Posts made in July 2020

Chiquita Fitness Stickers

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Chiquita is getting ready, set, go for a special edition of our iconic Blue Sticker for everyone out there who is bananas about fitness! Thanks to the incredible success of our 2019 campaign, this summer we are preparing three new fantastic fitness challenges, with 12 brand-new stickers to collect.

The three challenges relate to three varieties of exercise – warm up, to prepare your body for a workout; home workout, a full routine of easy exercise for those who are now used to having a daily exercise routine at home; and mindfulness, great ways to relax after the workout session (or a shortcut for anyone who prefers their exercise in small doses!). There will be three videos available to explain each of the three exercises.

The Fitness stickers will be accompanied by six special fitness recipes, dedicated to each of the challenges. You can take part in Chiquita’s new online game: A ‘Match It’ challenge that asks participants to identify the exercise that the happy banana is performing, and match it to the coinciding exercise. Match 8 stickers and you’ll have the opportunity to win some great prizes from Chiquita’s sports swag.

Chiquita bananas provide the best taste and quality, and when it comes to fitness, they really are a power fruit. Loaded with essential vitamins and minerals such as B2 that helps maintain the body’s energy supply, they are an excellent component for a fitness-focused diet. Bananas are also ideal for fitness enthusiasts because they contain fructose, a good and natural sugar. When fructose is combined with a generous helping of fiber, the sugars are slowly digested and absorbed, preventing a “sugar rush” and guaranteeing sustainable energy.

The soluble fiber in bananas also helps to drive down bad cholesterol and reduce the risk of coronary heart disease and type 2 diabetes. Rich in potassium and low in sodium, bananas can help you to sleep soundly and protect against heart attack and stroke.

The goodness in our bananas makes them the perfect ally in the search for a healthy, nutritious and delicious diet. and You can find a wide range of mouthwatering, nutrient-dense recipes on our website. Chiquita bananas can be used in many ways and for many different occasions, either by themselves as an after-exercise snack, or as part of a delicious cake, muffin, pancake or bread.

The fitness stickers will start arriving in stores this summer, with North America receiving them at the beginning of July, followed by Europe and the rest of the world. Don’t forget to join in for the fun to begin! Make sure to follow us on Instagram for many surprises, giveaways and who knows.. some #ChiquitaChallenges.

Follow Chiquita Banana: Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | YouTube

Usher – “I Cry”

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Today, Usher releases his video for “I Cry.” The self-directed music video features the iconic photography of Gordon Parks. The piece recognizes the work of activists and organizations working to combat racism in America.

Watch the video HERE.

Listen to “I Cry” HERE.

Usher will be donating his proceeds from the record to LISC, the Local Initiatives Support Corporation. LISC is one of the nation’s largest nonprofits investing in underserved communities and communities of color across the country. Learn more about LISC on the organization’s website HERE.

For Further information on Gordon Parks Photography visit The Gordon Parks Foundation HERE

Follow Usher: Instagram | Twitter | Facebook | Website | Wikipedia

A New Day For Kentucky Derby

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The Kentucky Derby is the Run For The Roses. It’s about mint juleps, gloriously-oversized hats and singing My Old Kentucky Home.

It’s known as the fastest two minutes in sports.

And it’s always held the first Saturday in May, contested in front of the famous twin spires at Churchill Downs in Louisville.

Well, almost always.

Among the victims of the COVID-19 pandemic is the Kentucky Derby’s status as the launching pad to Triple Crown glory in thoroughbred horse racing. When racing in the state of Kentucky was put on hiatus during the coronavirus lockdown, among the events shelved was the Derby.

Instead, the Kentucky Derby will now be contested on Sept. 5 at Churchill Downs in Louisville, as the entire Triple Crown order was juggled and reorganized. This year, it was the Belmont Stakes, normally the third jewel in the Triple Crown, that set the stage. The Belmont moved from June 6 to June 20.

The Derby will serve as the middle leg in this triumvirate of races to determine the legacy of the world’s best three-year-old thoroughbreds. The Preakness Stakes, normally a mid-May race and the second leg of the Triple Crown, could potentially crown a Triple Crown winner for the first time ever when it completes the 2020 Triple Crown circuit at Pimlico Racecourse in Baltimore on Oct. 3.

It’s just the second time in history that the Derby was rescheduled. In 1945, the Derby was moved from May 5 to June 9 due to World War II.

A Different Challenge

The Triple Crown is considered the most daunting quest in horse racing, and since just 13 horses have managed to win all three of its races, certainly the mark of a true champion.

