Tabletop fire bowls made of concrete, ceramic or terra cotta can provide a sense of warmth and ambiance to your outdoor dining space and can also serve as relaxing outdoor lighting when just chilling on your patio, deck or porch. Learn how to make DIY tabletop fire bowls in literally…...
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The film features the voices of Chris Evans as accomplished Space Ranger Buzz Lightyear, Uzo Aduba as his commander and best friend Alisha Hawthorne, and Peter Sohn as Sox. Keke Palmer, Taika Waititi, and Dale Soules lend their voices to the Junior Zap Patrol’s Izzy Hawthorne, Mo Morrison, and Darby Steel, respectively, and James Brolin can be heard as the enigmatic Zurg. The voice cast also includes Mary McDonald-Lewis as onboard computer I.V.A.N., Isiah Whitlock Jr. as Commander Burnside, Efren Ramirez as Airman Diaz, and Keira Hairston as Young Izzy. Directed by Angus MacLane (co-director Finding Dory), produced by Galyn Susman (Toy Story That Time Forgot), and featuring a score by award-winning composer Michael Giacchino (The Batman, Up),
We’re also exploring the idea of hubris and ego since that is the very thing that lands Buzz and the people around him in the situation that they are in. The character of Buzz in Lightyear is painfully human, and the mistakes we see him making throughout that entire first act that really sets up where the rest of the movie is going to go are hard to watch. It’s actually rather devastating, nearly to the level of Carl and Ellie on some levels.Whatever people think Lightyear is going to be, the footage we have seen twice now is not the movie we were expecting. That is not to say that Pixar couldn’t fumble the ball in the latter parts of the film, and the tone of that first half-hour is pretty heavy. It could make the juxtaposition hard to handle, but we’ll have to see it once the movie comes out in theaters next month.
CinemaCon attendees got a sneak peek at the first 30 minutes of Disney/Pixar’s “Toy Story” spinoff (in theaters June 17), which centers on cocky yet caring space ranger Buzz Lightyear (voiced by Chris Evans, taking over for Tim Allen from the first four “Toy Story” movies). A title card at the start of the film tells us that in 1995, little boy Andy got a toy Buzz: “It was from his favorite movie. This is that movie.” But in the first footage shown to movie theater owners at CinemaCon, it was a new lesbian character named Alisha Hawthorne (Uzo Aduba) that stole the show.
The gentle glow of natural light filtering in; the calming sway of the neighbouring trees; the distant line of the horizon with thick clouds lazily gathering over it. The ability to maintain a connection with the outdoors underpins the notion of biophilic design, and architecture's ability to influence our wellbeing. Transparent facades, generously-sized windows and expansive glass doors are some of the most pertinent devices that enable architects and designers to create dwellings, public spaces and commercial buildings that make this barrier between the outdoors and indoors barely perceptible – all the while providing a sense of shelter, and all-important thermal comfort.
In this instalment of The Edit, we explore Schüco’s innovative aluminium and thermally broken doors, windows and facade system. With pioneering technological advancement at the heart of their product development, and the ambition to enable industry professionals to bring even the most advanced designs to life, the range sets a new precedent for what's possible in residential and commercial constructions. And thanks to Capral Aluminium, it is now available in Australia.
Product-led and editorially curated, the Habitus Edit offers a unique perspective on the exceptional designers and brands across the Indo-Pacific region and beyond. Let this edition be your window into Schüco and Capral Aluminium's pioneering collection of products – and their potential to build a more transparent, sustainable and efficient future.
“Good evening all. A little bit of a surprise for you tonight. As you may, or may not, know. Mr. Walrus is away on vacation so lots of things are on hiatus including the FCF. But there is still something going on. We wanted to ask all you loyal posters of IMAO for your opinion. What do you like best about IMAO? What would you change? What might we try? What’s the airspeed velocity of an unladen Swallow? Please take the time and be honest, nothing will happen to you. Well, I do hear that you might have The Emu pay you a visit for a little “yakking”. How bad can that be? So have at it and Mr. Walrus will return later in May.”
Neptune Is Cooling Down and Scientists Don’t Know Why Space.com | Tereza Pultarova
Two decades worth of observations revealed unexpected cooling of the solar system’s most distant planet, Neptune, amid its astronomical summer.
