multiplayer, or you can tackle the challenge alone. It’s a bit on the short side, but that’s to be expected with this level of detail in the art. What’s here is very well-done, and you’ll definitely have a blast while it lasts whether you’re with a buddy or playing on your own. But again, be aware: it isn’t super-long. Think of it as a beat-em-up from a different perspective and I think its length is about right.

Slinki ($4.99)

This is an affordable platformer that seems to have garnered quite a few fans on other platforms. You play as this weird robot bunny thing, and you can throw your arm like a boomerang. It can be used to attack enemies, pull yourself around, and perform various other tasks. While there are some clear flaws here (the level designs in particular leave me cold), the basic act of controlling your character and moving about works very well. Just be warned: it’s very hard. Lots of checkpoints, so it’s not punishing. But it is tough. For a fiver, it’s not a bad pick-up.

Space Warrior ($4.99)

Pretty bad luck launching a rather middling horizontal shoot-em-up the same day a somewhat uncommon Konami horizontal shoot-em-up hits for only a few dollars more. There are a few different weapons and ships to use, and an upgrade system that encourages some grinding. It uses a space theme, which the description assures us is “popular". Well, yes it is. Glad to be playing a game with a popular theme, thanks for informing us. While I like the colorful visuals, there are better ways to spend your shoot-em-up money today, friends. And that’s not even mentioning that there’s a new R-Type hitting the eShop tomorrow.

SpongeBob: Krusty Cook-Off ($29.99)

Really? The boldness, friends. The sheer boldness. So, this is a free-to-play mobile game that has presumably been rebalanced for a premium release, with a few new power-ups added in for good measure. It’s a cooking game, like those cheap Baltoro games that you can get for a few bucks each. Except this one has Spongebob, so it costs thirty dollars. Absolutely absurd. Go buy a Cook, Serve, Delicious game. Or maybe one of the aforementioned Baltoro games. Or even Piotr Skalski’s low-priced knock-offs. Or just download the free version on your mobile device. Geez, Tilting Point. Just… geez.

Sekai no Chuushin, AI wa Tatakau ($3.00)

Okay, I’ve just written this game’s title out in English letters because I’m not sure if our site backend supports kanji. The name translates to AI Fights in the Center of the World, a title that is a parody on the title of a 2004 Japanese film named Crying Out Love in the Center of the World. I have no idea why, but that’s only one of the questions I have about this release. A fully Japanese title. A text-heavy game with only Japanese text available. Why was this released on the Western eShop? The idea here is that you program your AI units using blocks, then have them do battle against incoming enemies. It seems like an okay game for three dollars, but if you can’t read Japanese, don’t bother.

Reknum Cheri Dreamland ($6.99)

Well, I guess someone enjoyed Cuphead. This is a follow-up to Reknum, a thoroughly mediocre action platformer with a faux-retro pixelated appearance. And it looks very much like the same engine and many of the graphical assets were used to make this game, except everything is in greyscale. Why? Judging from the promo art and video, it’s trying to evoke classic Western cartoons. But since the in-game graphics don’t reflect that vision, it’s all kind of moot. Well, I’m sure it’s at least as good as the first game. Maybe that’s enough for some of you.

Legend of Keepers: Career of a Dungeon Manager ($19.99)

Another game in the vein of things like Darkest Dungeon or Slay the Spire, but with an interesting spin on the formula. It’s pretty decent, and has generally gotten good reviews on other platforms. You’ve got a new job as a dungeon master, and it’s up to you to protect your company’s dungeons from pesky heroes. Hire monsters, manage your traps, and when you think your dungeon is ready, open the doors to the heroes and (hopefully) watch them fail. Your traps will weaken them, and if they run into any of the creatures in your employ, a turn-based battle will break out. Guide your employees to victory, then get back to planning for the next attack. It’s no Dungeon Keeper, nor is it up to the games I mentioned earlier, but it’s good fun in its own right.

Castaway Paradise ($19.99)

This is essentially Animal Crossing on a budget. It’s a third of the price of the game that it aspires to, but is it a third as good? No, no it isn’t. But it’s not terrible, either. You can try it out for free on mobile, of course. That is where it was born, after all. This version basically acts as though you have the Forever VIP IAP. It’s extremely repetitive, and you can tell it was originally tuned for a free-to-play experience. And hey, Animal Crossing is also pretty repetitive. But this game gets old a lot faster, and I’m not sure it should really command the price it’s asking with how much stronger the competition is on this particular platform. If you’re completely done with Animal Crossing but want something somewhat like it to hold you over until a significant update arrives, this will do that job.

