It is astonishing the lengths that humanitarian and development organisations will go to avoid talking about business or to businesses.
International Labour Organisation (ILO) Director-General Juan Somavia speaking at the XIth African Regional Meeting called for a new development approach in Africa which “puts people at the centre of development and judges the success of economic and social policy according to what happens to people at work … autonomous and independent social partners and institutions of social dialogue are bedrocks of democratic governance.”
I don’t know what that means either. But he really laid down the importance of this when, stressing the need for action, he said, “Each and every day, another 10 000 African women and men are being added to those workers already living with their families on less than US$1 per day.”
Ethiopian Prime Minister Ato Zenawi continued the confusion with the following statement: “There is no better forum for a practically oriented deliberation on decent jobs in Africa than a meeting at which the major participants are government representatives and representatives of employers’ and workers’ organisations. There is no other way for most of our countries to make headway in the fight against poverty than making it possible for our citizens to be engaged in productive work, which would continue to be decent, within the context specific to our circumstances, as productivity increases.”
Tanzanian President Jakaya Kikwete went even further into the mire: “The problem of youth unemployment is exacerbated by the global demographic trend which has seen the size of youth increasing at a faster rate than our economies can absorb. It is therefore, critical that partnership is forged in tackling the specific needs of young people in this era of globalization, including human capacity building. Harnessing the energies and potentials of young people represents an invaluable opportunity to nurture agents of socio-economic development.”
Let us summarise: they need jobs to be created to absorb their vast labour pool. How do they intend to create these jobs? They havenâ€™t the faintest idea.
Unfortunately it is talk like this that prevents business executives from seeing opportunities. What they hear is â€œchaos, chaos, chaos, handouts, handouts, handoutsâ€ instead of: hereâ€™s Africa, a billion people, without access to things as basic as soap and toilet paper (whatever Sheryl Crow thinks).
The question from business is: well, ok, so they have needs; do they have cash?
The World Bankâ€™s Global Monitoring Report is very exciting reading. South East Asia has reduced extreme poverty (that US$1 / day that everyone gets excited about) to less than 9% of their population. This is led by China who has created 300 million jobs in the last decade. Africa trails a lot, absolute poverty is at 41%.
Conversely, though, 59% of Africans are NOT destitute and have money to spend. They just have nothing to buy.
With the current state of communication, though, the development and business sectors are not just speaking different languages; theyâ€™re standing on different planets.
x-posted to whythawk.com
Categories: Business/Finance, Politics/Law/Government
Okay – and being an entrepreneur myself I’m with you all the way here. But you may be letting businesses off the hook a little. They can see the numbers as well as you can. Surely they’re not going to be scared off a real opportunity by government confusion and cluelessness (if that were the case you couldn’t do business most places in the world).
So there’s more to the story on the business side, right?
Oh, sure, but when those asking for help choose to use language inviting misunderstanding, they shouldn’t be too surprised if businesses please themselves.
Sure, and most biz types I work with react just as you’d expect when they hear gummits talking around reality as they know it. I guess I’m sort of asking about the diff between govt talk not incenting business and govt talk that actively discourages business. It seemed you were suggesting that this was the latter case, but maybe you’re suggesting the former and I’m misreading.
Very good post.


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Imagine Dragons Thunder
homedesignidea.me - Imagine Dragons - Thunder (audio) - Youtube Get Imagine Dragons’ new album Evolve, ft. Imagine Dragons Thunder ‘Believer,’ ‘Thunder,’ ‘Whatever It Takes’ and ‘Walking The Wire,’ out now: http://smarturl.it/EvolveID. Thunder (imagine Dragons Song) - Wikipedia "Thunder" is a song by American rock band Imagine Dragons. The song was released by Interscope Records and Kidinakorner on April 27, 2017, as the second single from their third studio album, Evolve (2017). It was written by Dan Reynolds, Wayne Sermon, Ben McKee, Daniel Platzman and its producers Alexander Grant and Jayson DeZuzio.
Browse through images of home decor Imagine Dragons Thunder modern architecture to create your perfect design
Related Videos Imagine Dragons Thunder
Imagine Dragons Thunder ragons On Amazon Music - Amazon.com Check out Thunder by Imagine Dragons on Amazon Music. Stream ad-free or purchase CD's and MP3s now on Amazon.com. Imagine Dragons - Wikipedia Imagine Dragons is an American rock band from Las Vegas, Nevada, consisting of lead vocalist Dan Reynolds, lead guitarist Wayne Sermon, bassist Ben McKee, and drummer Daniel Platzman. The band first gained exposure with the release of their single "It's Time", followed by their award-winning debut studio album Night Visions (2012), which.

domain: artistic


text:
Government must give pubs which serve as the beating hearts of their communities greater support with tax rebates to safeguard the nation’s locals as vital social lifelines, a report from the think-tank Localis has urged today.
In a report issued today entitled ‘Inn-Valuable: unlocking the socio-economic potential of our nation’s pubs’, Localis also argued that a minister for pubs role be reinstated to join up help for the country’s pubs sector – which cumulatively supports 936,000 jobs, generates £28bn in GVA to the economy and delivers £15bn in tax revenues to the Exchequer annually.
According to polling undertaken by YouGov for the report, 75 percent of people felt the impact of pubs to community life to be positive. When asked if pubs are important in bringing people together, more than four-in-five (81 percent) of British adults agreed they are, with just 14 percent feeling that they are not.
Polling carried out for the report showed 68 percent of British adults felt that pubs help combat loneliness in their local area. Among pro-community activities supported by local pubs, nearly half (44%) of people were aware of pub events that bring the community together, a quarter (25%) knew of local pubs that supported charitable causes and 17 percent knew of local pubs that supported vulnerable people in their area.
The research identified from case studies taken pubs across the country some dominant themes on how the sector supports local people and communities, namely by:
- combatting isolation
- supporting local causes
- reflecting local culture
- bringing local business together
- supporting community through generations.
Pollsters also found that among social uses of pubs in the last three months, more than half of the population (51%) had met a friend in one, while nearly two-in-five (37%) of people had visited the pub to meet up with family, a quarter (25%) had enjoyed Sunday lunch in one and 10% of the public had attended a pub-held birthday party in that timespan. In addition, six percent of the public had used pubs for dating purposes and 13% watched a sporting event.
A key recommendation of the report calls for the re-establishment of a Minister for Pubs post to co-ordinate a cross-government taskforce responsible for long-term strategy for the British pubs sector and to lead on help with tax and regulation, alongside an emergency fund for energy bill support.
The report authors also make the case for business rates rebates for those pubs which take on socially valuable roles such as foodbanks or in providing warm spaces for vulnerable people, with a call for a modest £4m cashpot to help 1,000 pubs to diversify at a cost of a mere £4,000 per pub.
Localis head of research, Joe Fyans, said: “Across Britain, pubs have consistently played a pivotal role in knitting communities together and promoting social cohesion.
“Pubs are the beating heart of many communities, playing multifaceted roles in local daily life. This is why the decline of pubs is cause for great concern. With each closure, both tangible and intangible voids are left behind.
“The lessons are clear: pubs, in all their forms and across all locations, remain integral to British social cohesion as hubs of activity, community, and social capital. This makes their presence all the more crucial as community safety nets and beacons of light, offering a lifeline hope for many people looking for a real sense of local belonging.”
Emma McClarkin, chief executive of the British Beer and Pub Association, said: ““The stories highlighted in this report truly are just a snapshot of the hugely positive impact pubs have in communities across the country every single day.
“There are few businesses that can say they add both social and economic value and pubs are delivering that value in neighbourhoods from Lanarkshire to Liskeard, and everywhere in between. Pubs provide solace to people in tough times and a place to celebrate in others and to lose them would have a serious impact on people’s lives.
“With closures continuing to rise and pubs under threat from further duty and business rates cost hikes we hope the Government will seriously consider the proposals put forward by this report so the foundations can be laid to help pubs continue to do this brilliant work in their communities long into the future.”
Becky Barnett who runs The Lamb Inn in Swadlincote, which features in the report, said: “We support our local community in a number of ways, including offering free food and drinks to people on Wednesday mornings. People can come into the pub, have a free hot meal, and in winter, sit by our log fire in comfy chairs, no questions asked.
“When times are tough, we want to be a place where people can come for help and local people have been incredibly grateful of us opening our doors at no cost. At the same time, we also face challenges with high energy bills and other rising costs so it’s a scary time for our business as well, we want to continue to provide a non-judgemental warm space for people but we’re facing our own difficulties as well.”
Pub is The Hub chief executive, John Longden, said: “Pubs and publicans are the heroes at the heart of community life that provide essential local services and activities that create social value.
“They are a lifeline for many rural areas providing vital local services and activities such as village stores, allotments and community cafes as well as offering a safe space to tackle the major societal issue of loneliness.
“Pub is The Hub now estimates 1,000 more pubs and local areas could benefit from services if they can be directly supported in the future to diversify.

