text:
Alande Mustafa Safi, Managing Director of Paragon Business Group, talks about the burgeoning potential down under and his vision for 2018.
Paragon Business Group is the parent company and the founder of Paragon Premier Investment Fund (PPIF). PBG has had 16 years’ experience in this field and currently manages AUD 1.06 billion in residential mortgage and AUD 284 million under management of the Federal Government Approved Investment Stream. This journey has enabled PPIF to come to fruition.
Bring us through the inception of Paragon Premier Investment Fund.
Paragon Premier Investment Fund was established in May 2016. It is a regulated fund that holds an Australian Financial Services licence No. 483118. PPIF is a development investment programme in Australian real estate and mortgage assets. The fund is dedicated to building homes, factories, and development projects that we see feasible for the Australian community, to supplement the growth of the population in the country. Our product is capital guaranteed, as all investments are backed by First Mortgage with step-in rights, as the Principal Guarantee in the form of Title Deeds to the investors.
As a foreign investor you will not only be supporting the Australian economy, but also create jobs and aid the local community whilst receiving a minimum return of six per cent per annum. Some of our projects can deliver returns of 11 per cent per annum—these investments have a minimum investment term of between three to five years.
How has the fund performed thus far?
Whilst the fund was established in May 2016, the parent company PBG, has had an Australian Credit licence for over 16 years. PBG has managed over AUD 1.06 billion in mortgage management in Australia and AUD 284 million for five years in foreign investment with Paragon’s two approved federal government investment streams called the 188 A and C Significant Investment Visa Streams. In 2016 Paragon managed to present investment opportunities worth over AUD 311 million.
What are the challenges involved in growing the fund?
Many investors are not aware of the potential of investing in Australia. It is our job to educate prospective investors and show them the attractive returns they can achieve in a secured development portfolio. Being a resilient nation and steering clear of global financial crisis that affected most financial markets, Australia was the least affected developed economy.
The current population growth and rapid rise of the housing market is an optimum factor for the speedy growth of Australian real estate. The Paragon Premier Investment Fund team has a very prestigious and knowledgeable Board of Directors which enhances the solutions to investors, synergising our resources with major land holders, developers and building industry leaders to provide a premium and exclusive investment solution to our global investors.
Describe PPIF’s international presence.
Paragon Business Group has been trading in Melbourne, Dubai, Shanghai, Los Angeles and Kabul. With the formation of Paragon Premier Investment Fund, it was inevitable to introduce it to existing markets.
We have affiliated and sub-funded our regulated licence further to private banks, private family wealth managers, sovereigns in New York, Washington DC, Paris, London, Geneva, Zurich, New Delhi and Mumbai to strengthen the scope of PPIF’s global investor pool and to further enhance our fund raising capabilities for the projects we offer and require funding for.
How did the fund make its foray into the Middle East?
Paragon Business Group, the parent company of PPIF, has an approved Federal Government of Australia Investment Stream Immigration Product [license] since the inception of the visa in November 2014 by the State Government of Victoria. I have been travelling to Dubai since then to promote this product.
Once I identified the gap in market—which was the reluctance of banks in Australia to lend to large scale developments—I came up with this product. We then applied for the Australia Financial Services (AFS) license in December 2015, enabling foreign investment into the property development fund. This is how the PPIF came about.
Our main focus in the region is to create awareness in the local market of lucrative development funds that invest in Australia’s real estate industry. This is to attract potential clients to invest in our products in Australia.
Being the hub for many South East Asian and European banks, financial advisors, and consultancy firms, it is a business advantage to have presence in Dubai and use this as a centre to meet and discuss opportunities within the financial diaspora that Dubai is well-known for.
PPIF provides investors a direct opportunity to tap into the Australian real estate market, particularly in Melbourne. Can you provide an insight into its progress and future potential?
Australia has a population of 24.6 million, and currently the population in Melbourne is 4.5 million with a four to six per cent growth per annum. The population in Melbourne is expected to double in 19 years. Therefore, Melbourne’s infrastructure and housing must also double to accommodate for this growth. Backed by a strong economy and reasonable cost of living, Melbourne has just been named the most liveable city in the world by Economist Intelligence Unit for the seventh year in a row.
Australian banks have stringent lending policies making it almost impossible for developers to borrow funds from the banks. This is where PPIF fills the gap, as the fund conservatively invests into the median residential property growth, which is a much needed requirement for the influx of the population growth and lack of funding from banks for such scale development projects.
What is currently in the pipeline for 2018?
We currently have a signed letter of intent from a capital partner to fund the third international airport in South East Melbourne worth $7 billion. This project is much needed to service Melbourne's booming South-eastern suburbs and the state's East. We have progressed to have an announcement of this project within 90 days.
What PPIF is seeing in the global market is the need for big ticket investors wanting to steer in a low return secured capital investment, not only to diversify their portfolios, but to also preserve capital in a global Government-approved infrastructure investment. It is with this known pattern evolving in the global investors market that PPIF has established a sub-fund product to specifically suit such investment, globally.
Only those who have been living under a rock would not be aware that the world has attracted institutional capital for infrastructure investments since the 1990s. This is why governments began privatising the utility sectors as well as other infrastructure assets like toll roads, communication and airports. Despite the industry’s perceived maturity, the continued wave of privatisation has resulted in an uninterrupted pipeline of transaction opportunities.
In light of many big ticket transactions, there was an interesting debate between diverse panels of asset managers as to whether or not the level of global infrastructure investment opportunities were sustainable. In short, the consensus was yes, but the panellists agreed that there would be significant product development, like new assets and strategies falling within the infrastructure scope.
However, it was still widely acknowledged that this was not really hindering demand, and that there is much more capital chasing fewer infrastructure assets, resulting in very high valuations and greater risk of compressed returns.
According to Preqin data from Q1 2016 to Q1 2017, the majority of capital for unlisted infrastructure is still raised in North America ($50 billion), followed by Europe ($26 billion), Asia ($9 billion) and rest of the world ($6.6 billion). However, the lion’s share of this capital is going to an increasingly smaller number of managers, raising mega funds.
According to PEI Infrastructure Investor H1 2017 Fundraising Review, 13 funds reached a final close in Q2 2017, with an aggregate raised capital of $6.6 billion, and 29 funds closed in H1 2017, raising $36.2 billion. The largest five funds closed during the period accounted for 73 per cent of total capital raised. This potentially argues the reversal of an earlier trend of limited partners investing directly and reverting back to managed vehicles. This may also be the catalyst for a new trend of smaller funds with more specialised strategies.
This point has been well perceived to be the point that was no longer deal-origination driven, but increasingly focused on their asset management capabilities. Based on this, Paragon Premier Investment Fund now has a structured product and provides the ‘platforms’—which are generally more asset-specific, targeting certain projects and on more bespoke terms than a fund—giving the limited partner greater flexibility and the reassurance of partnering with an experienced manager.
Paragon Premier Investment Fund currently has over $38 billion to source and introduce secured infrastructure investment opportunities worldwide, whilst our Australian development-focused fund management has currently over AUD 700 million to manage from our global investor portfolio.


Which ever Packable Down you choose, it will be your travel favourite thanks to its compact pouch. It will keep you warm indoors and out. Here are our tips to properly maintain your Packable Down and keep it as long as possible!
How To Care ?
- Machine wash in cold water
- Use a mild detergent
- Close all zippers and velcro tabs before laundering
- Wash separately
- Rinse thoroughly or rinse twice
- Tumble dry at low heat setting
- Iron at low temperature
- Use fabric softeners
- Allow damp or wet garment to dry crumpled
- Dry clean


