Its Scotlands oldest and original lending facility, created in 1680 before union with England. Andrew Welsh visits the Library of Innerpeffray.

It could so easily have been one historic Courier Country landmark in acclaimed author Germaine Greers thoughts when she wrote of libraries as reservoirs of strength, grace and wit; reminders of order, calm and continuity; lakes of mental energy neither warm nor cold, light nor dark. That description can confidently be applied to Scotlands oldest and original lending facility, the Library of Innerpeffray, which was created in 1680 at a time when Scotland was still 27 years away from forging its union with England, while in France the Sun King Louis XIV was midway through his epic 72-year reign.

Unobtrusively tucked away in leafy surrounds close to the River Earn four miles south-east of Crieff, the library started life in the attic of tiny Innerpeffrays St Marys Chapel, where it housed local laird David Drummonds precious books collection. Following his death, its running fell to the Innerpeffray Mortification charity, whose governors proudly unveiled Scotlands first public lending library in 1694, along with a new rural school. It was just as the Scottish Enlightenment was taking shape in 1739 that subsequent estate owner Revd Robert Hay Drummond a future Archbishop of York commissioned the architect Charles Freebairn to construct the Georgian reading room that still stands today, so that it could hold both the chapels contents and his own former book collection.

For more than two centuries residents of Crieff and nearby villages would walk the Strathearn countryside including a wade across the river at one of its shallowest points in order to gain knowledge about such things as theology, geography, astronomy, history and the sciences. When the number of borrowers fell away post-war, the archives trustees eventually decided to cease lending in 1968, with the holder of Innerpeffrays full-time librarian post its grandly-titled Keeper of the Books has been a permanent feature since 1696 devoting more time to the preservation of an increasingly fragile and valuable resource. Boasting such treasures as a 1476 edition of the works of theologian John Duns Scotus Innerpeffrays oldest book plus first editions by Enlightenment philosopher David Hume and literary giants Samuel Johnson and Robert Louis Stevenson, as well as lyrics handwritten by Robert Burns, the library has evolved into a fascinating visitor attraction in recent decades. It reopened with restrictions last month following four months of pandemic-enforced closure.

The 33rd incumbent in the Keeper role is Lanarkshire-raised Lara Haggerty, who first visited Innerpeffray and its 5,000 books, including a comprehensive borrowers register dating back to 1747, shortly after moving to Crieff in 2005. Missing out on both a huge chunk of this years tourist season and a regular diet of fundraising social events has created inevitable challenges for one of the nations most niche attractions, but fortunately Lara was still able to work on her marketing duties while her 15-strong team of library volunteers locked down at home. Its been very interesting for us to find out new ways of connecting with the people that know and love the library, and of finding new people, she tells me. Weve been doing that through a series of filmed tours and we put out an appeal which was very generously supported. Our trustees were concerned at the start of lockdown but theyre now feeling that the library is going to be OK.

Innerpeffray opened a new heritage trail for visitors to its tranquil grounds last year following a 100,000 fundraising campaign. Providing views of surviving Roman roads, the Earn-side walk tells the sites story from the Ice Age to the present through a series of interpretive markers thatve earned the library a nomination in this years Scottish Design Awards and further work is imminent. Most of the expense went on clearing the ground to get it ready, says Lara. That cost more than I thought wouldve been possible but of course its highly skilled work. We needed to have trees cut down and have paths that are safe, so Im sure well look back on it in years to come and think that it was a great investment. It felt like a lot of money at the time but we hope that itll be here for a very long time to come, at least 25 years if not forever. Wed just completed that big project and were settling back to business as usual when it became not as usual. Fortunately we were able to tap into the support grants that were made available to Perth and Kinross Council very early on and that bought us a lot of time. Although plans for major summer celebrations to mark Innerpeffrays 340th anniversary were axed months ago, visitors and locals still managed to enjoy spending time in its grounds while the library was being readied for reopening. Indoor tours are back up and running with capacity reduced to just two people alongside other Covid-related measures including dividing screens, hence the venues annual visitor tally is expected to be only around a tenth of its usual 2,000. The library, which closes to the public over winter, holds regular exhibitions based around its rare books and the subject matter of the latest certainly resonates in the current climate. We had a plague and pestilence exhibition a few years ago and when we were looking at reopening one of the volunteers suggested, almost as a throwaway, that we should stage it again, explains Lara. I agreed, so we looked out some of the books and I think the display is amusing people, which is always good. Weve got historical accounts of the plague happening in different cities over the world in a variety of books, magazines and journals, including the Scots Magazine. They can also see medical books with possible cures we should perhaps say, Dont try this at home and weve got a book of prayers which are said in time of plague, so there are words of comfort. It would take a medical expert to go through the books and find out whether or not there are any useful tips within them, however they can certainly give us hope. The fact is people do recover from plagues its happened before and weve come out the other side of it.

