Gold Story: How A Health Scare Motivated This Runner To Run A 50K For Her 50th Birthday
Gold Stories
“I don’t know how to swim, I don’t know how to ride a bike, but I can run!” San Francisco Marathon runner Marlena said when she decided to start running.
At the age of 43, Marlena thought she may be having a stroke. She’s a nurse, so she knows the symptoms, and she ended up in the emergency room while she was having a really bad headache and very high blood pressure.
It ended up not being a stroke, but she did have a headache for 10 days and her doctor was still concerned.
Her diagnosis was similar to what many people experience at the doctor’s office: he told her that she was a little overweight, she needed to eat better, and start exercising more.
She thought about how she wanted to do that, and since she wasn’t planning to swim or bike she decided to start running, in addition to going to the gym regularly and eating better too.
“I needed to change my lifestyle,” Marlena said. “I had never run before, so I decided to challenge myself.” She had two kids, she worked a lot and had a stressful job, and she knew she needed to get healthier and take care of herself.
Registering For Her First Race
At first Marlena just started running around her neighborhood — she still does that regularly because she says she likes seeing her neighbors while she’s running.
But, then she decided she needed a little more, so she registered for her first 5K, a Girls on the Run event in Sacramento. She thought that by registering for a race and being able to run with other people, it would motivate her to keep going and try harder.
“I placed third in my age group!” she remembers about that first race. “So that motivated me.”
She continued to register for and run more and more races, gradually increasing the distance. She ran more 5Ks, some 10Ks, and then she decided to set a goal for herself to run a half marathon.
San Francisco: Achieving Goals & Earning Medals
About six months after she ran her first 5K, she ran her first half marathon, the San Francisco 2nd Half Marathon.
After she ran that race, she thought, “Wow, I can do this!”
In 2016 and 2017, Marlena said she ran a half marathon just about every month. She just kept running.
Then in 2017, she ran the San Francisco 1st Half Marathon, which qualified her to receive the Half It All Challenge medal.
After that, she decided to set a new goal for herself: to run a full marathon.
Later that same year, she accomplished that goal too. Marlena ran her first full marathon at CIM in December 2017. She joined a training program through CIM that helped first time full marathon runners and followed their weekly schedule as she prepared for her first full marathon.
She was proud of herself for accomplishing that goal, saying, “It was an achievement for me.”
Since she knew she was capable of running a full marathon now, Marlena decided that the San Francisco Full Marathon was next.
She ran the full marathon in 2018, and since she had run the two half marathons consecutively the two years before that, she joined the San Francisco Marathon 52 Club, earning her exclusive hoodie.
“San Francisco is a very challenging course. Just doing it is an achievement. I have the sticker proudly displayed in my car. I did the San Francisco Marathon!” Marlena says.
In 2019, she ran the 1st Half in San Francisco again, and she’s planning on running the 2nd Half Marathon again in 2020. She wants to get that 52 Club hoodie again next year, so she’s planning to run the Full Marathon again in 2021.
This year Marlena will be a fifth year Loyal Runner and she said she’s excited about getting her flag and the number of years she’s run the San Francisco Marathon printed on her shirt, as well as her five-year anniversary gift, a picnic blanket.
Marlena lives in Vacaville and says she doesn’t travel to San Francisco all that often, so she enjoys her trips each summer for the marathon.
She says the race “gives you a different perspective” of San Francisco. “I love going to the Bridge and back. And then that area after the bridge, the beach area, you don’t see that very often, so that’s fun to see.”
And she says she loves the San Francisco Marathon after party too, of course!
Marlena also runs the Berkeley Half Marathon every year too, so she also earns her SF/Berkeley Challenge medal. She loves getting all the medals and extra gifts from the races.
“Who doesn’t love extra bling and gifts? I love wearing the race shirts to the gym or the store as well,” Marlena says.
She’s Getting Healthy & Motivating Others
Since she started running, Marlena has been feeling better too. Her blood pressure is better, her stamina is better.
She says that people at work tease her now, saying things like, “Oh, she’s a runner, you can’t keep up with her!”
“I like increasing my heart rate and the way my heart reacts when I’m running,” Marlena says.
She has cut down on her running a bit recently because of a hip injury, but she’s hoping to let that heal and then continue running this year.
Marlena has a new goal for 2020: “I’m turning 50 this year, so I want to run a 50K. I want to continue to challenge myself and run an ultra by running a 50K, in honor of my 50th birthday.”
She’s also encouraging others to run too – her two kids who are 18 and 17 now, her friends and family.
Marlena displays all of her medals and racing bibs proudly in her home, to show people who visit what she has accomplished and try to encourage them to try out a race, even a 5K, just to get started.
If you are like Marlena too and need some motivation to get started, the San Francisco Marathon also has two 5K races, one on Saturday and one on Sunday of race weekend. You can even get the Double Up Challenge medal by running the 5K on Saturday and any of the Sunday races.
Marlena would tell you: “Don’t be scared. It’s a great way to get started on running. It’s great motivation and you have such a great feeling of achievement at the finish line and getting that medal!”
In honor and celebration of the 2020 Summer Olympic Games that will be happening at the same time as the 2020 San Francisco Marathon, we are telling runners’ Gold Stories.
For many, running in the Olympics may be a far off dream, but we know you have your own goals and achievements that we want to hear about and celebrate, because everyone can have their own version of a Gold Goal!
So, what’s your Gold Story? Share your story with us here and we may feature your story next!
Welcome To San Francisco | Your SF Marathon Race Weekend Guide
WHY LOCALS LOVE RUNNING THE SAN FRANCISCO MARATHON
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Indicted pizzeria owner loses tourism agency post
OCEAN CITY – The co-owner of a chain of landmark Jersey Shore pizza places will not be reappointed to a local tourism board while he and his wife face federal tax charges.
The Ocean City Council pulled a resolution from its Thursday night meeting that would have reappointed Charles Bangle, co-owner of the Manco & Manco pizzeria stores, to its Tourist Development Commission.