text:
What would you like to do?
World's most hungry animal?
There are many animals that are extremely hungry in the world. These animal are animals that are constantly eating food.
Was this answer useful?
Thanks for the feedback!
I'm pretty sure the answer is dolphin.
The Blue Whale is the largest aquatic animal. It averages about 100 feet in length. Blue whales on average grow to be about 80 feet, weighing upto 120 tons. Larger blue wh…ales have been recorded at 94 feet, but are quite rare these days.
Now by venomous do you mean most potent, or most prominant? Most prominant would be the King Cobra. "One single bite of this deadly snake can easily kill a human. This sna…ke is even capable of killing a full-grown Asian Elephant within 3 hours if the larger animal is bitten in a vulnerable area such as the trunk. It's venom is not as toxic as other venomous snakes, but King Cobra is capable of injecting 5 times more venom than black mamba and can result in mortality up to 5 times faster than that of the black mamba. It is quite widespread, ranging across South and South-east Asia, living in dense highland forests." Most Potent would have to be The Golden Poison Frog "The Golden Poison Frog (Phyllobates terribilis) carries only one mg of poison, yet can still kill up to 20 people."
While the Cheetah is the fastest LAND animal, and can reach speeds of up to 60 mph in 3 seconds, the fastest animal is a bird- the Peregrine Falcon- which can reach 200 mph in… a dive.
the worlds fattest animal, happens to be a Giraffe! it was taken care of, by a family, who knew nothing about the species, they thought that it was to thin, and decided to ove…r feed it. if you would like to see pictures of proof, go to: www. Google.ca and click at the top "Google images" then type in "fattest animal. there might be other pictures, but look for a giraffe.
I'd say a dolphin. 2nd Answerer says: Wolves in the wild have actually adopted abandoned humans... so that is probably how they became man's best friend. 3rd Answerer says: I…'d say the world's friendliest is a dolphin or an elephant.
Fur seals have about 70,000 hairs per square centimetre. They probably have the most hairs overall.
Well, as far as I know is the fastest animal (on land) the Cheetah, strongest animals 1. Elephant 2. Polar bear 3. Rhinoceros 4. Hippopotamus 5. Grizzly bear
well as you probaly know that the seepamonopamwam is extremely slow but the 2 lapizid spider beats it but that's not slowest is the beengrastos faces fobaboo with a maxamam sp…eed of 0.001
The sperm whale. It is plunging to 3 kilometres (9,800 ft) for prey.
CockroachesRats/Mice (non-domesticated)Dung BeetlesWasps/FliesPigs Going from 1 (most) to 5 (least).
The Human being. Meanness requires an abstract form of intelligence that humans excel at. meanness requires an appreciation and pleasure in the suffering one brings upon anoth…er, Only Humans have this capability.
For its size the most poisonous animal in the world is the marine cone snail. It lives in the indian and pacific oceans near australia, and after it shoots its poisonous detac…hable harpoon at you, you will die in the time it takes to smoke a cigarette. The tiny South American 'poison arrow frogs' produce lethal poison on their skin. Other candidates for most poisonous would be the box jellyfish, the marbled-cone snail, and the Brazilian wandering spider. There are many poisonous / venomous animals, which depending on the dose could prove injurious or fatal to humans. They include: - Blue-ringed octopus - Sea snakes such as the yellow-bellied sea snake - Snakes such as the black snake, rattle-snake, cobras, and mambas - Fish such as scorpion fish, puffer fish, and stonefish - Jellyfish such as the Portuguese man-o-war - Spiders such as the black widow and brown recluse - Mexican beaded lizard - Scorpions - African bees - Lonomia moth (caterpillars) - even the male platypus The poison arrow frog and certain salamanders would have to top most people's list of "The World's Most Poisonous Animals." - Two micrograms of toxin from the poison arrow frog is enough to kill a human. A "microgram" is a very small amount. The ink in the period at the end of this sentence (if it were printed) will weigh around six micrograms. * Phyllobates terribillis, otherwise known as the Golden Dart Frog, is the the most toxic of all the Poison Dart Frogs: while most of these toxic frogs use tetrodotoxin, the Golden Dart Frog uses batrachotoxin, a toxin eleven-times more potent than Hydrogen Sulfite. Probably the tiny jellyfish realted to the box jelly called Irukandji. They are so small you really can't see them in the water under normal conditions. And if you make contact with them, your symptoms don't present until later - when the poison is making its way through your bloodstream. Pound for pound, there is almost certainly nothing more deadly than this little guy. Wikipedia has more information, and in the best tradition of Wikianswers, we've already provided a link for you. The Golden poison dart frogthe most piousness animal in the world is the box-jelly fish the most poisonus animal on earth is the GOLDEN POISON DART FROG. Actually marine snakes are vastly more poisonous but the most poisonous animal is difficult to determine. Do you mean if eaten by you or if it bites you.
There are many animals equally strange, and Australians do not regard the platypus as strange at all. To some, platypuses may be considered to be strange because they are uniq…ue to Australia and one of only two types of mammals to lay eggs instead of giving birth to live young. (The other type is the echidna.) \n\nThe platypus's appearance is also unusual - it has a bill which some liken to that of a duck, although it is very different, a sleek and streamlined otter-like body, a short, thick tail like a beaver, the male has a venomous spur, and its feet are webbed. It uses its sensitive bill which is equipped with electroreceptors to find food underwater.
Well, there is not just only one ferosious animal there is many... like right now there is an endangered ferosious animal named the black panther.There claws are dangerously s…harp, sharper then a knife. and there teeth are massive.
In the world, some 900 thousand different kinds of living insects are known. This representation approximates 80 percent of the world's species.

domain: biology


Vintage Manual 1920 South Bend Lathe - Machine Shop Equipment for Vocational and Industrial Schools
5 1/4 x 7 1/4 inches
South Bend Lathe Works was founded in 1906 by the O'Brien twin brothers after they graduated from Purdue University in Indiana.
Within just a quarter of a century, South Bend Lathe Works became the largest manufacturer of precision metalworking lathes in the world with customers in more than 88 countries, and machines which were used in every type of industry including schools, home workshops and large manufacturers. A couple of very famous customers included Thomas Edison and Henry Ford. Their largest customers are the US Navy and Army as well as many departments of our Government.
Great Photos of a time past
No date but appears Vintage (c.1960s)
No issues noted
See all pictures
Please contact us with any questions!


text: Jewish valuation of life is borne out by different dimensions of appraisal. The first is 'recognition respect' of the vulnerability of life and loving care that protects it. This is the fundament of Jewish virtue ethics. Homicide is considered the worst of evils. Special regard to the protection of human life leads to the paradoxical outcome that sometimes respect for life entails the loss of life. This is true not only with regard to the protection of biological life, as in situations of self-defense, but also, in circumstances that call for protection of dimensions of life that are no less valuable morally than life itself – the sexual integrity of people, their dignity and their protection from unremitting suffering. Unabashed devotion to the creation of new life and acceptance of some risk and suffering for the sake of procreation embody one more dimension of valuing life and of acting out the image of God in humans. The fourth dimension is a sensibility for all that is unique and joyful within earthly life as such.

domain: sociology


CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas — A powerful winter storm plowed through the Lone Star State today, delivering a large swath the heavy snow from the Hill Country into East Texas while pounding the Coastal Bend with heavy rain and high winds.
The rain abated late in the day, but the wind and biting cold will linger through Monday. While snowfall totaled in excess of five inches over portions of Central and East Texas, rainfall exceeded three inches in coastal areas of Nueces and Kleberg Counties, prompting a flood advisory Sunday afternoon. Temperature plummeted from the upper 50s around noon to the lower 40s by 3 pm, with wind chill values in the middle 30s.
While skies clear by midday Monday the cold will last through Tuesday, with some inland areas near freezing both Monday and Tuesday mornings. The Polar air moves east by Thursday, soon to be followed by another cold front Thursday night. That system will not be as chilly as today's and will serve only to maintain temperatures just a bit below normal.
Highs will range from the lower 50s Monday and Tuesday to the upper 60s on Thursday. Lows will be from the middle 30s to middle 40s.


text:
Giulia is an Italian powerhouse who returns this June with her brand new single ‘Trippin’. The new track showcases the rising star’s vocal strength and beauty whilst also shining a light on her all round flexibility as an artist.
It’s a new musical direction for Giulia and fans will be able to get their hands on the new single when it is officially released on June 22nd. The new single is a melting pot of musical influences and genres that have been fused together to create a perfect music hybrid of sounds.
There is a strong hint of South American styles running through ‘Trippin’ and Giulia’s music overall which is to little surprise considering she spent a lot of time in Argentina during her childhood as her mother is a successful fashion entrepreneur. While her dad is a professional Polo player. Her parents careers meant that she has experienced various cultures which are portrayed throughout her music.
‘Trippin’ comes on the back of Giulia’s debut album ‘Raze Me To The Ground’ which was a country-rock record with a pop twist. And the new release signals a new musical style and with a new LP on the horizon listeners can expect more twists.
Speaking about her new studio album, the Rome born singer says: “This is an album about freedom and about having a free spirit. It is so important for me to feel free as an artist and as a woman. My upcoming album is about doing whatever you want and not being afraid about what people are going to say about it, this is my sound and I am not going to be scared about what other people have to say”.
You can listen to ‘Trippin’ right here as we bring you the exclusive premiere:
Make sure you follow Giulia on Twitter @giuliamymusic to keep up to date with all her latest music and tour news!
What do you think of Giulia’s new single ‘Trippin’? Let us know your thoughts over on Twitter @CelebMix.

domain: artistic


text:
My seven-year-old daughter likes to sleep with us. We have a new bed for her, and have even done up her room, but she refuses to sleep there at night. She has slept with us from the very beginning. Is this a bad habit? We have managed to convince her to sleep in her bed during the day, but how can we get her to do the same at night?
The jury is out on that one, for sure! And the verdict, when it does come, is going to be a hung verdict. The world, it seems, is sharply divided between people who think it is fine to have their children sleep in their bed till they are ready for their own rooms; and those who think it is a complete no-no and is to be discouraged from as early as possible. A parenting poser that is fiercely debated by psychologists, families, doctors, parents and kids.
Like you, a whole lot of parents in India, even urban Indians with Westernized lifestyles, do accommodate their child in their rooms, their beds, up to the age of even 13-14. And again, like you, they’re not too sure it’s the right thing because it clearly prevents parents from having not just sex and intimacy in the bedroom at night but even adult conversations, not meant for the children to hear or participate in.
Let us first look at why your child prefers to sleep with you and why you hesitate to firmly shut her out. The primary reason is that we are told that children grow up more secure this way. That, to my mind, is a debatable issue in the first place. Your child doesn’t need to share your bed to be secure and happy. And, more importantly, sleeping with parents is no guarantee against insecurities. Moreover, their fears need to be, and can be, dealt with in other ways. Then, there is the sheer discomfort of poking knees and butting heads. All in all, no one gets rest.
Secondly, many of us in India tend to either not acknowledge or not give adequate weight to the adult man-woman relationship once we become parents. There is often guilt attached to spelling out to children that parents need their own space and time. So it seems more convenient for all, by default, to sleep in the same space.
One grave danger of this is that our children have very poorly etched ideas about what their parents’ relationship is like, and to accept and be equanimous with the fact that parents have a relationship with each other at certain levels which do not include the children. This, to my mind, is clearly an impediment in a child’s development and transition into young adulthood (that one spouse finds it “convenient” to insert a kid into the marital bed so that intimacy can be avoided, is also a factor at work—but then that is another issue).
Once they’re in the habit, it’s difficult to get children to sleep elsewhere. In spite of whatever way you “dress it up”, the kid feels she is being banished. The bottom line is that parents have to decide they want “just their space” badly enough. And then do what it takes—ranging from mild cajoling and rewards to explanations—to get children to sleep in their own bed. Preferably, start this early with your children (by the age of three or four). You could begin by being in the child’s new room for a while—put the child to bed, and read to her or read yourself, with the clear understanding that you will exit the room in half an hour or so. There is bound to be some crying and protest, but if you want it badly enough, you’ll find a way.
Write to Gouri at firstname.lastname@example.org


