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If you live in the western world, by now you've likely heard of the absurdist horror-comedy film, Cocaine Bear. If you haven't, let me catch you up: it's based on the true story of a black bear that ingested 30 kilos of pure cocaine in the Chattahoochee National Forest in the summer of 1985. Elizabeth Banks' movie imagines the bear—high out of its gourd—on a joyous rampage, terrorizing a rogues' gallery of shady drug dealers, horny park rangers and bungling cops.
Paying attention yet? If you're in the business of brand marketing, you should be. Because Cocaine Bear already made its production budget back during opening weekend. It's on its way to being one of the most profitable films in Hollywood. A nouveau cult classic. And a likely franchise, if the buzz is real.
Cocaine Bear. A two-word movie title so telegraphic it doesn't even need a tagline. The Saatchi brothers would approve. In a world where no one cares about your ad campaign until you earn their attention, how can your messaging be reduced, reduced, reduced? Be ruthless. Because your audience is. The best example may be "Just Do It," but there are plenty of other examples where it's "be brief, be brilliant, be gone." Gen Z consumers don't hate advertising, they just hate being treated like a click. They'll play along as long as they're in on it, so let them in. This movie is fully itself—from the key art to the closing credits. Brands need to be themselves too, fully. If you're Crocs, be ugly and comfy. If you're Listerine, be the taste you hate twice a day. If you're Diesel, be dumb and sexy.
One of the funnest (not a word, we know) elements of Cocaine Bear is the faithful nods to peak '80s. From Depeche Mode to Air Jordan 1s to a glorious baby blue Members Only jacket. Funny thing about nostalgia: it's disarming, even for audiences born after the era. Look no further than Stranger Things and Ready Player One. How can your brand play into its own version of throwback sentimentality?
Yes, the film is hyper-violent, but our hearts are in good hands. Keri Russell plays a fearless nurse out to find two lost children (all of them blessed with plot armor). We quickly learn that only the detestable characters are torn limb from limb—whereas Russell and the child actors form the heartbeat of the movie. What about your brand marketing connects on a human level? Even in the surreal context of Zilllow's monsters or John Lewis' alien love story, we see strong examples of how to make the audience care in a real way.
And in the meantime, feel free to join the internet in speculating whether a record drug bust in New Zealand waters will fuel a sequel. Cocaine Shark anyone?
The success of Cocaine Bear suggests that being bold, being brief, and being honest are the keys to effective marketing. Failure to get your audience's attention can be fatal, regardless of whether you have a large brand name or not. So, be authentic and play into consumer emotions because once their hearts are won, brands have their trust for a long time to come.
The best in creativity delivered to your inbox every morning. Sign up for the daily Museletter for the latest ad campaigns and the stories behind them.
Credit: https://musebycl.io/film-tv/what-marketers-can-learn-cocaine-bear
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At present, working parents living in England can get 30 hours of free childcare for children aged three to four. There are different schemes in Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland. In addition, all parents in England are entitled to 15 hours of free childcare per week for 38 weeks of the year during school term time for three to four-year-olds.
The scheme is set to be extended to include children aged one and two. Families on Universal Credit will get childcare costs paid upfront rather than having to claim them back, and the £646 monthly limit on childcare claims will rise by several hundred pounds. Working parents can get 30 hours of free childcare for children aged three to four if the parents each earn at least 16 hours a week on the minimum wage. Free childcare is also available to two-year-olds in England if parents are on Universal Credit or on Income Support, income-based Jobseeker's Allowance, income-related ESA, Pension Credit, Child Tax Credit, or Working Tax Credit.
Chancellor Jeremy Hunt has decided to extend free childcare, including those for toddlers as young as one, to boost growth by helping people return to work. Around 9 million people are economically inactive, and the Government is keen to tackle the issue and remove barriers to employment.
