Letters mis-stating the First Amendment and Trump flags – Villages-News

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To the Editor:

Sandra Rzepecki in her letter states that restriction set out in a memorandum from the developer can override the rights granted under the United States Constitution. I probably need not say any more to show that her position is inane.She may not be aware that for many years deed restrictions (as opposed to a mere memorandum) prohibited home owners from selling to blacks, Jews and sometimes Catholics.In 1948 the Supreme Court held in Shelley v. Kraemer, that race restrictions in deeds were unconstitutional.By that same reasoning the Constitutional First Amendment right to free speech, especially political speech (the heart of the First Amendment) cannot be forfeited by a memorandum or deed restriction or home owners association by laws.Would Ms. Rzepecki find it acceptable if the developer put out a memorandum stating thatDemocrats, Jews, and blacks prohibit are prohibited from voting; or that every resident to vote for a certain political party.I do not particularly like Donald Trump. But, I also do not like hypocrisy or people making mis-statements about the law. With all due respect: how ill informed are you Ms. Rzepecki?

James MarkowskiVillage of Hadley

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Letters mis-stating the First Amendment and Trump flags - Villages-News

Auburn Public Theater’s Feminist Extravaganza Features 19 Women Celebrating the 19th Amendment – WAER

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The Auburn Public Theater is launching series of celebrations starting Friday marking the centennial of the 19th amendment with two evenings of feminist performances. Here's a preview of what to expect from the 19 local and regional artists as they take the stage Friday and Saturday nights.

Beth Beer Cuddy and Kelly Chambala are co-hosts of the Strange Country podcast.

"Welcome to Strange Country. I'm Beth."

"I'm Kelly."

"We are former reporters turned librarians who enjoy researching and telling stories without having to sit in school board meetings or stand outside stand-offs," Cuddy said in an introduction.

"We are your weekly podcast written and curated by your friends. We work late nights and early mornings every week to bring you stories of historical importance.So today's story is about women in publishing who may have had to struggle with things or deal with stuff..." said Chambala.

"Because they have two X chromosomes," Cuddy chimed in.

Cuddy will be one of the performers at the extravaganza. Founding member and artistic director of the theater Angela Daddabbo says the format is loosely based on Eve Enslers Vagina Monologues.

"We thought let's go to a variety of people and give them this prompt: 'What is the significance of the women's suffrace centennial to you.' We've asked them to respond in a three to five minute format. We have several people who have choreographed dances. We have a couple people reading original poems. We have someone reading an original short story, we have several people reading existent material," said Daddabbo.

"A lot of Louisa May Alcott's stories were written under a pen name. They had way more action and grit. They were more serious, and not about women getting married and having boring children," said Chambala.

"Was it a male name, like L.M. Alcott, the J.K. Rowling route?" asked Cuddy.

"Yes, she did do that," Chambala said.

Daddabbo says she wants to go beyond the opinions of celebrities, athletes, and authors to create a meaningful dialogue on the local level with people she might see in Wegmans.

"Central New York, and Auburn itself, as we know, is the birthplace of the women's rights movement. There were several Auburnian women who were part of that first meeting in Seneca Falls to get the ball rolling. I feel, as people in Central New York, we have this added responsibility to make our voices heard from this place," said Daddabbo.

The Loving Cup podcast urges guests to think about what theyre grateful for in their lives and communities. Host Katie MacIntyre will be one of the performers at the Feminist Extravaganza.

"Hello. Today is December 7, 2018. We're live from the Seneca Falls-based Fingerlakes1.com studios. Welcome to the Loving Cup - elevate your gratitude..."

In this episode, she talks to teacher turned Auburn Mayor turned activist Melina Carnicelli.

"...the social justice roots that are part of the sacred ground of Central New York, the Finger Lakes, and Auburn as part of that from the indigenous women, all the way through the activist women, and the opening of the Equal Rights Heritage Center in downtown Auburn. That lineage and heritage of social justice is really what I'm so grateful for," Carnicelli said.

Carnicelli is also founder of First Amendment, First Vote, a non-partisan civic engagement group that works with high school girls to create a pipeline of young women willing and able to run for office. Ten percent of the ticket proceeds from the extravaganza will benefit the organization. Daddabbo with Auburn Public theater says she was very intentional about making sure this years womens suffrage centennial programming features plenty of content celebrating local women and history. In March, the theater will offer multiple free screenings of the film Harriet, based on abolitionist and Auburn resident Harriet Tubman.

A Feminist Extravaganza: An Evening of Wild Feminist Readings takes place Friday and Saturday at 7 p.m. at Auburn Public Theaters Main Stage. Tickets are $19. More information at Auburn Public Theater.org.

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Auburn Public Theater's Feminist Extravaganza Features 19 Women Celebrating the 19th Amendment - WAER

We all need to be deepfake detectors but especially social media platforms | TheHill – The Hill

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A quality deepfake video clip, released at the right time, could almost certainly swing an election result.

The technology needed to create these deceptive video clips which convey people saying or doing things they never said or did has peaked just as primary voters and caucus-goers register the first results of the 2020 presidential election in the coming days and weeks.

Its obvious something should be done to safeguard our election process from such powerful disinformation, especially during a time when our social media communities are awash in intentionally false and misleading political information.

The best solution to deepfakes, however, is a little less obvious. Its downright counter-intuitive. We need tech firms such as Facebook, Google, and Twitter to protect us. Yes, I am suggesting the wolves guard the henhouse. Heres why.

Deepfakes represent a historically unique threat to democratic discourse. A video clip is different than a text-based message. It puts the audience in the moment. Viewers see with their eyes and hear with their ears. Its the most visceral form of information.

When tech-savvy bad actors manipulate machine-learning tools to create false video footage of political candidates doing or saying something that would disenfranchise or encourage voters, it is difficult for us to notice.

Just the same, First Amendment protections limit the tools lawmakers can use to protect democracy from such manipulation and false information. Laws that restrict content, particularly when it relates to political speech, risk violating foundational free speech safeguards. Even intentionally misleading information, the Supreme Court has ruled, is often protected by the First Amendment. So, any law-related solution would face an uphill climb.

Despite these concerns, Texas is one of two states that has a deepfake law. It criminalizes deepfakes that are used to influence an election and allows the state to penalize the deepfake creator and the forum, such as YouTube.

Californias law has similar aims but is far more expansive. It criminalizes deepfakes that are used to harm the political process but provides numerous exemptions, including for parody and satire. It also exempts news media. While California lawmakers careful efforts to clarify the laws scope help, they also provide gray areas where those who are accused can claim their work fits within the exemptions.

Neither states law has been tested in court. Recent Supreme Court decisions, however, make their survival unlikely.

Despite lawmakers laudable efforts, these are 20th-century solutions to a 21st-century problem. It is often impossible to know who created a deepfake. Even if we have that information, what if the creator was outside the states jurisdiction or the U.S. for that matter?

Texass law conflicts with a federal law that protects online forum providers from liability for how people use their services.

This is why, at least in the short term, we need a little help from the tech firms that have created the forums in which false information flourishes.

Social media firms do not face geographic barriers or First Amendment safeguards. At any point, they could implement systems to block, delete, or label deepfakes or other suspected doctored videos if they want to. Thats the catch.

Weve had some encouraging moves lately. Twitter surveyed its users in November, asking a series of questions about how the service should mitigate deepfakes.

Facebook announced its manipulated media policy in early January. The firm stated deepfakes that would likely mislead someone into thinking that a subject of the video said words that they did not say will be removed unless they are published as satire or parody.

Its unclear how, and how well, Facebook will implement this policy. Consistent enforcement of its policies, on Instagram and Facebook, has been problematic. Thats the drawback when the wolves guard the henhouse the company is going to fend for itself before it worries about democracy. We rely on a corporations altruism to protect the flow of information.

This is not ideal, but its the least bad option.

The system could be more effective if tech firms created an industry-wide independent advisory board that encouraged policy change and enforcement. This could be somewhat modeled after the Motion Picture Association, which has operated as a form of industry self-regulation for nearly a century.

Facebook has taken steps in this direction, particularly with its announcement this week about forming a board that will advise the firm regarding content moderation decisions. This, however, deals only with one company rather than the industry. The conflict between corporate interests and protecting democracy remains too direct.

We also have a part to play. We must let the tech firms know what we expect from them by tagging them in posts about our concerns and using their support features. We have to be on the lookout for video clips that dont seem right. When we see them, we have to verify the information with a trusted source. If they are a deepfake, we must report them.

Big tech firms have shown encouraging signs in their recent efforts to monitor and block deepfakes, but as the election approaches, we need more from these services.

Jared Schroeder is an assistant professor of journalism at SMU Dallas, where he specializes in First Amendment law. He is the author of the 2018 book The Press Clause and Digital Technology's Fourth Wave: Media Law and the Symbiotic Web.

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We all need to be deepfake detectors but especially social media platforms | TheHill - The Hill

Unions decline again and public-sector right-to-work may be a reason | TheHill – The Hill

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Another year, another decline in union membership in the United States. While private-sector unions long have been shrinking, public-sector unionization rates now also are on a downward trend. In its annual union survey, the Bureau of Labor Statistics found a decline of 0.2 percentage points in the overall unionization rate of the workforce, from 10.5 percent to 10.3 percent.

The unionization rate in the private sector is just 6.2 percent, down from nearly 17 percent in the early 1980s. Thats the lowest rate ever recorded.

Until recently, the national rate of unionization had been buoyed somewhat by their gains among state and local workers. The public-sector unionization rate was steady for 40 years, with just shy of 40 percent of government workers unionized. But that rate began to decline in 2011, fueled perhaps by the passage of right-to-work laws in Michigan, Wisconsin, Indiana, Kentucky and West Virginia. Then, membership in government employee unions dropped reaching 33.6 percent in 2019.

In 2018, the U.S. Supreme Courts Janus decision affirmed the First Amendment rights of all public employees. Teachers, police officers, firefighters, state employees, local government workers and everyone else who draws a government paycheck now cannot be required to pay dues or fees, and have the ability to fully leave a union. In short, the decision extended right-to-work to all public-sector workers.

The change in unionization rates in the largest, most heavily unionized states has been mixed over the past decade; some increased and some decreased. But since 2017, the last full year before the Janus decision, unionization rates have declined significantly in the big labor states of New York, Alaska, Rhode Island, Connecticut, Minnesota, New Jersey and California.

