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AN INCREDIBLE ADVENTURE
By David Aquije
By David R. Aquije
Photos by Octavio Duran
Maryknoll's newest priest shares good news in modern ways
That is what Lam Hua posted on his Facebook page on May 1, 2014.
The 28-year-old man born in Vietnam wanted to use the modern marvel of social media to share with family and friends the expectation he had for the long-awaited moment when he would be ordained a missionary priest at the Maryknoll Society's headquarters in Ossining, N.Y.
Thirty days later he posted: "This is the day the Lord has made."
Immediately, his post received many "likes" and comments from different parts of the United States and the world.
The excitement felt through the Internet's social media was matched by a beautiful ordination liturgy at Maryknoll's Queen of Apostles Chapel on May 31, 2014.
"The day is perfect for the ordination as we celebrate the feast of the Ascension and the solemnity of Pentecost," said Archbishop Bernard Anthony Hebda, coadjutor archbishop of the Archdiocese of Newark, N. J., the ordaining prelate. The archbishop, who praised the importance of Maryknoll for the Catholic Church in the United States and the world, said Father Lam's ordination was a sign of God's love for Maryknoll.
For Maryknoll Father Edward Dougherty, Father Lam's ordination was also a special moment. He said he was proud of the four ordinations of Maryknoll priests during his six-year term as head of the Catholic Foreign Mission Society of America, better known as the Maryknoll Society.
The Society has seen a dwindling number of vocations in recent years. However, Father Dougherty is hopeful that the ordinations of young priests like Lam Hua represent the future of a small but vital mission society that is becoming as diverse as the Catholic Church in the United States. The last four men to join Maryknoll, including Father Hua, are U.S. citizens with immigrant backgrounds from India, Korea, Guatemala and Vietnam.
Kneeling before Archbishop Bernard Anthony Hebda of New Jersey, Lam Hua promises obedience to Church authorities.
Inside the Queen of Apostles Chapel, the significance of the ordination was felt through the smell of incense, the words of the Scripture readings, the singing of the Maryknoll choir, and the colorful traditional Vietnamese attire of many of Father Hua's guests.
More than 50 priests, most of them Maryknollers and a handful of other priests who came to accompany Lam Hua, concelebrated the Mass of Ordination. During the ordination rite, the bishop prayed and recalled the Old Testament story of Moses calling Aaron and 70 elders to serve the people.
Father Hua says he connected with that biblical experience when Archbishop Hebda and the concelebrating priests imposed hands on him during his ordination to bless him for his role of service.
"It was a wonderful experience to have them lay their hands on my head," says Father Hua. He felt the priests were "transferring their wisdom, their graces and experiences to me to help me in my future ministry… giving their brotherly and priestly support to me."
Other highlights for Father Hua were his investiture with stole and chasuble, the anointing of his hands and the presentation of the bread and wine by his mother Tu Doan and aunt Nhi Nguyen. Laying prostrate on the floor during the Litany of the Saints, he felt honored to have the community of faithful asking the saints to pray for him.
Meanwhile, the down-to-earth young priest admits he was trying to figure out how to move his arms, which were getting numb.
"It was sort of a sign; while I was getting numb, it felt like I was being blessed by God," he says. "My mind was clear, empty. I was just feeling the grace of God on me."
Father Hua's parents, brother, relatives and friends who came to the ordination were filled with joy.
"Very proud of my son and very happy," said his mother.
"First, I want to thank God. If we stayed in Vietnam, Lam could not have entered the seminary," said Lam's father, Hung Minh Hua.
At the start of his priestly ordination, Lam Hua, with his diaconate stole over his left shoulder, stands beside his father, Hung Minh Hua, and mother, Tu Doan, and other family members.
Father Hua says his parents were strong role models for his faith (see May/June 2014 Maryknoll magazine, page 18). His father himself was in the seminary but had to end his vocation journey for health reasons before being dragged into the Vietnam War. He later became a catechist who prepared his son Lam and Lam's younger brother, Vien, for their first Communions.
"My family is very proud of my brother," said Vien Hua, 25, a computer support specialist and a devout Catholic involved in the Vietnamese Eucharistic Youth Movement in Seattle, Wash. "It's definitely very exciting and humbling having a priest in the family."
Father Hua's ordination was a pivotal moment in his call to serve the Church, which was present throughout his life.
"As soon as I received first Communion, I started serving the Church as an altar server," he says. "As I grew, I served the Church in different ways, and that has become part of my life, part of my love for my faith, and God has blessed me with the gift of finding out about mission work, and once I found out about mission work, I thought, 'That's what I really want to do.' "
While at Maryknoll, Father Hua's friends and relatives enjoyed themselves and took many pictures that were immediately shared through social media.
"I am a man of my generation," says Father Hua, explaining that he would use the tools of modern communication to proclaim the Gospel. "Where I'll be working in Africa, there's a lack of modern communication, but when I'm back here in the States, I can certainly use modern communication to spread the Word of God or to spread the joy of my life, the life of a Christian and a life blessed by God."
After a long journey of preparation for the priesthood, Lam Hua shared the excitement of the countdown to his ordination via social networking.
As a man of his generation, Father Hua says his reason for becoming a priest is simple: "Serving God is an incredible adventure."
David Aquije
David R. Aquije is a journalist born and educated in Lima, Peru, where he studied communications with a specialty in print journalism. He continued his journalism studies at Mercy College in Dobbs Ferry, New York, where he founded La Gaceta Bilingüe, the first newsletter for Latino students at that college. Later, he became the editor of América Latina, a monthly newspaper for the Westmore News publishing company in Port Chester, New York. Then he founded Westchester Latino, the first biweekly newspaper in Westchester County. His work within the Hispanic press was recognized in publications such as The Journal News and The New York Times. He has worked as a journalist reporting on the missions of the Maryknoll Fathers and Brothers in Africa, Asia and Latin America since 2000, first as associate editor of Revista Maryknoll magazine, now called Misioneros, and since 2010 as its editor. He has won many awards from the Catholic Press Association of the United States and Canada, including first place as Editor of the Year for Spanish publications.


I'm Wil Forbis, perhaps best known for the humor/pop culture web site acidlogic.com. I have a book available at Amazon.com compiling the best of my Acid Logic material (at least at the time of publishing ;) .) I'm currently working on a horror novel. I write about writing at the blog Tuna for Bernadette. I also have several albums of music (jazz/country), some of which can be sampled at wilforbis.com. Aside from writing and music, I'm interested in neuroscience, psychology, physics (which I barely understand) and studying the German language.
In the world of music psychology, you often hear discussion about our sense of aesthetics, our perception of musical beauty. People offer various theories as to why we find certain aspects of music attractive or not. Often, for instance, it's postulated that appealing melodies duplicate the human manner of speaking. These melodies don't just offer…… Continue reading Are music aesthetics learned or innate?
I wonder whether this is the most important question for a musician to ask. Finding the answer could be the difference between a lifetime of middling, stilted playing and one of real, consistent virtuosity. What do I even mean here? Let me attempt to add context by first quoting a recent blog post of mine…… Continue reading What should you think of when playing music?
Reddit, if you don;t know, is a useful site where people discuss all sorts of topics. I just stumbled across this great collection of links to all the reddits related to creating music. How to get the most out of reddit as a musician.


