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No matter what you may think, doing play-by-play for any sport is a difficult thing. The great ones make it look easy, but its not. Prep work dominates things leading up to the broadcast, getting notes, nuggets and entertaining tidbits take up time. Then once youre prepped, some stadiums are better than others to broadcast. Some booths are easier to work than others.

Then theres the forgotten element, the weather.

How will you handle inclement weather of any kind? Warmth, rain, snow and oh yeah, the dreaded freezing temperature. Before we get into it, here are a few of the less-than-ideal conditions my fellow broadcasters have had to deal with over the years.

THE FOG BOWL

During the 1988 playoffs between the Chicago Bears and the Philadelphia Eagles, a dense fog rolled onto the field during the game, making it nearly impossible to play or see. Numerous players complained they couldnt see 10 yards in front of them. Both teams were forced to use their running game because receivers couldnt see long passes. The broadcast was called by Verne Lundquist and Terry Bradshaw on CBS.

We couldnt see anythingabsolutely nothing, CBS-TV play-by-play broadcaster Verne Lundquist told the Associated Press. We had to look at the TV just like everyone else. Lundquists color man, Terry Bradshaw, told viewers the game should have been suspended.

THE FREEZER BOWL

At -9 degrees Fahrenheit, the 1982 AFC Championship Game between the Cincinnati Bengals and San Diego Chargers proved to be the second-coldest game in NFL history. It was so cold that Bengals QB Ken Anderson suffered frost bite on his right ear. The temperature was not only -9 degrees, but the wind chill was measured at -58 degrees, by far the worst in league history.

THE ICE BOWL

The 1967 NFL Championship between the Green Bay Packers and Dallas Cowboys became known as the Ice Bowl. It remains the coldest game ever played in the NFL, at -15 degrees with a wind chill of -48 degrees. Lambeau Fields turf-heating system actually malfunctioned before the game, leaving the turf rock-hard. Officials actually had to resort to calling out plays and penalties because when referee Norm Schachter blew his metal whistle, it actually froze to his lips.

The last two are examples of something topical since last weeks Super Wild Card game in Buffalo was played in extreme temperatures. At kickoff, it was 7 degrees Fahrenheit and the wind chill made the temperature feel like minus-5. A far cry from the above games, but come on, it was freezing cold out there.

The CBS Sports NFL announcing team of Ian Eagle and Charles Davis said Saturdays game between Buffalo and New England was the coldest work environment theyve experienced during their broadcasting careers.

We kept the windows closed in the booth until one hour before kickoff, Eagle told The Athletic. When we finally opened them, I had a sense that it would be manageable. I was wrong. CBS rented some industrial heaters for the night, but unfortunately, they were no match for the Western New York frigid air. It really hit me in the third quarter. I started shivering and actually had a few moments where my jaw got locked up mid-sentence. It was by far the coldest Ive ever been calling a game.

Davis recalled two games he called at Lambeau Field that were similar, but not as bad as it was in Buffalo.

It helped that the evening was relatively clear, and the winds minimal, but make no mistake about it, the Almighty Hawk (wind) made its presence felt and I kept drawing on one thought everyone involved was cold, and they were persevering, Davis explained to Richard Deitsch.

In addition, we were watching history be made in front of us by the Billsoffense seven drives, seven touchdowns, something that had never been done in the NFL playoffs. Beyond impressive, and it definitely helped us maintain focus. Im not sure anyone would choose to do a game under those conditions, but there was definitely a sense of pride among our team that we all worked to the best of our abilities on a night that would test all of us.

Davis said that there was no way not to think about his discomfort. He gave credit to the stage crew in the booth that helped to keep him and Ian Eagle warm. There was also a jacket involved, a familiar one given to Eagle during the game, leading to an excellent exchange between he and Davis just before the third quarter started.

Charles Davis: Where did you get the jacket?

Ian Eagle: What jacket?

Davis: That!

Eagle: Oh, this? Yes, Hall of Famer Kurt Warner, you might have noticed, wore this a few weeks ago and it hit the internet by storm. Kurt saw that we had this assignment. Kurt now runs a program Warners Warmers, he just sends the jacket out to whoever needs it. I feel like, I want Jiffy Pop Popcorn. This thing is very warm. This is the same jacket. Kurt sent this to me. Let me tell you, not all heroes wear capes, they wear Silver Bullet Puffers.

