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L.A. Comic Con is Nigh! Massive Info Dump

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December 2021 brings with it the return of L.A. Comic Con – IN PERSON! Thousands and thousands of geeks and gamers (said affectionately as we are such geeks) will make their way to Los Angeles to experience the latest in comics, science fiction, gaming, and pop-culture. FSM will be on hand. More on that later. For now, the good folks at L.A. Comic Con have treated us with a massive news dump about the event! See below for the latest info:

L.A. COMIC CON CELEBRATES A RETURN TO FULL-SCALE IN-PERSON EVENTS WITH SPECIAL GUESTS ZACHARY LEVI, MING-NA WEN, GIANCARLO ESPOSITO, BRUCE CAMPBELL, AND SPECIAL STAR TREK EXPERIENCE FEATURING NICHELLE NICHOLS  
Programming Includes West Hall eSports, Gaming, and Anime Experience, Smallville Nights, Cosplay National Championship, Laugh Factory Comedy Show, and cast members from Boy Meets World, Mighty Morphin Power Rangers, Arrow, My Hero Academia, and much more!

L.A. Comic Con to Implement Numerous COVID-19 Health and Safety Measures in Compliance with State and Local Policies and Guidance

WHAT: L.A. Comic Con, L.A.’s largest event for comics, gaming, sci-fi and pop culture, signals a return to full-scale in-person events, leading the way as the first Southern California convention of its kind to bring fans back since October 2019. Full compliance with all Los Angeles Department of Public Health CV-19 guidelines for mega events will be strictly followed, including proof of vaccination or negative test results, and masks will be worn by all attendees. In 2019, over 123,000 fans attended L.A. Comic Con for celebrity panels, autograph signings, activations, comics, cosplay, and pop culture fanfare. The event plays host to 800+ diverse artists and vendors, selling comics, collectibles, art, toys, apparel, and everything in-between. This year, attendees will get up close and personal with some of the biggest and best names in the entertainment industry with a handpicked selection of panels, events, special exhibits, and meet and greet opportunities. Special guests include Zachary Levi, Ming-Na Wen, Giancarlo Esposito, Bruce Campbell, Nichelle Nichols, Tom Kenny, Tom Welling, and many more.

WHEN: The Los Angeles Comic Con will take place December 3–5, 2021.

WHERE:
Los Angeles Convention Center
1201 South Figueroa Street
Los Angeles, CA 90015

Schedule Highlights:

Show Hours

  •  Friday, December 3: 4:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.
  • Saturday, December 4:  9:30 a.m. – 7:00 p.m.
  • Sunday, December 5: 9:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.

Consistent with Los Angeles Department of Public Health Guidelines, for this year’s convention, here are a few extra measures that will be taken to ensure the health and safety of everyone attending are considered:

  • There will be three entrances — one in the South Hall and two in the West Hall — employing over 20 magnetometers to spread out and speed up COVID-19 and safety checks
  • All fans and guests will pass through two checkpoints: a COVID vaccination/negative test verification station and then security. Free PCR tests (results available in 15 minutes) will be available for those lacking vaccine verification
  • All convention goers will be required to wear face coverings while attending the event
  • All cleaning standards from LA County and Centers for Disease Control (CDC) will be followed before, in between and after all sessions
  • Extra space: With well over 1.2 million-square feet of exhibition space (double the space from 2019), fans will have plenty of room to spread out and maintain safe distances

Programming Includes:

A Star Trek Experience
L.A. Comic Con is teaming up with Atomic Studios to bring you the ultimate celebration of Star Trek, honoring Nichelle Nichols and her contribution to society and pop culture. L.A. Comic Con will host the ultimate Trekkie experience on Saturday and Sunday. Over 35,000-square feet of exhibit space will be dedicated to all-things Star Trek and space exploration. Join over 20 actors from all the Star Trek series for panels, content, merchandise, photo opportunities, and more for an experience that is truly out of this world.

West Hall Expansion Featuring eSports, Gaming, and Anime
L.A. Comic Con is taking over the West Hall of the Los Angeles Convention Center for the first time, thanks to its partnership with PCB Productions. In the 147,000-square-foot West Hall, fans will have the opportunity to watch competitive gaming on the Tiltify Arena stage, created by The Trade Group, past producers of I.E.M. and Dreamhack events. With seating for 800–1,000 patrons, the Arena will be the center point of a hall where fans can play PC games on high-end computers, attend workshops, and interact with some of the top video game and Anime voice-over talent in the industry in intimate settings. Fans will be able to participate in Thankmas, a fundraising campaign to help end global homelessness.

Sideshow Booth
Pop culture collectibles giant Sideshow is exhibiting at Los Angeles Comic Con for the very first time. Sideshow’s booth will feature high end collectibles inspired by fan-favorite characters from the worlds of Marvel, DC, Star Wars, and more — including many that will be making their first physical convention debut.

Laugh Factory Comedy Show
Iconic comedy club Laugh Factory is taking over the Main Stage on Friday night of L.A. Comic Con with an exciting two-hour lineup. Fans can kick off their L.A. Comic Con weekend by laughing out loud with some of the best names in stand-up comedy.

6th Annual Cosplay National Championship
Cosplayers will compete for cash and other prizes in the 6th Annual Cosplay National Championship in one of three categories: Master, Journeyman, or Novice. All genres are welcome including characters from film, television, theater, comics, video games, sci-fi, anime, horror, and original creations.

