Daily Archives: November 3, 2021

From mantras to meditation, mindfulness to manifestation, Well Intentioned offers an intimate look at how to make space for self-care in meaningful ways, big and small.

I first learned about Jay Shetty about five years after he launched his mission to make wisdom go viral, via an extremely credible source: Jennifer Ansiton. Thats so awesome, Shetty says with a laugh, flashing a warm smile across our shared Zoom screen. Shettya business school grad-turned-monk who has leveraged his motivational speeches and self-help philosophies into a coaching career that has attracted CEOs, celebrities, and millions of people who seek weekly guidance from his YouTube channel, podcasts, and speaking eventshas logged on to drop some knowledge about yet another way you, too, can be mindful and stay present: drinking tea.

One of my earliest memories is getting picked up from school by mom and wed have a cup of tea and shed ask me how my day was, says Shetty, 34, who just launched Sama, a line of four adaptogenetic teas, with his wife, Radhi Devlukia-Shetty. My parents were very busy, they were both immigrants working extremely long hours, but I started to equate love and presence and energy with tea time with my mom. When Shetty and Devlukia-Shetty got married five years ago, they started their own tea rituala few minutes every morning to connect over a bespoke herbal potion Devlukia-Shetty would blend before their days took them in different directions and just as the pandemic hit, Shetty had a realization: Ive always wanted to make mindfulness, presence, stillness, wellness easier for people. And I thought, How can I make people more aware of how to do this in a way they will remember it?

Tea is very British and very Indian," concedes Shetty, who grew up in London with Indian parents, and now lives in Los Angeles. But its metamorphic significance can be applied across borders, even in a country where coffee is king: You cant rush tea. You have to sip it slowly, he points out, noting the way the soothing elixir forces you to slow down and just...breathe. This is precisely the kind of simple hack that informs many of Shettys extremely relatable lessons on lifeand wellness (below), a juggernaut he prefers to approach with mini moments of reflection versus anything too unattainable and unrealistic. Case in point: even just pivoting away from that episodic TV series you (and I) rely on to relax can do a world of good for our ability to actually wind down. Something to consider the next time you queue up 30 Rock. Again.

I used to spend hours trying to find something to watch. Watching something dissatisfying. Then going to sleep. Or uploading cliffhanger chemicals into my mind and body. The simple answer to how to not do this is to make simple changes: make a really small switch and choose a documentary instead of that TV show. You don't want to read? Listen to an audiobook. It's starting with a small, mini replacement. People want deeper rest but when youre watching something thats flooding your mind with anxiety before going to bed of course youre going to have trouble sleeping. But Ive found that if youre learning something, it can also help your mind settle. A lot of us are numbing our creativity and numbing our own rest by activating ourselves with something external that isn't fueling or feeding us. If youre watching a TV show, why not take notes on something that blew your mind, or something youd like to research more about? Ask yourself, What lessons did I learn? What reference is in there? We can turn our entertainment into a healthy growth mindset. Its not that there isn't a benefit to entertainment. I love watching Ted Lasso! I just think there is a step further that we haven't explored.

When: The Scientific Secrets of Perfect Timing hardcover by Daniel H. Pink

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Well Intentioned: Jay Shetty On Making Mindful Moments, Monotasking, and Re-setting With a Good Cup of Tea - Vogue

Wave Racers early ascent could be summarised as fervent activity followed by silence. In 2013, the Sydney future bass producer known as Tom Purcell became hot property in EDM after uploading Rock U Tonite and Stoopid bouncy bangers with phosphorous synths and basslines inspired by 90s video game aesthetics to SoundCloud. He went on to tour extensively, remix Snakehips mega-hit All My Friends, and drop the 2015 Flash Drive EP on Future Classic. Then he vanished, Jai Paul-style.

Purcell eventually re-emerged with 2019s hyperpop AUTO reminiscent of his pal Porter Robinson, all ravey beats and idiosyncratically spiky guitar. Closer listen to the android vocals reveal a darker subtext, Purcell quasi-rapping about battling industry pressures: Counterfeit / Make a hit / Yeah, automatic bass drum / This is fun / Yeah, supersonic / Feeling this / Its a hit.

The song appears on the first Wave Racer full-length, To Stop From Falling Off The Earth. Purcell picks up where AUTO left off and delivers a meta-commentary on accelerated fame and its attendant pressures, external and internal not necessarily the most typical subject matter for a debut. In the wonky opener All That I Can Do, with his voice pitched down, he laments, Theres something irresistible / About pretending that were miserable / Cause when everything is visible / Thats how to be an individual / Is it socially acceptable / For a petrified millennial / to be completely un-relatable?

Purcell hasnt recorded an archetypal DJ/producer album, stashed with buzzy guests. On this album of disarming glitch n guitar, hes the sole vocalist, musician and producer, focusing on songs over tracks and a broader sonic horizon. He revels in an apparent nostalgia for MTV synth-rock and 90s pop-punk, delivering punchy melodies, flashing keys and prominent guitar see the ballad Tell Me The News and the instrumental What Are We Waiting For?.

