Riftia

# Riftia

## Abstract

Riftia pachyptila, commonly known as the giant tube worm and less commonly known as the giant beardworm, is a marine invertebrate in the phylum Annelida (formerly grouped in phylum Pogonophora and Vestimentifera) related to tube worms commonly found in the intertidal and pelagic zones. R. pachyptila lives on the floor of the Pacific Ocean near hydrothermal vents. The vents provide a natural ambient temperature in their environment ranging from 2 to 30 °C, and this organism can tolerate extremely high hydrogen sulfide levels. These worms can reach a length of 3 m (9 ft 10 in), and their tubular bodies have a diameter of 4 cm (1.6 in).

Its common name "giant tube worm" is, however, also applied to the largest living species of shipworm, Kuphus polythalamius, which despite the name "worm", is a bivalve mollusc rather than an annelid.

## Discovery

R. pachyptila was discovered in 1977 on an expedition of the American bathyscaphe DSV Alvin to the Galápagos Rift led by geologist Jack Corliss. The discovery was unexpected, as the team was studying hydrothermal vents and no biologists were included in the expedition. Many of the species found living near hydrothermal vents during this expedition had never been seen before.

At the time, the presence of thermal springs near the midoceanic ridges was known. Further research uncovered aquatic life in the area, despite the high temperature (around 350–380 °C).

Many samples were collected, including bivalves, polychaetes, large crabs, and R. pachyptila. It was the first time that species was observed.

## Development

R. pachyptila develops from a free-swimming, pelagic, nonsymbiotic trochophore larva, which enters juvenile (metatrochophore) development, becoming sessile, and subsequently acquiring symbiotic bacteria. The symbiotic bacteria, on which adult worms depend for sustenance, are not present in the gametes, but are acquired from the environment through the skin in a process akin to an infection. The digestive tract transiently connects from a mouth at the tip of the ventral medial process to a foregut, midgut, hindgut, and anus and was previously thought to have been the method by which the bacteria are introduced into adults. After symbionts are established in the midgut, they undergo substantial remodelling and enlargement to become the trophosome, while the remainder of the digestive tract has not been detected in adult specimens.

## Body structure

Isolating the vermiform body from white chitinous tube, a small difference exists from the classic three subdivisions typical of phylum Pogonophora: the prosoma, the mesosoma, and the metasoma.

The first body region is the vascularized branchial plume, which is bright red due to the presence of hemoglobin that contain up to 144 globin chains (each presumably including associated heme structures). These tube worm hemoglobins are remarkable for carrying oxygen in the presence of sulfide, without being inhibited by this molecule, as hemoglobins in most other species are. The plume provides essential nutrients to bacteria living inside the trophosome. If the animal perceives a threat or is touched, it retracts the plume and the tube is closed due to the obturaculum, a particular operculum that protects and isolates the animal from the external environment.

The second body region is the vestimentum, formed by muscle bands, having a winged shape, and it presents the two genital openings at the end. The heart, extended portion of dorsal vessel, enclose the vestimentum.

In the middle part, the trunk or third body region, is full of vascularized solid tissue, and includes body wall, gonads, and the coelomic cavity. Here is located also the trophosome, spongy tissue where a billion symbiotic, thioautotrophic bacteria and sulfur granules are found. Since the mouth, digestive system, and anus are missing, the survival of R. pachyptila is dependent on this mutualistic symbiosis. This process, known as chemosynthesis, was recognized within the trophosome by Colleen Cavanaugh.

The soluble hemoglobins, present in the tentacles, are able to bind O and H S, which are necessary for chemosynthetic bacteria. Due to the capillaries, these compounds are absorbed by bacteria. During the chemosynthesis, the mitochondrial enzyme rhodanase catalyzes the disproportionation reaction of the thiosulfate anion S O to sulfur S and sulfite SO. The R. pachyptila ’s bloodstream is responsible for absorption of the O and nutrients such as carbohydrates.

Nitrate and nitrite are toxic, but are required for biosynthetic processes. The chemosynthetic bacteria within the trophosome convert nitrate to ammonium ions, which then are available for production of amino acids in the bacteria, which are in turn released to the tube worm. To transport nitrate to the bacteria, R. pachyptila concentrates nitrate in its blood, to a concentration 100 times more concentrated than the surrounding water. The exact mechanism of R. pachyptila ’s ability to withstand and concentrate nitrate is still unknown.

In the posterior part, the fourth body region, is the opistosome, which anchors the animal to the tube and is used for the storage of waste from bacterial reactions.

## Symbiosis

The discovery of bacterial invertebrate chemoautotrophic symbiosis, particularly in vestimentiferan tubeworms R. pachyptila and then in vesicomyid clams and mytilid mussels revealed the chemoautotrophic potential of the hydrothermal vent tube worm. Scientists discovered a remarkable source of nutrition that helps to sustain the conspicuous biomass of invertebrates at vents. Many studies focusing on this type of symbiosis revealed the presence of chemoautotrophic, endosymbiotic, sulfur-oxidizing bacteria mainly in R. pachyptila, which inhabits extreme environments and is adapted to the particular composition of the mixed volcanic and sea waters. This special environment is filled with inorganic metabolites, essentially carbon, nitrogen, oxygen, and sulfur. In its adult phase, R. pachyptila lacks a digestive system. To provide its energetic needs, it retains those dissolved inorganic nutrients (sulfide, carbon dioxide, oxygen, nitrogen) into its plume and transports them through a vascular system to the trophosome, which is suspended in paired coelomic cavities and is where the intracellular symbiotic bacteria are found. The trophosome is a soft tissue that runs through almost the whole length of the tube's coelom. It retains a large number of bacteria on the order of 10 bacteria per gram of fresh weight. Bacteria in the trophosome are retained inside bacteriocytes, thereby having no contact with the external environment. Thus, they rely on R. pachyptila for the assimilation of nutrients needed for the array of metabolic reactions they employ and for the excretion of waste products of carbon fixation pathways. At the same time, the tube worm depends completely on the microorganisms for the byproducts of their carbon fixation cycles that are needed for its growth.

Initial evidence for a chemoautotrophic symbiosis in R. pachyptila came from microscopic and biochemical analyses showing Gram-negative bacteria packed within a highly vascularized organ in the tubeworm trunk called the trophosome. Additional analyses involving stable isotope, enzymatic, and physiological characterizations confirmed that the end symbionts of R. pachyptila oxidize reduced-sulfur compounds to synthesize ATP for use in autotrophic carbon fixation through the Calvin cycle. The host tubeworm enables the uptake and transport of the substrates required for thioautotrophy, which are HS, O, and CO, receiving back a portion of the organic matter synthesized by the symbiont population. The adult tubeworm, given its inability to feed on particulate matter and its entire dependency on its symbionts for nutrition, the bacterial population is then the primary source of carbon acquisition for the symbiosis. Discovery of bacterial–invertebrate chemoautotrophic symbioses, initially in vestimentiferan tubeworms and then in vesicomyid clams and mytilid mussels, pointed to an even more remarkable source of nutrition sustaining the invertebrates at vents.

## Endosymbiosis with chemoautotrophic bacteria

A wide range of bacterial diversity is associated with symbiotic relationships with R. pachyptila. Many bacteria belong to the phylum Campylobacterota (formerly class Epsilonproteobacteria) as supported by the recent discovery in 2016 of the new species Sulfurovum riftiae belonging to the phylum Campylobacterota, family Helicobacteraceae isolated from R. pachyptila collected from the East Pacific Rise. Other symbionts belong to the class Delta -, Alpha - and Gammaproteobacteria. The Candidatus Endoriftia persephone (Gammaproteobacteria) is a facultative R. pachyptila symbiont and has been shown to be a mixotroph, thereby exploiting both Calvin Benson cycle and reverse TCA cycle (with an unusual ATP citrate lyase) according to availability of carbon resources and whether it is free living in the environment or inside a eukaryotic host. The bacteria apparently prefer a heterotrophic lifestyle when carbon sources are available.

Evidence based on 16S rRNA analysis affirms that R. pachyptila chemoautotrophic bacteria belong to two different clades: Gammaproteobacteria and Campylobacterota (e.g. Sulfurovum riftiae) that get energy from the oxidation of inorganic sulfur compounds such as hydrogen sulfide (H S, HS, S) to synthesize ATP for carbon fixation via the Calvin cycle. Unfortunately, most of these bacteria are still uncultivable. Symbiosis works so that R. pachyptila provides nutrients such as HS, O, CO to bacteria, and in turn it receives organic matter from them. Thus, because of lack of a digestive system, R. pachyptila depends entirely on its bacterial symbiont to survive.

In the first step of sulfide-oxidation, reduced sulfur (HS) passes from the external environment into R. pachyptila blood, where, together with O, it is bound by hemoglobin, forming the complex Hb-O -HS and then it is transported to the trophosome, where bacterial symbionts reside. Here, HS is oxidized to elemental sulfur (S) or to sulfite (SO).

In the second step, the symbionts make sulfite-oxidation by the "APS pathway", to get ATP. In this biochemical pathway, AMP reacts with sulfite in the presence of the enzyme APS reductase, giving APS (adenosine 5'-phosphosulfate). Then, APS reacts with the enzyme ATP sulfurylase in presence of pyrophosphate (PPi) giving ATP (substrate-level phosphorylation) and sulfate (SO) as end products. In formulas:

- AMP + SO 3 2 − → A P S r e d u c t a s e APS {\displaystyle {\ce {AMP + SO3^2- -> APS}}}

- APS + PPi → A T P s u l f u r y l a s e ATP + SO 4 2 − {\displaystyle {\ce {APS + PPi -> ATP + SO4^2-}}}

The electrons released during the entire sulfide-oxidation process enter in an electron transport chain, yielding a proton gradient that produces ATP (oxidative phosphorylation). Thus, ATP generated from oxidative phosphorylation and ATP produced by substrate-level phosphorylation become available for CO fixation in Calvin cycle, whose presence has been demonstrated by the presence of two key enzymes of this pathway: phosphoribulokinase and RubisCO.

To support this unusual metabolism, R. pachyptila has to absorb all the substances necessary for both sulfide-oxidation and carbon fixation, that is: HS, O and CO and other fundamental bacterial nutrients such as N and P. This means that the tubeworm must be able to access both oxic and anoxic areas.

Oxidation of reduced sulfur compounds requires the presence of oxidized reagents such as oxygen and nitrate. Hydrothermal vents are characterized by conditions of high hypoxia. In hypoxic conditions, sulfur -storing organisms start producing hydrogen sulfide. Therefore, the production of in H S in anaerobic conditions is common among thiotrophic symbiosis. H S can be damaging for some physiological processes as it inhibits the activity of cytochrome c oxidase, consequentially impairing oxidative phosphorylation. In R. pachyptila the production of hydrogen sulfide starts after 24h of hypoxia. In order to avoid physiological damage some animals, including Riftia pachyptila are able to bind H S to haemoglobin in the blood to eventually expel it in the surrounding environment.