Neptune is orbiting 30 times farther away from the sun than Earth with one year lasting 165 Earth years. The ice giant’s seasons, too, last much longer than those on Earth ― more than 40 Earth-years each.
As the planet moved into its southern summer over the past two decades, astronomers observed its average global temperatures plummet by a staggering 14 degrees Fahrenheit (8 degrees Celsius).
The observed cooling, however, wasn’t uniform, the researchers said in the statement.
Measurements of Neptune’s stratosphere, the second lowest layer of the planet’s atmosphere, revealed a warming trend above Neptune’s south pole. This data set, which only contained data from a two-year period between 2018 and 2020, revealed a speedy warming of about 20 degrees F (11 degrees C). The scientists said that such polar warming has never been observed on Neptune before.
Straight Line of the Day: Why is Neptune cooling down?
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There are certain shows that soar because the stars are special. They have qualities that make you care about them. You want them to succeed. You connect with them. That's why the Spy x Family anime adaptation is such a compelling watch, as its primary cast of characters work on so many levels. Their personalities are wonderful, their "secret" identities are exciting, and the dynamic is a joy to watch.
The Spy x Family dynamic is one we've seen in thrillers before. Twilight, a spy, is tasked with a mission demanding he go undercover. This means assembling a fake family. Which, again, isn't too out of the ordinary. We've seen other forms of media in which more than one member has a clandestine occupation, perhaps without the other members knowing, too. But what makes this one so unique is that we have an observer in the daughter, Anya, who is aware of everything due to being psychic.
There's an earnestness to each of the Spy x Family characters. Loid Forger is a legendary spy. He's brilliant, capable, observant, and strong. But despite the occupation, he's a genuinely good person. He's a spy to make the world a better place. But he also locked a lot of himself away. Which means as he bonds with the family, he starts to become more human and connect to them. Yor Forger is equally observant and smart, with incredible reflexes and strength. But she's also shy and a bit socially inept, as she'll be ogling a guillotine, wondering about blood getting on certain color outfits, and consider mass murder as a way to escape an embarrassing situation. They're both impressive individuals, but they're human. Which makes them fun to watch. Especially as they grow as individuals due to living as a family together.
And then there's Anya. She's exceptional in her own right, due to being a psychic. She's genuine. Her parents amuse her with their antics, even though they're deadly. She idolizes them and wants to aid in their endeavors. However, she's also just a child. One who might not even be six, as she claimed to get Loid to adopt her. Which means her naïveté gets the better of her. She'll call out her dad's "lies" in her mind as they come up. When she's eavesdropping on folks' thoughts, she'll unintentionally react. Also, she can get overwhelmed by thoughts. It's a lot for her to deal with during the Spy x Family anime.
The dynamic with the characters is especially evident once episode 3 of the Spy x Family anime comes around. This is because that's when we finally see the trio interact as a family for the first time. Anya immediately takes to Yor as her new mother. Loid attempts to get them ready for the interview to blend in, which means experiencing the theater, a museum, and fine dining. They begin working together. Even unintentionally, it happens, as the three work together to help a stranger. They pool together their strengths for the greater good. In so doing, we see how much they all need each other.
There are three people who aren't perfect. They're unique and searching for something. They each have a "mission" of their own. And in the Spy x Family anime, we get to watch them grow and accomplish these goals together. It is equal parts comedic, heartwarming, and thrilling. And it is all because Loid, Yor, and Anya are so well developed.
The Spy x Family anime adaptation is streaming both dubbed and subbed on Crunchyroll. The manga adaptation is being released outside Japan by Viz Media.
Furyu will release a 1/7 scale figure of Kurumi Tokisaki from Date a Live IV. This version of Kurumi will be wearing a shiromuku, which is a traditional all-white Japanese wedding kimono. The version that Kurumi wears in the figure is slightly altered for a more modern aesthetic. Pre-orders will open from April 30 and end on July 7, 2022. [Thanks, Hobby Dengeki!]
There is a red gradation effect on the bottom of the inner kimono, and the outer edges of the outside layer are red and black. She also has in her right hand Zafkiel's flintlock pistol, and she is holding onto the sleeve of the shiromuku with her left hand. While the traditional shiromuku kimono has a hood-like headdress, Kurumi is instead wearing a more gothic lolita-style one.
