Daily Archives: February 22, 2021

Golden State Warriors coach Steve Kerr admitted that forward Draymond Green "crossed the line" Saturday night when he was ejected in the final seconds of a 102-100 loss at the Charlotte Hornets.

The wild sequence that led to Green's ejection started with 9.3 seconds left in regulation and the Warriors leading 100-98, when Warriors guard Brad Wanamaker was tied up for a jump ball by Hornets guard LaMelo Ball. After Hornets swingman Gordon Hayward corralled the ball off the tap and fell to the floor, Green appeared to quickly tie up Hayward for a jump ball. However, the Hornets were awarded a timeout.

Green began arguing with officials and was quickly assessed two technical fouls and ejected, giving the Hornets two free throws and the ball. Charlotte guard Terry Rozier went to the line and sank both free throws to tie the score at 100.

Seconds later, Rozier drained a shot from the corner at the buzzer to give the Hornets the win.

"He crossed the line," Kerr said of Green. "That's the main thing. We love his passion and his energy. We would not be the team we are without him, but that doesn't give him license to cross that line, and he knows that."

Via a pool reporter, crew chief Marc Davis explained Green's ejection.

"His first technical was assessed when he directed profanity at his opponent," Davis said. "He was assessed his first technical foul for verbally taunting an opponent. He then proceeded to direct screaming profanity at a game official and received his [second] technical foul and was ejected as per rule."

Kerr said he "didn't have time to ask" for an explanation in the heat of the moment, given that the Warriors were rushing to check Juan Toscano-Anderson into the game to replace Green.

But what irked Kerr and the Warriors' staff occurred in the sequence before the jump ball. Kerr said he was calling for a timeout before Ball tied up Wanamaker to create the jump ball in the first place.

"There's a lot to unwind," Kerr said of the final few seconds. "But if you just want to cut to the chase, it's a very difficult call on a loose ball that becomes a jump ball that they get a timeout on. Especially because in the exact same situation, I was trying to call a timeout when Brad had the ball at the top of the key when they forced the jump ball just prior to that.

"So given that the exact same thing happened back to back, only we actually had possession of the ball when I tried to call timeout. And then watching the replay after the game, it's a loose ball, the ball's actually bouncing on the floor, Draymond dives after it; in my estimation, it should be another jump ball."

Davis explained that in the officials' judgment, the tie-up occurred before Kerr requested a timeout. For his part, Wanamaker admitted he didn't hear Kerr calling for a timeout, but he wasn't sure exactly how the sequence played out.

"LaMelo ties Brad up prior to Kerr requesting the timeout," Davis said. "The postgame video confirmed this decision as correctly judged."

It was a ruling that the Warriors did not agree with, but it was a moment for which Green took responsibility. Warriors forward Eric Paschall said when the team got back to the locker room after the game, Green took the blame for picking up the two late technical fouls.

"He said it was his fault," Paschall said. "And he took ownership as he always does as a leader. We're still rocking with Dray no matter what. A great dude, competitor, so it's all good. S--- happens in the NBA. We're just going to learn from it and try to come back, try to win the next one. Great leader and competitor."

As much as Warriors teammates and coaches respect Green, Kerr was clearly frustrated with Green's inability to control his emotions late in the game. For years, Green has been a league leader in technical fouls as he loudly voices his objection to various calls from officials or words from opponents. But Kerr has said repeatedly through the years that he felt Green knows when not to cross a line.

It was a line that Green stepped over on Saturday, leading to a loss that would have been arguably the Warriors' most impressive win of the season, given that star guard Stephen Curry (illness) was a late scratch and centers James Wiseman (wrist) and Kevon Looney (ankle) remain out.

"Draymond can't do that," Kerr said. "He knows that. He made a terrible mistake getting T'd up and giving them a chance to shoot two free throws and tie the game. ... As his coach, it's my job to communicate with him and with the team. That's what we've done, and that's what we'll continue to do."

Davis stated that the Hornets were awarded a timeout before Green's ejection, and before Green tied up Hayward, because the group felt the Hornets made the timeout call in time.

"P.J. Washington requested its timeout and Gordon Hayward had clear and sole possession of the ball," Davis said. "As per rule, Charlotte was granted the timeout. Postgame video review confirms this decision."

Despite Kerr's frustration with Green's actions, Green's teammates repeated a similar message about their leader after the game.

"He's been in this league long enough," Warriors guard Damion Lee said. "He knows what's right and what's wrong. And it doesn't matter; day in, day out, I'm always going to ride with Day Day. Throughout the good, throughout the bad, I'm always going to ride with Draymond. ... It doesn't matter if I'm a Warrior or not a Warrior. That's my guy. That's one of my vets. And I'm always going to ride with Day Day."

Aside from Green's technical fouls, Kerr spoke with a tinge of sadness that his short-handed team couldn't close the door after fighting so hard all night without Curry.

