The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic meansfootball's business model is about to change.

Big transfer fees and long contracts are set to be replaced by swaps, free-agent agreements and loan deals.

For the first time, we will see every major club looking to trade smart, with part-exchange deals expected to become more common than ever before.

It means deals like the one that saw Alexis Sanchez and Henrikh Mkhitaryan swap clubs in 2018 will become run of the milland it opens up a whole new world of transfer gossip.

The next transfer window will open as soon as the 2019/20 season is concluded, and here we take an early look at four potential swap deals in the offing.

Thomas Partey-Alexandre Lacazette

Mikel Arteta wants to reshape his squad this summer but also has some cost-cutting measures to adhere to.

To keep this brief, sources close to the situation insistArsenal will mainly be looking at free agents and swap deals when the market reopens.

There needs to be some smart negotiating, particularly if they want to land Thomas Partey from Atletico Madrid. Insiders say they are keen to sign a central midfielder and that Partey is top of the list.

Now they need to find a way to make it happen.

AlexandreLacazette has been mooted by the Telegraph's Mike McGrath (h/tfootball.london) as the man who could open the door for Partey's switch, although the Frenchman played down the chances of him moving to Atleti.

It's feasible Arsenal would look to include him as a makeweight in the deal, but if not, there are six other first-teamers set to go on the market whom they could offer.

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Matteo Guendouzi andShkodran Mustafi are names who might be interesting to Atletico.

So keep an eye on this one. Somehow, Arsenal aim to make Partey's signing happen.

Leroy Sane-David Alaba

Bayern Munich are stepping up their pursuit of Leroy Sane, whom they have wanted for the past year.

The deal was initially expected to make Manchester City close to 100 million, but the coronavirus pandemic has changed the thinking in Germany, and an initial offer of just 40 million (35 million) is being discussed instead.

It's a huge valuation decrease and not one that City will agree to. The bid will need to be raised or rolled into a part-exchange deal.

It has been suggested to B/R by two sources that versatile Bayern star David Alaba has emerged as a player who could become part of a swap deal. He's being pursued by Inter Milan, but this move would suit both Bayern and City.

His versatility appeals to Pep Guardiola at a time when he is looking for signings at left-back and centre-back, and a swap could finally help Sane get the move he wants.

Aaron Ramsey-Paul Pogba

Juventus still want to sign Paul Pogba; they just can't meet his 100 million valuation in this market.

Manchester United are planning to wipe the slate clean and expect Pogba to be part of their project for the next year under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, but they will still be met with offers in the coming months.

One suggestion from Fabrizio Romano for CalcioMercato (h/tThe Sun'sJoshua Jones) is that Aaron Ramsey, who only moved to Juve from Arsenal a year ago, could be offered to United in order for Pogba to head back to Turin.But our sources say that particular scenario is unlikely, as Ramsey is determined to become a key member of the Juve squad.

That does not mean the idea of a swap deal is dead, as B/R understands there is a possibility that Adrien Rabiot might yet be used in discussions to take Pogba away from United.

United have a long-term admiration for Rabiot, so that could become interesting.But at this moment in time, it looks like Pogba is stuck at United a while longer.

Declan Rice-Eric Dier

West Ham United are being forced into a situation wherein they might have to listen to offers for any member of their squad, and that means even Declan Rice is up for grabs.

The Guardian's Jacob Steinberg reported that the England international will cost 70 million, but that price tag is unrealistic for buying clubs.

Spurs are interested in the player, and a report in 90 Min suggested Eric Dier could become part of a deal to take him to White Hart Lane.It carries some weight, as Spurs are also looking for a bit of an overhaul and would be willing to let Dier leave.

But insiders close to West Ham say it's not something they would be interested in. Tottenham would have to offer a different player, as well as cash, if there were any chance it could happen.

Manchester United and Chelsea are also interested in Rice, and while they won't meet his valuation, either, there is a possibility they will propose another option that may suit West Ham.

Go here to read the rest:
Big European Swap Deals Analysed Ahead of the 2020 Summer Transfer Window - Bleacher Report

ONE day in November 1953, a chief glazier, Mr Arthur Howe, was photographed applying the finishing touches to an inscription in a new, 13ft-tall window destined for the north wall of the choir at the medieval Glasgow Cathedral.

