#Live Bidding Malaysia

[rabbitcruiser]

Save The Rhino Day

Save the Rhino Day, celebrated globally on May 1, is a day centered around raising awareness of the rhino’s plight in the world, and highlighting ways to help this incredible animal. This day is especially important given the current devastating statistics — on average, one rhino is poached somewhere in the world every 22 hours. On this day, various animal rights organizations, non-profit companies, zoos, animal activists, and other concerned groups provide opportunities to encourage more rhino conservation efforts from people around the world.

History of Save The Rhino Day

To trace the origins of the Rhinoceros, we’d have to go back some millennia — almost 56 million years ago, to be precise. That’s when the first ancestors of the modern Rhinos roamed the planet. They were more horse-like in structure and had no horns. Old rhino bones found from this period in North America show a gradual evolution from this old horse-like structure into one more aligned with today’s rhino. Over these years, there were three distinct species that scientists think might be the ancestors of today’s rhinos. One of these was called the ‘running rhino,’ which was adapted for speed.

Another was more aquatic and resembled today’s hippopotamus. The last, most direct ancestors to the modern rhinoceros appeared approximately 25 million years ago and had multiple sub-species in their families. Of these, the wooly rhinoceros was one of the largest subspecies, weighing in at almost four times the size of the average African elephant, and boasting one-meter-long horns. This species inhabited a large area, from Siberia to the British Isles. These plant-eaters lived alongside the wooly mammoths, and have been found fossilized in ice and in cave paintings made during that period.

These rhinos only lived in Asia initially but began traveling to other places around 25 million years ago. Over time, these rhino ancestors roamed the continents, primarily living in Eurasia (Europe and Asia combined) and North America. However, the American rhinos went extinct sometime between 5.4 and 2.4 million years ago.

Rhinos have also featured in many Asian and African legends — they are the fire-stamping heroes in many stories from Burma, India, and Malaysia. According to these stories, rhinos appeared every time a fire was lit in the forest and would stamp out the flames. So popular is this tale that it even featured in a popular 1980 South-African movie named “The Gods Must Be Crazy.”

Unfortunately, these once-abundant creatures have lost out to human activity. Hunting, and now, poaching and habitat loss, have drastically reduced the number of rhinos across the world. Rhino horns are also integral to traditional medicine in many parts of Asia, with people believing it has mystical powers. Since 2007, there has been a sharp increase in poaching activity and illegal trade of rhino horns, to the extent that many subspecies of rhinos have been declared extinct and the entire rhino population is listed as ‘endangered’.

Save The Rhino Day timeline

1973

A Symbol of Queer Identity

Two Boston artists, Daniel Thaxton and Bernie Toale create a lavender rhinoceros as a symbol to increase awareness of gays and lesbians and put it in a series of subway posters.

2011

No More Black Rhinos

The Western Black Rhino — which used to live in Cameroon, Chad, the Central African Republic, Sudan, and South Sudan — is declared extinct because of excessive poaching.

2012

A Ray of Hope

For the very first time, a Sumatran rhino — the smallest of the rhino family — is born in captivity in the Sumatran Rhino Sanctuary in Indonesia; this miracle repeats in 2016, and then in 2022.

2018

A Sad Farewell

The world bids goodbye to the last known male northern white rhino; only two females survive to this day.

Save The Rhino Day FAQs

What day is World Rhino Day?

On September 22 each year, the global community celebrates the rhinoceros and explains what people can do to help them.

How many rhino species are there?

At present, there are five species of rhinos in the world — the white rhino and the black rhino (both found in Africa), and the Indian, Javan, and Sumatran (all found in Asia).

Are rhinos endangered?

The black, Javan, and Sumatran rhinos are still listed as ‘critically endangered,’ while the entire species is classified as ‘endangered.’

How to Observe Save The Rhino Day

Learn about the rhinoceros: Uncover more interesting information about this magnificent animal. Watch documentaries featuring the rhino, read books and other literature about them, and discover more studies and research that show just how the rhino lives.

Visit a rhino: Why not go see a rhinoceros in real life? Check out rhinos at a local zoo or plan a trip to visit rhinos in the wild.

Help save the rhino: Research the efforts various groups make towards saving the rhino, and check out what you can do to help. These could include online volunteering services, donations of funds, and more.

5 Fun Facts About The Rhinoceros

The rhino communication method: Rhinos make funny sounds — like snorting, sneeze-like sounds, and even honking — and use their bodily waste to 'speak' to other rhinos.

They don't have 20-20 vision: Rhino eyesight is notoriously poor, so much so that if an animal only 100 feet away — in an open space, too — stood motionless, the rhino wouldn't be able to spot them.

How the white rhino got its name: This rhino isn't actually white — English explorers mistook the Afrikaans 'wyd,' which refers to the huge girth of this animal, as 'white' and the name stuck.

Their horns are like our nails: Rhino horns are made up almost entirely of keratin, which is also the protein found in human hair and nails.

And still, people steal their horns: Even as rhino horns are proven to have no health benefits, signs in museums — like the National Museum of Scotland — notify visitors that the horn on display is a replica, as the real one has been stolen.

Why Save The Rhino Day is Important

It helps increase awareness: Rhinos are becoming increasingly rare in the wild, and only continuous efforts to raise awareness, like celebrating Save The Rhino Day, can help this endangered species. Do your bit today to support rhinos.

Creating safe havens for rhinos: The spike in awareness such days provide also subsequently raises the amount of help being offered to save the rhinos. These increased efforts could help secure various safe and protected spaces for the rhino to survive and thrive.

Building a rhino-loving community: Conservation efforts have had a significant impact in the past — various subspecies of rhinos have seen their numbers gradually increase over the years as a result of these activities. After these celebrations, we are left with a passionate and motivated global community that wants to see the rhinoceros flourish in the decades to come.

