For all of those people who feel they have become victims of an ideological witch hunt or have been evicted from all forms of intellectual debate, theres a new Promised Land to share with other like-minded individuals.

Even crazy Uncle Mike, or someone like the best friend of the Oklahoma City bomber, or Aunt Lily who is obsessed with building survival bunkers and keeping an eye out for unmarked, black helicopters would be welcome with open arms.

This coming May in New Orleans, the Founders Fund, run by billionaire Peter Thiel, co-founder of PayPal, will host a three-day event called Hereticonand the turnout promises to be unusually decent.

Imagine a conference for people banned from other conferences. Imagine a safe space for people who dont feel safe in safe spaces, the fund wrote.

The main reason for hosting the conference? The organizers believe that these apparent intellectual troublemakers are essential to mankinds progress.

We must protect them, opines the Fund. Butwhile our culture is fascinated by the righteousness of our historical heretics, it is obsessed with the destruction of the heretics among us today.

In an announcementfor the event, the fund compares potential attendees to martyrs like Galileo and Jesus Christ, and poses the question: Are our heretics the first in history who deserve to be burned?

There is no doubt that the event will attract many banned outcasted opinion havers, from all fields, since the event will welcome intellectuals from all walks of life that have been banned from other conferences.

Topics including, but are not limited to: biological self-determination, geo-engineering, transhumanism, the abolition of college, transgressive media, sex, the softer side of doomsday prepping, constitutional monarchy, immortality, drag culture, and building nations. Related: The Doodle Frenzy Is Earning Unethical Breeders Top Dollar

And at the end of the day, on the top floor of hotel, in a hidden room plastered in newspaper clippings of sightings and secret bases, there may be a talk or two on UFOs.

Though the organizers failed to include any information as to who might be presenting on this conference of heretics, media is already speculating as to who might show up. The event is invite-only, but members of the general public can apply for a spot.

While his mainstream ventures include PayPal and Facebook, many of Thiels other activities are naturally leading to something like Hereticon.

Hes been known, for instance, forusing controversial blood transfusion therapiesin pursuit of his dream of living forever.He also signed up with cryogenics company Alcor, which will freeze the ailing body in the hopes of unfreezing it in the future when there is a cure.

However, what apparently makes Thiel an intellectual outcast most is his negative attitude towards Silicon Valley. According to the Wall Street Journal, last year herelocated his home, personal funds, 50-person staff and his foundation from Silicon Valley to Los Angelesapparently because Silicon Valley was too liberal.

Thiel is one of the most vocal supporters Trump has ever enjoyed.

More recently, he accused the Google of treason for operating an artificial intelligence lab in China, which Trump promptly tweeted:

As the impeachment proceedings gain momentum, Hereticon may just gain more requests for attendance that it was planning on.

By Josh Owens for Safehaven.com

More Top Reads From Safehaven.com:

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Peter Thiel's Promised Land For Intellectual Troublemakers - SafeHaven.com

Respect means a lot to all of us. This is how you can get more of it.

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The renowned Aretha Franklin sung about it, but everyone and I do mean everyone wants some of it. We want respect in our personal lives and in our professional lives as well. We want to be appreciated for the work we do and to get proper recognition for our contributions. When our colleagues respect us, they take us more seriously and view us as professionals who get things done in the right way while applying professional standards and ethics. If you want to be respected more by your boss, your staff or your colleagues, you absolutely must do these seven things consistently.

1. Apologize for what you get wrong but not for who you are or what you accomplish.

By all means, dont apologize excessively. Doing so might cause people to see you as inferior, especially when your inclination is to automatically apologize to others for not only the stuff you get wrong but for the stuff they get wrong too.

In no way am I recommending that you neglect to take ownership of your mistakes or the mistakes of your team. That is what weak leaders are known to do. Instead, I posit that strong leaders answer for their teams actions and their own actions by taking full responsibility for mistakes, and they are respected much more for doing so. But dont apologize for things that you have no control over, things outside your authority or for the things that make you who you are.

Apologize for being rude or arriving late to a meeting but not for another persons discomfort with your identity, professionalism, competence or expertise. Apologize for disrespecting or discounting someone else but not for setting performance standards and holding people accountable. Apologize for a process, service or quality failure, but never apologize for being confident, assertive or successful.

2. Have the audacity to point out whats not working and the diligence to propose methods that will.

If you are the resident fault-finder on the team, no one will like or respect you. While it is very important to highlight mistakes, flaws and areas for improvement, it is equally if not more important to add your ideas, recommendations and methods to the mix. People respect problem solvers and solution finders more than complainers.

To gain more respect, demonstrate your ability to be a strategic thinker and offer up thoughtful and comprehensive proposals with solutions. When you have the courage to not only point out what is wrong but also stand behind it with a well-thought proposal for how to make it better, you gain more respect. Even if people dont fully accept your proposal, they will respect you for providing one. It shows that you are truly invested in making things better, and you will gain a reputation for generating ideas, solving problems and improving processes.

3. Treat other people the way they want to be treated rather than the way you want to be treated.

Although well intentioned, the Golden Rule principle falls short. The Golden Rule suggests that we treat others the way we want to be treated. A better approach is to treat others the way they want to be treated. This is called the Platinum Rule, and it considers that when dealing with other people, it is best to try to make it about them. Focus on what they need and what they care about to the extent possible.

When you treat others the way you want to be treated, they might view you as arrogant and overly presumptuous. Think about it. How can we just decide that other people want to be treated the same way we want to be treated? Who gives us the right to presume that?

Youll gain more respect when you make it about other people. Another way to do this is to simply respect them. Regardless of position titles or status, find a way to show you value and appreciate the maintenance worker who cleans the bathrooms as much as you appreciate the chief executive. When you make it about other people and elevate their needs and concerns, they will elevate you and come to respect you more.

4. Ask more questions and remain open to new ideas.

In case you were wondering, people really dont like know-it-alls. If you go around diminishing others while acting like you have a monopoly on bright ideas, the best expertise or the best solutions, you will be disliked. People will respect you less because they dont feel you value their ideas or expertise.

A better strategy would be to show people that you are open to learn new things and think differently about processes. This will get you further than you will ever get by touting your expertise, college degrees or how much experience you have. In todays society, your ability to learn, unlearn, ask great questions and learn some more is truly valued, and this will garner you more respect with your colleagues.

5. Make your needs a priority, and deal with conflict even when its uncomfortable.

People respect people who respect themselves and value their own needs. When you avoid conflict, you send a message that your needs are inferior to anothers. When you do it excessively, people come to expect that you will certainly accommodate and prioritize their needs over your own.

There are five different conflict styles (collaborating, compromising, competing, accommodating and avoiding), and each style has a time and place for its suitability though we are inclined to lean on one or two styles more frequently. It is okay to sometimes avoid conflict, but if you tend to avoid it even when issues beg to be addressed, you become part of the problem. By being a reliable conflict avoider or accommodator, others become less and less interested in meeting your needs, and they lose respect for you.