Normally a rugged five-week grind, this year’s Triple Crown is requiring an entirely different approach for those who condition the world’s best three year olds.

“Would have preferred the traditional Triple Crown but we are all just trying to get through this,” two-time Triple Crown-winning trainer Bob Baffert told Sports Illustrated. “Glad they didn’t cancel them. It will still be very exciting races and probably tougher because of the time between races.”

Interesting that Baffert, who’s sent out Triple Crown winners American Pharoah (2015) and Justify (2018), finds the longer time frame between races to be a more difficult challenge but there’s good reason for that.

At the age of three, a racehorse is still physically maturing. Just like kids, some get there earlier in the year, while others are late bloomers. The horse that finished up the track in June at the Belmont, or was in fact not yet ready for prime time, could be in prime condition when the Preakness rolls around in October.

As well, champion race horses tend to operate like world-class race cars. They can go out of tune very easily and lose their winning edge in the blink of an eye.

Rule Of Law

Tiz The Law was established as the horse to beat and the only one left with a shot at the Triple crown off his impressive victory in the Belmont at Belmont Park. Across the board in the current Kentucky Derby Vegas odds, the Barclay Tagg trainee owned by the Sackatoga Stable is listed as the 5-2 favorite. The same trainer-owner tandem teamed up to win the 2013 Derby with Funny Cide.

Eleven weeks is a long stretch between races, though. A lot can happen in such a lengthy passage of time. Tiz The Law is expected to tune up for the Derby by competing in the $1 million Travers Stakes for three year olds on Aug. 8 at Saratoga Race Course. Interestingly, only Whirlaway (1941) has ever been able to win both the Triple Crown and the Travers Stakes.

Another contender to keep an eye on is Santa Anita Derby winner Honor A.P. The John Shirreffs trainee is at 5-1 in the Kentucky Derby Future Wager. Shirreffs sent out 2005 Derby victor Giacomo at odds of 50-1.

Perennial contender Baffert, who’s won the Derby on five occasions, has four contenders listed among the Derby future book. A name to keep an eye on could be Uncle Chuck (20-1). He posted a four-length victory for Baffert in Saturday’s $150,000 Los Alamitos Derby.

You Can Leave Your Hat On

While the Belmont was contested without spectators, the Derby remains hopeful that its annual festival of outlandish headgear will continue unabated. However, the race that normally draws an attendance in excess of 100,000 will be conducted under strict guidelines to limit crowd density due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Following consultation with Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear and state and local health officials, Churchill Downs has agreed to reduce the capacity permitted in general admission, outdoor reserved seating, premium dining and the track’s suites. Those in attendance will be strongly encouraged to wear masks, practice social distancing and to wash and sanitize their hands frequently.

The Kentucky Derby is one of those events on every hardcore sports fan’s bucket list, though. These restrictions have served to drive up ticket prices in the secondary market. Currently, the average price for Derby tickets is a reported $1,423 according to Ticket IQ.

4th of July Violence Across America

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By Eamonn Burke

This year’s Fourth of July, while stifled by the coronavirus concerns and pleas from officials to stay in, was still a violent one.

39 people were shot in New York City on the night of July Fourth, including three confirmed deaths. All three victims were in their 20s, and two were in Harlem; the other in Brooklyn. One of the deaths, a 23 year old man, was the result of a party and the product of much confusion amidst fireworks. “You didn’t know where it was coming from because they were running this way and that way,” said a witness.

Among the other non-fatal violence was a 34 year old woman struck by a haywire bullet while walking her dog in the Bronx, a group of four men and one woman shot in Manhattan, and a man walking in Brooklyn with a friend who was shot and killed. Additionally, there were 13 reported stabbings in the city that night. The violent night comes after an overall above average level of violence in the city throughout the month of June.

Chicago saw an even bloodier night, as 67 people were shot over the weekend, killing 13. Two of the dead were children, 7 and 14, prompting a statement from Mayor Lori Lightfoot:

“As a city, we must wrap our arms around our youth so they understand there’s a future for them that isn’t wrapped up in gun violence.”

The death of the teen late Saturday resulted from the open fire that a group of four men unleashed on a large crowd, killing four people total. The 7 year old girl was shot in the head on the sidewalk outside a party at her grandmother’s house.

While LA seems relatively unscathed by gun violence over the holiday, the emergency services nevertheless had their hands full dealing with over 3,000 calls to the fire department, despite banning fireworks due to the coronavirus. The most severe of the cases was a fire that had engulfed an apartment complex in Northridge. The extensive use of fireworks in the city also lead to decreased air quality. It was one of worst firework cases the city had seen in years, according to air quality management executive Philip Fine.

