Embracing the Beauty of Travel Beyond Politics and Borders

General, News

travel adventures rafting

Unveiling the Allure of Travel Adventures like Rafting

Picture this: you’re navigating the churning waters of a wild river, adrenaline coursing through your veins as you conquer each rapid, and the only borders that matter are the riverbanks guiding your way. This is the essence of travel adventures like rafting – an exhilarating pursuit that transcends political divisions and geographical boundaries. In a world often marked by discord and disputes, the realm of travel offers a unique escape, a chance to embrace the beauty that lies beyond politics and borders.

Breaking Barriers, One Rapid at a Time

The Call of the Wild

Amidst the cacophony of political debates and the incessant buzz of digital connectivity, the allure of nature’s untamed beauty remains steadfast. Travel adventures like rafting allow us to answer the call of the wild, immersing ourselves in landscapes untouched by partisan agendas. As we navigate the tumultuous currents, we are reminded that the river does not discriminate; it carries us forward without regard for nationality or creed.

Unity in Diversity

In the heart of the rapids, a remarkable transformation occurs – strangers become comrades, united by a shared goal and a common experience. The rhythmic teamwork required to steer the raft through the swirling waters underscores the value of collaboration, proving that when humanity unites, remarkable feats are possible. The river becomes a metaphorical thread that weaves us together, erasing the lines that so often divide us.

Connecting with Cultures

Tapestry of Traditions

Beyond the adrenaline-pumping excitement, travel offers an opportunity to immerse ourselves in the tapestry of global cultures. From the bustling markets of Marrakech to the serene temples of Kyoto, each destination is a chapter in the grand story of humanity. These cultural exchanges remind us that our shared human heritage is far more profound than any political disagreement.

The Taste of Authenticity

Culinary delights, a cornerstone of any journey, also serve as a gateway to understanding a culture. The sizzle of spices in a bustling Thai street market or the delicate aroma of freshly baked baguettes in a Parisian bakery evoke a sense of connection that transcends borders. Through these flavors, we experience the soul of a place, fostering an appreciation that goes beyond political headlines.

Nurturing Empathy

Walking in Others’ Shoes

Mark Twain once said, “Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow-mindedness.” Stepping out of our comfort zones and into foreign lands challenges our preconceptions and encourages empathy. Engaging with locals, listening to their stories, and witnessing their daily lives offer a more profound education than any news segment. These interactions paint a vivid picture of our shared humanity and the universality of our hopes and dreams.

A Glimpse into Global Realities

While travel often showcases a destination’s beauty, it doesn’t shy away from revealing its struggles. Visiting a bustling Asian metropolis or a remote African village provides insights into the challenges different societies face. This firsthand experience fosters a deeper understanding of the complexities that shape our world, encouraging us to view global issues through a more informed and compassionate lens.

Read also: The Constantly Changing Political Terrain

Preserving Nature’s Masterpieces

Guardians of the Environment

Travel adventures take us to the heart of some of Earth’s most breathtaking landscapes. These journeys aren’t just about personal enrichment – they carry a responsibility to protect and preserve the natural wonders we encounter. Witnessing the fragile beauty of a coral reef or the magnificence of a towering redwood tree inspires a desire to safeguard these treasures for generations to come, transcending political boundaries in the name of ecological conservation.

Embracing the Journey Ahead

In a world where politics and borders often dominate the discourse, the realm of travel offers a haven for those seeking a different perspective. Through travel adventures like rafting, we learn that the human spirit knows no borders, and the allure of our planet’s natural and cultural wonders transcends the political fray. So, as you plan your next escapade, remember that beyond the maps and the news headlines, a world of unity, empathy, and breathtaking beauty awaits – ready to be embraced, cherished, and shared with open hearts.

Delay on Sue Gray’s Report of PM Johnson’s Partygate Scandal

News

As Prime Minister Boris Johnson leaves for North Wales, the wait for senior civil servant Sue Gray’s Partygate scandal report involving the PM will be delayed. The ‘Partygate’ controversy had the whole country engaged in discussions for weeks after the police launched a formal probe of the “‘bring your own booze” (BYOB) party taking place in Downing Street. The parties are in direct violation of multiple and mandatory pandemic restrictions ordered by the government through the Prime Minister, during the critical periods when the COVID-19 virus was spreading across London and in the UK.

What was PM Johnson’s Role in the Partygate Scandal?

Boris Johnson’s position as the Prime Minister of UK is hanging by a thread as he tries to wriggle himself out two police investigations related to the rule-breaking BYOB parties that transpired in government offices during the lockdown. The key issues of this scandal includes whether Johnson ignored the concerns for the party, when he learned about the May 2020 BYOB party, and whether the gathering breached Covid-19 restrictions. Furthermore, he was also accused of misleading the Parliament which can be a resign-worthy matter.

Johnson answered at the weekly Prime Minister’s Questions, that the staff completely followed coronavirus rules. His response to the leaked video that led to the resignation of former press secretary Allegra Stratton where his colleagues joked about the party during a mock press conference was that there were no rules broken.

The key issues of this scandal includes whether Johnson ignored the concerns for the party, when he learned about the May 2020 BYOB party, and whether the gathering breached Covid-19 restrictions. Furthermore, he was also accused of misleading the Parliament which can be a resign-worthy matter.

PM Boris Johnson continues to refuse the calls for him to resign during the weekly Prime Minister’s Questions session in the House of Commons. This despite the outcomes of the police investigation that created more damage to the Prime Minister’s reputation. The clamor for his resignation now includes calls coming from members of Johnson’s own conservative party.

Politics and News Apps: 3 Best Free News Apps

News, Politics, Technology

politics-apps

Always notified despite busy schedules:

Only the right news app will help. We have tested the best free messaging apps for Android and iOS. To make your smartphone more convenient and easy to access these apps, you can use all versions (eg iOS 14 Jailbreak, for iOS users).

News apps are all over any place today. As the world of iOS, it’s incredibly fast and difficult to manage. We help you track and find news apps that suit your reading needs. That’s why we searched the app store for the best free offers for Android and iOS. Here you can find the top three by comparison.

