On average, a one-hour primetime show has 18 minutes of advertisements. 18 minutes. The average American watches 34 hours of TV a week. That is 612 minutes of advertisements a week. Multiply that by a full year of TV watching and that equals around 31,824 minutes, or 22 days, of advertisements.
We want to give you your 22 days back.
Starting today, if you are a PlayOn/PlayLater bundle user, you have a really cool new feature to play around with called AdSkipper. AdSkipper gives you the ability to instantly skip the commercials on any stream recorded from ABC, CBS, FOX and NBC. Simply record the show on your PC via PlayLater, then stream through PlayOn onto your Roku, Chromecast or mobile device. When you play, AdSkipper gives you the option to instantly skip all commercials in the recorded program.
How this feature came about is a pretty cool story. In 2013, the Ninth Circuit court of appeals ruled skipping commercials is not a form of copyright infringement in the case of FOX v. Dish, making it legal for any video recorder to give its users the ability to skip commercials. Since the ruling, we are the first media streaming software to bring ad skipping to its users.
As most of you know, we’ve been at this for a long time. PlayOn was one of the earliest products in the market in 2003. For the past 11 years, we have been adapting and innovating in an industry with a continually evolving legal landscape, bringing you the most up-to-date features that new technologies can legally offer. AdSkipper brings us one-step closer to fulfilling this mission of revolutionizing TV to be user-centric and on-demand.
We hope you enjoy this new feature and do something extra special with your newfound 22 days.


Portraits of Resolution Project
The Portraits of Resolution Project is an ongoing project geared towards engaging community members in discussing how incarceration affects them, their families, and the community. In fall of 2014, William Estrada, Erica Brooks and Anthony Marcos Rea set up a mobile photo studio in front of the Cook County Court House on 2600 South California in the Little Village neighborhood.
I continue to engage the community in various spaces in Chicago as a way to engage in discussions about how incarceration affects our communities and how we might imagine a world without prisons.
This Project was partially funded by 96 Acres.


Kratom: Everything you Wanted to Know about Kratom
My experience with Kratom
Several months ago, I tried kratom for the first time (read about it here). My experience with kratom allowed me to drink a tolerable tea that provided several hours of pain relief. Unfortunately, the strain I selected provided psychotropic symptoms that disallowed me from using it on a daily basis.
While I continued to research the benefits of kratom, I stopped using it on a daily basis due to a lack of knowledge.
Fast forward to a couple months ago…
I spoke with The Kratom Konnection who sells high quality kratom product. I was able to ask about its use for pain relief. This company prides itself on selling only the highest quality, fresh product to ensure that the primary alkaloids do not deteriorate. I was educated on the different strains and what each strain is used to assist. Being unaware of the numerous number of strains available, I was quite intrigued to learn that many can be used on a daily basis, as heavy psychotropic side effects are not commonly experienced.
The following four strains were sampled:
- White Maeng Da
- Red Hulu
- Red Borneo
What was immediately noticeable was the quality of the powder – it was fresh! Since it was fresher than the prior product I tried, I decided to take a smaller amount. Good call on my part because the fresher the powder, the stronger the potency
While my experience with kratom has been positive due to slowly titrating to an appropriate dose, there has been much negative publicity around kratom in recent weeks after the FDA released a statement indicating kratom was just as dangerous as opioids.
In writing this article, I read through the FDA’s comments and was surprised any attention was being paid to it. This is not a new development – the FDA Commissioner, Scott Gottlieb, together with the establishment have been strong opponents for quite some time. Whether the concern is legitimate or coming from a fear that pharmaceutical companies will lose a substantial chunk of profit, has yet to be determined. The statements creating a fuss are from Scott Gottlieb, M.D., in which he stated that kratom “has similar effects to narcotics like opioids and carries similar risks of abuse, addiction, and in some cases, death.”
What is Kratom?
Kratom is a herbal product derived from the leaves from the kratom tree (Mitragyna speciosa). It is native to Thailand, Indonesia, and Papua New Guinea. Over the last decade, this herbal pain reliever’s popularity has increased exponentially due to user claims of its therapeutic effects in treating pain, anxiety, depression, and opioid withdrawal.
Kratom is included in a newly-defined class of drug called New Psychoactive Substances, so-named by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime. In the 2013 World Drug Report, kratom is on this list along with khat (another plant, this one from East Africa), Salvia divinorum (a plant that is widely available in the US), and synthetics ketamine, mephedrone and others.
Because of its similarities to opiates without the same narcotic side effects, this herbal supplement is heavily promoted as a legal, undetectable, safe drug that can be used to come off stronger drugs. It is not yet illegal in the US but the breakdown products of kratom can be detected with some drug tests which is good to be aware. While it has been used for many years in Southeast Asia as an anti-diarrheal medicine, a painkiller and a recreational drug, it is still relatively new to the United States and Europe.
Although the FDA has taken a clear-cut position in opposition to kratom, the American Kratom Association (AKA) has been working to educate and raise awareness of kratom’s beneficial uses, when taken appropriately. The AKA holds that kratom does not cause the same lethal respiratory depressing effects as narcotic-like opioids. “In stark contract, among millions of users of kratom in America, probably dating back to the 1990s and earlier, there has not been a single documented actual kratom-caused overdose death.” In response to a handful of recent alleged kratom overdoses, the AKA has said, “[t]he handful of possible kratom-associated deaths in the United States involved people taking multiple drugs, with apparent causes of death varying widely.”
The main issue causing concerns appears to be lack of education. It has different effects on the user based on the dosage amounts — in low doses, it’s a stimulant and in high doses it acts like a sedative. There are three (3) cases in which it has been ruled as the cause of death:
- Guy Garcia, 2013, acute mitragynine toxicity
- Christopher Waldron, 2017, thyroid and heart condition, muscle relaxer, prescription antidepressant and Kratom
- Sergeant Matthew Dana, 2017, hemorrhagic pulmonary edema due to Kratom overdose, accidental.
As with any herbal supplement, care has to be taken.
Recent news reports may be cause for pause, but keep in mind it is always more salacious to cover negative experiences, such as death. Calls to U.S. poison control centers about kratom increased 10-fold from 2010 to 2015, according to the FDA. Gottlieb said the agency also is aware of 36 deaths associated with kratom products. The deaths were not all ruled as kratom-overdoses, as many individuals had multiple narcotics in their system.
Nonetheless, the positive attributes and benefits of this herbal supplement should be receiving more press. Apart from assisting addicts to come off heavy narcotics, kratom has been used by many chronic pain sufferers as a non-opiate alternative for relief.
In a prior interview, Tim Davis, of Baltimore, Md., spent the day with WUSA-9 and shared his experience with kratom. Prior to trying it, kratom has assisted him get off prescription pain pills used to treat his back pain.
“Me being a father, I have a job, I have so much stuff that I need to do. I gotta get up you know. My kids want to play I can’t be in pain in bed, I was like hey, do I take these pain pills and be a better person,” said Davis.
Davis said the first time he took Kratom it “took all the pain away, it took all the feelings from the pills away.”
Last year, the Drug Enforcement Administration had planned to ban the plant by adding it to a list of illegal drugs that includes marijuana, heroin and LSD. The DEA slowly backed away from that plan last October after a flood of public complaints including a letter signed by 62 members of Congress and a protest at the White House organized by the AKA.
The group has said categorizing kratom as an illegal substance would stymie medical research into its potential therapeutic uses. The DEA said last October it would delay a decision until the FDA issued a recommendation.
As pointed out by Herman, too much of a good thing is not always good.
“I don’t know anything that can’t be dangerous but historically it has not been,” Herman said
While kratom is beneficial when used appropriately, it has to be taken in small doses until one’s tolerance is determined. If one takes too much, or too much too quickly, there may be some unpleasant side effects.
Reported side effects:
- Sensitivity to sunburn
- Dry mouth
- Increased urination
- Loss of appetite
- Psychotic symptoms
Currently, the AKA has initiated a formal dispute resolution petition with the US Department of Health and Human Services alleging that the FDA advisory is based on “weak scientific basis” and seeking to have it overturned.
“For years, the FDA has published scientifically inaccurate information on the health effects of consuming kratom, directly influencing regulatory actions by the DEA [Drug Enforcement Administration], states, and various local government entities. AKA believes the FDA health advisory on kratom will lead to more state and local bans, all based on discredited, incomplete, and mischaracterized scientific claims,” the statement reads.
At the end of the day, when you deal with chronic pain on a daily basis, you will try anything that promises to help. I am not a doctor and can only share my experience with you. While I have reacted well to it, you should contact your physician before starting this or any other health regime.
If you have tried kratom, I would love to hear from you! Please share your experiences below.


