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Films Or Politics: Which Is The Best To Be Involved In?

Let’s face it; some career choices are far more popular than others. Whether you’re a teenager thinking about the next steps to take or a parent trying to guide your kid doesn’t matter. The world of acting and politics are quite likely to feature quite highly on the list of dream jobs. And that’s in spite of the fact that they are two vastly different areas of expertise.

So, which arena should you aspire to break into? Let’s take a look.

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Financial Possibilities

There’s nothing wrong with admitting that the financial rewards are at the very top of the wish list. After all, remuneration is ultimately the whole purpose of working in the first place. At the very top of the pyramid, both politicians and film stars can earn millions.

The average member of Congress, like Idaho Senate Mike Crapo, can command a net worth in the high six-figure value. While the Hollywood A-Listers can command seven-figure salaries for just one film, the average actor or actress will be far more modest. In fact, the early years of acting can potentially be lower paid than a standard job in retail.

Conversely, even the junior members of Congress are likely to receive a salary that sits higher than the national average.

Job Security

Politics and entertainment are two industries that come under more scrutiny than any other. As such, being thick-skinned is crucial en route to the top. However, public disapprovals are one thing; insecurities within the job are another.

Achieving any status of real power in politics is tough, and can rely heavily on being voted in. However, there is a clear route to the top. In the world of acting, two people that start out with the same project could encounter vastly different trajectories. In many cases, contracts are very short too, making it difficult to achieve stability in life as well as careers.

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In both careers, though, there is a genuine fear that one foul move could ruin it all. Then again, many thrive off of that passion.

Social & Cultural Impact

Anybody with a sense of ambition will view changing the world in a positive way as a huge factor in their career choice. You needn’t reach a huge audience to make a difference, as nurses and teachers show every single day. Still, the spotlight that comes with acting and politics is attractive.

Whether it’s a local governing position or President of the United States, political influencers have a huge chance to change lives. You can also set winning foundations for future generations in the process. But if you think films are incapable of inspiring people, the Oscars is an example of their importance. Meanwhile, titles like Black Panther can inspire cultural changes.

Whichever option you take, the chance to make a difference can be huge. While the two types of influence are very different, they are both of significant importance.   

Verdict   

So, which path is best? In truth, there is no one right answer. Whichever one you feel most passionate about is the best solution.

Eastern States Traveling: 6 Great Attractions to Visit While You Travel

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The eastern states of the United States are packed with great attractions and things to do if you decide to take a vacation in this part of the country.

Here are some of the must-see sights and attractions that are well worth your attention when you are making your travel plans.

You will need a head for heights

Hiking at Grandfather Mountain in Linville is an adventure in itself but if you don’t mind looking down from a great height you must try the walk across the Mile High Swinging Bridge there.

Your reward for stepping out across the bridge is some awesome 360-degree views that you will remember for a long time to come.

Enjoy an easy route to the top of this mountain

Sticking to the theme of enjoying spectacular views from a great height you should also check out Chimney Rock State Park.

In addition to some enjoying some pleasant hikes that are not overly challenging you can also enjoy a unique experience here by taking an elevator ride inside the mountain that takes you to the top.

It has never been easier to make your way to the summit and enjoy the amazing scenery from your perfect viewing point.

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Visit a town steeped in history

Another great place to visit in the east is Greensboro.

This historic town was a key battlefield area in the civil war and you can find out all about those days with a number of sights and museums in the area.

If you stay at accommodation like the Greensboro Marriott Downtown you will be in a good spot for making a few trips to these places of interest in the area, before returning to the town itself and enjoying the attractive urban parks, art galleries, and restaurants, that visitors always seem to appreciate.

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Take a scenic drive

If you want to enjoy a scenic drive where there is always something interesting or beautiful to look at while you drive along the Blue Ridge Parkway fits the bill.

Described as “America’s Favorite Drive”, there are 469 miles to enjoy when you follow the roads that link Shenandoah and Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

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Take a hike through the forest

If you enjoy the great outdoors the eastern states are a great place to satisfy your quest for getting a close-up view of what nature has to offer.

A good example of what the area has to offer would be the DuPont State Recreational Forest.

The forest covers 10,000 acres of cedar mountain in North Carolina and this is your chance to enjoy Mother Nature at her best.

A great city to visit

If you want to spend some time in the city as a contrast to your outdoor adventures Charlotte would be an excellent choice.

This city has a unique atmosphere that seems to appeal to all sorts of people, from families to couples looking for a romantic getaway.

With loads of lively and diverse restaurants and attractions within the city, you won’t be short of things to do for the duration of your stay.

If you take in some of the great attractions you are bound to create some great vacation memories.

Gary Cohn Resigns as President Trump’s Top Economic Adviser

The White House has announced that President Donald Trump’s top economic adviser Gary Cohn is resigning.

His resignation is the latest in a series of high-profile departures from President Trump’s team.

There has been speculation that Gary Cohn, a supporter of free trade, was angered by President Trump’s plans to impose tariffs on aluminum and steel imports.

In a statement released by the White House, Gary Cohn said it had been “an honor to serve my country”.

He had helped President Trump push through his sweeping tax reforms late last year.

The 57-year-old former president of the Goldman Sachs bank and President Trump were never believed to be close.

Gary Cohn wasn’t specific about the reasons, saying in a statement it had been “an honor to serve my country and enact pro-growth economic policies to benefit the American people, in particular the passage of historic tax reform”.

Once that mission had been achieved, a number of differences may have prompted the departure, including the possible looming trade tariff war and his differences on that issue with trade adviser Peter Navarro and Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross.

Image source Wikimedia

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Gary Cohn had reportedly set up a meeting between President Trump and business executives who opposed the tariffs move. However, the president pulled out of that meeting and on March 6 reportedly asked Gary Cohn in the Oval Office to back the tariffs publicly. Gary Cohn did not answer, sources told Bloomberg.

In August 2017, Gary Cohn had also criticized President Trump over his reaction to a far-right rally in Charlottesville, Virginia, saying the administration “can and must do better”.

The president’s economic adviser was reported to have drafted a resignation letter after the event.

Gary Cohn’s exact departure date had yet to be determined.

In a statement, President Trump said: “Gary… did a superb job in driving our agenda, helping to deliver historic tax cuts and reforms and unleashing the American economy once again.

“He is a rare talent and I thank him for his dedicated service to the American people.”

Analysts were pointing to the resignation of Gary Cohn, a free market advocate, as one reason behind a drop in shares across Asia on March 7. The Nikkei closed 0.77% down and the Hang Seng 1.03%.

The dollar continued its retreat against the yen, down from 113 at the start of the year to 105.6 on March 7.

European stocks also opened lower, the FTSE 100 and pan-Europe STOXX 600 falling about 0.5% after opening.

New Claims of Hernia Mesh Complications and Chronic Pain

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Each year in the UK, more than 70,000 adults receive treatment for a hernia in the NHS. A combination of both men and women experience the often painful and equally concerning medical issue, although adult men are more apt to be diagnosed with a hernia than their female counterparts. While hernia treatment is meant to provide a fix for the discomfort patients feel before seeing a doctor, many are bringing forth complaints surrounding the way in which hernia treatment is performed and the materials used to do so.

Late last year, thousands of women came together to bring suit against medical providers and NHS trusts throughout the region given their less than positive experiences after receiving pelvic mesh implant surgery. Doctors use pelvic mesh to treat prolapse and incontinence in women, but it has come to light that patients experience life-altering changes post-procedure. Ongoing pain, infection, and other uncomfortable side effects run rampant in female patients who have received mesh implants for treatment. In recent months, men have started to come forward with similar complaints, related to the use of mesh in hernia treatment.

Banded Together

Several men have established groups throughout the UK as a form of a support system in the aftermath of hernia mesh treatment. Members of one particular group in Northern Ireland shared the devastating effects hernia treatment has had on their personal and private lives, citing issues with chronic pain, unending discomfort, and hernia recurrence. Some have said the treatment left them with strained relationships while others have felt hopeless in finding a corrective solution to their ongoing pain. The common thread among the men in the group is that they feel as though their voices are not being heard as loudly as women who have faced complications after similar treatment with pelvic mesh. They’re looking to change that reality by banding together.