Baltimore shootings over the weekend claimed the life of one in a double shooting, shortly after a quadruple shooting injured four more, and two other unrelated shootings, bringing the total injured to eight.

A family of five was shot in Detroit, killing the 39 year old mother and injuring four others. Two shootings injured four people in Philadelphia on Saturday night, and more violence followed on Sunday, including a six year old boy who died. A child is in critical condition after being shot in the head in St. Louis, and an eight year old girl was shot and injured in Cleveland. A nightclub shooting in Greenville left two people dead and injured eight others.

So far, no arrests have been made in the wake of any of these shootings.

Landmark Supreme Court Rulings

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By Eamonn Burke

A series of historic and liberal rulings have been passed in the Supreme Court within the last few weeks, the latest being an abortion decision, the first under Trump as President.

The Louisiana law dictating that doctors must have certain privileges at local hospitals in order to perform an abortion was ruled out by the Court on Monday by a 5 to 4 ruling, with Chief Justice John Roberts tipping the scales to the Democrats. It comes as somewhat of a surprise as many expected Trump’s court, including two of his appointees, to remain restrictive against abortion. The decision comes following multiple occasions of criticism towards Justice Roberts from Republicans in cases concerning the national census and the Affordable Care Act. One such Republican, Senator Ted Cruz, reacted with a scathing remark that the Justice “sided with abortion extremists who care more about providing abortion-on-demand than protecting women’s health.” Progressives simply chalked it up to committing to precedent. It is most definitely not a certain signal that Justice Roberts would uphold Roe v. Wade. The law, if passed, would have limited the state of Louisiana to just one abortion clinic.

The decision also comes on the heels of two other landmark cases in favor of liberals, one being a civil rights law pronouncing job discrimination against lgbtqia+ people illegal, and the other being to protect the young immigrant DREAMERS by upholding DACA.

Kanye West Running For President?

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By Eamonn Burke

Megastar musician Kanye West tweeted yesterday, July 4th, that he will be running for President in 2020. The announcement came with a call to action:

“We must now realize the promise of America by trusting God, unifying our vision and building our future.”

The tweet, coming just months before the election, received support from prominent figures, including Tesla CEO Elon Musk, entrepreneur Mark Cuban, and Kanye’s wife Kim Kardashian.

Kanye, an avid Trump supporter, has teased at a possible run for president over many years, both in 2020 and 2024, but there is still no explicit evidence that he truly plans to run this year. Like his would-be opponent, President Trump, Kanye is known to make unfounded statements. As far as we know, Kanye has not registered his name yet. Another important factor is that of the candidate filing deadline, which Kanye has missed in many states, making him unable to appear on a ballot. However, he still has time to register as an independent in many key states like Pennsylvania and Michigan.

If Kanye really does run as an independent, it could shake up the projected votes for the November 3rd election.

KICHGO

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By Armon Hayes

Celebrity trainer Kit Rich and creator of Kichgo is impacting the perception of fitness and theory of access. Helping to boost your confidence levels, an idea to create a big gym in a little bag comes at a time when staying home and staying fit are at the forefront for many post-lockdown. As of late, 29 States have returned to lockdown as NY has implemented a 14-day quarantine order for travelers from the states with an increase in COVID-19 cases.

Whether your goal is building quarantine quads or continuing your routine to stay healthy, you’ll discover there are no excuses. This travel size gym includes tension bans, a great alternative to building muscle if you don’t have traditional weights. The spotter is not included, but this is by far the safest way to work out alone. An exercise ball your pet will more than likely think it’s time to play fetch while you strengthen your core. Keep your posture and focus! A great tool to incorporate with a partner and add variety to your workout. Cardio is also necessary in staying fit. We’ve got you covered! You’re equipped with a completely portable jump rope. The light metal rope was a concern given I’m 6’1’ and many ropes are not long enough for me. I recommend incorporating into your workout routine to build coordination.

Exercising regularly can have a positive effect on your mood. Necessary to Monday motivation check out LIVE daily workouts and techniques from it’s creator. 30 minute workouts that will get your sweat flowing and get great results. Consider exercise a way to support mental health – the tension, anxiety, anger, and mild depression that often go hand-in-hand with stress. It can improve the quality of your sleep, which can be negatively impacted by stress, depression, and anxiety. Nike said it best ”just do it” and with Kichgo you can.

