America’s Diner Collaborates with TikTok Stars on Limited Time Sweet and Savory Meals

SPARTANBURG, S.C., June 16, 2022 – It’s Summertime 2022 and Denny’s is the official hotspot for guests wanting to make the most of the season. For a limited time starting June 22, guests can enjoy the deliciousness of summer with three mouthwatering meals from Denny’s newest Social Stars Influenced Menu.

To sweeten up summer, Denny’s collaborated with Dmitri Robinson (@.Meech) and Kelz Wright (@kelz) on the newest addition to Denny’s pancake lineup: Shortberry Dream Cakes. These fluffy buttermilk pancakes are topped with vanilla cream, fresh strawberries, shortbread cookie pieces, and strawberry sauce – it’s so good you’d be surprised it isn’t dessert. To make this meal even better, Denny’s is serving up one of the most irresistible flavor combinations – sweet and savory – by pairing the Shortberry Dream Cakes with eggs, hash browns and your choice of bacon strips or sausage links.

Want more mouthwatering deliciousness? Say less. Denny’s partnered with The Rapping Chef (@_MRPYREX) and Grace Africa (@Grace_Africa) on the Brisket-It-All Melt. This next-level melt is made up of slow-smoked brisket burnt ends, crispy diced bacon, two eggs, sharp white cheddar, Diner Q sauce and pickles on grilled artisan bread. If all that wasn’t enough, the melt is also served with wavy-cut fries.

If you’re feeling a bit saucy, then the Brisk-B-Q Melt is for you. It has the same slow-smoked brisket aged as the Brisk-It-All Melt, minus the bacon and eggs, and topped with white cheddar, Diner Q sauce and pickles on grilled artisan bread and with a side of wavy-cut fries. This delectable melt is sure to become the go-to sandwich of the summer.

“As the official restaurant of summer, we’ve got a ton in store that will take summer to another level for our guests and we’re kicking it off with our latest Social Stars Influenced Menu,” said John Dillon, Chief Brand Officer of Denny’s. “Whether guests want sweet strawberries with our Shortberry Dream Cakes or enjoy a tasty cookout everyday with our juicy Brisket Melts, they can count on Denny’s to make this the most delicious summer ever.”

These new menu items are the latest installment in Denny’s Social Stars Influenced Menu that features meals inspired by 24 popular TikTok creators tapped by the iconic brand to put their own personal spin on new Denny’s menu items. These Limited Time Only (LTO) meals will be available at all Denny’s locations nationwide starting June 22, and can be conveniently ordered in-restaurant, online at dennys.com or through the new Denny’s iOS and Android app.

About Denny’s Corp
Denny’s Corporation is the franchisor and operator of one of America’s largest franchised full-service restaurant chains, based on the number of restaurants. As of March 30, 2022, Denny’s had 1,643 franchised, licensed, and company restaurants around the world including 153 restaurants in Canada, Puerto Rico, Mexico, the Philippines, New Zealand, Honduras, the United Arab Emirates, Costa Rica, Guam, Guatemala, El Salvador, Indonesia, and the United Kingdom. For further information on Denny’s, including news releases, please visit the Denny’s website at www.dennys.com or the brand’s social channel via Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, TikTok, LinkedIn or YouTube.

Media Contact
Sara Soto
Brand Communications Specialist
O: 682.348.5018
ssoto@dennys.com

Ecommerce is a booming industry and a challenging one. As consumers’ buying habits continue to shift online, independent eCommerce businesses are popping up across the globe. These small-scale entrepreneurs are launching eCommerce sites to sell their products directly to consumers and compete with major retailers such as Amazon, eBay, and Alibaba. Whether you have your sights set on launching your own independent eCommerce business or you’re considering selling your products through an established marketplace like Etsy or Amazon, understanding the ins and outs of this dynamic industry will give you an edge in the ever-changing world of eCommerce.

Is eCommerce worth it?

Ecommerce is definitely worth it, but that doesn’t mean it’s easy. It’s a lot of work to create and implement a successful eCommerce strategy, but the rewards can be great.

Types of eCommerce Platforms

1. Shopify

Shopify is the most popular eCommerce platform for independent entrepreneurs and small businesses. It provides a simple, easy-to-use interface that has everything you need to run an online store. The Shopify platform includes all of the tools you need to build an online store, including a customizable storefront, integrated eCommerce software, and payment options.

2. BigCommerce

BigCommerce is a leading commerce solution provider that offers a full suite of eCommerce functionality for web and mobile enterprise applications. The BigCommerce platform features a powerful point-of-sale (POS) system, in addition to inventory management software and marketing tools for effective customer acquisition and retention.

3. Magento

Magento is one of the most popular open-source eCommerce solutions on the market today with over 10 million merchants using it today alone — including eBay, Overstock, Amazon, JetBlue Airways, J Crew, and Whole Foods Market — among others. Magento is designed to be easy for first-time users to set up an online store or upgrade existing ones; there’s no need to learn complex coding languages or spend time importing data from other systems into Magento’s robust database management system.

4. WooCommerce

WooCommerce is an open-source eCommerce solution based on WordPress that lets you create your own online store without any technical expertise needed! It includes more than 50 pre-built templates that can be customized with colors and images — plus it comes with dozens of free and paid add-ons to extend its functionality.

5. OpenCart

OpenCart is an open-source eCommerce platform that has been designed for developers, who can customize the platform to meet their specific business needs. The OpenCart platform features a powerful point-of-sale (POS) system, in addition to inventory management software and marketing tools for effective customer acquisition and retention.

6. Shopify Plus

Shopify Plus is Shopify’s premium eCommerce solution that includes the tools you need to build a successful online store including storefront customization, integrated eCommerce software, and payment options.