Battle scars – this is how most women would call their stretch marks. These are signs that they have given birth to a human, a gift to this world. However, they can also be frustrating and unsightly. With this, a lot are asking – how can I get rid of stretch marks?
A lot of products promise to offer the best solution, but not all of them would work. To help you out, let us have a look at some of the lotions and creams that can help you to get rid of stretch marks and bring back your confidence!
Even if you have already given birth, you can still flaunt your body in a two-piece swimsuit with head held high! No need to be ashamed! With the right lotion, you can say goodbye to stretch marks and make every other mother at the envy of your body!
Among the things that women fear during pregnancy, stretch marks are some of the most common! Also called striae gravidarum, they are the narrow streak-like lines that you can find on your belly, often purplish or pinkish. They commonly appear on the tummy, but they can also be present in your breasts and upper thighs.
According to National Health Service, stretch marks are caused by the stretching of the skin, which is natural for any pregnant woman. The dermis stretches and becomes broken. This becomes even more serious as you gain more weight while you are pregnant.
Stretch marks do not pose any significant health risk. However, they are uncomfortable and can be itchy. Worst, they are unattractive!
Treat stretch marks when they are still reddish. This means that they are still new and treatment strategies can be more effective.
Making dietary changes will also help in the prevention of stretch marks. During pregnancy, load up on the foods that are rich in zinc, as well as Vitamins A, C, and E.
Laser treatments are also promising. Pulse dye laser, for instance, stimulates collagen and elastin growth to eliminate stretch marks.
Do not let stretch marks make you feel down and unhappy with your body. Below are some of the top products that you might want to consider having!
More than the reduction of stretch marks, it also helps in the improvement of elasticity. This keeps the skin tight, even after pregnancy.
The effectiveness of the lotion can be attributed to its key ingredients. It has cocoa and shea butter, which will provide the hydration that your skin needs to keep it moisturized. Argan oil, on the other hand, is packed with fatty acids to make the skin softer. It also has coconut oil, which acts as a natural moisturizer.
This luxurious and moisturizing lotion can make pregnancy more comfortable and take your worries away, especially if you have always been concerned about the appearance of stretch marks. It has herbs and essential oils to make the skin more elastic even if it stretches during your pregnancy.
It does not contain parabens, mineral oils, and other harsh chemicals that can possibly cause irritation.
This stretch mark lotion it also dermatologically-tested, providing an assurance of your safety.
When it comes to skincare products, natural is always better. This pregnancy lotion is made with 99% natural ingredients. It does not contain parabens and phthalates, among other ingredients that can possibly irritate the skin.
One of its key ingredients is shea butter, which helps to soften skin and prevent dryness. Aloe vera and coconut oil, on the other hand, are good choices for natural moisturizers.
Hate strong smell or fragrances? You have another good reason to love this lotion. It is unscented!
Don't be a fool and believe everything that manufacturers say. Look for a solid proof. For instance, with this lotion, it has undergone clinical tests and the results showed that it is 100% effective. You can even request a free copy of this clinical trial and see for yourself!
Based on the testimonials of the people who used this product in the past, its effects will be visible within 17 days. That means less than three weeks before you bid goodbye to your stretch marks!
The best thing about this lotion is that you have a guarantee of satisfaction. As long as you purchase it from an authorized seller, you will be given a refund within 30 days if you are unhappy with the results.
Within two months, 93% of the users of this cream showed favorable results, which can make you confident that it is indeed able to deliver a high-level of effectiveness.
One of the reasons why this is a highly-effective product is that it contains 100% organic extracts. It works for all skin types and will not lead to irritation since it does not contain toxic chemicals that can possibly cause adverse effects on sensitive skin.
It also has Centella Asiatica, an extract that has been clinically studied and proven to work in the prevention of stretch marks.
One of the most impressive from the ingredients list of this cream is Galactoarabinan, which has been exclusively developed from a Larch tree. It promotes the production of collagen and improvement of elasticity, which is great in terms of eliminating stretch marks.
Another innovative ingredient that you can find in this product is the avocado peptide, which helps in making the skin more comfortable, even when it is stretched during pregnancy.
Lastly, to have peace of mind, it is good to know that it has been through pediatric, gynecological, and dermatological tests to prove that it is safe to use.
More than the treatment of stretch marks, this is also a product that can be effective in dealing with itchiness and dryness, among other common skin problems.
One of the best ingredients in this product is avocado oil, which has unsaturated fats, fatty acids, and proteins, all of which are great for keeping the moisture of your skin. With sweet almond and coconut oil, on the other hand, you can fight skin aging.
While this product contains a wide array of effective ingredients, the most impressive is caffeine. The antioxidants in caffeine are the ones responsible for its effects. The latter provides toning benefits while also minimizing the appearance of stretch marks. It has other ingredients for the hydration of the skin, which also makes it effective as an anti-aging cream.
When applied, the cream will make your skin soft. It will not leave you feeling sticky and uncomfortable, especially when it is hot.
One thing that can convince you to buy this product is the satisfaction guarantee that is offered by the manufacturer. If you an unhappy, they will issue an unconditional refund.
To be confident about the safety and effectiveness of this product, it is good to know that it is GMP-certified and non-GMO. It does not contain chemicals and parabens. It uses natural ingredients, such as shea butter, which is one thing that is common in lotions and creams for the treatment of pregnancy stretch marks.
For elasticity and comfort, this is another lotion that can prove to be effective against stretch marks. It is formulated not only for pregnant women, but it is also unisex.
From its ingredients, crowberry is perhaps the most notable. It is a Clarins exclusive and has the ability to maintain the best texture of the skin even after it is stretched during pregnancy. It also has centella extract.
Do not let stretch marks forever haunt you! Do not allow it to make you hate pregnancy! Use the lotions mentioned above, and for sure, you will never fear stretch marks! It will be easy to have smooth, beautiful, and elastic skin even after giving birth!


NEW HAVEN — When a New Haven doctor received an email with a plea for help from an Israeli doctor, he knew it was time to mobilize-especially since the lives of Israeli soldiers were at stake.
Just before the start of Shabbat in mid-August, Dr. Arthur Levy, a New Haven oncologist and chairperson of the Westville Synagogues social action committee, received an email informing him that Israeli reservists fighting in Lebanon did not have adequate body armor to protect them.
There was no time to get lots of details, reports Levy. I made an announcement at the end of services, and received an astounding response. More than 50 people raised their hands to make pledges to purchase vests-not bad for a Shabbat during the summer when many people were away on vacation.
More than 60 vests have been purchased thus far by the Westville Synagogue.
The idea for the Kevlar vests came about when Dr. Eli Reshef, an Oklahoma City fertility specialist and husband of Edie Rodman, executive director of the Jewish Federation of Greater Oklahoma City, spoke with his reservist nephew, Peleg Reshef. Peleg had been deployed to Lebanon, and Eli contacted him by cell phone. What can I do for you? asked Eli. Peleg immediately informed his Uncle Eli that his unit of 80 men, a reservist combat engineering regiment known as the Orev Company, did not have adequate protective vests and body armor. Vests had apparently been issued to active duty soldiers, but vests for reservists were either nonexistent, tattered or not updated. Eli, worried about Peleg and his other two nephews who were all serving in Lebanon at the same time, asked, How much will it cost and how many do you need?