Davis: Lets talk about the game for a minute. Kurt, a brother would like a jacket too

Ive never really experienced calling a game in that extreme weather, especially after all the years Ive called baseball games. But being in the Midwest, even those early days in April and sometimes into May, cold temps are a factor.

I think the coldest game I ever called was a game with the Cubs where the temperature at the start was about 31 degrees with a wind coming off the lake. We debated on whether or not to open the windows in the booth. One voted no, one voted yes, so the compromise was the window near the play-by-play guy was cracked open just a bit. Games just sound different with the windows closed. Its not as clean. It sounds like youre doing a game in a closet. But sometimes self-preservation comes first. The same goes for extremely warm weather too.

The elements can wreak havoc with the way you call a game. Your pen isnt working all that well, and how do you score a game without taking your gloves off? In those conditions, as Eagle was saying, your mouth isnt in sync with your brain and you wonder if the torture will ever end! I know it sounds exaggerated but in the moment, its not.

People sitting at home still want you to call the game. They are looking for the same information you would have given if it were 40 degrees instead of 40 below with the wind chill. Its a big ask, but the broadcast crew has to find a way to adjust to the conditions and do what they are there to do. It helps when everyone understands that. Its not to say that you cant talk about the way things are in the booth or on the field from time to time. But dont let it dominated the airtime, as tempting as it might be to do so.

Just think, if youre cold in the booth, whats life like for the sideline reporter?

Excerpt from:
Your Only Focus Should Be On What You Can Control - Barrett Sports Media

Ownership of Frances media has gone through significant changes in the last decade something which has become relevant as the presidential election approaches, with some candidates seeming to get better treatment than others.

The first round of voting for the election will take place on April 10 and the second, if required (if there is no outright winner in the first round), on April 24.

There has been a second round of votes in every election since the current election system was introduced in 1965.

Current President Emmanuel Macron is the favourite to win reelection (although he has not yet declared his candidacy). However, several other candidates could come out on top as his nearest challenger. These include politicians from across the political spectrum, including far-right and far-left candidates.

As always, the media will have an important role to play in shaping the narrative around the election.

Essentially, six billionaires and the French state control most of it. We break down here who they are, and the media they are affiliated with.

Right, free-market: The richest of the lot is Bernard Arnault, the head of LVMH luxury goods empire. His news stable includes Le Parisien, and Les Echos newspapers, Radio Classique and magazines Challenges and Sciences et Avenir (with Groupe Perdriel).

Centre right: Another big name is Martin Bouygues, who has made a fortune in civil engineering, internet and mobile phones. He owns nine television stations under the TF1 banner, including LCI news. He is currently trying to merge TFI and the M6 TV group.

Far right: His rival Vincent Bollor already owns most of Canal+ pay TV stations through Vivendi, and has transformed the 24-hour news channel iTele into CNews a sort of Fox TV for France.

A hardline Catholic, he is believed to be helping to fund the campaign of Eric Zemmour, a former journalist/pundit on CNews.

There is also an ongoing row at radio station Europe 1 after Bollor wrested control from Lagardre group, getting rid of many journalists and replacing them with people seen as being right-wing.

Lagardre Groupe remains very influential through its publishing business, with Hachette Livre its flagship. How it will continue under Bollors influence is a subject of much debate.

Right: Meanwhile, the Dassault family, famous for making jet fighters and computer-aided design software, owns Le Figaro and several magazines.

Centre left: Xavier Niel, founder of Free mobile phone / internet firm, took part of the controlling stake in Le Monde newspaper in 2010, and since then has invested heavily in regional newspapers and online news.

Centre right: Another telecoms billionaire, Patrick Drahi, who runs SFR, bought Libration (left leaving) newspaper and built a small media empire, which includes RMC radio station and BFMTV.

They are all likely to be interested in the forced sale by Vivendi of at least three of the 10 television channels in the TF1 and M6 bundle, with youth TV station Gulli, TFX and TF1 films all rumoured to be looking to see who will pay the most. Vivendi has to sell because the law says one owner cannot control more than seven TV frequencies.

All the privately owned companies have to fight for space against the state-owned TV and radio stations financed by the 140 tax on anyone owning a TV set and, increasingly, by advertising.

Centre/neutral: The flagship TV channel is France2, in a daily battle for audience numbers with TF1, followed by regional TV channel France 3, France 5 and the Franco-German public TV Arte.