Bangle and his wife face a 30-count indictment that alleges they failed to report $980,000 in income from 2007 until 2011.
Reaction had been mixed among council members to Mayor Jay Gillian’s decision to reappoint Bangle, who has pizzerias on the boardwalk in Ocean City and in Somers Point. Several city officials said Bangle has done admirable work, but Councilman Pete Guinosso objected.
“I’m happy they’ve realized there’s a real issue here that needs to be addressed and they’ve addressed it,” said Guinosso, who had described the reappointment as “crazy.” “It was the right thing to do.”
Gillian’s office defended the choice, saying Bangle was entitled to his day in court. But he changed course on Thursday.
“Following discussions between the administration and Charles Bangle over the past two days, it was agreed that Mr. Bangle would not be reappointed to a position on the Ocean City Tourist Development Commission at this time,” the city said in a statement authorized by Gillian.


Father’s Very Poor Lifestyle Choices Foreclose Access to His Kids
There is no question that Family Law courts have to deal with a broad and interesting array of human stories, not to mention a host of difficult decisions. In a recent case called H.P. v. P.L.C., the Ontario court had to consider how a father’s poor lifestyle choices and history of violence should affect his access to his children.
The spouses, who had two children together, had a tumultuous relationship throughout their 5-year marriage. The father was violent, and had sexually assaulted the mother at least eight times, including one three-hour ordeal when she was five months pregnant. The children were present or in the next room for all but one of those incidents. There was also evidence that during the marriage the father had sexual encounters with both men and women.
The father’s history as a provider was also checkered: he had worked seven different hobs during the course of their relatively brief relationship, and they had lived in 10 different homes in the 6.5 years they were together. When the mother indicated that she wanted to leave, the father stole her bank card, and emptied her account.
After separation, the mother obtained an order for full custody, together with a restraining order. He was also criminally charged with four of the eight sexual assaults, pleaded guilty to one, and served 16 months in jail.
The father then applied to the court for access to his children, claiming that there had been a material change in circumstances affecting the children’s best interests. He professed to having developed “adaptive coping strategies” to his anger issues, including reliance on spiritual beliefs, community, exercise and counseling.
The court considered all the evidence. It noted that the father had had a terrible upbringing, and had been both the victim of abuse, and as an older child had sexually abused siblings and their friends himself. He professed to having turned his life around; he had also been recently diagnosed with a Gender Identity Disorder, and embarked on a medically-supervised gender transition program. (He filed materials in court using his new female identity.)
However, the court was still troubled with the father’s present-day conduct. It went through a host of concerns relating to the father’s current behavior. For example, he was still engaging in “I Love Sex” parties with random strangers, liked to post explicit pictures and sexual descriptions on Facebook, and was engaged in prostitution, which he continued to do so even throughout the court proceedings. The court expressed its concern with the nature of that enterprise:
While [the gender-reassigned father]. has denied that she entertains clients in her home, the phrasing of the advertisements is of concern. One advertisement on the internet sets out where she is prepared to engage in sex: “my place, his place, outdoors, restroom, bathhouse, theatre, truck stop or gym”.
And while the father had undertaken some counseling from Sexaholics Anonymous, he did not put forth any evidence that he had completed any of the therapeutic measures that had been recommended for him. He also claimed that it was difficult to obtain work as a transgendered person, but the court found that even with that in mind, the father was not making much of an effort to look.
In short, the court concluded that there was simply no evidence that the father had started to focus on the children’s needs in terms of obtaining regular work, or offering to pay any child support. Nor was there any indication that the children would benefit from contact with him at all. In terms of the legal test involved, there had not been any “material change” which would support a finding that the father should have access to his children in these circumstances.
H.P. v. P.L.C., 2013 ONCJ 399 (CanLII) http://canlii.ca/t/fzqtc
At Russell Alexander, Family Lawyers our focus is exclusively family law, offering pre-separation legal advice and assisting clients with family related issues including: custody and access, separation agreements, child and spousal support, division of family property, paternity disputes, and enforcement of court orders. For more information, visit us at www.RussellAlexander.com.
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Home Business Economy EBOLANOMICS
EBOLANOMICS
By James Surowiecki
The deadly hemorrhagic fever Ebola was first discovered in 1976, and it has haunted the public imagination for twenty years, ever since the publication of Richard Preston’s “The Hot Zone.” Yet, in all that time, no drug has ever been approved to treat the disease. Now the deadliest outbreak yet is raging in West Africa, and there are no real tools to stop it. (Supplies of the experimental drug administered to two American patients have already run out.) The lack of an Ebola treatment is disturbing. But, given the way drug development is funded, it’s also predictable.
When pharmaceutical companies are deciding where to direct their R. & D. money, they naturally assess the potential market for a drug candidate. That means that they have an incentive to target diseases that affect wealthier people (above all, people in the developed world), who can afford to pay a lot. They have an incentive to make drugs that many people will take. And they have an incentive to make drugs that people will take regularly for a long time—drugs like statins.
This system does a reasonable job of getting Westerners the drugs they want (albeit often at high prices). But it also leads to enormous underinvestment in certain kinds of diseases and certain categories of drugs. Diseases that mostly affect poor people in poor countries aren’t a research priority, because it’s unlikely that those markets will ever provide a decent return. So diseases like malaria and tuberculosis, which together kill two million people a year, have received less attention from pharmaceutical companies than high cholesterol. Then, there’s what the World Health Organization calls “neglected tropical diseases,” such as Chagas disease and dengue; they affect more than a billion people and kill as many as half a million a year. One study found that of the more than fifteen hundred drugs that came to market between 1975 and 2004 just ten were targeted at these maladies. And when a disease’s victims are both poor and not very numerous that’s a double whammy. On both scores, a drug for Ebola looks like a bad investment: so far, the disease has appeared only in poor countries and has affected a relatively small number of people.
