INN turned to experts in the market to get a sense of what’s in store for investors looking to plug into the gaming industry in the new year.

Gaming and the esports industry — characterized by massive video game tournaments — saw unprecedented growth in 2019 as investors recognized opportunity.

Now, heading into 2020, the gaming sector is poised to further shift into a lucrative market as increased interest supports the growth of players in the space.

Here the Investing News Network (INN) turns to experts in the market to get a sense of what’s in store for investors looking to plug into the esports industry in the new year.

Why are Google and Apple are investing heavily in the gaming market? Read our FREE outlook report on the gaming market! Give me my free report!

Gaming outlook 2020: A closer look at the numbers

The esports industry is looking to capitalize on a successful 2019 moving into 2020 and beyond.

In its 2019 global games market report, gaming research firm Newzoo states that the international gaming market could be worth US$196 billion by 2022.

Mobile games in particular are projected to generate US$95.4 billion by 2022, driven primarily by smartphone activity. Cross-platform titles such as Mario Kart Tour on iOS and Android, a general increase in smartphone users and improvements to hardware and infrastructure are factors that will lead to the projected growth, according to the firm.

The console segment, on the other hand, is set to reach US$61.1 billion in 2022, Newzoo estimates, boosted by the upcoming generation of Xbox and PlayStation systems, created by Microsoft (NASDAQ:MSFT) and Sony (NYSE:SNE,TSE:6758), respectively.

PC gaming will be a bit slower in the coming years, according to the researchers, though it is gaining traction and could be valued at US$39.5 billion over the next two year period.

In a previous interview with INN, Erik Dekker, senior vice president and portfolio manager with Dekker Hewett Group at Canaccord Genuity, said, “Gaming is bigger than film box offices, bigger than television, bigger than digital music. I think it’s about a US$116 billion market at this time.”

Gaming outlook 2020: The growth of team organizations

In esports, organizations like Team Liquid and OG are big generators of cash for the industry. Team Liquid, which has teams in many of the top esports leagues, currently has a merchandise collaboration with Marvel, and OG just announced a Counter Strike: Global Offensive team following its big Dota 2 win.

Team support and attachment have been reflected in the sheer amount of interest in gaming tournaments, another important revenue stream for esport companies.

In August, the Dota 2 The International 9 tournament had the world’s largest prize pool in history at a whopping US$34.3 million in winnings, and OG took home the top prize.

But organizations are evolving to rely on more than just their athletes and tournaments — instead, they’re taking a holistic approach to branding and maintaining a public image.

Why are Google and Apple are investing heavily in the gaming market? Read our FREE outlook report on the gaming market! Give me my free report!

“It’s going to ultimately come down to teams that can create brand lifestyles, create great content programming and diversify the revenue streams to find more profitability,” Daniel Mitre, CEO of New Wave Esports (CSE:NWES), told INN via email.

Mitre said the impressive growth of the sector has already led heavy hitters in gaming to throw their hats into the ring. The executive explained that companies like Activision Blizzard (NASDAQ:ATVI) and Riot Games, a subsidiary of Chinese conglomerate Tencent (HKEX:0700), have carefully crafted plans attached to their esports franchises and leagues.

“None of this movement around big games, AAA publishers and developers is coming to a slow,” said Mitre. “In fact, it’s just going to start picking up further.”

This sentiment was shared by another expert in gaming who is optimistic about the market’s trajectory.

Haywood Securities investment banker Sean MacGillis said the skill of the gaming industry is in the flexibility of its revenue channels, which include everything from merchandise and ticket sales to advertising and sponsorship revenue.

“The ability to monetize games is an order of magnitude larger than the ability to monetize traditional forms of content,” MacGillis explained.

Gaming outlook 2020: Possible concerns in the new year

Some experts have noted possible pitfalls for the industry, despite its recent levels of success.

For Nick Mersch, associate portfolio manager at Purpose Investments, the biggest risks for the space could come with the hypothetical collapse of the Overwatch League, one of the biggest leagues in the sector. Mersch said a downturn for the league could turn off existing and prospective investors.

“A lot of traditional sports owners wrote huge checks into teams in this league, and if they get burned here it will be difficult to attract capital back to the space,” Mersch told INN.

According to a report from Variety, viewers for the Overwatch League Grand Finals grew by 16 percent in 2019, with the event reaching 1.12 million average viewers.

Mersch said he’s also keeping his eye on the overvaluation that has plagued esports, pointing to a recent Forbes list ranking “the most valuable companies in esports” that still seems to exaggerate the values of some organizations on it, according to the expert.

Why are Google and Apple are investing heavily in the gaming market? Read our FREE outlook report on the gaming market! Give me my free report!

Other concerns have larger political implications. The ongoing US-China trade war dampened the growth of the sector, according to Trevor Doerksen, CEO of ePlay Digital (CSE:EPY), and could continue to do so into 2020, especially given China’s place as one of the world’s largest hubs for gaming.

In 2019, it was projected that US$36.5 billion was spent on gaming in China, according to Newzoo.

“Geopolitical forces and the US-China trade war muted global collaboration and access to markets, and important data that would help better understand and grow esports in 2019,” said Doerksen.

The executive said there could be better access to content, games and data across both markets if the relationship between the two countries improves in 2020.

Gaming outlook 2020: Investor takeaway

Mersch said moving forward, the most important factor for gaming will be the work done by data firm Nielsen, owned by The Nielsen Company (NYSE:NLSN), in its esports division, which works to get accurate information on engagement and viewership data.

In his view, Nielsen’s work could help close the existing gap between how the industry is growing and how it’s monetizing that growth, Mersch told INN.

“To close this gap, Fortune 500 companies need actionable return of investment metrics in order to justify more (spending) in the space. Nielsen and other data analytic companies can provide this.”

In terms of the overall health within the sector, Mitre told INN that the increasing popularity of gaming and its viewership will help in building a strong foundation for an interesting investment market.

“We’ve always had this propensity to watch people play better than us, whether it’s standing at the arcade and watching someone play Street Fighter, or the emergence of a Twitch and YouTube influencer space watching other people play video games,” said Mitre.

Don’t forget to follow us @INN_Technology for real-time news updates!

Securities Disclosure: I, Danielle Edwards, hold no direct investment interest in any company mentioned in this article.

Editorial Disclosure: The Investing News Network does not guarantee the accuracy or thoroughness of the information reported in the interviews it conducts. The opinions expressed in these interviews do not reflect the opinions of the Investing News Network and do not constitute investment advice. All readers are encouraged to perform their own due diligence.

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More foldable smartphones and a new generation of games consoles are likely to be among the biggest new gadgets of 2020.

Here is a look at what to expect over the coming 12 months in the world of technology.

A 5G iPhone

While some manufacturers have been quick to introduce 5G smartphones even as the network coverage only begins to appear, Apple is yet to bring the connectivity to the iPhone.

Many believe this will change in 2020, with a 5G iPhone introduced alongside a number of other iPhone handsets.

It would be seen as a watershed moment for the technology by some - Apple's status as a brand means that innovation is not always considered mainstream until the Cupertino firm is involved.

By the time a 5G iPhone arrives - likely to be in September - 5G coverage should be far wider than it is currently - wide enough that Apple feels it is time to add the connectivity to its smartphone.

The new console wars

2020 looks likely to be one of the biggest and most important years in the video games industry for some time.

Not only is cloud streaming taking off, allowing console-standard gaming on mobile devices, but both Microsoft's Xbox and Sony's PlayStation will launch their next-generation consoles in time for next Christmas.

The Xbox Series X and PlayStation 5 have both been confirmed, complete with high-end specs which both say will make them the most powerful consoles either firm has ever made.

It will be a redrawing of the battle lines for the two biggest names in gaming, as they compete to set the standard for the next generation of video games.

More foldable phones

As 2019 draws to a close, only Samsung of the major smartphone makers has a foldable device on sale in the UK - expect that to drastically change in 2020.

Samsung itself has already hinted at new types of foldable phones which could be on the way, while Motorola's revamped, foldable Razr will also become available.

Huawei's Mate X has gone on sale in China, but could 2020 see it or another Huawei foldable make it to Europe?

A number of smaller firms are also likely to try and break the status quo too - some of which could choose to reveal themselves during the CES trade show in Las Vegas, early in the new year.

Microsoft's Surface Duo and Neo

Not quite fully-fledged foldables, but Microsoft's Surface Duo and Surface Neo will make their debut in 2020, attempting to be a new type of mobile device.

Both gadgets have two screens bound together by a hinge and can fold into a number of positions. Both are due to go on sale at the end of 2020.

The Duo is smartphone-sized, while the Neo is closer to that of a laptop or tablet - however, Microsoft is adamant neither should be considered as part of those categories.

In much the same way the tech giant's Surface helped create the "two-in-one" category of tablet combined with laptop, Microsoft hopes the Duo and Neo can change how people use their devices every day.


FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – The City of Fort Lauderdale provided a New Year's Day update on the sewage main issues plaguing residents over the past month.

Two crews were seen by Local 10 News crews on Wednesday, working on the latest spills.

According to officials, those crews were doing cleanup and remediation work on the latest damaged pipes, which have been patched up.

A total of six sewage main breaks have happened in Fort Lauderdale since the beginning of December.

Restoration and remediation work is expected to continue this month.

The gushing raw human waste flooded streets and properties, closing roads and contaminating waterways, like the Tarpon River and Himmarshee Canal.

Residents now left wondering about the about the long term effects on their health and the health of the area’s waterways.

Hector Park and Virginia Young Park have been closed due to the spills.

The City of Fort Lauderdale set up several websites so that residents can have access to the most updated information.

For updated information on sewage main repairs, click here.

For the latest traffic advisories and road closures, click here.

For any precautionary waterway advisories, click here.

SCOTT, La. (AP) — The improper disposal of fireworks led to a New Year's Day house fire in Scott, officials said.

First responders were called to a home shortly after midnight, Wednesday., KATC-TV reported. Fire and smoke were coming from the home's roof by the time firefighters arrived, they made their way into the attic and quickly extinguished the flames.

All six of the people who were in the home were able to escape safely. Two pets were among the unharmed escapees.

