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Fetterman's Health Remains the Hot-Button Topic in Pennsylvania Senate Race - The Epoch Times

Almost a week after Pennsylvania Democratic U.S. Senate candidate John Fetterman’s shaky performance during a debate with Republican nominee Mehmet Oz, the Pennsylvania lieutenant governor’s recovery from a May stroke remains a widely discussed topic as the Nov. 8 election draws closer.

On Oct. 25, at the only scheduled debate between the candidates vying to replace retiring Republican Sen. Pat Toomey, Fetterman often struggled to speak in complete sentences, stumbled over his words, and delivered responses punctuated by prolonged pauses.

Before the candidates offered their opening statements, the moderators explained that a closed captioning system would be used so that Fetterman could follow their questions and Oz’s answers. Fetterman’s campaign made the request, and Oz’s campaign agreed.

Republican Pennsylvania Senate nominee Dr. Mehmet Oz speaks at an event with Nikki Haley in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, on Oct. 26, 2022. (Mark Makela/Getty Images)

Fetterman suffered a stroke days before the May primary and cast his ballot from a hospital room.

Fetterman’s speech challenges were evident at every stage of the event. The exchange regarding his contradictory positions on fracking over the last few years illustrated his struggles.

Oz pointed out that Fetterman “supported the vote against the Keystone pipeline that ended up shutting it down” and that “he supports Biden’s desire to ban fracking and public lands.”

Fetterman responded by claiming “I’ve always supported fracking and I always believe that independence with our energy is critical, and we can’t be held, you know, ransom to somebody like Russia.

“I’ve always believed that energy independence is critical and I’ve always believed that—and I do support fracking, never taken any money from their industry, but I support how critical it is that we produce our energy and create energy independence.”

A moderator followed up by asking, “I do have a specific question which you can continue on this topic but you have made two conflicting statements regarding fracking. In a 2018 interview, you said quote, ‘I don’t support fracking at all, I never have,’ but earlier this month, you told an interviewer quote, ‘I support fracking. I support the energy independence that we should have here in the United States.’”

The moderator continued by asking Fetterman, “So [how] do you square the two [comments]?”

“I do support fracking. And I don’t, I don’t, I support fracking and I stand and I do support fracking,” Fetterman responded.

Democratic leaders and pundits are debating whether Fetterman made a mistake taking the stage.

David Carlucci, a former New York state senator who is a Democratic campaign strategist, told The Epoch Times that Fetterman showed “courage” by debating Oz.

“Most politicians would have skipped the debate. He (Fetterman) is ahead in the polls and it is widely known he is recovering from a stroke,” Carlucci said. “He had the courage to be transparent with the voters and say he’s dealing with this disability and the setbacks that come with a stroke. He is being real, and I think it is refreshing.”

Former Democratic Pennsylvania Gov. Ed Rendell offered advice about how Fetterman can rebound from the performance.

“In retrospect, he probably shouldn’t have debated,” Rendell told The Associated Press. “But the key is he is recovering from a stroke.”

“The only way to recover from this is for John to go out in public as much as possible—to be seen, to be interviewed, and do as much as he can to let people know that he’s ready to take office,” Rendell added.

Fetterman is heeding that advice.

On Oct. 26, Fetterman appeared at an outdoor stage in Pittsburgh and spoke for 13 minutes before introducing musician Dave Matthews.

On Oct. 27, Fetterman participated in a virtual town hall hosted by the U.S. Hispanic Business Council.

The organization represents 4.8 million Hispanic-owned companies that contribute $800 billion to the American economy, according to founder and CEO Javier Palomarez.

Palomarez said he watched the Oct. 25 debate and that he is “less concerned about a debate performance than I am his stance on issues that matter for the small business community.”

“More people are leaving the state than coming in. The reason is there are few jobs in the state. The lack of growth points to a bleak economic picture,” Palomarez told The Epoch Times.

“We’ve polled over 4,000 Hispanic business owners in Pennsylvania. All of them are saying the same message. ‘Hey, man, I’m struggling to keep my business alive.”’

Hispanics represent 30 percent of employment in the energy sector, so Fetterman’s viewpoints on that topic are especially important, Palomarez said.

“Transitioning to clean energy is a laudable objective. However, our businesses have to live in the real world,” Palomarez said. “The current admin is going too far, too fast. We need elected officials to pump the brakes on the maddening pace that is driving up prices in every way for business owners.

“As the price of energy goes up, so does the price on everything else,” he added. “Whether it is Oz or Fetterman, we need a senator who walks into the chamber and understands the realities facing small businesses.”

During the town hall, which also used closed captioning, Fetterman expanded his beliefs about energy and fracking.

“I fundamentally believe we should always be making more energy right here in America,” Fetterman said. “The truth is, Democrats always must be honest about energy security and how critical it is we can’t have a strong economy if we don’t have the power to support it.”

An all-renewable energy reliance is “just not realistic,” he added.

Fetterman was asked if he would back initiatives like West Virginia Democratic Sen. Joe Manchin’s proposal to streamline the approval process for pipelines and energy transmission lines.

“As long as it’s done in a very safe and environmental way, I support that,” Fetterman said. “So long as it doesn’t run through residential neighborhoods or [is a] danger to the population, I can support that.”

During a rally last weekend at Temple University in Philadelphia, Fetterman told a crowd of supporters that “the debate wasn’t easy, you know” and that “after that stroke, I got knocked down, but I got back up because I had to.

