Entering her 10th season at Florida, Gators gymnastics head coach Jenny Rowland has pioneered UF to seven-straight SEC regular season championships and four-straight Four on the Floor appearances.

But success in the sport isnt Rowlands only goal for her team.

Her experience as a gymnast shaped her coaching philosophy, prioritizing enjoyment and self-improvement alongside winning.

You can work hard, you can enjoy what you're doing and you can have success, Rowland said. Those are three things that I really just lean on and what Ive lived by since I got back into the sport and especially when I started coaching.

Rowland was a USA National Team member from 1985-1990, and she was named an All-American on the uneven bars in 1993 for Arizona State University.

Following her career, Rowland stepped back from the gym, enrolling at the University of Oklahoma to work toward her bachelor's in health and sports sciences.

There was a point in time where I completely lost my love for the sport, Rowland said. But having to pay my way through school, a gym just happened to fall into my lap.

That gym was the Bart Conner Gymnastics Academy in Norman, Oklahoma. Rowland credits the academy for reestablishing her love for the sport she dedicated her childhood and early adult years to.

She then began her position as an assistant coach for Oklahoma before leaving in 2010 to take the same job at Auburn.

At Auburn, Rowland became the associate head coach and was named Co-National Assistant Coach of the Year in 2015 after helping the Tigers reach the NCAA Super Six for the first time in 22 years.

Her talents as a Tiger attracted the Gators. UF hired her within months, and she became the seventh head coach in program history.

Since then, Rowland has established herself as one of the top coaches in the nation, winning the 2020 Womens Collegiate Gymnastics Association National Coach of the Year award and three SEC Coach of the Year awards.

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Having coached some of the top gymnasts in the country in her time at UF, Rowland established a unique culture for the program one less focused on scores but fixated on being competitive and having fun.

We like to say, Train freely, compete freely, Rowland said. When you train freely, you compete freely. We like to win, but were going to enjoy the process.

Rowlands position offers her a prestigious opportunity to watch her athletes grow from their time as freshmen to progressing toward their future, whether that be in the sport or another avenue.

Its really important to find something else that you are just as passionate about in life other than gymnastics, because gymnastics may not always be there, Rowland said. So helping them find an identity and understand that we acknowledge that they are not just a gymnast.

Her athletes embrace this philosophy.

Junior Leanne Wong is the CEO of Leanne Wong Bowtique, where she sells bows and other accessories to young girls.

She hopes the business can inspire the future generation of gymnasts.

I started my bow business in December of 2021, Wong said. Its something I love to do outside of school and gymnastics.

Wongs overall excellence both on and off the mat awarded her a spot as a replacement athlete for the 2024 Summer Olympics.

Im super grateful to have such a great support staff and the best coaches here to be able to see me through both college and the elite season, Wong said.

Florida associate head coach Owen Field joined the program at the same time as Rowland. Field will be traveling with Wong to coach her in Paris.

Im super proud of Leanne and all the hard work shes put in, Field said. Its really rewarding to see all that pay off and to see her accomplish some of her goals.

Field was promoted to the associate head coach role this summer. His coaching dynamic compliments Rowlands, both preaching to enjoy the sport.

We remind [Wong] to enjoy every moment and stick to the plan, Field said. Her position as an alternate is to be ready whenever they need her, so that constant reminder of treating every day like she is competing so that if something happens shes ready to go.

Now heading into her tenth season as the Florida coach, Rowland and Field have the same goal for the team: be the best version of yourself in every aspect of your life.

We want to help them become a more well rounded person, and be ready to attack life once they graduate, Rowland said. Were trying to get them 1% better in the gym, 1% better at life.

Contact Max Bernstein at mbernstein@alligator.org. Follow him on Twitter @maxbernstein23.

The Independent Florida Alligator has been independent of the university since 1971, your donation today could help #SaveStudentNewsrooms. Please consider giving today.

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Jenny Rowlands emphasis on personal growth, fun inspires success in Florida gymnasts - The Independent Florida Alligator

Utah coach Kyle Whittingham has developed his football program into a contender in the West. This sustained success has not gone unnoticed, as evidenced by his lucrative compensation package. However, there was one clause from his latest contract amendment that reveals his post-retirement plans.

Upon stepping down, Whittingham has a five-year agreement to serve as a special assistant to the athletics director, with an annual salary of $995,000. This clause ensures that he'll remains a valuable asset to the university even after stepping down from his coaching duties. He will also receive a lump sum upon announcing his retirement, which is over $1.5 million.

Whittingham is set to earn $6,525,000 this year, according to the terms of his deal. This makes him the highest-paid state employee in Utah and third-highest in the Big 12 conference. Oklahoma State's Mike Gundy and Kansas' Lance Leipold are the top two respectively.

If projections are correct for Utah in 2024, Whittingham will have more to brag about than success on the field. Hell receive a total of $1 million in bonuses, if the Utes win the Big 12 and advanced past the second round of the College Football Playoff.

EA Sports College Football 25: Utah Utes preview

That breaks down to $100,000 if Utah advances to the Big 12 championship game, $400,000 if they make a New Years Six or College Football Playoff game, on top of an additional $100,000 if they win. If the Utes participate in any other bowl game, Whittingham will receive a bonus of $275,000.

Morgan Scalley was recently reinstated as Utah's "coach-in-waiting," set to take over whenever Whittingham decides to retire. The current Utah assistant has an impressive track record, having produced 16 NFL Draft picks on defense over the last eight years. Whittingham himself praised Scalley for his skills at Big 12 Media Days. He does a great job building relationships with the players and with their families," Whittingham said. "Hes direct, honest, and families really appreciate that. His track record as far as player development speaks for itself.