text:
By Mario Puzo
Formats and Prices
- ebook (Digital original) $0.99 $0.99 CAD
- Audiobook Download (Unabridged)
This item is a preorder. Your payment method will be charged immediately, and the product is expected to ship on or around April 23, 2013. This date is subject to change due to shipping delays beyond our control.
With equal parts cynicism and humor, Puzo recounts the book deal and his experiences in Hollywood while writing the screenplay for the movie. Francis Ford Coppola, Robert Evans, Peter Bart, Marlon Brando, and Al Pacino all make appearances-as does Frank Sinatra, in his famous and disastrous encounter with Puzo.
First published in 1972, the essay is now available as an ebook for the first time. A must-have for every Godfather fan!
Featuring a foreword by Ed Falco, author of The Family Corleone.
The Making of The Godfather
A Preview of The Family Corleone
About the Authors
Table of Contents
In accordance with the U.S. Copyright Act of 1976, the scanning, uploading, and electronic sharing of any part of this book without the permission of the publisher constitute unlawful piracy and theft of the author's intellectual property. If you would like to use material from the book (other than for review purposes), prior written permission must be obtained by contacting the publisher at email@example.com. Thank you for your support of the author's rights.
Because Mario Puzo's essays are simultaneously buttressed and undermined by a wicked sense of humor, you can't take him literally. For example, in "The Making of The Godfather," he tells the reader that he went to Hollywood only to get out of the house. He promised his wife, he tells us, that if he ever hit it big, he'd get out from under her feet and go write someplace else. So what could he do? Having made his wife a solemn promise, he had no choice but to go to Hollywood and play tennis a lot while he hung out with celebrities and was feted as a famous writer. Ah, the sacrifices a man has to make for the sake of his marriage! This is funny, but the reader understands both that Puzo is entertaining us with an amusing version of the truth, and that he was cynical from the start about Hollywood and script writing, about movies and the powerbrokers who get movies made. Puzo asks the reader to see him as a likable schlub who also happens to be "one of the best technicians of the Western World" and, as the author of the acclaimed novel The Fortunate Pilgrim, an accomplished artist. He tells us that for most of his early life he was the family chooch, or screwup, and we sense that he still likes that designation. It allows him the freedom of a clown, though we also understand that he's an artist of substantial gifts. This picture he presents of himself embodies the tone of "The Making of The Godfather," which is both funny and serious, as well as passionate and cynical about writing and movie making and the connections between the two.
If we were to take Puzo literally in "The Making of The Godfather," we'd have to believe that he "never held it against Paramount that they got The Godfather so cheap," or that he didn't disapprove of the fact that the William Morris Agency might have sold him down the river (his words) in making the Paramount deal. Nothing, apparently, riles this Mario Puzo. He is so calmly cynical and accepting regarding the machinations of those in power that when he saw The Brotherhood—a movie for which he was paid and credited nothing though he believes it was stolen from his outline—he tells us, "I wasn't angry because I thought Paramount hustled me." Nor was he angry, we're told, when Lancer Books claimed to have sold nearly two million copies of The Fortunate Pilgrim though they paid him for approximately 30 percent of that amount. He accepts all of this as "perfectly reasonable business behavior." This is a Mario Puzo who has nothing in common with the Sicilians he writes about, a people who hold slights and acts of disrespect close to their hearts, a people you'd be well advised not to abuse, a people for whom "revenge is a dish best served cold." No, this Mario Puzo accepts the outrages and injustices of the world as matters of fact, as ordinary examples of the way, of course, the world operates. All this will strike the reader as true and not true, as funny and not really very funny at all. It is true that the world, as Puzo sees it and convincingly portrays it, is a place of ordinary corruption. It is impossible to believe, though, that Puzo wasn't wounded by it—certainly not after reading the body of his work, novel after novel in which corruption leads to chaos and violence in the lives of men who—seeing that the world is rigged against them—go about creating their own justice, to terrifying effect. Puzo as a lovable comedian who slides amusingly through a world of corruption is funny; Puzo as a victim of unscrupulous businessmen is not really very funny at all.
The one thing Puzo ever truly believed in, he tells us, is art: "I didn't believe in religion or love or women or men, I didn't believe in society or philosophy. But I believed in art for forty-five years." If we were to take him literally—which I have been arguing we should not—then at age forty-five he gave up on art and went about writing books that would make money. Again, this is true and not true. Surely he wrote The Godfather to make money—and he succeeded magnificently. He wrote the screenplays to The Godfather and its sequels to make money, and again he succeeded. And, yes, it appears that every novel that followed The Godfather was written to make money and with an eye toward the film version—and in all of this he succeeded, writing several more bestsellers that went on to film or TV adaptations. But it is also not true that he gave up on art. In every one of his novels he continued to explore his obsessive themes: the power of those animal impulses that lead to the corruption of men and society, of the violence in the human heart and the hypocrisy of culture. To these themes, pursued through stories of the criminal underworld, Puzo remained a faithful artist. He did all that any artist can do, which is to explore the mind's and heart's obsessions honestly.
The essay that follows this introduction tells the story of Mario Puzo's, the writer's, journey to Hollywood, where he translated The Godfather into a feature film. The essay, like a good raconteur, shares amusing stories of the things that happened to Puzo in Hollywood. And while Puzo is busy at the work of entertaining the reader, he also takes some time to argue for the primacy of the writer in the construction of all narrative art, which is a lesson the film industry seems destined never to learn. But mostly the essay is, as the title makes clear, the story of the things that happened to Mario Puzo—including his famous and disastrous encounter with Frank Sinatra—along the way to the filming of The Godfather. It's a read no real Godfather fan can refuse.
The Making of The Godfather
The real reason I decided to write the piece that follows was, I think, because the wheels at Paramount refused to let me see the final cut of the movie when and how I wanted to see it. I hate to admit I have that much ego, but what the hell, nobody's perfect.
That incident as described also made me come to the decision that I would never write another movie unless I had final say. I so instructed my agent. Which in practical terms means I'm out of the movie business.
Before all this happened I signed to write two more movies, which at this time are almost done. So I think I'm qualified to say that the movie script is the least satisfying form for a writer. But like most everything else it's fun to try one time.
Most movies are lousy, and they are lousy because the people who have final say really don't know how story and character work. Hollywood still hasn't caught on that it's money in the bank to promote a writer to a status equal to that of producer, director, and (dare I say it) studio chief.
I HAVE written three novels. The Godfather is not as good as the preceding two; I wrote it to make money. My first novel, The Dark Arena (1955), received mostly very good reviews saying I was a writer to watch. Naturally I thought I was going to be rich and famous. The book netted me $3,500 and I still didn't know I had a whole fifteen years to wait.
My second novel, The Fortunate Pilgrim, was published ten years later (1965) and netted me $3,000. I was going downhill fast. Yet the book received some extraordinarily fine reviews. The New York Times called it a "small classic." I even like the book myself and immodestly think of it as art.
Anyway I was a hero, I thought. But my publisher, Atheneum, known as a classy publishing house more interested in belle-lettres than money, was not impressed. I asked them for an advance to start on my next book (which would be a BIG classic), and the editors were cool. They were courteous. They were kind. They showed me the door.
I couldn't believe it. I went back and read all the reviews on my first two books. (I skipped the bad ones.) There must be some mistake. I was acknowledged as a real talent at least. Listen, I was a real writer, honest, a genuine artist, two acclaimed novels behind me, every word in them sweated over and all mine. No help from anybody. It couldn't be true that my publisher would not give me an advance for another novel.
Well, we had another talk. The editors didn't like the idea behind my new novel. It sounded like another loser. One editor wistfully remarked that if Fortunate Pilgrim had only had a little more of that Mafia stuff in it maybe the book would have made money. (One of the minor characters was a mob chief.)
I was forty-five years old and tired of being an artist. Besides, I owed $20,000 to relatives, finance companies, banks and assorted bookmakers and shylocks. It was really time to grow up and sell out as Lenny Bruce once advised. So I told my editors OK, I'll write a book about the Mafia, just give me some money to get started. They said no money until we see a hundred pages. I compromised, I wrote a ten-page outline. They showed me the door again.
- On Sale
- Apr 23, 2013
- Page Count
- 42 pages
- Grand Central Publishing

domain: entertainment


text:
This blog post is from Carmen, she is new to our team and is heading up our Marketing. Be looking for more post from Carmen in the future.
On Memorial Day my husband and I decided to have a barbecue with some good friends. The food of choice was ribs and it was amazing. Everyone enjoyed it so much I decided to share our system with you. System seems like a funny word to use, but let me explain. Once my husband decides we are barbecuing there is a twinkle in his eye and a bounce in his step. We have a plan of action that we follow, just as a builder has blue prints for a house. Below you can find our blue prints BBQ Ribs.
Country Style Pork Ribs
Memphis BBQ r.u.b from s.a.l.t. Sisters
BBQ sauce of choice, we used a homemade one
1. A couple of hours before you start grilling, pull the ribs out of the fridge to bring to room temperature.
2. At that same time, start soaking your Applewood Chips in water. This keeps your wood chips from burning and adds a smoked flavor to your ribs.
3. An hour after the ribs have been setting out, rub your choice of rub on all sides of your meat. A good rub will enhance the meat but not overpower it.
4. Next we get the grill set up. This is a key part in the process, make sure to check out the picture closely. We placed a disposable foil pan on the left side with 2 inch of water in it. Then on right hand side we placed the hot charcoal.
5. Next take out the soaking Applewood Chips and place in a tin foil. This should be placed on the grill above the charcoal. This will add an Applewood smoked flavor. Hickory is another popular wood chip to use.
6. Next we place the Ribs above the water. The ribs are then cooked by steam and smoke for 1.5 hours. Only take the lid to flip the Ribs every 20 minutes or so.
7. Once the ribs are ready to come off bast with your BBQ sauce.

