Vaccination to Contain Severe Measles Outbreak Underway in DR Congo Amidst Ebola and Mass Displacement

In November 2018, health worker Nsiri Lowoso vaccinates 3 months-old baby girl with the MMR (measles, mumps, rubella) vaccine, and the polio vaccine at Coopérative Solidarité Santé le Rocher, Lubumbashi, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC),10 November 2018. (CNW Group/UNICEF Canada)

Health workers are urgently rolling out a complex measles vaccination campaign targeting 67,000 children in Ituri, northeast DR Congo, a region ravaged by armed conflict that is now also the hub of the second deadliest Ebola outbreak on record.

At least 1,981 deaths due to measles have been reported across DR Congo this year, over two-thirds of them among children below 5 years old. As of 23 June, nearly 115,000 cases of suspected measles had been reported, far more than the 65,000 recorded in all of 2018.

Ituri, one of the two provinces (the other is North Kivu) struck by Ebola since the outbreak began nearly a year ago, has recorded over 5,400 cases and 50 deaths.

"The combined threat of Ebola and measles for the thousands of families living in overcrowded and unsanitary displacement camps is unprecedented," said UNICEF DR Congo Representative Edouard Beigbeder. "We have a small window to prevent a potentially massive loss of life."

The first sites targeted for measles vaccinations are four displacement camps in Bunia, Ituri, that have seen a huge influx of families forcibly uprooted by fighting in recent weeks. The boundary of one camp, located alongside Bunia's General Hospital, is less than 100 metres away from an Ebola treatment center. It is also less than 3 kilometers away from parts of Bunia that have seen 5 Ebola cases since the start of the outbreak, 2 of them in the past three weeks.

The Ebola outbreak means the measles vaccination campaign must incorporate extra measures to protect against infection and meticulous triage. Health workers will need to wear gowns to prevent contact with blood or other body fluids. Teams will include an additional health worker who will evaluate and refer suspected Ebola cases, check temperatures and oversee handwashing and other safety measures.

An additional layer of complexity is that some of the early symptoms of Ebola – fever, redness around the eyes, diarrhoea – are virtually indistinguishable from those of measles, malaria or cholera – all of which are prevalent, especially in severely congested displacement sites.

Up to 400,000 people are thought to be internally displaced across Ituri, the vast majority of them women and children. Many live in about 35 camps scattered throughout the province, in territory that is virtually inaccessible due to insecurity. Fighting among various armed groups has damaged or destroyed up to half the health facilities and schools in the province.

"The northeastern part of DR Congo is home to one of the worst humanitarian crises today. Whether it is from measles, Ebola, or the reality of living in a displacement camp, children are at grave risk. We must do everything we can to protect them," Beigbeder said.

Measles campaigns are also being planned for Tchomia and Nyankunde health zones.

• As of 8 July, there were 2,428 cases of Ebola, with 1,641 deaths. Almost 30 per cent of cases are among children.

SOURCE: UNICEF Canada

Business Leaders Over 50 Do These Things To Succeed!

Man holding pen, pointing note (image via Pexels)

Sometimes those of us with a little more life experience do better when it comes to running our own enterprises because we have been around the block a few times and have the smarts that go with that. However, running a successful business isn't particularly dependent on age, meaning you can be 20 or 80 and still start up a profitable company. In fact, what really matters here is smart leadership, something that you can find out all about in the post below. Keep reading to discover more.

Have a clear plan for success

To get where you want to be, you need to know where you are going, and this definitely applies to succeeding in the business world. That is why having a clear plan for success is something that is essential when running your own company.

What this means is as well as all of the detailed, dated breakdowns of weekly and monthly targets, you also need to have a very definite idea what your business represents and what its mission statement is as well. In fact, by defining this information from the outset and then adjusting it as your company develops, you can not only improve your marketing efforts but also ensure that your business is always focused on what really matters too.

Get to know their competition

Competition is healthy is the business world, and successful leaders don't try and quash it, but embrace it instead. This is because having other similar products to your own out there encourages competition in price, as well as a refinement of both products and the services you offer to your customers. Something that can help you to make sure you are the most desirable brand on the market.

To that end, getting to know your competition almost as well as you know your own products is a crucial part of leading a successful business. Of course, this means that both you and your staff need to get well acquainted with your competitors' products and that you also need to put some time and effort into understanding how they operate and relate to their target demographic. Something that using a market research firm can help you achieve.

