Daily Archives: September 17, 2021

Sunderlands 2021 round of contract poker has come to an end – did the club play its hand right? – Roker Report

Posted: September 17, 2021 at 9:11 pm

With the end of the Denver Hume contract saga comes the end of a process that started way back at the turn of the year. It was a process that just wasnt limited to his own future at the club, but was just a small part of an evaluation of the whole first-team squad by our new owners and management.

The decision was taken early on in the reign of our new regime to not offer contracts to any of the first-team squad whose contracts were due to expire until the season had ended. At the time I thought this was a mistake, and there was a very real risk of not retaining all the players that we wanted to keep.

After all, Jack Diamond signed a new deal early in the year so why not offer deals to the senior players that we wished to retain, rather than see them walk away for nothing.

As it turned out, at the seasons end the higher management deemed that only four players were worthy of keeping as they looked to refresh the squad from top to bottom, and I for one had no argument about the choice of players they decided to release and those that they choose to offer deals to.

However, there were still questions over the chances that the chosen four would sign. Aiden McGeady and Luke O Nien were pretty much nailed on to put pen to paper from sources in the club.

Charlie Wyke was a different story, with reports that he had told the club back in March that he would only stay in the summer if Sunderland were promoted to the Championship.

At the time, irrespective of what he had done in previous seasons, he was one of the leading scorers in League One and it seemed to be a decision born of ambition on his part to play at a higher level. But as he ended up signing for Wigan when his contract did expire, it leaves questions if there was something else? And surely not money.

Who knows? We are not privy to the negotiations, and can only guess.

That left Denver Hume. Having read some of the comments aimed his way on social media over the prolonged delay in signing his contract, I have to say I have no problem with his approach. I am a Denver fan, so maybe there is a bias on my part, and from an attacking point of view he looked one of the most dangerous threats for a lot of the games under Phil Parkinson.

I can think of many big-name Sunderland players over the years who have held out on signing a new deal, or simply not signed at all and moved to other clubs. Being injured, actually probably bought him some time to not sign and see if the club would come back with a new and higher offer.

Some people may criticise him for doing something which was within his right, but all I know is that I wouldn't like to go five rounds of poker with him, as I would likely finish minus one house and the shirt on my back. As it turned out, the club put on its best straight face and chewed a long cigar when they signed Dennis Cirkin and Nial Huggins who can also play left-back, leaving young Denver without any Aces up his sleeve.

So, three out of the four chosen to be retained signed. We do not know how close it came to being only two.

Ever since the club announced early in the year that contracts would only be negotiated at the end of last season, I felt it was a mistake. But now, I can possibly see reason as to why they did it.

Simply back in February and March, as the management had decided that they were only likely to keep four players and release nine, they also had to ask what the demotivating effect it would have on the players that were to be released. Sunderland were still in a hard push for promotion and many of the players that were likely to be released were still playing for the first team every week.

How would they feel about putting in their all on the pitch, when they could see contracts offered to four of their teammates but nothing on the table for them?

I am after all guessing, that this was the rationale back at the turn of the year, for a new regime that hadnt had time to assess what they had inherited.

It cant be repeated next summer for the likes of Dan Neil and Elliot Embleton. We cannot take the risk of waiting until the end of the season to offer new contracts when their present deals expire. Both have been instrumental in Sunderlands flying start to the season, and Neil in particular could be argued has been our best player so far. There is no need for the higher management to take time to assess the players they have on their books.

They already know this time.

Now that the recruitment process is over, the priority should be to secure the future of the players who are a key in our present success and begin contract negotiations now.

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Sunderlands 2021 round of contract poker has come to an end - did the club play its hand right? - Roker Report

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Poker Power Tweaks Its Branding to Suit All Pronouns – CardsChat.com

Posted: at 9:11 pm

September 14, 2021Business & Industry

Poker Power, one of the leading advocates for women in poker, has tweaked its name in an effort to become an inclusive organization thats open to everyone.

Eagle-eyed observers may have noticed that the organization recently dropped the H from its name. CardsChat spotted the change last week and reached out to Poker Power to ask why.

General Manager Erin Lydon told us that the change from Poker Powher to Poker Power was the result of feedback from the community.

Since the organization was founded in 2019, the aim has been to teach business, workplace, and life skills through poker. Dropping the H is a sign of Poker Powers desire to teach its skills to all women, including those who identify themselves using alternative pronouns.

