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Category Archives: Book
I Like Him: Sense and Sensibility
You may have noticed, dear Wanderers, that we have a few Jane Austen fans hanging around the office (I mean the ones that work here, there aren't just random fans loitering outside shouting 'Why haven't you interviewed Jane yet?') – … Continue reading
Posted in Book, Film/Movie, Issue Forty-Nine, Reviews Tagged book, eleanor musgrove, film, issue forty-nine, jane austen, review, sense and sensibility 1 Comment
Pure Imagination
Hello there, Wanderers, and welcome once again to an instalment of your now incredibly familiar GUST articles. For those of you who might be new to Fandom Wanderers, a brief summary. In GUST articles, we look at media that is … Continue reading
Posted in Book, GUST, Issue Forty-Nine, Reviews Tagged book, charlie and the chocolate factory, GUST, issue forty-nine, review, roald dahl, z mcaspurren Leave a comment
Sometimes You Have To Be A Little Bit Naughty
It's been another one of those fortnights here at FW. We've all had many ideas for many things, but interestingly not one of us had an idea for a GUST. Something that is very odd, because we all adore writing … Continue reading
Posted in Book, Film/Movie, GUST, Issue Forty-Three, Theatre Tagged film, GUST, issue forty-three, matilda, movie, review, roald dahl, theatre, z mcaspurren Leave a comment
Don't Panic: The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy
I was wondering what to review for this issue, dear Wanderers, when I realised that it was a more important choice than usual. After all, this issue is supposed to provide the answer to life, the universe and everything. Well, … Continue reading
Posted in Book, Film/Movie, Issue Forty-Two, Radio, Reviews, TV Tagged book, douglas adams, eleanor musgrove, film, hitchhiker's guide to the galaxy, issue forty-two, movie, radio, review, sci-fi, science fiction, space, TV Leave a comment
Success Supposes Endeavour: Emma
Hello there peoples, and welcome to another review of another work of Austen. Why has brought this on? Well, that would be the starting of the new web-series by Hank Green and crew, Emma Approved. That will likely be reviewed at … Continue reading
Posted in Book, Film/Movie, Issue Thirty-Four, Reviews, TV Tagged book, issue thirty-four, jane austen, review, z mcaspurren Leave a comment
An Oral History of the Zombie War: World War Z
It's no secret that in the last ten years or so, Zombies have been done to death (oh, look, a pun!) in every genre and format imaginable: films, TV, books, comics, comedies, dramas, games, lunchboxes… The zombie genre is very much … Continue reading
Posted in Book, Issue Twenty-Nine, Reviews Tagged book, d bruce fraser, issue twenty-nine, max brooks, review, world war z, zombies Leave a comment
A Whole Lot of Things in This World: James and the Giant Peach
When I was a kid, I lived by the seaside. This will become relevant (sort of) later in this review, but I thought I'd start off with it as a pleasant, small-talk sort of thing. The place where I lived, … Continue reading
Posted in Book, GUST, Issue Twenty-Six, Reviews Tagged book, eleanor musgrove, GUST, issue twenty-six, james and the giant peach, review, roald dahl Leave a comment
We Are the Girls with Skills in Sorcery
Greetings to all my little Wanderers, new and old, and welcome to your fortnightly GUST review, where we look at stuff aimed at a younger audience that an older audience should really check out for themselves 'cause frankly, it's pretty … Continue reading


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ImLive Review
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ImLive Preview
I am always humbled whenever new fans come to my site and take a look at my reviews. I spend a lot of time watching porn and enjoying myself so that you can get the most honest and in-depth reviews on adult porn sites, free adult game sites, and of course, live cam sex sites. In today's edition, I am going to go in depth on the adult cam website ImLive.
When you have been around porn as long as I have, or at least for as many hours as I have, you get an awareness of the top companies and hear them by name often. Sometimes it takes me a while to get around to some of these top live cam sites and other hardcore sites, because there are just so many of them. It's a hard job (get it?), but someone has to do it. 😉 Honestly, I shouldn't have taken so long to get to ImLive; there is a lot of great things about the website that I'd like to share.
ImLive Review
Okay. I know many webcam sites are always advertising the featured performers that they have who are well-known pornstars, but there are times where I completely love talking with amateur cam girls and getting to know them. Sure, getting off is fantastic and always part of the agenda, but some of these extremely popular pornstars on cam simply get too much attention from too many people to really get to know the person they are chatting with. Additionally, privates with these porn babes can get pretty expensive if you aren't paying attention to the time.
Back to ImLive though. There are tons of gorgeous sex cam babes on this website, including a large number of amateurs. Registration on the site is free, but private time will cost you money. The website uses credits, which is pretty common on websites like this one. Sometimes it takes a little bit of converting credits to dollars to know how much your cam session is going to cost per minute.
I decided to try a cam session out with a few different girls, one of had a lot of fetish things on her profile. We talked about some of my fantasies, which you will likely get to read about in another review because they weren't used in this particular session. We did, however, do some of my favorite things. The amount of pleasure I get from a woman moaning my name is incredible, ha.
ImLive has thousands of girls and 14 webcam categories. The website also has hosts that have Sinulators. This allows you to control the host's vibrator, with nothing that you need to download to do it. There is a rotating head that is the shape of a penis, and a rabbit on the side. There are multiple speeds for both the rabbit and the shaft, and there are some special moves as well. Overall, this is a fantastic thing to experience for the girls that have them.
To take advantage of live sex video chatting on Im Live, you will need Java. Huge expectations, right? (that was sarcasm) The website has a pretty small viewing area for video cam by default, but it's okay because you can enlarge the screen to get a larger viewing area. There really isn't any reason why the website viewing area should be so small by default. Who doesn't want to see hot chicks on cam in the largest possible size? If I could, I would probably cam with a full wall projector to make these hotties even larger-than-life.
The costs of private video chat on ImLive.com is pretty good. Some models are available for as little as $0.98 per minute, and they can go as high as four dollars per minute. Block chat discounts are also available for some of the girls, so keep that in mind if you think you might want to wank for longer than 15 minutes.
A quick search let me know that ImLive was the winner of the 2015 AVN Best Live Chat Website award, and they also won the award in 2011 and 2012. I wouldn't be surprised if they won some awards since then, but I am more interested in telling you more about the features that ImLive brings to the table, they are fantastic.
ImLive Bonus Content
Most cam sites do not have much in the way of bonus content, and ImLive is not much different. It is always hot, always live, and does have some pornstar shows featured as well. I don't know that I would consider this bonus content, but I know a lot of people love seeing pornstars on cam, so it needs to be mentioned.
ImLive Discounts
Joining one of the best cam websites, ImLive, can get you up to 30 bonus credits, and one of the great things about ImLive.com is that it uses a simple conversion system. One dollar equals one credit, regardless of how large of a package is purchased. Regardless of whether you are looking for group cam shows, candy shows, or private chat, credits will help you get time with your favorite cam girls and give them some friendly encouragement to keep being their sexy selves. Mr. Porn Geek, as always, speaks with live cam sites like ImLive to make sure you are getting the absolute best prices anywhere.
The Best of ImLive
ImLive hosts people of all body types, genders, orientations, and personalities. Whatever you are looking for, they have a genuine amateur cam model to fill your needs. The prices are incredibly competitive, and they have over 65,000 models in their catalog. You are likely to see about 500 online. You will find a gorgeous cam model to fit your needs, there are so many to choose from.
Cam2Cam is another fantastic feature, and available in all private chats. There are no spy features on the chats on ImLive, meaning that your private chat is genuinely private. You can also watch multiple cams at a time, so if you can't choose from all of the beautiful babes, you can pick a few of them and watch them all. You can even private message with the cam hosts through the websites email interface.
The Worst of ImLive
Most of the hosts on the site have full HD setups, but some SD setups are floating around as well. Fortunately enough, even the chicks that were rocking SD were badass, so it didn't even matter that much. Using the teledildonics (use that word to show off to your friends) can be a little bit steep as far as prices go, but it is still fun to do. As usual, you will want to pay attention to how long you are on cam as the pricing can add up.