Whittingham's comprehensive compensation package reflects the significant impact he has had on Utah's football program. His leadership and success have not only elevated the teams performance but have also secured him a financially rewarding career both during and after his tenure as head coach.

Continued here:
Utah's Kyle Whittingham has interesting retirement clause in contract - Sports Illustrated

Local Certified Financial Planner (CFP) professional Jerry Goetz opened Retirement & Financial Strategies at 3402 Frederica Street in 2018. With over 25 years of experience in the industry, Goetz wanted to create a local family business to provide top-level service and advice for generations to come.

Also a CFP, Goetzs daughter Emma joined the team in 2022, while his son, Evan, joined earlier this year. Before joining the firm, Emma and Evan both graduated summa cum laude from Western Kentucky University with a degree in finance.

They take pride in serving the companys clients as an advisory team.

This team concept allows us to offer the highest level of service with advice from multiple perspectives as well as education and experience levels, Goetz said.

The firm also boasts a strong support staff who proudly call Owensboro home.

We are all from this community and like to give back by being part of local organizations and supporting our local nonprofits, he said.

Retirement & Financial Strategies offers investment advice, investment management, retirement planning, and all-encompassing financial planning for their clients. They begin the process by evaluating each clients situation and discussing their values and goals.

They also offer advice and management on a fee basis, as a fiduciary, rather than on a commission basis. Goetz said they always put their clients interests ahead of their own.

If we can help our clients manage their finances and investments in a way that allows them the time, resources, and energy to focus on living a happier, more fulfilling life, we have done our job, he said.

Visit retirementandfinancial.com to schedule a consultation or learn more about its capabilities. The office is also on Facebook and can be reached by phone at 270-215-2600.

The Chamber Member of the Week program is a Greater Owensboro Chamber of Commerce membership benefit. Founded in 1913, the Chamber has worked to provide valuable benefits and services to member businesses and individuals for over a century.

Today, with nearly 1,000 members, the Chamber is a guiding force in community and business development initiatives and serves as the center of business advocacy for the Greater Owensboro region.

To learn more about becoming the Chamber Member of the Week or inquire about Chamber membership, contact Shelly Nichols, Chamber Vice President, at 270-926-1860 or [emailprotected].

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Chamber Member of the Week: Retirement & Financial Strategies - The Owensboro Times

Layla, a white labrador retriever, has wrapped up her career as the bat dog for the Philadelphia Phillies' A-ball affiliate.

The very-good dog who has been with the Clearwater Threshers for six years picked up a bat for the final time during Friday's game against Fort Myers.

After wrapping up her last game, Layla got a special retirement treat and gift from the club.

Layla became a social-media star in 2018 when a video went viral showing her owner, Andrew Davis, asking her to get him a beer from the refrigerator. She jumps off the couch, opens the fridge door with the help of a towel placed on the handle, grabbed the can, brought it to him and went back to shut the door.

Per Leah Burdick of WMNF Radio in Florida, Layla had actually trained alongside athletes at Webber International University when Davis was a student at the school.

Davis explained to Burdick he showed Dominic Repper, Threshers manager of promotions and game entertainment, the viral video and it gave Repper an idea. It just wasn't certain at that point if Layla could pick up a bat.

"When we first contacted the Threshers, Layla didn't even know what a baseball bat was," Davis said.

It didn't take long before Davis took Layla to baseball fields near their home where he taught her to pick up a bat and bring it back to the dugout.

Even though Layla won't be there to pick up bats, Davis told Burdick he will keep bringing her to Threshers games as a fan.

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Video: Layla, Bat Dog for Phillies' Single-A Team, Grabs Final Bat Before Retirement - Bleacher Report

Cathie Wood continues to misjudge opportunities in innovation, prompting investors to look at these stocks

Cathie Wood is the founder and CEO of Ark Invest. Her firm has risen to prominence for its actively managed exchange-traded funds (ETFs) that focus on disruptive innovation. Despite the success of some of her ETFs, especially in the early years, its hard to assert that Wood has been correct about innovation stocks. Ark Invest hasdestroyed more than $14 billion in wealthover the past decade.

Woods Ark Invest portfolio has providednegative 16% returns over the past 12 months.Thats especially concerning given theperformance of theS&P 500over the same period, up nearly 25%.

The performance of Ark Invest is less a condemnation of innovation and more so a condemnation of Cathie Woods investment prowess. Innovation has produced AI that is responsible for so much of the strength throughout markets today. Nevertheless, Woods style of innovation investing should prompt investors to consider safer choices that are less dependent on innovation overall.

Source: IgorGolovniov / Shutterstock.com

Coca-Cola(NYSE:KO) continues to be an all-weather stock that performs well almost regardless of market dynamics. It is one of the least volatile mega-cap stocks with a beta of 0.59. Its also a known consumer staple and a defensive stalwart that provides safety when the broader market enters periodic turmoil.

Coca-Cola, though,isnt simplya boring brand pumping out the same cash cow products year after year.There is innovation occurringwithin the company. Step foot into a convenience store anywhere globally and you will instantly recognize the investment Coca-Cola makes in R&D. The company is constantly experimenting with new flavors and packaging while expanding into new emerging markets.

All of thatcontinued tweaking of the product mix is made possible by highmarginson core products. Coca-Colas invaluable brand drives premium prices that make everything possible.That includes astrongdividend for shareholderswhich is oneof the primary reasons to consider investing.