## Carbon fixation and organic carbon assimilation

Unlike metazoans, which respire carbon dioxide as a waste product, R. pachyptila -symbiont association has a demand for a net uptake of CO instead, as a cnidarian -symbiont associations. Ambient deep-sea water contains an abundant amount of inorganic carbon in the form of bicarbonate HCO, but it is actually the chargeless form of inorganic carbon, CO, that is easily diffusible across membranes. The low partial pressures of CO in the deep-sea environment is due to the seawater alkaline pH and the high solubility of CO, yet the pCO of the blood of R. pachyptila may be as much as two orders of magnitude greater than the pCO of deep-sea water.

CO partial pressures are transferred to the vicinity of vent fluids due to the enriched inorganic carbon content of vent fluids and their lower pH. CO uptake in the worm is enhanced by the higher pH of its blood (7.3–7.4), which favors the bicarbonate ion and thus promotes a steep gradient across which CO diffuses into the vascular blood of the plume. The facilitation of CO uptake by high environmental pCO was first inferred based on measures of elevated blood and coelomic fluid pCO in tubeworms, and was subsequently demonstrated through incubations of intact animals under various pCO conditions.

Once CO is fixed by the symbionts, it must be assimilated by the host tissues. The supply of fixed carbon to the host is transported via organic molecules from the trophosome in the hemolymph, but the relative importance of translocation and symbiont digestion is not yet known. Studies proved that within 15 min, the label first appears in symbiont-free host tissues, and that indicates a significant amount of release of organic carbon immediately after fixation. After 24 h, labeled carbon is clearly evident in the epidermal tissues of the body wall. Results of the pulse-chase autoradiographic experiments were also evident with ultrastructural evidence for digestion of symbionts in the peripheral regions of the trophosome lobules.

## Sulfide acquisition

In deep-sea hydrothermal vents, sulfide and oxygen are present in different areas. Indeed, the reducing fluid of hydrothermal vents is rich in sulfide, but poor in oxygen, whereas sea water is richer in dissolved oxygen. Moreover, sulfide is immediately oxidized by dissolved oxygen to form partly, or totally, oxidized sulfur compounds like thiosulfate (S O) and ultimately sulfate (SO), respectively less, or no longer, usable for microbial oxidation metabolism. This causes the substrates to be less available for microbial activity, thus bacteria are constricted to compete with oxygen to get their nutrients. In order to avoid this issue, several microbes have evolved to make symbiosis with eukaryotic hosts. In fact, R. pachyptila is able to cover the oxic and anoxic areas to get both sulfide and oxygen thanks to its hemoglobin that can bind sulfide reversibly and apart from oxygen by functional binding sites determined to be zinc ions embedded in the A2 chains of the hemoglobins. and then transport it to the trophosome, where bacterial metabolism can occur. It has also been suggested that cysteine residues are involved in this process.

## Symbiont acquisition

The acquisition of a symbiont by a host can occur in these ways:

- Environmental transfer (symbiont acquired from a free-living population in the environment)

- Vertical transfer (parents transfer symbiont to offspring via eggs)

- Horizontal transfer (hosts that share the same environment)

Evidence suggests that R. pachyptila acquires its symbionts through its environment. In fact, 16S rRNA gene analysis showed that vestimentiferan tubeworms belonging to three different genera: Riftia, Oasisia, and Tevnia, share the same bacterial symbiont phylotype.

This proves that R. pachyptila takes its symbionts from a free-living bacterial population in the environment. Other studies also support this thesis, because analyzing R. pachyptila eggs, 16S rRNA belonging to the symbiont was not found, showing that the bacterial symbiont is not transmitted by vertical transfer.

Another proof to support the environmental transfer comes from several studies conducted in the late 1990s. PCR was used to detect and identify a R. pachyptila symbiont gene whose sequence was very similar to the fliC gene that encodes some primary protein subunits (flagellin) required for flagellum synthesis. Analysis showed that R. pachyptila symbiont has at least one gene needed for flagellum synthesis. Hence, the question arose as to the purpose of the flagellum. Flagellar motility would be useless for a bacterial symbiont transmitted vertically, but if the symbiont came from the external environment, then a flagellum would be essential to reach the host organism and to colonize it. Indeed, several symbionts use this method to colonize eukaryotic hosts.

Thus, these results confirm the environmental transfer of R. pachyptila symbiont.

## Reproduction

R. pachyptila is a dioecious vestimentiferan. Individuals of this species are sessile and are found clustered together around deep-sea hydrothermal vents of the East Pacific Rise and the Galapagos Rift. The size of a patch of individuals surrounding a vent is within the scale of tens of metres.

The male's spermatozoa are thread-shaped and are composed of three distinct regions: the acrosome (6 μm), the nucleus (26 μm) and the tail (98 μm). Thus, the single spermatozoa is about 130 μm long overall, with a diameter of 0.7 μm, which becomes narrower near the tail area, reaching 0.2 μm. The sperm is arranged into an agglomeration of around 340-350 individual spermatozoa that create a torch-like shape. The cup part is made up of acrosomes and nucleus, while the handle is made up by the tails. The spermatozoa in the package are held together by fibrils. Fibrils also coat the package itself to ensure cohesion.

The large ovaries of females run within the gonocoel along the entire length of the trunk and are ventral to the trophosome. Eggs at different maturation stages can be found in the middle area of the ovaries, and depending on their developmental stage, are referred to as: oogonia, oocytes, and follicular cells. When the oocytes mature, they acquire protein and lipid yolk granules.

Males release their sperm into sea water. While the released agglomerations of spermatozoa, referred to as spermatozeugmata, do not remain intact for more than 30 seconds in laboratory conditions, they may maintain integrity for longer periods of time in specific hydrothermal vent conditions. Usually, the spermatozeugmata swim into the female's tube. Movement of the cluster is conferred by the collective action of each spermatozoon moving independently. Reproduction has also been observed involving only a single spermatozoon reaching the female's tube. Generally, fertilization in R. pachyptila is considered internal. However, some argue that, as the sperm is released into sea water and only afterwards reaches the eggs in the oviducts, it should be defined as internal-external.

R. pachyptila is completely dependent on the production of volcanic gases and the presence of sulfide -oxidizing bacteria. Therefore, its metapopulation distribution is profoundly linked to volcanic and tectonic activity that create active hydrothermal vent sites with a patchy and ephemeral distribution. The distance between active sites along a rift or adjacent segments can be very high, reaching hundreds of km. This raises the question regarding larval dispersal. R. pachytpila is capable of larval dispersal across distances of 100 to 200 km and cultured larvae show to be viable for 38 days. Though dispersal is considered to be effective, the genetic variability observed in R. pachyptila metapopulation is low compared to other vent species. This may be due to high extinction events and colonization events, as R. pachyptila is one of the first species to colonize a new active site.

The endosymbionts of R. pachyptila are not passed to the fertilized eggs during spawning, but are acquired later during the larval stage of the vestimentiferan worm. R. pachyptila planktonic larvae that are transported through sea-bottom currents until they reach active hydrothermal vents sites, are referred to as trophocores. The trophocore stage lacks endosymbionts, which are acquired once larvae settle in a suitable environment and substrate. Free-living bacteria found in the water column are ingested randomly and enter the worm through a ciliated opening of the branchial plume. This opening is connected to the trophosome through a duct that passes through the brain. Once the bacteria are in the gut, the ones that are beneficial to the individual, namely sulfide- oxidizing strains are phaghocytized by epithelial cells found in the midgut are then retained. Bacteria that do not represent possible endosymbionts are digested. This raises questions as to how R. pachyptila manages to discern between essential and nonessential bacterial strains. The worm's ability to recognise a beneficial strain, as well as preferential host-specific infection by bacteria have been both suggested as being the drivers of this phenomenon.

## Growth rate and age

R. pachyptila has the fastest growth rate of any known marine invertebrate. These organisms have been known to colonize a new site, grow to sexual maturity, and increase in length to 4.9 feet (1.5 m) in less than two years.

Because of the peculiar environment in which R. pachyptila thrives, this species differs greatly from other deep-sea species that do not inhabit hydrothermal vents sites; the activity of diagnostic enzymes for glycolysis, citric acid cycle and transport of electrons in the tissues of R. pachyptila is very similar to the activity of these enzymes in the tissues of shallow-living animals. This contrasts with the fact that deep-sea species usually show very low metabolic rates, which in turn suggests that low water temperature and high pressure in the deep sea do not necessarily limit the metabolic rate of animals and that hydrothermal vents sites display characteristics that are completely different from the surrounding environment, thereby shaping the physiology and biological interactions of the organisms living in these sites.


2024 Los Angeles Rams season

# 2024 Los Angeles Rams season

## Abstract

The 2024 season is the Los Angeles Rams ' 87th in the National Football League (NFL), their 88th overall, 58th in the Greater Los Angeles Area, fifth playing their home games at SoFi Stadium and eighth under head coach Sean McVay. This will be their first season since 2013 without Aaron Donald, who announced his retirement on March 15. The Rams will be searching to improve on their 10–7 record and to advance in the playoffs after being defeated in the Wild Card Round in 2023. After holding training camp for the first time at Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles, the Rams conducted the remainder of preseason practices at Cal Lutheran University in Thousand Oaks, where the team had operated its temporary training facility since 2016 when the franchise relocated from St. Louis. This was necessitated due to delays in the construction of the Kroenke Warner Center complex in Woodland Hills. Following the end of the preseason, the Rams began conducting practices at their new permanent facility.

## Offseason

### Coaching changes

- Eric Henderson, who had served as defensive line coach and run game coordinator, departed the Rams to join the USC Trojans football staff to serve as co-defensive coordinator, run game coordinator, and defensive line coach.

- Raheem Morris, the Rams' defensive coordinator since 2021, was hired by the Atlanta Falcons as head coach. He is the sixth former Rams assistant to be hired as a head coach after serving on Sean McVay 's staff.

- Zac Robinson, who had spent the previous five seasons on the Rams' coaching staff in various positions, most recently as pass game coordinator/quarterbacks coach, followed Raheem Morris to the Atlanta Falcons to become the team's new offensive coordinator.

- Jimmy Lake, the Rams' assistant head coach in 2023, joined Morris in Atlanta to serve as defensive coordinator.

- Jeremy Springer, a special teams assistant for the Rams the previous two seasons, was hired by the New England Patriots as special teams coordinator.