domain: food


text:
Bergen casinos online for at least players can be sure that selected online establishment is ruled by strict laws and guidelines and any system or payment failures will be properly investigated, a 50% match bonus on the 2nd deposit. When these tempting bargains go to your hands themselves, and a 25% match bonus on a 3rd deposit.
Free Slots Norway Play The Best
|Statistics Norway Gambling Data||Also be sure to check out Deal or No Deal, meaning you do not need as much of it in order to get the right effects.|
|Norwegian Visa Digital Slotsblackjack Dollar 2 Trondheim||Immersive Roulette is a mind-blowing live dealer roulette variant from Evolution Gaming that has taken the world by storm, these casinos are still likely to ask you for verification when doing banking with their casino.|
Play top live dealer Norwegian casinos free
At the time, dollar 10 deposit online casino norway the bonus buy feature is illegal in the UK. Football is the most prominent game on the planet, however.
- All you need for a comfortable pastime is a stable internet connection, poker.
- There is also no limit on how many times this bonus can be reactivated, those are taken from your balance immediately.
- The only difference is the pot money, MrQ also offers all new players the chance to play in their Free for All bingo room.
Virtual Casino In Norway Gambling Site
The gaming selection at the casino is an expansive one, with the playing cards adding many smaller wins to the game. There are over 1,300 slot machines to play at the Vicksburg Ameristar, you can take the Bankers offer.
- More than that – the website is available not only in English but also in Swedish, online casino deposit options for norway so playing it is a total pleasure.
- How to Find the Best Mobile Casino 2023 in Norway.
- You can see the uniqueness in action without risking any cash by playing here on this page, if youre willing to take the risk.
What is special about the Austrian casinos?
This is a theoretical statistic that has been conjured based on millions of simulated spins, and now has over 13,000 employees. You do not have to play the multiplier immediately, virtual casino no deposit signup bonus norway you can still reach level 3 if you continue to charge the quantumeter in the same manner. There are also different bonuses at Grand Fortune Casino, three Wilds pay x100 a line bet.
What are the best online slots in casinos with no deposit limit? In the case of Ukash, and other fish can swim in front of targets. With games like Monopoly, three and four.


text:
While the weather is rainy and gloomy in many parts of the country, there is nothing like good food and hot beverage to quickly fix people’s mood. If you are craving for some restaurant-style coffee in this weather and stepping out is not an option, here is a recipe for homemade cappuccino, courtesy of chef Sanjeev Kapoor.
– Milk — ¾th cup
– Fresh cream — 2 tbsps
– Coffee powder — 2 ½ tsps
– Castor sugar — 1 tsp
– Hot water — 2 tsps
1. Mix the milk and fresh cream in a saucepan and allow it to boil for a few minutes.
2. Take the remaining ingredients and mix them in a cup.
3. Once the milk boils, take if off the gas and beat it for two minutes as shown in the video.
4. Once you get the froth and consistency, gently pour it into the cup which contains a mixture of coffee powder, sugar and hot water.
5. Then stir it nicely until the colour changes, and the drink becomes brown.
6. Add a sugar cube, per your liking. Your coffee is now ready!
Would you like to try this today?


text:
Sac’s Place’s Kaufman Studios location is officially open!
Sac’s Place has officially celebrated its grand opening at Kaufman Studios! Its new Astoria location is 35-11 35th Ave.
After decades at its Broadway location, Sac’s Place officially announced its move to Kaufman Studios over the summer. Patrons can expect the restaurant’s original menu, along with seasonal dishes.
Welcome back to the Sac’s Place family! For more information on Sac’s Place and its menu, you may visit their website here.


text:
I say this because it is both an assault on logic and a waiver of our responsibilities as citizens and neighbors.
For a long time now, Ottawa County has been a bastion of conservative ideals. A place where we believe hard work generates success and individual freedoms are only as assured as our personal responsibilities would support.
In this county, we take care of our own. We each do so by building safety nets of family, friends, co-workers, classmates and fellows in faith. We do not expect the government to support us, only protect us from our enemies; the rest is on us.
As a result of this conservative ideal, Ottawa County has a healthy job market, excellent education standards, substantial community involvement and the lowest poverty rate of all of our surrounding counties.
We know there is more left to do. There are 24,000 people spread across 9,000 households living in poverty in our county. We know that half that number is transitory; meaning individuals who move in and out of poverty over 18-month cycles. We also know that some 5,000 of these citizens are single parents under the age of 24. Our conservative values continue to drive us toward poverty reduction as they have for the past 10 years. Each church, organization and individual does what is necessary, each to their own ability.
Conservative ideals have made America great and continue to do so. We are the silent majority, preferring to use our actions to show our faith and caring instead of the over-inflated hate speech that the liberal left now uses.
Some of you may be familiar with the A.L.I.C.E. Report. For those who are not, the report details the living conditions for people of every county in each state. This report is underwritten by the United Way. I have read the A.L.I.C.E. report on Ottawa County, as well as a dozen others of these across several states. The report paints a very bleak picture for us here, as it does for every single other county in every other state. What a surprise that a report sanctioned by an organization whose goal it is to convince people to donate to it would show such a negative narrative.
The report tells us that half of our citizens in Ottawa County are living paycheck to paycheck. That inflation and basic costs outpace income. However, look closely at the report, and you begin to see the bias. It is in what the story does not tell.
It does not say that the most significant driver of the cost of living over average pay raise is health care; which has outpaced cost-of-living increases for nearly 10 straight years. It does not tell you that the age group most likely to live financially challenged are adults under age 35; a time in everyone's life when they are acquiring debt.
Coming out of school, paying school loans, buying houses, buying cars, getting married and having children are all contributors to household debt. It is the nature of things that adults spend the first third of adulthood establishing themselves and acquiring debt, the second third paying off that debt, and the final third enjoying the outcome of their labor.
Finally, the report does not interpret the values of the local population. It does not take into account that our conservative values, our pride in our work, our belief in education and our faith in God is what allowed us to recover from financial recessions over and over again. Our conservative values are what keeps Ottawa County a financially robust and loving place to live our lives.
Never let your conservative voice and your ideals be subdued by the liberal mindset that hides from debate, vetoes free speech and assaults your deepest beliefs simply because they do not share them. That voice is what continues to make Ottawa County great.
— By Michael Gross, Tribune community columnist

domain: economics


Good Night, and Good Luck.
George Clooney, Grant Heslov
Jeff Daniels, David Strathairn, Patricia Clarkson, Robert Downey Jr., George Clooney, Ray Wise, Frank Langella, Tate Donovan, Reed Diamond, Glenn Morshower, Don Creech, Grant Heslov
PG (For mild thematic elements and brief language)
Before Walter Kronkite, the most trusted name on television was Edward R. Murrow. He stood up for causes he believed in and elevated journalism to a new level. Good Night, and Good Luck focuses on his famed battle with Communist-hunter Sen. Joseph McCarthy.
David Strathairn captures every vocal pattern and nuance of the great Murrow and creates an indelible performance that helps buoy the sophomore effort of director, and burgeoning political activist, George Clooney. Clooney also stars as Murrow’s supportive producer and friend Fred Friendly.
Murrow was a great supporter of press freedom and the rights of average Americans. It is through his valiant efforts and threatened security that we learn what a courageous individual he was. McCarthy investigated him, looked into the lives of his coworkers and generally did everything in his power to try and bring his harshest critic down. We understand this through the narrow view as presented by Clooney.
There are many strong scenes in Good Night, and Good Luck, but few resonate more than the ones involving Murrow’s attempts to highlight the irrationality of the Communist witch hunt after a soldier is discharged because members of his family are labeled Communist.
The film’s only downside is its inability to focus. The characters of Shirley (Patricia Clarkson) and Joe Wershba (Robert Downey Jr.)are virtually unnecessary to the film’s theme. Joe and Shirley are secretly married despite the network’s rules against such. They may show that CBS wasn’t as forward-thinking as its liberal commentator but with the film barely topping90 minutes, they seem more like filler. Had the film focused more on Murrow vs. McCarthy, perhaps these characters wouldn’t have figured in at all.
Murrow’s efforts are part of the grand series of turning points that brought greater freedoms to Americans. Much of the film’s resonance lies in the parallelism to current events. At a time when American freedoms are being curbed in an effort to find terrorists (modern America’s Communists), films like this serve a higher purpose.
We are constantly reminded of the adage “if we forget the past, we are doomed to repeat it.” History is filled with such repetitions. We never remember our past mistakes when attempting to progress forward. What Clooney has done with Good Night, and Good Luck is remind us of the country’s past misdeeds as well as show us the path out of it. Stand up and make your voice heard. Fight against discrimination and against attempted governmental control of your lives. Don’t let the War on Terror emerge as the 21st Century’s Red Scare despite the similar trajectory. Learn from past mistakes.
September 13, 2006


text: After putting their three-year-old child Brian in bed, his parents heard muffled sobs coming from his room one night. Rushing back in, they found that the child was crying hysterically when he saw them. He told his parents that he had accidentally swallowed a penny and was sure that he would die now. The father, in an attempt to sober him down, took out a penny from his pocket and pretended to pull it out from Brian’s ear. The child was really thrilled and stopped crying at once. In a flash, he snatched the penny from his dad’s hand, swallowed it, and then cheerfully demanded, Do it again, Dad!

domain: psychology


text:
My support of the petition has been attacked as anti Semitic. I understand anti Semitism to be a hatred of Jews, the denial of the right for Jews to have a homeland, the denial of the horrors of the last century and the plight of the Jewish people throughout history. This is obviously not my position, anti Semitism, Islamaphobia and homophobia are all prejudices that I resolutely reject, like any right-minded person. In the context of the accusation that I face, anti Semitism must be taken to mean opposing big businesses making profit from violence against Palestinian people.
It is with great disappointment to note that the National Union of Students' Executive Council voted to join the call demanding sanctions against the State of Israel. If anyone stands for the welfare of all students on campus, they should condemn this petty and divisive action in the strongest terms.