On the radio, France Inter, FranceInfo, France Culture and France Musique are all state-owned, and regularly top listening charts in their sectors.

The state also owns Agence France-Presse through a structure which guarantees the independence of the news agency, one of the most influential in the world.

When will we know candidates for 2022 French presidential election?

Election poll sees Macron ahead 90 days from vote - but is often wrong

Tinder-style app matches user with ideal French presidential candidate

More here:
Who owns France's media and what are their political leanings? - The Connexion

AUSTIN,Texas, Jan. 20, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Seven fast-emerging, modern food and beverage brands have come together to form a new health coalition ACES, the Alliance to Control Excessive Sugar. Enlightened, HighKey, Koia, Lemon Perfect, OLIPOP, Super Coffee, and Three Wishes, all have low-sugar and great taste in their DNA and have fueled the consumer demand for healthier, tastier, lower sugar options. Once competitors in the food and beverage market, these seven brands are now unified in their mission to help consumers reduce sugar from their diets. In fact, these companies have cumulatively already removed over 34 million pounds of sugar from the market and have committed to removing 157 million more pounds of sugar in the coming years.

Healthy brands team up to create The Alliance to Control Excessive Sugar (ACES) and giveaway $1 million in incentives

Despite the well-documented harmful effects of high-sugar diets, Americans knowingly and unknowingly consumed over 84 billion pounds of sugar in 2021, due in large part to added or hidden sugars. Additionally, many low- or no-sugar products on the market contain synthetic sweeteners, which can trigger insulin release and alter gut bacteria, and other potentially harmful ingredients. To help educate and provide consumers with better options, these companies are championing the benefits of zero-calorie sweeteners and delicious, nutritious ingredients so they don't have to choose between health and flavor.

"America's go-to brands are loaded with sugar and unnecessary calories that make food and drinks taste good but at the expense of health and wellness," says the Chair of ACES and CEO of Super Coffee, Jimmy DeCicco. "At ACES, we're committed to showing consumers that there's a better way food and beverages that are low in sugar and don't compromise on taste. Our combined impact is far greater than any single brand alone, which is why we're banding together for the betterment of our community. This is just the beginning of a movement that we hope will soon pressure every food and beverage company to meet consumers' needs of combining flavor with function and wellness."

As a first step, the ACES coalition launched a website, sweetaces.org, where consumers can learn more about the mission. ACES will also be giving away $1 million worth of discounts to consumers as incentives to remove sugar from their diets. On the website, consumers sign up for an exclusive ACES Passport coupon book with $30 in savings on better-for-you and great tasting products. They can also opt to send an ACES Passport book to a friend or loved one.

In addition, ACES is issuing an open invitation to other like-minded brands to join their movement and help create positive change in the food and beverage industry. These companies can go to sweetaces.org to sign up for consideration. Consumers can also nominate their favorite better-for-you brands to join the ACES family on the site. Companies who demonstrate that they are committed to this mission, meet certain criteria, and are approved by the ACES committee, will be welcomed into the fold.

After the initial launch, ACES will continue to roll out future programs and initiatives and to fulfill their mission. Visit sweetaces.org to learn more.

About ACES

The ACES coalition is made up of seven better-for-you brands, Super Coffee, HighKey, OLIPOP, Lemon Perfect, Koia, Enlightened and Three Wishes, whojoined forces to create a healthy hub for modern food and beverages, educate communities on the dangers of excessive sugars, and collaborate to mutually benefit those who enjoy their products. Together, ACES can fulfill the mission to create a culture where all people rethink sugar and empty calories. They will champion the benefits of natural zero-calorie sweeteners and healthy ingredients that mimic the taste and texture of our favorite snacks and drinks. They are many brands with a single belief: life can be sweet, without the sugar. Visit sweetaces.org to learn more.

PR Contact:

Jennifer Birn

Birn Communications

Jen@jenbirn.com

(646) 206-1130

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HEALTHY BRANDS TEAM UP TO CREATE THE ALLIANCE TO CONTROL EXCESSIVE SUGAR (ACES) AND LAUNCH GIVING CONSUMERS $1 MILLION IN INCENTIVES TO EAT LESS SUGAR...

