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This week, I spoke with the Commercial Development Director at Synergy Sports, Robert Błaszczak. Robert has an accolade of sporting achievements from working at the media, data, media rights, and technology side of sports business. This interview will provide Robert's insights towards the value of having a diverse skill-set, how the journey started, and the influence technology will have in the industry for the future.
Question 1: Robert, it's fantastic to have you on Ash's Sports Talk. Let's start this off by understanding how your sports career began?
We would need to go back to my junior high school days. I always knew I wanted to be engaged in sports one way or another. It all started with the mix of writing sports columns to the school's paper, publishing football articles online (the first one went up in the autumn of 2001), and representing my school in all municipal and regional competitions.
I competed across basketball, volleyball, swimming, athletics, cross country running, football, and even table tennis! It's a distant memory now, but I was once a member of my local hometown club Start Łódź across three sports: basketball, swimming, and football. I've been sports mad from the outset!
Question 2: I'm aware your sports career has been a diverse one. You've worked as a football consultant, reporter, researcher, media rights manager, partnership manager, and commercial development director. How beneficial have each of these experiences been towards your sports career development?
And you have just reminded me that I may need to renew my football coaching license, too! The amazing thing about sports is that it's ever-changing; it never stands still. Having a diverse experience across this industry helps in being more adaptable but also enjoying its evolution.
Virtually all aspects of sports that I knew of at the millennium turn are different now – and they have developed for better, too. Sports as an industry is more accessible, transparent, diverse, meritocratic, and driven by a broader technological change.
Question 3: Moving on to your position at Synergy Sports. It would be fantastic to hear about what the organisation represent, your role and some of the impacts you've made.
Synergy Sports is a disruptive force in the sports technology landscape. We aim to serve those who oversee, participate, commit their time and efforts to sports. We do so by providing truly innovative technological solutions. What is it exactly? A few points come down to capturing, producing, analysing, distributing, and commercialising sports content. AI/ML-powered automation is at the heart of it all. And it's not just for the top, elite sport but across all sports levels, too.
In my role, I'm predominantly looking after the latter stages of this process: distribution and commercialisation of the sports content that we capture and produce. For a committed sportsperson like myself, it's a rewarding role. We have partnerships with leagues and federations on six continents, ranging from the top level of French basketball down to emerging nations like Mali or Kosovo – and everything in between! It is very gratifying to bring more access to their favourite teams or introduce the sport to more people for the first time. We are the world's best in this space, and it does feel we are making a real difference!
Question 4: How instrumental have you found technology to be at driving fan engagement in sport? Plus, how do you feel the stadium experience could change when fan attendances eventually return?
Every aspect of our daily lives has been revolutionised by technological innovation – I'm glad that we can be at the forefront of this revolution in sports. (Or, perhaps, is it a natural, much-needed evolution?) The pandemic has accelerated these changes in sports – and probably highlighted what else should be reassessed, too.
Once the fans safely return to stadiums and arenas worldwide, they will not want to roll back the clocks and see the 'same old' in terms of their in-stadium experience. They would want to benefit from the recent innovations around fan engagement. Gamification, immersive second-screen experiences, cashless payments, richer data about their favourite athletes' performance… The fans are brighter than ever about the sports they love and are passionate about.
Question 5: I understand sports betting solutions fall into your services. How are technological activations promoting higher levels of responsibility for gambling, and how are the sports betting landscape pivoting under Synergy Sports' wing?
Every season at Synergy Sports, we produce thousands of live basketball broadcasts from around the globe. Our portfolio of basketball rights for betting and OTT purposes is the largest in the sports industry. On top of it, we analyse many, many more games across basketball, baseball, and other sports from the deep analytics point of view. It allows us to expand the outreach of these competitions to new territories worldwide and have a much better understanding of sports – and what may happen next during the games.
Question 6: With any successful career, there are various challenges on a personal and organisational level. Would you mind sharing some of the adversities you've experienced throughout your sports career?
I wouldn't call them adversities – just some enhanced learning experiences! Looking back, if you work hard, have your eyes and mind open, every crisis brings an opportunity. The key is communication and clearly stating your understanding of the situation. Sometimes just a chat can solve problems and help find common ground and build stronger foundations for the future. It's essential to work on these skills now in this new, predominantly remote working environment. I'm optimistic about it – we have already shown that we can adapt quickly over the past year!
Question 7: Robert, reflecting on this discussion and your sports career, what is your killer piece of advice for someone wanting to pursue a career in the industry?
Never stop learning. Simple as that. Whether it's a foreign language, some coding, or another online course – keep challenging yourself to learn something new. Consume the industry updates, and observe the day-to-day world around you. How are they interlinked? What's the next innovation in our lives, and how will it be adopted in sports? What can be done to benefit other people's lives? How to make these ideas scalable and commercially viable? How to tell this story? No day will feel the same with this approach.
Incredible, what a brilliant interview by Robert. It's genuinely refreshing to absorb how technology has enhanced responsible gambling, a new era for fan engagement and understanding the power of positive thinking. What were your key insights you took away from Robert?


