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

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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.

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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

Edith Cowan University researchers have found that a chronic disease affecting up to 80 per cent of overweight people may be causing an iron deficiency that simply leaves them too tired to get off the couch.

Fatty liver disease affects about one in three Australians and is often associated with being overweight or obese. If left untreated, it can lead to liver cirrhosis, liver cancer and increase the risk of a heart attack.

But the remedy to lose weight through diet or exercise is often difficult to achieve for affected individuals.

In other words, it may not be laziness but lack of iron which is important for energy production that is stopping people with non-alcoholic liver disease from addressing their condition.

This research indicates that people with the condition may be physiologically incapable of exercise due to iron not being available for the body to use normally, which is very similar to the effects observed in people who have a true iron deficiency.

The new research, under the direction of lead researcher Professor John Olynyk, will help guide future treatment for people with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.

The body is like a car

ECU researchers measured the cardiovascular fitness of 848 17-year-old West Australians enrolled in the well known Raine Study and found that those with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease had lower physical work capacity independent of their weight.,

This reduced physical work capacity was also strongly related to parameters suggesting that iron is not being made available to the body for normal metabolism.

Professor John Olynyk said the study showed that people with non-alcoholic-fatty-liver disease had lower cardiovascular fitness, which was likely caused by a functional iron deficiency.

We know that an iron deficiency can cause lethargy and fatigue, making it harder for people to exercise, he said.

What is likely happening is that non-alcoholic fatty liver disease is impeding the bodys ability to provide adequate iron into the blood to fuel processes such as energy and blood cell production.

To use an analogy, if you imagine the body as a car and iron as its fuel, what is likely happening is that there is plenty of iron, or fuel in the tank, but the non-alcoholic fatty liver disease has caused the fuel line to shrink, so theres not enough fuel can get to the engine.

Diet before exercise

Professor Olynyk said the findings were useful for guiding the treatment of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.

The main treatment is lifestyle change aimed at reducing weight, primarily achieved through exercise and a modified diet, he said.

In particular, there is evidence published by other investigators in the field that the Mediterranean diet can reduce the severity of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. This is because it is high in foods like fruit and vegetables and whole grains, which have anti-inflammatory properties.

This research shows that it may be more effective to first focus on new ways to improve the availability of iron to the body, enabling diet and physical activity to have better and more sustained effects on weight and the severity of their non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.

Read the original here:
Diet, Not Exercise, May Be Key to Addressing Our Biggest Cause of Liver Disease - Global Health News Wire

The year is drawing to a close, and with that comes a wrap ofthe 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. Whether weight loss is at the top of your 2020 goals or youre exercising for the first time, check out the popular workout and diet searches from 2019.

Working Out While Traveling: How You Can Do a Total-Body Workout in Your Hotel Room

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

A few diet regimens also saw a search increasein 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.

Read more from the original source:
The Top Trending Diet and Exercise Searches of 2019 - Yahoo Lifestyle

Andre Drummond is a lot of man: 610 and 279 pounds, to be more precise. Those measurements guarantee that the 26-year-old Detroit Pistons center isnt going to blend in with the masses while walking down the street, playing Top Golf, or bowling (the latter two are some of his favorite off-the-court activities), but hes mostly cool with that. Case and point: His Today With Dre series on Overtime, in which he allowed cameras to document the full extent of his comings and goings, including his musical-minded pursuits. The series shows hes a defensive menace whos just as unfazed by an incoming dunk attempt as he is the prospect of spitting bars at a venue. My music is a little bit of everythingR&B, hip-hop, EDM, he says. I have a bunch of songs that Ill get out sooner or later.

Like his Overtime series, Drummonds admitted beer-a-day habit has also piqued the Internets interest of late. But I wanted to find out what really gives him his pre-game fuel, so we chatted prior to him catching a flight to Chicago. Given Drummonds stature, you wouldnt be off-base assuming he eats enough to feed a family of four at every meal. As it turns out, however, the current league-leader in rebounds is only swallowing up boards at a proficient rate.

GQ: Youve been in the NBA for eight seasons now. Whats the best piece of advice youve been given about staying healthy since you started?

Andre Drummond: Its all about icing, stretching, the things you eat, the time you go to sleep, and the pregame preparation. I like to eat a lot of fruit and starchy things to give myself more energy before games. But its the off-the-court things, like how Im taking care of my body, that are most important.

What time do you usually get up in the morning?