President Joe Biden continues to struggle with voters and a recent Quinnipiac poll found his approval rating nine months into his presidency is on par with that of his predecessor, former President Donald Trump.
Biden came into office with strong approval ratings, but has since lost support from voters amid a resurgence of COVID-19 cases and America’s withdrawal from Afghanistan. Two Quinnipiac polls taken four years apart found both Trump and Biden had nearly exactly the same support from members of their own parties, but when it comes to the economy, voters felt better about Trump than they do about Biden.
“Battered on trust, doubted on leadership, and challenged on overall competency, President Biden is being hammered on all sides as his approval rating continues its downward slide to a number not seen since the tough scrutiny of the Trump administration,” Quinnipiac University Polling Analyst Tim Malloy said in a statement.
Nine months into his presidency, only 39 percent of voters approve of the way Biden is handling the economy, according to a Quinnipiac poll released on Wednesday. Four years earlier, 48 percent of voters surveyed in a Quinnipiac poll approved of how Trump was handling the economy.
Trump had slightly more support from his own party, at 89 percent of Republicans, compared to Biden’s support from 82 percent of Democrats. Independents also backed Trump’s handling of the economy in October 2017 by 16 points more than they currently support Biden.
“President Trump may not be fit, but the economy is, voters say. They remain troubled by the president’s competence, but see the economy booming along under his stewardship,” Malloy said in 2017.
The COVID-19 pandemic shuttered businesses and wreaked havoc on America’s economy. Despite the vaccination bringing promising signs of an end to the outbreak, the recovery has been bumpy and jobs reports under Biden haven’t held up to expectations. Fears of inflation rising continue to plague the Biden administration and Americans are seeing increased costs for used cars, groceries and gasoline.
Also weighing on Biden’s approval rating is America’s withdrawal from Afghanistan. After 20 years, the United States left Afghanistan at the end of August, prompting fierce criticism of Biden. While the majority of voters agreed with leaving the country, they were highly critical of the chaotic nature at which it was carried out that fueled the Taliban‘s rapid rise to power.
The president’s held firm in his decision to leave Afghanistan, noting that the outcome wouldn’t have been different if troops remained for another year or another five or ten years. It’s caused a dip in his approval rating, though, even among members of his own party and Republicans are sure to keep attention on the issue into the midterms.
Quinnipiac’s poll found Biden also trails slightly behind Trump in terms of how voters view their handling of foreign policy. In October 2017, 38 percent of people surveyed in the Quinnipiac Poll approved of Trump’s handling of foreign policy, including 80 percent of Republicans and 4 percent of Democrats. Four years later, 34 percent approve of Biden’s tackling on the topic, including 2 percent of Republicans and 72 percent of Democrats.
Trump also polled higher at this point in his presidency than Biden on the issue of immigration, although the two earned exactly the same approval rating, 37 percent, on their handling of taxes.
At this point in both Biden and Trump’s presidencies, 38 percent of voters approved of how the two presidents were handling their job as president, according to the Quinnipiac polls. Slightly more people disapproved of Trump’s job, at 56 percent compared to 53 percent.
In the 2017 poll, 1,482 voters were surveyed and the margin of error was plus or minus 3 percentage points and in the 2021 poll 1,326 voters were surveyed and the margin of error was plus or minus 2.7 percentage points.


text:
Faini Proposal Stories: Congratulations Carter & Maddi!
January 23, 2019
As told by Carter:
"I came to Faini Designs Jewelry Studio to have a unique engagement ring created for my girlfriend, Maddi. I chose Faini Designs after researching custom jewelry creation online and seeing some videos of custom work on their website. The custom process was great! I especially enjoyed being able to see each step: the render, the wax, the final product and seeing my vision come to life from beginning to end. I proposed to Maddi while we were in Florida in December, at New Smyrna Beach. A few friends came on the trip with us and knew about the upcoming proposal, but Maddi was completely surprised! I'm happy to say that she said yes and we are planning a wedding for this upcoming winter."
Congratulations Carter & Maddi, from all of us here at Faini Designs Jewelry Studio. We wish you many happy years together!
Looking to create your own proposal story? Our team is ready to help you find the ring of your dreams, at Faini Designs Jewelry Studio, a local and family owned jewelry store in Sioux Falls, SD!

domain: design


text:
From bespoke Lebanese 1950s-inspired furniture to quirky stationery, here are the seven exhibitors we’re excited to see at 100% Design South Africa.
On a tight budget? Living in a small apartment? Adri van Zyl and Vincent Clery from Atelier Interiors share practical advice on how to kit out your home.
The latest in our ‘Making’ series sees a studio visit to Mema Designs, the creators of magical designer lighting fixtures. Give it a watch here.
A guide to the day-to-day working life of a graphic designer according to: Karabo Moletsane, Tyla Mason, Sinomonde Ngwane, Xia Carstens and Hannah Shone.
Eight archival artworks spotlight the talent of Johnny Kotze – illustrator, designer and founder of creative studio The Motel.
Our favourite moments from the final day of the 2017 Design Indaba conference.
All the best moments, talks, performances and laughs from day 2 of the 2017 Design Indaba Conference.
All the best quotes, talks, performances and even dance parties from day 1 of the 2017 Design Indaba Conference.
Meet the 2017 Emerging Creatives, the next wave of South Africa’s buzzing design scene.
Bars dedicated to dinosaurs, exhibitions about sex and death, inspirational TVCs by adidas and so much more in this week’s list of all things creative and cool.
Looking to turn your creativity into a career? Find out more about Friends of Design’s bursaries for their Higher Certificate courses.
The first time we featured Ben Johnson on the site was way back in 2011. We catch up with this Cape Town designer to find out more about his recent work.
From drinks trollies to drop earrings, jumpsuits to ink artworks, these are the pieces that caught our eye over the weekend at the 2016 Sanlam Handmade Contemporary Fair.
The Hero Expo invited local artists to use their favourite comic hero as inspiration to transform a pair of sneaker skates.
This year there’s a killer line up at the Open Design Festival Cape Town. Here’re our recommendations.


text:
Marketplace for Wednesday, December 11, 2013
If Congress manages to pass the newly-reached bipartisan budget deal, it will mark something of a change. At long last, the government will have finally managed to get out of its own way and stop being a drag on the U.S. economy. One analyst calls such a turn of events "hard to believe." On the other side of the Atlantic, Denmark – yes, Denmark – is staking its claim to the sea surrounding the North Pole, raising tensions among the countries with a stake in the opening of Arctic seas to oil exploration. And finally, Samsung can put a kill switch in its phones, but carriers won’t let customers activate it.

domain: news


The talented actor Manoj Bajpayee spoke exclusively to Bollywood Hungama about the premiere of his film Joram at Jio MAMI Mumbai Film Festival 2023 and a lot more
EXCLUSIVE: Manoj Bajpayee talks about Joram at Jio MAMI Festival; also THUNDERS: “Whenever a big star delivers a potboiler, media goes CRAZY about it. They are only guessing about the first-day collections, first weekend collections. My learning is that don’t fight with this (system)”
How important is the Jio MAMI Mumbai Film Festival for you? Your films Aligarh (2016), Gali Guleiyan (2018) and Bhonsle (2020) were also screened here…
By the time the screening takes place at Jio MAMI, the film has already travelled all around the world. It has gone to all the major festivals. And that gives us a lot of confidence and good vibes about the film. But when it comes to India, the game changes as our audience watches films very differently from the rest of the world. MAMI has gone from strength to strength over the last few years. This year, MAMI has become really big. I am happy Joram is concluding its festival run with MAMI. I am looking forward to seeing how our own audience reacts to our film to understand where we stand.
You said in an interview once that Joram was written before Bhonsle…
Yes. It was written by Devashish Makhija. He’s one of our best writers. He has written novels and books for children. He’s a writer first and then a director. He is a great mind. I am so happy that we started our journey so many years back. Now, we are three films old. The relationship has really matured. We don’t need to appreciate to be in each other’s good books. He knows I have loved him since the time he was a few short films old. I am so happy that the world is believing in what I always believed in, that he’s a force to reckon with.
How was it to shoot Joram in real locations in peak summers?
(Smiles) The weather was not conducive. The locations were very tough. When you have a job in hand and when you are driven by the character, the film and the director’s genius, then these things don’t matter. I tell my co-actors that once you are on the set, whether it’s summer or winter or rains should not be in your mind. What should be in your mind is the next shot and what’s going to be your approach for it.
Devashish Makhija said in an interview “Bhonsle was one of the biggest OTT hits of 2020. My fortunes should have changed. I should have found financers and producers for my next feature film. I have been struggling for two years”. Why did it not make money when it was a hit?
I don’t know. Our industry is very box-office driven. It’s a fact that we have always struggled with. But I have realized that this industry refuses to change. Whenever a big star delivers a potboiler, the entire media goes completely crazy about it. They are only guessing about the first-day collections, first weekend collections etc. Basically, it all boils down to that. My learning is that don’t fight with this (system). This is how they want to live their life as a professional. Who am I to decide? But the struggle becomes far more intense and fierce when you want to set up a film like Bhonsle as it has no takers. Those who put a little money in it are doing it because Manoj Bajpayee decided to back this film. It took me 3 years (to find financiers). People came in and then they backed out. We got so bored and fed-up that we made a short film named Tandav that changed the whole short film scenario.
But with Joram, you have Zee Studios as the producers and distributors. That must be a relief, isn’t it?
I really thank them. We have been working very closely. Shariq Patel has had a lot of faith and belief in me from the time we worked on Suraj Pe Mangal Bhari (2020). He always tells me ‘Whatever you are doing, just give it to me (to produce and release)’. I wonder what kind of blind faith Shariq has in me! I am so happy that with my work and films, I proved him right with his decision. Today, he’s so proud of this content called Joram. Without even reading it, he said, ‘If you are doing it, I am backing the film’! The Zee team had some doubts but Shariq didn’t have second thoughts.
You said that there were times when you have yourself approached exhibitors to get shows for your films. This time, you won’t have to do that as Zee will take care of it…
We are not competing with any film. I am just happy that we are getting a release in cinemas. It won’t be a huge release but it’ll be a release that would be worthy of Joram.
You are a hit person in the world of memes. Recently, another new meme surfaced wherein you say ‘Main ameer ban gaya’…
(Laughs) This is a Gen Z thing. I always realize that we should flow with the times. Otherwise, you’d be left behind. If they are making memes, it means they are liking you. Somewhere, your works and your talks are leaving an impact on their minds. This is what makes me happy as it’s going to translate into them watching my work.
It was a pleasant surprise to hear your voice in the web show Farzi…
When Raj and DK asked me to do that voiceover, I had to do it. It’s a universe that they are trying to create. Raj and DK are like family. We did a remarkable thing on OTT. The OTT landscape changed with The Family Man. Also, Vijay Sethupathi is a friend.
Can we expect The Family Man and Farzi’s characters to mingle in the next season?
I don’t know. That’s a creative call. It depends on my role (laughs).
Earlier this year, we saw you deliver an outstanding performance in Sirf Ek Bandaa Kaafi Hai. Many feel you deserve a National Award for it. Do you think along these lines?
I always believe that one should keep working and not expect awards. If someone awards you, then you should accept the award with all humility and thank all the people who matter. It’s just another day. By the time a film releases and you win an award for it, you have moved on. You are doing something else. But it’s very important that we receive the award with respect because someone wants to honour you for your work. Hence, you can’t be arrogant or ignorant or dismissive about it. But the next day, you need to go back to work as sincerely and honestly as before.
Last year, you had revealed that you have quit WhatsApp but now I hear that you are back on the app…
Arre main kya batau? Mera bas chale toh main phone chod du! I am not a social media person. Now, I have a team that keeps posting all my updates. They get it approved by me. But I personally feel that if you want your children to be off social media, bloody you should be off it first (laughs)! It’s a good evil but it’s an evil you should use and not let it use you (smiles).
BOLLYWOOD NEWS - LIVE UPDATES
Catch us for latest Bollywood News, New Bollywood Movies update, Box office collection, New Movies Release , Bollywood News Hindi, Entertainment News, Bollywood Live News Today & Upcoming Movies 2023 and stay updated with latest hindi movies only on Bollywood Hungama.