Source: IgorGolovniov / Shutterstock.com

Alphabet(NASDAQ:GOOG,GOOGL) iscertainlyan innovative company.And certainlythe poor performance of Cathie Woodshouldnt deter investors from investing in innovation. Yet,Google is really a simple company at its core and not the most innovative firm overall.That makes it a good choicein relation tothis discussion.

Google isessentiallyan advertising company.Most of the innovation associated with Google isgoing onthrough the other bets segmentof the firm. Itsa minor contribution to thesuccess of the company.Google, essentially a search platform, lives and dies byadvertising revenues.

Those ad revenues are primarily driven through the search bar and to a lesser degree through YouTube and the Google Network. Yes, Google does continue to grow its Cloud offering which falls under the umbrella of innovation but its simple ad revenue that drives results.

And thats fine. Its what makes Google so strong when macroeconomic trends become favorable.With rate cuts expected late this yeartheres a reason to believeGoogles ad revenues will continue to strengthen, likely rapidly at the end of the year.

Source: Michael Gordon / Shutterstock.com

Exxon Mobil(NYSE:XOM) stock is heavily influenced bythe price of oil.If oil prices rise, Exxon Mobil could see increased profitability andpotentiallya higher stock price. Investors who believe oil prices will rebound could benefit from this.

While thats an obvious statement there is a general sense that peak oil consumption has already occurred and prices will fall.Many bearscontinue to believe that yetING sees pricescontinuing upwardthrough the third quarter.

Its logical to assume that Exxon Mobils share price will rise as a consequence although the correlation is not so simple.

Overall it suggests that ExxonMobil will perform well in the second half of 2024. Investors should also consider that ExxonMobil will continue to perform well as it invests in the newfuture of energy. The company has a history ofstronginvestment performance and tends tocreate value from invested capital.

I hopethat meansthe company can successfully navigate the clean energy transition and produce shareholder returns in the process.

On thedate of publication, Alex Sirois did not have (eitherdirectly or indirectly) any positions in the securities mentioned in this article.The opinions expressed in this article are those of the writer, subject to the InvestorPlace.comPublishing Guidelines.

On thedate of publication, the responsible editor held a long position in GOOG.

Alex Sirois is a freelance contributor to InvestorPlace whose personal stock investing style is focused on long-term, buy-and-hold, wealth-building stock picks. Having worked in several industries from e-commerce to translation to education and utilizing his MBA from George Washington University, he brings a diverse set of skills through which he filters his writing.

The rest is here:
Cathie Wood Was Wrong About Innovation: 3 Stocks to Invest In Instead - InvestorPlace

No country has achieved high income without manufacturing. Resource-rich countries can rely on exporting commodities, such as oil and gas, but if they lack manufacturing, they risk falling behind once the resources run out or demand dries up in the transition to clean energy.

In the 1960s and 1970s, Malaysia employed import substitution to promote manufacturing. From the 1980s, it switched to an export-driven growth model, pursuing foreign direct investment, namely the import of capital and technology from foreign firms, notably in electronics. While this enjoyed some success, the investments did not always lead to stronger manufacturing and supply chains.

09:13

Malaysias transport minister eyes partnerships with China to drive infrastructure goals

Malaysias transport minister eyes partnerships with China to drive infrastructure goals

Malaysias industrialisation push took place as China was opening up, offering cheaper land, labour and a vast domestic market. China, too, relied on foreign direct investment to build its manufacturing. As they learned by doing, Chinese manufacturers supported by a well-educated workforce, an enormous pool of engineers and efficient logistics became increasingly competitive.

Malaysia, however, continues to be held back by an affirmative action programme privileging majority Malays over minority Chinese and Indians.

The latest audit report has unearthed such diversions from good governance involving billions of ringgits, and it is all public funds. Such leakages, diversions, and pilferings must be seriously tackled, she said. There are those among whom we entrust with looking after key areas of national interests who have betrayed that trust. They have been found to be negligent, remiss, incompetent and downright corrupt, with blatant abuses of authority.

11:20

The legacy of Malaysias 1MDB scandal on politics and corruption-fighting

The legacy of Malaysias 1MDB scandal on politics and corruption-fighting

Malaysia seeks to capture a share of the supply chain assumed to be leaving China because of the trade war. But that hope may be in vain. Even as China has moved up the value chain, it remains competitive in low-value sectors. It enjoys many advantages in size, productivity, infrastructure quality and industrial ecosystems.

It is extremely difficult to compete against Chinese factories on speed, cost or quality, and it makes no sense for them to outsource or relocate to a country lacking skilled manpower. Chinese entrepreneurs go where they can make a reasonable profit. Malaysias nation-building woes stem from weak governance outsiders are not in a position to remedy this.

Dr Michael Tai is research associate at the Institute of China Studies at the University of Malaya and a fellow of the Royal Asiatic Society

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Chinese investment wont cure the cancer plaguing Malaysias economy - South China Morning Post

Returning from an expedition to the archaeological wonders of Minoan Crete, I have arrived in London with plenty of time to spare to watch England in the Euro Final at the Berlin Olympiastadion tomorrow. In virtually any sport, watching the global elite in action is always instructive.

My trip to Crete set me thinking about the relationship between physical and mental sport. In particular, the views of Beethovens inspiration for the9th Symphony, the German philosopher and dramatist, Friedrich Schiller, who evidently saw no distinction between mental and physical play.

To preface the following quotation, a brief biography of the translator is deserved:what is a self-contained quote inthe native German, does not transpose to English easily.