Source

[whattheabcxyz]

2024-09-20

Singapore

Singaporean man arrested in Thailand for drug trafficking deported back here

Homegrown bookstore & SingLit bastion Epigram Books to cease operations of its SAM bookshop next year in Jan

1st prosecution of "99-to-1" property purchase: mother & son charged with giving false info to IRAS - more of such scumbags need to be punished! ✊🏻

FBI arrests 20-year-old Singaporean man in US over $297m crypto heist - they should just execute him 'cos we don't want criminal scum like him coming back to our country!

4% interest floor rate on CPF Special, MediSave & Retirement accounts extended to end-2025

Society

Japanese schoolboy living in China stabbed to death - this is scumbag megalomaniac Xi Jinping's f***ing China, where nationalism ramped up 1000% via propaganda has caused dumb, brainwashed citizens to murder in the name of patriotism!!! 😡🖕🏻

Shopping

Singapore: ~110 people seen queueing outside Apple Store on Orchard Road at 6am this morning, ahead of iPhone 16’s launch - the 1st person in the queue said he'd taken leave from work just to queue for the phone (which he isn't even particularly a fan of!); he'd got there at 3am to “experience the queueing atmosphere” ...this guy's idiocy is stupefying, seriously 🫨🫨🫨

Business

Every member of 23andMe's board except the CEO just resigned in disgust

Finance

Who knew you could earn money from Listerine royalties?! - you heard me right!

Health

1 in 3 youth in Singapore reported very poor mental health, says IMH survey

Economy

Malaysia unveils zero tax for family offices in Forest City, in bid to revive Johor project - "the 2,800ha development, backed by Chinese developer Country Garden Holdings, was designated a special financial zone (SFZ) in August 2023 to boost foreign investment & economic growth in the area"

Environment

^ Bangkok turns to urban forests to beat worsening floods

Politics

Elon Musk got fooled into sharing Putin-backed propaganda meme - he needs to start using a fact-checker bot!

Travel

Singaporeans will soon need electronic travel authorisation (ETA) permit to visit Thailand - pilot phase will begin in December, with a full rollout by June next year; it is free of charge & mandatory for citizens of 93 countries who currently enjoy visa-free travel to Thailand for stays of up to 60 days for the purpose of tourism

[archoneddzs15]

Sega Saturn - EMIT Volume 3: Bid Myself Farewell

Title: EMIT Volume 3: Bid Myself Farewell / ＥＭＩＴ [エミット] Vol.3 ～私にさよならを～

Developer/Publisher: KOEI

Release date: 1 April 1995

Catalogue No.: T-7604G

Genre: English Education Software

Same story as my reviews of EMIT Volumes 1 & 2, but in case you may have missed it, I'll paste it again.

Originally available for the Super Famicom along with a Voicer-kun audio CD (as well as FM Towns and PC-9821 platforms), EMIT is what's best described as an English tutorial software. Now before you start thinking “boring” and stop reading, remember that the Japanese education games are actually more interesting than the so-called Multimedia education crap we have in the West on platforms like the Sega CD, 3DO, and Philips CDI.

EMIT is a full voice and text-driven digital novel with the added bonus of being fully bilingual. By this I mean you can choose from any combination of Japanese / English text and audio. I play with English text and Japanese audio because those American accents really do grate in your ears (No offense to our American readers. I'm sure you find British accents awful. I live in Malaysia which means we use British accents when speaking English I think). Anyway, for an educational game, the story is quite bizarre, to say the least. You may have figured out already that EMIT is, in fact, TIME spelled backward. The game starts with a young girl meeting an old man who asks about a watchmaker. It turns out that this man gets younger instead of older and is from another world. I won't tell you any more apart from the story getting even more warped in volumes 2 and 3.

The educational part of the software is actually very good. You have exercises, English vocabulary tests, and a Japanese-to-English dictionary. The game can also be used to teach English speakers Japanese. Of course, you can't use most of the exercises but at least you can use the dictionary and play the game in English. This game is also available on the 3DO, and I think you can even get it on the PS1 as part of the EMIT Value Set compilation bundle.

[jettraveler]

Mystical Malaysia: A Journey Through Culture, Cuisine, and Natural Splendor

Introduction: Welcome to the enchanting land of Malaysia, where a tapestry of cultures, flavors, and landscapes converge to create a truly unforgettable travel experience. From the bustling streets of Kuala Lumpur to the tranquil tea plantations of the Cameron Highlands, Malaysia offers a diverse array of attractions that promise to captivate the senses and ignite the imagination. Join me as we embark on a journey through this mystical land, where ancient traditions blend seamlessly with modern innovation, and natural beauty abounds at every turn.

Day 1-3: Kuala Lumpur - City of Contrasts Our adventure begins in the vibrant capital city of Kuala Lumpur, where towering skyscrapers stand in stark contrast to historic temples and bustling street markets. We'll marvel at the iconic Petronas Twin Towers, once the tallest buildings in the world, and explore the colorful streets of Chinatown, where the aroma of sizzling street food fills the air. A visit to the Batu Caves offers a glimpse into Malaysia's Hindu heritage, with a towering limestone cave adorned with intricate statues and shrines.

Day 4-6: Penang - Pearl of the Orient Next, we'll journey to the island paradise of Penang, known for its rich cultural heritage, mouthwatering cuisine, and stunning beaches. We'll wander through the streets of George Town, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, admiring its colonial architecture and vibrant street art. Sampling Penang's famous street food is a must, from savory char kway teow to fragrant nasi kandar, each dish a testament to the island's diverse culinary traditions.

