Month: May 2024

With ‘All Fours,’ Miranda July Experiments in Fiction and in Life

No Comments

It was not exactly urgent to get the rug, but the larger question the rug had to answer was urgent enough. That’s why, on a bright afternoon at the end of March, Miranda July and I were driving toward Irvine, Calif., where she planned to meet a man about a listing on Facebook Marketplace.

She had recently moved out of the large home she shared with her husband and child in Silver Lake and into a small two-bedroom house behind her writing studio in Echo Park. It meant she needed new things for a new place. A toilet, for example. A coral one, ideally, to match the tub and sink. Flooring for the kitchen. A refrigerator. And an antique carpet for the walk-in closet she was fixing up in her studio space. In this new life, would it all fit together?

Ms. July, a writer, filmmaker and artist whose work plays with the boundaries of intimacy, was wearing round tortoiseshell sunglasses, and her hair was pulled back in a velvet bow. We were just getting acquainted as she carefully merged on and off a series of highways in her blue Toyota Prius. Irvine was more than an hour away. There was going to be traffic — of course there would be traffic — and it began to dawn on us that this was going to be a long drive.

In such close quarters, Ms. July suggested we might define the terms of our relationship more clearly.

“What if you just said what the premise was of each thing you were entering into, and both people said their take on it?” she said. “Like even today, in the car. It could be like: ‘What’s your sense of this? Do you think we’re going to get hungry? What are our bodily concerns? Is there something you need to get back to?’

“There are a lot of basic things we could’ve discussed that actually may have made everything easier and clearer, you know?” she added, laughing. “We have yet to see what anxieties are to come!”

I felt my stomach flip, but she had a point. I was unbearably thirsty, for one. Suddenly, it seemed absurd we had left these things unsaid, and a relief someone had brought them up. Now we could really talk.

The characters in Ms. July’s films and books are often hoping for some kind of breakthrough. They go about their daily routines, longing for someone to say that unspoken thing. Maybe they’re on the brink of being truly understood.

In her new novel, “All Fours,” the unnamed female narrator — a 45-year-old “semifamous” artist who shares some biographical details with Ms. July — considers that a cross-country road trip from Los Angeles to New York could be a turning point in her life.

She doesn’t get very far. About 30 minutes in, she checks into a motel and spends the next two and a half weeks redecorating her room, taking up with a younger, married man and contemplating a totally different way of living. When she returns home to her family, she realizes she can’t quite reacclimate to the old domestic rhythms.

As she confronts what seems like the imminent death of pleasure, foretold by a graph about hormonal changes she finds online, she sees no choice but to strike out into new territory. Masturbation, fantasies of sex and plenty of actual sex help propel her onward.

The heroine of “All Fours” is not a woman in a midlife crisis, but — in the epic, Dante-esque sense — a woman in the “middle of her life,” Ms. July said. She found that little else had been written about this phase, particularly about perimenopause, the transitional time before full-fledged menopause.

The existential quandaries raised in the book — Can the world accommodate the idea of an ever-changing self? How do you reconcile your desires (sexual, creative and otherwise) with your circumstances? — are ones the author has been tangling with in her own life.

In an Instagram post a few summers ago, Ms. July announced that she and her husband, the filmmaker Mike Mills, were no longer in a romantic relationship, although they were still living together most of the time to parent their child, Hopper, who was 10 at the time.

“We feel good about this twisteroo in our long story and await further twists and turns over the course of our lives,” she wrote beneath a photo of her standing barefoot in front of three pairs of shoes. The next slide is a video of her dancing in her underwear to Ol’ Dirty Bastard’s “Got Your Money.”

The post, Ms. July said, had been “carefully worded.”

“Mike and I are public enough — just barely recognizable enough, to some very small sliver of the population — that one of us out with our girlfriends in New York could, to some people’s eyes, look like we’re cheating or something,” she said in the car.

Ms. July, who recently turned 50, is aware that readers may conflate the protagonist in “All Fours” with herself. The notion that her work is autobiographical has followed her since she wrote, directed and starred in “Me and You and Everyone We Know,” which won the Caméra d’Or at Cannes in 2005, when she was 31. And she sometimes inflects her characters with her own habits or ailments — like the passing throat condition she embellished and gave to the protagonist of her last novel, “The First Bad Man.” But she says she never intended them to be her avatars.

In the new book, she has borrowed a bit more from life. “The only way I can put it really is ‘closer to the bone,’” she said. “But it is still fiction.”

“All Fours” grew out of a story Ms. July published in The New Yorker in 2017, “The Metal Bowl.” It continued to take shape when she spoke to other women about how they were dealing with this stage in their lives.

“I remember driving and talking to Miranda about marriage, talking to her about sex,” said the writer Sheila Heti, a close friend of Ms. July’s who read an early draft of “All Fours.” “I remember feeling that she was trying to map the world through her conversations with people; she was interested in hidden desires, in the desires we can’t quite articulate to ourselves or are afraid to.”

Ms. July had similar conversations early in the pandemic with the sculptor Isabelle Albuquerque — to whom the novel is dedicated — sometimes on long walks, sometimes while they sat 10 feet apart in Ms. July’s backyard, “yelling across the void,” as Ms. Albuquerque put it.

“Sometimes it felt like we were trying to create a new society,” she said. “We were talking about the ideas but also trying to live them. Trying to make adjustments to our lives that would allow us to have a kind of freedom we both really crave.”

They conducted various experiments together. Living by their infradian rhythms, including their menstrual cycles. Spending one night a week at their studios, away from their partners. Ms. July kept that up for years. She had Wednesdays.

The challenge wasn’t to blow up your life. It was to set off tiny bombs all the time. Maybe no one even noticed but you. It could be as small as clenching your fist.

The entire world should probably be reorganized in a more feminist way, Ms. July said, but “the micro, everyday version is like, What can we do right now?”

Ms. July pulled into a parking lot of an affluent residential complex. In search of the rug merchant, we wandered past tennis courts and a pool.

Just as she called him on her phone, the man appeared. He introduced himself as Gino Gucciano and pointed down the street, toward a house around the corner.

He strode off, and we went back to the Prius.

“Are you ready for things to be maximum weird?” Ms. July said.

After the short drive from the parking lot to Mr. Gucciano’s house, we found that the garage door was open, revealing a vast collection of carpets. Standing beside a stack, Ms. July vetoed the one she had come to see, which was listed for $600. “Too brown.”

“If there are ones that had pinks. …” Ms. July said, taking a closer look.

Mr. Gucciano and a business partner, Sam Hossaini, unfurled several more on the floor of the garage. Some were too big, though Ms. July discovered she had not written down the measurements for the room in her studio where the rug would end up.

At last, they rolled out a deep rose Persian rug, laying it across the lawn in the sun. It was 150 years old, they said. The price was $2,600.

“So if I just Venmoed you $1,000 right now, that’s not going to cut it?” Ms. July asked.

“Unfortunately, no,” Mr. Gucciano said. “We paid more for it than that. It’s hard to get them that old.”

“At the thousand level for me, that’s — I have a whole home to figure out,” Ms. July said. “You know, I just got divorced. I have to quickly make a home.”

“Yeah, I went through that five years ago,” Mr. Gucciano said. “I lost a lot, and my home. But I have my kids, so I’m happy.”

“Oh, OK, yeah.”

“I want to make you happy, Miranda,” Mr. Gucciano said. “But we paid a little more than a thousand for it.”

Ms. July offered to tag them on Instagram, where she has been sporadically chronicling her sometimes comical efforts at home improvement in a highlight reel she calls “MJHGTV.”

Mr. Gucciano and Mr. Hossaini deliberated. They had just started an Instagram page for their business that very day. They knocked down the price to $1,300.

Ms. July began recording on her phone. She reviewed the pros and cons of the different rugs, until she turned to the pink one, the winner. The two men hauled it into the trunk of Prius.

“We have a lot to debrief,” Ms. July said, once she was behind the wheel again.

On the ride back to Echo Park, she admitted that she hadn’t meant to blurt out that she was divorced. It wasn’t quite true — she was in the middle of mediation.

“It’s a big piece of information, given how little information I’m giving about us,” she said. “And I actually think every divorce is different, and the reasons for doing it are very specific.”

In “All Fours,” the protagonist and her husband try out a new arrangement, which evolves throughout the novel. He is only one of the people she has sex with; and she never does consummate her emotional fling with the young man who sets off her quest.

Whether the marriage survives these evolutions is ambiguous. At the end of the book, the narrator is walking by herself, now awed rather than panicked by life’s curveballs.

“I really love where the book ends, because it’s fairly open-ended, and I actually still have that open-ended feeling,” Ms. July said. “And so I guess I hate to sort of take away from it.”

The next day, I visited Ms. July at her studio, which, together with her new home directly behind it, forms a sort of “compound,” she likes to say.

Her artist friend Nico B. Young was working in the garage, sawing a countertop and some shelving for Ms. July’s kitchen that he had designed himself. Almost every surface had been covered in a light yellow mixture of epoxy resin and pigment, making each cabinet resemble a perfect stick of butter.

A pair of 20-pound dumbbells lay just outside on the concrete, where Ms. July exercises with a trainer twice a week, beneath an orange tree in blossom.

She nimbly lifted the rug out of the car and into her studio, which is cluttered with hundreds of books, along with ephemera from her movies and other projects. In the main room is the long table where she writes, sitting on a hard wooden chair. Often when she works, she locks her phone in a box and unplugs the Wi-Fi. During breaks, she sometimes dances.

Down a hall is a bedroom where she now keeps much of her wardrobe of mainly vintage and thrifted clothes. She thought this might be the right place for the rug, giving the space a Parisian feel, maybe. But it was too big. It curled up against the wall, ever so slightly.

We tried sliding it around.

“Maybe if I got a rug pad, it would sort of rest on the edge,” Ms. July said.

We left the rug to settle and sat across from each other at her writing table.

Throughout “All Fours,” the protagonist is often grounded by her best friend, a sculptor named Jordi who, toward the end of the book, unveils a sculpture of a headless woman on her hands and knees. “Everyone thinks doggy style is so vulnerable,” Jordi says. But, she explains, the position is actually quite stable: “It’s hard to be knocked down when you’re on all fours.”

Ms. July told me she was excited to have women over to her new place for a party after her book tour, when things calm down. She wanted to spool a string of lights connecting the home she shares with Hopper and her work studio. The guests would float between the two.

“I’m kind of just looking forward to having time to just enjoy the world that I’ve made for myself,” she said. “A lot of steps along the way were hard and scary, and so it’s not that everything to come is going to be easy.”

“But now I’m not the person who has to write that book,” she said. “I’m the person who wrote it.”

Lifestyle Fashion

Home loan outstanding up by ₹10 lakh cr in last 2 yrs; reaches ₹27 lakh cr in March: RBI data

No Comments

Credit outstanding to the housing sector rose by nearly ₹10 lakh crore in the last two fiscals to reach a record ₹27.23 lakh crore in March this year, according to RBI’s data on ‘Sectoral Deployment of Bank Credit’.

Experts from banking and real estate sectors attributed this growth in housing credit outstanding to a strong revival in the residential property market post-Covid pandemic on pent-up demand.

According to the data of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) on sectoral deployment of bank credit for March 2024, the credit outstanding to the housing (including priority sector housing’) stood at ₹27,22,720 crore in March 2024, up from ₹19,88,532 crore in March 2023, and ₹17,26,697 crore in March 2022.

The data also showed that the credit outstanding towards commercial real estate stood at ₹4,48,145 crore in March 2024. It was at ₹2,97,231 crore in March 2022.

  • Also read: Credit cards, home loan quality deteriorates

According to reports from various property consultants, housing sales and prices have surged significantly in the past two financial years.

When contacted, Madan Sabnavis, Chief Economist with Bank of Baroda, said the high growth in home loans can be attributed to the housing boom seen across all segments.

In particular, Sabnavis said the affordable housing segment has witnessed an uptick due to the government push.

“There was also some pent up demand for buying homes in the last two years following Covid which is getting reflected here,” he said.

  • Also read: Non-housing portfolios of HFCs seen growing faster than home loans

Sabnavis said the home loan growth would remain robust, but might taper down to 15-20 per cent due to a higher base.

Commenting on the RBI data, Samir Jasuja, CEO and MD of PropEquity, a leading real-estate data and analytics company, said the rise of housing loans outstanding is primarily due to the significant increase in the quantum of properties launched and sold in the last two fiscal years.

“Major Tier-1 cities have witnessed high rates of price appreciation ranging between 50-100 per cent since FY 2021, which has contributed to an increase in average loan size per property,” he explained.

Jasuja expects the housing loan segment to remain on an uptrend as demand for residential real estate remains strong.

Indian real estate sector, which supports more than 200 ancillary industries including cement and steel, has been witnessing a strong demand since 2022, after languishing for more than a decade because of subdued sales and stable prices.

The real estate sector suffered on account of disruptions caused by new realty law RERA, GST and demonetisation besides trust deficit in the sector as many developers did not deliver projects after taking money from customers. However, the sector bounced back post-Covid as the pandemic re-emphasized the importance of home ownership.

Industry experts believe the sector to reach USD 1 trillion milestone by 2030.

Karthik Srinivasan, Senior Vice President and Group Head at rating agency ICRA, said the retail housing loans deployed by banks has increased significantly in FY’24 consequent to the merger of Housing Development Finance Corporation Ltd (HDFC) with HDFC Bank effective July 2023.

“Mortgage penetration level is steadily increasing in India (around 12 per cent as of March 2024; the amount of housing loans outstanding as a proportion of GDP), but remains relatively lower than developed economies, implying significant room for growth,” he said.

ICRA expects the trend to continue with overall housing finance expected to grow by 12-14 per cent annually in the near-to-medium term, supported by buoyant demand.

Aakash Ohri, Jt Managing Director of DLF Home Developers, said there is an unprecedented surge in the demand for homes, which has reached an all-time high in the past two years, particularly in the aftermath of Covid.

“This surge underscores a fundamental shift in people’s perception of homeownership, where the value of having a place to call home has become more apparent than ever before. Residential real estate has not only served as a sanctuary for end-users but has also emerged as an attractive investment avenue,” he said.

Ohri further said the remarkable growth in home loan advances can be attributed to various factors, including favourable government policies, attractive financing options, and the growing aspirations of the populace for homeownership.

Mohit Jain, Managing Director, Krisumi Corporation said the demand for spacious homes has truly skyrocketed and buyers are prioritising comfortable living areas and dedicated workspaces.

“We are seeing a surge in interest for properties with dedicated home offices and outdoor space features that were once considered luxuries, but are now essential for the modern homeowner,” he said.

The long-term outlook for the housing market remains incredibly strong and accordingly, home loan growth is also likely to remain strong, Jain added.

Realtors believe that the sector is probably in the 2nd or 3rd year of a long-term upcycle. To further boost housing demand, real estate industry bodies CREDAI and NAREDCO have been demanding the government to increase the tax sops on home loans. They are seeking that the deduction allowed on payment of interest on home loans should be enhanced to ₹5 lakh from the current ₹2 lakh.

Real Estate

Dizajneri interijera otkrivaju kako održati bijele kupaonice u skladu s trendovima

No Comments

Pri kreiranju rubrike Index Shopping nastojimo izdvajati odlične proizvode koji se i nama sviđaju te odlične akcije i popuste. Ne objavljujemo proizvode koje i sami ne bismo kupili ili smatramo da njihova promocija nije u skladu s profesionalnim standardima. Neki proizvodi u rubrici Index Shopping mogu biti sponzorirani.

KLASIČNI bijeli interijeri uvijek su u trendu – to je nepobitna činjenica. U kupaonicama bijela boja simbolizira smirenost i čistoću, stvarajući prostor koji odiše spokojem. Nadalje, dopušta drugim elementima i detaljima da dođu do izražaja, pružajući prostoru karakter. Ako tražite savršenu paletu za svoju kupaonicu, bijela je uvijek siguran izbor. No, moramo priznati da ponekad bijele kupaonice mogu izgledati dosadno. Da biste to izbjegli, dizajneri interijera su otkrili za časopis Livingetc načine kako ih održati u skladu s trendovima i dati im modernu notu.

1. Dodajte teksturu

Ponekad, potpuno bijeli prostor može izgledati malo jednolično. Kako biste dodali dubinu i postigli moderniji izgled kupaonice, razmislite o dodavanju teksture. Možete razmotriti dodavanje drvenog stolca, vaze od terakote ili drugih elemenata kako biste unijeli slojevitost i toplinu u prostoriju.

2. Minimalistički dizajn

Za super luksuznu kupaonicu, dizajneri savjetuju da birate bijelu boju, jednostavne linije i moderne dodatke. To je posebno dobro u manjim kupaonicama jer čini prostor prozračnim i otvorenim. 

3. Dodajte suptilnu boju linijama za fuge

Želite unijeti boje u svoj prostor? Razmislite o kupaonskim pločicama sa sivim linijama za fugiranje.

“Bijela i siva su boje koje su se pokazale iznimno popularnima u svijetu dizajna interijera”, rekao je dizajner interijera Richard Misso. “Ova kombinacija je siguran i elegantan izbor koji neće brzo zastarjeti, a učinit će vašu kupaonicu modernom i svježom. Bijele pločice sa sivim fugama su praktične jer dobro skrivaju mrlje, što ih čini idealnim izborom za kupaonicu”, dodaje.

4. Naglasite elegantne detalje u bijeloj kupaonici

Bijeli, suptilni interijeri pružaju priliku drugim elementima da se istaknu. Primjerice, slavine, svjetiljke i mnoge druge stavke mogu doći do izražaja. Trenutno popularan trend u kupaonicama su tonovi boje meda i elementi s prekrasnom bakrenom završnicom. “Razmislite o dekorativnim visilicama kako biste dodali dodir elegancije. Kvalitetna rasvjetna tijela u zlatnoj boji ne samo da poboljšavaju osvjetljenje, već pridonose i cjelokupnoj atmosferi prostora”, savjetuje Richard.

Znate li nešto više o temi ili želite prijaviti grešku u tekstu?

Shopping Product Reviews

Jonas Meskis is living teenage dream of international surfer

No Comments

Jonas Meskis, 17, acts like every day is a good day.

“I’m living the good life,” he says. “It’s incredible.”

He’s a surfer traveling the world and visiting surfing hot spots with his twin brother, Jackson.

“Oh my gosh, it’s incredible. It’s so cool,” Jonas says.

This weekend Jonas is in Surf City, El Salvador, competing at the ISA World Junior Surfing Championship. Last month he was in British Columbia winning the Canadian junior national championship.

He’s got his own YouTube channel. He’s an influencer on TikTok and Instagram. He has an endorsement deal from a French wetsuit maker and another for Sun Mud sunscreen. He’s enrolled in an independent study program through Oak Park Independent School, leaving time for surfing in the morning or whenever.

“It’s great, all fun,” he says.

His father, Jason, is assistant principal at Oak Park High. His mother works for the school district. His brother didn’t qualify to compete in El Salvador but joins Jonas as a morning surfing partner for trips to Zuma Beach or Ventura Harbor.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LLPu8JKlt6Q

Jonas says nothing produces a better adrenaline rush than riding a wave and nothing is more relaxing than sitting on a board in the middle of the ocean.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LLPu8JKlt6Q

“It’s pretty cool. You’re putting yourself in a dangerous situation a lot of people couldn’t handle,” he says. “I love it so much. I like how it separates me from the regular world. I’m going to a whole different environment. I get to clear my mind. No wave is the same. It’s always new, it’s always changing.”

Jonas talks like an A student, which he is. The stereotype of surfers not being the brightest (think “Fast Times at Ridgemont High”) just doesn’t fit. He does embrace all the surfer phrases, though. He’s got the lingo down to perfection.

Moorpark resident Jonas Meskis is surfing at the World Championships in El Salvador this week.

(Jayden Beedie)

“You’re shredding” means surfing is good.

“Sick” means awesome.

“Gnarly” means large.

Surf competitions come down to finding a big wave, riding it and impressing the judges. Winning the Canadian junior championship was important to Jonas. His parents and many relatives are Canadian.

“I was so happy. I worked so hard the past three years to win that,” he said.

His parents have supported the twins by paying for trips, but Jonas works during the summer giving surfing lessons. The twins intend to enroll at Moorpark College after high school.

Teenage surfer Jonas Meskis is in El Salvador this week as part of the World Championships.

Teenage surfer Jonas Meskis is in El Salvador this week as part of the World Championships.

(Meskis family)

For now, Jonas is obeying a strict surfing schedule.

He started a streak of surfing every day and keeping his fans informed via social media. The streak reached 144 days Saturday, even after storms came to Southern California and made going into the water unhealthy. He brought out earplugs and a hood to wear with his wetsuit and took long showers afterward to avoid getting sick.

He has visited Mexico, Brazil and Costa Rica to surf. How long he keeps competing remains to be seen. But he makes clear his love for surfing will never end.

“I don’t know how far I want to take it competitively, but I know for a fact I’ll always be surfing,” he said.

As they say in surfing lingo, that’s sick.

Sports

Elon Musk’s X cracks down on deepfakes with improved image matching

No Comments

Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk, on Saturday, said that a new update on “improved image matching” will defeat deepfakes as well as shallowfakes on social media platform X. The new update will show notes on 30 per cent more posts that contain “similar or identical images.”

“We just rolled out the update and will be monitoring for any erroneous image matches,” X said in a post.

Musk added that this move “should make a big difference in defeating deepfakes (and shallowfakes).”

Shallowfakes are photos, videos and voice clips generated without the help of artificial intelligence (AI), and use widely available editing and software tools.

X notes on images automatically show on posts that contain a matching image.

“It’s common for these notes to match on dozens, hundreds and sometimes thousands of posts. Now, you can see how many posts an image note is matching on, right in note details,” according to the company.

In the global election season, experts have warned about the spread of fake news and deepfakes that aim to interfere with polls.

The independent Oversight Board which has 22 global human rights and freedom of expression experts from across the globe, has called for urgent action to tackle deepfakes threatening global elections.

Technology

Best 23 kg luggage bags for travellers on the go: Top 10 options with multiple compartments | Travel

No Comments

When it comes to travelling, having the right luggage is essential to ensure a smooth and hassle-free experience. The 23kg luggage bag is the perfect size for most airlines, offering ample space without being too bulky. Whether you’re a frequent traveller or just looking for a reliable suitcase for your next trip, we’ve compiled a list of the 10 best 23kg luggage bags available on the market. From durable hardshell options to stylish soft sided suitcases, there’s something for everyone in this comprehensive guide. Read on to find the perfect travel companion for your next adventure.

Travel in style with all your essentials with best 23 kg luggage bags

1.

The Safari Polycarbonate Hardsided Luggage THORSHARPANTI774WBLK is a durable and stylish option for travelers. With a sleek black design and sturdy construction, this suitcase is perfect for those who prioritize both form and function.

Unlock exclusive access to the latest news on India’s general elections, only on the HT App. Download Now! Download Now!

Specifications of Safari Polycarbonate Hardsided Luggage THORSHARPANTI774WBLK

Spacious 23kg capacity

Lightweight design

360-degree spinner wheels

TSA-approved lock system

Interior compression straps

  Reasons to buy   Reasons to avoid
Durable polycarbonate construction Limited color options
Smooth-rolling spinner wheels  
Secure lock system  

2.

The American Tourister Polypropylene Hardside Suitcase is a reliable and affordable option for travelers. With a durable construction and expandable design, this suitcase offers versatility and convenience for all types of trips.

Specifications of American Tourister Polypropylene Hardside Suitcase

Expandable packing capacity

Integrated TSA lock

Dual spinner wheels

Telescopic handle

Scratch-resistant texture

  Reasons to buy   Reasons to avoid
Expandable packing space Limited color options
Secure TSA lock  
Easy maneuverability  

3.

The Safari Polycarbonate RAY-67-4W is a sleek and modern suitcase designed for the fashion-forward traveler. With a vibrant color palette and durable construction, this suitcase is both stylish and practical for any journey.

Specifications of Safari Polycarbonate RAY-67-4W

Vibrant color options

Scratch-resistant texture

Retractable top handle

Expandable packing space

Interior zippered pockets

  Reasons to buy   Reasons to avoid
Fashionable design Limited size options
Scratch-resistant surface  
Ample interior organization  

Also read: Best Safari luggage bags: Top 9 picks for your next adventure, ensuring style and durability on every journey

4.

The Skybags Trooper Luggage is a reliable and secure option for travelers seeking peace of mind. With a resettable combination lock and durable construction, this suitcase offers protection for your belongings without sacrificing style.

Specifications of Skybags Trooper Luggage with Resettable Combination Lock

Resettable combination lock

Spacious interior

Retractable top handle

360-degree spinner wheels

Expandable packing capacity

  Reasons to buy   Reasons to avoid
Secure combination lock Limited color options
Ample packing space  
Smooth-rolling spinner wheels  

5.

The Safari Pentagon Hardside Luggage Suitcase is a durable and functional option for travelers who prioritize security and organization. With a hardshell design and interior organization features, this suitcase is perfect for frequent flyers.

Specifications of Safari Pentagon Hardside Luggage Suitcase

TSA-approved lock system

Interior organization pockets

360-degree spinner wheels

Retractable top handle

Scratch-resistant texture

  Reasons to buy   Reasons to avoid
Secure TSA lock Limited size options
Ample interior organization  
Smooth-rolling spinner wheels  

Also read: Best men’s luggage bags: Discover the top 9 picks for effortless travel, packed with style and functionality

6.

The Aristocrat Polyester Softsided Check Luggage is a lightweight and versatile option for travelers seeking convenience and style. With a softsided design and spacious interior, this suitcase is perfect for both short trips and extended vacations.

Specifications of Aristocrat Polyester Softsided Check Luggage

Lightweight polyester construction

Expandable packing space

Retractable top handle

Dual spinner wheels

Interior zippered pockets

  Reasons to buy   Reasons to avoid
Lightweight and easy to maneuver Limited color options
Expandable packing space  
Ample interior organization  

7.

The Skybags SKYBAGS STROLLY 360° TRQ is a stylish and functional suitcase designed for the modern traveler. With a vibrant color palette and durable construction, this suitcase offers both form and function for any journey.

Specifications of Skybags SKYBAGS STROLLY 360° TRQ

Vibrant color options

Durable plastic construction

360-degree spinner wheels

Retractable top handle

Interior organization pockets

  Reasons to buy   Reasons to avoid
Fashionable design Limited size options
Durable construction  
Smooth-rolling spinner wheels  

8.

The Aristocrat Plastic Rotation Luggage Suitcase is a durable and secure option for travelers who prioritize protection and organization. With a hardshell design and interior organization features, this suitcase is perfect for frequent flyers.

Specifications of Aristocrat Plastic Rotation Luggage Suitcase

TSA-approved lock system

Interior organization pockets

360-degree spinner wheels

Scratch-resistant texture

Retractable top handle

  Reasons to buy   Reasons to avoid
Secure TSA lock Limited size options
Ample interior organization  
Smooth-rolling spinner wheels  

Also read: Best luggage brands in India: Top luggage brands in India and their best products for you to explore

9.

The American Tourister Liftoff Polypropylene Suitcase is a reliable and secure option for travelers seeking peace of mind. With a durable construction and spacious interior, this suitcase offers protection for your belongings without sacrificing style.

Specifications of American Tourister Liftoff Polypropylene Suitcase

Spacious interior

Integrated TSA lock

Dual spinner wheels

Telescopic handle

Scratch-resistant texture

  Reasons to buy   Reasons to avoid
Ample packing space Limited color options
Secure TSA lock  
Easy maneuverability  

23 kg luggage bag Top Features Comparison:

23 kg luggage bag Spacious 23kg capacity Lightweight design 360-degree spinner wheels TSA-approved lock system Interior compression straps
Safari Polycarbonate Hardsided Luggage THORSHARPANTI774WBLK Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
American Tourister Polypropylene Hardside Suitcase Yes No Yes Yes No
Safari Polycarbonate RAY-67-4W Yes Yes Yes No Yes
Skybags Trooper Luggage with Resettable Combination Lock Yes Yes Yes Yes No
Safari Pentagon Hardside Luggage Suitcase Yes No Yes Yes No
Aristocrat Polyester Softsided Check Luggage Yes Yes Yes No Yes
Skybags SKYBAGS STROLLY 360° TRQ Yes No Yes No Yes
Aristocrat Plastic Rotation Luggage Suitcase Yes No Yes Yes No
American Tourister Liftoff Polypropylene Suitcase Yes No Yes Yes No
uppercase 7900EHT1TBL Hardsided Printed Suitcase Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes

Best value for money 23 Kg luggage bag

American Tourister Ivy 77 Cms Large Check-in Polypropylene

The American Tourister Polypropylene Hardside Suitcase offers the best value for money with its durable construction, expandable packing capacity, and integrated TSA lock. This suitcase provides versatility and security at an affordable price.

Also read: Best kids luggage bags: Top 7 picks for hassle-free travel adventures with your little ones

Best overall 23 Kg luggage bag

Safari Thorium Sharp Antiscratch luggage bag

The Safari Polycarbonate Hardsided Luggage THORSHARPANTI774WBLK stands out as the best overall product in this category, offering a spacious 23kg capacity, lightweight design, and 360-degree spinner wheels. With its durable construction and secure TSA-approved lock system, this suitcase is a top choice for travelers.

How to find the perfect 23kg luggage bag

When choosing the perfect 23 kg luggage bag, consider the features that matter most to you, such as spacious capacity, lightweight design, and secure locking system. Compare the pros and cons of each product to find the best fit for your travel needs.

Disclaimer: At Hindustan Times, we help you stay up-to-date with the latest trends and products. Hindustan Times has an affiliate partnership, so we may get a part of the revenue when you make a purchase. We shall not be liable for any claim under applicable laws, including but not limited to the Consumer Protection Act, 2019, with respect to the products. The products listed in this article are in no particular order of priority.

Tours Travel

Next James Bond – Expectant father Henry Cavill has even more to celebrate today | Films | Entertainment

No Comments

Henry Cavill turns 41 today and the British actor doesn’t just keep getting more handsome, his personal and professional lives have also recently brought him bountiful gifts.

After keeping his love life low key for many years, Cavill and his girlfriend Natalie Viscuso officially confirmed their relationship in April 2021 and recently announced they are expecting their first child together.

The actor said: “I’m very excited about it. Natalie and I are both very excited about it. I’m sure you’ll see much more of that.”

His dazzling Hollywood career had appeared to falter a little when he discovered Zac Snyder would not be bringing him back as Superman within weeks of also quitting his pet project The Witcher. But the heartthrob has made no secret of his dream to play James Bond.

Cavill is currently in high demand with two recent movies, Matthew Vaughan’s Argyll and Guy Ritchie’s The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare and the latter director already has him lined up for another action flick, In The Grey, next year alongside Jake Gyllenhaal and Eiza Gonzalez.

He may have left Netflix’s The Witcher under contentious circumstances but the self-confessed fantasy and gaming “geek” has already lined up another major franchise, Warhammer 40,000 with Amazon.

And after the role of James Bond seemingly slipping away to Aaron Taylor-Johnson it seems that Cavill is back in contention.

Cavill had led the odds with UK bookies for much of the past three years but ity had been feared that he might be ageing out of the race with well-publicised reports that the producers were looking for a younger fresh take on Bond this time around.

However, Coral’s John Hill told The Express today: “The latest movement in our betting suggests it is not a done deal just yet, as we have seen plenty of interest in Henry Cavill, forcing us to slash his odds in half for the iconic role.”

Cavill has roared to 5/2, still behind Taylor-Johnson on 1/2 but closing fast. And there is another shock change as Taron Egerton also sees his odds halved and leaps into third place on 3/1, shooting past Theo James on 4/1 and former frontrunner James Norton on 5/1.

And there was similarly encouraging new from other major bookies.

Alex Apati at Ladbrokes told the Express that the actor was looking good at 4/1: “Last month’s news suggested Bond chiefs had found their man, but with things going quiet on the Aaron Taylor-Johnson front, we’re not yet ruling out a former favourite getting the gig, in the shape of Henry Cavill.”

Unlike many stars who have been rather coy about any desire to take the coveted role, Cavill has never hidden his hope, previously saying: “I would love to play Bond, it would be very, very exciting.”

Asked last month, he took a leaf out of former Bond Roger Moore’s infamous dry wit and raised eyebrow when he said: “Maybe I’m too old now, maybe I’m not. We’ll see. It’s up to (Bond producers) Barbara Broccoli and Mike Wilson, and we’ll see what their plans are.”

Aware his rugged real-life role in The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare inspired Bond creator Ian Fleming, Cavill teased: “It seems like a good first step, right?”

Arts Entertainments

What mid-sized car should you buy in 2024?

No Comments

Mid-sized passenger car sales started dropping off a long time ago in Australia, with buyers increasingly turning to purportedly more practical SUVs… or settling for so-called small cars which are really anything but.

In 2013, there were 30 different mid-sized cars available in Australia, including 9 premium models.

There are still plenty of options available, but affordable options are far fewer. Of the 25 mid-sized passenger car nameplates sold in Australia in 2013, just seven of these had a base price under $60,000.

Mind you, of the mainstream mid-sized passenger car segment, the Toyota Camry had a 70 per cent share of total sales last year.

But if you want something larger than a Toyota Corolla but smaller than your parents’ old Ford Falcon, you don’t necessarily need to get a BMW or a Mercedes-Benz. You also don’t need to get a Camry.

Below, the members of the CarExpert team have shared the mid-sized models they’d buy, including both luxury and mass-market models.

Scott Collie: BYD Seal or BMW M340i

BYD Seal

The Seal isn’t perfect, but it offers a lot for your money.

It’s good to look at on the outside, packs an impressively luxurious interior, and drives with enough polish to justify its price.

The Tesla Model 3 is still the standard-setter in this segment, but the Seal isn’t far behind it – and nothing can match it when it comes to value.

BMW M340i

The 3 Series remains the best mid-sized sedan money can buy in Australia, and the M340i is my pick of the range.

From the buttery smooth inline-six which shot the M340i to 100km/h in just 4.26 seconds in our testing, to the luxurious interior it just ticks all the boxes. It’s even efficient on the highway.

I just wish BMW offered the wagon in Australia…

MORE: Buy a BYD Seal
MORE: Buy a BMW 3 Series

Max Davies: Toyota Camry or Mercedes-Benz C-Class

Toyota Camry

It’s the boring choice, but there’s a reason Toyota sold more than 10,000 Camrys here in 2023.

The Camry starts at a hair over $35,000 before on-road costs and is one of the cheapest cars in the segment, but still retains Toyota’s high standard for dependability.

While it gets by with a merely adequate infotainment system, it does have a fairly comfortable ride and I like that it isn’t trying to be something it’s not.

You can even get a hybrid option for under $40,000, which will mean big savings in the long run.

Mercedes-Benz C-Class

While there may be better and perhaps wiser choices, it’s hard for me to look past Mercedes-Benz for luxury and style.

The C-Class has a classy look on the outside and its interior is stunning in layout and design, although it’s quite expensive and lacks some tech compared to its rivals.

For much more money there are also AMG performance hybrid models, which will never not be an exciting prospect.

MORE: Buy a Toyota Camry
MORE: Buy a Mercedes-Benz C-Class

Jordan Mulach: Skoda Octavia or Hyundai Ioniq 6

Skoda Octavia

It’s predictable isn’t it? I own a 10-year-old Octavia RS and maintain it’s still the underrated performance car that provides all you could ever need.

Skoda’s price creep upwards is a bit of a shame given the Octavia RS doesn’t present as much of a value proposition anymore, but amongst its competitors it’s the only vehicle that offers a genuine performance platform on a relative budget.

Give me a wagon too, because it would be the coolest car in the daycare carpark.

Hyundai Ioniq 6

As much of a tantalising proposition as the Tesla Model 3 is, I just can’t go past the sleek design of the Hyundai Ioniq 6.

It and the Ioniq 5 (which is sadly classified as an SUV) offer the best non-Tesla tech for the money while retaining relatively traditional features. Indicator stalk, anyone?

MORE: Buy a Skoda Octavia
MORE: Buy a Hyundai Ioniq 6

Josh Nevett: Skoda Octavia or Genesis G70

Skoda Octavia

The Octavia has been a cool car for a very long time now, with a version available to suit just about anyone.

Of the current generation, the recently introduced Sportline variant in wagon form would be my pick. It’s priced in line with the base Style model but boasts more goodies; improving aesthetics and the driving experience.

Even if you have some fun with the options list, the Sportline comes in well under $50,000 drive-away – an absolute bargain.

Genesis G70

You don’t spot many of these on the road, and by account of objective measures that probably makes sense. After all, the G70 is a thirsty luxury sedan with a small boot and no room for rear passengers.

But my goodness it’s handsome, and it goes like stink. The interior is stylish, too.

I have a real soft spot for manufacturers that persist with low-volume sellers like the G70, because such cars add much needed flavour to the industry in an age dominated by SUVs.

MORE: Buy a Skoda Octavia
MORE: Buy a Genesis G70

Jack Quick: Skoda Octavia or BMW i4

Skoda Octavia

If you’re one of the few people still looking at a mid-sized sedan/wagon in 2024 I’d recommend taking a look at the Skoda Octavia.

The Czech company recently introduced a new mid-spec Sportline variant that would be my pick. I’d personally go for the wagon, but the liftback is a great option too.

Something that still surprises me about the Octavia is how much storage space it packs for a vehicle that’s relatively small. It’s also based on the same platform as the Volkswagen Golf.

After a sportier option? Skoda also offers the Octavia RS which packs the same peppy 2.0-litre turbo as the Golf GTI and is a practical corner carver.

BMW i4

This electric liftback has grown on me over the years, though the faux front grille is a tad too beaver-like for my liking.

The introduction of the new entry-level eDrive35 variant however, got it over the line for me.

The BMW i4 eDrive35 slides under the Luxury Car Tax (LCT) threshold which means it’s also exempt from Fringe Benefit Tax (FBT) for fleet leasing.

Sure the i4 isn’t as efficient and doesn’t offer as much range as the segment-leading Model 3, but it forms as a fantastic luxurious alternative for someone who doesn’t want a Tesla.

MORE: Buy a Skoda Octavia
MORE: Buy a BMW i4

William Stopford: Skoda Octavia or Genesis G70

Skoda Octavia

Now we’re talking. Yes, here I am excited about humble mid-sizers, once that most boring of segments.

The SUV-ification of Australia has reached a point where even a Camry is an interesting choice, and other mass-market mid-sizers are practically exotic.

The mass-market segment has been hollowed out, but there are still some desirable options. I could see myself in a Camry Hybrid, but wait times blew out so far that Toyota paused new orders. The new one isn’t as good-looking but it has better infotainment, though it remains to be seen how much it will cost.

We know how much the rival Honda Accord will cost and, while it’s no doubt quite a capable Camry competitor, there’s a significant premium for it.

That leaves me torn between two more exciting options: the Hyundai Sonata N Line and the Skoda Octavia RS. I’ll narrowly give the edge to the Czech contender here because it can be had as either a practical hatchback or a more roomy wagon.

Genesis G70

As for more premium offerings, I’ll go with a Korean option.

The Genesis G70 3.3T‘s back seat and boot are cramped even by 3 Series rival standards.

But its combination of a terrific chassis, a powerful twin-turbo V6, and a long equipment list, as well as a price tag over thousands of dollars less than a comparable German sedan make it impossible to ignore.

It’s a pity the more practical Shooting Brake version isn’t offered with this engine.

MORE: Buy a Skoda Octavia
MORE: Buy a Genesis G70

James Wong: Audi A4 allroad

The mid-sized segment was once littered with wagon options, but they’ve dwindled significantly over the years…

In the absence of VW’s Alltrack range as well as Skoda’s Scout crossover wagons, my pick is the beautifully aged Audi A4 allroad 40 TDI quattro.

Who needs an SUV when you can get something like this? It drives better than a Q5, plus there’s a cool factor in the exclusivity of buying a more niche product.

It’s also ridiculously efficient – the 2.0 TDI with 12V mild-hybrid assistance and twin-dosing AdBlue technology quotes hybrid-like fuel consumption of just 4.9L per 100km, with NOx emissions reduced by “more than 90 per cent” compared to its predecessor.

My perfect family car.

MORE: Buy an Audi A4

Auto

Top Altcoins With High Relief Rally Chances Next Week

No Comments

As Bitcoin reclaims the $60,000 and sustains a rally above $63,000, the rising volumes support the uptrend chances. Amidst this sharp and surprising recovery of Bitcoin, altcoins siphon the increased market optimism to amplify the bull run. 

With multiple coins giving double-digit returns in a day, the relief rally spreads like wildfire. Under such market conditions, we bring you a list of top altcoins with high relief rally chances next week. So, let’s look closer at their price analysis for a more confident approach. 

Meme Coin WIF Price Preps Breakout Run

One of the best performing, trendy, and new meme coins, Dogwifhat is ready for a massive jump with a triangle breakout. The WIF price action shows a double bottom reversal to exceed the overhead resistance trendline and challenge the 50% trend-based Fibonacci level at $3.35. 

TradingView

With a divergence in the daily RSI line, the underlying bullish shift bolsters the uptrend possibility. Currently, the altcoin trades at $3.31 with an intraday growth of 6.67%, forming the fourth consecutive bullish candle. 

Breakout of $3.35 could pump the meme coin to reach the $5 mark and potentially head to $6.50.

The Nervos Network (CKB) Altcoin Aims $0.035

During the massive drop of 50% to the crucial support zone of $0.015, the CKB loses the dynamic support of 50D EMA. However, the demand zone at the psychological level leads to a quick reversal and challenges the 50% Fibonacci retracement level. 

TradingView

Following the 16% overnight jump, the CKB price trades at $0.018 with an intraday growth of 2.95%. Considering the broader market sustains the recovery rally, a relief rally with additional market push could drive an uptrend in Nervos Network. 

If the uptrend breaks above the 50% Fibonacci level, the bull run could hike the altcoin prices to $0.036.

Bull Run In Floki Could Hit $0.00030 Next Week

Positioning itself as a high-performing meme coin, the FLOKI price trend projects a potential comeback next week. The altcoin shows a falling channel breakout and is ready to cross above the psychological mark of $0.00020.

TradingView

With an intraday growth of 9.61%, the FLOKI price trades at $0.000191 and marks the fourth positive day in a volatile market. Further, with increased volume, the meme coin is ready for a bull run next week and potentially hit the $0.00030 mark. 

Will These Altcoins Surge Next Week?

The altcoins are ready for a relief rally in response to Bitcoin preparing a bull run beyond $65,000 next week. With the above-mentioned coins showcasing strong potential to become top performers, the markets are ready for a bounce back. 

Cryptocurrency

Asus Rog Rapture GT6 Mesh Gaming Router Review: One of the Best We’ve Tested

No Comments

8.8

Asus ROG Rapture GT6 mesh gaming router

Like


  • Fastest mesh router we’ve tested yet

  • Eye-catching, show-offy design

  • Support for 160MHz channel width over 5.9GHz spectrum

  • Multigig Ethernet jacks and USB ports on each device

  • Available in black or white

Don’t like


  • No Wi-Fi 6E support for 6GHz band

  • System occasionally routes connections through the extender when it shouldn’t

  • Eye-catching, show-offy design

Mesh routers come in all shapes and sizes. However, they all have one thing in common: neutral aesthetics designed to slot right into a wide net of living room decor. The Asus ROG Rapture GT 6 is not that kind of router. The mesh router stands out with its mean gamer aesthetic that leans towards the look and feel of a gaming PC. It even has an angular build and dot-matrix LEDs that mean business. Clearly, this is a router meant to be shown off as decor in a gaming den. But is it all bling with no zing? Let’s check out if the router’s performance matches its cutting-edge looks.

“For those who dare,” reads the all-caps relief lettering etched into the side of each unit.

Well, I dared — which is to say, I was pretty darned curious to test the thing out and see if it was any good. I’ve tested some of the best mesh routers, including those by Orbi, Deco, Eero and Nest. The Asus Rapture GT6 not only outperformed them but did so by a wide margin.

The Asus ROG Rapture GT6, the company's first mesh gaming router, sits side-by-side in a 2-piece configuration against a brick background. Each device looks more like a black-bodied PC tower than a Wi-Fi router.

The Asus ROG Rapture GT6 gaming router looks more like a PC tower than a Wi-Fi router.

Ry Crist/CNET

How much better? Our controlled test space is a five-room setup at our product-testing lab with gigabit download speeds that max out at around 940 megabits per second. After running a multitude of speed tests in each room over the course of two days, the GT6 finished with an average download speed of 809Mbps across all distances. The next best is the TP-Link Deco X4300 Pro — another tri-band, Wi-Fi 6 mesh router — which finished with an average of 646Mbps.

It’s an impressive performance delta for the system over its competitors, and it might have something to do with its support for full-width, 160MHz channels. That’s a critical upgrade that allows the best Wi-Fi 6 routers like this one to move mass amounts of data back and forth more efficiently. Asus takes things one step further with support for recently opened UNII-4 spectra at 5.9GHz, which the GT6 uses to sneak in room for a third 160MHz-wide channel. That positions the system to do a better job of maintaining fast speeds even in large, high-traffic environments, and that’s precisely the sort of performance I saw as I tested the thing out.

Backing up the router’s high-speed wireless capabilities is a high-speed WAN port capable of accepting 2.5Gbps connections. Perfect if you have yourself a multi-gig internet plan. Additionally, the gamer-friendly features in the Asus Router app help make it one of the most impressive and complete Wi-Fi 6 mesh routers on the market. Admittedly, some might not care for the sci-fi design. But even if you’re not a gamer, the router is still worth a look for its incredible performance, and range that blankets a home as large as 5,800 square feet. All for a relatively reasonable splurge at $427.

A single Asus Rog Rapture GT6 mesh gaming router sits on a wooden table. It's a black, angular device with internal antennas and a color-changing LED dot matrix logo on the front.

Ry Crist/CNET

A design that dares

Built for gamers who like showing off their hardware, the Asus Rog Rapture GTX is about as flashy as mesh routers get. It isn’t the first router to combine design aesthetics from the gaming and mesh categories, but it’s still a striking departure that’ll stand out in the router aisle, not to mention a system that should fit in alongside even the fanciest gaming setups.

Ry Crist/CNET

Folks who feel like it wouldn’t blend in with their home’s decor might be inclined to keep the things out of sight, but routers perform their best when they’re placed out in the open. If you’d like a Wi-Fi 6 mesh router that’s a little less conspicuous, then you should probably opt for the minimalism of something like the Eero 6 Plus or the TP-Link Deco X4300 Pro, instead.

As for the hardware, each GT6 unit is a tri-band AX10000 device. The “AX” in that speed rating tells you that the system supports 802.11ax, or Wi-Fi 6, while the “10000” part refers to the combined top theoretical speeds of the 2.4GHz band (574Mbps) and the two 5GHz bands (4,804Mbps each). Along with the nine internal antennas, the interior houses a sturdy 1.7GHz tri-core processor with the typical 512MB of RAM and 256MB of Flash memory. Turn the GT6 around, and you’ll find a WAN port that supports incoming wired speeds up to 2.5Gbps, as well as three spare gigabit Ethernet LAN ports, a physical power switch, the A/C power jack, and a USB 3.2 port, which is rare to find on a mesh router these days. Each GT6 unit is identical, too, so any of them can connect with your modem and serve as the main device in your setup.

A series of screenshots shows the in-app setup process for the Asus Rog Rapture GT6 mesh gaming router.

Screenshots by Ry Crist/CNET

You’ll set the system up using the Asus Router app on your Android or iOS device. It’s quite decent as router apps go, managing to stay simple and straightforward while offering a deeper mix of features and controls than you’ll get with most mesh competitors. I also appreciate that the interface doesn’t bombard you with splash ads for premium security services like those in Netgear’s Nighthawk and Orbi apps.

Setup only takes a matter of minutes. You’ll select the GT6 from the list of Asus routers, scan a QR code on the bottom of whatever device you’re connecting to your modem, pick a name and password for your network, and that’ll do it. From there, you’ll be able to monitor real-time upload and download traffic from the home screen, as well as CPU/RAM percentages and the number of connected devices. You can also tap on the home screen to adjust the color and style of those LED lights (or to turn them off). My only gripe: When I tried to turn the LEDs off on the extender and not the main router itself, it didn’t work. They were either both off or both on.

The home screen also offers shortcuts to two of the main gaming features: a quality of service engine (QoS) used for prioritizing different types of web traffic (favoring gaming or streaming over file transfers and other potential bandwidth hogs, for instance), and a mobile boost mode that, with the touch of a button, prioritizes gaming traffic to whatever phone or tablet you’re running the app on. Advanced users can dig through the ample settings to find extras like Open NAT port forwarding controls and other networking tricks.

It’s not all about gaming, of course — the Asus Router app also offers comprehensive and customizable parental controls, as well as automatic threat scans and VPN access. You can also download a separate Instant Guard app to tunnel your web traffic back through your home network like a VPN while you’re traveling or using public Wi-Fi networks. Best of all, none of that requires a subscription or monthly fee. All of it is free to use, which is obviously excellent.

A bar graph shows the average upload and download speeds of all eleven mesh routers tested at CNET's product testing lab in Louisville, Ky. The Asus Rog Rapture GT6 is the fastest of all on the 940Mbps fiber network, with average download speeds across all distances of 809Mbps and average upload speeds of 785Mbps.

Among all of the mesh routers I’ve tested at our lab in Louisville, the Asus Rog Rapture GT6 is the fastest. Nothing, not even fancy Wi-Fi 6E systems, have managed to average faster wireless upload or download speeds across our 1,300 square-foot test space.

Ry Crist/CNET

Performance and speed

Speaking of excellent, take a good look at the chart above, which shows the average download and upload speeds of each mesh system I’ve tested in our lab’s 1,300 sq. ft. test space, where we have a gigabit fiber connection. The Asus Rog Rapture GT6 is our new speed king in those tests, with an average wireless download speed to our Wi-Fi 6 test laptop of 809Mbps and an average wireless upload speed of 785Mbps. Both of those figures are faster than any competitor I’ve tested to date.

The GT6 was able to hit top speeds of at least 850Mbps in every room I tested, but speeds occasionally dropped in the three rooms closest to the router. That’s because in the half of my tests where I started my connection in the garage, the farthest room from the router, the system would continue to route my connection through the extender even after I had moved closer to the router. In the end, it wasn’t enough to keep the system from finishing our tests with the fastest average speeds we’ve seen to date.

Ry Crist/CNET

Taking a closer look at the test data shows that the GT6 was able to hit wireless download speeds in the 850-to-900Mbps range in each of the five rooms I ran speed tests in, which is great. However, you’ll also notice a split in the first three rooms I test in, with roughly half of the tests dipping down to the 500-to-650Mbps range. That’s because I split my speed tests into two sets: one set where I establish my laptop’s connection in the same room as the router (the lab’s “living room”) and then work my way away from it, and another set where I start my connection in the farthest room from the router (the “garage”), and then work back towards it. 

In the tests where I started my connection far from the router, the system would begin by routing my traffic through the extender, which makes sense because I was starting far from the router. But then, as I worked back towards the router, the system continued routing my traffic through the extender, even after I had moved closer to the router than the extender, and even after I had returned to the very room where the router itself sits. At that point, the extender was only creating an extra, unnecessary jump for my connection, but the system continued using it anyway.

That sort of “sticky client” issue, where the system keeps using the extender after it should, is fairly common among the mesh routers I test. In some severe cases, with systems where there’s a notable dip in performance whenever traffic takes the extra step of routing through an extender, an issue like this could cause a significant drop in your overall average speeds (that’s what happened with the last-place-finishing Linksys Velop MX2000, for instance). In the case of the GT6, the system is strong enough that the split in speeds doesn’t actually add up to much of a noticeable difference — and certainly not one noticeable enough to keep the GT6 out of the top spot as far as speeds are concerned. It’s also mostly a point of concern for phones, laptops and other devices that’ll move around the house with you, and not for stationary devices like smart home gadgets or media streamers.

As for latency, our standard operating procedure is to track the ping value of each speed test we run, all of them to the same AT&T server located in St. Louis. That server is outside of our control, so I’m reluctant to make too many comparisons to systems we tested months ago. Still, compared to our most recent round of mesh tests, the GT6 was right in line, finishing with an average latency of 32ms, with spikes no higher than 56ms. Days before, I tested the Netgear Orbi 860 Series, another high-end Wi-Fi 6 mesh router. That system finished with a lower average of latency of 19ms, though it saw slightly steeper spikes as high as 64ms.

A single Asus ROG Rapture GT6 mesh gaming router sits in front of a stonework background, with the LED array displaying the ROG logo in blue.

Ry Crist/CNET

The verdict

Do you dare spend over $400 on a fancy new mesh router? If it’s the Asus Rog Rapture GT6, I really couldn’t blame you. With blazing-fast speeds built for gigabit networks and beyond, plus strong ease of setup, likable, free-to-use features, and a polarizing but endearing in-your-face design, it successfully marries the best of the mesh and gaming router categories. It’s an easy Editors’ Choice pick and a justifiable splurge at $427, though your best bet would be to try to snag it for less next time there’s a big sale.

Gaming

Dairy farm worker infected with bird flu; CDC urges workers to wear protective gear

No Comments

CDC issues alert over bird flu case

Fox News medical contributor Dr. Marc Siegel on what to know about bird flu and why it is important to not look directly at the solar eclipse without proper glasses

The Texas dairy farm worker infected with H5N1 bird flu was not wearing respiratory or eye protection and had been exposed to cattle that appeared to have the same symptoms as those in a nearby farm with a confirmed outbreak of the virus, according to new details on the case released on Friday.

The details, reported online in the New England Journal of Medicine, underscore the risk to farm workers in the ongoing outbreak among U.S. dairy cattle and the need to wear protective gear to avoid infection.

The outbreak – the first in cattle – is so far known to have infected 36 dairy herds in nine states.

AMID BIRD FLU SPREAD, EXPERTS REVEAL IF IT’S SAFE TO DRINK MILK: ‘INDIRECT CONCERN’

Infection by the bird virus is rare in humans, and the dairy worker’s case, first reported in March, represents only the second known human infection in the United States.

It follows a worrisome spread of the virus in a variety of mammal species, raising concerns that widespread exposure of people could cause the virus to spread more easily among the population and spark a global pandemic.

A Texas dairy farm worker who was infected with H5N1 bird flu had not reported any contact with sick or dead birds or other animals, but did have close exposure to sick dairy cows. (Reuters/Jim Vondruska/File Photo)

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in the report said the farm worker developed a serious infection in his right eye known as conjunctivitis, or pink eye, but had no signs of respiratory infection or fever.

The worker had not reported any contact with sick or dead birds or other animals, but did have close exposure with sick dairy cows, with symptoms such as decreased milk production, reduced appetite and lethargy.

The worker had been wearing gloves but no respiratory or eye protection.

CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP

The CDC is urging farmers, workers, and emergency responders to wear appropriate protective gear when in direct or close physical contact with sick birds, livestock, feces, raw milk or contaminated surfaces.

An analysis of the outbreak released on Thursday by the U.S. Department of Agriculture suggests the virus has been circulating in U.S. dairy cows for about four months before being reported on March 25.

Preliminary tests of milk, baby formula and other dairy products suggests they are safe to consume, according to the FDA.

Health Fitness

“Worst Combo”: Viral Video Shows Making Of “Cheese Gola”, Internet Does Not Approve

No Comments

With temperatures soaring and the sun blazing, there’s nothing like the refreshing sweetness of popsicles or lollies to cool you down. But in a bizarre twist, a viral video has unveiled a peculiar food experiment from Ahmedabad, Gujarat. It seems a vendor there is offering goal (ice popsicles) topped with grated cheese. Yes, you read that right. Food vlogger Siddharth Shah recently shared a video featuring a stall showcasing the creation of a unique treat called “cheese gola”. The footage captures the vendor layering three distinct flavoured syrups over a simple ice ball. Next, he adds two scoops of creams, one with a nutty texture and the other a velvety one.
Also Read: Viral: Internet Is Divided Over These Pani Puris Filled With Tuna Fish

The process continues with a sprinkle of chopped cashews, almonds, raisins, and coconut. Then, the vendor begins grating mozzarella cheese atop the loaded sweet treat. Finally, he finishes it off with another drizzle of three different flavoured syrups and a garnish of chopped cherries before serving. Watch the complete viral video below:

Also Read: “Every Mom’s Dream Child”: Young Cook Making Butter Chicken And Naan Impresses Desis

The comments section was flooded with many users calling this the “worst food combo”. Several users expressed their disapproval of this dish. Read some of the reactions below. 

One person joked, “Mayonnaise reh gaya. [All that was remaining to add was mayonnaise]”

Another comment read, “Justice for gola.”

An upset user said, “Kalyug aa gaya hai bhai. Har chiz me cheese. [The end of the world is nearing. They add cheese in everything].”

Similarly, another user said: “Yrr ab gola me bhi cheese aa gaya khi to rahene do. [Now, there is cheese on popsicles too. Stop somewhere].”

One user wrote, “They have other amazing flavours as well including malai, ice cream and regular flavours. Must visit…”

Another said, “I have visited the same, very nice taste of other gola.”

What do you think of this goal? Would you be tempted to try it? Let us know in the comments section.

Also Read: Viral: Vlogger Shares Easy Hack For Making Kebabs, Internet Calls It “Genius”

Home Kitchen

Sprinter Vans Have Become a Staple for Celebrities at the Met Gala

No Comments

When Kendall Jenner attended the 2022 Met Gala in a Prada gown with an enormous flowing skirt, getting her to the Metropolitan Museum of Art required special transportation. A limousine would not do, nor would an SUV — walking in the dress was a challenge; sitting, impossible. The solution: Ms. Jenner would be driven, standing, in a Mercedes-Benz Sprinter van.

On the way to the event, as a way to relieve her anxiety about running late, Ms. Jenner relieved herself in an ice bucket while standing in the van. “Best decision I ever made,” she said of that moment in an episode of “The Kardashians” on Hulu.

The Sprinter van, a towering box on wheels with nearly six-and-a-half feet of head room, is a direct descendant of the earliest motorized caravans developed by Karl Benz in 1896. (Some 30 years later, he and Gottlieb Daimler founded the Mercedes-Benz company.) The Sprinter, first released in Europe in 1995, started being sold domestically in 2010. Last year, Mercedes-Benz unveiled an electric version.

The van — which can be used to transport up to 15 passengers (or cargo) — is appreciated by automotive enthusiasts for its build quality, reliability and versatility, as well as for the thrust and longevity of the diesel engine in most versions.

But other people have come to recognize the Sprinter for different reasons, among them its proximity to celebrities. The van has become a preferred mode of transportation for actors, singers, athletes and “Real Housewives,” and is now a staple in streets outside star-studded events like the Oscars and the Met Gala.

The vans have become so popular as transportation to the spring gala in New York that demand for them can outstrip the local supply. “Sprinters are being brought in from Los Angeles, Las Vegas, Miami,” said Etienne Haro, the general manager of the Mark Hotel on the Upper East Side of Manhattan, where many Met Gala guests spend time both before and after the main event.

In recent years, between 50 and 70 guests have traveled to the gala from the Mark, with about 40to 50 of those people riding in Sprinters. Many of those vans are rented and driven by guests’ personal chauffeurs. On the day of the gala, the Mark has a team of about 30 people tracking vehicles’ locations to ensure their passengers arrive punctually, Mr. Haro said.

Sprinter riders often take advantage of the van’s roomy interior to ensure they also arrive looking flawless. “The entourage, glam team, stylist — everyone can hop in to put on the finishing touches,” Mr. Haro said.

But occasionally, he added, some Sprinter passengers have hit bumps in the road on their way to and from the gala.

“Getting out of a Sprinter with a voluminous gown and high heels can be challenging,” Mr. Haro said, noting one instance in which a Mark employee caught a Met Gala guest “in midair” as she was falling out of a van. He recalled another guest “whose dress was so intricate that she could not enter her vehicle.”

Though it bears Mercedes-Benz’s three-point-star logo, the Sprinter has an otherwise innocuous exterior that, for some famous fans, has as much appeal as its capacious interior.

“Our clients say, ‘The paparazzi are chasing us around; we don’t want to be in something that’s sticking out like a sore thumb, like a Rolls or a Bentley,” said Howard Becker, the founder of Becker Automotive Design in Southern California, which has customized Sprinter vans and other vehicles for people like the director Steven Spielberg, the actor Mark Wahlberg and the television host Steve Harvey.

“The Sprinter kind of fades in,” said Mr. Becker, 75.

The starting price for a diesel-engine van is about $50,000; electric Sprinters start at about $72,000. But models outfitted by Mr. Becker or by Gabi Mashal, whose Southern California company Bespoke Coach also customizes the vans, typically cost between $350,000 and $450,000.

Their distinctive features can include temperature-controlled, lie-flat seats with built-in massagers, secure internet routers, state-of-the-art stereo and video systems and onboard bathrooms for their owners.

“These people can’t use a public restroom,” said Mr. Mashal, 60, who has customized vans for the singer Mark Anthony and the boxer Floyd Mayweather Jr.

The Sprinter’s size and luxurious reputation are reasons it has replaced vehicles like limousines and SUVs as the rental transportation of choice on many versions of “The Real Housewives,” said Nate Green, an executive producer of “The Real Housewives of Miami.” He described the Sprinter as a friend of the “Housewives,” using a term given to supporting characters in the franchise who appear regularly in episodes.

Mr. Green said his show’s crew also favors Sprinters because the van’s cabin has enough room for camera operators to stand — and to film from several angles.

“This is really important,” Mr. Green said, “because ‘Housewives’ is sometimes more about the reaction than about the actual dialogue.”

Throughout the reality TV franchise’s 18 years on Bravo, Sprinter vans have been a place where housewives have drunkenly fallen down, signed divorce papers, passionately kissed co-stars, engaged in verbal spats and been approached by officers with the Department of Homeland Security.

“When people see a Sprinter van, they know that there’s going to be something that happens that’s going to be iconic,” said Lisa Shannon, an executive producer of the New York and Salt Lake City installments of “The Real Housewives,” as well as its “Ultimate Girls Trip” spinoff.

The Sprinter, while strongly associated with the “Housewives” franchise, has appeared in more than 4,000 movies and TV episodes. Like many tokens of pop culture, it has been imitated on “The Simpsons,” and it recently joined one of cinema’s most distinguishable automotive fleets: the vehicles in “Ghostbusters.”

In the series’s latest film, “Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire,” released in March, a new van called Ecto-Z — a black Sprinter outfitted with racks for proton packs — is featured alongside the tail-finned 1959 Cadillac ambulance known to many as the Ecto-1.

Eric Reich, an executive producer of “Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire,” said a Sprinter was chosen for the Ecto-Z role after Mercedes-Benz and Sony, the film’s distributor, had meetings to discuss product placement. He added that a Sprinter, like a Cadillac, made sense for transporting the Ghostbusters and their gear because both vehicles blend “luxury and function.”

That amalgamation has also made Sprinters popular among so-called vanlifers — people known for cavorting, traveling and sleeping in customized vans. Many of them document their lifestyles online, including Peter Holcombe, 51, who has spent much of the last decade living with his wife, Kathy, 50, and daughter, Abby, 19, in four Sprinter vans outfitted by the motor-home company Winnebago. (The Holcombes are brand ambassadors for Mercedes-Benz and Winnebago; they bought three of their vans at a discount.)

In their vans, the family has visited all 50 states, several national parks and 19 European countries. (Last year, Abby moved out of the family vehicle and into one of her own.) The Holcombes are currently driving what’s known as the Pan-American Highway, a network of roads that runs from Alaska to the southern tip of South America.

“We’ve done over 400,000 miles in Sprinters,” Mr. Holcombe said.

Wes Siler, a backcountry camper and a columnist for Outside magazine in Bozeman, Mont., is less of a fan.

Mr. Siler, 43, who camps out of a converted pickup truck, said the cost of buying and customizing a Sprinter for outdoor exploring is excessive for what he described as little more than a “poseur backdrop.”

“They’re cool on Instagram,” he said. “That’s, like, the entire story.”

But even Mr. Siler, who grew up in Europe, recognizes that the van has a certain appeal. He recalled getting to prom at his high school in London in a Sprinter that had been outfitted as a party bus.

“You couldn’t want a better limo,” he said.

Lifestyle Fashion

Salt Lamps and Seizures: Another Home-Grown Lesson from Clutch

No Comments

The information is current and up-to-date in accordance with the latest veterinarian research.

Learn more »

Hi, I’m Dr. Karyn! Read my introduction to learn more about me and meet my five hilarious cats: Clutch, Cyril, Alex, Zelda, and Zazzles.

You might already know that my buddy, Clutch, enriches my life with his quirky personality and unique habits. There are also some ways in which he contributes to my already significant amount of gray hair, and not too long ago, one of those was having a spate of neurological episodes.

One morning, as I was chasing the final dregs of cornflakes around my cereal bowl, I noticed movement out of the corner of my eye. Clutch was lurking under a chair with a perplexed look on his face, slowly reaching one leg in front of the other, seeming confused about where he was and what his limbs were doing. His head was wobbling ever-so-slightly, and he didn’t seem to be able to stand up. This odd behavior didn’t last very long, but long enough for me to grab my phone and take a short video clip. Not because I thought it would make an entertaining TikTok post, but because I knew how useful this sort of footage can be when trying to diagnose a problem.

Despite my initial instinct to PANIC!! I kept a close eye on Clutch over the next few days, looking for any other signs or aberrations, and apart from his wobbly episode, everything seemed to be completely normal. Just over a week later, he was at it again, earning himself a trip to work with me.

Running ALL The Tests

I was fortunate enough to be working at a veterinary hospital with a CT scanner on site, and given that Clutch was fully insured, I wanted to test for everything. We drew blood, performed a CT scan, and obtained a sample of his cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) from a spot just below the base of his skull. Apart from a slight change in one of his electrolytes, everything came back normal, which in many ways was a relief, but was also very frustrating.

Clutch's normal CT scan
Clutch’s normal CT scan

I even consulted a veterinary neurologist, only to be informed that Clutch’s clinical signs were “quite unusual.”

I’m sure you’ve had a similar experience, whether with your own pet, yourself, or a family member, where there was something wrong, but all the medical tests came back normal. It’s good news, but it doesn’t explain what the problem is! As a vet, I often have to deal with the frustration of running a barrage of tests, only to be able to provide worried owners with an extensive list of all the things it isn’t. This can be an important process of course, but it doesn’t alleviate the feelings of irritation and helplessness.

One possible explanation for Clutch’s neurological episodes was epilepsy, a diagnosis only supported by his otherwise normal test results. But these episodes weren’t consistent with the generalized seizures we would expect to see with epilepsy.

And Then There Were None

Apart from a marginally increased sodium level, Clutch’s test results were normal, and now, there were no more episodes either. This is great news, or at least it should be, right? He was healthy, no more neurological signs, and his blood tests, CSF analysis and CT results were normal – this should be good news. But an unsolved mystery does not sit well with me, and I was determined to get to the bottom of it.

A Decorative Design Flaw

It was now several months after Clutch’s health scare, and there had thankfully been no more incidents. We were preparing for the arrival of visiting family, and I was getting the spare room ready for guests. I put on fresh sheets, checked everything was clean and tidy, and that’s when it hit me: The salt lamp.

The suspect- my himalayan salt lamp
The suspect: my Himalayan salt lamp

Not literally of course, otherwise I might have been the one with a neurological problem, but the realization that this supposedly purifying lump of salt might have been our culprit lit up brighter than the lamp itself. Why had it not occurred to me before?

Mindful that not everyone is as tolerant of cat hair on their… everything, we always keep the spare room door closed, but there were a few weeks, earlier that year, when we had allowed the cats to access the room while we were doing some repairs. And you guessed it, those weeks were right around the time that Clutch started behaving strangely.

