At Christian Heating and Air Conditioning, Inc., we are committed to providing our customers across southeastern Pennsylvania with a selection of ductless air conditioner units that are high quality, reliable, and economical. These units provide homeowners with a flexible alternative for heating and cooling individual rooms.
Unlike traditional air conditioning units, ductless systems push cold or hot air directly into the desired areas without the use of ductwork throughout the home. Also known as multi-split systems, these units are especially beneficial for those looking to replace window units or space heaters. Installations can be completed in homes, apartments, condos, as well as new construction properties. They can even be used in places that are currently using traditional air systems.
Setup is as simple as connecting refrigerant and electrical lines to an outdoor unit through a small opening in the wall or ceiling. The refrigerant is then cycled between the outdoor and the indoor unit to produce clean, comfortable air.
Our ductless systems are offered in both single and multi-zone application types. Single-zone systems allow you to control the temperature of one room by connecting an outdoor and indoor unit. The ductless unit is placed on the outside of your home and attached to the indoor system by a set of cables. The indoor system is typically placed on the wall or hung from the ceiling.
Multi-zone systems can be used to pump air into one room, throughout the entire home, and anywhere in between. This can include up to eight or nine different zones. One of the most beneficial features of the multi-zone unit is its ability to allow independent comfort levels. For example, people in the master bedroom, living room, and dining room can all enjoy their own desired temperature levels.
If you want to learn more about our ductless air conditioner units, call Christian Heating and Air Conditioning, Inc. today at (215) 372-8636. Don't forget to ask about our current specials and rebates. You can also schedule your free in-home estimate.
Mitsubishi ductless offers heating and cooling solutions for the home in single & multi-zone applications, even ducted models as well.
How to get a Mitsubishi Ductless System installed?
Call or schedule online today to set-up a FREE in-home Installation estimate to find the perfect ductless system for you home.


text:
VIRAT KOHLI'S AR AVATAR COMES TO INSTAGRAM, FACEBOOK
Facebook announced yesterday that the Indian cricket captain Virat Kohli is getting his augmented reality (AR) based avatar on Facebook and Instagram.
The company has announced that Kohli is coming to the two social media platforms in AR with a new AR effect titled 'Bat Talks for India'. This new AR filter will enable fans to re-create Kohli's iconic celebration after recording a century against Australia nearly two years ago by superimposing this effect on their photos and videos and sharing it on Facebook and Instagram.
Facebook said that it has teamed up with Sportsmanias to develop the 3D AR effect for its users. Cricket fans will be able to display their support for team India and Kohli by sharing this effect on their Stories on Facebook and Instagram and via Reels on Instagram.
Instagram users will be able to access this AR filter in Virat Kohli's profile within the effects tab. Instagram users will also be able to access the effects within the Instagram Camera effect tray by opening their camera > tapping the effect icon > swiping right until they find the desired effect.
Facebook users, on the other hand, will be able to access this effect available on Virat Kohli's post with the effect from his Facebook Page.
"I am delighted to collaborate with Facebook to launch the new Bat Talks for India filter and enable my fans to relive one of the most memorable moments from my career, virtually," Kohli said commenting on the occasion.
Tags FACEBOOK Instagram VIRAT KOHLI VIRAT KOHLI'S AR AVATAR
Prachi Prakash
GOOGLE PAY KILLS WEBSITE, ADDS FEES ON INSTANT TRANSFERS
VIVO V20 PRO LAUNCH CONFIRMED IN INDIA FOR DECEMBER 2: HERE ARE THE DETAILS ABOUT THE PRICE AND SPECIFICATIONS
BRAVE BECOMES FIRST BROWSER TO INTEGRATE NATIVE PEER-TO-PEER IPFS PROTOCOL
AIRTEL RS. 78, RS. 248 DATA ADD-ON PACK LAUNCHED WITH BUNDLED WYNK SUBSCRIPTION
VIVO Y31 LAUNCHED IN INDIA WITH TRIPLE REAR CAMERAS, 5, 000mAH BATTERY: PRICE, SPECS
We are here to drive you into the technology world. We are aiming to provide all the latest information and update tech news.
© 2019 TECHNOVLOGY - YOUR SOURCE OF TECHNOLOGY. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


In 2010 I sat in a lecture hall at the University of Toronto, hearing a renowned spiritual teacher give a presentation. He spoke through spirit and answered questions by the audience. Without my hand raised, he chose me. He said he could sense many guides around me and knew I had a question. At this time I did not have any close family or friends on the other side to ask him about, but I did have a deep wondering about my life. I struggled with anxiety and a deep sense of impending something that I couldn't define. I felt that something was shifting in me or that something was about to happen. I did not know how to put it into words. I asked him about it. He sort of laughed at me and asked my age, which I sheepishly responded "twenty..." He then told me "You're young. You have lots of time, you'll figure it out"
I'm not sure if he brushed me off because he truly wanted me to figure it out for myself, or if he just didn't know the right words to say to point me in the right direction. If I knew what I know now then, I would have told myself that it's just the beginning. I was waking up.
