FazzNoth

Social media users have expressed their frustration at today’s Wordle (281) after learning that the winning word does not contain a single vowel. It comes after Wordle 280 also proved difficult, with many losing their winning streaks after failing to guess the answer correctly. For the uninitiated, Wordle is a daily word game that sees players guess a five-letter word in six tries or less. It was originally created by software engineer Josh Wardle as a present for his partner but was later acquired by the New York Times for an undisclosed seven-figure sum after gaining huge po[CENSORED]rity on Twitter. In recent weeks, the game has been plagued by criticisms that it has become “too hard” following NYT’s acquisition, with some even theorising that the publication had made the game harder – but this was later debunked by experts. Many users have complained about the lack of vowels in today’s Wordle. “This Wordle will cause the collapse of society,” one person said. “I can’t believe the New York Times had the audacity to produce a #Wordle that doesn’t contain a vowel. I got it on my fifth guess, but still, that’s just uncalled for,” another wrote. A third person said: “There’s no vowel in today’s Wordle, so needless to say I’ve already given up.” Another person who also struggled with guessing Saturday’s Wordle – the answer was epoxy, another uncommon word – wrote: “Happy Sunday and happy Mother’s Day to everyone…except who made today’s and yesterday’s Wordle. “That meanness two days in a row. Shame on you. I hope you get stung by a wasp.” Wordle 281 proved particularly difficult for those who have employed a tactic of starting the game with a word that contains as many vowels as possible. Despite this common approach, language experts have advised players to always start with consonant heavy words. “Consonants are more informative than vowels – there are more of them to knock out of contention,” Lynne Murphy, professor of linguistics and head of English language and linguistics at the University of Sussex, previously The Independent. Murphy said she likes to start with words such as “drink”, “clamp” to eliminate common consonants. “Whereas if you guess something vowel-heavy like ‘ALIEN’ at the start, you might learn that the word has an ‘A’ and an ‘E’, but a lot of words have those two vowels – you haven’t ruled as many words out.” https://news.yahoo.com/cause-collapse-society-players-stumped-091415353.html

New Delhi: Apple is reportedly working on a hardware subscription service via which it will sell iPhones and iPads in monthly payments. It would be different than the iPhone Upgrade programme that lets you pay for the iPhone in 24 monthly installments.Also Read - Apple Announces Revamped 3D Maps in Canada Under that programme, the device is yours once you have paid for it in full, reports PhoneArena. The new hardware subscription service is expected to launch by the end of 2022 or in 2023. The programme would differ to a normal mobile phone plan in that it would not be the price of the hardware split across 12, 24 or 36 months. Instead, it would be a monthly fee based on the hardware that the Apple user chooses. Apple dominated the list of top 10 best-selling smartphones in 2021 globally, as seven out 10 smartphones in the list were iPhones. According to market research firm Counterpoint, the top 10 best-selling smartphone models contributed 19 per cent to the total global smartphone unit sales in 2021, compared to 16 per cent in 2020. Apple secured seven spots in the list, its highest ever, while Xiaomi captured two spots and Samsung one. There were more than 4,200 active smartphone models in the global market in 2021. The top five models in 2021 were from Apple. The iPhone 12 was the best-selling model, followed by iPhone 12 Pro Max, iPhone 13, iPhone 12 Pro and iPhone 11. The top three models contributed 41 per cent to Apple’s total sales. https://www.india.com/technology/apple-likely-to-sell-iphones-ipads-through-monthly-subscriptions-5304613/

The Afghanistan Chamber of Commerce and Industries (ACCI) on Tuesday expressed its deeps concern over challenges in private sectors and cold shoulder toward domestic products. The ACCI asked government to adopt incentive policy in order to boost up domestic products and pave ground for the growth of private sectors across the country. “Despite positive steps, still domestic products and private sectors facing different challenges, thus it is the need of the hour that the government to take encouragement policies to support home products,” said Deputy of ACCI, Khanjan Alkozai. Addressing inauguration of International Exhibition titled “Afghan Homex Expo” here in Kabul, he said that behind ongoing conflicts, unstable and weak economic situation is one of the main factors that hampered domestic product. “The government should draw attention toward improvement of domestic products and private sectors aimed at embarking toward self-reliance,” he said. Moreover, he added, “by improving economy situation, issues related insecurity would be resolved indirectly. Good economy would bring security in the country.” Pointing toward reduction of tariffs and taxes in a bid to support domestic products, he stated, “such policy should be followed strictly to pave more suitable ground for better improvement of homemade goods.” Though, commercial deals declined in the country, but still enough opportunities are on the air, he added. Deputy Minister for Commerce and Industries (MoCI) Qurban Haqjo, said that different policies in the card to support private sectors, domestic products and investments in the country. He added, “The ministry devised a policy to get remuneration as much as possible from its membership in World Trade Organization (WTO). “Afghanistan trade had worsened since 2007 due to lack of infrastructure, energy, corruption and old bureaucracy,” he added. He said that lack of capacity within government as well as in private sectors was other challenges ahead of commercial deals and economic growth. MoCI in cooperation with related organization made a strategy to assess challenges onward on private sectors and domestic products and also to take measure for its solution, he noted. He also informed of a policy to support investment in the country. “Extraction of mineral mines is another element that enables the government to create job opportunities and lead Afghanistan toward economic self-sufficiency, he mentioned. It is pertained to mention that the above mentioned four-day exhibition launched by ACCI in collaboration with the Exhibitors company’s projects of Iran in Kabul. 120 companies from Afghanistan, Japan, United Arab Emirates (UAE), United States of America (USA), Germany, Iran and Turkey were exhibited their products. The core reason behind exhibition was to boost market for Afghan and foreign goods across the country. https://www.afghanistantimes.af/fragile-economic-situation-acci-asks-govt-to-support-domestic-products/

