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Harper's BAZAAR: You’re a bit of an industry vet, what made you want to launch your own brand?
Sofia Sizzi: Well, my previous career was mostly in accessories and I was fortunate enough to start when I was 19. I was interning at Gucci, but at the same time my passion has always been ready-to-wear. It never really faded away and at some point I felt a strong need to make a ready-to-wear collection because it was always a dream of mine. Ever since I launched, I thought, ‘that this is what I should do.'
HB: Are there any established brands that you emulate?
SS: Yes absolutely, there are plenty, plenty. First of all, as a company model, I think that Prada is amazing because it’s a company where you see that the person who owns it is also the person who creates the collection — which makes a humongous difference in the way the brand is perceived. Prada has a lot of courage, it doesn’t fear pressure from the outside. Obviously, I love Yves Saint Laurent because he was one of my icons, I love anything YSL. I think Balenciaga is amazing because I think that Nicholas Ghesquière has really made a little revolution in fashion in the past 10 years, which is really hard to do lately because there are so many new designers.
HB: What was on your mind when you were designing Fall?
SS: My family comes from the South of Italy, so there’s a strong influence in what I design from that part of the world. Also, I’m always really inspired by some sort of Italian movie from the 1960s because I’m obsessed with them. This one in particular is inspired by “II Gattopardo” (“The Leopard”), from Luchino Visconti. It’s basically a movie that was made in the 1960s, but it talks about the 1860s, which is when Italy came together as a country. There were some noble families in the South of Italy who had a very hard time giving up their privileges. Their wardrobes would revolve around their lives around the house and backyard — but it was very intricate and fascinating. It’s not literal, of course, the influence was mostly from the volume, exaggerated collars, fuller skirts — it’s a very fun collection.
HB: Why have you decided to show your collections in New York?
SS: Well, a couple of reasons. One is that I live here and the second is that I think that my creative vision has come full circle in New York. I think that the New York influence gives me that polish, a more cleaned up look that makes the collection a bit more fresh and modern. I am very much half American at this point.
HB: What are some of the most rewarding things that have happened since you started the brand?
SS: Probably the first time somebody called in a dress from a magazine or a celebrity asks for a piece — those are moments when you’re like ‘wow this is really happening.’ So far, it has been a journey where I have learned a lot about myself — that I really want to do this and I probably should’ve done it a long time ago.
HB: Where does the name Guiletta come from?
SS: Well Guiletta is my mother’s nickname. Her true name is Guiliana, but when she lived in the South of Italy she had this nickname. And she was definitely a little bit of an inspiration for the line.
HB: Tell me about these amazing shoes.
SS: I worked as a shoe designer for many years, so I feel confident when I design shoes because I know exactly what I want. We try to make them fun because I don’t think any woman needs another pair of shoes unless they’re something special. Our shoes are very much about the shape and proportion, so for Fall we did this very blocky heel and squarish toe — very 1960s. Also, they’re vegan because I’m a vegetarian and I try not to use any animals — not that I’m trying to convince the whole world to be a vegetarian, although I think it would be better for the planet (laughs).
HB: Can you sum up your design philosophy in one sentence?
SS: In one sentence? That’s really hard, I talk too much! I always look back, my design philosophy is not really a philosophy, it’s more of a spirit. I am very nostalgic in the way I design, so there’s always two sides to the things I create. There’s one that comes from the things of the past and looks back at this 1960s way of dressing. The other side is contemporary and modern and I am very influenced by the streets of today’s era. Also, I believe women should feel confident in what they wear, no matter what size you are, really find something that makes you feel good.
HB: Do you have a girl in mind when you design?
SS: She’s probably 70 right now, because it’s all these women from the 1960s. For this collection, the main actress I had in mind was Claudia Cardinale — one of the most amazing beauties of that era. There are a lot of actresses that I admire right now and I think are amazing, but I don’t if I have anyone specific in mind. I always go back to the1960s women, like Monica Vitti, Catherine Deneuve, the icons.
HB: Are you going to do anything to celebrate and unwind after the show?
SS: Yes, I think I’m going to go to Paris for a few days with my husband, which I’m looking forward to and then if I am lucky I am going to get to go to Tulum, Mexico.


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"All I ever wanted was for people to feel what I feel - the magic of music" - Bap Kennedy, 2016
Radio U105 - 4 Mar 2014
Bap will be appearing live on Radio U105 this afternoon with Johnny Hero.
Tune in from 3pm
Comments are closed.

domain: artistic


COLUMBUS (WCMH) – The Columbus Division of Police is asking for the public’s help to identify a suspect in an armed robbery that occurred off campus in the University District.
The robbery happened around 1:10am Saturday. According to The Ohio State University Emergency Management Office, officers with the Columbus Division of Police responded to a report of an armed robbery on Summit Street between East 14th Avenue and East 15th Avenue.
When they arrived, officers took the statements of two female Ohio State students. The women told officers they were approached by an unknown man who had a handgun. The suspect demanded that the women hand over their purses. The women complied with his demands and the suspect fled the scene with their belongings.
Officers said the women described the suspect as a skinny male, about 22 to 25 years old. He stands between 5-feet, 8-inches and 5-feet, 9-inches tall. He has brown hair and was wearing a gray sweatshirt at the time of the robbery.
Anyone with information about the robbery should call the Columbus Police at 614-645-4545. According to the Ohio State University Emergency Management Office, both the Columbus Division of Police and Ohio State University Police have increased patrols in the area of the robbery.


Typically, every December Qualcomm holds its Snapdragon Technology Summit in Maui, but due to the COVID-19 pandemic, it's going to be a virtual event this year. The company sent out invitations to the digital event, which will be held on December 1-2. It's usually a three-day event, but presumably, it's being shortened due to the different format.
The obvious thing that the firm is likely to announce is the Snapdragon 875, its next flagship chipset for smartphones. The Snapdragon 8 series chip has been a staple for the event since it started. Last year, it also introduced some Snapdragon 7 series chipsets, although it's possible that that was only because it was boasting that it was bringing 5G to a lower tier.
And yes, 5G has been a big focus for a few years now. Along with boosted performance, one thing you can expect to see added to the Snapdragon 875 is the integrated 5G modem. Qualcomm President Cristiano Amon teased as much at last years Tech Summit. When he was asked about the lack of an integrated 5G modem in the Snapdragon 865, he mentioned that we should all come back next year to see that.
As for what else we might see, that's anyone's guess, especially given the shortened time of the event. Typically, day one focuses on 5G innovations, Qualcomm's overall vision and strategy, and an overview of what's to come at the rest of the conference. Day two is the deep dive on the new smartphone chipsets, and day three is for whatever else the company wants to show off. Last year, day three was about mainstream PC chipsets and a new Snapdragon XR2 chipset. The year before, day three was all about Windows on ARM, with the new Snapdragon 8cx.
Of course, a Snapdragon 8cx refresh was announced only about a month ago. The Snapdragon 8cx Gen 2 5G is a fairly minor refresh, and there could be a more significant refresh on the way, but Qualcomm is trying to reduce the time between when it announces a PC chipset and when it arrives in new products. Another thing that was just recently refreshed is Snapdragon Wear, with the 4100 being announced in June.
Either way, we'll find out in December. Expect at the least to hear about 5G news and the Snapdragon 875.


Thursday, September 26, 2013
Tina Turnstile Sings Us A Message
Unitard comedy troupe member (and WV resident), David Ilku, has a new video. In it, David puts on his best Tina Turner drag to send us all a message about the corporate takeover of our communities. Once you get past how hysterical David looks as Tina Turner his message is a serious one. But as always, David is putting out his ideas wrapped in a hilarious package. You go girl....I mean boy.....I mean girl......oh, whatever....LOL!!


Hungary picks up first ever gold medal at Olympic Winter Games
Congratulations! Go Hungary!Read more
Prime Minister Viktor Orbán has announced that the Visegrád Four have decided to provide significant financial support and offer assistance to help Italy protect its maritime borders, therefore defending both Europe and Hungary
PM Orbán said that he has faith in the Schengen system recovering in the near future “from its current comatose state”, as the greatest attraction of the EU is freedom of movement across its territory
“Sooner or later an effective border seal will be needed on [Romania’s] eastern borders, otherwise Romania will be overwhelmed by migrants and we Hungarians would then have to build a fence on the Romanian border. We certainly want to avoid that, and if it comes to it we will gladly help Romania protect its eastern borders,” PM Orbán said
For two years now, Hungary’s border fence, border patrol forces and stricter laws have dramatically reduced the number of illegal crossings on Europe’s southern border. Our commitment to strong borders is just one of the ways that Hungary fulfills its legal obligations and stands in solidarity with Europe in times of crisis.
Hungary’s southern border seal has fulfilled expectations and the pressure of migration has eased but this situation can change at any moment. Analysts in Germany have estimated that around 6.6 million people are ready to set off for Europe
It was one of the most heinous crimes from the dark days of the migrant crisis in 2015. The trial began this week in Hungary of eleven men charged in the deaths of 71 migrants, victims of human traffickers, found in an abandoned refrigerator truck in August of that year.
“The Hungarian government fully agrees with the proposal, especially in view of the fact that 42,500 illegal immigrants have arrived in Italy as of mid-April, and many more are expected to set out for the continent with the arrival of good weather," Hungary's foreign minister said
"Hungary actually never closed its borders to refugees or migrants. Anyone, even in the last two years, who wanted to cross the border legally [could use] border crossing stations. You provide your papers, your passport, and if you don’t have one, you basically play by the rules of the authorities and by the legislation of the EU," Hungary's deputy minster of Foreign Affairs and Trade said
"European culture, civilization and economy have achieved unprecedented results in the period since the Second World War, and there is every chance of Europe being able to offer its citizens the best and happiest way of life in the world," PM Orbán said
“These people aren’t involved in border protection,” said Prime Minister Orbán of the newly established Frontex unit proposed to the management board. Frontex, of course, is the EU agency that was set up to manage cooperation among national border guards and help secure the EU’s external border. The problem with the proposed, new unit is that it is for anything but guarding European borders and coastlines. Plus, it is ridiculously weak in numbers.
The Hungarian government did not construct a fence on the border out of EU monies “and especially not with Italian money”; we financed the fence from the budget, or “to make it more understandable for Matteo Renzi”, the people of Hungary are spending their own money on protecting the EU border, Hungary's foreign minister said
The Hungarian government has said that the animals can adapt well to man-made habitat changes. The statement also noted that deer populations had been growing for decades in Hungary and across Europe, causing crop damage and road accidents