To Stop From Falling Off The Earth marks Purcells first time writing lyrics, and hes gone for a transparent and sincere approach. The album charts his experiences with doubt, anxiety and seclusion, in an era when, following Aviciis shock passing in 2018, mental health is no longer a taboo subject in dance music. Purcell expresses emotional depth, but retains that old whimsy and exuberance. His outlook is proactive and optimistic. The pulsating Look Up To Yourself is a hooky incantation against destructive hyper-perfectionism: Maybe Im the reason / That I find myself dissatisfied / With every aspect of my life / and Im just waiting for the perfect time.

Other songs, albeit less original, capture the aftermath of a broken relationship. Left Behind is especially raw, only Purcell isnt about castigating, but catharsis: Cause you cut me open / Tore me up and you left me broken / Yeah, you kicked me out / Took me down, six feet underground / And Im tryna get back all the pieces of my mind that I left behind.

With its modishly hybridised production, To Stop From Falling Off The Earth can be read as a strategic manoeuvre that gives Wave Racer opportunities to cross over, like Alison Wonderland or The Kite String Tangle. But, ultimately, the album succeeds because of its humanity, and how it transforms private tribulations into empowering pop that fosters connection in a time of isolation.

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Wave Racer To Stop From Falling Off The Earth review: Future bass producer pivots into a (b)rave new world - NME.com

LIKE A newly released character in Genshin Impact, Sarah Eliyas life was destined to always be in the spotlight. As a high school student, she became heavily involved with theater and musicals, and she even tried to showcase her passion for the arts by uploading music covers on her YouTube channel.

My path started with music and Ive always been really involved with music as in nag-piano lessons ako noong bata ako," Eliya told Spin.ph. "When I was in high school I was like obsessed with theatre and musical and then I would make covers and stuff. I have a piano and guitar and I learned how to sing.

Perhaps one day, she would be a recording artist. Or she would get a role in a musical. But that day never came. Unlike a new Genshin character, she was never the talk of the town. Instead her career felt like a lifeless NPC in Teyvat.

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For 7 years I was uploading YouTube music videos it never went anywhere because discovery is hard," she recounted.

Forced to look for other avenues to showcase her online creativity, leading Eliya to try her hand at being an Instagram influencer.

The Filipino Instagram influencer network is actually really large and I started getting inspired by the way people kinda turn themselves into their own models even though hindi sila naging typical model," she explained. "I really was inspired by that because I never viewed myself as stereotypically or conventionally attractive."

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She began releasing videos where she tested makeup and treated ukay-ukay stores as Teleport Waypoints. This became another creative outlet, leading to brand endorsement and ambassadorships.

And then the cataclysm known as the pandemic occurred.

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It became a lot of pressure," Eliya admitted, "because I was still doing that when quarantine and lockdown happened. It was weird like trying to keep up with everything because biglang ang dami nilang promo, everyone wants to promote something kase everyone is on lockdown.

The immense pressure forced her to abandon this pursuit. In fact, she says that she hasnt posted on her Instagram account for almost a year. This was also the time when she decided to play the popular gacha sensation known as Genshin Impact.

It was her boyfriend Halevy who introduced her to the game. But it was the character designs caught her eye, especially patch 1.1's Geo Archon, the god of contracts, and the games so-called simp symbol, Rex Lapis a.k.a. Zhongli.

His deep sexy voice and intriguing backstory, mixed with martial arts animations that rival Donnie Yen and Jet Li (take a look at this jaw-dropping trailer) and overpowered shields, made him into one of the most popular characters in the game. His arrival even skyrocketed miHoYos revenues.

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Her love for the game (or for Zhongli) suddenly opened up a new opportunity for Eliya. Maybe being a Genshin Impact content creator is her way of fulfilling Rex Lapis contract.

For her, the transition from musical YouTuber to Genshin streamer was a natural fit.

I guess its safe to admit that I like chasing the spotlight. In some ways, I like to do that Instagram stuff, I like making my own videos, I enjoy theatre, I enjoy acting. So in that time away from Instagram, I guess I couldnt stay away for long," Eliya reflected.

"So eventually that desire started popping up.

She even acknowledged that Halevy played the role of Paimon serving as Sarahs sidekick.

He told me that I could do it. That made a big difference because when it was my YouTube videos, when it was my music, Instagram, makeup and stuff, it was just me. As soon as I lose interest, theres nothing else to keep me going," she said. "But then if I have a partner to work on this with at least I have someone to fall back on in those moments of loss interest.

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Besides morale support, Halevy does majority of the editing work. He even theorycrafts with his partner, knowing that Sarah prefers thoughtful discussions over meme-worthy or degenerate content (*cough* Gimnaeng *cough*).

It was a new chapter in Sarahs story quest, letting go of the Sarah Eliya brand in favor of SevyPlays (or Sevy for short). Combining YouTube content and Twitch streaming, she was able to slowly grow her brand.

But like most story quest missions, theres always a conflict.

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Though the people on Narukami Island adored Yoimiya a new character only unveiled earlier this year for her fireworks display, the Genshin Impact community were left with mixed feelings.

