Friday, September 13, 2019

Teagasc are hosting a number of courses through their College of Amenity Horticulture, based in the National Botanical Gardens. There are currently 5 programmes on offer between their centre at the National Botanical Gardens and the unique setting of their Ashtown campus, just north of Dublin City.

Students will spend 16 weeks of practical learning on approved horticultural units within the industry directly linked to their chosen learning stream. This will enable students to learn the management and manual skills associated with their chosen specialism.

Sixteen weeks are also spent at the College. The emphasis during this course is both on the development of business and management skills and also on developing proficiency in a range of skills associated their chosen stream of learning.

Examples of the programmes below display the extensive body of coursework available.

Horticulture Enterprise (Level 5 QQI):

The general horticulture course is designed to allow students to gain a firm foothold in the horticultural world and to allow progression in to more specialized fields at Level 6. Here, students will learn basics such as work practice, plant protection and science, soil science and growing media and how to identify plants.

Progression from Level 5 to Level 6 allows students to choose a field to sepcialize in

Landscape Enterprise (Level 6 QQI):

This comprehensive course covers key components of the landscaping process such as design and construction, park and garden supervision and production mechanisation. Through this course students will gain practical knowledge and experience through working on the landscaping elements of the Ashtown Campus.

Propagation and Tree Management (Level 6 QQI):

During this programme students will learn essential skills with regards to tree and nursery enterprise. Modules covered within this course handle subjects such as garden centre operations and nursery stock production.

Food Production (Level 6 QQI):

With a focus towards the production of fruit and vegetables, this particular course gives students a chance to get their foot on the ladder with regards to practicing the production and maintenance of these crops. Over the course of their learning, students can expect to cover features such as market gardening, organic crop production and sustainable horticulture as well as furthering their knowledge on the environment and ecology.

Sports Turf Enterprise (Level 6 QQI):

This outlet of horticulture will allow students to embark on learning about the growing industry within the realms of sports turf. The Ashtown campus contains a dedicated grass and golf area where students will be able to perfect their skills and knowledge with regards to managing sports ground.

All the above courses also provide personal development modules as well as a wide range of elective subjects which will allow students to further the horizon of their learning.

Opportunities on completion of a Level 6 course include progression to Year 2 of the Level 7 Horticulture programme being hosted by Waterford I.T. as well as prospects throughout the field of horticulture.

To apply to these courses or for more information Click Here.

The College of Amenity Horticulture, National Botanic Gardens will also be holding their open day on Thursday October 3rd from 2PM until 4.30PM.

More:
Back To Their Roots: Teagasc Hosting Horticulture Courses - CareersPortal

Change in Sky Blues pecking order

Mark Robins has changed his Coventry City striking pecking order, admtting he cant ignore the form of fan favourite Max Biamou.

The Sky Blues boss moved the popular Frenchman up the matchday rankings on Saturday when he named him on the bench at Burton Albion ahead of Amadou Bakayoko.

Bakayoko travelled to the game and was fit to play but missed out of the 18-man squad to Biamou whose recent hot form of four goals in four games in the Under-23s has seen him promoted to second choice striker behind Matty Godden.

Robins could have named both among the subs but needed to cover all bases in terms of back-up for key positions in the team, explaining after the goalless draw with the Brewers: I needed a midfield player on the bench and I wanted Max because I cant ignore him.

I have spoken about Max. Hes scored four goals in the Under-23s and he warrants a place on the bench and people have got to fight for their place.

City face AFC Wimbledon at St Andrews tonight, looking to strengthen their grip on the top spot in League One against a side that is currently third from bottom and yet to achieve their first win of the season.

The Sky Blues, meanwhile, have been victorious in all four of their opening games at their groundshare venue but have not been able to beat the Dons in their last four league meetings, home and away, since their return to the Football League, having drawn all of them.

There are battles for the shirt throughout the squad, none more so than at centre-half where Kyle McFadzean, Dom Hyam and Michael Rose have been competing for the two available berths.