domain: sociology


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Final Fantasy VIII running on Vulkan, Steam compatibility and much more!
TL-DR: This is the story about a new driver for Final Fantasy VIII that will allow you to play the game through new rendering backends, like DirectX 11 and Vulkan. If you’re eager to try it yourself, feel free to follow installation instructions on the official repository.
Here we go again with another post, closer to one month later, with another great set of announcements. This time we will talk about Final Fantasy VIII running on Vulkanm and some other achievements done through this month.
Although the tech stack didn’t change, its internals did a lot. Aside of various improvements that happened graphically now we do also have FULL support for Final Fantasy VIII. This will finally allow you to play the game upscaled the way it deserves.
For the sake of demonstration I decided to take a few screenshots and videos showing you how the game will look like on its stages using the Vulkan renderer and DirectX 11. But the game is fully playable also on OpenGL and DirectX 12.
Although I personally suggest to keep using OpenGL as a safe default, and the rest as experimental there’s nothing that blocks you in trying them all. Just be aware that as like in Final Fantasy VII, also here Vulkan and DirectX 12 are having low FPS. This is because of technical limitations coming straight out of the engine.
In the future I ( or someone else ) may be able to figure out how to unlock this situation, but until then we get what we can :)
DirectX 9 is now deprecated
You may be wondering, why I forgot to mention the DirectX 9 backend. Well, unfortunately for us this one didn’t pass the quality test and the number of issues were growing. As this renderer did not show up to be as mature as the others, I had to pull the trigger and decided to remove it from the available ones.
It may come back later if the backend will become more mature on bgfx. Until then, this has to be considered deprecated.
Final Fantasy VIII 2000 edition
As FFNx is based upon the great work that Aali started, we did inherit also some engine logics that were required to allow FF8 render as well. Although it may not be perfect, it’s great enough to allow you to play the full game.
Aside of minor glitches you may find ( for example at end of the battle swirl animation ) the driver handles very well Battle scenes too.
What about Party menus? Nailed that :)
Please do note that the slowdown effect happens only on DirectX 12 and Vulkan! The Party menu will work fine at FULL FPS on OpenGL/DirectX 11.
The following video is just a pure demonstration that Vulkan works inside of the game engine too.
This is just a taste of what this driver will allow you to enjoy. So please feel free to download the latest version available and let me know how it goes!
A new era for Final Fantasy VIII - Welcome modding!
Like Final Fantasy VII, it’s time to make the 8th chapter a first class citizen too! Thanks to FFNx this will be more true than ever.
Below you can already see some examples of how HD Textures will allow you to upgrade in-game content. Expect therefore some new tools like 7h to be available for Final Fantasy VIII as time goes by, which will allow full Hext patching, model replacement, texture replacement and much more!
You may notice some minor glitches being present in the last screenshot. Do not be afraid: the community and myself are already at full work on fixing those last minor bugs :)
Remember to check for new releases from time to time.
Full Steam edition compatibility
This support means that you can just swap one file and you will be able to enjoy another session of your favorite game ( including save game support, and keyboard/gamepad controls like you’re used to ) without the need to take any further action ( like move files around and such ) in your game directory.
The only downside unfortunately, is that Game Archivements are not supported. This may, or may not come into FFNx as it will require massive reverse engineering in order to find how and when those archivements are triggered, based on which condition.
If you’re curious to try, feel free to check the installation instructions.
Not being enough already of cool new announcements here you can find another one!
Feel free to try and let me know how it goes.
Final Fantasy VII Battle swirls, like they should
In the previous post I talked about Battle swirls and Framebuffer implementation, thinking that I managed to nail them.
Well, I was not 100% correct during that phase of the implementation. I actually forgot to set the right properties ( flags ) during texture binding. Once that was fixed, the Battle swirls started to swirl like they should. Uiiiiiiiiiii!
User configuration reorganized
As the driver will now officially support two games, it’s time for the user to know which option may impact both, and which one are available only for one specific chapter of the game.
In order to enable that scenario, the new version will come with a brand new polished configuration file. Feel free to check it out!
FFNx is Free and Open Source
FFNx is fully hosted on Github, you can see its source code and you can fork it if you want. Contributions are welcome.
If you want to use it, remember to check installation instructions on the official repository page.
In case you find an issue, feel free to let me know by creating one here.
I hope you will enjoy this, as much as I did while developing it.
A Special thank you goes to…
Before closing this post, there is a list of people I’d like to thank for their support while I was working on this, which are:
- My family, without them this project would not even exist
- Robert Russell for continously testing the driver and support on inner details on FF8
- Marcin Gomulak for continously testing the driver and support on inner details on FF8
- Kaldarasha for the help in testing the driver, especially Steam compatibility
- Qhimm community for a fantastic and enthusiastic FF7 Modding Scene and the official chat room creation!
If you want to get in touch with me, feel free to reach out on any social channel you prefer.
Last but not least, if you want to support, feel free to sponsor me on Github at this link: https://github.com/sponsors/julianxhokaxhiu

domain: game


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It’s High Time for a High Seas Treaty
Great potential to build on the momentum from the 5th Session of the Intergovernmental Conference
We have a once in a lifetime opportunity right now to help protect half the planet – the “High Seas” – which lies outside of any country’s jurisdiction and is unprotected and vulnerable to exploitation. This great global commons is critical to the health of the entire ocean, and for our own health. We all need a healthy ocean to survive and thrive, no matter where we live.
Protection of the ocean is woefully inadequate. Only about 1% of the High Seas have been protected, and marine life around the world is under threat from unsustainable and illegal fishing, shipping traffic, noise pollution, plastic and chemical pollution, deep-sea mining and acidifying and warming waters as a result of the climate crisis. A lack of unified governance leaves the vast majority of the ocean unprotected and vulnerable to exploitation, with activities unregulated or controlled by different business sectors and governments under a complex structure.
United Nations member nations are in the final stages of negotiating a new High Seas Treaty that could ensure meaningful protection for ocean life. They are meeting 20 February-3 March in New York City for the resumed 5th session of the Intergovernmental Conference. A strong treaty would also significantly help move the planet closer to the ambitious but attainable international target that was recently agreed to in the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework to protect at least 30% of the lands, waters and ocean by 2030 (30×30).
It’s taken almost two decades to get this far with the High Seas. We are almost there! Government leaders have an opportunity during the next two weeks with the final round of negotiations of a new legally-binding international treaty to protect the High Seas.
With a new High Seas Treaty, the global community can provide the first legal framework for marine protected areas (MPAs), environmental impact assessments (EIAs), and many other vital conservation measures for our one world ocean that connects us all. However, without increased international ambition and cooperation, this new treaty will not be sufficiently robust to give our ocean the protection it needs to continue sustaining us.
In particular, the new High Seas Treaty must include:
- a strong legal process to establish, effectively manage and enforce a representative network of MPAs in the High Seas;
- comprehensive, globally accountable, effective and rigorous EIAs for any ocean-based activities, with international review where necessary;
- a global decision-making body, that also enables key decisions to be voted on rather than relying solely on consensus;
- a robust institutional framework to ensure effective implementation and compliance, including an independent scientific committee;
- adequate financing to ensure implementation, capacity building and technology transfer;
- the equitable access and sharing of benefits from the use of marine genetic resources.
The status quo has got to go! We urge national leaders at the upcoming negotiations to push for a High Seas Treaty that benefits ocean life, rather than short-term interests and concerns. Their high-level commitment and engagement during this final round of negotiations is going to be essential to ensure that agreements can be brokered, and the treaty finalized.
You can help!
Help our nations’ leaders seize this once in a generation opportunity! You can amplify efforts and generate the political will at the highest levels to ensure a new vision for ocean governance that truly embraces transformative change that our blue planet needs.
Urge governments to find common ground and make history with an ambitious High Seas Treaty that benefits ocean life.
Take these steps to show your support on social media for a robust #HighSeasTreaty:
- Click to Tweet your concerns and find other suggested social posts in the High Seas Treaty Toolkit, including social posts in Spanish.
Want to do more?
Learn more and stay informed about the High Seas Treaty:

domain: news


Yes, it’s cross-platform.No, there is no extra work involved.
I’m new to Unreal Engine, but the Blueprint system seems like an amazing way to make games, especially since I have basically no programming knowledge. My question is this: if I were to make a game with low enough requirements to run on mobile using entirely Blueprints would it automatically be cross-platform compatible with iOS, Android, Linux, ect? If not how much extra work would go into making the game cross-platform? I know that making just one version of a game is a terrible idea for making it cross-platform, it would need a different UI and such to even be playable, but I want to know how much extra work is involved for JUST the cross-platform compatibility with Blueprints. Thanks!


