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Robotics startup NexStem announces launch of BCI headset, software
By Adam AngMarch 16, 202206:01 am
NexStem, a robotics startup based in Palo Alto, California with a R&D team in India, is set to roll out across Asia-Pacific, Europe and the United States its headset that can be controlled by a user's thoughts.The launch comes as the company has received funding from angel investors like BITS Spark and Indian internet company InfoEdge for an undisclosed amount.
WHAT IT'S FOR
NexStem offers mind-controlled brain-computer interface (BCI) solutions for researchers and developers. The non-invasive NexStem headset has 15-pin dry EEG electrodes and 16-channel EEG sensors that capture and deliver accurate EEG signals. It has six hours of battery life and is WiFi and Bluetooth enabled. When used with the NexStem Wisdom software development kit (SDK), users can conduct real-time analysis of captured EEG signals and build interfaces to gain insights from data coming from the brain's different cortexes. The no-code Wisdom SDK, meanwhile, enables developers to build complex machine learning algorithms used in real-time. It is able to make fast computations and calculations of EEG data using GPUs in its algorithms.
According to NexStem CTO Deepansh Goyal, existing BCIs in the market are "invasive, unwieldy, or ineffective [while] building applications for them is difficult". "What differentiates us from other BCI providers is that we provide the means for people to seamlessly communicate with machines through technologies that unlock the power of the human brain, to control actions and devices through thought," said CEO Siddhant Dangi. Claiming that they are not "limited to a niche market", Dangi said they are exploring use cases of BCIs in virtual reality, mental health, and everyday applications, "paving the way for human[s] to become part of the Internet and the metaverse". Specifically for mental health, BCI devices will provide practitioners with convenient and low-cost access to EEG data. "We are unlocking the power of neural data ethically and responsibly through EEG analysis for medical and non-medical applications," Goyal said.Moving forward, NexStem targets to develop one algorithm each month "to understand the [human] brain better". It also aims to reduce the medical industry's dependence on EEG data and signals, pushing the idea that biosignals "can and should be tapped into," such as eye movements, oxygen saturation, perspiration, muscular movements, and blood pressure."Our goal is to help unlock the human brain and improve quality of life for all. Our vision is to become a complete toolkit for all the biosignals a body produces, and we continually develop new solutions to support this," Goyal said.The startup's latest funding will also support its expansion, supply chain, and future research and development of both NexStem headset and NexStem Wisdom software kit.
Based on latest research, the global market for BCI devices will hit $3.3 billion by 2026 from $1.9 billion in 2021. Its growth, according to ResearchAndMarkets.com, is driven by its increasing use cases from health and static virtual reality applications to more immersive experiences.Among BCI providers, US-based startup Synchron is currently conducting a clinical trial of its breakthrough neuroprosthesis device that enables paralysis patients to control digital devices with their thoughts. Inserted into the motor cortex of the brain, the device called Stentrode translates brain activity into a standardised digital language to allow users to complete tasks on external devices.
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This fun mini-game was part of a large campaign to tout National Rent-A-Car's partnership with the PGA Championsips. The campaign included a variety of rich media banners which featured playable versions of the game. The banners linked to the Facebook tab where users could play the game, post a high-score and visit nationalcar.com. This campaign successfully brought together diverse elements of interactive marketing to create one cohesive marketing message.
Zap built all versions of the game, including the banners and the Facebook tab. We also created the leaderboard and all of the share functionality.


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Tire Nichols: Man who died after being 'beaten up for three minutes by police' was treated as a 'human pinata' by officers, says family lawyer | American News
A family lawyer says a man who died after allegedly being beaten by police for three minutes was a "human pinata" for officers.
Tire Nichols, 29, died in hospital three days after a confrontation during a traffic stop in Memphis, Tennessee, on January 7.
The father of one had been arrested after being pulled over for reckless driving, police said.
Five black officers involved in the arrest have been fired after a police investigation found they used excessive force or failed to intervene to help him.
Relatives have accused police of attacking Mr Nichols and causing him a heart attack. But authorities only said he had a medical emergency.
A lawyer for Mr Nichols' family, Antonio Romanucci, said the beating lasted three minutes and "he was a human pinata for these police officers".
Another attorney, Ben Crump, said body camera footage of the incident reminded family and attorneys of the infamous video of Los Angeles police beating Rodney King, a clip that sparked riots in the city. city in 1991.
He said footage of the latest encounter showed it to be 'violent' and 'embarrassing on every level', and added that it was 'appalling', 'deplorable' and 'odious'.
Mr Crump said the video would be made public but not for another week or two.
Investigators don't want to show it yet because they don't want to risk jeopardizing the investigation, according to Shelby County District Attorney Steve Mulroy.
An image of Mr Nichols when he was in hospital. Photo: AP
Learn more about the United States:
Ghislaine Maxwell thinks Jeffrey Epstein was murdered
Freediver rescued after hours of disappearance
California town in shock after Chinese New Year shooting
fear of riots
City and community leaders fear the footage could cause civil unrest when it is finally released.
Mr Nichols' father-in-law, Rodney Wells, said the family hoped any protest would remain peaceful.
Van Turner, president of the Memphis chapter of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, a civil rights organization, also said the city seemed tense as they waited for the video.
He praised the city and the police department for acting "quickly" in firing the officers, identified as Tadarrius Bean, Demetrius Haley, Emmitt Martin III, Desmond Mills Jr and Justin Smith.
(LR) Officers Demetrius Haley, Desmond Mills Jr, Emmitt Martin III, Justin Smith and Tadarrius Bean have been sacked
"No cause of death established"
The day after Mr Nichols was arrested, the police department said that when officers approached his vehicle, "a confrontation ensued" and he fled.
He said officers then caught up to him and "another confrontation occurred" as they took him into custody.
He complained of shortness of breath and was hospitalized, police said.
A cause of death has not been determined, officials said.
Blue Ivy takes the stage with her mom Beyoncé in Dubai
US Supreme Court postpones review of state laws restricting internet platforms

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The Kindergarten class delighted an audience of parents, grandparents, friends and faculty during their annual Holiday Program. This year's "Home For The Holidays" theme featured vocal pieces that celebrated various world traditions including Hanukkah, Kwanzaa and Christmas. This year's program, led by Mrs. Arnn, featured Kindergarten singers, the Middle School Band, and a surprise visit from Santa Claus himself. The annual program heralds lower school students into the start of Winter Vacation.