The Bottom Line about ImLive
The majority of the cam models on ImLive.com are women, but you can also find lesbian couples, hetero couples, solo men, gay couples, group sex cams, solo trans cams, trans couples on cam, and more. If you are into pornstars on cam, some huge names like Teagan Presley, Adriana Chechik, Aaliyah Love, Ryan Keely, and many others have been featured on the site. These are high-quality cams, with a large number of features built into the site. The interface might seem old, but it really isn't. This site is highly recommended, and Mr. Porn Geek approved.
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text: Experience the excitement, exuberance and energy of the haka, a traditional Maori challenge. Often used on the battlefield, as well as when groups came together in peace, haka are a fierce display of a tribe's pride, strength and unity. Actions include violent foot-stamping, tongue protrusions and rhythmic body slapping to accompany a loud chant. Through historical photos and videos of recent award-winning haka performances, learn how haka plays a key role in contemporary New Zealand society and why it is performed at sporting, military, and cultural events alike. Don't miss the rare chance to see a haka performed by New Zealand's All Blacks before their rugby match against the USA rugby team on November 1, 2014, at Soldier Field. Learn more about the game. This exhibition was organized by the New Zealand Embassy in Washington D.C.


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Cellular World Congress 2016
The very first thing I discover is a sense of weight on my face. Adopted by a sensation of standing in boundless area. A monochrome 360-diploma vanishing level vista winks into view. I go searching, blinking into the far distance and really shortly my adjusting eyes fill with grit… Welcome to the bizarre world of twenty first century digital actuality.
What does it really feel wish to step inside the newest massively-hyped tech reboot? One thing like — I think about — the feeling you may expertise had you been swallowed by a Nineteen Sixties tv set, maybe after spending too many hours staring into its grainy display. There's even an electrical umbilical tethering you to the wall. No actuality right here, then, simply pixels each which approach you look.
Does it really feel like the longer term? Frankly no, it feels unusually retro.
Wind again the clock an hour and the pixels have fallen away from my eyes and I'm sitting, untethered, on an precise couch, taking a look at an actual human being in retinal excessive definition – HTC's Drew Bamford, company VP and head of its Artistic Labs workforce of product designers. Additionally a VR evangelist, as I'm about to seek out out.
"We have been simply speaking about you individuals," he says, looping within the PR sitting to my left with a understanding aspect-eye, after I confess my VR scepticism. They each giggle – with somewhat an excessive amount of exhausting-pumped enthusiasm. HTC has rather a lot driving on the success of the Vive. And subsequently on the digital actuality reboot, usually. Sceptics aren't precisely welcome on this courageous new world.
Bamford is in fact a paid up member of the 'VR is the longer term' membership – however then he needs to be, given the precarious fortunes of HTC's enterprise. The cellular maker has been hammered within the aggressive Android OEM area in recent times and is banking on its VR partnership with video games writer Valve to revive its gadget making enterprise.
The broader shopper electronics business can also be on the hunt for the subsequent smash-hit success – because the smartphone market reaches saturation level. Though few others stepped into VR so early or but guess so massive.
And so we arrive on the HTC Vive, which can ship to consumers subsequent month, on April 5, priced at $800 plus the worth of a strong sufficient PC wanted to drive the VR expertise. This chopping-edge but by some means retro-wanting headset is undoubtedly why I've been afforded half an hour of Bamford's time right here at Cellular World Congress. VR, we're informed by the ceaseless tech PR drum-beat, goes to be 2016's Massive Factor. HTC is a transparent believer; certainly one of comparatively few corporations throwing a headset into the VR ring at this nascent stage. Though extra are getting concerned — a minimum of on the extra price range smartphone-powered 'cellular VR' finish of issues.
However then contemplating how crowded and viciously skinny the margins within the smartphone area these days (iPhones excepted), the barren hinterlands of VR in all probability induced sensations of untamed aid in HTC's administration. 'Right here, lastly, is an area the place we will stand out without having to wield Samsung-sized advertising budgets,' they could nicely have thought.
Protected to say, 'sick of smartphones' might be one of many extra concise explanations for the newest try and kindle a mainstream VR market. And this time the digital actuality is for actual! Or in order that they'd have us consider.
"I come from a background in shopper electronics merchandise, primarily, design. And so I've labored on numerous numerous merchandise however since I received to HTC virtually 9 years in the past I've labored virtually solely on telephones. So that is for me slightly bit like getting again to my roots and dealing on totally different sorts of shopper experiences," says Bamford, discussing his private pleasure for VR and – subsequently – for HTC's Vive. And, by implication, his fatigue with telephones.
"However for a few of the group it's sort of a brand new factor — they have been employed as telephone individuals and now they're like studying about designing stuff you put on in your physique or immersing individuals in VR.
"For me it's slightly bit like going again to 2006 once we have been pioneering smartphone expertise design and there was a chance to determine new patterns. To find new methods of interacting. We're actively doing that, particularly in VR proper now — which is plenty of enjoyable."
"We're creating a completely alternate actuality in VR. And there's lots to do," he provides "There's quite a bit to determine. However we're taking it step-by-step, proper. I've little question that the issues that we're designing at present will appear fairly antiquated in a few years. However that's simply how the method works."
Right here at MWC, the world's largest cellular business targeted convention, HTC's sales space is symbolically cut up in two, divided throughout a carpeted thoroughfare that funnels a continuous parade of fits forwards and backwards. One half of the sales space shows a smorgasbord of cellular hardware: totally different smartphones and related units (such because the wearables HTC is making in partnership with Beneath Armour) curated into what quantities to exhibition of nicely made however sadly beneath-appreciated hardware.
On the opposite aspect it's pure, minimalist VR. Right here the Vive branding looms giant, watched over, right here and there, by HTC's neon inexperienced lettering. Over the 4 days of the convention a gentle stream of males queue for a probability to don a headset and sit in chairs blasting digital stuff in partially screened cubicles or prance round in carpeted show rooms with painterly backdrops probing the Vive's room-scale claims. Most of those check bays might be peered into by anybody who occurs by.
HTC's courageous new public face, then, is the unusual spectacle of besuited blokes blindly gesticulating into skinny air. Right here's To Loopy, certainly.
It has already taken a very long time for HTC to reach at this level. At MWC final yr HTC's Peter Chou introduced its partnership with Valve and gave the primary official glimpse of the Vive's distinctly dimpled headset. Chou has since been moved out of the corporate, passing the CEO position to chairperson Cher Wang who earlier this yr described VR as its precedence. Implication being that smartphones at the moment are enjoying second fiddle to the digital future it's hoping to construct with Valve. And but VR evangelists can solely dream of a worthwhile enterprise comprised of pixelated 'experiences' at this oh-so-nascent stage. The hype is actual, definitely. The income are – for now – tantalizingly imaginary.
Bamford's job, then, is to speak up the potential of VR. And speak he does.
"I consider outdoors of gaming there are all types of unimaginable purposes for this know-how," he tells TechCrunch. "For instance one space we're working quite a bit in is instruments for designers and engineers. So we're working with companions like Dassault Systemes in France to determine methods to let automotive designers for instance visualize automobiles in VR. In order that they don't need to construct these full scale clay mock ups. As a result of it's so essential to have the ability to get a way of the size of the product. And see totally different sight strains and issues like that, and it's not one thing you possibly can simply do on a monitor. Many of those automotive corporations have been constructing these big cave methods that value tens of millions of dollars to put in. And now they will principally exchange it with a $799 Vive.
"In order that's thrilling. And naturally the opposite space — from a design and engineering standpoint — that's fascinating is structure. As a result of it's a lot about inhabiting an area. And feeling… totally different sight strains, feeling what it's like to maneuver via an area, which is the right software for a room scale system like Vive. It's not one thing you possibly can actually get an expertise of on a monitor."