1. News Republic Trendy

The News Republic is a news app for young viewers that sorts current topics according to personal taste. After downloading the app, you can choose your favorite theme without any major setup steps. The following section is initially available for this purpose.

Here you can determine with one click which regional and national media in the areas of Recommendations, Politics, Entertainment, Sports, World, Business, Digital, Health, and Automotive are particularly relevant to you. From now on, the app will display the selected message in the newsfeed under Follow.

2. Google News

Google News is a comprehensive app for news from all over the world. This application is aimed at a wide range of audiences, is well-structured, and has many reliable sources. You can access national and international media and their freely accessible articles. News apps classify the latter into four categories: headlines, favorites, and kiosks for you. The For You section has a pre-selection of topics and headlines that should not be overlooked. The top 5 news of the day is displayed here, followed by other related reports.

The app can be linked to your Google account, so offers are mostly tailored to you. In addition, of course, you can limit your preferences by marking sources and selecting topics as favorites. A combination of a great product that can only be used with this form and a corresponding Google account.

3. Feedly

Feedly isn’t as classic a news app as RSS feeds, it’s one of the most popular apps in the world. This means a personalized news ticker that provides headlines and text tears directly in the app without opening a browser. If you have Feedly installed, you must first link your application to your Facebook or Google account.

Next, it’s important to narrow down your area of ​​interest and create a personalized news feed organized by theme. These feeds or tickers can consist of general topics such as economics, or they can be more detailed and include news from the fields of mobile communications and smartphones, for example.

Political Education Is More Important Now

News, Politics, Safety

This site can help to guide you to research school elections. I know that attention to elections varies enormously. If you have a problem with your phone being locked, try to remove iCloud Removal to solve your problem with your phone and it can guide you to vote wisely.

They thought political socialization was for home, not for school. From my research into school elections, I know that attention to elections varies enormously. At one school, students and teachers organize student elections together, at the other, teachers limit themselves to handing out a link to a voting guide. At one school, students and teachers talk extensively about their political concerns, questions and experiences, at the other school discussions about controversial (political) issues are avoided. Why this difference? In the Netherlands, political education in secondary education is primarily invested in the subject of social studies. This course focuses on promoting knowledge and thinking skills. Many civics teachers will support students in forming and questioning an opinion about political issues. Supporting students in learning to position their opinion about, for example, the meaninglessness of voting alone is not part of their formal task.

Attention to political opinion-forming

The current Citizenship Education Act of 2006 also offers little guidance. This law obliges schools to promote the active participation of students but does not provide any further criteria. If a school starts pricking plastic with students, it formally meets this requirement. Fortunately, the new citizenship law, which was approved by the House of Representatives in 2020, is more committed to promoting democratic participatory skills. Attention to political opinion-forming that goes further than ‘what do you think of position X, however, is not yet commonplace in political education.

Each teacher is an expert in a specific subject

Firstly, attention to political opinion-forming is part of the qualifying task of education: every teacher is an expert in a specific subject. With this expertise, he or she can help students to form an informed opinion about the (non) sense, (un)feasibility, and (un)lawfulness of proposed policy of political parties on topics that concern them. Secondly, it is part of the socializing task of education: many people find themselves in their own political bubble. Respect for the fact that people have a different opinion than you, and expressing your opinion in a respectful way (without death threats) is not something everyone gets from home. Modesty about what you don’t know and neither does the courage to change your mind. It is at school that pupils with (parents with) different political colors can reflect on current and desirable values ​​and norms in the field of freedom of expression. Thirdly, it is part of the person-building task of education: students and teachers are all concerned about certain social issues. They all have an opinion about how (not much) useful it is to cast your vote, and about what is (less) well organized in the Netherlands. With a bit of luck, they also occasionally dare to indicate in our society of opinions that they know too little about something to find anything about it. By discussing these concerns, opinions, doubts, and questions, teachers can support students in finding their own voice. So let’s continue to support young people in education in forming political opinions, and learn how to respectfully deal with the political opinions of others.

 

White House Announces Lifting of Travel Restrictions on 33 Countries

News

This week, White House Coronavirus Response Coordinator Jeff Zients announced that the US will resume accepting fully vaccinated air travelers of 33 countries. The announcement is part of the White House’s effort to ease pandemic-related restrictions this coming November. Ex-president Donald Trump ordered the travel restriction in 2020 but without fully providing conditions on how and when the ban will be lifted.

The list of countries to which the US will reopen for vaccinae supporting countries mies like Italy, France, Greece, Germany, Switzerland and Spain, as well as Britain, Ireland, China, Iran, Brazil, India, and South Africa. The past restrictions have forced these countries to institute counter travel restrictions on vaccinated U.S. air travelers visiting their respective countries.

The announcement though was a surprise since Pres. Biden previously declared that it’s still not the best time to lift travel restrictions, as the coronavirus cases across the globe are still on the rise.

Travel Advisory Announcements Included Extended Restriction Bans on Land Borders

The White House announcements included advisory that the U.S. has lengthened the duration of pandemic-related restrictions for non-essential tourists entering the US via the land-borders of Mexico and Canada/ The extension will be in effect up to October 21, 2021 The land border extension did not specify if the extended restriction applies to fully vaccinated tourists who entering the aforementioned borders.

Control Of The Railway Sector Through Politics

News

The railroad has a multitude of points of contact with politics such as the Deutsche Bahn in Germany (Read bahnauskunft about Deutsche Bahn here). The federal government is the owner, regulator, and main source of funding. The railways have been an unpopular stepchild in transport policy for many years; hardly any transport minister in the last few decades has shown interest in or committed to the sector. Fortunately, in the current political debate, the railway has moved a little more to the fore.

Recent developments in the management of railways in Germany is going through a strike

The strike called by the train drivers’ union GDL in the wage conflict with the railways is straining the nerves and patience of many travelers. The strike in passenger traffic began on the morning of August 11. It should take 48 hours. The impairments are massive – on both short and long-haul routes.