While unions oppose policies allowing workers to leave, the usual complaints about negative effects from right-to-work laws do not appear in the government data. But a long-term look at the evidence shows that right-to-work states are gaining the most in total jobs, household income and population.

The legislative fight over right-to-work is not necessarily related to public policy or economic outcomes. Unions are a key source of support for the Democratic Party, and they can help Democrats more if workers are forced to financially support them. The single largest grant from one of the nations largest unions the American Federation of Teachers went to a Democratic Party super PAC. Given the partisan realities of unions political activities, some politicians always will support right-to-work laws and others always will oppose them.

The fight over mandatory union membership versus freedom of association will continue. Legislators in Virginia could be the first in decades to remove a state right-to-work law. But neighboring Tennessee is heading in the other direction, looking to enshrine the freedom of choice in union membership into its state constitution.

In California, New York, New Jersey and elsewhere, lawmakers are passing union-backed legislation to hobble workers trying to leave. In Alaska and Florida, conservatives have pushed legal interpretations and laws making it easier for workers to know their rights about union membership, including their options for leaving it behind.

Like a businesss membership in a local chamber of commerce, union membership may help or hurt individual employees. Each situation is different and each person can weigh the pros and cons of joining. Thats the beauty of freedom of association which hopefully will be embraced, not taken away, going forward.

Jarrett Skorup is director of marketing and communications at the Mackinac Center for Public Policy, a research and educational institute headquartered in Midland, Mich. Follow him on Twitter @JarrettSkorup.

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Unions decline again and public-sector right-to-work may be a reason | TheHill - The Hill

Is the Coronavirus a Pandemic? Here’s What Experts Say. – Futurism

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China is in the midst of a medical emergency. The world, though? Not so much, according to health experts.

Inlate December 2019, health officials in China reported that a previously unidentified coronavirus, later dubbed 2019-nCoV, had infected 59 people in the city of Wuhan.

By January 24, the number of people infected by the respiratory virus reached 830, with 25 confirmed deaths. Two days later, officials announced that both figures had more than doubled at least 2,000 infected and 56 deaths.

The numbers shared by state-run Chinese media on Monday were even worse, with 2,840 confirmed coronavirus cases and 81 deaths.Fifty million Chinese residents are now under quarantine, but that hasnt stopped 2019-nCoV from spreading to 11 other countries, including the United States.

Based on those stats alone, it sounds like were witnessing the beginning of the type of catastrophe typically relegated to blockbuster movies based on Michael Crichton books but is the coronavirus outbreak a pandemic, the term health officials use to define a new disease that quickly spreads across a large area and affects a significant number of people?

Not according to the World Health Organization (WHO).

Make no mistake, this is an emergency in China, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, the WHOs director general, told reporters on Thursday, but it has not yet become a global health emergency.

So, the WHO doesnt think a never-before-seen virus thats suddenly killing dozens and quickly spreading across the globe is a pandemic. And that begs the question, Why not?

First off, while the coronavirus is spreading quickly, the number of people affected is still relatively low in the grand scheme of things. For comparison, the seasonal flu kills between 290,000 and 650,000 people every year, according to the WHO.

Based on the number of known coronavirus cases and deaths, its mortality rate is only slightly higher about three percent and as pointed out by The Guardian, that could actually be an overestimate, since the number of people unknowingly infected might actually be far higher than the reported figures.

Additionally, while the coronavirus has now infected people in 12 countries, all of the deaths have occurred in just one: China. That makes the situation more of an epidemic an outbreak spreading rapidly within one population than a pandemic.

The situation is still evolving rapidly, and the WHO decided that the coronavirus wasnt a global emergency before the death toll jumped this weekend not to mention before it cropped up in Europe and Australia. And on Monday, it said it made a mistake in labeling the global risk for the coronavirus as moderate instead of high.

Theres still a chance the coronavirus outbreak could evolve to the pandemic level. And if that happens, the WHO could declare it a public health emergency of international concern, or PHEIC. That would essentially send the message that the WHO doesnt think China can handle the situation and that it and other nations needs to intervene.

For now, though, the WHO seems satisfied with Chinas effort to address the coronavirus outbreak, so while the situation is certainly both unusual and frightening, its not a pandemic not yet, anyway.

Editors Note, 1/29: This article was updated to correct the number of deaths attributed to the seasonal flu annually.

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Is the Coronavirus a Pandemic? Here's What Experts Say. - Futurism

NASA Is Adding a Space Hotel to the Space Station – Futurism

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Space Ritz

NASA announced Monday that its chosen private space station manufacturer Axiom Space to build the first commercial launch destination read: space hotel for thesuper wealthy and attach it to the International Space Station. The goal is to help grow an economy in low-Earth orbit, according to NASA.

According to an Axiom Space statement, the startup is planning to launch a node module, research & manufacturing facility, crew habitat, and large-windowed Earth observatory to form the Axiom Segment of the ISS, starting in the latter half of 2024.

A ticket to space will likely be atrociously expensive and limit the privilege of a leisurely vacation in orbit to the uber-rich. A ticket will cost upwards of $50 million, according to a 2018 New York Times interview with Axiom CEO Mike Suffredini.

Its a bargain! Suffredini added.

The startup envisions the hotel as a zero gravity-friendly nest-like cabinwith unobstructed views of Earth and high-bandwidth communications back to home, according to the companys website.

Before the ISS is officially retired a date still under discussion Axiom Space is planning to switch to its own large power platform to house its Axiom Segment rather than relying on the ISS, according to the company.

READ MORE: NASA Picks Axiom to Add a Garish Space Hotel to the ISS [Gizmodo]

More on Axiom: A Ticket to the Moon: An Out-of-this-World Journey

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NASA Is Adding a Space Hotel to the Space Station - Futurism

8 Ways to Drive More Calls & Better Call Quality with Paid Search – Search Engine Journal

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ADVERTISEMENT

Oftentimes, calls can be seen as more valuable than forms.

Form fills still require a follow-up call in which case a salesperson may or may not be able to reach the prospect. While with a call, the prospect is ready and waiting on the line.

Likewise, Ive heard salespeople mention that they prefer calls to emails and other forms of electronic communication because they are confident that if they can speak to a person on the phone that they can close the sale and possibly even upsell the prospect.

Plus, prospects that are calling are sometimes more likely to have an immediate need versus folks that fill out a web form.

Whether calls or forms are more valuable is something every business should determine using their own data to understand close rates, average sale value, and ROI of each for comparison.

Assuming youre one of the many businesses that find phone calls to be a high priority for your business, then welcome! This post is for you.

In this post, well walk through the many ways to ensure that youre driving more calls while keeping a close eye on call quality.

Call extensions are the absolute simplest way to drive more calls from your paid search ads in both Google Ads and Microsoft Ads.

Leveraging call extensions allows you to show a phone number alongside your ad.

If the searcher clicks your phone number instead of your ad, they will place a call directly to your business foregoing your landing page.

The best part?

Youre only charged for the click exactly the same way that you would be if they clicked through to your landing page.

With call extensions in place, its important to ensure that youre capturing the maximum amount of value from those interactions.

Call extensions can be scheduled, so its best to only show call extensions when you have folks available to answer the phone.

For instance, you could schedule your call extensions from 9 a.m. 5 p.m. (or your own custom schedule) when representatives are available but allow the rest of the ad unit to run outside of business hours, driving prospects to a form when call lines arent open.

Ensure that anyone who will be answering phones is trained to do so.

Companies that convert calls to sales best often have a script for reps to use, which helps to keep the conversation moving forward, while taking out any guesswork of trying to identify the prospects needs.

Well-trained reps may sound like a no-brainer but youd be surprised how many folks tasked with answering phones dont have the requisite skills to convert leads to sales.

You can track calls from your ad as conversions, to ensure that you know exactly which interactions are driving the most value.

You may even want to set a minimum threshold for call length to ensure that youre only optimizing toward valuable calls.

For instance, you could track calls that are a minimum of 30 seconds as a conversion vs. tracking all calls as conversions.

Youll most likely want to ensure that the conversion is set up to only count the first call not duplicate calls from the same prospect which can be set up in the conversions settings.

In Google Ads, an alternative to running search campaigns with call extensions is to run call-only ads.

Since advertisers dont have full control over when call extensions do and do not show, using call-only campaigns takes the guesswork out of whether or not your prospects see a phone number.

With call-only campaigns, the ad unit not only delivers your phone number every time it also limits a prospects options for how they can connect with your business.

Call-only ads do not use landing pages and, instead, only allow prospects to call your business.

There are some pros and cons to call-only ads, so before you run them, you should be aware that:

Google can and will still track the call if it is made on another device, however, even if it isnt on the same day. Google uses call forwarding numbers to track calls back to the appropriate campaign, ad, and keyword.

If someone writes down the number and calls a few days later youll still see the call associated with the date that the ad displayed and the keyword that was searched at that time.

Also, keep in mind, since these ads show on mobile, your last headline and second description line may occasionally be dropped. (This is, of course, also true for any text ad that shows on a mobile SERP)

Location extensions, structured snippet extensions, and callout extensions are still eligible to show.

Likewise, some business types dont tend to do as well with call-only campaigns, but others excel with them.

Generally, call-only ads get less volume than typical text ads. I prefer to split out separate campaigns for call-only ads, versus incorporating them into existing campaigns.

Within call-only campaigns, you may even want to test using looser terms than what youre currently using in your search campaigns (and even regular broad match), as long-tail terms often dont see much impression share with call-only.

If you have call extensions and/or call-only ads in your account, you can also add bid adjustments in order to let Google Ads know that you want to prioritize calls.

Using these bid modifiers allows you to influence how frequently your call extensions and call-only ads show.

The Maps channel is a great place to find folks with a high sense of urgency. (Especially if you target a tight geo-target around your business for non-geo-modified terms.)

These folks are looking for a nearby business and that could just be you!

If that local search is happening on a mobile phone, it can even indicate a higher sense of urgency as those folks are out and about right now, potentially looking for what could be their next stop, making them prime prospects.

Delivering your ad in Google Maps is easy. All you have to do is connect your Google My Business (GMB) listing to your Google Ads account and target your campaign locally.

Youll also have the option to set up bid adjustments in a radius around one or all of your GMB listings so you can bid higher for folks that are closer to your business.

Unfortunately, call extensions are not eligible to run on Google Maps, so the phone number that will be delivered in the ad will be that of your GMB listing.

For more information about local search ads, check out Googles help section.