Of course, there are negatives sides to competition when you are in business, and one of the most problematic is when you have a fantastic product that then gets copied and sold at a lower price.

In fact, this is a widespread practice nowadays because overseas factories located in places like China are often happy to ignore any trademarks and IP, reproducing products cheaply and then selling them onto unsuspecting or unscrupulous distributors.

However, it is worth bearing in mind, that a truly stellar product will stand up to this copycat behavior without suffering any significant decreases in revenue. The reason being that it will be so well matched to its target demographic, and so well marketed and packaged, that those you are aiming to sell it to will nearly always pick your offering over a cheaper knock off. Something that it is imperative for a leader to ensure they focus on developing.

Embrace tech

Other things business leaders do to succeed no matter what their age is to embrace the use of technology in every part of their company, from the office, the shop floor, warehouse, and even beyond.

Group Hand Fist Bump (image via Pexels)

This is because by using the myriad of tech solutions that are now on offer, it is possible to increase productivity and save money as well. A particularly smart example of this is using something like this Sling Scheduling App to make assigning shifts and contacting employees much quicker and more effective. Something that means more of the leaders' time will be freed up to focus on other tasks essential to the success of their business. 

Treat their employees well

Next, successful business leaders and leaders nearly always make a point of treating their employees well. This means is that they not only offer them a decent living wage to start with, but they promote a culture of respect in the workplace as well.

Of course, this means that leaders need to have strong communication skills and be able to offer not only chastisement but praise and encouragement too.

Additionally, offering extra rewards such as access to benefits schemes and even commission on sales can be a useful approach for business leaders to take. The reason being that this will help to keep everyone as productive as possible with the minimum amount of emotional effort needed from the leader themselves.

Know their strengths and weaknesses

Successful business leaders are also really good at identifying their own strengths and weaknesses too. In fact, by being able to do this, they can not only focus there time and effort on things that will best affect their company but also delegate stuff that they aren't the best at.

Now, many people think delegation is only about saving time, but this isn't necessarily the case. In fact, delegating or outsourcing, where necessary is also something that can quickly and easily improve the quality of the job getting done. This being something that business leaders who want their company to be as successful as possible need to bear in mind.

Manage their stress/health right

No matter what your age, your health, is important. In fact, if a leader is struggling with a physical or mental health issue, then it can absolutely affect their ability to succeed. With that in mind, it's absolutely vital that when leading a business, you take the best care of your health possible.

What this means is that you take vacations regularly, leave the office at a regular and reasonable time each day, and don't end up doing overtime cleaning up everyone else's mistakes.

It's also a smart idea to have a hobby that takes you away from your business and provides you with something else to focus on. In fact, doing this can be a great stress buster, even when things are tough at work because it will remind you that while running your business is essential it's not the only thing that you have going on in your life.

Woman taking selfie (image via Pexels)

Be savvy about cutting costs

Smart and successful business leaders will also have an excellent grasp of the financial side of things as well. In fact, it will be up to them to keep running costs low and ensure that as much of their revenue translates into profit as they can.

Of course, the most successful business leaders will be adept at being able to tell the difference between a valid opportunity to reduce costs, and a situation where the quality or the reputation of their company could be damaged by doing so.

In fact, it is often such high level, high-risk decisions made in the right way by those in charge that can really help to propel a business to the upper echelons of success.

Stay vigilant for new opportunities

While you may be happy to keep on working and leading your business until you are well over 100, not all companies have a long and productive lifespan. Of course, a smart business leader will always be looking for new ways to diversify or expand their enterprise and so ensure that it can survive as long as possible. 

In fact, often the most successful leaders will stay vigilant for new business startup opportunities as well. Something that can help them to maintain their success over the long term, albeit in a different form to their original business venture.

The History Of Propaganda Posters In The US And Their Role In Highlighting Social Issues [Infographic]

The History Of Propaganda Posters In The US And Their Role In Highlighting Social Issues - Infographic title

Propaganda is by no means a new development in the history of human society. Research suggests that the Ancient Greeks, 16th-century Spanish monarchs and kings and queens of England used propaganda long before posters were released to highlight social and political issues in the US.