Hernia mesh treatment is the go-to recommendation for most hernia patients, and that has been the case for several decades. According to the NHS, hernias can be caused by several different factors, including carrying excessive weight, constipation, and other issues that place undue pressure on the abdomen. When a hernia takes place, an organ is essentially pushing through the muscle and tissue wall in the body, leading to a bulge that is both uncomfortable and potentially harmful to the individual. It is common for hernias to develop at the belly button, along the diaphragm or upper stomach area, or the inner groin area.

For men who experience a hernia, mesh treatment is used to repair the muscle or tissue wall that has been torn or damaged. The plastic-like material is placed at the torn area and over time, it connects with the surrounding tissue to keep future damage from taking place. The harsh reality is that, despite being the first course of treatment, hernia mesh repair is not all that successful in some cases.

A Need for Change

A clinical negligence expert team shares that while some hernia mesh treatments are completed without complication, the problems that can arise after the procedure is performed can be life-altering. Chronic pain is the most cited problem, followed by migration of the mesh to other parts of the body. In some cases, the incision site where the mesh is introduced to the body is a gateway for harmful, difficult-to-treat infections that can rapidly debilitate one’s ability to function. For others, the complications are even more severe, including bowel obstruction and new hernias developing over time.

Whether the hernia mesh treatment complications are mild or severe matters little to the men coming together to find support and encouragement. They have all experienced pushback from medical providers in getting an accurate diagnosis of mesh failure or movement post-procedure, and are now forced to live with the pain and suffering of an inefficient procedure. There is no easy fix to a failed mesh repair surgery, but there are alternative courses of treatment that can and should be recommended. At a minimum, men and women alike with hernias should understand the risks and complications of the treatment option, and they should be offered viable alternatives to ensure their health remains intact after the fact.

State Department: North Korea Killed Kim Jong-nam in Chemical Attack

According to a State Department report, Kim Jong-nam, the half-brother of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, was killed by a chemical attack in Malaysia on the orders of the North Korean government.

Kim Jong-nam died in February 2017 at Kuala Lumpur airport, where two women smeared his face with VX nerve agent.

The two women, who say they believed they were carrying out a prank for a TV show, are on trial for murder.

In response, the US said it would impose new sanctions on North Korea.

State Department spokeswoman Heather Nauert said: “This public display of contempt for universal norms against chemical weapons use further demonstrates the reckless nature of North Korea and underscores that we cannot afford to tolerate a North Korean WMD program of any kind.”

The US has consistently accused North Korea of being behind the attack on Kim Jong-un’s half-brother.

North Korea denies any involvement.

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The new sanctions, which came into force on Monday (March 5), are largely symbolic, joining a vast array of punitive economic measures the US has taken against North Korea.

The announcement comes a day after a high-level South Korean delegation returned from North Korea where they had cordial meetings with Kim Jong-un.

Capitalizing on warmer ties after the PyeongChang Winter Olympics, Kim Jong-un and South Korean President Moon Jae-in have arranged a landmark meeting for next month.

It would be the first such meeting for more than a decade and the first since the North Korean leader took power in 2011.

President Donald Trump has said the developments, including North Korea’s suggestion that it might discuss getting rid of its nuclear weapons, “are positive” but might be a “false hope”.

In previous programs to halt its nuclear ambitions, North Korea has failed to keep its promises.

Kim Jong-nam was largely estranged from his family and was bypassed for the leadership in favor of his younger half-brother, Kim Jong-un.

He spent most of his time overseas in Macau, mainland China and Singapore.

Kim Jong-nam had spoken out in the past against his family’s dynastic control of the country and, in a 2012 book, was quoted as saying he believed Kim Jong-un lacked leadership qualities.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bi34OE-V8GU

McDonald’s to Use Fresh Beef in Burgers Sold at US Restaurants

McDonald’s has started to use fresh beef in burgers sold at its US restaurants.

The fast-food chain is looking to improve food quality and ward off competition from premium burger chains.

Burgers containing fresh beef will be sold at most of McDonald’s 14,000 US restaurants by the end of June.

The move is part of bigger changes at McDonald’s, as new competitors, including burger chains such as Shake Shack, are using fresh ingredients to differentiate themselves.

As part of its turnaround efforts in recent years, McDonald’s has tweaked pricing and added to its menu. The fast-food chain has also ditched ingredients such as high fructose corn syrup in a bid to appeal to health-conscious customers.

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McDonald’s has been testing the appetite for burgers made from fresh beef for about a year. The premium quarter pounder and other offerings are now available at about 3,500 McDonald’s restaurants in the US, including in Miami, Orlando and Nashville.

These products are sold alongside existing burgers made using frozen meat.

Next month, fresh beef burgers will become available at restaurants in Los Angeles, Houston and San Francisco.

McDonald’s US president Chris Kempczinski said that offering fresh beef was the most significant change to the restaurant chain’s menu since it started offering all-day breakfast in 2015.

Chris Kempczinski said: “If it slows down the drive-through, that’s the critical part of our business. And so we just had to spend a lot of time really making sure that as we were cooking only when someone ordered, we’d figured out a way to do it that wasn’t going to slow down service time.”

Trump Management Evicted from Panama Hotel In Property Dispute

Orestes Fintiklis, the majority owner of the Trump Ocean Club International Hotel and Tower in Panama City, has regained control of the building after a legal battle with its management – the Trump Organization.

Within hours of the verdict from a Panamanian court, the luxury hotel’s employees removed the Trump name from its main entrance.

The Cypriot businessman has been fighting to cancel the contract with the Trump Organization, which he blames for a fall in profits.

The Trump Organization said it had appealed against the decision.

Orestes Fintiklis hailed the court’s decision, saying: “Panama has made us proud.

“Today, this dispute has been settled by the judges and the authorities of this country.”

The standoff between Orestes Fintiklis and the management team at the hotel had lasted more than a week.

Image source Wikimedia

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On March 5, police and a court official enforced the owner’s claim to the hotel as Trump Organization executives and security staff abandoned the building.

Hotel employees then pried the Trump logo from the entrance.

Tourists later gathered at the spot to have their pictures taken.

The legal battle began last month when Orestes Fintiklis said he intended to force the Trump Organization out before its management contract was up, and to rebrand the hotel.

According to lawsuits filed in the United States, Orestes Fintiklis said the number of guests at the hotel was falling.

For its part, the Trump Organization said Orestes Fintiklis was breaching his contractual commitments.

The Trump Organization said in a statement: “Trump Hotels remains fully confident that it will not only prevail, but recover all of its damages, costs and attorneys’ fees, including those… arising from today’s events.”

5 Methods to Improve Your Health on a Busy Schedule

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The issue most people face when looking to improve their health isn’t a question of desire; instead, the number one stumbling block to better health is a lack of free time. What with the ever-expanding work day, familial commitments, and maintaining a social life, the modern American has never had more distractions to contend with. So how can you improve your health with such a busy schedule? The good news is, with a little forethought and application, you can fit health-boosting activities into your daily routine with ease. Here are five methods to try out:

Multi-Task

You should explore any opportunity to combine a work task or a social commitment with exercise. So whether you enjoy taking a jog with your partner, or else listening to important work-related resources while at the gym, multi-tasking can help you free up time you’d otherwise not have.

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Eat Right

It’s not the easiest thing to achieve, but adhering to a healthy diet will likely help you lose weight and reduce the risk of certain diseases. And the best part of choosing to eat healthy is that it doesn’t take any extra time –– or effort. This is especially true in an era when vegetarian and vegan options are more plentiful than ever before.

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Schedule Regular Check-Ups

Too many people put off receiving check-ups because they believe themselves to be fully healthy already. Unfortunately, some health-related problems don’t manifest themselves physically until well into their development. It’s in your best interest then to see a professional regularly, and allow them to administer everything from a blood-pressure check to STD tests. Doing so can help you prevent big problems from ever occurring.

Cut out the Commute

If you’re lucky enough to live next to your office, then biking or walking to work is a tremendous way to squeeze in a healthy habit to a busy schedule. But even if you have to drive to work, consider finding errands that are within walking distance and leaving the car in the garage every once in a while. Not only will it be good for you, but it will save you money on gasoline as well!