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Australian batter Alex Carey has said that while focusing on spinners in spin-friendly conditions is important, they should not underestimate the fast bowlers as well. Carey, who recently played for the Adelaide Strikers in the Big Bash League (BPL), opened up about Australia’s tour of Pakistan last year where he experienced reverse swing as well.
Carey shared his comments ahead of the upcoming Border-Gavaskar Trophy, which is slated to begin on February 9. The opening Test will take place at the VCA Stadium in Nagpur as well.
ALSO READ: Viacom18 bags WIPL Media Rights for 5 years
“Going to Pakistan there was a lot of spin talk and I found the reverse-swinging ball really difficult,” Carey was quoted as saying to the reporters. “I played a four-day game (for Australia A against India A) in 2018 and a lot of the talk was about spin and you forget a little bit about how damaging how both teams’ fast bowlers are with a reverse swinging ball, with a wicket that might be a little bit up and down,” he stated.
“Having the preparation and the game to ebb and flow between fast bowling and spin, and (during) dry periods where you won’t score, (is important),” Carey said.
The southpaw also opined on using the sweep shot to good effect in conditions that are conducive to spin bowling as well. Alex Carey said that he wouldn’t hesitate to play sweeps if needed against India.
READ MORE: ‘Could have gone deeper’ – Shubman Gill on his knock
“I’ve got a sore glute today, I played a few yesterday. I bat seven, so I get to have a bit of a look at what the conditions are doing. You go out there with a bit of a plan to hopefully succeed, it doesn’t always happen but if you can put it in your favour a little, that’s helpful,” Alex Carey concluded.

domain: news


Listen out for the Aston Martin DB11 speeding up the hill at the Festival of Speed presented by Mastercard – it might sound a little different from normal…
JUN 28th 2017
This is the new V8‑powered Aston Martin DB11
Making its world dynamic debut at FOS is an Aston Martin on which hopes of the company’s future prosperity are pinned. British icon meet Mercedes-AMG grunt!
But will the first Merc-engined Aston boom any less majestically than the purebred Astons we are used to listening to? It is unlikely. Sound quality is just as important to AMG as Aston and its 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8 is (almost…) as charismatic as the venerable V12 which in 5.2 twin-turbo form has been the sole DB11 engine choice thus far.
The new DB11 V8, which joins the V12 in the range, will hardly be slower up the Goodwood Hill either. Despite 100 fewer horses than the V12, at 503bhp, the V8 has a 0-62mph time of 4.0 seconds, which is just one tenth slower than the V12. You can thank a 115kg weight saving for that. It does lose a little on top speed though: 200mph for the V12, 187 for the V8.
Benefits? At the pumps you’ll get 28 rather than 24mpg, the taxman will take less – CO2 rating is 230g/km against the V12’s 265 – and there’s a saving of £13,000 on recommended list price. The new V8 costs from £144,900 in the UK. In other markets around the world like China, where car tax is based on cubic capacity, a 4.0 rather than a 5.2 engine is expected to be good for sales.
We can also expect differences in the way the V8 handles. Aston asserts the new power plant reveals “more of the DB11’s dynamic side and capabilities”. It’s still an effortless GT at heart but a more agile and sporting one in this form, says the firm.
There’s that weight loss at work again, but also the fact that the new engine contributes to a lower centre of gravity and better weight distribution. Making the most of all that are new engine mounts and detailed revisions to suspension bushes, springs, dampers and anti-roll bars. Transmission is eight-speed paddle-shift automatic and like the V12 there’s an alloy torque tube with carbon fibre prop shaft.
The V8’s 503bhp peaks at 6000rpm and the engine revs to 7200rpm. It is backed up by 513 lb ft of torque between 2000-5000rpm, only marginally less than the V12 makes. In this bespoke form – and Aston says it was responsible for all engine calibration and installation – it is not the most powerful version of the 4.0-litre AMG engine. The AMG GT-R has 585bhp, suggesting there’s the potential of more to come. That could be handy, with this engine also due to power the new Vantage next year.
Will you be able to spot the V8? No giveaway badges of course, but the eagle-eyed may notice the new wheels, dark headlight bezels and only two instead of four bonnet vents.
And what do you see when you lift the bonnet? A big V8 logo and the Aston Martin wings of course… along with a plaque saying the car has been signed off by Aston boss Andy Palmer. With the DB11 V8, Andy will be hoping he is passing as fit not just a new model but a big chunk of the company’s future success.
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Tropical Storm Cindy to hit Pine Belt
FORREST COUNTY, Miss. - Tropical Storm Cindy is expected to hit the Pine Belt Tuesday night.
Forrest County citizens are likely to see heavy rainfall.
Glen Moore, Forrest County Emergency Management director said, "Wind is not going to be a primary concern even though we could have maybe 30 mph wind gusts. But right now, we're looking at the potential of 4-6 inches of rain. And some spots could receive as much as 8 inches of rainfall. The southern part of the county is going to receive potentially the greatest amount of rainfall, but that's just one thing at this point and time we can't predict who that narrow of band of 8 inches it's going to be."
Moore said the ground is very saturated and any rainfall will lead to significant flash flooding. And there also is a chance of a brief tornado spinoff.
Moore also said the storm is expected to happen from late Tuesday night-Thursday morning.


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Be sure to contact the coordinator at your local SCBBA viewing site to see if they’re showing Browns preseason games.
First up, Browns -vs- Lions, this Friday, August 10 at 4:30 pm PST. You can watch the game if you have NFL RedZone or online at NFL Preseason Live. You can also listen to the game via Sirius XM Radio: 128 or Online at NFL Audio Pass.
And now, this amazing video highlighting the ‘Great Lakes Classic':
Thanks to Vince, the site coordinator for the Hollywood/West Hollywood location, for this gem of a video.
For those of you in the Northridge/Tarzana area, the Stovepiper Lounge will no longer be an official viewing site for the SCBBA this upcoming 2012/13 season.
The new viewing site (just a couple miles down the road) for the area is the Maui Sugar Mill Saloon.
Please reach out to Pam, the viewing site coordinator (via email) should you have any questions.
Bar owner Johnny 99, owner of our Los Angeles Backers’ viewing site, hosted an NFLPA kickoff party for the first round draft picks last night at Saint Felix, in Hollywood, CA. He was able to meet Trent Richardson, Brandon Wheeden and Eddie George. According to Johnny, “All Browns and Buckeyes got special treatment.”
Pictured (left to right): Trent Richardson, Johnny-99, DeVier Posey, Eddie George.
Pictured (left to right): Johnny-99, Brandon Weeden.
The NFL just released the 2012 regular season schedule for our beloved Cleveland Browns.
For the 13th time in the last 14 years, the Browns will open the season at home. They play host to the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday, Sept. 9 at 1 p.m. ET. For the second time in five years, the Browns end the season with a visit to their AFC North Division rival, the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Friday, August 10 at Detroit Lions, 7:30 p.m. ET
Thursday, August 16 at Green Bay Packers, 8:00 p.m. ET
Friday, August 24 Philadelphia Eagles, 7:30 p.m. ET
Thursday, August 30 Chicago Bears, 7:30 p.m. ET
Sunday, September 9 vs. Philadelphia Eagles, 1 p.m. ET
Sunday, September 16 at Cincinnati Bengals, 1 p.m. ET
Sunday, September 23 vs. Buffalo Bills, 1 p.m. ET
Thursday, September 27 at Baltimore Ravens, 8:20 p.m. ET
Sunday, October 7 at New York Giants, 1 p.m. ET
Sunday, October 14 vs. Cincinnati Bengals, 1 p.m. ET
Sunday, October 21 at Indianapolis Colts, 1 p.m. ET
Sunday, October 28 vs. San Diego Chargers, 1 p.m. ET
Sunday, November 4 vs. Baltimore Ravens, 1 p.m. ET
Sunday, November 11 BYE WEEK
Sunday, November 18 at Dallas Cowboys, 1 p.m. ET
Sunday, November 25 vs. Pittsburgh Steelers, 1 p.m. ET
Sunday, December 2 at Oakland Raiders, 4:15 p.m. ET
Sunday, December 9 vs. Kansas City Chiefs, 1 p.m. ET
Sunday, December 16 vs. Washington Redskins, 1 p.m. ET
Sunday, December 23 at Denver Broncos, 4:05 p.m. ET
Sunday, December 30 at Pittsburgh Steelers, 1 p.m. ET
The powers-that-be at the Southern California Browns Backers Association would like to thank all the dedicated Backers that came out to all our viewing sites this past season. It might not have been the prettiest of seasons, but it’s still Cleveland Browns football and we’ll always support it.
We won’t be updating the site as much during the off-season, so be sure to follow us on Facebook for all your latest SCBBA news.
And for those looking for some brighter news to end the season, the Browns now hold the Nos. 4 and 22 overall picks in April’s draft. So get pumped for that!


The tub is locked for wash mode. For spin mode the motor reverses and releases the brake and the tub spins. The kit comes with various washers to replace so that the brake will release. If you put too many then the tub won't lock in wash mode and the clothes will get knotted up. Too few washers and the brake will not release. The tougest part of this job is getting that dang clip on last to hold everything in place. I cheat by using a pry bar against the brake spring just to make it a tad easier to get that clip on.


AAR issues statement on U.S. Dept. of Treasury report on infrastructure investment, highlights railroad industry's plan to invest US$13B in 2012, hire 15,000 employees to upgrade freight rail network
March 26, 2012
– The Association of American Railroads (AAR) today released the following statement on the U.S. Department of Treasury report on infrastructure investment, A New Economic Analysis of Infrastructure Investment. For more information on freight rail industry investment in infrastructure, visit FreightRailWorks.org.
“Transportation infrastructure is the backbone of the nation’s economy, and the freight rail industry plays a critical role in connecting American businesses to their customers,” said Edward R. Hamberger, president and CEO of the Association of American Railroads. “This year the industry plans to invest a record $13 billion – money we spend so that taxpayers don’t have to. We are also hiring 15,000 new employees to modernize, upgrade, and improve the freight rail network.
“The freight rail industry is dedicated to improving our infrastructure so that we can meet the changing demands of the economy. We are upgrading our privately held network so that tens of thousands of American companies, like Vestas, Whirlpool and Caterpillar can meet their customers’ needs. Our private investments create economic opportunities throughout the communities in which we operate.”