"It's a tough loss, obviously," Kerr said. "They don't get any tougher than this one. That's two straight, back to back, really difficult losses. That's my job to get the team organized and emotionally ready to play New York. We'll keep moving forward. That's what you do. The NBA season is filled with a lot of ups and downs, and obviously, this is a really tough one. But you got to get ready for the next game."

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Golden State Warriors' Draymond Green 'crossed the line' with late ejection, Steve Kerr says - ESPN

DALLAS, Feb. 17, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Southwest Airlines Co.(NYSE: LUV) is engaging its Customers, Employees, and partners to complete a collective one million Acts of Kindness throughout its 50th Anniversary year, celebrating half a century of empowering People and communities to lead with Heart and kindness.

Now through Dec. 31, 2021, Customers and Employees can participate in the challenge by signing the airline's Kindness Pledgeand committing to doing Acts of Kindness for others, such as delivering a meal to a neighbor, cleaning up a park, or sending a note of encouragement. Each signature on the Kindness Pledge and Act of Kindness that is shared on social media using the hashtag #HeartinAction will count towards achieving the one million Acts of Kindness goal.

"We are the airline with Heart, founded on The Golden Rule treating others as you would like to be treated so celebrating our 50th Anniversary year with a kindness challenge is fitting," said Linda Rutherford, Senior Vice President and Chief Communications Officer at Southwest Airlines. "Our Employees live out The Golden Rule each day through their interactions with each other, our Customers, and in our communities. We're excited to all come together to inspire a kinder tomorrow, because at Southwest, we're more than an airline, we're your neighbor. And neighbors take care of each other."

Southwest Employees received a sneak peek of the one million Acts of Kindness challenge in mid-January, and since then have already logged more than 62,000 acts, including recognizing fellow Employees for their Acts of Kindness and volunteering at organizations.

The Southwest Kindness Pledge reads as follows:

I pledge to spark acts of kindness one at a time, sprinkling compassion around the world.I will practice Hospitality, making people feel welcomed, cared for, and appreciated.I will treat others with courtesy, politeness, and respect.I will do little things, because little things make a big difference.I commit to putting my Heart in Action, sharing a smile and little bit of love, and making someone's day a little brighter.

Throughout the year, Southwest will provide Customers and Employees an update on the progress towards the one million Acts of Kindness goal, ideas on how to remain engaged, and share heartfelt stories along the way. For more information about the kindness challenge and Southwest's 50th Anniversary, visit Southwest50.com/actsofkindness.

ABOUT SOUTHWEST AIRLINES CO.In its 50th year of service, Dallas-based Southwest Airlines Co.continues to differentiate itself from other air carriers with exemplary Customer Servicedelivered by more than 56,000 Employeesto a Customer basethat topped130 million Passengers in 2019. Southwest has a robust network of point-to-point service with a strong presence across top leisure and business markets.In peak travel seasons during 2019, Southwest operated more than 4,000 weekday departures among a network of 101 destinations in the United States and 10 additional countries. In 2020, the carrier added service to Hilo, Hawaii; Cozumel, Mexico; Miami; Palm Springs, Calif.; Steamboat Springs; and Montrose (Telluride), Colo. Thus far in 2021, Southwest began service to both Chicago (O'Hare) and Sarasota/Bradenton on Feb. 14, and will begin service to both Savannah/Hilton Head and Colorado Springs on March 11; both Houston (Bush) and Santa Barbara, Calif. on April 12; Fresno, Calif. on April 25; and Jackson, Miss. on June 6.

The carrier issued itsSouthwestPromisein May 2020 to highlight new and round-the-clock efforts to support its Customers and Employees well-being and comfort. Among the changes are enhanced cleaning efforts at airports and onboard aircraft, along with a federal mandate requiring every person to wear a mask at all times throughout each flight. Additional details about the Southwest Promise are available atSouthwest.com/Promise.

Southwest coinedTransfarencyto describe its purposed philosophy of treating Customers honestly and fairly, and low fares actually staying low. Southwest is the only major U.S. airline to offer bags fly freeto everyone (first and second checked pieces of luggage, size and weight limits apply, some carriers offer free checked bags on select routes or in qualified circumstances). Southwest does not charge change fees, though fare differences might apply.

Southwest is one of the most honored airlines in the world, known for a triple bottom line approach that contributes to the carrier's performance and productivity, the importance of its People and the communities they serve, and an overall commitment to efficiency and the planet. Learn more about how the carrier gives back to communities across the world by visitingSouthwest.com/citizenship.

Book Southwest Airlines' low fares online at Southwest.comor by phone at 800-I-FLY-SWA.

SOURCE Southwest Airlines Co.

http://www.southwest.com

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Southwest Airlines Launches One Million Acts Of Kindness Challenge To Celebrate 50 Years Of Heart In Action - PRNewswire

Implausible as it may seem, in the middle of the social rut and great pause that is the pandemic, I am actually feeling overbooked in my own home.