The inscription read: This window, dedicated to the Glory of God, is the gift of James Haldane Calder MacLeod, 1953, to replace Munich glass given by Graham Somervell of Hamilton Farm, 1861.

Watching Mr Howe at work was the windows designer, Mr Edward Liddall Armitage, who was based in stained-glass studios in Wealdstone, Middlesex.

Referring to the subtle colours in the window, this papers London correspondent reported: Small and brilliant fragments of red, blue, and gold pick out here and there the general pattern of the new window ... but the effect of the whole is of a cool glaucous translucency.

The grey and austere light entering through it will, it may be hoped, fall not inappropriately on the stones within, and will show their stern contours as they have scarcely been seen for a century; nothing could prettify Glasgow Cathedral, and no one would wish to see it attempted, but there is much to be said for seeing, in something less than Stygian gloom, the formidable virtues that are there.

Two years earlier, in June 1951, a photographer from The Bulletin visited the Cathedral as workmen erected stained-glass windows that depicted incidents in the life of St Mungo.

The windows, presented by Mr Andrew MacGeorge, replaced the family window of the Earls of Glasgow, which were said to have fallen into disrepair.

Read more: Herald Diary

Read the original here:
Those were the days - Throwing light on Glasgow Cathedral's 'Stygian gloom' - HeraldScotland

Linux has long been considered the best alternative to Windows, and the latest data shows its market share and adoption is massively improving.

But as far as China is concerned, building a Linux alternative to Windows could even take 10 years, Liu Wenhuan, the general manager of Union Tech explains.

Union Tech is the company that builds UOS, a Linux-based operating system that is supposed to allow China to abandon Windows as part of a long-term plan whose purpose is to reduce reliance on foreign software.

It will take at least 3, 5 or even 10 years [for us] to truly compete with foreign operating systems, Liu Wenhuan was quoted as saying by ABACUS.

Indeed, the development of Chinas Windows replacements progresses at a rather slow pace. However, Union Tech is currently in talks with local companies to bake support for their software and devices in the new Linux operating system, and the Chinese authorities hope Windows could eventually be replaced on some 30 percent of the devices operated by the government.

Of course, this is only possible in the long term on state computers, as home users are more likely to stick with Windows, especially for gaming.

According to StatCounter data, no less than 86.67% of the desktop computers in China are currently running Windows, while 9.94% of them are powered by Apples macOS. Linux is only said to be running on 0.6% of the devices.

Whether or not Linux would replace Windows in China is something that remains to be seen, but theres no doubt it does have what it takes to be used as a daily driver. And living proof is the number of organizations that have already transitioned to Linux worldwide and which dropped Windows for a wide variety of reasons, including the licensing costs.

Read the original post:
Linux Needs at Least 10 Years to Replace Windows in China - Softpedia News

Shattered windows at HOPE for NH Recovery. Courtesy Photo

Over the course of the past eight days, someone has broken five different windows at Hope. Someone threw one rock through one window last Monday evening. Someone (or someones) threw three rocks through three windows last Thursday night. Someone threw a rock through a window last night. Three nights. Five windows. No explanation. No rhyme. No reason.

I am heartbroken and pissedoff, a dangerous combination for me and those around me. Many of you have heard me speak of Hope as holy ground, a space where the miracle of recovery can take place. Hope, like a church, is not made out of a different physical substance than the rest of creation. Throw a big rock with enough force and the window will shatter. But so will dreams that this place is different, that this window lets sunshine into a mystical and magical area, that somehow weve got protection against ugly violence.

Thats the heartbreak, but the anger is right behind it. When the person who did this is caught, and he or she will be caught, Id like to be given five minutes alone with them, not to physically punish them although thats certainly appealing but to make them feel shame, true moral shame. While most of you know me as an upbeat, hopeful man who tries to spread joy, I do have a powerful dark side that can find joy in making folks suffer, twist in the wind, and suffer more, simply by holding their behavior in front of them. This is not a side I particularly like, but it is a power Ive used effectively.

