Live Betting Betting of the Future – The Sports Gambling Podcast

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Its not news that the face of betting has been changing with the continuous advancements in technology and market demands. Consequently, we can now enjoy live betting or in-play betting, as some players call it. Regardless of the name, most players would agree that live betting brings an absolute thrill to the overall gambling experience.

For these and many more reasons, we think live betting has been introducing us to the way betting is going to look in the future. Lets go over some advantages of live betting and all the possibilities that go along with it.

When talking about the future of betting, we need to consider eSports since there is a higher demand for eSports now than ever. Many professionals that play eSports compete in dozens of tournaments and championships worldwide. This makes for an exciting betting market that draws in many bettors.

So, seeing the game in action might make you change your mind about your initial bet or give you some new ideas about which bet to place. If you can easily spot trends or changing tides in a game, live betting is the right choice for you. Moreover, you will get unbelievable odds on live bets.

Creating new betting options and widening the range of betting opportunities goes hand in hand with live betting. Interestingly, many bets are simply not possible to make before a match has started. In cases like that, live betting steps in.

These options could include bets such as the next team to score, next player to score, or time of the next goal.

What makes in-play bets accessible is that most bookmakers cannot quickly change the odds on some plays, making it possible for bettors to place bets on odds that havent yet changed.

However, pay attention to some other betting options that might seem too good to be true as most of them have very high odds but are unlikely to happen, and their initial role is for players to have fun. Keep your eye on the prize and dont let your emotions get the better of you.

The combination of live betting and live streaming is a beneficial situation for any online betting site that offers this service. Although players can find many live streams on separate streaming sites, most of them prefer to have the option of placing bets while watching a live stream of the game on the same website.

Thus, betting sites that offer a combination of these two are highly profitable sites where you can find top-notch odds on individual bets while not taking your eyes off the game.

Most sites offer HD live streaming services, but hopefully, the live streams will additionally improve in the future and incorporate other features that will make them stand out among the crowd.

Ultimately, you will need to make the right decision at the right time pay close attention to the players on the field and study their every move.

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Live Betting Betting of the Future - The Sports Gambling Podcast

Man charged with gambling some of millions in ill-gotten PPP funds in Vegas and on stocks – CBS News

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Los Angeles A California man was arrested and ordered held without bond Thursday on federal charges of fraudulently obtaining some $9 million in coronavirus relief funds and using some of the money to gamble in Las Vegas.

Andrew Marnell, 40, a resident of the Beverly Grove neighborhood of Los Angeles, was accused of submitting a number of fraudulent loan applications in relation to the coronavirus pandemic and obtaining millions in Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) funds.

Prosecutors say he used some of the money to make risky stock market trades and squandered hundreds of thousands of dollars at the Bellagio Hotel and Casino and other gambling establishments in Las Vegas as recently as last weekend.

The PPP loans were part of the unprecedented $2.2 trillion CARES Act, which provided aid for millions of Americans suffering the economic effects of the pandemic.

Authorities said Marnell, who was due back in court next Tuesday, faces up to 30 years in prison on the bank fraud charge.

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The Long Con: Steve Donoughue on the forces of UK gambling regulation – CalvinAyre.com

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The past couple of years for the United Kingdoms gambling industry has seen escalating regulations, expectations and fear campaigns, driven by a certain type of politician. To put it all into perspective, our Becky Liggero Fontana spoke with Steve Donoughue, Founder, GamblingConsultant.co.uk, after their recent iGaming NEXT POWER Hour.

Especially as Covid-19 shut everyone inside, fears ratcheted up about problem gambling, and reports are now being delivered which suggest gambling has to be massively curbed. We believe that there should be a regulated gambling industry, he said. We obviously have different views to what extent it should be but what were not is outrightly against gambling, which is what the All Party Group Gambling Harms are.

Donoughue isnt impressed with the All Party Group, and he offered some perspective on how such groups decide on their mission. What you have to remember about select committees, there is a tendency to pick topics that are either in the newspapers or actually will make sure you get a lot of press coverage, because politicians are whores for press coverage, I know that I come from political family, he said.

There have been a lot of questions about exactly how bad problem gambling is. Donoghue explained what hes seen. We do the numbers through a variety of methods, but they are basically surveys of people of the population where they are asked questions, which is a sight screen, and dependent on their answers they are scored as being problem gamblers or lower, at risk, etc., he said. By and large, over the last 20 years, and in that time the amounts of gambling has doubled, the amounts of problem gamblers remains basically the same, with there being massive questions about the veracity of the numbers, because there are questions about the methodology, etc.

This is mostly a problem of perception, then, and Donoughue noted that theres really no other way to explain it than politicians picking a fight that no one can criticize them for. But for all the work GamCare and GambleAware have done, theres no new evidence to suggest our knowledge on problem gambling has advanced. I have asked more than once, why is it twenty years later we still dont know really anything more? And my argument is, thats because its never been really in anyones interest to nail down what causes problem gambling.

And quite simply, the government funded therapists and researchers have no interest in providing a definitive answer, and for pretty selfish reasons, Donoughue guessed. What they want is a whole load more money given to research because thats, as academics, is what pays their wages, he said. So no research, lets get more research done, obviously if you solve what the problem is that ends the research. So rather than looking at what causes problem gambling, lets look at the amounts of gambling in 16 to 17 year-olds who spend time youth offending who are over four-foot but below 6-foot, and were born on the second Tuesday in March.

Watch the full episode of this weeks The Long Con to see Donoughue offer up his wisdom on how the situation around gambling regulation came to be, and what the Industry can do next, its a lot of fun. And dont forget to subscribe to theCalvinAyre.com YouTube channelto see The Long Con each and every Monday.

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Satoshi Nakamoto Mined More Than 1 Million Bitcoin – Report

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Bitcoins (BTC) pseudonymous creator Satoshi Nakamoto may have mined more than 1 million bitcoin in the early days of the cryptocurrency, according to analysts at crypto transaction tracker Whale Alert.

The early Bitcoin miner known as Patoshi mined BT 1,125,150 during BTCs infancy, when Patoshi controlled a constant 60% of the networks processing power, presumably in order to ensure no other miners would be able to carry out a 51% attack on the new and vulnerable network, analysts said in a blog post.

The new report, which builds upon work from 2013 by crypto researcher Sergio Demian Lerner, further said that it is known for certain that the miner dubbed Patoshi was indeed Satoshi. The reason for this, it said, is that the distinct saw pattern that characterizes Patoshi appeared at the birth of the network, and it mined the block that contained the bitcoins that were sent to Hal Finney the first-ever recipient of a bitcoin transaction sent from Satoshi.

The fact that Satoshis mining power was kept at a constant 60% of the entire network, combined with among other things the lack of spending, also suggests that Satoshi was only interested in growing and protecting the young network, according to Whale Alert.

In addition to eliminating the risk of a 51% attack by controlling 60% of the network, this practice also helped Satoshi to maintain his ideal block time of around 10 minutes, in particular during periods when there was either too much or not enough activity on the network, the report said.

Given this information, Whale Alert was able to determine that an estimated 22,503 blocks out of the first 54,316 blocks mined, were indeed mined by Bitcoins creator. Further, the team also concluded that at least 18 of the spent blocks were Satoshis, which means that the pseudonymous Bitcoin creator in total spent BTC 907, with a price of less than USD 0.01 per coin at the time. This also means that BTC 1,122,693 were left unspent by Satoshi, Whale Alert wrote.

They concluded that the manner in which the early mining by Satoshi was carried out suggests that the bitcoins mined were possibly a mere byproduct of his efforts to keep the network safe and stable. This makes it unlikely that the remaining 1.12 million BTC will ever be spent, the article said, although it also added that the question remains why Satoshi didnt simply burn them in this case.

