A prisoner re-entry program in place for a decade at the Long Branch public library is going statewide due to a nearly $630,000 federal grant received by the New Jersey State Library.

The Fresh Start @ Your Library program is designed to assist people who are released from prison transition back into society by having social workers available to help them find jobs, line up housing and complete other tasks such as getting a drivers license.

Re-entry centers are being added at the Atlantic City, Newark, Paterson and Trenton public libraries and the Cumberland County Library in Bridgeton. In the programs second year, it is expected to expand into Philadelphia.

J. Johndi Harrell, the program manager, said the program is a partnership between the State Library, Parole Board and Department of Labor and Workforce Development and works because the assessments of each persons needs are highly individualized.

Long Branch has been a model for that, Harrell said. We really believe that it cannot only be the model for the local libraries of New Jersey but across the country. This is a very dynamic concept.

Peggy Cadigan, deputy state librarian for innovation and strategic partnerships, said libraries are the perfect place to do this because they serve as a community anchor.

Libraries are providing this kind of service already. Weve been providing employment help and other social service help for people who need that assistance, Cadigan said.

Were a nonthreatening place. We welcome everyone, she said. And I think that theres no stigma attached with going into a local public library. So we think were the perfect place because were serving everybody from all walks of life.

Part of the grant funding will be used to pay for 50 people to complete GED programs, an alternative to a high school diploma.

Also, two social workers are being hired through the grant funding to offer one-on-one counseling sessions. One is Nicole Warren, who will work at the Newark and Paterson libraries.

Get to know them and what some of their goals are and their strengths are, and then from there were able to connect them with educational opportunities, job opportunities, help them with job readiness, Warren said. Anything they need to try to get that fresh start and to be able to contribute to their community.

Warren said former inmates returning citizens, in the parlance of the program already visit the public libraries to seek the type of help the program will offer, from librarians and library staff who are helpful though not really trained in that kind of work.

Its important for the social workers to be in the libraries because they have the training and experience to work with people who may have experienced trauma or some other difficulties in their life, Warren said.

Harrell, who served 25 years in federal prison, said a library is a good location for re-entry services.

Many folks who are coming home from prison are used to going to the library, Harrell said. In a prison setting, the library is the intellectual center of the prison, and folks are used to going there for whatever they need. So for them to come home and then go to the library and receive re-entry services is a natural extension of theyve already been doing.

The $628,774 grant supporting the program comes from the Institute of Museum and Library Services, a federal agency. The state is contributing $671,449 toward the program, primarily through in-kind contributions of staffers' time at the State Library and Parole Board and training offered by the labor department.

New Jersey: Decoded cuts through the cruft and gets to what matters in New Jersey news and politics. Follow on Facebook and Twitter.

Michael Symons is State House bureau chief for New Jersey 101.5 and the editor of New Jersey: Decoded. Follow @NJDecoded on Twitter and Facebook. Contact him at michael.symons@townsquaremedia.com

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Books, online access ... and prisoner re-entry at the library - New Jersey 101.5 FM Radio

Among the many smart writers I follow on Instagram is journalist Connie Schultzso Ive known for a while that her husband, Ohio senator Sherrod Brown, recently published a book, Desk 88: Eight Progressive Senators Who Changed America. As a former Ohioan, and a supporter of Brown, I am eager to read it. But the book is published by Macmillan and, much to my disappointment, is presumably subject to the companys e-book embargo.

With a few exceptions, elected officials dont write books to make money; they write to share their message with voters. So I find it troubling that Browna strong supporter of workers and public librariesis now associated with a publisher that is flouting a core public library value: equitable access.

I suspect that the good senator and othersincluding senators Amy Klobuchar, Bernie Sanders, and Elizabeth Warren, all of whom have also penned works published by Macmillanlikely dont know about the new restrictions their publisher is placing on digital readers at Americas public libraries. But I am now putting them and anyone else elected to or running for political office on notice: when you publish with Macmillan, youre disadvantaging those constituents who depend on the public library. Or, if you sign an exclusive audio deal with Amazons Audible division (fortunately, Brown has not), you are limiting access only to those with the means to purchase content. And the notion that any elected official would want their ideas available only to those Americans who can pay to read or listen to them flies in the face of our democratic ideals.

I recognize that I am beginning to sound very cranky about Macmillans embargo. But as I prepare for the 2020 ALA Midwinter Meeting, the future of digital content in libraries is very much in question. And I have come to the table again and again believing that Macmillan executives might sincerely listen to the library communitys concerns and join us in seeking viable solutions to whatever issues they believe justify such an extreme measure as an embargo. But at this point, I question whether Macmillan executives are acting in good faith. After numerous meetings with Macmillan CEO John Sargent over the years on behalf of ALA, I think Greg Behrendt and Liz Tuccillos 2004 bestseller best sums up Sargents position on the public library: Hes Just Not That into You.

I for one will not attend another meeting with the Macmillan team while the embargo is in place, even if it means I must resign my position as senior policy fellow for the ALAs Washington office. I feel demoralized by the idea of asking once more that this embargo be reversed. And I dont believe we can have a meaningful conversation about the future of libraries and e-books with Macmillan executives until they abandon their embargo. Unfortunately, I dont think that announcement is coming in Philadelphia.

I am not giving up the fight, however, and I urge all librarians to stay engaged and to continue to advocate for libraries as well. To lift my lagging spirits, Ive been envisioning thousands of librarians lining up at the Macmillan booth (1240) at this years Midwinter Meeting in a respectful act of solidarity so strong that it clogs the exhibit aisles. Now that would be advocacy to action!

I also have great respect for the members of the newly configured Joint Working Group on Digital Content, which will convene for the first time in its new iteration at this years Midwinter Meeting, and other groups who continue to work on this issue.

This is important work. I encourage every librarian who is passionate about equitable access to digital content to join any and all conversationsand to remain patient in knowing that our good work will eventually translate to impactful change.

E-book Program Highlights

ASGCLA Consortial eBooks Interest Group Meeting (Friday, 2:304 p.m., Marriott Hotel, Franklin rooms 5 & 6).

Ask Me Anything with Macmillan CEO John Sargent (Saturday, 8:3010 a.m., PCC room 108B).

Digital Content Working Group Meeting (Sunday, 8:3010 a.m., PCC room 103B).

#eBooksForAll Campaign Update (Sunday, 45 p.m., PCC room 122B).

PW columnist Sari Feldman is the former executive director of the Cuyahoga County Public Library in Cleveland and a past president of both the Public Library Association (20092010) and the American Library Association (20152016).

A version of this article appeared in the 12/16/2019 issue of Publishers Weekly under the headline: E-books at ALA

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ALA Midwinter 2020: On E-books, Librarians Must Hold the Line - Publishers Weekly

The Cochrane Public Library has launched their winter equipment library just in time for Cochrane's recent snowfall.

A variety of snow shoe sizes and hiking poles are all set to check out. The library installed a sizing chart for anyone curious about fit. All of the equipment is brand new and was purchased with the support of Cochrane Sport Chek and Bow RiversEdge Campground. The library will be adding avalanche kits and other items as they become available.

Program librarian Andrea Johnston said the library has been running several successful lending libraries. The library also loans out power tools, telescopes, gardening tools, life jackets, board games, puzzles and other items.