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True Disciples
After a while some of the Jews plotted together to kill him. They were watching for him day and night at the city gate so they could murder him, but Saul was told about their plot. So during the night, some of the other believers lowered him in a large basket through an opening in the city wall. When Saul arrived in Jerusalem, he tried to meet with the believers, but they were all afraid of him. They did not believe he had truly become a believer! Then Barnabas brought him to the apostles and told them how Saul had seen the Lord on the way to Damascus and how the Lord had spoken to Saul. He also told them that Saul had preached boldly in the name of Jesus in Damascus. So Saul stayed with the apostles and went all around Jerusalem with them, preaching boldly in the name of the Lord. He debated with some Greek-speaking Jews, but they tried to murder him. When the believers heard about this, they took him down to Caesarea and sent him away to Tarsus, his hometown. The church then had peace throughout Judea, Galilee, and Samaria, and it became stronger as the believers lived in the fear of the Lord. And with the encouragement of the Holy Spirit, it also grew in numbers. (Acts of the Apostles 9:23-31 NLT)
Wow! What a way to be received into ministry! There was no welcome party in Damascus for Saul. Nobody applauded his ministerial aspirations. He who had been the arch rival was now the strongest advocate. His conversion to Jesus as Messiah and his preaching of such was not well received by his former colleagues. They now wanted to kill him. Imagine your current family, friends, and religious acquaintances turning on you for your conversion to Christ. Saul was now a most wanted! His preaching and teaching about Jesus was infuriating his peers. Some were convinced and converted but many refused to hear the truth.
In spite of the opposition, Saul remains steadfast. Nothing will deter this man from proclaiming the truth. He is bent on everyone hearing the truth of Jesus Christ. His soul will not be satisfied until he has given his last breath for the cause of Christ. Would to God we had men like this in our time.
After being let down the wall in a basket by some fellow believers, he made his way back to Jerusalem. There, he was not welcomed by the church because they weren't convinced of his conversion. They were afraid of him. Imagine being in that predicament. He was hunted on one side, rejected on the other. Thankfully, Barnabas came to his defense. He stood up for Saul and shared his story with the other believers. Saul then went to stay with the Apostles. He went preaching with them and gained acceptance in the church by his preaching and teaching. However, he was met with the same hostility by the Greek speaking Jews. They, too, wanted to kill him. Let's not forget that Jesus told Ananias that Saul would suffer these things (see Acts 9:15-16).
The church then took him to Caesarea, a coastal city to send him by ship back to Tarsus, his hometown. Tarsus is in the area we now call Turkey (Asia Minor in biblical times).
Following that time, the church had a period of rest from persecution in that region.
Too often, we here in the states take for granted the freedom we have to share Jesus Christ. May we not be fair weather church attendees. Let us be true disciples of Jesus until death!
Leave a Reply.
Rev. Curtis Norris
March 2020

subset: commoncrawl


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SYNOPSIS: Nemesis (n.) 1) An opponent or rival whom a person cannot best or overcome. 2) A person's undoing 3) Joshua Templeman Lucy Hutton has always been certain that the nice girl can get the corner office. She's charming and accommodating and prides herself on being loved by everyone at Bexley & Gamin. Everyone except … Continue reading The Hating Game by Sally Thorne
Month: June 2020
The Shadows Between Us by Tricia Levenseller
SYNOPSIS: Alessandra is tired of being overlooked, but she has a plan to gain power: 1) Woo the Shadow King. 2) Marry him. 3) Kill him and take his kingdom for herself. No one knows the extent of the freshly crowned Shadow King's power. Some say he can command the shadows that swirl around him … Continue reading The Shadows Between Us by Tricia Levenseller
Stalking Jack the Ripper (Stalking Jack the Ripper #1) by Kerri Maniscalco
SYNOPSIS: Presented by James Patterson's new children's imprint, this deliciously creepy horror novel has a storyline inspired by the Ripper murders and an unexpected, blood-chilling conclusion... Seventeen-year-old Audrey Rose Wadsworth was born a lord's daughter, with a life of wealth and privilege stretched out before her. But between the social teas and silk dress fittings, … Continue reading Stalking Jack the Ripper (Stalking Jack the Ripper #1) by Kerri Maniscalco
TBR goal of June 2020
Hello, hello! Hope everyone is doing good, staying safe and well-read...How's reading going by the way? May 2020 has been for me an insane month - I said I was going to try to read two books because, oh well, real life happens sometimes, but guess what? I've been reading more than in any other … Continue reading TBR goal of June 2020


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Website > Made from grammar and edits to text on various pages. No major changes.
Today, I launched a few initiatives. I created a subreddit for DBU. I created a linktree site that will help centralize all the links and sites associated with DBU. I updated our Patreon page. I joined the RPGdesign Reddit discord server to help grow the community and get more feedback. I finally got around to shout outs for Patreon donators. I post a brief history about DBU as a whole in our subreddit. I reached out to a few contacts about PDF design, still not sure if this come to fruition – but it is a highly requested item. I made some small updates to the other DBU pages, group and the like.