Health and Fitness Expert Sues NY

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Derek Alessi, Ph.D, has filed a complaint against the Empire State Development Company of New York citing restraint of trade and in violation of Equal Rights Under Law Contrary to the US and New York Constitution. Derek Alessi, Ph. D. has been practicing in the field of fitness and nutrition for over 26-years. As an exercise scientist and nutritionist, his company Dr. Derek Health and Fitness helps people with nutritional counseling, personal training and weight loss management.

Like many, Alessi has patiently been waiting for the various stages of the New York state reopening plan. His business, NAICS code 812191 – Other Personal Services; Diet and Weight Reducing Centers, falls under Phase Three of the NYS plan, which means he can reopen, but with restrictions. The restrictions are exercise appointments, except for remote streaming services are to remain closed. This causes a problem for Dr. Alessi’s clients.

Alessi maintains that his program consists of three primary pillars, nutritional counseling, personal training and weight management with accountability. He does not sell memberships, but rather has a private clientele that takes part in the entire program. Furthemore, he is not open to the general public and clients must start with a comprehensive evaluation and consultation.

According to Dr. Alessi – “My clients are mostly between the ages of 40-75 years of age, they are educated, well-intended individuals who want to lose weight, drop body fat and improve the quality of their lives. They have tried health clubs and home fitness equipment without success. Over 65% of my clients have at least one underlying condition and over 50% have more than one condition.”

Further, “One thing that we have learned from COVID-19, is that it discriminates based upon age and underlying conditions. I teach that if you have an underlying condition, and you are not practicing proper healthy habits, it will shorten the length and quality of your life. I never imagined that the shortening might be as soon as this year!”

Derek Alessi understands that New York state is apprehensive about opening big-box fitness clubs due to communicable problems that Covid-19 presents to management. However, he contends that his business is far from a big-box gym, rather more like a physical therapy or doctor’s office.

“I have followed all of the policies and procedures. I have hired a commercial cleaning company to clean and disinfect my buildings down to the nail heads. I have used ultraviolet lights to sterilize; I have hired an ISSA certified engineer to review my plans and offer suggestions beyond any recommendations of the state. I have created a Covid-19 emergency plan, updated medical history, performed temperature checks, asked all of the NYS COVID screening questions, performed pulse Oximeter testa, DEXA scans to assess body fat and sent all of my documents to the Erie County Commissioner of Public Health. Only to later find out that we are not able to open and without any timeline, while anyone can visit a tattoo parlor, get a body piercing or protest in the streets. This is clearly disheartening.”

Dr. Alessi hopes the state will reconsider businesses like his that are not within health clubs and gymnasium classifications and release the restriction against organized personal fitness training programs. Lastly, he wishes for a unified message that individuals that are attempting to improve their health in an organized and safe manner should be allowed to do so.

A-Lister Single

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Art-pop artist A-Lister returns with his new single. A-Lister is a multi-genre artist writing/performing/producing songs from pop to hip-hop to rock.

Hailing from Los Angeles, A-Lister started by releasing covers on Youtube and then moved to originals. As a highly virtual artist, A-Lister is breaking ground in a very crowded musical landscape.

He has 4 singles and EP’s on Spotify and continues to grow his presence, writing and singing original content.

“Groove-A” is a post-disco-pop song with a sing-along chorus and retro hip-hop beats. “Groove-A” begins with “let me hear your Groove-A” and immediately catches the attention of anyone listening to the song with its funky, hip iteration.

The song has a very upbeat tone with a strong, consistent, instrumental beat accompanying the lyrics. The lyrics refer to the love and desire for a girl with a catchy repetition of “Hey, I love ya.” Towards the end of the song, A-Lister pauses his lyrics and continues with a series of instrumental beats and snaps, which offers a fun break to the 4+ minute song.

Kaash Paige Single

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Kaash Paige releases music video for sultry single “Jaded,” via Def Jam Recordings

“The woozy-sounding R&B songs produced by Grand Prairie’s Kaash Paige are reminiscent of artists like SZA and Kehlani. And that’s probably why Dallas music fans have flocked to her SoundCloud page to stream her singles thousands of times.”

“Buzzing R&B songbird out of Dallas… with a smooth blend of R&B and Pop”

“Kaash’s willingness to sing what’s on her heart makes Parked Car Convos a breezy and unique affair.”

“Paige’s debut project feels like eavesdropping on something incredibly special…listening to her music is like falling into a daydream while you watch the clouds in the sky go by.”

“One to watch”

“A gem… obsessed with this one”

Listen to “Jaded” HERE