Cassel: There's no doubt how the Pats will approach the final three weeks originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston

Ive been in this position before where the playoffs are basically out of reach.It's frustrating knowing the season hasnt gone the way you wanted it to go.

But you still want to go out there and perform, because this is your profession. This is what you do for a living. And if you dont give full effort and dont go through the appropriate preparations for the game, youre going to get boat raced.

You dont want to get embarrassed. You have a lot of pride as players and as an organization, so the approach in those situations is the same.

Ive been on a few teams with guys who might've checked out late in the season, where theres just a certain frustration level andtheyve had disagreements with the coaching staff.

But the Patriots are rock solid. Theyve got great veteran leadership, whether its Devin McCourty or Cam Newton --who has been around for a long time --or the veterans on theoffensive line. They're all-in. They know that they have a job to do, and theyre going to do everything they can to finish strong.

I dont think Bill Belichick'sapproach will change either. I think hell put the guys out there who give him the best possibility to win. Thats just who he is: Hes a competitor.

And even though this season hasnt gone as planned, you can build momentum with a team for next season. We went 4-12 in my first year in Kansas City, but that last stretch of games was still important for us because we had some pieces together and we started to play better football at the end of the year. The next year, we came back and won 10 games and won the AFC West.

So, Bill isgoing to do everything he can to try to win these last three games.

Story continues

If that means playingJarrett Stidham because they think he gives them anopportunity to win games, then theyll do that. If not, then Cam will play for the rest of the season. But I dont think there will be a lot of dramatic changes.

Patriots Talk Podcast:The straight poop on why Jarrett Stidham isnt starting| Listen & Subscribe | Watch on YouTube

This isnt the preseason where youre trying to see if a guy can play. If somebody is in the building there, they understand their skill set. Theyre going to approach it the same way they do every week. Their sole purpose is to go all out to win.

I believe tanking is a myth. When people on the outside say, "Im so mad they won today because it hurt the teams opportunity for a better draft pick" ...players dont think of it that way. And I know coaches dont think of it that way, especially on bad teams.

Theyre fighting for their livelihood. Theyre fighting for their next job. Theyre fighting for their families. So, nobody who Ive been around, whether its coaches or players, has talked about tanking.

The Patriots'mission is to finish 9-7. Thats their goal. I guarantee Bill is also telling them, Look, we have three division opponents, and we play these guys twice every year.

Theres motivation in beating a division rival like the Dolphins or the Bills who are stillfighting for a playoff spot. There's motivation in letting them know, "Youhad a good season this year, but were going to come back stronger than ever. Remember were still the New England Patriots."

If you win the division, youre going to the playoffs. So, when you havethree division games left, you want to go out and beat the s--- out of those guys in your division.

If the Patriots win these three division games to finish9-7? I know everyone is used to winning 12 games around here, but thats a strong finish that would say a lot about the resilience of this team after the adversity its been through in 2020.

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Here's what will motivate Patriots after playoff hopes are snuffed out - Yahoo Sports

Edmonton police say a 23-year-old Black woman wearing a hijab was attacked at the LRT station at Southgate Centre, which was the scene of a hate-motivated attack on two women wearing headscarves earlier this month.

Edmonton policeare investigating after a woman wearing a hijab was assaulted Tuesday at the Southgate LRT station the second high-profile attack in seven days against Muslim women wearing headscarves.

Both attacks were at Southgate Centre, a mall at 51st Avenue and 111th Street in south Edmonton. On Dec.8, two women wearing hijabs were assaulted in the parking lot.

Premier Jason Kenneycondemned the assault on Twitter,saying it is "completely unacceptable, it is revolting, it is un-Albertan."

Leela Sharon Aheer, minister of culture,Kaycee Madu,justice minister,Rajan Sawhney, minister of community and social services and the Alberta Anti-Racism Advisory Councilissued a jointstatement condemningthe incident.

Edmonton Mayor Don Iveson denounced theassaults as "heartbreaking" and said"the responsibility to condemn racially motivated behaviour falls on all of us."

