BISMARCK, N.D. - Chess forces its players to think quickly and critically, which are important skills for developing minds.

A Bismarck Public Schools employee wants to share the game with all students, regardless of their economic status.

Chess instructor Todd Wolf has been teaching chess at Will-Moore Elementary for two years and in schools for more than three decades. He says chess is more than a fun pastime.

"Chess benefits the kids in so many ways. Some of them the social aspect of it, because chess is an opportunity to make friends" said Wolf.

"Daily activities start with learning new moves and tricks on chess.com and then it's time to bring out the boards," said fourth-grader Berkley Schettler. "He's really fun, and he helps kids learn about chess. Like, I came to chess Club not knowing how to play and know it's one of my top three favorite games," said fifth-grader Stephaniee Crawford.

" I like my teacher because well every day at chess he teaches us new ways to move and makes me understand chess more better. because the first time I started chess, because the first time I started I was confused, so he made me understand chess better".

Wolf says he hopes his students take away one thing: "Chess creates a community that everybody can belong to, and it doesn't matter whether you're and athlete, honor student. You can have a handicap, I mean anybody can play.

With everyone involved, Wolf says, he'd like to develop a large chess playing community in the Bismarck-Mandan area.

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Using chess to teach - KFYR-TV

Klamath Union High School will be the location for the annual I Have a Dream Chess Tournament, planned for 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday, Jan. 20, in honor of Martin Luther King Jr., according to a news release.

The event is again open to any age and will be Northwest Special Recreation Association rated. If players are not ranked they will be grouped based upon ability. This is a five round, no eliminations, chess event for K-12 chess players to get ready for the Klamath & Lake County Chess for Success Tournament to be held in February, the State Tournament in March in Portland, and for the OSCF Seaside tournament in April.

There is a $10 fee for pre-registered players in kindergarten through the 12th grade that can be paid the day of the tournament. A fee of $15 will be charged at the door for any late registrations and all adult players. The $15 adult fee will go toward the adult cash prize winners.

Registration and payment will be just outside Pel court between 8:30 and 9:30 a.m. The first round is anticipated to start at 10 a.m.

Early registration is due by 5 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 19. Send the name, grade, school and contact information of the persons phone number or e-mail address to: Tournament Director: Ciara Dykstra at cecedee224@gmail.com, or call 541-331-5220.

Organizers request that for every four players, one adult be present, or request parents to stay to help with supervision. Players should bring some quiet games, for between rounds, and sack lunches. There may or may not be a snack bar. Adults and players who are in grades nine through 12, are encouraged to bring a tournament size chess board and clock.

Chess advisers will set up around 3 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 19, at Klamath Union, at 1300 Monclaire St., and ask those who can help or drop off chess boards to contact them.

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'I Have a Dream' chess tournament set for Jan. 20 - Herald and News

EMERGENCY services are on standby across Limerick and caution is advised as Storm Brendan batters parts of the West Coast.

A status orange weather warrning, which was issued by Met ireann over the weekend, takes effect from 8am this Monday and will remain in place until 3pm.

Southerly winds will reach mean speeds of 50 to 70 km/h with gusts of 100 to 120 km/h, higher in exposed areas, states the warning which adds there is a significant risk of coastal flooding due to the combination of high spring tides and storm surge.

Motorists and other road users are being urged to excercise caution when travelling during Storm Brendan while householders are being advised to secure any outdoor items.

Crews from Limerick City and County Council are on standby as are engineers and electricians from ESB Networks.

Gardai and the Road Safety Authority are appealing to road users to excercise caution as there may be debris particularly on local and regional roads.

Passengers who are due to fly from Shannon Airport are also being advised to check with their airlines before travelling to the airport.

The Crisis Management Team at The National Directorate for Fire andEmergency Management hasbeen in continuous contact with Met ireann regarding Storm Brendan and local authorities across the country have activated their local co-ordination and crisis management arrangements.

All road users should be aware that road conditions will be hazardous and motorists should slow down and exercise extreme caution.