In fact, the vast majority of players criticized her underwhelming gameplay.

Majority of Genshin YouTube content creators expressed their disappointments on her overall kit. But were a few who defended her. Sevy was one of them.

She even made a video proving that Yoimiyas damage is insane by revealing a truckload of Excel sheets, though there were some minor hiccups in her calculations that were immediately addressed.

I made a video that explains why Yoimiya is stronger than you think and it was like a calculation of how high her normal attack multipliers are kase ang taas talaga ng multipliers niya," Sevy recalled. "But I actually made an error in my calculations and I corrected it on my pinned comment.

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The video (which she made together with Halevy) rocketed to the top of the YouTube search algorithm for Genshin Impact... which in turn led to her discovery from one of the most notorious clout chasers in the community, Tectone.

Tectone even commented on her video, twisting the narrative to make Sevy look like a hypocrite.

A couple of days later, Tectone made a video about the whole hate going around Yoimiya and my video came up. And he said, Oh theres this video stating that Yoimiya is stronger than you think but if you looked at the pinned comment, she says shes actually bad. Thats not exactly what I said.

His comments triggered some anxiety in Sevy. Tectones legion of followers numbered in the millions, and could potentially harass her channel. Luckily for her, that never happened.

Or so she thought. After the release of her video, TenTen, another polarizing figure in the Genshin community, published a video explaining why Yoimiya is the worst 5-star character due to her questionable internal cooldown and auto-targeting.

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Sevy admitted that she didnt mind TenTens reactions on Yoimiya, but his community is what affected her.

He knows all of the internal mechanisms, the gauge theory and all of that, which is fine," she mused. "I just didnt appreciate how that cultivated such a toxic outlook on the character, and it was those people who came into my channel and other pro-Yoimiya channels.

And some would go as far as belittling her content. They even mocked her C6 Bennett a laughable decision in Genshin Impact, especially for theorycrafters.

Its as if defending Yoimiya or having a different opinion is as vile as awakening Osial or issuing a Vision Hunt Decree.

You'd think that the harassment she received would mean a noxious end to her streaming career.

But that wasnt the case. Yoimiya may be the most hated character due to her mechanics, but her backstory and character design made her well loved by some. The Yoimiya simps who were desperately looking for a champion (and an escape from the toxicity) finally found one. Support poured in for Sevy. Her followers skyrocketed due to her video and they appreciated how she managed to make C6 Bennett and Yoimiya into a lethal threat in the painstalking Spiral Abyss.

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And this even led to more opportunities.

Christian Banas, the English voiceover actor of Genshins Thoma and a proud Filipino, wanted to form an initiative where Filipino Genshin Impact voiceover talent and content creators would collaborate in a livestream event.

Among them are English voiceover actress, Anne Yatco, who voiced the Raiden Shogun, as well as Twitch streamers, SaladdinTheWise, purg_atory, TotallyNotAdrienne, and SevyPlays.

Together they named their stream Adobo After Effects: Genshin Gagos vs. UNO, where they played the popular card game UNO, only for them to shift to Gartic Phone due to a glitch.

Sevy recalled her excitement at meeting Banas.

It was the most exciting days of my streamer career so far because I suddenly interacted on Christian Banas' tweet and then he DMed me. And then he said, I wanna do a collab with Filipino Genshin streamers and purg recommended you, she said.

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And then, most recently, Sevy was accepted in the prestigious Genshin Impact Content Creator Program, which allowed her to receive privileges from miHoYo. Her subscriber count doubled from last month, amounting to more than 30,000 subs.

Like the Traveler that came to Teyvat, Sevy is slowly building her reputation across the Genshin community. In between streams, she would showcase her talents in singing, bringing joys to her community, just like how Yoimiya does with her fireworks display.

We are now on Quento! to enjoy more articles and videos from SPIN.ph and other Summit Media websites.

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SevyPlays: A profile of the Genshin Impact streamer - Sports Interactive Network Philippines

Tis the season to be happy!

But how many of us really feel that way?

The second half of the year arrives with a crispness in the air filled with the fervour of festivals and celebrations. However, they come with multiple responsibilities leading to stress and anxiety.

It is a proven fact that holiday parties are stressors, but they can be particularly stressful for people with social anxiety disorder. It is common to see people avoiding attending such activities. But, for the ones living away from home during festivals, sadness, anxiety and depression can trigger way too rapidly than in normal times clinically termed as festival blues.

Any new episode, exacerbation, pre-existing depression, or anxiety is termed as festival blues. It stems from the idea of what do I have to celebrate about? And a depressive temperament can ensue if the answer is not up to the persons expectations, says consultant psychiatrist and founder of The Free Mind Initiative, Dr Alpes Panchal.

What causes festival anxiety?

It is normal to feel a bit overwhelmed with stress during festival season, and mental health experts say that the expectation to have a perfect festival celebration causes depression. People anticipate a lot for the festival, which causes stress and ultimately leads to anxiety, says clinical psychologist Monica Sharma.