Day 7-9: Cameron Highlands - Tea Plantations and Tranquility Leaving the hustle and bustle of the city behind, we'll ascend to the cool, misty hills of the Cameron Highlands, Malaysia's premier tea-growing region. Here, we'll stroll through verdant tea plantations, breathing in the crisp mountain air and savoring panoramic views of rolling hills and lush valleys. A visit to a tea factory offers insight into the tea-making process, from leaf to cup, while strawberry farms and flower gardens provide a serene backdrop for relaxation and rejuvenation.

Day 10-12: Borneo - Wildlife and Rainforests Our next destination takes us to the wild and rugged island of Borneo, home to some of the world's oldest rainforests and most diverse ecosystems. We'll embark on a wildlife safari in search of elusive orangutans, proboscis monkeys, and pygmy elephants in the dense jungles of Sabah and Sarawak. A visit to the Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre offers a chance to witness these majestic creatures up close and learn about efforts to protect and preserve their natural habitat.

Day 13-15: Langkawi - Island Paradise Our final stop brings us to the sun-drenched shores of Langkawi, an archipelago of pristine islands nestled in the azure waters of the Andaman Sea. We'll spend our days lounging on palm-fringed beaches, snorkeling among colorful coral reefs, and exploring the island's lush rainforests and hidden waterfalls. A sunset cruise offers a magical end to our journey, as we toast to the beauty and wonder of Malaysia's natural splendor.

Epilogue: As our journey through Malaysia comes to an end, we're left with memories of vibrant cities, verdant landscapes, and warm hospitality that will linger in our hearts long after we've returned home. But as we bid farewell to this mystical land of contrasts and cultural diversity, we're reminded that the spirit of adventure lives on, beckoning us to explore new horizons and create new memories. Until then, Selamat Tinggal Malaysia, and may your beauty and charm continue to inspire travelers for generations to come.....Read More

[market-insider]

Air Purifier: Analyzing Market Trends and Strategies in the Global Market for Healthier Living Spaces

The global air purifier market size is expected to reach USD 26.07 billion by 2030, registering a CAGR of 7.4% during the forecast period, according to a new report by Grand View Research, Inc. The market is expected to expand at a CAGR of 7.3% from 2023 to 2030. The market is primarily driven by increasing air pollution levels, coupled with the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic and the rising awareness pertaining to the benefits of air purifiers. Air purifiers assist in eliminating various health hazards caused by poor air quality by removing contaminants, including dust, smoke, and pollen. In addition, these products aid people suffering from asthma, airborne allergies, and other respiratory conditions. Thus, increasing health awareness among consumers is expected to drive the product demand over the forecast period.

Air Purifier Market Report Highlights

The HEPA technology segment held the largest revenue share of over 40.0% in 2023 owing to the high efficiency of HEPA filters in removing airborne particles as compared to other technologies, thereby augmenting its penetration in the market

The commercial application segment is expected to witness significant growth from 2024 to 2030 on account of the growing demand for air purifiers in hospitals, universities, and government facilities amidst the COVID-19 pandemic

In the APAC market, Malaysia is likely to expand at a significant CAGR over the forecast period on account of worsening air quality due to urbanization and seasonal haze, coupled with the increasing health awareness and a growing emphasis on good indoor air quality

In September 2020, MANN+HUMMEL introduced two new high-performance room air purifiers, namely OurAir TK 850, which is suitable for filtering the air in indoor spaces of up to 70 m², and the OurAir SQ 2500, which is ideal for spaces up to 200 m².

For More Details or Sample Copy please visit link @: Air Purifier Market Report

Lockdown measures to curb the spread of COVID-19 and the stay-at-home and work-from-home norms have boosted the demand for air purifiers in residential applications. Furthermore, the demand for air purifiers increased in healthcare and other commercial facilities amidst the pandemic owing to their ability to limit the spread of infectious diseases. New product developments and technological advancements amid the COVID-19 pandemic are anticipated to augment the market growth. For instance, in September 2020, Aurabeat Technology Limited, a Hong Kong-based company, introduced Aurabeat AG+ Silver Ion Plasma Sterilization Air Purifier, which can eliminate more than 99.9% of COVID-19 within 30 minutes.

Wildfires and stubble burning that are increasingly found in the U.S., Australia, and India are some of the key reasons for causing air pollution. The smoke has several health implications such as eye and respiratory tract infection, lung infection, bronchitis, and heart failure. This has prompted consumers to buy air purifiers and is likely to augment the market growth over the forecast period. The pandemic provided an opportunity for companies with higher cashflows to acquire air purifier companies resulting in increased activity in the market. For instance, in November 2021, iRobot Corporation acquired Aeris Cleantec AG in a USD 72 Million all-cash deal in a bid to strengthen its portfolio of intelligent home innovation solutions.

[rishmesworld]

Exploring What it Truly Means to Be Vulnerable

In the early chapters of my college journey in Malaysia, my mother perceived me a "robot," discerning no emotional response as she bid me farewell. This perception lingered, echoed by a colleague in Singapore, shaping the façade I wore until I stepped into therapy in 2018.

Exiting that initial therapy session left me unexpectedly bottled up and uneasy, a far cry from the anticipated release. Walking towards the bus stop, across the street on Orchard Boulevard, that afternoon, I made a conscious choice to grant myself permission to feel, acknowledging and accepting my struggle with emotions—a foreign concept at the time. I wanted to be human. I wanted to experience life—the highs and the lows.

I had gained the reputation of the one who storms in and walks out. My choices in the men I dated had a pattern, each with good intentions, their baggage stored for someone else to help fix.

I wanted other things. I craved freedom. Freedom to listen to the sounds that excited me. To explore new places, take the time to just be in uncertainty. I wanted freedom to be curious. To explore life beyond lust, I needed to befriend my loneliness.

In 2016 I travelled to Bali, a place where I had always wanted to be. Undisturbed, unbothered by the dense quiet. Disconnecting from all means of connection, I surrendered to loneliness.