Since the snow gear launched Johnston says she's already had residents put equipment on hold leading up to the Christmas holidays.

For details on what winter equipment is available visit the Cochrane Public Library online: http://www.cochranepubliclibrary.ca/Special-Equipment/Winter-Equipment

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Library of things just got better - Cochrane Today

Public libraries embody the values of democracy by offering free access to knowledge. But the role of contemporary public libraries extends far beyond access to books. Libraries are places for learning and discovery, forums for debate, galleries for exhibitions and events, and spaces for work and pleasure. As cultural centres and community hubs, libraries bring people together.

With the rise of digital information early this century, the death of the library was predicted. Yet far from causing the demise of libraries, the digital revolution has led to libraries being reinvented and reinvigorated.

Library staff are experts in knowledge systems and adept at seizing the possibilities presented by these changes. This ability to innovate ensures public libraries remain relevant and vital.

Such innovation is evident throughout Melbournes State Library Victoria which reopened this week to reveal the final phase of its Vision 2020 transformation. The transformation of Australias oldest and now newest library is cultural, social, economic and architectural.

State Library Victoria already holds a prominent place in Melbournes cultural and urban fabric. It is now ready for the future.

Good civic architecture embodies the needs of the community it serves, amplifying and adapting to the activities and lived experiences in it. Australias first free public library, when it opened in 1856, State Library Victoria offered everyone access to knowledge for self-advancement.

Today, the revitalised heritage reading rooms remain majestic symbols with their large lofty ceiling and voluminous spaces with natural light . People may wish to linger in these hushed traditional spaces and return.

This major redevelopment was entrusted to Australian design studio Architectus in partnership with Danish firm Schmidt Hammer Lassen Architects. Their work demonstrates great restraint and respect for the original building, coupled with the creation of new spaces, connections and opportunities relevant to libraries of now and the future with a thoughtful approach of less is more.

Fine design details skilfully juxtapose the old and the new. New stone covers the historic and slippery marble stairs that head up from the Swanston Street foyer, the original treads visible at each edge. Long admired murals above the stairs are conserved.

Entering from Swanston Street, The Quad is the contemporary centrepiece, beyond the foyer of the library. It provides a welcome zone that invites people of all ages, interests and backgrounds to enjoy the wonder of learning. This invitation can be simple: a place to charge your phone, to talk with friends, to escape the weather. Simple activities that make you stop and pause, and want to venture further and find out more.

Ideas Quarter offers shared work space for budding entrepreneurs. Conversation Quarter is a tech-rich destination for sharing, connecting and broadcasting ideas. Create Quarter includes recording, mixing and editing facilities. Childrens Quarter is a playful multi-level realm for family exploration with age-specific areas and programs.

In this sequence of spaces, knowledge is everywhere, yet books are few.

The Quad is not the hushed or book-filled library experience you might expect. But those calmer spaces are still there, undisturbed by all this new activity thanks to careful acoustic design: a balance between the traditional and the new.

In the beautiful Ian Potter Queens Hall, the visitor catches glimpses of decorative paintwork in the Classical Greek style, discovered under layers of paint during the restoration.

Curiosity thrives in libraries, and the curious will uncover more.

In an increasingly digital age, what can public libraries offer that our smartphones and computers cannot?

They offer community.

Many Victorian voices informed the Vision 2020 project: community groups, library users, local residents, business, school students, parents. These voices inspired the enriched diversity of services and experiences. The Library Board, state government, benefactors, and community fundraising made the vision possible.

The process was democracy in action.

Public, school and university libraries have all evolved to embrace a broader understanding of lifelong learning including and beyond what can be learnt from books. Libraries bring people together.

These institutions contribute to social capital by fostering new relationships, sustaining and advancing informed communities and offering equity to close the digital divide. New library spaces can elevate the human experience, and State Library Victoria proves public libraries have an exciting future.

Sarah Backhouse is a research fellow with the Learning Environments Applied Research Network at the University of Melbourne. Clare Newton is an associate professor in Learning Environments at the University of Melbourne.

This article first appeared on The Conversation.

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This library is showing the way for reading spaces in the digital age - Scroll.in

Northern New Jersey libraries are offering items to borrow beyond usual offerings from metal detectors to cake pans. Ricardo Kaulessar, Staff Writer, @RICARDOKAUL

The Bergen County Cooperative Library System is fighting back against a major publisher's embargo on its new e-book titles via a boycott.

BCCLS has put in apolicy of no longer purchasinge-book editions of new Macmillan or Macmillan imprint titles. The policy went into effect Nov. 20.

That means saying no to some of the system's most popular authors, including novelistLiane Moriarty, romance writerNora Roberts and mystery writers Lisa Scottoline and Louise Penny.

The move isin response toMacmillan Publishers' new policy of limiting public libraries to purchasing a single copy of new e-books for the first eight weeks of publication, which went into effect on Nov. 1. It has upset librarians in North Jersey and across the country.

The Bergenfield Public Library is one of 77 libraries in the BCCLS system whose patrons not only borrow physical books, but also e-books.(Photo: Ricardo Kaulessar/NorthJersey.com)

The boycott is not confined to North Jersey. Many library systems around the country, including in Des Moines, Sacramento, Nashville and Greenwich,Connecticut, have joined in.

BCCLS' boycott applies to acquisitions for itscentral collection, said BCCLS Executive Director Dave Hanson. That collectionhas 65,647 items and produces around 660,000 circulations a year. Macmillanrepresents about 12% of high-interest circulation for the consortium, Hanson said.

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He said the 77 member libraries in the consortium have yet to decide whether to purchase Macmillan e-books for their individuallibraries. He said they plan to vote on that at the BCCLS System Council meeting on Dec. 19.

But he said he is positive that the libraries will join in this boycott, based on discussions with library directors. It's a matter of principle.

"I just think it'sa reflective reaction from public libraries... we're very worried about the ability for public libraries to get access to materials to provide to patrons in a landscape that seems to beconstantly changing," Hanson said. "Publishers seem to not place the interests of the library patron very high."

E-books are borrowed like traditional books, in that one copy can be used byone user at a time. That means libraries purchase multiple copies of high-demand books so they are available to more patrons.

Macmillan representatives could not be reached for comment.

RicardoKaulessaris a local reporter for NorthJersey.com. For unlimited access to the most important news from your local community,please subscribe or activate your digital account today.

Email:kaulessar@northjersey.comTwitter:@ricardokaul

Read or Share this story: https://www.northjersey.com/story/news/bergen/2019/12/10/bccls-nj-boycott-macmillan-titles-fight-over-e-books/2633584001/

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BCCLS fires back in war over e-books by boycotting publisher - NorthJersey.com

Interested in the federal investigations into the Ku Klux Klan, the McCarthy hearings or the 9/11 Commission Report? All this and more can be found in Cal State Fullertons Pollak Library, a selective Federal Depository Library, giving campus members and the public access to important government publications.

The origins of the Federal Depository Library Program date back to 1813, when Congress ordered that publications be distributed outside of the federal government, explains Megan Graewingholt 06,09 (B.A. American studies and history, M.A. American studies), social sciences and government documents librarian at her alma mater. It became formalized through the Depository Library Act of 1962.