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COE BUDGET COMMITTEE MEETING MINUTES
April 17, 2017
8:00 – 9:30 a.m.
Attendees: Brittany Wittenberg, James Meyer, Kim Dubree, Macy Hankel, Jill Martin, Abby Burch, Jon Turner, Steve Jones, Becky Swearingen, Teresa Steele, David Hough, Linda Garrison-Kane, James Satterfield.
The meeting began at 8:00 a.m. with Dean Hough giving an overview of the history of how the percentage of budget cuts came to be decided. He indicated many ways were deliberated to handle the cuts from the state, and he pointed out that MSU did not ask for a waiver to increase student tuition above the CPI.
The dean also took a moment to let the committee know that he had received an equity request, and reminded the group that the FAC, BC, and LC had not given priority to equity requests in recent years. He noted that in his letter to faculty seeking salary equity adjustments, no increases would be made until the FAC, BC, and LC made equity a higher priority than other personnel needs. He asked the committee if they wished to change priorities, which followed with discussion. It was decided by the committee not to make any salary priority changes at this time, but the Dean noted he will ask the BC to revisit priorities this fall to see if they need to be changed for FY18.
The topic of the meeting then moved to FY18 budget cuts. The dean informed the committee that he intended to submit the new proposed budget cuts to the Provost’s Office by Wednesday. The amended COE cut is 1.2%, which is $113,989. The committee was given a duplex handout of the spreadsheet Dean Hough received from the Provost requiring a detailed list of exactly where the budget cuts would take place. Teresa also supplied the proposed cost center budget numbers for FY18 to the members as a reference.
The duplex handout had two scenarios to consider: the first was a 1.2% cut that included leaving the $55 per student Internet Incentive allotment with no reduction and a second scenario that reduces the Internet Incentive allotment to $40.00 per student. If reducing the Internet Incentive allotment to $40 per student, the cut needed by COE would only be $20,686. However, the dean told the committee that there were two searches underway, one for a department head in RFT and a CFD faculty in CEFS. In order to be able to afford these hires he will still have to cut one or two additional staff in addition to cutting two 20-hour employee positions. He indicated that the decision has been made by immediate supervisors as to which staff would be laid off, but no public announcement will be made until after the staff affected have been notified. He also stated that the elimination of the two positions would only cover the personnel searches underway, and we would still need to come up with the amount to cut listed at the top of the handouts. It was discussed how to come up with the cuts, and it was decided that they will come from the Dean’s Research Fund, the Program Support Fund and the COE Special Projects Fund.
The dean asked Becky Swearingen to give a report from the Executive Budget Committee. She reported that it was stated that most of the budget cuts were coming from non-academic units. Becky and Brittany Whittenberg stated that it was the consensus of the Academic Affairs Budget Committee to drop the Internet Incentive to $40 per student.
Discussion of the next EBC meeting took place. It was suggested that questions be raised regarding how much money the University is spending on sending upper-level administrators to foreign countries as part of the international programs initiative. Of interest is knowing how much money is being spent on international travel to send upper level administrators, i.e., deans, vice presidents, et al. to China and other countries. Some suggestions were made by BC members as to how this issue might be broached at the next EBC. After much discussion, it was generally agreed that Brittany Whittenberg would attend for Becky instead of Cathy Pearman who had also volunteered to attend. Brittany will report to the BC how the EBC discussions go after their meeting on April 27th. Dean Hough noted that letters to staff who will be laid off will go out from all deans on or about the same day. He assumes that will be immediately following the outcome of the April 27th ECB meeting.
The meeting was adjourned at 9:25 a.m.
Teresa Steele, Budget Officer

domain: economics


Listen to some crazy, never heard before stories on Axl Rose hereOn April 1st 2016, Guns N' Roses officially announced it would reunite for a summer show in Detroit, some 20 years after breaking up (and no, it wasn't an April Fools joke). Some of you may be saying, "So what? GNR have been recording and touring since 2008." Well, we're not talking about the GNR lineup that included Axl Rose and guitarist Buckethead. This is the original lineup that recorded seminal GNR albums Appetite For Destruction and the Use Your Illusion records. Well, almost. Only guitarist Slash and bassist Duff McKagen are set to return, while other classic members - Matt Sorum and Izzy Stradlin among them - have not signed on. Relations between Rose, McKagen and Slash have been icy since the 90s. Whether burying the hatchet is a sign of maturity or a cynical money grab remains to be seen. The partially reunited Guns N' Roses are also set to headline Coachella (that bastion of band reunions) later this year.
Genres (Music): Glam metal, Blues-rock, Rock music, Heavy metal, Rock and roll, + more
Albums: Appetite for Destruction, G N' R Lies, Use Your Illusion I, Chinese Democracy, Use Your Illusion II, + more
Up until 1994, Don Henley, singer and songwriter for The Eagles, said the band would get back together "when Hell froze over." That must have been what happened, because The Long Run-era line-up of the band - Henley, Glenn Frey, Joe Walsh, Don Felder, and Timothy B. Schmitt - reunited for a tour. The subsequent live disc was appropriately titled Hell Freezes Over. Since that time, the band has toured sporadically with more or less the same line-up. With the death of Glenn Frey in early 2016, however, it seems the long run is finally over for The Eagles: after a tribute appearance on the Grammys, Henley stated, "I don't think you'll be seeing us performing again."
Genres (Music): Rhythm and blues
Albums: Trying to Get to You / Please, Please, Kiss Them for Me / Ladies in the Sky
In 2011, original Black Sabbath members Tommy Iommi, Geezer Butler, Bill Ward and Ozzy Osbourne announced they would reunite for a new album and a tour, sending waves of elation throughout the music world. These plans were derailed when Iommi was diagnosed with lymphoma in early 2012. Following this, Ward announced he was abandoning the reunion due to contractual complaints (translation: he wasn't getting paid very well). Plans went ahead without Ward, as the other members recruited Rage Against The Machine drummer Brad Wilke as a replacement. Together they recorded the album 13 and toured throughout 2013. It was recently announced that Iommi, Butler and Osbourne would embark on a farewell tour titled The End in the summer of 2016, though there's no word on who their drummer will be (it probably won't be Ward, though).
Genres (Music): Doom metal, Blues-rock, Power metal, Heavy metal, Stoner rock, + more
Albums: Paranoid, Black Sabbath, Heaven and Hell, Vol. 4, Master of Reality, + more
Years after the band's very public implosion at the MTV Music Awards in 2000, rumors began to fly that Rage Against The Machine might reunite for a tour. In 2007, these rumors came to fruition when the band announced they would be headlining the Coachella music festival that year. Though initially expected to be a one-off reunion show, RATM surprised everyone by embarking on a large international tour. While no new material from the band has appeared, the members have not ruled out the possibility of a fifth album, as well as more tour dates, though the reason given for their getting back together - as a protest of George W. Bush's presidency - is no longer relevant.
Genres (Music): Crossover thrash, Nu metal, Political hip hop, Rock music, Rapcore, + more
Albums: Rage Against the Machine, Evil Empire, The Battle of Los Angeles, Renegades, Live at the Grand Olympic Auditorium, + more


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Analiza barier rozwojowych przedsiębiorstw międzynarodowych
MetadataShow full item record
The influence of international enterprises on the world economy is gradually increasing. It has been observed that competitive advantage was reached by these international entities that divided their production process and located a given step of that process in the country where such phase could be realized in the cheapest manner possible. The research conducted within the Łódź area in 2000-2002 indicated that insufficient range of foreign investments in Poland is caused by a whole array of faults of the Polish administration as well as a number of other factors mentioned consecutively in this paper. As a consequence, Poland is unable to choose the most attractive oilers and often selects foreign investors whose activity is unfavorable for our economy. Moreover, it appears that general conditions of functioning of economy have much greater effect on foreign investors’ decisions than those factors that have traditionally been considered as the basic reasons for investing abroad (long-term profit, increase o f the enterprise.


by John Tallodi
European luxury sedans tend to chase ever loftier horsepower figures in an attempt to rule the segment and the Mercedes-AMG S 63 is one of the most powerful options out there.
|AMG S63 4MATIC||
4.0-liter Twin-Turbo V8 Gas
It combines sports car levels of acceleration and power with superb luxury and the 2018 models receive a range of updates both inside and out and there is now a more powerful (yet smaller) engine and some desirable new features.
The current generation S-class has been around for a few years now but the interior remains a class act with a very high level of materials and excellent ergonomics. The front seats offer the kind of comfort and support that you would expect of a premium luxury sedan and the recently updated infotainment system is intuitive to use. The overall ambience is a cut above its natural Audi and BMW competitors.
While most sports cars with similar levels of power either feature vestigial rear seats or none at all, the S 63 pays particular attention to the rear passengers. Multi-adjustable settings, plenty of head and legroom and a range of available options such as an executive reclining right rear seat, power footrest and massage function make travelling in the rear even more comfortable than sitting up front.
This may be an AMG product but the ride quality and supreme cabin refinement levels have not been compromised. The quality of the ride over even the bumpiest road surfaces remains smooth and unflustered, the large diameter AMG alloy wheels do little to upset the comfort levels.
When it comes to hustle this heavy sedan around some challenging roads the S 63 rises to the occasion with surprising ability, its sheer size and weight do work against it and the electronics have their work cut out to keep the power contained but handling levels are impressive nonetheless.
You may find more finesse behind the wheel of a sports car but not much in the luxury sedan segment offers such an accomplished mix of luxury and performance.
The 2018 AMG S 63 comes fitted with a 4.0-liter twin-turbo V8, smaller than the 5.5-liter unit it replaces but power is still up by 26 horsepower to 603 hp and torque is a serious 664 lb-ft. It comes fitted with a 9-speed automatic transmission and all-wheel drive so acceleration off the line is seriously rapid.
A 0-60 mph time of 3.4-seconds is up there with some very quick sports cars and leaves just about every four-door sedan in the dust too, this includes the rear-wheel drive only 621 hp S 65 and last year's S 63 too. The 9-speed transmission manages the massive power with impressive smoothness and the relentless thrust can become addictive, consumption figures are claimed to have improved over the old 5.5-liter V8 but this is still no Prius.
The S-class has long been the forerunner of modern technologies and the 2018 update introduces some cutting-edge new systems, standard specifications still cover just about every base and a few notable luxury items are dual 12.3-inch display screens, Burmester surround sound audio system, 3-zone ambient LED lighting, inductive wireless charging, ventilated and massaging front seats with a full leather interior.
A new addition is the Energizing Comfort Control system which coordinates the climate control, air fragrance, lighting, audio and massaging and seat heating systems to provide a range of 10-minute programs to relax and refresh the occupants.
Safety systems include attention assist, active parking assist and intelligent LED lighting among many others and available items include active lane change assist and evasive steering assist.
Back seat drivers can benefit from a range of packages that offer heated and cooled rear cupholders, multi contour massaging seats, 4-zone climate control, DVD entertainment system and a power right rear footrest.
The refreshed Mercedes-AMG S63 sedan moves the goalposts once again in the executive luxury sedan category. It even eclipses the V12 AMG S 65 in just about every category too making it the thinking (rich) man's choice in the range.
Few other cars manage to so successfully combine such towering performance with equally lofty luxury levels, picking whether to drive or be driven will be a daily trauma that most owners will have to get used to.