“And that’s really the core value of our campaign,” Fetterman added. “We are running for anyone that ever got knocked down that had to get back up, too. Any forgotten communities or community’s towns that got left behind, that got knocked down, because they have to get back up.”

Last weekend, Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris attended the Independence Dinner in Philadelphia. Fetterman and Pennsylvania Democratic gubernatorial candidate Josh Shapiro were also there at the Pennsylvania Democratic Party fundraiser.

Biden said that the Nov. 8 midterm election is “gonna shape what this country looks like for the next decade or more; not a joke. Let’s be clear: this election is not a referendum. It’s a choice, a choice between two vastly different visions of America.”

At the event, Biden said about Fetterman, “You know who he is, you know where he stands, and you also know John is Pennsylvania.”

Biden and former President Barack Obama will rally together in Philadelphia on Nov. 5, three days before Election Day.

They will campaign for Fetterman and Shapiro along with “Pennsylvania Democrats down the ballot ahead of the midterm elections,” the Democratic National Committee announced on Oct. 31.

(Left) Republican Senate candidate Dr. Mehmet Oz hosts a safer streets community discussion at Galdos Catering and Entertainment in Philadelphia on Oct. 13, 2022. (Mark Makela/Getty Images); (Right) Pennsylvania’s Lieutenant Gov. John Fetterman speaks to supporters in Dickinson Square Park in Philadelphia on Oct. 23, 2022. (Kriston Jae Bethel/AFP via Getty Images)

Fetterman entered the debate with a two-point lead over Oz in the most recent poll. Published on Oct. 25, the survey from CBS News-YouGov showed Fetterman with 51 percent support compared with 49 percent for Oz.

On Oct. 26, Oz gained a 47.5 percent to 44.8 percent lead over Fetterman, according to a poll by Insider Advantage.

Wick Insights published a survey on Oct. 28 that showed Oz ahead of Fetterman, 47.6 percent to 45.9 percent. Among the 3 percent who were undecided, 64.4 percent reported they are leaning toward Oz compared with 35.6 percent for Fetterman.

In a compilation of polls, FiveThirtyEight shows Fetterman with a 47 percent to 45.8 percent advantage as of Oct. 31.

In the final week leading to Nov. 8, Fetterman should keep his focus on what makes him different from Oz and traditional elected officials, Carlucci explained.

“He wears hoodies, has tattoos, and doesn’t fit the mold of a typical politician, and that is appealing to many voters in Pennsylvania,” Carlucci said. “He should keep going to events and showing first-hand the contrast between him and Oz.

“We are in a hyper-partisan environment,” Carlucci added. “If you have already decided, this debate did not change your mind.”

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Jeff Louderback is a national reporter for The Epoch Times who is based in Ohio and covers U.S. Senate, U.S. House and gubernatorial races in Ohio and surrounding states.

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Iran protests are hot topic for Coldplay, Golshifteh Farahani at concert in Buenos Aires - Arab News

LONDON: Coldplay showed their support for Iran’s cause during their concert in Buenos Aires on Sunday by playing “Baraye,” the anthem of the protest movement, alongside Iranian actor Golshifteh Farahani.

The British rock band performed the song in what was described by fans as an “emotional act” at their sold-out gig, which was broadcast live to more than 80 countries.

Farahani, who has been forced into exile since 2009 after her appearance in an American film sparked controversy in her home country, joined the band to sing the song in Farsi, the official language of Iran.

“We would like to do something to show that we support all the women and everybody fighting for freedom in Iran,” Martin said addressing the 72,000 crowd.

“Maybe you see on the news right now that there are so many places where people are not able to gather like this and be free to be themselves.

“Whether that is to listen to what they want to listen to, to wear what they want to wear, to think what they want to think, to love who they want to love, and particularly at the moment this is very clear in Iran.”

The song was written by Shervin Hajipour based on tweets from Iranians expressing their outrage at their government’s actions following the death of Mahsa Amini in the custody of morality police in September.

Hajipour uploaded the song on Sept. 27 and it amassed 40 million views before his arrest. Demonstrators picked up the chant and it quickly became a symbol of Iranian protest.

Martin added: “We decided that there’s a very beautiful and famous song now in Iran by a sweet guy called Shervin Hajipour. He has a song called ‘Baraye’ and we asked our friend Gol (Farahani) if she would come and sing this with us.

“Now, this song is in Farsi so I can’t really sing it, but we’re going to sing it together and we send this with love from Buenos Aires.”

Iran has endured more than 40 days of anti-government protests with demonstrations taking place in more than 80 cities across the country.

The uprising has taken place in the face of a government crackdown which has resulted in the deaths of more than 250 people.

Iranian expatriate communities and celebrities have shown their support through a number of gestures, including women cutting their hair and burning hijabs.

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The importance of respect is the topic of poems by our #kbminijournalists - Islander News.com

Ending a lull in their writing for Islander News, the #kbminijournalists from the Key Biscayne K-8 Center are back, this time writing some beautiful acrostic poems.

“I think some of these are extraordinarily poignant,” said fourth grade teacher Clio Walshe Crawford.

"These young writers address the topic of respect, and their observations can help us all – young or old – in helping deal with our divided, often antagonistic world. The works seemed a timely reminder,” added Walshe Crawford.

Hope you enjoy these poems as much as we enjoy ringing them to you. A special Thank You to our group of #kbminijournalists, who show they are wise beyond their years.

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Respectful to others, such as letting

Everybody be included, though sometimes I need

Space for myself to

Perfect my ideas for models that are always

Exciting. Models keep me

Calm when times are tough, so I can be

Thoughtful and...KIND!!