Regardless of which conflict style you prefer, you have to get comfortable applying other styles when necessary. Go ahead and apply the collaborative style and even the competitive style when you need to fight or advocate for your needs or the needs of your team. As people see that you are adept with flexing between the styles, they will come to respect you more.

6. Be courageous enough to ask for help and invite critique from others.

Let go of the kind of thinking that says that only weak people need other people. Thats false. Strong people have the courage to admit they need help from other people. They have the courage to allow others to provide assistance. When you ask for help, you show your strength. You show that you are indeed confident in your abilities and have the willingness and courage to accept guidance. You show others that you dont believe yourself to be superior to those around you, and you create opportunities for others to contribute to your development.

Respected leaders seek opportunities to develop themselves and others. Let others help and advise you along the way. People will respect you more when they see that you welcome critique and feedback. Even when you might not really need the help, you can still benefit from asking for it. You will garner more respect just for creating opportunities for others to flex their intellectual or creative muscles more often!

7. Do the right thing even when it will cost more than you want to pay.

I learned a long time ago that an ounce of dishonesty will have far more impact on whether people respect me than a pound of accomplishment ever will. A lot of people get lost here. No advice about how to gain respect would be complete without a category on integrity and ethics.

Ethics is about how we meet the challenge of doing the right thing when that will cost more than we want to pay. -The Josephson Institute of Ethics

We can respect people even if we disagree with them, and we can respect people we dont even like. But you would be hard pressed to find someone who will tell you that they respect people they dont trust or cant count on to use good judgment to make ethically sound decisions especially when those decisions run counter to their own interests.

If you care about garnering more respect, you absolutely must commit to a set of professional standards that reflect high levels of integrity and ethics. Zig Ziglar said the most important persuasion tool you have in your entire arsenal is integrity. Hes so right. Ethical leaders have integrity and work to bridge the ethical dilemma gap and build distinguishable standards for behavior. They then hold themselves and others across the organization accountable.

I know youve got this.

Just take a hard look at your behaviors and assess whether your actions may be diminishing the respect you garner from others. People advance professionally for many reasons, and commanding respect is certainly one of them. Make the necessary modifications to your own behavior so that you can gain more respect from your colleagues, your staff and your boss. The results will be reflected in positive and tangible ways that advance your career as well as your professional standing.

Read more:
7 Things You Absolutely Must Do If You Want To Be Respected - Forbes

Story Highlights

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Americans are more likely to approve of President Donald Trump's job performance than they are to approve of him as a person in the latest Gallup poll, with his ratings on these measures coming in at 40% and 34%, respectively. The largest gaps in Trump's job and personal approval ratings are among Republicans and weekly churchgoers -- both with double-digit gaps. Democrats' approval ratings on the two dimensions are essentially the same (5% job and 6% personal).

Approval of President Donald Trump's Job Performance vs. Ratings of Him as a Person

Do you approve or disapprove of the way Donald Trump is handling his job as president? Apart from whether you approve or disapprove of the way Donald Trump is handling his job as president, what do you think of Trump as a person? Would you say you approve or disapprove of him?

Trump's latest ratings are from a Sept. 16-30 Gallup poll, which spanned an unfolding saga regarding the president's reported attempts to solicit help investigating a potential election rival from foreign leaders. These events have led to an impeachment inquiry from the U.S. House of Representatives but have not immediately had a significant impact on Americans' assessments of Trump's performance as president. His current 40% job approval rating is just slightly lower than Trump's previous 43% in the first half of September. Internal numbers in the latest poll suggest that his approval rating was steady at 40% in both the first week (before the whistleblower case exploded) and the second week of interviewing.

Gallup also updated a question occasionally used with other presidents between 1999 and 2003, which asks respondents for their views of the president personally, separate from their views of his job performance. The question was initiated during the presidency of Bill Clinton as he presided over a strong economy but, like Trump, was embroiled in scandal.

Among most groups, approval of Trump's performance is higher than approval of him as a person.

Trump's 34% personal approval rating is similar to scores Clinton received toward the end of his presidency but much lower than those given to President George W. Bush in his early years in the White House.

The six percentage-point gap between Trump's personal and job approval ratings nationally is narrower than Gallup recorded for Clinton and Bush during their presidencies. However, unlike Trump, Clinton was much more popular as a president than he was as a person while the opposite was true for Bush.

Approval of a President's Performance vs. Approval as a Person, 1999-2019

With less than a year and a half left in office, roughly one in three Americans approved of Clinton personally -- ranging from 29% to 36% from 1999 to 2000. But his job performance ratings were much higher, by between 21 and 32 percentage points. It's likely that Clinton's image had been dinged by his own actions -- which came to light in the Monica Lewinsky scandal and the subsequent investigations. But with a booming U.S. economy, many Americans were willing to set aside reservations they had about him personally.

Though Clinton's and Trump's personal ratings are similar, all political party groups made distinctions between Clinton's performance and him as a person at the time -- whereas Democrats currently make no such distinctions for Trump. Additionally, Trump's personal image among Republicans is currently much more positive than was the case for Clinton in the eyes of Democrats.

Bush, on the other hand, received greater personal approval ratings than he received for his job performance in his early years in office. Bush enjoyed majority job approval in nearly all polls from 2001 to 2003, but Americans were even more likely to approve of him as a person by between eight and 13 percentage points. Bush's personal approval ratings -- which were taken both pre- and post-9/11 -- more than doubled his disapprovals, ranging from 65% to 70% from 2001 to 2003.

Ratings of Trump as a person are similar to those of Clinton in the final 16 months of his presidency, during a period when Clinton's personal behavior was being heavily criticized by both parties. But there was much more daylight between the personal and job performance ratings of Clinton, who had recently endured an impeachment himself at the time, than is currently the case for Trump.

Clinton's and Bush's respective ratings illustrate that Americans view presidents' performance differently than they view them as people, but that distinction might be lessened in the highly polarized political environment Trump governs in. It is also possible that Democrats' views of Trump are specific to him, seeing him as a president for whom the line between his personal and work behavior may be more blurred.

Still, Trump's personal ratings are sharply lower than his performance ratings among two groups that are key to his base: Republicans and regular churchgoers -- with less than half of the latter group approving of Trump as a person. This could put pressure on Trump to keep these groups satisfied through presidential actions and policies rather than the personal expressions he is wont to make.

Explore President Trump's approval ratings and compare them with those of past presidents in the Gallup Presidential Job Approval Center.

View complete question responses and trends.

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Trump Job Approval Higher Than Approval of Him as a Person - Gallup

Microsoft's Surface Pro X uses the company's SQ1 processor, a variation of Qualcomm's 8cx chip for Windows laptops.

