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DIL KO KARAAR AAYA TWINJ:SS~SHOT1

Its complicatedScene::

Kunj holding twinkle shoulders tightly both looking at each others with anger and slightly hatred..leave my hand twinkle said angrily..I will not leave what you will do Kunj added back with a smirk.

I said leave me kunjjj what you wanted from me haan every single day you torturing me still now what you wanted from me she said with displeased..

Torturing yup I told you that day only I will make sure your every day in this house or especially in this room I will make hell mark my words he said.

Acha toh remember what I even told you Im not that Bichari ladki aur wife who will bear her husband torture and will not say uff I will give you back in return she said fully in roar way.,

Aur tumhe se expectation bhi kya kar sakti hu after what have you done with me she said which make Kunj go angrier.

He tightened the grip of her shoulder pulled her near himself.

I remember each and everything twinkle Tanejas Sarna each fake allegation of yours on me I will never forget this in my whole life sab yaad hai mujhe us raat ki ek ek baate main bolta raha mene kuch nahi kiya kesi ne meri ek nahi suni tears escaping from her eyes while teary eyes of Kunj.

That day only I told you I will make your life hell the way you stoop me low in front of my whole family shadi toh hui hai teri mujhse I will never give you wife rights in this life never he said.

She laughs out painfully toh kaunsi mari ja rahi hu tumhari biwi hone Haq ke liye me bhi tumhe kabhi apne pati hone ka haq nahi dungi kese bhul jau mein you are one who tries to do my rape she said Kunj grab her jawline

Mene kuch nahi kiya samji tera rape karne ki koshish mene nahi ki kitni bar bol chuka hu he said.

I saw you with my own eyes kunjjj leave me you hurting me kunjjj She shouted Kunj leave her..

Looking at her angrily great tu Apni baat pe ade rahe aur me apni sachi pe one day you will regret Twinkle lott he said..

Regret really kunjjj shame on yourself what you thought you will physically come closer to me and I will get tired and will leave you nope you just stuck with me dekhti hu na main bhi kese tumhara pyaar milta hai jese mera pyaar mujhe nahi mila hai wese hi jane Mein tumhe kahi nahi dungi samje she added..

Kunj holds his forehead and giggles.Pyaar kaunsa pyaar mera pyaar ki baat hi tu chhod twinkle rahi tere pyaar ki toh tune usko chhoda hai not because of me. He held her hand both of them an inch apart.

Lala dream land me mat rahe even I m not going to leave you as well.I will make your life hell.Hell will be better even phir dekhte hai kesa nahi jati hu mujhe aur iss shadi ko tod ke he said..

Their breath hitting with each others he pecked at her lips she closed her eyes he leaves her to move away from her she looking at him surprisingly.

I cant believe you are that same Kunj who understood me so well help me.we not spend much time together just hardly still you become a very important part of my life I shared my everything you and trust you more than whom I love in this world still never thought you will break me like this she said..

Socha toh mene bhi nahi tha na Twinkle I stand beside you every time help you went out of the way still you thought I did that really trust kaha na dosti mein tha nah hi aaj iss shadi main hai twinkle he said..

Rahi baat Haq ki kunj than why you come closer to me she shouted.

Arey pati hu tera Haq banta hai tere kareeb nahi aaunga phir kes ke after all your one and only handsome husband i m aur itni hi problem hai toh free us from this baseless and unwanted relation Kunj stated..

Mene Yeh Shadi apne maa aur papa ke wajah se ki hai bas she said.

Hehe, acha aur me toh tere pyaar karta tha issliye my foot Sun mene bhi apne family ki wajah se acha haina kahi toh humhari soch milti hai twinkle Kunj sarna he said both looking at each other wrathfully Tashan e Tashan e play In bg..

He tucked her hairs which coming on her face.aur rahi baat tere kareeb aane ki for your kind of information my dear beautiful wifey its you who always ready to take advantage of me Im innocent who cant do anything even cant save my izzat so tu bol hi mat samji jab dekho ready to attack me huh he added and winked at her..twinkle hard-fully punch on his chest..ouchhh Kunj winched in pain.You siyappa queen Kunj murmured she giving him look..

Woh na issliye kunj sarna Tum kahi aur muh na maro give myself to you she said..

Youuuu he said and both showing each others fingers..

Kunj pulled her twist her hand behind her back their face inch apart

Aha, kunjjj she winched..

You know what twinkle I controlled on myself lott not to lose my control on you.. but you cant digest it.bhul na mat Im your husband be in your limits and keep your mouth shut up.Till now you just see my goodness If Im come to show you another side of me its really bad for you he added.

Karo na kya karoge pati dev ji maaroge mujhe haan aur kya karoge tum ghar se nikal doge you cant do anything kunj sarna your control in my hands bhul gye she stated.And show me what you will do she instigating him..

Kunj leaning for a kiss she turned her eyes and try to move but Kunj did not let her move little..

Just then at door, someone knocking.Twinkle and Kunj betaaaa its Avantika who calling them for lunch..

Kunjjj leave me mummy at door twinkle said.Both looking at each other.She again knocked.Kunj jerked her fully

He went in the balcony while twinkle composed herself and move toward the door to open.She opened the door and found Avantika.mummy ji she said.Kya hua beta kab se Im knocking door kuch hua she asked.. everyone knows how their relationship start..

Nahi nothing woh bas kunj ko kuch kaam tha aap yaha she said.Woh I come to call you both for lunch everyone come Avantika said..

Sure aap chaliya main aai she saidOkay, Avantika said and went from there.

Sadu ek number ka baat baat pe Mirchi lagti hai sach bolo to she said and rubbing her hand which turned red because of Kunj.

She went downstairs cloudy weather so everyone sitting in the garden for lunch they have invited their friend and new in-laws..Twinkle help khushi and avni for setting everything outside.They set everything all come and took their respective places.

Hows you twinkle Meher asked.Im good Bhabi twinkle replied and hugged her.

All having their lunch and chitchatting while having..

Where is kunjjj twinkle Rahul asked her?Room me she said..

Just than Kunj come in a hurry( he always in a hurry ) He about to fall.

Kunjjj be careful Avantika said.. he looks at his mother..

Come here lets have lunch she called.Nahi mujhe bhuk nahi hai you guys carry on Kunj said and moved towards his car while Rahul stand.What happen you anjali asked..Nahi Im done I have work okay bye he said and run from there and sit in the car with Kunj both went in rush..

All confused kya ladke hai dono ke dono humesha aisa hi karte hai usha murmured.

Haan sahi kaha Usha this Rahul crazy samj me hi nahi aata kya karta hai kabhi kaha kabhi kaha sanvi said..

Rahul still better but Kunj ka kuch hi pata nahi hai dont know he doing with his life whole day roaming here and there never listen to me Tej said being disappointed with his son..

Why you saying this tej you never try to understand him and talk Avantika added.

Acha mene he listens me sit with me he running away from me like this Im not his father but his enemy who going to kill him.Rahi baat ki kese karu sunta kaha hai ache se baat hi nahi karta jab bhi kuch bolo jawab ulta hi deta hai bolta hu office join kare advik and yuvi ke jese but he not he said.

Over this lets have lunch lata said..

Kunj driving in hurry Arey Kunj please slow we are not going for heaven so no rush bhai Rahul Rahul Kunj stops the car due to signal..

Tu bhi na itni jaldi heaven me jane nahi wala hai Kunj said.

Acha kya hua why your mood so off he asked he is not his childhood friend but one soul split into two bodies..

Kuch nahi yaar tujhe toh pata hai na kunj said.

Hehe, he giggles Kunj teri band ek ladki i mean teri biwi ne baja ke rakhi hai since the day she entered in your life Kuch toh baat hai twinkle mein I mean everyone scared from great Kunj sarna but she is not he said and laughing still.

Dont laugh life hell kar diya meri siyappa queen ek number ki Chain hi nahi lene deti hai pehle papa kam the ab Yeh twinkle chhod usko tu bata kya hua you did or not he asked in mute something.

After everyone was done with lunch all having dessert..

Bade papa aap yah project mujhe aur advik ko dedo we will do it yuvi said.Kyun nahi ab tum dono hi ho tej said..

Kitna sochte hai papaji but this sadu is heartless twinkle murmured..

Chalo hum chalte hai leela said they get up about to going leela hug twinkle.Acha take care of yourself are you happy na she asked and cupped her face.

Twinkle nodded in yes.Im happy maa dont worry me Im your sherni beti she said and they giggles after they went later..

Sanvi and Atul too along with their daughter in law anjali..

While avni and Khushi and twinkle get busy in work kitchen..

At night all even done with dinner Kunj still not comeback both mother and father waiting for their son..

Tej he will come dont worry father addedHmm he hummed and went in room twinkle gestured to Avantika she blinked her eyes and she too went behind her husband..

Khushi and twinkle or avni went to twinkle room they chit-chatting while twinkle folding Kunj clothes and keeping back in wardrobe..

Kunj should think about bade papa and badi maa feelings avni said.Haan he knows how much they loving him still he never cared about their love Khushi and Agreeing with avni..Twinkle you should tell kunj something both said.Mein kya bolu twinkle said..

Arey, you are his wife we all know in what circumstances your and his marriage happened but still, avni said..