Why Blame the Salt Lamp?

For anyone that doesn’t know, consuming an excessive amount of salt causes a shift in our electrolyte balance, which affects how water moves in and out of our cells. Too much salt essentially dehydrates our cells, causing them to shrivel up like a wrinkled raisin. This makes us extremely thirsty, and if we drink too quickly, our little raisin brain cells become big juicy grapes too quickly, and this can cause temporary, even permanent, brain damage.

You might not think that a salt lamp would be all that appealing to a cat, but ask anyone who tries to put a bag of potato chips down once they’ve started munching, salt is pretty moreish!

So despite the fact that Clutch no longer had access to the lamp, I wasn’t taking any chances – it had to go! Don’t worry – it found a loving home in a new, pet-free home.

Clutch back to his weird normal self
Back to his weird normal self!

Yet Another Lesson Learned At Home

There are two positive outcomes to Clutch’s brief and frightening experience:

  1. Realizing that Clutch is fine!
  2. Highlighting the potential danger posed by salt lamps in the home, something that served me well when presented with a similar case in a dog, one year later.

It wasn’t something the dog’s owners had thought to mention, but because of Clutch, it is something I always remember to ask, proving once again that my cats provide me, not only with laughter, cuddles, and a lifetime supply of cat hair on everything, but with information and perspectives I might have otherwise overlooked.

Thanks, Clutch!

Dr Karyn signature

Pets

Birla Estates’ new project Silas clocks over ₹2,500 crore sales

No Comments

Birla Estates, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Century Textiles and Industries and the real estate venture of the Aditya Birla Group, has recorded sales of ₹2,500 crore at the launch of its signature tower Silas at Birla Niyaara at Worli in Mumbai.

  • Also read:Indian Hume Pipe and Birla Estates collaborate on Delhi residential project

This has propelled cumulative sales of Birla Niyaara thus far to over ₹5,400 crore.

The palatial residences at Silas features 148 4BHK-5BHK, continuing the legacy of luxury set by the first tower.

The building epitomises convenience as it seamlessly connects Mumbai’s premier commercial hubs, Fort and Bandra Kurla Complex, it said.

Its strategic location, in close proximity to the imminent Worli-Sewri connector and the new trans-harbour link, guarantees swift and effortless access to the Central Business Districts. The project boasts three exclusive clubhouses for every age and interest, Hive -The Social Club, Playpen – The Children Clubhouse and BeFit – The Sports Club.

“Silas sets new standards for luxury living in Mumbai with its exquisite design and premium amenities, it promises residents an unparalleled lifestyle experience”, said, KT Jithendran, MD & CEO, Birla Estates.

Additionally, it will be India’s first LEED pre-certified Platinum Residential Project which underscores the company’s commitment to sustainability in real estate development.

Silas’ design ensures that every residence captures the beauty of the surroundings, offering a majestic view that enhances the overall living experience.

The company is developing land parcels both through outright purchases and asset light joint ventures apart from developing its own land parcels.

The Mumbai headquartered company has established a commercial portfolio with two grade-A commercial buildings in Worli, Mumbai with six lakh square feet of leasable area.

Real Estate

Pogledajte koji dućani i šoping-centri danas rade

No Comments

AKO DANAS planirate ići u kupovinu, zapamtite da je nedjelja i da bi bilo dobro provjeriti radno vrijeme trgovina, šoping-centara i pekarnica. Većina njih obično ne radi nedjeljom, ali uvijek može biti iznimaka. Evo popisa trgovina, pekarnica i šoping-centara koji su otvoreni danas, 5. svibnja.

*Klikom na ime trgovine možete provjeriti detaljno radno vrijeme

Znate li nešto više o temi ili želite prijaviti grešku u tekstu?

Shopping Product Reviews

Granada Hills boys win City Section swim title; girls teams tie

No Comments

For the second straight year, the City Section girls’ swimming championship was decided on the last event and again Granada Hills won it. Only this time the Highlanders had to share the title with Palisades, which rallied to take second place in the 400-meter freestyle relay by a mere 0.59 seconds Saturday, thanks to a blazing anchor leg by freshman Alexis Burrell.

Palisades led the girls’ standings by six points going into the relay, but Granada Hills picking up the 40 first-place points meant the Dolphins had to finish second to gain the 34 points they required for a piece of the title. They trailed top qualifier and league rival Venice for most of the race, but Burrell’s late surge edged Gondoliers’ sophomore Lily Wu at the wall.

“I gave it everything I had the last 25 meters,” said Burrell, who clocked a personal-best 1 minute, 56.60 seconds to win the 200 freestyle and won the 500 freestyle by almost five seconds earlier in the meet. “The adrenaline kicked in and took over the pain.”

Granada Hills’ foursome of Lauryn Cha, Isabella San Jose, Elaina Brier and Ava San Jose won the decisive relay in 3:41.27. Palisades was second in 3:44.83 and Venice was third in 3:45.42.

Eagle Rock junior Kenneth Devis clocks 57.04 seconds to set a City record in the 100-yard breaststroke at Los Angeles Valley College on Saturday.

(Steve Galluzzo / For The Times)

Granada Hills and Palisades both finished with 371.5 points, creating the first split title in girls’ section history (since 1973) and only the second overall, dating to 1926. Palisades and Chatsworth tied for the boys’ title in 1974.

Venice, Granada Hills and Palisades finished 1-2-3 in the first event, the girls’ 200 medley relay. Granada Hills freshman Isabella San Jose was second to UCLA-bound senior Claire Wu of Taft in the 200 individual medley and Brier, a sophomore, earned crucial points for the Highlanders with another runner-up swim in the 100 freestyle.

Granada Hills’ boys also won the 400 freestyle relay en route to their first team title since 2001 and they celebrated with a dip in the pool at Valley College alongside the girls, who repeated for their eighth title overall, having won six in a row from 1995 to 2000.

As for Palisades, the girls added to their record total with their 31st City title while the boys settled for second place for the second straight year with 358 points — 21 behind Granada Hills and three ahead of third-place Cleveland. San Pedro had won the previous two titles.

Granada Hills sophomore Ryan Zheng won the 200 freestyle in 1:44.72 and the 500 freestyle in 4:46.11, senior Dominic Vargas won the 50 freestyle in 21.48 seconds and repeated as the 100 freestyle winner in 47.88 and the two swam the first and last legs on the Highlanders’ victorious 200 freestyle relay (1:29.62).

Eagle Rock’s Kenneth Devis swam the 100 breaststroke in 57.04 to break the City record and he also took first in the 100 butterfly in 49.77.

Sports

Yacht Rentals Croatia With Catering Services

No Comments

Yacht Rentals Croatia

Yacht rentals are a great way to take your party or event to the next level. Whether you are planning a birthday, bachelorette, corporate, or other celebration with friends and family, there is a boat that will fit your needs. Having a clear idea of what type of boat you want, your guest count, and a budget can help you narrow down your options quickly. This will allow you to eliminate boats that won’t work and save you time.

You can find a wide range of NY yacht rental Croatia options on the Sailo website. From sailboats and catamarans to luxury yachts and party boats, there is a boat that will suit your interests and budget. Using the search filters makes it easy to narrow down your choices and find the perfect vessel for you. The message board feature on each yacht page allows you to ask the boat owner questions and make special requests.

A skippered yacht charter is a great option for those looking to relax and enjoy their trip without worrying about driving. Tagvenue lists many party boat rentals that include a captain who will drive the yacht for you, so you can sit back and enjoy your cruise.

Croatia is a yachting paradise that offers gorgeous views and nautical adventures for travelers of all interests. The coastline is dotted with historic towns and islands, while the main cities boast impressive designer shopping and exquisite wines. From the cosmopolitan vibe of Split to the UNESCO-listed walled city of Dubrovnik, you are sure to have an unforgettable yachting experience in Croatia. With four perfectly located airports sprinkled across the country, it is easy to get to your yachting destination from any major city. Obligatory extras vary from yacht to yacht, but typically include items such as final cleaning and Croatia local tax. The details of these fees are provided on each yacht’s detail page.

Yacht Rentals Croatia With Catering Services

Yacht rentals with catering services offer a luxurious and convenient option for those seeking a memorable and stress-free experience on the water. Whether you’re planning a corporate event, a private celebration, or a romantic dinner cruise, combining a boat rental with professional catering can elevate your experience to new heights of indulgence and sophistication.

One of the primary advantages of opting for a yacht rental with catering services is the convenience it provides. Instead of worrying about planning and preparing meals yourself, you can leave the culinary details in the hands of experienced professionals. Catering companies specializing in yacht events understand the unique challenges and logistics involved in preparing and serving food on board a vessel, ensuring that your dining experience is seamless and enjoyable.

When selecting a yacht rental with catering services, you’ll have the opportunity to customize your menu to suit your tastes and preferences. Whether you prefer gourmet cuisine, international flavors, or local specialties, catering companies can work with you to create a personalized menu that reflects your culinary vision. From elegant hors d’oeuvres and sophisticated seafood platters to decadent desserts and fine wines, the possibilities are virtually endless.

Business

IBM expands software availability to 92 countries in AWS Marketplace, including India

No Comments

IBM has announced an expansion in the availability of its software portfolio, making it accessible in 92 countries through the AWS (Amazon Web Services) Marketplace.

This expansion, which includes India, aims to simplify procurement processes for clients, streamline purchasing, and create new efficiencies while leveraging their AWS committed spend for IBM software purchases.

AWS Marketplace is an online store that allows customers to find, test, buy, and use software and services that run on Amazon Web Services (AWS).

The move by IBM comes as cloud marketplaces continue to emerge as the fastest-growing route to market for Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) software.

According to a Canalys study, the market is expected to reach US USD 45 billion by 2025, showing an 84 per cent compound annual growth rate over five years.

Cloud marketplaces like AWS Marketplace facilitate shorter buying cycles, consolidated billing, and rapid scalability of software deployments.

“Both IBM and AWS play a huge role in our success,” said Uri Bechar, vice president of software engineering at Redis.

He further added that “Buying IBM software in AWS Marketplace gives us more flexibility, enables us to use our committed spend, and ultimately makes the entire process easier so we can deploy faster and start seeing value from our investments.”

IBM’s software offerings in AWS Marketplace include a portfolio of 44 listings and 29 SaaS offerings, providing clients with access to artificial intelligence (AI) and data technologies. Among these offerings are components of the watsonx AI and Data platform, including watsonx.data, a fit-for-purpose data store, and watsonx.ai, a next-generation enterprise studio for AI builders. Two of IBM’s AI Assistants — watsonx Assistant and watsonx Orchestrate — are also available, with watsonx.governance expected to be added soon.

“IBM’s global expansion with AWS Marketplace opens up innovation opportunities for our joint customers across the world. By leveraging the speed and simplified procurement capabilities of AWS Marketplace, customers can now more easily access IBM’s cutting-edge solutions, enabling them to accelerate their digital transformation and drive innovation at scale” said Matt Yanchyshyn, General Manager AWS Marketplace.

IBM’s offerings in AWS Marketplace extend beyond AI and data technologies to include flagship database Db2 Cloud Pak for Data, a portfolio of automation software, and IBM Security and Sustainability software portfolios. These solutions are built on Red Hat OpenShift Service on AWS, allowing clients to deploy on AWS with flexible licensing options.

Moreover, IBM is launching 15 new IBM Consulting professional services and assets on AWS Marketplace, exclusively designed for AWS. These services are focused on data and application modernization, security services, and tailored industry-specific solutions, with generative AI capabilities included in select services.

Technology

Best Tommy Hilfiger luggage you can buy today: Top 10 stylish and evergreen options | Travel

No Comments

Tommy Hilfiger is known for its stylish and durable luggage options that cater to the needs of modern travelers. Whether you’re looking for a spacious suitcase or a compact travel bag, Tommy Hilfiger has a wide range of options to choose from. In this article, we’ll take a closer look at the top 10 Tommy Hilfiger luggage options available on the market, compare their features, and help you find the perfect one for your travel needs.

Tommy Hilfiger luggage: explore top picks and choose the best for yourself.

1.

The Tommy Hilfiger Polyester Luggage in Dark is a stylish and spacious option for travelers. With its durable polyester construction and ample storage space, it’s perfect for long trips. The luggage features a telescopic handle, smooth-rolling wheels, and multiple compartments for organized packing.

Unlock exclusive access to the latest news on India’s general elections, only on the HT App. Download Now! Download Now!

Specifications of Tommy Hilfiger Polyester Luggage – Dark

Durable polyester construction

Telescopic handle

Smooth-rolling wheels

Multiple compartments for organized packing

Available in dark color

  Reasons to buy   Reasons to avoid
Ample storage space Limited color options
Stylish design  
Durable construction  

2.

The Tommy Hilfiger Polyester Luggage in Navy is a sleek and practical choice for travelers. It features a spacious main compartment, a telescopic handle, and smooth-rolling wheels for easy maneuverability. The luggage also comes in a classic navy color for a timeless look.

Specifications of Tommy Hilfiger Polyester Luggage – Navy

Spacious main compartment

Telescopic handle

Smooth-rolling wheels

Classic navy color

Durable construction

  Reasons to buy   Reasons to avoid
Sleek and practical design Limited color options
Timeless navy color  
Easy maneuverability  

3.

The Tommy Hilfiger Roosevelt Polyester Overnighter is a compact and versatile travel bag. It’s designed for short trips and overnight stays, featuring a spacious main compartment, multiple pockets, and a detachable shoulder strap for convenience.

Specifications of Tommy Hilfiger Roosevelt Polyester Overnighter

Compact and versatile design

Spacious main compartment

Multiple pockets for organization

Detachable shoulder strap

Durable polyester construction

  Reasons to buy   Reasons to avoid
Ideal for short trips Limited capacity for long trips
Convenient and versatile  
Ample storage space  

Also read: Best men’s luggage bags: Discover the top 9 picks for effortless travel, packed with style and functionality

4.

The Tommy Hilfiger Alpha Luggage is a premium and durable option for frequent travelers. It features a hard-sided construction, TSA-approved locks, and a spacious interior with compression straps for secure packing. The luggage also comes in a sleek design with the iconic Tommy Hilfiger logo.

Specifications of Tommy Hilfiger Alpha Luggage

Premium hard-sided construction

TSA-approved locks

Spacious interior with compression straps

Sleek design with iconic logo

Durable and secure

  Reasons to buy   Reasons to avoid
Premium and durable construction Limited color options
Secure packing with TSA locks  
Sleek and stylish design  

5.

The Tommy Hilfiger Plastic Luggage in Olive is a lightweight and practical option for travelers. It features a durable plastic construction, smooth-rolling wheels, and a spacious main compartment with interior pockets for organized packing. The luggage also comes in a stylish olive color for a distinctive look.

Specifications of Tommy Hilfiger Plastic Luggage – Olive

Lightweight and durable plastic construction

Smooth-rolling wheels

Spacious main compartment with interior pockets

Stylish olive color

Convenient and practical design

  Reasons to buy   Reasons to avoid
Lightweight and practical Limited color options
Spacious and organized packing  
Stylish olive color  

Also read: Best Safari luggage bags: Top 9 picks for your next adventure, ensuring style and durability on every journey

6.

The Tommy Hilfiger Hardsided Luggage is a durable and secure option for travelers. It features a hardshell construction, TSA-approved locks, and a spacious interior with compression straps for organized packing. The luggage also comes in a sleek and modern design for a stylish travel experience.

Specifications of Tommy Hilfiger Hardsided Luggage – TH-HARVEYHL1408065

Durable hardsided construction

TSA-approved locks

Spacious interior with compression straps

Sleek and modern design

Secure and organized packing

  Reasons to buy   Reasons to avoid
Durable and secure construction Limited color options
TSA-approved locks for security  
Sleek and modern design  

7.

The Tommy Hilfiger Plastic Luggage in Navy is a lightweight and practical travel option. It features a durable plastic construction, smooth-rolling wheels, and a spacious main compartment with interior pockets for organized packing. The luggage also comes in a classic navy color for timeless style.

Specifications of Tommy Hilfiger Plastic Luggage – Navy

Lightweight and durable plastic construction

Smooth-rolling wheels

Spacious main compartment with interior pockets

Classic navy color

Convenient and practical design

  Reasons to buy   Reasons to avoid
Lightweight and practical Limited color options
Spacious and organized packing  
Classic navy color  

8.

The Tommy Hilfiger Hardsided TH-GRAPHITEHL5508 Luggage is a sleek and secure travel option. It features a hardshell construction, TSA-approved locks, and a spacious interior with compression straps for organized packing. The luggage also comes in a stylish graphite color for a modern and sophisticated look.

Specifications of Tommy Hilfiger Hardsided TH-GRAPHITEHL5508

Sleek and secure hardsided construction

TSA-approved locks

Spacious interior with compression straps

Stylish graphite color

Modern and sophisticated design

  Reasons to buy   Reasons to avoid
Sleek and secure construction Limited color options
TSA-approved locks for security  
Stylish graphite color  

Also read: Travel in style with matching luggage sets: Enjoy great deals on our top 6 picks for the best luggage sets for you

9.

The Tommy Hilfiger Colorado Spring Luggage is a stylish and practical option for travelers. It features a durable construction, smooth-rolling wheels, and a spacious main compartment with interior pockets for organized packing. The luggage also comes in a classic design with the iconic Tommy Hilfiger logo.

Specifications of Tommy Hilfiger Colorado Spring Luggage

Stylish and practical design

Smooth-rolling wheels

Spacious main compartment with interior pockets

Classic design with iconic logo

Durable construction

  Reasons to buy   Reasons to avoid
Stylish and practical Limited color options
Spacious and organized packing  
Classic design with iconic logo  

Tommy Hilfiger Luggage Top Features Comparison:

Tommy Hilfiger luggage Spacious Lightweight Durable
Tommy Hilfiger Polyester Luggage – Dark Yes No Yes
Tommy Hilfiger Polyester Luggage – Navy Yes No Yes
Tommy Hilfiger Roosevelt Polyester Overnighter Yes Yes Yes
Tommy Hilfiger Alpha Luggage Yes No Yes
Tommy Hilfiger Plastic Luggage – Olive Yes Yes Yes
Tommy Hilfiger Hardsided Luggage – TH-HARVEYHL1408065 Yes No Yes
Tommy Hilfiger Plastic Luggage – Navy Yes Yes Yes
Tommy Hilfiger Hardsided TH-GRAPHITEHL5508 Yes No Yes
Tommy Hilfiger Colorado Spring Luggage Yes Yes Yes
Tommy Hilfiger Crystal Carry Yes Yes Yes

Also read: Best luggage trolleys for travellers: Choose from top 10 spacious and sturdy picks

Best value for money Tommy Hilfiger luggage

Tommy Hilfiger Roosevelt Polyester Overnighter

The Tommy Hilfiger Roosevelt Polyester Overnighter offers the best value for money with its compact and versatile design, ideal for short trips and overnight stays. It provides convenience and ample storage space at an affordable price, making it a great investment for frequent travellers.

Best overall Tommy Hilfiger luggage

Tommy Hilfiger Planetary Plus luggage

The Tommy Hilfiger Planetary Plus 45cm Polyester Overnighter Unisex Luggage Bag in Dark Black is a high-quality travel companion. Crafted from durable, water-resistant polyester, it blends comfort and style effortlessly. With ample space for all your essentials and a breathable cushion zone for easy carrying, it’s a must-have for any journey.

How to find the perfect Tommy Hilfiger luggage:

When choosing the perfect Tommy Hilfiger luggage, consider your travel needs, the duration of your trips, and the level of convenience and organization you require. Compare the features, pros, and cons of each product to find the one that best suits your preferences and travel style.

Disclaimer: At Hindustan Times, we help you stay up-to-date with the latest trends and products. Hindustan Times has an affiliate partnership, so we may get a part of the revenue when you make a purchase. We shall not be liable for any claim under applicable laws, including but not limited to the Consumer Protection Act, 2019, with respect to the products. The products listed in this article are in no particular order of priority.

 

Tours Travel

Elvis’ Graceland security – The King’s one-way mirrors and CCTV locations | Music | Entertainment

No Comments

As Elvis Presley’s fame increased during the late fifties, his security needed to grow with it. The King moved himself and his extended family into Graceland in 1957, where his Uncle Travis Smith was hired as a guard at the front gates.

Aside from having family members as security guards, Elvis also installed surveillance systems inside the Memphis mansion.

Express.co.uk previously took part in a virtual tour of the Graceland mansion and as archivist Angie Marchese showed fans around the kitchen, she pointed out the surveillance system on the counter.

The Elvis expert said: “When you’re touring Graceland you might have noticed the security cameras.

“Well, these are the monitors here in the kitchen. There’s also some in Vernon’s office and some upstairs in Elvis’ bedroom.”

Angie continued: “The cameras are still in use today. This was a security system Elvis had added in the sixties, so he could kind of see what was going on here at Graceland whenever he was here. He really had an open-door policy that if you were a friend of his and you wanted to bring somebody out to Graceland, Graceland was your house too. So you could bring anyone out you wanted to. The only place that no one was allowed to go was upstairs, without being personally invited by Elvis himself.”

The King also liked to examine the cameras in his bedroom to get a feel for who was in the house before coming downstairs himself.

Aside from cameras, when he moved in back in 1957, Elvis had a privacy wall installed on the first-floor landing that can be seen from the entrance hall to this day. There’s even a couple of one-way mirrors in the wall so The King could see who was coming into his private space.

Angie shared from the bottom of the mains staircase: “If we were to go upstairs [which we can’t because it’s off-limits to the public], Elvis’ bedroom is kind of above the living room. His bathroom and changing area are above the [front] doorway and his wardrobe room is above the dining room. So Elvis’ bedroom suite pretty much covers the entire front of the mansion. Above Gladys’ room is Elvis’ office and then above the kitchen area is Lisa’s bedroom.”

Arts Entertainments

Is it illegal to lower your car in Australia?

No Comments

Lowering your car has traditionally been an easy way to help improve its handling, with a lowered centre of gravity aiding the road-holding ability of the vehicle.

  • Lowering your car is legal, but there are limits
  • If your vehicle is too low, it could be defected or impounded
  • Fines may apply for driving an unroadworthy vehicle

But there are different laws across the country that govern what you can and can’t do when you’re planning to lower your vehicle.

This story won’t detail every single minute detail for all states and territories, so if you are planning to lower your vehicle but you’re not sure what the local rules are, be sure to consult the relevant documentation for your jurisdiction, and/or consult a mechanic or vehicle certifier to figure out what you can and can’t do to achieve your ideal outcome.

The well-known measurement when it comes to vehicle lowering is 100mm. That’s what the Australian Design Rules (ADR 43) states is the acceptable level of ground clearance.

Specifically “any point in the width of the vehicle which is within one metre fore and aft of any axle” there must be 100mm of clearance between the vehicle and a flat surface. Wheels and mud flaps don’t count for this measurement, however.

Police in Queensland are forward in their approach to this measurement. The Queensland Police Service has a measuring wheel that can determine if a car has less than 100mm of clearance, and suggest that if you aren’t sure if your car is too low, “a simple block of wood cut to 100mm and run underneath your vehicle at home would be a simple alternative”.

Further reading should include the National Code of Practice for Light Vehicle Construction and Modification (NCOP), published by the Australian Government Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications and the Arts.

That document incorporates sets of live, changeable guidelines for vehicle modifications.

According to the Department’s site: “The National Code of Practice for Light Vehicle Construction and Modification (VSB 14) has been prepared by members of the Australian Motor Vehicle Certification Board Working Party in consultation with industry, user groups, government agencies and individuals with an interest in modifying light vehicles and/or building individually constructed light vehicles (ICVs).”

Citing VSB 14, Section LS – Suspension and Steering – it’s stated that “basic modifications not requiring certification” include lowering a vehicle, provided the “total change in vehicle height resulting from all modifications performed, does not exceed 50mm.”

  • Is it illegal to lower your car in Australia?

Further, the following is fine, and doesn’t need certification: “Lowering and raising suspensions (by not more than one third of the original suspension travel provided the original vehicle height is not increased or decreased by more than 50mm).”

So why do people lower their cars? It could be to improve the driving experience, to enhance the appearance of the car, or both. Some people will also claim that a lower car will offer better fuel consumption and efficiency, and while there may be some merit to that, it isn’t going to fly with a police officer if your exhaust system was sparking along the roadway.

Lowered suspension typically offers a harder or firmer ride characteristic, meaning a more rigid experience for those inside the car, but the plus side is a more assertive drive and improved dynamism in corners.

Victoria’s Vehicle Standards Information sums it up succinctly: “Lowering or raising the ride height of a vehicle by altering its suspension will alter the amount of suspension travel. For example, lowering a vehicle by fitting shorter springs will reduce the amount of available suspension travel in the ‘bump’ or upward direction. Similarly raising a vehicle by fitting longer springs will reduce the amount of available travel in a downwards or ‘droop’ direction.”

It is worth pointing out that if you have a brand-new car, or a vehicle that’s still under the new-car warranty, you should check the fine print in the documentation, as a modification such as lowered suspension may void your warranty cover. 

  • Is it illegal to lower your car in Australia?

As you’d expect, sportier cars are more likely to be lowered, but there are modification scenes where people will lower their utes or SUVs to get a certain stance, and they might do that by installing lowered springs (which are shorter suspension springs that decrease the ride height), or replacing the suspension entirely with a different type of setup –  be it coil-over suspension, or perhaps airbag suspension setups.

There are other ways of doing it. Some vehicles can be fitted with lowering blocks, and some modifiers with vehicles equipped with leaf springs may choose to reduce the number of leaves in the suspension. However, a ute with three leaf springs instead of five would be less capable of carrying a heavy load, but would look lower if a load was in the tray.

Other unconventional ways of lowering a car include ‘chopping’ the car’s suspension springs – but that is both dangerous and defect-worthy. 

Indeed, there are rules around how low you can make your car, though.

Some jurisdictions state that you are allowed to legally adjust the ride height of your vehicle by +/-50mm (1.9685 inches), which could explain why the most marketed lowered height for car springs when you’re shopping for them is a “two-inch lowered spring”. 

  • Is it illegal to lower your car in Australia?

Another example, in NSW the Light Vehicle Modifications guidelines state it’s legal to adjust the ride height of a vehicle, so long as you do it within certain parameters: “Altering vehicle ride height by more than one third of the manufacturer’s suspension travel in the direction of the ride height change.”

The guidelines further state that you do not require certification (sign off by a person accredited as a licensed certifier on the TfNSW Vehicle Safety and Compliance Certification Scheme [VSCCS]), for the following:

  • Modification of suspension with components or parts which meet or exceed the original vehicle manufacturer’s specifications
  • Fitting uprated roll (sway) bars, shock absorbers, springs, struts or manufacturer’s options for that particular year make and model

However, there are some bigger jobs that will require sign-off by a certifier, including:

  • Conversion from coil to leaf springs
  • Any modification to the suspension configuration
  • Fitting a suspension of a different design e.g. from a different make and model (e.g. from coil springs to leaf springs)
  • Fabrication of suspension mounting points

There is a common ruling across the country when it comes to legal ride height – that is, a minimum running clearance of 100mm is required. If you have a lowered car that drives but only has 90mm of clearance, you can expect to be defected and/or fined.

For airbag suspension, Victoria states that it’s “acceptable” so long as it has been certified (VASS Approval Certificate), and so long as: “the ride height of an individual wheel or axle cannot be altered while the vehicle is in motion; at least two thirds of the original suspension travel in either direction is retained at all selectable ride heights while the vehicle is in motion; the original attitude of the vehicle is maintained at all selectable ride heights while the vehicle is in motion”.

Airbagged cars must also meet the 100mm running clearance while moving, “and when parked”. 

As mentioned, there are more specific details around lowering rules and laws depending on where you live. If you intend to lower your car, make sure you do it in a legal and responsible way.

Not intended as legal advice. Check with the relevant roads authority in your state or territory.

Auto

Top Altcoins To Turn $1 Into $10 This Week

No Comments

Last week brought a bullish comeback to the market as BTC price witnessed massive buying demand and surged toward the $65K mark. Though the dominance of BTC is currently rising, any minor pullback might trigger top altcoins to turn $1 into $10 this week.

Reversal For Altcoins Amid Bearish Pressure

Last week, Bitcoin’s market dominance saw a decline, prompting some cryptocurrency analysts to suggest it may have reached its peak. This indicates traders are increasingly turning their attention to altcoins.

Analysts believe that the period of Bitcoin’s dominance is potentially over, citing a recovery in altcoin value, suggesting a market bottom for altcoins may have been reached.

Also read: Top Altcoins Facing Potential Crash In Coming Week

As altcoins begin to perform better in comparison to Bitcoin, it suggests that a rotation within the market is due this week.

The decrease in Bitcoin’s market share is often seen by market experts as a sign that an upswing in the altcoin market could be ahead. Investors are moving their funds from Bitcoin during price decline. If BTC price witnesses a plunge next week, these emerging altcoins might trigger a 10x rally.

dogwifhat (WIF) Price Analysis

Bullish traders recently drove the price of WIF towards the critical resistance of $3.5 mark. Despite the downward pressure that plunged the WIF price toward $2.2, buyers continued buying in the dip, triggering a solid rebound. As a result, the price of WIF has climbed to $3.37, marking an increase of over 13% from yesterday’s rate.

Currently, buyers are aiming to push the price above the nearby resistance level of $3.6. If they succeed, it could indicate the start of a new upward trend for the WIF/USDT pair, potentially reaching new all-time highs.

Nonetheless, there are concerns that this rally may encounter interruptions. The Relative Strength Index (RSI) has been hovering around the overbought zone recently, indicating that the market may be overheated. This could lead to a slight correction or a period of stabilization. It is crucial to monitor the support level at $2.9 in the event of a downturn.

Golem (GLM) Price Analysis

GLM has successfully risen from a period of consolidation around the $0.43 level with a significant breakout. The momentum has carried the price to $0.57, marking an impressive 26% increase over the past 24 hours.

The continuation of buying activity, rather than profit-taking at these higher prices, suggests stable confidence among investors. There is a possibility that the price could temporarily pull back to its moving averages, which are anticipated to act as support. A robust recovery from these levels might set the stage for a surge beyond $0.75. Achieving this could send the GLM/USDT pair towards the $1.4 mark and possibly extend gains to $3.1.

However, a drop below the moving averages could indicate a shift towards selling among holders.

Helium (HNT) Price Analysis

Bulls have struggled to push HNT price above the $6 resistance but remain hopeful. Currently, HNT price trades at $5.6, a 33% increase from yesterday.

A rising 20-day EMA at $5.4 and a positive RSI suggest potential growth, targeting next resistances at $6.4 and $11.2.

However, if HNT drops below $4, bears could take over, driving the price towards $3.4 next week. 

Cryptocurrency

Generative AI Is Coming for Video Games. Here’s How It Could Change Gaming

No Comments

There’s one topic that’s stayed on my mind since the Game Developers Conference in March: generative AI. This year’s GDC wasn’t flooded with announcements that AI is being added to every game — unlike how the technology’s been touted in connection with phones and computers. But artificial intelligence definitely made a splash.

AI Atlas art badge tag

Enthusiasm for generative AI was uneven. Some developers were excited about its possibilities, while others were concerned over its potential for abuse in an industry with shattered morale about jobs and careers. 

AI has been a common theme at GDC presentations in years past, but in 2024 it was clear that generative AI is coming for gaming, and some of the biggest companies are exploring ways to use it. With all new technologies, there’s no guarantee they’ll stick. Will generative AI flame out like blockchain and NFTs, or will it change the future of gaming?

Doubts about the new next big thing

In prior years during GDC, San Francisco’s Moscone Center convention venue has been awash in banner advertisements from game companies touting their use of the latest trendy tech: cryptocurrencies, blockchain, NFTs and Web 3.0. This year was no different, with ads from smaller companies expounding on their AI integrations. 

Gaming’s biggest companies are still hesitant to commit to including AI in their plans. Nvidia and Ubisoft showed off their dynamically responding nonplayer characters at GDC 2024, but they haven’t announced grand plans to integrate them into upcoming games. Microsoft announced last November that it’s partnering with Inworld AI to develop AI game dialogue and narrative tools. (Inworld is the company Nvidia and Ubisoft teamed up with on their AI NPCs.) But the only generative AI that Microsoft is rumored to be developing is an Xbox customer-support chatbot.

Watch this: Rabbit R1: Here’s What It Can Actually Do

There’s a lot of nervousness before the storm in the games industry, said Laine Nooney, assistant professor of media and information studies at New York University, but though the companies behind generative AI make daring promises, most of those promises probably won’t pan out. Hallucinations may be acceptable in ChatGPT responses, but not for video game narratives.

“These technologies seem poised to expand gamer expectations, even as I think companies underestimate how much additional labor they would require to be functionally productive,” Nooney said.

Still, Nooney says AI will play a strong role in game development behind the scenes, citing a presentation by modl.ai that proposed how AI bots could hunt for glitches and bugs to help human-staffed quality assurance teams. Nooney recalled the modl.ai presenter offhandedly remarking that QA bots don’t need to go home to eat or sleep and can work all weekend. That’s a phenomenon that could potentially lead companies large and small to divest from human-led QA testing.

“It’s very easy to see how tools such as this might remove human-led QA testing entirely, especially from games on the lower to mid end of the cost or quality spectrum,” Nooney said. “And it encourages companies to build games of large scope that they would never be able to effectively test with human labor power — just reproducing the same draining labor dynamic.”

Indeed, in a year when game companies have fallen over themselves to lay off a historic number of employees, the Moscone Center was haunted by anxiety over AI’s impact on the gaming industry’s workforce. In a roundtable for writers and narrative designers, people expressed concern about the fragile state of employment, and that’s only been made worse by the fear of AI taking even more jobs.

A computer desktop, keyboard and monitor showing a first-person game sit on a black tablecloth-covered table. A laptop with game data also sits on the table.

At GDC 2024, Nvidia showed off in-progress tech for nonplayer characters. It’s designed to give players AI-created responses when they speak to the characters.

David Lumb/CNET

Using generative AI behind the curtain

Artificial intelligence and machine learning were the focus of numerous GDC presentations. Some of these were sponsored by companies as unsubtle boosterism of the new tech, including Nvidia’s wild and curious generative AI experiments with nonplayer characters and performance-enhancing tools.

Read more: Chatting With Nvidia’s Generative AI Characters Felt Like Next-Level D&D

There were other talks led by developers explaining how they used generative AI to help production.

These technical talks illustrated scenarios where AI could generate suggestions or solutions that could save developers time, optimizing a small slice of the game production pipeline. One presentation laid out how developers could use AI to generate dozens of maps in a game dungeon, or Mario-like platformer levels. An Electronic Arts developer explained how AI could improve the photorealism of faces on digital characters.

A talk by developers at Unity (the company behind one of the major engines used to make games), explained how the tech could be used with behavior trees. Submitting prompts to generate content could reduce the amount of tedious tasks on developer checklists, make it easier to use complex tools, and eliminate bottlenecks by letting developers iterate on gameplay without programmer support. 

Automating granular tasks could speed production and free developers to spend more time creatively ideating, said Unity Senior Software Developer Pierre Dalaya and Senior Research Engineer Trevor Santarra. Future game developers could use this approach to improve their workflows, especially in areas of game design that use natural language that can be submitted as AI prompts. 

Watch this: What’s the Future of Phones? Expert vs. AI

“We expect to see similar workflows used for creating new game rules and mechanics, orchestrating NPC and player interactions, as well as designing dynamical systems which bring virtual worlds to life,” Dalaya and Santarra said over email.

Leaders at Keywords Studios, a large firm that helps companies build games from concept to release marketing, spoke to a packed crowd. They presented findings on using around 400 AI tools to make their own experimental title, Project AVA, a sci-fi civilization-building game not intended for public release.

The experiment had mixed results. Rather than try out video created by generative AI, developers at Keywords used static 2D images for the visual look. They used Midjourney-like image generation tools and refined their prompts to get the Impressionist-flavored style they were looking for. Ultimately, every step required human curation, since periodic tool updates broke their prompts.

“I think generative AI can help if you really work with it,” Lionel Wood said during the presentation. Wood is art director of studio Electric Square Malta, under Keywords Studios, and helped lead Project AVA. It “still requires an artistic eye to curate and adapt generated artwork.” 

A man, Lionel, stands at a podium with the GDC logo and a presentation on the screen next to him.

Lionel Wood, art director of studio Electric Square Malta, presents on Project AVA, an experimental civilization-building game.

David Lumb/CNET

The resulting generated art satisfied and impressed Keywords, but generative AI was far less successful at fixing bugs, frequently worsening issues. Though it could produce static images, it was bad at creating layouts for user interfaces with menus and icons. With Project AVA in the rearview, Stephen Peacock, head of gaming AI at Keywords Studios, acknowledged that generative AI helped in ideation, coding and helping programmers adapt to using a new game engine.

“I think generally the perspective [after finishing Project AVA] was, if I was going to give sort of a star rating for generative AI in general: not ready,” said Peacock. “But there are definitely areas where we discovered that we did find the tools useful.”

Peacock was impressed by generative AI’s potential to help gamers create things within games, whether costumes for their player characters or custom maps to play in.

“Even five years ago inside Roblox or something, you have to dedicate time to really master these tools,” Peacock said. “And those tools are getting easier and easier to use, which allows more and more people to be creative, and that’s going to be very exciting.”

The experiment did result in some reassurance: Though Project AVA showed that generative AI tools can streamline some game development processes, Keywords concluded that they can’t replace human workers, at least not yet.

“For people who’ve been in the space for a long time, it was not a shocking result, but these tools can’t step in and replace people in the creative process,” Peacock said. And while he’s sympathetic to concerns, he feels they’re obscuring a larger potential for AI tools to assist workers, not replace them. “What I think is often missed is that these technologies are going to allow us to do so much more.”

“While it feels like the pace [of new AI tools] is definitely picking up, I don’t think that’s anything new,” Peacock added. “That’s something people need to take reassurance from — is that creating stories and experiences is fundamentally how humans connect with each other, and the technology is just there to do that better, richer and deeper.”

Bigger than efficiency debates were Keywords’ legal and ethical concerns around making a game with generative AI. Would content produced by the generative AI tools be owned by the studio using them? (That’s a pertinent worry after a judge upheld the Copyright Office’s ruling that AI-created art isn’t entitled to copyright protections.) Could it be used in a commercial product? Would Keywords’ clients accept any risk of games worked on with gen AI? Would Keywords’ own developers feel ethically averse to using these tools?

A woman stands at a podium labeled with the GDC logo and "AI" as the presentation track.

Hidden Door co-founder and CEO Hilary Mason spoke at GDC 2024 about her studio’s use of generative AI to make narrative games.

David Lumb/CNET

What does this mean for gaming?

Most of the GDC presentations covered generative AI’s use behind the scenes, but a few explained how to use the technology as part of gameplay. Hidden Door developed its own game, currently in closed alpha, that actively generates new situations and characters that players encounter, and that serve as the way to move the plot along.

Hidden Door’s game plays out like Dungeons and Dragons (or adventure video games), with players entering typed-out responses to situations. It’s similar to tabletop games in which players riff off each other and see what happens, co-founder and CEO Hilary Mason explained in the presentation.

“I think there is a whole class of experiences that become possible because of this tech, and ours is one of them,” Mason said.

Hidden Door’s game is based on standard genre stories, public domain books, or the worlds of authors who partnered with the studio. Players can start an adventure in one of them and go in any direction, touching down in the land of Oz from the Wizard of Oz, for instance, and veering off the yellow brick road if they want. Hidden Door’s generative AI tech produces text and images of characters and obstacles that the player encounters in its 2D interface and interacts with for the story to continue. 

As generative AI technology advances, Hidden Door aims to refine its game system, potentially integrating things like animations and video, or switching to a visualized 2.5D or 3D interface with character models and environments. The company also has to keep refining things in regard to the biases inherent in all AI tools. During her presentation, Mason used the Dall-E 3 and Midjourney image generation tools to create a photo of what the crowd would look like at her talk. The resulting image showed an all-male crowd — which didn’t match the actual mix of people gathered in the room.

“It’s not to say we can’t use these models, but we then are responsible for mitigating that bias in our design,” Mason said. 

Mason acknowledges the ethically fraught questions around the provenance of training data and explains that Hidden Door’s models are trained on data the company creates or synthesizes itself. Rather than ingesting tons of written works, it creates new works on the fly weighing different words and concepts according to the genre, so that if players are enjoying a cowboy frontier adventure, they hopefully won’t run into any rocket ships. By design, they won’t run into words and passages lifted from previously written works, either.

Regardless, the industry will have to grapple with how games use large language models, which have ingested publicly available data for decades without concern until now, Mason said.  “Nobody cared because we were not training the model to compete with the people who created the original data, and now we are.”

A group of people line up in front of game stations for new indie games.

Playable indie games on display at GDC 2024.

David Lumb/CNET

Generative AI in gaming 

Despite existential and legal concerns over the presence of generative AI in games, the technology may end up being used in far more mundane ways, like other production tools, said Neil Kirby, a senior lecturer at Ohio State University’s College of Engineering who hosted a GDC AI roundtable discussion with developers. With this new tech, the gaming industry may just see a nominal productivity bump using its existing production pipeline.

“We’ve seen this before: When PCs invaded the desktop, every office worker in the world became far more efficient when the paper started going down and the electronic stuff came up,” Kirby said. 

That specific transition also led to a mass reduction in the need for secretaries and personal assistants, Kirby acknowledged, and perhaps that’ll happen with generative AI as well. The changes he sees coming soon are more iterative than radical. For instance, AI tools could rapidly prototype textures and other visual elements for developers to stick in environments rather than leave them as neon surfaces (a typical early-development method before replacing them with finished work). 

It isn’t just developers trying out generative AI tools; students learning the craft are using them, too. At Ohio State, Kirby has seen GitHub Copilot become ubiquitous as a helper for computer science students, adding suggestions as they code their lines. The upside is the potential for uninterrupted flow as students use the tool to suggest solutions to roadblocks rather than have to break concentration to look up answers — a version of the tried-and-tested pair programming concept for coders.

But it’s also worrisome, as young learners lean on an AI advisor rather than learn the core disciplines of programming alone, Kirby said. It also introduces the potential for AI hallucinations and other inaccuracies. 

The genie is out of the bottle, though, and at least some students studying to get into the gaming industry are incorporating generative AI tools into their workflow. Throughout my time at the Moscone Center during GDC, presenters pitched their own ways that the technology could change how games are made. They’re far from reaching a consensus, though, on how AI will be a net positive for game development, given the legal murkiness and potential for inaccuracies. None of the conversations broached the enormous uptick in computation needed to use generative AI at the scale the industry would require, an uptick that would increase the industry’s already sizeable impact on climate change. 

A man stands with his laptop showing his generative AI game in progress shown on the laptop he's holding.

One attendee at the generative AI talks, Bryan Bylsma, of his indie studio Startale Games, has been using generative AI to make games.

David Lumb/CNET

In the crowds of people who attended these generative AI talks, I saw a glint of eagerness to use the new technology. Walking out of the Keywords Studios talk, Bryan Bylsma felt encouraged by the studio’s Project AVA proof of concept. A developer for heavy-machinery simulation software, he’d been inspired by the automation capabilities of ChatGPT to dust off his college game development skills and, with a pair of friends, start using gen AI to make a game.

“AI in general takes writing code that would traditionally take an hour and boils it down to five minutes,” Bylsma said. “It can make developing, especially on hobby projects, go super fast as long as it’s doing stuff that isn’t too complex.”

Bylsma recently put that to the test in his day job, using Unity’s Muse generative AI co-pilot tool to rewrite his workplace’s whole networking system in a week, when it otherwise would’ve taken a month. With his friends, Bylsma formed the indie studio Startale Games to make a choose-your-own-adventure game that used generative AI tools to gin up plot text, characters and images on the fly. They’re having fun and don’t plan on releasing it commercially, given the legal uncertainties around the data provenance of the tools they use. 

Being at GDC has given Bylsma and friends more ideas for their next game, as well as encouragement that they’re riding a trend wave. They met other developers who were similarly inspired to start making games with generative AI in the wake of ChatGPT and could be close to releasing those games to the public.

“That’s so funny, because we started at the exact same time [as other devs]. Everyone just sees the writing on the wall of like, ‘Hey, this thing’s gonna be really big,'” Bryslma said.

Editors’ note: CNET used an AI engine to help create several dozen stories, which are labeled accordingly. The note you’re reading is attached to articles that deal substantively with the topic of AI but are created entirely by our expert editors and writers. For more, see our AI policy. 

Gaming

California tuberculosis outbreak kills 1, infects 14 as officials declare health emergency

No Comments

A deadly outbreak of tuberculosis (TB) has occurred inside a California hotel housing homeless people, leading to the death of one person and forcing city health officials to declare a public health emergency.

The alarming outbreak at the unnamed hotel infected 14 people, resulting in nine people being hospitalized, the Department of Health and Human Services for Long Beach announced Thursday. The identity of the deceased individual has not been released. 

“The outbreak is currently isolated to a distinct population and the risk to the general public is low,” city officials announced.

VACCINATING MIGRANTS LIKE US CHILDREN WOULD HAVE PREVENTED DISEASE OUTBREAKS AT CHICAGO SHELTERS: EXPERTS

Doctor looks at X-rays from a tuberculosis patient. (Spencer Platt/Getty Images)

“The population at risk in this outbreak has significant barriers to care including homelessness and housing insecurity, mental illness, substance use and serious medical comorbidities.”

Officials say the health emergency was announced to strengthen the city’s preparedness and ability to respond to the outbreak. 

Around 170 people have likely been exposed to TB and the Health Department is in the process of screening contacts for TB via symptom review, blood or skin tests and chest X-rays.

TUBERCULOSIS BREAKS OUT AT CHICAGO MIGRANT SHELTERS FOLLOWING MEASLES CASES

The Health Department says it expects the number of cases and contacts to increase and those found to have active TB disease or latent TB infection will be provided treatment. 

Tuberculosis bacteria

This 2006 electron microscope image provided by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shows Mycobacterium tuberculosis bacteria, which causes the disease tuberculosis.  (Janice Carr/CDC/AP)

Health officials say the name of the hotel is not being released in order to protect patient privacy and comply with The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) regulations. The facility is a private hotel not operated by or contracted with the City of Long Beach.

Tuberculosis is transmitted in airborne particles and typically affects the lungs but can also affect other parts of the body such as the kidney, spine, and brain. It is not as contagious as COVID.

CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR HEALTH NEWSLETTER

“You can catch tuberculosis if someone is coughing or sneezing or in close contact, the bacteria from those particles gets into the air and anybody nearby will breathe that in — and that’s how they pick it up and that’s how they catch it,” Dr. Janette Nesheiwat, a New York City-based double board-certified doctor, told Fox News Digital recently.

Tuberculosis under a microscope and a Chicago migrant shelter

Tuberculosis under a microscope and a Chicago migrant shelter. Chicago health officials last month announced that a “small number” of tuberculosis (TB) cases were reported at some migrant facilities in the city. (Armando L. Sanchez/Chicago Tribune/Tribune News Service via Getty Images, right, NIH/NAID/IMAGE.FR/BSIP/Universal Images Group via Getty Images, top left, BSIP/Universal Images Group via Getty Images, bottom left.)

The TB outbreak comes after the number of U.S. tuberculosis cases in 2023 were the highest in a decade, according to the CDC.

Cases increased from 8,320 in 2022 to 9,615 in 2023, an increase of 1,295 cases with numbers going up among all age groups. Data from the agency shows nearly 10,000 infections in 2013.

CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP

Chicago health officials last month announced that a “small number” of tuberculosis (TB) cases were reported at some migrant facilities in the city.

Fox News’ Greg Norman contributed to this report. 

For more Health articles, visit www.foxnews.com/health.

Michael Dorgan is a writer for Fox News Digital and Fox Business.

You can send tips to [email protected] and follow him on Twitter @M_Dorgan.

Health Fitness

Viral: Internet Is Divided Over These Pani Puris Filled With Tuna Fish

No Comments

Pani puri is one of the most beloved street foods in the country. We often come across bizarre pain puri flavours and recipes. But, have you ever heard about pani puri filled with tuna fish? This unique twist on the classic Indian snack is available at a restaurant in Ontario, Canada, called Curryish Tavern. While we are used to the traditional version with aloo, this variation promises to offer a whole new flavour experience. In a now-viral video, the restaurant proudly shares that tuna pani puris were their best sellers and revealed the process of making these unique puris. It involves making handmade sookha puris, with a distinctive black colour.

Also Read: After Vada Pav, Drool-Worthy Candles Shaped Like Momos Thrill Foodies

The staff says that “each piece was hand made and handled with love and care.” Each puri is stuffed with tuna and pani before serving. The staff encouraged diners to savour the full experience by “popping the entire puri into their mouths in one go.” Watch the full clip below:

Also Read: Viral: Vlogger Shares Easy Hack For Making Kebabs, Internet Calls It “Genius”

While some people appreciated the innovation, traditional pani puri lovers voiced their criticism in the comment section.

A user said, “Looks pretty delicious.”

Another one added, “I want to hate on it, but I’m curious.”

“It do taste good btw,” read a comment.

A person claimed that he would “die to have some of this.”

An Instagram user said, “Love these!! What an amazing twist on puchkas!”

“The best !!!!” echoed a few.

A comment stated, “With respect to my fellow Indian neighbours, not every dish needs meat in it.”

An OG pani puri lover commented, “No. You are ruining something so beautiful. We need to stop with this experimental rubbish.”

“Just because you can does not mean you should! Just NO!” wrote one user.

What did you think of this viral video? Let us know in the comments below.

Also Read: Job Seeker Delivers Pizza And Resume To Startup, CEO Responds

Home Kitchen

The Best Hats at the 2024 Kentucky Derby

No Comments

There are many associations that come to mind with the Kentucky Derby. Horses, naturally. Mint juleps too. But to be a true participant in the Derby spectacle, one needs a proper Derby hat.

The tradition for wearing eye-catching attire to America’s most famous horse race began in the 1870s. The founder of the Kentucky Derby, Meriwether Lewis Clark Jr., was inspired by the fashionable dress codes at events like Ascot in Britain and Paris’s Grand Prix. Creating his own, he figured, would transform his racetrack from a place of ill-repute to one for well-heeled high society.

On a sunny spring Monday in 1875, more than 10,000 spectators attended the first Kentucky Derby and The New York Times reported on the fashion as well as the racing, noting that “the grandstand was thronged by a brilliant assemblage of ladies and gentlemen.” His plan worked, and this collective passion for horses, gambling and to party — even in smart seersucker suits or a spectacular feathered fascinator — has endured as a cornerstone of the Derby to this day.

This year marked the 150th running of the race at Churchill Downs, and as expected nobody held back both on and off the track, from wide-brimmed styles adorned with spring florals and soft feathers paired with tasteful pastel-colored dresses to jockey helmets adorned with plastic stallions and straight up horse heads. Hats off to this crowd.

Lifestyle Fashion

Lemonade Pet Insurance Review 2024: A Detailed Look

No Comments

Our Final Verdict

We give Lemonade Pet Insurance a rating of 4.8 out of 5 stars.

Lemonade is one of the most well-known pet insurance companies thanks to their viral advertising campaigns. They also happen to be one of the most affordable options out there.

This company offers a simple base plan that covers accidents and illness. On top of this, you can choose from several routine care packages and five add-on options to cover everything from office visits to acupuncture. This on top of Lemonade’s many customizable features within the base policy makes them one of the most versatile pet insurance options out there.

Lemonade Pet Insurance Review

Pros

  • One of the cheapest options
  • Quick enrollment process
  • Have many add-on options
  • 2-day accident waiting period
  • In some states there is no accident waiting period
  • Bundling discounts available

Cons

  • Broad definition of pre-existing conditions
  • Age restrictions on enrollment
  • Requires recent vet exam

About Lemonade

Lemonade pet insurance is made for pet owners who know where they tend to spend their money the most when it comes to their pet’s care. Like most pet insurance options, this one covers accidents and illnesses. But it also offers additional coverage options for all the other vet-related expenses pet owners experience.

If you have a young kitten who has just joined your family, for instance, you may want to add on Lemonade’s Kitten Preventative Care coverage. This optional plan covers expenses like checkups, vaccines, and spays/neuters.

On the other hand, if you have a 2-year-old kitty, you may want to add the Dental Illness plan or Physical Therapy option. The former covers treatments for dental disease while the latter covers chiropractic and acupuncture treatment related to accidents and illnesses.

Like most other pet insurances, Lemonade does not cover preexisting conditions. They also have some age restrictions that vary by breed and species.

On the plus side, this insurance is impressively affordable and widely available. The only states they do not serve are Alaska, Delaware, Hawaii, Idaho, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Minnesota, South Dakota, Vermont, West Virginia, and Wyoming.

Pricing & Plans (Updated in 2024)

Pet Insurance Cost Comparison

Company Sample Monthly Cost For Dogs Sample Monthly Cost For Cats Learn More
Lemonade $19.44 $11.00 Get Quote
Spot $36.54 $16.51 Get Quote
Wagmo $70.12 $30.88 Get Quote
Trupanion $29.70 $12.22 Get Quote
Fetch $26.89 $11.93 Get Quote

Base Policy

Lemonade’s base policy includes coverage for diagnostics, procedures, and medications related to new illness and injury.

You can expect routine and emergency tests to be covered, including urinalyses, blood work, fecals, x-rays, and scans. If your cat needs procedures such as emergency surgery, hospitalization, or outpatient care, these will be covered as well. Prescription medications and injections are also covered under the base policy.

Basically, this policy covers accidents and illness and anything associated with them. It does not cover routine care, vaccines, behavioral care, or physical therapy. It also doesn’t cover pre-existing conditions, even if they lead to emergency care or illness.

Customizations

If you want additional care coverage for your kitty beyond accidents and illnesses, you can add customizable plans. Here, Lemonade offers many different add-on options.

The example prices below of these add-ons are based on a 3-year-old domestic shorthair in Chicago. Prices may vary depending on the age, breed, and location of your cat.

Vet Visit Fees

You can opt to add on vet visit coverage. This add-on costs about $4.70 per month.

This add-on helps pay for the vet visit itself when your cat has an emergency or gets sick. It covers physical exams, office visits, emergency room visits, and additional check-ups.

This add-on does not cover routine vet visits or the care associated with them. It only covers approved expenses up to the annual limit dictated by your base plan.

Dental Illness

The dental illness add-on covers emergency dental care and dental disease care. This is a bit of a pricier add-on at about $13 per month.

This option covers dental diagnostics, crowns, extractions, root canals, and other dental surgeries related to dental illnesses like gingivitis and periodontal disease. It does not cover routine dental cleanings, though another add-on option from Lemonade does.

This coverage maxes out at $1,000 per year. It’s worth noting that cat dental surgery in many regions averages over $1,000 if extractions and other procedures are required.

Behavioral Conditions

For about $3.50 per month, you can add behavior condition coverage to your plan.

This add-on covers diagnostics, therapy sessions, and medications for behavioral issues. It does not cover training sessions or obedience classes, however. It also does not cover pre-existing behavioral conditions.

This add-on has a yearly maximum of $1,000.

Physical Therapy

Another add-on worth considering is Lemonade’s physical therapy plan, which costs about $1.30 for most cats.

This option covers physical therapy sessions, acupuncture, chiropractic care, laser therapy, and more. This coverage kicks in after your vet recommends physical therapy for an injury or illness.

The maximum coverage for this one is the same as the maximum for your base policy.

End of Life and Remembrance

This costs, on average, between $2.50 and $5, depending on the age and size of your cat.

This add-on covers the cost of euthanasia, cremation, and some remembrance items.

There is no deductible for this add-on. It will cover up to 100% of costs up to $500.

Preventative Care

If you want coverage for routine vet care, you can add one of three preventative care plans to your policy.

The standard Preventative Plan covers the most common care needed for adult cats. Per year, this includes:

  • 1 wellness exam
  • 1 parasite test
  • 3 vaccines
  • 1 heartworm or FeLV test

These plans start at around $11 per month for cats and come with single-item maximums for each service covered. For instance, the wellness exam reimbursement maxes out at $50 while the parasite test maxes out at $35 based on x% coinsurance.

Preventative Care Plus

For an additional cost, you can upgrade to the Preventative Care Plus plan which offers all of the above coverage plus a couple of extra items.

With this add-on, you’ll also get up to $65 back for flea, tick, and heartworm medications. You’ll also get up to $150 to cover dental cleanings.

The Plus plan, on average, costs about $10 more than the standard plan.

Kitten Preventative Care Plus

If you have a young kitty at home, you may want to consider adding the Kitten Preventative Plan to your policy.

This add-on covers everything that the basic plan does plus one extra vet visit and three extra vaccines. It also covers up to $65 in flea, tick, and heartworm medications. Most importantly, it covers up to $120 toward a spay or neuter and up to $40 for a microchip.

The cost of this add-on typically starts around $38 per month.

Lemonade Price Comparison for Cats

Domestic Shorthair Siamese
Male or Female Male Female
Age 1 7
Location Colorado California
Reimbursement Level 70% 90%
Annual Deductible $750 $100
Annual Max $5,000 $20,000
Price per month $11 $55.86
Breed Name Under 1 5 Years Old
Domestic Long Hair $11.51 $13.69
Bengal $12.28 $15.47
Himalayan $12.47 $14.84

Deductibles & Claims

Lemonade offers many ways to customize your base policy to tailor it to your needs.

For the deductible, you can choose between four options:

You can also customize how much of the cost Lemonade covers. The higher the percentage, the higher the premiums. Here, you have three choices:

Lastly, you can choose your annual coverage maximum. Your policy will only reimburse costs up to this amount per year. Lemonade offers five choices here:

  • $5,000
  • $10,000
  • $20,000
  • $50,000
  • $100,000

What Does Lemonade Cover?

The base accident and illness plan from Lemonade covers diagnostics, procedures, and medications related to new injuries, illness, and accidents.

For instance, if your cat were to be hit by a car, the plan would cover any blood tests, surgeries, medications, injections, hospitalizations, and aftercare they need. What the plan would not cover is the cost of the emergency room visit or office visit.

Similarly, if your cat started throwing up unexpectedly, your plan would cover the diagnostic to determine what was wrong, saline administration, anti-nausea meds, and any other treatment they needed to recover. Again, the office visit itself would not be covered.

Coverage kicks in after your annual deductible is met and costs are reimbursed at the percentage your plan covers. Once you hit your plan maximum for the year, you’ll receive no more reimbursements for the year.

Coverage Item Annual Limit
Surgery 5,000 to 100,000 (depends on plan max)
Emergency Blood Work 5,000 to 100,000 (depends on plan max)
Prescription Medications 5,000 to 100,000 (depends on plan max)
Wellness Exam $50 (based on 80% co-insurance) with Preventative Care Package
Heartworm Medication $65 (based on 80% co-insurance) with Preventative Care+ Package
Routine Fecal Test $35 (based on 80% co-insurance) with Preventative Care Package

Covered

  • Broken bones, sprains, fractures, elbow and hip dysplasia.
  • Poisoning, toxicity
  • Bite wounds, lacerations,
  • Allergies, diabetes, cancer
  • Bloodwork, ultrasounds, diagnostic urinalysis, diagnostic fecals, X-rays, MRIs, CT scans
  • Hospitalizations, outpatient care, emergency care
  • Injections, prescription medications

Not Covered

  • Pre-existing conditions
  • Elective surgeries
  • Non-traditional therapies
  • Dental issues and cleanings (coverage available with add-ons)
  • Vet visits fees related to accidents or illnesses (coverage available with add-ons)
  • Wellness visits, vaccines, routine diagnostics (coverage available with add-ons)
  • Spay and neutering (coverage available with add-ons)
  • Microchips (coverage available with add-ons)
  • Physical therapy (coverage available with add-ons)
  • Behavior therapies or behavioral medications (coverage available with add-ons)
  • Flea, tick, or heartworm meds (coverage available with add-ons)

Pre-Existing Conditions

Like most pet insurance policies, Lemonade does not cover medical issues that are considered pre-existing conditions. This term is applied to a much broader range of conditions in the pet insurance world than it is in the human healthcare world.

Any injury, illness, sign, symptom, or issue that has been treated by your vet before has the potential to be labeled a pre-existing condition. This can apply to something as simple as diarrhea or as costly as emergency bowel surgery.

For instance, if your cat has been treated for an ear infection in the past, it is considered a pre-existing condition even if it has fully healed and gone away. If your cat gets another ear infection, it may not be covered.

The caveat here is that conditions deemed “curable,” such as ear infections and parasites may be covered by Lemonade as long as your cat has gone over 12 months without symptoms.

Waiting Periods

Lemonade has some of the shortest waiting periods in the pet insurance world.

After signing up for your policy, you only need to wait 2 days before your cat is covered for accident claims. You must wait 14 days before they’ll be covered for injury claims. And you have to wait the industry-standard six months before they’ll be covered for cruciate ligaments. Depending on where you live, your waiting periods could be shorter.

Reviews from Customers

Overall, most customers who use Lemonade are happy with the service and results they see.

Compared to other pet insurance companies, this one has one of the quickest approval and enrollment processes. They use online underwriting technology that saves time and money compared to traditional manual underwriting. This means faster results for you as well as lower prices across the board.

Their customer service is also very tech-based, including AI tools and a remote team. This means faster answers but also that it can take longer to speak to an actual person.

Most customers are very satisfied with the speed with which their claims are processed and their reimbursements are made. They also note how affordable this option is compared to other pet insurance policies.

On the downside, some customers have been surprised by which conditions Lemonade labels preexisting. Many also note their disappointment that the vet visits themselves, even for illness and accidents, are not covered.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Are there age limits for enrolling in Lemonade?

Yes, Lemonade does have pet age limits for coverage. They will not cover pets under 8 weeks old. They also will not cover pets above a certain age, but this varies by breed.

How soon can I use my Lemonade insurance?

You can start using Lemonade for accidents 2 days after enrolling. For illness, the waiting period is 14 days. If you opted for a preventative package, you can use those benefits as soon as the date your policy becomes effective. Depending on where you live, your policy could have different waiting periods. If your pet is already hurt or ill before you enroll, insurance will not cover their treatment.

How long does it take for a claim to be paid out?

Around 50% of claims are handled instantly, however some claims may take an average of  12 and 18 days to be processed. The first claim often takes longer while subsequent simple claims typically take less than a week. Actual reimbursement time can be dependent on your bank.

Does my pet need a diagnosis to have a preexisting condition?

No, preexisting conditions don’t require a formal diagnosis. Lemonade and other pet insurance companies consider any illness, injury, sign, symptom, or issue that has been treated before a preexisting condition. Even issues that came with no formal diagnosis may not be covered if they occur after the insurance policy is signed.

Our Verdict

If you’re looking for an affordable, highly customizable pet insurance option for your kitty, Lemonade is worth a look.

This is one of the cheapest pet insurance options out there. They also offer multiple add-on options to help you save money where you spend it most. In addition to the base policy that covers illnesses and accidents, you can opt for vet visits, preventative care, dental, behavioral, and/or physical therapy coverage.

In addition to these customizations, you can also choose from multiple deductibles, coverage percentages, and maximum coverage options. All of these choices give you the freedom to find the best plan to fit your cat’s needs and your budget.

Pets

Raymond Q4 PAT up 18% YoY, revenue rises 21%

No Comments

Raymond Ltd reported net profit of ₹229.2 crore in Q4, up 18 per cent on year and revenue that rose over a fifth to ₹2,608.5 crore, on the back of good growth seen in the branded apparel, garments and real estate business.

  • Also read:Raymond Realty launches first project in Mumbai 

Operating margin rose 190 bps to 19.2 per cent and was up 110 bps at 17 per cent for the full year.

Its strategic emphasis on premiumisation, casualisation and expansion of distribution channels significantly contributed to the robust growth of the branded apparel business, the company said. The apparel business saw revenue rise 23 per cent to ₹409 crore.

The real estate business, on which the company is laying a lot of thrust, got bookings worth ₹840 crore in the quarter, driven by the launch of a premium project in Bandra, Mumbai where over 60 per cent of the inventory was sold in 40 days.

The three verticals of the company – lifestyle, real estate and engineering – would be its future growth engines, Chairman and Managing Director, Gautam Hari Singhania said.

Branded textile segment sales maintained its topline of ₹920 crore in the quarter despite muted customer demand and challenging market conditions.

In the apparel segment, it saw growth across all brands and formats. The segment reported an EBITDA margin of 13.4 per cent, lower from year ago due to increased investments in branding and category creation. It opened 200 stores during the year taking the total to 1,518 at the end of the fiscal year.

Aerospace, defence

In Q4, Raymond completed the acquisition of Maini Precision Product, marking its foray into sunrise sectors of aerospace, defence and EV components.

  • Also read:Godrej Consumer ramps up advertisement of Raymond Consumer Care products

The board also approved a scheme of arrangement for the creation of two subsidiaries. One will focus on aerospace and defence, while the other will cater to the auto components with electric vehicles and engineering consumables sector, “each charting its unique path of growth with a primary objective of value creation”.

Real Estate

Mango Outlet upravo ima sniženje do 70%. Izdvojili smo najljepše ljetne komade

No Comments

Pri kreiranju rubrike Index Shopping nastojimo izdvajati odlične proizvode koji se i nama sviđaju te odlične akcije i popuste. Ne objavljujemo proizvode koje i sami ne bismo kupili ili smatramo da njihova promocija nije u skladu s profesionalnim standardima. Neki proizvodi u rubrici Index Shopping mogu biti sponzorirani.

LJETO je vrijeme za osvježenje garderobe, a Mango Outlet nudi sjajnu priliku za to s njihovim popustom do 70%. 

Za dame koje vole stil koji je jednako udoban i elegantan, Mango Outlet nudi širok izbor lepršavih ljetnih haljina, savršenih za bilo koju prigodu, od opuštene šetnje plažom do elegantnih večernjih izlazaka. Ako volite casual izgled, imaju i udobne hlače koje će vam omogućiti da se osjećate slobodno. Imaju i cool majice i lagane košulje za muškarce koje su savršene za opuštene ljetne dane. 

Izdvojili smo nekoliko favorita za nju i njega koje se isplati uloviti na sniženju koje traje do 6. svibnja.

Ženska kolekcija

Muška kolekcija

Cijelu ponudu možete vidjeti ovdje.

Znate li nešto više o temi ili želite prijaviti grešku u tekstu?

Shopping Product Reviews

Baseball playoff openers provide more drama than expected

No Comments

The opening week of the high school baseball playoffs was all about turning loose ace pitchers.

There was Zach Strickland of Maranatha striking out 17 while throwing a no-hitter in a Southern Section Division 2 win over Royal. There was Gary Morse of Orange Lutheran throwing a one-hitter in a Division 1 win over Sierra Canyon. There was Cade Townsend of Santa Margarita striking out 11 in a Division 1 shutout against Tesoro.

There was Dylan Volantis of Westlake striking out 10 while giving up only two hits in six shutout innings against Mira Costa in Division 2. There was Wylan Moss of Mater Dei throwing a four-hit shutout of Damien in Division 1. There was Jackson Klein of Santa Monica throwing his third no-hitter of the season in a Division 5 shutout of Nogales.

There was Travis Maxwell of El Dorado giving No. 1-ranked Corona all it could handle, throwing six innings of shutout ball in a Division 1 opener until Billy Carlson hit a walk-off home run for a 1-0 Corona win in the seventh.

Boston Bateman of Camarillo gets excited after a fourth-inning strikeout with the bases loaded against Dos Pueblos.

(Craig Weston)

Perhaps no pitcher is more intriguing than Camarillo’s 6-foot-8 left-hander Boston Bateman, who has given up just eight hits in 53 1/3 innings. He allowed two hits while striking out eight in 5 1/3 innings in the Scorpions’ 9-0 win over Dos Pueblos in their Division 4 opener.