With our communitys support, we dropped the H in our original name to signal we are inclusive and do not want to unintentionally exclude any students who identify via other pronouns instead of her, Lydon told CardsChat.

The change will also allow Poker Power to get its message out to as many people as possible in a more effective way. Our new name also removes any hurdles some may have had with misspellings or mispronunciations, Lydon continued.

Despite changing the name, Lydons mission remains the same: to teach women how to play poker in a safe, inclusive way.

One of the organizations recent innovations was a partnership with Northwestern Universitys Kellogg School of Management. CardsChat spoke to Gail Berger, a clinical associate professor at Northwestern, about the joint venture.

The six-week, extracurricular course saw 99 women learn more about business through a combination of poker theory and practice. The free-play poker sessions provided a tangible foundation for important business concepts. Whats more, the sessions stood as poker lessons in their own right.

The course was so popular that Kellogg is offering it again in January 2022, but this time, as part of its Executive MBA program. This collaboration exemplifies Poker Powers goal of empowering women, regardless of its name.

With H in our name or not, we remain committed to empowering those in our community through learning and practicing the game of poker as we know its truly a game-changer, Lydon said.

With its newly streamlined name, Poker Power will be embarking on more collaborations and initiatives in the coming months. In addition to pivoting to a virtual curriculum model during the pandemic, the organization partnered with more than 50 corporate and academic entities.

Lydon expects the number of women helped by Poker Power to exceed 10,000 by the end of 2021. If that target is achieved, the organization will have made its mark in almost every US state, and in 20 countries around the world.

Poker Power will also be at this years WSOP in Las Vegas. Theyll have a booth at the Rio and representatives will be on hand to meet with players and explain what they do. Members of Team Poker Power, including Xuan Liu, Maria Konnikova, and Jennifer Shahade, will all be playing at the 2021 WSOP.

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Daniel Smyth

Dan Smyth is a poker media journeyman who politely reminds CardsChat readers that poker is played all around the world, not just America.

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Yale researchers using psychedelics to find new treatments for depression – WTNH.com

Posted: at 9:10 pm

NEW HAVEN, Conn. (WTNH) Psychedelic drugs are making a comeback but this time its in laboratories. Researchers at Yale are harnessing their powers to try and treat conditions like depression and mental illness.

The active ingredient in so-called magic mushrooms is called psilocybin. Researchers use psilocybin in a synthesized form on mice (they dont use actual mushrooms).

Theyre trying to connect neurons in the brain to help treat depression.

We find that with a single dose of psilocybin a mouse actually has more neuro nerve connections so this increase was quite immediate, says Alex Kwan, PhD, Yale School of Medicine Researcher and Associate Professor of Psychiatry and of Neuroscience.

Kwan says the effects were long-lasting.

So it seems like the drug itself can actually alter the architecturewithin the mouse brain at least.

Kwan first was involved in the research of ketamine, which now has FDA approval to treat depression with a nasal spray.

And while the compound from psychedelic mushrooms may work on the mouse brain, he points outThey are not tiny humans. This is not approved for human use yet.

The discoveries could open even more doors.

One of the fascinating things about psychedelic is that there are ways to modify it so you can have literally hundreds of thousands of analogs that are slightly different chemically that might also have distinctive behavioral effects in humans.

Kwan points out the large toll mental illness takes on society and says that some people do not respond to SSRIs drugs like Prozac. This could be the answer. Possibly.

The early hints are promising but I think more work needs to be done.

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Yale researchers using psychedelics to find new treatments for depression - WTNH.com

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5 things to know about the Ann Arbor psychedelic shroom fest – MLive.com

Posted: at 9:10 pm

ANN ARBOR, MI Organizers of Ann Arbors first-ever psychedelic shroom fest are expecting this weekends event to draw a big crowd of people from all around the country.

If youre planning to attend or just curious to know more about it, heres what you need to know.

1. When and where is it?

The festival is expected to take place on the University of Michigan Diag off State Street from 11:11 a.m. to 2:22 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 19. Public parking is free and plentiful in downtown Ann Arbor on Sundays, so parking should be no issue for attendees.

2. What does the event entail?

Officially called Entheofest, its a celebration of entheogenic plants and fungi, featuring musical entertainment and speeches by psychedelic activists and elected officials who support decriminalization of natural substances such as ayahuasca, ibogaine, mescaline, peyote, psilocybin mushrooms and other natural compounds with hallucinogenic properties deemed illegal under state and federal law.