Firefighters said an investigation into the incident revealed that the fire was accidental. Apparently, a resident discarded used fireworks in an outside plastic trash bin that was placed next to the home. The fireworks were still smoldering when discarded and eventually, flames spread to one of the home's exterior walls before creeping into its attic.

The house sustained major damage to its attic and minor damage to a living area.


DETROIT, MI - DECEMBER 26: A young fan reacts after getting the sneakers of Blake Griffin #23 of the Detroit Pistons after a game against the Washington Wizards on December 26, 2019 at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit, Michigan. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by Brian Sevald/NBAE via Getty Images)

With the season heading in a direction that no one saw coming, when should Detroit Pistons fans accept what this team is?

It’s a rather arbitrary thing to even profess but if the Detroit Pistons are going to continue to lose games, at some point should the fans become content with that? With a franchise that for the last decade has had trouble looking ahead to the future and instead focusing all their time on the present, being forced into a rebuild may not be such a bad thing.

After all, it’s overdue. As it stands, the Pistons are currently sitting on a 12-22 record and have lost eight of their last ten games. With the Lakers and Clippers on the horizon within the next three games, in all likelihood that record is going to continue to drop.

With the way this season has gone Detroit has played a majority of these last few months with a heavily depleted roster. Injuries continue to pile up which has played a major role in the woes. The silver lining to this – if one can be found – is that it’s forced some of the Pistons younger players into elevated roles. Svi Mykhaililuk is a prime example, someone who was expected to see some time off of the bench, but was not expected to play 24 minutes per game like he has in his last six outings.

Bruce Brown has been bouncing back in forth between shooting guard and his new role as one of Detroit’s point guards. Doing this has opened up an interesting wrinkle in his versatility and play making ability. His defense is ever improving and even his three-point shot is slowly starting to fall with more consistency.

Prior to his injury even Luke Kennard was beginning to look noticeably more confident with the ball in his hands, and one can assume he’s been given the green light to shoot whenever he feels comfortable. His development is more or less on par with fan expectations, but the others may be slightly quicker than anticipated.

So at some point, evaluating the current field of talent in the league versus what product is currently in Detroit – is it really the worst thing in the world if this team is forced to take a direction that they aren’t comfortable taking? No, it isn’t. Although this upcoming draft class currently feels slightly underwhelming, it’s undoubtedly front loaded with some interesting prospects at the point guard position – something that Detroit would likely utilize with their first round pick.

It’s never going to necessarily be fun watching a team begin to tank, but when it’s inadvertently happening to begin with due to a lack of ability to compete – what’s the difference? If nothing else fans can find solace in the fact that they have a chance to secure a top draft pick. The current front office in Detroit has done a commendable job with their drafting in their short tenure.

At the end of the day regardless of how many injuries are currently effecting the Pistons, it feels as if the decision should be clear to mail it in this season and at the very least – try to re-tool for next season. Blake Griffin‘s window is beginning to close so that doesn’t leave much time to keep messing around.

Detroit needs a fresh start and whether or not they accept it willingly, it may arrive all the same.

Two people were killed and six others were wounded when unknown suspects opened fire on a popular restaurant on 7th Street.

An eyewitness has described his version of events that lead to the shooting of eight people in Melville, Johannesburg, in the early hours of Wednesday morning.

Two people were killed and six others were wounded when unknown suspects opened fire on a popular restaurant on 7th Street.

Two of the injured are in a critical condition in hospital.

Gauteng police are calling for anyone with further information on the drive-by shooting to come forward.

An eyewitness says a fight ensued before people were shot at randomly.

“It was not the first time that there was shooting randomly with a car that is unknown, unregistered, unmarked. It was just a fight, three coloured guys and one black guy. They fought and dispersed, went to Liquid Blue and the other clubs. The fight happened here. These guys came back here and shot randomly. They shot anyone and anybody that didn’t know a thing,” describes the eyewitness.

‘Negative impact on business’

A business owner in Melville, Johannesburg has expressed shock over the shooting incident. Walter Niemand owns a Bed and Breakfast with his wife, not far from where the shooting took place.

He says he fears that the incident will have a negative impact on their business and it may also affect international tourism.

“We are all affected and it’s not just us as business people but it’s also for Melville, Johannesburg and the country. At the moment, we have guests from Holland, obviously, it won’t make a good impression and they will tell their family and friends in Holland what they had experienced here,” explains Niemand.

‘Residents terrified’

Residents of Melville say crime in their area has gotten out of hand and they are terrified. Some residents describe how they are feeling following the shooting.

“Obviously we are shocked at what goes on around here. Melville is a really vibey area and it’s full of these beautiful and fun restaurants. Why do people want to come with aggression and just grab guns and shoot others? This is what happens in Melville, certain places operate as restaurants and they do not have entertainment licenses but they have loud music and DJs up to 3 in the morning. I never imagined there would be killings and injuries down the road from where I live,” residents say.

Watch related video below:


You’ve finally secured a new job, and now you want to start off on the right foot, making a positive impression on your new boss and colleagues.

You want to be careful not to make any career-ending mistakes, says recruitment specialist, Glassdoor.

So, what should you never do when starting a new job?

Here are 10 things to avoid:

1. Don’t show up late.

You learned this in first grade, when the teacher began keeping track of tardies: Being on time matters. Especially in a new job. In fact, showing up late on the first day (or even in the first few weeks) is guaranteed to make a negative impression.

To ensure you’ll be on time, test drive the route to your new job before you start so you’ll know how long it takes to get there. Factor in extra time if there’s traffic, construction, or other reasons to expect a delay.

2. Don’t dress unprofessionally.

Before starting your job, talk with the hiring manager or human resources professional to make sure you understand what constitutes acceptable attire for your new workplace.

There’s nothing more embarrassing than showing up in a getup that doesn’t fly with your supervisors — and making an unprofessional first impression.

3. Don’t blow off orientation.

Many companies require new employees to go through an orientation or training process before starting a new position. While it may be tempting to skip these sessions or treat them lightly, don’t do it.

Even if your training managers won’t be your direct supervisors, they are watching you. Avoid any behavior that could prompt a training manager to report your behavior back to your boss and team members.

4. Don’t expect hand-holding.

No matter where you’re working, there are certain processes, tools, and forms that make up the standard operating procedures of your company.

You may have been introduced to these through a very organized, systematic orientation, or you may feel like you’re expected to absorb them by osmosis.

If you were formally informed, “consider yourself fortunate,” writes Heather Huhman, Glassdoor career and workplace expert.

“If not, don’t feel shortchanged or frustrated. Instead, take initiative and master the basics on your own.”

5. Don’t ask co-workers to do your work.

It’s understandable that you may need help or guidance during your first few weeks at a new job, and asking co-workers for assistance or just to answer questions can be perfectly acceptable.

But there’s no quicker way to make enemies than to ask or expect your new co-workers to do your job for you.

Remember, you were hired because managers believed in your ability to get the job done. Ask for help if you need it, but believe in yourself and prove that you can do the work yourself.

6. Don’t take too many personal calls.

The time you spend at work is for, well, work. Your employer isn’t paying you to chat with your girlfriend or even your kids’ babysitter.

If friends or family members are prone to call you during working hours, remind them before you start your new job that you will now be working during certain hours and request that they avoid calling you during those hours.

Make a personal policy of limiting personal phone calls and texts to your lunch break, except for during emergencies.

7. Don’t ask for more money.

Most likely, you and your employer agreed to a certain salary during the hiring process. So don’t change your mind before you even show up at work. If you agreed to the salary offered, be satisfied with that.

Don’t expect more money (and don’t ask for more) until you’ve worked long enough to prove your value to the employer.

8. Don’t try to change things.

Of course you want to make a good impression as soon as you arrive at a new job, and show your new employer they made the right choice in hiring you.

However, be cautious of suggesting new policies or strategies during your first few weeks, as it may not be the best way to demonstrate you are a team player. Plus, it could prompt some of your new co-workers to think twice about you as the right person for the job.

At first, take time to really understand and learn your job, then over time, you can make suggestions and changes as situations arise, and as your input and expertise is called upon.

9. Don’t be dishonest.

In a new job, there will always be a learning curve, and effective supervisors understand that. Inevitably, you’ll be asked to do something or expected to know something that you don’t yet know or know how to do. Rather than saying you can complete the task on your own, be honest. “Don’t be afraid to say, ‘I don’t know,’” Huhman writes.

“Honesty is a huge differentiator. Simply look people in the eye and say unabashedly and with confidence, “I don’t know. Let me find out and get back to you. Then do it.”

10. Don’t be afraid to ask for help.

You may be so eager to start your new job that you don’t want to stop and ask questions. But by skipping even the most basic questions, you are setting yourself up for failure.

Rather than making a mistake that could cost the company time and money, ask questions about everything you need to know, from what your job responsibilities are to who can help you with Internet or phone problems, to how you get paid and much more.

By following these tips from Glassdoor, you’ll be on your way to keeping your job and impressing your boss and co-workers.

Read: Microsoft conducted a 4-day workweek experiment – here’s what happened

New Years-fresh starts, clean slates and new resolutions. Every first of January, people set New Year’s Resolutions in the hopes of improving themselves or their lives; but how best to make them stick?

The following are a few tips to help with keeping what we resolve to do-or not do in the new year, according to experts:

1. Set intentions. An intention is a guiding principle for how you want to be, live, show up in the world and is the starting point to every goal.

2. Ask yourself why the intention or goal you set matters to you-and if it is realistic. Expectations that are too high can cause you to be too overwhelmed to start or maintain your goals.

3. Talk to people about your resolutions. This creates a support system as well as can hold you accountable.

4. Make a list of plans. Big goals can seem daunting, break your plan up into little things you can do each day to help achieve your ultimate goal.

5. Take the first step. Don’t procrastinate. You don’t need to wait until everything is just right. Get started now and make adjustments as you go along.

6. Ditch deprivation. Try not to approach your New Year’s resolutions from a place of deprivation, restriction or punishment.

7. Try not to focus on the end result. When you commit to the process of the goal, rather than the result, it’s easier to make it an enjoyable experience.