Critics slammed former CBS News White House correspondent Mark Knoller on Saturday after he said President Biden's speech in Poland topped former President Ronald Reagan's "tear down that wall" speech. Biden's speech ended with him saying Russian Vladimir Putin "cannot remain in power." The White House appeared to walk back his comments shortly afterward, saying that Biden was calling for regime change. BIDEN SAYS PUTIN ‘CANNOT REMAIN IN POWER' AS HE ASSURES UKRAINE: ‘WE STAND WITH YOU’ "The president’s point was that Putin cannot be allowed to exercise power over his neighbors or the region. He was not discussing Putin’s power in Russia, or regime change," a White House official told Fox News Digital. "Tops Reagan’s 1987 "tear down this wall" speech," Knoller said on Twitter, prompting criticism from journalists and political commentators. WHITE HOUSE INSISTS TROOPS NOT GOING TO UKRAINE AFTER BIDEN COMMENTS IN POLAND Fox News contributor Mollie Hemingway said, "Oh Mark." Radio host Erick Erickson noted that no one walked back Reagan's comments. "Did the staff have to come out after Reagan’s speech and say JUST KIDDING GUYS HE DIDN’T MEAN THAT," Nick Searcy, an actor, said in response to Knoller's tweet. The Heritage Foundation's Nile Gardiner, a former aide to Margaret Thatcher, said, "Biden is no Reagan that's for sure." "If topping means the exact opposite of what it actually means, absolutely," Fox News' Laura Ingraham said in response to Knoller's suggestion. Biden visited Poland over the weekend and met with several Ukrainian refugees that have fled their country. Poland has accepted the majority of Ukrainian people fleeing Putin's war. "Don't even think about moving on one single inch of NATO territory," he said during his speech. "We have a sacred obligation under Article Five to defend each and every inch of NATO territory with the full force of our collective power." He stressed the importance of a united front and said that the U.S. and its allies must commit to be in the fight against Russia "for the long haul." Biden also called Putin a "butcher" after meeting with displaced Ukrainian mothers and children in Warsaw. https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/opinion/former-cbs-news-reporter-slammed-for-saying-bidens-speech-in-poland-topped-reagans-tear-down-that-wall/ar-AAVyizQ?ocid=BingNewsSearch

I know you keep your word if you say you will be active every day.

You were an administrator in the past. Now you are very active, you do a good job in GFX and you have experience. You deserve another chance to be part of the STAFF again.

Voted DH1 - Nostalgic song

Hello again Mindsphere, I just checked your activity and I like it is good. Request Accepted. Welcome to our team again. T/C

Nickname: @FazzNoth Video author: Thunderful Games Name of the game: LEGO Bricktales Video link: Short description of the video: In LEGO Bricktales travel across a diverse range of intricate and colorful diorama biomes all fully built from LEGO bricks, and get captivated by a charming story. LEGO Bricktales encourages you to unlock your creativity as you build your own solutions to the game’s many inventive puzzles.

