Month: April 2019

Viking Sky: Passengers airlifted to safety after cruise ship breaks down off Norwegian coast

Posted on by bamdj

A cruise ship that broke down in rough seas off the Norwegian coast with some 1,300 passengers and crew on board has restarted three of its four engines and will be towed to port, emergency services said Sunday.

"Three of the four engines are now working which means the boat can now make way on its own," emergency services spokesman Per Fjeld said.

The Viking Sky sent out a mayday signal on Saturday, after it began drifting towards land, prompting a huge evacuation operation in which rescue helicopters evacuated passengers and crew to safety. Among those airlifted were believed to many British tourists. 

The airlift was continuing in the early morning, Fjeld said.

Nearly 338 of the 1,373 onboard were evacuated by helicopter by early Sunday morning. They were flown to a village just north of the town of Molde, on Norway’s west coast.

According to the latest figures from the rescue services, 17 people had been taken to hospital with injuries.

Earlier on Saturday lifeboats were forced to turn back en route to the ship due to the "brutal" conditions.

Later, reports emerged that a cargo ship with nine crew members was in trouble nearby, and the local Norwegian rescue service diverted two of the helicopters to that rescue.

Two hundred Britons were believed to be among those on board the Viking Sky ship with Norwegian media suggesting the majority of  passengers were British and American tourists. 

Derek and Esther Browne, from Hampshire, said the "whole boat was swaying, it was very rough" before they were airlifted to safety.

Mr Browne told BBC Radio 5 Live’s Stephen Nolan: "We had a few people on stretchers, several with cuts, two with broken limbs, but fortunately we were alright. We were airlifted onto the helicopter which was quite a frightening experience."

He added: "I’d never been in a helicopter before, there were a lot of high winds, hovering overhead and the winchman came down and we were then collected up and so I shut my eyes as we arrived into the helicopter and there were 15 of us for about a 20-minute ride."

Norway cruise rescue, in pictures

The stretch of water known as Hustadvika is known for its fierce weather and the shallow waters are dotted with reefs. The Norwegian government is currently deciding whether to build a giant ocean tunnel through a nearby mountain to improve safety.

The Viking Sky, built in 2017, belongs to Viking Ocean Cruises, part of the Viking Cruises group founded by Norwegian billionaire Torstein Hagen.

Several vessels and four helicopters took part in the rescue and extensive facilities were set up on land to receive passengers.

All search and rescue teams in the region were mobilised, including 60 volunteers from the Norwegian Red Cross, a spokesman said.

The ship, built in 2017, belongs to Viking Ocean Cruises, part of the Viking Cruises group founded by Norwegian billionaire Torstein Hagen. According to the company website, its passenger capacity is 930.

Several vessels and four helicopters took part in the rescue and facilities to receive passengers have been set up on land, the rescue service said.

Wind was blowing at a speed of 38 knots, police told Norwegian newspaper VG.

All search and rescue teams in the region are mobilising, including 60 volunteers from the Norwegian Red Cross, a spokesman said.

A Viking Sky spokesperson said: "We can confirm that as of 10am (Norwegian time) today, 24 March 2019, the vessel, Viking Sky, is safely travelling to Molde under its own power. The ship is being  accompanied by two offshore supply ships and one tug assist vessel. The evacuation of passengers has ended and there are currently 436 guests and 458 crew onboard.  

"The 479 passengers who were airlifted from the vessel are currently on shore and arrangements have been made to fly them home, with the first passengers leaving today. Currently we understand 20 people suffered injuries as a result of this incident, and they are all receiving care at the relevant medical centres in Norway, with some already having been discharged. 

"Throughout all of this, our first priority was for the safety and wellbeing of our passengers and our crew. We would like to thank the Norwegian Redningssentral and the Norwegian emergency services for their support and skill displayed in managing the situation in very challenging weather conditions. We would also like to thank the local residents who throughout the whole process have been extremely supportive and hospitable.

"We are in the process of updating the website with the latest information.  If you have questions or concerns about any guests, please visit  https://www.vikingcruises.com/ oceans/my-trip/current- sailings/index.html"

Family members search for passengers on board

As the phone batteries of passengers dwindled and died, and some on board were injured and taken to hospital, the relatives anxiously waited for news.

Many used Twitter in the hope of contacting missing loved ones.

