West Ham 1 Arsenal 0

West Ham manager Manuel Pellegrini believes Declan Rice is becoming a “complete player” after the 19-year-old gave the Hammers victory over Arsenal. Rice’s superb finish – his first Premier League strike – was the only goal at London Stadium, denting Arsenal’s top-four ambitions. Rice beat Bernd Leno with a first-time shot after a good lay-off by Samir Nasri, who was making his first top-flight appearance in England since August 2016. The maiden top-flight goal comes two weeks after Rice signed a new contract that will keep him with the Hammers until 2024.

Before that, the international future of Rice, who can play at centre-back or in centre midfield, had been in the headlines. He has earned three caps for the Republic of Ireland, all in friendlies, and the London-born man could yet decide to declare for England. In a highly-competitive London derby, Alexandre Lacazette was denied by an excellent save from Lukasz Fabianski as Arsenal failed to score in the league for the first time since the opening day of the season. West Ham were full value for their win, with Marko Arnautovic, Rice, Nasri and Felipe Anderson all going close when the game was goalless.

While West Ham move up to eighth in the table after a sixth win in nine league games, Arsenal remain fifth. The Gunners are three points behind fourth-placed Chelsea, who entertain Newcastle at 17:30 GMT. Arsenal are now without a win in five league games away from the Emirates Stadium and are playing catch-up in the race for a Champions League place. Only leaders Liverpool and Manchester City have found the net more than the Gunners, but against West Ham they failed to score in the league for only the second time this season – and have not kept a clean sheet since 8 December.

Eagerly Awaiting Packages

So I have a few boxsets coming up in Amazon UK purchases. As I live in India the time it takes for the packages to ship from the UK and be received at my end. My first 3 packages were done by DHL and it’s pretty easy to track them but my current package is via Royal Mail and this one does not have a tracking update or a tracking id. How the fuck am I gonna know where it is?

So I have the Jurassic Park trilogy, the 5 Spider-Man films before the recent recasting and reboot as well as the 3 dvd set of the 80s scifi show V. I can’t wait for it to come but it’s due in 5 days or so and I hope I do get it. I also have the 6 movie boxset of Planet of The Apes which I bought from an Irish seller on eBay which is also due in the next week or so. That too does not have tracking.

And finally from Amazon.com I have the 6 season box set of my favourite sitcom Corner Gas. This one has a tracking id from Imex but no update. What the fuck is it with these carriers? It’s delivery on planet earth not in a galaxy far, far away!

Ramsey To Join Juventus

Arsenal midfielder Aaron Ramsey has agreed to join Juventus in the summer, Sky Sports News understands. Ramsey will leave Arsenal on a free transfer when his contract expires at the end of the season – and we reported last week that a move to Juventus was his preferred choice.

The Wales international will undergo a medical with Juventus on Sunday, and the deal is expected to be finalised after their Italian Super Cup game against AC Milan next Wednesday.Since January 1, he has been able to negotiate a pre-contract agreement with any club outside England, having been unable to agree a new deal with the Gunners. Ramsey joined Arsenal from Cardiff in 2008 and has scored 52 goals in his 252 Premier League games.

The 28-year-old midfielder’s deal with the Serie A club will reportedly net him around £140,000 a week, which would put him ahead of established stars such as Paulo Dybala and Giorgio Chiellini but still some way behind Juve’s best paid player, Cristiano Ronaldo. A three-time FA Cup winner with the Gunners, Ramsey scored the winning goals in the finals against Hull (2014) and Chelsea (2017). He is now poised to join Cristiano Ronaldo at one of Europe’s most powerful clubs – Juve are nine points clear at the top of Serie A as they chase an eighth successive title.

The 4th Kelvinverse Star Trek Movie Shelved

The news broke that the 4th Kelvinverse Star Trek movie is now shelved! The untitled film which would have been the fourth in the franchise which began with 2009’s J.J. Abrams-directed “Star Trek” has been “shelved.” The film, which in one iteration would reportedly have brought back Chris Hemsworth as George Kirk in a time travel adventure, first ran aground in August 2018 when Hemsworth and James T. Kirk actor Chris Pine reportedly exited the film over budgetary issues. The last film in the series, “Star Trek Beyond,” was released in 2016.

What does this mean for Star Trek? Well, along with Star Trek : Discovery, which will launch it’s season 2 premier in a few days, we also have the Jean-Luc Picard series which is on the way and is being developed. Along with that there seems to be the push to have a few more series based in the Star Trek universe and have like a Marvel or DC kinda cross over thing happening. I am not sure if that will be the case and if all the newer series will be during the same timeline (the Picard series will be set 20 years after the events of Star Trek : Nemesis so atleast that show will be set in the 24th century).