Now that Samsung’s new Frame TVs are available for preorder, the 2021 model is selling at a new all-time low in multiple configurations until April 5th (or while supplies last). Typically $1,499.99, Woot is selling the HDR-compatible, 55-inch QLED TV for $899.99, which is $100 cheaper than the previous low we saw during Black Friday and in the run-up to the Super Bowl. The 65-inch model is also on sale for $1,399.99 instead of $1,999, and both TVs come with a one-year warranty from Samsung. While the 2021 model lacks the matte, anti-reflective display found on this year’s model, they’re both designed to display artwork when not in use, allowing them to blend in more easily with your home’s decor. When turned on, they function as Alexa-equipped, 4K TVs that support a 120Hz refresh rate and a healthy selection of streaming apps. If smart lighting is more your thing, Philips Hue is currently taking 15 percent off a range of po[CENSORED]r smart bulbs, ambient light strips, lamps, and other items listed on this landing page as part of its mix and match sale. To get the discount, you’ll need to buy at least one product from three categories: bulbs, ambiance, and accessories. The 15 percent discount will then be applied automatically, so long as you make your purchase before April 5th. Right now, for instance, you could bundle two 75W white and color E26 smart bulbs (normally $89.99) with a Hue Bridge (normally $59.99), an optional accessory that allows you to set lighting routines, control varied scenes, and connect up to 50 lights. You could then throw in an 80-inch Gradient Lightstrip and get all four items for about $280, which roughly equates to a $50 discount. Combined, that means you can add some pretty cool smart lighting throughout your home for a little less. You can use the smart bulbs to set different hues of white light ranging from warmer to cooler, and further customize them with adjustable smart timers. The Gradient Lightstrips, meanwhile, are capable of displaying an array of colors at the same time, so you can add a touch of color behind your monitor if you were to mount one behind your desk. You can also pair the bulbs and Lightstrip with your existing setup via the Hue Bridge, which uses the Zigbee protocol, thus allowing you to control it all with the most po[CENSORED]r smart home ecosystems, including Apple HomeKit, Google Assistant, and Amazon’s Alexa. We consider the powerful LG Gram 17 the best laptop for fans of big screens, namely because it offers a large, 17-inch screen yet remains surprisingly lightweight. In fact, despite its massive display, we found it to be only a little bit heavier than the 13-inch MacBook Air. We also liked that the laptop offers quiet operation, 12 hours of battery life, and a great keyboard, one that’s a joy to type on and provides a surprising amount of travel. Normally $1,949.99, Best Buy is currently selling the configuration with 16GB of RAM, a 2TB SSD, Intel Iris Xe Graphics, and an 11th Gen Intel Core i7 Evo processor for $1,499.99 — the best price we’ve seen for this particular configuration — as a part of the store’s one-day sale on various LG products. That makes the Windows 11 machine more affordable than the model we tested last year, which offered a 1TB SSD and initially retailed for $1,799.99. Read our review. Apple’s most affordable iPad just became, well, more affordable for a limited time. That’s because Walmart and Amazon are currently offering the 64GB, Wi-Fi-equipped model for $309 instead of $329, matching the entry-level tablet’s best price to date. Despite touting a similar design to its eighth-gen predecessor, the latest iPad features a faster A13 Bionic CPU, replacing Apple’s A12 Bionic from 2018. It also comes with a 12MP ultrawide front-facing camera with support for Apple’s Center Stage feature — which is designed to keep you centered in the frame during video calls — as well as a 10.2-inch True Tone display that adjusts the color temperature based on your environment. It lacks some of the more premium features reserved for the 2022 iPad Air and more recent iPad Pro models, but it remains one of the better tablets for most people, especially at a discount. https://www.msn.com/en-us/lifestyle/shopping/samsung-e2-80-99s-art-inspired-frame-tv-is-on-sale-today-for-its-best-price-ever/ar-AAVwGaf?ocid=BingNewsSearch

What is an ETL tool? Today, data analytics plays a major role in corporate decision making. It is able to do this because data is culled from a variety of sources and then assembled in a single data repository that corporate decision makers can access. When data is combined from different areas throughout the company, corporate decision makers get a 360-degree view of what is going on. This enables them to make more informed decisions. For example, if a vice president of sales wants to know why a certain product isn’t selling well, he/she can query a central data analytics repository which contains all of the information on that particular product from throughout the enterprise. The sales VP can see the customer complaints about the product that customer service logged, as well as the number of product returns that the warehouse processed. He/she can also see that engineering is working on a revision of the product to cure the defects that have been reported. The VP now has a thorough understanding of why the product hasn’t been doing as well in revenues as was projected. A decade ago, this type of comprehensive analysis and visibility was difficult to achieve. Corporate departments were using their own systems and data, and this data stayed in data silos that weren’t always shared with others with a need to know. Now, with more modernized approaches to preparing and sharing data, a more complete picture of what is going on throughout the company is available to corporate decision makers. How have organizations managed to pull data from variety of internal and eternal sources, and then combine it into a single data repository that everyone can access? They use extract, transform and load (ETL) software, commonly referred to as ETL tools, to move the data, transform it and then load it into a target data repository. How do ETL tools work? ETL software obtains data from one source, transforms the data into a form that is acceptable for another source and then moves the data to the new target source. ETL software is an automated software tool. When companies use ETL software, they no longer have to convert data from one source to another by hand. This saves time, effort and manual errors. When an ETL tool extracts data, the data can be extracted from any internal or external data source, whether it is a file or a database. Once the ETL tool has the data, it transforms the data into a form that is compatible with the target data repository that the data will be loaded into. This data transformation is based upon the data conversion rules that IT defines to the ETL software, which then performs the data transformation automatically, based upon those rules. As a final step, the ETL software takes the transformed data and then moves it into the target data repository. How do you use an ETL tool? ETL tools can be run for both batch and real-time data processing. These tools can also be used in both on premises and cloud environments. The value of ETL tools rests in their ability to automate the movement of data between systems, but they are only as good as the set of business and operational rules that IT provides them. For instance, an organization will have a set of data governance and data cleaning standards. These might include the exclusion of certain data fields in data transfers between systems, or changes in the formatting of data so that data from an incoming data source will be able to conform and to interoperate with data in the target data repository that might be formatted differently. In the past, IT had to make and execute these data transformation and quality rules manually. This was a time-consuming process that also had the potential of introducing errors, since the process was done manually. Now with ETL tools that automate major portions of the data extract, transformation and load process, IT can be largely hand-off in these operations, although it still must define the rules of operation and data quality and governance for the ETL tool so the ETL software can do its job. It is also up to IT to continuously monitor the ETL process in the same way that IT monitors the performance of any other piece of software. This way, if there is a problem, IT can intervene and solve it. What to look for in an ETL tool Companies of all sizes need to move data from point to point and then aggregate it in order to support more holistic and informed decision making. With advent of analytics and a need to understand the business more holistically, IT and end business decision makers want to derive more value from their data, and they want it faster. This is where ETL tools fit in. They automate data moving that used to be manual, and they come with pre-packaged APIs (application programming interfaces) that automatically connect to many po[CENSORED]r databases and applications, without IT having to do these integrations “by hand.” That being said, there are several factors that companies should consider before purchasing an ETL solution. What do you need the ETL for? Are you going to be pulling data from different sources that range from unstructured or semi-structured IoT data to legacy system data that resides on internal servers and mainframes? Or is your company almost wholly cloud-based, with a clear preference for an ETL solution that operates within the cloud where most of your data and applications are hosted? What if your company has data and systems that are both on premises and cloud based? What’s the best choice for that scenario? How do you want prepare your data? Is the generic formatting (system to system or database to database) that your ETL tool comes pre-packaged with going to meet your data cleaning and formatting needs, or do you need to add extra edit rules to data? How well can you support and leverage your ETL tool? If you are a smaller company, do you have skilled personnel on board who are trained in ETL methods and tools? Even if you have this personnel on board, do you have a need to also have your non-IT end business users use the ETL software? How much do you want to pay for an ETL tool? Do you prefer an ETL tool that is wholly based upon usage that you can control and monitor for cost, or a cloud-based ETL tool that doesn’t require internal servers and storage from your data center? What about the training and support that might be required for your IT staff and end users? Which ETL software option will be most cost-effective for you? The best ETL tools ETL tools can work in either cloud or on premises IT environments; they also come in either proprietary or open source software. Here are some of the most po[CENSORED]r ETL tools in those categories. ETL in the cloud AWS Glue is a nice fit for companies that use SQL databases, AWS and Amazon S3 storage services. AWS Glue enables you to clean, validate, organize and load data from disparate static or streaming data sources into a data warehouse or a data lake. It also allows you to process semi-structured data such as clickstream (e.g., website hyperlinks) and process logs. Its strength is in its ability to work with SQL, which many companies have competence in. On the programming side, AWS Glue executes jobs using either Scala or Python code. With AWS Glue, you can schedule ETL jobs based on a schedule or event, or you can trigger jobs as soon as data becomes available. AWS Glue is an on-demand tool that automatically scales to accommodate the processing and storage resources that you need, and that gives you visibility of runtime metrics while it processes. AWS Glue integrates well with other AWS systems and processes, so if AWS is your primary data repository and processor, AWS Glue works well. It also has APIs for third party JDBC (JAVA)-accessible databases like DB2, MySQL, Oracle, SyBase, Apache Kafka and MongoDB. AWS offers free online courses. It also provides certification programs. Pricing is free for the first million accesses/objects stored and is billed on a monthly basis that is based upon usage thereafter. More Info: https://www.techrepublic.com/article/etl-tools/