History is all around at Innerpeffray. The vast majority of the librarys titles are pre-19th Century and its clear there are plenty of relevant lessons from the past on its shelves. Lara affectionately refers to the hallowed venue as a living library and if youre lucky, you might get the chance to hold Innerpeffrays oldest book in your hands, and get a sense of the past almost coming to life. So when the Keeper declares that back in the 15th Century its Duns Scotus was really hot off the press, you could say, you can understand why. After all, his treatise on theological doctrine was printed in Venice only around 17 years after the arrival of typographic art in the former Adriatic republic, a development that firmly established the publishing industry outside Germany where its widely recognised as having its European origins. Being able to touch the librarys ancient tomes is a joy coronavirus took away, and Lara admits to feeling sad that there remains obvious need for caution. The thing thats special about Innerpeffray is that opportunity to hold the books for yourself and to feel them, she adds. You can feel the temperature of the paper and the way that the leather feels in your hand, and missing that is terrible but were doing what we can. We are able to quarantine books ourselves if somebody makes a special request. I had a seven-year-old a couple of weeks ago who was very engaged with the visit and was admiring the really big books. So we got one of them off the shelf and let him hold it to see how heavy it was, and he was really taken with the fact that it was such a big old book. All we did then was we put that book into a safe space and we left it there for three days and then it went back on the shelf. So that worked, but we cant bring lots and lots of books out in the way that we used to do.

Listening to Lara speak with such obvious passion about her callings importance to learning brings to mind Pulitzer Prize-winning poet Archibald MacLeishs wartime observation that librarians are more than mere custodians of print and paper, they are also keepers of the records of the human spirit itself. Ask her how she feels about modern libraries storing a fraction of the number of books contained within Innerpeffrays Category A-listed walls and Lara pauses for a moment. There will always be a place for libraries, she cautiously ventures. They are purveyors of information, and although the information in Innerpeffrays time came from printed books, before that they were handwritten and today a lot of them are digital, and libraries have to respond to that. They have to be what their community needs. Im definitely not against libraries embracing different technologies but I am against closing libraries. I think theyre very important places in our communities. Ive heard some fabulous stories over the lockdown period about the ways libraries have been able to stay in contact with the people who need them as a means of communication socially and of occupying time. Librarians have been very innovative and creative in their solutions to allow the people to keep on using their libraries, which is really heartening. Its that spirit in all whove followed the path of pioneers like Innerpeffray that continues to prove so inspiring for Germaine Greer and countless others.

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LIVING HISTORY: Keeper of the Books at library of the ages - The Courier

Federation of Indian Sports Aerobics and Fitness (FISAF) has the aim to develop sports and fitness aerobics according to international standards. With eminent members in the organization who have been working in sports aerobics for a long time, it has sent players from India to international contests who won medals for the country.

In order to realize their vision for developing sports aerobics all across India at an international level, FISAF India released the initiative of Sports Aerobics Education Program. This provides online resources, training camps, seminars and more, for school students as well as aerobic athletes. With this vision in mind, sports aerobics and fitness will be available to everyone across the country free of cost. This will encourage more participation in sports and fitness aerobics through the younger age groups in FISAF India events. Encouraging early talent is a key to putting India on the global map of sports aerobics.

The aerobics resources consist of five online training videos which can be done any time and do not need any equipment. These videos provide total body exercises that are safe and easy to perform without any risk of injury. People of all age groups can keep fit at home through these aerobic videos which also consist of pre-choreographed routines synced to music. This makes it a fun and challenging exercise.

FISAF INDIA provides these resources for free to encourage the growth of this new era sports and fitness in India. They are encouraging the Fit India movement, which aims to improve the quality of living for many by incorporating fitness into their everyday lifestyle. The organization consists of former international athletes who have been working in sports aerobics from a very long time and have brought about significant change.

Through the availability of easy access to sports aerobics resources, FISAF India is fulfilling the mission to develop Indias sports and fitness aerobics standards to international levels.

Also read:FISAF Paving the way for Indian athletes in sports and fitness aerobics

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How FISAF provides accessible resources for sports and fitness aerobics - The Bridge

According to the U.S. Physical Activity Guidelines, adults are recommended to perform at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic exercises weekly along with at least two strength-training sessions to stay healthy and fit. Whilst exercising outdoors or signing up for a gym membership are both compelling options, setting up a home gym is the most time-efficient, cost-effective, and convenient option for people who like to exercise frequently. There are countless reasons why it might be inconvenient for you to work out in a gym or outdoors. For instance, personal reasons such as busy work schedules and external factors such as bad weather conditions or pandemic outbreaks can interfere with your fitness goals.

One of the most common misconceptions about the home gym is that it requires a lot of costly high-end equipment. However, based on your personal fitness goals and needs, you can optimize your available space with a few pieces of equipment that can benefit you the most.

This article is a guide to 7 pieces of home gym equipment that are well worth buying.