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Coming Actions Against War, Racism, and Exploitation
posted by Answer Coalition | 7pt
Indoor Solidarity Rally with Haiti in NYC
initiated by the Emergency Campaign to Support the Haitian People, the A.N.S.W.E.R. Coalition and the Haiti Support Network
Counter-Inaugural Demonstration
in Washington DC
initiated by the A.N.S.W.E.R. Coalition
March 19/20, 2005
Global Day of Coordinated Actions
on the 2nd Anniversary of the
"Shock and Awe" Invasion of Iraq
initiated by antiwar organizations worldwide
including the A.N.S.W.E.R. Coalition in the United States
Immigrant Rights March
call supported by A.N.S.W.E.R. coalition
Million Worker March
call supported by the A.N.S.W.E.R. coalition
We will demand:
1) US Out of Iraq Now, End the Occupation - Bring the Troops Home Now
2) End Colonial Domination from Palestine to Haiti, and Everywhere
3) Health Care, Education, Housing, and a Job at a Living Wage Must be a Right!
The people of this country, in cooperation with the people of the world, have built a mass worldwide movement since October 2002, when the first massive antiwar demonstrations took place. In that movement lies the hope that the imperialist war drive can be challenged. Do not count on the politicians who contest with each other, not about principle, but about who would be more effective in winning the war of aggression against Iraq. The antiwar movement must be in the streets in the coming weeks and months - building a politically independent movement. It is this movement of global solidarity that poses the only real obstacle to the forces of militarism and corporate domination, and that prioritizes meeting human needs and embraces self-determination.
Bush's monstrous invasion and occupation of Iraq is now entering the appalling next stage. A reign of terror has been inflicted on Najaf, Sammarah, Sadr City in Baghdad, Fallujah and other areas outside of the political control of the occupying forces.
Bush, Cheney, Rumsfeld, Powell and others are guilty of war crimes. The world is disgusted as the carnage is unleashed from AC-130 gunships and by missile attacks on densely populated city streets. Wedding parties destroyed by air attack, the grim pictures of the bodies of children and other civilians being removed from the rubble of buildings destroyed by what the Pentagon press office always calls "precision bombings against known terrorist hideouts," torture and brutality. This is the essence of Bush's plan to proceed with "democratic elections."
And what is Kerry's response on Iraq? "We are talking about winning, not leaving," Kerry told us in the first presidential debate. We, along with a growing number of military families and soldiers, are insisting that the troops be brought home now. More than 1,050 GI's are dead and thousands wounded - many with horrendous life-altering injuries - in this criminal war.
In Palestine, more than 100 Palestinians have been massacred in a matter of days by Ariel Sharon's offensive in refugee camps in Gaza. You'd hardly know about it from the U.S. mass media. Do Bush and Kerry have a different view about this U.S.-financed slaughter? They only try to compete with each other by their grandiloquent declarations in support of Israel's actions - including the construction of the hideous apartheid wall. We must stand with the people of Palestine including support for their right of return.
In Haiti the death toll has risen to more than 3,000 from the aftermath of Hurricane Jeanne. The Bush administration's stooge government did nothing to help the people. They did not prepare for, order or assist in an evacuation of people at risk. Instead they have focused their energy on arresting hundreds of supporters of deposed President Jean-Bertrand Aristide. The disaster caused by the Hurricane is "man-made." It is the consequence of decades of neo-liberal policies imposed on the country by the U.S. and the IMF that have resulted in, among other problems, massive de-forestation, leaving the country vulnerable to catastrophic flooding. What has Kerry done to provide an alternative to Bush on Haiti? Absolutely nothing.
The massive outpouring of the renewed antiwar movement needs your continued help to support these upcoming activities. Organizing buses, printing hundreds of thousands of leaflets and posters, phonebanking, mass mailings - these vital tasks take funds. The generosity and self-sacrifice of those who believe in the importance of building this movement has made all the difference in the past years. We are creating the only real, viable force that can challenge the political stranglehold exercised by the warmakers.
You can make a donation online through a secure server by clicking here. Credit card donations made online are not tax deductible. To make a tax deductible credit card donation, call 202-544-3389. You can also make a tax deductible donation by writing a check to A.N.S.W.E.R./AGJ and sending it to A.N.S.W.E.R., 1247 E St. SE, Washington DC 20003.
Next weekend - Saturday, October 16 & Sunday, October 17 - is the weekend of action for immigrant and labor rights. The A.N.S.W.E.R. Coalition is supporting both of the demonstrations taking place this weekend.
Regional March and Rally for Immigrant Rights: On Saturday, October 16, gather at 12 noon at Olympic and Broadway in Los Angeles - Nearly ten years ago, on October 16, 1994, the Latino immigrant community and its allies convened and held the largest ever mass march and rally by Latinos in the history of the United States. The main issue then was the movement to defeat Proposition 187, which aimed to deny basic human services and constitutional and labor rights to immigrants. That historic march united the Latino community and their allies like never before and unleashed a rise in the political consciousness of millions of people in California and throughout the rest of the country. To commemorate that historic march is important. We must also elevate the level of struggle to win full rights for undocumented workers and their families at this critical time. This call for a demonstration on October 16, 2004, was initiated two years ago by a pro-immigrant coalition led by Latino Movement USA & Hermandad Mexicana Nacional on October 22, 2002, during the rally held at the Immigrant Rights March in downtown Los Angeles.
Million Worker March: On Sunday, October 17, gather at 12 noon Lincoln Memorial in Washington DC - According to the Million Worker March Committee, "This mobilization is being proposed in response to the attacks upon working families in America and the millions of jobs lost during the Bush administration and with the complicity of Congress." The march is also calling to Bring the Troops Home Now. It was initiated by The International Longshore and Warehouse Union, Local 10 and endorsed by many labor, community and activist organizations. Click here for logistical information (directions, maps, housing, etc.).
War Crimes in Iraq
From the Independent UK
Take them out, dude: pilots toast hit on Iraqi 'civilians'
By Andrew Buncombe
The Pentagon said yesterday it was investigating cockpit video footage that shows American pilots attacking and killing a group of apparently unarmed Iraqi civilians.
The 30-second clip shows the pilot targeting the group of people in a street in the city of Fallujah and asking his mission controllers whether he should "take them out". He is told to do so and, shortly afterwards, the footage shows a huge explosion where the people were. A second voice can be heard on the clip saying: "Oh, dude."
The existence of the video, taken last April inside the cockpit of a US F-16 fighter, has been known for some time, though last night's broadcast by Channel 4 News is believed to be the first time a mainstream broadcaster has shown the footage.
At no point during the exchange between the pilot and controllers does anyone ask whether the Iraqis are armed or posing a threat. Critics say it proves war crimes are being committed.
A.N.S.W.E.R. Coalition
Act Now to Stop War & End Racism
http://www.ANSWERcoalition.org
info@internationalanswer.org
National Office in Washington DC: 202-544-3389
New York City: 212-533-0417
Los Angeles: 323-464-1636
San Francisco: 415-821-6545
For media inquiries, call 202-544-3389.
Click here to join the A.N.S.W.E.R. email list


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Founded in September 2011, The Lucerne World Theatre Company (LWTC) is an amateur English-language theatre group that thrives on a passion for drama and the performance arts. Built on the principles of fun and inclusion, the club offers a gateway to the stage to its members who hail from all corners of the globe.
LWTC offers its members acting classes as well as opportunities to get involved in stage productions. To date, LWTC has staged numerous diverse shows including Bollywood Brides, an Indian-inspired musical extravaganza, Under the Sea and It's on you, John, for which LWTC won the 2014 Grand Duchy Award for best stage presentation at the FEATS theatre festival in Luxembourg.
The aim of the Lucerne World Theatre Company is:
To offer continuous theatre training for amateur actors through weekly meetings and special themed workshops as well as play readings.
To set up our own amateur theatre group and put on our own theatre productions.
To offer the chance for people in the Lucerne area to see smaller theatre productions from all over the world.
What's the concept?
We believe that acting is a craft that benefits from being continuously improved. We work on learning and improving our theater skills through games and play readings in a safe and friendly environment.
Our members are from all over the world and are united by a love for theater, some have been on a stage before, others have only seen a stage from afar.
Our meetings are usually divided into two parts. During the first part we explore the craft of acting through a series of fun games and exercises, during the second half we either do play readings or work on a theatre scene.
When do we meet?
Our weekly Tuesday meetings take place 19.30 – 21.30 at the LiLi Centre, Alpenquai 40a, 6005 Lucerne.
If you would like to come for a try out, come along to our open door meetings every 1st Tuesday of the month!
The annual membership is CHF 100.-
Become a sponsor of LWTC
If you want to support the Lucerne World Theatre Company, we are looking for sponsors and appreciate your contribution. Use our contact form to get in touch with us!


MILES DAVIS 1 DVD MILES ELECTRIC A DIFFERENT KIND Of BLUE 2004 - menu with scene selections and bonus features, "Miles Electric: A Different Kind of Blue" examines the next step in the creative process.. .performing these songs live. The 1970 Isle of Wight featured an array of performers from The Who to Jethro Tull to Joni Mitchell. With improvisation playing a big role in the performance, the band (Jack DeJohnette, Chick Corea, Keith Jarrett, Gary Bartz and Dave Holland) had to be "on", yet ready to change on the fly. Directed by award-winning producer Murray Lerner, "Miles Electric" sits down with several of the performers who played with Miles, interspersed with his 1970 Isle of Wight performance, as well as artists such as Carlos Santana and Joni Mitchell, who describe the impact Miles Davis had towards music.


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Руже́на Влади́мировна Сико́ра  (16 июня 1916, Новороссийск — 23 декабря 2006, Москва) — советская эстрадная певица чешского происхождения. Народная артистка Российской Федерации (1993).

Биография
Ружена Сикора родилась 16 июня 1916 года в Новороссийске в семье чешского музыканта, оперного певца Владимира Сикоры и с трёхлетнего возраста стала принимать участие в домашних концертах.

