Category Archives: Progress

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AFC Election: How Politics Not Progress Left Moya Dodd On The Sidelines Forbes The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) had one job during its election to fill the FIFA Council seat reserved for a female member select the most qualified candidate to represent the interests of women in football. Elect someone with a proven track ... and more »

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AFC Election: How Politics Not Progress Left Moya Dodd On The Sidelines - Forbes

It was quite a grassroots process. In a series of public meetings, citizens identified the town's strengths, weakness, opportunities and threats. Then they identified key areas of improvement and/or development they would like to see occur in the future.

After the citizens of Crosslake had weighed in, the MDT reviewed the findings of the town meetings and visited Crosslake for several days where the team members worked with the local volunteers who organized the effort and held two more public meetings, the second of which was an unveiling of potential projects the city might want to consider based on the data mined from the town meetings.

You probably haven't heard much about the project since then. But just because there's been no Crosslakers news to read doesn't mean there hasn't been a great deal of progress made since the MDT went home last fall.

Here's why: All of the work done on this project has been carried out by volunteers. Nobody has been paid a dime. There is no executive director, no paid coordinator and no paid staff member, just a band of very hard-working volunteers with full-time jobs of their own who care a lot about their town.

Just recently, however, some new volunteers with communication experience volunteered, and now you will be seeing and hearing more about this great project in the coming weeks and months.

Part of the new communication push is this column, called Crosslakers Progress Report. It's not a very flashy title, but the words were carefully chosen for a purpose:

"Crosslakers" because we will be writing about the community of Crosslake and all the area it serves and interacts with. "Progress" because there has been significant progress made with more on the way. And "report" because we believe it is the responsibility of the project to transparently report to the public on the project's successes, challenges, progress and needs.

A special thanks to this publication for publishing the column to help keep you informed. To those of you who signed up to volunteer to help with the project last fall, please be patient. We appreciate your willingness to help and we will be contacting you soon.

For everyone else, as you read about the project, if you see an area where you think you can help, please step up and join us. To get involved, email crosslakerinfo@gmail.com.

This column was submitted by the Crosslakers group.

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Crosslakers Progress Report: Expect routine updates on progress - The Lake Country Echo

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Matt Garza delivers against the Pirates Saturday.(Photo: Getty Images)

PITTSBURGH - The transformation continues for Matt Garza.

Once again utilizing a solid three-pitch mix, the right-hander went inning for inning and pitch for pitch with Pittsburgh Pirates ace Gerrit Cole on Saturday night at PNC Park.

While it wasn't enough to beat Cole and the Pirates the Milwaukee Brewers managed only three hits in a 2-1, 10-inning loss Garza's showing was easilythe highlight of the series thus far.

He went seven innings and allowed eight hits and one run (earned) while not issuing a walk for the second straight outing. Garza also struck out four and took advantage of some solid defense behind him to get out of several jams.

"I had to battle that guy. I used to be that guy," Garza said of Cole. "Used to be able to come in and let it go and tip my hat at the end of the day. It was fun seeing a guy like that because thats where I was. But I like the guy I am now. Im able to use my stuff and control and locate. Im proud I didnt walk a guy.

"Im just trying to command my stuff. Im pitching."

This is what the Brewers envisioned when they asked Garza to alter his approach this spring by making more use of his off-speed stuff. He was hit hard in Arizona then missed the first three weeks with a groin strain before returning to the rotation on April 24.

RELATED:Pirates 2, Brewers 1 (10 innings): Offense quiet again

BOX SCORE:Pirates 2, Brewers 1

Garza went four innings in that one, then extended himself to 6 2/3 innings in picking up his first victory on April 30 against Atlanta.

He battled steady rain, wind and temperatures in the mid-40s on Saturday, allowing his only run in the fourth on a Gregory Polanco groundout.

He took advantage of some poor Pittsburgh baserunning in the second, when the Pirates doubled in consecutive at-bats against him but failed to score. Then after Garza gave up three straight singles to open the sixth, Travis Shaw turned a pretty 5-2 double play to help him out of that jam.

One final double-play ball in the seventh erased a leadoff single, and Garza closed out his night after 86 pitches.

"The defense was amazing tonight," said Garza, who went seven innings just once in 19 starts last season. "They stepped up in these kinds of conditions no errant throws or anything like that. It was huge.

"Anytime you can have a clean game like that, we give us our best chance to win."

Colecombined with the conditions to make things tough on Milwaukee hitters. He also went seven innings and allowed just two hits a Hernn Prez home run and a Domingo Santana single in the fourth and two walks while striking out eight.