Moratorium Imposed on Big Projects
A divided Montgomery County Council imposed a moratorium yesterday on large commercial projects allowed to proceed under rules passed by a previous council that was more receptive to development.
By a 5 to 4 vote, council members decided to prevent commercial projects of 100,000 square feet or larger from being considered under "pay-and-go" regulations. Those rules, designed to speed the development process, allow developers to proceed with a project after paying the county a fee to cover preliminary costs resulting from increased traffic congestion.
The moratorium, proposed by council member Philip Andrews (D-Rockville), will last at least until November, when the council plans to revisit pay-and-go regulations approved by the previous council.
Also voting for the moratorium were Blair G. Ewing (D-At Large), Betty Ann Krahnke (R-Potomac-Bethesda), Marilyn Praisner (D-Eastern County) and Nancy Dacek (R-Upcounty). Opposing the measure were council President Isiah Leggett (D-At Large), Steven A. Silverman (D-At Large), Michael L. Subin (D-At Large) and Derek Berlage (D-Silver Spring).
Tainted Water Suspected in Illnesses
Frederick County health officials said some residents of the town of Walkersville are beginning to exhibit symptoms of exposure to tainted water after sewage leaked into ground water last week.
Following the spill of some 900,000 gallons of sewage in a June 18 construction accident, county health officials have received calls from seven people reporting diarrhea, nausea and other symptoms that could be caused by sewage-tainted water.
"Nobody's in the hospital. There's been no lingering symptoms. I think everything's under control," said Ellen Ristorcelli, director of the county health department's nursing division.
The county ran ads in the local papers over the weekend urging residents to call their doctors or the health department to report suspicious symptoms. Test results for the three or four people who have submitted stool samples to the county are not back, Ristorcelli said.
Company to Lease Naval Academy Farm
The country's largest producer of organic dairy products has agreed to lease the Naval Academy's 865-acre farm in Anne Arundel County, relieving the academy of a money-guzzling anachronism while preserving the area's agricultural and rural character.
The 10-year lease agreement between the academy and Horizon Organic Dairy, a Boulder, Colo.-based company, ends four years of debate over what to do with one of the Navy's most unusual assets.
"We're glad to be out of the dairy business," said Syd Rodenbarger, the academy's business manager. "Milking cows is not one of the core competencies of the Naval Academy."
The farm, which the Navy opened in 1911 to provide midshipmen with a safe source of milk during a typhoid outbreak, had no other customers besides the academy. In recent years, the Navy was paying as much as $2.30 for a gallon of milk that could be purchased from larger, commercial suppliers for less than $2.00 a gallon, according to Rodenbarger.
In 1997, Congress finally authorized the academy to get out of the dairy business. The last udder was squeezed under Navy auspices there Aug. 8.
NAACP Opposed to Robert E. Lee Picture
A giant picture of Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee that was hung then quickly removed from a flood wall in downtown Richmond continues to cause controversy. The NAACP announced its opposition yesterday to efforts to return the picture to the wall.
Four weeks ago, the picture of Lee appeared on the flood wall as part of the city's new Canal Walk project, but objections from African American leaders forced its removal. One city council member compared Lee to Nazi leaders. The NAACP, which also announced yesterday that its new state executive director will be King Salim Khalfani, took a more measured tone at a news conference at its headquarters.
"If the Lee mural is put there, what is their message?" said Marty Jewell, a member of the Richmond chapter's board of directors. "You're telling black folks, 'We don't want you in this development.' "
Report on Mayoral Aide Is Disputed
Sources in D.C. Mayor Anthony A. Williams's office disputed yesterday a television report that Warren Graves, the director of the Office of Intergovernmental Relations, is being forced out of his position.
The sources said Graves, a liaison between the administration and the D.C. Council, Congress and governments across the region, has the support of the mayor, who has said he would reshape his staff and those of other city agencies as part of a program to improve government operations.
There has been talk at One Judiciary Square that Graves is unhappy in his present position and may be looking to leave because some of his duties have been given to other mayoral aides. Sources said there have been several personnel changes in Graves's office that he may not have agreed with. WRC-TV (Channel 4) reported Monday that Graves might be forced out.
Graves is on jury duty this week and was unavailable for comment yesterday.
Hearing Set on Police-Latino Relations
A public hearing on relations between D.C. police and the Latino community, where testimony will include accounts of alleged police abuse, is scheduled for 2 p.m. today at the D.C. Council chamber at One Judiciary Square, 441 Fourth St. NW.
The hearing was requested by the Latino Civil Rights Center, an advocacy group based in Adams-Morgan that last year established a police task force to address police-Latino community relations.
QUOTE OF THE DAY: "People are trying to make a comment: If they couldn't protect their children in life, they can protect their memory in death." -- Sherry Molock, an associate professor of psychology at George Washington University, on the elaborate stuffed-animal memorials in Southeast Washington marking the street deaths of innocent children and adults and suspected dope dealers alike. -- Page A1


text: Figure 1. Discovery of RXFP3 as a possible controller for GIT2, identified through an expressional relationship. (A) Using transcriptome profiling, we investigated the expression levels of RXFP3 in GIT2-knock out (GIT2KO) mice (n=4). Both in the central nervous system (CNS) (cortex, hippocampus, and hypothalamus) and in peripheral tissues (pancreas, and liver) RXFP3 expression level was decreased compared to Wild-type (WT) littermates (n=4), GAPDH expression was shown to be stable as a control. (B) These results were replicated using western blotting, actin loading control was used. (C) Through transient transfection, RXFP3 was over expressed in SH-SY5Y and HEK293 cells at 1 and 2 μg, as control cells were also overexpressed with an empty vector (pcDNA3). Actin was used as a loading control (n=3). A specific expression increase for GIT2 was seen after overexpression of RXFP3 in both cell types. (D) Stimulation of GT1-7 cells using the endogenous ligand Relaxin 3 (RLN3), showed a dose dependent increase in GIT2 expression, with increasing levels of RLN3 (n=3). Data represent the means ± SEM (standard error of the mean). Statistical analyses (Student’s t-test) were performed using GraphPad Prism version 7.0 (GraphPad Software, San Diego, CA, USA). Significance level is indicated in each figure as *p ≤ 0.05; **p ≤ 0.01; ***p ≤ 0.001.