Dekhti hu wese meri sune wala toh hai nahi kunj she said..

Chalo goodnight twinkle both wish goodnight her and went in their respective rooms.

While twinkle take her nighty and went in washroom she gets freshen up and come went to the dressing table and combing her hairs and thinking about Kunj while looking at the clock..

Just than Kunj entered the room she comes out of her thought Kunj sit on the couch and breathing heavily..Uff so tired he murmured and offing his shoes..

Aagya rajkumar kunj sarna she murmured and turned..Oyee siyappa queen leave mirror will break down soon he said and giggles.

Acha let.by the way you tell me where are you till now she asked him first Kunj blinking his eyes..

Really you asking me and waiting for me great yaar dil bhar aaya but tears hai ki bhar hi nahi aarahi hai he chuckled twinkle rolling her eyes..

Yeh typical biwi mat ban samji inquiry mat le itni pagali dar lagta hai he said.

Baat karna hi bekar hai tum se toh kunj at least go and meet with mummy ji and papa they both waiting for you even worried as well she said.

Ab na tu unki vakeel mat ban samji Im not small kid he said and went in washroom..

After changing he come and went down and bring dinner for him to come in the room and sit having.Twinkle laying on the bed in a sitting position and looking at Kunj..

Kunj chocked.Kaun banata hai yah khana man itna spicy he said..khalo Kunj sarna tumhari jubaan hi aesi hai she said..

Kunj having but drinking water too much.I told Khushi Kunj will not have this much spicy but she never listens to me aur yah sadu bacha hai kya jo spicy nahi khata hai she murmured inside her heart..

Kunj done and keep everything back and come he munching twinkle chocolate.Its my she shouted.So what I will bring back in return I m sure you put chilli because of me haina siyappa queen chantt ladki he said..

Kunj come sit beside her another side of the bed..he offers her chocolate she looking at him confusingly.Kha le siyappa queen apne pati ka jhoota7 janam jeeyegihe said about to have twinkle snatched from him and having..

Twinkle please give me my laptop from your side Kunj said.Ab laptop ka kya kunj its already very late Tum karte kya ho haan kunj kaam aurJob karte nahi pura din yaha waha bhatakte hue rahte ho she said.

Maa mat ban meri he said and about to take but twinkle not let him he come on her.Kunjjj she screamed Kunj leaves and laid down.Huh, siyappa queen just 5 months more than wait kya karta hu mein tere saath he said.Dekhte hai she said and laid down Kunj turned and his back facing to ceiling Kunj was tired he fast sleep.Twinkle chatting with her friends.

In sleep, kunj keeps his hand on twinkle waist twinkle look at him.About to remove but she leaves it then covered him with blanket fully..

No matter both showing each other hate Tashan ego but having a soft corner for each other more than that having desire for each others

Twinkle keeping her hand on Kunj..She closed her eyes and recalling those painful moments which bring void and lott hate between them.I dont know babaji Im fully confused this touch and that totally different whenever I go closer to him or we come I never feel that same touch feeling hi alag aati hai when Kunj now touching me that wasnt similar kyun?? She asking herself.Gazing at Kunj again and again and soon she dozed off..

At morning both of them closer almost in each others arms. Kunj pulling blanked twinkle too just than twinkle Alarm rang she opens her eyes and yawned and look at Kunj.Saduuu she murmured and come out of his cage he too woke up at the same time and turned and look at her.And cuddles blanket little cold.

Dont you know how to sleep Haan Kunj said?Acha I know its you who dont know she said.Bruce lee Kunj murmured twinkle listen.Kya bola Bruce me its you she pulling his hairs.Twinkle he hit her with the pillow its their daily morning ritual or starts.. she pushes him.I will complain about you to papaji she said.Sure he said and make faces. After they fight for washroom lastly twinkle went down for breakfast.

Later Kunj comes down humming song.Tej and Manohar sitting in living room tej eyes went on Kunj..

Kunjj tej called him he stopped.Haan, he said and stand there..Where are you last night he asked Kunj rolled his eyes.Woh bas with Rahul he said.

Okay, today you going office with me Tej said Kunj shocked.Why suddenly office Kunj asked.What you mean why Kunj dont you wanna work haan tej said..

Me aap ko bol chuka hu I will not work in your office mujhe karna hi nahi he said Avantika come and stand beside Kunj all standing scared.

But kyun nahi mene tumhe itna padhaya hai kes liye kunj one day you will take over my business this all I made for you but you here wasting your time here and there haan I give you your time still what you wanted tej said.

Kunj closed his eyes good you did for me but papa I dont wanted advik and yuvi haina aapke pass meri kya zaroorat hai aapka aaj tak toh hui nahi why for this business they are smarter and talented than me for you all Im just useless and nothing Im not your pride but who always stoop you down it was your words remember Kunj said while looking at his father eyes..

Woh baat gai kunj jo beet gaya so beet agay why you bring old things tej said.Old aap ke liye hai papa mere liye nahi I remembered each and everything still and will not forget I told you numbers of time I have no interest in your so-called business and anything else.And dont worry about my life you have more important people in your life wese bhi one you already cut from your life one more nothing is new for you He said and walked out from there..Tej looking at Avantika..

Suna tum ne what he said just now he even dont know he standing in front of his father I wish we had no childrens he said and sit sadly.Bhai saab aap bhi na I will talk to kunj Manohar said Tej nodded.

Here is the original post:
Ram Gopal Varma busts 'malicious rumours' of ill-health with video, says 'sorry to disappoint' those who were rejoicing - News Lagoon

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Intelligence

Monday, 10 August 2020 Katherine McFarland, Ph.D. Louis V. Plough, Ph.D. Michelle Nguyen Matthew P. Hare, Ph.D.

One concern with selective breeding as part of a population management strategy is that captivity itself can impose unintended artificial selection. Evolutionary responses to this domestication selection can be swift in captive populations with the potential for reduced fitness in the wild relative to wild-born individuals.

When domestication selection is strong within a single propagation cohort, such as was demonstrated for salmonids, then its effects can potentially impact the success of hatchery-based population supplementation. These considerations are of particular relevance to marine bivalves because (1) they express extreme versions of this life history, (2) native bivalve populations are depleted in some areas and receiving hatchery-based population supplementation and (3) selectively bred lines intended for commercial aquaculture have been promoted and used for population supplementation, for example in an attempt to mitigate disease mortality.

In the United States, Eastern oyster (Crassostrea virginica) restoration approaches often include the hatchery production and planting of spat (juvenile oysters) on shell to supplement wild recruitment and help jumpstart a population on restored habitat. Oysters produced for the aquaculture industry are often selectively bred for traits that speed up production, such as fast growth, and that improve survival (e.g. disease resistance). However, it is unclear whether or not other (unintended) traits are evolving due to genetic correlations, adaptation to the artificial environment, or heritable epigenetic changes during hatchery culture.

This article adapted and summarized from the original publication reports on a study to examine the potential effects of domestication selection in oysters. The experiment compared the starvation resistance of oyster larvae produced from wild (no prior hatchery exposure) and artificially selected (over multiple generations of hatchery propagation) broodstock oysters.

To test for domestication selection in marine bivalves, we focused on a fitness-related trait (larval starvation resistance) that could be altered under artificial selection. Using larvae produced from a wild population of C. virginica and a selectively bred, disease-resistant line we measured growth and survival during starvation versus standard algal diet conditions.

Wild adult oysters were collected from the Choptank River, Maryland in the Chesapeake Bay and two disease-resistant aquaculture lines (Deby (DBY) and DBY-CROSbreed (XB)) were obtained from the Virginia Institute of Marine Science, Aquaculture Genetics and Breeding Technology Center (ABC). These lines have been bred over multiple generations with hatchery propagation and intensive selection for disease resistance.

Broodstock were conditioned and spawned and the oysters were allowed to finish spawning in their individual container to collect and isolate gametes for each individual. A total of six pair-cross fertilizations were completed between two females and three males for each strain type (wild and aquaculture) within one hour of the start of spawning to assure quality of gametes. The DBY and XB selection lines are maintained with methods that limit inbreeding, but to eliminate any potential for inbreeding effects here, our experimental aquaculture cohort was created with males from the DBY line and females from the XB line (hereafter referred to as AQF1).

The oyster larvae were reared in 200-liter tanks at a density of 30 larvae per mL for seven days and were fed a diet of 50:50 Isochrysis galbana and Chaetoceros calcitrans beginning at 10,000 cells per mL on day one and increased each day by 10,000 cells per mL. Water changes were completed on day three and then every other day thereafter with no culling until day seven. Then, an experiment was conducted to measure growth and survival during starvation versus standard algal diet conditions.

For detailed information on the experimental design; broodstock conditioning and spawning; total organic carbon (TOC) analysis; starvation challenge; respiration rate measurements; and statistical analyses, refer to the original publication.

Based on our results and those of other researchers, we hypothesize that the ability to absorb, transport and assimilate micronutrients may be an important source of differentiation between the lines tested and represent promising phenotypes to explore as possible mechanistic changes associated with domestication selection.