We knew we'd get a bunch of new laptops at Microsoft's Surface event on Tuesday. What we didn't know is we'd also get a new Microsoft processor, a Qualcomm-derived chip called the SQ1. That chip in the new Surface Pro X carries a message from Microsoft: It's time for laptops to get phone-like all-day battery life, but not if that means sacrificing processing power to get there.

Microsoft's Surface products, with their integrated hardware and software, serve a dual role. First, they're a serious business at Microsoft. Second, they also let the company show consumers and other computer makers Microsoft's view of the future of personal computing.

The SQ1 gives Microsoft a bit more control over that future while telling software makers they'd better get with the program, too.

And it could offer better competition to Apple, whose influential designs already are tightly integrated. iPhones and iPads use Apple's own A series of Arm-family processors, and its future MacBookis rumored to be embracing Arm chips, too.

Now playing: Watch this: First look at Surface Pro X, Pro 7, Laptop 3

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For Microsoft, steering its own chip designs is "crucial for maximizing user experience and battery life, as Apple has demonstrated over the last decade with custom iPhone chips," Forrester analyst Frank Gillett said.

Arm-based PCs haven't caught fire so far, even with good battery life and an ability to connect to mobile networks. They just can't match the performance of x86-family chips from Intel and AMD, and there are software compatibility problems since mainstream software for x86 chips won't run on Arm machines.

But Microsoft isn't afraid to raise performance expectations this time around.

The SQ1 gives the Surface Pro X "incredible power," said Yusuf Mehdi, corporate vice president for Microsoft's modern life, search and devices group. "We've got amazing graphics power. We're going to do AI on the chip."

The companies didn't share many performance specifics, though. The graphics performance is twice that of the eighth-generation Intel Core processor from two years ago or of last year's Qualcomm 850 smartphone chip, Qualcomm said. And Microsoft preferred to focus on efficiency, not raw performance, when comparing the Surface Pro X to its Intel-powered Surface Pro 6.

"This product has three times more performance per watt than the Surface Pro 6," Microsoft Chief Product Officer Panos Panay said at the event. That older model Microsoft laptop uses an Intel eighth-generation Core processor.

Microsoft is hardly abandoning Intel, its business partner for decades. Indeed, two new Surface designs rely on Intel chips -- the Ice Lake chip for premium laptops this year, like the 13-inch Surface Laptop 3, and the Lakefield chip for next year's more exotic dual-screen Surface Neo that's something like a folding tablet. Microsoft also shared the love with perennial Intel rival AMD, picking its mobile Ryzen chip for the 15-inch Surface Laptop 3.

But figuring out how to bring Arm chips into the Microsoft fold -- and let mainstream PC users benefit from battery life that means they can just leave their charger at home -- is the bigger challenge.

Arm licenses its chip designs and lets others build compatible models of their own design, and a rich library of options can be added -- "intellectual property" in industry licensing terms. That flexibility has let many Arm licensees tailor chips for different products, prices, performance and power consumption levels.

Microsoft's SQ1 processor for the Surface Pro X laptop

Now it's Microsoft's turn to do the tailoring. "We brought our engineering and we brought our IP with the Qualcomm team to build basically a brand-new chip," Mehdi said.

The move is "really smart," said Techsponential analyst Avi Greengart. "It suggests unique capabilities and it allows Microsoft to avoid direct comparisons with other Qualcomm-based products," the Arm-based laptops available from companies like HP, Lenovo, Asus and Samsung.

The SQ1 is based on Qualcomm's mainstream offering for PCs, the Snapdragon 8cx, Qualcomm said, but it's not the same chip you'll see in 8cx-based laptops. For one thing, the graphics processing unit (GPU) is different.

"The GPU and its cores were optimized for Surface Pro X specifically to enhance the performance and user experience for graphics-rich applications," Qualcomm said. "Microsoft wanted a truly mobile experience, from long battery life to rich displays to LTE connectivity and of course to be 'instant on' like a smartphone."

Boosting graphics performance is a good idea, said Real World Tech analyst David Kanter.

"Qualcomm's GPU can run Windows, but it's weaker than Intel, AMD and Nvidia graphics," he said. That's especially the case when it comes to the critical Windows DirectX drivers, software that apps use to control the graphics hardware, he said.

The SQ1 includes dedicated hardware: the fourth-generation AI Engine also used in the flagship Snapdragon 855 processor, Qualcomm said. Accelerating AI software boosts software that uses brainlike processing for tasks like understanding human speech, recognizing who's in a photo or automatically editing video.

One of the big sticking points for Arm PCs has been software incompatibility. The Surface Pro X and the fact that Microsoft is willing to co-design a special chip for it could help Microsoft lure those developers, though.

Adobe demonstrates its Fresco drawing app on Microsoft's Surface Pro X. It'll bring other Creative Cloud apps to Arm-powered PCs.

One big holdout has been Adobe, maker of Photoshop, Lightroom, Premiere Pro, Illustrator and many other apps used by creative types. But Adobe shared Microsoft's stage to demonstrate its new Fresco drawing app on the Surface Pro X and commit to bringing more of its Creative Cloud software suite along, too.

"Surface is an important platform for Creative Cloud and will become even more important in the future," said Scott Belsky, Adobe's chief product officer for Creative Cloud. More than half of today's Surface customers are also Creative Cloud customers, he said, so Adobe decided to bring "much of" the software suite to Arm-based Surface machines, he said.

"We're working hard to bring other key parts of Creative Cloud to the Surface Pro X as soon as possible," Belsky said. Adobe declined to share details about which apps besides Fresco will arrive, though.

Software support is the ultimate key to the success of the Surface Pro X and other Arm-based laptops, Forrester's Gillett said. "It all comes down to whether developers -- and Microsoft's Windows team -- can make the experience sing without x86 processors."

Now playing: Watch this: Microsoft reveals 5.3mm ultrathin Surface Pro X

3:18

See the original post:
Here's why Microsoft wanted a custom chip for the Surface Pro X's brains - CNET

DOHA, Qatar Dalilah Muhammad had no idea whether she had even won when she crossed the finish line on Friday night at Khalifa International Stadium. She had to look at the scoreboard to learn the results, she said, and it was only then that she realized what she had accomplished.

Muhammad, 29, had not only won the womens 400-meter hurdles title at the track and field world championships she had broken her own world record, too.

It feels good to have it come together when it matters most, she said.

Muhammad held off Sydney McLaughlin, her young American challenger, in the final meters to win in 52.16 seconds, four hundredths of a second better than the world record she had set in July at the United States championships. McLaughlin, 20, was runner-up in 52.23, which was a personal best and the third-fastest time ever.

Shes amazing, McLaughlin said of Muhammad, who grew up in Queens. Shes been doing this a long time, and Im just constantly trying to learn from her.

It has been an eventful couple of months for Muhammad, the reigning Olympic champion. A few weeks after her record run in July, she was soundly defeated by McLaughlin in Zurich.