The system of Financial Control in the Railways

The system for the financial control and promotion of the railways that has emerged in recent years is contradictory: On the one hand, the government has decided to no longer measure DB by profit maximization – nevertheless, the stipulation continues that the train path prices have a “capital market-adequate rate of return” must include. The level of the train path prices is determined in an extremely complex administrative process. These only apply to long-distance transport; the actual prices are determined differently for local rail passenger transport and freight transport. Today, environmentally friendly rail is the only mode of transport that pays emissions taxes (cars should also pay from 2021; there have been no decisions so far for trucks and air transport). On the one hand, the railway is promoted and relieved (including an increase in regionalization funds (RegMittel), capital increase DB), at the same time the government is trying to impose new burdens on companies in the sector by increasing or creating new fees.

Strategies for financial control developed slowly

In addition, strategies are only implemented and developed very slowly. In the master plan for rail freight transport from June 2017, for example, the decline in single wagon traffic was discussed. The topic is also dealt with in the current “Future Alliance” without any concepts on the table. In view of the dramatic situation in the segment, a discussion lasting almost three years with no result is unsatisfactory. The 740 m network was named in the master plan as a “measure to be checked at short notice”. The implementation of the first construction measures (signal relocations) is now in prospect for 2025. However, the Federal Ministry of Transport and Digital Infrastructure (BMVI) can, if politically wanted, implement projects much faster: Between the decision to equip two test stretches on motorways with overhead lines, and the erection of the first masts only took a few months. Plan approval is required for electrification measures on the railways. Recently, it became known in a project that the examination at the Federal Railway Authority alone took more than three years.

Another Close Call In The 2020 Elections After Four Years: Who Will Be The POTUS?

Another Close Call In The 2020 Elections After Four Years: Who Will Be The POTUS?

News, Politics

The United States of America is in for another tough couple of days as the country holds a historic presidential election amid a pandemic. For the first time, the election committee allowed early voting wherein voters can now mail in their ballots, as a way to lessen the number of people flocking in voting precints on the day of the elections. This is something that some politicians strongly opposed, particularly the current president of the United States (POTUS) himself, Donald Trump, saying that this could just another way for the Democrats to cheat their way into winning the presidency.

Now that the election day has arrived, the country is once again in for a rough ride as another neck-to-neck race, just like in the 2016 election, is unfolding. At this very moment, Democrat bet and former US Vice President Joe Biden leads Trump by a very slight margin in terms of electoral votes. As there are more votes in many states that have yet to be accounted in, it is still very early to declare a winner in this election.

Trump Is Early To Declare His Victory As States Where He Currently Leads Have Not Yet Counted ALL Votes

So far, there are a handful of states in America who have yet to count every vote, especially the mailed-in votes that were submitted a couple of days ahead of the election day itself. While Biden is still in the lead, those states still on the process of counting all votes show that Trump is leading in those states. In the event that those states have Trump as the winner, he will take the lead in the presidential race over Biden, therefore taking his re-election win.

However, many election analysts and experts believe that it is still anybody’s game as far as the vote counting in the last few remaining states are going. While Trump is leading currently in those states, most of the votes, particularly the mailed-in votes, could change the course of the race and have Biden leading instead. IF that happens, then Biden would widen his lead and easily be declared the winner and the new POTUS.

It would appear, however, that is the latter scenario did happen, Trump would not accept this defeat and file an election fraud complaint. Sadly, Trump has already declared himself as the winner and moves to stop the ongoing counting of the votes as these votes, according to him, as just part of an election rigging effort by Joe Biden’s camp. This is a truly painful and vaskemaskin moment for the American people, especially if Trump exhausts all efforts to discount those votes that have yet to come in.

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Can Trump Accept A Defeat In The Presidential Race Easily?

Can Trump Accept A Defeat In The Presidential Race Easily?

News, Politics

The American people only have a few weeks to go before they witness the next president of the United States being elected. Per the latest pre-election surveys, the presidential race remains tight between the Republican and Democrat bets, the incumbent US President Donald Trump and former Senator and former Vice President, Joe Biden. It is still pretty early to say what will this year’s election bring to the country, but as people always say, we should be prepared for the worst things to come.

For sure, we already know what will happen if Trump wins his second term as the most powerful man in the White House, seeing how he performed over the last four years. However, IF EVER the POTUS loses his reelection bid, are we ready for what’s going to go down?

The Credibility of The 2020 Presidential Election Will Surely Be Questioned

Prior to the beginning of the presidential campaign period this year, President Trump has already been vocal about having the national elections on schedule. As we all know, the current COVID-19 pandemic is hindering all kinds of events and gatherings, especially in crowded public spaces. To avoid the people going to polling precints, where there is a high risk of catching the dreaded coronavirus, it has been decided to allow the voters to cast their ballots by sending them via mail. This proposition seems like a first time in American history, although it was already done before, and the outcome of that election turned out well.

This time around, thanks to highly modernized technology, counting votes sent via mail can be done more efficiently and swiftly, but the issue here is how can the election committee ensure that the votes of the American people are protected. This is the same sentiment of the POTUS, saying that in this kind of voting system, there is greater risk of corrupting the legitimate votes.

Now, if ever President Trump loses in this election, this issue will surely be brought up once again. Based on Trump’s comments and statements throughout the election campaign, it is likely that the president could put the blame on the Democrat party for manipulating the result of the 2020 elections. If only the system in place for the election is the same as https://buypetsupplyonline.com then there won’t be a question about the validity.

A lot of things may happen regarding the possible complaints about the election results, but one thing is for sure: Trump is going to have a hard time believing that he lost.

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Liberalism On Instagram

News

Instagram, The Show of Liberalism After Floy’d Death

If you’ve logged into Instagram in the days following the murder of George Floyd by Derek Chauvin, a Minneapolis Police Officer, the platform had been unrecognizable. Instead of the typical series of photos, you’ve likely seen an outburst of hyped-up content that didn’t have a name. The News Republic, however, termed it as “Instagraphics” – an infographics slideshow-style. You’ve probably seen various titles like the following below:

  • Transformative Justice 101
  • How to Talk to Your Racist Family Member Now
  • What is Abolition?

