The photo has been used for illsutative purposes.

Gulf Today, Staff Reporter

UAE government said that the new mutation of the COVID-19 would not affect the effectiveness of the vaccination for coronavirus.

Dr. Omar Abdulrahman Al Hammadi, Official Spokesman of the UAE Government during a media briefing on coronavirus said, Some mutations in the new Corona virus have helped the emergence of a new strain of the virus capable of spreading faster in some regions of the world, and the topic is still under study by scientists and the competent authorities.

Dr Al-Hammadi said, Clinical research has not indicated the ability of new mutations of the virus to thwart the effectiveness of the vaccination response, and researchers have confirmed before the emergence of the new mutation that human immunity is fighting the mutated versions of the original virus more effectively than before."

A health worker takes a sample of nasal swab for COVID-19 in Dubai.

Dr Al Hammadi said, Our health sector is able, thanks to its medical staff, to deal efficiently with any changes that may occur, and to provide the best forms of prevention and health care for citizens and residents.

Dr Al Hammadi said, We affirm that all those coming from outside the country must adhere to all precautionary measures, including adherence to home quarantine, and going to the hospital in the event of any symptoms appearing, and those outside the country must take all precautions and adhere to the preventive measures for these countries.

A health worker makes a heart sign at a hospital.

He also said self-awareness is the most important weapon we have against the epidemic.

Awareness is what drives the individual to hasten to protect himself, his family and protect all those he loves, awareness is what pushes the individual to move away from the sources of infection and not assume that what he will do will not expose him to a virus that cannot be seen with the eye.

The UAEs health sector has succeeded in containing the crisis since its inception.

Since last March until now, researchers have detected mutations that led to a slight and ineffective change in the virus's genetic structure.

The authorities said, We stress that all workers at airports must adhere to all precautionary measures and take all precautions when dealing with travellers.

We also stress those who are outside the country the need to take all precautions and adhere to the procedures of the countries they are in.

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Vaccine effective against the new strain of COVID-19, says UAE - Gulf Today

Although the adaptation goes to great lengths to be faithful to its source material, there are some things that are not as easily adapted as others.

TheTower of God anime adaptation is a near-perfect replica of the manhwa. The colorful characters, settings, and items that have filled the screens of webtoon readers since 2014 have finally made their way to the television screen in 2020. The new anime manages to adapt theTower of Godplot step for step without losing what makes the original so thrilling.

RELATED:Noblesse VS. Tower Of God: Which Is The Best Manhwa Anime Adaption?

Although the adaptationgoes to great lengths to befaithful to its source material, some things are not as easily adapted as others. Hereare10 differences between the anime and the manhwa.

When Bam is first introduced in theTower of God, he is seen as an innocent and ignorant young man. His lack of understanding is just anotherthing that proves how unprepared this irregular is for the dangers ahead of him.

RELATED:Tower Of God: 10 Most Powerful Weapons, Items, & Tools

The manhwa leans more heavily into this idea by giving Bam a weapon at the outset of Headon's test. The weapon may be old and rusty, but it gives the boy an edge that he lacks when first introduced in the anime.

Fans of the anime will remember Levin as the first victim of Rak Wraithraiser in the Field Test. Later Levin throws a fit during Lero-Ro's introduction and meets the bad end of a powerful shinsu blast. This is the last viewers see of Levin in the anime, but manhwa readers are given much more of the hunter.

In the manhwa, Levin continues to climb the tower as a Light Bearer. The hunter makes it all the way to the final test with Bam and Khun, but his rifle is left in the field that Rak dropped it in when these two first met.

The Black March makes its debut in the manhwa in the same fashion as the anime. During Headon's test, Princess Yuri gives Bam the Black March to help him pass. Bam manages to ignite the weapon and pass Headon's test, but his future relationship with the Black March varies between the two different mediums.

In the anime, Bam meets the Black March again at the end of the Crown Game, when she ignites to render the boy unconscious. The manhwa ends the crown game with a flash of light, then jumps ahead in time without explaining exactly what happened.

Tower of God is appealing to anime fans because of its dramatic battles and incredible character designs. Another thing that draws in viewers is how self-aware the anime seems to be. It understands that it is a battle anime, and it embraces the tropes that come with this.

The manhwa proves this self-awareness by occasionally speaking directly to the viewer. SIU doesn't do it often, but when he chooses to break the fourth wall in his manhwa, it is hilarious.

Endorsi is introduced as a powerful and confident character in both the anime and the manhwa ofTower of God. When she steps onto the scene during the crown game she quickly proves to be one of the most powerful regulars climbing the tower alongside Khun and Bam.

RELATED:Tower Of God: The 5 Strongest Characters (& 5 Weakest), Ranked

The manhwa demonstrates this power in unique ways when compared to the anime. In the panels that make up the manhwa, Endorsi is shown to have control of a set of orange and black orbs that she can use to block her foes attacks. The anime replaces these orbs withincredibly well-animated feats of physical strength and speed.

The final test that Bam and his team have to pass to move on from the tests' floor involves maintaining a well-balanced ecosystem. The anime shows Khun working with Narae and Laure to manipulate the setting to their advantage.

