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When people hear about the race for Artificial Intelligence (AI) dominance, they often think that the main competition is between the US and China. After all, the US and China have most of the largest and most well funded AI companies on the planet, and the pace of funding, company growth, and adoption doesnt seem to be slowing anytime soon. However, if you look closely, youll see that many other countries have a stake in the AI race, and indeed, some countries have AI efforts, funding, technologies, and intellectual property that make them serious contenders in the jostling for AI dominance. In fact according to a recent report from analyst firm Cognilytica, France, Israel, United Kingdom, and the United States all are equally strong when it comes to AI, with China, Canada, Germany, Japan, and South Korea equally close in their AI strategic strength. (Disclosure: Im a principal analyst with Cognilytica).

The Current Leaders in AI Funding and Dominance: US and China

AI startups are raising more money than ever. AI-focused companies raised $12 Billion in 2017 alone, more than doubling venture funding over the previous year. Most of this funding is concentrated in US and Chinese companies, but the source of those funds is much more international. Softbank, based in Japan, has amassed a $100 Billion investment fund, with many international investors including Saudi Arabias sovereign investment fund and other global sources of capital. While US companies have put up significant investment rounds with the power of Silicon Valleys VC funds, China now has the most valuable AI startup, Sensetime, which raised over $1.2 Billion and a rumored additional $1 Billion raise on the way.

However, what makes AI as a technology sector different from previous major waves of investment, is that AI is seen as strategic technology by many governments. In 2017 China released a three step program outlining its goal to become a world leader in A.I. by 2030. The government aims to make the AI industry worth about $150 billion and is pushing for greater use of AI in a number of areas such as the military and smart cities. Furthermore, the Chinese government has made big bets including a planned $2.1 Billion AI-focused technology research park. And in 2019 TheBeijing AI Principleswere released by a multistakeholder coalition including the Beijing Academy of Artificial Intelligence (BAAI), Peking University, Tsinghua University, Institute of Automation and Institute of Computing Technology in Chinese Academy of Sciences, and an AI industrial league involving firms like Baidu, Alibaba and Tencent.

In addition, the Chinese technology ecosystem has developed to become a powerhouse in its own right. China has many multi-billion dollar tech giants including Alibaba, Baidu, Tencent, and Huawei Technologies, who are each heavily investing in AI. Chinese companies also work more closely with the Chinese government, and laws in China are the most relaxed with regards to customer privacy and use of AI technologies such as facial recognition on their citizens. Chinas government has already embraced the use of facial recognition technology and has quickly adopted this technology in everyday use. In most other counties such as the US for example, privacy concerns prevent pervasive use of facial recognition technology, but such concerns or impediments to adoption dont exist in China.

The story of technology company creation and funding in the United States is already well known. Silicon Valley is both a region as well as a euphemism for the entire tech industry, showing how dominant the US has been for the past several decades with technology creation and adoption. Venture capital as an industry was invented and perfected in the US, and the result of that has been the creation of such enduring tech giants like Amazon, Apple, Facebook, Microsoft, Google, IBM and thousands of other technology firms big and small. Collectively trillions of dollars has been invested in these firms by private and public sector investors to create the technology industry as we know it today. Certainly, none of that is going away anytime soon.

In addition, the US has an extremely well developed and highly skilled labor pool with academic powerhouses and research institutions that continue to push the boundaries of what is capable with AI. What is notable is that even in the US, the dominance of Silicon Valley as a specific, San Francisco-bay geographic region is starting to slip. The New York city region has produced many large AI-focused technology firms, and research in the Boston-area centered around MIT and Harvard, Pittsburgh with Carnegie Mellon, the Washington, DC metro area with its legions of government-focused contractors and development shops, Southern Californias emerging tech ecosystem, Seattle-based Amazon and Microsoft, and many more locations in the US are loosening the hold that Northern California has on the technology industry with respect to AI. And just outside the US, Canadian firms from Toronto, Montreal, and Vancouver are further eroding the dominance of Silicon Valley with respect to AI.

In 2018 the United States issued an Executive Order from the President naming AI the second highest R&D priority after the security of the American people for the fiscal year 2020. Additionally, the U.S. Department of Defenseannouncedit will invest up to $2 billion over the next five years towards the advancement of AI. As recently as 2020 the United States launched the American AI Initiative with the strategy aimed at focusing the federal government resources. The US federal government also launched AI.gov to make it easier to access all of the governmental AI initiatives currently underway. Once potentially seen lackluster in comparison to that of China and other countries the US government has really started making AI a priority to keep up in recent years.

Countries With Significant Stakes in AI

As mentioned above, what makes the AI industry unique is that it is actually not a new thing, but rather evolved over decades, even prior to the development of the modern digital computer. As a result, many technology developments, investment, and intellectual property exists outside the US and China. Countries that have been involved with AI since the early days are realizing the strategic nature of AI and doubling down on their efforts to retain a stake in global AI share and maintain their relevance and importance.

Japan

Japan has long been a leader in the AI industry, and in particular their development and adoption of robotics. Japanese firms introduced concepts such as the 3 Ds (Ks) of robotics that we discussed in our research on cobots. Not only is their technology research excellence on par with anywhere in the world, they have the funding to back it up. As mentioned earlier, Japan-based Softbank is an investor powerhouse unrivaled in the venture capital industry.

Japans government released their Artificial Intelligence Technology Strategy in March 2017. This strategy includes an Industrialization Roadmap and focuses the development of AI into three phases: the utilization and application of AI through 2020, the publics use of AI from 2025-2030, and lastly an ecosystem built by connecting multiplying domains. The countrys strategy focuses on R&D for AI, collaboration between industry, government, and academia to advance AI research, and addressing areas related to productivity, welfare and mobility.