Muhammad returned to California, where she lives and trains, and acknowledged that she was struggling with her mental approach ahead of the world championships. The world record had been on her mind for so long, she said, and she was wondering what she could find to motivate herself moving forward.

If nothing else, Muhammad wanted to claim her first world title after finishing second in 2013 and 2017. And there was the looming threat posed by McLaughlin, who may have more pure speed and appears primed to be the future of the event.

On Friday, though, Muhammad showed that the future is not now, even as she continued to dismiss the suggestion that she and McLaughlin have a rivalry.

I dont focus on Sydney or anyone else in the field, Muhammad said. I just try to focus on me and the finish line.

Muhammad and McLaughlin were the clear class of the field. Rushell Clayton of Jamaica finished third in 53.74, over a second and a half behind McLaughlin.

Muhammad earned a $100,000 performance bonus for setting a world record, according to the International Association of Athletics Federations.

Original post:
Dalilah Muhammad Breaks Her Own World Record in the 400-Meter Hurdles - The New York Times

PASADENA, Calif. Taking a spin around Oregon State football with 10 takeaways following the Beavers 48-31 win over UCLA in the Rose Bowl:

1. Oregon States offense might be best in Oregon

We heard for months this offseason what Oregon had for an offense. A Heisman Trophy-candidate quarterback. One of the countrys top offensive lines. OK. But now that were five games into the season, which offense would you rather have: Oregon State or Oregon? Could be the Beavers. While well acknowledge the Ducks have faced better FBS defenses than OSU, the gap isnt that great. OSU has scored 36-28-45-28-48 points this season. Thats good offense. The Beavers dont turn it over they have the countrys fewest turnovers with one and have balance, No. 39 rushing offense, No. 40 passing offense. Jake Luton is every bit as effective at quarterback as Oregons Justin Herbert in 2019, perhaps better. Luton has 14 touchdowns, no picks. The Beavers offensive line can hold up with just about any in the Pac-12, as theyre giving just over one sack a game. OSU probably has the Pac-12s best set of running back in Artavis Pierce and Jermar Jefferson. And, as the cherry on top, heres what Oregon doesnt have: Isaiah Hodgins. Hes proving to be the best receiver in the Pac-12, and perhaps among the top five in the country.

Might be best in state? Truth is, its probably not close.

2. Has Chip Kelly lost it?

Not sure who is wearing the head coachs headset on UCLAs sideline, but it cant be Chip Kelly. That cant be the coach who once led Oregon to a level it had never been before, and unlikely will return. Kelly used to be a guy who was three steps ahead of everyone. Now? Nearly a year and a half into their current jobs, Oregon States Jonathan Smith has a better record (4-13) than Kelly (4-14). And its plays like these that are driving Kellys Bruins into the ground.

Trailing 7-0, UCLA faces fourth-and-1 at its 34. Kelly, ever the gambler, decides to go for it. No problem there. But the call? Sheesh. Rather than run a short yardage power play, running back Joshua Kelley lines up seven yards in the backfield and takes a deep handoff. Oregon State, one of the Pac-12s best teams at getting into the backfield, has plenty of time to run down Kelley and hes thrown for a five-yard loss. Its soon 14-0.

Later in the game, with UCLA mounting a mild rally, the Bruins kickoff from midfield following an Oregon State personal foul penalty. Perfect time to try something on the kickoff, with little risk, as the Beavers did in a similar situation in recovering an onside kick during the first quarter. Instead, the Bruins boot it into the end zone, and Oregon State quickly snuffs out any momentum UCLA may have had with a long touchdown drive.

3. This team is Jake Lutons

Just in case there was any question. And yes, there were questions, after the Beavers came up short in three-point losses to Hawaii and Stanford. Why have a sixth-year senior at quarterback if he cant give the Beavers some big senior moments when they need it most? Might as well turn to sophomore Tristan Gebbia and begin the future. Gebbias turn will have to wait, because whatever doubt anyone had in Luton was erased in the Rose Bowl. Luton was fantastic, rarely missing a throw during a school record-tying six touchdown (five pass, one run) performance. Luton made big plays, often took time to occasionally check out of a play, and when the Beavers needed a savvy presence down the stretch to close out the win, he was there to provide it. Luton has a chemistry with Hodgins that, barring injury, is going to lead to one of the greatest quarterback-receiver duos in Oregon State history.

4. Is Isaiah Hodgins the best receiver in the country?

Oregon State has had two Biletnikoff Award winners, given to best receiver in the country, in its history in Mike Hass (2005) and Brandin Cooks (2013). Hodgins might be the third. At least hes in the conversation following a 10-catch, 123-yard, three-touchdown performance against UCLA. Hodgins made several showstopping catches, including one for the Beavers first touchdown, and another on a sideline grab for a first down. Nationally, Hodgins ranks second in receiving yards per game (126.4) and receptions (8.6), fifth in receiving yards (632). Hes second among receivers in touchdowns with nine.

Be sure to watch the final seven games of Hodgins 2019 season, because it seems almost certain the OSU junior will be catching passes in the NFL in 2020.

5. Special teams return some special

A week after Stanford arguably beat Oregon State 31-28 because the Cardinal special teams were better, the Beavers special teams got back on track and made a difference. Punter Daniel Rodriguez had one of his best days at OSU. He had a career-tying 62-yard punt, and provided the drop kick that led to an onside kickoff recovery by the Beavers David Morris during the first quarter. UCLA came into the game with one of the countrys top punt return units, but did little against OSU. Yes, there was the missed extra point, which predictably led to some on social media to blast Jordan Choukair again, but thats for another day.

6. Kudos to Artavis Pierce for sticking around

Who could have blamed Artavis Pierce had he turned tail and found another program following Jermar Jeffersons freshman campaign in 2018? Pierce was Jefferson, until he sustained an elbow injury early in the 2018 season. By the time he returned, Jefferson had become a star and became the Beavers clear No. 1 option at running back. Pierce says he never considered transferring to another school, even though its a move that has become all too common and easy in college football these days. Pierce stuck it out, and it paid off. With Jefferson hobbled the past month with an ankle injury, Oregon States running game remains strong, as Pierce put up his second consecutive 100-yard performance with 119 yards against UCLA. Pierce also gives the Beavers an element of toughness, as he has no problem running between the tackles for his yardage.

7. Tim Tibesar hot seat talk has been put on ice

Oregon States defense had plenty to prove this season, following the forgettable 2018 campaign. At the forefront was defensive coordinator Tim Tibesar; perhaps it wasnt fair to judge him last year since he inherited a defense sorely lacking in quality Pac-12 level players, but thats part of the job. The heat from outside the program didnt lessen after the 2019 season opener, when Oklahoma State and running back Chuba Hubbard lit up the Beavers for 52 points. But five games into the season, theres no doubt the Beavers are improved in nearly every defensive facet. OSU is second in the Pac-12 in tackles for loss at 7.8 per game, have a breakout star in outside linebacker Hamilcar Rashed, and theyre tackling better. While the Beavers continue to rank near the bottom half of FBS in many defensive categories, its not the gouge-my-eyes out performance of a year ago. With the Oregon States offense humming, its good enough to give the Beavers a chance on most Saturdays.