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As It Was
- $14.99
- $14.99
Publisher Description
Fred Trueman was a national treasure, a legend not only to cricket fans the world over but also to those who only ever took a passing interest in the game. As one of the greatest fast bowlers in cricketing history, Trueman's dazzling performances raised the spirits of a nation and struck terror in the hearts of even the most formidable of opponents.
In this audiobook, Trueman tells the full, definitive story of his life in his own inimitable fashion. From his village childhood to his debut for Yorkshire at the tender age of 18, to his international test triumphs and his other and equally successful careers as a commentator, stalwart of BBC Radio's Test Match Special, raconteur, and after-dinner speaker, Freddie recalls, with characteristic honesty, the highs and lows of his public and private life.
This audiobook is bursting with riotous anecdotes, trenchant opinions on the game he loved, and genuine warmth.


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Abby's mother tells her to tidy her room.
* Story contains bad language
A confrontation between an imaginative nine year old girl and an agressive young boy.
One day a tiny water snail appears in Abby's fish tank.
This site uses cookies to give you the best online experience.To find out more, read our privacy policy and cookie policy.


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Bill Clinton and Nelson Mandela promise to lead peer education among political leaders as world looks for $10 billion a year to fight HIV/AIDS
11 September 2002. Related: Conference reports, Treatment access, World AIDS 14 Barcelona 2002.
Graham McKerrow, HIV i-Base
On the Thursday evening of the conference former US president Bill Clinton was asked at a "town hall meeting" to act as a peer educator to make other world leaders respond to the AIDS crisis. The next day he told perhaps 10,000 delegates at the closing ceremony: "I pledge that in every speech I make and in every meeting I have I will raise this and I ask you both to hold me accountable to that pledge and to tell me what more I can do."
Speaking from the same platform as former South African president Nelson Mandela, Clinton added: "President Mandela and I have agreed to work together to launch the World Leaders AIDS Network … to raise the global commitment to end AIDS."
The first 12 International AIDS Conferences were focused on the scientific work to develop treatments, and the 13th conference, two years ago in Durban, directed attention towards the need for political leadership to confront the AIDS crisis in developing countries. The 14th conference, held in Barcelona, Spain, in July, highlighted the need for world leaders to make sure there were sufficient resources to respond to the epidemic.
Most estimates put this at $10 billion a year. Some people said it was more like $25 billion.
Political leaders stayed away from the Durban conference as poor countries ignored their own problems, and the host, President Thabo Mbeki, was booed for questioning the link between HIV and AIDS.
This year countless presidents, prime ministers, former presidents and former prime ministers and ministers of health attended the conference. A list of just some of them appears at the foot of this article.
During the conference, Dr Denzil Douglas, the prime minister of St Kitts and Nevis, announced that he had signed an agreement on behalf of 14 Caribbean nations for the cut-price purchase of antiretroviral drugs from six pharmaceutical companies. For some of the supplies, the companies promised to match the lowest prices in the world.
Many debates included speeches from the platform or from the floor by serving ministers of health such as Sam Ongeri, the Kenyan minister of public health, and Assana Sangare, the AIDS minister for the Cote d'Ivoire.
But it was not only poor countries that were represented. Tommy Thompson, the US secretary of health, gave a speech, although it was made inaudible by shouts and whistles from protestors. A copy of his speech distributed afterwards said that America was doing more than any other country to combat HIV/AIDS, but he made no new promises.
The lobbying group Health GAP (Global Access Project) criticised the US for paying a smaller percentage of its GDP to the Global Fund for AIDS, TB and Malaria than were poorer nations like Uganda.
Health GAP led much of the protest at the conference and focused on companies like Anglo American, the largest mining company in South Africa, and Coca-Cola, demanding that they do more to provide access to treatments for staff in poor countries.
ACT-UP protesters trashed pharmaceutical company marketing stands in a routine manner that attracts less attention at each passing conference.
Several hundred people attended a rally and march on the eve of the conference, at which a 'Barcelona Declaration' was unveiled demanding donations of $10 billion a year for fighting AIDS around the world, antiretroviral (ARV) treatment for two million people in the developing world by the time of the International AIDS Conference 2004 in Bangkok, lower ARV drug prices in the developed world and universal access to drugs in the developing world by 2004.
One speaker at the end of the Durban conference said it had seen "activists become scientists and scientists become activists." The Barcelona conference saw the political baton seized by an even more appropriate group: politicians.
Nelson Mandela walked onto the stage at the Palau St Jordi for the closing ceremony, supported by a walking stick in one hand and holding Clinton's arm with the other.
Mandela said: "AIDS is killing more people than all the wars in history and natural disasters. AIDS is a war against humanity. This is a war that requires the organisation of entire populations."And he said that there was a growing number of children being orphaned by AIDS, and added: "I ask all leaders of the world: is it acceptable? We know that there are treatments available to stop TB and help AIDS sufferers for several years at least but these parents had no access to treatments. Is this acceptable? The answer is no. We have to make this treatment available to everyone who needs it, regardless of their ability to pay."
Mandela outlined three challenges for the world. The first was for all institutions, public and private, to make real and rapid progress on achieving access to treatment for all people who need it regardless of their ability to pay.
His second challenge was that testing should be available to all: "If HIV testing is not available free of charge you must demand it. It is your right to know." He also said businesses should not humiliate people by testing them openly.
Mandela added: "My final challenge is to leadership. When leadership starts at the top it is more effective." But he made clear this was not only a call to political leaders, but also to business leaders, trade union leaders, religious leaders and the leaders of NGOs.
He said: "I am calling on all leaders in the world today to ask themselves what they have done to limit the AIDS pandemic, and whatever they have done or not done, they must do more."
At the end of his speech he spoke directly to political activists – as someone who has been an activist all his life. He said – "You have my greatest admiration. Keep on fighting and you will overcome."
Clinton told an audience of 1,000 at the town hall meeting that the rich countries simply had to foot the bill for fighting the pandemic. He seemed to suggest a regional response would be appropriate when he said that the US and Canada should provide the money to enable the Caribbean to respond to the crisis, "to bridge the gap between the cost of treatment and what the countries can afford." He said: "You should come to us and we should pay."
And he urged countries to negotiate lower prices with the drug companies and said that if the deals offered by the companies were unsatisfactory they should buy from generic manufacturers in Thailand or India.
Clinton told the closing ceremony: "Developing countries have to work out how much they can pay and send the rest of us the bill for the difference.
"Leaders everywhere must move aggressively to remove stigma and denial. There are still people who think people living with HIV/AIDS are people who are different. Yes, they are sex workers, and poor and often gay men … but they are also our friends."
Other politicians who addressed the conference included: Kim Campbell, former prime minister of Canada; IK Gujral, former prime minister of India; Paul Kagame, president of Rwanda; Pascoal Mocumbi, prime minister of Mozambique; Ali Hassan Mwinyi, former president of Tanzania; Jorge Sampaio, president of Portugal; Meechai Viravaidya, senator from Thailand and UN AIDS ambassador; Marcus Bethel, minister of health of the Bahamas; Henri Claude Voltaire, minister of health of Haiti; Jerome Walcott, minister of health for Barbados; Mrs Graca Machel, Southern African activist; Barbara Lee, US Congresswoman and Crispus Kiyonga, former minister of health for Uganda and now chair of the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, TB and Malaria. Another speaker was The Most Reverend Njongonkulu Ndungane, archbishop of Cape Town and metropolitan of the Church of Southern Africa.