We never know we have been asleep until we wake up. You look at the clock and realize you've accidentally fallen asleep for a few hours. Or maybe years. Some of us live our lives half asleep. Going through the motions rather than growing through them. Not willing to wake up and look at ourselves and the baggage we are unknowingly holding on to, or perhaps refusing to let go of.
I have always been afraid of the dark. There is so much around you that you cannot see or protect yourself from in the dark. Yet, there is so much more we are blinded to by our egos even when the lights are on. My darkest moments have also been most magical. Bad things do not happen in life. It's our ego that labels and perceives these experiences as "bad things", when they are really just experiences, stepping stones to the next level of soul growth.
When going through the most grief in my life, I didn't suppress my pain with drugs or alcohol, but I did find other ways to suppress it. Through work, outings, keeping myself more busy than I could handle. When looking for a relationship - I was so afraid to be alone, because I was not willing to look at my inner self - I suppressed the opportunities to see myself by putting myself into the arms of unhealthy relationships. What was I afraid to see? Shouldn't I have been more afraid of what I was not seeing? I knew I struggled with trusting men. As a result, I chose men who I knew were not trustworthy. It took the pressure off to know they were not faithful or honest from the beginning. I dated men who were already committed to other women and didn't feel guilty about it so I didn't either. Until I began to wake up and look at my belief systems and patterns. I was afraid of getting hurt, yet the walls I put up were more painful than the risk of having an open heart. It hurt others in the process, and I've worked hard to forgive myself for that.
When I woke up, I realized that I had been suppressing my own intuition and taking a major detour from my healing. I realized once I uncovered myself from my shell, that there was so much to love about myself. That I could rejoice and be proud of the baby steps I took. The difference was, this time when I would fall down after each step I didn't criticize myself for it. "You did this to yourself, you're such a victim, you can't even take three steps"... you never say that to a baby learning to walk, do you? Each step became a victory. I ended relationships that I knew were unhealthy. I said no to them and said yes to me. I learned how much I love myself and I soooooo love my alone time. Warsan Shire said "I'll only have you if you're sweeter than my solitude" and I finally understood what that meant. I no longer accepted dates because they were a better alternative than being alone. I said no, knowing that being alone was sweet. That I enjoy being with myself. "You get crushed like grapes until you decide to be fine wine" - Caroline Myss.
When I realized this, that question I had asked the spiritual teacher in at the University of Toronto didn't matter any more. That search and feeling of longing for something I could not define was gone. "We're not here to search for happiness, we are here to follow our joy" - Robert Holden.
Twenty six hour wait home.
Is he on a train?
Is he in a van?
Is he in the sky?
If he's not here soon he'll make me cry.
Never mind, I found the guy.
On our way home soon?
I have never had so much fun every day. I come home to warmth and affection, laughs and excitement. I finally understand what it means when couples say they are married to their best friend. And that home is where your husband is. When something happens, he is the person I want to tell... the most basic indicator of love.
I have put together a list of pros and cons about living forever. Unless you have the superpower to stop and start time whenever you want, and be able to age at whatever pace you'd like, I am now on the fence about this one. I used to be jealous of this one species that can live forever. It is called "Turritopsis nutricula" and they can live forever by continuously transforming their cells over and over. And I think, if they can do it, maybe we can too.
Living forever has a lot of consequences and heartbreak. Although you'd never have to worry about procrastination because there literally, will always be a tomorrow. You'd fall in love over and over again with the people you meet, only to see them leave eventually. You could try every single career you were ever interested in because you have enough time to learn about them and experience them all! You could find the answer to life (or something like it), you could find a cure for disease, you could end world hunger and bring on world peace.
But maybe dying holds you back from the next step. You never really know what's on the other side, right? Maybe it's a reunion with everyone you've ever had in your life. Lately I've been entertaining the idea that maybe dying is just a way of teleporting. Maybe when you die, you don't actually "die" but you just leave earth and end up on a different planet, like Mars. And all your lost loved ones that died before you will be there waiting for you, and they've been living there ever since. And for now all you can do is wait until your other loved ones take the same path, or else you'll have to wait until technology is invented to allow earthlings to travel to Mars to come visit.
Maybe life is just like a theatre production. People will enter and exit your life, stage left and right. When it's all over you can meet up back stage and celebrate every individual that made up the play of your existence.
Writing is isolating. You do it alone. Even if you're writing in a crowded room, you're writing alone. How do you be in the world and also be alone? Be inspired by the world but then also have that alone time to gather and write? Writing takes balance and discipline. It takes that part of your brain that is cranking the gears on the side to work bits and pieces of conversation and daily experience into something you can write about. My brain is always taking notes.
When I started writing was when I learned how beautiful it is to be alone. And how being alone doesn't mean lonely. I love being alone. I love my me-time. I love spending time with myself. It wasn't always that way, but now that I've discovered it... It's a good place to live from.