8. Field position helped Oregon State beat UCLA

Driving the length of the field for four quarters is tough way to win a football game. Thats one reason behind OSUs success Saturday night. UCLA never had a cheap opportunity, as the Bruins best starting position among their 11 drives was their 35. UCLA started seven drives at its 25, and twice began inside the 20. Meanwhile, the Beavers began two drives in UCLA territory, and the result was drives of five and one play for touchdowns.

9. Nothing but program building behind Jack Colletto redshirt move

Jack Colletto had planned to redshirt heading into the season, and that intent apparently didnt change when he didnt make the trip to UCLA. The junior linebacker/quarterback is shutting it down for 2019 barring significant injury --after playing in four games, the maximum allowed in order to preserve a redshirt. While the Beavers would love to have Colletto available for short-yardage quarterback situations, theyll now have a better version of Colletto for two full years. Colletto wants to learn the position of linebacker, a position he didnt play in high school. Hell also give Oregon State some quarterback depth next season as Luton leaves the program after the 2019 season.

10. What does this win mean?

Wont have to wait long to find out, as up next is Utah, perhaps the Pac-12s best team. The Beavers havent faced a defense like the Utes, who rank No. 14 nationally in total defense and fourth in run defense. Utah didnt play last week and come to Corvallis fresh after silencing Washington States offense in an easy win on Sept. 28. Now that Oregon State has beaten a UCLA, the next step is showing up for four quarters against a quality, top-20 opponent. That is an unknown for the Beavers, but whats certain is theyll have some confidence coming out of the Rose Bowl to give it a go.

--Nick Daschel | ndaschel@oregonian.com | @nickdaschel

Visit subscription.oregonlive.com/newsletters to get Oregonian/OregonLive journalism delivered to your email inbox.

More here:
Is Oregon States offense the best in state? 10 takeaways from the Beavers 48-31 win over UCLA - OregonLive

On a warm summer night 15 years ago, the lighthouse at Lake Sumter Landing illuminated for the first time. Villagers danced around the Pavilion at Lake Sumter Landing Market Square in celebration while listening to the rock n roll sounds of Derek and the Slammers. It was that same night that Tony Pacelli, 88 at the time, commented on how impressed he was with how far The Villages had come in his 20 years in the community. Pacelli, one of the founding fathers of softball as we now know it in The Villages today, has since passed away, but his predictions for the squares future have come true. You can bet people from all over The Villages will come here for entertainment and the shops and eating places that will be here, Pacelli said on that opening night, according to The Villages Daily Suns coverage of the event. It will be a drawing attraction for all types. It has been 15 years since the lakefront downtown of Lake Sumter Landing opened to the community.

And today, the areas lighthouse glows just as brightly as it did in 2004, with no signs of dimming any time soon.

As Bill and Joyce Burns, of the Village of Country Club Hills, sat eating their lunch at Lighthouse Point Bar & Grille on a recent summer day, they said the lighthouse was a highlight of the area for them, and theyve been returning to the square to enjoy it for more than six years.

The area instantly drew my attention, Bill said. The view and the food are outstanding. Its just a nice place to come and relax and have a nice meal.

Businesses at the square

Although some things have changed over the years, many things havent.

The Old Mill Playhouse, Ambrosia on the Square, The Purple Pig, Bear Dance Boutique, Hallmark and R.J. Gators are still there, as are about 20 other businesses that opened prior to December 2015.

There is a great synergy between the retail, restaurant, service and office uses there, said Scott Renick, director of commercial development for The Villages. Most of the businesses that have come to Lake Sumter Landing over the years have thrived off of each others customer traffic, and the energy around the center continues to be an attractive quality.

The Villages second movie theater, the classically designed Old Mill Playhouse, opened just days after Lake Sumter Landing, and it has stood the test of time.

Jeffrey LeFrancois, assistant manager at the theater, was there when it opened. At the time, he was an usher.

It was mobbed here when we first opened, he said. We had some old movies that had been out for a while, but people were still coming to see them.

Lefrancois said that its hard to believe its been 15 years because he enjoys coming to work so much.

The staff here makes it fun, he said. It doesnt feel like work.

Lefrancois said the theaters biggest milestone was when it started using digital projections about eight years ago, a feature that all three Villages movie theaters have now.

It took us from static fuzziness to something crisp and clear, like looking out the window, he said.

But even though its been 15 years, the theater is still developing and is constantly active.

At the beginning of the year, Lazy Macs Taco Shack was installed in the lobby, and many events, like a recent Downton Abbey tea party, are held inside the theater.

With the recent opening of Chop House at Lake Sumter and The Flying Biscuit Cafe, Lake Sumter Landing is more than 99% occupied. Both Spanish Springs Town Square and Brownwood Paddock Square are 97% occupied.

(My husband) likes Thai Ruby, and we both enjoy walking around down here by the water and the shops, said Carleen Richardson, of Arlington Ridge in Leesburg. We bring our grandchildren here too because they enjoy looking out over the water and walking the boardwalk. Theres just a lot to do here. We can grab a cup of coffee at Starbucks or a bite to eat at Panera (Bread) and check out the many shops around the square.

Entertainment

Business isnt the only thing booming at Lake Sumter Landing. Entertainment and special events have been a staple at the square for years.

Lake Sumter Landing has hosted numerous political rallies for candidates, including Sen. Mitt Romney, Sen. Paul Ryan, President George W. Bush, former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin and former Florida Gov. Rick Scott. It also has been the site of several live television events, including Glenn Beck, Fox & Friends 15th Anniversary Show, Sean Hannity and more.

Over the years, the square also has been the site of many large festivals and special events put on by The Villages, including St. Patricks Day festivals, Christmas tree lightings and many car shows.

We have seen a consistent growth in attendance over the years, especially recently, said Chalsi Goheen, special events manager with The Villages Entertainment. During this time, we have also continued to expand our events to both keep up with demand and to keep things new and exciting.

As snowbirds return this year, Lake Sumter Landing will offer monthly events.

There will be Tai Chi on Tuesday; Total Body Workout in November; Ukulele in December; Group Synergy in January; Cardio Drumming in February; Interval Training in March; an Earth Day event in April; Zumba in May and Yoga on the Square in June.

The three squares

Even with all of Lake Sumter Landings events and entertainers, those who frequent other areas of The Villages should not feel left out.

Goheen said Spanish Springs Town Square still holds the most events per year, and Brownwood has been increasing the number of events at its location as well.

Weve been working hard to bring more balance to that, Goheen said.