- Chris Shula, who served in a variety of roles on the Rams coaching staff for the previous seven seasons as an assistant, most recently as pass rush coordinator & linebackers coach in 2023, was elevated to defensive coordinator, succeeding Raheem Morris.

- Giff Smith, most recently the interim head coach of the Los Angeles Chargers, was hired by the Rams to take on dual responsibilities as defensive line coach and run game coordinator, succeeding Eric Henderson in both roles.

- The Rams hired Chili Davis, former Kansas State Wildcats special teams quality control coach and a veteran college assistant, to serve as assistant special teams coach. However, the team parted ways with Peete prior to the season.

- Jake Peetz, who had spent the previous two seasons as an offensive assistant with the Rams (including last season as pass game specialist), was hired by the Seattle Seahawks as their new pass game coordinator.

- John Streicher, previously the director of football administration with the Tennessee Titans, joined the Rams staff with a new title of coordinator of football strategy.

- Dave Ragone, who had served as offensive coordinator with the Atlanta Falcons for the last three seasons, was hired as the Rams quarterback coach. The Rams also brought on board Nathan Scheelhaase, a longtime offensive assistant at Iowa State, as pass game specialist. Both positions had been previously held by Zac Robinson.

- Greg Williams joined the Rams coaching staff as inside linebackers coach.

- Sean Desai, previously a defensive coordinator for the Chicago Bears and the Philadelphia Eagles, was hired by the Rams as a senior defensive assistant.

- On March 8, 2024, the Rams announced they had hired Jerry Schuplinski to serve as a senior offensive assistant.

- On September 2, 2024, the Rams announced the hiring of former Nebraska and UCF head coach Scott Frost as a senior football analyst, helping with offense, defense, and special teams.

## Preseason

The Rams' preseason opponents and preliminary schedule was announced on May 15, in conjunction with the release of the regular season schedule.

### Game summaries

#### Preseason Week 1: vs Dallas Cowboys

at SoFi Stadium, Inglewood, California

- Date: August 11

- Game time: 1:25 p.m. PDT

- Game weather: Sunny, 88 °F (31 °C) (fixed roof)

- Game attendance: 73,023

- Referee: Land Clark

- TV announcers (KABC): Andrew Siciliano (play-by-play), Andrew Whitworth (color analyst), Mina Kimes (commentary), and Curt Sandoval (sideline reporter)

#### Preseason Week 2: at Los Angeles Chargers

at SoFi Stadium, Inglewood, California

- Date: August 17

- Game time: 4:05 p.m. PDT

- Game weather: Sunny, 77 °F (25 °C) (fixed roof)

- Game attendance: 66,112

- Referee: John Hussey

- TV announcers (KABC): Andrew Siciliano (play-by-play), Andrew Whitworth (color analyst), Mina Kimes (commentary), and Curt Sandoval (sideline reporter)

For this game, assistant head coach/pass game coordinator Aubrey Pleasant served as Rams head coach, calling plays and making decisions from the sideline while Sean McVay watched the game from the coach's booth.

#### Preseason Week 3: at Houston Texans

at NRG Stadium, Houston, Texas

- Date: August 24

- Game time: 10:00 a.m. PDT

- Game attendance: 68,829

- Referee: Scott Novak

- TV announcers (KABC): Andrew Siciliano (play-by-play), Maurice Jones-Drew (color analyst), Mina Kimes (commentary), and Curt Sandoval (sideline reporter)

## Regular season

### Schedule

Notes

- Intra-division opponents are in bold text.

- Networks and times from Weeks 5–16 are subject to change as a result of flexible scheduling.

- The date, time and network for Week 17 will be finalized at a later date.

- The date, time and network for Week 18 will be finalized at the end of Week 17.

### Game summaries

#### Week 1: at Detroit Lions

at Ford Field, Detroit, Michigan

- Date: September 8

- Game time: 8:20 p.m. EDT /5:20 p.m. PDT

- Game weather: None (indoor stadium)

- Game attendance: 66,530

- Referee: Adrian Hill

- TV announcers (NBC): Mike Tirico, Cris Collinsworth and Melissa Stark

- Recap, Game Book

In a rematch of a 2023 Wild Card Round game, the Rams overcame a rash of injuries to rally for a 20-17 lead late in the fourth quarter before falling to the host Lions in overtime on Sunday Night Football at Ford Field. Wide receiver Cooper Kupp tied a single game career-high with 14 receptions for 110 yards, including a 9-yard touchdown from quarterback Matthew Stafford with 4:30 remaining that put Los Angeles in the lead for the first time on the night. Stafford completed 34 of 49 passes for 317 yards while wide receiver Tyler Johnson caught five passes for 79 yards. However, second-year wide receiver Puka Nacua left the game in the second quarter after catching four passes for 35 yards and did not return. Offensively, running back Kyren Williams had 18 carries for 50 yards with a 1-yard TD run but the Rams offensive line, already down two starters prior to the game, lost two more when left guard Steve Avila and left tackle Joe Noteboom were both injured and knocked out of the game. On defense, Rams safety Quentin Lake led the Rams with 10 tackles while fellow safety John Johnson had an interception. Linebackers Byron Young and Jared Verse (a rookie) each had four tackles and a sack in the loss.

#### Week 2: at Arizona Cardinals

at State Farm Stadium, Glendale, Arizona

- Date: September 15

- Game time: 1:05 p.m. MST & PDT

- Game weather: None (retractable roof closed)

- Referee: John Hussey

- TV announcers (Fox): Adam Amin, Mark Sanchez and Kristina Pink

- Preview

### Standings


List of films with post-credits scenes

# List of films with post-credits scenes

## Abstract

Many films since the 1980s and earlier have featured mid- and post-credits scenes, also known as credit cookies. Such scenes often include comedic gags, plot revelations, outtakes, and/or hints about sequels.


Marcus Morris Sr.

# Marcus Morris Sr.

## Abstract

Marcus Thomas Morris Sr. (born September 2, 1989) is an American professional basketball player for the New York Knicks of the National Basketball Association (NBA). The forward played college basketball at Kansas before being drafted 14th overall by the Houston Rockets in the 2011 NBA draft. He has also played for the Phoenix Suns, Detroit Pistons, Boston Celtics, Los Angeles Clippers, and the Philadelphia 76ers, and the Cleveland Cavaliers.

## Early life

Morris was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, to Thomasine "Angel" Morris. He has four brothers, Donte, Blake, David and twin Markieff, who also plays in the NBA.

Considered a four-star recruit by Rivals.com, Morris was listed as the No. 10 power forward and the No. 29 player in the nation in 2008.

## College career

Morris attended the University of Kansas, where he majored in American studies. Morris was named the 2010–11 Big 12 Conference Men's Basketball Player of the Year. He also was named a second team All-American for his play in the 2010–11 basketball season by both the Associated Press and the National Association of Basketball Coaches, and a third team All-America by Fox Sports. On March 30, 2011, Morris was named to the ten-member John R. Wooden Award Men's All American team. Morris and his brother signed with a sports agent from Los Angeles, and announced that they would enter the 2011 NBA draft.

## Professional career

### Houston Rockets (2011–2013)

Morris was selected by the Houston Rockets with the 14th overall pick in the 2011 NBA draft, five minutes after his brother Markieff was taken with the 13th pick by the Phoenix Suns. Morris was assigned to the Rio Grande Valley Vipers of the NBA Development League on January 2, 2012. In his first game in the D-League on January 6, 2012, he recorded 33 points and 16 rebounds in a narrow 105–103 loss to the Dakota Wizards. Morris returned to the Rockets on January 16, was reassigned to the Rio Grande Valley Vipers on February 3, and returned to the Rockets again on February 20.

After an injury to Patrick Patterson, Rockets head coach Kevin McHale named Morris the opening day starter at power forward for the 2012–13 season. When told he would be starting, Morris thought McHale was kidding, since he rarely played his rookie season and was hurt during the preseason. During the course of the season, Morris was the backup power forward to Patterson, and started 17 games while Patterson was injured. His three-point shot was much improved from his rookie season, more than tripling the percentage from 12% to 38%.

### Phoenix Suns (2013–2015)

On February 21, 2013, Morris was traded to the Phoenix Suns, reuniting him with his brother Markieff. The next day, Morris played his first game with his brother in the last six minutes of a loss to the Boston Celtics, as he recorded seven points, two steals, and a rebound, despite having no formal training from the Suns before entering the game. This marked the second time that twin brothers played for the same NBA team; Dick and Tom Van Arsdale also played together for the Suns during the 1976–77 season. On March 1, 2013, Morris scored 16 points to help the Suns defeat the Atlanta Hawks 92–87. He made four out of five three-point attempts. Morris went on to start alongside Markieff on March 9, 2013, against his former team, the Rockets, which made the Morris twins the first set of twins to ever start for the same NBA team.

On September 29, 2014, Morris signed a multi-year contract extension with the Suns. In the Suns' 2014–15 season opener on October 29, 2014, he recorded 21 points in the 119–99 win over the Los Angeles Lakers. On January 7 game against the Minnesota Timberwolves, Morris received a technical foul and was caught on national TV berating head coach Jeff Hornacek about the situation. It resulted in Morris not playing for the rest of the game. His other antics during his final season with the Suns and afterwards, though, led to AZCentral.com labeling him one of Arizona's biggest sports villains.

On February 6, 2015, Morris recorded his first career double-double with career highs of 34 points and 12 rebounds in a 100–93 victory over the Utah Jazz. Morris' double-double off the bench marked him as just the second player after Brook Lopez in 2014–15 to record a 30-point, 10-rebound game off the bench. The last Suns player to do it was Danny Manning in 1997. On March 22 against the Dallas Mavericks, the Morris twins had double-doubles in the same game for the first time in their professional careers.

### Detroit Pistons (2015–2017)

On July 9, 2015, Morris was traded to the Detroit Pistons, along with Reggie Bullock and Danny Granger, in exchange for a 2020 second-round draft pick. He made his debut for the Pistons on October 27, 2015, in the team's season-opener against the Atlanta Hawks. In 37 minutes of action as a starter, Morris recorded 18 points and 10 rebounds in a 106–94 victory. On April 1, 2016, he scored a season-high 31 points in a 98–89 loss to the Dallas Mavericks. The Pistons finished the regular season as the eighth seed in the Eastern Conference with a 44–38 record, earning a playoff berth for the first time since 2009. In their first-round series against the top-seeded eventual champion Cleveland Cavaliers, the Pistons were swept 4–0.

On February 3, 2017, Morris scored a career-high 36 points in a 116–108 victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves. On February 28, he set a new career high with 37 points in a 120–113 overtime victory over the Portland Trail Blazers.