"Throwing the crap out of his slider and spotting it," was how Garza summarized Cole's night. "Hes been good. Ever since hes been up and even in college. The guys got a live arm and he just keeps shoving it at you and going at you.

"Thats all you can ask for from a guy like that."

HAUDRICOURT:Braun's'10 and 5' isn't huge factor

NOTES:RyanBraun could return as early as Tuesday

Where does Milwaukee's rotation stand now with Garza coming around?

Chase Anderson is pitching lights-out to this point, Zach Davies is slowly getting back on track, Wily Peralta has been solid and now Garza is solidly in the mix with his ERA down to 2.55. Jimmy Nelson looked good before his start was scuttled by rain after three innings on Friday.

"Getting starting pitchers performing and doing well is big," manager Craig Counsell said. "(Garza) has gotten into the seventh inning his last two starts, and thats important. Hes done it well. Hes made pitches. As much as anything, just having a guy youre (relying on) when youre rolling around every fifth day, (is valuable).

"Hes in a good spot right now. Hes pitching very well."

Continuing down that path is the top priority for Garza, but he wasn't interested in making any big-picture statements after the game.

"Im not looking that far. Im just looking at tomorrow," he said. "Ill just take it one day at a time. Sometimes we put the cart before the horse and we get run over.

"Im just going to keep going one day at a time. Tomorrow Im going to come in and do my work and start prepping for next week."

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Progress continues for Matt Garza - Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

Circumcision. (photo credit:REUTERS)

The Progress Party in Norway voted on Saturday in favor of a law banning ritual circumcision of children under the age of 16, a day after the environment committee of Belgiums Parliament of Wallonia voted in favor of banning ritual slaughter, posing a threat to both shechita (kosher slaughter) and brit mila (circumcision) in Europe.

Proponents of the Norwegian bill, which was discussed during the partys national gathering over the weekend, claim that circumcision constitutes mental and physical harm to children and constitutes a serious violation of childrens rights. The Progress Party is the third-largest party with 29 of 169 seats in parliament it serves as the junior partner in Prime Minister Erna Solbergs cabinet.

Reacting to the news, Rabbi Menachem Margolin, general director of the European Jewish Association, wrote a letter to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Diaspora Affairs Minister Naftali Bennett calling on them to urgently establish a joint working team for both government offices and Jewish organizations in Europe, in order to prevent the spread of anti-Jewish legislation.

I have no doubt that the State of Israel the state of the Jewish people cannot remain indifferent to it, and I call on you to exert all your political influence in order to prevent the exclusion of Jews from life in various European countries.

Regarding the Norwegian bill, Margolin said: We will act in every way we can to fight this disgraceful bill... There is no doubt that this is an anti-Jewish decision that is blatantly antisemitic, because the bill does not harm Muslims who are not obligated to circumcise their children as infants and can perform the procedure even at an older ages as the bill allows.

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Norway's Progress Party calls for ban on circumcision of boys - Jerusalem Post Israel News

Mets manager Terry Collins talks about T.J. Rivera J.P. Pelzman

Mets general manager Sandy Alderson (file)(Photo: Brad Penner, Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports)

NEW YORK -Yoenis Cespedes will come to New York for some more tests Monday, general manager Sandy Alderson indicated Saturday.

But its not because the Mets injured slugger had a setback with his strained left hamstring. In fact, Alderson said Cespedes rehab is going well. Cespedes went on the 10-day disabled list on April 28 after pulling up lame on a double against atlanta the day before.

Yoenis is making good progress with his hamstring, Alderson said. However, were bringing him up here Monday to undergo an evaluation thats a little broader than just the hamstring to try and get to the question of why he may have recurring hamstring injuries.

Cespedes has had leg woes before this latest setback, so thats why the Mets want to take a closer look at him physically.

Alderson said the goal is to see if theres something preventative that we can do to address the possibility of these injuries recurring.

Syndergaard apologizes: During his session with reporters Saturday, injured pitcher Noah Syndergaard said he wanted to clarify an incident that occurred several days before he was injured at Washington. Syndergaard snapped at Mets long-time media relations maven Jay Horwitz when reporters approached him after a game.

I was a little confused about why the media was approaching me after the game, Syndergaard said. I didnt think anything had changed (in his injury situation). I didnt mean anything disrespectful toward Jay Horwitz or anyone in general.

MORE: Mets' Syndergaard won't throw a baseball for six weeks

Collins quips: Mets manager Terry Collins saw a photographer taking his picture Saturday afternoon during his pregamebriefing and said, "Is this going out with that other photo? Just wanted to make sure.