Each window replacement costs more than a thousand dollars, and all of us can think of better things to do with $5,000 than replace broken windows. Money is important, but its not the most important issue here. Money can be raised or found somehow. Trust, though, trust in our neighbors, trust in our members, trust in Hopes value, cant simply be raised or found, and once its gone, rebuilding it takes way more energy than its destruction did.

I choose to believe these broken windows are the result of random vandalism, some 14-year-old kid discovering destructive power and the mesmerizing sound of breaking glass. At one point, I was that kid, using a pellet gun to wage commando raids on streetlights throughout my town. I believe the statute of limitations has long since passed, so I will confess I enjoyed shooting out those lights with no thought about any consequences from my destruction. I was wrong and Im sorry. If Im right that this vandalism is random teenage destruction, I hope the vandal will be caught and held accountable.

Im not nave, though. These five windows could have been broken by a friend or associate of someone who lives in our building or even by a disgruntled Hope member. If its the latter, someone who feels Hope or I have somehow betrayed them or done them wrong, please ask them to stop and instead reach out to me to let me know their concerns.

To Hope Nation as a whole: Please, please, please help us stop this madness. If you hear anything, please let us know. If you see anything, please let us know. If you know anything, please let us know. Right now, we know nothing, and that really stinks.

Please dont let this sad news have an impact on your recovery. Soon we will gather up to six feet together, share the power of recovery and a few laughs.

After all,You matter. I matter. We matter.

Keith

Keith Howard is Executive Director of HOPE for NH Recovery in Manchester. Read more at tinywhitebox.com

See the original post:
Missives from Hope: Broken Glass Everywhere. Close to the Edge - Manchester Ink Link

Back in 2010, Apple surprised us all when it killed the Xserve. Although it wasnt near as popular as Linux and Window Servers, it still had its place among macOS heavy enterprises. OS X Server (now macOS Server) provided several useful features that dont really exist in todays enterprise market. Why did Apple kill the Xserve and begin stripping features from macOS Server?

About Apple @ Work:Bradley Chambers has been managing an enterprise IT network since 2009. Through his experience deploying and managing firewalls, switches, a mobile device management system, enterprise grade Wi-Fi, 100s of Macs, and 100s of iPads, Bradley will highlight ways in which Apple IT managers deploy Apple devices, build networks to support them, train users, stories from the trenches of IT management, and ways Apple could improve its products for IT departments.

One of the critical reasons that Apple likely killed the Xserve is they foresaw the shift to the cloud in the enterprise, and there would be even less demand for Apple server hardware.

Also, in 2010, the writing was on the wall. Solutions like Google Apps for your Domain (now G Suite) were starting to become more popular in smaller businesses on its way to enterprise domination. Mobility was forcing enterprises to rethink their network setups as employees moved from desktop workstations to slim laptops, smartphones, and tablets. Services like Amazon Web Services were also starting to take off as real alternatives to building a data center.

The timing around the death of the Xserve is around the same time that Snow Leopard was released. One of the critical features of Snow Leopard was built-in support for Microsoft Exchange. Looking back, Apple was going with a we arent going to win the data center, lets when the end-user approach.

They were never going to replace Windows and Linux Servers, and they didnt need to win in the enterprise. OS Xs Mail Server was never going to replace Microsoft Exchange, so they made OS X work with Exchange instead. Theyd be better off selling a few thousand MacBook Airs instead of five Xserves. They needed to make the Mac easier to integrate into the existing enterprise environment, and that is precisely what they proceeded to do in the years since. They were never going to convince the IT department to deploy Macs, but, as users started demanding them, they needed to make sure it was as easy as possible for the devices to integrate.

Looking back over the past ten years, Apples enterprise strategy has worked perfectly. The rise of cloud services meant that it was easier than ever to deploy Macs without worrying about software compatibility. Apples dominance in mobility (iPhone and iPad) in the enterprise made it easier for the IT department to be sold on Macs for average users (not just video editors and graphic designers). At the time, killing the Xserve looked like Apple was giving up on the enterprise. In reality, it was step one in Apples plan to dominate the enterprise.

FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.

Check out 9to5Mac on YouTube for more Apple news:

More:
Apple @ Work: Killing the Xserve was step one in Apples plan to dominate the enterprise - 9to5Mac

Microsoft's Chief Product Officer of Windows and devices Panos Panay had some important things to say recently. Of course, because the world is stuck at home those things were shared via a blog post instead of what would have been something with a little more pizzazz with people at hand, but the message still came through loud and clear: Microsoft is trying (again) to take the fight to Chromebooks.

Third time's the charm.

The gist of it all is that even though Windows RT was bad, Windows 10S was a failure, and while people actually are excited about Windows 10X and dual-display devices, Chromebook sales hurt the bottom line hard enough that everything is being shifted to make the future of Windows more like Chrome OS. Single screen clamshells are now the focus instead of dual-display hardware, and there appears to be a major shift to the cloud to make it all better. Somehow. From Panay's announcement:

The world is a very different place than it was last October when we shared our vision for a new category of dual-screen Windows devices. As we continue to put customers' needs at the forefront, we need to focus on meeting customers where they are now. Our customers are leveraging the power of the cloud more than ever, and we believe the time is right to lean into this acceleration in a different way.

With Windows 10X, we designed for flexibility, and that flexibility has enabled us to pivot our focus toward single-screen Windows 10X devices that leverage the power of the cloud to help our customers work, learn and play in new ways. These single-screen devices will be the first expression of Windows 10X that we deliver to our customers, and we will continue to look for the right moment, in conjunction with our OEM partners, to bring dual-screen devices to market.

Panay and his team are right in most ways. With everyone at home, things are very different than they were last October. The cloud has replaced the company server for a lot of things, and people need a simple, affordable, and dependable way to work and play. But that landscape will change again and again, and Microsoft has to learn to be proactive instead of reactive if it wants to find that one big thing that makes everyone want to rush out and buy a Windows laptop again.

More: Folding displays vs. dual screens: Comparing pros and cons for PCs and phones

I think a big reason why people buy Chromebooks is being overlooked here: simple and easy services integration. Schools and businesses aren't buying Chromebooks because of the form factor or even the lower prices Chromebooks are bought because of how easy everything is to set up and administrate, and how simple they are to use. This is where Microsoft needs to innovate and try to surpass Google: at the services level, not the hardware level.

Windows 10X doesn't look like a failure. It's streamlined and more like a mobile operating system, with a focus on software containers and simplicity. That sounds a lot like a Chromebook, but is that what people in the market for an inexpensive laptop to use are looking for? By doing this Windows isn't playing to its existing strengths locally operated software that can be plenty powerful on even anemic hardware.

If I want a cloud-computer I already know how well a Chromebook can do the things I want it to do. I also know how well a Windows computer can do what I want it to do. Just like I wouldn't buy a Chromebook to run Adobe Photoshop, I won't be buying a Windows 10X machine to use an online office suite. A new operating system that integrates your cloud as local storage and makes everything just work can be a cool thing, but we already have that in Chrome. Microsoft shifting away from a new form factor to something more mundane doesn't make me want it more than I used to, and I'll bet I'm not alone.

Microsoft has been building Windows for a long time and I am going to assume they have plenty of metrics of how people use Windows devices. It just seems that by chasing Chromebooks, the company is ruining its chance to leap ahead in the race.

More:
Microsoft will lose the fight with Google if it makes Windows 10X more like Chrome OS - Android Central

Even my daughter had to stay home, Jordyn Astorino said. I cry just thinking about it.

The COVID-19 pandemic has changed the way we work, shop, eat and interact with friends and family.

Empty restaurant dining rooms on Mothers Day are just one example of how the coronavirus has disrupted our lives, at least for now.

Perhaps more important than a Sunday brunch that had to be canceled, the following accounts offer a glimpse at how life has changed for mothers and their families.

A Mothers Day to celebrate

When Jordyn Astorino gave birth to her daughter, Rory, two years ago, family members gathered in the Millcreek Township womans Saint Vincent Hospital room to celebrate.