Loving yourself enough that you get to choose from the heart rather than from fear. Not staying in a relationship because you're afraid to be alone. Not doing anything that doesn't benefit your life in some way. Choosing to be with people who inspire you, encourage you, make your life better. Having no guilt saying "NO" to the ones who don't. Putting yourself first and being unapologetic about it.
Basements. Sometimes they are used for storage. Sometimes for extra luxury space in your home. I'm consciously tuning into my deepest darkest corners for the clutter I may be holding on to. The things sitting there that I've forgotten about. The stuff I've pushed to the side with the intention of "getting around to it eventually". The items that I keep thinking I may one day need it, but likely won't ever... My house looks like this too, and I have no doubt that it's a reflection of myself. I moved to this house over a year ago. There are still boxes in the basement waiting to be unpacked. We all have things like these. Again, a reflection. There always seems to be baggage you forgot you had.
In my defense, I have done a lot to make the basement into "extra luxury space" rather than storage, and a lot of the boxes that are left unpacked are because they're waiting for the renovations to be completed, whenever that may be.
I moved in with my Gido to help take care of him after my Baba passed away, so my home doesn't really feel like "mine". But as long as my Gido is here there is nowhere else I'd rather be. I wouldn't trade hearing his same stories over and over again for anything. Or having to monitor what he puts in the freezer. Or making sure he eats more than just mayonnaise sandwiches every day. Or always living with the scent of Listerine and Apple Cider Vinegar because he believes they are the best home remedies for just about anything.
We are in the process of renovating. We have cleared out enough junk to fill three 5-tonne dumpsters. Sometimes as we are throwing out the junk, Gido stops us and says "wait, don't throw that away"-- pointing at a broken chair. I know he has good intentions. I know he thinks he can fix it and make it better. But that's also how we have enough junk here to fill three dumpsters, thinking he'll one day get to it and mend everything he stored away. But the truth is, you can't fix everything. You can't make everything better. Take what you need, keep what's sentimental, let go of the rest.
As I clear out space I feel a shift in myself happening. We're in a period of transition with the change of seasons, the transformation of our home, and adjustments in our routines. As I clear out space in my home I feel that space is clearing in my life. Things that no longer serve me are falling away, new experiences are showing up unexpectedly. And then there's this feeling like something else exciting is on it's way. It's like I'm waiting on the platform for a train to arrive but not sure what will greet me. Whatever life brings I know it will be good.
In the meantime... I have another dumpster to fill.
I was told a story once, about a group of high level business executives getting a tour of NASA. They were brought to all the special behind the scenes areas, shown the most incredible awe-inspiring technology. They met some of the renowned explorers and inventors who have done such amazing things. An amazing experience to see all of this.
Along their way in the tour, one of the executives struck up a conversation with a janitor he saw sweeping the floors. The businessman said: "What do you do here?"
The man momentarily stopped sweeping, pointed up at the sky and said: "I'm putting men on the moon".
Thinking of this story inspires me so much and makes me think about my leadership in any role I'm in. There is no job that is beneath me. There is not one person that doesn't deserve my attention. Make a positive impact on every single person.
Say "hello", say "good job", say "thank you!"
Last night I had a dream with my cousin.
I had been talking about her just the other night and wished I would have a dream of her again soon. Shortly after she died I had several dreams of her. It feels amazing to hear her voice and see her again.
Sure enough, in my dream last night I found us taking an art class together. She's an amazing artist. I thought it was funny that here we were, sitting at two blank canvases together. She told me that she would come to me in my dreams to help me begin therapy to heal me since she's passed, and that she would teach me. I asked, "What do you mean? What will you teach me?"
And as she started to tell me, I was jolted awake by the sound of my Grandfather's emergency button being activated. He wears an alert bracelet with a button he can press in the event of an emergency to call for help. This has only happened once before in July, when I arrived home to ambulances flashing outside of my house. A moment of pure panic. I yelled, woke up Wayne, bolted out of bed, burst out the door... to silence. The alarm wasn't going off. Gido was fine. He was sleeping. If anything the only sound I could hear was his snoring.
I dreamed up the emergency alarm too.
What will she teach me?!!!
"That's A Lie, I Wasn't Born Ready... I Had To Be Induced"
Just as I can look at someone on the street and make up their life story, I wonder if coroners do the same: uncovering a pretend biography based on the autopsy.
At the end of my life, I wonder how much they could find based on the marks left on my body.
They'll find my bony hips and piano fingers. Two circular scars from chicken pox: 3 years old. Right ankle, a burn scar from a date gone bad: 18 years old. Weak right wrist after breaking it in dental school. Poor wrists overall: being a dental hygienist. Bone indents in the left shin: summers playing at Baba and Gido's. Flexible elbow: dislocating it twice under the age of 4... didn't mind it the second time cause it meant more animal crackers from the doctor. Loonie shape scars on both knees and my big toe at 8, from tripping over my pool toys in Mexico, and then Gido thinking listerine was a good substitute for polysporin.
A brain that couldn't get to sleep. An imagination that was saw monsters in the dark even as an adult. Three healed but still visible scars over the heart. Small piece missing and location unknown. Vocal cords scratched. Music still playing in my head between my ears. Small red dots on my fingers, needle poke injuries and blood sugar tests. I wasn't diabetic but I tried to be compassionate.