Collins was referring to an incident Friday night when the Mets official Twitter account inadvertently sent out a photo of T.J. Rivera which showed a sex toy in teammate Kevin Plaweckis locker. It became a sensation on social media. Plawecki said Saturday it was not his and that a teammate must have planted it as a prank.

Plawecki said he first heard about it while on his way home after the game.

Somebody said check the internet, and it just kind of blew up from there, he said Saturday. I've got nothing to do with it, I know that. I didn't know about it. It's not mine. Nothing to do with that thing.

There are some good pranksters on this team, he added. It's definitely awkward. It's weird, but at the same it is kind of funny, but by no means does it reflect who I am as a person.

Staff Writer J.P. Pelzman:jpelzman@gannett.com

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Mets GM Alderson says injured Cespedes making progress - Asbury Park Press

Matt Shoemaker is certain hes close to being the pitcher he was for most of last season.

Very confident, he said.

Just clean up a few things. Stop with the uncharacteristic walks. And one other little thing: Eliminate that three-run homer, he said.

He gave up a three-run homer to Houstons Jose Altuve on Sunday, the decisive blow in the Angels 5-3 loss to the Astros.

Shoemaker (1-2, 5.21 ERA) was charged with five runs in his six innings. He walked four and gave up two home runs, things he seldom did last season when he had 10 starts without walking a single batter. He had one stretch of 49 consecutive strikeouts without a walk.

But that was all before he took a wicked comebacker off his head Sept. 4 in Seattle, a frightening blow that would ultimately require brain surgery and a long recovery.

This season, Shoemaker has not been the pitcher who finished with a 2.83 ERA in his last 20 games in 2016.

Matt will get it, said Angels manager Mike Scioscia. In stretches weve seen all year, hes dominant. Its still in him.

Shoemaker said hes viewed tape of himself from last season and is certain hes close.

Maybe a little mechanically better, more mentally better, he said. Im still not quite there yet.

Trout still out

Mike Trout did not start for the third time in four games as he tries to nurse a tight left hamstring.

Trout said he hoped to play Monday in Oakland, but Scioscia said the Angels will continue to be cautious with their franchise player.

Hopefully its moving in the right direction, Scioscia said. Well continue to monitor him and see how it feels (Monday) and make decisions on a daily basis.

Trout, 25, has never been on the disabled list.

Hamstrings are just a different animal, Scioscia said. If your shoulders a little sore, you can DH or do this or get a day. But when your hamstrings a little tight and achy, you need to make sure you get it addressed. And thats where we are right now.

Short hops

In his first at-bat for triple-A Salt Lake City, C.J. Cron (left foot bruise) was hit on the right wrist by a pitch and left the game for what the Angels said were precautionary reasons. X-rays were negative. Scioscia said closer Cam Bedrosian (right groin strain) was still a couple of long throw sessions away from getting back on the mound. Second baseman Danny Espinoza is hitless in his last 28 at-bats and has two hits in his last 48 at-bats.

sports@latimes.com

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Angels' Shoemaker upbeat about progress despite loss - Los Angeles Times

OAKLAND John Axford is getting closer to helping shoulder the burden of being a contributing member of the Athletics bullpen.

I just warmed up like I would going into a game, a general warm-up routine, and then faced two simulated batters, Axford said. Someone stood in the box to get that kind of feel. It feels really good. I was season-ready (when injured) so I was already built up strong, ready to go. A few weeks off throwing is not the biggest thing.

Next up for Axford will be facing live hitters during a Wednesday batting practice session, then off to a rehab assignment at a site to be determined.

Axfords versatility makes him a valuable commodity, one manager Bob Melvin missed Sunday given the use of relievers Daniel Coulombe, Liam Hendricks, Ryan Dull, Ryan Madson and finally Frankie Montas in the previous nights epic 6-5 comeback win over the Tigers.

On days like today, well probably have a couple of guys not available, and thats where Axford really is a swing guy for us, Melvin said. He can close if we need him to close. He sets up. On a day like this more than any other day, you really miss him because there will be at least a couple of guys that wont be available.

Shoulders have been an issue for Athletics pitchers this season, as Sean Doolittle, Kendall Graveman, Sonny Gray and Sean Manaea have all spent time on the disabled list with similar injuries.

We have talked a little bit. I think its good for guys to be able get to know what someone else is feeling or what they felt along the way, Axford said. When I talk to Sonny, obviously hes a starter so he throws a little bit more, but it helps understand where his pain is of where he feels certain things.

Hes ahead of my schedule. Maybe Ill be able to do the same thing for Doolittle when my time comes. It provides good notes for us.

