🌟EARTH DAY 🌟 2024

EARTH DAY SPECIAL

April 22 is World Earth Day, an annual celebration. It falls on a Monday this year. World Earth Day 2024 will have Planet vs. Plastics as its theme. The theme seeks to raise awareness of the grave problem of plastic pollution and its detrimental effects on the environment.

EARTH DAY SPECIAL ACTIVITIES

You can make a commitment to not use plastics in your home, go for nature walks, alter your lifestyle to leave a smaller carbon footprint, teach your friends and family about environmental conservation, and much more.

April 22 is World Earth Day, an annual celebration. It falls on a Monday this year. World Earth Day 2024 will have Planet vs. Plastics as its theme. The theme seeks to raise awareness of the grave problem of plastic pollution and its detrimental effects on the environment. In order to promote planetary health on Earth Day 2024, EARTHDAY.ORG calls for a 60% decrease in plastic production by 2040.

Earth Day's inception dates back to 1970. Senator Gaylord Nelson of the United States and Harvard student Denis Hayes came up with the concept for the event. Both the massive oil spill in Santa Barbara, California in January 1969 and the United States' declining environmental conditions deeply troubled them. He was deeply troubled by the effects on the environment and wished to channel the vigour of student demonstrations into the growing public awareness of air and water pollution. In order to organise the campus teach-ins and spread awareness of environmental conservation, he enlisted the help of young activist Denis Hayes. In an effort to boost student involvement, they selected April 22 as the weekday in between Spring Break and Final Examinations. Its quick success was demonstrateda by a enormous turnout in the US, with 20 million participants.

History of Earth Day

Although our planet is a wonderful place, it needs our assistance to survive! For this reason, more than a billion people celebrate Earth Day on April 22 every year in an effort to shield the planet from environmental threats like pollution and deforestation. We can contribute to a happier and healthier world by engaging in actions like litter pickup and tree planting.

When a Wisconsin senator organised a nationwide protest to draw attention to environmental issues, the first Earth Day was observed in 1970. Nationwide demonstrations were held, and by year's end, the Environmental Protection Agency was established by the US government. Earth Day was observed in more than 140 countries worldwide by 1990.

It is possible to honour the environment and celebrate simultaneously. View these Earth Day suggestions at any time of year to contribute to environmental conservation.

what reality of ASHANTI ?

Ashanti and Nelly Rekindled Their Y2K Romance With a Ring

An ex can occasionally be the love of your life. That appears to be Ashanti's and Nelly's situation.

atOptions = { 'key' : '28e5e4663f975b0273df2206ed9943cf', 'format' : 'iframe', 'height' : 300, 'width' : 160, 'params' : {} }; type='text/javascript' src='//pl23014649.profitablegatecpm.com/d8/be/ff/d8beff1a234b478a92880d94b3dc259c.js'></script>" target="_blank">Ashanti, 43, revealed her pregnancy on Wednesday via an Instagram video featuring Essence magazine.

Several internet users voiced their disapproval of the R&B singer for giving birth to a child without a ring on her finger (which is by no means typical for celebrities).

A few hours later, in a double surprise that delighted their fans, Essence revealed that Ashanti, the Grammy-winning vocalist who has sold millions of records and released six studio albums, is engaged to the multiplatinum St. Louis rapper. There was no announcement of the wedding date.

Ashanti told Essence in a statement, "This new year of my life is such a blessing full of love, hope, and anticipation." "Being a mother is something I have always wanted to do, and it's an incredible experience to share with my loved ones, fiancé, and devoted fans who have supported my career so much."

"To everyone who claimed he got her pregnant without giving her a ring... A user wrote on Instagram, "I hope you see the word FIANCÉ in that statement!!!"

Reuniting with an ex-partner was another topic of discussion after the announcement. One user wrote, "This is a block spin I can STAND FORRRRRR."

Fans are likely ecstatic about the news because the two were a popular couple throughout the 2000s and first connected in 2003. The combination makes one feel nostalgic for the early aughts. With hits like "Ride Wit Me" and "Hot in Herre" from Nelly and Ashanti's chart-topping songs "Foolish" and "Happy," both were well-known during the time.