Super Glitch Dash ($9.99)

Super Glitch Dash makes its way to the Switch after finding a fair bit of success on mobile. It’s a first person runner with a literal twist. You have to use all of your moves to avoid or overcome obstacles, up to and including rotating the play area. This looks like a fairly straight port of the mobile version, so if you want to get a feel for it, do check it out on your mobile device. It’s free on the App Store with a $4.99 unlock, so you can at least give it a go before you commit any money on either platform. I’m not too big on playing this sort of game on my Switch, but if you are this is certainly a decent one.

Escape First 3 ($4.99)

Three of these, eh? Well, alright. It’s another spooky escape room game, with three different locations to play. Over on home computers, this series has VR support and multiplayer. I can kind of see some semblance of a hook there. Here, it’s just single player and obviously doesn’t support VR. While the price is reasonable, I think you’d have to be pretty thirsty for room escape gameplay to be satisfied with this. You’ll get more out of those badly-translated Cape Escape titles. But I suppose if you enjoyed the first two, you won’t find this one worse.

Sales

(North American eShop, US Prices)

Horace is on sale! Buy Horace. It’s so good. Lots of other good stuff in the mix today as well, like ABZU, Touhou Spell Bubble, and Megadimension Neptunia VII. Not bad given it’s a Thursday and the bulk of the new sales will be piled into tomorrow’s article. There are some nice games in the outbox as well, including Jenny LeClue, Tangledeep, and Golf Story. Have a good look through both lists to see if there’s anything you’re into.

Select New Games on Sale

Horace ($8.99 from $14.99 until 5/5)
ABZU ($9.99 from $19.99 until 5/5)
Last Day of June ($9.99 from $19.99 until 5/5)
Zumba Burn It Up! ($21.99 from $39.99 until 5/5)
Book of Demons ($2.49 from $24.99 until 5/5)
Spencer ($2.09 from $6.99 until 5/10)
M.A.C.E. Space Shooter ($1.99 from $4.99 until 5/10)
Swamp Defense 2 ($1.99 from $2.99 until 5/10)
Marble Power Blast ($1.99 from $2.99 until 5/10)
Bubble Shooter DX ($1.99 from $2.99 until 5/10)
Perry Pig Jump ($1.99 from $2.99 until 5/10)
Balance Blox ($1.99 from $2.99 until 5/10)
Super Star Blast ($1.99 from $4.99 until 5/10)
Arc of Alchemist ($9.99 from $39.99 until 5/12)
Fairy Fencer F: ADF ($11.99 from $29.99 until 5/12)
Moero Chronicle Hyper ($7.99 from $19.99 until 5/12)

Megadimension Neptunia VII ($13.49 from $29.99 until 5/12)
Super Neptunia RPG ($17.99 from $39.99 until 5/12)
Mary Skelter 2 ($13.99 from $39.99 until 5/12)
Fate/Extella Link ($24.99 from $49.99 until 5/12)
Fate/Extella: The Umbral Star ($19.99 from $39.99 until 5/12)
A Day Without Me ($3.99 from $5.99 until 5/12)
Touhou Spell Bubble ($41.24 from $54.99 until 5/13)
Byakko-tai Samurai Boys ($13.99 from $19.99 until 5/13)
Yumemidori Nostalgia ($13.99 from $19.99 until 5/13)
Princess Closet ($17.49 from $24.99 until 5/13)
My Bewitching Perfume ($13.99 from $19.99 until 5/13)
Diamond Girl ($13.99 from $19.99 until 5/13)
Number Place 10000 ($2.94 from $5.89 until 5/13)
Boris the Rocket ($12.74 from $14.99 until 5/13)
Ox Logic Puzzle 1000 ($7.00 from $14.00 until 5/13)