If calls are your main priority, spell it out! Its always best to leave the guesswork out of what a prospect should do next. Keep this in mind as you write your ad copy.

Test different CTAs and get creative. There are a ton of ads that say call now, so try to differentiate yourself if you can.

CTAs like call now no hold times or reps available 24/7 can help set yourself apart and give prospects more confidence that somebody is ready and waiting to speak with them.

A big piece of driving calls assuming you arent using call-only ads is ensuring that the landing page experience does a good job of facilitating phone calls. Making the phone number easy to find is a really easy way to drive more calls.

Prospects typically look for a phone number in the top left corner of a desktop website and a similar location on mobile if not centered at the top.

That said, its always best to use your own data to find out where CTAs should be placed. Running a heat mapping tool can help you identify click and scroll patterns to make sure youre putting information and CTAs in the right places.

Ensuring that your site offers a good UX on mobile is important, too. Since mobile users are often more likely to call than fill out a form, you want to be sure that the site is easy to navigate on mobile.

For example, having click-to-call in place creates a better experience, so that prospects dont have to copy and paste your phone number or worse, try to remember it.

I cant emphasize enough how important it is to have good tracking in place, and calls are no exception.

There are several different platforms that allow you to dynamically track calls on-site, all while passing that information back into Google Ads or Microsoft Ads (and even social platforms) as a conversion.

This allows you to ensure that youre always optimizing to enter the auctions that have the highest return.

Call quality is just as important, if not more, than call quantity. As you focus on driving up call volume, youll also want to keep a pulse on call quality.

Call quality has two facets:

If you use a call tracking software, as discussed in the last section, youll have the data to analyze both of these facets of call quality.

With a call tracking software, you can download your call data in order to have access to Caller ID details.

Then you can match those details to the phone numbers that you have in your CRM to ensure that youre receiving calls from qualified prospects.

You can also use this to doublecheck that you arent driving customer service calls unless that is part of your goal.

If you find youre getting a lot of calls from existing customers and you dont have an opportunity to upsell, you should consider uploading a list of current customers to exclude from your campaign.

You can analyze your results on a campaign by campaign basis to measure the real outcomes of the calls that are being driven by each campaign.

Youll also have insights into how many calls go unanswered and at what time of day. Some platforms can tell you the number of times the phone rang before it was answered, or the number of rings before a prospect disconnected.

Last but certainly not least, most call tracking software platforms also have call recording options. If you dont have a CRM to match back calls to, you can use call recordings to get a sense of call quality.

Moreover, call recording allows you to monitor whether how your representatives are handling customers: whether they are following your script, and how well received the script is which is great for testing different messaging.

If you dont have a script but are considering implementing one, you can use this data to see what dialogue is working well currently and use that as a starting point.

If this sounds like micro-managing, trust me it isnt!

True story: a client of mine once overheard one of their technicians explaining how to skin a squirrel to another technician in the background of a prospect call.

Needless to say, you can never be too sure about how calls are being handled so it really helps to keep a pulse on it!

More Resources:

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8 Ways to Drive More Calls & Better Call Quality with Paid Search - Search Engine Journal

What is Slack and how does it work? Plus plenty of Slack tips and tricks – Pocket-lint

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Slack is a messaging app that almost every workplace group seems to be using, but you're likely reading this now because - for whatever reason - you feel left out of the loop and want to know what all the fuss is about.

To help you navigate those complex waters, we've compiled this handy little guide. By the time you're done reading it, you'll definitely be a Slack pro, and you'll be knocking down your boss' office door by tomorrow morning, desperately trying to convince him or her to get on board.

Note: Throughout this guide, Pocket-lint is using the free version of Slack from the desktop and web apps.

Slack is basically a messaging app on steroids.

It's meant for teams and workplaces can be used across multiple devices and platforms, and is equipped with robust features that allow you to not only chat one-on-one with associates but also in groups.

You're able to upload and share files with them too, as well as integrate with other apps and services and you can granularly control almost every setting, including the ability to create custom emoji.

Slack is free - mostly. You'll only be able to browse and search your team's 10,000 most recent messages, and you'll be limited to 5GB of file storage and 10 apps or custom integrations (more on that later).

Currently, there are three pricing tiers available: Free, Standard ($8 or 5.25 a month billed monthly), and Plus ($15 or 9.75 a month billed monthly). A fourth tier, called Enterprise Grid, has bespoke pricing for corporates.

This Slack FAQ page offers more info about pricing tiers

If you want to be the administrator of your own Slack team, follow these steps:

1. Go toSlacks websiteand enter your email address to sign up2. Choose a name for your Slack team (ex Workshop Talk)3. Edit the URL to your Slack team (ex https://workshoptalk.slack.com)4. Choose a username for yourself5. Enter emails of associates youd like to invite to join your Slack team6. Your Slack team chat will then load in a browser window7. Go through the brief tutorial that appears next to learn the basics

This Slack FAQ page offers more info about team administration.

To get the most out of Slack, we recommend you install the mobile app (iOS / Android) and the desktop app (Mac / Windows). Otherwise, youll be limited to accessing Slack through a browser window.

This Slack FAQ page offers more info about Slack apps

Those of you who were invited to join a Slack team will get an email with your invite. Accept the invite via the email, then enter a username and password, and you're good to go. Simples, right?

This Slack FAQ page offers more info about joining Slack.

Settings

Click on your username or the drop-down arrow next to the Slack team name to access a settings menu. From here you can adjust your preferences (themes for the sidebar, messages, emoji style, and more), view your profile and account, access a Help/Feedback page, get Slack apps (more on that later), and set yourself to away. If you're an administrator, you can also access team settings, billing, etc. Team members will only see options to access app integrations, customise slack, and jump to team directory.

This Slack FAQ page offers more info about settings.

Notifications

Click the bell symbol at the top-right of the sidebar to adjust your notification preferences. You can snooze them, set up a Do Not Disturb schedule and more. When you sign in to Slack for the first time, almost every type of notification is enabled. But the service offers a number of different ways to manage them. Each channel even has individual notification preferences, for instance. To get to those settings, open the channel you want to adjust, then click the name of it at the top of the screen, and select Channel notification preferences.

This Slack FAQ page offers more info about notifications.

Starred

Everything you've starred will appear above the Channels section and below your team name and username in the sidebar. Stars are a way to mark an item in Slack as important. You can star channels or direct messages to move them to the top of your left sidebar. You can also star messages in Slack so you can easily come back to them later.

This Slack FAQ page offers more info about stars.

Channels

Underneath the name of your Slack Team and your own username, youll see a section called Channels in the sidebar. Channels are chat rooms. You can name chat rooms based on anything, including a project (screenplay), a topic (music), or a team (sales). And you can make them public or private. If a channel is public, everyone in your team can join, but if it is private, only select people can join. And finally, if you click the Channels section name, youll see a new window that lets you browse and sort all channels.

Create Channels

To create a new channel, click the + button next to Channels in the sidebar. Youll then see options to create a public or private channel. Youll further be allowed to name the channel, invite others to join, and briefly describe the channels purpose.

This Slack FAQ page offers more info about channels.

Direct Messages

Below Channels, youll see a Direct Messages section in the sidebar, followed by the names of every person invited to your Slack team. Click on any name to send that person a private, one-to-one message. If you click the + button next to the Direct Messages section, a window will open to let you find or start a direct message conversation.

This Slack FAQ page offers more info about direct messages.

Invite People

If youre an administrator, youll see a button to invite more people to join your team. This button sits below the Direct Messages section. If you click it, youll have three options: full members, restricted accounts, and single-channel guests. The first option gives an invited team member full access to messages and files in any public channel and the team directory. The second option lets the invited team member see only a partial team directory and gives him/her access to select channels and files. And the third option limits the invited team member to messages and files in a single channel.

This Slack FAQ page offers more info about invites.

Quick Switcher: At the very bottom of Slack, there is a Quick Switcher button that lets you, um, quickly jump to a conversation or direct message.

This Slack FAQ page offers more info about basics.

Chat room name

The left of the menubar always starts with the name of the room youre in, whether that be a channel or direct message window. Next to the name, you will see a drop-down menu to access things like view message archives, channel notification purposes, and advanced options. You can even star the channel.

Channel details

Click the i symbol next to the search bar in the menubar to access channel details, such as the purpose and current topic of the channel, any pinned items (more on this later), a listing of all the members who have access to the channel, any shared files within the channel (more on this later), and notification preferences.

Search

Search is one of Slack's key features - both Messages and files are searchable. When you click the search box, Slack will suggest search modifiers to help you narrow your results, and as you start typing in a search term, Slack will show you related channels, team members, and search history. Click the Jump link to view the conversation surrounding a message, or toggle between the messages and files tabs to browse results by type. You can even sort by most recent or most relevant files and exclude channels from search.

This Slack FAQ page offers more info about search.

Mentions and Reactions

While holding a conversation in a channel, you can type a persons @username to notify them. You can view your latest @mentions, @channel messages, and any highlight words by clicking the Mentions & Reactions "@" symbol in the top right corner of Slack.

This Slack FAQ page offers more info about mentions.

Starred items

You can add a star to messages, files, snippets, posts, and comments to make those things easier to find. When you star a channel, it appears in the sidebar, but you must click the Starred symbol in top-right of Slack to access other starred items.

This Slack FAQ page offers more info about stars.

Flexpane Menu

The "..." symbol in the top-right corner of Slack brings you to your Flexpane. It holds all your files, lets you access the team directory, and shows you "what's new" with Slack. You can even get to the Help guide.

Team Directory: Slacks Team Directory gives you a quick overview of everyone in your team and how to contact them. It can be accessed via the Flexpane () menu in the top right or by heading to your team site. It lists each team member along with their job title and contact details.

Messaging

To send a message in a channel or a direct message, click within the text field at the bottom, add your input, and hit enter. While holding a conversation in a channel, you can type a persons @username to notify them.

Emoji

You can click the emoji button next to the message field to send an emoji. You can also respond to any message on Slack with an emoji reaction. To do that, just mouse over a message and select the Add a reaction icon. Slack offers four different emoji sets: Apple, Google, Twitter, or Emoji One. To pick one, go to the team name to open the Team Menu, then choose Preferences, and select the Messages & Media tab. Under Emoji Style, you can select your preference, and then click the "X" when you're finished. Also, if the administrator allows it, anyone can add new emoji to Slack by going to this URL. You'll then be able to create a custom emoji. Amazeballs.

This Slack FAQ page offers more info about emoji.