However, the practice of using nonce (the number that Bitcoin miners are solving for) patterns to determine the amount of bitcoin Satoshi mined has previously been called into question by BitMEX Research. According to a 2018 blog post, there is reasonable evidence to support the claim that a dominant miner in 2009 mined around 700,000 BTC. Whether that miner was Satoshi, however, is certainly not conclusive.____Learn more: Someone Just Moved 50 Bitcoins, Prompting Speculations It's Satoshi NakamotoSatoshi-era Bitcoin Miner Calls Craig Wright a Fraud Using "His" BTC Addresses

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Satoshi Nakamoto Mined More Than 1 Million Bitcoin - Report

Bitcoin Founder Satoshi Nakamoto Mined $10.9 Billion Worth …

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Whale Alert has recently published the report in which it states that Satoshi Nakamoto, a mysterious founder of Bitcoin (BTC) also known as Patoshi, is supposed to mine 1,125,150 BTC what worth around $10.9 billion.

Satoshi Nakamoto, the inventor of Bitcoin has mined $10.9 billion judging from recent reports by the analytics firm Whale Alert a few days ago.Satoshi Nakamoto, who also uses his alias, Patoshi was found to have protected the Bitcoin network in its infancy through his mining operations. Even though these facts were not obvious in the beginning, they are starting to emerge, according to the recent report.

The name Patoshi was linked to the inventor by the analyst Sergio Demian Lerner. He discovered that the two identities belonged to the same person after using the mining pattern of the rig which showed a definite signature. This particular pattern is evident at the beginning of the network, and also in the mining blocks. Satoshi sent the gained coins to Hal Finney, who was the first person to receive BTC from the network. So by connecting the dots, the analysts at Whale Alert deducted the coins that were mined by Satoshi.

Another finding from Whale Alert is that Patoshi adjusted his mining speed between blocks. This was to maintain the average time of ten minutes which is the standard Bitcoin transmission period for block confirmation. It became obvious that the purpose of the execution was to guard the network from 51% attack. This is a malicious takeover of the network by bad actors, an event that would have been feasible at the early stages of the Bitcoin existence. Patoshi made sure he maintained 60% of all processing power while he left enough blocks for other miners as well.

The report showed that as more miners joined the network giving it better security, the founder decided that it was strong enough to withstand the attack. Therefore, sometime in 2010, Satoshi ceased his mining operations.

At a point, it was difficult to track Patoshis blocks and to understand the link between Patoshi and Satoshi. Analysts had also wondered if he continued to mine with another rig after 2010. These speculations have been laid to rest by the recent report. Whale Alert reported that the node used to mine Patoshis block had been turned off around May 2010. So in total, 907 BTC was expended from the Bitcoins mined on it, which left 1,122,693 BTC unspent.

Satoshi was active in BitcoinTalk forum till December 12, 2010. His last verified communication was an email to Gavin Andersen.

Chuks is a blockchain enthusiast and finance researcher that has covered the crypto sphere for several years. He believes that the evolving technology would change how we do business.

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Satoshi Nakamoto owns a Bitcoin worth $ 10.9 billion …

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Whale Alert, an expert in interesting blockchain transactions, provides the most accurate estimate of the bitcoins owned by Satoshi Nakamoto.

Whale Alert, an expert in interesting blockchain transactions, provides the most accurate estimate of the bitcoins owned by Satoshi Nakamoto.

Extensive analysis focused on the recognition of mining activity through extranonce values.

In the image above, you can see the extranonce values at a block heights below 20,000, each block creating a saw like pattern. The analyst assigned almost vertical lines to Satoshi, because his pattern appeared as soon as the network was fully created, and the bitcoins were sent to Hal Finney.

Whale Alert also found other evidence, specifically:

the last byte of the nonce was always within the ranges of 0 to 9 or 19 to 58 whereas all other miners used the full range of 0 to 255.

This discovery made it easier to attribute blocks to Patoshi by removing the ones with nonces outside of the range.

Other interesting findings include the revelation of the average speed of Satoshis mining, which was constant throughout. According to the information obtained, Satoshi adjusted the speed between the blocks to maintain a certain average.

for the entire range of blocks between height 2,000 and 16,000 the average number of blocks mined by Patoshi per hour was almost exactly .6 per 10 minutes,

According to Whale Alert, there can be two reasons for this:

We suspect that Patoshi was comprised of at least 48 computers, with one machine for coordination and more on standby in case of an attack, which would explain the missing range of [1018].

As soon as Satoshi deemed the network strong enough he reduced Patoshis blocks per 10 min target to give others a better chance at mining a block.

Although the research is extensive and precise, even the creator himself cannot confirm with certainty that Satoshi stopped mining after block 54,316, and therefore we only have to argue about whether we have at least partially approached reality.

Read also: The discovered e-mail from 1999 was probably written by Satoshi Nakamoto

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Americans Are Googling Bitcoin in the Middle of the Night – Cointelegraph

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The hourly data from Google Trends shows that US-based searches for Bitcoin have consistently peaked around 1 AM Eastern time for the past week. This hourly data is only available seven days into the past, so we dont know if this is an established pattern or a new development.

The latest Google Trends data for Bitcoin searches. Source: Google Trends.

Out of 50 states, California is the most search-happy at this hour, possibly because 1 AM Eastern represents just 10 PM local time on the west coast. Plenty of reasonable browsing time left in the evening.

Google Trends data for Bitcoin searches. Source: Google Trends.

Its also not surprising that the peak search interest in Bitcoin over the past 30 days coincided with this weeks notorious Twitter hack. As Satoshi Nakamoto once noticed under similar circumstances, it would have been nice to get this attention in any other context.

Meanwhile, it is still not too late for some of the victims to get their Bitcoin back.

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Americans Are Googling Bitcoin in the Middle of the Night - Cointelegraph

Fast tracking the construction industry back to work – SHPonline

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SHP Meets

SHP speaks to Ian McKinnon, Managing Director, of CHAS, about how the supply chain risk management firm has been supporting the construction industry in getting back to work safely from helping members demonstrate they are COVID Secure to enabling organisations to monitor worker health.

How did CHAS cope as a company during lockdown?

Ian McKinnon (IM): It was a test of our business continuity plan and it passed with flying colours. We were able to continue to offer all of our services effectively. CHAS has a reputation for excellent customer service so we were delighted when our Feefo scores actually improved during the lockdown period.

CHAS is going through a period of rapid growth, transforming from a health & safety accreditation specialist to encompass a broader supply chain risk management offering did you have to put the brakes on in response to the coronavirus outbreak?

(IM): No, thankfully weve been able to do everything we planned and more. This was really important because strengthening our own organisation has meant we have been in an even better position to support our members and make sure they come out of the crisis in the best possible shape to build their businesses.

We have developed new services, adapted existing products and made several key appointments. We were also in the process of agreeing a number of collaborations many of which have now come to fruition, including agreements with the construction software specialist, Causeway Technologies, the cloud-based supply chain platform, Local Supply Chain and the trade directory Checkatrade. This will further enhance employment prospects for our members and ensures contractors who are committed to operating to high standards of health & safety have the best employment opportunities which is only right.

How do you think the construction industry coped with the coronavirus?

(IM): The response from the construction industry has been excellent. The Construction Leadership Council quickly produced clear and detailed guidance on how the industry could operate safely which has been regularly updated and is complemented by more bespoke guidance from other trade bodies. Combined with the Governments guidance for the construction sector and advice from the HSE the industry has a thorough framework for operating in a way that is COVID Secure.

What has CHAS been doing to help?

(IM): As well as keeping our members up-to-date with the latest industry guidance, we have added a Statement of Best Practice (COVID-19) to our member packages so CHAS contractors can quickly and easily demonstrate that they are COVID-Secure and clients have an efficient way of sourcing compliant contractors.

For contractors to comply they simply need to login to the contractor portal and upload and submit evidence to show they meet the necessary requirements. Meanwhile CHAS clients log on to the CHAS Client Portal and they can instantly see whether a contractor has completed their Statement of Best Practice (COVID-19).