domain: medical


Turbine Audio Profiles
From Zenitel Wiki
Turbine Audio Settings
The Turbine Audio Settings are set from the web interface of the station.
The following Audio Profiles are available:
Normal: Standard Acoustic Echo Cancelling (AEC) Profile with a few extra filters added to try to minimize the effects on the voice-signal when operating in a standard environment and few non-linearities in the speaker-to-mic feedback signal.
Noisy Environment: Environment with high noise levels but maximum Turbine Speaker level is not required.
- Enhanced Noise filter with Suppression level 20 dB
- Slow Jam detector to handle Frequency selective noises (jams) appearing in many industrial or harsh environments.
- Comfort Noise type "quiet2" to make Comfort Noise Generator (CNG) operation more natural in noisy environments
Very Noisy Environment: Extreme Environment with very high noise level and Maximum Turbine Speaker level is required. This could i.e. be a "Water Turbine Powerhouse” with a powerful ambient noise, and the “near-end talker” is required to use hearing protection.
- Enhanced Noise filter with Suppression level 20 dB
- Strong Jam detector to handle Frequency selective noises (jams) appearing in many industrial or harsh environments.
- Soft-Howling and Half-Duplex level 2
- This combination turns on some halfduplex-like behavior but only if input signal is strong enough - system remain full-duplex on lower levels of mic input. This protects echo canceller from the negative effects appearing from the mic overflow and corresponding non-linearity.
- Comfort Noise type "low" to make Comfort Noise Generator (CNG)operation more natural in noisy environments
Advanced: With this option one can adjust each individual audio parameter as shown in the table below. This option requires in-depth knowledge, and should normally not be used.
The following Conversation Modes are available:
- Full Open Duplex: Audio is always open both ways with only echo filtered out. Double-talk (both parties speak and listen) should be possible in this mode under good audio conditions.
- Half Duplex Switching: The loudspeaker will be muted, by software control, when speaking into the microphone.
- Robust Duplex: This combination turns on some halfduplex-like behavior but only if input signal is strong enough - system remain full-duplex on lower levels of mic input. This protects echo canceller from the negative effects appearing from the mic overflow and corresponding non-linearity
- Push to Talk: The loudspeaker is open, the microphone is muted. The microphone is activated when pressing the M-key (Manual control)
- Open: Loudspeaker and microphone is always open. There is no audio processing in the station.
The options Half Duplex Switching and Robust Duplex will change the parameters "Half Duplex Control" and "Use Soft Howling Algorithm", overriding the settings from the Audio Profile.
|Feature||Audio Profile||Conversation Mode||Description|
|Settings||Normal||Noisy Environment||Very Noisy Environment||Half Duplex Switching||Robust Duplex|
|Echo Tail Length||128||128||128||Default is "128 ms". For most cases 128 or 256 msec is enough.
Bigger values may slow down the convergence and increasing the CPU load.
|Echo Convergence Rate||Fastest||Fastest||Fastest||Default is "Fastest". Decides the speed of convergence. Higher value uses more CPU.|
|Speech Distortion Level||Low||Low||Low||Default is "Low". If hardware is linear enough, set "Low".
Bigger values may help if echo is not suppressed enough due to the non-linearity or other damaging factors, however speech quality will degrade.
|Use Notch Filter||Off||Off||Off||Default is "Off". Filtering of low frequency components and 50 Hz harmonics.
If noise level is very small, NF may be turned off to improve quality
|Use High Pass Filter||Off||Off||Off||Default is "Off". filtering of low frequency.
If noise level is very small, HFP may be turned off to improve quality.
|Use Comfort Noise Generation||(*)||Off||Off||Default is "Off". Enables comfort noise generation|
|Comfort Noise Generation Type||(*)||quiet2||Low||Default is "1". quiet1 using fixed spectrum shaping (least MCPS). quiet2, low, load using adaptive shaping|
|Use Non Linear Processing||On||On||On||Default is "On". Affect to suppression of remained echo and noise in single talk conditions (when far-end speaker is active)|
|Non Linear Processing Threshold||2||2||2||Default is "2". Higher values causes better suppression, but lower values causes lower distortion.|
|Use Automatic Gain Control||Off||Off||Off||Default is "Off". If speech level and environmental noise are very unstable it may be turned on.
AGC May cause significant artifacts and can not be recommended for high-quality transmissions.
|Automatic Gain Control Speed||0||0||0||Default is "0". Selects the speed of the automatic gain control algorithm.|
|Automatic Gain Control Volume||0||0||0||Default is "0". 0..7 corresponds to -20..0 dBm.|
|Use Noise Cancellation||(*)||On||On||Default is "Off".|
|Noise Cancellation Suppression Level||(*)||20 dB||20 dB||Default is "10 dB". Higher suppression removes more noise, but will also cause more speech distortions and more observable musical and metallic noise.|
|Noise Cancellation Fast Adaption||(*)||Off||On||Default is "Off". Should be turned on in unstable environments (example: streets).|
|Use Noise Cancellation Fine Algorithm||(*)||Off||On||Default is "On". Turning on fine noise cancellation uses more CPU, but results better quality.|
|Noise Cancellation Musical Noise Suppression Level||(*)||0||0||Default is "0". Higher value causes more metallic voice.|
|Noise JAM Detector||(*)||Slow||Aggressive||Frequency selective noises (jams) appear in many industrial or harsh environments.
For example, they may be produced by instruments, engines, trains, airscrews, etc. Jam detector aids to cancel that jams at very low degradation of nativespeech quality. However, in standard office environments jam detector may be turned off.
|Half Duplex Control||(*)||Off||2||Half-Duplex||2||Default is "Off". Should be used if open duplex fails due to excessive speaker loudness, microphone overloads or very high nonlinear distortions.|
|Use Soft Howling Algorithm||(*)||Off||On||Off||On||Default is "Off". If non-linearity mostly introduced by loudspeakers, special soft howling algorithm may help.
It smoothly manages switching between true full duplex and true half-duplex echo cancellation making switching artifacts less noticeable.
|Use Fast Howling Speed||Off||Off||Off||Default is "Off".|
|Use AEC Postfilter||Off||Off||Off||In some environments, AEC is not capable to suppress echo enough. It may be caused by some reasons i.e. resonances in enclosures/mechanical parts, very distorted frequency response, signal clipping, etc. It may look like scrappy or hissing echo or whispering.
In that cases, postfilter helps to remove that effects with small degradation of near-end speech.
|Use Far-end noise cancellation||Off||Off||Off||Far-end speech with strong noise level may cause degradation of speech quality of speech coming from the near-end. Particularly, you may observe variation of loudness.
In the half-duplex mode, strong level of far-end noise may cause more scrappy speech. Normally, VoIP endings already have noise cancellation on their ends and this situation is not occurred. So, in most cases, there is no reason to turn on this feature. But in some cases, this option may help.
|Use VBE||Off||Off||Off||Voice bandwidth expansion improves the behavior of echo/noise cancellation in presence of noise of loud far-end speech. Also, it makes the bandwidth of speech perceptually better. Setting of strongest level of VBE is reasonable solution for environments with big noises and strong far-end speech levels. However, the setting the strongest level of VBE may cause some small audible artifacts like whispering speech, so if it these effects observing, the strength of VBE should be decreased. Also it should be taken into account, the VBE is computationally intensive algorithm and is not recommended to use if MCPS budget is limited.|
|Envelope Processor||Off||Off||Off||Compression Type, see Profile selection below.|
|Envelope Processor Profile||0||0||0||You may select 3 possible compression levels or no compression. Compression decreases speech dynamic range at typical levels, so perceptually the speech gets louder. For adaptive compression selects compression profile. Bigger number makes compression stronger. For fixed compression sets fixed gain in 3 dB steps (3,6,9 and 12)|
(*): The parameter is set according to the "Noise Reduction Level" selected, see next paragraph.
- When the Turbine station is used in SIP or PULSE mode, the Noise Reduction Level is set from the web interface of the station.
- When the Turbine station is used in AlphaCom mode, the Noise Reduction Level is set from the web interface of the AlphaCom, see Active Noise Cancelling for details.
The Noise Reduction Levels 0-7 are applicable only when using Audio Profile = "Normal". When using other Audio Profiles, the noise reduction parameters are fixed according to the Audio Profile.
- Noise Reduction Level = 0: Noise Cancellation is not active. It also resets Half-Duplex Controls that can be set with noise reduction level 7.
- Noise Reduction Level = 6: Is equivalent to Audio Profile "Noisy Environment"
- Noise Reduction Level = 7: Is equivalent to Audio Profile "Very Noisy Environment"
It is not guaranteed that higher levels give a higher noise suppression, but levels utilizes different mechanisms like Jam detector and "semi-half-duplex" for handling loud Turbine Speaker Output in Noisy environments.
|Description (Audio Profile = "Normal")||Level 0||Level 1||Level 2||Level 3||Level 4||Level 5||Level 6||Level 7|
|Use Noise Cancellation||Off||On||On||On||On||On||On||On|
|Noise Cancellation Suppression Level||10 dB||10 dB||15 dB||20 dB||30 dB||30 dB||20 dB||20 dB|
|Noise Cancellation Fast Adaption||Off||Off||Off||Off||Off||Off||Off||Off|
|Use Noise Cancellation Fine Algorithm||On||On||On||On||On||On||On||On|
|Noise Cancellation Musical Noise Suppression Level||0||0||0||0||0||0||0||0|
|Noise JAM Detector||0||0||0||0||0||0||Slow||Aggressive|
|Use Comfort Noise Generation||Off||Off||Off||Off||Off||Off||On||On|
|Comfort Noise Generation Type||quiet1||quiet1||quiet1||quiet1||quiet1||quiet1||quiet2||low|
|Half Duplex Control||Off||Off||Off||Off||Off||Off||Off||2|
|Use Soft Howling Algorithm||Off||Off||Off||Off||Off||Off||Off||On|


text:
The Laura Palmer Deviations - Knifesex's Deviation Remix
a place both wonderful and strange is a Brooklyn, NY-based occult electronic music collective.
Where people listen
- Brooklyn, US13 LISTENERS
- New York City, US7 LISTENERS
- Bronx, US4 LISTENERS
- Columbus, US3 LISTENERS
- Chicago, US3 LISTENERS
Listen to a place both wonderful and strange now.
Listen to a place both wonderful and strange in full in the Spotify app

domain: geography


text:
Sorry, the file you have requested does not exist.
Video installation, Haus der Architektur, Graz, September 2019
Curated by Ludwig Engel, BB Mak
Artists: (ab)normal, Hironaka & Suib, Robin Klengel / Leonhard Müllner, Lion &
Unicorn, Vojtech Rada, Stéphanie Roland, Bernd Trasberger and Superstudio
Design: Julia Volkmar
Fifty years after Superstudio responded to the zeitgeist of the 1960s with a criticism of the notions of progress that defined the era, artists and architects of a younger generation now examine the social conditions that accompanied the production and reception of Superstudio’s ideas. Influenced by digital image production, they have developed an immersive environment for the exhibition “Sorry, the file you have requested does not exist.”, which examines the role of architects as space designers and explores the future potential of architectural tools. The presented positions address the increasing visualization of the present, questioning not just reality but also the agents that refer to this reality.