The treatment is a sensitiveinsightby an eminent German journalist, who earned her doctorate in Slavic philologyafter attending Hamburg University. Chairwoman of theGerman Journalists Associations admissions committee, she more recently lectured on Ethical Journalism at the Free University of Berlin.

Der Menschspieltnur, wo er invollerBedeutungdesWortesMenschist, und eristnurdaganzMensch, wo erspielt.Thus the mighty Schiller.

The following elucidation (Man is only fully Human When at Play) isfromFriedrich SchillersIdeasConcerning the Aesthetical Education of Man,by GesineDrnberg.

In Schillers opinion, to play means to act free from the force of need as well as of duty and thus to enjoy liberation from necessity. It is this experience of freedom that links play with the aesthetical phenomenon of beauty and causes its high educational value. The quality that we call beauty represents the same lightness of spirit as the game does. In the beautiful work of art, the material is not dominated by the form or vice versa. The work of art shows a free play between form and matter, between beauty and necessity, and thus represents the highest kind of play. Games are steps on the way to beauty, because they educate the player to enjoy the freedom of creativity.

In Crete the prevailing view, since the early 20th century daysof heroic excavations by Sir Arthur Evans at Knossos, has been that Minoan sport centred very much around bronzed, scantily clad youths, performing amazing acrobatics with bulls. Largely responsible for such impressions have been the fantastic illustrations and reproductions commissioned by Evans from theSwissGillironfather and son artistic team. To my mind, though, their work has more to do with Diaghilevs then fashionable set designer, Leonid Bakst, than with BC Bullocks.

For a start, the mountainous Cretan landscape is far better suited to the cultivation of sheep and goats, rather than cattle. Next, I believe that Crete was essentially a maritime and trading civilisation, dealing with dried fish, ivory, both elephantine and hippo in origin, copper, tin, cedar wood and precious minerals and metals, not bovine produce. The proliferation of rollocks (or oar points for galleys) in the archaeological testament could easily lead to confusion, since humble curved rollocks, given an overheated romantic imagination, might easily be misinterpreted as a bovine rather than maritime infatuation.

Knossos was lauded as the palace of King Minos. Millia, further to the east of Crete, has equally been touted as the palatial residence of King Minoss brother, Sarpedon. On my recent visit I felt, however, that I was more at the epicentre of some vast granary, olive oil and wine store, rather than the hub of a sports training ground for golden Cretan youth.

Cretes eminence amongst that antique topographical ring of advanced cultures, including Mycenae, Egypt, Cyprus, Hittite and Assyrian, suffered from the volcanic explosion of Santorini and later from the unexplained and universal collapse of Aegean-centric civilisation in that fateful year 1177 BC. Whether the cause was famine, epidemic, climate change, drought or incursions of the mysterious Sea People, it is hard to establish.

Views of Cretan sport have been, in my opinion, excessively coloured by the legends of Theseus and the monstrous Minotaur. As with so many cultures, the Aztec arena (Ullamaliztli),Bushkaziin the East, the most popular usually involve a kind of ball.

I have been impressed by an erudite manual, taking Schillers conclusions on the identity of physical and mind sports even further. Comparing the two mind and physical sports activities,Football and Chess:Tactics, Strategy, Beauty by Adam Wells, published by HardingeSimpole,convincingly demonstrates Schillers philosophical position, thatthere are, indeed, more similarities than one might expect. In what follows, I have drawn heavily on the authors conclusions:

At the most fundamental level, football and chess are games that involve using space effectively and getting the timing right in order to break down an opponents defence, whilst preventing them from breaking down yours.

Thats it. There are very few limiting rules. There are no complicated scoring systems and procedures of play that have to be followed. It is clear-cut: we must capture pieces or score goals while staying within the confines of the board or pitch. However you choose to do this is entirely up to you. Since players have such freedom to do what they want, they are presented with a huge number of options of how to act in a given situation. Thus, it is the very simplicity of the games that paradoxically makes them so complex.

Aside from the freedom of choice that the games allow players, it is also the teamwork element which creates the complexity. No other team sport places such an emphasis on harmony between players as football. As in chess, every movement or action affects everything else around it. One badly positioned player (or piece in chess) can be ruinous.

Consequently, a group of superior footballers willsometimes lose to technically weaker players who are interacting more harmoniously. In the same way, as every serious chess player knows, having more powerful pieces left on the board does not guarantee a win. It is the power of the interactions between these pieces which is decisive. This weeks main game is a case in point. Whites nominally more powerful queen can make little headway against Blacks entrenched bishop and knight.

Perhaps it is no surprise that both Rafael Benitez (a Champions League winner when he managed Liverpool FC) and Karel Brckner (long-standing coach of the Czech Republic national team) are both avid chess players, and know only too well how much greater the whole can be than the sum of its parts. Both are famous for their ability to create exceptional teams without exceptional players. Indeed, according to his agent, Benitez has no particular aptitude for noticing good players, such is his preoccupation with watching the team as a whole.

Aneven more contemporarycase for the cross-over between the battlefield of chess and the territorialstrategies of football isexemplified by the appointment of the new Chelsea manager,Enza Maresca. Hisplaying credentials were impressive, having represented Juventus, Sevilla and Olympiacos, among several others. However, his managerial experienceis already exceptional, despitehisscarce years in charge.