It is plausible that aquaculture lines can adapt to the hatchery environment, in which food is provided in excess, thereby limiting their ability to utilize dissolved organic matter (DOM) during prolonged starvation events as a result of many generations of hatchery propagation. However, this requires further and more detailed testing to understand the role of DOM under food limitation.

Regarding survival during prolonged starvation, the most dramatic mortality was observed between days 8 and 10 of the starvation (age 15 to 17 days) in the AQF1 line suggesting that a critical physiological threshold was reached. This is consistent with the continued mortality we observed during the recovery period, but clearly there was individual variation in this threshold because some larvae did recover. Survival continued to decline through age 22 days (five days into the recovery), during which growth also remained stunted, suggesting that larvae had not yet rebounded physiologically.

Larval survival and successful recruitment of subsequent generations following plantings of hatchery produced spat or adult oysters is an essential component to long-term restoration success. If planted oysters from selective breeding programs produce larvae that cannot survive the gauntlet of stressors in the estuarine environment, then long-term restoration success is stymied. While a 10-day period of no phytoplankton availability may be unlikely under natural conditions, patchiness in larval food quantity and nutritional quality are expected. Under these conditions, an ability to withstand and recover from periods with limited exogenous energy sources is a critical fitness trait.

Starvation tolerance is a complex trait, so we expected there might be interactions with growth rate. With the development of high size variance early in each line (typical of Eastern oysters), we separated each line into fast and slow early-growth cohorts to test for relationships with starvation tolerance.

When comparing starvation tolerance in larvae produced from wild parents and larvae produced from selectively bred parents, the selectively bred AQF1 line experienced nearly complete mortality during the last three days of starvation, while both fast and slow wild cohorts experienced better survival. Analysis of dissolved organic carbon suggests that although particulate food (phytoplankton) was withheld, micronutrients (e.g. dissolved organic matter) were present during starvation.

For the wild larvae in the fed treatment, the initial size separation between fast and slow growth cohorts was maintained throughout the experimental period, with no significant difference in growth rate observed. In the fed AQF1 line, the initial size distinction was maintained up to age 10 days (three days after size separation), but depressed growth of AQF1/Fast led to size convergence with AQF1/Slow by age 14 days. The reasons for changes in growth rate in AQF1/Fast (seen in both fed controls and the starved treatment) are not known, but they were apparently specific to a particular developmental stage and do not compromise the main finding of line growth rate parity.

The lower tolerance to starvation in the selected strain studied here is consistent with this trait being a costly adaptation weakened as a result of selection for fast growth or, more likely, a trait correlated with commercial traits under direct selection. Further comparisons with other Eastern oyster selected lines are needed to determine if this larval tolerance difference is a general result of domestication or specific to the tested lines.

For oysters, lines artificially selected for aquaculture support the oyster aquaculture industry, where lifetime fitness is not an objective. Rather, the emphasis is on farm-to-table production rates in which yield is largely a function of growth rate and survivorship. However, in the context of using hatcheries for stock enhancement, planted oysters must not only grow to maturity, but also successfully reproduce and generate offspring with robust abilities to withstand the many stressors encountered during the pelagic life stage.

At this early stage of selective breeding in Eastern oysters, the unknown phenotypic impacts from domestication selection may be large or small, depending on the trait. In our study, we showed a slightly lower tolerance to prolonged starvation in the AQF1 line intentionally selected for disease resistance over multiple generations of hatchery propagation. Replication of this experiment will be necessary using more biological replicates, different aquaculture lines and additional wild oysters to strengthen the inference that reduced larval starvation tolerance is linked to domestication selection generally.

Based on our initial results, we suspect bioenergetic processes related to micronutrient uptake and utilization may be promising candidate traits for investigating mechanistic changes as a result of domestication selection or are genetically correlated with other traits under direct selection.

The great successes of selective breeding to produce shellfish with improved aquaculture yields is likely to result in an increased reliance on selectively bred lines for oyster farming. With further oyster domestication expected, our work is of importance to understand inadvertent trait evolution as well as the potential impacts domesticated oysters can have on natural populations.

we hope youll consider supporting our mission to document the evolution of the global aquaculture industry and share our vast network of contributors expansive knowledge every week.

By becoming a Global Aquaculture Alliance member, youre ensuring that all of the pre-competitive work we do through member benefits, resources and events can continue. Individual membership costs just $50 a year. This year, GAA individual and corporate members receive complimentary access to the virtual GOAL conference in October. Join now.

Read more from the original source:
Investigating the potential for domestication selection in the Eastern oyster - aquaculturealliance.org

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Parkinsons disease is the second most common neurodegenerative disease. Its daily impact on people diagnosed with the disease is far reaching. Physical, cognitive functions and mental health are affected.

Eventually, the disease affects a patients ability to conduct daily activities safely.

Although the disease is not currently curable, and is progressive, in Montrose, people diagnosed with Parkinsons have a program that can give the disease a punch.

Thanks to Knock-Out Parkinsons, a boxing program provided by Montrose Memorial Hospital at Mountain View Therapy in Montrose, Parkinsons patients are able to disguise work as play and improve quality of life while slowing the progression of the disease.

Boxing is really fun and really interactive for [patients], said Jedd Beros, exercise physiologist at Mountain View Therapy.

The program, which began in the summer of 2018, is designed to improve quality of life by improving aerobic endurance, muscular strength, balance and coordination for patients diagnosed with Parkinsons disease.

Beros manages and supervises the program, working with patients in one hour blocks through a variety of aerobic exercises with stationary bikes, ellipticals and speed bags. The patients also work through strength training with weights and machines, and participate in bodyweight exercises and balance and coordination exercises.

The program has helped patients reduce tremors, improve walking patterns and increase blood flow to the brain that helps with the maintenance of Parkinsons symptoms. Every patient has basic things where improvement is needed in certain areas, but for a patient with a troublesome hip or back, the therapy center tries to individualize the program as best it can for the patient.

For example, if a patient has more trouble with balance, more time will be spent focusing on improvement in that area, or if a patient is struggling with aerobic fitness, muscular strength, they will spend more time with a NuStep, an exercise machine aimed at strengthening the muscles.

Parkinsons disease is progressive, irreversible and currently incurable, but exercise can help slow the progression of the disease, and can be a tool for maintenance, according to a written summary from Beros.

Another important note about the disease is its role in secreting dopamine. A part of the brain, basal ganglia, regulates movement, and within the basal ganglia is the substantia nigra, the part that releases dopamine. A patient with Parkinsons, Beros said, doesnt have as much dopamine release because blood flow to the brain isnt functioning normally.

But when exercising, patients are releasing more dopamine, and through the exercise, can improve walking speed, strength, endurance and balance. This will help reduce the chances of falls and improve quality of life.

Also, if the patient can tolerate the intensity, a high intensity exercise followed by moderate intensity combines together to release more dopamine affected by Parkinsons, and stays in the brain longer.

When a patient goes through all the movements, the boxing itself incorporates different components of exercise into one activity.

We do a lot of mitt work, so thats things like throwing out different punches jabs, hooks, uppercuts and really working on some reaction type issues. But also, because were going sometimes as long as two minutes non-stop, theyre working on aerobic fitness, and by throwing those punches, hard punches, theyre working on strength and power, too, Beros said.

On top of that, were working on balance, moving them around, side to side. So [were] really incorporating all the different components of exercise into one activity. Thats the fun thing about boxing. We can really have some fun with it, but at the same time were really doing good work and working on all the things they need to improve upon.

Strengthening legs is a focus for patients. Numerous patients have shown difficulty getting out of chairs, Beros said. Due to the disease affecting the part of the brain that controls body placement and moving patterns, patients often struggle with feet placement and getting in the right position. By improving length strength, patients are able to get out of chairs more comfortably and receive more strength and support when walking.

Mountain View Therapy also helps patients with home exercise programs with packets and ideas that a patient can sift through and try from home.

Thats the nice thing. Being able to see how they feel more comfortable and confident going about their daily activities, Beros said.

When we can try to improve anything, and something as easy as leg strength, thats a good way to help them tolerate the disease and the condition a little bit better, he later added.

Along with the benefits of the exercise, the group atmosphere gives patients a chance to have some interaction. The disease tends to limit social activity when the disease progresses. Through the program, some members have become friends, and outside of class, meet up for coffee and get-togethers, including spouses.

Having that atmosphere of getting out and seeing friends and having interactions is really good for, on top of their physical health, their mental health, too, Beros said.

Josue Perez is a staff writer for the Montrose Daily Press

Read more here:
Knock-Out Parkinson's aiding patients at Mountain View Therapy in Montrose - Montrose Daily Press

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With the explosion of lockdown-friendly home exercise programs and advice, it may seem as if its never been easier to work out at home. But the reality is, its probably never been harder. For every person posting a sweaty crushed it selfie on Instagram, theres another one (or four) just trying to endure pandemic-induced stress. Add in constant access to the refrigerator and a pantry overstocked with panic buys, and the guilt about what weve eaten or the exercise we havent done piles on faster than you can say Quarantine 15.

So youve gained weight, said Elyse Resch, a nutrition therapist. So what? Youre alive. Were doing the best we can with the resources we have. (Not to mention many others straining under severe challenges, like significant health concerns and financial worries.)

You, too, can shrug off minor or moderate weight gain or the loss of your pre-pandemic fitness level. Read on.