7. Bigcommerce Enterprise Edition

Bigcommerce Enterprise Edition is an enterprise-level commerce solution that provides advanced functionality for your online store, including a full suite of powerful eCommerce tools such as a customizable storefront, integrated eCommerce software, and payment options. Bigcommerce Enterprise Edition provides many of the same tools found in Bigcommerce’s standard retail edition but includes important features such as order management software with multiple shipping options — all in one convenient package!

8. Magento Enterprise Edition

Magento Enterprise Edition is an enterprise-level commerce solution designed for large multi-location companies with complex requirements or complex sites with many products and/or services available for sale on your website or mobile app. Magento Enterprise Edition includes all of the same popular features of Magento including catalog management software, and order management software with multiple shipping options — all in one convenient package!

eCommerce Marketing Strategies

1. SEO

SEO is an acronym for search engine optimization. It’s a process through which you can optimize your website so that it appears higher in the search results when people search for your specific keywords. This process involves creating a well-optimized website, adding relevant keywords to the site, and then monitoring the progress of your SEO efforts.

2. Content Marketing

Content marketing is a form of marketing that involves creating and distributing content to attract, engage, and retain customers (i.e., leads) through various channels such as social media, email newsletters, or blogging platforms like WordPress. Content marketing is one of the most effective forms of online marketing because it helps generate leads and increase sales!

3. Social Media Marketing

Social media marketing is a form of online advertising that involves building relationships with customers by posting engaging content on social media websites such as Facebook or Twitter. Social media marketing helps companies build their brand awareness and increase sales by providing customers with useful information about their products or services!

4. Email Marketing

Email marketing is a form of online advertising that involves sending emails to potential customers using email software programs such as MailChimp or AWeber (or other similar options). Email marketing helps companies build customer relationships by providing customers with useful information about their products or services!

5. PPC Advertising (Pay Per Click) & Display Advertising (Display Advertisements)

PPC advertising refers to using Google AdWords to promote your business on specific keywords in order to attract customers. Display advertising refers to inserting ads into the website that are visible to consumers when they visit your site. Both of these advertising options are extremely effective, but each has its own pros and cons. PPC advertising is more effective because it can be used over and over again, whereas display advertising only works when someone actually clicks on the ad!

6. In-Store Marketing

In-store marketing is a form of online marketing that involves promoting products or services in physical stores at all times during which you can interact with your customers (i.e., you have a face-to-face interaction). This is a great option for companies who want to interact with their customers in person at brick and mortar locations, but do not have the budget or resources to pay for expensive SEO strategies or social media marketing campaigns!

7. Direct Marketing

Direct marketing is similar to email marketing in that it involves sending emails directly to potential customers through software programs such as MailChimp or AWeber (or similar options). However, direct marketing also includes other forms of communication such as postal mail, telephone calls, and faxes (among others). Direct marketing helps companies build customer relationships by providing customers with useful information about their products or services!

How To Select An eCommerce Platform

What are your main goals?

At this point, you should have a good idea of the type of business that you would like to start. You may want to start an eCommerce store for selling clothing, or maybe you want to sell products online for your own use (i.e., you are a homemaker). Decide which types of businesses you would like to start, and then select a platform that will fit those types of businesses.

Can I integrate my existing website?

If your company already has an existing website, it may be possible to integrate it with an eCommerce platform through its API (Application Programming Interface). If this is not possible, then it is recommended that you look into platforms that allow for in-store marketing and direct marketing campaigns.

What payment options do they offer?

Most eCommerce platforms offer various payment options such as credit cards, PayPal, and bank accounts (among others). This can make starting up the business much easier since all transactions will be handled by one system rather than having to use multiple systems such as PayPal and Stripe!

Do they have customer support?

Customer support is extremely important when starting up any business because even if everything works out in the end, there will always be some unknowns or hiccups along the way that could throw off your business plan! It is highly recommended that when choosing a platform for your business that they offer 24/7 customer support so that any issues can be resolved immediately.

Do they have a good reputation?

If you are planning to start up an eCommerce business, it is important that you look into the platform’s history and see what other customers have said about them. You can do this by searching for customer reviews or through their website. If a platform has a good reputation, then it is much more likely that its software will be of high quality!

Bottom Line

Launching an eCommerce business is an ambitious undertaking. It may seem like a daunting process, but with the right tools, resources, and a little bit of creativity, any entrepreneur can make the leap from brick-and-mortar to digital sales. When deciding on an eCommerce platform, consider the level of customization, supported integrations, and customer support. Before you dive into eCommerce, make sure you’ve got the right tools for the job.

The post Is e-Commerce Worth It: The Definitive Definitive Resource appeared first on Marquette Tribune.

I’ll see you when I see you

Shortly after turning 18, I realized that seeing loved ones again isn’t a guarantee.

We had just finished playing volleyball at the park — something we did routinely a few days a week. I grabbed my things and left without saying a word. As I walked away, I looked to the left and saw my friend half-laying down on the court, peacefully chatting with the others, enjoying the win. I remember turning away and thinking about how upset I was at him for winning the stupid game.

A few days later, I found out he had died.

I later realized I lost much more than just another game of volleyball. My beloved friend and the opportunity of spending more time with him if I had just let the game go, gone. I lost someone I considered a brother, and I missed the chance of saying goodbye.

I wish that things had been different that day, that I had been different at that time, that he was still here.

Navigating my friend’s sudden death was a grieving process on its own and not one that’s come to an end yet, if it ever comes. But realizing that the last memory I have of him is one filled with resentment feels unforgivable. I’m not sure if it gets better or if it gets easier, as people tend to say.