"We're working with medical companions like Surgical Theatre," he continues. "Which is doing pre-visualization of tumors for mind surgeons. That sort of software — it's info the surgeon couldn't usually get; a 3D view of the tumor they couldn't usually get. So it might be inconvenient to place this factor in your head or dorky or no matter however in an surroundings like that in fact you're prepared to do it."
Specialist enterprise use-instances are one factor, the place VR can mix in as simply one other process-particular work software. However that's not a mainstream market to rival the huge attraction of smartphones, which is in fact the trick each cellular maker yearns to have the ability to repeat. The raging success of the smartphone is, nevertheless, a really exhausting act to comply with.
Would anybody actually need to spend all day in VR? Isn't that simply dystopic? "Don't rely it out," says Bamford, suggesting sure varieties of info-dense workplace jobs – like finance staff – might, for instance, substitute their banks of screens with a VR headset. "Definitely within the workplace I can see lots of people sporting a VR headset all day at their desk."
Which feels like a method for workplace drones to flee drear cubicles — in an virtually Matrix fashion actual-world VR plot twist.
"One of many issues that I'm personally actually enthusiastic about is content material that you may say it's not likely a recreation however content material that gives individuals with experiences they couldn't usually get in the actual world," Bamford continues. "For instance one of the common demos we've got is Wevr's The Blu… It's an underwater expertise the place there's a blue whale. So it's not likely a recreation truly, it's simply you're experiencing being underwater in an setting that most individuals won't ever see in actual life. I feel there's an enormous alternative to do extra of that sort of expertise. For instance you may go to the highest of Mount Everest or journey again in time to be within the Roman Colosseum. Simply being in a spot and exploring a spot I feel could be actually compelling in VR."
"I agree a smartphone is a extra on a regular basis product, for positive," he provides, choosing up the sooner practice of thought. "It's one thing you possibly can carry with you all over the place and you need to use simply in public with out wanting like a cyborg… However I might not low cost the truth that ultimately some kinds of individuals will substitute their desktop monitor with a VR headset. Relying on what you're doing. Already we've got companions like Envelop which might be constructing techniques that permit VR builders to develop in VR in order that they don't should have a monitor — they only use a headset.
"Definitely individuals within the VR business will do this however I feel even outdoors of that you simply'll see — you can think about someone within the finance enterprise. These guys proper now have six Bloomberg screens in entrance of their desk. They might simply exchange that with an HMD [head-mounted display] to be able to see extra knowledge — which is what it's all about.
"And past that I feel because the know-how is miniaturized, as VR and AR [augmented reality] converge, you'll get VR-like experiences with a considerably much less alienating bodily expertise, proper. You gained't essentially should put an HMD in entrance of your eyes so as to expertise 3D content material… From the AR aspect, there's going to be this type of moveable VR that perhaps is much less intrusive, simply seems to be like glasses or one thing. However definitely within the workplace I can see lots of people sporting a VR headset all day at their desk."
Is he envisaging a a lot lighter weight wearable in future? Or one thing else? "You'll have holographic shows," he suggests. "The place you get comparable content material experiences. The place all of the software program work we're doing can translate into that however it'll be a completely totally different hardware supply system over time. I imply that is years out, however perhaps not too a few years. Perhaps in 5 years you'll be doing one thing like that.".textual content .crunchreport h3 colour:#fff
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VR with out the necessity to don a headset begins to sound lots much less like a separate business – and extra an adjunct to the smartphone market. In any case, a holographic smartphone would nonetheless be a smartphone, only one with added VR smarts. Very similar to cellular makers a couple of years in the past making an attempt to push 3D screens.
Not that HTC is in VR to be a VR purist in fact; it simply must promote product – no matter form or type that takes. Therefore it's already crossing the VR/AR streams with Vive by including a entrance-dealing with digital camera that permits for some actual-world 'content material' to bleed into the wearer's digital world. Partially this can be a useful security function, so customers can change to the Vive's rotoscope-fashion view of what's truly happening within the room round them – say, to keep away from treading on sharp objects left on the carpet. Or to sneak a glimpse at what their buddies are as much as. So there's a component of the AR/VR mix that presumably helps scale back VR FOMO too.
Worry of lacking out has explicitly pushed one other function addition to Vive: telephone providers, which can allow customers to take and make calls when in VR. Bamford says this function was added after suggestions from Vive testers discovered individuals have been nervous they have been lacking on actual-world communications with their pals. Which, given how a lot individuals love their smartphones, messaging and social media apps ought to in all probability have been abundantly apparent. Even pure, unadulterated escapism from actual life must be diluted to accommodate fixed connectivity wants – and so Vive has each an eye fixed on and line again into the actual world.
"One of many issues that we found in our analysis is that folks love the thought of being immersed in VR and feeling like they're in a totally totally different place and never worrying about the actual world. However on the similar time once they're in there for some time we discovered that folks begin to marvel in the event that they're lacking issues. Are they lacking calls? Are they lacking messages from there associates, and so on. And so the telephone connectivity is an try to unravel that drawback. So if you're in VR you will get a telephone name — you'll be able to speak on the telephone. You will get textual content messages, reply to textual content messages — so you'll be able to take pleasure in VR with out worrying that you simply're lacking what's happening in actual life."
The necessity to make sure that VR customers nonetheless really feel related with their actual-world relationships once they're escaping into digital worlds has introduced one particular design problem that Bamford says HTC continues to be wrestling with: find out how to inject actual world missives/notifications into VR with out 'breaking presence', because it's recognized. (See the top of this submit for a brief VR glossary.)
"We don't need to break presence. That's the central tenant of VR. You don't need to take individuals out of the expertise. So we attempt to make it as non-intrusive as attainable," he explains. "The best way it really works proper now's you may be in any VR expertise and also you get a notification that seems in 3D area that claims you're getting a name or textual content message. After which if you wish to act on that notification you deliver up a reasonably normal UI that allows you to do issues like reply the decision or ship a canned response to a textual content message."
I jokily recommend that perhaps emails ought to seem as white rabbits hopping into view. "That might be the subsequent model — so an Alice in Wonderland type," laughs Bamford. "Totally different animals might trot into the scene… "
"That's the type of native VR integration that ultimately we'll get to, I feel. However in the meanwhile it's fairly a bit easier than that," he provides. "It's been a difficult half to design. And we're nonetheless, frankly, tuning that to make it as seamless as attainable. However we're getting there."
Commonplace UI parts can seem as wireframe interfaces inside Vive's digital areas to make them stand out in additional richly rendered environments. Partaking with these menus means utilizing the bundled controllers to level, swipe and click on. These twin sticks – one held in every hand — have a number of buttons and a swipe-pad apiece, permitting them to face in as digital palms or weapons or shields, at one second, after which act as some extent and click on system to navigate menus the subsequent. The controllers are light-weight and ergonomic sufficient that at occasions it's attainable to overlook you're holding a few oddly formed items of black plastic and consider you're actually hefting that translucent defend or pair of weapons.
Relying on the standard of the content material, in fact.
HTC's chosen demos did one of the best at showcasing the immersive potential of VR, as you'd anticipate, however I used to be much less satisfied by a number of the content material that might be bundled with the Vive. In a single recreation, Job Simulator, the controllers seem as a pair of cartoonish white arms. Making an attempt to select up objects within the digital workplace environs utilizing these mitts felt hopelessly clumsy. However maybe that was the purpose? Enjoying a recreation the place you fake you're inept in a simulation of a pretend workplace job the place every little thing seems ridiculously cartoonish and nothing actually must be completed is presumably somebody, someplace's concept of enjoyable.
Nonetheless, on the content material entrance, VR provides the prospect of one thing worse than delicate tedium – out and out nausea. On the danger of this, Bamford says: "We're very assured that our know-how will make you the least sick of any VR expertise."
And in my very own half-hour or so demo of the Vive that declare a minimum of stood up. I got here away with out feeling nauseous. However did expertise a sense of grittiness within the eyes, very similar to in the event you've been straining to take a look at a poor high quality display or making an attempt to learn at midnight or have spent an excessive amount of time uncovered to UV lights. I used to be additionally being cautious about how I moved round — avoiding making any quick or jerky actions. With regards to VR, FON (worry of nausea) and FOLLAD (worry of wanting like a dork) are at the least as potent as FOMO, IMO.