8. Take breaks. A goal should not consume your every thought and life, after all, is meant to be lived.

9. Plan for success. Instead of thinking about failing and what could go wrong, think of succeeding; put those positive thoughts out to the world. Worrying about failure is pointless and destructive.

10. Reward yourself. Celebrate your achievements, no matter how small; you deserve it!


New 2020 is almost upon us and it’s going to be a landmark year for gaming. The PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X are coming, some long-awaited titles like The Last of Us Part II and Final Fantasy VII Remake will finally arrive, and cloud gaming and other new ways to play will continue to make inroads. 2020 is going to be a year of transition and upheaval for our hobby, which means it’s a great time for all good little gamers to turn over a new leaf. To make some New Year’s resolutions that will improve your own situation and the gaming scene as a whole.

Of course, sometimes it’s tough to come up with good resolutions, so I’m here to help! Here are a few 2020 gaming resolution suggestions to get your minds percolating…

The Financial Year in Tech 2019: Highs, Lows, and Future Trends

Slim Down Your Backlog in January and February

It’s time to put your pile of shame on a diet. 2020 will eventually see some big releases, with March and April being particularly crazy, but the first two months of the year? Those are unusually barren, so it’s time to finally finish up some of those games that have been lingering for weeks, months, or even years. Personally, I’m finally going to see the end of Red Dead Redemption 2. It, uh, all turns out great, right?

Truly Master at Least One Game

While that aforementioned March-April period will be out of control (get ready for Final Fantasy VII Remake, Cyberpunk 2077, Resident Evil 3, and Animal Crossing: New Horizons, and more within the span of weeks) but, overall, 2020 is a transition year. Things will probably be a bit slower than usual, particularly if you don’t pick up a PS4 or Xbox Series X (we’ll talk about that later). That means, instead of increasing your pile of shame, 2020 is a great year to really drill down and master something. Really become good at a fighting or action game or 100 percent that new RPG. It’s more satisfying to master one game than half-finish a half dozen, and your bank account will thank you.

Stop Fighting Steam and Epic’s Battles for Them

Thankfully, it already seems to be dying down a bit, but the Steam vs. Epic Games Store Wars were the most pointless thing we devoted our time to in 2019. These massively-profitable companies don’t need you fighting their battles for them. Downloading an extra launcher is not a huge imposition, and we’re finally starting to see some real, consumer-benefitting competition, with both Steam and Epic offering some great promotions this holiday season.

Arise: A Simple Story Review – A Good Life, A So-So Video Game

I’d say you should all give up your console and NVIDIA vs. AMD wars as well, but I’m trying to keep these resolutions at least somewhat realistic.

Stay Vigilant About Monetization

2019 was the year the loot box died (or least started writing up its Last Will and Testament) and it was regular players speaking up that forced the change. The big publishers certainly wouldn’t have given them up on their own. That said, do keep an eye out for new monetization schemes, because you know certain publishers are diligently working on their next big money-grubbing innovation.

Don’t Buy a PlayStation 5 or Xbox Series X at Launch

I won’t be sticking to this resolution myself, but if you don’t strictly need a next-gen console for your job like I do, wait a while to buy PS5 or Xbox Series X. Consoles are overpriced at launch and it takes a while before you know if a machine is going to be successful. Also, in most cases, the first great, truly next-gen games don’t come out until about a year into a console’s lifespan. Both the PS5 and XSX are probably going to be around for a while, so sit back, consider your options, and make an informed decision.

Do Buy a Switch if You Haven’t Already

But maybe you have some cash earmarked for a new console just burning a hole in your pocket? Well, if you haven’t already, go ahead and grab yourself a Switch. Yes, it’s not the most powerful machine on the market, but 2019 was the year Nintendo’s little system definitively proved it was more than just a gimmick. The Switch boasts a fantastic library featuring top-notch Nintendo exclusives, the best indies of the past five years, and a handful of surprisingly-solid triple-A ports. I’m a pretty platform-agnostic kind of guy, but this past year most of my gaming free time was spent on the Switch. You might be surprised to find the same thing happening to you.

Don’t Be Jerks to People Who Make the Games You Love

We’re all passionate about his hobby, but that passion can turn into anger when a game or series does something you don’t like. I totally get that, but that said, do keep in mind that games are made by real people, most of whom are just trying their best to make something that will entertain players, so don’t lash out at them. Most of the decisions you’re upset about were probably made by committee in fancy boardrooms, so reserve your anger for publishers, not the rank and file. Also, do try to support devs when stories of crunch or workplace toxicity come out. Happy devs make better games, so better workplace conditions benefit everyone.

Play More Games With Friends

I’ve always believed gaming is at its best when you’re playing with someone close to you on the same couch, or, failing that, a real friend over the Internet. Unfortunately, it’s all too easy to fall into the habit of just playing randoms online – to start thinking of the people you’re playing strictly as adversaries instead of friends. A lot of modern games, particularly battle royale stuff, really encourages that. I can guarantee you’ll feel a little better about the hobby, and have to absorb a lot less abuse from trolls, if you make the time to game with friends and family more often.

Try Something New…

As I’ve said, 2020 is a transition year, so why not branch out with something new? Give a genre you’ve never tried a spin, or give one you gave up on long ago another shot. Give that quirky indie a chance. A lot of 2019’s best games were off the regular beaten path, and the same will probably hold true for 2020.

…But Don’t Be Ashamed to Like What You Like

That said, while trying something new is worthwhile, don’t be afraid to wear your quirky gaming tastes on your sleeve. You don’t have to pretend to be into the next Call of Duty or Madden if you’d rather be playing weird Japanese visual novels. Or dense PC strategy games. Or candy-colored rhythm games. Or Pokemon Go. Or whatever! If you genuinely love CoD, that’s fine too. The gaming scene is more varied than ever, so you do you.

So, there you go, a few suggested New Year’s resolutions for 2020. Of course, nobody’s forcing you to take my advice! What gaming resolutions will you be making in the new year?

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (WWLP) – Ever notice your gym gets busier in January? Getting active is one of the top New Year’s resolutions that people make.

“It’s interesting to watch how many stick with it and are here in February and March. It’s fun to watch them come and go and try and encourage people to do it,” a gym member and Wilbraham resident, Sue Rigney said.

That’s because fitness, in many surveys we saw, was the number one resolution for people in the new year.

Unfortunately, many people end up abandoning the resolution only a few weeks in. According to U.S. News and World Report, the failure rate for resolutions is 80 percent.

“Some people set unrealistic expectations unfortunately sometimes. So it’s good to have a good set one,” Best Fitness front desk employee, Tyler Cote told 22News.

Google Trends shows that searches related to exercise peak around January 1st every year. That’s when gyms also typically see a spike in membership sign-ups.

The International Health, Racquet and Sportsclub Association says 12 percent of new gym memberships happen in January, the most out of any other month.

“I know we’re going to start seeing a lot of new people coming in because you know everyone has their fitness resolutions and once the new year comes everyone’s like let’s get on it. It’s the best time, new year new me,” Cote continued.

Gym staff recommends starting a small goal that you can track for your New Year’s fitness journey to avoid taking on too much, too fast.

“The first step is to come in the door,” Cote said.


It's only natural that many investors, especially those who are new to the game, prefer to buy shares in 'sexy' stocks with a good story, even if those businesses lose money. But as Warren Buffett has mused, 'If you've been playing poker for half an hour and you still don't know who the patsy is, you're the patsy.' When they buy such story stocks, investors are all too often the patsy.

So if you're like me, you might be more interested in profitable, growing companies, like H.B. Fuller (NYSE:FUL). While that doesn't make the shares worth buying at any price, you can't deny that successful capitalism requires profit, eventually. In comparison, loss making companies act like a sponge for capital - but unlike such a sponge they do not always produce something when squeezed.

View our latest analysis for H.B. Fuller

H.B. Fuller's Earnings Per Share Are Growing.

If you believe that markets are even vaguely efficient, then over the long term you'd expect a company's share price to follow its earnings per share (EPS). That means EPS growth is considered a real positive by most successful long-term investors. H.B. Fuller managed to grow EPS by 7.7% per year, over three years. That might not be particularly high growth, but it does show that per-share earnings are moving steadily in the right direction.

Careful consideration of revenue growth and earnings before interest and taxation (EBIT) margins can help inform a view on the sustainability of the recent profit growth. It seems H.B. Fuller is pretty stable, since revenue and EBIT margins are pretty flat year on year. That's not bad, but it doesn't point to ongoing future growth, either.

In the chart below, you can see how the company has grown earnings, and revenue, over time. To see the actual numbers, click on the chart.

NYSE:FUL Income Statement, December 31st 2019 More

Of course the knack is to find stocks that have their best days in the future, not in the past. You could base your opinion on past performance, of course, but you may also want to check this interactive graph of professional analyst EPS forecasts for H.B. Fuller.

Are H.B. Fuller Insiders Aligned With All Shareholders?

It makes me feel more secure owning shares in a company if insiders also own shares, thusly more closely aligning our interests. So it is good to see that H.B. Fuller insiders have a significant amount of capital invested in the stock. Indeed, they hold US$22m worth of its stock. That shows significant buy-in, and may indicate conviction in the business strategy. Even though that's only about 0.9% of the company, it's enough money to indicate alignment between the leaders of the business and ordinary shareholders.

Should You Add H.B. Fuller To Your Watchlist?

One positive for H.B. Fuller is that it is growing EPS. That's nice to see. Just as polish makes silverware pop, the high level of insider ownership enhances my enthusiasm for this growth. That combination appeals to me, for one. So yes, I do think the stock is worth keeping an eye on. Of course, identifying quality businesses is only half the battle; investors need to know whether the stock is undervalued. So you might want to consider this free discounted cashflow valuation of H.B. Fuller.

Although H.B. Fuller certainly looks good to me, I would like it more if insiders were buying up shares. If you like to see insider buying, too, then this free list of growing companies that insiders are buying, could be exactly what you're looking for.

Story continues

Today, we'll introduce the concept of the P/E ratio for those who are learning about investing. We'll look at Hotel Grand Central Limited's (SGX:H18) P/E ratio and reflect on what it tells us about the company's share price. Hotel Grand Central has a price to earnings ratio of 38.26, based on the last twelve months. That corresponds to an earnings yield of approximately 2.6%.