His size alone makes him stick out. He throws fastballs in the mid-90s and also has an effective curveball. He didn’t pitch as a freshman and pitched only sparingly as a junior, so in two seasons, he has earned himself a scholarship to LSU and could be a first- or second-round pick this summer in the amateur draft.

“Over the course of my high school career, I’ve grown into my body and that’s been the key,” he said. “Just getting more comfortable on the mound and getting used to high school baseball has been good.”

He has 110 strikeouts and 33 walks while being on a pitch count to protect his arm. He overpowers most high school hitters, which allows him to escape jams with men in scoring position. His command has become much better since early in the season. Four times this year he has combined with teammates for no-hitters.

Camarillo’s principal, Matt La Belle, won two CIF championships coaching at Simi Valley in 2004 and 2008, so he knows a good pitcher when he sees one.

“I think he is really good and has upside,” he said. “Absolutely A-plus young man and student.”

Bateman is also a top hitter and knows how to fire up his teammates. On Friday, with the bases loaded, he got a strikeout and walked off the mound showing emotion.

“I wanted to fire up my team,” he said.

Camarillo's Tostado triplets stand beside each other in light blue baseball uniforms

Camarillo’s Tostado triplets: Nate, left, Victor and Nick.

(Craig Weston)

Camarillo is unique in another way in that it has triplets making major contributions in Nick, Nate and Victor Tostado.

Perhaps there was no more drama than Hart and Simi Valley playing 14 innings in a Division 2 opener before the Indians won 5-4 on a walk-off sacrifice fly in the bottom of the 14th inning to delay the retirement of coach Jim Ozella. Brady Werther hit a two-run home run in the seventh to tie the score for Hart and had an RBI double in the ninth to tie the game again.

Second-round games are scheduled for Tuesday. Among the intriguing matchups is Corona playing at Mater Dei in a rematch of the Boras Classic championship game.

Sports

India emerged as the most preferred market for tech giants: Apple CEO Tim Cook

No Comments

India has become a key market for global tech giants, with a burgeoning developer base attracting significant attention. Tim Cook, CEO of Apple, expressed his contentment with India’s growing developer community, underlining Apple’s holistic approach covering everything from developer support to market strategies and operational efficiency.

MoS Electronics and Technology, Rajeev Chandrasekhar tweeted that the CEO of Apple, Tim Cook said, “We have been very pleased that there is a rapidly growing base of developers in India. Apple is working all of the entire ecosystem from developer to the market to operations, the whole thing.”

Cook lauded Apple India’s double-digit revenue growth, marking a new March quarter record. He described India as an “incredibly exciting market” and a major focus for the company.

“We did grow strong by double-digit, and so we were very, very pleased with that. It was a new March quarter revenue record for us. As you know, as I’ve said before, I see it as an incredibly exciting market and it’s a major focus for us,” said Cook on Apple’s performance in India.

India has become a top priority for global tech companies due to its large talent pool, low operating costs, and stable environment for supply chains. In this continuously evolving era of global geopolitical power India has emerged as a beacon for global tech corporations. In 2023, revenue growth rates for Apple, Microsoft, and Meta in India outpaced their global expansion rates.

“From a pragmatic point of view, you need to produce there (India) to be competitive, and so, yes, the two things are linked from that point of view, but we have both operational things going on and we have to go to market and initiatives going on,” he added.

Apple’s efforts to expand its presence in India include strengthening distribution channels and nurturing the developer community. Apple supported over a million developer jobs in India in 2023, with plans for further expansion.

Moreover, Apple’s achievement of setting a six-month revenue record in India and other emerging markets underscores the country’s significance in the tech landscape.

Technology

Visiting Germany as a foreign tourist: Who needs a visa? | Travel

No Comments

Whether you’re into high culture, beer festivals or football — Germany makes for a fabulous holiday destination. But who needs a visa to visit?

The Brandenburg Gate is one of the most-visited attractions in the German capital, Berlin. (Jörg Carstensen/dpa/picture alliance )

Germany is a fantastic holiday destination year-round. With more medieval castles than you can count, vibrant cities, a rich history, famously hearty fare and Oktoberfest, the world’s biggest beer festival, Germany offers something for everyone. Plus, this summer, it’s playing host to the UEFA 2024 European Football Championship. So that’s plenty of good reasons to spend a vacation in Germany.

Unlock exclusive access to the latest news on India’s general elections, only on the HT App. Download Now! Download Now!

ALSO READ: How to travel in Germany—an essential guide for tourists on the sights, weather and more

But what documents do tourists need to visit the country? Will a valid identity card or passport do? And is any additional paperwork needed?

Well, that depends on your nationality.

Last year, most foreign tourists staying in German holiday accommodation hailed from the Netherlands.

Dutch tourists, like all EU nationals, can visit Germany without any particular visa.

EU tourists

That is because EU citizens have the right to freedom of movement within the bloc, meaning they can enter and stay in any member state they choose for up to three months, provided they hold a valid identity card or passport.

So that makes it very easy for any citizen of the EU’s 27 member states — which include France, Italy, Spain, Poland and others — to spend a holiday in Germany.

Swiss tourists

What about Swiss nationals? After all, last year, Swiss citizens made up the second-largest group of tourists in Germany, according to holiday accommodation stays.

Although Switzerland is not a member of the EU, its nationals enjoy freedom of movement in the bloc and vice versa. This means they, too, don’t need a visa to visit Germany.

US tourists

In 2023, US nationals constituted the third largest group of tourists in Germany. Do they need a visa to enter the country? No, all that is required is a valid US passport.

This document is enough to freely enter and stay in any European Schengen area state — including Germany — for up to 90 days within a 180-day period.

The Schengen area currently comprises 29 European countries that do not conduct checks at their internal borders, thereby enabling easy cross-border travel.

US tourists should check, however, that their passports are valid for at least three months after the intended date of departure from Germany.

UK tourists

Although Britain left the EU in 2020, British passport holders may still visit any European Schengen area state — including Germany — without needing a visa, provided they do not stay for more than 90 days in a 180-day period.

Chinese tourists

Last year, Germany was also very popular with Chinese visitors, who made up the largest group of Asian tourists in the country.

Chinese nationals, however, require a Schengen area visa.

To apply, Chinese nationals need a range of documents, including two recent passport-style photos, a Chinese passport that has been issued in the last 10 years, proof of medical travel insurance and proof of sufficient financial means for the entire stay, a travel itinerary and proof of accommodation.

A Schengen visa costs €80 ($85) for adults and usually takes 15 to 30 days to be processed.

For a full list of visa requirements, please consult the VFS Global website.

What about tourists from other non-EU countries?

Many other nationalities, such as Indian and Indonesian citizens, must also obtain a Schengen visa if they want to visit Germany.

Please visit Germany’s foreign office website for a comprehensive overview of visa requirements and exemptions for many more countries.

Tours Travel

Deadpool and Wolverine leaked synopsis teases plot to rival Avengers Endgame | Films | Entertainment

No Comments

Marvel fans are just a couple of months away from the release of the only MCU movie of 2024.

Deadpool and Wolverine’s first couple of trailers promise a time-travelling and multiverse-traversing adventure involving the TVA from Loki.

Rumours abound of multiple cameos, especially from the Fox X-Men and now a leaked synopsis teases that Ryan Reynolds and Hugh Jackman’s duo are set to play around with the MCU’s Sacred Timeline.

Just as Iron Man and Captain America revisited key moments from previous Marvel movies via time travelling in Avengers Endgame, Deadpool and Wolverine appear to be planning some similar meddling.

A leaked synopsis that has since been removed was posted on the official Marvel Zazzle store website.

The synopsis read: “And not only will they be working to defeat a range of villains plaguing the Marvel universe, bub, but they’ll be gate-crashing the MCU franchise, too, and putting their own R-rated, 20th Century Fox-styled twist on some of our favourite moments from Phases 1-4!”

This sounds similar to the Deadpool 2 end credits scene where Wade time travelled back to the events of X-Men Origins: Wolverine and slaughtered his lame version of Deadpool from that movie.

Deadpool and Wolverine hits UK cinemas on July 25, 2024.

Arts Entertainments

The premium small cars with the most boot space in Australia

No Comments

Australia’s small car segment has a lot to offer in practicality, with offerings in the category often punching above their weight in cargo space.

We’ve compared each of the choices in the small cars above $40,000 category on the VFACTS sales charts to see which has the most boot space to go with their premium price tag.

Quoted figures are the manufacturers’ specifications, and only the model variant with the most capacity has been included as some trim levels or powertrain options can vary in size.

Click on the links below to jump to your chosen car, or scroll through the story.

Peugeot 308

The clear leader in this segment is the Peugeot 308, with a 608L boot in its wagon configuration.

  • The premium small cars with the most boot space in Australia

The 308’s GT and GT Premium SW – which is Peugeot for wagon – variants both boast the biggest boots, with their cavernous 1634L folded-seat capacities rivalling the space offered in the largest mid-sized SUV, the Chery Tiggo 7 Pro.

Opting for the 308 PHEV hatchback variant sees the boot space slashed to 361L with the rear seats up and 1271L folded, one of the smallest in this segment.

The 308 PHEV hatch is priced at $64,990 before on-road costs, while the GT hatch starts at $43,990 before on-roads.

Peugeot 308
Seats up 608L
Seats down 1634L
Seat split 40/20/40
Spare wheel No

BUY: Get in touch with a dealer about a Peugeot 308
MORE: Everything Peugeot 308

Back to top

Honda Civic

The first of three Japanese cars on this list, the Honda Civic offers an above-average 449L boot in its base VTi-LX.

  • The premium small cars with the most boot space in Australia

With the rear seats folded that figure expands to 1212L, while the hybrid e:HEV LX variant sees boot space in both configurations slightly reduced.

For $72,600 before on-road costs you can purchase the hotted-up Type R, which comes with a turbocharged 235kW engine but a smaller 410L boot.

All Civics come with a five-year, unlimited-kilometre warranty, and wireless Apple CarPlay.

Honda Civic
Seats up 449L
Seats down 1212L
Seat split 60/40
Spare wheel No

BUY: Get in touch with a dealer about a Honda Civic
MORE: Everything Honda Civic

Back to top

BMW 2 Series

The BMW 2 Series is available in two body types, and four-door Gran Coupe variants offer larger 430L boots.

  • The premium small cars with the most boot space in Australia

The 220i M Sport starts at $65,200 and the M235i xDrive at $83,800 before on-road costs.

A tyre repair kit is standard across the 2 Series range, and BMW offers a five-year, unlimited-kilometre warranty.

BMW 2 Series
Seats up 430L (Gran Coupe)
Seats down N/A
Seat split 40/20/40
Spare wheel No

BUY: Get in touch with a dealer about a BMW 2 Series
MORE: Everything BMW 2 Series

Back to top

Audi A3

The A3 is one of two cars on this list with both hatch and sedan variants, and the sedan features a 425L boot.

  • The premium small cars with the most boot space in Australia

Audi’s 35 TFSI has the largest boot in the A3 range for both sedan and hatch variants, and is priced at $53,100 for the sedan and $50,600 for the hatch before on-road costs.

The hatch offers a 380L standard boot that expands to 1200L, while the rear seats feature a uniquely-European 40/20/40 split.

The A3 includes wireless Apple CarPlay, and is backed by a five-year, unlimited-kilometre warranty.

Audi A3
Seats up 425L (Sedan)
Seats down 1200L (Hatch)
Seat split 40/20/40 (Hatch)
Spare wheel No

BUY: Get in touch with a dealer about an Audi A3
MORE: Everything Audi A3

Back to top

Mercedes-Benz A-Class

Like Audi, Mercedes-Benz offers hatch and sedan variants across the A-Class range, though the A35 AMG sedan has the biggest boot.

  • The premium small cars with the most boot space in Australia
    A250 4MATIC Sedan

At 420L and $89,400 before on-road costs, the A35 AMG sedan’s boot is 35L larger than its A200 and A250 brothers… but around $15,000 more expensive.

A-Class hatches all have a standard 370L boot that expands to 1210L with the rear seats folded, however the range-topping A45 AMG S is the most expensive car on this list at $119,900 before on-roads.

Run-flat tyres and repair kits are standard across the A-Class range, and Mercedes-Benz offers a five-year, unlimited-kilometre warranty.

Mercedes-Benz A-Class
Seats up 420L (Sedan)
Seats down 1210L (Hatch)
Seat split 40/20/40 (Hatch)
Spare wheel No

BUY: Get in touch with a dealer about a Mercedes-Benz A-Class
MORE: Everything Mercedes-Benz A-Class

Back to top

Subaru WRX

Subaru’s base WRX sedan offers the largest boot of its range, quoted at 414L.

  • The premium small cars with the most boot space in Australia
    Subaru WRX RS

The WRX range starts at $47,490 before on-road costs, and features a 2.4L turbocharged four-cylinder mated to a six-speed manual transmission.

It’s the first car on this list to include a space saver spare wheel and wireless connectivity for both Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, but lacks any electric or hybrid options.

The WRX was among the bestsellers in this segment in 2023, and is backed by Subaru’s five-year, unlimited-kilometre warranty.

Subaru WRX
Seats up 414L
Seats down N/A
Seat split 60/40
Spare wheel Space saver

BUY: Get in touch with a dealer about a Subaru WRX
MORE: Everything Subaru WRX

Back to top

Nissan Leaf

The Nissan Leaf is the first of four electric cars on this list and offers a 405L boot in its standard configuration.

  • The premium small cars with the most boot space in Australia

While it offers an expanded capacity of 1176L and a space saver spare wheel, the Leaf is the most expensive non-European car in this category and starts at $50,990 before on-roads.

The Leaf includes wired Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and comes with a five-year, unlimited-kilometre warranty.

Nissan Leaf
Seats up 405L
Seats down 1176L
Seat split 60/40
Spare wheel Space saver

BUY: Get in touch with a dealer about a Nissan Leaf
MORE: Everything Nissan Leaf

Back to top

Cupra Born

The Cupra Born is the first mainstream electric car from the Volkswagen Group to be sold in Australia, and features a 385L boot.

  • The premium small cars with the most boot space in Australia

Cupra’s offering starts at $59,990 before on-road costs and sold nearly 900 examples in 2023, but you do miss out on any spare wheel and technology like wireless phone mirroring.

The Born is backed by a segment-standard five-year, unlimited-kilometre warranty.

Cupra Born
Seats up 385L
Seats down N/A
Seat split 60/40
Spare wheel No

BUY: Get in touch with a dealer about a Cupra Born
MORE: Everything Cupra Born

Back to top

Cupra Leon

With its Golf bones, the Cupra Leon features a 380L boot that expands to 1301L with the rear seats folded.

  • The premium small cars with the most boot space in Australia

Available in both petrol and plug-in hybrid variants, the Leon V offers the biggest boot in the range and retains a space saver spare wheel.

Boot space in the plug-in hybrid VZe variant is reduced to just 270L in its standard configuration, but you do get a greatly improved claimed fuel economy of 1.8L/100km.

The Leon features wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and includes a five-year, unlimited-kilometre warranty.

Cupra Leon
Seats up 380L
Seats down 1301L
Seat split 60/40
Spare wheel Space saver

BUY: Get in touch with a dealer about a Cupra Leon
MORE: Everything Cupra Leon

Back to top

BMW 1 Series

All three 1 Series variants match Audi’s A3 hatch for boot space, quoted at 380L with the rear seats up and 1200L at full capacity.

  • The premium small cars with the most boot space in Australia

A front wheel-drive Golf contender, the 1 Series range starts at $54,800 before on-road costs and tops out at $76,600 before on-roads for the M135i xDrive.

There’s no wireless phone mirroring across the range, but BMW’s five-year, unlimited-kilometre warranty comes standard.

BMW 1 Series
Seats up 380L
Seats down 1200L
Seat split 60/40
Spare wheel No

BUY: Get in touch with a dealer about a BMW 1 Series
MORE: Everything BMW 1 Series

Back to top

Volkswagen Golf

The Golf is one of the cheapest cars on this list at $39,190 before on-road costs, but it’s among the smallest for boot space.

  • The premium small cars with the most boot space in Australia

All Golf variants offer a 374L standard boot that expands to 1230L with the rear seats folded, while a repair kit is included in lieu of a spare wheel.

The Golf range tops out at more than $70,000 before on-roads with the performance-oriented R, but you do get features like wireless phone mirroring and a five-year, unlimited-kilometre warranty.

Volkswagen Golf
Seats up 374L
Seats down 1230L
Seat split 60/40
Spare wheel No

BUY: Get in touch with a dealer about a Volkswagen Golf
MORE: Everything Volkswagen Golf

Back to top

MG 4

As MG’s baseline electric-only model, the MG 4 offers a slightly smaller boot than the Volkswagen Golf at 363L.

  • The premium small cars with the most boot space in Australia

That figure is featured in the Excite 51 and Excite 64 variants, and it expands to 1177L with the rear seats folded.

Starting at $39,990 drive-away, the MG 4 works out to be cheaper than the Golf and includes a lengthy seven-year, unlimited-kilometre warranty, in line with other MG models.

MG 4
Seats up 363L
Seats down 1177L
Seat split 60/40
Spare wheel No

BUY: Get in touch with a dealer about an MG 4
MORE: Everything MG 4

Back to top

GWM Ora

The electric GWM Ora places last on this list – its 228L boot is more than 130L smaller than the MG 4.

  • The premium small cars with the most boot space in Australia

Its tiny boot expands to 858L with the rear seats folded, but it undercuts the preceding MG with a $35,990 drive-away price tag for the base Standard Range variant. It was previously more expensive however, which is why it sits in this VFACTS category.

The range tops out at $46,990 drive-away for the GT variant, which features a claimed 400km driving range and panoramic sunroof.

GWM includes a seven-year, unlimited-kilometre warranty across the Ora range.

GWM Ora
Seats up 228L
Seats down 858L
Seat split 60/40
Spare wheel No

BUY: Get in touch with a dealer about a GWM Ora
MORE: Everything GWM Ora

Back to top

Auto

What Makes CYBRO Presale a Must-Consider for DeFi Enthusiasts

No Comments

Layer-2 (L2) technologies are transforming the DeFi landscape, and Blast, the sole EVM-compatible L2 blockchain with native yields for ETH and stablecoins, is central to this shift. As Blast evolves, it becomes a driving force for the expansion of its ecosystem projects. The prime example is CYBRO, a unique earn marketplace that enhances the potential of Blast’s native yield feature. 

Gearing up to release its initial platform in Q2 2024, CYBRO has recently launched an exclusive presale event to grant early users a lucrative investment opportunity. During presale, CYBRO tokens are available at up to 75% off their future market price, established at $0.06. This means that you can now invest in CYBRO at just $0.015 per token. 

The presale is structured across 10 distinct stages, during which 215,000 tokens, or 21.5% of CYBRO’s total supply, will be distributed to investors. After that, the token generation event (TGE) will take place in Q3 2024. 

Investing in the CYBRO presale isn’t just about acquiring tokens at a lower price; it’s a chance to get multiple front-runner benefits and become part of CYBRO’s growth. With the potential increase in the utility and value of CYBRO tokens, early investors are poised to see their investments appreciate, offering a promising entry into the expanding crypto market.

Sounds tempting, doesn’t it? To help you make an informed decision, here are the fundamental developments that are supposed to underlie CYBRO’s enduring success.

The Blast-Based Breakthrough with Unmatched DeFi Yields

In the post-Ethereum merge era, the bar for competitive returns in DeFi has been significantly raised. This created a pressing need for a solution that could provide substantial yields without deviating from the expectations of crypto enthusiasts. 

And the optimistic rollup blockchain, Blast, rose to address this challenge. By inherently incorporating a 4% yield on ETH and a 5% yield on stablecoins, Blast redefined the baseline, offering enhanced returns for both users and developers, a feature absent in other existing L2 solutions.

CYBRO emerges as a visionary response to the evolving DeFi space. Catalyzed by innovative strides made by Blast, it is conceived as a direct extension of its innovation. Positioned as a disruptive earn marketplace, CYBRO enhances Blast’s high native annual percentage yield (APY), enabling users to explore various income streams for even more superior returns. 

With CYBRO, users can grow their crypto by investing in various vaults within the Blast ecosystem and on other blockchains, with strategies ranging from conservative low-yield to risky high-yield options. CYBRO’s ultimate goal is to provide users with the highest returns possible for each strategy, while ensuring a simple and transparent interface along with seamless on-ramping and off-ramping experiences.

CYBRO is driven by the ambition to deliver a product that stands out for its exceptional user experience and sustainable value, marking it as a trailblazer in the DeFi space and a testament to the transformative power of the Blast blockchain.

>> Buy CYBRO Token <<

The Power of Holding CYBRO Tokens 

The CYBRO token will stand at the core of its namesake platform and grant its holders exclusive advantages to enrich their user experience. One of its primary roles will be to unlock services at preferential rates, along with the opportunity to earn cashback in CYBRO tokens. 

Beyond conventional token utilities, CYBRO will also boost the profitability of operations conducted on the marketplace. This dual advantage will motivate user engagement and increase the overall value derived from the platform.

Holders of CYBRO tokens will be privy to several more privileges for elevated earnings. These will include discounted fees for trading and lending and a safeguard for investments provided by a special insurance program. 

Excitingly, investors in CYBRO will become eligible to enter an upcoming airdrop for a chance to increase their holdings with free tokens.

While ongoing refinements to the CYBRO token’s utility are anticipated, its existing structure already marks it as an essential element in a user-centric system designed to reward engagement and offer tangible benefits in the DeFi world.

Unveiling the Airdrop and Bold Roadmap

The aforementioned airdrop will unfold in Q3 2024, aligning with CYBRO’s intentions to roll out its lending aggregator. Moving forward, a set of farming-related developments will be implemented, culminating with a novel leverage farming feature by 2025. 

The next year will also see CYBRO’s insurance program, AI-Broker chatbot, and One-Click Investment functionality go live, underscoring the platform’s adherence to creating a safe, user-friendly, and lucrative investment experience while keeping up with the latest technological trends.

CYBRO’s roadmap is ambitious, aiming not only to harness Blast’s unique advantages but also to build its own robust infrastructure and aggregate existing market products. This approach ensures that CYBRO users will be able to choose investment tools tailored to their desired returns and risk profiles.

A significant milestone in CYBRO’s development will be the integration of a wallet with a payment card, allowing users to seamlessly convert and spend their investments. The wallet will act as a bridge between the digital and traditional financial worlds, a crucial step towards widespread crypto adoption.

Gaining Industry Visibility with Transparency and Security in Mind

At its core, CYBRO adheres to principles of transparency, compliance, and quality. The team’s dedication to openness builds trust within the project’s community, ensuring that essential information is always accessible. Whereas, high standards of security for users’ funds, smart contracts, and internal policies are non-negotiable.

CYBRO maintains a dynamic presence on social media, consistently sharing news, updates, and achievements with its community via Twitter, Discord, and Telegram. Its engaging approach has fostered a steadily growing following, now close to reaching 12,000 members across all three platforms. 

These followers are not just passive observers; they actively engage with CYBRO’s posts and participate in lively community discussions, creating a vibrant and interactive online environment.

CYBRO has caught the eye of major players in the crypto media field, earning coverage from leading global news outlets such as AMBCrypto, Coinpedia, and Crypto Daily. The platform’s impact extends to local markets as well, with significant attention from CryptoBenelux in the Netherlands, BitcoinBazis in Hungary, and BitHub.pl in Poland.

This diverse media attention highlights CYBRO’s growing prominence in both the international and regional crypto landscapes.

>> Join CYBRO Presale <<

A Golden Ticket to Elite DeFi Investments

As CYBRO embarks on a journey to redefine the DeFi space with its innovative features and aspiring roadmap, its ongoing presale presents a unique opportunity for investors. This isn’t just about acquiring tokens at discounted prices; it’s an invitation to become part of a transformative movement in DeFi. 

By entering CYBRO in its early stages, one positions themselves at the forefront of a project that’s poised to offer you a stake in the future growth of decentralized finance.

CYBRO represents a foray into a world where DeFi is not only more accessible and profitable but also secure and user-centric. So, don’t miss out on its electrifying presale – a gateway to potentially lucrative returns, and a chance to be an early player in a platform that’s set to make waves in the crypto world.

Cybro Website 

Cryptocurrency

Texas cats die on dairy farm after drinking raw milk contaminated with bird flu, CDC warns

No Comments

CDC issues alert over bird flu case

Fox News medical contributor Dr. Marc Siegel on what to know about bird flu and why it is important to not look directly at the solar eclipse without proper glasses

A cluster of cats on a Texas dairy farm died after drinking raw milk from dairy cows affected with bird flu, according to a report from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

The felines developed “fatal systemic influenza infection” after drinking the unpasteurized colostrum and milk from cows that tested positive for the virus.

Initally, the cats developed signs of sickness that included “a depressed mental state, stiff body movements, ataxia (impaired coordination), blindness, circling and copious oculonasal discharge,” the report said.

AMID BIRD FLU SPREAD, EXPERTS REVEAL IF IT’S SAFE TO DRINK MILK: ‘INDIRECT CONCERN’

The felines also showed neurological effects during exams.

Of some 24 cats that were given the raw milk from the diseased cows, around half of them died between March 19 and March 20, said the report, which was released on Monday.

A cluster of cats on a Texas dairy farm (not pictured) died after drinking raw milk from dairy cows affected by bird flu, according to a CDC report. (iStock)

Most cats became sick within two or three days after exposure.

Tissue samples from two of the deceased cats tested positive for HPAI H5N1 virus on March 21, the CDC noted.

While exposure to dead wild birds “cannot be completely ruled out” as a source of the virus, the report stated that milk and colostrum are a “likely route of exposure.”

BIRD FLU VIRUS FOUND IN GROCERY STORE MILK, BUT NO RISK TO CUSTOMERS, FDA SAYS

This is based on “the known consumption of unpasteurized milk and colostrum from infected cows,” as well as the high amount of “virus nucleic acid” within the milk.

“The death of the cats suggests that avian flu can cause illness due to ingestion,” said Edward Liu, M.D., chief of infectious diseases at Hackensack Meridian Jersey Shore University Medical Center in New Jersey, in a statement to Fox News Digital.

Cat on dairy farm

The felines in Texas (not pictured) developed “fatal systemic influenza infection” after drinking the unpasteurized colostrum and milk from cows that tested positive for the virus. (iStock)

“This is interesting, as many respiratory viruses are optimized for infection via mucous membranes, like the nose and mouth.”

The report reinforced the need to ingest pasteurized milk exclusively, Liu said.  

“I can think of no reason to drink raw milk.”

Pasteurization eliminates risk, experts say

Before milk can be sold commercially, government regulations require it to be pasteurized.

During the pasteurization process, raw milk is heated to a certain temperature for a brief period of time and is then chilled again, according to the International Dairy Foods Association (IDFA) website.

This process kills any pathogens and ensures that milk is safe to drink.

“I can think of no reason to drink raw milk.”

“In the U.S., commercial intrastate sold milk is required to be pasteurized,” Dr. Scott Pegan, professor of biomedical sciences at the University of California, Riverside and a biochemist for the United States Medical Research Institute of Chemical Defense, told Fox News Digital last week.

“This process is geared to kill viruses like H5N1 and other bacteria that can pose a threat to human health.”

Sick cat

The cats (not pictured) initially developed signs of sickness that included “a depressed mental state, stiff body movements, ataxia (impaired coordination), blindness, circling and copious oculonasal discharge,” the CDC report said. (iStock)

“Milk that has been pasteurized is safe and there is no current reason to avoid it or other pasteurized milk products,” Pegan went on. 

“However, there is a substantial risk of consuming unpasteurized milk and products of that milk.”

Even after viruses and bacteria have been killed in pasteurized milk, remnants can remain in the milk, he said — but they are not dangerous.

The FDA’s recommendations

Last week, the FDA restated its “long-standing recommendation” that consumers avoid drinking raw milk that has not been pasteurized. 

CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR HEALTH NEWSLETTER

The agency also recommended that companies refrain from manufacturing or selling raw milk or raw milk products made with milk from cows that tested positive for bird flu, were exposed to the virus or showed symptoms of illness.

Dairy farm milk

“Milk that has been pasteurized is safe and there is no current reason to avoid it or other pasteurized milk products,” an expert said. (iStock)

The FDA also urged producers to “take precautions” when discarding milk from affected cows, “so that the discarded milk does not become a source of further spread.”

So far, only one person is confirmed to have contracted the virus after exposure to infected cows, the FDA said.

CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP

“The CDC says the risk to the general public remains low,” the agency said.

“The FDA and USDA continue to indicate that, based on the information we currently have, our commercial milk supply is safe.”

Fox News Digital reached out to the CDC for additional comment.

For more Health articles, visit www.foxnews.com/health.

Melissa Rudy is health editor and a member of the lifestyle team at Fox News Digital. Story tips can be sent to [email protected].

Health Fitness

Get Over Dahi Vada. Try Dahi Makhana Chaat For A Healthy Snacking Experience

No Comments

What’s that one street food that you can never get over? We bet the unanimous answer will be chaat. There’s no end to the amazing chaat options we get across India. Every region has unique chaat recipes and experimentation, making it more interesting than ever. That’s not all. People at home also try to be creative by adding new ingredients to a classic chaat recipe. We recently came across one such option that we thought was worth mentioning. It’s a delicious bowl of dahi makhana chaat. To put it simply, it’s a healthier version of dahi vada or dahi papdi chaat that includes a good amount of nutrients in your diet, keeping the flavours intact. Sounds interesting? Let’s try it out.

Also Read: These 5 Healthy Chaat Recipes Are Ideal For Morning Meal

What Makes Dahi Makhana Chaat A Healthier Option For All?

As the name goes, dahi makhana chaat includes fox nuts (makhana) that are packed with fibre, protein, calcium, and other essential nutrients, providing energy to stay healthy and active throughout. Adding to that, the recipe includes dahi, a potent source of probiotics, helping you digest the food with ease. Moreover, the dish avoids the excess use of oil that we need for frying papdi and vada for the classic dahi vada and dahi papdi. If all these reasons are good enough for you to try out the delicious dahi makhana chaat, then without further ado, let’s straight away jump into the recipe.

Healthy Dahi Makhana Chaat Recipe | How To Make Healthy Dahi Makhana Chaat:

This particular recipe has been shared by food vlogger Nidhi Jain, who goes by the name ‘cookwithnidhiii’ on Instagram. “This one is super chatpata (spicy), and healthy…trust me everyone will love this for sure. Tip – Highly addictive,” she mentions.

Step 1. Heat ghee in a pan and add salt and red chilli powder to it.

Step 2. Fry the makhana until they turn crispy. Transfer to a bowl.

Step 3. Whisk chilled dahi with some sugar and drizzle on makhana.

Step 4. Add green and red chutney on the top.

Step 5. Garnish with tomato, cucumber, raw mango, coriander leaves and pomegranate pearls (anar). You can add some chopped onions as well.

And you have a delicious bowl of dahi makhana chaat, ready in not more than 10 minutes. To make it vrat-friendly, eliminate the onion from the recipe and replace regular salt with rock salt (sendha namak). That’s it!

Watch the detailed recipe video of dahi makhana chaat below:

Also Read: Craving Dahi Vada? Try This Guilt-Free Twist With Oats And Moong Dal!

About Somdatta SahaExplorer- this is what Somdatta likes to call herself. Be it in terms of food, people or places, all she craves for is to know the unknown. A simple aglio olio pasta or daal-chawal and a good movie can make her day.

Home Kitchen

Lionel Richie, Kate Moss and Pharrell Hit NY Parties Ahead of the Met Gala

No Comments

It was still early on Thursday evening at Casa Cipriani in downtown Manhattan, but Lionel Richie thought he knew how his night would end: “Buckingham Palace is going to call us and ask, ‘How did it go?’”

Mr. Richie, who had just walked a red carpet and was getting bombarded with selfie requests, was co-hosting the King’s Trust Global Gala, a fund-raiser for the organization started in 1976 by then Prince Charles that helps millions of underserved youth globally.

The night drew more than 300 people including the actors Leonardo DiCaprio and Drew Barrymore, the musician John Legend, the stylist Law Roach and the model Kate Moss. It raised more than $1.4 million.

The event, in its third year, was a collaboration between Mr. Richie, a longtime friend of King Charles, and Edward Enninful, the former editor in chief of British Vogue and co-chair of the event.

“I grew up with the Trust helping members of my family and friends,” said Mr. Enninful.

The night also coincided with King Charles’s official return to duties after he disclosed that he had cancer.

The monarch wasn’t in attendance, but Dominic West, the English actor who played him in the last two seasons of “The Crown,” was in the crowd.

“The poor guy, he has been a bit out of action,” Mr. West said. “He needs our help.”

Dinner opened with a pun-filled speech by King Charles, delivered via a representative, that referenced some of Mr. Richie’s biggest hits: “I’m glad Edward and Lionel are there to make sure you are, ‘Dancing on the Ceiling’ and ‘All Night Long.’”

After a dinner of baby tricolor beets and salmon with leek sauce, the night closed with a performance by Mr. Legend of Mr. Richie’s song “Hello” and a standing ovation from the audience.

Laughing, apparently at the response, Mr. Legend said, “I just decided to do that 20 minutes ago.” — A.K.

On Wednesday, Pharrell Williams, Louis Vuitton men’s creative director, blocked off a sliver of Morton Street.

Around 300 people packed an open garage on a quiet West Village street to mark the opening of an online car auction from Mr. Williams’s auction house, Joopiter, which aims to make objects owned by high profile figures easier to buy.

Celebrities and artists ogled over the 12 rare, custom and eclectic vehicles that ranged from a Mitsubishi truck-turned-camper van to a Porsche from Daniel Arsham, the artist, located between Seventh Avenue South and Bleecker St.

Passers-by stopped to see what seemed like celebrities hanging out in someone’s renovated garage.

The crowd included Tobe Nwigwe, the rapper and singer, and Martica Nwigwe, his wife, who were tucked away in a corner as guests, like the fashion designer Kim Shui, carefully squeezed around the cars to take photos. Rosé, a member of the K-pop group Blackpink, snaked through the crowd.

Some guests trailed the servers holding trays of cocktails or small bites of mushroom canapés while others, like the actress Dianna Agron and LaQuan Smith, the fashion designer, made separate brief appearances. A stack of “Pharrell-isms,” Mr. Williams’s book of quotations, were at the entrance.

Mr. Arsham talked to other guests next to his Porsche, one of the many cars in his collection (he said that he does drive them all).

In the early evening, Mr. Williams arrived dressed in a cowboy hat and a lot of Louis Vuitton. He hoped the event would be a space for different people to connect, he said.

He reflected on how the auction house had expanded in the last year. “These opportunities are not afforded to people who look like me,” Mr. Williams said. “Man, it’s a crazy time.” — M.G.

Lifestyle Fashion

Pricing Climate Impacting Commercial Considerations

No Comments

In this Pharmaceutical Executive video interview, Jesse Mendelsohn, senior vice president at Model N, talks about the influence of Medicare Part D drug price negotiations on manufacturer go-to-market strategies and decision-making, and the industry’s response to the wider dialogue on pricing transparency.

Medicine

Molekule Air Mini+ Review 2024: A Detailed Look

No Comments

Our Final Verdict

We give the Air Mini+ a rating of 4.9 out of 5 stars.

Effectiveness: 5/5

Aesthetics: 5/5

Ease of Setup: 4.5/5

Ease of Maintenance: 5/5

Value: 5/5

Molekule, originally known as Transformair, was founded in 2014 by siblings Dilip Goswami and Jaya Rao. Their father, Dr. Yogi Gaswami, was a University of Florida professor who created the groundbreaking PECO technology, or photo-electrochemical oxidation. This new method of air purification proved more effective than typical photocatalytic oxidation for destroying common air pollutants left behind by HEPA and carbon filters. Dr. Goswami made it his life’s mission to create better air purification methods and did so through rigorous testing of his PECO method at both the University of Florida and the University of South Florida. Using their father’s research, Dilip and Jaya were able to manufacture and launch the first air purifier of its kind in 2016, featuring Dr. Goswami’s proven PECO technology.

Since then, Molekule has expanded on the success of their first air purifier, and recently merged with another time-tested company, Aeroclean Technologies, to continue Dr. Goswami’s mission to “address the adverse impacts of polluted air”. The air purifiers manufactured today by the Molekule Group have also been cleared by the FDA, signifying the research and testing reports of Molekule’s technology have been validated. Based on the myriad of adverse health effects that are scientifically proven to be caused or worsened by indoor air pollution, every person should be considering the use of an air purifier, and the Molekule brand checks all the boxes.

About Molekule

Molekule Air Mini+ Purifier - unboxing the product

The Molekule Air Mini purifier was launched in 2019, a smaller version of their existing Molekule Air, and soon followed by the Air Mini+, a beautifully sleek and compact purifier for room areas up to 250 sq ft. The Air Mini+ boasted the added feature of automatic particle detection adjustment, meaning the purifier would autonomously increase the fan speed if an increase in air particles were detected. Another added feature of the Air Mini+ was a stylish leather strap for ease of portability. This improved product from Molekule was rolled out as the perfect solution for anyone wanting to purify a smaller space, like an apartment or bedroom, using the same technology available in the larger Molekule Air model.

The Florida-based Molekule Group manufactures its air purifiers just outside of Tampa. Their products are available for purchase directly from their website, as well as such retailers as Amazon, Walmart, Target, and Home Depot, to name a few. In 2021, Madison Square Garden named Molekule their Official Air Purification Partner with the intent to install Molekule Air Mini devices throughout their facility. In the wake of the initial Covid-19 epidemic, this was a significant step on the part of the “World’s Most Famous Arena” to ensure the safety and wellbeing of its patrons. In fact, a press release published later that year revealed that third-party testing at the University of Nebraska confirmed the results: more than 99% of the SARS-CoV-2 virus responsible for Covid-19 was destroyed by the Air Mini+ in controlled air spaces.

With the introduction of the Air Mini+, Molekule provided a convenient way for people with smaller spaces to address air pollution. Through superior air purification technology, The Air Mini+ promises to bring improved health and peace of mind to customers everywhere – whether the concern is everyday dust, pollen, and pet dander, or more serious pollutants like smoke, gas fumes, and viruses. As a Class II medical device, this state-of-the-art air purifier will prove beneficial to anyone, whether they are suffering from existing health conditions or simply want to protect and promote future health. Molekule notes: no air purification device takes the place of PPE in situations where these extra precautions are indicated.

divider 2 cats

Overview

Molekule Air Mini+ Purifier - cat lying next to the product

Here is my overview of important things to know about the Molekule Air Mini+ purifier:

Technology

The Air Mini+ employs a 3-layer system for air purification: two standard filtration methods combined with Molekule’s own proprietary technology. This ensures that the Air Mini+ provides the most advanced air purification available on the market today, doing the most good for the most people. Every Air Mini+ purifier filters and cleans room air using the following proven systems:

  • HEPA filtration (High-Efficiency Particulate Air)
  • Carbon filtration
  • PECO (Photo-Electrochemical Oxidation)

Most air purifiers on the market use HEPA and carbon filters, but these methods of filtration only capture particles, which means harmful pollutants like bacteria, viruses, and mold, have the potential to be released back into the air when the filter becomes oversaturated. Molekule’s added PECO technology uses light to destroy organic pollutants on the surface of the filter by breaking them down into harmless water and carbon dioxide. According to Dr. Goswami’s research, the PECO method is even capable of destroying VOCs (Volatile Organic Compounds) such as those released by cleaning supplies, carpet, and air fresheners. VOCs are the most likely pollutant to be released back into room air by standard filtration methods and can cause headaches, trigger asthma symptoms, and even cause cancer.

Pricing

At well under $400 and with free US shipping from their website, the Air Mini+ from Molekule is very reasonably priced for the technology it employs. It has been proven to capture and destroy a wide spectrum of pollutants – bacteria, viruses, mold, gasses from smoke, and VOCs – faster and more completely than other devices, and has even been shown to kill over 99% of the SARS-CoV-2 virus within one hour. Although there are many air purifiers for small rooms on the market that are priced much less, it is important to know that these models are far inferior to the complete room air purification that the Air Mini+ provides. The Air Mini+ is also Alexa-compatible and comes with a free app to monitor and control your device. Filter replacements can be purchased for around $100, but there is an auto-delivery option through Molekule that reduces filter cost by 20%, as well as a membership for reward points that can help save money on future purchases.

Molekule Air Mini+ Purifier - cat lying on bed and the product on the bedside table

Contents

When you open the box that your Air Mini+ arrives in, the device is inside a drawstring sack with a bag of activated carbon on top to prevent your new air purifier from arriving with any odors or VOCs encountered in the shipping process. The filter is already inside the device but is sealed in plastic which must be removed prior to use. A large easy-to-read instruction card details a quick set-up with helpful images of the process on one side, and on the other side, brief information about the device’s touchscreen controls as well as the app features. A more detailed instruction manual is included as well, and a packet of supplemental instructions for users specifically targeting SARS-CoV-2.

Any other information desired by the user can be obtained by calling Molekule’s customer service, searching the online help pages, or reading the published reports on the performance of Molekule’s line of air purifiers (some of these are linked directly through the website, while other third-party testing reports are available online via other credible websites).

Maintenance

The Molekule Air Mini+ is a low-maintenance device. The plastic housing can be gently wiped down as needed, while the interior need not be accessed other than to replace the filter. The Molekule app, once paired with your device, will alert you when the filter should be changed, but the standard instructions from Molekule recommend replacing it every six months. Filters can be purchased through the brand’s website as well as their approved retailers. Molekule also offers an auto-delivery feature which not only ensures the user doesn’t forget the filter maintenance schedule, but also gives the customer a 20% discount on the filter cost. Depending on your environment, used filters may need to be disposed of in biohazard bags, which should be attainable from your local health department or healthcare provider.

Molekule Air Mini+ Purifier - filter of the product

Warranty

Molekule provides a 2-year limited warranty on all their air purifiers purchased through their website or an approved retailer. There is also an option at checkout to purchase a 1-, 2-, or 3-year extended protection plan to cover your device after the warranty runs out. Under an approved warranty claim, Molekule will either repair your purifier, or issue a replacement device, which may be new or refurbished. The replacement is then covered only under the remainder of the original warranty.

Purchases of new devices (not refurbished models) from Molekule’s website are allowed a 30-day home trial. If a customer is not satisfied with the Air Mini+, they can contact Molekule’s customer service to initiate a return and subsequently receive a refund. Purchasers of new devices from a retailer must contact that retailer to inquire about a refund.

In Summary

Pros

  • Captures and destroys more pollutants faster than other devices
  • Proven to capture and destroy VOCs as well as the SARS-CoV-2 and H1N1 viruses
  • Validated third-party testing
  • FDA-cleared Class II medical device
  • 3-layer filtration utilizing HEPA, carbon, and PECO technology
  • 360-degree air intake
  • Durable construction
  • Easy assembly
  • Highly portable
  • Five fan speeds
  • Auto-Protect feature to control fan speed
  • Fan speed controllable through app (iOS or android)
  • Compatible with Alexa
  • Low noise
  • In-device particle sensor with app-monitoring
  • App alerts when to replace filter
  • Auto-delivery of replacement filters available
  • Free shipping in the continental US
  • 30-day home trial
  • 2-year limited warranty
  • Member reward points club
  • New devices and filter replacements available at many approved retailer locations

Cons

  • Initial app pairing may be tricky for less tech-savvy customers
  • Higher fan speed noise may interfere with sleep if used in a bedroom
  • Only available in one color (white)

divider 2 cats

Key Features

Molekule Air Mini+ Purifier - product manual

Easy Setup

The Air Mini+ is ready to go as soon as you plug it in (make sure you remove the plastic from the filter first). It powers up as soon as connected to electricity, and has easy-to-use touchscreen controls on top of the unit. There is also an app available, for both Apple and Android users, that pairs with your device allowing remote fan speed adjustment and monitoring of current air particle levels. The app pairing can be a little tricky, but as long as the necessary permissions are enabled on your phone, there should not be an issue.

Superior Technology

Molekule added to existing HEPA and carbon filter technologies and brought improved air purification to its customers with the introduction of PECO, or photo-electrochemical oxidation. This new method of air pollutant destruction has proven superior to the more commonly implemented photocatalytic oxidation, and electrostatic filtration. Furthermore, this Class II medical device has been FDA-cleared, an achievement that indicates the testing reports submitted to the FDA for consideration were validated.

Auto Protect Mode

Although the Air Mini+ comes with five fan speeds, which can be controlled by the touchscreen on top of the unit or through the app, it also features a convenient Auto-protect mode. When this mode is activated, the unit will automatically adjust the fan speed as needed for the concentration of air particles detected by its on-board sensor. This convenient feature takes the guesswork out of running your Air Mini+ purifier – set it and forget it.

Low Maintenance

The Air Mini+ is low maintenance, with filter replacements indicated every six months, and no tools required for disassembly – just twist off the top to access the filter. There is also no need to open the unit to check the filter, as the app is monitoring this for you and will alert when replacement is needed. The plastic exterior is easily cleaned with a simple wipe down, although depending on the environment this device is being used in, some exterior disinfecting may be advised – just be sure not to spray any cleaners into the air intake or the particle sensor.

divider 2 cats

Is the Molekule Air Mini+ a Good Value?

The Air Mini+ brings proprietary technology to small spaces in an easy-to-use device. The manufacturer’s claim that their purifiers can capture and destroy more pollutants faster than the competitors is well-substantiated through rigorous third-party and internal testing. This FDA-cleared Class II medical device has even been implemented as the air purification method of Madison Square Garden through the widespread installation of the Molekule Air Mini. The cost of the Air Mini+, at around $350, may be more than many other purifiers for small spaces, but the value of this revolutionary device is irrefutable.

Molekule Air Mini+ Purifier - product on the night table

divider 2 cats

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

What types of air pollutants can the Molekule Air Mini+ help eliminate?

Molekule’s air purifiers are effective against airborne bacteria, viruses, mold, pollen, smoke, pet dander, dust mites, and volatile organic chemicals like formaldehyde and acetone, which can be released into the air from carpet, furniture, and cleaning products. Some of these common pollutants found in our indoor air spaces can cause headaches, trigger asthma symptoms, aggravate allergies, or, in some cases, lead to infectious disease or cancer.

Can this purifier remove odors from my household?

The Molekule Air Mini+ captures and destroys odor-causing particles in the air. Whether these odors are from cooking, smoke, cleaning products, or paint, this device can help your small space smell fresher by removing these pollutants. If you have more than one room needing filtration simultaneously, you may want to purchase multiple Air Mini+ devices. However, this device is highly portable, so you can move it from room to room as needed – for example, use it in your living room or home office during the day and move it to your bedroom at night.

How noisy is the Air Mini+?

There are five fan speeds with increasing noise levels. The lowest fan setting produces a noise level similar to light rain. This sound is easily drowned out by normal conversation, a TV on normal volume, or even a ceiling fan. It is unlikely to be bothersome to anyone. The highest fan speed, on the other hand, is fairly noisy, and Molekule likens it to the sound of a small handheld vacuum. In a normal household, however, your unit is likely to run on the lowest fan speeds and should not create a noise issue. 

How often does the filter need to be replaced?

The Molekule app will alert you when it is time, but the website indicates filter replacement should occur every six months. 

Do I need the app in order to operate the air purifier?

The Air Mini+ will begin working independently from the app as soon as you plug it in. The app is available as a convenient method of controlling your unit, monitoring your particle levels, and receiving alerts when it’s time to replace the filter. Without the app, you can still operate your device via the touchscreen on top of the unit. If you choose to use the app, make sure all your phone’s permissions are enabled (including location), otherwise, you may have issues with the pairing process.

Molekule Air Mini+ Purifier - product mobile app interface

divider 2 cats

Our Experience With the Molekule Air Mini+

I recently received the Molekule Air Mini+ for use in my new home office. For years, this space has been a catch-all ‘junk room’, painted an unappealing matte brown and full of random furniture, photo albums, and paperwork needing filing. But also tucked in the corner was my laptop and printer.

Well, I finally did it. I cleared out the junk, filed away my important documents, and painted the walls pistachio green. I set up my laptop and printer in a way that I could use them without having to kick cardboard boxes out of the way first. I even got a gently-used bed from a relative to add to the room, so that the space could also serve as a guest room when needed. I finally had the room of my dreams, a clutter-free place where I could read, nap, or work on my computer.

There was just one problem – my new office did not smell so great. It smelled like paint – a smell that psychologically tricks you into thinking something’s clean, but there’s nothing clean about paint fumes. It also smelled like someone else’s house, thanks to the new-to-me mattress. And now the comforter on the bed was also covered with cat hair, as my kitty had started enjoying the room as well. I realized I had to do something.

I typed into my search bar “best air purifiers for paint fumes”, and scrolled down past the sponsored results until I reached a ‘Top 10’ list. Number 1 on that list read “Molekule Air Large Room Air Purifier – Best Overall”. I went straight to Molekule’s website to start shopping, and discovered the Air Mini+ for small rooms. At 160 sq ft, my home office was well beneath the 250 sq ft-capable Air Mini+, and I instantly adored the minimalistic design, which blends seamlessly with its surroundings. I read the product description, and placed my order.

I’ve been using my Air Mini+ purifier 24/7 for a week now, and I am thrilled to say my home office no longer smells like paint! My allergy symptoms from springtime pollen have improved. And I no longer notice the odor of the new bed. I also don’t mind that the cat is shedding all over the comforter, or that our new rescued dog spends all of her time in this room with me while I’m working on the computer. I know that the Air Mini+ is doing its job, sucking up all that pet dander, pollen, and harmful VOCs, making a safer space for me and my animals. The Air Mini+ promises to give you the cleanest room air possible, and that’s exactly what it’s done for me.

Molekule Air Mini+ Purifier - product on the table

divider 2 cats

Conclusion

The Molekule Air Mini+ is quiet, emits only a very dim blue light at night, and does what it promises by making your home’s air crisper and cleaner. Between pet dander, pollen, and paint fumes, the Air Mini+ has been a blessing in my household, and I would highly recommend this purifier to anyone. Its beautiful clean lines also look amazing in any decor, and with its twist-off top and an easy-to-use app, setup and maintenance are a breeze. If you have a small space you’d like to make healthier through clean air, the Air Mini+ is the right choice.

Pets

CapitaLand Investment Trust to buy 2.5 msf area in Hyderabad’s Hitec City

No Comments

Singapore-listed CapitaLand Investment Trust (CLINT) has entered into a forward purchase agreement to acquire Phoenix Group’s IT buildings in Hitec City as part of which it will provide refinancing to the tune of ₹250 crore to the Hyderabad-based builder.

  • Also read:CapitaLand India to invest ₹268 crore in 3 industrial facilities at OneHub Chennai

Hitec City in Hyderabad with a leasable area of 2.5 million square feet is a major IT and office hub tenanted by leading global multinationals. CLINT will refinance the builder’s existing loan and receive interest on the funding at a rate higher than its borrowing cost, the real estate asset manager said.

This acquisition will increase its earnings and in turn, the distribution to its unitholders. It said that pro forma, the net profit from the buildings is expected at $4.5 million and the distribution per unit is expected to rise to 6.47 cents from 6.45 cents now.

Apart from the refinancing, CLINT will also provide funding in future towards development of the buildings and acquire the buildings at a price to be determined as and when each building is constructed and leased up to 90 per cent, it said. “The acquisition is attractive as its capitalisation rate is higher compared to the market’s capitalisation rates,” it added.

““The forward purchase allows us to secure prime assets that will further strengthen our presence in Hyderabad, which has strong leasing demand from multinational companies”, said Sanjeev Dasgupta, Chief Executive Officer of CapitaLand India Trust Management.

A subsidiary of CapitaLand Investment Ltd, CLINT owns three business parks in Hyderabad and is currently developing a data centre that will be completed next year.

Real Estate

Zašto propada najduža zagrebačka ulica? “Samo gledam kako se koji lokal zatvara”

No Comments

Pri kreiranju rubrike Index Shopping nastojimo izdvajati odlične proizvode koji se i nama sviđaju te odlične akcije i popuste. Ne objavljujemo proizvode koje i sami ne bismo kupili ili smatramo da njihova promocija nije u skladu s profesionalnim standardima. Neki proizvodi u rubrici Index Shopping mogu biti sponzorirani.

ZAGREBAČKA Ilica poznata je kao najduža ulica u Zagrebu, prometno mjesto koje podjednako privlači turiste i domaće stanovništvo, primarno zbog brojnih kafića i trgovina. To je dio grada poznat po svojoj užurbanosti i živahnosti, no razlike od Jelačićevog trga do Vrapča su drastične.

Prošetali smo uzduž cijele Ilice da bismo snimili i fotografirali stanje, ali i porazgovarali s ljudima koji tamo žive, rade ili redovito šeću kako bismo nekoć živahno urbano središte vidjeli njihovim očima.

Gornji dio Ilice prema trgu 

 

Na potezu od Frankopanske, gdje je isto vrlo živo i ima svega, od trgovina do kazališta, pa sve do glavnog trga, Ilica izgleda živahno. Ljudi se šeću, kupuju, a trgovine posluju, mnoge su tu već godinama. Gotovo da nema praznih ni išaranih ili zapuštenih poslovnih prostora.

Ilica od Britanskog trga prema Črnomercu

No, na potezu od Britanskog trga pa prema Črnomercu sve je manje uređenih izloga, tu nema ni gužva u kafićima, kao ni mirisa cvijeća. Ovdje je Ilica prazna, poslovni prostori su zatvoreni i toliko zapušteni da je svakom prolazniku jasno da interesa za taj dio nema.

Nažalost, zaposlenici trgovina i drugih objekata u tom dijelu Ilice nisu bili osobito razgovorljivi. Većina je bila prezaposlena. No oni koji su uspjeli izdvojiti nekoliko minuta primijetili su da se poslovni subjekti neprestano otvaraju i zatvaraju, ali nisu obraćali puno pozornosti na to.

“Osim što idem na posao i s posla zapravo ni ne primjećujem što se ovdje zbiva”, tako je rekla jedna od njih. Ono što im je pak bilo upadljivo je da se masovno zatvaraju i izmjenjuju manji poslovni subjekti i kafići.

Tako je voditeljica jedne putničke agencije, koja posluje na tom potezu Ilice prema Črnomercu, rekla kako je tijekom svih osam godina, koliko tamo radi, primijetila kako se neprestano nešto otvara i zatvara, bez obzira na pandemiju ili potres, te je na to već navikla.

“Preko puta je bio jedan kafić. On se zatvorio. Onda je na njegovo mjesto došao restoran koji se zatvorio. I sad tamo nema ničega. To je nešto što vidim cijelo ovo vrijeme”, rekla je. “Lokali se otvaraju i zatvaraju, ali nisam primijetila da postoje neka pravila. Čak se nekoliko njih u zadnje vrijeme i otvorilo. Ali ne mogu reći da to ne znam koliko primjećujem, ipak ovdje dolazim samo na posao.”

Primijetila je da se više zatvaraju manji poslovni subjekti, kao i da mnogi jednostavno odlaze na drugu lokaciju. “Zato i postoji Q’Art, da se oživi ovaj dio grada.”

Zaposlenica lokalne pekare, kojoj svakodnevno dolaze stanovnici Ilice, primijetila je da se više trgovina počelo  zatvarati nakon potresa. “Krenule su se zatvarati i prije, ali mislim da ih se više zatvorilo nakon potresa. Pala je potražnja, ali mislim da je to normalno. Ljudi su otišli, odselili se. Ali ne znam je li to zbog potresa ili zbog velikih lanaca i šoping-centara”. U svakom slučaju primijetila je da su oni koji masovno odlaze mali obrti, a ne veće trgovine.

Selidbe, inflacija, visoke cijene najma: “Nekoliko je tu faktora”

Prolaznici su imali nešto više vremena za nas. Mnogi od njih redovito prolaze Ilicom te su primijetili kako im nekoć draga mjesta za šoping i razonodu nestaju. Vjeruju kako je najam poslovnog prostora preskup, u skladu s rastućom cijenom najma stambenog prostora. Složili su se i kako je općenito loše financijsko stanje građana također pogodovalo propadanju brojnih kafića, restorana i trgovina.

“Nekoliko je tu faktora, po mom mišljenju. Cijene najma su skočile. Puno obrtnika koji su radili i popravljali stvari više ne postoji jer je lakše samo kupiti masovno proizvedeno, jeftinije i novo. S druge strane, ima sve više šoping-centara koji su pristupačniji jer su zatvoreni, klimatizirani i s velikim, dostupnim i besplatnim parkingom koji je problematičan u centru”, izjavio je jedan prolaznik.

Vjeruje i kako u blizini Ilice uglavnom živi starija populacija “koja nije kreditno sposobna, iako ni mlađa ne pliva u novcima.” Dodatno, smatra da se zbog visokih cijena najma ljudi neprestano sele iz jednog dijela grada u drugi, stoga ne ostvaruju bliske odnose sa susjedima, a samim time ni ne odlaze u obližnje kafiće i restorane.

Kako radi od kuće, primijetio je i da se od tada drugačije druži s bliskim ljudima: “Korona je uvela masovni rad od doma koji je djelomično ostao ili se pretvorio u hibridni. Ljudi se više nemaju običaj hengati nakon posla”.

I drugi su se mlađi prolaznici sjetili razdoblja lockdowna za koji vjeruju da je promijenio navike građana. “Mislim da si ljudi radi inflacije sve manje odlučuju priuštiti kavu od dva eura, kad za isti taj novac doma popiju četiri”, dodao je jedan mladi prolaznik.

Istaknuo je da je lokalnim ljudima teško plaćati održavanje prostora. “Novac ide firmama izvan zemlje, što znači da je manja cirkulacija lokalno. Isto mislim da je Bandić pogodovao lokalcima i slično, a čak i tada su jedva spajali kraj s krajem.”

Druga prolaznica okrivila je rastuće cijene nekretnina i najma za propadanje pojedinih lokala duž Ilice. 

“Pretpostavljam da s obzirom na cijene nekretnina koje su i ovako otišle gore, da je i najam lokala u centru skuplji nego ikada, a ako nešto i uspiju iznajmiti, onda bi vlastite cijene trebali dići u nebo da uopće pokriju troškove, a kamoli da nekaj zarade. A samim podizanjem cijena automatski gube mušterije”, istaknula je i dodala da voli sjesti u kafić, ali više nema tu naviku. Izgubila ju je, kaže, tijekom pandemije zbog koje su ugostiteljski objekti bili zatvoreni.

Zaustavila nam se i jedna poduzetnica čiji se poslovni prostor ne nalazi u Ilici koja je kratko i jasno rekla: “Mislim da je do cijena najma, do manjka interesa za obilaskom radnji na tom području, najviše zbog šoping-centara. Poduzetnicima koji iznajmljuju lokale na tom području je vjerojatno vrlo teško opstati.”

Previsoka davanja uništila su male poduzetnike?

Naši stariji sugovornici također su okrivili visoke cijene najma, no uhvatili su se i politike za koju smatraju da radi protiv malih poduzetnika. Jedan od njih je bio bivši član mjesnog odbora te smatra da je problem što mjesne zajednice nemaju utjecaja na to tko dobiva koji prostor. “Živim tu od ’78. i samo gledam kako se koji lokal zatvara”, rekao je.

“Trebao bi se prostor davati za 1 euro i prvu godinu osloboditi te ljude nameta. Grad ne mora ništa zaraditi u tih godinu dana, njima to ne treba. Treba im dati više slobode da se dignu na noge u prvih godinu dana jer ovako se prebrzo zatvaraju. Najam je preskup, a ne mogu ostvariti neku zaradu dok su novi i imaju sve te namete”.

Dodao je i kako stranke zakupljuju atraktivne lokacije koji im nisu potrebni: “Njima ne treba ovakav prostor, njima treba kancelarijski prostor. Stranke su si ga rezervirale, iz nekog im je razloga u interesu imati ih jer sve što dođe prebrzo propada”.

S njime se slaže i umirovljenica koja je svoj radni vijek provela u banci: “Prvo je sve bilo zatvoreno, nisi smio prić’ nekom, nisi smio ić’ frizeru ni u male radnje. Tad je to debelo krenulo. Iza toga je došao potres i uništio zgrade u kojima su bile te male radnje, dobili su crvene naljepnice i nisu više mogli raditi.”

Istaknula da je da je povrh svega toga prošle godine došla i zabrana rada nedjeljom. “Sve to vrijeme isti ti mali poduzetnici nisu bili izuzeti od plaćanja svih mogućih davanja koja su i inače prevelika. Oni nisu imali nikakvu zaradu, a pomoć koju su dobivali je bila na kapaljku. Oni su svi na fini način istjerani, a njihov su prostor kupili veliki igrači.”

Rekla je i kako su mnogima proizvodi malih trgovina preskupi te kako kupci više odlaze u velike trgovačke lance koji uvoze jeftinije proizvode. Inflacija je visoka, a kupovna moć građana loša. “Mi generalno jako loše živimo, a najviše nam odlazi na hranu i stanarinu pa prebiremo što jeftinije.”

“Imam jednu poznanicu koja je cvjećar, s kojom sam razgovarala o zatvaranju cvjećara, sve je manje tih kioska, i ona mi je rekla da je sve krenulo 2007. kad je Sanader prvi proglasio da smo mi u recesiji,” nastavila je. “I rekla je da su se tad masovno krenule zatvarati te kućice jer ljudi nisu mogli opstati, sve im je bilo preskupo i nisu imali izbora.”

Šoping-centri privlačniji su većini kupaca

Što se više bližimo kraju Ilice, a u smjeru Vrapča, jasno je da je razlika dramatična naspram dijela od trga do Frankopanske. Nameće se pitanje zašto je propadanje vidljivo upravo na potezu od Britanskog trga do Črnomerca.

Prolaznici i jedan agent za posredovanje nekretninama smatraju da je to zbog loše pješačke zone. Ni turisti ni Zagrepčani nemaju želju kretati se dijelom grada koji im nije prilagođen. “Dio oko Trga je dostupan i pun turista na kojima se zarađuje, rijetko koji turist potegne do Britanca, a kamoli Črnomerca”, rekla je mlada prolaznica s početka priče.

“U principu ljudi sve više idu iz grada prema šoping-centrima jer tamo dobiju sve od hrane, kina, zabave, dućana. Sve im je na jednom mjestu. U grad ideš ciljano u neki dućan i nemaš tako velik izbor kao u centrima”, rekao je agent za posredovanje nekretninama.

“U trgovačkom centru imate sto dućana, a ako nešto ne nađete u gradu, morate opet sjesti u auto i ići dalje. A dio od Britanskog trga i dalje, to su sve second hand trgovine, nema kvalitetnih pješačkih zona i tamo uglavnom idu ljudi koji tamo žive. Dobra pješačka zona ide do Frankopanske, malo dalje do Britanca i to je to.”

Shopping Product Reviews

Updated high school baseball and softball playoff pairings

No Comments

SOUTHERN SECTION PLAYOFFS

BASEBALL

Tuesday, May 7

(All games at 3:15 p.m. unless noted)

Division 1

Second Round

Corona at Mater Dei

Aquinas at Sherman Oaks Notre Dame

Huntington Beach at Villa Park

Gahr at Santa Margarita

Orange Lutheran at Vista Murrieta

La Mirada at Santa Ana Foothill

Cypress at San Dimas

Harvard-Westlake at Bonita

Division 2

Second Round

Westlake at West Torrance

Arcadia at Yorba Linda

Hart at Newport Harbor

Arlington at Palos Verdes

Maranatha at Ayala

Anaheim Canyon at Quartz Hill

Moorpark at Valencia

Citrus Valley at Crown Lutheran

Division 3

Second Round

Corona Centennial at Arrowhead Christian

El Modena at South Torrance

Fountain Valley at El Segundo

Corona del Mar at St. John Bosco

Chaminade at Mission Viejo

Los Alamitos at La Salle

Beckman at La Habra

Summit at Newbury Park

Division 4

Second Round

Camarillo at Murrieta Valley

Los Osos at Cerritos

San Marino at Oak Hills

Culver City at Eastvale Roosevelt

Tustin at Palm Desert

Rio Mesa at Ontario Christian

La Quinta at Paraclete

San Juan Hills at St. Francis

Division 5

Second Round

Ganesha at Santa Monica

Adelanto at Trinity Classical Academy

Segerstrom at Riverside Prep

Oxnard Pacifica at Whittier Christian

Santa Ana Calvary Chapel at Monrovia

Lakeside at Chino

Montebello at Liberty

Bloomington at Chino Hills

Division 6

Second Round

Costa Mesa at West Covina

Village Christian at Brentwood

St. Paul at Diamond Bar

Alhambra at Grand Terrace

Salesian at Schurr

Rancho Mirage at St. Bonaventure

Santa Fe at Viewpoint

Colony at Rialto

Division 7

Second Round

Buena Park at Hueneme

Banning at Rancho Christian

South El Monte at Artesia

Oakwood at Mary Star

Wildomar Cornerstone Christian at Santa Ana

Leuzinger at Lancaster Desert Christian

Jurupa Valley at Chaffey

Silverado at Oxford Academy

Division 8

Second Round

Orange County Pacifica Christian at United Christian Academy

New Roads at San Jacinto Valley

Coachella Valley at Don Bosco Tech

Rancho Alamitos at San Bernardino

Santa Maria Valley Christian at Arroyo Valley

Edgewood at Beverly Hills

Cal Lutheran at Santa Clarita Christian

Academy of Careers & Exploration at Azusa

SOFTBALL

Tuesday, May 7

(All games at 3:15 p.m. unless noted)

Division 1

First Round

Capistrano Valley at Orange Lutheran

Camarillo at Anaheim Canyon

Huntington Beach at Riverside Poly

Chino Hills at Murrieta Mesa

Great Oak at Norco

JSerra at La Mirada

Oaks Christian at Los Alamitos

South Hills at Garden Grove Pacifica

Division 2

Second Round

El Modena at Mater Dei

Beaumont at Ayala

Tesoro at Gahr

Rio Mesa at Temple City

Rosary Academy at California

Whittier Christian at Cypress

Valley View at Aliso Niguel

La Serna at Valencia

Division 3

Second Round

West Torrance at Arlington

Woodbridge at Fullerton

Redondo Union at Sierra Canyon

Etiwanda at La Canada

Santa Fe at Aquinas

Bishop Amat at King

Royal at Charter Oak

Agoura at Upland

Division 4

Second Round

Norwalk at JW North

Oaks Hills at Jurupa Hills

Downey at Chaminade

Schurr at Mira Costa

Paraclete at San Marcos

La Quinta at Santa Monica

Sultana at Diamond Bar

Crescenta Valley at Orange Vista

Division 5

Second Round

Palos Verdes at West Ranch

Quartz Hill at Carter

Liberty at Keppel

Grace Brethren at Garden Grove

Burbank Providence at South El Monte

Cerritos Valley Christian at Shadow Hills

Paloma Valley at Linfield Christian

Fillmore at St. Bonaventure

Division 6

Second Round

Harvard-Westlake at Ganesha

Granite Hills at Lancaster

Indio at Santa Ana Calvary Chapel

Garden Grove Santiago at Lakewood St. Joseph

Viewpoint at Pioneer

University Prep at Mayfield

Canyon Springs at Capistrano Valley Christian

Paramount at Tahquitz

Division 7

Second Round

Hawthorne MSA at Oxford Academy

Miller at Los Amigos

Faith Baptist at Yucca Valley

Pasadena Poly at Riverside Prep

Lennox Academy at Eastside

Vista Del Lago at Cathedral City

Academy of Careers & Exploration at Leuzinger

Orangewood Academy at Muir

Division 8

Quarterfinals

Wildomar Cornerstone Christian at Hesperia Christian

Temecula Prep at Orange

United Christian Academy at Excelsior Charter

Jurupa Valley at Archer

Sports

HCL Tech, Cisco launch ‘Pervasive Wireless Mobility as-a-Service’ for secured connectivity across enterprises

No Comments

“HCLTech and Cisco launch Pervasive Wireless Mobility as-a-Service…This brings secure and mission critical connectivity to a diverse set of industries,” the release said.