Among the most popular choices of equipment for cardio training, exercise bikes are often the first choice for home gyms as they take up less space than treadmills and are generally more affordable. Moreover, exercise bikes require a minimum amount of maintenance while still suffice your daily needs for cardiovascular training. They are ideal for people with busy schedules as they can help you squeeze in short and effective workouts before or after work without having to travel to the gym and back. Good quality exercise bikes can also track your calories burned as well as heart rates via hand sensors along with basic workout details such as distance, time, and speed.

Exercise bikes are widely available with different price ranges and specific features from simple stationary bikes to pricey folding magnetic bikes. But according to the experts at FlexMasterGeneral.com, the two most popular options are the Peloton and Nordictrack Commercial Studio Cycles for their adjustable seats as well as digital screens for tracking your workout progress. Another feature to look for when looking for one is a good quality flywheel as this will allow users to have a quiet and smooth ride.

When it comes to strength training, resistance bands are often overlooked as people tend to look for weight benches and dumbbells to purchase for their home gyms. However, resistance bands are highly versatile, easy to store, affordable, and lightweight compared to kettlebells, dumbbells, and other exercise equipment. You can use resistance bands at home for multiple workout programs such as planks, sidesteps, and squats. There are resistance bands with different levels of elasticity which change the intensity of your workout.

There are several different ways you can work on your cardiovascular training and rowing is one of the most effective low-impact workouts. If you have a large enough space to spare for your home gym, you should consider investing in an indoor rowing machine. Typically, indoor rowing machines can be separated into two parts to make them easier to store. Rowing machines are total-body workout equipment that can be used for both cardio and muscle toning purposes. Specifically, you can have a full-body exercise with an indoor rowing machine, which focuses mostly on your arms, legs, core, and back. Moreover, in contrast to running, there is less impact on your ankles and knees. Remember to look into the exact measurements of your chosen rowing machine to make sure that your home gym is spacious enough to place it.

If you are looking for a full-rounded workout program, you need to incorporate strength training into your exercise routines. There are various types of fitness equipment that are designed to target different groups of muscles and the most versatile are dumbbells. Because of that, most home gyms are equipped with a few sets of dumbbells in different weights or better yet, have an adjustable pair of dumbbells to help trainers to target most major muscle groups such as arms, chest, legs, and back. Adjustable dumbbells are highly convenient, versatile, and easy to store.

Running on a treadmill is one of the most effective forms of cardiovascular exercise. Treadmills come with different programs and speed features and can be customized with different calorie and heart rate tracking features. Along with exercise bikes, treadmills are among the top choices of cardio equipment for home gyms. Depending on your available space, you may want to consider a treadmill with a folding frame. Prices of treadmills range significantly depending on the in-built features, but for basic home use, a simple model will be all you need.

A good-quality yoga mat can serve you for different fitness activities including yoga practice, pilates, and strength training workouts using your body weight. When choosing your yoga mat, it is important to look for a non-slip mat to avoid potential injuries and maintain good alignment. Moreover, good-quality mats tend to be well cushioned and are easy to wipe clean. Surprisingly, some high-end yoga mats can actually be very expensive, but a regular, multi-purpose yoga mat will only set you back a few dollars.

Medicine balls are versatile pieces of fitness equipment that can be used for a variety of workouts. Medicine balls are great for abdominal workouts and step aerobics. Medicine balls come in a range of weights and sizes, but a large medicine ball can suit most of your needs. You can choose a medicine ball in either hard plastic or a softer foam version depending on what kind of workout you intend to use it for.

Performing frequent physical exercises have numerous health benefits for us both physically and mentally. With a convenient home gym, you can meet your fitness goals and satisfy your exercise needs while saving time that would otherwise be spent commuting to the gym as well as saving a lot of money on a pricey gym membership. Work out more often at home with these 7 pieces of home gym equipment.

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7 Pieces Of Home Gym Equipment That Are Worth Buying - E/The Environmental Magazine

American Horror Story loves to reuse it's actors each season, but which actors should stick around, and which shouldn't?

Successful horror-themed television shows are few and far between, but Ryan Murphy managed to hit it out of the park with American Horror Story. Though the series is an anthology and has an entirely different premise every season, it is most popular for its unique choice to use primarily the same cast members to play different characters every year.

RELATED:American Horror Story: 10 Actors You Forgot Appeared In The Series

Fans gets to see their favorite actors and actresses tackle a variety of roles, but this also means that some of them may wear out their welcome over time. The hit horror anthology is currently preparing to begin filmingits mysterious 10th season, and is sure to include a few familiar faces. Take a look at 5 stars that fans are eager to see more of in future seasons, and 5 that have been less popular.

The daughter of the late Carrie Fisherand granddaughter of Debbie Reynolds, Billie Lourd comes from a line of actresses brimming with talent and personality.