Somehow these experiences have left a roadmap on my body, each leaving memories. Some good, some bad, some bad at the time but good once its over with-- like most things usually. In the way that everything happens for a reason, even if the reason is just for the next thing to happen.
Set It Free & Let It Be.
like taking rocket fuel from a rocket so that it might fly higher.
We guard ourselves to avoid getting hurt. We clam up in our shells and hide behind these self-made walls. We think we are protecting ourselves. We save money for worst-case scenarios that will likely never come true. We say we love ourselves, but we hide. We prepare for bad things to happen. And we wonder why we create lack and illness in the world.
How hard is it to let go? I sit in a women's group every week and we talk about our anxiety, stress, fears, insecurities, and how much we wish we could just "let go". Well, why not? Why can't we just do it? It should be just that easy, right? What is my insecurity serving me? How do my fears help me? When is anxiety ever good for me?
I have this crazy brain that imagines up the worst possible things that could happen. We want positive things to manifest but we're living in a chaotic environment that distracts us from thinking those positive thoughts. Sometimes when my imagination comes up with these nightmare situations that may occur, I ride it out. I let myself imagine every single horrific intricate detail... and then, because I can control my imagination, I make up this big stick of dynamite and blow it up. Thanks, but not happening. If I can control my imagination and take that thought and say, "not gonna happen", I can use my imagination to create all the good positive things I want to occur in my life and make THAT happen.
When you think something is too good to be true, or you want something so bad you're scared to lose it before you even have it, when you hold on so tightly because you want it to come true... holding on tightly doesn't let what you want slip into your hands and allow you to have it. People. Money. Love. If I hold on too tight, it can break within my grasp. So I let it flow freely and I do my best to trust. When I pay for something, when I give love, when I appreciate someone, I think "There's more where that came from. Money flows easily and frequently. There is an endless amount of love here." - instead of worrying about spending and fretting about reciprocation.
How do I know it was meant to happen? Because it did.
And if I held on to that too tightly, how would the other amazing, wonderful, completely meant-to-be opportunities flow through my hands if I was grasping too tightly to what I thought I wanted?
If I Could Speak To That Old Me Now, I'd Remain Silent.
If it's appeared on your life radar, this is why: to teach you that dreams come true, to reveal that you have the power to fix what's broken and heal what hurts; to catapult you beyond seeing with just your physical senses; and to lift the veils that have kept you from seeing that you're already the person you dreamed you'd become.
We accept the love we think we deserve. Sometimes we find ourselves in a pattern of the same relationship over and over again. In a series of abusive, negative, toxic, or unfaithful relationships, the common denominator is you. It's not them, it's you.
I've experienced a bit of them all, and I struggled to leave each time. The toxic, the unfaithful, the abusive. The serial cheater, the manipulative, the mindgames, the one that got rough when he drank. Removed from the situation, I'd be the first to tell someone to get out of the experiences I found myself in. I used to wonder why my parents never said anything when they saw me suffering in relationships, but I would I have listened anyway? We have to learn our lessons the hard way. We have to fall hard and hit bottom before we decide to get up on our own and continue on our search for what we want.
We want to be cherished.
We want to be accepted and understood.
But what if there's a part of us that doesn't believe we can have what we want?
What happens when we find the person that sees us for who we are? Loves us the way we want to be loved? Treats us the way we want to be treated?
Well sometimes... We run. We hide. We make excuses. We sabotage.
I said that I want the one that sees me for me. Who loves me for who I am, not what I am. But for being warm hearted, and family oriented, and emotional, and sensitive, and likely headed in several different places at the same time but grounded in priorities and what's important.
One of the things I'm learning right now is being who I am without having to explain it to anybody, and being able to share myself with someone at the same time. Because I want to be able to share myself with somebody. And I want to find the right person that shows me how.
but in life we are reborn many times.
I am declining invitations. I am letting the phone ring.
I call in 'sad', or 'tired' to life's obligations if I need to spend time with myself.
I broke a mirror last week. There is a crack in my reflection. There is a long line right down the centre of my own image. We are meant to look deeper at ourselves when we are broken. We need to be brutally honest and confront what we feel, even if it hurts. We need to accept what is, even if we don't like it. We need to display what we are made of, even if we are still figuring it out.
There are many arms outstretched. There are many hearts being offered to fill the piece of mine that is missing. There are tears being shed on my behalf when I've cried out all of my own. My heart is beating in a new rhythm that I am still learning.
This is what it looks like. This is what you're doing. This is why it hurts.
And then put back in it's place to say "Now deal with it, and have nice day!"
The Universe doesn't throw any more at us than it thinks we can handle.
In the past month I have experienced some tough lessons, some heartbreaking losses, some life altering changes.
I asked for more consistency in my life, so I take responsibility for manifesting this.
I asked for people I can trust. To know who is in my life for the right reasons. For love that is transparent and kind. A solid foundation. A stable home. A strong support system.