Table Top Racing World Tour ($14.99 from $24.99 until 5/14)
Home Sheep Home: Farmageddon ($5.99 from $9.99 until 5/14)
Offroad Mini Racing ($2.79 from $3.99 until 5/19)
Beat Me! ($3.24 from $12.99 until 5/19)
2in1: App Driver & S. Killer/Sniper ($1.99 from $4.99 until 5/19)
Spiral Memoria ($16.74 from $24.99 until 5/20)
Ayakashi Koi Gikyoku ($16.74 from $24.99 until 5/20)
Iris School of Wizardry ($16.74 from $24.99 until 5/20)
Kitty Love ($16.74 from $24.99 until 5/20)
Duel on Board ($5.59 from $7.99 until 5/20)
Creepy Road ($7.79 from $12.99 until 5/20)
inbento ($3.49 from $4.99 until 5/20)
Football Cup 2021 ($6.99 from $9.99 until 5/20)

Sales Ending Tomorrow, Friday, April 30th

99Vidas: Definitive ($1.99 from $9.99 until 4/30)
Agent A: Puzzle in Disguise ($3.99 from $19.99 until 4/30)
Battleship ($9.99 from $19.99 until 4/30)
BFF or Die ($5.99 from $7.99 until 4/30)
Black Rainbow ($2.99 from $9.99 until 4/30)
Brightstone Mysteries: PH ($2.99 from $9.99 until 4/30)
Carnage: Battle Arena ($2.99 from $14.99 until 4/30)
Clue: Classic Mystery Game ($14.99 from $29.99 until 4/30)
Colorfall ($2.49 from $4.99 until 4/30)
Country Tales ($2.99 from $9.99 until 4/30)
Cyber Complex ($7.19 from $14.99 until 4/30)
Dogurai ($1.99 from $4.99 until 4/30)
Element ($5.99 from $11.99 until 4/30)
Farm Mystery ($2.99 from $9.99 until 4/30)
Flatland Vol.1 ($1.99 from $4.99 until 4/30)
Fly The Bird ($1.99 from $2.49 until 4/30)

Fury Unleashed ($9.99 from $19.99 until 4/30)
Golf Story ($7.49 from $14.99 until 4/30)
Hardcore Maze Cube ($1.99 from $2.49 until 4/30)
I, Zombie ($1.99 from $4.99 until 4/30)
Infernium ($7.48 from $24.95 until 4/30)
Jenny LeClue – Detectivu ($3.99 from $24.99 until 4/30)
Jotun Valhalla Edition ($3.74 from $14.99 until 4/30)
Julie’s Sweets ($2.99 from $9.99 until 4/30)
Jungle Z ($5.19 from $12.99 until 4/30)
Koral ($3.59 from $11.99 until 4/30)
MIND: Path to Thalamus ($3.59 from $11.99 until 4/30)
Monster Truck XT Airport Derby ($8.39 from $11.99 until 4/30)
Press A to Party ($3.49 from $6.99 until 4/30)
Quench ($7.99 from $19.99 until 4/30)
Red Crow Mysteries: Legion ($2.99 from $9.99 until 4/30)

Rolling Sky ($4.39 from $10.99 until 4/30)
Rolling Sky 2 ($5.19 from $12.99 until 4/30)
Sky Mercenaries Redux ($7.20 from $15.00 until 4/30)
Space Elite Force 2 ($1.99 from $4.99 until 4/30)
Spiritfarer ($19.99 from $29.99 until 4/30)
Steel Rain ($7.19 from $14.99 until 4/30)
Sundered Eldritch Edition ($4.99 from $19.99 until 4/30)
Swallow Up ($3.19 from $7.99 until 4/30)
Tangledeep ($11.99 from $19.99 until 4/30)
The Drama Queen Murder ($2.99 from $9.99 until 4/30)
The Last Days ($2.99 from $9.99 until 4/30)
UBERMOSH: OMEGA ($1.99 from $4.99 until 4/30)
Wuppo: Definitive ($6.99 from $14.99 until 4/30)
Yet Another Zombie Defense ($1.99 from $4.99 until 4/30)
Zen Chess Collection ($1.99 from $3.99 until 4/30)

That’s all for today, friends. We’ll be back tomorrow with the rest of the releases for the week, including New Pokemon Snap and R-Type Final 2. There should be a very large list of new sales to dig into as well. I hope you all have a thrilling Thursday, and as always, thanks for reading!