Smallville Nights
Join your favorite Clark Kent and Lex Luthor as they bring some of your favorite Smallville moments to life. Tom Welling (Clark Kent/Superman) and Michael Rosenbaum (Lex Luthor) will be reading scenes from the series and bringing fans up to act and improv. Enjoy and laugh as Welling and Rosenbaum attempt to get through scenes from the pilot and beyond without breaking character.

Raised by Wolves Season 2 Sneak Peek
L.A. Comic Con is presenting a sneak peek of HBO Max’s original drama series, Raised by Wolves. The series is produced by Ridley Scott’s Scott Free Productions, with Scott, Aaron Guzikowski, David W. Zucker (The Man in the High Castle), Jordan Sheehan (The Terror), Adam Kolbrenner (Prisoners), and Mark Huffam (The Martian) serving as executive producers. The series was created by Guzikowski, acclaimed writer, and visionary behind the highly lauded film, Prisoners.

In the second installment of HBO Max’s original drama series, RAISED BY WOLVES, Android partners Mother (Amanda Collin) and Father (Abubakar Salim), along with their brood of six human children, join a newly formed atheistic colony in Kepler 22 b’s mysterious tropical zone. But navigating this strange new society is only the start of their troubles as Mother’s “natural child” threatens to drive what little remains of the human race to extinction.

The sneak peek will feature:

  •  Amanda Collin, Star
  • Abubakar Salim, Star
  • Travis Fimmel, Star
  • Niamh Algar, Star
  • Kim Engelbrecht, Star
  • Aaron Guzikowski, Creator, Showrunner, Executive Producer, Writer
  • Dalton Ross, Executive Editor at Large for Entertainment Weekly (Moderator)

The Official L.A. Comic Con Scavenger Hunt
Fans are encouraged to download the Oasis Digital AR app, in the Apple App Store or on Google Play, to experience Augmented Reality events in and around the Los Angeles Convention Center. Convention goers can participate in the official Los Angeles Comic Con Scavenger Hunt, brought to you by our digital innovation partner, Liquid Avatar Technologies. Find and collect QR codes hidden around the show to win amazing digital stickers, discounts, and special offers! Once you’ve completed the scavenger hunt, visit the Liquid Avatar booth to collect even more great prizes like limited edition commemorative NFTs, collector Liquid Avatars and more!

Main Stage Featured Guests:

Spongebob Squarepants
Spongebob and Squidward are two of the most iconic animated characters ever created, and part of what makes them so recognizable and beloved are their unique voices. Join Tom Kenny (Spongebob Squarepants) and Roger Bumpass (Squidward Tentacles) for a discussion about one of the longest running shows in television history.

Boy Meets World
From 1993–2000, Boy Meets World explored the trials and tribulations of growing up in the 1990s. Join Will Friedle (Eric Matthews), William Daniels (George Feeny), and Rider Strong (Shawn Hunter) for a chat about this successful and popular series.

Smallville
Clark Kent grew up in Smallville, Kansas, and before he became Superman, he not only had to deal with being different from everyone else, but he also had to learn his place in the world. From 2001–2011, Smallville brought us a dramatic look at Clark Kent’s formative years. Tom Welling (Clark Kent/Superman), Michael Rosenbaum (Lex Luthor), John Glover (Lionel Luthor), and Laura Vandervoort (Kara), will present an illuminating look at this popular show.

The Mandalorian
The Mandalorian took Disney+ by storm and has become tremendously popular during its first two seasons. This Star Wars story, set in the years after the fall of the Galactic Empire, tells the tale of a member of the race of bounty hunters that spawned Boba Fett. Ming-Na Wen (Fennec Shand), Giancarlo Esposito (Moff Gideon) will regale convention goers with tales from one of the most innovative production sets ever built.

Mighty Morphin Power Rangers
From 1993–1996, the Mighty Morphin Power Rangers sprang into action to fight all kinds of baddies and protect the town of Angel Grove, and the world at large. The original series, which was adapted from Japan’s Super Sentai series, launched more than 20 iterations and three feature films. Join Jason David Frank (Tommy Oliver/White Ranger/Green Ranger) and David Yost (Billy Cranston/Blue Ranger) for a discussion about this iconic franchise.

My Hero Academia
Adapted from a Japanese superhero manga, My Hero Academia is an anime that tells the story of a young boy, Izuku Midoriya, who wishes to enroll in a prestigious hero academy. English-speaking cast members J. Michael Tatum, Brandon McInnis, Ricco Fajardo, Alexis Tipton, and Christopher Wehkmap will discuss bringing this popular story to North American audiences.

Interviews and Spotlights:

Gerard Way Interviews Frank Miller
Gerard Way, creator of The Umbrella Academy and The True Lives of the Fabulous Killjoys, and co-founder and lead singer of My Chemical Romance, will interview legendary creator Frank Miller (300, The Dark Knight Returns, Give Me Liberty, Ronin, Sin City) on the Main Stage Saturday, Dec. 4th! Enjoy the conversation between the two pop culture giants as they discuss comics, film and what’s next for Frank Miller.

Spotlight on Bruce Campbell
In the late 1970s, Bruce Campbell and Sam Raimi collaborated on a horror short called Within the Woods, which became The Evil Dead (1981) which Campbell co-produced and starred in as Ash Williams. Thanks in part to a ringing endorsement from Stephen King, Campbell and Raimi followed with Evil Dead 2 in 1987, and Army of Darkness in 1992. Campbell reprised the role of Ash in the Showtime series Ash vs Evil Dead for three seasons from 2015–2018. Ash has become one of the most iconic characters ever created in the horror genre. Campbell, who also produces and directs, is also known for roles in the film Bubba Ho-Tep and the TV series Burn Notice.  