Uploading and Sharing Files

There are several easy ways to upload any type of file from your computer (document, image, video, link, etc). You can drag and drop the file to the Slack window, copy and paste images directly into the message box, or click the + button next to the message box and select Upload a file. Slack will prompt you to decide where you'll share the file and to add a title and comment. When a file is shared in a channel or direct message, Slack will post a preview of the file. Image files no longer than 6000px on any side will display inline. Don't forget you can also share files from Google Drive, Dropbox, or Box in Slack by pasting a link to the file into the message box.

This Slack FAQ page offers more info about sharing files.

Public Links

You can also create a public link to share a file publicly. Just click the file's name to view it in the Flexpane, then, in the More actions menu, click Create public link.

This Slack FAQ page offers more info about public links.

Pinning Messages and Files

If theres something you need everyone in your channel to see or an important file you want to find easily, it can be pinned to a channel so its shown in the Channel details information menu. To pin, hover over it, then click the cog on the right, and choose Pin message. A pinned message will stay there until you remove it.

This Slack FAQ page offers more info about pins.

Set reminders

You can use Slack for reminders. For instance, if you need to remind yourself to publish a story in 30 minutes, you can type "/remind me in 30 minutes to publish" and Slack will privately remind you.

This Slack FAQ page offers more info about reminders.

Timestamps

Every message has a timestamp. If you want to be able to reference a specific message later, right-click on the timestamp in Slack to get a permanent URL (or just click on it).

Commands: Here are some chat room commands you need to know:

This Slack FAQ page offers more info about commands.

Yes. There are dozens of apps you can add to Slack. Doing so allows you to pull in information from other sources, search documents stored in other services, send things like calendar events and reminders to Slack, or add useful features to your team, including voice and video calling.

You can now access Skype, for instance, right from within Slack. Setting up the integration is simple - just visit the Skype integration for Slack product page, and click on the Add to Slack button to complete the setup. Once the Skype integration has been configured, anyone on the Slack team can start a Skype call from a computer by typing /skype into the chat. When the call is set up, a join link will appear.

To join a Skype call, you need to be on the desktop in a web browser, or you can use the Skype mobile apps to join from your phone. Anyone can join as a guest from a computer, or sign in with a Microsoft account or Skype Name.

Go to the Slack App Directory to find more apps you can connect to Slack. To visit the App Directory, just click your team name to open the Team Menu, then select Apps & Custom Integrations. There's also this dedicated Slack App Directory website. Keep in mind that Slack integrates with probably every service you use. It works with Google Calendar, GitHub, IFTTT, Mailchimp, New Relic, and more.

There's even an integration called Giphy, for instance, which allows you to drop GIFs into chats by typing "/giphy [search term]". If you're a free Slack user, however, you will only be allowed to add up to 10 apps and integrations.

This Slack FAQ page offers more info about apps.

Yes. Go to the sidebar, then click the drop-down menu next to your team name to access the preferences menu. From there, select sidebar theme and choose from the handful that are provided. You can also use the customise option at the bottom to create your own look and feel too.

This Slack FAQ page offers more info about themes.

Slackbot is Slack's built-in robot.

It can help keep notes for you as well as manage private files. Just click on Slackbot in your Direct Messages list to get started. You can also configure Slackbot to respond to your team members via this website. It's easy: enter a trigger word or phrase, and then what youd like Slackbot to respond with.

This Slack FAQ page offers more info about Slackbot

Sure are... check out some of these:

1. The Quick Switcher: Skip from channel to channel with /Ctrl+K.2. Need to quickly search the channel you're in? Press /Ctrl+F to search.3. Send something too soon? Press the up key to edit your last message.4. Sign in to multiple teams. Click team name, then Sign in to another team.5. Type "/keys" to open the keyboard shortcuts dialog

This Slack FAQ page offers more info about keyboard shortcuts

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What is Slack and how does it work? Plus plenty of Slack tips and tricks - Pocket-lint

Catching up with SpecmenceCBJ, YouTubes foremost Columbus Blue Jackets archivist – The Cannon

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If youve ever whiled away an afternoon watching Columbus Blue Jackets videos on YouTube, youve almost certainly encountered the work of SpecmenceCBJ. His YouTube channel goes beyond the normal goals, hits and saves (though those are there, too) to show content like the final minutes of games, prospect highlights, interviews and CBJ-centric clips from media outlets that can be difficult for American viewers to catch on TV. I became obsessed with his channel during last seasons playoffs. Not only could I watch highlights that included more than just two seconds of action before the goal, but I could see what places like TSN and Sportsnet were saying about the Blue Jackets historic upset as it happened. I wanted to learn more about the channelwhich boasts 1,851 videos to dateand the person behind it, so I caught up with SpecmenceCBJ on Reddit.

(Note: This interview has been lightly edited for punctuation and clarity.)

The Cannon: Who are you?

SpecmenceCBJ: Im a 24-year-old Pharm. D. student living in Vancouver, Canada. Im a huge Blue Jackets fan and the person behind the SpecmenceCBJ YouTube channel.

The Cannon: Whats your workflow? How do you decide makes the cut?

SpecmenceCBJ: I like to make highlights of the start of the game (which I title Puck Drop), then any goals and notable highlights like saves, fights, blocks and controversies, and the final seconds of the game if the Jackets happen to win (which is happening a lot recently!). If Im watching the game live, then Ill make notes of these plays when they happen. But because I live on the West Coast, I often am unable to watch the entire game so I rely on scrolling through game threads on the Blue Jackets subreddit. Jeff Svobodas Twitter account is a great place for CBJ Twitter play-by-play as well!

After that, I open the game file on a program called Avidemux. It is an incredibly simple yet effective program that I highly recommend to anyone who would like to start clipping. Before I discovered it, I was using OBS [Open Broadcaster Software] or VLC to generate clips which took me almost an hour per game. Nowadays, Im able to get all my highlights down between 15-30 minutes depending on how many clips I need to upload.

If Im unable to get the recording of the entire game, then I do end up screen recording directly using OBS or VLC. It takes longer but the quality is still great. I usually end up using these programs for international tournaments or prospect highlights from junior and mens leagues from around the world.

For editing compilations, like for end-of season goal compilations, prospect point compilations (which are probably my favourite videos, by the way), and highlights from international tournaments, I use Adobe Premiere. This is a very popular video editing software and for good reason. It takes a while to get the hang of but it is very powerful and is great for rendering long videos at more than 30 fps, which is not the case for many other video editing programs. Also, its great for making thumbnails!

The Cannon: How did you get started doing this?

SpecmenceCBJ: Im from Vancouver and so I grew up a Canucks fan. There was a similar (now terminated) YouTube channel for Canucks highlights called GoCanucksGo. I remember visiting his channel daily for years, whether to watch highlights of the game from the night before or looking back on playoff memories from when I was younger or even from before I was born. Whats cool is I actually ended up becoming friends with the channels creator in real life (u/yosoo on Reddit) through starting the channel. Amazing guy and clipper (but not the best fantasy hockey player).

But in addition to his channel, I noticed that there were ones for other teams. Examples include Dafoomie (Bruins) and Awood40 (Red Wings). I remember thinking how awesome it would be if there was one for the Jackets as well. Eventually I realized that this is something I could start myself and the channel was born.

The Cannon: How did you become a Blue Jackets fan?

SpecmenceCBJ: After the Canucks lost in the Finals in 2011 and then got humiliated the following year in the second worst embarrassment of a Presidents Trophy-winning team in NHL history, I needed a break from that fandom and associated heartbreak. I decided to pick up a second team for a year. That off-season, the Blue Jackets traded Rick Nash to the Rangers for Brandon Dubinsky, Artem Anisimov and the pick that became Kerby Rychel. I was so invested to see how this team would perform and rebuild after trading away their franchise player.

That 2012-13 lockout-shortened year was incredible. Though my hometown team Canucks made the playoffs again, I was so invested in watching this blue-collar, hard-working, chip-on-their-shoulder team make a run at the playoffs when everyone had counted them out. Though they finished just short of making it in, by the end of the year I had fallen in love with the team and its identity and I havent looked back since.

The Cannon: You picked a great time to have a CBJ channel during last years playoffs. What was that like for you?

SpecmenceCBJ: It was unreal. The channel was quite small at the start of the year and it grew a little because of Jarmos deals at the deadline, but the views, watch time, and subscriber count exploded after that run. On top of that, the national attention associated with the run resulted in so much more content I could upload. All of a sudden, NHL Network, TSN, Sportsnet, and NBC were talking about no other team more than the Jackets. It was really special to see our normally neglected underdog team finally get some recognition, and I am so happy I was able to capture it as those videos would otherwise be left unarchived.

The best part though, was getting comments and messages from so many different CBJ fans from around the world. For many people, especially those outside of North America, it is tough for to catch the games as they happen. I especially remember receiving a message of gratitude from a member of the US Armed Forces stationed overseas who would wake up every morning to the highlights I was posting. Interactions like those make me feel very thankful that I am able to touch so many people through something so fun and simple.

The Cannon: Whats been your favorite video? Whats been the biggest one in terms of highest numbers/engagement?

SpecmenceCBJ: My favourite video right now is the one stickied to the front of my channel that compiles all the goals from the Jackets first playoff series win from last spring. I watch the video in its entirety at least once a week. On a similar note, my favourite highlight would be Texiers 1-0 goal in Game 4. After following this wunderkind the past couple years and being so excited for him to join the Jackets, seeing him shine on the big stage gave me the feeling of a proud parent. In terms of numbers, there are two types of videos that generate the most views. The first is anything controversial. Highlights like Brad Marchand punching Scott Harrington in the back of the head or stomping on Cam Atkinsons stick, Steven Stamkos sucker-punching Nick Foligno, Andrew Shaws hit on Adam McQuaid and Nikita Kucherovs hit on Markus Nutivaara all received a ton of attention and plenty of comments from angry CBJ fans. The video of the Marchand stomping incident received attention in particular after it was shared on big sites like Deadspin.

The other type of video that is popular is anything involving Elvis Merzlikins. I have grown to appreciate how much Latvia loves and supports their overseas athletes. It started with my video of his highlights at the 2018 World Championships, but ever since he took over the net the Latvian fanbase has taken over the channel. I mean look at this chart [of channel views by geography, shown below] and keep in mind that the state of California has 20x the population of Latvia. They are the most passionate fanbase I have ever seen.

The Cannon: Who are your favorite Blue Jackets of all-time?