If you use Instagram, you’ve likely seen a similar situation following the weeks after the death of Floyd. Millions have gathered on the streets in cities country-wide. Resources say that these Instagram pages that featured Instagraphics were given a boost by services like buy Instagram followers to increase their engagement and reach.

What is Liberalism?

The word liberalism is conveying very distinctive position in political sense; one is that, a pro-individualist theory of government and people and the other is a pro-statist or what’s better coined as social democratic conception. Students who are into political philosophy have to be mindful of the two theories to be able to steer clear of philosophical confusions that may be resolved by clarifying terms.

Movement in Liberalism

The “Great Switch” as how cultural historians Jacques Barzun notes taken place in late 19th century; this is a switch wherein the product of shifting political grounds towards social democratic or socialist policies are under the umbrella of politics and liberal parties.

Etymologically, the latter is a better description because liberalism is actually derived from “liberty”; that is toleration and freedom instead of the notions of justice as well as interventions that took on board in 20th century. Still, pro-statist connotation pervaded modern thinking that it’s hard to separate its concept from previous meanings without reclassifying one or another. The former is typically referred as classical liberalism, which leaves the latter to be unchanged or, adapt to the social democratic liberalism. Modern liberalism is easier to understand term and shall be used until there’s more emphasis laid on socialist leanings of modern liberals.

As how the Public Sees and Understands

In a broader scope, the current accepted term the modern liberal is accepting rights to entitlements like education and healthcare and rights against a person. The two positions don’t go well, at least philosophically but, they are producing tons of great potential as well as recurrent contradictions and inconsistencies that may be solved only by stretching the freedom’s definition.

There are instances in which it generates hard and insurmountable issues and challenges for those who are seeking to combine modern and classical doctrines. Nonetheless, modern liberal project is pursued actively by known thinkers like Ronald Dworkin, Will Kymlicka, John Rawls, J.S. Mills and so forth. Among these writers, historical emphasis on plurality, justice and toleration underscores their work. They differ on interpreting private and public roles, toleration and perceived needs for opportunities be created or not.

Rental Laws That Protect Tenants In The UK

News

Most rental deposits are limited to 5 weeks, and tenants are protected from unfair rents because they keep their hard-earned money in their pockets thanks to a new law that went into effect on June 1, 2019.

What Are Your Rights As a Tenant?

Unexpected fees and large deposits often make it impossible for people to buy their property and not be able to clearly explain it in advance. Many potential tenants do not know the actual cost of renting a property.

Rent laws now end unnecessary fees charged by landlords and brokers. Tenants across the UK are expected to save at least £240 million per year or up to £70 per household.

The law also limits the rental deposit that tenants pay at the beginning of their tenancy to an amount equal to the five-week rent. This gives people peace of mind that they don’t have to legally pay more than this to secure their property (total annual rent less than £50,000).

Community Minister Rt Hon James Brokenshire MP said:
Thanks to the enforcement of the Tenant Fee Act, from today, tenants are no longer affected by the unreasonable costs of brokers or landlords.

  • The law bans unnecessary rent and limits most deposits to a five-week rent. This will help tenants keep more of their hard-earned cash. In addition to the recent announcement that the industry is not fixing bug fixes, this will make rentals fairer and more transparent and make a housing market suitable for everyone.
  • The law also prevents tenants from charging hundreds of pounds for administrative or renewal fees. Also, under the law’s standard fee regime, landlords and brokers can only reimburse the tenant for reasonable expenses incurred due to the loss of keys or other security devices and must provide proof of these expenses before collecting the fee. You can also charge a standard late fee.
  • The law ensures that tenants who are charged an unfair fee can get their money back. The Transaction Standards or Tier 1 tribunal may require landlords and agents to repay prohibited payments or illegally held deposits within 7 to 14 days.

Putting these provisions together will help tenants reduce the initial costs they may incur upon lease renewal and termination.

The bill is part of a broad package of government reforms aimed at balancing the relationship between tenants and landlords in order to create a fairer, higher quality, and cheaper private rental market.

In April 2019, we announced a plan to prevent private owners from evicting tenants from their homes in a short time without good cause. We will discuss a new law that abolishes evictions under § 21, ending private owners who drive tenants out of their homes in just eight weeks.

In addition, it has introduced multiple powers for local authorities to take action against a small number of owners and agents renting inappropriate real estate. This includes a fixed fine of up to £30,000 and a ban on orders for the most serious offenders (aka for a lifetime).

Looking to rent? Why not start planning a small home. Contact professional planners – town planning consultants fife. 

Ministers have also expanded compulsory licenses for apartment buildings and tightened regulations on smoke and carbon monoxide detectors to improve the living conditions of apartment tenants. Private landlords can also request a rent refund of up to 12 months if the landlord does not take into account the health and safety risks of the home.

 

Saudis Being Outnumbered in Jeddah and Jubail by Expats

News

Highway in Saudi Arabia

The amount of ex-pats from the Saudi Arabian cities of Jeddah and Jubail is allegedly higher compared to Saudi nationals, based on reports in the realm.

The revelation prompted involves the Vision 2030 to contain strategies to suppress the number of ex-pats in several towns, with a single researcher asserting cultural identities and customs had been under threat.

2015 population estimates demonstrate that at Jubail, at the Eastern Province, you will find 243,000 ex-pats in comparison to 205,000 nationals, Saudi Gazette reported mentioning Arabic daily Al Watan.

In Jeddah, the paper stated, you will find 2.13 million ex-pats in Jeddah and 1.9 million nationals. Back in Al Ghat, you will find 8,800 Saudi nationals in contrast to 8,158 expatriates.

In total around the realm, 21.1 million of those 31.5 million people have been Saudi nationals (67%) whereas 21.1 million (33%) are still ex-pats.

ALSO READ: The Complexity Of Locating Britains National Interest In The Middle East

The figures allegedly came from a supply at Saudi Arabia’s General Authority for Statistics.

The origin’s remarks prompted concern from several specialists, Saudi Gazette reported. It lent Mohammad Al Subaie, the mind of the Ethar Forum for Social Studies and Research, as stating: “For more expatriates than nationals at a town will have a number of negative effects on both sociological, economical, demographic and ethnic facets.”