Work out With Friends

In addition to helping you stay motivated, working out with people close to you will help you synchronize your schedule with those in your social circle. This way, you can begin to develop a routine that works for you. And exercising with friends can help improve your consistency and increase your enjoyment too.

North Korea: Kim Jong-un Hosting Dinner for Two South Korean Delegates

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Kim Jong-un is hosting a dinner for two South Korean delegates, the first time officials from Seoul have met the North Korean leader since he took office in 2011, South Korea’s Yonhap news agency reported.

The dinner has been confirmed by a South Korean presidential spokesman.

The South Korean delegation is in Pyongyang for rare talks partly aimed at restarting dialogue between North Korea and the US.

Relations between North Korea and South Korea have warmed following the PyeongChang Winter Games.

In an unprecedented move the delegation includes two ministerial-level envoys – intelligence chief Suh Hoon and National Security adviser Chung Eui-yong.

According to the North Korean state radio, the delegation was met by Ri Son-gwon, North Korea’s reunification chief, who led talks in the weeks before the Winter Olympics.

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During the two-day visit, the South Korean group will focus on establishing conditions for talks aimed at getting rid of North Korea’s nuclear weapons as well as dialogue between the US and Pyongyang.

Chung Eui-yong had earlier told a press briefing he would deliver President Moon Jae-in’s “resolution to maintain the dialogue and improvement in relations between the South and the North… [and] to denuclearize the Korean peninsula”.

On March 3, President Donald Trump said that the US would be prepared to meet North Korea, but reiterated that Pyongyang would first have to “denuke”.

However, North Korea – which has said it wants to talk to the US – said it was “preposterous” for the US to insist on preconditions.

It’s remains unclear who would represent the US in any such meeting.

The top US diplomat on North Korea Joseph Yun announced his decision to retire earlier last week, a departure which could hamper the Trump administration.

The relationship between the US and North Korea were particularly tense before the Winter Olympics, with both countries repeatedly threatening each other with total destruction.

The US has distanced itself from the North Korean overtures during the Games.

VP Mike Pence has said there is “no daylight” between the US and its regional allies on the need to “continue to isolate North Korea economically and diplomatically until they abandon their nuclear and ballistic missile program.

Oscars 2018: Full List of Winners

The 90th annual Academy Awards winners, full list:

Best picture

  • Winner: The Shape of Water
  • Call Me By Your Name
  • Darkest Hour
  • Dunkirk
  • Get Out
  • Lady Bird
  • Phantom Thread
  • The Post
  • Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri

Best actress

  • Winner: Frances McDormand – Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri
  • Sally Hawkins – The Shape of Water
  • Margot Robbie – I, Tonya
  • Saoirse Ronan – Lady Bird
  • Meryl Streep – The Post

Best actor

  • Winner: Gary Oldman – Darkest Hour
  • Timothee Chalamet – Call Me By Your Name
  • Daniel Day-Lewis – Phantom Thread
  • Daniel Kaluuya – Get Out
  • Denzel Washington – Roman J Israel, Esq

Best supporting actress

  • Winner: Allison Janney – I, Tonya
  • Mary J Blige – Mudbound
  • Lesley Manville – Phantom Thread
  • Laurie Metcalf – Lady Bird
  • Octavia Spencer – The Shape of Water

Best supporting actor

  • Winner: Sam Rockwell – Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri
  • Willem Dafoe – The Florida Project
  • Woody Harrelson – Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri
  • Richard Jenkins – The Shape of Water
  • Christopher Plummer – All the Money in the World

Best director

  • Winner: The Shape of Water – Guillermo Del Toro
  • Dunkirk – Christopher Nolan
  • Get Out – Jordan Peele
  • Lady Bird – Greta Gerwig
  • Phantom Thread – Paul Thomas Anderson

Oscars 2018: The Shape of Water Wins Four Awards, Including Best Picture

Best adapted screenplay

  • Winner: Call Me By Your Name – screenplay by James Ivory
  • The Disaster Artist – screenplay by Scott Neustadter & Michael H Weber
  • Logan – screenplay by Scott Frank & James Mangold and Michael Green; story by James Mangold
  • Molly’s Game – written for the screen by Aaron Sorkin
  • Mudbound – screenplay by Virgil Williams and Dee Rees

Best original screenplay

  • Winner: Get Out – written by Jordan Peele
  • The Big Sick – written by Emily V Gordon & Kumail Nanjiani
  • Lady Bird – written by Greta Gerwig
  • The Shape of Water – screenplay by Guillermo del Toro & Vanessa Taylor; story by Guillermo del Toro
  • Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri – written by Martin McDonagh

Best foreign language film

  • Winner: A Fantastic Woman (Chile)
  • The Insult (Lebanon)
  • Loveless (Russia)
  • On Body and Soul (Hungary)
  • The Square (Sweden)

Best original song

  • Winner: Remember MeCoco (Kristen Anderson-Lopez and Robert Lopez)
  • Mighty RiverMudbound (Mary J Blige, Raphael Saadiq & Taura Stinson)
  • The Mystery of LoveCall Me By Your Name (Sufjan Stevens)
  • Stand Up for SomethingMarshall (Common & Diane Warren)
  • This Is MeThe Greatest Showman (Benji Pasek & Justin Paul)

Best original score

  • Winner: The Shape of Water – Alexandre Desplat
  • Dunkirk – Hans Zimmer
  • Phantom Thread – Jonny Greenwood
  • Star Wars: The Last Jedi – John Williams
  • Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri – Carter Burwell

Best animated feature

  • Winner: Coco
  • The Boss Baby
  • The Breadwinner
  • Ferdinand
  • Loving Vincent

Best documentary feature

  • Winner: Icarus
  • Abacus
  • Faces Places
  • Last Men in Aleppo
  • Strong Island

Best cinematography

  • Winner: Blade Runner 2049 – Roger Deakins
  • Darkest Hour – Bruno Delbonnel
  • Dunkirk – Hoyte van Hoytema
  • Mudbound – Rachel Morrison
  • The Shape of Water – Dan Laustsen

Best costume design

  • Winner: Phantom Thread – Mark Bridges
  • Beauty and the Beast – Jacqueline Durran
  • Darkest Hour – Jacqueline Durran
  • The Shape of Water – Luis Sequeira
  • Victoria and Abdul – Consolata Boyle

Best make-up and hairstyling

  • Winner: Darkest Hour – Kazuhiro Tsuji, David Malinowski & Lucy Sibbick
  • Victoria and Abdul – Daniel Phillips & Lou Sheppard
  • Wonder – Arjen Tuiten

Best production design

  • Winner: The Shape of Water – production design by Paul Denham Austerberry; set decoration by Shane Vieau and Jeff Melvin
  • Beauty and the Beast – production design by Sarah Greenwood; set decoration by Katie Spencer
  • Blade Runner 2049 – production design by Dennis Gassner; set decoration by Alessandra Querzola
  • Darkest Hour – production design by Sarah Greenwood; set decoration by Katie Spencer
  • Dunkirk – production design by Nathan Crowley; set decoration by Gary Fettis

Best visual effects

  • Winner: Blade Runner 2049 – John Nelson, Gerd Nefzer, Paul Lambert & Richard R Hoover
  • Guardian of the Galaxy Vol 2 – Christopher Townsend, Guy Williams, Jonathan Fawkner & Dan Sudick
  • Kong: Skull Island – Stephen Rosenbaum, Jeff White, Scott Benza & Mike Meinardus
  • Star Wars: The Last Jedi – Ben Morris, Mike Mulholland, Neal Scanlan & Chris Corbould
  • War for the Planet of the Apes – Joe Letteri, Daniel Barrett, Dan Lemmon & Joel Whist

Best film editing

  • Winner: Dunkirk – Lee Smith
  • Baby Driver – Paul Machliss & Jonathan Amos
  • I, Tonya – Tatiana S Riegel
  • The Shape of Water – Sidney Wolinsky
  • Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri – Jon Gregory

Best sound editing

  • Winner: Dunkirk – Richard King and Alex Gibson
  • Baby Driver – Julian Slater
  • Blade Runner 2049 – Mark Mangini and Theo Green
  • The Shape of Water – Nathan Robitaille and Nelson Ferreira
  • Star Wars: The Last Jedi – Matthew Wood and Ren Klyce