С девяти лет Ружена обучилась игре на фортепиано и стала аккомпанировать отцу, певшему баритональным басом, а затем и сама начала исполнять популярные песни.
После смерти отца восемнадцатилетняя девушка, которой пришлось зарабатывать на жизнь тяжёлым трудом на цементном заводе, не оставила музыкальных занятий и принимала активное участие в культурной жизни Новороссийска. Талант Ружены не остался без внимания городских властей, и она получила направление в музыкальное училище Ростова-на-Дону, которое окончила в 1941 году.

Ещё студенткой Сикора стала солисткой оркестра Северо-Кавказской железной дороги под руководством Дмитрия Воронина и во время летних каникул много выступала в различных концертах, покоряя публику умением не только спеть, но и сыграть песню. Её возросшее мастерство было по достоинству оценено известным советским пианистом, дирижёром и композитором А. Н. Цфасманом, после выступления в Баку пригласившим певицу работать в своём джазовом коллективе: уже в мае 1941 года они вместе выступали на площадке Зелёного театра Всесоюзной сельскохозяйственной выставки в Москве.

В годы Великой Отечественной войны Ружена Владимировна выступала с песнями в осаждённой Москве, перед ранеными в тыловых госпиталях и бойцами на передовой.

В послевоенные годы популярность певицы, в 1946 году добившейся успеха на II Всесоюзном конкурсе артистов эстрады, стала всенародной: она продолжала быть солисткой джаз-оркестра Всесоюзного радиокомитета, которым руководил Александр Цфасман и одной из первых в стране включила в свой репертуар песни на языках народов мира, в том числе джазовые стандарты и вечнозелёные темы в стиле свинг. После расформирования оркестра в 1947 году Сикора сотрудничала с симфоджазом театра «Эрмитаж», а также выступала с сольными концертами, исполняя новые песни, написанные для неё Богословским, Блантером, Фрадкиным, Молчановым, Слоновым. Отсутствие сентиментальности, сдержанность, почти аскетичность при внутренней наполненности — таковы, по мнению музыкальных критиков, были черты сценического характера Ружены Сикоры. Не прекращая концертной деятельности, она совершенствовала своё вокальное мастерство в Гнесинском училище.

Только тяжёлая травма, полученная в автомобильной катастрофе, вынудила артистку принять решение покинуть эстраду, однако не заставила уйти из искусства: Ружена Сикора с присущим ей талантом занималась преподаванием, участвовала в воспитании молодых артистов вокального жанра в певческой школе при Центральном Доме работников искусств в Москве.

В 1993 году её заслуги были отмечены присвоением почётного звания Народной артистки Российской Федерации.

3 марта 2005 года за концертную работу в военные годы Ружена Сикора была награждена медалью «За доблестный труд в Великой Отечественной войне 1941-1945 гг.».

Ружена Владимировна Сикора скончалась в Москве 23 декабря 2006 года . Похоронена в Москве на Химкинском кладбище. Участок № 27.

Примечания

Литература
 Поюровский Б. М. Что осталось на трубе: Хроники театральной жизни второй половины XX века. — М.: Центрполиграф, 2000. — 495 с.
 Ружена Сикора // Сердце, тебе не хочется покоя: От Утёсова до… — М.: ДИАДЕМА-Пресс, 2000. — Стр. 293—331.
 Скороходов Г. Звёзды советской эстрады: Очерки об эстрадных певцах, исполнителях советской лирической песни. — М.: Сов. композитор, 1986. — 181 с.

Ссылки
 Официальный сайт, записи в MP3
 Ружена Сикора: биография, записи с грампластинок
 Песня Р. Сикоры «Друг» в Колонном зале 19 декабря 2006 г. Саратовский джаз-оркестр Ретро
 Некрополь

Похороненные на Химкинском кладбище
Лауреаты Всесоюзного конкурса артистов эстрады

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


The Glory of Jesus lies in this: in weakness, vulnerability, and apparent failure He has called forth disciples to come after Him, willing and able to carry the cross and relive His passion with compassion.
They are marginal people, not part of the scene, irrelevant to the "action." In their ministry or quiet presence they do not need to win or compete. They may look like losers, even to themselves.
The world ignores them. But they are building "the Kingdom of God" on earth by reaching out in vulnerability and weakness to share the suffering of their brothers and sisters.


Unusual planters for plants and flowers add interest to backyard ideas and make spring decorating more interesting and fun. Objects that clutter your home can be used for creating gorgeous yard decorations and giving unique character to spring decorating.
Beautiful gardens and balconies, small courtyards and decks will look more surprising, artistic and playful with repurposed planters. Plants and flowers in planters created of recycled containers, baskets, kettles or old shoes are decorative accents that improve mood and make everyone smile.
Ideas that help reuse and recycle items that clutter our homes, – used containers, old baskets, kettles, shoes or metal cans, are excellent materials for creative spring decorating.
Junk and clutter items used for growing plants and flowers remind of the importance of green ideas, recycling and reusing materials for saving the environment and natural resources.
Broken or old chairs, containers, baskets, kettles, shoes, metal cans, cups, drain pipes, bags, kettles, trolleys, and even cast-iron or wooden bathtubs, gutters and trays are excellent materials for backyard decorating that transform modern homes, making them more environmentally friendly.
There are many various ideas that reuse and recycle junk or clutter items. The pictures may inspire you to declutter your home and backyard, designing unique, artistic and charming repurposed planters for plants and flowers, adding playful flavor to eco friendly spring decorating ideas.
Selecting an interesting item for a pot, adding the soil and planting flowers are all you need to design beautiful backyard ideas for spring decorating.


text:
Hiram – wieś w USA, w hrabstwie Portage, w stanie Ohio. W miejscowości znajduje się założony w 1850 roku Hiram College (początkowo Western Reserve Eclectic Institute), którego najsłynniejszym wychowankiem był James Garfield, 20-ty prezydent Stanów Zjednoczonych.

Aktualnie honorowym burmistrzem wsi jest Lou Bertrand.

W roku 2010, 8,1% mieszkańców mało poniżej 18 lat, 69,7% było w wieku od 18 do 24 lat, 7,1% miało od 25 do 44 lat, 10,3% miało 45 do 64 lat, 4,8% miało 65 lat albo więcej. We wsi było 48,7% mężczyzn i 51,3% kobiet.

Liczba mieszkańców w 2010 roku wynosiła 1 406, a w 2012 wynosiła 1439.

Przypisy

Linki zewnętrzne
 Strona internetowa wsi
 Dane statystyczne

Wsie w stanie Ohio


text:
Coolpad Launches Cool Changer 1C Smartphone with 3GB RAM & 4,060mAh Battery in China
Teja Chedalla
After LeEco becoming the largest shareholder in Coolpad, the company has introduced a new series called Cool. The Coolpad Cool1 Dual is the first smartphone in this new series and runs on LeEco eUI instead of Coolpad's Cool UI. Today, the company has officially launched the second smartphone called as Cool Changer 1C and features some decent hardware. Just like Cool1 Dual, the Cool Changer 1C also looks similar to the LeEco smartphones. However, there is no LeEco logo shaped home button on the front but comes with 'LeEco inside' written on the back. While the Cool1 sports dual rear cameras, the Cool Changer 1C with a single rear camera looks similar to its predecessor with a large rear camera module.
Even the internals remain same on both the Cool1 and Cool Changer 1C. The mirror surfaced fingerprint can be found on the back of the device. The SIM card slot is on the left edge while the power button and volume rocker are placed on the right edge. It sports a 5.5-inch IPS display with Full HD (1920 x 1080 pixels) resolution. Under the hood is the 64-bit Snapdragon 652 MSM8976 processor clocked at 1.7GHz and coupled with Adreno 510 GPU. The Snapdragon 652 octa-core processor comes with four Cortex A72 cores clocked at 1.8GHz and another four Cortex A53 cores are clocked at 1.4GHz. It packs 3GB of RAM and 32GB of internal storage that can be further expanded via MicroSD card slot.
While the Cool1 Dual came with 13MP dual rear cameras, the new Cool Changer 1C is only limited to single 13MP sensor. The 13MP rear camera comes a with dual tone LED flash and f/2.0 aperture. The 8MP front camera remains same on both the devices and has an aperture of f/2.2. It is backed by a 4,060mAh non-removable battery and supports fast charging with the provided 5V/2A power adapter. The Cool Changer 1C lacks NFC making it not compatible with mobile payment services. It supports dual SIM dual standby and offers 4G, VoLTE, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 4.1, and USB Type-C port. The device measures 152 x 74.8 x 8.2 mm and weighs 167 grams.
With the LeEco Le 2 and Le Max 2 smartphones, the company has removed the 3.5mm audio port and introduced the all new CDLA technology for offering lossless audio output. Now, the Cool Changer 1C sports 3.5mm audio port which makes few customers happy in China. There is also IR blaster on the top edge that can be used for controlling consumer electronics like TV and AC. While the Cool1 with dual rear cameras is now retailing at 1099 Yuan (approx $160 / Rs. 11,000), the new Cool Changer 1C is priced at just 899 Yuan (approx $130 / Rs. 9,000). The device is currently available for registrations, and the sales start from December 5th in China. As of now, there is no information about the availability of the device in foreign markets. Stay tuned on Phone Radar for more details!
Lenovo K6 Power Smartphone will go on sale in India starting today for Rs 9,999
OnePlus 3T with SD821 SoC & 16MP Front Camera Launched in China, Price Starts from 2699 Yuan