Roses groin injury late on against Blackpool last week opened the door for Hyam who was outstanding at Burton where he played a key role alongside McFadzean to help keep the teams fifth clean sheet from eight games in the division.

Yes thats good that is, it really is, said Robins , reflecting on the impressive defensive record.

And particularly so against a team that put you under an inordinate amount of pressure. I thought we defended pretty well and some of the defending in the wider areas was outstanding.

Its brilliant and they are going to have to bide their time from time to time because they are three really good centre-halves who are all performing really well at the level.

So its a great problem for me to have and they have got to fight to keep the jersey.

Asked about Roses availability, the player having travelled to the Pirelli but not involved in the matchday squad, he said: He is pain free so available again.

Left-back Brandon Mason is another who comes back into contention for the midweek fixture, albeit young understudy Sam McCallum having done a fine job in his absence with a hamstring strain over the last four games.

Brandon Mason was here as well and its good to have them available again.

He got through 90 minutes in the Under-23s on Friday and will be ready for Tuesday night.

Coventry Citys Academy Manager Richard Stevens is leaving the club to take charge of Championship West Bromwich Albions own youth set-up.

Stevens, who has been at the Sky Blues for the last 12 years, six in charge of the Academy, leaves the club with its huge thanks and gratitude after it says he has played a huge role in the development of individual players and the Academy as a whole.

The club say he has, shown incredible dedication to the club, spending countless hours going above and beyond to ensure the continued success of the clubs Category 2 Academy at the Alan Higgs Centre.

Stevens said: The decision to leave my role has without any question been the toughest Ive had to make, having been here for 12 years.

The Academy and people within it have given me some of the best times Ive had in football and also some of the toughest challenges.

The securing of the Academy training ground and Category 2 status leaves the Club and Academy in a strong position to push forward. The step to Category 1 in the Academy system is a challenge I could not turn down for my own personal development and career progression.

Although I will be around for a period of time yet, I would like to thank the Owners for full support throughout the journey and also all of the staff, players and parents who have played a part in providing experiences for all levels of development.

Its been a privilege to have been a part of this Academy.

Manager Mark Robins said: While we are of course disappointed to see him leave, his work at the Club has earned him the opportunity at a Category One Academy, and we wish Richard all of the best for the future and thank him for his hard work and achievements at Coventry City over the years.

Dave Boddy, Coventry City Chief Executive, said: We are sorry to see Richard leaving the Club. He has shown incredible dedication to the Club over many years, and his role in the success of the Academy and the impact that has had on the Football Club as a whole cannot be underestimated.

For Richard, I know this has been a difficult decision, but moving to a Category 1 Academy at West Bromwich Albion is a terrific opportunity for him and he goes with the thanks of everyone at the Football Club, past and present Academy players & parents, and no doubt our supporters too.

Russell Slade has turned to his former club Coventry City to strengthen his backroom staff at Hereford.

The ex- Sky Blues boss, who had a disastrous spell three month spell in charge of the club in 2016/17 the season City were relegated to League Two has appointed Academy coach and former player Andy Whing as his first team coach.

The 34-year-old, who holds his A License, has coaching experience with Oxford United, Kidderminster Harriers and more latterly with the Sky Blues, whom he re-joined in February 2018, helping to coach the Under-18s.

Whing hadnt officially left City as of this morning despite Hereford announcing his appointment at the weekend.

Its unclear at this stage whether he hopes to continue working for the Sky Blues alongside his new responsibilities for the non-league club in National League North.

Speaking about the appointment, Bulls manager Slade said: Im really pleased to bring in Andy, hes played for me at Brighton and Leyton Orient so I know him well, hes a really good type.

Hopefully the balance between an older manager and a younger coach will work. Im sure hell do well for this football club and Im delighted that hes with us.

Whing made close to 400 Football League appearances, including 106 at Coventry for whom he scored two goals.

After retiring through injury at the age of 31, Whing immediately joined the Oxford United Academy set-up, and has also had spells coaching with Kidderminster Harriers first team and U23s.