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Written by Lauralee Zelesnak Lees, Certified CBD Professional & Coach, Clinically Certified Aromatherapist (CCA), and member of WBN Cranberry Chapter
As we have transitioned from summer season to fall, and then from fall into winter season, we all need to prepare out bodies by supporting our immune system health.
Never has supporting our vital immune systems been more important as it is in the times we are living in right now.
We discovered a vitamin and a mineral that pack an immune system support punch, and they are Vitamin C and Zinc, respectively.
Ascorbic acid, also known as Vitamin C, has been nicknamed the 'universal vitamin.' Historically speaking, Vitamin C was used to treat snake bites, insect stings, and Rabies.
A primary function of Vitamin C is maintaining collagen and protein necessary for the formation of connective tissue in skin, ligaments, and bones. Therefore, Vitamin C also plays a role in skin health, including scars. Vitamin C is an essential part of the skin's defense system and is transported there, where it can act as an antioxidant, and help to strengthen skin and reduce healing time.
Did you know that a large concentration of Vitamin C is found in our adrenal glands? Located on the top of each of our kidneys, during stress, the level of adrenal ascorbic acid within and released from our adrenals are rapidly used up.
Therefore, we should be mindful of day-to-day stress in our lives and learn ways to reduce it, for example, relaxing, deep breathing, shifting a negative mindset, and taking a Vitamin C supplement if needed. It has also been used for person suffering from addictions.
According to the famous scientist, Linus Pauling, Vitamin C stimulates the production of a group of signaling proteins (interferons) who are released in the presence of foreign particles in our bodies. For example, a virus-infected cell will release interferons causing nearby cells to heighten their anti-viral defenses. For this reason, whether known or unknown to them, mothers and grandmothers have been advising us to drink a lot of orange juice when we have a nose with sniffles!
Vitamin C also helps encourage the production of white blood cells known as lymphocytes and phagocytes, which help protect the body against infection. Did you know that scientific researchers report that persons with poor health and who are tested have lower Vitamin C levels than a person in good health? Vitamin C empowers the immune system when foreign particles enter.
Now onto Zinc! Zinc is an essential trace mineral occurring in the body in larger amounts than any other trace mineral except for iron. It helps in the aid absorption of vitamins and plays a role in the digestion of carbohydrates, the formation of cellular proteins, and in the healing of skin, just to name a few.
The largest storage of Zinc can be found in our liver, pancreas, kidneys, bones, and muscles, and it can also be found in smaller parts in our eyes, prostate gland, spermatozoa, skin, hair, fingernails, toenails, and white blood cells.
Scientists report that deficiencies in Zinc can cause prolonged healing of wounds, and in the news today, Dr. Mehmet Oz, world-renowned health expert and medical physician, counts it as a highly supportive immune system support during these trying times.
There are many methods of application when it comes to taking Vitamin C and Zinc, for example, in the form of pills, capsules, chewables, gummies, powdered drinks, beverages, teas, tinctures, and oral sprays (sublingual / buccal application). My family and I have decided to supplement with these two powerful immune system supports, Vitamin C and Zinc, and we have chosen to do so in the form of a liquid, nutritional, and daily spray.
We are making no medicinal claims or promises of health with these two immune system supports, Vitamin C and Zinc, or by the method of which we choose to take them. We are taking them for just that; immune system supports to help promote and maintain our health naturally.
We are choosing a liquid spray because we believe that sublingual application is a quick way into our circulation. Again, we make no claims or diagnosis about Vitamin C or Zinc, nor the amount of each to take in reference to conditions. We are referring to a supplement of this vitamin and mineral for overall health support and the support, promotion, and maintenance of our immune systems, and there are many supplements from which to choose on the market today.
As we have transitioned from summer season to fall, and fall season into winter season, consider supporting the health of your immune system with vitamins and minerals like Vitamin C and Zinc. During the upcoming months, let us give ourselves and our families the gift of a supported immune system!
Contact Lauralee Zelesnak Lees, Certified CBD Professional & Coach, Clinically Certified Aromatherapist (CCA), Author, Wellness Educator, Public Speaker, and Professionally Certified Life & Business Coach at Phone: 724-991-8480, E-mail: [email protected], Find Lauralee on Facebook: Lauralee Zelesnak Lees, Find Lauralee's Business on Facebook: Oils & Aromatherapy with Scott and Lauralee, and Website: www.mydailychoice.com/LauraleeZelesnakLees


