Daily Archives: May 24, 2020

It all comes down to three things: Show up on time, play fast, and be considerate of others.

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Golf is a strange but wonderful game, full of rules both written and unwritten. The ability to navigate those waters determines whether youre a good playing partner or not, which is arguably an even more desirable status than your ability to play the game itself. If youre a pleasant person to play with, youll find yourself getting all the fancy invites.

Then theres the other side. We asked members of our How To Hit Every Shot instruction Facebook group last week (which you can join yourself right here) for the most annoying things that their playing partners do on the golf course. The comments poured in. So the next time you find yourself wondering why youre not getting asked to play more by your buddies, give this list a good look, and ask yourself: Am I that guy or gal?

Look, no one is actually going to hate you for making putts. But it is worth noting that if youre dropping bombs on the green and winning your match because of it, dont go overboard with the gloating, because then people absolutely will start hating you for making putts.

This is my pet peeve. Understand ball flight, people! If a ball is carving out to the right, theres no chance of it getting left, so dont pretend like there is.

Have some awareness. If its taking you eight shots to get to the green, dont slow the whole group down and make them watch all that. Pick up your ball, sit this one out, and move on.

Dont be that guy. If youre going to have a long pre-shot routine, you better hit it good.

In the words of one of our Facebook members: If youre some random Ive been paired with, take the hint, shut the heck up.

Nobody wants to play with someone who throws a temper tantrum, or someone who jumps for joy two holes later when they make a birdie putt.

Yeah, dont be that creepy guy. She doesnt want any of it and neither do your playing partners.

Again, dont be that guy. If you need to take a call on the course, it had better be an emergency.

Giving advice on the golf course is an art. If you havent mastered it, stay away.

Standing over the ball for a long time is annoying for golfers at every level, so dont do it.

Walk quickly, play quickly, and people will give you a lot of leeway for other things.

Weve all played with the guy who tells you they shot even par last week, even though theyre 10 over through 10 holes on their current round.

Dude, we dont care.

Youre not a Tour pro, so dont act like one. Read your putt quickly, and commit. Youll probably make more that way anyway.

It all rolls up into one thing: Be considerate of others.

Ugh, the worst. Though, to be fair, its all about tone. You can tell people their ball might be OB, just be nice about it.

It really is the least you can do.

Dont patronize my golf game!

Another golden rule: Youre not a tour pro, so dont act like one.

Have some awareness. If you hit a drive 280 yards once, it doesnt mean you hit 280-yard drives all the time.

Cheating, in other words. Dont cheat.

Were all for music on the course, as long its considerate of those around you. If youre going to share the same space as people, dont blare music at them.

One of my pet peeves. If I made a birdie, I want to tee off first. Its a small victory that doesnt come around often, so give me that.

Nobody cares.

Like making lots of putts, it only becomes an issue when you start gloating about it.

A bit of smack talk is fine, but dont go overboard. Dont play dirty.

Leave me and my golf ball alone to sort out our own issues.

One of golfs cardinal rules: Dont run so late that your playing partners have to start worrying.

Oh, I didnt see it.

Im guilty of this too often, but if your buddy hits his ball in some trouble, at least give him a fighting chance of helping him find it.

Wait until your playing partner is off the tee before trying to chase him away.

My divots are my own to repair.

Were playing golf, not hunting for golf balls.

Its just a game. Chill out.

Does it really matter if its 174 to the middle or 176? Just hit the ball.

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The 34 most annoying things that golfers do on the course - Golf.com

Global Ministerial Conference Road Safety Stockholm 2020

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Importance of vision for road safety

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ESSILOR_Road Safety Fund

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(Charenton-le-Pont, 18 May 2020) Effective April 1st, the call to ensure good vision for all road users in the world is now part of the ITC Recommendations for Enhancing National Road Safety Systems. The recommendations were adopted by the governments at the Inland Transport Committee (ITC), the United Nations regulatory platform in the field of inland transport. Essilor celebrates this major milestone, an incentive to generalise eye tests and facilitate access to eyecare, and reinforces its commitment towards safe mobility, as a vision care leader and as a donor to the United Nations Road Safety Fund

This historic achievement builds on the 3rd Global Ministerial Conference on Road Safety, held in Stockholm last February, where main representatives of governments, public and private sectors called for a precise framework to achieve the United Nations road safety-related 2030 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Following the Stockholm declaration, the ITC recommendations for Enhancing National Road Safety Systems, which came into effect on April 1st, represent a major guide towards road safety across the globe. It particularly calls countries to adopt specific rules to ensure appropriate vision for all road users as an important lever to achieve this goal.