In the USA, propaganda really only began in earnest in the run-up to World War One. The first poster of note was an open criticism of capitalism entitled ‘The Pyramid of the Capitalist System.’ This poster was designed to make people think about the hierarchy present in society and to question the merits of a capitalist system. 

Later, as war broke out, propaganda was used widely across the world to support home troops and further their cause. In the US, posters appeared encouraging women to join the workforce. Between 1940 and 1945, the percentage of female workers in the US workforce increased by 10 percent.

Propaganda posters were also used to sell products, most notably, Liberty Loans, after the First World War, and to highlight issues that permeated society. Perhaps the most significant was racism. In the 1940s, a poster brandishing the slogan, ‘Keep Your School All-American’ was circulated with a view to ending racism and promoting harmony.

More recently, propaganda posters have been used to drum up support for presidential candidates. The Daisy Girl image shown in the infographic below was designed to encourage voters to back Lyndon B Johnson, while Ray Noland’s ‘Go Tell Mama! I’m For Obama’ poster urged people to vote for Barack Obama in 2008.

The Infographic

Infographic Produced By Norwich University

Annual Super Girl Gamer Pro - Only U.S. Multi-Title Competitive Female Esports Tournament - Returns to Oceanside Pier

Super Girl Gamer Pro returns for its third year as part of the 13th annual Nissan Super Girl Pro Festival, July 26-28, 2019. Held at the Oceanside Pier in Oceanside, Calif., Super Girl Gamer Pro is the only multi-title all-female esports tournament in the U.S. Pictured: esports star Stephanie

ASA Entertainment announced today that Super Girl Gamer Pro will return for its third year as part of the Nissan Super Girl Pro Festival, July 26-28, 2019. 

The 13th annual event, held at the iconic Oceanside Pier in Oceanside, Calif., provides opportunities for women in areas where they're traditionally underrepresented, and includes the largest female surf competition in the world. 

• Admission is free.

The only multi-title all-female esports tournament in the U.S., the Super Girl Gamer Pro was developed to provide a safe platform for female gamers and inspire women to take a larger role within esports. Its mission is to facilitate a future where women have equal opportunities within gaming and esports.

The event will host open tournaments and dedicated game play in popular game titles: Fortnite, League of Legends, Hearthstone, Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, and Counter-Strike: GlobalOffensive. 

• CS:GO will be a professional All-Star match featuring some of the best female players in the U.S.

Schedule:

• Friday, July 26: Fortnite Friday
• Saturday, July 27: League of Legends + Super Smash Bros. Ultimate
• Sunday, July 28: Hearthstone + Counter-Strike: Global Offensive

Registration for all tournaments is free. 

Gameplay from the Super Girl Gamer Pro will be live-streamed on the industry's biggest distribution platforms: Twitch, Facebook Gaming, YouTube, and Mixer.

Tournament winners will receive new gaming laptops from Lenovo Legion. The Lenovo Legion Y540 Laptop is a step-up for mainstream gamers on-the-go with a slim, light and sleek design, enhanced thermals and the latest NVIDIA GeForce GPUs and Intel processors. Lenovo Legion will also provide PCs and monitors for the tournaments.

Turtle Beach is a proud partner of the event, providing their award-winning gaming headsets, ROCCAT keyboards and mice. "At Turtle Beach we design products to help all gamers perform at their highest level, so we're honored to support ASA Entertainment in producing an event that inspires female gamers and showcases their amazing talents," notes Turtle Beach CEO, Juergen Stark. 

Turtle Beach is providing its Elite Atlas PC gaming headsets with customized Super Girl speaker plates, as well as ROCCAT's award-winning Vulcan 120 AIMO gaming keyboards and Kone AIMO gaming mice, and will have the all-new Recon Spark gaming headset and other products available in the Free Play Zone and as giveaway prizes.

N3rd Street Gamers, a national esports infrastructure company, will produce the live webcast. N3rd Street Gamers prides itself on providing greater access to esports and championing diversity in the industry.

The event is also supported by the U.S. Air Force, DXRacer and Nissan.

• In addition to this important esports platform and the top female surfers, the Festival features 20 live concerts (headlined by Natasha Bedingfield), an all-female DJ contest, 20 free classes, speakers, autographs, a Celebrity Surf Invitational, shopping, and much more.