text:
Go Russia!
Go Russia! (2009)
by Dmitry Medvedev
related portals: Speeches.
501165Go Russia!2009Dmitry Medvedev
In a few months Russia will enter a new decade of the twenty-first century. Of course, important junctures and significant dates are more symbolic than practical. But they give us a reason to reflect on the past, evaluate the present, and think about the future. Think about what awaits each of us, our children, our country.
First, let's answer a simple but very serious question. Should a primitive economy based on raw materials and endemic corruption accompany us into the future? And should the inveterate habit of relying on the government, foreign countries, on some kind of comprehensive doctrine, on anything or anyone – as long as it's not ourselves – to solve our problems do so as well? And if Russia can not relieve itself from these burdens, can it really find its own path for the future?
Next year we will celebrate the sixty-fifth anniversary of Victory in the Great Patriotic War. This anniversary reminds us that our present day is the future of the heroes who won our freedom. And that the people who vanquished a cruel and very strong enemy back in those days must today overcome corruption and backwardness. To make our country both modern and viable.
As the contemporary generation of Russian people, we have received a huge inheritance. Gains that were well-deserved, hard-fought and hard-earned by the persistent efforts of our predecessors. Sometimes the cost of hardships really was terrible casualties. We have a huge territory, large amounts of natural resources, solid industrial potential, an impressive list of outstanding achievements in science, technology, education and art, a glorious history regarding our army, navy, and nuclear weapons. By using its authority Russian power has played a significant -- and in some periods determinate -- role in events of historic proportions.
How should we manage that legacy? How to magnify it? What will the future of Russia be for my son, for the children and grandchildren of my fellow citizens? What will be Russia's place, and hence the place of our descendants, heirs, and future generations, among other nations in the global labour market, in the system of international relations, in global culture? What must we do to steadily improve the quality of life of Russian citizens today and in the future? To allow our society to become richer, freer, more humane and more attractive? So that Russian society can give to those who desire it a better education, an interesting job, a good income, and comfortable environment for both personal life and creative activity?
I have answers to these questions. And before I turn to them, I would like to assess the current situation.
The global economic crisis has shown that our affairs are far from being in the best state. Twenty years of tumultuous change has not spared our country from its humiliating dependence on raw materials. Our current economy still reflects the major flaw of the Soviet system: it largely ignores individual needs. With a few exceptions domestic business does not invent nor create the necessary things and technology that people need. We sell things that we have not produced, raw materials or imported goods. Finished products produced in Russia are largely plagued by their extremely low competitiveness.
This is why production declined such much, more than in other economies, during the current crisis. This also explains excessive stock market volatility. All this proves that we did not do all we should have done in previous years. And far from all things were done correctly.
The energy efficiency and productivity of most of our businesses remains shamefully low, but that is not the worst part. The trouble is that it seems that owners, directors, chief engineers and officials are not very worried about this.
As a result Russia's influence in global economic processes is, quite frankly, not as great as we would like. Of course, in the era of globalisation the influence of any country cannot be unlimited. That would even be harmful. But our country must have substantial opportunities, as befits Russia's historic role.
As a whole democratic institutions have been established and stabilised, but their quality remains far from ideal. Civil society is weak, the levels of self-organisation and self-government are low.
Every year there are fewer and fewer Russians. Alcoholism, smoking, traffic accidents, the lack of availability of many medical technologies, and environmental problems take millions of lives. And the emerging rise in births has not compensated for our declining population.
We managed to gather the country together to stop centrifugal tendencies. But many problems still remain, including the most acute ones. Terrorist attacks on Russia are continuing. Residents of the republics in the North Caucasus simply do not know peace. Military and law enforcement personnel are dying, as are government and municipal employees, and civilians. Of course these crimes are committed with the support of international criminal groups. But let's face up to it, the situation would not be so critical if the socio-economic development of southern Russia were more viable.
To sum up, an inefficient economy, semi-Soviet social sphere, fragile democracy, negative demographic trends, and unstable Caucasus represent very big problems, even for a country such as Russia.
Of course we do not need to exaggerate. Much is being done, Russia is working. It is not a half-paralyzed, half-functioning country as it was ten years ago. All social systems are operating. But this is still not enough. After all, such systems only propagate the current model, and do not develop it. They cannot change current ways of life and therefore bad habits remain.
Achieving leadership by relying on oil and gas markets is impossible. We must understand and appreciate the complexity of our problems. We must frankly discuss them in order to act. In the end, commodity exchanges must not determine Russia's fate; our own ideas about ourselves, our history and future must do so. Our intellect, honest self-assessment, strength, dignity and enterprise must be the decisive factors.
My starting point while setting out five priorities for technological development, offering specific measures for the modernisation of the political system, as well as measures to strengthen the judiciary and fight corruption, is my views on Russia's future. And for the sake of our future it is necessary to liberate our country from persistent social ills that inhibit its creative energy and restrict our common progress. These ills include:
1. Centuries of economic backwardness and the habit of relying on the export of raw materials, actually exchanging them for finished products. Peter the Great, the last tsars and the Bolsheviks all created – and not unsuccessfully -- elements of an innovative system. But the price of their successes was too high. As a rule, it was done by making extreme efforts, by using all the levers of a totalitarian state machine.
2. Centuries of corruption have debilitated Russia from time immemorial. Until today this corrosion has been due to the excessive government presence in many significant aspects of economic and other social activities. But it is not limited to governmental excess -- business is also not without fault. Many entrepreneurs are not worried about finding talented inventors, introducing unique technologies, creating and marketing new products, but rather with bribing officials for the sake of 'controlling the flows' of property redistribution.
3. Paternalistic attitudes are widespread in our society, such as the conviction that all problems should be resolved by the government. Or by someone else, but never by the person who is actually there. The desire to make a career from scratch, to achieve personal success step by step is not one of our national habits. This is reflected in a lack of initiative, lack of new ideas, outstanding unresolved issues, the poor quality of public debate, including criticism. Public acceptance and support is usually expressed in silence. Objections are very often emotional, scathing, but superficial and irresponsible. Well, this is not the first century that Russia has had to confront these phenomena.
People tell us that we cannot completely cure chronic social diseases. Those traditions are steadfast, and history tends to repeat itself. But at one point serfdom and rampant illiteracy seemed insurmountable. However, we overcame them all the same.
Of course traditions have a considerable influence. But they nevertheless fit in with each new era and undergo changes. Some simply disappear, and not all of them are useful. For me, only unquestionable values which must be preserved may be regarded as traditions. They include interethnic and interfaith peace, military valour, faithfulness to one's duty, hospitality and the kindness inherent in our people. Bribery, theft, intellectual and spiritual laziness, and drunkenness, on the other hand, are vices that offend our traditions. We should get rid of them by using the strongest terms.
Of course today's Russia will not repeat its past. Our time is truly new. And not just because it is moving forward, as time does, but also because it opens up before our country and each one of us tremendous opportunities. Opportunities of which there was no trace twenty, thirty, or much less a hundred or three hundred years ago.
The impressive legacy of the two greatest modernisations in our country's history – that of Peter the Great (imperial) and the Soviet one -- unleashed ruin, humiliation and resulted in the deaths of millions of our countrymen. It is not for us to judge our predecessors. But we must recognize that the preservation of human life was not, euphemistically speaking, a government priority in those years. Unfortunately, this is a fact. Today is the first time in our history that we have a chance to prove to ourselves and the world that Russia can develop in a democratic way. That a transition to the next, higher stage of civilization is possible. And this will be accomplished through non-violent methods. Not by coercion, but by persuasion. Not through suppression, but rather the development of the creative potential of every individual. Not through intimidation, but through interest. Not through confrontation, but by harmonising the interests of the individual, society and government.
We really live in a unique time. We have a chance to build a new, free, prosperous and strong Russia. As President I am obliged to do everything in my power to make sure that we fully take advantage of this opportunity.
In the coming decades Russia should become a country whose prosperity is ensured not so much thanks to commodities but by intellectual resources: the so-called intelligent economy, creating unique knowledge, exporting new technologies and innovative products.
I recently identified five strategic vectors for the economic modernisation of our country. First, we will become a leading country measured by the efficiency of production, transportation and use of energy. We will develop new fuels for use on domestic and international markets. Secondly, we need to maintain and raise our nuclear technology to a qualitatively new level. Third, Russia's experts will improve information technology and strongly influence the development of global public data networks, using supercomputers and other necessary equipment. Fourth, we will develop our own ground and space infrastructure for transferring all types of information; our satellites will thus be able to observe the whole world, help our citizens and people of all countries to communicate, travel, engage in research, agricultural and industrial production. Fifth, Russia will take a leading position in the production of certain types of medical equipment, sophisticated diagnostic tools, medicines for the treatment of viral, cardiovascular, and neurological diseases and cancer.
As we follow these five strategies for success in high-tech spheres, we will also pay constant attention to the development of our most important traditional industries and, first of all, the agro-industrial complex. One in three of us live in rural areas. The availability of modern social services for rural residents, increasing their incomes, improving their working conditions and daily life will always remain our priority.
Of course Russia will be well-armed. Well enough so that it does not occur to anyone to threaten us or our allies.
These goals are realistic. The targets we have set for achieving them are difficult but attainable. We have already developed detailed, step-by-step plans to move forward in these areas. We will encourage and promote scientific and technological creativity. First and foremost, we will support young scientists and inventors. Secondary and higher education will prepare a sufficient number of specialists for promising industries. Academic institutions will concentrate major efforts on the implementation of breakthrough projects. Legislators will take all decisions to ensure comprehensive support for the spirit of innovation in all spheres of public life, creating a market place for ideas, inventions, discoveries, and new technologies. Public and private companies will receive full support in all endeavours that create a demand for innovative products. Foreign companies and research organisations will be offered the most favourable conditions for establishing research and design centres in Russia. We will hire the best scientists and engineers from around the world. Most importantly, we will explain to our young people that the most important competitive advantage is knowledge that others do not have, intellectual superiority, the ability to create things that people need. As Pushkin wrote: "There is a higher courage: the courage of invention, creation, where an extensive plan is overwhelmed by the creative idea." Inventors, innovators, researchers, teachers, entrepreneurs who introduce new technologies, will become the most respected people in society. In turn, society will give them everything they need to be productive.
Of course an innovative economy cannot be established immediately. It is part of a culture based on humanistic values. It is grounded in our efforts to transform the world and guarantee a better quality of life, liberate individuals from poverty, disease, fear and injustice. Talented people who want reform, people who can create new and better things will not come here from another planet. They are already here among us. And that is clearly proven by the results of international intellectual competitions, the fact that inventions made in Russia are patented abroad, and the fact that our best specialists are headhunted by the world's largest companies and universities. We -- the government, society and the family unit -- must learn to find, nurture, educate and take care of such people.
I also think that technological development is a priority public and political task because scientific and technological progress is inextricably linked with the progress of political systems. Experts believe that democracy originated in ancient Greece, but in those days there was no extensive democracy. Freedom was the privilege of a select minority. Full-fledged democracy that established universal suffrage and legal guarantees for the equality of all citizens before the law, so-called democracy for everyone emerged relatively recently, some eighty to one hundred years ago. Democracy occurred on a mass scale, not earlier than the mass production of the most necessary goods and services began. When the level of technological development of Western civilization made it possible to gain universal access to basic amenities: to education, health care and information. Every new invention which improves our quality of life provides us with an additional degree of freedom. It makes our existential conditions more comfortable and social relations more equitable. The more intelligent, smarter and efficient our economy is, the higher the level of our citizens' welfare, and our political system and society as a whole will also be freer, fairer and more humane.
The growth of modern information technologies, something we will do our best to facilitate, gives us unprecedented opportunities for the realisation of fundamental political freedoms, such as freedom of speech and assembly. It allows us to identify and eliminate hotbeds of corruption. It gives us direct access to the site of almost any event. It facilitates the direct exchange of views and knowledge between people all around the world. Society is becoming more open and transparent than ever – even if the ruling class does not necessarily like this.
Russia's political system will also be extremely open, flexible and internally complex. It will be adequate for a dynamic, active, transparent and multi-dimensional social structure. It will correspond to the political culture of free, secure, critical thinking, self-confident people. As in most democratic states, the leaders of the political struggle will be the parliamentary parties, which will periodically replace each other in power. The parties and the coalitions they make will choose the federal and regional executive authorities (and not vice versa). They will be responsible for nominating candidates for the post of president, regional governors and local authorities. They will have a long experience of civilized political competition: responsible and meaningful interaction with voters, inter-party cooperation and the search for compromises to resolve acute social problems. They will bring together in one political entity every element of society, citizens of all nationalities, the most diverse groups of people and territories of Russia endowed with ample powers.
The political system will be renewed and improved via the free competition of open political associations. There will be a cross-party consensus on strategic foreign policy issues, social stability, national security, the foundations of the constitutional order, the protection of the nation's sovereignty, the rights and freedoms of citizens, the protection of property rights, the rejection of extremism, support for civil society, all forms of self-organisation and self-government. A similar consensus exists in all modern democracies.