The service combines HCL Tech’s network services expertise with Cisco’s technology to create a network infrastructure that provides robust connectivity, Source: Reuters

Technology

Japanese town erects barrier to shield Mount Fuji from tourist overcrowding | Travel

No Comments

Work has begun in a small Japanese town to erect a barrier blocking views of the country’s most famous sight, Mount Fuji, after locals complained of bad behaviour by photo-hungry tourists. Fujikawaguchiko town began building panels of mesh netting at a spot where unending flows of mostly foreign tourists visit daily to take photos of the majestic mountain sitting behind a Lawson convenience store.

People gather after watching the sunrise from the summit of Mount Fuji, some 70 kilometres (43 miles) west of the capital Tokyo. Japanese authorities are gearing up to impose crowd control measures for the first time on Mount Fuji this weekend for an expected holiday rush by thousands of sometimes ill-prepared trekkers. (Photo by Philip FONG / AFP)

Photos taken from a narrow stretch of pavement across a busy road from the Lawson store — which are ubiquitous in Japan — are widely shared online. Local officials and residents say while the town welcomes visitors, they need to stop tourists from continuously crossing the street, ignoring red lights, littering, trespassing, illegally parking and smoking outside of designated areas.

Unlock exclusive access to the latest news on India’s general elections, only on the HT App. Download Now! Download Now!

“It became not uncommon for people to yell at us when we asked them to move their cars, and for them to throw their lit cigarettes (on the ground),” a dentist’s office located across the street from the Lawson shop said in a statement. By the middle of this month, the town plans to complete the barrier, which will stand 2.5 metres (8 feet) high and stretch more than 20 metres long to block the view of the mountain, with hopes that it will discourage tourists from loitering there.

The town’s move has prompted national and international headlines, as Japan experiences growing problems of overtourism, particularly at popular sites like the narrow private alleys of Kyoto, and even trails on Mount Fuji itself, where tourists love to photograph themselves and post on social media.

The Fujikawaguchiko town hall has been inundated with telephone calls from Japanese people, many of them non-local residents, who have criticised the move to block the view. “It is not that we do not want people to see Mount Fuji. The issue is that there are so many people who are not able to observe basic rules,” a town official told AFP.

‘Basic manners’

Having the net barrier is unfortunate but perhaps necessary, area residents say. “We welcome foreigners for the revitalisation of the community, but there are so many violations of basic manners, like crossing the road, dumping garbage and trespassing into people’s properties,” a 60-year-old resident told AFP.

“After all, they are here for Mount Fuji, so having that barrier is very unfortunate,” said the woman, who identified herself as Watanabe. “There might have been other ways to deal with it, but for now I feel it cannot be helped,” she said. Some tourists expressed understanding and voiced hopes that the town would create a designated photo spot.

But others speculated that the barrier may only make matters worse. “Stop people? I don’t think so because when there is a will there is a way. People will just be on the left side of it or right side of it,” said 29-year-old Australian tourist Trinity Robinson. “There definitely will be a way to still get the shot. It will just be more dangerous, really.”

As a possible solution, a 37-year-old local man, who gave his name as Ama, called on visitors to check out other scenic locations in the area. “Mount Fuji from here (near the Lawson shop) is fantastic. But there are so many other places around here where you can visit and see beautiful views,” he said.

Tours Travel

Amazon Prime members can get the best Fallout game for free | Gaming | Entertainment

No Comments

Amazon Prime is about more than just next day delivery and TV streaming. Subscribing to Amazon Prime comes with lots of additional benefits that you may not know about, including a ton of free video games and in-game items. Amazon gives away around half a dozen free games to subscribers every month, not to mention content for titles like EA Sports FC, Pokemon Go, Overwatch 2 and Diablo 4. May is shaping up to be a particularly good month for free game giveaways, especially for fans of Bethesda and Amazon’s new Fallout TV show. Indeed, if you’ve been enjoying the show and want to see where it all began, then Amazon is giving Prime customers the chance to download Fallout 3 Game of the Year Edition for free later this month. If you’re not a Prime subscriber, then you can sign up for a free trial below.

Often considered to be the best Fallout game in the entire series, Fallout 3 is set in a post-apocalyptic Washington DC and surrounding areas.

The game has a massive 93% score on Metacritic, with reviewers praising both the story and sense of freedom.

The Game of the Year Edition contains the core game, plus all downloadable content, including Operation Anchorage; The Pitt; Broken Steel; Point Lookout; and Mothership Zeta.

Amazon Prime subscribers can download Fallout 3: Game of the Year Edition for free from May 9. Just visit the Prime Gaming page on Amazon, where you’ll receive a GOG code for the PC version.

In addition to Fallout 3, Amazon Prime customers can also grab free copies of games such as Tomb Raider: Game of the Year Edition and LEGO Star Wars 2: The Clone Wars.

Available now, Tomb Raider Game of the Year Edition contains the critically-acclaimed action game, plus add-on content.

Amazon explains more: “Revisit the critically acclaimed action adventure that explores the intense and gritty origin story of Lara Croft and her ascent from a young woman to a hardened survivor.

“The Game of the Year edition includes the Tomb of the Lost Adventurer, 6 single player outfits for Lara, 8 multiplayer maps, and 4 characters.”

LEGO Star Wars 3: The Clone Wars and Tomb Raider will be followed by Dark City: International Intrigue, Nine Witches: Family Disruption, Electrician Simulator, 100 Doors Games: Escape from School, The Forgotten City and Spirits of Mystery: Whisper of the Past.

Arts Entertainments

Is it legal to drive with your boot open?

No Comments

We’ve probably all been in a situation where you’re at your favourite flat-pack or hardware store, and you find something that’s just a little bit too long to fit in the boot.

  • There’s no nationwide rule against driving with your boot open
  • You must have a secure load
  • You have to be able to see out of the car well enough to drive safely

If you have roof racks, that’s likely going to be a better option for properly securing a longer load. But if you don’t, and you’re wondering, “is it illegal to drive with my boot open?”, you might be surprised at the laws.

These rules are possibly stricter than you’d think, but the reason for the harshness of the penalties is that, in years gone by, unsecured loads have caused accidents and even deaths on our roads. So, it’s best to take it seriously because the police certainly do.

The Australian model Road Rules 2014, regulation 292, covering the topic of “Insecure or overhanging load” outlines the following:

  • A driver must not drive or tow a vehicle if the vehicle is carrying a load that:
    • (a) is not properly secured to the vehicle, or
    • (b) is placed on the vehicle in a way that causes the vehicle to be unstable, or
    • (c) projects from the vehicle in a way that is likely to injure a person, obstruct the path of other drivers or pedestrians, or damage a vehicle or anything else (for example, the road surface).

The interpretation of this rule varies across jurisdictions, and so do the potential penalties for doing the wrong thing.

Plus there’s another model Road Rule that may apply, depending on the location: regulation 269, (3), states: “A person must not cause a hazard to any person or vehicle by opening a door of a vehicle, leaving a door of a vehicle open, or getting off, or out of, a vehicle.” That could be interpreted in such a way that, if your boot is open, you could be fined hundreds of dollars, depending on the jurisdiction.

If the load becomes unsecured and ends up on the roadway, some localities require you to remove it from the road – in NSW, for instance, you could cop a $481 fine and three demerits if you lose something from your vehicle and don’t remove it from the roadway.

You may also want to consider the security of your boot lid. If you’re driving a sedan, the boot lid may be prone to bounce up and down over bumps, especially if it’s a gooseneck-hinge style mechanism.

Hatchbacks, SUVs or wagons with gas struts or electric opening systems might be more likely to stay open, but be aware of the additional height of the vehicle when driving with the rear ‘door’ open. Most people attempt to secure the boot lid so it is in the ‘down’ position, which is likely the safest course of action so long as your visibility is not impaired by doing so.

Some carmakers include in their safety warning systems that driving with the boot open can be dangerous for the occupants due to ingress of exhaust fumes. For instance, Volvo has a specific warning: “Do not drive with the boot lid open. Toxic exhaust fumes can be drawn into the car through the cargo area.”

VicRoads has a pretty good set of guidelines for securing a load – though these do span across utility vehicles, trucks and other vehicles:

  • Bundle similar items together, in a more stable single unit.
  • Use restraints when packing wooden boards; anti-slip matting prevents items from sliding, especially long items.
  • Ropes can be difficult to keep tight across your load. When available use webbing straps as they can be more effective and are simple to use.
  • Nets and tarpaulins may be used to restrain lighter items.
  • Loose sheets of building materials may be restrained by fitting them tightly in trays, and then securing them properly with restraints.
  • Make sure heavy items are not loaded on top of lighter items.
  • Most headboards and loading racks aren’t strong enough to fully restrain heavy loads.
  • Use metal or heavy-duty plastic top corner protector angles to protect cartons.
  • High and narrow items such as stacks of smaller cartons usually need more than one restraint.
  • Fill spaces and gaps between piles with other items and make sure these are restrained as well.

“If you don’t properly secure your load, you may be fined, even if your load doesn’t come loose,” VicRoads states.

Fines vary from $242 for minor breaches, through to an enormous potential court-imposed penalty of more than $80,000 for professional load carriers doing the wrong thing. Most ‘regular’ boot loaders would be in the former potential fine space.

  • Is it legal to drive with your boot open?

But be sure to secure your load so as to prevent it from breaching any of the Road Safety (Vehicles) Regulations 2021 – REG 285, which states that the following must be met by a vehicle that is carrying a load:

  1. the load must be secured by a means that is appropriate to the vehicle and the nature of the load;
  2. the load must be placed and secured on the vehicle in a way that prevents, or would be likely to prevent, the load or any part of the load from—

              (i)     hanging or projecting from the vehicle; or

              (ii)     becoming dislodged or falling from the vehicle;

  1. the load must not be placed or secured on the vehicle in a way that makes the vehicle unstable

You also have to make sure you can see out of your vehicle effectively – you need to be able to see forward, out the sides and out the back of the car, otherwise you could be fined.

In NSW the regulations suggest you may face a fine of $481 and three demerit points if you drive with a load that is not correctly secured. Make sure that your load is secured and doesn’t impact the safety of your car or other road users, and ensure you can maintain clear visibility from the driver’s seat.

Fines and penalties vary depending on your location and the legal jurisdiction.

Not intended as legal advice. Check with the relevant roads authority in your state or territory.

  • Is it legal to drive with your boot open?
  • Is it legal to drive with your boot open?

Auto

Why does BHP want Anglo American?

No Comments

TALK OF TAKEOVER has long swirled around 107-year-old Anglo American, once among the biggest mining companies in the world. On April 25th speculation turned to specifics when BHP, the $140bn behemoth that is today top of the pile by market value, offered to buy its diminished rival (minus Anglo’s South African business) for $39bn. It then emerged that Elliott Management, an activist hedge-fund known for picking apart lumbering giants to unearth buried value, had amassed $1bn-worth of Anglo shares, giving it a 2.5% stake. In the following days it raised this slightly, perhaps counting on other suitors to come in and bid up the price.

This clash of big dirt and high finance suggests that Anglo harbours something worth fighting over. Its big mines indeed tick all the right boxes: high quality and low cost, with the potential to expand. They are also extracting the right stuff at the right time. One of Anglo’s main products is copper, which is in high demand, particularly as tonnes of it will be needed for the electrification of transport and power in the green-energy transition; the red metal’s price has risen by 15% this year. Another is high-grade iron ore, which is in demand for its use in forging green steel.

Business

Ripple Vs SEC Update: Here’s What To Expect On May 6

No Comments

In the ongoing legal conflict between Ripple and the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), which heavily impacts the price of XRP, the two parties are at odds over whether testimony from SEC’s Assistant Chief Accountant, Andrea Fox, should be allowed. Ripple has recently submitted a letter supporting its motion to dismiss new expert evidence. They argue that Fox’s statements qualify as expert testimony and should have been introduced earlier during the remedies discovery phase. The SEC plans to reply by May 6, and the court is expected to make a ruling soon after.

The Ongoing Battle Between Ripple And SEC

The SEC’s recent filing featured remarks by Assistant Chief Accountant Andrea Fox concerning Ripple’s financial statements. Ripple labeled these remarks as “new expert materials” and argued they should have been presented earlier during the lawsuit’s remedies discovery phase, which is now closed.

In response, the SEC countered that Fox’s comments were not expert testimony but rather “facts and some basic arithmetic.” As a result, the SEC has requested that the court reject Ripple’s motion to exclude these new expert materials from the case.

Read more: Ripple vs SEC Lawsuit Update: Ripple Asks Court to Dismiss SEC Expert Evidence

Yesterday, Ripple submitted a letter to support its motion, arguing that the statements made by the SEC’s Assistant Chief Accountant Andrea Fox qualify as expert testimony. The letter explains that Fox’s analysis, which draws on her accounting expertise to evaluate Ripple’s financial records, should have been disclosed during the earlier remedies discovery phase of the lawsuit. Ripple’s letter states that regardless of whether Fox is viewed as an expert or a summary witness, the SEC was obligated to reveal this information before the end of that phase.

The SEC is scheduled to respond by May 6. Following this, the court is expected to make a decision regarding the penalties and fines Ripple faces for its institutional sales of XRP. The SEC has proposed fines totaling $2 billion, whereas Ripple has suggested settling for $10 million.

What To Expect On May 6?

The SEC is set to respond on May 6 to Ripple’s latest arguments. Observers believe the SEC will continue to push for disgorgement and seek a court order to prevent Ripple from selling XRP to institutional investors in the future. The SEC’s recent challenge to Ripple’s request to exclude new expert evidence indicates they’re looking to solidify their case. These next submissions are likely the last ones before Judge Analisa Torres decides on the penalties for Ripple’s sales of XRP to institutional buyers.

Also read: Ripple vs SEC: Ripple Might Lose in the Ongoing XRP Lawsuit; Here’s Why

If Ripple successfully challenges Fox’s declaration, it could restrict the SEC’s options for advocating certain penalties.

The lawsuit began in late 2020 when the SEC accused Ripple of violating securities laws through its XRP sales. In July, Ripple achieved a partial win when a judge determined that XRP sales on exchanges do not constitute securities transactions. However, the dispute over sales to institutional buyers is still ongoing.

Cryptocurrency

Anger can increase risk of heart attacks, study finds: ‘Chronic insult to arteries’

No Comments

Join Fox News for access to this content

You have reached your maximum number of articles. Log in or create an account FREE of charge to continue reading.

Please enter a valid email address.

By entering your email and pushing continue, you are agreeing to Fox News’ Terms of Use and Privacy Policy, which includes our Notice of Financial Incentive. To access the content, check your email and follow the instructions provided.

Having trouble? Click here.

Seeing red could spike your heart disease risk, experts are warning.

Feeling angry for as little as eight minutes a day could raise your chances of experiencing a cardiac event, according to a study published in the Journal of the American Heart Association (AHA).

The study included 280 healthy young adults with no history of heart disease, stroke, serious mental health conditions or other chronic illnesses, according to an AHA press release.

HEART HEALTH RISK FACTORS FOR WOMEN OVER AGE 50

The participants first spent 30 minutes in a relaxed state, while doctors gauged their blood pressure, blood vessel health and other cardiac measurements.

Next, the participants were randomly assigned eight-minute tasks, while the heart-related measurements were tracked.

Feeling angry for as little as eight minutes a day could raise your chances of experiencing a cardiac event, according to a new study. (iStock)

One group was told to think about anger-inducing experiences.

A second group was asked to recall memories that triggered anxiety.

ANGER CAN MOTIVATE PEOPLE TO ACHIEVE THEIR GOALS, NEW STUDY SUGGESTS: ‘SHARPENED FOCUS’

A third group was tasked with reading passages that made them feel sad — and the final group was told to simply count out loud to achieve a neutral mindset.

Among those who were told to recall anger-inducing memories, their blood vessel dilation was reduced by 50% within 40 minutes of the task — which put them at a greater risk of heart attack or stroke.

The restricted dilation was temporary, but experts expressed concern that a longer duration of anger could have more adverse effects.

Man yelling

“Anger likely increases cortisol levels, which, in turn, raises blood pressure and could likely decrease vascular dilation,” an expert warned. (iStock)

“We showed that if you get angry once, it impairs your ability to dilate,” said lead study author Dr. Daichi Shimbo, a cardiologist and co-director of the hypertension center at Columbia University Irving Medical Center in New York City, in the release.

“But what if you get angry 10,000 times over a lifetime? This chronic insult to your arteries may eventually lead to permanent damage.”

Anxiety and sadness did not have this same effect.

FORGIVENESS COULD LEAD TO BETTER MENTAL HEALTH, HARVARD STUDY REVEALS

Elizabeth Sharp, M.D., founder and director of Health Meets Wellness in New York, New York, was not involved in the study, but said the results were “not particularly surprising.”

“Anger likely increases cortisol levels, which, in turn, raises blood pressure and could likely decrease vascular dilation,” she told Fox News Digital.

Angry woman driving

“This study showed that anger can cause acute, measurable changes in blood vessel function, which could be detrimental to cardiovascular health in the long run,” a doctor said. (iStock)

“It’s a well-known adage that ‘stress is a killer,’ and there are numerous physiological explanations for this,” she went on. 

“However, I would argue that it’s more about chronic stress, or that a stress response might reveal an underlying condition, such as coronary artery disease (CAD), which was already present.”

“There are three major ways to deal with anger: express it, suppress it or calm it.”

Dr. Jim Liu, a cardiologist at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, also offered external input on the study.

“Psychosocial factors play an important role in cardiovascular disease, because the body’s nervous system provides a lot of input in regulating the heart and blood vessels,” he told Fox News Digital. 

“This study showed that anger can cause acute, measurable changes in blood vessel function, which could be detrimental to cardiovascular health in the long run.” 

man angry at laptop

People can reduce their heart attack risk by finding healthy ways to manage anger, experts say. (iStock)

The findings serve as a reminder that there are many factors that influence heart health, Liu noted. 

“We all know about the traditional risk factors, such as smoking, high cholesterol, diabetes and high blood pressure — and with this study, perhaps there should also be an increased emphasis on mental health and psychosocial factors.”

7 smart strategies to cope with anger

People can reduce their heart attack risk by finding healthy ways to manage anger, experts say.

“There are three major ways to deal with anger — express it, suppress it or calm it,” said Dr. Gary Small, chair of the psychiatry department at Hackensack University Medical Center in New Jersey.

5 WOMEN’S HEALTH TIPS TO PREVENT AND DETECT STROKES, ACCORDING TO CARDIOLOGISTS

“When we suppress our anger, we hold it in and force ourselves to focus on something — often positive thoughts — to distract us,” he went on. 

“A potential pitfall of anger suppression is that it festers and can elevate blood pressure and lead to depression.”

Woman meditating

Research has shown that daily meditation will improve mood and cognitive function, according to a cardiologist. (iStock)

Dr. Small shared the following seven strategies to help people cope with anger.

1. Recognize your triggers

Try to develop an awareness of what triggers angry feelings, Small advised.

“For some people, being ignored ticks them off, while others have difficulty accepting criticism,” he told Fox News Digital.

“When you identify what sets you off, you will be better equipped to gain control of your anger.”

2. Learn to relax

Research has shown that daily meditation will improve mood and cognitive function, according to Small.

“This strategy involves regulating our behavior when we are angry by controlling our internal physiological responses like muscle tension and breathing,” the doctor said.

DAILY MARIJUANA SMOKERS FACE HIGHER RISK OF HEART ATTACK, STROKE, SAYS AMERICAN HEART ASSOCIATION STUDY

“Recognizing your triggers gives you a heads-up of when to calm yourself and relax through deep, slow breathing, conjuring up serene mental imagery, and meditation.”

3. Think twice before erupting

“Because of the negative health and social effects of uncontrolled expressions of rage, try to avoid outbursts,” Small advised. 

“Rather than exploding, take a pause and recall what triggered your aggression.”

4. Get physical

Engaging in regular physical exercise — maybe even hitting a punching bag at the gym — can help reduce anger-induced stress, Small said.

Group of people running

Engaging in regular physical exercise can help reduce anger-induced stress, a doctor said. (iStock)

5. Alter your thinking

“If you find yourself in a fit of rage, you may not be thinking clearly, because your brain’s amygdala (emotional control center) overtakes its frontal lobe (reasoning center),” Small said. 

Attempt to replace your angry thoughts with rational ones, the doctor suggested.  

CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR HEALTH NEWSLETTER

“Also keep in mind that your anger is not going to solve the problem or frustration at hand,” he added.

6. Learn to communicate your needs

Taking an anger management class can help those who tend to “fly off the handle,” Small said, while assertiveness training can help people who suppress their anger learn to communicate their needs to others.

Support group

Taking an anger management class can help those who tend to “fly off the handle,” a cardiologist said. (iStock)

7. Consider professional help

“Anger issues may reflect other underlying mental health problems, such as anxiety or depression,” Small noted.

CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP

Seeing a mental health professional can help people identify underlying problems and cope with anger in a more constructive way.

Fox News Digital reached out to the study authors for additional comment on their findings.

For more Health articles, visit www.foxnews.com/health.

Health Fitness

May 2024 Brings With It A Range Of Exciting Food Festivals. Dont Miss Them

No Comments

As the vibrant month of May unfolds, a plethora of exciting food festivals await that celebrate the country’s rich culinary diversity. From north to south, east to west, every region boasts its own unique flavours and traditions, offering food enthusiasts an unforgettable gastronomic journey. Whether you’re craving spicy street food delights, indulgent sweets, or exotic regional specialities, May is the perfect time to embark on a culinary adventure across India. Join us as we explore the top food festivals happening this month, where you can savour mouthwatering delicacies, experience local culture, and create unforgettable memories. Get ready to tantalize your taste buds and satisfy your cravings at these must-visit food festivals in May 2024!

Here Are The Must-Visit Food Festivals In May 2024:

Rangeelo Rajasthan Food Festival – Crowne Plaza New Delhi Mayur Vihar 

Here is an exciting opportunity to enjoy authentic Rajasthani cuisine without travelling all the way to Rajasthan Crowne Plaza New Delhi Mayur Vihar has brought ‘Rangeelo Rajasthan Food Festival to all the foodies in Delhi/NCR.  Be captivated by the kaleidoscope of flavours from Rajasthan, meticulously crafted by the cooks from the colourful state. Experience the opulence of royal recipes and village-style meals, partake in unique dining experiences, sway to the melodious tunes of live folk music and get mesmerised by traditional entertainment elements.

Festival Dates: May 3rd – 12th
Venue: Infinity (Ground Floor)
Timings: 7 pm onwards

Thai Cuisine Food Pop-Up At Honk, Pullman New Delhi Aerocity

Head to Pullman New Delhi Aericity for an extraordinary culinary journey as Michelin Star Chef David Thompson showcases his culinary mastery through an array of authentic Thai dishes, meticulously curated to tantalise your taste buds and transport you to the vibrant streets of Thailand. 
Save the Date for 4th May 2024
Location: Pullman New Delhi Aerocity
Timings: 7:30 pm

Home Kitchen

They Found a Tiny Home in the Catskills: an Original Bolt-Together House

No Comments

One weekend in 2021, Gemma Warren was doing what she did every weekend: sitting over coffee in her home in Tulum, Mexico, combing through the real estate listings for cabins in the Catskill Mountains of New York.

She and her husband, Nick Warren, who are English, had discovered the Catskills several years earlier, while living in Brooklyn and working for public relations and marketing companies headquartered in London. They fell for the region’s scented forests, sunny meadows, icy streams and not terribly threatening bears (unless provoked). They wanted to buy a weekend house, but found nothing to fit their budget.

So six years ago, they picked up and moved to Tulum, on the Yucatán Peninsula, because they also had a sunny, oceanic side to their natures. There, they worked remotely. But the Catskills still beckoned.

In that fateful website-browsing session three years ago, Ms. Warren, now 37, saw a listing for a cabin in the western Catskills hamlet of Delancey, N.Y. The asking price: $65,000. The house was 192 square feet and lacked heating and a toilet.

“A shack” is how Mr. Warren, 38, described it: “There was running water. But that was pretty much it.”

And yet it sat on 6.8 acres with tall trees and grasses. Flowing next to it was a creek that audibly burbled in a video. A large picture window looked out to the water and forest.

Investigating further, the Warrens discovered that the tiny building with its projecting shed roof had an unusual provenance. It was one of the few extant examples of a Bolt-Together House, a bare-bones cutie that Family Circle magazine published in 1972 in a series on D.I.Y. dwellings.

A young architect named Jeffrey Milstein had designed the house on paper as something that could be taken apart and moved if one didn’t happen to own the land it occupied. The building was conceived as rough-sawed plywood panels bolted to a collapsible framework of timber posts and trusses attached to four concrete piers embedded in the earth.

Family Circle, riding the wave of eco-consciousness that washed through the 1970s, handed Mr. Milstein the money to construct the house, gave it a big spread and sold the plans.

“If you have a large garage, your husband can prefabricate the panels (none is larger than 4’x8’); cut, drill and paint the posts and trusses; then move the entire house to your site in a 16-foot rented truck,” the magazine suggested to the readers it took for granted were female and married.

The cost of construction was about $2,500 ($18,680 in today’s dollars), inclusive of lumber, wiring, plumbing, heating (with a wood-burning stove), kitchen appliances and some built-in furnishings, including a fold-down dining table. There was also a platform bed on a mezzanine level reached by a wall ladder.

The house was a hit; Family Circle sold a reported 25,000 plans, more than for any other project in its series. The Italian shelter magazine Abitare featured it in the May 1979 issue along with another of Mr. Milstein’s projects that combined a house with a camping tent. Both designs were published in Lester Walker’s seminal 1993 guide to small living, “The Tiny Book of Tiny Houses.”

Today, the Bolt-Together House is a rare species in the wild, a snow leopard for tiny-home enthusiasts. A YouTube video posted a dozen years ago of a shabby survivor in New Brunswick, Canada, has attracted more than 53,000 views.

All of which explains why the Warrens were besotted with the Delancey listing. “It was just a dreamy little place to us that was in our budget and so unique,” Ms. Warren said.

They were far from the only admirers, but were determined to have it. “We put an offer on it direct from Mexico, without even going to the town or seeing the cabin, which I think threw the Realtor for six,” Ms. Warren said, using a term derived from the game of cricket to describe the feeling of being whacked hard by a bat.

The sellers interpreted the couple’s pre-emptive bid of $85,000 as less a gesture of enthusiasm than of possible instability and accepted the second-best offer. As Mr. Warren interpreted the rejection, the sellers were afraid he and his wife weren’t serious and would “mess them around.” As fate would have it, he added, “a few weeks later, the second highest bidder actually messed them around.”

The Bolt-Together House was now the couple’s, a retreat where they could spend several months a year with their dogs, Taco, Margarita and Chili. But it still smacked of shack.

Had its builder followed Mr. Milstein’s plans to the letter, the walls would have been insulated and there would have been sanitation facilities. (The house would also have been 224 square feet.) Yet neither comfort in winter nor an indoor commode appeared to be a priority. Instead, there was an outhouse some distance away, in the meadow.

The Warrens installed insulation as well as baseboard electric heating. Their dream of a speedily acquired and affordable septic system, however, was dashed by the complexity of the site, with its creek, and by pandemic-related delays.

At that point, they discovered the Cinderella toilet, which incinerates waste with the push of a button. At $5,000, it was a comparative bargain. They put it into a new bathroom, along with a walk-in shower with glazed green wall tile.

Working with a local carpenter, they doubled the size of the kitchenette, from subatomic to minuscule. Its counters and cabinets are maple with brass hardware, and there is a two-burner electric cooktop and a dainty farmhouse sink.

The couple also expanded the size of the mezzanine’s sleeping platform to fit a queen-size bed. They put in Wi-Fi that they said works far better than their Wi-Fi in Tulum.

Outside, they laid down a driveway through the meadow and built a floating deck overlooking the creek.

The total cost of renovations, they estimated, was $60,000.

Recently, the Warrens welcomed Mr. Milstein, now 79, to check out the place. Despite the plaudits he received for his innovative shelter designs, he chucked the practice of architecture decades ago and now works as an aerial photographer with a studio in Kingston, N.Y.

“It was cute,” he said of the Warrens’ house. He understood why the couple had brightened the interior with white paint, although he described himself as more of a natural-wood man. He also understood the sacrifice of the ground-level sleeping area in his original design to make room for a bigger kitchen.

“It was surprising how comfortable it was, with four of us hanging out there,” he added, alluding to the Warrens and his girlfriend, Kim Cantine. Ms. Cantine “had the idea that she wants to find these around the country and photograph me standing in front of them.”

Living Small is a biweekly column exploring what it takes to lead a simpler, more sustainable or more compact life.

For weekly email updates on residential real estate news, sign up here.

Lifestyle Fashion

CatLadyBox Subscription Review 2024: A Detailed Look

No Comments

Our Final Verdict

We give CatLadyBox’s subscription box an overall rating of 4.8 out of 5 stars.

Item Quality: 4.5/5

Item Variety: 5/5

Value: 4.9/5

When I think of cat ladies, my mind immediately goes to the crazy cat lady on The Simpsons. That’s exactly the kind of stigma CatLadyBox is trying to do away with. And they’ve come up with a pretty fun way to accomplish that.

Of course, I’m talking about the CatLadyBox subscription. This subscription gift box service delivers fun, fashionable, and fabulous cat-related clothing, accessories, and household items straight to your door. These items are perfect for cat-loving ladies (and everyone else) who flirt with the line between obsessed and crazy but don’t necessarily want to cross it.

I’ve had cats my entire life and am as obsessed with them as I am with pretty much any animal I can cuddle up with. So, I was overjoyed at the opportunity to test out the CatLadyBox subscription for myself. My ever-playful cat, Makoa, insisted I upgrade to the CRAZY CatLadyBox (his words, not mine), so my boxes came with some extra gifties for kitties, as well.

Find out how much Makoa and I loved our subscription boxes and where we saw some room for improvement in my full CatLadyBox subscription review, below.

At a Glance: The CatLadyBox Products We Received

cat paw divider

About CatLadyBox

CatLadyBox subscription box

This kitty-lover subscription box company was born out of multiple cat-related endeavors by founder, Dorian Wagner.

It started with a blog dedicated to adorable cat videos. With the profits from the blog, Dorian started a toy and treat drive for shelter animals that eventually became a full-fledged volunteer network for transporting homeless kitties to no-kill shelters and new forever homes.

From those humble beginnings, CatLadyBox was born. With every subscription box purchased, CatLadyBox donates to a cat charity or rescue group.

Who Makes the CatLadyBox Products?

Each item that comes in your CatLadyBox is exclusive to the company and many are created by their in-house artists. This means you won’t find these items on the shelf at the store. It also means that every cat toy that arrives in your box will be a one-of-a-kind find.

Many of these products are made for CatLadyBox by outside companies with global manufacturing plants.

Which Types of Cats Is CatLadyBox Best Suited For?

The CRAZY CatLadyBox, which is an upgrade from the original box, contains two cat toys on top of the goodies for you. These toys differ each month, but most are play-focused, including plush kickers, wands, and catnip-filled chasers. With this in mind, these boxes are best for playful kittens and cats.

But I think the real question here is which types of owners is CatLadyBox best suited for. The answer to that is simple: Any cat-loving person who can appreciate adding more cat-centric stuff to their household and closet.

While the company is marketed largely to women, the shirts are all unisex and many of the items can be enjoyed by people of all genders.

cat paw divider

Key Features

CatLadyBox subscription box

CatLadyBox is unique because it’s the first gift box subscription service intended for cat owners, rather than just cats themselves. What this fun company offers can be broken down into four key features, which we’ll look at below.

The Box

CatLadyBox offers two subscription levels.

The first box, the Original CatLadyBox, is all about spoiling cat owners. This box contains three to four items each month. A shirt or clothing item is always included along with a variety of personal accessories, household decorations, kitchen items, blankets, outdoor decorations, and more.

The CRAZY CatLadyBox includes the same three or four owner items as the original plus two additional cat-specific items. These are typically toys and can range from simple plush stuffies to catnip-filled kickers to feathery wands.

The difference between the two boxes is only four dollars. So, if you have a cat, I’d suggest upgrading. Otherwise, they might find out you’ve been spoiling only yourself when you could have been spoiling them too!

The Subscription

Once you pick your box type, it’s time to decide how many subscription boxes you want. You can opt for one, three, or six. The more you get, the less you pay per box.

After you choose your number of boxes and checkout, you’ll be able to set your delivery preferences. For example, you could have your six boxes come once per month for six months. Or you could opt to have them come every other month for a year.

They also have an option to get one box every six months.

Spreading out your deliveries is a great way to spread out the joy. But on the downside, you might miss some really cool boxes.

That’s because each month has a different theme. The two boxes I’ve received so far have had the themes “Cats in Bloom” and “Hug All the Cats.” They also do special holiday-themed boxes throughout the year.

Luckily, you can always purchase past items individually or opt for a previous month’s box.

CatLadyBox subscription box

The Donations

Each purchase made at CatLadyBox helps fund cat rescues and other cat organizations thanks to the donations the company makes each month.

Some of the great organizations to receive donations from CatLadyBox include:

  • Chicagoland Animal Rescue
  • Pet Haven
  • Kitty Connection
  • Happy Tailz Cat Rescue
  • Louisiana SPCA

You can even nominate your favorite cat rescue organization to receive donations from the company.

Additionally, the company frequently donates boxes of toys to shelters across the country.

The Value

A standard CatLadyBox subscription ranges from $35 to $42 per box depending on which subscription size you choose. The CRAZY box ranges from $39 to $48.

The total value of the items in the box varies each month, but this number is always higher than what you would pay for them individually, sometimes exponentially so.

For instance, in my Cats In Bloom box, the five items had a total list value of $67. Even if you bought this as a single-box subscription, you’d still pay nearly $20 more if you were to buy the same items one at a time. And if you opted for the six-box option, you’d be saving nearly $30.

While you don’t know exactly what you’ll get each month or how much you’ll love each item, the overall value of this subscription service is apparent. Plus you can feel good that some of your money goes to helping kitties in need.

CatLadyBox subscription box

cat paw divider

Reviews of Our Favorite CatLadyBox Products

1. Paw-romise Ring

Paw-romise Ring

The smallest item in my boxes ended up being my favorite. This adorable little ring features tiny cat paw print cutouts that twirl around your finger.

Thanks to the gap in the ring, it’s slightly adjustable, making it more likely to fit one of your fingers well. Despite that malleability, this ring is impressively sturdy and appears to be made of silver.

The edges of the pattern are rounded and the ring itself is comfortable to wear.

This little accessory makes a great addition to the jewelry box and a fabulous way to remember your favorite kitty.

Pros

  • Adorable design
  • Sturdy and well-made
  • Appears to be silver
  • Adjustable size

2. Paw of Flowers T-Shirt

Paw of Flowers T-Shirt

This charcoal-gray tee shirt is one of the more understated patterns CatLadyBox has released. It features a tiny but adorable purple paw and flower emblem in the corner of the chest.

While it doesn’t scream, “I love cats!” it does make for a wonderfully subtle call out to your favorite animal. And the neutral design means you can wear it just about anywhere.

But what I really love about this shirt is how amazingly soft it is. It feels like a cloud against your skin (or a fluffy, well-groomed cat). The material, a blend of cotton, spandex, and polyester, is breathable and lightweight.

Whether you have a white kitty, a black cat, or something in between, the smart charcoal color of this shirt will help you hide those pesky pet hairs.

Pros

  • Comfy
  • Neutral but still cute
  • Versatile

Cons

  • Not 100% cotton
  • Unisex shape is not as flattering

3. Mewotivational Coasters

Meowtivational Coasters

If you’re in the market for a good set of coasters that are guaranteed to match your style, these simple but oh-so-fun cork coasters are the way to go.

Each of these 4-inch by 4-inch coasters features an inspirational, paw-sitive quote in simple black letters. Two of my favorites include:

  • “Every day is a new chance to pounce on happiness”
  • “When the path gets tough, remember you’ve got claws”

These lightweight coasters are great for coffee tables, desks, or the dinner table. You can even use them as mini trivets in the kitchen.

Pros

  • Neutral design
  • Fun and inspirational quotes
  • Can be used all around the house

Cons

  • Thin and not overly durable

4. Feline Fresh Spring Stackers

Feline Fresh Spring Stackers

Whether you’ve got leftover cat food to store or just want the cutest snack containers ever, these stackers have you covered.

Each piece of this three-set features a different fun, colorful, spring cat design. The bright red-orange kitties, green foliage, and orange flowers are as cheerful as a spring day.

Each of the containers comes with a twist-on lid (in springy bright green). The largest of the containers holds 34 ounces, the medium size holds 16 ounces, and the small size holds 8 ounces. These nest into each other, lids and all, for easy storage.

While these would be perfect for storing cat food and leftover canned food, I’m certain my daughter will claim them for her school snacks.

Pros

  • Fun designs and colors
  • Three useful sizes
  • Nest for storage

Cons

  • Lids can be tough to get off

cat paw divider

Our Experience With CatLadyBox

So far, I’ve received two of my CatLadyBox subscription boxes. Both were full of fun items for me and for my ten-month-old cat, Makoa.

I highlighted four of my most favorite items above, but there was little in this box not to like!

The only item I don’t see myself using is the trucker hat (though, I love the saying on it—”I live in the meow!”). Still, I can think of many people to gift it to, so it’s not a total loss.

In addition to the items I received in the boxes, I also got a mystery gift, which comes with all three and six box orders.

My mystery gift was a black metal cat yard decoration. This little kitty now has a home in the garden by my front door and makes me smile every time I come home.

Because I opted for the CRAZY CatLadyBox, each of my boxes also included two gifts for Makoa. He got a fuzzy plush “Cattitude journal,” a huggable plush kicker, a plush mushroom, and a dragonfly wand toy.

All three plush toys had catnip in them, which I imagine would be a big plus for most cats. Unfortunately, Makoa has little to no sense of smell thanks to a bad respiratory illness as a kitten. This means he doesn’t know the joy of catnip.

Still, he has had a blast playing with all of these toys. He especially likes the fun, hairy texture of the journal stuffy and is constantly grooming it.

Overall, I was very impressed with the items I received in my boxes. The cat toys aren’t the highest of quality in terms of material and durability and I didn’t have a use for every single item I got, but I have enjoyed most of them.

I will absolutely be keeping CatLadyBox in mind for Christmas this year. I think the subscription would make a great present for any cat lovers out there. And the fact that each purchase creates a donation for cats in need makes me all the more eager to find others to share this product with.

CatLadyBox subscription

cat paw divider

Conclusion

Whether you’re a cat lover in love with cat stuff or know someone who fits that description, CatLadyBox is worth checking out. This gift box subscription company delivers cat-centric fun straight to your door. And if you have a kitty, they can deliver fun for them too.

I loved the items I received in my gift boxes almost as much as my kitty loved his. The value of the fun accessories, clothes, and decorations definitely exceeds the cost of the box itself and each purchase helps raise donations for cat rescues and organizations. So, as far as I can tell, there’s no reason not to indulge your crazy cat lady side with CatLadyBox.

Pets

Aptus Value Housing posts 21% rise in Q4 consolidated PAT

No Comments

Aptus Value Housing Finance Ltd has reported a 21 per cent increase in consolidated profit after tax at ₹164 crore for the quarter ended March 31, 2024, compared with ₹135 crore in the year-ago quarter.  

  • Also read:Aadhar Housing Finance IPO: Price band set at ₹300-315 per equity share

The board has declared an interim dividend of ₹2.50 per equity share (125 per cent) of face value of ₹2 each for 2023-24. The board also approved the raising of funds through issuance of Non-Convertible Debentures (NCDs) through private placement, in one or more tranches up to an amount not exceeding ₹2,250 crore.

On a standalone basis, the company’s PAT grew to ₹122 crore (₹109 crore in Q4 of FY23). Standalone total income stood at ₹300 crore ( ₹262 crore). Its disbursements for the March 2024 quarter grew 45 per cent at ₹968 crore.

For the year ended March 31, 2024, its standalone PAT grew to ₹481 crore against ₹425 crore in FY23. On a consolidated basis, PAT rose 22 per cent to ₹612 crore (₹503 crore)

Consolidated total income for FY24 stood at ₹1,417 crore (₹1,134 crore), while standalone total income was ₹1,123 crore (₹964 crore). Its disbursements saw a year-on-year increase of 31 per cent at ₹3,127 crore.

“FY24 has proven to be a good year for Aptus, marked by significant accomplishments and strong growth. During FY24, we expanded our presence by opening 31 branches, thereby strengthening our network to 262 branches. We sustained consistent growth and achieved an AUM growth of 29 per cent year on year. Our ROA and ROE remained solid at 8 per cent and 17.25 per cent, respectively,” said P Balaji, Managing Director of the company.

The company’s gross NPA declined to 1.07 per cent in the March 2024 quarter from 1.145 per cent in the March 2023 quarter, while net NPA dropped to 0.80 per cent from 0.86 per cent.

  • Also read:Blackstone-backed Aadhar Housing Finance’s Rs 3,000-cr IPO to open on May 8

As of March 31, 2024, Aptus has maintained a liquidity of ₹1,022 crore including undrawn sanctions of ₹620 crore from various banks. “The company is well-capitalised with a networth of over ₹3,700 crore,” said a statement.

The company’s scrip closed at ₹328.90 per share, down 0.18 per cent, on BSE on Friday.

Real Estate

Poznati proizvođač mobilnih maski slavi Dan Ratova zvijezda posebnom kolekcijom

No Comments

Pri kreiranju rubrike Index Shopping nastojimo izdvajati odlične proizvode koji se i nama sviđaju te odlične akcije i popuste. Ne objavljujemo proizvode koje i sami ne bismo kupili ili smatramo da njihova promocija nije u skladu s profesionalnim standardima. Neki proizvodi u rubrici Index Shopping mogu biti sponzorirani.

CASETiFY, poznata tvrtka iz Hong Konga koja proizvodi maske za telefone i Lucasfilm ponovno su se udružili kako bi proslavili Dan Ratova zvijezda, koji se obilježava 4. svibnja.

Nova kolekcija, inspirirana 25. godišnjicom Ratova zvijezda: Fantomska prijetnja, donosi elemente Tamne strane sile. Osim maski za mobitel, kolekcija nudi i dodatnu opremu za iPhone, Samsung, Google Pixel, AirPods, AirPods Pro, Apple Watch i iPad te CASETiFY Snappy ekosustav, uključujući bežične MagSafe punjače, Power Bank i držače kartica.

Nova Star Wars x CASETiFY kolekcija uskoro će biti dostupna je na CASETiFY web trgovini.

Znate li nešto više o temi ili želite prijaviti grešku u tekstu?

Shopping Product Reviews

Lakers fire coach Darvin Ham in the wake of playoff loss

No Comments

After being eliminated from the NBA playoffs by the Denver Nuggets for the second consecutive season, the Lakers have fired coach Darvin Ham, the team announced Friday.

The decision comes days after the Lakers lost in Game 5 to Denver after Jamal Murray’s second game-winner of the series.

The Lakers went 47-35 this season, the eighth-best record in the West. They won their play-in tournament game and advanced to face the Nuggets, who they again lost to in a tightly contested five-game series.

“We greatly appreciate Darvin’s efforts on behalf of the Lakers and recognize the many accomplishments achieved over the past two seasons including last year’s remarkable run to the Western Conference finals,” Lakers general manager Rob Pelinka said in a statement. “We all want to thank Darvin for his dedication and positivity. While this was a difficult decision to make, it is the best course of action following a full review of the season. This organization will remain unwavering in its commitment to deliver championship-caliber basketball to Lakers fans around the world.”

After Game 5, when asked to reflect on his time with the Lakers, Ham said the feelings were still too raw.

“It’s been a hell of a two years, though, I’ll tell you that,” he said. “Sitting in this seat, it’s been a hell of a two years. A lot of good things that got done, but ultimately, you want to win that ultimate prize. I know what that feels like. I had that feeling a couple of times. So, you want to do everything in your power to not to prevent and continue to feel this feeling we’re feeling now, the feeling of defeat. So again, control what I can control, continue to grow, and hopefully be a better coach for it.”

Ham, whom the Lakers hired in 2022, rebounded from a 2-10 start his first season to lead them through the play-in tournament to the Western Conference finals, where they were swept by Denver.

This season, despite the Lakers winning the NBA’s first in-season tournament, Ham’s inability to find consistently successful lineups rubbed veterans the wrong way, the Lakers leaning on players such as Taurean Prince and Cam Reddish to start games while D’Angelo Russell, Austin Reaves and Rui Hachimura — players the team committed $140 million to in the offseason — spent time coming off the bench.

Despite All-Star performances from Anthony Davis and LeBron James, who remained mostly healthy all season, the Lakers again needed to earn a playoff berth through the play-in tournament. And after beating the Pelicans in New Orleans to earn the No. 7 seed, the Lakers again ran into the Nuggets — a matchup Ham and his team have been unable to solve.

Inside the locker room, according to those familiar with the situation, frustration with Ham’s in-game adjustments helped widen the disconnect caused by some of the lineup decisions that players questioned.

Ham went 90-74 in two seasons but 9-12 in the playoffs. In consecutive seasons, the Lakers finished the season with strong second halves.

The next coach will be the third hired by Rob Pelinka, after the team fired Frank Vogel and Ham in the last five seasons.

While candidate lists are being created, some names have already surfaced.

The team interviewed former head coaches Kenny Atkinson and Terry Stotts during their last search before landing on Ham. Clippers coach Tyronn Lue nearly coached the Lakers before contractual disputes led to the Lakers hiring Vogel in 2019.

In addition to Atkinson and Stotts, Denver assistant coach David Adelman and Minnesota assistant coach Micah Nori are both highly regarded inside the Lakers’ organization, according to people with knowledge of the situation not authorized to speak publicly.

Former Lakers player Jared Dudley is close with James and Davis and has spent the last two seasons coaching in Dallas with Jason Kidd.

And JJ Redick, the former Clippers guard, could also get consideration. Redick, who co-hosts a basketball strategy podcast with James, is the lead commentator for ESPN’s NBA coverage.

Sports

AMD set to fuel growing demand for AI compute, says CTO

No Comments

Chipmaker AMD is poised to power the surging demand for AI compute with its wide range of product portfolio, the company’s Chief Technology Officer Mark Papermaster said on Friday.

AI compute refers to processing of data using artificial intelligence or machine learning algorithms.Marking 55 years of AMD (Advanced Micro Devices), Papermaster in a blog post looked back on five years of growth and innovations at the company, while also looking ahead to the next five years.

He said the future of technology will be born from open ecosystems and deep industry partnerships that drive true innovation. “We’re in a unique position to power increased demand for AI compute based on our broad portfolio of compute engines, deep relationships with customers across a diverse set of markets, and open software capabilities.

We have a strong foundation of data centre products and customer collaboration across cloud and enterprise, and leadership products for AI PCs,” he wrote.He said AMD has shifted from unique product silos to a modular IP portfolio, connected by a single AI software stack for easy deployment, and called it a ‘holistic design approach’.

“We need to speed our development by using more AI applications in our internal workflows to boost our productivity…We look forward to discovering new methods to optimise efficiency and experiment with new technologies that have potential,” he said, adding that AI is poised to become more ubiquitous and consequential than the advent of the Internet.

Papermaster further said that AMD will make some ‘exciting’ announcements at Computex (Taipei), an annual computer exhibition set to be held in June this year.

Looking back, he said, “We made the call over a decade ago to leverage our strength and heritage in high-performance computing and invest for the future. Those bets have paid off as all our markets now demand the utmost in compute efficiency (performance per Watt of energy expended), and AI enablement.”…Our growth hasn’t come overnight.

AMD technology powers the daily lives of billions of people around the world, and in the last five years we’ve expanded the number of markets we serve.” 

He said that the IT corporation has steadily increased investments in research and development for the past five years to be in line with the growing demand for compute performance and efficiency.”…

Our research and development investment has nearly quadrupled, from USD 1.5 billion in 2019, to USD 5.9 billion in 2023, and we plan to continue to invest in developing groundbreaking technologies that show early promise,” he said.

He added that since 2019, AMD and the semiconductor industry have grown tremendously. “Global sales of semiconductors grew from USD 412.3 billion in 2019 to USD 574.1 billion in 2022, and are estimated to grow to USD 1 trillion by 2030,” he said, adding that AMD is positioned to service the insatiable demand for more computing capacity.

He said the company’s headcount has more than doubled in the past five years. “Xilinx was the largest semiconductor acquisition when completed in 2022 adding incredible talent, leadership IP, and market expansion to adaptive compute markets with deep customer relationships,” he said.

Earlier this month, AMD posted its revenue at USD 5.47 billion (about Rs 45.6 crore) for the first quarter of 2024, up 2 per cent against the year-ago period. “AMD started the year strong, delivering record quarterly data centre segment revenue,” AMD’s EVP, CFO and Treasurer Jean Hu had said.

“In addition, we drove solid gross margin expansion. Moving forward, we are well positioned to continue driving revenue growth and margin improvement while investing in the large AI opportunities ahead.”

 

Technology

Lakshadweep to Mangaluru highspeed ferry service launched for tourists | Travel

No Comments

Travel by searoute from the mainland to Lakshadweep is now nearer by five hours. The highspeed vessel ‘Parali’ on Thursday ferried 160 passengers from Lakshadweep Islands to the Mangaluru old port in just seven hours compared to the earlier 13 hours on an experimental basis.

Lakshadweep to Mangaluru highspeed ferry service launched for tourists (Photo by Twitter/jayantshah)

Speaking to PTI, the first batch of tourists on the ‘HSC Parali’ said that it was a different experience. The new vessel has not only high-speed connectivity but is also smoother by far than the earlier vessels which are modified to ferry passengers from cargo carriers.

Unlock exclusive access to the latest news on India’s general elections, only on the HT App. Download Now! Download Now!

The Lakshadeweep Islands Tourism Development Authority formed under the Central Tourism Ministry will start the Mangalore-Lakshadweep tourist liner service after few trial runs starting from today. But we do not know how rough will be the sea once the monsoon starts. The LITDA has already ramped up the facilities at the receiving point in Kadmatt, which is the nearest port of arrival from the mainland, the officials said.

After Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Lakshadweep Island earlier this year, the island administration (union territory) moved in many ways to improve the connectivity between the mainland at Kochi and at Mangaluru.

According to the officials, this is the first step and things will be easier for people of Lakshadweep to arrive in Mangaluru for several types of tourism including the western ghats eco tourism, educational, health and recreation tourism in the mainland.

Karnataka, part of the mainland, and Lakshadweep share a common history since 1783 as it was Hyder Ali and Tippu Sultan who protected the entry of mainland marauders into Lakshadweep Islands and prevented them from pillaging the island paradise.

But after 1799, when Tippu Sultan died in Srirangapatnam near Mysore, the people of Lakshadweep lost their freedom again as the British conquered the islands.

The beautiful cluster of small islands, Lakshadweep is one of the world’s most spectacular tropical island systems. Thirty two sq km of land spread over 36 islands surrounded by 4,200 sq km of lagoon is rich in marine wealth. The heritage of ecology and culture is supported by an extremely fragile ecosystem.

Committed to the cause of eco tourism, Union Territory of Lakshadweep has consciously followed a middle path between tourism promotion and environmental conservation. The administration is carefully monitoring the environmental impact of coastal tourism and has taken steps to promote tourism in a way that is consistent with ecological concerns.

The first passenger Vessel ‘M.V.Aminidevi’ had set sail for Kadmatt island in Lakshadweep Islands on 6 November with 150 tourists in 2010. “This had opened a new horizons in tourism for Karnataka. Earlier this circuit was very circuitous for the people in the interior parts of Karnataka, but the new initiative will help high value tourists from Bangalore, Mysore, Panaji, Mumbai to use Mangalore as a port of departure to Lakshadweep.

“We are now getting inquiries from Karnataka especially Bengaluru,” according to Lakshadweep Island Tourism Development Authority co-ordinators in Karnataka.

The authorities had already prepared the ultra modern tourism facilities in three islands out of the nine which are closer to Mangalore in terms of navigation. The two islands of Minicoy and Kalpeni are closer to Kochi.

At Kadmatt water sports like snorkeling, kayaking, diving, cruising and a combination of tourist activities including the local and world culinary attraction has been arranged.

The authority are hoping that the tourists from Bengaluru will take advantage of this facility. Earlier they had to go to Kochi.

The IT and Business tourists can travel to Lakshadweep at a cost of ₹5,000 per head on this ship. The travel time is less than 14 hours and if they can squeeze in three days, we have devised a weekend package which is very rejuvenating, said an official from the Union Territory Authority of Lakshadweep Islands.

Earlier, only a cargo ship ‘Tipu Sultan’ was plying between the Islands and the mainland. This route is stated to be one of the oldest in the Indian maritime history.

Accommodations in Minicoy, Kalpeni, Kadmatt, Aminidevi are limited and the ship will take tourists only when there is accommodation available on the islands. However, the rush has already begun as tourists from Mumbai, Ahmedabad, Baroda, and other places are booking their seats. They will treat Mangaluru as a port of departure, according to officials.

Tours Travel

Logitech G PRO X 2 LIGHTSPEED review

No Comments

Gaming headsets have become all the buzz for gamers especially for those who want great sound and top-of-the-line features.  

We’ve been reviewing a few of gaming headsets recently and there have been some major improvements in sound which has really blown us away. In comes the Logitech G Pro X 2 Lightspeed wireless headset – one of Logitech’s more premium headsets (if you ignore the Logitech-owned Astro A50X) and it is fair to say that it delivers an extremely impressive performance when you compare it to other competitors.  

But is the G Pro X 2 worth your hard-earned money? Here’s what we thought during our testing:

Logitech went with a no-fills straightforward design with the Logitech G Pro X 2 Lightspeed with big black earcups, black anodized metal with the familiar G logo on the sides and a smooth leatherette material on the exterior of the device.  

When it comes to the earcups, the memory foam leatherette is extremely comfy and sits on the head perfectly with little movement or adjustment needed. Compared to our Audeze Maxwell review (which we gave five stars), the headset is significantly lighter with a weight of 345g compared to the Maxwell’s 490g on your head. 

That makes a significant difference when you’re gaming and sometimes, we can find that the Audeze Maxwell can feel heavy due to the planar magnetic headphones. The Lightspeed doesn’t have this issue and we’ve been able to easily game with the headphones for long gaming sessions without discomfort or worry about them feeling heavy. 

However, for the £249 price tag the Lightspeed doesn’t feel as premium as the Audeze Maxwell. When you pick up the Lightspeed, the headset feel sturdy and premium with the faux leather but we noticed just how the Audeze was a cut above it. Despite this, the headset is still a solid device with great build quality for the price. 

Another thing the Logitech headset does well is how well it lays out all the buttons and connection ports on the side of the device. There’s an on-off button, mute button, USB-C port, volume scroll wheel and a button to connect to Bluetooth on certain devices located on the left earcups and are all very easy to locate. 

The Lightspeed has graphene 50mm drivers which Logitech touts allows you to hear enhanced audio response and reduced distortion when you game or listen to music. We didn’t hear a massive difference when we compared it to other premium headsets but it did perform very well. 

Logitech’s G Pro X 2 Lightspeed is the perfect headset if you love that low end bass. When we used the device for CounterStrike 2, you could really feel the bass when that grenade drops near your feet or that AK-47 rattles in your ear and we can imagine any other bass-heavy sections of your games will be great with the Lightspeed.  

On other games like Final Fantasy XIV, sound comes through clear and crisp especially when you’re in the main shopping hubs, being able to pick up all the small sounds you might not be able to hear if you’re using other headphones or monitor speakers.  

On other games like Final Fantasy XIV, sound comes through clear and crisp especially when you’re in the main shopping hubs, being able to pick up all the small sounds you might not be able to hear if you’re using other headphones or monitor speakers

However compared to our Audeze Maxwell review, the G Pro X 2 Lightspeed gets trumped thanks to its bigger 90mm planar magnetic drivers with the sound feeling more spacious, neutral and well-rounded.  

We also enabled DTS Super Stereo Mode on Logitech’s G Hub and played around with some of the settings. These can sound brilliant depending on your preference especially the gaming preset with the traditional surround sound mode but this does crank up the bass which can be a bit off-putting depending on your sound tastes.  

The G Pro X 2 Lightspeed also performs when you listen to music. We listened to The Hills by The Weeknd which is known for its bass-heavy sections. Without the DTS Super Stereo Mode on, it sounds good but turn on that toggle and the bass blows your head off. 

So if you love to listen to bass-heavy music while you’re gaming, the Lightspeed headset might be the perfect device that covers all bases.

The Lightspeed comes with a detachable microphone when you get the headset which sounds great. We tested the microphone on Discord which produced great sound with others being able to hear a nice crisp and loud voice.  

It’s not going to compare to some standalone microphone set-ups but does a good job making sure your friends and teammates can hear you clearly. We also played around with Logitech’s G Hub Blue Vo!ce settings which improved some of the mic feedback. 

As much as we hate downloading external software to use, Logitech’s G Hub has impressed us with the G Pro X 2 Lightspeed with the effects and surround sound options which add that little bit extra when you buy the headset. As we mentioned in our Logitech G Pro X Superlight 2 review, the Logitech G Hub isn’t a hugely complex or bloaty piece of software so it’s worth downloading on PC. 

Battery life for the Lightspeed was also impressive. Logitech said that the headset lasts for more than 50 hours but we found that it went above that with around 80 hours of usage and we still have almost 20 per cent battery left which is stellar so if you hate charging, the Lightspeed is a great headset to pick up. 

The Logitech G Pro X 2 Lightspeed is a brilliant gaming headset with crisp and punchy sound, great microphone and design so it sits on your head without you even knowing about it. It’s great for gaming, music and entertainment which makes it one of the best well-rounded wireless headsets you can buy. 

But at an RRP of £249, it is expensive for the price but that is expected today in the world of premium gaming headsets and for a little bit more, you could buy the Audeze Maxwell which we gave five stars.  

Arts Entertainments

How the Australian Government is tackling the EV mechanic skills shortage

No Comments

The Federal Government has announced a plan to help fund training for apprentice mechanics looking to work on electric vehicles (EVs).

It’s expanding its New Energy Apprenticeships Program, providing incentives to encourage more people into sectors that are supporting Australia’s transition to clean energy.

From June 1, the program will be broadened to cover apprentices who work in EV maintenance.

Apprentices will receive up to $10,000 over the course of their training, with the program now covering 40 different occupations.

Minister for Skills and Training Brendan O’Connor said the Government was “constantly monitoring” programs and “listening to industry” to understand their needs.

“We must do all we can to supercharge our efforts to address climate change, as well as address the acute skills shortages we face to rewire the nation,” he said.

While the types of eligible apprentices have been expanded, the changes will also help assist more people skilling-up in sectors with exposure to clean energy – including automotive – and remove a requirement that an apprentice’s work be solely dedicated to clean energy.

That means automotive technicians in particular will be equipped to provide services for electric vehicles, hybrids, and traditional internal combustion engines well into the future.

  • How the Australian Government is tackling the EV mechanic skills shortage

Australian Automotive Dealer Association CEO James Voortman said the program expansion came at a “critical time for the sector”.

“The shift toward EVs offers immense opportunity for the development of new skills in Australia and it is exciting to see this recognised and supported through schemes such as the New Energy Apprenticeships Program,” he said.

The Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries has also welcomed the Albanese Government’s move.

“These steps are crucial for supporting the integration of electric vehicles into the Australian market and will drive consumer confidence and other target areas needed to support a strong and reliable transport sector,” said FCAI chief executive Tony Weber.

MORE: Find out more about New Energy Apprentices

Auto

How not to work on a plane

No Comments

You are not important enough to turn left on a plane. But you are important enough for the company to want you to have completed a project-risk update by the time you land. You have six solid hours in the air, and the work should take no more than three hours. You are not in a middle seat, and no one can email you. What could possibly go wrong?

You find your seat, which is on the aisle. You take out your laptop and a book, and try to put them into the seat pocket in front of you. It is made for someone who has absolutely no interests but you manage, with some effort, to shove both of them in. As the plane fills up, your hopes of space around you go down. You scan the people heading down the aisle. So does everyone else already in a seat. In this moment each passenger is being silently judged on only two criteria: girth and proximity to a baby. Eventually you get up to make way for a couple to sit beside you. Could have been worse.

Business

Legendary Crypto Analyst Say Ethereum ETF Is Not Going To Be Approve In May, August Deadlines in Doubt?

No Comments

Renowned crypto analyst Michaël van de Poppe has weighed in on the likelihood of an Ethereum Exchange-Traded Fund (ETF) approval in May, suggesting that approval is unlikely to be approved in May as the deadline nears for three prominent contenders out of seven who filed for an Ethereum Spot ETF.

ETH ETF Isn’t Going To Approve

In a recent tweet, analyst Michaël van de Poppe points out the upcoming deadline for Ethereum Spot ETF contenders like VanEck, Ark 21 Shares, and Hashdex Nasdaq. Van de Poppe suggests that an Ethereum ETF approval is unlikely to happen in the month of May.

However, analyst doesn’t expect the SEC to deny ETH ETFs by going nuclear and calling them security, as it would invite a flood of lawsuits. Instead, he expects the regulator will come up with an excuse to delay the ETH ETF approval in may. 

Despite the current market sentiment and Ethereum being sold off, van de Poppe believes that the market is overlooking the potential for approval in August. He believe that the chances of approval in August are positive, anticipating Ethereum to outperform as a result.

MicroStrategy Harsh Take On Ethereum ETF

However, Michaël van de Poppe isn’t the only person who believe that Ethereum ETF is unlikely to be approve soon, meanwhile, MicroStrategy executive CEO Michael Saylor suggest that it won’t going to be approve ever. 

Meanwhile Saylor took a bit harsh stance towards the approval of ETH ETF predicting that the SEC will classify Ethereum as a security this summer and reject related spot ETF applications, including those from asset managers like BlackRock.

During a presentation at the MicroStrategy World 2024 conference on May 2, Saylor shared these predictions in a social media post. He also forecasted that other cryptocurrencies “down the stack,” such as BNB, Solana (SOL), XRP, and Cardano (ADA), will receive unregistered security designations.

Cryptocurrency

Oops, Google Did It Again — But You Still Need First-Party Data

No Comments

In the immortal words of Britney Spears, “Oops, they did it again.”

No, we’re not talking about the US government approving a TikTok divestiture.  It’s possible, but so remote that it won’t stop people from investing every dime in it.

We’re talking about Google’s most recent oops. Last week, they delayed the deprecation of the third-party cookie for yet another year.

So, we turned to CMI’s chief strategy advisor, Robert Rose, who had fallen for Google’s proclamation that 2024 is the end of third-party cookies for his take. Watch this video or read on:

Yes, I fell for their nonsense. I thought they were serious when they launched cookie removal for some Chrome users in a trial. But Google seems determined to make me look dopey.

When I think of it, my relationship with Google is like Britney’s song. “They play with my heart … got lost in the game. They said, ‘You think I’m in love … I’m not that innocent.’”

Well, let’s get to their excuse this time and what it means for marketers.

Google postpones cookies’ demise

If you have been following along, the update on the “disappearing” third-party cookie is that it’s not really disappearing.

Last week, Google — for the third time in as many years — delayed the death of the third-party cookie in its Chrome browser. And once again, complicated the ad industry’s move away from surveillance-based programmatic advertising.

In The Privacy Sandbox, Google writes that it has “recognized that there are ongoing challenges related to reconciling divergent feedback from the industry, regulators, and developers, and will continue to engage closely with the entire ecosystem.”

In other words, everybody’s pissed because they think what Google produces is too self-serving. So — spoiler alert — Google hopes to do it in 2025.

Given where they are now, that’s very unlikely.

Complaints and revenue rise

Last Friday, the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) let loose on the Google update efforts. The UK governmental organization acts as a watchdog of Google’s Privacy Sandbox. It tries to figure out how much of the third-party cookie deprecation will benefit Google more than anybody else. So, they’ve had lots and lots to say over the years of Google’s update efforts.

Most recently, the CMA update listed almost 80 concerns, about double the number it shared just a few months ago. Its concerns center primarily on what seems like Google’s finagling of third-party deprecation so it can keep the first-party data within its ecosystem and use it how it wants.

Keep in mind that Alphabet, Google’s parent company, also announced last week that it crushed its earnings. Revenue is up, and the company has distributed its first dividend. Advertising revenue across their ecosystem, especially from YouTube, drove that success.

So, Google wants to ensure that whatever they do with the third-party cookie doesn’t interfere with how they make their money.

The CMA is saying to put on the brakes. Other advertising groups say, “Hold up, let’s figure this out some more,” and advertisers are eager to stomp on the brakes, too. So, Google is more than willing to pull over to the side of the road and sort it out.

What’s next?

So, what happens? Nothing.

When I last wrote about this, I reported research that found 58% of advertising professionals believed cookie deprecation would be pushed to 2025, and many weren’t doing anything about the planned disappearance.

They were right about the first part.

We could see another two- or three-year delay by Google on third-party cookie deprecation and see surveillance-type advertising continue as a major player for the foreseeable future.

The IAB Tech Lab CEO Anthony Katsur has said, “This delay should not be an excuse for the digital advertising industry to be complacent.”

But it kind of does. It’s clear Google and the industry’s many hurdles mean they won’t be ready next year for the end of third-party cookies.

However, here’s the thing. Media companies aren’t waiting for Google to make the move. They’re quickly securing first-party data to build better data and monetization strategies. They’re moving to cookie-less solutions for advertising. Some brands are starting to adopt more first-party data solutions to ensure their own capabilities are clear.

I’m still a huge fan of getting ready with your own first-party data answers because that’s a smart strategy.

But for the moment, I can’t get the Brittany song out of my head, “It might seem like a crush, but it doesn’t mean that I’m serious, cuz to lose all my senses, that is just so typically me.”

Want more content marketing tips, insights, and examples? Subscribe to workday or weekly emails from CMI.

HANDPICKED RELATED CONTENT:

Cover image by Joseph Kalinowski/Content Marketing Institute

Digital Marketing

Troubles mount for Byju’s as OPPO files insolvency plea, NCLT admits case

No Comments

Embattled edtech major Byju’s problems keep mounting as Chinese electronics manufacturer OPPO Mobiles Pvt Ltd has approached the Bengaluru bench of the National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) for an insolvency plea against the company. The NCLT has admitted the case and is scheduled to hear it next on May 28.

The Section 9 plea seeks to initiate a corporate insolvency resolution process against Byju’s under the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (IBC), 2016.

Additionally, sources close to the matter confirmed that the tribunal had admitted the case. Byju’s has been given two weeks to respond.

The addition of this plea shows the mounting dues that Byju’s owes to list such entities. Other IBC cases against the company are its $1.2 Bn Term Loan B (TLB) lenders, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), outsourcing firm Teleperformance Business Services, and IT service provider Surfer Technology.

In the US, BYJU’S is facing a case filed by lender Glas Trust alleging over-defaulting on a loan raised by US-based creditors.

Along with this, it is also fighting ‘oppression and mismanagement’ plea filed by a group of four of its investors over its $200 Million via rights issues, among others.

The NCLT has deferred the hearing of the ‘oppression and mismanagement plea’ filed against Byju’s by investors to June 6.

Byju’s has paid partial salaries to employees for March, reported businessline. Byju Raveendran, founder and CEO of Think and Learn, has raised debt in his personal capacity to pay the salaries of employees for March.

Byju’s has also taken multiple layoffs, including the 500 employees being laid off.

Recently, Arjun Mohan, the CEO of Byju’s India, resigned from his position a little over six months after he took over, with founder Byju Raveendran resuming daily operational responsibilities, the company said in a statement. Mohan will transition to an external advisory role.