Best sound mixing

  • Winner: Dunkirk – Mark Weingarten, Gregg Landaker and Gary A Rizzo
  • Baby Driver – Julian Slater, Tim Cavagin and Mary H Ellis
  • Blade Runner 2049 – Ron Bartlett, Doug Hemphill and Mac Ruth
  • The Shape of Water – Christian Cooke, Brad Zoern and Glen Gauthier
  • Star Wars: The Last Jedi – David Parker, Michael Semanick, Ren Klyce and Stuart Wilson

Best animated short

  • Winner: Dear Basketball
  • Garden Party
  • Lou
  • Negative Space
  • Revolting Rhymes

Best live action short

  • Winner: The Silent Child
  • DeKalb Elementary
  • The Eleven O’Clock
  • My Nephew Emmet
  • Watu Wote/All of Us

Best documentary short

  • Winner: Heaven Is a Traffic Jam on the 405
  • Edith + Eddie
  • Heroin(e)
  • Knife Skills
  • Traffic Stop

Oscars 2018: The Shape of Water Wins Four Awards, Including Best Picture

The Shape of Water was the biggest winner at this year’s Academy Awards ceremony in Los Angeles with four Oscars, including best picture.

Frances McDormand won best actress for Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri, and persuaded every female nominee to stand with her in a night full of statements about inclusion.

Gary Oldman was named best actor for playing Winston Churchill in World War Two epic Darkest Hour.

In her acceptance speech, Frances McDormand put her Oscar on the floor in front of her and addressed executives as the female nominees got to their feet.

Her request came amid a push for greater equality in film – especially in the wake of the Hollywood harassment scandal.

Frances McDormand finished her speech with the words: “I have two words to leave you with tonight – inclusion rider.”

She received a rousing reception for her best actress win, which came for playing a vengeance-seeking mother who is let down by the authorities after her daughter is raped and murdered.

It’s Frances McDormand’s second Oscar, 21 years after her first for Fargo.

The ceremony also marked the Me Too and Time’s Up campaigns with a segment presented by Ashley Judd, Salma Hayek and Annabella Sciorra, who have all accused Harvey Weinstein of harassment or assault.

Oscars 2018 Nominations: Full List

Host Jimmy Kimmel addressed the issue head-on in his opening monologue, saying the downfall of Harvey Weinstein, and the reforms that had begun since, had not come soon enough.

He said: “What happened with Harvey and what’s happening all over was long overdue.

“We can’t let bad behavior slide any more. The world is watching us.”

Accepting his first ever Oscar, Gary Oldman mentioned his 98-year-old mother, among other people, telling her: “Thank you for your love and support. Put the kettle on. I’m bringing Oscar home.”

Guillermo del Toro won best director for The Shape of Water, which stars Sally Hawkins as a mute cleaning lady who has a relationship with a mysterious river-dwelling creature. It led the Oscar race with 13 nominations.

Warren Beatty and Faye Dunaway, who announced the wrong best picture winner in 2017, returned to present the same award this time.

Get Out won best original screenplay for its writer-director Jordan Peele.

Jordan Peele is the first black winner of the award and hailed a “renaissance” moment in Hollywood.

Christopher Nolan’s Dunkirk won three awards in the technical categories.

Lady Bird and The Post were among the films that were left empty-handed.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-86vgvZGMs4

Davide Astori Death: Italian Soccer Star and Fiorentina Captain Dies Aged 31

Italian soccer star and Fiorentina captain Davide Astori has died at the age of 31.

Davide Astori died following a “sudden illness”, Fiorentina confirmed on their official Twitter feed.

The club said in its statement: “Fiorentina are profoundly shocked to have to announce the death of captain Davide Astori after a sudden illness.

“Given this terrible and delicate situation we appeal to everyone’s sensitivity at this time, above all out of respect for his family.”

The soccer team was scheduled to play Udinese in Serie A on March 4 but the game and all other Serie A fixtures were called off.

Image source Wikimedia

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Davide Astori, capped 14 times by Italy, joined the club in 2016 from Cagliari and had made 58 appearances for them.

Cagliari postponed their game against Genoa on March 4.

Davide Astori, who leaves a wife and two-year-old daughter, came through the youth system at AC Milan before joining Cagliari in 2008.

The defender spent eight years at the club and had loan spells at Roma and Fiorentina before moving permanently to the latter two years ago.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g0DJFonnEZQ

Oscars 2018 Nominations: Full List

The full list of nominees for the 90th Academy Awards.

Best picture

  • Call Me By Your Name
  • Darkest Hour
  • Dunkirk
  • Get Out
  • Lady Bird
  • Phantom Thread
  • The Post
  • The Shape of Water
  • Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri

Best actress

  • Sally Hawkins – The Shape of Water
  • Frances McDormand – Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri
  • Margot Robbie – I, Tonya
  • Saoirse Ronan – Lady Bird
  • Meryl Streep – The Post

Best actor

  • Timothee Chalamet – Call Me By Your Name
  • Daniel Day-Lewis – Phantom Thread
  • Daniel Kaluuya – Get Out
  • Gary Oldman – Darkest Hour
  • Denzel Washington – Roman J Israel, Esq

Best supporting actress

  • Mary J Blige – Mudbound
  • Allison Janney – I, Tonya
  • Lesley Manville – Phantom Thread
  • Laurie Metcalf – Lady Bird
  • Octavia Spencer – The Shape of Water

Best supporting actor

  • Willem Dafoe – The Florida Project
  • Woody Harrelson – Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri
  • Richard Jenkins – The Shape of Water
  • Christopher Plummer – All the Money in the World
  • Sam Rockwell – Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri

Best director

  • Dunkirk – Christopher Nolan
  • Get Out – Jordan Peele
  • Lady Bird – Greta Gerwig
  • Phantom Thread – Paul Thomas Anderson
  • The Shape of Water – Guillermo Del Toro

#MeToo: Casey Affleck Pulls Out of Oscars Following Harassment Allegations

Best adapted screenplay

  • Call Me By Your Name – screenplay by James Ivory
  • The Disaster Artist – screenplay by Scott Neustadter & Michael H Weber
  • Logan – screenplay by Scott Frank & James Mangold and Michael Green; story by James Mangold
  • Molly’s Game – written for the screen by Aaron Sorkin
  • Mudbound – screenplay by Virgil Williams and Dee Rees

Best original screenplay

  • The Big Sick – written by Emily V Gordon & Kumail Nanjiani
  • Get Out – written by Jordan Peele
  • Lady Bird – written by Greta Gerwig
  • The Shape of Water – screenplay by Guillermo del Toro & Vanessa Taylor; story by Guillermo del Toro
  • Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri – written by Martin McDonagh

Best foreign language film

  • A Fantastic Woman (Chile)
  • The Insult (Lebanon)
  • Loveless (Russia)
  • On Body and Soul (Hungary)
  • The Square (Sweden)

Best original song

  • Mighty RiverMudbound (Mary J Blige, Raphael Saadiq & Taura Stinson)
  • The Mystery of LoveCall Me By Your Name (Sufjan Stevens)
  • Remember MeCoco (Kristen Anderson-Lopez and Robert Lopez)
  • Stand Up for SomethingMarshall (Common & Diane Warren)
  • This Is MeThe Greatest Showman (Benji Pasek & Justin Paul)

Best original score

  • Dunkirk – Hans Zimmer
  • Phantom Thread – Jonny Greenwood
  • The Shape of Water – Alexandre Desplat
  • Star Wars: The Last Jedi – John Williams
  • Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri – Carter Burwell

Best animated feature

  • The Boss Baby
  • The Breadwinner
  • Coco
  • Ferdinand
  • Loving Vincent

Best documentary feature

  • Abacus
  • Faces Places
  • Icarus
  • Last Men in Aleppo
  • Strong Island

Best cinematography

  • Blade Runner 2049 – Roger Deakins
  • Darkest Hour – Bruno Delbonnel
  • Dunkirk – Hoyte van Hoytema
  • Mudbound – Rachel Morrison
  • The Shape of Water – Dan Laustsen