A small detail that is left out of the anime is the fact that it was Shibisu, not Khun, that originally found out about the underground tunnels that Khun uses to beat this test. Shibisu is given plenty of other opportunities to show off his academic side. Still, theshow missed an opportunity toconnect the scout position with the idea of research when they left out this detail.

After lending Bam the Black March during Headon's test and then watching the boy disappear after passing, Princess Yuri spends season 1 searching for Bam. This adventure takes Yuri and her team through treacherous, unmapped regions of the tower.

The princess prepared for these dangers by putting a team together. However, this team's faces vary depending on whether you read the manhwa or watched the anime. While some faces stay the same, a few characters in the manhwa never make it to the screen in the anime's thirteen-episode run.

The tower that Bam, Khun, and Rak work their way through in Season 1 of the anime is mysterious. To maintain this mysteriousness, information is doled out in small doses. The manhwa similarly handles information, but thanks to the medium's nature, it manages to fit in much more information than the anime does.

An example of this information goes by the name suspendium. The material goes unnamed in the anime, but the manhwa explains that this material allows the lighthouses to levitate. Other episodes show Khun using the blue rock as a form of currency. Perhaps the anime will introduce the floating rock in future seasons.

The spear bearer revolution is largely played up for laughs in the anime. Paracule's plan to stop the ranker and defeat him from a distance with spears is ridiculous in both the anime and manhwa format.

The manhwa pushes the revolution further than just abandoning Hatz, though. In an arc that seems to be themed around the idea of betrayal, Paracule's plot to betray his team by runningaway isn't enough. So, Paracule captures a few of his own teammates and holds them hostage to draw the ranker in. Regardless of how complicated Paracule's plan is, though, the fact remains that it is a bad plan.

The anime adaptation was by and large faithful to the source material. Still, the manhwa's longer format allowed it to fill out relationships that are only barely explored in the anime. The relationship between Endorsi and Bam is one of these relationships.

The manhwa gives its readers a couple of scenes that show Endorsi and Bam training before the final exam.The manhwa version of Bam does manage to stop the bull with the reverse flow control technique he picked up from Quant during the final battle. This is a feat that the anime version of Bam never managed to accomplish. Perhaps Bam enters the final test with more confidence in the manhwa thanks to his time training with a Princess of Jahad.

NEXT:Tower Of God Manhwa: 10 Time Bam Sacrificed Himself For Others

Next My Hero Academia: 10 Quirks That Are Actually Stronger Than Earphone Jack

Andrew Tefft is a writer, reader, watcher, and gamer based in the United States. His nomadic lifestyle makes it difficult to pin him down, but his affinity with technology makes it easy for an audience to stay in touch! He's worked in both the education and entertainment industries and now lends his writing talent to Comic Book Resources as a List Writer. Andrew grew up absorbing comic book material and debating the strengths of fictional characters with his siblings. Today he uses those skills to share his opinions of the strongest, smartest, and most resourceful anime and manga characters with the viewers of CBR.

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Tower Of God: 10 Differences Between The Anime & The Manhwa, Season 1 - CBR - Comic Book Resources

Resources, protective factors and personal strengths contribute towards the development of resilience in middle-aged and older men who have sex with men, according to a recent research report by Dr Renato Liboro and colleagues from the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health in Toronto, Canada.

According to the authors, resilience can be defined as a positive adaptation within the context of significant adversity, and can develop at the individual and community levels. Resilience enables individuals to withstand and overcome life challenges, such as living with HIV or being at-risk for acquiring it.

This research focused on the experiences of men who have sex with men (MSM, including transgender men), over the age of 40, to highlight those factors that play a role in the development of resilience as individuals age, both for those living with HIV and those who are HIV negative.

An umbrella term for people whose gender identity and/or gender expression differs from the sex they were assigned at birth.

Social attitudes that suggest that having a particular illness or being in a particular situation is something to be ashamed of. Stigma can be questioned and challenged.

The presence of one or more additional health conditions at the same time as a primary condition (such as HIV).

A person whose gender identity and expression matches the biological sex they were assigned when they were born. A cisgender person is not transgender.

In the language of healthcare, something that happens in a community setting or in the community occurs outside of a hospital.

The study used a strengths-based approach to better understand how many HIV-positive older individuals have developed resilience to ageing with HIV not only to survive its clinical and social impacts, but also to live full, meaningful lives. Similarly, the researchers interviewed those who have remained HIV negative despite encountering sexual and social risk factors and living through the height of the epidemic in Toronto.

Interviews were conducted with 55 MSM in Ontario (78% resided in downtown Toronto), aged 40 or older, with an average age of 54. Three-quarters of the participants were living with HIV. Most men identified as gay (78%) and White (49%). Black (16%), Asian (15%) and other racially diverse and immigrant men were also represented in the study. The study included perspectives from three transgender men.

Three broad areas emerged as contributors to resilience: resources, protective factors and personal strengths.

For both HIV-negative MSM and those living with HIV, LGBTQ spaces, community-based organisations (including AIDS service organisations, community clinics and homeless shelters) could be used by men when needed and provided safe, inclusive spaces. These resources were frequently cited as providing essential services, and occasionally as being lifesavers for the men.