For updates on Storm Brendan, stay with http://www.limerickleader.ieand follow us on social media Facebook, Twitter and Instagram

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Caution advised as Storm Brendan arrives in Limerick - Limerick Leader

Every year, the third Monday of January is dubbed 'Blue Monday' - a term first coined by the holidy company Sky Travel in 2001, who claimedto have calculated the date of the most depressing day of the year using data.

The day, which falls on the 20th this year, has been given its status due to the largely dismal weather the Northern Hemisphere experiences, low motivational levels as we return to work or school, debt following the holidays andguilt as we realise our failure to keep up with New Year's resolutions.

Though dismissed by many as a mere pseudoscienceandthe notion that the most dismal day of the year can simply be 'calculated' is laughable to some, there is truth in that the remaining month might be particulary taxing, especially to those experiencing seasonal affective disorder (also known as winter depression) and to those who are not, a combination of post-holiday blues, outstanding debt and for some, oncoming examsmight make January feel completelyjoyless.

However, action can be taken to make sure this is not the case; though it might feel tempting to blame any misfortunes or faiures on January being generally unlucky or not the most inspiriting of months - it is useful to remember that the time of year does not actually dictate your actions and there is much that can be done to ensure happiness in spite of this month.

In the middle of January, it can be assumed that most have not seen the sun for a while. The lack of natural light is not only shown to dampen your mood but limits vitamin D production - though sunlight and vitaminshardy seemlike the antitodes for unhappiness, the boost in endorphin levels certainly helps! Though regular excercise might be unachievable to some, a brisk walk or just a few minutes of movement a day will do much to lighten your mood.

Taking up a hobby is always beneficial - whether it be an extreme sport or simply learning how to knit. Creative and fairly easy hobbies such as macrammight be appealing to those enjoy simple and repetitive tasks which produce tangible rewards which can be admired and shown off, and serve as a distraction or even relief.

Whether your take a walk in mornings or learn to ski - make sure you avoid those blue Monday blue!

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Beating the Blue Monday Blues - Adhithy, Newstead Wood - News Shopper

If you find yourself dumbfounded and sitting in front of your garden, then this article might just be for you. It is undeniable we always get that idle, hopeless feeling whenever we face a problem that seems out of our control. And the worst part is, we often ignore help from others and even the remedies that pop into our minds.

As a set of approaches, here are a few things to consider when going through tough times.

Positive thinking will let you do everything better than negative thinking will, says Zig Ziglar, an American author, and the harbinger of the Zig Ziglar Servant Leadership Award.

The first step to overcoming any difficulty is to avoid negativity around you. For you to overcome a problem or an issue, you would want to have an environment of positivity as negativity can only serve to compound difficulty.

Thinking too much about stressful events can have unwanted impact on your body. You lose your appetite, you dont get enough sleep, and your focus begins to deteriorate. You then feel like you cant go through the day because you are unable to do things you usually do due to a lack of energy.

If youre stressed about something, start by taking a nap. It lowers your blood pressure and relieves stress right after waking up. Beyond that, youll also get to relax your brain and think lighter after a good rest. Doing yoga can also exercise your mind and become an avenue for peace.

Eating the right kind of food and a daily exercise routine can distract you from thinking of otherwise prevalent problematic thoughts. With the right nutrients and efficient flow of oxygen in your body, you will be able to find better ways to cope with these difficulties.

Many of todays youth use alcohol and drugs for more than recreational purposes. Especially in the event of high levels of stress, they tend to use alcohol, drugs, or even both as a means to escape the reality of their situation.

High levels of stress may influence drinking frequency and quantity. This relationship between stress and drinking is even stronger when alternative coping mechanisms and social supports are lacking, says Dr. Steve Bressert, a clinician and a writer for Psych Central.

This situation isnt peculiar to youths alone. In an effort to relieve themselves of unbearable situations, many people turn to alcohol, and ultimately, drugs for an altered state of mind, commonly referred to as feeling high. While the high that alcohol and drugs give can usually last for a while, the physiological damage to the human body is an investment towards long-suffering, and even untimely death.