“The civilization of particular expatriate communities dominates Jubail and has been triggered through food and clothes.”

Al Subaie included: “The people of Jeddah have the right to conserve their individuality. If there wasn’t any control over international lands, the identity of these individuals of this town will inherit.”

Ex-pats who have to move out of Jeddah might need help from professional movers.

The Different Aspects of Computer Games – State Center for Political Education

General, News, Technology

The State Center for Political Education wants to shed light on various aspects of computer games with a new series of events.

Video games are a mass medium. In the past, this was not only proven by numerous studies, sales figures of large titles such as Fifa, Call of Duty, or Valorant (zaros boosting), which is regularly sold millions of times, show that games have now gained a foothold in modern society. And the interest in the virtual pastime also seems to be great in Northern Saxony.

A whopping 1,800 people, including several school classes, visited the “Aufbruch in Adventure” exhibition, which explores the history and impact of video games at Schloss Hartenfels between the opening in mid-December 2019 and the corona-related closing in mid-March. The exhibition was designed by the media education center Plus of the district, that in cooperation with the State Center for Political Education and the Saxon SAEKs would now like to further deepen the topic of “computer games”. The first event in North Saxony is imminent and, due to the current corona pandemic, will take place entirely on the Internet.

Different perspectives

“As with the exhibition at the castle, our goal is to bring video games closer to people,” explains Dr. Benjamin Bigl, head of the MPZ +, explains the background of the “Fascination Games” series.

The aim is to show those who are interested in games new aspects of their favorite medium but also to show everyone else access to games with reservations. “Computer games are part of our culture and the mass communication medium of the 21st century”, Bigl sums up the relevance of the project. “Gaming is more than gambling and blunt shooting. With moderate play, everyone can experience a virtual adventure. No matter whether alone, in a team, or networked worldwide. ”

And to show this to the people of the Free State, the State Center for Civic Education is inviting you to a total of six events over the next ten months that deal with various aspects of the medium. The image of women in video games is illuminated just as much as the political level of games and the big topic of computer game addiction.

It starts in the network

The series begins on May 13th. The opening was supposed to take place at the Eilenburg Adult Education Center, but was completely digitized due to the corona pandemic and streamed onto the Internet. This online event is thematically dedicated to the educational component of video games and the whole thing is titled “What you can learn while playing”. Benjamin Bigl (MPZ +), who in the past devoted numerous studies and research projects to the medium of computer games, will give a short lecture before René Meyer will take the virtual guests on a tour of the house of computer games.

With more than 1,000 consoles and home computers, this museum is the world’s largest collection of historical game systems and has already supplied the exhibits in the castle. “So it’s the perfect place to show how ideally computer games can help to promote skills, learn logical thinking and develop creatively.”

The whole thing then concludes with a round of talks, which the audience can also see on the screens should involve. “We have a representative of the State Center for Political Education on board as a moderator who collects open questions and then asks us.”

Exciting test run

The virtual kick-off event in two weeks is still a kind of test run for everyone involved to test the possibilities of such an online format. In order to keep the entry as low-threshold as possible, the whole thing is transferred to a normal website without prior registration or the like, the pre-installation of separate programs is not necessary, the link is shared a few days beforehand via social networks and other websites. “We want to make our offer accessible to as many people as possible so that the topic can be broadly spread. I’m really excited to see how the project will be received and how many people will accompany us on our virtual tour of the House of Computer Games. ”

Chinese Government Curbs Excessive Online Gaming

Law, News, Technology

The Chinese government wants to curb excessive online gaming among minors by relying on strict regulations. That is why the state media agency has now published a “Communication on preventing the enjoyment of online games by minors”. In the future, there will be clear rules about who can play on the Internet, when and for how long.

“Bad at school and short-sighted”

Young gamers in China may face tough times. This is evidenced by a recent publication by the Chinese government press and publication agency. In a new regulation, the administrative authority explicitly addresses the issue of online gaming.

The official approach: excessive online play spoil the youth. Poor school performance is not infrequently due to addiction within the framework of eSports:

These problems affect the physical and mental health of minors as well as their normal learning and life.

In the past year, President Xi Jinping had also made computer games responsible for an increase in myopia among Chinese people.

A maximum of 90 minutes a day

The new rule package includes the introduction of a gaming curfew for young people. For example, platforms will in future be prohibited from making their offers accessible to minors between 10 p.m. and 8 a.m.

Asian gamers in front of a computer

It is not only the game that is prevented at night, because from now on children and adolescents are allowed to spend a maximum of 90 minutes on the internet on weekdays. Up to three hours a day are allowed on weekends and school holidays.

Furthermore, the new regulations set upper limits for the spending of young people on paid offers. Graduated by age, minors are now allowed to invest a maximum of 200 to 400 yuan (up to 57 euros) per month in in-game purchases. Children under the age of eight are completely excluded from the transactions.

The Chinese leadership also explicitly points out that “harmful game content” such as gambling, pornography and violence should not be directed at minors.

Ministry of Security on board

In order to be able to meet the new requirements, the providers of the games must ensure in future that users can only be active on their portals by providing their real name and an official identification number.

The Chinese administration is said to work with the Ministry of Public Security to improve general identification processes. This serves to keep a better eye on the gaming behavior of the minors.

Suppliers, the statement says, that violate the new guidelines, should be asked to change or punished. The sanctions could lead to the withdrawal of the operating license.

The ordinance also urges parents and schools to discharge their duties regarding the protection and upbringing of minors.

Measures catalog no surprise

The government’s catalog of measures should come as no surprise to the population and the gaming industry. After all, the Chinese government’s rigid approach to the allegedly harmful effects of computer games has long been known.

According to analysts, the new measures should therefore not have a negative impact on the business of the industry. For example, the tech giants Tencent and Netease have already integrated limits for minors on their platforms.

Last year, China set up an ethics committee to review game offerings for compliance with moral and social standards. Even quiet references to topics such as prostitution, gambling and violence can lead to games being excluded from the lucrative Chinese market.