With up to 90% of the information needed to take safe decisions on the road coming through our eyes, good vision is a critical factor for the safety of drivers, bikers, cyclists and pedestrians of all age. However, there is still a substantial lack of awareness about the importance of good vision and, access to sustainable eye care remains limited in large parts of the world, with 1 in 3 people still suffering from uncorrected poor vision. Hence, regular vision screenings are a crucial step.

As announced during the Ministerial lunch at Stockholm, Essilor officially joins the United Nations Road Safety Fund (UNRSF) through a US$200,000 cash contribution, becoming UNRSF donor as of 5thMay 2020. It is a major milestone following the successful collaboration with the FIA (Fdration Internationale de lAutomobile)* since 2017 promoting the golden rule Check your vision for all road users. By joining the UNRSF, Essilor reinforces its long-term commitment to contribute to safe mobility across the globe and will continue to innovate for solutions allowing road users to check, correct, protect and enhance their vision.

As part of its efforts, and as countries gradually lift their lockdown restrictions in the context of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the Essilor Group will be launching an international public campaign entitled On the Road again in June 2020. Driven by the hashtag #MaxVisionMaxSafety, it will encourage drivers, bikers, cyclists and pedestrians to enjoy the recovered mobility safely with optimal vision.

David Navarro, VP Vision & Road Safety at Essilor, declared: In a world where people are preparing to get back on the road in the context of the COVID-19 crisis, the recommendations of the United Nations come at a very timely moment. Along with the fundamental role of good vision for all road users, this set of rules is a real game-changer, enabling countries to adapt their national policies accordingly. As a vision care leader and member of the UNRSF, we are thrilled to contribute to safe mobility by boosting awareness, innovation, access to vision tests and vision care everywhere around the globe, in line with our mission of improving lives by improving sight.

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About the Inland Transport Committee (ITC) of the United NationsThe Inland Transport Committee(ITC) is the United Nations platform for inland transport to help efficiently address global and regional needs in inland transport. ITC is serviced by the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE)In the course of the last 72 years, together with its subsidiary bodies, the ITC has provided anintergovernmental forum, where United Nations Member States and other relevant stakeholders come together to forge tools for economic cooperation and negotiate and adopt international legal instruments on inland transport.These legal instruments are considered indispensable for developing efficient, harmonized and integrated, safe and sustainable inland transport systems.Find here: ITC Recommendations for Enhancing Road Safety Systems, adoption release.

About the United Nations Road Safety Fund (UNSRF)The creation of the UNRSF as a UN Multi-Partner Trust Fund in April 2018 has been a historic step in the fight for road safety, as requested in the resolution 70/260 adopted during the UN General Assembly in April 2016. The Fund was created to finance actions in low- and middle-income countries to a) substantially reduce death and injuries from road crashes, and b) reduce economic losses resulting from these crashes.As a unique and multi-stakeholder financing instrument, the Fund gathers concerned UN organizations, governments, private sector, academia and civil society under one umbrella and for common purpose.The secretariat of the Fund is hosted in Geneva by the UNECE. Its administrative agent is the United Nations Multi-Partner Trust Fund Office in New York.For more information, please visit: http://www.unece.org/unrsf/

About the Fdration Internationale de lAutomobile (FIA) and Essilor partnership

In 2017, Essilor and the FIA (Fdration Internationale de lAutomobile) partnered to lead the fight against the lack of awareness on the crucial link between vision and road safety, through the joint promotion of the FIA-created Check your vision golden rule, which stands together with other main risk factors on the road (speed, buckle seat belts, mobile phone usage, check tyres, etc). Their wide awareness campaigns have called public and stakeholders to join and take action

About Essilor Essilor International is the worlds leading ophthalmic optics company. Essilor designs, manufactures and markets a wide range of lenses to improve and protect eyesight. Its mission is to improve lives by improving sight. To support this mission, Essilor allocates more than 200 million to research and innovation every year, in a commitment to continuously bring new, more effective products to market. Its flagship brands are Varilux, Crizal, Transitions, EyezenTM, Xperio, Foster Grant, BolonTM and Costa. It also develops and markets equipment, instruments and services for eyecare professionals. Essilor International is a subsidiary of EssilorLuxottica. The EssilorLuxottica share trades on the Euronext Paris market and is included in the Euro Stoxx 50 and CAC 40 indices. Codes and symbols: ISIN: FR0000121667; Reuters: ESLX.PA; Bloomberg: EL:FP. For more information, please visit http://www.essilor.com

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Essilor celebrates United Nations' recommendation to governments to ensure good vision of all road users - GlobeNewswire

Now that your only choice is working out at home, you have more freedom to ensure that its results will show like with pre-workout snacks.