This is not the only Kurumi figure on the horizon. Good Smile Company showed off an unpainted prototype of a Date a Live III Kurumi Tokisaki figma during WonHobby 35. At the same time, it showed a figma of Tohka Yatogami. The Tohka figure is open for pre-order on the Good Smile Company website. It will come out in Japan in December 2022, and February 2023 for North America.
The Date a Live IV Kurumi Tokisaki (Shiromuku Version) 1/7 scale figure will be available for pre-order until July 7, 2022 via the F:NEX website. It will cost 28,380 JPY, which is around $218.65. F:NEX does not offer overseas shipping.
The official Fullmetal Alchemist The Final Chapter Twitter account shared new stills of King Bradley and his family, including his son Selim Bradley. The new images accompanied an interview with actor Hiroshi Tachi and Kokoro Terada, who play King Bradley and Selim Bradley. Notably, Tachi discussed the "interesting" dynamic between the two characters. [Thanks, ryokutya!]
Note: This article includes Fullmetal Alchemist spoilers.
Fullmetal Alchemist: The Final Chapter – Scar the Avenger is the first film in a two-part live-action film series, set to debut later this year. The movies will pick up where the last live-action film left off in 2017. Scar the Avenger and The Last Transmutation will feature a cast of popular Japanese actors. Last month, the Twitter account released a series of stills featuring these actors playing characters such as Van Hohenheim, King Bradley, Ling Yao, and Olivier Mira Armstrong.
The latest series of Fullmetal Alchemistlive-action stills focus on King Bradley and his family, including Selim Bradley. The two characters are also known as Wrath and Pride, respectively. Wrath and Pride are two Homunculi that play an important part in Fullmetal Alchemist's story. Importantly, Selim is the second-in-command of the Homunculi, and is arguably King Bradley's senior. To this, Hiroshi Tachi commented that, despite being vastly different in age, Terada was a "brilliant actor" that was "able to immediately immerse himself into the world's setting."
Terada, a 13-year-old child actor, stated that one of his favorite scenes was when Selim was able to be a regular kid around King Bradley and his wife. In order to differentiate his two personalities, Terada explained that he focused on changes in voice depth. When acting as Pride, Terada also focused on acting arrogant and looking down on people.
Check out the Fullmetal Alchemist live-action stills below.
[gallery ids="925747,925746,925748" link="file"]
The Fullmetal Alchemist: The Final Chapter – Scar the Avenger live-action movie will premiere in Japanese theaters on May 20, 2022. The second new entry, The Last Transmutation, will debut on June 24, 2022. There is no confirmation of an English or Western release.
In my experience as a business advisor and angel investor these days, I seem to more frequently hear from entrepreneurs and business owners with "can't-fail" or "get-rich-quick" ideas. In my view, these are the least likely to succeed, partially because the people behind them have the wrong expectations and traits. The instant gratification approach just doesn't work in business.
In addition, I've always wondered why an inordinate number of successful businesses today were started by people born outside the U.S., including Sergey Brin (Russia) at Google, Elon Musk (South Africa) at Tesla, John W. Nordstrom (Sweden), and Pierre Omidyar (France) at Ebay. It seems like these emigrants would be least likely to succeed, with all their extra challenges.
Perhaps that's why I was impressed with a classic book, "The Emigrant Edge," by Irish immigrant and successful business executive, Brian Buffini. He details the natural disadvantages and advantages of emigrants, compared to native-born business leaders, and highlights seven common traits that we both believe should be adopted and practiced by every business owner:
Develop and nurture a voracious desire to learn. In this rapidly changing world, there is no time for repeating the mistakes of others, or trying to repeat yesterday's success. Successful immigrants have found that they need to go out of their way to meet and listen to others, have new experiences, and learn from different aspects of life and cultures.
Maintain a "do-whatever-it-takes" mind-set. Life favors the persistent and the willing. It's going that extra mile, and never giving up, that enables getting over the hump to success. Successful immigrants have been forced to get out of their comfort zone, do things they don't necessarily want to do, take risks, and make difficult decisions.
Feel a deep-seated willingness to outwork others. Those who come to this country with little more than hope to their name know that to get what they want they must work harder and longer than anyone else. With native born new entrepreneurs, I sometimes feel a sense of entitlement, or hear the search for how little one can work to find success.