In recent years, Robotic Process Automation (RPA) has become increasingly important for businesses looking to streamline time-consuming, repetitive tasks. As this technology rapidly evolves, the scope of its potential benefits is expanding at an unprecedented rate.
In 2023, several trends are expected to dominate the industry, helping propel it into the future of automation and beyond. Companies that leverage these upcoming trends can expect to see significant improvements in their operations, providing a competitive edge in their respective industries.
Here are 10 RPA trends likely to make a big impact this year:
Rising Significance of Low-Code/No-Code Platforms
Low-code/no-code platforms have become increasingly popular in recent years due to their ability to simplify complex processes and democratize coding. This trend is likely to continue into 2023 as more organizations recognize the value that these platforms can bring.
Low-code/no-code platforms allow users to quickly create applications without having to write code from scratch. This makes it easier for organizations to automate their processes and reduce associated costs.
Intelligent Automation for Cognitive Tasks
Intelligent automation for cognitive tasks is also expected to be a major trend in 2023. Cognitive automation involves using artificial intelligence algorithms and machine learning techniques to automate complex tasks that would otherwise require human intervention. This type of automation can help organizations save time and money while improving accuracy and efficiency across various processes.
The Rise of Citizen Developers
The rise of citizen developers is another trend that is expected to make a big impact in 2023. Citizen developers are non-technical professionals who use low-code/no-code development tools such as drag-and-drop interfaces or visual programming languages. These tools enable citizen developers with minimal coding knowledge or experience to quickly create applications without relying on IT departments or external consultants for assistance.
Mainstream Adoption of Generative AI
Generative AI is another trend that is expected to make a big impact in 2023. Generative AI enables machines to generate new data from existing data sets without human intervention. This technology has numerous applications across various industries and can help organizations improve efficiency and accuracy by automating mundane tasks. The widespread adoption of generative AI is likely to have a significant impact on the RPA industry in 2023.
Hyper automation is another trend that will make a big impact in 2023 as more companies look for ways to leverage powerful modern technologies such as artificial intelligence and machine learning.
Hyper automation can include combining traditional robotic process automation with advanced technologies such as natural language processing, computer vision, predictive analytics, and deep learning algorithms. This enables the automation of not only mundane tasks but also the automation of complex ones such as decision-making and problem-solving with little to no minimal human intervention required.
Increased Adoption of Managed RPA
Increased adoption of managed RPA services is also likely to be a major trend in 2023 as more organizations look for ways to reduce costs associated with implementing an internal RPA program while still benefiting from its advantages.
Managed service providers offer end-to-end solutions including software installation, configuration, maintenance, monitoring, upgrades, and support services which can help reduce operational costs significantly while ensuring optimal performance levels are always maintained.
Smart factories are also expected to make an impact in 2023 due to their ability to increase productivity & efficiency while reducing operational costs significantly through automated processes powered by robotics & other advanced technologies such as IoT sensors and cloud computing. Smart factories allow companies to not only automate mundane tasks but also monitor operations remotely ensuring optimal performance levels at all times.
RPA Centers of Excellence (CoE)
An RPA Center of Excellence (CoE) is a centralized group that oversees the deployment of Robotic Process Automation (RPA) across an enterprise. It brings together different kinds of experts to share knowledge, collaborate, and develop automation in a more streamlined and effective manner.
A CoE works to ensure the security, operability, consistency, and scalability of RPA. By providing guidance and oversight to identify and prioritize process automation candidates, the CoE helps organizations reduce cost, increase speed, ease manual data processes, and improve quality.
As RPA technology advances rapidly in 2023, it is likely that the use of a CoE will become increasingly popular as organizations look for ways to maximize their automation efforts.
An Increased Focus on RPA Governance and Security
A focus on RPA governance and security will be critical during this period due to increasing concerns such as cybercrime, data privacy, and government regulations. Organizations need to ensure they have robust policies in place when it comes to managing security.
This involves paying close attention to things such as access control systems, authentication protocols, and encryption standards. Additionally, they must ensure they have proper audit trails in place so they can track any changes made system easily.
The Standardization of Process Documentation
Process standardization and process documentation are becoming increasingly popular robotic process automation trends in 2023. By establishing a set system of attending to tasks and operations, businesses can ensure that their processes are consistent across departments, regardless of location or employee.
The act of establishing detailed written records of a company’s operations, procedures, and processes is known as process documentation. This helps organizations to identify areas for improvement and streamline their operations.
With the help of process standardization and process documentation, businesses can achieve greater efficiency and accuracy in their operations. Process documentation could also be very useful for defending against things such as lawsuits or audits.
The Importance of Staying on Top of RPA Trends
Robotic Process Automation (RPA) is an ever-evolving technology that is quickly becoming a necessity for businesses to stay competitive in the market.
These RPA trends are likely to make a big splash in the industry, so companies need to stay informed on developments like these and more. From the widespread adoption of RPA across industries to the emergence of low-code/no-code platforms, staying up to date on news and developments regarding robotic process automation is essential for businesses to remain competitive. By keeping up with the latest RPA trends, companies can ensure they are taking advantage of all that this technology has to offer.
Alternatively, RPA development services make this problem disappear completely. However, it’s important to select a highly specialized RPA development services company. With a team of highly knowledgeable professionals, you can rest assured that your RPA is secure, up-to-date, and as efficient as can be.
If you’re interested in implementing RPA into your operations, be sure to consider investing in RPA development services to ensure a quick and seamless integration of this powerful technology.


What Are The Top Types Of Renewable Energies?
More than ever, people are looking for renewable energy options that are sustainable long term. How come? Well, unlike fossil fuels and coal, they cannot run out over time. But, renewable energies are an endless source. Thus, finding and incorporating energy solutions provides for a more innovative, more sustainable future. Renewables Worldwide is committed to finding more efficient energy solutions that are affordable and available for everyone!
Solar Energy Solutions
Sunlight is abundant and freely available as a reliable source of renewable energy! It’s also our primary expertise here at Renewables Worldwide. Did you know that the amount of solar energy that touches Earth each hour can power the planet for a whole year! But, it’s not a reachable goal at this point in time due to technological, storage, and space limitations.
Are you familiar with wind farms? Wind turbines convert the kinetic energy from the wind turning blades into mechanical energy. Then, a generator can convert the mechanical energy into electricity capable of powering homes and businesses. Large wind turbines in groups of farms are proficient at powering thousands of homes.
Also known as hydroelectric power, hydro energy harnesses the power of water in motion. In other words, it uses flowing water to generate electricity. Currently, hydropower is the most commonly used form of all renewable energy solutions. To be exact, 71% of all renewable energy generated is from hydroelectric power!
What’s cooler than using the heat beneath the Earth as a form of renewable energy? Geothermal is capable of a variety of applications. For example, it can heat bathes, buildings, and generate electricity. How do people access geothermal energy? They make wells deep into the ground to reach underground reservoirs of steam and hot water. Then, the heat drives turbines that connect to generators, resulting in electricity.
Energy Solutions at Renewables Worldwide
Renewable energy is imperative for the future. Renewables Worldwide has been working towards energy solutions for customers across the country. If you’re interested in community solar and how it can save you money, don’t hesitate to reach out.
For more information, contact Renewables Worldwide today at (855) 811-9060.


text:
Picture-perfect pedaling is more than pushing down on the pedals. It also involves pulling them up and around in an act that cyclists call pedaling circles. Ultimately, the goal is to eliminate any "dead spots" in your pedal stroke—at no point in each pedal stroke should your legs just be coming along for the ride; they should always be applying some pressure to propel you forward. The smoother and more evenly powered your pedal stroke, the more efficient it is, which allows you to ride faster with less exertion.
Spinning circles is admittedly easier if you use clipless pedals, but some riders instead use cages with toe straps, which bind your foot to the pedal, for the same effect. But even if you're riding in tennis shoes on plain flat pedals, you can still work on using your ankles to pull the pedal all away around the pedal stroke and minimize dead spots.
Here's a great description I got from Todd Carver, a biomechanics expert at Retul in Boulder, Colorado, who found that when riders pedaled using the following technique, they were able to produce the same amount of power (as measured in watts) at a heart rate that was about five beats per minute lower. Simply put: They rode the same speed with less work. This is how to do it. (Looking for more tips on how to make the most out of your cycling? Selene's book has tons of tips for getting fitter, faster and healthier.)

domain: hobby


text:
There are many reasons to own a cat. It is a friendly companion that offers a rewarding and happy experience to owners. A cat can also keep unwanted pests out of your home and live for up to eighteen years, making it an excellent and cost-effective pet.
The average cost of keeping a cat in the UK is £100 per month. £36 of which goes on cat food.Average amount spent per month on a cat by owners in the UK Study, Statista
Although the cost of a cat depends on various factors, the average monthly cost according to Statista is £100 per month. Battersea.org.uk reports that the yearly cost of keeping a cat is £1,000, on average. They may not be the cheapest pet to own, but they are certainly worth it.
In today’s article, we will break down the individual factors of this cost.
How much does a cat cost?
The average cost of a standard domestic cat in the UK is between £50 and £150. This is especially if you buy it from a rescue home or a reputable breeding company. The cost also depends on its breed quality. For instance, Norwegian Forest cats, Maine Coon, and Russian blue cats have an average cost of £1,000.
On the other hand, some breeds are very expensive. The Savannah, Bengal, and Ashera breeds are hybrids of domestic cats and small leopards and costs tens of thousands.
How much is cat food per year?
Although the cost of cat food is relatively less than dog food, it can still cost you a lot of money. The annual food expenses of your cat are between £100 and £200, depending on the food type you feed to your cat.
It is crucial to buy quality food for your pet, leading to improved overall physical and mental health. Although quality food does not come cheap, it is worth your investment if you love your pet. Likewise, we recommend checking ingredients to ensure you get a higher meat content.
Cost of toys and bedding for a cat
Toys and beddings are essential items for your cat that improve your cat’s comfort. Owning a cat requires you to buy a wide range of items, including a bed, bowl, litter trays, toys, etc. Expect to spend about £200 per year on these things. Remember, these are basic expenses, meaning if you want to purchase more items, such as scratching posts, they will cost you more.
Average cost of cat insurance
Otherwise, you will experience increased premiums when your cat gets six or seven. Discuss the insurance policy for your cat with an experienced pet insurance agent or search online to see your options.
Read Next: Is dog insurance worth it?
What is the average cat vet cost?
Because vet bills in the UK are costly, cat owners look for affordable insurance policies. However, if you don’t get an insurance policy or want to pay out of pocket, expect to pay an average of £60 per appointment. The average cost of surgery is around £1,500.
If your cat experiences severe and chronic illnesses, the cost of treatment will break the bank. Therefore, it is crucial to focus on your pet’s health by providing it with good care, quality food, and protection.
Cost of vaccinating a new cat
When you buy a cat and bring it home, you will have to get it vaccinated immediately or as soon as possible. The first round of vaccination will cost you around £100, and the second round will cost between £50 and £80.
If you want to buy a kitten or cat from a rescue shelter, you can save money on the first round of vaccination because the rescue shelter’s staff would have already done the vaccination.
How much does it cost to neuter a cat?
Neutering or spaying your cat is an essential undertaking for pet owners, allowing them to protect their cat’s paws. Make sure you hire an experienced professional to get the job done adequately. The average cost of neutering or spaying is £100.
Average cost of microchipping a cat UK
Although microchipping is not a legal requirement in the UK, unlike dogs, you can go for it if you want to keep your furry friend safe. The average cost of microchipping your cat is between £15 and £20. The authorities are planning to make microchipping mandatory for cats.
Cat flea and worm treatment cost
Fleas and worms are tiny parasites that can make your cat’s life a living hell. These parasites feed off your cat and cause severe health conditions. That’s why it is crucial to ensure your cat undergoes flea and worm treatment. The average monthly cost of flea treatment is around £5, and worm treatment is £15.
Price of grooming
Each cat breed or species have their own requirements. If you keep a domestic cat, it will require regular brushing to prevent “Matts” in their fur. Therefore, you need a high-quality brush to get the job done. These brushes tend to be pretty cheap.
On the other hand, it will require more grooming if you have a pedigree or long-haired cat. Remember, this is a time-consuming task, so you may need to go to a groomer. The cost of grooming your cat is between £20 and £35, depending on your pet’s size.
Cost of installing a cat flap
Installing a flap for your cat will make its life a bit easier and comfortable. Keep in mind that you have to spend at least £10 to buy a flap. On the other hand, if you want to buy a high-quality flap with a microchip or infrared sensors, expect to pay £50.
If you can install the flip yourself, go for it because you can save some money that way. However, if you don’t know how to do it, make sure you hire a professional installer. The installation cost is between £30 and £60 for a wooden floor, uPVC panel, or single-glazed window. If you want to install the flap in a double glazed window, the professional will charge between £200 and £300.
Hopefully, this guide has been of use. Thinking about getting a dog instead? Find out how much it costs to keep a dog here.
James Banerjee is an Account Director who graduated from the University of Kent in 2014. He works in SEO on clients such as HSBC UK and Nestle and he has a keen interest in personal finances and money-saving advice.