Throughout herAmerican Horror Story career, she has graced the screen in three separate roles in Cult,Apocalypse, and finally as the aerobics-obsessed Montana in 1984.Lourd has proven herself as a versatile actress that brings uniqueness to each performance, and she is a credit to the series.She is confirmed to appear in season 10, though little is known about her role.

Chlo Sevigny has previously won a Golden Globe for herperformance as Nicki GrantinBig Love, but herAmerican Horror Storycharacters blend together and are associated with either convoluted or less than exciting plot lines.

Despite being a sympathetic character with an intriguing past in Asylum, her inclusion was not particularly important to the overall arc of the season. In Hotel, her character is even less interesting and often frustrating to watch as she makes continuallyconfusing choices.

Leslie Jordan first starred in American Horror Story: Coven as a warlock and member of the Witches Council. He has also had small roles in Roanoke and 1984. Known for his short stature and his Southern accent, he owns the qualities that some may mock, and he carries himself with confidence and good humor.

RELATED:American Horror Story: Every Character Leslie Jordan Played

These traits bleed into his characters and make them both funny and likable even if theyre not very good people. Jordan is always entertaining to watch and bringsa fun sense of flair to his roles.

Theres a certain nostalgia about Dylan McDermott. Hes been with the show from the beginning, and his role as the cheating husband and at-home therapist, Ben Harmon, is memorable because it was the premiere season. Unfortunately, his characters have lacked oomph, and some are nothing more than a cameo or a shocking plot twist.

This can especially be said of Johnny Morgan. Asylumhad too many plots to juggle.The son of Bloodyface intent on following in his fathers footsteps was just a confusing blur after the aliens and the Nazis.

Angela Bassett is a stand out performer that brings a certain intoxicating charisma to her characters, while still giving them a distinct life of their own. Starring in four seasons, Bassett has quite the American Horror Story resume. She has appeared in Coven, Freak Show, Hotel, and Roanoke.

RELATED:Angela Bassett's 10 Best Movies Of The Past Decade (According To IMDb)

Her outstanding performance as voodoo queen Marie Laveau earned her an Emmy nomination. She was nominated for a second year in a row for her portrayal of side show entertainer, Desiree Dupree.

Previously known for his roles in American Beauty and Hunger Games, Wes Bentley has appeared in three seasons of American Horror Story. He was first featured in Freakshow as the ghost of Edward Mordrake.

His most prominent role in the show has been in Hotel. He played John Lowe, a depressed, alcoholic detectivewho checks into the Hotel Cortez while trying to solve a series of murders. Bentley is a decent actor, but his characters in American Horror Story have just lacked a certain something.

Best known for his incredible work as Michael Langdon in Apocalypse, Australian newcomer Cody Fern may be a fresh face when it comes to the series, but he has proven himself to be an excellent actor with considerable range.

He easily shifts from the calm but sinister Anti-Christ in season 8, to a flamboyant aerobics instructor and camp counselor in 1984. He is yet to be confirmed for a role in season 10, but knowing American Horror Story, anything can happen.

Lead singer of Maroon 5 and former judge on The Voice, Adam Levine has a long history in show business, but had no business being on American Horror Story. Though he was only in a few scenes as a horror enthusiast on a "haunted honeymoon", the scenes felt cheesy, jarring, and out of place.

RELATED:American Horror Story: 10 Things That Make No Sense About Asylum

Most ofAsylum takes place in 1950's Massachusetts, but Levine's characterconnectsthe season with a modern timeline to set up the return of Bloodyface. It was a confusing mess.

If there is one truth, it is that Lady Gaga is a goddess and fans need her to graceAmerican Horror Storywith her presence more often. She had a small role as the ancient witch,Scthach, in season 6's mockumentary "My Roanoke Nightmare", but her true talent shone in Hotel.

Elegant, refined, and as deadly as they come, The Countess is the fierce and fashionable owner of the Hotel Cortezand oh yeah, she's also a vampire. Known for her Oscar nominated performance in A Star Is Born, Lady Gaga brings style and a deep emotion to any role she takes.

Known for playing the snobby mean girl, Emma Roberts is the source of countless memes for her memorable role as Madison Montgomery. One of the most frequently recurring stars on the show, Roberts has appeared in Coven, Freakshow, Cult, Apocalypse, and 1984.

Most of her character have similar traits, andthe trope of mean girl with a little bit of a heart gets tired. Even when the character isconsiderably different, like Brooke Thompson in 1984, there isnt anything particularly unique about the way that Roberts chooses to play them.

NEXT:American Horror Story: 10 Movies And Shows You Recognize The Cast From

Next RuPaul's Drag Race Season 5: Where Are They Now?

Currently working as a freelance writer due to her passion for the entertainment industry, Alexandra is also a screenwriter and has degrees in Film Production and Fine Arts. Along with her work for ScreenRant, she has also contributed to Valnet's sister sites, GameRant and The Things.