In between a rote schedule of breakfast, snack, lunch, snack and more snack followed by dinner, my children yell out request after request. They call out Moooooom repeatedly until I respond; the answer is repeatedly no.

Ironically, its this simple two-letter word I need to keep in my vocabulary for the demands of the big kid world.

As we age, we lose childhood characteristics like confidence, wanderlust and a no-fear attitude. And, I wonder if losing the ability to say no with reckless abandon serves us.

How do we make the transition from people-pleasing yeses to the nos of our childhood?

Although Ive covered the topic in years past, a reminder is in order for our health and well-being. I feel the pandemic is asking more of us than ever before. In addition, weve been presented with numerous COVID-19 safety scenarios requiring a definitive response.

For some, no rolls off the tongue easily. For others, paralysis sets in for fear of hurting someones feelings.

It is important to recognize limitations, be they related to schedule, strength or interest. You, and those around you, might be better served if you did say no every now and then. By doing so, youre being honest about the fact that you wont or cant do something, rather than saying yes and dropping the ball or feeling embittered.

By reluctantly accommodating a request, youre shutting the door on creating a much-needed boundary and, thus, more opportunities for yourself. The trick is to weigh the balance between self-preservation and the Golden Rule.

So, how does a person inclined to always say yes bring him or herself to utter the big N-O? With sugar on top, if necessary. No need to fear appearing stern or abrupt. Your response doesnt need to be backed up by apologies, excuses or little white lies.

Your facial expression, eye contact and tone often convey what youre feeling. Softening what may be a difficult decline, these cues, when displayed positively, serve as a buffer. The etiquette of no is about making others feel acknowledged without compromising yourself.

William Ury, Ph.D., penned The Power of a Positive No, about the crucial art of delivering it in every area of life. Avoid avoidance, says Ury. A quick no is better than a slow maybe.

Most people Ive interviewed feel being direct is best, and a friend wrote, I see it as respectful to their time and emotional energy. It also models good behavior for your children. Hearing it leads to creative thinking and deters entitlement.

Speaking of children, there is the school of thought that no should be reserved for serious situations so as not to wear out its effect. For the day-to-day requests redirect with something like this:

I am not free to do that now but let me know if you still need my help when I am finished.

I wonder what that would look like if you tried it without leaving the ground/without making an actual sound.

That looks like something for outside.

That might work but what if we try it this way.

When a no is in order, use eye contact and follow it up with an explanation:

No! You must hold my hand in the parking lot.

When communicating with peers, channel the confidence of your inner 2-year-old with the tact and wisdom of your adult self. Try these firm yet polite responses the next time youre asked to take on additional tasks for work, to volunteer, to climb a mountain or to carry the weight of the world:

Concerned about what comes next? Offer your encouragement and then move on by changing the subject. By not dragging out excuses, you appear firm and confident.

These pandemic years will long be remembered for their uncertainty, upheaval and unprecedented demands. Empowering yourself to say no every once in a while provides a sense of control and builds resilience. Say yes to self-care and self-worth.

Bizia Greene is an etiquette expert and owns the Etiquette School of Santa Fe. Send your comments and conundrums to hello@etiquettesantafe.com or 505-988-2070.

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Learn to say no with grace and confidence - Santa Fe New Mexican

By Richard Baum, Ph.D., University of California, Los AngelesThe port of Canton became the center of the illegal opium trade in early 18th-century China. (Image: William Daniell/Public domain)The Money in Opium

Rebuffed in their efforts to negotiate a trade agreement with China, the British increasingly flouted Chinese law by smuggling larger and larger quantities of opium into the Middle Kingdom. By 1820, opium had surpassed all other items of trade as Chinas chief import.

As the opium flowed in, the silver flowed out. By the mid-1820s, Chinas overall trade balance, which had been heavily favorable throughout the 18thcentury, began to turn sharply negative. Between 1831 and 1833, nearly 10 milliontaelsof silver flowed out of China (worth almost $14 million at the prevailing exchange rate).

In 1838, an official Manchu estimate placed the number of opium addicts in China somewhere between 2 and 10 million, a figure that reportedly included up to one-fourth of the countrys civil servants. A one-day supply of opium in the 1830s would cost roughly half the daily wage of a Chinese laborer; and by the mid-1830s, British merchants were netting roughly $18 million a year from the opium trade. It is worth noting that these are 1830s prices. Small wonder the British parliament showed little enthusiasm for curtailing the opium traffic.

This is a transcript from the video series The Fall and Rise of China. Watch it now, on The Great Courses Plus.

But for the Manchu dynasty, it was a different story altogether. Alarmed by the growing prevalence of opium addiction and by the hemorrhaging of silver from the imperial treasury, the Manchu court redoubled its efforts to stamp out the drug trade.

