‘Grey’s Anatomy’ Recasts Owen’s Sister for Season 14 – Variety

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Greys Anatomy has cast Abigail Spencer in Season 14,Variety has learned.

The Rectify alum will play Owens sister, Megan Hunt, as the role previously portrayed by Bridget Regan has been re-cast due to scheduling conflicts.

Owens sister has been mentioned numerous times throughout the course of Greys Anatomy and the character finally made her first appearance last season with Regan playing the part in one episode. Regan is busy on TNTs The Last Ship, in which she coincidentally stars opposite Greys alum Eric Dane.

Theres no word yet on how many episodes Spencer will appear in, but ABC says the recurring role will be a multi-episode arc. Owens sister is expected to have a larger storyline this season. The character was presumed to be dead after having gone missing in the army, and now that shes alive, shell be back, but not without conflict Megans former love is Dr. Nathan Riggs (Martin Henderson) who cheated on her, and now Nathan is romantically involved with Meredith Grey (Ellen Pompeo) so Owen (Kevin McKidd) will have tricky dynamics to navigate in the upcoming season, which premieres on Sept. 28.

As for Spencer, the actress is gearing up for Season 2 of NBCs Timeless. The drama was notoriously canceled and then un-canceled, and Spencer will be back to star in the second season so its safe to assume that Megan Hunts storyline wont betoosignificant, given Spencers time commitment to the NBC series.

Spencer is repped byWME, Untitled, and Attorney Gretchen Rush.

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'Grey's Anatomy' Recasts Owen's Sister for Season 14 - Variety

Grey’s Anatomy introduces a ‘controversial’ new doc – EW.com

To celebrate Fall TV and our huge Fall TV Preview issue hitting stands on Sept. 15 EW is bringing you 50 scoops in 50 days, a daily dish on some of your favorite shows. Follow the hashtag #50Scoops50Days on Twitter and Instagram to keep up with the latest, and check EW.com/50-Scoops for all the news and surprises.

Grey Sloan will be rocked by even more family drama when Greys Anatomy returns this fall.

EW has learned exclusively that Italian actress Stefania Spampinato has booked a multi-episode arc as the sister of Giacomo Gianniottis Andrew DeLuca.

Carina DeLuca will actually take up residence as a new doc at Grey Sloan, which becomes a bit of a nightmare situation of Andrew. This year, were going to definitely have DeLucas character a little more fleshed out with the arrival of his sister from Italy, Gianniotti tells EW. Were going to see a new dynamic in the hospital as his sister arrives, and its not exactly good news; hes frustrated by it.

She has a very interesting and controversial some would say profession within the medical field, which makes him uncomfortable, Gianniotti continues. Its a thorn in his side, her being there, but everybody else is quite fond of her. She will be working [at the hospital], and shes going to help tell the story of DeLuca and how he comes from Italy. Theyre going to speak a little bit of Italian, which will be nice for the Italian fans, because [the shows] so big in Italy.

The news comes on the heels of Abigail Spencer joining the cast for a multi-episode arc, replacing Bridget Regan as Owens sister Megan Hunt, who has been presumed dead for the last decade.

Greys Anatomy will return with a two-hour premiere on Thursday, Sept. 28 at 8 p.m. ET on ABC.

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Grey's Anatomy introduces a 'controversial' new doc - EW.com

Ben Roethlisberger, and the anatomy of the ‘Pump Fake’ – Behind the Steel Curtain

When we evaluate quarterbacks, the one skill set that is often neglected is the pump fake. The pump fake is a skill that only few quarterbacks can execute, but if done correctly, has the ability to change the course of a game. Perhaps to better understand this, we should perhaps understand why the pump fake is a useful skill for quarterbacks.

Most defensive backs read the eyes of the quarterback in order to anticipate where a they are going to throw. A good pump fake can draw defenders away from the actual spot that a quarterback intends to throw. When it comes to this skill, no quarterback in the NFL can excute this like Ben Roethlisberger. Over the years, Roethlisberger has been able to execute the pump fake in such a way that deceives an entire defense on the field.

One criteria required to execute the pump fake is hand size. It is no secret that Roethlisbergers has some of the biggest hands among NFL quarterbacks. With this noted, Roethlisberger is able to execute two types of pump fakes: The soft fake and The hard fake.

In this type of fake, the quarterback barely raises his arm, as Roethlisberger demonstrates here. Notice that subtle gesture freezes the safety just enough for him to execute the perfect throw to receiver Martavis Bryant. The whole idea is that even with the soft fake, Roethlisberger is to deceive the safety into thinking he is throwing in the opposite direction.

This is Bens signature fake and it is one that is amazing to watch. Ben in this case, fully commits to performing a throwing motion but note how the ball never comes out of his hand. The nature of his motion freezes the outside and inside linebacker, and draws the cornerback towards him; as a result, tight end Jesse James is wide open to make the catch.

Last season, according to Pro Football Focus, Ben Roethlisberger had the highest percentage of pump fakes per drop back by a very large margin. It is clear from viewing this statistic, Roethlisberger has fully adopted this skill to the point where it has become second nature.

The only real method of stopping Roethlisbergers pump fake is for pass rushers to get close enough to aim at his throwing shoulder. The problem in this case being that the Steelers have one of the best offensive lines in the NFL, and has made it increasingly difficult for pass rushers to get close to Roethlisberger. No matter what one may say about Roethlisberger, this skill is one of many that makes him among the very elite at his position.

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Ben Roethlisberger, and the anatomy of the 'Pump Fake' - Behind the Steel Curtain

‘Saving Hope’ blew everything up in a very ‘Grey’s Anatomy’ series finale – The Loop (blog)

If youre a fan of happy endings, you were probably pretty upset after watching Thursday nights series finale of Saving Hope. We know we were, when the storyline took a Greys Anatomy-like twist that rocked our world just as hard as when Meredith had to pull the plug on Derek.

But lets back up a second, shall we?

After five seasons, Alex and Charlie finally realized that they were meant to be together. So they pulled a shotgun wedding at the hospital, then took off with Luke to embark on a vacation and eventual honeymoon. Paris and Balithose dreamlikedestinations of romance and sunwere on the table for these crazy kids, because for the first time in the entire history of the series they were able to actually sit back and be happy together.

And then it all blew up.

A massive accident meant that ambulances couldnt make it to Hope Zion, so Zach called the newlyweds and asked them to head over tothe crash tohelp in the meantime. So they did what any good doctors would do and lent a hand, earning themselves superhero monikers by those they saved on scene. Sadly, just when they had finished helping the last people and were ready to get back on the road themselves, the show borrowed a page from Greys Anatomyand their car was t-boned by an oncoming vehicle. Back to the hospital for this family.

The rest of the episode quickly became an epic tearfest for the ages. Alex and the unborn baby were okay, but Luke was in surgery and Charlie had a severe brain bleed that wasnt looking promising. Unlike the last time he was in this situation the doctors couldnt find any sign of brain activity, which was obviously not good.

That didnt mean spirit Charlie wasnt around, but this time there was a twist. He was transported into the future, where he saw that his daughter Charlotte had become an ortheopedic surgeon just like him, and Luke who made it through surgery was marrying the gal of his dreams.

As for future Alex? She had lived a long and happy life, even though she had lost the love of her life 50 years before that, and somehow managed to move on without Charlie.

It was enough to allow spirit Charlie to finally let go, but not before seeing present-day Alex one more time, in thetype of farewell scene you can only get away with on a show like this. And thats when Alex really had to say goodbye, as she came up with a plan to donate all of Charlies vital organs to those in need, therefore giving hope to a handful of other families.

Her thinking? She wasnt cursed after all, but she was blessed. Because Charlie was supposed to die in that car crash five years ago, but instead he came back and miraculously tread the line between the dead and living for five more years, giving them borrowed time that she was completely thankful for.

Butbecause we needed one more loving image of these two together before saying goodbye for good, the last scene ever featured them together again. Only this time they were in a version of heaven, a.k.a. the beach, where Charlie had been waiting 50 years for his love to come back to him (he had the hearts etched out in the sand to prove it). With one final kiss the screen faded out, and we were left with the notion that love (eventually) conquers all.

So okay we suppose thats something of a happy ending after all. But man, what a way to go out. That wasnt exactly how we thought this show would go down after so many years of rooting for Alex and Charlie to get together, butwe can say that well definitely remember it.