"We do assume with 90fps, with very low latency, with low persistence shows, with millimeter precision monitoring that we're providing you're impossible to get sick with Vive," says Bamford – though he shortly follows this up with the caveat "if the content material is designed appropriately".
Has he ever personally felt nauseous whereas testing Vive? Solely when one thing has gone mistaken, he says – resembling when utilizing a improvement prototype that isn't working correctly. Then he's felt "dizzy".
Even so, he concedes there are numerous variables in play — a few of which HTC/Valve can't management, given they're leaning on "tons of" of builders to create the 'thoughts-blowing' content material wanted to lure individuals into their digital areas.
"There are lots of variables in the way you design the expertise. And a few experiences usually tend to make you are feeling sick than others. So one of many issues we've mentioned and debated is whether or not there must be some type of score system for propensity to get sick from a specific sort of content material. However it's fairly controversial since you don't need to flip individuals off of sure content material and everyone has a really particular person sense for a way they'll react so we haven't gotten too far on that but. However I feel that would occur, I feel there might be a score system the place on a scale of 1 to 5 this is kind of more likely to make you are feeling much less nauseous."
"That is the rationale we actually want a option to filter the perfect content material into our expertise and ensure that dangerous content material doesn't get onto the market as a result of it might poison the nicely," he provides.
Eyestrain apart, the strongest unfavorable sensation I skilled from making an attempt the Vive (in what, it ought to be emphasised, was HTC's personal managed demo surroundings, being proven demo content material they have been selecting) was a sense of being constrained. However given this (gen-1) VR expertise requires sporting a weighty headset over your eyes whereas strolling in a small area tethered to a cable that simply tangles together with your ft it's hardly shocking to return away feeling extra fettered than liberated.
'Room-scale VR' interprets to with the ability to take a couple of tentative steps in a given course. Offered there isn't a wall in the best way.
One other demo — Google's Tilt Brush, a portray program that allows you to paint trails of digital paint within the air and which may even be bundled free with Vive — ended up making me really feel somewhat claustrophobic after I ended up portray myself right into a cage manufactured from glowing orange streaks. Factor is, the weather you see inside VR are all the time liable to invading your private area; due to course there's no display barrier right here, you're proper contained in the content material – so it's attainable that, relatively than feeling liberated inside boundless digital area, you find yourself feeling hemmed in and/or mobbed by close by pixels. And positive, you'll be able to all the time stroll proper via the fourth wall (because it have been) and cross proper by way of these digital objects since they're not — haha! — actual. However since they appear strong and are designed to trick your mind into perception, nicely your notion of how a lot area you need to transfer round shrinks to suit them.
At one other level throughout my Vive demo I materialized partially inside a moon floating at about head peak. Discombobulating might be the suitable phrase for that. And never just a little ironic that I needed to take a number of aspect-steps to attempt to discover slightly private area in what was a digital rendering of infinite outer area… Emotions of being trapped inside digital infinity? Yep, these are the bizarre sentences you find yourself typing when writing about VR.
Speaking of shifting round, Bamford says that one of many customized parts HTC's Vive may let customers change on and off, relying on how delicate they're to quicker animations inside VR, is a teleportation function that lets individuals "zap themselves" (as he places it) from totally different places to keep away from needing to truly stroll to locations provided that their (bodily) play area has some exhausting limits.(The Vive's monitoring system maxes out at an area that's 15 ft by 15 ft.)
"The most secure strategy to do it's simply by blinking your location to a brand new place. You're instantaneously transported. However truly some individuals's choice – together with my choice – is to do actually quick transition, animated transition… Some individuals name it ludicrous velocity so it's this actually quick animation. And that doesn't hassle me in any respect. And truly for me I consider it supplies you much more context since you don't get as disoriented once you're shifting. You perceive how you bought there. However for some individuals it truly makes them fairly nauseated."
"So that is the sort of factor the place we're engaged on methods for individuals to show stuff like that on and off, relying on how delicate they're. It must be a private choice," he provides.
There's additionally numerous inner debate at HTC about one other factor of VR design: whether or not individuals will need to have practical wanting (i.e. selfie-fashion) avatars, based on Bamford. Or whether or not they may need to go full-blown fantasy character stylee – and appear to be a cartoon canine or one thing. This query doesn't come up a lot for solitary play however quite for social VR — which Bamford is satisfied can be a factor. Individuals will need to get collectively nearly when they're bodily aside, he asserts.
"Individuals do need to be social in VR. As a lot as you consider VR as a really solitary factor the place you're simply sporting a headset in your basement, individuals need to go into that digital world after which work together with different individuals, in order that's an enormous space of investigation for us.
"The social factor is somewhat humorous. However we've checked out situations like, for instance, sitting subsequent to your vital different on a sofa and also you're each sporting headsets watching a VR movie. I feel that may occur," he continues. "You'll nonetheless have the ability to work together with the individual it's simply that you simply're in VR."
Work together nearly positive, simply don't lean in for a kiss. Smashing VR headsets collectively doesn't sound in any respect enjoyable.
HTC Re vive
- Description HTC's Vive headset, powered by SteamVR, pulls these digital worlds off your pc display and into your property.
- Web site http://www.htcvr.com/
- Full profile for HTC Re vive
Valve Company
- Based 1996
- Overview Valve is an leisure software program and know-how firm based in 1996. Along with creating a number of of the world's most award-profitable video games, Valve can also be a developer of modern applied sciences together with the Supply® recreation engine and Steam®, the premier on-line gaming platform.
- Location Washington, DC
- Classes Providers
- Web site http://thinkwithportals.com/
- Full profile for Valve Company
What number of marriages is VR going to damage, I joke. "On the similar time how many individuals will meet in VR and be completely glad?" he counters. So maybe VR can save Second Life too. (Sure, Linden Labs is already taking an in depth curiosity within the tech.)
Or maybe VR will energy the subsequent massive factor in on-line courting. (Albeit, the burning query then can be: in VR would anybody have the ability to inform in the event you're a dork in actual life too?)
On the avatar design level, Bamford says the interior debate continues. "We've appeared, for instance, at applied sciences that may will let you simply scan your personal face and create an avatar that appears such as you. However it's unclear if anyone actually needs to try this. Or definitely when you do scan your self everyone type of agrees that you simply're going to need to have the ability to enhance/contact up your avatar. So it seems type of such as you however a greater model of you."
How photorealistic can VR avatars be made to take a look at this level, with the present gen tech? "It may well seem like you however then the problem is animating the eyes and the expression across the eyes and the mouth, in order that it truly seems practical is sort of troublesome," he says, admitting there's nonetheless an "uncanny valley drawback".
"In all probability you'll appear to be a creepy model of you," he concedes.
It's a really unusual world you're constructing right here, I observe. "Nicely somebody has to do it," he says, earlier than asserting extra emphatically: "It is going to enhance dramatically over time. And I feel it'll be fairly fast, the enhancements. Already for instance we're working with companions that may take simply the audio stream out of your voice and routinely animate your mouth to match the phrases that you simply're saying. And it's nonetheless somewhat bit humorous wanting however ultimately because the rigging will get higher on the characters and because the speech recognition will get higher it could possibly be do-in a position."
So are individuals going to be wowed by the Vive's gen-1 VR experiences or is it going to take a number of iterations — and a few of the refinements Bamford has been speaking about — to hone the hardware and software program to some extent the place the expertise is extra lifelike blow-your-socks off and fewer grainy/creepy tethered in an uncanny valley?
"I completely assume individuals can be wowed," says Bamford. "I've been working in know-how for a very long time — 20 years. And I've labored on a variety of stuff that folks thought was floor breaking on the time however I've by no means labored on something that obtained the reactions that VR will get. I imply I've seen so many individuals do the demo and actually should [sit down… because of] the sensory overload.