A 32-year-old woman has beencharged with assault with a weapon in Tuesday's unprovoked attack at the mall's LRT station, police Chief Dale McFee said Wednesday.

McFeesaid the victima 23-year-old Black womanhad just entered the southeast doors of the Southgate LRT station around10:45 a.m. when she was accosted by a stranger.

The accused repeatedlytried to strike the victimin thehead with a shopping bag while yelling racially-motivated obscenities at her, McFee said.

The victim ran away while the attacker triedto "thwart her escape," McFee said.A transit peace officer at the scene intervened and called police.

The Alberta Muslim Public Affairs Council received a letter from Edmonton police on Tuesday, confirming an investigation by the EPS hate crimes unit.

In the letter, which was obtained by CBC News, police said the attack "appears to be racially and hate-motivated."

Rene Ladouceur, 32, is charged with assault with a weapon and nine outstanding warrants for unrelated charges.

In a statement issued Wednesday, police said the EPS Hate Crimes and Violent Extremism Unit is also recommending that Section 718.2 of the Criminal Code of Canada be applied in this case, allowing the courts to consider increased sentencing when there is evidence the offence was motivated by hatred.

Police said the twoincidents at the Southgate Shopping Centre are not believed to be related.

McFeedenounced the latest attack and said police are working with the victim and her family.

"It's not something we ever want to see in our city," he said. "This will now proceed before the courts and hopefully we'll see this dealt with accordingly.

"These things will never will be acceptable and those who choose to do this to other members our community are going be held accountable."

Council presidentFaisal Khan Suri, president of theAlberta Muslim Public Affairs Council,said the council has also been in contact with the victim of Tuesday's attack, and her family.

"The suspect had swung at the individual," Suri said. "She kind of ducked out of the way, so she did not get hit. But there was ...one or two tries, attempts to assault the individual."

He said there has been a troubling rise in Islamophobia and racism in the city.

"They're being targeted by their identity, what they show," he said."These are hijab-wearing women whose identity is very visible, and what is happeningis happening out of hate."

In the Dec. 8 incident at SouthgateCentre, Edmonton police officers responded to an assault in progress in the parking lot around 3:40 p.m.

Officers were told that a man approached two Somali women wearing hijabs sitting in their vehicle and began yelling racially motivated obscenities at them.

Witnesses told police the man then punched the passenger-side window, shattering the glass. Fearing for her safety, the passenger ran from the vehicle and the man chased her, then pushed her to the ground and began assaulting her.

The second woman tried to help and was also shoved to the ground before bystanders intervened and stopped the attack.

Following an investigation by the Hate Crimes and Violent Extremism Unit, Richard Bradley Stevens, 41, was charged with two counts of assault and one count of mischief.

Police said the investigation into the Dec. 8 case is ongoing.

In a statement onFacebook on Tuesday, the Muslim affairs council thanked the Edmonton Police Service for its "prompt action" in the latest investigation and urged community members to be vigilant of their personal safety.

Edmonton's Muslim community is on edge, Suri said.

"These are a couple of utterly unprovoked incidences," he said. "Unequivocally horrendous and horrific for anyone to experience."

"There's definitely fear because this could be anyone's daughter, sister, mother."

On Twitter, Kenney said it is "frustrating to see another instance of hate-motivated violence" in Edmonton.

"As the legal process takes place, we hope to see justice swiftly rendered for the victim of this crime," the premier said.

During a news conference Wednesday, Ivesondescribedthe attacksas heartbreaking and unacceptable."I condemn these assaults in the strongest terms," he said.

The mayorsaid the city remains committed to improving commuter safetywith additionalsecurity officers,surveillance cameras and new crime reporting tools. However,he said low ridership during the pandemic has brought added challenges.

When the system was full, Iveson said, there was "natural accountability."

"In addition to all of the cameras, you'd have literally the eyes of Edmontonians on each other. And that does create a certain amount of accountability and compliance."

Iveson said the city will continue to work with community leaders in an attempt to confront racism in all its forms.