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Author: Ivan Von Baublitz
Publisher: DLM Publishing
Release Date: 15th of August, 2016
Source: RC from the author
Nice color theme plus the overall feel of the artwork is fitting and mysterious.
This book is a tale of a survivor. A survivor of the streets, who against all odds, never let his spirit be crushed.
Just imagine: a child, locked in a room with his baby brother. With clothes as his bed and nothing to eat, all the
while battling the heat. The only escape is through the window. Will he dare try escaping?
The author is a recruiter at a university. He, using satire, lays out his day, how he hates his six figure job, and how he is fed up.
He was born in Chicago to a mentally ill mother and a backwards father, who were incapable of raising kids.
His abusive, addict mother used to beat him and his brother.
Eventually they were given up for adoption, when their parents could no longer accept responsibility for them.
Some truly horrible foster parents came in Ivan’s life.
His baby brother always managed to get on the good side of people, not so for Ivan. He suffered again and again, but something defiant was building up in him and he never let anyone break his spirit. Even when he was hit with a wooden paddle all through the night. In fact, he used his wits and managed to escape his situation.
Children’s town was another chapter in his life. There, he learned to develop his strength and got a taste for rock music. His personality developed and he became self sufficient and confident. It was here that Ivan first met Nixon.
Throughout Ivan’s IQ and intelligence were developing and were superior than his peers.
But, even the strict punishments of Children Town couldn’t tame Ivan.
His journey led him to juvenile correction center, living with his uncle, discovering the dark sides of humanity. Still his journey wasn’t done.
After being caught in a stolen car with a woman abuser, Ivan barely escaped the prison. He took refuge on the streets.
Homelessness taught him to survive.
It was not all dark, when he found Ms Pat, a motherly woman, who encouraged him to contact his father.
Ivan began living with his grandfather for a while , in exchange for doing his uncle’s school assignments. He was again tossed out after being accused.
This time Ivan had enough. He went to look for his mother.
From there the events took an even more dramatic turn in his life.
A dark career path, an angel, struggles and a sense of responsibility, he experienced it all.
Was he able to get out of his troubles? Did he manage to turn his life around?
What started after an escape through the apartment window at a young age, was a journey of struggle, heartbreak, loneliness and becoming a victim of the cruelty of humans and the system.
First of all, the narration style is really easy to digest. The style is more of a fiction book than that of a non fiction, and it actually makes for a pretty enjoyable read.
President Nixon is used as an avatar of Ivan’s conscience, it seems, or maybe its to personify the little voice in the head.
Nixon is sarcastic but points out the things that author is not acknowledging, both good and bad.
The author’s observations are impartial. He doesn’t sugarcoat his words. It’s an honest read.
The use of President Nixon as a character is ingenious.
But what stands out the most is Ivan’s wisdom and his perception from a very young age. The way he picked up on behavioral cues is really remarkable. No matter what, he can’t keep himself out of trouble, though.
Still, he takes everything in stride and owns his mistakes.
The book is funny too. His sense of humor is revealed throughout the book.
A truly moving and enjoyable read.
There were grammatical mistakes though. Even though the author later reveals that he is not good at beginners English, and that the mistakes in the book are a reflection of that: an attempt at being as real as possible, if you will. Still, It gets distracting and annoying sometimes.
But these grammatical mistakes are very few and eventually you might be able to overlook them.
Recommended for: AutoBiography fans, but it is not a typical biography. It totally pulls your attention and is like a novel.
Note: Some strong language is used and some violent scenes are also included in the book.
My Rating: 8 out of 10
About the Author:
Ivan currently reside in Northwest Indiana. He’s a graduate of Columbia College Chicago and DePaul University with a Masters Degree in Education. He’s a proud father and grandfather who enjoys speaking to groups regarding the hidden potential that we all hold.
Dirty Laundry is his first book and he’s currently working on his next.
Contact The Author at:

domain: library


text:
Dart Container Corporation, the Michigan-based manufacturer of foam and plastic containers and cutlery, will be closing its Hampstead and Havre de Grace warehouse and distribution centers in 2020.
The move comes as the company is building a new facility in Delaware that will house the products currently distributed from the two Maryland facilities, according to a company media release.
“The move to Delaware will enable us to consolidate inventory into a single location that serves our east coast customers more efficiently from a trucking and logistics standpoint,” Dart CEO Jim Lammers is quoting has having said in the release.
Maryland’s upcoming ban on foam containers, which goes into effect July 1, 2020, played a role in the company’s decision to close the two locations, a company spokesperson said in an email Thursday evening.
“While the state of Maryland’s ban was not the core reason to move our distribution operations to Delaware, elected officials’ decision to ban some of our products did not encourage us to keep our distribution centers in Maryland,” Margo Burrage said in an email.
Paul Poe, Dart’s manager of government affairs and environment had previously told the Baltimore Sun that the company was speaking with Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan in an effort to reduce the impact of the ban on Dart’s business in the state.
"We’re not pulling up stakes or anything like that, but it was a bit of a disappointment that we couldn’t have reached some kind of a deal” with lawmakers, Poe told The Sun.
The two facilities employ around 90 people between them, according to the release, and those employees who wish to apply to work in Delaware will be given a chance to do so, while those that do not will be given severance.
The Havre de Grace facility will be closed sometime in the first quarter of 2020, according to the release, while the Hampstead facility will remain open until the Delaware completed, “sometime in the fall.”
Dart’s location in Federalsburg will remain open, according to the release.
While a business leaving the area is never great news, Hampstead Mayor Chris Nevin said in this case he did not expect a signficant impact on the town and surrounding area.
“The warehouse borders our town so there will be no impact to our assessable base to the extent the vacancy impacts value,” Nevin wrote in an email. “Though losing a job is always difficult, the effect on area employment is also minimal.”
That’s due in part to the relatively smaller number of jobs at the Hampstead location, Nevin said, but also because of the promise of the soon to be vacant, one million square foot warehouse facility.
“It’s a Class A, cross docked facility with 32-foot clear ceilings, contains trailer parking, has a superior high volume wet sprinkler system and owned by a [Real Estate Investment Trust] that has experience with this type building,” Nevin wrote. “It is one of the only Class A warehouses of this size available for immediate occupancy in the State.”
It’s the type of building that has been the hottest in commodities on the industrial real estate market in the past few years, according to Matt Laraway, a Hampstead resident and executive vice president and partner in Chesapeake Real Estate Group. The only problem could be transportation.
Carroll County Breaking News
“When somebody is looking at using a building like that for e-commerce or traditional bricks and mortar store to door distribution, then it’s far out,” Laraway said. “From the major interstate of I-95 you have to go I-695 to I-795 to Md. 30 to the building.”
The Hampstead facility was originally built where it is in the ’90s, Laraway said, because of it’s proximity to the Sweet Heart plastics plant — later Solo Cup — on Reisterstown Road. That location is now a Wegmans.
“The question is," Laraway said, "is somebody going to prefer to be on I-83 or I-95 as opposed to Md. 30?”
The situation is nearly opposite in Havre de Grace, Laraway said.
“The Havre De Grace location, that’s on I-95, Harford County,” he said. “That’s kind of Main and Main for the big distribution centers in Maryland.”
But the 640,000 square foot space isn’t a appealing a building as the Hampstead location, according to Laraway.
“I would call that a Class B building in an A- location, where I would call this a Class A building in a C location,” he said, giving the Hampstead location the A and C grades. “Anybody in the country would come in and say, ‘this is super functional and I can operate super efficiently out of this building.’”