I was introduced to this site by Alan Merrill who co-wrote “I Love Rock ‘n’ Roll” and when I visited Tokyo for a Bruce Lee event some years ago I was able to meet up with Hitomi who owns the site. She came to the studio where Mike Remedios of sixties Hong Kong band The Mystics was re-recording the English versions of the Bruce Lee film themes he had recorded back in the ’70s. She is one of the most knowledgeable people I have ever met when it comes to bands from all over the world, especially bands from the sixties. Her site is a fountain of information about bands from all over the world, including many from Hong Kong and Singapore and there are links to many other interesting sites.
(COMPOSERS AND AUTHORS SOCIETY OF HONG KONG LIMITED) The acronym CASH always brings smiles around the world…..much more direct and funky than PRS, STIM, JASRAC or BMI! The annual dinner, usually held in late October, is a great reunion of old friends…..some of whom literally only meet once a year at this gathering. CASH, working closely with the world body CISAC has been instrumental in helping other societies to be set up around Asia, including China.
RADIO TELEVISION HONG KONG
Before this government radio station got into TV production it was called RHK and my “history” with them goes back to the late 50s when I entered junior DJ contest, winning several times and developing a serious addiction for doing “live” radio. I have been the “standby guy” for many years and ended up hosting a Country music show for 8 years after agreeing to stand in for a “few weeks”! Mostly I sit in for HK’s favourite old Uncle Ray, usually when he takes his annual vacation – which often coincides with Christmas. I have also acted in various programmes produced by the TV department, including some madcap English lessons.
You can find a lot of info about old Hong Kong vinyl on this site.
I suppose everyone thinks their alma mater is special, but the fact is that Hong Kong itself is a very special place in this world of ours and therefore an extraordinary school in this former British Colony is bound to stand out. King George the Vth School has alumni all over the world, probably more so than many other schools because a large number of families living in Hong Kong during the Colonial period were here on contracts and moved on to other countries or colonies when the time was up. I have met many former pupils who speak fondly of their childhoods here and many express a longing to come back. Reunions are held all over the world – the next official Hong Kong reunion is slated for the Autumn of 2007, to coincide with the tenth anniversary of Hong Kong’s handover to China. In December 2004 an impromptu reunion was held when the China Coast Community home needed money and some friends and I put together a fundraising event in the school assembly hall, starring Gerry &The Pacemakers who were in town for some corporate events.
ASIA TELEVISION LIMITED
ATV evolved from Hong Kong’s first TV station, Rediffusion Televison….or RTV. My earliest memories of watching TV in Hong Kong probably date from the late fifties and I have vague recollections of watching a programme called Tugboat Annie in black and white at a friend’s house after school. In the early sixties I appeared with my band The Kontinentals on various shows on the Chinese channel and in the late sixties RTV had a popular music programme called Soundbeat on which I appeared regularly. From the 1980s onwards I have appeared in several hundred drama episodes, starting with the highly rated Hong Kong Gentlemen. The most recent acting job for ATV was in 2000 in Divine Retribution, with Adam Cheng and Lau Ching Wan. This was a collaboration between the station and a mainland Chinese production company and the series was very popular in China judging by the fact that when I travel on the Mainland I am often hailed by my name from the series! The series was a reunion of sorts for me and producer/director/writer Wai Ka Fai, who wrote the script for Soldier Of Fortune, the first drama series I appeared in on TVB in the early ’80s.
TELEVISION BROADCASTS LTD
Probably better known as just ‘TVB’ this was Hong Kong’s first full-colour, wireless commercial TV station. Prior to its launch in 1967 RTV had a monopoly but found it tough to compete as it was still broadcasting in black and white. I was lucky enough to work for TVB right from the beginning, hosting a weekly half-hour show called Get Set Go on the English-language Pearl Channel, consisting of music clips from music shows on the Cantonese-language Jade Channel, including Enjoy Yourself Tonight and The Star Show. Was I perhaps Hong Kong’s first ever VJ? Almost 40 years later I have hosted a series called My Story on TVB-Q, part of the Super Sun satellite channel which TVB co-owns……and presented and interviewed some of the same artists I featured on Get Set Go, including Teddy Robin.
HONG KONG FILM NET
Hong Kong movie reviews and information.
HONG KONG MUSIC – WHO’S WHO
A Who’s Who listing of the Hong Kong Music Industry on the Internet. I have reconnected with a lot of old friends through this very comprehensive and useful site. Good job, Ray Chu!
HONG KONG UNDERGROUND
My friend Chris B runs the coolest Underground music scene in town known as Underground. Find out who’s playing where & when.


April 10, 1947: Jackie Robinson Signs with the Brooklyn Dodgers
On this day in 1947, Baseball Hall of Famer Jackie Robinson was signed to play for the Brooklyn Dodgers, becoming the first African American to play for Major League Baseball. He smashed records and knocked down major social barriers on his way to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1962.
Test your knowledge of Jackie Robinson and his contributions off the field with PBS Black Culture Connection’s Jackie Robinson quiz.
Photo Credit: National Baseball Hall of Fame Library, Cooperstown, NY.


By TASGOLA KARLA BRUNER
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Lisa Bufton of Woodstock was acquitted in a DUI case last month.
Two glasses of merlot put a Cherokee County woman in the middle of a dispute over how to accurately measure whether females are legally intoxicated.
The jury in Lisa Bufton’s drunken driving case acquitted her last month after her attorney argued the breath analysis instrument used by Georgia law enforcement personnel gives falsely high readings when used on women. The Cherokee County jurors said the Intoxilyzer 5000 should be “further evaluated for gender bias.”
Bufton’s lawyer, Atlanta attorney Billy Spruell, said the Intoxilyzer 5000 is calibrated to men’s physiology and the way men’s bodies metabolize alcohol. Women metabolize alcohol in a different way, he argued.
But the machine’s manufacturer says the instrument’s readings for women are accurate.
Bufton, 38, of Woodstock was charged with driving under the influence when she was stopped by a Cherokee County sheriff’s deputy last May after leaving a dinner party with her husband. Bufton said she drank two glasses of wine during a five-hour period that evening. Over the same period, she drank glasses of water and ate a full dinner. The Intoxilyzer 5000 measured her alcohol level at 0.093 grams per 210 liters of breath. Georgia defines intoxication at 0.08 or above.
“I knew I was innocent,” said Bufton.
She said she didn’t know she could have asked the deputy to take her to a hospital for a blood alcohol test.
The gender-bias defense is “ridiculous,” said Tom Myers, regional sales manager at CMI Inc., the Kentucky-based company that manufactures the instrument for about half of the United States. “The instrument doesn’t care if it’s a man or a woman.”
Jim Panter, a Georgia Bureau of Investigation chemist, agreed.
“Women are registering higher because they are higher, because of the way they distribute alcohol,” he said. “The differences in the way alcohol is treated in males and females is due to the fact that females tend to have more fat tissue. Therefore, with the same weight, they put more alcohol in the blood than males do.”
Battling over formula
In court, Tennessee chemist James Woodford testified that women given measured amounts of alcohol register higher on breath tests with the Intoxilyzer 5000 than they are supposed to according to a standard weight-versus-drinks chart.
“If you take a man and woman and they’re both the same size, give them the same amount of alcohol and you test them on a man’s scale, [the woman] is going to be too high,” said attorney Spruell.
Woodford said, “Fat tissue plays a small part, but it doesn’t account for the high margin of difference between what equal-sized women and men who drink same amount register with the Intoxilyzer 5000.”
Woodford said the design of the Intoxilyzer 5000 and interpretation of its printouts are based on a 1930s formula that considers men’s metabolism. He said extensive tests weren’t done on women because of fear that heavy doses of alcohol would damage their reproductive health.
Cherokee County Solicitor General David Cannon Jr. criticized Woodford’s study for involving fewer than 10 people. He also criticized Woodford for not supporting his findings with blood tests from his subjects.
“I think he misled the jury,” Cannon said.
Woodford said women’s differences should be considered when analyzing their breath, but Panter, who trains law enforcement personnel to use the Intoxilyzer 5000, disagreed.
“The purpose of the instrument is to tell you the alcohol concentration in a person’s system, and it’s doing that by measuring alcohol in your breath,” he said.
“If your breath has alcohol concentration of 0.08, the law says you shouldn’t be driving a car. Whether you’re male or female, you’re going to be impaired to a certain degree at that level.”
Spreading the word
The gender-bias defense is not new in Georgia, Panter said. But he called the Bufton decision the first successful use of it he has seen in his 20-plus-year career.
“Usually the jury has the common sense to realize the argument is bogus,” he said.
The gender-bias argument has received some recent press in national law magazines, where it has been called a novel DUI defense. The success of a few DUI attorneys in Georgia has caught the attention of their colleagues, more of whom are expected to begin using the defense.
At their quarterly meeting in June, DUI attorneys will learn how.
Now that she has been acquitted, Bufton plans to set up a Web site to tell women about the gender-bias defense.
Although she spent about $9,000 on her case, she said she isn’t bitter about the experience because she sees herself as an “instrument” to make sure DUI tests aren’t biased against women.
She calls her case a “waste of taxpayers’ money.”
Spruell said not every woman who has been accused of driving under the influence of alcohol is a candidate for the gender-bias argument. He said the women need close to a 0.08 reading.
But he wants all women to be aware of it.
“Women are going to have to get used to the idea that if you don’t stand up for yourself, hell, the men aren’t going to stand up for you,” he said.
Bufton can be reached by e-mail at email@example.com
Articles on this site have been found in various newspapers and magazines. They have been reproduced here to preserve the articles and to prevent broken links. All artciles have been reproduced in their entirety and noting all authors and publishers.


Bringing an Energetic New Feel to the Westfield Shops at the Oculus
Westfield Shops at the Oculus
The objective of this campaign was to bring an energetic feel to the Westfield Shops at the Oculus in New York City and welcome people back to the site after COVID restrictions were lifted.
The “But First” campaign featured a series of ads highlighting the many different ways people can enjoy the Westfield Shops at the Oculus. The ads featured real people in everyday situations, such as rushing to a meeting, exploring the city, or heading home from work. The ads all began with the tagline “But first,” followed by a suggestion for something to do at the Westfield Shops at the Oculus, such as getting a coffee, having lunch, or shopping for a new outfit.
The “But First” campaign also creates a sense of place. The ads don’t just promote the Westfield Shops at the Oculus as a place to shop but as a place to relax, socialize, and enjoy the city. This is particularly important in a post-COVID world, where people are looking for places to connect with others and feel safe and comfortable.
The “But First” campaign successfully achieved its objective of bringing new energy to the Westfield Shops at the Oculus and welcoming people back to the site.


Cellphones and smartphones have quickly become their own forms of status symbolism. In our society, it seems that the type of phone we have and the brand name will give a hint to our socioeconomic status or our personality or just our taste in design.
Of course, there also is the "cool factor." But if a phone is cool because we don't have it, does it mean it is cool if most everyone around us has it? OK, we'll let you be the judge.
However, for the sake of you who think you are alone with your phone (whether it's a smart or "dumb," a k a cell, phone), check out some information about shipments by tech survey firm IDC. At the end of 2013, Samsung was the most popular brand of both cell phones and smartphones in the world, with 29 percent of the smartphone market and 23 percent of the overall cellphone market (which counts al mobile phones). Apple, which makes only smartphones, is second in the smartphone market with 18 percent, and ranks third in the overall market at a little more than 10 percent. Nokia, the No. 2 mobile brand, is still second overall at 13 percent of market share, but its share has dropped more than 25 percent over the previous year, while Apple's share grew by 7 percent.
Rounding out the top five cellphone brands are LG and Huawei, which account for about 7.5 percent of the market combined. Overall, the latest report shows that Google's Android is the world's top operating system with about 53 percent of the market, with Apple's iOS assuming about 41 percent.