Education

Russia’s gas business will never recover from the war in Ukraine

No Comments

When Russia’s leaders stopped most of the country’s gas deliveries to the EU in 2022, they thought themselves smart. Prices instantly shot up, enabling Russia to earn more despite lower export volumes. Meanwhile, Europe, which bought 40% of its gas from Russia in 2021, braced itself for inflation and blackouts. Yet two years later, owing to mild winters and enormous imports of liquefied natural gas (LNG) from America, Europe’s gas tanks are fuller than ever. And Gazprom, Russia’s state-owned gas giant, is unable to make any profits.

Russia was always going to struggle to redirect the 180bn cubic metres (bcm) of gas, worth 80% of its total exports of the fuel in 2021, that it once sold to Europe. The country has no equivalent to Nord Stream, a conduit to Germany, that allows it to pipe gas to customers elsewhere. It also lacks plants to chill fuel to -160°C and the specialised tankers required to ship LNG. Until recently, this was only a minor annoyance. Between 2018 and 2023 just 20% of the total contribution of hydrocarbon exports to the Russian budget came from gas, and despite sanctions Russia continues to sell lots of oil at a good price.

Finance

Are noise-canceling headphones hazardous to your health? Audiology experts share warnings

No Comments

Noise-canceling earbuds and headphones can be helpful when you need silence on demand — but could they be hazardous to your health?

The technology has grown in popularity among people who need to eliminate auditory distractions — background chatter, loud children or traffic noise. Yet some experts claim that blocking out the sounds of your surroundings can put you at risk.

“Technology often provides convenience at the cost of awareness,” Josh Gordon, head of innovation at the Singapore technology company Geonode, told Fox News Digital.

FITNESS CLASS TOO LOUD? WHAT TO KNOW ABOUT PROTECTING YOUR HEARING HEALTH

“Noise-canceling earbuds may bring welcome silence, but they might also mask vital sounds that could save your life.”

Generally, good noise-canceling headphones can reduce noise by 20 to 40 decibels (dB), according to Gordon.

Noise-canceling earbuds and headphones can be helpful when you need silence — but some experts say they can be hazardous to your health. (iStock)

“There are positives and negatives to every technology,” Dr. Ruth Reisman, a clinical audiologist and hearing aid dispenser in New York State, told Fox News Digital.

“There can be some negative side effects to wearing noise-canceling headphones, including the reduction of awareness of [people’s] surroundings.”

ASK A DOC: ‘WHY ARE MY EARS RINGING, AND SHOULD I SEE A DOCTOR?’

One of Reisman’s colleagues recently did a study on this topic, she said.

“It was found that in addition to the volume of the media, the exposure and time of usage can also impact the patients’ hearing,” she noted. 

This can potentially result in hearing damage and an “auditory processing challenge,” according to Reisman.

Relaxing music

Generally, good noise-canceling headphones can reduce noise by 20 to 40 decibels, an expert noted. (iStock)

Joel Smith, a California-based audio expert and founder of the music hub AllAxess.com, agreed that noise-canceling headphones can impact hearing if they’re not used properly.

“Blasting the volume for too long can cause noise-induced hearing loss, ringing in the ears called tinnitus or even make it harder to process and distinguish sounds clearly over time,” he told Fox News Digital. 

HEARING LOSS MORE LIKELY TO AFFECT RURAL AMERICANS AND MEN, NEW STUDY SHOWS

Constant exposure to loud noise can damage the inner ear hair cells that send sound signals to the brain, according to Smith.

“As those hair cells deteriorate from the loud noise, it makes it harder for your brain to properly interpret speech, background noise and other subtle sounds,” he said. 

“It’s like your auditory processing gets muffled or desensitized.”

Man earbuds

Noise-canceling earbuds or headphones can be used safely, “as long as they are set at an appropriate volume and not used for extended periods of time,” an expert said. (iStock)

Another risk, according to Smith, is that earbuds that aren’t cleaned regularly can trap moisture and bacteria, increasing the risk of ear infections.

“Some studies also suggest that excessive headphone use might affect your balance and spatial awareness, since you’re not relying on natural sound cues as much,” Smith added.

Safe usage tips

Noise-canceling headphones have their benefits, experts agree.

They can be helpful for people who have hyperacusis (sensitivity to noise) or those who have autism, Reisman advised.

“This can often make a noisy or disorienting environment tolerable or accessible to individuals with these challenges,” the doctor said. 

EAR INFECTIONS IN YOUNG CHILDREN COULD LEAD TO DELAYED SPEECH FOR THEM, STUDY FINDS

Noise-canceling earbuds or headphones can be used safely, Reisman said — “as long as they are set at an appropriate volume and not used for extended periods of time.”

Research shows that anything below 80 decibels is considered a safe volume, the doctor noted, with usage ideally limited to no more than two to three hours per day.

Human ear anatomy

Constant exposure to loud noise can damage the inner ear hair cells that send sound signals to the brain, according to an expert. (iStock)

“The question is how to actually measure the amount of decibels at the level of the eardrum,” she said. 

“You can potentially go to an audiologist and have [the expert] do a real ear measure, or use a sound level meter at the level of the ear to assess the intensity.”

Some phones also offer some guidance on safe volume levels, Reisman added.

CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR HEALTH NEWSLETTER

“I don’t think people need to avoid [noise-canceling headphones] completely, but you’ve got to use them responsibly,” Smith said.

He recommends following the 60/60 rule, which means keeping the volume at 60% or less and taking a break every 60 minutes to give your ears a rest.

two roommates one listening to music

“I don’t think people need to avoid [noise-canceling headphones] completely, but you’ve got to use them responsibly,” an expert said. (iStock)

“Be extra cautious in loud environments, since you might crank it up way too high to overcome that background noise,” he advised.

Smith recommended taking regular breaks and keeping volumes moderate to prevent auditory fatigue and preserve healthy hearing into older age.

CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP

“Technology is a powerful tool,” Gordon added. 

“But like any tool, understanding its limitations and using it responsibly is key to staying safe.”

For more Health articles, visit www.foxnews.com/health.

Melissa Rudy is health editor and a member of the lifestyle team at Fox News Digital. Story tips can be sent to [email protected].

Health Fitness

5 Clever Ways To Keep Your Ice From Melting In The Icebox

No Comments

As the scorching heat of the summer sun beats down, everyone craves a cool, chilly escape. And what better way to tackle this heat than by enjoying a cold drink!? Ice is our trusted ally, instantly turning lukewarm drinks into icy delights. Not just drinks, but ice also saves our food from spoiling. But there’s a catch, ice melts rapidly, especially in hot weather like this. Whether you are planning a picnic or a garden party, it is important to know tricks on how to prevent ice cubes from melting too quickly. Do you find yourself equipped to tackle a similar situation? If not, then don’t fret! Read on to learn 5 clever ways to keep your ice from melting in the icebox.

Also Read: 5 Deliciously Easy Fruit Ice Creams To Try This Summer

Prechill your icebox to slow down the ice melting process.
Photo Credit: Pexels

Here Are 5 Ways To Prevent Your Ice From Melting In The Icebox

1. Prechill Your Icebox

Before filling your icebox with cubes, take time to pre-chill it. All you have to do is place the empty icebox in a freezer for several hours to lower its internal temperature. By chilling the icebox in the first place, you will give the ice a head start and this will slow down the melting process, allowing you to carry it anywhere you like!

2. Use Insulated Containers

To prevent your ice cubes from melting due to heat, use insulated containers. Place the ice cubes in an insulated container or cooler bag and then put it in your icebox. These containers provide an extra layer of insulation, reducing heat transfer and slowing down the melting process of your ice. Remember, every layer of insulation matters when it comes to preserving the ice cubes.

3. Layer It Up

If you don’t have insulated containers, use strategic layering to maintain the cold in your icebox. Use materials like newspaper, bubble wrap, or even extra blankets to wrap the box and create an extra barrier against external heat. This will prevent ice from melting too quickly and maintain its cold temperature for long.

Avoid opening the icebox again and again.

Avoid opening the icebox again and again.
Photo Credit: Unsplash

4. Keep Icebox Closed

As tempting as it sounds, try not opening the ice box too frequently. Every time you open the lid, you allow warm air to enter the icebox defeating its purpose. This will just speed up the melting process. Only open the icebox when necessary and close it immediately after use. Your ice will thank you for this favour!

5. Use Ice Packs And Dry Ice

If nothing works out for you, you can always use other alternatives to save ice from melting like stacking it with reusable ice packs or dry ice. Ice packs stay colder for longer periods and can help ice from melting in your icebox. Dry ice, which is considered very effective, requires careful handling due to its extremely cold temperature. While using dry ice, make sure to have proper ventilation to prevent carbon dioxide buildup.

Also Read: 6 New Iced Tea Flavours You Can Try This Iced Tea Month

Can you suggest any other way to prevent ice from melting in the icebox? Let us know in the comments below!

Home Kitchen

A New Wave of Appreciation for Jason Polan, the Man Who Drew New York

No Comments

A somber gathering of artists and illustrators took place at a gallery in the Chelsea neighborhood of Manhattan on a recent Friday evening. They were there for a Wright auction preview of the drawings and personal belongings of Jason Polan, the celebrated New York street artist who died of cancer at 37 in 2020.

The auction, “I Want to Know All of You: The Art & Collection of Jason Polan,” is part of a new initiative to preserve his legacy, but as the night carried on, Mr. Polan’s friends seemed content just to be in the presence of objects that let them feel closer to him.

A few guests wiped away tears as they looked at his impressionist sketches of city life. They included scenes of a hot dog vendor on Broadway, a woman carrying balloons on Canal Street and the fashion influencer Derek Blasberg ambling down Greene Street.

Armed with a Uniball pen and a Strathmore sketchpad, Mr. Polan chronicled the life of the city with an observational hunger that earned him the status of a doodling New York folk hero.

After moving from the suburbs of Michigan to Manhattan at 22, Mr. Polan developed a style that fed off the metropolis’s chaos. He spent his days on street corners and in subway stations conjuring his vignettes. He became known for his quixotic project, “Every Person in New York,” in which he attempted to capture each and every city dweller, resulting in a 2015 book that included a foreword by Kristen Wiig (who was one of his subjects).

“I am trying to draw every person in New York,” Mr. Polan wrote in the project’s blog. “It is possible that I will draw you without you knowing it.” He ended the mission statement by noting: “When the project is completed we will all have a get together.”

Mr. Polan’s inclusive ethos was encapsulated in the Taco Bell Drawing Club, in which he invited anyone to join him at a Taco Bell near Union Square to illustrate with him on Wednesdays. He also enjoyed commercial success, collaborating with brands like Uniqlo, Warby Parker and the Criterion Collection, and he had a visual column, “Things I Saw,” for The New York Times’s Opinionator blog.

That night at the gallery, the writer Emma Straub studied a pencil once held by Mr. Polan. The creative director Jen Snow reminisced about working with him to design postcards for Russ & Daughters Cafe. And the artist Richard McGuire said that Mr. Polan had shared a “similar spirit” with Keith Haring.

“Like Keith, it wasn’t about creating some precious art object for Jason,” he said. “It was about getting his art out into the world.”

Rich Jacobs, a close friend, said that Mr. Polan had dreamed of seeing his drawings at the Museum of Modern Art.

“Jason always had an ambition to have something in the MoMA’s permanent collection,” Mr. Jacobs said. “The style of his drawings probably didn’t help him in the uptight art world, but his work deserves to be there.”

Jen Bekman, the founder of the online gallery 20×200, reflected on Mr. Polan’s legacy while she sat beside his sketches.

“These are not doodles,” Ms. Bekman said. “That word is diminishing. People remember him as an illustrator, but Jason was a great artist, and his practice was his life.”

“There’s an inherent tension now about preserving his legacy, because people love his work for its accessibility, but Jason also took himself very seriously as an artist,” she continued. “He was humble, so it would have been hard for him to make his wishes known, and his illness happened fast. The missing puzzle piece of what Jason might have wanted is hard for me, but if there’s no effort to support his legacy, he’ll fade away.”

In the coming weeks, the rest of the initiative to preserve Mr. Polan’s legacy will unfold. In addition to the Wright auction — which was scheduled to take place on Friday — the New York Public Library is in final discussions to acquire hundreds of Mr. Polan’s sketchbooks for its permanent collection. Printed Matter’s New York Art Book Fair will bestow its inaugural Jason Polan award. And the Henry Ford museum in Dearborn, Mich., is planning to acquire some of his belongings.

But handling the legacy of an artist who died young is a fraught endeavor. And while Mr. Polan received recognition during his lifetime, he died half a year after his colon cancer diagnosis.

Lauri London Freedman, a former head of product development of the Whitney Museum of American Art, is the acting director of the newly formed Jason Polan L.L.C. (She is now the director of creative partnerships for New York University).

“We have endless gratitude for the veneration Jason’s work received in his lifetime, but in the world of capital-A art, accessibility can be interpreted as simplicity, and Jason’s practice was anything but simple,” Ms. Freedman said. “It’s up to all of us who were left behind to give people the chance to take a second look.”

After Mr. Polan died in 2020, his father, Jesse, started the process of clearing out his son’s cluttered SoHo apartment, which was piled with heaps of his Strathmore sketchbooks. He drove his son’s belongings back to Franklin, Mich. There were about 1,800 boxes filled with the artist’s possessions.

His father died a year later, and Mr. Polan’s mother, Jane, began working with Ms. Freedman and a team of her son’s friends to sift through the boxes.

As the volunteer group — which included Stacey Baker, a former photo editor at The New York Times Magazine, and Fritz Swanson, a writing professor at the University of Michigan — made their way through the collection, they discovered piles of rejected New Yorker cartoons, childhood crayon drawings, rare comic books and dozens of paperback copies of “The Catcher in the Rye.”

The final tally of sketchbooks numbered 769. While archiving them, the team studied the evolution of Mr. Polan’s style, from straightforward drawings of New Yorkers to increasingly sophisticated abstractions.

They also discovered countless examples of his serendipitous celebrity sketches: Jerry Seinfeld eating a pizza, Diane Keaton hailing a taxi, Lindsay Lohan on Spring Street. (A grandfather of Mr. Polan, Saul Turell, was a president of Janus Films and won an Academy Award for making the 1979 documentary short “Paul Robeson: Tribute to an Artist.”)

Jane Polan, who keeps her son’s drawings taped around her home, reflected on the initiative in a phone interview.

“I think Jason would have loved to be as famous as Keith Haring one day,” she said. “But he cared most of all about wanting his work to recognize the importance of all people. Jason wanted people to know that everyone he drew was special and of value.”

Last week, as part of her preparations for the legacy initiative’s rollout, Ms. Freedman navigated the New York Art Book Fair to judge the works of honorees for the first Jason Polan Award.

“I don’t know how Jason would have felt about judging,” Ms. Freedman mused. “Because it means by definition there’s a winner and a loser, and he didn’t really think about things that way.”

And on a recent evening, she visited a Manhattan Mini Storage facility in Chelsea, where Mr. Polan’s sketchbooks are temporarily being kept. She seemed preoccupied, burdened by the weight of dealing with a friend’s life and legacy. But as she started flipping through Mr. Polan’s sketchbooks, she brightened.

“He loved drawing these plants,” Ms. Freedman said, holding up a page. “Those little ones that grow out of city sidewalks.”

Then she considered a sketch of a bald man napping on a C train. Despite the bustle all around him, he seemed peaceful in his slumber.

“Jason wasn’t just looking at people,” she said. “He was seeing them.”

Lifestyle Fashion

U Sinsayu smo pronašli stoliće za kavu koji izgledaju poput dizajnerskih komada

No Comments

Pri kreiranju rubrike Index Shopping nastojimo izdvajati odlične proizvode koji se i nama sviđaju te odlične akcije i popuste. Ne objavljujemo proizvode koje i sami ne bismo kupili ili smatramo da njihova promocija nije u skladu s profesionalnim standardima. Neki proizvodi u rubrici Index Shopping mogu biti sponzorirani.

ESTETIKA i funkcionalnost često se smatraju ključnim faktorima prilikom uređenja doma. No, ponekad je teško spojiti željeni izgled s dostupnim budžetom. Srećom, Sinsay je nedavno predstavio kolekciju stolića za kavu koji ne samo da oduševljavaju svojim dizajnom već su i izuzetno pristupačni.

Ovi elegantni komadi namještaja doista su upečatljivi i izgledaju kao da su izašli iz ekskluzivne dizajnerske kolekcije, ali po cijeni koja je prihvatljiva za svakog.

Jedan od istaknutih modela ima okrugli mat oblik s drvenim nožicama, dostupan i u crnoj i bijeloj boji. Drugi, nepravilnog oblika, izrađen je od kvalitetnog drveta. Cijena i jednog i drugog stolića iznosi 12.99 eura.

Dakle, ako želite osvježiti svoj dnevni boravak ili prostor za opuštanje bez prevelikog troška, Sinsay je pravo mjesto za vas. 

Znate li nešto više o temi ili želite prijaviti grešku u tekstu?

Shopping Product Reviews

Can Electronic Circuit Board Be Used in RF/Microwave Applications?

No Comments

Can Electronic Circuit Board Be Used

An electronic circuit board is an essential component in the manufacturing process of a wide range of electronic devices. These include mobile phones, automobiles and radar systems. These circuit boards are designed to operate on megahertz to gigahertz frequency ranges, and feature sophisticated materials, high-performance components and advanced assembly techniques.

However, the question remains – can a standard electronic circuit board be used in RF/microwave applications? This type of PCB must be fabricated from materials that have very specific properties, including low dielectric loss and high thermal conductivity. Additionally, it must be designed to dissipate heat effectively in confined areas. Finally, it must be able to deal with various electromagnetic effects, including noise and interference.

These characteristics make RF and microwave electronic circuit board difficult to design. The physics of signal flow changes at higher frequencies, and many common design rules no longer apply. For example, the wave impedance of a trace can be significantly affected by its length and shape, and the coupling between adjacent traces increases at higher frequencies.

Can Electronic Circuit Board Be Used in RF/Microwave Applications?

Moreover, the electrical properties of the laminate material can have a significant effect on the performance of an RF/microwave PCB. For instance, the dielectric constant or Dk value of FR4 can change at different frequency ranges, affecting signal losses and impedance. Hence, it is important to choose the right laminate material for a high-performance RF/microwave PCB.

Another crucial factor is preventing crosstalk between signals. This is the unintentional transfer of energy between conductors on a PCB, caused by mutual inductance and shunt capacitance. It is particularly troublesome for high-frequency designs, like RF and microwave. The occurrence of crosstalk is influenced by the proximity of conductors, the distance over which they run parallel and the edge rate of their active lines.

Finally, RF and microwave PCBs must be able to handle large amounts of power, which can generate significant heat. This requires proper thermal management, including the use of plated-through-hole vias and thermal vias to reduce unwanted radiated emissions. It is also important to keep RF and digital parts separate from low-level analog parts, which will prevent interference and ringing.

RF and microwave PCBs are also susceptible to various types of noise, including shot, phase, flicker and avalanche noise. These noises can degrade the signal quality and cause unwanted interference. To minimize these effects, RF and microwave PCBs must incorporate several noise mitigation techniques, such as using shunt capacitors to reduce noise and grounding the unused portions of the circuit. Moreover, they must also mitigate the effects of temperature fluctuations by using high-quality RF connectors and feedlines that provide stable impedance over a wide frequency range. Additionally, RF and microwave PCBs must have good thermal conductivity to dissipate heat quickly.

Technology

High school baseball and softball: Playoff scores and pairings

No Comments

Thursday’s High School Scores

CITY SECTION

BASEBALL

Carson 6, San Pedro 4

Eagle Rock 2, Lincoln 0

Harbor Teacher 4, Port of LA 3

King/Drew 19, Dorsey 0

Lakeview Charter 6, Community Charter 4

LA Wilson 12, LA Marshall 8

Maywood CES 11, Elizabeth 4

Narbonne 3, Wilmington Banning 2

Reseda 21, Panorama 0

Rise Kohyang 11, Camino Nuevo Dalzell 7

San Fernando 1, Granada Hills Kennedy 0

Sun Valley Magnet 16, Valley Oaks CES 1

Sylmar 12, Canoga Park 0

Torres 20, Maywood Academy 0

Valor Academy 8, Triumph Charter 7

SOFTBALL

CALS Early College 21, Rise Kohyang 0

Chatsworth 11, Cleveland 5

Community Charter 30, Lakeview Charter 3

Eagle Rock 17, Lincoln 4

El Camino Real 12, Taft 0

Fremont 19, Locke 4

Fulton 0, SOCES 0

Granada Hills 7, Birmingham 5

King/Drew 13, Dorsey 1

Northridge Academy 8, VAAS 2

Palisades 19, Westchester 0

Smidt Tech 12, Animo De La Hoya 2

Venice 19, LA University 0

SOUTHERN SECTION

BASEBALL

DIVISION 2

First Round

Westlake 10, Mira Costa 1

West Torrance 6, Yucaipa 3

Yorba Linda 17, Ocean View 2

Arcadia 3, Long Beach Poly 0

Hart 5, Simi Valley 4

Newport Harbor 1, Capistrano Valley Christian 0

Palos Verdes 8, San Marcos 3

Arlington 4, Woodbridge 2

Maranatha 4, Royal 0

Ayala 6, La Serna 1

Anaheim Canyon 5, Temecula Valley 1

Quartz Hill 13, Charter Oak 1

Valencia 7, Aliso Niguel 1

Moorpark 7, Crescenta Valley 1

Citrus Valley 11, Warren 0

Crean Lutheran 9, Paloma Valley 8

DIVISION 4

First Round

Camarillo 9, Dos Pueblos 4

Murrieta Valley 3, Elsinore 0

Cerritos 13, Hesperia Christian 0

Los Osos 14, Apple Valley 6

Oak Hills 18, Barstow 1

San Marino 5, Citrus Hill 0

Eastvale Roosevelt 8, Don Lugo 0

Culver City 3, Castaic 2

Tustin 3, Estancia 0

Palm Desert 3, Valley View 0

Rio Mesa 10, Highland 0

Ontario Christian 8, Burbank Burroughs 0

La Quinta 12, Heritage 3

Paraclete 4, Sultana 1

St. Francis 8, Windward 3

San Juan Hills 1, Cajon 0

DIVISION 6

First Round

Costa Mesa 5, Garden Grove 4

West Covina 6, Los Amigos 3

Brentwood 4, Irvine University 1

Village Christian 8, Milken Community 1

Diamond Bar 10, Savanna 5

St. Paul 3, Lancaster 1

Alhambra 13, de Toledo 0

Grand Terrace 4, Hillcrest 3

Schurr 8, Century 7

Salesian 6, Arroyo 3

St. Bonaventure 3, Mayfair 2

Rancho Mirage 4, Orange Vista 3

Santa Fe 7, Garey 4

Viewpoint 13, Excelsior Charter 3

Rialto 4, Colton 3

Colony 13, Carpinteria 0

DIVISION 8

First Round

Orange County Pacifica Christian 6, Academic Excellence 4

United Christian Academy 8, Mountain View 2

San Jacinto Valley 6, Redlands Adventist Academy 2

New Roads 6, Bolsa Grande 4

Coachella Valley 9, Cobalt 0

Don Bosco Tech 13, Gorman Charter 3

Rancho Alamitos 9, Coastal Christian 1

San Bernardino 30, Noli Indian 0

Arroyo Valley 27, Calvary Baptist 3

Santa Maria Valley Christian 12, Yucca Valley 3

Beverly Hills 6, Environmental Charter 3

Edgewood 28, Palm Valley 5

Cal Lutheran 3, Rolling Hills Prep 2

Academy of Careers & Exploration 9, Cate 0

Azusa 10, Santa Rosa Academy 0

SOFTBALL

DIVISION 1

Wildcard Round

Capistrano Valley 4, Marina 2

Huntington Beach 8, Eastvale Roosevelt 7

Chino Hills 5, Moorpark 0

Great Oak 7, Torrance 2

JSerra 11, Esperanza 1

Oaks Christian 7, Santa Margarita 4

South Hills 8, Vista Murrieta 2

DIVISION 2

First Round

El Modena 10, Grand Terrace 0

Mater Dei 5, Millikan 4

Beaumont 1, St. Paul 0

Ayala 6, Sunny Hills 1

Tesoro 2, Westlake 0

Gahr 10, El Toro 1

Temple City 8, Temescal Canyon 2

Rio Mesa 10, La Palma Kennedy 0

California, bye

Rosary Academy 9, North Torrance 4

Cypress 8, Bonita 7

Whittier Christian 3, Mission Viejo 2

Aliso Niguel 5, Foothill 1

DIVISION 3

First Round

West Torrance 2, Claremont 0

Arlington 8, Northview 0

Woodbridge 4, Burbank Burroughs 3

Fullerton 4, Hart 3

Redondo Union 5, El Segundo 0

Sierra Canyon 6, Saugus 0

La Canada 7, Cerritos 4

Etiwanda 9, Long Beach Poly 2

Aquinas 6, Cajon 2

Santa Fe 1, Yorba Linda 0

Bishop Amat 15, Los Altos 2

Riverside King 6, Arcadia 1

Charter Oak 1, Lakewood 0

Royal 3, Beckman 0

Agoura 9, Segerstrom 4

Upland 18, Sherman Oaks Notre Dame 4

DIVISION 4

First Round

JW North 3, Oxnard 1

Norwalk 5, Covina 4

Jurupa Hills 9, Northwood 7

Oak Hills 13, Monrovia 3

Downey 7, Hillcrest 6

Chaminade 16, Chino 6

Mira Costa 8, Elsinore 2

Schurr 14, Irvine 0

Paraclete 12, Burbank 2

San Marcos 15, Flintridge Sacred Heart 5

La Quinta 4, Hemet 0

Santa Monica 16, Santa Paula 0

Sultana 7, Long Beach Wilson 2

Diamond Bar 19, Don Lugo 9

Orange Vista 10, San Dimas 1

Crescenta Valley 3, Newbury Park 1

DIVISION 5

First Round

Palos Verdes 12, Bishop Montgomery 2

West Ranch 18, Duarte 10

Carter 13, Artesia 12

Quartz Hill 10, Apple Valley 0

Liberty 9, Palm Desert 7

Keppel 3, Anaheim 1

Garden Grove 12, Barstow 6

Grace Brethren 9, Arroyo 1

Burbank Providence 6, Ocean View 5

South El Monte 7, Silverado 0

Shadow Hills 15, Coachella Valley 0

Cerritos Valley Christian 6, Highland 3

Linfield Christian 10, Western Christian 0

Paloma Valley 8, San Jacinto 7

Fillmore 10, Bellflower 0

St. Bonaventure 7, Village Christian 2

DIVISION 6

First Round

Ganesha 12, San Gorgonio 0

Harvard-Westlake 21, Riverside Bethel Christian 1

Granite Hills 11, Flintridge Prep 1

Lancaster 5, Savanna 1

Indio 13, Rancho Verde 3

Santa Ana Calvary Chapel 5, Santa Rosa Academy 4

Garden Grove Santiago 8, Rio Hondo Prep 0

Lakewood St. Joseph 12, Ontario Christian 2

Viewpoint 2, Cantwell Sacred Heart 1

Pioneer 14, Eisenhower 3

Mayfield 7, Costa Mesa 3

University Prep 4, San Jacinto Valley 3

Canyon Springs 10, Edgewood 0

Capistrano Valley Christian 12, Sierra Vista 6

Paramount 8, Colton 3

Tahquitz 7, Vasquez 6

DIVISION 7

First Round

Oxford Academy 19, Riverside Notre Dame 4

Hawthorne MSA 9, Santa Maria Valley Christian 2

Miller 12, Lancaster Desert Christian 1

Los Amigos 1, St, Genevieve 0

Yucca Valley 16, Loma Linda Academy 2

Faith Baptist 14, Garey 3

Riverside Prep 8, Bishop Conaty Loretto 5

Pasadena Poly 14, Hawthorne 1

Eastside 17, Sacred Heart LA 3

Lennox Academy 5, Western 0

Vista Del Lago 11, San Bernardino 1

Cathedral City 15, Crossroads 1

Academy of Careers & Exploration 23, Nuview Bridge 2

Leuzinger 23, Animo Leadership 10

Orangewood Academy 8, Academy for Academic Excellence 6

Muir 8, Coastal Christian 4

DIVISION 8

First Round

St. Pius X-St. Matthias at Hesperia Christian

Cornerstone Christian 20, Redlands Adventist 10

Temecula Prep 9, Cal Lutheran 2

Orange 22, Mesa Grande 1

United Christian Academy 10, Santa Ana Valley 6

Excelsior Charter 15, Santa Ana 3

Archer 26, Calvary Baptist 0

Jurupa Valley 17, Compton Early College 0

Friday’s Playoff Schedule

SOUTHERN SECTION

BASEBALL

All games at 3:15 p.m. unless noted

DIVISION 1

First Round

El Dorado at Corona

Mater Dei at Damien

Garden Grove Pacifica at Aquinas

Sherman Oaks Notre Dame at Aquinas

Corona Santiago at Huntington Beach

Villa Park at Bishop Amat

Gahr at Fullerton

Santa Margarita at Tesoro

Sierra Canyon at Orange Lutheran

Millikan at Vista Murrieta

South Hills at Foothill

Oaks Christian at La Mirada

West Ranch at San Dimas

Calabasas at Cypress

JSerra at Bonita

Norco at Harvard-Westlake.

DIVISION 3

First Round

Lakewood at Corona Centennial

Tahquitz at Arrowhead Christian

South Torrance at Northwood

El Modena at Dana Hills

Trabuco Hills at Fountain Valley

El Segundo at Long Beach Wilson

Burbank at Corona del Mar

St. John Bosco at Grace Brethren

Chaparral at Chaminade

Mission Viejo at Santa Barbara

La Salle at El Rancho

Los Alamitos at Walnut

Redlands East Valley at La Habra

Temescal Canyon at Beckman

Newbury Park at Flintridge Prep

Linfield Christian at Summit

DIVISION 5

First Round

Santa Monica at Nogales

Murrieta Mesa at Ganesha

Pasadena Marshall at Adelanto

Trinity Classical Academy, bye

Riverside Prep, bye

Segerstrom at South Pasadena

Whittier Christian at St. Anthony

Oxnard Pacifica at Santa Paula

Santa Ana Calvary Chapel at Saugus

Monrovia at Pasadena Poly

Anaheim at Lakeside

Chino at Ramona

Liberty, bye

Katella at Montebello

Hemet at Bloomington

Chino Hills at Bellflower

DIVISION 7

First Round

Thacher at Buena Park

St. Bernard at Hueneme

Rancho Christian at Vasquez

Miller at Banning

Paramount at South El Monte

Artesia at Eisenhower

Mary Star at Foothill Tech

Temecula Prep at Oakwood

Littlerock at Wildomar Cornerstone Christian

Santa Ana at Cantwell Sacred Heart

Desert Christian at Sierra Vista

Channel Islands at Leuzinger

Carter at Jurupa Valley

Chaffey at Nuview Bridge

Indio at Silverado

Western Christian at Oxford Academy

DIVISION 8

First Round

Santa Clarita Christian at Loma Linda Academy, 1:30 p.m.

Sports

Vivo V30e price in India: Slimmest smartphone with 5500mAh battery launched – Check Features

No Comments

Vivo V30e price in India: Vivo has launched a new smartphone under its V-series lineup in India – the Vivo V30e. According to the company, it is the slimmest smartphone with a 5,500mAh battery. Along with this, it also comes with 4K video recording capabilities for both front and rear cameras.

Vivo V30e price in India: Variants

The Vivo V20e is available in two colours – Velvet Red and Silk Blue. Also, there are two storage variants of the smartphone 8GB + 128GB and 8GB + 256GB. The smartphone has been priced at Rs 27,999 and Rs 29,999 respectively. The Vivo V30e will be available for purchase starting May 9, 2024, on Flipkart, Vivo India e-store and all partner retail stores.

Vivo V30e price in India: Offers

Consumers can buy this smartphone at an instant discount of 10 per cent by using ICICI, SBI, IndusInd, IDFC and other banks.

The Vivo V30e has a 6.78-inch 3D curved display with a screen-to-body ratio of 93.3 per cent. The device weighs 190 grams and is just 7.65 mm thick, making it the slimmest phone to feature a 5500mAh battery.

In terms of cameras, the smartphone features a 50MP OIS Sony IMX 882 sensor with OIS. It is accompanied by an 8MP wide-angle camera. The Vivo V30e also houses a 50MP eye autofocus selfie camera.

Vivo V30e is equipped with a 5500mAh battery coupled with a 44W flash charge. 

The smartphone is powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 6 Gen 1 (4 nm) Processor. The smartphone runs on Fun Touch OS 14 and the company is promising 3 generations of Android updates and 4 years of security updates.

Technology

Best Safari luggage bags: Top 9 picks for your next adventure, ensuring style and durability on every journey | Travel

No Comments

When it comes to traveling, having the right luggage is essential. Safari offers a wide range of luggage bags, including suitcases, duffle bags, and trolley bags, that cater to different travel needs and preferences. Whether you’re a frequent flyer or an occasional traveler, Safari has something for everyone. In this comprehensive guide, we’ll take a closer look at the top 10 Safari luggage bags available on Amazon, highlighting their features, pros, and cons to help you make an informed decision. From hard-sided suitcases to soft-sided duffle bags, there’s a Safari luggage bag for every type of traveler.

Embark on your next journey in style with the best luggage bags, offering the perfect blend of durability and sophistication!

1.

The Safari Polycarbonate Wheeling Speed_Wheel Suitcase is a durable and lightweight option for travelers. With its 360-degree spinning wheels and spacious interior, it’s perfect for long-haul trips. The built-in TSA lock provides added security, while the scratch-resistant texture ensures that it looks good as new even after multiple trips.

Unlock exclusive access to the latest news on India’s general elections, only on the HT App. Download Now! Download Now!

Specifications of Safari Polycarbonate Wheeling Speed_Wheel Suitcase

  • 360-degree spinning wheels
  • Built-in TSA lock
  • Scratch-resistant texture
  • Spacious interior
  • Lightweight design

&nbsp&nbspReasons to buy

&nbsp&nbspReasons to avoid

Durable and lightweight

May be slightly pricier than other options

360-degree spinning wheels for easy maneuverability

Built-in TSA lock for added security

2.

The Safari Pentagon Polypropylene 55 Hardsided Suitcase is designed to withstand rough handling during travel. Its impact-resistant construction and spacious compartments make it an ideal choice for frequent flyers. The 4-wheel trolley system ensures smooth mobility, while the vibrant color options add a touch of style to your journeys.

Specifications of Safari Pentagon Polypropylene 55 Hardsided Suitcase

  • Impact-resistant construction
  • Spacious compartments
  • 4-wheel trolley system
  • Vibrant color options
  • Telescopic handle

&nbsp&nbspReasons to buy

&nbsp&nbspReasons to avoid

Impact-resistant construction for durability

May be heavier than other options

Spacious compartments for organized packing

4-wheel trolley system for smooth mobility

3.

The Safari Polyester Softsided Luggage PRISMA654WBLU offers a balance of style and functionality. Its soft-sided design allows for flexible packing, while the multiple pockets and compartments keep your belongings organized. The 3-stage trolley handle and smooth-rolling wheels make it easy to navigate through crowded airports and busy streets.

Specifications of Safari Polyester Softsided Luggage PRISMA654WBLU:

  • Soft-sided design
  • Multiple pockets and compartments
  • 3-stage trolley handle
  • Smooth-rolling wheels
  • Expandable design

&nbsp&nbspReasons to buy

&nbsp&nbspReasons to avoid

Flexible packing with soft-sided design

May not provide as much protection as hard-sided options

Multiple pockets and compartments for organization

Smooth-rolling wheels for easy maneuverability

Also read: Best luggage trolleys for travellers: Choose from top 10 spacious and sturdy picks

4.

The Safari Polyester Travel Duffle ARC55RLBLU is a versatile and spacious duffle bag that’s perfect for short trips and weekend getaways. Its durable polyester construction and adjustable shoulder strap provide comfort and durability, while the multiple compartments and pockets make it easy to pack and access your essentials on the go.

Specifications of Safari Polyester Travel Duffle ARC55RLBLU:

  • Spacious interior
  • Durable polyester construction
  • Adjustable shoulder strap
  • Multiple compartments and pockets
  • Stylish design

&nbsp&nbspReasons to buy

&nbsp&nbspReasons to avoid

Versatile and spacious for short trips

May not be suitable for longer trips requiring more packing space

Durable construction with adjustable shoulder strap

Multiple compartments and pockets for easy organization

5.

The Safari Hardside Polycarbonate Luggage Suitcase is designed for travelers who prioritize durability and security. Its hard-sided construction and TSA-approved locks ensure that your belongings stay safe during transit, while the expandable design provides additional packing space when needed. The 360-degree spinner wheels offer effortless maneuverability, making it a hassle-free travel companion.

Specifications of Safari Hardside Polycarbonate Luggage Suitcase:

  • Hard-sided polycarbonate construction
  • TSA-approved locks
  • Expandable design
  • 360-degree spinner wheels
  • Stylish metallic finish

&nbsp&nbspReasons to buy

&nbsp&nbspReasons to avoid

Durable construction with TSA-approved locks

May be heavier than soft-sided options

Expandable design for added packing space

Effortless maneuverability with 360-degree spinner wheels

Also read: Best luggage brands in India: Top luggage brands in India and their best products for you to explore

6.

The Safari Duffle Travel Luggage Trolley is a versatile and stylish option for travelers who prefer the flexibility of a duffle bag with the convenience of a trolley. Its durable fabric and spacious interior make it suitable for various types of trips, while the adjustable shoulder strap and trolley handle provide ease of use on the go.

Specifications of Safari Duffle Travel Luggage Trolley:

  • Versatile duffle bag with trolley functionality
  • Durable fabric construction
  • Adjustable shoulder strap
  • Spacious interior
  • Stylish design

&nbsp&nbspReasons to buy

&nbsp&nbspReasons to avoid

Versatile and stylish for different types of trips

May not provide as much protection as hard-sided options

Durable fabric construction for longevity

Adjustable shoulder strap and trolley handle for ease of use

7.

The Safari Polyester Purple Travel PEP65RDFL is a vibrant and lightweight travel bag that offers ample storage space for essentials. Its polyester construction and multiple compartments make it easy to pack and access your belongings, while the padded handles and adjustable shoulder strap ensure comfort during travel.

Specifications of Safari Polyester Purple Travel PEP65RDFL:

  • Vibrant purple color
  • Lightweight polyester construction
  • Multiple compartments and pockets
  • Padded handles and adjustable shoulder strap
  • Stylish design

&nbsp&nbspReasons to buy

&nbsp&nbspReasons to avoid

Vibrant color and lightweight construction

May not be suitable for longer trips requiring more packing space

Multiple compartments for easy organization

Padded handles and adjustable shoulder strap for comfort

Also read: Travel in style with matching luggage sets: Enjoy great deals on our top 6 picks for the best luggage sets for you

8.

The Safari Pentagon Polypropylene Hardsided Suitcase combines durability with style, making it an ideal choice for frequent travelers. Its impact-resistant shell and spacious interior provide ample protection and packing space, while the 360-degree spinner wheels and telescopic handle ensure effortless mobility and maneuverability.

Specifications of Safari Pentagon Polypropylene Hardsided Suitcase:

  • Spacious interior
  • 360-degree spinner wheels
  • Telescopic handle
  • Built-in TSA lock

&nbsp&nbspReasons to buy

&nbsp&nbspReasons to avoid

Durable construction with impact-resistant shell

May be heavier than soft-sided options

Spacious interior for ample packing space

Effortless mobility with 360-degree spinner wheels and telescopic handle

9.

The Safari Trolley Bag Polycarbonate Wheeling is a sleek and functional option for travelers who prioritize style and convenience. Its polycarbonate construction and expandable design cater to varying packing needs, while the multi-stage trolley handle and smooth-rolling wheels ensure easy navigation through airports and streets.

Reasons to buy Reasons to avoid
Sleek and functional design for style and convenience May be slightly pricier than other options
Expandable design for varying packing needs  
Easy navigation with multi-stage trolley handle and smooth-rolling wheels  

Specifications of Safari Trolley Bag Polycarbonate Wheeling:

  • Sleek polycarbonate construction
  • Expandable design
  • Multi-stage trolley handle
  • Smooth-rolling wheels
  • Scratch-resistant texture

 

Top 3 features of the best Safari luggage bags:

Product Name Impact-resistant construction 360-degree spinner wheels Spacious interior Expandable design Telescopic handle
Safari Polycarbonate Wheeling Speed_Wheel Suitcase No Yes Yes Yes Yes
Safari Pentagon Polypropylene 55 Hardsided Suitcase Yes No Yes No Yes
Safari Polyester Softsided Luggage PRISMA654WBLU No No Yes Yes Yes
Safari Polyester Travel Duffle ARC55RLBLU No No Yes No No
Safari Hardside Polycarbonate Luggage Suitcase Yes Yes Yes Yes No
Safari Duffle Travel Luggage Trolley No No Yes No No
Safari Polyester Purple Travel PEP65RDFL No No Yes No No
Safari Pentagon Polypropylene Hardsided Suitcase Yes No Yes No Yes
Safari Trolley Bag Polycarbonate Wheeling No No Yes Yes Yes
Safari Polycarbonate Wheeling Speed_Wheel Suitcase No Yes Yes Yes Yes

Also read: Best trolley bags for travel: Top 9 choices to pick from

Best value for money product:

The Safari Polyester Softsided Luggage PRISMA654WBLU offers the best value for money with its versatile design, multiple pockets, and soft-sided construction that balances style and functionality to cater to various travel needs.

Best overall product:

The Safari Polycarbonate Wheeling Speed_Wheel Suitcase Luggage stands out as the best overall product in terms of durability, security, and expandable design, making it a reliable and versatile option for different types of trips.

How to find the best Safari luggage bags?

When choosing the perfect Safari luggage bag, consider the type of trips you take, the amount of packing space you need, and the level of durability and security required. Evaluate the features, pros, and cons of each product to find the one that best suits your travel needs and preferences.

Disclaimer: At Hindustan Times, we help you stay up-to-date with the latest trends and products. Hindustan Times has an affiliate partnership, so we may get a part of the revenue when you make a purchase. We shall not be liable for any claim under applicable laws, including but not limited to the Consumer Protection Act, 2019, with respect to the products. The products listed in this article are in no particular order of priority.

Tours Travel

The Fall Guy cast now from heart issues to cocaine addiction and tragic death | Celebrity News | Showbiz & TV

No Comments

This Morning: Alison Hammond interviews Ryan Gosling and Emily Blunt

The Fall Guy hits screens today (May 2) based on the classic 80s TV show starring Lee Majors. The big screen iteration sees Ryan Gosling play his character Colt Seavers while English actress Emily Blunt plays his love interest.

In the original and much love series Lee Majors, he of Six Million Dollar Man fame, played the titular role of Colt Seavers, a Hollywood stunt man who moonlights as a bounty hunter. Most episodes saw him using his stunt skills in real life situations as he “got his man” and ubrought home the bounty.

The show was created by uber producer Glen A. Larson and ran for four and a half years on air it was axed. However the iconic theme tune (sung by Lee) and the premise lingered with fans.

Obviously it was ripe for the big screen treatment and this new incarnation sees Colt framed for the murder of another stunt performer in order to protect a huge box office star. While it doesn’t necessarily adhere to the original premise Ryan’s Colt is stll a stuntman and Emily Blunt’s character Jody is based on another character in the show.

But the orginal cast are still hugely beloved by fans and frequently show up at conventions to their delight. Express.co.uk takes a look at where they are now

Lee Majors – Colt Seavers

Lee Majors played Colt Seavers in the TV series The Fall Guy (Image: Getty)

The Fall Guy was Lee Majors third huge TV role following Heath Barkley on the Western series The Big Valley which he played from 1965–1969 and Colonel Steve Austin on The Six Million Dollar Man which ran for five years from 1973–1978. when the show started he was still married to his second wife Charlies Angel star Farrah Fawcett (who used Fawcett-Majors as her surname at the time) and he sang the theme tune to the show, The Unknown Stuntman, which made reference to her.

After the show eneded in 1986 he revisited his bionic past in three The Six Million Dollar Man/The Bionic Woman television films made between 1987 and 1994. The final one Bionic Ever After finally gave fans what they had been wanting for years when his character and Lindsay Wagner’s Bionic Woman wed.

He has made numerous guest appearances in TV shows such as According To Jim, Dallas and Community. He also took on another ongoing TV part when he played Coach Ross on The Game, which ran from 2006 to 2009. Now 85 Lee continues to work and is a regular on the convention scene and has a very brief appearance n the new film.

Away from the screen he divorced Fawcett in 1982 and married Playboy Playmate Karen Velez in 1986. The couple had three children together but divorced in 1994. Since 2002 he has been married to actress and model Faith Noelle.

In May 2003 a rountine check up turned into a month long health issue when doctors discovered a blockage on his arteries. He underwent a heart bypass but his blockage was at the bottom of the artery – making it difficult for doctors to clean it. He then started haemorrhaging around the artery, prompting surgeons to operate again. Thankfully he pulled through and has been in good health ever since.

Heather Thomas – Jody Banks

Heather Thomas smiling on the red carpet at The Fall Guy premiere

Heather Thomas played Jody Banks in The Fall Guy TV show (Image: Getty)

Heather was a well known face on television before the Fall Guy began having been on screens since the age of 14 as one of the hosts of a series called Talking with a Giant, in which she interviewed celebrities. She played stuntwoman Jody Banks in the Fall Guy and became but her tenure on the show was marred by addiction.

She became addicted to cocaine during the run and entered rehab in the mid-1980s. Although she went on to appear in several movies she retured from acting in 1998 partyly because of unwated attention from stalkers. In 2009 she told Reuters: “I was getting so stalked. I had one guy climb over the fence with a knife one time. I had these two little girls and they desperately needed raising, so that was that. But I think now I have gotten so old that people won’t bother me much.” She briefly came out of retirement to appear in a small role in the musical comedy “Girltrash: All Night Long” in 2014.

After quitting on screen roles she wrote a screenplay called School Slut and sold it to Touchstone Pictures for a figure reported as “mid-six-figure.” However they never made the movie and she acquired the rights to produce it herself. In 2008 she published her first novel, Trophies. She also appears at conventions regularly.

Now 66 Heather has been married twice. Her first husband Allan Rosenthal is one of the founders of Cocaine Anonymous, Their marriage only lasted a year and they divorced in 1986. In October 1992 she married entertainment attorney Harry Brittenham and the couple are still together.

In 1986 she was struck by a car and she sustained serious injuries to both of her legs. She underwent six hours of plastic and orthopedic surgery to repair them.

Douglas Barr – Howie Munson

Head and shoulders shot of Douglas Barr smiling

Douglas Barr played Colt Seavers cousin Howie Munson in The Fall Guy (Image: filmSCHOOLarchive YouTube)

Douglas played Colt Seaver’s cousin Howie in the show. It was his big break and made him a household name.

Following the cancellation he starred as Alex Jagger in the short-lived TV series The Wizard from 1986 to 1987, and later appeared as Bill Stillfield in Designing Women from 1988 to 1991.

He also made high profile guest appearances on shows such Fantasy Island, The Love Boat, Hotel, and Murder, She Wrote.

In 1998, he set up Hollywood and Vine Cellars, a small, high-end wine producer in Napa Valley. Now 75 he still appears at conventions thanks to The Fall Guy.

His other well-known role was in the short-lived CBS TV series The Wizard as Alex Jagger from 1986 to 1987, and he later starred as Bill Stillfield in the hit CBS series Designing Women from 1988 to 1991.

Jo Ann Pflug – Samantha “Big Jack” Jack

Jo Ann Pflug looking glamourous and smiling

Jo Ann Pflug only appeared on The Fall Guy until 1982 (Image: Getty)

Jo Ann was already a huge star when The Fall Guy began having been in the industyry since the 60s. She had been the first woman to have a live weekly TV talk show in the late 1960s in Los Angeles on KHJ-TV, channel 9.

She only appeared on one season of The Fall Guy playing the Bail Bondswoman who employed Colt’s services.

Now 84 she is retired but kept busy after leaving the show. In 1984, she was the first actress to play Taylor Chapin in the syndicated soap opera Rituals.

She also made guest appearances on shows such as McCloud, The Love Boat, CHiPs, The Dukes of Hazzard, Knight Rider and Charlie’s Angels, and The Colbys.

In 1997 she played Boss Jack’s wife in Traveller and Cynthia Vaughn in Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil. She also had her own show on Seaview Radio called The Jo Ann Pflug Show

Markie Post – Terri Shannon

Head and shoulders shot of Markie Post smiling on a red carpet with Santa Clarita Diet backdrop

Markie Post joined the Fall Guy in 1982 (Image: Getty)

Markie Post joined The Fall Guy in 1982 and stayed until 1985. Following her deaprture from the show she played public defender Christine Sullivan on the NBC sitcom Night Court from 1985 to 1992.

She then went on to portray Georgie Anne Lahti Hartman on the sitcom Hearts Afire from 1992 to 1995 and later Barbara ‘Bunny’ Fletcher, the mother of Detective Erin Lindsay (Sophia Bush), on the NBC drama series Chicago P.D. from 2014 to 2017.

However, despite her extensive CV she is probably most recognisable for playing the titular character’s mother in 1998’s There’s Something About Mary.

She died at her home in Los Angeles, on August 7, 2021, after battling cancer for almost four years. She was 70 years old.

Arts Entertainments

Ferrari 12Cilindri: Here it is in all its V12 glory

No Comments

The Italian language makes the mundane sound magnificent. Nowhere else in the world could you get away with calling a sedan, simply, the Four-Door. Yet that is the literal translation of the name used for Maserati’s high-end sedan, the Quattroporte.

So, meet the Ferrari 12Cilindri. Italians pronounce it doh-dichee chill-indree, which sounds awfully exotic but literally means… 12-cylinder.

While that accurately describes what’s under the bonnet of this brand-new front-engine model from Maranello, don’t think for a moment that Ferrari’s marketing department has simply run out of ideas.

The 12Cilindri name adorns a car designed from the wheels up to be a celebration of Ferrari’s most iconic engine layout, the V12.

In simple terms, the 12Cilindri, which will be available as either a coupe or retractable hardtop Spider, replaces the 812 Superfast. But it also refocuses the role of the front-engine V12 two-door in a Ferrari lineup that now includes a four-door SUV and a six-cylinder, plug-in hybrid mid-engine sports car.

“It is not the top of the range in terms of performance,” says Ferrari’s chief marketing and commercial officer, Enrico Galliera. “It is the top of the range in terms of performance and comfort.”

  • Ferrari 12Cilindri: Here it is in all its V12 glory

The 12Cilindri has been designed to recall the spirit of iconic V12 Ferrari GTs from the past such as the Lusso and 275 GTB/4, cars which were very fast but also comfortable enough to be driven long distances.

But that’s not to suggest the 12Cilindri is a retro car, at least not in the conventional sense. Indeed, apart from a sly wink at the 1968 Ferrari Daytona in the way the black panel at the front of the car connects the headlights, the 12Cilindri is perhaps the first mainstream Ferrari since the brutalist Enzo that doesn’t obviously reference Maranello’s back catalogue.

The proportions of the 12Cilindri might echo those of a classic front-engine V12 two-door Ferrari, but its surfacing and graphics and detailing most emphatically do not.

  • Ferrari 12Cilindri: Here it is in all its V12 glory

Instead, says Ferrari’s chief design officer, Flavio Manzoni, they riff on the futurism seen in 1960s and 1970s Italian product design and architecture, and the visual aesthetics of movies such as Stanley Kubrick’s 2001: A Space Odyssey and George Lucas’s Star Wars, a point reinforced by the white paint on the 12Cilindri he unveiled for the media at Maranello.

“We wanted to create a car that was respectful to our tradition, but we also wanted to create something that was very modern,” explains Manzoni. And that philosophy extends to the engine under the 12Cilindri’s bonnet.

Ferrari’s first road car, the 125S, was powered by a V12 engine, and V12s have powered a string of fast and charismatic Ferrari road and racing cars in the 77 years since.

  • Ferrari 12Cilindri: Here it is in all its V12 glory

But the 12Cilindri isn’t merely another V12, says Ferrari chief product development officer Gianmaria Fulgenzi: “This is the V12.”

Codenamed F140HD, the 12Cilindri’s 6.5-liter V12 traces its origins back to the engine that powered the mid-engine Ferrari Enzo. Its basic architecture – a 65-degree vee with double overhead camshafts and four valves per cylinder – is thus more than 20 years old.

Officially, the F140HD is a comprehensive rework of the F140HC used in the 812 Competizione. Unofficially, many of its new, performance enhancing components and technologies were previewed in 2022 in the V12 that powered the limited edition, mid-engine SP3 Daytona.

  • Ferrari 12Cilindri: Here it is in all its V12 glory

It’s the most powerful naturally aspirated Ferrari engine in history. Able to rev to a screaming 9500rpm, the F140HD makes 610kW of power at 9250rpm and 678Nm of torque at 7250rpm.

Those dizzying crank speeds are the result of titanium conrods that are 40 per cent lighter than equivalent steel items, new pistons that are two per cent lighter than those used in the 812 Competizione’s engine, and a rebalanced crankshaft that’s three per cent lighter.

The engine’s 48 valves are actuated by sliding finger cam followers, a low-mass, low-friction technology borrowed from Ferrari’s F1 engines, and fuel is pumped into the combustion chambers via a direct injection system running at 350 bar.

  • Ferrari 12Cilindri: Here it is in all its V12 glory

The spent gases exit via a new exhaust system with equal length header pipes that feed into the ceramic catalytic converters and particulate filters that help the big V12 meet the tough Euro 6e emissions standards set for 2026 and beyond.

The F140HD drives the rear wheels through a new eight-speed dual-clutch transaxle transmission, giving the 12Cilindri an extra gear over the 812 Competizione.

This has allowed Ferrari to change the transmission’s ratios and shift pattern, and increase the torque transmitted to the rear wheels by 12 per cent while reducing shift times by five percent.

  • Ferrari 12Cilindri: Here it is in all its V12 glory

Ferrari claims the 1560kg (dry weight) 12Cilindri will accelerate from 0 to 100km/h in just 2.9 seconds, and to 200km/h in less than 7.9 seconds. Top speed is 340km/h.

Much of the 12Cilinidri’s suspension and braking hardware is carried over from the 812 Competizione, as is the differential. But the all-aluminum chassis, made up of extrusions and castings, is new and has a 20mm shorter wheelbase and 15 percent better torsional rigidity.

The 12 Cilindri also has the rear-wheel steering system that debuted on the 812 Competizione, but the rear wheels can be independently steered to further improve agility or stability when required.

  • Ferrari 12Cilindri: Here it is in all its V12 glory

Overseeing the 12 Cilindri’s chassis hardware is new software that makes the most of the six-axis vehicle motion controller and the brake-by-wire ABS Evo system that debuted on the 296GTB.

Dubbed SSC 8.0, this latest evolution of Ferrari’s innovative dynamic control system has a 10 per cent faster learning speed and a 10 per cent higher degree of accurately estimating vehicle behaviour in any given scenario.

Ferrari claims the system can now accurately measure the level of tyre grip even as the wheels are being steered.

  • Ferrari 12Cilindri: Here it is in all its V12 glory

Speaking of tyres, the 12Cilindri is available with Michelin Pilot Sport S5 or Goodyear Eagle F1 Supersport tyres, both of which were developed in new sizes specifically for the car: 275/35ZR21 at the front and 315/35ZR21 at the rear.

Standard wheels (seen on the green 12Cilindri Spider) are cast alloy, but wheels machined from solid billets of aluminium alloy (fitted to the white coupe) are available as an option.

The decision to opt for 21-inch wheels was driven by the design team, says Gianmaria Fulgenzi. His engineers would have preferred 20-inch wheels, which are lighter and so can be more precisely controlled by the springs and dampers and allow for quicker acceleration because of their lower inertia.

  • Ferrari 12Cilindri: Here it is in all its V12 glory

Adopting the 21s was just one of the hundreds of compromises between form and function that shaped the 12Cilinidri, however.

The original 3D aero model of the 12Cilindri was, says Flavio Manzoni, “a chaos of elements”. But such is the importance of aero, both in terms of performance and efficiency, that the team working under Ferrari’s head of exterior design Andrea Militello essentially treated the management of airflow paths and patterns almost like physical hardpoints around which parts the exterior of the 12Cilindri had to be shaped.

Balancing the demands of aerodynamicists with the desires of the designers led to an innovative method of ensuring the 12Cilindri remains stable at speed.

  • Ferrari 12Cilindri: Here it is in all its V12 glory

Based on the data streaming through the 12Cilindri’s sophisticated electronic neural network detailing the car’s speed and grip levels, movable flaps at each rear corner of the bodywork can be articulated as much as 10 degrees into the airflow between 60km/h and 300km/h.

The flaps work in tandem. They’re not needed below 60km/h, and above 300km/h the 25mm lip across the rear delivers all the stability the car needs.

At 200km/h, says Fulgenzi, the system delivers 50kg of downforce to the rear wheels. And, says Manzoni, it eliminated the need for a full-width active rear-wing, allowing the designers to endow the 12Cilindri with a surprisingly roomy boot, and to set up the bold delta-wing graphic that encompasses the rear window and is the Ferrari design chief’s favourite element of the car’s exterior.

  • Ferrari 12Cilindri: Here it is in all its V12 glory

“It’s a good example of how we worked together with the engineers,” he says.

As befits a car company that also owns an F1 team, much of the serious aerodynamic trickery lies under the 12Cilindri, out of sight.

On the front section of the underbody are three pairs of vortex generators that work with the front splitter to increase downforce on the front wheels.

  • Ferrari 12Cilindri: Here it is in all its V12 glory

The central part of the underbody is designed to channel air to the rear diffuser, and a further pair of vortex generators are located between the rear wheels.

A series of carefully designed and precisely placed vents direct less efficient hot air from the engine and radiators away from the cool air flowing through the underfloor’s downforce-generating elements.

More hot air is extracted from the engine compartment via the two vents on the bonnet.

  • Ferrari 12Cilindri: Here it is in all its V12 glory

The 12Cilindri is strictly a two-seater, though in addition to that roomy boot there’s a shelf behind the seats that can accommodate extra luggage.

The interior architecture, honed under the direction of Ferrari’s head of interior design, Fabio Massari, is defined by binnacles on either side of the cabin that wrap towards driver and passenger.

In the driver’s binnacle is a 15.6-inch digital instrument panel with the same functionality and configurability as in the Ferrari 296GTB and Roma.

  • Ferrari 12Cilindri: Here it is in all its V12 glory

In the other binnacle is a slim 8.8-inch screen that can be configured to display a variety of information to thrill, terrify or entertain the passenger.

Between the two is a landscape format 10.25-inch touchscreen that flies above a centre console with an aluminium structure that echoes the delta-wing graphic of at the rear of the car and houses the transmission shift toggles.

This exotic Ferrari also accommodates the everyday: Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity is standard, and the centre console also has a wireless charging pad.

  • Ferrari 12Cilindri: Here it is in all its V12 glory

Standard seats are what Ferrari calls comfort seats with lightweight carbon-shell sports seats available as an option.

Coupe buyers can also choose between three roof options: glass, aluminium, or carbon fibre. The Spider’s folding hardtop can be raised or lowered in 14 seconds at speeds of up to 40km/h.

The 12Cilindri is also available with an optional 1600W Burmester sound system that has 15 speakers.

Having driven the SP3 Daytona, though, and experienced the sound, the fury, the wanton magnificence of taking its proto-F140HD V12 to 9500rpm, upshifts cracking like rifle shots as it stormed down the road, it’s hard to imagine why anyone would want to switch the sound system on.

  • Ferrari 12Cilindri: Here it is in all its V12 glory

Indeed, the 12Cilindri promises to deliver the most soul-stirring soundtrack of any modern Ferrari.

The 12Cilindri coupe goes on sale in Europe in the fourth quarter this year, priced in Italy at 395,000 euro (A$665,000), with the 435,000 euro (A$720,000) Spider arriving in the first quarter of 2025.

Production of right-hand drive cars won’t start until mid-2025, with the coupe slated to arrive in Australia in the second half of the year, and the Spider a few months later or early in 2026.

Click an image to view the full gallery.

Auto

Does Perplexity’s “answer engine” threaten Google?

No Comments

When Aravind Srinivas was accepted at the University of California, Berkeley, to do a PhD, his mother was disappointed. Like many Indian parents, she wanted him to go to the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. But things worked out after all; on the west coast he interned at OpenAI and Google’s DeepMind, both of which became leaders in generative artificial intelligence (AI). With that experience, he co-founded Perplexity, a generative-AI startup recently valued at $1bn that provides fast, Wikipedia-like responses to search queries. He is an unassuming interviewee, but an ambitious one. His “answer engine” is aimed at competing with Google search, one of the best business models of all time. Think Martin Luther taking on the Catholic church.

Mr Srinivas is a student of disruption. When a podcaster asked him recently to compare the cultures of OpenAI and DeepMind, he explained how the engineer-led, free-wheeling approach of the former disrupted what he called the research-obsessed “very British” hierarchy of the latter (which was founded in London). He resorts to disruption theory when discussing Alphabet, Google’s parent company. Rather than explaining how Perplexity’s business model will enable it to attack the search giant, he uses a celebrated concept outlined in “The Innovator’s Dilemma”, a management bestseller from 1997 by Clayton Christensen, to identify what he sees as Alphabet’s Achilles heel. He is not alone. The innovator’s dilemma has been invoked to explain why Google is threatened by OpenAI’s ChatGPT and by other generative-AI sites such as You.com. The argument is seductive. But it is off the mark.

Business

Solana Gains Over 10% Amid Declining On-Chain Activity! Here’s What To Expect Next

No Comments

The Solana network is struggling to maintain its on-chain activity amid declining trading interest. Recently, the crypto market witnessed a crash that led to a price correction for SOL, driving its value towards support levels. Although SOL’s price later rebounded, the continuous low on-chain data is causing concerns among investors about the sustainability of this upward movement.

Solana Faces A Drop In New And Active Addresses

In the past 24 hours, the price of SOL experienced a significant increase, resulting in a substantial wave of liquidations by sellers. Data from Coinglass reveals that there was a total of $13.2 million in SOL liquidations, with approximately $9.5 million of that amount coming from the liquidation of short positions.

The Block’s data dashboard reveals that the Solana blockchain has seen a notable decrease in new addresses recently. Over the past 15 days, the number of new addresses fell by 14.7%, dropping from a weekly high of 915,000 to 780,000.

Also read: Solana On The Verge Of A Breakdown! SOL Price To Hit $100 This Week?

Typically, a robust influx of new addresses is a sign of healthy network growth and increased utility, which in turn can boost Solana’s value. Conversely, a slowdown like the current trend can trigger concerns among investors, as it might reflect issues such as declined appeal of the blockchain, potential technical challenges, or increased competition from other blockchain platforms. Thus, SOL price might struggle in its ongoing recovery efforts.

Additionally, the decrease in the number of active addresses on the Solana blockchain, from a peak of 1.21 million to 1.1 million, further impacts the SOL price negatively. This decline suggests declined user engagement and transaction activity, which can weaken investor confidence and potentially lower the demand for SOL.

Analysts anticipate that the current recovery in SOL price may soon stall as it approaches resistance channels without sufficient buying pressure, potentially leading to a reversal for Solana.

What’s Next For SOL Price?

The inability of bears to halt a rebound at $120 for Solana indicates that bulls continue to dominate the market. Bulls continue to break above immediate Fib channels and push the SOL price toward its crucial resistance near 200-day EMA at $150. However, sellers are expected to strongly defend a surge above that trend line. As of writing, SOL price trades at $138, surging over 11% in the last 24 hours.

On the bearish hand, there is slight support at $116-$120, yet if this threshold is breached, the pace of selling may intensify, potentially driving the SOL/USDT pair down to $100. A deeper drop might delay the onset of the next upward trend.

For bulls to regain momentum, they need to quickly send the price above the 200-day EMA, currently at $150. This move could catch aggressive bears off guard, potentially triggering a short squeeze. Following this, the pair might target the 50-day SMA at $166.

Cryptocurrency

Byju’s implements revenue-linked compensation for sales team amid financial challenges

No Comments

Troubled edtech major Byju’s has rolled out a new policy wherein the salaries of the sales staff are directly linked to the revenues they generate every week, amid the struggles that the edtech major is facing with a severe cash crunch and to cover the payroll of its employees.

The cash-crunched company has only paid a part of salaries for February and March, after weeks of delay.

BYJU’S will now directly pay a percentage of the weekly revenue generated by sales staff at the end of the seven-day period.

The company said the new policy applies to the Inside Sales (IS) and Byju’s Exam Prep (BEP) teams, which largely focus on generating revenue for Byju’s. The policy, which was introduced within the company on April 24, will be applicable for four weeks till May 21.

Also read: Troubles mount for Byju’s as OPPO files insolvency plea, NCLT admits case

“Starting immediately, 50 per cent of the upfront weekly collection will be directly disbursed to our sales associates every week for the next four weeks. For instance, if an associate successfully collects ₹50,000 in revenue generated from orders between April 24th and April 30th, they will receive ₹25,000,” according to an internal document which businessline viewed.

Salary suspension

The firm said that the base salaries for sales team associates will be ‘suspended temporarily’ during this period. “Since the base salary has been suspended, you will not receive any payout or salaries for the given period (when the associate fails to do any revenue in a given week),” it added.

The document also showed that the amount disbursed will be adjusted against any pending salaries owed to the employee.

This has been done to motivate sales staff to bring in new enrollments, said sources close to the development.

Recently, the company paid partial salaries to employees for March, reported businessline. Byju Raveendran, founder and CEO, Think and Learn, parent, BYJU’S, has raised debt in his personal capacity to pay the salaries of employees for March.

For March salary, the company had started making salary payments in the range of 100 to 50 per cent to all employees. Teachers and lower salary grade staff were been paid in full while the rest, including senior management, have received at least 50 per cent of their dues for March, reported businessline.

Education

Hedge funds make billions as India’s options market goes ballistic

No Comments

Hedge funds take great pains to hide their inner workings. So a recent court case in which Jane Street sued two former employees and Millennium Management, another fund to which they had jumped ship, was immensely pleasing to the firm’s rivals, since it offered a rare view into one of the industry’s giants. Among the revelations: Jane Street’s “most profitable strategy” did not play out on Wall Street, but in the unglamorous Indian options business, where the firm last year earned $1bn.

This news has drawn attention to India’s options market, which is staggeringly large. According to the Futures Industry Association (FIA), a trade body, the country accounted for 84% of all equity option contracts traded globally last year, up from 15% a decade ago. The volume of contracts last year touched 85bn and has more than doubled every year since 2020 (see chart). Most of the frenzy is focused on the National Stock Exchange (NSE), which handles more than 93% of the transactions.

Finance

Wordle Tips: The Very Best Start Words, Tips and Strategies

No Comments

Winning Wordle is tricky but start words are key. “ADIEU” has been popular since the beginning and that makes sense, since it includes four vowels. But not everyone wants to know the vowels right away.

Want some statistically supported help? I consulted with the people behind the Oxford English Dictionary, who shared an analysis they did showing which letters are most frequently used in English words. Here’s the entire alphabet ranked by frequent use.

Use the list, share it, bookmark it, whatever you’d like to do. It will surprise absolutely no one that A and E are the top two. But I was shocked that J was the second-lowest, right in front of Q.

Lately I’ve been starting Wordle with the one-two punch of “TRAIN” and “CLOSE.” That combo uses every single one of the top 10 letters, and it almost always leaves me with a decent group of correct guesses — though not always in the right spots. That’s what guesses three through six are for.