View our latest analysis for Hotel Grand Central

How Do I Calculate A Price To Earnings Ratio?

The formula for price to earnings is:

Price to Earnings Ratio = Price per Share ÷ Earnings per Share (EPS)

Or for Hotel Grand Central:

P/E of 38.26 = SGD1.30 ÷ SGD0.03 (Based on the year to September 2019.)

Is A High P/E Ratio Good?

A higher P/E ratio implies that investors pay a higher price for the earning power of the business. All else being equal, it's better to pay a low price -- but as Warren Buffett said, 'It's far better to buy a wonderful company at a fair price than a fair company at a wonderful price'.

Does Hotel Grand Central Have A Relatively High Or Low P/E For Its Industry?

We can get an indication of market expectations by looking at the P/E ratio. You can see in the image below that the average P/E (26.6) for companies in the hospitality industry is lower than Hotel Grand Central's P/E.

SGX:H18 Price Estimation Relative to Market, January 2nd 2020 More

Hotel Grand Central's P/E tells us that market participants think the company will perform better than its industry peers, going forward. Shareholders are clearly optimistic, but the future is always uncertain. So investors should always consider the P/E ratio alongside other factors, such as whether company directors have been buying shares.

How Growth Rates Impact P/E Ratios

If earnings fall then in the future the 'E' will be lower. That means unless the share price falls, the P/E will increase in a few years. So while a stock may look cheap based on past earnings, it could be expensive based on future earnings.

Hotel Grand Central shrunk earnings per share by 24% over the last year. And EPS is down 20% a year, over the last 3 years. This might lead to low expectations.

Remember: P/E Ratios Don't Consider The Balance Sheet

One drawback of using a P/E ratio is that it considers market capitalization, but not the balance sheet. Thus, the metric does not reflect cash or debt held by the company. In theory, a company can lower its future P/E ratio by using cash or debt to invest in growth.

Such spending might be good or bad, overall, but the key point here is that you need to look at debt to understand the P/E ratio in context.

Hotel Grand Central's Balance Sheet

Hotel Grand Central has net cash of S$147m. This is fairly high at 16% of its market capitalization. That might mean balance sheet strength is important to the business, but should also help push the P/E a bit higher than it would otherwise be.

The Verdict On Hotel Grand Central's P/E Ratio

Hotel Grand Central has a P/E of 38.3. That's higher than the average in its market, which is 13.5. Falling earnings per share is probably keeping traditional value investors away, but the healthy balance sheet means the company retains potential for future growth. If fails to eventuate, the current high P/E could prove to be temporary, as the share price falls.

Investors have an opportunity when market expectations about a stock are wrong. As value investor Benjamin Graham famously said, 'In the short run, the market is a voting machine but in the long run, it is a weighing machine. Although we don't have analyst forecasts you could get a better understanding of its growth by checking out this more detailed historical graph of earnings, revenue and cash flow.


No Patrick Beverley. No Lou Williams. No Terance Mann.

Yes, Derrick Walton Jr.

The 6-foot point guard from Michigan — via the Miami Heat, Chicago Bulls, Lithuanian club Zalgiris Kaunas and Germany’s Alba Berlin — finished 2019 by further ingratiating himself with Clippers’ fandom and his teammates alike.

Walton, 24, chalked up a career-high 10 points on 4-of-5 shooting to buoy the short-handed Clippers on Tuesday in a convincing 105-87 victory over the Sacramento Kings.

“Yessssir boyyy hooping,” tweeted Beverley, who missed the first of what’s expected to be a few games with a sprained right wrist.

Walton was, indeed, hooping: He curled comfortably around a Montrezl Harrell screen and sank a jumper; he buried a wide-open rainbow 3-pointer from the top of the arc; he buried another in a defender’s face; he recovered after being blocked by Bogdan Bogdanovic by popping up for another two points from the elbow — and looked exceedingly comfortable all the while.

“He’s just solid, he knows he can score, he knows he can shoot the ball,” coach Doc Rivers told reporters in Sacramento who asked about Walton, who once scored 41 points in a G League game for the Sioux Falls Skyforce.

“It’s like the league doesn’t know he can do that so they’re going to keep leaving him open. He’s not going to hesitate.”

Walton isn’t the flinching type. During his televised postgame interview with Fox Sports’ Kristina Pink, he answered a question about what he’s looking forward to in the new year — which tips off for the Clippers (24-11) on Thursday against the 12-22 Detroit Pistons (7:30 p.m., Fox Sports Prime Ticket) and former Clippers star Blake Griffin, who’s been nursing a sore knee.

“Just being a part of something special,” Walton told Pink in response to her question. “We’re preparing for something big. But you try to take it a day at a time…”

At that point, veteran forward Moe Harkless interrupted, draping a towel over Walton’s head and giving the guard an affectionate noogie — which did not derail Walton’s train of thought: “… and know we got an end goal and just try to build blocks to make sure, at the end of the day, we’re most prepared for what we’re trying to get accomplished.”

Before Walton was called up from Ontario to join the L.A. Clippers on Dec. 1, Walton was preparing for his current opportunity by stuffing stat sheets in the G League, with 13.4 points, 7.2 assists 6.4 rebounds and 1.4 steals in his five games with Agua Caliente.

Now, in 17 contests with L.A., he’s shooting an 55.6 percent from the field, 47.1 percent from 3-point range and is one of six regular Clippers with a positive — plus 1.2 — net plus-minus (the net point differential per 100 offensive and defensive possessions).

Just before this season began, Walton offered a hint of what he believed he could contribute.

“I feel like I’m always silently confident,” he said. “Everything about this situation is about fitting and opportunities.”

PISTONS AT CLIPPERSWhen: Thursday, 7:30 p.m.

Where: Staples Center, Los Angeles

TV: Fox Sports Prime Ticket

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — Paul George and Kawhi Leonard had far more success passing the ball in the first half than they did shooting it – and the Clippers still put up nearly 60 points.

That, as Leonard pointed out afterward, bodes well for a franchise in serious pursuit of its first NBA championship.

George had 21 points with season highs of 11 rebounds and nine assists to shake off a slow start, and short-handed Los Angeles thumped the Sacramento Kings 105-87 on Tuesday.

Leonard scored 14 of his 24 points in the third quarter to help the Clippers to their 14th consecutive win in Sacramento dating to 2013.

“That’s what championship teams are about,” said Leonard, who led Toronto to the title a year ago before signing with the Clippers in hopes of bringing a banner to Los Angeles.

“Going through playoff runs, the best players aren’t going to play great some nights. It might be somebody off the bench or somebody (else) starting that has a big game that propels us to win.”

Ivica Zubac added eight points and 13 rebounds and Maurice Harkless scored 12 points for the Clippers. Los Angeles also got a big lift from Larry Shamet and Derrick Walton Jr., who combined for 19 points.

That was pivotal on a night when George shot 6 of 25 and Leonard was 8 of 21.

“We just kind of hung in there,” Los Angeles coach Doc Rivers said. “We went zone a little bit and changed our look. I just like our defense.”

The Clippers played without Patrick Beverley and sixth man Lou Williams. Beverley is nursing a sprained right wrist he injured during Saturday night’s loss in Utah, while Williams missed the game because of personal reasons.

Richaun Holmes had 22 points and 10 rebounds for Sacramento. The Kings have lost eight straight.

“They pushed us around out there and they had their way,” Sacramento coach Luke Walton said. “We have to come together and we’ve got to be mentally stronger, physically stronger and fight our way out of it. That’s the only way to get out of this type of slump that we’re in, and we’ve done it before.”

Three days after a 13-point loss to Utah, Los Angeles took control in the first half despite both George and Leonard struggling offensively. The All-Stars missed 17 of their first 24 shots combined.

Both got going after the break.

Leonard made five of seven shots in the third quarter, and George – who missed eight of his first nine shots beyond the arc – made a 3 to open the fourth. George added another 3-pointer later that put the Clippers ahead 103-86.

“I had the mindset of just go and attack, be aggressive, be physical,” George said. “I got the spots I wanted to. I got to the shots I wanted to. But it’s just that stretch for me right now where the ball’s not going down.”

Even with Leonard and George struggling most of the first half, the Clippers still built a big lead on the slumping Kings late in the second quarter. Shamet’s 3-pointer gave Los Angeles a 57-40 halftime lead.

Leonard got going in the third and the Clippers went on a 9-2 run to extend their lead to 19. Montrezl Harrell tipped in an offensive rebound then made a pair of free throws that made it 85-66.

WIN, THEN LOSE, THEN WIN

The Clippers have alternated wins and losses over the past nine games. George said that’s indicative of a team with new players still trying to adjust. “We’ve probably got one game under our belt where everybody’s been healthy,” George said. “We’re still learning each other. Our winning streak’s going to come, sooner than later I believe.”

TIP-INS

Clippers: Beverley was injured Saturday against Utah. Although X-rays taken on his wrist were negative, Beverley is expected to miss a handful of games.

Kings: De’Aaron Fox had nine points and six assists after sitting out most of two games because of back spasms. … Sacramento’s losing streak is its longest since an eight-game stretch two seasons ago.

UP NEXT

Clippers: Return to Los Angeles to play Detroit on Thursday.

Kings: Host Memphis on Thursday. Sacramento has won two straight home games against the Grizzlies but was beaten 119-115 on Dec. 21 in Memphis.


Privacy-focussed messaging app Telegram has released a new update for the new year.

The update brought along a number of new features, including:

Theme Editor 2.0

Using the new theme editor in Chat Settings (or Appearance Settings on iOS), you can quickly tweak the style of elements in Telegram chats and add awesome gradients to both your messages and your background. Switch between tabs (Main Color, Background, My Messages) to see how deep this rabbit hole goes:

Once you’re done editing, you can quickly share the result of your work with friends so that they can continue tuning your theme.

Telegram bundled dozens of cool patterns to make it easy to get started and also a large number of predefined color schemes for Telegram’s default themes.

Send When Online

Telegram has also added schedule messages to be sent when your recipient comes online. The option is only available if you are allowed to see your recipient’s online status.

