This Thanksgiving was bittersweet for those with Andy Ritchie on their minds. An affable standup with strong ties to several comedy scenes, Andy received an outpouring of support earlier this year when friends Brendon Walsh, Colton Dunn, and Nick Swardson set up a GoFundMe campaign on behalf of him and his fiancee, comic Ruby Collins. The page revealed – to many of Andy’s friends, for the first time – that he’d been undergoing treatments to combat a growing brain tumor. His story was widely shared, in part thanks to a recent, very public fundraising effort broadcast on Tosh.0 that contributed nearly $50k towards Andy’s medical expenses. Last week, Walsh posted several frank updates to Andy’s GoFundMe page, letting everyone know that, “[u]nfortunately all the money in the world can’t save our friend at this point.” Andy died last Thursday morning. An accomplished standup and improviser, Andy was a member of ComedySportz in Minneapolis before moving to Austin where, in 2009, he … [Read more...] about Remembering Andy Ritchie
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How to actually switch off and relax after work
We need to get better at separating our personal lives and work lives. But it’s easier said than done. Since the first lockdown in March 2020, working from home has been on the rise. While some people will have returned to the office, hustle culture and toxic productivity have allowed work to creep in and take over a lot of our personal lives. Research found that UK workers have increased their working week on average by 25%, partly because the usually daily commute has been replaced by extra hours sat in front of a laptop screen. With social media apps such as Linkedin and work emails on all our mobiles, it’s hard to create boundaries. It can be tempting to click on the notification when you are relaxing on your phone. 58% of employees have been using their personal devices for work since the start of the pandemic. You might think it’s OK because you weren’t ‘busy’ anyway, but if you start allowing your work life into the rest of your life, you will begin to … [Read more...] about How to actually switch off and relax after work
MACARTHUR: Is America’s Conscience Vanishing? | The Daily Wire
How can we begin to explain the terrible, outrageous, unrelenting violence we have witnessed over the past months? It seems the more shocking and horrific this behavior becomes, the more passive and indifferent the “social justice” response. At best, the social justice solution seems to want more “dialogue” without any real answers, and doesn’t ascribe feelings of guilt to genuine causes, just seeks to either assuage or indulge the feelings. This kind of response misses the most fundamental question: What kind of person is actually capable of this level of indeterminate, ongoing death and destruction? Where is the conscience of those so disinterested in truth and order that their impulses toward violence are so entirely unrestrained? What is missing in this generation that seems to have been built-in and sufficiently present in prior generations? Our society has intentionally, systematically deconstructed and removed all restraints to violence and destruction. And not just of … [Read more...] about MACARTHUR: Is America’s Conscience Vanishing? | The Daily Wire
I thought I was too streetwise to fall for an internet scam – then it happened to me
‘Miss Mirja, Dear, I’m downloading anti-virus programmes on your computer now. Will you pay by debit or credit card?’ ‘Sorry? Pay for what?’ I asked. ‘It’ll be £200,’ said ‘Eddie’. It was a Wednesday morning and it just dawned on me that I had been on the phone to the ‘Microsoft Help Desk’ for what must have been a good hour. The chap on the other end of the line – ‘Eddie’ – continued to talk to me with this soft voice that was beginning to bother me. I don’t know why my senses only kicked in then. Perhaps the prospect of parting with my money and card details was needed to finally shake me awake. I told ‘Eddie’ no and asked him to get out of my computer. I was almost apologetic – I dared not to be rude. I still can’t quite put my finger on how he managed to con me. Even now, weeks after it happened, I am bewildered as to why I fell for it. I still have no answer. I had never fallen for a scam before and I was absolutely convinced that I never would. The whole … [Read more...] about I thought I was too streetwise to fall for an internet scam – then it happened to me
Time to ditch Apple Pay? People who use mobile payments are more likely to OVERSPEND, study reveals
Whether it's Apple Pay or Google Pay, many of us now use our mobile phones for contactless payments while we're out and about. But a new study may make you reconsider using mobile payments. Researchers from the University of Puget Sound in Washington have revealed that people who use these payment methods are more likely to overspend. 'Overspending via mobile payment may be linked to the intangible nature of the transaction, coupled with its convenience, which allows the user to detach from the transaction,' the researchers, led by Sun Young Ahn, said. Researchers from the University of Puget Sound have revealed that people who use mobile payment methods like Apple Pay and Google Pay are more likely to overspend How Britain became a nation of smartphone shoppers Smartphone payment methods like Apple and Google Pay were used for more online purchases in Britain in 2020 than physical debit cards were, a recent report revealed. So-called 'mobile wallet' payments … [Read more...] about Time to ditch Apple Pay? People who use mobile payments are more likely to OVERSPEND, study reveals