The new measures are expected to come into effect later in the new financial year, which starts on April 6. For children turning three between September 1 and December 31, free childcare applies for the term starting on or after January 1, and parents are urged to apply between October 15 and November 30. For children turning three between January 1 and March 31, parents can get free childcare for the term starting on or after April 1 and are recommended to apply between January 15 and February 28. For children turning three between April 1 and August 31, free childcare is available for the term starting on or after September 1, and parents should apply between June 15 and July 31.
Childcare costs in Britain are among the highest in the world. Figures show the UK is the third most expensive country for childcare among the 38 countries in the OECD behind Switzerland and New Zealand.
The hourly rate paid to childcare providers by the Government will also be increased. In addition, local authorities will be given funding to start setting up wraparound childcare provision in schools from September 2024.
Credit: https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/news/cost-of-living/30-hours-free-childcare-starts-26475570
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Inspired performances from Angus Glover and Derrick Walton Jnr have led the Sydney Kings to their second-straight title after a come-from-behind win over the Breakers. Catch up with all the action.
As a famous man famously said, the winner is Sydney.
And, as it was when Juan Antonio Samaranch announced the host city of the Games of the 2000 Olympiad, so it was at Qudos Bank Arena on Wednesday night when the Sydney Kings stormed home over New Zealand Breakers 77-69 in the deciding game five of the NBA’s 2023 Championship Series.
It was some game. Some entertainment. And some win over a Breakers side that was undaunted, skilful and full of hard-nosed basketball players who left nothing on the court but sweat and skin.
Mainly it was fabulous entertainment. The DJ’s bass beats bounced about. The decibel level was off the charts.
And the sold out, all-time NBL record crowd of 18,124 rode every play.
It began like this: League MVP Xavier Cooks won the tip-off but the Breakers won the ball then fluffed their first ping at goal. Derrick Walton Jnr retorted with the game’s first three pointer and the roar was like the people’s favourite had won the Golden Slipper.
The Breakers answered. They did it all night.
Will McDowell-White landed a three and Dererk Pardon slammed in a dunk. When he ally-ooped a second one it was Breakers by six.
Angus Glover got busy. Jordan Hunter missed a jump shot after the ball did a full lap of the rim. The Breakers burned a coach’s challenge.
At quarter time the Breakers led 22-11.
The second period was a dogfight, punctuated by frenetic, arm-waving defence and Glover’s booming three-pointer that was the loudest roar of the night until then.
There would be louder ones.
When Walton Jnr was tripped attempting a lay-up, Kings owners Andrew Bogut and Paul Smith nearly stormed the court.
The Kings shooting was off. Shots that had swished in during the regular season as they recorded so many double-figure victories bounced out.
Then Cooks, the best player in a league with affectations as the world’s second-best after the NBA, did what he’d done all season: own it.
He tipped in for two. He drove for another couple. At half-time it was Breakers by three. Cooks began the third quarter the same way. A mighty drive and dunk lifted the roof.
Kouat Noi made a strong lay-up and faced the crowd all the way down the court, nodding to the people and smiling his very head off.
Yet the Breakers would not go away. And after three sweaty, noisy, passionate periods, it was 56-all.
And into the roiling, cruel sea of the final 10 minutes we went.
Noi made a three for Sydney. Jarrell Brantley for New Zealand. It was raining threes, if not men.
Cooks came back on. Sydney went to him. The Breakers fouled him. It was Breakers by seven.
Glover, his knee no good, made a massive, turning point play: a shot for three hit the side of the board, bounced back into his arms before he stormed in for a dunk.
Then he nailed a three. And the roof nearly came off. Breakers by two. Time-out.
Walton Jnr tied it up with 3:46 to play. When Cooks tipped in to go ahead by two and Walton Jnr laid up and the Kings went out to seven point lead, ears just about bled. They’d scored the last 13 points.
The clock ticked down. The fans exalted. Walton Jnr put the ball on the ground and nodded to the fans. Sports writers breathed out.
What a game. The winner was Sydney. Basketball, too.