A po[CENSORED]r Offaly hardware store is hosting a massive 20th anniversary sale. To mark the milestone of 20 years in Birr, Oliver Douglas & Sons is holding a massive anniversary sale that finishes today, Saturday, March 26. This family-run business opened its doors for the first time in Birr in 2002, and since then they have enjoyed huge success. They quickly forged a strong connection with people in the locality, because of their extensive range of high-quality products, along with the expertise and friendliness of their staff. “We deeply value the fantastic support from the public over the years,” said Ollie Douglas, “and to show our appreciation we are holding these two fantastic days of great bargains during the last Friday and Saturday of the month. “We will be showcasing a wide variety of products over the two days, and we are all really looking forward to it here in the store, because it will be our way of saying thank you to our loyal customers. We are looking forward to an enjoyable and social couple of days.” A number of experts in their fields will be present in the store. There are impressive tile and bathroom showrooms in the store and its attractiveness gets great praise from customers. Brands such as Sonas and Matrix. A Sonas bathroom expert will be present, talking to the public about his company's attractive range of bathroom fittings, including baths, showers, and sinks. Also a Canadia flooring expert will be in-store, offering an impressive range of flooring deals and advice for contemporary and traditional homes. On Saturday, a Dulux colour consultant will be in attendance. This is guaranteed to be very po[CENSORED]r so you are strongly advised to book your appointment in advance by calling 05791 20049 and speaking to a member of staff. “We are a one-stop shop,” said Ollie, “because when you are building a house you can buy practically everything that you need. We have tiles, flooring, paint, plumbing, Grant air to water heating systems, doors, insulation, wood pellet burning stoves. We offer Elgin & Hall electric fires.” “We are the sole supplier locally of Little Greene Paint and Frenchic furniture paint. We also offer Dulux, Crown, and Ronseal products. There's a full range of paint accessories. “We stock garden furniture and gardening tools, including the Husqvarna 1 series, Karcher power washers and accessories, and the full range of the DeWalt battery garden range.” “With Spring around the corner we have everything you could want for your gardening needs including composts, decorative stone, bark mulch and topsoil. In addition, we have timber decking, paving slabs, and concrete panels on display.” The store stocks Snickers work-wear, which is one of the leading brands in this field. The store's toy section has such an impressive selection of toys, is enormously po[CENSORED]r and constantly growing. Sporting gear is available (for both children and adults), including Cooper helmets, hurls, sliotars and footballs. As part of the anniversary sale, people can win a Berg Buddy Cross Go Kart (for 3 – 8 years of age), every time they make a purchase. You can also win a Rolly John Deere Tractor (for two and a half to five years of age). Ollie was full of praise for his staff. “They are a great staff, who work hard and are noted for their friendliness. Some of them have been with us since we started back in 2002.” There are over 20 staff in the two Birr and Roscrea shops. The Roscrea shop, located on Rosemary Square, was opened in 1976 by Oliver and his late wife Mary. Together the two shops serve a huge area. Their delivery trucks are constantly on the road, delivering their top quality products to customers all over the midlands. Three of Oliver's sons are working in the business, Ollie, Tony and John. "We have achieved so much over the last two decades," said Ollie, "but we are not resting on our laurels. We are always looking at new products and ways of enhancing our business to help make our customers' shopping experience better.” https://www.offalyexpress.ie/news/local-news/775515/po[CENSORED]r-offaly-hardware-store-hosting-massive-20th-anniversary-sale.html