To make matters even worse, when you get back down to earth after the effects of the taken substances wear off, youll only discover that the problems you sought to escape are exactly where you left them and nothing has changed. Nothing but the problems your bout of substance abuse may have caused. Says Michael Dadashi, CEO of Infinite Recovery, a San Antonio drug rehab center.

Inaction breeds doubt and fear. Action breeds confidence and courage. If you want to conquer fear, do not sit at home and think about it. Go out and get busy, says Dale Carnegie, an American writer focused on corporate training and developing interpersonal skills.

Make plans for a change of environment. If you dont have work to do on the weekends, plan for an exciting trip, its therapeutic. Go to places that you havent been to, preferably exciting locations outside your state or country. Engage with new people, different cultures, food, and everything else in between.

World-renowned scientist Albert Einstein said, A person who never made a mistake never tried anything new. Keep this in mind the next time youre feeling defeated after a series of failures. Youre not a loser, you were simply brave enough to try something new.

Take some time to try other simpler things youve never done before like painting, trekking, or learning a new instrument. These do not just keep you occupied, they also help exercise your brain and give you the mindset to forge ahead.

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5 Things to Consider When the Going Gets Tough - Thrive Global

Some studies estimate that 90% of all New Years Resolutions fail within the first two weeks of the New Year.

The message?

New Years Resolutions dont work.

You know what does?

Goal-setting. Rewarding yourself for achieving small (and big) goals. Creating a new desired habit to replace a habit youre trying to get rid of.

Ive personally interviewed over 5,000 influencers, including everyone from Jack Canfield to Les Brown to Lisa Nichols to Bob Proctor to JJ Virgin to the late Zig Ziglar. One thing I have discovered is that most influencers dont set resolutions. For a reason.

The takeaway?

So, dont set New Years Resolutions.

Instead, write your goals (including habits you want to create, things you want to resolve to start or stop), and decide on the rewards you will give yourself to carry you through until your new actions become a true habit.

Oh, and dont wait until New Years Day to start. Do it instead on any other day of the year. And dont wait until the first of the month or the first of the week.

Start now, or start 10 minutes from now.

This is why. When you start on the first day of the year, or week or month, you are building up way too much anticipation and pressure around this. You are making it a THING.

Its okay to start on Tuesday at 9:30am, or Saturday at 7pm. Just start. Thats the most important thing.

Also, its okay if you have a set-back. Its okay if you mess up while trying to eat healthy. Its okay if you miss an exercise day.

Its more important that you get back on the horse after falling than that you stay on the horse perfectly forever.

Hopefully youre seeing a trend here?

What Im saying is to do what has enjoyed more success. New Years Resolutions are typically failed from the start.

I mean, trying to eat healthy the day after partying until after midnight? Good luck.

What has a better track record? Well, anything else really.

But lets focus on what Ive shared here as this has a much better track record than New Years Resolutions.

1. Set (written) big and small goals.

2. Decide on the rewards you will give yourself when you achieve each goal. This is super important when you get near the stage where most people quit (before it becomes a true habit)

3. Push yourself past the point where it becomes a habit by delivering on the rewards you have decided upon. Little known fact, it isnt 21 days to create a habit its 66. Source: The One Thing. So make sure you have rewards in place to keep you moving forward for more than a couple of months, not just a few weeks.

4. Dont worry about starting at a certain time or on a certain day.

5. Be okay when you have a set back. The long game is way more important than the short game, but many people use the small mis-step as a reason to give up. Dont be most people.

6. Celebrate

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Don't Set New Year's Resolutions, Do This Instead! - Thrive Global

An "Entrepreneurs, Leaders, and Legends Conference," a new event scheduled next month in Auburn, willinclude two former congressman, CEOs and an author as speakers.

The conference, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Feb. 1 at Kruse Plaza, is designed to help business owners, church leaders, corporate teams, community leaders, and emerging entrepreneurs find renewed focus in their vision for 2020, a news release said today.