"It's fairly spectacular the reactions you get out of this. I've truly by no means seen anyone after a demo that was not — that didn't say it was ultimately thoughts blowing."
Sensory overload from demos of peaceable blue whales is one factor however there are more likely to be extra delicate issues on the subject of sure kinds of VR video games and experiences. On this level, Bamford tells an anecdote concerning the first time he performed the zombie recreation, Arizona Sunshine, in VR.
"No one advised me the way to decide up the gun and use it so I didn't know the right way to shield myself. And what occurs is these zombies come at you after which simply begin hitting you with their limbs. And it was horrifying, truly.
"So you possibly can think about individuals truly being actually scared enjoying a few of these issues so I feel there do have to be some sort of warnings relying on the content material sort – 'this could critically mentally disturb you', truly. For those who're not ready for the content material. So it's a must to know what you're moving into. And I feel there should be some schooling round what types of content material's applicable to totally different individuals."
"However for individuals who need to be scared – and there are lots of people who need to be scared, will probably be probably the most satisfyingly horrifying expertise you'll be able to think about," he provides.
Bamford doesn't stick round to see me do my Vive demo. However he does have a number of phrases of recommendation for what I ought to do if I really feel like I'm turning just a little inexperienced.
"Keep in mind," he tells me, "you'll be able to all the time shut your eyes."
Amen to that.
Leaving the convention later within the day my VR expertise dissolves into the Barcelona sunshine and a residual thought surfaces from the depths of my mind: wow, actuality — now that basically does look superb.
The bizarre phrases of bizarre worlds: A brief VR glossary
HMD – head mounted show. Aka the VR headset
nostril gasket – interchangeable inserts contained in the Vive headset which are designed to make sure it matches snuggly across the consumer's face/nostril
360 diploma head-monitoring – a VR system that may monitor a consumer's head howsoever it strikes
room-scale VR – the power to stroll and be tracked round an area whereas in VR, relatively than needing to take a seat or stand nonetheless. Does nonetheless require the headset to be tethered to the PC that powers the VR
Lighthouse – the sunshine emitting system contained in the Vive's twin base stations which energy its 360-diploma head monitoring by figuring out the place of the wearer's head. The bottom stations sweep the room with lasers whereas a number of photosensors on the headset hold time between mild sweeps – utilizing the numbers to calculate the place of the consumer's head
Chaperone – a security function inside Vive that bleeds a wireframe view of actual-world objects into the Vive's digital world to assist forestall the consumer from hurting themselves by, as an example, strolling into partitions
low persistence show – a way to scale back movement blur/judder as it's perceived inside VR by illuminating pixels for a short while solely, when they're appropriately aligned for the consumer's viewpoint, and switching them off instantly the point of view shifts
presence – the sensation of immersion that a consumer of VR experiences; designers purpose by no means to 'break presence', as they time period it
experiences – VR content material that's not designed as a recreation per se however is slightly meant to evoke emotions or feelings on account of the spectacle/encounter the consumer experiences
uncanny valley – the challenges of animating humanoid VR avatars so they appear sensible, quite than creepy, resembling animating expressions across the eyes or lips to sync with spoken phrases
social VR – mingling with different VR customers in a digital setting versus escaping right into a solitary different worldly VR expertise
pre-visualization – the power to view one thing in simulated 3D in VR earlier than truly viewing the thing in actual life
ludicrous velocity – a locomotion mechanism that animates a VR consumer's transition from one place to a different in a recreation world to assist protect location context and scale back disorientation. May cause nausea


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Okorocha appoints aides, to train officials in Singapore
FOR optimum service delivery in the civil service, the Imo Sate Government will send some permanent secretaries to Singapore on a training programme, the Head of Service (HoS), Calistus Ekenze, said.
Speaking in Owerri after a closed-door meeting between Governor Rochas Okorocha and the permanent secretaries at the Government House, Ekenze said the move was to ensure that the state has people in the top echelon to drive the workforce in line with modern realities.
And though the state is facing financial difficulties due to the dwindling federal allocation, he said, government would put the salary structure in line with what obtains in neighbouring states. He urged the workers to be patient as the state awaits the bailout funds.
Meanwhile, Okorocha has appointed Uche Onwuchekwa as the Special Assistant (Media) to the Deputy Governor, Eze Madumere, and A.J. Emeka for Special Duties. In a statement on Tuesday, the Secretary to the State Government, Jude Ejuogu, said the appointments were with "immediate effect."
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Workers in East North East Homes Leeds (ENEHL) were set to take a second day of strike action on Thursday of this week. The strike is in defence of their trade union rights and Unison union convenor, John McDermott.
ENEHL, a council owned housing Arms length management organisation, has torn up agreements about union facilities and suspended John McDermott for carrying out trade union activities.
Without consultation, ENEHL has imposed a trade union facilities scheme that reduces both the time available to represent workers and the number of stewards.
Unison members are furious about the attempt to hamstring the union at the same time management is trying to force through unacceptable changes to terms and conditions.
Over 200 members of Unison took strike action last month and the provocative response from the employer was to suspend John.
One steward said, "We want our union rights back and John to be reinstated. Our employer is acting like a bully. It has picked a fight and it is going to get one. Unless they back down we will be taking more strike action."


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As a young girl growing up in an underprivileged family in Bacoor, Cavite during the 80s, Mary Christinne B. Leano, fondly called "Matin", admits she knows exactly how to paint a complete picture of poverty. It would mean days of hunger, she says long days of hunger, in fact-that will eventually lead to sicknesses and, if she or her siblings are more unlucky, culminate in despair. But who would have thought that a mere high school graduate would in one day take the leadership in one of the fastest growing financial distribution companies in the world? While everyone remained clueless, Matin had a fairly clear answer.
Armed with a soldier's heart and a powerfully-built support system that she draws from her family, Matin knew there would come one fateful day when everything would eventually fall into place. And true indeed, the day came. And it came in a package Matin least expected. "I'd usually go melodramatic everytime I remember my childhood days," recalls Matin before finally shedding the first teardrop. "You know how hard that feeling when you see your childhood friends growing up well-fed, well-clothed, having fancy stuffs and it just makes you think life is unfair." "Mind you, I know all the nooks and crannies of an impoverished life. It's hard, simply hard," she barks. "My father was a jeepney driver, my mother a plain housewife. Seeing the hard life, my mother one day decided to work in Kuwait, to the chagrin of my father. Mother went overseas anyway, and it was a hostile life since then. Our father did not care for us; the family broke. We had to do sacrifices. At 16, I felt the need to work after graduating high school. One year later, our father's passing sent mother home, and we're back to the hard life."
So what then keeps Matin going in life, aside from the normal cheering she gets from close friends and relatives? Well, apart from the energy she receives from Malvin, who is the love of her life, she takes inspiration from her most favorite quote from Bill Gates: "If you are born poor, it's not your mistake. But if you are born poor and do nothing about it, that's your mistake." Matin, of course, is the unrelenting kind and did not intend to die poor nor want to be held responsible for some kind of mistake she could have largely veered away from in the first place. Moreover, coming from a life that bit the dust, she never wanted to let her children experience the same hardships she went through on account of financial deficiency. Time was good, Matin and Malvin one day found themselves working as manufacturing operators in a leading semicon company in the Philippines, but due to the global financial crisis in 2009, the company had to move to Vietnam, forcing them to retire early. The company gave them a good retirement package which they used to pay off their housing loan and invested the rest in a special time deposit that gives 2.5 percent per annum. Insert some sense of frugality somewhere, and the young couple were left with some decent amount enough to start off a little internet café business later. But even as they had the reserves upon retirement, Matin shares how the middle class mindset swallowed them up whole while they worked. "We were literally living payday to payday. You find yourself squandering your money because you know there's another payday coming. There are even times when you will end up in a deficit after payday, owing to your payables."