And in the end, isnt that all you really want from a series finale?

Farewell, Saving Hope. Its been a swell five years.

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'Saving Hope' blew everything up in a very 'Grey's Anatomy' series finale - The Loop (blog)

‘Grey’s Anatomy’ Season 14 Set Photo Reunites Two Key Stars – People’s Choice

Johnni Macke 3:00 pm on August 3, 2017

(ABC/Richard Cartwright)

The cast of Greys Anatomy is having way too much fun on set, and it just makes us wish we could join them as they gear up for the upcoming season.

On Wednesday (Aug. 2), Sarah Drew and Kelly McCreary proved that life as a doctor isnt always healthy with a funny photo from the season 14 set.

Back at the place where all the snacks are free #GreysAnatomy #season14 @seekellymccreary, Drew captioned her hilarious behind-the-scenes photo.

As you can see the two actresses Drew plays Dr. April Kepner and McCreary plays Dr. Maggie Pierce have raided the snack room and they arent shy about showing off their loot. Between the multiple bags of chips and the granola bars in their pockets, the whole picture makes us laugh.

Though the photo itself doesnt give away any details about whats to come next season, seeing the stars together makes us think their characters will be sharing the screen a lot more when the drama returns. While on screen the two doctors seem to be in a battle for Dr. Jackson Averys (Jesse Williams) love, their off screen reunion makes its clear that the only love the ladies really share is that of snacks, and we dont blame them.

In fact, McCreary seconded her co-stars need for snack foods by sharing the same photo with a similar caption. We just came for the free food. #greysanatomy #season14, she wrote alongside the photo.

Now, if only we knew what was in the other snack bins behind the two stars. Maybe some cookies, or fruit snacks? What do you think the Greys Anatomy doctors chow down on in between takes?

Greys Anatomy returns with a two-hour premiere on September 28, 2017 at 8 p.m. on ABC.

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'Grey's Anatomy' Season 14 Set Photo Reunites Two Key Stars - People's Choice

‘Grey’s Anatomy’ Season 14: Stars Tease ‘Drama, Drama, Drama’ With Japril & ‘Jaggie’ – Moviefone

Sarah Drew and Jesse Williams, you are killing us. "Grey's Anatomy" Season 14 is now filming, and the actress who plays April Kepner has been doing a great job sharing photos from set. Fans are loving the glimpses of their favorites, and she must've known she'd get a reaction when she shared a "Japril" photo with Jesse Williams (Jackson Avery), then followed later with a photo of the two of them with Kelly McCreary (Maggie Pierce). Jesse Williams posted his own photo of the trio, even baiting fans with a new #Jaggie 'ship name to rival #Japril.

The Season 13 finale had a lot of shockers, and -- on the relationship front -- one of them was the idea of Maggie and Jackson maybe being a thing. April even seemed to give her blessing. Fans did NOT. So when Sarah Drew posts a cute photo of the three April/Jackson/Maggie stars along with the words "drama, drama, drama..." well, she had to know it would get fans talking again. And it did. Williams did the same with his "Jaggie" tease, and it too got fans calling for Japril to rise.

Super cute pics, but yeah. The comments are filled with Japril supporters writing things like "Cant like this! Maggie and Jackson the Worst storyline ever #japrilforever."

Poor Maggie. She deserves better than this storyline, to be honest. Give Maggie her own man, Shonda!

The actors themselves get along great, as you can see in Drew's other photos with McCreary, Williams, and their co-stars:

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‘Grey’s Anatomy’ Season 14: Jesse Williams Reunites With Sarah Drew And Kelly McCreary – People’s Choice

Johnni Macke 2:00 pm on August 4, 2017

(ABC/Richard Cartwright)

The cast of Greys Anatomy cant get enough of one another, and its making all of us fans even more ready for the series to return this fall.

On Thursday (Aug. 3), Kelly McCreary posted a hilarious picture with her two costars Jesse Williams and Sarah Drew, and from the looks of it these actors cant escape one another even if they wanted to!

Cant even take a ride on a golf cart without these two. #Jaggpril, McCreary, who plays Dr. Maggie Pierce on the ABC drama captioned her goofy group selfie.

Although it looks like Williamss Jackson Avery and Drews April Kepner may very well be in a love triangle with McCrearys Pierce come season 13, the storyline clearly isnt causing this trio to take a break from hanging out. In fact, you could even say theyre a little too close for comfort.

Both Williams and Drew shared the same photo on their Instagram accounts, and their captions just say it all. Hey guys Its cool if I ride with you, right? #jaggpril, Drew wrote on her repost. Williams took the picture and said, This is going well so far #Jaggpril.

The best part about this trios on-set golf cart ride is that the hashtag #Jaggapril was used on all of the images. Its a mixture of all of their characters name and gives us a little taste of what life is going to be like at Grey Sloan Memorial Hospital when the series picks back up.

Greys Anatomy returns with a two-hour premiere on September 28, 2017 at 8 p.m. on ABC for its 14th season.

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'Grey's Anatomy' Season 14: Jesse Williams Reunites With Sarah Drew And Kelly McCreary - People's Choice

‘Manspreading’ Is Science, Not Sexism – PJ Media

Feminists suddenly think the way men sit is a problem. With our legs spread out just a bit, making room for "the boys" and to be a bit more comfortable, we're guilty of an "act of dominancethat is the result of deep-rooted societal privilege borne of our patriarchal society."

Are they right?

Yeah ... I don't think so, and I'm not alone. Science agrees:

Women, on the other hand, have a wider pelvis and thighbones that more naturally angle in toward the body's midline, rather than away from it. Sitting with the knees close together is a stress-free position most of the time, although that changes during pregnancy, when the weight of the belly pushes the knees out.

Differences in hip anatomy aren't just gender-specific. They differ by your regional ancestry as well. One fascinating consequence of these differences, McGill says, is the close relationship between orthopedic disease rates and athletic ability. Poland, for example, is the epicenter of hip dysplasia -- hips coming out of the socket. But because shallow hip sockets allow deep, ass-to-calves squats, Poland also produces a lot of great Olympic weightlifters.

In other words, there are anatomical reasons why men sit the way they do. It's not a matter of power dominance, but because our skeletal system is put together just a bit differently.

So why is "manspreading" such an issue? The answer is simple. Feminists view everything from the perspective of power dynamics. It's their primary tool, and when the only tool you have is a hammer, every problem starts to look like a nail.

By looking at everything as having something to do with power dynamics, they view men sitting the way they do as another example. After all, women can sit with their knees together easily enough, why can't men do the same?

When men try to explain that sitting like that is uncomfortable, they often lack an understanding of justwhy it's uncomfortable. Our lower bodies aren't put together in such a way that sitting in that manner is remotely comfortable.

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'Manspreading' Is Science, Not Sexism - PJ Media

22 TV Shows Created by ‘Grey’s Anatomy’ Writers – Wetpaint

Looking for a binge-watch to make this Greys Anatomy hiatus go a little bit faster? Check out the resums of the ABC hits writing staff!

Greys has employed dozens of storytellers in its run so far, many of whom created TV shows before or after their time scripting drama for our favorite Seattle surgeons.

Here are 22 of them, starting with a few titles youll recognize.

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After Dr. Addison Montgomery became a fan favorite in Seasons 2 and 3 of Greys Anatomy, creator Shonda Rhimes gave Kate Walsh her own spin-off, Private Practice, set in the sunny climes of Los Angeles.

This ABC medical drama which ran for six seasons between 2007 and 2013 also featured actors like Audra McDonald, Paul Adelstein, Kadee Strickland, Amy Brenneman, and future Greys star Caterina Scorsone.

In 2012, Shonda created Scandal, a political thriller based on the life of crisis management guru Judy Smith.

The ABC drama stars Kerry Washington, whos been twice nominated for Emmys by now, and featured guest appearances by future Greys stars Jerrika Hinton and Kelly McCreary.

Stacy McKee (pictured here), whos been rising in the producer ranks on Greys since Season 1, is helming an upcoming Greys spin-off about Seattles firefighters. The untitled drama is scheduled to debut in the 2017-2018 TV season.

Peter Nowalk went from co-producer to producer to supervising producer from Season 7 to Season 9 of Greys Anatomy, then worked on Scandal, then launched How to Get Away With Murder in 2014.