The speaker lineup includes nationally, regionally, and locally recognized names, including Former NFL Quarterback Heath Shuler, Indiana State Rep. Christy Stutzman, and businessman John Kruse, managing director of Kruse Plaza.

The conference was created by former Congressman Marlin Stutzman and entrepreneur, author, and speaker Dave Kauffman as a way to "bring great leaders together" in northeast Indiana.

We saw the need for a space where the most brilliant minds in our region could come together to create fresh connections and walk away with increased focus and vision, Stutzman said in a statement.

Conference topics includehow to shift in business and maximize relationships; how to lead from a serving position vs. a self-serving one; winning leadership principles; how to build, share, and leave a legacy; and the secrets to effectively communicating your messaging.

Presenterswill include a surprise lunch panel andsix entrepreneurs, leaders, and legends from Indiana and around the country, the news release said. Along with Rep. Christy Stutzman, former congressman Stutzman and entrepreneur and author Kauffman, other announcedspeakers scheduled are leadership expert and trainer Luke Kuepfer; Do You Speak Bride CEO Wendy Rivera; son of Zig Ziglar and CEO Tom Ziglar; and WOWO Radios Pat Miller. Comedian John Branyan willbe event emcee.

Whether its learning from the experience of someone who has gone before you or talking to the young person who reminds you of your original vision, connection is priceless, said Kauffman, co-founder of the event.

The conference is open to all ages. Tickets are $197 each and $98.50 for students, with group pricing available.For more information or to purchase tickets, visit https://kruseplaza.com/ell/.

To share a thought, a favorite quote or other wisdom about leadership, email Lisa Green at lisagreen@jg.net. Lead On also appears every other week as a column in The Journal Gazette's Sunday Business section.

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Auburn to host new "Entrepreneurs, Leaders, and Legends Conference" | Lead on - Fort Wayne Journal Gazette

Take a deep breath.

Everyone feels overwhelmed by life and stressed out at times most stressis normal and will pass. Instead of working yourself to exhaustion, know when to take a break. You can get a lot more done with a clear mind and a happy heart.

Only you know what is too much for you to handle so take care of yourself. Your tasks will still be there tomorrow, so if you want to spend today not caring about your responsibilities then let them go.

RELATED: How To Change Your Life & Find Happiness In 4 Simple Steps

You shouldnt feel guilty if you want to stay in bed, rest, and binge watch a television show. Dont be afraid to answer yes to Netflix asking are you still watching? If you need time to reflect, then take a long walk and enjoy the scenery all around you. Maybe you have friends that you have been too busy to spend time with and now would be a great time to see them. Plan a cute dinner with your gal pals, get drinks, and have akiki!

If your brain has been in overdrive, maybe put more attention on connecting with your body to relieve your anxiety. Take a hot yoga or spin class to get your body moving. Just do things that will bring you joy and satisfaction.

It is important that you put yourself and your mental health first, so take the necessary steps you need to take to do that. If you have been wanting to take up a new hobby, nothing is stopping you. Enroll in that photography class you have always wanted to take. Find the balance and reach equilibrium.

Life is difficult, but it can also be beautiful. So focus on finding the beauty in it instead of just seeing the darkness and gloom that comes with anxiety and the feelings of being overwhelmed with life.

It might not be obvious right now, but it will get better and you will overcome this.

These anxiety quotes about what it feels like to be overwhelmed are sure to give you the right mindset to help you find peace and calm, even when you're stressed out.

