The Wii has attained notoriety on condition that its launching from the 4 key marketplaces in December of 2006. The principle with the Wii was 1st spoken of throughout the E3 push conference in 2004. Later, it was unveiled at the 2005 E3 when Satoru Iwata confirmed a prototype Along with the controller for the Tokyo Video clip recreation Show in 2005.
Mainly because it was really to start with designed readily available from the states in November of 2006 the Nintendo Wii sporting pursuits bundle is selling like pancakes. Kids and Grownups alike are raving about how cool the Nintendo Wii Athletics pursuits Bundle is. In the course of its debut during the 2006 E3, Nintendo Wii won The perfect Components and Perfect of Display screen Awards from the sport Critics Awards. Every single trustworthy gaming journal is usually hailing the Wii given that the video sport console breakthrough. The Wii even got an Emmy through the Countrywide Academy of Television Arts and Sciences for Recreation Controller Innovation.
The issue that begs to get answered is: Why is Wii so prevalent? What does Wii have that PS3 and XBOX360 can not just surpass its lover base?
The media continues to be whining regarding how our kids are getting unhealthier through the working day, because of engineering (i.e. video clip games) so Nintendo came up with every one of the revolutionary gaming console which is Nintendo Wii. Inadvertently it seems that Other than addressing the Problem of our children projector bundles getting to be sofa potatoes Wii has presented interactive gaming which makes the participant truly feel like they is de facto inside of online video recreation.
The most motivating component throughout the increase about the Wii will be the Wii Athletics Bundle. They promote the console together with five great sports online video recreation. You’ll be able to genuinely Convey you once you Enjoy the Wii.
Regrettably we have been viewing some analysts suggest which the Wii Sports be unbundled. Why you could potentially request? Nicely their line of reasoning revolves around the recommendation that in case you crack the Wii athletics activities bundle the price in the console by itself which happens to be currently $249 is likely to be reduced to $199 to make it “extra inexpensive”. Furthermore the analyst is insinuating which the Nintendo Wii Sporting activities actions bundle sales are heading to get a decrease Which if it actually is unbundled then it should develop sturdy once more by 2009.
Extremely To begin with Wii’s popularity is due to undeniable fact that it can be currently being bought as being a bundle. 2nd, how can the Nintendo Wii Sports Bundle be heading into drop when, even as we talk, Nintendo is scrambling to fill in each of the orders. The demand is exceeding the obtainable supply albeit the one.8 million consoles Nintendo is shelling out per month.
And lastly Nintendo Wii Sports activities bundle is so well-regarded don’t just utilizing the youthful demographics but additionally the older types. Some individuals are even stating that they do not obtain almost every other game titles just after getting a Nintendo Wii athletics bundle. Why mess using a great factor, when folks are beautifully pleased with the many Nintendo Wii sporting activities Bundle equally as It is?


New video from federal investigators shows possible evidence of corrosion, and faulty concrete and rebar reinforcement in the Champlain Towers South building’s debris.
The collapse of the residential building in Surfside, Florida, on June 24 killed 98 people, making it one of the deadliest building failures in the country’s history.
The cause of the Champlain Towers South collapse has not been determined.
The footage released Wednesday by the US Department of Commerce’s National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), shows various problems with the building’s structure as workers inspect the debris up close.
Densely packed steel reinforcement in multiple areas and an alarming amount of corrosion in one specific section where a column was connected to the foundation are visible.
Video released on Wednesday by the US Department of Commerce’s National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) shows evidence of the Champlain Towers South building failures
The footage shows workers inspecting the debris with overcrowded concrete reinforcement and extensive corrosion
Shots of the footage show densely packed steel reinforcement in multiple areas and an alarming amount of corrosion
Various elements of the building, including beams, walls and columns appear to be overcrowded with steel reinforcement, which points to potential weakness in the building’s construction
The building’s ‘powdery’ white concrete seen in the recording points to potential saltwater damage to the beachfront property
‘The corrosion on the bottom of that column is astronomical,’ Dawn Lehman, professor of structural engineering at the University of Washington, told The Miami Herald. ‘If there’s that amount of corrosion, this should have been fixed.’
She explained that the level of corrosion should have been obvious and documented in the building’s 40-year inspection, which was taking place at the time of the collapse.
Lehman said the video shows multiple elements of the building, including beams, walls and columns, that appear to be overcrowded with steel reinforcement, which points to potential weaknesses in those structural elements. Bundling wide-diameter rebar weakens the bond to the concrete.
‘There is no reason there should be that kind of bar congestion,’ she claimed.
Structural drawings of the building show evidence of ‘lap splice’, Abieyuwa Aghayere, a Drexel University engineering researcher explained to the Herald after watching the video.
‘Lap splice’ is caused by ‘congested’ vertical rebar in columns, which are exacerbated in areas where the rebar overlapped, which is shown in the video.
‘It’s already congested as it is,’ Aghayere said. At the splice regions, it would have been ‘even further congested,’ he said.
Experts say that the level of corrosion should have been an obvious and documented issue included in the building’s 40-year inspection which was underway at the time of the collapse. Aerial footage of the building shows the damage of the collapse on June 24
Rescue and recovery workers had spent nearly four weeks combing through and removing the rubble of the building. It is pictured on June 24 the day of its collapse
NIST urged the public to submit any information, including videos, photos or other documentation, that might help the investigation
The American Concrete Institute (ACI) has an established steel-toconcrete ratio for columns to prevent air pockets and the weakening of the bond to the rebar, which can be an issue when concrete is poured too closely to the rebar.
Several of the columns that were found to be too narrow to accommodate the designated rebar were located under the section of the tower’s deadly collapse.
Aghayere also cited the ‘powdery’ white substance of the concrete seen in the video.
‘The white color just stuns me,’ Aghayere said, explaining that stone-like aggregates typically used to reinforce the concrete should remain visible. ‘It doesn’t look like normal concrete to me. What’s going on?’
The absence of the aggregate material mixed into the concrete can cause saltwater damage to the beachfront building.
The video was released along with the announcement of the NIST investigation team that will lead the investigation of the deadly disaster
Judith Mitrani-Reiser will lead the NIST investigation to direct the collection and preservation of the debris in order to piece together and pinpoint the building’s failure
‘We are trying to understand how the building failed. We would like to reconstruct this failure and in order to do that we need as much information as possible,’ Mitrani-Reiser said
NIST has conducted four previous investigations with the power granted to it by the National Construction Safety Team (NCST) Act of 2002.
Under the law, the NIST can take control from the local authorities to lead investigations into major building failures in the US.
The law grants the federal team primary access to investigate the site of a building disaster, access key pieces of evidence, and collect and preserve evidence from the site. It can determine the technical cause of the collapse and make recommendations to improve building codes, standards, and practices guided by findings to improve the structural safety in general.
It cannot determine whether there was a criminal act or violations of a federal requirements, or state or local codes. It does not determine any associated culpability; that is determined in court.
The NIST video introduces the department’s investigative lead, Judith Mitrani-Reiser.
The engineer announced that the team that will conduct a five-pronged investigation of the disaster. ‘We are trying to understand how the building failed. We would like to reconstruct this failure and in order to do that we need as much information as possible,’ she said.
The collapse of the building in Surfside, Florida on June 24 killed 98 people becoming on the deadliest building failures in the country’s history. A victim’s relative places flowers at the makeshift memorial where the partially collapsed Champlain Towers South building stood Aug. 24
The cause of the Champlain Towers South collapse has not yet been determined. A victim’s relatives mourn at the site of the deadly collapse on the one month anniversary of the horrific tragedy, Aug. 24
While several dozen individual lawsuits have been filed regarding the building’s collapse, Circuit Judge Michael Hanzman has begun pooling them together and appointing 12 law firms to run litigation proceedings.
Once these first steps have been completed, individual lawsuits will be heard.
As the courts work to decipher who will be held responsible for one the collapse, several other buildings in Miami have been evacuated, deemed ‘unsafe structures.’
Miami Dade County officials are inspecting 501 buildings – every one in their jurisdiction that is 40 years or older- to make sure none are compromised like the Champlain Towers. There is currently no state law in Florida that requires high rise buildings to be inspected regularly.
The city of Miami currently has 2,439 buildings on its unsafe structure list, according to city data. While the Champlain Towers site is part of Miami-Dade County, it is not part of the city of Miami.
A timeline of the tragic Surfside building collapse that left nearly 100 people dead, including Miami-Dade fireman Enrique Arango’s 7-year-old daughter Estella


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Hello friends! It's Victoria and I am back with a fun layout using the March 2018 Henley Kit. I am super inspired by the overall look and feel of this kit, I could not wait to have some creative fun!
To begin, I created a background using the Henley Spots and Sketch patterned paper and piece of white textured cardstock. Next, I decided to create a layered grid design using some of the 3x4 Henley pocket cards as a layering element under my photos. I mounted each photo on a 3x4 card and embellished each photo/card layer with some of the Henley die cut flowers and labels, wood veneers pieces, and epoxy dots.
Once each photo/card layer was embellished, I positioned the photos in a grid design.
To complete this layout, I created a fun title using the Henley die cut words "simple" and "life". Instead of positioning the two words together, I split them apart to add a bit of design interest. And for the finishing touch, I added journaling, a roller date stamp, and two phrase stamps from the Henley Kit, "more of this" and "currently loving".
I hope you are enjoying the fabulous Henley Kit! Thanks for stopping by!

domain: artistic


Southern Africa Youth Project has published the Call for Proposals for Environment Grants Program in Australia closing date 26 March 2021
Southern Africa Youth Project publishes over 100 000 Funding Opportunities, Donor Directories, Tender Documents, Proposals Templates. To access these benefits visit our menu.
PLEASE SEE MORE OPPORTUNITIES BELOW
- Eligible Country: Australia
- Closing Date: 26 March 2021
- Categories of Organisations: All organisations
- Opportunity Type: Call for proposal
- Submit Application: Online
- Inviting Company/Donor: The Lake Macquarie City Council
- Website for Application and information: Click Here
The Lake Macquarie City Council is accepting proposals for the Community Environment Grants Program to support community-initiated projects that improve the local environment or inspire environmentally sustainable behaviour in Lake Macquarie City.
Not-for-profit community organisations are eligible to apply including school Parent and Citizen groups, community based pre-schools, service clubs, bush regeneration or conservation groups and Sustainable Neighbourhood Groups.
- Applicant is a not-for-profit community organisation.
- Applicant organisation is incorporated or auspiced by an incorporated body, the ‘sponsor’.
- Project is located in Lake Macquarie City and benefits our environment and communities.
- If the applicant has received an Environmental Sustainability Grant in the past, the project is complete and all reporting requirements have been met.
- All questions in the grant application have been answered and sufficient detail provided.
- The project has not commenced. Realistic timelines showing project to complete within 12 months of grant funds being received.
- Less than half of grant funds spent on labour (except to engage expert presenters).