However, it is important to note that while Japan continues to exhibit dominance in robotics and other AI fields as well as its Softbank powerhouse, many of the firms that Softbank is investing in are not Japan-based, and so much of the investment is not remaining focused on Japans own AI industry. In addition, while technology development is advanced and rapidly progressing and while Japan is known as a country to embrace technology, many Japanese companies have not been quick to embrace AI technology and the use of AI is largely limited to the financial sector and concentrated in the manufacturing industry. The country is also facing significant demographic pressure, with an aging population, causing a shortage in available workforce. On the one hand, the adoption of AI and robotic technologies are seen as a solution to labor and aging demographics, on the otherhand, the lack of workforce will cause strategic problems for creation of AI dominant companies.

South Korea

South Koreas government is a significant investor and strong supporter of local technology development, and AI is certainly no exception. The government recently announced it plans to spend $2 billion by 2022 to strengthen its AI R&D capability including creating at least six new AI schools by 2020, with plans to educate more than 5,000 new high quality engineers in Korea in response to a shortage of AI engineers. The government also plans to fund large scale AI projects related to medicine, national defense, and public safety as well as starting an AI R&D challenge similar to those developed by the US Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA). The government will also invest to support the creation and development of AI startups and businesses. This support includes the creation of an AI-oriented start-up incubator to support emerging AI businesses and funding for the creation of an AI semiconductor by 2029.

South Korea is home to many large tech companies such as Samsung, LG, and Hyundai among others, and is known for its automotive, electronics, and semiconductor industries as well as the use of industrial robotics technology. It also famously hosted the match where DeepMinds AlphaGo defeated Gos world champion Lee Sedol (a Korean-native). Clearly, you cant count South Korea out of any race for AI dominance. The only thing significantly lacking is a well-developed venture capital ecosystem and a large number of startups. South Koreas AI efforts are almost entirely concentrated in the activities of the major technology incumbents and government activities.

United Kingdom

The United Kingdom is a clear leader for AI and the government is financially supporting AI initiatives. In November 2017, the UK government announced 68 million of funding for research into AI and robotics projects aimed at improving safety in extreme environments as well as funding four new research hubs that will be created to help develop robotic technology to improve safety in off-shore wind and nuclear energy. It has a goal to invest about $1.3 billion in AI investment from both public and private funds over the coming years. As part of this plan, Global Brain, a Japan-based venture capital firm, plans to invest about $48 million in AI-focused UK-based tech startups as well as open a European headquarters in the United Kingdom. Canadian venture capital firm Chrysalix also plans to open a European headquarters in the U.K. as well as invest over $100 million in UK-based startups who specialize in AI and robotics. The University of Cambridge is installing a $13 million supercomputer and will give U.K. businesses access to the new supercomputer to help with AI-related projects.

The U.K. is of course also the home of Alan Turing, renowned forefather of computing and an early proponent of AI, with the namesake Turing Test. The UK can also claim (in not such a great light) to be one of the precipitating factors of the first AI Winter when the Lighthill Report was released in 1973 leading to significant declines in AI investment. As such, the UK has exhibited in the past significant influence positively, and negatively, in worldwide AI spending and adoption. To avoid future problems, the U.K. is looking to position itself as a world leader in ethical AI standards. The UK sees this as an opportunity to position itself as an AI leader with ethical AI, helping to create standards used for all. It knows it cant compete with AI funding and development from counties like the US and China but thinks it has a shot by taking an ethical standards approach and leveraging its early status as a lead in AI development.

France

Frances President Emmanuel Macron released a national strategy for artificial intelligence in early 2018. The country announced that over the next five years it will invest more than 1.5 billion for AI-related research and support for emerging startups in a bid to compete with the US, China, and others for AI dominance. The French strategy is to put an emphasis on and target four specific areas of AI related to health, transportation (such as driverless cars), the environment, and defense/security. Some notable AI researchers and data scientists were educated in France, such as Facebooks head of AI Yann LeCun. France wants to try to keep that talent in France instead of moving to overseas companies.

Many companies such as Samsung, Fujitsu, DeepMind, IBM and Microsoft have announced plans to open offices in France for AI research. The French administration also wants to share new data sets with the public making it easy to access and build AI services using those data sets. The caveat to receiving public funds is that research projects or companies financed with public money will have to share their data. Many European Union (EU) officials have expressed dismay with the way that Facebook, Google, Microsoft, Amazon, and others have hoarded user data, and Macron and his administration are concerned about the black box of AI data and decision-making. France is also focused on addressing the ethical concerns around AI as well as trying to create unbiased data sets which is part of the reason for open algorithms and data sets. While Frances efforts are significant, they pale in terms of total money put into the industry and resources available to compete with the efforts of other nations.

Germany

Germany is an industrial powerhouse, has long been known to have great engineering capabilities, and Berlin is currently Europes top AI talent hub. According to Atomicos 2017 State of European Tech report, Germany is most likely to become a leader in areas such as autonomous vehicles, robotics and quantum computing. In fact, almost half of all worldwide patents on autonomous driving come from German car companies or their suppliers such as Bosch, Volkswagen, Audi and Porsche. These German companies had begun their autonomous vehicle development activities as early as 1986.

A new tech hub region in southern Germany, called Cyber Valley, is hoping to create new opportunities for collaboration between academics and businesses with a specific focus on AI. The new hub plans to focus on AI and robotics, make better use of research talent, and collaboratively work with companies such as Porsche, Daimler and Bosch. In addition to autonomous vehicles, Germany has an early lead with robotics, with one of the first cobots developed in Germany for use in manufacturing. Additionally, Germanys AI strategy was published in December 2018 in Nuremberg. And, in 2019, The German government tasked a new Data Ethics Commission with producing guidelines for the development and use of AI.

Despite these intellectual property and early market leads, Germany has not invested at the same levels as other countries, and the technology firms are highly concentrated in manufacturing, automotive, and industrial sectors, leaving other markets mostly untapped with AI capabilities. Furthermore, American automakers such as Ford, GM, and Google Waymo, as well as Uber and other firms are quickly catching up with the number of patents issued and threatening Germanys dominance for intellectual property in that area.