'It is heartbreaking because it is not my idea of Canada, and it is definitely not my idea of Edmonton. But that hatred does linger and festerin all communities and needs to be called out for what it is."

For more stories about the experiences of Black Canadians from anti-Black racism to success stories within the Black community check out Being Black in Canada, a CBC project Black Canadians can be proud of. You can read more stories here.

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Woman in hijab assaulted in 2nd 'hate-motivated' attack in Edmonton this month - CBC.ca

December 14, 2020 08:03 ET | Source: Archway Publishing

photo-release

Scripts Among Her Glass Walls By Kyemma

OMAHA, Dec. 14, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Quiet the mind, and the soul will speak, is the premise first-time author Kyemmas mystical book, Scripts Among Her Glass Walls, is focused on. Readers will be taken on a motivational and spiritual journey that will illustrate the beauty of self-realization of their ever-evolving souls. The passages within this devotional demonstrate the authors soul while inspiring the reader to find the voice within.

In the book, Kyemma honors her soul, which shines through the soulful stories she beautifully tells. She admires the experiences individuals have gone through, whether they are good or bad, and amplifies the lessons that can be learned. Those who have read the book will absorb how to love and embrace the person they were born to be by focusing on the souls eye that leads them to their peace. Kyemma influences readers to go on a self-reflecting journey that will lead them to a spiritual awakening they have been longing for.

I decided to write Scripts Among Her Glass Walls to help people who need a voice to be mindful that everything they are searching for is within, said Kyemma. I wanted to remind individuals that the journey through life is within. It's imperative that everyone is in tune with their own soul journey, letting them know that it is always important to honor your soul regardless of your past or present state of mind. For, the soul leads and the eye follows. We are never lost, and the journey of life is just beginning.

Kyemma strives to ensure individuals are motivated by what they love and lead from the heart because that is the start and endpoint of their lives. Readers will experience the many facets and dimensions that life has to offer through the souls eastern eye.

Scripts Among Her Glass Walls was written in various places, from New York to the heart of Nebraska. It was revised on multiple occasions to meet the authors soul calling. The book was completed in Shiraz, Iran, where it comprised a prelude of the second book. Her second book will be released by early 2022. All of Kyemmas books are written from her soul and lead from her eye. The eye is the heart. Each book reflects the love within the authors soul and allows readers to think beyond the cusp of mankinds ordainment.

Ultimately, Scripts Among Her Glass Walls is an ode to help, love and guide individuals into their divine truth that has always been within.

Scripts Among Her Glass WallsBy KyemmaISBN: 978-1-4808-5782-7 (softcover); 978-1-4808-5781-0 (eBook) Available at Archway Publishing, Amazon and Barnes & NobleAudiobook coming soon

About the AuthorKyemma shares her passion for helping and inspiring others, which is evident in her debut book, "Scripts Among Her Glass Walls." As an author, she shares the real answer to life, which is within the eye of soul. The eye is your heart, according to Kyemma. She has been writing since she was five years old. Kyemma has a background in marketing with a B.B.A. from Berkeley College and educational leadership with an M.Ed from Northcentral University, and has a passion for writing philosophical idioms. Kyemma lives and travels between The Middle East and Midwest. Kyemma plans to write more books, which flow from the eye of her soul. Her work consists of Eastern Philosophy and Mysticism to appease the soul; ready to take you on a journey of soul. A prelude of her second book, "Parables Of Her Soul," can be seen in "Scripts Among Her Glass Walls." Kyemma will wear designs by Persian Bahrain Designer Samar Murad; for the collection, Samar Murad Collezione. The designs align with Scripts Among Her Glass Walls.For more information refer to KYEMMA.

Simon & Schuster, a company with nearly ninety years of publishing experience, has teamed up with Author Solutions, LLC, the worldwide leader in self-publishing, to create Archway Publishing. With unique resources to support books of all kind, Archway Publishing offers a specialized approach to help every author reach his or her desired audience. For more information, visit http://www.archwaypublishing.com or call 888-242-5904.