Above all, have compassion. I dont think most people change their minds by being yelled at or punched in the face, but thats how we talk to ourselves, said Phoenix Jackson, a clinical psychologist who specializes in trauma. When Ms. Jackson is having trouble speaking to herself as kindly as she might a beloved friend, she likes to find a photo of herself as a child and think of how gently shed like that person to be spoken to.

Next, recognize that weight and ambitious exercise regimens may offer the illusion of control in a world that seems out of control, but the anxiety they produce is not helpful. This is part of a larger problem: Most of us feel pressure to achieve or maintain a certain body size because weve been taught that its important. Excess weight has been linked to considerable health risks, though it does not, by definition, mean a person is unhealthy. Unfortunately, fatphobia promotes just the opposite: Fat people are denied health care, earn less money at work and have a harder time finding work in the first place, research has shown.

Break the cycle by asking yourself where you learned that weight gain was something to be ashamed of, Paula Freedman, a clinical psychologist who specializes in eating disorders, wrote in an email. Ask: Does this belief help me be the type of person I want to be? (Dr. Freedman added that you may have to break this down further: What type of person do I want to be? How do I want to treat myself and other people?)

Christy Harrison, a nutrition therapist who examined the issue of excess weight and the virus in a Wired article published in April, said in an interview last month that few of the early research studies on the matter controlled for race, socioeconomic status or quality of care social determinants of health that we know explain the lions share of health disparities between groups of people, she wrote. Nor did they control for how doctors biases influence the way they care for higher-weight patients. But strong evidence exists that obesity (defined as having a body mass index of 30 or higher) puts you at greater risk of dying from Covid-19.

At the end of the day, regardless of what the science does or doesnt say about Covid and weight, we still dont have any way for people to lose weight and keep it off, Ms. Harrison said.

She suggested asking yourself: What am I getting out of worrying about food and my body right now, and what am I losing? What could I be doing with that time and energy? One survey suggested women fretted for 21 minutes a day and men for 18 minutes a day. (And to some people, that number may sound awfully low.) Still, thats a lot of time that could be devoted to anything from guilty pleasures to relationships or to life- and world-changing causes.

Fearing weight gain and feeling bad about your body takes you away from what really matters and being able to participate in this cultural moment, Ms. Harrison said.

One tenet of diet culture or wellness culture, which is really just the rebranding of diet culture is that eating for any other reason besides screaming biological hunger is a bad thing. This belief came from the rise ofdiet clubs in the 1960s, where women went to talk out their feelings so they could avoid so-called emotional eating.

You have to be starving to deserve to eat in this culture, Ms. Harrison said. But we are designed to get pleasure out of food and connect over food.

Lets say food really is giving you comfort. Go with it, love it, be grateful for it, Ms. Resch said. With one caveat: Youll need to stay present to get the actual comfort and satisfaction. If youre too busy judging yourself when you eat, youre not savoring the texture and flavor.

So youre not working out enough, or as hard as you did pre-lockdown, and you think this is a problem. This may be because, for you, exercise is about controlling your body or compensating for what youve been eating yet another belief to be discarded.

Exercise is its own pleasurable thing you can do for joy and for mental health benefits, Ms. Harrison said. Its hard to tune into that when you have all these voices in your head saying, But if I cant get my heart rate to this Im not going to get the benefits.

Ms. Resch prefers the word movement to exercise.

Exercise connotes something you have to do, she said. You want to take out the sense of doing it for a purpose like weight loss or keeping muscle on. Instead, ask yourself what makes you feel good in your body. It could just be standing up and stretching.

Channel your energy into something more productive than obsessing about weight and exercise like working to change diet culture, such as calling out thin-promoting or fat-shaming comments on your social networks. Suman Ambwani, an associate professor of psychology at Dickinson College, said people are sometimes reluctant to challenge these sorts of statements. But we found in one study a couple of years ago that someone who called attention to this issue and rejected appearance-related self-worth and the thin ideal was actually seen as more likable than someone who just colluded with body-shaming, she said.

Dr. Ambwani suggested following the health-at-every-size movement a nearly 20-year-old movement that promotes weight inclusivity and social justice to educate yourself, and then looking for ways to get involved. If you live in Massachusetts, for example, you could write to lawmakers in support of a bill underway to make weight discrimination illegal.

Finally, look at feeling bad as the canary in the coal mine the indicator that something might be ready to change, said Elizabeth Hall, an intuitive eating coach in Farmington, Conn. Although people often respond by vowing to buckle down or work harder, she said, the way to end the guilt and shame is actually just to notice those feelings, and to ask yourself if they are serving you or causing suffering.

Feeling bad is actually an invitation to expand and shift our consciousness and let go of expectations and old programming, she said.

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Don't Be Ashamed of Your Quarantine 15 - The New York Times

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The widespread changes brought to student life in fall 2020 as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic will not be limited to academic shifts. Recreational and athletic pursuits for members of the William and Mary community will also be profoundly altered as the administration and campus at large seeks to limit the spread of COVID-19.

For some, a key part of their college experience involves attending sports games and cheering on the Tribe or letting off steam at the Student Recreatuion Center. Although intramurals and casual recreation may not be as they were in years past, there are still lots of opportunities for students to exercise, have fun and get their athletic fix during the upcoming semester.

Chief among them is the Student Recreation Center re-opening its doors, albeit in a very different capacity. The Rec plans to open to limited hours for the first three weeks of the semester, but after Labor Day they are planning to go back to regular hours, or as close to them as possible.

To make everything as safe as possible, the Rec will adopt a new hourly system. To use any of the equipment you have to first sign up for a 90-minute window on the Colleges Wellness app. After you sign up you are free to get your exercise fix in, as long as you wear a mask at all times.

Another key component of the Colleges campus recreation facilities and program is intramural sports. Though theyre going to look a little different this year, there will still be lots of competitions for you to sign up for, like a punt pass and kick competition. Outdoor programs, like camping and bike trips will also be present, but on-campus only.

And even though the Tribe may be taking a hiatus from intercollegiate competitions, sports are slowly re-emerging from their pandemic-induced hibernation. At long last, many of the professional sports so coveted by fans have returned and have brought with them opportunities to enjoy them with friends with social distance precautions in mind.

Each league is using some combination of a shortened season and expanded playoff pool. The great thing about sports is being able to watch them with friends, and during the semester there are tons of ways to get creative with your watch parties. You can use Zoom to watch games, using the Cox Contour cable tv subscription you get through the College. Just type tv.wm.edu into your browser, and youll have access to all of the major TV channels and sports games.

The NHL playoffs have already started, and the NBA plans to start playoffs Aug. 17. The WNBA and MLB will have their regular seasons go for a little longer, with playoffs starting in early September and early October respectively. Dont let being stuck inside your dorm restrict your ability to bond over sports with friends and start planning your virtual playoff watch parties now.

However, sports activities do not need to be restricted to a screen. Though to some Williamsburg may be a swamp-town, it does give one huge advantage, which is its warm albeit humid weather. If you went to school in a northern state, come September and October temperatures would be dropping, and it would be near impossible to enjoy the outdoors for long periods of time without wearing layers and experiencing uncomfortable weather conditions. However, in Williamsburg you can be outside, socially distanced and safe, for at least the first few months of the semester. This is great, especially now when one of the few places you can safely go to escape your dorm room is the outdoors. There are lots of outdoor exercise options in and around the College that allow you to be socially distanced with your mask on.

If you enjoy running, walking or biking, try exploring Colonial Williamsburg one day. Not only will you get a nice workout but you can also see all of the different animals, including cows, sheep and horses.

The College also has lots of great fields around campus that offer a great space to engage in whatever athletic activity you want, as long as you wear your masks and stay socially distanced. There are lots of sports-related activities you can do without people, from kicking a soccer ball around to practicing passing a volleyball to yourself. Not only will some outdoor activity give you a nice mental break from being inside your dorm room and working, but it also provides a great opportunity to relax and focus on your mental and physical health, something that is super important during the school year.

Its safe to say that no one is more bummed about fall sports being cancelled than the sports editors, but that doesnt mean sports still cant be enjoyed by everyone this semester. Whether you decide to use some of the information in this article, the most important thing is that no matter what athletic or outdoor activity you participate in, you do it in a way thats safe for you and for others. Your health and the health of everyone else around you is the most important thing. Well be looking forward to seeing you at a Tribe game next year.

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Exercise in the time of COVID-19: The best ways to get your sports fix on campus during a semester without fall athletics - The Flat Hat

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Twenty women participated in five focus groups held during December 2017 to February 2018 in two health care locations in Edmonton. Groups ranged in size from two to six women.

Characteristics of the participants are presented in Table1. The majority of women were aged in their 50s, had attended higher education, worked full time and were married or living with a partner. The women were in menopause transition or post-menopausal. The group reported a wide range of physical activity, from high to low (including 2 self-proclaimed couch potatoes).

All participants suffered from severe, often multiple, symptoms of menopause that had significantly impacted their QOL over an extended period of time. Insomnia, night sweats/hot flashes and fatigue were the most prevalent symptoms discussed. In addition, lack of sex drive and vaginal dryness, memory loss, depression, and lack of motivation were described as troubling symptoms. Participants stated that the severity of the symptoms and their impact on the QOL were undermined by their primary care physicians. Most participants also reported feeling socially isolated, without connection to women with similar menopause problems.