"We're excited to expand Super Girl Gamer Pro as part of our mission to provide opportunities for women in male-dominated industries," said Rick Bratman, CEO of ASA Entertainment, the event's owner. "This is an exceptionally important initiative given the lack of opportunity and general toxicity towards women in esports, and the Super Girl Gamer Pro is the perfect platform to help propel this movement towards inclusion."

Super Girl Gamer Pro returns for its third year as part of the 13th annual Nissan Super Girl Pro Festival, July 26-28, 2019, at the Oceanside Pier in Oceanside, Calif. Super Girl Gamer Pro is the only multi-title all-female esports tournament in the U.S. It was developed to provide a safe platform for female gamers and inspire women to take a larger role within esports.

• To register and for more information, visit supergirlpro.com/gamer.

SOURCE: ASA Entertainment

Morena Baccarin Animated Horror Feature "To Your Last Death" World Premiere Set for Frightfest UK

To Your Last Death

Coverage Ink Films' 2-D animated horror film "To Your Last Death," starring the voice talents of Morena Baccarin, Dani Lennon, Ray Wise, Bill Moseley, and William Shatner, will premiere at the 20th anniversary celebration of London's Frightfest, the UK's largest international genre festival, Friday, August 23rd, 2019

"To Your Last Death" is the first-ever US-made 2-D animated horror movie. The indie production took years to produce and was painstakingly hand-drawn. 

This groundbreaking animated horror/sci-fi mash-up starts where many horror films end: with the final survivor working her way out of the wreckage after a night of terror – only to be sent back in time to do it all over again by a mysterious, supernatural entity known only as the Gamemaster (Baccarin.) Only this time, our survivor has foreknowledge to give her a fighting chance to save her family.

Morena Baccarin as the Gamemaster.

Directed by Jason Axinn, "To Your Last Death" features a cast of genre luminaries including Emmy nominee Baccarin ("Gotham," "Deadpool," "Homeland,") Ray Wise ("Twin Peaks," "Robocop",) Bill Moseley (Rob Zombie's upcoming "3 from Hell," "Texas Chainsaw Massacre II") and the legendary William Shatner ("Star Trek,") who acts as guide through this harrowing journey.

"You have no idea what you're in for," said Axinn. "This film will knock you on your ass."

"If you can make people feel that they could die horribly," said Shatner, "that's scary. That's close to the bone."

The Trailer

SOURCE: Coverage Ink Films

Barbie Reached New Heights With Launch To Space [Video Included]

A Barbie Astronaut Doll reached new heights as she was launched to space on Friday, July 5, 2019 in London, Ontario. The launch was held in partnership with STEM Camp and was designed to inspire a new generation of girls, who will pursue STEM careers, to reach their limitless potential. #YouCanBeAnything (CNW Group/Mattel Canada, Inc.)

This year marks Barbie's 60th anniversary, and with over 200 careers and counting, there isn't a plastic ceiling she hasn't broken. On Friday, July 5, in London, Ontario, a Barbie Astronaut Doll surpassed those ceilings to reach new heights.

Held in partnership with Canadian not-for-profit STEM Camp, campers experienced space-related programming and counted down Barbie's launch to space on a high-altitude weather balloon. Her three-hour journey to space and back was captured on live action camera.

"STEM is all about science, exploration and discovery. We were so excited to send Barbie to space, so kids could learn the science and technology behind making this magic happen," explained Lisa Perry, Barbie Brand Manager at Mattel Canada. "For the first time, Barbie went to space and we hope this inspires a new generation of girls who will pursue STEM careers."

In addition, young girls were given the opportunity to hear directly from a successful female role model, Aerospace Engineer, Natalie Panek, who offered her insight into a career in aerospace engineering and how she continues to pursue her dream of exploring space. Natalie is a rocket scientist, explorer and champion for women in STEM. Natalie's dreams began at a young age with Barbie by her side to spark her imagination.

The Video

SOURCE: Mattel Canada, Inc.

Become The Warrior Of Darkness Today In Final Fantasy XIV: Shadowbringers

FINAL FANTASY XIV: Shadowbringers

Today, SQUARE ENIX launched FINAL FANTASY XIV: Shadowbringers, the latest expansion for the critically-acclaimed MMORPG that recently celebrated more than 16 million registered accounts. 