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American Horror Story: 5 Actors That Fans Want To See Again (& 5 That Have Been In The Show Enough) - Screen Rant

At this point in time, most people in the college football world know that Louisville's defense was not their strong suit during the 2019 season.

The offensive side of the ball was busy lighting up the scoreboard, but so was the defensive side of the ball for the other team at times. The Cardinals allowed 439.9 yards per game (102nd in FBS), and the team as a whole was actually allowing more points (33.4) than they were scoring (33.1).

But as the first season under head coach Scott Satterfield & defensive coordinator Bryan Brown progressed, the defense as a whole slowly became more comfortable with their settings.

Sure the back half of the regular season still had moments like the debacles against both Miami & Kentucky, but the defense's performances against both Virginia & NC State were some of their best outings over the course of the 2020 season.

This all culminated with Louisville's 38-28 win over Mississippi State in the Music City Bowl. While the Cards held the Bulldogs to around their scoring average (27.6) and it wasn't Louisville's lowest defensive scoring output, the on-field difference looked a lot different than when the season had started.

Instead of reacting to what was unfolding in front of them, the defense was playing more instinctually - and as a result a lot more efficiently.

"When you know what to do and you're going in the right direction, that means you can play a whole lot faster as opposed to thinking 'oh, what's the check?' or 'oh, what is this?'," DC Bryan Brown said in a teleconference Wednesday after practice.

As the program progressed into the offseason, the defense was motivated from a two-fold standpoint. They wanted to not only build off of their from better performances like against Mississippi State, Virginia & NC State; but also wanted redemption for the games in which they did not perform well like against Miami & Kentucky.

"Last year with the new coaching staff, we were all just learning and stepping into a new scheme," redshirt senior safety Isaiah Hayes said. "Coming into this season and this offseason. we most definitely made it a priority to work like we were going to be one of the best defenses in the nation. The chip on the shoulder was definitely there, and we're striving for perfection every single day."

The team was actually greatly assisted by the amount of bowl preparations they underwent. While they might have had eight practice taken from them due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the defense looked like a completely different unit during the seven practices they got in.

It's not just from an on-field perspective, either. Everyone on the defense has completely bought in to what the coaching staff is preaching, and they are always inquiring as to how they and their teammates can get better.

"They're asking questions - that's what you want. Last year they were just trying to find out. They were trying to learn on the fly," Brown said. "Now you know you're trying to get somewhere as a defense when they're asking questions and making suggestions."

As a result, the defensive is brimming with confidence heading into their season-opener against the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers. They have a better understanding of the defensive minutiae as well as when they should pull the trigger and take a chance to make a play.

"It's just a great coaching staff to be around," Hayes said. "They're giving us everything we need to build our confidence in our craft, our communication, our alignment and our adjustments."

Louisville is set to kickoff the season against the Hilltoppers at home on Saturday, Sept. 12 at 8:00pm on the ACC Network.

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Facebook - @LouisvilleOnSI

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Louisville Defense Riding a Wave of Momentum, Motivation and Confidence - Sports Illustrated

PORT CHARLOTTE Virgil Luther was looking forward to finally making a name for himself on the football field last fall for the Pirates.

But just as his junior season was about to get started, a teammate fell backward into Luther and broke his ankle during the final play of the Kickoff Classic. The injury kept him out for most of his junior season.

Then, the offseason came and a much greater tragedy struck his family.

Virginia Luther, mother to Virgil and his eight siblings (seven brothers and a sister), passed away in her sleep in December.

Ill always have someone in my heart, and thats my mom, Luther said. Shes always on my mind when I play the game. I know shes looking down at us right now, and I do my hardest to make her proud.

When I was younger in Pop Warner, I never liked to play football. But she would always tell me, Just go out there and have fun. And I was like, You know what? I will go have some fun. And what happened? I started liking football. Shes gone now, but I know shes still watching.

While theres many things that Luther misses about his mother from her unwavering support to constant presence at football games and, of course, her cooking he doesnt have to look far to find support. His older brother, Solomon, remained on the football team this season despite having the chance to graduate last spring. And younger brothers Samuel and Tyrell are always close by on the junior varsity field.

Virgil handled it well, Solomon Luther said of his mothers death. Working hard for her makes me proud of him, and Im sure it makes our mom proud, too.

Family means everything to us. Without family, I dont think you can get somewhere in life.

Coach Jordan Ingman recalls how Virginia made her presence felt on the field.

She had a chant where she would bark through the megaphone and the officials would tell me, Coach can you get that person to stop yelling through the megaphone? he said. And Id say, Youre gonna have to go up there and do that, because Im not gonna do it.

She was always positive. Even if we were losing she never had a bad thing to say. That has permeated through her children as well. ... Theyre the greatest people you could ever ask for.