Spotlight on Zachary Levi
Zachary Levi is an accomplished actor, singer, and dancer, who has appeared in films, on television, and on Broadway. A regular voice actor on Robot Chicken, Levi is also the voice of Flynn Rider in 2010’s Tangled. He also voiced characters in Tangled: The Series. Most notably, Levi starred as the title character in Shazam! in 2019, and Chuck Bartowski in Chuck from 2007–2012. The Louisiana-native has also played the Asgardian Fandral in Thor: The Dark World and Thor: Ragnarok. His theater credits include First Date, She Loves Me, and Sunday in the Park with George.  

World Class Artists & Creators Including:

  • Frank Miller, Ronin, Daredevil: Born Again, Elektra Lives Again, The Dark Knight Returns, Sin City, and 300
  • Rob Liefeld, Deadpool, New Mutants, Youngblood
  • Jim Starlin, Infinity Gauntlet Saga, The Death of Captain Marvel
  • Brian Azzarello, Spaceman, Batman: Broken City, 100 Bullets
  • Kyle Higgins, Nightwing, Batman Eternal, Gates of Gotham, Batman Beyond 2.0
  • Donny Cates, Venom, Guardians of the Galaxy, Doctor Strange
  • Ryan Stegman, Uncanny Avengers, Amazing Spider-Man, Wolverine
  • Andy Kubert, X-Men
  • And many more!

SPONSORS:

Tiltify
The presenting sponsor of the Tiltify eSports Arena in the West Hall, Tiltify is a fundraising platform for the digital generation providing live, interactive technology that engages and inspires communities to donate or fundraise to important causes the world over.

AREA21 in the West Hall
AREA21, the collaborative project of DJ/producer Martin Garrix and producer/songwriter Maejor, is a conceptual sonic and visual exploration that has the duo making music containing universal messages about humankind as seen through the eyes of their alien alter egos M & M. Their adventures are portrayed through a series of songs and accompanying animated videos produced by award-winning animation studio, Titmouse (Run the Jewels, Dua Lipa). Convention goers can check out their videos in the West Hall expansion.

Digital Innovation Partner Liquid Avatar Technologies
Liquid Avatar Technologies, L.A. Comic Con’s Digital Innovation Partner, will showcase its technology through integrations and demonstrations of verifiable credentials, digital identity, unveiling new and exclusive projects, hosting panels and meet-and-greets with writers, artists, and industry icons, and will also create and administer an Augmented Reality scavenger hunt in conjunction with its subsidiary, Oasis Digital Studios, to showcase a host of digital collectibles.

Hot Topic
Hot Topic offers band-related apparel and accessories, licensed merchandise, and fashion apparel and accessories, which you can find at more than 600 stores and online.

Legion M
Legion M is the world’s first fan-owned entertainment company and partners with top Hollywood creators — from independent filmmakers to big Hollywood studios — to produce a slate of movies, TV, and digital content.

Popshop Live
Popshop Live is a live streaming commerce marketplace that is transforming social shopping. The mobile streaming platform allows sellers to go live, sell their products to a community of shoppers and engage directly in real-time interactions. L.A. Comic Con and Popshop Live have partnered together to elevate the digital experience by giving attendees unlimited access to livestream the main stage through the Popshop Live app, interact with their favorite exhibitors after the convention is over with exclusive discounts and products, and bringing L.A. Comic Con alive with a virtual convention in Spring 2022, streaming exclusively on Popshop Live!

That Hashtag Show
That Hashtag Show writes and produces quality content to hype the films and shows you love, keeping you up to date with everything trending in geek pop culture.

UE COMIX™
UE COMIX™ is a self-publishing platform designed to support and promote Comics, Manga, and Graphic Novels by Independent Creators. We aim to return control to the aesthetic community through the establishment of a self-made, self-published mindset. Words cannot express the appreciation and excitement we have partnering with L.A. Comic Con and participating in the upcoming events.

Voodoo Ranger
Voodoo Ranger is excited to join everyone on the convention floor this year as the official beer partner of L.A. Comic Con!

WHY: Los Angeles is the entertainment capital of the world, and home to the most high-profile entertainers, artists, studios, and the center of the film and television industry. L.A. Comic Con is a celebration for all things pop culture and is meant to be a place where fans can meet their superheroes, comic book characters, and the creators behind them.

WHO:

  • Nichelle Nichols, Actress, Star Trek
  • Zachary Levi, Actor, Chuck, Shazam!
  • Ming-Na Wen, Actress, The Mandalorian, Marvel’s AGENTS OF S.H.I.E.L.D
  • Giancarlo Esposito, Actor, The Mandalorian, Breaking Bad, Better Call Saul
  • Bruce Campbell, Actor, Evil Dead, Spider-Man, Bubba Ho-Tep
  • Jason David Frank, Actor, Mighty Morphin Power Rangers
  • Tom Kenny, Comedian and Voice of Spongebob Squarepants
  • Roger Bumpass, Actor, Voice of Squidward – Spongebob Squarepants
  • David Yost, Actor, Mighty Morphin Power Rangers
  • Tom Welling, Actor, Smallville, Lucifer
  • Michael Rosenbaum, Actor, Smallville, Guardians of the Galaxy 2
  • John Glover, Actor, The Walking Dead, Smallville, Scrooged
  • Rider Strong, Actor, Boy Meets World, Cabin Fever
  • William Daniels, Actor, Boy Meets World, Knight Rider, St. Elsewhere
  • Will Friedle, Actor, Boy Meets World, Batman Beyond
  • John Barrowman, Actor, Doctor Who, Flash
  • Casper Van Dien, Actor, Starship Troopers, Sleepy Hollow
  • J. Michael Tatum, Actor, Black Butler
  • Chris Wehkamp, Actor, My Hero Academia
  • Brandon McInnis, Actor, Black Clover
  • Alexis Tipton, Actress, Sakura Quest
  • Ricco Fajardo, Actor, Black Clover