Instead, it’s become a feeling that’s numb and manageable. It’s memories that lie dormant before suddenly awakening to remind you that seeing loved ones one more time is not a guarantee.

Seemingly, the only guarantee now is the overwhelming sense that things will come to an end. I began to embrace a we’re-not-promised-a-tomorrow mentality in the same way we’re not fully guaranteed seeing others one more time.

Embracing such a melancholic mentality — as I’ve come to realize — left me with detached relationships with others. I kept my vulnerability at bay, my emotions under control and my somber mentality at the forefront, consequently keeping everyone else distant from me. My “I’ll see you later” eventually became “I’ll see you when I see you.” My goodbyes became absent entirely.

They say the hardest part of anything is starting. Whether it’s meeting someone for the first time or making that transition to considering them an earnest friend, there’s a start to it.

But that changed when I began expecting an ending to everything at any given moment, an expectation that more than likely caused an ending to most things. There falls a bitter taste in my mouth when things turn out as expected. The moments when I realize I may have seen someone for the last time quickly become a reminiscence of the memories we made, a remaining anxious feeling wondering if our last meeting left on a good note.

Even so, I haven’t fully been able to unlearn the mentality that I carried with me for years, and so, I continue to consider that I may have already seen them for the last time. But until I can prove myself wrong, I cling to the memories of sitting in a parking lot hours after we’ve finished our food, the drives filled with singing about beers on a Friday night, the collaborative Wordle efforts, the drunk conversations on the curb outside their apartments, the late-night cigarette I hold up to the sky as my way of letting them know I’m still thinking of them.

But lately, I’ve met others who have left me wanting to see them again. A desire to see them one last time has developed into redefining that “last” meeting into a prolonged cycle of seeing them time and time again. To the ones who have shown me that wanting sustainable love in all its forms is all part of paying an ode to human connection — a newly learned process of transforming the things I didn’t say into tangible memories shared between us.

The expectation that I may never see someone again has slowly developed into a longing hope that “later” comes sooner, that “again” holds its own. I hope the next time we meet I’ll be different, that I’ll have answers to the vulnerable questions I constantly avoided addressing. I hope I can see them again before the ink on their book begins to fade, before they’ve moved to a place that I can’t address in letters, before I’ve had the chance to tell them how grateful I am to have met them even if it’s the last thing I share with them.

I’ll continue to see you in the memories you’ve left me, hoping we may someday have the chance of making more. But until then (and until I can fully unlearn the way of thinking that kept me distant), I leave you with the (dis)comfort of the words I know best.

I’ll see you when I see you. Whenever that may be.

“Off the Beat” columns are written by Daily Cal staff members separate from the semester’s regular opinion columnists. Contact the opinion desk at opinion@dailycal.org or follow us on Twitter @dailycalopinion.

The Daily Californian

An athlete’s foot is a fungal infection that causes redness and itching of the skin in between your toes. It’s a common issue, especially among athletes. The friction from tight-fitting shoes or socks can make it worse. Rubbing alcohol can help treat athletes’ feet because it helps disinfect your feet and prevent the fungal infection from spreading to other people. Athletes’ foot thrives in moist environments, so drying out your skin is essential for getting rid of it once and for all. If you have an athlete’s foot, rubbing alcohol kills the fungus that causes it. You can also use rubbing alcohol to disinfect surfaces in case you touched something that has the fungus on it. Rubbing alcohol doesn’t cure an athlete’s foot; instead, it slows its progress and prevents further outbreaks. Besides treating athlete’s foot, rubbing alcohol can remove germs from non-sterile surfaces like desktops or bedside tables. It also keeps these surfaces sanitary until you clean them with an antimicrobial cleaner again. Read on to learn more about how rubbing alcohol works against an athlete’s foot.

Does Rubbing Alcohol Kill An Athlete’s Foot?

Rubbing alcohol can help to kill the fungus that causes an athlete’s foot. However, it will not kill all types of bacteria, and it can actually cause the skin to become more irritated. If you have an athlete’s foot, it is important to see a doctor so that you can get the proper treatment.

How To Use Rubbing Alcohol For Athlete’s Foot

Dab on athlete’s foot

Dab rubbing alcohol on the affected area. You can do this with a cotton swab or your finger.

Let it dry

Let the alcohol dry for about 10 to 15 minutes, and then wash it off. Repeat this step until you’ve washed off all of the alcohol.

Repeat if necessary

Apply rubbing alcohol again if it doesn’t work.

Wash with soap and water

Wash the area with soap and water to remove any alcohol residue. And make sure to wash your hands thoroughly as well.

Repeat steps 3 and 4 if necessary

Apply rubbing alcohol again if it doesn’t work. If you still have a problem, see a doctor or dermatologist for proper treatment. You can also try using an over-the-counter antifungal cream or oral medicine to get rid of the athlete’s foot completely. If you don’t see improvement after trying these steps, you should see a doctor because your athlete’s foot could be more serious than just an athlete’s foot! Read on to learn more about how rubbing alcohol works against an athlete’s foot.

How Does Rubbing Alcohol Help With Athlete’s Foot?

Kills the fungus that causes athlete’s foot

Rubbing alcohol kills the fungus that causes the athlete’s foot because it is an antifungal agent. It kills the fungus by preventing it from growing. It also dries up the skin and prevents further moisture from getting to the fungus, which can help you get rid of the athlete’s foot.

Keeps the skin dry

Rubbing alcohol keeps your skin dry so that no more moisture can get to your skin, which helps you get rid of the athlete’s foot.