They got together for the first time at a press conference to announce the 2003 Grammy Awards nominees. She took Nelly's playful request for her autograph seriously, and the exchange was documented in a picture that went viral.

They went to prestigious events together in the ensuing ten years, despite their well-known secrecy regarding their romantic status. Together, they have also released music, such as the sensual song "Body on Me" from 2008. They look at each other in the song's music video as he raps, "I wanna make you someone more than just a bone in my closet / I wanna win that type of relationship," and she croons, "I know you want it."

In a 2015 interview with Meredith Vieira, Ashanti confirmed that she and her partner had broken up after nearly ten years of dating.

They weren't spotted together again until September 2021, when they reconciled in New York during a Verzuz fight involving Fat Joe and Ja Rule. The rappers asked Nelly and Ashanti to perform their songs together on stage during the musical battle, and Nelly gave her a hug. It turned out that she hadn't seen him in a long time.

They were flirtatious as ever as they danced together on stage during their performance of "Body on Me" in December 2022 at a concert in Arizona. The couple didn't officially announce their relationship until September 2023, despite rumours of a revived romance circulating.

Ashanti carried a purse emblazoned with a picture of the two of them from their attendance at the awards ceremony 20 years prior, in 2003, when she went to the 2023 MTV Video Music Awards, where Nelly was performing, that month.

During a red carpet interview, Ashanti expressed her opinion that wearing the bag would be “cute.” When asked if she and Nelly were back together, she gave a sly, “I mean... yeah” response.

Simultaneously, Nelly announced on her programme "Boss Moves with Rasheeda" that she and reality star Rasheeda Frost from "Love & Hip Hop: Atlanta" were back together.

We chill again, Nelly remarked. He remarked, "I think it surprised both of us, though," and added that he thought their separation was crucial for their reunion to be more powerful.

When asked if they were happy together right now, he replied, "Yes, because there's no pressure." Prior to now, I thought that our careers were being pursued by both of us. It can get difficult when there are a lot of people involved.

The couple appears to be prepared for a new chapter in their lengthy journey together, one without intermediaries, as they are now more subdued than they were in the 2000s.

911 OUTAGE IN SEVERAL STATES

911 outages in several states caused by company installing a light pole

Authorities investigate 911 outages across four statesNebraska, Nevada, South Dakota and Texas residents couldn’t make 911 calls Thursday. Las Vegas police say it took two hours before service was restored.

Wednesday night, there were 911 call outages in several states. According to Lumen, the emergency call system service provider, a third-party light pole installation was to blame.

"Some customers in Nevada, South Dakota, and Nebraska experienced an outage due to a third-party company installing a light pole— unrelated to our services," a Lumen representative said in a statement to ABC News on Thursday.

"We restored all services in approximately two and a half hours," Lumen stated. "Our technicians located the problem and made a concerted effort to resolve it as soon as they could. We sincerely regret any inconvenience caused and value our clients' understanding and patience."

MORE: DHS warns that cyberattacks are likely to target emergency services.

Investigating is the Federal Communications Commission.

The entire state of South Dakota, as well as portions of Nevada and Nebraska, were affected by the outages.

Just before 9:15 p.m. PT on Wednesday, the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department reported that service had returned to the city in Nevada.

"All of the individuals who called during the outage have been called back and provided assistance," police in Las Vegas stated.

Additionally, the Nevada State Police verified that service had been restored to Clark County, which is located in southern Nevada and includes Henderson and Las Vegas.

According to police, there was a breakdown in South Dakota's entire statewide emergency calling system.

The outage, according to the South Dakota Department of Public Safety, occurred between approximately 8 and 11 p.m.

During this time, "The State 9-1-1 Coordinator was in constant and extensive communication with the state’s 9-1-1 service vendor, Lumen, and the state’s 28 9-1-1 dispatch centres," according to the department.