SpecmenceCBJ: Number one in my heart will always be Brandon Dubinsky. In my opinion, he embodies the CBJ identity more than anyone. He came here on a mission after being traded from New York wanting to be a leading part of the change. I think of his battles against Crosby and his game-tying goal in Game 4 against the Penguins in 2014. Its a shame that hes had to go out this way. Id love to see him make a comeback but if he ends up hanging them up, Id love to see him get a role in the Blue Jackets organization.

The Cannon: What was your favorite moment of this season?

SpecmenceCBJ: From this season it has to be Elvis first win. After his struggles at the year and everyone writing off the Jackets season after Korpisalo go down, seeing him finally get that first one was special. It looks like that was all he needed to gain his confidence back as hes been on a tear since. Plus it helps that the victory came against our old friend Bob.

How are you feeling about this season? Do you think the Jackets will make the playoffs?

SpecmenceCBJ: While last year was incredible in its own right, this year reminds me of why I began cheering for this team in the first place. We have a team of players that not only want to be here, but are playing as a team and giving it their all every night. The result so far has been very special. I think they do make the playoffs, but even if they dont, this has been one of my favourite Jackets seasons since I became a fan.

The Cannon: Do you have a plan for the future with your channel?

SpecmenceCBJ: I hope Im able to continue uploading highlights for as long as possible. During the offseason, I plan on making time to upload highlights from past seasons as well. I know that one day life will take over and I wont have the time I do now, but I hope that by the time that comes that the channel will have enough archived memories for CBJ fans to reminisce over for a very long time.

You can follow SpecmenceCBJs work at his YouTube channel.

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Catching up with SpecmenceCBJ, YouTubes foremost Columbus Blue Jackets archivist - The Cannon

Byte Proves That Vine Is Inherently Superior to TikTok – VICE

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Over the weekend Byte, a successor to the dearly departed looping video app Vine, launched. Like Vine, Byte also allows users to create and edit six second looping videos. After perusing the app for a weekend, there's a part of me that feels vindicatedeven if I have to call them Bytes now, Vines are just an inherently superior format than TikToks. I just hope the platform takes off.

When Vine was murdered by Twitter in 2016, the creators promised a Vine 2. But that was four years ago, and Vine 2 started feeling like vaporware. So when I saw friends of mine delightedly announcing that Vine 2, now called Byte, had actually launched this weekend, I immediately had to download it and see if I could recapture the magic of the community that brought us "Back At It Again At Krispy Kreme."

The good news is yes, unequivocally, the six second looping video is still one of the better avenues for bite-sized (har de har) comedy content online. A video that short forces the user to cut the fat on their jokes and use shorthand that's easily readable in order to enhance their punchlines. Users on Byte are immediately taking to the format in a way that feels undeniably Vine-like. Sometimes, other users point it out. I've seen a couple comments reading "big Vine energy on this one" on particularly popular Bytes. Byte also offers the ability to add sound effects, and some other rudimentary video editing tools, but it doesn't matter. All you need is six seconds, the ability to cut between shots, and a loop, and you have a perfect canvas for bits both lackadaisical, like Byte user Henryy showing the viewer a literal bowl of black eyed peas and asking which one is Fergie, to more high effort jokes, like user BrendonCescon's weirdo ads for things like Kraft Macaroni and Cheese ("it triples the size of your dick!"). The only thing that is missing so far is the ability to embed or link to videos off of the platform. Gotta cross pollinate with Twitter y'all!

It's not like newcomers to Byte are unaware of the elephant in the room, though. In the intervening years between Vine and Byte, a new video app has come onto the scene and largely dominated it: TikTok. TikTok gives users more tools to make their videosfilters, adding text to the screen, lip syncingand they're also longer, and can last up to a minute. There are some very, very good TikToks in the world, including this one, which is so expertly choreographed that it blows my mind to watch it:

But in terms of comedy, TikTok is bleak. When you give people more tools, they tend to use them. Therefore, most of the gags on TikTok are reliant on labels, music, or even lip syncing to be understandable. There's a buy in to these jokes, making them much less easily digestible than your average Byte, which only requires your eyeballs and ability to read a narrative. Still, Byte users are bracing themselves for an influx of users from TikTok, making jokes that poke fun at the rival platform along the way. If there are any memes on Byte in its infancy, it's that people who comment "follow for follow" are annoying, and TikTok users are going to have a hard time uploading dance videos on Byte.

I hope that Byte takes off, but part of me thinks that the six second video's time has passed. The users of Byte are generally older than the ones on TikTok. While I have a hard time finding users who are over 20 on TikTok, on Byte you're more likely to follow people who have a full beard than not. This format is no longer at the zeitgeist, and the teens clearly love the tools that TikTok gives them to make videos. I think Byte is clearly, obviously better than TikTok. I just don't know if the teens will.

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Byte Proves That Vine Is Inherently Superior to TikTok - VICE

5 ways to be a bit safer this Data Privacy Day – Naked Security

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Today is Data Privacy Day.

As we say every year, Data Privacy Day is more than just a 24-hour period when you try to keep safe online.

Its a day to think about changes you can make in your digital life that will keep you safer today, and tomorrow, and the day after, and the day after that.

So here are five things you can start doing today for your own and for everyone elses good.

Were hoping that this is old news for most of you: sort out your passwords and turn on 2FA.

A password manager makes it easy to change your tired old passwords, to replace them with decently chosen ones, and to have a different password for every site.

Password managers also protect you against fake sites if you visit a bogus bank login page, your password manager wont recognise it so it wont have any password to put in at all.

2FA, short for two-factor authentication, generally refers to those one-time codes that you receive to your phone via text message, or that you generate via an app.

Theyre a tiny bit of extra hassle for you, but a lot of extra effort for the crooks.

Motto: A little inconvenience goes an awfully long way!

Most operating systems, apps and online accounts allow you to choose how much you want to share with them, and when, and how.

Make today the day you go and review those settings.

(Do you really want to let every app on your phone find out your location? Do you really want to stay logged into your favourite online site for weeks at a time? Do you really want to give an app the right to post to your social media account on your behalf?)

Unfortunately, we cant give you a one-size-fits-all rule here because every app and every site seems to have its own list of options, its own names for all the options, and its own configuration menus where you can adjust your settings.

So this tip needs you to do a bit of digging on your own, to find out which buttons to click or what menu options to choose, so you can see and edit your settings.

Motto: If in doubt, dont give it out!

Social media can be fun, and its meant to be.

But you dont need to share everything, and you shouldnt share anything without consent.

Its tempting to upload photos that include other people, and often they dont mind but get into the habit of asking for their permission, each and every time, no matter how unimportant it might seem.

Youre not only making it clear how you expect to be treated by your friends in return, but also helping yourself at the same time especially if the photo gives away information about you as well.

Public content can accidentally tell cybercriminals things you dont want them to know, such as where you live, when your birthday is, or that youre away and your home is empty and all those facts have real value to a crook.

Motto: Be aware of what you share!

This tip is really just an extension of tip 3, with a much more serious side: watch out what you share at work.

Uploading a picture of your best friend taking a pratfall at the pub might make them angry, and you might wish you hadnt done it, but its unlikely to land your company a $5,000,000 fine or to put your job at risk.

Leaking company data, however especially data that customers have entrusted to you and that the law demands you to keep safe can have just those consequences.

So although you should be thoughtful about company data for everyone elses sake, youre protecting yourself, too your livelihood could be at risk.

Motto: Dont be in a hurry when dealing with data!

Finally, spend some time putting your own value on your personal data figure out how much youre ready to give away, and what you get in return.

If a company or a website asks for more data than it needs, dont cave in and hand it over unless you want to.

For example, its reasonable for a car hire company to ask you to offer proof of address before handing you the keys to a $20,000 vehicle.

But if a news site or a coffee shop hotspot demands your postcode or your birthday, ask yourself, Why would they need that, and why would I want to hand it over anyway?

Motto: Know your privacy limits, and stick to them!

Stay safe out there, today and every day!

(Watch directly on YouTube if the video wont play here.)

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5 ways to be a bit safer this Data Privacy Day - Naked Security

Niladri Dutta: Enhancing Deep Learning Innovation With Knowledge-Based Decisioning – Analytics Insight

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Tardid is a technology company committed to bring autonomous prescriptive solutions for industrial assets by combining both the worlds of physics and machine learning. The company specializes in providing AI-based prescriptive maintenance for large metallic structures and machines. Tardids platform Brainbox is designed to detect anomalies, prescribe maintenance and provide remaining useful life of the asset with logical reasoning, be it at the property level or due to influencers influencing failures.

To do good ethical business, the company has implemented a strong culture and progressive policies within the organization. This is because doing good business means a big commitment from all of its team every single moment and in every single action. Tardids commitment is reflected in the personality of Brainbox and its business, internally as well as externally.

Recently, Tardid delivered Autonomous crack, thickness degradation and leakage detection system to one of the largest Oil and Gas companies for their LPG cylinder refilling plant. The solution combines machine learning and physics to prescribe current health and the remaining life of the cylinder and possible usage. LPG cylinders operate in a hazardous condition and are handled harshly. The solution which Tardid, has provided to the oil and gas company enables them to continuously monitor external and internal loading patterns and reject cylinders that cross the security threshold.

Niladri Dutta who serves as the CEO at Tardid, has a background in protocol stacks, large transactional applications, and analytics. The good 60 percent of his career was in telecommunication and then the paradigm shift in AI. It was difficult due to the nature of the shift; it was like discarding all the ideas and rules that formed the basis of his entire way of thinking. The phase was very challenging, but Niladri was able to adapt and absorb a whole new mindset.

He loves the direct link between decision and outcome. Niladri prefers building an innovative product company that helps in better understanding, decisions, eliminates the need for humans working in hazardous conditions, creates job and serves society. The core of his role is to ensure that Tardid has a long-term strategy in place that keeps the team and customers excited all the time. In order to lead this strategy, Niladri constantly recruits the best people to his team, explores industrial failures and unfortunate situations to guide the evolution of Brainbox, its AI product and meeting with customers to ensure continuous growth.

There is no better service than the one towards ones nation, not only it is their duty but also their responsibility to contribute towards the nation which has provided them all. Tardid was fortunate to get its first project with the Indian Defense. The companys core vision is to become a global leader in Artificial Intelligence (AI) Product Providers for industries dealing in heavy industrials. Tardid is continuously working towards providing AI products for reducing their unplanned downtime and increasing productivity and higher ROI. In fact, in collaboration with a few strategic customers, the company is building unique AI products which are first of their kind.