The rest is here:
Author Celebrates Self-Realization and The Beauty of Souls in New Motivational Guidebook - GlobeNewswire

Valtteri Bottas took solace in beating his Mercedes team mate Lewis Hamilton for just the fourth time this year in the season finale in Abu Dhabi, but the Finn was more concerned that the winning Red Bull of Max Verstappen was surprisingly quick as Yas Marina, saying their form would provide extra motivation for the Silver Arrows over the winter.

As Hamilton returned for the season finale, Bottas outqualified him to start second on the grid, while pole-sitter Verstappen led every lap to win. The Red Bull's lead was 15.9 seconds at the finish line, with Bottas, Hamilton and Verstappen all pitting once on Lap 10 during the Safety Car period.

READ MORE: Dominant Verstappen comfortably holds off Mercedes to seal victory in Abu Dhabi season finale

I think Red Bull was too quick today. Surprisingly quick, began Bottas, who topped FP2 on Friday. We thought race pace would be pretty identical, but they could really control the race and fill the gap when needed. I was trying everything I could but couldnt keep up with them.

Obviously Ive had had much worse races this year, he added, so, you know, in this season it was one of the good ones for me.

Having waited for a podium since the mid-November Turkish Grand Prix after finishing eighth in both Bahrain races, Bottas took his 11th podium of the season in the finale.

At least it was nice and clean, the start was good and everything, so it could have been a worse way to end the season. And actually, if we think about the big picture, knowing this team, being beaten by Red Bull in the last race of the season, for sure it motivates us even more to work hard over the winter for next year, to try and make sure this doesnt happen again, he said.

READ MORE: 'I don't think I've ever been so blown' says Covid-hit Hamilton after finishing P3 in season finale

With P2, Bottas sealed second in the drivers standings by nine points over race winner Verstappen. Yet, the Finnish driver wasnt too thrilled with his standing in 2020.

As a driver, when you are in the best team overall this season, being second cant be that satisfying, but it is something to be able to contribute to the team this season, getting the fourth constructors title for me in the team, and seventh in a row for us.

Its better than being third, for sure.

And I guess I will get a small trophy to take home next week, and Im sure when Im old and grey I can look at this year, and [say] I was second but hopefully I will get a bigger trophy one day, he concluded.

Bottas signed a new deal to drive for Mercedes next season back in August, and will seek his first drivers championship having lost out to Hamilton for the last four seasons.

MUST-SEE: F1 drivers react to their hilarious 2020 pre-season predictions

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Red Bull's 'surprisingly quick' Abu Dhabi pace will provide motivation for Mercedes over winter, says Bottas - Formula 1 RSS UK

There are two ways to look at history. One way is to see it as a series of random occurrences. The other way is to view history through the lens of Kairos.

Why has Pope Francis been so willing to draw on the thoughts and words of a man whose radical ideas and actions so comprehensively contradict Catholic teaching?

When Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea, in the days of King Herod, behold, magi from the east arrived in Jerusalem, saying, Where is the newborn king of the Jews? We saw his star at its rising and have come to do him homage. (Matthew 2:1-2)

I believe in original sin, but theres nothing original about sin. Its deadly but dull.

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Some Motivation to Say the Liturgy of the Hours, Raising Your Children to Be Martyrs, and More! - National Catholic Register

In a recent survey, people who said social distancing and COVID-safety guidelines violated their personal freedoms responded more positively to these ideas when they felt a loved one might be at risk of severe illness.

As the coronavirus pandemic continues to ravage the world, messaging focused on shaming or pressuring people to wear a mask or avoid crowds are backfiring.

An and colleagues surveyed 1,074 people across the US about their attitudes toward the coronavirus.

They discovered two distinct sets of attitudes toward social distancing: Positive beliefs that largely mirror public health messaging and negative beliefs, including the idea that social distancing violates individual rights and freedoms.

Concern about a loved one's risk of severe COVID-19 infection was tied to both higher positive attitudes and lower negative attitudes toward social distancing.