Most notably, he managed Leicester Citys return to the Premiership last season, after acting as assistant to the legendary Pep Guardiolaon two separate occasions. While he was studying for his coaching badges at the premier Italian Football University atCovercianoin Florence, his thesis was entitledFootballand Chess.In it,he expanded his conception ofthe positional parallels between the contests.

As a result of the endless possibilities of harmony and interaction, both games are limitless: infinitely complicated, infinitely interesting, forever elusive and mysterious, and always open to new interpretation. This makes them very exciting to play and watch. And so, because, in essence, both games are based on the same concept, if you were a fan of one game, it is likely that you will enjoy the other.

One of the popular misconceptions about chess is that it is a game of pure calculation. Either you have a brain that could work through 10 moves ahead, or you dont. This is not true. Of course, calculation is a large part of chess, but also important is positional knowledge, instinct and creativity. If two players with equal powers of calculation play each other, the player with the greater positional knowledge and better chess intuition will usually win. Great chess players like Mikhail Tal frequently came up with creative responses to problems, and often relied entirely on intuition when they could not work through all the possibilities in their head. As Garry Kasparov says, it takes more than logic to be a world-class chess player. Intuition is the defining quality of a great chess player.

By the same token, playing football well is not just about good positioning, creativity and instinctive reactions. It also requires a lot of calculation.

In most situations on the field, there is more than one option of what to do at any given moment. Players have to make a quick decision on which one to choose. If a player has moved out of position, do you cover? Do you play a fast ball up to the strikers or do you play it into space to build up an attack more slowly? Do you overlap the winger or is it too dangerous? The game involves constant calculation quickly assessing the situation and then making an instantaneous decision. Football, according to former Dutch international ArnoldMhren, is a game you play with your brains, not with your feet.

In other words, the games are not so different in the way that you play and understand them than it seems at first. If you like playing or watching football, you can use the understanding you have to play chess. Similarly, if you are a chess fanatic, you will find that your understanding of chess will help you appreciate a good game of football.

An obvious difference between the games is that one is constantly moving, while the other is static for the most part. However, while many conceive of chess as a slow game, theexperience of playing a good game contradicts this. In every static position movement is implied. As long as your mind is constantly thinking through movements and ideas, the game will be as alive and as exciting as any other sport.

In many senses, chess gives you the opportunity to play a game of football on a board, controlling every piece of developing your understanding of positioning, movement and combinations with every game you play.This is discussedin the followingYouTubeclip offormer world championMagnus Carlsen and Pep Guardiola, manager of Manchester City FC and widely considered to be the greatest football coach alive.

Despitethe fact thatparallels betweensuch a cerebral pastime andall-action athletic pursuitseem counter-intuitive,their positionalstrategies share much in common.This is the view explored in a fascinatingexamination of the firstNorwegian toplay both sports at the highest level, includingrepresenting his nation in international competition.

Simen Agdestein(born 15 May 1967) is aNorwegianchess grandmaster, coach and author and a former professionalfootballer,astrikerfor theNorwegian national football team.

Simen was awarded the IM title in 1983 and the GM title in 1985. He has won a record nine Norwegian chess championships, including the 2022 and 2023 championships. He holds records for being both the youngest (at15, in 1982) and oldest (at56, in 2023)champion.

Agdestein is also the former coach ofMagnus Carlsen, and is the brother of Carlsens present manager,Espen Agdestein. He has authored and co-authored several books on chess, including a biography of Carlsen.

All these detailsand moreare included in a new biographicalexercise,Games and Goals:The Fascinating Chess and Football Careers of Simen Agdestein(NiC) byAtle Grnn.Oneexcerptshould suffice to demonstrate the accomplishments of Norways firstchess grandmaster: His international football career was cut short when he refused to play for Norway in a World Cup qualifier against Scotland. He opted instead to play Garry Kasparov in a chess tournament in Belgrade.

Our featured game this week combines football and chess. My game against Agdestein was a serious exercise, where the full point was required, and yet I hope you will agree, vividly epitomises thespiritof, nothing ventured, nothing gained.

SimenAgdesteinvs. Raymond Keene

Gausdal Jubilee, rd. 2, 1983

1.d4 g6 2. c4 Bg7 3. Nc3 d6 4. e4 Nc6 5. d5 Nd4 6. Be3 c5 7. Nge2 Qb6 8. Nxd4?!

Adiffident continuationwhich discountsthemotive behind Blacks last: to overprotect d4.Strongeris8. Na4 Qa5+ 9. Bd2 Qc7, when after10. Bc3,for example,10e5 11. dxe6 Nxe6 12. Bxg7Nxg7, when White can demonstrate aslight, yettangibleadvantage.

8 cxd4 9. Na4

9dxe3?

Spectacular, even astonishing but probably bad. My position regarding this provocative move, recorded in 2005,wasthatIhadplayedQa5+ againstSeirawanthe previous year and didnt like it.TheQueen sacrificewasnt played to draw;it was played to get an interesting positionI thinkMiles might have later refuted the variation but asAgdestein played I feltIwas the one who was pressing for the win.Igave a draw in the final position rather reluctantly, asI couldntsee any way to improveBlacks chances then, nor has one been successfullyproposed since.

The engine confirms that after,9 Qa5+,Whitecanmaintain parity with,10. Bd2(10. b4 draws immediately: 10 Qxb4+ 11. Bd2 Qa3 12.Bc1 Qb4+ 13. Bd2 etc.) 10Qd8 11.c5 (11.Bd3Nf6 12. O-O e6 13. h3 O-O 14. Rc1 b6 15.Re1 Bd716.b4b617.a3)11 Bd7 12. Bd3 Nf6 13. O-OO-O14. b4e6 15. dxe6 Bxe6 16. cxd6 Ng4 17. f4 Qxd6 18. e5, and it is equal.