It’s not just developing nations that the system disserves, however. In recent years, the rise of drug-resistant microbes has made the antibiotics we use less effective and has increased the risk that an infectious disease could get out of control. What people in the West need, health officials agree, is new drugs that we can keep in reserve against an outbreak that regular antibiotics can’t contain. Yet, over the past thirty years, the supply of new antibiotics has slowed to a trickle. “Antibiotic resistance really has the potential to make everything about the way we live different,” Kevin Outterson, a co-director of the Health Law program at Boston University and a founding member of the C.D.C.’s working group on antimicrobial resistance, told me. “So we need to stoke the pipeline.”
The trouble, again, is the business model. If a drug company did invent a powerful new antibiotic, we wouldn’t want it to be widely prescribed, because the goal would be to delay resistance. “Public-health officials would appropriately try to limit sales of the drug as much as possible,” Outterson says: a good public-health policy; a bad investment prospect.
So how can we get the drugs we need without magically transforming the industry that develops them? The key is to reward companies for creating substantial public-health benefits. And the simplest way to do this would be to offer prizes for new drugs. Outterson describes one scenario: “The government would make a payment or a stream of payments to the company, and in exchange the company would give up the right to sell the product.” The drug company would get paid, and would avoid all the expenses of trying to push a new product (which you don’t want with a last-resort antibiotic, anyway). Society would get a new drug, and public-health officials would be able to control how it was promoted and used.
Prizes aren’t a new idea—in the seventeen-hundreds, the British government successfully used a prize to find a method for measuring longitude at sea. But, in the past couple of decades, they’ve become more common, with prizes being offered for things like innovations in private space flight and an arsenic filter for safe drinking water. The Obama Administration has been especially active in this area, offering more than a hundred and fifty prizes for a range of technological breakthroughs. Economists on both the left and the right see them as a useful way to spark innovation. They’re cost-effective, since you have to pay only if the product works. They’re well suited to encouraging investment in public goods—like antibiotics and vaccines—where the benefits of an innovation aren’t reaped only by those who use it. (My family is safer if yours is vaccinated.) They rely on existing infrastructure. And, in economic jargon, they harness market forces by “pulling” research into neglected areas.
The up-front costs of a prize system would be substantial—a recent report commissioned by the F.D.A. estimated that it would cost a billion dollars to get a great new antibiotic, factoring in tax credits. But we’d save lives by developing the drugs we need and taking measures against future disaster. The alternative is pretty grim: a system that, when it comes to some fierce mortal perils, is leaving a lot of blood on the floor.
The AfricaPaper: James Surowiecki has been a staff writer at The New Yorker since 2000, and writes The Financial Page.
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See the UPDATED 2018 CALENDAR HERE.
Updated for 2017. At this time of year, thoughts turn to spring. Let's spring forward to blooming times, the best locations for witnessing spring's beginnings, and springtime events in the big city. While the occasional snow could blow through the city, we're just weeks now from callery pears in bloom and opening day at the ballpark.
In The Ramble, Central Park. mid-April
Blooming Times
• Central Park Conservancy's website lists blooming times within the park. During the month of March we begin to see crocus, daffodils, forsythia, snowdrops, witch-hazel, and hellebores. Species tulips will emerge in several places, but the Shakespeare Garden and Conservatory Garden are particularly good places to catch the beginning of Spring blooms.
Central Park near E. 72nd St., saucer magnolia, typically end of March.
• Citywide Blooming Calendar from New York City Department of Parks & Recreation
April is usually the month when full blooms appear in New York City, and this NYC Parks website provides a handy monthly guide to the specific locations of blooming trees, flowers, shrubs, and buds.
• Heritage Crabapple Trees. New York City Department of Parks & Recreation
Celebrating the great beautiful flowering crabapples, this page on the NYC Parks site explains why you can't buy and plant a crabapple today and expect it to look as beautiful as those in Central Park.
• By late March or the first week of April, the callery pears should be in bloom, providing a soft white canopy on many New York streets. These trees can withstand urban pollution, but storms can wreak havoc on them.
Callery pear trees in bloom in front of the Rubin Museum of Art
High Line. Spring Cutback
• Check out The Orchid Show: Thailand, a special presentation of a dazzling collection of orchids brought to you by The New York Botanical Garden in the Enid A. Haupt Conservatory. Bronx River Parkway at Fordham Road Bronx. The special show continues through April 9, 2017.
• Walking Off the Big Apple's favorite annual spring walk is wandering in the Ramble in Central Park.
• The High Line features plantings around the seasons.
• Million TreesNYC. See how you can help this citywide, public-private program to plant and care for one million new trees across the City's five boroughs over the next decade.
• Visit the Prospect Park Alliance website for interactive guides to the park, seasonal events, and more. When visiting in person, locate the park's Audubon Center for a quick orientation.
• While many of the city's parks sponsor events for the season, Fort Tryon Park in Upper Manhattan offers particularly good fitness opportunities in a spectacular setting. Consult the Fort Tryon Park Trust website for more information.
At The Cloisters, Fort Tryon Park, late April.
• While in Fort Tryon Park, visit The Cloisters. The Metropolitan Museum of Art's medieval branch is one of the best places to see varieties of plants in bloom.
• For those seeking to understand the ecology of the city's landscapes, explore the Wildlife Conservation Society's Welikia project, the city-wide expansion of their popular Mannahatta.
• According to the Victory Seeds website, the average last frost in New York City is April 13.
Spring Events for March and April 2017
Prospect Park, Brooklyn, in late April
• The 22nd annual Armory Show, the city's big contemporary art fair, March 2-5, 2017. Piers 92 and 94 on the far West Side. 711 12th Avenue at 55th Street. Website.
• Daylight Saving Time begins March 12, 2017 at 2:00 a.m.
• Friday, March 17, 2017 St. Patrick's Day Parade. Fifth Avenue, from 44th to 79th Streets. Begins at 11 a.m. Limerick native Michael J. Dowling, President & CEO of Northwell Health, serves as this year's Grand Marshal. Consult this St. Patrick's Day post that includes Walking Off the Big Apple's awesome bar and parade map, plus bonus Judy Garland song.