Another clinical psychologist Shyamolie Desai says that people who live away from home and are unable to join the family during festivals are more prone to anxiety and depression during this time.

When they see their friends uploading happy pictures of their celebrations on social media, they tend to compare and feel that they are falling short, which makes them depressed, she says.

While one may not understand the unsettled emotions during the festival time, Dr Panchal points out some early signs to watch out for poor sleep, decreased hunger and happiness.

The symptoms elevate in people who already suffer from depression. But, sometimes people develop anxiety during social occasions such as weddings, social gatherings and festivals, where they have to meet many people, or a lot of planning and execution is needed, says the psychiatrist. He adds that the younger generation of urban dwellers is more vulnerable to this.

Dont compare

While one may want to make the festival grander and extravagant, experts suggest that one shouldnt let the preparations and celebrations become something to dread.

Instead, one should take steps to prevent stress during festivals and holidays. Desai recommends not to compare oneself with other peoples perceived lifestyle on social media.

It is better to maintain a balanced life and not to compare it with friends portrayed realities on social media. One should exercise regularly and pursue hobbies because doing something that you like will keep you busy and away from any comparison, says the psychologist.

According to Dr Panchal, those who are already receiving mental health treatment must go for a consultation before or after the festival season. Any person experiencing these symptoms for the first time can visit any mental health professional, depending on the severity of the symptoms. But the ones already undergoing treatment should visit for evaluation before or after the celebration, he suggests, adding that relatives shouldnt expect the patient to be in tune with everyones feelings. They have a problem and they are dealing with it, which relatives may not agree with. They have to understand that they have to be little empathetic with them and help them deal with the situation, he says.

Create awareness

Despite talks and ample awareness initiatives around mental health, it is still considered taboo and festival blues, in addition, maybe an alien concept for many, unlike the West.

And just as there are several factors that can contribute to anxiety and depression, there is equally a higher risk to endure them during festivals. In the West, it is a known fact that anxiety or depression rises during festival time. At times, people can start feeling anxious even if they arent prone to it. But in India, people cannot fathom the idea that there is a problem even if everything around is good. People have to understand that humans are ruled by the mind and not the environment, says Dr Panchal.

Dr Sharma adds that open communication is the best way to create awareness on the issue. The conditions are not always diagnosed, but rather managed effectively by adopting a few strategies in daily life. So, if an individual is feeling low, they should talk, and family members should be open to listening.

It is true that our society creates a whole facade about festivities, from decorations to celebrations and the pressure to be happy. However, it is important to understand that the real spirit of celebration comes from within.

How to cope

1. Plan your festivities in advance.

2. Dont isolate yourself.

3. Dont seek perfection.

4. Seek help.

5. Exercise.

6. Stay away from caffeine.

7. Spend some time relaxing.

8. Drink lots of water.

(To receive our E-paper on whatsapp daily, please click here. We permit sharing of the paper's PDF on WhatsApp and other social media platforms.)

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Diwali 2021: Heres what causes festival anxiety and ways to beat it - Free Press Journal

STUFF

It's time to show the world Kiwis have better internet than the Aussies.

Who likes being beaten by Australia? No-one, that's who! And while the Aussies might give us a run for the money in the cricket and are known to field a rugby team, there is one area where New Zealand is head and shoulders, er, ahead of our trans-Tasman mates. Internet speeds. And now, you can do your bit and stick it to the West Island simply by speed testing your connection. This article will explain how, and why.

But first, cast your mind back for a nostalgic trip down memory lane. OK, so this one probably won't be sepia-tinted, but might instead induce a wince. Remember those jingling jangling modems we once used? Those things signified the use of copper phone wires for internet connections, once upon a time known as dial-up, with a PTSD-inducing tone included. We once thought 56 kilobits per second was pretty fast, before 'advanced' copper technologies like ADSL2 and VDSL hit the market.

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The Ultrafast Broadband network is estimated to be available for 99.8 per cent of Kiwis by 2023.

Thankfully, all that is history. Announced in 2011 and with a rollout starting in 2015, the Ultrafast Broadband network is in an advanced state of completion. The latest Connectivity Update expects that by next year, 87 per cent of New Zealanders will have access, increasing to a whopping 99.8 per cent by 2023. Not bad for a sparsely populated nation of mountains, valleys and other hard to reach places.

What that all means for you, is a truly fast connection. Not just in relation to the old jingler jangler (a 'standard' 100 Mbps connection is about 2,000 times faster than a 56k modem; connections of up to 80 times faster than the 100Mbps are readily available), but in relation to the world. And, of course, Australia.

Measuring connection speeds is pretty straightforward, with a simple web-based program assessing how fast your device uploads and downloads information by accessing test servers. This mimics online activity by uploading and downloading sample files while recording how long it takes. Those 'junk' files don't stay on your computer, either.

STUFF

Testing your internet speed is as easy as the click of a button

Now, here's the thing. Demonstrating New Zealand's broadband superiority to our tanned cousins depends on ordinary folks like you testing your connection.