Removes germs

Rubbing alcohol is a disinfectant that kills germs on surfaces, such as desks or bedside tables where you have been touching your feet and have an athlete’s foot on them. If you touch these surfaces with your hands, rubbing alcohol will kill any germs on them and prevent them from spreading to other areas of your body or other surfaces in your home such as kitchen counters or bathroom sinks where you put lotion or medicine on your hands after washing them in public restrooms. Read on to learn more about how rubbing alcohol works against an athlete’s foot.

What Is The Best Way To Use Rubbing Alcohol To Treat Athlete’s Foot?

1. Use rubbing alcohol on your feet

Rubbing alcohol is an excellent way to treat an athlete’s foot because it kills the fungus that causes the athlete’s foot, which is why it is considered to be the best home treatment for athlete’s foot. You can use rubbing alcohol at home to treat your athlete’s foot and prevent it from coming back again.

2. Apply the rubbing alcohol to the affected areas

You can apply to rub alcohol directly on your skin and then cover the affected areas with clean, dry cotton bandages or cotton socks so that you don’t rub off any of the rubbing alcohol. You shouldn’t put any lotions or creams on these areas until you’ve removed all of the rubbing alcohol from them. Instead, just wash your hands thoroughly after touching these surfaces with your feet and let them air dry completely before putting anything else on them.

3. Wash off after 15 minutes

After you’ve applied to rub alcohol to your skin, wait 15 minutes before washing it off with soap and water so that you get rid of all traces of rubbing alcohol from your skin as well as other surfaces where you may have touched it if necessary (such as bedside tables).

4. Apply more if necessary

If 15 minutes doesn’t seem long enough for getting rid of all traces of rubbing alcohol from your skin, repeat steps 1-3 until no more traces of rubbing alcohol can be found on your skin or other surfaces in your home where you may have touched it.

5. Wash your hands thoroughly after treatment

After you’ve gotten rid of all traces of rubbing alcohol from your skin and other surfaces where you may have touched it, wash off any soap or lotion that was on your hands with warm water and dry them thoroughly. You should also clean any other surfaces where you may have touched rubbing alcohol (such as your bedside tables) with mild soap and let them air dry completely before putting anything else on them.

Tips For Using Rubbing Alcohol To Get Rid Of Athlete’s Foot

1. Be careful when applying rubbing alcohol to your skin

Make sure that you apply to rub alcohol only to your skin, not to other surfaces where you may have touched it. You should also make sure that the surface where you are applying rubbing alcohol is clean and dry before applying it.

2. Don’t use too much-rubbing alcohol on your skin

If you apply too much rubbing alcohol to your skin, it can actually burn or sting it and cause irritation. The best way to avoid this is to know how much rubbing alcohol should be applied in the first place so that you don’t accidentally use too much of it.

3. Rubbing alcohol is more effective when used in combination with other treatments for athlete’s foot

You can also use a cream or ointment along with using rubbing alcohol on your feet as part of a treatment plan for athlete’s foot so that you get rid of the fungus as well as any other symptoms that you may have from having athlete’s foot such as redness, itching, or pus-filled sores on your feet.

4. Wash off after 15 minutes

After 15 minutes have passed since you’ve applied to rub alcohol to your skin, wash off any remaining traces of rubbing alcohol from your skin and other surfaces where you may have touched it if necessary (such as bedside tables). You should also wash off any soap or lotion that was on your hands with warm water and dry them thoroughly before putting anything else on them.

5. Wash your hands thoroughly after treatment

After you’ve gotten rid of all traces of rubbing alcohol from your skin and other surfaces where you may have touched it, wash off any soap or lotion that was on your hands with warm water and dry them thoroughly. You should also clean any other surfaces where you may have touched rubbing alcohol (such as your bedside tables) with mild soap and let them air dry completely before putting anything else on them.

Final Words

Rubbing alcohol can help treat athletes’ feet by killing bacteria and fungus that cause the infection. It also dries out your skin, helping to get rid of the athlete’s foot for good. Be sure to follow these tips to get rid of the athlete’s foot with rubbing alcohol. For other useful tips and advice, visit our home remedies guide.

FAQs:

Do I need to wash my hands after applying rubbing alcohol?

Yes, you should wash off any soap or lotion that was on your hands with warm water and dry them thoroughly before putting anything else on them.

Can I use rubbing alcohol to treat an athlete’s foot?

Yes, you can use rubbing alcohol as part of a treatment plan for athlete’s foot if you have fungus or other symptoms from having athlete’s foot such as redness, itching, or pus-filled sores on your feet. You can also combine rubbing alcohol with other chemicals such as creams or ointments if you want to use a more natural approach to treating your athlete’s foot.

How much rubbing alcohol should I use?

You should be able to get rid of all traces of fungus and bacteria from your skin and other surfaces where you may have touched it with about 1/4 cup (50 ml) of rubbing alcohol for every 1/2 inch (1 cm) of skin that you are treating. If you are using the method described in the above article, then this means that a total of 1/8 cup (50 ml) of rubbing alcohol should be enough for every square inch (6 mm) of skin that is being treated. To get rid of all traces of fungus completely, then about 3/4 cup (150 ml) is needed.

The post Does Rubbing Alcohol Kill An Athlete’s Foot? appeared first on Marquette Tribune.

On Dec. 28, 2021, beloved Oakland Raiders coach, famous broadcaster, and video game icon John Madden passed away at the age of 85. The death saddened the National Football League community, as Madden was a pioneer in more ways than one. Madden is most well known for the “Madden” video game series, where a new game is released annually focusing on the NFL.

While being named the cover athlete of “Madden” is a great honor and a recognition of talent, a fascinating trend has emerged among cover athletes in their respective years, something that video game and football gurus have cleverly named, “The Madden Curse.” 