The enthusiasm for Shadowbringers has brought FINAL FANTASY XIV to new heights, with the active player base reaching its highest mark in the game's nearly six-year history.

Shadowbringers marks a bold new beginning, taking players beyond the world of Hydaelyn for the first time as they journey to the First and the realm of Norvrandt. The Warrior of Light must become the Warrior of Darkness to restore night and save the world from the apocalypse the Flood of Light promises.

Shadowbringers adds a wealth of new features to the game, including:

• New Jobs: Gunbreaker and Dancer –The Gunbreaker is a new tank role who wields the iconic gunblade, utilizing ammo cartridges to protect their party from harm. The Dancer, a ranged attacker, not only unleashes powerful attacks using throwing weapons, but also dances to execute abilities which provide beneficial effects to their party.
• New Player Races: Viera and Hrothgar – The rabbit-like Viera are joined by the burly and lion-like Hrothgar, both with unique, customizable features specific to their races.
• New Game+ – This brand-new system will allow for replay of previously completed quests while retaining one's current progression and job level.
• Level Cap Increase – The level cap will be raised to 80 with the release of Shadowbringers. With this will come new actions for classes and jobs—as well as new foes against which players can hone their skills.
• Trust System – In Shadowbringers, players will have the opportunity to challenge dungeons with a party of trusted non-player characters, including members of the Scions of the Seventh Dawn. Traditional party matching systems will remain available.
• New Beast Tribes and Primals – Players will encounter the carefree but cruel pixies in Il Mheg alongside their mighty regent Titania, along with other beast tribes including the Nu Mou and the Dwarves.
• New Content and System Upgrades – Battle system changes, new equipment, crafting recipes and more.

Players can also look forward to a variety of additional content that has been announced for release in upcoming patches:

• New Alliance Raid: "YoRHa: Dark Apocalypse" - This exciting new 24-man raid written by guest creators Yosuke Saito and YOKO TARO will see FINAL FANTASY and NieR come together as never before.
• New High-End Raid: "Eden" – This new high-end raid will feature a new character designed by KINGDOM HEARTS director and FINAL FANTASY series veteran, Tetsuya Nomura. The content is schedule to become available on July 16, 2019 with the release of Patch 5.01.
• Restoration of the Holy See of Ishgard – End-game content for crafters and gatherers.

The FINAL FANTASY XIV free trial invites new players to access content up to level 35, create up to eight playable characters, and experience the different playable races, classes, and jobs with no restrictions on playtime. 

New players who wish to experience the free trial may register here: sqex.to/FFXIVFreeTrial.

FINAL FANTASY XIV: Shadowbringers

• FINAL FANTASY XIV: Shadowbringers is rated T (Teen). Please visit the Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB) website at www.esrb.org for more information about ratings.

FINAL FANTASY XIV: Shadowbringers

Related Links

• Shadowbringers Teaser Site: na.finalfantasyxiv.com/shadowbringers/
• The Lodestone: na.finalfantasyxiv.com
• Official Facebook: FinalFantasyXIV

 The Trailer

SOURCE: Square Enix, Inc.

"Second Galaxy" Takes to The Stars Soon on iOS, Android

Second Galaxy: A new era of intergalactic warfare is about to begin!

ZLONGAME announced the global launch of its new open-world sci-fi MMO, Second Galaxy, is coming soon. To prepare for its full release, an official website and Facebook page have been created, while a soft launch is scheduled to begin on July 5, 2019.

Second Galaxy is set three thousand years in the future in an alternate world where humanity's civilizations have formed their own empire among the stars called "Second Galaxy" with the intent to further colonize the universe. 

A total of five emerging regimes populate the stretch of space humanity finds itself in, each of which has an ever-evolving relationship with one another that has them cooperating while also keeping everyone in check. 

As the player adventures through deep space, they'll come across these five regimes and must form unique relationships by taking up allegiances. Through a combination of constant combat, exploration, trading, and strategy, the player will end up playing a critical role in the game's ever-evolving narrative.

At its core, Second Galaxy is truly an open world game as players can take on any role they desire, be it a merchant, transporter, bodyguard, poacher, warlord, miner, manufacturer, patroller, new world explorer, and more. They can be whoever they like in a world that consists of 4,961 galaxies filled with dark matter, wormholes, space stations, and all manner of celestial bodies to explore. 