"When people think about what protective behaviors to follow, negative beliefs -- the perception of external control -- override positive beliefs. This means that simply repeating that people should follow public health guidelines is unlikely to be effective," explained study author Kenneth Resnicow in a paper published in the journal Patient Education and Counseling.

The data showed that when people consider being a protector for others, they approach risk differently.

Also Read

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Fear of Losing Loved Ones Can Motivate People to Get COVID Vaccine - The Quint

NAZARETH, Pa. - The Blue Eagles never got the chance to hoist the state title last season, or even compete for one. That unfinished business is what has motivated the Nazareth girls' basketball team all offseason and now as it prepares for the 2020-21 campaign.

As the COVID-19 pandemic halted their push for state gold in the spring, it now has paused the current season, just one day after it officially began and before most local teams played a contest.

After the resumption of the season, Nazareth will look to its newcomers this winter to make contributions, such as Courtney Paulson, who is back from injury, and Marina Falzone, who transferred from Moravian Academy.

Those new additions with a strong foundation of returners such as Kelly Leszcynski and Talya Brugler has the team's sights set on another bid for state gold.

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Nazareth motivated by unfinished business | Sports | wfmz.com - 69News WFMZ-TV

The Dodgers path to the 2020 World Series was anything but business as usual. After the year started with so much hope and promise in acquiring Mookie Betts, reality set it very quickly. The COVID-19 pandemic shut down the entire world by March, baseball included.

So while his team was left to wonder and wait, Dave Roberts made sure to leave them with a piece of wisdom. Before going into the Summer Camp restart, Doc imparted a quote on the team from Lakers legend Kobe Bryant.

The first thing I told our guys this past spring before we stopped before Summer Camp and the quarantine, I reference a Kobe Bryant quote. I was at his last NBA game, and he said The dream is the journey and I just really wanted our players to understand that the ups, the downs, the trials, the failures, the successesthats a part of it. And although we were still in a World Series or bust, we still needed to focus on the journey.

Even before his passing, Kobes words carried a lot of weight on any athlete, not just those playing in Los Angeles. But that wisdom to drown out the noise and move forward with your goal is ultimately what drove the Dodgers to their first title in 32 years.

Getting to be on a team as talented as the Dodgers only to face the shutdown of a sport could have been a devastating blow to Roberts and his guys. Instead, they picked up that Mamba Mentality and ran away with it. Did we really expect anything less?

Have you subscribed toour YouTube Channelyet? Subscribe and hit that notification bell to stay up to date on all the latest Dodgers news, interviews, live streams, and more!

Dodgers Rumors: Justin Turners Contract Demands, Liam Hendriks Linked to LA, Arenado Talk & More!

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Dodgers: The Kobe Bryant Quote Used by Dave Roberts to Motivate His Team in 2020 - Dodgers Nation

When 2016 United States Olympian and current unbeaten pro Charles Conwell signed up for this whole boxing thing, he probably never expected that he would one day be fighting in a parking lot.

No, not at all, laughed Conwell, who will be doing just that in Hollywood tonight when he faces fellow unbeaten Madiyar Ashkeyev in the latest installment of Ring City USA. I watched the fights in November, and it was awkward to me because it was in the parking lot.

What Conwell is really concerned about is that the December temps might hit the same lows hes been experiencing in his native Ohio. Well, it is 59 at the moment in Hollywood, which is better than 29 in Toledo, but perhaps its better to change the subject, especially since I was hoping Conwell had some story of a parking lot fight elsewhere.

That's a different type of fight, he laughs.

The 23-year-old Conwell is as comfortable as hes ever been around the media this year, perhaps a testament to being in the spotlight pretty consistently since he turned pro after the Olympics in 2017. Back then, lets just say Conwell wasnt exactly Bernard Hopkins in interviews. But he has settled in, is showing off his sense of humor, and when you add in the fighting style that has led him to a perfect 13-0 (10 KOs) record, hes got star potential at 154 pounds. Just dont tell him that 2021 is his year.