{div}After a season spent on the sidelines, Luther would finally get the chance to play a bigger role for Port Charlotte he rushed 14 times for 77 yards and three touchdowns in a 46-26 Week 1 win over Hardee last Friday.{/div}

But even if his big Week 1 doesnt turn him into the next Pirates star, he wont be stressing over it, he said. A player that Ingman calls unselfish, Luther has played cornerback, safety, linebacker, a-back and b-back for the Pirates.

Hes played five different positions for us and not once complained about any of that, Ingman said. Unfortunately he had an injury that set him back last year, but even through that he was nothing but positive.

Luther spent many Friday nights at Port Charlotte High watching brothers Martin and T.J. star for the Pirates, and many Saturday afternoons at the local Bandits Pop Warner fields. He remains inspired by his family today and hopes to be playing college football this time next year.

However, with a missed junior season and the coronavirus pandemic, there have been limited chances for Luther to put together highlight packages or visit schools or camps.

Now, with just a few games left to prove himself to college recruiters, he has as much motivation as ever.

All of my brothers and me have always dreamed of playing in college, Luther said.

When my mom was dying we told her, Were gonna make it for you. And she said, One day, I hope you all do. We were like, We got you, mom.

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Pirates' Luther draws motivation from tough junior year - yoursun.com

NEW YORK (Reuters) - With less than two months to go until the U.S. election, President Donald Trump is having trouble energizing his core supporters, especially white voters without college degrees who were key to his victory in 2016, a Reuters polling analysis shows.

FILE PHOTO: U.S. President Donald Trump holds a campaign rally in Londonderry, New Hampshire, U.S., August 28, 2020. REUTERS/Carlos Barria

The analysis, based on Reuters/Ipsos national opinion polling from May to August and 2016 exit poll data, found that Trump has lost support among non-college educated whites, who made up 44% of the U.S. electorate four years ago and heavily favored the Republican over Democrat Hillary Clinton.

Trump is still more popular with this group than Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden, with 46% saying they would vote for Trump, compared with 34% who back Biden. But his 12-point advantage in August is down from a 21-point lead in May, and well below the 34-point advantage he had over Clinton. tmsnrt.rs/2ZajmYu

What is more worrisome for Trump, however, is that the constituencys commitment to voting has remained flat this year, while interest has risen among groups that lean toward Democrats: minorities, women, urban and suburban residents and people with below-average incomes.

The data suggests that this time, there will be greater pressure on the Republican Party - and not the Democratic Party - to boost voter turnout to win.

This is rare, and its an interesting indication of how energized or agitated the electorate is, said Donald Green, a political scientist at Columbia University. People who would ordinarily not make it past the likely voter screen are doing so because theyre so decisively hostile toward the president.

In the August poll, 69% of registered African-American voters and 61% of registered Hispanic voters said they were certain to cast their ballots in November, up 7 and 6 percentage points, respectively, from May. The number of committed voters rose by 5 points each among women, suburban and urban residents, and people who make less than $50,000 a year.

The number of certain voters has remained unchanged among non-college whites since May at 65%, and is down 2 points among rural Americans to 63%.

The number of registered Democrats who say they are certain to vote has increased by about 5 percentage points to 79% from May to August, while it has increased by 1 point among registered Republicans to 78%, the polling shows. That's a reversal from August 2016, when 69% of registered Democrats and 71% of registered Republicans said they were certain to vote. tmsnrt.rs/3jPvUfR

An Ipsos analysis of the data shows that Biden leads Trump by 10 percentage points in election scenarios that include only the most engaged, or likely, voters. Trump claws back most of Bidens advantage only in high-turnout scenarios.

The Republican Party has traditionally attracted the most politically active Americans, including majorities of older, white voters, religious conservatives and gun owners.

Republican candidates usually could expect to perform better in elections where the turnout was low.

To be sure, Trumps base is likely to get more fired up the closer it gets to Election Day. The August polling shows as many as 20% of white voters without college degrees remain undecided. In 2016, about one in every eight Trump voters said they made their choice in the last week of the campaign, according to a Reuters/Ipsos poll at the time.

Despite the growth of minority populations, whites still dominate the U.S. electorate, accounting for nearly three-quarters of the voters in 2016, even though they make up only 60% of the overall population.

Their opinions are crucial for Trump, who during his presidency has focused on opposing immigration and expressed his sympathy for white racial grievances. Trump has criticized anti-racism protesters as thugs, and most recently defended a white gunman charged with killing two Black Lives Matter demonstrators in Wisconsin.

According to Reuters/Ipsos polling in August, 61% of non-college whites believe the country is headed in the wrong direction, and 53% think the same of the U.S. economy. More than 70% say they are concerned about the coronavirus pandemic, and only 48% approve of the way Trump has responded to the crisis.

Meanwhile, 48% of college-educated whites said they would support Biden and 40% said they would back Trump. This compares with exit polls in 2016 that showed Clinton had just a 2-point edge over Trump with the same group.