– Spencer Elliot Bustos Roessler

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Remember to treat people how you want to be treated.

Everyone was treated equally with kindness.

Special people along the way.

Play and invite friends to have fun under the sun.

Everyday I am nice to my friends and family, even my little bro!

Continue spreading kindness.

To stand up for friends, help them face their fear.

– Cristina Caparros

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Respect: the correct behavior can be used to

Engage with other kids, which is a

Show of kindness so you can

Prepare for new friends and

Escape the mean feelings.

Connect with kindness;

Truthfully, kindness fits us best.

– Simon Caniglia

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Respect the government

Eat everything, don't just waste food,

So you can protect the Earth.

Play nice with one another.

Extraordinary people are everywhere!

Collect the trash to save the animals, and

Try to be nice to all people.

– Lexie Eyzenberg

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Respect

Everyone, even if they make you

Sad.​

Put on a smiling face.

Everyone

Catch good words and throw them back!

That will help the world.

– Sebastian Dangond

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Respect your family, animals, and friends.

Everybody should respect the environment.

Someone can respect someone else by having them to play.

People should treat others how they want to be treated

Encouraging people helps others to do stuff.

Calm people help others to be calm.

Try to respect people with kindness

– Alessandro Contreras

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Respect:

Everyone is unique, so

Support your friends.

Protect the environment.

Encourage everyone.

Caring for the environment is good

Treat everyone equally

– Kaden Polychrones

---

Respecting people all around

Everything that you touch is clean.

Superman even respects the air he uses no harmful things to fly, no             

gasses, no nothing, just superpowers!

People can be respectful, but some aren't

Even though that happens you can still be respectful!

Crazy things happen, but the only resources you need are you and your heart

Today was fun, learning about respect.

– Elise Nix

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​Respect ​all ​living creatures -

Even your brother!

So, you can smile and have fun and respect one another.

People - like teachers and many others too!

Elephants, giraffes and zebras​​ all from the zoo

Can you respect too?

Treat others kindly and you will see soon!

– Elisa Castro

---

Respect is to be careful with people.

Excellent! Now be gentle too.

So to be respectful of feelings,

Please be kind.

Everybody has feelings, so be

Careful with them.

Try to be a good person.

– Lina Zadeh

---

Respect is an

Essential act that can help out

So much when

Participating in games

Even if your

Classmates don’t respect you back,

Try your best to make yourself, and other people, feel better

– Otho Marlieri

---

Respect all day!

Every day you can respect your family or friends.

Super if you teach respect too!

People can be very respectful.

Excellent work if you try to be respectful!

Crazy things can happen, but always keep trying to be respectful!

Try to be respectful every time you can!

– Adela Montes

---

Respect everybody –

Even your annoying siblings!

So, if someone is lonely

Play with them and have fun

Encourage people to help the environment

Caring for the environment will make it better

This respect will change our splendid world

– Mathias Urban

---

Respect means different things to different people

Excellent people show respect to other people

Spectacular things happen when you respect others,

Pretty things.

Even people from the other side of the world can show respect!

Can you respect other people?

Try it out!

– Angelica Grillas

---

Respect is

Encouraging people to be nice,

Supporting your friends, or

Playing with kids who are left out

Educating kids about helping the environment, and even having

Courage against bullies. All this is

Teaching kids about kindness

– Vince Chaustre

---

Respect all living things,

Especially animals

Same with books and other things like:

People

Elephants

Cats -- all of them

Treat them like you want to be treated

– Paloma Jorre

---

Robbing banks is so disrespectful. If I ever robbed, I would give back the things I took.

Everyone should be respectful because then other people will like you.

Stealing is disrespectful

Physical education is fun if you respect the coach

Electing good people is respectful for the person you are electing

Cuddles: If your mom respects you, you should cuddle her!

TV. news can also teach you how to be respectful

– Diana Barbera

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Respect is a very strong word which encourages you to be the best person you can be So you can have a lots of friends

People will do the same, like a virus, and the

Environment will be clean and cozy.

To respect! Cheers!

– Nikkie Nahuz

---

Respect one another

Empathize with people

Stealing is disrespectful

Privacy should be respected

Everybody should be treated nicely

Care for people

The truth should always be told

– David Palacios

---

Reasons to Respect: so that Everybody could be kind, and Support friends in difficult situations, also Privacy for all Eye contact when people are talking

Caring and sharing, and lastly be Truthful for life.

– Clarissa Oletta

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Axis deer management is topic of Monday’s council committee meeting - Maui Now

Axis Deer (Sept. 14, 2020). PC: DLNR Hawaiʻi.

The Infrastructure and Transportation Committee will meet Monday at 9 a.m. to discuss potential solutions and updates regarding axis deer management in Maui County.

Councilmember Yuki Lei Sugimura, who chairs the committee, made the announcement saying, “Our main goal is to address overpopulation by finding ways to mitigate and control axis deer. We continue to see them moving into rural and residential areas, where they create safety hazards, destroy the food source of our livestock and cause environmental damage.”

In September 2021, the Maui Axis Deer Task Force was formed to address spiraling growth in the axis deer population. Sugimura said the task force’s work—in partnership with Mayor Michael Victorino, local farmers and ranchers and representatives from all levels of government—has contributed to the creation of funding sources and programs to address the environmental and economic issues caused by the overpopulation.

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Sugimura said experts estimate 60,000 or more deer on Maui. In response to the deer crisis, Governor David Ige issued a fourth proclamation on Sept. 20, establishing another emergency relief period for the axis deer crisis in Maui County.