What I really hope is that they return to the core of Star Trek and make it more about exploration – both in the physical realm and what it is to be human (or Vulcan or Trill or Klingon) rather than what we have had so far in recent years. I wasn’t too happy with the Kelvinverse, with the exception of Star Trek : Beyond; a movie which felt like it was true Star Trek and not littered with JJ’s drivel. I want a strong franchise set past the events of Nemesis and have a strong crew that will take us forward.

First Man

First Man is a 2018 American biographical drama film directed by Damien Chazelle and written by Josh Singer. Based on the book First Man: The Life of Neil A. Armstrong by James R. Hansen, the film stars Ryan Gosling as Neil Armstrong, alongside Claire Foy, Jason Clarke, Kyle Chandler, Corey Stoll, Ciarán Hinds, Christopher Abbott, Patrick Fugit, and Lukas Haas, and follows the years leading up to the Apollo 11 mission to the Moon in 1969. Steven Spielberg serves as an executive producer.

The movie follows the life of Neil Armstrong from 1961 till the return of the Apollo 11 mission to the moon in 1969. We start off with the 1961 X-15 rocket plane test by Armstrong which almost goes wrong and he is grounded. His two-and-a-half year old daughter, Karen, is undergoing treatment for a brain tumor. Desperate to save her, Armstrong keeps a detailed log of her symptoms and feverishly tries to find possible treatments, but she dies soon afterwards. Grief-stricken, Armstrong applies for Project Gemini and is accepted to NASA Astronaut Group 2. Armstrong, his wife Janet, and their son Rick move to Houston alongside other astronaut families.

By 1965, the family has settled in Houston, and Armstrong awaits selection for a crew. After the Soviets complete the first extravehicular activity (EVA), Armstrong is informed that he will be the commander of Gemini 8, with David Scott as the pilot. Prior to the mission, See and Charles Bassett are killed in a T-38 crash, deepening Armstrong’s grief at the string of recent losses. Armstrong and Scott successfully launch on Gemini 8, and dock with the Agena target vehicle, but soon afterward, the spacecraft begins to spin at a rapid rate. After nearly blacking out, Armstrong activates the RCS thrusters and safely aborts the mission. Armstrong initially faces criticism, but NASA determines the crew is not at fault. Later, White reveals that he has been selected for the Apollo 1 mission along with Gus Grissom and Roger Chaffee.

During a launch rehearsal test on January 27, 1967, a fire kills the Apollo 1 crew, and Armstrong hears the news while representing NASA at the White House. The next year, after nearly being killed ejecting from the Lunar Landing Research Vehicle, Armstrong is selected to command Apollo 11, and Slayton informs him that it will likely be the first lunar landing. Armstrong is emotionally distant from everyone including his family. Just before the launch his wife confronts him about the possibility that he won’t survive the flight, and insists that he explain the risks of the mission to their young sons. After telling them about the risks he faces, Armstrong says goodbye to his family and departs.

Apollo 11 successfully launches, and arrives at the Moon on the fourth day out. Armstrong and Aldrin undock in the Lunar Module and begin the landing attempt, but as they descend towards their landing site, Aldrin realizes the area is full of large boulders, forcing Armstrong to take manual control of the spacecraft. The lunar module successfully lands with minimal fuel remaining. After setting foot on the Moon, Armstrong drops Karen’s bracelet into Little West crater. With their mission complete, the astronauts return home and are placed in quarantine, where a rerun of JFK’s 1962 speech “We choose to go to the Moon” is shown, and Armstrong and Janet share a moment of tenderness.

The movie is a typical thrill a moment Hollywood blockbuster action film. It’s kinda dull and quiet without much excitement happening. The acting though is top notch. The Apollo 11 launch, journey and landing on the moon is beautiful done. The film has grossed $44.9 million in the United States and Canada, and $55.5 million in other territories, for a total worldwide gross of $100.4 million, against a production budget of $59 million. 7.5 outta 10!

10 Ways to Make Your At-Home Movie Experience More Enjoyable

Whether you’re a purist that loves renting DVDs and Blu-Rays from a local store or enjoy watching movies online, there are plenty of ways to improve your viewing experience if you take a couple of things into consideration. In this article, we’re going to list 10 of the best ways to take your movie viewing experience to the next level.

1. Pick the right time to watch a film

Don’t just watch a film because you can. Instead, choose the optimal time to improve your viewing experience. For example, you might decide to watch a film on the weekend instead of a weekday so that you don’t feel rushed, or you might want to watch a film when you’ve come home from work and had a shower and eaten dinner so that you can fall asleep as soon as it’s finished. There are optimal times to watch a film and it’s up to you to decide when you most enjoy it. The key things to remember are to minimize distractions and pick a time when you feel most relaxed and comfortable.