In 1836, the emperor ordered the provincial governor-general in Canton in south China to crack down hard on the sale and use of opium. Over the next two years, the governor imprisoned more than 2,000 Chinese opium dealers, smugglers, and users; in addition, there were daily reports of addicts being publicly executed.

In 1839, the Manchu emperor appointed a new commissioner to oversee the suppression of the Canton drug trade. His name was Lin Zexu. Lin Zexu pursued a policy to deal aggressively with all domestic participants in the opium cycle, while at the same time treating the foreign suppliers of the poisonous drug with a certain amount of leniency and circumspection. Aware of Britains growing global power and prestige, Lin Zexu hoped to avoid an open conflict, if possible.

Learn more about Manchu hubris.

Writing to Queen Victoria in 1839, Lin cited Christianitys own golden rule in an effort to shame the British sovereign into stemming the cultivation, manufacture, and sale of opium:

I have heard that the smoking of opium is strictly forbidden by your country. Why do you let it be passed on to the harm of other countries? Suppose there were people from another country who carried opium for sale to England and seduced your people into buying and smoking it; certainly your honorable ruler would deeply hate it and be bitterly aroused. Naturally you would not wish to give unto others what you yourself do not want.

There is no record of the British sovereign responding to Commissioner Lins letter.

In pursuit of his goal of ridding Canton of all opium, Lin Zexu in 1839 ordered all foreigners in the city to surrender their stores of opium within three days; and in addition, he ordered them to sign a pledge that they would never again traffic in the drug.

Violation of this pledge was to be punishable by death. In a gesture intended to sweeten his ultimatum, Commissioner Lin offered a token reward of five and a half pounds of Chinese tea for every opium chest turned over by the foreign merchants.

When the foreigners ignored the commissioners deadline, Lin threatenedto execute two opium merchants. In response, the British reluctantly surrendered more than 1,000 chests (about 75 tons) of opiumwhich was only around two percent or so of all the opium that was currently stockpiled in Cantons warehouses.

Dissatisfied with the British response, Lin Zexu ratcheted up the pressure. He blockaded a key British trading firm, confining its 350 foreign occupants to the factory compound.

The siege lasted for six weeks, ending only when British merchants agreed to turn over 20,000 additional chests of opium, weighing approximately 1,300 tonsmore than two and a half million pounds.

In a classic display of imperial potency, Commissioner Lins ceremonial destruction of the British opium was carried out in the presence of several high Chinese court officials and foreign dignitaries.

The opium was first dumped into three massive open trenches, each lined with large quantities of salt and lime, where it was then covered with two feet of water. The mixture was then stirred thoroughly, and the resulting slurry was flushed into a nearby creek, where the currents eventually washed it out to sea. Repeating the process several times, it took 500 workers 22 days to complete the destruction of the British opium.

Learn more about Chinas early golden age.

While Commissioner Lin Zexu was celebrating his triumph over the opium lords, British merchants were planning countermeasures of their own.

They sent a petition to Queen Victorias prime minister, Lord Palmerston, urging the British government to demand full compensation for the seized opium. In London and Manchester, a groundswell of patriotic opinion arose, demanding firm governmental action to uphold the trading rights of British merchants abroadand to sternly repay the deep Chinese insult to British pride.

Amid this rising tide of jingoistic self-righteousness, few British thought to question the proprietyor to note the stunning hypocrisyof demanding the right to trade freely on foreign markets a substance whose cultivation, sale, and use were punishable by death at home.

By the mid-1830s, British merchants were netting roughly $18 million a year from the opium trade. Because of this, the British parliament showed little enthusiasm for curtailing the opium traffic.

Lin Zexu was appointed in 1839 by the Manchu emperor as the new commissioner to oversee the suppression of the Canton drug trade by the British.

Lin Zexu pursued a policy to deal aggressively with all domestic participants in the opium cycle, while at the same time treating the foreign suppliers of the poisonous drug with a certain amount of leniency and circumspection.

The confiscated British opium was first dumped into three massive open trenches, each lined with large quantities of salt and lime, where it was then covered with two feet of water. The mixture was then stirred thoroughly, and then flushed into a nearby creek, where the currents eventually washed it out to sea.

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Before the Opium Wars: Lin Zexu and his Campaign against Opium - The Great Courses Daily News

Sometimes, the smallest things can make the biggest difference.

Southwest Airlines is challenging its customers and crew to complete one million acts of kindness in celebration of the major airlines 50th anniversary this year.

On Feb. 17 otherwise known as Random Acts of Kindness Day Southwest announced the campaign, inviting its personnel and the public to sign the so-called Kindness Pledge and commit to doing something good for someone else.

Employees got a head start on the challenge in mid-January, already logging over 62,000 good deeds since. (Southwest Airlines)

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Whether participants bring a meal to a neighbor, help clean a local park or write someone an uplifting note, every signature on the official pledge and good deed shared on social media with the hashtag #HeartinAction will count towards the larger goal, a news release explained. Southwest hopes the challenge will hit one million acts of kindness by Dec. 31.