10.Nxb6 exf2+ 11. Kxf2 axb6 12. Qc2

A year later, in 1984, Miles played instead,12. Qd2againstRohde,and won in 30 moves.

12 Bd4+ 13. Ke1 Nf6 14. Be2 O-O 15. Rd1?!

A strangely ineffective way of activating Whitesrooks.The engine prefers15. Kd2(also good is15. a4 Bd7 16. h3 Kg7 17. Rf1)15 Kg716. a4 Bd7 17. h3 h5 18. Rhf1,with initiative.

15 Be5 16. a4 h5 17. b3 Bd7 18. Qd3?!

Stronger is18. Kf2, when Whitebothguardstheg3-square after a subsequenth2-h3,and also enables the king to find a modicum of safety after the h1-rookisactivated.Black has a cramped positionfrom which to prosecute an attack with his kingside pawn majority, whichwouldalso leave his own kingproneto attack.Thecandidate responses, 18Rac8, h4andNg4,are all insufficientcontinuationsand leave White with a significant advantage.

18e6 19. dxe6 Bxe6 20. Bf3?

An error which relinquishes Whitesadvantage.Considerably better is20. Qe3, which is more consistent withWhites previous move, and forces Blacks hand:20b5 21.cxb5 Rac8 (21 Rfc8 22. Rf1 Rc3 23.Rd3 Rac8 transposes)22.Bd1 Rc1 25. h3 Nd7 26. Kf2 Nc5 27. Rd4 (Whiteis happy tooffer a rookin exchangefor the powerful black-squared bishop) 27Rb1 28. Kg1 Nxb3 29. Bxb3Rxb3 30.Rd3, when Whitesucceedsinhanging on.

20 Nd7 21. Kf2 b5 22. axb5 Ra2+?!

Full equalityisavailable after,22Nc5(22Ra323. Qc2Nc5transposes)23.Qc2Ra324. b4 Nb3 25.Rd3 Rfa8 26. Rxb3Ra227. Rc1 Bxc428. Re3 Bd4 29. Be2Rxc2(29 R8a3 30. Kf1 Rxc2 31.Rxc2Rxe332.Rxc4 Be5transposes)30.Rxc2Ra3 31. Kf1Rxe3 32.Rxc4 Be5 33. h3 Bg3 34. b6 Ra335. Bd1 Ra6 36. Rc7 Rxb6,whena draw is themost likely outcome.

24.Rd2 Nc5 24. Qe3 Rxd2+ 25. Qxd2 Nxb3 26. Qc2 Bd4+ 27. Kg3 Be5+

If there was one very slight improvementI could have introduced at this late stage, it was here, when27 Nc5isalsopossible. However,28.Rd1Be5+ 29. Kf2 Ra8 30. Kg1 Kg7 31. Be2 h4 32.Bf1 Ra333. Qf2 g5 34. Be2 Ra2 35. h3 b6,or alternatively,28. h3 Be5+ 29. Kf2 Ra830. Rd1 Ra331.Kg1 Rc3 32. Qd2 Bxc4 33. Bxh5Bb3 34. Re1 Rc2 35. Qh6 gxh5alsodraw.

28.Kf2 Bd4+ 29. Kg3Game drawn -

Ever-resonant, twelve years later in 1995 the motifreappeared forour eponymous hero, only with colours reversed.In this epilogue, the thematic sacrifice is playedwith great effect by Agdestein against an unfortunateNigel Short then at the height of his career.

Rays206th book, Chess in the Year of the King , written in collaboration with Adam Black, and his 207th, Napoleon and Goethe: The Touchstone of Genius (which discusses their relationship with chess) areavailable from Amazon and Blackwells.

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Football and chess: the art of play from Crete to Berlin - TheArticle

Raja RithvikPhoto | Express

HYDERABAD: Telangana chess prodigy Raja Rithvik secured the silver medal at the Laplagne International Chess Championship held in France on Saturday with a score of seven points out of nine rounds.

Hailing from Manthani, Peddapalli, the 20-year-old remained undefeated throughout the tournament, winning in five games and drawing four against 184 players representing 22 countries. With a live FIDE rating of 2,511, Rithvik stands globally in the 778th position and 41st in India. He is Indias 70th Grandmaster.

Another Indian bags bronze

GM Moussard Jules of France claimed the championship title with 7.5 points, exceeding Rithviks score by half a point. Another Indian player, GM Iniyan Panneerselvam, secured the bronze medal with seven points. The final round game between Jules and Rithvik concluded in a draw after 28 moves.

Currently pursuing engineering at KL University in Hyderabad, Rithvik trains under the guidance of renowned coach N Rama Raju at the RACE Chess Academy. Coach Raju has played a significant role in the development of world no. 4 Arjun Erigaisi and Grandmaster Dronavalli Harika from 2016 to 2019.

Additionally, Rithvik is also receiving online coaching from Ukraines Alexander Goloshchapov, a renowned coach credited with helping 10 Indians achieve Grandmaster status.

President of the Telangana State Chess Association KS Prasad extended his congratulations to Rithvik for his outstanding achievement.

Earlier this year in March, Rithvik had already showcased his talent by winning a silver medal in the National Blitz Championship and a bronze medal in the National Rapid Championship.

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Rithvik secures silver at International chess tournament in France - The New Indian Express

Scientists have found a way to achieve higher levels of concentration when practicing mindfulness through applying non-invasive ultrasound technology to the brain.