Within hours, after making a few phone calls and sending emails, Eli Reshef, a former member of the Israel Defense Force who saw combat on Mount Hermon, the scene of some of the most intense fighting during the 1973 Yom Kippur War, had commitments for 80 of the vests at $110 per vest. Thus, Operation Body Armor was born.
Edi Rodman proudly notes, We have raised more than $60,000 so far and have provided vests for four or five units so far. And every penny goes directly for the body armor-none of the donated money is spent on administrative costs, postage, etc. Reshef also hoped to purchase the vests in Israel as a way of supporting the Israeli economy. He purchased all of the vests from Kibbutz Sasa.
Rodman said that on Channel 2 TV in Israel, they interviewed soldiers on their way out of Lebanon, and they repeated over and over again how appreciative they were.
CAP: PELEG NEWSPAPER: An article in an Israeli newspaper about the Kevlar vests purchased for Israeli soldiers.


I'm not suggesting AUM is about to disappear, but alternative models are certainly becoming more normal. It's not surprising with the average current client age in Australia about 62 yet with more advisers seeing opportunities within the 'HENRY' market (high earners not rich yet) that new fee models need to be considered.
In the past, the typical remuneration model has moved from upfront commissions with no trail commission, to no upfront commissions (but perhaps an upfront fee) with a higher ongoing fee or commission (or a combination).
In the late '80s, upfront commissions were about 6-8 per cent of funds invested; trail commissions then started at about 25-40 basis points. Advisers then moved from being the price taker to the price maker, removed any commission and typically moved to an AUM model. Today, AUM fees are the dominant model. Over time, at say 1 percent of AUM, advisers started to add more and more value all bundled into that fee, but there was typically no line in the sand between the portfolio management fee and the advice fee.
The percentage-AUM fee model, particularly on a sliding scale, can work for the affluent, but what about the other 80-90 percent? They have needs as well. Robo-advice may help fill the void for the non-affluent, non-HENRYs.
The weakness in the percent AUM model has always been that the amount paid to the adviser has little to no bearing on the value the adviser delivers. Charging 1 per cent on $1 million in assets generates $10,000 for the adviser, while charging 1 per cent on $100,000 in assets generates $1000 for the adviser. Granted, there is more risk for an adviser with larger accounts, but does the adviser do 10 times the work? Almost certainly, no. Unsurprisingly, advisers with a percentage-AUM fee model will typically have an affluent ideal client.
Maybe it was fine charging 1 percent of AUM 10 or 20 years ago, when an adviser's core value proposition was running a client portfolio. But now the baseline for investment pricing has been set by robo-advice, exchange-traded funds and index funds; we know it's possible to run a portfolio for 20 to 40 basis points. So, for an adviser charging 1 per cent AUM, we know that about 60 to 80 basis points is paying for advice.
In many cases, under current advice models, advisers would subsidise the first year to 18 months before a break-even point, given the often-heavy lifting required upfront. But once things are in place, clients will start to ask what they are buying more often.
That's fine if you can demonstrate and articulate the value in an investment-only proposition but based on myriad research projects, such as S&P Indices Versus Active surveys and individual portfolio benchmarking, there are few advisers who would be able to demonstrate value over and above the return to which an investor was entitled for the risk they have been prepared to undertake.
It is for these reasons I believe AUM-based fee models will steadily decline or value propositions will become significantly enhanced.
One Australia and New Zealand-based study I've seen recently has found that while nearly 56 per cent of advisers still use AUM as the primary part of their fee structure, 39 per cent also use retainers and/or flat fees; and only 23 per cent of advisers now use an AUM-only model.
The $100 billion that flowed into Vanguard's personal financial advisory service in the US last year shows that people will vote with their feet, and money.
In Australia, it would be hard to imagine 100 basis points of AUM being the norm in the future, following the Royal Commission into Misconduct in the Banking, Superannuation and Financial Services Industry. Simon-Kucher & Partners suggests clients of the future will choose the services they want on an annual or other periodic basis – and pay only for what they use.
Advisers will need to substantiate any advice fee above 20-40 basis points. Right now, there is a trust issue with consumers and, as a result, many advice businesses are simply not growing.
Of course, there are many alternative models. The most important factors are that they must be transparent and easy to articulate and understand. It must provide value to clients and must be profitable for shareholders after they pay fair and reasonable salaries for staff. So other than the AUM model, what are the alternatives?
The hourly fee: As unusual as it is, there is no reason an adviser can't charge the way a lawyer or accountant does, paying only for time used. AUM can be irrelevant. The upside for the client is that it's transparent, the downside is they may feel it's open-ended.
The flat fee (package or annual fee): Examples would include a recurring flat fee with no AUM component. Fees would vary from one client to another based on complexity. Typically, there would be a minimum fee. When assets move past a threshold, charging a fixed fee starts to become cheaper than the AUM model. There may be packages available for different fee levels, such as platinum, gold, silver, etc – needs-based financial planning packages with bundled service hours.
Combination/hybrid – a mix of fee and AUM. The separation of the financial advice fee and the portfolio management fee can help clients see what they are paying for. Investment management can be dropped for clients interested in planning only, or vice versa – there is flexibility in this model. A person with no liquid assets can still become a client.
There are various derivatives of these models, such as value-based fees, but let's keep it simple for now.
Headlines about fee compression may apply to some firms, but others are successfully increasing client fees from 10 to 25 basis points, as they are compelled to get better at articulating and demonstrating a value proposition to clients, and then find it allows them to charge more for the greater level of services they're providing.
Advisory firms that offer more comprehensive and holistic services will be able to charge more. Research by Peloton Partners, an Australian business-to-business consultancy, has found firms are typically working on gross margins of 77-85 basis points, not that Peloton recommends AUM-based fee models.
It's my view we will see more advice businesses move towards a flexible fixed fee structure aligned directly with an individual client's level of complexity, service needs and expectations. Clients will be absolutely attuned to this structure and will recognise that fees will ebb and flow as their circumstances change. As a result, their understanding, trust, and connection to their adviser will improve markedly. The industry proxy is 1 percent AUM, yet the evidence is clear that this old proxy has not kept pace with the rising costs of delivering a full service financial planning offering.
Fixed costs in the average wealth management practice have increased from 12 per cent to 15 per cent in the last five years and are still rising, Peloton managing director Rob Jones says. This additional cost is directly related to compliance with ongoing regulation and general inflation and we will soon see further increases as employee costs rise in line with mandatory minimum qualifications.
As Jones points out, the problem is that few fee models permit firms to pass this expense on to their clients, particularly under a percentage-AUM model. More than ever, advisory practices need to review their business critically – too often we see complacency and unwillingness to change cripple a good business.
David Haintz writes exclusively for Professional Planner and is principal of advice consultancy, Global Adviser Alpha.


The Lakers spoiled the Kings' playoffs hopes and best road effort in a 106-111 win over Sacramento, in Los Angeles on March 24.
Hield scored 18 points along with three assists and six rebounds but it wasn't enough to stop the Lakers hot third quarter which included Kyle Kuzma's 21 points, on 7-of-8 shooting. Kuzma helped the Lakers secure a 28-39 advantage out of halftime. He finished the night with 29 points and six rebounds.