The Infrastructure and Transportation Committee is expecting to receive updates from the following county officials:

• Jo Ann Inamasu, director of the Office of Economic Development, on axis deer relief funding
• Curtis Jamison, grants management program manager for the Department of Housing and Human Concerns on grant updates for axis deer relief
• Weston Yap, Deputy Director of Agriculture, on the axis deer composting program.

The committee will also hear from Susie Thieman, executive director of Lōkahi Pacific, on the assistance program for axis deer relief, and Dr. Kyle Caires, animal scientist at the University of Hawaiʻi, on the Kula Agriculture Park and axis deer mitigation.

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Members of the public can view the meeting on Akakū Channel 53 and provide testimony via the video conference link or phone number listed on the meeting agenda at MauiCounty.us/agendas.

In addition to receiving testimony in person, by phone and video conference, the committee will accept written testimony. For instructions on submitting written testimony, please visit https://ift.tt/zt50ki9.

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Mitacs funding opportunities topic of next Building Better Research webinar - Brock University

An 'Introduction to Mitacs' webinar will discuss funding opportunities and resources available to the Brock community.

Brock University students, recent graduates and post-doctoral fellows are eligible for a variety of programs offered through Mitacs that support research partnerships and international connections.  

Mitacs is a national not-for-profit organization funded by the federal and provincial governments with a mandate to help spur research and innovation to support the Canadian economy.  

An online presentation planned for Wednesday, Nov. 2 from noon to 1 p.m. will discuss available programs, the types of projects considered for funding, benefits to academics and students, and the resources and support available through Brock.  

The Introduction to Mitacs session is part of the Building Better Research professional development series offered jointly by the Office of Research Services and the Brock University Library to enhance research efforts at the University. 

Greg MacNeill, Brock’s Mitacs Business Development Officer, will lead the presentation and discuss several Mitacs funding opportunities, including: 

• Mitacs’ flagship program, Accelerate, which supports research partnerships. 
• Paid internships that span the gap between academia and non-academic partners, such as for-profit companies, not-for-profits, hospitals and municipalities.  
• The Globalink suite of programs that support international travel for students and post-doctoral fellows to many international academic institutions. 
• Support for startups working with university-linked incubators to build international connections.

“These collaborations provide students and post-docs with funded opportunities to expand their professional network and gain experience outside the normal academic setting, all while doing work that can be included in their thesis research,” said MacNeill. 

Examples of current and past Mitacs-funded projects are available on the Mitacs website. 

Brock faculty and students interested in attending the Introduction to Mitacs can register via ExperienceBU. 

Upcoming Building Better Research sessions, including the five presentations planned for November, are listed on the series web page. 

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Sewer lines topic of CPPJ conversation | Local/State Headlines - The Franklin Sun

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Sewer lines topic of CPPJ conversation | Local/State Headlines  The Franklin Sun
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Twitter is losing its most active users, internal documents show - CNBC

In this article

• TWTR

The Twitter logo is seen on an iPhone mobile device in this illustration photo on 12 October, 2022.

STR | Nurphoto | Getty Images

"Is Twitter dying?" billionaire Elon Musk mused in April, five days before offering to buy the social media platform.

The reality, according to internal Twitter research seen by Reuters, goes far beyond the handful of examples of celebrities ghosting their own accounts. Twitter is struggling to keep its most active users — who are vital to the business — engaged, which underscores a challenge faced by the Tesla chief executive as he approaches a deadline to close his $44 billion deal to buy the company.

These "heavy tweeters" account for less than 10% of monthly overall users but generate 90% of all tweets and half of global revenue. Heavy tweeters have been in "absolute decline" since the pandemic began, a Twitter researcher wrote in an internal document titled "Where did the Tweeters Go?"

A "heavy tweeter" is defined as someone who logs in to Twitter six or seven days a week and tweets about three to four times a week, the document said.

The research also found a shift in interests over the past two years among Twitter's most active English-speaking users that could make the platform less attractive to advertisers.

Cryptocurrency and "not safe for work" (NSFW) content, which includes nudity and pornography, are the highest-growing topics of interest among English-speaking heavy users, the report found.
At the same time, interest in news, sports and entertainment is waning among those users. Tweets on those topics, which have helped Twitter burnish an image as the world's "digital town square," as Musk once called it, are also the most desirable for advertisers.

Twitter declined to specify how many of its tweets are in English or how much money it makes from English speakers. But the demographic is important to Twitter's business, some analysts say.

The platform earned more ad revenue from the United States alone than all other markets combined in its fourth quarter, according to its investor letter, and most ads in the United States are likely targeting English-speaking users, said Jasmine Enberg, an analyst at Insider Intelligence.

Twitter's study examined the number of heavy tweeters in English who displayed an interest in a topic, based on the accounts they followed, and how that number of users changed over the past two years.

Twitter was motivated to investigate "disturbing" trends among users that may have been masked by overall growth in daily active users and better understand the decline in the company's most active users, the documents said. The study made no specific conclusions about why heavy users of the platform are declining.

Asked to comment on the internal documents' findings, a Twitter spokesperson said on Monday: "We regularly conduct research on a wide variety of trends, which evolve based on what's happening in the world. Our overall audience has continued to grow, reaching 238 million mDAU in Q2 2022," the spokesperson said, using an acronym for monetizable daily active users.

'Not safe for work' content

The number of heavy users interested in NSFW and cryptocurrency content grew, the research found.

Twitter is one of the few major social media platforms that permits nudity on its service, and the company has estimated that adult content constitutes 13% of Twitter, according to a separate internal slide presentation seen by Reuters. The presentation did not elaborate on how the figure was calculated.