Most recently Whing has been a part of the Coventry City Academy, with whom he graduated himself earlier in his career.

He's most fondly remembered by fans for scoring the last ever goal for City at Highfield Road in the 62 win over Derby County in the 200405 season.

Speaking about his appointment, Whing said: Im really looking forward to the challenge I enjoy being out on the grass in the week working with the players and then seeing the results on a Saturday.

Ive played at Edgar Street a few times in my career and I know that the atmosphere can be really rocking. This is a really big club and Im looking forward to getting going.

Coventry City Supporters Club have explained their decision to revoke the membership of a life-long fan because of his association with the Sky Blue Trust.

The recently formed club, which is based at Freehold Street and has around 140 members, have kicked out Moz Baker, former chair of the Trust, sparking a backlash from fellow supporters on social media.

Rob Foster, a spokesman for Coventry City Supporters Club, says the fan group took the action after hearing he was organising a protest at Ricoh Arena owners Wasps first game of the season on Saturday an allegation denied by the Trust and Mr Baker, who stepped down from the Trust board in July.

Mr Foster also claims that the resulting Twitter storm of outraged fans has been created by fake account holders.

Read the full story here:

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Championship club come calling as Coventry City players fight to keep the jersey - Coventry Telegraph

The IMG coaches envisioned him as an offensive tackle, a blocker who clears lanes for running backs and, more important, protects high-priced quarterbacks. His wingspan alone (35-inch arms) promised to make him hard to get around. His performance in the tests given to offensive linemen the 40-yard dash, shuttle runs and various agility drills that measure an athletes stamina, balance and ability to change direction put him in the top ranks of the N.F.L.s offensive-tackle prospects in recent seasons. His body fat was below 20 percent, exceedingly low for a man his size. In my years of coaching, I probably havent had anybody who looks like that, top to bottom, Jay Butler, a former N.F.L. strength and conditioning coach who worked with Mailata at IMG, told ESPN.

Offensive tackle, though, is one of the most technically demanding positions in football. It requires size, complicated footwork, a high degree of intelligence and, usually, the acquired wisdom gained over years of high school and college competition needed to win the battles against defensive players who come charging across the line of scrimmage. One mistake can cost a team a game or a season, if the error results in a $30-million-a-year quarterbacks leaving the field on an injury cart.

As Stoutland, who is the Eagles offensive line coach, watched Mailata go through drills mainly simulations of pass blocking and run blocking his skepticism evaporated. Right away, I was like, Hello! he recalls. You better pay close attention here. He was standing next to a scout for the Pittsburgh Steelers. We were both looking at each other, like, Holy cow, what are we seeing here?

Less than two years later, Jordan Mailata has just begun his second season as an N.F.L. player, following a year in which an ESPN writer named him the Eagles most improved rookie a highly unusual honor, considering that he never set foot on the field last year in a regular-season game. But his performance during the 2018 preseason had turned some former offensive linemen into cheerleaders. Borderline obsessed with this dude at this point. This is crazy, Ross Tucker, a broadcaster and former N.F.L. lineman, tweeted while also projecting Mailata as a future All-Pro. Mailata had pass-blocked competently and used his strength to clear big corridors for running backs; it was not the man-versus-boys stuff of the rugby video, but for a pure novice, it was impressive. His progress in practices was said to be remarkable (hence the most improved accolade). The buzz raised expectations and, if anything, increased the pressure on Mailata. Is he really a future star or just a curiosity piece? How soon until he is trusted to play in a game that counts? More broadly, how much football can you cram into an athlete, even one as big and outlandishly gifted as Mailata, if he has never played the sport before?

The 2018 N.F.L. draft took place in April, less than four months after Mailata arrived in Florida to begin his football education. The Eagles actually made a trade in order to move up in the seventh round and select him before the Steelers could. When his name was called, he walked out onto the stage at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Tex., wearing a white untucked shirt and a pair of jeans, along with a beige bomber jacket purchased from Johnny Bigg, an Australian mens wear store that features garments in sizes XL to 9XL. (Many of the top college players dress for the draft in expensive bespoke outfits.) The commentators on the N.F.L. Network went into near hysterics when his name was called. Youre about to see absolutely no footage of him playing American football, one said. They showed the rugby video, and when Mailata steamrollered an opponent and sent him staggering backward, another commentator cackled, Get some, little fella!