While some remained missing:  

 Others were found safe and sound, and were enjoying free wine and food in a local hotel as they made plans to return home after the ordeal:

There were complaints about lack of information from the cruise operator, as family members of passengers complained that they were not told about the injury status of their loved ones:

 Passengers show chaos on the ship

Pictures posted to social media show the chaotic sleeping arrangements as passengers curled up in life jackets to try to get some sleep as they waited to be airlifted to safety.

Destruction on the ship was also plain to see, with broken glass on the floor and doors torn off their hinges.

 

Christopher Newport’s Simon, ETBU’s Parker Earn Louisville Slugger/NFCA Division III National Hitter, Pitcher Of Week Honors

Posted on by bamdj

LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Christopher Newport’s Scoop Simon and East Texas Baptist’s Shelby Parker have been selected as the Louisville Slugger/National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) Division III National Hitter and Pitcher of the Week, respectively.

 

Simon, a junior outfielder from Chesterfield, Va., hit .667 (6-for-9) this past week, with two doubles, three homers, four walks and eight runs batted in. The Patrick Henry High graduate was 4-for-5 with six runs, three homers and seven RBI in a sweep of then-No. 2 Salisbury and had a pair of doubles in a sweep of Mary Washington that extended the (19-6) Captains’ win streak to eight games and moved them up six places to 15th in the latest NFCA Division III Top 25 poll.

Parker, a graduate student and right-hander from Brazoria, Texas, went 3-0 for the third-ranked (17-2) Tigers, with a 0.88 earned-run average, two shutouts, seven hits, two earned runs, no walks and 22 strikeouts over 16 innings. The Columbia High graduate pitched a four-hitter and retired the side in order over the last three innings to deal then-No. 3 Texas-Tyler (25-1) its first loss of the season. She also collected 10 strikeouts in each of two run-rule victories over Concordia (Texas).

Other Selected Top Performances

Wisconsin-Eau Claire senior catcher Casey Arnold batted .700 (7-for-10) with a double, three walks and seven RBI, while compiling three multi-hit and multi-RBI games. … University of New England sophomore right-hander Katelyn Austin went 2-0 for the week with a 0.58 ERA, one shutout, nine hits, one run, four walks and 11 strikeouts in 12 innings. At the plate, she batted .667 (4-for-6) with a double and four RBI. … DeSales senior outfielder Carly Bartholomew was 9-for-14 (.643) with two doubles, a homer and five RBI, and went 6-for-7 in a sweep of Eastern University. … Wisconsin-Eau Claire sophomore right-hander Lauren Blasczyk went 1-1 for the week with a 3.00 ERA, seven hits, three earned runs, one walk and nine strikeouts in nine innings. … Texas-Tyler junior third baseman Vanessa Carrizales hit .556 (10-for-18) with five doubles, two walks, no strikeouts and seven RBI. … Beloit junior right fielder Tala Cornell was 10-for-21 (.476) with seven runs, three doubles, a triple, three homers, two walks and seven RBI. … Moravian senior first baseman Jenn Dalickas hit .727 (8-for-11) with five doubles, six walks, eight RBI and was perfect in 26 fielding chances. … Alvernia sophomore shortstop Brianna DePriest was 11-for-15 (.733) with four homers and four multi-hit games. … Birmingham-Southern sophomore right-hander Taylor Harkins went 3-0 for the week with a 0.00 ERA, three shutouts, nine hits, two walks and 18 strikeouts over 18 innings. She pitched a pair of one-hitters and had a two-hitter and a five-hitter. … Wheaton (Mass.) junior outfielder Emma Hart batted .762 (16-for-21) with three doubles, a homer, five steals, three walks and seven RBI. She recorded 10 straight hits (seven singles, two doubles and a homer) over a four-game stretch. … Geneva junior right-hander Samantha Johnson went 3-0 for the week with a 3.27 ERA and 14 strikeouts in 22 innings. … Colby senior second baseman Meaghan Lewia was 5-for-13 (.462) with five runs, a double, three homers, two walks, five steals and four RBI. … Wesleyan (Conn.) freshman left-hander Julie McDonald went 2-0 for the week with a 0.00 ERA, eight hits, two walks and 11 strikeouts in 14 innings. She tossed a six-inning one-hitter (six strikeouts) against Hamilton. … Penn State-Berks sophomore right-hander Megan Olsen went 3-0 for the week with an 1.50 ERA, two complete games and nine strikeouts in 14 innings. … East Texas Baptist sophomore designated player Jayme Perez hit .500 (8-for-16) with two doubles, two triples, two homers, two times hit by pitch, three walks, one strikeout and six RBI. … Washington (Mo.) senior right-hander Annie Pitkin was 2-0 for the week with a 0.47 ERA, five hits, one run, no walks and 27 strikeouts over 15 innings. She fanned nine in a five-inning win over Greenville and a school-record 18 in a 10-inning victory over Monmouth. … Central (Iowa) senior designated player Karlee Rock was 7-for-11 (.636) with a double, four homers, six walks and eight RBI. Her 11th homer set a single-season school record and one of her walks was intentional with the bases loaded. … Cazenovia freshman infielder Kelsey Schuette hit .609 with 11 runs, five doubles, five homers, two walks, no strikeouts and 18 RBI. … Louisiana College freshman right-hander Savannah Settle was 4-0 for the week with three complete-game shutouts, three earned runs, four walks and 17 strikeouts in 31 innings. … Westminster junior catcher Lexi Sheffer was 8-for-13 (.615) with four runs, two doubles, a homer and a team-best six RBI. … Averett junior right-hander Mary Beth Smith went 2-1 for the week with a 0.00 ERA, 14 hits, seven walks and nine strikeouts in 11 innings. She hit .727 (8-for-11) at the plate with three doubles, two homers, two walks and 10 RBI. … Alma sophomore right-hander Morgan Stratton went 3-0 for the week with a 0.33 ERA, two shutouts, three complete games, 13 hits, two walks and 24 strikeouts in 21 innings. She tossed a four-hitter (seven strikeouts) against Hope, fanned nine in a three-hit shutout of Kalamazoo and struck out eight in a six-hit shutout of Olivet. … Hope senior first baseman Peyton Wells batted .462 (12-for-26) with three doubles, a triple, five homers and 12 RBI. She homered twice and drove in six as Hope ended Trine’s 49-game regular-season conference win streak. … Pacific (Ore.) junior left fielder Kylee Yamamoto was 8-for-11 (.727) with four doubles, four walks, two steals, no strikeouts and 10 RBI. … Wittenberg freshman utility player Chelsea Yang hit .714 (10-for-14) with a double, two homers and seven RBI. She also tossed a no-hitter (five strikeouts) against Wooster.