Promise me you will not spend so much time treading water and trying to keep your head above the waves that you forget, truly forget, how much you have always loved to swim. Tyler Knott Gregson

RELATED: How To Make It Through The Day (And Life) When Youre Feeling Overwhelmed

"You cant calm the storm, so stop trying. What you can do is calm yourself. The storm will pass. Timber Hawkeye

"Make sure your worst enemy is not living between your ears." Laird Hamilton

"Life is short. Stop worrying about what might happen. Live in the moment. Follow your heart. Be with good people. Forget what hurt you but never forget what it taught you." Karen Salmansohn

"Sometimes when Im not feeling so happy, I do something to make someone else happy. Afterwards I find Im suddenly feeling happy again." Karen Salmansohn

"Dont let people pull you into their storm. Instead, pull them into your peace." Unknown

"The comeback is always stronger than the setback." Unknown

A woman who lives with the stress of an overwhelmed schedule will often ache with the sadness of an underwhelmed soul. Lysa Terkeurst

Learning to ignore things is one of the great paths to inner peace. Robert J. Sawyer

Life has many ways of testing a persons will, either by having nothing happen at all or by having everything happen all at once. Paulo Coelho

RELATED: 7 Tips For When You Feel SUPER-Stressed And Overwhelmed At Work

Sometimes you just need to be selfish and take care of you. If they love you, theyll understand. Robert Tew

"I feel so much that it is hard for me at times to feel anything at all. Mary Kate Teske

I have been driven many times to my knees by the overwhelming conviction that I had absolutely no other place to go. Abraham Lincoln

"If a door closes, quit banging on it. Whatever was behind it was not meant for you. Consider that perhaps the door was closed because youre worth so much more than what was on the other side." Unknown

"Spend time with people who bring out the best in you. Not the stress in you." Unknown

"Im not yet where I want to be. But thank goodness Im not where I used to be. Onward and upward." Karen Salmansohn

"Stop living in the land of why. There are no happy answers to why me? why didnt I? Why did I? If you must ask any questions, ponder: How can I grow? Whats in my control to change? Whats a gain in my pain?" Karen Salmansohn

"Everything youve ever done, every person youve ever met, every experience youve ever had is a part of who you are today, adding interesting layers to your being, and colorful depths to your soul. Everything needed to be as it was, so you could grow as you did and do." Karen Salmansohn

Some people believe holding on and hanging in there are signs of great strength. However, there are times when it takes much more strength to know when to let go and then do it. Ann Landers

The secret of getting ahead is getting started. The secret to getting started is breaking your overwhelming tasks into small manageable tasks, and then starting on the first one. Mark Twain

RELATED: The Most Overwhelmed Zodiac Signs Who Get Easily Stressed Out By Life

Life can be magnificent and overwhelmingthat is the whole tragedy. Without beauty, love, or danger it would almost be easy to live. Albert Camus

When it hurtsobserve. Life is trying to teach you something. Anita Krizzan

Some days you will feel like the ocean. Some days you will feel like you are drowning in it. Lora Mathis

I often think I cant do this anymore but then I realize what choice do I have? Justin Blaney

"Getting knocked down in life is a given. Getting up and moving forward is a choice." Zig Ziglar

RELATED: 10 Essential Coping Skills To Lean On When Life Feels Overwhelming

"What is coming is better than what is gone. Let this belief aim you in the direction you need to go." Karen Salmanson

"Just doing nothing and having those still moments is what really rejuvenates the body." Miranda Kerr

"If we don't see a failure as a challenge to modify our approach, but rather as a problem with ourselves, as a personality defect, we will immediately feel overwhelmed." Anthony Robbins

"When you're overwhelmed by your emotion, you listen less and you judge more. This is also the reality of the dogmatic mind." Tariq Ramadan

"You are more than the mistakes youve made. Instead youre the wisdom, love, strength, and compassion youve gained from all youve been through." Karen Salmansohn

"No matter where you are in life, celebrate it! Its either a product of your growth or a place that will help you to grow. Cheers to today!" Unknown

"Anxiety happens when you think to have to figure out everything all at once. Breathe. Youre strong. You got this. Take it day by day." Karen Salmansohn

"We don't realize that, somewhere within us all, there does exist a supreme self who is eternally at peace." Elizabeth Gilbert