There are many dogs and cats are available for adoption at Burke County Animal Services. Trinity Johnson, shelter technician at animal services, wants all of the animals in the shelter to find a loving fur-ever home. These are the animals she chose to spotlight this week. This week’s Dog of the Week is Almond. “Almond is a 1-year-old brindle Staffordshire terrier,” Johnson said. “Almond is a very sweet and friendly dog, though he does take some time to open up to new people. “He loves treats. His favorite treats would have to be Pupperoni sticks! He loves to chew on toys and bones, but is very cautious with his personal belongings, as he does not want his bed and blanket to get messed up. Almond would love some to have some visitors come by the shelter to feed him some treats and take him on a walk. Please come meet Almond today.” All animals brought to animal services come from different backgrounds and are in different physical condition. The agency’s staff works to ensure all animals are taken care of while they’re in the shelter and in preparation to be adopted into their forever homes. This week’s Cats of the Week are a bonded pair, Scamper and Lovey. “Scamper is a tabby and white cat, who is a 7-year-old neutered male, and Lovey a black 9-year-old neutered male,” Johnson said. “Scamper and Lovey’s adoption fees have been sponsored in hopes that they can be adopted out together, meaning there is no fee to adopt these sweet cats. “These guys have been around other cats and even dogs their whole lives so they would do great in just about any home. They are super sweet and would even do well with children as they love attention.” In addition to this week’s pets of the week, there are many dogs and cats are available for adoption at animal services. Animal services tries to take in as many animals as it can, and with the help of foster home volunteers it is able to care for more animals. There are different fees for those interested in adopting a dog or a cat from animal services. The adoption fee for any adult dog or puppy is $125. The adoption fee for any adult cat or kitten is $90. All animals come up-to-date on vaccines, flea control, and deworming, as well as being spayed and neutered. The shelter also offers foster programs for members of the community to help the animals of the shelter without having to make a lifelong commitment. Fosters are only required to give a copy of a valid ID with address and phone number and to sign their foster agreement. Fostering is free, and animal services provides all needed supplies, including litter boxes, litter and food and the same for dogs, the agency’s policy says. Crates are provided, if available. Foster parents are just asked to transport the animal either to vet appointments or back to the shelter for updated vaccines and deworming. https://morganton.com/news/local/pets-of-the-week-at-burke-county-animal-services/article_1e3a0a96-aa1e-11ec-95d3-43814bcfbe55.html

Exciting news for all the automotive enthusiasts across the nation – the highly anticipated Auto Expo is making its return in 2023. The organizing body of the premier Indian auto show, the Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM) recently announced the dates for the 2023 edition of the Auto Expo. The show will be held from 13th to 18th of January 2023 at the India Expo Mart, Greater Noida, Uttar Pradesh. The biannual show which was last held in 2020 before the COVID-19 pandemic broke out, was also scheduled for 2022 however the event was deferred due to uncertainties surrounding the impact of the third wave of covid-19. During the announcement of the 2023 Auto Expo it was also announced that from next year onwards, the event will be held every odd year, in accordance with the calendar of the Organisation Internationale des Constructeurs d’Automobiles (OICA), or the International Organization of Motor Vehicle Manufacturers. 2022 was the first year in the history of this revered automotive show that it was delayed. The organizers of the event during the August of last year announced that in view of the safety of exhibitors, visitors and all stakeholders involved and present at the Expo they would need a lead time of preferably a year for organising the Auto Expo. The decision at the time was made by SIAM due to the uncertainties around the development of COVID-19 in the coming months. https://www.cartoq.com/auto-expo-coming-back-in-january-2023-dates-confirmed/