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When I was pregnant with Dancer, Dad would sing this song to my stomach.
You're my little potato, you're my little potato
You come from underground, you come from underground.
The world is big, so very big,
It's so new, so new to you.
You're my little potato, you're my little potato,
You come from underground.
After Dancer was born and she would cry, one of us would comfort her and sing this song which often helped to calm her down. Dancer cried a lot when she was just a wee thing. Looking back now I wonder if she had colic, as we would often sit up all night rocking and singing until early morning. Early morning like 5:00 a.m. when she would sleep for a while and then I would drag myself back out of bed and start again. Thankfully this only lasted about four months and I don't mind crying babies. Actually I loved sitting up in the dark alone with her. We lived in a town then and our house was part way up on a hill so I could look out the living room window at all the lights of the town and wonder who else was sitting up comforting a baby. I had also just finished six weeks of bed rest where we worried our baby might not make it to the point where we would be up all night with her so it was a welcomed relief to have her in my arm and not my stomach anymore.
When I was pregnant with Spark I would like to say that Dad did the same thing. He did, just not to the extent he did with Dancer. When I was pregnant with Spark I ran a child care and by the time Dad got home at night he would take Dancer out to play and I would collapse on the couch. Spark was also a different baby, he slept soundly and usually early in the evening. I would get him back up to nurse again before I would go to bed. When he got up in the middle of the night to eat, he was all business and then back to bed. I remember sitting and rocking him after he was asleep just so I would have those memories of dark, quiet nights with my second little potato.


text: Verse of the Day (May 21, 2020) #BMSeminary – Now is transitional. With this, Paul turns to his appeal for unity. No divisions: The first major concern of this epistle has to do with the divisive spirit in Corinth. Paul approaches the problem by first denouncing their factional tendencies (vv. 10–31), then by demonstrating the quality of divine wisdom as contrasted with human wisdom (ch. 2). In chapter 3, he considers those qualities that make for mature Christian service. Finally in chapter 4, he defends his own ministry, and that of Apollos and the apostles, contrasting personal discomfort which he himself endured with the arrogance of the Corinthians who are now criticizing him. (KJV Study Bible, HarperCollins)