RELATED: 5 Sneaky Reasons You're Unhappy And Stressed Out

"Even from a dark night, songs of beauty can be born." Mary Anne Radmacher

"When life gets hectic and you feel overwhelmed, take a moment to focus on the people and things you are most grateful for. When you have an attitude of gratitude, frustrating troubles will fall by the wayside." Dana Arcuri

"When you do nothing, you feel overwhelmed and powerless. But when you get involved, you feel the sense of hope and accomplishment that comes from knowing you are working to make things better." Unknown

"We should all relax about life because you don't have a clue as to what's really going on." Barry Sonnenfeld

"Life is tough my darling but so are you." Stephanie Bennett Henry

"Sky above me, earth below me, fire within me." Unknown

"In order to move on you must understand why you felt how you did and why you no longer need to feel it." Mitch Albom

"You alone are enough. You have nothing to prove to anyone." Maya Angelou

"The benefit of carrying the entire world on your shoulders was that you didn't have to stare it in the face." Rhian J. Martin

RELATED: 23 Inspiring Quotes To Remind You To Live The Hell Out Of Your Life

"Don't give up now. Chances are your best kiss, your hardest laugh, and your greatest day are still yet to come." Atticus

"One must not let oneself be overwhelmed by sadness." Jackie Kennedy

"The best is yet to come." Unknown

"Anxiety happens when you think you have to figure out everything all at once. Breathe. You're strong. You got this. Take it day by day." Karen Salmansohn

"What lies behind us and what lies before us are tiny matters compared to what lies within us." Ralph Waldo Emerson

"You have dealt with so much, and done the best that you can. So, take a moment now to appreciate how strong you are." Karen Salmansohn

"Dont let little things take up too much room in your heart. Or youll spend your entire life being annoyed and upset." Unknown

"The individual has always had to struggle to keep from being overwhelmed by the tribe. If you try it, you will be lonely often, and sometimes frightened. But no price is too high to pay for the privilege of owning yourself." Friedrich Nietzsche

RELATED: How To Create 'Sacred' Space At Home Where You Can Actually Relax

Jaycee Levin is a writer who covers pop culture, astrology, and relationship topics.

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50 Anxiety Quotes On Being Overwhelmed (And How To Relieve Stress) - YourTango

Happy New Year! I love saying that because it rings with the hope and promise of good things to come. I believe we can expect many blessings in the new year. Yet, many times we ask, Where did last year go?

For many years, I have kept a journal in which I keep a record of phone calls, correspondence, visitation, appointments, hours involved and other information related to work and ministry. I also record many blessings that come my way through family, friends and other sources. My journals are a record of where my year went and a reminder of Gods many blessings. I highly recommend keeping a journal of your journey through life. God required this of Moses and the Israelites.

In Numbers 33:2 it is written, At the Lords command, Moses recorded the stages in their journey. This is their journey by stages

Numbers 33 goes on to record 40-some places the Israelites camped on their journey to the promised land. It would be good if we also slowed down enough to review our journey. If we will, well discover the year has been full of Gods goodness.

Psalm 65:11 states: You crown the year with Your goodness, And Your paths drip with abundance.

This past year has brought abundant blessings into our lives. Regular reviews of Gods goodness will add to the joys of living. Let us frequently reflect on our journey and give God thanks for his many specific blessings.

Write your blessing on a calendar or in a journal and review them daily. Talk about them when you sit at the table and when you tuck the kids in at night. Once again Ill go over what God has done, lay out on the table the ancient wonders; Ill ponder all the things youve accomplished, and give a long, loving look at your acts, it says in Psalm 77:11-12. If we will review our journey daily, weekly and monthly, well see Gods many blessings, and have faith for the new year ahead.

One of the biggest reasons peoples faith is weak, or they lose their faith altogether, is because they fail to remember the good things God had done. The year past has brought blessings we should remember, and the new year will bring blessings also.

So, what does the new year hold? What do you want to accomplish? Have you made any New Years resolutions or set any goals?