This year we started moving towards the creation of such a political system. Political parties were given additional opportunities to choose those occupying leadership positions in the federal regions and municipalities. We relaxed the formal requirements for the creation of new parties. We simplified the conditions in place for the nomination of candidates for election to the State Duma. We passed legislation guaranteeing equal access to public media for parliamentary parties. A number of other measures were adopted as well.
Not everyone is satisfied with the pace at which we are moving in this direction. They talk about the need to accelerate changes in the political system. And sometimes about going back to the 'democratic' nineties. But it is inexcusable to return to a paralyzed country. So I want to disappoint the supporters of permanent revolution. We will not rush. Hasty and ill-considered political reforms have led to tragic consequences more than once in our history. They have pushed Russia to the brink of collapse. We cannot risk our social stability and endanger the safety of our citizens for the sake of abstract theories. We are not entitled to sacrifice stable life, even for the highest goals. In his time Confucius remarked: "Impatience in small matters destroys a great idea". We have all too often experienced this in the past. Reforms for the people, not the people for reform. At the same time this will displease those who are completely satisfied with the status quo. Those who are afraid and do not want change. Changes will take place, but they will be gradual, thought-through, and step-by-step. But they will nevertheless be steady and consistent.
Russian democracy will not merely copy foreign models. Civil society cannot be bought by foreign grants. Political culture will not be reconfigured as a simple imitation of the political traditions of advanced societies. An effective judicial system cannot be imported. Freedom is impossible to simply copy out of a book, even a very clever one. Of course we'll learn from other nations – from their experiences, their successes and failures in developing democratic institutions. But no one will live our lives for us. Nobody is going to make us free, successful and responsible. Only our own experience of democratic endeavour will give us the right to say: we are free, we are responsible, we are successful.
Democracy needs to be protected. The fundamental rights and freedoms of our citizens must be as well. They need to be protected primarily from the sort of corruption that breeds tyranny, lack of freedom and injustice. We have just begun to develop such protective mechanisms. Our judicial system must be a central component here. We have to create a modern efficient judiciary, acting in accordance with new legislation on the judicial system and based on contemporary legal principles. We also have to rid ourselves of the contempt for law and justice, which, as I've said repeatedly, has lamentably become a tradition in this country. But the formation of a new judicial system cannot be achieved by competitions or campaigns, or idle talk about how the system itself is rotten and that it would be easier to create new judicial and law enforcement systems than to change them. There are no entirely new judges, just as there are no new public prosecutors, police, intelligence personnel, civil servants, businessmen and so on. We need to create normal working conditions for the law enforcement agencies and get rid of the imposters once and for all. We have to teach law enforcement officers to protect and defend rights and freedoms, to justly, clearly and effectively resolve conflicts in the legal field. We need to eliminate attempts to influence judicial decisions for whatever reasons. Ultimately, the judicial system itself has to understand the difference between what it means to act in the public interest or in the selfish interests of a corrupt bureaucrat or businessman. We need to cultivate a taste for the rule of law, for abiding by the law, respect for the rights of others, including such important rights as that of property ownership. It is the job of the courts with broad public support to cleanse the country of corruption. This is a difficult task but it is doable. Other countries have succeeded in doing this.
We will do everything possible to allow the people in Russia's Caucasus to lead normal lives. Economic and humanitarian programmes for the south of the country will soon be reviewed and fleshed out. We will set up some very clear criteria to assess the performance of heads of governmental structures dealing with the Caucasus. This applies primarily to federal and regional ministries and departments responsible for policy in industrial production, finance, social development, education and culture. At the same time, law enforcement authorities will continue to stamp out the bandits who seek to intimidate and terrorise the population of some Caucasian republics with their crazy ideas and barbaric customs.
Negative demographic trends must be slowed and stopped. We need to improve the quality of medical care, promote fertility, ensure safety on the road and in the workplace, combat the pandemic of alcoholism and develop physical culture and mass sport. This requires both a strategic approach and making such things the everyday tasks of the government.
Whatever the scope or effects of these transformations, their goal is ultimately the same, improving the quality of life in Russia. Creating better conditions by providing citizens with housing, employment, medical care, care of pensioners, protection of children, and support for people with disabilities -- these are the duties of the authorities at all levels.
Russian politicians often remind us that, under our Constitution, Russia is a welfare state. This is true, but we must not forget that the modern welfare state is not some kind of bloated Soviet social security system, and benefits are not distributed from the sky. A welfare state is a complex, balanced system of economic incentives and social benefits, legal, ethical and behavioural standards, a system whose productivity crucially depends on the quality of work and level of training of every one of us.
Whatever is distributed to society by government should only be what it has earned. Living beyond our means is immoral, unwise and dangerous. We need to make the economic system more productive so that we can earn more. Not just wait for the oil price rising at a given moment – we've got to earn our way.
We will improve the efficiency of social services in all spheres, paying special attention to problems of material and medical support for veterans and pensioners.
The modernisation of Russian democracy and establishment of a new economy will, in my opinion, only be possible if we use the intellectual resources of post-industrial societies. And we should do so without any complexes, openly and pragmatically. The issue of harmonising our relations with western democracies is not a question of taste, personal preferences or the prerogatives of given political groups. Our current domestic financial and technological capabilities are not sufficient for a qualitative improvement in the quality of life. We need money and technology from Europe, America and Asia. In turn, these countries need the opportunities Russia offers. We are very interested in the rapprochement and interpenetration of our cultures and economies.
Of course no relationship is free from contradictions. There will always be controversial topics, reasons for disagreement. But resentment, arrogance, various complexes, mistrust and especially hostility should be excluded from the relations between Russia and the leading democratic countries.
We have many common goals, including absolute priorities which affect every inhabitant on Earth such as the non-proliferation of nuclear weapons and reducing the risk of adverse effects from man-made climate change.
We must have interested partners and involve them in joint activities. And if we need to change something ourselves in order to do so, abandon previous prejudices and illusions, then we should do so. I am of course not referring to a policy of unilateral concessions. Lack of will and incompetence will not gain us any respect, gratitude, or gains. This has already happened in our recent history. Naive notions of the infallible and happy West and the eternally underdeveloped Russia are unacceptable, offensive and dangerous. But no less dangerous is the path of confrontation, self-isolation, mutual insults and recrimination.
Nostalgia should not guide our foreign policy and our strategic long-term goal is Russia's modernisation. Along with this Russia is one of the world's leading economies, a nuclear power and a permanent member of the UN Security Council. It should openly and explicitly explain its position and defend it in all venues, without weaselling or giving in to pressure to conform. And in the case of a threat to our own interests we must strongly defend them. I talked about these principles of our foreign policy in August last year.
In addition to this active work on the western front, we must increase our cooperation with the countries of the EurAsEC [Eurasian Economic Community], CSTO [Collective Security Treaty Organisation] and CIS [Commonwealth of Independent States]. These are our closest, strategic partners. We share the common goal of modernising our economies, regional security, and a more equitable world order. We must also develop worldwide cooperation with our partners in the SCO [Shanghai Cooperation Organisation] and BRIC [Brazil-Russia-India-China].
Like every great people, the Russian people are brilliant and heroic, they command the world's respect and admiration, and at the same time our history has been a controversial, complex, ambiguous one. It means different things to different people in different countries. And much remains to be done to protect our historical heritage from distortion and political speculations. We must look clearly at our past and see our great victories, our tragic mistakes, our role models, and the manifestations of the best features of our national character.
In any case, we will be attentive to our history and we will respect it. First and foremost we must respect our country's role in maintaining a balanced world order for centuries. Russia has always, at all stages of its development, sought to achieve a more equitable world order.
Russia has often sought to protect small nations, those confronted with the threat of enslavement or even destruction. This was the case only recently, when Saakashvili's regime launched its criminal attack on South Ossetia. Russia has often put an end to the plans of those bent on world domination. Russia has twice appeared in the vanguard of the great coalitions: in the 19th century to stop Napoleon and in the 20th by defeating the Nazis. In war and peace, when a just cause has demanded decisive action, our people have been there to help. Russia has always been a staunch ally in war and an honest partner in economic and diplomatic affairs.
In the future, Russia will be an active and respected member of the international community of free nations. It will be strong enough to exert a significant influence on the formulation of decisions that have global implications. It will be able to prevent anyone's unilateral actions from harming our national interests or adversely affecting our internal affairs, from reducing Russians' level of income or damaging their security.
For these reasons, along with other countries we are trying to reform the world's supranational political and economic institutions. The aim of this modernisation is the development of international relations in the interests of as many peoples and countries as possible. We want to establish rules of cooperation and dispute settlement, in which priority is given to modern ideas of equality and fairness.
These are my views on the historical role of our country and its future. These are my answers to some of the questions that affect us all.
I would invite all those who share my convictions to get involved. I would also invite those who do not agree with my ideas but sincerely desire change for the better to be involved as well. People will attempt to interfere with our work. Influential groups of corrupt officials and do-nothing 'entrepreneurs' are well ensconced. They have everything and are satisfied. They're going to squeeze the profits from the remnants of Soviet industry and squander the natural resources that belong to all of us until the end. They are not creating anything new, do not want development, and fear it. But the future does not belong to them – it belongs to us. And we are an absolute majority. We will act patiently, pragmatically, consistently and in a balanced manner. And act now: act today and tomorrow. We will overcome the crisis, backwardness and corruption. We will create a new Russia. Go Russia!
This work is from the website of the President of the Russian Federation and is copyrighted. It is licenced under the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported Licence. In short: you are free to distribute and modify this work as long as you attribute www.kremlin.ru.
The permission letter from the Press Secretary for the President of the Russian Federation is available as Kremlin authorisation-English.pdf.
This work is free and may be used by anyone for any purpose. If you wish to use this content, you do not need to request permission as long as you follow any licensing requirements mentioned on this page.
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Will These Futuristic Tech Tools Help Save Retail?
As retailers struggle, future-forward tech could save the day…
It's no secret that the retail industry is struggling. Young consumers are spending more on tech and experiences, and shopping from home, leaving stores to turn to tactics like adding restaurants and setting Pokémon lures to get them in-store. Seasonal juggernauts like back-to-school season have become unreliable as Millennials' and teens' shopping patterns and behaviors shift. Even industry saving grace fast fashion seems to be slowing down. Cheap and trendy fashion retailer Forever 21 has shown signs of concern over the past few months, including a sharp decline in sales compared to last year. They aren't the only ones losing steam. According to Racked, "H&M just posted its weakest quarterly sales growth in three years, and Urban Outfitters reported falling same-store sales this quarter, causing its stock to plunge." The New York Times speculates "weak demand" as being the root of the problem. There is also a possibility that consumers' growing Less is More mentality is having an impact.
The reality is that there are many causes behind retail's struggle, but it seems some are willing to try anything to adjust to young consumers' preferences. To that end, tech that once would have been considered futuristic is becoming a part of more and more brands' plans to reach shoppers. Here are four futuristic tech tools that are now a retail reality, and could be a part of the new retail landscape:
Drone delivery has been a buzzed about component of the future of retail for the last few years, with major e-retailers like Amazon making significant investments in the technology. But you know that a tech has gone mainstream when you can get an order of donuts and coffee with it. 7-Eleven has done just that with their first-ever drone delivery, which they have proudly announced as, "the first time a U.S. customer has received a package to their home via drone, representing a historic milestone in both U.S. and global commerce." When drones will soon be swarming the skies remains to be seen, but clearly it's a part of retailers' plans for a more on-demand future.
Chatbot Sales
The chatbot marketing trend is in its early stages, but already there are signs that chatting could replace IRL shopping. Online vinyl store The Edit sold $1 million worth of records in just eight months using a chatbot that texted daily album suggestions to consumers. Users could then reply with "like" or "dislike" to personalize their musical preferences, or "yes" to receive a purchase link. The digital indie record store experience results in about 300 albums sold per day. Sephora and H&M have both launched chatbots in Kik to allow customers to browse and order products. Now, Pizza Hut has announced that they'll be launching a chatbot to allow customers to order pies through Facebook and Twitter. The brand is calling the tech "social media ordering" and see it as a way to simplify the ordering experiences. If the trend continues, online shopping could be boosted by bots, giving young shoppers an even more seamless and personalized buying experience—because it's all a one-on-one conversation.
Who hasn't tuned into a favorite TV show and thought about a cool product or great outfit, "wow, where can I buy that?" If Amazon has anything to do with it, viewers will one day be able to buy anything they see on their TV screens. Their "Watch and Shop" shows, which currently feature Food Network and HGTV content, are basically entertainment that instantly turns into a shopping cart. Fire TV users can watch, select shows, and then browse the products seen in the program instantly. The selection of shows is obviously small, but it hints at a retail future where nearly everything we see on screens, which we are watching almost constantly, can be purchased in an instant.
AR Shopping
Augmented reality is shaping up to be more of a game-changer than many might have expected. In the wake of Pokémon Go's popularity, the appeal of AR has become more clear—and now there's a vision for what that might mean for retail. The mysterious startup Magic Leap demonstrated their technology in China, and footage hits at an ecommerce component, allowing shoppers to literally choose their next pair of glasses—or shoes, or dress, or lamp, or desk, or whatever—out of the air. Chinese retail giant Alibaba is an investor in Magic Leap, and it's not hard to imagine that they could create a future in which their enormous e-retail range of products are all browsable through AR.
To download the PDF version of this insight article, click here.