Check out this CNET TikTok, which recommends starting with ADIEU and then throwing in STORY. It’s a great one-two punch that covers a lot of popular letters. The first time I tried it out, I was able to use the letter info I gained from those guesses to get the word easily on my third attempt.

I asked more CNET staffers, past and present, to share their Wordle strategies and favorite starting words. Hope it gives you a BOOST or maybe a NUDGE.

Big AUDIO dynamite

AUDIO. Get 4 out of 5 vowels out of the way immediately and focus on narrowing down consonants. Don’t be afraid to deviate from your regular starter word, though — sometimes a random word that pops into your head ends up being way more intuitive than you could have ever imagined. —Ashley Esqueda

A blank STARE

My go-to is STARE. I’m inspired a little by the Wheel of Fortune move of guessing RSTLNE first, and with this, I also knock off two vowels. At the very least, this often seems to give me something on the board early. —Eli Blumenthal

Get TEARY

I cycle through TEARY, PIOUS and ADIEU as a first word, to knock out some common letters and make inroads with vowels. I then choose my next word based on the results, though sometimes I just throw up my hands and use both TEARY and PIOUS one after the other no matter what. —Amanda Kooser

MAKER’s mark

MAKER. That word puts me in the mood to ‘create’ the answer based on the data I get from knocking out the above letter combo. Then I move on to animal names like TIGER. It’s not so much tactical as it is about just having fun for five or so minutes. —Mike Sorrentino

Use weird words

You aren’t playing Wordle correctly if you use the same word to start every day. That’s my official rule and I’m flabbergasted y’all use the same word each day. What? Use weird words. Grab a dictionary, close your eyes and flick to a random page. Start with YACHT one day, try ULCER the next. Look around the room! TOAST? Why not? Just do it! Come on, people. It’s not about clearing each day in the least amount of moves, it’s about learning to love yourself. —Jackson Ryan

CHEAT, and try the NYT Spelling Bee

I’ve been playing around with using FIRST, MANIC or CHEAT to start with. I don’t know if that says more about my frame of mind than my word solving skills, but this approach has pretty much led to me solving within three words. (I got PANIC the other day in two!) But I have to say that while I enjoy Wordle, I’m still a bigger fan of the NYT’s Spelling Bee, where you’re asked to create words using seven letters, and each word has to use the letter at the center of the puzzle. I play Spelling Bee with my husband (he gets half the points to Genius; I get the other half). With Wordle, we play against each other to see who can solve faster. So Spelling Bee just seems nicer. —Connie Guglielmo

Wheel good plan

First, I make sure to do it before my morning coffee, for an added layer of difficulty. I don’t have a go-to word, since that feels sorta cheap, but I do generally aim for initial words that are high in either vowel count or the good old-fashioned Wheel of Fortune letters: RSTLNE. If it works for Pat Sajak’s crew, it’s good enough for me. —Andrew Krok

An argument for ADIEU

I’ve been using ADIEU from day one. Hilariously, I still sometimes misspell it. Sometimes to shake things up — mostly based on pressure from Jackson Ryan — I’ll try something different. But every time I stray from ADIEU, it manifests into a gigantic uphill struggle I barely recover from. Either way, I dunno what we’re all arguing about. Someone did an experiment on this. The best word is ROATE.  —Mark Serrels

STORY time

I steal Mark’s word, ADIEU, and follow it up with STORY. Then it’s just a matter of putting all the letters I uncovered into the spots I think they’re in, and banging my head on the table, saying, “I’m not this stupid, am I?” until I figure it out. —Oscar Gonzalez

The first word you think of

I’m a high-risk, high-reward Wordle player. I truly pick the first word that pops into my mind, with absolutely no strategy whatsoever. Aside from this being the purest form of Wordling (as the experts say, obviously), when I’m lucky enough to accidentally guess three or four of five letters correctly, it’s immensely satisfying. —Monisha Ravisetti

Not easy being green

TREAD is a winner, but I like to mix up my first word. That said, I always have a few first-guess rules. At least two vowels. Never use an S. (That S guess will come in handy down the track when you realize you’re incredibly dim-witted and you can only think of four-letter guesses. Final rule: Your second guess should never include your greens from guess one (unless you’re on hard mode). Save those greens for later and throw five new letter guesses into the mix. If I see you post a Wordle answer on Twitter that has tall green columns of letters staying in the same place, I will judge you. —Claire Reilly

Guess it in two

My ultimate goal in Wordle is to guess the word by my second try. To that end, I use STEAR as my first word, which provides a solid set of letters in unusual positions — so I can often predict where they’ll go if they turn up yellow. From there, I make aggressive guesses, even if they’re strategically inadvisable (duplicate letters, few vowels, low-likelihood letters, etc.). Since starting this strategy, my average is about the same as ever, but now I occasionally win in two guesses. So, success? –-David Priest

Don’t fail

I don’t believe in strategies. Pick the word that speaks to you most in the morning and follow your heart. Starting with a tactically effective word makes it too easy anyway. So what if you fail? It’s just Wordle! (But I would like to make it clear that I never fail, not even when there’s an X in the word.) —Sarah McDermott

Read more: Over Wordle? Try One of These Other Puzzle Games

Gaming

Cat owners could be at higher risk of schizophrenia, study suggests, but more research is needed

No Comments

Cuddling with a cat or kitten might seem therapeutic, but a new study suggests contact with these animals could have adverse mental health effects down the road.

Research published in Schizophrenia Bulletin found that people who are exposed to cats may have more than double the chances of developing schizophrenia and other similar mental disorders later in life.

Australian researchers from the University of Queensland conducted a systematic review of 17 studies performed in 11 countries between Jan. 1, 1980, and May 30, 2023.

STUDY LINKS CANNABIS ABUSE TO SCHIZOPHRENIA IN YOUNG MEN

The study data was pulled from several databases, including Medline, Embase, CINAHL, Web of Science and other publications.

All the studies focused on participants who owned cats in their first 25 years of life and experienced schizophrenia-related outcomes, according to the researchers.

A new study suggests that being exposed to cats early in life could have adverse mental health effects down the road. (iStock)

Schizophrenia is a mental illness that affects a person’s thoughts, behaviors and feelings, as defined by the National Institute of Mental Health.

Psychotic symptoms can include hallucinations, delusions and thought disorders. 

AI-DISCOVERED DRUG SHOWS ‘ENORMOUS POTENTIAL’ TO TREAT SCHIZOPHRENIA: ‘REAL NEED FOR BETTER TREATMENT’

Those with the disorder may also experience cognitive challenges, loss of motivation, withdrawal from social activities, difficulty showing emotions and an overall lack of functioning.

“Based on past studies, there is evidence linking cat ownership and an increased risk of subsequent schizophrenia,” study author Dr. John McGrath, a psychiatrist at Queensland Brain Institute at the University of Queensland, St Lucia, Australia, told Fox News Digital.

“We had an open mind, and we reported the published findings.”

Young girl with cat

Research published in Schizophrenia Bulletin found that people who own cats may have more than double the chance of developing schizophrenia and other similar mental disorders later in life. (iStock)

Previous research linking cat exposure to schizophrenia risk has focused on Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii), a parasite that can cause a feline disease called toxoplasmosis.

Separate studies have identified a “modest to large association” between toxoplasmosis and schizophrenia.

CATS AT COLLEGE? ‘HIGHLY EMOTIONAL’ STUDENTS MAY BENEFIT FROM FELINES ON CAMPUS: STUDY

The study did have some limitations, McGrath acknowledged.

“While observational epidemiology cannot prove this link, this topic warrants further, more detailed research,” he said.

“I was disappointed that there were not more highly quality — i.e., more rigorous — studies in our review.”

“Schizophrenia is an incredibly complex disorder, and this study identifies one potential risk factor that needs to be understood in a broader context.”

Schizophrenia is a “poorly understood group of disorders,” McGrath noted.

“We need to invest in more research that looks at potential risk factors. There is much work to be done.”

‘No need to panic’

Dr. Zachary Ginder, a psychological consultant and doctor of clinical psychology at Pine Siskin Consulting, LLC in Riverside, California, was not involved in the study but commented on the findings.

Woman mental disorder

Schizophrenia is a mental illness that affects a person’s thoughts, behaviors and feelings. Psychotic symptoms can include hallucinations, delusions and thought disorders.  (iStock)

“It is important to keep a level head in consideration of these findings, and there is no need to panic if you own a cat and have children or are thinking about starting a family,” Ginder told Fox News Digital.

“Schizophrenia is an incredibly complex disorder, and this study identifies one potential risk factor that needs to be understood in a broader context. It would likely be premature to make strong recommendations about cat ownership solely based on these findings.”

CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR HEALTH NEWSLETTER

Although a relationship has been established between early-life cat exposure and schizophrenia, Ginder emphasized that this does not necessarily indicate that exposure causes the disorder. 

cat at the vet

“A lot more research” is needed to better understand these relationships — “accounting for a myriad of potential confounding factors and exploring underlying biological mechanisms,” said one psychological consultant and doctor of clinical psychology. (iStock)

“There is a lot that we still don’t know, and it is important to highlight that not all people who are exposed to cats or infected with the parasite develop mental health issues, and not all people with schizophrenia have had cat exposure,” he told Fox News Digital.

“While this parasite may play a role, it’s likely part of a complex interplay of genetic and environmental factors.” 

CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP

Ginder echoed the researchers’ comments that “a lot more research” is needed to better understand these relationships — “accounting for a myriad of potential confounding factors and exploring underlying biological mechanisms.”

“These findings just give us another piece of an incredibly complex puzzle.”

For more Health articles, visit www.foxnews.com/health.

Melissa Rudy is health editor and a member of the lifestyle team at Fox News Digital. Story tips can be sent to [email protected].

Health Fitness

Job Seeker Delivers Pizza And Resume To Startup, CEO Responds

No Comments

In today’s competitive job market, people are always looking for creative ways to make themselves stand out. From eye-catching resumes to interactive portfolios, the options are endless. Well, one candidate went above and beyond by delivering his job application along with a pizza to the company’s office, hoping to secure an interview. Matthew Parkhurst, CEO of the New York-based startup Antimetal, was so impressed by this unconventional approach that he shared a post about the applicant on X, formerly Twitter. 

Also Read: 10-Year-Old Boy Sells Chicken Egg Rolls For A Living; Internet Calls Him “Real Hero”

“David,” an aspiring intern, sent a pizza to the office of the company he hoped to intern with along with his resume. It was accompanied by a handwritten note which showed his eagerness to join their team as an engineering intern. In his note, David jokingly admitted that the pizza was a bribe to entice the hiring team to review his website and portfolio.

He wrote, “Hey Antimetal team, congrats on the recent launch. Inspired by Antimetal’s brief stint as slices as a service company, please enjoy this pizza. I’ve also brought a copy of my resume as an application for the engineering intern position. I’m super excited by the opportunity and am driven to do what it takes. PS: This is basically a bribe for you to go to my site. P.P.S. I’ve made a small PR to fix some links in your docs.”

This unconventional method certainly grabbed the attention of the hiring team and showed David’s initiative and out-of-the-box (pizza) thinking. 

The Anitimetal CEO wrote in the caption, “Another internship application – came to our office and dropped off a pizza with his resume. Even pushed a PR to fix 2 links in our docs prior. 100% getting an interview.”

See here –

A user commented, “Nah this is not an interview this is an automatic job offer.”

Another user wrote, “You can always tell the likelihood a start-up will succeed by the quality of the interns.”

Someone claimed that they had “just added him on LinkedIn”, claiming “he’s going places.”

“Pizza? Instant hire,” read another comment.

What do you think of this?

Also Read: Watch: South Delhi’s Momos Stall Goes Viral With Trending ‘Popcorn Momos’!

Home Kitchen

The Best Headwear at the Central Park Hat Lunch

No Comments

They waltzed down the steps of Central Park’s Vanderbilt Gate on Fifth Avenue on Wednesday morning like Marilyn Monroe in her bejeweled performance of the song “Diamonds Are a Girl’s Best Friend.”

But here, there were many more women, each of them escorted by a waiter in a white coat, seemingly floating down the staircase and into the Conservatory Garden. And instead of diamonds, they wore hats or fascinators or headbands made of feathers, Legos and artificial flowers. One was even fashioned as a swan.

The procession that entered the 42nd annual Frederick Law Olmsted Awards Luncheon at the Conservatory Garden — or the hat luncheon, as it is colloquially known — donned frocks in shades of pink, orange, lavender, ice blue and Kelly green — enough colors to rival the eggs in an Easter basket.

The luncheon is an annual occasion that serves as a trumpet song of spring in the city and a fund-raiser for the Central Park Conservancy. This year, over 1,000 guests, including philanthropists, designers, members of the Central Park Conservancy and overall lovers of Central Park, raised over $4.6 million for the preservation and upkeep of Manhattan’s green jewel.

“It’s a big celebration for Central Park and the people who really love and care for the park,” said Betsy Smith, the president and chief executive of the Central Park Conservancy.

This year’s event, which honored Diane Schaub, the Central Park Conservancy’s curator of gardens, along with the Conservancy’s garden staff, took nine months to plan, according to Ms. Smith. It is the biggest fund-raiser for the park, and the money raised will go toward operating costs for the park, including landscaping and park maintenance.

Former Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg, who arrived after the procession in a navy blue jacket and hunter green tie, is a longtime supporter of the park and a former board member.

“They’ve got to raise money all the time; Central Park doesn’t get enough money,” Mr. Bloomberg said.

“When she asks for money, you just write a check,” he said, looking toward Ms. Smith as she walked by him to take her seat beside his. “Just say yes. I learned that many years ago from her.”

While some attendees began to take their seats and enjoy their lunch of poached salmon with a kohlrabi and avocado salad, the gowned and the heeled made the rounds.

Abby Phillip, the CNN anchor, said this was her first time at the luncheon.

“I just moved to New York, so it’s quite the welcome to the city,” said Ms. Phillip, who was wearing a lavender dress from Amsale and a light gray fascinator.

“When I lived in New York years ago, I would just, like, ride from Harlem all the way down to Central Park South,” she said. “It’s like therapy, honestly, just to have this smack dab in the middle of the city. It is so beautiful.”

Ms. Phillip was invited by her friend Mireyah D’Angelo, who was wearing a large fascinator from Eve Bari with shiny black feathers.

For Ms. D’Angelo, a banker with JP Morgan Chase, supporting the park means protecting the memories of her daughter’s childhood.

“I have a 25-year-old-daughter who we basically raised her in New York using the park,” said Ms. D’Angelo, who was wearing a white linen dress. “This is the only way to ensure that this oasis that we have in the city stays beautiful for absolutely everyone in the city.”

While there were no children in attendance, Ylena Feuerman, a jeweler from Kyiv, found a way for her 12-year-old daughter, Mia, to contribute. Ms. Feuerman’s headpiece was made of Legos that clicked together to form flowers. The headpiece was a project she embarked on with her daughter and her nanny, Luda, a year ago.

“She painted it and put Legos everywhere,” said Ms. Feuerman, whose sky blue dress featured 3-D accents that were also made of Legos. “This is a message to Ukrainian kids to be safe and be happy.”

For others, like Katherine Gage Boulud, the restaurateur and wife of the chef Daniel Boulud, the park serves as an heirloom.

“So many of us are mothers and daughters of people who have supported the park for a long time, and we bring our children here,” she said. She was wearing a Julia Clancey headband with fuchsia orchids attached to it and a pink beaded miniskirt suit set by Carolina Herrera.

“This has taken on an even greater importance since Covid, when everybody realized just how much we depend on the park,” Ms. Gage Boulud said.

It is the democratization of the green space that is important to Kathleen Tait, a philanthropist who has attended the luncheon for 20 years.

“People have said for a long time that this was the backyard of New York City, but it was not true for my dad growing up here, it was not true for us,” said Ms. Tait, who wore a fascinator with gardenias in the front and a floating dragonfly in the back. “I want to help push this forward.”

Lifestyle Fashion

Osnovni iPhone 15 više nije vodeći izbor, tu ulogu preuzimaju modeli Pro i Pro Maxa

No Comments

Pri kreiranju rubrike Index Shopping nastojimo izdvajati odlične proizvode koji se i nama sviđaju te odlične akcije i popuste. Ne objavljujemo proizvode koje i sami ne bismo kupili ili smatramo da njihova promocija nije u skladu s profesionalnim standardima. Neki proizvodi u rubrici Index Shopping mogu biti sponzorirani.

U POSLJEDNJIH nekoliko godina trendovi u odabiru iPhonea su se promijenili. Tradicionalno, osnovni modeli iPhonea dominirali su tržištem, no s vremenom su se stvari promijenile, a modeli Pro i Pro Max postaju sve popularniji.

Prema najnovijim podacima Consumer Intelligence Research Partnersa (CIRP), koji su nedavno objavljeni, vidljivo je da su modeli Pro, posebno iPhone 15 Pro Max, osvojili velik udio tržišta u SAD-u u ožujku 2024. godine. S druge strane, standardni iPhone 15 i iPhone 15 Plus zabilježili su znatno manji udio u prodaji.

Pogledamo li unatrag u ožujak 2023., primjetno je da je trend prema modelima Pro već tada započeo. No, ono što je zanimljivo jest da je osnovni iPhone 14 tada imao veći udio u prodaji u odnosu na aktualni osnovni model iPhonea 15. To jasno pokazuje da se preferencije potrošača mijenjaju te da se modeli Pro sve više favoriziraju.

Osim toga, vidljivo je da sve više kupaca bira starije verzije iPhonea, poput iPhonea 14, umjesto najnovijih modela poput iPhonea 15. Ovo pokazuje da postoji jasna podjela između onih koji žele najnovije tehnološke inovacije i onih koji su zadovoljni starijim, ali i dalje kvalitetnim modelima.

Znate li nešto više o temi ili želite prijaviti grešku u tekstu?

Shopping Product Reviews

Julio Urías ordered into treatment after domestic violence plea

No Comments

Former Dodgers pitcher Julio Urías was placed on probation for three years and ordered to enter a domestic violence treatment program after pleading no contest to a charge of misdemeanor domestic battery against his wife.

The left-handed pitcher from Sinaloa, Mexico, nicknamed “El Culichi,” closed out the 2020 World Series by striking out Tampa Bay Rays slugger Willy Adames, giving the Dodgers their first championship since 1988.

But in September 2023, the 27-year-old Urías was arrested outside BMO Stadium after an LAFC game. A person alerted police that a man and a woman were involved in a physical altercation, according to a report from the Exposition Park Department of Public Safety.

Police officers approached Urías and the woman — later identified as his wife, Daisy — and “determined a physical altercation had occurred,” the report said. Urías was taken into custody and released the next morning on $50,000 bail.

He was charged with five misdemeanors: one count of spousal battery, two counts of domestic battery involving a dating relationship, one count of false imprisonment and one count of assault.

On Wednesday, Urías pleaded no contest to one count of domestic battery and the other four charges were dismissed, according to court records.

A Los Angeles County Superior Court judge ordered Urías to enroll in and pay for a yearlong domestic violence treatment program and attend all his counseling sessions. Instead of jail time, Urías was placed on three years of probation and forbidden during that time to possess, use or own any dangerous weapons. He was also ordered to not use or threaten violence against anyone during that time.

Urías signed with the Dodgers in 2012 and made his major league debut in 2016. But in 2019, Urias was suspended 20 games after being arrested on suspicion of misdemeanor domestic violence, but was not charged .

Following his arrest, Urías spent the rest of last season — which began with his first career opening day start for the Dodgers — on administrative leave before his contract expired in early November. He remains a free agent, with a career record of 60 wins and 25 losses in 158 appearances.

An investigation by Major League Baseball of the misdemeanor allegations against Urías remains open, according to an MLB spokesperson,
with no timeline on when it will be completed. Typically, MLB investigators interview players accused of violating the league’s policy against domestic violence, the spokesperson said. It is not clear if MLB investigators have spoken to Urías.

Sports

Get up to 64% off on Galaxy S24 Ultra Galaxy Z Fold5, Z Flip5 and other products – Check complete list | Samsung Fab Grab Fest

No Comments

Samsung has announced its biggest summer sale, ‘Fab Grab Fest’. According to the company, there are some exciting offers across a wide range of products on Samsung.com, Samsung Shop App as well as at Samsung Exclusive Stores. Customers can avail a discount of up to 64 per cent off on smartphones like Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra, Galaxy S24+, Galaxy S24, Galaxy Z Fold5, Galaxy Z Flip5, Galaxy S23 FE, Galaxy S21 FE, Galaxy A55,  Galaxy A35 and Galaxy A15.

Not just smartphones, up to 77 per cent off is available on select models of Galaxy tablets, accessories and wearables. 

Select models of Samsung TVs such as the flagship Neo-QLED 8K, Neo QLED, OLED, The Frame TVs, and Crystal UHD series will be available at up to 43 per cent off.  
The ‘Fab Grab Fest’ 2024 will offer discounts and unmatched prices on a host of digital appliances such as refrigerators, washing machines, microwaves, monitors and air conditioners.

As part of the exciting bank offers, customers can experience exceptional savings of up to 22.5 per cent cashback when using HDFC Bank, ICICI Bank, and other leading debit and credit cards, with a maximum cashback of up to Rs 25,000.

Samsung Fab Grab Fest Offers: Check the complete list of offers and discount 

 

Products Consumer Offer Highlight Models
Smartphones Up to 64% off on MRP Galaxy S24 Ultra, Galaxy S24+, Galaxy S24, Galaxy Z Fold5, Galaxy Z Flip5, Galaxy S23 FE, Galaxy S21 FE, Galaxy A55, Galaxy A35, Galaxy A15
Laptops Up to 24% off on MRP Galaxy Book4 Pro 360,Galaxy Book4 Pro, Galaxy Book4 360, Galaxy Book4
Tablets, Accessories & Wearables Up to 77% off on MRP Galaxy Tab S9 Series, Galaxy Tab S9 FE+, Galaxy Tab S9 FE, Galaxy Tab A9+, Galaxy Tab A9, Galaxy Buds2 Pro, Galaxy Watch6 Classic, Galaxy Watch6, Galaxy Watch4 Classic (46 mm), Galaxy Buds FE, Galaxy Fit3
TVs Up to 43% off
Exchange Bonus: Get Up to INR 5000 extra on exchange
1+1 year Warranty
Up to INR 20000 bank cashback**		 Neo QLED 8K, Neo QLED, QLED, OLED & 4K UHD models
**Select models of Neo QLED & OLED
Refrigerators Up to 48% off
20 Years warranty on Digital Inverter Compressor
Bespoke AI Package: Buy 3 or more selected products & get 10% Off
Lowest EMI option starting from INR 3990 per month with Bajaj Finance
Instant cart discount of Up to INR 5000^^		 All Side by Side Refrigerators, French Door Refrigerators, 350L and above Frost Free Refrigerators.
^^236L Convertible Freezer Plus Double Door Refrigerator (RT28C3733S8/HL), 633L Convertible 5in1 Side by Side Refrigerator (RS78CG8543S9HL), 301L BESPOKE Double Door Refrigerator (RT34CB522C7/HL)
Washing Machines Up to 50% off
20 years warranty on Digital Inverter Motor on FATL & FAFL
Fully Automatic Front Loading: Starting EMI INR 1490
Fully Automatic Top Loading: Starting EMI INR 990
Semi Automatic Washing Machine : Starting EMI INR 756		 All Front Load >= 7kg and Top Load > =7kg Washing Machines
Microwaves Up to 50% Off
10 year warranty on Ceramic Enamel Cavity
Up to 30 months EMI starting INR 990 ##		 All Microwaves
## 28L & above convection microwaves
Monitors Up to 61% Off
3 years warranty
Up to 20% Bank Cashback Up to INR 10,000
Free Wall Mount^		 All monitors
^Select smart & gaming monitors
Air Conditioners Up to 47% off
Additional 10% off on purchase of two or more WindFree™ ACs
10 year warranty on compressor & extended warranty on PCB : 1 year Standard + 4 year extended warranty		 Select Windfree & Convertible AC models
Bank Cashback   Up to 22.5% cashback with HDFC Bank ICICI Bank, and other leading Debit and Credit Cards (Up to INR 25000)

 

Technology

Best men’s luggage bags: Discover the top 9 picks for effortless travel, packed with style and functionality | Travel

No Comments

When it comes to traveling, having the right luggage bag is essential. Whether you’re a frequent traveler or simply planning a weekend getaway, having a reliable bag can make all the difference. In this article, we’ll take a look at the top 10 men’s luggage bags available on the market, highlighting their key features, pros, and cons to help you make an informed decision. From backpacks to duffel bags, we’ve covered a wide range of options to suit every traveler’s needs.

Travel in style and confidence with our curated selection of the best men’s luggage bags.

1.

The Skybags Cardiff Polyester Travel DFCAR55BLU is a spacious and durable travel backpack that is perfect for long trips. It features multiple compartments for easy organization and a sturdy polyester construction for added durability. The padded shoulder straps and back panel provide extra comfort, making it an ideal choice for frequent travelers.

Unlock exclusive access to the latest news on India’s general elections, only on the HT App. Download Now! Download Now!

Specifications of Skybags Cardiff Polyester Travel DFCAR55BLU:

  • Spacious compartments for easy organization
  • Durable polyester construction
  • Padded shoulder straps and back panel for comfort
  • Ideal for long trips and frequent travel
  • Available in stylish blue color

&nbsp&nbspReasons to buy

&nbsp&nbspReasons to avoid

Spacious and organized

Limited color options

Durable construction

Comfortable to wear

2.

The Rucksack Travel Backpack Trekking Compartment is a versatile and rugged backpack designed for outdoor adventures. It features a large main compartment, multiple pockets, and adjustable shoulder straps for a comfortable fit. The waterproof construction and durable zippers make it an excellent choice for trekking and outdoor activities.

Specifications of Rucksack Travel Backpack Trekking Compartment:

  • Versatile and rugged design
  • Large main compartment and multiple pockets
  • Adjustable shoulder straps for a comfortable fit
  • Waterproof construction and durable zippers
  • Ideal for trekking and outdoor activities

&nbsp&nbspReasons to buy

&nbsp&nbspReasons to avoid

Versatile and rugged

Limited color options

Comfortable fit

Waterproof construction

3.

The Skybags Cardiff Polyester Travel DFTCAR62EBLU is a stylish and functional travel backpack bag that offers ample storage space and organizational features. It is constructed from durable polyester material and features padded shoulder straps for added comfort. The sleek design and vibrant blue color make it a great choice for both business and leisure travel.

Specifications of Skybags Cardiff Polyester Travel DFTCAR62EBLU:

  • Stylish and functional design
  • Ample storage space and organizational features
  • Durable polyester material
  • Padded shoulder straps for added comfort
  • Sleek design and vibrant blue color

&nbsp&nbspReasons to buy

&nbsp&nbspReasons to avoid

Stylish and functional

Limited color options

Ample storage space

Comfortable to wear

Also read: Best women luggage bags: Top 10 options for stylish travellers looking for an upgrade

4.

The Skybags Cardiff Polyester Travel DFTCAR52BLU is a compact and lightweight travel backpack that is perfect for short trips and daily commutes. It features a sleek design with multiple compartments for easy organization and a padded back panel for added comfort. The durable polyester construction and vibrant blue color make it a stylish and practical choice for travelers.

Specifications of Skybags Cardiff Polyester Travel DFTCAR62EBLU:

  • Compact and lightweight design
  • Multiple compartments for easy organization
  • Padded back panel for added comfort
  • Durable polyester construction
  • Ideal for short trips and daily commutes

&nbsp&nbspReasons to buy

&nbsp&nbspReasons to avoid

Compact and lightweight

Limited color options

Easy organization

Comfortable to wear

5.

The Lavie Lino Women’s Shoulder Piece is a stylish and elegant shoulder bag designed for women on the go. It features a spacious main compartment, multiple pockets, and a comfortable shoulder strap. The high-quality material and chic design make it a versatile and practical choice for everyday use.

Specifications of Lavie Lino Women’s Shoulder Piece:

  • Stylish and elegant design
  • Spacious main compartment and multiple pockets
  • Comfortable shoulder strap
  • High-quality material and chic design
  • Versatile and practical for everyday use

&nbsp&nbspReasons to buy

&nbsp&nbspReasons to avoid

Stylish and elegant

Limited color options

Spacious and practical

Comfortable to carry

Also read: Best kids luggage bags: Top 7 picks for hassle-free travel adventures with your little ones

6.

The Rucksack Keep Discovering Light Black is a lightweight and versatile backpack designed for everyday use. It features a sleek black design, multiple compartments, and adjustable shoulder straps for a comfortable fit. The durable construction and ample storage space make it an excellent choice for students, professionals, and travelers alike.

Specifications of Rucksack Keep Discovering Light Black:

  • Lightweight and versatile design
  • Sleek black design and multiple compartments
  • Adjustable shoulder straps for a comfortable fit
  • Durable construction and ample storage space
  • Ideal for students, professionals, and travelers

&nbsp&nbspReasons to buy

&nbsp&nbspReasons to avoid

Lightweight and versatile

Limited color options

Sleek design

Comfortable to wear

7.

The Impulse Rucksack 75 Backpack is a rugged and spacious backpack designed for trekking and outdoor adventures. It features a large main compartment, multiple pockets, and adjustable shoulder straps for a comfortable fit. The durable construction and waterproof design make it an ideal choice for outdoor enthusiasts.

Specifications of Impulse Rucksack 75 Backpack Trekking:

  • Rugged and spacious design
  • Large main compartment and multiple pockets
  • Adjustable shoulder straps for a comfortable fit
  • Durable construction and waterproof design
  • Ideal for trekking and outdoor adventures

&nbsp&nbspReasons to buy

&nbsp&nbspReasons to avoid

Rugged and spacious

Limited color options

Comfortable fit

Waterproof design

8.

The Travalate Luggage Organizer is a lightweight and practical travel bag designed for organizing clothes and accessories. It features multiple compartments, durable polyester material, and a compact design for easy packing. The ultra-light construction and ample storage space make it an excellent choice for frequent travelers.

Specifications of Travalate Luggage Organizer Ultra-Light Polyester:

  • Lightweight and practical design
  • Multiple compartments for organizing clothes and accessories
  • Durable polyester material
  • Compact design for easy packing
  • Ideal for frequent travelers

&nbsp&nbspReasons to buy

&nbsp&nbspReasons to avoid

Lightweight and practical

Limited color options

Ample storage space

Compact design

Also read: Best Safari luggage bags: Top 9 picks for your next adventure, ensuring style and durability on every journey

9.

The Gear Training Travel Black Grey DUFCRSTNG0104 is a versatile and durable duffel bag designed for sports and travel. It features a spacious main compartment, multiple pockets, and adjustable shoulder straps for easy carrying. The high-quality material and stylish design make it an ideal choice for gym goers and frequent travelers.

Specifications of Gear Training Travel Black Grey DUFCRSTNG0104:

  • Versatile and durable design
  • Spacious main compartment and multiple pockets
  • Adjustable shoulder straps for easy carrying
  • High-quality material and stylish design
  • Ideal for sports and travel

&nbsp&nbspReasons to buy

&nbsp&nbspReasons to avoid

Versatile and durable

Limited color options

Spacious and practical

Stylish design

Top 3 features of the best men’s luggage bags:

Product Names Design Storage Space Comfort
Skybags Cardiff Polyester Travel DFCAR55BLU Spacious and organized Durable construction Comfortable to wear
Rucksack Travel Backpack Trekking Compartment Versatile and rugged Comfortable fit Waterproof construction
Skybags Cardiff Polyester Travel DFTCAR62EBLU Stylish and functional Ample storage space Comfortable to wear
Skybags Cardiff Polyester Travel DFTCAR52BLU Compact and lightweight Easy organization Comfortable to wear
Lavie Lino Women’s Shoulder Piece Stylish and elegant Spacious and practical Comfortable to carry
Rucksack Keep Discovering Light Black Lightweight and versatile Sleek design Comfortable to wear
Impulse Rucksack 75 Backpack Trekking Rugged and spacious Comfortable fit Waterproof design
Travalate Luggage Organizer Ultra-Light Polyester Lightweight and practical Ample storage space Compact design
Gear Training Travel Black Grey DUFCRSTNG0104 Versatile and durable Spacious and practical Stylish design

Best value for money product:

The Travalate Luggage Organizer Ultra-Light Polyester bag is the best value for money, offering a lightweight and practical design with ample storage space for frequent travelers. Its compact and durable construction make it an excellent choice for those looking for affordable yet reliable luggage options.

Best overall product:

The Skybags Cardiff Polyester Travel bag stands out as the best overall product, with its versatile and rugged design, comfortable fit, and waterproof construction. Whether you’re trekking or traveling, this backpack offers the best features in the category.

How to find the best men’s luggage bags?

When choosing the perfect luggage bag, consider the design, storage space, and comfort. Look for versatile and practical options that meet your specific travel needs, and compare the pros and cons of each product to make an informed decision.

Disclaimer: At Hindustan Times, we help you stay up-to-date with the latest trends and products. Hindustan Times has an affiliate partnership, so we may get a part of the revenue when you make a purchase. We shall not be liable for any claim under applicable laws, including but not limited to the Consumer Protection Act, 2019, with respect to the products. The products listed in this article are in no particular order of priority.

Tours Travel

Tom Hardy’s Mad Max Furiosa cameo confirmed as director lays out Mad Max 5 plans | Films | Entertainment

No Comments

It’s been a decade since George Miller shot Mad Max: Fury Road, which went on to be hailed as one of the greatest action movies ever made.

Now a prequel focused on Charlize Theron’s Imperator Furiosa is set to hit cinemas later this month with Anya Taylor-Joy playing a younger version of the character in the post-apocalyptic world.

Set 15-20 years before the events of Mad Max: Fury Road, Furiosa will come face to face with a younger Immortan Joe and Chris Hemsworth’s Warlord Dementus.

And according to a new interview, Tom Hardy’s Mad Max will have a brief cameo in Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga.

According to Entertainment Weekly: “Max and his beloved car, the Interceptor, make a humorously appropriate blink-and-you’ll-miss-it cameo in the film, which Miller says he had no choice but to include.”

By the sounds of it, this will be more of a nod to the character’s presence rather than him actually being played by Tom Hardy.

Unless, of course, a younger actor who looks somewhat like the star or original actor Mel Gibson turns up for a cameo in his car.

Whatever the case, the director also laid out his plans for Mad Max 5, which would be a prequel set a year before the events of Fury Road – so presumably Hardy could just about pass as young enough to reprise the role.

Miller shard: “In doing what we did in the preparation of Mad Max: Fury Road, we also wrote what happened to Max in the year before we encounter him in [that film].

“And as we get towards the end of this movie, the chronology… Basically, we had to see that Mad Max was lurking around somewhere because we do know what happened. The writers know what happened to Mad Max in that year before, and we have a whole story of that, which I would like to do sometime if I get the chance.”

Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga hits cinemas on May 24, 2024.

Arts Entertainments

2024 Ford Ranger price and specs

No Comments

Ford Australia upped prices of its Ranger utes for 2024, but has kept them the same – with one exception – for what it calls model year 2024.5.

Updated models enter production in March, and will arrive in showrooms around mid-year.

For information on the Ranger Raptor, check out our separate Ranger Raptor price and specs article.

UPDATE, 18/01/2024 – We’ve updated this article with changes for MY24.5.

UPDATE, 17/09/2023 – Ford Australia is hiking Ranger pricing by between $500 and $1200. The increases will come into effect for all vehicles produced from January 1, 2024. Customers with existing orders contracted as of September 15, 2023 are price protected.

The Ford Ranger line-up starts at $36,880 before on-road costs for the XL single cab-chassis 4×2.

  • XLS

Only the XLS Bi-Turbo dual-cab ute, now available exclusively with four-wheel drive, has received a price hike.

It’s up by $1950, but has gained the previously optional Towing Pack and XLS Tech Pack as standard.

In addition to the XLS 4×2, the XL Bi-Turbo 4×2 dual cab-chassis and XL Bi-Turbo super-cab 4×2 ute have been axed. The limited edition Wildtrak X has also finished its run.

The option package range has also been simplified, with off-road packs for 4×2 XL and XLT models removed from the option list, while those remaining have received price increases.

  • 2024 Ford Ranger price and specs
  • 2024 Ford Ranger price and specs

As on the related Everest, the Ranger gains Pro Trailer Backup Assist. It’s standard on the Wildtrak, Platinum and Raptor, and available as part of the 4×4 XLT and Sport utes’ optional Touring Pack which increases in price from $1290 to $1650.

“The driver ‘steers’ the trailer via the outer ring of the drive mode controller on the centre console,” explained Ford advanced driver assist systems engineer Zack McIntyre.

“As the driver turns the dial, the steering wheel, which the driver doesn’t need to touch during the manoeuvre, turns to direct the trailer where it needs to go.”

The system is activated with the press of the trailer icon on the drive mode selector.

  • 2024 Ford Ranger price and specs
    Platinum

Ford has expanded the availability of its Flexible Rack System, previously standard only on the Platinum and Wildtrak X.

The sliding rack can be locked into one of five preset locations along the length of the Ranger’s tub.

You can now specify the Sport with it, deleting sports bar and load box access points; it’s also optional on the Wildtrak, removing the sailplane and box rails.

The base Ranger XL now comes standard with heavy-duty suspension, with thicker rear springs and new front and rear dampers with a revised tune.

Pricing

Ranger XL

  • 4×2 single cab-chassis 2.0L: $36,880
  • 4×2 super cab-chassis 2.0L: $39,380
  • 4×2 double cab pickup 2.0L: $43,280
  • 4×4 single cab-chassis Bi-Turbo: $47,980
  • 4×4 double cab-chassis 2.0L: $48,980
  • 4×4 super cab-chassis BiTurbo: $50,480
  • 4×4 double cab-chassis BiTurbo: $52,480
  • 4×4 double cab pickup 2.0L: $50,880
  • 4×4 double cab pickup BiTurbo: $54,380

Ranger XLS

  • 4×4 double cab pickup BiTurbo: $57,380 (+$1950)

Ranger XLT

  • 4×2 double cab pickup BiTurbo: $56,190
  • 4×4 super cab pickup BiTurbo: $61,390
  • 4×4 double cab pickup BiTurbo: $63,390
  • 4×4 double cab chassis V6: $65,690
  • 4×4 double cab pickup V6: $67,590

Ranger Sport

  • 4×4 double cab pickup BiTurbo: $65,890
  • 4×4 double cab pickup V6: $70,090

Ranger Wildtrak

  • 4×4 double cab pickup BiTurbo: $69,390
  • 4×4 double cab pickup V6: $73,590

Ranger Platinum

  • 4×4 double cab pickup V6: $79,390

All prices exclude on-road costs.

Drivetrains

  • 2024 Ford Ranger price and specs

Standard on the entry-level XL is a 2.0-litre four-cylinder single turbo-diesel engine with 125kW of power and 405Nm of torque. This is mated exclusively to a six-speed automatic transmission and is available in two- and four-wheel drive configurations.

Available across much of the range is a 2.0-litre four-cylinder Bi-Turbo diesel engine producing 154kW and 500Nm. This is mated to a 10-speed automatic with two- and four-wheel drive configurations, depending on the variant.

The 3.0-litre turbo-diesel V6 engine, which produces 184kW and 600Nm, is available in XLT, Sport, Wildtrak and Platinum variants. This is mated to a 10-speed automatic transmission, with drive sent through a full-time four-wheel drive system.

Fuel Economy

  • 2024 Ford Ranger price and specs
    Sport

Claimed fuel economy figures for the 2024 Ford Ranger line-up are as follows:

Ranger XL

Combined Urban Extra Urban
4×2 single cab chassis, 2.0-litre single-turbo diesel, 6AT 7.6L/100km 9.6L/100km 6.4L/100km
4×2 extended cab chassis, 2.0 single-turbo diesel, 6AT 7.6L/100km 9.6L/100km 6.4L/100km
4×2 dual cab chassis, 2.0 single-turbo diesel, 6AT 7.6L/100km 9.6L/100km 6.4L/100km
4×2 dual cab pickup, 2.0 single-turbo diesel, 6AT 7.8L/100km 9.9L/100km 6.6L/100km
4×4 single cab chassis, 2.0 bi-turbo diesel, 10AT 7.2L/100m 7.6L/100km 6.9L/100km
4×4 extended cab chassis, 2.0 bi-turbo diesel, 10AT 7.2L/100km 7.6L/100km 6.9L/100km
4×4 extended cab pickup, 2.0 bi-turbo diesel, 10AT 7.2L/100km 7.6L/100km 6.9L/100km
4×4 dual cab chassis, 2.0 single-turbo diesel, 6AT 7.9L/100km 9.9L/100km 6.8L/100km
4×4 dual cab chassis, 2.0 bi-turbo diesel, 10AT 7.2L/100km 7.6L/100km 6.9L/100km
4×4 dual cab pickup, 2.0 single-turbo diesel, 6AT 80L/100km 10L/100km 6.9L/100km
4×4 dual cab pickup, 2.0 bi-turbo diesel, 10AT 7.6L/100km 8.7L/100km 7L/100km

Ranger XLS

Combined Urban Extra Urban
4×4 dual cab pickup, 2.0 bi-turbo diesel, 10AT 7.2L/100km 7.7L/100km 6.9L/100km

Ranger XLT

Combined Urban Extra Urban
4×2 dual cab pickup, 2.0 bi-turbo diesel, 10AT 6.9L/100km 7.3L/100km 6.7L/100km
4×4 extended cab pickup, 2.0 bi-turbo diesel, 10AT 7.2L/100km 7.6L/100km 6.9L/100km
4×4 dual cab pickup, 2.0 bi-turbo diesel, 10AT 7.2L/100km 7.7L/100km 6.9L/100km
4×4 dual cab chassis, 3.0 V6 diesel, 10AT 8.4L/100km 10L/100km 7.5L/100km
4×4 dual cab pickup, 3.0 V6 diesel, 10AT 8.4L/100km 10L/100km 7.5L/100km

Ranger Sport

Combined Urban Extra Urban
4×4 dual cab pickup, 2.0 bi-turbo diesel, 10AT 7.6L/100km 8.7L/100km 7L/100km
4×4 dual cab pickup, 3.0 V6 diesel, 10AT 8.4L/100km 10L/100km 7.5L/100km

Ranger Wildtrak

Combined Urban Extra Urban
4×4 dual cab pickup, 2.0 bi-turbo diesel, 10AT 7.6L/100km 8.7L/100km 7L/100km
4×4 dual cab pickup, 3.0 V6 diesel, 10AT 8.4L/100km 10L/100km 7.5L/100km

Ranger Platinum

Combined Urban Extra Urban
4×4 dual cab pickup, 3.0 V6 diesel, 10AT 8.4L/100km 10L/100km 7.5L/100km

Dimensions

The 2024 Ford Ranger dual-cab pickup measures in at 5370mm long, 1918mm wide, and 1884mm tall, with a 3720mm wheelbase.

  • 2024 Ford Ranger price and specs
    XLT dual-cab pickup

Maximum braked towing capacity is up to 3500kg for all variants.

Maximum payload is up to 1327kg, gross vehicle mass (GVM) is up to 3350kg, and gross combined mass (GCM) is up to 6400kg.

Servicing and Warranty

The 2024 Ford Ranger is covered by a five-year, unlimited-kilometre warranty, like the rest of the Ford range.

Logbook servicing is required every 12 months or 15,000km, whichever comes first, with the first four visits capped at $379.

This equals $1516 for four years or 60,000km.

Safety

All variants of the 2024 Ford Ranger line-up, apart from the flagship Raptor, have a five-star ANCAP safety rating.

  • 2024 Ford Ranger price and specs

Category scores included 84 per cent for adult occupant protection, 93 per cent for child occupant protection, 74 per cent for vulnerable road user protection, and 83 per cent for safety assist.

The 2024 Ford Ranger line-up comes standard with the following safety equipment:

  • 9 airbags
    • incl. driver, passenger knee airbags
    • incl. front-centre airbag
  • Autonomous emergency braking (AEB)
    • Car, Pedestrian, Cyclist detection
    • Junction assist
  • Adaptive cruise control
  • Blind-spot assist
  • Rear cross-traffic alert (pickup)
  • Lane departure warning
  • Lane keep assist
  • Road edge detection
  • Reversing camera (pickup)
  • Rear parking sensors (pickup)
  • Trailer Coverage (with optional Tow Pack)

Ranger XLT adds:

  • Adaptive cruise control incl. stop/go
  • Blind-spot monitoring incl. Trailer Coverage
  • Lane centring assist
  • Traffic sign recognition
  • Tyre pressure monitoring

The optional Touring Pack adds a surround-view camera, while stepping up to the Wildtrak and above adds the Active Park Assist 2.0 system.

Standard Features

The 2024 Ford Ranger XL comes with the following standard equipment:

  • 16-inch steel wheels
  • All-season tyres
  • 16-inch steel spare wheel
  • Front disc and rear drum brakes
  • Heavy-duty suspension (NEW)
  • Black grille
  • Halogen headlights
  • Halogen daytime running lights
  • LED central high-mounted tail light
  • LED tail lights (pickup only)
  • Tailgate with lift assist (pickup only)
  • Integrated tailgate step (pickup only)
  • 10.1-inch Sync4 portrait touchscreen infotainment system
  • Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto
  • Embedded modem
  • Remote start via FordPass app
  • 8.0-inch digital instrument cluster
  • Tilt and telescopic steering column
  • Ebony cloth upholstery
  • Eight-way manual driver seat
  • Four-way manual front passenger seat
  • Vinyl floor covering
  • Power rear windows (double cab only)
  • Single-zone climate control
  • Electronically locking rear differential (4×4 models only)
  • Conventional gear selector
  • Mechanical handbrake

The XLS adds the following:

  • 16-inch Dark Sparkle Silver alloy wheels
  • Black side steps
  • Halogen front fog lights
  • Black grille with silver accents
  • Carpet flooring
  • Driver floor mat
  • Front parking sensors
  • Drive mode selection
  • Tow bar (NEW)
  • Trailer light check (NEW)
  • Integrated trailer brake controller (NEW)
  • Extended blind-spot monitoring with trailer coverage (NEW)
  • Body-colour door handles (NEW)
  • Six-speaker sound system
  • Proximity entry with push-button start (NEW)
  • Dual-zone climate control (NEW)
  • Rear seat air vents (NEW)
  • Satellite navigation (NEW)
  • DAB+ digital radio (NEW)

The XLT adds:

  • 17-inch Dark Sparkle Silver alloy wheels
  • 17-inch steel spare wheel
  • Rear disc brakes
  • Electronic handbrake
  • Leather-wrapped ‘e-Shifter’ gear selector
  • 4×2 locking rear axle
  • Front grille with chrome central bar
  • LED headlights
  • C-shaped LED daytime running lights
  • Front-mounted tow hook
  • Black sports bar (pickup only)
  • Rear tub illumination (pickup only)
  • Bedliner with 12V socket (pickup only)
  • Spray-in bedliner with 12V socket (super cab only)
  • Leather-wrapped steering wheel
  • Electrochromatic mirror
  • Rain-sensing window wipers
  • Adaptive cruise control with lane-centring and stop/go

The Sport adds:

  • 18-inch machine-faced and Asphalt Black accent alloy wheels
  • 18-inch spare wheel
  • Dark accent grille
  • Dark exterior accents
  • Two front-mounted tow hooks
  • Skid plate
  • Front floor mats
  • Rotary drive mode selector
  • Wireless phone charging
  • Off-road screen
  • Ebony leather upholstery with ‘SPORT’ embossing
  • Eight-way electrically adjustable driver seat
  • Six-way manual front passenger seat

The Wildtrak adds:

  • 18-inch Boulder Grey alloy wheels
  • 18-inch Boulder Grey alloy spare wheel
  • Goodyear Wrangler all-terrain tyres
  • Unique Wildtrak sports bar
  • Power tub roller shutter
  • Cargo management system
  • Unique Wildtrak front grille with mesh pattern and Boulder Grey accents
  • Exterior side mirrors with puddle lamps and zone lighting
  • Roof rails
  • Aluminium load box tie down rails
  • 12-inch touchscreen infotainment system
  • Interior ambient lighting
  • Pull-out dash-mounted cupholders
  • Unique Wildtrak leather accented upholstery
  • Heated front seats
  • Eight-way electrically adjustable front seats
  • Surround-view camera
  • Automated parking assist
  • Pro Trailer Backup Assist (NEW)

The Platinum adds on top of the Wildtrak:

  • 20-inch alloy wheels
  • Goodyear Territory HT tyres
  • Silk Chrome exterior trim highlights
  • Unique grille
  • ‘Platinum’ badging on the bonnet, front doors and tailgate
  • Matrix LED headlights
  • Auto-levelling LED daytime running lights
  • Full LED tail lights
  • Damped (gas-strut) tailgate
  • Black paint roof (no-cost option to revert to body-coloured roof)
  • Flexible Rack System (FRS)
  • Power roller shutter
  • 12.4-inch digital instrument cluster
  • B&O premium sound system
  • Auxiliary switch bank
  • Premium floor mats
  • Heated steering wheel
  • Premium quilted, perforated leather accented upholstery
  • Heated and ventilated front seats
  • 10-way electrically adjustable front seats
  • Driver memory seat
  • ‘Platinum’ badging on front seats, mats and upper glovebox
  • Accent stitching and decorative finishes

Optional Equipment

The $900 XL 17-inch Steel Wheel Pack for 4×4 models adds:

  • 17-inch steel wheels
  • 17-inch steel spare wheel
  • All-terrain tyres (inc. spare wheel)

The $1900 Towing Pack (XL) adds:

  • Integrated trailer brake controller
  • Tow bar

The $2000 Wildtrak Premium Pack adds:

  • Six overhead auxiliary switches
  • Matrix LED headlights
  • Full LED tail lights
  • 10-speaker Bang & Olufsen premium sound system

The $750 20-inch Wildtrak Wheel Pack adds:

  • 20-inch machined-face alloy wheels
  • All-season tyres

The $1650 Touring Pack (XLT and Sport 4×4 pick-up only) adds:

  • Integrated trailer braking controller
  • Pro Trailer Backup Assist
  • Surround-view camera
  • Exterior side mirror puddle lamps
  • Zone lighting
  • Cargo management system
  • Auxiliary switch bank

Other options include:

  • 20-inch machined-face alloy wheels in all-season tyres: $750; Wildtrak only
  • 4×4 XLT/Sport Wheel Pack: $700
  • Auxiliary switched: $350; XLT cab-chassis only
  • Flexible Rack System: $2800; Sport and Wildtrak
  • Factory-fit lift and slide canopy: $4500
  • Factory-fit Dual Lift Canopy: $4700
  • Factory-fit Commercial Canopy: $4700
  • Factory-fit manual roller shutter: $3000

MORE: Everything Ford Ranger

Auto

Bitcoin Shows A Sign Of Relief Amid Increased Price Volatility!

No Comments
Crypto Live News

Author: Elena R

Elena is an expert in technical analysis and risk management in cryptocurrency market. She has 10+year experience in writing – accordingly she is avid journalists with a passion towards researching new insights coming into crypto erena.

May 2, 2024 17:15

news-image
Bitcoin Price Prediction 2024

After recording a significant correction in the cross-border payments over the past few days, the cryptocurrency market leader, Bitcoin price, has displayed a decent uptrend by recording a jump of 5.12%, from $56,523 to $59,389 within the past day and a 24-hour trading volume of $39,480,145 Billion, indicating an increase in the bullish sentiment within the crypto space.

Cryptocurrency

How To Write Faster With or Without an AI Assist

No Comments

If only you could write faster …

The deadline pressure would lessen. The work volume wouldn’t overwhelm. The headache assignment would go away more quickly.

And generative AI only amplifies the stress. It just increases expectations — for both completion time and quality — for your human-written content.

But you can write faster. You can expeditiously deliver content that meets deadlines and delivers what your audience and brand want.

Here’s some help whether you’re writing articles, podcast scripts, or any other content asset:

1. Get organized

If you know where you need to go, you can get there more quickly. That’s why I like to create two Word files, one for the draft and one for the notes.

I label the first file “(TOPIC NAME) – DRAFT.”

At the top of the document, list and answer these questions:

  • Who will read this piece?
  • What will they get from this piece?
  • How will they consume this piece (e.g., company blog post, e-book, guest article)?
  • Where will they consume this piece (i.e., distribution channel)?
  • Why is the brand creating this piece?
  • How will the brand know if this piece is successful?

TIP: Create a template for your notes document so you can pull up the question format every time you start the content process.

By detailing the target audience, brand purpose, format, and metric, you can build your content on a solid foundation.

You also can speed up your writing by organizing the research as you go.

I label this document “(TOPIC NAME) – NOTES.” I typically use a single file, but if I have multiple interviews, I initially create a separate document for each and merge them later into the master notes file.

Label the top of each section (or document) with the source information. If it’s a person, include the name, title, and company. If it’s an online resource, include the URL. Use a format similar to what you’ll use in the article. For example, if you use a hyperlink in the text, list it that way in your notes. That way, you can just cut and paste the information into your draft.

TIP: Don’t forget to list any social handles, company sites, or bio links from the sources if you plan to include them in the content or need to provide them for promotional purposes.

Go through your notes and highlight key quotes or insights. Use the highlight feature, bold the words, or even type asterisks before the helpful quote so it stands out.

When tackling multiple sources or detailed information, I like to organize my notes by subheads or subtopics. Then, I put all the relevant content under each category. Just be sure to include the original source every time you shift the notes to a topical section.

AI assist: Use a generative AI tool to help you organize your notes. For example, input an interview transcript and ask it to give a summary. You could also ask it to break down the interview by topics.

When you record interviews using Zoom, it can create an AI-generated summary. Rev.com, the transcription service, offers a beta test of summary generation. I’ve used both, and they can be helpful in the preliminary stage of organizing my notes by hitting on the key themes and takeaways. I’m sure other AI tools can do this; these are just two I’ve used in my work.

With your research and notes all organized, you’re ready to write, right? Not quite.

2. Create the ‘write’ environment

Before you put your fingers on the keyboard or your voice to the writing recorder, you need to set yourself up for faster success.

Schedule time on your calendar (and schedule something immediately after)

Blocking out time to write not only prevents you from treating writing as an “I’ll-get-to-it-when-I-can” item. It also signals to co-workers and managers that you prioritize writing — and you’re not available for anything else during that time.

But don’t stop at scheduling a writing appointment. Also, schedule a call, meeting, or other must-do activity after your writing time. That creates a real deadline. If you know you must stop writing, you’re more likely to stop agonizing and get it done.

If you want to break down your scheduled time further, consider using a timer. The Marinara Timer (free) lets you do the Pomodoro technique (25-minute segments) or create custom times. The point is to write without stopping until the time is up.

I mix up my timer based on aspects of the writing project. For example, 10 minutes to create a lede or 25 minutes to craft the first section. I realize they’re artificial deadlines, but they help me shape my approach to writing and respect the time I’ve committed to getting the article done.

Minimize the distractions

Your computer screen can be a busy place. Don’t let it overwhelm you. Open only one browser window and add the tabs you need for writing. When I write, I create a tab with the AP Stylebook (paid), another tab for Thesaurus (free), another tab for ChatGPT (free), and an empty Google search screen.

If you need resources that live in your inbox, copy and paste them into a Word document and turn off your email. Otherwise, you’ll pop into your inbox for a file and find five new emails that you’ll just have to read.

Don’t forget to turn your phone to “do not disturb” so only those must-take calls or texts can get through. If you can’t give up your phone, at least turn it face down.

Close your door or put on headphones. If you need noise, pick music that blends with your work. I’m one who needs noise (after years of writing in a newsroom). When I really need to focus, I listen to classical music so I’m not distracted by the lyrics.

TIP: If you work in a space where co-workers or others might stop by, use headphones rather than earbuds. They’re a great visual indicator that will make potential visitors think twice about interrupting you.

3. Get writing

Revisit the answers to the questions added to the top of your DRAFT document to remind yourself about the audience and brand purpose.

Now you’re ready to write.

The key to writing faster? Don’t overthink it. You are not to edit. That is a separate stage in the process.

Not happy with a word choice? Move on. Waiting for creative inspiration to strike for the perfect lede? Realize perfect is impossible and better only happens when you’ve already written something. Unsure of a source’s title? Add six question marks so you make sure to revisit it later. The point? Don’t succumb to potential writing distractions.

Begin with the headline

Write three to five versions. Don’t stress about fitting the target keywords into it or whether it sufficiently grabs the reader’s attention. At this point, just write headlines that set the tone and focus of the article.

Move on to the introduction

Read through your notes to identify the most surprising, fascinating, helpful, or relevant aspect. Consider using that as your lede. Stuck for a great lede? Write “This article is about (TOPIC). You, the audience, will learn (XYZ)” as a placeholder. You can fix it later.

In the introduction, include a nut graph — a sentence or two describing the reason the story is being told now to this audience. This will set the stage for what the reader should expect.

AI assist: Struggling to write an intro and nut graph? Ask the AI tool to help. Share your primary interview or research and ask it to fill in the blanks in the sentence above. Ask it to craft a two-sentence paragraph about what story should be told. It could even help share something fascinating or surprising.

Write your subheads

Go back to your notes and pull your subtopic subheads, or create them now. Read through them a couple of times: (1) Are those the key topics this article should address? (2) Does their order make sense for the story being told?

AI assist: Once you complete the subhead organization, paste what you have into an AI tool and ask it to summarize the article. Also, ask it what topics are missing. Then, ask what, if anything, should be eliminated.

Take time to get this step right as it creates the structure for your content piece. Without a solid structure, you’ll spend a lot of time trying to shore up your argument so it doesn’t fall over.

Fill in below each subhead

Add the relevant details under each section head for each resource you collected. (If you did this in the notes organization stage, you likely just need to cut and paste it into the draft document.)

Write a conclusion or not

Similar to the lede advice, if you have a conclusion in mind based on the content and your call to action, write it. If not, wait to write the ending until you’ve revised the piece.

4. Move on to polishing

Now that your rough draft is complete, shift your mind to the polishing phase. Even if you have an editor, you want to submit content completed in a manner that you consider publishable.

To do that, go back to the beginning (well, almost the beginning).

Read through all the content that comes after the introduction

Take a couple of passes. Does it make sense as a whole? Does each section transition well to the next one?

AI assist: Put the draft into the generative AI tool and ask the same questions. It can help identify areas that you might not see because you’re too close to the material.

Delve into each subhead and the content below it

Does this section pack the biggest punch it can? Does each sentence lead into the next one? Could more specific or descriptive words be used to convey the thought, emotion, etc.? Are the verbs active? Is it easy to read?

Go back to the introduction and conclusion

With a well-executed main body, it’s time to craft a reader-enticing introduction that matches the article’s tone, flow, and narrative.

Now that you have an introduction, you can write (or edit) your conclusion. The best endings tie themselves to the beginning. They may summarize the article’s main points, lead the reader to the next logical step, or leave them inspired.

AI assist: In tandem with your human introduction and conclusion work, paste the original draft with the more generic lede into the AI tool. Ask it to write an introduction. Make sure to describe the kind of introduction you want. Should it be funny? Or should it be direct? What about creating a curiosity gap? Don’t limit yourself to one description. Ask for several variations.

Write a headline

With the article complete, it’s time to pick a headline. Make sure it grabs the reader’s attention AND accurately reflects what the article delivers. If none of the draft headlines fit those requirements, come up with a few more options. (A thesaurus comes in handy here.) Pick the best one for the reader.

AI assist: You can use a headline analyzer tool like CoSchedule (free and paid) to see if your potential headline delivers. You can also ask a generative AI tool like ChatGPT or Google’s Gemini to write a headline (after you paste the article onto the page). If it must include keywords, tell it that. In some cases, the headline results may deliver one that works perfectly. More likely, they can inspire you to create something even better.

You’ll still get writer’s block

I’m not naïve. Even when following these recommendations, you’ll run into writer’s block, delays, and missteps. But you don’t need to throw up your hands waiting for the writing gods to inspire and help you.

You need a plan of attack (i.e., a content marketing and research/resource plan) and a path to follow (i.e., a writing and editing process). Only then will you be in control of your content creation and be able to write effectively faster. And the more you do it, the better you’ll get and show the value of a human professional.

Updated from a March 2020 article.

All tools mentioned in this article were suggested by the author. If you’d like to suggest a tool, share the article on social media with a comment.

Need more guidance to hone your content marketing skills? Enroll in CMI University and get 12-month on-demand access to an extensive curriculum designed to help you do your job more effectively.

HANDPICKED RELATED CONTENT:

Cover image by Joseph Kalinowski/Content Marketing Institute

Digital Marketing

businessline Young Changemaker Award winner Cherrilearn wins ‘Elevate Karnataka 2023’ award

No Comments

Puttur-based edtech start-up and winner of the ‘businessline Young Changemaker Award 2023’ – Cherrilearn – has been named a winner of ‘Elevate Karnataka 2023 Call 2’ competition. This recognition brings funding that will fuel Cherrilearn’s mission to empower students, particularly in underserved communities across India.

Cherrilearn offers interactive and gamified learning experiences in English and Kannada for students in grades 1 to 5. This ‘businessline Young Changemaker Award 2023’ winning platform leverages engaging educational methods such as activity-based learning, explanatory videos, and animations. This approach makes education accessible and effective for all students, regardless of their background.

Shrinidhi RS, Founder and CEO of Cherrilearn, said: “At Cherrilearn, we believe every child deserves access to quality education. Winning the Elevate Karnataka 2023 Call 2 award empowers us to significantly broaden our reach and make a positive impact on a larger scale. This aligns perfectly with our mission of empowering students in underserved communities.”

A media statement said that the funding secured from the Elevate Karnataka win positions Cherrilearn for significant growth with a focus on expanding their social impact. This expansion will include the introduction of a Hindi curriculum for grades 1 to 7, catering to a wider audience across India and ensuring diverse linguistic needs are met. Additionally, Cherrilearn plans to expand its Kannada content for grades 6 and 7, ensuring students who began their journey with Cherrilearn can stay engaged with the platform as they progress in their education.

Cherrilearn prioritises collaboration to maximise its social impact. Existing partnerships with seven government schools in Dakshina Kannada will be expanded to reach 100 government schools. This collaboration will provide free access to Cherrilearn for approximately 10,000 students starting from the next academic year.

Through a collaborative effort with corporates, Cherrilearn will sponsor access for students in five schools, including one in remote Meghalaya, granting access to the platform for approximately 155 students, the statement said.

Cherrilearn is actively pursuing international grants to bring its educational technology solutions to schools in Africa, Ukraine and Palestine. Schools in Tanzania and Ghana have already expressed interest in leveraging Cherrilearn’s platform, signifying the potential to bridge the educational divide on a global scale, the statement said.

It is to be noted here that the Union Power Minister, RK Singh, presented the ‘businessline Young Changemaker Award 2023’ to Shrinidhi in New Delhi on November 5.

Education

What campus protesters get wrong about divestment

No Comments

One-third of Ivy League graduates end up working in finance or consulting. So perhaps it is unsurprising that campus protesters are providing investment advice: they want university endowments to get rid of assets linked to Israel. At Columbia University, for instance, a coalition of more than 100 student organisations is demanding that administrators divest from companies that “publicly or privately fund or invest in the perpetuation of Israeli apartheid and war crimes”. Another longer-running campaign by green types hopes to push fossil fuels out of portfolios.

Divesting from something has obvious symbolic value. But many protesters hope to have a real-world impact, too. Divestment campaigns may exert influence by starving their targets of capital. Scare enough investors from an industry or country and, so the argument goes, companies will find it harder to raise or borrow money, which will force them to change their behaviour. If enough Israeli firms begin to suffer, perhaps Binyamin Netanyahu will rethink his campaign in Gaza. How likely is this to work?

Finance

High levels of resistant bacteria found in uncooked meats and raw dog food

No Comments

High levels of E. coli were found in uncooked meats and raw dog food sold in grocery stores in the U.K., according to research presented last week at the European Society of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases (ESCMID) Global Congress in Barcelona.

Researchers from ​the University of Bristol examined 58 samples of raw beef, chicken, pork and lamb sold at grocery stores in the U.K., along with 15 samples of raw dog food sold at “specialty pet stores,” according to a press release.

Eighty-one percent of the meat samples and 87% of the dog food samples were found to contain E. coli (Escherichia coli) that was resistant to antibiotics.

E.COLI BACTERIA DETECTED IN GRAND CANYON NATIONAL PARK’S WATER SUPPLY

The raw chicken had the highest levels of the resistant intestinal bacteria.

“E. coli is an intestinal bacteria that may propagate in cows and chickens used for meat, especially when they are raised in squalor or close together,” Dr. Marc Siegel, clinical professor of medicine at NYU Langone Medical Center and a Fox News medical contributor, told Fox News Digital.

High levels of E. coli were found in uncooked meats and raw dog food sold in grocery stores, according to research presented last week at the European Society of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases (ESCMID) Global Congress in Barcelona. (iStock)

“Since poultry and meat cows are often fed antibiotics to help them grow and to ward off infections, this helps to breed resistant strains, which emerge amid antibiotic overuse.”

MEAT CONTAMINATED WITH E. COLI COULD CAUSE HALF A MILLION URINARY TRACT INFECTIONS EACH YEAR, STUDY FINDS

Siegel was not involved in the study.  

“This study confirms that uncooked meat carries multiple resistant E. coli, commonly including resistance to critically important antibiotics important for human health,” the study authors said in a press release from ESCMID.

E.coli

“E. coli is an intestinal bacteria that may propagate in cows and chickens used for meat, especially when they are raised in squalor or close together.” (iStock)

If ingested, the bacteria could colonize the intestines and cause resistant infections, according to study author Matthew B. Avison, a professor at the School of Cellular & Molecular Medicine, University of Bristol.

“They can sit in your gut for years without causing sickness, and in some cases the bacteria will cause different types of disease later on, including urinary tract infections and bloodstream infections that can kill,” Avison told Fox News Digital. 

“Infections with resistant bacteria are more difficult to treat and so are more likely to get worse.”

RAW DIET FOR DOGS IS TAKING OVER TIKTOK, BUT WHAT DOES YOUR VETERINARIAN THINK OF THE LATEST TREND?

Uncooked meat sold to be eaten by people after cooking is “commonly contaminated” with antibiotic-resistant E. coli, Avison noted.

The study results weren’t surprising, he said, as there have been “numerous reports” of antibiotic-resistant bacteria in uncooked meat and some studies showing this in raw dog food.

“In some cases, the bacteria will cause different types of disease later on, including urinary tract infections and bloodstream infections.”

“People often believe that because raw dog food is sold frozen, the freezing kills the bacteria, but we have shown that it does not,” Avison told Fox News Digital.

“There were just as many samples of chicken-based raw dog food contaminated with resistant E. coli than there were samples of raw chicken meat. If you feed your dog raw meat, therefore, you are likely feeding it antibiotic resistant E. coli.”

These findings explain why researchers previously found a strong link between feeding dogs raw meat and the dogs excreting resistant E. coli in their feces, Avison noted.

dog with food

“People often believe that because raw dog food is sold frozen, that freezing kills the bacteria on it, but we have shown that it does not,” a researcher told Fox News Digital. (iStock)

Most people are not aware of the risk of these antibiotic-resistant pathogens, the researchers stated in the release.

They emphasized the importance of cooking meat thoroughly before eating, and using “appropriate hygiene practices” while preparing it.

“Cooking the meat properly will kill those bacteria,” Avison advised.

‘GENTLE GIANT’ DOG, AT 250 POUNDS, EATS AN ENTIRE CHICKEN DAILY AS OWNER SPENDS NEARLY $5K A YEAR ON FOOD

“Treat all raw meat as if it were contaminated with antibiotic-resistant bacteria and assume dogs fed raw meat will be excreting resistant bacteria,” he went on.