Russia

Russian president Vladimir Putin made a statement that: Artificial intelligence is the future, not only for Russia, but for all of humankind and that whichever country becomes the leader in this sphere will become the ruler of the world. This is one powerful statement. Russia has said that intelligent machines are vital to the future of their national security plans and, by 2025, it plans to make 30% of its countrys military equipment robotic. The government also wants to standardize development of artificial intelligence focusing on image recognition, speech recognition, autonomous military systems, and information support for weapons life-cycle. There is also a new Russian AI Association bringing the academic and private-sector together. Additionally, Russian President Vladimir Putin approved the National Strategy for the Development of Artificial Intelligence (NSDAI) for the period until 2030 on October 2019.

Russia is still a world superpower in terms of military might, and exerts significant influence in world markets, especially in the energy sector. Despite that, Russian investment in AI is still significantly lacking that of other countries, with only a reported $12M invested by the government in research efforts. While Russia has had significant input and efforts around AI research in the university setting, the countrys industry lacks overall AI talent and number of companies working towards AI related initiatives. Many skilled Russian engineers leave the country to work at other firms worldwide who are throwing lots of money at skilled talent. As such, the biggest application of AI in Russia is in physical and cyberwarfare situations, leveraging AI to enhance the capabilities of autonomous vehicles and information warfare. In this arena, Russia is certainly a country to be contended with regards to AI dominance.

Other AI Hotspots

In addition to the above, there are many countries that are seeing AI as a country level strategic initiative including Israel, India, Denmark, Sweden, Estonia, Finland, Netherlands, Poland, Singapore, Malaysia Australia, Italy, Canada, Taiwan, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), and other locations. Some of these countries have more financial than technical resources, or vice-versa. The key is that for each of these countries, they see AI in a strategic light and as such theyve crafted a strategic approach to AI.

AI technologies have the ability to transform and influence the lives of many people. Not only will AI transform the way we work, interact with each other and travel between locations, but it also has an impact on weapons technology, modern warfare, and a countrys cyber security. AI can also have a dramatic impact on the labor market, disrupting entire industries and creating whole new ones. As such, having a focus on AI dominance can also help strengthen that countrys economy, shift global leadership and power, and give military advantages. While the race for AI domination might seem similar to the Space Race or aspects of the Cold War, in reality the AI market doesnt support a winner take all approach. Indeed, continued advancement in AI requires research and industry collaboration, continued research and development, and industry-wide thinking and solutions to problems. While there will no doubt be winners and losers in terms of overall investment and return, countries worldwide will reap the benefits of increased adoption and development of cognitive technologies.

Read more here:

Why The Race For AI Dominance Is More Global Than You Think - Forbes

Media Release

Mangaluru, Feb 7:Fr Keneth Crasta, principal of St Joseph Industrial Training Centre Jeppu, celebrated the Holy Mass on the second day of the novena.

In his homily Fr Crasta preached homily on respecting the elderly, the theme of the day. He said, "Long life is considered as the blessing of God in the Bible. Elderly people are like a treasure in the house. They are to be respected and cared. Unfortunately todays society treats them like useless commodity. That thinking has to be changed."

Fr Crasta also called on the congregation to pray for the elderly for their good health and well-being. He asked the Almighty to bless all those who are spending their lives in old age homes and those suffer loneliness.

Fr Roshan DSouza, assistant director of St Anthony Ashram offered a Holy Mass for the devotees in the after-noon at Jeppu Ashram followed by Rosary and Adoration. Fr Thrishan DSouza the assistant director of the ashram conducted the novena at 7.30 pm at the entrance gate of the ashram.

Fr Onil DSouza, director of the ashram thanked the Milagres Choir for leading the liturgical singing.

See the article here:

St Anthony's Ashram Jeppu- Second day novena in preparation for the feast of Relic of St Anthony - Daijiworld.com

Chinmayanand was arrested on September 20.

NCC cadets from institutes run by former Union minister Chinmayanand offered a salute to him and visitors at his ashram were served a special ''prasad'' after his release on bail from the district prison.

Chinmayanand walked out of the prison on Wednesday, two days after being granted bail in the case in which he is accused of sexually abusing a law student.

Chinmayanand's advocate Om Singh said NCC cadets saluted him when he visited Mumukshu Ashram.

When contacted, a police official said Chinmayanad should not have been given a salute as he is an accused. He, however, added that this might have happened as he heads the Mumukshu Ashram, which runs various colleges.

Amit Singh, a relative of Chinmayanand, said after his release, hundreds of supporters gathered at the ashram, where they were served food prepared as "prasad" for the occasion.

Superintendent of Police (City) Dinesh Tripathi on Thursday said, "For the security of the law student, a guard has been deployed. One gunner each was deployed for her and for her family, and they are still there."

The SP said Chinmayanand's gunner was withdrawn after his arrest. "If there is any demand for the gunner, a committee will take a decision, and provide security to Chinmayanad," the SP said.

Chinmayanand's advocate Singh alleged that a conspiracy was hatched against the politician.

Chinmayanand, 72, was released from the Shahjahanpur district jail on Wednesday after the completion of legal formalities, prison superintendent Rakesh Kumar said.

The Allahabad High Court had granted him bail on Monday. But he was not released earlier as the bail papers had not reached the jail.

While granting him bail, Justice Rahul Chaturvedi also transferred Chinmayanand''s trial from Shahjahanpur to Lucknow, taking note of the victim''s apprehension that he could influence proceedings in his hometown.

Outside the Shahjahanpur jail, Chinmayanand's supporters waited for him with flowers. He was then driven to his ashram, where he offered prayers before leaving for his home.

Chinmayanand, whose trust runs the Shahjahanpur law college where the woman studied, was arrested on September 20 under section 376-C of the IPC, a charge short of rape.

It is applied when someone in authority takes advantage of his official position to "induce or seduce" a woman to have sex with him.

In a parallel case, the woman was arrested for trying to extort money from Chinmayanand, whom she had accused of rape.

She and her three friends had allegedly threatened to release video clips of massages she claimed she was forced to perform on the politician, who was disowned by the ruling BJP after the sexual abuse charges surfaced.