HK's Democrats Clamor for Spot on Crowded US Agenda - 美国新闻 - 一路 BBS - Powered by Discuz!
Mark Landler, Hong Kong's Democrats Clamor for Spot on Crowded US Agenda; A high-level envoy is expected to confront Chinese leaders. New York Times, Sept 5, 2014.
"For Ms [national security adviser Susan E] Rice, who prides herself on her blunt advocacy of human rights, the throngs of protesters in Hong Kong are difficult to ignore.
"'Great Britain has already capitulated, so the Chinese have dismissed them,' said Anson CHAN 陳方安生, a former top official in the Hong Kong government who has become a democratic activist.
"the melancholy reality for Hong Kong is that the White House, like 10 Downing Street, has other fish to fry with the Chinese. To date, the only official American response to the voting law is a statement from the State Department that 'the United States supports universal suffrage in Hong Kong,' but refrains from criticizing the Chinese government.
Note: The online English title ("As US Looks to China, Hong Kong Tops the Agenda," on which the Chinese-language title is based) in the cn.nytimes.com does NOT reflect the text. The English title in both nytimes.com and print do.


Drama Classes – How your Child can benefit from Joining Drama Groups?
Nowadays, taking the family out on Sundays is turning out to be trend in many families in India. Even though, the parents who actually belong to the previous generation do not opt for this sort of outing, they are forced to do it these days just with a view to provide the entertainment needed for their kids. Not only kids, with both the mom and dad working these days, they have lesser time to talk and even meet each other and so they consider this sort of outing as the valuable time to enjoy with their kids. So, as they wish to talk to each other, they do not want to spend too much time watching a movie. But, they are looking for a short entertainment. Here comes the 7d movie theater that is available in most of the big shopping malls in major cities in India.
As these theaters are well-placed in malls that have restaurants, boutiques and even internet café, they are able to spend a whole day without roaming around under the direct sun. Furthermore, nowadays, shopping malls are fully air-conditioned and so even when they live in a hot city like Chennai, they are able to make their Sunday's most enjoyable. In addition, these theaters generally showcase short films that just last for a few minutes and maximum a hour, they are able to get the excitement needed just with these films, rather than opting for boring three-hour movies.
The 7d movie experience being something new for them, they are visiting these halls with great excitement. As they are placed in the malls, they are able to start after having breakfast in their homes, then they visit the 7d movie theater placed in the mall for watching the exciting movie and then they finish their lunch in a restaurant available in the mall and then visit some boutiques for purchasing their essentials and place the items purchased safely on the car parked in the parking slot. Then, finally they finish off their dinner as well before starting to their homes.
The short films showcased in these halls provide a thrilling experience as if they are spending their day in a theme park. The special effects as per the scene appearing on the screen is greatly enjoyed by people and even some kids are brave enough to enjoy these excitements. So, these halls are turning out to be a great gift for people, who are interested in spending their weekends with their family members.