“Use appropriate hand-washing and general hygiene practices to minimize the risk that you and other people will accidentally ingest these bacteria.”

“If you feed your dog raw meat, you are likely feeding it antibiotic resistant E. coli.”

Dog owners who feed raw meat to their pets should dispose of the animals’ waste hygienically, Avison said.

“Don’t let your dog lick your face or share your bed, and wash your hands after petting it,” he recommended. “These are all common sense practices anyway, but even more important if you raw-feed your dog.”

ground beef

Researchers emphasized the importance of cooking meat thoroughly before eating, and using “appropriate hygiene practices” while preparing it. (iStock)

“And, of course, treat raw dog food as if it were any raw meat, in terms of hygiene and cleaning practices.”

The study raises a “red flag,” Siegel said, underscoring the importance of making sure that poultry and meat is fully cooked prior to human consumption, and that dog food is also cooked. 

CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR HEALTH NEWSLETTER

Andre Delattre, chief operating officer of Public Interest Research Groups (PIRG) in Washington, D.C., said the study “underscores the importance of ending the practice of routine use of antibiotics in animal agriculture.”

Wood surface

“Use appropriate hand-washing and general hygiene practices to minimize the risk that you and other people will accidentally ingest these bacteria,” researchers said. (iStock)

“An inevitable byproduct of antibiotic overuse is resistance to these drugs,” he told Fox News Digital. 

“Studies have also shown that meat raised without antibiotics is less likely to be contaminated with resistant bacteria.”

CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP

The University of Bristol study was published on a pre-print server and has not yet been peer-reviewed.

Fox News Digital reached out to the U.K. Food Standards Agency (FSA) and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for comment.

For more Health articles, visit www.foxnews.com/health.

Melissa Rudy is health editor and a member of the lifestyle team at Fox News Digital. Story tips can be sent to [email protected].

Health Fitness

Mrunal Thakurs April Photo Dump Is Pure Goals For All Foodies – See Pics

No Comments

Actress Mrunal Thakur has triggered our taste buds with her oh-so-cool April photo dump on Instagram. From relishing a wholesome South Indian thali to channelling her “papad monster”, the actress has done it all in April. The series began with a selfie where Mrunal crossed out “day dreaming” and replaced it with “always dreaming.” The next photo showed her doing yoga, cuddling with her cat, and enjoying a yummy spread. We can spot papad, sambar, dal, uttapam, stir-fried beetroot and curd. There was also a clip of her sipping coconut water with a metal straw. She has also shared a glimpse of her sunset time and a glass of wine. The most adorable moment was when she playfully posed with a plate of khichdi, with papad sticks resembling teeth, dubbing herself the “Papad monster.”

The text attached to the post read, “Heart full of love and a camera filled with memories.”

Also Read: “Sunday Calories Don’t Count”: Take A Look At Mrunal Thakur’s Cheat Meal

Are you also carving a wholesome meal? We are here to help you. Here are some recipes we have picked for you

Masoor Dal Khichdi Recipe

Khichdi is a comfort food. Agree? A bowl of piping hot khichdi with oodles of ghee has the power to uplift your mood. So just like Mrunal Thakur, channel your inner monster with this one. Recipe here.

Rava Uttapam

This is one of the best breakfast options. Best part? It is the best way of adding vegetables to your diet. Serve it with coconut chutney. Recipe here.

Arachuvita Sambar

Add a unique twist to your regular sambar recipe with this one. All you need to do is ground all the ingredients and you are good to go. Recipe here.

Beetroot Idli Fry Recipe

You can make beetroot idli for the extra punch of nutrition in your meal. It takes 10 minutes to prepare. Click here for the recipe. 

Masala Papad Recipe

Gone are the days when papad tasted boring. Jazz it up by adding chopped onion and tomatoes to it. Don’t forget to sprinkle some chaat masala before serving. Recipe here.

Home Kitchen

Vanessa Williams Releases ‘Legs’ Music Video Featuring Edgy Ensembles

No Comments

It might not come as a surprise that Vanessa Williams, in the music video for her new single, “Legs (Keep Dancing),” can be seen showing off her legs.

Some may remember her showing off a lot more in a 1984 issue of Penthouse, that, after being published, led Ms. Williams to become the first Miss America forced to give up her crown, a decision that the pageant’s leaders have since apologized for.

Her legs in the “Legs” music video, unlike in the Penthouse photos, are for the most part clothed. Moschino shorts and fishnets, a spangly gold bodysuit and a pink feathered outfit are among the many items Ms. Williams, 61, wears while moving — mostly dancing — between locations that include a white-walled studio, a dimly lit limousine and a nightclub.

For certain viewers, Ms. Williams’s colorful wardrobe in the video might evoke other aspects of her career as an actress and singer, say, her past role as fashion editor Wilhelmina Slater in the TV show “Ugly Betty,” or her upcoming role as Miranda Priestly, the Anna-Wintour-inspired fashion editor, in the musical adaptation of “The Devil Wears Prada,” arriving in London’s West End later this year.

Ms. Williams, speaking on a phone call on Tuesday after flying from Japan to New York, said that certain attire worn in the “Legs” video had connections to some of her past roles. For instance: A silky chartreuse corset and matching cargo pants by Adrienne Landau, a label she has worn since her days on “Ugly Betty.”

Another ensemble of sheer black top and zipper-covered red pants came from Trash and Vaudeville, the punk emporium in Manhattan’s East Village.

Ms. Williams, who developed her wardrobe for the video with the stylist Alison Hernon, said the clothes they chose were pieces she feels comfortable in and “that feel comfortable on my body.”

She added that her outfits in the video for “Legs,” her first non-holiday-related single in 15 years, were meant to not only highlight the song’s titular anatomy, but also what she described as its underlying message: That her decades-long career is ongoing and ever-expanding.

“I’m still here, still standing, still kicking,” Ms. Williams sings on the dance-pop single. “In fact, I’m the best I’ve ever been.”

“I’ve got a lot of stuff going on,” Ms. Williams said on the phone. Her to-do list includes plans to release a full-length album on a newly announced record label. She is also a producer of a new musical about the trumpeter Louis Armstrong, which is coming to Broadway around the same she starts performances of “The Devil Wears Prada” in London.

Ms. Williams has followed a career path blazed by Black performers like Diana Ross and Diahann Carroll, both of whom also served as inspiration for “Legs” and its music video, which opens with Ms. Williams dropping a cream-colored Michael Kors coat and a Worth & Worth hat — attire nodding to clothes Ms. Ross wore in the 1975 film “Mahogany,” Ms. Hernon said.

A line in the song’s chorus, “They say the legs are the last to go,” echoes the title of Ms. Carroll’s memoir, “The Legs Are the Last to Go,” released in 2008. Its cover featured a leggy portrait of Ms. Carroll, who died in 2019.

Ms. Williams, who starred in the film “The Courage to Love” alongside Ms. Carroll, said that the title and cover of her memoir reflect how, “with age, comes wisdom.”

“She’s realizing and accepting her body shape and all that comes with it,” Ms. Williams said. “And that’s what I think is reflected in what I wanted to say with this phase of my life and also in the music.”

Lifestyle Fashion

Shifting Priorities and Perceptions in Revenue Management

No Comments

In this Pharmaceutical Executive video interview, Jesse Mendelsohn, senior vice president at Model N, discusses the changing dynamics today for companies in revenue management and planning—and the increasing importance of a well-tooled and well-trusted analytics component in fueling product launch, M&A, and other data-centered pursuits.

Medicine

Trosoban stan u Zagrebu s vrtom prodaje se za 255.000 eura. Pogledajte fotke

No Comments

Pri kreiranju rubrike Index Shopping nastojimo izdvajati odlične proizvode koji se i nama sviđaju te odlične akcije i popuste. Ne objavljujemo proizvode koje i sami ne bismo kupili ili smatramo da njihova promocija nije u skladu s profesionalnim standardima. Neki proizvodi u rubrici Index Shopping mogu biti sponzorirani.

PRETRAŽILI smo Index Oglase u potrazi za zanimljivim nekretninama, a pozornost nam je privukao ovaj lijepo uređen stan u zagrebačkom naselju Črnomerec. Stan ima 87 kvadrata i prodaje se za 255.000 eura.

Stan se nalazi na prvom katu zgrade bez lifta, izgrađene 2009. godine. Zgrada ima ukupno tri kata i smještena je u Kustošijanskoj ulici.

Prodaje se kompletno namješten

Stan se sastoji od open-space dnevnog boravka s kuhinjom i blagovaonicom, dvije spavaće sobe, kupaonice s WC-om, dodatnog WC-a, hodnika, zatvorene lođe i vrta. U oglasu je istaknuto da se stan prodaje kompletno namješten. Stanu pripada i vanjsko parkirno mjesto površine 12.5 m2.

Grijanje u stanu je plinsko etažno. U oglasu je naglašeno da su sva brojila odvojena i da su papiri uredni te je vlasništvo 1/1, što omogućava kupnju putem kredita.

Oglas možete vidjeti ovdje, a više slika niže. 

Znate li nešto više o temi ili želite prijaviti grešku u tekstu?

Shopping Product Reviews

High school baseball and softball: Wednesday’s scores and updated playoff pairings

No Comments

CITY SECTION

BASEBALL

Animo De La Hoya 9, LA Leadership Academy 6

Bell 1, LA Roosevelt 0

Birmingham 10, Chatsworth 0

Bravo 7, Franklin 4

Cleveland 4, Granada Hills 2

Eagle Rock 5, Lincoln 2

Los Angeles 16, Diego Rivera 0

North Hollywood 6, Grant 0

Palisades 11, Westchester 3

Santee 9, Angelou 5

Sherman Oaks CES 4, Vaughn 2

Stella 5, Crenshaw 4

Taft 2, El Camino Real 1

University Prep Value 6, Smidt Tech 1

Verdugo Hills 10, Arleta 0

SOFTBALL

Animo Venice 16, Animo Watts 5

Crenshaw 7, Dymally 4

Franklin 12, Lincoln 0

Granada Hills Kennedy 24, Van Nuys 0

Marquez 12, Sotomayor 5

Northridge Academy 14, VAAS 3

Palisades 13, LA Hamilton 1

San Fernando 16, Reseda 2

San Pedro 22, Rancho Dominguez 1

Washington Prep 10, Hawkins 0

Wilmington Banning 23, Narbonne 0

SOUTHERN SECTION

BASEBALL

DIVISION 7

Wild-card round

Littlerock 8, Calvary Chapel 1

DIVISION 8

Wildcard

Santa Clarita Christian 21, Shalhevet 2

UPDATED PLAYOFF PAIRINGS

DIVISION 1

First round, Friday, 3:15 p.m.

El Dorado at Corona; Mater Dei at Damien; Garden Grove Pacifica at Aquinas; Sherman Oaks Notre Dame at Aquinas; Corona Santiago at Huntington Beach; Villa Park at Bishop Amat; Gahr at Fullerton; Santa Margarita at Tesoro; Sierra Canyon at Orange Lutheran; Millikan at Vista Murrieta; South Hills at Foothill; Oaks Christian at La Mirada; West Ranch at San Dimas; Calabasas at Cypress; JSerra at Bonita; Norco at Harvard-Westlake.

DIVISION 2

First round, Thursday, 3:15 p.m.

Mira Costa at Westlake; Yucaipa at West Torrance; Yorba Linda at Ocean View; Long Beach Poly at Arcadia; Simi valley at Hart; Newport Harbor at Capistrano Valley Christian; San Marcos at Palos Verdes; Woodbridge at Arlington; Royal at Maranatha; Ayala at La Serna; Temecula Valley at Anaheim Canyon; Charter Oak at Quartz Hill; Valencia at Aliso Niguel; Moorpark at Crescenta Valley; Warren at Citrus Valley; Crean Lutheran at Paloma Valley.

DIVISION 3

First round, Friday, 3:15 p.m.

Lakewood at Corona Centennial; Tahquitz at Arrowhead Christian; South Torrance at Northwood; El Modena at Dana Hills; Trabuco Hills at Fountain Valley; El Segundo at Long Beach Wilson; Burbank at Corona del Mar; St. John Bosco at Grace Brethren; Chaparral at Chaminade; Mission Viejo at Santa Barbara; La Salle at El Rancho; Los Alamitos at Walnut; Redlands East Valley at La Habra; Temescal Canyon at Beckman; Newbury Park at Flintridge Prep; Linfield Christian at Summit.

DIVISION 4

First round, Thursday, 3:15 p.m.

Dos Pueblos at Camarillo; Murrieta Valley at Elsinore; Hesperia Christian at Cerritos; Apple Valley at Los Osos; Barstow at Oak Hills; Citrus Hill at San Marino; Eastvale Roosevelt at Don Lugo; Castaic at Culver City; Tustin at Estancia; Palm Desert at Valley View; Rio Mesa at Highland; Ontario Christian at Burbank Burroughs; Heritage at La Quinta; Paraclete at Sultana; St. Francis at Windward; Cajon at San Juan Hills.

DIVISION 5

First round, Friday, 3:15 p.m.

Santa Monica at Nogales; Murrieta Mesa at Ganesha; Pasadena Marshall at Adelanto; Trinity Classical Academy, bye; Riverside Prep, bye; Segerstrom at South Pasadena; Whittier Christian at St. Anthony; Oxnard Pacifica at Santa Paula; Santa Ana Calvary Chapel at Saugus; Monrovia at Pasadena Poly; Anaheim at Lakeside; Chino at Ramona; Liberty, bye; Katella at Montebello; Hemet at Bloomington; Chino Hills at Bellflower.

DIVISION 6

First round, Thursday, 3:15 p.m.

Garden Grove at Costa Mesa; West Covina at Los Amigos; Irvine University at Brentwood; Milken Community at Village Christian; Diamond Bar at Savanna; Lancaster at St. Paul; de Toledo at Alhambra; Hillcrest at Grand Terrace; Schurr at Century; Salesian at Arroyo; St. Bonaventure at Mayfair; Orange Vista at Rancho Mirage; Santa Fe at Garey; Viewpoint at Excelsior Charter; Colton at Rialto; Carpinteria at Colony.

DIVISION 7

First round, Friday, 3:15 p.m.

Thacher at Buena Park; St. Bernard at Hueneme; Rancho Christian at Vasquez; Miller at Banning; Paramount at South El Monte; Artesia at Eisenhower; Mary Star at Foothill Tech; Temecula Prep at Oakwood; Littlerock at Wildomar Cornerstone Christian; Santa Ana at Cantwell Sacred Heart; Desert Christian at Sierra Vista; Channel Islands at Leuzinger; Carter at Jurupa Valley; Chaffey at Nuview Bridge; Indio at Silverado; Western Christian at Oxford Academy.

DIVISION 8

First round, Thursday, 3:15 p.m.

Academy for Academic Excellence at Orange County Pacifica Christian; Mountain View at United Christian Academy; Redlands Adventist Academy at San Jacinto Valley; Bolsa Grande at New Roads; Cobalt at Coachella Valley; Don Bosco Tech at Gorman Charter; Noli Indian at San Bernardino; Calvary Baptist at Arroyo Valley; Yucca Valley at Santa Maria Valley Christian; Beverly Hills at Environmental Charter; Edgewood at Palm Valley; Santa Clarita Christian at Loma Linda Academy; Cal Lutheran at Rolling Hills Prep; Cate at Academy of Careers & Exploration; Santa Rosa Academy at Azusa.

SOFTBALL

DIVISION 1

Wild-card round, Thursday, 3:15 p.m.

Marina at Capistrano Valley (3:30 p.m.)

Eastvale Roosevelt at Huntington Beach

Moorpark at Chino Hills

Torrance at Great Oak

Esperanza at JSerra

Santa Margarita at Oaks Christian

Vista Murrieta at South Hills

Sports

Google and Apple now threatened by the US antitrust laws helped build their technology empires

No Comments

The US Justice Department’s double-barrelled antitrust attack on Google’s dominant search and Apple’s trendsetting iPhone is reviving memories of the epic battle that hobbled Microsoft before it roared back to yet again become the world’s most valuable company.

The parallels to the Justice Department’s landmark antitrust case in 1998 could provide a window into the potential breakthroughs that could be unleashed if regulators succeed in their attempts to crack down on Google and Apple.

Federal lawyers have even gone as far as to assert Google and Apple may never have created so many popular products or become as powerful as they are now if Microsoft hadn’t been reined in a quarter century ago. In closing arguments of a Washington, DC, trial that began last September, regulators Thursday will apply the finishing touches to a case alleging Google has turned its search engine into an illegal monopoly that stifles competition and innovation.

The Apple case, which was only filed a month ago, is still years away from its resolution. Although regulators have lodged separate complaints against Google and Apple, the two cases are shadowed by Microsoft’s legal saga that began when both those were mere specks on the technology landscape.

When they went after Google in October 2020, regulators compared the lucrative deals that the company cut with Apple to lock its search engine into the iPhone and Safari web browser to the same tactics Microsoft deployed in its personal computer software to block competition.

And in the antitrust lawsuits that they filed against Apple last month, the Justice Department pointed back to complaints that company co-founder Steve Jobs had raised in 1998 against Microsoft’s “dirty tactics” while urging regulators to take steps to force the PC software maker “to play fair”.And that is what the Justice Department did in an antitrust case against Microsoft that caused massive distractions that opened the door for Google’s search engine to become the internet’s main gateway. 

It also culminated in a series of concessions that paved the way for Apple to extend the reach of its iTunes music store that increased the popularity of the iPod that spawned the iPhone. The Microsoft case “created new opportunities for innovation in areas that would become critical to the success of Apple’s consumer devices and the company itself”, the Justice Department crowed in the lawsuit that casts the iPhone as an illegal monopoly.

After years of mostly fruitless attempts to compete against Google’s search engine and the iPhone under the leadership of Steve Ballmer, Microsoft began to regain its stride when Satya Nadella became CEO in 2014. Earlier this year, Microsoft’s market value hit USD 3 trillion for the first time, surpassing Apple as the world’s most valuable company while taking the early lead in artificial intelligence technology that’s expected to reshape the world.

It’s an odd juxtaposition that has thrust regulators into battling two companies they helped create when they caged a colossus now angling to seize the mantle in technology’s next frontier. But it’s also a tableau that antitrust experts cite as evidence that the system is working to unlock more robust competition that hatches innovations.

And then those breakthroughs sometimes serve as the building blocks for new monopolies that must eventually be challenged by regulators, even as fallen empires like Microsoft can still find ways to reinvent themselves.“It’s not about an agenda about trying to pursue and destroy companies, it’s about trying to restore competition in a market,” said Rebecca Haw Allensworth, a Vanderbilt University law professor who focuses on antitrust law issues.

“What has happened with the Microsoft case is a success story that can also provide a blueprint for Apple and Google when people ask why is America trying to destroy its most successful companies? Microsoft has done great after it had a major antitrust claim against it.” The Justice Department’s landmark case against Microsoft was not the first time an antitrust lawsuit turned into a springboard for other companies to emerge as dominant forces that eventually need to be corralled, too.

For instance, separate antitrust lawsuits filed against IBM in 1969 and AT and T in 1974 helped pave the way for Microsoft and Apple to launch the personal computer revolution that subsequently spawned the internet boom that was followed by the smartphone explosion.

Those are the kinds of innovations that have fuelled economic growth and society-shifting products that might not have happened had antitrust regulators stayed on the sidelines while IBM and AT and T continued to exploit their respective monopolies, Yale University economics professor Fiona Scott Morton said.

“When you innovate successfully, you can grow like crazy but then it’s 20 years later and it’s hard to keep growing like you were,” said Scott Morton, who once was chief economist in the Justice Department’s antitrust division.”So instead of just relying on innovation, you realise, Hey we have a lot of market power, we could use that to raise profits.”

“It’s just very natural that’s what happens repeatedly and regulators have to say, No, that part isn’t allowed, you have to compete on the merits.” And oftentimes when you succeed in forcing more competition, somebody else ends up winning the next race.” After the closing arguments in the Justice Department’s antitrust case against Google wrap up this week, US District Judge Amit Mehta is expected to issue his ruling in the late summer or early autumn.

Meanwhile, the case against Apple will continue to progress in New Jersey federal court while antitrust regulators examine whether Microsoft is once again crossing the line to gain an unfair advantage in the still-nascent field of AI.

Technology

Want to spend the night in a Paris museum or a house owned by Prince? Airbnb plans to list them | Travel

No Comments

In a mad mix of game-show glitter and marketing flash, Airbnb is offering customers a chance to spend a night in a Paris museum, stay in houses mocked up to look like movie settings, or sleep surrounded by eight Ferrari racing cars.

HT Image

Those and other chimerical listings are part of a splashy new campaign by the short-term rental giant, which wants to portray itself as a company that sells experiences and not just alternatives to staying in a hotel.

HT launches Crick-it, a one stop destination to catch Cricket, anytime, anywhere. Explore now!

CEO Brian Chesky announced the 11 temporary listings — Airbnb is calling them “icons” — at an event Wednesday in Los Angeles.

The San Francisco company hit upon the idea for the publicity caper after seeing the response to a Barbie-themed house in Malibu, California, it listed last year in conjunction with a hit movie about the Mattel fashion doll. The formula is the same: link a promotion to a pop-culture product, celebrity or event.

And don’t be boring.

“We’re not historically known for making anything. We’re a platform,” Chesky said in an interview. “I think it’s really great to show what it looks like when suddenly you can step into our vision and our imagination. I think it’s going to keep Airbnb top of mind.”

Unlike the rental platform’s typical listed properties, Airbnb is practically giving away its “icons.” Chesky said the company will invite people to fill out a profile and explain why they want one of the listings, and Airbnb will pick about 4,000 winners over the course of the year. He said winners will be able to book the featured properties or events for free or at prices under $100.

One of the exotic opportunities is an overnight stay at the Musee d’Orsay in Paris. Chesky said Airbnb recruited Mathieu Lehanneur — he designed the torch for this summer’s Paris Olympics — to convert the clock room atop the museum into a bedroom.

“By the way, the torch is in the bedroom with you,” Chesky said. “You get the entire museum all to yourself. This is literally night at the museum. It gets even better because you step outside the bedroom on to the terrace, you have the single best seat in the house for the opening ceremony” of the Olympics, which will take place on the River Seine.

For those preferring a U.S. setting, Airbnb is listing a house in New Mexico detailed to look like the one from the 2009 Pixar-Disney animated film, “Up.” Chesky said Airbnb paid to build the house from scratch and attach 8,000 balloons to mimic the helium-filled ones the central character in the movie uses to make the house fly.

The Airbnb version won’t fly, but Chesky said guests will be able to watch a crane lift the New Mexico house 50 feet off the ground.

“I think we maybe won’t have them inside the house when we lift it, just for safety reasons,” he said.

Some of the listings will be one-time events, including the sleepover at the the Ferrari Museum in Maranello, Italy, a living room performance by rapper Doja Cat, and an evening with comedian Kevin Hart in his members-only lounge. The “Up” house and a mansion in New York made to look like the one in “X-Men” Marvel comics will be available for three or four months. A Minneapolis house owned by Prince that was featured in the film “Purple Rain” will be available for a year, according to Airbnb.

The company won’t say how much it spent to acquire rights, dress up the properties, and pay the celebrities involved. Airbnb made a $4.8 billion profit last year and ended 2023 with nearly $6.9 billion in cash. Enough to repeat the “icons” campaign.

“These 11 are the beginning,” Chesky said. “We have a lot more under development.”

This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text.

Tours Travel

Lucia di Lammermoor review: A stunning soprano in a dubious Royal Opera production | Theatre | Entertainment

No Comments

When Katie Mitchell’s production of Donizetti’s Lucia di Lammermoor was first seen at the Royal Opera eight years ago, its feminist agenda aroused much controversy and even some booing from the audience. The current production is a big improvement thanks to some telling tweaks from revival director Robin Tebbutt and a superb cast stunningly led by US soprano Nadine Sierra in the title role. This was a five-star performance of a three-star production of a four-star opera and it was a joy to watch.

The opera is based on an 1819 novel by Walter Scott about the sort of fated romance so beloved by opera composers. Lucia loves Edgardo, but their families are at war and her brother Enrico insists that she marry Arturo in order to heal the desperate state of the family fortunes. It ends unhappily for all concerned, particularly Arturo who is murdered by Lucia in their bridal bed, while Lucia herself goes mad and dies and Edgardo kills himself. 

All the drama and intrigue, however, is the perfect vehicle for Donizetti’s music, particularly in the emotional arias by Enrico and Edgardo and the show-stopping high notes he gives to Lucia. Many sopranos transpose these down a tone or two to make them more manageable, but Nadine Sierra belts them out perfectly to great effect. With glorious acting to match a splendid voice, her delivery of the famous ‘mad scene’ towards the end of the opera left the entire audience stunned into silent admiration before they all exploded in applause. With Spanish tenor Xabier Anduaga and Polish baritone Artur Rucinski giving powerful performances as Edgardo and Enrico respectively, this was opera at its most gripping.

There were, however, several aspects of the production that rather detracted from the perfection of the cast. One of Katie Mitchell’s ideas was to adopt a split-screen approach to much of the staging, portraying the main action on one half of the stage while the other half showed something else going on in a different room. Given the level of intrigue going on, this was sometimes effective, but perhaps more often distracting and confusing. When a glorious aria is being sung on one half of the stage, particularly when it is being sung by one of a cast as glorious as this, one wants to concentrate on it rather than looking elsewhere.

When Mitchell’s version was first seen in 2016, the audience were even treated to the distraction of Lucia and Edgardo singing while making love in time with Donizetti’s music, while more unwanted laughter was also evoked by Lucia’s similarly rhythmic, drawn-out stabbing of Arturo. Mercifully the first of these was dropped at the first revival of this production in 2017, while this time the murder was portrayed with effective briefness and timing.

Apart from the distracting split-screens, however, two more things remain that are in neither the Walter Scott novel nor the original opera: two ghosts and morning sickness. The ghosts are those of Lucia’s mother and a girl who was murdered by an ancestor of Edgardo. These two apparitions may serve to emphasize Lucia’s state of mind, but they wander across the stage to no clear purpose far too often, and one ghost is surely enough for anyone. At one stage, a ghost is even seen climbing through a window, which strikes me as odd when everyone knows they can walk through walls.

As for the morning sickness and a later miscarriage for Lucia, this is never even implied in the original. Presumably it was added to give the opera some sort of modern, post-MeToo relevance, but Lucia’s resolve and femininity need no such updating.

LUCIA DI LAMMERMOOR AT THE ROYAL OPERA HOUSE TO MAY 18

Arts Entertainments

Volkswagen Amarok deals: Drive-away offer extended

No Comments

Volkswagen Australia has extended its runout offer on select model year 2023 Amarok utes until the end of June.

Nationwide drive-away pricing is available on Core TDI405, Life TDI500, Style TDI500, and Style TDI600 models, while all examples are offered with a free five-year/75,000km servicing plan.

The base Core TDI405 has a drive-away price of $54,990, which is a saving of $3479 in Victoria, while there are savings of up to $5000 on the other models.

Volkswagen’s five-year servicing package, which is included as part of the deal, has a value of $1800.

You can view the terms and conditions on Volkswagen’s website.

MORE: Buy a Volkswagen Amarok

The offer has been active since the beginning of December, but Volkswagen has pushed the end date out by two months.

MY24 examples start at $55,490 before on-road costs and max out at $82,990 plus on-roads.

All MY24 Volkswagen Amarok variants receive a trailer brake controller as standard, in addition to the standard tow bar and range-wide 3.5-tonne braked towing capacity.

  • Volkswagen Amarok deals: Drive-away offer extended

You may have noticed the buy and sell buttons at the top of our site – they’re our connection to the dealer world, and each week we get updates on stock availability across certain brands.

Our aim is to update our audience as often as possible with deals that are available.

To take advantage of these in-stock vehicles, click Buy a Car to be connected with our team.

We don’t use your details for anything other than connecting you with our team and a dealer. Any contact you have with a dealer is no obligation, and at no cost to you.

MORE: Buy a Volkswagen Amarok
MORE: 2023 Volkswagen Amarok Core TDI405 review

Auto

Chinese EV-makers are leaving Western rivals in the dust

No Comments

TO GIRD YOURSELF for Auto China 2024, a nine-day motor show which ends on May 4th in Beijing, get there by car. On the opening day, navigating the human traffic eager to glimpse the mechanical marvels on display required the same tenacity as negotiating the Chinese capital’s gridlocked roads. Helpfully, the ride to the venue is also useful preparation for understanding the intense competition gripping China’s car industry—which the jamboree itself further underscores.

Both on Beijing streets and at the motor show, most of the vehicles are electric. And Chinese marques, some more familiar to overseas visitors than others, and local technology champions such as Huawei and Xiaomi, better known for gizmos you carry than those that carry you, are edging out the foreign manufacturers that once dominated the domestic market.

Business

Litecoin ETF: Potential SEC Approval and Market Impact in Cryptocurrency

No Comments
Crypto Live News

Author: Nidhi Kolhapur

Nidhi is a Certified Digital Marketing Executive and Passionate crypto Journalist covering the world of alternative currencies. She shares the latest and trending news on Cryptocurrency and Blockchain.

May 1, 2024 22:35

The crypto community is anticipating a Litecoin ETF, championed by founder Charlie Lee, awaiting SEC approval. Lee’s optimism can possibly be ascribed to Litecoin structural similarities with Bitcoin, favoring its ETF classification. Ethereum relying on Proof-of-Stake brings regulatory challenges, delaying potential ETF approvals. Meanwhile, Lee is cautious about the prospects of Ethereum’s ETF because of these challenges. Market analysts spread caution, citing past delays of the SEC. Although a Litecoin ETF is promising, its mass adoption depends largely on regulatory approval and market response.

Cryptocurrency

As US campus protests turn violent, parents in India worry

No Comments

As the campus agitations in the US over Israel’s actions in the Gaza turned torrid, sparking police action in places like Columbia University, and rival group clashes in University of California, ripples of anxiety are being felt in India. According to the Open Doors Report of the US State Department, students from India constitute more than 25 per cent of the over one million foreign students in the US.

With news filtering in of an Indian origin student being arrested and barred by Princeton university, parents are calling up their children studying in the US, telling them to stay uninvolved. Meanwhile, education counsellors say they are getting anxious calls from students who have obtained admission in the US but are now rethinking their options.

Some are looking at Ireland as an alternative, while others with jobs are postponing their further studies plan. A dismayed Aakriti Mehta (name changed), told businessline that she had got selected to a Masters programme in Columbia University but is in two minds.

On the other hand, Sneha Jogi, French Trainer at the Alliance Francaise in Hyderabad, whose 18-year old son has got admission in the University of Utah for a 4-year computer sciences and game design course, is sanguine.

“We consulted with numerous International Student Advisors about the incidents in US campuses. It is the student culture, you know. India also has a very prominent protest culture. So you can’t stop people protesting, but you can choose to stay away from it.” Gurugram-based Manav Bansal, whose son is an undergraduate student in a reputed university in south-east US, is unperturbed too. “Education, especially in the US, is not limited to the classroom. It is an expression of democracy in action. Students, largely young people, are allowed to protest for things they believe in. It is a great learning for my son and everyone around the world.” However, he adds, “Protestors should understand the limits of the protest and what they are protesting about. And they should not paralyse the administration of schooling as seems to be happening in Colombia.”

Fears over visa

Meanwhile, Indian students on US campuses expressed fears. Hita Parakh, a student at Suffolk University Boston, said, “Indian American students who are not on a student visa are participating more actively in the protests as they do not fear getting deported. As for students with visas, we are scared to voice our opinion as if the university ends up calling the cops, we might get in trouble.”

“Those who participated in the protests face detention and serious risks to their visa status and scholarships, if identified,” a worried parent told businessline. In case of an expulsion or suspension, students on a F-1 or J-1 visa will in all likelihood lose their visas immediately. Once revoked, they shall be expected to leave the country immediately along with his/her dependents. Typically, an F-1 visa allows a student to temporarily live in the United States for a defined period of time while studying at a school, college, seminary, or conservatory. On the other hand, a F-2 visa, is a non-immigrant temporary permit for the immediate family of F1 student visa holders. A J-1 visa is granted in case of an exchange programme.

Rutuja  Deshmukh, a graduate student at Michigan State University, said, “Twenty six campuses across the US have encampments for the protest. These are student voices, and it’s becoming one of the biggest agitations across America. It’s incredible how students are supporting each other and showing solidarity for the ongoing genocide in Palestine. I haven’t seen that much violence, at least not at MSU. As of now, except for Colombia, the protests have been non-violent.”

Trying to sound reassuring, Aman Singh, Co-Founder & CEO, GradRight, told businessline, “We believe long-term educational planning often transcends temporary events. We understand the recent protests in the US may raise questions for prospective international students. However, studying in the US remains a long-term decision for students and their families, focused on educational goals and career aspirations.”

(With inputs from Abhishek Law, Amiti Sen, Ayushi Kar, Ramit Mehrotra)

Education

Working from home and the US-Europe divide

No Comments

When it comes to economic growth, America comfortably beats Europe. Many factors have fed America’s outperformance, from tech innovation to vast oil reserves. But there is one explanation that seems almost too simplistic: that “Americans just work harder”, as the head of Norway’s oil fund put it in an interview with the Financial Times on April 24th.

The numbers do in fact bear out this assertion—a rare case of national stereotypes being empirically provable. On average Americans work 1,811 hours per year, according to data from the OECD, a club of mostly rich countries. That is 15% more than in the EU, where the average is 1,571 hours. And it is not just that Europeans spend a few extra weeks on the beach. The typical working day in Britain, France and Germany is half an hour shorter than in America, according to the International Labour Organisation.

Finance

A mother’s heartbreaking story, plus mammogram guidance and cancer-fighting nutrients

No Comments

Derek McFadden, pictured at left with his mom Robin McFadden, was 23 when he took his own life on Aug, 17, 2018, in Tucson, Arizona. (Robin McFadden)

‘BROKE MY HEART’ – A New York mother said she believes chronic sleep deprivation contributed to her son’s suicide. She shares the heartbreaking story with Fox News Digital. Continue reading…

‘GREATER EMPATHY’ – Patients who see female physicians could live longer, a new study finds. Experts weigh in. Continue reading…

SCREENING OUT CANCER – Women should get mammograms every other year starting at age 40 instead of 50, according to updated recommendations from the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force. Here’s why. Continue reading…

Woman getting mammogram

The previous guidance stated women should begin biennial mammograms at age 50, but could opt to begin as young as 40. (iStock)

THE GOLD TREATMENT – An experimental “liquid gold” medication could bring new hope to multiple sclerosis patients, a study suggests. Continue reading…

CANCER BY THE NUMBERS – A new report reveals the latest trends in cancer diagnoses and deaths. See the top 5 observations. Continue reading…

SECRET WEAPON? – A common nutrient could help to boost cancer immunity, a new study suggests. Experts share the potential benefits. Continue reading…

Vitamin D benefits

Dietary vitamin D, found in foods including salmon, increased levels of the bacterium Bacteroides fragilis, which has been shown to improve cancer immune response. (iStock)

STROKE STOPPERS – A physical medicine and rehabilitation specialist shares specific tips for women to reduce their stroke risk. Continue reading…

‘THE SANDWICH GENERATION’ – Serving as a caregiver for a parent with dementia while also caring for kids can come with physical, mental and emotional challenges, experts say. Continue reading…

PEARLY WHITES – Dental experts share 7 tips to keep teeth bright, white and healthy. Continue reading…

Bright white smile

Patients should visit the dentist for a general check-up every six months, experts recommended. (iStock)

FOLLOW FOX NEWS ON SOCIAL MEDIA

Facebook

Instagram

YouTube

Twitter

LinkedIn

SIGN UP FOR OUR NEWSLETTERS

Fox News First

Fox News Opinion

Fox News Lifestyle

Fox News Health

Fox News Autos

Fox News Entertainment (FOX411)

DOWNLOAD OUR APPS

Fox News

Fox Business

Fox Weather

Fox Sports

Tubi

WATCH FOX NEWS ONLINE

Fox News Go

STREAM FOX NATION

Fox Natio

This article was written by Fox News staff.

Health Fitness

5 Reasons You Need A Kitchen Scale (And Its Not Just For Baking!)

No Comments

A kitchen weighing scale is no longer just an essential tool for professionals; it’s a must-have item for home cooks as well. Today, we all try to replicate professional chefs and their cooking styles in our daily lives. Therefore, it becomes even more important to take note of every ingredient used in a particular recipe. And that’s exactly where a weighing scale comes to the rescue. Gone are the days of eyeballing measurements or using spoons to estimate the amount of flour, spices, and oil used in a dish. People nowadays try to measure ingredients in the right quantities to maintain the consistency of a dish every single time, and a weighing scale helps you do so with the utmost accuracy. Moreover, it can be great for maintaining a healthy diet regime as well. Let’s explore it further.

Also Read: How Many Calories Hide In Your Cup Of Tea? Here’s The Calorie Count For Each Tempting Type

Here Are 5 Major Benefits of Having a Weighing Scale in Your Home Kitchen:

1. Helps You Eat Mindfully:

How much you eat is as important as what you eat to maintain a healthy diet regime. Controlling portion size helps regulate metabolism and promotes mindful eating, further preventing overeating and associated health hazards. In such a scenario, a kitchen scale can be handy to ensure you eat meals in the correct portion sizes.

2. Helps You Count Calories:

We’ve all grown up hearing “count your calories.” But have you ever wondered how to do so effectively? The easiest solution is to have a weighing scale. It helps you weigh the fried and decadent foods you’re consuming, preventing excess consumption and increased calorie intake.

Also Read: 5 Tips To Create A Mindful Eating Environment

Photo Credit: Getty

3. Helps Maintain Consistency in Dishes:

We often find the same dish tastes different on two different days. This is because we unknowingly mess up the measurement of each ingredient in a recipe. A weighing scale helps you keep track of the ingredients, making your food taste the same every single time.

4. Prevents Baking Mistakes:

A weighing scale is a must-have for every baker. Baking is a science, where even a small mistake can ruin all the hard work. Therefore, experts suggest measuring every ingredient accurately before mixing them to bake cakes, muffins, breads, and more.

5. Saves Time:

A kitchen weighing scale is compact, easy to use, and helps save a lot of time by allowing you to measure your food accurately in no time. So keep it handy and use it consciously to make your cooking experience a breeze.

Happy cooking, dear reader!

Home Kitchen

‘Modern Love Podcast’: Emily Ratajkowski Can Take Care of Herself, but a Little Help Would Be Nice

No Comments

This transcript was created using speech recognition software. While it has been reviewed by human transcribers, it may contain errors. Please review the episode audio before quoting from this transcript and email [email protected] with any questions.

[MUSIC PLAYING]

anna martin

From “The New York Times,” I’m Anna Martin. This is “Modern Love.” Today I’m talking to model, actress, writer, entrepreneur, and busy toddler mom, Emily Ratajkowski.

Hello.

emily ratajkowski

How are you?

anna martin

I’m great. Where are you?

emily ratajkowski

I’m in New York in my kid’s playroom, sitting on a toy. OK.

anna martin

[LAUGHS]: OK, I see. I mean, at least it’s a stuffed animal, not a LEGO. Those things are notoriously painful. Is your kid a LEGO kid?

emily ratajkowski

Yeah, he’s a little young for LEGOs, but he does love LEGOs. He’s got an airplane. He’s got lots of dinosaurs, truck. I was sitting on a bunny from Easter, so.

anna martin

When Emily isn’t at home taking care of her son, she’s often posing in some glamorous photoshoot. And photographs of her are everywhere, on magazine covers, in fragrance and swimsuit ads, all over social media, where she’s known by her iconic handle, “Emrata.” And recently, she’s been speaking up about the ways people perceive her. In her 2021 book, “My Body,” Emily writes about what it feels like to have men profit from her image and to work in an industry where her beauty is her currency.

Do you want me to call you Emily, or do you want me to call you Emrata? What do you prefer?

emily ratajkowski

[LAUGHS]: Whatever you want. I think most people call me “Emily.”

anna martin

OK, that’s what I’ll do. But I’m curious, where did that nickname, “Emrata,” where did that start?

emily ratajkowski

So my dad was the art teacher at my high school, and he was this larger than life, legendary, very cool painting teacher who, like barely wore shoes, and everyone called him “Rata.” So then when I — I think I got my first Myspace page, I just decided to be Emrata.

anna martin

It sounds like he was extremely cool.

emily ratajkowski

He was cool. I definitely didn’t have the, “Oh, man, your dad put me in detention today, and I hate him.” It was like, “Whoa, you’re Rata’s daughter?”

anna martin

So your dad’s the original Rata?

emily ratajkowski

Yeah.

anna martin

OK, I want to ask you about something that you posted on Instagram a bit ago. There was also an article in “The Times” about it. I want to talk about your divorce rings. For people who aren’t familiar, can you tell me what a divorce ring is and why you wanted to make one?

emily ratajkowski

To be clear, this is something that I know a lot of different generations of women have done before. I basically repurposed my wedding ring, took the diamonds that were in the original ring, and made them into two different rings, which I kind of playfully called “divorce rings.”

Yeah, I was inspired actually, by a lot of different people, one being my dear friend Stephanie Danler, who wrote an essay for “The Paris Review” that’s about jewelry and treasures. And I really liked the idea of a woman not having to be ashamed of leaving a relationship, but even just like of having a past.

And I was like, I don’t really — I don’t know. I don’t want to have this thing that’s in a drawer in my house that represents some sort of failure or shame because I don’t feel that way about my divorce. I want to be clear. It’s a very material thing, right?

But really, for me, the reason I decided to share that I did this with the world was because I do think that there still is such a taboo and a stigma around divorce, and particularly for women. And I’ve felt that a lot online — not in my personal life, but online. And even just like people immediately say like, oh, I’m so sorry, when they find out you’re getting divorced. And it’s like, sometimes that’s not the appropriate reaction. So I’m trying to change the way we think about divorce.

anna martin

So with your divorce behind you, are you also changing the way you think about any new relationships going forward? Are you approaching dating differently?

emily ratajkowski

Well, I got married when I was 26, and I had really only gone from relationship to relationship. So I probably had been on very — like maybe two or three dates in my life, like proper, proper dates. I was a serial monogamist. The thing that actually scares me about whatever future romantic relationship I invest in is wanting to have this space for both individuals to continue to evolve.

But I think it can be quite hard to really reach your full potential as an individual and let the person do the same. I want that flexibility with whoever I choose as a partner.

anna martin

In addition to making sure you have the space to grow individually, are there other specific qualities you’re looking for in a future partner?

emily ratajkowski

No.

[laughs]

I mean, right now, I’m not super focused on thinking about a partnership. I’ve been so enjoying the process of the low stakes of just meeting new people. And the fun of that is not looking for a type or an anti-type.

I’m not living in the past. You know what I mean? Not that you were insinuating that I was. It’s just more like I’ve been really open to all different types of people. And then more noticing my own behavior and how that might correlate to how I’ve behaved in past relationships.

anna martin

I really like that word you said a bit ago, “anti-type.” And it feels quite related to the “Modern Love” essay you chose to read today. The author of the essay is also in a phase of dating post-divorce, like you. But unlike you, she does notice herself doing a kind of pendulum swing from her ex, who did not follow traditional gender roles at all, to a new guy who does follow them quite rigidly. Without any spoilers, is there anything you want to say about this piece before you read it?

emily ratajkowski

I think that why I chose this piece is because I have found it quite interesting in dating, even though, again, I’m not really looking for a partner, the way that gender dynamics and shared responsibilities in a potential life or even just literally and going to dinner come up. And I’m in a unique position because I have built a life by myself that doesn’t really require someone to come in and help me at this point.

I just think we’re in a really interesting time where women are making more money than they’ve ever made. They’re graduating in college. And men, we are seeing they’re graduating college less frequently. They’re living at home.

I think that there’s just a lot going on with gender roles in hetero dynamics. It’s brought a lot into question about what I’m attracted to, what about that is learned, and what about that is just instinctual, and what do I want now that I’m a very different person than I was when the last time I was single and I was 26.

anna martin

Mm. OK, well, why don’t you read the essay and then we’ll talk more about it? This is Emily Ratajkowski reading, “How I Fell for an ‘I’m the Man’ Man” by Susan Forray.

emily ratajkowski

“My new guy and I were lying next to each other, half covered by bedsheets, the afternoon sun warming my feet. We had been dating for about a month. ‘I’m the man,’ he said. ‘I should be in charge of the money.’ ‘Right,’ I said, feeling a jolt of anxiety.

As a partner at a financial consulting firm, I thought, I’m in charge of money every day. But I reasoned that he and I weren’t going to be sharing a checking account anytime soon, so why end things prematurely? Besides, in the context of our conversation, he wasn’t even referring to me, but to his ex-wife. They had been driven apart by financial disagreements. This puts some distance between his words and me. Or so I told myself.

I didn’t normally go for guys who said things like, ‘I’m the man.’ I usually fell for men who didn’t argue when I said it was my turn to pay for dinner. These men noticed my intelligence before my looks, or at least they said they did. But in my post-divorce haze, I found myself falling for a different kind of man.

As his words lingered, I felt a combination of shock and curiosity, as if encountering a species previously thought extinct. I knew there were men who believed they should be in charge of money. The shock came from encountering one who readily admitted it. But he already had made clear he believed in traditional gender roles with sex, too. He had said, ‘I’m the man. I want to lead.’ I found his bluntness surprising, but also alluring. He was confident in his desires.

[MUSIC PLAYING]

Since my ex-husband had divorced me the previous year, I had been reconsidering what I thought I knew about relationships, and my previous belief in a relationship of equals seemed painfully naive. My ex called himself a feminist, but in our marriage, that seemed to mean he felt fine about me dramatically outearning him, fine about spending my income freely on luxuries, and fine about me covering the mortgage, the private school tuition for our children, and the rest of our financial commitments.

This experience should have led me to dump any guy who claimed it was a man’s job to manage a couple’s money. But here it was, having the opposite effect. I craved a man who sought to take financial responsibility for his family, even if I didn’t need it.

After my fantasy of a partnership of equals had failed to materialize, I seemed to want to replace it with a fantasy of paternalistic protection. The men I’d previously dated thought of themselves as staunch feminists — in hindsight, frustratingly so, at least in the sense that they were too inclined to defer to me under the guise of respecting me to ever take charge, either financially or sexually.

I can’t blame them. The pattern of choosing men too reticent to arouse me had been mine. I had interrogated the last man I dated on his Democratic bona fides before agreeing to meet for coffee. But with my new guy, I found myself quietly acquiescing as he told me his voting history shouldn’t matter. I took this to mean his voting history was the opposite of mine.

After paying for coffee that first evening, he carefully aligned the bottom of the receipt with his credit card, then wrapped it around tightly before placing the card back in his wallet. My ex would have scrunched up the receipt and tossed it in the nearest trash can. Watching the care he took with this mundane task, I knew I wanted him.

[MUSIC PLAYING]

A week later, we played chess in an ice cream parlor. I sensed that losing would dampen his ardor, so I left my king open to attack, letting him checkmate me twice. As we left, he took my hand and pulled me closer. Lying in his bed before falling asleep, I felt guilty about the chess games. They were like fake orgasms, untruthful actions, giving the man an exaggerated view of his talents. But these games didn’t hide sexual dissatisfaction. They hid my intelligence, turning me into someone he would feel a need to protect.

He often cooked for us in the kitchen he had remodeled himself, despite a career in data analytics, not construction. The walls of my kitchen were still marked with the rough outlines of the cabinetry my ex had wrested off years earlier in his aborted attempt at an upgrade. Sitting with a glass of wine, admiring my new guy’s cooking and handiwork, I was tempted to minimize the implications of his beliefs on gender roles.

I pondered him being in charge of the money. Unlike my ex, he was frugal, believing a car was for transportation, not luxury. His home was outfitted with charming furniture he had made himself. But he wasn’t cheap when it came to me. He paid when we ate out. I never even offered, in part because I knew doing so would displease him, but also because I relished feeling cared for. He was fiscally responsible, generous, and trustworthy.

So I told myself there was nothing wrong with a man being in charge of the money, as long as he made good decisions. At the same time, I found myself becoming guarded around my new guy, evading his questions and hiding things I thought he wouldn’t like. When he asked if I ever went to church, I said no, but failed to mention I was Jewish. I never lied about my career, though I didn’t tell him the whole truth either. He knew I was an actuary, but not that I was a partner at the firm.

Despite my evasiveness, I knew what I loved about him. A few years earlier, a dog had attacked his son. He fought off the dog, but his son was left with stitches and difficulty sleeping. He sued the neighbor who owned the dog, getting a sizeable contribution to his son’s college fund. And the neighbor moved away.

Given the choice between a man who said all the right things about supporting a strong woman and a man who shielded his child from a vicious dog with his bare hands, I chose the latter — not that the two are mutually exclusive. In the end, though, he didn’t choose me.

He was smart enough, first of all, to see through my deceptions, the restraint during chess and the lack of candor about my career. There were other things he may have spotted, too, like the mezuzah on my door frame or the chess strategy books on my shelves.

And I think he must have realized I earned more than he did when he expressed frustration that he hadn’t been able to save for his children’s college costs, I said nothing. And when he asked me about alimony and child support, I answered truthfully — I didn’t receive any.

When I made the mistake of mentioning work, he finally asked enough questions to find my career history online. It was aggressive enough on his part and evasive enough on my part for us both to feel like it was the beginning of the end.

A few hours later, I lay next to him, noticing the swarthiness of his arms against my pale skin. I told him a story about sex with my ex-husband. ‘You initiated?’ he said, mildly incredulous. His other beliefs I had sensed and anticipated, but given our sexual compatibility, I hadn’t expected him to believe a woman shouldn’t initiate sex.

When I next saw him, he was sullen and withdrawn. I mentioned my cabinetry problems as if to say, see, I don’t earn more than you. I can’t even afford a normal kitchen. It was a last ditch effort to turn myself into the person I thought he wanted, and also the person I wanted to be, a woman who needed to be protected, or perhaps, more accurately, a woman who wanted to feel protected, whether she needed it or not. My attempt was half-hearted, though. I knew the endeavor was doomed.

After we had sex, he said he couldn’t stay over, though he had no plans for the morning. The next day, by text, I ended it, which is what he wanted me to do. It seemed like an obvious decision, but I surprised myself by bursting into tears. What he had offered — strength, protection, and generosity — were things I had been looking for without even knowing it. That’s the thing about gender roles. They can meet a need you were afraid to acknowledge, and they can take it all away when you can’t conform.

Eventually, I hired someone for the cabinetry work. It was expensive, but that’s OK. It’s my kitchen, and I’m in charge of the money.”

[MUSIC PLAYING]

anna martin

Thank you so much for reading that, Emily. Did anything in the essay feel familiar or relatable, besides, of course, obvious that we all want a guy who can do woodworking?

emily ratajkowski

[CHUCKLES]:: Yeah, I mean, I think that as much, it was actually interesting to reread the essay after we had just had that conversation, because I take care of so much in my life. I take care of my son. I take care of my home. I take care of my schedule, his schedule, my career. The burden of the finances is on me. And I don’t have a family supporting me financially, or any of that.

And I often think about how much I want to be taken care of. And I experience that with my female friendships in different ways. I have wonderful, wonderful friends who do know when to take care of me and how to take care of me. But how sexy that could be in a romantic relationship is one that I sort of have tucked away, in some ways, because it just feels really hard to imagine somebody who’s more capable than me or who could understand my needs in that way.

anna martin

More from Emily Ratajkowski in just a moment. Stay with us.

[MUSIC PLAYING]

So, Emily, right before the break, you were saying that as someone who handles basically everything in your life and your kid’s life, you could see the appeal of being in a relationship with a guy who takes care of you, in some ways. But what strikes me about this “Modern Love” essay you just read is the author, Susan Forray, paints this kind of extreme picture of that dynamic.

The new guy she’s in love with, he seems like he wants to take care of her, but he insists on doing that in very specific, very stereotypically masculine ways. He pays for things. He builds things. He wants to initiate all the sex. Why do you think this type of masculinity that, honestly, feels pretty retro can still be attractive to women today?

emily ratajkowski

I mean, it’s interesting to me that we associate that kind of caregiving with masculinity because I’ve seen a lot of hetero relationships where it is often the woman who’s taking care of things like that, maybe financially sort of in a quiet way, because we want to have this idea that men pay. So there’s a shared card or something. But I have watched women be, this is how they love, this is how they provide, more than men.

There is a fantasy, of course, tied to it. I mean, my father, back to Rata, he built the house I grew up in. If there’s any kind of thing that’s broken, he fixes it himself. He didn’t cook meals, but he did a lot of the housework. It did feel like there was a more sense of shared responsibility in the home, and I do find that quite attractive in men.

And if you’re not going to be the kind of guy who can clean or cook or provide in the home, then I would like you to pay for it. So but for me, what I loved about this essay, really, was like the admitting of this real tenderness inside of her. She wants to be tended to. And this feels maybe embarrassing for a divorced mom because you’re like, I’m not allowed to want to be taken care of.

anna martin

Can you speak more to that? Sort of — I don’t know — that need for care, but also the feeling of like embarrassment around that need for care?

emily ratajkowski

Yeah, it’s a strange thing because I do think that the people who are attracted to me are attracted to me because I’m so good at taking care of myself. But then I almost feel like that’s sort of what I have to continue to give, is this big person who’s just incredibly capable and never has any desires or needs.

I think that was a mistake I definitely have made in past relationships, particularly in my 20s, where I sort of was like, I’ve got it all, and then this tender part of me would emerge, as, of course, it’s bound to. It would feel shameful and it would feel embarrassing, particularly if I had to be explicit about asking for care or love. And I certainly don’t want that in my next relationship, and hopefully, having a partner who can intuit my desire to be loved and cared for.

anna martin

Yeah, I mean, what you’re kind of unraveling here is a type of conundrum that I felt myself before. It’s like I feel generally secure, financially and emotionally at this stage of my life, and I’m so proud of that. But at the same time, it makes it super hard to ask for help.

emily ratajkowski

Yeah, even like emotionally, it’s actually — it’s great that you bring that up because I do feel incredibly secure emotionally as well, right? My days are full, my nights are full. I don’t — you know, whatever. But then, of course, I would love for somebody, if they were the right person and they made my life better, to come in and provide romance and support and all those things.

anna martin

In the essay, Susan Forray seems to be having a really similar conflict. It’s like she’s so hungry for an opportunity to be taken care of for a change, but then she’s kind of surprised, and honestly, ashamed for feeling that way, for having that need. She’s worried that in letting herself be taken care of along these very traditional gender lines, she’s playing into stereotypes or maybe even reinforcing them. Have you ever experienced something like that?

emily ratajkowski

Yeah, it was actually, as I was reading it, I was thinking about a past boyfriend who, if anybody would ever approach me and ask for a picture, his whole kind of philosophy was like, she can handle herself because I’m a feminist, and I would never want to step in because that would be somehow disrespectful to her.

And what happened to me was the attraction that came for another man happened when he stepped in —

anna martin

Huh.

emily ratajkowski

— when someone was asking for a picture and touching my waist. And he said, no touching, which my ex-boyfriend would have probably been like, that’s vaguely sexist, which I think it might be, actually. But there was something very attractive about it. There was something that felt protective and like care.

anna martin

Yeah, when I hear this essay, I think about my boyfriend. And we’re very independent and I, too, pay for things on my own. But at the same time, I’m like, if he offered to pay for every dinner moving forward, I would say yes, which is so — well, maybe not every dinner, but most of them, I really would. I want that. But for all the reasons we’ve been talking about, I also feel like I’m not supposed to want that.

emily ratajkowski

I mean, I’ve gone on a couple of dates with guys who they’ll pay for dinner, and then they’ll tell me a story of like, I went on a date once, and this woman told me she would have never seen me again if I hadn’t paid, thinking like, I’m going to be like, oh, that’s crazy, you know? And it’s like, well, yeah.

Listen, I love the TikToks and the Gen Z approach to this, which is like women put in all this effort, they do all the emotional labor, and they often do the coordinating. And then they’re expected to split the bill? It’s not fair.

anna martin

I’ve also seen on TikTok these, sort of big scare quotes here, “dating experts” talking about leaning into the divine feminine and attracting a guy who will pay for everything. And that, to me, feels so scary because it’s becoming like a transactional thing. Like, OK, if I’m sexy enough and traditionally feminine enough, I’ll deserve to be paid for? What do you think about that?

emily ratajkowski

I think we should just blow up gender norms in general. I mean, separately from whatever conversation around gender, you should always make sure that you’re taking care of yourself first. Always make sure you have an exit plan. Because if something was to happen, which it might, and you find yourself unhappy, if you don’t have the means, you don’t have the resources, and there are just — talk about coordinating — details that are hard to figure out, it’s going to be that much harder to leave.

And I think that that’s one of the things I learned in this process. As somebody who really did have my life set up, it was still really, really difficult. So to not have to worry about some of those parts of the leaving, it can be really a lifesaver. I think this is good for a relationship to have that sort of independence and that ability to grow as a person.

Making sure you have your own friends, making sure you have your own relationships and connections and things that you care about, that is really valuable, separately from if you ever plan on leaving or not. It will actually probably make your relationship better.

anna martin

Mm. You said in a previous interview before your son was born that you were sort of scared to have a boy because of the gender stereotypes associated with being a man. And I feel like that’s very related to the essay and what we’ve been talking about. As you’re raising your son, are you thinking about how he’ll be as a partner to someone? And how does that impact your parenting choices with him?

emily ratajkowski

Well, I mean, he has responsibilities in our house.

anna martin

Mm, like cleaning up all those toys?

emily ratajkowski

I mean, that’s real. We clean them up together. And no, I’m not thinking about how he’ll be as a partner, but I am thinking about how he’ll be in the world, and thinking about community, thinking about accountability, responsibility, empathy. Those are all things that I really think about a lot with him. I want him to be the kind of person who considers other people.

And whether or not you associate that with femininity or masculinity, I would say that in traditional gender roles, people who think more about community tend to be women, or we associate them with women. And it is quite interesting to watch the way that gender is imposed upon little kids. And I try to balance that out as much as I can in our home.

And I always make a point to tell him why I’m asking him to do things. Or even before he was really verbal, I always overcommunicated everything so that he knows that I’m a reliable source. And I think that sort of respect that I show him hopefully mirrors back to everyone.

anna martin

Emily, thank you so much for the conversation today.

emily ratajkowski

Thank you so much. I really enjoyed this, and I’m a huge fan of “Modern Love” and have been for a very long time.

[MUSIC PLAYING]

anna martin

Next week, I talk with advice columnist and author John Paul Brammer. He approaches his “New York Magazine” column “Hola Papi” with tenderness and a very healthy measure of sass. It’s a style he most likely picked up from his grandma.

john paul brammer

I tried to come out a couple times to my abuela, but one time, I said, “I think I’m gay.” And she turned to me and she was like, “You know, mijo, Rachel Maddow is a handsome woman.”

anna martin

What a response! [LAUGHS]

Next week, in honor of Mother’s Day, John Paul reflects on how intimacy with the most important people in our lives sometimes shows up in unexpected ways.

[MUSIC PLAYING]

“Modern Love” is produced by Julia Botero, Christina Djossa, Reva Goldberg, Davis Land, and Emily Lang. It’s edited by our executive producer, Jen Poyant, Reva Goldberg, Larissa Anderson, and Davis Land. Fact-checking by Caitlin Love. The “Modern Love” theme music is by Dan Powell. Original music by Marion Lozano, Pat McCusker, Roman Niemisto, and Diane Wong.

This episode was mixed by Daniel Ramirez. Our show was recorded by Maddy Masiello and Nick Pitman. Digital production by Mahima Chablani and Nell Gallogly. The “Modern Love” column is edited by Daniel Jones. Miya Lee is the editor of “Modern Love” projects. I’m Anna Martin. Thanks for listening.

Lifestyle Fashion

Moody Blues: Cats and Their Emotions

No Comments

The information is current and up-to-date in accordance with the latest veterinarian research.

Learn more »

Hi, I’m Dr. Lauren! Read my introduction to learn more about me and my two adventurous cats, Pancake and Tiller.

Cats, the effervescent cog in the otherwise somewhat bland wheelhouse of modern home life. Or, at least, that’s my opinion and I’m sticking to it. Cats are steadily creeping up to become one of the more popular household pets in many countries, but as I’ve written time and time again, we don’t really know all that much about them.

Do they get anxiety? Why are they so different from dogs? Can we typify the feline personality, or do cats that are more dog than cat actually exist? When does a healthy appetite actually mean something bad? Truly, they remain as much of a mystery, as a beloved household family addition.

Cats & Personality

One thing that has surprised me, again and again since graduating from vet school, is their personality. Stoically, we were repeatedly told as vet students that cats had no emotions. No research was given to support this, and yet none of us questioned this assertion. And yet, daily, in clinical practice, I am reminded of this supposed truism. And that, while I still have next to no research to back it up, cats almost certainly have emotions.

Last night, for example, was an exceptionally cold spring evening. Pancake has recently realized that Tiller has a favorite spot on a cardboard scratching post, that also happens to be near the main heating vent for the family room. And, therefore, Pancake has taken it upon herself to extricate Tiller from this spot…mainly by getting to the spot as soon as the heat goes on, much to Tiller’s dismay.

Last night, a number of bopping, punching, ear biting, and generally feline-tense moments ensued between the two, as they had a kerfuffle over who owned said hot spot. That is, until human intervention opened a can of wet food, and all grievances were quickly forgotten.

Pancake and Tiller often cohabitate without issues.
Pancake and Tiller often cohabitate without issues.

Pancake vs. Tiller

Pancake also gets inordinately grumpy if she doesn’t maintain her routine. That means breakfast by 6 am, second breakfast by 7 am, the sofa free by 8 am, and a prompt bedtime by 10 pm. I’ve actually seen her march upstairs, at 10 pm on the dot, in an attempt to lead people to bed. And I’ve seen her boycott the humans all night, if they don’t follow her lead. Further, houseguests be warned- if you try to pay her too much or too little attention, just know that, as the Klingons say “Heghlu’meH QaQ jajvam”.

Worse, is applying their flea treatments. Tiller is a bit more forgiving: once it’s done, it’s done. But with Pancake, a 3-month application of a flea and tick product, means that invariably for at least 1 month, but more than likely 2 months, I have to tiptoe every time I go anywhere near the back of her head, lest she turn around in sheer disbelief that I am again betraying her confidence, then run and hide for the next few hours. Don’t ask what it is like trying to give her pills! I’m pretty sure the neighbors would call the police if it was a common occurrence…and I refer again to the Klingon axiom written above.

Now, you may say that I am anthropomorphizing the cats. Sure, I live with them. I see their personalities. Tiller is athletic, aloof, intelligent, a bit high-strung, and a bit skeptical. Pancake is food motivated, constantly talking with whoever is around, grumpy when hungry (truly the definition of hangry!) and always happy to steal your chair or sofa the minute you get up to do something else. Without question, they have tiny brains, too much fur, and huge personalities.

Tiller sometimes shows evidence of jealousy when Pancake steals a prime sleeping spot.
Tiller sometimes shows evidence of jealousy when Pancake steals a prime sleeping spot.

What Does The Research Say?

Research on the subject of feline emotions is divided. Conversely, or perversely, we do discuss feline emotional health when talking about environmental enrichment in feline medicine, yet to what extent those emotions are experienced, or even acknowledged, is sparse, and just beginning to be investigated.

For instance, in a Japanese study (and others), pet owner attachment was directly related to the observation and assessment of pets’ emotions, with compassion and jealousy being the two most frequently observed emotions by owners. However, the jury remains out on just how accurately humans can interpret feline emotions in certain settings, especially when anthropomorphic tendencies have a role in the owner’s interaction with their pets.

Other, early data suggests that cats vocalize other than meowing in part for conveyance of positive emotions, but much remains to be elucidated on that front. One interesting paper even went so far to suggest that a feline left gaze and head turn may indicate low level fear, while a right gaze and head turn may indicate relaxation… feline emotional psychology indeed!

Essentially, the jury remains out on feline emotions, at present. At least officially. But when I walk into a clinic, and start a day of consulting, and cat after cat gets onto the exam table, looks at me, and sighs, it’s difficult not to feel their very real emotions. I’ve never gone so far as to see an eye roll, but I suspect it may yet happen. And if it does, Pancake will probably be first in line.

Pets

Fractional platform hBits to register as ‘small, medium REIT’

No Comments

Fractional ownership platform hBits plans to register with the Securities and Exchange Board of India as a ‘small and medium real estate investment trust’ (SM REIT) in the next three weeks.

The SM REIT regulations were notified by SEBI in March and several fractional platforms are readying their REIT structures; hBits intends to be first off the block, according to its founder and CEO, Shiv Parekh.

“We’ve been working aggressively to apply as soon as possible,” Parekh told businessline, adding that with regulations in place “we thought why not operate under the regulatory framework… and we’d like to be the first one.”

hBits currently has ₹365 crore worth assets under management and targets ₹1,000 crore during the fiscal year.

‘Mini-IPO process’

SM REITs differ slightly from the larger REITs, which are already listed in the market. After registering as an SM REIT, funds are raised asset by asset. Each time an asset is listed, funds are raised for that. There is a separate scheme for each asset and investors can pick and choose the assets they want to subscribe to, much like mutual fund investors can choose schemes.

“When we launch, it will be just one asset and then we’ll keep adding new assets and schemes. It is like a mini-IPO process.”

Parekh said the first asset to be listed would be worth ₹75-100 crore. Three potential assets have been shortlisted, one each in Mumbai, Pune, and Bengaluru. “Every month we will be launching an asset,” Parekh said. He added that the chosen asset will be known close to the launch of the scheme.

Approval is required for every asset that is listed, and Parekh said discussions were on with the regulator as well as the exchanges to speed up the process.

The notification of SM REIT regulations has created more investor interest in such platforms, Parekh said, pointing out that it has created legitimacy and trust.

In late April, the fractional platform acquired a 44,328 sq ft campus in CyberCity Magarpatta, in Pune, with an investment opportunity of ₹55 crore. In February it acquired a 24,816 sq ft asset in Bengaluru of a similar value.

Real Estate

Cijene u trgovinama srezane i do 50%. Vrijeme je za zalihe

No Comments

Pri kreiranju rubrike Index Shopping nastojimo izdvajati odlične proizvode koji se i nama sviđaju te odlične akcije i popuste. Ne objavljujemo proizvode koje i sami ne bismo kupili ili smatramo da njihova promocija nije u skladu s profesionalnim standardima. Neki proizvodi u rubrici Index Shopping mogu biti sponzorirani.

DOK smo listali kataloge i pretraživali ponudu za Indexovu prehrambenu šoping-listu, primijetili smo odlična sniženja na proizvode za čišćenje, njegu i higijenu, kao i na kućanske artikle i aparate, ili smo ih pronašli po povoljnim cijenama.

Izdvojili smo najpovoljnije ponude i proizvode s odličnim cijenama u svakoj trgovini. Lidl, Kaufland, Konzum, Plodine, Eurospin, Tommy, Spar i Interspar dostupni su u svim većim mjestima diljem Hrvatske, a ispod možete vidjeti našu šoping-listu za ovaj tjedan.

Kaufland

Kauflandov katalog vrijedi od četvrtka, 2.5., do utorka, 7.5, ili do prodaje zaliha, a pojedini popusti vrijede samo na odabrane datume u tom periodu. Aktualni katalog možete prolistati ovdje, a za ostvarenje pojedinih dodatnih popusta potrebna vam je Kauflandova kartica.

Lidl

Lidlov katalog vrijedi od ponedjeljka, 29.4., do nedjelje, 5.5., ili do prodaje zaliha, a pojedini popusti vrijede samo na odabrane datume u tom periodu. Katalog možete prolistati ovdje, a za ostvarenje pojedinih popusta potrebna vam je mobilna aplikacija Lidl Plus.