In this context, participants discussed the features of a walking program that would be suitable for women in menopause. Four distinct characteristics emerged: (A) sensitivity to health related realities of women in menopause; (B) inclusivity of various expectations and levels of readiness (fitness) among participating women; (C) attentiveness to the need for social support, and (D) flexibility in planning locations and scheduling of the program.

The current health status and ability to be physically active varied among participating women. Participants who reported being able to exercise, described a positive impact on their wellbeing, such as improved sleep and better mental stability. Others, who were more active in the past, but developed co-morbidities or injuries, felt regret that they had to reduce the intensity and/or type of exercise. Participants who reported currently being less active, highlighted symptoms of fatigue and lack of energy as the de-motivating factor to exercise, stating Tired women will not walk (P2, FG5) and Youre too tired to do it (P1, FG5).

Walking was perceived by the participants across all five focus groups as a type of exercise that could be easy, accessible, relaxing, less risky for the body, and open to any level (P1, FG5). Still, many worried that the incapacitating nature of their menopause symptoms described by one participant as struggling to get out of bed in the morning (P4, FG2) as well as other health issues would be a potential barrier to joining a walking program. Therefore, the participants suggested that the walking program should be sensitive to different health realities among menopausal women, such as fatigue, the worry about injury (P1, FG3) (especially during the winter), and possible overheating/hot flushes while walking.

I get so hot and then I get really irritated when you get that hot and you're irritated and when you can only take off so much clothes, right (P2, FG1).

Several suggestions were put forward to overcome these challenges such as indoor walking as a safer winter solution, cooling aids to manage overheating and hot flashes and basic coaching to prevent injury.

but Im thinking for people who have not been active, the worry about injury and just having somebody who can maybe coach them through that a little bit and what to expect or how to stretch out or what to watch for because even though we talk about walking and it seems like a simple thing, I wonder if its possible to have walking injuries (P1, FG3).

In addition, as some of the participants stated, the program should incorporate a right kind of encouragement to keep women motivated, included, and overcoming their concerns.

In the context of these health realities, the focus groups further discussed the programs goals and expectations. While there was a range of opinions how specific the goals of the walking program should be, the participants believed that the sense of clear expectations and purpose should be transparent, [] something that keeps us in check as to what the purpose of the walk is (P6, FG2).

Some participants stressed the need for disciplined commitment to the programs schedule, emphasizing the importance of predetermined health outcomes, something to achieve, you know, to look forward to (P2, FG2) to ensure that the program will make a difference (P3, FG1).

I also think being out and getting out giving you a sense of accomplishment that you know that I'm you know I'm doing this for me and I'm committed to it and I'm actually getting it done. I want some real rewards (P4, FG2).

A more flexible approach was suggested by others. Some participants believed that establishing high-achieving goals may be attractive to some women, but these could also deter less active and less competitive women. The program therefore should respect womens different initial fitness, offering different levels of walking intensity and leave room for individual goals.

As somebody who like I said is just starting to be a functioning human being again [] the expectations [should not be] too great []so that they can start out small but grow as it can like expand as they feel like they can take on more (P4, FG2).

I like to be able to keep track of my steps, thats my own personal goal so I think if people had individual goals thats great too (P1, FG3).

While developing specific goals would be important for some participants, others would be comfortable with a more general purpose of wellness, envisioning a less competitive program that will improve health (P2, FG4) or contribute to feeling better (P1, FG5). Openness to and inclusion of women with various expectations and levels of fitness surfaced as consequential characteristics of the walking program.

In discussion about the appropriate nature of the program, the importance of the social support to women, described by one participant as connecting with someone who is walking the same steps as I am (P2, FG5), was emphasized across all focus groups.

The participants envisioned an organized, regularly scheduled walking group that would be fun, with an optional coffee time at the end. Such a program would simultaneously provide an opportunity for physical activity and mutual emotional and social support to women who often do not have a place to share their menopause experience. This was discussed for example in FG3:

[] and its not necessarily about the walk [] its about the socialization. (P3) Yeah thats a big part (P4). Because that helps, its not the exercise that helps, its the socialization and realizing that they're not alone (P3). [] I think if the main focus is socialization, just all in the same boat, but were going to walk down the block and talk about our menopausal symptoms, [] the walking is the secondary piece (P2).

The concept of a buddy system was also broadly discussed across the focus groups in the context of the lack of motivation to be physically active that women often experience. One exchange, which occurred in FG1, suggested that peer encouragement and mutually developed accountability to one another would be an incentive to continued participation:

I would need a buddy because I wouldn't want to do it on my own (P3). Walking partners are great (P1). Thats true too (P2). I would need a buddy. I think definitely the, you know like, group or buddy I think it would, like for me that would be great. []and yeah to be accountable to go, yeah theres an accountability piece, theres a social piece, there is just that Yeah theres a lot of features to the buddy thing (P3).

An additional suggestion, made in two focus groups described a virtual community that would use a Facebook and/or a mobile application accessible to all its members. This was described as multipurpose tools that could increase motivation, keep the social network engaged, and keep track of individual achievements.

And if you set it up something like you know on one of the social aspects on Facebook whenever you set a group up and say ok this is the plan for the day, this is where everybody is going, love to see you there, you know and kind of just whoever shows, shows. You know its not a hardcore that you have to be there, its you know feel free when you feel up to it or when you're having a day or when you just need to talk (P3, FG3).

While most participants anticipated a face-to-face walking program that provides social group activity, some participants mentioned the possibility for a combination of group and individual activities. In FG4, this was suggested as an additional opportunity to clock our own walking (P2, FG4). In FG2, two participants (one who lives out of town, and one self-described loner), proposed a virtual community where participants would exercise on their own, but could connect periodically in person with the rest of the walkers:

they should make a menopause walking app or something so you check in or something like that (P3, referring to MyFitnessPal). if we did something like that and there was an app that could be adapted to be used then you're doing it alone but you're not alone (P2). I would want to see how everyone else is doing you know like P1 did 10,000 steps or she walked 10 miles this week. [] so if theres an app [] and if were all willing to provide that information [] to motivate us (P6).

By developing in- person and virtual community, as well as individual and group activities, the walking program would demonstrate adaptability and flexibility to suit different lifestyles, while simultaneously creating a space for social interaction.

The weather and seasonal changes were emphasized as a key aspect of developing a walking program. The severity of winters with low temperatures and icy sidewalks on one hand, and hot summer days on the other, call for flexibility in identifying appropriate locations and venues for walking. All focus groups discussed summertime walking along the many city walking trails, except when the temperature is too high and walking would be more comfortable in air-conditioned spaces.

During the winter, walking inside was preferred as a safer option by the majority of participants, for example walking in recreation centers or shopping malls; though some participants felt inside walking was a less attractive option.

Discussions about geographical locations for the walking program provided less consistent suggestions. While some of the participants were willing to drive and meet the group wherever it is located, the majority would prefer the program being closer to home, to save time and avoid unnecessary driving. The following exchange in FG4 exemplifies this point:

Well I guess it depends on where the women are all located right? You want to make it feasible, like you want to make it, you know, easily accessible; if somebody has to travel a half an hour plus to get there, its best to sort of have it in three to four different areas in the city (P2). I totally agree with that [] because if there was a walking group that just met downtown I wouldnt join it because I live [in the part of the city] thats a half an hour drive to get there (P1). I agree, I wouldn't drive far to go for a walk because I would just go for a walk out of my house (P5). Im a driver so that wouldn't bother me; that would be fine for me (P2). Its just the time I think for myself anyways you know its just, its making the time (P4).

Possible solutions included providing the program simultaneously in different neighborhoods or parts of the city, or be mobile and move around the city on a weekly basis, with the various time schedule options, such as evening walking (during the week) and mid-days or afternoons (on weekends).

As participants discussed a number of factors related to the logistics of the planning (weather, location, time), the need for accommodation and flexibility has emerged across all focus groups, to ensure the access and commitment to and feasibility and sustainability of the program. Most important for all women was the commonality of menopause for the walking group; as one woman sums it up: There is always the one constant, its the menopause group, so that constant there (P1, FG1).

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Walking together: women with the severe symptoms of menopause propose a platform for a walking program; outcome from focus groups - BMC Blogs Network

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This article is part of aSCOTUSblog symposiumon the Roberts court and the religion clauses.

Kim Colbyis director of the Christian Legal Societys Center for Law and Religious Freedom. She was counsel on amicus briefs on behalf of the Christian Legal Society inEspinoza v. Montana Department of Revenue,Our Lady of Guadalupe School v. Morrissey-Berru, Tanzin v. TanvirandFulton v. City of Philadelphia.

Americans religious freedom depends on a patchwork of protections scattered throughout federal and state laws. Religious freedom is protected to a limited degree by the First Amendments free exercise clause; to a much greater degree, but only at the federal level, by the Religious Freedom Restoration Act; and to various degrees by specific religious exemptions tucked here and there into federal statutes and regulations. While state constitutions, as well as some state and local statutes, pay homage to religious freedom, when state courts apply them the results frequently tend to be less robust than their language would suggest.