There were the sundown’s that made me feel a sadness, of an ending. I tried to distract myself with its colors—orange, pink, and red fading into the sky. Appreciation for witnessing such colors numbed a pain I could not identify then, as a longing to belong.

It was as if a heavy fog lingered around the layers of my heart, hanging onto me without my permission. Unkind and determined to make me feel unloved, it blocked the cognitive process, creating mental barriers that hindered rational thinking. I continued to hide and give without limitations.

Bitterness of unworthiness distorted my lens as silent whispers of criticism manifested. The empty pages of my journals filled with residues of childhood. I wrote, in my solitude, discovering my first love—putting ink on paper. I lay on the white sheets, playing with the cotton scattered on the blue sky. Without warning, there it surfaced, a memory that was forgotten. A dormant demon had woken up, and I let it confront me.

Right about the same period, I discovered Brené Brown's Ted Talk on The Power of Vulnerability on YouTube.

Resonating with her teachings I delved into her book, "Daring Greatly: How the Courage to be Vulnerable Transforms the Way We Live, Love, Parent, and Lead." It served as a guide to navigate undoing the shame that blocked my cognition.

Now, what does it truly mean to be vulnerable for me?

It means admitting when I do not know, create a space for learning and sharing.

It means it is okay to seek help.

It means saying no, even when the fear of losing a loved one looms.

It means acknowledging attachment and still finding the strength to let go.

It means embracing triggers, understanding the behaviors they elicit.

It means committing to do the work on healing emotional wounds.

It means to say, "I’m sorry, Mom. I never meant to hurt you."

It means to say, perhaps I was the narcissist in my story.

In my solitude, vulnerability became a companion I actively chose to practice in my interactions. It meant allowing myself to face fears, including speaking up when wronged.

“The willingness to show up changes us, It makes us a little braver each time.”  ― Brené Brown, Daring Greatly: How the Courage to Be Vulnerable Transforms the Way We Live, Love, Parent, and Lead

I dared to let my voice flow, turning singing into a form of expression. From the bathroom to the stage, the spotlight on my insecurities. A rush of blood flow from head to toe. Each sung word, an act of bravery. Daring to do what scared me got me discovering an adrenaline that made me feel human.

Daring greatly taught me that skills can be obtained with practice and repetition. I began to walk the quote ‘every artist was first an amateur.’ Each time I dared to learn; it unraveled the barriers of scarcity thinking.

The road to becoming human was not linear. Emotions' gateways gradually opened, revealing a scared child whose rights were unintentionally and intentionally ripped away. Life meant little if I couldn't feel, so I chose to experience it all—the love with sadness, the victory after conquering fears. Choosing to feel didn't come easily; it opened memories long pushed under the carpet.

I cried, begged, betrayed, and lost my way a few times, but I refused to give up on my journey, in the undoing. 

“Because true belonging only happens when we present our authentic, imperfect selves to the world, our sense of belonging can never be greater than our level of self-acceptance.”  ― Brené Brown, Daring Greatly: How the Courage to Be Vulnerable Transforms the Way We Live, Love, Parent, and Lead

Eventually, after 18 years, I turned to my mother, broken and resentful, asking to be held. Finally giving her the chance to be there for me. I cried in agony for the choices that led me astray and home. 

There it was a new beginning to rekindle our relationship as mother and daughter. Finally, letting myself be seen by me and not the robot I let people perceive me for.

[sevenflorist]

Understanding the Language of Flowers for Funerals in Malaysia

In the rich tapestry of Malaysian culture, every ritual and ceremony holds profound significance. Funerals are no exception, where the language of funeral flower communicates emotions that words often fail to convey. Delving into this floral lexicon is not merely a tradition but an art, offering solace and support during somber times.

The Elegance of Lilies:

Lilies, symbolic of the restored innocence of the departed soul, grace Malaysian funerals with their elegant presence. Their pristine petals whisper promises of peace to grieving hearts.

Orchids: A Symbol of Love and Beauty:

Orchids, known for their uncommon excellence, represent the everlasting adoration for the left. In Malaysia, they embellish funeral services, bringing a feeling of immortal association with those abandoned.

Carnations: A Tapestry of Memories:

Carnations, with their myriad colors, represent the varied memories shared with the departed. Malaysians choose these blooms to honor a life well-lived, weaving a tapestry of cherished moments.

Chrysanthemums: Resilience in Adversity:

Chrysanthemums, strong even with affliction, represent the enduring soul of the people who have passed on. In Malaysia, they stand as a reminder of the strength tracked down in recollections.

Final Tribute with Roses:

Roses, the universal symbol of love, make their presence felt at Malaysian funerals, expressing enduring love and respect for the departed.

Incorporating Funeral Flowers Naturally:

When woven into funeral ceremonies, each sprout turns into a piercing courier, expressing sympathies and standing as an image of shared sorrow. Funeral flowers naturally become an integral piece of the goodbye cycle, providing comfort and warmth to those mourning.

Conclusion:

In Malaysia, the language of funeral flowers speaks volumes at funerals, offering a gentle balm to grieving hearts. Each bloom is carefully chosen, weaving a narrative of love, respect, and remembrance. In these delicate petals, Malaysians find solace and the strength to bid farewell.

[auctionproperty12]

Unlock Great Opportunities at Southlink Residence

Introduction:

Are you on the hunt for a prime property investment opportunity in Malaysia? Look no further than the Southlink Residence auction on AuctionProperty.my. Our extensive database is a veritable gold mine of unique properties up for auction, from profitable industrial assets to booming commercial spaces and lovely residential houses. Our platform, which appeals to both experienced investors and eager homeowners, offers a variety of options with enormous development and profit potential.