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In Memoriam: Philip Goodwin Freelon (1953–2019)
Philip Goodwin Freelon (1953–2019) died on July 9 at the age of 66. The renowned architect, designer, husband, and father of three left an indelible mark on the world of architecture and design, most recently with the opening of the Smithsonian Institution's National Museum of African American History and Culture in Washington D.C., for which he served as lead architect.
An esteemed member of the Harvard Graduate School of Design community, Freelon first came to the GSD in 1989 as a recipient of the Loeb Fellowship. More recently, he established the Phil Freelon Fellowship Fund, which expanded opportunities for African American and other underrepresented students, and collaborated on the creation of the African American Design Nexus.
Freelon was a passionate and committed advocate for equity, access, and representation in design and the arts. In establishing the Freelon Group in 1990, he sought to bring inspiring design to people and places that had often been overlooked. The Freelon Group would eventually become one of the nation's largest African American-owned architecture firms. Freelon believed that diverse teams can produce remarkable results. His most celebrated projects include the National Center for Civil and Human Rights in Atlanta, the Harvey B. Gantt Center in Charlotte, the Museum of the African Diaspora in San Francisco and Emancipation Park in Houston.
Philip Goodwin Freelon was an architect whose influence transcends his landmark projects, his decades of teaching and mentorship, and his focused, committed activism for diversity and representation in design. The design world has suffered an enormous loss, and the GSD community honors and celebrates Phil and his profound legacy.
Philip G. Freelon, LF '90, appointed to Commission of Fine Arts by President Obama
Phil Freelon Fellowship Fund established at the GSD
GSD launches the African American Design Nexus