The Louisville Slugger/NFCA Division III National Hitter and Pitcher of the Week are selected by eight NCAA Division III head coaches representing the eight NCAA regions.

2015 Louisville Slugger/NFCA Division III National Hitter of the Week

April 8 — Scoop Simon, Christopher Newport, Jr., OF, Chesterfield, Va.

April 1 — Aislinn Lucas, Eastern Mennonite, Jr., OF, Grottoes, Va.

March 25 — Shilah Snead, Rowan, Jr., SS, Malaga, N.J.

March 18 — Hannah Sendel, Emory, Jr., 2B, Greenwood Village, Colo.

March 11 — Ashley Mitchell, Pacific (Ore.), Jr., 1B, Redmond, Wash.

March 4 — Morgan Lane, Covenant, Jr., 1B, Chattanooga, Tenn.

Feb. 25 — Taylor Golden, DePauw, Sr., 3B, Chicago, Ill.

2015 Louisville Slugger/NFCA Division III National Pitcher of the Week

April 8 — Shelby Parker, East Texas Baptist, Gr., P, Brazoria, Texas.

April 1 — Abbie Bergerson, George Fox, Fr., P, Gresham, Ore.

March 25 — Allyson Fournier, Tufts, Sr., P, South Windsor, Conn.

March 18 — Allyson Fournier, Tufts, Sr., P, South Windsor, Conn.

March 11 — Annie Pitkin, Washington (Mo.), Jr., P, West Springfield, Mass.

March 4 — Annie Pitkin, Washington (Mo.), Jr., P, West Springfield, Mass.

Feb. 25 — Taylor Golden, DePauw, Sr., 3B, Chicago, Ill.

Black Friday Deals 2018: 50% off Audible Membership, Amazon Music for 99p, 12 Month PS Plus for £39.99

Posted on by bamdj
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Black Friday Deals Are Live

Black Friday is NOW LIVE. Head over to IGN’s Black Friday and Cyber Monday 2018 main hub, your source for all the best deals in the UK.

  • See all Black Friday and Cyber Monday deals here

Amazon Black Friday Deal 1: Half Price Audible Membership for 4 Months

4 Month Audible Membership for £3.99 per Month (usually £7.99 per Month)

Love books? With Audible it’s easy to tune into audiobooks wherever you are. By streaming or downloading books onto the free Audible app you will be able enjoy your favourite titles on the go, in your car or even at the gym. You can opt-out at any time.