For organisations who arent already CHAS Clients who would like to access our database of COVID-Secure contractors, it is quick, easy and completely free to register to become a CHAS Client and includes a range of business benefits.

We have also extended our CHAS People worker verification tool to include a Health Wallet so that the industry can track workers symptoms and upload COVID-19 antigen or antibody test results to track their fitness to work if and when this is required.

What issues are front of mind as the construction industry adjusts to a post-lockdown world?

(IM): While infection rates have dropped, experts believe further outbreaks in the future are likely so the industry must stay firmly focussed on remaining COVID-19 Secure. Close attention to health & safety in general is also paramount because history tells us that when the economy picks up, accidents rise.

The coronavirus crisis has also highlighted the need for the industry to be able to quickly and easily demonstrate and share evidence of compliance so we will likely see a further increase in uptake in accreditation schemes. The Common Assessment Standard, which is a streamlined industry-led system that was introduced in 2019, is fast becoming the gold standard for third-party accreditation in the construction industry and is already being specified by leading employers including the Crown Commercial Service (CCS) and HS2.

The Common Assessment Standard also has the benefit of covering other compliance areas which are rising up the agenda such as financial stability, sustainability and modern slavery which has been making the headlines recently. In fact businesses can expect to see closer scrutiny around the issue of modern slavery as we have seen increased demand for our worker verification tool, CHAS People, in recent weeks which can help with compliance in this area.

What is encouraging is that in general the construction industry is seeing much closer attention being paid to how workplaces can be kept safe and hygienic with an increased focus on whether people feel safe at work so the challenge now is to make sure this is sustained through the post-lockdown period and beyond.

Coronavirus has become a top priority for employers all over the world. The pandemic event is putting pressure on already stretched employers to do more to keep up to date and protect the health, safety and welfare of their employees. Download this free legislation update to understand all the latest guidelines, laws and regulations. The eBook covers:

Fast tracking the construction industry back to workSHP speaks to Ian McKinnon, Managing Director, of CHAS, about how the supply chain risk management firm has been supporting the construction industry in getting back to work safely from helping members demonstrate they are COVID Secure to enabling organisations to monitor worker health.

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Fast tracking the construction industry back to work - SHPonline

Tips from Scotland – on how to make sure your absentee ballot arrives on time for the US election – The London Economic

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By: Kat Cary, FL voter in Edinburgh, Scotland

Can I tell you a secret? Its quite easy to vote overseas nowadays. I was active duty military for over a decade, and I have voted more times overseas than I have under them. Its gotten so much easier over the years, and Id like to share some tips on voting from overseas, and ensuring your absentee ballot arrives on time.

First things first, register and request your ballot athttps://www.votefromabroad.org. I recommend using your mobile device, as long as you have a pen and piece of paper handy, you can take a photo of your signature and get it done in one sitting. It takes about the same amount of time as reading this article. Make sure to check submission rules, primary and general election deadlines for your state or territoryhttps://www.votefromabroad.org/states/to identify the best voting option for you.

I recommend requesting ballot delivery by email you can even leave two email addresses to ensure you receive your ballot I have received both an early sample ballot, and my election ballot by email for the last 4 years and I have never had an issue with it. Election officials are required to send out ballots 45 days before the day of the general election. Primaries, special, and run-off elections generally arrive 30 days prior to the election date. Requesting a ballot via email ensures you will receive your blank ballot with the maximum time to return it within the required timeframe.

Its so important to turn in your completed absentee ballot as soon as possible. My voting state emails sample ballots, so I am ready to fill in my ballot as it arrives, but you can also access a sample ballot via Ballotpedia.

Concerned you havent received your blank ballot in time? You can fill out a back-up ballot, officially called a Federal Write-In Absentee Ballot (FWAB) by following the instructions atwww.votefromabroad.org/fwab.

There are currently 29 states that accept voted ballots by email, fax, or online upload. This eliminates a lot of hassle of relying on the postal services, paying for expensive courier fees, or using the services at your local US embassy, but there are a few things to keep in mind for submitting a ballot electronically:

No matter what method you choose to vote from abroad, you should receive a confirmation email that your ballot has been received and counted. I love receiving that email I consider it a personalised I Voted sticker. Voting from overseas is really rewarding. Staying involved in the democratic process while living overseas has given me greater perspective in these troubled times. I find it very empowering when I make my voice heard by taking part in the democratic process.

Related: Donald Trump wishes Ghislaine Maxwell well ahead of high-profile trial

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Tips from Scotland - on how to make sure your absentee ballot arrives on time for the US election - The London Economic

Everything you need to know about getting the best value deal on your broadband – In Your Area

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By Danielle Elton

With many of us working from home and staying connected online over recent months, our broadband connections have been pushed to the limits.

You could be realising your current package isn't up to the job, if losing connection while sending urgent emails or the sound dropping out during a video call have become all too familiar.

Those little niggles have definitely shown many of us that it's time to switch providers but with finances also pretty tight at the moment, getting the best deal is as important now as it's ever been.

When it comes to broadband, the cheapest deal doesn't necessarily mean the you're getting the most for your money but Cable.co.uk has revealed all you need to know about getting the best value broadband.

You can often save money by switching your broadband provider and Cable.co.uk can help you do just that.

Most people dont realise they could save money by switching their broadband provider, especially if theyve been with their existing supplier for a while.

The first thing you should do is check your contract.

Thanks to new regulations put in place this year by Ofcom, suppliers now have to tell you when your contract is up and let you know what their best deals are.

Whilst this is the regulation it is always worth checking your contract just in case.

If you're out of your contract then doing a comparison check and switching providers is a no brainer as some providers will only notify you annually, so it's always worth having a check for deals.

Most contracts range anywhere from one month to 24 months. If you're still tied in your current contract then you might have to pay a leaving fee - the sum of the remaining payments of the contract.

This does however vary from each different provider so again it's always worth checking your contract.

But something that some people might be unaware of is if your provider has increased prices mid-contract you might be able to leave without paying a penalty they have to give you at least a months notice.

There may also be other instances where you can terminate your contract such as a fault that is unable to be fixed or if you are not getting the speed that you pay for.

You can't go wrong with a bit of haggling - you have nothing to lose and if you don't ask, you don't get.

If you think youre not getting the best price, call up your supplier and haggle with them for a better price.

Haggling tends to work best when youre at the end of your contract and looking to renew or your provider has notified you about a price hike - you can use this as leverage.

Make sure you do your homework before you call so that you know what you want to ask and speak to the right department theres no point wasting your time with the customer service team when you want to speak with the retention team who can make you an offer

It's also worth mentioning any problems you've experienced - you can use past problems as leverage.

If you are going to haggle then it's always worth being armed with information on the best deals to give you the most leverage. You can find all the information you need by visiting Cable.co.uk.

Sometimes you may not get a price reduction but see if they can throw in any added extras and you might get more for your money this way.

As well as those additions, some providers also throw in some freebies with your broadband deal. These range from ultra-cheap monthly payments to gift vouchers (anything from 25 to 275) or free gifts such as a smart speaker, TV or games console.

You obviously need to weigh up the free gift with the cost of the plan to decide if it offers good value for you.

If you want to see which providers are offering free gifts then visit Cable.co.uk.

It's important to know what you need from your broadband deal to make sure you get the most value from it.

When it comes to broadband speed, as a general rule youll need around 10Mbps per person using the internet on a device.

Keep in mind there are loads of ways were using the internet. The more you use the faster speed you need.

The most speed-intensive things you do online include streaming video content so if you're an avid Netflix, Amazon or iPlayer viewer then you might be best with a faster speed.

All of the following has the greatest impact on your broadband usage:

For low usage households, browsing or shopping online then 10 or 11Mbps should be fine.

If your broadband connection needs to handle lots of devices, streaming and more than two people, Cable.co.uk would recommend a minimum of 30Mbps.

It's also important to look at what upload speeds you could be getting too.

Upload speeds are important if you are into your gaming so you can avoid any frustrating lag, or if you want to live-stream your gameplay.