2. Get your favourite snacks ready

Snacks can include virtually anything. You’ll want to prepare some snacks beforehand, such as going to the store on your way home on a movie night or ordering in some pizza so you can eat while you watch. Typical movie snacks like popcorn can be a great way to add a bit of cinema nostalgia to your experience, but you can also add healthier options like pieces of fruit, vegetable sticks and sandwiches.

3. Include some homemade food

It’s best to include a bit of homemade food whenever you gather snacks for a movie night. In fact, you could even mix dinner and your movie to make it a little more enjoyable. Dinner doesn’t need to be at a dining table with your family. There are other options such as eating finger food around a coffee table while you watch a film, or enjoying a social dinner such as fondue or Asian-style hot pot.

4. Decide if you want to enjoy it alone or invite others

You should also decide if you want to enjoy your at-home movie experience with friends and family or on your own. Some people enjoy watching movies on their own and actually prefer it because when they have friends or family around, they might be upset when they make a negative remark and they might be uncomfortable with movie choices. There’s nothing wrong with watching in private and enjoying a night in on your own!

5. Get comfortable for your movie

It’s important to make yourself comfortable enough to watch a film, but not comfortable enough to fall asleep. Many people make the mistake of watching a film in bed but because their body is used to sleeping in bed and the comfort envelopes them, they might end up falling asleep and missing most of the film. Consider comfortable seats like a reclining chair, luvsac bean bags or even just your regular sofa with a blanket and some pillows. If you’re not comfortable while watching, then you’re not going to have a good time!

6. Decide on a movie

One of the hardest things about watching a film at home is picking a movie! It’s smart to pick a movie during the day so that you’re not stuck flicking through Netflix or your movie collection. There’s nothing wrong with watching something you’ve watched before and a lot of people have preferred genres, actors or even directors that they enjoy watching. Everyone has their own tastes, so it’s important to choose something that you personally enjoy.

7. It doesn’t have to be a typical movie

A lot of people mistake movie night for just being about movies, but the reality is that you can watch pretty much anything as long as it’s fun and enjoyable for you. You could marathon two or three episodes of your favourite drama series, you could watch animated cartoons or you could even watch some documentaries. Whatever you enjoy, these tips will work for you and make your at-home viewing experience that much more enjoyable.

8. Try watching a movie while you do something else

A lot of people get bored watching films and it’s understandable if you’re not used to watching movies. To remedy this, you could try something like responding to emails while you watch, chatting to friends and family members on social media or even getting some light work done. Some people even find watching a movie more enjoyable while they’re working out, so there are countless possibilities that could apply to you. It’s understandable that some people find watching a movie to be a waste of time, even if it’s for their own enjoyment. As a result, they’ll want to do something else while watching a movie. If this makes watching a movie more enjoyable for you, then there’s nothing wrong with it and it’s perfectly acceptable.

9. Don’t make it a ritual

A lot of hardcore movie watchers will set specific dates and times to watch a film. Some people will even go as far as to get the same snacks, set up the same comforts and invite the same people. However, you shouldn’t force yourself to watch if you don’t feel like it on the day. You could always skip your movie night, pick a different night or even just do something else with the people you’ve invited around. Just don’t make it a ritual and force yourself into watching a film if you don’t feel like it.

10. Watch a movie for your own reasons

Lastly, try not to be swayed by people too much. Some people are very critical about the movies they watch and will end up telling you not to watch a film even though it’s with your favourite actors and genres. Some people might even try to force you to watch a film and pester you about it because they enjoy it, even though you really don’t want to. Make sure you watch a film for your own reasons and don’t feel like you should be forced to watch something you don’t want to. In addition, don’t listen to movie critics because your opinion is the only one that counts. Whether you enjoy or dislike a film is all your personal opinion, so don’t let anyone take that away from you!

Why Watch Movies Online

The days of going to a movie theater are over it seems. In most parts of the world, streaming has taken over as the main source of entertainment for media. Whether it’s sports, films or music, hundreds of millions of users are participating on a daily basis. It’s interesting to see the turnaround after generations of cinemas and production companies holding the cards.

For many, it’s also a nice change because it provides a level of flexibility nobody had before. Nowadays, anyone with an internet connection can turn their TV and watch a blockbuster.

These are the other reasons it’s better to watch stuff online than it is to leave your home.

Wifi Connections

When the revolution first happened, it didn’t take off right away. Why? It was down to the slow internet speeds. Streamers constantly had to suffer the buffer and that took away from the experience. Today, it’s an entirely different experience as wifi speeds are stronger and getting even more powerful. Even with a 4k HD television, it isn’t an issue with Suddenlink Communications. Plus, you can boost the signal and watch from anywhere in the house. Not only is it easier to stream movies, but it’s reliable too.