In this article, we will explore just a select few of the victims of the Madden Curse, and how they were affected after earning cover athlete honors.

‘Madden NFL 99’

The curse’s lore began in 1998. With the release of “Madden 99,” running back Garrison Hearst of the San Francisco 49ers was the featured cover athlete, but broke his ankle shortly after appearing on the cover of the game. 

‘Madden NFL 2000’

Right after being named the cover athlete for the new game, Barry Sanders, star running back of the Detroit Lions, retired out of nowhere. Fans were shocked, and the trend of cover athletes having surprising things happen to them began.

‘Madden NFL 2002’

Daunte Culpepper highlights one of the more notable victims of the Madden Curse, as the star quarterback of the Minnesota Vikings suffered a serious knee injury that caused him to miss the majority of the 2001 NFL season. Culpepper was never able to quite get to the level he played at prior to his injury.

‘Madden NFL 2004’

Michael Vick was quite the player so it was no surprise he was selected to be a cover athlete. However, after gracing the cover of the popular game, he fractured his fibula, missing most of the 2003 NFL season. It was just a few years later when the infamous “dog fighting” incident occurred, throwing Vick in jail and temporarily derailing his NFL career.

‘Madden NFL 2007’

Shaun Alexander, right after having won the NFL MVP award, earned the honor of cover athlete. He was almost immediately affected by the curse, suffering a broken foot in Week 3 of the 2006 NFL season, which was followed by more injured seasons for the star player.

‘Madden NFL 12’

Peyton Hillis, the unlikely cover athlete from the Cleveland Browns, had an incredible 2010 season that no expert could have predicted. However, the Madden Curse did not seem to care for the Cinderella story, resulting in him rushing for less than 600 yards in 2011 and an eventual leave from Cleveland the following year.

‘Madden NFL 17’

Rob Gronkowski, the beloved tight end from the New England Patriots, earned the cover honors in 2016. However, the 2016 season was marked by injuries for Gronk, eventually resulting in him missing the end of the season and the playoffs. Interestingly enough, his team completed the incredible 28-3 comeback against the Atlanta Falcons in the Super Bowl, but Gronk was unable to compete in the game.

‘Madden NFL 20’

At first, Patrick Mahomes, quarterback of the Kansas City Chiefs, looked to have been harmed by the curse with an injury to the MVP quarterback early in the season. However, Mahomes eventually returned from the injury, and led his team to a Super Bowl victory against the San Francisco 49ers, where Mahomes won Super Bowl MVP honors.

A Lifted Curse?

Overall, the Madden Curse has seemed to die down in recent years. It appears that Patrick Mahomes may have officially “broken” the curse, as he was able to make it to the golden land of the NFL the year after being on the cover. However, this does not take away from the fact that in the early 2000s, it seemed as if every athlete to grace the cover had an unfortunate event occur to them the following season. 

The Madden Curse is one of the most interesting phenomena in sports and video game lore. Whether you believe in it or not, the sheer amount of athletes to experience injuries or off-the-field issues right after gracing the cover is uncanny, and it still baffles many. With the great John Madden now gone (although he himself will be the cover of the upcoming “Madden 23”), maybe the Madden Curse will pay its respects and allow athletes, like Mahomes, to experience success following their cover status, rather than failure.

m.lepore@dailyutahchronicle.com

@lepore_max

The post The Madden Curse: A Sports Phenomena Like No Other appeared first on The Daily Utah Chronicle.

USC Track & Field athletes hung up their cleats and can now catch their breath after finishing their seasons at the 2022 NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships Saturday. The men’s team tied with Washington for 12th place and the women’s at 30th, wrapping up the 2021-2022 USC athletic calendar.

The men’s 4x100m relay team achieved a school record en route to clinching the national title. Graduate student Kasaun James, senior Brendon Stewart, sophomore Ashton Allen and sophomore Johnnie Blockburger won the event title and secured a school-record time of 38.49. Their time broke a 2015 record set by a team featuring USC football star Adoree Jackson, now a cornerback for the New York Giants. The runners earned first-team All-American honors with their performance.

“We were thinking why not us?” said Stewart in an interview with USC Athletics. “No one really expected us to win. Everybody was ranked ahead of us. We trusted our training, we trusted each other, we ran for Davonte (Burnett who was injured at Pac-12s), we came here ready to go to war.”

The 4x100m relay was USC’s only first place finish of the championships. The victory scored 10 points for the men’s team, accounting for half of its total points scored in the week. 

The 4x400m relay team secured the second-fastest time in school history, running the event in 2:59.98 and earning 8 points for USC. The team finished second in the event behind Florida, which won the NCAA Outdoor Championships for both men and women. Graduate student Zach Shinnick and junior Nicholas Ramey joined Blockburger and James on the team, finishing just 0.98 seconds behind the school-record set in 2018.

Shinnick, following the completion of his last collegiate race, reflected on his career at USC. 

“I’ve had a lot of ups and downs in my five years, but if I could go back to [being] a high school senior, I wouldn’t change anything,” Shinnick said. “I’d still come to USC regardless of the ups and downs just because the ups have been some of the best moments of my life.”

Rounding out the scoring for the men’s team was senior Tade Ojora and sophomore Trey Knight. Ojora placed eighth in the 110m hurdles, earning a point for USC. Knight added another, finishing in eighth place in the hammer throw, hurling the 16-pound hammer 70.73 meters. 