Q. Why is it important for the campus and community?

A. The U.S. government remains the largest publisher in the world, so providing access to this information and enabling public use cannot be understated. For our campus, this designation is especially significant as government documents are an important part of the librarys collection.

Personally, I think this is an especially valuable addition to our collection. Government information is useful for research and scholarship, and these materials do not impact the library budget. It also helps the library serve a vital civic role within Orange County.

Q. What types of materials do we have?

A. Our depository collection includes materials from the federal and California state government, as well as city, county and regional California government bodies.

Today more than 83,000 print and 51,000 electronic government documents titles are discoverable in the library catalog. The largest part of our depository collection is by far the Congressional material, which makes up about 48 percent of all the depository titles we collect and maintain.

Q. What do people most ask you about the depository?

A. Most patrons look for guidance locating specific information rather than a specific document. For example, they may need statistics on pollution in California, gang activity in Los Angeles County or nationwide trends in vital statistics.

Similarly, guidance on filing a Freedom of Information Act request or locating declassified government documents is a common ask. While filing a FOIA request is relatively straight-forward now online, declassified or top secret documents were never circulated among depository libraries. Although, this doesnt tend to stop me from searching for them! Searching the FBI Vault online, for instance, can provide a treasure trove of strange information, like the report on laboratory examinations of what was believed to be a fragment of Bigfoots hair from 1976 (spoiler alert, it was actually deer hair).

Q. Which documents get the most attention?

A. Congressional hearings are frequently a valuable primary source for research purposes, covering a wide variety of current and historical topics. Some notable content includes investigations into the Ku Klux Klan via Senate hearings in the early 1960s, the McCarthy hearings of the 1950s, the Martin Luther King Jr. House Select Committee on Assassinations in 1979 and the 9/11 Commission Report. Recently, the Report on the Investigation into Russian Interference in the 2016 Presidential Election (or the Mueller Report) arrived for inclusion in our depository collection.

As a library liaison to political science, I am particularly partial to the collection of Voter Guides held in our California documents collection. For students researching a particular candidate or ballot measure, they are able to see the actual voter guide that was mailed to constituents during the time that issue or politician was on the ballot. Presidential Papers are also a notable inclusion in our U.S. Documents collection, dating back to President Hoover in 1929.

Q. What do you enjoy about your role at Cal State Fullerton?

A. My favorite part of my role at Cal State Fullerton is the ability to assist students, faculty and the general public with their research. Frequently patrons are working on projects they are passionate about and that contribute significantly to scholarly fields of study. Working in the library and with unique materials like the government documents depository collection allows me to play a small role in that essential scholarship. Similar to the Government Publishing Office, this work, in turn, helps to keep America informed.

Q. How do these collections contribute to the educational experience of CSUFs students and faculty?

A. Exploring these types of collections contributes to the education experiences of Titan students and faculty because these documents represent a wide variety of valuable primary source research material for historical study as well as a number of contemporary issues faced by larger society. While a growing array of government resources are now born-digital, many historical documents and material requested to be printed by various government committees, agencies, and departments may only be available by exploring the physical print collections available at depository libraries like Cal State Fullertons Pollak Library. This collection also exposes students to a new category of valuable material they may wish to include as part of their research strategy. It can be a transformative element of experiential learning to work with these types of print documents in conjunction with the digital material now available online.

For more information on available government materials, contact Megan Graewingholt at 657-278-3094 or email mewagner@fullerton.edu.

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Titan Voice: Pollak Library librarian offers a glimpse of treasure trove of government information - OCRegister

AN OLD-FASHIONED CHRISTMAS EXHIBIT: daily through Jan. 1; exhibit of holiday traditions through the years complete with model trains, toys and more; Emlen Physick Estate, 1048 Washington St., Cape May. 609-884-5404 or CapeMayMAC.org.

HOLIDAY LIGHT SHOW: 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. Thursdays through Sundays through Jan. 5; 100 Christmas trees light up over Lake Meone; Historic Smithville, 615 E. Moss Mill Road, Galloway Township, free. 609-748-8999 or HistoricSmithville.com.

OC ARTS CENTER POTTERY & MOSAICS SALE: daily through Dec. 14; handmade items by local artists; Ocean City Arts Center, 1735 Simpson Ave., Ocean City. OceanCityArtsCenter.org.

COMMUNITY BINGO AND LUNCH: 11 a.m. to noon second Fridays, Brookdale Senior Living Cape May, 591 Route 9 South, Cape May Court House. 609-463-6344.

LIVING NATIVITY: 6 to 9 p.m.; hosted by Holy Trinity Parish; musical presentation by children from the parish, cookies, hot chocolate; St. James Church, Ventnor, free admission.

QUILTERS GROUP: noon to 3 p.m. Fridays; beginner and experienced quilters are welcome to join; Otto Bruyns Public Library of Northfield, 241 W. Mill Road, Northfield. 609-646-4476.

TECHNOLOGY ON FRIDAY: 10 to 11 a.m. Fridays; call for more details; Public Library, 2305 Atlantic Ave., Longport. 609-487-7403 or LongportPublicLibrary.org.

ABSECON VFW POST 9462 & AUXILIARY WREATHS ACROSS AMERICA: 10 to 10:30 a.m.; refreshments; United Methodist Church, 100 Pitney Road, Absecon. 609-335-6350.

CHECKMATES CHESS CLUB: noon to 4:30 p.m. Saturdays through Dec. 28; for all ages; play a friendly game of chess with others; Atlantic County Library, 6500 Atlantic Ave., Ventnor. 609-823-4614 or AtlanticLibrary.org.

COLORING AFTERNOON FOR STRESS RELIEF: 2 to 4 p.m. Saturdays through Dec. 21; open to adults; enjoy a relaxing afternoon coloring at the library; materials provided; Atlantic County Library, 801 Shore Road, Somers Point. 609-927-7113 or AtlanticLibrary.org.

DROP-IN TECH WORKSHOP: 1 to 2:30 p.m.; with Sean Farrell; for help with questions regarding your computer, phone, software, or an app; Public Library, 235 32nd St., Avalon. AvalonFreeLibrary.org.

GRACE LUTHERAN COOKIE WALK: 9 a.m. to noon; cookies are all homemade; $8 per pound; apple pies, crafts, holiday items and decadent hot chocolate for sale; Grace Lutheran Church, 11 E. Dawes Ave., Somers Point. 609-404-0257 or GraceLutheranSPNJ.org.

HOLIDAY OPEN HOUSE: 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.; Santa Claus, tour the museum, live music; The Museum of Cape May County, 504 N. Route 9, Cape May Court House. 609-465-3535 or CMCMuseum.org.

HOLIDAY TRAIN DISPLAY: 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Wednesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays through Dec. 31 (closed Christmas Day); O gauge model train layout with three trains and several winter themed operating items; Absecon City Hall, 500 Mill Road, Absecon. 609-442-1871.

HOLIDAY WEEKENDS IN HISTORIC SMITHVILLE: 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays through Dec. 22; magical talking tree, train rides, story time with Mrs. Claus, shopping; Historic Smithville, 615 E. Moss Mill Road, Galloway Township, free. 609-748-8999 or HistoricSmithville.com.