That's right, YOU can and should participate in the 'Great Broadband Test Match'. It's easy, too. Just fire up Ookla's Speedtest.net in your browser and hit 'Go'. Then sit back and enjoy the results (do it from your home connection and when you're on mobile data).

Right now, data from Speedtest and other sources put New Zealand at 23rd in the global fixed broadband rankings with an average speed of 171 Mbps, and 29th for mobile broadband at 76 Mbps. The Aussies, bless them, sit at 58th for fixed broadband at 83 Mbps, but (yikes) have a superior speed of 135 Mbps for mobile. We can do better, New Zealand. Especially since our standard broadband packages often exceed 900Mbps, with 'hyperfibre' delivering 2,000, 4,000 and even 8,000Mbps.

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Testing matters because internet quality is among the determining factors for quality of life and contributes to things like the Human Development Index.

Testing matters because internet quality is among the determining factors for quality of life and contributes to things like the Human Development Index, and influences the attractiveness of our country for investors and quality immigrants who might want to make New Zealand their home. It also provides an unparalleled opportunity to show off to your mates on social media, and of course, advances the all-important trans-Tasman rivalry in favour of New Zealand.

She's a big job (not really), so roll up your sleeves, fire up Speedtest.net, and check out your broadband performance. Data from your test anonymously goes into a pot which helps determine those global rankings. Let's get testing, New Zealand, it's simple, takes under a minute and as a bonus, it helps troubleshoot internet issues.

After more comprehensive findings about how local broadband performs by the type of connection? Check out the regular reporting by the Commerce Commission. It's a great source of information.

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Put your connection to the test (and take Australia to the cleaners) - Stuff.co.nz

@anut21ng Stock stock.adobe.com

Creating a project plan and schedule can be challenging, but its easy compared to turning a project vision into reality. As a way to make it easier, a slew of construction project management software has emerged. Products like Microsoft Project, PlanGrid and Procore immediately come to mind, and its not unheard of to see three or four project management solutions within the same company.

After a plan is baseline, each requires lots of data entry, primarily from jobsite daily logs, to match actual to planned work. Project management software is in the 21st century, but jobsite technology often is not, especially when it comes to filling out the daily log, which is still a largely paper-based process requiring manual data entry.

Since the daily log is the pulse on the project, it makes sense to streamline and automate the process. In other words, bring it into the 21st century, and then integrate it with construction project management software so that the data flows seamlessly. For the person or people responsible for data entry, this is a significant time saver. For the general contractor (GC), that time savings and timely data helps steer projects to greater profitability.

There are lots of project management software solutions available, but not all are the right fit for each GC or even each project. Here are three considerations when selecting a construction project management solution.

Once youve determined the right project management solution, its time to take a closer look at the dated processes being used on jobsites.

One of the more recent shifts has been the increasing use of digital check-in in the field. It started as a way to conduct private health screenings during the pandemic and eliminate paper logs. But now that this technology has been around for over a year, project managers are seeing additional benefits, specifically, to replace paper-based project management updates from daily logs. Immediate benefits include reconciling hours worked against plan, validating invoices and always knowing who is or was on a jobsite, even uploading pictures of a jobs status or a workers vaccination card.

According to Brian Junginger, construction litigation attorney at McInerney & Dillon, The information gained from digital check-in apps is critical in providing accurate information to OSHA investigators and insurance companies. It also provides necessary information to company management to prevent future similar accidents.

GCs realized that by eliminating paper processes, theyre improving safety by replacing them with digital records. According to Kasey Duffy, senior business analyst at Pepper Construction, Knowing who is or was on your job site is vital for safety, compliance and liability protection. Digital check-in is a critical safety tool that well continue to use after the pandemic.

Given how much insight is now being digitized and collected from the job site, it only makes sense to integrate check-in data with project management software. Digital data at both HQ and the field is how construction will achieve the productivity needed to build better in the next decade.

David Brian Ward is the CEO and founder of Safe Site Check In.

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Benefits of Integrating Digital Check-in with Construction Project Management Software - ForConstructionPros.com

Hello everyone, another week, another film room! Just like last week, this one is pretty depressing... so apologies in advance!

I will be breaking down film on my Twitter account and then uploading the tweets with some more analysis in this piece. I obviously cannot post everything so I will focus on certain things each week that stand out to me. I might see something a few times on film but only upload one example as you dont need to see everything, so you will have to take my word if I say that I have seen something multiple times.

I am going to break down the offense followed by the defense each week and I will post the plays in order so you can see how the game played out. Sometimes I might focus on a specific area, I will see how each game plays out. I am simply choosing the most important plays and highlighting some players that stood out to me. As always, let me know your thoughts in the comments and I look forward to discussing the game with you all. Lets get to the film!

So I am going to start this week by doing something you may not expect... I am going to defend Nick Sirianni. He deserves a lot of criticism for the offense this year but this was the first game I thought he called a game that suited his quarterback and aimed to establish the run. It was obvious extremely early on that this was a different offense and one that doesnt ask his quarterback to do a great deal. I am not sure it is a great sign for his belief in Jalen Hurts but this was the right decision in my opinion.