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Must Win Weekend
With three series left to play in the 2022 West Coast League regular season, the Cowlitz Black Bears find themselves on the outside looking in, but are not done.
With a win on Thursday evening against the Wenatchee AppleSox, the Black Bears would have the first part of their comeback done.
Cowlitz will have to be nearly perfect in the final three series to make the playoffs for the first time in nearly a decade. Cowlitz trails Ridgefield, Bend and Yakima Valley heading into the second to last weekend of the regular season for a playoff spot.
The start of the final homestead of the regular season kicks off on Friday at 6:35 p.m. at Story Field as the Black Bears welcome in the Nanaimo NightOwls for a three game series.
Nanaimo sits at 15-28, last in the West Coast League North division. Cowlitz will need a sweep of a team to keep their playoff hopes alive, and this weekend is a prime opportunity.
The NightOwls are 3-7 in their last ten and are on a three game losing streak heading into Thursday night.
Cowlitz will have to play complete team baseball over the final three series to have a chance to catch a playoff spot.
There are only six more home games left this season at Story Field so make sure you get out to the park to see your Black Bears one more time this regular season. Tickets can be found at cowlitzblackbears.com.
If you can’t make it to the ballpark, you can listen and watch live online where the Voice of the Black Bears, Brendan Reilly, will have all the action for you. You can find the streams under the “Watch Live Online” and “Listen Live Online” tabs on cowlitzblackbears.com.
Following the series against Nanaimo, Cowlitz has a day off on Monday before a big home series against the Portland Pickles.

domain: news


Take Me To The Hospital video from The Prodigy
The Prodigy release their new single 'Take Me To The Hospital' on August 31st through their own label Take Me To The Hospital and Cooking Vinyl Records. This is the fourth single from The Prodigy's fifth studio album 'Invaders Must Die' released in February this year. Lots of remixes are available including one by Liam and Josh Homme of Queens Of The Stone Age.
The band have just announced a UK tour for January 2010, 'We wanted to kick off 2010 in the UK so we are coming to some of the towns that we missed last year - sometimes these places can get forgotten so we wanted to bring the show to fans who don't often get a chance to see us' dates are as follow:
Thurs 21st Jan- Doncaster Dome
Fri 22nd Jan- Bridlington Spa
Sat 23rd Jan - Blackpool Empress Ballroom
Mon 25th Jan - Plymouth Pavilions
Tues 26th Jan - Southend Cliffs Pavilion
Wed 27th Jan - Bournemouth Intl Centre
They'll hit the UK and Ireland this November.
Slaves hold open auditions for a new drummer in the star-studded and ultimately heart-warming video for their new single 'Chokehold'.
Sometimes it takes more than 12 months to put together a fantastic season of one of the world's leading TV shows.
Orbital brought their spectacular show to the East Kent coast at the weekend to the delight of a variety of ravers.


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Overt he weekend, the Minneapolis Star Tribune ran a story on the digital divide in Detroit. It’s a story of extreme but it makes the case that broadband is an essential tool for finding a job (or better job) and getting yourself out of poverty. Here’s what they said…
Detroit’s unemployment rate declined to 11 percent in February from 13 percent last year and from 19 percent that same month in 2013, according to Michigan’s labor statistics office. But in neighborhoods like the 100 blocks that make up Hope Village, unemployment is more than double the city average, hovering around 40 percent in 2013, according to the most recent data from the Census Bureau.
Those areas of Detroit are being left out for many reasons, including low education rates, poor transportation and fewer entry-level jobs. But the lack of Internet access, city officials and economists say, is also a crucial — and underappreciated — factor. The consequences appear in the daily grind of finding connectivity, with people unable to apply for jobs online, research new opportunities, connect with health insurance, get college financial aid or do homework.
“It’s like fighting without a sword,” said Deborah Fisher, director of the Hope Village Initiative, a nonprofit effort to improve social services in the neighborhood. “Broadband access is a challenge and a major factor in economic opportunity and employment here.”
The comments posted by Star Tribune readers are disheartening. The gist is “get a job and pay for internet.” But they’re turning this into a chicken and egg scenario when it really it’s giving a man a fishing pole. People need access to the internet to find a job…
Applications for Detroit’s summer jobs program for youth and young adults are taken only online. Most listings on Michigan’s biggest private and public jobs site require email, uploads of résumés and online tests. College financial aid, unemployment benefits and public food assistance programs have shifted to online systems as fewer government offices offer in-person or phone services.
“All basic research for jobs and the forms we use to apply for jobs is online,” said Jed Howbert, executive director for jobs and economic development in Detroit’s mayoral office. “Lack of broadband access is one of several obstacles to employment that we are systematically trying to take down.”
In Hope Village, half of the 5,700 residents live in poverty. Many are not getting basic digital literacy skills or access to educational resources for entry-level jobs, much less the growing number of jobs that require more tech skills and vocational certificates.
Sounds like they have their own version of Minnesota’s Computer Commuter bus that travels around town with computers and a wireless network, but at the article says access isn’t enough, people need the skills to be online too…
At least one small free network continues on the neighborhood’s outskirts. And the nonprofit Detroit Employment Solutions Corp. now regularly sends out a recreational vehicle equipped with Wi-Fi and computers to neighborhoods, including Hope Village.
Another effort by the Detroit Community Technology Project has helped bring free wireless hot spots to seven neighborhoods and is trying to reach more places. But being able to get online is only the first hurdle. People require training on how to use technology, and they need computers or other devices.
“You can’t just provide access and say you’re done,” said Diana J. Nucera, director of the community technology project.

domain: sociology


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Proskit SS-562B, Digital lead free solder pot
Proskit SS-562B, Digital lead-free solder pot
PID is controlled with temperature compensation, temperature auto-calibrating, and accurate control.
Rugged 2mm Titanium Crucible
Crucible is made of titanium board, provides corrosion resistance, and prolongs service life. It is best suited for lead-free solder.
Iron chromium aluminum wire heater with Ceramic heater insulated tube, excellent thermal stability, and long service life.
Dual Digital Display
Dual digital display of setting and working temperature ensures reliable temperature control and adjustment.
Temperature compensation setting
Square type 55×55×45 (mm)
2.0mm Titanium board
Melting time (temp. 280℃)
Approx. 10 mins

domain: chemistry


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POLICE will have new powers to raid cars, boats and planes under changes to the law to stamp out a possible homegrown terrorist activity.
As the global threat posed by Islamic State continues to fester, the Barnett Government introduced legislation to extend and strengthen police powers in Parliament on Thursday.
The current Terrorism (Extraordinary Powers) Act 2005 — passed in response to the September 11 terrorist attacks and 2002 Bali bombings — is due to expire at the end of the year.
The changes will allow WA’s Police Commissioner to quickly access necessary powers to respond to terrorism activity on WA soil.
“The Bill we have introduced will not only extend the current police powers for another decade,
but also strengthen police ability to target terrorist activity,” Police Minister Liza Harvey said.
“As we have seen recently, Australia is not immune to home grown terrorists and it is important our authorities can act quickly and effectively should we ever be targeted in WA.”
Police will also be able to apply for covert search warrants on vehicles, including cars, boats and planes. Currently covert warrants only apply to a specific property or location.
Mrs Harvey said membership of a terrorist organisation and suspicion of advocating terrorism would also be included in the Bill as grounds to apply for a covert search warrant.
“This legislation will ensure WA Police is equipped with the most effective powers to prepare and respond to the growing threat of terrorism activity in Australia,” the minister said.
The new legislation is not due to expire until 2025.