Derived from a significant practice in Hindu and Buddhist tradition, mindfulness is recognized by the American Psychological Association as a pathway to stress reduction, improved memory, and greater cognitive flexibility.

Using a technique called transcranial-focused ultrasound (TFUS), a form of low-intensity ultrasound technology, researchers at the University of Arizona were able to modify the brain's default mode network (DMN). The DMN is a network of interconnected brain regions that are particularly active during restful and introspective activities such as daydreaming.

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The impetus of the study came from the hypothesis that more people would engage in mindfulness if their brains were less distracted.

"The best part is you are using a minimal amount of energy to alter brain activity. You are just giving a gentle push to the brain with low-intensity ultrasound," said lead study author Brian Lord, a Cognition & Neural systems researcher, in a statement.

The experiment included 30 participants who received TFUS under supervision. Each person had their brain activity monitored and was interviewed about their mental state afterwards.

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Unlike other non-invasive brain stimulation techniques such as transcranial electrical stimulation and transcranial magnetic stimulation, TFUS has the ability to penetrate beneath the cortexthe brain's outermost layerwith pinpoint precision.

In this case, the study targeted a region that contributes to high-level functions such as focus, emotional regulation and self-referential processing. Broadly speaking, it is active during anything that involves reflection or introspection.

Researchers employed functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) to monitor changes in brain activity. During functional scans, subjects were instructed to stare at a fixation cross and allow their thoughts to flow naturally. Scans were produced five minutes and 25 minutes after fMRI application.

Participants were also asked to report their feelings and experiences both before and after the TFUS treatment. Those who had received the real treatment reported an increase in state mindfulness as measured by the Toronto Mindfulness Scale, a questionnaire commonly used in research of this kind.

Stimulating the part of the brain used for activities such as daydreaming, recalling memories and envisioning the future using this method showed meaningful effects in DMN performance in just five minutes. It could make engagement in activities like meditation easier to do, without the mind straying into rumination.

Dysregulation in the DMN can lead to several mental issuesdepression, anxiety, and schizophrenia have all been linked to abnormal DMN activity. The results of this study show a promising pathway to ultrasound-focused treatment techniques to aid brain regulation. By demonstrating the potential of TFUS to alter brain networks, the SEMA Lab is innovating in order to connect our thoughts and feelings with a greater sense of ease and calm.

"We are the first to show that the default mode network can be directly targeted and noninvasively modulated," Lord said.

"Unlike neuroimaging techniques where you can only make correlations with brain activity, noninvasive stimulation tools like TFUS allow you to probe the brain and develop causal models. That's a really powerful thing for the whole field of neuroscience."

This study was published in the journal Frontiers in Human Neuroscience.

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Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.

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Mindfulness Improved by Firing Ultrasound Into the Brain - Newsweek

Its a disconcerting but unmistakable fact that in an age of climate change-related natural disasters, parents may now find themselves fielding more questions from their children about wildfires, tornadoes, extreme heat, and hurricanes and facing the prospect of guiding their kids through an emergency.

Given all the stressors families face on a daily basis, discussing and planning for such extreme events often falls by the wayside. We know by the data that many Americans live in the moment, and theres so much on familys plates that it's hard to remember to think about something in the future, says Melissa Brymer, the director of terrorism and disaster programs for the UCLA-Duke University National Center for Child Traumatic Stress.

Thinking about the possibility of a natural disaster impacting your family can be overwhelming, so it makes sense that you would want to avoid it. But having a plan in place that keeps your kids needs in mind in case an extreme weather event does occur is crucial. Even if you dont live in a part of the country prone to these events, climate-related disasters are striking everywhere and with greater frequency. Preparedness logistically, physically, and emotionally is more important than ever.

Broaching the topic doesnt need to be distressing, experts say. Rather, its possible to talk honestly about the potential of a climate event while still allaying kids anxieties and giving them space to discuss their emotions. Despite how stressful it can seem, there are also strategies to help your kids cope if your family is affected by a natural disaster.

Parents understandably want to protect their children from unpleasant emotions, but try not to minimize the likelihood of a natural disaster, says Caroline Hickman, a climate-aware psychotherapist who focuses on eco-anxiety in children and young people. You dont want to frighten your child, but you do want them to be prepared in case there is an emergency.

Consider the chance of certain extreme weather events where you live and give them age-appropriate guidance on how your family would stay safe, says American Academy of Pediatrics spokesperson David Schonfeld, the director of the National Center for School Crisis and Bereavement. Younger kids respond well to storytelling, Hickman says, while older kids might roll their eyes and resist. But you have to be very firm with them and say, Look, I get it. Im annoying. You dont want to talk about it right now, but we are going to talk about it sometime this week, she says.

You might say to a younger child, Were entering into a season where we could get storms that bring a lot of rain and wind. But we will listen to the weather forecast and go to a place where the rain and wind arent as strong if we need to so we can stay safe. You could also take this opportunity to explain the concept of a go bag a backpack with essentials in the event you need to evacuate and ask them what they might pack in it, like a favorite toy. The US Department of Homeland Security offers free extreme weather preparedness resources for children and families.

I dont think the goal is just to let them know bad things can happen because thats just frightening. It isnt helpful, Schonfeld says. It is helpful if you can give them practical information about what they can do to decrease the risks and keep themselves and those they care about safe.