Both groups also spoke about the importance of excellent healthcare providers they could easily speak to, such as openly gay or non-judgmental practitioners. Men living with HIV specifically spoke of how reliant they were on these providers. They also spoke of the use of harm reduction services, such as needle-exchange, more frequently than HIV-negative MSM.

My doctors the best! Hes very knowledgeable. He goes out of his way to explain things to me, and he builds me up

For immigrants, Canada was viewed as a safe space where sexuality could be openly expressed and necessary services could be easily found. For these men, the country itself was viewed as their main resource for survival.

In my country, you can be killed for being openly gay!

Trans participants spoke of the importance of living in downtown Toronto, which provided access to crucial services, including trans-specific services at community sites.

They have trans-specific training programs at Rainbow Health Ontario. I think that its great that they have something specific for us.

A range of protective factors were identified by men living with HIV as central to developing resilience. These included education, spirituality, family support, long-lasting close friendships and meaningful sexual relationships, as well as their HIV volunteering, activism and advocacy.

I still have my faith. I go to church and pray regularly this helps me keep strong!

Additionally, men living with HIV spoke of serosorting (choosing to have sex only with other men living with HIV, as a way of avoiding rejection) and compartmentalisation (separating their work, family and sex lives so as to avoid disclosing sexual orientation or HIV status) as tools that helped them.

Losing friends and lovers during the first two decades of the epidemic also played a role for several men living with HIV: this contributed to isolation, extreme caution and periods of celibacy which prevented them from acquiring HIV early on and potentially contributed to their survival. Even after their HIV diagnoses, the men spoke of their awareness of co-infections and co-morbidities, largely because of seeing so many loved ones die early on.

"Key personal strengths included proactiveness, perseverance, having the right attitude, self-awareness and self-control."

Interestingly, men living with HIV spoke of managed substance use as a factor contributing to their resilience. The use of recreational drugs was viewed as a means of coping with the clinical and social impacts of HIV and AIDS and as necessary to get through their most difficult times. At the time of the interview, many men were sober and had been substance-free for years. While they acknowledged that other healthier coping strategies would have been preferable, at the time, substances helped them cope.

Sounds odd, but without drugs all those years, I may not have lasted this long.

For HIV-negative men, factors that contributed to resilience included HIV volunteering, meaningful sexual relationships, and losing friends and lovers during the first two decades of the epidemic.

Having a committed, long-term relationship was the safest way to go!

So much death in so little time. I knew I had to get out of the Toronto bath house scene.

These internal characteristics allowed the men to utilise resources and draw upon protective factors. These included proactiveness, perseverance, having the right attitude, self-awareness and self-control.

For men living with HIV, proactiveness included finding answers to HIV-related questions (either from doctors, online, or from within the LGBTQ community), actively seeking out medications (especially during the early days of the epidemic, when this could mean getting medications from outside Canada), staying on top of medical appointments, and monitoring their laboratory results (CD4 counts, viral loads, STI tests etc). This also extended to persevering and persisting in the face of obstacles, which several men felt was the ultimate factor that saved their lives.

I took charge of my life looked after my health made the right decisions.

I just kept carrying on till things eventually got better

Mindset and exercising self-control were also viewed as central to developing resilience. This including stopping or limiting alcohol and drug use, as well as being cautious regarding sexual health and STIs.

You create your own life. Its knowing what you need to do making it happen.

For HIV-negative men, many similar themes came up, with more men citing proactiveness as important. Many men displayed self-awareness by describing how fearful they were of contracting HIV and other STIs and therefore avoided certain venues and sexual activities. They placed a greater emphasis on engaging in what they viewed as safer sex practices in places where they felt safe.

Im not into risky sex, not into groups, not into public sex, and not into drugs.

Trans men expressed how they needed to persevere more than cisgender MSM, as much of the information and services available were geared specifically towards cisgender MSM. Additionally, they expressed awareness regarding their increased risk of physical violence, especially during sexual encounters, and the need to create safe practices, such as private sex parties with clear communication with trusted sex partners.

I have significant experiences [as a trans man] in different sexual communities. A focus on clarity and clear communication is always key in my engagement with others to secure sexual safety.

Despite these resources, protective factors and personal strengths, MSM also spoke of significant barriers to the development of resilience in response to HIV. These included problematic substance use, internalised homo- or trans-phobia, co-morbidities, and social ills, such as racism and HIV stigma.

Party n play [sexualised drug use] has major control over the MSM community in Toronto especially over the newcomers.

Gay men would talk as if a man could actually be too gay.

I started becoming depressed as I slowly realized how they kept criminalising HIV because of the huge stigma attached to it.

Its rough enough to deal with homophobia and HIV stigma, Id have to deal with xenophobia and racism too.

As a population that has lived through years of considerable risk or clinical and social impacts of HIV and AIDS, we recognised that the perspectives and lived experiences of our older MSM participants will be able to inform, influence, and improve healthcare and community-based services, programs, interventions, and policies dedicated to promoting the resilience of both older, as well as younger, MSM to HIV and AIDS, the authors concluded.

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How do men who have sex with men develop resilience in response to HIV? - aidsmap

3333 South Port Royale Drive in Fort Lauderdale

Loosened requirements on business closures may have helped keep more Floridians employed, and thus paying their rent, but the pandemic may have hurt top sales in the multifamily market.