But she said Lake Sumter Landing does typically get the largest crowds due to both its central location and larger physical size.

The project itself was unique in the commercial real estate sector, as there were very few like it at that time, Renick said. The area was modeled similarly to Spanish Springs but larger. And having been constructed all at once was also a differentiator for Lake Sumter Landing.

Renick credits the central location and diverse mix of local and national businesses, most of which have been in place for many years, as contributing factors to the success of the square.

Although each square is set up differently, with its own unique features and strengths, one thing they have in common is the variety of nightly entertainment.

At this point, I would say that there isnt one favorite square overall, Goheen said. Everyone has their personal favorite square, but ultimately weve seen all of them get equal favor. One thing that does make Lake Sumter Landing special is the scenery, especially that beautiful view over the lake. It really creates a comfortable, inviting and relaxing atmosphere.

Senior writer Kristen Fiore contributed to this report. Staff writer Monique Meeks can be reached at 352-753-1119, ext. 5387, or monique.meeks@thevillagesmedia.com.

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Reflecting on 15 years of Lake Sumter Landing - The Villages Daily Sun

A release from the Reading-North Reading Chamber of Commerce:

The Reading-North Reading Chamber of Commerce will host a Family Health and Wellness Fair on Tuesday, Oct. 15th from 58 p.m. in the Beantown section of Jordan's Furniture, 50 Walker's Brook Drive in Reading. This family friendly event will feature exhibits and demonstrations. All are welcome and this event is free to attend.

"We are excited to showcase these talented local providers and resources at our inaugural Family Health and Wellness Fair," commented Chamber President, Francine Coughlin of Bark n' Roll.

Gold Sponsors include Lahey Health, MelroseWakefield Health Care and Austin Prep. Jordan's Furniture is the host sponsor. The Silver Sponsor is The Residence at Pearl Street. The Event Partners are ABC Home Healthcare, PDA Dental Group, Thai Chi Acupuncture and Wellness andCentered Soul Yoga.

Robin Krane, Event Chair and Owner of Fitness Within noted, "Mark your calendar and plan to come to Jordan's on October 15th . It will be a great community event with lots of hands-on demonstrations from local experts."

Dana Farber will be hosting a blood drive that day from 12:30 7:30 PM in the Jordan's parking lot. Online appointments are encouraged and you can sign up here. Fitness Within will offer a prize wheel where guests can win boot camps, small group training sessions and personal training sessions will offer body fat assessments. Natural Food Exchange will be raffling off a spiralizer. Winchester Hospital will be offering a free Breast Cancer Risk Assessment, which calculates your lifetime risk for developing breast cancer, and to learn more about the potential risks for developing breast cancer. Genetic counselors will also be onsite to answer your questions about the benefits and limitations of genetic testing. Fuddruckers's will be offering a dining for dollars with a portion of the bill of all diners who mention the Health and Wellness Expo going to Understanding Disabilities, which operates in the Reading schools. Gymsource will be offering 20% equipment that evening (with some restrictions).

See the rest here:

Chamber To Host Family Health and Wellness Fair At Jordans - Reading, MA Patch

Whilst Thailand is often nicknamed the land of a thousand 7-elevens, with a convenience store on just about every corner, there are none of these in Vietnam, yet.

With the Thai Baht on a high at the moment, along with the TM30 crackdowns and changes in visa rules, some expats say theyve had enough and are heading to Vietnam, or some other south east Asian country where they improve their situation.

For an expat pensioner, on a fixed income, from a country where the Thai baht has risen against your currency, Thailand has indeed become a more expensive option. The British pound, for example, has gone from around 55 baht to the pound four years ago, to now around 37 baht, a big loss of value. Meanwhile the cost of living in Thailand, on some items, has risen.

But Vietnam has its own challenges and, whilst being an amazing place to explore and be a tourist, may not be to everyones taste as a place to retire or enjoy your extended stay. If you think its better than Thailand to live as an expat youre in for a few rude shocks.

The Thaiger has lived in Thailand and travelled to Saigon, Hanoi, Da Nang, Hue, Hoi An and Phu Quoc in Vietnam. We love Vietnam but estimate it has another decade or so until its ready to cater for longer-term expats, unless you work there of course.

Heres a few things to consider.

If youre looking for some additional hard facts on a move to Vietnam, try this site HERE.

The people

Both Thais and Vietnamese are proud cultures Thailand because weve never been colonised (which youll hear ad nauseam any time the topic comes up), and Vietnam because theyve fended off the Chinese and French, and beaten the Americans in the Vietnam War.

Both are very elegant cultures, rich and exotic and rooted in similar cultural festivals and Buddhist traditions.

But, whereas the Thais have weaponised their trademark smile into a cultural tourist attraction, the Vietnamese remain a bit more, well, unsmiling. This is not because theyre rude or not embracing of westerners and western tourism, its just they are a bit more reserved in expressing an outward smile, unless its deserved. On the other hand, the Thai smile can mean 20 different things, not always in your favour.

Whilst many westerners fall in love with Thailand, its difficult to see that same sort of love being associated with Vietnam. Whatever magic spell Thailand seems to weave on western tourists doesnt seem to happen as much in Vietnam. Thats not to say you wont have wonderful and astonishing experiences in Vietnam, but its palpably different.

Costs

For a tourist the costs can vary a lot in both countries between the out-of-town locations and the tourist magnets. For tourists, youre just going to pay more in both countries, compared to the locals. Hotels and transport will cost you much the same in both countries for things like hotels and bike rentals.

For a long-stay expat finding long-term accommodation in Thailand is easy theres an oversupply of condos, villas and old houses. In Vietnam its a lot more complex to find something and probably more expensive, like-for-like. Thats mainly to the immaturity of the property market which, again, is catching up fast.

Finding a cheap beer will be easier these days in Vietnam but the culture of bars and nightlife is completely different in Vietnam, when compared to the infamous bar culture in Thailand. The bar girls serve you drinks and wash dishes in Vietnam whilst we know the bar girls in Thailand often provide additional services. If youre heading to Vietnam for a vibrant and crazy nightlife youre going to be a bit disappointed.

Food, once you get out of the tourist hubs and cities in Vietnam, is very cheap and delicious but youll never have the same choice or range of flavours you enjoy with Thai food.

Language

English is much more commonly used in Thailand, especially in any of the popular tourist spots, and is a compulsory subject in Thai schools. But out of the tourist zones any English spoken is basic at best.

Outside the two cities or tourist spots in Vietnam, youll be battling with English or any other foreign language. English is not a part of the Vietnamese school curriculum.

Driving

The Vietnamese drive on the opposite side of the road, the right side, compared to Thailand. This may not be a huge issue but is certainly something youll need to adapt to quickly to avoid potential disasters on the roads.