Sydney’s historic second straight NBL title is a collective middle finger to the army of haters across two countries that has clamoured for their demise across the 2023 season.
The NBL off-season continues to be a busy one for the Tasmania JackJumpers who have announced the departure of one of their inaugural players and the re-signing of another while they also have two homegrown talents in their sights.
Basketball Victoria will approve an application for a transgender athlete to compete in the NBL1 South women’s competition, after Andrew Bogut tweeted a ‘biological male’ would feature in the league.
The Sydney Kings are on the brink of back-to-back titles but another lopsided foul count had their opponents the Breakers privately seething overnight.
South East Melbourne Phoenix has had more than 25 inquiries about its vacant coaching job. Here’s why the little team from the Heartland punches above its weight.
Another decision-maker has moved on from Brisbane Bullets, acknowledging his three years with the club have “thrown plenty of challenges” after being embroiled in an internal power struggle.
Credit: https://www.codesports.com.au/basketball/nbl/nbl23-sydney-kings-claim-second-consecutive-championship-after-comeback-victory-over-new-zealand-breakers/news-story/b91e5fa34c9e051ace6972f4b7c7ad96
ENND
As a famous man famously said, the winner is Sydney.
And, as it was when Juan Antonio Samaranch announced the host city of the Games of the 2000 Olympiad, so it was at Qudos Bank Arena on Wednesday night when the Sydney Kings stormed home over New Zealand Breakers 77-69 in the deciding game five of the NBA’s 2023 Championship Series.
Derrick Walton Jr had 21 points, six assists and three rebounds in a player of the match performance to go with claiming series MVP honours, while the inspirational Angus Glover battled injury to tally 12 points on 5 of 9 shooting.
Having become back-to-back champions, he roared to a triumphant crowd: “We’re going for three!”
In front of a record-breaking crowd for the second time in a week, it was a game for the ages, marred only by a controversial refereeing call leading to a water bottle being tossed onto the court by a spectator.
Australian basketball legend Andrew Gaze declared in commentary: “That’s disgraceful. That’s just completely unacceptable.”
“Show a bit of class,” he added.
Fellow commentator Jack Heverin said fans have “gotta be better than that. Emotions running high”.
Nevertheless, it was some game. Some entertainment. And some win over a Breakers side that was undaunted, skilful and full of hard-nosed basketball players who left nothing on the court but sweat and skin.
Mainly it was fabulous entertainment. The DJ’s bass beats bounced about. The decibel level was off the charts.
And the sold out, all-time NBL record crowd of 18,124 rode every play.
It began like this: League MVP Xavier Cooks won the tip-off but the Breakers won the ball then fluffed their first ping at goal. Derrick Walton Jnr retorted with the game’s first three pointer and the roar was like the people’s favourite had won the Golden Slipper.
The Breakers answered. They did it all night.
Will McDowell-White landed a three and Dererk Pardon slammed in a dunk. When he ally-ooped a second one it was Breakers by six.
Angus Glover got busy. Jordan Hunter missed a jump shot after the ball did a full lap of the rim. The Breakers burned a coach’s challenge.
At quarter time the Breakers led 22-11.
The second period was a dogfight, punctuated by frenetic, arm-waving defence and Glover’s booming three-pointer that was the loudest roar of the night until then.
There would be louder ones.
When Walton Jnr was tripped attempting a lay-up, Kings owners Andrew Bogut and Paul Smith nearly stormed the court.
The Kings shooting was off. Shots that had swished in during the regular season as they recorded so many double-figure victories bounced out.
Then Cooks, the best player in a league with affectations as the world’s second-best after the NBA, did what he’d done all season: own it.
He tipped in for two. He drove for another couple. At half-time it was Breakers by three. Cooks began the third quarter the same way. A mighty drive and dunk lifted the roof.
Kouat Noi made a strong lay-up and faced the crowd all the way down the court, nodding to the people and smiling his very head off.