More here:
Can the N.F.L. Turn a 360-Pound Rugby Player Into a Football Star? - The New York Times

NICOLE HWANG / THE TEMPLE NEWS

Temple students are choosing to study abroad during college to build their professional experiences and become more culturally conscious.

Students can travel to Ecuador with Temples Latin American Studies Semester Program or study in one of several other countries like Chile, Cuba, Argentina, Brazil and Costa Rica through external study abroad programs.

Caroline Muehlbronner, a senior media studies and production and environmental studies major traveled to San Jose, Costa Rica, this summer to complete an internship with the Klein College of Media and Communication Global Opportunities, which provides opportunities in the U.S. and abroad for all students to obtain academic and practical experience.

Muehlbronner was the only student from Temple among the eight students she traveled with. This allowed her to meet all different kinds of people from the country, as well as work on her Spanish language skills.

The experience also gave her a new sense of self-awareness regarding her identity, Muehlbronner said.

Being there made me feel much more aware of my body in space and my privileges [as a white American], she said. Theres a fine line between wanting to learn and immerse yourself in the culture versus pretending youre a local or someone who actually knows what its like to live in Central America.

The experience abroad also gave her new opportunities when she returned to Temple, Muehlbronner said. She now works as a peer advisor for Klein GO and as an ambassador for global experiences.

While only 49 percent of college graduates find employment within 12 months of graduation, 90 percent of study abroad graduates find employment within six months of earning a degree, regardless of their chosen career field, according to the International Business Seminars. Eighty five percent of students who studied abroad also felt their experiences helped them build valuable skills for the job market, according to a 2012 Recent Graduates Survey by the Institute for the International Education of Students.

Naomi Szanto, a 2019 psychology major and Spanish alumna who traveled to Oviedo, Spain, said she is able to apply experiences from studying abroad to her career today. She is a graduate student at Boston University, where she is studying to become a mental health counselor.

A lot of what we talk about in class coincidentally is culture, and I realized that someone can come into my office from a culture that is completely different than what I grew up with, Szanto said. I have an advantage when it comes to understanding someone from a different country because I have experienced what its like [outside of the U.S.].

She enjoyed being immersed in Spanish culture, Szanto added.

Learning different cultures was my biggest takeaway. Szanto said. You can read it in a book, you can learn about it in class, but [when] you really experience it is when you get to understand it.

Skylar Bones, a sophomore criminal justice and Spanish major, studied in Ecuador through LASS in February and March. Bones said the Ecuadorian culture was extremely inviting and friendly.

You are passing someone on the street, they say Hi to you and you dont even know the person, Bones said.

Muehlbronner thought she had made a wrong decision to study abroad at first, but keeping an open mind made it a great experience, she said.

If you are interested in doing something dont let any of your fears prohibit your experience, Muehlbronner added.

More:
Temple students explore identity, culture while abroad - Temple News

Prince Harry launched the Heads Together mental health charity with his brother and sister-in-law, William and Kate (Picture: Getty)

Prince Harry has opened up about his own private mental health battle as he prepares to launch a new television series with Oprah Winfrey.

The Duke of Sussex said the programme with US TV legend Oprah will tell stories of human spirit fighting back from the darkest places.

Harry said he hopes viewers will be able to relate to the project and that it could help to save lives.

The Duke and Oprah will be co-creators and executive producers of the mental health series for Apples streaming service, which will launch next year.

Queen of daytime TV Oprah has met with Harry a number of times to discuss the show, which will be led by Kahane Cooperman, who produced The Daily Show with John Stewart in the US, and feature episodes directed and produced by the likes of Dawn Porter, an American filmmaker who has created documentaries about segregation and anti-abortion laws, and Asif Kapadia, who was behind the Oscar-winning documentary Amy, about Amy Winehouse, and the Bafta-winning feature Senna, about the life of the late Formula One driver Ayrton Senna.