Once the Eagles managed to establish the run, they started building off this with some play action from under center which was great to see. Hurts also looked comfortable under center and this was his best throw of the night by a distance. Sirianni took advantage of a Raiders defense that is quite predictable with its coverages (a lot of single high/cover 3) and called some good plays to flood certain areas of the Raiders zone coverage.

Go back and watch the offense the last few weeks and you will not see another drive like the Eagles first drive this night. It was a completely different philosophical approach to the game and the Eagles clearly wanted to commit (finally!) to running the ball this game.

We even saw a designed QB run! I would like to see more of this moving forward. I think we know at this point that Hurts is a limited passer but we also know he is a very strong runner. Sirianni speaks all the time about adjusting his system to his players but this is something that we should be doing more frequently moving forward.

But I can hear you asking already - why did we change?! Why didnt we stick to this approach? Again, I am going to slightly defend Sirianni here and explain why we couldnt stick to this approach all game.

Firstly, lets touch on this tweet that was being commented on this week. Sirianni should not have said this publicly but I do think he had a point.

If you want to play the way the Eagles did early on then you cant fall behind.

Lets look at the Eagles drives this game. 1st drive was excellent and the Eagles scored a TD. 2nd drive started on their own 4 yard line, was not successful and resulted in a punt (and an injury to Miles Sanders). The 3rd drive was also not successful and they struggled without Miles Sanders to carry on running effectively. The 4th drive was one play because Kenneth Gainwell fumbled.

By the time the Eagles got the ball in the 2nd half, they were losing 24-7 and then they have to completely change their approach to the game. Sirianni had to move away from the running game and put the game on Jalen Hurts again because the defense could not get a stop. You can complain about a lot of things, but you cant complain about Sirianni changing his approach up after being down 24-7 and losing Miles Sanders.

Now.... when they did have to change the offense and start throwing the ball more, the offense looked terrible again. Hurts was bad. The offensive line didnt pass protect well. The receivers didnt get open. It was just a bad, bad watch again.

We have spoke a lot in the past about Hurts inability to stand in the pocket and deliver and it was on show again in this game. His natural instinct is to drift outside the pocket and Im not sure whether you can coach it out of him at this point.

As I said in the tweet, I am not for one hot takes and I always try to be honest with what I see. I did not think DeVonta Smith had a good game. Hurts threw some inaccurate balls at him but you would like your top receiver to make some tough catches. I was a bit disappointed with his ability to get open on the outside this game, as the example below shows. Before I get everyone triggered, I have been impressed by Smith throughout this season and I think he would have far better numbers in a better offense with a better quarterback. I just didnt think he had a good game.

Final one from me on the offense... if the Eagles are going to commit to establishing the run and running a lot more then I think Jordan Howard should be active. The Eagles really struggled when Sanders got hurt in this game. I like both Gainwell and Boston Scott a lot but they are neither of them are players you want to line up under center and run the ball frequently with. They are both chance of pace backs. Annoyingly, I thought Sanders was excellent at the start and looked poised for a big game (my fantasy teams could have done with this too...).

I have defended Sirianni but I have nothing for Jonathan Gannon. It was bad. I completely understand the 2-high approach and stopping big plays and I think it is an important part of the modern game. But you cant be so deep and passive that an offense can just pick up easy yards. This game was so hard to watch on defense. The problem with trying to stop big plays by putting everyone back is that a quarterback with time in the pocket can still make excellent plays. Derek Carr was awesome this game. This is a beauty of a throw. Also, I do not know if Fletcher Cox is actually covering the running back here or whether he just gets pushed back and decides to do it...

I hate this play. Look how far back everyone is! You cannot play defense this scared. There was barely any disguising of coverage this game. No press from the corners. Barely any man coverage (I dont know the stats but I honestly can remember no more than 1 or 2 plays of man coverage). The two safeties were so far back all of the time. As I said earlier, I hate criticizing coaches for their philosophy because I understand how important it is to prevent big plays but it is just too easy to play against the Eagles defense. As a quarterback, I would love to play against the Eagles defense. What would you be afraid of? What do the Eagles do to try and confuse you pre or post snap?

Another point I want to make... we live in an era of analytics and all coaches are trying to find an edge wherever they can. I understand that preventing big plays is a huge part of winning in the modern game. However, football is a physical game and you cant measure the impact of certain things such as momentum, aggression, physicality etc. If you are a defense that plays under a coach that plays so defensive and so passive, where do you get your energy from? When an offense is consistently picking up yardage running the ball and imposing their will on a game it can be really hard to compete mentally and physically. Im not defending the players here as too many of them are not playing well but it must be hard for them with this current scheme.

I really wouldnt mind sending a blitz, hitting the quarterback but giving up a few yards. On the stats sheet it may look negative, but you cant measure what it does to a quarterback. Maybe he gets rid of the ball early the next play. Maybe he perceives pressure when there isnt any. Being aggressive on defense is part of being a good defense and this defense (largely due to its scheme in my opinion) just looks bland, weak and passive.