domain: law


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10 Different Types of Guavas (With Pictures)
Guavas are typically pear-like fruits prized for their exotic taste and are grown in tropical regions worldwide. Most people are probably familiar with one or two types of guavas, but there are numerous others you’re missing out on. Let’s dive into the world of guava and see what makes each type deliciously unique.
The 10 Different Types of Guavas
1. Strawberry Guava
Sometimes called the cherry guava, this iconic fruit is native to Brazil but was brought to Hawaii in the early 19th century. Unlike most guavas, this fruit has smooth red skin and similarly red flesh inside. The flavor is said to be akin to strawberries combined with roses, which is where the name came from. Strawberry guava is generally grown in tropical regions.
2. Lemon Guava
Lemon guava is a unique guava with a strong lemony taste that makes it perfect for jams and jellies or eaten raw. The bumpy yellow skin peels open to reveal shockingly pink, tart flesh. Although native to tropical Brazil, lemon guava is best grown in subtropical climates. These fruits are also known for their pretty white flowers and small plant size.
3. Tropical White Guava
Hailing from Southern Mexico, the tropical white guava is widely grown in tropical zones across Asia and Africa. The fruit has the trademark bumpy skin of guava, but the yellow-green skin belies the creamy white fruit within. Tropical white guava trees also do well in subtropical climates and are fairly easy to grow yourself.
4. Pineapple Guava
|Color:||Yellow or green|
With flesh like a pineapple, pineapple guava is an apt name. The skin is a typical guava green, and the fruit grows alongside an edible white and purple flower. Pineapple guavas are notable for their versatility—they can be eaten raw, cooked into desserts, cut into fruit salads, and turned into jelly or jam. These come from Brazil but are now grown all over Central America.
5. Red Indian Guava
|Color:||Red or pink|
Strangely enough, the Red Indian Guava is not native to India. Rather, it was created in Dade County, Florida! When cut in half, the fruit looks like a grapefruit with yellow skin and bold pink flesh. However, it has many seeds like a watermelon. It’s a great snack raw or chilled in the fridge.
6. Vietnamese Guava
Also called giant guava, Vietnamese guava is a primary source of guava juice worldwide because of its huge size. In appearance, they look like giant, bumpy pears. The green flesh parts to show a creamy white flesh that’s also great for snacking or blending into smoothies. Like many guavas, these are packed with lots of essential nutrients and minerals.
7. Detwiler Guava
|Native to:||Central America|
A specialty from Central America, the detwiler guava is the only known guava with yellow flesh. It varies more than any other guava in appearance, but all varieties have mildly sweet yellow flesh and firm, bumpy skin. If something says it has guava in it, chances are that it has this widely eaten fruit in it.
8. Sweet White Indonesian Guava
Yet another pear-like guava, the sweet white Indonesian is actually native to Indonesia. These trees are great for agriculture because they produce many large green fruits with flavorful pink flesh. The main caveat is that they take a rather long time to grow compared to other guavas, so they may not be as fruitful.
9. Hong Kong Guava
Also called pink guava, Hong Kong guava are actually native to nearby Thailand. They grow up to 8 ounces per fruit, with watermelon-like pink flesh. Because they have few seeds compared to most guavas, Hong Kong guava is perfect for blending into juices, smoothies, and crafting jellies or desserts.
10. Yellow Cherry Guava
Not to be confused with the cherry or strawberry guava, this compact fruit hails from Southeastern Peru. These are the most laid-back, low-maintenance guavas on our list, and most people can grow them at home. Keep in mind that you’ll harvest many small fruits, so you’d better have plans for them! We’d suggest snacking on them raw or chilled.
Guavas are one of the tastiest exotic fruits, hailing from many regions around the globe. They’re all delicious, but different types of guavas have different flavors. Make it a goal to try as many types of guavas as possible, using this article as a guide!
Featured Image Credit: jameertamboli786, Pixabay

domain: food


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The latest Marvel Cinematic Universe offering Spider-Man: Homecoming is just around the corner and we are all pretty excited about it. Spidey is one of those heroes we know we can count on to do the right thing, but we’re going to take you through some moments where he crossed the line.
We’re finally getting to see Spider-Man living in a world populated by the rest of the Marvel Cinematic Universe (apart from the Fantastic Four or X-Men, unfortunately.) The cinematic versions of Spider-Man have always been a certain way, but in the comics he has gone through some weird changes.
There’s no denying that Peter Parker is one of the noblest heroes in existence. No matter which comics series he appears in, he always tries to stick to his moral code; “With great power comes great responsibility.”
He’s done this since he first appeared back in Amazing Fantasy #15 (1963) and will continue to do so long into the future. This doesn’t mean that there haven’t been times when Peter has gone against this.
Throughout his time, Spider-Man has done some pretty bad things. We’ve narrowed down the list to the 8 worst things the Spider-Man has ever done…
8: He picked the wrong side during Civil War
More than a decade before the release of Captain America: Civil War (2016), the Marvel Universe was rocked by the original comic book story Civil War, where the heroes chose their sides on whether to support or oppose the Superhuman Registration Act.
Keeping his identity secret has been a big part of who he is, thinking that should any villain ever find out who he was, his enemies would use them against him (and lead the death of Gwen Stacy). It’s likely to assume Spider-Man would side against the Act and work with Captain America.
What really happened was Spider-Man had been working for Tony Stark before the events and sided with him initially whilst using the Iron-Spider armour, helping him hunt his friends and imprisoning them in the Negative Zone (an inter-dimensional prison).
Events escalated leading to Peter willingly unmasking himself live on TV, revealing his identity to the world. He was redeemed later when he turned and sided with Captain America, but it left him in his nightmare scenario. More on this later.
7: Spidey worked for Jackal
If someone made a clone of you as well as your deceased girlfriend and convinced a former US Marine known as Frank Castle (aka The Punisher) to kill you, you would probably not want to work for them. That’s exactly what happened to Peter Parker.
The ‘Clone Saga’ is one of the most famous Spider-Man stories, running for almost two years and introducing the fans to Ben Reilly, the Scarlet Spider.
Peter acted strangely before the story began when he started calling himself “The Spider” and became unpleasant to be around, until he found out that he was not actually Peter Parker, he was in fact a clone!
The architect of the ‘Clone Saga’ was the Jackal, who convinced Peter that he belonged at his side along with the other clones. Eventually, Peter came to his senses, but not until after hurting his friend Ben Reilly.
6: He made a deal with Mephisto
After Captain America’s assassination, his team went into hiding from the government. This continued for Peter as he had to keep his family safe from the villains that came after them after his identity becomes public. The Kingpin had an assassin track Peter and take a shot, lucky Peter has his Spider Sense, but dodging the bullet allowed it to hit Aunt May, fatally wounding her.
When she was taken to hospital, Peter searched for someone’s help, even contacting Tony Stark and Doctor Strange, both were unable to help. Later, Peter meets the demon Mephisto, who offered to save Aunt May in exchange for the marriage of Peter and Mary Jane because their love was so pure and true, it had great power.
He discussed this with Mary Jane, where she convinced him that he would never forgive himself if he didn’t do it. They both agreed. Before the spell took place, Mephisto showed Peter who he could have been then revealed to both Peter and Mary Jane the daughter that would now never exist.
5: He had an affair
Peter was going through a rough patch after the love of his life (Mary Jane Watson) had turned down his marriage proposal, sending him into a bit of a spiral. Meanwhile, in Paris, Peter’s first girlfriend Betty Brant was having some trouble with Ned Leeds, her husband, leading to her leaving for New York.
She met up with Peter and the relationship between the two began to re-kindle until eventually the two kissed. It is unclear what happened next as the following panel stated “several hours later”, leaving it up to the reader to decide what happened in that time, which was the intention of issue writer Marv Wolfman.
One person, Tom Brevoort suggested that nothing happened since Peter would never let the readers hear the end of it due to his internal monologues. Even if nothing happened, Betty was still married.
4: He robbed a jewellery store
Having radioactive blood must be difficult at times. At one time, Peter was suffering from an illness that made him delirious and more difficult for him to use his powers. Peter thought the radiation was draining from his blood, which would eventually drain his powers.
While this was happening, he remembered that it was his girlfriend, Gwen Stacy’s birthday and she was having a party later that night. Peter hadn’t got her anything, so he decided to break into a jewellery store and grab a necklace. In true Spidey fashion, he comes back to his senses and returns it.
3: He nearly beat up Daredevil
Peter Parker was already reeling from the death of Captain Jean DeWolff, who was one of the few police officers who was nice to him, at the hands of the Sin-Eater. It turned out that Jean DeWolff had had a big crush on Spidey and never got around to telling him, so when the Sin-Eater attempted to murder Betty Brant (Peter’s first girlfriend), he turned violent.
Working with Daredevil to take Sin-Eater down, Peter attacked the Sin-Eater. Daredevil tried to stop but was punched out of a window. But it didn’t stop there. Spider-Man then attempted to pummel Daredevil. Luckily, Spidey was in such a rage that Daredevil was able to evade him until he came back to his senses.
2: He killed Charlemagne
In the story Spider-Man vs. Wolverine, Peter and Ned Leeds are on the trail of a mysterious arms dealer called Charlemagne in divided Germany. “Charlie” is an associate of Wolverine and has somehow got every agency from every government trying to find and kill her. Peter is almost killed but is saved by Wolverine, however Ned is murdered.
Together Wolverine and Spider-Man go to Berlin to find “Charlie”. It turned out that Wolverine was planning to kill her to save her from being tortured by the KGB, Spider-Man doesn’t let that happen leading to a confrontation between the two, but are interrupted by a Soviet helicopter.
During the fight Charlemagne grabs Spider-Man. On instinct, he turns and punches her at full force thinking she was Wolverine (with a healing factor) and kills her, which she had wanted to happen. You would think that he would have pulled his punch, even if that person could heal, considering how strong he is.
1: He hit Mary Jane
During the ‘Clone Saga’, Peter was given some surprising and amazing news; Mary Jane was pregnant! It brought him back from being ‘The Spider’ and he started to get better, that is until he discovered that he was a clone and Ben Reilly was the ‘real’ Peter Parker.
He claimed Ben was trying to steal his life and that he was lying and proceeded to attack Ben (it did turn out to be a lie and Ben was discovered to be the clone). When he was attacking Ben, Mary Jane tried to break up the fight and instinctively Peter smacked her across the room.
However awful this was, it was brought to shocking life in Sam Raimi’s Spider-Man 3 when Peter attacks a bouncer at a nightclub whilst under the influence of the symbiote suit.
Do you agree with this list? Is there anything that we should have added or missed out? Let us know down in the comments section!

domain: entertainment


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“There are Some Things Only The Moon has Seen” is a hex to reverse the moon landing, which celebrates it’s 50th anniversary next month in July. In a realty where so much of the world’s resources have been wasted on a futile, militarized, and detestable race to colonize outer space, we believe those resources should have been used to further things like human rights causes and focusing on averting the climate disaster that our planet is heading into.
We do not agree with propaganda & nationalistic styled narratives about sending (some) humans into space when we have exhausted the resources of Earth. Those narratives make us angry. We think inner space and parallel dimensions are a far richer topic, and should be a focus of scientists, philosophers, academics, thinkers, artists & magicians who are looking for ways to escape the apocalyptic future we have been sold.
We also think that spaceships are ugly phallic symbols and wanted to question gendered ideas around the moon, and land/space in general. Why must the void always be seen to be ‘pregnant’? We’d like to see Neil and Buzz rewind back into the space ship, reverse and back-it-up back to Earth, and consider their carbon footprint. Let’s think about the forests for a while, boys? What could the world be like if we weren’t so focused on expansion at any and all costs?
Bio: The HyperVerses consist of Kylie Supski (poet, performer), ReVerse Butcher (poet, performer, VR artist, video/editor), & Chris Wenn (audio-wizardry).
ReVerse Butcher is a multi-disciplinary artist with focuses in making unique artist’s books, collages, visual art, writing & performance. She will use any medium necessary to engage and subvert reality until it is less dull and oppressive. When she grows up she wants to be a well-read recluse. Her most recent release, “On the Rod, an Artists Book” can be found online at: www.reversebutcher.com. She livestreams art sessions 3 times a week at: https://twitch.tv/reversebutcher. She currently lives in Melbourne, Australia.
Kylie Supski is a Polish-Australian poet, playwright, & spoken word artist. She is greatly concerned with using art as a method of speaking out about social, economic and political inequality. Many of Kylie’s poems discuss her experiences as a transgender woman. In 2016 she was the winner of the Melbourne Spoken Word Prize. Kylie is passionate about personal autonomy and exploring the beauty of being alive.
Chris Wenn is a sound designer for theatre and contemporary performance. He was one half of the Punch Drunk DJs, regularly appearing at seminal goth-industrial night Z-1 as The Upstart. His innovative sound designs for The Trouble With Harry (2014) and Rust & Bone (2016) were both nominated for a Green Room Award in the Independent Theatre Category. He is currently the programmer and synth noisemaker for legendary punk nihilists Primitive Calculators. He lives and works in Melbourne, Australia. Find him at: www.chriswenn.com.