The high court granted the woman bail in the extortion case on December 4.

Last year, the Supreme Court had stepped in when the 23-year-old student went missing for a few days in August after posting a video clip on social media, alleging sexual abuse.

A special investigation team of Uttar Pradesh Police, formed on the directions of the topcourt, later arrested Chinmayanand and the student.

Read more here:

Out On Bail, Rape Accused Chinmayanand Gets NCC Salute - NDTV News

Shahjahanpur (UP), Feb 6 : Former Union minister Chinmayanand, accused of sexually abusing a law student of one of his colleges, was given a salute by the NCC cadets from institutes run by him when he walked out of jail on Wednesday. Hundreds of supporters greeted him with flowers when he stepped out of the jail.

While the cadets gave him a salute, his ashram served a special 'prasad' to all visitors on the occasion.

Chinmayanand, who was arrested on September 20 on charges of sexual harassment and blackmail, was granted bail by the Allahabad High court on Monday.

Om Singh, Chinmayanand's lawyer, said that the cadets offered a salute to the former Union minister as a mark of respect when he reached his Mumukshu ashram.

Amit Singh, a nephew of Chinmayanand, said that hundreds of supporters gathered at the ashram, where they were served food prepared as 'prasad' for the occasion. "It is because they know that he has been framed," the nephew said.

His lawyer Om Singh also maintained that the politician was a victim of a conspiracy.

A senior police official, however, said that Chinmayanand was an accused and should not have been given a salute. "But may be the cadets did so because he runs the colleges," the official said.

Meanwhile, Superintendent of Police (City) Dinesh Tripathi said "For the security of the law student, a guard has been deployed. One gunner each was deployed for her and for her family, and they continue to be there."

Chinmayanand's gunner was withdrawn after his arrest.

"If there is any demand for the gunner, a committee will take a decision, and provide security to Chinmayanand," the SP said.

While granting him bail, Justice Rahul Chaturvedi also transferred Chinmayanand's trial from Shahjahanpur to Lucknow. This has been done in view of the victim's apprehension that he may try to influence judicial proceedings in his home town.

Chinmayanand heads the trust that runs the Shahjahanpur law college where the woman studied.

He was arrested under section 376-C of the IPC, a charge short of rape. It is applied when someone in authority takes advantage of his official position to 'induce or seduce' a woman to have sex with him.

The law student, on the other hand was also arrested for allegedly trying to extort money from Chinmayanand, whom she had accused of rape.

She and her three friends had allegedly threatened to release video clips of him being given a massage by her under pressure.

The high court granted the woman bail in the extortion case on December 4.

The Supreme Court had taken suo moto cognisance of the case when the 23-year-old student went missing for a few days in August after posting a video clip on social media, alleging sexual abuse.

Originally posted here:

Chinmayanand greeted with salute, flowers as he walks out of jail - New Kerala

You may have already read some helpful pieces that help you design your own Law of Attraction affirmations, ones that target your highly specific goals and help you to become fully in tune with the things you want to manifest.

However, its also well worth taking the time to think about general affirmations you can use.

Your manifestation potential is always higher and potent when you feel genuinely good about yourself and connect with your own strength. Here are some guidelines for coming up with your own self-empowerment affirmations, along with a few examples that you can use or adapt.

You can benefit from virtually any affirmation that focuses your attention on your best qualities, your capacity for change, your belief in a better world and your sense of the deep wells of power inside you.

For example, you might try making a list of ten things that you feel insecure about. Then, deliberately try to come up with affirmations that gently but persistently guide you towards the opposite perspective.

That being said, the mindset youre in when you say your affirmations is almost as significant as the words themselves. You should aim to be in a state similar to that associated with mindfulness exercises, in which youre fully connected to the sense of inhabiting your body, and your thoughts are slower than usual.

You might worry that you dont have time to get into this mental zone.

But, you can take a shortcut by simply taking ten deep inhales and exhales before your affirmation ritual. This quickly transports you into a calmer, more focused and receptive state.

If youd like to start with some basic self-empowerment affirmations instead of (or before) trying to create your own, here are some highly recommended phrases that work well for many Law of Attraction practitioners.

Take This 60 Second Quiz And Find Out Now!

Plus Receive A Free Abundance Reading And A Free Video Lesson

The rest is here:
14 Daily Affirmations For Confidence And Self-Empowerment

Services and studies

Dayspring Church Apostolic Worship begins at 11:15 a.m. at the church, 2127 Doctors Park Drive, Columbus. On Sunday, the church will be inspired by, Master of Mercy. This is taken from Matthew 15:22 where, Have mercy on me, O Lord is the plea from the woman of Canaan. Every visitor will receive a free gift.

The Sunday Education Session starts at 10 a.m. and covers Two Lessons in Discipleship, as shared in Luke 9:51-62.

Bible Study is Tuesday at 5:30 p.m. and is a Group Session sponsored by Heart Changers International, LLC on Depression, Stress and Grief. These help build our Personal Empowerment and walk.

Our Prayer of Power starts at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday and is preceded with requests and instructions on prayer.

The Celebrate Recovery Group session starts at 6:30 p.m.

Ignite is the Youth Growth Session that happens every third Friday.

For more information please call (812) 372- 9336, or email dayspringchurch@att.net.

East Columbus United Methodist Sunday events begin at 9 a.m. at East Columbus United Methodist Church at 2439 Indiana Ave. in Columbus, with fellowship time in the foyer with beverages and snacks. Worship begins at 9:30 a.m.

Sunday School begins at 10:40 a.m. for all ages and Bible interests.

First Presbyterian The church continues their journey through the Gospel of Mark. On the Fifth Sunday after Epiphany, the church will focus on Mark 6:1-29 where they will read of Jesus giving Instructions and Warnings to the disciples (which is also the sermon title). All are invitied to come!