Niladri is a near-fatal air crash survivor. The first thing crossed his mind is how safe people are with these heavily researched and highly innovative assets, like an aircraft. Things can go wrong in a second. It was disturbing but Niladri realized the depth of what Albert Einstein said, We cant solve problems by using the same kind of thinking we used when we created them. According to him, this is one of the greatest lessons he ever learned regarding leadership. He suggests to keep nurturing ideas, optimize your strengths and build a structure around you that mitigates your weakness.

Niladri always had an inkling that running his own business might be the right path, but he has never worked for himself. He did his graduation in electronics and has worked for large IT companies who have large clients like telecom service providers, shipping liners and manufacturing. The first thing to do was find a business partner Niladri has the technical knowledge, but he needed help to build a good company. He found Aastha Verma who did her post-graduation in marketing from Symbiosis and had perfect expertise. The second challenge was to build a good product, and he found Dr. Giri who did a Ph.D. at NTNU and was plugged into the NTNU tech scene and had a perfect understanding. They all met at the perfect time.

In Niladris opinion, As an innovative leader, one must be always willing to learn, explore and accept failure as the first step to success. At the cost of sounding cliched, acceptance of failure and the will to improvise and attempt again is the most vital attribute of every innovative leader. To embrace the learnings from failures which could be of the self or any one elses, one must keep learning and moving forward. One must not get discouraged by the world not accepting their ideas in the beginning, they should be ready to be laughed at and humiliated as well, but he suggests to keep self-belief and keep innovating, as this is a journey for innovating all the time.

Innovation is a continuous process, Tardids products are kept under a constant hammer to make it more appealing to the audiences. One such process was to de-bundle the platform into a more modular format so that the customers find it easier to adopt into their organizations. Furthermore, the products are designed in collaboration with customers to meet their exact requirements.

Most people are not familiar with the concept of Artificial Intelligence, and few who are aware of it treat AI as advanced data analytics. AI is more than what people think. Niladri says, As we live our lives and as we quantify our innovations, we are uploading and digitizing our consciousness and machine experience where we are constantly putting that data into the digital world, and eventually that will be gathered by an AI and it will become the digital mere self; the digital twin.

AI is undertaken in conjunction with Machine Learning, Physics, and Deep Analytics, where machine learning looks for underlying trends, and models help in understanding the influencers, further, the knowledge is used to analyze specific issues. Data can be in the form of digital information, imagery, signatures, visual information, text or unstructured data.

AI is disruptive, and through this comprehensive overview, Niladri says he would like to explain to policymakers, opinion leaders, businesses and interested observers, that AI will alter the world and will raise important questions for society, the economy, and governance.

AI is a technology which will transform every walk of peoples life. It is a wide-ranging technology which will make every one of them to rethink how they integrate information, analyze data, understand the influencing parameters and use the resulting insights to improve decision-making supported by scientific reasons.

AI is not futuristic vision, but rather that is something already available and can be easily integrated and deployed into a variety of sectors. AI will make a huge impact on the world while enhancing human capabilities in significant ways.

Niladri advises budding business leaders to start from where they are, work with full confidence, keep their ego in check if they have a large vision and have faith and belief in their own ideas.

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Niladri Dutta: Enhancing Deep Learning Innovation With Knowledge-Based Decisioning - Analytics Insight

Space-warping star system proves Einstein’s general theory of relativity right. Again – ABC News

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Just over a century ago, Einstein predicted that the gravity of massive objects could warp spacetime.

In the past five years we've seen Einstein's theory of general relativity play out in the detection of gravitational waves, the imaging of a black hole, and the orbit of stars around the supermassive black hole at the centre of our galaxy.

And now, astronomers tracking a quirky pair of stars for 20 years using the Parkes radio telescope have proven him right again.

"This time we're seeing a spinning star at the centre of the system dragging the very fabric of spacetime with it," said astronomer and co-author Matthew Bailes of the Swinburne Institute of Technology.

In 1918, two Austrian scientists proposed that if Einstein was right then spinning objects, including Earth, should twist and drag the fabric of spacetime.

The phenomenon, known as the Lense-Thirring effect or frame-dragging, is usually too small to detect.

A tiny effect was first demonstrated in an experiment that measured the subtle movements of gyroscopes placed into space above Earth.

"We've discovered a system where the effect is 100 million times stronger than it is above the Earth," Professor Bailes said.

The discovery, by the international team of astronomers, is reported today in the journal Science.

The unusual star system known as PSR J1141-6545 was discovered around 10,000 light years away in the constellation of Musca aka The Fly in 2001.

At the heart is a fast-spinning white dwarf star the remains of an old star about the size of Earth but 300,000 times its density.

Every five hours it is circled by a neutron star (pulsar) the core of an exploded star no bigger than a city but about 100 billion times more dense than Earth.

The neutron star sends out regular pulses of high-energy particles like a lighthouse, which the astronomers used to track its orbit.

Over the years, the astronomers noticed the two stars got closer and closer as the white dwarf pulled its neighbour in.

"The orbit shrinks by about 7 millimetres a day," Professor Bailes said.

But as time went on, it became clear that the stars weren't acting as predicted by Einstein's theory.

"I had assumed that we'd done something wrong," Professor Bailes said.

It took four years of detective work by PhD student Vivek Venkatraman Krishnan and team members from the Max Planck Institute for Radio Astronomy to get to the bottom of the puzzle.

"After concluding that this could not have been due to problems with our telescopes, there was a brief period of time that I thought I disproved Einstein's theory," Dr Krishnan said.

In the end they twigged that the orbit of the pulsar was tumbling in space as it was being dragged around by the fast-spinning white dwarf star.

"While we knew that any body that rotates should drag space and time with it according to Einstein, we did not think that this would be measurable for this system," he said.

"This effect is usually expected to be measured only for a select class of heavenly bodies like some neutron stars and black holes."

But this was no ordinary pair of stars.

"The unique formation of this system made the white dwarf spin so fast that we could see its effects in the orbit, for the first time in any binary star system," Dr Krishnan said.

When the pulsar was born, material from the supernova fell onto the white dwarf, making it spin faster and faster.

The cataclysmic explosion also misaligned the spins of the two stars and changed the orbits of the pulsar from a normal circular path to an egg-shaped orbit, Professor Bailes said.

This enabled the astronomers to work out the white dwarf was spinning about once every minute.

"That is causing the fabric of spacetime to be ripped around much more strongly than it would be above the Earth," Professor Bailes said.

This is a very unusual system, said Susan Scott, an astrophysicist at the Australian National University who was not involved in the discovery.

"There's only two confirmed binary systems like that where the white dwarf is known to have formed before the other companion," she said.

But the two stars in this system are much closer together.

Professor Scott said the discovery is "an exciting new example" of testing Einstein's theories in "a different realm of gravity" in the same way the detection of gravitational waves did.

"There are very few things in life where you have to put general relativity in to make them completely accurate. That's because we live in a place of very low gravity.

"But out there in the universe there are places with very high gravity and you need to consider these general relativity effects because they make a difference."

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Space-warping star system proves Einstein's general theory of relativity right. Again - ABC News

Crafoord Laureates Discovered the Solar Wind and Solved Mathematical Problems – Yahoo Finance

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STOCKHOLM, Jan. 30, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- The man who discovered the solar wind, Eugene Parker, and one of mathematics' great problem-solvers, Enrico Bombieri, will receive this year's Crafoord Prize in astronomy and mathematics, respectively. The Crafoord Prize is worth six million Swedish kronaand is awarded by the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences in partnership with the Crafoord Foundation in Lund.

The Parker Solar Probe is currently on its way to the sun.It was launched by NASA in 2018 and its first results were reported just before Christmas. This probe is the first to be named after a living person - Eugene N. Parker, professor emeritus at the University of Chicago, USA.

Eugene Parker is responsible for several fundamental discoveries about the gases that surround the sun and other stars.He has also developed the theory of how the solar wind arises and how magnetic fields arise and change in space. When he initially presented his theories, over fifty years ago, they were strongly challenged, but were later confirmed through observations from spacecrafts.

Eugene Parker was the first person to realise that the sun is not in equilibrium, as was previously thought.Quite the opposite, it releases mass; the charged gas of ions and electrons that makes up the sun's "atmosphere" is expanding as a solar wind that stretches throughout our planetary system. His ideas are also the foundation for all the forecasts about the space weather, which can disrupt satellites and cause power outages here on Earth.

He will now receive the Crafoord Prize in Astronomy "for pioneering and fundamental studies of the solar wind and magnetic fields from stellar to galactic scales".

Eugene Parker was stunned into silence when he was told about the award:

"It took my breath away. I didn't do anything for a few minutes. I of course knew about the Crafoord Prize, so I was surprised, pleasantly so."

Passionate about number theory

At the same time Enrico Bombieri from the Institute for Advanced Study, Princeton, USA, will receive the Crafoord Prize in Mathematics "for outstanding and influential contributions in all the major areas of mathematics, particularly number theory, analysis and algebraic geometry".

Enrico Bombieri belongs to an increasingly rare group of mathematicians who can solve problems in almost all areas of mathematics.However, his greatest passion has always been number theory, which is the study of integers.He was just 16 years old when he published his first work in number theory and among other things, he is a leading expert on the Riemann hypothesis on the distribution of prime numbers.

Enrico Bombieri has made significant contributions in algebra, advanced geometry and complex analysis.He has also contributed to solving Bernstein's problem.This is a variation of Plateau's problem, about how to mathematically describe the shape of the soap film that forms when a wire frame is dipped into a soap solution.

Enrico Bombieri has visited Sweden and the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences' Institut Mittag-Leffler on numerous occasions. He was delighted to discover that he has been awarded the Crafoord Prize in Mathematics.

"It came as a complete surprise.I have received a few prizes before, but I'm especially pleased with this one because of my connection with Swedish mathematicians", he commented on learning of the prize.

FACTS about the prize

The Crafoord Prize is awarded in partnership between the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences and the Crafoord Foundation in Lund. The Academy is responsible for selecting the Laureates. The disciplines, which change every year, are mathematics and astronomy, geosciences, biosciences and polyarthritis (e.g. rheumatoid arthritis). The prize in polyarthritis is awarded only when scientific progress in this field has been such that an award is justified. The prize disciplines are chosen as a complement to the Nobel Prizes.