A stable 1080p broadcast would require an upload speed of 6Mbps but most entry level fibre packages offer upload speeds of between 9-10Mbps.

Click here to find out more about which broadband provider is best for gaming.

Have a budget in mind and try to stick to it, but consider the upfront costs and contract length and work out the total cost of the contract.

Like any product with a wide range of pricing available, it's easy to get carried away if you don't set out a figure you'd ideally like to pay each month. Plus you don't want to end up paying for data you're not going to use.

You should be able to find deals that have no upfront costs, which will ensure you dont go over budget when setting up your broadband

As with a lot lot of things, buying in bulk often gets you a better price per item and the same can be said for broadband.

Taking out more than one service with a provider such as your phone or TV package could provide you with a huge saving, and some providers even allow you to bundle discounted mobile SIMs.

There are various different lengths of contract from one month rolling contracts to more long term 12, 18 and 24 month deals.

Think about your circumstances and how they might change during the length of your contract.

Would you be better suited to something shorter or are you happy to commit long term? It's a matter of personal preference as to which one best suits you.

Long term contracts can give you peace of mind, without having the worry of switching your broadband contract for a while. This does however mean that you will have to commit to a deal that you could be locked into for at least a year.

Short term contracts like one month and rolling contracts give you a lot more flexibility but these often come with higher set up fees. You are also unlikely to get the same perks that are offered on longer term contracts.

Although quite rare, there are deals that limit the amount of data you can use.

If your household uses very little data each month and doesn't stream movies and TV, or download games and apps, then you may be able to save a few pounds by opting for a limited package.

However, Cable.co.uk does advise against them as most households use more data than they assume.

The vast majority of broadband deals available are unlimited but can be affected by traffic management and fair use policies.

Traffic management means that some providers can slow down your Internet speeds on purpose to allow other customers to have a stable connection. Whilst this is rare it's always worth checking the small print.

Fair usage policies only apply to people who use up an excessive amount of bandwidth by heavy downloading or file sharing software.

Your provider will generally let you know if you are using your broadband excessively but you can find out more here.

Do you need a better value deal on your broadband? Cable.co.uk makes it easy to look through broadband deals and you can filter your search by speed, price and most popular.

Make sure to use the post code checker to check whats available in your area.

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PDF Converter in India: Best PDF to Word Converter Online – India.com

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In todays technological era, we have a lot of documents in PDF format. We use Adobe Acrobat Reader or any other similar application to read these documents. Many times, we need to edit a PDF file, but we are not able to do it. To edit a PDF file, we must subscribe to the paid version of Acrobat Reader. Its subscription is quite expensive. Taking a subscription of Rs 1014 per month to edit just one file cannot be called a prudent decision. Also Read - J&K: Months After Detention, Two Kashmiri Leaders Shifted to Their Houses From MLA Hostel

If you follow some simple steps, you can edit your PDF files without Adobe Acrobat. To edit, follow the steps- Also Read - In a first, Indian AMC adopts CFA Institute's Global Investment Performance Standards

However, in adopting this method, you must keep some things in mind. This method is appropriate for PDF files that contain only text. If you are editing a form, then it is very likely that some fields in it are missed after editing. Also, if there is an image or decorative text in your PDF file, it will also disappear after editing it. Also Read - Chandigarh: Sikh women exempted from wearing helmets

There are various PDF converters available online that you can use to convert it into word file.

Investintech Free Online PDF to Word Converter

Investintech Free Online PDF to Word Converter supports Windows, Linux, and macOS browser and helps in converting PDF files with no limitations. It is free and maintains original format. The other feature of this converter includes saving and preserving the texts as well as images. It is not required to create an account or submit an email ID on this PDF converter. The process of converting a PDF file into a Word file is very simple. Open the website on your browser. You will see an option of Upload your PDF File. The next step says download the converted DOCX file.

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You get lots of features from this website. for example- pdf to doc, pdf to docx, pdf to text, pdf to jpg, pdf to png, xps to pdf, pdf compressor, combine pdf, jpg to pdf, any to pdf etc. A PDF file can be very easily converted into Word. With this, you can also work out the size of any IDF file.

PDFelement

PDFelement is an all in one PDF Editor which can edit text, images, pages, links, etc directly. It enables you to convert Pdf in to Word, Excel, EPUB, PPT, Pages, HTML, RTF, and text formats. Unlike other converters available online, this one is easier to use with its simple user interface.

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Five Ways to Ease into Masked Life at Disney – The DIS

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No one wants to wear a mask. Seriously, no one. So believe me when I tell you that from the most defiant of naysayers to the pro-mask wearing front-runners, no one is wearing them because they enjoy it. Masks serve a purpose, and whether you want to wear one or not, it's easy to follow the logic in them, especially if you have seen any 1 of the 50,000 Facebook memes explaining it.

While I am not able to leave Australia at the moment to come back to the parks, a mask wouldn't be the first uncomfortable thing I've had to wear. Those warmer Florida months can be stifling and I am rarely a fan of any backpack in the heat, or hat for that matter. And while we are on the subject of uncomfortable things we persist with, hands up those of you who enjoy the feeling of that metal underwire in your bra wrapped against your chest on those over-100-degree days. Anyone? No.

Yet still, I wear all of the above for the good of my family, and those around me on that last one.

If you are planning on returning to the parks and are struggling with the idea of wearing a mask, I thought we might quickly run through a few ways to reshape your thinking. Not as to whether or not you should have to, or need to, but to make you feel better about the fact that you will have to.

It's not a debate, or a question, or any single opinion, just a different way to look at the situation that might help your overall outcome if you are wanting to get back into the Disney action.

It's easy to fall into the trap of rigid thinking, telling yourself that you don't have a choice, and becoming outraged. The truth is, you do have a choice. Your choice is expressed in either your decision to visit during these times or your preference to put off your trip until things have improved.

Think less about the fact that you will need to wear one and take comfort in knowing that everyone else will be too. Think of all the germs you could be stuck with if others were not wearing a mask, and I'm not just talking about this pandemic we are facing. Have you ever had a tummy bug while traveling? Or suddenly come down with a debilitating, flu-like cold, or any one of the many things that negatively affected us before COVID-19?

There is nothing magical about it. Masks, however, mean that all of those nasty germs might just stay out of reach, or better yet, out of the parks entirely, leaving you with that stress-free vacation you've always wanted.

Start focusing on the benefits to your family that come from others wearing them and less on the inconvenience that you will be too.

If the heat is what is deterring you from making peace with the idea of wearing a mask, then take the opportunity to book now for those cooler months ahead.

If you picture yourself and your family walking around in more relaxed conditions, you might find the idea of wearing one less intrusive. In less-stifling temperatures, your mask is sure to be a little more comfortable, and less likely to feel so overwhelming and irritating.

If you suffer from allergies or anything that affects you on a seasonal basis, avoid visiting in times where you would be tempted to remove your mask. Sometimes my allergies equal itchy skin, watery eyes, and sniffing, all of which make masked life more difficult. Take out the variable and give yourselves the best chance at a less irritating time in the parks.

We know that you will need to keep your mask on at all times other than when you are actively eating or drinking (while stationary, that is!). With this in mind, take the time to spend a few extra dollars to get masks that express your personalities. Just like our choice in MagicBands, accessories, and apparel, what you wear to the parks can make you feel special and part of the magic.

Take some time to really choose the right mask for each member of your family. Something that reflects who they are and will make you giggle looking back at goofy photos. Try shopDisney.com masks or our very own DIS masks where you can upload your own designs!

I actually saw just the other day that some companies are now making special masks that look almost identical to the bottom half of your face, appearing as though you are wearing nothing but your usual smile, even if you aren't underneath. Some of them are so convincing they can even unlock the facial recognition on your smartphone.

Who knows, instead of mouths open and screaming faces, you might even end up with that perfect ride photo after all!