Best costume design

  • Beauty and the Beast – Jacqueline Durran
  • Darkest Hour – Jacqueline Durran
  • Phantom Thread – Mark Bridges
  • The Shape of Water – Luis Sequeira
  • Victoria and Abdul – Consolata Boyle

Best make-up and hairstyling

  • Darkest Hour – Kazuhiro Tsuji, David Malinowski & Lucy Sibbick
  • Victoria and Abdul – Daniel Phillips & Lou Sheppard
  • Wonder – Arjen Tuiten

Best production design

  • Beauty and the Beast – production design by Sarah Greenwood; set decoration by Katie Spencer
  • Blade Runner 2049 – production design by Dennis Gassner; set decoration by Alessandra Querzola
  • Darkest Hour – production design by Sarah Greenwood; set decoration by Katie Spencer
  • Dunkirk – production design by Nathan Crowley; set decoration by Gary Fettis
  • The Shape of Water – production design by Paul Denham Austerberry; set decoration by Shane Vieau and Jeff Melvin

Best visual effects

  • Blade Runner 2049 – John Nelson, Gerd Nefzer, Paul Lambert & Richard R Hoover
  • Guardian of the Galaxy Vol 2 – Christopher Townsend, Guy Williams, Jonathan Fawkner & Dan Sudick
  • Kong: Skull Island – Stephen Rosenbaum, Jeff White, Scott Benza & Mike Meinardus
  • Star Wars: The Last Jedi – Ben Morris, Mike Mulholland, Neal Scanlan & Chris Corbould
  • War for the Planet of the Apes – Joe Letteri, Daniel Barrett, Dan Lemmon & Joel Whist

Best film editing

  • Baby Driver – Paul Machliss & Jonathan Amos
  • Dunkirk – Lee Smith
  • I, Tonya – Tatiana S Riegel
  • The Shape of Water – Sidney Wolinsky
  • Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri – Jon Gregory

Best sound editing

  • Baby Driver – Julian Slater
  • Blade Runner 2049 – Mark Mangini and Theo Green
  • Dunkirk – Richard King and Alex Gibson
  • The Shape of Water – Nathan Robitaille and Nelson Ferreira
  • Star Wars: The Last Jedi – Matthew Wood and Ren Klyce

Best sound mixing

  • Baby Driver – Julian Slater, Tim Cavagin and Mary H Ellis
  • Blade Runner 2049 – Ron Bartlett, Doug Hemphill and Mac Ruth
  • Dunkirk – Mark Weingarten, Gregg Landaker and Gary A Rizzo
  • The Shape of Water – Christian Cooke, Brad Zoern and Glen Gauthier
  • Star Wars: The Last Jedi – David Parker, Michael Semanick, Ren Klyce and Stuart Wilson

Best animated short

  • Dear Basketball
  • Garden Party
  • Lou
  • Negative Space
  • Revolting Rhymes

Best live action short

  • DeKalb Elementary
  • The Eleven O’Clock
  • My Nephew Emmet
  • The Silent Child
  • Watu Wote/All of Us

Best documentary short

  • Edith + Eddie
  • Heaven Is a Traffic Jam on the 405
  • Heroin(e)
  • Knife Skills
  • Traffic Stop

Razzies 2018: Emoji Movie Given Four Golden Raspberry Titles, Including Worst Picture

The Emoji Movie has swept the board at Hollywood’s Razzie awards, which highlight the year’s worst films.

The animated film starring James Corden and Patrick Stewart was given four Golden Raspberry titles, including worst picture, director and screenplay.

In a statement, Razzies organizers branded The Emoji Movie a “talking poop opus”.

Tom Cruise was named worst actor for his performance in the reboot of The Mummy.

The Mummy was poorly reviewed by critics, who described it as “empty headed” and “one-note”.

Image source Wikipedia

Golden Globes 2018: Anti-Harassment Speeches Dominate Awards Ceremony

Mel Gibson was named the worst supporting actor for the comedy Daddy’s Home 2.

In 1990, Donald Trump won the title for his cameo in Ghosts Can’t Do It.

The worst actress award was given to Tyler Perry for his performance as an elderly woman in Boo 2: A Medea Halloween.

Tyler Perry was nominated for the same award last year.

Worst supporting actress was

Kim Basinger was named worst supporting actress for her performance in Fifty Shades Darker. The movie is the sequel to Fifty Shades of Grey which won four Razzies in 2016.

The Razzies ceremony is held in Los Angeles every year, the day before the Academy Awards.

Organizers lampoon the nominees, voted for by the public, in a series of comedy sketches and show tunes.

Ahead of the awards, organizers said 87 of the top-earning 100 films in 2017 were “sequels, remakes or rip-offs”.

Donald Trump Threatens to Apply A Retaliatory Tax on EU Cars

President Donald Trump has threatened to “apply a tax” on imports of cars from the European Union.

He said other countries had taken advantage of the US for years because of its “very stupid” trade deals.

The trade wrangle began on March 1 when President Trump vowed to impose hefty tariffs on steel and aluminum imports.

That brought a stiff response from trading partners and criticism from the IMF and WTO.

EU trade chiefs have reportedly been considering slapping 25% tariffs on around $3.5 billion of imports from the US, following President Trump’s proposal of a 25% tariff on imported steel and 10% on aluminum.

According to European Commission head Jean-Claude Juncker, they would target iconic US exports including Levi’s jeans, Harley-Davidson motorbikes and Bourbon whisky.

In a tweet on March 3, President said: “If the EU wants to further increase their already massive tariffs and barriers on US companies doing business there, we will simply apply a Tax on their Cars which freely pour into the US.

“They make it impossible for our cars (and more) to sell there. Big trade imbalance!”

Donald Trump Tax Plan Proposal: Sharp Reduction in Business Tax Rate

Donald Trump Threatens 35% Tax on US Companies that Move Jobs Overseas

Image source Flickr

A second tweet decried the “$800 Billion Dollar Yearly Trade Deficit because of our ‘very stupid’ trade deals and policies”.

The president added: “Our jobs and wealth are being given to other countries that have taken advantage of us for years. They laugh at what fools our leaders have been. No more!”

The US is the largest export market for EU cars – making up 25% of the €192 billion ($237 billion) worth of motor vehicles the bloc exported in 2016.

In the same year, China was second largest market with 16%.

Germany is responsible for just over half of the EU’s car exports, so new US tariffs would hurt the car industry there. However, German auto makers also build hundreds of thousands of cars in the US every year – providing many US jobs that German officials say President Trump overlooks.

A number of Republicans have questioned the wisdom of the tariff proposal and have been urging President Trump to reconsider.

Senator Orrin Hatch said: “I’m very surprised, he’s had very bad advice from somebody down there. The people who are going to have to pay these tariffs are going to be the American citizens.”

Senator Ben Sasse also said: “Kooky 18th Century protectionism will jack up prices on American families – and will prompt retaliation.”

The US Motor and Equipment Manufacturers Association have expressed deep concern, saying the benefits from the recent cuts in corporation tax “could all be for naught”.

However, Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross stood firmly behind the plans, saying the president was “fed up with the continued over-capacity, he’s fed up with the subsidization of exports to us”.

The new tariffs chime with President Trump’s “America First” policy and the narrative that the US is getting a raw deal in its trade relations with other countries.

On March 2, President Trump tweeted that the US was “losing billions of dollars” and would find a trade war “easy to win”.

He is using a clause in international trade rules which allows for tariffs for national security reasons.

President Trump had already announced tariffs on solar panels and washing machines in January.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Daqs4wzRPo0

Europe Freeze Death Toll Rises to More than 60

According to officials, the death toll from cold weather has risen to more than 60 across Europe, with at least 23 casualties in Poland alone amid sub-zero temperatures.

Meanwhile most transport and flights have been suspended in Ireland where thousands were left without power.

Several countries continued to face disruption caused by snow and ice.

The unusually cold spell brought by a Siberian weather system was being felt as far south as the Mediterranean.

The system has been given various nicknames – in the UK it is “the Beast from the East”, while the Dutch call it the “Siberian bear” and Swedes the “snow cannon”.

It met Storm Emma on March 1, causing blizzards and strong winds in parts of England, Wales and Ireland.