Advertisers generally steer clear of controversy or nudity for fear of damaging their brands. Major advertisers including Dyson, PBS Kids and Forbes suspended advertising due to accounts that were soliciting child pornography on Twitter, Reuters reported in September.

In response to the September story, Twitter said it "has zero tolerance for child sexual exploitation" and was investing more resources into its work against such material.

Twitter's most active English-speaking users were also increasingly interested in cryptocurrencies, reaching an all-time high in late 2021, the internal documents showed. But interest in the topic has declined since the crypto price crash in June, and the study noted cryptocurrencies may not be an area of growth in the future.

Current and former Twitter employees who spoke with Reuters said they feared Musk's calls for less content moderation and his reported plans to gut the staff, which they said will exacerbate the deterioration of the quality of content.

"Devastating' losses

Topics that have traditionally made Twitter a popular platform for its millions of users are now in decline among the most active English-speaking users, the documents show.

Interest in world news, as well as liberal politics, showed spikes during major events such as the attack on the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. But the categories have since lost the highest number of heavy Twitter users and have shown no signs of recovery, the report said.

Twitter is also losing a "devastating" percentage of heavy users who are interested in fashion or celebrities such as the Kardashian family. These users are likely decamping to rival platforms such as Meta Platforms' Instagram and ByteDance's TikTok, a Twitter researcher wrote.

The study also expressed surprise about the decline in interest for e-sports and online streaming personalities, which were previously growing quickly across Twitter. "The big communities are now in decline," the report said.

"It seems as though there is a significant discrepancy between what I might imagine are our company values and our growth patterns," one Twitter researcher wrote.

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News digest: War not a topic days before elections - The Slovak Spectator

Slovak National Theatre stands up for its removed director, a Prešov mayor candidate posts a song inspired by US president JFK's campaign song.

Font size:A^-|A⁺

Good evening. The Tuesday, October 25 edition of Today in Slovakia is ready with the main news of the day in less than five minutes.

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War as topic off the table in approaching elections

Speaker Boris Kollár (Sme Rodina) announces on June 6, 2022 the date on which the 2022 municipal and regional elections will be held. (Source: SME - Marko Erd)

Despite the ongoing war in Slovakia's neighbour Ukraine, the armed conflict is not shaping the debates and campaigns ahead of the October 29 municipal and regional elections, not even in eastern Slovakia.

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The impacts of the war, like the energy crisis or the surging prices of building materials and food products, are nevertheless being addressed by candidates in how they affect, for example, the energy bills of schools, or delay investment projects.

"The attitude towards solving the energy crisis may be one factor that will influence the election results," said political analyst Juraj Lenč from Ss. Cyril and Methodius University in Trnava.

Local and regional topics, however, are dominating in the elections though some far-right candidates are trying to exploit the topic of Ukrainian refugees.

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More stories from The Slovak Spectator website

• Theatre: Artists and people in top management are demanding the reappointment of the removed Slovak National Theatre general director, Matej Drlička.
• Health care: A newborn with a neck tumour was saved during childbirth at a Bratislava hospital.
• Infrastructure: A future highway to the border with Ukraine will end at the Vyšné Nemecké crossing.
• Christmas: Most Slovaks will not buy useless Christmas presents for their loved ones, a survey shows.
• Energy: A fission reaction started at the Mochovce nuclear plant last weekend.

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Dutch busker gigged in Slovakia

Robert Leslie grew from a busking musician to a selling performer. He worked on his new music with the producers of Panic! At the Disco and bass players who used to tour with Bob Dylan. Slovak music has also found its way to Leslie.

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IN OTHER NEWS:

• President Zuzana Čaputová is considering delaying the effectiveness of judicial reform by five months. She made the annoucement after Tuesday's meeting with Justice Minister Viliam Karas.
• Finance Minister Igor Matovič (OĽaNO) said that his ministry will spend millions of euros to help increase the number of Slovak medical students by hundreds at universities in Slovakia.
• Slovakia is submitting its second request for payment from the recovery plan, this time in the amount of €815 million, PM Eduard Heger (OĽaNO) said.

A partial solar eclipse on October 25, 2022 in Slovenský Grob, Pezinok. (Source: TASR - Martin Baumann)

• Slovakia detained 2,090 illegal migrants in less than a month. However, the Czech Republic plans to go ahead with its decision to extend border checks by 15 days this week.
• Tomáš Szabó, who was convicted in the Ján Kuciak murder case and sentenced to 25 years in prison, has been found guilty of planning to murder three prosecutors. Szabó admitted his guilt on Tuesday. He is the only person to have confessed his guilt. Four other persons, including Marian Kočner and Alena Zsuzsová, faces charges in the case.
• Pavel Hagyari, a mayoral candidate in Prešov, has released a song that copies the melody of US President John Fitzgerald Kennedy's campaign song from 1960.

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If you have suggestions on how this news overview can be improved, you can reach us at editorial@spectator.sk.

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News digest: War not a topic days before elections - The Slovak Spectator
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Topic Tuesday: How concerned are you with the Boston Celtics defense? - Celtics Blog

Last season, the Celtics made it to the NBA Finals based on a foundation of the best defense in the league. It has only been 4 games into the season (which resulted in 3 wins) but thus far Boston’s defense has been far from the best in the league.

Through 4 games of the season (small sample size), the Celtics rank 24th in the league in Defensive Rating (117.0) and are giving up 116.3 points per game (ranked 12th in the league). In fact, they haven’t held a team under 100 points all year.