Worship begins at 9:30 a.m., 512 Seventh Street in Columbus. Infant and toddler care is available 9:15 a.m. to Noon. The Mens and Womens Support Groups meet on Fridays at 7 a.m., and a second Mens Support group (working age men) meets every Monday at 6:15 a.m.

People in the community in need of a meal are invited to our Hot Meals offered Friday at 5 p.m. (please enter through the glass doors on Franklin). We are an LGBTQ-friendly church. Open and affirming to ALL.

Information: fpccolumbus.org

First United Methodist On Sunday, February 9, at the 9 a.m. Traditional Service and 11 a.m. The Table, Jennifer Riddle will deliver the message, Who Are We? at the church, 618 Eighth Street. The scripture will be Matthew 5:13-20 and Isaiah 58:9b-12.

Sunday School for all ages begins at 10:10 a.m. Childcare is available during the service.

On Friday, Feb. 14, FUMC will have an opportunity for you to renew your vows. Stop by the church chapel from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. or from 5 to 6:30 p.m. for a brief ceremony with one of our pastors. The event is free, but donations are encouraged for Love-a-Child, Learning Tree Preschools Scholarship Fund.

Information: 812-372-2851 or fumccolumbus.org.

Flintwood Wesleyan The church is located at 5300 E. 25th St.

Today our Scout Troop will be having a Pancake Breakfast in The Friendship Center. Come and support the program and eat some good pancakes!

Sunday services are Amplify (non-traditional) at 9 a.m. and The Well (traditional) at 11 a.m. Both Amplify and The Well are in the main sanctuary and led by Rev. Wes Jones, Senior Pastor. Pastor Jones is doing a series on Jonah. Sunday School classes meet in their regular rooms at 10 a.m.

The Prayer Team meets at 8 a.m. Adult Choir Practice is 5 to 6 p.m.

Sunday evenings Celebrate Recovery begins with a meal at 5:25 p.m. in The Friendship Center and the meeting starts at 6 p.m. upstairs in Curry Hall. The public is invited to attend.

Connections, a ladies study group, led by Pastor Teri Jones. The group meets the second and fourth Monday of each month at 10 a.m. in The Friendship Center.

In the Beginning, a small group Bible Study, meets Tuesday evenings at 6 p.m. They are now meeting in the basement of the church in the young adult classroom. They are studying the book of Genesis. You can start at any point so new members are welcome to join.

Wednesday activities begins with a meal at 5:30 p.m. The program, iKids (Ignite Kids) On Fire For Jesus! starts at 6:15 p.m. This program is for kids in Pre-K through the sixth grade. The Prayer Team meets at 6:15 p.m. in the Prayer Room. Youth meets at 6:30 p.m. downstairs in the church. Bible study is at 7 p.m. in the sanctuary.

Our SAM Luncheon will be held Thursday, February 13th. This will be our Valentine tribute. Luncheon is from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Thursday: Cub Scout Pack #588 will meet when events are scheduled and Boy Scout Troop #588 will meet at 7 p.m.

Small group Cover to Cover is a Christian book club that meets the second Saturday of each month at 10 a.m. to select a new book and discuss the book they just read. Group meets in The Friendship Center. If interested contact Kim Rutan at 812-343-2217 (call or text) or via email at flintwoodoffice@gmail.com.

Our Heart of Ministries Auction and Dinner will be Friday, March 6th stating at 5:30 p.m. Lots of great items up for auction plus the best desserts in town. The dinner is free and all proceeds goes to fund local, regional, and global ministries.

March 8th is Baptism Sunday. If you wish to be baptised, please get in touch with Pastor Wes.

In the event of severe winter weather, we will announce service/activity cancellations via local television networks, The Flintwood website, The Flintwood Facebook page, and the Flintwood App.

For further information, call 812-379-4287 or email flintwoodoffice@gmail.com. Church office hours are Tuesday, Thursday and Friday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Our website is http://www.flintwood.org.

Garden City Church of Christ On Sunday at the 10 a.m. service, Garden City Church of Christ will start the four-week sermon series called Mission: Possible (His Mission. Your World.). Everyone in the community is invited to attend.

This sermon series will offer clear Bible teaching designed to empower you to share your faith with people right in your own neighborhood. Discover Gods mission for your life, how to connect with people, how serving others can open hearts to the gospel, and how paying attention to your own spiritual growth can strengthen your witness.

Garden City Church of Christ is located at 3245 Jonesville Road, Columbus.

For more information about the church, visit gardencitychurch.com or call 812-372-1766.

Grace Lutheran Rev. John Armstrong will preach on Sunday. Worship is at 8 and 10:30 a.m., with Sunday School for all ages at 9:30 a.m.

Alpha, an introduction to the Bible continues Tuesday, Feb. 11, 6-8 p.m. with the topic Why and how should I read the Bible?

Searching Scripture begins Tuesday, Feb. 11, 6-8 p.m. with the topic The Ten Commandments.

The church is located at 3201 Central Ave, Columbus.

Old Union United Church of Christ The 10 a.m. Sunday service will begin this Sundays events.

Sunday school will be at 9 a.m. with fellowship at 9:40 a.m.

The church is located at 12703 N. County Road 50W, Edinburgh.

Petersville United Methodist Church The Rev. Stormy Scherer-Berry will present her message, Live With Integrity, at the 9 a.m. worship service on Sunday morning at the church, 2781 N. County Road 500E, Columbus.

The congregation will be asked to remember that something with integrity is stable meaning that all the parts are supporting the whole. Scripture from Matthew 5 will be shared by the liturgist. Teresa Covert will give the childrens sermon. The loose change offering for the coming six months will be given to the Love Chapel Food Bank. The goal for the Hope Food Bank is 2020 items for the year. A time of fellowship will follow the service, and, during that time, the pastor will conduct a question and answer session concerning the possible division of the world-wide United Methodist Church.

The Bakers Dozen Bible study will meet Monday at 6:30 p.m. at the home of Larry and Connie Nolting; the Journey Bible study also will meet Monday at 6:30 p.m. at the home of Chris Kimerling. On Tuesday, the Sit and Stitch group will meet at 6:30 p.m. at the Nolting home. New members are always welcome at any of the groups.