3. Who is behind it?

Its being organized by Decriminalize Nature Michigan and the Student Association for Psychedelic Studies, who are supporting decriminalization efforts across the state following last years successful campaign in Ann Arbor.

4. Why is it happening?

Sundays event is intended to celebrate the one-year anniversary of Ann Arbors move to declare entheogenic plants and fungi the citys lowest law-enforcement priority, effectively decriminalizing them at the city level.

City Council recently approved a resolution recognizing Entheofest and declaring September to be Entheogenic Plant and Fungi Awareness Month, in hopes of increasing understanding of the potential benefits of psilocybin mushrooms and other psychedelics for mental health, personal and spiritual growth, as well as honoring the longstanding ancestral practices and relationships with these entheogens.

5. Is it officially allowed?

The University of Michigan has OKd the student organizing groups request to reserve the Diag off State Street for the event, though campus police, who enforce state and federal laws, are expected to be on hand to ensure public safety.

Organizers are asking attendees to use the event as an opportunity to celebrate and learn about the sacred medicines and decriminalization efforts and not as a space for consumption of psychedelic plants and fungi.

Want Quick Exposure To The Psychedelics Sector? Check Out This New Active ETF – Benzinga – Benzinga

Posted: at 9:10 pm

Retail investors are getting new tools for gaining exposure to the booming medicinal psychedelics industry.

On Thursday, AdvisorShares launched the countrys first actively managed ETF covering the psychedelics sector.

The AdvisorShares Psychedelics ETF (NYSE:PSIL),launched on the NYSE Arcamarket,

providing exposure to biotechnology, pharmaceutical and life sciences companies that the firm deems are leading the way in this nascent industry.

So far, this is the third ETF covering the psychedelics sector in North America. The Horizons Psychedelic Stock Index ETF (NEO: PSYK) was first to launch in January of this year, followed by Defiances Next Gen Altered Experience ETF (NYSE:PSY), which broke ground as the first passive U.S.-listed ETF in the sector.

Active management means that the portfolio manager can adjust the portfolio more quickly and opportunistically than a passive index-based ETF, though more responsibility is placed on the funds management.

Ongoing and growing research has shown various psychedelic substances offering promising medical and therapeutic potential for treating mental health issues and neurological disorders. PSIL concentrates its portfolio on companies deriving the majority of their net revenue or devoting the majority of their assets to psychedelic drugs,AdvisorShares explained.

Dan Ahrens, CEOof AdvisorShares and portfolio manager of PSIL, said he believes that byinvesting in select companies in the psychedelics space, his firm can provide a compelling long-term investment opportunity. Still, the CEOsaid this is also an area of the marketplace in its early innings.

We feel that our active-management and specialized approach can potentially help investors capture the early growth potential of psychedelics and its prominent promise on therapeutics and medical fields, Ahrens added.

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Want Quick Exposure To The Psychedelics Sector? Check Out This New Active ETF - Benzinga - Benzinga

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A Look At Psychedelics Stock PharmaTher And Its Recent Bull Run – Benzinga – Benzinga

Posted: at 9:10 pm

This article was originally published on Microdose and appears here with permission.

The psychedelic medicine industry has been growing at an impressive rate. Big players like Atai (NASDAQ:ATAI) have joined the ranks, adding billions of dollars of investor interest; and smaller upstarts likeFilament HealthandLevitee Labshave made their public debuts, adding a diversity of approaches to the space.

All this expansion makes it easy for some companies to get lost in the shuffle. One such firm going somewhat under the radar is Pharmather Holdings Ltd (OTC:PHRRF).

But perhaps we should be paying closer attention. As the industry focused on big-name news, PharmaThers stock price has been on a low-key moon run these last few months. Between end-April and end-July the companys stock price soared approx 375% (from $0.24 to a high of $1.14), before settling down in the $0.90-$1.00 range.

Why the sudden jump? What has the market seen in PharmaTher that we should perhaps know about?

Lets use the companys recent end-of-year financial highlights to help take a closer look.

This week PharmaTher released business and financial results for its fiscal year ended May 31, 2021. Lets have a look at some of the highlights (all figures in Canadian dollars and information taken from thecompanys press release)

This seems to bethe newsthat got the stock rolling. Announced in mid-May, this approval to begin Phase 2 clinical trials moved PharmaTher into an elite group of companies in advanced clinical trials. The positive price movement started around this time.