So what gives? Is it the personnel? Obviously losing Robert Williams III hurts and the drop off from him to Noah Vonleh is significant. Malcolm Brogdon playing a larger role makes the Celtics skew smaller but he’s supposed to be a quality defender in his own right. And don’t forget that the Celtics played high quality defense even at their lowest points last year.

We knew that rebounding would be an issue with this group. Offensive rebounds and second chance points are killer for any defense. But it goes beyond that. Great perimeter defenders are getting blown by with regularity.

Is it the scheme or system? Obviously with Rob out you can’t rely on the double bigs, but you should still be able to be a switch-heavy defense. It makes sense to work in some drop coverage as well because you can’t get too predictable. Is the team still getting used to the subtle changes that Joe Mazzulla has had to install? Or is there something fundamental that Joe is struggling with as a first time head coach?

Or does it just boil down to effort? The Celtics may be suffering from reading their own headlines syndrome. Being the best defense last year doesn’t mean anything to the teams trying to score on you in the here and now. If you don’t put in the effort, you will be humbled. The offense (for the most part) has looked better this season. Has there been an emphasis on that side of the ball which is taking away focus and effort on the defensive side?

Regardless, Joe Mazzulla faces his first real test as the head coach of the Celtics. Will he be able to hold this team accountable? Can he put the team in the right position to win? And will the team do their part by putting in the right effort on that side of the floor?

So what do you think? Is this small sample size theater and a small bump in the road? Or a growing trend that needs to be addressed if this team has designs on a return trip to the Finals?

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Topic Tuesday: How concerned are you with the Boston Celtics defense? - Celtics Blog
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Has Witchcraft Become Forbidden Topic in Schools? By Leo Igwe - SaharaReporters.com

This question has become pertinent given recent developments in the course of arranging a lecture for a guest professor from the US. This professor who holds a master's degree in public health and another in education is visiting Nigeria and agreed to deliver some lectures for free on witchcraft accusations and public health in Africa. I thought this lecture would be of enormous benefit to our institutions of learning. This learned gentleman wants to use the lecture to add his voice to the efforts and initiatives of the Advocacy for Alleged Witches to stamp out abuses linked to witchcraft beliefs and ritual attacks. With a vast knowledge and experience in explaining, and critically situating magical and paranormal issues, this professor would, through his lectures, equip students with insights into addressing misinformation linked to witchcraft belief. He is the author, co-author, or contributor to twenty-five books and has won awards for his books, films, and podcasts. The professor also co-founded two podcasts including Squaring the Strange. Drawing on his background and two decades of experience in public health, folklore, education, and psychology, he will discuss approaches to fighting magical thinking and harmful misinformation, especially in an African context. What a resourceful individual!

The professor plans to be in Nigeria for a week So to maximize his stay, I have approached a couple of tertiary institutions in Ibadan to arrange some lectures. I have contacted the School of Medical Laboratory in Oluyoro, and the School of Health Technology in Eleyele. I have also sent proposals to heads of departments of education, sociology, and medical sciences, and the Vice Chancellor at Lead City University. I have also approached the office of the French Institute for African Research at the University of Ibadan. To my greatest shock, I have yet to receive any positive response. In all cases, they promised to get back to me but they never did, not even a phone call. The silence has been such that I have started linking it to an emerging trend in our universities these days. This trend makes the discussion of witchcraft taboo.

Otherwise, I have been wondering why there has been no response from any of these institutions; why no department has welcomed this opportunity to share ideas and interact with a professor at no cost to the students or the institution. I cannot fathom this acute disdain or fear of an idea, or a topic by schoolers. I have concluded that witchcraft has become a taboo topic in schools. And this is tragic. This development is bad for our schools, students, and youths. I have yet to understand why any institution would turn down or refuse to welcome a proposal for a free lecture on witchcraft and public health.

But recent happenings provide some insight into this development. There is a pervasive fear of witchcraft in schools and society at large. In September, the police disrupted a seminar on witch persecution in Benue state because they claimed that they received some intelligence that it was a meeting of witches and wizards. In 2019, some Christian students protested the organization of an academic conference on witchcraft beliefs and practices at the University of Nigeria Nsukka in southern Nigeria. The students, with the support of Christian clerics, opposed the program stating that it was an open invitation to witches and wizards to the campus. The protest forced organizers to change the venue and theme of the program. But the event eventually went ahead.

It appears that this disease is spreading to other campuses. Hence, no department or institution in Ibadan has agreed to host a lecture on witchcraft accusations and public health in Africa. It could be that the heads of these institutions or departments are witchcraft believers. So they would not want to facilitate a lecture on such a dreadful topic. It could also be that those who direct these agencies are not believers but are afraid of a backlash from witch believing staff and students. Sometime ago, a school manager in Lagos invited me to do a program for her students. In the course of our discussion, she said: "Please, Leo, do not come here to tell my students that witchcraft is superstition or witches do not exist". My reaction was: Really?

So, the school system is in jeopardy because those who fear the topic of witchcraft, or those who fear those who fear the topic of witchcraft have taken over the institutions. Whatever the case, this disturbing trend that makes the topic of witchcraft one to be avoided, dreaded or discouraged on our campuses must be addressed before it is too late.

Leo Igwe holds a doctoral degree in religious studies, wrote his doctoral thesis on witchcraft accusations in Northern Ghana and directs the Advocacy for Alleged Witches.

