ZBE: a new initialism I’ve just invented. It stands for Zoom Background Embarrassment. It’s not that John McGuinness has just spotted my first edition of The Joy of Sex. No, it’s worse than that. He’s seen my paltry collection of trophies on top of the bookcase. With 23 Isle of Man TT wins and three decades of racing and winning around the world, McGuinness has amassed more silverware in a week than I have over a lifetime. Fortunately, he is not in his trophy room. “For car racing, are they?” enquires McGuinness. “Some,” I reply. “But most are for bike racing.” That changes everything; immediately my credibility has gone up a few levels, even though my successes are very modest. “Doesn’t matter,” he says. “There’s them that sit in the pub talking about it and there’s them that actually go out and do it.” We weren’t meant to be on Zoom; we should have been face to face at Lydden Hill circuit in Kent, where McGuinness was due to test a rallycross supercar in preparation for a race this month. He’s already competed in rallycross at Lydden in an RX150, a buggy-like machine powered by a Honda Fireblade engine. More of that event later, but suffice to say that McGuinness finished second overall. Bikers who have a crack at racing cars is one of my favourite subjects, and it’s a theme I’ve never tired of investigating, reading and writing about. From following Valentino Rossi driving a Ford Focus WRC at Rally GB to pitching myself against a professional car racer and a bike racer to see if it’s harder to get close to a four-wheel-man’s time or a bike racer’s. You might remember that one – it was in the mag 10 or so years ago. Another feature for this magazine, and the one that was the most revealing of all, was a road trip to the Isle of Man and then Northern Ireland in an Aston Martin Vantage Prodrive Edition, first to passenger TT winner Milky Quayle for a lap of the TT course and then for the same with the late Robert Dunlop around the Ulster Grand Prix course at Dundrod. Both were unbelievably smooth with the car, very accurate on the road and, of course, quick. And all in an unfamiliar car while giving a flowing commentary of the various sections of road. Before that, I’d been driven by Carl Fogarty, also for a magazine feature, in a Ferrari 360 Modena. Again, he was smooth, accurate and fast. “Those must have been interesting experiences,” says McGuinness. “You couldn’t find three more different characters. But what you found comes out of racing a bike on public roads. I’ve been to the Nürburgring and it’s great and a lot of fun, but compared with the Isle of Man it’s like a car park. There’s some run-off, not much, but there’s none at the Isle of Man. You have to be millimetre perfect everywhere to be fast. “It’s a bit like a giant ‘join the dots’. You’ve got to hit every apex and be in the right position on the road. It’s something you develop as a person, there’s no handbook that tells you how to do it.” Rallycross isn’t McGuinness’s first taste of motorsport on four wheels. A few years ago, thanks to his ties with Honda and Dunlop, he was invited to drive a works Honda BTCC car at Knockhill alongside its regular pilot, Gordon Shedden. “I really enjoyed it,” he says. “Good weather, a championship-winning car and all the data-logging guys there. I really grabbed at the opportunity. I could have just gone there, cruised around and had a nice day out, but I wanted to make it count, so when I came in after my first session, we overlaid my data on Gordon’s and I studied where he was braking etc. I thought, whatever happens I’m going to go fast. “You certainly use more kerb in a car, running all over them. If you did that on a superbike, you’d be off. I went quite quickly and afterwards spoke to a couple of teams, but when they mentioned the money it costs, I ran in the other direction. “The car felt a bit asthmatic. Out of slow corners you’d be waiting for it to get going, whereas a superbike is spinning its back wheel and fighting its way out. When they put 20kg of fuel in the car, I couldn’t believe the effect it had. I asked what they’d done because the car felt so different. “The Citroën supercar rallycross car was different. That was a car you really have to get on top of. Not that the RX150 buggies are easy. I guess bike racers tend to go pretty well in cars because they feel safer and perhaps we tend to have bigger balls. “I approached the rallycross race at Lydden Hill in August just as seriously as I did the touring car test and anything else I’ve competed in. The extra twist was that my son Ewan, who’s 19, was also racing alongside me. We were on our way back from the test in the Citroën rallycross car and dropped in at [multiple British rallycross champ] Ollie O’Donovan’s place for a brew. I love Ollie to bits: he’s a straight shooter. Before I knew what was happening, he’d got Ewan fitted into a buggy, filled out a licence and entry forms and we were entered for the meeting at the end of August. “When we got there, I began to have second thoughts because Ewan had never competed before and these rallycross buggies are serious machines, with a 1000c Fireblade engine. You’re working hard all the time, especially on the gravel where the car is trying to fire itself off in different directions. I know the Fireblade engine intimately so know how it delivers its power. Some of the other drivers were revving the balls off their engines beyond where the motor makes its torque. Otherwise, the environment is pretty unfamiliar to me. You’re strapped in very tight with the Hans device restricting your head movement, it’s hot and smelly, and a car racing helmet has a narrower slot to see out of than a bike helmet, so you can’t see so well. “One bloke really impressed me. This guy Stephen Jones turned up at Lydden in a Skoda Yeti towing a small trailer with his buggy on it. Long curly hair, very laid-back. Didn’t touch his car with a spanner all weekend and didn’t say much either. Won all his heats and the final. Very smooth driver. It may feel fast when you’re crossed up all over the place but you’re losing time.” He knows it’s a first-world problem, but McGuinness has had the rug pulled out from under him this year. The TT cancelled, appearances at dealerships and chat shows binned. As an aside, don’t ever miss a chance to hear him speak. I saw his acceptance speech for his induction to Motor Sport magazine’s Hall of Fame: a room full of motorsport royalty entranced not just by the ex-bricklayer from Morecambe’s tales but also by his ability to judge an audience and strike a balance between bawdiness and good taste. At 48 years old, McGuinness hasn’t got many years left at the top. “I’ve finished 99 TT races,” he says. “I’ve got to make the century.” This unusual and inactive year has clearly had an effect and brought on some deep thinking about what the future may hold post-motorcycle racing. “I was with Michael Schumacher at Paul Ricard just before he had his accident,” says McGuinness. “It was a fascinating experience. I flew down to the south of France on Ryanair and he flew direct to Ricard in his private jet. We were both at the track testing bikes. He was extremely focused and constantly tapping me up for tips. He was competing in the German Superbike Championship and falling off a lot. Trouble was he was braking too late and too hard. You can’t use car braking points on a bike. “He was extremely friendly and it was great to spend some quality time with him. He couldn’t get his head around the fact that I was still racing at 40, until I said that I had a young family and needed to earn a living. Then he got it. You could tell he was in a bit of a hole, not really knowing how to fill his life. Bike racing was something that excited him.” The McGuinnesses have the builders in, busy working on a new workshop and a racking system for the 120 sets of leathers John’s accrued over his racing career. “Better go and check on the blokes,” says McGuinness. “I’m paying their wages and you’ve been waffling on for ages.” And then diplomatically he adds: “We both have.” He’s right, though, I was. His fault for being too interesting and too approachable.