Theannouncement of this saleseemed to signal that PharmaTher was going to focus on its strengths, which at the moment are its ketamine treatments and delivery technologies. The move gave them a good chunk of cash and was a bold move considering how popular psilocybin development is. So far it seems to have paid off.

All of the above are further proof of the company focusing its efforts on advancing its current stable of promising products. While a diverse pipeline is important, so is showing results and getting a product to market.

Here are some other announcements that came after the firms year-end:

It seems the company has a good working relationship with the FDA and is taking advantage of the agencys positive view of ketamine. Another Phase 2 trial for something as big as depression would be major news.

From Fabio Chianelli, Chief Executive Officer of PharmaTher: Receiving FDA orphan drug designation is a massive validation for ketamine as a potential treatment for ALS, and it allows us to confidently proceed in evaluating ketamine in phase 2 clinical study in patients suffering from this life-threatening disease. This designation not only expedites our regulatory, clinical, and product development plans but also validates our belief in the potential of ketamine as a therapeutic solution for neurological disorders.

Cash on hand gives them about another year of capital (if spending stays relatively the same). This is a bit light and you can probably expect another capital raise soonsomething the recent jump in stock price will help with.

Overall it seems PharmaTher is making solid progress, focusing on its best products, and building itself into one of the leaders in ketamine development. And for now, the markets seem to agree.

Perhaps its time to keep a closer eye on this company. Stay tuned to Microdose for more.

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A Look At Psychedelics Stock PharmaTher And Its Recent Bull Run - Benzinga - Benzinga

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Differentiated Approach in Psychedelics Boosts Confidence in Upcoming Clinical Trials for Tryp Therapeutics Inc. (CSE: TRYP) (OTCQB: TRYPF) -…

Posted: at 9:10 pm

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Two years after the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) declared the hallucinogenic substance psilocybin a breakthrough therapy to speed the process of the drugs scientific clinical trials and reviews (https://ibn.fm/umfbQ), Michigan continues to cement its reputation as a hotbed for medicinal psychedelics advocacy and research, and proponents there believe society has reached a watershed moment for the substances acceptance.

Law enforcement officials in the states Ann Arbor region have effectively decriminalized natural compounds with hallucinogenic properties deemed illegal under state and federal law (although not synthetic compounds such as LSD), and last month Ann Arbors City Council voted 10-0 to&

Twin River Casino in Lincoln is about to get a lot bigger. Here’s what that means – The Providence Journal

Posted: at 9:09 pm

PROVIDENCE Rhode Island firstand largest state-operatedbut privately owned casino is about to getbigger.

State officials from the governor on down were slated to join union leaders at a groundbreaking Thursday for an anticipated $100-million expansion of theBallys Twin River Casino Resort in Lincoln.

The expansion mandated in the law that authorizeda new, no-bid 20-year state Lottery and casinocontract will add a projected 40,000 square feet to the gambling floor, a 10,000-square-foot spa, andwhat is being described as an "enhanced food hall area."

Todays ceremony marks the beginning of our $100-million investment in the state of Rhode Island, and we are thrilled to break ground on a project that will involve approximately 20 construction trades over the course of the next 12 to14 months, said Paul Juliano, vice president of operations for the Ballys Corporation, which is now the operating name ofthe IGT-Twin River partnership.

Juliano emphasized that the casino "will remain fully operational throughout construction."

"Undoubtedly, the combined improvements we will make in our facilities and in our customer offerings will well-position our Rhode Island properties to continue to play a key role in the economic prosperity of our state,'' Juliano said.

Among those expected to attend in addition to the governor and legislative leaders: AFL-CIO President George Nee and Michael Sabitoni, president of the Rhode Island Building & Construction Trades Council.

Suffolk Construction will serve as the general contractor.

We celebrate the fact that over 20 unions and hundreds of union members will have a hand in expanding, modernizing and operating'' the casino, Sabitoni said.

Bally's has appended its name to the two Twin River casinos in Rhode Island, in Lincoln and Tiverton, which now offer "Ballys dice, cards, gaming chips and table game layouts."

An additional 40,000 square feet of gambling space on the first floor. Thiswill allow the majority of the gambling to occur on one floor, freeing up the second floor for "an additional entertainment offering."