LOWER TOWNSHIP ROTARY CHRISTMAS PARADE: 6 to 8:30 p.m.; floats, bands, community groups and fire trucks; Bayshore Road from Breakwater Road to Rosehill Parkway, North Cape May. 609-827-8771 or TownshipOfLower.org.

SHORELINE MODEL RAILROAD CLUB DISPLAY: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturdays through January; Lionel-style model train layout; Atlantic Christian School, 391 Zion Road, Egg Harbor Township. 609-822-3631.

BACK TO BETHLEHEM LIVING NATIVITY: 6 to 8 p.m.; follow the star to the stable where you will see Mary, Joseph, angels, shepherds, wise men and barnyard animals; hot chocolate and homemade cookies; Wesley United Methodist Church, 400 Route 610, Petersburg, free. 609-628-2224.

NICK FEDOROFF COMMUNITY CHRISTMAS CELEBRATION: noon to 3 p.m.; join Santa, the City of Cape May Police Department, and the City of Cape May for free holiday fun; Cape May Convention Hall, 714 Beach Ave., Cape May. 609-884-9539.

3M MOVIE MARATHON: 3 to 7:30 p.m. third Mondays; for individuals who live with any type of disability and a guest; monthly movie viewing of two films; snacks and drinks provided; Atlantic Center for Indepdendent Living, 4 E. Jimmie Leeds Road, Suite 7, Galloway Township. 609-748-2253 or AtlanticCIL.org.

ACADEMY OF CULINARY ARTS CHOCOLATE INDULGENCE: 6 to 9 p.m.; indulge in the making of Chocolate Souffls, Chocolate Crme Brle, and a Chocolate Decadence Torte; Mays Landing Campus, 5100 E. Black Horse Pike, Mays landing, $75. 609-343-5655 or Altantic.edu/Workforce.

ATLANTIC COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY SWEET SALE: 3 to 6 p.m.; holiday home-baked cookies, breads, candies; sold by the pound; proceeds benefit the ACHS; Atlantic County Historical Society Museum, 907 Shore Road, Somers Point. 609-335-3313.

BETH EL MOVIE DAY: 3 to 5 p.m.; call for movie title; includes snacks, including popcorn and drinks; Beth El Synagogue, 500 N. Jerome Ave., Margate, $5. 609-823-2725 or BethElSynagogue.com.

BOOK CLUB MEETING: 1 to 2 p.m.; discuss this months read, The Book Charmer by Karen Hawkins; Public Library, 2305 Atlantic Ave., Longport. 609-487-7403 or LongportPublicLibrary.org.

BRIDGE: 1 to 3 p.m. Mondays through Dec. 30; weekly play challenges; Ocean County Library, 380 Bay Ave., Tuckerton. 609-296-1470 or TheOceanCountyLibrary.org.

DIY SOAP & BATH BOMBS: 5 to 6:15 p.m.; open to all families in Atlantic County; New Day Family Success Center, 622-624 S. New York Road, Galloway Township, pre-registration required. 609-652-0230 or NewDay-FSC.org.

ENGLISH AS A SECOND LANGUAGE: 7 to 8:30 p.m. Mondays through March 20, 2020; receive instruction on the English language; Otto Bruyns Public Library of Northfield, 241 W. Mill Road, Northfield. 609-646-4476.

FREE (R) MOVIE: 6 to 8:30 p.m.; call for movie title; Ocean County Library, 380 Bay Ave., Tuckerton, registration required. 609-296-1470 or TheOceanCountyLibrary.org.

GINGERBREAD HOUSE WORKSHOP: 1 p.m. Dec. 16, 20, 22, Maria Moss, 301 Davis Ave., Linwood, $35. 609-926-7991, ext. 3 or LinwoodLibrary.com.

KNITTING: 3:30 to 4:30 p.m. Mondays; meet and share knitting techniques; all levels of knitters are welcome; Public Library, 235 32nd St. Avalon. AvalonFreeLibrary.org.

LETS KNIT CLUB: 10 to 11:30 a.m. third and fourth Mondays; Lets Knit and Crochet Club for seniors age 60 and older; bring your own supplies and projects; Hammonton Senior Nutrition Site, 310 Bellevue Ave., Hammonton. 609-645-7700, ext. 6537.

LONGPORT NEEDLERS: 10 a.m. to noon Mondays through Dec. 21; bring your knitting, crochet, needlepoint, and other projects to work on at the library; Public Library, 2305 Atlantic Ave., Longport. 609-487-7403.

MAH-JONGG: 10 a.m. to noon Mondays; join a group of competitive Mahjongg players; Otto Bruyns Public Library of Northfield, 241 W. Mill Road, Northfield. 609-646-4476.

MOUSE-AROUND MONDAYS: 6 to 7 p.m. Mondays through Dec. 16; for adults; learn computer basics, such as mousing skills, creating Word documents, surfing the Internet; Atlantic County Library, 33 Martin Luther King Jr. Ave., Pleasantville, registration requested. 609-641-1778 or AtlanticLibrary.org.

MOVE AND DANCE CLASS: 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. Mondays; presented by Cathy Cashmere; learn to line dance; Wildwood Crest Library, 6300 Atlantic Ave., Wildwood Crest. 609-463-6386 or CCCInspire.com.

ORIGAMI CLASS: 4 to 5 p.m. Mondays through Dec. 28; open to all experience levels, beginners welcome; Public Library, 2305 Atlantic Ave., Longport, free. 609-487-7403 or LongportPublicLibrary.org.

ORNAMENT WORKSHOP: WRAPPED HOLIDAY DECORATIONS: 3:30 to 5:30 p.m.; presented by Molly McKeefery; learn how to create a beautiful holiday ornaments using different materials such as ribbons, yarn, fabric, twine, and more; Public Library, 4800 Central Ave., Sea Isle City, registration and valid library card required. 609-463-6386 or Events.CMCLibrary.org.

SOUL LINE DANCE: 7 to 8:30 p.m. every other Monday through Dec. 16; learn how to soul line dance; Bloom Pavilion, 101 S. Huntington Ave., Margate. 609-822-2285.

WALK-IN ESL LAB: 1 to 3 p.m. Mondays through Dec. 30; self-directed session where participants can access the language-learning software Rosetta Stone, along with other library resources, to improve English skills; Public Library, 1 N. Tennessee Ave., Atlantic City. 609-345-2269 or ACFPL.org.

AARP MID ATLANTIC CHAPTER #4191 MEETINGS: 1 to 3 p.m. third Tuesdays except July and August, Galloway Senior Center, 621 W. Whitehorse Pike, Egg Harbor City. 609-804-3082.

CIVIC CLUB OF SEA ISLE CITY: noon to 3 p.m. Tuesdays; Bridge, Pinochle or Mahjongg; Community Lodge, Sea Isle City. 609-465-3251.

DROP-IN TECH WORKSHOP: 5:30 to 7 p.m.; with Cathy Zane; for help with questions regarding your computer, phone, iPad, software, or an app; Public Library, 235 32nd St., Avalon. AvalonFreeLibrary.org.

ENGLISH LANGUAGE LEARNING CLASSES: 6:30 to 8 p.m. Tuesdays through April 14, 2020, St. Peters United Methodist Church, Room 101, 8th Street and Central Avenue, Ocean City. 609-231-9059 or MakingWaves.Church.