Weddings in 2020 had to go through a few adjustments because of the pandemic: marriage plans were either put on hold, or changed considerably. Couples had to forgo their ideal destinations, reduce their guest list, reschedule celebrations. Wedding planning resumed with gusto towards the second half of 2020. While several couples went ahead with their nuptials — keeping health and safety protocols in mind — some decided to postpone their wedding until 2021. Keeping in mind these changes, the wedding industry also witnessed some unique trends to adapt to the new normal. According to wedding planning company The Knot Worldwide’s Global COVID-19 Wedding report published in October 2020, the Indian wedding industry — touted to be around $50 billion — has revived itself amid the pandemic by exploring alternatives. Here are some of the wedding trends noticed in 2020 which are most likely to continue in 2021. From selecting vendors to providing aid and advice to couples, wedding technology platforms helped. The entire wedding planning process was shifted online — from virtual venue tours to having vendor meetings online. Couples also chose to host their weddings with smaller gatherings, with friends and distant families connecting virtually. Many went ahead with digital wedding announcements and e-invites. With bridal wear designers launching their websites during lockdown, couples preferred virtual tours to shortlist designs. With some relaxations now, couples can visit stores for fitting sessions or final shortlisting. Keeping it close and personal As per the COVID-19 study conducted by The Knot Worldwide, three-fourths of the couples (76 per cent) were confident they will go ahead with the ceremony on the scheduled date. Most couples reduced the size of their guest lists (68 per cent) and hired fewer vendors (60 per cent) to ensure norms are followed. Many couples opted for an intimate ‘roka‘, followed by a pre-wedding ceremony of their choice and then the wedding. For those who had planned a ‘big fat wedding’, they rescheduled to accommodate a larger guest list. Mandap decorations and planning a spaced-out seating arrangement became integral to a COVID-19 wedding — floor seatings, creating ‘seating bubbles’ and small tent seating setups across the venue. The pandemic has brought in the culture of leisure and relaxation, allowing people to be more creative. Couples have shifted towards a more sustainable preference and have been trying their hand at newer, DIY projects for the first time. They are now appreciating the authenticity and details of what already exists. Styling heirloom accessories or jewellery set and pairing them with new pieces is in vogue; designers are also reviving the age-old charm of handwoven natural fiber. Big wedding planning brands are not shying away from using sustainable decor items like cane baskets, cane lanterns, plants and flowers, and earthen pots to complete their desired wedding aesthetic. It’s all about the location Choosing a venue can be challenging. Couples have resorted to hosting grand celebrations in forts like those in Rajasthan. Many prefer hill stations as guests would be more comfortable in a car ride. As per the study, outdoor weddings have gained po[CENSORED]rity. Couples host celebrations in their backyards and gardens to make their celebration more personal and keep their guests in a safer. Adhering to local rules and regulations, a vast majority of to-be-weds (80 per cent) are encouraging social distancing — between people and tables.