Army forces were called in to help the civilian workforce in both Britain and Ireland.

Some rail services operated by Eurostar between London, Paris and Brussels were suspended.

Image source Max Pixel

Europe Freeze: Cold Weather Kills at Least 20 Across Continent

Geneva airport was also temporarily shut, but has since reopened – warning that further delays and cancellations should be expected.

In parts of central Italy, ice forced the closure of several roads and railways.

On March 2, at least 4 people were killed in an avalanche near the ski resort of Entraunes in the French Alps.

In Ukraine, all schools and universities were told to close in an effort to save gas, after its Russian supplier refused to deliver more fuel.

Russian energy giant Gazprom said it was severing its contracts with Ukraine after a Stockholm court ruled against it in a long-running legal battle.

In Poland, most of the victims were rough sleepers.

The deaths are partially attributed to a combination of the severe cold and alcohol consumption by homeless people, who drink hoping to warm up.

The night time temperature has been -15C (5F) all week in Warsaw.

Over the past week, the cold weather has killed seven in Slovakia, six in the Czech Republic, five each in Lithuania and France (excluding the avalanche victims) and at least three in Spain, according to AFP.

Romania, Serbia, Italy and Slovenia have all counted two deaths each, while one person has died in Britain. The Netherlands, Sweden, and Norway each also recorded one weather-related death.

5 Ways To Make Funeral Costs Affordable

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Want to give your loved one a worthy funeral, but can’t afford it? For those that don’t leave behind a funeral fund or take out life insurance, the cost of funeral arrangement falls to those left behind. Funerals are expensive, often costing several thousands, however there are ways to bring down these costs. Here are just five ways to make a funeral more affordable.

Take out a funeral loan

One option of paying for funeral costs could be to take out a loan. There are 0% APR funeral loans out there, which can prevent you having to pay out interest. These loans may still require you to have a good credit score, so bear this in mind. Getting in debt over funeral costs isn’t ideal, but could help you to afford the funeral that your loved one deserves.

Collect quotes from multiple funeral directors

Funeral companies all charge different rates. Like any other business, some may offer competitive limited offer deals to draw in customers. It’s worth collecting quotes from multiple funeral companies to find the cheapest deal. You may even be able to negotiate with funeral directors and get a price match.

Shop for urns and caskets online

Sometimes it can be cheaper to buy caskets and urns separately online rather than buying them through a company. Not only could it be cheaper, you’ll also have more variety to choose from. It’s worth getting to grips with the terminology – people will pay a lot of money for gasketed caskets made of certain materials with fabric inner lining. Weigh up whether any of this is really necessary, especially if your loved one is having a cremation.

Know your legal rights

There are a lot of laws regarding funerals that are worth reading up on. For example, a body has to be disposed of, whether its buried or cremated or donated to science, but a funeral ceremony is not a legal requirement. There are lots of laws requiring what funeral homes can offer you. This is worth looking into if you feel like you’re being pushed into making a decision. On top of this, it’s worth taking into account the legal implications of someone’s death. You may be able to get legal help in claiming compensation if the death was the result of someone else’s wrongdoing (i.e. a car accident). There may also be money that you can access belonging to the deceased person that could be used for funeral costs. A probate solicitor may be able to help you with all of this.

Get other people to chip in

If you can’t afford the funeral costs single-handedly, consider asking the other people around you to make a small contribution. In most cases, people will be more than willing to chip in. This could help you to afford a funeral without having to skimp or get into debt.

4 Innovative Battery Trends for 2018 and Beyond

As smartphones become smarter, advanced wearables track our health better than ever and our computers morph from laptops to tablets and back, these innovative tech devices still share one thing in common: a reliance on often ho-hum power sources.

Fortunately, it appears that we are in the midst of a battery revolution that will allow our state-of-the-art tech devices to work better than ever, and for longer times. Here are four battery trends that may change the way we power up, both now and in the future.

Available now: mobile platforms with faster charging times

Thanks to advances in mobile platforms, devices can now charge up faster than ever. For example, the Qualcomm Snapdragon mobile platforms feature some of the fastest processors to date that are designed to offer both fast charging and long battery life. In addition, the Snapdragon mobile platform offers high performance, while being gentle on power consumption. When the battery finally starts to run low, Qualcomm Quick Charge 4+ Technology will boost the device back to 50 percent power in as little as 15 minutes.

battery-charge

Coming soon? Gold nanowire batteries that live forever

An exciting battery trend to keep an eye on are gold nanowire batteries that can withstand lots of charging. Nanowires, which are a thousand times thinner than a human hair, have typically broken down when being recharged. But thanks to a new discovery that uses gold nanowires in a gel electrolyte, this issue seems to be a thing of the past. Gold nanowire batteries were tested and recharged over 200,000 times in three months and showed zero signs of breaking down. Thanks to this emerging technology, we may someday soon have batteries that will charge an infinite number of times, preventing our need to eventually replace them.

Available now: using the power of the sun to power batteries

Solar energy gets a lot of attention for its ability to heat and cool buildings, but it can also be an effective way to power small devices in our homes, offices and retail locations. In a scientific nutshell, photons, which are the sub-atomic particles in light, are strong enough to push electrons from their orbits. As the electrons are displaced, they create a positive and a side to something called a photovoltaic cell, which creates electricity. Up until now, photovoltaic cells have been large and inefficient, but now they are smaller, lighter and much more efficient. As a result, we can now use solar power to use even weak sources of light to power a variety of products and devices. For example, Logitech has launched a line of solar-powered PC accessories, like a Wireless Solar Keyboard and Marathon Mouse combo for just over $100. The keyboard can run on regular lights found in most homes or offices, and the battery lasts for around three years.

Coming soon? A solid state lithium-ion car battery

Scientists from Toyota have tested a solid state battery that uses sulfide superionic conductors. What they discovered is a solid state battery that operates at “super capacitor levels” and will completely charge or discharge in seven minutes. In other words, this type of battery will be ideal for cars, and it will also be safer and more stable than current batteries.

It is good to know that as our reliance on different types of tech devices grows, researchers are hard at work discovering new types of batteries that will keep up with our power needs. From quick-charging mobile platforms and solar-powered batteries that are available now, to immortal batteries and safer and quick-charging batteries for vehicles that are on the horizon, the topic of battery trends is a fascinating one to watch.

Sridevi Funeral: Bollywood Star Cremated in Mumbai

Sridevi has been cremated in Mumbai as thousands of fans gathered to pay their last respects.

Earlier, crowds clutching roses queued outside the Celebration Sports Club in the city to bid farewell to the Bollywood star.

A specially decorated truck carrying Sridevi’s body took hours to travel the 4 miles to the cemetery.

Sridevi Kapoor, 54, was cremated with full state honors. The actress died on February 24 in Dubai, where she was attending a family wedding.

According to police, her death had been “due to accidental drowning following loss of consciousness”. Sridevi was found in her hotel bathtub.

It had earlier been reported the actress died of cardiac arrest. The full post-mortem report has not yet been released.

Known simply as Sridevi, she was considered one of the very few Indian female superstars capable of huge box-office success without the support of a male hero. Sridevi appeared in nearly 300 films over five decades.

Image source Wikimedia

Sridevi Kapoor Dies of Accidental Bathtub Drowning

Whitney Houston possible cause of death: drowning in the bathtub, as prescription drugs were present in her hotel room

Large numbers of police were deployed outside Sridevi’s house, on the procession route and outside the Vile Parle Seva Samaj crematorium where the body was taken.

Her life on screen began at the age of four. Sridevi started her career in the south Indian film industry, acting in movies in all four major languages of the region.

Sridevi was cast in her first adult role at the age of 13 – that of a woman avenging her lover’s death.

By 1978, she graduated to an extraordinary career in Bollywood, where although she knew neither the language nor the culture of the Hindi film industry, she became one of its biggest stars.

Sridevi starred in classics such as Mr. India, Chandni, ChaalBaaz and Sadma, becoming one of the only actresses to build a successful career in both south Indian and Bollywood films.

She was rumored to be the highest paid in her field and her star power and charisma persisted for years to come.