Im up around 8 or 8:30. But if were talking about the morning after a game, then Im up much later, like 12ish. I try to get eight or nine hours of sleep a night, and if I dont, Ill make sure to take a nap.

Whats your breakfast routine?

I work directly with my personal chef on my breakfast and making sure I have enough fats and proteins to perform without overindulging. In the morning, Ill drink some water, and then its usually an omelet with some potatoes and veggies. Ill go for any vegetables except zucchini, really. I hate that stuff. Ive also cut out red meat and processed foods, which means that I dont eat steak or anything crazy like that. I feel a lot better since Ive done that. My diet is now a lot of fish and leafy green vegetables, except I dont like tilapia.

Are you a coffee person?

I drink coffee a lot before my games. I take it with cream and sugar.

Okay, so after the coffee, what happens?

Well my meals and overall food intake are pretty low, because I dont want to eat too heavy. Some days its just a bunch of fruit, plus the omelet with potatoes and veggies in it. Ill maybe have a cup of tea. I also take fish oil and vitamin D supplements. The natural sugar in the fruit plus some coffee before go-time acts as a natural pre-workout. I also usually drink Essentia Water and my chef makes his amazing homemade peanut butter chocolate chip protein bars. That's pretty much it. The last thing I want is to feel like Im weighed down on the court.

It sounds like youre not too big on lunches.

It really just depends on the day. Same for if I eat after the game, which depends on whether my adrenaline is still pumping. I definitely wont eat right away when were done playing. Usually my post-game meal is something like pasta to get the carbs back that Im missing. Over the past year, I completed a few physical tests to figure out what works best for my body, and I got leaner and stronger in the process. Ive tried a ton of different diets, but this has been one of my best seasons yet.

Has anyone ever told you that youre not eating enough?

I know what works for my body. I have a chef and we have a team nutritionist who helps us figure things out. When I wake up in the morning, the food stuff is all done. I just go down to the kitchen and grab it.

I read recently that you drink a beer every day. Whats the deal with that?

I went through a phase where I did that to make sure that I was getting in the calories I needed. If I drink a beer, its usually a Miller Lite or Corona. Sometimes, that one beer would get me to the right place, and especially in the summer, its nice. Now its not always the same routine.

You mentioned drinking water in the morning. How much are you consuming throughout the day?

I probably drink about a gallon-and-a-half a day. Im the guy thats carrying a jug with me everywhere I go.

This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity.

Real-Life Diet is a series in which GQ talks to athletes, celebrities, and everyone in between about their diets and exercise routines: what's worked, what hasn't, and where they're still improving. Keep in mind, what works for them might not necessarily be healthy for you.

The Real-Life Diet of Gunnar Peterson, Trainer to the Los Angeles Lakers and Other Assorted Stars

Peterson wakes up at 3:45 a.m. so he can squeeze in his own workout before training clients like the Kardashians and Kate Beckinsale.

Originally Appeared on GQ

See more here:
The Real-Life Diet of Andre Drummond, Whose Offseason Routine Featured a Beer a Day - Yahoo Lifestyle

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How a decade of major discoveries has dramatically changed how we think about conception.

On July 24, 2003, Robert G. Edwards, a physiologist who pioneered the in vitro fertilization technique, made the following remark: I wanted to find out exactly who was in charge, whether it was God himself or whether it was scientists in the laboratory, adding, It was us.

Since the first I.V.F. baby was born in 1978 25 years before Dr. Edwards made that statement and 32 years before he would win the Nobel Prize in Medicine for developing the technique the seemingly supernatural ability to unite sperm and eggs outside the body and implant them directly into the womb has been heralded as the most remarkable achievement in fertility to date. Its allowed millions of babies to be born that otherwise would not have been born; I think its been revolutionary, said Dr. Mindy Christianson, M.D., medical director of the Johns Hopkins Fertility Center.

Now, as this decade comes to a close, what kinds of major advancements in fertility science have we seen since 2010? While were still a far cry from a future in which a woman can analyze her egg reserve with the tap of a smartphone, or in which a man can get a running tally of his sperm count with the flick of a smartwatch, the past 10 years have been no less remarkable than decades past. Here are some of the biggest breakthroughs in fertility since 2010.

Scientists have been able to easily freeze embryos and sperm for decades, but it wasnt until 2012 that egg freezing went from an experimental procedure to a promising insurance policy for thousands of women in the United States, including cancer patients, single women and those who want or need to delay having children. The ability to successfully freeze eggs over the last 10 years has been one of the bigger, if not the biggest, achievement, Dr. Christianson said.