"We are the airline with heart, founded on the golden rule treating others as you would like to be treated so celebrating our 50thAnniversary year with a kindness challenge is fitting," Linda Rutherford, Senior Vice President and Chief Communications Officer, said in a news release.

Southwest has also announced it will offer employees thecoronavirus vaccinefor free, once the inoculation is widely available in the U.S. (iStock)

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"Our employees live out the golden rule each day through their interactions with each other, our customers, and in our communities. We're excited to all come together to inspire a kinder tomorrow, because at Southwest, we're more than an airline, we're your neighbor. And neighbors take care of each other."

According to the airline, which was founded in Texas in 1967, employees got a head start on the challenge in mid-January, already logging over 62,000 good deeds since.

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Customers are also invited to donate their Rapid Rewards points through the airline's Points for a Purpose program, giving back to groups like the Student Conservation Association, Ronald McDonald House Charities, Team Rubicon, Honor Flight Network, Polaris, Hispanic Heritage Foundation and United Negro College Fund.

In other news, Southwest has announced it will offer employees thecoronavirus vaccinefor free, once the inoculation is widely available in the U.S.

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Southwest Airlines encouraging 1 million acts of kindness with 50th anniversary campaign - Fox News

The Chicago Bears will look elsewhere for a quarterback now that Carson Wentz has landed with the Indianapolis Colts.

Quite frankly, that was the plan all along for Chicago.

While social media was ablaze with Wentz rumors regarding the Bears, it was tough to weave through the garbage. There were so many different reports. Even a few folks from the Philadelphia media told us the Bears were going to make an offer which included certain players like Nick Foles or Tarik Cohen.

In the end, Wentz found himself in Indy, and the Bears are still looking for an answer at the quarterback position. The funny aspect of it all? Chicago never even made an offer.

Despite reporters from Philadelphia and so-called NFL insiders feeding us juicy rumors and information they were supposedly hearing, the Bears never even made an offer for Wentz. Isnt that just how the internet works?

If we havent learned by now, the golden rule of the NFL offseason is pretty simple: Unless something is reported by a person with the last name Schefter, Rapoport, Pelissero or Mortenson, its probably worth waiting before freaking out.

Theres a lot of folks out there wishing and hoping they could be the next Adam Schefter, but until proven otherwise, the experts should be the only ones trusted period.

So, now that Wentz is in Indianapolis, whats next for the Bears?

Looking at the crop of free agent quarterbacks, its pretty slim pickings. There is hardly a way for the Bears to end up with Dak Prescott, so we can forget about that idea. Aside from Prescott, its guys like Ryan Fitzpatrick, Jacoby Brissett and Tyrod Taylor who are available.

Are the Bears really about to hand the keys to the car to one of those quarterbacks? Lets hope not.

The veteran quarterback trade market seems to be running dry with the Atlanta Falcons likely holding onto Matt Ryan. Maybe the San Francisco 49ers cut Jimmy Garoppolo, with the Bears having one other option to sign as a free agent.

One of the top rumors now sees the Bears trading for Sam Darnold, who has yet to break out as a pro. However, he has been stuck under the tutelage of Adam Gase his entire career thus far. Some wonder if he could become a legitimate starter in this league still.

If its not a veteran, then its a rookie. The Bears might have a shot at Mac Jones at no. 20 overall, but the other top four quarterbacks will most likely be gone by then. If Ryan Pace wants to assure himself a top rookie quarterback, trading up is the only way to go.

What we do know for sure is that maybe, just maybe, we can trust Pace just a little bit more after learning he had never made an offer for Wentz.

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Chicago Bears: Carson Wentz situation involved a lot of smoke - Da Windy City

For lifelong Newark resident Melissa Hopkins, who was recently named Delawares 2021 Mother of the Year, the path to motherhood was not an easy one.

Hopkins required four rounds of in vitro fertilization to give birth to her son Samuel in 2013. After the third round of IVF ended in a lost pregnancy, Hopkins applied to Leadership Delaware, a yearlong fellowship described as a masters degree in Delaware.

We kind of decided as a couple that we werent going to put other pieces of our life on hold while waiting to get pregnant, Hopkins said.

She received a grant from the Evan David Foundation that would cover a fourth round of IVF. She didnt have much hope that another round of IVF would be successful, but on the day she started Leadership Delaware, she received the news that she was pregnant.

I carried around a lot of anxiety up until Sam was born that I wouldnt be able to carry to term, said Hopkins. Were really blessed that we have our son.

She regrets not being more open about infertility during her seven years of treatment. Infertility almost took over her marriage, as the couple would talk about the issue constantly and it took great effort to discuss other important parts of their lives.