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BCISD MESSAGE: School board election canceled; April is Child Abuse Prevention Month
Recently, the Rotary Club of Burnet gave away more than $13,000 in community grants to local nonprofit and service organizations. As a member of Rotary, I am very proud of its community grants, and it is another reason you can add to my list of why I love living and working in Burnet. This community gives back to its residents, and there are hundreds of volunteers working to serve people in need.
Kudos to Rotary for helping these organizations and a big thank-you to the local nonprofits and service organizations that exemplify the Rotary motto: "Service Above Self."
About this time each year, I normally would remind readers about the upcoming school board election, but that won't be happening this year. Due to only one candidate filing in each place for the Burnet Consolidated Independent School District election, the Board of Trustees approved the Order of Cancellation and the Certification of Unopposed Candidates at its special meeting March 5. Incumbents Angela Moore (Place 2) and Robby Robertson (Place 6) and new board member Ross Behrens (Place 4) will be sworn in at the regular meeting May 21.
During the April 16 board meeting, I will have the opportunity to recognize outgoing board member Jeff Hullum, a 1978 graduate of Burnet High School, for his outstanding service to the Burnet school district. Mr. Hullum served on the board from 1998-2005 then again from 2009 until now. There is no doubting his love for Burnet and the Bulldogs. His leadership and contributions to the board will be greatly missed.
As he says, "I take great pride in building and promoting a school system that is the backbone of this city. I want what is best for all students that come through our school system. If I can be a part of this process and help all students along the way, I feel that being on the school board is the place to do it."
It is easy to take for granted the outstanding leadership, vision, and oversight provided by the BCISD Board of Trustees. As a team, members quietly spend countless hours doing their work on behalf of staff and students. I have a front-row seat to this, and having worked with other boards in other districts, I want our community to know how lucky we are to have these men and women serving as school trustees. For this reason, the BCISD Board of Trustees is being nominated for the 2018 Texas Association of School Administrators School Board of the Year Award, a well-deserved honor.
April is National Child Abuse Prevention Month and a time to celebrate the important role communities play in protecting children. Everyone's participation is critical. Focusing on ways to build and promote the protective factors, in every interaction with children and families, is the best thing our community can do to prevent child maltreatment and promote optimal child development.
We are lucky that Burnet has the Hill Country Children's Advocacy Center as a resource to help prevent child abuse and support families that have been victimized by child abuse. To learn more about the center, go to hccac.org.
Finally, this past weekend, I completed the nine-month Thompson Executive Leadership Institute Superintendent Academy. The scholarship I received to attend the academy paid for all academic costs, including a field trip to attend leadership development sessions at Columbia University and visits to several New York City schools. During the academy, I regularly met other superintendents, attended an educational visioning conference, and, throughout the process, was challenged to look at old problems in new ways. It was an outstanding professional development opportunity that has helped me be a better leader. I appreciate the support from the Board of Trustees to attend the academy each month, and I look forward to applying what I have learned in the years to come.
Keith McBurnett is the superintendent for Burnet Consolidated Independent School District. Go to burnetcisd.net for more information.


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Institutional Communications
Bureau of Mines Building, Room 137
Laramie, WY 82071
Phone: (307) 766-2929
Email: email@example.com
ALS Care Services Coordinator to Speak at UW
Suzanne Schrag, Care Services with the ALS (Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, or Lou Gehrig's disease) Association Rocky Mountain chapter, will be the final speaker in a seminar series focusing on ALS.
She will speak Wednesday, Nov. 19, at 4 p.m. in the University of Wyoming Berry Center auditorium. Schrag will present an overview of how the disease affects families, and explain what the Rocky Mountain chapter does for persons living with ALS.
Colette Kuhfuss, family member of an ALS patient, will give her personal account of caring for her husband and their journey with ALS.
The seminar series was organized by UW's CHAP (Community Health Advancement Program) in response to the popularity of the ALS ice bucket challenge. The goal is to help students and others interested in the topic to gain a better understanding of what the disease is about and its effects on the patients and their loved ones.
CHAP encourages students interested in health care professions by coordinating student volunteers to get involved in community volunteering and activism projects. CHAP also hosts seminars and video series on different topics relating to health care.
For more information, visit the CHAP website at www.uwyo.edu/ahec/chap/, email firstname.lastname@example.com or call (307) 766-4908.
Institutional Communications
Bureau of Mines Building, Room 137
Laramie, WY 82071
Phone: (307) 766-2929
Email: email@example.com


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Mutual funds are regarded as the best inflation-beating investment instruments capable of wealth creation in the long run. However, since the stock market is susceptible to volatility, investors must remain focused during such phases to achieve their financial objectives.
If you want to know how to invest in mutual fund plans, here are the top five rules you may want to consider before investing.
- Be realistic about the returns
Typically, many new investors look at the recent past performance of a fund to make an investment decision. And they expect the fund to continue to perform, without considering the scheme risks or their risk appetite. It is advisable not to chase high returns but weigh in the fund's pros and cons before making a mutual fund investment.
- Do not lose sight of your investment goal
It is essential before you invest in mutual funds to determine your financial goals. For example, if your objective is to buy a property in the next ten years, you can invest in equity mutual funds as they are known to tend to perform well over the long run. If the objective is short-term, debt mutual funds can be ideal.
- Do not panic when markets are volatile
Over the last few years, the total number of SIP investors have risen sharply. At the same time, some new investors flee the scene when the market begins to fluctuate or underperform. They discontinue their SIPs and wait for the market to bounce back. But, the key in mutual funds investment is to be patient during the highs and ride out the lows to receive mutual fund benefits in the long run.
- Have a balanced portfolio
One may know what is a mutual fund and the different types of mutual funds, but it can still be challenging to pick the right scheme. For instance, when the equity markets began performing exceedingly well in 2016, many investors moved solely towards equity mutual funds. Investing all your eggs in one basket – in this case, only in equities, – can be risky. This is because, if the market experiences a downturn, equities generally are the first to be hit. It is essential to provide a debt cushion to the equity component in a portfolio.
- Avoid over-diversifying your portfolio
Quite often, new investors, in their enthusiasm, invest in a significant number of schemes. Too many schemes can ruin the growth of an investment. While it is okay to diversify, it is not recommended to over-diversify. Investing in a more significant number of schemes could mean overlapping portfolios. Ideally, one can invest in two to five mutual funds.
As a new investor, it can be overwhelming to analyse thousands of mutual funds schemes. You can seek the guidance and recommendations from a mutual funds expert to understand how to build the right portfolio and enjoy the benefits of mutual funds.