If players require assistance during their travels, they can team up with other players to form corporations to secure scarce resources or launch epic intergalactic battles. 

• When they're not fighting or exploring, players can take advantage of Second Galaxy's dynamic trading system where they can buy, sell, and barter with other players.

Players can take advantage of Second Galaxy's dynamic trading system where they can buy, sell, and barter with other players.

The cosmic world of Second Galaxy is massive, as it features over 50,000 stars, a diameter of more than 1,000 light years, over 150 classes of spacecraft across five unique types, 1,000+ types of tactical equipment, 3,000+ spacecraft components, and more than 5,000 technological upgrades. This near endless amount of customization is advanced by Second Galaxy's intuitive industrial development system, power control system, and dynamic economic system.

Behind the scenes, ZLONGAME has made significant breakthroughs to overcome many technical barriers to support half a million concurrent online players, and thousands of players on the same screen engaging in real-time combat. This makes ZLONGAME's Second Galaxy the first mobile game in the world to achieve such a feat.

SOURCE: ZLONGAME

Related Video:

#McGhoster: Support for The Humane League's Animal Welfare Campaign Surges, as Consumers Make a Stand on Twitter

Sending ghost emojis and using #McGhoster, the public are calling out McDonald's on Twitter for not signing the Better Chicken Commitment. (PRNewsfoto/The Humane League)

The Humane League's #McGhoster campaign is acting as a wake-up call to the fast-food industry leader McDonald's, with more than 21,000 signatures already on the petition.

Thousands of conscious consumers across the US and the UK have taken to Twitter to grab the attention of McDonald's CEO Steve Easterbrook. Sending ghost emojis and using #McGhoster, the public are calling out McDonald's for not signing the Better Chicken Commitment, and criticising them for 'ghosting' their animal welfare responsibilities, unlike their competitors.

Public protests, billboards, and ad vans have been popping up across the UK to further spread the word and build as much pressure as possible; followed by an online brand-jacking film that's racked up over 700,000 views already (on Facebook and YouTube).

The Video

McDonald's is one of the biggest restaurant chains in the world with a net income of $5.877B. Yet, as companies like Pret A Manger are making concrete, meaningful changes to chicken welfare, McDonald's is lagging behind; despite previously facing criticism for the treatment of its chickens. What's more, The Humane League argues that eating poor chickens raised in cramped and confined factory farms have potential health risks for the public.

"Although McDonald's has taken progressive steps on some animal welfare issues, the truth is that when the suffering of millions upon millions of chickens—the most numerous animals in McDonald's supply chain—is at stake, McDonald's fails to live up to the upstanding image it portrays," said Pru Elliott, Head of Campaigns at The Humane League UK.

#McGhoster van

The Humane League is calling on McDonald's consumers and the wider public to demand improvements to its supply chain, and appreciates any support people are able to give to shine a light on their bad practice.

• You can sign the petition here

SOURCE: The Humane League

"Spider-Man: Far From Home" to Become the First Sony Pictures Film to Be Released in the Panoramic, 270-degree ScreenX Format

"Spider-Man: Far From Home" - Poster

CJ 4DPLEX, together with Sony Pictures, announced today "Spider-Man: Far From Home" will be released in the 270-degree panoramic ScreenX format, swinging into theaters around the globe beginning July 2nd.

"Spider-Man: Far From Home" marks the first Sony Pictures film to be converted into ScreenX. Past collaborations between CJ 4DPLEX and Sony Pictures include the Academy Award winning animated feature "Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse" in 4DX - another immersive cinema technology of CJ 4DPLEX that features motion-based seating accompanied by a range of environmental effects. 

• In addition to ScreenX, "Spider-Man: Far From Home" will also be available in the multi-sensory 4DX format.

"We are very excited to share Spider-Man: Far From Home with audiences around the world and have them experience the anticipated film expanded onto the side walls of the ScreenX auditorium," said JongRyul Kim, CEO of CJ 4DPLEX. "Fans will be blown away by the immersive and visual experience of ScreenX and we look forward to bringing more of these exciting cinematic experiences to audiences in the future with Sony Pictures."