Black News Channel, a cable news network that went on the air two years ago to provide an alternative look at news from Black Americans’ perspective, is shutting down, the outlet’s chief executive told employees on Friday. “Due to challenging market conditions and global financial pressures, we have been unable to meet our financial goals, and the timeline afforded to us has run out,” Princell Hair, who has been chief executive since July 2020, wrote in a memo to staff. “Effective immediately, BNC will cease live production and file for bankruptcy.” Black News Channel’s abrupt closure comes just a year after the network revamped its lineup with high-profile commentators like Charles Blow and Marc Lamont Hill, and added a new morning show. It also shows the difficulties traditional cable-TV channels face as cord-cutting continues and consumers turn away from the channel dial. The network, which was co-founded by former Oklahoma congressman J.C. Watts, is largely backed by automotive-parts billionaire and Jacksonville Jaguars owner Shad Khan. Mr. Khan had explored a sale of some or all of the network in recent months, people familiar with the matter said. Mr. Khan, who has invested roughly $50 million in BNC, won’t invest any further, according to some of the people. A spokesman for Mr. Khan had no comment. By 5 p.m. ET on Friday, the network will start running old programming, which will last through the rest of this month, according to one of the people familiar with the matter. BNC’s more than 200 employees didn’t receive their paychecks this week, the people said. They won’t receive severance pay or benefits beyond the end of the month, the people said. “Arrangements have been made for the company to pay all earned but unpaid wages to laid-off employees,” the board of BNC said in a statement Friday evening. Under Mr. Hair’s leadership, BNC landed distribution deals with most pay-TV providers, including Comcast Corp.’s Xfinity, Dish Network Corp. and DirecTV. The network said it reached roughly 50 million households. BNC didn’t receive fees from distributors for carrying its channel, according to one of the people familiar with the matter. Instead, the network relied on advertising revenue and funding from its backer—a practice that is commonplace for most upstart cable channels. The network’s viewership hit a peak of 80,000 this week, according to Nielsen data, as it aired wall-to-wall coverage of confirmation hearings for Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson, the first Black woman nominated to the Supreme Court. Mr. Hair, a TV veteran whose resume includes CBS, CNN, Turner Broadcasting and NBC Sports, had looked to shake up the cable-TV news landscape, which has seen audiences divided among major networks like CNN, Fox News and MSNBC. Fox News parent Fox Corp. and Wall Street Journal parent News Corp share common ownership. Mike Hill, an anchor on Black News Channel’s daily weekday morning news show, “Start Your Day With Sharon and Mike,” said he was surprised the network shut down so quickly. He said he realized there were warning signs, such as layoffs in December and Thursday’s companywide email about delayed paychecks. “Like any other startup network, there were bumps along the way, but we were overcoming them,” Mr. Hill said. “Hopefully something comes around like this again, and hopefully it gets the marketing it needs, the attention it needs, and the viewership it needs.” https://www.wsj.com/articles/black-news-channel-shuts-down-two-years-after-debut-11648237389

I think it was too early for you to come to that conclusion as it was early at the time you put this post up. You can see here that the forum has a program to notify us each day of each member's birthday and any of us would have wished it on you.. So, Happy Birthday! Have a great day with your family and friends.

Hello again, I just saw that you have copied the last request of mr.Bada that had been rejected in February also if you compare most of the answers are copy/paste that you have done and that you only changed some answers that he gave... And this is a proof (and a mistake on your part) that they are similar and don't tell me it's just a coincidence... That's why I change my opinion to Contra for giving us answers that are not yours.

Your reply's to my first and third questions are good. But I don't know why you say you are very active in the GoG project because if you see your content you only did some battles with other members, since the project was rebuilt there is no activity from you in the sections that were created by the GoG STAFF and administrators.... https://csblackdevil.com/forums/profile/80700-dcrazy/content/ Please next time check your content before answering this kind of questions and if you are going to make content there you can start doing it. I am willing to give you a chance to be part of the STAFF and I will consider your first answer to see if you are a hard working person as you said.

Nickname: @FazzNoth Video author: Borderlands Name of the game: Tiny Tina’s Wonderlands Video link: Short description of the video: Embark on an epic adventure full of whimsy, wonder, and high-powered weaponry! Bullets, magic, and broadswords collide across this chaotic fantasy world brought to life by the unpredictable Tiny Tina. Roll your own multiclass hero and loot, shoot, slash, and cast your way through outlandish monsters and loot-filled dungeons on a quest to stop the tyrannical Dragon Lord. Everyone's welcome, so join the party, throw on your adventuring boots, and be Chaotic Great!