The top South Florida multifamily sale of 2020 didnt beat 2019s $322 million sale, but it did best 2018s $149 million top sale. And South Floridas top five sales did see a higher average price per unit than last years top five $299,000, compared to $275,000.

Here is a breakdown of the top multifamily sales of the year in South Florida.

Mill Creek, Invesco sell Fort Lauderdale apartments for $180M. Mill Creek Residential and Invesco sold a 555-unit apartment complex in Fort Lauderdale for $180 million. The buyer, NM-Port Royale LLC, is tied to Northwestern Mutual. The deal includes the Emera Port Royale apartments, formerly called Modera Port Royale, at 3333 South Port Royale Drive, as well as nearby vacant land.

CBRE fund pays $132M for Shorecrest Club Apartments in Miami. A CBRE Global Investors sponsored fund paid $132.1 million for a large apartment complex at the entrance to the 79th Street Causeway in Miami. Upper East Side Miami LLC sold the Shorecrest Club Apartments to SPUS9 Bayshore LP. The 467-unit bayfront apartment buildings sold for about $283,000 per unit. ECI Group, a multifamily development, investment, management and brokerage firm based in Atlanta, sold the property at 7950 Northeast Bayshore Court. ECI co-developed the project with Adler Development and Canyon Capital Realty Advisors LLC.

Grant Cardone nabs waterfront Fort Lauderdale apartment complex for $130M. The real estate investment firm of author and speaker Grant Cardone bought a 553-unit waterfront apartment complex in Fort Lauderdale. Port Royale Apartments, at 3300 Port Royale Drive North along the Intracoastal Waterway, span 22 acres with a private marina. The complex features 392 garden-style units across 16 acres and 161 units in a mid-rise building. Robert Given of Cushman and Wakefield brokered the deal on behalf of the seller, Chicago-based real estate investor and property manager Waterton.

TA Realty drops $112M on apartments in Flagler Village. TA Realty bought a 340-unit apartment project in Fort Lauderdales Flagler Village for $112 million from a partnership between Morgan Group and JPMorgan. The development, known as Pearl Flagler Village, sold for $329,411 per unit, records show. The project at 400 Northeast Third Avenue opened a year ago.

Nuveen pays $103M for West Palm luxury apartments. Global asset manager Nuveen Real Estate paid $103.5 million for a luxury apartment project in West Palm Beach. Records show Broadstone City Center LLC, a company tied to Alliance Residential, sold the 315-unit Broadstone City Center at 499 Evernia Street. The mid-rise development, which spans a city block in downtown West Palm Beach, traded for about $329,000 per rental.

SOURCE: TRD analysis of brokerage data, as provided by Colliers International, news clippings and market reports.

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Here are South Floridas largest multifamily sales of 2020 - The Real Deal

December 22, 2020 14:15 ET | Source: Corcoran Global Living

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CERRITOS, CA, Dec. 22, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Corcoran Global Living, a franchise affiliate of Corcoran Group, LLC, announced that it has welcomed the Better Choice Real Estate Team, helmed by industry veterans, Jana Goncalves and Mauricio Montealegre. Corcoran Global Living continues to advance the firms reach across Southern California and the West Coast. Unifying thirteen independent brokerages and teams in its first year, Corcoran Global Living is recognized as the fastest growing real estate brokerage servicing clients across California and Nevada. The firm encompasses nearly 1,500 associates across 43 offices, with annual combined sales of 6.1 billion.

"Weve built a strong network of like-minded, successful associates across the most in-demand communities in Southern California, Northern California and the Reno/Lake Tahoe region, and those partnerships are the reason weve had such stratospheric success this year, commented Michael Mahon, CEO and Founder of Corcoran Global Living. Ive had the pleasure of knowing and working with Jana, Mauricio and their team for many years now. Our shared vision of fostering a collaborative culture, empowering and elevating top talent, and providing the highest level of service comes together to make a powerful difference in peoples lives in the communities we call home.

Corcoran Global Livings reach now extends across Los Angeles, San Bernardino, San Diego and Riverside counties with more than 15 offices across Southern California and more on pace for 2021. In Northern California and Northern Nevada, the firm has offices in San Francisco, Marin, the East Bay, and Napa and Sonoma Wine Country, and in both the north and south side of Lake Tahoe as well as Reno and Truckee. From sea to ski, CGL has coverage across the West Coast market.

As part of CGL, the Better Choice Real Estate team will have access to myriad resources, staff support, leading-edge technology and marketing platforms, robust networking and referral opportunities, and broad brand recognition among industry peers and the public. The team leaders, Jana Goncalves and Mauricio Montealegre, will join as partners in Corcoran Global Living leading the Cerritos office.

Aligning with a firm that has a demonstrated commitment to growth, for the company as a whole as well as for each individual agent, is really important to us, commented Jana Goncalves. We are excited about the opportunities were able to offer our team by joining Corcoran Global Living under the leadership of Michael Mahon. The expanding network of offices in the region and the referral opportunities that affords us as well as ongoing education that helps agents meet and exceed their personal best are key ingredients to unlimited success.