Harry told journalist Bryony Gordon, whose podcast he featured on to first speak out about mental health in 2017, that he sought counselling after two years of total chaos having spent nearly 20 years not thinking about the death of his mother.

Speaking to her in the Daily Telegraph, the Duke said: When I did your podcast two years ago the response made me realise what an impact sharing my story could have, and what an impact other stories can have for so many who are suffering silently.

If the viewers can relate to the pain and perhaps the experience, then it could save lives, as we will focus on prevention and positive outcomes.

What I have learnt and I continue to learn in the space of mental health, mental illness and self-awareness is that all roads lead back to our mental wellbeing, how we look after ourselves and each other.

Last night, Harry and wife Meghan posted an inspirational quote from the Dalai Lama on their official Instagram account.

The Sussex Royal page regularly features comments from leading world figures and in the past has featured quotes from Nelson Mandela and Harrys late mother Princess Diana.

The latest quote from the spiritual leader, under the couples joint royal cypher, says: I believe that at every level of society familial, tribal, national and international the key to a happier and more successful world is the growth of compassion.

Here is the original post:
Prince Harry and Oprah Winfrey reveal details of new mental health TV series - Metro.co.uk

Compassion is the key to a happier and more successful world, the quote says

Words of guidance from the Dalai Lama are the latest inspirational quotes to be featured on the Duke and Duchess of Sussexs official Instagram account.

Harry and Meghans account regularly has comments from leading world figures such as Nelson Mandela and Diana, Princess of Wales.

The quote from the spiritual leader, under the couples joint royal cypher, says: I believe that at every level of society familial, tribal, national and international the key to a happier and more successful world is the growth of compassion.

Alongside the post, the official site describes the Dalai Lama comment as a quote for the week ahead.

It goes on to say: The 14th Dalai Lama, Tenzin Gyatso, is a spiritual leader and a man of peace.

Through this approach he has received over 150 awards, honorary doctorates, and prizes in recognition of his message of peace, non-violence, inter-religious understanding, universal responsibility and compassion.

Prince Harry has teamed up with Oprah Winfrey for a series addressing mental health which will tell tales of the human spirit fighting back from the darkest places.

Harry and Oprah will be co-creators and executive producers of the project for Apples streaming service which will launch next year.

The Queen of daytime TV and the Duke of Sussex have met a number of times to discuss the project, with a production team consisting of Asif Kapadia, who directed Senna and Amy, Dawn Porter and Kahane Cooperman, according to the Daily Telegraph.

The Duke opened up about his struggles with mental health in the paper in 2017, saying he sought counselling after two years of total chaos having spent nearly 20 years not thinking about the death of his mother.

Speaking to the paper, Harry said: When I did your podcast two years ago the response made me realise what an impact sharing my story could have, and what an impact other stories can have for so many who are suffering silently.

If the viewers can relate to the pain and perhaps the experience, then it could save lives, as we will focus on prevention and positive outcomes.

What I have learnt and I continue to learn in the space of mental health, mental illness and self-awareness is that all roads lead back to our mental wellbeing, how we look after ourselves and each other.

Here is the original post:
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle instagram inspiration Dalai Lama quote - Metro.co.uk

Want to prepare for the future of work? Cheryl Cran walks us through some of the most important skills to develop.

Imagine right now that you are working in the year 2030 in the future of work what do you think will be different than how you are working today? Do you think that most tasks will be automated and that we will be working in a robot-ruled world? Do you imagine that the concept of work will change, and people will have more free time?

Frankly, no one can predict the future. However, we can look at trends and research into the impact of technology on the future. We can certainly be prepared for and create our future.

When talking about the future of work people are either extremely anxious about an uncertain future or they are excited and have a bring it on attitude. Which one of those responses is yours?