  • Get 50% off an Audible Membership for 4 Months. Join Audible for just £3.99/month. Offer available until 14th December 2018.

Amazon Black Friday Deal 2: Amazon Music Unlimited for 99p

3 Months of Amazon Music Unlimited for 99p (usually £23.97)

Amazon Music Unlimited is usually £9.99 a month, or £7.99 a month if you’re an Amazon Prime member, which means you’ll be saving a load of money with this Amazon Black Friday deal. Amazon Music Unlimited has 40 million songs in its arsenal, with new releases everyday from today’s most popular artists. By nature, the streaming service is compatible with Amazon’s smart speaker devices.

  • Get 3 Months of Amazon Music Unlimited for 99p. This is a limited time offer. The promotional offer of 3 months for £0.99 is valid from November 15, 2018 through January 2, 2019 and redeemable towards an Amazon Music Unlimited Individual Monthly Plan.

Amazon Black Friday Deal 3: PS Plus 12 Month Membership under £40

12 Month PS Plus for £39.99 (Originally £49.99)

This is Amazon’s Black Friday offer for PlayStation Plus and will last through until the end of the sale. If you’ve got some time still remaining on your current subscription, it’s still worth taking advantage of this offer so you don’t have to worry later.

  • Get 12 Month PlayStation Plus at Amazon

30 Day Xbox Game Pass for £1

Gain access to over 100 titles like Forza Horizon 4, Gears of War 4, Sea of Thieves and State of Decay 2 for only £1. The offer expired on 3rd January, 2019.

  • Xbox 30-day Game Pass at Xbox Store – was £7.99, now £1.00
  • Xbox 30-day Xbox Live Gold at Xbox Store – was £5.99, now £1.00

Today’s Best Deals

Save up to £150 off Amazon Devices

Amazon has already started its official Black Friday sale, which means you can buy Amazon devices for a cheaper price than usual. Get the latest edition Amazon Echo Dot speaker together with Philips Hue White starter kit for less than £60.

  • All-new Echo Dot (3rd Gen), Grey with Philips Hue White Starter Kit E27 – was £109.98, now £59.99

Alternative Deals:

  • Certified Refurbished Kindle Oasis 7″ E-reader – was £199.99, now £169.99
  • Amazon Echo Plus (1st Gen) with Philips Hue White E27 Edison Screw Light Bulb – was £139.99, now £89.99
  • Echo Plus (1. Gen.) – was £139.99, now £89.99
  • Echo Dot (2. Gen.) – was £49.99, now £19.99
  • Echo Dot (3. Gen.) – was £49.99, now £24.99
  • Amazon Echo (2. Gen.) – was £89.99, now £54.99
  • All-New Kindle Paperwhite – was £119.99, now £89.99
  • Fire TV Stick – was £39.99, now £24.99
  • Fire TV Stick and Echo Dot (2nd Gen) – was £89.98, now £44.98
  • Fire 7 – was £49.99, now £29.99
  • Fire 7 Kids Edition Tablet – was £99.99, now £59.99
  • Echo Dot 3rd Gen with Amazon Smart Plug Bundle – was £74.98, now £34.98
  • Amazon Echo with Amazon Smart Plug Bundle – was £114.98, now £64.98
  • Blink Indoor, 1 CAM – was £129.99, now £86.99
  • Blink Indoor, 2 CAM – was £199.99, now £133.99
  • Blink Indoor, 3 CAM – was £269.99, now £179.99
  • Blink Indoor, 5 CAM – was £399.99, now £267.99
  • Blink Indoor, Add-On – was £99.99, now £79.99
  • Blink XT, 1 CAM – was £149.99, now £90.99
  • Blink XT, 2 CAM – was £239.99, now £155.99
  • Blink XT, 3 CAM – was £329.99, now £236.99
  • Blink XT, 5 CAM – was £499.99, now £349.99
  • Blink XT, Add-On – was £119.99, now £95.99
  • Amazon Echo Show (2nd Gen) with Philips Hue White Bulb E27 and Adjustable Stand – was £264.97, now £249.98
  • Certified Refurbished Kindle Oasis E-reader at Amazon – was £199.99, now £169.99

Google Pixel 3 Black Friday Deals

If you are considering to switch to an Android handset, or upgrade your old mobile device, Google Pixel 3 might be for you, as it features a 12MP camera and comes in three colour variants (Clearly white, Just Black and Not Pink). Take a look at the latest Black Friday deals for this phone below.