I used to be against goal-setting because it seemed to be too self-centered and self-serving. However, I begin to realize godly goal-setting isnt just about what I want to do, but what I believe God wants to accomplish. As Zig Ziglar has said, Goals are fundamentally statements of faith faith in what God wants to achieve through you. And I learned a new acrostic for the word Goals from John Maxwell.

G.O.A.L.S.: Godly Objectives Assure Lasting Success.

So, what godly objectives and lasting success does God want for you? What do you believe God wants to accomplish in you, through you and for you in this New Year? What promise does he want you to possess, what godly character does he want you to develop, and what good things will he help you do for others? The apostle Paul summarized his goals this way in Philippians 3:10-14:

I want to know Christ yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, and so, somehow, attaining to the resurrection from the dead. Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.

Coming to know the creator better through the example and teachings of Jesus is a supremely worthy goal. It deserves to be at the top of our list. Read the gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John throughout 2020 to get to know Jesus better. Dont dwell on past failures. Press ahead toward what God has created you for. It will bring the greatest joy to your life.

At the beginning of 2020, lets pause and review the past year, paying special attention to the blessings, and then let us look forward to the new year with hope and faith. And as we go forward in our journey, let us gratefully record, review and retell the many good things we experience. I need to do a better job of this myself. I hope youll join me.

Happy New Year and blessings to all!

Dan Matney is the pastor at New Life Assembly of God in Avon. Email him at pastordanmatney@hotmail.com.

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Matney: Hope and faith in the new year - Vail Daily News

Sure, it looks like a very fancy chandelier, but it's actually a quantum computer and it's helping Daimler develop new EV battery chemistries.

Right now, we're living in a time where electric cars are really, genuinely good. They have long range capability, can charge in reasonable amounts of time, and are being marketed by automakers as serious vehicles, not novelties or something to sell only to stay in compliance with government regulations.

Still, genuinely good isn't good enough. Thus, people are looking for ways to improve the EV experience. Motors are already superpowerful and relatively efficient, so the next meaningful jump forward will likely come on the energy storage side of things, and many companies are banking on that jump being in the form of solid-state batteries.

Why solid-state batteries? Because, in theory, they will be lighter and more compact, more energy-dense and faster charging. Oh, and they'll likely be safer too with less of a possibility of a dangerous thermal runaway like lithium-ion. Only, here's the thing: they don't really exist yet.

Enter IBM (yes, that IBM), which at the CES 2020 show in Las Vegas on Tuesday announced that it had partnered with Daimler to leverage its considerable resources and research into quantum computing to help lick this solid-state battery problem once and for all.

How exactly are quantum computers helping to solve the complex problems that will lead to solid-state battery technology? Well, as the patron saint of grumpy people who swear a lot (Samuel L. Jackson) said in Jurassic Park, "Hold onto your butts."

In the most basic sense, the quantum computers from IBM have modeled the behavior of three different lithium-containing molecules. This, in turn, allows researchers to better understand how they will affect the energy storage and discharge properties that manufacturers are looking for in batteries. Specifically, simulating these molecules will enable scientists to find their "ground state" or most stable configuration.

This simulation of simple molecules is possible on traditional supercomputers, but it takes vast amounts of computing power and time, and as the molecules being simulated get more complex, the likelihood of errors gets bigger. Quantum computing gets around this by using the ideas of superposition (think Schrodinger's cat) and entanglement (aka Einstein's "spooky action at a distance") to much more efficiently evaluate much, much more data than a traditional computer.

Right now, the most promising of these new quantum computer-assisted potential battery chemistries -- according to IBM and Daimler, of course -- is lithium-sulfur. According to the research, lithium-sulfur batteries would be more powerful, longer-lasting and cheaper (the battery holy trinity) than today's lithium-ion cells.

So does this mean that we'll be seeing electric Benzes rolling around with sweet new lithium-sulfur batteries in the next year or two? Not really -- currently, neither company has offered an ETA on the tech -- but what it does mean is that researchers now have a leg up on developing the future of energy storage, and that's pretty damned cool.

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CES 2020: IBM and Daimler teaming up for a quantum leap in battery tech - CNET