The Lakers outpaced the Kings and finished with 31 fast break points compared to Sacramento's 20 in the same category.
Sacramento entered the contest versus their Pacific Division rival in the ninth spot, trailing six games from the final Western Conference playoff seed. The King's playoff pipedream got even more distant after the Lakers delivered a defeat only a few days after having their own playoffs mathematically eliminated in Friday's loss to the Nets.
Still, Joerger said he was proud of his team for fighting. The Lakers entered the fourth quarter with a 77-87 lead but the Kings would make them work through the final minute.
The Kings head coach credited his team for forcing turnovers on the second night of a back to back. Sacramento forced 16 Lakers turnovers but only commited 6 of their own.
The Kings also got 25 points and 11 rebounds off the bench from 2018 No. 2 pick Marvin Bagley III. In the fourth quarter, Bagley hit a few shots that kept the Kings alive. This included a 25-footer that brought the Kings within 98-94 with 6:46 remaining in the fourth.
Bogdan Bogdanovic also came up big off the bench with 17 points four assists for Sacrament. Bogdanovic hit a three before Bagley brought it within four in the fourth. He also answered a LeBron James' missed three by driving past the King and scoring a which brought Sacramento within 96-98 just outside the six minute mark.
The Lakers would stretch the lead to six after two Aled Caruso free throws followed by a Caruso layup at the four minute mark. Hield would again bring the game within three after his three pointer with 3:35 left.
That was about as close as the Kings would get until Bogdanovic hit a three with 17.3 seconds remaining in the contest. Sacramento trailed 106-104 before James would stretch the lead to four at the free line. James ended up scoring six of the Lakers final seven points at the free lone. The King finished with 29 points, along with 11 assists and 11 rebounds.
As for the Lakers, they started the game with their 23rd different starting lineup of the season. Kentavious Caldwell-Pope entered the lineup and registered 16 points with four assists.
JaVale McGee also started fresh off his best performance as a Laker in the loss to the Nets. Still, McGee finished with 17 points, 14 rebounds and five blocks.
"I'm Just trying to stay in the right places and my teammates are finding me," McGee said about his second consecutive outstanding performance.
LeBron said that the team has to reward McGee by getting him lobs in the paint when he is active on defense.
"We're very good when JaVale is quarterbacking the whole thing." James also said about McGee's efforts helping the rest of the team's defense.
The Lakers will play another home game versus the Washington Wizards on March 26 at the Staples Center.


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Marketing in 2023 : what priorities, what changes ?
Marketing is constantly evolving, and it's important for businesses to stay up-to-date with the latest trends and best practices in order to remain competitive. As we look ahead to 2023, there are several key areas that businesses should consider improving in their marketing departments:
Personalisation: with the proliferation of data and advances in technology, it's now possible for businesses to personalise their marketing efforts like never before. By using customer data to create targeted and personalised campaigns, businesses can increase customer engagement and loyalty.
Customer experience: it should be at the heart of any marketing strategy. This means not only providing excellent products and services, but also creating a seamless and enjoyable experience for customers at every touchpoint. This can be achieved through a variety of tactics, such as providing personalised recommendations, offering easy and convenient payment options, and responding quickly to customer inquiries.
Social media: this is an integral part of any modern marketing strategy. In 2023, it will be important for businesses to not only have a presence on popular platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, or Twitter, but also to create engaging and valuable content that resonates with their target audience.
Content marketing: content marketing is critical for attracting and retaining customers. In 2023, businesses should focus on creating high-quality, relevant content that is valuable to their target audience. This could include blog posts, videos, infographics, and more.
Data-driven marketing: data is a valuable asset for businesses looking to improve their marketing efforts. By using data to inform marketing decisions, businesses can better understand their customers and create more effective campaigns. In 2023, it will be important for marketing departments to have the tools and skills needed to effectively analyse and use data to drive their marketing efforts.
In summary, improving personalisation, customer experience, social media presence, content marketing, and data-driven marketing are all key areas that businesses should focus on in 2023 in order to stay competitive in the rapidly-evolving world of marketing.
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You Are Here: Home → Bridgeport City Council Joins Mayor Ganim to Provide Face Masks For Bridgeport Residents
Bridgeport City Council Joins Mayor Ganim to Provide Face Masks For Bridgeport Residents
By Bridgeport Mayor Joseph Ganim's Office | Posted by Canaiden Staff April 4, 2020 coronavirus
contributed photo/City of Bridgeport
Bridgeport, CT – Mayor Ganim, with City Council Members, in a coordinated effort with Superintendent Testani offer free face masks to parents and children at emergency food service sites throughout the city. The distribution of masks is an extra precautionary measure to protect residents and children of Bridgeport against the spread of coronavirus.
In the last 24 hours, the CDC and federal officials have clarified and "revised" their guidelines to "recommend that everyone wear face coverings when they're out in public." The city anxiously awaits any further orders that will assist in protecting the communities of Bridgeport, Connecticut and our nation.
Face masks and meals will be available while supplies last, for pick-up, Monday- Friday from 9AM and 1PM at the following schools:
Barnum School Cesar A. Batalla School Black Rock School
Blackham School Geraldine Claytor Magnet School Bryant School
Columbus School Wilbur Cross School James J. Curiale
Hall School Hallen School Harding High School
Hooker School Geraldine Johnson School Luis Munoz Marin School
Park City Magnet School Roosevelt School Read School
Jettie S. Tisdale School John Winthrop School
The designated schools also continue to provide breakfast, lunch, and supper to Bridgeport students. Since launching, over 65,000 meals have been served. For Grab & Go meals, students must be under 18 years of age, children ages 10 years old and under must be accompanied by a parent or guardian. Meals for the weekend can be picked up on Fridays. For additional information about school closings, delays and food services visit Bridgeportedu.net.
Governor Lamont directs CT's earned income tax credit for 2020 to be retroactively enhanced to 41.5% using coronavirus relief funds


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Persuasive Essay On Guns In Schools
There are some gun activists and concerned parents who believe that teachers and school administrators with gun licenses should be allowed to carry guns in schools. They claim that this could provide a first line of defense in the case of an emergency. Also, they argue that not allowing guns in school makes the school an easier target. Dr. Patrick Jonston states, "Criminals prefer a disarmed population. Defenseless people are easier to victimize. Criminals aren't stupid – 'gun-free zones' are the safest places to kill people and that's why most of the mass murders in our nation take place at these locations." (Jonston) A bill was presented by Sen. Mark Christensen of Imperial in February, 2011, to allow teachers and administrators…show more content…
Trump, President of the National School Safety and Security Services. He said, "The vast majority of teachers want to be armed with textbooks and computers, not guns." (Arming) His opposition to arming teachers and school staff focused solely on implementation issues, not a political agenda. He stated, "School districts considering arming teachers and school staff with guns would take on significant responsibility and potential liabilities that I firmly believe are beyond the expertise, knowledge-base, experience, and professional capabilities of most school boards and administrators." He raises questions about whether the school board would have adequate policies and procedures to govern the carrying and use of guns by teachers and school staff. He also points out the complexity of management: choosing types of firearms; training teachers and school staffs; risks of them being intentionally disarmed by a student; loss, misplacement, or having their firearms stolen while on campus; accidental shooting; impact on insurance and potential legal liability. He believes that carrying firearms should be left to school safety officials such as school resource officers and school police department officers. The Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence, the nation's largest organization leading the fight to prevent gun violence, said allowing teachers to carry guns would likely make them the first targets in an attack, and could make
Teacher, Guns, and School
The safety of the students at school may be at risk, such as the school shootings that occurred at Columbine High School. While many feel that providing teachers with handguns may prove detrimental to safety efforts, imposing such measures would provide educators and students alike with increased security and overall safety. Teachers should be allowed to carry handguns in school because it is their right to bear arms, it would provide better protection for the kids, and it would provide the parents with reassurance that their children are safe. First, as a United States citizen, it is our right to bear arms. It means we the people have the right to own and carry firearms.