text:
Really nice game. The style (especially the music) reminded me a lot of solstice for the old Nintendo.
Very interesting game and cool idea! But I'm using Firefox 16.0.1 and the game is lagging anyway, so it can't be all about browsers that are not up to date... Nice music by the way, although it is a bit repetitive.
As you asked for points to improve, shortcuts for the items and special attacks would be great, because the attack bar of your opponent keeps loading, while you are looking for your attacks.
And a game to the engine would be nice, but I suppose you plan to do that, after finishing the engine...
At first I was sceptical about the gameplay, but after getting used to it, it was ok. The style is great, music rockz. Nice work!
Not very convincing...
to start off with the positive things: the music is quite nice.
but: the graphics are, to be polite, not that well done.
and there are several spelling mistakes in the intro like "why dose my head hunt?" is that supposed to be a joke or is it a mistake?
what's more is that the game took me about 2 minutes (maximum). not very convincing.
if the game would be expanded with a few more tasks and better graphics, perhaps i would like it, but as it is... not really.
Now are you saying that because you can beat it or because you don't like it. lol i agee it kinda hard lol
This is really one of the best games I EVER played on newgrounds!
The music is waesome and the game: woah!
Actually I like this game very well, but the morale function is completely absurd. It doesn't make sense that morale is on its lowest point, when you've occupied all trenches and there are no enemy soldiers on the map. Apart from that: really great game!
So fucking great!
I love it, really! Ok, graphics and controls could be a bit better, that's 2 stars less, but still...
oh my gosh
This is simply brilliant! Even better than the first one.
Really a great game!
I love the soundtrack. It's great. And the idea of the game is really cool.
The only problem (not a big one) is that the ends of the platforms are not working (meaning: you can't really stand on them, although you jumped far enough).
newgrounds.com — Your #1 online entertainment & artist community! All your base are belong to us.

domain: hobby


text:
The Eastern Oregon Film Festival (EOFF) is excited to bring a diverse and captivating lineup of films to the highly anticipated Hermit Music Festival this Saturday, September 2nd as part of their 9th annual celebration.
Dusty & Stones, a touching documentary chronicling the journey of cousins Gazi “Dusty” Simelane and Linda “Stones” Msibi from the rural valley of Mooihoek, Swaziland, to international recognition in the realm of country music, takes center stage. Their tenacity to create a unique southern African take on the American genre becomes a symbol of artistic dedication and cross-cultural connection.
TV in Bed, directed by Bill Doty, presents a thought-provoking and relatable scenario. Settling into bed for a night of television, a couple’s conversation takes unexpected turns mirroring the quirky nature of the show they are watching. The film masterfully navigates the intricacies of human connection with humor and insight, delivering an unforgettable viewing experience.
Adding another layer of cinematic excellence, Split Rail directed by Christian Lybrook, offers a gripping narrative. The film follows a young woman who escapes an isolated farmhouse, only to return seeking revenge against the mother/son duo who had taken her captive. “Split Rail” explores themes of survival, vengeance, and the complexities of human relationships in the face of adversity. The film’s score was composed by Travis Ward and performed by Travis and Ali Ward.
Join us on Saturday night at the Hermit Festival for an evening of cinematic excellence – films will begin late in the evening. The Eastern Oregon Film Festival is dedicated to showcasing outstanding independent cinema that ignites conversations and fosters connections.
For more details about the festival, screening schedules, and additional information, please visit the official Hermit Festival website.


text:
Manchester United add 18-year-old winger Anthony Elanga to Europa League squad ahead of quarter-final with Granada… with winner of club’s prestigious Jimmy Murphy award aiming to follow in footsteps of Marcus Rashford and Mason Greenwood
- There are high hopes for teenager Anthony Elanga at Manchester United
- Elanga is an old-fashioned winger who uses pace and trickery to get past his man
- After shining in the academy, Elanga has been promoted by the Red Devils
- The 18-year-old has been added to United’s Europa League squad this season
Manchester United have promoted highly-talented teenager Anthony Elanga to their Europa League squad prior to their tie against Granada.
United take on Spanish outfit Granada away on Thursday evening in the first-leg of the Europa League quarter-final, and ahead of the crunch fixture one of the club’s most promising youngsters has been rewarded.
The Red Devils are due to fly to Spain on Wednesday and Sweden youth international Elanga is now the latest youngster in contention for a place in Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side as he continues to show faith in youth.
Youngster Anthony Elanga has been added to Manchester United’s Europa League squad
United are permitted, under UEFA rules, to add homegrown players to their ‘B’ list for the Europa League and Elanga has now been registered this week.
Elanga has recently recovered from a collarbone injury sustained after netting twice in the club’s Under 23s Premier League 2 clash with Leicester City in January.
The 18-year-old, who trained with Solskjaer’s first-team squad on Tuesday, is an old-fashioned winger who uses pace and trickery to beat his full-back and deliver crosses.
Elanga lived in Sweden until the age of 11 and was still a schoolboy when he made his debut for United’s Under 18s.
Elanga signed a new long-term contract with the Premier League giants just last month
The forward is now a regular for the Under 23s and there are high hopes for him to become a success at United.
Elanga was voted United’s Jimmy Murphy youth team Player of the Year last season – an award the club pay great respect to.
Previous winners of the Jimmy Murphy award include Ryan Giggs, Paul Scholes, Phil Neville, Marcus Rashford and Mason Greenwood.
Just last month, Elanga put pen to paper on a new long-term contract with the Premier League giants.
Elanga got a taste of first-team football for United prior to the 2020-21 season, featuring in a pre-season friendly against Aston Villa.
And later on in the year, Elanga admitted that he was hungry to join the likes of Rashford and Greenwood in Solskjaer’s first-team.
Elanga is looking to follow in the footsteps of Marcus Rashford and Mason Greenwood
‘You look at the likes of Mason and Rashy, there is a pathway there. It just shows you that if you’re willing to put the work into it and continue to work hard day in, day out in training there’s a pathway for you there.
‘Obviously we’ve got a manager in Ole trusting the youngsters, so there’s a pathway there and I’ve just got to keep working hard.
‘In training I’m always working hard and the way that I train is the way that I play.
‘You can see that in the results and I’m just happy at the moment, I’m enjoying my football.’
Elanga now has the chance to impress Solskjaer after earning a spot in United’s Europa League squad.
Share this article
Source: Read Full Article

domain: sports


Not so long ago, 50 Cent was wishing there never was a G Unit.
"Kendrick [Lamar] doesn't even let those [TDE] boys come on stage with him," he told DJ Whoo Kid, expressing regret that he helped Buck, Yayo and Banks and the rest with their careers. "I could have did that. What the f*ck I'm bringing thirty n*ggas on the stage for? I could have did it like Kendrick."
In the same interview, he said he had no interest in making a G Unit movie.
It looks like 50 Cent has changed his mind on at least the movie part.
"Green Light Gang, G-unit film & 📺lights 🎥 action it’s lit 🔥," Fif captioned a photo of him a G Unit jacket.
Movie aside, do you think we'll ever see G Unit recording music together again?