domain: pet


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I ♥ Nicole .us • your biggest fan site for Nicole Richie
Talk Show November 2nd
Nicole Richie will appear as a guest alongside Shannen Doherty on Chelsea Handler's 'Chelsea' show this Friday.
Event November 5th
Nicole Richie will be hosting the Pearl xChange - a safe place that enables you feel empowered, inspired and motivated - in Los Angeles, California.

domain: celebrity


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Effective November 23, 2022, Twitter is no longer enforcing the COVID-19 misleading information policy.
As the world continues to fight the COVID-19 pandemic and prepare for the global distribution of vaccines, people continue to turn to Twitter to discuss what’s happening and find the latest authoritative public health information.
Earlier this year, we shared our approach around the conversation surrounding COVID-19 on Twitter and today we’re providing additional guidance on how we plan to address misleading information around COVID-19 vaccinations. Starting next week, we will prioritize the removal of the most harmful misleading information, and during the coming weeks, begin to label Tweets that contain potentially misleading information about the vaccines.
Our expanded approach
In the context of a global pandemic, vaccine misinformation presents a significant and growing public health challenge — and we all have a role to play. We are focused on mitigating misleading information that presents the biggest potential harm to people's health and wellbeing. Twitter has an important role to play as a place for good faith public debate and discussion around these critical public health matters.
Under our current policy, we already require the removal of Tweets that include false or misleading information about:
Moving forward and beginning next week, we are expanding the policy and may require people to remove Tweets which advance harmful false or misleading narratives about COVID-19 vaccinations, including:
Starting in early 2021, we may label or place a warning on Tweets that advance unsubstantiated rumors, disputed claims, as well as incomplete or out-of-context information about vaccines. Tweets that are labeled under this expanded guidance may link to authoritative public health information or the Twitter Rules to provide people with additional context and authoritative information about COVID-19.
Using a combination of technology and human review, we will begin enforcing this updated policy on December 21, and expanding our actions during the following weeks. We will enforce this policy in close consultation with local, national and global public health authorities around the world, and will strive to be iterative and transparent in our approach. We remained focused on helping people find credible health information, verifying public health experts, and updating our policies in an iterative and transparent approach.
Did someone say … cookies?

domain: sociology


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Avey Tare, of Animal Collective fame, graced the stage of The Majestic last night to play a few songs from his solo album Down There, plus a few new ones (or so it sounded like). If I was going to give his music a silly genre-name––and I am, because this is the internet––then it would probably be Bedroom Trance. As experimental as the end result may sound, every song seems to have the same sure-fire recipe: begin with some background noise, preferably some cicadas, some frogs, ocean surf, or an overheard conversation pitch-shifted to sound menacing; add a repeating, textural bloop, a shambling, off-kilter snare; bring in a sampled instrument (auto-harp, accordion, bassoon), but layer it so many times that it sounds crunchy and vaguely mystical; lean into the microphone and begin to wriggle out a tune from your throat in a clownish, hectoring voice (no melody or pattern necessary), all while making pained, contorted faces; finally give up, waving a dismissive hand and saying, very shyly, very delicately, "Thanks."
Which isn't to say it was bad! It was great, actually. The funny thing about Avey Tare is that his songs only need to be about 35% successful to win people over; his audience has been conditioned to know what to expect. They know, for instance, that every ten minute song will only yield about 2 minutes of actual dance-ability, and somehow they don't mind. The wayward muddling-through, in fact, seems to enhance the experience by tantalizingly drawing it out. And perhaps in acknowledgment of his own deficiencies as a solo performer––Avey never strayed long enough from his smorgasbord of buttons and pads to pick up a drumstick, or god forbid, a guitar––he seemed overall much less guarded than he usually does in the full band. At one point he was even talking to the crowd––though quietly, shyly, of course––and making little jokes. "Leaf House!" it sounded like someone yelled, calling for a classic Animal Collective number, amid much mawkish whooping. "You wish," Avey said, smiling like a villain.


And So It Begins...
I know, a terribly overused Babylon 5 quote, but terribly appropriate in my case, because there’s a certain sense of portent in my coming back out of my deep dark hole. Anything could happen, but hopefully it will mostly be good.Where have I been? Dealing. Just… dealing. With the combined pressures of work and family.
Work: my promotion last year was the midpoint of a years-long process that reached a milestone of sorts earlier this month, a gradual increase in autonomy and power with an attendant increase in responsibilities. I still love my job more than any I have ever had or likely ever WILL have, but now, for the first time in two decades, it sometimes feels like work rather than the laid-back paid vacation it’s been for me since 1996. Whoever said that if you make it to 50 without growing up, you never will, never got his final promotion to the top of the heap at age 51.
Family: one child moving out and severing the ties that bind in a very intelligent and mature fashion, albeit with perhaps a bit more shouting than was strictly necessary, and the other child coming into her own in a manner that has been equal parts delight and anguish. And that’s all I have to say about that, in the quotable words of F. Gump.
But this summer represents a chance to breathe, at least a little bit, and with it a chance to re-establish myself in the music world. I was interviewed by Darwin Grosse for his Art + Music + Technology podcast and realized I missed being a part of it all. Talking about this stuff, playing it, watching and helping others play it… it was time to come back and start doing my thing again in more than a fitful fashion.
So: a new blog, a reupdate (in a BIG way) to the Atomic City website after ten years offline, a renewed radio presence on StillStream, a steady schedule of solo and group dates, and a return to Second Life for a virtual audience that puts real money in the tip jar. Maybe not on the level of Joss Whedon’s Star Trek, but still not a bad reboot, huh?
I have a lot of people to thank, and most of them will probably get blog entries of their own: my wife and daughters, Darwin Grosse, Mark Mosher, the Boulder Synthesizer Meetup, Tony Gerber, Ellen Olhsson, and everyone who made me welcome in Asheville in 2012 and Kansas City in 2013. But the top of the thank-you list, here at the (re)start and probably for the foreseeable future, is Diana Smethurst a.k.a. Gypsy Witch, who’s been equal parts webmaven, promoter, studiously diligent nag, and friend, with seemingly infinite patience and willingness to light a fire under me. Diana and her husband Gordon have been the best of the new faces in my life in recent years, great friends despite the ocean’s distance between us. There’s no way I can thank her enough, for taking care of so many of the small annoying details that come between my self-expression and my audience.
And so it begins. Let’s get started, shall we?


This policy is an offense to all churches in America. However, it’s particularly offensive that the Army refused to provide an honor guard for a church whose first pastor was a chaplain in the American Revolution Army. Current pastor Brad Whitt calls it “an absolute shock.” The fourth of July church service was a “God and Country”-themed celebration with patriotic music and lots of red, white and blue. Afterwards, the church hosted a Sunday picnic complete with hot dogs and hamburgers. Apparently, the Pentagon does not consider this to be as wholesome as a gay pride parade.
The regulation that the Army is clinging to, states that Army Public Affairs cannot support any event involving the promotion, endorsement or sponsorship of a religious movement. It is shocking to think that Army regulations allow the endorsement of a liberal social agenda such as a gay pride parade but not traditional American patriotism. Last year the Department of Defense gave permission for an honor guard to participate in Washington, D.C.’s gay pride parade. An honor guard is also expected to march in the 2015 Capital Pride parade. It surely cannot be a violation of the First Amendment for the Army to help groups like the people of Abilene Baptist Church to honor traditional American values and patriotism.
Listen to the radio commentary here:


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Daniel Hilty has hosted 27 Episodes.
Episode 3: Is Play Essential to the Human Experience?
April 17th, 2022 | 55 mins
board games, community, play, religion, spirituality
After naming some recently revisited games, Daniel discusses some lessons learned at a recent conference on play. Is play essential to the human experience? The discussion moves into play as a means of grace.
Episode 2: Six reasons board games are spiritual
April 3rd, 2022 | 58 mins 13 secs
board games, community, religion, spirituality
Daniel & Kevin have … a list show! What are our top 3 ways that board games can be spiritual and authentically human? The lists are different, but not completely, and then there's a bonus round.
Episode 1: Initial Thoughts
March 10th, 2022 | 46 mins 10 secs
board games, religion, theology
Daniel recommends books on board games and human identity, does his Bene Gesserit voice, and points to the role of divination in the Bible. Kevin makes fun of John Wesley, professes his love for legacy games. They conspire to make lots of money off of Biblical board games that are just drawing lots and casting dice.

domain: game


text:
Coaches have helped you your whole life, in ways big and small. We'd like to be one of them.
Have A Question About This Topic?
There’s an alarming difference between perception and reality for current and future retirees.
Estimate the potential impact taxes and inflation can have on the purchasing power of an investment.
It’s never a bad time to speak with your financial professional about changes in your situation.


siliconbits writes: Looks like this is the SoC that will go in the iPhone 5 as the A5! Samsung has brought out a new "Application Processor" with a pair of 1Ghz ARM Cortex A9 cores and called it Orion, the name of a giant hunter in the Greek mythology. Link to Original Source
They are called computers simply because computation is the only significant
job that has so far been given to them.