text:
Birdwatching is a fun activity that you can enjoy as of early May all the way until December for some species.
Since so many birds frequent Land's End, this sector is a must for any bird tour.
- Number of species in Gaspésie: 365
- Number of globally threatened species: 10
- Number of extinct species: 3
- Number of introduced species: 4
Northern gannets are one of the most spectacular seabird species. Bonaventure Island is home to 120,000 of these birds and is the most accessible and second largest northern gannet colony in the world.
Most popular birdwatching sites:
- Réserve faunique de Matane
- Capucins Bay
- Cap-Chat Estuary
- Parc national de la Gaspésie
- Rivière-à-Claude to Gros-Morne
- Pointe à la Renommée
- Gaspé (York, Dartmouth and Saint-Jean rivers, Sandy Beach and Haldimand beach)
- Forillon National Park
- Seal Cove, Pointe Saint-Pierre and the Malbaie Barachois
- Parc national de l'Île-Bonaventure-et-du-Rocher-Percé
- Grande Rivière and its estuary
- Petit Pabos Barachois and Grand Pabos Bay
- Port-Daniel Bay
- Hope Town Marsh
- Banc de Paspébiac
- New Carlisle Point
- Bonaventure Barachois
- Ruisseau Creux
- Saint-Siméon Marsh
- Taylor's Point Park, New Richmond
- Pointe Verte, Maria
- Carleton-sur-Mer Barachois
- Restigouche Estuary
- Matapédia and Les Plateaux
Start planning your trip
Click on the heart to save sites and activities in your favourites!
You can then easily insert them into our practical trip planning tool.

domain: travel


text:
Domaine Goisot is truly a Chablis estate, but the region of Saint Bris was removed from the appellation in the 19th century after disease wiped out much of the crop. Don’t let the appellation fool you; Goisot produces some of the finest quality white wine in the area. Sharing the same Kimmeridgian limestone and northerly climate as its neighbor a few miles to the east, Saint Bris is now a subregion of Côte d’Auxerre.
Guilhem Goisot and his father, Jean-Hugues, work tirelessly in their vineyards to ensure the best possible treatment for their vines. They believe that the best wine comes from great viticulture, so they strive to provide a natural environment, with the goal of stimulating the natural defenses of the vines against disease. The estate is certified biodynamic.
The Goisots produce a lineup of Bourgogne Blanc from both Aligoté and Chardonnay, and the Bourgogne Blanc Chardonnay represents one of the best values to be found in the world for complex Chardonnay. The wines are fermented in stainless-steel tanks and bottled with care to retain their purity and precision. In years with particularly high-quality fruit, the family will produce a special “Corps de Garde” bottling, comprising the best fruit from their best parcels. The Goisot wines are a wonderful expression of the region and its neighbors, and the family creates some of the most interesting and great-value wine anywhere.

domain: geography


text:
Tinalisayan Island: A Hidden Gem in Masbate
Tinalisayan Island is a stunning destination in the province of Masbate in the Philippines. It is part of the Burias Group of Islands, known for its long white sandbar and crystal-clear turquoise waters. Visitors can enjoy swimming, wading, or simply basking in the beauty of nature during their stay.
The island is under the jurisdiction of the municipality of San Pascual in Masbate and can be accessed as part of a Burias Island tour. It takes around 30 minutes to reach Tinalisayan Island from San Pascual port. The area lacks shade, but visitors won’t mind getting a tan while enjoying the spectacular views. Tinalisayan Island is an ideal tent camp for those who want to be surrounded by rocks, fine sand, and clear waters.
Location and Accessibility
Tinalisayan Island is a small island in the Burias Island group, part of the province of Masbate in the Philippines. The island is under the jurisdiction of the municipality of San Pascual.
To reach Tinalisayan Island, visitors must first travel to San Pascual Port, the main jump-off point for island hopping tours in the Burias Island group.
If you are coming from Naga City, you must go to the bus terminal and ride a jeepney or van to Pasacao Port. From Pasacao Port, tide a boat to San Pascual (2 hours). If you are coming from Masbate City Port, Ride a boat to Claveria in Burias Island, then ride a motorcycle/habal-habal to San Pascual.
Once at San Pascual Port, visitors can join an island hopping tour that includes Tinalisayan Island. The boat ride from San Pascual Port to Tinalisayan Island takes around 30 minutes.
It is important to note that Tinalisayan Island is a remote location with no commercial establishments. Visitors are advised to bring food, water, and other necessities. The island also does not have a power source, so visitors must bring their own power banks or other sources of electricity if needed.
Tinalisayan Island is known for its beautiful natural features that attract tourists. The island boasts unspoiled white beaches, crystal clear waters, and emerald waters, perfect for swimming, diving, and snorkeling. The island also has various rock formations that add to its natural charm.
One of the main attractions of Tinalisayan Island is its long white sandbar that stretches out into the sea. The sandbar is perfect for taking long walks, sunbathing,…


Annual Public Health Report
Decision Maker: Cabinet
Decision status: Recommendations Approved
Is Key decision?: Yes
Is subject to call in?: Yes
The Cabinet considered a report of the Executive Director (Children and Public Health) presenting the 2020 Annual Report of the Director of Public Health.
That the 2020 Annual Report of the Director of Public Health, including the highlighted actions, be approved.
Reasons for decision:
The Health and Social Care Act 2012 requires Directors of Public Health to prepare an annual report on the health of the local population.
Note: This is an Executive Function
Eligible for call-in to: People Scrutiny Committee
Cabinet Member: Cllr Nevin
Report author: Krishna Ramkhelawon
Publication date: 30/07/2021
Date of decision: 27/07/2021
Decided at meeting: 27/07/2021 - Cabinet
Effective from: 07/08/2021


text:
Live a Healthy Life in a Cloud of Smoke.
If this is who we are
And who we’ve come to be
Then how come it’s not raining
And the water hasn’t rinsed us clean?
If there’s a smoldering in the stars
And gluttony lives within the greed
Then how come we’re often penniless
And only move our tongues when we’ve agreed?
If there is comfort in the chaos
But a sense of stillness in security
Then how come all of the movement
Makes me want to grit my teeth?
If there are methods to the madness
And silent strength in subtly
Then how come all of the apparent subjugators
Always seem to come out with the lead?
If there are painful feelings for a reason
Ya know, to motivate necessary change
Then how come they feel like death and dying
When they creep into my range?
If there are skeptics for a reason
Just to question, puzzle and pry
Then how come the cynicism within me
Makes me want to haunt, dwindle and die?
I see believers in your book report
But where’s the setting, plot and theme?
You can’t just write to write
And think to think
But leave the devilish details all up to me
If there is love after the bereavement
And a sense of peace once the miasma has cleared
Then I’ll just sit right here in my deafening fear
Yeah, I’ll just count the stones until the calamity disappears
No I won’t hold my gasp until your face appears
Because we both know the rules to which we won’t adhere
There’s a voiceless calling in this fucked up year
And we will fill our lungs with an airy souvenir
The one we gave as a gift when we were once sincere
But the devious nature of my laugh is now evocatively here
And the murder of my moral fiber is deliberately near
I meant it when I told you to “free your thoughts my dear.”
The clock ticks
But I don’t
What used to draw me toward this life
Is now an anecdote
Yeah my veins are dry
But my clothes are soaked
Cause he was hung so high
With the tightest rope
And I drive the smoothest ride
On the most treacherous road
And live the healthiest life
In a cloud of smoke
Cause when ceilings are high
And depth perception is low
I’ll run to the uppermost peak
And never glance below
A black tar in my home
Needles and plastic bags for show
I was never privy to the downers
But I’ve found quietude
In the most bustled drone
Don’t even think to speak
Or even say hello
I can’t read your eyes
Cause mine are decrepit and broke
No I’m not the girl that you used to know
But I’ve never seen me like you see me
That’s always been the toughest blow.