Yet the Breakers would not go away. And after three sweaty, noisy, passionate periods, it was 56-all.
And into the roiling, cruel sea of the final 10 minutes we went.
Noi made a three for Sydney. Jarrell Brantley for New Zealand. It was raining threes, if not men.
Cooks came back on. Sydney went to him. The Breakers fouled him. It was Breakers by seven.
Glover, his knee no good, made a massive, turning point play: a shot for three hit the side of the board, bounced back into his arms before he stormed in for a dunk.
Then he nailed a three. And the roof nearly came off. Breakers by two. Time-out.
Walton Jnr tied it up with 3:46 to play. When Cooks tipped in to go ahead by two and Walton Jnr laid up and the Kings went out to seven point lead, ears just about bled. They’d scored the last 13 points.
The clock ticked down. The fans exalted. Walton Jnr put the ball on the ground and nodded to the fans. Sports writers breathed out.
What a game. The winner was Sydney. Basketball, too.
Credit: https://www.foxsports.com.au/basketball/nbl/nbl23-sydney-kings-claim-second-consecutive-championship-after-comeback-victory-over-new-zealand-breakers/news-story/4746218908fe7ead0c7fe467f25b889d
ENND
Looking for a Southampton vs Brentford live stream? We've got you covered. Southampton vs Brentford isn't being televised in the UK, but is on NBC in the US. American abroad? Use a VPN to watch the Premier League with your subscription (opens in new tab) from anywhere.
Southampton have the chance to climb off the foot of the table and out of the relegation zone when in-form Brentford visit on Wednesday.
Saints earned a 0-0 draw away to Manchester United last time out, helped by Casemiro’s first-half red card, but they remain bottom, two points from safety.
Brentford finally lost on Saturday, going down 1-0 away to Everton to end a 12-match unbeaten run stretching back to October, but they are still firmly in the frame for European qualification.
The last meeting ended in a 3-0 win for the Bees in February, when Ben Mee, Bryan Mbeumo and Mathias Jensen were on the scoresheet.
Kick-off is at 7.30pm GMT. Make sure you know how to watch the Premier League wherever you are.
Saints pair Juan Larios and Valentino Livramento are both recovering from injuries and their involvement is in doubt.
Brentford will be without Thomas Strakosha and Keane Lewis-Potter through injury.
In the US, kick-off time is 2.30pm ET / 11.30am PT. The match will be shown on NBC in the US. See below for international broadcast options.
If you’re out of the country for a Premier League fixture, then you won't be able to watch on your domestic streaming service as usual. The broadcaster knows where you are because of your IP address (boo!) and blocks you from watching it. You can use a VPN to get around that, though, without resorting to illegal feeds you’ve found on Reddit.
A Virtual Private Network (VPN), assuming it complies with your broadcaster’s T&Cs, creates a private connection between your device and t'internet, meaning the service can’t work out where you are and will let you watch. And all the info going between is entirely encrypted, anonymous and safe – and that's a result.
ExpressVPN including a 30-day, money-back guarantee (opens in new tab)FourFourTwo’s brainy office mates TechRadar love its super speedy connections, trustworthy security and the fact it works with Android, Apple, Roku, Amazon Fire TV, PS5 and loads more. You also get a money-back guarantee, 24/7 support and it's currently available for a knockdown price. Go get it!
• UK: Sky Sports (opens in new tab) and BT Sport (opens in new tab) are the two main players once again, but Amazon (opens in new tab) also have a slice of the pie in 2022/23. • USA: NBC Sports Group are the Premier League rights holders, with the Peacock Premium (opens in new tab) streaming platform showing even more than the 175 games it aired last season. If you pick up a fuboTV subscription (opens in new tab) for the games not on Peacock Premium, you'll be able to watch every game. • Canada: The way to watch Premier League football in 2022/23 is fuboTV (opens in new tab), which has exclusive rights to all the action. • Australia: Optus Sport (opens in new tab) will screen every game of the Premier League season. Non-subscribers can access the action via a Fetch TV box (opens in new tab) and other friendly streaming devices. • New Zealand: Sky Sport (opens in new tab) are serving up all 380 games – plus various highlights and magazine shows throughout the week, as well as the Champions League.