• Sunday, March 26, 2017. 1 pm. Greek Independence Day Parade. Fifth Avenue. 64th to 79th Streets.
• Macy's Flower Show. March 26 -April 9, 2017. Website.
• April 1, 2017. Pillow Fight Day. 3 p.m. Location TBA.
Pillow Fight Day
Spring silliness
• Monday, April 3, 2017 at 1:10 p.m. Home opener. Atlanta Braves at New York Mets. Citi Field, Flushing, Queens. Official site.
• Wednesday, April 5, 2017. The first Wednesday in April is National Walking Day, an initiative of the American Heart Association to encourage the benefits of walking. Here at Walking Off the Big Apple, every day is walking day, weather permitting.
Coney Island attractions open April 8-9, 2017.
• Opening weekend, Coney Island attractions. April 8-9, 2017. Read more on this site about Coney Island's landscape and history.
• Monday, April 10, 2017. Home opener. Rays at New York Yankees. 1:05 p.m. Yankee Stadium, Bronx. Official site.
• April 14 - 23, 2017. New York International Auto Show. Jacob Javits Center.
Easter Parade, Fifth Avenue.
• Sunday, April 16, 2017. Easter Parade. Fifth Avenue, beginning near St. Patrick's Cathedral. 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. 49th to 57th Streets.
On the High Line, walking toward the Whitney Museum of American Art
• April 19 - April 30, 2017. Tribeca Film Festival. Some of the special events take place outdoors.
Cherry blossoms on display at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, Fifth Avenue.
• April 29 - April 30, 2017. 10 am - 6 pm, Brooklyn Botanic Garden. Japanese Cherry Blossom Festival - Sakura Matsuri 10 a.m. - 6 p.m. Rain or shine. Free with admission. Celebration of Japanese culture and the blossoming of the garden's cherry trees. Also, consult the garden's Cherry Blossom Status Map for opportunities to visit.
Calla Lilies on Mulberry Street, Little Italy
• Purim begins at sundown on March 11, 2017 and ends the evening of March 12, 2017.
• Sunday, April 9, 2017. Palm Sunday, beginning of Holy Week.
• Passover begins at sundown on April 10, 2017 and continues for 7 days until April 18, 2017.
• Easter Sunday falls on Sunday, April 16, 2017.
• Vernal Equinox in New York City, First Day of Spring. March 20, 2017. 6:28 a.m. EDT
• The National Weather Service can and does predict the weather, issuing long-range maps and outlooks for the months ahead. Their monthly and seasonal color maps for the upcoming months indicates that New York City will see above average temperatures, not just for spring but for most months ahead.
• Several good blogs and websites keep track of the city's animal life. Among them - Urban Hawks is especially observant of the adventures of our red-tailed hawks; The City Birder is a good source of information for birdwatching in the big city. Follow the continuing adventures of the hawks in Washington Square Park and other areas with Roger Paw.
• New York City Birding: See the home page of NYC Audubon for events, trips, classes, and programs.
Birding in Central Park
Images by Walking Off the Big Apple. Clicking on the pictures above enlarges them.
blooming times blooms Central Park cherry blossoms Easter Easter Parade events parks Passover seasons spring St. Patrick's Day
Labels: blooming times blooms Central Park cherry blossoms Easter Easter Parade events parks Passover seasons spring St. Patrick's Day
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Age69Born on16 April 1952 in Detroit, Michigan, USA
William Richard "Billy" West (born April 16, 1950) is an American voice actor. He launched his career in the early 1980s performing daily comedic routines on Boston's WBCN (TOP Rock station of the time) shortly after moving on to do the revival of Beany and Cecil and was also a castmember on the Howard Stern's radio show during the early to mid 1990s. West is best known for his voice-work on Ren & Stimpy, Doug and Futurama. His favorite characters are Philip J. Fry (Futurama) and Stimpy (Ren and Stimpy), both of which he originated. West's most notable film work was in Space Jam (1996) providing the voice of both Bugs Bunny and Elmer Fudd; he has provided the same voices for other Looney Tunes films and video games. West has been very outspoken over his displeasure about the influx of movie star actors providing voice-over for films and major shows. As well as a voice artist, West is also a guitarist and singer-songwriter with a band called Billy West and The Grief Counselors.
Sorcerio (voice)
Bashful (voice)
Fry / Professor Farnsworth / Zoidberg / Zapp Brannigan (Voice)
Rancid Rabbit (voice)
Doug Funnie (voice)
Stimpson J. "Stimpy" Cat (voice)


Priyanka Chopra, Nick Jonas' virtual PDA session
LOS ANGELES - Actress Priyanka Chopra is setting relationship goals by sharing loved-up photographs with husband and pop star Nick Jonas from her Miami birthday vacation. Priyanka turned 37 on July 18. She celebrated her birthday with her family, including her mother Madhu Chopra and husband Nick in Miami. Priyanka took to Instagram to share some moments...
from birthday celebrations, in which Priyanka and Nick can be seen embracing each other's company.
The most romantic of them all is the one which shows Priyanka lying in an inflated pool in a pink bikini with matching gloves as she holds on to Nick's foot. Shirtless Nick can be seen adoring Priyanka's smile.
The actress captioned the image: "My heart". Nick reacted to it with heart emojis. Nick's mother Denise Jonas also commented on the post saying, "My favorite".
Socialite Paris Hilton also dropped a fire emoji in the comment section. The second image is a close-up of the couple. Priyanka is seen leaning her head on Nick's chest as they both look at each other adoringly. Instead of words, she used a simple heart emoji as a caption to the image. Actress Hillary Duff called the picture "sweet" while Nargis Fakhri wrote "Ahhhhh to be in love".
The third picture shows Priyanka dressed in colourful striped co-ords as she poses on the yacht.
On the work front, Priyanka is elated that her film "The Sky Is Pink", helmed by Shonali Bose, will have its world premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) on September 13.