At a certain point, we had to stop letting it be the only thing in our world, said Hopkins. Its a very hard thing to do. We had to be very intentional about doing things together, so infertility didnt become our marriage.

Hopkins gave much of the credit to her success as a mother to her husband, David, saying she is only 50 percent of the equation.

I just think all the time about how hes just one of the greatest people I know. And that I didnt just want to have a child to have a child, but I wanted to have a child with him and build a family with him, Hopkins said. We have a really strong marriage, and we just really wanted to have a family together.

Hopkins was nominated by two former Delaware Mothers of the Year, Michelle Wall and Kim Hoey Stevenson, whom she met through Leadership Delaware. Hopkins is the 70th Delaware mother to be recognized by American Mothers Inc., a nonprofit with its roots in Eleanor Roosevelts Golden Rule Foundation.

Hopkins currently works for the Delaware Alliance for Nonprofit Advancement, where she is the executive vice president for sector advancement and serves as a registered lobbyist for the nonprofit sector. In that role, Hopkins helped Delaware nonprofits receive money to buy personal protective equipment and ensured that COVID-19 relief funds were set aside to help organizations on the frontlines of the pandemic. DANA also helped groups shift to a virtual world, giving away 100 laptops statewide.

While raising her son, Hopkins focuses on family experiences such as reading out loud, going camping and playing board games instead of material goods. She only allows her son to access electronic devices on the weekends.

Its the forcing mechanism for us to just have a conversation and talk about the highs and lows of our day, Hopkins explained.

Service is an important part of the family, which Hopkins attributes to her Catholic faith. Her son, after noticing homeless people around Delaware, wanted to do something to help them.

Hopkins and her husband talked with him, and Samuel decided to create bags full of supplies that would be useful to homeless people, such as shampoo, mouthwash, hand sanitizer, bottles of water, crackers and other snacks.

When we see people that are homeless or theyre panhandling, my son will roll down the window and ask if they would like a bag, said Hopkins. We just provide that to them. It just brings Sam a lot of joy to be able to help others in that way.

Hopkins said her sons thoughtfulness comes from the familys communication style. The family always has dinner together. During the early stages of the pandemic, before her sons school, Christ The Teacher, re-opened in September, Hopkins and her son would take long afternoon bike rides and discuss their feelings around the pandemic.

We never talked to him like he was a baby, Hopkins said. We talked to him like he was a decision-maker.

She emphasizes giving Samuel independence within a controlled environment, allowing him to make mistakes and learn without suffering dangerous consequences.

As the Delaware Mother of the Year, Hopkins plans to visit members of Congress and lobby for better access to quality early-learning opportunities from birth to 8 years old. In 64 percent of families, both parents work, so access to daycare is a necessity, she said.

Hopkins is on the board of directors for the Newark Day Nursery, giving her first-hand experience on both the parenting and administrative sides of early learning.

Once upon a time, kindergarten wasnt required, and then you moved from a half-day kindergarten to a full-day kindergarten, Hopkins said. Over time, weve been on this evolution to provide better opportunities for our children to succeed. So I think that is something nationally that we can be doing a better job of.

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Newark woman named Delaware's Mother of the Year - Newark Post

The doors are swinging open again, and, inevitably, well walk through them to our seats. Arenas and stadiums are cathedrals of the sports religion, after all, and like addicts drawn to crack, giddy fans cant help themselves from re-absorbing the sights, sounds and smells before science says theyre ready.

So 500,000 Americans have died of COVID-19 and 100,000 more may perish by June 1. So only a small percentage of people have been inoculated to date, making Vaccine Envy a new thing. So variants of the virus could prolong the pandemic until 2022. So experts still arent sure if a vaccinated person can infect someone else. So Dr. Anthony Fauci says the U.S. isnt remotely close to herd immunity, telling NBC: We want to get that baseline really, really, really low before we start thinking that were out of the woods. So COVID is very much with us like hell on Earth.

So what?

Its time to invite the paying customers inside because, you know, sports says so. And the fans say so, at least enough who care more about supporting teams than protecting fellow human beings.

The objective is money the same old greed grab yet what is the rush, people? Infectious disease experts say its foolish to let basketball crowds of up to 25 percent capacity for NCAA tournament games, which include dome settings in Indianapolis and San Antonio, when bodies are converging indoors from around the country. Its understandable why the NCAA, which lost $375 million from last years cancellation, needs March Madness to recoup broadcast revenues. But is it necessary to take health risks inside venues? We continue to use the knowledge weve gained over the season on how to conduct games in a safe environment, said NCAA president Mark Emmert, who, as usual, is so blinded by dollars that he hasnt addressed the possibility of superspreads.

Where I live, Los Angeles, the city postponed thousands of Dodger Stadium vaccination appointments because supply is limited, amid disturbing reports that Black and Latino communities are underserved in the inoculation process. Yet a logistical nightmare isnt stopping the Dodgers from suggesting fans will be allowed inside the fabled ballpark in just a few weeks. I hope, by Opening Day, we are finally going to have some fans in the park, team president Stan Kasten said in a video, as if oblivious to the vaccine issues in the parking lot. I dont think it will be a full stadium just yet. But I do believe sometime during this season, the way things are looking, we will have a full stadium again.