I let go of the damage and made room for forgiveness. That hurt, but it's getting better.
I bought a new car and let go of the one with all the funny quirks. That was exciting.
My grandmother's health took a turn for the worse. I was there for her last moments. I wrote a eulogy for her funeral. I watch my grandfather every day trying to recover from losing his other half. That is devastating.
I moved houses. That was tiring. Stressful at times. Still hoping to find time for a nap soon.
I was laid off from my job and hired by another company a few hours later. I'm still with the company as needed and working with them from my new job, so it's not goodbye. Definitely disappointing, but change is good. The new job comes with many exciting opportunities and fulfilment.
New job, new home, new car. I can't imagine a clearer slate.
Here's to new beginnings and trusting that everything happens for a reason.
Understanding that the Universe made these choices on my behalf to give me what I need.
This or better, thank you.
These words have been running through my head this week... Trying to write but I'm not sure how to put down these emotions yet.
Because in the countdown to death the question of "why" melts into "when".
Move pen move. Write me a mountain. Because headstones are not big enough.
My mother says stop it. Write me a poem to make me happy.
She smiles and says "gotta go"
First of all, you slept last night. Which is a big accomplishment in itself considering what you've been through.
Second. When you awoke in the morning, you had the strength to pull yourself out of bed.
You hesitated when you got to the door, didn't you? You half-turned the door knob. Stopped. And considered turning back. Just for today, can I pretend I don't exist?
But you do. You're here. And your existence is what pulls others out of bed on the mornings they don't necessarily want to face the world. You might feel different from everyone else and it might make you feel alienated at times, but don't you remember? That was part of the plan.
That's when you remember the people in your life who see you for who you are and aren't scared by it. The ones that hold your heart when you don't want to. When you don't want to take responsbility for the way your heart beats, they remind you why it does.
It's reflected in the goodnight and good morning texts. The messages left for you to find in surprise places. The flowers delivered to your work. The meals dropped off at the door, knowing that your mind isn't always focused on taking care of yourself.
You smiled while reading this, knowing exactly what I'm talking about, and who those people are for you. How much they mean to you, and how grateful you are for their existence. And whether you're conscious of it or not, there are many that are grateful for yours.
Don't worry about tomorrow, because it's not here yet.
Even if it was just for today, you made it.
"Keep Your Crayons Sharp, Your Sticky Tape Untangled, and Always Put The Tops Back On Your Markers"
This blog claims no credit for any images/quotes posted on this site unless otherwise noted. Images and quotes on this blog are copyright to its respectful owners. If there is an image or quote appearing on this blog that belongs to you and do not wish for it to appear on this site please email with a link to said image and it will be promptly removed.


text:
Infosys brings back 200 stranded employees, kin amid COVID-19, new US visa rules
The US market has contributed 61.6 per cent to the Infosys' revenue as of the quarter ended March. Last year, it opened a technology centre at Phoenix, Arizona, to accelerate innovation for its American enterprises.
Updated Jul 07, 2020, 10:52 AM IST
Infosys brings back over 200 of its employees and their families from US
India's second-largest software developing firm Infosys has brought back over 200 of its employees and their families -- some of them whose visas were expired -- in a chartered flight from the United States in the wake of coronavirus crisis. The IT firm's chartered flight took off from San Francisco and landed in Bengaluru on Monday.
"COVID has impacted our lives in unimaginable ways. Some of the Infosys employees were stranded in the US because of their visa expiration. All international flights were suspended because of the pandemic," Sanjeev Bode, an Infosys senior executive wrote on his LinkedIn page.
Recently, the US administration extended the ban on immigration and non-immigrant worker visas, including H-1B and H-2B till the end of 2020. America has a cap of 85,000 total H-1B visas for each year, which is most popular among Indian IT companies
After the H1B visa ban, several Indian IT employees have stranded in the US. In fact, NASSCOM had requested the US administration for a 90-day grace period for professionals to depart the country due to the visa ban. However, the US government has not taken any initiative so far.
Infosys has 17,709 employees in the US, and many of its Indian employees continue to be based in the US on H1-B visas, The Times of India reported. Interestingly, the US market has contributed 61.6 per cent to the Infosys' revenue as of the quarter ended March. Last year, it opened a technology centre at Phoenix, Arizona, to accelerate innovation for its American enterprises.
Also read: Zomato struggles to get $100 million funding from Ant Financial amid India-China tension
Also read: Petrol, diesel price today: Diesel prices hiked in Delhi; check out latest fuel rates
Published on: Jul 07, 2020, 9:29 AM IST
Posted by: mansi jaiswal, Jul 07, 2020, 9:29 AM IST


Thank you for the report. I was able to reproduce this behavior so I've created JIRA UE-53024. Our develoipers will be investigating further. Follow that link to monitor the status of the report.
Having the same(?) problem here and want to add in case it helps: If the distances between the HISMC and its instances are huge the problem amplifies and seems to depend on the camera position and angle relative to the instance. Also the problem occurs with only 2 instances added, contrary to the statement in the bug report which states that the problem may only occur from 3-4 instances on.