It was much different March 23 after Astorino, 30, gave birth to her son, Brooks.

COVID-19 pandemic restrictions prevented everyone except her husband, Drew Astorino, from being in Astorinos hospital room. And he wasnt allowed to leave the room unless he was going home for the day.

Even my daughter had to stay home, Jordyn Astorino said. I cry just thinking about it.

As a physician assistant at Saint Vincents Westminster Family Medicine, Jordyn Astorino was fully aware of the threat COVID-19 posed as her due date approached.

She took a medical leave 10 days before Brooks birth to reduce the risk she would get COVID-19 or the flu.

When I went into labor, I had to go through the big, yellow tent at Saint Vincent when I arrived, Astorino said, referring to the COVID-19 triage tent the hospital had set up.

It didnt even feel like real life, she added. But the nurses were wonderful and really reassuring.

After Astorino delivered her 8-pound, 2-ounce baby boy, Astorino and her husband were able to use FaceTime to have video calls with family members.

It was only after mom and baby were discharged that the grandparents could see Brooks in person.

But they still had to keep their distance and not kiss the baby, Jordyn Astorino said. But at least they got to meet him.

Everyone else will meet Brooks on Sunday, when the Astorinos host a Mothers Day gathering.

Then we hope to take Brooks to see my grandmother, who is 93, lives at home and hasnt met the baby yet, Astorino said. "Well have see her through the glass, but thats OK.

Meeting at the window

Annette Sherrange, a 70-year-old former teacher and school administrator, moved back to Erie a dozen years ago.

She moved in with her mother, Gilda Carr, to help care for Sherranges father, who was in failing health.

Mother and daughter lived together until November when Carr, now 92, went to live at Manchester Commons after taking a fall.

The routine between mother and daughter has changed since then. Instead of a shared home on West 30th Street, they spent time together at the nursing home and chatted on the phone several times a day.

If she thinks of something, she will give me a call, Sherrange said. If I think of something, I will give her a call.

But calls arent always enough.

Sherrange brought her mom home for a visit at Thanksgiving and again at Christmas. She had planned to bring her home on Mothers Day for dinner with a relative.

With nursing homes in lockdown, that won happen.

Sherrange, who has three children and three grandchildren back in Connecticut, will instead do on Sunday what shes been doing in recent weeks. She will stand outside her mothers window and they will wave and share a smile.

The visit will be brief. Her mother has arthritis and it is hard for her to stand for long.

Two-hour visits, twice a week, have been replaced by these silent meetings at the window, daily calls and use of a video chat device.

But Mothers Day will be different this year. There will be no shared meal, no laughter around the table.

It different, but its doable, Sherrange said. Its been very aggravating not to get there, but what is very fortunate is that shes in a safe place. The care there is very good.

She worries, though.

You have to be accepting of what the situation is, but there is always that worry there, she said.

A visit with her mother isnt the only thing Sherrange is looking forward to. Shes a mother herself and is overdue for a visit with her own children and grandchildren in Connecticut.

Sherrange, who has asthma, said her children worry about her health. She wont go to see them just yet.

But she doesnt want to wait forever. She hopes to make the trip by the end of summer.

As soon as my children feel its safe, I will go on out, she said.

Separated at birth

Loren Cicero was hoping the COVID-19 pandemic would be finished or at least under control when her son, Roman, was due in mid-June.

Roman had other ideas, however. The baby was born at Magee-Womens, UPMC Hamot about seven weeks premature.

I went to my doctor on April 15 and they said I needed to go to the hospital, I was going into labor early, said Cicero, a 35-year-old Edinboro resident.

Doctors at Magee-Womens tried to stop her labor but Roman was born April 21, weighing 4 pounds, 13 ounces.

For the past three weeks, Cicero and her husband, Anthony, have been making daily trips to the hospitals neonatal intensive care unit to spend time with Roman.

Each time Cicero arrives at the hospital, she must go through a gauntlet of procedures designed to protect the countys youngest residents from COVID-19.

Right after I walk through the door, they ask me questions about COVID, take my temperature and have me put on a face mask, Loren Cicero said. This last time, they also had me use hand sanitizer.