If you have yet to pick up a decent pair of true wireless earbuds, you can still buy the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds at Adorama and Amazon for $219.99 instead of $279.99, one of the lowest prices we’ve seen on these earbuds since Black Friday. There’s no shortage of noise-canceling earbuds available right now; however, we think these are worth your attention thanks to their excellent sound quality, impressive fit, and wireless — albeit, bulky — charging case. Even with newer options available like the Sony WF-1000XM4 and Samsung Galaxy Buds 2, we still count these among some of the best wireless earbuds you can buy, especially if superb noise cancellation is what you’re after. Read our review. If you’re looking for a solid discount on some of Bose’s best noise-canceling headphones, the Bose QuietComfort 45 are currently on sale at both Amazon and Best Buy for $279 instead of their usual $329. This discount isn’t uncommon, but it still matches the lowest price we’ve seen for the excellent on-ears. While not a massive departure from its previous iteration in terms of looks, the QC45s boast improved battery life and excellent noise cancellation and are some of the most comfortable headphones we’ve reviewed. They’re also capable of lasting for up to 24 hours on a single charge and can be topped off in short order thanks to their USB-C connectivity, which is a boon given they can’t be used while charging. Read our review. Amazon’s Fire HD 8 and 8 Plus tablets go on sale at least once a month, but they’re still worth looking into if you’re in the market for a budget slate. Right now, for instance, the 32GB Fire HD 8 with ads is on sale at both Amazon and Target for $44.99 instead of $89.99, matching its best price to date. The tablet’s 8-inch display has a resolution of 1280 x 800, in addition to 2MP front and rear cameras. It’s certainly not intended for heavy lifting, but for anyone looking for an inexpensive e-reader, a kid-friendly tablet with solid parental controls, or something to watch Prime video on, the HD 8 definitely fits the bill. If you’re looking for something slightly more powerful, the Fire HD 8 Plus is also on sale at Best Buy. This ad-supported model shares many of the same specs as the base model — including the 32GB of storage — but is equipped with wireless charging and 3GB of RAM instead of 2GB. Read our Fire HD 8 Plus review. The wireless version of Razer’s claw-shaped Basilisk gaming mouse is currently matching its best price ever at Amazon and Best Buy. Right now, you can grab the Razer Basilisk Ultimate with its convenient charging dock for just $99.99 as opposed to $169.99. The impressive peripheral is equipped with a 20K DPI optical sensor and 11 programmable buttons, as well as adjustable resistance for its scroll wheel that allows it to move in steps or freely. This mouse can last for up to 70 hours if you disable Chroma lighting, and the included dock gives you a convenient way to charge the mouse when it’s not in use. While the Basilisk Ultimate can use Razer’s Hyperspeed connectivity via the included wireless dongle, it can also pair with a variety of devices thanks to Bluetooth connectivity. If you need a gaming mouse, you can currently find Razer’s DeathAdder V2 Pro for its lowest price ever at Amazon and GameStop. Usually, this wireless model sells for $129.99, but it’s on sale for just $59.99 for a limited time. The DeathAdder V2 Pro features a 20K DPI optical sensor, eight programmable buttons, and weighs in at just 88 grams. Without the Chroma RGB lighting enabled, the mouse can operate for up to 80 hours on a single charge and is rechargeable via Micro USB or Razer’s Chroma mouse dock. The only real drawback to this particular mouse is that its shape is no good if you happen to be left-handed. https://www.msn.com/en-us/lifestyle/shopping/bose-e2-80-99s-noise-canceling-quietcomfort-earbuds-are-more-than-2450-off-today/ar-AAVv5tZ?ocid=BingNewsSearch

When Matt Twork bought a Tesla Model 3 in June, he was drawn to the sedan’s range and low energy costs. Nearly a year in, he says he’s happy with his new car but admits “I would like some additional performance.” Twork, a biomedical worker who lives in Detroit, could easily bump up his Model 3’s response rate without even leaving his driveway. He could buy the Acceleration Boost on his Tesla app, and the software would be uploaded remotely. The price: $2,000. For years, automobiles have been slowly morphing into computers on wheels, which now have dozens of onboard microprocessors operating powertrain controls to entertainment and information systems. The software controlling the technology can be updated or replaced remotely using smartphone-style over-the-air updates, allowing automakers to fix bugs and add significantly more advanced capabilities and entirely new features that might not have been available when vehicles were introduced. For manufacturers, the ability to resolve problems and improve functionality remotely could end one of their biggest headaches: balky electronic systems, such as voice control, navigation and infotainment systems, that don’t work properly — and annoy customers. Those types of problems accounted for “well over half” the problems in J.D. Power’s 2021 Initial Quality Study, said David Sargent, Power’s auto research chief, “maybe three-quarters.” But the bigger payoff could come in automakers’ ability to turn their products into rolling ATMs that spit out money for updates and enhancements for the life of a vehicle. Carlos Tavares, the CEO of Stellantis, estimates his company — formed last year by the merger of Fiat Chrysler Automobiles and the PSA Group — will pull in $22 billion in annual revenue from software and related services by 2030. Speaking at an investor conference last month, General Motors CEO Mary Barra said internal company research showed that motorists are willing to spend $135 a month on average for onboard software, subscriptions and services and the necessary hardware. She, too, believes GM could eventually generate billions in annual revenue. Many features and updates will be free or cost around the same as a typical smartphone app. But others will carry hefty fees. At $2,000, the Acceleration Boost that Twork was considering for his Model 3 is one of Tesla’s least expensive performance upgrades. He decided to pass on it for now. “Too pricey for me,” he said. Tesla has also remotely delivered $9,000 upgrades to extend a car’s range and $3,000 packages of Autopilot features. Drivers who want to use Ford’s new Blue Cruise technology, which will be available this year, will have to pay $600 for a three-year subscription. The new feature will allow motorists to operate completely hands-free on up to 100,000 miles of U.S. roads. GM is charging $25 a month for its similar Super Cruise technology, now rolling out on dozens of models. The new Mercedes-Benz EQS features several “soundscapes” designed to enhance the feeling of acceleration in the otherwise silent electric vehicle. Mercedes plans to offer additional soundscapes owners can purchase. Stephanie Brinley, a principal auto analyst with IHS Markit, predicts interest in streaming services and other software will increase as more autos do more of the driving themselves. And, she said, automakers won’t need everyone to subscribe, anyway — “the profit margins are still high enough that you just need to have a good percentage of them sign up and [automakers] will still make a lot of money.” But even a “good percentage” could be hard to come by. According to new research by Cox Automotive, just 1 in 4 motorists say they’d sign up for in-vehicle subscriptions and services. However, 4 in 10 would pay for a software upgrade boosting the range of an EV. “Automakers either have to change customer behavior — which we know isn’t easy — or they’re going to have to come up with features with a lot more value,” said Michelle Krebs, an analyst for Cox. The pushback has already begun. BMW found its customers unwilling to pay a proposed monthly fee to use vehicle seat heaters and abandoned the idea. Toyota walked away from a plan to charge customers $8 a month or $80 a year to use its remote vehicle start feature after it drew widespread public criticism. Consumers are also raising concerns about data privacy and security. The technology behind over-the-air updates can be used both to download software and to access personal information, which could put people’s personal data at risk, as well as their automobiles, said Benoit Joly, the chief commercialization officer for Wejo, a British-based auto data platform. In January, a 19-year-old security researcher from Germany published a blog post claiming to have remotely hacked into the software on 25 Teslas. He said he wasn’t able to take over key vehicle functions, such as steering or braking. Joly said the question going forward is whether automakers will be able to prevent that from happening as they add more over-the-air technology. Despite such concerns, industry analysts see the market for onboard software and services growing rapidly — and not just in consumer vehicles. There will be a substantial market working with fleet operators who want to track the locations of their vehicles, as well as monitor their conditions so they can schedule service before there’s a breakdown. https://www.nbcnews.com/business/business-news/automakers-look-cash-software-updates-delivered-remotely-rcna21298