Have some problems (HISM problem with culling). I create simple test scene for this problem and reproduce this in 4.18. In 4.19 version this problem is not reproduced. May be it fixed in 4.19 not in 4.20 (fix version in bug UE-53024) ?
GetInstancesOverlappingSphere reports instances that have been removed.
Hierarchical Instanced Static Meshes no longer distance cull individually, in 4.15?


text:
Home/SMEStreet Jobs/Gartner Survey Reveals Growth of Digital Understanding Among Workers Post COVID-19
Collaboration TechnologiesOffice TechSMEStreet JobsTechnology For SMEs
Gartner Survey Reveals Growth of Digital Understanding Among Workers Post COVID-19
SMEStreet Edit Desk Follow on Twitter Send an email April 27, 2021Last Updated: April 27, 2021
Nearly one in five workers (18%) consider themselves to be digital technology experts since COVID-19, while over half consider themselves proficient, according to a new survey from Gartner, Inc. An increased reliance on digital collaboration tools and lack of in-person IT support while working remotely altered many workers' relationships to technology.
"Workers seized on the crisis to improve their mastery of a wide range of technologies and applications in the space of a few months," said Whit Andrews, distinguished research vice president at Gartner. "Today's workplace is vastly different from 2019's, and CIOs must prepare their technology stacks, office spaces, IT teams and mindsets to embrace the new future of the digital workplace."
Mr. Andrews presented the results of the Gartner 2021 Digital Worker Experience Survey during the Gartner Digital Workplace Summit, which is taking place virtually in the Americas today through Tuesday. The survey was conducted in November and December 2020 among 10,080 full-time employees at organizations with 100 or more employees in the U.S., Europe and Asia-Pacific, to better understand workers' technological and workplace experiences and sentiments.
Workers Shift Device Preferences
The Gartner survey found that digital workers increased their reliance on portable devices during 2020. Workers reported an 11% increase in the proportion of their work time spent on laptops, smartphones or tablets. The proportion of their time spent on desktops declined by 8%.
The survey also showed a rise in the number of workers using personal technology for work purposes. Over half of respondents reported that they use applications or web services that they personally obtained – most of which are employer-sanctioned – for collaborating with other workers. The same proportion (55%) are using personally owned devices for their work at least some of the time.
"When organizations were forced to go remote in early 2020, workers started to rely on their own devices or programs they discovered themselves to make up for their employers' technology shortcomings," said Mr. Andrews. "In 2021, organizations can embrace this trend by expanding the choice of devices and software programs that workers can use with little or no friction."
Flexible Work Supports Increased Productivity
One of the main questions lingering among executives regarding the impacts of the last year is remote work's effect on productivity.
According to the Gartner survey, among employees whose work-from-home time increased since January 2020, 36% reported an increase in productivity, while 35% reported no change. Flexibility in working hours was the most cited factor enabling greater productivity, selected by 43% of respondents.
"Now that many workers have had a taste of the flexibility that remote work offers, it will be a key factor in hiring and talent acquisition," said Mr. Andrews. "In fact, 69% of workers in our survey said they were more likely to consider a new role that allows them to work from a location of their choice, and 64% were more likely to consider a role that allows for flexible hours."
A quarter of workers surveyed did report that their productivity fell. Connectivity issues and technology changes were among the top reasons cited for decreased productivity.
"Digital proficiency becomes even more essential for productivity when working remotely," said Mr. Andrews. "CIOs should extend worker-to-worker lateral mentoring and training to ensure that no employees are left behind as technology mastery becomes the expectation."
COVID 19 Digital Transformation Gartner
Government Blockchain Association (GBA) Announces the First Release of "The Impact of Cryptocurrency Adoption on Government"
COVID Features Drove 230% Growth For MyGate Mumbai in FY20-21
Global Drone Airspace Security System Market is Expected to Grow on CAGR of 28.5% : Report
Flipkart is Strengthening Kirana Delivery Ecosystem in Haryana
Collaboration Technologies


This Editor attended last Wednesday's (10 May) d.Health Summit 2017–Successful Aging 2030, sponsored by the University of Rochester and West Health. It was an expansive, well-organized and attended seminar at the New York Academy of Sciences at the impressive new 7 World Trade Center. Panels covered economic, housing, health outcomes, government policy, technology innovation, and investing factors key to one central fact: that in the US, nearly 20 percent of the population will be over 65 by 2030. Worldwide, the numbers are already much higher as of 2015: Japan (26 percent), Italy (22), Greece, Germany, Portugal (21) with nearly all of Europe already near that magic number (World Bank).
Please read the full article in Telehealth & Telecare Aware.


i'm working with small geodes from mexico. i was sanding the edges and some of the dirt from the wet sandpaper got inside and i wanted to check the easiest safe way to clean this. these are very small and i used a toothbrush and cleaned them somewhat but the crystals are micro and when i look with a magnifyer i can see that they could be cleaned better.
without using any special chemicals, how can i get this druzy clean?
water will not harm or erode the crystals will it?