Armed Security in Schools
Armed Security in Schools "Why ban one and not the other? And once you start banning semiautomatics, where do you stop?" (Milloy) Society believes the ban of guns is going to stop the violence in America, while most people don't realize that by banning firearms, we as a society will only increase the power of the criminal over law abiding citizens. The man at the Sandy Hook Elementary School could have been avoid by many ways such as the mother not owning a gun knowing her son had a mental illness, or keeping a tighter lock on the gun in a safe that only she would have access too, finally one of the best ideas to be suggested is the proposal of having armed security guards in school. I believe that we should have armed security in our schools to protect our children by having an armed security as deterrents, President Children get secret service agents yet our children have nothing, finally properly trained and certified school staff to carry firearm. Having an armed security guard or peace officers at our school alone will act as a deterrent towards violent criminals from thinking about going to the school and committing a shooting.
The Role Of Gun Control In The United States
They government is emphasizing more on the fully automatic weapons, explosives, armor and other things that only the military should have access to. Some people do not see that the violence taking place in the U.S. has to do with the access to guns and the mental health of the individual. The people who are victims to some of the most recent shootings should speak up and tell others why we need to make obtaining these types of weapons much more difficult. Many individuals choose what they want to see, hear and believe, as in seeing the massacres happen and believing the government is taking their right away and not letting them have what they have the right to have, which is "the right to bear arms." Most citizens do not see that making further background checks and regulation on the amount of ammunition that is
Explain Why People Should Not Be Allowed To Bear Arms
Instead, set restrictions and require a certain level of gun safety knowledge taught in a school based on the idea of self defense. Gun law enthusiasts would argue police have weapons and will protect us, that is true to an extent. The average time a 911 call is dispatched and arrived at is twenty-three minutes. Milwaukee sheriff David Clarke says this, " You can beg for mercy from a violent criminal, hide under the bed, or you can fight back ... While we wish we could be teleported to your home it ain't going to happen.
Should Teachers Be Armed Essay
An answer of yes to arming school teachers has requirements that are non-negotiable. Yes, teachers who want to carry a weapon in school should be able to as a preventative measure while permanent measures are taken to stem the tide of school shootings. Arming teachers should be the tourniquet on the way to the hospital for emergency surgery, not the surgery itself, pun intended. Allowing armed school personnel should be temporary while permanent solutions are being implemented. While allowing the arming of teachers, society needs to take real steps and engage
Gun Control - Rogerian Argument
Gun casualties and incidents throughout the country have woken the public up from its ignorance and shown them the danger guns can pose to society (Martinez, 2013). While some people want a complete blanket ban on the ownership of guns, others wants an easier access to guns so that every person may look after their own security. Part of what makes the term gun control a very controversial topic is that it's used in a ambiguous way that does not explain the details of the issue and the demands, apart from literally controlling guns. The two prominent sides of the debate are the groups who ask for liberal gun laws that make it easier for a person to procure guns and conversely, there are groups who want to repeal the second amendment. I personally am a strong believer that an "ideal society" should have no guns; nevertheless crime is a big problem to the citizens of our society and guns are necessary.
The Pros And Cons Of Gun Control
Vox builds to that thought by providing evidence that proves that giving our teachers guns is harmful. For those still convinced that gun control is the only answer, Cliffsnotes offers an alternative to gun control which will operate much better and makes more logical sense. To truly drive the truth home one last time, The
The Importance Of School Shootings
Students and teachers of Johnstown voted 83% that the school needs to increase the security measures, and when asked what they thought would be an effective way to try and prevent school shootings. Students were given a question that listed out possible ideas that would prevent school shootings, and were asked to choose which ones would be the most effective way to prevent school shootings. The solutions offered were; metal detectors, teachers armed with a gun, more cameras monitoring security, bullet-proof windows and doors, armed security guards, and if they did not agree with any of those, an option for the students and teachers to write their own idea was provided. The results yielded that 59% of students and teachers thought an armed guard would deter any school shooting, while 49% also said that bullet proof doors
Guns -- Privilege or Plague?
The overall question that summarizes the topic may be seen as this – Is the right to bear arms more important than the safety of the general public? Gun rights advocates believe that under the constitution, they should have the right to possess and carry guns. As long as we keep the dangerous people in check, then the safety of the general public will not be a problem. However, gun control advocates are strong supporters of the idea that guns are responsible for the large-scale massacres. They believe that if we can eliminate guns from the big picture, we can eradicate the murders as well.
Control Gun Violence/Community Issue
One solution about the problem may be to speak up about the problem. How will anyone know that gun violence is a problem and must be stopped? "Closed Mouths Don't Get Fed" A great quote that support this solution. We need to speak up, adults as well as our young children. Adults can speak to the young children and let them know what's right from wrong considering our young children are the ones being targeting when it comes to gun play as well as violence.
More about Persuasive Essay On Guns In Schools


Taylor recently had the opportunity to interview two PixelHacks (pixelhacks.com) organizers, Catherine and Tanupa. Learn more about them below, and read the transcript of the interview to learn more about PixelHacks and get advice for starting your own hackathon!
Catherine Yeo is a senior at Stanford University Online High School. A 2015 Stanford AI4ALL attendee and 2017 She++ #include Fellow, Catherine founded and directed PixelHacks from 2016-18. Passionate about math and computer science, she has conducted number theory research and is currently doing research on applying AI to math education. Catherine hopes to continue spreading joy and increasing interest in the two fields while increasing diversity in STEM.
Tanupa Thaker is a junior at Cupertino High School. An outgoing and curious individual, her interest in STEM began somewhere around her freshman year of high school after being exposed to hackathons and different programming languages. She served as the Sponsorship Director for PixelHacks II and will be in charge of heading PixelHacks III, while also currently organizing TinoHacks II. Her goal is to portray how diverse STEM is and its application in every aspect.
C: PixelHacks has been ongoing for 2 years. It was founded in 2016 as the Bay Area's first all-female high school hackathon, as well as being student run. We held one event in January 2017 and one this year in January 2018. 75 people attended our first event, and 120 attended the past one. We want to expose programming and technology to high school women who don't really know how to program or have never done a hackathon before. We bring in mentors from the industry, and have workshops. It's like a two-day overnight event, lasting 24 hours, and it's free. Attendees build their own project, which is called hacking, and then present it to judges at the end to win prizes. PixelHacks II was on a much larger scale.