MORE: Hero Taco Bell manager speaks out after lifesaving CPR on baby in the drive-thru

"Dispatch centres can use the system to determine the phone number of callers and return those calls, even though some calls might not have gone through. According to the department, the 9-1-1 system is fully functional and prepared to react quickly to any emergency.

At a press conference on Thursday, Sioux Falls Division Fire Chief Mike Gramlick stated, "Last night's outage was unprecedented in terms of its duration and magnitude." "Our team at Metro Communications, which serves as the public safety answering point for the area, handled the situation with exceptional professionalism."

Authorities report that there were outages in Dundy County, Nebraska, and the surrounding areas, but that later both landline and cellular 911 service was restored.

There were also reports of outages in several Texas cities, but those didn't seem to be related, as Lumen stated that it does not offer Texas 911 service.

March Beauty Report ⚡2023

The beauty market in 2023: A special State of Fashion report

It has been difficult to resist the allure of the beauty industry, which has drawn numerous new businesses and investors. Differentiating decisions are necessary for brands to succeed in this dynamic and fiercely competitive market.

The skincare, fragrance, makeup, and haircare segments of the beauty market brought in about $430 billion in revenue in 2022. All aspects of beauty are increasing in the modern era. It has shown to be robust in the face of severe macroeconomic conditions and worldwide economic downturns. Nowadays, a lot of people—from A-list celebrities to high-level financiers—want to work in the beauty industry, and for good reason. The beauty market is predicted to grow at a projected rate of 6% annually and reach around $580 billion by 2027, after seeing a strong recovery since the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic (Exhibit 1). This is comparable to other consumer segments like clothing, shoes, eyewear, pet care, and food and drink, or marginally higher.

Before the end of this decade, the beauty industry, a dynamic segment ready for upheaval, will have reshaped itself around an ever-expanding array of products, channels, and markets. Customers, especially the younger ones, will drive this change as their own ideas of beauty change along with their views on everything, including the value of self-care, the definition of sustainability, and the role of influencers and important opinion leaders. In general, "premiumization" is predicted to define the beauty industry. Between 2022 and 2027, the premium beauty tier is expected to expand at an annual rate of 8% (as opposed to 5% for mass beauty) as consumers trade up and increase their spending, particularly on makeup and fragrances.

At the same time, we anticipate that the market will get even more competitive as new competitors appear and a number of independent brands that have been successful in the last ten years try to grow. Increasing competition will force established brands and merchants to adapt as well. According to McKinsey's 2023 survey of consumers in China, France, Germany, Italy, the United Kingdom, and the United States, 42% of respondents say they enjoy trying new brands, which is consistent with the trend-driven dynamics in the market. In the meantime, shoppers are becoming more discerning about price points and say that both physical and virtual retailers have an impact on their purchasing decisions. Their inclination for omnichannel shopping is anticipated to support independent labels' entry into the online market and the legacy brands'.

Between 2015 and 2022, e-commerce in the beauty industry almost quadrupled, reaching a share of over 20% at present, with substantial growth anticipated. This contrasts with an estimated 30 percent e-commerce share in clothing and footwear and 65 percent in toys and games in 2022.

The expansion of beauty offerings by online behemoths like Amazon in the US and Tmall in China, the growing importance of online for omnichannel retailers, the rise of social selling, including livestreaming, in Asia, and the growing digital sophistication of direct-to-consumer players have all contributed to the growth of e-commerce in the beauty sector.The fastest-growing sales channel is predicted to remain e-commerce, growing at a rate of 12 percent annually between 2022 and 2027. However, growth in traditional channels, such as drugstores, specialty retail, and grocery retail, is anticipated to pick up after the pandemic, as consumers' preference for omnichannel is partially driven by their continued desire for in-store product discovery and trial (Exhibit 2). Globally, department stores are predicted to keep losing market share.

🌟WE TALK ABOUT SALMAN RUSHDIE 🌟

Salman Rushdie recounts his attack and recovery in ‘Knife’

In his new memoir, the celebrated novelist reflects on the 2022 stabbing that nearly took his life

Emerson once said, "Beauty is its own excuse for Being." On the other hand, an intriguing, uncommon, or unsettling event does not always qualify as a memoir.