The Link Lonk


April 30, 2021 at 03:00AM
https://toucharcade.com/2021/04/29/switcharcade-round-up-battle-axe-before-i-forget-mom-hid-my-game-2-and-todays-other-new-releases-and-sales/

SwitchArcade Round-Up: 'Battle Axe', 'Before I Forget', 'Mom Hid My Game 2', and Today's Other New Releases and Sales - Touch Arcade

https://news.google.com/search?q=forget&hl=en-US&gl=US&ceid=US:en

Forget Dogecoin -- These Stocks Could Go to the Moon - Motley Fool

forget.indah.link

The cryptocurrency market has received a ton of attention recently. Since these assets don't produce any cash like regular businesses aim to, speculators can't value them in any traditional sense. But the power of social media can send some digital currencies, like Dogecoin, soaring astronomically for no real reason at all. 

It's not surprising that younger people in particular are attracted to cryptocurrencies. They view the digital assets as a way to get rich quickly, which is really nothing more than gambling. This could end badly for these folks. 

Over the long term, however, the stock market has been shown to be an excellent tool for building sustainable wealth. So forget the useless meme cryptocurrency that is Dogecoin and focus instead on these two high-potential, high-growth companies that can make you rich over time. 

Image source: Getty Images.

1. Etsy 

Etsy (NASDAQ:ETSY) is an e-commerce platform where shoppers go to find unique, handcrafted items they can't find anywhere else. With operations now in seven different countries, the company empowers entrepreneurs to follow their passions by helping them grow their small businesses. 

The success of Etsy's 4.4 million sellers is noteworthy. In the U.S., for example, these domestic sellers added $13 billion of GDP to the economy and created 2.6 million jobs. But the value proposition is also significant for Etsy's 81.9 million buyers. In a company survey conducted last year, an eye-popping 88% of buyers agreed that Etsy had goods they couldn't find anywhere else. 

Although Etsy's marketplace has been expanding rapidly for many years, the onset of the pandemic led sales to skyrocket 111% in 2020 compared to 2019. Consumers flocked to the website last spring to purchase masks, but the company's largest product categories during the year were home furnishings, personal accessories, and craft supplies.  

Etsy truly does offer a differentiated service and experience for both its sellers and buyers. Both groups understand the value they receive, which should support the company's growth for many years to come. 

Because Etsy is a marketplace business (it simply connects buyers and sellers and owns no inventory itself), profits can soar even faster than the top line. In 2020, net income increased 264% from the prior year, something shareholders can appreciate. 

Management believes the market for "special" goods (what Etsy is known for) is roughly $100 billion in its six core markets (not including India). Based on $10.3 billion in gross merchandise sales (GMS) last year, that's 10% of the total market. If we include the massive opportunity in India, it's easy to see how much room Etsy still has to grow. 

2. Roku 

Besides exciting growth, Roku (NASDAQ:ROKU) has two similarities to Etsy: It's a platform business, and it's also benefiting from a strong secular trend, this time in streaming entertainment. 

Roku's licensed smart TVs and connected devices bring together viewers, streaming companies, and advertisers. It seems like the number of streaming services out there continues to rise, so this is a way for consumers to have all of their options in one place. 

Furthermore, the fact that 70% of streaming is watched on TVs makes Roku a strategic partner for content companies looking to reach more customers and advertisers that want to target these same customers as traditional cable TV keeps declining. 

Roku's ecosystem is a win-win-win for all parties, and the pandemic's acceleration of streaming only cemented this. Revenue in the most recent quarter (ended Dec. 31st) rose 58% year-over-year, with active accounts now totaling 51.2 million. Engagement is also through the roof -- those accounts watched a whopping 17 billion hours of shows and movies in the quarter. 

As the business continues to scale up, the gross and adjusted EBITDA (earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization) margins expand meaningfully. The latter figure was 17.5% last quarter, a big uptick from being negative just two quarters earlier. 

It looks as though streaming is the way everyone will consume video in the future, and Roku stands to gain tremendously from this. 

Focus on what matters 

Unlike Dogecoin, Etsy and Roku are two legitimate business operations. They have huge expansion opportunities, which are further bolstered by their platform structures and network effects. And both deliver significant value to the various groups of users they serve. 

Some of the most successful and fastest-growing companies in recent times all have this trait, making it one of the best business models investors want to own. Forget about the latest cryptocurrency craze. Instead, stash your money in these stocks and be patient and willing to hold for the long term. 