About Corcoran Global Living

Founded on the principle of putting people first, Corcoran Global Living, an affiliate of The Corcoran Group, serves the California and Nevada markets with 43 strategically located offices in Northern California, Southern California and Reno/Lake Tahoe. Corcoran Global Living is well positioned to provide exceptional service to its very loyal customer base, with nearly 1,500 dedicated, professional agents and gross annual sales of $6.1 billion. With a forward-thinking leadership team and deep roots in real estate and notable private investment backing, Corcoran Global Living is poised for exponential growth into additional metro areas in the states where they operate. From luxury homes and income properties to vacation getaways and first-time homes, Corcoran Global Living has the experience, insight and expertise to achieve and surpass clients highest expectations. For more information, visit CorcoranGL.com.

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Corcoran Global Living Welcomes Better Choice Real Estate Team in Ongoing Southern California Growth - GlobeNewswire

ONTARIO and PHILADELPHIA, Pa., Dec. 22, 2020 /PRNewswire/ --Mozzaz, 2019 Microsoft Healthcare Partner of the Year Finalist, and Giupedi LLC, SaaS development and marketing organization for patient care in medical litigation, announced a first of its kind platform. Used by lawyers focusing on workers compensation, personal injury, and medical malpractice, this platform will support client coordination. This collaboration will be delivered through Mozzaz's platform, built on Microsoft Azure.

"We're extremely impressed with the Mozzaz technology for digital engagement and their client roster including CVS Health, United Healthcare Group, and Anthem," stated Dr. Gerard Foti, Giupedi CEO.

Rini Gahir, Mozzaz CEO, explained, "Law firms in the US have few choices for managing client's care coordination. Providing patient-centered solutions for collaboration will drive efficiencies and proactive support across claims. We're excited to introduce this cloud-based platform to a growing market."

Utilizing machine learning, the platform will identify clinical terminology from medical-legal documents. Resulting, abstracted, and granularized data will optimize care coordination for clients and provide monetization opportunities for stakeholders.

Success in workers compensation and personal injury cases in the US is indicated by a large financial settlement. Edward Bukstel, Giupedi CTO, stated, "Our collaboration with Mozzaz will allow lawyers to maximize their financial settlements while also ensuring quality care for their clients."

Today, few law firms have dedicated legal cloud systems for storage, except DropBox, and smart analysis of medical information about clients. This new SaaS application will change the way lawyers do business, helping their clients and physician networks manage care.

About Mozzaz

Mozzaz delivers virtual care solutions for personalized engagement and remote patient management. With Mozzaz, healthcare organizations can model clinical programs based on unique workflows from a single engagement platform. Mozzaz is built on the trusted Microsoft Azure Cloud for enterprise-ready digital health. Visit our website.

About Giupedi, LLC

Giupedi provides digital health and machine learning solutions for medical litigation cases including workers compensation, personal injury, and medical malpractice. Giupedi's cloud-based SaaS applications create a 360-degree healthcare POV for lawyers, clients, and physicians. Visit our website.

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Mozzaz and Giupedi, LLC Sign Strategic Partnership for Workers Compensation and Personal Injury Clinical Care Coordination - The Wellsboro Gazette

In this country, we have a longstanding peaceful transfer of power for the executive office, even in the wake of the hardest-fought elections. Certain circumstances have led many to question whether the tradition will continue come January 20. Despite his very vocal protestations, however, the current president has agreed to step aside, should all of his legal maneuvers fall short (something that seems all but a certainty at this point).

There is, of course, nothing in the Constitution that offers guidance the peaceful transition of passwords strangely, the forefathers of this country didnt possess the foresight to predict Twitter. The service has already outlined what happens to Trumps account when he leaves office. Namely, he loses the protections that come with being a political figure.

CEO Jack Dorsey noted this at last months congressional hearings, stating, If an account suddenly is not a world leader anymore, that particular policy goes away. But what of the incoming president? What will the transition look like for Biden? And what happens if Trump doesnt willingly give up the official @Potus account as has also been suggested?

He hasnt exactly been eager to accept the results of this election and hes not the sort to willingly give up a platform particularly one with 33 million followers (admittedly a fraction of Trumps main account).

Nick Pacilio, of Twitters Communications, Government & News team, offered TechCrunch the following statement, on the matter: Twitter has been in ongoing discussions with the Biden transition team on a number of aspects related to White House account transfers.

The company, perhaps understandably, didnt answer the question directly, but working with the incoming team is a simple enough way to circumvent any issues transferring more than one dozen accounts, as The Wall Street Journal notes. As has been reported, existing tweets will be deleted and the incoming administration will start from scratch a net positive for the Biden team, given thepolarizing nature of the previous presidents feed.

According to Bidens digital director, the POTUS and White House accounts will also reset to zero followers, marking a change over the Obama to Trump transition. Donald Trumps personal Twitter account has already lost one prominent follower. Earlier this week, CEO Jack Dorsey unfollowed the president, along with other prominent politicians, including Biden and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris.

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Twitters POTUS account will reportedly be reset to zero followers when Biden takes over - TechCrunch

Club Industry was not involved in the creation of this content.