The biggest blessing came in 2010 when they attended the "Marriage Encounter" in La Salette, Silang, Cavite where they met Bro Benj and Sis Fely Santiago, now their mentors, who first invited them to IMG's financial literacy seminar in Dasmariñas. From managing finances to increasing income, and from getting out of debts to investing safely and correctly, the seminar gave them the knowledge on how to be more financially steady. So they signed up for IMG
International on March 10,2010 and everything they have in life today-the tangibles and the intangibles brought about by those tangibles-came springing as a result of that big moment that led them to their new found fortune. "We never had any reservation to join IMG because why would you turn down an offer that would help you learn how to handle your money and investments more wisely, right? I mean, that's just absurd," Matin quips. "Honestly, as partners, we knew how to set aside at least a little savings, but we didn't know we could get this much more financial freedom until we entered the IMG family." The first fruit of their labor came in December 2011 when they got promoted as marketing directors, officially receiving the award at the Hong Kong convention a month after. God is so good: her dream that time was to travel only to Baguio, but for some unexpected twist of events, the venue changed to Hong Kong. And then she went to Singapore. And then Macau. And then Taiwan. Finally, her greatest achievement at IMG was to travel in an all-expense paid trip to the US for nine days, together with other great leaders in the world. Having traveled to other parts of the globe enabled Matin to appreciate the bigness of the
"Better start early. Have the entrepreneurial spirit; nobody gets rich by being employed." The 35-year-old self-confessed risk-taker then defines success as "achieving your dream of being truly rich, but also helping other people become rich themselves."
IMG universe. Plus, sometime along those travels, they received their double promotion as senior marketing director and national marketing director and the couple couldn't say a word except that God is amazing.
Fast forward to April 4, 2013, one day before the couple's 10th wedding anniversary, and just when they thought they had all the good things in life already, little did they know the best was yet coming. Matin was elevated to the position of chief executive officer (CEO)-marketing director on that day, rising into that platform in a span of what-only three years. Yet Matin and Malvin willfully confess that they did not reach their positions alone
but with the help of what they call the "truly rich makers team": Doc Jaime, Doc Dada, Raymund, Sir Noel, Sir Joen, especially Ma'am Shirley and many more unmentioned heroes. Now they have seven direct marketing directors, 52nd generation and 13th generation marketing directors.
In IMG, they learned to dream big dreams; from nobody, they became somebody and each of them really wants to be a servant and a humble leader. In a matter of three, short years, Matin's income dramatically increased from four digits to six digits. She now earns an average of P100,000 a month, some five times higher than how much she used to earn while working. And not only is she grossing a six-digit income, she's also able to keep faithful to her promise not to let her kids experience the same hard life like she had back in childhood.One may call it luck and others may call it once in a blue moon, but Matin names it passion. "My husband and I are very passionate to share the mission of IMG. We love what we do and if you love what you're doing, everything else follows," she enlightens. She then shares one particular experience when they had to travel seven hours to conduct a financial literacy seminar in Lopez, Quezon Province. They arrived at the venue feeling cold as wet chicks only to find out the seminar was canceled because of heavy rains. "We felt frustrated," says Matin, "we sacrificed our money, effort and time that could've been more meaningfully spent with our kids, but because we love what we're doing, then we continue to share our mission." In another instance in Cabanatuan City, Nueva Ecija, everything had already been arranged for another seminar, yet only three guests came. Still, the seminar pushed through with no holds barred on their part.
"Honestly, as partners, we knew how to set aside at least a little savings, but we didn't know we could get this much more financial freedom until we entered the IMG family."
Aside from being passionate, Matin says it's likewise imperative to maintain the attitude of perseverance, humility and "being coachable". She says the more people you talk to and share the concept, the more chances it will be to meet the next superstar. All it takes, she assures, is not to quit. When you're already on top, you should keep your feet on the ground. And most of all, she believes learning shouldn't end at promotion. "We are students of life, of the system and of the business; we need a mentor to follow while there's so much to learn." After going through months and years with IMG, Matin and Malvin have learned a lot of new things. They run the system, enjoy the system and focus on the mission to serve more people. "Before you become a teacher, you must be a good student," Matin says. "Attend meetings. The most important meeting is the meeting you missed. Also attend big events; we are the product of conventions and we did not miss any IMG convention." "We do monitor our business. We set a goal and act on it, check our daily, weekly and monthly activities. The most important thing is we don't compare ourselves with others. Work as a team and fight to win- teamwork gives you more strength and courage to win. When the team wins, you also win. You need to open up and work with others because an isolated team will be suffocated with boredom and have no momentum," Matin explains.
Matin goes to say that IMG is the sort of business that has no excuses-whether there's a guest or not, whether the appointment materializes or gets canceled, they need to report to the office. Asked what kind of management style she employs, she responds "consultative", saying in every decision they make, they check with the team, ask for suggestions and discuss them with the members. "I talk to them directly when I feel they have concerns and issues," she speaks about dealing with conflicts within her staff, "but I always make sure that the conversation remains friendly and casual, not intimidating." But more than just constantly communicating with the team, Matin motivates her people to focus on the mission and face their fears. She reminds them to stay optimistic and persistent in achieving their target. They go to the meeting at least two times a week and make sure that they hit their 4S-schedule, system, structure and strategy. And what if there was an emergency and Matin had to be away from the company for, say 30 days, do they have strong leaders who could guide the ship in her absence? "Definitely," she says, "that's what we also do-train our people to be leaders."
Today, IMG Makati occupies about one-third of the third floor of Kings Court Building 1 while an expansion on the drawing board will fully materialize this month as they now move and take up the ninth floor of the same building. Matin also takes pride in saying that additional big companies in financial services industry are joining the IMG league very soon. In her capacity as a CEO, Matin eyes to coach and produce hundreds of marketing directors in the Philippines and the world over.
"Some people will like you, some won't. Always remember that you do it for love and with purpose," she says. She asserts she couldn't have reached the position without the help of her supportive husband, attributing him as her best partner at IMG and sharing her success with him because they have the same goal, the same mindset. Malvin's perseverance is in itself a key strength, his "never give up" attitude fires up the entire team. She also thanks God for the opportunity to be part of IMG and her mentors, Bro Benj and Sis Fely, for their guidance in her journey towards being a CEO.
For a woman who only wished her future family wouldn't experience the same fate as her, Matin has indeed walked a thousand miles. And to all those who want to follow in her footsteps, she has one thing to say: "Better start early. Have the entrepreneurial spirit; nobody gets rich by being employed." The 35-year-old self-confessed risk-taker then defines success as "achieving your dream of being truly rich, but also helping other people become rich themselves." And should you fail? No worries, she has a pick-up line as a saving grace: "Don't quit!" ["Bakit?"] "Mahulog na silang lahat, 'wag lang ikaw ang mahuhulog."


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Wednesday, December 14th, 2011
Late night... Got everything done though. yessss!
Thursday, December 15th, 2011
I wish I could say the last 2 days have been wonderful, but I'd be LYING! The bosses are really just being total asshats this week. It's making me nuts and the holiday can't get here fast enough because I need a day away from them.
Well we got Max last night, he was a bit shy and I thought for sure he would tear my hand off as I was attempting to leash him up to go for a walk. He has warmed up nicely though and loved the walk last night. He was loving Pokey and myself this morning and decided he loved Mr. Monkey Butt today when he got home from work.
And I haven't told you the best part yet... He's 8 months old, rescued from an abusive home and is HOUSE BROKEN and honestly quite smart! It's great!
But I'm tired and I've one more day of Hell to suffer through. UGH!
So with that, enjoy the Thursday Monkey post I posted earlier, don't forget tomorrow's Fabulous Photo and have an awesome Friday Dingleberries!


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Mountain Town News: Vail and Eagle County have nation's lowest obesity rate
Mountain Town News
VAIL, Colo. – Mirror, mirror, on the wall, who is thinnest of them all?
Eagle County, reports the Vail Daily, has the lowest percentage of obese people in all 3,007 counties, 64 parishes and 18 boroughs in the United States.
Just 11.8 percent of residents are considered obese in Eagle County, an area that includes Vail, Beaver Creek and two bedroom communities of Aspen: Basalt and El Jebel.