Fuelling your workout is just as important as making sure that youre doing your squats or deadlifts with the right form. Unfortunately, finding good pre-workout snacks to eat at the right time is almost an art form. Fat and fibre take much longer to digest, so youll want to avoid dishes too high in those to avoid feeling sick.

Eating at the right time is key to ensuring your body has had enough time to process the nutrients. The golden rule is the closer you get to your workout, the more youll want to focus on carbohydrates. Loading up on carbohydrates before an endurance workout has been proven to improve performance since the body breaks it down as quick, easy energy.

Protein is also an important component of a pre-workout snack or meal as it prevents muscles from breaking down, but itll require a bit more time for your body to digest. Whichever you choose, these pre-workout snacks will ensure you get through your workout without feeling sluggish, lethargic or worst of all, hangry.

An apple or banana with the nut butter of your choice can be a quick and easy way to get an energy boost before a tough workout. Because its relatively simple for our bodies to digest, fruit is always a good pre-workout snack. The glucose content is useful for powering muscles during the workout, and there are plenty of vitamins and minerals to replenish your bodys depleted levels with.

Nut butters like peanut or almond butter have protein to support muscle repair while keeping you satiated for longer. The latter also has high calcium and copper content, which plays a part in keeping your brain cell communication and nervous system at peak level.

As a source of two natural stimulants caffeine and theobromine cacao is a coffee alternative which can provide long-lasting energy, especially during early morning workouts. The cocoa bean-derived superfood also acts well as an anti-inflammatory, and provides the brain with a boost of dopamine to improve mood and heighten motivation, helping you to feel more focused during your sessions.

Greek yoghurt is an excellent source of protein, which when combined with high antioxidant fruit such as berries or pomegranate can help decrease inflammation in the body after training. The carbohydrates and fibre from this easy snack are also useful for keeping your energy levels high and your food cravings low. If you have at least 60 minutes before your training starts, go ahead and replace yoghurt with some high-protein cottage cheese for an equally tasty and useful snack.

As a great source of complex carbohydrates with a low glycaemic index, sweet potatoes are one of the best forms of carbs for sustainable, slow-releasing energy throughout an intense workout. Best consumed two to three hours before, the fuss-free snack also provides copper for healthy muscle tissue, and vitamin C, which helps prevent muscle catabolism, or the breakdown of muscle tissue.

Exercise produces free radicals in the body, which can potentially damage cells. When eaten with the skin on, a sweet potato accounts for 100 percent of the daily recommended intake of vitamin A, which acts as an antioxidant to prevent oxidative damage.

Turns out Instagrams favourite brunch order also makes for a good pre-workout meal. Adding a light spread of avocado which has healthy fat thats anti-inflammatory to whole wheat bread can give your fuel stores a steady supply of energy. Adding a hard-boiled egg to this combination will not only prevent you from dealing with the dreaded mid-afternoon sugar crash, but also provide protein, vitamins, and minerals for improved muscle performance and recovery.

Portable and endlessly customisable, fruit smoothies make for a convenient snack or pre-workout meal without making you feel overly full. Adding berries and bananas into yours can make for a tasty combination, but a handful of spinach does plenty for a nutrition boost. To get adequate protein before your workout, a scoop of whey protein or peanut butter will help with sustained energy release and muscle repair.

Best consumed two to three hours before a workout, omelettes are an ideal source of protein and amino acids that prevent muscle catabolism while promoting muscle growth. To supercharge yours, add greens like spinach or kale to the mix, so you get a convenient meal packed full with all the nutrients your workout needs.

Protein pancakes might not have the same fluffy consistency as traditional pancakes made with flour, but they make for much better pre-workout alternatives thanks to its higher ratio of slow-digesting carbs, fibre, and protein. An easy recipe calls for protein powder, a ripe banana, baking powder, salt, and eggs, and can be whipped up one to two hours before hitting the gym. They are, however, known to be quite dense, so for some fluffier stacks, beat the egg whites until they form soft peaks, before folding into the rest of the batter.

This story first appeared on Lifestyle Asia Singapore

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Pre-workout snacks that will help you optimise your workouts - Prestige Online

If you are an artist, designer, writer, poet, singer, performing artist or any other creative talent, you look should reflect what you do and who you are.