In my experience, quartz crystals in geodes are very stable in water. The largest concern, and I've only had this happen to one geode, is mineral deposites from hard water. You could used distilled water if you're concerned about it.
That may not be dirt you are trying to scrub out though. It may be staining from something if the geode had a crack or hole in it, or it could simply be the color of the crystals themself. Mexican geodes often contain smokey quartz, which is dark in appearance, or amethyst, citrine, or ametrine (a combination of amethyst and citrine). There may also be inclusions. Some Mexican geodes will also contain other minerals such as tourmaline...typically the black variety. All of these can be potentially mistaken for "dirt".
If it is dirt then try using something with super fine bristles. Toothbrush bristles are often too large to get between the cracks. If it's a hearty geode, and not fragil, you may try a water pic. A lot of people are fond of ultrasonic cleaners but you'd want to make sure your geode isn't too fragil to put in one.
Have you tried - or thought of trying - an ultrasonic cleaner? They are about the best thing going for cleaning dirt and debris out of nooks and crannies in intricate specimens. If you do try one, try it on one of your less-prized pieces first - make sure it doesn't do any damage to anything before you start working on cleaning your better specimens.
I'll also "second" Jenna's recommendation for using distilled water. This can be pretty important - probably even more-so when using an ultrasonic cleaner.
I just want to add that in Mexican geodes, I have never heard of tourmaline being found in them. Per Min Rec Sept/Oct 1972 minerals found in these geodes are quartz, amethyst, calcite, hematite, todorokite, goethite, apatite, kaolinite, gypsum, dahillite, birnessite, chalcedony, cryptomelane, opal, pyrolusite, ramsdellite, and rancieite. This was based on a scanning electron microscopy study by Robert Finkelman, John Matzko, Ching Chang Woo, John white, and Walter Brown.
theses are tiny little things but they have beautiful druzy inside. i was using polishing powder to get the edges nice, but some of the residue from the wet mixture got inside and i can't get it completely clean. i'm just using water and a very fine little brush.
is there any household item that i can use to rinse them and leave them sparkling? i'm making a piece of jewelry with one and i want it to sparkle good, but i'm not having any luck with just water.
i don't have a water pick and these are so small that i would be kind of difficult. just wondering if anything would work by just rinsing?
Eric, I use a laundry strength soak (45 min.)of Oxy-clean to remove dirt(or mud) from quartz geodes. If your sure its only quartz and its still not shiny after rinsing, try a another bath in white vinegar(20 min.) and rinse. Its worked well for me!
This was more of a helping hand than a correction. I do not know nearly as much about minerals as I'd like to. I guess that would be all of us though. Las Choyas and Trancas geodes are some of the most amazing geodes on this planet. Something like 17 different rare Mn oxides are found in them. Geodes are my specialty!!
I have a passion for geodes as well! I like the element of surprise I guess. I appriciate the wealth of knowledge that can be found here, in fact the reason I began posting on mindat is because I recently expanded my collection (didn't get richer, just lucky!). The specimens did not come with any information and I quickly found my knowledge lacking in a few areas. Anyway thanks again for your input. Correction or not it is always appriciated.
I'm holding the McRocks 4th annual geode hunt the last weekend of march in Keokuk, if your interested in coming please check the mssg boards over at mcrocks.com.
i forgot to mention that i used cerium oxide for polishing so the residue inside is cerium. just don't want to try something that has a bad reaction to this residue.
maybe i will try the vinegar?
lemon juice.. citric acid? harmful?
a high pressure spray will be your best bet to clean out cerium oxide. Your not going to find an acid that will disolve cerium. You can make your own sprayer by buying a hose end cap and drilling a small hole in it create pressure enough to clean out the cerium.
A few seconds blast from a little hand held fabric gun, the kind used by your local dry cleaner will almost certainly leave the drusy quartz crystals in your geode sparkling. You might even talk your local drycleaner into letting you use it. You probably could even use what ever solvent he has in it to clean your geode as well as water.
When there are calcite formations in geodes.... are there any type of cleaners that you should steer clear of????
I wouldnt want to destroy the calcite formations..
Quartz ofen has various degrees of iron hydroxides (rust) on it, yellow to rusty colored, and if it isn't thick, "Iron-Out," found in most areas (haradware, grocery stores) often works well. Clean the geode off with a tooth brush and mild cleanser. Rinse. Sprinkle Iron-Out on the specimen until thoroughly coated. Put 2 layers of wet paper towel everywhere on the druse too (over the Iron-Out coating). (Creates local concentration.) Place in appropriate-sized Zip-Lock type of bag, top off with water and close. Add just enough water to be able to close the bag with no bubbles in it. You don't want the water to have access to air, because it is taking oxygen out of the rust. Otherwise, it will take oxygen from the air as well, loosing effectiveness. Check after two hours, let soak longer, but not too long, if necessary. Good luck, Ken C.
this seems like a job for the Shark hard surface steam cleaner-it has a little wand that shoots high pressure steam/hot water out of an orifice (it also comes with an angle attachment) I bought it at K-Mart for forty bucks. I works great on quartz! Just soak the specimen in warm water or heat lightly in an oven to advoid thermal shock.