Chad Pinder received his first start in right field against the Tigers after playing as a designated hitter and infield. He has been working in the outfield since spring training.

Hes kind of embracing the role of being that utility guy, Melvin said. Hes been working in the outfield and today just seemed like the day to do it. We want to keep our infield intact, especially with Sonny on the mound. Usually when hes pitching there are a lot of ground balls. We wanted to get a right-handed bat in there.

Josh Phegley, on the concussion disabled list, will go to extended spring training in Mesa, Arizona, where hell catch and play designated hitter.

Manaea will start for Class AAA Nashville Tuesday, throw approximately 70 pitches, and be followed by Chris Bassitt, who is recovering from Tommy John surgery.

We just wanted to make sure hed pitched in a game based on him not feeling great (in his last start) and we want him to get past it, Melvin said. My guess is he probably could have pitched here, but we want him to get his pitch count up to normal and be secure in his mind.

Melvin on signing his own bobblehead doll, which was distributed to fans Saturday night: Its odd. especially when you have to sign the bill of the hat. Its a small little area to have to sign and my motor skills arent probably that great.

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Athletics' reliever John Axford making progress with shoulder strain - The Mercury News

World No. 1 battles from cut line to leader before Brian Harman's win

By many accounts, Dustin Johnson's work at the Wells Fargo Championship proved a successful PGA Tour return.

It was almost successful enough to win a fourth-straight tournament.

The world's No. 1 player went from reaching the 1-over cut line on the number to the lead after birdying No. 18 Sunday. Minutes later, a 28-foot beauty there by Brian Harman prevented Johnson from remaining unbeaten on the Tour since February.

"The first two days I didn't play that bad," said Johnson, who finished second at 9-under with Pat Perez. "I had a good practice session before my third round and hit it well the last two days. I'm pleased with where my game is going into next week."

He suffered a freak back injury after falling down stairs days before the Masters and had to withdraw. The Columbia, S.C. native hadn't played since the World Golf Championships in early March.

Johnson noted some rustiness, which showed on Friday when he went 3-over for the round and narrowly stayed alive for the weekend.

Maybe that practice session was all he needed to better understand windy Wilmington. Two 67s provide plenty of evidence.

He made his charge Sunday thanks to back-to-back birdies on Nos. 12-13. A 37-footer for another bird lipped out a hole later.

"Hey DJ, Calabash loves you," shouted one fan while Johnson made his way on 14.

Judging by the crowd swelling, the devotion went beyond the Brunswick County hamlet.

Perhaps the best way to tell Johnson was back in a groove was how he hit out of trouble on 12 and 16.

He avoided water at 12, and managed a birdie anyway.

"I didn't catch it quite like I wanted to, but it was still on a pretty good line," Johnson said. "I guess you could say I got lucky it didn't go into the water but a little bit unlucky that it lands where it did and doesn't land on the green. Either or I guess."

The 16th was also iffy thanks to a tee shot that landed deep in pine straw. Again he found a way out and managed par.

His short game was on Sunday -- not just on 18, but also an 18-foot putt on 2 -- and it appeared that put him in position for a fourth-straight trophy.No one has won four or more in a season since Jason Day and Jordan Spieth (five each) in 2015.

If Wells Fargo was any indication, Johnson is poised to break Day and Spieth's mark.

"Physically, I'm really good," Johnson said. "Everything's 100 percent, feeling great. I can swing at it, no problems. Still got a lot of practice to do to get ready for next week, but looking forward to it."

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Dustin Johnson pleased with progress in return - StarNewsOnline.com

58 years after last official run, Norfolk & Western 611 stops at Union Station en route to Lynchburg

PETERSBURG First the sound, straight from the movies, a single, stirring chord that seemed to have been struck from a colossal pipe organ. Then the steam, billowing clouds of it, the scent of coal and superheated water. Finally, the sight, a scrap of memory from days gone by.

The Norfolk & Western Class J 611 steam locomotive has pulled into Petersburgs Union Station.

Once a daily sight in Petersburg, today the 611 passes by the banks of the Appomattox only once a year when the Virginia Museum of Transportation mounts its annual excursion from Lynchburg to the Cockade City in partnership with Norfolk Southern railway. This year the mighty engine pulled into town May 6, almost an hour early thanks to an unexpected lack of freight traffic.

Its like a bullet, just like a bullet, said Jim Stump, chairman of the VMT steering committee that oversaw the $1.7 million restoration of the 611 and now is responsible for its maintenance and travels throughout the commonwealth.