This is largely because of the development of a flash-freezing technique called vitrification. Previously, human eggs which are the largest cells in the human body and hold a lot of water were challenging to freeze because ice crystals would develop and damage the cell. But with vitrification, experts can freeze the cells so quickly that ice crystals dont have a chance to form.

[Wait, is that another ad for egg freezing?]

I.V.F. is expensive, not to mention emotionally and physically taxing. Its important, then, that providers select the best and most competent embryos from the petri dish in the lab to implant into the womb. While experts have for more than 10 years been able to scan the genetic material of these rudimentary cells for signs that they might fail to implant or result in miscarriage or birth defects, genetic testing of embryos has become more mainstream, affordable and reliable in the past decade.

When I was still in training seven or eight years ago, Dr. Christianson said, it was cost-prohibitive for most patients to do genetic testing of their embryos. Today, she said, companies charge per embryo, making it much more affordable.

Another advancement that has allowed providers to select the most robust embryos to implant: the ability to grow them in the lab until they reach what is called the blastocyst stage (which occurs five or six days after fertilization). If an embryo is healthy enough to survive until this stage outside the body, the thinking goes, it has a higher chance of sticking around after implantation. Such advances in selecting the best embryos have also allowed providers to transfer just one, rather than multiple, embryos into the womb at a time, reducing the risk of twins or more and thereby reducing risk in the pregnancy.

With the right embryo, most women will have a very high chance of live birth, and were able to decrease that risk of multiples, Dr. Christianson said. So I think thats one of the revolutionary breakthroughs.

[Read more about I.V.F. and what it costs.]

Before the 2010s, the only parenting options for women who didnt have a uterus or who couldnt carry a pregnancy were adoption or surrogacy. But in 2013, doctors in Sweden made history after a 35-year-old patient, who had had a uterus from a 61-year-old woman transplanted, gave birth to a healthy boy. In 2016, doctors in Brazil advanced the technique even further, announcing that a 32-year-old woman had given birth with a uterus that had been transplanted from a deceased donor.

While these breakthroughs are huge for reproductive science, Dr. Christianson said, uterine transplants are also expensive. Its the only transplant we know of that is for a one-time use to make a baby and then you dont need the transplant anymore, she said. So while this procedure is revolutionary for the right type of patient, it most likely wont become mainstream.

One of the biggest achievements for male infertility, said Dr. Peter Schlegel, M.D., urologist in chief at New York-Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell Medical Center and president of the American Society for Reproductive Medicine, has been in the treatment of those with severe infertility. Particularly in men who produce little to no sperm, he said, or who had previously been rendered sterile because of treatments like chemotherapy.

A technique called micro-TESE which was developed in the late 1990s, improved in the 2000s and more popularized in the past decade, Dr. Schlegel said involves identifying areas of the testicle that have the best sperm production and microsurgically removing those sperm for use with assisted reproductive technologies like I.V.F.

A lot of those men are now considered treatable, Dr. Schlegel said, whereas before, our understanding of how and whether you could treat them was pretty limited.

[What to know about male infertility.]

Intrauterine devices have had a decidedly rocky past. The first known IUD-like device for humans, developed in 1909, reportedly involved inserting a ring made of silkworm gut seriously into the uterus. Since then, IUDs have advanced from silkworm rings wrapped entirely in silver (which, surprise, turned womens gums blackish-blue) to countless variations of loops, coils and plastic Ts. In the 1970s, the Dalkon Shield IUD was infamously pulled from the market after its poor design increased womens risk of infection and infertility. But in the late 1980s and early 2000s, the IUD regained popularity with the Food and Drug Administrations approval of the copper ParaGard and levonorgestrel-releasing Mirena.

It wasnt until 12 years later, in 2013, that the F.D.A. approved the next IUD, the Skyla, which is a low-dose hormonal option. In 2015 and 2016, the agency approved even lower-dose options the Liletta and the Kyleena. These IUDS have really revolutionized contraception because theyre highly effective and they are very well tolerated, Dr. Christianson said.

They are also valuable therapies for women with certain conditions, like heavy uterine bleeding, which in the past was mainly treated by performing a hysterectomy. Less women are undergoing hysterectomies because their symptoms can be treated with an IUD, Dr. Christianson said.