BOSTON — Lynn Mayor Jared Nicholson and state Sen. Brendan Crighton spoke to the MBTA Board of Directors Thursday to advocate for increased efforts from the agency to electrify commuter-rail service in the Environmental Justice Corridor.
“I’m here again to say we need to pick up the pace,” Crighton, who serves as chair of the Joint Committee on Transportation, said during his remarks to the board. “I know it’s a long road ahead, but we need to approach it with a great deal of urgency.”
Electrification of the commuter rail in the corridor, which encompasses service from North Station through Lynn and the Beverly section of the Rockport line, is part of a capital investment plan that was approved by the board Thursday. The $9.7 billion plan includes $120 million in funding for regional rail-improvement projects.
“We are eager to work with the MBTA team, once it staffs up, on all of these plans,” Nicholson said in his comments to the board. “There’s going to be local contributions needed, local thinking needed, and we are ready to do that.”
Crighton and Nicholson urged the board to use more resources for the efforts, something they said was doubly important given the current lack of commuter-rail service in Lynn.
Nicholson noted that improvements to MBTA commuter-rail service, which has not run in Lynn since the station was shut down for a $72 million renovation project in October 2022, would open up more economic opportunities in the region.
“The residents of Lynn need and deserve better access to better transportation to bring them to jobs, education, and healthcare,” Nicholson said in an interview with The Daily Item. “[Residents] have been underserved by the MBTA for too long.”
Nicholson noted the impact the project’s acceleration would have on the city’s future development, which would be enhanced as a result of improvements to the transit network.
“We’re fully committed to transit-oriented development,” Nicholson said to the board. “Those units are going to need access to reliable public transport.”
The project dates back to 2019, when the board passed a resolution to electrify the commuter rail, which would create more frequent service to many communities and implement near-rapid transit at subway rates from Lynn to Boston.
Crighton and Nicholson both said in their remarks that the MBTA had not addressed the need for reliable commuter-rail service or concerns of health disparities in the community in the past four years.
“We’ve not seen the progress we need,” Crighton said in his remarks. “Our communities continue to bear the negative public-health impacts of a diesel fleet of commuter-rail vehicles.”
Crighton explained in an interview with The Daily Item that electrifying the commuter rail in the Environmental Justice Corridor would not only alleviate some of the environmental concerns around the current diesel fleet, but also allow for more efficient and frequent service in lieu of Blue Line expansion to Lynn.
“We feel like this is a much more efficient way to get that type of concept to Lynn,” Crighton said.
Board member Thomas McGee was one of the local leaders lobbying for the project when he served as mayor of Lynn in 2019.
“The phase-one electrification project must be included as part of the FY2022 and FY2026 capital investment plan to introduce modernized transit options to more Massachusetts communities,” McGee told The Daily Item in April 2021.
On Thursday, McGee was the only member of the board to respond to Nicholson and Crighton’s remarks.
“I think both the mayor and senator have laid out a really good picture,” McGee said. “It’s an exciting opportunity and we have two really great advocates supporting this.”


text:
Associate Professor of Spanish
María Laura Bocaz-Leiva earned her M.A. and Ph.D. in Spanish language and literature from the University of Iowa in 2010.
Her research and teaching interests include modern Latin American literature and culture, the Boom of Latin American novel, the work of Chilean writer José Donoso, and Genetic Criticism. She has shared her research work with manuscript materials through articles published in peer-reviewed journals together with conference presentations, talks, and lectures, in conferences, and universities in the United States and abroad.
She has recently edited the novel El lugar sin límites by José Donoso for Colección Biblioteca Chilena of Ediciones Universidad Alberto Hurtado
Located in Combs Hall – Room 104


text:
Digital strategy key to future success
October 5, 2010
From Colin Mann in Cannes
Keynote speakers at MIPCOM’s Industry Outlook panel have suggested that strategic flexibility will be a critical weapon as major media companies face the challenges created by digital transformation. According to Marcel Fenez, global leader, entertainment and media at PricewaterhouseCoopers, consumer behaviour in the digital era is starting to follow defined patterns. “What we are starting to see is that digital consumers will pay for three key things: quality, convenience and enriched experiences.”
BBC Worldwide CEO John Smith revealed that the unit had doubled its revenues in recent years by reinventing its business strategy. “We grew our international production business, expanded in specific territories, focused on big brands and experimented with digital.”
TF1 CEO Nonce Paolini noted that the French broadcaster had expanded its activities into the digital arena in order to meet consumer expectations. TF1 has generated 418 million catch-up video views in the first half of 2010, with 16.7 million unique users visiting TF1‚s online services in August. TF1 agreed a deal with Samsung in December 2009 where Samsung products sold in France will feature interactive services tied to the broadcaster‚s flagship brands and content, with dedicated applications featuring news, weather, sport and programme information.


President Donald Trump's planned meeting with North Korean dictator Kim Jong Un was met with cheers from many Republican lawmakers -- but some skepticism from others.
South Korea's national security director Chung Eui-yong said the two world leaders agreed to meet by May. Trump tweeted: “Great progress being made but sanctions will remain until an agreement is reached. Meeting being planned!”
U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., praised the president’s efforts to denuclearize North Korea, saying that it “gives us the best hope” to “peacefully” resolve escalating tensions.
While Graham acknowledged North Korea’s past as being “all talk and no action,” he warned Kim directly that “the worst possible thing you can do is meet with President Trump in person and try to play him.”
He added, “If you do that, it will be the end of you – and your regime.”
U.S. Rep. Ed Royce, R-Calif., chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, also said the invitation showed that sanctions on North Korea were “starting to work.”
U.S. Sen. Bob Corker, R-Tenn., chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, also praised the sanctions implemented by Congress, saying that they “are having a real effect.”


Widy Wicaksono & Ayos Carlos & Jamaah, Semarang – Despite incidents of flooding and arson occurring in various areas, the General Election Commission (KPU) reported that the voting process for the 2024 election proceeded smoothly.
Floods were reported in Demak, Central Java, as well as several locations in Jakarta and Lampung. Meanwhile, incidents of logistical arson were recorded in Papua.
Despite these challenges, KPU chairman Hasyim Asy'ari mentioned that overall, the voting process for the 2024 elections went smoothly.
"There have been reports from several provinces and districts affected by floods. In Papua, ballot boxes were being attacked and their contents dismantled in three districts in Paniai Regency in Central Papua," said Hasyim in Semarang on Wednesday.
In Demak Regency, one sub-district and ten villages were submerged, causing 112 polling stations (TPS) to be unable to conduct simultaneous voting today.
Meanwhile, in Semarang City, rain has been pouring since the morning, leading to the relocation of several polling stations in North Semarang due to waterlogging at the entrance access points.
Despite facing challenges in various regions, Hasyim said the overall voting process for the 2024 elections proceeded smoothly, with a high level of enthusiasm from the public.
"Praise God, everything went smoothly. It was carried out according to the schedule. Some might have had to postpone their schedules due to rainy weather," he added.
In the event of a delayed voting process, Hasyim said polling stations have the flexibility to commence later than the initially scheduled time of 07:00 AM. Alternatively, they can opt to participate in a subsequent election, the timing of which has yet to be determined.
The voting process experienced delays on Wednesday morning in Cempaka Baru in Central Jakarta, as torrential rain caused the collapse of three polling station (TPS) tents.
Meanwhile, despite the persistent 70 cm flooding in Cakung in East Jakarta, hundreds of residents are determined to cast their votes.
According to Agus Kurniawan, the Chairman of the Polling Station Officers (KPPS) at TPS 158 in Cakung, the voting process will proceed by relocating to an emergency site.
An incident of alleged misplaced ballot papers in Madura has also gained attention amidst the ongoing elections.