Choir practice will be Wednesday night at 6:30 p.m. at the church; on Thursday morning, a new combination Bible study/Prayer Time Group will meet at 10 a.m. at the church. Questions may be directed to Barb Hedrick at 812-371-2897.

The United Methodist Womens group will host a Valentine Dinner at the Chaparrel Restaurant in Shelbyville on Feb. 15 at 5:30 p.m. for all the men and women of the church and their guests. Contact Thelma Fiesbeck at 812-379-4044 to make reservations.

Coming up Feb. 25 will be a Fat Tuesday meal at the church to raise funds for the Clay Township Fire Department; serving will be from 5 to 7 p.m.

Information: 812-447-9357; 574-780-2379

Sandy Hook United Methodist The church will be having a Bible study on the book of Ruth for six winter Wednesday evenings from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. starting Jan. 8 through Feb. 19 (there will be no study January 29). This video-based study is part of the Epic of Eden Bible studies.

Please contact the church office at 812-372-8495 or office@sandyhook.org if interested in participating (so books can be ordered).

The church is located at 1610 Taylor Road, Columbus.

St. Paul Lutheran The fifth Sunday after Epiphany will be celebrated Sunday at St. Paul Lutheran Church, 6045 East State Street, with Pastor Doug Bauman delivering the message Let Your Light Shine based on Matthew 5:13-20 at the 8 and 10:45 a.m. services.

Beginning Sunday, the Spanish Worship Service will be held each Sunday in the Fellowship Room at 10:45 a.m. led by Vicar Daniel Fickenscher.

New members who have joined the church in the past six months will be recognized and welcomed into the congregation during the Christian Education Hour beginning at 9:30 a.m.

Open enrollment for the 2020-2021 preschool and kindergarten registration continues. Classes are for children who are 3, 4 or 5 by Aug. 1. Information: 812-376-6504 or stpaulcolumbus.org.

Financial Peace University classes continue, 6 p.m. at the church. Classes teach how to beat debt and make a plan for the future together. Information: philburbrink@gmail.com

Information: 812-376-6504.

Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Columbus On Sunday at 10 a.m., The ABCs of Presence will be presented by Rev. Nic Cable and Jan Lucas. Can being present really be as easy as 1-2-3? Probably not. But cultivating a practice of presence in your personal life and in our life as a congregation can lead to greater happiness and wholeness. Join us for this service as Rev. Cable explore the ABCs of Presence.

The church is at 7850 W. Goeller Blvd., Columbus.

Information: 812-342-6230.

Westside Community Pastor Robert Vester will lead the service this Sunday at 10 a.m. at the church at the corner of 46 West and Tipton Lakes Blvd. This Sunday will begin the start of a new series on the seven deadly sins.

The childrens program for birth through sixth grade meets at the same time as the 10 a.m. worship service.

For more information on studies or small groups that meet throughout the week, contact the church office at 812-342-8464.

Music

North Christian Church The church is looking for singers to join their Chancel Choir. Rehearsals are Wednesdays at 6 p.m. at the church, 850 Tipton Lane, Columbus.

For more information, contact the Music Director, Travis Whaley, at music@northchristianchurch.com.

Events

Community Church of Columbus An eight-week parenting course entitled Parenting with Love and Logic is designed for parents of children ages 6 and under. Starting Tuesday, Feb. 18th at 6:30 p.m., the course will be offered at Community Church of Columbus, 3850 N. Marr Road, as part of the Tuesday Connection series. Dinner is also available each week at 5:30 p.m. along with child care at no cost.

Other groups offered Tuesday Connection include Celebrate Recovery, Griefshare, I Marriage, Moms Next, Starting Point, Insight, Financial Peace University, and MSG (Middle School Girls).

Flintwood Wesleyan Our Heart of Ministries Auction and Dinner will be Friday, March 6th stating at 5:30 p.m. Lots of great items up for auction plus the best desserts in town. The dinner is free and all proceeds goes to fund local, regional, and global ministries.

March 8th is Baptism Sunday. If you wish to be baptised, please get in touch with Pastor Wes.

First United Methodist Tuesday evenings from Jan. 7 to Feb. 25, the church will host a grief support group. Meetings will begin at 5:30 p.m. The group will explore grief using Julie Yarbroughs book, Beyond the Broken Heart: A Journey Through Grief. It will take place in the Blue Room (Room 216) at the church, and is open to anyone. To register, or for more information, call the church office at 812-372-2851.

On Friday, February 14, FUMC will have an opportunity for you to renew your vows. Stop by the church chapel from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. or from 5 to 6:30 p.m. for a brief ceremony with one of our pastors. The event is free, but donations are encouraged for Love-a-Child, Learning Tree Preschools Scholarship Fund.

North Christian Church The Centering Prayer Group that meets in the North Christian Prayer Chapel, Lower Level #6, on Friday mornings from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. This is a drop-in prayer group, meaning that you can come as your schedule allows. Familiarity with Centering Prayer and its spiritual practices is not necessary. For more information, consult the Centering Prayer page at northchristianchurch.com.

The church is hosting the senior project of a Columbus North High School student who is collecting items for children who are in the Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) program. The CASA program helps children who have been the victims of abuse and neglect. Items being collected include things to help comfort the kids like stuffed animals, blankets, etc., and hygiene items like toothbrushes, shampoo, lotions, etc. Donations should be brought to North Christian Church 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. Monday through Friday or 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday and Thursday.

Petersville United Methodist Church The United Methodist Womens group will host a Valentine Dinner at the Chaparrel Restaurant in Shelbyville on Feb. 15 at 5:30 p.m. for all the men and women of the church and their guests. Contact Thelma Fiesbeck at 812-379-4044 to make reservations.

Coming up Feb. 25 will be a Fat Tuesday meal at the church to raise funds for the Clay Township Fire Department; serving will be from 5 to 7 p.m.