For this reason, various providers now rely on defused versions of their games specially developed for the Asian market that meet the aesthetic and content requirements of the regulatory authorities.

Protection or control?

Critics are concerned about the current move to further regulate online gaming among Chinese. In their eyes, the measures that officially served to protect minors were primarily suitable for promoting surveillance of the population.

The Chinese leadership did not like the free space and networking opportunities that online games offer, among other things, through their chat functions. For this reason, efforts are made to ensure that the general conditions are adhered to.

In fact, the new measures only affect youthful gaming behavior on the Internet. The regulations do not apply offline. Apart from the political and social dimensions of the question, it remains open to what extent a reasonable level of gaming can even be prescribed by the state, or whether it is not up to the individual and his social environment to find a healthy way of playing the game.

Making Netherlands More Bicycle Friendly

News

The national government wants to make the Netherlands more bicycle-friendly. This is good for people’s health and for the environment.

City Cycling – Amsterdam, The Netherlands

200,000 extra commuters on the bike

The government has set itself the goal of getting 200,000 extra commuters on their bikes or in combination with the public transport during this government period. The coalition agreement states that € 100 million is available for the construction and / or modifications of fast bike routes and bicycle parking facilities.

Climate agreement

In the Climate Agreement of June 2019, the government promises to reserve an additional € 75 million for bicycle parking facilities and smart solutions for extra bicycle parking places.

Cycling policy

The government is committed to a stronger bicycle policy which includes proper use of safety gear such as the helmets – read this comprehensive article regarding helmet reviews. The bicycle has become a fully-fledged means of transport in recent years. This is important because mobility has increased in the Netherlands, both in cities and between cities. Cycling also has all kinds of advantages. It contributes to a better environment, is good for health and reduces traffic jams.

Tour the Force

To strengthen the bicycle policy, governments, market parties, social organizations, and other institutions work together. They do this in the Tour de Force program. The National Cycling Agenda shows the objectives of the Tour de Force. The ambition is 20% more bicycle kilometers in 2027 compared to 2017.

Questions that Tour de Force looks at include:

  • How can we better connect bicycle and public transport?
    How can we use smart technologies for the benefit of the cyclist? Think traffic lights that turn green when a cyclist approaches. Or easily see where there is still room in the bicycle shed. Or a chip in the bicycle to make it easier to find stolen bicycles.
    Can we ensure that the elderly can continue to cycle safely?
    Are there smart ways to pay for expensive bicycle measures?

The national government helps by bringing parties together; have research carried out; to do experiments; adjust rules; to contribute to some measures in cities.

Drones for The People: How Drones Help Agriculture

Business, Law, News, Political Photography

Did you know? Drones aren’t just used as something extravagant when it comes to aerial photography. If you wanna capture the best aerial view of the best views in the world, like cliffs, mountains, ocean miles, drone camera is what photographers used.

But drones aren’t just for photographers. It is also used by farmers to help farming become more efficient. How?

Drones for agriculture can give farmers the perfect aerial view of their crop field. However, its uses are basically boiled down into four segments. These are crop field scanning with imaging sensors, GPS map through onboard cameras, heavy payload transportation, and livestock monitoring with thermal-imaging camera-equipped drones.  

Today’s blog will talk about a few information all about Uavus Drones for agriculture. Read on for more…

How Drones are Used

Aero drones are slowly changing the lives of many people, not only photographers but as well as farmers. But the question is, how are drones really used? 

1 It is used for mapping or survey

Drones that are equipped with near-infrared camera sensors will allow one to see the spectrum of light that plants and crops use to absorb light through photosynthesis. Through it, farmers can thoroughly and easily understand the plant’s health or their life state. Whether they are doing good or they are undeniably slowly dying.

Drones for agriculture can also be a good help in creating a detailed GPS map area of the whole crop field. This is a good advantage for farmers to be able for them to plan thoroughly on where better the plants should be planted or locate to maximize land, water, and fertilizer usage.

2 crop dusting or spraying

Drones are now better used for crop dusting and spraying. You no longer need to go drive a vehicle to spray dust, because you can now do it through operating from your shed. Crop spraying drones can carry large liquid storage and can work more better-compared crop dusters.

3 Irrigation  Management 

Drones for agriculture can better have a good insight into looking for crop areas that have pooling water or insufficient soil moisture. Drones for agriculture are equipped with thermal cameras that better help farmers to understand their crop field. 

4 Livestock Monitoring

Basically, it is like you are checking your livestock through your portable device because even if you don’t go there physically you can still be able to detect if there have been any disturbances, injuries, missing animals, or even birthing animals.

Benefits of Drones for Agriculture

Some of the benefits of using drones are that it can help you save time. They can be set up and developed quickly, you can have monitoring and checking and working on the field multitasking with the help of drones. Another is that is also increase yields, it improves production, efficiency, and it allows you to detect problems before they actually happen.

Will 2020 Be Another Year For The Republicans Or Will The Democrats Snatch A Win In Next Presidential Poll

Will 2020 Be Another Year For The Republicans Or Will The Democrats Snatch A Win In Next Presidential Poll

News, Politics

The clock is ticking for the next presidential elections in the United States of America. It is still pretty early to predict which political party will win the country once again by electing the next head of the state, although with the recent events that have disturbed the political and economic stability of the United States, we can say that there will be consequences to whoever will be running as president next year. As for the current POTUS, Donald Trump, the chances for him being reelected is dwindling down, and while the Democrats have a chance to take back the White House, Trump’s very own “allies” in the Republican party might spell his own downfall.

President Trump has already started his campaign to win the presidency the second time around by publicly speaking out against his possible rivals. However, it appears that the president is not choosing kinder words for his fellow Republicans who are also dreaming of becoming the United States’ next president. As the Democrats’ opponent party appears to be more divided than ever, some people predict that the Republicans might lose next year’s election.

Unity is what can save the Republicans’ bid to see another person from their party as POTUS, but with the way things are going, the 2020 presidential elections might favor the Democrats instead.