The Shondaland legal thriller, headed into its fourth season on ABC, stars Viola Davis as a cutthroat defense attorney mentoring a gaggle of troublesome law students. The series has earned Viola an Emmy and two SAG Awards.

Allan Heinberg worked his way up the producing staff between Season 3 and Season 6 of Greys before working on Scandal and then creating The Catch a Shondaland drama about a private investigator, played by Mireille Enos, defrauded by her fianc, played by Peter Krause.

ABC just canceled the show last month, on the day of its Season 2 finale, but dont cry for Allan: He wrote the screenplay for the blockbuster Wonder Woman.

Heather Mitchell served as co-producer for Greys Anatomy Season 8 before moving on to Scandal.

Now she has adapted the Melinda Taub book Still Star-Crossed for TV audiences, continuing the story of Romeo and Juliet in a lavish ABC drama (which, unfortunately, seems poised for cancellation).

This Shondaland medical drama took the action out of the hospital and into a remote South American village, and it was Greys co-executive producer Jenna Bans who worked on the show from Season 4 to Season 6 who created it.

ABC canceled Off the Map in 2011 after 13 episodes, Jenna went back to work on Greys as a consulting producer for Season 8, and stars Martin Henderson and Jason George eventually got series regular roles on Greys.

In this thriller, another TV drama Jenna created, Joan Allen plays a politician whose son returns home not at all like the boy whod disappeared years prior.

ABC axed The Family in 2016 after one season.

Married producers Joan Rater and Tony Phelan, who were the Greys showrunners from Season 8 to Season 10, created this years CBS legal drama Doubt, starring former Greys star Katherine Heigl as a high-profile attorney who falls for a client charged with murder.

CBS canceled the show in February after just two episodes, but the network will air the remaining 11 episodes starting in July.

Marti Noxon, who worked alongside Joss Whedon on Buffy and Angel, served as consulting producer on Greys Anatomys third season and as showrunner on Private Practices first season.

Before that, however, she co-created Point Pleasant, a 2005 FOX drama about a teen whose arrival in a New Jersey town sparks a spate of supernatural events. It lasted 11 episodes.

Marti also adapted Vicki Iovines Girlfriends Guides books for TV. This Bravo series stars Lisa Edelstein as a self-help author navigating a messy breakup from her husband, played by Private Practice alum Paul Adelstein.

Youve likely heard of UnREAL, the Lifetime series Marti co-created. The drama takes viewers behind the scenes of a Bachelor-like reality show, with Shiri Appleby and Constance Zimmer playing the producers-slash-puppeteers pulling the strings.

HBO is bringing the novel Sharp Objects, from Gone Girl author Gillian Flynn, to the small screen with Marti at the helm. Amy Adams (pictured here) leads the cast of the forthcoming eight-episode series, playing a journalist battling psychological demons while reporting on a brutal murder in her hometown.

Before his roles on Scandal, Marry Me, and 24: Legacy, Dan Bucatinsky was a consulting producer for Seasons 9 and 10 of Greys Anatomy.

And before that, in 2008, he and husband Don Roos co-created the web series Web Therapy with Lisa Kudrow. The comedy, in which Lisa plays a therapist for hire over webcam, was picked up by Showtime for four seasons, starting in 2011.

Krista Vernoff (pictured here) led the Greys writing room from Season 4 to Season 7 and introduced catchphrase Seriously? and shes returning to Greys for Season 14 now that Stacy is working on the firefighter spin-off.

In 2011, she wrote the ABC pilot Grace, a family drama about a famous and famously womanizing choreographer, played by Eric Roberts, who played Jacksons father last season on Greys.

Kip Koenig, a consulting producer and a supervising producer for the first three seasons of Greys Anatomy, created the show Septuplets in 2002.

The FOX drama which focused on a set of septuplets struggling to adjust to life post-fame and starred Losts Maggie Grace, pictured here was canceled before it aired.

James Parriott, who mentored Shonda during the first season of Greys, has created many shows like the NBC adventure series Voyagers!, which ran from 1982 to 1983 and focused on a time traveler and his young friend who repair errors in world history.

Two years later, in 1985, James created another one-season-wonder on NBC. This one, Misfits of Science, focused on a team of human anomalies with superpowers including one played by a young Courteney Cox.

In 1992, way before supernatural crimefighters were so popular on TV, James created Forever Knight, a CBS drama about an 800-year-old vampire working as a Toronto police detective. It ran for three seasons before concluding in 1996.

Midway through the run of The Montel Williams Show, Montel Williams starred in this short-lived CBS drama James created in 1996. The talk show host played a retired naval officer who starts working at a hardscrabble New Jersey high school. CBS canceled the show after just six episodes.

Jamess next show, a 2002 dramedy about a young woman who becomes a vice consul at the U.S. Embassy in London, lasted even shorter. FOX canceled The American Embassy after just four episodes. In brighter news, though, it featured future Greys star Eric Dane.

Jamess next series came in 2009. With romantically-entangled astronauts embarking a six-year mission across the solar system, Defying Gravity was dubbed Greys Anatomy in space but lasted only eight episodes on ABC.

Looking for a binge-watch to make this Greys Anatomy hiatus go a little bit faster? Check out the resums of the ABC hits writing staff!

Greys has employed dozens of storytellers in its run so far, many of whom created TV shows before or after their time scripting drama for our favorite Seattle surgeons.

Here are 22 of them, starting with a few titles youll recognize.

Add your email to get news about your favorite shows or celebrities

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22 TV Shows Created by 'Grey's Anatomy' Writers - Wetpaint

‘Grey’s Anatomy’ Producers Tried to Change the Show’s Name … – Glamour

Let's call a spade a spade: Grey's Anatomy is a ridiculous showin the best way possible, of course. The staff at Grey Sloan Memorial Hospital is under constant duress. Fires! Plane crashes! Multiple, tragic deaths! These doctors seriously can't catch a break. Just when you think Meredith Grey and company are in the clear, bam: We're hit with a car crash or an affair or Bailey missing her own wedding. To call Grey's Anatomy "bonkers" would be a gross understatement.

So it's only fitting a show like this have a dramatic title. Grey's Anatomy is a great name because it's ambiguous to folks who don't watch the show. Who is Grey? And whose anatomy are we exploring? The title lends itself nicely to messy melodrama.

But it was almost called something completely different. And not just different: boring. In a new interview with BuzzFeed, Kate Walsh (who played Dr. Addison Montgomery for eight glorious seasons on Grey's, and then for another six on Private Practice) revealed producers tried to change the name of the show three times.

"With Grey's, I remember because I came in at episode eight, at that time the morale was really low. They kept changing the name of the show. It was Doctors and then Surgeons and then Complications, and I was like, 'What a bullshit show title!' Grey's Anatomy is the perfect title," she said.

Um, Doctors? Surgeons? Complications? Those aren't hit show titles. Those are General Hospital knockoffs that air for two seasons in a Friday-night slot and develop a small, cultish following on Reddit.

Praise be that the producers came to their senses and just left the title as is. Yes, the show probably would have done well with a generic title, but it wouldn't have the same kick. And what's Grey Sloan Memorial Hospital without a little kick?

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'Grey's Anatomy' Producers Tried to Change the Show's Name ... - Glamour

Anatomy of a deal: Amarillo financial package was turning point for … – Amarillo.com

It was last fall, and negotiations with the Elmore Sports Group to bring its AA minor league San Antonio baseball franchise to Amarillo were creeping along. Its not that they were at an impasse, but something needed to be done to get talks off high center.

Wichita, Kan., with its 400,000 population and serious talks of a $60 million stadium along the Arkansas River, was an inviting suitor. So too was Amarillo, but negotiators on behalf of the citys Local Government Corp. believed they needed a buzz.

We had to create an advantage, said Alex Fairly, president of the Fairly Group, a risk management firm whose clients include Dave and D.G. Elmore among many professional and collegiate sports teams and organizations. We needed to do something they just couldnt say no to. It had to be shocking.

The plan was to not just tell, but show the Elmores how committed Amarillo was to affiliated minor league baseball and rejoining the Texas League with a new downtown stadium. The plan was to sell all the inventory in the to-be-built $45.5 million stadium.

That meant the big-ticket items of suite sponsorships, stadium and field naming rights, and Founders agreements. More than that, it meant getting these commitments in writing. Fairly said the group did its homework on the likely number of suites in a AA stadium, their pricing, lease terms and length.