T: Overall I think the event went really well, it was really amazing to see so many girls come in and you could sort of feel that some of them didn't have very much experience, and then at the end you could see how much they had grown and how much they were able to learn. I think it was a big realization for many of them, they were like, "Wow I didn't realize I would be able to actually create such an amazing app." The experience itself was really fun for me and I hope for the participants as well. We tried to have constant food and swag, to keep everyone engaged the whole time and make sure everybody was having a great time.
Why did you start or decide to work with PixelHacks?
C: Part of it was that I've been to a few hackathons and they were really male dominated. When I went to the Apple Worldwide Developers Conference, it was so male dominated. As an illustration, this was the only time you could see the bathroom lines were all male and the women's bathrooms were empty. I definitely wanted to create something to help expose girls in my own community, especially young women, because you can still reach them in high school. I wanted to do an initiative to spread my love for technology in a fun way, and hackathons are really fun and creative, they're something that's short and memorable.
T: I'd been to two or three hackathons and I definitely noticed that they were mostly male. In one of my hackathons, 3 of my team members were male and I was the only female, so it felt a little bit weird to me. I've known Catherine for a long time and I found out that she was organizing PixelHacks. I'd never organized a hackathon before, but it looked like a really fun experience. I was like "Okay, I've been on the side where I create my own application, now I want to be on the side where I organize it." Overall I'm really glad that I chose to do that.
How did you assemble your team and contact mentors and sponsors to support PixelHacks?
C: I found Tanupa because I've known her in different setting, and she was really enthusiastic and passionate about organizing a hackathon for girls especially. The others I essentially met through a jumble of organizations: Girls Teaching Girls to Code, she++, and NCWIT. I knew all these members were passionate about contributing back to the community. For mentors and panelists, a lot of it was reaching out either to specific companies or on Facebook, in Ladies Storm Hackathons. A lot of networks and connections helped, some mentors referred me to other mentors to hold workshops or speak on the panel.
T: For sponsorship, a lot of the resources were from last year and I'm really glad for that, and being my first time in a hackathon I wasn't exactly sure what was expected of me. We email them and if they reply we follow up with interviews or keep talking with them and get the sponsorship information. Some companies that we got sponsorships from were places that I thought of. It can be anything as simple as, for example, Hi-Chew, which was one of our sponsors. I was thinking, "What if they sponsored us?" There's no harm in trying. I was really outgoing in the sense that I would ask a lot of companies that I wouldn't expect to reply to me and we would actually end up getting their sponsorship. It was really great knowing that you were able to find a company.
What were some of the winning projects or your personal favorites?
C: From PixelHacks I, there was one project that was a scheduling app for autistic children, and I was blown away by what they made. Another one was a really advanced computer vision app to track environmental progress or carbon footprint, I thought that was interesting.
From PixelHacks II, the winning project was an Android app that brought awareness and support to the hurricane disasters in Puerto Rico. That was a really really cool project, and I was definitely really impressed. Another one that won one of the higher prizes was an iOS app that helped reduce food waste across the country. So a lot of projects aimed at solving community problems, they were really interesting and how they approached it was cool.
T: Honestly, I can't really choose one, because all of them were so amazing. Every single one of them I was like, "Wow I would never have thought of that." Everybody is different and because of that everybody is able to come up with a different idea, and it's really cool because you find ideas from the whole spectrum. So for me I think all of them were really amazing.
C: I definitely agree. I remember in our post-event survey a lot of the girls were like, "Wow, I was so inspired watching and hearing about everyone else's projects." You gain a lot of ideas and inspiration from that as well.
What did you feel was the best part of either organizing the event or having the event?
T: For me, the biggest part was seeing it all come together. I'd been working on sponsorship for more than 8 months and I finally saw it being put into effect and saw the smiles on those girls' faces. It would be something as simple as ordering In-N-Out and see them be so happy and excited. The smallest things would bring me so much joy. Also, I think it was a great bonding experience with my team because when you spend 24 hours with someone you learn a lot about them, and you also learn a lot about other people because everyone is always coming and asking you questions. I think just being able to interact with so many girls and hearing all their ideas was really cool.
C: For the first year, just seeing the girls walk in at opening ceremony, after two hours of panicking about the event, it was really cool that it's actually all happening. Another moment was when I saw some girls who have been struggling on some part of a project for a really long time, when they finally have a breakthrough and build something incredible and fix their problem, how their eyes light up once they get it. That's always been a really special moment for me. That's from an organizer perspective. From a general perspective, I really enjoyed the women in tech panel at PixelHacks II, I thought it was really incredible to hear from industry women's perspectives and career journeys in tech and I thought a lot of the attendees were really inspired by that too.
Do you have any advice for others who may want to organize their own hackathon?
C: For a hackathon, there are definitely a lot of resources out there, the hackathon organizing community is really big, especially on Facebook and Major League Hacking, there's a lot of people willing to help and when we were organizing we definitely asked for a lot of help from other former organizers. Don't be afraid to reach out, and try a lot of things, like when Tanupa contacted and got a sponsorship from Hi-Chew, and a lot of other places where it's like, "Woah that is so cool, I never would have thought of it," and they don't seem like companies that would support you but you don't know until you try. Definitely try a lot of things and start early and have a concrete plan. Stay detailed, because there are so many things you need to keep track of throughout the process. For an all-female initiative, it doesn't have to be a hackathon, try to remember who your audience is and how you might help them the most.
T: First off, it's a lot of work, but there are so many people out there who are willing to help you. You don't know who you'll run into, they'll be like, "Oh sure, I can help you with that," and you're like, "Wow my job just got so much easier." Definitely rely on your other team members and really respect them and understand how hard each of their jobs are, because communication between team members needs to be really well for the whole program to work. And yeah, just have fun in the whole process, because it you make it fun, it's definitely going to be easier.
What are some of your future plans for PixelHacks or in related fields?
T: My plan is to reach out to more girls, I definitely think we could've gotten so many more girls. One thing I'm really proud of this year is how well the hackathon went, because a lot of the way we get more people to come is through word of mouth and friends, and we got a lot of positive feedback from this year's hackathon so I'm hoping that will help us with next year. I also want to make our workshops better for first time coders, and have something so that people who are coming for their first time get the help that they need and know where to start. We have a couple ideas for that. Most of the stuff we did this year I really enjoyed and I think would be good for next year.
C: More people, more beginner oriented. I was talking to the outreach director, this year we reached out to a lot of charter schools and low income communities, and we hope to do that at a larger scale in the future.


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Arrest made following death threat to district one judge
Law enforcement located Robin Lee Gutierrez at a residence in Silverton Wednesday night after he was determined to be the source of a threat on District One Magistrate Judge Barbra Duggan earlier that day.
Photo by JOSH HENDRICKS
Managing Editor | December 2, 2021 6:15 PM
SILVERTON — A Silverton man was taken into custody by the Shoshone County Sheriff's Office Wednesday night following alleged threats he made to District One Magistrate Judge Barbara Duggan earlier that day.
Shoshone County Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Benjamin Allen explained that the Shoshone County Court Clerk contacted the Prosecutor's Office around 3:30 p.m. the same day with an emergency request regarding a letter that had been mailed to the courthouse. While few specifics of the letter have been released, court documents indicate that its contents included a direct threat to use weapons of mass destruction to kill Judge Duggan and/or other law enforcement officers by strapping a bomb to their chest.
Once the matter had been brought to the attention of the Prosecutor's Office, swift action was taken.