Improved Venue Sharing

Location sharing has been updated to make finding venues easier. You can now tap a place directly on the map to select it, rather than scrolling through a list of all the available venues.

View Search Results as a List

The Search function allows you to easily jump between messages containing a keyword – or sent by a particular person, or even from a certain day. Tapping the bottom bar will now switch to list view in case you want to see all the results on one page.

On iOS, you can now also select several messages without leaving Search Mode.

Podcast and Audiobook Support

You’ve always been able to share files of up to 1,5 GB, but podcasts and audiobooks now get special treatment. Telegram apps will remember your last position when resuming playback of audio files longer than 20 minutes.

If you’d like to make podcasts get to the point a little faster, try the new 2x button (which you already know from voice messages) that eliminates voice chipmunking in 96.8% of cases.

On iOS, you can skip forward and back with high-precision scrubbing: just hold on the progress bar and slide your finger down, then left or right.

New On Android

Switch to Night Mode Faster

Telegram has shielded your eyes in dark places with Night Mode since 2017. With the Night Mode Switch at the top of the menu you can tap the moon icon switch in and out of night mode faster.

Maps now also support Night Mode, so you don’t accidentally burn yourself while browsing locations late in the evening.

On iOS, dark maps turn on and off with the system dark mode. Speaking of which, we recently added the option to sync your Telegram theme with system dark mode on iOS 13. The app now also includes Sleek New Animations.

Select Parts of Messages

Following in the footsteps of the iOS app, Android now also lets you select a portion of the message text to copy or share, instead of only the full text.

Multi-sharing from Other Apps

Telegram has made it easier than ever to share content from other apps with your friends. You can now tap and hold to select multiple recipients – and even add a comment.

Mark Archive as Read

Clear up those extra unread message counters in your archive by tapping and holding the archive folder and marking them all read.

Other Android Goodies

You can choose video quality in a more intuitive way when sending videos.

Sending contacts now uses a simple, card-style interface that won’t take up your whole screen (unless you pull up to expand it).

When you’re done listening to a voice message with your phone up to your ear, Telegram automatically records a reply – but now you can disable that by turning off Raise to Speak in your Chat Settings.

There is an additional 31 other fixes and improvements in the Android app.

New on iOS

Text Size, All the Way

You’ve been able to adjust the size of message text on Telegram from the beginning, but now you can scale the font size throughout the app.

Choose Your Browser

External browsers are now supported for opening links – you can select your preferred app in Settings > Data and Storage > Other.

Share Sheet Settings

Your most popular Telegram chats were recently added to the iOS Share Sheet. In case you‘d like to control what can (or can’t ) appear there, you can use the new toggles under Settings > Data and Storage > Other > Share Sheet.

Switch Accounts Faster

You can use Telegram with multiple accounts, switching between up to 3 phone numbers without logging out. You can now swiftly switch accounts right from your home screen on iOS 13. Simply hold down on the app icon any time you need to change costumes.

Storage Usage At a Glance

The Storage Usage page has been redesigned to more quickly find the settings you‘re looking for. It also shows your device’s storage status, and how much space all those other pesky apps are using compared to Telegram.

Cache-Clearing Shortcuts

Selecting multiple messages in a group or channel gives you the option to clear the chat’s cache.

Check out Settings > Data and Storage > Storage Usage for more options.

Member Lists: The Shorter Scrolls

Long member lists will collapse, so you can get to the ‘Leave Group’ button without scrolling.

Alternatively, swiping on a group or channel from the chat list and selecting ‘Delete’ is even quicker.

Find the latest download links at Telegram here.

Via Neowin

tech2 News Staff

End to end encrypted messaging app Telegram has announced a whole bunch of new features that will be seen on the app soon.

These features were announced in a blog post last night. Being a security focused app, Telegram will now let developers who make open source apps to independently verify their code on GitHub and ensure that it is the same code that was used to build the app they downloaded from the App Store or Google Play Store.

The new features coming to Telegram have already started rolling out.

Here are the major features.

New Theme Editor 2.0

via GIPHY

You will need to head to Chat Settings (Android) or Appearance Settings (iOS) to tweak how your Telegram interface looks. From changing the background to changing the chat window gradients, you can tweak the look to your heart's content. You also have predefined colour themes, where you can further tweak some things.

Send When Online

via GIPHY

Telegram already had a feature to schedule your messages when the recipient came online, provided you are allowed by the recipient to see when they are online. Now you can also schedule Stickers along with messages, with or without sound.

View Search Results as a list

via GIPHY

You can use the universal search feature to search for a particular word or phrase in a Telegram chat. But earlier you had to click on the up/down arrow to toggle between search results. The latest update shows you a list of search results thereby reducing the number of clicks required to go to your desired result.

Podcast and Audiobook support

This is a boon for podcast addicts. If you have an audio file or a podcast longer than 20 mins, Telegram will be able to remember your last played position. There's also a 2x speed dial for podcasts.

Android updates

Switch to Night Mode quicker

via GIPHY

Telegram on Android has supported Night Mode since 2017, but activating that involved a lot of steps. Now with just a single tap, you can switch between regular and night mode. This applies to the Maps as well.

New ripple animations

via GIPHY

Select part of a message

via GIPHY

This feature has been there on iOS. Now the Android app will also let you select part of the message instead of the full text.

Multi-sharing from other apps

via GIPHY

Telegram on Android will now let you share stuff with your friends from multiple apps. You can send a photo from Instagram or a tweet from Twitter to multiple friends and will even get an option to add a comment accompanying it.

iOS updates

Choose your browser

External browser support has now been added for opening links. Head to Settings > Data and Storage > Other to select between in-app Safari, Safari, Chrome, Firefox, Opera Touch among others.

Share sheet settings

You can control what does or doesn't appear in your iOS Share Sheet (which generally adds your most popular Telegram chats). Head over to Settings >Data and Storage > Other > Share Sheet and toggle according to your preference.

Switch Accounts faster

Just long hold on the Telegram icon and it will show you the other Telegram accounts. You can switch between up to three phone numbers without logging out.

Storage usage at a glance

You can get a quick look at how Telegram is using your phone's storage now. You can see the Telegram Cache, Other apps and Free storage. There is a button to clear Telegram Cache with a single click as well. Head over to Settings > Data and Storage > Storage Usage for more options.

Find latest and upcoming tech gadgets online on Tech2 Gadgets. Get technology news, gadgets reviews & ratings. Popular gadgets including laptop, tablet and mobile specifications, features, prices, comparison.


Payton places

North Marion freshman finished fifth nationally in the Junior World Finals pole bending competitions held in Las Vegas

North Marion High School freshman Payton Johnson notched her name at a national level, placing fifth in the 17-and-under pole bending category at the Junior World Finals held in Las Vegas Dec. 9-14.

Johnson's three successive rides clocked 21.628, 21.522 and 20.475 for a 63.971 final. The first two qualified Johnson for the finale.

"The first two rounds are where everybody gets to go," Johnson said of the field of roughly 40 riders. "Then the top 10 in the average get to go in the short round."

Johnson stood at No. 6 going into the short round before improving with her final ride.

Cassidy Evans of Yuma, Colo., took the top spot at 60.383 (20.655, 19.775 and 19.953).

Johnson, who lives in the Broadacres area, said she was happy with her performance in Las Vegas, and she looks forward to more competitions in the future.

"I think for my first time, it was pretty good," she said

But perhaps the most enjoyable part of the adventure was meeting people from all over the country.

"I got to meet a lot of different people from all kinds of places," Johnson said. "There were some super-nice people from Mississippi, and pretty cool people from Texas. I met people from Pennsylvania and California. That was a lot of fun."

Johnson, who turns 15 this month, is a member of the Oregon High School Rodeo where she competes as an all-around cowgirl in barrel racing, pole bending, team roping, breakaway roping and goat tying. She qualified for the Junior World Finals earlier in the year at a national rodeo held in Red Bluff, Calif.

Junior World Finals

Pole Bending 17 and under results

1. Cassidy Evans, Yuma, Colorado, 60.383; 2. Mollie Compton, Cleveland, Oklahoma, 60.834; 3. Cashen Turner, Edmond, Oklahoma, 61.834; 4. Brianna Sharp, Brentwood, Calif., 63.020; 5. Payton Johnson, Aurora, Ore., 63.971; 6. Jill Hines, Snohomish, Wash., 64.063; 7. Mesa Allen, Thermopolis, Wyo., 65.560; 8. Madison Comozzi, Petaluma, Calif., 65.794; 9. Emma Hulse, Snohomish, Wash., 69.103; 10. Saige Smith, Touchet, Wash., 75.186.

You count on us to stay informed and we depend on you to fund our efforts. Quality local journalism takes time and money. Please support us to protect the future of community journalism.

How these brands think they look:

How they actually look:

This is why you don’t want a bunch of old men calling ALL the shots.

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More funny pics:


Michonne is back for the second half of season 10 (Picture: AMC)

The Walking Dead fans were left scratching their heads over whether they had seen Dania Gurira’s character Michonne bow out from the show for good, or whether her sword-wielding character could resurface in season 10.

But now all has been revealed because TV bosses have teased Michonne’s return in the second half of season 10 as she and Virgil (Kevin Carroll) search for weapons on an island naval base.

With these weapons, the survivors will be able to end their war against the Whisperers and their walker herd, although we still are none the wiser about how many more episodes Gurira will appear before her planned departure.

Speaking about her exit, Gurira began: ‘It was overwhelming.

‘I mean, I haven’t talked about it yet because we haven’t really said I was done yet, so it was kinda just talking about it for the first time now but it was really overwhelming the love. They got me because I thought I was going home,’ she told ComicBook.com.

But when will she leave? (Picture: AMC)

Kevin has hinted at a juicy storyline (Picture: Gene Page/AMC)

Speaking to TV Insider, Kevin hinted that Virgil might not be all he seems, leading to an exciting storyline.

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He explained: ‘I just want to tell [fans] that in this world of The Walking Dead, anything is possible.

‘At this point, I’m just excited for Virgil to get on the map, and start to mix it up in this world.