Samsung officially unveiled the Galaxy S22 series and Galaxy Tab S8 series at its first Unpacked event of 2022. This year, the South Korean company showed off three smartphones and three tablets, and I got the opportunity to go hands-on with all six of these devices.
However, I spent most of the time focusing on the headliner of the event, the new Galaxy Note S22 Ultra.
This year’s ‘Ultra’ Samsung S series phone takes a different form factor than the other two smartphones in the lineup. In fact, it looks a lot like the Note 20 Ultra from two years ago. Alongside a notable design, the S22 Ultra offers top-of-line specs, new camera features, an included S-Pen and a considerably more expensive price tag.
I only spent an hour with the device, so these are just my initial impressions. I’ll have more on the Galaxy S22 Ultra in the coming weeks, including a detailed review of the smartphone.
The Samsung Galaxy S22 and S22+ feel and look very different than the S22 Ultra. From a distance, they look similar to the Galaxy S21 series and, in the hand, both phones feel more like iPhones with squared-off edges. They do come in pretty cool colours including a Pink/Gold hue and a really nice Green shade.
Samsung’s Galaxy S22 Ultra is a big device. I’d probably say it’s the largest I’ve held in a while (not including foldables). The phone is wider and thicker than the Note 20 Ultra, longer and wider than the S21 Ultra, taller and thicker than the iPhone 13 Pro Max, and just all-around larger than the Pixel 6 Pro. With this in mind, similar to past Ultra devices, the S22 Ultra isn’t designed with people with small hands in mind.
That said, while its size felt significant at first, by the end of my hour with the device, I didn’t mind its obvious girth. I think this had to do with the curved edges that meld perfectly with the curvature of my hand. This is different from the more rigid style of the iPhone 13 Pro Max and more like the Pixel 6 Pro, another device I enjoy holding despite its large size.
The S22 Ultra is lighter than the iPhone 13 Pro Max by 11-grams, which at the moment is my daily driver and I never find it overly heavy.
I didn’t think I would be a fan of the phone’s rectangular-shaped design, even though it does help make the S22 Ultra unique – unless you’re used to seeing Galaxy Note every day. Comparing it to the Note 20 Ultra, the S22 Ultra looks practically the same from the front, but the ‘Infinity O’s’ hole-punch camera is slightly smaller — we’ve reached out to Samsung to confirm if there is a size difference between the camera housing.
Samsung says it created the S22 Ultra with durability in mind, which makes sense given how solid the smartphone feels. It sports a Gorilla Glass Victus+ glass front and back, and an aluminum frame. On the back, the device features a four-camera setup that’s not on a large camera bump like what we’ve grown accustomed to with most smartphones. The camera array is similar to the LG Velvet’s setup, ditching the traditional camera bump, but the sensors aren’t flush with the rear of the device so it’s more like a bunch of tiny camera bumps.
“Samsung’s Galaxy S22 Ultra sports up to 12GB of RAM (down from last year’s S21 Ultra’s 16GB of RAM)”
It’s worth noting this camera array gave MobileSyrup’s Brad Bennett trypophobia-like vibes, so the design might not be for everyone.
Additionally, the S22 Ultra comes in ‘Phantom Black,’ ‘White,’ ‘Burgundy, ‘Emerald’ and even more colours that are exclusively available from Samsung, including ‘Violet.’
The S22 Ultra comes with several pretty useful new features. Starting with the 6.8-inch 3080 x 1440-pixel resolution display, which now comes in a new panel that allows the variable refresh rate to go from 120Hz to 1Hz. This is different from what’s available on the S22+/S22 and previous S21 series devices that go from 120Hz to 10Hz. Reducing the refresh rate to 1Hz should allow the S22 Ultra to save a little more battery power when looking at a static page or image, but I need to spend more time with the device to see how much of a difference this makes.
Another new update coming to the S22 Ultra is a 240Hz touch sampling rate when you’re gaming. A touch sample rate or touch-sensing refers to the frequency at which the smartphone tracks the movement of your finger. Typical devices have a 60Hz touch sample rate, which tracks the screen every 16.6ms, while the latest iPhones have a 120Hz touch sample rate that cuts the time by half.
The 240Hz reduces this to 4.15ms, which should make it seem like the handset reacts instantly to each touch. This feature isn’t available on most smartphones and is usually reserved for gaming phones. I didn’t get to try it out, unfortunately, but I look forward to testing it for my full review of the S22 Ultra. The only other phone I’ve used with this feature was the Asus ROG Phone II.
Alongside new display functionalities, the S22 Ultra also sports the beloved S Pen. While I don’t typically use the S Pen, I know it has big fans out there – especially now that the Note line is dead. Last year the S21 Ultra worked with the S Pen, but it was sold separately. This time the S Pen slides into the S22 Ultra just like it did with Note series smartphones.
Samsung says when writing notes and digitizing your scribbles into writing, the S Pen can understand up to 88 languages, 12 more than before. Additionally, the S Pen is more fluid with a latency of 2.8ms, which is faster than the 9ms latency available on the Note 20 Ultra’s S Pen. The S Pen isn’t included with either the S22 or S22+, only the Ultra.
I didn’t spend very much time with the S Pen, but I plan on using it more for my full review.
Putting through its paces
Samsung’s Galaxy S22 Ultra sports up to 12GB of RAM (down from last year’s S21 Ultra’s 16GB of RAM), up to 1TB of storage (up from last year’s S21 Ultra’s max storage of 512GB) and a Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 processor. Firstly, I think 12GB of RAM is enough for most people and you probably won’t notice the difference between 12GB and 16GB. It’s unfortunate though the base S22 Ultra starts at 8GB of RAM, the lower RAM configuration probably won’t be noticeable for most, but I’ll probably notice it.
Further, the S22 Ultra won’t be the first smartphone with this processor to launch globally – the OnePlus 10 Pro beat it to the punch – but it will be the first to release in Canada. Qualcomm’s new processor focuses on AI, 5G and gaming, alongside better image processing. With this in mind, the S22 Ultra should be a beast when it comes to playing games, using AI and photography.
Alongside the 240Hz touch sensing, I can’t wait to play some games on this beast of a smartphone and will share my experience in my full review with titles like League of Legends Wild Rift, Pokémon Unite and more.
Samsung says that it has improved the S22 Ultra’s low-light videography and photography over last year’s S21 Ultra. The new camera array used bigger pixels combined with the company’s multi-frame exposure technology to allow the S22 Ultra to capture bright high-resolution images even in low light. Alongside this technology, the company’s AI reportedly processes 4x more data to sharpen details and reduce noise in low-light images. As you may have already guessed, I haven’t tested the S22 Ultra’s low-light photography capabilities or any of the camera’s other features like its advanced portrait mode or exporting 16-bit raw photos. That said, I’m looking forward to putting all four cameras through their paces to see what they can really deliver.
The phone also has a large 5,000mAh battery that can charge via 45W wired charging and 15W wireless charging. Even though the device has such a huge display, its variable refresh rate can dip as low as 1Hz and should help with power performance.
Additionally, the S22 Ultra sports an ultrasonic fingerprint reader, IP68 water and dust resistance and comes out of the box with Android 12 and One UI 4.1.
February 25th release date
Alongside the S22, and S22+ the S22 Ultra releases on February 25th at carriers, retailers, Samsung Experience Stores and Samsung.com and is available for pre-order now.
The Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra with 128GB of storage and 8GB of RAM starts at $1,649 in Canada, which is the same entry cost as last year’s S21 Ultra.
This year, however, you’ll be getting less RAM than the S21 Ultra, which only had 12GB and 16GB variants. However, you also don’t need to pay an extra $129.99 for an S Pen with Bluetooth, or $59.99 for the S Pen without.
Either way, a $1,649 starting price is pretty hefty, and my upcoming review will let you know whether this phone is worth the mini fortune it costs.
The Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra, along with the Galaxy S22 and S22+ are now available to pre-order in Canada here.


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- Bullet Weight: 147 Grains
- Rounds: 500 Rounds per Box
- Muzzle Velocity: 2735 FPS
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- Casing: Brass
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- Primer Style: Boxer


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Utrecht/De Meern, The Netherlands. Castor Networks, the Utrecht-based Satellite Service provider and teleport operator, has appointed Filip Vanheer as Business Development Director Fleet and Offshore. “Filip’s long term experience with global MNC’s and large corporations in the maritime industry will strongly support our ambitions in the field of merchant marine and offshore vessels,” says Edwin Cras, Managing Director.
Wagenborg Shipping signs multi-year contract with Castor Marine for delivery of global maritime Internet and IT services on 40+ Wagenborg vessels
Amsterdam, 4 May 2017 — Castor Marine, the Netherlands based maritime communications and IT services provider, announces today that it has been awarded a multi-year contract with Wagenborg Shipping. The contract covers the delivery of 40+ new VSAT systems with satellite Internet based on Castor’s global VSAT network, Inmarsat Fleetbroadband as back-up for the VSAT service and IT support for the vessel LAN infrastructure. Castor Marine will provide an end-to-end solution including installation and onboard support worldwide.
Castor Networks launches new worldwide one stop shop formula for maritime IT and communication after takeover Watum Solutions
The Netherlands, January 16, 2017 – Castor Networks has acquired Watum Solutions effective immediately, a prominent supplier of IT networks and satellite communication for the shipping and offshore industry. Watum Solutions is specialized in designing, installing and maintaining IT and VSAT systems on board of commercial vessels, offshore vessels and drilling platforms and is active in Europe, Africa, the Mexican Gulf, the Caribbean Sea and the Middle-East.
Intelsat 21 mobility beam provides coverage to vessels sailing across the South Atlantic. The integration of the Intelsat 21 mobility beam to Castor’s existent coverage means the company now has a complete Northern and Southern maritime coverage over the Atlantic Ocean.