"We made the determination that the threat was serious, needed immediate attention, and summoned the SCSO to respond to the courthouse and begin the investigation into the threatening letter," Allen explained.
Security at the courthouse was temporarily increased to ensure the safety of those inside and determine the source of the threat.
Robin Lee Gutierrez, 38, made no effort to hide his identity and was quickly discovered to be the author of the letter.
Gutierrez had already been charged with first-degree felony stalking and violating a protection order after the victim came forward on or around Oct. 21. As a result, Judge Duggan was the one who issued a $20,000 warrant for his arrest on Oct. 26.
"We requested that law enforcement take immediate action in an attempt to locate and to ensure the safety and security of the public courthouse and/or the judge and law enforcement," Allen said.
The search for Gutierrez began immediately where he was believed to have been in Silverton.
Around 8 p.m. Wednesday, deputies finally tracked Gutierrez to a residence — despite numerous attempts on his part to evade them.
Following roughly an hour of negotiations, he surrendered himself peacefully.
Gutierrez was booked into the Shoshone County jail on charges of stalking and violating the terrorism control act. He went before Judge Scott Wayman Thursday afternoon and his bond was set at $250,000.
Allen was thankful for the quick response of all involved to ensure that the serious situation ended peacefully.
"Terroristic threats…are something that warrants the highest level of priority from our office," he said. "I think that was evident by the quick nature in the response, both by the Prosecuting's Attorney's Office and our local law enforcement…It's exactly the type of response that we would hope for in this type of situation."


1/200th scale plastic model kit of the US Navy Yorktown-Class Aircraft Carrier USS Hornet CV-8.
The Kit contains more then 1250 parts and 9 Photo-etched plates.
The Hull and Deck are both made from one piece.
USS Hornet CV-8, the seventh ship to carry the name Hornet, was a Yorktown-class aircraft carrier of the United States Navy. During World War II in the Pacific Theater, she launched the Doolittle Raid on Tokyo and participated in the Battle of Midway and the Buin-Faisi-Tonolai Raid. In the Solomon Islands campaign she was involved in the Capture and Defense of Guadalcanal and the Battle of the Santa Cruz Islands where she was irreparably damaged and sunk. Hornet was in service for a year and six days and was the last US fleet carrier ever sunk by enemy fire. For these actions, she was awarded four service stars, a citation for the Doolittle Raid in 1995, and her Torpedo Squadron 8 received a Presidential Unit Citation for extraordinary heroism for the Battle of Midway.


The Senate recently held a hearing for Kathleen Kraninger, the White House's nominee to be the new director of the Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection. For someone as unknown as she is in the financial services community, the consensus seems to be that she held her own in the hearing and looks to be headed towards confirmation.
Other than her lack of financial services policy experience (which is, arguably, not a requirement for the job), objections from those opposed to her nomination tended to focus on unrelated policy concerns about her tenure with the Office of Management and Budget. That's a bit like focusing an interview of a candidate to be a ship's captain on whether he or she had ever been involved in the whaling industry - possibly illegal and probably distasteful to many, but in neither case relevant to his or her ability to operate the vessel competently.
4. Accountability to the American people.
In my view, these principles are wholly unobjectionable. However, they got me thinking about the focus I would like to see a BCFP director place on the mission, both as industry counsel and as a consumer (and yes, I am fully capable of wearing both hats with integrity).
The financial services industry is one of the most highly regulated in our country, and for good reason. Regulation seeks to protect the financial health and well-being of our financial institutions and the assets consumers and businesses entrust to their care, as well as to ensure the products and services offered to the public meet the needs of their users while mitigating the risks of default.
If the past 25 years have taught me anything, it is that perfect regulatory compliance is both aspirational and impossible and that compliance lapses range from unintentional and immaterial to willful and egregious. My experience has been that most financial services providers want to operate within the law, if for no other reason than it is good business. Providers need customers, and customers need providers; a provider that doesn't do right by its customers won't see the repeat business that drives success.
The sheer volume of regulation all but ensures that compliance lapses will occur. However, not all are nefarious. Many unintentional lapses don't require a sanction for effective repair; some merely require a nudge, while others require a sledge hammer. The BCFP director should have the wisdom to see the difference.
Many institutions have complained that BCFP enforcement seems to be a fishing expedition looking for something to catch, as opposed to targeting compliance breakdowns for which there is sufficient evidence to undertake an investigation. The cost of an investigation is significant for financial services providers, and their customers ultimately pay for it. Therefore, investigations should be commenced based on evidence that a violation has occurred that was unavoidable by consumers, is significant in scope, and has resulted in quantifiable and compensable consumer harm.
As consumers, we often make rational decisions to incur some costs (i.e., harm) that we can avoid because the benefit of the outcome exceeds the cost. For example, I may choose to pay a premium for a plane ticket in order to be present at an unexpected important meeting or family event. I may choose to pay an extra five cents per gallon for gas at the station I drive past rather than the one that is a mile out of my way. I may choose to buy all my groceries at a more expensive store because it has the one item I need, and I have limited time.
Am I "harmed" by these choices? Arguably yes because I'm spending more money than I "need" to spend. Is the "harm" compensable? Yes, if one were to look at it through a lens focused solely on cost. But the reality is that I paid exactly what these things were worth to me, so how am I really harmed? The BCFP should focus its efforts on unavoidable, consequential, and compensable harm.
In today's political world, facts seem to be flexible. The regulatory world, however, should suffer no such illusions, and no government agency should articulate factual data with a political spin. The BCFP's press office has a history of hyperbole and generalization more appropriate of the Politburo than the United States government, which is both unfair to industry and misleading to consumers. Ironic from an agency charged with preventing deception and misrepresentation, no? As a consumer, I want to know the truth as it is - just the facts, ma'am - not as the agency might like it to be, i.e., a little more PBS NewsHour, a little less Fox News and MSNBC.
The BCFP is a creature of politics, to be sure. But its mission to protect consumers is not a Republican or Democrat exercise. The law is the law, the facts are the facts, and, if we stick to that, both industry and consumers will be better served.


text:
Learn Volleyball
Setting Trainers
Volleyball Balls
Nets & Systems
Volleyball Gear
Playing Gear
Spiking
(coming soon!) Serving
(coming soon!) Setting
(coming soon!)Blocking
(coming soon!) Digging
(coming soon!) Hitting
History of The Volleyball Ball: From 1895 to today
Learn Volleyball / By Mark Hughes
History of the volleyball ball started in the year 1895 at Massachusetts USA. A young and dynamic physical education director at the YMCA named W.G Morgan had the insightful idea of creating a new game.
His idea incorporated the concepts of basketball, handball, tennis, and incredible baseball. Originally he called it the Mintonette. The basic goal of the game was pure entertainment. The game developed with time to become a professional sporting event.
Evolution of the Indoor Volleyball Ball: Construction of The Volleyball
Spalding Sports Company is stated to be the original designer of the first official volleyball ball. It was made of genuine leather with a circumference of 65 cm. The average weight of the ball is 270 grams. The air pressure within the bladder is 0.325 kg/square-centimeters.
Synthetic material was introduced for the first time in the early 1900s. The aim was to reduce the harness factors which a natural leather surface can develop with time. Synthetic leather also reportedly increased the lifespan of the ball and retained the air pressure for a long time.