Exploring Southlink Residence:

Southlink Residence is a prestigious residential development nestled in the heart of Kuala Lumpur. It offers a lifestyle of luxury, convenience, and accessibility. The development boasts a range of top-notch facilities, making it a desirable choice for those seeking both comfort and style.

Why Southlink Residence Auction?

Participating in the Southlink Residence auction on AuctionProperty.my can be your ticket to acquiring a slice of this luxurious living. Auctions often present unique opportunities to purchase properties at prices below market value. Whether you’re an investor looking to add to your portfolio or a homebuyer searching for a dream residence, auctions offer a chance to secure a great deal.

AuctionProperty.my: Your Gateway to Southlink Residence Auction:

Seamless Browsing Experience: Our user-friendly interface ensures a seamless browsing experience, allowing you to effortlessly search and filter properties that match your preferences and budget — looking specifically for Southlink Residence auction listings. Our advanced search features will help you narrow down your options with ease.

Comprehensive Property Information: Each listing on AuctionProperty.my comes with detailed information, captivating high-resolution images, and essential auction details. We understand that well-informed decisions are crucial when it comes to property investments. Therefore, we provide you with all the information you need to make the right choice.

Why Choose AuctionProperty.my for Southlink Residence Auction?

Diverse Portfolio: We offer a wide range of properties, including Southlink Residence, to cater to varying investment preferences and budgets.

Market-Driven Prices: Auctions often lead to competitive bidding, resulting in properties being sold at market-driven prices. This can be an advantage for savvy buyers.

Transparency: We believe in transparency, and our platform is designed to provide you with all the necessary information to make informed decisions.

User-Friendly: Our website is designed to make your property search and auction participation hassle-free. We recognize the significance of a seamless user experience.

Conclusion:

In conclusion, the Southlink Residence auction on AuctionProperty.my is an incredible opportunity to invest in a prime piece of property in Kuala Lumpur. Our platform offers a seamless experience for users, ensuring that you can access all the information you need to make informed decisions. Whether you’re a seasoned investor or a homebuyer looking for your dream property, our website is your gateway to great opportunities.

Blog Source URL: https://auctionpropertyblog.blogspot.com/2023/11/unlock-great-opportunities-at-southlink.html

[wolfliving]

The tall weeds for the only successful domestic robot

By Brian Heater

Thursday, July 27, 2

Amazon’s iRobot Price Cut

(...)

Meanwhile, there’s been an extended cooling off period for the Amazon/iRobot deal. Next Saturday marks a year since the retail behemoth agreed to buy the Roomba maker. When the deal was announced in August 2021, the release didn’t include the normal projected close date. Everyone involved surely knew this thing was going to take a while.

(...)

“Rather than compete in a fair marketplace on its own merits,” the politicians wrote, “Amazon is following a familiar anticompetitive playbook: leveraging its massive market share and access to capital to buy or suppress popular products.”

(...)

On Tuesday, Amazon and iRobot announced a 15% drop in the acquisition price, from $61 a share to $51.75. That knocks the full price from $1.7 billion to $1.42 billion. The discount comes as iRobot has taken on a $200 million loan to keep operations running throughout this prolonged period of regulatory scrutiny. After all, it still has a business to run.

“We’ve reached an amended agreement with Amazon that reflects the incurrence of iRobot’s new debt,” said Angle. “iRobot is taking on new financing that we believe is sufficient to support our operations in a hyper-competitive environment and meet our liquidity needs as well as pay off iRobot’s existing debt. This new financing is the outcome of a thorough process and represents the best terms reasonably obtainable on additional financing to support our operations.”

Dave Limp, SVP of Amazon Devices, adds, “We are pleased to support iRobot in this way so they can continue inventing and delivering for customers while our proposed acquisition awaits regulatory approval. As we said when we announced the merger last August, customers love iRobot products and we’re excited to work with them to invent in ways that make customers’ lives easier and more enjoyable.”

iRobot shares initially dropped ~10% as a result.

In addition to questions around competition, privacy concerns have also come up. Amazon has raised a number of red flags among activists over the years. In March, for instance, a class action suit was filed against the company for failure to alert customers at its cashierless Amazon Go stores that their biometrics were being tracked. In June, the FTC fined the company $25 million for violating the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act Rule pertaining to the deletion of Alexa data. Additional concerns have been raised regarding the company’s law enforcement Rekognition software, as well as video captured by Ring cameras.

In recent years, iRobot has made home mapping a pillar of Roomba technology. Not long after the deal was announced, Angle took to LinkedIn in a bid to alleviate concern around Amazon’s potential use of such data.

“Our commitment to privacy will not change once we are acquired by Amazon. Amazon shares the same strong commitment to privacy and has a long history of protecting customer data across all of its businesses,” the executive wrote. iRobot is positioned to become one of those businesses, and we’re impressed with how Amazon works to earn and maintain customer trust. I’m excited for what lies ahead, and I couldn’t be happier that both organizations share the core value of protecting our customers’ privacy.”

In the meantime, iRobot has suffered through multiple rounds of layoffs — far from an anomaly in the tech world over the past few years. Last August, the company cut 100 jobs, followed by another 85 in February — the latter amounting to around 7% of its global workforce.

It noted at the time:

iRobot plans to continue using its on-hand inventory to fulfill what it expects will be relatively muted orders during the first quarter of 2023 due in part to the shifting of certain orders into the second quarter of 2023. Given these dynamics, iRobot has temporarily reduced robot production at its contract manufacturing partners in China and Malaysia with plans to increase production in April 2023.

It’s been a bit of a perfect storm of headwinds on that front. No doubt ongoing global economic concerns have slowed the purchase of high-ticket electronics. Heck, look at how the global smartphone market has struggled for the last several quarters. At the beginning of the pandemic, iRobot announced that it was pushing the launch of its long-awaited lawn-mowing robot, Terra. The product page has since been pulled from iRobot’s site.