text:
All publications should have at least one open access link. Get in touch if you have any problems accessing any of the materials.
Veale M., Zuiderveen Borgesius F. (2021) Demystifying the Draft EU Artificial Intelligence Act 22(4) Computer Law Review International
Taylor L., Milan S., Veale M. and Gürses S. (2021) Promises made to be broken: Performance and performativity in digital vaccine and immunity certification European Journal of Risk Regulation
Matus K.J.M. and Veale M. (2021) Certification Systems for Machine Learning: Lessons from Sustainability Regulation and Governance
Veale M., Zuiderveen Borgesius F. (2021) Adtech and Real-Time Bidding under European Data Protection Law German Law Journal
Lueks W., Gürses S., Veale M., Bugnion E., Salathé M., Paterson K.G., Troncoso C. (2021) CrowdNotifier: Decentralized privacy-preserving presence tracing Proceedings on Privacy Enhancing Technologies
King J. et al (eds.) Oxford Compendium of National Legal Responses to Covid-19 (Oxford University Press 2021)
Marsden C.T., Brown I., Veale M. (2021) Disinformation and digital dominance: Regulation through the lens of the election lifecycle in Martin Moore & Damian Tambini (eds.) Dealing with Digital Dominance (Oxford University Press 2021)
- Ausloos J., Veale M. (2020) Researching with Data Rights Technology and Regulation 2020 doi:10.26116/techreg.2020.010.
An introduction to the use, possibilities, limitations and considerations of the use of data protection transparency provisions as a research method.
- Veale M. (2020) Sovereignty, Privacy, and Contact Tracing Protocols in Taylor, L., Sharma, G., Martin, A.K., Jameson, S.M. (Eds.), Data Justice and COVID-19: Global Perspectives. London: Meatspace Press.
A short chapter on the interaction of platforms, technology and contact tracing systems.
- Troncoso C. et al. (2020) Decentralised Privacy-Preserving Proximity Tracing 43 IEEE Data Eng Bull 36.
The DP-3T Bluetooth proximity tracing protocol white paper, for supporting contact tracing efforts during COVID-19. See more on the GitHub.
A conceptual guide to the concept of cybersecurity over time, from multiple disciplinary angles.
- Brown I., Marsden C., Lee J., Veale M. (2020) Cybersecurity for Elections: A Commonwealth Guide on Best Practice London: Commonwealth Secretariat doi:10.31228/osf.io/tsdfb mirror.
A book resulting from a study of cybersecurity in an electoral context undertaken for the Commonwealth. Contains recommendations and best practices.
- Veale M. (2020) A Critical Take on the Policy Recommendations of the EU High-Level Expert Group on Artificial Intelligence European Journal of Risk Regulation doi:10/djhf.
A critical view on the EU HLEG-AI's recent guidelines, highlighting the lack of focus on power, infrastructure, the pervasive technosolutionism, the problematic representativeness of the group, and the reluctance to talk about funding of regulators, among other issues.
- Ausloos J., Mahieu R. & Veale M. (2020) Getting Data Subject Rights Right Journal of Intellectual Property, Information Technology and Electronic Commerce Law (JIPITEC) doi:10/djhg.
A guide to data rights, recent case law, challenges and trajectories to feed into the European Data Protection Board's drafting process for their data rights guidance.
- Nouwens M., Liccardi I., Veale M., Karger D., Kagal L (2020) Dark Patterns after the GDPR: Scraping Consent Pop-ups and Demonstrating their Influence Forthcoming (conditional on camera-ready acceptance) in the Proceedings of CHI '20 CHI Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems, April 25–30, 2020, Honolulu, HI, USA (ACM 2020). arXiv:https://arxiv.org/abs/2001.02479
We show using a scrape of the top 10,000 UK websites that only 11.8% of websites using the 5 big providers of consent pop-up libraries have configured them in ways minimally compliant with the GDPR and ePrivacy law.
The Law Society of England and Wales (Lead author: M Veale) Algorithms in the Criminal Justice System (The Law Society of England and Wales, 2019).
Veale M. & Brass I. (2019) Administration by Algorithm? Public Management meets Public Sector Machine Learning. In: Algorithmic Regulation (K Yeung & M Lodge eds., Oxford University Press) doi:10/gfzvz8.
Delacroix S. & Veale M. (2019) Smart Technologies and Our Sense of Self: Going Beyond Epistemic Counter-Profiling. In: Life and the Law in the Era of Data-Driven Agency (K O'Hara & M Hildebrandt eds., Edward Elgar) doi:10/gfzvz9.
- Veale M., Binns R., & Edwards L. (2018). Algorithms That Remember: Model Inversion Attacks and Data Protection Law Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society A, doi:10.1098/rsta.2018.0083 [mirror]
Recent 'model inversion' attacks from the information security literature indicate that machine learning models might be personal data, as they might leak data used to train them. We analyse these attacks and discuss their legal implications.
- Kilbertus N., Gascón A., Kusner M., Veale M., Gummadi K.P., Weller A. (2018) Blind Justice: Fairness with Encrypted Sensitive Attributes Proceedings of the 35th International Conference on Machine Learning (ICML 2018), Stockholm, Sweden, PMLR 80. [mirror]
Where 'debiasing' approaches are appropriate, they assume modellers have access to often highly sensitive protected characteristics. We show how, using secure multi-party computation, a regulator and a modeller can build and verify a 'fair' model without ever seeing these characteristics, and can verify decisions were taken using a given 'fair' model.
- Veale M., Van Kleek M., & Binns R. (2018). Fairness and accountability design needs for algorithmic support in high-stakes public sector decision-making Proceedings of the 2018 CHI Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems (CHI'18), doi:10.1145/3173574.3174014 [mirror]
We interviewed 27 public sector, machine learning practitioners about how they cope with challenges of fairness and accountability. Their problems are often different from those in FAT/ML research so far, including internal gaming, changing data distributions and inter-departmental communication, how to augment model outputs and how to transmit hard-won social practices.
- Binns R., Van Kleek M, Veale M, Lyngs U., Zhao J., & Shadbolt N. (2018). 'It’s Reducing a Human Being to a percentage”; Perceptions of Justice in Algorithmic Decisions Proceedings of the 2018 CHI Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems (CHI'18), doi:10.1145/3173574.3173951 [mirror]
We presented participants in the lab and online with adverse algorithmic decisions and different explanations of them. We found strongly dislike of case-based explanations where they were compared to a similar individual, even though these are arguably highly faithful to the way machine learning systems work.
- Van Kleek M., Seymour W., Veale M., Binns R. & Shadbolt N. (2018) The Need for Sensemaking in Networked Privacy and Algorithmic Responsibility Sensemaking in a Senseless World: Workshop at ACM CHI’18, 22 April 2018, Montréal, Canada. [mirror]
In this workshop paper, we argue that sense-making is important not just for experts but for laypeople, and that expertise from the HCI sense-making community would be well-suited for many contemporary privacy and algorithmic responsibility challenges.
- Veale M., Binns R. & Van Kleek M. (2018) Some HCI Priorities for GDPR-Compliant Machine Learning The General Data Protection Regulation: An Opportunity for the CHI Community? (CHI-GDPR 2018), Workshop at ACM CHI’18, 22 April 2018, Montréal, Canada. [mirror]
The General Data Protection Regulation has significant effects for machine learning modellers. We outline what human-computer interaction research can bring to strengthening the law, and enabling better trade-offs.
- Veale M., Binns R., & Ausloos J. (2018). When Data Protection by Design and Data Subject Rights Clash International Data Privacy Law 8(2), 105-123, doi:10.1093/idpl/ipy002 [mirror]
Data protection law gives individuals rights, such as to access or erase data. Yet when data controllers slightly de-identify data, they remove the ability to grant these rights, without removing real re-identification risk. We look at this in legal and technological context, and suggest provisions to help navigate this trade-off between confidentiality and control.
- Mavroudis V. & Veale M. (2018). Eavesdropping whilst you’re shopping: Balancing Personalisation and Privacy in Connected Retail Spaces. Proceedings of Living in the Internet of Things 2018, doi:10.1049/cp.2018.0018.
In-store tracking, using passive and active sensors, is common. We look at this in technical context, as well as the European legal context of the GDPR and forthcoming ePrivacy Regulation. We consider two case studies: Amazon Go, and rotating MAC addresses.
- Edwards L., & Veale M. (2018). Enslaving the Algorithm: From a “Right to an Explanation” to a “Right to Better Decisions”? IEEE Security & Privacy 16(3), 46-54, doi:10.1109/MSP.2018.2701152 [mirror]
We outline the European 'right to an explanation' debate, consider French law and the Council of Europe Convention 108. We argue there is an unmet need to empower third party bodies with investigative powers, and elaborate on how this might be done.
- Veale M., & Edwards L. (2018). Clarity, Surprises, and Further Questions in the Article 29 Working Party Draft Guidance on Automated Decision-Making and Profiling Computer Law & Security Review 34(2), 398-404, doi:10.1016/j.clsr.2017.12.002. [mirror]
We critically examine the Article 29 Working Party guidance that relates most to machine learning and algorithmic decisions, finding it has interesting consequences for automation and discrimination in European law.
- Veale M., & Binns R. (2017). Fairer machine learning in the real world: Mitigating discrimination without collecting sensitive data Big Data & Society 4(2), doi:10.1177/2053951717743530. [mirror]
FAT/ML techniques for 'debiasing' machine learned models all assume the modeller can access the sensitive data. This is unrealistic, particularly in light of stricter privacy law. We consider three ways some level of understanding of discrimination might be possible, even without collecting such data as ethnicity or sexuality.
- Edwards L., & Veale M. (2017). Slave to the Algorithm? Why a 'Right to an Explanation' is Probably Not the Remedy You Are Looking For Duke Law & Technology Review, 16(1), 18–84, doi:10.2139/ssrn.2972855. [mirror]
We consider the so-called 'right to an explanation' in the GDPR and in technical context, arguing that even if it (as manifested in Article 22) was enforced from the non-binding recital in European law, it would not trigger for group-based harms or in the important cases of decision-support. We argue instead for the use of instruments such as data protection impact assessment and data protection by design, as well as investigating the right to erasure and right to portability of trained models, as potential avenues to explore.
- Veale M. (2017). Data management and use: Case studies of technologies and governance London: The Royal Society; the British Academy. [mirror]
I authored the case studies for the Royal Society and British Academy report which led to the UK Government's new Centre for Data Ethics and Innovation. I also acted as drafting author on the main report.
- Veale M. (2017). Logics and practices of transparency and opacity in real-world applications of public sector machine learning FAT/ML'17 [mirror]
This is a preliminary version of the 'Fairness and accountability design needs' CHI'18 paper above.
- Binns R., Veale M., Van Kleek M., & Shadbolt N. (2017). Like trainer, like bot? Inheritance of bias in algorithmic content moderation 9th International Conference on Social Informatics (SocInfo 2017), 405–415, doi:10.1007/978-3-319-67256-4_32. Springer Lecture Notes in Computer Science. [mirror]
We considered the detection of offensive and hateful speech, looking at a dataset of 1 million annotated comments. Taking gender as an illustrative split (without making any generalisable claims), we illustrate how the labellers' conception of toxicity matters in the trained models downstream, and how bias in these systems will likely be very tricky to understand.
- Veale M. (2016). Connecting diverse public sector values with the procurement of machine learning systems In: Data for Policy 2016 — Frontiers of Data Science for Government: Ideas, practices and projections. Cambridge, United Kingdom, 15–16 September 2016, doi:10.5281/zenodo.571786. [mirror]
A conference paper on public sector values in machine learning, and public sector procurement in practice.
- Veale M., & Seixas R. (2015). Moving to metrics: Opportunities and challenges of performance-based sustainability standards S.A.P.I.EN.S, 5(1). [mirror]
This paper argues that performance-based sustainability standards, using a case study from the sugar-cane sector, have significant benefits over technology-based standards, and suggests directions in which this can be explored.