Speaking of the roads

Roads

Vietnam is catching up to Thailand fast in the way of infrastructure but, beyond the major cities, youll find Vietnams roads a lot less drivable than roads in Thailand. As a rough guess, Vietnams road network is 30 years or so behind Thailand for now, but catching up quickly.

Beyond the physical roads, the behaviour of Vietnamese drivers is entirely different from Thailand, and the west. The key word here would be merge. Just go with the herd and dont drive defensively. When you come to an intersection the ability for Vietnamese drivers to weave through the traffic is one of the great wonders of the modern world. The busier the intersection, the more amazing it is to watch.

Whilst appearing completely chaotic to an outsider the system all works very well.

The actual road toll in Vietnam isnt much better than Thailand, which is pretty bad! The annual road toll in Vietnam, per capita, is around 25% less than Thailand.

And then theres the tooting of horns. Whilst tooting someone in Thailand with your car or motorcycle horn will get some serious looks (and sometimes the cause of serious road rage), in Vietnam its common. Actually, more than common, just part of the soundtrack of Vietnams roads. Usually just a mere courtesy to traffic youre passing, Vietnamese drivers will routinely toot a motorbike or car as theyre about to pass them. So get ready for a whole new realm of noise pollution.

Influences

Both countries have long and rich traditions, Thailands recent history a lot more stable than Vietnam which became a colonial punching bag in the middle of the last century, in the form of the Indo-Chinese War with the French then the Americans. In the case of the latter, a drawn-out 20 year invasion by the US left Vietnam a crushed and divided country and caused the collapse of governments in neighbouring Cambodia and Laos. For Cambodia the consequences were disastrous. Both countries now are ruled by communist governments.

Thailand is a constitutional monarchy and the former king, King Bhumibol, was greatly loved and respected. His son, King Maha Vachiralongkorn, now maintains the customs and traditions of the Thai monarchy. His coronation was an elaborate ceremony in May 2019 celebrated by all Thais.

The main religion in Thailand is Theravada Buddhism. Monks retain high status and are a big part of daily life, from festivals to daily blessings. Young Thai men become novice monks for a period usually 1-3 weeks to earn merit for their families.

Thailand is a hodge podge of old culture and traditions fused with modern western influences often at the same time. Thais celebrate everything and are reasonably tolerant to all cultures. Thai people always try and make their work and daily life fun (or sanook) and have a huge passion for food. Thais never eat alone.

On the other hand Vietnam has a more defined cultural contrast than Thailand and can be a bit more opaque to western travellers. Unlike Thailand that has not had any major colonial influences, Vietnam has been hammered with three key impacts to its recent history China, France and the US.

Centuries of Chinese occupation has had a profound historical legacy on Vietnamese thinking and customs. This heavily influences their customs, traditions and beliefs. The legacy of French colonialism, which lasted six decades from the 1880s, has mostly influenced distinctive French architecture and food.

To that end, Vietnam has maintained a more authentic local culture whilst Thai culture has been more flexible to accommodate the large influx of tourists and investment. Vietnam will certainly have more cultural surprises which many travellers will find more interesting. But that also makes travelling, and living in Vietnam, more challenging.

There is also lingering suspicion of the west, particularly Americans and particularly in the north of Vietnam, but only with the over-50 generation whose memories are more shaped by the horrors of the 20 year conflict that finished in 1975, leaving the country divided and battered by war.

Getting around

Thailand wins hands down with convenience, options and comfort. Travelling around Vietnam, although progressing quickly, is still more of an adventure.

In Vietnam, air transport is excellent and opening up fast, but the countrys road and rail transport infrastructure is still a challenge. If youre travelling to Vietnam you may find it more convenient to take organised tours at this stage as the FITs (free and independent travellers) will certainly need more patience than they would in Thailand.

Thailand is already highly developed in tourism with airlines serving both international and domestic routes. You are spoiled by choice. Theres plenty of local transportation, not necessarily cheap anymore, with options in the cities from tuk tuks, taxis and motorcycles. Bangkok has a modern mass transport system that now links most of the citys main locations. Theres also thousands of tour companies and options for just about any sort of holiday. Its one of the worlds most popular tourist destinations for good reason.

In comparison, there are not that many international flights from western countries to Vietnam, but the situation is changing fairly quickly.

Thailand is served by far more airlines, from all over the world. Thailand also has much better domestic travel facilities and services than Vietnam.

Domestic flights in Vietnam are very convenient, and there are many flights between the main cities. But domestic buses and trains are basic in Vietnam, compared to Thailand which has more comfortable options.

Visas

You cant just land in Vietnam and get a visa on arrival. It doesnt exist except for ASEAN countries (for less than 30 days), and a handful of other countries for 15 days only (the situation changes often so ask Mr Google before you book your flight).

There are three ways of obtaining a visa for Vietnam via a Vietnamese Embassy or Consulate, an E-Visa, or a Visa on Arrival (which requires a sponsor letter and pre-approval). The E-visa is a pilot electronic visa system launched in 2017 visitors can apply for a 1 month single-entry visa by paying US$25 via the official immigration platform.

Business visas are a little trickier. Applicants need to get an official entry clearance from their sponsor, usually their employer. This visa allows for multiple entries and lasts for up to one year. If you plan to apply for a business visa, you have to obtain approval from the Vietnamese Immigration Department through your sponsor. If you do not have a business partner, employer, or other sponsor who can provide you with an entry clearance, you can also apply for a business visa for a stay of up to 90 days.

Diplomatic and official visas can be applied for without having to pay any visa fee.

For long-termers you better consult your local embassy because the situation changes fairly often. Suffice to say, you cant just come and stay in Vietnam without a lot of paperwork and occasional frustration.

There is a Permanent Resident Card but its qualifications are fairly odious and would require the assistance of a proper immigration lawyer or agent.

Only in Phu Quoc, the southern tropical-island-Phuket-wannabe, off the coast of Cambodia, can you arrive without a visa. You can get stamped in for free for up to 30 days, but youll then need a visa if you want to take the ferry or fly to Ho Chi Minh City, for example.

Thailand is much more convenient with respect to visas. Passport holders from 57 countries, including the citizens of most European countries, Australia and the US, can enter Thailand for up to 30 days without having to apply for a visa beforehand.

For long-termers there are a number of categories, including business visas, retirement visas, smart visas and a few other categories. All require application and plenty of paperwork.

Recently the Thai government has cracked down on the enforcement of qualification for many visas which is causing problems for some long-termers that have fallen through the cracks in the past but are now finding visa extensions a bit more difficult.

In both cases, youll need to provide some proof of assets to stay long-term. Vietnam is starting to become much more stringent as it starts to become more popular and, like Thailand, you can find a lot of variation in application of the immigration laws, depending on where you are.

Food

Thai cuisine is better known than Vietnamese cuisine. Anywhere in the world youre going to find more Thai restaurants and the flavours and dishes of Thailand are easier to define and describe that their Vietnamese counterparts.