Amazon has had its own layoffs, of course. The figure announced earlier this year was somewhere in the ballpark of 18,000. Amazon Robotics was impacted, though that division operates separately from the consumer line where iRobot would potentially slot in. Closer to home, some 2,000 people were laid off in the consumer hardware division run by Limp. In May, Ken Washington, who headed up the Astro robot team, left the company and has since been named CTO of healthcare tech firm Medtronic.

That’s more or less where we are now — likely at the beginning of another period of relative quiet around the potential iRobot/Amazon deal....

[jingjingxuan]

Entry 12: What I learnt in Tasmania

This is my last journal entry before I submit this journal to my school. For the final entry, I wanted to sum up what I have learnt through this exchange program in Tasmania. Firstly, I have learnt to be more independent. Although this is not my first time living by myself, it was my first time going away to a further country with a different time zone. I first moved from Malaysia to Singapore back in 2019, but honestly, the culture between the two countries is not too far apart and it was only an hour's plane distance, besides, I have a few relatives staying there who will often assist me if I need help. I learnt to cook more complicated food to satisfy my cravings (since eating out is very expensive), to share a common area like a toilet, shower room, kitchen and laundry room with the other students, learnt some tips on saving money, for example, going to the supermarket in the evening to get more discounted food and more. I have learnt to adapt to new environments too, for example, I finally got used to showering in cold weather, and now I have no problem wearing short sleeves in weather below 20 degrees Celsius. I also learnt to step out of my comfort zone. I joined as many activities and events hosted by the school, the accommodations or any public events in Hobart. As an introvert, socialising was never my forte, but this exchange made me want to get to know everyone and learn more about the culture. I learnt about the history of the Aboriginals and the history of how this island was discovered. I had joined events like paint’n’sip where the students got to paint following a Bob Ross’ video tutorial while drinking wine, a brunch for international students where all international students gathered together and get to know each other and recently a Ramadan dinner hosted by the students of the Malaysia Society in UTAS. Although I found that there was more workload in UTAS compared to Lasalle, I managed to complete all without any trouble. I realised the biggest difference was I only needed to focus on school over here while in Singapore, I had to juggle between school and my part-time job. I did attempt on finding a job in Tasmania but did not get any messages back from the employer, so I decided to enjoy the luxury of only having to prioritise academics and not worried about other things. In school, I obtained knowledge in music and politics whereby I learnt the interrelationship between music and politics, and how they affected each other. It is also through this unit, I understand more about the darker side of music such as gender inequality, environmental crisis and racism. I also gained a lot in piano lessons with Shan Deng, the head department of the keyboard. She let me see and learn music from a different perspective, and how to execute the result I want more efficiently. Besides, in accompaniment class, I got the opportunity to work with Aiden, a French Horn player. I had never accompanied a brass instrumentalist before, so I was excited to collaborate with him. It has only been two and a half months, but I felt like I had stayed here for a long time. The semester ends in June and I only left 2 more months here, yet I am not ready to bid farewell to this beautiful island. Tasmania, an island that is always forgotten even by Australians themselves, full of rich natural resources and breathtaking sceneries, filled with kindness and love, will always hold a special place in my heart. I will end my journal with some of my favourite photos taken in Tasmania, the island of abundance.

[rabbitcruiser]

Save The Rhino Day

Save the Rhino Day, celebrated globally on May 1, is a day centered around raising awareness of the rhino’s plight in the world, and highlighting ways to help this incredible animal. This day is especially important given the current devastating statistics — on average, one rhino is poached somewhere in the world every 22 hours. On this day, various animal rights organizations, non-profit companies, zoos, animal activists, and other concerned groups provide opportunities to encourage more rhino conservation efforts from people around the world.

History of Save The Rhino Day

To trace the origins of the Rhinoceros, we’d have to go back some millennia — almost 56 million years ago, to be precise. That’s when the first ancestors of the modern Rhinos roamed the planet. They were more horse-like in structure and had no horns. Old rhino bones found from this period in North America show a gradual evolution from this old horse-like structure into one more aligned with today’s rhino. Over these years, there were three distinct species that scientists think might be the ancestors of today’s rhinos. One of these was called the ‘running rhino,’ which was adapted for speed.

Another was more aquatic and resembled today’s hippopotamus. The last, most direct ancestors to the modern rhinoceros appeared approximately 25 million years ago and had multiple sub-species in their families. Of these, the wooly rhinoceros was one of the largest subspecies, weighing in at almost four times the size of the average African elephant, and boasting one-meter-long horns. This species inhabited a large area, from Siberia to the British Isles. These plant-eaters lived alongside the wooly mammoths, and have been found fossilized in ice and in cave paintings made during that period.

These rhinos only lived in Asia initially but began traveling to other places around 25 million years ago. Over time, these rhino ancestors roamed the continents, primarily living in Eurasia (Europe and Asia combined) and North America. However, the American rhinos went extinct sometime between 5.4 and 2.4 million years ago.

Rhinos have also featured in many Asian and African legends — they are the fire-stamping heroes in many stories from Burma, India, and Malaysia. According to these stories, rhinos appeared every time a fire was lit in the forest and would stamp out the flames. So popular is this tale that it even featured in a popular 1980 South-African movie named “The Gods Must Be Crazy.”

Unfortunately, these once-abundant creatures have lost out to human activity. Hunting, and now, poaching and habitat loss, have drastically reduced the number of rhinos across the world. Rhino horns are also integral to traditional medicine in many parts of Asia, with people believing it has mystical powers. Since 2007, there has been a sharp increase in poaching activity and illegal trade of rhino horns, to the extent that many subspecies of rhinos have been declared extinct and the entire rhino population is listed as ‘endangered’.