Schema migrations are a pain. In this workshop we review the problem space and tools available to make reversible schema changes in production with zero downtime.
February 2, 2024
Schema migrations are a pain. They typically require multi-step playbooks to roll out in production and migrate your data over. In this workshop we review the problem space and tools available to make reversible schema changes in production with zero downtime.
There are a number of gotchas we typically see folks run into when trying to roll out schema changes in a production environment where downtime is simply not acceptable.
Additive-only changes and schema debt
If you’ve ever worked with a production database, I’m sure you’ve run into this one. We’ve interviewed many developers and architects about schema migrations and the one thing they’ll all admit is that they’d rather add columns than remove them. It’s the safe play, destructive changes can be complex, but things can get out of hand very quickly. A single column can very quickly turn into multiple versions with different variations.
This pattern comes from fear of breaking the application, which is fair. Though at the end of the day, having a table with hundreds of columns can lead to a few issues. You can end up with performance implications returning certain queries, having long living compatibility code in your application and general confusion for anyone new to the database.
The locking minefield
If you aren’t familiar with Postgres, locking is a way to control concurrent access to data in tables. Locks are used pretty heavily when modifying your schema and there are many types of different locks available in Postgres.
As an example, any ALTER TABLE statements will require the ACCESS EXCLUSIVE lock which conflicts with all other lock types. Meaning, most changes to your table essentially make it inaccessible for writes. When talking abour production applications, the general goal is to reduce the time during which Postgres tables are locked as much as possible. Unless you have the same exact data in your staging or preview environments as you do production, realistic locking scenarios can be relatively hard to test for.
Deploying application changes
Now, this part is always fun. The ordering of deployment for changes in your application. Do you deploy your application first? Your database first? Or both at the exact same atomic time? There’s no completely right answer, but there’s definitely wrong answers and a lot of it depends on your application and the changes being made.
Ensuring data consistency between the changes, avoiding schema drift and backfilling the appropriate data correctly are some of the complexities that can lead to downtime. That’s why the more complex the application, the more complex the deployment process ends up being for database changes.
Rolling back your changes
If you have downtime because of changes made to your database, what do you do? Rollback of course. Rolling back your schema changes in production is probably the only thing scarier than rolling them out in the first place. If your schema changes were a long multi-step process, you can assume that rolling those changes back will be even more difficult.
Because of this difficulty, rollbacks typically aren’t tested before deploying to production. In the best case scenario you have a short unplanned maintenance window. Depending on the size or complexity of the data, it could take hours to revert.
Planning, testing & communication
And of course, no matter how much you prepare human error is always a possibility. Large scale applications typically have large organizations with multiple stakeholders and end users. Which means, downtime is as much of a people problem as anything else. Having good documentation, a collaborative team, likely some process and ensuring everyone in the organization is on the same page is an important piece of the puzzle.
There are some battle-tested ways to roll out schema changes in production environments. Here's a quick overview of some strategies we see out in the wild.
Version controlled SQL scripts
Relational databases have been around for a while, and some practices have stood the test of time. It is not uncommon for an entire database schema history to be stored in a widely accessible folder, with well ordered SQL files and a manual, well documented process to roll out changes. Just don't let your intern near it 😉
This is a trusted solution for keeping a history, making changes and quickly being able to rebuild your database. Putting these files behind version control systems like git / GitHub allow for some change management process. While maybe not for everyone, this is good enough for more businesses than you’d think -- and at a variety of scales.
Frameworks & ORMs
There are generally two ways to deploy your database alongside your application. Coupling the two together, or decoupling them. When your application is coupled together with your database, you typically see an ORM or framework in use.
ORMs like Prisma or Drizzle and frameworks like Django, Ruby on Rails or Laravel will not just generate schema migrations for your application, but deploy the changes at the same time. This works well at a smaller scale, but as you grow there end up being a number of downsides ranging from collaboration features to having less control over the schema migrations themselves.
Expand & contract
The expand and contract strategy, also known as parallel change, is a pattern used to migrate your schemas with zero downtime. This pattern is usually seen in decoupled architectures and is proven to work well at scale.
It works by applying changes in a specific series of steps that add in the new schema and data, with the application aware of both schemas for a given period of time. Then, deleting the old schema after the data has been backfilled. This approach is backwards compatible and reversible and a pattern we see used regularly in modern applications.
Application specific processes
Every application is unique in one way or another. As applications grow in complexity, so do their schema migrations. You may find yourself writing pages and pages of documentation, but for good reason. Micro-managing schema migrations means that petabytes of customer data are safe and your business continues to run smoothly.
In larger organizations like this, schema migrations typically are categorized by type and smaller and more frequent changes are preferred. There may also be processes in place for feature flags or canary deployments for multi-tenant environments. Generally, I’d say whatever approach you take – good documentation is always a welcome addition. This GitLab documentation is a great example of how organizations tend to handle schema migrations at scale.
There’s always the possibility that downtime is acceptable for your application and business. Maybe your audience is only around during business hours or you have regular planned maintenance every month. In which case, you can take more of a “big bang” approach. Multi-step process or intimately integrated ORMs simply aren’t necessary to avoid downtime, giving you more time to get creative with your maintenance window page.
When you start seriously considering more destructive changes to your schema, thrid party tooling becomes more of a necessity to keep track of the changes, version them and perform the migrations. Since this problem has been around for a while, there are a variety of tools. We won't go into details for each one, but some solutions have been around for nearly two decades and others have popped up in the last few years.
Both Liquibase and Flyway have been in this space for some time, Liquibase having been here the longest since 2006. Both of these offerings have a free open source solution. That being said, there are numerous features ranging from rollbacks to schema diffs that are gated at the paid tier. Liquibase is more geared towards enterprise use cases, and Flyway being a bit more developer oriented. Both solutions can use SQL to write migration scripts (though Liquibase supports other formats – YAML, XML, JSON.) and support a wide variety of databases.
Sqitch is interesting because it has positioned itself as a standalone change management system. It is unopinionated about your application framework, database engine or development environment. Unlike liquibase or flyway, there is no need to number or name your migrations a certain way. Sqitch handles this for you. It’s a unique solution that is aims to make it easy to integrate into your existing environment.
Atlas and Bytebase are very much the new kids on the block and lean into developer experience and database as code. Both have open source and cloud offerings and aim to do much more than schema migrations, supporting multiple databases.
Last but not least is Reshape. This is a relatively new open source and experimental tool that provides a novel way for handling schema migrations. Though unlike these other tools, it doesn’t support multiple databases and is only for Postgres. This means it can take advantage of capabilities specific to Postgres more-so than other solutions. Reshape inspired the next tools we'll dive into: pgroll.
At Xata, we recently sought to tackle this problem with a brand new solution, pgroll. pgroll is an open source command-line tool that offers safe and reversible schema migrations for PostgreSQL by serving multiple schema versions simultaneously. It takes care of the complex migration operations to ensure that client applications continue working while the database schema is being updated. This includes ensuring changes are applied without locking the database, and that both old and new schema versions work simultaneously. This removes risks related to schema migrations, and greatly simplifies client application rollout, also allowing for instant rollbacks.
If you're interested in learning more about why we built this solution, how it's different and demo of how it works -- check out this video from lead engineer Andrew Farries below.
We are in the process of integrating pgroll directly to Xata. This will open the door to many more migrations that can be rolled out in production, with zero downtime.
We'd love to hear from you if you have any feedback on the problem and our brand new solution, pgroll. If you would like to know more about pgroll or Xata in general, feel free to reach out to us in Discord or follow us on X | Twitter.
Xata provides the best free plan in the industry. It is production ready by default and doesn't pause or cool-down. Take your time to build your business and upgrade when you're ready to scale.


Kozhikode: Union Minister Smriti Irani will not campaign against AICC president Rahul Gandhi in Wayanad Lok Sabha Constituency as she is down with acute back pain and is undergoing treatment, according to a press release of NDA.
Instead of Smriti Irani, Union Minister for Def-ense Nirmala Sitaraman would lead a road show at Sulthan Bathery on Sunday. Arriving in a special aircraft at Karipur airport, Nirmala Sitaraman would land at St Mary’s College ground in a chopper at 10 25 am. After attending a public meeting at Sulthan Bathery, she would also lead the road-show seeking votes for NDA candidate Thushar Vellappalli at Gandhi junction.
Though there were reports that BJP national president Amit Shah and Prime Minister Narendra Modi would campaign against Rahul Gandhi in Wayanad, it has been informed that none of them would be coming to the constituency, NDA leaders said.


text:
- 27 February 2021
- Posted by: Cryptovalues
- Category: Cryptovalues News, World News
Following Bank of New York Mellon, the oldest bank in the U.S., which announced the ability to hold, transfer and issue cryptocurrencies on behalf of its clients.
another century-old financial institution with 170 years in business, Switzerland’s Bordier & Cie, announced a partnership with Sygnum, a digital asset platform, to allow its clients to purchase cryptocurrencies, specifically bitcoin, ethereum, bitcoin cash and tezos.
As happened for BNY, the novelty was driven by the growing demand of customers, who are attracted by the crypto performance and, taking into account the peculiarity of the market not correlated with other financial assets, can get extra performance, as well as differentiate more the investment.
Also in this case, it is worth highlighting the willingness of old banking institutions to convert to modernity, which, unlike others, are seizing this opportunity to adapt to change and meet the new and diversified needs of customers.
Translated with http://www.DeepL.com/Translator (free version)


Commander’s bridge | 12:00-13:30 | Challenge 2
Martin Kohler, Bettina Buth, Klaus-Peter Kossakowski
Contemporary cities face enormous risks, particularly high levels of mounting social and environmental risks. Digital technologies are often advertised as critical tools to eliminate these risks. But what happens when multiple systems interact, collaborate or compete? In this session we want to explore questions and approaches how to manage and handle urban risks by digital enabled systems with experts from urban planning, computer science, sociology and urban health as a transdisciplinary project. Rather for solutions, we aim for productive questions to frame a transdisciplinary perspective to create a city without risk in the world of digital heterogeneity in urban infrastructure and urban health.