‘I am anxiously hoping that the fans can appreciate what this journey is about to be.

‘For people who love Michonne, this will be a rewarding piece of the journey for her. I think they’re going to have a good time with the twists and turns of this story.’

The actor also teased that ‘every facet of humanity is up for grabs because of everybody’s need to survive.’ So there’s a chance we could see Virgil turn…

But Kevin was keeping schtum on that, adding: ‘I’m going to leave it at that, and tell them to have a great time figuring it out.’

The Walking Dead season 10 will return to AMC on 23 February.

Got a showbiz story? If you've got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the Metro.co.uk entertainment team by emailing us celebtips@metro.co.uk, calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff page - we'd love to hear from you.

MORE: Rick Grimes might lose his hand in solo The Walking Dead movie trilogy in nod to scrapped comic storyline

MORE: The Walking Dead manages to get even bleaker with original cast photo ahead of season 10B

Kevin didn’t specify which character it would be (Picture: Marvel Comics)

Marvel boss Kevin Feige confirmed that the Marvel Cinematic Universe is getting their first transgender character.

After pleas for Marvel to include more LGBTQ+ characters in their franchise, Kevin appears to have delivered in The Eternals.

When asked at the New York Film Academy whether there were any plans to introduce more diverse characters, specifically transgender characters, the 46-year-old producer said: ‘Yes, absolutely yes.

‘Very soon, in a movie, we’re shooting right now, yes.’

Kevin never specified which movie the character will appear in, but The Eternals is currently the only project in the middle of filming.

The Eternals stars Angelina Jolie, Richard Madden, Kumail Nanjiani, and Salma Hayek.

According to Kevin, The Eternals will also be getting a gay character, who is ‘married, he’s got a family, and that is just part of who he is.’

Kevin revealed The Eternals also has a gay character (Picture: Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP, File)

On 7 December, a few lucky fans were treated to a first look at The Eternals, giving a glimpse at Angelina and Salma’s characters.

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Kevin hosted a panel at Comic-con in Sao Paolo where he unveiled a fresh look at Scarlett Johansson’s Black Widow after the official trailer dropped last week.

But it was The Eternals preview which had everyone talking as it’s been kept tightly under wraps since news of the movie broke earlier this year.

And while the first look footage still isn’t available for the wider public, a group of lucky Comic-Con attendees were able to watch a short clip.

According to Deadline, the video showed a blonde Angelina ‘kicking some major a*s’ during a huge fight scene and, frankly, we wouldn’t expect anything less.

The rest of the heroes are then shown in different parts of the world before the footage closes with Salma’s character Ajak stating: ‘This world has changed us. We must protect it.’

Got a showbiz story? If you've got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the Metro.co.uk entertainment team by emailing us celebtips@metro.co.uk, calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff page - we'd love to hear from you.

MORE: Who is in the cast of Marvel’s The Eternals with Angelina Jolie and when is the release date?

MORE: Marvel’s The Eternals’ Richard Madden and Angelina Jolie evacuated after unexploded bomb found on set


Slim down. Drop a few pounds. Make my scale happy. Reverse my clothes shrinkage.

However it's worded, weight loss is one of the most common New Year’s Resolutions. Not surprisingly, a lot of these resolutions fail: Unrealistic goals and trendy weight programs lead to frustration and burnout with a return to original behaviors (and the same resolution the next year). Instead, the focus when trying to lose weight should be creating permanent healthy habits through realistic weight loss goals fueled by minor tweaks to everyday routines. Not only is this strategy easier to stick to but it also adds up over time and helps prevent setbacks from derailing your end goal.

What is a reasonable goal and how do you set one? Simplified, weight loss occurs when you burn more energy (calories) through activity and normal body functions than you consume through eating. A healthy weight loss goal is between 0.5 to 2 pounds per week — this amounts to a calorie deficit of 1750 to 7000 calories per week or 250 to 1000 calories per day. This deficit can be achieved by either eating less (reduction of calories in), becoming more active (increase in calories out), or a combination of the two. To set a goal, first determine what you want the end result to be (lose 10 pounds), how you want to get there (diet and/or exercise), and what your weekly goal is based on how likely you are to stick to a new plan (be honest, if cutting 1000 calories per day is impossible for you, start smaller and work your way up).

To enact your new weight loss plan, focus on small changes to your daily habits to reach your daily goals. Try not to focus on your weight as it may fluctuate by 5 pounds per day based on what and when you eat and drink, if and when you exercised, and your stress levels and sleep quality. If you choose a daily weight check, do it at the same time every day, such as first thing in the morning. Adding an activity to your routine would help you quickly reach your daily deficit.

Work out or play a sport for 20 minutes.

Walk briskly or jog for 20-40 minutes.

Do some yardwork or chores for 40-60 minutes.

To burn 250 calories (these are estimates):

Or decrease your caloric intake by 250 calories by making some easy food choices:

Keep your caffeine fix by swapping a large frappe with a small cappuccino

Replace a large order of fries with a small order

Substitute an apple or baby carrots for a protein bar.

So what tools can you use to help keep you on track with your weight loss plan? Health and fitness apps and other wearables can be very helpful as they can track activities and calculate energy burned; other apps log your food intake and calculate the calories you have eaten. HealthMetric is an all-in-one health and fitness app that personalizes your weight loss journey. With HealthMetric’s weight loss program, you set your goal and select a strategy to meet your goal: diet, exercise, or a combination. The app provides daily feedback on your progress, shows how others with similar goals are doing, and predicts how you'll do tomorrow to keep you motivated. In addition, you can use voice commands to search and record food, drinks, and exercises from our large, curated nutritional and activity databases.

With HealthMetric, you control how to become: Healthier. Strong. Better. You.

Dear Dr. Roach • I’m a 75-year-old male who can’t remember whether or not he’s had chickenpox as a child. This is somewhat important, as I’m c…


KOTA KINABALU - The chief of Parti Islam SeMalaysia (PAS) who enjoys close ties with Umno leaders has said that Islam doesn't have the swearing of an oath as carried out by ex-premier Najib Razak recently, to deny his involvement in the murder of a Mongolian woman.

PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang was quoted on Wednesday (Jan 1) by Free Malaysia Today (FMT) news site as saying there is only the "li'an" oath in Islam, which is sworn by a husband and his wife in cases of suspected adultery where legal proof is unavailable.

Datuk Seri Hadi was answering a question by a member of an audience who wanted to know about Najib's oath, at a talk in the Sabah capital on Tuesday (Dec 31), FMT said.

According to Mr Hadi, an influential ustaz (Islamic cleric) in his party, there are no other legal oaths in Islam, though there are no restrictions against anyone wanting to take whatever oath, FMT reported.

"But if the accused does not have any witnesses, it's best to keep quiet," he was quoted as saying.

Najib on Dec 20 swore an oath in a mosque in Kuala Lumpur to deny an accusation that he gave the order to kill Mongolian national Altantuya Shaariibuu.

The accusation was made by former police commando Azilah Hadri, who was convicted in 2009 of the murder, in a recent statutory declaration (SD).

Altantuya, 28, was shot and her body blown up with explosives in a gruesome murder in 2006.

Najib carried out the controversial oath inside Masjid Jamek in Kampung Baru after Friday prayers.

Mr Hadi - whose decision to get close to Najib, when the latter was Umno president, paved the way for close Umno-PAS ties today - warned against being too eager to take such oaths as it may incur Allah's displeasure, FMT said.

The solemn oath, called sumpah laknat in Malay, is rarely uttered by Muslims as it calls for divine retribution on the party who is lying.

Related Story Malaysia may reopen Mongolia murder case as Najib Razak vows innocence

Related Story Dozens to be questioned over claim Najib Razak gave Altantuya kill order: Malaysia police chief

Related Story Lurid tale of bribery and murder looms anew for Malaysia's Najib

Related Story Murdered Mongolian Altantuya Shaariibuu's family want justice in Malaysia lawsuit

This was the second time that Najib has sworn using the sumpah laknat in dealing with the murder of Altantuya.

Najib swore a similar oath in 2008 at the height of the controversy over Ms Altantuya's murder, in a mosque in Penang.

When Najib made the second oath on Dec 20, retired military general Mohamed Arshad Raji was quoted as saying Najib should stop "making a mockery of the Islamic religious oath".

Mr Arshad, chief of the National Patriot Association said, as quoted by Malaysiakini: "An allegation of murder is a very serious matter. It is not a trivial matter such as a chicken or a goat has gone missing in a kampung where the matter can be settled with a sumpah (oath)".

KUALA LUMPUR - Some 300 Muslim students gathered on Wednesday (Jan 1) to protest against Chinese educationist group Dong Zong for opposing a Malaysian government's plan to introduce Jawi writing in Chinese and Tamil schools.

The peaceful gathering, organised by the Malaysian Muslim Students Coalition (Gamis), was held despite a warning by the police on Tuesday (Dec 31) that the organiser failed to obtained a permit from Kuala Lumpur City Hall and the police for the march.

Police did not interfere with the protest held outside a popular mall in downtown Kuala Lumur. The college students held up placards and banners while listening to speeches by several speakers.

One large banner in Jawi, complete with a clenched fist painted in red, read, 'People, rise to defend Jawi'. A placard read: 'Undergraduates rise to defend Jawi'.

Earlier, some 150 students had assembled at the historic Masjid Jamek Kuala Lumpur mosque and were planning to march to the mall nearby. But they were advised against doing so by Gamis president Saifullah Baiduri, MalayMail online news reported, because holding a march without a proper permit is forbidden by a local law.

Ethnic tensions rose last week after Chinese education groups - the United Chinese Schools Teachers' Association (Jiao Zong) and the United Chinese School Committees' Association (Dong Zong) - planned to hold a protest congress against Jawi's introduction.

There are more than 1,200 Chinese and 523 Tamil primary schools in Malaysia that use either Mandarin or Tamil as the medium of instruction.

In August, the ministry surprised most people by saying it would include Jawi writing in the Year 4 (Primary 4) syllabus of Bahasa Melayu in the vernacular schools, raising concerns over creeping Islamisation.

These vernacular schools are run independently of national schools, and where the students, mainly Malays, are taught Jawi writing as part of Islamic studies.