Okay, okay, I can hear some of those eye-rolls from down under. Seriously though, if you are heading to the parks and wondering how you will cope wearing a mask most of the time when you don't at home, give it a try before you go. Especially if you have children. Get them used to how it will feel ahead of time to save any difficult meltdowns for first-time wearing in those days to come.

Make a game out of it. See who can leave their mask on the longest to earn $10 spending money towards your trip. Or practice using them when everyone is distracted while watching a movie or TV show. If your child is struggling, try starting the process while doing something they love that usually captures their attention.

I know what you are thinking; if you hate using them why would you do it more than absolutely necessary? And you aren't wrong in theory, but in practice; it's the same reason we train for anything: to get better at it.

If you all of a sudden had to wear an eye patch or a cast on your arm, it would feel awkward and incredibly uncomfortable, but in time, you get used to it - wearing a mask will, too. Preempt that difficulty by getting past the hard part in your own time, making your days in the parks less challenging with those early annoyances.

Many of the people I speak to feel their biggest concerns are for their children. One thing I know for sure is that your children will look to you for how they should feel. Whether you are down for the greater good or forced to wear them against your will, make sure that you keep those feelings out of your children's reach if you expect them to wear one amicably when you arrive.

Our kids absorb everything around them. If you give them an example of defiant, difficult behavior, they are sure to mimic that and find fault with wearing a mask themselves. Instead, try to put on a happy face. Make it fun for them (this is where those two suggestions above come in), making practicing at home into a game and letting them choose a design they think is fun and exciting to wear. Just like any other Disney accessory.

I am not saying you have to like it, but to make it easier for your children, if you plan on visiting the parks, fake it.

Once you are onsite, those little changes you have made along the way might help you to feel more at ease with the process. And while you are totally within your rights to despise the practice as much as humanly possible, the end goal is to make your time in the parks as enjoyable as possible. Let that be your focus, not using this time to rebel and lament, but to do your best to let go of any reservations and enjoy your visit.

Even with your mask in place, don't forget to keep a social distance from others. One of the perks of being in the parks at the moment is much lower crowd numbers, so there is no excuse for not making use of all the extra space.

If you still decide not to go, I completely get it, it is an added complication that isn't for everyone, however, if you do venture out to the magic of Disney, I hope you enjoy every moment of it.

Link:

Five Ways to Ease into Masked Life at Disney - The DIS

YOURSAY | Al Jazeera faces the blunt side of the law – Malaysiakini

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YOURSAY | So, if I take a video of my childrens birthday party, I need to get a licence?

Spotlight on Al Jazeeras filming licence may open a Pandoras Box

Vijay47: If somebody wants to shoot a movie or documentary in Malaysia, he must first get a permit from the National Film Development Corporation (Finas). That is pretty clear and understandable as there are local sensitivities of race and religion to be considered.

In fact, if he wants to make any form of video recording, he must get a permit. That is equally clear. As clear as high-definition.

Let us fade to black and cut to Scene 2. Al Jazeera comes in and tells Finas it wants to shoot a documentary on undocumented migrants in Malaysia. What will the chairperson say, that is, when he has recovered from his shock? Sure, brother, its camera, lights, action all the way for you?

Assuming that Finas does give its approval, we will still have the next issue. Will it demand a final cut that overrides the directors cut?

And just like the authority to reject an application without offering any reason, they can also censor as their discretion dictates?

I think we can guess what the response would be to any film where those in authority are not quite presented as vestal virgins.

Who knows, we might yet see the return of Al Jazeera, with an application to shoot parliament and parliamentarians. Tissues recommended. Art is not always truth.

Hmmm: The kerfuffle generated by the government's move, coming at the same time as the rubber glove manufacturer Top Glove affair, may make other foreign media organisations interested in the plight of migrant workers and refugees in Malaysia, which to my mind would be a very good thing.

We might hope to see even more documentaries and investigative reporting on this issue. And hopefully an improvement in labour rights in Malaysia as a result, or at least greater awareness of the issue, which would be the first step towards improvement.

As the government clamps down on the media locally, Malaysians will be increasingly reliant on foreign media to reveal what is happening on the ground on this and other issues.

My personal hope is that it won't be just Al Jazeera but also regional media (Indonesia, Philippines, etc) who will come in to give us a helping hand during this dark period.

Fair Malaysian: "Usually, we are not that strict," Finas chairperson Zakaria Abdul Hamid said when asked if the law (for a Finas licence to film) applied to ordinary citizens who might upload their videos.

But the law is there in the books and as long as it is there, it can still be used/applied. I hope he can give a better answer.

I have come to a point where trust is a double-edged sword and ambiguity can mean anything. It is all well and good until what goes around comes around.

BH Yap: You must wear a helmet while you ride a motorcycle. The law is clear on this one. There is no ambiguity. But the enforcement officers turn a blind eye all the time. Then they get picky when things don't go their way?

Kamrul: Wonderful. Now we can show the world our power to use the law accordingly as and when it suits us. Even though it may look dictatorial.

Cogito Ergo Sum: So, if I take a video of my childrens birthday party, I need to get a licence? This is like the good old BN days when one could be charged for letting off yellow balloons.

Only a system that is afraid of the truth, suppresses it.

Astro fined by MCMC for re-airing Al Jazeera's 'Murder in Malaysia' film

Malaysian1: Sometimes, I get caught in my own world. I see myself as the best person, which sometimes makes me arrogant as if I am infallible. I am, however, open to criticism and rebuke. I appreciate it as it makes me a better person.

The same analogy can be extended to governments.

CNN can openly criticise their president without fear. Its this criticism and openness that improves the governing process. People listen to the criticism and make changes.

We all know foreign workers, despite the hard work they put in, are not having the best life. Their living conditions and general welfare leaves much to be desired. I believe it is this frustration and anger that makes them voice their views so daringly.

Relevant stakeholders should give this a deep thought. While the government actively defends the labour practices of some companies on the international scene, domestically it needs to scrutinise these companies to ensure things are indeed right and if not, make improvements.

We don't want another documentary, this time about workers in glove factories. With modern devices and apps, making documentaries is not difficult, with or without a licence.

True Blue: So the murder of the Mongolian woman (Altantuya Shaariibuu) has been an annoyance to the Malaysian public? We might as well close all news media and only use Bernama.

Free Thinker: The Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) suddenly realised a programme by Al Jazeeras 101 East that aired five years ago is deemed indecent.

Coincidently, the programme then aired another documentary episode which did not speak well about a country. So, whats been all the while considered okay, suddenly became not okay.

Citizen 5354: The more you bury the news, the more publicity you generate. In the world of globalisation, we can get news elsewhere.

YellowCougar9709: Indeed, trying to quarantine the news will only deepen the suggestion that something is amiss.

There are broadcasters here and overseas who will escape the dragnet. The result is a further loss of confidence in Malaysia.

We cannot be seen to be welcoming favourable news only.

The above is a selection of comments posted by Malaysiakini subscribers. Only paying subscribers can post comments. In the past one year, Malaysiakinians have posted over 500,000 comments. Join the Malaysiakini community and help set the news agenda. Subscribe now.

These comments are compiled to reflect the views of Malaysiakini subscribers on matters of public interest. Malaysiakini does not intend to represent these views as fact.

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YOURSAY | Al Jazeera faces the blunt side of the law - Malaysiakini

How to choose the right speed NBN plan for your home – 7NEWS.com.au

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Choosing your NBN speed is one of the most important factors to your internet connection, and also one of the few that you have control over. The speeds your internet can achieve will dictate how many people can comfortably use your connection at the same time.

The speed required for your household is determined by the activities you do online, how many people are in the house, and your connections typical evening speed.

Your internet speed is a shared resource meaning that every online activity on the network will diminish the remaining speed available. Three simultaneous video streams will use around 15Mbps of speed, so an NBN 25 connection will only have around 10Mbps left for any other online frivolities.