Items where SHU Author is "Tiller, Nicholas"
TILLER, Nicholas, AGGAR, Thomas R., WEST, Christopher R. and ROMER, Lee M. (2018). Exercise-induced diaphragm fatigue in a Paralympic champion rower with spinal cord injury. Journal of Applied Physiology, 124 (3), 805-811.
TILLER, Nicholas and SIMPSON, Andrew J. (2018). Effect of spirometry on intra-thoracic pressures. BMC research notes, 11 (110).
RANCHORDAS, Mayur, TILLER, Nicholas, RAMCHANDANI, Girish, JUTLEY, Raj, BLOW, Andrew, TYE, Jonny and DRURY, Ben (2017). Normative data on regional sweat-sodium concentrations of professional male team-sport athletes. Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition, 14 (1), p. 40.
TILLER, Nicholas, CAMPBELL, Ian G. and ROMER, Lee M. (2017). Influence of upper-body exercise on the fatigability of human respiratory muscles. Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise, 49 (7), 1461-1472.
JONES, Leighton, TILLER, Nicholas and KARAGEORGHIS, Costas I. (2017). Psychophysiological effects of music on acute recovery from high-intensity interval training. Physiology & Behavior, 170, 106-114.
This list was generated on Wed Apr 24 19:02:39 2019 UTC.


text:
Man turns face into tattoo billboard for Internet porn sites, regrets it
He is now auctioning off more advertising space on his body to pay for laser removal surgery
By Katie McDonough
(ABC News)
Before legally changing his name to "Hostgator Dotcom," Billy Gibby called himself "Billy the Billboard" because of his willingness to tattoo brand logos on his face and body. After receiving sums in the range of $75 - $1,000, Gibby (Dotcom?) tattooed the logos for several Internet porn sites on his face.
And now he really, really regrets it.
Gibby told the Anchorage Press that he was suffering from untreated bipolar disorder when he made the decision to get the facial tattoos, and that his decision to do so was motivated by his "biggest fear" at the time -- not being able to pay the rent and support his family of seven.
Now on medication for his bipolar, Gibby is hoping to remove the 20 tattoos covering his face. But in order to afford the expensive laser surgery, he needs a better job. But because of his facial tattoos, he is pretty unemployable, he told the Press.
So he is auctioning off more advertising space on his body to finance the procedure.
"I have space on my arms, hands, chest and the legs," Gibby told the Huffintgon Post.
But sorry, Romney-Ryan face tattoo guy, Gibby has limits. "I won't take ads from companies that are racist and I won't do political ads either," he said.
Katie McDonough
Katie McDonough is Salon's politics writer, focusing on gender, sexuality and reproductive justice. Follow her on Twitter @kmcdonovgh or email her at kmcdonough@salon.com.
MORE FROM Katie McDonough • FOLLOW kmcdonovgh


Welcome to our ultimate WPEngine discount code and review article. If you are new to WPEngine, then you're in the right place. As the title says there are two distinct sections: (1) the WPEngine discount code and (2) the WPEngine review.
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WPEngine is hosting for your WordPress site/s and is managed by a team of WordPress experts. It is different to traditional hosting and cloud hosting in that everything WPEngine does is all about boosting the experience of WordPress. It's best to think of it as the different between a family hatchback and a formula one car. Yes, there both cars, but the formula one car has far greater performance than that of the family hatchback.
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Every Friday we open up the stage to performers of all ages and all skill levels to showcase their talent. We start at 7pm with a different host each week. Those wanting to perform simply sign-up on a dry erase board which determines the order through the night. Each performance last up to 20 minutes on an average night. If we have a long list of performers we may ask for shorter sets. Of course if you intend on doing a quick set that is fine too. We may run the event a little late if need be.
See the photo slideshow below to get a glimpse of past performances.


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John Mellencamp Community > MELLENCAMP DISCUSSION > Tour Talk > Jacksonville Review
Author Topic: Jacksonville Review (Read 2712 times)
Concert review: John Mellencamp takes a while to get rolling, then smokes the tires
By Tom Szaroleta
Going to a John Mellencamp concert has always been sort of like sitting in the passenger seat of a hot rod. Strap in and hang on, because it's gonna be a wild ride.
Sunday night at the Times-Union Center, Mellencamp had the hot rod all polished and ready to go. But for much of the show, he never took it out of second gear.
He played tons of familiar songs but played many of them at a slower tempo, in keeping with the style of his latest album, "Plain Spoken." That didn't always work, robbing some songs of their punch. "Check it Out," for instance, didn't have the same white-knuckled wallop when it was slowed down. But on others, the more leisurely pace gave the passengers a chance to pay attention to the stories he was telling and appreciate the wordplay he's always done so well.
Of course Mellencamp, like any good hot rod owner, couldn't resist putting the hammer down eventually. Toward the end of the show, he cranked it up for a mad dash through "Crumblin' Down," "Authority Song," "Pink Houses" and "Cherry Bomb."
The sold-out crowd should have known this wasn't going to be a typical Mellencamp show when his band walked on stage at 8:30 p.m. dressed in tuxedos (other than violinist Miriam Sturm, who wore a floor-length gown). They started with a couple of new songs, "Lawless Times" and "Troubled Man," setting the tone for the evening. The new album is a throwback to the pre-rock days of electric blues, although the lyrics of "Lawless Times" could apply to 1915 as well as they do to 2015.
Just when he got some momentum rolling with "Small Town," four songs into the set, Mellencamp downshifted, playing "Stones in My Passway," a Robert Johnson song from 1937.
He followed that pattern throughout the evening, speeding things up, then slowing them down. Some of those slow moments were pretty special though — he rasped his way through "The Full Catastrophe," making it sound every bit like something out of a smoky club in the '40s, and his take on "Jack and Diane," alone on stage with just an acoustic guitar, was perhaps the evening's finest moment. "Away From This World" and "Tear This Cabin Down," a couple of songs from the musical he wrote with Stephen King, were also highlights.
But people came to hear the hits the way they remember them, and Mellencamp is shrewd enough to know that. For the last 45 minutes of the show, the band members loosened their ties and stomped on the gas, making a song like "Rain on the Scarecrow" sound even angrier than when it came out 30 years ago.
Mellencamp closed the show with "Cherry Bomb" and didn't come back for an encore, which left some in the crowd grumbling. By that time, though, he had been playing for an hour and 45 minutes without a break and had played the same he's done at most dates on this tour. The gas gauge, it would seem, was on E.
http://jacksonville.com/entertainment/music/2015-03-15/story/concert-review-john-mellencamp-takes-while-get-rolling-then


Three weeks ago on June 21st I started a little epic adventure/vacation as we like to call it... Who is "we" you ask...?
Fast forward to the weekend of January 20st 2011, I am supposed to be snowboarding in Utah or Colorado for my last weekend living in the USA, plans fall though... Talk to my mother that morning and she finds out I am not snowboarding > A few hours later I was on a plane to Miami.... Thx mom!
By the way, Angelina is right now in China so she is not going to see this for another week….
Unfortunately I was not going to be able to pick her up at the airport… She was arriving at noon instead of the usual 11pm flights and I had a bunch of work to finish up before taking off for 12 days… But I felt bad, I had promised that if she came "I will pick you up on my camel from the airport"…. Instead of the camel I was going to have to send my driver…. Well I ended up going to pick her up… Let's just say I installed both batteries on my work laptop and took 4 global calls from the car in the 3-4hr round trip car ride….. She was surprised….
The next day Angelina was on her own for a private guided tour of the Pyramids, Egyptian Museum and the Khan El Khallil Bazzar… While I was in the office…..
The next day the real adventure begun.... We woke up early and headed off to the desert in the Jeep!
Ok enough for now... These pics were Angelina's... Will take a few days to process more pics and our videos! Next post Ill go more into detail about the adventure and lots more pics!
Wow! what a story! It sounds like you had a great time! :) Picking her up on a camel would have been so cool!


John K. • November 19, 2016Nice, cool but dark (literally), atmosphere with friendly service and bartenders. The fries and burger I had were delicious as well.
Elizabeth C. • November 25, 2013Great service and delicious dishes. I had the hangar steak and my friend had the Salmon with risotto. Both wonderfully Tasty!