The Cost

Going to the cinema is expensive. Once you factor in the cost of the ticket and the popcorn and drinks, it can be over $30. So much for a cheap date night! Netflix and Amazon Prime are nowhere near as pricey. A subscription with these two is $7.99 and $9.99 per month respectively. And, there is a range of programs to choose from whether you’re a TV addict or a movie buff. For $120 a year on Prime, a streamer can enjoy a multitude of shows and films, whereas it would cost around $250 for the same service at a theater.

New Releases

In the past, the argument against using Netflix and Prime was that it was like owning DVDs. You weren’t watching new or current, just rehashing old shows and movies. The same can’t be said today as these giants are beginning to release originals titles that are only available on their platforms. As well as “Orange is the New Black” and “The Man in the High Castle,” both have released films. “The Outlaw King” is one of the latest which featured a great cast and received very good reviews. So as well as being cheap, streaming online is also original. Plus, it isn’t illegal.

Shareable

Once you watch something on Netflix, you can share it with the world on social media. Some people might not like this idea, but it’s hard to argue it isn’t popular with a vast majority of fans. Part of consuming media is forming an opinion and sharing it with others. There’s a social element to it. Although it is possible with a traditional film, it isn’t as straightforward and as hassle-free. With Netflix or Prime, users click a button, spread the word, and start a conversation.

In the 21st-century, this is an essential part of watching movies.

10 Ways To A Healthier, Happier House

Many people know exactly how to ensure that their house keeps them as healthy as possible, but as it’s not a natural topic of conversation, it’s always hard to bring it up to others. When you walk into the homes of other people and they haven’t got the same priorities as you when it comes to their homes, it doesn’t mean that they’re doing it wrong in their home, it just means that they haven’t got the same knowledge as you to have the healthiest house possible. You’re a busy person with a family and a job to worry over. The last thing that you should have to think about is whether your home is keeping you feeling healthy.

When it comes to improvements in our health, we often focus more on nutrition and exercise than we do thinking about the ways that our environments affect our bodies. The home is where you spend a lot of our time, and it’s therefore very important that we figure out the ways that we need to make our homes healthier. It can be anything from cleaning up more often or choosing to flip life to being more natural with less toxins. That one’s pretty easy, as a browse at CleanHappens.com can see to that straight away. Your home environment is supposed to be a safe haven, where you retreat to after a long day and relax. The state of the environment that you are retreating to can have a direct impact on your health and the way that you feel about the place you are settling in.

An unclean and unsafe environment can have a huge bearing on your overall health, and it will have a negative impact upon it if you don’t act on it quickly. This can lead to long term health consequences, and all because you just didn’t take care of your home. Everyone has a different living space to worry about and while there are some aspects that you can’t control you can always do more to improve the health of the house that you are living in. Cleaning up your home to make your living space healthier and safer is the best thing that you can do, and if you’re interested, consider these ten ways you can make your home the healthy space that you’ve always wanted it to be.

Invest In Air Purifiers.

The first step to a good and healthy life is to breathe in the cleanest possible air. Air pollution has a huge effect on our health and fine particulate matter has linked to heart issues as well as lung issues. Investing in the right state of the art air purifier is going to help to mitigate the risk, despite the fact that sometimes the particles can be too small to filter. By taking the step to getting an air purifier or two in the home, you’re at least trying to make the air around you more positive and healthier to breathe in – and that’s all you can do to start with.

Switch Your Candles.

How many gorgeously scented candles do you like to burn in the house? The house smelling gorgeous is one thing, but scented candles come at a real risk. Paraffin wax candles are often petrol based and have the potential to emit potentially hazardous chemicals. These chemicals can lead to health risks like cancers, asthma and common allergies. Don’t worry though; you can still enjoy a well-scented home with soy candles. They still smell just as good, and they don’t emit any of the harmful chemicals as the others.

Avoid Chemical Cleaners.

This is a big one, so we’re mentioning it twice. Avoiding the use of chemical pesticides of chemical-based cleaners can make a difference in the home. Essential oils, soap and water is all you need, because the chemicals in your regular cleaners can aggravate existing breathing conditions and can contain carcinogens. Other natural cleaning solutions can be found online, with recipes including vinegar, lemon juice and baking soda.