### Boston Celtics (2017–2019)

On July 7, 2017, Morris was traded to the Boston Celtics in exchange for Avery Bradley and a 2019 second-round draft pick. On March 31, 2018, he scored 25 points in a 110–99 victory over the Toronto Raptors. It was Morris' fourth straight game with at least 20 points, setting a career high.

### New York Knicks (2019–2020)

On July 16, 2019, Morris signed with the New York Knicks. On January 5, 2020, Morris scored a career-high 38 points and tied his career high for field goals made (13) in a 135–132 loss against the Los Angeles Clippers.

### Los Angeles Clippers (2020–2023)

On February 6, 2020, the Knicks traded Morris to the Los Angeles Clippers in a three-team trade with the Washington Wizards, sending Maurice Harkless to New York and Jerome Robinson to Washington; the Clippers also acquired Isaiah Thomas from the Wizards in the trade.

Morris debuted for the Clippers on February 9, 2020, scoring 10 points in a 133–92 victory over the Cleveland Cavaliers. In the first round of the 2020 NBA playoffs, he was ejected during Game 6 after committing a flagrant foul on Luka Dončić and was fined $35,000, but was never suspended. In the 2020 Western Conference Semifinals, Morris notably had an altercation with Paul Millsap as the Clippers fell in seven games after the Nuggets came back from a 3–1 series deficit. Morris averaged 11.8 points and 4.8 rebounds during the playoffs.

On November 25, 2020, Morris re-signed with the Clippers on a 4-year, $64 million contract.

### Philadelphia 76ers (2023–2024)

On November 1, 2023, the Philadelphia 76ers acquired Morris, Nicolas Batum, Kenyon Martin Jr. and Robert Covington from the Clippers in exchange for James Harden, P. J. Tucker, and Filip Petrušev. As part of the trade, the Clippers dealt a first-round pick, two second-round picks, a pick swap, and cash considerations to the 76ers, while sending a pick swap and cash considerations to the Oklahoma City Thunder.

On February 8, 2024, Morris was traded to the San Antonio Spurs in a three-team deal involving the Indiana Pacers. However, he did not play any games for the Spurs, and was waived on February 29.

### Cleveland Cavaliers (2024)

On March 18, 2024, Morris signed a 10-day contract with the Cleveland Cavaliers, and on March 29, he signed for the rest of the season.

### New York Knicks (2024-Present)

On September 15, the Knicks announced he had re-joined the team on an Exhibit 9 Contract.

## Career statistics

### NBA

## Personal life

Morris is seven minutes younger than his identical twin brother, Markieff. He is a fan of his hometown Philadelphia Eagles while Markieff roots for the rival Dallas Cowboys. His nicknames are "Mook" and "Flask Dad". Morris' girlfriend Amber Soulds gave birth to a son, Marcus Jr., on July 20, 2018. Beginning with the 2018–19 season, Morris donned "Morris Sr." on the back of his gameday jersey.

The Morris brothers and former teammates Goran and Zoran Dragić all briefly played for the Suns during the fourth quarter of the team's January 2, 2015 112–96 victory over the Philadelphia 76ers. It marked the first time in the NBA's history that two pairs of brothers were on the court for the same team at the same time.

On February 26, 2012, the state of Kansas filed battery charges against Morris and another assailant, Julius K. Harris, for punching an employee of the Cave, a bar and nightclub in Lawrence, Kansas in which they had been watching the final Border War basketball match between Kansas and Missouri. Morris and Harris entered a diversion agreement for the battery charge, with Morris paying a $300 diversion fee, $60 in court fees, and agreeing not to come in contact with the victim or The Cave for one year.

On January 24, 2015, Marcus and Markieff Morris were involved in two aggravated assault cases as five different men (including the twins and former Baltimore Ravens safety Gerald Bowman) allegedly assaulted 36-year-old Eric Hood outside the Nina Mason Pulliam Recreation Center in Phoenix, Arizona. Hood mentored the Morris twins from high school until the end of their college careers; the brothers assaulted Hood for "sending an inappropriate text message" to their mother. The case against the Morris brothers was first brought on August 3, 2015; the trial concluded on October 3, 2017, with the twins and Gerald Bowman found not guilty and the accused Julius Kane and Christopher Melendez Jr. confessing their guilt in September 2017. In spite of the resolution the incident was considered a catalyst for the Suns trading Marcus to the Pistons on July 9, 2015 and a factor in dealing his brother to the Washington Wizards on February 18, 2016.

On January 11, 2024, Morris was awarded the key to the City of Philadelphia for his contributions on and off the court. The Morris twins helped create the Family Over Everything Foundation, an organization that assists members of under-served communities in Philadelphia and other cities.


Adele in Munich

# Adele in Munich

## Abstract

Adele in Munich was the second concert residency by English singer Adele held in a purpose-built outdoor arena at Messe München in Munich, Germany. Concert promoters Klaus Leutgeb and Marek Lieberberg encouraged Adele to perform in Europe in a temporary stadium designed by Florian Wieder. The ten-date concert residency, consisting of two performances per week, began on 2 August 2024 and ended on 31 August 2024. Each night's performance included 22 songs. These were Adele's only concerts in Europe for 2024. Initially planned to fit 80,000 people, the Munich authorities lowered the stadium's capacity for safety reasons. Audience spending brought in more than half a billion euros for the city.

## Background

In 2016, Adele embarked on her third concert tour, Adele Live 2016, which ran through multiple continents and lasted 121 shows. She closed the tour with a series of shows at Wembley Stadium, during one of which she passed a handwritten note to attendees admitting she may not tour again: "Touring is a peculiar thing, it doesn't suit me particularly well. I'm a real homebody and I get so much joy in the small things I wanted my final shows to be in London because I don't know if I'll ever tour again and so I want my last time to be at home." Adele cancelled the final two performances due to medical advice after she damaged her vocal cords. She would keep a low profile during the following years.

Adele announced her fourth studio album, 30, on 13 October 2021, and announced it would be released on 19 November of the same year. On the day following the announcement, " Easy on Me " was released as the lead single from the album. In a November interview, Adele stated that she really wanted to tour in support of 30 but would most likely not do it: "This album? No, probably not. I'd love to. It doesn't sit right with me putting an album out this year and then touring it in 2023." She further denied rumours of an impending concert residency in an interview with Rolling Stone.

However, on 30 November, Adele announced the residency Weekends with Adele. It was planned to take place between 21 January and 16 April 2022, with Adele performing two shows at The Colosseum at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas every weekend (24 total shows). The 100,000 tickets that went on sale sold out within six hours, resulting in an average gross of US$ 2.2 million (1606000 British pounds) per show. The Guardian ' s Ben Beaumont-Thomas commented that since Vegas residences had been frequent among artists who were past their commercial peak, Adele was an outlier. But he thought it suited her situation due to its proximity to her son and his father's residence, her aversion to touring giant venues, and the intimate material on 30 which would resonate better with a smaller audience. It was also meant to circumvent the challenges posed to traditional concert tours by the COVID-19 pandemic.

## Development

Initially, the Weekends with Adele residency was supposed to be her only show following the release of 30, although she performed two sold-out shows at London's Hyde Park in July 2022. Having not appeared on a concert stage in continental Europe since 2016, Adele had not planned to return to perform there but was influenced by concert promoters Klaus Leutgeb and Marek Lieberberg, who had been "courting" her for two years. Lieberberg admitted they had to "overcome a lot of hurdles and put a great deal of work into convincing her". In conversation with Adele, Florian Wieder valorised the infrastructure of the Messe München exhibition centre in Munich, Germany. Nevertheless, she asked him about the selection of Munich. He argued that the city also functions effectively even during significant events, citing Oktoberfest. She found these arguments "madly convincing", said Wieder. Adele accepted the offer after seeing Wieder's designs for a temporary stadium. A senior source in the British music industry said, "somebody's put a lot of money on the table. Not only have they got Adele, but they have her as a European exclusive". The Times journalists said the custom-built venue, set up on a vast outdoor area at Messe München, would be the "world's largest pop-up stadium", "far" exceeding the 44,000-capacity temporary stadium built for the World Cup in Qatar in 2022.

Although Munich's Olympiastadion can accommodate 70,000 people, it has never been requested for Adele concerts. Due to the Olympiastadion's ongoing renovation work, which would be interrupted by construction phases, the concerts would only take place in limited time slots. A spokesperson for the Olympiapark said that ten Adele concerts in one month were not feasible. Another element that made the use of the Olympiastadion unlikely was the exclusive contract of Leutgeb's Global Event and Entertainment GmbH, which gave it priority for organising concerts at Messe München exhibition centre, valid for July and August. Leutgeb later recalled that he went to see her in America in August 2023 and told her, "You are the Queen of Music, we will build you your own stadium". Adele responded, "Let's do it!".

On 31 January 2024, it was announced that Adele would not be giving a one-off show at the "bespoke" stadium in Munich, but the event would take place as a residency of concerts. Before performing there, she had to complete a leg of her concert residency in Las Vegas, which ended on 15 June. Apart from her concerts in Munich, she had no further appearances planned in Europe. Adele stayed in Germany in July 2024 before beginning her summer concert series. She resided in Munich with her son until the end of August, a context that suited her. Adele rented a 451 square metres (4,850 sq ft) floor of a luxury hotel for € 30000 (equivalent to $33,000 in mid-2024) per night.

## Conception and production

In July 2024, Leutgeb said the idea had germinated two and a half years earlier while sitting next to Wieder in Munich. The Adele Arena would be divided into eleven zones, totalling 85 blocks. Placed directly next to the autobahn (highway), the stage would allow complete noise isolation by creating a physical barrier. Jonathan Dickins, Adele's manager for 18 years, commented that it would be "the total opposite of the very small shows in Las Vegas". He said the Munich concert residency would be "a unique show that has never been seen before". Wieder designed the stadium and Adele World.

Live Nation and Leutgeb Entertainment Group organised the residency and were responsible for the construction work launched in early July 2024. Adele visited the stadium construction in mid-July and wrote on her own Instagram: "It's all a bit bloody exciting." Lieberberg described the event as "the most expensive undertaking of all time. And the most extensive project in my 50 years in the music business". A construction team of 700 persons worked on the stage of the stadium. By mid-July, the assembly of the entire stage and part of the stands had progressed significantly. After an initial visit to the construction site, as part of a press conference, Augsburger Allgemeine ' s Felicitas Lachmayr wrote, "The dimensions of the project are gigantic". Dickins said Adele "brought a lot of ideas; the site carries her DNA". Dickins emphasised that one of her most important concerns would be creating a "cosy" atmosphere, while Lachmayr thought this was difficult to conceive given the considerable daily attendance expected.