Google Pixel 3 64GB:

  • Vodafone Network, 16GB data, unlimited minutes, unlimited texts – £0.00 upfront, £50.00 per month. Get this deal here.
  • EE Network, 30GB data, unlimited minutes, unlimited texts – £29.99 upfront, £48.00 per month. Get this deal here.
  • O2 Network, 45GB data, unlimited minutes, unlimited texts – £29.99 upfront, £45.00 per month. Get this deal here.
  • Vodafone Network, 100GB data, unlimited minutes, unlimited texts – £29.99 upfront, £55.00 per month. Get this deal here.

Google Pixel 3 128GB:

  • O2 Network, 50GB data, unlimited minutes, unlimited texts – £0.00 upfront, £60.00 per month. Get this deal here.
  • EE Network, 30GB data, unlimited minutes, unlimited texts – £249.99 upfront, £43.00 per month. Get this deal here.
  • Vodafone Network, 100GB data, unlimited minutes, unlimited texts – £29.99 upfront, £64.00 per month. Get this deal here.

Pokémon Switch Bundles Out Now

Save up to £60 off Nintendo Switch Bundles at Amazon

Grab the hottest Nintendo Switch Pokémon bundles for the cheapest Black Friday price at Amazon now.

  • HOT: Nintendo Switch with Pokémon Let’s Go Pikachu and Just Dance 2019 – was £355.98, now £299.99. 
  • HOT: Nintendo Switch with Pokémon Let’s Go Eevee and Just Dance 2019 – was £355.98, now £299.99. 
  • Nintendo Switch with Mario Kart Deluxe 8 and Just Dance 2019 – was £352.98, now £299.99
  • Nintendo Switch with Mario Party and Just Dance 2019 – was £361.43, now £299.99 TEMPORARILY OUT OF STOCK

Battlefield V under £40

Check some of the best gaming deals I have seen today, including popular games such as Battlefield V and FIFA 19.

  • Battlefield V PS4 at ShopTo – was £59.99, now £39.85
  • Battlefield V Xbox One at ShopTo – was £59.99, now £39.85
  • FIFA 19 Nintendo Switch at GAME – was £47.99, now £34.99

Save 25% off Selected Laptops

In the market for a new laptop? It’s your lucky day, as early Black Friday deals can save you up to 25% off makes such as Acer, Lenovo, HP and more.

Hand-picked deals:

  • AORUS X7 DT v8 17.3” FHD Gaming Laptop – (Intel i7-8850H, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD + 1TB HDD, NVIDIA GTX1080 Graphics Card) – was £2999.00, now £2549.99
  • GIGABYTE AERO 15X 15.6” FHD Gaming Laptop – (Intel Core i7-8750H, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD, NVIDIA GTX1070 Graphics Card) – was £2199.00, now £1869.99
  • ASUS ROG Strix GL703GM 17.3″ FHD Gaming Laptop – (Intel Core i7-8750H, 16GB RAM, 256GB SSD + 1TB SSHD, NVIDIA GTX1060 Graphics Card) – was £1599.99, now £1249.99
  • ASUS VivoBook Pro N705UD-GC155T 17.3″ Gaming Laptop – (Intel Core i7-8550U, 8GB RAM, 256GB SSD + 1TB HDD, NVIDIA GTX1050 Graphics Card) – was £1199.99, now £799.99
  • ASUS ZenBook 13 UX331UA-EG005T 13.3″ Full HD Laptop – (Intel Core i5-8250U, 8GB RAM, 256GB SSD) – was £899.99, now £699.99
  • ACER Aspire 7 15.6″ FHD Gaming Notebook – (Intel Core i5-7300HQ, 8GB RAM, 1TB HDD, NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050 Graphics) – was £749.99, now £599.99
  • ASUS VivoBook 15.6″ Full HD Laptop – (Intel Core i5-8250U Processor, 4GB RAM + 16GB Intel Optane Memory, 1TB HDD, NVIDIA MX130 Graphics Card) – was £599.99, now £499.99
  • LENOVO IdeaPad 14″ FHD Notebook – (Intel Core i5-8250U, 8GB RAM, 256GB SSD, Windows 10 Home) – was £679.99, now £479.99
  • iOTA 360 11.6″ Convertible Touch HD Laptop – (Intel Quad Core Z8350 1.92GHz Processor, 2GB RAM, 32GB eMMC, Windows 10 Home) – was £159.99, now £119.99

iPhone XS for £849 with 12 Month Buy Now Pay Later Code

It is rare to find a good deal on the brand new Apple iPhone model, that’s why getting £150 cashback on iPhone XS or XS Max is an incredible deal. Note you will have to purchase this handset on a 12-month Buy now Pay Later scheme at Very.co.uk and you will be credited £150 back to your account by 10th January, 2019. T&Cs apply.