But Vietnamese cuisine has its own features and is becoming more popular. It can also be spicy and pungent, with plenty of fresh herbs, although generally less spicy than Thai food. But youll be able to dine cheaper in Vietnam than in Thailand, whether in the capitals or on the streets in the countryside.

Vietnamese food also has a French influence with a developed coffee culture and excellent bakeries.

And whilst Thailand is often nicknamed the land of a thousand 7-elevens, with a convenience store on just about every corner, there are none of these in Vietnam, yet.

Currency

In Vietnam you can use Dong or the USD. Its always best to carry some Dong for local purchases. Local shop owners or taxi drivers will probably accept your USD but will have their own commission added to the exchange. Currency exchange is easy in most parts of Vietnam, certainly in the cities.

In Thailand its the baht or nothing. Your USD will be of no use on the streets and youll need to get it changed into the local currency.

There are exchange booths everywhere in tourist hot spots and ATMs will dispense you local baht but be careful of the exchange rates and fees when doing international currency exchanges via an ATM.

Medical care

Thailand has a much better developed medical and health care system than Vietnam at this stage. Relative to western countries, the standards of the hospitals are very high and the medical costs still reasonable although private hospitals have become noticeably more expensive over the last decade.

Vietnam is still decades behind Thailand in this respect although catching up fast. Make sure you have comprehensive health insurance when travelling or living in either country.

Seasons

Thailand generally has a hot season, which usually lasts from March/April to June/July. That turns into the hot and wet season that continues until November as the southwest monsoon swings into action sweeping in moist air from the Indian Ocean. The cool season running from December to March, is drier and more comfortable in the north getting quite cold on some days, in the south drier but never dropping below 20 degrees.

Vietnam has a more diverse climate. The south is divided between wet and dry seasons, which is similar to Thailand. Da Lat and the Central Highlands have their dry season from December to March until the southwest monsoon season. The central lowlands, such as Nha Trang, are protected by the mountains and enjoy a long dry season from January to October.

North Vietnam has a distinct winter and summer, completely different to much of Southeast Asia. The winter, from November to March, is wet and cool. The summer, from May to October, is hot with the occasional typhoon swimming in from the South China Sea.

Scams and annoyances

Both have their fair share.

Vietnam Visa scams Certain websites offer online visas in exchange for a fee. Vietnamese embassies have issued a message to warn travellers that those websites are not official, and that they often fail to issue visas. Also, certain travellers thought they were covered by these websites, but once at the airport in Vietnam, the authorities refused them the entry, and they had to go back to their country of origin.

Cheating in the shops can be one of the most annoying problems for travellers to Vietnam. Shops may attract customers by advertising lower prices, but the price may increase at any time and you may end up pulling out more money than what was originally asked for. Continue to read Vietnam Tourist Traps and Scams.

In addition, cheating may even happen as you change money. Since the denominations of dong are very large, sometimes travellers may be confused by the trail of 00000s.

Cheating and scams also happen in Thailand, especially tourist locations. Some restaurants have two menus, one for locals and the other with higher prices for foreigners. The same applies at some tourist attractions although the two-tier pricing in this case is bracingly rubbed in your face. Beware of taxi and tuk tuk drivers that offer to take you to a cheap gem shop, a massage shop or a tailor, or know a friend with a cheap hotel. It will end up an expensive ride.

The prices in those shops will certainly shock you, for they will be two or three times higher than the normal prices.

The bar scene in Thailands tourist hot spots with its girlie bars will delight you with pumping music and tight hot-pants but, as the song One Night in Bangkok says The bars are temples but the pearls aint free. The sex scene in Thailand is, at the same time, strictly illegal, and also in-your-face. The drinks are expensive and the after-drink entertainment might cost a lot, lot more.

Read more:

Transformers-inspired robot rolls out green message in Vietnam - The Thaiger

Bombay Bicycle Clubs first tour since 2014 has been pretty seamless so far, says guitarist Jamie MacColl. Besides the British indie bands ride.

The wheels did fall of our bus literally three days ago, MacColl says before a show in Toronto. The last three days have bee quite stressful.

The wheel-challenged bus will roll into Brooklyn for two shows at Brooklyn Steel Monday and Tuesday. Mondays show had sold out, but a few tickets opened up as of press time.

After five years off the road, a band cant predict the demand for tickets when it returns.

I just feel so grateful to be able to do this, the guitarist says. Were very lucky to be able to do this and just even luckier that people care about it. For my generation, the way people are consuming music streaming, Spotify, whatever people carry on listening to you. Youre always there on a playlist. So I dont think people quite forget about you as they might have done 20 or 30 years ago.

Formed in London in 2005, Bombay Bicycle Club took a hiatus after 2014, their most successful year, which saw their fourth album, So Long, See You Tomorrow reach No. 1 in the UK and the band sell out hometown Earls Court Exhibition Centre the final show at the famed, 20,000-seat, London venue, which featured a guest appearance from Pink Floyds David Gilmour, a MacColl family friend.

If anything, the process has been much easier than in the past since reconvening, says MacColl. I think it was good for us to have a break away from it. When we started in a band we were all teenagers, we were 15, and for 10 years it was all we knew, so it was good to have some time away and do some personal development that you can bring back to the band.

Some of the members of the band which includes Jack Steadman (lead vocals, guitar, piano), Suren de Saram (drums) and Ed Nash (bass) worked on solo material, but MacColl did a lot of weird things. He earned degrees from Kings College London and Cambridge war studies and a masters in international relations, respectively and worked at a think tank in Washington, DC, and as an intelligence analyst at a social security company.

When the band started playing live again, I was less used to it than the others were, he says. It was newer and fresher to me. I think outside of that, it also made me realize that life being a touring musician is all Ive known since I was a teenager, but life for the most part is incredibly different to that, and it probably made me realize I had to grow up and develop.

Bombay Bicycle Clubs fifth album, Everything Else Has Gone Wrong, will be released Jan. 17. The first single, Eat, Sleep, Wake (Nothing But You) was released in August. The album is broadly about finding solace in music, MacColl says, when everything around you is going to st, whether in your personal life or politics or kind of whatever you perceive is going wrong.

For Bombay Bicycle Club, the New York shows represent a return to the soil that spawned much of the music that inspired the group.

Really formative stuff, a lot of the New York bands like LCD Soundsystem, The Strokes, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, MacColl says. That was incredibly cool to us as 13-year-olds in London and still is now. But I think even then we were really at the start of the streaming generation, where I think it was probably like those illegal peer-to-peer, file-sharing sites like LimeWire and Napster, and that just meant you felt you had so much music available to you at your fingertips. I think we were eclectic even as 13-year-olds.

When I speak to teenagers now which doesnt happen that often Im always surprised that they jump around from different genres so much. Theyll listen to like rap music and emo and everything in between.

Link:
Bombay Bicycle Club gets back on the bus - New York Post