Apple announced record profits during the first three months of 2018 with CEO Tim Cook claiming Apple iPhone was the bestseller in most markets. Now, Strategy Analytics confirms that iPhone X was the best-selling smartphone model in the first quarter of 2018.
In a new analyst report, Strategy Analytics says Apple sold 16 million units of iPhone X during the quarter, making it the best selling smartphone model during the first quarter. The iPhone X was followed by the iPhone 8 with 12.5 million units sold during the quarter. The third most popular smartphone was the iPhone 8 Plus with shipments in the tune of 8.3 million units. During the earnings call, Apple confirmed that it 52 million iPhones during the quarter but did not divulge shipment details of individual models.
The report from Strategy Analytics contradicts analyst reports over the past few weeks that iPhone X is not getting huge demand from consumers and Apple is even planning to curb production of the device altogether. However, the iPhones continue to remain the best-selling smartphone models with the iPhone 7 taking the fourth spot with 5.6 million units sold during the quarter.
Xiaomi’s entry-level Redmi 5A took the fifth spot with sales crossing 5.4 million units during the three month period. The six best smartphone in terms of sales was the Galaxy S9, which was launched in late February and went on sale in March. The top-six most popular smartphone models together accounted for 1 in 7 of all smartphones shipped during the quarter.
While all seems well with Apple and demand for iPhone X, the overall smartphone market does not seem to be doing that well after all. According to Strategy Analytics, the global smartphone shipments reached 345 million units during the first quarter. The smartphone market contracted by 2 percent from the same period last year.
According to IDC, the worldwide smartphone market declined 3.9 percent during the first quarter of 2018. It estimates a total of 334.3 million units shipped during the quarter when compared to 344.4 million units shipped during the same period last year. The decline was mainly led by tepid demand in China while the smartphone sales remained flat in India.


10 February 2014
After a tremendous start to the year with a sold out birthday concert at Shepherd's Bush Empire, Melanie will be back on stage soon! Later this week Melanie will be flying over to the other side of the world to perform as part of the 'British & Irish Invasion' at the 'Party at the Mission' in Greenmeadows, New Zealand. Alongside Ronan Keating, Sharon Corr, Billy Ocean and Leo Sayer, Melanie will perform a selection of songs with the Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra. For more info and to purchase tickets, see missionconcert.co.nz.
After appearing on Jools Holland's tour last year and his special Hootenanny show, Melanie will also join Jools on tour again across the UK from April onwards. Performing at a selection of dates across the country, fans can expect Melanie to perform a handful of songs with Jools and his Rhythm & Blues Orchestra. If you didn't attend any of the shows last year, here's one of the songs Melanie performed during Hootenanny:
Having trouble playing this video? Click here.
For the full selection of dates, head over to joolsholland.com now.
21 January 2014
For those of you who couldn't attend Melanie's birthday bash or were simply too late to buy one of those much wanted T-shirts, our special Sporty's Forty merchandise is now available for purchase through our online store at https://www.backstreet-merch.com/stores/melaniec/
Which tee is your favourite?
30 December 2013
After touring the UK with Jools earlier this year, Melanie will now appear on his annual New Year's Eve celebration on BBC2. Starting at 11:30pm on the 31st of December, Jools will reflect on 2013 and celebrate the New Year with a selection of special guests including Emeli Sande, Ray Davies, Rudimental and Melanie.
Melanie will perform a couple of songs, including a Stevie Wonder classic and one of her own hit singles.
Alongside appearing on Jools' Annual Hootenanny, Melanie will also go back on the road with Jools in the UK in 2014. For a full overview of the dates, check out www.joolsholland.com


Media Delegation from BRICS and Other Countries Visits Fujian
A delegation of 15 correspondents from BRICS and other countries took a trip to Fujian from July 24 to 28. The trip is an effort initiated by Fujian Foreign Affairs Office in cooperation with the Information Department of Ministry of Foreign Affairs in the lead up to the upcoming BRICS Summit in Xiamen.
On July 24, Mr. Chen Chuxin, Vice President of Fujian People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries, met with the delegation and briefed the journalists on Fujian, the preparation for the Xiamen Summit, and its endeavor to integrate itself into the Belt and Road Initiative by advancing the building of the core area of the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road. He pointed out that Fujian features a high level of opening-up, multiple preferential policies granted by the central government, strong and sustained economic growth, and favorable eco-environment. He hoped that this trip could update them on Fujian’s socio-economic developments and cultural diversity, and help increase the understanding of Fujian in their homeland.
In Fuzhou, the journalists exchanged views with government officials on boosting cooperation in trade, investment, industrial capacity between Fujian and BRICS as well as other countries within the framework of the Belt and Road Initiative. They were also shown around the Three Lanes and Seven Alleys, a living fossil of the ancient Chinese Li-Fang (alley and lane) street system, relishing in the long history and exquisite traditional arts of the city.
In Quanzhou, the starting point of the ancient Maritime Silk Road, the group toured Jinjiang City Exhibition Hall, Anta Sports Products Limited, Kaiyuan Temple, and Jiuri Mountain, getting a first-hand experience of the openness, inclusiveness, and diverse cultures of the port city and its booming private economy.
In Zhangzhou, they were impressed by the thriving high-tech and food industries after visiting Kehua Technology Co., Ltd, Eastern Technology Group, Fujian Zishan Group and Fuzhen Metal Packaging Co., Ltd.
In Xiamen, the host city of the Summit, they toured Xiamen City Planning Exhibition Hall, Meitu Inc, Xiamen Shipbuilding Industry and Gulangyu Islet, a newly designated UNESCO World Cultural Heritage Site, catching a glimpse of the city’s history and culture and its flourishing tourism, shipbuilding and creative industries.
The delegation consists of reporters from TV stations, newspapers, magazines and radio stations of 13 countries. The journalists expressed that the five-day trip is a fruitful one which offers them a close view of Fujian’s development and deepens their understanding about the new opportunities the Belt and Road Initiative has brought to the world. Some 20 reports on the trip have by far been published in English, French and Arabic on the mainstream media platforms in their country.


In the ever-evolving landscape of online gaming, the concept of loot boxes has emerged as a captivating and controversial element. Delving into the psychology behind these virtual treasure troves provides a fascinating insight into the mechanisms that drive player engagement and spending habits.
The Allure of the Unknown
Unwrapping the Excitement
Loot boxes function as digital mysteries, concealing coveted in-game kaisar888 items behind a veil of uncertainty. This unpredictability triggers a psychological response akin to unwrapping a gift. The anticipation, coupled with the prospect of acquiring rare or exclusive content, creates a sense of excitement that keeps players coming back for more.
Dopamine Rush: The Reward System
The psychology of loot boxes is intricately linked to the brain’s reward system. Each box opened, regardless of its contents, releases a burst of dopamine – the neurotransmitter associated with pleasure and reinforcement. This neurochemical reward reinforces the behavior of engaging with loot boxes, fostering a cycle of anticipation, opening, and satisfaction.
Skinner Box Mechanism
Pavlovian Conditioning in Gaming
Loot boxes draw inspiration from the Skinner Box, a psychological experiment demonstrating the principles of operant conditioning. In the gaming context, the randomness of rewards conditions players to associate the act of opening loot boxes with positive outcomes, much like Pavlov’s dogs associating a bell with food. This conditioning amplifies the allure of loot boxes, making them a compelling aspect of the gaming experience.
FOMO and Social Influence
Fear of Missing Out (FOMO)
Loot boxes often feature limited-time offers and exclusive items, triggering the Fear of Missing Out (FOMO) phenomenon. Players are driven by a sense of urgency to participate in these events, heightening the appeal of loot box openings. The fear of being left behind motivates players to engage, creating a sense of community participation.
Social Validation through Rarity
The rarity of items within loot boxes adds a social dimension to their appeal. Owning exclusive or rare items becomes a status symbol within the gaming community, fostering a desire for social validation. This social influence drives players to invest in loot boxes not just for personal enjoyment but to showcase their in-game achievements to peers.
Ethical Concerns and Regulation
Balancing Entertainment and Exploitation
While the psychology behind loot boxes provides insights into player engagement, it also raises ethical concerns. Critics argue that the random nature of rewards exploits psychological vulnerabilities, leading to excessive spending. The gaming industry faces increasing calls for ethical regulations to ensure a balance between player enjoyment and protecting consumers from potential harm.
Understanding the psychology of loot boxes unveils the intricate web of emotions, from excitement and anticipation to social validation. As online games continue to evolve, developers must navigate the fine line between providing an engaging experience and safeguarding players from potential exploitation. In this dynamic landscape, the psychology behind loot boxes remains a key factor influencing player behavior and shaping the future of online gaming.


Endeavor Group Holdings, owner of mixed martial arts company UFC, has inked an agreement to acquire World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) and plans to merge the two sports brands into a single, publicly listed company that’s worth $21.4 billion.
According to Endeavor, the combined company will boast global reach with omnichannel distribution. The transaction is expected to close in the second half of 2023, with UFC valued at $12.1 billion and WWE at $9.3 billion.
“This is a rare opportunity to create a global live sports and entertainment pureplay built for where the industry is headed,” stated Endeavor CEO Ariel Emanuel. In 2016, Endeavor (then WME-IMG) bought UFC for about $4 billion.
The yet-to-be-named new company, to which UFC and WWE will each contribute contribute cash so it holds approximately $150 million at closing, will be listed on the NYSE under the ticker symbol “TKO.” Endeavor will hold 51% controlling interest in the company, while existing WWE shareholders will hold a 49% interest. Emanuel will run the company while continuing to serve as Endeavor CEO.
“The new company will be well positioned to maximize the value of our combined media rights, enhance sponsorship monetization, develop new forms of content and pursue other strategic mergers and acquisitions to further bolster our strong stable of brands,” said WWE Executive Chairman Vince McMahon in a statement.
In terms of sports streaming opportunities, WWE President Nick Khan told Axios on Monday a combined rights deal hinges on whether the companies renew their existing linear and streaming agreements.
WWE has a linear rights deal with NBCUniversal and Fox that expires next year as well as a streaming deal with Peacock that lasts through 2026. UFC, on the other hand, has a five-year TV contract with ESPN that expires in 2025. UFC events also stream on ESPN+, though subscribers must pay extra to watch live pay-per-view events.
Khan didn’t speak of UFC’s negotiation plans, but he said to Axios, "the most important thing is that NBC and Fox, from a WWE point of view, feel respected in the process. So we're going to enter those conversations with them.”
He added NBCU and Fox have the right of first refusal, meaning they have priority in renewing their agreements with WWE, before WWE can seek a deal with a third party.
With Endeavor at the helm, UFC and WWE expect the new company to deliver around $50-$100 million in annual run rate cost synergies. Endeavor also has some sports streaming experience through its subsidiary Endeavor Streaming, which in the past year helped U.K. soccer club Tottenham Hotspur and the Professional Triathletes Organization launch their respective direct-to-consumer streaming services.
In an investor presentation supporting the deal, Endeavor cited third party market data projecting global live sports revenue will reach $74 billion by 2025. Ampere Analysis recently predicted SVOD services will increase their sports streaming spend by 64% this year to $8.5 billion.