All 8 points for the women’s track & field team came from sophomore Jasmine Jones, who placed second on the final day of the tournament in the women’s 100m hurdles. Jones’ performance continued USC’s success in the event, as the sophomore became the third consecutive Trojan to finish in the top two of the 100m hurdles with a time of 12.66 seconds, just 0.09 seconds behind LSU’s Alia Armstrong. 

“Being the last one to race for our team this week, it really just meant a lot to bring the trophy home, bring the gold home, bring whatever I could home, just leave it on the track and do the best I could, which I did,” Jones said in an interview with USC Athletics. “I feel really blessed to have made it to the end of this race honestly, and to place second is honestly a dream come true.”

Jones’ performance beat her previous personal best time, which she had set just days before in the semifinal. Her semifinal time of 12.72 moved her from sixth to fourth on USC’s all-time leaderboard. Freshman Jalaysiya Smith placed fourth in the same event with a personal record of 13.05, finishing best among freshmen who had participated in the NCAA Championships this summer. 

“For me, it’s just an unbelievable year, and I’m just blessed and grateful for it,” James said.

The post Mixed results from NCAA track and field championships appeared first on Daily Trojan.

Following months of bargaining to settle a new contract, resident physicians at the Los Angeles County+USC Medical Center reached a tentative agreement with Los Angeles County June 5. Under the new agreement, all housestaff will see a pay rise of 5.5% during the first year, followed by 3.25% increases for the next two years and a $3,000 increase in annual housing stipends, according to a Committee of Interns and Residents/Service Employees International Union press release. 

The agreement will go into effect almost immediately after it is ratified — the process awaits a ratification vote taken by all represented residents and fellows at LAC+USC, as well as a vote of approval from the County of L.A. Board of Supervisors. The agreement’s approval is not on the agenda for the Board of Supervisors’ June 14 meeting, and the ratification vote among LAC+USC physicians is currently taking place. 

A product of more than 20 hours of bargaining since June 1, the agreement came three days after the physicians, represented by the CIR/SEIU, gave L.A. County notice of an unfair labor practice strike scheduled to take place between June 13 and 15. The physicians alleged bad faith bargaining on the part of L.A. County’s bargaining team, who physicians said had not met the union’s proposals and engaged in poor conduct, including repeatedly canceling bargaining sessions. 

On May 31, LAC+USC resident physicians voted nearly unanimously to allow their union to authorize a strike if they believed the L.A. County bargaining team continued to bargain in bad faith. Calling the strike galvanized movement at the bargaining table, said Adam Freeman, a third-year resident pediatric physician at LAC+USC and one of CIR/SEIU’s bargaining team members. Following the authorization, he said, many areas that L.A. County had made minimal movements in saw significant increases in monetary amounts and proposals offered.

“The fact that we were so upset and willing to strike over this bad faith bargaining really forced County to understand our sense of urgency,” Freeman said. “It definitely made them realize that we were not joking and we were completely serious and totally willing to go on strike if that needed to happen.”

In addition to wage increases for all housestaff, the new tentative agreement includes a signing bonus for incoming interns and a 14.5% pay rise for first-year residents at LAC+USC, who Freeman said are a historically underpaid group. 

“Especially as we move slightly out of the shadow of the pandemic, incoming interns are going to, hopefully, now be able to focus entirely on training and being able to learn and grow and develop as physicians,” Freeman said. “They won’t need to be concerned about being able to qualify for housing by the hospital or being able to eat and take care of their other personal needs and requirements when they’re not at the hospital.”

Also included in the proposal is the creation of a $125,000 fund to support diverse recruitment and diversity training initiatives at the hospital. The physicians have received the funding and are now in the process of deciding on the best ways to put it to use. 

“We feel that we should have an actual direct impact on improving diversity both within our medical schools and our workforce and with how we work with our patient population, and so we fought very hard to be able to control a monetary amount that we can utilize to try and improve diversity and diversity education for our staff,” Freeman said.

While the tentative agreement reached between the two parties signaled an averted strike, had the physicians gone on strike, they would have become the first CIR/SEIU members to do so in 32 years. Though the strike was seen as a last resort and not something the team decided on lightly, Freeman said he is proud of the collective will his team demonstrated in fighting for resident physicians’ rights. 

Healthcare workers should not shy away from calling strikes, Freeman said, if they believe such action is necessary to “advocate for what they feel they deserve.” Workers should avoid agreeing to exploitative terms because of a deep concern for patient care, he said, because better working conditions and better pay will ultimately benefit workers and patient care alike.

“I believe that our team really removed a lot of the stigma around going on strike or authorizing a strike, and we were able to emphasize that while our focus is patient care, the inability to compensate us and the inappropriate way that we’re being treated affect patient care,” Freeman said. “Even though we didn’t end up needing to actually go on strike, we were fully committed to doing so if that was required of us, and I think it will be a point of pride for all other unions.”

The post LAC+USC physicians reach tentative agreement with L.A. County appeared first on Daily Trojan.

When it comes to the First Lady of the United States, there’s always something to say about her. She is a public figure and as such, she is often subject to scrutiny and rumor mills. We know that Mrs. Obama has a healthy respect for her natural hair and she chose to go natural not just once but many times again after all those chemical processes she went through in order to have that straightened look. The lady even wrote a book called ‘Letting Go’ which details her journey from perming her hair (which was quite damaged) at the age of 20 to embracing her natural texture with the help of natural hairdressers in Paris when she was 30 years old. But while we know much about Mrs. Obama’s personal views on natural hair, we also need to understand what others might be thinking when they see her as First Lady, with a very shortcut and Afro-Esque hairstyles that don’t exactly scream “warped wig!” That’s why we decided to give some insight into whether or not the popular opinion is true: Does Michelle Obama wear a weave? Take a read and decide for yourself

Does Michelle Obama Wear a Weave?