360 PHOTOGRAPH: Click or tap on the image and drag to change the angle of view. Onlookers surround the Norfolk & Western 611 steam engine in Petersburg on Saturday, May 6, 2017. (Photograph by Scott P. Yates/The Progress-Index)

Released for its first run May 29, 1950, and operated until 1959, when the last of Virginias steam engines were taken out of commission, the 611 is coming up on its 67th birthday. But even in its grand old age, it has the sheen and glow of a brand new locomotive thanks to a complete restoration that was finished in 2015.

Most steam trains arent slick, said Jean Todd of Williamsburg, who with her husband Richard, a native of Petersburg, has turned out for the 611s Lynchburg-Petersburg run every year since its restoration.

The 611, however, is just that: jet black with a sleek burgundy and gold stripe, this mechanical "thoroughbred" has been a marvel of both engineering and design since its conception. Capable of going over 100 mph, it could be late at Petersburg and early at Norfolk, said Stump.

At the time of its construction, the technology had advanced to such a point that the Norfolk & Western was capable of carrying on with steam engines when everyone else had switched to diesel, said Brandon Martin, a locomotive aficionado and former train chaser. Part of the technologically sophisticated J class of engines, the 611 was named a National Historic Mechanical Engineering Landmark by the American Society of Mechanical Engineers in 1984.

Still, nothing could stop the flow of progress, and by the end of the 1950s, diesel had brought a decisive end to the age of steam locomotion. The shift was inevitable, even as it was met with widespread mourning.

No Diesel ever had a soul like a steam engine, The Progress-Index declared in an article published Oct. 21, 1959. The huge, evil smelling, growling, oil consuming Diesel will never have the appeal and the seeming life of the steam locomotive.

So prized was the 611 that at its retirement, the railroad donated it to the city of Roanoke instead of scrapping it. Alternately used as a display and an excursion vehicle for more than 50 years, the engine most recently returned to the rails in 2015 thanks to the dedicated efforts of the VMT and Norfolk Southerns 21st Century Steam program. Today it is the only large steam engine that remains on the East Coast.

Its so rare to be able to do something like this, said Chris Armes, a Norfolk Southern engineer.

Rare it may be, but many of those who turned out to Union Station Saturday greeted the 611 with nostalgic glee, as if it were an old and beloved friend.

For us its like bringing back our childhood memories, said Petersburg resident Medha Udayakumar, who recalled her fathers work on the railroad back in India.

Jean and Richard Todd too could look back on a life closely intertwined with the rails.

Everywhere in my life you could always hear the trains, said Jean Todd.

For her husband, not only their sound was familiar but their sight and feel. Growing up only a block from the train station in Hampton, Richard Todd as a boy would ride his bike down to the platform in the afternoons. There he made the acquaintance of the engineers, who often invited him to climb into the cab and accompany them on the brief jaunt to Phoebus.

Nothing will ever replace the mystique of the steam, he said.

Martin, who has been as far north as Canada and as far south as Florida chasing trains, also encountered his first steam locomotive as a child. He still recalls the sound of its whistle as he stood in his house, preparing for church.

Its just the motion, the excitement, the people, the mechanical part of it, he said. Theres just something about it.

360 PHOTOGRAPH:Click or tap on the image and drag to change the angle of view. A team of volunteers helps passengers board the Norfolk & Western 611 steam engine in Petersburg on Saturday, May 6, 2017. (Photograph by Scott P. Yates/The Progress-Index)

Sarah Vogelsong may be reached at svogelsong@progress-index.com or 804-722-5154.

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Beloved steam locomotive comes home to Petersburg - News - The ... - Progress Index

Russia and China progress to hypersonic weapon deployments

The Director of the Russian Academy of Sciences Siberian Branch Vasily Fomin sayd Russian scientists have surpassed their colleagues from the United States on hypersonic speed advances.

The Russian Defense Ministry said Russia is targeting initial hypersonic missile and other advanced weapons deployments by 2025 within the framework of the 2018-2025 State Armaments Program.

China has been performing successful mach 7 hypersonic scramjet tests since 2015.

China will test a prototype combined-cycle hypersonic engine later this year that they hope will pave the way for the first demonstration flight of a full-scale propulsion system by 2025. If successful, the engine could be the first of its type in the world to power a hypersonic vehicle or the first stage of a two-stage-to-orbit spaceplane. Combined-cycle systems have long been studied as a potential means to access to space and long-range hypersonic vehicles.

Zhang Yong, a CASTC engineer, claimed that China will master the spaceplanes technologies in the next three to five years, and a full-scale spaceplane would then enter service by 2030.

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Russia and China progress to hypersonic weapon deployments - Next Big Future