Deerfield, IL December 17, 2020-Personal Trainers can no longer sit back and wait for clients to come to them or expect repeat business to fall into their lap. Fitness Professionals must now explore the best methods to attract and retain clients, develop new training techniques, andimplement their best practices to survive in the fitness industry. SCW Fitness Education has come to the rescue and developed their first ever Personal Training Apex designed to take the PT professional to new heights. This is the weekend to advance your career, network with other professionals, and ensure long-term success for both you and your clients!

Personal Trainer Apex (www.TrainerApex.com) offers:

*50 Activity and Lecture Sessions

*28 Top Industry Presenters

* 12-15 CEUs/CECs from NASM, ACSM, ACE, AFAA, AEA, SCW and more

For only $149, SCW Personal Trainer Apex takes place over two full days, January 23-24, 2021 on an intuitive and sophisticated Zoom platform.12-15 hours of CEUs/CECs are available over the 2-day event with even more CECs offeredfrom seven different pre-conference certifications, such asNutrition Coaching for Fitness Professionals, Marketing & Sales for Personal Trainers, Social Media Strategies and more. If trainers are unable to participate both days, sessions will be recorded and attendees who register at the All-Access level ($179), will have the ability to view all 50 recorded sessions for 30 days after the event.$1 per day for 30 days provides hours of education enjoyed at your own pace and convenience.

Great variety of topics and presenters, great value for money, highly recommended! said Maria G., SCW Live Stream Attendee Keep up the great work! Customer service is exceptional.

One of the many benefits ofthePersonal Trainer APEXis the ability to interact with the Presenter throughout the session.With 28 Presenters composed of industry elite Personal Trainers such as Giovanni Roselli, Keli Roberts, Peter Twist, and Fabio Comana, MA, MS, questions will be answered, and programming will be through the roof. Attendees receive live one-on-one feedback directly from the Presenter and networking from the other participants to build a strong web of allies.

Earlier this year I spent double the amount of money to attend another virtual conference and I kind of regret it. said Katie L., Live Stream Attendee I got so much more out of the virtual SCW conference, there were more activity sessions, better topics and presenters who are all fantastic.

I love you guys! Thank you for how youve helped me become a better Trainer and Educator. - Tracy H.

Prepare to further your knowledge and climb higher in your personal training profession with the exclusive SCW Personal Trainer APEX Conference. Navigating this new terrain takes strategy and style and Personal Trainer APEX will get you there. Register for two full days of education, inspiration, and innovation - all conveniently Live Streamed directly to your home, office, or fitness space. For more information visit the websitewww.trainerapex.com.

SCW is an internationally recognized educational organization that provides hands-on certifications, continuing education courses and conventions to fitness professionals in multiple disciplines nationwide. For the past 35 years, Personal Trainers, Group Exercise Instructors, Small Group Training Leaders, Aquatic Exercise Professionals, Cycling Instructors, Mind-Body Experts, Sport-Specific Training Educators, and many more have obtained their certifications through SCW. This outstanding Family of Leaders also supports Managers, Directors, and Owners of clubs and facilities nationwide with our Business Leadership Summit and sessions. As the largest conference leader in the world, MANIA offers seven Professional Training Conventions annually in Washington, D.C., California (San Francisco), Florida (Orlando), Atlanta, Dallas, Midwest (Chicago), and Boston - and now, online too! SCW serves over 8,000 health and wellness professionals at our events, and we reach more than 300,000 virtually through our SCW OnDemand program, Online Certifications and Continuing Education Credit (CEC) programming options. Watch for our FREE Webinars that continue to drive the business of fitness forward http://www.scwfit.com.

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Apex: Focused on the Personal Trainer | ClubIndustry - Club Industry

Whether returning to school to explore a new career path, or attending college for the first time, every student attending South Puget Sound Community College (SPSCC) has a unique journey leading to their enrollment at the college. And woven into that journey for many students, are scholarships and financial assistance offered by the South Puget Sound Community College Foundation. Awarding over a half million dollars in financial assistance each year, the SPSCC Foundation works to support students academic and career goals.

For SPSCC student, Laura Nixon, the college has served as a turning point in life, offering opportunities for additional education and a renewed career path. Previously employed in the human resources field, Nixons job matched her prior experience, but Nixon says she did not find the work fulfilling. Wanting to change course, Nixon worked with support from a mental health worker to reflect on her path in life.

During this time of reflection, Nixon rediscovered her childhood dream of becoming an architect. To evaluate if the architecture and design field was right for her, Nixon took a first step by signing up for an AutoCAD course at a technical school in Bellingham. While completing the course, Nixon determined that building design was indeed the path she wanted to pursue.

After learning that the Architecture, Engineering, and Construction Technology program at SPSCC aligns perfectly with her goals, Nixon decided to move to Olympia, start over and enroll in the program. As a current SPSCC student, Nixon has received several scholarships from the SPSCC Foundation, which has been a great help in her new educational path.

The scholarships Ive received have alleviated a tremendous amount of financial stress from my shoulders, says Nixon. Together with a frugal lifestyle, they have allowed me to only need a work-study job in order to get by each quarter.I believe that without any financial assistance from SPSCC I would not be completing my program as quickly, or at all.