St. Paul Lutheran An eight-week grief support Bible study entitled, Hope When Your Heart Breaks continues on Monday, Feb. 10 at 2 p.m. in the churchs Conference Room. Those learning to live without a loved one are welcome.

Zion Lutheran Church The church, at 1501 Gaiser Drive, Seymour, will hold its Annual Ham and Turkey Dinner with all the trimmings Sunday Feb. 9, from 4 to 7 p.m. The public is invited.

A freewill offering will be taken. Proceeds will go to mission projects. Carry-out will be available. Call the church office with questions at 812-522-1089.

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Religion news Feb. 8 - The Republic

Trevor Wilhelm

Updated: February 5, 2020

Rebecca Mickle, centre, playing Giselle holds a life-changing hatbox as Stephanie Cragg, left, Cindy Pastorius, Luke Boughner, behind, Gregory Girty and Colin Zorzit, round out the cast in Pry It From My Cold Dead Hands at Shadowbox Theatre, 1501 Howard Ave. Wednesday. Nick Brancaccio / Windsor Star

A new play called Pry It From My Cold Dead Hands, from Windsor-based writer Edele Winnie, will have its world premiere in February at The Shadowbox Theatre.

Producers call it a zany comedy, a mystery, and a story of personal empowerment wrapped in one unique package.

Starring Rebecca S. Mickle, Stephanie Cragg, Cindy Pastorius, Colin Zorzit, Greg Girty, and Luke Boughner, its the story of an introverted young woman who finds herself in possession of a life-changing hatbox.

Winnies play, directed by Michael OReilly and Fay Lynn, was the winner of the 2019 Windsor-Essex Playwriting Contest.

The script was instantaneously engaging, said OReilly. It made me think of a professional improv troupe, where everyone is saying yes to every suggestion, which propels the story forward. Every wacky opportunity is taken.

The production runs Feb. 7, 8, 13, 14, and 15 at The Shadowbox Theatre on Howard Avenue. All shows start at 8 p.m. Doors open at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $25. Theyre available in advance at postproductionswindsor.ca. If youre paying cash, you can also buy them at the door while they last.

Rebecca Mickle playing Giselle holds a life-changing hatbox in Pry It From My Cold Dead Hands at Shadowbox Theatre Wednesday. Pry It From My Cold Dead Hands is a zany comedy, a mystery and a story of personal empowerment. Nick Brancaccio / Windsor Star

A new play called Pry It From My Cold Dead Hands, from Windsor-based writer Edele Winnie, will have its world premiere in February at The Shadowbox Theatre. Courtesy of The Shadowbox Theatre / Windsor Star

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New play, Pry It From My Cold Dead Hands, to premiere at Shadowbox Theatre - Windsor Star

Center for Teen Empowerment Executive Director Abrigal Forrester. PHOTO: MERRILL SHEA

At just 21 years old, Abrigal Forrester was sentenced to 10 years in prison. Even though he was a first-time offender, his decade-long incarceration was due to a mandatory minimum sentence.

Forrester now leads a completely different life. Following his release, he spent 18 years in nonprofit youth development work. Today, he is the executive director of the Center for Teen Empowerment, an organization that helps low-income teenagers inspire their urban communities and advocate for change. Forrester helps these teenagers recognize their self-worth and envision crime-free communities.

The concept of teen empowerment that we use which is really having young people thinking about their values and beliefs is actually the process I personally went through, said Forrester. He was forced to confront his set of values after time in prison values that he had acquired in order to survive.

I adopted what I consider to be a street-corner value system, said Forrester. These values eventually led Forrester down a bad path, he said.

Teens in low-income, crime-ridden environments often face severe trauma. Forrester said that many kids are responding to things that arent their fault.

Youre just really rolling with your emotions, he said. The Center for Teen Empowerment helps these teenagers assess possible strategies to avoid rash decisions.

One of the keys is giving them this space, and asking them to take the time to think, said Forrester. The young people are told to take a step back and lets look at whats happening in your life, in your community, from a 40,000-foot view.

Once teenagers gain a clearer perspective, they can recognize the systemic issues that disproportionately affect their community. They can also look at policies to advocate against, said Forrester.

The main thing we do is hire youth to unpack their own personal challenges, and then identify what are the issues that are impacting the community that they live in, he said.

For instance, the teenagers take a deeper look at mental health and trauma. Its a big issue for them, said Forrester, and there are many issues that subsequently compound this trauma.

Young people at Teen Empowerment also look at criminal justice reform, said Forrester, and how the juvenile justice system is impacting youth.

Stanley Pollack started the Center for Teen Empowerment in 1992. The centers mission was to facilitate disagreements between different populations, said Forrester, as gangs ran rampant throughout the city. The center focused on youth intervention and violence reduction.

Today, the center has branches in Boston, Somerville and Rochester, New York. More than 120 young people are involved in hundreds of social initiatives, amounting to 5,000 community leaders participating in peace-building efforts.

Our concept is paying young people to work on themselves and to look at the issues that are impacting their communities, said Forrester. He later added, Theyre paid to be peer influencers which allows them to go back to the communities that they come from and organize events and activities to educate, make aware and make action positive action.

The Center for Teen Empowerment hosts various events to promote outreach. Forrester said that hes currently working on a peace conference to kick off the summer. The peace conference is a compilation of events by the Centers performing arts initiative. The performances encourage self-expression and inform the community about issues that impact youth.

Forrester, who took on the executive director role in 2019, has big plans for the centers future. What we hope to do, really, is to expand and partner with agencies that do great work (with) positive youth development, he said. That includes partnering with local communities as well as regional expansion.

One of the goals, he says, is to think about, How do we move ourselves to be a nationally-based organization?

For now, the Center for Teen Empowerment will focus on giving young people a voice. With this voice, they can implement strategies and transform their communities.

Those who are closest to the problems are the ones who understand the solutions, Forrester said.