Being artistic does not mean choosing offbeat fashion, or wearing out of the ordinary clothing, but reflecting your creativity through your personal style. Individualism is the key word to follow. Some of historys greatest artists have also been some of historys best dressed men as well.

Without diving into the world of radical trends, a creative professional can easily shape a wardrobe to stand out in the crowd and get noticed.

My tip: Universal rules of fashion dont apply to everyone. Find a style that reflects who are or what you do.

Mandarin collar shirts

Just as button down shirts are associated with corporates, Mandarin collar shirts (sometimes also called Chinese or Band collar shirts) are identified with men who are artistic or have a distinct style of their own.

Tuck these shirts into your lowers for a more formal feel or leave them out for a more relaxed or laid back look. Always button up all the way to the top to allow the collars shape to become more pronounced and distinct. A Mandarin collar shirt should speak for itself, so go easy with your styling and limit the number of accessories you wear with it.

Given how they fasten, a Mandarin collar shirt has to be worn without a tie, but that does not mean that you cant wear them under a smart jacket or with a snazzy suit.

You can also layer your Mandarin collar shirt underneath a full sleeve top (or a fitted sweater in winter). Button it up all the way up to your neck, then pick a matching pair of trousers for the perfect weekend or leisure look. You could also wear these shirts over knee length shorts.

Style tip: Make sure that the collar is properly adjusted: If you can slip two fingers between the collar and your neck, then the fit is perfect.

Casual shirts

Choose a shirt that you do not have to button up completely. Alternatively, leave the first few buttons open to lend a more casual look and feel to your overall look.

A spread or round collar is ideal and will compliment almost all face and body types. Some men like to choose a camp collar, but I often find that these collars make your body and shape look rather boxy and wide.

Depending on the season and your personal comfort, you can choose between a half or full sleeve shirt. I normally find it easier to ask men to roll up a full sleeve shirt as and when they want to. That way you can always wear the same shirt two ways full sleeve for a more dressy occasion and rolled up when you want to look and feel more easy.

Style tip: Plain shirts are more versatile than printed ones. You can always mix and match a plain shirt with trousers, jeans and even shorts and make them look different each time you wear them.

Jackets

Multicoloured silk pocket square by Chokore on a structured band collared cut sleeve jacket

Theres no rule that says creative men cant wear jackets or suits. Regardless of who are, a structured and fitted silhouette is always recommended. Suits should look as custom made as possible.

You may want to tweak your jacket with an interesting set of buttons, contrasting coloured or textured lapels or just dressing the look with an eye catching pocket square or tie.

Style Tip: Jackets must end just over or above the hip.

Lowers

Always choose your lowers based on the occasion, time of day, season and your mood. Obviously more formal and dressy occasions demand a pair of smart trousers or dress pants but you can always experiment with the style, cut, colour, fabric and pattern.

I recently came across a very dapper business suit which had a contrasting coloured fabric band that ran from the waist till the ankle. Not only, did this give the (rather short) wearer a longer silhouette, but also made people notice him in the crowd, where everyone else wore plain and staid corporate wear.

Jeans have come a long way from being industrial wear and arent always considered casual dressing, unless of course you course you wear a pair that has been textured, treated or ripped. I rarely recommend a weathered pair, as they have an extremely street look and feel to them. If you are hung up on wearing jeans, try experimenting with unusual colours instead, breaking away from the conventional blue, black and white.

You can variate between a snug, straight or comfort fit. Snug fit will work if your legs are slim or athletic and the lower part of your body isnt either too skinny or too heavy.

Style tip: When in doubt, choose a comfort fit.

Prints

The trick with wearing prints is to choose a pattern that compliments both your body type and your lifestyle. This applies to ties, shirts, jackets, suits and socks.

Some creative men like to wear unusual prints. I have seen just about everything possible: floral, geometric, abstract and unusual prints like bees, images of popular paintings, oriental patterns and even cartoon characters!

The problem with unusual and distinct prints is that you cant repeat them too often as they get noticed and people will easily recall the print whenever you wear it again. In the age of fashion recycling its important to pick prints and patterns that can look different when you wear them.

I always find small and subtle prints both easy on the eye and a safe option for almost any body type. The golden rule: the larger the print, the wider and fuller you are going to look.

Style tip: As prints make a statement, even before you speak - choose a pattern that reflects what you want to say!