Some activities like streaming video or gaming occupy more speed than others, such as browsing social media. Yet on average, Aussies use the internet primarily to stream video, music and browse social media, which combined uses approx 6.5Mbps per person.

For simplicitys sake, we are recommending NBN speed based on the aforementioned usage. If you work from home or tend to use your connection for more data-intensive pursuits such as video calling and gaming then you may need faster speeds to keep up.

If its just you at home then you can probably get away with an NBN 12 plan, but wed still recommend an NBN 25. Typical evening speeds for NBN 12 plans sit between 7Mbps and 10Mbps, which is cutting it very fine for the 6.5Mbps per person range.

For around the same price you can get an NBN 25 plan with typical evening speeds of around 20Mbps, giving you a comfortable speed buffer for any online activities.

Tangerines Standard Speed UNLIMITED plan is a stand out NBN 25 deal, offering unlimited data at typical evening speeds of 21Mbps for just $49.90 per month. This promotional pricing expires after six months at which time the plan goes back to $59.90, but Tangerines plans are contract-free so you can always leave once the discount runs out.

Theres plenty of other NBN 25 deals out there for around the same price, tap or click on any of the buttons below to find out more.

Dual person households would need an absolute minimum speed of 13Mbps to browse comfortably alongside one another. For many households an NBN 25 plan will suffice but if youd rather have a bit more room to breathe then an NBN 50 plan is the way to go.

NBN 50 plans will cost around $10 extra per month than an NBN 25 option. This extra charge gets you an average of 40Mbps typical evening speeds which is fast enough to handle eight Netflix streams simultaneously.

Belong is currently offering unlimited data on its NBN Starter plan for just $55 per month on a 12-month contract. Its the cheapest NBN 50 option on the market but your speeds are limited to 30Mbps. For around $5 more you can opt for Tangerine or Internode, both which are slinging a six-month promotional discount. Youll need to sign a six-month contract with Internode but Tangerine is once again contract-free.

Click or tap on any of the plans to learn more.

For any household with more than three people, we would suggest an NBN 100 plan. As with any other household, you could probably get away with a speed tier below but for peace of mind, its worth opting up.

Most NBN 100 plans are now 100 / 20 plans, meaning youll have maximum download speeds of 100Mbps and upload speeds of 20Mbps. 100 / 40 plans used to be more common but the change has made this speed option more affordable with only a marginal difference in overall performance for most users.

Only people who routinely send large files are likely to notice the change in upload speeds, but everyone notices the change the cost makes to your back pocket.

Typical evening speeds for NBN 100 plans sit at around 80Mbps with prices at around $90 per month. Plenty of providers are offering timed promotional discounts bringing the cost down to around $80 per month for the first six months. Tangerine, Vodafone and Southern Phone are all sitting in this category and represent great value.

If youd rather shy away from promotional pricing then Superloop has the fastest typical evening speeds at 90Mbps. For $89.95 per month on a no lock-in contract this is the quickest NBN 100 plan available right now.

Read more from the original source:

How to choose the right speed NBN plan for your home - 7NEWS.com.au

Updates: Police and fire crews at scene of Sealand Road fire – Cheshire Live

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A large fire broke out in Blacon this evening, which could be seen for over a mile.

Firefighters and police have been at the scene on Sealand Road.

Black smoke could be seen for over a mile earlier on this evening before dark.

Police were in attendance, however the cause of the fire is not yet known.

At least four fire engines were also there.

This is a breaking incident. Follow our live blog below for more updates as we get them.

If you have any information you can contact us by following our Twitter feed @CheshireLive - the official Cheshire Live account - for real news in real time.

Or like our Facebook page for your must-see news, features, videos and pictures throughout the day from Cheshire Live.

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Updates: Police and fire crews at scene of Sealand Road fire - Cheshire Live

CORONAVIRUS (COVID-19) IMPACT ON Seal and Pour Bag Clips Market OUTLOOK, RECENT TRENDS AND GROWTH FORECAST 2020-2025 – Cole of Duty

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The Seal and Pour Bag Clips Market is carefully researched in the report while largely concentrating on top players and their business strategies, geographical expansion, market segments, manufacturing, and pricing & cost structures. Each section of the research report is specially prepared to explore key aspects of the Seal and Pour Bag Clips Market.

For instance, the market dynamics section digs deep into the drivers, restraints, trends, and opportunities of the Seal and Pour Bag Clips Market. With qualitative and quantitative analysis, we help you with thorough and comprehensive research on the Seal and Pour Bag Clips Market. We have also focused on SWOT, PESTLE, and Porters Five Forces analyses of the Seal and Pour Bag Clips Market.

Impact of COVID- 19 on Seal and Pour Bag Clips Market

Due to the pandemic, we have included a special section on the Impact of COVID 19 on the Seal and Pour Bag Clips Market, which would mention How the Covid-19 is Affecting the Industry, Market Trends and Potential Opportunities in the COVID-19 Landscape, Key Regions and Proposal Seal and Pour Bag Clips Market Players to battle Covid-19 Impact.

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Leading players of the Seal and Pour Bag Clips Market are analyzed considering their market share, recent developments, new product launches, partnerships, mergers or acquisitions, and markets served. We also provide an exhaustive analysis of their product portfolios to explore the products and applications they concentrate on when operating in the Seal and Pour Bag Clips Market. Furthermore, the report offers two separate market forecasts one for the production side and another for the consumption side of the Seal and Pour Bag Clips Market. It also provides useful recommendations for new as well as established players of the Seal and Pour Bag Clips Market.

Competitive Landscape:

Key CompaniesWuudiEH-LIFEIconChefTwixitKitchenCraftTurbo PlusPawaca

The competitive analysis of major market players is another notable feature of the Seal and Pour Bag Clips Market industry report; it identifies direct or indirect competitors in the market.

Key parameters which define the competitive landscape of the Seal and Pour Bag Clips Market:

Revenue and Market Share by Player

Production and Share by Player

Average Price by Player

Base Distribution, Sales Area and Product Type by Player

Concentration Rate

Manufacturing Base

Mergers & Acquisitions, Expansion

Market Segmentation:

The segmentation is used to decide the target market into smaller sections or segments like product type, application, and geographical regions to optimize marketing strategies, advertising technique and global as well as regional sales efforts of Seal and Pour Bag Clips Market.

Geographically, the report includes the research on production, consumption, revenue, market share and growth rate, and forecast of the following regions:

United States

Central and South America (Brazil, Mexico, Colombia)

Europe (Germany, UK, France, Italy, Spain, Russia, Poland)

China

Japan

India

Southeast Asia (Malaysia, Singapore, Philippines, Indonesia, Thailand, Vietnam)

Middle East and Africa (Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Turkey, Egypt, South Africa, Nigeria)

The Research Report Provides:

An overview of the Seal and Pour Bag Clips Market

Comprehensive analysis of the market

The segment that accounted for a large market share in the past

The segment that is anticipated to account for a dominant market share by forecasted period

Emerging market segments and regional markets

Segmentations up to the second and/or third level

Analyses of recent developments in the market

Events in the market scenario in past few years

Historical, current, and estimated market size in terms of value and volume

Competitive analysis, with company overview, products, revenue, and strategies

Strategic recommendations to help companies increase their market presence

Lucrative opportunities in the market

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Overview: Along with a broad overview of the Seal and Pour Bag Clips Market, this section gives you the details overview, an idea about the nature and contents of the research study.

Analysis on Strategies of Leading Players: Market players can use this analysis to gain competitive advantage over their competitors in the Seal and Pour Bag Clips Market.

Regional Growth Analysis: All major regions and countries have been covered in Seal and Pour Bag Clips Market report. The regional analysis will help you to tap into unexplored regional markets, prepare specific strategies for target regions, and compare the growth of all regional markets.