A 14,000-square-foot Korean-style spa attached to the hotel.

Improved air circulation and lighting, and greater separation between nonsmoking and smoking areas.

Modernized casino space with upgraded pathways, amenities and design features.

An additional food hall, bar areas and public restrooms.

Twin River Casino in Lincoln is about to get a lot bigger. Here's what that means - The Providence Journal

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Mayor Hopes to Transform River Oaks Mall Into Entertainment District With Casino – NBC Chicago

Posted: at 9:09 pm

Like many malls across the country, the numbers of anchor stores and occupied shops at River Oaks Center in Calumet City have declined in recent years.

As a result, the city's mayor has proposed to turn the shopping center into a multi-use entertainment district, which he said could generate upward of $500 million.

"Imagine a mall of the future where you have residential housing, where you have condos," Jones said. "We want to turn this into an entertainment district where everyone will come to Calumet City for two or three days as opposed to coming here for two or three hours."

The entertainment district might even feature a casino, according to the mayor.

But there's a hurdle that stands in way of the proposal moving forward.

Calumet City owns the building that once housed Sears, but not the other side of River Oaks Center. Jones would not elaborate on how the city would take over the remainder of the mall if it isn't for sale, but did say there are multiple legal options.

"We want to work [with] them on some kind of agreement that we can take over this mall," he said.

The mall's owners, Mason Asset Management and Namdar Realty Group, said their teams had a productive meeting with Jones on Friday and have scheduled a follow-up conversation to continue the discussion.

The companies' full joint statement is listed below:

Earlier today, the Mason Asset Management and Namdar Realty Group leasing and management teams had a productive meeting with Mayor Thaddeus Jones about the future of River Oaks Center. We have already scheduled a follow up conversation to continue the discussion, and we look forward to providing the community with more insightwhen there is news to share.

In the meantime, we are remaining committed to the future of River Oaks Center, our leasing and management teams have signed over a dozen new deals on-property thus far this year, on top of the renewals, relocations, and expansions they've secured with existing tenants. We are also taking steps to make any necessary upgrades to the shopping center, ensuring it provides a graceful shopping experience for guests."

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Mayor Hopes to Transform River Oaks Mall Into Entertainment District With Casino - NBC Chicago

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Baton Rouge casino revenue for August down from a year ago – Greater Baton Rouge Business Report

Posted: at 9:09 pm

Baton Rouges three casinos collectively took in 7% less revenue last month than in August 2020 and 30.5% less than in July, according to todays report to the Louisiana Gaming Control Board.

Every river-adjacent casino in the state reported a double-digit decrease from July to August, including LAuberge Baton Rouge, down 33.4%, the Belle of Baton Rouge, down 31.4%, and Hollywood Baton Rouge, down 22.2%. The state as a whole was down 27.4%.

Compared to August of last year, Hollywood was up 5.2%, while LAuberge was down 10.5% and the Belle of Baton Rouge was down 16.9%, according to the reported totals.

The state as a whole was up 5.2% year-over-year.

Casinos are hoping for a revenue boost from newly legalized sports betting. Last month, the gaming board approved emergency rules to get the process rolling, though the casinos havent started taking bets yet.

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Baton Rouge casino revenue for August down from a year ago - Greater Baton Rouge Business Report

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Daily Archives: September 17, 2021

Sunderlands 2021 round of contract poker has come to an end – did the club play its hand right? – Roker Report

Poker Power Tweaks Its Branding to Suit All Pronouns – CardsChat.com

Yale researchers using psychedelics to find new treatments for depression – WTNH.com

5 things to know about the Ann Arbor psychedelic shroom fest – MLive.com

Want Quick Exposure To The Psychedelics Sector? Check Out This New Active ETF – Benzinga – Benzinga

A Look At Psychedelics Stock PharmaTher And Its Recent Bull Run – Benzinga – Benzinga

Differentiated Approach in Psychedelics Boosts Confidence in Upcoming Clinical Trials for Tryp Therapeutics Inc. (CSE: TRYP) (OTCQB: TRYPF) -…

Twin River Casino in Lincoln is about to get a lot bigger. Here’s what that means – The Providence Journal

Mayor Hopes to Transform River Oaks Mall Into Entertainment District With Casino – NBC Chicago

Baton Rouge casino revenue for August down from a year ago – Greater Baton Rouge Business Report

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