Then Bill Gilliland of the Gilliland Group, who could sell manual typewriters to Bill Gates, spearheaded the effort along with Amarillo National Bank chairman and president Richard Ware and former Maxor Corp. chairman Jerry Hodge.

I said, Can we sell this? Fairly said. Bill said, Yeah, we can sell this. How much time do we have? I was in no position to give him a deadline, so I asked him, How much time do you need?

He said, Can I have 10 days? I said, Yeah, you can certainly have 10 days.

This wasnt Gillilands first fundraising rodeo. He helped lead the effort for private donations for the Globe-News Center for the Performing Arts nearly 15 years ago. The goal was to get five-year written agreements on an unspecified number of suites in an unknown location within the stadium.

It was the easiest thing I ever did in my life, Gilliland said, and keep in mind, we had nothing to really show anybody. Two or three asked me how big the suites were, and then it was, Sorry I asked. Im in.

Thats the kind of town we live in. We had $20 million raised for the Globe-News Center and no one had any idea what it would look like. People were not necessarily supporting baseball in this. They were supporting Amarillo.

Fairly and Hodge met with Dave and D.G. Elmore in the groups Bloomington, Ind., headquarters in November with something significant to show them. They had it all commitment letters for all the major sponsorships, from suites to naming rights in place.

You may have to clean up my language, but Amarillo was sucking hind teat for a while, Hodge said. I felt like we were second to Wichita and we had to somehow stay in the mix. The turning point was the financial package.

A game-changer

If the goal was to shock and create an advantage, it worked. It left the Elmores now looking hard at a city that was essentially all dressed up with no place to go. Amarillo had the voter approval and financing in place for a new stadium, but was in need of an anchor tenant.

For the last year, we had the financial model in place, Amarillo Deputy City Manager Bob Cowell said. We could have easily secured the architects, designed it and had the thing under construction.

But everyone has been clear, both previous and current councils, and both LGCs, theyve all said were not going to put that kind of money into play without definitively knowing whos going into that.

Once the Elmores received the financial package from Fairly, Hodge and Ware, the unknown team that would go into the unbuilt stadium took shape.

We have moved teams at various times in our 36-year history of owning ballclubs, DG Elmore said, and as I reflect, I dont think there is a time we have seen the level of business support like this. The suites, the founding sponsor, the naming rights, its really unprecedented. This type of support is fantastic.

The belief was at that point that ownership and the city had a deal. While no letter of intent was signed, the two sides at least had a verbal agreement.

They were shocked, Fairly said. Their comment was this had never been done in minor league baseball. No city has had everything sold before a team committed to play there.

And it was not a braggadocios presentation, but We want you to come here. We went there still thinking there was a 10 percent chance we were getting a team, but we left feeling like partners that day.

Said Gilliland: Im a car salesman, and I dont want to say there was no doubt in my mind because anything in the world can happen, but after that, my opinion was we were going to get a AA team and they (Elmores) were going to be the owners. When they came back, and gave a full report, I thought, Boy, oh boy.

But at that point, which team would come to Amarillo was uncertain because of San Antonios struggles regarding the possibility of building its own new stadium. There was a possibility at the time, a good possibility AAA Colorado Springs would relocate to Amarillo for a few years while waiting on San Antonio to figure out its stadium situation.

They put it that way, Fairly said, because they were still hopeful something would break for them in San Antonio. It belongs there. We knew if Colorado Springs came to Amarillo, it would eventually move because we are not a AAA market. We talked in detail about the transition and how the plan would look, but at the end of the day, were a AA market.

Nothing left to chance

Just to cover all the bases pun intended negotiators provided the Elmores a five-year weather report from the local National Weather Service on conditions at 7 p.m. in the spring and summer. One reason the Colorado Springs team was moving was not only altitude, where thin air causes the ball to fly and skews pitching and hitting statistics, but also cold springtime temperatures that affects crowds.

The NWS data, however, was not promising. From April through September, it showed average wind speed at more than 20 mph.

Then Jerry had the idea, you know I think its better downtown, Fairly said.

They got weather data from KVII, a stones throw from the new stadium. Its report was much more promising.

We got hour-by-hour data, Fairly said. The average wind speed was around 10 mph. They average temperature is below 90. The humidity is low. So downtown Amarillo is one of the best places in the country to play baseball at that hour. We showed we can be an incredible place to play baseball weather-wise.

Negotiations on lease terms with the subcommittee and Elmore continued into March. At this time, interim city manager Terry Childers had been fired. For most of that time, Cowell was the nuts-and-bolts point person.

Bob hadnt been part of the critical discussions, but he became so critically valuable to this deal, Fairly said. Bob Cowell probably saved this deal, honestly. If we hadnt had Bob to keep us straight on some critically important things, I dont know where we would be.

Like any negotiations of this size, there were still snags. One was paid parking, an important revenue producer for all Texas League teams. The city, to some degree, will compete with the Elmores on parking revenue.

Amarillo will receive revenue from the adjacent city-owned parking garage, while club ownership will get money from approximately 1,000 fixed parking spots on-site at the new stadium.

I had no idea parking could be so complicated, Fairly said.

The other issue is a city tax on each ticket sold. It was finally agreed that Elmore would absorb that cost, which was negotiated at a fee of $175,000 into the lease.
Exact terms of the lease will not be available for at least two weeks, but it will be the highest in the Texas League, Fairly said.

I felt great about the negotiations, DG Elmore said. I tell you, we deal with a lot of municipalities, and have rarely experienced the environment of pro-business, support and excitement about baseball that we have seen in the Amarillo community. Everyone is pulling in the same direction. Everyone wants the same thing.

When the AAA Pacific Coast Leagues executive committee in May gave Elmore permission to move Colorado Springs to San Antonios AA stadium until a new one is constructed, that paved the way for Amarillo to get its AA franchise. Negotiators could begin to let out a sigh.

Jerry and Alex were the perfect pair to put this together, Ware said. Jerrys love of baseball and Alexs connections are probably unmatched in this for any minor league city in the United States. Were so lucky to have both of them. This truly would not have happened without both of them.

It likely would not have happened without the signed commitments for major inventory six months ago. That spoke loudly, especially with Wichita squarely in the picture. Its not an exaggeration to say that Wednesdays news conference announcing the official move may not have occurred without those commitments.

Thats hard to say, but its probably true, DG Elmore said. Theres a lot of things involved in moving three teams to various cities, but its not an overstatement to say the corporate community in Amarillo, doing what they did, was a very key factor.

It was probably the clinching element that said we need to go to Amarillo. We need to do this. It minimized our risk in going to one of the smaller (AA) markets that we had a choice. We want to put baseball in Amarillo not just for 10 to 15 years, but I want my childrens children to one day head off to Amarillo for a ballgame.

Originally posted here:
Anatomy of a deal: Amarillo financial package was turning point for ... - Amarillo.com

Tom Yamachika: Anatomy Of The Epic Fail On Rail – Honolulu Civil Beat

The Senate Ways and Means Committee took a very different tack. Its 10-page version basically said, Well take away the States 10 percent skim off the surcharge, but no extension; youre on your own.

That draft unanimously passed the full Senate and went over to the House.

House Finance Committee Chairwoman Sylvia Luke and Senate Ways and MeansChairwoman Jill Tokudaplayed key roles in the various drafts of the rail tax bill.

Cory Lum/Civil Beat

There, the House Transportation Committee kept the bill alive by putting blanks in it its draft extended the tax to an unspecified date, reinstated the skim but replaced the percentage with a blank percent to recover the states costs and a blank percent that would go the DOT for state highway projects.

The House Finance Committee then filled in the blanks, extending the tax for two years, and dropping the skim to 1 percent, none of which would be earmarked for the DOT.

This version went to the conference committee, and then surprising things started happening.

First, the Senate proposed a new draft, radically different from the version that passed the Senate, which extended the surcharge for 10years and raised the skim to 20 percent.

The House came back with a draft that left the GET surcharge untouched, dropped the skim to 1 percent and raised the hotel room tax from 9.25 percent to a hefty 12 percent.

The latter proposal, though innovative, caught the hotel industry unaware, prompting vigorous objections. Then-Senate money chair Tokuda agreed to that version with tweaks a few hours later, thereby making the final decking deadline.

After frantic meetings through the weekend, the money chairs, apparently with some members of the hotel industry, reached a compromise involving a shorter GET extension and a lower TAT hike.