Related Story Put teaching of Jawi in Chinese and Tamil schools on hold, urges National Jawi Congress

Related Story Tensions rise again over Jawi writing in Malaysia

The police obtained a court order to stop the congress planned by the Chinese education groups, but allowed a National Jawi Congress to proceed on Sunday.

The organisers of Sunday's congress that included prominent political activists urged the government to put on hold the teaching of a Jawi calligraphy module in the vernacular schools.


The SKILLZ COVID-19 RESPONSE curriculum was developed in March 2020 to help address the COVID-19 pandemic. Grassroot Soccer (grassrootsoccer.org) and its team of curriculum advisors rapidly designed this sport-based tool as a way for coaches, educators, and parents to easily facilitate fun, simple, and effective sessions with young people (ages 9+).

The curriculum aims to increase comprehensive knowledge on COVID-19, promote healthy behaviors such as proper handwashing, provide skills for mental wellbeing during stressful times, and dispel common myths about the disease. Use this SKILLZ COVID-19 RESPONSE curriculum to connect with young people either in schools or the classroom (if deemed safe by local health authorities) or remotely through video-conferencing and WhatsApp (where available). .

Parents and caregivers can also use this tool to provide COVID-19 education to children at home.

Grassroot Soccer (GRS) is an adolescent health organization that leverages the power of soccer to educate, inspire, and mobilize at-risk youth in developing countries to overcome their greatest health challenges, live healthier, more productive lives, and be agents for change in their communities. Since 2002, GRS has reached over 2 million young people in 50 countries with life-saving HIV prevention and sexual and reproductive health (SRH) information and services.

Other related documents are:

Laughing at Wall Street: How I Beat the Pros at Investing (by Reading Tabloids, Shopping at the Mall, and Connecting on Facebook) and How You Can, Too Chris Camillo

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The New Right Party is on the lookout for some new candidates to add to its electoral list for the upcoming elections who will boost its popularity, including some former members of the Zehut Party. New Right will possibly add one or two new candidates to its recent electoral lists, and may make some appointments based on the ability of such candidates to boost the party’s electoral appeal in specific sectors of the population.To that end, party coleader and Defense Minister Naftali Bennett met in recent days with figures in the newly established New Liberal Party, including Libby Molad and Refael Minnes, who were both candidates in the Zehut Party’s run for Knesset in the April elections.Zehut took 2.74% of the vote in that election, not enough to cross the 3.25% electoral threshold but enough to garner 118,000 votes, worth some three Knesset seats.Many of those ballot slips were likely cast by politically right-wing, economically liberal voters who could see New Right as a reasonable alternative to Zehut in the upcoming election, given the party’s right-wing approach to diplomatic and security affairs and its economic, free market liberalism.Sources in New Right confirmed that there have been contacts between Bennett and the former Zehut figures, but said that any agreement would see the addition of only one individual in an obtainable spot on the party list, and that any notion that New Right would merge with another party is not realistic.The source added that no decision on new candidates for its electoral list is imminent, and that New Right is looking at potential new candidates from a spectrum of population sectors and smaller parties.Such candidates could come from the Anglophone, French or Ethiopian communities, or from the community of immigrants from the former Soviet Union.Additionally, the order of candidates on the New Right electoral list could be altered from its previous iterations, with the possibility that some candidates will be moved up or down.Molad said in response to the initial report about the contacts with New Right that the New Liberal Party is looking at “different connections with parties whose values overlap with the liberal values we bring with us,” adding that New Right is “certainly a worthwhile option,” but that “when we reach this river we will cross it.”

Living An Orange Dream

Our CHEF for MIXMASTER CHALLENGE #36 is Temari 09.

CHEF Temari challenges us to express the secret life of flowers...

➤ Your image must include one and only one flower though that same flower may be repeated up to 12 times.

➤ You must use a basically two-toned background with colors derived from your flower.

➤ Include at least one sphere or bubble.

➤ The image must have from two (min) to five (max) fairies and/or butterflies and/or bees.

➤ NO BIRDS.

The flower(s) and spheres are my photography. Butterflies are from Photoshop.

Thanks everyone for your views, awards, comments, invites and faves.

Done


(Image by jinxmcc at flickr.com/people/64443083@N00/) Details DMCA

By the Solstice bonfire

I pulled him aside and told him about the colors

The colors of spontaneous remission

He the adjuster of bones listened

While the fire fed on the darkness

Of our annual lost-and-foundness

Our circle much enlarged

All of us were there for one thing

And one thing only

Gazing into the fire

So long as I am you are we

Are just like children here

I'll tell you how it all got started

(Have you noticed how that old tree

Poised in the fire-glow seems to want

To be photographed and shared)

The reach of the fire is astounding

The flames come apart

Like a wing separating from the body of a bird

As if flight were more important than life

And as I told you my story

Our faces were refreshed by the fire

You, joint-healer, bone-mender, husband and father

Me the old poet dream-worker, husband, father, son of my father

Me out of work can you believe it But no matter

We both know something that the other craved

For surely just as the fire reaches up

A vortex spirals down

And out of this elision of realities comes remission

The story starts when the old raven came to me

When I was still partly raven myself

Just when I was about to climb down into the human world

It was then he fixed his gaze upon me

And then I got sick and forgot what he told me

And later there were the colors and I found myself

Holding a baby and weeping and I was well

And I was human as ravens do not weep

And my bones were no longer hollow

And such a wonder has never happened since

But here we are and this too may never repeat

(Image by Isengardt at flickr.com/people/49840171@N08/) Details DMCA

On day seven

Creator grew restless

And sadly contemplated

All He had made that must be undone

And then He began to pack up thing within thing

Time He reversed

So for a millisecond the whale

Walked again

And the primal mud

Was once again Creator's pride and joy

On day six the rivers He stopped from flowing

The tides He stilled

The sea surge He quieted with a look

The wind He stopped it from blowing

The storm He calmed

The funnel He summoned it back

Into the purple cloud

On day five He paused to watch the horses

Running across the plain

He laid His palm across their wildness

And they collapsed and slept

The herd a heap

And He saw that it wasn't good

On day four

The colors of the world He muted

The stars He blew out of the sky

The sun He extinguished

The mountains flattened

The sea He drank

And all the waters of creation

He sucked them dry fountain and spring

The fires of the middle earth

He snuffed just like a candle

Day three

All the creatures He had named

He orphaned them

He took their names back

So all of life was nameless

The sea and sky He joined back together

So the fish and birds of the sky

Looked at each other in a long moment

Of awkward recognition

And two by two all living things

Feathered, scaled, naked and creeping

Paraded from His memory

Like fleeting images from a magic lantern

Day two

Energy He withdrew from matter

So that wood and bone and metal and flesh

Were all the same in His eye

And spirit He removed from energy

And He saw that it was not good

On day one

He stopped

Because all His work was undone

He allowed His sadness to spread into a great silence

And into this silence

Into this sadness He stole Himself away

And was no more

(Article changed on January 1, 2020 at 21:51)


Leftover Unexploded Ordnance (UXO)

Unexploded ordnance (UXO) are explosive weapons (bombs, bullets, shells, grenades, land mines, naval mines, etc.) that did not explode when they were employed and still pose a risk of detonation, potentially many decades after they were used or discarded. The majority of UXO in Lao are cluster bombs.

A cluster bomb is a small explosive submunition or bomblet that is delivered to its target in a large canister or shell.

Cluster bombs are indiscriminate. They cannot distinguish between civilian and military targets. Their wide-area coverage and poor targeting mechanisms nearly guarantee that unintended victims will die or be injured, even when the weapons function as designed.

Cluster munitions continue to kill long after a war ends because these weapons often fail to explode on impact as designed. (Source: Mennonite Central Committee)

To see how a cluster bomb works and how it is detected and detonated, view the Multimedia Interactive Center (MIC).

By Jonah DeChants

Ben Carson, secretary of the Department of Housing and Urban Development, made news earlier this year for his statements about transgender people.

In a September meeting with HUD staff, Carson remarked that he was concerned about "big, hairy men" trying to use women's shelters. It is reported that his comments upset the HUD staff in attendance, causing one women to leave the room in protest.

Carson later doubled down on his comments in a congressional hearing, declining to apologize and saying "I think this whole concept of political correctness – you can say this, you can't say that, you can't repeat what someone said – is total foolishness."

While his comments demonstrate a lack of understanding of the needs of transgender people, his agency's moves to remove protections represent a real threat for transgender Americans who need shelter.

As my research shows, transgender people experience high rates of discrimination in housing and shelter services, exacerbating their already elevated rates of homelessness.

Disproportionate Risk of Homelessness

According to the 2017 U.S. Trans Survey, a survey of more than 27,000 transgender people across the U.S. conducted by the nonprofit National Center for Transgender Equality, 30% have experienced homelessness at some point in their lives. Twelve percent report at least one episode of homelessness in the last year.

Once they become homeless, transgender people are also likely to experience discrimination and harassment when seeking shelter services. A study by the Center for American Progress found that 21% of shelters refuse to serve transgender women.

While in a shelter, 70% of U.S. Trans Survey respondents reported harassment, sexual or physical assault due to their transgender identity.

This discrimination makes transgender people hesitant to seek shelter – more than a quarter of respondents reported avoiding staying in shelter due to fear or mistreatment.

Best Practices

There is a small but growing body of literature on the experiences and needs of transgender people living in homeless shelters.

Organizations that work on LGBTQ housing access, such as the National Center for Transgender Equality and True Colors United, recommend that shelters respect clients’ self-identified gender as best practice for housing transgender clients.

In practice, this can include housing clients in the dorm of their self-identified gender; offering private living and bathing spaces; training shelter staff about transgender identities; and adopting inclusive language in administrative paperwork, such as intake forms.

Recognizing both the high levels of need and the unique challenges faced by transgender people experiencing homelessness, the National Coalition for the Homeless adopted a nondiscrimination policy in 2003, which protects people on the basis of gender identity and expression.

In 2016, HUD implemented new regulations to protect transgender people from discrimination in housing services. The Gender Identity Rule clarified policies for single-gender shelter facilities with shared sleeping or living spaces.