ABOUT LOS ANGELES COMIC CON:
L.A. Comic Con is Los Angeles’ biggest and best multimedia pop culture convention, held annually at the Los Angeles Convention Center. L.A. Comic Con assembles the most exciting, new, and innovative players in comics, movies, sci-fi, fantasy, horror, anime, gaming, and all things pop-culture. Over 123,000 fans attended the 2019 event, making it Los Angeles’ ultimate pop-culture destination. L.A. Comic Con’s top priority is the safety and enjoyment of the show’s fans and regularly updates its CV-19 protocols. As one of the most diverse and celebrated geek and pop-culture events in the United States, L.A. Comic Con gives fans once-in-a-lifetime opportunities to truly enjoy safe interactions with their favorite creators and major players in the entertainment industry.

MORE INFORMATION ON L.A. COMIC CON
For more info on L.A. Comic Con, please visit: https://www.comicconla.com or follow us on Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram.

HASHTAGS: #ComicConLA #ComicConLA21

5 Home Gym Equipment Ideas If You Have Limited Space

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Having a small room or apartment doesn’t mean you need to skip out on exercise, check out these easy home gym equipment ideas if you have minimal space.

Let us face it, with the reigning pandemic and lockdowns looming around every corner many of us have taken it on ourselves to start exercising from home. Some by choice, others not so much in the same regard.

When you’re a fitness fanatic and don’t know which corner to turn because you can’t go to the gym you’re probably looking for ways that you can exercise at home, for those of us that are doing forms of bodybuilding we probably want some type of resistance training as well that can only come from lifting weights.

Regardless of who you are or what your choice is, there are options for us to train at home, even if you have limited space such as a studio apartment. Below is a list of equipment that you could use at home, even if you have limited space and best of all, they don’t cost a fortune. 5 Gym Equipment Ideas You Can Use At Home If You Have Limited Space

Adjustable Dumbbells

Dumbbells are usually an essential part of strength training and if you’ve ever gone to a proper gym they usually have a whole section entirely dedicated to dumbbells ranging from a few pounds to a few hundred pounds. It’s really a gym staple. 

Adjustable dumbbells are great because you don’t need to have 20 different dumbbells sitting in your home which takes up a lot of space, they are basically like your ordinary dumbbells except that the weight is not fixed. They tend to have a locking system and come with different plates of weights that you can fix to the dumbbell and then lock it.

This makes it easy to start with a low number and then work your way up as you build upon your strength training, pretty neat right?

Adjustable Kettlebells 

Much like the adjustable dumbbells, adjustable kettlebells are similar in nature where you can increase the weight range of them and lock them into place. Some of them have a simple system where you just push a button to release the weights and then clip in further sizes, usually in 6-pound increments. 

Kettlebells are a lot more versatile than dumbbells because you can use them to do things such as goblet squats, as well as bicep curls and various other kettlebell exercises. They’re a great space saver as well as they can just sit in your wardrobe or in a corner.

Ab Wheel Rollers

You’ve probably seen these around at gyms, people usually look like they’re flattening out the pastry of a pizza base on the floor moving up and down. Those are called ab rollers, they can be used to train your core, hips, arms and back muscles and don’t require much room other than your body size.

Skipping rope

If you’re opting for a cardio option instead of weights, then a skipping rope is always going to be a staple for any fitness enthusiast. You don’t need much room other than where you’re standing and if your place has a common area like a backyard or courtyard then you can simply take it out with you as it’s very mobile and light without much hassles.Conclusion

As you can see, you can still get an intense workout even if you have limited space with these options. And if you can’t afford any of them yet, then you can focus on the good old basics of calisthenics such as pushups, situps, jumping jacks and so on. Stay hard!

About the author: Marko Rakic is a trail runner and fitness enthusiast from Sydney, Australia. He is the lead writer for The Ultimate Primate and believes the best way to live a happy life is to take a holistic approach to fitness and health.

Source: Free Articles from ArticlesFactory.com

FSM First Look: Jail Blazers

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Kerry Eggers, who covered the Trail Blazers, goes back twenty years for the stories from the players, coaches, management, and those in Portland—during an era when the local NBA stars were in the headlines for both their play and their off-court behavior.

In the late ’90s and early 2000s, the Portland Trail Blazers were one of the hottest teams in the NBA. For almost a decade, they won 60 percent of their games while making it to the Western Conference Finals twice. However, what happened off-court was just as unforgettable as what they did on the court.

When someone asked Blazers general manager Bob Whitsitt about his team’s chemistry, he replied that he’d “never studied chemistry in college.” And with that, the “Jail Blazers” were born. Built in a similar fashion to a fantasy team, the team had skills, but their issues ended up being their undoing. In fact, many consider it the darkest period in franchise history.