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Local News Teen Empowerment head helps youth find their way February 6th, 2020 - BayStateBanner

When youre healthy, it means that you not only look good, you actually feel good(Shutterstock)

A healthy lifestyle can be described in so many ways depending on how you choose to look at it. In a few words, it is a balance between your mental, physical and spiritual being functioning in harmony inside your body. When youre healthy, it means that you not only look good, you actually feel good.

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Driven by health reasons or a desire to look a certain way, many have jumped onto the fitness ship. The result? A rise in fitness and workout solutions that promise heaven and earth and this year is no different.

Many fitness trends continue to evolve. People are more willing to try new things and explore new ways to get fit. As the fitness clout continues to expand, here are some of the most popular trends to watch out for in 2020.

Almost everything is accessible online these days and fitness is no exception. The world is at a point where customers want to get the most out of fitness companies and brands without all the hustle.

This has sparked a trend where you dont really need to meet up with a trainer to get the body you want. All you need to do is get in touch with an online trainer who will send you a personalized workout plan and thats it! Follow it and youre on your way to meeting your goals.

This year, people are also taking fitness into their own hands. A lot of people are looking for what works for them and, in a real sense, this is a form of empowerment. Home workouts and personal plans are helping people listen to their body and do what works for them while saving money too.

The motivation comes from being active and enjoying it without other pressures. People are embracing home Zumba sessions after work, stocking up on simple workout equipment or even creating personal routines with the help of videos on YouTube. Theres something about a gym environment thats empowering and motivating?(Shutterstock)

Mental health is also a vital part of fitness. For a long time, the focus was on body goals and mental health took a back seat. A number of people struggle with depression and anxiety so yoga has become a source of comfort.

ALSO READ: How to eat beans without gas or bloating

It combines stretching and meditation to boost your mood which then helps you to feel great while you work out. For many, working out when in a vulnerable state of mind is quite difficult.

Having a good diet is at the forefront of fitness. You cant eat unhealthy food and still expect to get your desired results. There is still a lot of focus on meal plans and diet teas which are still slightly controversial. Nonetheless, more people are realizing that options like surgery shortcuts arent for everyone. The traditional route of working hard for what you want and appreciating the journey is all worth it in the end. Having a good diet is at the forefront of fitness(Shutterstock)

This is one of the biggest trends that is still popular in 2020. Industry players and mainstream media are upping their game in encouraging people to be comfortable in their own skin and not let society dictate how they should look. We all have different body types so we dont have to be skinny to be fit. Some things are beyond our control so the definition of fitness is really changing. A number of people struggle with depression and anxiety so yoga has become a source of comfort(Shutterstock)

Lets be honest, the gym will always be trendy. Theres something about a gym environment thats empowering and motivating. Home workouts are great but, sometimes, it could backfire when theres no one else there to push you.

The gym is great for strength training and muscle building, which many of us still desire. Being in the gym is also therapeutic because its a place where you can be away from work pressures and other draining distractions.

With work, school and home schedules, were busier than ever. Too many things are going on all the time so it can be hard to keep up with a workout schedule. Thanks to technology, we have on-the-go fitness trackers that help us reach our goals and stay fit. Something as simple as a phone or a smartwatch is able to help you reach your goals by tracking your daily movements.

ALSO READ: Six ways to changing your narcissistic personality

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Fitness and workout trends to watch out for in 2020 - The Standard

Dalhousies Black Student Advising Centre (BSAC) celebrated its 30th anniversary Monday by kicking off African Heritage Month with music, food, and inspiring messages from members of the African Nova Scotian community.

Bookended by music from the Halifax-based group, The Colors of Africa, the evening also featured performances by Dalhousie students Lyris Daye and Erianna Willis-Smith, a History of BSAC video presentation by assitant professor Barb Hamilton-Hinch, and a keynote speech by NASA engineer K. Renee Horton.

Oluronke Taiwo, BSACs black student advisor, attributed the success of this years event to months of hard work and planning, as well as the collaborative efforts of many members of the BSAC community and donors.

Seeing the reaction of the students and hearing wonderful feedback by the attendees made me want to cry. The speaker was very empowering, and the performances were powerful and entertaining, says Taiwo. I am very grateful that all the work that was put into the event by so many people was worth it.

For the past 30 years, BSAC has provided educational and personal support for African Nova Scotian students from the diaspora at Dalhousie and the University of Kings College. The Centre was born out of a 1989 report entitled Breaking Barriers: Report of the Task Force on Access for Black and Native People, which served to address and redress the systemic barriers faced by Indigenous Black and Native learners in accessing academia as a result of years of intergenerational social, economic, racial, and political marginalization.

For this occasion, Taiwo wanted to highlight a person who serves as an example of success and empowerment for African Nova Scotian students, so she asked Dr. Horton, who is space launch system quality engineer at NASAs Michoud Assembly Facility, to present.

For me, it was important for Dr. Horton to talk at the 30th anniversary because the purpose of celebrating the event is to demonstrate how far we have gone in trying to break the barriers that set us apart from the white privilege, which in most cases have made many black students want to give up, says Taiwo.

Oluronke Taiwo

In addition to her work in mechanical engineering, Dr. Horton is a mother of three, the founder of the non-profit mentorship organization Unapologetically Being Inc., the president of the National Society of Black Physicists, and author of the Dr. H Explores the Universe childrens books.

However, the road to success was difficult for Dr. Horton, who faced numerous obstacles in her career that included racism, homelessness, and a hearing impairment. It was hard work, perseverance, and a steadfast belief in her abilities that helped Dr. Horton overcome these barriers to become the person she is today.

I woke up one morning and I said that I was no longer apologizing for being who I am. That I was black, I was gifted, and I was amazing, said Horton. And it was no longer my business that you had a problem with it.

The evening culminated in an impassioned presentation from Dr. Horton, who called for self-belief and empowerment that expands beyond the scope of African Heritage Month.

Your black excellence does not leave just because there are 28 or 29 days in the month, said Horton. The power that black history will bring you today will forever be with you. You too can be black history.

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A celebration of success and empowerment - Dal News - Dal News