Ciceros husband is the only other family member permitted in the NICU. Everyone else must make do with short videos and photos of Roman.

COVID-19 guidelines have made it difficult for Loren Cicero to bond with other NICU parents, even though she spends eight hours a day in the unit.

The parent lounge is currently limited to one family at a time, and its tough to share a smile when everyone is wearing a face mask, she said.

The nurses do a really good job at creating a sense of community, Loren Cicero said.

Friends and family celebrated Romans birth with a drive-through baby shower last weekend. Seeing people, even from 6 feet away, helped boost the couples spirits.

Roman is progressing well and could be discharged in a couple of weeks, Loren Cicero said. Hopefully, COVID-19 restrictions will continue to be reduced and the family can all gather to celebrate his birth.

My husband jokes that by the time Roman is walking, we can have everyone visit, Cicero said.

Contact David Bruce at dbruce@timesnews.com. Follow him on Twitter @ETNBRUCE.

Contact Jim Martin at jmartin@timesnews.com. Follow him on Twitter @ETNMartin.

See the original post here:
The joys of motherhood interrupted by pandemic - News - GoErie.com

With discussions ongoing about how the Premier League season might be concluded, talk about the next transfer window has inevitably slipped down footballs agenda.

A knock-on effect of the coronavirus pandemic is that we do not know for certain when or if this season will finish, and therefore when clubs will be able to start signing players.

The summer transfer window is a key time for managers looking to shape their squads and, with time on their hands, planning will be continuing despite the lack of matches.

By looking at the age and playing time of every player this season, we can see the make-up of each squad and where the clubs might want to strengthen, as well as where gaps may appear as they look to replace players who are out of contract and set to leave this summer.

We have already assessed the top 10 teams, so now we check out those in the bottom half of the table.

With seven first-team players aged 30 or older and the oldest average starting XI in the Premier League overall, Roy Hodgson has recently said he would like to inject some new blood into the squad.

It might be a cause for concern for Eagles fans that no player under the age of 27 is a regular starter.

At 27, talismanic attacker Wilfried Zaha is in the peak years of his career and could push for a move away like he did last summer, which would leave them with huge boots to fill.

The Eagles will also likely need to sign a new centre-back, with Scott Dann set to leave when his contract expires and Gary Cahill turning 35 in December.

Hired as the manager who knows how to build a trophy-winning side, Carlo Ancelotti is likely to be busy in his first summer transfer window.

With Leighton Baines out of contract and a decision yet to be made about whether to sign loan player Djibril Sidibe permanently, Everton will likely be looking for full-backs, although Jonjoe Kenny is set to return after a season on loan at Schalke.

Midfield could also be a priority, with only Gylfi Sigurdsson playing regularly in the first team this season, but in Richarlison and Dominic Calvert-Lewin, Ancelotti already possesses two of the best prospects in the league up front.

With talk of a potential 300m takeover by a Saudi-backed consortium, Newcastle could be in for their busiest transfer window in years.

But even if it does not happen, the squad is still likely to look very different next season, with seven players currently set to leave following Ki Sung-yuengs exit in January.

As the joint-lowest scorers in the Premier League, Steve Bruce will no doubt look to bolster his attacking options, with 40m striker Joelinton having scored just one Premier League goal all season.

After letting both Maya Yoshida and Cedric Soares leave on loan in January and with their contracts expiring this summer, Southampton will need defensive reinforcements.

Although the club did sign two young prospects on loan to cover their departures, the Saints reportedly only have the option to buy centre-back Kevin Danso, with full-back Kyle Walker-Peters set to return to Tottenham.

A striker may also be on Ralph Hasenhuttls shopping list, as Shane Longs departure leaves him with only Danny Ings, teenager Michael Obafemi and 23-year-old Che Adams, who is yet to score for the club.

Graham Potter will likely look to bolster his attacking options, with the clubs all-time Premier League top scorer Glenn Murray set to celebrate his 37th birthday in September.

And despite the club spending over 36m on the attacking trio of Florin Andone, Alireza Jahanbakhsh and Jurgen Locadia, none have managed to establish themselves, although academy graduate Aaron Connolly has impressed and Jose Izquierdo is set to return after a long-term injury.