Sridevi decided to take a break from the film industry after her marriage to producer Boney Kapoor and the release of Judaai in 1997. She made a comeback in 2012, starring in English Vinglish.

In 2013, the government awarded Sridevi the Padma Shri – India’s fourth-highest civilian honor.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m_7X8bKP7g4

Hope Hicks Resigns as White House Communications Director

Hope Hicks has resigned as White House communications director.

The announcement came a day after Hope Hicks testified in front of the House Intelligence Committee, but White House sources said this was not the reason.

The 29-year-old former model is reported to have told colleagues she was leaving because she felt she had achieved all she could. Hope Hicks has worked for Donald Trump for years.

Hope Hicks is the fourth person to serve as President Trump’s communications chief.

On February 27, Hope Hicks gave a nine-hour testimony in front of the panel investigating alleged Russian meddling in the 2016 presidential election.

She is reported to have admitted to the panel that she had occasionally told what amounted to “white lies” for President Trump, but she denied lying about anything relevant to the investigation.

White House spokeswoman Sarah Sanders – who described Hope Hicks as “in a league of her own” – said it remained unclear when she would leave the administration.

Image source Wikimedia

Hope Hicks Reportedly Admits Telling White Lies for President Trump

Hope Hicks Replaces Anthony Scaramucci as White House Communications Director

Hope Hicks’ departure will come as a major blow to President Trump, who said he would miss having her by his side. A former press secretary, Hope Hicks rose through the ranks to occupy the desk closest to the Oval Office.

She kept a low public profile but recently found herself part of a scandal when newspapers exposed that she was in a relationship with White House staff secretary Rob Porter, who had been accused of domestic violence against past partners.

When news of the allegations against Rob Porter broke last month, it was Hope Hicks who helped draft an initial White House statement defending him.

President Trump was reportedly not consulted and was unimpressed with Hope Hicks’ handling of the controversy.

Hope Hicks became head of the White House communications team in August 2017, after the abrupt firing of Anthony Scaramucci.

In a statement, President Trump said: “Hope is outstanding and has done great work for the last three years. She is as smart and thoughtful as they come, a truly great person.

“I will miss having her by my side but when she approached me about pursuing other opportunities, I totally understood. I am sure we will work together again in the future.”

Anthony Scaramucci, speaking on Fox News, said: “She’s one of the least malicious people I’ve ever met in my life. She’s dedicated, she’s charming, she’s thoughtful, at the end of the day she’s going to have an unbelievable career.”

Hope Hicks’ departure comes just after Jared Kushner, President Trump’s son-in-law and senior adviser, had his White House security clearance downgraded.

Hope Hicks Reportedly Admits Telling White Lies for President Trump

In a testimony to the House Intelligence Committee, White House communications director Hope Hicks has reportedly admitted telling what amounted to white lies for President Donald Trump.

However, she denied lying about anything relevant to the Russia investigation.

Republican and Democratic lawmakers said Hope Hicks deflected some questions in the nine-hour hearing.

The 29-year-old former model has been by Donald Trump’s side for years.

Hope Hicks is seen as a key witness in the ongoing inquiry into alleged Russian meddling in the 2016 election.

Adam Schiff, the top Democrat on the committee, said afterwards that Hope Hicks answered questions about her role in Donald Trump’s campaign.

According to the California Democrat, Hope Hicks also discussed matters relating to the transition period between the election and the inauguration.

However, Adam Schiff said she would not answer any questions about events since Donald Trump became president.

Image source Wikimedia

Hope Hicks Replaces Anthony Scaramucci as White House Communications Director

Hope Hicks reportedly refused to answer questions about a 2016 meeting between members of the Trump campaign and a Russian lawyer at the Trump Tower.

When reports of the meeting first emerged, President Trump’s eldest son, Donald Trump Jr., released a statement saying the meeting was held to discuss Russian adoptions.

However, in a later statement, Donald Trump Jr. said the meeting had been held after members of the campaign were offered damaging information about Hillary Clinton from the Russian government.

Hope Hicks was with the president on Air Force One while they were penning the initial statement, which the White House has acknowledged Donald Trump had a role in drafting.

“All of our questions about what went into that statement went unanswered,” Adam Schiff told AP news agency.

“We got Bannoned,” said Democratic representative Dennis Heck as he emerged from the session.

Dennis Heck was referring to former White House chief strategist Steve Bannon, who declined to answer questions about anything other than the Trump campaign during his testimony earlier this month.

Hope Hicks has already testified to the Senate Intelligence Committee and met Robert Mueller, the Department of Justice special counsel.

Robert Mueller is investigating whether there was any collusion between the Trump campaign and Moscow, or obstruction of justice.

Money Issues And How To Solve Them

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Having money problems is quite similar to having a messy house; it’s tempting to sweep those crumbs under the rug and leave the problem for your future self to fix, but you know your house is still a mess. And, in much the same way, you know you still have money problems even if you sweep your mounting debt or unpaid rent under the rug. Facing your money issues before they multiply is the smart thing to do. If you break up the problems into manageable chunks then you can get them out of the way and never have to worry about them again (assuming that you’re more organized with your financial planning in the future). Let’s talk about some of the big money issues that people face and how to solve them.

Struggling to pay bills.

Obviously, you know that the way to fix your unpaid bills or other debts is to pay them off, but that’s easier said than done. Perhaps you just don’t have the funds in your bank account to make your debt repayment or cover last month’s rent, but that can be fixed if you learn how to manage your money more effectively. It all starts with a budget. You need to make a note of your monthly income and then start to calculate your monthly costs. Your goal, of course, is to spend less than you earn. Work out how much money you need to set aside for bills, debts, gas, groceries, and other necessities on a monthly basis.

You should find that cutting down luxury expenses will ensure you can cover the necessities, but let’s say that it’s still hard to pay your bills with your available funds. What do you do? You find a way to reduce your necessary expenses (without turning off the electricity completely, of course). For example, you could reduce the cost of your grocery shop by growing vegetables and fruit in your garden. You could directly reduce the cost of your energy bill by insulating your home so that it’s cheaper to keep it warm. You could even reduce the amount of money you spend on gas by cycling to work or your local town more often. Thinking outside the box when it comes to the way you spend your money could really help you to cover your monthly bills.

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A low salary.

For some people, a frugal lifestyle doesn’t help them to fully cover their costs of living. Your salary might just be too low to make ends meet. Still, there are options available to you. The job market might be letting you down at the moment, but you can take control of your own salary in the modern age. You could create a new stream of income for yourself by starting a profitable hobby online. People can make money selling all sorts of services these days. You could sell handmade jewelry or other quirky items on Etsy if you’ve always had a creative talent when it comes to crafting. Or you could start a blog if you’ve always been a bit of a wordsmith and make some money through advertising and sponsorship deals. Your spare time could be used to create some passive streams of income to help supplement your salary.

Of course, everybody’s circumstances are different. Perhaps your salary wasn’t always this low but you’ve been struggling to reach your earning potential as the result of a recent physical issue. Many people find themselves struggling to get the jobs they want because of they’re unable to do the physical work that they used to be able to do. However, if your issue is the result of a recent injury then you might want to consider the financial options on the table. You could be due compensation if you injured yourself on somebody’s property (without trespassing, of course), so you might want to look into slip & fall lawyers. If somebody else is responsible for your money issues because of their negligence then there’s always a legal course of action available to you. Whether you’re temporarily out of work or forced to take lower-paying jobs because of long-term physical damage, you should look into your options. Whatever your situation, there’s always a way to improve a low salary.

Everybody’s financial situation is different, but there’s always a way to fix your situation. It might require a little discipline, but you can make ends meet. Perhaps you could start taking out the cash you need every week and forcing yourself to use that rather than your credit card; it could help you to avoid non-essential expenses.

Monica Lewinsky Brands Bill Clinton Affair A Gross Abuse of Power

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Monica Lewinsky has said her relationship with former President Bill Clinton constituted a “gross abuse of power” on his part.

The former White House intern was 22 when she became romantically involved with the then president, who was 27 years her senior.

Monica Lewinsky has written an article for Vanity Fair magazine, reflecting on events after the #MeToo movement.

She also revealed that she was diagnosed with PTSD after the scandal.