Rabat – Morocco announced further increase in the prices of cigarettes, starting January 1. The list shows major increases in po[CENSORED]r brands, including Camel, Marlboro, and Winston. The Moroccan Customs and Indirect Taxes Administration circulated a notice on December 24 on the decision. The government published the notice in the Official Gazette on December 31. The increase entered into force on Friday. The increases also concerned rolled tobacco and molasses used in hookahs, as well as cigars. The prices are up by 2 dirhams in some brands, while others experienced higher increases. Camel Filters, Camel Lights, and Camel Blue cost MAD 33 prior to the decision. Meanwhile, Marlboro Gold KS, Marlboro Beyond Blue, and Marlboro Red KS were sold atr MAD 38. Under the new decision, Winston Blue and Winston Red will cost MAD 34 each. In December, Morocco’s government approved a bill on the system of raw and manufactured cigarettes. The law sought to align the system with the 2021 Finance Bill. The finance bill seems to create an internal consumption tax on e-cigarettes of $163 for every 1,000 grams. The new bill also seeks to implement labeling of ratios of carbon monoxide in addition to the existing labels to comply with international standards. The standards aim to include levels of tar, nicotine, and carbon monoxide in cigarettes. The bill sti[CENSORED]tes that the cigarettes sold in Morocco do not comply with international standards. In 2017, Swiss journalists Marie Maurisse and Gie Goris published an investigation showing that Switzerland sells cigarettes that have higher ratios of tar nicotine and carbon monoxide than those sold in Switzerland and France.

Contra

Accepted !