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Purple and Gold Fedora Hat with Purple and White Dual Sided Band
Stepping out on the town in purple and gold? Try a matching purple and gold fedora hat. The 4" crown is made of Spring Summer poly material. Incorporated into the crown is a white and purple vented band. The 2 1/2" gold brim is made of satin ribbon.
Choose your size from the drop-down menu. To order this hat in a different color, use our Contact Form.

domain: design


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21-Day Challenge: Olympians share advice on how to go after a dream
It’s day four of the 21-Day Challenge and today we get advice on how to go after a dream.
We tagged along as three Olympians went back to school to drop some Olympic knowledge on the athletes of tomorrow.
North Tahoe High School is the kind of place where each year they vote for someone “most likely to win Olympic gold.”
Seven graduates from the small school have gone off to become Olympians.
Shannon Bahrke and Marco Sullivan shared the honor for the class of 1998.
Sullivan went on to become a four-time Olympic skier.
“Doing hard things to challenge yourself. That's life in a nutshell,” Sullivan said. “That's what I remember and I'm proud of, the times I achieved something and worked hard for something.”
For Bill Hudson, an Olympic skier from the class of 1984, it’s about enjoying the process.
“I think the most important thing is going after your own goals and not worrying about what other people are doing,” he said. “Just doing your thing.”
These athletes learned the most through falling, literally and figuratively.
“ I wish I had known that it was all going to be OK,” said Bahrke, a two-time Olympic medalist. “Those moments are the ones that define us and that propel us forward. It's all worth it.”
North Tahoe High School has two Lakers in the Olympics right now, JC Schoonmaker. And AJ Hurt.
| MORE LIKE THIS | Get to know your Northern California Olympians at 2022 Winter Olympics


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Strong Teeth for a Lifetime
One of the biggest advantages of dental implants is how long lasting they are. Once you have your dental implants mounted, you won’t need to worry about implant replacement for the next 10-15 years.
Made from top-quality titanium, porcelain and zirconia, our implants are designed for rough use and stressful conditions. Of course, it is important to remember that the quality of the dental implants depends on a number of factors, including:
- Material of the implants
- Extent of gum and jaw damage
- Nature of daily dental hygiene
- Age of the patient
- Prevalence of habits like teeth grinding (when stressed)
- Pre-existing medical conditions (ex: diabetes, cancer and gum disease)
While the dental implants will remain strong and flexible for up to 15 years, you will begin to notice subtle wear and tear due to usage. There is no need to worry when this happens. You can either choose to have your implants repaired or go in for another dental implant mounting procedure.
Advantages of Dental Implants
Our Pasadena dental implants are fast becoming the tooth replacement procedure of choice, for good reason. They have many advantages, including:
- Improved appearance: Implants look and feel like natural teeth.
- Greater comfort: Implants bond to the jawbone and become part of the body, for a comfortable alternative to removable dentures.
- Better speech: Removable dentures can slip in the mouth, causing slurred speech and mumbling. Dental implants allow you to speak clearly with no worry.
- Easier chewing: Dental implants function like natural teeth and allow you to eat all your favorite foods with no pain or discomfort, unlike dentures, which can slide while you are eating.
- Better oral health: With dental implants, there is no need to reduce other teeth, as with tooth-supported bridges. More of your teeth are left intact for improved long-term oral health. Implants also allow access between the teeth for better oral hygiene.
- Convenience: Removable dentures have to be removed and replaced with messy adhesives. Dental implants stay in your mouth, causing no embarrassment or inconvenience.
- Durability: Implants are made of durable materials and can last for many years. In fact, with proper care, many dental implants last a lifetime.
- Improved self-esteem: Dental implants can give you back your smile, and that can do wonders for your overall appearance, as well as your self-esteem.
Is There Downtime With Dental Implants?
Most patients feel fine and ready to return to work after just a few days. As dental implants involve several stages, it will require several months before the implant is fully integrated into the jawbone, but during this period, your life proceeds as normal. As you will have a temporary crown, you will need to avoid chewing sticky or hard foods to keep it in place.
If you are missing one or more teeth, dental implants may be the optimum long-term solution to restore both function and appearance. To find out if you are a good candidate for some of the best dental implants Pasadena, CA has to offer, call and schedule a consultation with Dr. Sanchita Mehra at the dental practice of Pasadena Smile Center.
Disadvantages of Dental Implants
When compared to dental bridges and caps, dental implants have shown significant positive results for patients. By giving them pain-free teeth, dental implants have returned users with their quality of life.
But, in saying this, we shouldn’t forget that the dental implant procedure is a medical procedure and there are certain side effects that patients may experience after undergoing the mounting procedure. Some of the side effects and disadvantages of dental implants are:
- Longer time taken for bone integration
Bones heal very slowly and this time is compounded in the jaw. Since we tend to use the teeth even during the treatment period, the teeth and the jaws will not get the ideal rest required and will heal very slowly, resulting in pain and loose teeth for a very long time.
- Loss of bone mass around the implants
If done by an inexperienced surgeon, the implants may not be perfectly designed and may not fit well into your teeth. This can result in damage to the bone around the teeth and may result in loss of bone mass and density around the teeth.
- High chances of tooth replacement
ost implants do chip off and break due to excessive and frequent usage. This will necessitate tooth replacement or restoration sooner or later.
- No insurance accepted for treatment
One of the biggest disadvantages of dental implants is the cost. This expense becomes difficult to bear, considering how most hospitals and dental clinics do not accept medical insurance and dental insurance will not cover dental implants.
At the Pasadena Smile Center, we have extensive experience working on dental implant procedures. With us by your side, you can rest assured that your teeth are in safe hands. We offer a variety of patient-friendly financing options for our customers. Be sure to contact our team for more information.
Patients who have a very weak jaw and those who have missing, broken and chipped teeth are ideal candidates for the procedure. Once you visit our clinic, Dr. Mehra will examine your teeth and advise you about your eligibility for the procedure.
Cost of Dental Implants
The cost of a dental implant procedure primarily depends on the following factors:
- Extensiveness of the procedure
- Number of implants mounted
- Doctor and hospital visited
- Material of implant
- Condition of the teeth, jaw and facial bones
As of 2017, the average cost of dental implants in the United States was $13,500 per arch for the all-on-four procedure. But, the cost of a single implant without the crown comes up to $1,000. Two implants for the three-unit fixed bridge start at $3,000 and can go anywhere up to $5,000 depending on a variety of criteria.

domain: medical


I want to take issue with Paul Geater re the article he has written in today’s East Anglian Daily Times suggesting that all 38 Tory County Councillors will be claiming mileage for attending tomorrow’s Conservative Group meeting.
For the record: I wont be claiming.
The group meeting, where we are to discuss the budget, is being held in place of the full council meeting which was cancelled because of lack of business.
I don’t claim to attend a group meeting; that is political business and why should my residents pay?
I feel that the subtext of the article is a suggestion that ‘Fat Cat’ Tories are claiming all the allowances going.
That’s not true.
Not all Tories claim all allowances. For starters, members are sensible and share lifts.
As a matter of principle I don’t claim mileage to group meetings as they are part and parcel of being a Conservative. I don’t expect my residents to pay for my political activity. Nor do I claim meal allowances, nor do I attend the hot buffet lunch which is now provided pre full council meetings. Why should my neighbours pay for my lunch? I would eat lunch wherever I was, so I should pay: not the tax payer.
When the hot buffet lunch was introduced in July by Cllr Jane Storey the chairman of the council, I wrote to her saying
“I won’t be joining you for hot lunches pre-council. Fundamentally, I think this is an inappropriate use of public money especially at a time when we are seeking to make further budget cuts and our staff face a pay freeze.”
I don’t claim for mileage for council work in the division as I believe that is covered by the allowance I receive.
I do claim mileage for SCC briefings, training and meetings. So when I was assistant cabinet members for highways I had a high mileage claim because on behalf of SCC I attended highways meetings as far afield as Peterborough, Marks Tey, Lowestoft, Police HQ, and Bungay. Where possible I shared lifts with officers but that wasn’t always feasible.
I believe Suffolk County Councillors must be much more open about what they claim.
This is public money and the public has the right to know why and how it is being spent.
I am taken with how these matters are handled next door in Essex where on the county council’s website each councillor has a page with a set format listing the training that has been undertaken, the hospitality and gifts that have been received the electoral history etc. However the section on expenses and allowances just refers the reader to the scheme and doesn’t give the details of claims.
I think it should. So I would like to see us adopt the Essex format and add to it to include each individual councillors’ allowances and expenses and the spending from their locality and highways budgets. Voters have the right to know what their councillors cost.


Austenitic and duplex stainless steels contain a mix of austenite and ferrite, with the relative proportions of these phases, and their relative spatial distribution, significantly affecting the engineering properties, thermal ageing behaviour and creep damage accumulation. Given these effects, the ability to map the distribution of phases in a steel at approximately 10 nm resolution or better is of great interest. In these steels the two phases have different magnetic properties since austenite is paramagnetic and ferrite is ferromagnetic so that their distributions can be mapped using magnetic force microscopy (MFM). In this talk we discuss the application of MFM to image and quantify the distribution and proportion of ferrite in SAF 2205 duplex steel and a AISI Type 316H austenitic stainless steel. These results are compared directly with maps recorded in the same regions using the established phase mapping technique of electron back-scatter diffraction (EBSD); including a comparison of mapping resolution and quantification methods. For the quantification to be effective, a knowledge of the relative surface penetration of the two techniques is required. Then through the use of surface shielding it has been possible to quantify the depth measurement of the MFM system used in steel as 105 to140 nm.
|Number of pages||1|
|Publication status||Published - 25 Jul 2016|
|Event||19th International Conference on non-contact atomic force microscopy - |
Duration: 25 Jul 2016 → 29 Jul 2016
|Conference||19th International Conference on non-contact atomic force microscopy|
|Period||25/07/16 → 29/07/16|


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Central Medical Group is located in the heart of the booming health precinct of Wodonga, VIC, just minutes from the hospital and a broad range of other health services. Wodonga sits just across the Murray River from its twin city Albury, NSW.
Feel free to contact us by any of the below methods. We warmly welcome you to our practice!Book an Appointment Online
If you are deaf and/or find it hard of hearing or speaking with us over the phone, the National Relay Service (NRS) can help you.