Ski towns and their corresponding counties consistently rank lowest in many other states, too. The statistics come from the U.S. Center for Disease Control.
The CDC links exercise and better eating habits to low obesity. There are also strong correlations with income and education.
Dr. Dennis Lipton, of Vail Health, tells the Vail Daily's Randy Wyrick that there's a little bit of heredity but mostly other factors involved in obesity.
"People who live here have generally chosen the active mountain lifestyle. It's an expensive place to live, so if you are not actively engaged in enjoying the outdoors, the motivation to stay here is reduced. Also, because it's expensive to live here, the education level and socioeconomic status of the average resident is higher than average," Lipton said.
People who are overweight or have other serious problems simply cannot live in Eagle County because of the higher elevation and prefer to be lower, Lipton said.
Also, thinner air prompts some weight loss. The more you weigh, the more oxygen you require.
"Therefore, there is physiologic benefit to weighing less at higher altitude. Your body has to work less to maintain adequate oxygenation. Just like you don't generally see obese long distance runners," he said. "Your body adapts to whatever stressors it is presented with."
Chris Lindley, Eagle County's public health director, pointed out that waist lines in Eagle County are spreading, as they are overall in Colorado—which has the lowest obesity rate in the nation— and across the nation. Lindley points to a second measure, that of overweight.
"While Eagle County may have the lowest obesity rate, 34 percent of our population is overweight, so we are a long way off from any type of celebration," Lindley said. "Being the slowest to get to the crisis point just does not mean there is not still a crisis. We have to continue to drive at the underlying reasons we are growing more and more unhealthy."
Ski towns and their counties rank at the lowest in obesity for the following states of the West:
Colorado: Eagle County, (Vail, Beaver Creek) 11.8 percent
Wyoming: Teton County (Jackson Hole Mountain Resort) 12.7 percent
New Mexico: Santa Fe County (Ski Santa Fe), 13.7 percent
Utah: Summit County (Park City, Deer Valley), 14.4 percent
Montana: Gallatin County (Big Sky, Bridger Bowl), 15.5 percent
Idaho: Blaine County (Sun Valley): 19.2 percent
Nevada: Douglas County (Heavenly Mountain) 21.9 percent
Alaska: Haines Borough, (heliskiing): 25.5 percent.
On the West Coast, though, the lowest obesity rates are not in mountain counties, but rather in coastal cities: San Francisco, Portland, and San Juan County, which consists of islands off the mainland in Washington state. These statistics were reported in September by a website called 24/7 Wall Street.
Within Colorado, ski counties are clustered near the top, according to a website called County Health Rankings & Roadmaps. Following Eagle County's 12 percent (rounded-off) rate of obesity are Summit and Boulder counties 13 percent, Routt County 14 percent, Gunnison and Pitkin counties 15 percent, La Plata and Denver counties 16 percent, and San Miguel and Grand counties 18 percent.
The County Health Rankings & Roadmaps website seeks to define health outcomes by using several dozen criteria, from percentage of uninsured to injury deaths to severe housing problems, and long, solo commutes. By those criteria, in Colorado the highest quality of life is in three Denver-area counties: Douglas, Broomfield and Boulder, followed by Routt (Steamboat), Eagle (Vail), Pitkin (Aspen), San Miguel (Telluride) and Summit (Breckenridge).
Expect a name & ski pass options of new company
ASPEN, Colo. – Soon, reports The Aspen Times, the new 800-pound gorilla in the ski industry will have a name and, more important to snow sliders, the pass options available for the 2018-19 season.
The new company has ski resorts from Mammoth and Squaw Valley in California to Steamboat and Winter Park in Colorado plus Deer Valley in Utah, among a few others.
The company was formed last spring by the Crown family, owners of the Aspen Skiing Co., and KSL Capital Partners, which is led primarily by former Vail executives.
Christian Knapp, chief marketing officer for the Aspen Skiing Co., said there's no plan to decommission the Mountain Collective. The pass was created in 2012, offering two days of skiing at each of the participating resorts, including Aspen. It also includes Squaw Valley and Mammoth.
That pass product was created in response to the Epic Pass, which was introduced by Vail Resorts in 2008 as a more expansive version of what it had been previously offering in Colorado.
Passive House design makes inroads into Whistler housing
WHISTLER, B.C. – The Passive House building standard continues to make inroads in Whistler. The international standard for energy efficiency buildings was used in a house that has been nominated in two categories of a competition called the Georgie Awards.
The three-story home, the first single-family house constructed under the auspices of the Whistler Housing Authority, sold for $950,000 last summer. The builder, Schreyer Construction, noted that energy from homes is a major source of greenhouse gas emissions, so energy efficiency reduces the footprint of homes.
Matheo Durfeld, partner of BC Passive House, told the Pique newsmagazine that the nominations are evidence of the increasing demand and awareness of the Passive House standard. When the first home was built to that standard in 2011, "nobody knew what it was," he said.
Aspen speaks to national divisions in ad campaign
ASPEN, Colo. – Among the several Aspen Skiing Co.'s advertising themes this year is one that combines business with politics. The advertisement uses the word "Unity" and a ski rack containing both skis and snowboards.
The copy says: "The mountains don't discriminate, and neither do we. Neither should anyone. We're better together. On the mountain, at work, as a nation, as members of the human race. Unity – it's The Aspen Way."
The Aspen Times reports that the campaign was put together by the company's Denver-based advertising firm, Karsh Hagan, after seeing op-eds written by Mike Kaplan, the chief executive of the Aspen Skiing Co.
The company has similar messages built around the words Love, Respect and Commit.
Gregory Wagner, a former chief executive of Burton snowboards who is now an associate professor at the University of Denver's Department of Marketing, says the campaign effectively shows that the Aspen Skiing Co.'s values line up with those of its target market.
When will wolves start snacking on new bison?
BANFF, Alberta – How long before the wolves of Banff National Park start to nail the bison that have been reintroduced?
The bison, if native to what is now Banff National Park, disappeared there about 140 years ago, about the same time that the last bison were binge-killed by hunters on the Great Plains of North America.
Last February, 16 bison were turned loose within a wire enclosure about 25 miles north of the townsite of Banff. At some point, the bison will be released from the enclosure. The question will then become how soon before wolves start feasting on the bison.
With that in mind, wildlife biologists want to collar additional wolves from that area with GPS devices. "One of the big questions we have is whether or not wolves will be able to predate on bison," said Jesse Whittington, a wildlife ecologist with Banff National Park.
The wolves have been snacking on bighorn sheep and, more recently, on deer. Trying to take down bigger animals can be dangerous to the wolves, so they prefer to go after young, old or sick ungulates.
A place for lone eagles to rub high-speed feathers
DURANGO, Colo. – Durango and broader La Plata County have 3,000 workers who might be called lone eagles, such as one-person businesses, consultants and freelancers.
Now, they don't have to be lonely when at work, reports the Durango Telegraph. The community has a second co-working location where lone eagles can gather around water coolers and rub feathers.
A business called R Space has configured 2,000 square feet of space in a late-1800s building into a 21st century answer to the sterile cubicle of the Dilbert comic strip. Both the internet and the coffee are high speed.
Horrible Thanksgiving for a bunch of people
GUNNISON, Colo. – One Arizona family had a horrible Thanksgiving, the result of a hunting accident south of Gunnison.
The father of the family, a 42-year-old, was hunting when another member of his hunting party shot and killed him. Citing law enforcement reports, the Crested Butte News says the person who fired the errant shot, a 17-year-old girl, was shooting at some elk from about 150 yards away. Her unintended victim was 400 yards away.
Tahoe community shifts to part-time residency
INCLINE VILLAGE, Nev. – Steve Pinkerton, general manager of the Incline Village General Improvement District, sees evidence that housing in that community along the shores of Lake Tahoe is increasingly being used as second and third homes.
How does he know this? Writing in the Tahoe Daily Tribune, he points to declining school enrollment, which slipped from 1,500 students in the late 1990s to 1,000 in the year 2010.