The condition was caused by being “publicly outed and ostracized” as the affair unraveled in the press and courts, Monica Lewinsky says.

News of Monica Lewinsky and Bill Clinton’s relationship dominated the US news agenda in 1998 and 1999, after the president initially denied it before admitting to “inappropriate intimate physical contact” with the former White House intern.

House Republicans then started impeachment proceedings against President Clinton, arguing he had lied to federal investigators. That effort eventually failed, and Bill Clinton remained in power until 2001.

Image source Wikimedia

Monica Lewinsky is back as Vancouver TED 2015 speaker

Monica Lewinsky Vanity Fair article: “I deeply regret what happened between me and President Clinton”

Monica Lewinsky and Bill Clinton relationship: Hillary Clinton’s letters to Diane Blair

Monica Lewinsky, now 44, says she stands by her 2014 comments that their relationship was consensual, but muses about the “vast power differentials” that existed between the two.

She says she had “limited understanding of the consequences” at the time, and regrets the affair daily.

The former White House intern wrote: “The dictionary definition of “consent”? To give permission for something to happen.”

“And yet what did the ‘something’ mean in this instance, given the power dynamics, his position, and my age?…He was my boss. He was the most powerful man on the planet. He was 27 years my senior, with enough life experience to know better.”

In the Vanity Fair essay, Monica Lewinsky also discusses the growing movement of women publicly speaking out against harassment and assault.

What To Look For In A Payday Loan Lender

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There are hundreds of payday loan lenders available on the internet, but how can you truly know that you’re using a lender that’s reputable and reliable? When looking for payday loans direct lenders, there are a few factors which you will need to take into consideration, including whether they have the appropriate regulations and whether they state any extra costs clearly and concisely. If you’re in a financial emergency and urgently need a loan, but are unsure about which lender to choose, we’ve made the selection process a little easier for you.

Are They Regulated By The FCA?

Undeniably, one of the most important parts about choosing a payday loan lender is whether or not they’re regulated by the FCA. Before borrowing a single penny from a lender, you may want to check to see if they are authorised by the FCA. Usually, this information can be found in the footer of the lender’s website. The information you may consider include the FCA authorisation number and the company registration information. If you’re unable to find this information, it’s highly likely that the business is not as trustworthy as it should be.

The APR Rate That They Charge

Once you’ve discovered that your desired lender is regulated by the necessary statutory bodies, you may then proceed to investigate into their extra charges, with APR being the priority. APR stands for Annual Percentage Rate, yet confuses many people searching for a loan lender as it usually needs to be paid in monthly instalments. When searching for a lender’s APR, remember that the stated APR value isn’t the definite one that you’ll have to pay. Instead, you should only pay a fraction of the percentage, although this depends on several factors such as how much you intend on borrowing and how long you require the loan for. It’s worth noting that the very best lenders will tell you the exact amount that you’ll have to pay long before you’re expected to.

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Is Their Website Secure?

When dealing with an online payday loan lender, it can be difficult to discover how reliable they are when human contact is limited. Naturally, one of the most important things you should look out for in a payday loan lender is whether or not their website is secure, otherwise your personal and financial information may be put at risk. Luckily, you don’t have to be a technological expert to do this either, as simple things such as whether they have a ‘https’ URL as opposed to ‘http’ can determine whether or not they have a secure website. In addition to this, particularly on mobile, you may see a padlock symbol next to the site address, which can also be a sign that a website is secure. If a lender lacks security features, you may want to look elsewhere.

Do Your Research

Before being completely set on a single payday loan lender, you’ll want to compare the market as much as possible, looking out for all of the above criteria. More established businesses will often guarantee you stability, and often all potential hidden charges will be made clear to you before you decide to take out a payday loan. Furthermore, you should always conduct your research to find out whether the site is mentioned elsewhere online in reviews or testimonials, as this can provide you with advice from likeminded individuals who have used their services.

Is It Time For A Second Opinion?

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When we visit healthcare professionals, we reassure ourselves they know what’s best. We, quite literally, put our lives in their hands. And, in most cases, they keep us safe. But, it’s impossible to ignore that medical errors are now thought to be the third leading cause of death in the U.S. In fact, it’s believed that such errors lead to an average of 251,000 lives every year. That’s more than issues like strokes and Alzheimer’s. No wonder many of us experience doubts when seeking medical care.

As a result, more Americans are finding themselves with no choice but to turn to medical malpractice attorneys to get them back on their feet. Individuals who enter hospitals for small procedures find themselves worse off on release. This can lead to lost work, finances, and, in extreme cases, life.

As such, it’s easy to see why many of us wish to seek a second opinion when we receive a diagnosis. In truth, this is rarely necessary, and we often attempt to avoid reality this way. A severe diagnosis is never easy to hear. But, there are cases in which a second opinion could be precisely what you need. Here are a few signs that’s true for you.

You don’t feel your doctor listened to you

It’s fair to say that our healthcare professionals are busier now than ever. As such, appointment times are tight. Doctor’s often spend more time taking notes than actually interacting with patients. That’s nobody’s fault, but it can lead to problems such as misdiagnosis, or unnoted symptoms. And, that can be serious if left unchecked.

If you can’t shake the feeling that your doctor wasn’t listening to what you told them, it may be best to seek another opinion. The chances are that this second doctor will say the same as the first, and there’s nothing wrong with that. But, this second opinion can put your mind at ease. After all, even one missed symptom could lead to a false diagnosis. When seeking your second doctor, opt for surgeries which seem quieter. Here, a doctor will be in a position to give you a touch more attention during your appointment.

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No tests were offered

In some cases, a doctor will make an on-the-spot diagnosis, and suggest treatment. In many ways, this skill is essential in the medical profession. And, some issues don’t need tests to be clear. In some cases, though, doctors get things wrong. They’re only human, and they don’t know your body the way you do. If you feel confident something more sinister is going on, you might want to push for tests to be on the safe side. But, if a doctor is sure of their diagnosis, they could resist putting you forward. After all, tests cost money. If a doctor deems them unnecessary, it’s unlikely you’ll gain the closure you need.

That is, of course, unless you go and see someone else. Again, you may gain the same diagnosis. That in itself could put your mind at ease. Or, it may be the case that another doctor is more open to pursuing testing. In some cases, this is the only way to spot symptomless problems and could be the difference between life and death. So, if you can’t get rid of the niggling feeling things aren’t right, make sure you book an appointment elsewhere.

You don’t understand what you’ve been told

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In some cases, issues like these come down to nothing more than crossed wires. Doctors have a habit of speaking in technical terms that aren’t easy to understand. Many of us get into the habit of nodding along, then Googling what we can remember once we get home. But, that can lead to real issues if you go down a path your doctor didn’t mean you to. On top of which, you might misunderstand what your doctor wants from you going forward. Again, a break down here can lead to real issues.

But, it’s fair to say that some doctors are much better at getting their point across than others. If you don’t understand what one doctor has told you, don’t be afraid to head to another who may be able to explain it better. Many of us are too embarrassed to take this step, but don’t be. This is your body, and it’s crucial you know what’s happening to ensure recovery. And, if you don’t understand something the second time around, it’s likely you’ll feel more justified in asking for an explanation. By this point, after all, you’ll have a better idea of what questions to ask.

You aren’t happy with your treatment plan

In some cases, you may just not be happy with the treatment plan offered to you. Every doctor has a different way of operating. Some are hesitant to reach for heavy drugs, while others don’t think twice. If you don’t want to head straight for a chemical solution with side effects, a second opinion could help. You’ll be able to explain to them what you didn’t like about your previous doctor and work together to find something better. It may even be the case that you want to try some alternative medical solutions instead. Some doctors will shut down at the mention. Others are willing to assist you on a more natural journey in the right way.

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Whatever you don’t like about your current plan, don’t be afraid to see what someone else has to say. You can be sure that no two doctors will offer the same treatment plan, so it’s worth exploring here. It may be that other doctors can provide more gentle drugs which will work just as well. Either way, you won’t know until you try.

A final word

In truth, if you feel like you need a second opinion, it’s worth pursuing one. Even the same diagnosis from another professional can be enough to put your mind at ease. So, don’t hesitate to do what you think best when it comes to your health.