The esteemed Salman Rushdie is a dynamic and forceful (albeit inconsistent) writer; however, his most recent autobiographical work, although prompted by immense hardship, is convoluted and often clichéd. Additionally, "Knife: Meditations After an Attempted Murder" is surprisingly dull despite discussing a dramatic attempt on Rushdie's life.

It should go without saying that the novelist had a terrifying experience. He arrived in the charming town of Chautauqua, New York, on August 12, 2022, where he was scheduled to give a speech on “the importance of keeping writers safe from harm.” He is far too knowledgeable about the topic: Rushdie has been in and out of hiding ever since Iran's Ayatollah Khomeini issued a fatwa in 1988, demanding his execution in response to the publication of his masterful novel "The Satanic Verses." He didn't make the decision to, in his words, "remake a life of freedom" in New York City until 2000. He was safe in the United States for twenty-two years.

However, a 24-year-old radical from New Jersey named Hadi Matar stormed onto the stage and repeatedly stabbed Rushdie before he could start his Chautauqua speech. He had sustained numerous physical and psychological wounds. In "Knife," he describes the deep knife wound that severed all of the tendons and most of the nerves in his left hand. "My neck sustained at least two more deep stabbing wounds." The damage to his eye was the worst of all. "There would be no chance of saving the vision because the blade penetrated all the way to the optic nerve."

The path to healing was a difficult one. Rushdie remembers, "Your body's privacy ceases to exist in the presence of serious injuries." One turns into an object that can be poked, prodded, and manipulated by others. He writes, "Saliva was oozing out of my cheek because one of the knife wounds in my face had damaged the channel by which saliva reached my mouth." A young physician arrived to handle this. Rushdie was assisted by additional medical professionals to use the loo, and some even removed fluid from his lung.

He was able to walk again fifteen days after his emergency surgery, which involved multiple organs being operated on simultaneously; over six weeks later, he was back at home in Manhattan. However, even so, he had to go through Even so, he needed physical therapy to regain the ability to move his hand, and one side of his lower lip was left permanently paralysed due to a severed nerve in his neck.

Rushdie states in the book's opening chapter that his attacker—whom he will not identify—had read very little of his writing. We can conclude from this that 'The Satanic Verses' was not the subject of the attack, whatever it may have been. I'll make an effort to comprehend the content of this book.

He delivers on this promise in a lengthy scene that explores the attacker's mental state and features a fictitious conversation between the novelist and the would-be assassin. However, this particular conversation is the only one (and a little startling) in a book that mostly consists of practiced reflections on the predicament of persecuted writers: "When religion becomes politicised, even weaponized, then it's everybody’s business, because of its capacity for harm" and "if you are afraid of the consequences of what you say, then you are not free."

What then is the "Knife" preponderance about? The book reads like an unembellished diary, dryly documenting most of the events. In the hospital, Rushdie passes out; he plans his trip back to New York and his transfer from the hospital to his flat; he relishes his first meaningful non-medical outing, a Valentine's Day date with his well-known poet wife Rachel Eliza Griffiths.

Although Rushdie frequently makes insightful allusions in "Knife," including references to John Berryman, Elias Canetti, and Henry James, his own writing occasionally borders on cliche. Following the attack, his friends' words of support were "comforting and strengthening"; he is now "making my peace with what had happened, making peace with my life" when he returns to the scene. "It felt like Ali Baba learning the magic words that opened a treasure cave — Open, Sesame — and there, its light dazzling the eye, was the treasure, and it was her," he said of the evening he met Griffiths. The most cloying of all his confessions is this one: "I have always felt that love is a force, that when it is at its strongest, it can move."mountains. The world could be altered by it.

When Rushdie ventures out on more experimental ventures, he falls short. His clumsy commentary on the concept and representation of the knife is not always successful, especially in the horrifying scene where the blade tells the story of its own transgressions: "Here I am, you bastard. You've been on my mind. Do you see me? I'm directly in front of you, severing your neck with my assassin's edge.