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Has Witchcraft Become Forbidden Topic in Schools? By Leo Igwe - SaharaReporters.com
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USD to come down further on comments highlighting the calibration topic – MUFG - FXStreet

Federal Reserve’s rhetoric shift provides some balance to FX markets. More comments on calibrating the pace of further policy tightening could weigh on the greenback, economists at MUFG Bank report.

Pivot speculation re-emerging to cap USD 

“A near 2% swing in the US dollar from the intra-day high to the close on Friday was certainly significant and could be an indication of the US dollar having reached stretched levels, certainly over the near-term.”

“If we get more of the same this week from Fed officials in terms of focusing on the topic of calibration, the markets may sense an orchestrated effort to bring some order to the markets. However, only Fed Governor Waller is on the schedule to speak this week so we may not get much guidance now before the FOMC meeting on 1st/2nd November.”

“If there are any last-minute comments highlighting the calibration topic those comments could propel the US dollar further weaker over the short-term. At the very least, it would provide better two-way balance to US dollar flows in the FX markets.”

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USD to come down further on comments highlighting the calibration topic – MUFG - FXStreet
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Plenty of Fish tackles a hard topic with its refreshed look - Strategy Online

Dating service Plenty of Fish is trying to put a friendly foot forward by discouraging unsolicited nudes in its latest creative campaign.

The campaign, developed by creative agency 123w, is called “The Gallery of Dick Pics.” But rather than featuring a collection of not-safe-for-work images of male genitalia, the dating service is taking the opportunity to showcase a variety of men with variations of the name Richard in a digital gallery. All of the Richards are, as the ad says, nice and wholesome guys who are welcomed to the platform, while unsolicited nudes (including so-called “dick pics”) are not.

The campaign supports a total brand refresh for Plenty of Fish, which features a new logo, updated app and new in-app features likes games that are meant to facilitate connections between users. The rebrand was led by New York creative agency Mrs&Mr.

Though Plenty of Fish, founded in Vancouver in 2003, is more seasoned than other dating services, its popularity has waned against competitors like Tinder, Hinge and OKCupid (all of which are, like Plenty of Fish, owned by Match Group), as well as Bumble. Plenty of Fish’s new brand not only comes with a more modern look, but an identity based around being more friendly and giving users multiple ways to meet with potential partners to differentiate it from other options. “The Gallery of Dick Pics” is an effort to show would-be users the kind of environment Plenty of Fish is championing.

“At Plenty of Fish, we want a dating community that is respected and respectful,” said Christina Kozloff, chief marketing officer for Plenty of Fish. “Sending unsolicited nudes is offensive and categorically wrong. While we ban photo sharing on our app and encourage members to report anyone who violates our policies off-app, we want to address this issue directly. As a result, we are launching this campaign to promote healthier ways for daters to interact so that unwanted photos are never sent in the first place.”

The message is a particularly powerful one for the dating service to advance, because unsolicited nudes are a common hazard in the online dating world: 56% of singles say they have received an unsolicited nude despite viewing them as disrespectful.

At the heart of the campaign is its microsite, which features images of a collection of men under various, evocative labels. Well coiffed men are showcased in the “Hairy Dicks” section, for example, while men taller than six feet are featured in the “Big Dicks” section. The microsite is supported by connective TV, social and digital advertising, while influencers are promoting the gallery by hosting discussions about how online dating can be improved.

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Plenty of Fish tackles a hard topic with its refreshed look - Strategy Online
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Saturday Dolphins Mailbag: Sanders Situation, Keys Against Steelers, Concussion Topic, and More - Sports Illustrated

Part 1 of the pre-Steelers game SI Fan Nation All Dolphins mailbag, which for the first time features questions submitted via email (fnalldolphins@yahoo.com):

From Craig M (@Dolfan2334):

Alain, can you explain the Dolphins being favored by 7 Sunday night, especially how the team has played the last three games? Does a recently concussed Tua really make that much of a difference? Seems to me the pressure is on Tua & McDaniel Sunday night to stop the bleeding.

Hey Craig, I do think the point spread is a bit high considering there’s only a one-game difference between the Dolphins (3-3) and Steelers (2-4). That said, the Dolphins have had a different quarterback start and finish the game in their last three losses and now they do get Tua back. This also is a statement on the Steelers maybe not being a very good team right now, particularly with T.J. Watt out of the lineup. As for pressure, it’s on for every team in every game. I don’t buy this idea of a “must” win in October, though obviously you want to get things back on track ASAP.

From Tommy in Hialeah (@Dolphinfan201):

Are you heartbroken Flo won't talk to you guys who are on beat?

Hey Tommy, ha! Let’s just say it wasn’t a major surprise that the Dolphins writers’ request to speak with Flo this week wasn’t granted. Even if it had, there’s no way Flo would get into sensitive issues like his departure from Miami, his relationship with Tua, his accusations of being offered me to tank, etc.

From Herman Cueva Zuniga (@hermancueva7):

What are your three keys for Dolphins to beat the Steelers?

Hey Herman, I don’t do keys to the game like so many outlets do because to me they’re practically the same every single time. And it always starts with winning the turnover battle, which often is the biggest determining factor. And protecting the quarterback always is a key for a pass-oriented offense, and it’s supersized this week with Tua coming back from injury. Lastly, you can add avoid giving up the big play on defense.

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FOR EVEN MORE COVERAGE ON THE MIAMI DOLPHINS, CHECK OUT SPORTS ILLUSTRATED'S MIAMI DOLPHINS PAGE ON SI.COM

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From Jorge Fernandez (@jfdad):

Hopefully Ingold plays less and they put Gesicki more. Sorry, I was high on him but between dropping passes plus holding penalties. Put Mike more. He makes plays.