This article represents the opinion of the writer, who may disagree with the “official” recommendation position of a Motley Fool premium advisory service. We’re motley! Questioning an investing thesis -- even one of our own -- helps us all think critically about investing and make decisions that help us become smarter, happier, and richer.

The Link Lonk


April 29, 2021 at 06:23PM
https://www.fool.com/investing/2021/04/29/forget-dogecoin-these-stocks-could-go-to-the-moon/

Forget Dogecoin -- These Stocks Could Go to the Moon - Motley Fool

https://news.google.com/search?q=forget&hl=en-US&gl=US&ceid=US:en

Never Forget Garden to be planted by DAR - Gallipolis Daily Tribune

forget.indah.link

CHESTER — A “Never Forget Garden” is being developed by the Daughters of the Return Jonathan Meigs Chapter NSDAR.

Registrar/Ohio Society Librarian Opal Grueser recently presented a brief program about the 100th Anniversary of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier to local DAR members. Grueser encouraged everyone to watch the program by the Society of the Honor Guard Tomb of the Unknown Soldier by Gavin McIlvenna of SHGTUS.

She reviewed how white roses were used to identify the casket selected to represent “The Unknown Soldier”.

In the program she explained that, today, we use all kinds of flowers in many situations. For example, we use flowers to celebrate happy times such as Mother’s Day, birthdays, weddings, and commemorate sad times such as flowers for the ill, death, and Memorial Day.

The Society of the Honor Guard tomb of the Unknown Soldier (SHGTUS) has issued a “nationwide invitation to all Americans and freedom loving people to plant gardens as a visual way to represent America’s unwavering commitment to our sacred duty to recognize, remember, and honor our veteran’s and their families now and for many years to come.”

With permission from the Meigs County Commissioners and the Chester-Shade Historical Association, the local chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution plan to develop a “Never Forger Garden” at the base of the Chester Academy hill, just along the sidewalk surrounding the CSHA sign.

Grueser reported that the chapter’s “Never Forget Garden” committee has begun planning. The plans are for a flower garden of sun-loving, drought tolerant perennials of mixed colors taken from the list of flowers from SHGTUS.

The flowers were selected due to their symbolism:

White rose, purity; purple viola, innocence; carnations, admiration and love; pink carnation, a mother’s love; daisy, hope and resistance; poppies, statice, rosemary and cornflower, remembrance; laurel, victory; rose of sharon (hibiscus), resilience; peonies, honor; primrose, eternal love; borage, courage; nasturtium, victory; gladiolus, honor and remembrance; river birch tree, hope; ginkgo, unity and hope; longevity oak, strength, wisdom and knowledge. Red-white-blue colors are utilized in ceremonies related to WWII and the Korean War Unknown Soldier.

There are other lists of desired plants, but the local group plans to use the SHGTUS suggestions. “

The chapter project will not be using much red, white or blue but leaning more towards pink, lavender, white, salmon and yellows. The SHGTUS feels that our patriotic colors are “best represented by the American Flag,” and we respect that,” Grueser commented.

Currently, the planning group is discussing the size and shape of the garden and plans to start small this year and grow it in the next couple of years. The chapter’s next planning meeting will be May 3, 2021, 11 a.m. at the site. In the meantime, members need to gather supplies such as soil enhancement, plants, preen, cedar mulch, and funds to purchase border material.

Grueser added, “We are striving to make a meaningful, beautiful garden that all can enjoy.” Donations will be gratefully accepted of any of the needed items, and members will do the work. Call Opal for further information or to arrange for a donation pick up at 740-992-3301, morning or evening. To watch the SHGTUS program, go to nsdar.org, search Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, and scroll down to the video. You can also access the video directly by going to the SHGTUS site online.

Submitted by Opal Grueser.

The Link Lonk


April 29, 2021 at 08:10PM
https://www.mydailytribune.com/news/62745/never-forget-garden-to-be-planted-by-dar

Never Forget Garden to be planted by DAR - Gallipolis Daily Tribune

https://news.google.com/search?q=forget&hl=en-US&gl=US&ceid=US:en

Tim Benz: Forget anti-running back bias, Steelers should take Najee Harris or Travis Etienne if they are available - TribLIVE

forget.indah.link

Let’s not overthink the Pittsburgh Steelers draft situation. I know the NFL analytics world — and many draft analysts — frown on the notion of drafting a first-round running back. Almost as much as they turn their noses up at the prospect of paying top dollar for one in free agency.