Tone and Touch Perfect for Beginner to Intermediate Repertoire, Plus Smart Pianist App Support
Quite successful in their own right, the best-selling P-105 and P-115 digital pianos brought sought-after features like Pure CF sampling, drum rhythms and pianist accompaniments, stage-ready aux line outs, and iOS app control to Yamaha's entry- to intermediate-level portable digital pianos. Now, just a few short years later, the P-125 adds an even deeper selection of features while further refining the sound and playing experience of its predecessors.
With the P-125, Yamaha has given careful consideration to the approachability and accessibility of its user interface, as well as both the physical aesthetics and acoustic properties of its design. Intended to keep the player focused on their playing, the panel and controls are simple and user-friendly, with light reflection minimized by the continuous surface. The subtle curve of the panel is inspired by the Yamaha CFX grand piano, echoing the sophistication of the P-125's Pure CF Sound Engine. Projecting from both the top and bottom of the piano, the P-125's 2-way speaker system creates a rich sound field, enveloping the player in their own performance space as if they were sitting at an actual acoustic piano.
Even with these subtle design elements, an instrument that's likely to be purchased as a first piano or as an upgrade from a portable keyboard is often judged primarily by its ability to meet a couple of basic requirements for sound quality and keyboard feel. On this front, the P-125 carries forward with Yamaha's Pure CF Sound Engine, reproducing the sound of the Yamaha CFSIII 9' concert grand piano with meticulous detail. As an improvement over the P-115, the P-125 includes 4-level Pure CF sampling for an extra layer of dynamic and expressive possibilities.
The P-125 also features Yamaha's Graded Hammer Standard 88-key weighted keyboard action to simulate the playing feel of an acoustic piano, providing a heavier touch at the low end of the keyboard and a lighter touch at the high end. Combined with the multiple dynamic layers of the Pure CF engine, the GHS keyboard helps the P-125 acclimate players to the musical response of an actual piano.
In addition to its more detailed piano sampling, the P-125 offers a number of other upgrades over the model it replaces. The P-125 now includes 24 instrument voices (the same number as the upper-level P-255), as opposed to the P-115's 14 voices. The P-125 also expands on the rhythm patterns available in the P-115, with 20 drum rhythms that now include bass parts instead of 14 drum-only patterns. A single USB cable can carry both audio and MIDI to your music-making software, eliminating the P-115's need for a separate audio interface for recording. The optional 3-pedal unit has also been redesigned with metal pedals for true piano-like pedaling.
One of the P-125's most exciting new features is its compatibility with Yamaha's "Smart Pianist" app for iOS. Originally developed for Clavinova CSP Series digital pianos, Smart Pianist offers intuitive touchscreen control of voices, rhythms, and other instrument settings. While not every function available to the CSP Clavinovas is accessible from the P-125, Smart Pianist still provides a variety of new ways to enjoy learning and making music with the P-125, such as creating chord charts from audio tracks stored on your iPhone or iPad.
Yamaha is known for their pianos, both acoustic and digital, and the P-125 draws on over 100 years of piano craftsmanship and a longstanding history of electronic musical instrument technology. With a well-measured set of updates to an already solid platform, the P-125 continues a trend of accessible digital pianos with the sound quality and touch response expected from a Yamaha instrument.


Features an elastic waistband and designed for maximum comfort and support. These sturdy natural-waist compression pants are crafted to reduce muscle fatigue and soreness while also supporting the lower back.
For maximum comfort, the bottom hem is clean cut and will not run or fray. Providing medical grade compression from the hips to the calves to minimize your recovery time to keep you feeling your best.
Made in the USA out of our patented fabric with Three Dimensional StretchTM, built in antimicrobial protection, COOLMAX® moisture management performance!


text:
Rainy skies Monday will give way to much lower highs throughout the rest of the week.
ABC11 meteorologist Don Schwenneker says temperatures will once again rise to near 70° this afternoon, but a cold front will settle southward across the region tonight and then stall across the southern part of the region from tomorrow into Wednesday.
Nearly all of the rain with the stalled front will fall to its north, so the period from tonight into at least Wednesday morning will feature quite a bit of rain to the west and north of the Triangle with decreasing amounts of rain to the south and east.
From the Fayetteville area eastward to southern coastal areas, there will be only a few scattered showers and less cooling during the next couple of days. But in the Triangle and to the north and west, temperatures will hold mostly in the 40s from tomorrow into much of Wednesday to go along with the rainy conditions.
A break in the wet weather is likely from late on Wednesday into part of Thursday, although it will remain seasonably chilly during this time. Then another storm system will bring more rain late on Thursday and especially on Thursday night, with the chance of a bit of sleet mixing in near the Virginia border.
Dry weather will follow with some sunshine on Friday, Saturday and possibly Sunday, with temperatures during this late-week period running close to what is normal for January.
The National Weather Service says Charlotte tied its record high of 75 degrees Sunday, last reached in 1960. Highs were in the 70s across much of the state, with even the mountains reaching the 60s.
Saturday was even warmer. Forecasters say Fayetteville set a record Saturday with a high of 79, breaking the old record of 77 degrees set in 1916. The average high in Fayetteville this time in January is 53 degrees.


Hop Along, a long time favorite here at BTRtoday, are having an excellent moment in music following the release of their album Bark Your Head Off, Dog. Recently featured here as a top artist of the week, the Philadelphia-based band rolled through town for a highly-anticipated show at Brooklyn Steel. Joined by openers Saintsenca (who have also gotten quite a bit of BTR love) and new Don Giovanni act Bat Fangs, Hop Along played an emotionally charged set of catchy tunes.
Hop Along will be on tour throughout the US all summer, culminating with a return to NYC in September for Octfest.
Edwina Hay was there to take it all in. Read on for her photos from the show.


text:
The story of some plants, which are thought to be aliens in social networks and cause outrage among the public, went viral.
The post was shared on a South African Facebook page earlier this December by Jan Vorster, a 62-year-old man. The image went viral.
(Keep reading: Ten New Plants and Mushrooms The World Meets in 2022.)
“I thought people would have fun with this, but then something very serious happened, something extremely serious,” Jan said. The incidents occurred in the city of Still Bay in Africa’s Western Cape, where the man had seen dead plants of the Aloe Vera Ferox species, which resemble tentacled monsters.
“Many people were afraid of these alien-looking sea monsters. It was like ‘Jaws’ and they asked me: is it safe to go into the water?” said Jan.
Voster shared the images on Facebook to raise awareness about the damage people are doing to the environment. He was the one who took the plants, lined them up on the beach to make them look like monsters, and took the photo.
“I thought I could use this as a metaphor for how people view these plants as ‘aliens,’ but we are actually biped ‘aliens’ destroying their worlds. That was the idea,” Vorster told the “Kennedy News” media.
For some internet users, the images were chilling and fueled fear of the sea: “I just wanted to cancel my vacation” or “I can’t swim because of things like that. I’m afraid of sharks anyway.”
No dear It was about plants called Aloe Vera Ferox that are not dangerous to humans.
(Also: Tales of the Cosmos: Cosmic footprints of technological civilizations).
“Aloe Vera Ferox 2-3 meters tall, with rosette-arrayed leaves, old and curled on the stem. They are dull green in color, sometimes with a slightly bluish appearance. They can also have a reddish tint,” said the ‘Plantzáfrica’ portal of the South African National Biodiversity Institute.Through the story, Jan will create environmental ads to promote and engage the facility.
“I learned a lot and was very motivated to continue with Aloe Vera Ferox and continue to focus on nature-related issues,” she told ‘Kennedy News’.
Tigrillo broke into a farm in Santander and ate local animals.
Video: Spectacular footage of frozen Niagara Falls
Japanese knotweed: Invasive species impossible to kill
‘Black Alien’ recounts job struggle: They reject him because of his physique
LAURA ALMECIGA AVELLANEDA


text:
April 27, 2013 at 8:00 AM
152 notes Tom Meighan Kasabian Noel Gallagher jay mehler sergio pizzorno chris edwards Ian Matthews
"...nor custom stale her his infinite variety hairstyles."
This blog is about Tom Meighan, lead vocalist of Kasabian, and his general awesomeness. Just in case you didn't notice.
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Ever since he was hired by the Chicago Bulls with zero coaching experience underneath his belt, Vinny Del Negro has been the go-to joke whenever you want to name a horrible NBA coach. That’s what happens when your play diagrams literally just look like scribbles all over the place. Whether it be messing up his timeouts, botching rotations or fighting his team’s GM, Del Negro’s tenure as head man in Chicago and Los Angeles has been laughable.
And while Vinny’s teams have always been decent, we’ve always been able to imagine Vinny designing an offense by simply thinking, “I dunno, screen-and-roll at the top of the key? Or maybe an isolation at the type of the key? We’ve got options.” Turns out, that’s not far from the truth. From the Los Angeles Daily News:
So, what do the Clippers call their offense? Does it have a name?
“Yeah, Chris Paul,” Del Negro said, referring to his All-Star point guard. “All these names and all that stuff – you just put the ball in the best player’s hands. I’m sure the ball is going to be in LeBron’s hands.”
“You just try to get the guys to buy into what you’re trying to do.”
Yep, that’s pretty much what everyone thought. Sometimes it is nice to have your suspicions confirmed.
Of course, the funny thing about this is that Chris Paul has only the fourth-highest usage rate on the Clippers, and is actually third among guards behind Eric Bledsoe and Jamal Crawford, both of whom seem to be involved in every single play for the Clippers’ awesome second unit, which is impossible since they almost always play together but you know what I mean. Even when Vinny Del Negro tries to do the right thing — and yes, putting the ball in Chris Paul’s hands and letting him Chris Paul all over the place — he kind of messes it up.
All that being said, if Vinny somehow finds a way to keep the Clippers playing at such a fast pace — currently 4th in the league when Chris Paul’s teams have finished higher than 21st only once (No. 15 in 2009-10) in his career — then I think we can legitimately congratulate VDN for doing a good job of coaching. Sure, it’s probably just Chris Paul deciding to stretch his legs a bit, but still.