The service would be Apple’s biggest push yet into automatically recurring sales Apple Inc is working on a subscription service for the iPhone and other hardware products, a move that could make device ownership similar to paying a monthly app fee, according to people with knowledge of the matter. The service would be Apple’s biggest push yet into automatically recurring sales, allowing users to subscribe to hardware for the first time — rather than just digital services. But the project is still in development, said the people, who asked not to identified because the initiative hasn’t been announced. Apple shares climbed to a session high after Bloomberg reported on the news Thursday and closed up 2.3 per cent at $174.07. Though the stock is still down 2 per cent for the year, Apple has now posted eight straight days of increases — its longest streak since November. Adopting hardware subscriptions, akin to an auto-leasing program, would be a major strategy shift for a company that has generally sold devices at full cost outright, sometimes through installments or with carrier subsidies. It could help Apple generate more revenue and make it easier for consumers to stomach spending thousands of dollars on new devices. Biggest source of sales Already, the iPhone is Apple’s biggest source of sales, generating nearly $192 billion last year — more than half the company’s revenue. A spokeswoman for Cupertino, California-based Apple declined to comment on the company’s plans. The idea is to make the process of buying an iPhone or iPad on par with paying for iCloud storage or an Apple Music subscription each month. Apple is planning to let customers subscribe to hardware with the same Apple ID and App Store account they use to buy apps and subscribe to services today. The program would differ from an installment program in that the monthly charge wouldn’t be the price of the device split across 12 or 24 months. Rather, it would be a yet-to-be-determined monthly fee that depends on which device the user chooses. The company has discussed allowing users of the program to swap out their devices for new models when fresh hardware comes out. It historically releases new versions of its major devices, including the iPhone, iPad and Apple Watch, once a year. Apple has been working on the subscription program for several months, but the project was recently put on the back burner in an effort to launch a “buy now, pay later” service more quickly. Nonetheless, the subscription service is still expected to launch at the end of 2022, but could be delayed into 2023 or end up getting canceled, the people said. Bloomberg reported last year that the company has been working on a “buy now, pay later” service for all Apple Pay transactions. The company has had preliminary discussions internally about attaching the hardware subscription program to its Apple One bundles and AppleCare technical support plans. Apple launched the bundles in 2020 to let users subscribe to several services — including TV+, Arcade, Music, Fitness+ and iCloud storage — for a lower monthly fee. The subscriptions would likely be managed through a user’s Apple account on their devices, through the App Store and on the company’s website. It would likely also be an option at checkout on Apple’s online store and at its physical retail locations. Apple accounts are typically tied to a user’s credit or debit card. Other hardware subscription plans The iPhone maker wouldn’t be the first company to push hardware subscriptions. Peloton Interactive Inc. recently started testing a subscription service that lets consumers lease bikes and fitness content for between $60 and $100 per month. Google also has tried a similar approach with its Chromebook laptops, targeting corporate customers. And Apple has offered several installment programs in the past to split up the cost of devices, though not with a subscription model. In 2015, the company launched the iPhone Upgrade Program, financed through Citizens One Personal Loans, that let users spread the cost of an iPhone over 24 months and upgrade to a new model every 12 months. It also lets Apple Card users divide the cost of an iPhone or Apple Watch over 24 months or an iPad or Mac over 12 months. Wireless carriers offer several monthly installment programs as well. The new approach could make existing services less appealing. A subscription program tied to an Apple account would likely be simpler to manage than a carrier program or even the installment plans for the Apple Card. Some on Wall Street have previously urged Apple to switch to a subscription model. Sanford C. Bernstein & Co. analyst Toni Sacconaghi pitched the idea of hardware subscriptions in 2016, saying at the time that it could help Apple get to a $1 trillion market valuation. Apple hit that milestone without embracing the approach it’s currently worth $2.84 trillion but Sacconaghi recirculated the report on Thursday. Compared with Starbucks coffee or a New York Times subscription, the iPhone is a bargain, he said. “Many customers would struggle to think of a single possession they use more than their iPhones,” he said. “Moreover, the cost of the iPhone is a relative bargain versus other services for which consumers willingly pay.” https://www.thehindubusinessline.com/news/apple-is-working-on-a-hardware-subscription-service-for-iphones/article65258309.ece