One of the ways to deal with anxiety around the future is to build the skills and be ready for whatever the future brings. We cant control what the future will bring however, we can control what we do now to be prepared.

That being said, there are four future of work skills that you may not be aware of that are needed to be ready.

Leading the self includes having high-level self-awareness around strengths and areas for improvement. Leading the self also includes the ability to self-modulate your emotions, your reactions and your behaviours. Leading the self means high-level accountability to how you show up and your wellbeing.

Navigating fast-changing times and an uncertain future requires each of us to be fully responsible for our positive and solution-focused mindsets.

This includes setting inspiring vision for others to see and to align with. Leading change means the ability to recognise your own reactions and push-backs to change while being attuned to other peoples reactions as well. Leading change means the ability to see a multitude of angles and positions held by various people in various roles and departments.

The ability to bridge silos requires an agile mind and we focus a team-first mindset. Bridging silos requires the ability to look beyond a singular team such as your own and to look at teams as concentric circles of expansion. For example, there is your team, there are the other departments as part of your team, there is the entire company as part of your team, there are your clients and partners as part of your team.

The days of compartmentalising departments or functions is quickly eroding as technology moves us towards integrated solutions. Every company that exists today is a technology firm, which means technology is the hub with which client services are delivered and with which employees leverage to drive business forward.

Creative intelligence means the ability to connect the dots within increasing ambiguity. Creative intelligence is the ability to link things together so that you can create context and simplicity for teams to execute quickly and accurately.

Technology is providing much more data and the requirements needed are people who can make sense of the data beyond the technical output. In other words, data is not useful until we make sense of it and leverage it to create enhanced solutions for the employee experience and the customer experience. Or for people in general.

Lets go back to the 2030 workplace and imagine what will be different. No question that technology will have completely transformed work in that we will far more globalised, for more connected, far more integrated across countries, platforms and businesses.

What will not change is that as people we will be seeking to make a difference with our work, we will want to be doing meaningful work and we will be living a life where work is a part of our life but not our whole life.

Sounds like a positive future to me. We have the power and ability to create that future now.

ByCheryl Cran

Cheryl Cran is a future-of-work expert and author ofNextMapping: Anticipate, Navigate & Create the Future of Work.

Link:
The 4 future of work skills that you did not know you needed - Siliconrepublic.com

Fear the Walking Dead

Talking Dead is getting ready to interview Fear the Walking Deads showrunners, Andrew Chambliss and Ian B. Goldberg, and as it often does, asked its Twitter audience for questions for them.

Chambliss and Goldberg took over Fear in season 4, proceeded to kill off two central, fan-favorite characters and totally alter the tone and direction of the show from top to bottom in the next two years. Its gotten to the point where my colleague Erik Kain has called it one of the worst shows on TV, and while I havent seen literally every show on the air, it certainly has been a tremendous disappointment for two years now, especially because of how good the show was starting to get in season 3.

The Talking Dead call for questions reveals a fanbase that is similarly angry with Chambliss and Goldberg. I have gone through every reply through this tweet. 167 replies, and I have found maybetwo actual questions, and while literally every other question is something along the likes of:

@KevinRF45 - What does it feel to ruin a show that was amazing?

@EvenStevenYT - Are there talks behind the scenes about removing these two clowns of show runners?

@Kristy52694449 - Can we just have Dave Erickson back?

@GetGot01 - Do either of you realize how terrible this show has gotten under your writing and ideas?

@Mannyfresh3691 - Ask them if Madison is coming back? If the answer is no. Ask them to quit? @KimDickens should have never been killed off.

@Fawn_Liebowitz - Why did they hate #FearTWD so much that they had to destroy it with such awful writing and directing? Can they watch the show themselves without laughing hysterically? Do they possess an ounce of self awareness? Do they know how bad they are at running a show?

So uh, yeah, now multiply that by like thirty and you get the general idea.

It is rarely to see a fanbase this united against the current state of a show, and while I dont think personal attacks against Chambliss and Goldberg are the answer, I do think it is very clear that the show has gone in a poor direction under their leadership, and that a change is in order. And yet Fear has already been renewed for season 6 with both of them at the helm, so it appears that AMC does not agree with the majority of its fans.