IMPROV ACTING WORKSHOPS: 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Tuesdays; improvisational acting workshops hosted by Unitys Theatre Troupe; for ages 18 and older; Dante Hall Theater, 14 N. Mississippi Ave., Atlantic City, free. 609-705-9007 or UnitysTheatreTroupe.com.

JOB CORPS ORIENTATION: 2 to 4 p.m. Tuesdays; learn about the Job Corps program, open to individuals 16-24 years old who need a high school diploma and/or hands-on training; Public Library, 1058 E. Landis Ave., Vineland, free. 856-305-7388 or VinelandLibrary.org.

LEH BOOK DISCUSSION: 1:30 to 3 p.m.; Karolinas Twins by Ronald. H. Balson; Ocean County Library, 380 Bay Ave., Tuckerton. 609-296-1470 or TheOceanCountyLibrary.org.

INTERACTIVE FAMILY MOVIE AND CRAFT NIGHT: 4:30 to 5:30 p.m.; watch a fun holiday movie and interact with the movie using props provided at the program; refreshments provided; Public Library, 1058 E. Landis Ave., Vineland, registration required. 856-794-4244, ext. 6 or VinelandLibrary.org.

SQUARE DANCE OPEN HOUSE: 7 to 9 p.m. Tuesdays; hosted by the Rainbow Squares Dance Club; for people interested in learning square dancing; Milmay Volunteer Fire Department, 225 Broad St., Buena Vista Township, first night free, $5 per night after. 856-825-1809 or 609-839-3796 or RainbowSquares.Club.

TRIVIA NIGHT: 6:30 to 7:30 p.m.; stop by the library for 6 rounds of trivia; winning team will receive prizes; Public Library, 2305 Atlantic Ave., Longport. 609-487-7403 or LongportPublicLibrary.org.

TUESDAY EVENING DUPLICATE BRIDGE GAME: 6:30 to 10 p.m. Tuesdays through Dec. 31; duplicate bridge, all levels of players welcome; Our Lady of the Angels Church Hall, 35 E. Mechanic St., Cape May Court House. 609-442-0650 or CapeMayBridge.com.

YOUR LIBRARY 24/7 TIPS, TRICKS, AND THINGS TO TRY: 2 to 3 p.m.; for adults; Atlantic County Library, 33 Martin Luther King Jr. Ave., Pleasantville, registration required. 609-641-1778 or AtlanticLibrary.org.

ADULT CRAFT CLUB: 3 to 4 p.m. Nov. 20, Dec. 18; for ages 18 and older; learn how to make creative crafts in this fun and relaxed class; Public Library, 1 N. Tennessee Ave., Atlantic City, free. 609-345-2269, ext. 3075 or ACFPL.org.

ANCESTRY: 3 to 4 p.m.; learn how to use the database, get started on your genealogy research; Cumberland County Library, 800 E. Commerce St., Bridgeton. 856-453-2210 or CCLNJ.org.

BAKING WITH CHEF LINDA SCHWARTZ: 12:30 to 1:30 p.m.; Chef Linda Schwartz will demonstrate how to make a baked treat; Avalon Senior Center, 3100 Dune Drive, Avalon; registration required. 609-967-7155 or AvalonFreeLibrary.org.

FIND YOUR SPEAKING VOICE: 7 to 8:30 p.m. first and third Wednesdays; Boardwalk Toastmasters group; ACUA Recycling Center, 6700 Delilah Road, Egg Harbor Township. 609-290-8484 or Boardwalk.ToastmastersClubs.org.

FREE GED/HSE CLASSSES: 2 to 4 p.m. Wednesdays through Jan. 1, 2020; helps prepare for the GED/HSE exam; materials and lunch will be provided; Oceanside I Family Success Center, 201 Melrose Ave., Atlantic City. 609-236-8800 or oceanside1fsc.org.

GO GREEN GALLOWAY GENERAL MEETING: 6 to 7:30 p.m. third Wednesdays; join efforts to make Galloway a more environmentally friendly place to live; Atlantic County Library, 306 E Jimmie Leeds Road, Galloway Township. 609-742-7076 or GoGreenGalloway.org.

MAH JONG AT THE LIBRARY: 12:30 to 3:30 p.m. Wednesdays through Dec. 18; bring your current year cards and tiles; Ocean County Library, 380 Bay Ave., Tuckerton. 609-296-1470 or TheOceanCountyLibrary.org.

NATIONAL ACTIVE AND RETIRED FEDERAL EMPLOYEES ASSOCIATION: 1 to 3 p.m. third Wednesdays; meeting of South Jersey Shore Chapter 1664 of NARFE; current, retired and spouses of Federal Employees are invited to attend; Shore Diner, 6710 Tilton Road, Egg Harbor Township. 609-625-3605 or NARFE-NJChapter1664.org.

WORLD ABOVE WELCOMES THE JERSEY CAPE WRITERS: 7 to 9 p.m.; South Jersey Poets Collective welcomes the Jersey Cape Writers; open mic, participants read one poem that is less than two minutes long; Noyes Arts Garage of Stockton University, 2200 Fairmount Ave., Atlantic City. 609-626-3463 or SJPoets.WordPress.com.

DROP-IN TECH WORKSHOP: 10 to 11:30 a.m.; with Sean Farrell; get help with questions regarding your computer, phone, software, or an app; Public Library, 235 32nd St., Avalon. AvalonFreeLibrary.org.

WARSAW GHETTO: A SHOWING AND DISCUSSION: 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.; presented by Robert Holden; showing of A Film Unfinished; Public Library, 9516 Second Ave., Stone Harbor. 609-463-6386 or Events.CMCLibrary.org.

HOLIDAY ORNAMENT DROP-IN CRAFT: 2 to 4 p.m.; create a festive ornament to take home; Ocean County Library, 380 Bay Ave., Tuckerton. 609-296-1470.

MOVIE AND A SNACK: 10 a.m. to noon, Hammonton Family Success Center, 310 Bellevue Ave., Hammonton, registration requested. 609-567-2900.

CREATIVE WRITING: 10 a.m. to noon third Saturdays through January; with Melissa Palmer; receive tips and feedback on poetry, memoirs, short stories, articles, and books; record an audio version and share your story; Public Library, 235 32nd St., Avalon, registration requested. 609-967-7155 or AvalonFreeLibrary.org.

FREE PG MOVIE: 6 to 8 p.m.; call for movie title; Ocean County Library, 380 Bay Ave., Tuckerton, registration required. 609-296-1470 or TheOceanCountyLibrary.org.

MOVIE AND A SNACK: 10 a.m. to noon, Hammonton Family Success Center, 310 Bellevue Ave., Hammonton, registration requested. 609-567-2900.

SCRABBLE: 5:45 to 7:45 p.m. second and fourth Mondays, Public Library, 235 32nd St., Avalon. 609-967-7155 or AvalonFreeLibrary.org.

IRISH CEILI DANCE: 7:30 to 10:30 p.m. last Saturday of the month through June 2020; dancing to music by the South Jersey Ceili Band and songs by Joe McGonigle and Bob Galbraith, guest musicians; American Legion Hall Post #352, First and Pennsylvania avenues, Somers Point. 609-626-1576 or IACSSJ.org.