It’s been almost three years since I wrote my first blog here. Many classes taught, research projects started (some finished, some not!), and one baby later–here we are for a second go. I submitted a simpler version of this commentary to the Austin American-Statesman this week, but it wasn’t published. So why not make it a blog?
Reverberations continue from President Trump’s July 14 tweet calling for four Democratic congresswomen of color to “go back” to the “totally broken and crime infested places from which they came.” At a rally in North Carolina last week, Trump’s supporters chanted “send her back,” after the President criticized Somali-born American citizen, Rep. Ilhan Omar. Trump attempted to disavow the chant by saying that he tried to stop it. The video of the rally, however, clearly shows otherwise. Before the rally, Trump tweeted “Our Country is Free, Beautiful and Very Successful. If you hate our Country, or if you are not happy here, you can leave!”
We’re so used to hearing President Trump utter offensive speech, that I fear most of us with the privilege to do so will forget about this latest episode. Representatives Ilhan Omar, Rashida Tlaib, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, and Ayanna Pressley obviously will not forget about it. Neither will Americans of color, women, and other minorities who are inspired by their leadership and their courage, nor will those for whom the words “go back” feel personally violent and exclusionary.
As the Statesman’s Juan Castillo pointed out in a column last week, Trump’s call for these public servants to “go back” evokes painful memories—and current realities—of racism and xenophobia experienced by Mexican Americans in Texas. In reality, the only group of Americans who have authority to ask others to “go back” are indigenous peoples. As Democratic representative Deb Haaland aptly wrote, “My Pueblo ancestors, despite being targeted at every juncture — despite facing famine and drought — still inhabit this country today. But indigenous people aren’t asking anyone to go back to where they came from.”
At the center of this latest debacle, and current debates about immigration—is the question of who “we” are as a nation. This tiny word, “we” has a history of bringing people together to unify, but it has—and continues to—divide and exclude. Where there is a “we,” after all, there is a “they,” and where there is an “us,” there is a “them.”
At various points in our history, Germans, Irish, Catholics, Chinese, Jews, Japanese, and Muslims have all found themselves among the many communities which have been excluded from the “we.” The traumas of slavery and segregation linger, and as author Michelle Alexander reminds us, the “new Jim Crow,” mass incarceration–which disproportionately punishes African Americans–attests to the fact that white America still maintains a hold on who can be a part of the “we.”
Not only is this racism and nativism contrary to American democracy, it also flies in the face of the Gospel of Jesus, which Trump and most of his supporters claim to follow—including the 69% of white evangelical Protestants who approve of the President’s performance. Jesus, a Middle Eastern person of color—and a refugee—taught a message of hospitality and welcome that ran counter to the oppressive political system of the Roman Empire. His own Jewish tradition taught that “You shall not deprive a resident alien . . . of justice” and that “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”
I suspect that Jesus and his contemporary followers would find little room in Donald Trump’s version of the “we.” In fact, I’m fairly certain the President would feel threatened by the brown-skinned Jewish Palestinian prophet who called for a community that sought to bring people in rather than send them out. Christians and Christianity have all too often failed to live up to this inclusive vision by using their (our) texts and traditions to foster subtle and overt anti-Judaism, homophobia, misogyny, and racism. Unfortunately, Trump and some members of his evangelical base also reject legitimate criticism of Israel as antisemitism, claiming that they are defending Jews.
This support is, in reality, anti-Jewish, as it relies on a Christian Zionist theology that ultimately regards Jews as pawns in the fulfillment of biblical prophecy. And it makes invisible the injustices of the occupation of Palestinian lives and land—practices deemed illegal by international law. Just this week, Israel illegally demolished dozens of Palestinian homes in a Palestinian-controlled neighborhood of East Jerusalem. Yet Trump’s appeal to his base, and the theology that supports it, equates criticism of these injustices with antisemitism. We all—Jews, Palestinians, Christians, and Americans—lose in the end when just criticism of power is silenced.
At its best, however, Christianity repudiates these and other attitudes and practices that diminish human worth, including what evangelical scholar Jim Wallis calls America’s “original sins” of slavery and racism, and what a 2018 pastoral letter by the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops calls the “evil of racism” that persist in the U.S. today.
In that letter, the Bishops encourage their readers to take seriously the words of Pope Francis that no one should “think that this invitation is not meant for him or her.” As Americans, our invitation is to speak out against those who seek to make our “we” narrow and exclusive, and to speak for a vision that is pluralistic, expansive, and strong enough for critique. Contrary to what Trump tells us, only then will we be a truly free, beautiful, and successful nation.


New Helicopter for Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance
The Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance received a cheque for £4,500 donated from the Rotary Club of Taunton. Speaking on behalf of the Club, President Elect Ian Ramus praised the work of the Charity: “The work of the Air Ambulance is a critical service, especially in our rural community and we were delighted to be able to make a donation.”
At the end of this year, Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance will be replacing its EC135 helicopter with an AgustaWestland 169. The larger and more powerful aircraft will enable the Critical Care Team to have better access to treat patients during flight and to also conduct night operations.
President Rachel Davies said that the Club was now much better informed after a talk from Debbie Birtwisle, Fundraising Co-ordinator.
For more information about Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance please visit www.dsairambulance.org.uk


“So many of our dreams at first seem impossible, then they seem improbable, and then, when we summon the will, they soon become inevitable” —Christopher Reeve , From speech at Democratic National Convention, August 1996—
I think, turning ‘impossible’ into ‘improbable’ is the hardest one. But now I understand that the second step is harder than the first one. It’s harder to turn ‘improbable’ into ‘inevitable’.
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Johannesburg – The future of Africa will be unbuilt without the right transformation and if mind-sets and the general attitude do not change, according to Frans Pienaar, chair of Inyatsi Construction.
An unbuilt future means people focus on the present without considering the importance of a sustainable future in the construction industry, he explains. This includes exploring trends and innovative ways to stay relevant in the industry.
Pienaar warns that countries such as China and India will grab development opportunities if roleplayers on the continent do not act to ensure control of the future of Africa.
“While we wait and fight internally about smaller and sometimes petty issues, the rest of the world takes what is theirs for the taking, including development opportunities and investments in infrastructure, such as educational and development infrastructure,” says Pienaar.
“Foreign direct investment will go to countries that embrace investment and actively seek investment, which makes it good business for the funding agencies. While Africa focuses on internal problems and issues, these opportunities will pass us by.”
According to Pienaar, a special kind of transformation is needed in construction to prevent an unbuilt future.
Click here to read more


Solway Sharks breezed to the top of NIHL North Moralee D1 after an impressive four-point weekend.
Sharks won 3-1 at home to Billingham Stars and followed up with a 9-2 victory at Whitley Warriors – Richard Bentham bagged a hat-trick at Hillheads.
Stars completed a miserable weekend with a 5-2 defeat at Blackburn Hawks – Patrik Nyman (2) topped the scoring for the home side.
Richard Slater’s second goal of the game just three minutes from time secured a 5-5 draw for Solihull Barons at Telford Tigers NIHL.
Lloyd Gibson hit a hat-trick for Sutton Sting in their 4-4 draw at Deeside Dragons.
In Laidler D2, Brian Worrall’s late empty-netter capped a 5-3 win for Altrincham Aces at Hull Jets and he repeated the feat in a 4-2 home victory against Nottingham Lions.
Invicta Dynamos made the perfect start to the new NIHL1 South season with victories in both the league and cup.
Dynamos won 2-0 in the D1S Cup in a bad-tempered clash at Chelmsford Chieftains and followed up with an 11-0 league success at home to Bracknell Hornets.
Chieftains, who won four trophies last season, also failed to kick their league campaign off with a win as they were held 4-4 atMK Thunder.
Ryan Webb scored the winner for Wightlink Raiders in their 4-3 win at Oxford City Stars.
The Hornets hosted MK Thunder in the first game in the Berks, Bucks & Oxon Cup with the visitors recording a 3-0 victory.
In D2S, Peterborough Islanders won 5-1 at home to Chelmsford Warriors and Lee Valley Lions drew 3-3 with Slough Jets.
ROUNDUP BROUGHT TO YOU IN ASSOCIATION WITH www.britishicehockey.co.uk
NIHL North Moralee D1
Blackburn Hawks 5-2 Billingham Stars
Deeside Dragons 4-4 Sutton Sting
Solway Sharks 3-1 Billingham Stars
Telford Tigers NIHL 5-5 Solihull Barons
Whitley Warriors 2-9 Solway Sharks
NIHL North Laidler D2
Altrincham Aces 4-2 Nottingham Lions
Hull Jets 3-5 Altrincham Aces
Invicta Dynamos 11-0 Bracknell Hornets
MK Thunder 4-4 Chelmsford Chieftains
Oxford City Stars 3-4 Wightlink Raiders
NIHL1 South Cup
Chelmsford Chieftains 0-2 Invicta Dynamos
NIHL1 South Berks, Bucks & Oxon Cup
Bracknell Hornets 0-3 MK Thunder
Lee Valley Lions 3-3 Slough Jets
Peterborough Islanders 5-1 Chelmsford Warriors


Updated: Jul 2, 2021
After endless amount of hard work my team and I came together at the NOMO SOHO hotel on June 4th to celebrate and do a virtual premiere of my film PEACE- a love story film that dives into the complexities of a down-low queer relationship and really questions what it means to be at peace. This was a world broadcast that had people tune in from places such as New York City, London, Ghana, Morocco, Colombia, D.C, Los Angeles and the list goes on. It was so amazing to have the support of all different walks of life and super excited for people to continue to follow my journey of artistry.
Photography by Alex Phillips


NewsCHAMPIONSHIP RINGS PRESENTED TO ROCKLEDGE ALL STARS
On December 19th Championship rings were presented to the coaches and players and also to the City of Rockledge for display along with the Championship Trophy. Mayor Price accepted the ring on behalf of the City Council then assisted President Finney in presenting rings to the coaches and players.
On behalf of the City Council, Chairman Blake expressed the Council's pride, along with the rest of the community, in the accomplishment of these young men and thanked them for putting Rockledge on the map in such a positive light.
ROCKLEDGE ALL-STARS WORLD CHAMPIONS
The Rockledge All-Stars are champions of the 2012 Junior League Baseball World Series after defeating Aruba 12-10 in eight innings at Heritage Park in Taylor Michigan.
Playing for the new Junior League Baseball World Champion Rockledge All-Stars were Drew Parrish; Kevin Clanton; Mason Studstill; Mike Hall; Gavin Spinneweber; Trevor Payne; Kasim Nabhan; Blake Beyel; Justin Robedeau; Brady Martello; and Jackson Parker. Rockledge was managed by David Clanton. Team coaches were Robbie Robedeau, Tom Hall, Shane Parker and Dino Martello.