Get the best features, fun and footballing quizzes, straight to your inbox every week.
Credit: https://www.fourfourtwo.com/features/southampton-vs-brentford-live-stream-how-to-watch-premier-league
Looking for a Napoli v Eintracht Frankfurt live stream? We've got you covered. Napoli v Eintracht Frankfurt is on BT Sport in the UK. Brit abroad? Use a VPN to watch the Champions League with your subscription from anywhere.
High-flying Napoli are in a strong position ahead of the visit of Eintracht Frankfurt as both teams target a place in the Champions League quarter-finals. The runaway Serie A leaders are aiming to win their first league title in 33 years this season and put together a memorable European run to go with it.
Luciano Spalletti’s side are at home for the second leg and begin with a 2-0 advantage from the first meeting, when Victor Osimhen and Giovanni Di Lorenzo scored in a game that also saw Randal Kolo Muani sent off. Napoli bounced back from just their second league defeat of the season against Lazio by beating Atalanta 2-0 on Saturday to go 18 points clear on top, while Frankfurt drew 1-1 with Stuttgart and are winless in their last four games. Kick-off is at 8pm GMT.
Napoli’s only doubts are around the fitness of Giacomo Raspadori and Hirving Lozano, who are both struggling with muscular problems. Kolo Muani is suspended for Frankfurt, who are also without the injured Eric Ebimbe and Jesper Lindstrom and have doubts over the fitness of Djibril Sow and Ansgar Knauff.
Anthony Taylor of England is the referee for Napoli v Eintracht Frankfurt. Napoli v Eintracht Frankfurt kick-off is at 8pm GMT on Wednesday, 15 March in the UK. The game is being shown on BT Sport 2, BTSport.com, and the BT Sport app.
In the US, kick-off time is 3pm ET / 12pm PT. The match will be shown on Paramount+ in the US. See below for international broadcast options. If you’re out of the country for a Champions League fixture, then you won't be able to watch on your domestic streaming service as usual.
The broadcaster knows where you are because of your IP address (boo!) and blocks you from watching it. You can use a VPN to get around that, though, without resorting to illegal feeds you’ve found on Reddit. A Virtual Private Network (VPN), assuming it complies with your broadcaster’s T&Cs, creates a private connection between your device and t'internet, meaning the service can’t work out where you are and will let you watch. And all the info going between is entirely encrypted, anonymous and safe – and that's a result.
FourFourTwo’s brainy office mates TechRadar love ExpressVPN's super speedy connections, trustworthy security, and compatibility with Android, Apple, Roku, Amazon Fire TV, PS5, and more. Plus, you get a money-back guarantee, 24/7 support, and a knockdown price just for now.
The following are the Premier League broadcasting rights for some countries around the world:
Get the best features, fun, and footballing quizzes, straight to your inbox every week.
Credit: https://www.fourfourtwo.com/features/napoli-v-eintracht-frankfurt-live-stream-how-to-watch-champions-league
ENND
In a stunning victory, Bangladesh defeated England by 16 runs in the third T20I in Mirpur to record a 3-0 clean sweep in the T20I series on Tuesday. The Bangladesh cricket team put up an impressive performance throughout the series, ultimately emerging as the winner of the three T20I match series.
England, having conceded the series last Sunday, opted to field first against Bangladesh. Bangladesh posted a total of 158 for two on the back of opener Litton Das’ 57-ball 73. He provided a strong start to his team and was crucial in setting a difficult target for the English team to chase.
England was 100 for one in 13 overs with Jos Buttler and Dawid Malan at the crease before the host triggered. Pacer Taskin Ahmed scalped two wickets while captain Shakib Al Hasan and Mustafizur Rahman added one apiece. Despite a promising start, England surrendered at 142 for six, suffering its first T20 series whitewash (min. 3 match series) in nine years.