The Supreme Courts 2019-20 term brought significant religious freedom victories. But it also highlighted the lack of a constitutional safety net for religious freedom. The 2020-21 term offers a critical opportunity to restore a constitutional safety net that has been sorely lacking for three decades.

Thirty years ago, the Employment Division v. Smith decision unexpectedly weakened the constitutional protection for religious freedom. The Smith decision substituted rational basis review or possibly, no review at all for strict scrutiny review whenever a burden on the free exercise of religion is imposed by a neutral and generally applicable law. The court has never explained what it means by a neutral and generally applicable law; it is still not clear whether Smith completely gutted the First Amendment protection for religious freedom or merely shrank it considerably and made it much more complicated and confused. Whatever the degree of damage, this loss of protection applies at the federal level and also at state and local levels.

The cases before the court this term and next term illustrate Smiths regrettable long-term consequences and demonstrate why the court should overrule Smith. A case to be heard next term, Fulton v. City of Philadelphia, expressly presents that question.

1. Constitutional protection at state and local levels is needed.

Americans religious freedom varies widely depending on the state in which they live. Smith deprived religious persons of previous bargaining power and incentives necessary to persuade state and local officials to respect religious freedom.

To provide protection in states, the court has labored to identify discriminatory treatment of religious persons because Smith itself left strict scrutiny in place when religious persons suffer discriminatory treatment. The court has utilized two distinct buckets to protect religious persons:

1. Discrimination based on religious status: In Espinoza v. Montana Department of Revenue, relying on the state constitution, Montana bureaucrats excluded parents and students from a state tuition tax-credit program because many participating families chose to send their children to religious schools. The court held that the Montana constitution impermissibly discriminated on the basis of religious status in violation of the federal free exercise clause.

2. Discriminatory treatment compared to similar secular conduct: Just three years after Smith, in Church of the Lukumi Babalu Aye v. City of Hialeah, the court unanimously ruled that a municipality violated the free exercise clause when it prohibited killing animals as part of a religious ritual, but not as part of a secular activity, such as hunting. In 2018, in Masterpiece Cakeshop v. Colorado Civil Rights Commission, the court applied Lukumi in ruling that state officials unconstitutionally punished a man of deep religious convictions who refused to create a wedding cake to celebrate a same-sex wedding, but did not penalize other bakers who refused to create cakes with messages to which they personally objected.

Requiring government officials to treat religious conduct with the same respect given similar secular conduct has been an important, if unevenly applied, protection for religious freedom under the Smith regime. But it is not an adequate substitute for reliable constitutional protection of religious freedom achieved through consistent application of strict scrutiny analysis to laws that burden religious freedom. Fulton which involves a citys denial of licensure to a Catholic organizations foster-care program gives the court an opportunity to reinstate strict scrutiny for such laws.

2. RFRAs protection for religious freedom at the federal level requires reinforcement.

In response to Smith, Congress passed the Religious Freedom Restoration Act by an overwhelming, bipartisan vote, and President Bill Clinton signed it into law. RFRA requires the federal government to demonstrate a compelling interest unachievable by a less restrictive means before it may enforce a neutral, generally applicable law against a person whose sincerely held religious beliefs would be substantially burdened by the law.

RFRA, rather than the First Amendment, has provided the primary protection for Americans religious freedom at the federal level for 27 years. A singular legislative achievement, RFRA ensures a level playing field for Americans of all faiths by putting minority faiths and unpopular religious beliefs on an equal footing with faiths that are politically popular.

Two cases on the courts 2019 and 2020 dockets illustrate RFRAs importance to persons of all faiths. In Little Sisters of the Poor v. Pennsylvania, Catholic nuns returned to the Supreme Court for the third time in their nine-year effort to win the right to serve the poor without violating their religious convictions regarding contraceptives. Ruling in the Little Sisters favor, the court held that the federal government had the authority under RFRA to provide a generous religious and moral exemption from an administrative regulation that required employers to provide contraceptive coverage through their insurance plans. Unfortunately, the court did not follow the course urged by Justices Samuel Alito and Neil Gorsuch to find that RFRA not only permitted the exemption but actually required it. In a concurrence, Justice Elena Kagan, joined by Justice Stephen Breyer, provided a roadmap for the lower court on remand to rule against the religious exemption a prospect that may necessitate a fourth trip to the Supreme Court for the Little Sisters before final victory.

The second RFRA case, Tanzin v. Tanvir, will be argued this fall. Three Muslim men, one a U.S. citizen and two lawful permanent residents, seek to recover money damages from federal FBI employees who allegedly retaliated against them by placing them on the No Fly List for their refusal to become FBI informants within their religious congregations. The issue before the court is whether RFRAs authorization of appropriate relief includes recovery of money damages from federal officials acting in their personal capacities.

The coalition of 68 organizations from across the religious and political spectrum that urged RFRAs passage had one overriding operative principle: RFRA would protect all Americans religious freedom. Anticipating RFRAs main task as protecting minority faiths, few proponents foresaw that Catholic nuns would be denied a modest religious exemption by a popularly elected administration and, therefore, need RFRAs protection.

But the times have changed rapidly and dramatically. Since 2010, religious social conservatives have increasingly faced a rigid insistence that they conform to and promote the orthodoxies of the abortion and LGBT movements even when those orthodoxies directly conflict with their religious beliefs.

As a result, Congress is being pressured to eviscerate RFRA. The Equality Act, H.R. 5, passed the House of Representatives in May 2019 by a vote of 236-173, with a provision buried in it to gut RFRA. The Equality Acts proponents are willing to forfeit all Americans religious freedom in order to suppress religious dissent.

In its decision this term in Bostock v. Clayton County, which re-interpreted Title VII of the Civil Rights Act to include sexual orientation and gender identity as protected classes, the court offered reassurance that RFRA, Title VIIs religious exemption and the ministerial exception will suffice to protect religious individuals and institutions. But more needs to be done to make its promise a reality. This is particularly true because many state officials are likely to apply Bostocks rationale to re-interpret state prohibitions on sex discrimination in employment, public accommodations and government programs. Title VIIs religious exemption and RFRA do not follow Bostocks analysis downstream to the states.

The courts reaffirmation in Our Lady of Guadalupe School v. Morrissey-Berru of the First Amendments strong protection for religious employers decisions about who will lead their religious mission and teach their religious beliefs does apply to the states. But the protection, while strong, is limited and does not extend to all employees.

More to the point, Our Ladys protection of this essential right was possible only because, eight years ago in Hosanna-Tabor Evangelical Lutheran Church and School v. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, the court set Smith to one side. In Hosanna-Tabor, the U.S. government argued that the free exercise clause offered no protection to a religious congregations decisions regarding who would be its minister or teach its faith in its school. The government understandably relied on Smith for this jaw-dropping proposition, only to find its reliance rejected by a unanimous court. But by requiring the court continually to cabin it or create workarounds, Smith works distinctive institutional damage to the courts reputation.

RFRA and the ministerial exception have performed yeomans work. But they urgently need reinforcement through restoration of consistent and reliable constitutional protection for religious freedom.

By protecting all religious beliefs regardless of their popularity, religious freedom makes it possible for Americans with starkly different worldviews to live peaceably together. Now is the time to restore substantive constitutional protection for all Americans regardless of what they believe or where they live.

Posted in Symposium on the Roberts court and the religion clauses, Featured

Recommended Citation: Kim Colby, Symposium: Free exercise, RFRA and the need for a constitutional safety net, SCOTUSblog (Aug. 10, 2020, 11:20 AM), https://www.scotusblog.com/2020/08/symposium-free-exercise-rfra-and-the-need-for-a-constitutional-safety-net/

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A New Jersey National Guard sergeant trains an Albanian officer candidate on a machinegun.

The United States has a low-key, low-cost tool to build relationships with friendly militaries around the world. But after 27 years of success, the State Partnership Program originally created for post-Cold War Europe needs a review to ensure it is optimized for Washingtons current national security needs.

Why does SPP matter? With threats growing and budgets under pressure from COVID-19, the Pentagon needs a cost-efficient way to build stronger relationships and military capacity with partner nations in each combatant command. Ideally, this approach would not place additional burdens on the active duty U.S. military and would operate largely below the radar of Americas adversaries and competitors.

That is where the SPP excels. But the program is overdue for a strategic assessment to ensure it is appropriately resourced and properly focused on the objectives of the National Defense Strategy, which refocuses the US military from counterinsurgency to strategic competition against Russia and China.

The program was created in a very different era, when the U.S. had a very different relationship with both Russia and China. The Pentagon established the SPP in 1993 to create constructive relationships between state National Guards and the newly independent countries of the former Soviet Union. For example, the Maryland, Michigan, and Pennsylvania National Guards established programs with Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania, respectively.

This enabled National Guard citizen-soldiers and airmen to build the military capacity of partner countries. This use of reserve-component personnel was less prone to catch Moscows attention or incite an unwelcome over-reaction from the Kremlin.

Nations participating in the National Guards State Partnership Program (SPP). (82 nations are listed; seven other nations that participate in multi-nation partnerships are not shown).