Significance

Biomedical application of mechanophores is the next frontier in polymer mechanochemistry. We report the concept, mechanochemical dynamic therapy (MDT), that utilizes remote, ultrasound-triggered mechanophore activation to enable anticancer activities. We selected an azo-based mechanophore to generate reactive free radicals (FRs) under the control of high-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU), which subsequently produced ROS. We investigated two sets of invitro mouse cancer models: 1) melanoma (B16F10) and 2) breast cancer (E0771). Inhibition of growth and decreases in viabilities of both B16F10 and E0771 were observed in correlation to the release of ROS by mechanophore activation. By circumventing the known issues in photodynamic therapy and sonodynamic therapy, we anticipate MDT to be a powerful anticancer tool complementary to other existing cancer treatments.

Mechanophores are molecular motifs that respond to mechanical perturbance with targeted chemical reactions toward desirable changes in material properties. A large variety of mechanophores have been investigated, with applications focusing on functional materials, such as strain/stress sensors, nanolithography, and self-healing polymers, among others. The responses of engineered mechanophores, such as light emittance, change in fluorescence, and generation of free radicals (FRs), have potential for bioimaging and therapy. However, the biomedical applications of mechanophores are not well explored. Herein, we report an invitro demonstration of an FR-generating mechanophore embedded in biocompatible hydrogels for noninvasive cancer therapy. Controlled by high-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU), a clinically proven therapeutic technique, mechanophores were activated with spatiotemporal precision to generate FRs that converted to reactive oxygen species (ROS) to effectively kill tumor cells. The mechanophore hydrogels exhibited no cytotoxicity under physiological conditions. Upon activation with HIFU sonication, the therapeutic efficacies in killing invitro murine melanoma and breast cancer tumor cells were comparable with lethal doses of H2O2. This process demonstrated the potential for mechanophore-integrated HIFU combination as a noninvasive cancer treatment platform, named mechanochemical dynamic therapy (MDT). MDT has two distinct advantages over other noninvasive cancer treatments, such as photodynamic therapy (PDT) and sonodynamic therapy (SDT). 1) MDT is ultrasound based, with larger penetration depth than PDT. 2) MDT does not rely on sonosensitizers or the acoustic cavitation effect, both of which are necessary for SDT. Taking advantage of the strengths of mechanophores and HIFU, MDT can provide noninvasive treatments for diverse cancer types.

Author contributions: G.K., Q.W., M.L.O., J.S.M., and K.C.L. designed research; G.K., Q.W., and J.L.C. performed research; G.K., Q.W., E.J.S., and M.L.O. analyzed data; M.L.O., J.S.M., and K.C.L. supervised the study; and G.K., Q.W., J.L.C., and M.L.O. wrote the paper.

Reviewers: A.B., University of WisconsinMadison; K.B.P., Stanford University; and Y.X., Stanford University.

The authors declare no competing interest.

This article contains supporting information online at https://www.pnas.org/lookup/suppl/doi:10.1073/pnas.2109791119/-/DCSupplemental.

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Ultrasound controlled mechanophore activation in hydrogels for cancer therapy - pnas.org

Srinagar: The J&K administration took control of Kashmir Press Club (KPC), the largest membership organisation of the Valley-based media persons, hours after a group of independent journalists announced the formation of second interim committee for electing its new managing body.

The J&K administration led by Lieutenant Manoj Sinha on Monday, January 17, said that the press club, which was registered as a society in J&K, has ceased to exist after it failed to reregister under the Societies of Registration Act, a central law which was extended to Jammu and Kashmir after the revocation of Article 370.

The Press Clubs existing managing body too has come to a legal closure on 14 July, 2021, the date on which its tenure came to an end, the administration said in a statement, effectively seizing control of an institution which was set up to look after the welfare of journalists in Kashmir.

The development took place barely hours after a group of independent journalists associated with the national and international news organisations, including the BBC, Associated Press and others announced that they had nominated a committee to hold the elections for the new managing body, the second such committee in as many days.

The committee of 13 journalists, with the BBCs Riyaz Masroor topping the list followed by Associated Presss Mehrajuddin, had said on Sunday, January 16, that it was working on completing the legalities & re-registration process. In a statement, the committee said care has been taken to make the nominated body broad-based with representatives from every section of the fraternity.

Also read: Illegal Coup at Kashmir Press Club: Editors Guild of India Condemns Police Complicity

A day earlier, in what the Editors Guild of India termed as armed coup, another committee of journalists, led by The Times of Indias Saleem Pandit with at least 10 more journalists and newspaper owners, some of them widely perceived to be government-friendly, had taken over the KPC office, naming Saleem as their interim president.