This year's Laureates in mathematics and astronomy each receive six million Swedish krona. The prize ceremony will be held in Stockholm on May 15 in the presence of H.M. King CarlXVI Gustaf and H.M. Queen Silvia.

FACTS about the Laureates

Astronomy

Eugene N. Parker, S. Chandrasekhar Distinguished Service Professor Emeritus, Department of Astronomy and Astrophysics, Enrico Fermi Institute, University of Chicago, USA.He was born in 1927 in Houghton, USA, and received his Ph.D. in 1951 from the California Institute of Technology, Caltech, Pasadena, USA.

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Mathematics

Enrico Bombieri, Professor Emeritus, School of Mathematics, Institute for Advanced Study, Princeton, USA.He was born in 1940 in Milan, Italy and received his Ph.D. in 1963 from the Universit degli Studi di Milano.

Contacts:ExpertsAstronomyJan-Erik WahlundMember of the Royal Swedish Academy of SciencesAssociate Professor at the Swedish Institute of Space Physics and the Department of Physics and Astronomy at Uppsala Universityjwe@irfu.se +46-(0)76-769-7877

MathematicsAri LaptevMember of the Royal Swedish Academy of SciencesProfessor Emeritus of Mathematics at KTH Royal Institute of Technology, Stockholm, and Professor at Imperial College Londonlaptev@kth.se +46-(0)76-677-88-10

Press contact:Eva Nevelius,Press Secretary at the Royal Swedish Academy of Scienceseva.nevelius@kva.se +46-(0)70-878-6763

Videos about the price in mathematics and astronomy and pictures of the laureates that can be downloaded can be found at http://www.kva.se

This information was brought to you by Cision http://news.cision.com

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SOURCE The Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences/The Crafoord Prize

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Crafoord Laureates Discovered the Solar Wind and Solved Mathematical Problems - Yahoo Finance

Experience the island life with once-in-a-lifetime privatisation offer at Raffles Maldives Meradhoo – Yahoo Finance

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Luxury resort's extraordinary "You Run Raffles Maldives" is available for a cool $1 million - a luxurious, all-inclusive playground where the elite jet setter can invite their friends and loved ones for an unforgettable private island adventure

MERADHOO, Maldives, Jan. 29, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- From Richard Branson's Necker Island in the Caribbean Sea, to Steven Spielberg's islands in the Madeira Archipelago of Portugal, the allure of a private island is usually reserved for only the wealthiest of billionaires. But ownership and maintenance of island properties requires endless work and expenses, so why buy when one could simply rent one of the world's most prestigious and stunning island resorts Raffles Maldives Meradhoo on the pristine Gaafu Alifu Atoll.

Raffles Maldives Meradhoo

For a limited time, Raffles Maldives Meradhoo is offering an exceptional $1 million all-inclusive island buyout, providing a rare opportunity to experience this remarkable resort fully on one's own terms. In addition to unprecedented privacy and with all manner of special privileges, Raffles will even throw in the use of an additional 'deserted island' that can be transformed into an epic celebration or adventure space.

Just an 80-minute boat ride from the equator, Raffles Maldives Meradhoo lies in one of the most remote and unblemished corners of the Maldives and its pristine beauty invariably awes all who visit. Available for four-night, five-day stays, You Run Raffles Maldives provides a generous host with the opportunity to treat up to 70 very lucky loved ones, friends and close associates to the all-inclusive, legendary service of Raffles, complete with Raffles Butlers, set amid the tropical oasis of Raffles Maldives Meradhoo.

After enjoying a private charter flight from the Maldivian capital Male or landing a private jet at Kooddoo airport (located in the resort's atoll of Gaafu Alifu) via Gaan airport, the group will have full access to the resort's two islands. The first island is a white-sand idyll where 21 vast villas reside among palm trees; while the second island is an overwater retreat where residences stand over gently lapping waters.

As part of the You Run Raffles Maldives, guests will also have access to a nearby deserted island to enact whatever castaway fantasy they may wish. Whether transformed into a tropical playground; a thrilling sunset concert with a celebrity DJ; or serving as a serene escape for a romantic night-time champagne-and-stargazing session guided by a personal astronomer, this bonus beach hideaway is a blank canvas that can be designed for the dream experience of a lifetime.

Adding another layer of indulgence, the culinary team at Raffles Maldives Meradhoo will create special menus and tailored dining experiences for guests visiting on this unprecedented package. Guests are invited to wine and dine whenever and wherever they wish, on a complimentary basis. Exclusive dining experiences may involve a supper of beef tenderloin with chimichurri at The Firepit, an elemental, tiki torch-lit barbecue restaurant where diners sit at sunken tables that have been carved from the sand, or superlative sushi and potent pisco sours at elegant Nikkei restaurant, Yuzu. For sundowners, parties can gather at the Long Bar for free-flowing Maldives Slings, an irresistible mix of gin, coconut, cinnamon and clove.

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No island getaway would be complete without an incomparable spa experience. Raffles Spa will treat guests to Biologique Recherche facials, Aromatherapy Associates massages, and many more bespoke treatments. Guests are also free to enjoy endless water sports and unlimited use of the resort's yacht Azimut. Dolphin-watching cruises, fishing or diving expeditions may be arranged, with cocktails and canaps waiting on board.

Sea-life lovers can also enjoy this region's remarkable beauty under the guidance of their own Raffles Marine Butler, a unique concept in the Maldives. They will happily lead snorkelling excursions to the resort's two vibrant house reefs, home to scores of fish species, from fluorescent parrotfish to handsome blacktip sharks and 22 gentle hawksbill turtles.

The exclusive guests of You Run Raffles Maldives will be pleased to know their visit will help protect this precious ecosystem over the years to come. The rate includes a 5% charitable donation, split between the Maldives' Marine Center and the Olive Ridley Project, an NGO that works to protect sea turtles.

As a personal memento, guests will receive a range of personalised souvenirs including a customised robe, complete with the embroidered event name You Run Raffles Maldives, and custom epicurean treats created by the chefs for guests to take home, with each gift intended to serve as a treasured reminder of a holiday like no other.

Already recognised as one of the Indian Ocean's preeminent properties, Raffles Maldives Meradhoo effortlessly maintains Raffles' reputation for superlative service, exceptional dining and phenomenal beauty.

The dedicated luxury travel connoisseurs of Raffles Maldives Meradhoo are on hand to tailor the trip of a lifetime for discerning guests. For more information on Raffles Maldives Meradhooplease visit http://www.rafflesmaldives.com. For reservations, please email reservations.maldives@raffles.comor call +960 6828800.

Link to high-resolution images: CLICK HERE

About Raffles

Raffles Hotels & Resorts boasts an illustrious history and some of the most prestigious hotel addresses worldwide. In 1887, Raffles Singapore set the standard for luxury hospitality, introducing the world to private butlers, the Singapore Sling and its enduring, legendary service.Today, Raffles continues this tradition in leading cities and lavish resort locales, enchanting travellers with meaningful experiences and service that is both gracious and intuitive. Connoisseurs of life choose Raffles, not merely for its aura of culture, beauty and gentility, but for the extraordinary way they feel when in residence with Raffles. Each Raffles, be it Paris, Istanbul, Warsaw, Jakarta or the Seychelles, serves as a venerated oasis where travellers arrive as guests, leave as friends and return as family. Raffles is part of Accor, a world-leading augmented hospitality group offering unique experiences in 5,000 hotels and residences across 110 countries.

raffles.com| group.accor.com

Media Contacts

Joyce OngAccor, Vice President Communications & CSRUpper Southeast & Northeast Asia and the MaldivesJoyce.Ong@accor.com

Javier CamonMarketing & Communications ManagerRaffles Maldives MeradhooJavier.Camon@raffles.com

Photo - https://photos.prnasia.com/prnh/20200129/2704374-1

SOURCE Raffles Maldives Meradhoo

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Experience the island life with once-in-a-lifetime privatisation offer at Raffles Maldives Meradhoo - Yahoo Finance

7 private islands in the US that you can actually afford to buy – Business Insider – Business Insider

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You don't need to be rich to own a private island.

In fact, owning a private island in the US can be cheaper than owning a median-valued home in some of the country's most expensive housing markets.

For those outside-of-the-box homebuyers looking to invest in unique and affordable real estate, you're in luck. Business Insider has rounded up seven private islands in the US that are currently on the market for less than $450,000 each.

To put that price point into perspective, the median home value in New York City is $649,026, the median home value in Los Angeles is $717,583, and the median home value in Honolulu is $703,170.

The seven private islands are ranked from least to most expensive and are currently listed on the website Private Islands Inc. They include everything from an undeveloped island in South Jersey to an island that includes a fully furnished, two-bedroom cottage in Michigan.

Keep reading for the full list.

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7 private islands in the US that you can actually afford to buy - Business Insider - Business Insider

You can now stay on a private island in the UK with its own moat and hot tub – Mirror Online

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A beautiful house on a private island, with its own moat and hot tub?

It may sound like the stuff of storybooks, but Brits can actually book a stay in the real life version - and the best part is that you won't have all the hassle of organising to travel abroad, as it's in the UK.

The aptly named Castaway Cottage sits in the heart of the Suffolk countryside, near the village of Yoxford.

The elegant Tudor farmhouse sits on a small island with a moat and can only be accessed across a private bridge and drive, so it's ideal for those wanting a countryside retreat away from any hustle and bustle.

It boasts five bedrooms in the main house, while the separate boathouse also offers a room with doors leading directly out to the gardens.

There's everything you could want for a cosy stay. For example, in the summer you could go rowing on the moat, soak up the sunshine on the outdoor deck, or make use of the al fresco dining facilities and BBQ. In the evenings, warm up by one of the four open fires on offer.

For those who fancy exploring, there are plenty of walks nearby, and Castaway Cottage is located on a 5,000-acre estate where there are heaps of activities open to the public from tennis courts to paddleboarding and rowing on the Serpentine Lake.

In the winter months, the open plan kitchen and diner is ideal for those who want to whip some hearty meals while still enjoying the view of the Great Outdoors, while the lounge has a Smart TV and Sky TV so you can binge watch your favourite shows should the British weather let you down.

The property sleeps up to 12 people. Prices vary depending on your chosen dates, but when we took a look you could find prices starting from 5,618 for a week's stay (that works out at 468pp). You can find out more about the Castaway Cottage on the BigDomain.com listing.

Of course if you are dreaming of your own private island in the sunshine, you may want to check out our guide to islands you can hire from 240pp complete with sandy beaches and crystalline waters.