Demonstrate a heartfelt spirit of gratitude. Not only should we be grateful for small successes in our business, we should also be grateful for the setbacks because from these we learn more. Gratitude has the power to change your thinking from pessimism, to making a difference in the world. Immigrants know to be grateful for what they have now.
Practice the boldness to invest in the future. Immigrants certainly can't afford to let life's many choices confuse them. If they have a desire to succeed, they have to be bold and focus on a desired outcome. That means forgoing short-term returns, and investing in themselves, their vocation, and in other people. They put in everything they have.
Have the discipline and commitment to delay gratification. There's no denying that instant access to most things is satisfying, but it has downsides too. Some business people develop the trait that if results are not immediate, it's time to give up. Successful immigrants learn to sacrifice, and understand that slow and steady often wins the race.
Remember always to appreciate every step of growth. Immigrants may have started with nothing, but everyone has grown from their beginnings. Sometimes these steps are so small that they are lost or unappreciated, when they should be remembered and celebrated. Successful people enjoy and appreciate the journey, not just the destination.
I'm convinced that every person who starts a business should think of themselves as an emigrant turned immigrant, or one who leaves a known home base, to more permanently settle in or create another, hopefully better place. Think of the seven traits outlined here as the "emigrant edge."
The sooner you can unleash these traits in your life and your business, the sooner you too can experience business success.
Most of you business owners I know are looking forward to the day when your product, team and processes begin to mature, and your business growth keeps tilting upward as you scale. You expect to relax a bit, and relish in the success that you see coming. Unfortunately, without your proactive efforts to counter predictable market challenges, early growth can quickly stall.
In my experience, there will always be growth challenges that you can't predict, including new technologies, economic downturns, and political changes, but I'm talking here about changes in the market that every good business leader should anticipate, including the following:
Your targeted customer segment has a limit. No matter how excited your initial customers appear to be, every market has a saturation point on new and repeat sales. Often times, business owners are enticed by early adopters, but fail to prepare for the early majority wave and late adopters. Always have a next segment in your sights.
Of course, don't forget to continually interact with your best existing customers, to find areas where you can increase customer value and squeeze out additional growth for your business. Offering customized products and personalized support are options often used.
Penetrating new customer segments is not so easy. Stepping into unknown territories takes real customer acquisition marketing and new costs through social media, public relations, and advertising campaigns. Existing customer advocacy and word-of-mouth are no longer adequate to sustain growth. Start today with new customer acquisition efforts.
In all cases, increasing your brand recognition is key, especially for international segments. The Internet has helped small and mid-sized companies compete on the global stage, so building an international brand is a realistic goal for more businesses.
New generation of customers expect more service. The support currently provided by product service can become inadequate to satisfy new customers, as your growth and image becomes better known. Be prepared to create and train a dedicated support group that can keep up with your now large and growing install base of demanding customers.
In fact, customers today look for a totally memorable shopping experience, from ease in finding your solution, through the buying experience, and including support. Real results show that new levels of customer experience may double your growth rate over time.
Customers suddenly become very price sensitive. Early customers, with high passion and few alternatives, are willing to pay your price premium. Over time, continued growth demands that you be willing to offer discount options, and extra features to maintain your revenue growth curve. This calls for creative marketing as well as new cost reductions.
I recommend that you look around you constantly for innovative pricing strategies, that may have evolved in other segments, but can be adapted to your market. Examples might include a "name your own price" option, free add-ons, or unlimited use terms.
A new formidable competitor jumps into play. You may think you have the market locked up with your unique process, trade secret, or patent, but there are always ways for new players to grab your potential customers, or put the brakes on growth. Always be working on your next set of solution enhancements, or a new marketing campaign.
Operational costs escalate as your business scales up. As your company scales into new market segments and new volumes, that single base location and small teams are no longer adequate. New real estate and office buildings were never in your plan. Start planning now for new operational costs, including people turnover, benefits, and training.
Every smart business owner knows they must resist that urge to rely totally on repeatable processes to assure continuous growth. In fact, quite the opposite, you should always be planning to re-invent your business, or at least introduce innovation on a regular basis. The pace of change in the market is increasing, and your ability to keep up is your key to sustained growth.