At the back, the club will be bolstered by the return of highly rated academy prospect Ben White, after the 22-year-old centre-backs impressive loan spell at Leeds this season.

With 10 players aged 32 or older by the end of June, it seems West Ham have a busy window ahead, although its not quite as bad as it seems.

With Javier Hernandez having already left, two of them squad players out of contract and four goalkeepers, the main concern will be how long captain Mark Noble and Robert Snodgrass can continue at the highest level.

Keeping hold of hot prospect Declan Rice will also be a priority for David Moyes, as well as having more options up front, with Sebastian Haller the only true striker to play more than 10% of minutes this season.

Ben Foster and Heurelho Gomes are set to leave when their contracts end as things stand, so goalkeepers will be Watfords number one target (pun intended), while some experienced defenders will need replacing.

The club might also start to plan for life after their talismanic captain Troy Deeney, who turns 32 next month an unenviable task given his importance over the past decade.

Since only Crystal Palace have played an older average starting XI this season, Nigel Pearson could look to add some youth to the squad, with Ismaila Sarr currently the only young prospect anywhere near the first team.

Whether Bournemouth stay up or go down, they will likely be one of the busiest clubs, with seven players set to leave.

The loss of wingers Ryan Fraser and Harry Wilson will have the biggest impact on the starting XI, while the departure of some of the old guard who got the club promoted in 2015 will leave a gap in the squad overall.

While the Cherries do have many talented young prospects, it will be interesting to see if Eddie Howe continues to rely so heavily on them to provide the depth and cover for the first team.

After needing to sign a lot of players with potential last summer to build out the squad, Dean Smith will be looking to add some top-flight experience this time around to help lead a first team approaching the peak of their careers.

Keeping star man Jack Grealish will obviously be the clubs main challenge, with the midfielder regularly linked with a move to Manchester United.

After suffering long-term injuries on New Years Day, the return of first-choice goalkeeper Tom Heaton and striker Wesley will lessen the need for major reinforcements in those positions.

With relegation looking likely, the Canaries main task in the transfer window will be preventing their crop of exciting young prospects from being plucked away by bigger clubs.

Like Aston Villa counterpart Smith, Daniel Farke may choose to add some experience to go along with such potential, with only midfielder Kenny McLean playing more than 50% of minutes among the players at their peak.

After scoring 11 Premier League goals so far this season, star striker Teemu Pukki will likely also be in demand, although his exit would leave just Josip Drmic and 19-year-old prospect Adam Idah as options up front.

Read more:
Which Premier League squads need work in the transfer window? The bottom 10 clubs - News Info Park

Last week I went down to the barn to feed our horse, Butter Bean. When I got inside the barn, I began my regular routine. I gave her a scoop of grain, a pad of hay and her Redbird peppermint treat.

All of a sudden, a gust of wind blew the barn door shut. The door has an outside latch and there is no inside handle.

I thought to myself, Well, that's just great. I am locked up inside the barn.

I looked around and the only two visible openings were where Butter Bean gets her grain and gets her hay. Both are about 10 feet off the ground in her stall. Each had something under the opening, one being a grain bucket and the other a metal hay feeder. I knew if I tried to climb out of either I would at best break my leg and at worst break my neck. Plus Butter Bean wouldnt budge from the grain bucket.

I looked around and there were two glass windows that dont open. I surely didn't want to break one of them because we would have to replace it. Then there was the front swinging window that is made out of an old barn door. It was closed and my husband Mike had placed a lot of old boards, another barn door and a lot of other stuff up against it.

I figured I would have to call Mike to come and let me out of the barn. That is when I realized I left my cell phone in the car. Since I was only running in and out, I didnt think I would need it.

Oh great!" I thought to myself. I realized then I was really stuck in the barn.

I was glad I told Mike where I was going but I began to wonder how long it would be before he looked for me. I decided I had to take matters into my own hands. I thought to myself, What would MacGyver do?"

Some of you may remember MacGyver, the title character from a television show that aired between 1985 and 1992. It was about a government agent that had an uncanny knack for problem-solving in tough situations.