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Philo has really become a big YouTube TV competitor, offering many of the same features, for less than half the price. Currently, Philo has over 59 channels, and it also offers unlimited cloud DVR. Though there is a bit of a catch for that DVR. And this is all for just $20 per month.
About that catch with unlimited cloud DVR. It’s not exactly a DVR. Philo actually says “Save unlimited shows”. It works the same way, but technically it’s not a DVR. In addition to that, you can only save it for 30 days while YouTube TV does it for nine months. This is a good way to catch up on TV shows that air when you’re at work or not at home to watch them, though.
The big selling point for Philo though, is the 59 channels that are included here. These are mostly Viacom channels. Those are channels that aren’t usually found on other streaming services – aside from AT&T TV NOW.
These channels include A&E, AMC, BET, Comedy Central, MTV, Nickelodeon, OWN, Paramount Network, TLC and many more. That makes this a great compliment to another streaming service like YouTube TV. Now unfortunately, there are no locals here, nor Fox channels. So this isn’t a good replacement for YouTube TV’s recent announcement that it’s dropping Fox RSN’s and YES Network.
Philo is somewhat limited in what platforms you can watch on. It’s available on Android, Android TV, Google Chromecast, Roku, iOS, Apple TV and Amazon Fire TV. So it has all of the big platforms covered, but not some of the more niche ones like PS4 and Xbox One.
The service offers a free seven day trial, before you need to pay. To get started, you put in your phone number and within 48 hours Philo will follow up with getting your billing details to unlock the next five days. Then on the eighth day it is going to charge you the $20 per month.
You can sign up for Philo by clicking the link below.

domain: entertainment


Palm Springs Unified School District to host winter teacher recruitment fair
If you hold a California teaching credential or are eligible to receive a state credential within the coming months, your job search could prove fruitful very close to home.
The Palm Springs Unified School District is hosting a Teacher Recruitment Fair on Feb. 22, 2020, at the District Service Center in Palm Springs. The district is launching the search for an estimated 65 to 70 vacancies anticipated for the 2020-21 school year.
“By the time the school year starts, that number may increase,” said Assistant Superintendent of Human Resources Tony Signoret. He added that the last job fair in February netted about 45 new district teachers from the 184 who attended.
More:Musical Theatre University presents ‘Gypsy’ musical this weekend
A team of more than 35, including district office and school site administrators and teachers on special assignment, will be on hand to screen potential candidates, conduct interviews for those who qualify for openings already identified, and answer questions.
“This is truly a team effort,” said Signoret. “We are looking for highly-qualified and energetic teachers that are passionate about making a positive difference in the lives of our children. Our local job fair gives prospective teachers direct access to our principals and our HR team.”
The fair will be held from 9 a.m. to noon in Rooms A & B upstairs at 150 District Center Drive in Palm Springs. Those interested in attending are asked to pre-register at bit.ly/32GHi5E and submit an application online at bit.ly/2DNu1xg. Applicants should also bring a packet with them for a potential interview. The packet should contain a letter of introduction, resume and three letters of recommendation from within the past year. For more information, call (760) 883-2715.
A $5,000 bonus incentive is being offered to all teachers who are hired in the following areas: math, biology, chemistry, physics and special education. The salary range is $55,137 to $99,267.
More:Palm Springs Unified School District Career Academy students, employers share work
As a result of last year’s successful job fair, the district has been able to reduce the number of out-of-state recruitment fair trips from the usual 15 or more to just five this year. Palm Springs Unified School District will also be recruiting at 14 California job fairs.
“In addition to being an outstanding school district, our community is within a renowned tourist destination, famous for its beauty, resorts, restaurants and world-class events such as the Coachella Music Festival and Palm Springs International Film Festival,” said Signoret. “If you are eager to impact the lives of amazing students in a spectacular community, then come see us on Feb. 22!”
Joan Boiko is the Coordinator of Communications and Community Outreach for the Palm Springs Unified School District. She can be reached at firstname.lastname@example.org or (760) 883-2701, ext. 2.


Police have arrested 55 men in connection with historical child sex abuse cases in West Yorkshire.
The investigation centres on allegations made by seven women of sexual abuse committed against them as children in Kirklees between 2002 and 2009.
Detective inspector Ian Thornes said that safeguarding and protecting children ‘remains the top priority for West Yorkshire Police.’
He also said that this investigation demonstrates the police’s ‘ongoing commitment’ to the investigation of both current and non-recent sexual offences against children.
‘We have teams of specialist safeguarding units across each district in West Yorkshire, which include police officers dedicated to dealing with both current and non-recent child abuse and child sexual exploitation,’ said detective inspector Thornes.
‘Tackling child abuse is not something that any one agency can do in isolation; we work closely with local authorities, other organisations and charities to support victims, bring the perpetrators to justice and make our communities safer.
‘We would urge anyone who has been a victim of sexual abuse, whether recent or historic, to report it to the police. Please be assured that you will be listened to, taken seriously and supported by professionals with experience of dealing with these kind of offences.’


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Then Kaling replied, revealing herself as a long-time Ms. Marvel fan.
He had followed up those comments with a possible introduction of Kamala Khan aka Miss Marvel into the MCU.
Created by Sana Amanat and Stephen Wacker, writer G Willow Wilson and artist Adrian Alphona, Kamala Khan or Miss Marvel is a Pakistani-American teen superhero from Jersey City.
The runaway success allows kynoselen Marvel Studio head Kevin Feige to remove nearly anything. In 2014, Marvel released a separate comic for this character, making her the first Muslim, which received its own line of comics.
US Senate votes to save net neutrality
While Collins' support had been public leading up to the vote, Murkowski's and Kennedy's "yes" votes came as a surprise to some. The CTIA, USTelecom and the NCTA earlier sent a joint letter to senators asking them to vote against the measure.
Khan begins to go by Miss Marvel after Carol Danvers her hero, dons the title of Captain Marvel. Avengers: Infinity War producer Kevin Feige confirmed the news in an interview with BBC.
Feige also mentioned that the studio is now filming Captain Marvel with Brie Larson in the lead.
We will remind, filmmakers are more willing to make a female team of Marvel and it seems even more likely.
Marvel is now in the midst of shooting Captain Marvel starring Brie Larson and will move onto introducing the teenage-superhero.
EPA IG Will Probe Pruitt's Use Of Nonpublic Email Accounts
Udall issued some of the harshest criticism of Pruitt, calling his leadership at the EPA "a betrayal of the American people". Patrick Leahy blasted Scott Pruitt for traveling first class for security reasons, saying 'nobody even knows who you are'.
If this isn't enough to excite you, there is more to it as per recent developments.
Riz asked the comic studio when they'd like him, Mindy and Kumail to get started on the screenplay for a film for Ms. Marvel. This definitely has us excited!
Trump admits reimbursing lawyer who paid hush money to a porn star
While many pundits called Giuliani's disclosure a gaffe, Giuliani said at the time that he was working in sync with Trump . His Doral club, as was the case past year , dwarfed the rest of his golf properties, with revenues of nearly $75 million.