Control The Light

Did you know that light pollution can interfere with your sleep? Most people don’t feel good about trying to sleep when city lights keep them awake half the night. You need to sleep in an environment conducive to sleep, so get an eye mask, new shades for the windows and do what you can to block out as much light as possible so that you can sleep well. Bad sleep is linked to a wealth of health issues, including cancers, mental illnesses, memory loss and even obesity. It’s worth ensuring that you block out the light to make your sleep more meaningful.

Clear The Pantry

One big tip for maintaining a healthy lifestyle is to look into your own nutrition. Rid the pantries of the foods that don’t contribute to that lifestyle for you, and fill it with nutrient-dense foods that are going to have a positive effect on your health. Don’t think about food in terms of ‘good’ and ‘bad’, because all you will end up doing is cutting out foods, which leads to binging later on. Keeping a mix of 80% nutrient dense foods with 20% nutrient free foods is important, because there is nothing more important for your health than balance.

Plant A New Garden

You can start with plants and trees, but eventually, you need to aim for a vegetable garden. Gardeners are happier people as they are out in the natural world, in the green spaces and with flowers and trees. People who live in greener spaces commit far less crime than in the cities and a part of that comes from how these greener spaces make them feel. The happier you are the less you are likely to feel depressed about your surroundings. Starting a small garden can start to create a space that makes you feel good about yourself – and once you start planting your own vegetables, you can start feeling great on the inside, too.

Get Rid Of Dust

It’s not going to be 100% possible to get rid of dust, but it is going to be possible for you to start looking after your home to minimize the amount of dust that you do get. Chronic exposure to dust can cause allergies and asthma, and you can prevent both of these things from happening with reducing the humidity of your home and changing your bedding frequently. Vacuuming often can also help, along with washing down everything in soap and water and natural products. Your war against dust in the home won’t be foolproof, but if you keep a regular routine, you can prevent it from building up into a problem.

Water Filtering

The tap water in your home is often drunk through a filter jug or some other system to make it taste nicer. However, you need to ensure that the tap at your sink has a filter attached to ensure that it isn’t contaminated. Local water suppliers may filter your tap water, but it’ll still contain contaminants like lead, chlorine, E-coli and pesticides. The best thing that you can do is to filter these out and enjoy a fresher taste with your water. Fresher water makes for a fresh you, and doing everything that you can to do this will be better for your health overall.

Look At Your Cookware.

When you are putting away leftovers, swap over yout plastic tupperware for glass containers. The plastic contains chemicals that can really have an impact on your hormones, as the plastic leaches toxins into your food and has an impact on the internal environment of your body. Glass is the better alternative, because it’s lighter, recyclable and doesn’t come with the nasty toxins leaking into your food. While you’re looking at your kitchen cookware consider the ways that you are exposing your family to fumes and polymers that are on the materials. Synthetic polymers are used to make non-stick goods, so cook with cast iron or stainless steel instead and you can avoid harsh toxins in your body.

Get A Pet

If you ever need a reason to adopt a pet, your health is one of those reasons. You may not be allergic to dander or pet hair, which is possible the best news when you are looking to have a healthier home. Pet owners are often said to be healthier than those who don’t have the pleasure of a pet in the home, with improved mood and happier emotional state two of the reasons that people get pets in the first place. The improved mood and lower blood pressure, plus the reduced risk of heart issues are all good reasons to get a pet in the home.

Change your diet

Sometimes, we become persons of bad ways, and we tend to purchase foodstuffs from the same grocery, cook them using the unchanged recipes, and stay within our methods for a long time. But if you are serious about eating a healthy meal and losing weight, you need to change the entire diet. It can be hard to let go of your old eating habits, but you have to try. Eating junk foods and foods that are too spicy can cause heartburn and you may require a heartburn reliever. Keep in mind that Sanofi is recalling four of its leading Zantac medicines, and there is an ongoing investigation of an impurity, N-Nitrosodimethylamine (NDMA) in the drugs. Therefore, to be on the safer side, avoid foods that can trigger heartburn and other gastrointestinal problems.

Your house can be a healthier place to be with just a little tweak here and there. You need your home to be the place you feel safe and healthy, so what are you waiting for? Make these changes today and you’ll find a happier home.

Modern Technology’s Positive Impact On Business Communication Explained

While modern technology is designed to improve our lives and bring people together, many find that it has the inverse impact. Or at least this rings true in our personal lives. When it comes to business, though, there’s no question that the positives outweigh the positives. This is especially true when dealing with communication.

Communication sits at the heart of every modern business venture, which is why all companies should take note. Here are just five ways in which modern tech is a force for good in this aspect of business:

1| It’s easier for companies to showcase their products and services. Illustrations and imagery are particularly powerful as a picture says a thousand words. Moreover, the use of social media allows companies to express their brand image in a very effective way. This type of communication strengthens the bond with existing customers and helps the business reach new clients too. Businesses that embrace this fully gain a huge advantage over those that don’t.