"The Sky Is Pink" is a love story of a couple -- Aditi and Niren Chaudhary -- spanning 25 years, told through the lens of their spunky teenage daughter -- Aisha Chaudhary, who was diagnosed with a terminal illness.


Former UFC World Heavyweight Champ, Ricco Rodriguez, To Fight In SLC, Utah
Courtesy of Ultimate Combat Experience:
Ricco Rodriguez is he former UFC World Heavyweight Champion. Having beaten the best of the best in the world like Randy Cotoure and Andre Arlovski, Rodriguez admittedly was sidelined by an addiction to drugs. Making his comeback after appearing on VH-1's Celebrity Rehab, he starts his trek back to the top at the E Center in West Valley City, Utah June 28, 2008.
West Valley City, Utah (June 17, 2008) -- One of the most prolific Mixed Martial Arts fighters ever to enter the cage will be performing in front of MMA fans at the E Center in West Valley, City, Utah Saturday June 28, 2008 in the Ultimate Combat Experience.
Ricco Rodriguez has beaten some of the best in the world. Randy Couture, Paul Bentuello, and Andre Arlovski (all in the top 10 of most world rankings) have all fallen at the hands of Rodriguez.
A personal bout with drug addiction found Rodriguez falling from the upper echelon of the UFC heavyweight division and onto reality television on VH-1's Celebrity Rehab.
Rodriguez appears back and more determined than ever to fight his way back to the top. "I learned a lot over the past several months," Says Rordriguez. "I found out a lot about who I am and what is important in life. Right now I won't settle for anything but the belt."
Rodriguez will begin his journey toward that belt and the glory of being the best in the world at the E Center vs rising star, Chris Guillen.
Guillen has thoughts of cracking into the top ten, himself. He sees this fight as an opportunity to get the attention of the powers that be at the UFC. "I've won four of my last five fights. I am fighting the best of the best in Ricco.
Beating him will definitely get me noticed," says the confident Guillen. He continues, "I've watched his last few fights, and I think I've got a serious shot at beating him."
Time will tell if Guillen has what it takes to unseat Rodriguez. Regardless of the outcome, fans in Salt Lake City will get their first taste of world-class mixed martial arts at the E Center on June 28th.
The Ultimate Combat Experience is a televised Mixed Martial Arts based TV program seen in most major US Markets on MAV TV, and on America One Networks.
Photos, B-Roll, and interviews available upon request.
Mike Stidham
www.ultimatecombat.com
@ 3:17 PM ET


Life Changes Inspired Singer-Songwriter Birdy's Latest Album, 'Beautiful Lies'
Olivia Bee/Atlantic Records
Given that her mother is a concert pianist, it’s not surprise that Jasmine Lucilla Elizabeth Jennifer van den Bogaerde, the singer-songwriter also known as Birdy, found music to be a powerful muse.
Birdy, whose new album, Beautiful Lies, suggests a newfound maturity and compares favorably to the confessional approach that Tori Amos takes, says she was “surrounded by music” while growing up.
“I always loved the piano based on what [my mother] played and what she taught me,” she says via phone from her London home. “ She would give me lessons. I’d be recording songs, and my parents loved it. My dad made me record the first songs when I was 8, so it was an album of like six songs, and I’m so glad he made me record them.”
Winning an open mic competition at age 12 provided a confidence boost.
“It was really exciting for me; it was the first time I played for people,” she says. “I was playing for a new audience. I got my own songs on YouTube, and I did a video thanking the fans for liking the song so much.”
Someone from a record company saw the video and got in touch with her. Things happened quickly after that. She put her cover of Bon Iver’s “Skinny Love” online, and the song became a sensation.
“I always loved the song and I’d never done covers before that and I thought it could be really fun to do,” she says of “Skinny Love.” “I remember I was still in school; I was 14 when it came out, and it was on the radio. It was a crazy surreal time.”
Thanks to the success of the anthemic first single, “Keeping Your Head Up,” Beautiful Lies, her third studio release has become a hit. Birdy co-produced 6 of the 14 tracks on her new album with other producing credits going to Jim Abbiss (Arctic Monkeys/Adele) and MyRiot (London Grammar), while mixing duties were taken on by Craig Silvey (Arcade Fire/Florence and the Machine).
Birdy, 20, says she had a “vision” for the album as she started to write the songs for it.
“The songs are about change — part of me not wanting to be a grown-up but wanting to be free and to do my own thing,” she says. “The album feels so true to who I am. I’ve grown up with it. I could speak my mind on it, which was so nice.”
Recorded in both London and Los Angeles, the album features more production than previous efforts. It commences with the soulful “Growing Pains,” a song that features Birdy’s distinctive falsetto and lush instrumentation. Birdy says it was “quite natural” for her to handle production duties.
“I think I’ve always had it in me,” she says. “I’ve just been getting more confident and becoming more and more of a part of it which has been really nice. It just feels natural. It has gotten more natural on each album. It feels really comfortable.”
Bridy’s vocals seem to have evolved too, and her voice sounds more soulful.
“I’ve been experimenting with my voice,” she says. “I discovered this whistle-y high voice actually. I love singing and had the soulful voice since I was little. It’s really nice for me to be soulful.”
With its cooing backing vocals and uptempo piano melody, “Keeping Your Head Up” might be the most infectious song in her catalog.
“It’s kind of about looking to the future and remembering that if you are sad or alone there are really good things coming,” says Birdy. “I think a lot of that was from me moving to London and feeling quite lost without family or friends. I was living alone and had to meet new people and look after myself.”
Birdy expresses a range of emotions on the album; some songs seem really uplifting and others come off as very pensive.
“I was excited to be writing more uplifting songs, but I feel they are in a dreamy way,” she says. “I wanted them to sound quite peaceful — about finding peace and being happy. The first two albums had to be more restrained, but I feel like they were dreamy. I wanted the next songs and new album to be peaceful and happy and upbeat.”
For the current tour, Birdy says she’ll have a band in tow.