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CORONAVIRUS (COVID-19) IMPACT ON Seal and Pour Bag Clips Market OUTLOOK, RECENT TRENDS AND GROWTH FORECAST 2020-2025 - Cole of Duty

In troubled times, forge path to racial justice – Grand Island Independent

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E Pluribus Unum Out of the many, one is the ideal upon which America was founded. It is inscribed on the nations Great Seal and all its coinage. Our history has shown, however, that we have failed to live up to that ideal. In order to at long last form that more perfect union, we must face our most challenging issue: racism.

In the Writings of the Bahai Faith, God addresses humanity with these words:

Know ye not why We created you all from the same dust? That no one should exalt himself over the other. Ponder at all times in your hearts how ye were created.

A recent message from the Bahais of the United States to the nation states:

To create a just society begins with recognition of the fundamental truth that humanity is one. But it is not enough simply to believe this in our hearts. It creates the moral imperative to act, and to view all aspects of our personal, social, and institutional lives through the lens of justice. It implies a reordering of our society more profound than anything we have yet achieved. And it requires the participation of Americans of every race and background, for it is only through such inclusive participation that new moral and social directions can emerge.

In the midst of these extremely troubled times, tragic events have heightened public awareness and rejection of injustice. Let us not miss this opportunity to finally, decisively, confront what is preventing our nation from fulfilling its noble destiny. Please read the entire message, Forging a Path to Racial Justice, at bahai.us/path-to-racial-justice.

Originally posted here:

In troubled times, forge path to racial justice - Grand Island Independent

How Kym Pine Is Using the ‘Power Of Incumbency’ In Mayor’s Race – Honolulu Civil Beat

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In the months leading up to Honolulus mayoral election, the only candidate who currently holds elected office has drastically upped her public relations game.

City Councilwoman Kym Pine has sent out a flurry of press releases from her official city address in the last six months. Her office sometimes sends multiple notices per day, which is far more than any of her colleagues who are not running for office.

With her official council email, Pine has touted her participation in free mask distributions video of which Pine shared on both her official Facebook account and her campaign Facebook in April.

While Pines official communications portray her in a flattering light, they dont mention her mayoral campaign or appeal for donations. Therefore, its probably fair game, according to Sandy Ma, executive director of Common Cause Hawaii, a government watchdog group.

Its the power of incumbency, Ma said.

Pine says shes just responding to the publics increased demand for information during the COVID-19 pandemic. Plus, last fall she got a new communications director, Erika Engle, a former journalist.

Pretty much everything we sent out is a request to take a position on something, and they asked all council members, or its something we feel people need to know about, she said.

Still, some see Pines activity as a thinly veiled attempt to campaign on the citys dime.

Anything that even looks like it may benefit your campaign should not be done, said Charmaine Doran, a former director of Honolulus Office of Council Services.

Pine isnt the only one, Doran said. For instance, Mayor Kirk Caldwell finds an occasion to hold a press conference sometimes several times per week, she noted. Meanwhile, he is fundraising to run for governor in 2022.

Last year, Pines office sent out occasional press releases that were aesthetically simple and focused on her positions on legislation before the council.Now, the notices are emblazoned with the city seal and describe the council member speaking out on various topics. Some of them have little to do with her Leeward district or council committee assignments, although she could vote on them if they came before the full council.

One lamented the use of illegal fireworks. Another announced Pine was siding with community members against an affordable housing project in Kailua, which is represented by Council Chair Ikaika Anderson. One notice in April criticized Caldwell for proceeding with a now halted project at Sherwood Forest, which is also in Andersons district.

People from all over the island are asking for help, and we dont turn anyone away. Thats just our policy, Pine said. When someone calls a politician, theyve already tried everything else.

The Honolulu Ethics Commission forbids using city resources for campaign activities. However, ethics guidance states that city resources may be used to support legitimate government purposes within the scope of duties associated with a position. At times, there may be a communications overlap between work and campaign materials, the guidance states.

Without evidence that city resources are being used primarily for political campaign activities, the fact that there is both a governance and a political aspect to an issue does not alone create a violation.

Ethics Director Jan Yamane did not respond to a request for comment.

A sampling of Councilwoman Kym Pines news releases.

Screenshot, Christina Jedra/Civil Beat

Pine is working to differentiate herself from the first-time candidates, former insurance executive Keith Amemiya and former TV executive Rick Blangiardi, and the political heavyweights, former Congresswoman Colleen Hanabusa and former Mayor Mufi Hannemann, said Neal Milner, a former political science professor at the University of Hawaii.

You use what you have at your disposal, he said. What she is trying to do is to say: Ive got the experience, I know whats going on, but I dont fit in with the big shots raising money or the big shots who used to be candidates and are tainted by the fact that theyve been in politics so long.

Anderson said Pine is just doing her job.

I believe it is absolutely OK for any council member to communicate to Honolulu taxpayers about what theyre doing on the taxpayers behalf, said Anderson, who has given campaign money to both Pine and Hanabusa.

Politicians get overzealous with PR when they want to increase their name recognition, Doran said, but communications should be focused on doing the peoples work.

If anybody can question it, you shouldnt do it, she said.

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How Kym Pine Is Using the 'Power Of Incumbency' In Mayor's Race - Honolulu Civil Beat

The great power of imagery always needs to be examined – Reminder Publications

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If there ever was a near legendary case of corruption in American politics it was Boss William Tweed and his Tammany Hall organization, the Democratic Party in New York City after the Civil War.

Tweed only was elected to the state assembly, but he looted New York City government like a king with impunity in the mid 19th century. He exercised his power for years. He was brought down through stories in the New York Times and by cartoons by Thomas Nast in Harpers Weekly.

Tweed was reported to say at the time, I dont care a straw for your newspaper articles, my constituents dont know how to read, but they cant help seeing them damned pictures.

Nasts cartoons had real power.

Tweed wound up in prison, escaped and was retuned to prison where he died.

There is an ancient phrase Ive heard my entire life, A picture is worth a thousand words.

As someone who started writing in high school and whose brother is still a highly talented photographer I quickly understood how immediate the impact of an image could be and the difference between the two mediums.

Pictures photos, or illustrations can tell their story in a moment.

This is why today questioning imagery that has been accepted for many years by some members of American society is increasingly important.

I know many people despise political correctness, as some believe it stifles free expression. I think at the core political correctness reminds people that what they say and how they act can share messages that are not always positive.

Im sure now the idea of having legislation in Massachusetts that would change the state seal and motto, as well as eliminate any sports mascot based on an image of a Native American and would protect Native American culture and artifacts is simply another example of political correctness gone amuck for some.

Its not.

Now, Im a 66-year-old white American male. My ancestry hails from the United Kingdom, Bavaria, Switzerland and Holland, primarily. Thats a whole lot of North European whiteness.

My personal experience in life does not include the same experiences other Americans of different ethnic groups have faced and it would be the height of arrogance to even pretend that I can feel what they have felt. I can understand it intellectually, but not emotionally.

I can only sympathize and attempt to be an ally.

So, I have no idea what the actual impact is like to see caricatures of your ethnic and racial group in popular culture, but I bet its not pleasant.

The reality of having a sports teams using Native American imagery, as Agawam High School does, is not appropriate. Yes, I know the word Agawam is the name of the tribe from which William Pynchon bought the property, but the word Brownie conjures up some images that are not positive.

Once again I dont mean to offend the good people of Agawam or their high school, but I wonder if at this time any would suggest considering an update of the image or name.

UMass went through such a change. Their sports teams were originally The Statesmen. In 1948, it was changed to The Redmen with the following reasons cited: The courage, strength, resourcefulness, and charity of the Indians helped sustain the Plymouth settlement, which laid the foundation for subsequent settlements in what we now call Massachusetts. Traditionally, Massachusetts has honored the Indian the name of the Commonwealth itself is an Indian word. The Indian also appears on the seal of the Commonwealth. For centuries, the Connecticut Valley was inhabited by the red man. With the aggrandizement of the Bay Colonys white population, the Indians showed strength and fierceness in defending his lands a strength and fierceness well suited to a football team defending its goal posts.