2| Internal communication is made easier thanks to team messaging Apps, emails, and other tech devices. In many cases, those features allow companies to avoid lengthy team meetings in favor of short, sharp briefings. Meanwhile, some employees may gain the opportunity to work from home, which can be beneficial for all parties. Perhaps most significantly, it is the perfect way to remove the need for long journeys to other branches of the business. This is great news for time and money.

3| Collaborations are greatly improved. This is thanks partly to the communication links and the use of unambiguous features. Microsoft office templates, for example, allow people to work on the same or related project(s) in an efficient manner. It removes any danger regarding a lack of cohesion while also avoiding human errors. Better still, any items that end up with the clients will be sure to follow the same blueprint, meaning the improved clarity is extended to them. It may even aid sales.

4| Networking with other companies becomes quicker, cheaper, and more accessible. Social platforms like LinkedIn are particularly useful. However, it’s equally possible to use forums or simply contact companies directly through their on-site details. A stronger network instantly improves a business’s prospects and can open the door to many new opportunities. Without modern tech, forming those vital business links would become far tougher for all involved.

5| Businesses can protect themselves on an intellectual level with far greater results. Modern tech makes it easy to take out copyrights and patents. Meanwhile, setting up notifications that alert owners to the illegal duplication of content makes life a lot easier. Screenshots and other tools also enable victims to gather the evidence before taking the culprit to court for damages. In fact, businesses can even find commercial lawyers to represent their cases with great ease.

Essentially, then, modern technology and communication go hand in hand. As such, every modern owner or director is advised to take advantage by incorporating at least some of those ideas with immediate effect. Productivity, profitability, and enjoyment along the way should all soar.

Cold Cancelled My Weekend Plans

The weekend was a waste for the most part. I wanted to go to Lulu mall or go out for lunch/dinner with my cousin and even perhaps get a haircut. But mostly due to the weather the past few days – it was a bit too cold in the mornings compared to what we are used to – I developed a cold and a phlegm congestion.

So anyways, I was late arriving back home on Saturday morning after work and hence woke up late. Plus I had the bad cold so I decided to rest at home for the entire day and watch Venom in the afternoon and chill for the rest of the day. I drank plenty of coffee and my cousin Roshni came over to visit. So we had a nice evening chatting. My sister, nephew and niece were also at home and we later ordered some food and while they watched a movie in the living room, I went back to bed for a while, until it was football time.

Sunday morning I was too tired and unwell so I cancelled the afternoon lunch plan with Sujith and thought I would feel better by evening for a light dinner and grocery shopping but I cancelled that too. And that was my weekend as I couldn’t do anything else except watch a whole lot of Angel episode and a few episodes of Friends.

Blackpool 0 Arsenal 3

Arsenal cruised through to the FA Cup fourth round with teenager Joe Willock scoring twice at Blackpool. The 19-year-old striker headed in after Aaron Ramsey’s free-kick hit the post and tapped in another before half-time. League One Blackpool struggled to keep pace with the Gunners, whose arrival at Bloomfield Road was delayed when a protestor sat on top of their bus. But after Armand Gnanduillet went close, they improved after the break before Alex Iwobi’s late finish.

The hosts had run Arsenal close during their fourth round Carabao Cup tie earlier in the season, which ended 2-1 to the Gunners. But despite six changes to the Arsenal team, there was still a gulf in class from the start as Willock became the first Gunners teenager to score in the FA Cup since Ramsey – who ran the show here – in 2010. Another teenage forward, Eddie Nketiah, could have had a hat-trick before the interval. Any hope of creating a hostile atmosphere for the visitors was impossible amid ongoing protests about the way the owners run the club, which has seen fans stay away from games.

With 3,777 home fans present, added to Arsenal’s 5,218, Bloomfield Road was half-empty as Unai Emery’s side easily moved a step closer to adding to their record 13 FA Cup trophies. A warm-up injury to skipper Laurent Koscielny threatened to throw Arsenal off course. But Ramsey, who is set to leave the Gunners at the end of the season, played in a deeper role and offered guile and experience to keep the visitors on track. The 28-year-old was the subject of several chants from the visiting fans, including “we want you to stay”.

The Dude Wore Black

Black pants. When it comes to pants/trousers/slacks or whatever you call them, I only wear black. One – it goes with everything. And two – I think that it’s true for fat guys like me, black just makes it look better or not that bad.

That’s plain and simple the main reason as to why I wear only black pants. I also happen to like black as it just seems to be better but mainly it’s the last reason. I therefore also prefer to wear black shoes or maybe a dark brown because of that. Dark shoes go well with black pants. Since I am obese, I stopped wearing & buying jeans. If I ever lose enough weight then I will get back to buying and wearing jeans.