Amendments were introduced on the chamber floors to implement the agreement, although another version with only a GET extension and no TAT increase, which Honolulu Mayor Kirk Caldwell supported, was circulating in the Senate.

The House passed one version and jettisoned its speaker, while the Senate adopted the other version and deposed Chairwoman Tokuda.

With no agreement between the chambers, neither version can be enacted. That is where we are now.

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Tom Yamachika: Anatomy Of The Epic Fail On Rail - Honolulu Civil Beat

Opinion: The anatomy of a mediocre squad – The Spurs Web

Since the Special One arrived we have lost to Liverpool, Bayern, Man United, Leipzig and Chelsea twice. Scored two goals in those six games. Well always have Olympiacos and City, I guess. To be fair to the manager in the prior regime we were losing to the likes of Newcastle and Brighton by the end.

But injuries asideand how realistic is to expect even the one goal we did score without Kane, Son, Eriksen, Dele and with an attack force that has barely played together?the flaws in this team are all too apparent. Mourinho has a damned if he does/doesnt situation. He can decide to keep the game contained and play passively until his supposedly best defender allows Olivier Giroud to walk past him and the next thing you know the other Belgian is spinning like a top away from the Frenchmans second effort and we are behind. Or he could have them play like they seem to do in the final 15 minutes these daysand maybe wed all feel better, but the scoreline would likely end up 4-2 instead of 2-1, and no points would have been gained either.

Our defendingand this begins in the middle of the pitchis simply substandard. Neither Belgian seems capable of a first-rate performance anymore. Davies and Tanganga on the wings are adequate; Sanchez is probably our best but what can one man do? And particularly when his midfielders are failing to mark or giving the ball away. Chelsea did what Leipzig did, pressed us almost into submission. I thought Lo Celsoaside from his fortunate escape from red for a stomp on Azpilicuetaand Ndombele were merely average yesterday; Winks was less than that until the final twenty minutesI am developing a serious doubt as to whether this particular academy product is capable of sustaining quality play at this level. Oh how we miss Mousa Dembele! So our midfield was overrun for much of the first half and then again to start the secondand our defenders are simply always going to concede goals these days when possession is so tilted.

On attack Bergwijn was not surprisingly bullied a fair amount yesterday; Lucas cannot be effective as a hold-up player given his size, things got better once Aurier, Lamela and Dele arrived but the game was lost by then. This team bears no resemblance to the one that was a serious title threat in 2015-17; the rot is apparent and I would suspect at least two new defenders, if not three, must arrive in the summer for Spurs to have any chance at a trophy next season. And Im not sure Harry Kane will wait that longif he recovers in time for the Eurosand plays wellI would think his agent will begin to rustle around for a new home unless Levy is extremely proactive in terms of improvements.

As for Jose; yes, I would like to see more intent from the get-go in these big games. He doesnt have the defence necessary to keep a game closewe were lucky much more than good in holding City off. Our only hope in the return fixture in Germany will be to light up their defence and probably also for a serious cup run or the dwindling chance at Top Four (I cant see fifth being good enough for City is likely to tie up their mess in court long enough to play in the Champions League next season). But he is not the problemlets hope he can be part of the solution.

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Opinion: The anatomy of a mediocre squad - The Spurs Web

Anatomy of an effective e-commerce website – Herald Palladium

Setting up and managing an e-commerce website to sell your companys products involves a lot of work and knowledge of what might boost or bust your bottom line.

While specific features and functionality requirements may vary depending on your type of business, some considerations are universally important.

A few of the must-have characteristics of an e-commerce website include:

According to data from Custoras E-commerce Pulse, the share of mobile orders (phone and tablet) out of all e-commerce increased to 31 percent in 2016 (up from 29 percent in 2015).

With more potential customers using mobile devices to buy products, its increasingly important to ensure your e-commerce site will deliver ease of use to desktop and mobile users alike.

The easier you can make it for your website visitors to find and buy the products theyre looking for, the more likely youll convert those product searches into sales.

Structure your e-commerce website so potential buyers can easily find what they want in as few clicks as possible, and make sure the checkout process is simple and straightforward. Also make it easy for visitors to find your refunds and exchange policy.

Studies have shown that approximately 56 percent of shoppers abandon shopping carts because they discover unexpected costs at checkout. Consider disclosing shipping options and costs earlier rather than waiting until near the end of the checkout process.

You might also think about finding a way to provide free shipping. With an increasing number of e-commerce sites offering to ship products for free, you may be at a disadvantage if you dont extend this courtesy to buyers.

Brief, clear, well-written content with relevant key words will help visitors find your products quickly and learn whats most important about them. Keep in mind content that consists of more than a few sentences may seem to go on forever on a smartphone screen.

Make sure youve included product descriptions that give enough detail without becoming redundant and boring.

A picture is worth a thousand words. How often have you heard that? For an e-commerce website, a picture can mean thousands of dollars.

An image can make or break the sale online. Shoppers want to have a visual sense of what theyre buying online.

Youll want to share images that bring out the best of your products. Consider contracting the help of a professional photographer who has experience in taking photographs for e-commerce websites.

If youre looking to create an e-commerce website for your business, you can benefit from consultation with a website development and design professional who has experience with all that they entail.

Also consider talking with a mentor at your local SCORE chapter. SCORE mentors have experience in all aspects of starting, managing, and marketing small businesses.

Call the local branch at 269-925-6100 or visit http://www.swmi.score.org to request SCORE help with your business.

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Anatomy of an effective e-commerce website - Herald Palladium

Global Anatomical Models Market Outlook Revised in a New Market Research Store Report as COVID-19 Projected to Hold a Massive Impact on Sales in 2020….

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NascoXinchengFrasacoFysiomed3DIEMMEGPI AnatomicalsScientific PublishingPRODONT-HOLLIGERAltay ScientificSterling ManufacturingDynamic Disc DesignsA. AlgeoSakamoto Model CorporationErler-ZimmerColumbia DentoformHonglian Medical TechLaerdalSimulaidsKanren3B ScientificAdam, Rouilly

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Head & Skull & Nervous ModelsDental ModelsSkeleton & Muscular Models

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Table ofContents

Global Anatomical Models Market Research Report 2020-2026

Chapter 1 Anatomical Models Market Overview

Chapter 2 Global Economic Impact on Anatomical Models Industry

Chapter 3 Global Market Competition by Key Vendors

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Chapter 5 Global Production, Revenue (Value), Price Trend by Type

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Global Anatomical Models Market Outlook Revised in a New Market Research Store Report as COVID-19 Projected to Hold a Massive Impact on Sales in 2020....

The anatomy of a perfect country what makes a nation great? – Telegraph.co.uk

How big would it be? What hours would we work? What would the weather be like? We muse on the make-up of an ideal nation

Nearly 200,000 years ago, humans made their first strides out of Africa in a quest that would see them one day populate the whole world. Century by century, civilisations rose and fell from east to west; their varying cultures preserved and segregated by oceans.

Societies in what are now the Americas had no idea of the inventions being made in China. Indigious tribes in Australia knew nothing of the clans in Africa. Only in recent history have we joined the dots and only today do we have the whole picture.

And so, armed with these insights, imagine you are a wizard with the power to create a new nation on Earth in which to live, with different attributes cherry-picked from any countries you like. What would it look like? It would probably not, as far as Im concerned, be a land-locked municipality with the climate of Siberia, the food of Lithuania, the attitude of Parisians and the railway network of Britain.

I did some digging on the subject, reviewed the worlds 'happiest countries'and their customs, spoke to the rest of the Telegraph Travel team, and posed the question to readers - all to gather the material needed with which to invent a Franken-nation of excellence. Heres how it came out...

A good place to start, given our British tendency to pontificate on the weather; though like every other category to follow, a highly subjective matter.

Some appreciate proper seasons, others yearn for a permanent state of summer, and there are even those who choose to endure 100 days a year of total darkness. Personally, I favour desert conditions - hot and dry during the day, cool in the evenings - and steer clear of jungles; their claustrophobic humidity and multitude of insects. I'd settle on the climate of coastal California. Residents of this state have every reason to brag, and not just because it's so reliably sunny...

Warmth aside, California benefits from a host of topographic perks that make it unique. First, its terrain is exceptionally diverse (lofty peaks, rich forest, golden beaches). Crucially, its high mountain ranges shelter it from powerful polar gusts from the north, and the generally clockwise direction of the prevailing winds limit the force of Pacific storms.