There is no definitive answer to this question. Michelle Obama has been photographed with various hairstyles, including what appears to be a weave. However, it is impossible to say for certain whether or not she always wears a weave, as she may also wear her hair naturally or in other styles.

What Is The Meaning Of A Weave?

A weave is when you take hair from a donor and transfer it onto your own natural hair. This is often done with synthetic hair because it’s cheaper and lasts longer than a human hair. A weave can take all kinds of shapes, from braids to cuts, and twists to ponytails. And yes, weaves can be worn long.

Why Is It Important To Know If Mrs. Obama Wears A Weave?

1. It can help you understand the changes in her hairstyle.
2. It can help you understand how her hair is styled.
3. It can help you see how she might have changed over time and how she might have changed from a natural to an Afro-textured hair.
4. It can help you see how her hair is colored and/or highlighted if it’s not naturally dyed or highlighted that way, as well as the number of times it may need to be colored or highlighted and the type of chemical used to achieve those results (which may or may not be paraben-free).
5. It can help you determine if she has tried a new weave or perm and what the results were like (if they were good) if they were bad, etc.
6. If she has worn a weave in public and it was photographed by someone who knew what they were doing, it could give us some insight into what kind of weave she might have been wearing: If it was a short style that was worn on top of another type of weave (which would be called an overlay), we would know that she was wearing an overlay because there would likely be more bulk than usual on top of her natural hair with the shorter style that was placed on top; if it was a long style (longer than shoulder length), we would know that she had a longer weave because there wouldn’t be any visible bulk when looking at her hair from the front or the side; if it was a long style that was worn with a headband, we would know that she was wearing a Bob.
7. It can give you some insight into her hair care routine and what products she uses and how often she uses them. For example, if she has a weave in her hair and it is not colored or highlighted, then she probably uses a lot of products on her natural hair to maintain it, but if the weave is colored or highlighted, then maybe she doesn’t use as many products on her natural hair to maintain it.

Benefits Of Using Weave:

1. It can help you understand how she has changed over time.
2. It can help you understand how she styles her hair.
3. It can help you see how her hair is colored and/or highlighted if it’s not naturally dyed or highlighted that way, as well as the number of times it may need to be colored or highlighted and the type of chemical used to achieve those results (which may or may not be paraben-free).
4. It can give you some insight into her hair care routine and what products she uses and how often she uses them. For example, if she has a weave in her hair and it is not colored or highlighted, then she probably uses a lot of products on her natural hair to maintain it, but if the weave is colored or highlighted, then maybe she doesn’t use as many products on her natural hair to maintain it.
5. If you are color-blind and cannot tell if someone has a weave in their hair or not because they don’t show any signs of using chemicals to color their natural hair (for example, they are still wearing their natural color), this could help you determine whether they have a weave in their hair by looking at your photos from afar and seeing whether there is any visible bulk on top of the natural texture of their hair (if there is no visible bulk on top of the natural texture of their head when viewed from afar, then they likely don’t color their hair with chemicals, but if there is visible bulk on top of the natural texture of their head when viewed from afar, then they likely do color their hair with chemicals).
6. If someone has a weave in her hair and you don’t know what type of weave it is, you can determine this by looking at the parting. The parting on a Cob can be very small or nonexistent (you will see no parting at all), while the parting on a Weave would be larger and more noticeable than that of a natural head of hair.
7. You can determine if she has dyed or highlighted her hair by seeing how many times she has colored or highlighted her natural hair in comparison to how many times she has colored or highlighted her weave; if she has dyed her natural hair more times than she has colored or highlighted her weave, then she likely colors or highlights her real (not synthetic) hair to maintain the color and/or highlights in the weave.

How Can You Tell If Someone Has A Weave But Still Appears To Have Natural Hair?

• If the person has a weave, but you have no idea what type of weave it is or how long she has had it in, then you can determine if they have a weave by looking at the parting. The parting on a Cob can be very small or nonexistent (you will see no parting at all), while the parting on a Weave would be larger and more noticeable than that of a natural head of hair.
• If the person has a weave, but you cannot tell if she is wearing extensions or not because they are not visible (for example, they are wearing their natural color head of hair and their hair is only slightly longer than their natural hair), then you can determine this by looking at your photos from afar. If there is visible bulk on top of the natural texture of her head (when viewed from afar) when there should be none, then she likely does use extensions to bulk up her length; if there is visible bulk on top of the natural texture of her head when viewed from afar when there should be none, then she likely does use extensions to lengthen her hair (but not to bulk it up).
• You can determine if someone has colored or highlighted their real (not synthetic) hair by seeing how many times they have colored or highlighted their natural hair in comparison to how many times they have colored or highlighted their weave; if she has dyed her real (not synthetic) hair more times than she has colored or highlighted her weave, then she likely colors or highlights her real (not synthetic) hair to maintain the color and/or highlights in the weave.

Conclusion

When it comes to the First Lady, there’s always something to say about her. She is a public figure and as such, she is often subject to scrutiny and rumor mills. We know that Mrs. Obama has a healthy respect for her natural hair and she chose to go natural not just once but many times again after all those chemical processes she went through in order to have that straightened look. The lady even wrote a book called ‘Letting Go’ which details her journey from perming her hair (which was quite damaged) at the age of 20 to embracing her natural texture with the help of natural hairdressers in Paris when she was 30 years old. That’s why it’s important to know if she wears a weave. It’s not important to know, but it is important to understand the implications of how people may think about her hair. If someone were to ask you about the First Lady’s weave, what would you say? Would you tell the person that she is almost certainly wearing synthetic hair extensions? Or would you tell them that she is wearing a warped wig? The reason it’s important to know what her hair type is is so you can shut down that weave chatter and put people in their place.