There Is A Growing Possibility Of A Democrat Snatching A Win Against Trump In 2020

A lot of names have surfaced on the possible Democrat opponent of President Trump in the 2020 polls. Of course, the chosen Democrat candidate in the elections must first prove himself or herself to the party as the best person to lead the country towards real progress and bring the broken pieces back together after all the political and social turmoil that occurred. Some people compare Trump’s reign as president as an ownage prank dial, but the thing is pranks are actually fun.

If there is one single name that many people are hoping to challenge Trump face-to-face in the presidential elections, it is none other than Bernie Sanders. The guy may have the charisma to gain popular votes, perhaps better than what the previous Democrat candidate Hillary Clinton had in 2016, but his biggest weapon is his knowledge on how to fix the seemingly unfixable issues that popped up during the Trump Administration. This is just a proof of how important a politician’s brain is to do the right thing for the country.

With Impeachment Raps Hanging Around, Trump’s Days As President May Already Be Numbered

As we all know, the impeachment proceedings are on its way and the Democrats have successfully pushed for Trump’s impeachment in the House of Representatives. Of course, it is early to say if the impeachment will succeed in the Senate, but for Trump, it will be arduous as he is trying to win the heart of the nation to win next year’s elections. Although, his team can always turn to effective political tools such as YouTube.

The impeachment against him might fail, but all these issues thrown against him do not bode well for his reelection.

How our Sleeping Position Affects our Political Views

News, Politics, Society

This generation is primarily a generation of social media where people have freedom to express their expression, opinions, and ideas on a certain issue. If you browse your social media news feed, you will probably notice that the news is mostly about politics. Of course, every time there is a new issue, there are various opinion and views. There are those who is always on the side government, and there are those who oppose the government’s ideas and initiatives.

There are several factors that may affect our political views. Opinions of our family, friends, loved ones, education, are just some. Aside from those factors, there is another factor that affect our political views and you might actually find this hard to to believe.

There are various studies showing that they way we sleep – sleeping pattern and sleeping position may impact the way we view political issues. There is a study conducted to determine whether having an irregular sleeping pattern may affect our way of thinking. Minimum of 60 participants were asked on whether having a positive/negative thinking may come from regular sleeping pattern. Most of them states that they usually sleep early because they are too tired thank to Sleepy Will for providing such great mattresses. Moreover they usually get at least 6 hours of sleep regardless of what time the get to sleep. However, when they tried different bed time, wherein they usually go to sleep late at night, they notice that there is quite a different with the way they view things. Say for example, when there is news about the government’s initiative, they tend to see the negative side of it, instead of looking at the positive side.

Another study was conducted. A group of people whose ages varies, were given a set of questions about the current events. Their answers vary. There are participants who are fine with what the government want to achieve and there are those who are against government. During the interview we ask each of them their sleeping pattern and sleeping position. Surprisingly, people who opposes the government sleep at the left side of the government and those who are pro government sleep at the right side.

Psychology says that our sleeping position say something about how we view things. Truly enough, our political views can be seen on where we sleep.

The Positive and Negative Impacts of Technology on Economics

Business, News

Technological progress is inevitable because technological advancement will go as outlined by scientific improvement. Each and every development is created to offer positive gains for human living. Technology offers many conveniences and a new way of doing human pursuits. Particularly in the field of technology, the community has appreciated lots of benefits a result of the improvements which have been made.

Technology and Politics

In recent years, technology was initially designed to acquire positive advantages, alternatively could also be utilized for adverse things. Such an example is the introduction of electric scooter Dublin, this innovation had brought on convenience to some but had brought harm to others because of unregulated use. Let’s take a look at further at the positive and negative impacts of technological progress in general to our economy.

Economics – The Pros and Cons of Technological Progress on Economy

Positive:

  • Industrial productivity has increased. Advances in technology will improve the productivity capabilities of the industrial world both in the aspect of industrial technology and in aspects of the type of production
    Economic growth will be even higher
    Competition in the world of work thus requires workers to always add to their skills and knowledge.
    The more widespread use of ICT will increasingly open up employment opportunities
    With advertising facilities on the internet on certain sites will facilitate the promotion and marketing of a product
    Companies can reach a wider market because buyers who access the internet are not limited by place and time
    The company does not need to open a distribution branch
    Fewer expenses, because there are not many employees
    The price of goods is cheaper because the operating costs are cheap
    ICT-based business or commonly called e-commerce can assist in business dealings of a company or individual
    Utilization of technology to create new services in the economy and business include internet banking, SMS banking, and e-commerce

Negative:

  • The occurrence of unemployment for workers who do not have the qualifications in accordance with what is needed
    Consumptive nature as a result of intense competition in the era of globalization will also give birth to a generation that is morally experiencing a decline: consumptive, wasteful and has instant mental shortcuts
    Deceptive deception in the process of buying and selling online that can harm some parties;
    With networks available such as those on several sites that offer online gambling, gamblers don’t need to go to a specific place to fulfill their desires
    Online Buying Resistance. For ordinary people who have never transacted online, will feel awkward when having to trade without face to face or see the seller. Not to mention the fear if the payment is not sent or not received. Or goods not sent, or even goods sent but not received

The US-Mexico Border Wall – Funds Diverted For Wall Construction

General, News, Politics

When building a structure, especially those with stairs, lofts, decks, and balconies, safety is a very much a concern. To ensure safety, building codes necessitate the use of railing systems or balustrades, whether glass balustrades, wood, metal, or stone. Primarily, balusters or balustrades are for supporting the handrail or coping and for the purpose of safety. Walls somehow works in a similar way creating space or an area, security, and support to the structure.

The Border Wall

Just like ensuring safety when building a structure, a country, as it continues to grow and develop, must also safeguard the safety of the nation and the people. For instance, US President Donald Trump on the 25th of January 2017 have signed EO 13767. The Executive Order officially ordered the United States government to start making an effort to build the wall along the border of the US and Mexico expending the standing federal funding. However, the actual building didn’t instantly start because of the substantial amount of money needed to finance to the wall as well as the lack of clearness as to how it would be financed.