Save The Rhino Day timeline

1973 A Symbol of Queer Identity

Two Boston artists, Daniel Thaxton and Bernie Toale create a lavender rhinoceros as a symbol to increase awareness of gays and lesbians and put it in a series of subway posters.

2011 No More Black Rhinos

The Western Black Rhino — which used to live in Cameroon, Chad, the Central African Republic, Sudan, and South Sudan — is declared extinct because of excessive poaching.

2012 A Ray of Hope

For the very first time, a Sumatran rhino — the smallest of the rhino family — is born in captivity in the Sumatran Rhino Sanctuary in Indonesia; this miracle repeats in 2016, and then in 2022.

2018 A Sad Farewell

The world bids goodbye to the last known male northern white rhino; only two females survive to this day.

Save The Rhino Day FAQs

What day is World Rhino Day?

On September 22 each year, the global community celebrates the rhinoceros and explains what people can do to help them.

How many rhino species are there?

At present, there are five species of rhinos in the world — the white rhino and the black rhino (both found in Africa), and the Indian, Javan, and Sumatran (all found in Asia).

Are rhinos endangered?

The black, Javan, and Sumatran rhinos are still listed as ‘critically endangered,’ while the entire species is classified as ‘endangered.’

How to Observe Save The Rhino Day

Learn about the rhinoceros

Visit a rhino

Help save the rhino

Uncover more interesting information about this magnificent animal. Watch documentaries featuring the rhino, read books and other literature about them, and discover more studies and research that show just how the rhino lives.

Why not go see a rhinoceros in real life? Check out rhinos at a local zoo or plan a trip to visit rhinos in the wild.

Research the efforts various groups make towards saving the rhino, and check out what you can do to help. These could include online volunteering services, donations of funds, and more.

5 Fun Facts About The Rhinoceros

The rhino communication method

They don't have 20-20 vision

How the white rhino got its name

Their horns are like our nails

And still, people steal their horns

Rhinos make funny sounds — like snorting, sneeze-like sounds, and even honking — and use their bodily waste to 'speak' to other rhinos.

Rhino eyesight is notoriously poor, so much so that if an animal only 100 feet away — in an open space, too — stood motionless, the rhino wouldn't be able to spot them.

This rhino isn't actually white — English explorers mistook the Afrikaans 'wyd,' which refers to the huge girth of this animal, as 'white' and the name stuck.

Rhino horns are made up almost entirely of keratin, which is also the protein found in human hair and nails.

Even as rhino horns are proven to have no health benefits, signs in museums — like the National Museum of Scotland — notify visitors that the horn on display is a replica, as the real one has been stolen.

Why Save The Rhino Day is Important

It helps increase awareness

Creating safe havens for rhinos

Building a rhino-loving community

Rhinos are becoming increasingly rare in the wild, and only continuous efforts to raise awareness, like celebrating Save The Rhino Day,  can help this endangered species. Do your bit today to support rhinos.

The spike in awareness such days provide also subsequently raises the amount of help being offered to save the rhinos. These increased efforts could help secure various safe and protected spaces for the rhino to survive and thrive.

Conservation efforts have had a significant impact in the past — various subspecies of rhinos have seen their numbers gradually increase over the years as a result of these activities. After these celebrations, we are left with a passionate and motivated global community that wants to see the rhinoceros flourish in the decades to come.

Source

[sustainablesuperpower]

Self-sufficiency is a prerequisite for sustainability.

Most countries in the world are not self-sufficient for their essential needs that include natural resources (water, vegetation, minerals, metals, energy), and machinery (defense and industrial). While some countries have different levels of shortages across categories, some are fully deficient in certain categories. This fundamental deficiency creates the necessity to trade and is the key determinant of their bargaining position in imports as well as exports.

The bargaining power is obviously lost in the case of imports when plugging a deficit, but is also lost on exports, even if the country has a surplus in the export category. E.g. DRC has little influence in setting the price of cobalt (has the largest reserves in the world). Similarly Chile has minimal influence on copper prices, New Zealand on milk prices, or Malaysia on Integrated Circuit prices. This is simply because of the overall poor bargaining power of these nations. 

Self sufficient countries and closely integrated regions have the bargaining power on everything. Only those without any deficit or those with minimal deficits across every category and an overall surplus, qualify as self-sufficient. Even within each category, a country needs to have almost everything that people of the region would need for healthy, safe and efficient living.

Self sufficiency enables these countries to become sustainable themselves. They are able to adopt all best practices for maintaining and enriching the environment & the people, and factor those costs into the price of products and services.

On the other hand, both imports (or production by foreign companies) and exports force the deficient countries to make themselves and the world unsustainable. 

The imports result in excessive consumption by the rich and increased unemployment leading to greater environmental damage. Additionally, foreign enterprises push domestic companies to suppress wages (leading to individual compromises) and flout regulation to stay competitive. The lost effort lowers factor costs of the economy, depreciating the currency and creating an additional economic burden.

Exporting entities also suppress wages and flout regulation to compete on cost in global markets. In their bid to minimize the trade deficit, countries end up exploiting their own resources. They just sell whatever they can and as much as they can without considering sustainability. South Africa has 80% land under agriculture and exports more than half of its produce. The global supply chains detach the consumers from the consequences of unsustainable production. The associated packaging and logistics are wasteful and energy intensive.

The dependent countries also encourage the self-sufficient ones to pursue lavish, resource intensive and inefficient development and consumption behaviors. And the powerful nations are able to extract the resources of the weak and still generate an environmental surplus for themselves.