Trump campaign spokesman Hogan Gidley said its internal polling shows that the president is tied or ahead in all of the key battleground states.

Our data shows supporters are wildly enthusiastic and excited to cast their vote for the President, unlike the small minority of Democrats who actually like Joe Biden, Gidley said.

Polls by media and academic organizations currently show Biden ahead by at least a few points in most battleground states, including Wisconsin, Michigan, Pennsylvania, Florida and Arizona, however.

Trumps efforts to discourage voting by mail due to the coronavirus pandemic - saying without evidence that it will lead to widespread fraud - may backfire given that the data suggests a higher turnout would work in his favor.

Some people are going to be discouraged, some people are going to motivated to push back and vote, and some will be confused about what to do, said Myrna Perez, the director of the Voting Rights and Elections Program at the Brennan Center for Justice.

Reporting by Chris Kahn, Editing by Soyoung Kim and Sonya Hepinstall

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Supporters who helped Trump win presidency lagging in motivation this year - Reuters

MASON Bennett has revealed his main motivation to get the most he can out of his career to make a future for his young daughter.

Bennett has moved from Derby to London, and will travel back regularly along with Scott Malone who is also from the Midlands to visit five-year-old Aaliyah and the rest of his family.

Despite being just 24, former England underage international Bennett spent thirteen seasons with the Rams and made his senior debut when he was just fifteen.

He spent time on loan at Chesterfield, Bradford City, Burton Albion and Notts County, but this is the first time he has moved permanently away from Derbyshire.

My family are all up north but I can keep in touch through Face Time, Bennett said. They understand, my daughter understands that this is what daddy has to do and Im trying to make a future for her, at the end of the day.

My daughter is so young and I thought, what am I going to do? It gives you that motivation to run harder, run faster, work harder. She knows whats happening. Now Im really happy to be down here.

I spoke to a lot of players at Derby, they couldnt believe how young I still was. I made my debut so young.

I spoke to people at Derby and my own personal team and we agreed that I needed to broaden my horizons and try a different challenge. This is a big challenge for me coming away from where Im used to, where Im comfortable close to home and friends and family.

Im just delighted to get on this journey and Im going to make the most of it.

[Alex Pearce] was on to me since the day I left, he actually wanted me here the first day of pre-season. Which I was trying to do but obviously these things take a while because its a permanent move.

I only had six days off in the summer. I went away with Connor [Mahoney] and Billy [Mitchell] and I was saying to them, Ill see you soon. It didnt happen as quickly but as I had said before my mindset was always here. I knew I couldnt go back to Derby with a negative attitude [for the start of pre-season], I had to be 100 per cent at it and put the work in. I knew I needed to hit the ground running when I got back here.

Im here to work and try to get the team into the play-offs and get us promoted. Thats my main priority down here.

We got so close last year and the group and staff realised that. Weve made some great additions already with Scotty [Malone] and Troy [Parrott] coming in, thats only going to boost us more.

You can see it already in training, even in my first day it was, wow, the lads have come on leaps and bounds. So Im going to have to up my game as well as everybody else.

Its going to be an exciting season, Im sure there will be ups and downs but its a great group and everyone sticks together. I think its going to be a good season for us.

Ive got to Wembley [with Derby] and I know what it takes. Its going to take everyone in the squad, not just the starting XI and all the subs. Its the young lads as well. Everyones got to be pushing every day and with the squad weve got we can definitely achieve something.

Fans are also set to be allowed back to The Den after October 1.

Bennett added: I loved playing at The Den last season, the few games when the fans were there, the atmosphere was electric. They really got behind us and also put the opposition team on edge. Ill be excited for them to come back in.

But weve got a few games at home before then so we need to be at it and create that atmosphere ourselves within the dressing room.

Image: Millwall FC

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Millwall's Mason Bennett reveals powerful motivation and what makes him work harder - News At Den

Excluding Friday nights game at Tampa, the Red Sox had 14 games left in this 2020 season, and its worth exploring the motivations behind recent performances by certain players.

Rafael Devers, Bobby Dalbec and Mike Kickham were the standouts on Thursday night at Tropicana Field. Devers and Dalbec both homered while Kickham enjoyed his best outing since July 2013.

The worst team in the American League East beat the best. Boston squeezed out a 4-3 victory, its fourth win in its last six games.

Devers is on a four-game hitting streak thanks to two singles and a two-run homer. Hes pounded out six extra-base hits in that span and has 16 in his last 26 games. Devers managed just six extra-base hits through his first 20 games of this lost season.

"Im just coming into work every single day like Im supposed to and just putting in the work and trying to get better and better," Devers said through translator Bryan Almonte. "Obviously during the beginning of the season things werent going my way, but now that they are Im starting to reap the benefits."