Funnily enough, I don’t like black jeans. Blue, light blue, dark blue. I used to have a dark green jeans which I liked – it didn’t go well with everything but it was cool. I also had an ash or grey colour jeans which was rocking. I hope I get some someday.

Venom (2018)

Venom is a 2018 American superhero film based on the Marvel Comics character of the same name, produced by Columbia Pictures in association with Marvel and Tencent Pictures. Distributed by Sony Pictures Releasing, it is the first film in Sony’s Marvel Universe, adjunct to the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU). Directed by Ruben Fleischer from a screenplay by Scott Rosenberg, Jeff Pinkner, and Kelly Marcel, it stars Tom Hardy as Eddie Brock / Venom, alongside Michelle Williams, Riz Ahmed, Scott Haze, and Reid Scott. In Venom, journalist Brock gains superpowers after being bound to an alien symbiote whose species plans to invade Earth.

The Life Foundation, headed by genius founder Carlton Drake, has a spaceship in space exploring the nearby systems. A probe from the spaceship discovers a comet covered in symbiotic lifeforms and they capture 4 samples. One escapes and causes the spaceship to crash in Malaysia when on it’s way back to earth. The Life Foundation recovers the other three and transports them to their research facility in San Francisco, where they discover that the symbiotes cannot survive without oxygen-breathing hosts, which often fatally reject the symbiosis. Investigative journalist Eddie Brock accidentally finds a confidential document about the start of human trials in the possession of his fiancée Anne Weying, an attorney preparing a lawsuit defense for the Life Foundation.

He confronts Drake about this in an interview, which his boss meant to be more of a fluff piece, and this leads to him being thrown out of the office buildings, and losing his job and getting Anne fired. She bricks up because of this in anger and moves on. Eddie, struggles on his own and tried to make ends meet as the months pass by. Six months later, Drake’s symbiosis trials are closer to success, though one of his symbiotes dies due to carelessness. Brock is approached by Dora Skirth, one of Drake’s scientists who disagrees with his methods and wants to expose him. She helps Brock break into the research facility to search for evidence, and he learns that an acquaintance of his, a homeless woman named Maria, is one of the test subjects.

Brock attempts to rescue Maria, but the symbiote possessing her transfers to his body without him realizing, leaving her dead. Brock escapes and soon begins displaying strange symptoms. He reaches out to Weying for help, and her new boyfriend, Dr. Dan Lewis, discovers the symbiote on examining Brock. Drake exposes Skirth to the remaining captive symbiote, which ultimately dies. This leaves the symbiote inside Brock as the only known surviving specimen. Brock fights off the goons as the symbiote forms  around his body as a monstrous creature that fights off the attackers. It introduces itself as Venom to Brock as and explains that the comet is searching for planets where the symbiotes can possess and devour the inhabitants. Venom offers to spare Brock if he helps the symbiotes achieve their goal, and Brock comes to enjoy the superhuman attributes that the symbiote imbues him with.

Brock breaks into his former employers’ office to turn in evidence against Drake but is corner by cops as he attempts to leave. Anne seems him transforming and takes him in to see her new boyfriend, Dr. Lewis, at the hospital. He explains that the symbiote is slowly rotting Brock’s internal organs. Brock notes that the symbiote has two weaknesses: high-pitched noises and fire. Although Venom claims that the organ damage can be prevented, Anne uses an MRI machine to help Brock separate from the symbiote. Brock is then captured by Drake’s men. Meanwhile, the fourth symbiote, Riot, makes its way from Malaysia to San Francisco by hopping from body to body. It bonds with Drake, who agrees to take Riot in a Life Foundation space probe to collect the rest of the symbiotes and bring them to Earth. Weying reluctantly bonds with Venom so they can free Brock.

Venom back with Brock again, goes to stop Drake/Riot as the symbiote is now convinced that earth has to be saved. Venom damages the probe as it takes off, causing it to explode and kill both Riot and Drake. Weying believes Brock is no longer bonded to Venom after this, and that Venom also died in the explosion. However, the pair remain secretly bonded and set out to protect San Francisco by killing criminals. Brock also returns to journalism, and in a mid-credits scene he is invited to interview incarcerated serial killer Cletus Kasady, who promises “carnage” when he escapes.

The storyline and pacing isn’t the best and it feels very chaotic. They spend too much time without the Venom character and it feels like they could have avoided that by cutting out uninteresting stuff. I wasn’t convinced by Hardy’s performance during the first half of the movie but when he bonds with Venom, it’s much better. Special effects are good, action sequences are generic. The film went on to be an unexpected box office success, becoming the sixth highest-grossing film of 2018 with over $855 million worldwide – though why I don’t know. 7 outta 10!