While fans across the country were watching the skills of Damon Stoudamire, Rasheed Wallace, and Zach Randolph, those in Portland couldn’t have been more disappointed in the players’ off-court actions. This, many have mentioned, included a very racial element—which carried over to the players as well. As forward Rasheed Wallace said, “We’re not really going to worry about what the hell [the fans] think about us. They really don’t matter to us. They can boo us every day, but they’re still going to ask for our autographs if they see us on the street. That’s why they’re fans and we’re NBA players.”

Purchase Today!

While people think of the Detroit Pistons of the eighties as the elite “Bad Boys,” the “Jail Blazers” were actually bad. Author Kerry Eggers, who covered the Trail Blazers during this controversial era, goes back to share the stories from the players, coaches, management, and those in Portland when the players were in the headlines as much for their play as for their legal issues.

A World Cup to Die For

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Over 6,500 migrant workers have died in Qatar since 2010 as the death toll continues to rise, with many of those deaths occurring on FIFA World Cup related projects. The figure brings Qatar’s exploitative kafala labor system and lack of migrant worker’s rights to the fore. Change is needed, and FIFA must speak out.

Since making the controversial decision to award Qatar the right to host the 2022 FIFA World Cup, over 6,500 migrant workers from South Asia have died. The total number of migrant worker deaths is believed to be considerably greater. The 6,500-death toll does not include the vast number of workers from nations such as Kenya.

Migrant workers are tasked with bolstering Qatari infrastructure in preparation for the 2022 World Cup. Many of the dead are linked to World Cup related projects including stadium, airport, and hotel construction.  

Kafala system controls migrant workers

These workers are tied to the exploitative kafala system which grants employers control over employee passports. They are forced to remain in the Arab State and their pay is often withheld for months or not given at all. Under this system, workers must hand over their passports on arrival. They feel trapped and held like prisoners. Kept in inhumane conditions and overworked in soaring summer temperatures, many of those who died constructing the stadiums collapsed from exhaustion. There are several reported cases of suicide. The data released on causes of death points not to normal workplace accidents, but to widespread neglect and maltreatment.

The death toll is only one part of a wider problem. Those migrant workers living within the nation often pay over $1,000 simply to begin working.  They live in “pathetic” and “oppressive” conditions, as one Kenyan worker tells the BBC. The workday starts as early as 04:00 and lasts all day, with only warm drinking water available. The workers live in overcrowded camps or dorms and live with “filthy” sanitation. They have no air conditioning to help cope with the 45C summer heat. Talking to the BBC, a British worker who was working on a World Cup construction site as a supervisor describes the situation. He explains that health and safety regulations are “non-existent” and that he is “horrified at the risks taken every day on the site.”

Qatar too slow to change

The response by the Qatari government to the endemic mistreatment of migrant workers, something that they do not deny, continues to be limited. In 2018, Qatar set out a plan to reform its Kafala system. They are failing to uphold this promise. Since joining the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights in May of 2018, Qatar insists on a list of formal reservations. They deprive migrant workers of some of the important protections that the treaty normally guarantees. Lama Fakih, deputy Middle East director at Human Rights Watch, states that “while Qatar has taken some important steps to protect human rights, there is still a long way to go before migrant workers are protected from abuse and exploitation.”

FIFA complacent in rising death toll

The situation in Qatar reveals more than the need for domestic reform. It makes clear that FIFA disregard human rights. The world’s leading football association, following the 2018 Russia World Cup, are once again showing their role in “sportswashing”. The term describes a nation – often one accused of human rights violations – using sport to rebrand itself. Sportswashing nations are hiding behind the façade of glamour and sport to cover up a negative image of the nation. Awarding the 2018 and 2022 World Cups to Russia and Qatar exposes widespread corruption within FIFA. The fact that these nations bought the right to host the event for this very purpose was clear.

FIFA, the organizers of the world’s most watched sports event which holds corporate partnerships with giants such as Coca-Cola, Visa, McDonald’s, and Adidas, have very little to say on the issue of migrant workers in Qatar. In direct contradiction with the testimonies of workers and observers, a spokesperson claimed:

“WITH THE VERY STRINGENT HEALTH AND SAFETY MEASURES ON SITE … THE FREQUENCY OF ACCIDENTS ON FIFA WORLD CUP CONSTRUCTION SITES HAS BEEN LOW WHEN COMPARED TO OTHER MAJOR CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS AROUND THE WORLD.”

This claim is not supported by any evidence. With inconsistency and poor collaboration between nations in recording the number of migrant worker deaths, it is difficult to know the true extent of the problem. What is clear is that change to the kafala system is essential and urgently needed. FIFA must confront the issue, or risk endorsing through silence the exploitation of migrants and disregard for human rights.

Written By Harry Markham

FSM First Look: Unguarded by Scottie Pippen

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Scottie Pippen has been called one of the greatest NBA players for good reason.

Simply put, without Pippen, there are no championship banners—let alone six—hanging from the United Center rafters. There’s no Last Dance documentary. There’s no “Michael Jordan” as we know him. The 1990s Chicago Bulls teams would not exist as we know them.

So how did the youngest of twelve go from growing up poor in the small town of Hamburg, Arkansas, enduring two family tragedies along the way, to become a revered NBA legend? How did the scrawny teen, overlooked by every major collegiate basketball program, go on to become the fifth overall pick in the 1987 NBA Draft? And, perhaps most compelling, how did Pippen set aside his ego (and his own limitless professional ceiling) in order for the Bulls to become the most dominant basketball dynasty of the last half century?