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Get Your PIN
The financial aid form has gone electronic. To replace a written signature, you need to sign up for a PIN. Do this now so you have it ready come January 1, 2015. To sign up for a PIN, click here.
Financial Aid Application
State colleges and universities and the federal government are encouraging students and parents to fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) online.
I would encourage you to print and fill out the worksheet before attempting to fill out the online application. THIS MUST BE FILED BY MARCH 1, 2015.
Click here for the link to FAFSA.
College Goal Sunday is a program developed to help families fill out the FAFSA. The date is Feb. 8, 2015 from 2-4pm. There are many locations to attend. Click here for information.

domain: finance


text:
Requesting Electronic Submittals
In light of current events, all non-essential state employees are working remotely. Electronic submittals, in addition to the required paper submittal, of Notices of Intent, MESA Project Review Checklists, Conservation and Management Permit applications, and Information Requests will now be requested. An electronic copy of the complete submittal (including all attachments) should be sent using a file share service to MESAReview@mass.gov.
Please ensure that the entire electronic submittal, including attachments and site plans, are accessible and legible and that the link to download the electronic submittal can be accessed by others (not just the direct recipient). Due to volume restrictions of the mass.gov email system, please do not directly send the electronic submittal as a PDF. Please be prepared to provide copies of electronic submittals in an alternative format (such as reduced file sizes or zip files) if requested. The electronic copy may be sent in advance of or concurrent with the paper copy.
The thirty day regulatory review period will not begin until a complete paper copy of the submittal, including all attachments and the filing fee, is received by the Division. The paper copy must be mailed to:
1 Rabbit Hill Road, Westbrough, MA, 01581, Attention: Regulatory Review
Purpose of the Act
The Massachusetts Endangered Species Act (MESA) was enacted in December 1990 (M.G.L c.131A). Implementing regulations were promulgated in 1992 and most recently revised and implemented as of January 10, 2020 (321 CMR 10.00).
The Massachusetts Endangered Species Act and its implementing regulations
- protects rare species and their habitats by prohibiting the "Take" of any plant or animal species listed as Endangered, Threatened, or Special Concern
- establish procedures for the listing and protection of rare plants and animals
- outline project review filing requirements for projects or activities that are located within a Priority Habitat of Rare Species
- provide clear review timelines and establish an appeal process for agency actions
Additional Resources for
Take is defined as the following:
In reference to animals, means to harass, harm, pursue, hunt, shoot, hound, kill, trap, capture, collect, process, disrupt the nesting, breeding, feeding or migratory activity or attempt to engage in any such conduct, or to assist such conduct,
and in reference to plants, means to collect, pick, kill, transplant, cut or process or attempt to engage or to assist in any such conduct. Disruption of nesting, breeding, feeding or migratory activity may result from, but is not limited to, the modification, degradation or destruction of Habitat.
Additional Resources for
Permits for taking rare species
Permits for “taking” rare species for
- conservation, or
- management purposes
can be granted by the Division of Fisheries & Wildlife.


For the purposes of this chapter: (1) “Acquire a sewerage system” means obtain title to all or any part of a sewerage system or any interest therein by purchase, condemnation, grant, gift, lease, rental or otherwise; (2) “alternative sewage treatment system” means a sewage treatment system serving one or more buildings that utilizes a method of treatment other than a subsurface sewage disposal system and that involves a discharge to the groundwaters of the state; (3) “community sewerage system” means any sewerage system serving two or more residences in separate structures which is not connected to a municipal sewerage system or which is connected to a municipal sewerage system as a distinct and separately managed district or segment of such system, but does not include any sewerage system serving only a principal dwelling unit and an accessory apartment, as defined in § 8-1a, located on the same lot; (4) “construct a sewerage system” means to acquire land, easements, rights-of-way or any other real or personal property or any interest therein, plan, construct, reconstruct, equip, extend and enlarge all or any part of a sewerage system; (5) “decentralized system” means managed subsurface sewage disposal systems, managed alternative sewage treatment systems or community sewerage systems that discharge sewage flows of less than five thousand gallons per day, are used to collect and treat domestic sewage, and involve a discharge to the groundwaters of the state from areas of a municipality; (6) “decentralized wastewater management district” means areas of a municipality designated by the municipality through a municipal ordinance when an engineering report has determined that the existing subsurface sewage disposal systems may be detrimental to public health or the environment and that decentralized systems are required and such report is approved by the Commissioner of Energy and Environmental Protection with concurring approval by the Commissioner of Public Health, after consultation with the local director of health; (7) “electronic equipment” means any technology that facilitates real-time communication between two or more individuals, including, but not limited to, telephonic, video and other conferencing platforms; (8) “municipality” means any metropolitan district, town, consolidated town and city, consolidated town and borough, city, borough, village, fire and sewer district, sewer district and each municipal organization having authority to levy and collect taxes; (9) “operate a sewerage system” means own, use, equip, reequip, repair, maintain, supervise, manage, operate and perform any act pertinent to the collection, transportation and disposal of sewage; (10) “person” means any person, partnership, corporation, limited liability company, association or public agency; (11) “remediation standards” means pollutant limits, performance requirements, design parameters or technical standards for application to existing sewage discharges in a decentralized wastewater management district for the improvement of wastewater treatment to protect public health and the environment; (12) “sewage” means any substance, liquid or solid, which may contaminate or pollute or affect the cleanliness or purity of any water; and (13) “sewerage system” means any device, equipment, appurtenance, facility and method for collecting, transporting, receiving, treating, disposing of or discharging sewage, including, but not limited to, decentralized systems within a decentralized wastewater management district when such district is established by municipal ordinance pursuant to § 7-247.
Terms Used In Connecticut General Statutes 7-245
- Corporation: A legal entity owned by the holders of shares of stock that have been issued, and that can own, receive, and transfer property, and carry on business in its own name.
- Gift: A voluntary transfer or conveyance of property without consideration, or for less than full and adequate consideration based on fair market value.
- Lease: A contract transferring the use of property or occupancy of land, space, structures, or equipment in consideration of a payment (e.g., rent). Source: OCC
- Ordinance: means an enactment under the provisions of §. See Connecticut General Statutes 1-1
- Partnership: A voluntary contract between two or more persons to pool some or all of their assets into a business, with the agreement that there will be a proportional sharing of profits and losses.
- Personal property: All property that is not real property.