One particular scholarship holds special meaning for Nixon is the Chehalis Tribes Friendship Scholarship, which, for her, serves as a reminder of the generosity within the community. The most memorable scholarship I received was The Chehalis Tribes Friendship Scholarship, which was open to all students not eligible for their tribal scholarship, explains Nixon. It helped me to realize that my community was supporting my education through their kindness, and it was a very touching moment for me.

With two application cycles per academic year, the SPSCC Foundation provides over $450,000 in scholarships for students studying a wide range of subjects. With almost 400 scholarships available this year, many award amounts range from $500 to $4,000.

Students applying for scholarships from the SPSCC Foundation fill out a single application to be considered for a range of Foundation scholarships, submitting a personal essay, transcript, course of study and letters of recommendation.

For Nixon, the application process was straightforward, turning in the proper paperwork, including her personal essay in which she shared her story leading up to her studies at SPSCC. The hardest part of the process for me was the personal essay, explains Nixon. I have always been an independent person, so writing about myself in a way that showed my financial vulnerability was hard. I had to constantly remind myself that life is tough and its ok to ask for help when you need it.

After an application has been submitted, a team of faculty and staff volunteers review each students personal essay and academic history. A pair of volunteers grade the applications, following standardized criteria to determine the applications quality. Then, a computer program determines specific scholarships for which a student might qualify. The scholarships available through the SPSCC Foundation are funded by a mix of donors, including individual community members, local businesses and nonprofit organizations. Scholarships may be specific to students studying a particular pathway, like nursing or the arts, or awards may be available to students studying any subject.

Scholarships from the SPSCC Foundation are generally applied to tuition, but can also help to fund additional college expenses like books and fees, depending on a students financial aid package. In addition to scholarships, the SPSCC Foundation also awards over $120,000 in Student Success Grants, a type of emergency funding to help students continue their education, despite an unforeseen financial hardship. A student can apply for a Student Success Grant if they have an emergent financial need that will help to ensure student success, including for transportation, learning technology or healthcare expenses.

I have received a Student Success Grant from the Foundation to cover an unexpected dental cost, says Nixon. The tooth extraction was not covered by my dental insurance and came at a time when I was simultaneously struggling with a severe gut infection and entering the final weeks of the Winter 2020 quarter. The financial assistance they provided with the grant took a huge weight from my mind and helped me to focus on healing my body and successfully completing my winter courses.

Pursuing a degree in the Architecture, Engineering, and Construction Technology program at SPSCC, Nixon is learning vital skills for employment in the building construction and design field. After graduation, Nixon hopes to become a virtual design and construction coordinator, working with subcontractors to create detailed models from proposed building plans.

I am looking to enter the VDC/BIM field as a virtual modeler for a mechanical contractor, says Nixon. A position like this would allow me to continue enhancing my virtual modelling skills, help me to better understand the workings of a buildings mechanical systems, and would be a great step in my desired direction.

To learn more about the scholarships available, or the application process, visit the South Puget Sound Community College Foundation website.

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Scholarships from the SPSCC Foundation Help to Ensure Student Success - ThurstonTalk

2020 has been a year where truth has often seemed stranger than fiction. With more time at home, many of us turned to books to either escape or confront the harsh realities at hand.

As we look ahead to the new year, here are ten standout books from female voices in 2020 that I recommend elevating to the top of a reading list if youre seeking inspiration or comfort in the company of a great read. Whether you need a push to pursue a professional ambition, youre looking to navigate a career pivot, or could benefit from the lessons of women whove courageously accelerated progress, each of these books offers a slice of powerful insight and motivation.

Eve Rodsky

Put more simply: If you read any one of these top books, youll head into 2021 better prepared to conquer the inevitable challenges at hand and seize the opportunities they present.

As we grapple with a year of unrest and the desire to address some of the worlds most pressing issues with an urgent sense of action, Novogratz shares her playbook for activating solutions that uplift all. The founder and CEO of Acumen, a non-profit venture fund that uses an entrepreneurial approach to tackle the most challenging poverty issues, Novogratz draws on decades of experience to distill salient leadership practices for those seeking to harness their changemaker potential.

Despite heartbreaking setbacks and obstacles, she and her teams have never settled for the status quo and have achieved extraordinary successes in struggling areas worldwide. With unwavering courage and compassion, Novogratz has proven that one person can make the impossible possible. This book offers powerful hope coupled with practical insight around the role each of us can play in bettering the world.

Despite her narrow gubernatorial loss in 2018, Stacey Abrams emerged as a powerful political force heading into this Novembers election. InOur Time Is Now,Abrams lays out a blueprint to push for progress through her voting rights advocacy organization Fair Fight Action and encourages others to tap into the power of their voice. As #100 on our Most Powerful Women List this year, Abrams represents the continued shifts in political influence and the new forms of collective power outside of traditional structures.

As we look for ways to emerge from this moment toward a more equitable future for all, Abrams stresses the opportunity presented when we combine forces around a shared mission. In her own words, Our combined power shows that progress is not only possibleit is inevitable.