[swldx]

6195Khz 0457 7 FEB 2023 - BBC (UNITED KINGDOM) in ENGLISH from WOOFFERTON. SINPO = 55323. English, s/on @0458z w/Bow Bells int. then ID@0459z pips and newsday preview. @0501z World News anchored by Gareth Barlow. US President Joe Biden called on Republicans to help "finish the job" of delivering for hardworking families, in his State of the Union address. Mr Biden also said that two years after supporters of his predecessor Donald Trump rioted at the US Capitol, America's democracy was "unbowed and unbroken". He called on congress to pass a ban on assault weapons, protect access to reproductive services and safeguard patient data, and Police reform. Rescuers are desperately searching for survivors in southern Turkey and northern Syria after two huge earthquakes on Monday. As search efforts continue into a second freezing-cold night, time is running out for rescuers to find survivors under the rubble. Relatives of victims who lived in collapsed buildings have joined frantic rescue efforts in one of the worst-hit Turkish cities, using pickaxes and crowbars. Some anguished families have said rescue services took too long to respond in some areas. The Colombian government said Tuesday it was considering offering money to criminals who hand in their firearms in a bid to combat urban crime in a country racked by violence despite a 2016 peace deal. International investigators probing the 2014 downing of Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 (MH17) over eastern Ukraine are set to present new findings on Wednesday, including possibly naming additional suspects. New Zealand authorities have recovered 3.2 tonnes of cocaine, worth more than $300 million, found floating in the Pacific Ocean and believed to be bound for Australia. Microsoft has announced a new version of its search engine Bing, which incorporates the latest in artificial intelligence. @0506z "Newsday" begins. MLA 30 amplified loop (powered w/8 AA rechargeable batteries ~10.8vdc), Etón e1XM. 200kW, beamAz 160°, bearing 47°. Received at Plymouth, United States, 6312KM from transmitter at Woofferton. Local time: 2257.

[five-sparrows-two-pennies]

sad goodbyes & happy farewells

30 December 2022

There were two types of goodbyes in Malaysia. My heart was heavy when saying bye to mum’s side of the family. I saw my mum cry a little; her sisters and grandma were teary also. I was truly sad to have to leave them. We said bye to dad’s side of the family the next day. Everyone bid each other safe travels and good health and a happy new year - much like with mum’s side of the family, except this time, my heart was light. It felt a happy farewell. I couldn’t help but wonder at the difference. This was the conclusion drawn: With dad’s family, it was nice to have reunited, and I knew we would do so again, but until then, everyone would go on with their usual lives as normal. We all had a full life of our own. With mum’s side, our temporary physical proximity made all the difference in their lives. We took them places they otherwise could not have gone, ate good food they hadn’t eaten in a long time, offered company in an otherwise mundane sort of life - they are much poorer, cannot drive, and afflicted in many more ways. Our visit brought much joy to them, and that was a great blessing. The heaviness of farewells, then, seems to be directly proportional to the extent to which a person’s presence has made a difference in the life of another’s.

[f1]

Gasly says he'll miss 'outspoken no bull' Tsunoda as he departs for Alpine

Pierre Gasly’s time at AlphaTauri has come to an end with the French driver set to don the Alpine colours in 2023 – but the Frenchman says he'll miss his now former team mate Yuki Tsunoda and his “no filter” approach. The pair have been team mates for two seasons and have formed a close relationship in their time working together. And as he gets set to join Alpine, Gasly revealed what he will miss the most about working with Tsunoda, who he calls a “very unique character”. READ MORE: 'It was definitely very special' – Gasly 'emotional' after driving Alpine for first time at Abu Dhabi test “He doesn’t live that far from my house in Milan so I am sure we will get some more time in the off season to catch up,” said Gasly. “But there is no bull**** with Yuki and that is one thing I will really appreciate. Everything which goes through his mind is out of his mouth in a flash of light. “He’s a very unique character, got a great sense of humour, no filter, which can be quite surprising at times, but he is a great human being. Really enjoyed these last two years seeing him evolve within the team. "Also as a person I think he has developed quite a lot – definitely someone I appreciate, and I’ll happily call as a friend now.” Gasly says Tsunoda improved massively in 2022 and expects him to do the same next season Asked if Tsunoda has what it takes to lead AlphaTauri, Gasly said: “Only time will tell whether he has got what it takes to lead the team. His path to Formula 1 was kind of fast forwarded. He went Formula 4, Formula 3, F2, straight to F1 at quite a young age, not so much experience. GALLERY: Check out Alonso, Gasly, Piastri and more as they debut for their new teams in Abu Dhabi test “I think only time will tell but for sure he has improved massively this year. Would not be surprised to see him improving again next season. I think he knows what he needs to work on: a bit of self-control. But he knows that, and he has got good people around him and this environment is also good for him to really develop as a better driver.” Gasly finished his final race with AlphaTauri in 14th at the Abu Dhabi GP and while he admits he and the team had a “difficult” season – as they finished ninth in the constructors’ championship – he was full of praise for the Italian outfit after their "amazing" time together, which stretches back to 2017, either side of a short spell with Red Bull. ‘I’m a better driver thanks to them’ – Pierre Gasly bids farewell to AlphaTauri “Yeah, we tried. But tonight, I don’t have much to say. It reflects our season which was difficult,” said Gasly when asked to reflect on his race. “But I know we never stopped fighting until the end, and until these last few laps. At the end of the day, I will more remember these past five years from my first race in Malaysia back in 2017 till now. 2023 F1 GRID: All the drivers and teams racing next season “I know a lot has changed on my side, on the team side, they’ve been doing a very strong job over the last few years, and I think the way they’ve developed has been really impressive and I’ve really enjoyed the journey. That is what I will remember.” He continued: “I can clearly say that now I am a better driver thanks to them, and I think we have had an amazing time together, so definitely going to feel strange not to see these similar faces next year but then I will keep with me close to my heart all these people and carry with me all these amazing memories.” via Formula 1 News https://www.formula1.com

[auctionproperty12]

Unlock Great Opportunities at Southlink Residence

Introduction:

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