"We couldn't be happier in expanding our partnership with CJ 4DPLEX to bring Spider-Man: Far From Home to audiences worldwide in the innovative ScreenX format," said Scott Sherr, EVP, WW Theatrical Distribution of Sony Pictures. "We trust the capabilities of ScreenX to offer an incredibly creative and immersive visual boost to the journey of Spider-Man, and we look forward to entertaining audiences through this unique and exciting cinematic technology."

"Spider-Man: Far From Home" in the ScreenX format will have Spider-Man swinging through the cobbled streets and rustic building tops of Europe, battling foes and juggling the day-time struggles of being a high school teenager. 

Audiences will experience Spider-Man in an all-new environment inside the auditorium where sequences of Spider-Man swinging from building to building will be expanded onto the side walls of the theater, giving the audiences the thrill of seeing Spider-Man flashing through the air from all three screens. 

• Fight sequences will also be extended, offering a unique viewing perspective on the action that plays out on the panoramic screens.

About Spider-Man: Far From Home

Following the events of Avengers: Endgame, Spider-Man must step up to take on new threats in a world that has changed forever.

• Directed by Jon Watts. Written by Chris McKenna & Erik Sommers. 
• Based on the MARVEL Comic Book by Stan Lee and Steve Ditko.
• Produced by Kevin Feige and Amy Pascal. Louis D'Esposito, Victoria Alonso, 
• Thomas M. Hammel, Eric Hauserman Carroll, Rachel O'Connor, Stan Lee, Avi Arad and Matt Tolmach serve as executive producers. 
• The film stars Tom Holland, Samuel L. Jackson, Zendaya, Cobie Smulders, Jon Favreau, JB Smoove, Jacob Batalon, Martin Starr, with Marisa Tomei and Jake Gyllenhaal.

The Trailer:

SOURCE: CJ 4DPLEX

The Most Famous Car In The World: RM Sotheby's Presents James Bond Aston Martin DB5 [Video Included]

1965 Aston Martin DB5 "Bond Car" (image via RM Sotheby's)

RM Sotheby's has announced "the most famous car in the world" and the most iconic Aston Martin of all time to lead 'An Evening with Aston Martin', a special single-marque sale at the company's Monterey auction on 15 August. RM Sotheby's will present a James Bond 1965 Aston Martin DB5, one of just three surviving examples commissioned in period by Eon Productions and fitted with MI6 Q Branch modifications.

In 1963, two near-identical cars were built by Aston Martin and loaned to Eon Productions for the filming of Goldfinger; one for stunt driving and chase sequences, and the other for interior shots and close-ups, to be equipped with functional modifications by special effects guru John Stears. 

As legendary weapons-master Q would explain to 007, the DB5 was equipped with front and rear hydraulic over-rider rams on the bumpers, a Browning .30 caliber machine gun in each fender, wheel-hub mounted tire-slashers, a raising rear bullet-proof screen, an in-dash radar tracking scope, oil, caltrop and smoke screen dispensers, revolving license plates, a passenger-seat ejection system, a telephone in the driver's door to communicate with MI6 headquarters, and a hidden compartment under the driver's seat containing several weapons.

The smash success of Goldfinger led producers to order two more DB5s; chassis nos. DB5/2008/R, the example on offer by RM Sotheby's, and DB5/2017/R. The two cars were fitted with all Bond modifications and shipped to the U.S. for promotional duties for Thunderball.

Reached through his son, Stephane Connery, legendary actor Sean Connery, who portrayed James Bond on film in both Goldfinger and Thunderball said: "These DB5s are amazing – I remember the Furka Pass tire shredding as well as the promotional events with these cars – they have become increasingly iconic since Goldfinger and Thunderball, in fact I bought a very fine DB5 myself relatively recently."

Under current ownership, the DB5 has undergone a well-documented restoration by Aston Martin Heritage Specialists Roos Engineering, with all thirteen Bond modifications refurbished to function as originally built. 

• One of three surviving examples, having had just three private owners over 50 years, the DB5 offers a highly desirable acquisition for the serious marque collector…or secret agent (Estimate: $4,000,000 - $6,000,000).

The Video:

SOURCE: RM Sotheby's

How Law Is Portrayed In Film Culture

Law books (Photo by Mikhail Pavstyuk on Unsplash)

When it comes to film culture, directors and writers alike want to spice it up. To make it as gripping as possible. Juicing up the storylines, adding massive twists to it. And every case needs to be pushed through immediately.