“The people in the band are really brilliant and have become my best friends,” she says. “It’s a drummer, a bassist, a violinist, a guitarist and me on the piano. I went to see Kate Bush play in London a month ago, and it felt like stage production. I would love to bring some of that to the show as soon as possible.”
Birdy, Bahari, 7 p.m. Tuesday, June 14, House of Blues, 308 Euclid Ave., 216-523-2583. Tickets: $20 ADV, $23 DOS, houseofblues.com.
C-Notes Birdy House of Blues


An Introduction to Automation
An Introduction to AutomationCybiant2020-07-14T14:25:53+08:00
INTRODUCTION TO AUTOMATION
When talking about Service Automation, we should first talk about what led us to the idea of automating services. Automation isn’t a new concept and it dates back centuries to when humans invented basic automating tools like pulleys to make working easier. Automation is the use of various control systems for operating equipment such as machinery, processes in factories, steering of vehicles, aircraft, ships, and other applications.
Automation technology has matured to a point where a number of other technologies have emerged from it. For example, service automation and artificial intelligence. Advanced robotics is a specialised branch of automation in which automated machine possess certain levels of artificial intelligence in order to enable increased workforce capabilities or task functions.
Put simply, industrial robots and automated machinery are typically used to replace human workers in factory operations.
Automation provides benefits to almost every industry. Some examples are listed:
Manufacturing, including food and pharmaceutical, chemical and petroleum, pulp and paper
Transportation, including automotive, aerospace, and rail
Utilities, including water and wastewater, oil and gas, electric power, and telecommunications
Military and civil defence
Facility operations, including security, environmental control, energy management, safety, and other construction automation
This article aims to cover the fundamentals of automation, its historical development, principles, and applications in manufacturing and service industries.
WHAT IS AUTOMATION?
Automation is the technology by which a process or procedure is performed with minimal human interference through the use of technological or mechanical devices. It is the technique of making a process or a system operate automatically. Automation crosses all functions within almost every industry from installation, maintenance, manufacturing, marketing, sales, medicine, design, procurement, management, etc. Automation has revolutionised those areas in which it has been introduced, and there is scarcely an aspect of modern life that has been unaffected by it.
Figure 1: Many different processes in factories have been completely automated in order to increase efficiency, productivity, and reduce workplace accidents.
Automation can be achieved by several different means including mechanical, electrical, electronic devices and computers, and hydraulic systems. Industries that involve very complicated systems such as modern factories, aircrafts and ships often use a combination of different automation techniques in order to maximise their process efficiencies.
Automation is a broad range of technologies that includes robotics and expert systems, telemetry and communications, electro-optics, Cybersecurity, process measurement and control, sensors, wireless applications, systems integration, test measurement, and more. Industrial automation in manufacturing entails the use of machines to carry out manufacturing processes with levels of speed, stamina, accuracy, and consistency with capabilities of that which is beyond the human worker.
The main benefits of automating processes in manufacturing include reduced production cost, reduced waste, improved quality and reliability, and drastically reduced workplace-related accidents.
THE HISTORY OF AUTOMATION
Nowadays many associate the term ‘automation’ with advanced technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning, and robotics. They aren’t wrong. However, the history of automation technology goes back centuries and is much deeper than just these versions of automation that appeared in the last two or three decades. The idea of automation isn’t necessarily a modern one as the theory behind utilising automation technology dates back to hundreds of years ago but has only recently begun to become more task-specific and refined to fit certain industries.
The earliest known mention of automation can be credited to Homer’s “The Iliad”. Towards the end of the first book, Homer presents the tale of Hephaestus. Representing the Greek god of blacksmiths, craftsmen, metals, fire, volcanos, artisans and sculptors, Hephaestus was tasked with manufacturing all of the weaponry needed for the gods of Mount Olympus. To help himself with this task, he created automatons. These automatons were self-operating machines forged from metal. They helped Hephaestus with his task and made it possible for him to complete the required equipment for the gods. Although this tale is likely just a tale, its ancient mention proves that the idea of automation has been around for a long time.
For many centuries there has been evidence of different civilisations attempting to use forms of automation to solve everyday problems they faced. However, automation didn’t really become popular until the Industrial Revolution. After this period, there was a massive demand for basic things like cotton, textiles, paper, household items which meant there needed to be drastic changes in the production process to enable to mass-production of items. With an immense amount of emphasis placed on extreme efficiency and production, innovations in automation allowed for the mechanised production of textiles and other things.
Figure 2: The Bridgewater Foundry was one of the earliest examples of a modern factory layout. This factory was designed for easy material handling, with cranes to handle the heavy lifting, and a railway through the building to help carry materials inside.
In 1806, the first paper-making machine was invented. Before this invention, industries could not satisfy the demands of developing modern society for large quantities of printing and writing material. This paper-making machine allowed for an industrialised version of the historical process of hand paper-making. This industrial revolution also saw other significant innovations such as the development of the transportation and communication industry, leading to the increased globalisation of companies, products, and immigration of workforces.
In 1913, Henry Ford installed the first moving assembly line for the mass production of an entire car. This innovation reduced the time it took to build a car from more than twelve hours to less than three. Ford was already selling relatively inexpensive cars but he wanted to reduce the cost even further. To do this, he has to completely change the production process in order to maximise efficiency. While producing the Model T automobile, the streamlining process grew more sophisticated and in order to make it easier, he broke the production process into 84 steps. In addition to this, they trained each worker to specialise in just one step. Ford’s assembly line was inspired by the continuous-flow production methods used by flour mills, breweries, canneries and industrial bakeries.
Overall, automation has a rich history that spans over many centuries. The main uses of automation prior to the 20th and 21st century have been in industrial fields, and have only more recently been integrated into the IT industry. The drivers of all automation technology, however, have always been similar. With industrial automation, the goal was always clear: to improve the efficiency of manufacturing a variety of items.
With IT automation, the goal is to improve efficiency by creating a process that is self-sufficient and replaces an IT worker’s manual labor in data centers and cloud deployments. The parallels are clear, and they show why automation will always be prevalent in society.