“The only way to truly educate ourselves is to ask questions. Questions that sometimes aren’t comfortable,” says Marcus Rashford, a hero to so many, and the person who spearheads our #ItsOktoAsk campaign here in the UK.
The campaign encourages us to be unafraid to ask the questions closest to our hearts. The questions that can help us to better understand one another and bring us closer together. Post pandemic, many have been taking stock of what’s important, re-evaluating relationships and considering career changes. We partnered with YouGov to find out more about what people were seeking to understand, but were hesitant to ask friends and family.
We partnered with YouGov to look at search data and the survey revealed some fascinating results:
- 64% of UK adults say being able to ask questions without judgment makes it easier to ask a search engine like Google first, specifically on questions that define societal norms.
- 50% of UK adults say the Covid-19 pandemic and lockdowns led them to re-evaluate friendships, relationships, family and work.
Friendships – calling time and setting boundaries
Both YouGov and Google Search Trends data shows that we’re thinking carefully about who we want to spend time with, with YouGov research indicating that 44% of UK adults are actively seeking new friendships, 46% want to end negative or non-useful friendships and 42% are looking to set more boundaries around their time.
Many of us are evaluating our networks, with one in 10 UK adults turning to Google to ask “How to make a more ethnically or gender diverse friendship group'' according to YouGov, and the same number questioning the gender of their friends, for example whether it’s “OK to have only male or female friends.”
Tellingly, we see Google trending searches over the last year including questions such as, “How can I make friends?” and “Is it normal to not have any friends?”
Romance and relationships
With IRL dating back on the cards, many UK adults are re-circling previous debates such as who pays the bill, which was a breakout search over the last year. Other trending searches were, “Is it OK to date two guys at the same time?” alongside, “Is it normal to want an open relationship?”
For 31% of those surveyed aged 45-54 looking for a fresh start after a relationship, correlating Google searches for “Should I split up with my partner?” and “When should I date again after a breakup?” saw a spike at the beginning of the year.
Many in relationships are reconsidering what that means, with searches like, “How to tell my boyfriend I’m polyamorous” and “How to meet polyamorous couples” spiking over the last year.
Other trending questions over the last two years using Google Search reveal our very human vulnerabilities:
- “Is it OK to be single?”
- “How long after a date should I text?”
- “Is it OK to have sex on a first date?”
- “Is it OK for woman to be taller than man?”
- “Is it OK to split the bill on a date?”
Parenting – whether to and how to
People are questioning what parenthood looks like as we enter 2022, with a surge in searches for “How do you know if you want children?” and “Is it OK to not want children?” over the past year.
We are also turning to Google Search for parenting advice. Questions that have spiked over the last year show it’s been a preoccupation, and unsurprisingly given the circumstances for many parents. They included:
- “How to be the best dad”
- “How to be the best mum”
- “How to balance being a mum and working”
- “How to work full time and be a single mum”
- “I always doubt my parenting abilities”
- “How does society affect child rearing?”
Work life shake ups
Google Trends shows that 23% of searches indicate that many people want to make big lifestyle changes when it comes to their work-life balance. Searches spiked around terms such as “How to make extra money from home” and “Flexible work from home jobs.”
Many are also looking into creative vocations, with increases in searches over the last year including:
- “Film director courses”
- “Interior design apprenticeship”
- “DJing course”
- “Sign language courses”
- Jewellery making course UK”
More than ever before, women are looking to support each other in the workplace too, with Google Search interest in female mentorship increasing by 130% in the past 12 months in the UK — more than any other European country during this time. Peer mentoring for women was also on the rise, spiking by 250% in the UK in the past 12 months compared to the previous year. We’ve reason to be proud here.
What will you be searching for to improve your conversations and understanding about life and relationships?
As we welcome in another year, and reflect on the turbulent one that’s passed, the existential words of Professor Stephen Hawking are as poignant as ever: “Remember to look up at the stars, and not down at your feet.”
It was not just the great scientific body of work that British-born cosmologist Hawking gave to the world, but also his reminders to reflect on the universe we live in — and the fragility and the beauty of existence.
And today, on January 8, the day Professor Stephen Hawking would have turned 80, we are launching a Google Doodle in more than 50 countries worldwide to celebrate one of history’s most influential scientific minds.
Stephen Hawking at the Department of Applied Mathematics and Theoretical Physics, University of Cambridge. Photo courtesy of the Hawking family.
British Doodler Matthew Cruickshank created the two-minute video Doodle animation, taking people on a journey from Hawking’s early years right into outer space. The challenge, according to Cruickshank, was bringing such a body of work together creatively, from black holes to the Big Bang, as well as theories on the origins and mechanics of the universe.
In the Doodle, the voice of Hawking was generated and used to narrate some of his most impactful quotes with a chronological look at his life and legacy. With guidance from his family and estate, the Doodle also plays with Hawking's humour, love of animation and gaming.
Continue the exploration on Google Arts & Culture
Alongside the Doodle, the Google Arts & Culture Institute is celebrating Stephen Hawking with a new exhibition available to view from today.
Meet the man who changed our understanding of the universe, courtesy of interactive information about his life and work.
Hawking’s theories on the origins and nature of the universe revolutionised modern physics, while his best-selling books made the field widely accessible to millions of readers worldwide. To many, Hawking’s astronomical impact is so widely recognised, it changed how the world understands the universe.
Stephen Hawking with his children Robert and baby Lucy. Photo courtesy of the Hawking family.
As his daughter, Lucy, put it, “He would have been very entertained to see his long, distinguished life expressed so creatively in this briefest history of all, a two-minute animation!” His family hopes the physical challenges he overcame to make an impact on the world will inspire those bracing for potentially tough times ahead.
In a normal year, my family would be planning for our 12-hour flight to South Africa, my home country, to see family for the holidays. But since we can’t do that this year, we’re trying to reimagine the usual gatherings and traditions—the same way we’ve already reimagined work, school, birthdays and other holidays.
I’ve been thinking back to how we coped with lockdown in March and April, and using that to figure out how to close out the year. Like every other family with small children, I am not entirely sure how I managed it—and let’s be honest, most of the time I relied on pure survival tactics. But I also developed a range of new hacks and skills, making use of a few practical Google products. As we prepare to do it all again, with shorter days and colder weather, these are some of the lessons I’ll take with me:
Near or far, loved ones can be close
So many families are dispersed across the globe. I live in the UK, but I’m originally from South Africa, and my family still resides there. I haven’t ever experienced what it’s like to have parents living nearby, but somehow during lockdown the thing I needed most was to have my mum there to lend a hand with the kids or just pop in for a cup of tea. My children were not in school, and I was managing a large project at work. To add insult to injury, my kids also openly admitted that my storytelling was just not up to scratch during our daily school lessons, and that they’d prefer to “hear from Granny, because she does the funny voices.”
Necessity being the mother of invention, “Storytime Hour with Granny” was born.
We began a tradition of setting up a Google Meet every afternoon, so she could read a story to her grandchildren for an hour. We set up the call in Google Calendar, where it was easy for her to simply click on the Meet link, and for one precious hour, my children were transported to another place, mesmerized by old storybooks. (And I transported myself to my home office for some less mesmerizing but blessedly uninterrupted focus time while listening to questionable music and sipping coffee that wasn’t cold, for a change.)
Create a class
As much as my kids loved the connection with their grandmother, they also needed to connect with their friends. My son is in his third year of primary school, so he’s not old enough to socialize virtually on his own. So I set up a weekly “class assembly” where he could connect with his peers, say hello and spend most of the hour pulling faces at each other. Using Google Meet on my laptop meant we could see all 30 kids and their parents joining from their homes. (Even if, at times, the camera was pointed towards the ceiling or only the top of a child’s head.)
Each week we picked a different topic to talk about. When it was my turn, I hosted a banana bread-making class, where I asked the Google Assistant to pull up a simple recipe from YouTube that we could all follow easily. As a backup, the Google Assistant can quickly provide answers to questions such as “How many tablespoons is one cup?” (It was also helpful with the many other fundamental questions lockdown brings, such as “How many blues are there in the world?” and “What does a peregrine falcon sound like?” among others I needed reminding of, such as what day of the week it was.)
Share and display your photos
As my parents live far away, this year I have decided to gift them a Nest Hub Max for Christmas. I know my mum will keep it in the kitchen, which means she can watch YouTube videos, stream Netflix content, listen to music and make video calls on Google Duo, all while she’s preparing meals or having tea. It also means my parents won’t need to set up their laptop for Storytime Hour anymore; they can just dial in straight from this nifty device.
But the thing I’m most excited about is the Nest Hub Max’s photo frame feature. All grandparents love photos, but they seem to have taken on new significance in the absence of face-to-face visits—even the not-so-photogenic ones (and like many families who take photos on the fly, we have plenty of those action shots). And now my children won’t have to say, “Take a picture! Don’t forget to send it to Granny! Did you send it to Granny? You forgot, didn’t you?” Soon they’ll be able to automatically see and enjoy those moments in a shared photo album from Google Photos shown on the display, whether it’s that vacation we took to Croatia pre-lockdown, or a macro close-up of my daughter’s forehead. To enable this, all you need to do is set up the Nest Hub photo frame feature.
Help with bedtime
When the days slip into more days that feel exactly the same as all the other days, creating a set daily schedule—especially for bedtime—has been key to helping my children settle down. I set up a Routine using the Google Assistant on a Google Nest Mini in the kids’ room. As they’re getting into their pajamas and bouncing off the walls, I say the command that, frankly, Mary Poppins would’ve been grateful for: "Hey Google, bedtime." I’m given tomorrow’s weather forecast (informing us, almost always, that we’ll need to pack an umbrella) and any scheduled calendar events. It then sets an alarm for the morning and dims the lights, ready for story time. To help them nod off, it also plays relaxing sounds, turning the noise off automatically after an hour when they are hopefully sound asleep. This has really helped them adjust to their own rhythm at home, even if it doesn’t always go to plan—which, let’s be honest, is at least 50 percent of the time. But at least the chaos is accompanied by the lulling background noise of crashing waves.
With so many countries now returning to various forms of lock down, and winter steadily drawing in, many of us are turning to our favorite films and movie moments to find some familiarity in a time of uncertainty.
In other words, we’re embracing nostalgia.
And why not? The movies we love are usually steeped in happy memories, attached to dreamy locations or feature music that temporarily transports us out of the present moment. They bring us joy and a sense of change, breaking up some of the monotony of life in lock down.
We asked Dr. Wing Yee Cheung, a Senior Lecturer in Psychology at the University of Winchester, about this, and learned that films are a great way to relive memories of happier times. “Movies are embedded with sensory memories of when we first watched them and whom we watched them with,” she writes. “Sensory inputs and social interactions aretwo key triggers of nostalgia. Watching these can be a way to walk down memory lane and reminisce [about] the way life used to be, what we used to do, and the people surrounding us.”
And because it’s the season of giving, we have our own gift for you: If you’re in the U.K., you can download classic films, such as "Four Weddings and a Funeral" or "Monty Python’s Life of Brian," all from a unique Google Map, now until Dec. 10. Transport yourself to a world of nostalgia by searching the map for symbols that represent the films in relevant locations. If you find one, you’ll receive a code to rediscover and enjoy the movie in Google Play*1.
Anyone in the U.K. can take part, regardless of what type of phone you have—but of course if you do happen to own a new Pixel 5G-enabled device, you’ll be able to start your viewing party in a matter of seconds1. Thanks to movies on-demand combined with the technology of 5G networks2, you can choose your film, download1 it and settle in on the couch, all while the popcorn is still warm. Currently, 5G2 is one of the fastest ways to download a movie on any device. Both Pixel 5 and Pixel 4a with 5G2 enable you to download a film in seconds1. Whether you’re curled up on your sofa, pottering around the house, or outside on a walk, Pixel with 5G2 gives you access to the stories and characters you know and love, on the go; the speed of a 5G2 device immediately transports you to where you want to be.
So let’s lean into the nostalgia. As Dr. Cheung notes, it actually helps us cope with uncertainty: “Immersing ourselves in nostalgic moments is not about hiding our heads in the past. On the contrary, it can create new memories which can feed into future nostalgic experiences.”
It’s a great way to spend lock down with your family: Watching much-loved classics is a natural way for parents to share their experiences with their children and to make new memories together. And even if you’re physically on your own, you can use Google Duo on Pixel 5 to share your screen and watch your favorites with socially distant family and friends3.
“An old movie that makes us feel nostalgia can inject us with a complex range of emotions,” concludes Dr. Cheung. “We feel sentimental, predominantly happy, but with a tinge of longing.” And that’s something we can probably all relate to right now.
*Offer begins on 25th November 25, 2020 and ends 10th December 10, 2020. Limited number of codes available. Subject to availability. Terms Apply. See here for full terms.
1. Testing based on download speeds for content file sizes between 449MB and 749MB at off-peak times. Average download time was twenty seconds or less. Download speed depends upon many factors, such as file size, content provider and carrier network connection and capabilities. Testing conducted by Google on pre-production hardware in the UK in August 2020. Actual download speeds may be slower.
2. Requires a 5G data plan (sold separately). 5G service and roaming not available on all carrier networks or in all areas and may vary by country. Contact carrier for details about current 5G network performance, compatibility, and availability. Phone connects to 5G networks but, 5G service, speed and performance depend on many factors including, but not limited to, carrier network capabilities, device configuration and capabilities, network traffic, location, signal strength and signal obstruction. Actual results may vary. Some features not available in all areas. Data rates may apply. See g.co/pixel/networkinfo for info.
3. Requires a Google Duo account. Screen sharing not available on group calls. Requires Wi-Fi or 5G internet connection.Not available on all apps and content. Data rates may apply. 5G service, speed and performance depend on many factors including, but not limited to, carrier network capabilities, device configuration and capabilities, network traffic, location, signal strength, and signal obstruction.
*Promotional code offer is provided by Google Commerce Limited (Google) for use on Google Play Store UK only, and subject to the following terms. Offer begins on 25th November 2020 and ends 10th December, 2020 (‘Offer Period’). One (1) promotional code per user per film release, and up to a maximum of five (5) promotional codes per User during the Offer Period. Limited number of codes available. Subject to availability.
Available only to Users 18 or older with a delivery and billing address in the United Kingdom. Users must have internet access and must have or add a form of payment at checkout . Promotional codes cannot be used with Guest checkout, Users must be signed-in to their Google account to redeem the code.
Promotional codes can be redeemed by visiting play.google.com/redeem or the Google Play Store app and entering the 16 digit code to receive a £5 or £10 discount for purchase or rental of any product on the Google Play Store UK. The discount will be applied at checkout. Promotional code must be redeemed by 31st December, 2021 or it will expire. Promotional codes may only be used once and may not be used in conjunction with any other offer or promotion. Any unused promotional balance will be applied to the associated Google account. Users may continue to use the unused promotional balance for Google Play purchases until such balance is £0, or any remaining promotional balance expires. Promotional codes are a discount off price for up to the promotional amount, are for one-time use only, cannot be transferred to other users, are not reloadable, cannot be exchanged for cash. Google and its third party partners if applicable, are not liable for lost or stolen promotional codes, or for expired promotional codes that are not redeemed within the redemption period. Terms subject to applicable laws. Void where prohibited.