VETERANS ADVOCATE: 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. first Wednesdays; Wilmington VA Southern New Jersey Outreach Team provides information and enrollment for Veterans and their Veteran Affairs Healthcare; Hamilton Mall, 4403 Black Horse Pike, Mays Landing. 609-382-4727 or ShopHamilton.com.

CREATIVE WRITING: 4 to 6 p.m. first Thursdays through January, 2020; with Melissa Palmer; receive tips and feedback on poetry, memoirs, short stories, articles, and books; record an audio version and share your story; Public Library, 235 32nd St., Avalon, registration requested. 609-967-7155 or AvalonFreeLibrary.org.

JERSEY SHORE KNITTING GUILD: 7 p.m. first Thursdays, Ventnor Community Center, South Newport Avenue and Atlantic Avenue, Ventnor. 609-338-9305.

PINE STREET MOVIE MATINEE: 1 to 3 p.m. first Fridays; showing of Murder by Death; free popcorn; The Pine Street Recreation Building, 25 Pine St., Manahawkin. 609-597-1000, ext. 8583.

SOUTH VINELAND INDOOR/OUTDOOR YARD SALE: 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. first Saturdays through March 2020, South Vineland United Methodist Church, 2724 South Main Road, corner of Sherman Avenue, Vineland. 856-696-1044.

ITALIAN CULTURE: 3:30 to 4:30 p.m. second Wednesdays; meet with others interested in learning more about Italian art, music, architecture, history, and lifestyles; Public Library, 235 32nd St., Avalon. AvalonFreeLibrary.org.

UPPER TOWNSHIP GREEN TEAM MEETING: 3 p.m. second Tuesdays; Township Hall Conference Room, Upper Township Municipal Building, Petersburg. UpperTwpGreenTeam@yahoo.com.

UPPER TOWNSHIP HISTORICAL SOCIETY MEETING: 7 p.m. second Tuesdays, Upper Cape Branch Library, 2050 Tuckahoe Road, Petersburg. UpperTwpHistory.org.

MIDDLE TOWNSHIP BOARD OF EDUCATION STRATEGIC PLANNING INITIATIVE: 6:30 to 8 p.m.; Middle Township Public Schools will be developing a strategic plan to engage employees, parents, students, community members, business owners, and government leaders in the future planning of the school district; Middle Township Middle School, 300 E. Pacific Ave., Cape May Court House. 609-465-1800, ext. 3100.

VFW FRIDAY NIGHT DINNERS: 4:30 to 7 p.m.; baked ziti and sausage; Belleplain VFW Post, 556 Woodbine Ave., Belleplain, $10. 609-861-2298.

LUNCH & LEARN: 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.; hear talks on popular topics of history, culture and the arts over lunch; Cape May Lutheran Church, 509 Pittsburg Ave., Cape May, $20. 609-884-5404 or CapeMayMAC.org.

MAHJONG BRUNCHES: 10:30 a.m.; brunch spread and chance to meet other Mahjong and card players in the community; Milton & Betty Katz JCC, 501 N. Jerome Ave., Margate; up to one week before: $14 members, $18 guests; after one week before: $18 members, $22 guests. 609-822-1167 or JCCAtlantic.org.

COMMUNITY ADVISORY DINNER: 5 to 6:15 p.m.; open to all families living in Atlantic County; New Day Family Success Center, 622-624 S New York Road, Galloway Township, pre-registration required. 609-652-0230 or NewDay-FSC.org.

VFW FRIDAY NIGHT DINNERS: 4:30 to 7 p.m.; baked chicken dinner; Belleplain VFW Post, 556 Woodbine Ave., Belleplain, $10. 609-861-2298.

LUNCH AROUND TOWN: noon to 1:30 p.m.; enjoy a leisurely lunch with friends and neighbors while supporting our local restaurants; Downbeach Deli, 8 S. Essex Ave., Margate, attendees pay their own check. 609-822-1109 or JFSVillageByTheShore.org.

PANCAKE BREAKFAST: 8 to 11 a.m. fourth Saturdays; all-you-can-eat pancake breakfast; Ocean City Masonic Lodge, 940 Wesley Ave., Ocean City, $8 adults, $4 kids.

HOLIDAY TOY AND FOOD DRIVE: daily through Dec. 18; Teamsters Local 331 is collecting new toys, unexpired canned goods and other non-perishable items; drop off at 1 Philadelphia Ave., Egg Harbor City. 609-641-2331 or TeamstersLocal331.org.

MITTEN TREE: 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Mondays through Fridays through Dec. 23; Longport Historical Society will sponsor their annual Mitten Tree in Borough Hall during the month of December; items requested are gloves, mittens, scarves, hats, and fun underwear for younger children; Longport Historical Society Museum, 2305 Atlantic Ave., Longport. 609-410-5939.

BEACON ANIMAL RESCUE DAY WITH SANTA PAWS: noon to 2 p.m.; bring one donation item for Beacon, and receive a $20 Fischer Flowers gift card and a free photo with Santa Paws and your pet; rain/snow date is Dec. 21; Fischer Flowers, 2322 Shore Road, Linwood. 609-390-7946.

ELECTRONICS RECYCLING FUNDRAISER: 9 a.m. to noon third Saturdays; drop off old electronics at the 4-H Center.; David C. Wood 4-H Center/Fairgrounds, 3210 Route 50, Mays Landing. 609-703-1549.

PRESCHOOL STORY TIME: 10 to 10:45 a.m. Wednesdays through Dec. 18; preschoolers ages 2 1/2 5 and their caregivers are invited to Preschool Story Time; stories, songs and crafts; Public Library, 1058 E. Landis Ave., Vineland, registration requested. 856-794-4244, ext. 6 or VinelandLibrary.org/Childrens.

ST. MARYS CHURCH HOMEWORK HELP AND ENGLISH LEARNERS CLASS: 4:30 to 6 p.m. Wednesdays and Thursdays through June 2020; provided in partnership with Stockton State University; after-school program providing children in grades kindergarten through 6th grade with homework help; St. Marys Church, 118 Bayview Ave., Pleasantville. 609-686-0418 or StMarysPleasantville.org.

TOT TALES: 10 to 11 a.m. Wednesdays through Dec. 18; for ages 1-4; stories, songs, stickers, snacks and an easy craft; Atlantic County Library, 801 Shore Road, Somers Point. 609-927-7113 or AtlanticLibrary.org.

WEE READ: 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. Wednesdays through Dec. 18; story time for 0-3 year olds; Cumberland County Library, 800 E. Commerce St., Bridgton. 856-453-2210 or CCLNJ.org.

YOUTH GREEK LANGUAGE SCHOOL: 5 to 7 p.m. Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays through June 24, 2020, Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church, 7004 Ridge Ave., Egg Harbor Township, $250. 609-653-8092, ext. 5 or 609-653-8092, ext. 4 or HolyTrinityEggHarbor.com/Greek-School.

123 READ: 3 to 4 p.m. Thursdays through Dec. 12; for ages 1 1/2 to 3; Atlantic County Library, 306 E. Jimmie Leeds Road, Galloway Township, registration requested. 609-652-2352 or AtlanticLibrary.org.