Devers turns 24 in October. Hes still a young player establishing himself as one of the top offensive third basemen in the game. The Red Sox arent going anywhere barring a seemingly impossible winning streak, but personal motivation stretches beyond the teams current track outside the playoffs.

"I would come here every day happy, but I would still be frustrated with the way things were going for me," Devers said. "I just understood that was part of the game and I continued to go after it and tried to just improve and tried to get better every day. Now Im hitting the ball better."

Dalbec drove a solo home run to right field leading off the top of the fifth inning, his fifth in as many games. He became the fifth player in Major League Baseball history to crack as many as six home runs through his first 10 career games. No other Red Sox rookie has gone deep in as many as four straight.

"Pretty cool seeing Bobby coming up his first year and doing this," Red Sox manager Ron Roenicke said. "Its pretty amazing, actually."

Dalbec struck out in his first at-bat against Josh Fleming and eventually took a hat trick on the night. His final line is likely something well see often over the course of his career. But fanning is nothing new to Dalbec, and putting those at-bats behind him is something hes been forced to practice at every level dating to his college career at Arizona.

"I guess the thing I like is after he strikes out hes not down," Roenicke said. "Theres still a lot of fight in him. When you strike out, its easy to get down and get upset about it, and then you dont bounce back and have that same fight in you."

Kickham is a 31-year-old who made just 18 appearances in the minor leagues in 2015 and 2016. He rattled around independent leagues at times awaiting his next chance. The left-hander was stuck on the 14 appearances he made with the Giants for six years before being recalled by Boston on Aug. 31.

"Getting back into pro ball and getting back to the big leagues, that was something I was able to accomplish this year," Kickham said. "Thats very important to me.

"Now the next goal is to stick at this level and have success. Now thats my focus. A strong finish to this month and Ill set myself up good going into next year."

Kickhams eight strikeouts in four innings against the Rays bettered the six he posted in a July 2013 outing with San Francisco. Tampa Bay hitters went down 17 times in all against five Red Sox pitchers. Kickham picked his way through the lineup while throwing just eight four-seam fastballs and a lone sinker among his 65 pitches.

"Ive added the cutter," Kickham said. "Thats something I didnt have early in my career. Its something Ive developed when I found myself in indy ball and just kind of honed that on the journey all the way back into affiliated. Thats kind of my foundation."

Devers, Dalbec and Kickham would seem to have little in common at first glance. Theyre different ages and at different stages in their professional careers. But they all have something to prove in their own way, and that helped lift Boston to victory on Thursday.

bkoch@providencejournal.com

On Twitter: @BillKoch25

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REASONS TO WIN: Personal motivations drove Red Sox to Thursdays victory - The Providence Journal

Now that the kids are back in school, whether in person or remote, you might be looking for some motivation to get back on track after a carefree summer filled with indulgences when it comes to food choices and physical activity with less structure.

However, you might be feeling a bit stuck after a spring of quarantine already had you deviating from regular workouts and reaching for food choices that werent ideal due to pandemic-related stress.

Robert Matthews, executive director and owner of Pottstown Athletic Club, has some words of motivation for you.

Self-care is critical, he said. Our whole role is to try to get the family in shape and into fitness.

The facility offers everything from adult karate and Dragon Warriors to weight lifting and CrossFit.

We are just starting boxing later in the fall and we are starting to get members to train now to get ready for it, he said.

Matthews invites adults to come in for a free week to try out the club. For those of you who might find themselves tied down during the day with kids at home due to remote learning, you can take advantage of workouts after school hours.

We have 5 p.m. and 6 p.m. classes and weekend classes, he said.

If you need to have the kids in tow, Matthews encourages bringing them as long as you can manage them in class. If they are 8 years of age or older, they are welcome to join you in your workouts. That way you can have your children be a part of your new commitment to fitness.

If the parent is coming into training class, our rates for family are $100 a month and I dont care how many family members you have, he said. We try to encourage kids to get on the floor with their parents.

At a non-profit fitness center, Pottstown Athletic Club offers reduced rates and a free week to try out the club.

We can offer rates cheaper because we get donations from large health organizations, Matthews said.

When it comes to determining what it is you wish to pursue once on the fitness floor, if you are looking for results, Matthews said CrossFit stands out among its variety of fitness offerings.

I have been doing this for 30 years and there is nothing like CrossFit, he said.

At Pottstown Fitness Club, you dont have to be intimidated if youre new to it. Each person moves at their own pace and according to their own ability.

Our primary goal is safety first, Matthews said. Once you are able to move safely and consistently, then we can dial in the intensity.

The club offers free workouts open to the community seven times a year. They offer a great way for about 75 to 100 people to come together and get access to the club so they can learn what they are all about while paying tribute to a good cause.

We just had one on Labor Day, Matthews said. The next one is on Thanksgiving. They come in and do a 20-minute workout and then are on their way we make them earn that turkey.

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Family fitness: Motivation to get moving this fall - The Mercury