In Unguarded, the six-time champion and two-time Olympic gold medalist finally opens up to offer pointed and transparent takes on Michael Jordan, Phil Jackson, and Dennis Rodman, among others. Pippen details how he cringed at being labeled Jordan’s sidekick, and discusses how he could have (and should have) received more respect from the Bulls’ management and the media.

Pippen reveals never-before-told stories about some of the most famous games in league history, including the 1994 playoff game against the New York Knicks when he took himself out with 1.8 seconds to go. He discusses what it was like dealing with Jordan on a day-to-day basis, while serving as the facilitator for the offense and the anchor for the defense.

On the 30th anniversary of the Bulls’ first championship, Pippen is finally giving millions of adoring basketball fans what they crave; a raw, unvarnished look into his life, and role within one of the greatest, most popular teams of all time.

There’s More To Shadow Boxing Than Warming Up For Your Boxing Training Workouts

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Shadow boxing is often looked at as just a quick way to warm up before the actual boxing workout session. Shadow boxing no doubt serves to warm the body for the upcoming workout. More importantly though, shadow boxing helps you to groove the skills you have been taught by your boxing coach during your boxing training workouts. It also serves as a tool to hone your own unique fighting style. If you think it’s just throwing punches to break a sweat, you’re going about it the wrong way.

When you’re shadow boxing, It’s best to shadow box in front of a mirror where you can monitor the technique that has been taught to you. I often say…the mirror doesn’t lie. Once you know what to look for, it’s impossible to have bad technique in front of the mirror! Unless of course you just don’t care or aren’t really focusing and putting your all into it. Shadow boxing is when you can better groove the new skills your trainer has been teaching you. Skill retention is a lot better when you shadow box in front of the mirror, grooving good skill.

If you really focus on what you’re doing while shadow boxing, progression is heightened. Your boxing coach won’t have to yell at you so much to stop dropping your hands when you’re working the bags. He will be very pleased to see your fast progression due to your commitment to solid technique when shadow boxing. Boxers can say all they want that they have been putting in the extra work shadow boxing, but good technique will be the telling sign and truth to the coach that the fighter has indeed been putting in the work.

Great fighters will tell you that when they shadow box and move around they envision real situations that may come up in the ring. They think about another fighter being in front of them firing back and moving away. From offensive combos, to defensive tactics, all is covered. Boxers are continually focusing focusing on what an opponent can possibly do while shadow boxing. That is why some boxing coaches call shadow boxing shadow sparring. It actually looks like the boxer is sparring an invisible opponent.

Look at an experienced fighter’s body language and eyes when doing this. It shows they are in a different world. Indeed they are, a world where they see themselves dominating. You wonder why these fighters get so good? Because they see themselves doing it first. The mind can’t tell the difference from something it’s experiencing or imagining. That’s why this secret is so important to apply. Your boxing performance will improve very quickly when you practice shadow boxing in this manner.

Now think about that the next time you shadow box or shadow spar.

About the author: Rob Pilger is a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist and Level II USA Boxing Coach.

Kaiser! The Greatest Footballer Never to Play Football

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Born in Rio Pardo, Brazil, Carlos Henrique Raposo had dreams of becoming a professional soccer (futbol) player. After a youth career at Botafogo and Flamengo, he had his sights set on the future. Whether given the nickname “Kaiser” due to his resemblance of superstar Franz Beckenbauer or a bottle of Kaiser beer, he used his new-found name to begin a career where he “wanted to be a footballer, but did not want to play football.”

Thus began a decade-plus career that spanned across Brazil (Botafogo, Flamengo, Bangu, Fluminense, Vasco da Gama, and America), Mexico (Puebla), France (Gazelec Ajaccio), and the United States (El Paso Sixshooters). Relying on his charm and friends in high places—from fellow footballers Carlos Alberto Torres, Ricardo Rocha, and Renato Gaucho, to reporters willing to write “stories” of his “career”— Carlos Kaiser used his skills of deception to have a storied career without ever stepping foot on the pitch.

Whether faking injuries, having friends lie for him, making up tall tales, or getting thrown out of a match just before taking the field, Kaiser! The Greatest Footballer Never to Play Football is an incredible story of the lengths one man went to have a professional soccer career without every playing a game.

Originally published in the UK, and with a world–renowned documentary released on his life, Kaiser! shares the lengths taken by one man who wanted all the glitz and glory of being a professional athlete . . . without ever having to be an actual athlete. So whether you’re a fan of soccer, futbol, professional sports, or stories of cunning and deception, Kaiser! is the story you don’t want to miss!

You’re Killing Me, Smalls! “The Sandlot” Movie Review

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(spoilers)

Some movies find a place in a boy’s heart and just never let go. The Sandlot is one of those movies that still demands repeated viewings to this day because of the memorable quotes and unforgettable characters. Every boy remembers the hot, dry days of summer when time seemed to drag on, but it didn’t matter because he had his buddies. From being afraid of the neighborhood dog to having a crush on the unreachable girl, The Sandlot manages to touch on all of the great boyhood memories.

The movie begins with Scotty Smalls moving to a new town with his mother and stepfather, Bill. His mother has high hopes that he’ll make new friends, but Smalls doesn’t feel like he’s ever been good at anything, and that extends to his inability to fit in with kids his own age. He asks his new stepdad, who is touchingly portrayed by Denis Leary, to teach him to play catch, but Bill always seems to be too busy to make time. Anyone who has grown up with divorced parents will be sympathetic to the dynamic of this relationship.