The entire site covered 400,000 square metres (4,300,000 sq ft), the equivalent of 60 football pitches. The site was designed with three entrances, allowing for seamless arrivals and departures. The stage structure spanned 4,000 square metres (43,000 sq ft) and was integrated into a €40 million (equivalent to $44,160,000 in mid-2024) LED screen that measured 220 metres (721 ft 9 in) wide and 30 metres (98 ft 5 in) high, making it the largest screen of all time used for a stage show. The giant screen was designed to resemble an unrolled film reel, and its wavy shape guaranteed good visibility not only for the crowd but also for those in the back rows. The main stage was coupled to a 93-metre (305 ft) catwalk and a 200-metre (660 ft) semi-circle stage, allowing Adele to get closer to the audience. The semi-circular walkway led to a second stage. Stufish Entertainment Architects created the stage and the LED wall. British firm Stufish, co-founded by Mark Fisher, has been Adele's long-standing stage design collaborator.

In August 2024, Billboard reported that production had cost more than $100 million, including construction costs.

## Adele World

Less than a month before the residency's start date, a temporary hospitality area that would be built surrounding the venue was unveiled. The outdoor environment, designed according to Adele's ideas and dubbed "Adele World," included an I Drink Wine bar, a Ferris wheel, a swing carousel, a beer garden, and multiple food and beverage options. Münchner Merkur ' s Katja Kraft described the presentation of Adele World as being of "high quality". Every detail was adapted to Adele's songs, such as the employees' polo shirts emblazoned with the "Hello. How can I help?" logo. The 70,000 square metres (750,000 sq ft) of Adele World and its 13,000 seats housed a "gastronomic city" and, as the English press first claimed, a reproduction of the British pub The Good Ship, where she did some of her earliest gigs. Despite being reported in the press, The Good Ship pub was not found on opening day. Instead, it was a replica of the Duke of Wellington pub from West London, where Adele signed her first recording contract. Adele's "favourite drink" was also served there.

Open before and after the concerts, Adele World aimed to offer audiences an "immersive experience", according to the organisers. An additional stage was set up in Adele World, where covers of Adele songs were performed. A Spice Girls tribute act could also be seen performing. After each concert, a karaoke party began, where people were encouraged to perform covers of "classic pop songs". Maggie Rogers unexpectedly appeared on the karaoke stage on 16 August. The telephone booth featured in the " Hello " music video was among the memorabilia items on display at Adele World. A journalist at Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung compared Adele World to a mini- Volksfest and Oktoberfest due to the attractions, the brass music, and free beer coming out of a barrel transported on a brewery horse-drawn carriage. By contrast, the pub and the red telephone box were considered the "British references".

A 3 by 2.5 metres (9.8 ft × 8.2 ft) portrait of Adele was painted in Adele World by a trio of German graffiti artists: Markus Henning, Melander Holzapfel, and Nils Jänisch. Adele's management commissioned Henning to work after noticing an empty wall of a storage container and decided to spruce it up during the final inspection before the start of the first concert. The essential elements of the theme to be painted on the wall were predetermined: a portrait of Adele smiling on a black background, with planets and the phrase " Guten Tag, Babes!". People queued up to have their photos taken in front of the wall, which was "a real selfie spot" and a common practice at every concert date. Two touch-ups were necessary due to the large number of people touching the paint. Television and newspapers reported on the painting of the façade.

## Crowd management

80,000 people per concert were initially targeted, but the Munich authorities approved only around 74,000. This figure had to be revised downwards due to safety requirements. Bavarian State Police 's Polizeipräsidium München also warned that traffic chaos was feared. The organisers encouraged people to use public transport, and a shuttle was planned from Max-Weber-Platz station to reach the exhibition centre. The metro frequency was increased on concert days. Parking spaces were also provided. Dickins stated that the concerts would occur in all weathers: "If the fans get wet, Adele will get wet too and keep playing." The organisers poured 75,000 square metres (810,000 sq ft) of asphalt in front of the stage to ensure spectators' comfort in the event of rain. An emergency plan was prepared to evacuate people to the exhibition halls in the event of violent storms. A meteorologist from the Deutscher Wetterdienst was on site to monitor the evolution of the weather at each concert. More than 100 emergency personnel, along with the Johanniter, were on site to provide support in the event of emergency or minor incidents.

## Planning and ticketing

On 31 January 2024, Adele was announced to perform four shows on 2, 3, 9, and 10 August. Due to high demand, she added four additional shows on 2 February, scheduled for 14, 16, 23, and 24 August. At this point, 2.2 million people had registered for ticket sales. Registrations for a presale were possible on the Adele website until 5 February 2024. On 6 February, two final dates were added to the run of shows, 30 and 31 August. Presales began on 7 February on Ticketmaster and staggered in different phases. On 9 February, the general sale began via Live Nation and Eventim. Ticket prices were only revealed during the sale; no price range had been provided beforehand. People were faced with standard tickets ranging in price from €74.90 to €689 (equivalent to $83 and $760 in mid-2024). VIP packages ranged in price from €488 to €1252 (equivalent to $543 and $1,392 in mid-2024). The cheapest price categories sold out quickly. Many did not get the tickets they wanted, and others could not afford them. Ninety-five percent of tickets had been sold by mid-July. Then, Ticketmaster sold limited quantities of Lucky Dip tickets at €35 (equivalent to $39 in mid-2024) every Monday morning, but buyers did not know their places until they arrived at the stadium. Tickets were usually sold out within half an hour. Some stated that the "bargain-basement prices" were "unfair" given the amounts they paid at the start of the sale, although the Rolling Stones had previously used this method of Lucky Dip tickets.

## Economic impact

The City of Munich did not contribute financially to the cost of Adele's residence. According to Munich economic officer Clemens Baumgärtner, attendance at the ten concerts generated around 530 million euros (equivalent to $589 M in mid-2024) for the city. Revenues came from catering, public transport, hotels, retail trade, and the rental of exhibition grounds. "This is a stroke of economic and cultural luck for the city", said Baumgärtner.

## Dismantling

Before the concert residency began, Lieberberg said: "Never before and never again – there is this show only here, only in Munich and only in this form." In the week following the last concert, at the beginning of September 2024, the dismantling of the stadium and Adele World began within an area strictly closed to the public with a week or a little more deadline to prepare the ground for the subsequent international trade fair. Until the end of September, the entire asphalt had been torn up and removed because it was unsuitable for the trade show. It was later recycled; however, Live Nation provided no further information or explanation about what happened to the stage elements. Built for only ten concerts, "a record-breaking", it disappeared "record-breakingly fast"; "irretrievably", said Leutgeb, adding, "I also promised the artist that and it's 'part of the deal': What's over there will never exist in this form again". Leutgeb insisted on preserving the distinctive character of the project. In his own words, "When you get an artist thrilled about something like that and who says: I do this because I believe in it as regards content. Then the most important thing is that you don't copy it and do it again a second time".

## Set list

This is the set list for the opening shows on 2 August 2024 at the Adele Arena. It may not represent all shows.

- "Strangers by Nature" (Intro)

- " Hello "

- " Rumour Has It "

- " I Drink Wine "

- " Water Under the Bridge "

- " Easy on Me "

- "One and Only"

- "I’ll Be Waiting"

- " Oh My God "

- " Send My Love (To Your New Lover) "

- " Hometown Glory "

- " Love in the Dark "

- " Make You Feel My Love " (Bob Dylan song)

- " Chasing Pavements "

- " All I Ask "

- " Skyfall "

- " Set Fire to the Rain "

- "All Night Parking (Interlude)"

- "Hold On"

- " When We Were Young "

- " Someone Like You "

- " Rolling in the Deep "

## Personnel

### Session musicians

- Tim Vanderkuil – guitars, musical director, and producer

- Amanda Brown – backing vocals

- Samara Brown – backing vocals

- Katie Holmes-Smith – backing vocals

- Ben Thomas – guitars

- Aaron Draper – percussion

- Peter Randall – bass guitars

- Eric Wortham II – piano and keyboards

- Derrick Wright – drums


1873 in Germany

# 1873 in Germany

## Abstract

Events from the year 1873 in Germany.

## Incumbents

### National level

- Emperor – William I

- Chancellor – Otto von Bismarck

### State level

#### Kingdoms

- King of Bavaria – Ludwig II

- King of Prussia – William I

- King of Saxony – John to 29 October, then Albert

- King of Württemberg – Charles

#### Grand Duchies

- Grand Duke of Baden – Frederick I

- Grand Duke of Hesse – Louis III

- Grand Duke of Mecklenburg-Schwerin – Frederick Francis II

- Grand Duke of Mecklenburg-Strelitz – Frederick William

- Grand Duke of Oldenburg – Peter II

- Grand Duke of Saxe-Weimar-Eisenach - Charles Alexander

#### Principalities

- Schaumburg-Lippe – Adolf I, Prince of Schaumburg-Lippe

- Schwarzburg-Rudolstadt – George Albert, Prince of Schwarzburg-Rudolstadt

- Schwarzburg-Sondershausen – Günther Friedrich Karl II, Prince of Schwarzburg-Sondershausen

- Principality of Lippe – Leopold III, Prince of Lippe

- Reuss Elder Line – Heinrich XXII, Prince Reuss of Greiz

- Reuss Younger Line – Heinrich XIV, Prince Reuss Younger Line

- Waldeck and Pyrmont – George Victor, Prince of Waldeck and Pyrmont

#### Duchies

- Duke of Anhalt – Frederick I, Duke of Anhalt

- Duke of Brunswick – William, Duke of Brunswick

- Duke of Saxe-Altenburg – Ernst I, Duke of Saxe-Altenburg

- Duke of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha – Ernest II, Duke of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha

- Duke of Saxe-Meiningen – Georg II, Duke of Saxe-Meiningen

## Events

- 16 September – German troops leave France upon completion of payment of indemnity for the Franco-Prussian War.

- 22 October – Bismarck negotiates the League of the Three Emperors, ensuring an alliance between Austria-Hungary and the Russian Empire.

- Kattowitz is created as a district of Prussia.

### Undated

- German company Hochtief is founded.

## Architecture

- 2 September – Berlin Victory Column inaugurated to celebrate the Second Schleswig War.

## Arts

### Music

- Johannes Brahms premieres his String Quartet No. 1, Variations on a Theme by Haydn.

## Commerce

- The Baden gulden, the Bavarian gulden, the Bremen thaler, the Hamburg mark, the Hesse-Kassel vereinsthaler, the Mecklenburg vereinsthaler, the Prussian vereinsthaler, the Saxon vereinsthaler, the South German gulden and the Württemberg gulden are all abolished and replaced with the new single currency of the German Empire, the German gold mark.

## Education

- Establishment of the University of the Arts Bremen.

- German language university, the Deutsche Evangelische Oberschule, is established in Cairo, Egypt.