If we hope to achieve a more equitable future, according to Eve Rodsky, we first have to solve for the centuries-old burden of caregiving and domestic responsibilities that women still shoulder despite having careers outside of the home. The pandemic has only exacerbated these demands, making the invisible, unpaid labor women struggle with finally visible. For anyone who feels like theyre drowning in domestic workload or wants to say goodbye to arguments set off by whos supposed to empty the dishwasher, Rodsky offers a fresh, compelling guide to tackling these inequities. Rodsky draws on her Harvard Law School training and years of organizational management experience to end the gendered division of labor at home by sharing her gamified system to split household labor and rebalance families at this critical juncture.

Part memoir, part primer on how to navigate success, Archambeau encourages women to embrace their ambition in pursuit of their career goals and, ultimately, to lead with confidence across all life arenas. As one of the few black women to have risen to the highest ranks in Silicon Valley, Archambeau takes you through her compelling career journey and how she learned to chart a course that was uniquely her own. Hers is a story not just of breaking barriers but one that offers practical advice on turning your differences into a competitive advantage, unabashedly owning your personal and professional ambitions, and harnessing the power of your voice to create opportunities for others.

[Disclosure: Shellye Archambeau is a contributor to Forbes.]

While Kondos first book centered around the joy of objects in our lives, her second offers tools for organizing your professional life and strategies to achieving a joy-sparking career. Joy at Work came out just as the pandemic shuttered offices and when the lines between our professional and personal lives blurred forever. But the tidying-experts message around organizing your workspace and taking greater control of your digital life resonates all the more now that weve traded open floor plans and quiet offices for makeshift desks in noisy homes.

If youre feeling overwhelmed with endless Zoom meetings, messy papers, and unnecessary tasks, applying the KonMari method to your work life will not only declutter your space but also boost productivity and free up your mind to set clear goals and spark success.

In Untamed, beloved author and activist Glennon Doyle chronicles the latest chapter in her journey of self-awakening, including the breakdown of her marriage and finding love with her now-wife, soccer legend Abby Wambach. Doyles memoir isnt a doctrine of saccharine self-improvement. Instead, she encourages readers to shed the social constraints and expectations of the should dos, and embrace our most authentic self, including the raw imperfections. When a woman finally learns that pleasing the world is impossible, she becomes free to learn how to please herself, writes Doyle. Untamed is a story of what happens when women find their inner voice, the bravery required to listen to it, and the power thats unlocked when we tap into and trust it.

I may look like a show pony, writes Dolly Parton in her latest memoir, but I'm a workhorse. Songteller: My Life In Lyrics spotlights Partons signature sense of humor and unparalleled hustle in celebration of six decades of songwriting and storytelling. With never-before-seen photos and memorabilia from Partons archives, she chronicles the backstory behind her career-defining songs such as Jolene and 9-5 that propelled her to pop-culture icon status just as much for their catchy lyrics as they did for their ability to give voice to the experiences of women that traditionally went overlooked.

In full disclosure, Ive been a Dolly-devotee since childhood. Even if youre not currently a fellow fan, you will be after learning more about the legends extraordinary story of hardship, perseverance, and triumph.

Megan Rapinoes memoir is just as much about her rise to becoming one of the most celebrated sports figures of her time as it is about her journey from athlete to influential activist. Rapinoe delves deep into the experiences that shaped the grit and fortitude essential to her success on and off the field and how she strengthened the muscles needed to become an effective force for change. From taking a stand against racial injustices to fighting the pay inequities within her sport, she candidly discusses the backlash she faced when using her voice to address systemic social issues and how she learned to hone and harness that voice to champion change. Rapinoes memoir helps inspire anyone looking to take a stand and the hard work and tenacity required to face critics, fight for your beliefs, and press for progress.

If the other books on this list offer literary comfort food, there is perhaps no person who's better known for the actual kind than Ina Garten, beloved host of the Emmy Award-winning show Barefoot Contessa and bestselling author. In these anxious and uncertain times, Garten offers a treasure-trove of familiar culinary escapes. Shes made it easyeven for those of us who were cooking illiterate before the pandemicto master the beloved favorites we cant run to the restaurants to secure right now (think recipes like creamy tomato bisque, truffled mac and cheese, and Boston cream pie.)

While Inas latest book makes it easy instead of exhausting to eat from the confines of your home during quarantine, her career journey should also offer inspiration to anyone looking to make a pivot in the new year. I was 50 years old, and I thought that the best years of my career were over, recalled Garten after selling her catering business. Instead, she added an acclaimed Food Network show and best-selling cookbook franchise to her bio, proving that new successes can come at any age.

In a year of reckoning around race and culture, this groundbreaking cookbook plays a critical role in expanding the conversation around cuisines often overlooked or conflated by the U.S. food industry. Hawa Hassan spoke with bibis, or grandmothers, from 8 countries both to learn their recipes and to provide a journalistic account of the diverse cultures of the East African coast. Through their stories and anecdotes, Hassan also shines a light on the African immigrant experience in America and the power of food to forge community at home and abroad.

Despite being the backbones of family and culture, womens voices and particularly black womens voices, have too often been left out of the food space. In speaking with the 16 matriarchs within her book, Hassan celebrates their influential role in the kitchen and our cultures.

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The Best Books Of 2020, According To Moira Forbes - Forbes