The federal government for 35 days, from the 22nd of December 2018 until the 25th of January 2019, was partially shut down due to the insistence of Trump to veto any bill concerning spending that didn’t take into account the funding of border wall which amounts to $5.7 billion in border wall funding.

Funds Diverted For The Wall Construction

President Trump, in February 2019, signed an announcement of National Emergency. The declaration stated that the condition at the border is a crisis that necessitates funds apportioned for other expenditures or purposes to be utilized to construct the wall. A joint resolution was passed by the Congress to reverse the said order; however it was rejected by Trump.

The US Supreme Court in July 2019 ratified the reallocation of the anti- drug funding in the Department of Defense, amounting to $2.5 billion, to build the wall as other legal proceedings carries on. Recently, an added $3.6 billion was reallocated in September 2019. The finance was taken from the funding construction projects of the US military across the world, which includes learning institutions for the American soldiers’ children.

Prime Minister Modi Officially Launches NPCI’s RuPay Card Payment System in the Kingdom of Bhutan

News

India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi recently spent a two-day state visit to the Kingdom of Bhutan to meet with with Bhutanese leaders led by Prime Minister Dr Lotay Tshering. The visit further strengthens bilateral ties through the signing of nine (9) Memorandum of Understanding (MoU). The agreements signed by the leaders of the two countries included the launching of the RuPay Card, India’s proprietary card payment system.

To officially launch the credit card payment scheme, PM Modi made the first RuPay purchase at Simtokha Dzong, one of the dzongs in Bhutan which currently serves as the country’s administrative and monastic centre.

The RuPay card payment system, owned and operated by the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI), enables Indian RuPay card holders to make purchases by way of credit and debit cards, as an alternative to the Visa and Mastercard international card payment schemes. The launching of RuPay in Bhutan makes the country the second nation, after Singapore, in which citizens in both countries are empowered to use a RuPay credit or debit card for seamless, cashless purchases.

The MoU signed by the two leaders include a standby swap arrangement involving an additional $100 million made available to Bhutan in meeting the related foreign exchange requirements.

The deployment of the RuPay card payment system in the Kingdom of Bhutan will transpire in two phases. The first phase entails the issuance of Rupay Cards by Indian banks, to qualified Indian nationals, which they can use during their visits to Bhutan. The second and final phase will be carried out by Bhutan banks in which RuPay cards will be issued to qualified Bhutanese citizens for their sojourns in India.

About India’s RuPay Card Payment System

RuPay card scheme was the project conceived by the NPCI in fulfilling the Reserve Bank of India’s (RBI’s) vision to have a locally operated open and multilateral payment system. The goal is to provide Indian nationals with a credit payment facility that charges lower processing fees than the card payment systems offered by Visa and Mastercard.

The RBI through its 2009-2012 vision stated that the need for such payment systems in the country arises from the high cost of affiliation that Indian banks have to bear in order to obtain accreditation with international card companies like Visa and Mastercard. As a result, even domestic credit card transactions that account for more than 90% in India’s market were being routed outside of the country.

Rupay processing fees for credit transactions are 23% lower than those charged by the companies behind the two leading international credit cards. The NPCI collects only 60 paise from the acquiring bank and 30 paise from the bank that issued the RuPay card

Backed by 10 leading banks, 6 of which are public-sector banks that include the Bank of Baroda, Canara Bank, the State Bank of India, Punjab National Bank, Bank of India, and the Union Bank of India; two (2) private-sector banks represented by HDFC Bank and ICICI Bank ; and two (2) foreign banks, namely Citibank and HSBC.

Presently, the NPIC has issued 64 million Rupay Global Cards released between 2014 and March 2019.

Amazon for one, which has an India branch makes it possible for Indian online consumers to stay active members via RuPay cards, especially during the holding of the online store’s annual Amazon Great Indian Sale.

El Paso Mass Shooter Echoes Trump’s “Invasion” Rhetorics but Trump Refuses to Accept Responsibility

News, Politics

The gunman responsible for the El Paso mass shooting last Saturday reportedly posted a manifesto on the 8chan online forum, warning readers about “Hispanic invasion,” minutes before he gunned down shoppers at the El Paso Walmart. The incident has more than ever amplified concerns over Trump’s repeated use of the word “invasion.” Although stated as a rhetoric about the rising number of Latino immigrants coming into the country

Instead of acknowledging even a hint of responsibility that his oft repeated rhetoric about “immigrant invasions:”somehow influenced the El Paso mass shooter to commit the “hate crime,” Donald Trump typically blamed other factors such as mental health and violent video games. He also blames Democrats for linking his rhetoric invasions to the recent spate of mass shootings, including the shooting incident that occurred in Ohio on the same day.

Police identified Saturday’s El Paso mass as Patrick Crusius, who turned 21 a week before he drove 10 hours from his hometown in Allen, Texas to commit a hate crime. Crusius is currently held in El Paso jail without bail and has been charged with capital murder.

Survivors and Witnesses Said Crusius Targeted Only Hispanics

According to relatives of the victims who were also at the scene of the shooting, Crusius was determined to kill only those that appeared to be of Latinx origin.

Chris Grant, a 50-year old African American whom Crusius took shots at only after Grant started throwing soda bottles as a way of distracting the shooter still have vivid memories about the incident. Grant recalls that Crusius had let white and black shoppers leave the store before shooting the victims. Since Grant was shot, he witnessed how the victims kneeled and prayed, begging Crusius to

‘Please! Please! Don’t shoot me.’

Grant said the memory of how Crusius just gunned down people who were already on the ground without any sign of remorse, still haunts him.
Still, Trump refuses to accept that the “invasion” rhetoric directed toward immigrants passing through the US. Mexico Border had nothing to do with the gunman’s actions.

El Paso Residents Want Trump to Apologize to the Community

Generally, the people of El Paso does not intend to welcome Trump upon his arrival. City Representative Alexsandra Annello though received some messages that encouraged welcoming Trump because the mass shooting is not about politics.

The City Representative disagrees, saying that after a week, people can expect Trump to turn around and resume mouthing the same racist rhetoric. After putting the community of El Paso in danger, she does not see Trump apologizing to the Hispanic people.