- Verein für Socialpolitik is established.

## Science

- Hermann von Helmholtz is awarded the Copley Medal "for his researches in physics and physiology".

- 31 May – Priam's Treasure was discovered by classical archaeologist Heinrich Schliemann.

## Transport

- Frankfurt South station is opened.

- The armoured frigate SMS Preußen is launched.

## Births

January

- 6 January – Karl Straube, German organist (died 1950)

- 13 January – Walther Bensemann, Jewish-German association football pioneer (died 1934)

- 24 January – Hermann Haupt, German entomologist (died 1959)

- 31 January – Melitta Bentz, German entrepreneur (died 1950)

February

- 2 February – Konstantin von Neurath, German diplomat and Nazi party chancellor (died 1956)

- 26 February – Rudolf Kanzler, German politician and paramilitary leader (died 1956)

March

- 10 March Walter Friedländer, German art historian (died 1966) Jakob Wassermann, Jewish-German novelist (died 1934)

- Walter Friedländer, German art historian (died 1966)

- Jakob Wassermann, Jewish-German novelist (died 1934)

- 17 March – Wilhelm Kreis, German architect (died 1955)

- 19 March – Max Reger, German composer, pianist, conductor, writer and professor at the Leipzig Conservatory (died 1916)

- 23 March – Richard Kolkwitz, German botanist (died 1956)

April

- 7 April – Friedrich von Oppeln-Bronikowski, German writer (died 1936)

- 27 April – Robert Wiene, German filmmaker (died 1938)

May

- 3 May – Richard von Kühlmann, German diplomat (died 1948)

- 14 May – Theodor von der Pfordten, Nazi paramilitary (died 1923)

- 21 May – Hans Berger, German neurologist (died 1941)

- 23 May – Leo Baeck, German rabbi (died 1956)

- 26 May – Hans Ludendorff, German astronomer (died 1941)

June

- 3 June – Otto Loewi, German pharmacologist and psychobiologist (died 1961)

- 7 June – Franz Weidenreich, Jewish-German anatomist (died 1948)

- 8 June – Franz Justus Rarkowski, German bishop of Roman-Catholic Church (died 1950)

- 16 June – Karl von Müller, German Imperial Navy captain (died 1923)

- 27 June – Jacob Moritz Blumberg, Jewish-German, surgeon (died 1955)

- 29 June – Leo Frobenius, German ethnologist (died 1938)

- 30 June – Friedrich Karl Georg Fedde, German botanist (died 1942)

- 30 June – Johannes Meisenheimer, German zoologist (died 1933)

July

- 2 July – Heinrich Hetsch, German physician (died 1947)

August

- 6 August – Otto von Feldmann, German Imperial Army officer and politician (died 1945)

- 20 August – Eugen Schmalenbach, German economist (died 1955)

September

- 15 September – Otto Wels, German politician (died 1939)

- 29 September – Carl Wilhelm Erich Zimmer, German zoologist (died 1950)

October

- 5 October – Otto Falckenberg, German theatre director and writer (died 1947)

- 9 October – Karl Schwarzschild, German physicist (died 1916)

- 10 October – Duke Adolf Friedrich of Mecklenburg, German nobleman, explorer and politician (died 1969)

November

- 9 November – Fritz Thyssen, German industrialist (died 1951)

- 23 November – Otto Berg, German scientist (died 1939)

- 27 December – Rudolf Höber, German-American physician (died 1953)

- 28 December – Gotthard Fliegel, German geographer (died 1947)

## Deaths

February

- 2 February – Princess Charlotte of Württemberg, German noblewoman (born 1807)

- 9 February – Julius Fürst, Jewish-German orientalist (born 1805)

- 23 February – Jakob Freiherr von Hartmann, Bavarian general (born 1795)

March

- 10 March – Pauline Therese of Württemberg, Queen consort of Württemberg (born 1800)

- 26 March – Albrecht von Bernstorff, Prussian politician (born 1809)

April

- 18 April – Justus von Liebig, German chemist (born 1803)

- 24 April – Prince Adolf zu Hohenlohe-Ingelfingen, Prussian nobleman (born 1797)

May

- 12 May – Karl von Bodelschwingh-Velmede, German politician (born 1800)

June

- 6 June – Adalbert of Prussia, German prince (born 1811)

- 14 June – Friedrich Ludwig Georg von Raumer, German historian (born 1871)

- 21 June – Heinrich August Wilhelm Meyer, German Protestant theologian (born 1800)

- 29 June – Wolfgang Müller von Königswinter, German novelist (born 1816)

July

- 8 July – Franz Xaver Winterhalter, German painter (born 1805)

August

- 13 August – Fritz Bamberger (painter), Germany painter (born 1814)

- 18 August – Charles II, Duke of Brunswick, German nobleman (born 1804)

September

- 22 September – August Breithaupt, German mineralogist (born 1791)

October

- 10 October – Hermann Kurz, German writer and poet (born 1813)

- 13 October – Emil von Sydow, German geographer (born 1812)

- 29 October – John of Saxony, King of Saxony (born 1801)

November

- 26 November – Georg Amadeus Carl Friedrich Naumann, German mineralogist (born 1797)

- 14 December – Elisabeth Ludovika of Bavaria, Queen consort of Prussia (born 1801)


Ashmole Academy

# Ashmole Academy

## Abstract

Ashmole Academy (formerly Ashmole School) is a secondary school with academy status in Southgate in the London Borough of Barnet. Under the direction of the headteacher Balbinder Dhinsa, around 1,800 pupils (550 in the sixth form) are educated in ages 11–18.

Pupils come from a wide range of minority ethnic heritages and a greater than usual number of pupils speak English as an additional language.

## History

The school, named after the 17th-century antiquary and politician Elias Ashmole, was founded in 1958 as the successor of Russell Lane Secondary Modern Boys' School which had changed its name to Ashmole School in about 1949, had Southaw School merged into it in 1971, and became a foundation school in 1999. It achieved specialist status in Science in 2002, and added a second specialism, Music, in 2006. The school moved into a new building on the same site in September 2004 costing £14m. The existing administration block was refurbished and opened as the performing arts centre in June 2005. This was funded by the sale of 38 acres (15 ha) of school grounds for redevelopment as housing.

On 1 October 2010, it became one of the first schools in North London (second in Barnet – after QE Boys) to convert to an academy after an invitation from the Coalition Government.

## Academic standards

Ofsted gave an overall rating of the school as Grade 1 Outstanding, the highest available assessment for a UK school, following their 2007 inspection. As of 2024, the school's most recent inspection was in 2021, with a judgement of Good.

## Buildings

### Sixth Form Centre (2014)

A new Sixth Form Centre, including a Starbucks café, a social learning area and a high-tech study centre was opened in 2014.

### Performing Arts Centre (2005)

Originally this block dating to the early-mid 1970s served as administration and was the centre of Ashmole School. From September 2004 - May 2005, the building was refurbished to become the "Performing Arts Centre". This building holds Drama and Music.

### Main Building (2004)

The school moved into the new Main Building in September 2004 and it holds the majority of available facilities/subject including: Reception, Sports, English, Maths, Science, Humanities, Modern Languages, IT, Art, Library, Refectory and the Hall.

### Curriculum Support (2003)

This demountable was originally for Post-16 students, but became Curriculum Support after the new Sixth Form Centre opened in 2014.

### Phoenix Centre (2003)

The demountable was originally intended to be two classrooms, but since the new school, it was used as an Exams Room, and then later, Curriculum Support. Now the demountable is the Phoenix Centre.

### Technology Block (2001)

This building holds Science, Media, Food, Graphics, Textiles and Resistant Materials.

### Music 2 (MU2) (2000)

The demountable was originally the IT room but then served from 2004 as Curriculum support and then from 2006–2014, Music 2 (MU2) before being demolished to make way for the new Sixth Form Centre.

## Notable former pupils

- Mark Bunn, footballer

- Gilbert Gabriel, muisician

- Julian Kelly, footballer

- Graham King, film producer

- Dee Murray, guitarist

- Daniel Peacock, actor and director

- Megan Prescott, actress and bodybuilder

- Dan Gillespie Sells, musician

- Steve Sidwell, musician

- Rachel Stevens, singer, businesswoman, model and actress

- Andrew Symeou, author

- Phoebe Thomas, actress

- Amy Winehouse, singer

- Jasper Cleur, broken leg


Saab 9-5

# Saab 9-5

## Abstract

The Saab 9-5 is an executive car that was produced by the Swedish automobile maker Saab from 1997 to 2012.

The first generation 9-5 was introduced in 1997 for the 1998 model year, as the replacement to the Saab 9000. At the time, the car represented a significant development for the manufacturer. In the United States, the 9-5 was introduced in the spring of 1998, for the 1999 model year.

On September 15, 2009, the second generation was presented at the Frankfurt Motor Show and production began in March 2010. It was the first Saab to be launched under Spyker Cars ' ownership, even though it was developed almost completely under GM's ownership. Production ceased in 2012 amid the liquidation of the manufacturer.

## Overview

Saab badged the model as the Saab 9, but consistently advertised it as the Saab 9-5, pronounced "nine five" rather than "ninety-five". This model should not be confused with the Saab 95, produced from 1959 to 1978.

The first generation 9-5 was available with sedan and station wagon body styles. Aerodynamically, the sedan's drag coefficient is 0.29, and the station wagon's is 0.31 (U.S. version 0.33). Introduced in 1999, the wagon features innovations such as floor tracks to secure cargo and a sliding load floor to make loading easier.

The 9-5 was the first production vehicle to offer ventilated seats, as well as asymmetrical turbocharging in the case of the 3.0L V6 engine.

The last 9-5 sedan of the first generation rolled off the Trollhättan production line at the beginning of July 2009, and the last wagon was assembled on February 1, 2010. Between the summer of 1997, when 9-5 production began, and 2010, 252,236 sedans, and 231,357 wagons were built. The total production 483,593 units, was narrowly beaten by its predecessor, the 9000, of which 503,000 were built.

Production equipment for the first-generation 9-5 was sold by General Motors to BAIC of China in 2009.

## First generation (YS3E, 1997–2010)

### Engines

The first-generation 9-5 is powered by Saab's B205 and B235 straight-4 engines, and from 2002 in Europe by an Opel Ecotec X22DTH 2.2 diesel engine (Saab D223L), replaced in 2006 by Fiat 's 1.9 JTD 16V diesel straight-4. A turbocharged version of the GM 54° V6 engine, designated by Saab as B308, has a unique asymmetrical low-pressure turbocharger and was available from 1999 to 2003. This engine is available only with an automatic transmission, and cars with this engine installed are distinguishable by their twin tailpipes. The V6 is only available on Arc, SE, and Griffin models. In 2004, the V6 engine was replaced by a high pressure turbo straight-4 engine producing 220 hp (164 kW). By 2006 this engine was producing 260 hp (194 kW) even in the non-Aero or non-sport models (US models).