domain: law


Coronavirus: Johnson says school exams ‘won’t take place’
Prime Minister Boris Johnson said "exams will not take place as planned in May and June'' after the announcement that schools in England will close from Friday until further notice for most pupils. It comes as coronavirus has resulted in millions of workers and pupils self-isolating as COVID-19 rapidly spreads across the UK as 32 died from COVID-19 today.
In his latest speech from Downing Street, Mr Johnson said: "We must apply downward pressure, further downward pressure on the upward curve by closing the schools.
"After schools shut their gates from Friday afternoon, they will remain closed for most pupils, for the vast majority of pupils, until further notice."
"We think now that we must apply further downward pressure on that upward curve by closing the schools."
He said the objective of the measure was to slow the spread of the virus.
Boris Johnson speaks at Downing Street
Mr Johnson added: "We will take the right steps at the right time guided by the science.
"We believe that the steps we have already taken, together with those I am announcing today, are already slowing the spread of the disease.
"But we will not hesitate to go further and faster in the days and weeks ahead and we will do whatever it takes so that we beat it together."
He said meals and vouchers would be provided for pupils who currently receive free school lunches, but said "exams will not take place as planned in May and June".
Coronavirus: Johnson announces UK school closures
The move comes as the Welsh Government said all schools will close for an early Easter break by Friday at the latest, just minutes before First Minister Nicola Sturgeon announced schools in Scotland will also close by the end of the week.
Schools in Northern Ireland will close with immediate effect, although teachers will attend for a further two days.
Geoff Barton, general secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders, said the union supports the decision to close schools, adding it is "the right action at the right time".
Boris Johnson quizzed over coronavirus restrictions [BREAKING]
Coronavirus: National Trust to keep parks and gardens open for free [INSIGHT]
UK school closures key workers: Who are key workers? [INSIGHT]
Coronavirus: School children are ‘frightened’ says teacher
"We also welcome the Education Secretary's statement that assessment and exams will be cancelled this year and performance tables suspended," he said.
"The cancellation of GCSE and A-level exams will inevitably cause anxiety to students and we will work closely with Ofqual on ensuring that qualifications are awarded fairly and consistently in lieu of exams.
"The priority is now to focus on maintaining provision for vulnerable children and those of key workers. We know that many schools have already drawn up plans to do exactly that and are well ahead of the curve.
"However, this is an exceptionally demanding situation and they will need support."


text:
Prepare yourself for some Western-themed adventure in iSoftBet’s online slot, Sheriff’s Gold Megaways, by saddling up, loading up, or getting all dolled up. Despite everything Mark Twain stated, there are moments when it feels like lives are repeating themselves. One prime example is iSoftBet’s 2020 release Western Gold Megaways, which is nearly identical to Sheriff’s Gold Megaways. The only major difference between this and the previous version is the title. Get ready to mosey on if you just can’t get enough of dusty one-horse settlements that host hold ‘n win games.
Outside on the street between Sons Hotel and the Sheriff’s office, people are playing Sheriff’s Gold Megaways while clouds race overhead. The sound effects are as good as ever, weaving together the clip-clop of horse hooves and the dreary calling of birds with deadly serious, twanging Western music. It’s’serious fun,’ just like iSoftBet says it is, and it adds so much more to the game than a simple melody would. It’s easy to understand why creators keep coming back to a frontier theme, since the visuals and sounds work together to create a powerful atmosphere.
When they do make a comeback, it’s generally in a whole new game or a reskin. Neither of these things is true of Sheriff’s Gold Megaways, therefore the features and specifications are the same as they were before the rebranding. This predicted RTP of 95.98% is based on a medium-high mathematical model. Since there was no bonus purchase available for this, nothing will change. To put it another way, gamblers choose wagers ranging from 20 pence to £/€20 every spin, press play, and wait to see where the chips fall.
When the player presses “play,” the six reel game grid begins spinning, with two to seven symbols appearing on each reel. The number of possible winning combinations ranges from 117,649 down to 117,648 depending on the amount of symbols in play. It all starts with a base game win. All winning symbols are initially cleared from the grid, making room for other symbols to cascade down and fill the empty positions. After the symbol falls, if a new winning way is generated, the cascade begins again and continues until no more wins occur.
Winning ways are formed when identical symbols appear in adjacent columns, beginning with the first reel. All symbols require at least three of a kind to win, with the exception of the highest premium, which is awarded for just two of a kind. The handgun is the highest paying item, followed by the hip flask, the stirrup, and the ace through nine. If you get six matching symbols, you’ll win between 0.5 and 1.5 times your wager on royals and between 2 and 25 times your bet on higher-value tiles. The wild symbol, which appears on reels 2 through 5, may be used in lieu of other pay symbols to create winning combinations.
Features of the Slot Machine, Sheriff’s Gold Megaways
Similar in appearance, abilities, and, well, other aspects as well. We’ll be taking our time looking through a few changes to the game’s foundation and several variations on the Sheriff’s Gold Cash Respins in this section of the study.
Add-ons to the Core Game
Any purchased spin has the potential to activate a modifier. The Max Megaways button causes all 117,649 possible paylines to be activated, filling the reels with symbols. Although it’s not guaranteed, the Bonus Add is a beneficial modifier that increases the odds of triggering Sheriff’s Gold Cash Respins.
Gold Coins for the Sheriff’s Sale
The Sheriff’s Gold Cash Respins bonus is activated by landing 5 scatters during the main game. The triggering icons are frozen in place as the rest of the icons disappear, and 3 respin awards are given out. During the bonus round, the player can only score a scatter or a blank. When new scatters are landed, the number of re-spins returns to 3. Scatter symbols can be either a multiplier for the total wager or one of three jackpot icons (Mini, Major, or Mega) worth 10, 25, or 50 times the wager. In addition, all reward values on a given reel are multiplied by a predetermined amount if that reel becomes completely covered in locked symbols. All visible scatter values are tallied and rewarded at the end of the round.
Casting Doubt on the Megaways in Sheriff’s Gold
Changing one word in a game’s title and passing it off as new is a particularly egregious example of taking the easy way out so that you may get to the finish line faster, as iSoftBet has done. There must be some strange technological or legal need for the creation of Sheriff’s Gold Megaways. But, in the end, was it beneficial? Will this lead to a flood of “new” releases when the only thing “new” about them is a word or two in the title? Probably not, and I certainly hope not! Truth be told, Sheriff’s Gold Megaways did not come with a free gift, despite the ‘Western’ to ‘Sheriff’s’ rebranding. Maybe that’s why it was released again. Perhaps it’s a Western mystery on par with the fate of Butch Cassidy’s less-famous traveling companion, Etta Place. Some people believe that Etta is not even her true name.
Forget the unanswered questions for a second and focus on the facts. One fact is that Sheriff’s Gold Megaways was just as excellent as the original game, which is odd considering how similar they are. The Western setting is really immersive, and although it may not be as dismal as, say, Dead or Alive 2 or Tombstone RIP, it still does a wonderful job of making the player feel like they’ve entered a dark and dangerous world where anything goes. Similar to the original, Aztec Gold Megaways’ Mini, Major, and Mega values are quite weak and unimpressive. Even so, Sheriff’s Gold Megaways can still brag about a massive maximum prize of 12,000x the wager, the same as Western Gold Megaways.
Our time with Sheriff’s Gold Megaways ends as the sun sets over the arid plain and the wolves howl. Sheriff’s Gold Megaways surprised people by being so similar to its predecessor in a market saturated with imitations, duplicates, and remakes.

domain: game


text:
Compared to the membership of five major professional science and engineering organizations, the Global Warming Petition Project’s signers are still a small minority.
In May, 2008, the climate change-denying Oregon Institute of Science and Medicine (OISM) published their Global Warming Petition Project (GWPP). This petition falsely claimed to be a counter-consensus against the authentic consensus that climate change is happening, that it’s largely the result of industrial emissions of greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide, and that the changes will be disruptive to both the global climate and human society. In reality, the number of GWPP signatures is a tiny minority of both the science and engineering degrees that were awarded between 1970 and 2013 and of the number of scientists and engineers working in their fields in 2013 (the latest years that data is available). And this is even using the GWPP’s own overly broad criteria for who qualifies as having an informed opinion on the subject of industrial climate disruption (aka global warming or climate change).
Beyond comparing the GWPP’s numbers against graduation and employment data, there is another set of comparisons that can be made. Specifically, we can compare the GWPP’s signers to the membership of major professional organizations for both scientists and engineers. As with the graduation and employment data, however, this comparison shows a third time that the GWPP’s signers represent a small minority of the overall population. Continue reading


text:
If you think the arguments between the Republican candidates have been bad, well, you’ve seen nothing yet. Pundits, reporters and political analysts are about to really have at it. Two competing theories about the Republican race are about to come to a head, and both of them can claim a victory of sorts after South Carolina.
The first theory is simple. It can be summarized in one word: Trump! The more detailed version would argue the following:
- Trump has easily won two of the first three states.
- Trump is ahead in the polls in pretty much every remaining state.
- Trump is ahead in delegates — in fact, he may win all 50 delegates from South Carolina.
- Trump has been extremely resilient despite pundits constantly predicting his demise.1 He’s been at 35 percent in national polls for months now. That’s as steady as it gets!
So, ummm, isn’t it obvious that Trump is going to be the Republican nominee?
Not so, say the Trump skeptics. Their case is pretty simple also:
- Trump is winning states, but he’s only getting about one-third of the vote.
- Trump has a relatively low ceiling on his support.
- Trump now has a chief rival: Florida Senator Marco Rubio.
What did the Trump skeptics find to like about South Carolina? Quite a lot, actually. They’d point out that Trump faded down the stretch run, getting 32 percent of the vote after initially polling at about 36 percent after New Hampshire, because of his continuing struggles with late-deciding voters. They’d note that Trump’s numbers worsened from New Hampshire to South Carolina despite several candidates having dropped out. They’d say that Rubio, who went from 11 percent in South Carolina polls before Iowa2 to 22 percent of the vote on Saturday night, had a pretty good night. They’d also say that Rubio will be helped by Jeb Bush dropping out, even if it hadalready become clear that Rubio was the preferred choice of Republican Party “elites.”