It can be helpful to ask kids, especially those in grade school, what they know about extreme weather events that occur where you live and how they feel about it, Hickman says. Chances are, they know as much as you do, if not more, she says, and children love teaching their parents things. This can give you an opportunity to correct them on any misinformation they may have read online or heard from friends.

Feelings come later when youre safe.

Let them know if they ever feel scared, anxious, or have any questions about natural disasters, youre here for them, says clinical psychologist Regine Galanti, author of Parenting Anxious Kids: Understanding Anxiety in Children by Age and Stage. Youll want to validate your childrens emotions without bringing in your own. Avoid statements like Im freaking out about this too, or You dont have to be scared. Instead try, Its gotten too hot in our house so we have to go somewhere else to cool off. I know its last minute and Im not happy about it either. Well talk about it more in the car.

Thats actually super invalidating when you tell a kid not to feel their feelings, Galanti says.

Reassure your children that they dont need to take on the responsibility of keeping the family safe. Remind them that they can relax knowing that you will tell them when its time to take action, says Chandra Ghosh Ippen, the associate director of the Child Trauma Research Program at the University of California, San Francisco and author of the Trinka and Sam book series developed to help families with young children cope after natural disasters.

If a natural disaster is imminent, explain to your kids any precautions you are currently taking, Schonfeld says. You might say, Theres a bad storm coming and were going to go to the basement for a little while because its safer there, or, Were tracking this fire. It might hit our area but because we have a plan, well be safe since we are going to stay at grandmas if it does.

Youll want to model effective emotional coping even if youre feeling anxious, says Schonfeld. That means sharing that you do have some unpleasant feelings and outlining what youre doing to cope with them. You could mention, for instance, how the flooding made you nervous, but you remembered all of the steps your family has taken to stay safe and how you feel more prepared.

Avoid watching constant news or media coverage on TV or online, both for your own mental health and for your childs peace of mind. Choose quality sources of news and only read or watch as much as you need to be informed about what steps to take next. Kids are observant and will pick up on their parents anxieties, even if they dont understand exactly why they are upset, Ghosh Ippen says. If you need to take a moment to break down, do so in private. Because for us to provide that support for our children, Ghosh Ippen says, we need to have a place where we can metabolize.

In the event of an evacuation, tell your kids you are going to a place where you are absolutely certain you will be safe, Ghosh Ippen says. It can be helpful to give children a task, says Hickman, such as grabbing their go bag and a book or putting their shoes on. You might also mention that your familys role is to get out of the way so emergency responders can do their jobs. Dont feel like you must unpack any of your kids emotions during the height of an emergency, Hickman says: Feelings come later when youre safe.

Should you shelter in place, explain why youre doing so, Brymer says. You could say, The weather is dangerous so you cant play outside and we need to sit in the basement until the storm passes, or, Its too hot to go to the park today so were going to do some arts and crafts inside where its cool. Distracting your kids from the ongoing extreme weather event can help pass the time, especially if youve lost power, Schonfeld says. Try singing songs, playing games, building a pillow fort, or reading books.

In the aftermath of a natural disaster, its important parents dont pretend it didnt happen, experts say. You can praise your children for being mature and playing their part, Hickman says. Be truthful with your children if you are unable to return home right away and if there are disruptions to school. You could say, We need to stay here longer than we thought because our house was damaged in the storm, but youre safe here. Were going to continue to stay together as a family.

Parents should try to facilitate conversations with their kids to discuss how they feel about the disaster. Kids can mask how theyre feeling, Hickman says. You need to repeatedly ask those questions, because if you just do it once, and think were done big mistake, Hickman says. You need to come back to it. On the surface, children may appear calm, but are struggling to cope with the event. Acknowledge that it might have been scary and ask them how theyre feeling now. Chances are that if your family was directly impacted by the extreme weather event, your kids might know another family that has been, too. We get a secondary trauma or a vicarious trauma, Hickman says, which makes having repeated conversations necessary.

You need to repeatedly ask those questions, because if you just do it once, and think were done big mistake.

Children are more likely to be upset over the loss of their routines, Hickman says, and parents should acknowledge their childs emotions. You can lead the conversation by mentioning, I feel sad were dealing with all of this. Im wondering how you feel about it?

You show them how to deal with the emotion, Hickman says. Youre not collapsed on the floor in a mess.

Acknowledge any damage to property, too. Resist the urge to tell your kids that you can buy more toys, Schonfeld says, and instead affirm that you know how important they were to them. Try to reframe a childs sadness over losing their backyard tree house, for instance, as a sign of how much love they had for it.

If school is canceled, you can facilitate ways for kids to connect with their friends, Brymer says, whether through coordinating a playdate, FaceTiming with the other childs parents, or making artwork your kid can give to their friends when they see each other again.

Common reactions children might have after a natural disaster include sleep problems, difficulty concentrating, and developmental regression, like bedwetting or thumb-sucking. Give your child grace to self-soothe in the service of healing, Schonfeld says, but encourage them to move forward. Your goal is to get them back to normal as quickly as you can, Galanti says. So what extra supports do I need to give my kid to get them back to their normal? You should seek out a mental health professional if your child is harming themselves or others or if behavioral problems persist.

Continue to acknowledge how you feel in the aftermath so your kids know its okay to discuss their emotions, Brymer says. However, your child could feel confident and secure that youve kept them safe and may not be affected by the natural disaster, Ghosh Ippen says.

Regardless of the extreme weather event or the extent of disruption to your family, experts stress the importance of acknowledgment: that the event occurred, that your child might be scared, that they might have lost a routine. Keep the lines of communication open and let kids know that theyre allowed to feel any range of emotions.

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