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Skimping on sleep could be why you can’t seem to lose weight. Brain-training experts Joy Martina, Ph.D. and Roy Martina, M.D have created a detailed guide to sleep and healthy weight loss called Sleep Your Fat Away.
According to the doctors, “A Mayo Clinic study found that women who slept less than six hours or more than nine hours per night were more likely to gain 11 pounds than women who slept seven hours per night; meanwhile, researchers at the Harvard-affiliated General Hospital for Children determined that children who are sleep-deprived were about 2 1/2 times more likely to be obese than kids who consistently got enough sleep. In fact, sleep deprivation leads to weight gain by triggering unhealthy nutritional choices.
If you sleep around about five hours or less every night, then you have a 50 percent likelihood of being obese. Lack of sleep raises the release of the hormone ghrelin, the hunger hormone. Ghrelin in the brain triggers the craving for carbohydrates and particularly sugars. Also the longer you are awake the more you tend to snack and consume in calories.”
The couple, who are married describe themselves as “health food lovers, exercise maniacs and happiness addicts” who never go to bed angry or stressed.”
Here the Martina’s tips for getting a good night’s sleep:
Turn your bedroom into a sanctuary and sleep haven (tips include make it as dark as you can and keep it slightly cool).
Reduce your amount of light exposure at least half an hour before you go to bed. Turn off the TV, mobile phones, computers, and anything that excites the brain.
Avoid caffeine late in the day, ideally starting after lunch.
Don’t indulge in high sugary foods and drinks before bed.
Do eat foods containing tryptophan, the natural sleep inducer (the list includes beans, whole grains, eggs, sunflower and sesame seeds, unsweetened soy milk and relaxing herbal teas).
They also point out, “Benefits of a good night’s sleep include increased concentration and attention, enhanced decision-making, lower stress levels, less anger and impulsiveness, reduced mood swings and reduced cravings for sugary foods.”


NSTC PRM DATA
The Jamboree finally achieved a remarkable pace as it was inaugurated yesterday, on 21st January 2023 at the National Scout Training Center, Mouchak, Gazipur. The chief guest Hon’ble Education Minister of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh, Dr. Dipu Moni, stated in her speech that “Scouts will act as the main force in creating a smart Bangladesh.” She also added that “The work of the Scouts always fascinates us. Their work in disaster gives us courage. Scouts are the best kids in the country.”
The Hon’ble President of Bangladesh Scouts Md. Abul Kalam Azad presided over the opening ceremony. The Chief National Commissioner of Bangladesh Scouts Dr. Mozammel Haque Khan, Jose Rizal Pangilinan, the Regional Director of the Asia Pacific Region, and other representatives were present in the opening ceremony.
The Magazine of the 32nd Asia Pacific and 11th National Scout Jamboree was officially unveiled by the Chief Guest. Later, scouts handed over the Jamboree flag to the Chief Guest. The ceremony ended with a cultural program and fireworks that surprised the participants.


KISHWEAR is the bold new address for men's style
KISH RAVEENDRAN, is a Canadian fashion model, stylist, blogger, and entrepreneur behind KISHWEAR.
A fashion forward enthusiast for as long as he can remember, KISHWEAR is Kish’s dream of launching a special collection of jewellery and accessories for sophisticated men, which draws on his Sri Lankan, Omani, and French roots.
KISHWEAR is not just about style nor is it meant for every man. It is a way of living and interacting with the world for men not afraid to stand apart. It is for those men who are unapologetic about wearing their fashion on their sleeves.
Are you willing to become one of these men, today?


Washington, Jul 2
Dish Network, a leader in international programming, Thursday introduced TV9 Telugu, a 24-hour news channel focused on enlightening and entertaining the Telugu speaking community, in the US.
Dish Network is proud to offer more Telugu programming than any other pay-TV provider," said Chris Kuelling, vice president of International Programming for DISH Network, the only satellite TV provider to carry the channel in the US.
The addition of TV9 Telugu exemplifies our continuing commitment to offering the most diverse programming options at the best value to our customers, he said in an announcement from Englewood, Colorado.
"The channel will provide an instant connection with the Telugu community residing in the US on Dish Network," said Ravi Prakash, founder and CEO of Hyderabad based Associated Broadcasting Corporation, Ltd., TV9 Telugu's holding company.
Since its launch, TV9 Telugu has maintained its channel leadership in Andhra Pradesh, and has since expanded its presence to various regions of India, currently totaling nine channels.
TV9 Telugu is the most viewed news channel in Telugu, featuring live news, current affairs and various entertainment shows, said Ramesh Annamreddy, managing partner and CEO of Sneha Media & Entertainment, widely regarded as among the pioneers of the Telugu Television in the US
TV9 Telugu is not merely a news channel, but a sustained and determined effort to exemplify the human values and ethics of the Telugu-speaking people across the world, hoping to attain a better society.
Available on Dish Network Ch. 702, TV9 Telugu offers extensive coverage of all aspects of day-to-day Telugu life, from political news and current affairs to fashion trends and live events.
The channel is available to Dish Network customers a la carte for $9.99 per month, as an add-on to any South Asian channel or package for $4.99 per month, or as part of the four-channel Telugu Pack for $29.99 per month.
The leader in international programming, Dish Network currently offers more than 170 international channels in more than 28 languages, the most of any other pay-TV provider


Internet censorship from the Iranian government on one side and restrictions on travel imposed by the U.S. government on the other side caused a separation, which defined my experience as an immigrant. Ever since moving to the United States, my only way to connect with my loved ones was digital due to the travel ban. Throughout our 1177 day separation, I regularly talked to my family on Facetime. Unfortunately, instead of their faces, I occasionally saw beautiful, chaotic glitches caused by network malfunctions. As a result of the government’s internet filtering systems in Iran, my family has to use censorship circumvention tools (VPN) to communicate with me. Sometimes the outcome is magnificent imagery based on the failure of their attempt to bypass the censorship.
In this installation, I intended to captivate the viewer through the beauty of colors, but I also aimed to observe something beyond the visuals. For me, network glitches remind ears are eavesdropping and eyes are monitoring our data.


An additional amount of NT$200 million was added to the super lotto jackpot offered by Taiwan Lottery Co. The step was taken by the lottery provider to boost the sales of tickets ahead of the Moon Festival. Apart from that, another extra amount of NT$100 million was added to the big lotto jackpot.
Its raining money
Moon Festival is among the three most important traditional festivals of China. It is also known as the Mid-Autumn Festival as it falls in the middle of autumn. It lasts for three months. The other two prominent festivals are the Lunar New Year Festival and the Dragon Boat Festival. The Moon Festival also marks the harvest season in the region. As it is believed to be an auspicious period, people usually buy lottery tickets during this time to try their luck. The additional amount added to the jackpot only prompted people to spend some more on the tickets.
About the festival
As the name signifies, an important aspect of the festival revolves around worshipping the moon. For centuries, the Chinese have considered the Moon to be sacred and believe it to impart rejuvenating qualities in humans. To celebrate the harvest season, offerings are made to honour moon and thank it for successful crop reaping. Mooncakes are offered by families to their neighbours and friends to spread the joy of having an abundance of rice and wheat. It also symbolises unity and harmony in the society. Lion and dragon dance too represent the joy of people during the festival.
It is also considered to be an ideal time by the Chinese to celebrate marriages. Young men and women are encouraged to find romantic partners for themselves during this time through several match-making practices. According to one of the rituals, women are supposed to throw their scarves or handkerchiefs in a crowd of people. Any gentleman who finds it and gets it back to her is given a chance to know the woman better.


By Warren Ferster
ARLINGTON, Va. — Access to satellites operating in different orbits and bandwidths will help keep the U.S. military connected in an increasingly contested environment where information can be the difference between victory and defeat, industry and defense officials said.
Communications satellites, both government and commercially operated, are subject to an growing array of jamming and even kinetic threats from near-peer U.S. adversaries, these officials said. In this environment, diversification promotes resiliency while complicating any adversary’s service disruption plans.
“We need diversity – we need a wide range of diversity,” said Kimberly Morris, satellite communications operations division head at the U.S. Naval Network Warfare Command.
Speaking June 26 here at the 4th annual Milsatcom USA conference sponsored by the SMi Group, Morris said that diversity includes satellites operating in medium Earth orbit (MEO) and low Earth orbit (LEO) as well as in traditional geostationary orbits. Use of different frequencies also is critical, she said.
“What I’m trying to do is put our adversaries on the horns of a dilemma,” Morris said. “You go after our [military-owned] systems, I’ve got something else that I can get to. Historically, with a lot of the weapon systems that are brought to bear in the modern age, it’s not the primary system that has been a hero, it’s the secondary system, because the enemy puts so much effort into taking out that primary system.”
Peter Hoene, president and chief executive of Reston, Va.-based SES Government Solutions, the U.S. government services arm of satellite operator SES, said that just between SES and its top competitors, there are some 150 commercial satellites in geostationary orbit. This gives the military options in case signals from the U.S. Air Force’s workhorse Wideband Global Satcom satellites are jammed, thus complicating the targeting calculus of any adversary, he said.