my vote goes to DH1 , good sound & rhythm

The EVGA 650 N1 is a low-end PSU with low overall performance, low efficiency, noisy operation, and low-end parts at its internals. It managed to deliver, though, full load at 36 degrees Celsius, and its transient response at 12V is satisfactory, while the hold-up time is longer than what the ATX spec requires. Its build quality is low, and you should be careful not to overload its +12V rail since OCP is not correctly configured. This is definitely not stuff for our best PSU picks article, and you should get a Corsair CX650 or a CV650 instead. If you can pay more, you should also look at the Cooler Master MWE Bronze with similar capacity. The EVGA N1 line consists of three members with capacities ranging from 550W to 750W. These PSUs aim for the mainstream market, so they don't have any modular cables, and according to EVGA, they can deliver full power at a low ambient temperature, 25 degrees Celsius. Typically, high-end PSUs can deliver full power continuously at 50 degrees Celsius. Still, they use higher quality components to achieve this, which cost way more than the parts that EVGA and HEC used for the N1 models. Theoretically speaking, the 650 N1 could handle a strong graphics card like the Nvidia RTX 3070, but I would advise against that since it only has two PCIe connectors installed on the same cable, which uses thin 20AWG gauges. If you have invested a high amount for a good GPU, it's better spend a bit more to get a decent power supply. Getting a PSU based on your leftover money after purchasing all the other system parts is not a wise move All cables are fixed, and the amount of provided connectors is satisfactory, given that this is a mainstream PSU. All cables are long enough, but the distance between all peripheral connectors is short. Moreover, it is a great shame to use thin 20AWG gauges on the PCIe and SATA connectors, while the ATX spec recommends 18AWG, at least. We strongly encourage you to have a look at our PSUs 101 article, which provides valuable information about PSUs and their operation, allowing you to better understand the components we're about to discuss. This is a low-end platform from HEC, using an outdated design. On the primary side, there is an APFC converter, thankfully, and the two pain FETs are installed in double forward topology. On the secondary side, passive rectification is used along with a group regulation scheme where 12V and 5V are tied together, while the 3.3V rail is independently regulated. Group regulation is not recommended for any modern system since it requires a high enough load at 12V and 5V to keep voltages on these rails in control. If the load is unbalanced between the rails, load regulation goes south. The transient filtering stage includes all necessary parts, and it even uses an MOV and a discharge IC. It is a nice surprise to find discharge ICs in such low-end platforms. HEC was wise enough to use two bridge rectifiers in this platform, which are bolted on a heat sink. The APFC converter uses three MagnaChip FETs and one NXP boost diode. These are decent parts, but we cannot say the same for the Teapo bulk cap, which is only rated at 85 degrees Celsius. The primary switching FETs are configured in a double forward topology, which is rarely used nowadays since most manufacturers prefer half-bridge topologies in their mid-capacity PSUs. The only two coils on the secondary side are a clear indication of a group regulation scheme. To make matters even worse, SBRs (Schottky Barrier Diodes) are used to rectify all rails instead of FETs, which are much more efficient. The filtering caps on the secondary side belong to low-end Teapo and Elite lines. This PSU will have a hard time outliving the two-year warranty under higher than 30 degrees Celsius operating temperatures. The standby PWM controller is a Power Integrations TNY279PN, while the secondary rectifier is a PFC PFR10L60CT SBR. The latter is strong enough to handle the 5VSB rail's demands. The supervisor IC is provided by Weltrend and supports all necessary protection features but OTP, which looks to be missing from this platform. Soldering quality is satisfactory. Definitely not great, but good enough for this price range. EVGA states that the PSU's fan has a sleeve bearing, but I broke it apart and found an inferior rifle bearing. It is weird that EVGA's marketing team totally missed this.

I’ve been an exclusive PC gamer for a few years now, and I love it. I initially made the jump from console to PC gaming about two years ago, as more and more of my friends were playing po[CENSORED]r games on PC, rather than on console. Games like Overwatch, Destiny 2, and Borderlands 3 were some of the multiplayer-heavy games that I played with friends, and as I continued to spend less time on my PlayStation 4, I picked up future games for PC only. My current gaming rig is certainly something that shocks a few people. It’s a Zotac Magnus EN1060, which is a delightful compact PC with some pretty decent internals. Sporting an Intel Core i5 processor, 32GB of RAM, 1TB SSD, and a Nvidia GeForce GTX 1060 GPU, it’s seen me through a lot of my games, though capped at medium quality settings. I opted for this PC because of its tiny footprint – it barely takes up any space on my desk, yet it’s able to drive two of my monitors and has a ton of connectivity options at the back. But as modern games become more demanding, my space-saving setup is becoming less and less adequate at keeping up. What’s further putting a strain on my current PC is the fact that I also use it to stream to Twitch, which in itself is a resource-heavy activity. So games that I usually get around 80-100fps drop down to 40-50fps when I start streaming them. With games like Cyberpunk 2077 pushing the limits of what modern PCs are capable of, it’s time for me to put together a gaming rig that I’m personally content with, and one that I can choose to upgrade later on, should I choose to do so. The beauty of building your own PC is that you can put whatever components you like into it, matching both your budget and your needs. The parts that I’ve chosen for my build reflect what I currently need as well as what is available to me. You should always feel free to shop around for deals if you can, and always make sure that the components you’re buying are compatible with each other, just so you don’t end up with a PC build that doesn’t actually boot up. So with that all out of the way, let’s move on to the actual build: First comes the PC case, where all your components will comfortably sit. Your PC case also (to an extent) governs how much you can upgrade your PC in the future, especially when it comes to being able to fit larger components such as modern GPUs. The case being used here is the Lian Li Lancool II Mesh Performance, which offers an incredible amount of flexibility. In addition to supporting different motherboard sizes, the case also offers a lot of storage options, as well as easy access to almost any component via its side panels. Airflow is another important factor of this case, as you have a number of options available to install fans, radiators, or even water cooling options. I’ll be sticking with the three fans that come with the case, and relocating two of them to the top and one to the rear. To bring everything together, I’m opting for the Biostar B550GTQ motherboard. It’s an affordable, entry-level board that has some great features including supporting up to 128GB of memory, should I ever need such a phenomenal amount of RAM. More importantly, it offers plenty of storage options for M.2 and SSD/HDD drives. As a bonus, it also includes both 5V and 12V LED headers, to control any RGB lighting I add to the case. AMD has certainly being making a buzz about its products recently, and truthfully this will be my very first AMD-powered PC. The AMD Ryzen 7 3700X offers great value for performance and pricing, so it was a straightforward choice. While there are slightly cheaper processors that I could have selected, the Ryzen 7 3700X will be more than sufficient for gaming, streaming, and even tackling the occasional video editing project.