Innovating things to reduce the burden on humans, increase business productivity and make our lives easier in terms of reducing manual labor is something that has been important to us for centuries, and will continue to make its impact in the future.
Introduction to Scrum
What is COBIT?
November 22nd, 2021 | 0 Comments
Introduction to Agile: The 4 Fundamental Values


Peachland Chamber of Commerce
It was a successful AGM on Monday, Nov. 29. Here’s your 2021-2022 Peachland Chamber of Commerce board of directors!
Left to right is Chamber president Greg Sewell (Lauren Heights), Nicole Moreau (Royal Lepage), Murray Wood (Eagles Nest B&B), Bella Huang (Hainle Vineyards), Vice-president Adriana Preston (Century21), Secretary Curtis Urlacher (TNI), and John Anderson( Supplement King). Not pictured is treasurer Andrew Grieve (Acubed Holdings) and Colin Aves (Southern Comfort Air Conditioning.)
The Chamber would like to thank Bella Huang for providing wine from her Hainle Vineyard Estate Winery, and Dave Collins of Coldwell Banker, who kept everyone happy with the appetizers before the meeting got underway. It was the Chamber’s first in-person event in a very (very!) long time!
Here’s what president Greg Sewell had to say:
“As I look back on 2020-21, I am incredibly proud of the commitment to growth that I have witnessed by our Directors and members alike. 2021 was a year of transformation, and as we continued to support local businesses, we rallied to rise and thrive against the challenging economic environment. I am honoured to be elected for a second term as President, as it is truly my passion to support and grow our business community.”
You can look forward to more Chamber events this year – stay tuned!
The Peachland Chamber of Commerce is concerned the provincial government’s recent paid sick leave program does not strike a sufficient balance between the needs of employees and employers. This was written by the Chamber’s general manager, Patrick Van Minsel:
On Nov. 24, the provincial government announced a minimum of five paid sick leave days a year will be available to workers in B.C. starting Jan. 1, 2022. The legislation includes part-time workers.
There is no question that employers in both the private and non-profit sectors want to do what is best for their employees as a healthy workforce is critical to success. In fact, many employers already invest significantly in their workforce, including Employer Health Tax, Work Safe BC, vacation pay and extended health benefits.
It’s important to remember that most businesses in B.C. are not large corporations. Ninety-eight per cent are small businesses. Our concern with the government initiative is that it puts additional pressure on already tight financial margins for employers in the private, non-profit, and public sectors. When all the employee-related costs are combined, the impact is more than 30 per cent above wages. We had hoped the government would embrace a compromise that benefits both employees and employers.
We recommend to the government that it reimburse employers up to $200 a day for permanent paid sick leave, like what is currently available for Covid-19 related paid sick leave for up to three days per employee.
Alternatively the government could cover the cost of permanent paid sick leave for a fix period so businesses and non-profits could adjust their financial plans to reflect this new cost.
As we have previously indicated businesses and non-profits are committed to a healthy workforce, but significant challenges arise from the cumulative impact of government taxation, employee benefits and the rising cost of living for utilities, rent, fuel and food. With fixed expenses climbing, employers may have to make tough decisions regarding equipment purchases, hiring new staff or providing raises. If employers can’t cut expenses elsewhere then this will create inflationary pressures as those costs will have to be passed on to consumers.”
-Peachland Chamber of Commerce, Patrick Van Minsel – General Manager
The Chamber’s AGM is on Monday, Nov. 29! It’s happening at the TNI Chamber 2.0 Business Centre, starting at 7 p.m. If you show up starting around 6:15, you’ll have a chance to mingle and enjoy some appies! RSVP at peachlandchamber@gmail.com.
And, after a two-year absence, the Business Excellence Awards are back! Watch for more info on that – and here’s what the Chamber has to say about the Kelowna airport announcing international flights will be landing again, starting November 30. This was issued as a press release:
The Peachland Chamber of Commerce is excited about a return to international flights touching down in the Okanagan Valley.
On Nov. 2, the federal government announced that starting Nov. 30, international flights carrying passengers are permitted to land at Kelowna International Airport (YLW).
YLW is the gateway to Peachland and the Central Okanagan, providing easy access to the region for investors and visitors, while local businesses can connect their products and services with the rest of the world.
The resumption of international flights will not only support economic recovery of the entire region, but it also helps stabilize operations at YLW, which experienced a $2.5 million loss due to the lack of international flights. The federal government’s decision also tells airlines that the Okanagan is open for business.
YLW is one of Canada’s fastest recovering airports, nearing 850,000 annual passengers, and offering more than sixty daily non-stop commercial flights with seven airlines. As of Nov. 1, YLW is connected to fourteen domestic destinations.
We are looking forward to welcoming the world back to the Okanagan to experience our winter activities, our dynamic cultural scene and amazing landscape.
Thank you to the administrative team at Kelowna International Airport for their leadership and perseverance in representing the entire Okanagan region. We also want to thank Transport Canada, Canadian Border Services Agency, and the Public Health Agency of Canada for resuming international flights.
–Patrick Van Minsel, General Manager, Peachland Chamber of Commerce.
Here’s what the Peachland Chamber of Commerce has to say about the Sept. 20 federal election:
The Peachland Chamber of Commerce will continue to provide its members and the community with a strong voice federally.
On Sept. 20, the Conservatives topped the polls in our riding while the Liberals continue with a minority government nationally.
Congratulations to Dan Albas on his re-election as member of Parliament for our riding and we look forward to working with him on issues essential to a vibrant community and economy.
We want to thank Mr. Albas and the candidates for the Greens, Liberals, NDP and People’s Party for participating in the democratic process and providing local voters with a choice on the ballot.
Leading up to election day, the Chamber held an all-candidates forum and the issues discussed included the labour shortage, the cost of housing, post-pandemic recovery, access to childcare, agricultural support and the link between economic development and reconciliation with indigenous communities.