Smalls eventually runs into a group of kids playing sandlot baseball. They are in need of a ninth player, so this is Small’s chance to be one of the guys. Unfortunately, his first outing doesn’t go so well. He has a chance to catch a fly ball, but the ball bounces off his head. He follows up that embarrassment by being unable to throw the ball to the correct player, and his chance to join a new group of friends is almost over before it began. Luckily for Smalls, Benny Rodriguez decides that he should be given another chance. There doesn’t seem to be any duplicity in Benny’s compassion, and that’s one of the great things about this movie-the boys just get along.

Since Benny is the best ball player on the lot, he takes Smalls under his wing and teaches him the basics. Things turn around when Benny gets an incredible hit, and Smalls makes an equally incredible catch and throw to the infield. The gang decides that Smalls is okay after all, and their summer of adventures begins. The main focus of the boys is baseball, and their secondary focus is dreaming of Wendy Peffercorn, the local lifeguard and frequent visitor in their daydreams. After one of the guys pulls off an elaborate hoax in order to steal a kiss from Wendy, the boys lose their pool privileges for the summer. It’s all too easy to remember the early days of noticing the opposite sex during these hilarious scenes.

After the boys are banned from the pool, they continue to devote their time to being the best baseball team around. This draws the attention of the Tigers-a real team with a real field-who live on the other side of town. The Tigers are embarrassed on their home field, and the sandlot boys feel like the kings of the world. This is another refreshing aspect of this movie. The game wasn’t the climax of the movie. This is not a typical “win at all costs” sports movie; it’s just a movie about a group of kids who had an unforgettable summer. Had they lost, it wouldn’t have changed the feeling of the movie at all.

One day, as the kids are playing ball, a powerful hit by Benny ruins the only ball they have. Smalls decides to borrow his stepdad’s prized, autographed baseball, but it soon gets hit over the fence. The biggest problem with that is that The Beast controls the area beyond the fence. The Beast is the biggest, meanest dog that anyone has ever seen, so the boys try a number of clever plans in order to retrieve the ball. Finally, Benny decides that he will retrieve the ball with his superior speed provided by his PF Flyers. Benny manages to get the ball, but a hilarious high-speed chase ensues between him and The Beast. This scene-and the whole movie-is over-the-top and perfectly filmed. Nothing is as big as the imagination of a group of boys, and the recollections in this movie are all handled in an exquisitely exaggerated manner.

Of course, the dog turns out to be friendly. Of course, the dog’s owner turns out to be an ex-baseball player who saves the day. A movie like “The Sandlot” is expected to have good news for everyone. That’s what makes it such an important movie in the memories of anyone who watched it as a kid.

When people think back to their childhoods, there is often a glowing filter around those memories. Nothing bad seemed to happen back then, and anything that was perceived to be devastating usually turned out okay. That’s the kind of warm feeling this movie imparts. The Sandlot just celebrated its twentieth anniversary in April, and it’s just as fun to watch today as it was back then.

By Zack Mandell

About the Author / Article Source: https://EzineArticles.com/expert/Zack_Mandell/1396543

Understanding the Benefit of Biomechanics in Golf

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There is information available widely through the web, PGA courses and magazine articles that brings you up to date with the latest thinking in golf. They teach you the latest on how to swing each club correctly, how to putt, how to analyze your swing, how to get mentally ‘tough’, how to improve flexibility and how to get fitter and stronger for golf.

Today there is a plethora of information being offered about golf. Some of it correct, all of it interesting, but how much of it is relevant to you? And how do you know which of these generic exercise tips is going to help you? Even if you trained using each one for 6 weeks and then took the results onto the course and tried them – how do you then know whether your performance is ‘that exercise’ or that you just had a good day?

Even video/digital analysis, although interesting from all points of view measure the movement discrepancies in a golfer’s swing, it doesn’t tell us why you are performing these movement aberrations. Knowing what you’re doing wrong, but not knowing why you’re doing it is sometimes worse than not knowing what you’re doing wrong!

Golfers and Coaches need a simple system of analysis that they can use in conjunction with their coaching techniques to find out why golfers perform their particular swing. Although there are fundamental similarities to all good swings, each swing is like a finger-print and unique to that individual. Why is it unique? It’s because we are all biomechanically different, and unless you understand what those differences are, how can you identify whether your swing is due to poor technique or something that has to done to compensate for a mechanical problem? You can’t. The variety of golf swings that exist represent the many ways that the human body can compensate for its biomechanical problems.

For example, let’s take a typical handicapper’s slice. You know the typical causes of a slice and the things you would normally work on, bearing in mind the individual you are helping and what you see. At the same time we also know that these ways don’t always work. There may be a number of reasons for this: they may not be practicing, it may take some time to work out which is the best method for them, or quite simply it may be that the person doesn’t have it in them to do what you’re teaching. Alternatively, it is likely that they can’t physically do it. If that pupil has a longer right leg (assuming they’re a right handed golfer), then they will have a tendency towards a more upright back swing. We know this because of the way the spine and pelvis work biomechanically. A longer right leg compresses the joints in the spine on that side and so the person can’t rotate easily. They therefore have to side bend to gap the joints and initiate movement, which causes an upright backswing. We also know that this then leads to a more out-to-in downswing and therefore a slice (depending upon grip and ball position of course). So you could work all day on preventing this upright backswing, which you know is leading to a slice, but it will not change until you’ve addressed the leg length discrepancy.