ETHNIC DRESSING

Some creative and artistic men I know sport some really well put together ethnic looks. These include, kurtas, achkans and bandhgalas. If you are opting for some of these garments ensure they are either custom made and give you a smart silhouette. Oversized dressing isnt even an option when you are opting for a more traditional look.

Fusion clothing (a mix of two different styles) like Asian western or Indian Western can look very aesthetic, provided of course you dont experiment to the point where you start looking out of place or over the top. Japanese design influences are very strong this year and for good reason their clothes are well structured, often simple and normally very subtle.

Style tip: Carefully tread the fine between festive and traditional clothing.

Colours

Shades of being, brown, grey, black and white are instantly associated with being creative. Having said that, so are some bright colours which make a bold and strong colour statement.

Always choose colours based on your skin tone. Men with dark or dusky complexions look great in white, beige and warm colours, whereas men with pale or light skin tones should opt for pastels or bright colours.

Fabrics

Fabrics like cotton, linen, jute and those made with natural fibres are ideal. Some men also carry off metallics very well, but of course theres always a time, place and season to wear them.

Accessories

Scarves & stoles

Organic cotton stoles in natural dyes by Sonia Singh for Indigo Amour

India has a rich handloom tradition and with fashion going local over global, I suggest investing in a few handmade scarves or stoles with interesting weaves, embroidery or embellishments.

Support our weavers and craftsmen by buying hand spun traditional scarves. If you look out for them, you will find some very beautiful modern (and practical) pieces that no luxury or mass market brand will ever be able to make. You can wear these with just about everything from casual to formalwear.

Socks

Theres been enough talk about coloured or printed socks and I personally feel this was a trend that has thankfully now faded out. At the end of the day, its best to match your socks with your clothes.

Not wearing socks is neither hygienic or a trend. Do not attempt to wear leather loafers or formal shoes without socks. If you are wearing sandals or slippers, you may choose to skip wearing socks, provided of course your feet look clean or you do regular pedicures to keep them looking good.

Jewellery

Neck piece by Ayesha Accessories

An artistic eye knows that one prominent accessory speaks more than many! Keep that accessory simple for the day and eye catching for the night.

Handmade neck pieces that have a natural look and feel will always draw attention. Alternatively you may opt for a jewelled brooch with a formal or evening look. Vintage designs and antique pieces will always be a conversation starter.

Author bio: The author is an image, style and grooming consultant and trainer.

From HT Brunch, May 24, 2020

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Connect with us on facebook.com/hindustantimesbrunch

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Mens style and grooming by Yatan Ahluwalia: Dressing up the creative men - Hindustan Times

Valorant's closed beta is ending soon and its release date is on the horizon, but the game has huge problems that need to be addressed first.

A lot of hype has been building up around Riot Games' new tactical shooter, Valorant.With an interesting set of playable characters, different guns and character abilities to add strategic variation,plus some pretty interesting lore,Valorant appears to be an almost complete game even though it is currently still in a closed beta phase. After about a month, Riot has stopped dropping beta keysand has announced that the closed beta will end on May 28 with the full game launching less than a week later on June 2.

With Valorant's official release fast approaching, there are some huge problems that Riot will need to address. These affectfairness in matches and will affect the longevity of the game if not fixed. To its credit, Riot has acknowledged some of these issues and promised to work on solving them. With that in mind, here are some of the problems that Riot Games will need to fix before June 2.

RELATED:Valorant's 5 Best Easter Eggs and References

Currently,Valorantsports three different maps for players to compete against each other in. Their names are Split, Bind, and Haven. At first glance, these maps appear interesting, as their level of detail, coloring, and settings are distinct from one another and tell a story about Valorant's world. However,after a few games, playersbegan to notice that these maps were designed inefficiently, which affects gameplay.Valorant plays a lot likeCounter-Strike: Global Offensive, and one thing that has keptCS: GOfun is its maps.Thosemaps feel open, never getting in the way of the player and making great use of space.

By comparison,Valorant'smapsare extremely claustrophobic,don't make good use of player space andhave strange rotation routes. They are overly simplistic and very boxy with large walls and little variation, as well as random structures that are only there to break lines of sight. Players can never see beyond the room they are in, and maps are cluttered with corners and angles to hide in.

All of this makes it so it is nearlyimpossible to clear a room without getting shot by an enemy hiding in a corner. Rotations are also way too long simply because of the way the maps are designed. Of course, some of these design choices are probably intentional, meant to be overcome by certain character abilities, but it sometimes feels like players are fighting with the maps rather than one another.