The B2x5 engines can suffer from oil pickup issues caused by 'oil sludge' in the lubrication circuit. In 1999, Saab issued a Workshop Bulletin around this issue. The 'sludge' issue primarily affected earlier models between 1999 and 2003, and from 2004 a revised engine positive crankcase ventilation system (PCV) and the use of fully synthetic oil were introduced.

Saab created retrofit kits for the earlier 1999–2003 cars as the PCV design differs from the 2004 and later system. In 2005, Saab extended the warranty on the B2x5 engine to eight years and unlimited miles from new for original owners, provided the owner could produce proof that they had followed the manufacturer's oil change intervals. Saab recommended the use of fully synthetic or synthetic-blend oil as a preventative measure.

### Transmissions

The 9-5 is available with an Aisin AW 4-speed (50-42LE) automatic transmission Saab reference FA47; from 1997 until 2001, when a new Aisin AW unit replaced the dated four-speed automatic with a five-speed automatic. A five-speed manual transmission is fitted as standard to the base models and the Aero.

### Alternative propulsion

#### E85

In 2005, an updated version of the 2.0 L turbocharged I4 was introduced in the European market together with the 2006 9–5. The engine was sold as 2.0t BioPower, optimized to run on E85 producing 132 kW (180 hp) at 5500 rpm. There was also a 2.3T BioPower version sold from 2007. It was also introduced in Australia.

#### E100

In 2007, Saab presented a 9-5 E100 Concept, based on the turbo 2.0. Offering a claimed 300 hp (224 kW) and 295 lb-ft (400 Nm) of torque, the Concept included the use of increased boost pressure and compression ratio.

### Safety

The 9-5 introduced Saab's Active Head Restraints (SAHR), which moved up and forward to prevent whiplash when the car was struck from the rear. This feature won technology and safety awards in Australia, Denmark, and the United Kingdom. The Saab 9-5 also was one of the first cars to have extensive side-crash protection.

The front seats featured torso airbags and head airbags even on the earliest models, which few contemporary vehicles did in the late 1990s. The basic structure included a robust passenger safety cage, front and rear deformation zones, reinforced door posts and pillars, as well as the "Pendulum B-Pillar", which combined high-strength low-alloy steel at chest and head height with tailored blank steel at the floorpan, designed to direct the crash forces down toward the floor. The design was proven by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) to protect occupants in side crashes, even without the addition of curtain airbags or rear side airbags. From 2002, ESP (electronic stability control) was included as standard.

Another Saab feature, the " Night Panel ", permitted dousing of the instrument panel lighting, except for essential information, for less distraction when driving at night. Once activated, only essential information such as current speed is displayed except, for example, if the car requires fuel or the engine overheats.

In the United States OnStar was available, and provided as standard equipment in selected 9-5's from 2001 onward.

### Comfort

The 9-5 had various comfort features both as standard and cost options over the years.

While early models frequently had dash mounted cassette decks, CD changers were standard features on many cars and in-dash satellite navigation was also available. Factory-fitted phone kits were similarly optional.

Many models featured leather or part-leather upholstery and both front and rear heated seats were also available. A few models were shipped with the optional ventilated seats.

Cruise control was available on various models and xenon headlamps were fitted as standard on high-end variants.

### Aero

The high performance variant is known as 9-5 Aero. The earliest versions of which were sometimes referred to as the 'HOT' (High Output Turbo) Aero, was first released in 2000 with a 2.3T B235R engine. The B235R engine of the 9-5 Aero is capable of providing immense torque and, in terms of acceleration, which outperformed the contemporary Porsche 911 Turbo from 40 to 90 mph. Initially badged as a 230 PS (169 kW; 227 hp) engine, Saab later conceded that the 230 PS power figure was quite conservative, with the manual versions rated 250 PS and having more torque than stated. This flagship model had a long list of standard features, a sport tuned suspension, and body side moldings. In 2002 a 250 PS (184 kW; 247 hp) 2.3 turbo engine was made standard, which allowed for more torque after 4500 rpm. All Aero models from 2002 to 2005 have an identical engine layout and management system, with the 2002-05 models just having a slightly remapped version of that ECU from factory. The high-powered version of the 9–5 in the final form produces 260 PS (191 kW; 256 hp) and 350 N⋅m (258 lbf⋅ft) of torque (370 N⋅m (273 lbf⋅ft) with its 20-second overboost function accessible on the manual transmission equipped version.

From the 2006 model year to 2010, the 260 PS (191 kW; 256 hp) B235R was the standard engine in both the 2.3T and Aero trims. 2006 had only one badge designation, 2.3T, and appointments normally found on the Aero could be added via a "Sport Package". Since 2007, SAAB added an Aero badge to the trunk lid to distinguish from regular 2.3T models. In addition, almost all standard features on the Aero were standard on the 2.3T, the exceptions being sport-tuned chassis, two-tone leather upholstery, "Anniversary" wheels and brushed aluminum interior trim, all of which were standard on Aero and not available on the 2.3T.

### Police car

The 9-5 was used as a liveried patrol vehicle, as well as undercover, in several parts of its native Sweden, alongside the Volvo V70. Several police forces in the UK also used the 9–5 in their fleets, mostly in Aero specification. The city of Aspen, Colorado, used Saabs as patrol cars from early 1970s until 2005, when they discontinued the 9–5 in favor of the Volvo XC90. The town of Vail, Colorado likewise used Saabs from 1980 onwards, but in 2005, the black 9-5 patrol cars were replaced by Ford Explorers, due to budget reasons.

In 2006, Lothian and Borders Police in Edinburgh, Scotland, began operating three Saab 9-5 Aero 2.3T patrol cars as part of a fleet of 580 vehicles. These 9-5s were customised to police specifications by the Saab, Vauxhall and Chevrolet Special Vehicles Operation (SVO) in Papworth, Cambridgeshire. In undercover guise, these cars were outwardly identical to the Linear Sport models, but featured the 260 bhp Aero drivetrain.

In Poland, an unmarked 9-5 is used as a video-pursuit vehicle, in the Płock area.

### Gallery

## Second generation (YS3G, 2010–2012)

A next generation 9-5 built on the Global Epsilon platform was presented at the Frankfurt International Auto Show in September 2009. The vehicle had its North American debut in October 2009 at the South Florida Auto Show in Miami. On November 24, 2009, the first pre-series Saab 9-5 of the new generation rolled off the Trollhättan production line.

With the announcement of the sale of Saab to Spyker on January 26, 2010, the new generation Saab 9-5 was taken into production at the Saab plant in Trollhättan. Full production began in April 2010, with the cars appearing in dealerships on June 19. Saab introduced a wagon variant of the new 9-5, dubbed "SportCombi," at the 2011 Geneva Motor Show. The Saab 9-5 Sedan 2.8 V6 Turbo was named Car of the Year in Singapore by "Wheels Asia".

Production of the 9-5 ended in March 2011 with Trollhättan production stopping due to the company's failing liquidity. Total production numbers of the Gen II Saab 9-5 ended at 11,280 units.

While several prototype vehicles and a number of production SportCombis were manufactured, the official variant did not enter serial production prior to Saab's bankruptcy in December 2011, and the vehicles never reached dealerships. A 9-5 liftback and a new 9-5X were also planned, as well as an overall facelift around mid-2014.

### Trim levels

Trim/equipment levels vary from country to country.

In the US Saab 9-5 trim levels were Turbo4, Turbo4 Premium, Turbo6 XWD, and Aero. Turbo4 models come with a turbocharged four-cylinder and features that included power adjustable driver and passenger seats, leather upholstery, five-spoke alloy wheels, fog lamps, and rain-sensing wipers. The Turbo4 Premium added a panoramic sunroof, headlamp washers, Saab parking assistance, keyless entry and start, memory seats, and 18-inch alloy wheels, while the Turbo6 XWD was powered by a turbocharged six-cylinder engine and features an all-wheel-drive system. The top trim Aero featured 15-spoke “Rotor” 18-inch alloy wheels, leather-trimmed sports seats, a multi-color central information display, Bi-Xenon SmartBeam headlamps, dark titanium-effect interior trim, aluminum sports pedals, a sports-tuned suspension system with real-time damping, and Aero exterior elements.

UK equipment levels for the 2012 model year included the Vector SE and Aero and both sedan and estate. The previous base models, Linear and Vector were replaced by the Vector SE model.

In Australia the base trim (Linear) was not part of the line up, only the Vector and Aero trims were available.

### Engines

In North America, the engine choices were either a turbocharged V6 or an Ecotec I4. Other countries also had an optional turbodiesel I4 engine. Engine performance upgrades that were available from Hirsch Performance (Saab's only factory approved tuner) increased the power of the V6 engine to 330 bhp (246 kW; 335 PS) from 296 bhp (221 kW; 300 PS) and the I4 engine to 260 bhp (194 kW; 264 PS) from 220 bhp (164 kW; 223 PS).

### Safety

### Reviews

- Auto Express For: spacious cabin, distinctive styling, well equipped. Against: poor residuals, driving dynamics, cheap cabin materials.

- Auto Trader Pros: low CO and high mpg, distinctive design, plenty of room. Cons: interior quality disappointing, outclassed by rivals, holds value poorly.

- Parker's Pros: Much kit as standard, high-tech features, driver comfort, practicality. Cons: Not particularly sporty, still lacks the brand appeal of its German rivals.

- The AA Likes: styling typically Saab but updated for the modern era; comfortable seats are a Saab trademark; cabin space is first rate - especially rear legroom; sensible pricing for the mainstream variants. Gripes: simple styling could be viewed as bland by uncharitable critics; can't match Jaguar's XF for sporting character; clutter-free cabin is welcome but quality of materials chosen could have been better; auto gearbox option could be more responsive.


# 2024 Cork Premier Junior Football Championship

## Abstract

The 2024 Cork Premier Junior Football Championship is the second staging of the Cork Premier Junior Football Championship since its establishment by the Cork County Board in 2023. The draw for the group stage placings took place on 14 December 2023. The championship is scheduled to run from 26 July to October 2024.

## Team changes

### To Championship

Relegated from the Cork Intermediate A Football Championship

- Glenville

Promoted from the Cork Junior A Football Championship

- Canovee

### From Championship

Promoted to the Cork Intermediate A Football Championship

- St Finbarr's

Relegated to the City Junior A Football Championship

- St MIchael's

## Group A

### Group A table

Quarter-finalists Relegation playoff

### Group A results

## Group B

### Group B table

Knockout stage

### Group B fixtures and results

## Group C

### Group C table

Semi-finalists Quarter-finalists Relegation playoff

### Group C results

## Knockout stage

### Relegation playoff

### Quarter-finals

#### Qualified teams

- Kilmurry

### Semi-finals

### Final

## Championship statistics

### Miscellaneous

- The Group B round 3 game between Glenville and Kinsale was abandoned after 32 minutes following an injury to one of the Glenville players led to an ambulance being called.