Tents, pajamas and a lot of anger – that’s what we can see in these production images from Annie Jenkins’ trio of female monologues A Tinder Trilogy, which runs at Theatre503 later this month. Take a look then book your tickets.
How did real life tragedy spark a new 21st century, social media-embracing adaptation of Shakespeare’s comedy, now with added brackets, Much Ado About Not(h)ing? Creator Kelly Wilson tells us all about it. Book your tickets now!
As they open at Southwark Playhouse check out these production images from Andrew Lloyd Webber Foundation Bridge Company’s new drama What Was Left and watch the cast of new musical The Sandman talk about the scary new show. Book your tickets now!
What reasons might there be for a perfectly sane and strong woman to take her children’s lives? That’s the question, that grew out of studying Medea, that sparked Fall Prettier, the glittery, tuneful new production from Wet Paint. Co-creator Therese Ramstedt explains it all below. Have a read, then book your tickets
Drinking, dancing, matching outfits and small puppet people, these production photos give a hint at what to expect from BoxLess Theatre’s Hedgehog, which is already turning heads at the Lion and Unicorn Theatre. Take a look, then book your tickets.
Questionable food choices, a doorway being blocked, a man in a wig – Darren Bell’s production images for Flat Out positively scream ‘farce’ at you… which is lucky considering that’s exactly the type of play Jennifer Selway has written. Take a look then book your tickets!
There may not be a clipboard in sight (they’re out of shot), but with giant A-boards, dosiers of juicy delights and many a panicked phone call, these images of new comedy Cuttings give a great peek in to the stressed world of entertainment PR in which it is set. Take a look, then book your tickets
A nun, a professor and cushions you wouldn’t expect to see adorning your Nan’s sofa – Have a first look at these production images from Laura-Doe’s Vaudeville of the Vulva, then book your tickets!
“Brave and powerful storytelling” – The first audiences have been in to see Michelle Payne’s dark comedy about one young woman’s obsession with her body, Sad About The Cows, and they’re shouting about it on Twitter. Have a look at what they had too say, and the fantastic new production images, then book your tickets!
“Empowering and entertaining”, “could not be more relevant”, “Incredibly slick” – Audiences at Deptford Lounge have been throwing themselves into Hidden Track Theatre’s interactive show Drawing the Line and feeding back in praise of the exciting show that puts you in charge of a nation.


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Hotel Cenneys Gateway is located in a shopping area of Salem in close proximity to Poiman Karadu, Paravasa Ulagam Water Theme Park and Kailasanathar Temple.
The city center is about 20 minutes on foot.
The property comprises of non-smoking rooms appointed with TV, free Wi-Fi, a minibar, climate control and an in-room safe. This rooms have carpet floor and modern furniture.
A meeting room and a business center along with a car park, currency exchange and a designated area for smoking are available for guests.
Wireless internet is available in the entire hotel for free.
Free private parking is possible on site.

domain: travel


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The Google Home is still getting a few months away from its public debut, and for the first time, there’s a slew of new Google Home features that have arrived to the device.
While the updates are relatively small, there are a lot of changes to the Google Home app, which you’ll be familiar with from the official Google Home website.
This article covers the major updates.
Apps updated:Google Home (Google Home) now comes with Google Now, which offers information about upcoming events, weather, and other information.
This is useful if you’re on the hunt for an event or location and need to know if it’s going to be available for a particular day.
It also lets you see what your current location is and the proximity of nearby landmarks.
Google Now also lets users add their Google Assistant to the app, letting them ask the device what they need from the Google Assistant, and will even prompt them to check the weather.
The update also brings an improved Google Search, which now supports more languages and search terms.
It’s also easier to search for locations using Google Maps, as well as a number of other things.
If you’re looking to buy a new Google Glass or smartwatch, the updated Google Glass app will now let you check prices and find discounts.
Apps added:Google Now can now ask users for location information when they use it, and can now show nearby landmarks, including landmarks in the area where you’re currently located.
Google has also added a number new locations, including New York City and Hong Kong, to its map, along with some more obscure locations.
Apps removed:The app for the Google Play Store has been removed, as it doesn’t support the Google Now feature.
It’ll still work on the official Home app though.
Apps replaced:Google Search has been upgraded to include search terms that have been added to Google Maps.
This will let you search for places, places in particular, and even the closest ones to you.
The search feature will also now search for landmarks in specific locations.
Maps updated: Google has updated its maps app to include a number more locations, as Google Now has improved the accuracy of locations in general.
The new Google Maps app also lets the user search for a specific location using the location’s name and location, as opposed to the current system of just the name.
Apps and updates:Google Assistant has been updated to support a wide range of new features, including more languages, and also voice commands.
This includes questions that can be answered with a voice command, as you can now call out questions and actions.
The voice assistant will now ask questions like, “How much did you pay for that movie?” or “Who do you want to meet with today?”
The update adds a few new voice commands, such as, “Show me the closest coffee shop,” “Show all my coffee shops,” and “Tell me the time.”
Apps updated:You can now search Google for things on the map with Google Maps by typing in the address.
Maps updated:The search feature has been added for the new Google Places, which let you find places, times, and locations on a map.
The feature will now also ask you questions like “Where can I find a place to play basketball?” or, “Where is the closest restaurant?”
The location search feature is also much more accurate than before, allowing you to find places closer to your current point of interest.
Maps removed:Google’s Maps app has been discontinued, but the company will continue to support it.
Apps modified:The Google Maps feature has received an update, as the company has added new features for you to ask Google to show.
The update will now show you the nearest coffee shop and the closest places, as long as you are within the radius of that coffee shop or the closest restaurants.
The map will also show nearby hotels and restaurants, which are updated for each new location.
Apps updated/updated:The Maps app now lets you search by address, as in, “Can I find the nearest restaurant?”
You can also ask the Google Maps team for directions to any location, and the Google team will show you an example of the current route.
The Maps update adds several new features to the map.
It can now help you find restaurants nearby by searching by name.
You can now request directions from the team by typing a name.
The new Google Street View feature has a similar function to Google’s Street View, but instead of showing the exact location of a given location, you can see a zoomed-in view of the entire area of interest, which lets you zoom in on specific features of a building, such a restaurant or a landmark.
Apps changed:Google Maps now shows you the closest Starbucks location, which is a useful addition for those who live near a Starbucks.
You will also be able to request directions using Google Street Vision, which will let the user go to a specific spot on Google Maps and see directions for a certain distance.The Google


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Every human being needs to exercise an activity in order to relax and recreate. This is why we speak of leisure or hobby. This time is very important because it takes man away from his burdens and obligations. But how to make music a hobby?
What is a hobby
Man spends energy in fulfilling his daily responsibilities. He puts his body, his mind, his energy in front of each task he has to accomplish. It is therefore normal and even recommended that he have some time off. Free time is the time a person has after fulfilling his responsibilities at various levels. Leisure time is the activity that one carries out during free time. Every person has the freedom to choose the leisure activity that he/she likes and that best suits his/her needs. There are many leisure activities. The purpose of these activities is to relax and rest the body in order to get back to work. It also allows man to recreate himself by developing positive thoughts according to his ambitions and aspirations.
Making music a hobby
Music is a set of sound, rhythm, melody and words. It would therefore be very interesting to make it a hobby. Not only because it makes you feel good but also because you can find a variety of things to do to relax. With music, you can listen to songs that have a soft and peaceful melody with encouraging and emotional lyrics. You can also opt to listen to music without words. Just melodies to take your mind off things. What is very interesting is that you have the possibility to play the instrument (piano, guitar, tam-tam, flute...) to relax. You can change the scale as you wish allowing your mind and your whole body to follow you in this adventure.