GIRLS BOOK CLUB: noon to 2 p.m. Thursdays through March 5, 2020; for girls in middle school and older; book talks, short stories, poetry and articles; Otto Bruyns Public Library of Northfield, 241 W. Mill Road, Northfield. 609-646-4476.

LEGO CLUB: 3:15 to 4:15 p.m. every other Thursday through Dec. 31, 2020; help us build Lego masterpieces after school every other Friday; Otto Bruyns Public Library of Northfield, 241 W. Mill Road, Northfield. 609-646-4476.

ROBOTICS CLUB: 6 to 7 p.m.; building robots for 9-11 year olds; Cumberland County Library, 800 E. Commerce St., Bridgeton. 856-453-2210 or CCLNJ.org.

CODE YOUR HERO: 3:15 to 4:15 p.m.; all skill levels are welcome, grades 2-8; celebrate Computer Science Education Week; Otto Bruyns Public Library of Northfield, 241 W. Mill Road, Northfield. 609-646-4476.

MAKERSPACE: 3:15 to 4:15 p.m. every other Friday through Dec. 31; code, tinker and explore; Otto Bruyns Public Library of Northfield, 241 W. Mill Road, Northfield. 609-646-4476.

See original here:
Upcoming events for the week of Dec. 12 | News - Press of Atlantic City

The first step in solving a problem is to recognize that it does exist. Zig Ziglar

The Football Bowl Subdivision is desperately in need of reform. It has been so for several decades. The FBS is the only national sports organization in the United States, collegiate or professional, that relies solely on voting to determine who can play for its championship. Nowhere else can a team finish its regular season undefeated and untied yet have no chance to win the organizations championship. Here is a look at how to get to 16-team college football playoffs.

Opposition to any semblance of a multi-team playoff system has stonewalled a logical format to determine the national championship for decades. Bowl game committees have done everything possible to prevent the establishment of a playoff bracket. University administrators with blind devotion to nostalgia delayed any type of change as much as they could. Media members and fans have raised the concern that an expanded playoff system would diminish the importance of the regular season.

The obsolete and inadequate system of determining the national champions of the highest level of college football should be replaced. The answer lies in what the NCAA does related to the lower divisions of football and to mens basketball. A combination of aspects of both should be implemented.

Some concessions will have to be made In order to overcome the resistance to a 16-team playoff format. Cities hosting bowl games have enjoyed the economic benefit of having tourists spending a few days there. Therefore, cities that have served as the site of prominent bowl games should be included in the rotation for hosting playoff games. Teams in northern states have claimed a competitive disadvantage by having to travel to the South or West Coast for bowl games. In response, some northern cities could be the venues for post-season games as well. The inclusion of long-standing bowl locations should mollify traditionalists.

Arguably, the regular season would need to be reduced. The two teams advancing to the national championship round would play four opponents on top of the 12 in the regular season and probable conference championship game. The FCS limits its regular season to 11 games. That should be followed if not a reduction to ten. That would mean the elimination of a non-conference game or two for every team. Presumably, the distribution of the enormous profits expected from the expanded playoffs would offset the loss of a home games revenue or road games paycheck.

The NCAAs post-season tournaments reward every conference with at least one berth. This playoff system would grant an automatic invitation to the champion of all ten FBS conferences. That would require each conference to have a pre-determined way to crown its champion, either a conference championship game or a list of tie-breakers for teams with identical records.The FBS would no longer face threats of lawsuits or Congressional intervention since every member in a conference would have a way to play for the national title.

The College Football Playoff Committee would continue to have a role. The committee would still rank teams. The group would use their rankings to determine the six at-large berths. Finally, the Almighty 13 would also assign teams to the brackets, giving favorable locations to higher seeded teams but also trying to place teams as close to their campus as possible. The only limitation would be only one team from a particular conference in each regional, meaning a maximum of four teams from any one conference in the tournament.

The FBS playoff system would resemble the FCS version involving 16 teams used from 1986 through 2009. Neutral sites would host, similar to what the NCAA basketball tournament does. The teams would be divided into four regions: East, North, South and West. Places with experience hosting neutral site college games should be part of the system. The 15 rotating locations are listed below. Nine of these would host a playoff game per season.

Baltimore

Charlotte

Denver

Detroit

Houston

Indianapolis

Jacksonville

Las Vegas

Nashville

New York

Philadelphia

Saint Louis

San Diego

Santa Clara, CA

Tampa

The current six locations hosting the New Years Six bowl games would continue to serve as sites in the 16-team tournament. The following would be the regional final sites:

East Region: Atlanta or Miami

North Region: one of the northern sites that is not hosting a regional semi-final game

South Region: Arlington, TX or New Orleans

West Region: Glendale or Pasadena

If one of the current New Years Six locations does not host a regional final, it has two other possibilities. The first is serving as the place where the national championship game would played. Otherwise,a national semi-final would take place there.

Using results of the current season, the final CFP Committees rankings and its host sites, this is a hypothetical tournament bracket. The ten conference champions (Appalachian State, Boise State, Clemson, Florida Atlantic, LSU, Memphis, Miami of Ohio, Ohio State, Oklahoma and Oregon) would automatically go to the playoffs. The six highest rated non-champions (Baylor, Florida, Georgia, Penn State, Utah and Wisconsin) would receive at-large bids.

EAST REGIONAL (Winners play in Miami)

NORTH REGIONAL (Winners play in one of the northern cities in the rotation)

SOUTH REGIONAL (Winners play in Dallas)

WEST REGIONAL (Winners play in Pasadena)

FIRST NATIONAL SEMI-FINAL: winner of South Regional vs. winner of West Regional in Atlanta

SECOND NATIONAL SEMI-FINAL: winner of North Regional vs. winner of East Regional in Glendale

NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP GAME: Winners of both national semi-finals in New Orleans

The tournament could be spread out over a few weeks. The first round would be played on the third Friday and Saturday on December, four games on each day. On the following weekend, the regional finals would take place, one game on that Friday evening and three on that Saturday. The national semi-finals would occur on New Years Day in years when there are at least seven days in between the regional finals and January 1. Otherwise, the two national semi-finals would fall on the first Saturday of January. The national championship game would be set for the second Friday evening of January.

Scheduling might have to be adjusted in some years. The dates should be designed to avoid overlapping NFL games. Additionally, scheduling games on Christmas Eve/Day should be avoided. The regional semi-finals and finals might be moved to the second and third weekends of December to ensure that the national finals could be played on New Years Day.

So who is ready for December Delirium?

Read more:
16-Team College Football Playoffs - Last Word on College Football

The Jedi: Fallen Order Star Wars game seems to secretly reveal the identity of the Prime Jedi - and the tragic truth that history repeated itself.

Star Wars may have finally revealed the truth behind the real First Jedi. The ancient history of the Jedi is a mystery lost in the mists of time. It's even been hinted that the Jedi themselves have forgotten it, and with that knowledge they have lost their original understanding of the ways of the Force.

Lucasfilm appears increasingly interested in exploring the ancient history of the Jedi Order, though, at least by implicit reference. As such, several recentStar Wars tie-ins have begun to shine a light on just what the early Jedi believed about the Force, and it's fascinating to see how different their teachings were to the Prequel Era Jedi. Cavan Scott's audiobookDooku: Jedi Lost, for example, hinted obliquely that the original Jedi believed the idea of "balance" to be another aspect of the Force, like light and dark. Supporting this, Claudia Gray'sMaster & Apprentice revealed that the Chosen One prophecy was of an agent of balance, not one dedicated to light or dark.