12Talk2.com is the home base for Rabbi David Kaufman's webpages. David Kaufman is the Rabbi of Temple B'nai Jeshurun, a Reform Jewish congregation in Des Moines, Iowa. If you're interested in learning more from Rabbi Kaufman or Temple B'nai Jeshurun, please visit TempleB'naiJeshurun.org.
Rabbi Kaufman's New Show, "The Whole Megillah" airs live every Tuesday from 1:00-2:00 pm Central Time.
Recordings of the show may be found on Youtube and by Podcast on Libsyn which can be found by following the Understanding the World "UTW" links at the top of this page.


This post may contain affiliate links. Please see my disclosure to learn more.
I love promoting clothing brands that embrace slow fashion, which is to say that they make an effort to create products via ethical ways and/or with sustainable resources. Despite that fact, my closet is actually pretty sparse, according to some people’s standards. That wasn’t always the case. My closet used to be a monstrous mess. So much so, in fact, that there were clothes that I wouldn’t see for months, tucked away under piles of even more clothes, most of which I hardly wore. It took over a year of constant de-cluttering and re-assessing and letting go and organizing before I was able to get to a point of peaceful reconciliation with my never-ending closet. And still, I feel I have too much.
- Curating Closets: Letting Go of Trends
- Curating Closets: Neutral Palettes
- Minimalism: Curating Closets
In the early stages of creating a curated closet, what I found most difficult was that for every hour it took me to de-clutter would be a two minute moment where I would feel the urge to buy something new and add it to the collection. At some point, I realized that this habit of shopping “just because I felt like it” was not only counter-productive, but also extremely wasteful and unnecessary. So along with my purging of excess clothing came this challenge for myself to nix the act of shopping all-together.
In all honesty, it began as a frugal challenged fired by the awareness of how much clothing is being deposited at our landfills. I figured that the benefits of abstaining from the addictive act of buying more clothing are multi-fold. Firstly, I save money. I used to work at a retail store in my late teens and early twenties and I distinctly remember walking out with a handful of clothes every week. I’d consider it good if I was able to limit myself to one item per week, a thought that makes me woozy now. Secondly, I am no longer fueling the industry of fast fashion. And lastly, I am ending the ridiculous cycle of buying and de-cluttering. Eventually, I pared down my closet in such a way that de-cluttering does not have to take up my free time every weekend.
This year alone, I have only made two purchases: A pair of sneakers and overalls, both from Eileen Fisher, both made on the same day. Prior to those purchases, I have not allowed myself an article of clothing for 8 months. Just recently (during Fashion Revolution Week 2018, in fact!), I have made the decision to not shop again for an entire year, in an attempt to model the curbing of the excessive demand for more clothing to be produced. Also, it will continue to help us in our efforts to do just as well this year with student debt as last year. The funny thing is, the more I challenge myself to not buy clothes, the easier it becomes to not buy other things too. The habit has spread to other aspects, and it really teaches one to make do without, and to be completely satisfied and proud of that decision. Plus, the results are undeniable. Next month is my birthday and two weeks after will be Mike’s birthday. Sometime in between, we will exit the $500,000s and enter the $400,000s with the student debt! I definitely wouldn’t trade this feeling for a trendy wardrobe.


Fantasy was released on September 12, 1995 by Columbia Records as the lead single for her fifth studio album, Daydream (1995). The song was written by Carey and Dave Hall, both serving as primary producers alongside Sean Combs. The song heavily samples Tom Tom Club‘s 1981 song “Genius of Love,” and incorporates various other beats and grooves arranged by the former.
Carey described how the idea to sample the song became a reality:
I was listening to the radio and heard ‘Genius of Love’, and I hadn’t heard it in a long time. It reminded me of growing up and listening to the radio and that feeling the song gave me seemed to go with the melody and basic idea I had for “Fantasy.” I initially told Dave about the idea, and we did it. We called up the Tom Tom Club and they were really into it.


Confirming earlier reports, Xiaomi has officially announced that it will provide a 2-year warranty to users of Redmi Note 10 Pro, Redmi Note 10 Pro Max, and POCO X3 Pro smartphones. This extended warranty will be valid from the date of purchase.
In a video announcement, Murali Krishnan B, President of Xiaomi India, stated that certain batches of these devices did not meet Xiaomi’s quality standards. As a result, the company is offering the extended warranty as a gesture of goodwill to ensure customer satisfaction.
Additionally, Xiaomi has introduced an upgrade option exclusively for Mi 11 Ultra users. Users who own a Mi 11 Ultra and wish to upgrade to a new Xiaomi device within 9 months of their purchase can avail themselves of this option. The details and terms of the upgrade program will be announced by Xiaomi in the near future.
These initiatives by Xiaomi exemplify the company’s commitment to customer satisfaction and after-sales support. By extending the warranty period and offering upgrade options, Xiaomi aims to ensure that users have a positive ownership experience with their devices.


You will find the slide deck for the Syllabus Design Webinar here. You will find a recording of the webinar (corrected to excise the audio issues) here.
On May 3, 2017, the GLCA Consortium for Teaching and Learning hosted a video-conference “Town Hall” on the topic of “Free Speech on Campuses,” an issue that has generated substantial controversy over the past few years. Taking part in the conversation were faculty from 10 GLCA campuses: Albion, Allegheny, Antioch,… Read More
On May 3, 2017, participants from 8 GLCA colleges gathered in a virtual town hall discussion to discuss the topic of free speech on campus. You’ll find an edited version of that conversation here.


The 12th India Realty Expo 2009 held in Dubai saw 106 flats worth Rs 65.33 crore being booked, a senior real estate industry official said. “106 flats worth Rs 65.33 crore were booked (during the expo),” Maharashtra Chamber of Housing Industry (MCHI), CEO, Zubin Mehta, said in a press release issued here. “Around 86 flats worth Rs 80.18 crore are in the pipeline when the NRIs come down to India in July-August on their annual vacation,” Mehta added. MCHI is a leading body of real estate builders and developers. The expo evoked an encouraging response with 2,700 NRIs visiting the exhibition in three days during June 4-6, the release said.
“The softening of real estate prices and home loan interest in India were the key reasons that attracted a large number of NRIs during the expo,” Mehta said. Fifteen leading developers and builders showcased their properties at the realty expo. Home finance institutions which participated in the expo included HDFC, DHFL and Bank of Baroda, the release said. “Majority of the walk-ins was Mumbai-specific and this reflected into an opportunity for the developers to close a few deals during the expo itself,” MCHI’s Co-ordinator and Co-Chairman, International Exhibitions, J S Augustine, said. That the expo took place in Dubai when the first signs of an economic revival globally were being witnessed also made a positive impact, he said.
The exhibition, which was inaugurated by Consul (Commerce) to the Consulate General of India, Dubai, Partha Roy, aimed to provide a one-stop solution to all the needs of NRIs intending to purchase a property in India, the release said. MCHI’s President, Pravin Doshi, describing the response as “encouraging”, said that “this encouraging response denotes the demand and popularity of housing in India by NRIs in the Middle-East.” The 15 developers who participated in the expo were Ajmera Builders, Mayfair Group, Akar Creations, Better Homes, Everest Developers, Hiranandani Constructions, Marathon Group, Nahar Group, Nirmal Lifestyle, Nyati Group, Our Town, Pathy Housing, Pranjee Group, Rustomjee and Total Environment.
Source: Indian Realty News


Never a Bystander (film)
Never a Bystander, a documentary by Evelyn Neuhaus, tells the story of Irene’s life, from early childhood to present time, as told in her school talks. It premiered at the Michigan Theater as part of the Jewish Film Festival in 2014.
Never a Bystander was awarded as a runner-up for the Special Jury Award at the 2015 San Diego Jewish Film Festival.
The DVD can be ordered at the Never a Bystander website.


Theresa May has divided her top team of ministers into two working groups to hammer out their differences on Brexit.
The cabinet is split over how to manage customs arrangements with the EU.
Brexiteers such as Boris Johnson are against Mrs May's preferred option of a "customs partnership", which is backed by Remain-voting ministers.
Mr Johnson's preferred model relies on technology to minimise customs checks. The EU has expressed doubts about whether either option would work.
The prime minister has said further work is needed to come up with a solution that will deliver on her promise of frictionless trade without the need for a hard border between Northern Ireland and the Republic.
She is under pressure to find a solution to present to the EU at the next round of Brexit talks, with just five months left to get an agreement on post-Brexit trade, so it can be ratified before Britain leaves in March next year.
Mr Johnson and Chancellor Philip Hammond - who are thought to have been at loggerheads over the customs issue - will not play a role in either of the two working groups.
Brexiteer and Environment Secretary Michael Gove and Remainer and Northern Ireland Secretary Karen Bradley will sit in different groups
One group - Brexiteers Michael Gove and Liam Fox and Remain-backing Cabinet Office minister David Lidington - will consider a "customs partnership" whereby the UK would collect tariffs on behalf of the EU - but without the need for new border checks.
Downing Street said this group would be discussing how to make trade deals with non-EU countries - something Brexiteers say would be impossible under this option.
The other group - Remain-backing Business Secretary Greg Clark, Brexit Secretary David Davis and Remain-voting Northern Ireland Secretary Karen Bradley - will look at "maximum facilitation" - a solution based on using technology to minimise the need for customs checks after Brexit.
The members of this group will be looking at how to avoid the return of a hard Irish border.
The work was being carried out "as a priority," the prime minister's official spokesman said.
The next meeting of the cabinet's Brexit sub-committee is on Tuesday.
All EU members are part of the customs union which means there are no tariffs on goods transported between member states.
Labour is in favour of setting up a new customs union with the EU after Brexit, something it says is backed by the trade unions and industry body the CBI.
The customs partnership proposal
The UK would collect tariffs set by the EU customs union on goods coming into the UK on behalf of the EU.
If those goods didn't leave the UK and UK tariffs on them were lower, companies could then claim back the difference.
The customs partnership is thought to be the prime minister's preferred option but Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson has described it as "crazy"and said it would create "a whole new web of bureaucracy".
The 'max-fac' option
The maximum facilitation proposal - also known as "max-fac" - would employ new technologies and trusted trader schemes to remove the need for physical customs checks.
Trusted trader schemes would enable companies to pay duties every few months rather than every time they crossed the border.
Considering this option will be Remainers Business Secretary Greg Clark and Northern Ireland Secretary Karen Bradley and the pro-Leave Brexit Secretary David Davis.
The EU customs union explained
The customs union ensures EU member states all charge the same import duties to countries outside the EU.
It allows member states to trade freely with each other, without burdensome customs checks at borders, but it limits their freedom to strike their own trade deals.
The UK government has said it wants to leave the EU customs union in order to strike its own trade deals with other countries.
Ministers are under pressure to have made progress on the issue before next month's EU summit.