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Cromar's latest new product Hydrosil is the ultimate high performance premium roof coating.
Silicone based, it has been specifically formulated to deliver direct bond adhesion over most common roof substrates and membranes, covering over one and a half times that of a standard PU coating giving great money saving benefits.
The fast curing 100% silicone roof coating has been developed to form a durable, vapor permeable, watertight and weatherproof barrier that provides long term resistance to degradation from natural weathering (including extreme temperatures, UV, rain and snow). Not only that but it is easy to apply, whether by brush, roller or spray, and is shower resistant within 60-120 minutes and suitable for foot traffic after 24 hours.
Hydrosil also has excellent UV resistance, drying to a grey finish which keeps roof surfaces cooler preventing thermal shock and extending the life of the roof.
Hydrosil Silicone Roof Coating is being launched as part of a system with complimentary products including Hydrosil Seam Sealer & Detailer and Hydrosil Heavy Duty Reinforcement Roll. Which when used together provide a base on which to apply the Hydrosil Silicone Coating, although the coating can be used alone. All together they provide a superior quality coating that Cromar are so confident in, the product comes with a 10 year warranty.


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How coronavirus 'will change the lives of Australians forever'
Yahoo News Australia's Life After Lockdown series investigates what life will be like after coronavirus restrictions.
Australians are living in a way they never have before – working from home, learning online, exercising outdoors and many people are facing unemployment for the first time in their working life.
From stockpiling toilet paper and pasta, to a heightened focus on hygiene and increased time spent indoors, Australians have undergone major changes to their lifestyles due to the coronavirus outbreak.
In a Yahoo News Australia poll asking readers if they thought post-coronavirus life would be different to life beforehand, 71 per cent of more than 30,000 people answered "yes, nothing will be the same again".
Coronavirus live blog: Latest news and updates from Australia
This view has since been shared by leading Australian sociologists, who have offered their own predictions on ways society will be changed forever as a result of the global pandemic.
How socialising will change after coronavirus
Given the forced shift towards socialising online, Dan Woodman, Associate Professor in Sociology at the University of Melbourne, argued conscious effort would be required when it came time to revert to our previous social habits.
"To get together with friends or live the same routines we did before might not be straight forward, we'll have to really want to do it," Assoc Prof Woodman told Yahoo News Australia.
"People still do crave hanging out face-to-face with people, there's something about that we lose, even through the best online platforms we have," he said.
"So it's not going to be the end of hanging out face-to-face, we're going to be craving it more and more as time goes on."
How hand shaking will change after COVID-19
People may well be wary to dive back into the custom of hand shaking in the wake of the coronavirus outbreak, Professor Anthony Elliott, Executive Director of Jean Monnet Centre of Excellence at the University of South Australia said.
"It's very likely people are going to be quite hesitant to waltz into a room now and shake hands with someone they don't know. Those sorts of things might start to change," Prof Elliott told Yahoo News Australia.
"I think there are really deep lasting impacts from this world under siege that we're currently living in as a result of COVID-19.
"It's not a question of when we will go back to normal life, there will be a new normal and it's going to be really fascinating."
Assoc Prof Woodman said greeting customs were likely to eventually return to the way they were.
"We'll probably go back to hugging and shaking hands because they are deeply engrained in our culture and there's something great about them," he said.
How the coronavirus pandemic will change hygiene
With people adopting different lifestyle changes due to the outbreak, Prof Elliot says some of these things wouldn't "simply dissipate on the other side of COVID-19".
It's huge historic events such as the coronavirus pandemic that spark a radical shake-up in people's behaviours and attitudes, Assoc Prof Woodman said.
"There is evidence about how these big, serious, anxiety-provoking events do lead to habits that last for a while, some even a lifetime," he said.
"I think we'll think a bit differently about physical health and the way viruses spread, and what we need to do about hygiene in a way that won't dissipate straight away."
"I think all our workplaces will have to make sure they stock up on the hand soap, towels and hand sanitisers for the next little while."
How the coronavirus crisis will change schooling
Professor Elliott believes schooling will have an entirely new face off the back of COVID-19.
As learning for the rest of the year looks set to be predominantly online, departments will inevitably improve processes and students undoubtedly will adapt to the new format.
Six charts and maps that explain how coronavirus is spreading
"More and more people will try out these experiments with online learning, and they can see that this can be done in this way," Prof Elliott said.
"The relationship between face-to-face teaching and digital teaching will be severely impacted, and is going to change permanently as a result of this."