But is that reality?

Different Specialisms

Well, some of it is and other times it really just misses the mark. Typically you won’t be told the difference between what each Lawyer does. Which means we can have a distinct lack of knowledge if we ever a) need a need a lawyer ourselves or b) want to go into law in the future. 

Over the years, we’ve been given more of a glimpse into the different specialties, which has been really interesting for the typical viewer. Suits really made a display of the different specialties that were possible. From injury lawyers, not unlike Robinette Law, to Lewis Litt, the corporate finance wizard. And that makes it more interesting.

But there are other times where one specialist jumps ships and lands somewhere else. Things that probably wouldn’t typically happen in the real world. After all, why spend years learning to be one thing, and then dabbling in another (with a lot less knowledge)?

Rich Man Poor Man

In the world of movie lawyers, they are very, very rich or they have an office about a Chinese takeaway and look like they need a good nap. In reality, there is a lot in between those two things. But for entertainment reasons, it is better to have an underdog that does extraordinary things, or a wealthy, successful lawyer deeply embroiled in a scary and challenging world.

Let’s take a look at a few average salaries for some different specialisms.

• Corporate Lawyer - $98,823
• Criminal Lawyer - $51,810 public defenders, $115k+ at a firm
• Personal Injury Lawyer - $73,000

But those are the median salary. But, as you can see, while there are a top and a bottom of the pay scale, there is a lot of space in between that too. But, an ‘average joe’ isn't exciting enough for the big screen. However, you’ll see them much more often.

Time

It can seem like a case is built in a matter of days, by a trust private investigator and a few lucky breaks. But, Erin Brockovich had it a little bit more correct. They showed that it took over 4 years (and more) of contact people, research, some lucky breaks and more sleepless nights than anyone should have to deal with.

As we live in a consumer society, we expect everything quickly delivered to us in a neat recyclable box. But that isn’t the case. To truly put an airtight case together, you are looking at years. If you consider that the FBI and Police often spend years building cases, it would make sense that in order to finish the job, the lawyers would need all of that information, plus their own findings, and everything from the opposition too. So instead we get the montage scene of the leading players sitting around the table reading book after book looking for the precedent that will play into their favor when they take it to court. And, perhaps if we knew how long it really took it wouldn’t feel as punchy but does that devalue the work that real lawyers do? Maybe just a little. It doesn’t make it less entertaining, though.

Anyone Can Do It

Well… maybe. Legally Blonde anyone? It is a great film, it’s easy to watch, has some beautiful punchy moments and has a lot of feel good to it. But, it is essentially taking what might be seen as a ‘less than clever’ person and turning them into a high-flying lawyer. And, it inspired millions of people actually to apply to law school. Which is great.

A big focus of the film was the fact she couldn’t do anything but study, and that is about as close to the law as the movie really gets. To get into the great schools, you need to put in all the hours you can for those excellent scores.

It isn’t about fitting in, it is about standing out, and Elle Woods does that. If you consider just how many people are applying to the elite firms, then you need to really be something special. High scores, an impressive specialist skill, or a personality that people are always expecting.

Elitism

In a few films, and TV series you will find that many of the big players look down on other staff because of where they went to school, who studied with, or where the finish in their class, it can be pretty brutal. But the truth is that in all walks of life there will be some elitism. People don't have to like you, and in an environment where who you are, your family and your education matter - that does get worse. So there is a real aspect of elitism, but you will find that in every office.

Courtroom

We have all watched the passionate closing arguments, and you want your chosen person to win the battle. You want them to get their client off scott-free. Even if you know that the person is guilty. Or, you want them, as the prosecution to really get them the time that they deserve.

The truth is that if you were to get so dramatic, you would likely be shut down - and fast. There won’t be something that dramatic when you are aiming to get someone sent to prison - regardless of the crime. And, some cases are more high profile than others. They are the ones that fill the media - so lawyers must correctly conduct themselves.

What the movies and TV do get right, on all fronts is the passion. Lawyers have a passion for what they do. They want to get to the bottom of things. They want to get justice for the public or their private clients. While the money is excellent, the principals and reasoning are so much more. Lawyers have a fire in their belly, to do the right thing, and that is what makes both the real-life and fictional characters so damn cool.