But let’s ask a few questions.

• What’s the Steelers’ biggest position of need? What area on the depth chart appears the most in need of an upgrade?

It’s running back.

B.J. Finney has started at center in the past. Chuks Okorafor started at tackle last year, and Zach Banner was slated to do so before he was injured in Week 1. Cameron Sutton was perceived to be a “starter-in-waiting” at corner. And Alex Highsmith was drafted to replace Bud Dupree at outside linebacker a year ago.

Hey, I’m not 100% sold on any of those answers right now either.

But I’m more sold on all of them than I would be on the idea of Benny Snell or Anthony McFarland becoming a 1,000-yard rusher on a playoff team.

• Are there many top-notch running backs in the draft beyond the top 3 of Najee Harris (Alabama), Travis Etienne (Clemson) and Javonte Williams (North Carolina)?

No. For a team as in need of a player at the position as the Steelers are, spending a second- or third-round pick on Trey Sermon (Ohio State), Michael Carter (North Carolina) or Kenneth Gainwell (Memphis) would be understandable. But there appears to be quite a gap between the first three and everyone else at the position.

• Is there better depth in the draft at the team’s other areas of need?

I’d argue yes.

Even though Steelers general manager Kevin Colbert praised running back depth in this draft during his press conference Monday, I’d contend there will likely be more good players available on Friday at offensive tackle, center, inside linebacker, pass rusher and cornerback when the Steelers come back on the board again at pick No. 55.

• If either Harris or Etienne are on the board when the Steelers pick at No. 24 (I’d consider trading down if the preference is Williams), what would be wrong with taking a guy who could be their clear starter for five years when they have struggled for three years to replace Le’Veon Bell?

I say … nothing.

Look, I understand all the arguments to the contrary. The attrition rate due to injury at the position is precipitous. Metrics and roster composition in recent years suggest a back-by-committee approach is just as good as having one, main Pro Bowl runner. These days in the NFL, running back production is more a function of the offensive line and the passing game than it is a result of the backs themselves.

Therefore, in theory, it’s become common thinking that you can address that position without spending big bucks or high draft capital.

But the Steelers have failed to do those things since Bell’s hold-out season of 2018. So why not get the (potentially) best back at the position while he’s young and fresh on an affordable rookie contract?

Then answer future questions about the position — you know — in the future.

Especially since the Steelers have shown in recent years that they don’t have the passing game, play calling or run blocking to just plug-and-play any ol’ group of running backs and have the same success that the Patriots, Chiefs, Buccaneers and Eagles have had with that formula. The franchise has finished 32nd, 29th and 31st in rushing over the last three seasons.

In other words, let’s reverse the thinking for a moment. Maybe a good back could help the other elements of the offense instead of always assuming the other elements of the offense need to help the back. Bell served that precise purpose in Pittsburgh for his first five years of NFL service.

Remember the Steelers have only three playoff wins since the start of the 2011 season. In two of them, Bell was their best player. He totaled 59 carries for 337 yards in back-to-back victories over the Miami Dolphins and Kansas City Chiefs in the 2016 postseason. Not to mention 25 total touches for 155 total yards in the loss to Jacksonville the following year.

If Harris and Etienne are still available at No. 24, the Steelers should select whichever one they like better. Period.

The Steelers decided to keep veteran quarterback Ben Roethlisberger for one more year. A first-round running back will help Roethlisberger this year. And if that running back pans out, he’ll be a help in 2022 for whoever replaces Roethlisberger, too.

So, drafting a running back isn’t just a short-term fix. It could be a long-term answer at the position as well. That’s important for a team that will be facing a ton of long-term questions after the ‘21 season ends.

Tim Benz is a Tribune-Review staff writer. You can contact Tim at tbenz@triblive.com or via Twitter. All tweets could be reposted. All emails are subject to publication unless specified otherwise.

The Link Lonk


April 29, 2021 at 05:02PM
https://triblive.com/sports/tim-benz-forget-anti-running-back-bias-steelers-should-take-najee-harris-or-travis-etienne-if-they-are-available/

Tim Benz: Forget anti-running back bias, Steelers should take Najee Harris or Travis Etienne if they are available - TribLIVE

https://news.google.com/search?q=forget&hl=en-US&gl=US&ceid=US:en