Its equatorial position ensures plenty of sunshine, with warm wind that blows in from the eastern Mojave Desert. But the 'California Current' that brings cool ocean water down the east coast absorbs enough solar energy to keep the air from being too oppressively hot, and renders the humidity very low compared to other regions on the same latitude.

Unlike California, however, this Franken-nation would like to remain, like Britain, an island - not too far from the nearest mainland but far enough to enjoy our personal space. Ideal, too, in the event of an apocalypse.

Is bigger better? Undeniably, there are political advantages to having a far-reaching territory, not to mention the lifestyle privileges of being able to ski, sunbathe, swim and mountain-climb without stepping past your own borders.

But just like the running of a major corporation over a medium-sized company, there are drawbacks to being large. There's more to manage, it's harder to make significant constitutional changes should you need to, and the more land you cover, the more diverse its population and at-odds their prerogatives - precisely the reason Brexiteers think wed be better off out of the EU.

And while some of the biggest countries in the world, primarily the US and China, may indeed be the richest, it's actually the smaller nations that are the wealthiest per capita - a far better metric for the people living there. Qataroccupies just 11,586 sq km (that's 20 times smaller than Britain) and tops the list with a GDP per capita of nearly 100,000 (more than double that of the UK). Yes, they have oil, but other pint-sized nations with a high GDP per capita also include Luxembourg, Switzerland, Macau and Brunei.

On the other hand, with being a small country comes a limiting perspective. Natives from large nations like Australia and the USA often scoff when they hear a Briton describe their journey from, say, London to Edinburgh as being 'long'.

This is probably a category for the Goldilocks approach; not too big, not too little.South Africa seems like a good size, allowing for the diversity of landscape enjoyed by larger countries - from its great safari bushland in the east, its Kalahari desert conditions in the north west, and abundance of coastline either side - without being so sprawling as to be unmanageable. In short, just right.

Confucius had it right when he predicted 1,500 years ago on the prospect of swelling communities: "Excessive growth may reduce output per worker, repress levels of living for the masses and engender strife." Of all the problems our planet now faces, overpopulation is the elephant in the room. So how many people should our Franken-nation add to the mix?

Thinkers and planners have been tossing theories around as to what makes the ideal population density since long before Confucius. These days, at least according to renowned Stanford population analyst Paul Ehrlich, the optimum population worldwide - "enough to guarantee the minimal physical ingredients of a decent life to everyone" is 1.5 to 2 billion people. We're currently at 7.7 billion, hurtling fast towards 9 billion by 2050.

Too many humans living egg-and-bird is obviously not a good thing. But neither, some say, is having a very sparse population; the countries with the fewest residents today (Mongolia and Greenland) tend to be so because of their harsh environments and you could argue, are a bit lonely.

Personally though, as someone who prefers empty sand dunes to city breaks, I say the less people the better. Other countries with low population densities include the likes of Namibia, Australia and Iceland - all very appealing domains. In Icelands case, its about nine people for every square mile.

How people like to get from A to B varies hugely, no more so than on our travel desk. If Oliver Smith had his way, our Franken-nation would have the bicycle-friendly ethos of the Netherlands. Adrian Bridge is only ever truly happy on a train. Gavin Haines has entirely given up flying.

Ideal, then, would be a country built to accommodate all modes of transport. For an ultra-efficient rail network, we should look to Japan's bullet trains. For tip-top cycle lanes, Scandinavia wins hands down - in Copenhagen, for example, more than 60 per cent of its residents get to work or school by bike.

Back to Asia we go for the best underground metro system, where Hong Kong's MTR is immaculately clean, brilliantly quick and reliable, Wi-Fi fitted and widely praised by travellers the world over.

As for the roads, the World Economic Forum reckons the United Arab Emirates has the best system in terms of both its infrastructure and quality of the tarmac. I'd also adopt Germany's Autobahn system for motorways.

Oh and please, pavements withpedestrian slow lanes.

Spanish? Greek? Chinese? Japanese? Thai? Mexican? Indian? Or dare we say it, British? No, its Italian cuisine that gets my vote.

Indulgent dishes - pizza, pasta, tiramisu - and an abundance of fresh produce - olive oil, tomatoes, artichoke, basil - strike an elegant balance between health and gluttony. And I appear to be in good company. Last year, an international YouGov study polled people on the topic across 24 countries and Italian came out on top, followed by Chinese (Britains favourite) and Japanese.

Our own cuisine didn't fare so well. Despite 90 per cent of British responders signalling their approval, foreigners do not agree. The biggest haters were the Japanese, along with the Germans, Spaniards and French.

Looking back over the greatest innovations of all time, it is inventors from China and the UK who have proved most prolific. China gave us paper, the compass,
the first mechanical clock, gunpowder, rockets and alcohol. Britain can take a bow for introducing the steam engine, the telephone, the lightbulb and the World Wide Web; not to mention carbonated water, the lawnmower, the Mackintosh coat and Dolly the cloned sheep.

Currently, however, Switzerland has been ranked as the world leader in innovation for the seventh year running, by the Global Innovation Index report, followed by Sweden and the US. The UK takes fifth place. Why does Switzerland keep winning, aside from its exports of velcro, the Red Cross, and direct democracy? Lacking much in the way of natural resources, it's a country that has been forced to be creative in other ways.

Says Credit Suisse: "Since the country was largely spared the ravages of the Second World War, it was in an excellent position, with intact, export-oriented production facilities, to benefit from Europes post-war reconstruction. Also helpful is Switzerlands liberal, stability-oriented economic policy and traditional emphasis on hard work, dedication and education." The country holds more patents than any other country in relation to population.

What of the more tangible creature comforts? Switzerland's tap water please, it's the cleanest in the world and totally negates the need for plastic bottled mineral water. But Japans high-tech loos, I'm told, are far superior to our Western bogs (though Hazel Plush sings the praises of Dubai's lavish public bathrooms). Also Japan's multitude of vending machines - there's one on almost every block and they sell a vast array of essentials (groceries, umbrellas, tights, wine) - so convenient.

The country with the fastest internet? That depends on which report you look at, but Singapore and Taiwan generally dominate - both countries in which the average time it takes to download a HD film is about eight minutes, compared to half an hour in the UK.

I'd also yoink Finland's abundance of saunas (it is estimated that there are two million of them, for a population of 5.3 million).

It might surprise you to learn which country boasts the world's best healthcare system, according to the World Health Organisation: France, with a fairly complex orchestration of both private and public practises, largely funded (about 70 per cent of it) by the government, the rest generally covered by insurance.

Writing for The Local, London-based French blogger Muriel Demarcus says he experienced quite the culture shock when he first encountered the NHS. In the UK, he states, it's much harder to get an appointment, the GPs don't take patients seriously enough, surgery waiting lists are too long, and a trip to the dentist is at least double the price compared with France.

"The weird thing is that, come to think of it, the health budget is similar in France and in the UK (OK, a bit higher in France, but not massively higher)" he writes.

French hospitals it is, then. One thing I'd certainly want for our Franken-nation, however, would be a Swiss Dignitas-style clinic which permits terminal patients to end their lives should they wish to, with the dignity we afford our pets. Keeping people alive against their will when they're suffering seems ludicrous to me, not to mention expensive. Last year, the largest ever poll on human euthanasia, conducted by Populus, revealed that 84 per cent of Britons support it too.

Where to start? With the very sensible rules that surely every country should adopt, perhaps. In Argentina, you are automatically an organ donor unless you choose to opt out; a policy which saves thousands of lives a year.

The fact that more than a third of the world's food goes to waste every year is a travesty. Thus, in France, it is illegal for large supermarkets to throw away unsold food; they must instead donate it to those in need.

I'd also instigate a single-use plastic tax (something MPs are currently pushing for) to incentive the use of recyclable packaging.

Beyond that, in the interests of not igniting war in the comments box, we'll leave aside the more divise matters of drug legalisation, university quotas, religious rights, animal welfare laws and Heathrow's second runway - in favour of lighter topics...

Of everyone we heard from on this - the single foreign tradition to come out as most desirable? Siestas. All of us, it seems, are tired and would welcome a better work-life balance. Some countries are starting to address it. In the US, and particularly Silicon Valley, 'nap pods' for company employees have been springing up in recent years (I tested one in London), and low and behold, they have proven to increase, not limit, productivity.