Hey Jorge, well, Gesicki always gets more snaps than Ingold and they play different positions, so I’m not sure it’s as simple as Ingold plays less meaning Gesicki plays more. Ingold always will have some kind of role because of his blocking ability, and Gesicki’s snaps will fluctuate depending on the opponent and the game circumstances.

From Banana (@_bhanana_):

Simple, who wins, why, and what are the key matchups that will determine the game in YOUR view?

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Hey there, well, I already made my prediction for the game with all the reasons, but the bottom line was a 23-20 prediction. The three key matchups are the Steelers pass rush against the Dolphins offensive line; the Steelers wide receivers vs. the Dolphins secondary; and the Steelers special teams against the Dolphins special teams.

From Dave (@angryvet59):

Lately after a punt Miami seems to be deep in own territory. Good punters or just bad luck?

Hey Dave, it’s a combination of factors, including good work by opposing punters and special teams, some bad luck on bounces inside the 10-yard line, and another factor is letting the opposing offense get a couple of first downs to end up punting around midfield.

From Jason Mitchell (@Mr_Ivorian):

Hey Alain, I know your will get loads of Tua & questions about the D, so how about this 1) Do you think Miami will move back to their retro uniform/logo anytime soon? 2) What’s the best and worst uniform in the NFL? (I think the raiders win and Jags suck) Thanks as always.

Hey Jason, like the change of pace on the questions. Regarding the first question, while I know there’s a portion of fans who love the retro uniforms, I have heard nothing to suggest they’re making the move to them. Best uniform would be the Chargers if not for the white helmets, so I’ll give the nod to the Tennessee Titans, who used to have the worst uniforms in the league IMO before they changed to their current look, which I find extremely cool. As for the worst, hmm, I’m thinking New York Giants, which I find extraordinarily bland. I do need to point, though, I’m no fashion guru (you can ask my wife LOL).

From Rockphin:

Hello Alain, can you explain the lack of outrage aimed toward the Steelers when they had three players who had CONFIRMED concussions practice in full after only 3 days while I am still hearing personalities in the media slamming the Dolphins for bring Tua back too soon after "only three weeks"? Why the huge disconnect?

Hey there, first, let’s establish the facts correctly: Pickett was the only one of the three Steelers players who sustained his concussion in Week 6. Tight end Pat Freiermuth and cornerback Levi Wallace didn’t play against Tampa Bay because of their concussion. Secondly, not all concussions are the same, and the optics of Tua’s injury at Cincinnati were just so incredibly bad as to bring extra attention to it. And then you tack on the issue of Tua wobbling after he was pushed to the ground by Matt Milano four days before the Cincinnati injury, and that’s what’s got some media folks sounding the alarm. I’m also not sure why Dolphins fans get all upset about this because it’s not some kind of vendetta or campaign against Miami that has folks concerned about Tua coming back, but rather concern for him as a person. I would think that’s a good thing, not a bad thing.

From Michael McDonald:

This is my first time asking a question. I've enjoyed reading your Dolphins information for a couple of years. The Dolphins (players and coaches) have understandably taken the high road regarding the concussion spotter issue even though it seemed to be applied unfairly in the case of Bridgewater. Do you sense there is a behind-the-scenes movement to make the system more fair? Do you see the Dolphins bringing in a kicker to compete with Jason Sanders?

Hey Michael, thanks for the kind words, but “couple of years”? Where the hell have you been??!??! Just kidding. The concussion/spotter issue is a tricky one because on the one hand everybody is on board with trying to protect the players, but on the other it’s not ideal that just one spotter can decide he detects signs of ataxia and eliminates a player from a game. I don’t know if I’d use the term “unfairly” when it comes to Bridgewater because that just might have been a case of somebody being overly cautious the week after the Tua injury. But I absolutely would expect some tweaking of the new rules to not give one spotter that kind of power. As for Sanders, I hear what you’re saying, but I wouldn’t expect the Dolphins to make a move there in part because they signed him to a long-term contract not long ago and cutting him in 2022 would actually cost the team cap space, per overthecap.com.

From Earl Gottfried:

Hello Alain, was it a slip of the tongue that McDaniel said something of Tua throwing right-handed or just a joke? One would think he was stronger with his "natural" hand. Has it ever been told why Tua's father taught him to throw left-handed? Music questions: what ever happened to the band Klaatu? Also which do you prefer? Early Genesis or Gentle Giant? Thank you in advance for answering!

Hey Earl, welcome aboard the mailbag train and thanks for the prog rock question. Always love those. And I’ll start with that. I like Gentle Giant but LOVE early Genesis — “Selling England By The Pound” and “A Trick of the Tail” are all-timers for me. Never heard of Klaatu, to be honest. As for the Tua question, yeah, pretty sure McDaniel was joking. He throws little jokes like that on a pretty regular basis. As for why Tua started throwing as a lefty, he did talk about it at the 2020 combine when I and most Dolphins beat writers were at his podium in Indianapolis, but I can’t find the transcript and I can’t recall exactly what he said.

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Thanks for reading. Make sure to bookmark this site and check back daily for the latest Dolphins news and analysis year-round. Also, you can follow me on Twitter at @PoupartNFL, and that's where you can ask questions for the regular All Dolphins mailbags. You also can ask questions via email at fnalldolphins@yahoo.com.

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Saturday Dolphins Mailbag: Sanders Situation, Keys Against Steelers, Concussion Topic, and More - Sports Illustrated
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