December 7, 2010
HGTV partners with Etsy.com
Home & Garden Television (HGTV) has announced that it is partnering with handmade marketplace Etsy to produce holiday content that features creative handmade products sold on http://www.etsy.com/. Unfamiliar with Etsy? Check it out and do a search for polymer clay to look at all the ideas from around the world working with polymer clay. You can search for literally any craft. HGTV says it will be featuring Etsy sellers for gift and DIY decorating ideas on the Handmade Holidays section of their website.


In a world transitioning towards cleaner and greener energy solutions, one element takes center stage: uranium.
Uranium Spotlight is your weekly podcast dedicated to unraveling the enigmatic world of uranium and its pivotal role in the global energy landscape.
As uranium supply tightens and nuclear demand soars, the stage is set for a monumental shift in uranium prices. But what factors will drive this change? Join us weekly as we embark on an informative journey, to explore the events and news shaping the uranium market.
The information presented here is not investment advice. Instead, our goal is to offer an unbiased and comprehensive review of recent events that could impact uranium prices.


HERO VENTURES & MARVEL ENTERTAINMENT UNVEIL INNOVATIVE DOME DESIGN FOR “THE MARVEL EXPERIENCE” LAUNCHING IN 2014
First-Look Of “The Marvel Experience” 2-Acre Custom Mobile Dome Complex
January 9, 2014, Los Angeles, CA – Today, Hero Ventures released a first-look rendering of the highly anticipated design of The Marvel Experience domed complex set to tour the country in 2014.
Canvassing a 2-acre footprint of more than 80,000 square feet, this state-of-the-art, custom built multi-Dome complex will represent the first time a venue of this type, size and scope will be utilized for a mobile tour. From the outside, The Marvel Experience resembles a temporary S.H.I.E.L.D. installation or “Mobile Command Center,” with the facility’s apex towering more than six stories high. Inside, a maze of connected Domes will lead guests through an array of interactive games and original animated short films including the first- ever traveling motion-based ride, where guests become immersed in this original adventure only found in The Marvel Experience. This unique, themed entertainment experience is scheduled to visit select US and Canadian markets for weeks at a time in each city and is designed to engage audiences through compelling family entertainment with a production value consistent with the iconic nature of the Marvel Super Heroes.
The touring experience was designed in concert with a team of industry renowned all-stars and award winners including one of the motion picture industry’s most noted concept artists, Aaron Sims, who art directed the illustration. Sims, who will also be offering up his unparalleled vision for the Tour’s character and environment animation is no stranger to the Marvel Universe. He has brought Marvel characters to life through his work on numerous feature films including, Marvel’s The Incredible Hulk, Sony’s The Amazing Spider-Man, and Fox’s X-Men: First Class. Sims is one of the Industry’s most prolific special effects artists having worked with Steven Spielberg on A.I. and War of the Worlds, Michael Bay’s Transformers and many other visually spectacular films.
“The Marvel Experience and our innovative Dome environment is the future of themed entertainment. Aaron and our entire team have done a masterful job in setting the table for us with their magnificent designs and creativity for this dynamic experience,” said Rick Licht, Hero Ventures’ CEO. Executive Producer Michael Cohl added, “This Marvel experience employs new technology and new concepts that we think will make this one of the most exciting shows ever produced. It will be a truly unique experience.”
“The Domes are central to the singular story line that pulses through The Marvel Experience and are enhanced by state-of-the-art design applications and graphic elements,” said Doug Schaer, COO of Hero Ventures. “The interior will feature an exaggerated comic-style utilizing projected high-tech imagery, amazing fabricated set pieces and virtual simulations to advance the story. Our guests will be interacting directly with multiple Marvel Super Heroes, as well as members of S.H.I.E.L.D., as they take their place in the Marvel Universe”.
“We are excited to collaborate with Hero Ventures to bring our millions of Marvel fans an exciting new way to interact with and experience their favorite characters, in a never-before- seen environment,” said Marvel’s Sean Haran, Vice President of Business Development. “Hero Ventures brings a refreshing and magical approach to showcase our characters in a way that is sure to be a thrilling and unforgettable experience in a uniquely iconic venue.”
ABOUT HERO VENTURES
Hero Ventures, LLC develops and produces live entertainment experiences that delight and surprise consumers through innovative technology. The Company has brought together the best creative and business minds in animation, interactive technology and the live event space to create unparalleled productions to share in new and unprecedented ways with audiences around the world. For more information visit www.hero-ventures.com.
Marvel Entertainment, LLC, a wholly-owned subsidiary of The Walt Disney Company, is one of the world’s most prominent character-based entertainment companies, built on a proven library of over 8,000 characters featured in a variety of media over seventy years. Marvel utilizes its character franchises in entertainment, licensing and publishing. For more information visit www.marvel.com.


Bio Peter Lockley is a sports and portrait photographer who works with editorial and corporate clients to create dynamic and story telling images. Peter began his career at the University of Colorado, majoring in journalism and fine art. After graduating in 2003, he spent five years as the chief sports photographer for the Washington Times, covering four major sports teams and five local colleges. He has since gone on to work with clients like ESPN the Magazine, the Colorado Rockies, the NCAA, and the Colorado Symphony. Peter currently lives in Denver, Colorado, with his wife Emily and son Graham.


© Clearpath Entertainment. All Rights Reserved.
In Memory of Gail Zappa
We are truly saddened by the passing of Gail Zappa. She was a steadfast guardian of the great Zappa legacy who dedicated her life to protecting and continuing all that Frank Zappa had to give to the world even long after his own passing. She was a living lexicon of Frank's views on life, staunch belief in and defense of First Amendment principles, and freedom of expression across all art forms. Above all though, she was a mother to four of the most creative and expressive people we have ever met, some of whom we have the privilege of calling friends since the 2010 dedication of Frank's bust here in Baltimore. Our thoughts and sympathies are with Moon, Dweezil, Ahmet and Diva. Your mom was fervidly one of a kind.
Sean Brescia & Jeanette Garcia Polasky, Co-founders, Frank Zappa Day Festival


WASHINGTON, D.C. (WSYR-TV/ABC News) - After years of saying they won’t call you to demand payments like scammers, the IRS is now hiring debt collectors to call and demand payments.
For many, the news comes just as people were becoming wary of crooks claiming to be from the IRS.
Now, actual debt collectors on the IRS’ payroll will be calling if you haven’t paid what you owe.
But some worry that people will not be able to tell the difference between a legitimate collector and a scammer.
The IRS says it has no choice because a new law called the Fixing America’s Surface Transportation Act requires the agency to hire debt collectors to help pay for new roads.
The IRS says it will mail taxpayers two written notices before a debt collector will call.
If you get a call before receiving such a notice, it’s likely a scam.
In addition, the real debt collectors will never demand payment by wire or debit card, or threaten arrest.


India wins the Asia Cup 2010 by defeating the Sri Lanka by 81 runs in the Final match on Thursday, June 24, 2010 at Dambulla. In the day and night match India won the toss and elected to bat. India scored 268/6 (50.0 Ovs). Sri Lanka started chasing the target of 225 runs.
India have won the Asia Cup after 15 years and they came from behind to defeat Sri Lanka in the finals after loosing the last ODI match. India have won the last Asia Cup in 1995 at Sharjah and it was MS Dhoni’s fourth win in seven tournament finals.
For India, Dinesh Karthik scored 66 runs to take India to a respectable score of 268. If Sri Lanka thought that the score could be chased, they were in for a surprise by the Indian bowlers who bowled with determination. Ashish Nehra took 4 wickets for 40 runs off 9 overs, and Zaheer Khana and Ravindra Jadeja took 2 wickets each to bowl out the Sri Lankans for 187 runs in 44.4 overs.
Man of the match – Karthik
Man of the series – Shahid Afridi


The kick-off event of the Lebanese Information Point was celebrated on 8 June 2005 in Beirut, Lebanon, in the hotel Riviera. Apart from the Lebanese scientific community and the representatives of the EU delegation in Beirut, representatives from the projects consortia in Spain, France, Algeria and Greece participated in the event. In the second part of the event, Professor Sarkis gave a clear description of the FP6 and its possibilities for the Lebanese researchers. The event was a big success covered by the local media and the Lebanese scientific community showed a genuine interest in the services provided by the new InP and in the opportunities offered in the frame of the EU FPs.
For more information about the Lebanese InP kick-off, please refer to the agenda and the photos attached in the Events section of our site.