Layers: The original volleyball ball had three distinct layers.
Bladder: Innermost bladder was originally made from the material used in basketball to make the volleyball ball. But it was too heavy and the flight duration was reduced considerably. Spalding was reportedly the first company to redesign the bladder and use latex rubber. The latex material was flexible, light in weight and resistant to air pressure.
Second-layer: The second layer was made of cheesecloth material. The standard method used 8X5 threads per centimeter along the vertical and horizontal directions of weaving. Later it improved to higher density along with development in grade.
Leather-Layer: The third layer was made of genuine leather which later adopted synthetic leather. The outer design remained limited to 8 panels for a long time until the panels were introduced after the 2008 Olympics. The eight-panel dimple-bodied ball was officially recognized for indoor games.
Flight: The original Mintonette had excellent flight capacity. It suited the three-hit volleyball rule that was introduced with the game evolution. The smooth design and the making process ensured the ball could withstand the maximum number of hits throughout the gaming session.
Valve: Evolution of ball resulted in the improvements on valve design. The players could adjust the air pressure by letting out extra air. Injection of air into the bladder also evolved with time. Initially, the players used the cycle pump for bloating the volleyball ball. Evolution of the ball also resulted in the design of a dedicated pump.
Panels: The original volleyball had 8 panels with dimples. It was ideal for indoor games due to its smoothness and ability to endure indoor humidity and heat. Modern volleyball balls have up to 32 panels. They can be used on every type of hard-ground, beach, and indoor environment with no hassles. The gradual increase in the number of panels was to facilitate the increase in grip and the ability to handle the ball better.
Evolution of The Outdoor Volleyball Ball
Until the year 1915, there seem to be no major changes to the design and structure of the volleyball ball. Introduction of beach volleyball seems to have changed the structure and construction to a considerable level. The ball circumference was increased to 68.58 centimeters.
The exterior leather layer was roughed up slightly to a higher level. Weight and air pressure factors were also changed to 280 grams and 0.225 Kg/square centimeter. The drastic reduction in the air pressure might have been due to the increase in surface area.
A number of experiments were conducted before reducing the air pressure for the beach volleyball. One of the main reasons was found to be the bounce-off rate. Then the experts found the ideal pressure to keep the ball within the playing court without unusual bounces.
The changes were also made with an intention of increasing the durability and endurance limits of the beach volleyball ball. Even today, we use two different versions of the volleyball ball for indoor and outdoor games.
Construction of the Volleyball Ball: How Are Volleyballs Are Made?
Initially, the bladder was readily available from the ball. Hence, there was no need for additional manufacturing methods.
Spalding reportedly introduced the first molding process of making the latex bladder. The other layers were manually prepared and the volleyball ball got its shape and size.
Today, the manufacturers use power press machine, dyes, and other equipment during the series of production cycles. Synthetic sheets, bladder material, nylon threads, and wax are the main raw materials used in the process.
Advanced professional volleyball balls are still stitched with hand. The procedure is followed for the high-end professional games like the Olympics and the USA volleyball association sponsored tournaments.
Spalding Sports was the first company to manufacture volleyball balls according to Morgan's requirements. The company continued to dominate the market until 1915 when Tachikara-SW5WSC entered the manufacturing field. The other companies have been MIKASA and Molten.
WELSTAR, AMGROW, VICTEAM, and HV Sport have been some of the famous American Companies to manufacture the volleyball ball today.
Evolution of Panels: The evolution of volleyball ball panels from 8 to 32 is with the goal of increasing the grip while receiving serves and passing. The other major advantage was observed in the Olympics when the players could increase the serving speed and the spiking accuracy.
Evolution of Design: Introduction of professional volleyball changed the design for the better. The forearm passes forced the designers to make any structural changes to the exterior surface. The surface areas on each panel were considerably increased to allow all types of passing and serving.
Design evolution from plain panels to colorful and team promotional patterns and printing was introduced during the US association of volleyball matches. It was aimed at promoting the interests of the volleyball paying clubs, teams, and the sponsoring companies.
Conclusion: Final Words
The brief overview of the volleyball ball history gives you a glimpse of its evolution.The changes made to the indoor volleyball ball have not been much compared to the beach volleyball version and the outdoor versions.
Today, the ball standards are according to the US volleyball association and the Olympics committee.
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Brescia University is a Private, Not-for-profit institution located in Owensboro, Kentucky.
All online programs at Brescia University are regionally accredited through .
There were 1,611 students enrolled at Brescia University in 2017.
Brescia University is ranked South Reg Coll 30 by US News and World Report in their annual instititional rankings.
Brescia University is not a yellow ribbon school.
Brescia University gives admission credit for military service.
Brescia University does not have an organized student military support group.
Brescia University is not a member of Servicemembers Opportunity Colleges.
Brescia University has a dual credit program.
Brescia University does not have a life credit program.
Brescia University has an AP credit program.
Brescia University runs on the Semester system.
Brescia University is not a member of the National Christian College Athletic Association.
Brescia University is not a member of the National Junior College Athletic Association.
Brescia University is a member of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics.
Brescia University is a member of the National Athletic Association.
Brescia University is not a member of the National Collegiate Athletic Association.
Brescia University is not a member of the National Small College Athletic Association.
Brescia University runs track in the River States.
Brescia University plays baseball in the River States.
Brescia University plays basketball in the River States.
Brescia University does not have a football program.
Brescia University's mission statement is available at: www.brescia.edu/about-brescia.
The size category for Brescia University is: 1,000 - 4,999.
The percentage of undergraduates formally registered as students with disabilities at Brescia University is less than 3%.


The Colorado cops confiscated the walking stiff and have not returned it.
A Boulder police officer said he became "alarmed" when a man with a walking stick who was recording him did not drop the stick to ease his fearful mind.
However, Boulder police officer Waylon Lolotai was unable to continue his investigation on a trio of homeless people sitting on a sidewalk eating food with the terrifying thought of Lawrence attacking him with the stick lingering in his mind.
Lawrence's video shows the staff has a rubber tip on the bottom and a wood carving of a dragon at the top but the cops weren't taking any chances.
Police arrested Lawrence on obstruction and resisting arrest charges and confiscated his walking stick.
But evidently they did not confiscate his phone because he was able to post the video on Facebook.
Boulder police said the incident was captured on the cop's bodycam which they apparently have reviewed and decided against an internal investigation.
However, eight officers from the department are under internal investigation for an incident last month in which eight cops showed up to a black man's home and confronted him from picking up trash from his own front porch.
The video shows that Lawrence deliberately not recording the cop's face out of respect for his "privacy" but he has no expectation of privacy in public and we need to see their faces to better hold them accountable for their unlawful and abusive actions.
From the looks of the video, I don't think this article is being honest about what actually happened. It doesn't appear that the walking stick was the issue at all. It looks more like it was the guy's refusal to back away.
From the article, this is the problem that began everything: "While on patrol, Lolotai reported seeing three transients "lounging around a large pile of property and trash," and approached them and asked for ID."
Why do people need ID to be "lounging around a large pile of property and trash"?
This incident could have been handled better by both sides.
If the guy had a walker, oxygen tank, or wheelchair instead of his cane/staff, would the cop have still demanded the guy drop and move away from those items too? They are all classified as medical devices.