The most effective sections of "Knife" examine the psychological effects of the assault while also touching on more general issues of brutality. Rushdie states that "the targets of violence experience a crisis in their understanding of the real." An attack similar to the one he endured "smashes" the customary politeties. "Reality dissolves, and the incomprehensible takes its place." In fact, Rushdie felt that his attacker's motivations were so flimsy as to be completely unbelievable. Matar stated that he thought the victim of his crime was "disingenuous," which is why he committed the crime. Rushdie quips wryly that that would be a "unconvincing motive if one were to use it in crime fiction." Thus, the intriguing decision made by the author to picture a dialogue with a more fascinating foe.

But there aren't many ideas about violence, fact, or fiction. "Knife" mostly stays true to the facts: the stabbing, the pain, and the recovery. It's not that Rushdie doesn't have more important points to make; it's just that they are well known by now and have little bearing on the remainder of his story. Hectoring lectures about the foolishness of younger generations is one of his tendencies. He bemoans the fact that "something strange has happened to the idea of privacy in our surreal time."It seems to have evolved from being treasured to being viewed as a worthless trait that is actually undesirable by many individuals in the West, particularly young people. Something doesn't truly exist if it is not made public. Later on, he criticises the "bien-pensant left," pointing out that their focus on defending the rights of minorities has undermined "freedom of speech." He doesn't elaborate on the relationship, if any, between his blatantly reactionary attacker and the "bien-pensant left." These polemics are more like passivity than well-reasoned or relevant arguments.

Sadly, and maybe unfairly, the greatest suffering does not always translate into the most insightful prose. It is necessary to transform raw suffering into something greater than itself. The version of Rushdie's memories that is given here is as raw and confused as a casual talk. "Knife" is not deserving of his greatest work or the suffering that led to it, though it makes sense that he would want to memorialise his suffering.

The WNBA Draft Was the Biggest Beauty Spectacle of the Year So Far

The WNBA Draft Is a Big-Ticket Event Now

There was no shortage of star power, exquisite gowns, or the sense that everything has changed irrevocably on Monday night in Brooklyn. The commissioner of the league stated, "Women's basketball is not a fad."

The draft on Monday night was officially the start of something new for the WNBA class of 2024, but it also had the vibe of a graduation celebration. Women's college basketball received more attention this year than in any previous year thanks to players like Caitlin Clark, Angel Reese, Kamilla Cardoso, and others. As a result, their draft night was a well-deserved (and stylish!) celebration of all the hard work they put in on campus.

And maybe for the first time, rather than being a footnote, the draft felt like a capital-E event, a top-tier sports media circus. To show their excitement for their new prized player, the Indiana Fever, who had the first pick and thus the honour of selecting Clark, one of the most obvious first picks in sports history, threw a veritable welcome party for the draft. However, it wasn't limited to Indianapolis news stations and team employees. People from all over the world came to the Brooklyn Academy of Music to see the women's hoopers, who have been the main source of excitement in the sports world since the Super Bowl.

As I arrived at the iconic location, I was met by hordes of young and old basketball fans eager to get a close-up look at their heroes. In addition, there was a long queue outside the door, stretching out into the streets of Fort Greene, for media credentials. Even though it's common knowledge that women's sports are receiving more media attention than ever, it was poignant to witness the sheer number of people accountable for this. I laughed at how the theatre where I saw Past Lives had become the place to be for any sports fan and realised that women's basketball was here to stay. To put things in perspective, the draft was held in the casino-based Connecticut Sun arena ten years ago. in Connecticut. Fans were not allowed entry. ESPN2 aired the first round, while ESPNU carried the second and third rounds. There weren't many people observing the big fits, if any existed to be admirable. That's not the case anymore.

Kamilla Cardoso, the third overall pick by the Chicago Sky, is a star on the court and on the orange carpet 

After hearing her name called and formally joining the Fever, Clark stood on the WNBA's orange carpet and observed her surroundings. She stated, "I believe it can go even further than where it is now." For the rest of time, there will be supporters at every draft. That is the ideal situation. The night came with unspoken instructions to see and be seen, as the building was filled with high-profile guests from the entertainment and sports industries, including the ever-present and universally beloved Jake from State Farm, as well as Rose Lavelle, Kelley O'Hara, and Lynn Williams from the US Women's National Team.