Working from home after coronavirus
Professor Elliot argued perhaps the biggest social change to come out of the COVID-19 pandemic would be momentous shift in the way people chose and were permitted to work.
"What people are now finding out is that they can work in lots of ways effectively, and that they're able to manage what they're doing around the house and what they're doing socially, and fitting that around work schedules," he said.
"Consequently you're going to see very different shifts after we get through the worst of COVID-19."
Prof Elliot said it was likely there would be greater demand from employees wanting to work either from home or remotely from the physical base of their employer.
"It's very likely that people will come to value and perhaps cherish some of the new lifestyle changes they are making," he said.
Assoc Prof Woodman said a big change in the typical ways people worked had been a long-time coming.
"We've been hearing about how there's a working from home revolution coming for two decades - why would we bother to sit in this increasingly bad traffic and go into our offices," he said.
"Until a global pandemic came and literally made us stop, we've kept doing it. And I think to some extent, we'll go back, because there are things that will drive people back."
While acknowledging the beneficial elements of working from home, Assoc Prof Woodman explained how the flip side of that added to the often already blurred boundary between work and home life.
"For a lot of us, that home-work divide was already under pressure, and that's completely gone now. Some people will recognise how much they value the mental space that can come from a physically different space for work and home."
Doctor appointments to change after the pandemic
With Telehealth introduced to provide health care remotely during the coronavirus outbreak, Prof Elliot said this method of consultation was unlikely to be dumped when Australia eventually recovered.
"Does anyone really think that after we get through the worst of COVID-19 that people are going to go back to booking a time to see their GP to get a repeat on a medical script?," he said.
"Australians are seeing that you can click on your laptop or iPhone and up pops your medical practitioner and you can have a reasonably decent conversation on issues that don't require a face-to-face meeting or examination.
"Therefore I think that whole landscape is going to shift really significantly."
Artificial intelligence more accepted after coronavirus
People have become happier to deal with internet bots, and half the time, are completely unaware they're dealing with artificial intelligence instead of a real person, Prof Elliot said.
"I think that whole area stands to deepen as a result of COVID-19, so if you look at chat bots, they're the new apps in many ways with companies using them as their voice with consumers," he said.
"Consumers are becoming increasingly familiar with chat bots, whether we know we're dealing with them or not."
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Public Story
Safe Haven
I began making intimate portraits of Joel as we moved through our daily life together. The process of taking these pictures helped me to express my tender feelings for this man. I observed him at home and away, sometimes with humor, always with love.
Then 2020 came and we found ourselves sheltering in place, doing our part to protect ourselves and others from contracting Covid-19. Previously, we each had a full life both in and out of the house, each with independent interests and friends. Now, Joel and I are together constantly in our 2-bedroom 1 bath apartment.
Not that we were surprised by this, but we found that we truly are best friends and partners. We've been finding our way through the long days and weeks, each dedicated to staying engaged with friends and community. Joel cooks, tends to his plants, crafts lovely trees from wire and minerals, and tries to stick with an exercise routine. We read, discuss future travel plans and watch TV. I have been photographing him - and occasionally us together – as always. We follow each other around the house, trying not to yell across the square footage, aware that we're surviving the confinement just fine.


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Esthetic and Functional Rehabilitation of an Adult Cleft Lip and Palate Patient Using Combined Fixed and Removable Prosthesis
RM Geethu1, S Anilkumar2
1 Department of Prosthodontics, Government Dental College, Alappuzha, India2 Department of Prosthodontics, Government Dental College, Kottayam, Kerala, India
Correspondence Address:R M Geethu'Mercy', TC 16/1341 (1), Kannettumukku, Thycaud P. O., Trivandrum - 695 014, Kerala IndiaSource of Support: None, Conflict of Interest: NoneCheckDOI: 10.4103/jid.jid_26_17
Source of Support: None, Conflict of Interest: None
DOI: 10.4103/jid.jid_26_17
Successful oral rehabilitation of adult patients with cleft lip and palate requires definitive fixed or removable prosthesis to assist orthodontic and orthognathic treatments. Prosthetic rehabilitation aims to improve the functional and esthetic demands and provides better oral health. The aim of this case report is to introduce a prosthetic approach for functional and esthetic rehabilitation of an adult male patient with surgically repaired cleft lip and unrepaired palate, by a combination of fixed dental prosthesis with an extracoronal attachment retained gingival veneer and a cast partial hollow-bulb obturator.
Keywords: Cast partial hollow-bulb obturator, cleft lip and palate, extracoronal attachment retained gingival veneer, fixed dental prosthesis