Australia led by George Bailey, became the first team to whitewash England when it registered a 3-0 win at home in early 2014. With this defeat, England will have to re-think its strategies and work on its weaknesses in preparation for upcoming fixtures.
Ahead of the 2021 T20 World Cup, Bangladesh had thumped Australia 4-1 at home before defeating New Zealand 3-2 at home. The win in the third T20I also marked Bangladesh’s first instance of whitewashing a full-member side. This achievement is significant for Bangladesh cricket and is a testament to the team's hard work, skill, and perseverance.
The victory against England will greatly enhance Bangladesh's confidence, morale and reputation in the world of cricket. Bangladesh is surely a team to watch out for in the upcoming games and tournaments.
Cricket fans can keep up with the latest news, fixtures and updates on their favourite players and teams on our website. Stay tuned for more exciting news and updates on the world of cricket.
Credit: https://sportstar.thehindu.com/cricket/ban-vs-eng-t20-bangladesh-3-0-england-series-whitewash-record-shakib-jos-buttler/article66618685.ece
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England added dismal fielding to their already listless batting and were condemned to a 3-0 T20 whitewash by Bangladesh, with coach Matthew Mott bemoaning their worst performance of the tour. The trip began brightly, with an excellent ODI series win in conditions that were so extreme Mott believes they will act as “over-training” for the World Cup in India later this year. But England lost their last four games with the last, a 16-run defeat, the most frustrating for the England coach.
Not even Jos Buttler’s first toss win in nine matches this year could change England’s fortunes. They had the advantage of bowling first, but threw it away with a poor fielding performance. Rehan Ahmed and Ben Duckett dropped simple catches off Jofra Archer, while at least three boundaries should have been prevented. It was only an excellent final five overs that cost just 27, led by Sam Curran, that kept Bangladesh to a total of 158, which Mott still considered 15 too many.
“[The fielding was] incredibly disappointing,” said Mott. “Our first 15 overs in the field were nowhere near the level that we'd expect. There were not a lot of clean hands, some basic skill errors and that is not something we’re accustomed to seeing. It also should act as a real eye-opener on where we need to improve. I think Bangladesh definitely outfielded us in most of the games but particularly today. That one hurts today. We turned up trying to square the ledger at three and three. We're really proud of our one-day win, that's a massive effort, and we came over here to do well but to finish the way we did will leave a sour taste in our mouths.”
England’s short batting line-up suffered from the same issues it has in the first two games: wickets lost in clusters, and a lack of power at the death. Phil Salt’s miserable trip continued, as he fell for a first-ball duck. Of his six dismissals on tour, five have been to four different left-arm spinners. This time, he found a new mode of dismissal, stumped, losing his balance to debutant Tanvir Islam. That brought Dawid Malan, who rode his luck, and Buttler together, and they forged a strong position.
“Losing two wickets in two balls is really poor, I’m very disappointed in myself for not diving, that potentially cost us the game,” said Buttler. From there, England slid inevitably to defeat, losing five wickets for 28. Make no mistake, these are tough batting conditions, and England are missing players for all sorts of reasons. Some are rested, others injured, while there is a group who have chosen to play in the Pakistan Super League, with its greater financial rewards. The frustration is that England did not improve the more they were exposed to the conditions.
Asked whether he regretted not replacing Tom Abell and Will Jacks after they were injured, Mott said: “If you look at how many players we've exposed this year alone, we've gone a fair way down the depth charts. The realisation that we're probably better off investing in some batters that we can put under pressure in these games. You only learn from your mistakes and I think the opportunities that they've been given here will give them to reflect. When we get into pressure situations in World Cups, I'm confident that it was the right decision. It would have been a really tough ask to bring someone in at really short notice to play that role in the middle order. One thing we are really mindful of is that we have a lot of top-order batting options, but what we have to continue to improve is that middle order, all-rounders, and their capacity to win games for us. We saw that as an opportunity here, in hindsight people might question that but we were confident with the discussions we had that it was the right call.”