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You can now stay on a private island in the UK with its own moat and hot tub - Mirror Online

Family escapes: Which tropical island is best? – Stuff.co.nz

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We're pretty blessed in New Zealand: no other country in the world has access to the South Pacific like us; we have a tropical playground that's the envy of the world.

We have regular flights to Fiji, Samoa, Tonga, Rarotonga, Niue, French Polynesia, Vanuatu, Norfolk Island and New Caledonia. No other country has access like that.

With choice often comes confusion; a family holiday is a significant investment. So, we've narrowed down four of the best places to consider.

Fiji

RADISSON BLU

Radisson Blu is a popular choice in Port Denarau.

Fiji is the first option for many considering a family escape - and for a good reason. Port Denarau, just 20 minutes from the airport, is a sprawling artificial island packed with family-friendly resorts. One of the best options is Radisson Blu, which has a pool of Disneyland proportions weaving through its public areas - and the kids will love it.

READ MORE:*Top 10 things to do with the kids these school holidays*How to travel more when your kids are in school*Top family vacation spots these school holidays | Stuff.co.nz

The vital thing to know about Denarau is the island isn't full of white sandy beaches; you need to head out on a day trip to the nearby Mamanuca Islands to experience that.

However, it's easy - with more than a dozen day trips to pick from. You can relax at a private island such as Malamala Beach Club, or explore the uninhabited Modriki Island - the place where blockbuster Castaway was filmed.

CASTAWAY ISLAND

Castaway Island has a large pool and beach that the kids will love.

If you prefer to stay on a family-friendly tropical island, there are more than 20 to pick from within 45 minutes of the airport. Castaway Island is a popular choice, with family-sized bures right on the beach and a free Castaway Kids Club that runs from 9am until 10pm, with a small evening break.

Cook Islands

SUPPLIED

Rarotonga may be small, but it's perfect for a family break.

One of the advantages of Rarotonga is its size; you can drive around the entire island in less than an hour.

While it doesn't have the scale of family-friendly resorts that you'll find in Fiji, it does have a good selection including Club Raro, Little Polynesian Resort, and the Rarotongan Beach Resort & Lagoonarium. Prices vary from less than $200 a night, right up to around $700.

You'll find fantastic snorkelling right out in front of most resorts, with Rarotonga's lagoon providing shelter from ocean swells. Depending on the time of year, the breeze can get up, causing lagoon waves - which isn't desirable for small kids.

But all resorts have fabulous pools to enjoy, whatever the weather.

Samoa

BROOK SABIN

Saletoga Sands is one of Samoa's top family-friendly resorts.

Samoa is a little more off-the-beaten-path for families, partly because it requires more effort.

The best resorts, with white sandy beaches, are on the Southern Coast, such as Saletoga Sands and Sinalei Reef Resort. On the downside, you do require a drive of at least 50 minutes from the airport.

The resorts offer a more authentic experience; local laws prohibit big offshore multinationals buying up and running accommodation. So, don't expect giant pools with slides, it's a more low-key affair with an emphasis on relaxing.

Samoa has been the scene of a recent measles crisis, although the state of emergency ended late December. Our Government recommends all travellers to Samoa to be fully vaccinated at least two weeks before travel. Infants and children also need to take precautions - the latest advice can be found on safetravel.govt.nz

French Polynesia

BROOK SABIN

Bora Bora isn't just for couples - it's an excellent place to take the kids.

If you're willing to splash a considerable amount of cash into a South Pacific family escape, the jewel in the crown is undoubtedly French Polynesia's Bora Bora.

Yes, its emerald waters are an overwater adults-only paradise, but many resorts also treat families with the same reverence as newlyweds, like Conrad Bora Bora Niu. Activities at the kids club include treasure hunts, Tahitian dancing and creating flower crowns.

An increasingly popular alternative to Bora Bora is nearby Moorea. Instead of having to take a plane, it's reachable with a 30 minute ferry trip - and offers overwater villas and kids clubs, without the Bora Bora price tag.

Carbon footprint: Flying generates carbon emissions. If you're booking with Air New Zealand, tick the box to offset your emissions during the booking process. If you've already flown, or are booked onto another airline, you can still work out your emissions by starting to go through the Air NZ booking process and clicking the "offset your emissions" box. Read more at airnewzealand.co.nz/sustainability-customer-carbon-offset.

The author was supported by the Tourism Boards of the respective places listed, although this list was compiled on merit.This article was produced as part of a partnershipwithHouse of Travel.Read more about our partnership content here.

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Family escapes: Which tropical island is best? - Stuff.co.nz

Prince Andrew hasn’t responded to queries in Epstein case – Nation News

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Prince Andrew (Reuters)

WASHINGTON Britains Prince Andrew has provided zero cooperation to United States authorities probing sex trafficking allegedly carried out by deceased financier Jeffrey Epstein and co-conspirators, a prosecutor said on Monday.

The FBI and U.S. federal prosecutors contacted Prince Andrews lawyers and requested an interview with the prince, who socialised with Epstein, Manhattan-based U.S. Attorney Geoffrey Berman said at a news conference in front of Epsteins mansion.

As of Monday, Prince Andrew has provided zero cooperation, Berman said at the event hosted by Safe Horizon, a group pressing for more legal protection for abuse victims.

He did not say when U.S. authorities had requested an interview with Andrew.

Buckingham Palace declined to comment.

Andrew said in November he would be willing to help any appropriate law enforcement agency with their investigations, if required.

The Federal Bureau of Investigations probe is focusing on British socialite Ghislaine Maxwell, a longtime associate of Epstein, and others who facilitated the wealthy financiers alleged trafficking of underage girls, law enforcement sources told Reuters in December.

Maxwell has not been accused of criminal wrongdoing.

Epstein had socialised with Andrew and other high-profile figures including U.S. President Donald Trump and former president Bill Clinton, according to court filings.

Epsteins suicide in August, at age 66, came a little over a month after he was arrested and charged with trafficking dozens of underage girls as young as 14 from at least 2002 to 2005. Prosecutors said he recruited girls to give him massages, which became sexual in nature. Epstein had pleaded not guilty.

In 2008, Epstein pleaded guilty to a Florida state charge of soliciting prostitution. He completed a 13-month jail sentence that was widely criticised as too lenient.

Andrew has described his association with Epstein as ill-judged and in November the prince stepped down from public duties as the allegations became a distraction for the royal family.

Andrew, Queen Elizabeths second son, has denied an allegation in a civil lawsuit from Virginia Giuffre, who claims she had sex with the prince when she was 17 in an encounter arranged through Epstein.

Giuffres lawsuit said Maxwell recruited her into Epsteins circle and Epstein forced her to have sex with him and friends including Andrew.

Despite Epsteins death, investigations continue into potential accomplices.

In December, sources told Reuters, law enforcement did not plan at that time to interview Andrew, although the investigation was said to be at an early stage.

The FBI has been following up on leads received from women who contacted a hotline the agency set up at its New York field office in the wake of Epsteins arrest in July, the sources said in December.

This month, the attorney general of the U.S. Virgin Islands sued Epsteins estate claiming he raped and trafficked dozens of young women and girls on a private island he owned in the territory.

The complaint filed by Virgin Islands Attorney General Denise George significantly broadened the scope of the financiers alleged misconduct, saying it spanned from 2001 to 2018 and targeted girls who appeared to be as young as 11 or 12.

The Virgin Islands is seeking civil penalties plus some assets from Epsteins estimated $577.7 million estate, including the forfeiture of his two private islands, Little St. James and Great St. James. (Reuters)

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Prince Andrew hasn't responded to queries in Epstein case - Nation News

Britain’s Prince Andrew accused of ‘zero cooperation’ in FBI’s Epstein probe – The Straits Times

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WASHINGTON (REUTERS) - Britain's Prince Andrew has provided "zero cooperation" to the FBI investigation into the activities and death of Jeffrey Epstein, a US law enforcement source said on Monday (Jan 27).

The FBI requested an interview with Andrew, who socialised with Epstein, Manhattan-based US Attorney Geoffrey Berman publicly confirmed at a meeting of a group which supports battered women, the source said, but did not say when the request was made.

Buckingham Palace did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation's probe is focusing on British socialite Ghislaine Maxwell, a longtime associate of Epstein, and others who facilitated wealthy financier's alleged trafficking of underage girls, law enforcement sources told Reuters in December.

Maxwell has not been accused of criminal wrongdoing.

Andrew said in November he would be willing to help "any appropriate law enforcement agency with their investigations, if required".

US court papers have previously shown that Epstein had socialised with Andrew and other high-profile figures including US President Donald Trump and former president Bill Clinton.

Epstein's suicide in August, at age 66, came a little over a month after he was arrested and charged with trafficking dozens of underage girls as young as 14 from at least 2002 to 2005.

Prosecutors said he recruited girls to give him massages, which became sexual in nature. Epstein had pleaded not guilty.

In 2008, Epstein pleaded guilty to a Florida state charge of soliciting prostitution. He completed a 13-month jail sentence that was widely criticised as too lenient.

Andrew has described his association with Epstein as "ill-judged" and in November the prince stepped down from public duties as the allegations became a distraction for the royal family.

Andrew, Queen Elizabeth's second son, has denied an allegation in a civil lawsuit from Virginia Giuffre, who claims she had sex with the prince when she was 17 in an encounter arranged through Epstein.

Giuffre's lawsuit said Maxwell recruited her into Epstein's circle and Epstein forced her to have sex with him and friends including Andrew.

Despite Epstein's death, investigations continue into potential accomplices.

In December, sources told Reuters, law enforcement did not plan at that time to interview Andrew, although the investigation was said to be at an early stage.

The FBI has been following up on leads received from women who contacted a hotline the agency set up at its New York field office in the wake of Epstein's arrest in July, the sources said in December.

This month, the attorney general of the US Virgin Islands sued Epstein's estate claiming he raped and trafficked dozens of young women and girls on a private island he owned in the territory.

The complaint filed by Virgin Islands Attorney General Denise George significantly broadened the scope of the financier's alleged misconduct, saying it spanned from 2001 to 2018 and targeted girls who appeared to be as young as 11 or 12.

The Virgin Islands is seeking civil penalties plus some assets from Epstein's estimated US$577.7 million estate, including the forfeiture of his two private islands, Little St James and Great St James.

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Britain's Prince Andrew accused of 'zero cooperation' in FBI's Epstein probe - The Straits Times