RELATED: Valorant Lore: Who Are the Radiants?

Peeker's Advantage is abit complicated to explain and a controversial topicamong players of first-person shooters. This basically refers to players peeking around a corner having an advantage over a player standing still due to latency in online games.Because of how information is gathered and dispersed within the game to each player's monitor, the one peeking will see theirtargets first. Other factors go into this, such as the distance between players and the distance between cover, buta common theory is that the game's Fog of War technology to combat wall hacks is to blame.

Imagine taking two side steps from out behind a corner to peek down a hallway where another player is standing still. In the time it takes the peeking player to make two full steps and shoot their enemy, the player at the end of the hallway will only see the first step, or maybe even half of that first step, before they die. This essentially means that peeking from behind cover gives the peeking player an extra second to identify, aim and shoot their target while players out in the open will be a second behind because, on their screen, the peeker has barely moved out of cover.

When exploited properly, this means players have no time to react to what shouldhave been a risky and potentially costly peek and makes it that much harder to hold an angle. Riot Gamesmade a statement about the peeker's advantage and attempted to fix it, but the problem still remains.

RELATED:Can't Get Into the Valorant Beta? Try These Games

Gun accuracy is a major mechanic in tactical FPS games and seems to always have one golden rule:moving while shooting should affect the gun's accuracy, causing unpredictable spray patterns that make bulletsless likely to actually hit their target. But inValorant, guns are stillpretty accurate while a player is movingand even when they are jumping. A good example of this are the game's shotguns, which players can jump with to land headshots or use while running up to an enemy. This is one of the reasons shotguns especially good when using Jett due to her high mobility and ability toglide above the heads of her enemies.

Counter strafing is also pointless in Valorant, as shots are still accurate even without the professional mechanic added in. Counter strafing is a technique used a lot by pros in shooters where, while moving sideways,the player adjuststheir aim to accommodate forthe change in positions before coming to a complete stop to make an accurate shot. Timing is keywith this mechanic, butaiming with a gun while moving is far too easy in Valorant. In fact, rumor has it that players have even made their movement and firing keys the same key bind.This is really interesting because Riot Gamesitself has stressed the importance of shooting and intended to make ita consequential action that demands high skill.

KEEP READING:Understanding Valorant's Anti-Cheat Controversy

Star Wars: Skywalker's Saga's Biggest Coward Was Almost a Tragic Sith Lord

Graduated from CUNY Hunter College with a Bachelor's Degree in English Creative Writing. Spent many days self learning and academically learning skills relative to writing fiction, writing non-fiction, writing poetry, photography, film, and media/film editing. Also has experience with web development and is working on a project that acts as an interactive book trailer (linked in "website"). Aspires to be an author of his own work anywhere from articles and essays to novels and poetry. Loves to play video games, writing, making YouTube videos, streaming on Twitch, spending time with family/friends, and playing handball.

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Valorant: What Riot Needs to Fix Before the Game Releases | CBR - CBR - Comic Book Resources

Tom Petty was a man of wisdom who had an unmeasurable impact on artists he would inspire with a level of supreme musicianship. However, his long-time friend Stevie Nicks would be influenced by Petty in an entirely different way back in 1994, a moment which would re-evaluate how the Fleetwood Mac singer views herself as a person as well as an artist.

Their friendship between the two began in 1981 when Nicks decided she wanted to be in Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers which, Im sure we can all agree, would have been an incredible meeting of minds. However, the potential collaboration broke Pettys golden rule of no girls allowed.

During Nicks show at the Covelli Centre in Youngstown on September 15 2017, shediscussedthe making of her 1981 solo album,Bella Donna. Nicks detailed her visit to Atlantic Records then-president Doug Morris and made her pitch for the record: So, listen, what Id really like to do is be in Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers band. He says, No. Thats not going to happen.' Nicks smiled, and relayed Morris next comment: You obviously havent heard Tom Pettys mantra: No girls allowed.'

On not being able to become one of The Heartbreakers, Nicks then decided to settle for the next best thing which was to work with Pettys producer Jimmy Iovine. The pair then started dating and living together, which gave Nicks further chance to live out her dream and get a close-up look inside the world of Tom Petty.

The songwriter would often come around to listen to mixes of the record, the Petty super-fan described hiding in the basement trying undercover which she jokingly likened to being a secret reporter at the White House! Iovine didnt think Bella Donna had a stand out single so recruited Petty to write and performStop Draggin My Heart Around with Nicks which would become one of her biggest solo hits and cement her long friendship with Tom.