Fear the Walking Dead

It does seem unlikely that former showrunner Dave Erickson will return to the show he helped create, as he reportedly to step down to make other shows for AMC which presumably hes busy with now. On the other hand, he probably isnt wild about whats been done to his creation and his characters, so never say never.

AMC has lately made rather good showrunner decisions over at The Walking Dead, putting Angela Kang for the shows best season in years, one that just took home a bunch of wins at the Saturn Awards. But the opposite has happened for Fear, as the show has just been a total void of quality ever since Chambliss and Goldberg took over with maybe 2-3 okay episodes out of the 29 or so total that have aired to date, with the rest being completely forgettable or outright terrible.

A change has to be made, and yet we already know we have to endure another full season of the show under its current leadership. Im not sure if Fear will outlive its showrunners, or the showrunners will outlive Fear at this point, but I do wonder just how long this can continue with the fanbase in open rebellion.

Follow meon Twitter,FacebookandInstagram.Read my new sci-fi thriller novelHerokiller, available now in print and online. I also wroteThe Earthborn Trilogy.

The rest is here:
Talking Dead Asks Fans For Questions For Fear The Walking Dead Showrunners, It Does Not Go Well - Forbes

Fifteen technology companies have been selected to take part in a new accelerator programme to drive healthcare innovation in the north west of England.

The businesses will take part in the Greater Manchester Future of Health Challenge, an initiative set up in June this year that aims to support entrepreneurs working in the digital health space.

The 15 companies were selected based on their potential to transform lives through the application of innovative technology.

They include Cheshire-based Gendius, a platform that uses machine learning to calculate risks relating to diabetes, as well as Manchester-based Mind Moose, an app that helps children develop self-awareness and self-esteem.

The Greater Manchester Future of Health Challenge seeks to foster health-tech companies with technologies that can support people with long-term health conditions such as dementia and diabetes, as well as those designed to improve public health through prevention.

The programme is run by UP Ventures and delivered in partnership with Novartis, Push Doctor, Google, The Landing, MediaCityUK, Salford Royal NHS Foundation Trust, Salford Digital, Health Innovation Manchester and Apadmi.

Founder and CEO of UP Ventures, Danny Meaney, said:We received and reviewed hundreds of applications for the GM Future of Health Challenge and have been hugely impressed.

The response is a testament to both UPs reputation and connections in the early stage tech ecosystem, and Greater Manchesters international reputation as a great place to grow early stage tech businesses.

The selected companies will be based within the Landing, a dedicated technology work space for digital start-ups and SMEs that is run by MediaCityUK.

There they will receive support in commercialising their products, attracting investors and creating new business opportunities..

Dan Sodergren, head of business services at the Landing, said:The Landing has developed a specialism in digital health and we are fully geared up to help drive this programme.Were excited to welcome these businesses from all over the UK and particularly pleased to see a number of North West-based companies in this cohort.

As a region we continue to lead the way with the outstanding technology firms who either start-up here or choose to move here and were confident all the companies in this Greater Manchester Future of Health accelerator will benefit hugely from this experience.

The Greater Manchester Future of Health Challenge follows on from a number of successful accelerator programmes, including DigitalHealth.London, which recently launched its fourth cohort.

Read more from the original source:
15 digital health enterprises selected for Manchester accelerator - Digital Health

Confessions of a Departing Drug Dealer is a fictional, dramatized account of the rise and fall of a notorious campus drug dealer who rose to fame in 2015 after publishing the details of his exploits in an anonymous Spectator op-ed of the same name. His arrest shortly followed publication and, according to the movie, his extensive operation left the campus community craving illicit substances ever since.

The film is one of a long line of projects written, directed, and produced by recent graduate and film student Edwin DeJesus Jr., CC 19, and stars Soren Shade, CC 19, in the lead role along with a host of undergrad actors and actresses. DeJesus last film, Kulafobie, won second prize at the Columbia Undergraduate Film Productions 2019 film festival.