If you line up with 6 in the box (including a linebacker who struggles against the run) against a team who like to run the ball on early downs with a good running back then you are going to give up a lot of yards. Nothing complicated here. Its just math. Nothing else to add.

I dont really want to pick on individuals too much (especially in this scheme) but I thought Davion Taylor really struggled this game and if you watched his college tape it isnt too surprising. This scheme is tough on the linebackers so I feel a bit for Taylor but he needs to be a lot better than this to have a role moving forward on the Eagles defense. He is late to read and react to the run and he also just isnt physical enough when players run at him. I want my linebackers to be able to take on a fullback and win more often than not. Taylor lost far too often this game.

I could show 30 plays this week that all show the same thing but Ill leave it here because Ive had a bit of a rant already about the defense. Its weak. Its passive. And it gets what it deserves.

Thats all for this week. As always, I appreciate you reading and always try to reply to any questions you have in the comments. Cheers all!

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Eagles All-22 Film Review: Observations from the loss to the Raiders - Bleeding Green Nation

Driven by the upheaval of industry in the wake of the pandemic, and the convergence of technology and industry, the IT stack will soon be among the most important competitive business differentiators.

Both how a company defines itself, and what it is capable of, is increasingly determined by its IT stack. A recent survey found 77% of executives surveyed agree that their technology architecture is becoming critical to the overall success of their organization; 89% believe that their organizations ability to generate business value will increasingly be based on the limitations and opportunities of their technology architecture.

Take the video games market as an example. Long-time rivals Sony and Microsoft now compete on the basis of different approaches to technology. Where Sony is investing in a high-quality experience through VR, SSD, and haptic feedback advances to create increasingly high fidelity gaming, Microsoft is looking to capture the market by focusing on OnDemand and multiplayer options based on a cloud, multi-device delivery. Its the same market, but different strategies suddenly necessitate a very different technology investment.

In the near future, business competition will, in effect, be a battle of the stacks. Sony and Microsoft are using different models to reimagine how they win customers. Their business strategies are inextricably tied to the discrete advantages of those technology choices.

Unshackling Potential

COVID-19 has demanded that businesses rethink supply chains, working models, customer engagement and more. Fortunately, at the exact moment that industry is being called on to transform, technology advances are proving the means.

Each layer of the stack is expanding into new dimensions, with seemingly infinite combinations and possibilities at every step. Businesses are therefore able to architect solutions that are highly customized for their specific ambitions and the specific needs of various audiences.

This target state cannot be reached by a short-term approach. As enterprises double down on investments as they emerge from the pandemic -- in cloud, data analytics, and emerging technologies -- they need to consider the impact these choices may have in the future.

The most dynamic and sustainable architectures will be the ones that let businesses tap into the full spectrum of technology capabilities and create competitive stacks that are deeply aligned with business goals, while maintaining a focus on reusability, repurposing, and the enterprises evolving future.

These architectures should be developed with three considerations in mind:

1. Building technical wealth.

First, businesses need to map a clear route from static legacy systems toward adaptive and reusable technology. In short, they need to start building technical wealth. Architecting for change means re-thinking how applications are developed, taking full advantage of cloud capabilities. Microservices are key as they enable application elements to be composed as independent units that can then be swapped in or out independently, scaled, or repurposed over time.

For example, the UK Department for Work & Pensions used its microservices architecture to rapidly build and scale new services during the early days of the pandemic, helping it meet the surging needs of UK citizens fast and effectively. In record time, employees were able to create automated systems for uploading medical records, requesting universal benefits checks and issuing free school meal vouchers. Fortifying your technical components in a similar way will empower businesses to be technologically ready for future aspirations and needs.

2. Experimenting with technology and strategy.

The diversity of technology capabilities emerging across the stack will drive unprecedented diversity in business tactics and solutions. Organizations should experiment with combinations of technology and business objectives to find the opportunities that will work best for them. They need to reimagine the future of their products, services, operations, and more through the lens of what technology is making possible, and they need to build the right technology stack to bring their preferred future to life.

NVIDIA is a good example. As COVID-19 flared around the globe, NVIDIA launched Clara Guardian, a smart hospital solution that enables hospitals to remotely monitor and detect changes to patient vital signs, enforce the wearing of personal protective equipment, direct employees and visitors away from high-risk areas, and much more. This would not have been possible without innovation and cohesion at every layer of the technology architecture.

3. Reinventing the digital-physical blur

The convergence between business and technology makes it likely that the first time a customer interacts with a near-human AI agent, puts on a pair of virtual reality goggles, or learns about blockchain, will be linked to a companys cutting-edge offering. For businesses that means a new responsibility to ensure these services are seamless for the customer and that there are no unintended negative consequences, like biased decisioning from poorly trained AI models, for example.

But there are opportunities, too, by leveraging digital-physical experiences to delight customers in new ways. Adidas, for example, has designed a wearable digital platform into one of its lines of soccer cleats and is partnering with FIFA on a unique customer engagement experience that blends real-world interactions with sporting in video games.

Thanks to technology, a business ambition need only be limited by imagination. As a result, there are more opportunities than ever, but also a greater competitive threat from similarly enabled companies. How will you stack up?