Nobody considered the term Red Man as demeaning it is nor did they think of the overall history of the Native American population in the state. Defending your existence against genocide is not the same as winning a football team.

In 1983, after many years debate, the name was changed to The Minutemen.

There is a lot of meaning in any image or name or title something to keep in mind.

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The great power of imagery always needs to be examined - Reminder Publications

These ‘mocktails’ taste like the real thing but there’s no booze – The Daily Herald

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Some of us are finding that were drinking more than usual during the COVID-19 pandemic. Perhaps the next time you attend a Zoom happy hour, make a mocktail instead.

Fiona Becketts How to Drink Without Drinking has dozens of recipes for cocktails that dont need alcohol but could confuse the teetotalers among us. The book uses sugar syrups, flavored waters and many items from the garden to make mocktails that hew close to the original drinks.

Here are five recipes from Fiona Becketts book How to Drink Without Drinking.

Lychee martini

It might look incredibly sophisticated, but this cocktail is so simple it hardly deserves to be called a recipe. You can even make it without the alcohol-free spirit if you can find a good enough lychee juice (I like the Rubicon brand). But it really is so pale, pretty and delicious that you should definitely give it a go.

Ice cubes

Scant 1 ounce Ceders Classic or other alcohol-free gin alternative

3 ounce lychee juice, such as Rubicon

1 teaspoon freshly squeezed lemon juice

A few drops of hibiscus syrup for color (optional)

Edible flowers (optional) and 1 canned lychee, to garnish

Fill a cocktail shaker with ice, add all the ingredients except the garnish and shake vigorously. Strain into a martini glass. Cut the lychee almost in half and slide down on to the rim of the glass to garnish, then serve, sprinkled with edible flowers (if using).

Makes 1 drink.

St. Clements punch

For a long time this has been my go-to for a New Years Day brunch. Given the probable lateness of the night before, you might not feel like juicing all the fruit, particularly if youre doubling up and making it for a crowd, so its fine to use a high-quality chilled ready-squeezed juice (not made from concentrate). I personally like to add a dash of Grand Marnier, which deepens the flavor without making it particularly alcoholic, but you can use an alcohol-free triple sec syrup like Monin, too.

18 ounces freshly squeezed orange juice

10 ounces freshly squeezed pink grapefruit juice

18 ounces homemade or real lemonade

2 tablespoons Monin Triple Sec Curacao syrup, Grand Marnier or other orange-flavored liqueur (optional, see above)

Slices of orange, lemon and pink grapefruit, to garnish

Pour the orange and pink grapefruit juices into a jug, top up with the lemonade and stir well. To give the punch an extra edge, add the alcohol-free triple sec syrup or, if you dont mind a very small amount of alcohol, the Grand Marnier or other orange-flavored liqueur. Add a few slices of orange, lemon and pink grapefruit to the jug to garnish and serve.

Makes 6 drinks.

NG&T

Although I love a G&T, Im convinced that many of the things that make it so appealing the tonic, the ice, the garnish, the glass can be replicated in an alcohol-free drink. So much of a drink is about presentation. My local tapas bar, Bar 44, has recognized that and serves an alcohol-free G&T, which I quite often order when Im in there. It comes in one of those huge goldfish-bowl-sized glasses with loads of orange and lemon slices and a few juniper berries floating around in it, which makes you feel like youre having a proper drink. Heres my slightly tweaked version. (The N obviously stands for not.)

4 to 5 ice cubes

2 slices each of orange and lemon

2 to 3 juniper berries

5 tablespoons Juniper Syrup (see below)

Tonic water, such as Fever-Tree Naturally Light, to top up

For the Juniper Syrup:

14 ounces granulated or caster sugar

17 ounces water

15 juniper berries, lightly crushed

Finely pared rind of 1 unwaxed lemon

Finely pared rind of 1 unwaxed lime

To make the juniper syrup, put the sugar in a saucepan and add the measured water. Heat over a low heat, stirring occasionally, until the sugar has completely dissolved. Add the juniper berries and citrus rinds and bring up to just below boiling point, then simmer for 10 minutes. Take off the heat and leave to cool.

Strain the syrup through a fine sieve into a wide-necked jug or bowl. Pour through a funnel into a sterilized bottle or jar, seal and store in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks.

To make the NG&T, add the ice to a large glass, followed by the slices of orange and lemon and juniper berries, then pour in the juniper syrup. Top up with tonic water and serve.

Makes 1 drink.

Tip: You can buy juniper-flavored spirit substitutes online instead of making juniper syrup, if you prefer.

Mulled wine

Im not convinced, as Ive already mentioned, about alcohol-free wine if youre a wine drinker, it really doesnt cut the mustard, but it does make a decent mulled wine, so much so that I found myself thinking when I first made this that I shouldnt really have a glass before I went out to dinner, before I remembered it was alcohol-free. The key is to add elderberry juice to give the drink body, but it is quite bitter, so you do need to add sugar (I like brown sugar) to taste.

8 cloves

2 unwaxed oranges

1 bottle alcohol-free red wine, such as Rawsons Retreat Cabernet Sauvignon

11 ounces elderberry juice (Biona is a good brand)

4 ounces soft brown sugar

Cinnamon stick

Orange oil or orange bitters (optional)

Stick the cloves into the rind of one orange. Pour the alcohol-free wine and elderberry juice into a smallmedium saucepan (you want the liquid to cover the orange), add 4 ounces sugar, the cinnamon stick and 23 drops of orange oil or a shake of orange bitters and bring slowly up to simmering point over a low heat without letting it boil. Take off the heat and leave for 30 minutes to infuse. To serve, reheat the mulled wine. Slice the remaining orange and place a slice into six to eight small cups or heatproof glasses. Pour over the hot mulled wine and serve.

Makes 6 to 8 drinks.

Tepache

Tepache (pronounced teh-patchay) is a Mexican fermented pineapple drink that can be made from just the skin of the pineapple, but I think it tastes better and more fruity using at least some of the flesh, too. Piloncillo, which comes in solid cones, is the authentic sugar to use, available from Mexican grocery stores or online, but any brown sugar will do.

4 ounces demerara or other brown sugar, preferably organic, or piloncillo (see recipe introduction)

18 ounces filtered water

Piece cinnamon stick or bark

3 to 4 cloves

1 small, medium ripe sweet pineapple, preferably organic

Ice cubes and soda water, to serve

Lime slice and/or mint sprig, to garnish

Put the sugar in a saucepan and pour over the filtered water. Heat over a very low heat, stirring occasionally, until the sugar has completely dissolved. Add the cinnamon and cloves, then leave to cool.

Wash the pineapple, then cut off the top and base. Quarter, cutting away the hard central core, cut into chunks and bruise lightly with a meat mallet or rolling pin. Pack as much of the peel and chunks as you can into a sterilized 2 pint preserving jar. Pour over the cooled sugar solution and extra water if needed to ensure that the pineapple is submerged. Give the contents of the jar a stir, then scrunch a piece of nonstick baking paper into the top of the jar to keep the pineapple pieces submerged. Secure a piece of muslin over the top of the jar and leave for 2 to 3 days at room temperature, checking it regularly.

Once you see the liquid starting to froth up, the fermentation has got going. Taste it and see how you like it at that stage, and if necessary leave it to ferment a bit longer (though not too long, otherwise it may acquire some alcohol in the process). Strain the liquid into a jug, then pour through a funnel into a sterilized glass wine bottle, seal and store in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. Serve over ice with a splash of soda water, each garnished with a slice of lime and/or sprig of mint.

Makes about 1 pints.

Recipes excerpted from How to Drink Without Drinking (2020) by Fiona Beckett. Reproduced by permission of Hachette Book Group. All rights reserved.

Gallery

An NGT is an alcohol-free version of a gin and tonic from Fiona Becketts book How to Drink Without Drinking. (Nassima Rothacker)

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These 'mocktails' taste like the real thing but there's no booze - The Daily Herald