Related:Star Wars: The Chosen One Should Never Have Been A Jedi

But the most fascinating hint was inStar Wars: The Last Jedi, which revealed that Luke Skywalker had hidden himself away on the remote planet of Ahch-To, site of the first Jedi Temple.And there, Lucasfilm unveiled a mural of the Prime Jedi.

It's easy to miss in the film itself, but one pool in the Jedi Temple on Ahch-To contains a mural that represents the Prime Jedi. According toStar Wars: The Last Jedi Visual Dictionary, this was the first member of the Jedi Order, who founded the Jedi and constructed the temple. It presents the Prime Jedi as a member of an unknown alien race, wielding a proto-lightsaber. What's particularly interesting, however, is that this mural represents a very different philosophy of the Force to the one propounded by the Prequel Era Jedi. The Prime Jedi is envisioned as a servant of balance, rather than exclusively a servant of the light side of the Force. Light and dark are given equal prominence, with the Prime Jedi representing the darkness in the light, and the light in the darkness.

Concept artist Seth Engstrom explained that his designs were influenced by the Taoist symbolism of the yin and yang. He intended this to honor George Lucas himself, who had drawn upon Zen Buddhism when he was fleshing out the Jedi Order inThe Empire Strikes Back, and it went through several different versions before Lucasfilm settled on a final one. Earlier iterations had been even more clear that the Prime Jedi sat at the center of the Force, with light to its right and dark to its left.

Right now, the Prime Jedi is a subject of mystery. Luke Skywalker found books of ancient Jedi teaching at the Temple of Ahch-To, but at the time he was cutting himself off from the Force, and so he never read them. Fortunately, Rey took these books before leaving Ahch-To, meaning she has access to teachings that predate even Grand Master Yoda. As she turns those pages, it's most likely that she's learning from the very founder of the Jedi Order.

Related:Is The Mandalorian Disneys Biggest Betrayal Of Lucas Star Wars Vision?

TheJedi: Fallen Order game has introduced an alien race known as the Zeffo, who appear to have been entirely Force-sensitive. This is perfectly in accordance with George Lucas' notes from all the way back in 1977, when he imagined that certain species could naturally be strong in the Force. "It is said that certain creatures are born with a higher awareness of the Force than humans," he observed. "Their brains are different; they have more midichloriansin their cells."

Players take the role of Cal Kestis, a Jedi Padawan who survived Order 66 and is considering rebuilding the Jedi Order. His quest takes him in the footsteps of a previous Jedi Master, who was investigating the history of the Zeffo, and as a result he finds tombs dedicated to three different Sages: Eilram, Miktrull, and Kujet. Although it's not explicitly stated, each appears to represent a different aspect of the Force according to Zeffo teachings: Eilram stood for light, Kujet stood for darkness, and it seems likely Miktrull stood for balance.

Finally, in a vision imbued by something akin to an ancient Holocron, Cal hears an account of the end of the Zeffo race from one of their Sages.

"Despite our wisdom and technological achievement, we face extinction. Dogma blinded us to the path of balance and gradually we allowed our pride to corrupt us. The greater control we sought, the further we fell into ruin. I lead the remnants of my people into the great unknown, hoping that we will finally find peace."

Related:Jedi: Fallen Order Character & Cast Guide

The physical similarities between the Zeffo and the Prime Jedi are quite striking, right down to their body structure and posture. There is only one visual difference; the triangular shape at the top of the Zeffo Sages' head. But it's important to note that the only glimpses of the Zeffo are images of the three Sages, meaning it's entirely possible these distinctive cranial shapes aren't representative of all members of the race. There could well be a class difference, or even simply one of sex: it could be that the three Sages are all male, and possessed of these unusual head-shapes, whereas the Prime Jedi was female.All this raises the distinct possibility that the Prime Jedi was a Zeffo survivor; certainly that would explain the philosophical similarities between the Zeffo and the early Jedi Order, which are every bit as striking as the physical ones.

If the Prime Jedi was indeed a Zeffo, then tragically it means that history has gone full circle.Jedi: Fallen Order goes to great lengths to stress the similarities between the Zeffo extinction and the fall of the Jedi themselves. The Jedi made the exact same mistake as the Zeffo, neglecting balance, and forming a schismbetween light and dark, Jedi and Sith. In the end, this dichotomy consumed the entire galaxy in war. Fortunately, inStar Wars: The Rise of Skywalker Rey has had the opportunity to learn from the books left behind by the Prime Jedi and their disciples, and as a result, it's possibleRey will be the one who breaks the cycle - and becomes the new Prime Jedi.

More:Star Wars Confirms Starkiller Base Was Jedi Lightsaber Planet

Key Release Dates

Star Wars Theory: Obi-Wan Kenobi Saved The Mandalorian

Tom Bacon is one of Screen Rant's staff writers, and he's frankly amused that his childhood is back - and this time it's cool. Tom's focus tends to be on the various superhero franchises, as well as Star Wars, Doctor Who, and Star Trek; he's also an avid comic book reader. Over the years, Tom has built a strong relationship with aspects of the various fan communities, and is a Moderator on some of Facebook's largest MCU and X-Men groups. Previously, he's written entertainment news and articles for Movie Pilot. A graduate of Edge Hill University in the United Kingdom, Tom is still strongly connected with his alma mater; in fact, in his spare time he's a voluntary chaplain there. He's heavily involved with his local church, and anyone who checks him out on Twitter will quickly learn that he's interested in British politics as well.

Excerpt from:
Star Wars May Have Just Introduced The Real FIRST Jedi - Screen Rant

iStock.com/FatCamera The Top Trending Diet and Exercise Searches of 2019

The year is drawing to a close, and with that comes a wrap of the fitness and diet choices that ruled the web and influenced our health decisions for 12 months. To find out which workouts and diets shined bright in 2019, Google studied an aggregation of trillions of searches on its platform and combined it with data from Google Trends. The result? The top trending searches that had a high spike in traffic over a sustained period in 2019.

Popular favorites like the keto ultra diet and plank exercises made Googles Year in Search report along with newer breakout trends like the Dr. Sebi diet.

Workouts that saw a spike in 2019 were medicine ball workouts, flat stomach workouts, mirror workouts, the Bikini Body Guide workout and body groove workouts a workout routine that relies on dance moves to help exercisers burn off calories. Bungee workouts, plank exercises and the manduu exercise a concept that uses electrical muscle stimulation (EMS) for a custom exercise experience also topped the list. The one punch man workout, an anime-inspired workout, was also among the most searched work out terms.

A few diet regimens also saw a search increase in 2019. The intermittent fasting diet, 1200 calories diet, keto ultra diet and the GOLO diet were all common searches. The Dubrow diet, Sirtfood diet, endomorph diet, Dr. Sebi diet, Noom diet and the no carbs no sugar diet were also included in Google's list. Before embarking on any popular diet though you should be warned, many popular diets with have hidden side effects.

Slideshow: How you can do a total-body workout in your hotel room (The Active Times)

More:
These are the top trending diet and exercise searches of 2019 - msnNOW