But sewage volume also tells a story. The overall annual flows are down 30 percent from a decade ago, he reports, and nearly 40 percent from two decades ago.
What this demonstrates is that "the number of second and third homes in our community continues to increase," Pinkerton wrote. "It also reinforces that notion that many of our residents are spending more time elsewhere during the shoulder season."
He also speculates that these numbers also "demonstrate the lack of available rental housing in the community."
This, as he notes, is not new in many places. "They've been grappling with this issue in the Rocky Mountains for decades."
How renaming of geography in Banff could get complicated
CANMORE, Alberta – What should the local mountains and rivers be called? The debate continues in the Banff-Canmore area after the Stoney Nakoda, inhabitants prior to European-based settlement, submitted a proposal for 161 name changes.
Some proposed changes, however, are already off the table, as names of towns are not under the purview of the Alberta Geographical Names program.
Also, there may also be pushback from other aboriginal inhabitants of the region. Various members of the Blackfoot confederacy claim they were the regional occupants.
Some names have been changed in the past. A geographic feature called Chinaman's Peak was renamed Ha Ling Peak, to recognize the mine camp cook who won a bet in 1896 about how fast he could climb the mountain. And another mountain west of Calgary was renamed with the traditional Stoney Nakoda name.
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Spotlight: Coca-Cola Leverages Country Music, Drives Traffic to Walmart
Atlanta — Country music fans are 125% more likely to visit a Walmart store (to the tune of 15 times a month or more) compared to the rest of the general population, per the GfK MRI "Survey of the American Consumer." With that insight, for the last three years Coca-Cola Co. has successfully tapped the twang and star power of country music artists to engage with its consumers over social media and drive them to Walmart.
Early in 2018, the campaign tied into the relaunch of Diet Coke using artist Lauren Alaina to provide short posts on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter. "In her own words, she encouraged fans to try the new Diet Coke flavors and to pick them up at Walmart," says Coca-Cola's Amanda Whitaker, director of shopper marketing, Walmart team.
The campaign included posts of native stories and social shares from popular country music websites, as well as exclusive content featuring Alaina on the Diet Coke product page at Walmart.com. "For the Diet Coke relaunch, because the sleek new packaging is so important to see and because our Millennial target is so active on social media, the approach was to create short, snackable pieces of content with Lauren being herself, goofing off with the new cans, trying all the flavors and having fun," Whitaker says.
Alaina continued to play a big role in the Coca-Cola at Walmart summer campaign, according to Whitaker. Coca-Cola and its agency, Springdale, Arkansas-based Saatchi & Saatchi X, teamed with Taillight, Nashville, Tennessee, on the social content. Taillight is especially plugged into the country music scene, securing the talent for the campaigns, using its data to recommend artists that best fit a program, producing and managing the social content.
In 2016, Taillight recommended Coca-Cola work with Kelsea Ballerini on a video that could only be viewed when scanned by a mobile phone from an in-store display. A 2017 effort featured Alaina and a tie-in with Dasani water, granting fans a behind-the-scenes look at her music video and an intimate look at her workout routine. During football season that year, artist Jake Owens shared stories for Coca-Cola, Coke Zero and Powerade, and there have been other social programs.
Over the three years, Taillight has leveraged social tech like Boomerangs on Instagram and Instagram Stories, as well as Snapchat content. Since 2016, Coca-Cola has registered more than 122 million impressions and 153,000 engagements through the campaigns.
For Coca-Cola, the social campaigns make a difference getting a shopper base (18 to 24 year olds) into Walmart to try new products. "Millennials don't feel Walmart is the best place to try new products," Whittaker points out. "By partnering with country artists, and specifically Lauren Alaina, we have a fan demographic that so closely aligns with the Millennial Walmart shopper."
Whittaker says the country artist partnerships "are so important" to the Coca-Cola brand and its work with Walmart. "Artists help us make an emotional connection and country fans are brand loyal," she says. "Through artists, we can speak directly to our key shopper, drive traffic to Walmart, and inspire trial of the new flavor-filled lineup of Diet Coke."


text: Home Blue Bengal Striped Cotton Commuter Mask with 3 VIROFORMULA™ filters Blue Bengal Striped Cotton Commuter Mask with 3 VIROFORMULA™ filters Blue Bengal Striped Cotton Commuter Mask with 3 VIROFORMULA™ filters €55,00 Out of Stock This is a required field. Notify me when my size is back in stock View Bag item items added to bag Close Product details Delivery & returns Product details Style Notes Made in England from the finest Italian fabrics and VIROFORMULA™ filters, the panelled Blue Bengal Striped Cotton Commuter Mask is an adjustable face-covering developed to help protect yourself and others. Ergonomically designed to fit the contours of the face, it rests comfortably away from the mouth with an opening in the back so filters can be swapped in and out. To fit the mask, tie it behind the ears and adjust to the right size with a single knot before fixing it in place with a simple double knot. Please wash mask regularly inside the bag provided. VIROFORMULA™ filters, developed by our longstanding partners, Albini, actively inhibit viruses and kill bacteria on their surface within a few minutes. This innovative technology stops the fabrics playing host to harmful viruses and bacteria and so reduces the risk and speed of contamination and re-transmission. Turnbull & Asser will donate £5 from the sale of this mask to the NHS Charities Together Covid-19 Urgent Appeal, or to New York's First Responders Fund for purchases made in the United States. Construction Details Contents: 1 wash bag, 1 mask, 3 VIROFORMULA™ filters Top tie: 20 cm, Bottom tie: 16cmWash regularlyMachine washable at 30°CPlace mask and used filters inside the bag when washingFilters can be reused up to 30 timesMedium ironDo not tumble dryThis item is non-returnable Fine DetailsProduct Code: ZZAO3208 0002 05Weave: PlainPattern: StripeMaterial: 100% CottonCountry Of Origin: United Kingdom Delivery & returns Delivery Orders placed on a normal business day before 14:00hrs GMT will be processed the same day.EUROPEAN DELIVERYUPS Standard (€14.00 - Free when you spend over €150) : Delivery within 2-3 working days, from the date of despatch. Returns European Returns : Unworn goods may be returned or exchanged within 30 days of purchase. Please note that original postage will not be reimbursed and international return costs are not pre-paid.Please note that all Monogrammed / Made-to-Measure products are non-returnable.Read more about returns here.


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10 Magazine, Issue 58: Editor's Letter
15.9.77 – 21.10.16
Writing this editor's letter has taken a lot of soul searching, contemplation and sadness.
Trying to pinpoint one singular moment through which to celebrate this special man has been impossible. His irreverence, his strength, his honesty in an industry that often shies away from reality was refreshing. He always approached every situation with grace and elegance. He focused on creating dreams, creating fantasy steeped in the reality of the women he dressed.
His sudden death on October 21 was shocking. The sense of helplessness left me feeling baffled at how someone so young, vital and brilliant could no longer be with us. It genuinely felt like an unjust theft. He had so much to look forward to, so much still to do with his life. The gut-wrenching sadness of the realisation that we were never going to see each other again, to miss his sense of fun, his mischief, his laughter, his creativity – these are things that will be missed by everyone who knew and loved him. I feel blessed that we shared so much creativity together, and to have worked so closely with him is a time I will cherish. It was filled with constant laughter, questioning, growth and understanding of his wonderful process, his influence and his hunger to constantly push himself further. His collections challenged the predictable vision of beauty, and created an effortless dialogue of the feminine/masculine juxtaposition – a consistent thread that existed as the DNA in everything he created.
But more than this for me, what I will miss is his kindness, his compassion, his humanity – Richard's laughter and his fierce loyalty as a friend. We love and miss you madly.
Now all we can do is remember you often and always with love, and as the beautiful Rori Thompson, a dear and treasured friend, put it, "Sharon would have said, 'Press the up button' high into those bright blue skies."
Sophia Neophitou
Editor-in-Chief, 10 Magazine
Photograph thanks to Anthony Campbell