They said that last year, he chuckles. They said 2020 was the year. I'm tired of people saying every year is the year and I'm tired of putting a day on it. I'm just gonna let everything play out. I know a lot of stuff happened (in 2020), but every time somebody says something's gonna happen, they're kinda jinxing it.

I do remind Conwell that the COVID-19 pandemic kind of put an asterisk on everybodys year, and he agrees, but he still got in a decent 2020 campaign after a 2019 that ended on a down note after the death of Patrick Day after their October bout.

At the beginning of 2020, it was a little rocky, Conwell said. Then it started picking up - I got to fight in October and now I'm fighting in December, so it's been starting to pick up for me. I think if it weren't for the pandemic, I probably would have had four or five fights this year, depending on cuts or injuries. So it was a rocky start, but it's gonna be a good ending.

Add in a February stoppage of Ramses Agaton, and Conwell could be 3-0 for the year by the end of Thursday night. And if he does reach that mark, it will be a big deal because Kazakhstans Ashkeyev is expected to be the Olympians toughest test to date. Then again, fans expected 12-0 Wendy Toussaint to be that test in October. Conwell knocked him out in the ninth round.

I think they just said that because of the person's record, he said. I don't think that was the toughest fight for me in my career so far. He was a good opponent, and he came out and fought, but at the end I got the job done and got the KO.

So what was the toughest fight so far?

The Pat Day fight was pretty tough and the fight before the Pat Day fight with (Courtney) Pennington. He was crafty. That was my first 10 rounder, so that was tough.

Will Ashkeyev be a similarly tough puzzle to figure out?

I think he's gonna be pretty tough, said Conwell. I think he's gonna be tougher than Wendy Touissant, but I know for a fact I can beat him. It's how I'm gonna beat him; that's what I'm waiting to see. I don't know if it's gonna be a knockout or if it's gonna be a decision, but I know I'm gonna beat him for sure.

Then Conwell can get on with the business of having that big year everyone keeps predicting for him. But first, its a trip home to Cleveland and the holidays with his six-month-old daughter.

It feels good, he said of fatherhood. It gets kinda sad because you miss a lot of growth, a lot of milestones that the baby's doing, but it's always good to see how far she came when you get to go back home.

Fatherhood is when boys become men, and Conwell wouldnt dispute that his maturity has a lot to do with the bundle of joy that came into his life in June.

To be honest, I really think that might be something to do with it, said Conwell, who admits to having talks with his Soul City Boxing teammates about what the future may hold. And with 2020 U.S. Olympic team member OShae Jones and hot prospects Otha Jones III and Isaiah Steen (who is Conwells brother) on the team, that future is a bright one. But before they get carried away, he stops them.

We always talk about what we're gonna do when we get there, but to be honest, we gotta get there first and we ain't there yet.

Yeah, not too bad for 23.

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Conwell Motivated To End Year Strong, Expects Tough Fight With Ashkeyev - BoxingScene.com

By Express News Service

NEW DELHI: With the government staying firm on the farm laws, Union ministers Amit Shah, Narendra Singh Tomar and Piyush Goyal went into a huddle with the BJP national general secretaries at the party headquarters, with indications emerging that it is gearing up for the political challenge thrown up by the farmers protesting at the Capitals doorstep.

Minutes after the meeting concluded, Tomar, Union Minister for Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, released a hard-hitting letter addressed to the farmers, singling out conspirators for fuelling anarchy.

The meeting also came in the midst of the outreach by BJP leaders across the country to explain their position on the contentious farm sector reform laws and the steps taken by the government for the benefits of the farmers.

There is clarity that certain elements who have consistently been at loggerheads with the Narendra Modi government are fanning the farmers protests for vested interests. The BJP will effectively respond to the motivated campaign, said a senior BJP functionary.

Unions to consult four top lawyers

Farmer unions said they will first consult four top Supreme Court lawyers Prashant Bhushan, Colin Gonsalves, Dushyant Dave and H S Phoolka before taking a call on the SC impleading them in the case and forming of an impartial committee to resolve the matter

Originally posted here:
Farmers protest: Motivated campaign, says BJP, readies to fight it out - The New Indian Express