Thanks to our more than 125 members, representing all business sectors and non-profits, the Chamber is able to advocate for meaningful change that supports the entrepreneurial spirit and creates opportunities for residents and families to succeed.
Advocacy is a fundamental component of the Chamber, and we will use the outcome of the election to renew our efforts on behalf of Peachland, whether it’s with our local MP, the federal government, or the opposition parties. We will also work actively with regional chambers, local government, and industry sectors to ensure our members are heard in Ottawa.
The Peachland Chamber is urging all parties to come together for the common good of the country.
A minority government is a chance for MPs to pursue policies that move our communities and economy forward. Businesses work with diverse partners to succeed, and we expect similar cooperation among our elected officials.
The Chamber is also starting a youth division! The first official meeting will be 6 p.m. Monday, September 27 at 5878 Beach Avenue, TNI – Chamber 2.0 Business Centre Building. According to a note to Chamber members, the goal is to create strong young leaders and help young entrepreneurs. Chamber GM Patrick Van Minsel and the youth representative Paige Allin met with interested young people in August and determined there was enough interest to start. At the first meeting, you will elect your youth division chair, vice-chair, and secretary, learn about Robert’s Rules of Order and discuss upcoming topics of interest. Once elected, your president and one other director will have a seat and a vote at the senior Peachland Chamber board of directors. There will also be programming specifically for young entrepreneurs.
A message from the Chamber’s Executive Director, Patrick Van Minsel:
On April 8, the provincial government announced that it will provide more than $50 million to help the 14,000 restaurants, bars, breweries, wineries, gyms and fitness centres affected by the March 30, 2021, provincial health orders. The new Circuit Breaker Business Relief Grant will provide affected businesses with up to $10,000 in one-time funding to help with expenses like rent, insurance, employee wages, maintenance and utilities. The grant can also help cover unexpected costs that resulted from the restrictions, such as the purchase of perishable goods.
The Peachland Chamber Executive Director Patrick Van Minsel echos the released statement of the BC Chamber of Commerce President and CEO, Fiona Famulak.
“We applaud the B.C. government’s quick action to provide additional financial support to the many businesses impacted by the COVID-19 circuit breaker measures that came into effect on March 30, 2021. Those measures have had a devastating impact on businesses across the province. Today’s announcement of the Circuit Breaker Business Relief Grant signals that the government heard our Network’s feedback, understands the impact felt by businesses in the last 10 days, and the need to respond quickly.
We are particularly encouraged to learn that the criteria and roll-out process associated with the grant will help to ensure:
both established and start-up businesses have the financial support they need;
funds are accessed easily and quickly; and
business owners can apply the funds as they see fit.
Today’s announcement is a win for business and demonstrates what can be achieved when private and public sectors adopt a collaborative approach to problem-solving.
That said, we know that businesses need more help and that our advocacy efforts are not done. We will therefore continue to listen to businesses’ feedback through our most recent BCMindReader.ca COVID-19 Pulse Check Survey and share the insights with the government so that they are informed and can take steps to respond effectively and in a timely manner.”
As noted above, to ensure affected businesses can access funds easily and quickly, the Circuit Breaker Business Relief Grant has a streamlined application process. Applications for the Circuit Breaker Business Relief Grant are expected to open the week of April 12, 2021.
The Chamber hosted a talk on Jan 18 to discuss the pace of development in Peachland. A total of 24 stakeholders participated. Here is a press release written by the Board of Directors (president Greg Sewell):
There’s some new faces in director positions at the Chamber. Their AGM was Nov 23, 2020 and 27 Chamber members were in attendance via Zoom. Eddy Labreque and Andrew Grieve have been elected for the first time and they join returning directors Greg Sewell, Cam Banman, Erin Chadwick, Nicole Moreau and Rocky Rocksborough-Smith. Greg Sewell is the new Chamber president, replacing Larry Guiilbault who has stepped down after five years of service. Those in attendance recognized the longtime work of three other directors who have stepped down: Dave Collins, Murray Wood and Darlene Hartford, who has put in an amazing 20 years of volunteering. Congratulations!
Have you heard about the Chamber’s Humans of Peachland series? Local writer Matthew Abrey is talking to some familiar faces, along with others you may not have met. They all have stories to tell, and you can check them out right here!
To combat COVID-19 – related losses, the Chamber partnered with VantageOne Credit Union to bring you shoppeachlandbc.com, where you’ll find all sorts of local business. Gift certificates are available in $20 denominations – so you can shop as much as you want. Gift certificates will be emailed within five business days, and you can redeem them anytime after July 1. You can also donate to local non-profits such as the Peachland Wellness Centre and the Peachland Food Bank.
Another way the Chamber is reaching out, is through a survey to members every two weeks. Responses will allow the Peachland Chamber to better gauge how everyone’s needs are evolving, and to track the effectiveness of provincial and federal government initiatives.
The Peachland Chamber of Commerce’s new home at 5878C Beach Ave. is also home to the TNI Business Centre, where once it reopens, you can rent out offices, use the boardroom and take advantage of networking opportunities. The grand opening will take place at a future date.
The Chamber is also active within the BC Chamber of Commerce, advocating for local business and passing on various programs and plans to help BC business owners during this time. Even if you’re not a Chamber member at this time, their resources are still available.
Check out the Peachland Chamber of Commerce Facebook page for the latest updates. Do you want to become a Chamber member? Fill out an application form, here!
Website: www.peachlandchamber.com
Email: peachlandchamber@gmail.com
See Related Stories:
Jan 12, 2021: It’s taking too long: District and developers are talking about permit delays
Dec 4, 2020: Tonight, the Christmas season starts in Peachland
Nov 2, 2020: Lots of interest, little space: Peachland’s biggest obstacle when it comes to cannabis
September 23, 2020: Peachland’s ‘no-growth’ scenario is now reality
May 12, 2020: Beach Ave Business reopens + pet store opens dog wash
May 1: Dinner with a View, 2020: One idea to help Beach Ave businesses
March 23, 2020: Peachlanders can support local biz on new shopping website
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