 Clark was dripping in Prada,putting a player's outfit for the NBA or WNBA draft together for the first time ever. Vogue editor Naomi Elizee styled Reese, who looked stunning in a hooded gown by New York City designer Bronx & Banco. Cameron Brink of Stanford, who was selected as the second pick of the evening, walked across the stage wearing a dress with a slit from Balmain and heels by Jimmy Chu. Later, to protect her feet, she changed into a pair of sensible yet chic New Balance 550s. 

Reese, Clark, and Brink put their fashion senses on display

Wearing an orange goddess dress from Berlin fashion house Lemanjá, Satou Sabally—the reigning winner of GQ's Most Stylish WNBA player tournament and, therefore, the most qualified person on earth to discuss draft fits—was also present. Following the addition of No. 5 pick Jacy Sheldon to her Dallas Wings team, Sabally provided us with an overview of all the eye-catching fashion events. They're all very beautiful, she exclaimed. "Everyone had a fantastic appearance. On stage, there was some Louis Vuitton! I'm incredibly proud of these young ladies for expressing their identities via their attire on such a significant day. When Sabally needed to decide who had the best fit of the evening, she turned to the Bayou Barbie. "Angel was simply...she is the instant."

Other than clothes, there were other components that elevated Monday night above the status of a draft. As New York's first truly beautiful day of the year filled the second-story event space at BAM with evening sunlight, drinks were flowing and the atmosphere felt more like a cocktail party than anything basketball-related. Ellie, the mascot of the New York Liberty and everyone's favourite twerking elephant, even made an appearance.Have fun with it! One draft pick is all you get," Clark remarked. Take it all in and enjoy yourself immensely. That is my plan of action. When Sabally considered the 2024 draft in comparison to her own, she became clearly moved. "This is huge," the woman said. Since I was selected in the 2020 draft, I kept my draft at home. This is just incredible to witness. I'm overjoyed.

There were logistical issues as well. Given the enthusiasm surrounding women's basketball, it is natural to wonder when the 12-team WNBA will grow. With 16 teams as its near-term goal, commissioner Cathy Engelbert specifically mentioned Philadelphia, Toronto, Portland, Nashville, and South Florida as locations the league has its sights set on, with the Bay Area receiving a team for the 2025 season. There is undoubtedly sufficient talent to fill the void. Engelbert remarked, "I want to take a moment to reflect on how fortunate I feel to be in women's basketball." "It's not just this class; it extends to the following year as well. JuJu Watkins, Paige Bueckers, Kiki Rice, and Hannah Hidalgo. The list is endless. This league will have a long history of well-known players and fierce rivalries.

The league is forward-thinking, but it's important to keep in mind that it has a history as well because it's been around long enough. All 22 of the draft picks this year were born in the 2000s, so they are a generation that was born after the WNBA existed. The new kids on the block have always been able to dream about draft day, while '80s babies like Sue Bird and Diana Taurasi, who carried the WNBA torch for so long, grew up not knowing if they'd be able to play professionally in the States. And when it did, they transformed it into a fully booked fashion show in a lavish theatre. Though the rookies, like everyone their age, still have some learning to do, the W is in good hands. Brink remarked, "There's obviously still a lot of work to be done." However, I'm just content to be here and speak with you. I won't lie; it's nerve-racking. But we find it to be a good challenge. We are maturing into young adults. fresh steps in a fresh environment!

But Engelbert got the night's best quote. She encapsulated the significance of this event for women, the sport, and everyone who has been saying it for years in six succinct words: "Women's basketball is not a fad."

What was the last most shocking image you've ever seen?

There are some images that stay with you for the rest of your life. Sometimes, you stumble upon photographs that are so bone-chilling, horrifying and hair-raising that, try as you might, they linger in your memory, long after you have looked away. We curated 12 such photographs and even dug a little deeper, so we could tell you their backstories.