Guess they have to pay Trevor Bauer, right? I mean, who cares about the pandemic when the 2021 payroll is $255 million and Guggenheim Baseball is more than $45 million over the luxury tax threshold? Get those fannies in the seats, baby, even if they have to maneuver around the health workers and the line for Dodger Dogs isnt safe.

The NBA? LeBron James, Giannis Antetokounmpo and other league stars arent the only ones opposed to an All-Star Game in Atlanta. So is the citys mayor, Keisha Lance Bottoms, who said, I have shared my concerns related to public health and safety with the NBA and the Atlanta Hawks. We are in agreement that this is a made-for-TV event only, and people should not travel to Atlanta to party. Yet that hasnt stopped commissioner Adam Silver, who is whiffing badly on the 2020-21 season after drawing raves as a Disney World Bubble visionary, from proceeding with a one-day squeeze game, skills competition and Slam Dunk contest which surely will lure the usual party crowd despite the mayors edict. Why do this?

Money. The leagues $5 billion business in China continues to take massive financial hits, thanks to Silvers continued support of Daryl Morey, he of the pro-Hong Kong tweet that rocked the geopolitical sphere. When Morey left his post as Houston Rockets general manager, Chinas communist government might have been ready to lift an NBA broadcast ban on state-run CCTV. But when Morey was hired in the same role by the Philadelphia 76ers, the ban continued. Is it really worth keeping Morey employed as a top executive when the league stands to lose potential billions? Can anyone still say were living in the former America, land of the free and home of the brave? Coupled with a disjointed season that has suffered outbreak-forced stops and starts, the league and partner TNT simply need the cash flow from an event watched globally by tens of millions.

All-Star is a part of our league, no different than the games we play, Silver said. It begins and ends with the fans. This is an event our fans love to see. They love to see the players come together. But nothing comes without controversy during a pandemic.

That includes the remarks of Minnesota star Karl Anthony-Towns, who has lost his mother and six other family members to COVID-19. Said Towns, who contracted the virus last month: I personally dont believe there should be an All-Star Game, but what the hell do I know? Obviously, I havent dealt with COVID, right? Im probably a guy who has some insight into that.

The reason leagues can get away with hosting events and fans including a Super Bowl crowd of 25,000 and growing numbers at NFL and college games is the lack of general resistance among the masses. Many Americans are trying to survive and push their families through a life crisis, unconcerned about who wants to attend a sports event. As long as enough people show an interest in buying tickets regardless of whether theyve been vaccinated, teams will keep the turnstiles greased. The Phoenix Suns announced they would allow 1,500 fans to attend home games; within days, that number increased to 3,000-plus. This week, New York opens Madison Square Garden and Barclays Center to about 4,000 fans per game.

Spring training? Arizona and Florida have been among the virus-ravaged states, but a limited number of fans will be allowed for Major League Baseball exhibitions starting next week. The Diamondbacks sold out 2,200 tickets for each of 14 home games, prompting manager Torey Lovullo to say, That fires me up. Weve been looking forward to this day as much as them. We missed our fans, not just Diamondbacks fans but I think baseball fans throughout the entire United States. Weve lost a little bit of a connection.

Even Fauci, the noted baseball fan, softened when asked by ESPN about paying customers in the regular season. A pretty good chance, he said, We could have people in the stands, maybe not right next to each other. There are going to be public health restrictions like mask-wearing, things like that.

Again, why? Havent we discovered the last 12 months, with the one-year anniversary of Rudy Gobert Night arriving March 11, that the resumption of sports is facilitated by television? That the seasons still carry on as diehard fans and gamblers watch from home? In a sense, the industry has avoided a significant consumer issue that way. By not paying in-house prices, the fans havent felt ripped off watching periodic ragged competition in the NBA, NHL, MLB and college football and basketball. Only the NFL sustained a high quality of play, though only because quarterbacks are protected by safety rules that enable entertaining, tech-influenced offenses.

Imagine purchasing a ticket in Lake Tahoe for the NHLs sun-aborted outdoor game. For big bucks, youd have seen the Colorado Avalanche and Vegas Golden Knights play one period, then told to return eight hours later because the ice was melting. I like quirky stuff as much as anyone, but to resume play at 12:02 a.m. ET gosh, it was past Gary Bettmans bedtime.

We knew that unabated sunshine was a problem, said the commissioner, who had to flip the telecast from NBC to NBCSN, which is shutting down later this year. After consulting with our ice-makers and both teams, we didnt think it was safe or appropriate to continue this game at this time.