Following Pettys tragic death aged just 66 in 2017, Nicks sat down with Rolling Stone and revealed the life-changing stern advice that he handed her back in 1994. The Fleetwood Mac member was going through a turbulent period both personally and professionally following a stint in rehab, she had run into an old flame which had left her shaken to her core and asked Petty to help her create art out of this less than pleasant experience.

Nicks recalled: I asked Tom if he would help me write a song. And he said, No. You are one of the premier songwriters of all time. You dont need me to write a song for you. He said, Just go to your piano and write a good song. You can do that.

The advice that Nicks was given would result in her 2014 song Hard Advice which is a thank-you note to Toms method of tough love which gave her the confidence boost she didnt want to hear at the time but instead needed. She also revealed: The chorus goes,Sometimes hes my best friend.It was reallySometimes Toms my best friend.

I changed it because I knew Tom would not want me to say his name, Nicks said. Thats how well I know him.

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This is the life-changing advice that Tom Petty once told Fleetwood Mac singer Stevie Nicks - Far Out Magazine

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I was born in the St George area but I grew up a Balmain fan.

My brother was five years older than me and a huge Wayne Pearce fan so naturally I would follow whatever he did. After back-to-back heartbreaking grand final losses for the Tigers in the late 80s, I was in my early teens by then and decided it was time I followed my team, the St George Dragons.

Only two years later my team was in the grand final but lost consecutive grand finals to Brisbane. I was convinced I was cursed, so by the time 1994 rolled around, I wasnt paying too much attention to my beloved Dragons, for fear I was the dreaded jinx.

I had finished school the year before and went straight into work as a wedding DJ, so my weekends were non-existent, meaning the only time I could let my hair down was during the week. Thankfully there was a place I could go.

The Roundabout Hotel, or Rounders as it was commonly referred to, was located on Forest Road in Hurstville.

On a Tuesday night they had dollar drinks, so one Tuesday in 1994 I found myself there with my best mate ready for whatever the night may bring.

As we chatted away, my mate stopped mid sentence, his jaw dropped and he struggled to get out his words before blurting out: Oh man, thats Gorden Tallis!

(Photo by Getty Images)

Who is that? I said as I turned around to see who my friend was so enamoured with.

What! And you call yourself a Dragons fan.

He had a point, but as I eluded to earlier, the pain of my fandom jinxing two teams to lose consecutive grand finals within a few years of each other had me trying reverse psychology, and my support was by not paying attention.

My mate went on to explain what a damaging runner this Gorden Tallis was for St George and how he would lead the club back to the the grand final. This was long before YouTube and social media existed, so I had to imagine all my mate told me on this exciting young prospect.

A few hours passed and we were at that point of a night out where it can go either way, but hey, it was dollar drinks and it was my weekend so I wasnt going to bail early.

My mate went and got another round while I made another trip to the bathroom. It was empty, most patrons had left hours earlier, no doubt due to having to get up and go to work early the next day. Not me, though, I was going to sleep in and get up at the crack of noon.

As I stood and let the dollars Id spent flow, the door to the bathroom opened and then slowly closed. A figure stood next to me, but as far away as possible, almost as if they were practicing social distancing way before it became a thing.

I could see a hulking figure in my peripheral and decided to break the golden rule and turn to greet the man mountain, only to realise it was none other than Gordy himself.

I felt like I should say something, so I managed to get out Hey mate, hows your night going?

Tallis turned his head and looked through me like a cane toad ready to crush the cockroach that I was. I dont want to exaggerate, but it was almost as bad as what Gordy did to poor Brett Hodgson some years later in Origin, but with no physical contact.

The silence was deafening, to say the least. I quickly looked down and made a beeline to the sink to wash my hands and leave the bathroom before I was rag-dolled like Brett Hodgson.

Now the night had gone either way. I went and found my mate and said: Lets go after this one.

Go here to see the original:

The night I crossed paths with the Raging Bull - The Roar

Officials were quick to move once the property owner noticed something was amiss.

For many of those who own cats, our furry friends are more than just a housemate. Theyre special companions who we form memorable connections with, even if at times our laser beam-chasing, catnip-loving buddies look down on us humans for our lack of feline superiority. However, in some tragic cases, there are households where cats receive treatment they dont deserve, especially for these 238 underfed cats found living in one house in Sapporo.