Why Online Study Could Boost Your Career

Adding more strings to your bow is always a good thing. We should seek throughout the whole course of our careers to continue our education, as it’s the way to make sure we keep growing, challenging ourselves and developing vital skills. However, there are some significant barriers to keep studying for a lot of us. If we have full-time jobs, careers and families, it’s not possible to uproot everything and go back to student life. That is exactly where online study has been booming over the past decade. Offering flexible courses which involve distance learning that you can fit around existing commitments, the chance is now there to gain the skills you need to advance your career, in a way that suits your life – sometimes even on your mobile phone.

Location, Location, Location

With postgraduate studies and things like business school in particular, the course you choose to take is likely to be highly specific rather than generalist. That means that you need to more carefully select the right fit, one that will truly enhance your career goals. In past, the right course for you would often be found at only a handful of institutions – which may not have been located anywhere near your home, family or job. With the advent of online degree courses, the learning of higher education institutes all over the world are open to you. So finding the right fit is easier than ever. If you want to do Wilfrid Laurier’s online BACP it’s now available wherever you are without you having to uproot your life. Plus, studying online saves a lot of headaches, administration and hidden costs, such as expensive commutes, plane tickets, accomodation costs or visas, making it much more accessible in terms of cost too.

Accessing Support

If you think that choosing to study online means you won’t be able to access the support you need, you may be pleasantly surprised by the reality of online study. Most digital learning programmes are well aware that support is a key concern for their students and have taken great steps to address it. Support from university tutors is available alongside one to one feedback to keep your studies on track. You should be allocated a supervisor whom you can email and get in touch with via Skype for study guidance, as well as a host of student support services for study, technical or admin queries. Most institutions have introduced online learning platforms which connect you to your peers and tutors and have a wealth of study materials including videos of lectures, study notes and slideshows – all fully searchable. Some universities and colleges have set up a YouTube channel to allow you access lectures anywhere in the world, while others have produced podcasts and online labs. Your assessments will be taken or submitted online, while your scores and feedback will also be available – it’s usually quite a seamless process and one which is truly portable. You could be studying for that master’s degree on the train to work every day!

Can Gaming Be Good For You?

Today, gaming has taken off in a huge way – to the point that many young people are getting their social needs met through online gaming rather than playing out with other children.  In some ways, this can be a concern for parents, yet there’s research to suggest that gaming can be good for you.

Of course, as with anything, moderation is a critical element – in the sense that overindulgence in anything can be unhealthy… just like how watching too much TV can zombie us out, yet research has shown that a little bit of gaming a day can actually be good for you.

In this article we’re therefore going to look at how videogames can be good for you, as today, the days of playing Mario Kart, sitting alone in your room are mostly gone.  Today, games are connecting people. They are also expanding us as individuals… as many games involve a large component of strategy which enhance cognitive and creative ability.

Indeed, many companies are focusing on the gamification of education as a way to enhance the learning experience.  For instance, language learning with apps like Duolingo or brain training games that help with memory, focus and cognition can be a very positive resource.

1. THE INFLUENCE OF VIDEO GAMES

If we look at games like Rollercoaster Tycoon or Candy Crush, few would argue these games are a dangerous social influence.  Whilst they might be considered to be the tool of choice for procrastinators to procrastinate, they can also be helpful in terms of one’s cognition.

Yet, when we look more toward action packed games like Call of Duty and Grand Theft Auto we can see the reason some people consider these violent games to have a negative influence, particularly on young impressionable minds.  That said, some could argue that these games provide an effective channel to vent anger and decompress.

2. THE LONELY DAYS ARE GONE

The challenge with gaming is that it can turn into an addiction.  There’s nothing wrong with getting a gamer desk for computers, in fact this can make ergonomic sense, but there has to be moderation in terms of the amount of time spent sitting on your own in a room playing video games as this form of detachment and dissociation isn’t healthy… but in small doses, gaming has been proven to benefit a person’s mental and emotional health – as today, it’s much more of a social and collaborative experience than it once was.

Specifically, video games have been known to improve self-esteem, confidence, and intellect in terms of thinking strategically.  Today, as there are around 1.2 billion people playing video games throughout the world gaming has become a much more social affair than it once was – meaning there’s now an element of teamwork and friendship on offer.

3. THE CONCLUSION

The conclusion is that gaming can be good for you, in moderation, and depending on what games are being played.  We are living in a much more digital world to the point that everything is done online today, even dating, so in the “new world” perhaps we need to let go of the notion that gaming is intrinsically bad for us.