The post Does Michelle Obama Wear A Weave? 7 Women Speak Out! appeared first on Marquette Tribune.

Clash of titans: NHL’s best square off in star-studded Stanley Cup final

clyde/Creative Commons

(Photo by clyde under CC BY-NC 2.0)

The last two NHL playoffs have surprised us with underdog runs culminating in a shocking appearance for a small team on the big stage of the Stanley Cup finals.

In 2020, the Dallas Stars pulled off two straight upsets to make a miracle run to the dance as the 10th-placed team in the league. In 2021, the Cinderella story was even more miraculous. The Montreal Canadiens were the lowest seed in the entire 16-team field, yet made it all the way to the brink of a Stanley Cup.

However, both times the clock struck midnight on these underdogs in the Stanley Cup finals at the hands of a juggernaut — the Tampa Bay Lightning. The Bolts did so swiftly, dispatching Dallas in six games and sending Montreal home in an even quicker five. The longshot campaigns came to anticlimactic ends in the finals against what is quickly becoming a modern-day NHL dynasty.

And in 2022, the back-to-back champions have returned for more, looking to become the first team to win three straight Stanley Cups since the 1980s New York Islanders.

“You always dream about having your name on a Stanley Cup,” said Lightning head coach Jon Cooper. “To get there the first time was a dream come true. To get there a second time, the next year, it was a dream. To go a third time is unthinkable.”

But this year the script has flipped — the Lightning are not an overwhelming favorite against an upstart squad just happy to be there. In fact, they’re the underdogs.

Standing in the way of a third consecutive Stanley Cup is the Colorado Avalanche, a team that has looked historically dominant through the first three rounds of the playoffs.

After an uncharacteristically slower regular season, though perhaps understandably so after back-to-back cups, the Lightning have been the lower seed in each of the first three rounds and have been tested accordingly.

They were pushed to the very brink by the Toronto Maple Leafs in a first round series that went the distance to a win-or-go-home game seven and fell into a 0-2 deficit against the New York Rangers to start the Eastern Conference finals.

For the most part, Tampa Bay has looked like its commanding old self, like when it responded to falling behind against New York by rattling off four straight wins or when it bounced in-state rival and Presidents’ Trophy champion Florida Panthers in a second-round sweep.

Yet there have been moments of adversity. Colorado, meanwhile, has made its run through the Western Conference look like a cakewalk. The Avalanche have lost just two games this entire playoffs. What’s more, the team recorded series sweeps against both the Nashville Predators in the first round and the Edmonton Oilers in the Western Conference final, completely neutralizing the best player in the world in Connor McDavid.

“They have just an unbelievable mix of veteran presence, star power, grinders and goaltending,” said Lightning captain Steven Stamkos. “So, a huge challenge for us.”

Now, the heavyweights finally come toe-to-toe in what could be a Stanley Cup for the ages.

The Avalanche have been a dominant regular season team for several years, but never have been able to put it together in the postseason, suffering three straight second-round exits before this year.

The powerful regular season came once again, as Colorado finished first in the Western Conference this year and beat Tampa Bay in both of the teams’ regular season matchups.

But they’ll be hoping to write a storybook ending that will be different and have an opportunity to exorcize past playoff demons once and for all. The team then has added motivation but also much less playoff experience than the battle-tested Lightning.

Tampa Bay, though, has played a lot of hockey over the past three seasons. The motivation levels for a third cup may be different than for players searching for that all-elusive first one, and it would not be surprising if all the high-stakes hockey they’ve played catches up to them in the finals. Already their lengthy past playoff series have given them injury troubles — star forward Brayden Point has not played since the first round, though is probable for the series.

But the Lightning know how to win and return the same core and the same stars that have helped them do so these past two years. It starts in net with Andrei Vasilevskiy, a Conn Smythe and Vezina Trophy winner who has established himself as the best goaltender in hockey.

On defense, the Bolts are anchored by Victor Hedman, a Norris Trophy winner and Conn Smythe winner himself. Tampa Bay has incredible strength up front too, with high-scoring talents in Nikita Kucherov, Stamkos and Point leading the way. The team also has strong depth and is incredibly well-coached with Cooper at the helm.

They’re truly the complete package and would cement themselves as one of the best teams in NHL history, if they haven’t already, with a third straight Stanley Cup.

On the other side, Colorado is weaker in net, but it has no shortage of star power either. There’s a reason the Avalanche cruised through the Western Conference and have been such a dominant regular season force. And they may be the team of destiny that can finally end the Lightning’s stranglehold on the rest of the league.

Two game-breakers in particular could shift the series for the Avs. Nathan MacKinnon leads Colorado on offense with incredible speed and strength, often taking over games single handedly.

On the back end, 23-year-old Cale Makar is a transcendent talent himself, leading the Avalanche with 22 points this postseason and, in addition to being strong defensively, is gifted with an incredible ability to create scoring.

This is a series that could — and should — go the full seven games. The Lightning have the experience, but there seems to be something special with Colorado this year. I have the Avalanche bringing a Stanley Cup back to Colorado on the back of a Conn Smythe winning performance by Makar.

However, a three-peat from the Lightning’s modern-day dynasty could very well be in the cards. Either way, this heavyweight battle between two of the NHL’s best should be an incredible treat for hockey fans.

Benjamin Coleman is a deputy sports editor. Contact him at bcoleman@dailycal.org.

The Daily Californian

Christopher Columbus Park was flooded with protestors demanding action against gun violence on June 11.