What, then, of the four-day work week, which Jeremy Corbyn was widely ridiculed for proposing in the run up to the last general election? Not as mad as you might think. In summer 2019, Microsoft tested it out in its Japan offices. For the duration of the trial, the company reported a 40 per cent increase in productivity and, bonus, a 23 per cent reduction in electricity costs. A similar experiment has since been conducted in New Zealand, where a 20 per cent uptick in efficiency was observed.

In fact, the more you drill into the figures, the more it becomes clear that the countries around the world with the shortest working hours (Germany, Denmark Norway, the Netherlands) are actually among the most productive, certainly according to the World Economic Forum. "The average German worker is reported to be 27 per cent more productive than his or her British counterpart," its latest findings read. The Germans, depressingly, work an average of 26 hours a week, compared to 42.3 hours in the UK.

Putting aside our primal cry for rest, another enviable trait to have emerged from our inquiries was the Medditerran tendency to dine later in the evening than we Britons typically do. According to Laura Fowler, this approach reigns in Tel Aviv: "Locals there traditionally go out to dinner once the kids are in bed, and bars stay open as long as there are people drinking in them. Why close when everyone is having a good time?"

One Britishism, though, I think we can all agree on keeping is that which no other nation can compete on: proper, traditional pubs.

Our Franken-nation: a beautiful island of mountains, forest and beaches, about the size of South Africa, with the sunny climes of California. A population comparable to Iceland, with the healthcare system of France. Bicycle lanes to rival the Netherlands'. Hong Kong's zippy underground network, and internet as fast as Singapore's. Italian food, Swiss tap water and British pubs. We'll have Japan's bullet trains, thank you very much, as well, and its loos and its vending machines. We shall work less, like the Germans, and spend more time in saunas and the great outdoors, like the Finns.

Siestas will anchor our warm days, and as our deeply enriching lives draw to an end, we won't degenerate in nursing homes, but check into Digitas, get into bed and go to sleep.

What have we got right? What have we got thoroughly wrong? Nominate the traits you admire most from other countries and we'll publish the best of them.

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The anatomy of a perfect country what makes a nation great? - Telegraph.co.uk

New Discoveries in Human Anatomy – The Scientist

In the 16th century, when the study of human anatomy was still in its infancy, curious onlookers would gather in anatomical theaters to catch of a glimpse of public dissections of the dead. In the years since, scientists have carefully mapped the viscera, bones, muscles, nerves, and many other components of our bodies, such that a human corpse no longer holds that same sense of mystery that used to draw crowds.

New discoveries in gross anatomythe study of bodily structures at the macroscopic levelare now rare, and their significance is often overblown, says Paul Neumann, a professor who specializes in the history of medicine and anatomical nomenclature at Dalhousie University. The important discoveries about anatomy, I think, are now coming from studies of tissues and cells.

Over the last decade, there have been a handful of discoveries that have helped overturn previous assumptions and revealed new insights into our anatomy. Whats really interesting and exciting about almost all of the new studies is the illustration of the power of new [microscopy and imaging] technologies to give deeper insight, saysTom Gillingwater, a professor of anatomy at the University of Edinburgh in the UK. I would guess that many of these discoveries are the start, rather than the end, of a developing view of the human body.

Here is a sampling of some of those discoveries.

The lymphatic system, a body-wide network of vessels that drains fluids and removes waste from tissues and organs, was long-believed to be absent from the brain. Early reports of lymphatic vessels in the meninges, the membrane coating the brain, date as far back as the 18th centurybut these findings were met with skepticism. Only recently has this view been overturned, after a 2015 report of lymphatic vessels in mouse meninges and the 2012 discovery of the so-called glymphatic system, an interconnected network of glial cells that facilitates the circulation of fluid throughout mouse brains. In 2017, neuroimaging work revealed evidence for such lymphatic vessels in human meninges.

In 2018, researchers reported that the space between cells was a collagen-lined, fluid-filled network, which they dubbed the interstitium. They proposed that this finding, which emerged from close examinations of tissue from patients bile ducts, bladders, digestive tracts, and skin, may help scientists better understand how tumors spread through the body. The team also called the interstitium a newly-discovered organ, but many dismissed this claim. Most biologists would be reticent to put the moniker of an organ on microscopic uneven spaces between tissues that contain fluid, Anirban Maitra, a pathologist at the University of Texas MD Anderson Center, told The Scientistlast year.

Until recently, the prevailing view among scientists was that the mesentery, the large, fan-like sheet of tissue that holds our intestines in place, consisted of multiple fragments. In 2016, after examining the mesentery of both cadavers and patients undergoing surgery, a team of researchers concluded that the mesentery was actually a single unit. This wasnt the first time the mesentery was described as continuousin one of the first depictions of the structure, Leonardo da Vinci also portrayed it in this way. But in the 2016 paper, the scientists argued that its continuity should qualify the mesentery as an organ. As with the interstitium, however, other experts have objected to this claim. In both of these cases, there seems to have been a misunderstanding of what the term organ means, Neumann says.

laurie okeefe

In January 2019, scientists described a previously unknown web of capillaries that pass through the bones of mice. Textbooks describe large veins and arteries jutting out the ends of bones, but this newly-described network of tunnels provide a faster route for blood cells produced in the bone marrow to enter the circulation. The research team also looked at human bones using a variety of methods: taking photos from patients undergoing surgery, conducting MRI scans of a healthy leg, and investigating extracted samples under a microscopeand revealed a similar, albeit less extensive, system of capillaries.

Last October, researchers reported that muscles typically seen in reptiles and other animalsbut not peoplewere present in the limbs of human embryos. Using a combination of immunostaining, tissue clearing, and microscopy, the team generated high-resolution 3-D images of upper and lower limb muscles in tissue samples from preserved 8- to 14-week-old embryos and fetuses. These structures, which disappear before birth, may be anatomical remnants of our evolutionary ancestors that disappear during the early stages of development, the authors suggest. They only examined 13 images, however, so experts caution that its a preliminary finding that needs to be replicated in a larger sample.

The fabella, a tiny bone located in a tendon behind the knee, is becoming more common in humans, according to a study published last spring. After reviewing 58 studies on fabella prevalence in 27 different countries, researchers reported that people were approximately 3.5 times more likely to have the little bone in 2018 than 1918. The cause of this trend remains an open question, but the authors suggest that changes in muscle mass and bone lengthdriven by increased diet quality in many parts of the worldcould be one explanation.

Diana Kwon is a Berlin-based freelance journalist. Follow her on Twitter@DianaMKwon.

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New Discoveries in Human Anatomy - The Scientist

‘Dream come true’: First-year science teacher at Southside High School reflects on beginning months of job – Greenville News

Halfway through his first year as a science teacher at Southside High School, Scott Johnston has learned almost as much as his students.

Johnston, 45, who teaches marine science and anatomy and physiology, left a retail management job to pursue his dream of being an educator, and while this first half of the year has had a few ups and downs, Johnson is still thrilled with his decision.

The Greenville News is following Johnston through his first year of teaching.

In an interview before the start of school in August, Johnston outlined his personal metric for success as a teacher: I want to be that teacher that challenges their students, holds them accountable, but most importantly, knows that I care about them as individuals. Success for me is about whether or not my students are leading a happy and productive life.

Now, nearly four monthslater, Johnston has found his daily rhythm and is feeling comfortable in front of his classes every day.

Its kind of a dream come true for me to finally realize what Ive really felt like I should be doing my entire life, Johnston said one recent afternoon, relaxing in his classroom during his daily planning period. So the dream hasnt become a nightmare, but there have been obvious scenarios where my limits are tested.

Johnston starts his day early, more than an hour before students arrive. He gets into his classroom around 7:15 so that he has time to get organized and relax a bit before the first bell rings.

Im probably the second or third car out in the parking lot. I love getting up early, getting in here and sipping my coffee, he said. Getting my lesson plan prepared, ready to go, I enjoy getting up every morning and coming to work. Its not perfect, but its fun, and I love my kids. I really have grown to love them.

As the school year began, Johnstons classroom at Southside bore few personal touches, but thats changed as the months have progressed.

A human skeleton that was nameless when school started is now called Henry. The drably colored walls are brightened with anatomy posters, molecular diagrams created by students, a poster with a quote from Rosa Parks.