The movie itself is narrated from the perspective of the drug kingpins girlfriend, Elma. The man himself, Maximillian Woolworth (a name dripping with entitled upper-middle-class chauvinism), is introduced to the story as a bright-eyed, nave young economics introvert who likely wouldnt consider a night without brushing his teeth, let alone spearheading a sprawling criminal drug network. Before his downfall, Max was the picture of dignity and trustworthiness.

Max, however, quickly casts off his life of type-A study habits and academic dedication when his uncle proposes he take up selling hard drugs. With the promise of everything you could ever want and the flash of a few keys of coke, Max is forever transformed into a hard-partying, Adderall-blowing, vodka-chugging madman. He dedicates himself to an elevated philosophy of drug-dealing in which only capable students can do businessall in an apparent effort to preserve the overall health and safety of the undergraduate community.

Naturally, this foolproof plan falls apart when the New York Police Department invades the dorms and arrests the bourgeoise of Kings University (Max and his compatriots) in the middle of a rager awash with coke-blowing and twerking. Not to worry, however, for were told Maxs family has money.

The parallels between the original op-ed and the movie are strong. The film drips with the same haughty lack of self-awareness that the op-ed reflects. In the op-ed, Michael Getzler, the infamous former Columbia undergrad whom the character Max is based on, describes the hundreds of products he sold as fun-assisting substances when referring to MDMA, cocaine, and Xanax.

Getzler claims that the liquor store clerk who doesnt check IDs generates much more risk than I ever do, and says that MDMA gets a bad rap because street dealers cut the product, something Max would never even think of doing in 1,000,000 years. In an odd paradox, he even issues an aside directly to the parents of Columbias young and impressionable undergrad academics, saying, Dont worry, parents, your kids drug dealer is looking out for them! The entire piece is stunning due to the bluntness of Getzlers admission and the way in which Getzler ultimately saw himself as some sort of shepherd for innocent students.

In the movie, Max conveys a similar self-aggrandizing image. Elma provides a voice of reason after Maxs enterprise begins to unravel. She pleads for Max to quit acting like a psychopath, and his first response is, Honestly, what dealer actually looks out for his clients the way that I do? Narration from the film also explains that Max would exclude customers he deemed physically vulnerable, seemingly as some misguided attempt to shield the impressionable youngsters on campus from sin. It seems clear that the movie makes a pointed effort to depict Max from the perspective that the audience saw him from in the op-ed, not necessarily from the one Max might have imagined himself: as a conceited, nave, and surprisingly stupid Ivy League student, not an icon.

Though this portrayal is nuanced and unique, some other aspects of the film play on standard Columbia tropes. Wall Street is implied to be the enemy, as usual. The film includes a number of shots of an economics class in Havemeyer 309 in which Max learns the basics of supply and demand. The message here seems to be that market greed compelled this mans transformation from saint to sinner.

The devilish activity of partyingportrayed in its most gratuitous and exaggerated sense in the filmis ultimately the downfall of Maxs budding academic career. Though there may be some Project X-style truth to that, the zero-to-100 nature of Maxs downfall seems hyperbolic at best. There are plenty of students on campus who have tried drugs at a party and didnt subsequently skip all their finals and head straight to jail.

Overall, Confessions of a Departing Drug Dealer is a spotlight on a particularly prevalent Columbia story; one in which the forces of power and ambition push a student to test the limits of his own entitlement. It may be true that these factors come together here on campus better than at most places. However, to the student who may find the interplay of these subjects well-trodden and tiresome territory, Confessions of a Departing Drug Dealer is no confession at allits just campus.

DeJesus plans to release Confessions of a Departing Drug Dealer later this month on his YouTube channel.

Staff writer Lee Alexander can be contacted at lee.alexander@columbiaspectator.com. Follow Spectator on Twitter @ColumbiaSpec.

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Film review: Confessions of a Departing Drug Dealer (2019) - CU Columbia Spectator