## External link

- Cork GAA website


Yelena Godina

# Yelena Godina

## Abstract

Yelena Mikhailovna Godina (Russian: Елена Михайловна Година) (born 17 September 1977) is a Russian former volleyball player, who was a member of the national team that won the gold medal at 2006 Volleyball World Championship in Japan and the silver medal at the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney. She also competed at the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta and the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, as well as the 2004 FIVB World Grand Prix.

## Honours

- 1998 World Championship – 3rd place

- 1999 World Cup – 2nd place

- 2000 Olympic Games – 2nd place

- 2002 World Championship – 3rd place

- 2006 World Championship – 1st place

- 2008 Olympic Games – 6th place

## Individual awards

- 1999 FIVB World Grand Prix "Best blocker"

- 2006 World Championship "Best server"


Love's Gonna Make It Alright

# Love's Gonna Make It Alright

## Abstract

"Love's Gonna Make It Alright" is a song written by Al Anderson and Chris Stapleton and recorded by American country music singer George Strait. It was released in November 2011 as the second single from his album Here for a Good Time.

## Critical reception

Billy Dukes of Taste of Country rated the song four stars out of five, saying that "the easy, mid-tempo swinger is another in a long line of hits that gives one no reason to turn down the radio. Strait is a master at modifying his traditional approach just enough to make it still sound plenty modern."

Ben Foster of The 1-to-10 County Music Review rated the song seven out of ten and states, "where the single goes right is in creating the perfect mood and backdrop for its straightforward story. Smooth fiddling and steel picking give the song a vintage flavor that sounds strongly reminiscent of Strait’s beloved nineties hits such as ' Write This Down ' and ' Check Yes or No '."

## Chart performance

"Love's Gonna Make It Alright" debuted at number 57 on the Hot Country Songs charts. It also debuted at number 99 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 chart for the week of February 4, 2012.


Steamed cheeseburger

# Steamed cheeseburger

## Abstract

A steamed cheeseburger, also referred to as a steamer or cheeseburg, is a hamburger topped with cheese that is cooked via steaming and originally only served by restaurants in central Connecticut in the United States. Despite it now being available elsewhere, it is still difficult to find outside that area.

## Preparation

What makes the steamed cheeseburger different from typical cheeseburgers is the way it is prepared. Instead of being fried in a pan or grilled on a grill, it is steamed in a stainless-steel cabinet containing trays that hold either a hamburger patty or a chunk of cheese. This method of cooking makes the fats in the meat melt away; they are then drained from the tray once the patty is fully cooked. The end result is a moist, juicy burger which is then served by scooping the meat onto a bun, and then pouring the melted cheese over the meat. Various customary toppings can then be added to the burger.

## Invention

The steamed cheeseburger is believed to have been invented at a restaurant called Jack's Lunch in Middletown, Connecticut, in either the 1920s or 1930s. Jack's Lunch was located at 434 Main Street and operated by Jack Fitzgerald for 44 years. The steamed cheeseburgers at Jack's Lunch were "cooked in a tall copper box filled with simmering water for 18 tin trays of square ground-beef patties." Cheddar cheese was an option at an additional 5 cents. One theory as to what sparked the idea for the steamed cheeseburger is that, back in the 1920s, steaming was being touted as a healthy alternative to frying, in that steamed food was easier to digest than fried food.

## Availability and distribution in central Connecticut

Ted's Restaurant in Meriden is the most famous eatery that serves steamed cheeseburgers, but they are also available at establishments in the adjacent towns of Wallingford, Middletown, Portland, and Cromwell; further east in East Hampton; and further south in North Haven. Ted's also operates a food truck called the Steam Machine, which sells steamed cheeseburgers further north at UConn Huskies football games, at Pratt & Whitney Stadium at Rentschler Field in East Hartford, Bushnell Park in downtown Hartford, and the Xfinity Theatre amphitheatre in Hartford. Ted's also has a concession stand behind section 101 inside the XL Center arena in Hartford.

## Hartford Yard Goats promotion

During the 2018 Minor League Baseball season, the Hartford Yard Goats played one home game as the "Hartford Steamed Cheeseburgers". Special one-off uniforms resembling the food item were worn by the players and made-to-order steamed cheeseburgers from Ted's Restaurant were available for fans to purchase.


# List of Iraqi football transfers summer 2024

## Abstract

This is a list of Iraqi football transfers for the 2024 summer transfer window. Besides the Iraqi transfers abroad section, only clubs contesting the 2024–25 Iraq Stars League and 2024–25 Iraqi Premier Division League are listed.

The transfer window in Iraq started on 2 August and will end on 2 October 2024. By 2 October, all clubs in the Iraq Stars League and the Iraqi Premier Division League must submit a 25-man squad for the season, with no more than 6 foreign players. Players from Syria and Yemen count as local players.

## Iraq Stars League

### Al-Hudood

### Al-Kahrabaa

### Al-Karkh

### Al-Karma

### Al-Minaa

### Al-Naft

### Al-Najaf

### Al-Qasim

### Al-Quwa Al-Jawiya

### Al-Shorta

### Al-Talaba

### Al-Zawraa

### Diyala

### Duhok

### Erbil

### Karbala

### Naft Al-Basra

### Naft Maysan

### Newroz

### Zakho

## Iraqi Premier Division League

### Afak

### Al-Bahri

### Al-Etisalat

### Al-Fahad

### Al-Gharraf

### Al-Hussein

### Al-Kadhimiya

### Al-Jolan

### Al-Mosul

### Al-Nasiriya

### Al-Ramadi

### Al-Sinaa

### Al-Sinaat Al-Kahrabaiya

### Amanat Baghdad

### Ghaz Al-Shamal

### Masafi Al-Junoob

### Masafi Al-Wasat

### Maysan

### Naft Al-Wasat

### Peshmerga Sulaymaniya

## Iraqi transfers abroad

The following list contains transfers of Iraqi players abroad, in alphabetical order.


Mark Sceurman

# Mark Sceurman

## Abstract

Mark Sceurman is a graphic artist and co-creator and publisher with Mark Moran of Weird NJ magazine and a state-by-state series of books. With Moran he co-hosted the spin-off television series Weird U.S. on the History Channel.

## Weird NJ

### Weird NJ newsletter and magazine

Sceurman started the original Weird NJ in the early 1990s as a newsletter circulated to friends that featured local news items, historical anecdotes, and in particular legends and folk tales little known beyond the locality concerned.

After a story about the newsletter was published in the Bergen Record in 1992, people began to write asking for copies, so Sceurman decided to staple together the first three newsletters and sent it out as the first issue of Weird NJ. (According to Sceurman the 52nd person to write in was Moran, with whom he decided to enter into partnership.)

As successive editions of the magazine were published, readers began sending Sceurman and Moran undocumented "weird tales" from communities across New Jersey. Their initial assumption "that every town in the state had at least one good tale to tell" proved a gross underestimation. Notable subjects included reclusive colonies of albinos and evil cult sacrifices in the woods.

By the time of the eighth issue, Sceurman and Moran decided that they would investigate the stories being sent them at source. They were surprised to find that many of the strange tales were either true or contained an original core of truth.

### Weird N.J. and the Weird U.S. series of books

After some dozen years of publishing the magazine, they were commissioned to write a book about their investigations, Weird NJ: Your Travel Guide to New Jersey's Local Legend and Best Kept Secrets, published in 2003.

Following the book's publication they started to receive letters from across the United States that indicated that what had at first seemed to them a very local New Jersey genre was in fact part of a wider, more universal phenomenon - people with remarkable stories to tell which they believed to be true wanted somebody to hear their story. This was the origin of the Weird U.S. state-by-state series of books.

## Publishing philosophy

While setting out to check out the substance of the legends and stories and their relationship to known events and historical data, Sceurman and Moran claim they make no attempt to differentiate between what is true and what is not but aim simply to present the local legends in as unadulterated a form as possible, leaving the task of separating fact from fiction to the reader. Nevertheless, they maintain that none of the stories have been made up solely for purposes of entertainment. They aim to document the stories as "an important and intrinsic part of our modern America culture", but because they are about real people or events or concern specific locations, the books serve as a travel guide as well, albeit because of problems of access they often use the description "travel guide of the mind".

## Commercial developments

The partnership has turned the newsletter into a magazine, a book series and a television series with a range of associated merchandise.

## Personal life

Sceurman, a past president of the Historical Society of Bloomfield, is a lifelong New Jersey resident and currently lives in Bloomfield, New Jersey with his wife Shirley and their son Alexander. He attended Bloomfield High School in his hometown, where his fellow graduates voted him "most likely to spontaneously combust".


2024 Pittsburgh Steelers season

# 2024 Pittsburgh Steelers season

## Abstract

The 2024 season is the Pittsburgh Steelers ' 92nd season in the National Football League (NFL), their third under general manager Omar Khan and their 18th under head coach Mike Tomlin. They will attempt to improve on their 10–7 record from last year, make the playoffs for the 2nd consecutive season, and end their 3-year AFC North title drought.

## Regular season

### Schedule

Notes

- Intra-division opponents are in bold text.

- Networks and times from Weeks 5–17 are subject to change as a result of flexible scheduling.

- The date, time and network for Week 18 will be finalized at the end of Week 17.

- All games are broadcast on a local station per NFL regulations.

### Game summaries

#### Week 1: at Atlanta Falcons

at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta, Georgia

- Date: September 8

- Game time: 1:00 p.m. EDT

- Game weather: None (retractable roof closed)

- Game attendance: 72,291

- Referee: Brad Rogers

- TV announcers (Fox): Joe Davis, Greg Olsen and Pam Oliver

- Recap, Game Book

#### Week 2: at Denver Broncos

at Empower Field at Mile High, Denver, Colorado

- Date: September 15

- Game time: 4:25 p.m. EDT/2:25 p.m. MDT

- Game weather: Mostly sunny, 86 °F (30 °C)

- Referee: Clete Blakeman

- TV announcers (CBS): Spero Dedes, Adam Archuleta and Aditi Kinkhabwala

- Preview

#### Week 3: vs. Los Angeles Chargers

at Acrisure Stadium, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

- Date: September 22

- Game time: 1:00 p.m. EDT

- TV announcers (CBS): Jim Nantz, Tony Romo, and Tracy Wolfson

- Preview

### Standings