Eurospin

Katalog Eurospina vrijedi od četvrtka, 2.5., do srijede, 8.5., ili do isteka zaliha. Aktualni katalog možete prolistati ovdje. 

Konzum

Konzumov katalog vrijedi od četvrtka, 2.5., do srijede, 8.5., ili do prodaje zaliha. Za pojedine popuste potrebna je MultiPlus kartica. Aktualni katalog možete prolistati ovdje. 

Plodine

Katalog Plodina vrijedi od četvrtka, 2.5. do utorka, 7.5., ili do isteka zaliha, a pojedini popusti vrijede samo na odabrane datume u tom periodu. Aktualni katalog možete prolistati ovdje.

Spar

Novi katalozi Spara i Interspara vrijede od četvrtka, 12.5., do srijede, 7.5., ili do prodaje zaliha za prehrambene namirnice, kozmetiku, proizvode za osobnu higijenu i sredstva za čišćenje. Pojedini popusti vrijede samo u trgovinama Spar i Interspar, ovisno o dostupnosti proizvoda na akciji u tim trgovinama. Aktualne kataloge možete prolistati ovdje.

Tommy

Tommyjev akcijski katalog vrijedi od četvrtka, 2.5., do srijede, 8.5. Možete ga prolistati ovdje. 

 

 

 

 

Znate li nešto više o temi ili želite prijaviti grešku u tekstu?

Shopping Product Reviews

Tuesday’s high school baseball and softball scores for April 30

No Comments

City Section

Baseball

Central City Value 18, Animo Bunche 13
Rise Kohyang 8, Camino Nuevo Dalzell Lance 5

Softball

Animo South LA 22, Animo Bunche 14
Middle College 12, Stella 0

Southern Section Playoffs

Baseball

Wild-Card Round

DIVISION 8

Academy for Academic Excellence 22, Crossroads Christian 4
Mountain View 7, Animo Leadership 6
Bolsa Grande 9, Rio Honda Prep 2
Yucca Valley 4, Lennox Academy 1
Edgewood 9, Webb 8
Santa Rosa Academy 5, Hawthorne 3
Santa Clarita Christian vs. Shalhevet (Wed., 2 p.m. at Darby Park)

Softball

Wild-Card Round

DIVISION 3

Sonora 2, Long Beach Poly 1
King 10, Dos Pueblos 0
Upland 7, Fountain Valley 6

DIVISION 5

Apple Valley 14, Kaiser 11
Ocean View 2, Santa Clara 1
Village Christian 10, Azusa 2

DIVISION 6

San Gorgonio 11, Nordhoff 0
Santa Ana Calvary Chapel 17, Downey Calvary Chapel 0
Flintridge Prep 16, Anza Hamilton 4
Lancaster 12, Chaffey 7
Rancho Verde 8, Mountain View 4
Rio Hondo Prep 5, Southlands Christian 3
Ontario Christian 7, Bell Gardens 2
Cantwell-Sacred Heart 5, El Monte 4
Pioneer 16, Westminster La Quinta 6

Sports

WhatsApp Users Alert! Now pin up to 3 messages – Every detail you need to know

No Comments

Pin WhatsApp Chat: WhatsApp has brought another update for users. The instant messaging platform, owned by Meta, now lets users pin up to three messages per chat. This is going to be a really helpful feature for those who tend to search for specific messages quite often.

“Tired of repeating the who, what where, when? No problem, pin it,” reads a message on WhatsApp.

Pin WhatsApp Chat

WhatsApp has so been letting users pin one message within the chat. But this number has now been increased to three. The feature is available for both personal as well as group chats. Once pinned, the message will be visible to everyone in a group chat. 

Also, WhatsApp will let users decide for how long they want to pin a chat. There are three options to choose from – 4 hours, 7 days, or 30 days. 

“You can pin up to three messages to the top of a chat. Once pinned, the message stays at the top of the chat as a banner for 24 hours, 7 days, or 30 days. Tap on the pinned message banner to navigate to the message in the chat,” the company said on its page.

If a user has pinned more than one message, the banner will show the count. Also, the most recent pinned message will appear first in the banner. Users can tap the banner to see the next pinned message.

How to pin a message on WhatsApp on iOS, iPhone or Android:

A pinned message is displayed as a banner at the top of the chat until it’s unpinned.

Step 1: Tap and hold the message.

Step 2: Tap More options > Pin.

Step 3: Select the pin duration (24 hours, 7 days, or 30 days).

Pin a message in group chats on iOS, iPhone or Android: 

Step 1: Open the group chat and tap the group name.

Step 2: Tap Group Settings > Edit Group Settings.

Step 3: Select All Members or Only Admins.

It should be noted that group admins will be able to choose to allow members to pin messages in a group chat.

Unpin a message on iOS, iPhone or Android 

You can easily unpin a message at any time before the set duration expires.  

Step 1: Tap and hold the pinned message.

Step 2: Tap More options.

Step 3: Tap Unpin > Unpin.

Technology

Japan sees surge in foreign tourists splurging on kimonos, knives, and meals thanks to weak yen | Travel

No Comments

Foreign tourists are flocking to Japan in record numbers and thanks to a sliding yen many are living like kings, splashing out on everything from kimonos to knives and slap-up meals. “I bought three pairs of shoes, which is something I would never normally do,” French tourist Katia Lelievre, 36, said with a laugh in the bustling Asakusa area of Tokyo famous for its Buddhist temple and souvenir shops. The brands available in Japan are the same as in Europe — Converse, Nike and Adidas — but because of the exchange rate “it was really worth it” to buy, she told AFP.

While the Japan is seeing record numbers of foreign visitors, the weakness of the yen, which fell to a new 34-year low against the US dollar on April 29, is boosting consumption, delighting certain traders.(Photo by Richard A. Brooks / AFP)

“The food is really cheap. (I spent a lot) especially on food. I tried everything I wanted,” Dominique Stabile, 31, visiting from Italy, told AFP. “I had a budget set and I didn’t exceed it, so I’m happy.” Local businesses are also benefitting. “A lot of people do the math and when they see the equivalent in their country’s currency they say: ‘Wow, I’m going to buy that too’,” said Saori Iida, who works in a shop selling traditional second-hand Japanese clothes. (Also read: Greece: Athens’ former airport transformed, Ellinikon emerges as largest smart city in Europe )

HT launches Crick-it, a one stop destination to catch Cricket, anytime, anywhere. Explore now!

“Yesterday, we had someone who bought 15 kimonos,” she said. “Thanks to the weak yen, foreign customers are buying a lot of handmade knives, even as prices rise,” said Yuki Suzuki, 21, who works in a shop selling knives, another tourist favourite. “I feel like there are now more customers who want to own sets and buy a little more, for example several blades made by the same craftsman,” she told AFP.

Very reasonable ramen

In March the monthly number of foreign visitors surpassed three million for the first time, up 11.6 percent from March 2019 before the Covid pandemic torpedoed tourism. Spending per head soared 52 percent over the first three months compared to the same year. Currency movements help explain why. In 2019 a dollar bought 112 yen, compared to almost 158 on Wednesday, a 34-year low. On Monday it briefly hit 160.

A bowl of ramen noodles costs around 1,000 yen, which in 2019 was around $8.90 and is now $6.30. A luxury watch or handbag labelled at 700,000 yen in Tokyo now costs the equivalent $4,430, a snip compared to $6,250 five years ago. Many shops exempt tourists from Japan’s 10-percent sales tax if they show their passport. The biggest spenders per capita are Australians followed by visitors from Britain and Spain, according to the Japanese tourism agency.

‘Great value’

The slide in the currency is blamed in part on the Bank of Japan’s maverick policy of ultra-low interest rates while other central banks have hiked theirs. Japanese household consumption has been in constant decline since March 2023, due to inflation — the weak yen makes imports pricier — weakening purchasing power.

Some Japanese are also unhappy about the invasion of big-spending tourists, thronging stores and clogging up their favourite restaurants. One town plans to put up a barrier blocking the view of Mount Fuji. Visitors are “getting great value for money,” said Akiko Kohsaka, an economist at the Japan Research Institute and an expert on tourism.

“It may mean tourists may choose to stay at better hotels than usual, or stay in Japan for an extra day or buy brand items,” she told AFP. “Even with sandwiches or hamburgers — things that visitors can buy at home — they can sense that they would not get that kind of value for their money at home,” Kohsaka added. “I think Japan can have confidence in itself as a tourism destination. Even if the yen reverses its trend, I do not think it would lead to sharp falls of spending by tourists.”

Tours Travel

The Beatles’ Let It Be trailer – Original film restored after over 50 years | Films | Entertainment

No Comments

As previously announced, the original 1970 Let It Be movie has been restored and is set to release on Disney+ from May 8.

And now the trailer for the film starring John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Ringo Starr has released showcasing stunning footage from the previously unavailable documentary.

A caption read: “First released in May 1970 amidst the swirl of The Beatles’ breakup, Let It Be now takes its rightful place in the band’s history.

“Once viewed through a darker lens, the film is now brought to light through its restoration and in the context of revelations brought forth in Peter Jackson’s multiple Emmy Award-winning docuseries, The Beatles: Get Back.

“Released on Disney+ in 2021, the docuseries showcases the iconic foursome’s warmth and camaraderie, capturing a pivotal moment in music history.”

The announcement continued: “Let It Be contains footage not featured in the Get Back docuseries, bringing viewers into the studio and onto Apple Corps’ London rooftop in January 1969 as The Beatles, joined by Billy Preston, write and record their GRAMMY Award-winning album Let It Be, with its Academy Award-winning title song, and perform live for the final time as a group. With the release of The Beatles: Get Back fan clamour for the original Let It Be film reached a fever pitch. 

“With Lindsay-Hogg’s full support, Apple Corps asked Peter Jackson’s Park Road Post Production to dive into a meticulous restoration of the film from the original 16mm negative, which included lovingly remastering the sound using the same MAL de-mix technology that was applied to the Get Back docuseries.”

Let It Be is streaming exclusively on Disney+ from May 8, 2024.

Arts Entertainments

Ford says small cars aren’t dead after all

No Comments

Ford recently axed its Fiesta, and hasn’t confirmed a replacement for the Focus that’s bowing out in 2025… but that doesn’t necessarily mean it’s exiting the small car space.

When asked by Autocar whether there’s space in the Blue Oval’s lineup for lower, non-SUV models in the future, Martin Sander – general manager of Ford’s Model e electric vehicle division in Europe – replied: “Definitely”.

“I think so,” he replied when asked whether Ford would continue to offer passenger cars, with Autocar reporting new-generation small cars could potentially appear from 2026 and offer electric power.

“There are values which have made us successful over the last couple of years, like solid quality and value for money. We’re not walking away from this,” Mr Sander added.

  • New: Ford Explorer EV

“These are basic fundamental values Ford has had globally for many years.”

It’s unclear whether Ford would expand its partnership with Volkswagen to include passenger cars.

The two companies have been collaborating closely, partnering on commercial vehicles such as the Ford Ranger and Volkswagen Amarok duo, and the Ford Transit Custom and the next-generation Volkswagen Transporter.

Volkswagen has also given Ford access to its MEB dedicated electric vehicle (EV) architecture. Ford has already revealed the MEB-based Explorer for Europe, and is following this up with another crossover.

While Ford has confirmed it has assembled a ‘skunkworks’ team to work on an affordable EV to fend off the threat of Chinese brands, Mr Sander suggested a future Ford small car in Europe won’t necessarily be a high-volume model.

  • Ford says small cars aren't dead after all
    Dead: Ford Fiesta

“We are looking into the opportunities of bringing future global Ford products to Europe, but the key principle of our future line-up for Europe will be iconic, emotional products,” he said.

“We are not going back into a volume race just to hit a certain number at the plant or be in a segment where others are.”

Ford CEO Jim Farley confirmed earlier this year the skunkworks team has been working outside of the brand’s traditional framework for the past two years and has developed a “flexible platform” to be used by “several types of vehicles”.

A subsequent report from Bloomberg, however, said the trio of vehicles – the first of which will debut in 2026 – will consist of a small ute, a compact SUV, and, potentially, a vehicle to be used for ride-hailing.

  • Ford says small cars aren't dead after all
    Not for Australia: Updated Ford Puma

That casts doubt on whether the skunkworks project will spawn a more traditional hatchback for markets like Europe where these remain popular, even as SUV sales continue to rise.

In the meantime, Ford will continue to have compact vehicles in its lineup… they’ll just be SUVs.

These include the Puma and its upcoming Gen-E electric counterpart; as well as the upcoming Explorer, which straddles the small and medium SUV segments in terms of dimensions.

Ford offers just one passenger car in markets like Australia and North America: the Mustang.

Unusually, the Blue Oval has a much smaller SUV lineup here than in other markets, with the Escape having been axed and the Puma set to follow it out the door – though the electric Gen-E will come here.

Auto

How To Develop a Great Creative Brief and Get On-Target Content

No Comments

Every editor knows what it feels like to sit exasperated in front of the computer, screaming internally, “It would have been easier if I’d done it myself.”

If your role involves commissioning and approving content, you know that sinking feeling: Ten seconds into reviewing a piece, it’s obvious the creator hasn’t understood (or never bothered to listen to) a damn thing you told them. As you go deeper, your fingertips switch gears from polite tapping to a digital Riverdance as your annoyance spews onto the keyboard. We’ve all been there. It’s why we drink. Or do yoga. Or practice voodoo.

In truth, even your best writer, designer, or audiovisual content creator can turn in a bad job. Maybe they had an off day. Perhaps they rushed to meet a deadline. Or maybe they just didn’t understand the brief.

The first two excuses go to the content creator’s professionalism. You’re allowed to get grumpy about that. But if your content creator didn’t understand the brief, then you, as the editor, are at least partly to blame. 

Taking the time to create a thorough but concise brief is the single greatest investment you can make in your work efficiency and sanity. The contrast in emotions when a perfectly constructed piece of content lands in your inbox could not be starker. It’s like the sun has burst through the clouds, someone has released a dozen white doves, and that orchestra that follows you around has started playing the lovely bit from Madame Butterfly — all at once.

Here’s what a good brief does:

  • It clearly and concisely sets out your expectations (so be specific).
  • It focuses the content creator’s mind on the areas of most importance.
  • It encourages the content creator to do a thorough job rather than an “it’ll-do” job.
  • It results in more accurate and more effective content (content that hits the mark).
  • It saves hours of unnecessary labor and stress in the editing process.
  • It can make all the difference between profit and loss.

Arming content creators with a thorough brief gives them the best possible chance of at least creating something fit for purpose — even if it’s not quite how you would have done it. Give them too little information, and there’s almost no hope they’ll deliver what you need.

On the flip side, overloading your content creators with more information than they need can be counterproductive. I know a writer who was given a 65-page sales deck to read as background for a 500-word blog post. Do that, and you risk several things happening:

  • It’s not worth the content creator’s time reading it, so they don’t.
  • Even if they do read it, you risk them missing out on the key points.
  • They’ll charge you a fortune because they’re losing money doing that amount of preparation.
  • They’re never going to work with you again.

There’s a balance to strike.

There’s a balance to be struck.

Knowing how to give useful and concise briefs is something I’ve learned the hard way over 20 years as a journalist and editor. What follows is some of what I’ve found works well. Some of this might read like I’m teaching grandma to suck eggs, but I’m surprised how many of these points often get forgotten.

Who is the client?

Provide your content creator with a half- or one-page summary of the business:

  • Who it is
  • What it does
  • Whom it services
  • What its story is
  • Details about any relevant products and services

Include the elevator pitch and other key messaging so your content creator understands how the company positions itself and what kind of language to weave into the piece.

Who is the audience?

Include a paragraph or two about the intended audience. If a company has more than one audience (for example, a recruitment company might have job candidates and recruiters), then be specific. Even a sentence will do, but don’t leave your content creator guessing. They need to know who the content is for.

What needs to be known?

This is the bit where you tell your content creator what you want them to create. Be sure to include three things:

  • The purpose of the piece
  • The angle to lead with
  • The message the audience should leave with

I find it helps to provide links to relevant background information if you have it available, particularly if the information inspired or contributed to the content idea, rather than rely on content creators to find their own. It can be frustrating when their research doesn’t match or is inferior to your own.

How does the brand communicate?

Include any information the content creators need to ensure that they’re communicating in an authentic voice of the brand.

  • Tone of voice: The easiest way to provide guidance on tone of voice is to provide one or two examples that demonstrate it well. It’s much easier for your content creators to mimic a specific example they’ve seen, read, or heard than it is to interpret vague terms like “formal,” “casual,” or “informative but friendly.”
  • Style guide: Giving your content creator a style guide can save you a lot of tinkering. This is essential for visuals but also important for written content if you don’t want to spend a lot of time changing “%” to “percent” or uncapitalizing job titles. Summarize the key points or most common errors.
  • Examples: Examples aren’t just good for tone of voice; they’re also handy for layout and design to demonstrate how you expect a piece of content to be submitted. This is especially handy if your template includes social media posts, meta descriptions, and so on.

All the elements in a documented brief

Here are nine basic things every single brief requires:

  • Title: What are we calling this thing? (A working title is fine so that everyone knows how to refer to this project.)
  • Client: Who is it for, and what do they do?
  • Deadline: When is the final content due?
  • The brief itself: What is the angle, the message, and the editorial purpose of the content? Include here who the audience is.
  • Specifications: What is the word count, format, aspect ratio, or run time?
  • Submission: How and where should the content be filed? To whom?
  • Contact information: Who is the commissioning editor, the client (if appropriate), and the talent?
  • Resources: What blogging template, style guide, key messaging, access to image libraries, and other elements are required to create and deliver the content?
  • Fee: What is the agreed price/rate? Not everyone includes this in the brief, but it should be included if appropriate.

Depending on your business or the kind of content involved, you might have other important information to include here, too. Put it all in a template and make it the front page of your brief.

Prepare your briefs early

It’s entirely possible you’re reading this, screaming internally, “By the time I’ve done all that, I could have written the damn thing myself.”

But much of this information doesn’t change. Well in advance, you can document the background about a company, its audience, and how it speaks doesn’t change. You can pull all those resources into a one- or two-page document, add some high-quality previous examples, throw in the templates they’ll need, and bam! You’ve created a short, useful briefing package you can provide to any new content creator whenever it is needed. You can do this well ahead of time.

I expect these tips will save you a lot of internal screaming in the future. Not to mention drink, yoga, and voodoo.

This is an update of a January 2019 CCO article.

Get more advice from Chief Content Officer, a monthly publication for content leaders. Subscribe today to get it in your inbox.

HANDPICKED RELATED CONTENT: 

Cover image by Joseph Kalinowski/Content Marketing Institute

Digital Marketing

When a parent must care for a parent: How to avoid caregiving burnout

No Comments

For members of the so-called “sandwich generation,” doing double-duty caregiving can take a toll.

Serving as a caregiver for a parent with dementia while also caring for kids and maintaining social and work relationships can come with physical, mental and emotional challenges, several experts expressed to Fox News Digital. 

It can be especially difficult dealing with the role reversal, experts say.

CAREGIVING FOR A SPOUSE DURING GOOD TIMES AND BAD: ONE MILITARY MAN’S INCREDIBLE STORY

“The role of a parent is someone to look up to, respect and listen to,” Dr. Nancy Frye, PhD, a professor of psychology at Long Island University Post Campus in Brookville, New York, told Fox News Digital.

When a parent is in cognitive decline, questions arise about how to step out of traditional parent-child roles, she said, with “no clear norms or guidelines.”

For members of the so-called “sandwich generation,” doing double-duty caregiving can take a toll, experts say. (iStock)

“People have lived their lives looking up to their parents, turning to them for advice, and respecting their privacy and autonomy,” Frye continued. 

“Now, they find themselves poking around in their parents’ affairs and wondering when to start making decisions for them.”

Stress of the ‘sandwich generation’

“Sandwich generation” caregivers — those who are tasked with taking care of multiple generations, such as parents and children, simultaneously — reported significantly higher levels of personal burnout compared to those who care solely for children, according to a 2023 study published in the International Journal of Aging & Human Development.

OLDER ADULT WOMEN CAREGIVERS HAVE LOWER DEATH RATES THAN NON-CAREGIVERS, STUDY FINDS: ‘A SENSE OF PURPOSE’

One middle-aged caregiver from Long Island, New York, who asked to withhold her name, told Fox News Digital she can barely find time to take a shower when taking care of her mother with dementia. 

“How can I find time to go for a walk or coffee with friends when I am afraid she will wander or fall?” she asked.

Woman mother daughter

Those who are tasked with caring for members of multiple generations reported significantly higher levels of personal burnout compared to those who care solely for children. (iStock)

To avoid caregiver burnout when taking care of a parent who is dealing with an illness such as dementia, health experts said it is important to carve out time for yourself.

“Caring for a person with dementia can be very stressful,” Frye said. “In order to take care of somebody else, you need to take care of yourself. It is OK to take a break.”

TEENAGER IS PRIMARY CAREGIVER FOR NEW MEXICO MOM WITH MS: ‘WE’RE A TEAM’

Dr. Marc L. Gordon, chief of neurology at Zucker Hillside Hospital Northwell Health on Long Island, New York, said caregivers should not hesitate to rely on others.

“It is important to find time for respite, and to ask for help rather than trying to do it all by yourself.”

He added, “Just like they tell you on an airplane, in case of an emergency, you should put on your own oxygen mask before attempting to assist others.”

“How can I find time to go for a walk or coffee with friends when I am afraid she will wander or fall?”

Darci Henry, a certified dementia practitioner and licensed nursing home administrator with Trualta — a Canadian company that provides online support and education for caregivers — said caregivers experience a range of emotions, all which are valid.

Henry emphasized to Fox News Digital the importance of delegating responsibilities to other family members and outsourcing tasks. 

Caregiver helping up stairs

There are approximately 53 million caregivers in the U.S. as of 2020, a jump from 43.5 million in 2015, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). (iStock)

This may mean using community resources, such as meal prep, grocery delivery and laundry services.

“Reaching out and getting that extra layer of support is really important for your own preservation,” Henry said. 

“Taking time for self-care is not selfish. It’s necessary.”

BE WELL: TAKE SMART STEPS TO REDUCE THE STRESS OF CAREGIVING

Even for those who cannot leave the house, Henry suggested taking “micro moments.” 

“It can be something as small as taking a few deep breaths, doing some stretching, standing outside on your porch or just enjoying a cup of coffee,” she said.

father com

When it comes to speaking with children about their grandparent’s condition, an expert said knowledge is power.  (iStock)

It is also important to carve out time for family relationships and daily check-ins with spouses or partners, according to Henry. 

That could include going for a walk after dinner, having regular family meetings and discussing the division of responsibilities. 

Navigating difficult discussions

“If there are underlying issues in the family, you’re definitely going to see them come up once the caregiving role starts,” Henry said. 

People should seek professional help if the strain of caregiving is affecting the relationship, she advised.

“Many families have someone from the outside come in and mediate the meetings.”

CAREGIVER FATIGUE IN AMERICA RISING AT UNPRECEDENTED RATE: REPORTS

Having an outside perspective can help “provide a different lens” for the conversation and make sure everyone is heard, Henry noted. 

While communicating, she said it’s key to be respectful and understand limitations and expectations.

Man father son

“Try to take things as they come, moment by moment,” said one expert. “Focus on a parent having a good or a bad hour or day, as opposed to the parent improving or declining quickly.” (iStock)

When it comes to speaking with children about their grandparent’s condition, Henry said knowledge is power. 

“The more you can educate the teenager or young adult about what is happening, the more empathy they may have about the situation.”

“If there are underlying issues in the family, you’re definitely going to see them come up once the caregiving role starts.”

To help deal with the mood swings often associated with dementia, Henry suggested adhering to a stable routine as much as possible and developing strategies to identify and prevent triggers for certain behaviors.

“Educating yourself on what is happening in that person’s brain is really important, because that will help you understand that they are not giving you a hard time, they’re having a hard time,” Henry said.

‘One day at a time’

It’s best to embrace a “one-day-at a time” mindset, Frye suggested.  

“It’s tempting to take a parent’s state and behavior — whether it’s good or bad — as an indication of what’s to come,” she said.

Woman father child

To help deal with the mood swings that are often associated with dementia, an expert suggested adhering to a stable routine as much as possible and developing strategies to identify and prevent triggers. (iStock)

“Try to take things as they come, moment by moment. Focus on a parent having a good or a bad hour or day, as opposed to the parent improving or declining quickly,” Frye suggested.

Continuing to give a parent as much say and autonomy as possible can be helpful, she added — as long as it’s safe.

CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR HEALTH NEWSLETTER

“Decades ago, Ellen Langer did a study in which people in a nursing home were given a plant and told either that they needed to care for it, or that the staff would care for it,” Frye said.

“Those who were tasked with caring for their own plants lived longer.”

CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP

There are approximately 53 million caregivers in the U.S. as of 2020.

That’s a jump from 43.5 million in 2015, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

For more Health articles, visit www.foxnews.com/health.

Amy McGorry is a contributing health writer for Fox News Digital. Follow her on Twitter @amymcgorry.

Health Fitness

4 Easy Ways To Reheat Popcorn Like A Pro

No Comments

If you’re a fan of freshly popped popcorn, you know that it’s hard to beat its delicious taste. It’s crispy, fluffy, and still warm, making it easy to finish an entire bowl. However, it’s not uncommon to have some leftover popcorn that becomes stale and unappetizing. Stale popcorn loses its crunch and flavour and can be quite disappointing. But, did you know that you can easily revive your stale popcorn? There are simple ways to reheat your popcorn with appliances you probably have in your kitchen. If you’re interested, keep reading to learn four different methods to reheat popcorn!

Also Read: 5 Easy Homemade Popcorn Recipes You Can Make For Movie Nights

Make sure to keep an eye on your popcorn while reheating to prevent it from burning.
Photo Credit: Unsplash

Here Are 4 Different Ways To Reheat Popcorn

1. Microwave

The mighty microwave is our go-to appliance for quick and easy reheating. To reheat your cold popcorn using this method, simply put your favourite snack in a microwave-safe bowl and cover it with a lid or plate. Heat on high for around 10-20 seconds. The timing will depend on the power of your microwave. Make sure to keep an eye on the popcorn to prevent burning. And your popcorn will be warm and ready in no time!

2. Oven

Yes, you can reheat your favourite munching snack in an oven! For this, preheat your oven to 150°C and spread the popcorn out in a single layer on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Let it reheat in the oven for about 5-10 minutes, or until the popcorn is nice and toasty. The oven’s gentle heat would ensure reheating the popcorn without sacrificing the crispiness of your snack!

3. Stovetop

The easiest method that requires the most vigilance, reheating popcorn on a stovetop gives adjustable flavourings. All you have to do is heat a saucepan over medium heat and add cooked popcorn to it. Cover it with a lid and shake the pan occasionally to ensure even heating. In just a couple of minutes, your popcorn will be warm and aromatic. You can even add other flavours to your popcorn as it heats to enhance its flavour profile.

4. Air Fryer

An air fryer is a great option to reheat your popcorn if you don’t want it to be soggy. To reheat your popcorn in the air fryer, preheat the appliance to 175°C and spread it in a single layer in the basket. Air fry for about 5-6 minutes and shake the basket halfway through for even crisping. The hot air circulation inside the appliance will give you a feeling of freshly popped popcorn!

Popcorn is low in calories and high in fibre.

Popcorn is low in calories and high in fibre.
Photo Credit: Pexels

Health Benefits Of Popcorn:

Consuming popcorn can have several health benefits on your health. Some of these are:

1. Fiber-Rich

Popcorn is made with 100% whole grain, which means it contains fibre that is essential for your digestion. The high fibre content keeps our body’s bowel movements smooth and constipation at bay. It can also help take off excess cholesterol from the walls of blood vessels and prevent heart attacks and other diseases.

2. Rich In Antioxidants

Popcorn is packed with several antioxidants like polyphenols. These antioxidants can help fight free radicals present in our body which can lead to severe diseases. Consumption of popcorn – along with a balanced diet – can boost your antioxidant intake and keep you healthy.

3. Weight Loss

Since it’s low in calories, popcorn can help you lose weight. It is fat and sugar-free so you will not have any guilt after consuming it. Moreover, a small amount of popcorn can fill you up really quickly so that you don’t overeat. But, avoid adding butter, caramel, or chocolate on top of it since it’ll have the opposite effect on your body.

Also Read: Cooking Hacks: This DIY Popcorn Seasoning Will Make You Forget Your Butter Popcorns

Do you like to have popcorn with or without seasoning? Let us know in the comments below!

Home Kitchen

Who’s Hosting the 2024 Met Gala? Meet This Year’s Co-Chairs.

No Comments

Each spring a handful of attractive celebrities who do not seem as if they would hang out in any other situation are selected as co-chairs of the Met Gala, the black-tie blowout that is essentially the X Games of fashion (subtract motorcycles, add tulle).

This year, Anna Wintour, Zendaya, Jennifer Lopez, Chris Hemsworth and Bad Bunny will head up the gala taking place on Monday. The co-chairs were revealed in February in an Instagram video created to look as if the five were yukking it up in a group text message. “I can free up that day,” Mr. Hemsworth wrote, with a winky face. Bad Bunny contributed three flame emojis.

Random as it may seem, co-chair selection is a delicate alchemy that seeks to telegraph the event’s appeal across age groups and creative industries, especially fashion, film, music and social media. The lineup of Timothée Chalamet, Billie Eilish, Naomi Osaka and Amanda Gorman in 2021 seemed to scream “We are relevant to Gen Z!”

The co-chairs also tend to be among the night’s earlier arrivals. Please, spare yourself the embarrassment of asking your Met Gala watch party whether that’s the Hemsworth who plays “Thor” or the Hemsworth who was in “The Hunger Games” — we’re here to help.

Try not to look too surprised. Ms. Wintour, 74, the global editorial director of Condé Nast and the editor in chief of Vogue, has been the driving force behind the gala since 1999 and has essentially become its perma-host. Since her first spin hosting the gala in 1995, she has been credited with transforming the event from a fusty dinner into one of the most coveted invites of the year, not to mention a blockbuster fund-raiser for the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Costume Institute.

Ms. Wintour gets final say over every invitation sent and handpicks her co-chairs. She also hits the carpet each year in her signature helmet-like bob and a gown, often by Oscar de la Renta, Prada or Chanel. It’s one of the few times a year she leaves the sunglasses at home.

Zendaya, 27, rose from Disney fame to leading roles in HBO’s Gen Z drama “Euphoria” and in the poly-curious tennis film “Challengers.” She has not attended the Met’s signature event since 2019 — but she has been turning pretty much every red carpet into her own personal Met Gala instead.

The actress promoted the film “Dune: Part Two” in a sandstorm of cyborg looks, including a gleaming, vintage robot suit by Mugler. Her “Challengers” press tour fashion has been explicitly athletic, like the varsity-style tennis dress she wore in Rome last month with tennis-ball stilettos to match.

Those looks were assembled by the “image architect” Law Roach, who showed up on the red carpet with Zendaya for her Met Gala appearance in 2019, as the fairy godmother to her Cinderella.

Ms. Lopez, 54, a singer and actress, has attended more than a dozen Met Galas since her first appearance in 1999. This is her first time serving as a co-chair, shortly after the release of her bewildering movie “This Is Me … Now: A Love Story.”

Ms. Lopez has been a reliable source of fun on the Met’s carpet over the past two decades, wearing a giraffe-print Michael Kors gown with a punky bouffant in 2013 and an Indiana Jones hat with a faux-shearling stole in 2021. This year, she may accessorize with her husband, the actor Ben Affleck.

Bad Bunny, the 30-year-old megastar whose music draws from reggaeton, Latin trap and beyond, has reached the kind of success that expands the possibilities for Spanish-language pop worldwide, according to our critic Jon Caramanica. His 2022 album, “Un Verano Sin Ti,” was the most streamed of that year, and the first release performed in Spanish to receive a nomination for album of the year at the Grammy Awards.

He has also emerged as a gutsy, playful red-carpet presence. He showed up to last year’s Met Gala in a backless suit with a sweeping, floral train by Simon Porte Jacquemus. He has attended twice, and has been notably chill about the invitations. “I know that day is going to be an exciting thing,” he told The New York Times in 2022. “But I’m working a lot this week!”

Mr. Hemsworth, the 40-year-old Australian actor who swings around a hammer as “Thor” in the Marvel franchise, is probably nobody’s idea of a fashion innovator. But he is a dependable box-office hitmaker who has two major movies coming out in the next year: “Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga” and “Transformers One.”

Mr. Hemsworth, who will be a first-time Met Gala attendee, is also a member of one of Hollywood’s famous families. It is not yet clear whether his brother Liam, known for his role in the “Hunger Games” franchise as well as his short-lived marriage to Miley Cyrus, will attend. Chris Hemsworth’s wife, the model and actress Elsa Pataky, seems a safer bet.

Will he go bananas on the red carpet? If his past attire is any indication, he may go for a tuxedo in black, navy or potentially even gray.

If you’re thinking of Shou Chew, the chief executive of TikTok, you’re close! He is an “honorary chair,” as is Jonathan Anderson, the creative director of Loewe. (TikTok and Loewe, along with Condé Nast, are sponsors of the event.)

TikTok has been having a rocky time lately, thanks to a bill seeking to ban the app that was signed into law last week by President Biden. If Mr. Chew shows, who knows what outfit he might leverage to try and turn things around.

Vanessa Friedman contributed reporting.

Lifestyle Fashion

Cijena od 600 eura: Nubia lansirala svoj povoljan preklopni telefon

No Comments

Pri kreiranju rubrike Index Shopping nastojimo izdvajati odlične proizvode koji se i nama sviđaju te odlične akcije i popuste. Ne objavljujemo proizvode koje i sami ne bismo kupili ili smatramo da njihova promocija nije u skladu s profesionalnim standardima. Neki proizvodi u rubrici Index Shopping mogu biti sponzorirani.

U VELJAČI ove godine, brend Nubia predstavio je svoj cjenovno pristupačan preklopni telefon i najavio da će biti globalno dostupan. No, iako telefon još uvijek nije dostupan širom svijeta, stigao je u Europu i može se nabaviti preko službene stranice brenda.

Cijena od 600 do 700 eura

Ovaj preklopni telefon u varijanti 8/256 GB košta 599 eura, dok varijanta 12/512 GB iznosi 699 eura. S ovim cijenama, ovo je svakako jedan od povoljnijih preklopnih telefona na tržištu. Osim navedenog, Nubia trenutno nudi dodatnu pogodnost – prvih 200 kupaca koji kupe ovaj telefon na poklon će dobiti slušalice, čija je vrijednost 39.99 eura.

Nubia Flip 5G ima 6.9-inčni 120 Hz AMOLED unutarnji zaslon, 1.43-inčni AMOLED vanjski zaslon, bateriju od 4310mAh koja ima mogućnost brzog punjenja od 33W te 50MP AI dvostruku kameru. Telefon pokreće Qualcomm Snapdragon 7 Gen1, a dolazi u tri boje – crnoj, zlatnoj i ljubičastoj.

Više o uređaju možete vidjeti ovdje. 

Znate li nešto više o temi ili želite prijaviti grešku u tekstu?

Shopping Product Reviews

High school baseball and softball: Southern Section playoff scores

No Comments

SOUTHERN SECTION PLAYOFFS

Tuesday’s Results

BASEBALL

Wild-card round

DIVISION 8

Academy for Academic Excellence 22, Crossroads Christian 4

Mountain View 7, Animo Leadership 6

Bolsa Grande 9, Rio Hondo Prep 2

Yucca Valley 4, Lennox Academy 1

Edgewood 9, Webb 8

Santa Rosa Academy 5, Hawthorne 3

Santa Clarita Christian vs. Shalhevet (Wed., 2 p.m. at Darby Park)

SOFTBALL

Wild-card round

DIVISION 3

Sonora 2, Long Beach Poly 1

King 10, Dos Pueblos 0

Upland 7, Fountain Valley 6

DIVISION 5

Apple Valley 14, Kaiser 11

Ocean View 2, Santa Clara 1

Village Christian 10, Azusa 2

DIVISION 6

San Gorgonio 11, Nordhoff 0

Santa Ana Calvary Chapel 17, Downey Calvary Chapel 0

Flintridge Prep 16, Anza Hamilton 4

Lancaster 12, Chaffey 7

Rancho Verde 8, Mountain View 4

Rio Hondo Prep 5, Southlands Christian 3

Ontario Christian 7, Bell Gardens 2

Cantwell-Sacred Heart 5, El Monte 4

Pioneer 16, Westminster La Quinta 6

Sports

How Does High Density Interconnect PCB Support Scalability For Growing Busi

No Comments

High Density Interconnect PCB Support

As our world continues to become more connected and mobile, consumers and industries are insatiable for devices that can perform a wide variety of tasks. This demand for advanced computational power and energy efficiency necessitates a new generation of high-density PCBs. High density interconnect pcb technology offers superior performance and greater functionality in a smaller form factor, enabling designers to meet these demands in an ever-increasing number of electronic devices.

High-density interconnect pcb technology utilizes advanced materials and manufacturing techniques to allow PCBs to support a wider range of components than conventional multi-layer circuit boards. In addition to allowing for greater component densities, HDI enables manufacturers to create complex interconnection patterns with smaller traces and pads, allowing them to fit more functionality into a small space. These improvements in design and manufacturing capabilities offer numerous benefits to end-users, including increased reliability, reduced power consumption, and faster signal transmission.

The global market for high density interconnect pcb is growing rapidly because of the increasing demand for advanced digital devices that require higher processing speeds, improved battery life, and smaller form factors. High-density interconnect PCBs provide more processing power, less heat, and a thinner profile than traditional PCBs, making them an ideal choice for a diverse array of applications. This includes computers, consumer electronics, automotive applications, and more.

How Does High Density Interconnect PCB Support Scalability For Growing Busi

High-density circuit board manufacturing consists of several important steps, from selecting the right materials to designing the circuitry. The materials used in the construction of these boards can impact the overall cost and quality of the final product, so it’s important to choose carefully. The type of core material and surface finish will also impact the final price. For example, FR4 is a good choice for standard PCBs, while specialized materials such as ENIG, HASL, immersion silver, and gold are best suited for high-density circuit boards.

Another key factor in the cost of a high-density PCB is the amount and type of vias, through-holes, and microvias. These features can affect signal integrity, so it’s essential to choose the right ones for the application. For example, if the circuit requires multiple layers, it’s best to avoid staggered vias and Extra-Large Inner Connects (ELIC) whenever possible.

The design process for high-density PCBs is more complex than for standard PCBs, and it requires a higher level of precision. Because of this, it’s critical to work closely with your manufacturer throughout the design phase. This can reduce errors, improve design time, and help you bring your project to market quickly. However, this can also result in increased repair and rework costs. Additionally, the compact nature of these PCBs makes it difficult to replace individual components without affecting adjacent parts. These challenges highlight the importance of choosing a skilled and experienced manufacturer to design, manufacture, and test your high-density PCB.

Technology

Attention Football Fans! Redmi Note 13 Pro+ 5G World Champions Edition launched exclusively in India – Check price and other details

No Comments

Xiaomi is soon going to celebrate its 10th anniversary in India. Ahead of this, Xiaomi India has announced the launch of the Redmi Note 13 Pro+ 5G World Champions Edition. This edition will be available exclusively only in India. For this World Champions Edition, the company has collaborated with the Argentine Football Association (AFA). 

“This launch follows Xiaomi’s remarkable achievement of exceeding 15 million Redmi Note 13 Series units sold worldwide,” the company said in a release. 

“Inspired by the vibrant blue and white stripes, rich heritage, and the symbolic number 10, every aspect of this World Champions Edition smartphone has been thoughtfully designed to win the hearts of passionate football fans in India. From the striking hues of the AFA jersey to the subtle incorporation of the iconic three shining stars representing their victories, every element of the exudes a sense of respect and authenticity,” the company said.
 
The Redmi Note 13 Pro+ 5G World Champions Edition will be available in a specially crafted collectable gift box. The box will feature unique exterior and interior designs inspired by the spirit of the Argentine Football Association. 

Redmi Note 13 Pro+ 5G World Champions Edition Box Content

According to the company, the box will come with a card that honours the esteemed players who have achieved victory on the global stage during the 2022 World Cup, thereby enriching the celebratory experience for enthusiasts. It will also include a fully customized AFA edition 120W HyperCharger, a colour-coordinated USB Type-C cable and a football-inspired sim ejector pin. 

Also, the UI of the Redmi Note 13 Pro+ 5G World Champions Edition has been customised to offer a truly immersive and personalised experience for our Xiaomi fans. 

Redmi Note 13 Pro+ 5G World Champion Edition: Price

The Redmi Note 13 Pro+ 5G World Champion Edition, which comes with IP68 protection for dust and water resistance and a 200 Megapixel camera, has been priced at Rs 34,999 for the 12GB+512GB variant.

Technology

Flight price to accommodation, check out this guide for tourists travelling from India to Dubai | Travel

No Comments

Dubai offers a diverse, multicultural setting and abundance of hotels and attractions that continue to make it the top travel choice for Indian travellers who see it as a tourist destination for exploration and sightseeing. Earlier this year, Dubai introduced a five-year multiple-entry visa to boost travel between India and the Gulf nation where the visa is issued within 2-5 working days upon receiving and accepting the service request and allows its holder to stay in the country for 90 days, extendable once for a similar period, with a total stay not exceeding 180 days in one year.

Flight price to accommodation, check out this guide for tourists travelling from India to Dubai (Photo by Nick Fewings on Unsplash)

In an interview with HT Lifestyle, Aneta Zajac of Fly4free, shared, “Dubai is a great example of how a city that was more of a curiosity and a place to visit while changing flights can become a full-fledged and desirable holiday destination. A multitude of various attractions – both for children and adults, for those desiring adrenaline and for beach lovers, restaurants from all over the world, great weather most of the year, and, above all, the huge availability of direct flights from most countries make Dubai attract millions of tourists. The futuristic metropolis is an interesting, safe, clean and very attractive destination where no one will be bored.”

HT launches Crick-it, a one stop destination to catch Cricket, anytime, anywhere. Explore now!

Deniz Rymkiewicz, Group PR and Community Manager at eSky, revealed, “Tourism in the UAE has been experiencing an impressive boom in recent years, and Dubai is one of the main magnets for travelers. The city stands out as a dynamic cultural, commercial and entertainment place in the Middle East. Its iconic towers, luxury hotels, world-famous shopping malls and futuristic architectural designs attract tourists from all over the world. A visit to Dubai is a chance to experience unique experiences, such as skiing on water slides inside shopping malls, admiring the world’s tallest building Burj Khalifa, or exploring traditional markets and monuments. Dubai combines modernity with history, offering unforgettable experiences for travelers looking for unique attractions.”

According to Marzena German, Travel Market Expert at Wakacje.pl, Dubai has been a rising star in the rankings of the most popular destinations among travel agents’ clients over the past few years. She highlighted, “The success of this destination is due to several factors – apart from promotional campaigns, the main reason is accessibility. Dubai is a rather exotic destination, which is always interesting, but it is also relatively close. It is therefore possible to quite simply visit a place with an interesting culture and impressive architecture.”

Robert Blaszczyk, Head of Strategic Clients Department at Conotoxia, explained, “The dirham (AED), the official currency of the United Arab Emirates, has a much higher exchange rate to the Indian rupee. For 1 AED, you will pay approximately 22.73 INR. In the currency world, the dirham, divided into 100 fils, is among the newcomers. It entered circulation in 1973, replacing the riyal. The AED banknotes, renowned for their advanced anti-counterfeiting protection, feature symbolic buildings, plants and animals. However, compared to exchanging cash, e.g. at an airport exchange office, it seems much more convenient and beneficial to use a multi-currency card.”

He elaborated, “A night in a budget hostel in Dubai can be found for under 100 AED, i.e. about 2 272 rupees. In the hotels, the prices increase with the number of stars, but they are not out of reach. You can expect to pay around 9,000 INR per night for two people in a room at a five-star hotel. However, you can rent a 170-square-metre apartment for a staggering 363,000 INR if you want something exclusive. The cost of living in Dubai is much higher than, for example, in New Delhi. Some examples of prices converted into INR: a meal in a restaurant for one person – 2,200-3,500 INR; a fast food snack – from 690 INR; a small loaf of bread – 136 INR; a litre of milk – 160 INR; 1 kg of yellow cheese – from 900 INR; 10 eggs – about 295 INR, and a 1km taxi ride – about 80 INR.”

Robert Blaszczyk suggested, “Before leaving for the United Arab Emirates, we must take care of our passports. The next step is to complete an online visa application at uaevisa.ae. Then we have to pay for it. How much? 150 USD (12,500 INR) for a single entry permit for up to 30 days. Alternatively, there is an option to stay in Dubai for 48 hours for 95 USD (approx. 8,000 INR). 90-day visas are also available for USD 450 (37,500 INR). Once you have paid, you will receive an email confirming that you have been granted entry to the UAE. You will need to print out the visa for yourself and present it to customs when you land in Dubai. This is important for both tourist and business visitors. Dubai is becoming an increasingly popular destination for trade fairs, conferences and other events, bringing together business people from diverse industries worldwide.”

He concluded, “Two people will pay around 50,000 rupees for round-trip airfares on the New Delhi-Dubai route, for instance. A four-night stay costs around 20,000 INR. Renting a car – from 100 AED per day, but the whim of renting a Ferrari, for example, would be 10 times more expensive, meaning around 10,000 INR. Food and tickets to museums, mosques and specialities in traditional markets will cost about 30,000 INR. Some attractions are free of charge, but, for example, to enter the Burj Khalifa, the world’s highest building (828 m), you have to pay about 3,600 INR when converted from the local currency. Shopping malls, local markets and amusement parks are full of temptations that can quickly drain the budget for a day out. However, it seems that a sum of around 200,000 INR will allow two people to experience four days of incredible excitement.”

Tours Travel

PS Plus May 2024 free PS4 and PS5 games reveal date, time, leaks and predictions | Gaming | Entertainment

No Comments

PlayStation Plus subscribers are counting down to the Essentials reveal for May 2024. The next wave of free PS4 and PS5 games will be available to PS Plus subscribers on every tier. Barring any last minute leaks or surprises (and Daily Express will keep this article updated with all the latest developments), the next batch of PlayStation Plus games will be officially unveiled at 4.30pm BST UK time on the afternoon of May 1. The slightly delayed PlayStation Plus reveal means the games won’t actually be available to download until the morning of May 7. The only positive is that subscribers have slightly longer to download the current line-up, which includes Immortals of Aveum, Minecraft Legends and Skul: The Hero Slayer.

Needless to say, in the run up to the big reveal, PlayStation Plus subscribers have been attempting to predict the Essentials line-up on Reddit.

The monthly predictions thread sees subscribers attempt to guess which PS4 and PS5 games will join the line-up.

Annual football game EA Sports FC 24 is one of the favourites to join PS Plus in May, and with good reason.

As pointed out by the Reddit thread, Sony has added an Electronic Arts game in May for the past few years.

EA published racing game GRID Legends joined PS Plus last year, FIFA 22 joined in 2022, and Battlefield V was added in May 2021.

After impressing fans with a recent gameplay reveal, roguelike action game Hades is also tipped to appear in May, alongside Call of Duty: Vanguard, LEGO Marvel Superheroes and Crisis Core: Final Fantasy 7 Reunion.

That’s on top of games like Sonic Frontiers, Forspoken, Wild Hearts, Frostpunk, Nier Automata and Cult of the Lamb.

With Star Wars Jedi Survivor recently appearing on Xbox Game Pass, some users think it may also join PS Plus.

Likewise, the Dead Space Remake could also make an appearance, especially as it’s published by Electronic Arts.

Arts Entertainments

British firm breathes new life into a once-hated Jaguar

No Comments

The return of famed motorsports outfit Tom Walkinshaw Racing has seen the firm release its modern take on the Jaguar XJS grand tourer.

It’s called the TWR Supercat, and follows the same principle of the plethora of other ‘restomods’: take a classic car and fit it with modern equipment while keeping the spirit of the original.

TWR is no stranger to Jaguars, having previously prepared V12-powered monsters as a factory-backed team and winning at the 24 Hours of Le Mans twice (in 1988 and 1990).

The firm was also involved in Australian motorsport, having placed first and third at the 1985 Bathurst 1000 with a pair of Jaguar XJS coupes, and later founding what became the Holden Racing Team, which won six V8 Supercars championships in the late 1990s and early 2000s.

While the TWR Supercat is largely based on the core design of the XJS, there are nods to other Jaguar racers such as the XJ220 and its XJR-series Le Mans champion machines in its carbon-fibre bodywork.

This includes a large front splitter, wide boxy wheel arches, massive rear diffuser and aero disc wheels, all of which were designed by digital artist Khyzyl Saleem with help from consultant and prolific Porsche collector Magnus Walker.

  • British firm breathes new life into a once-hated Jaguar

Though there are no photos of its drivetrain, TWR says the Supercat hides a supercharged V12 engine under its bonnet, good for making 447kW (or 600 horsepower) which is sent to the rear wheels through a six-speed manual transmission.

TWR isn’t naming names, but it promises the Supercat is more than just a showpiece, with technical input from engineers who’ve worked for McLaren, Ferrari, Porsche, Williams, Mercedes F1 and Renault F1.

We’ll have to wait until the European summer (late June to September) to see what the Supercat’s interior looks like, but given the wild treatment to the exterior it’s unlikely to retain the same plush, sophisticated appearance of the original XJS.

  • British firm breathes new life into a once-hated Jaguar

Fergus Walkinshaw – the son of the late Tom Walkinshaw, and now head of TWR – has confirmed there are plans to produce 88 examples of the Supercat (honouring the team’s 1988 Le Mans win), each priced from an eye-watering £225,000 ($435,000) before on-road costs.

There’s an outside chance we could see one in Australia too, with TWR making the Supercat available in the UK “and major international markets including the USA”.

While we wait to see the TWR Supercat fire up its supercharged V12 engine, here’s a throwback to the Jaguar XJS leading the opening laps at Bathurst in 1985 with Tom Walkinshaw behind the wheel. Turn it up and enjoy.

MORE: Iconic Australian motorsport name being revived as sports car manufacturer

Auto

Can biotech startups upstage Eli Lilly and Novo Nordisk?

No Comments

BETWEEN 2021 and 2023 two parts of the drugmaking business were in contrasting states of health. An index of American big pharma rose by a third, outperforming the broader stockmarket thanks to robust sales of blockbuster drugs. One made up of smaller biotechnology companies sank by roughly as much, weighed down by rising interest rates and dissipating pandemic-era euphoria for all things medical. Unlisted biotech startups have, like most young firms, struggled to attract capital. Last year they drew just $17bn in investments, down from $37bn two years earlier. Fewer went public and more went bust.

This year the giants are still going strong. On April 30th Eli Lilly, maker of a hit weight-loss treatment, delivered another dose of strong quarterly results. On May 2nd Novo Nordisk, a Danish rival with its own anti-obesity drug, is expected to do the same. Together the two are worth $1.2trn, up from $350bn three years ago. But biotech’s vitals, too, are improving. That is good news for investors, patients and the pharmaceutical industry as a whole.

Business

Top 3 Must-Buy Cryptocurrencies Picked by Experts: Solana (SOL), Shiba Inu (SHIB), and Furrever Token (FURR)

No Comments

In the ever-volatile world of cryptocurrency, navigating through market fluctuations can be challenging, especially when facing losses from established assets like Solana (SOL) and Shiba Inu (SHIB), both down by 5%. However, amidst the uncertainty, investors seek opportunities to recover and potentially surpass their previous losses. Furrever Token (FURR) emerges as a promising contender, offering not only the potential for recovery but also the enticing prospect of 15X returns. As investors explore avenues to mitigate losses and regain momentum, FURR presents itself as a beacon of hope, poised to offset losses and pave the way for substantial gains in the crypto arena.

Analyzing Solana’s (SOL) Recent Performance: A Resurgence Amidst Challenges

Solana (SOL), currently priced at $135.10, has faced network challenges, including blackouts and bugs, leading to a 5% decline. Despite this, recent reports hint at a resurgence, with SOL potentially surpassing $180 and aiming for $200. Crowd sentiment has waned post-outage, but SOL witnessed an unexpected price surge to over $150 on April 22, signaling a shift from previous downward trends. SOL’s price climbed by 2% on Monday and surged over 10% in the past week. Although trading volume surged by 36.07% to $3.7 billion, SOL still grapples with a 5.03% daily decline and a monthly decrease of 20.58%, currently trading at $146.8. Despite challenges, SOL’s recent performance suggests recovery potential and future growth.

Shiba Inu (SHIB)’s Future: Expansion, Utility, and Community Optimism

Shiba Inu (SHIB), currently priced at $0.00002359, has experienced a 5% decline, yet remains resilient amidst developments in its ecosystem. ShibaSwap, the DeFi platform at the heart of the SHIB ecosystem, expands its operations to both the Shibarium and Ethereum networks, with Bone serving as the gas fee token for Shibarium. This expansion enhances SHIB’s utility, offering services like staking, liquidity pools, and yield farming to bolster the token ecosystem. Despite the price dip, trading volume surged by 73.4% to $540.3 million, indicating growing investor optimism. Shibarium scan data revealed a 144% increase in active accounts and a 198% jump in new transactions, reflecting a surge in user activity and engagement. IntoTheBlock data shows a 13.6% increase in daily active addresses, with 61% of SHIB holders in profit and 35% experiencing losses, underscoring continued community confidence amidst market fluctuations.

How Furrever Token (FURR) Offers a Path to Recovery Amidst Market Volatility

Furrever Token (FURR) emerges as a beacon of hope for investors seeking to recover losses amidst market downturns. Positioned uniquely within the meme coin arena, FURR brings a delightful twist by infusing the crypto space with an irresistible dose of cuteness. Unlike traditional cryptocurrencies, FURR goes beyond mere utility, offering users a charming and enjoyable experience centered around adorable cat imagery.

At the core of FURR’s appeal lies its mission to create a whimsical and heartwarming crypto ecosystem where users can find joy and community through their shared love for cute kitties. The project’s emphasis on fostering a warm and friendly community sets it apart in an industry dominated by serious blockchain projects.

FURR’s tokenomics are designed to support its growth and liquidity, with a total supply of around 9 billion tokens. A significant portion of these tokens is allocated for the presale, which has already seen remarkable success, raising over $1 million in just two months. Additionally, allocations for decentralized exchanges ensure that FURR has a solid foundation for trading and market accessibility.

Investor confidence in FURR is bolstered by several factors. The absence of buy and sell taxes during trading, coupled with the team’s commitment to locking their tokens for a year, instills trust in the project’s longevity and stability. Furthermore, FURR’s integration of cute cat-themed stickers, emojis, and visuals into its ecosystem enhances user engagement and enjoyment, contributing to a vibrant and active community.

With its current price of $0.000648 offering the potential for 15X returns, FURR presents a compelling investment opportunity for those looking to recover losses and participate in the burgeoning world of meme coins. The team’s proactive engagement with the community, evident through platforms like Telegram where admins and mods are highly active, further cements FURR’s position as a promising project poised for growth and success in the crypto space.

For more information and support, investors can reach out to FURR via email at [email protected] or visit the official website at https://furrevertoken.com.

Discover the Most Exclusive Presale Opportunity of 2024 Now:

Furrever Token Official Website 

Visit Furrever Token Presale

Join Official Telegram Group

Follow Official X Account

Cryptocurrency

Breast cancer mammogram screenings should start at age 40 instead of 50, says health task force

No Comments

Women should get mammograms every other year starting at age 40, according to updated recommendations from the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF).

This is a significant change from previous guidelines, which said women should begin biennial mammograms at age 50, but could opt to begin as young as 40.

The task force also noted that there is not sufficient evidence to “assess the balance of benefits and harms” of additional breast cancer screenings — including ultrasounds and MRIs — for women with dense breast tissue who have had an otherwise negative screening mammogram. 

SOME BREAST CANCER PATIENTS COULD BE AT RISK OF ANOTHER TYPE OF CANCER, STUDY REVEALS

The USPSTF previously released these recommendations in draft form in May 2023. 

Tuesday’s announcement makes the guidance official.

Women should get mammograms every other year starting at age 40, according to updated recommendations from the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force. (iStock)

Other medical groups have already been recommending mammograms starting at younger ages.

The American College of Radiology recommends starting annual screenings at age 40 for women of average risk, with earlier screenings for high-risk patients.

The American Cancer Society states that women between 40 and 44 have the option to get annual mammograms, and officially recommends that women between 45 and 54 get them every year.

ICE THERAPY SHOWN TO KILL BREAST CANCER TUMORS IN NEW STUDY: ‘IMPORTANT TECHNIQUE’

The updated guidance is in response to cancer rates rising among young people and breast cancer rates rising in particular, experts say.

Between 1990 and 2019, cancer rates among people 50 and younger have risen by 79%, according to research published in BMJ Oncology.

Mammogram

The previous guidance stated women should begin biennial mammograms at age 50, but could opt to begin as young as 40. (iStock)

Cancer rates for people under 50 are projected to rise by 31% by the year 2030, data shows. 

Breast cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death in women, according to the American Cancer Society, with rates rising 2% each year since 2015.

AN OVERVIEW OF BREAST CANCER, SYMPTOMS TO LOOK OUT FOR, WHEN TO START THINKING ABOUT ROUTINE SCREENINGS

One in eight women will develop breast cancer in their lifetime, and each woman has a one in 40 chance of dying from the disease.

The earlier screening recommendation could save 19% more lives, the USPSTS stated.

Woman at doctor's office

Breast cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death in women, according to the American Cancer Society. (iStock)

Reactions to the recommendation

Dr. Michelle Specht, a breast surgeon and co-director of the Avon Comprehensive Breast Evaluation Center at Mass General Cancer Center, said she is “thrilled” that the USPSTF has finalized its recommendations for earlier screenings.

“We have seen a rise in the incidence of breast cancer in women in their 40s over the last eight years and know that starting mammography at 40 will allow us to detect cancers at a smaller size and earlier stage,” she told Fox News Digital. 

“Early detection not only leads to improved survival, but an improved quality of life. As a surgeon, I am able to do smaller surgeries — and my medical oncology colleagues can deescalate treatment — when cancers are detected early.”

Woman getting mammogram

One in eight women will develop breast cancer in their lifetime, and each woman has a one in 40 chance of dying from the disease. (iStock)

Dr. Karen Knudsen, CEO of the American Cancer Society in Virginia, said in a statement the decision is a “critical change concerning women’s health and the fight against breast cancer,” and that it sends “a strong message to referring physicians and women that breast cancer screening should begin earlier than age 50.”

“Mammography screening is the cornerstone of our strategy to find this potentially deadly disease early, when it’s easier to treat successfully,” she said in the statement.

gyno looks at mammogram

“Mammography screening is the cornerstone of our strategy to find this potentially deadly disease early, when it’s easier to treat successfully,” said the CEO of the American Cancer Society. (iStock)

“We are encouraged that among the reasons for the USPSTF changes in their breast cancer screening recommendations include eliminating health disparities, especially among Black women, who are 40% more likely to die of breast cancer compared with White women and have a higher risk of aggressive breast cancers at all ages,” Knudsen added.

CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR HEALTH NEWSLETTER

Dr. Nancy Chan, a medical oncologist at NYU Langone Perlmutter Cancer Center, shared her reaction to the updated guidelines.

“No significant difference was found in different screening methods, i.e., DBT (digital breast tomosynthesis) versus digital mammogram,” she told Fox News Digital. 

“In patients with dense breast tissue, the addition of MRI may reduce cancer risk and false positive recalls.”

Doctor with woman

If a woman has a family history of breast cancer, she should meet with her doctor to have a breast cancer risk analysis performed, a doctor said.  (iStock)

In clinical practice, Chan said the majority of patients undergo annual screenings with mammograms, instead of once every two years.

“Practically, in the urban setting, most patients are already and will continue to have screening with mammogram with tomosynthesis (3D mammography),” she added.

“Each patient must consider the best screening method for their individual cancer risk, such as breast density and family history.”

CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP

If a woman has a family history of breast cancer, she should meet with her doctor to have a breast cancer risk analysis performed, Specht said. 

“This risk analysis will allow their physician to tailor breast cancer screening,” she noted. 

“A woman at high risk of developing breast cancer may begin prior to 40 and may do both mammograms every year, [along with] supplemental screening, such as a breast MRI.”

For more Health articles, visit www.foxnews.com/health. 

Melissa Rudy is health editor and a member of the lifestyle team at Fox News Digital. Story tips can be sent to [email protected].

Health Fitness

KFC Launches Limited-Edition Perfume, Heres What Its Supposed To Smell Like

No Comments

Do you love barbecues? Or rather, do you like it so much you want its aroma in a perfume bottle? If yes, KFC UK seems to have the perfect solution for you. The brand has recently announced the launch of its No. 11 Eau De BBQ, a limited edition perfume. As per the website, the scent aims to mimic “that unmistakable aroma of a BBQ drifting through the air, tantalising our senses and leaving us craving the taste of smoky goodness.” So, if you were expecting this perfume by KFC to smell merely like its signature fried chicken, you’d be wrong.
Also Read: KFC, Taco Bell To Experiment With ‘Artificial Intelligence’ For Meal Preparation

More specifically, the brand describes it as having “smoky wood and charcoal notes that embodies the essence of a classic BBQ experience”. The creators claim that this perfume will “leave you practically tipsy with hunger,” reported The Mirror. A 100ml bottle of this unique scent is currently priced at £11 (approx Rs 1150).

Photo Credit: kfcshop.co.uk

The first batch of this exclusive fragrance has already sold out. A new drop is expected on May 6, according to the website. The company has stated that the proceeds from the sale of No.11 Eau de BBQ are going to the KFC Foundation, which supports organisations across the UK that “empower young people to unleash their potential and build a positive future.”

In recent times, several brands and organisations have attempted to infuse perfumes with foodie flavours. For instance, a French Fries fragrance once took the internet by storm. This limited-edition collectable was introduced by the Idaho Potato Commission for Valentine’s Day 2022. Click here to read the full story.
Also Read: Nacho-Flavoured Alcohol? Doritos Launches ‘Nacho Cheese Spirit’ – Internet Reacts

About Toshita SahniToshita is fuelled by wordplay, wanderlust, wonderment and Alliteration. When she is not blissfully contemplating her next meal, she enjoys reading novels and roaming around the city.

Home Kitchen

Tiny Love Stories: ‘The Schoolhouse Taught Me What Marriage Didn’t’

No Comments

My wife died in 1991. Her best friend and I grew close in mourning. That blossomed into love. But was it a good match? And so soon, just months later? After a Chinese dinner, we opened our fortune cookies. Hers: “He likes to flirt, but toward you his intentions are honorable.” Mine: “You or a close friend will be married within a year.” Married 32 years now, she struggles with cognition, and has been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s. On a trip before that diagnosis, I stopped alone at a Thai diner. My fortune: “Embrace the change that is coming.” Love abides.— David B. Schock

I dismissed the 1909 two-room schoolhouse when I first saw it. T-shirts were stuffed in the rafters. Rainwater pooled on linoleum floors. It smelled of cat urine and mice. But something brought me back there. Newly divorced, I too felt ragged and broken down. Maybe that’s why I decided to make an offer. Swearing off men, I dove into homeownership. It hasn’t always been easy but, 10 years later, we are both transformed: sturdy and proud. The schoolhouse taught me what marriage didn’t: to trust my instincts and take agency in my life. — Sarah Gundle

It was surprising, given our opposing natures, that my dad’s unsolicited relationship advice was always spot on. He was the person to tell me to wait, that she’d come around. I kept the faith. Six months later, he was right. And now, two years into our relationship, she and I visit my parents. My mom takes joy in pointing out my dad’s and my girlfriend’s similarities — their frugality, loyalty and grit — to my chagrin. I guess faith is a good quality to have in abundance. — Julia Chin

The drip, drip, drip of a wet plastic bag takes me back to childhood chores. Mum would stand over me as I swished produce bags through bubbles in the kitchen sink. Her rough hands guided mine, teaching me like her mother, a child of Polish-Ukrainian immigrants, had taught her. We lost our language and last name, but this family tradition remained. I carried it with me to my homes in France, England, Australia. When cancer pinned mum to a chair, I poured my helplessness into washing her abandoned bags, pegging them on a string to dry, folding them into memories. — Kirsten Fogg

Lifestyle Fashion

Mindspace REIT sees record leasing in Q4

No Comments

Mindspace Business Parks REIT reported a 9.3 per cent rise in net operating income (NOI) in the fourth quarter of FY24 and a 11 per cent rise in revenue, with a record gross leasing of 2 million square feet (msf) at a re-leasing spread of 16.7 per cent for the bulk of it.

The REIT recorded NOI of ₹476.8 crore on revenue of ₹594.8 crore. During the quarter, it distributed ₹282.9 crore to its unitholders at ₹4.77 per unit.

Of the total leased in the quarter, 1.1 msf was re-leased and the remaining was leasing of new and vacant area. The average monthly lease rent in the quarter came in at ₹65 per square feet. The REIT ended the year with a committed occupancy of 90.6 per cent, excluding Mindspace Pocharam, a non-core asset that it is divesting.

“With ongoing expansion projects totalling 4.4 msf, future development of 2.5 msf and potential leasing of 2.4 msf of vacant area, we are positioned for significant NOI growth,” Chief Executive Officer Ramesh Nair said.

For the full year, the REIT saw NOI up 11.9 per cent at ₹1896 crore and revenue up 13.7 per cent at ₹2351 crore. It ended the year with gross leasing of 3.6 msf and in-place monthly rent at ₹69 psf.

Around 5-8 per cent of its portfolio is coming up for expiry annually over the next three years and the REIT said that it had re-leasing visibility for 2 msf or 70 per cent of its expiries in FY25.

Also read: Single-owned office assets attract premium rents versus strata-owned

Future NOI growth would be driven by 4.4 msf under development, 2.5 msf future development and 2.4 msf lease-up of vacant area, predominantly SEZs. Divestment of Pocharam would improve occupancy by 2 per cent.

Apart from sponsor assets, it is also exploring third party inorganic opportunities, it added.

Real Estate

Masovna otpuštanja u Googleu unatoč povećanoj zaradi?

No Comments

Pri kreiranju rubrike Index Shopping nastojimo izdvajati odlične proizvode koji se i nama sviđaju te odlične akcije i popuste. Ne objavljujemo proizvode koje i sami ne bismo kupili ili smatramo da njihova promocija nije u skladu s profesionalnim standardima. Neki proizvodi u rubrici Index Shopping mogu biti sponzorirani.

UNATOČ izvještavanju o značajnom godišnjem povećanju neto dobiti u odnosu na prethodnu godinu, Google je navodno pokrenuo novi val otpuštanja koji utječe na inženjere u nekoliko razvojnih timova. Navodno je tim za Python među najpogođenijima, kao i određeni broj inženjera iz projekata Flutter i Dart.

O otkazima se priča od početka godine

U najnovijem kvartalu, Alphabet, tvrtka koja je u vlasništvu Googlea, izvijestila je o rastu prihoda za 15%, pri čemu je izvršni direktor Sundar Pichai izjavio kako tvrtka dobar dio rasta duguje generativnoj umjetnoj inteligenciji, piše Tech Radar.

Otkazi su se vjerojatno pripremali tjednima. Pichai je mogućnost novih otkaza nagovijestio još u siječnju ove godine kada je tvrtka smanjila broj zaposlenih za oko 1000 radnika. Od tada su uslijedili i drugi manji valovi otpuštanja.

Glasnogovornik Googlea izjavio je kako tvrtka “odgovorno ulaže u najvažnije prioritete i značajne prilike koje dolaze”.

Znate li nešto više o temi ili želite prijaviti grešku u tekstu?

Shopping Product Reviews