Invariably these leg length discrepancies are caused by a rotated pelvis and often they don’t cause symptoms so you won’t even know they exist. If this is the case, then doing some simple exercises can help re-align the pelvis, reduce the leg length discrepancy and allow you to flatten that back swing.

There are many more of these examples. As well as leg length discrepancies, other biomechanical issues can include, poor motor programming strategy (the way the muscles link together in movement patterns), poor control between the pelvis and shoulders, nerve adhesions or stiffness, faulty core muscle control, immobility around the hips, pelvis and spine, and simple lack of flexibility. Some of these issues sound quite technical and complex, but they’re actually very simple to test and eradicate.

Biomechanics works ‘hand in glove’ with your teaching; it is crucial Pro’s understand and embrace this as its going to be the next big thing in golf.

There is a system that exists that can help others learn about and address these issues. It comes in 3 forms. First, there is a software package that takes you through some simple biomechanical tests. This expert system takes you through a series of exercises to eradicate biomechanical problems. Second, there are courses, which are endorsed by the PGA, which teach PGA professionals how to assess their own pupils and administer the exercises themselves. Lastly, experts can come to your club and assess your pupils individually and make recommendations based upon a detailed assessment of their biomechanics. Following a discussion with these experts, a decision can be made as to the best program for them to follow.

A Raw Tribute to Mr. Brodie Lee

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Mr. Brodie Lee recently reminded me to never stop betting on myself, so I felt compelled to dedicate this month’s editorial entirely to him. As a preface, this piece is going to be a little raw (no pun intended).

Professional wrestling is one of those interests that became part of my life along the way. I think it’s a misconception that older wrestling fans are all die-hards. People don’t realize that wrestling is simply another item on The List (pun intended) of things we enjoy, similar to watching the NBA, playing Fantasy Football, or binge-watching new shows.

People who don’t like wrestling will always think it’s stupid and weird. They’ll adopt the generic, stereotypical position that people who enjoy wrestling are stupid weird. Well, my response to this lately has been, “You know what? I think people simulating rape and murder on shows like Criminal Minds is pretty fucking weird.”

If people just knew how many deaths the longtime wrestling fan must endure, maybe they’d leave us alone. When I was barely a teenager, the great Owen Hart plunged to his death during a live WWE show. I thought it was tragic and rare at the time. Now I know it was just tragic.

Fans react differently to the passing of wrestlers based on their own histories of reinforcement. Perhaps they remember watching their favorite wrestler on WCW Saturday Night with their father or maybe they have a special WrestleMania memory involving close friends. Add to this the often tragic, abrupt, and unexpected nature of deaths in wrestling, and it’s easy to see why adult wrestling fans have such strong emotional reactions to events like Brodie Lee’s recent passing.

Personally, my history of reinforcement with Mr. Brodie Lee was very brief – like 6 months of being an All Elite Wrestling (AEW) fan brief. For whatever reason, I was in one of those life phases in which I wasn’t paying much attention to wrestling when Lee was big bootin’ people as Luke Harper. I knew of his existence, but not much beyond what he looked like. But when Mr. Brodie Lee debuted on AEW Dynamite last year in the midst of COVID-19, I was paying attention to wrestling. I loved Lee’s look and mischievous energy. Watching from home, his charisma was palpable in that empty stadium.

Fortunately, due to the pandemic, I was in a life phase where I could watch AEW Dynamite every Wednesday. This meant getting weekly doses of Mr. Brodie Lee as leader of The Dark Order. I wasn’t quite sure the direction in which Lee would take this group of misfits but I was excited to find out. Then it happened. After a Dark Order segment to end Dynamite, I did a google search of “Brodie Lee” and “WWE”. The fact that I did this search outside of my allotted TV watching time signaled to me that I was now an official fan of Mr. Brodie Lee.

The articles and podcast transcripts produced by my Google search only made me a bigger aficionado of the Exalted One. I learned that Lee, real name Jon Huber, decided to leave the WWE and safe money behind to pursue new opportunities in AEW. The decision didn’t seem to be made on whim, however. After years of giving his blood, sweat, and tears to the WWE, Huber concluded he was not going to receive a huge push or promotion in the company any time soon. I got the impression he wanted to stay there – until he didn’t. Maybe he saw AEW as a more realistic path to his desired spotlight. Whatever his motivations, Huber took that path and became an AEW champion rather quickly. I must admit, seeing him destroy Cody Rhodes in a blink of an eye was pretty damn awesome to watch.

Luke Harper or Brodie Lee were never a part of my greatest memories (unless you consider watching wrestling during a pandemic good times). So why is the recent passing of Jon Huber hitting me extra hard if I was only a true fan of the man for about 6 months? Our history of reinforcement together was brief to say the least.

Perhaps it has to do with Huber’s path to that TNT Television title.

Perhaps, as a grown-ass fanboy closing in on four decades of life, I know what it feels like to scratch and claw and give everything you have – and still not achieve a desired result.

Perhaps it’s because I know what it feels like to take a leap of faith while trying to outrun father time.

And how it feels like to have to provide my credit score to people less credible than me.

Perhaps it’s because some days I want to give up.

Or perhaps it’s because Mr. Brodie Lee reminded me that it’s never too late to raise that strap.