P5 & LTO-7 or 'LTO-7 Type M' (M8) media
Posted by Andre Kuehnemund on 10 May 2019 19:09
Due to the limited availability of LTO-8 media, we have been getting a lot of inquiries about using LTO-7 tapes with LTO-8 tape drives. As most of you probably know by now, LTO-8 drives can format LTO-7 tapes as either 'LTO-7' or 'LTO-7 Type M' media. |
A LTO-7 media has a native capacity of 6TB, whereas a 'LTO-7 Type M (M8)' tape has a native capacity of 9TB.
Sounds great, right? 50 percent more capacity for the same price. Are there any drawbacks? Does P5 support this new format?
As far as P5 and LTO-7 Type M media goes, here's the deal...
- P5 itself cannot label an LTO-7 tape as Type M by itself. However...
- P5 will work with Type M media and use their full 9TB capacity IF they were purchased pre-labeled as 'Type M' or were labeled as 'Type M' media outside of P5.
- P5 can only label LTO-7 tapes as LTO-7 media.
- A blank LTO-7 tape will be formatted as Type M media IF it is blank (i.e. has never been used) AND a "M8" barcode label has been affixed to the tape prior to labeling it.
- A tape that had been labeled as LTO-7 media previously cannot be relabeled as 'Type M' media. It will forever be a LTO-7 media.
- Likewise, any tape that has been labeled as 'Type M' media cannot be relabeled as LTO-7 media.
Finally, please keep in mind that when LTO-9 comes out, LTO-7 'Type M' media will no longer be supported. Only LTO-8 drives will be able to read (and write) 'Type M' media. LTO-9 tape drives, however, will be able to read regular LTO-7 media.
For more information on the Type M format, please see here: https://www.lto.org/technology/typem/
keywords: lto7 lto8 lto-7 lto-8 type-m typem (m8)


About Belleayre Mountain
Belleayre Mountain, New York's Winter Snow Park, is owned by the State of New York and operated by the Department of Environmental Conservation. It is located in the heart of the Catskill Mountain Forest Preserve on land designated as "forever wild." Having the highest skiing elevation in the region, and a perfect northeastern exposure, Belleayre boasts the best possible natural snow coverage. With 96% snowmaking, state-of-the-art grooming and its expert veteran staff, the resort is often the first Catskills' area to open and the last one to close. Belleayre, New York's Winter Snow Park has something for everyone: Ski Magazine has selected Belleayre among its top ten choices in the east having "best snow, best value, best weather and best access"


The Boston Marathon is one of the most iconic and celebrated sporting events in the world, and its history is rich with tradition. From its humble beginnings as a 25-mile footrace in 1897, the Boston Marathon has grown to become one of the most prestigious and challenging marathons in the world, drawing thousands of participants each year. In this article, we’ll explore how the Boston Marathon has evolved over the years to become the global phenomenon it is today.
🏃The Early Years of the Boston Marathon
The Boston Marathon was first to run in 1897 with 15 participants and was won by John J. McDermott of New York City. The race was originally held on Patriots’ Day, a holiday celebrating American Revolution battles fought in Massachusetts, and ran from Ashland to Hopkinton before ending in downtown Boston at what was then known as Exeter Street. In 1924, it was officially recognized as a 26-mile race by the International Amateur Athletic Federation (IAAF).
🏃How the Boston Marathon Became a Major Sporting Event
In 1966, women were allowed to compete in the marathon for the first time after Kathrine Switzer entered as “K.V. Switzer” and became one of only two women to finish that year’s race. This event marked an important milestone in gender equality and opened up opportunities for women runners all over the world. The race also gained international recognition when it hosted its first foreign winner in 1973 – Japan’s Toshihiko Seko – who also set a new course record that year. By 1975, more than 7,000 runners participated in what had become an iconic sporting event for both amateur and professional athletes alike.
🏃Famous Runners Who Have Competed in The Boston Marathon
Since its inception, some of the world’s most famous athletes have competed at this historic event including Bill Rodgers (four-time winner), Joan Benoit Samuelson (first female winner), Robert Kipkoech Cheruiyot (five-time winner), and Gezahegne Abera (two-time winner). Other notable participants include Arnold Schwarzenegger (1992), Lance Armstrong (2000), and Carmen DeOliveira (2002). Famous athletes from all over the world have made their mark on this legendary course.
🏃How Technology Has Changed The Experience Of The Boston Marathon
Since its establishment over 120 years ago, technology has played an integral role in enhancing both spectator experience and participant performance at this historical event. Race organizers now use advanced timing systems with computerized chip timing to provide instantaneous results as well as live video feeds that allow viewers around the globe to watch real-time action from anywhere on earth. GPS tracking devices are used to monitor runner speed while sophisticated hydration systems are employed to help keep competitors hydrated throughout their grueling journey towards victory lane.
🏃Recent Developments In The History Of The Boston Marathon
In recent years, new records have been set at every edition of this historic event thanks to advances in technology and training techniques that enable runners to push their physical limits further than ever before. Furthermore, stricter safety regulations have been introduced by way of increased medical staff presence along with new rules such as mandatory identification before entering into certain areas along the course route; these changes ensure that all runners remain safe throughout their journey towards glory. So while much has changed since 1897 when John J McDermott first crossed Exeter Street with his victory laurels; one thing remains constant: The spirit of competition still burns brightly within each runner who takes part!


The United Nations Secretary-General's Special Envoy for Road Safety, Mr Jean Todt, and Jean-Charles Decaux, co-CEO of JCDecaux, launched today a new UN Global Road Safety campaign to address road traffic crashes, which are the leading cause of death for people aged 5 to 29 around the world.
Road traffic crashes kill 1.35 million people every year and injure over 50 million, often for life. Developing countries account for 93% of the victims. The most vulnerable road users (pedestrians, cyclists and motorcyclists) and the poor are disproportionately affected worldwide.
Over the next two years, the campaign will appear on billboards and in public areas in 80 countries worldwide thanks to a global partnership with JCDecaux. Displayed in about 1,000 cities, the campaign will be translated into 30 languages.
Contributing to the European Mobility Week
The campaign was launched today in Brussels during the European Mobility Week (16-22 September), with the participation of Adina Vălean, European Commissioner for Transport. On this occasion, the campaign is on display in the streets of Brussels and at Brussels Airport, as well as in the streets of Liège, Antwerp and Lier.
The Special Envoy declared: “Road safety is not high enough on the political agenda in most countries. While we know the remedies to road crashes, action is lagging behind. With this campaign, together with the celebrities that are joining us, and our partners JCDecaux and Saatchi & Saatchi, we are trying to revert this and mobilize the political will that is needed to increase actions and financing to save millions of lives, in line with the objectives of the Decade of Action for Road Safety.”
Speaking at the press conference of the launch, EU Commissioner for Transport Adina Vãlean said: “During this year’s European Mobility Week, around 3,000 cities from 50 countries will be encouraging their citizens to try out more sustainable ways of moving around. Walking and cycling are two such options. But sustainability must go hand-in-hand with safety, and sadly vulnerable road users are still over-represented in road fatality statistics: in the EU, pedestrians account for around 18% of fatalities, and cyclists for 9%. I welcome this global campaign to turn this around – to help us learn from each other, raise awareness of how to keep all road-users safe, and – ultimately – to save lives”.
Jean-Charles Decaux, co-CEO of JCDecaux said: “We are very proud to partner with the United Nations and Jean Todt, the United Nations Secretary-General's Special Envoy for Road Safety, to launch this international road safety campaign that’s relevant to everyone. No matter how we travel, this important cause affects us all, from pedestrians, cyclists, motorcyclists and drivers to people using new forms of mobility or making shared trips. We can all play a part in reducing the terrible consequences faced by so many families around the world. This campaign underlines how our sustainable media can use its power and mass reach to raise awareness of the safety rules that must be respected at all times and the care that must be taken, in order to ensure a safe and pleasant public space for us all.”
Under the motto #MakeaSafetyStatement, the campaign gathers celebrities to encourage road users to adopt simple and effective rules to stay safe on the road.
The first participating celebrities include:
- Naomi Campbell, supermodel
- Ousmane Dembélé, football icon
- Patrick Dempsey, actor
- Novak Djokovic, tennis legend
- Didier Drogba, football legend
- Michael Fassbender, actor
- Julie Gayet, actress
- Charles Leclerc, F1 driver
- Marc Márquez, motorcycle racer
- Kylie Minogue, musician
- Youssou N’Dour, musician
- Mick Schumacher, F1 driver
- Michelle Yeoh, Oscar-winning actress & UNDP Goodwill ambassador
They #MakeaSafetyStatement to:
- wear a seat belt
- drive slow
- wear a helmet
- not text and drive
- not drive under the influence
- not drive tired
and call on fans, followers and the public to adopt the same habits.
Note to editors
About some of the main causes of road crashes
- The death risk for pedestrians hit by car fronts rises rapidly as vehicle speed increases (4.5 times from 50 km/h to 65 km/h).
- In Europe, some 30% of road fatalities (19,800 in 2021) are caused by excessive or inappropriate speed.
Driving under the influence
- Driving under the influence of alcohol and any psychoactive substance or drug increases the risk of a crash.
- A 2022 study by U.S. highway safety regulators (NHTSA) found that more than half the people injured or killed in traffic crashes had one or more drugs, or alcohol, in their bloodstreams.
- Drivers using mobile phones are approximately 4 times more likely to be involved in a crash
- Texting is the most alarming distraction. Sending or reading a text takes eyes off the road for 5 seconds. At 55 mph, that's like driving the length of an entire football field with eyes closed.
- In the U.S., distracted driving is estimated to play a role in 25%-30% of fatal crashes, according to the National Distracted Driving Coalition (NDDC).
About the Special Envoy
UN Secretary-General, Ban Ki-moon, appointed in 2015 Jean Todt as his Special Envoy for Road Safety. He was reconfirmed in this role by António Guterres, in 2017 and in 2021. In 2018, together with 14 UN organizations, the Special Envoy launched the UN Road Safety Fund (UNRSF). The Special Envoy contributes, among other things, to mobilize sustained political commitment to make road safety a priority; to advocate and raise awareness of UN legal instruments on road safety; to share established good practices in this area; to striving to generate adequate funding through strategic partnerships between the public, private and non-governmental sectors. Special Envoy brochure and Twitter account.
The United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) is the custodian of the United Nations road safety legal instruments, applicable worldwide, which offer countries a basis to legislate to increase the safety of roads, vehicles and traffic.
It hosts the only permanent United Nations intergovernmental forum on road safety (Working Party on Road Traffic Safety) and the World Forum for Harmonization of Vehicle Regulations. UNECE also hosts the secretariats of the Special Envoy for Road Safety and of the UN Road Safety Fund.
JCDecaux – a French family-owned company founded in 1964 and the No.1 outdoor advertising company worldwide – is committed to improve the quality of life for people wherever they live, work and travel by offering innovative, sustainable street furniture and services that are meeting citizens’ expectations and financed by brands and their advertisement. With a presence in more than 80 countries, JCDecaux is the only company in the world to operate exclusively in the outdoor advertising sector and to develop all of its activities: street furniture, transport advertising and billboards. For almost 60 years, the products and services offered to cities by JCDecaux have been considered the benchmark for quality, aesthetics and functionality. As a sustainable media in contact with more than 850 million people every day and true to its mission of improving the quality of life for all citizens, JCDecaux enhances and promotes responsible outdoor advertising and places social and environmental quality at the core of its solutions and its business. Since 2023, JCDecaux is an official partner of the UN Joint SDG Fund, supporting the Sustainable Development Goals across its Group.