For women who cant freeze their eggs, like prepubescent girls or women who suddenly need cancer treatment, ovarian tissue freezing has offered a chance for them to preserve their ovaries for later reimplantation and use. The procedure has been available for about 20 years, Dr. Christianson said, but within the past 10 years, there have been several advances in the technique and more live births as a result.

Because most people who have frozen ovarian tissue havent needed to use it yet, the procedure is still considered experimental. Hopefully at some point the experimental label will be lifted, Dr. Christianson said.

Its perhaps not surprising that diet, sleep and exercise play a role in fertility. And while scientists are still in the early stages of sussing out how the food we eat and the sleep and exercise we get translate to prolificacy, recent albeit limited evidence is offering more clues.

A 2018 review from scientists from Harvard University, for instance, found that folic acid, vitamin B-12, omega-3 fatty acids and a Mediterranean diet were linked with better fertility in women, while unhealthy diets, like those high in trans fats, red and processed meats, added sugars and sugar-sweetened beverages, were associated with worse fertility. In men, similarly, researchers have found that those who follow healthy diets tend to have better fertility, while those with diets high in saturated and trans fats are worse off.

There is also budding evidence about how exercise and sleep affect virility in men, Dr. Schlegel said and some of the results seem counterintuitive. Moderate exercise, for instance, seems to be beneficial, but when those men exercise more vigorously such as by cycling for more than five hours per week, he said their sperm counts can be reduced by nearly half. Men who get six to eight hours of sleep per night tend to have better sperm production and fertility than those who get more or less, Dr. Schlegel said.

While many of these studies are promising, most are based on observational data, Dr. Schlegel said, so its not yet clear why researchers are seeing such associations, or whether changes to diet, sleep and exercise can really alter your fertility in the first place.

[Does stress actually affect fertility?]

For the bulk of the past century, fertile and pregnant women have been excluded from most clinical trials over fears of potential harms to future or current pregnancies. But as a result, there is a huge gap in knowledge about how safe and effective certain drugs are for women in general (case in point, the thalidomide debacle of the 1950s and 1960s).

More recently, there has been a major push for better representation of women in medical research.

For womens health in general, I think that this is a breakthrough, Dr. Christianson said. When we look at cardiology studies and other types of studies, a lot of times theres been more men than women. So I think focusing studies on women has been revolutionary for womens health.

While the textbook signs and symptoms of pre-eclampsia have been well understood high blood pressure, protein in the urine, swelling, headache, trouble breathing and more scientists still dont understand what causes the condition, and diagnosing it and predicting those who will develop it are challenging. Similarly, the most effective treatment for pre-eclampsia is also the least satisfying one delivery.

But research in recent years has helped improve our understanding of how the condition progresses in the body, said Dr. Ananth Karumanchi, M.D., a professor of medicine at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles. And that research has led to development of the first blood test which has been widely used abroad that can accurately diagnose the condition in women who have pre-eclampsia. While the test has not yet been approved in the United States, Dr. Karumanchi said that its development was a big deal because it might lead to new therapies for pre-eclampsia within the next decade.

The definition of pre-eclampsia was revised in 2014, based on new evidence, to capture women who have the condition but who dont have only the classic signs, like high blood pressure and protein in their urine. Now, for instance, it is well understood that some women may have only organ problems, such as with their liver or kidneys, before high blood pressure and protein in the urine set in.

New research has also offered clues on how women who are high risk might thwart the condition completely. A double-blind, placebo-controlled trial published in 2017, for example, found that taking 150 milligrams of aspirin daily from 11 to 14 weeks of pregnancy through the 36th week could reduce the chances of developing pre-eclampsia. Though because high doses of aspirin can also be associated with certain risks to a pregnancy, like pregnancy loss or certain birth defects, you should never start taking it without consulting your doctor.

In the past, a cervical cancer diagnosis might have meant the end of your ability to conceive, because standard treatment was to remove all or part of the uterus. But recent advances in fertility-conserving surgeries have given cancer patients more options. A procedure called a trachelectomy, for instance, which has been around for decades but has become more commonly used in recent years, allows doctors to remove only the cervix in patients who have cervical cancer. And as a result, shes able to preserve her uterus for future pregnancy, Dr. Christianson said.

Similarly, there has been a push in recent years to treat endometrial cancer more conservatively, Dr. Christianson said, by trying hormonal therapies before removing the uterus.

Julia Calderone is a senior staff editor for NYT Parenting. Follow her @juliacalderone.

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