02/01/2021

DH2 , good song i like it

DH1 DH2

both are good but my vote for DH2 , legendary song

Nickname : @Revo 324 Tag your opponent : @-Apex Music genre : French Rap Number of votes ( max 10 ) : 6 Tag one leader to post your songs LIST : Me

American singer Lizzo, who was recently slammed for following a 10-day smoothie cleanse regime, took to TikTok to celebrate being vegan for the past six months. The Truth Hurts singer went on to appreciate how she was before and after the switch. As part of the video, she shared a throwback clip of her making a doughnut milkshake around the beginning of the lockdown. “Hey so I found this video of me from the beginning of quarantine making what looks like a stale doughnut, pound cake, milkshake type concoction,” the Cuz I love You singer shared. “This is from a whirlwind tour and year, and after being seven years vegetarian, going back to eating all animal products,” she added. The Grammy winner then switched to a video showing the present, in which she is seen making vegan protein shake. “I’m happy both ways and right now, this is what’s bringing me joy,” the 32-year-old singer said. “I’m still that happy girl, loving myself and loving my body,” Lizzo expressed as she switched to a clip of her posing in lingerie from Rihanna’s label Savage x Fenty. “Love yourself at all stages in your life because you are who you are,” she further emphasised.

Charts, greatest-ever lists, top 10s, top 20s and top 100s – they all evolve over time because, obviously, stuff happens. 18 years have passed since Autocar assembled its original ‘100 Most Beautiful Cars’ list and new cars have also been launched in this fresh century at a frenetic rate as manufacturers race to fill niches opened by crossovers and alternative powertrains. New firms have arrived, too, and not all of them from the small industrial units of underfunded hopefuls. Let’s take a look at our current best – and feature as much original Autocar photography as we can:

Football star Marco Verratti spent his new year in Marrakesh accompanied by his sweetheart, famous French model Jessica Aidi, and took the chance to make his marriage proposal in Morocco’s red city. The happy Paris Saint-Germain player and his loved- by-millions model girlfriend took to social media to share their special news with fans and supporters. In several, beautiful photos the couple posted on social media, the two are seen wearing traditional Moroccan clothes. In one of the photos, Aidi is wearing a beautiful white kaftan decorated with golden embroidery. Marco Verratti was not the only Paris Saint-Germain player that chose the touristic city of Marrakech to celebrate the New Year and spend his short break. His famous PSG teammate and French international Kylian Mbappé also visited Morocco’s red city to take advantage of his short break and rejuvenate before the national championship and UEFA Champion League. Marco Verratti and Kylian Mbappé. Photo: Instagram In pictures shared on Instagram, we see both players celebrating New Year’s Eve posing next to a giant white cake. Born in 1992 in Pescara, Italy, Marco Verratti is a gifted footballer who plays as a central midfielder for French Ligue 1 club Paris Saint-Germain and the Italy national team. The Italian football player first started his career with Italian club Pescara in 2008, where he rapidly became one of the best young midfielders in Europe, helping his team win the 2011-12 Serie B title and winning the 2012 Bravo award. In July 2012, Verrati moved to play for the French team Paris Saint-Germain, where he won seven Ligue 1 titles from 2013 to 2020, among other domestic and individual trophies. Verratti represented Italy’s under 21 football team at the 2013 UEFA European U21 Championship, where they won a runners-up medal. The football player also represented his country at the 2014 FIFA World Cup. With his impressive performances for PSG and his numerous appearances with the Italian national team, the 28-year-old player has established himself among the world’s best, most creative players. He is famous for his passing ability, vision, and control.

Happy birthday to our colleague and friend @The GodFather wishing you good health and happiness in your life ❤️

DH1 : 7votes DH2 : 3votes @-Apex the winner

Cancelled User Banned

DH1 DH2

Nickname : @Revo 324 Tag your opponent : @亗 GRAVEN 亗 Music genre : Moroccan Rap Number of votes ( max 10 ) : 7 Tag one leader to post your songs LIST : Me

Happy new year ❤️