Nine in ten consumers happy to buy second-hand due to concerns about environment
Nine in ten consumers are happy to shop second-hand – due to concerns about the cost of living and the environment, as well as a desire to own “unique” items. A poll of 2,000 adults found the stigma of buying used goods is now a thing of the past, with half more likely to purchase pre-owned items now compared to five years ago. Two-thirds are happy to buy used or refurbished mobile phones – which emerged as one of the most sought-after second-hand items available. Three in ten enjoy buying pre-loved clothing, while 35% seek out retro furniture, and 24% like sourcing old homeware goods. A number of factors are behind the popularity of used items – including wanting to be more sustainable (36%), and needing to cut costs (32%). Wanting to buy one-of-a-kind items (16%) is also a contributing factor – with around a quarter noting second-hand goods are “surprisingly good quality and good value”. The Virgin Media O2 study marks its “Do One Thing” campaign, inspiring adults to … [Read more...] about Nine in ten consumers happy to buy second-hand due to concerns about environment
Ukraine: Russian soldier sentenced to life in first war crimes trial — as it happened
US says 20 countries to offer more weapons to Ukraine UK says Russian losses likely rival those of USSR in Afghanistan Zelensky opens World Economic Forum calling for maximum sanctions on Russia Ukraine sentences Russian to life in prison in first war crimes trial Russian diplomat quits Geneva post, slams Sergey Lavrov and Ukraine war This live updates article is now closed. For our latest from May 24, click here. Zelenskyy says Ukrainians have no choice but to fight and win In his late-night speech, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy warned of difficult weeks of war ahead. According to Zelenskyy, the most difficult military situation is currently in Donbass. "Bakhmut, Popasna, Severodonetsk - in this direction the occupiers have concentrated the greatest activity so far. They organized a massacre there and are trying to destroy everything living there," he said. Zelenskyy said the Russians were trying to demonstrate that they would not give up the … [Read more...] about Ukraine: Russian soldier sentenced to life in first war crimes trial — as it happened
Ukrainians put on masks and try to trick artificial intelligence
We live in an era of biometric revolution, a technology that allows the verification of a person's identity through fingerprints or facial recognition. We encounter it when unlocking a phone, safely accessing company premises or a bank account. Skryť Remove ad Article continues after video advertisement Skryť Remove ad Article continues after video advertisement Since 2007 a Slovak company Innovatrics, founded by Ján Lunter Jr., has been involved in biometrics. On a global scale, the company is a strong player that has already verified the identity of more than a billion people. Facial biometrics has significantly expanded the commercial capabilities of the technology, as cameras are cheaper and therefore used by more employees than fingerprint scanners. When Innovatrics started, facial biometrics had a high error rate, but thanks to the development of neural networks and artificial intelligence, its reliability has … [Read more...] about Ukrainians put on masks and try to trick artificial intelligence
Gucci stores to accept cryptocurrencies in US
Published 6 May Share close Share page Copy link About sharing Italian luxury brand Gucci will start accepting payments in cryptocurrencies in some of its stores in America. Customers will be able to pay using a number of cryptocurrencies, including Bitcoin, Ethereum and Litecoin. The service will be rolled out later this month at some of its flagship outlets, including Rodeo Drive in Los Angeles and New York's Wooster Street. Gucci, owned by France's Kering, joins a growing number of companies that have started to accept virtual currencies. The firm said it will also take payments in Shiba Inu and Dogecoin - a so-called "meme" cryptocurrency that was originally created as a joke. Crypto regulation may drive growth in poorer areas NFT of Jack Dorsey's first tweet struggles to sell Some cryptocurrencies to be regulated in UK Customers paying in stores with … [Read more...] about Gucci stores to accept cryptocurrencies in US
Mum banned from seeing stillborn son and forced to collect him in a box to bury him
A mum was told to collect her son in a box after a heartbreaking stillbirth . Gina Jacobs had her world turned upside down after having a stillborn son back in February, 1969. She wasn’t even allowed to see her son before he was taken away, and when she asked to, she was told mum’s “got over it quicker” if they didn’t see their stillborn kids. The now 77-year-old from Greasby, Wirral, and her husband were told to collect the box that held their stillborn son and drop it off at a lodge near a local cemetery, The Liverpool Echo reported . As the heartbroken couple didn’t have a car, or much money, they were nearly forced to carry their dead son on the bus to get there. She had named her son Robert, but was forced to carry him out the hospital in a box ( Image: Liverpool Echo) She revealed one of her friends, who went through the same thing, had to do exactly that. Now, over 50 years later, she has finally found the resting place of her stillborn son. … [Read more...] about Mum banned from seeing stillborn son and forced to collect him in a box to bury him