Proclaims the host of the presentations. What a feast day for Mr White Detergent! Bowling coach Allan Donald comes to the rope to give some advice and Hasan responds with a slow ball. Woakes swings and misses and they hare through for a bye. England need three sixes. Jordan swings and misses at the next, another slower ball and they run a bye after Jordan swings hard and misses. A hat-trick of slower balls keep Woakes thrashing at fresh air. And he pins him on the pad with the last ball. Mustafizur applies the vice with a tight line and reverse swing, pace on and pace off, bamboozling Woakes with the latter. England can't find the middle of their bats nor the gaps and take only five off the over. Mustafizur wraps up with 4-0-14-1. England need 31 off 12.
Taskin finishes with 4-0-26-2. An over of madness for England, then, and this looks a serious task now. Mehidy makes things happen, to borrow a cliche. Steady start for England, after the loss of Salt. 47-1 in the powerplay is decent. The trouble is that the powerplay hasn't been the problem, it's what follows.
So England did well to peg things back in the last five overs there, with Bangladesh only scoring 27 in that time. Sam Curran, in particular, was excellent, and they should be ruing their fielding in the early part of the innings, with two particularly dreadful dropped catches. England will still need a vastly improved batting display if they're to win the game.
Archer breaks into a broad smile, with more than a hint of sarcasm, after Duckett crowns England's shabby display in the field by dropping Das at deep midwicket. Beaten for pace, Das had top-edged his pull but once again the ball burst through a pair of English hands. Das adds insult to injury by top edging a pull over third man for four, done for pace again, then picks the cutter and collars it, carting it over midwicket for six! Jofra Archer has the right to be absolutely spewing. Ahmed, and now Duckett, have dropped shockers.
Credit: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/cricket/2023/03/14/bangladesh-vs-england-live-score-latest-third-t20/
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The PUMA House of Football yesterday hosted a special friendly game between AC Milan Women - a delegation made of a selection of players from the first team and from the Primavera team - and Harvard University Women's Soccer, one of the most competitive programs in the US, competing in the Ivy League conference, with some of its players joining their national teams in the next World Cup in Australia and New Zealand.
Harvard University's visit to AC Milan at the PUMA House of Football underlines the strong connection between the Rossonere and the United States, where the team coached by Maurizio Ganz took part in the Women's Cup last August. In the USA, women's football has long been a professional sport, quickly establishing itself as one of the most popular sports among young girls as well. A trend that can also be noticed in Italy and that must be encouraged every day.
That is why the continuous exchange of cultural experiences between the USA and Italy is so important, both from a sporting and an institutional perspective. Harvard University's trip to Milan is another step in that direction, with the visit also having a special meaning that connects the past with the present and the future of AC Milan. Harvard is, in fact, one of the oldest and most prestigious universities in the United States, which counts among its alumni also AC Milan CEO Giorgio Furlani and CFO Stefano Cocirio.
Arriving at the PUMA House of Football in the morning, Harvard University Women's Soccer and its staff were welcomed by Elisabet Spina, Head of Women's Football at AC Milan. The group took part in a number of meetings, which aimed to explain the technical project of the women's sector within AC Milan. In more detail, speakers Davide Corti, Coach of the Primavera team with a strong experience in the USA, and Michaela Fantoni, Head of the Psycho-Pedagogical Area shared their expertise and experience with the Harvard University group, going into detail on what it means to build a team on and off the football field.
With this special day in Milan, Harvard University and AC Milan Women have built a solid foundation for a friendship destined to last in the future. "Positive confrontations between international organizations are always an opportunity for growth. We are delighted to have had the opportunity to share our expertise and experience with Harvard University in the USA, where women's football has historically played an important role. This is why I believe that a continuous exchange of experiences, both from sporting and institutional perspective, is so important," said Elisabet Spina, Head of Women's Football of AC Milan.