The hasty election of the interim committee and the heavy presence of security personnel armed with automatic weapons at the Press Club on Saturday had prompted uproar with prominent journalist bodies and free speech activists across the country criticising the involvement of the J&K administration in the illegal takeover.

The ousted managing body said on Monday that the formation of the interim committee was done with the ultimate goal of shutting down the club. For this purpose, they tried to install a group of journalists. By this action, they wanted to stifle the voice of journalists that resonated through the forum called Kashmir Press Club, the only democratic and independent journalist body in Valley, Ishfaq Tantray, general secretary of the ousted body, said in a statement.

But it is our firm belief that our journalists are capable and professional enough to keep the flame glowing and confront these challenges ahead. I want to reiterate that journalism thrived in Kashmir and it will survive all crests and troughs in the future as well, the statement added.

The issue had turned into a major embarrassment for the administration which seems to have now moved into damage control mode, dubbing the KPC takeover by the interim committee and the announcement of second committee on Sunday as an unpleasant turn of events involving two rival warring groups.

In view of this aspect of the dispute and in view of the reports in social media and other sources indicating a potential law and order situation including a threat of breach of peace and the safety of bonafide journalists, an intervention has become necessary, the Directorate of Information and Public Relations (DIPR) said in a statement on Monday.

The Srinagar office of Kashmir Press Club has been closed for a week. Photo: Special arrangement

The Kashmir Press Club ran out of an outdated building located on the upscale Poloview Road in the heart of Srinagar. Before 2017, the building was occupied by the J&Ks employment department. After the death of Mufti Mohammad Sayeed, the J&K government, led by Mehbooba Mufti, partially refurbished the building and allotted it to the Kashmir Press Club after it registered as a society in 2018.

The announcement was made by Haseeb Drabu in his third budget speech as J&Ks finance minister and it was seen as a major achievement for the local media fraternity in Kashmir who have been working under difficult circumstances to report the regions recent volatile history. The PDP-BJP government had also promised Rs 50 lakh yearly budget for the club.

However, with the latest controversy, the administration has cancelled the allotment of Aiwan-e-Sahafat, pulling shutters on the institution which had emerged as a space for critical thought and intellectual exchange between journalists during its short existence. The club remained open during some the most historic developments, including the reading down of Article 370, when the whole of Kashmir was brought under a crippling security lockdown, and the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The J&K administration said it is committed to a free and fair press and journalists should be entitled to all facilities, including a place for professional, educational, social, cultural, recreational and welfare activities. The admin also hopes that a duly registered bona fide society of all journalists shall be constituted as soon as possible and the same shall be able to approach the government for reallocation of the premises, the DIPR said in a series of tweets.

Pretext

Anuradha Bhasin, editor of Jammu-based English daily Kashmir Times, said the KPCs inability to hold elections (for the managing body) and the endless delay in the re-registration process was a pretext to lock a democratic institution.

It is more than evident that the move (to cancel the re-registration of KPC) was preplanned and aimed at killing a democratic institution where journalists were practicing free speech and free thought, she told The Wire.

The KPC had applied for reregistration last year in May and it was approved by the registrar of societies on December 29 last year after which the club announced dates for electing a new managing body on February 14. However, the administration applied brakes on the reregistration, citing a report by the CID or Criminal Investigations Department, an elite counterintelligence wing of J&K Police. The details of the report have, however, not been made public.

Bhasin said the issues at the KPC should have been dealt with by Kashmirs media fraternity. Instead of promoting democracy, the government has imposed its will and undemocratically demolished an institution, she said.

It has set a wrong precedent; if it can happen in Kashmir, it can happen elsewhere, she continued.

In a statement on Monday, the Indian Journalists Union said the KPC has been vocal on media issues, sustained harassment and intimidation of journalists in the Valley and the twin actions smack of vendetta and brazen attempt to silence dissenting voices.

The union, which in its National Executive Committee meeting in Itanagar, Arunachal, on January 12 had passed a resolution expressing solidarity with its Kashmiri journalists, demanded inquiry into the happenings at the Press Club over the last three days to ensure the KPC is allowed to function democratically.

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J&K Admin Takes Control of Kashmir Press Club - The Wire