domain: hobby


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Portable: Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 4, and XBOX
Online Players: 50 Million players online in one month
Launched Year: 2019
First-person shooter battle royale game Apex Legends is available for free on the Electronic Arts and Respawn Entertainment platforms. For Microsoft Windows, Xbox One, and PlayStation 4, as well as subsequently for Nintendo Switch and mobile platforms, it was released in February 2019.
History Of Apex Legends
Respawn Entertainment, a company established in 2010 by former Infinity Ward workers who worked on the Call of Duty series, created Apex Legends. Titanfall and Titanfall 2, two of the studio’s earlier games, got positive reviews for their cutting-edge movement and gameplay features.
A small crew at Respawn started working on Apex Legends in 2016 while they experimented with various game ideas. The group concentrated on building a battle royale game featuring distinctive characters, known as “legends,” who had individual skills and backstories. Up until its unexpected announcement and release on February 4, 2019, the game remained a secret.
Almost 2.5 million players logged in within the first day of Apex Legends’ debut, and the game attracted 50 million players globally in its first month. The game’s refined gameplay mechanics, compelling characters, and original take on the battle royale genre—which includes elements like a ping system for communication and respawn beacons to revive fallen teammates—all contributed to its appeal. With the addition of additional legends, weaponry, and maps along with events and partnerships with other brands like Titanfall and ALGS (Apex Legends Global Series), the game’s official esports league, Apex Legends has continued to gain popularity since its release.
Technologies used in Apex Legends
The Source engine, which also powers games like Half-Life and Team Fortress 2, forms the foundation for Apex Legends.
Havok physics engine:
The physics of the game’s characters and items are simulated by the Havok physics engine.
For realistic effects including particle effects, fluid simulations, and destructible environments, Apex Legends employs Nvidia PhysX.
Amazon Web Services (AWS):
AWS servers, which offer dependable and scalable infrastructure for the game’s multiplayer experience, are used to host Apex Legends.
EAC is anti-cheat software that aids in keeping Apex Legends free from hacking and cheating.
Scale form is used for the game’s user interface and menu systems.
Adobe Creative Suite
Adobe Creative Suite is used for creating and editing the game’s graphics, audio, and video content.
Apex Legends live player count
Apex Legends Profit Statistics
The only thing we can be confident of is that Apex has made billions of dollars in profits over the duration of its existence. The last time EA stated how much money the game had made overall was in May 2022, when the publisher said it had earned more over $2 billion. Since that the news was made almost a year ago, there is a good probability that the game will surpass the $3 billion milestone in 2023.
Nevertheless, given that many video game studios and esports organisations have undergone a slight economic slowdown, it can be a little challenging to gauge exactly how well Apex has performed over the course of the past year. After Apex Legends Mobile reportedly made roughly $40 million in revenue in 2022, EA closed the quality assurance department dedicated to Apex and fired all of its contract employees there.
On the other hand, Apex is currently experiencing one of its busiest seasons ever in terms of player count, breaking its concurrent player record on Steam multiple times. Respawn even just recently opened a brand-new studio specifically for Apex, increasing the number of developers working on the game.
Reasons Why Apex Legends is So Popular.
The excellent press that Apex Legends has been receiving is well-deserved. There is no mystery as to why the game continues to draw new players. It’s not unexpected nor abrupt that Apex Legends is succeeding. When it was first released in 2019, the game’s popularity hasn’t wavered, largely as a result of how enjoyable it is.
The delicate balance between movement and friction has been one of the key aspects of game design that Apex Legends has studied to perfection. Most of the time, the game feels frictionless due to the fluid dashes and jumps. Your slide mechanics let you to slide through the slopes without feeling out of place, and traversing the landscape feels liberating.
During a consistent portion of the game, Battle Royales can feel boring. You get to experience brief periods in PUBG where there is nothing to do but wait. There isn’t much else you can try besides going out and trying to find adversaries with your Kar98k or more stuff.
But, Apex Legends does not provide you that leisure. You are expected to roam around a lot while playing the game. There is practically a convenient grab point every time you get close to a tall object. You climb a little up and add some extra weight to steer yourself to that point when you jump at a vertical surface.
Three Person Squads
Another feature that sets Apex Legends apart from other Battle Royale games is their choice to use three-man squads rather than four-man teams. This forces each participant to rely on oneself and provides an opportunity for teamwork. You cannot be a team’s weakest member and expect to be supported. The participants receive what they deserve; there is very little to no luck involved with Apex.
Well-Crafted Map Topography
Every every map in Apex Legends is expertly designed to provide players with terrain advantages. No matter if you are playing King’s Canyon or World’s Edge, you will undoubtedly notice the useful terrain and architecture of these maps. In Apex Legends, the map components combine to create small playgrounds, choke places, and dangerous hubs.
Tremendously Detailed for a Free For All Title
Everything that occurs in Apex Legends has a purpose. Despite having numerous characters, each with a distinct set of skills, it has remained incredibly simple. Even though the game is entirely free to play, the versatility it provides is truly astounding. Because of the attention to detail and care taken by the Respawn creating team, the terrains and maps feel authentic.
In conclusion, Apex Legends is an extremely entertaining and compelling game that gives a distinctive and novel perspective on the battle royale genre. It is a must-play for lovers of the genre because of its focus on collaboration, broad cast of characters, and compelling plot.


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Polestar, Volvo’s EV performance brand, on Thursday (Jan 3) released the first image of the Polestar 2 – the company’ debut all-electric vehicle, which it believes will give the Tesla Model 3 a run for its money.
While Polestar has promised to reveal the full specifications of this non-hybrid EV during the official unveiling a few weeks from now, it did give us a peek into the car’s potential by releasing a few of its features.
Here’s a bulletized list of whatever has been made known, so far, about this would-be “Tesla killer.”
o Polestar 2 will go into production shortly after the long-range hybrid, the Polestar 1, enters the assembly line later this year, which means we’re probably looking at a 2020 date.
- It will be a four-door “fastback” body-type car.
- The performance vehicle’s electric motors will generate about 400 horsepower.
- The car will be good for 300 miles (about 483 kilometers) on a single full charge.
- It will sell at a price point similar to that of the Tesla Model 3.
- Polestar 2 will be the first car to feature the Google Android HMI – the all-new automobile-specific, smartphone-independent version of Google Assistant.
While Polestar continues to play the Tesla Model 3 comparison card, it has somewhat backed out from the “Tesla-killer” narrative it had initially pursued.
“We are not saying it’s a Tesla killer, we are here to vividly compete with them in the market,” Polestar CEO Thomas Ingenlath had said in a July 2018 statement.
“We will launch Polestar 2 in the second half of 2019 and production will begin around the start of 2020,” he said.
Speaking to Ward Auto, the Polestar chief had also said that the company saw Tesla and Porsche as its “competitive set.”
Okay, so we don’t know much about the Polestar 2 other than what we’ve discussed above, but we do know a bit about the Google Android HMI feature the car is set to debut with.
Last year, Volvo announced that its next-generation Sensus infotainment system would include a host of Google services, including Google Assistant, Google Maps as well as apps available through the Google Play Store.
“Bringing Google services into Volvo cars will accelerate innovation in connectivity and boost our development in applications and connected services,” Henrik Green – Volvo’s senior VP for research and development – had said at the time.
“Soon, Volvo drivers will have direct access to thousands of in-car apps that make daily life easier and the connected in-car experience more enjoyable,” he said.
The announcement was, however, first made by the two companies at the 2017 I/O Developer Conference.
The collaboration between the automaker and the tech giant will see several Google services and apps getting embedded into Volvo’s next-gen Sensus infotainment system in a way that will allow drivers to use the services independently – no need for a smartphone.
Google Maps will play a key role in new Volvos’ navigation systems, offering users real-time traffic data, map updates as well as proactive route change suggestions – a feature that has already proved its utility on smartphone Google Maps.
The Google Assistant will be as useful an inclusion as any other, providing a central voice interface for future Volvos, which will allow drivers to manipulate in-car functions like air-conditioning, sun-roof and windows, as well as use apps for sending messages and controlling music, using voice commands.
Google Play Store will include a plethora of approved downloadable apps with Google’s affirmation that its screening system will ensure that driver distraction is minimal, and that more can be done from the dashboard than ever before.
The previous version of Volvo’s Sensus ran on a large portrait-oriented touch-sensitive display, integrated into the car’s dashboard, which controlled navigation, HVAC (heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning) and media, as well as allowing access to a limited number of apps.
“The Google partnership to be entered into is an important strategic alliance for Volvo Cars,” Green said.
“The Android platform, Google services and Google’s working relationship with app developers in-house and worldwide will help us further improve the Volvo car experience,” he added.
Volvo will, however, continue to develop its own apps and connected services independent of its partnership with Google.
Google’s Android offers a “turnkey” solution to automakers that can use the automobile-specific operating system just like smartphone manufacturers do.
We got a glimpse of the system’s apparent utility at the 2017 I/O, where Google demoed the system on a Maserati.
Not only Volvo, but Audi is also partnering with Google to introduce a similar infotainment system based on Android Nougat 7.0, allowing users access to the same Google Maps, Google Assistant and apps that are found in Android Auto – again, without the need for an Android smartphone.
With the infotainment system not cornering users to use Android devices, more tailored choices can be made available to enhance their in-car experience.
Google also announced a fresh user interface (UI) and new Google Maps features for the Google Auto to make it smarter and more user-oriented.
A new group-messaging feature and a Rich Communication System (RCS) are also being introduced to the Android Auto.
Additionally, third-party integration is being upgraded to include integrated search results, and more, to further enhance user experience.
In an attempt to address security and hacking concerns, Google is also going to increase the frequency of feature and security updates.
Moving back to Volvo’s next-gen Sensus, it’s going to offer a far bigger choice of apps on the Google Play Store than ever before, including thousands of other car-specific apps that can be accessed using the cars’ integrated 4G LTE connectivity.