Rented out by a couple in their 50s and their son, the house was discovered to be crammed with cats after the building owner paid a visit over missing rent in late March. According to a volunteer from a local animal welfare NPO who was later called in, some cats were so skinny that you could see their bones, and there were numerous cat bones scattered throughout the house. Considering the bleak living conditions of the cats and how malnourished they were, its highly likely that they cannibalized deceased or weakened members of their group in order to survive.

Logically speaking, one might assume the couple and their son were part of a crazy, terribly unethical breeding scheme, which is unfortunately not an unusual circumstance in our modern world. But after further interrogation, it was revealed that they simply didnt spay or neuter their cats, which is an essential process to control local cat populations.

Though its rare in Japan for over 200 animals to be recovered at once, luckily for the found kitties one of Sapporos most active organizations for animal welfare stepped in to ensure all of them could receive adequate care, whether its from the loving support of a foster family or medical assistance from an animal welfare facility.

While its a bit of a surprise that no one in the neighborhoods vicinity heard or smelled the cats, it comes as no shock that many Japanese netizens took to the keyboard to show contempt for the cat owners as well as sympathy for the poor animals:

In reality, the truly pitiful ones here are the owners of these cats for not doing anything to help them.People should be restricted to only taking care of the number of pets they actually can.Imagine being born and dying in the same place its just too tragic to comprehend.

Many Twitter users also paid homage to an old commercial which advocates for the proper care of our feline BFFs. Based off a song from the late 70s called Kanpaku Sengen (Proclamation of the Emperors Regent), the advert is appropriately re-titled as Nyanpaku Zengen, or the Proclamation of the Cat Regent.

The golden rules of cat treatment decreed by Nyanpaku Sengen are the following:

1. When it comes to whats good for my bodily health, dont hesitate even if I scratch back!2. Dont let me wander outside.3. Dont own more of me than you can care for!

The third rule is indeed a resounding sentiment when it comes to this story, and were happy to hear that the cats in this case are in good hands now. If you own a kitty yourself during these strange times, make sure to check-in and give them a good cuddle or a chat if they prefer non-physical contact!

Source: NHK News WebTop image: Pakutaso Want to hear about SoraNews24s latest articles as soon as theyre published? Follow us on Facebook and Twitter!

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A shocking discovery in Sapporo as 238 cats are found living under one roof in dismal conditions - SoraNews24

Chris Fox, CP24.com Published Wednesday, May 20, 2020 7:47AM EDT Last Updated Wednesday, May 20, 2020 2:46PM EDT

Ontario officials are now recommending that anyone travelling on public transit use a face covering to help limit the spread of COVID-19.

Minister of Transportation Caroline Mulroney made the recommendation during a press conference at Queens Park on Wednesday, though she said that anyone under the age of two or with a respiratory condition would be exempted, as will anyone who is not capable of removing the face covering themselves.

She said that her government is also working on a clear set of guidelines for public transit agencies as the economy begins to reopen and transit ridership presumably begins to rise back to more normal levels.

Those guidelines, she said, will include a request that transit agencies admit fewer passengers, ensure the availability of hand sanitizer as passengers enter and exit vehicles and set up plexiglass barriers between riders and operators.

The TTC has previously said that its ridership is down about 90 per cent since the beginning of the pandemic, though there is a thought that more people will be taking public transit in the wake of retail stores being permitted to reopen on Tuesday.

If you are going out for necessities or if you are taking public transit and you can't keep two metres apart, we recommend that you wear a non-medical mask or a face covering, Premier Doug Ford said at Wednesdays news conference. As the chief medical officer has said, anything that covers your nose and mouth can help protect you and people around you."

Federal public health officials have previously said that people should wear non-medical face coverings whenever they are in public and dont believe that they will be able to maintain a distance of two metres from other people, though the province had not explicitly made that recommendation itself.

On Wednesday they did issue that advice, taking the additional step of saying that all public transit riders should also wear masks.

(Chief Medical Officer of Health) Dr. (David) Williams has always said that wearing a mask doesnt necessarily protect you from COVID-19, but it will protect others from you and so previously it wasnt necessary because we were asking people to stay home, stay inside, only go outside if absolutely necessary to get food or get medicine, Health Minister Christine Elliott said when asked why her government hadnt previously made the recommendation. The situation has changed now with the reopening somewhat of the economy and more people will be outdoors and there may be situations where they cant maintain the physical distancing, which continues to be the golden rule.

Read more here:

Public transit riders in Ontario now encouraged to wear face coverings to limit spread of COVID-19 - CP24 Toronto's Breaking News