Or a jet of pressurized water? For delicate specimens I hold them upside-down and mist with a spray bottle. The dirt and debris run off. A little more aggressive: use a dental Water-Pic. More aggressive yet: a jet tip on a water hose.
Sal, I am going to have to go looking for one of those Shark steam cleaners!
What caused this and how can I get them clean? Soak in vinegar?
Kathy, many minerals can form as a druse - it a textural term. Before attempting to give cleaning advice we need to know what the druse is. I have specimens with drusey quartz, calcite, chabazite, mimetite, mottramite, etc. Can you post a clear & sharp pic of the specimen?


text:
Tag Archives: adaptation
Film Review: 'Never Let Me Go' (2010)
IMDb / Ebert / Hoberman
Starring Andrew Garfield, Keira Knightley and Carey Mulligan
Written by Alex Garland
Based on the novel by Kazuo Ishiguro
Directed by Mark Romanek
Rating: C (Careful)
Book-to-film adaptations are always a challenge. They're a challenge for filmmakers trying to translate the feel of the written word for the screen, and they're a challenge for audiences already enraptured with the book to accept with open minds.
Here's a case in point. I love Kazuo Ishiguro's Never Let Me Go. I read it in 2007, a couple of months into my stay in Japan, and it completely blew me away. It was a brilliant idea, crafted into a grand and brilliant story, and written in an endearing matter-of-fact style through the voice of a devastatingly sweet and immature narrator. For all its superficial coldness, the depth of feeling and heart contained in its simple language gave rise to such massive potential for an emotional response, and that response would take you down as many rabbit holes as you let it. I felt like I understood people, and our potential as humans, better after reading this novel.
Of course it was always going to be made into a film. How could it not? All of the elements were there: a high-concept idea, a love triangle, Oscar-baiting pathos and (most importantly) a recognisable and well-established brand name. Surely the film would write itself?
Well, it didn't. In Alex Garland, he of novels The Beach and Tesseract as well as the script for Danny Boyle's beautifully misguided Sunshine, the production pulled in a very savvy and thoughtful writer – and I'm sorry to say that he went the wrong route. That matter-of-fact prose I mentioned earlier could never directly manifest on the screen, but Garland, bless him, tries his damnedest. What came across as innocence in the book translates to coldness and a kind of dull, grey superficiality on the screen.
As a result, some very well-intentioned and capable performers flounder before our eyes. Save Mulligan's near-constant sad, tilted smirk and Knightley's frequently insane toothy grin, all three are surprisingly affecting. Or at least they would be if they weren't lumbered with overly direct dialogue, a pace that never flows, and some of the most ridiculous wigs and outfits this side of Mamma Mia! Mulligan in particular is becoming one of the most enigmatic presences on cinema screens, with her pixie face concealing a gravelly, Shakespearean voice. But her Kathy isn't the limited childlike wonder of the book.
To be fair, any sort of comparison with Ishiguro's prose is unreasonable. I can only think of a few films which have affected me so deeply. Still, I'm a firm believer that the best book-to-film adaptations leave the feeling of the book behind and concentrate on telling a story on screen well – even if it's a story that differs considerably from that of the book, if only in the telling. Examples: Jeunet's A Very Long Engagement; Anderson's There Will Be Blood; Pawlikowski's My Summer Of Love. Romanek's proved himself to be quite a talent with his earlier One Hour Photo, but he and Garland would've done themselves a favour by watching those three films as a kind of Adaptations 101.
I am, of course, biased, and would love to hear from anyone who hasn't read the book. A follower on Twitter, @PapushiSun, hasn't: "I haven't watched another film that made me so angry in a long time. People don't behave like that, I kept thinking." It didn't stir the same frustration in me, but I have to agree that the motivation for much of the characters' behaviour was unclear, or – worse – when it was revealed, I just didn't really care.
Filed under Books, Film
Tagged as adaptation, andrew garfield, books, carey mulligan, Film, kazuo ishiguro, keira knightley, never let me go, review


The Federal Moto boys share Grant's liking of classic lines and simple vintage accents, and a deal was done. Five months later, Fade To Black was ready to ride.
It's a very technical build, and worth examining if you're planning to go down that route yourself.
The main action centers on the engine. It's running a Dynoman Stage 1 Performance kit: the motor has been bored out to 572 cc and fitted with forged pistons that boost the compression ratio from 9:1 to 10:1.
Federal have also fitted a WebCam 358a camshaft with .330 lift and 280° duration, plus uprated gaskets and a stronger clutch to cope with the extra power. And the engine looks as good as new, with a fresh coat of high-temperature powder.
A phalanx of Keihin roundslide CR29 sidedraft racing carbs free up the breathing. Gases exit via an underslung 4-into-1 custom exhaust from Steve 'Carpy' Carpenter, one of the pioneers of the CB cafe racer scene.