It required all HUD funding recipients to respect the gender identity of transgender clients, housing them in facilities that align with their gender identity rather than their birth sex. It also removed a previous prohibition against asking about clients' gender identity, allowing providers to ask about gender identity and house clients accordingly.

The rule included extensive guidance of how to safely house transgender clients, including information about bathroom facilities and how to deal with concerns or harassment from other clients.

Weakened Regulations

While the Gender Identity Rule provided important protections, I also see significant weaknesses.

The nondiscrimination protections apply only to organizations which receive federal funding. Some shelters are run and funded by private, and often religious, organizations, and therefore do not have to follow this rule.

Enforcement mechanisms are also weak. Individuals who have experienced discrimination may submit a complaint to HUD's Office of Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity. However, people experiencing homelessness may not be aware of their rights or have the capacity to submit a complaint while struggling to meet their basic needs.

What's more, the protections that this rule offers may soon be undone.

In May, HUD proposed a new rule that would give housing providers who get federal funding the right to establish their own policies regarding how to house transgender clients. The proposed rule states that organizations may use a client's sex to make decisions about where and how to house them, without providing any guidance about how to determine an individual's sex.

The proposed rule is now working its way through the regulatory process, with advocacy groups meeting with HUD to discuss its potential impact. It is also supposed to go through a period of public comment.

HUD has also scaled back enforcement of the Fair Housing Act, which protects against discrimination in housing based on race, religion, sex, ability, and other protected classes, by freezing investigations into discriminatory practices. This freeze includes investigations into discrimination against parolees and former inmates, people with disabilities and racial or ethnic minorities.

The administration's decision to halt these investigations implies that they do not consider nondiscrimination protections to be a priority. That can further endanger transgender people experiencing discrimination in shelters and housing services.

This article was written by Jonah DeChants, postdoctoral fellow at Colorado State University for The Conversation. It was originally published on Dec. 16 and has been republished with permission.


Robert Plant - Big Log

Phil Collins played drums on this and 5 other tracks on the album. He also played drums on Plant's previous album Pictures At Eleven.

This was Robert Plant's first hit as a solo artist after the break up of Led Zeppelin.

Plant's lyrics were often influenced by the books of J.R.R. Tolkien. Big Log is a mythical, extended metaphor for a lost love: "My love is in league with the freeway... My love is the miles and the waiting."

A Big Log is common lingo of tractor trailer drivers.

It is the book in which their road hours are logged, therefore the connection between the road and love and the countless hours we all log on both.

Many of the videos to Plant's songs take place in desert settings.

The music video for the song was filmed on location in various areas around California and Nevada, including the Amargosa Opera House and Hotel in Death Valley Junction, California, the Calico Ghost Town in California, the Glass Pool Inn in Las Vegas, and in Crystal, Nye County, Nevada.

The guitar solo is by Robbie Blunt who was a member of Robert Plant’s solo band at the time and got a co-writing credit on the song. Facebook Twitter Вконтакте Одноклассники Telegram

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Women need to use various facial and beauty products to take good care of their skin. These products are not just limited to women, but are also essential for every man out there. Men are also vain in many ways. They want to look their best on all occasions by having a nice haircut, sporting a clean beard, and having pearly white teeth. Men have every right to look attractive to the opposite sex, and they also deserve to age gracefully.

Investing in your physical appearance is always a significant advantage in everything that you do. Looking good will increase your chances of getting promoted for your dream job, it increases your self-esteem, and it makes it easier for you to meet the girl of your dreams. So if you are looking for hygiene products, here are the things that you should stock up on for your bathroom cabinet.

Beard products

If you are sporting a beard, it is essential to keep it clean and dry at all times. Aside from applying shampoo and conditioner, it would help if you also used a few drops of essential oils and special balm to help moisturise the skin and the entire beard. Combing it once or twice a day will help get rid of all the dirt that has been stuck in it. You may want to check out the products from online stores like https://missionbeard.com for all your beard-related needs.

Hair conditioner

Regardless of if you are sporting a clean-cut or long hair, using a hair conditioner should be included in your hygiene product list. Some shampoos tend to dry your hair and scalp; that is why applying some conditioner will help you replenish lost nutrients. With continuous use, it will also make your hair smoother and stronger. Besides, having dry hair makes you prone to split ends which is something that you do not want to have.

Sunscreen

Too much sun exposure can lead to premature skin ageing and wrinkles. It is a must to use a sunscreen for your face and body to keep it protected all day. Choose a sunscreen with an SPF 30 or higher to prevent getting sunburned. Remember that UV rays are harmful to the skin and cause certain types of skin cancer.

Lip balm

Extreme weather changes can cause your lips to become dry and chaffed. Even men should use a lip balm to keep their lips moisturised. Choose a product that is light, non-greasy and long-lasting on the lips. If you do not feel like using lip balm, you can use petroleum jelly.

Lotion

There are a lot of factors that can cause your skin to become dry and dull. Using a moisturising body cream can help improve your skin by making it soft and supple. For best results, you should apply lotion after taking a bath and before going to bed.

Lastly, do not forget to apply toner and moisturiser on your face as part of your nightly skincare routine. These products will help your skin look fresher.

Image: https://pixabay.com/photos/soap-bathroom-products-candles-775267/


When it came to souping up Rihanna’s Savage X Fenty lingerie for Valentine’s Day 2020, the self-professed bad gal had one designer in mind: Adam Selman, aka the man whose Le Specs collaboration took the modelling world by storm. The Hadid sisters and Kendall Jenner are Selman fans, and RiRi – who gives seriously good sunglasses – has worn her friend’s shades despite designing pairs herself over at Fenty.com. So, does Selman have the same magic touch when it comes to underwear?

“Lingerie is something I’ve always wanted to design,” Selman tells Vogue. “So many of my collections have been influenced and inspired by the detailing and fabrics. It was an easy pairing because Rihanna and I share so many core beliefs: our brands make people feel confident, powerful and joyful.”

Read more: Rihanna Names Normani Savage X Fenty’s First Ambassador As Victoria’s Secret Cancels Show

The Xclusive 19-piece underwear edit is split into two categories: Locket Down and Down The Aisle. The former is a play on words, but is as literal as it gets, according to the collection notes. Available in a metallic Goji Berry Red and Black Caviar, the vinyl foil spandex sets feature heart-shaped locket and key charm zipper pulls and rose gold hardware for the “bad ass babe”.

Read more: Rihanna’s First Fenty Collaboration Is All About Big Boss Energy

Down the Aisle, in contrast, is “deceivingly sweet”, all delicate ruffles and heart trims. Designed to be layered, mixed and matched, the separates have a vintage look, as well as that girl next door aesthetic.

Each set is packaged neatly into a Savage X Fenty Xtra VIP box with a bonus collectors’ Rihanna phone ring. But it will be the campaign faces that sway you to click to buy, rather than the gift. Adesuwa Aighewi, Fiffany Luu, Joan Smalls and Paloma Elsesser are shot by Dennis Leupold in a wildly kitsch bedroom. “I’ve been really fortunate to have people from all different fields wear my brand,” Selman muses of the Adam Selman effect (his sportswear is also seen in gym selfies across Instagram). “I like that my brand is a community, and I think that’s what makes it feel like a ‘cult following’.” Add to that Rihanna’s loyalists across the globe – “She is just miles ahead of the industry, and her dedication and passion is beyond,” says Selman – and the duo is about to Fentify Valentine’s Day.

For true bad gals who are allergic to the Hallmark holiday, the “naughty-but-nice” knickers will be available to buy through spring via additional drops. “Rihanna is the best,” Selman affirms. “Period.”

The Locket Down box, $59.95 (£46), and Down the Aisle box, $39.95 (£30), are available to buy now at Savagex.com

More from British Vogue:

The look of love (Picture: Getty)

Oh, pasta. Whether you’re more of a linguini lover or mad for macaroni, there’s really nothing like a hearty helping of the feel-good dish.

You might be prepared to give up a lot for veganuary 2020 – where people try to go vegan for a month – and you might think you can just get away with not sprinkling cheese on top of your beloved pasta, but what is pasta actually made from?

Brace yourself and read on to find out whether or not vegans can eat pasta…

Is pasta vegan?

Like so many things in life, there isn’t a clear yes or no – it depends on the type of pasta you’re eating.

When it comes to pasta, there’s usually two types: fresh pasta and pasta secca (aka dried pasta).

Hnnng (Picture: Getty)

Fresh pasta is usually made and cooked in the same setting and is usually not vegan because it can contain eggs, whereas dry pasta is nearly always vegan.

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If you’re making dry pasta for yourself at home, double-check the packaging but you’re most likely not going to fail veganuary as a result.

If you’re eating pasta out at a restaurant, ask if the fresh pasta was made with eggs or oil.

Giving up fresh pasta might be worth it though – especially if you want to boost your erections.

Netflix documentary The Game Changers tested athletes to try out a vegan diet, and by switching to a plant-based diet, their eggplants noticed the difference, standing tall for up to 500% longer in one case.

How is fresh pasta made?

The typical ingredients for fresh pasta include flour, water, salt, and eggs – note that some fresh pasta can be made with oil instead of eggs, but it’s more likely than not to be made with eggs.

First, the flour and salt are mixed together in a mixing bowl before a well is made in the middle of the flour.

This is when the eggs are normally added; they’re cracked right inside the centre of the flour well.

The flour is mixed into the eggs until a dough forms.

Once that’s done, the dough is cut into the pasta shape of choice.

You can buy vegan fresh pasta alternatives from most major supermarkets, including Waitrose’s vegan ravioli and Sainsburys’ non-egg spaghetti and shroomballs.

How is dried pasta made?

The majority of dried pasta, on the other hand, is vegan and made from just two ingredients.

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Most mass-produced dried pastas – which you can buy from supermarkets – contain just flour and semolina.

Semolina, derived from a wheat product, is first mixed with water. This mixture then gets processed in bulk quantities by machines creating a sort of dough.

This dough is then pressed through pasta molds to get the intended shape.

MORE: No, doing Veganuary won’t turn you into a woman

MORE: Is peanut butter vegan?

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