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Will You Win the 'Battle of the Stacks'? - InformationWeek

What is Sarah Shahis net worth, though? Weve revealed some juicy details about Sarah Shahis steamy love life with her co-star, Adam Demos.

On the set of Netflixs Sex/Life, where Sara Shahi and Adam Demos played a couple of exes in a love triangle, the two actors fell madly in love with each other. Both fell madly in love and found soulmates in each other.

Let us reveal Sarah Shahis smoldering relationship with her co-star Adam Demos.

Sarah Shahi has had a prominent role in famous TV shows like Alias, Dawsons Creek, Reba, and Supernatural. These are just a few of the television series in which she gained popularity.

Sarah seems to be somewhat active on social media platforms, such as Instagram and just never fails to wow her followers by uploading her most recent images. She has been quite low-key about her personal life.

According to Us Weekly, they recorded numerous scenes together during autumn of 2020 while Shahi was negotiating her 11-year relationship with husband, Steve Howey. In January 2021, Shai and Howey finally decided to break the vows and then formalized their divorce.

They have three children: William, Violet, and Knox. William is 11 years old, and Violet and Knox, twins, are 6 years old. Sarah Shahi and her ex-husband, Steve Howey, tied a knot in 2009.

They had their issues as a pair. Sarah remarked in a 2019 interview that being married for so long had been hell for her. She started facing problems just after she gave birth to her twins. She says she always had a troublesome relationship with her ex-husband.

The pair taped the series in Canada in the fall of 2020, portraying sultry ex-lovers trapped in a love triangle. Billie, Shahis character, is married to Cooper (Mike Vogel) on the programme, but she misses her wilder days when she hung out with Demos Brad.

When the risqu job came into her life, the L Word actress was going through a divorce and wasnt thinking about finding love again.

When the series became popular more than 67 million people watched Season One Adam and Sarah made the decision to keep their personal lives more private, posting only a few images together during the shows launch.

While we dont know exactly when the two met, Instagram appears to indicate it was well before the show premiered at the end of June, and yet few of us were aware of it until binge-watching the sensual series.

By the time, Adam Demos love has only increased for Sara Shahi. He seemed to be more pleased than ever to be back with his new girlfriend after returning from Australia. Adam was working on the project with Victoria Justice, which is a Netflix rom-com on the Gold Coast.

After Adam returned, the duo relaxed with a picnic for the evening while watching A Nightmare on Elm Street at the famed Cinespia Hollywood Forever Cemetery.

Viewers of the show have been a little infatuated with the series since it had numerous really steamy moments, and they have become even more so when they discovered about Shahi and Demos ongoing real-life romance.

Adam Demos was born in the Australian city of Wollongong, on the coast of New South Wales. Despite a long-standing passion in acting, he worked in construction for years until, at the age of 23.

Adam chose to enroll in a Sydney acting class, according to an interview he gave to the Australian website Now to Love. Demos had subsequently auditioned and been cast in many Australian TV programs.

The most prominent roles were in Home and Away, Rescue Special Ops, including Winners & Losers, by his mid-twenties, with some fresh acting experience. He has not gained much fame through the projects he had done in the past.

Adam Demos, on the other hand, is the sexiest man to reveal his sensuous side in the Netflix drama Sex/Life, from which he rose to fame almost overnight. But how can this be actually attained?

In the first season of the drama, he had a naked shower scene, and after that, the public became enamored with him. There were a lot of views for that specific episode, which was the third of the season.

And, as the series Sex/Life plainly demonstrates, their connection is uncomplicated, and their enthusiasm is evident. The two Netflix series stars appear to have infused the same fire to their real-life romantic connection as they do in the scene.

The way sex is shown on the Netflix series has empowered Sarah Shahi to embrace her sexual being more. Sarah Shahi adores the way she appears and the sense of eroticism she possesses in her mind. Her desire to be sexy is really strong, as well.

Shahi had always wanted to feel liberated as she is in the Netflix series Sex/Life. Also, Sarah Shahi enjoys flaunting her physique, and she does have some curves. When she met Adam Demos, she discovered that her sensuality and passion had intensified.

In August 2020, the 36-year-old actor, Adam Demos and 41-year-old actress, Sarah Shahi met for the first time on the set of the Netflix drama, Sex/Life and they truly started feeling passion for each other since day one.

All of the snarky moments that the couple recorded for the Netflix series were just as hot as they are right now. According to the pair, every moment was genuine, sincere and packed with a lot of passion, both on and off camera.

Sarah Shahi and Adam Demos relationship is packed with passion, love, and madness. Both appear to be unable to live without the other. They became more well-known when the couple began dating in 2020.

As of 2021, both Sarah Shahis and Adam Demos estimated net worth is $5 million. Together they are creating an empire. The ultimate lovebirds are growing and becoming stronger as a couple.

Sarah Shahi is not going to let anything stand in her way of achieving success and fame. Same is the case with Adam Demo.

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What Is Shahi Shahis Net Worth? Is She OneOf The Hottest Stars In Making? - Vizaca.com