Meanwhile, the program incrementally built partner capacity and interoperability, while productive long-term relationships took root. Junior enlisted personnel and young officers who first met their European counterparts in the 1990s are now sergeant majors and colonels. Two and a half decades of trust have been built with frontline allies. That is as important as it is difficult to measure.

In recent years, the Michigan National Guard has been helping to train Latvian joint terminal attack controllersdirectly improving Latvian close air support capabilities. The commander of U.S. European Command, General Tod Wolters, praised the work of the Michigan National Guard in improving its partners air-land integration and noted that Guard members help arriving NATO military training teams reintegrate at a much faster pace.

Based on the initial success of SPP in Europe in the 1990s, the Pentagon expanded the program in the intervening years to the Middle East, Central and South America, and the Indo-Pacific.

Now, there are programs with 89 nations around the globe.

Today, for example, nearly every country in Southern Commands area of responsibility participates in the SPP. In fact, the commander of SOUTHCOM, Admiral Craig Faller, sings the SPPs praises. It is a game-changer for us, Faller said during a congressional hearing earlier this year. Most of our exercise support for our major exercises comes from State Partnerships, and that is something that we depend on as our force provider.

But there is room for improvement.

In response to a congressional directive, the Government Accountability Office (GAO) conducted a review of the SPP in 2012. GAO identified a number of findings and recommendations that required the Pentagons attention. Among other things, GAO found that the SPP lacks a comprehensive oversight framework that includes clear program goals, objectives, and metrics to measure progress against those goals.

Notably, the Pentagon concurred with all of GAOs findings and recommendations. Yet GAO subsequently assessed that the strategic plan issued in 2016 still did not lay out specific goals or metrics for measuring the success of the SPP.

Bosnian troops train with soldiers of the Maryland National Guard

Accordingly, a new review of the SPP is needed.

Does a comprehensive oversight framework now exist? Are there clear goals, objectives, metrics, and milestones? Based on those, how are individual programs performing, and are they fully aligned with the National Defense Strategy?

In the meantime, the Pentagon needs to update the Department of Defense Instruction (DODI) governing the SPP. The most recent DODI went into effect in October 2016before the publication of the NDS and recent changes in the National Defense Authorization Act.

Members of Congress should also consider whether the SPP has the necessary funding and statutory authority. To support the NDS, should new programs be established, for example, in Japan, Australia, India, or Singapore? While a full-fledged SPP might not be appropriate yet for Taiwan, perhaps National Guard advisors or small units from a number of states could help the Taiwanese build military capacity and readiness.

Wherever there is an SPP, there should be a National Guard bilateral affairs officer in the respective U.S. embassy. That would help ensure SPP activities in the country most effectively support the U.S. integrated country strategy and foreign policy objectives.

In the effort to effectively implement the National Defense Strategy, Washington has a great asset in the State Partnership Program. With some refinements, it can be even better.

Bradley Bowman is senior director of the Center on Military and Political Power (CMPP) at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies (FDD), where Maj. Thomas G. Pledger is a visiting military analyst. Views expressed or implied in this commentary are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the views of the U.S. Army, the National Guard Bureau, the Defense Department, or any other U.S. government agency.

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Modernize The National Guards State Partnership Program - Breaking Defense

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CARLYLE COMMODITIES CORP. (CSE:CCC) (FSE:1OZA) (OTC Pink:DLRYF) (Carlyle or the Company) is pleased to announce that it has entered into two separate British Columbia (BC) mineral property option agreements with United Mineral Services Ltd. (UMS), a private company affiliated with Hunter Dickinson Inc. (HDI) and 100% owned by Robert Dickinson, Chairman of HDI.

CARLYLE COMMODITIES CORP. (CSE:CCC) (FSE:1OZA) (OTC Pink:DLRYF) (Carlyle or the Company) is pleased to announce that it has entered into two separate British Columbia (BC) mineral property option agreements with United Mineral Services Ltd. (UMS), a private company affiliated with Hunter Dickinson Inc. (HDI) and 100% owned by Robert Dickinson, Chairman of HDI.

Under the terms of the Mack Option Agreement and the Jake Option Agreement, Carlyle has the right to earn a 50% working interest in the Mack copper-molybdenum-gold and Jake gold properties by completing $400,000 of drilling and other surveys on each property. Upon completion of the required expenditures, separate 50:50 Joint Ventures will be formed between Carlyle and UMS (or its assigns) in order to continue to advance each asset. Carlyle and UMS have agreed that HDI affiliated, Amarc Resources Ltd. (Amarc), which has extensive BC exploration experience, will operate the exploration programs.

The planned drill programs will test the significant scale, drill ready, bulk tonnage deposit targets that have been defined at both Mack and Jake from combined historical and modern geochemical, geological and geophysical surveys. Drill permits have been applied for. It is expected that the drill permit for Mack will be obtained later this August, allowing the mobilization of a planned 14 day diamond drill program. Surface surveys are also planned at Jake for this August through September, but expectations are that due to COVID-19, drill permits for Jake may delay drilling until next year.

Morgan Good, Chief Executive Officer of Carlyle, commented: We are extremely thrilled to form this strategic partnership with Robert Dickinson and The Hunter Dickinson Group. HDI is a world-class organization with numerous major discoveries and significant mining success for more than 30 years. The Mack and Jake Projects offer tremendous discovery potential, as well as offer Carlyle further leverage to gold and now some exposure to the copper and moly space. We are expecting our drill permits for the Mack later this month which will position the Company for maiden drill campaigns both in Canada and at our high-grade gold-silver Cecilia Project in Mexico in the very near future.

Robert Dickinson, President of UMS and Chairman of HDI, stated:We are very excited to drill test both the Jake and Mack deposit targets which are well focused and of significant scale. We believe the programs advanced by our partner Carlyle have a high probability of producing major new discoveries leading to the creation of substantial new wealth.

The Mack Property

The Mack Property islocated on a overburden covered, alpine plateau 23 km west of the village of Dease Lake, which is on the Stewart-Cassiar Highway some 88 km north of the Red Chris gold-copper mine operated by Newcrest Mining Ltd., and 75 km north of the Saddle North gold-copper discovery on the Tatogga property of GT GOLD. Based on historical records compiled by UMS, the Mack copper-molybdenum-gold sheeted and stockwork vein deposit target forms a northwest trending zone measuring 1,000 m long and some 600 m wide, which is outlined by a combination of recent soil geochemical and airborne magnetic surveys and historical Induced Polarization (IP) chargeability surveys. Geochemical soil survey results show coincident and robust copper, molybdenum, bismuth and tungsten values over the deposit target mineralization trend. While the Mack deposit target is covered by overburden, a cirque rim perpendicular to and at the northern extremity of the deposit target trend exposes an altered quartz-monzonite outcrop measuring about 400 m long carrying molybdenite and chalcopyrite mineralization in hairline fractures and quartz veins. Historical assay results from rock samples collected along a 20 m trench, cut oblique to the deposit target trend near its centre, reported gold values ranging from 0 g/t to 1.6 g/t, with 9 of the 17 samples averaging 0.83 g/t.

The Jake Property

The Jake Property is located approximately 160 km north of Smithers and can be accessed from there directly by helicopter or by a combination of forestry roads and helicopter access from forestry operations closer to site.

The Jake deposit target is compelling based on data compiled and reported by UMS. It features a 4,000 m long by 2,000 m wide gossan centred on a northeast trending ridge-line characterized by extensive dyking intruding sedimentary rocks. Within this altered, gossanous area is a 2,300 m long by 1,000 m wide gold-in-talus geochemical anomaly which indicates the presence of a significant size, epithermal gold system that overlies an associated porphyry copper-gold deposit target as indicated by geochemical and geological surveys.

The Mack Option Agreement

Pursuant to the terms of the Mack Option Agreement, UMS has granted Carlyle an option (the Mack Option) to earn a 50% interest in the Mack Property by funding $400,000 for an initial drill test of the Mack deposit target. After completing the earn-in, the Mack Project will be advanced though a 50:50 joint venture with UMS (or its assigns). Timing of funding is a follows:

Carlyle can accelerate the exercise of the Mack Option at any time by completing the required funding earlier.

The Jake Option Agreement

On exercise of the Mack Option, Carlyle will be vested with the option (the Jake Option) to earn a 50% interest in the Jake Property. The Jake Option is exercisable by Carlyle funding a $400,000 initial exploration program. Timing of funding is as follows:

Carlyle can accelerate the exercise of the Jake Option at any time by completing the required funding earlier.

The Joint Ventures

Upon the respective exercise of the Jake Option and the Mack Option separate 50:50 Joint Ventures will be formed. Each Joint Venture will be governed by the terms of a Joint Venture agreement. In addition to customary joint venture terms, Carlyle and UMS have agreed that:

Finders Fee

In connection with the Option Agreement, Carlyle has agreed to pay a finders fee to a eligible finder of $40,000, being 10% of the aggregate $400,000 earn-in program with respect to the Mack Property, and, upon the exercise of the Mack Option, a fee of $40,000 or the number of common shares in the capital of Carlyle (each, a Share) that is equal to $40,000 divided by the closing market price of the Shares on the Canadian Securities Exchange (the CSE) on the Trading Day prior to the date of the Jake Option Exercise (the Jake Option Exercise Date), being 10% of the aggregate $400,000 earn-in program with respect to the Jake Property, payable within 10 days of the Jake Option Exercise Date. All Shares which may be issuable to the eligible finder upon the exercise of the Jake Option will be subject to a statutory hold period expiring four months and one day after the date of issuance.