"This is a fantastic opportunity for our team to experience Italian culture and learn from one of the most successful clubs in European history. We have felt very welcomed by AC Milan, and we're looking forward to playing for the team", Harvard University Women’s Soccer Team Head Coach Chris Hamblin said.
Following the friendly game at the PUMA House of Football, the Harvard Women's Soccer Team moved to the San Siro Stadium to watch the AC Milan v Salernitana match.
Credit: http://www.acmilan.com/en/news/articles/club/2023-03-14/harvard-university-women-s-soccer-visits-ac-milan
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Whales are not just limited to the blue and humpback varieties that we often see in pictures and videos of marine life. In fact, several other species are included in the cetacean family, such as orcas, porpoises, belugas, narwhals, and dolphins. Whales are categorized into two groups, toothed whales (sperm whales, belugas, dolphins, orcas, porpoises, and narwhals) and baleen whales (blue whales, bowhead whales, and right whales). Toothed whales hunt for food with their teeth, while baleen whales use a sieve-like baleen plate to filter zooplankton and krill. Whales range in size from the dwarf sperm whale at 6.6-8.9 feet to the massive blue whale that can reach lengths of almost 100 feet!
Whales inhabit every ocean on Earth, including the cooler waters of the Southern and Antarctic Oceans. Some whale species prefer shallow waters near shore, while others live deep in the ocean, making dives of nearly 10,000 feet deep. All whales are mammals and so must breathe air; hence they come to the surface to breathe after deep dives. For instance, sperm whales can hold their breath for as long as 90 minutes before coming to the surface to breathe. Gray whales and humpback whales frequently show up close to the shores during migration, despite being able to live in deeper waters.
While most whales are marine mammals, there's one group of freshwater mammals known as river dolphins. The Amazon River dolphin lives in the Amazon and Orinoco River basins in South America, while the Gangus and Indus River dolphins are found in South Asia. The largest of all whale species is the blue whale, which lives in every major ocean except the Arctic. Other whale species worth mentioning include the humpback as well as the third largest and largest toothed whale, the sperm whale.
Blue whales populate the Pacific, Atlantic, Indian, and Southern Oceans, with some of the largest populations thought to exist in the Southern Ocean. Humpback whales are found in the colder parts of the North Pacific and migrate south to Hawaii during the winter. Sperm whales live in all oceans, including the Arctic; however, male members of the population migrate more often than their female counterparts. Beaked whales are deep-sea mammals that live across various parts of the world, although information regarding them is limited. Bottlenose dolphins are highly common oceanic dolphins that are very adaptable and can live in various aquatic habitats. Killer whales, also known as orca, reside worldwide, but are far more common in cooler regions.
Humpback whales are known for their fantastic abilities, including their ability to breach the ocean waters by spinning in the air and then crashing down to create a magnificent splash. Narwhals, on the other hand, have tusk-like protrusions that can grow up to 10 feet long. Unlike other whales, belugas have facial expressions that are similar to humans, allowing them to smile and express a full range of emotions. Finally, certain killer whales in Argentina use a unique hunting technique that involves hiding in the waves and catching unsuspecting seal pups. Even more interesting, killer whales have been known to hunt in packs and attack great white sharks.
Porpoises closely resemble dolphins but have flatter faces and heavier builds. Compared to dolphins, they have more triangular dorsal fins and are found in cooler waters off the coasts of Alaska or in parts of the Atlantic ocean up to Europe, Greenland, and western Africa. Belugas are only found in the Northern Hemisphere and, like narwhals, occupy the Arctic Ocean. While many whale species are well-known and easily recognized, others like river dolphins and beaked whales remain mysterious due to their limited distribution and deep-sea habitat.
Credit: https://a-z-animals.com/blog/whale-location-where-do-whales-live/
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