In using the plural we to describe the returning fan procession, I include myself, as one who covers sports for a living. But that will happen only after I am vaccinated, which should be the golden rule for all fandom. If nothing else, leagues and franchises should be eternally grateful that humans want to set foot in their buildings amid a deadly pandemic. I would suggest free admission and parking, unlimited food and drink, socially distanced meet-and-greets with players and foot massages.

But who am I kidding? They want your money, period.

And, somehow, you are eagerly giving it to them.

Jay Mariotti, called the most impacting Chicago sportswriter of the past quarter-century, is the host of Unmuted, a frequent podcast about sports and life (Apple, Spotify, etc.). He is an accomplished columnist, TV commentator and radio host. As a Los Angeles resident, he gravitated by osmosis to movie projects. He appears Wednesdays on The Dino Costa Show, a segment billed as The Rawest Hour in Sports. Compensation for this column is donated to the Chicago Sun-Times Charity Trust. He can be reached on Twitter @MariottiSports.

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Fans Have Returned Inside Arenas, Stadiums Why? - Barrett Sports Media

The observations I have been able to enjoy through these months of quarantine have been beyond joy. Something awesome and eye opening seems to happen every week.

The normal most every day is the faithful five does coming into the yard for a nibble and sometimes a nap. As I write this article, I am watching not 1, or 2, or 3, or 4 but 5 bucks using my rockery for a game of King on the Mountain and the grassy area for a race track. Two are young and feeling playful and cocky. Maybe their growing head-gear is akin to our teenage sons getting their first freedom of driving.

One buck has lost half of a good-sized rack and the other two are seasoned to the ways of the world. Young buck wanted to engage old buck in a game of horn butting by giving a gentle poke to his rack. And then the game started. It wasnt a serious game, and after a dozen pushes forward and back the game abruptly stopped and they went back to munching.

To think all of this happens one block from busy 27th Street, makes me realize what I thought was my land, really isnt, and thats OK with me.The observation of more people walking in my neighborhood and throughout the city brought to mind a subject I have never written about, streetscaping.

Streetscaping involves the narrow strip of land between the street and sidewalk, usually between three- to six-feet wide and can be several times that in length.

The city of Bend has published a guidebook specifically regarding the use of that strip of land with regard to water consumption. The guide book is titled WaterWiseTips, StreetscapeGuide.org available on-line and at the City Hall.

At the time of publication, it was noted that approximately 60% of all residential water use in Bend occurs outdoors, most of which goes to landscape irrigation. Much of that irrigation is lost due to overwater through improper irrigation scheduling and to irrigation overspray resulting in run-off onto streets and driveways.

The book is a step-by-step guide to create a better looking and more water-efficient alternative to what you may have. The guide includes an initial design or landscape plan, a focus on soil preparation and grading, an efficient drip irrigation system and minimal routine maintenance.

There is a notation that some street strips in Bend are designed to collect and retain stormwater. These strips have been engineered for a specific purpose and should not be altered. Please call the city of Bend WaterWise Program (541-317-3000 option 2) if you have questions about your property. Property owners who are part of a Home Owners Association should check on the regulations in place with the association.

The guide offers four planting options all of which are water efficient, functional and aesthetically pleasing. The transformation isnt as simple as just digging out what you have and replanting. There are site preparation and grading which will include soil or sod excavation and a switch from overhead sprinklers to a dripline irrigation system.

Remember the Golden Rule of gardening plant the right plant in the right place. Be aware of the maximum growth width of the plant, especially shrubs. The plant may look great for a year or two and then extends growth into the sidewalk impeding walkers and bike traffic. Label the plants for the benefit of walkers who might be encouraged to follow your example. What could be a better way to build community than in your front yard?

The publication is a great inspiration to help correct some of our old beliefs that there will always be enough water. Maybe we should be thinking more seriously now rather than later. Remember that basically, we are living in a desert and not in the lush Midwest. In years to come who knows the problems others might encounter as well.

In addition to the WaterWise Streetscaping Guide, the City has also published WaterWise Tips, Landscape Guide and WaterWiseTips, Irrigation Guide. Water-wise Gardening in Central Oregon, an Oregon State University extension publication is also available online.

Kudos to Summit High School and their participation in the Tree-Plenish program to replenish the environment with 187 trees, based on an approximate school usage of 1.9 million sheets of paper. The trees offered for sale are Acer rubrum, red maple and cercis canadensis. Eastern Redbud. Both trees are listed in the Water-wise Gardening in Central Oregon publication. The saplings are 12-18 inches and priced at $5. The offer includes planting but a word to the wise. At this time of year, it would be safer to buy a bag of potting soil and plant it in a black 1-gallon nursery pot to acclimate it to our climate by placing it in a protected area outdoors. The recommended area for protection would be the north side of a structure, placed on the south side might encourage early leaf-bud, then subject to damage from an unexpected frost.

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Streetscaping tips: The right plant in the right place - The Bulletin