I decided the swinging window was my best bet. I moved every board, every piece of plywood, the old barn door and everything else from in front of the wooden window over the porch. I prayed I would be able to figure out how to get that large wooden window open. I noticed a rubber bungee cord with a hook on the ceiling. It took every bit of strength I had but I managed to pull up the heavy wooden window and connect the hook on the window to the hook on the bungie cord hanging from the ceiling.

It opened the large window about half way but it was large enough for me to get out. Then I thought about the bungee cord. It was obviously old and if it broke while I was not all the way out, that heavy piece of wood would swing closed and smash me like a potato.

I tugged on it a few times and it held. So I counted to three, ran and rolled onto the window ledge and then put my legs down to lower myself to the porch. Butter Bean was still eating, by the way.

I called Mike on my way home and told home what happened and I think he is still laughing. He did rig up a hay string to pull the latch from inside the barn the following morning.

Moral of the story: Always carry your cell phone, even if you are running in and out of somewhere and if you do by chance get stuck and there appears to be no way out, simply ask yourself What would MacGyver do?

Excerpt from:
Lisa Carter Waring: When stuck without your phone, think like MacGyver - The Fayetteville Observer

Many occupants of the Sargasso nebula routinely violate occupational health and safety guidelines, resulting in a high turnover of clients like yourself. However, by paying attention to the following you can extend your utility to CNT and help tick us many action items as possible.

Some inhabitants of the nebula have developed problematic behaviors Zecs have been known to deploy invulnerable shields for example. Taking the right weapon can neutralize a lot of their advantages. Kittybots whizz around so fast that Zecs cant turn their shields towards them before they self-destruct. The Hyper Rifter spits foes out with their backs to you, giving you invaluable time to pull off a cowardly sucker punch.

Each client has their own unique blend of traits and some of these are better than others (or might just suit your play style better). Some of the best traits are those that let you see additional information on the map like the location of security elements. Some of the worst are those that handicap you, like the good old Yahoo who yells out whenever they find loot alerting nearby enemies. If you find yourself with a client with unhelpful traits, try heading to a WCG ship and find a Gene Therapy terminal to reroll them. Or, in the worst case, stand in front of a Gunpoint and force BACS to replace you with an entirely new client

The discretion/valour debate has been resolved and discretion won. With the best plan in the world, sometimes things just go wrong. A pack of Juves discovers you as youre trying to take out a Gunpoint. The mouse ball youre after turns out to be on the other side of a crop of toxic mushrooms. Why not just give up and retreat to S.T.E.V. where you can jet off and look for an easier target?

Binge eating cures a lot, specifically low health. If youve stocked up on cheese and onion sandwiches (try visiting a Lux Dining Room) you can always rest and relax on the S.T.E.V. to recover valuable health.

Smart clients know the value of a locked door. Rift spawning hostiles in that Hab module? Lock the door and bypass it. Screw stomping around in the Security station? Lock those doors and leave him alone. If youre feeling vindictive, why not toss a Clusterflak in through the broken window to keep him entertained?

Planning your visits in an orderly fashion can really make your day easier. We all know that Xonnox specialises in medical procedures and is the best place to go when your health is low but did you also know that CNT offices are a great place to find Staples to reload the Stapler? And that some late game Otori ships are the place to load up on the awesome Scrambler Eggs? You dont even need to memorise this information just be sure to examine the helpful preview panels while on board S.T.E.V.

Though it might be legal, theres little reward for murdering citizens other than the satisfaction of seeing them explode in a cloud of cosmic goo. As ammunition is usually in short supply in the Nebula, you should try to avoid combat where possible. If you do have to fight, try to leverage your environment to minimise costs: lure enemies into radiation, eject them into space from a launch tube or turn them on each other with the Scrambler.

Remember client, BACS is counting on you to get the other clients back to the Som processing station so that they can serve their sentences. So get cracking when Void Bastards launches on PS4 tomorrow.

Read more from the original source:
Survival Tips for Void Bastards, Out Tomorrow on PS4 - PlayStation.Blog