Scott Johnston, a first-year marine science and anatomy and physiology teacher at Southside High School in Greenville.(Photo: MATT BURKHARTT/Staff)

A visitor to Johnsons class in early December would never guess that hed only been teaching there for a few months, but Johnston said it did take some time for him to feel at home in the classroom.

One of the biggest challenges was getting to know my students and getting to know how relate to them and how to get them motivated. On top of that, the topics, the subjects that Im teaching have no set standards in South Carolina, so were kind of deciding our curriculum as we go, Johnston said.

For his marine science classes, he works with two other teachers to draft a curriculum.

Each week, he plans his routine and sets goals for the week, which helps keep him and his students on track. It also helps Johnston stay on top of the paperwork that is required of him as a teacher at Southside and as a first-year teacher who was certified through the PACE program for career-change educators.

One of the biggest challenges for Johnston has been learning how to set the tone in class, to find the best way to deal with students who have behavioral issues while still providing the right educational environment for others.

A few times, Johnston said, hes raised his voice incorrectly, but he makes a point to apologize afterward.

And hes found some nice, at times unexpected connections with his students, 90% of whom are amazing, Johnston said.

In September, one of Johnstons family members died of a drug overdose, and he ended up talking to his students about the tragedy.

It was an opportunity for me to become human with my kids and to open up with them and to get some real life messages across, some things I think my kids really needed to hear, Johnston said. So the impact of that was, I had kids come up to me after the fact, privately, telling me, I had a family member die. I know what youre going through. The empathy that these kids showed was really touching.

After midterms and Christmas break, Johnston will make a few tweaks to his classroom setting and teaching style. Its a re-set, a way to start fresh for the second semester.

But whatever changes he makes in the tangible aspects of his classroom, Johnston doesnt expect his love for his new career to fade.

The dreams definitely become a reality. Im not nave enough to know that its all going to be cakes and roses. You know the old saying, If you love what you do, youll never work a day in your life? Thats kind of how I feel.

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'Dream come true': First-year science teacher at Southside High School reflects on beginning months of job - Greenville News

Its So Hard to Say Good-bye to Alex Karev – Vulture

Alex is without a doubt the Greys character who has grown the most, making Justin Chamberss unceremonious exit from the series a particularly devastating blow. Photo: Kelsey McNeal/ABC

When Greys Anatomy premiered in late March of 2005, George W. Bush was president, Taylor Swift had not yet crawled from the primordial goo of Big Machine Records, and Hitch was in theaters. The series is still on the air in 2020, and remains an unparalleled viewing experience precisely because of how extensively viewers have sat with its characters. Devotions grow stronger with time. So, too, do devastations, in particular the shows most recent: longtime cast member Justin Chamberss unceremonious exit as Alex Karev.

News of Chamberss exit came on January 10 and sent viewers into a tailspin. Aside from Meredith Grey (Ellen Pompeo) herself, Alex is the only remaining member of the shows original intern class. The last time we saw him was in the shows 350th episode, supporting Meredith by reading aloud letters written by characters who left the show in years past. The scene was a tearjerker when it aired, but now it plays with a painfully irony. In the following episode, when Alexs wife, Jo (Camilla Luddington), brought home a baby from a fire station, Alexs reaction was left as a cliffhanger. Now, troublingly, Deadline and TVLine report that the 350th episode will likely be Chamberss last, meaning it looks like whatever resolution we get to that cliffhanger will happen offscreen when the show returns on January 23.

As it stands, Chamberss exit serves as a reminder: Attachments to characters can get awfully tricky when theyre intrinsically tied to opaque, behind-the-scenes drama. And for Greys, which has never been a show without mess, onscreen or off, its one more blow for a show thats become known for its sloppy good-byes.

It can be hard to emotionally invest in a show when it has the same turnover rate as the average media company. Viewers mourn every loss most involving viscerally realized characters who were in their lives more continually than most art ever is. Most series with similar longevity to Greys are procedurals or daytime soaps, but while Greys has heaping elements of both, it is at its core a character drama. And when youre watching for the characters, what happens to them at the end of the day really matters.

When Alex was introduced in the Greys pilot, he was a trashy nightmare of a man: sexist, cocky, and sneering, a foil to the more earnest surgical interns who took center stage. Over 15 years, though, Alex became an empathetic best friend and husband, a tried and true leader, and a literal savior of babies. He is without a doubt the Greys character who has grown the most. Redemption of the asshole is a classic arc, seen on everything from The O.C. to Game of Thrones, but most shows attempting the trope do so in one season, maybe five. But that sort of character development takes on a different weight over 15 years, allowing a character to grow more like people actually do in real life:with baby steps forward and massive slides back. When you spend that kind of time with a character, no amount of healthy perspective on their fictionality can keep them from seeming like an old friend.

But the revolving door of the shows cast repeatedly and often clunkily reminds us that these characters are not friends. Theyre cogs within an industry, their fates dictated by the unknown whims of the producers, studios, and actors who bring them to life by real people with real needs and wants and conflicts that can, and should, take precedence over those of fictional characters. The average viewer, though, cant expect to be privy to every goings-on in a workplace far separated from their own lives. For them, these Hollywood dramas create a disjointed viewing experience especially in a show that immerses you so fully and so emotionally in the long haul.

It doesnt help that the cast turnover on Greys is storied, to say the least. Preston Burke (Isaiah Washington) was the first major character to leave the show, following an incident where Washington used a homophobic slur against co-star T.R. Knight, who played George OMalley. In June 2007, ABC announced it wouldnt renew Washingtons contract; at the end of the season Burke left fiance Cristina Yang (Sandra Oh) at the altar. Knight himself departed soon after. George all but disappeared from season five, even before throwing himself in front of a bus offscreen and dying at the end of it. His was the first major character death in the show, establishing the kind of fictional wounds Greys would inflict, heal, and reopen for years to come.

At the beginning of season six the show introduced six new characters, only to kill off two of them in a mass shooting in the finale, a brutal layoff if there ever was one. That season also saw the hasty exit of Katherine Heigl, whose feud with the show is the stuff of legend. Somehow her character didnt die, despite having an aggressive form of cancer, but more onscreen killings were to come in later seasons via Mark Sloan (Eric Dane), Lexie Grey (Chyler Leigh), and Derek McDreamy Shepherd (Patrick Dempsey). The latter was most shocking Derek was the male lead, and the show continuing without him felt like an impossibility, especially to longtime fans. And yet the series saw a ratings resurgence after his death. The reason is simple: Audiences had already put in over a decade with Meredith. They cared about her, and now she was a widow. Just as they had to adjust to his absence, they had to know how she would, too.

The exits werent over, though: Callie Torres (Sara Ramirez) flew into the sunset with a milquetoast love interest in season 12. In season 14, producers let go Jessica Capshaw and Sarah Drew, who played Arizona Robbins and April Kepner, respectively. They cited creative reasons, and fans signed petitions.

The shows most artful exit was Ohs. When she decided to leave behind Cristina Yang in season ten, the show gave her a whole farewell arc full of bittersweet tears and a shiny new hospital in Zurich. It was a good-bye that honored what the character had meant to the show for a decade. With Cristina gone, though, there was a void. Meredith didnt have a best friend anymore. Into that void stepped Alex Karev. He became Merediths person the moniker Greys gives to the kind of best friend who is truly ride or die. As he and Meredith struggled together and leaned on each other, Alex became as integral to the soul of the show as Cristina was before him. Now it seems audiences might not get a good-bye for Alex Karev. He might just disappear, the reasons behind his exit still unclear to the general public. For the writers, it presents an unenviable creative task. For audiences, its a painful dive into the uncanny valley a character who felt so real now just gone.

At its best, Greys is a remarkable viewing experience. Its narrative maximalism, able to tell challenging stories about heartbreak and revival through the sheer volume of what its characters have been through. Theyve been beaten, drowned, had brain tumors and C-sections in the woods, and everyone they love has left or died. Seeing them come back from these things is a reminder that we all can. That approach has an edge to it, though. Tip a narrative about survival too far in one direction and it becomes one about nihilism.

Greys has always risen from its own ashes, and it may just well surprise us again. At this point it will probably outlive us all. But the disappearance of Alex Karev is more than just another casualty for the pile. His departure is one more nail in the coffin of the found family that made this shows heart beat in the first place.

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Its So Hard to Say Good-bye to Alex Karev - Vulture