Qualified Person

Harrison Cookenboo, Ph.D., P.Geo., is a Qualified Person as defined in Canadian National Instrument- 43-101, and has reviewed and is responsible for the technical information presented in this news release.

About HDI

HDI is a diversified, global mining group with more than 30 years of mineral development success. HDI sources mineral assets with significant potential and has strong technical and management experience to successfully advance those projects. Previous and current notable HDI porphyry deposit discoveries and developments include Pebble, Mount Milligan, Kemess South, Kemess North, Gibraltar, Prosperity, Xietongmen, Newtongmen, Florence, Casino, Sisson, Maggie, DUKE, PINE and IKE.

About Carlyle

Carlyle is a mineral exploration company focused on the acquisition, exploration and development of mineral resource properties. The Company has an option to earn a 100% interest in the Cecilia Gold Project located in the State of Sonora, Mexico, as well as an option to earn a 100% interest in the promising Sunset property located in the Vancouver Mining Division near Pemberton, BC. Carlyle is based in Vancouver, BC, and is listed on the Canadian Securities Exchange (CSE) under the symbol CCC.

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OFCARLYLE COMMODITIES CORP.

Morgan Good

Morgan GoodChief Executive OfficerFor more information regarding this news release, please contact:Morgan Good, CEO and DirectorT: 604-715-4751E:morgan@carlylecommodities.comW:www.carlylecommodities.com

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This news release contains forward-looking statements and forward-looking information (collectively, forward-looking statements) within the meaning of applicable Canadian legislation. All statements in this news release that are not purely historical are forward-looking statements and include statements regarding beliefs, plans, expectations and orientations regarding the future including, without limitation, the exercise of the Mack Option and Jake Option (and the transactions contemplated thereby, including payment of any respective option payments), and plans for further exploration of the Mack Property or Jake Property are forward-looking statements. Although the Company believes that such statements are reasonable and reflect expectations of future developments and other factors which management believes to be reasonable and relevant, the Company can give no assurance that such expectations will prove to be correct. Forward-looking statements are typically identified by words such as: believes, expects, anticipates, intends, estimates, plans, may, should, would, will, potential, scheduled or variations of such words and phrases and similar expressions, which, by their nature, refer to future events or results that may, could, would, might or will occur or be taken or achieved. In making the forward-looking statements in this news release, the Company has applied several material assumptions, including without limitation, that it, UMS, or Amarc will obtain any necessary permits, licenses and regulatory approvals necessary for the implementation of the earn-in programs for each respective property as well as the respective exercise of the each option pursuant thereto, that the results of the work to be conducted on the Mack and Jake properties will be satisfactory to warrant further exploration, that market fundamentals will support the viability of gold mineral exploration, the availability of the financing required for the Company to carry out its planned future activities, to retain and attract qualified personnel, and the ability of the Company to exercise the Mack Option and the Jake Option.

Forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the Company to differ materially from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking information. Such risks and other factors include the inability of the Company to exercise either the Mack Option or the Jake Option, execute its proposed business plans, and carry out planned future activities. The novel strain of coronavirus, COVID-19, also poses new risks that are currently indescribable and immeasurable. Other factors may also adversely affect the future results or performance of the Company, including general economic, market or business conditions, future prices of gold or other precious metals, changes in the financial markets and in the demand for gold or other precious metals, changes in laws, regulations and policies affecting the mineral exploration industry, risks related to the acquisitions of the Mack and Jake properties and the Companys investment and operation in the mineral exploration sector in Canada and abroad, as well as the risks and uncertainties which are more fully described in the Companys annual and quarterly managements discussion and analysis and other filings made by the Company with Canadian securities regulatory authorities under the Companys profile atwww.sedar.com. Readers are cautioned that forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance or events and, accordingly, are cautioned not to put undue reliance on forward-looking statements due to the inherent uncertainty of such statements.

These forward-looking statements are made as of the date of this news release and, unless required by applicable law, the Company assumes no obligation to update the forward-looking statements or to update the reasons why actual results could differ from those projected in these forward-looking statements.

Historical information contained in this news release cannot be relied upon as the Companys Qualified Person, as defined under NI 43-101 has not prepared nor verified the historical information.

Neither the CSE nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the CSE accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release).

Click here to connect with Carlyle Commodities (CSE:CCC) for an Investor Presentation.

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While Sumter School District announced on Monday it will allow fall sports teams at its three high schools to begin Phase 1.5 conditioning on Tuesday, all of three of the football programs and the other fall sports programs at two of the schools will wait until Monday before beginning conditioning.

In a press release from Superintendent Dr. Penelope Knox-Martin, the district said conditioning could begin on Tuesday. That would allow the Sumter, Lakewood and Crestwood fall sports teams to begin conditioning for the upcoming school year, after the South Carolina High School League said in early June schools could begin conditioning but Sumter School District chose not to do so due to the coronavirus pandemic.

While the wait has been long, Sumter and Lakewood will not begin conditioning until Monday, according to its athletic directors. Crestwood chose not to officially say what its plans are, but the Facebook page for the school's football program said it will begin conditioning on Monday from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.

Sumter athletic director Curtis Johnson and Lakewood AD Shannon Murray said they are taking the extra days to make sure things are in proper order before starting.

"We're waiting until the moment where we can meet as coaching staff and make sure everything is laid out exactly how we want it," Johnson said. "We want to make sure we put the student-athletes in the best position possible."

"We've had plans throughout the whole time, and we're waiting just to make sure that before we get started that we are on top of it so we can make it as safe as possible for our players and our coaches," said Shannon Murray, who was hired as the Lakewood AD just a few months ago. "We want to be as organized as we can be to make sure we have all the supplies we need to make it work."

Both Johnson and Murray said they were going to meet with the head coaches of their fall sports programs on Tuesday to set up conditioning schedules beginning on Monday.

Sumter offers football, volleyball, girls golf, girls tennis, cross country, swimming and competitive cheer in the fall. Both Lakewood and Crestwood offer football, volleyball, cross country and competitive cheer in the fall.

Sumter High will be holding physicals at the school from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Wednesday.

The SCHSL allowed Phase 1 workouts to begin in early June after the shutdown due to the pandemic at the end of the 2019-20 school year. Phase 1 included conditioning and weightlifting in pods of no more than 10 people. The SCHSL allowed the schools that had been holding conditioning workouts to move to Phase 1.5 in the last few weeks. Phase 1.5 allows pieces of equipment from the respective sports to be implemented into the workouts.

In Monday's release, it was stated, "Our top priority is the health and safety of our employees and staff. We will continue to monitor data from DHEC (Department of Health and Environmental Control) and exercise safety measures that have been put in place by CDC (Center for Disease Control and Prevention) and DHEC and outlined in our high school return-to-play plans. The South Carolina High School League has established a schedule for the start dates for practices; however, these dates will be contingent upon the high risk COVID-19 status in the Sumter community. We ask for your patience and understanding as we continue to implement procedures to safeguard our athletes and staff."

The release also stated certain guidelines that student-athletes, coaches and staff will need to follow. The list includes:

- Parents will sign a waiver prepared by the district in order for their student to participate in any activity.

- All staff and athletes will be screened for signs/symptoms of COVID-19 prior to each practice.

- All athletes, coaches, and staff will be required to wear a face covering.

- All athletes and staff should continue to follow current CDC advice related to COVID-19 prevention including staying home when sick, washing hands frequently, avoiding touching face, and practicing social distancing.

- Athletes should bring personal water bottles and face masks to each workout and not share these items with anyone. There can be no shared water, food, face masks, sunscreen/lotions, make-up products, etc.

- Facilities and high touch surfaces will be cleaned and sanitized often.

- Staff will monitor heat conditions and have Emergency Action Plans in place for all activities.

- Group sizes for conditioning should be limited to 16 persons per facility including coaches and staff.

- When using weight rooms, practicing calisthenics, running, or other conditioning training where vigorous exercise occurs, proper spacing from others must be maintained by working out with a 12 foot minimum between each person. (This may require restricting the use of or moving some equipment.)

The release also pointed out that following the required precautions does not mean that transmission of the virus will not occur. It asks that students who either have pre-existing medical conditions that place them at higher risk of infection or who do not want to risk contracting COVID-19 should refrain from participating in the fall sports programs.

Last week, the SCHSL pushed back the start of practice for the football season from Aug. 17 to Sept. 8. The date of the first possible game was moved from Sept. 11 to Sept. 25.

As far as the other fall sports, girls golf, swimming and girls tennis can hold its first practice on Aug. 17. Each can hold scrimmages starting on Aug. 24, and the first-regular season contest can be held beginning on Aug. 31.

Cross country and volleyball can begin practice on Aug. 24 with the first day for scrimmages Aug. 31 and the first day for regular-season competition on Sept. 7.

Competitive cheer can begin practice on the same day at football, Sept. 8, but it won't have its first contest until Oct. 13.

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Sumter School District allows conditioning to begin; teams to start up on Monday - Sumter Item

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