  • Apple iPhone XS 64GB at Very.co.uk – was £999.00, now £849.00 w/ code N77PP
  • Apple iPhone XS 256GB Very.co.uk – was £1,149.00, now £999.00 w/ code N77PP
  • Apple iPhone XS 512GB Very.co.uk – was £1,349.00, now £1,199.00 w/ code N77PP
  • Apple iPhone XS Max 64GB at Very.co.uk – was £1099.00, now £949.00 w/ code N77PP
  • Apple iPhone XS Max 256GB Very.co.uk – was £1,249.00, now £1,099.00 w/ code N77PP
  • Apple iPhone XS Max 512GB Very.co.uk – was £1,449.00, now £1,299.00 w/ code N77PP

Editor’s Notes: You will have to purchase an eligible Apple iPhone Xs or Xs Max on 12 months Buy Now Pay Later. All eligible products are contained within the offer page, access via shop now. (Offer not valid if you choose 6 or 9 months Buy Now Pay later). By entering N77PP in the promo code box at checkout your item will be put on 12 months Buy Now Pay Later automatically. We’ll then credit £150 back to your account by 10th January 2019 or the dispatch date, whichever is later. We’ll email you when we have applied the credit to your account.

Exclusive to Nintendo: Preorder Nintendo Switch Super Smash Bros. Ultimate Edition Mario Pack

Grab an exclusive Nintendo Switch bundle with one of the most anticipated games of 2018, which is being released on 7th December, 2018. The pack includes a console with a dock featuring fighters from the original game, Super Smash Bros. themed controller, digital copy of Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, Official Steelbook, a Nintendo Switch hard pouch in black and a Nintendo Switch Mario battle pad. This bundle is unique to Nintendo Store and you won’t be able to purchase this anywhere else. Everything bough separately would cost you over £359. Preorder it now to get it on 16th November, 2018.

  • Nintendo Switch Super Smash Bros. Ultimate Edition Mario Pack at Nintendo Store – was £358.98, now £339.99
  • Nintendo Switch Super Smash Bros. Ultimate Edition Pack (without a controller and hard pouch) at Nintendo Store – was £329.99, now £319.99

Alternative Deals:

  • Link (Rider) amiibo (The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild Collection) at Nintendo Store – £12.99
  • New Smash Bros Amiibo Preorders (Wolf, Splatoon Girl, Ridley) at Nintendo Store – £12.99

Sony PlayStation VR (PSVR) V2 with Camera, VR Worlds and Astro Bot under £180

Experience the world of virtual reality with Sony’s iconic PSVR starter pack, which comes with camera, VR Worlds and Astro Bot, all for under £180.

  • HOT: PSVR Starter Pack with Astro Bot Rescue Mission and Doom VR – was £218.52, now £179.99
  • PSVR Starter Pack with Doom VR and Skyrim VR – was £225.10, now £199.99
  • PSVR Starter Pack with Twin controllers and Doom VR – was £255.10, now £219.99
  • PSVR Starter Pack with Twin controllers and Skyrim VR – was £279.97, now £229.99

Now TV Smart Box with 4K and Voice Search for £25

Enjoy easy access to Netflix, Sky Cinema or BBC with a Now TV box set, holding all the best binge-worthy entertainment there is. Includes a 3-month Entertainment Pass and 1-day Sky Sports, all for £14.99. Alternatively check out other Now TV passes below.

  • NOW TV Smart Stick with HD with Voice Search 3 Month Entertainment Pass and 1 Day Sky Sports Pass at Currys PC World – was £29.99, now £14.99
  • NOW TV Smart Stick with HD & Voice Search – 2 Month Sky Cinema Pass & 1 Day Sky Sports Pass at Currys PC World – was £29.99, now £14.99
  • NOW TV Smart Box with 4K and Voice Search – 4 NOW TV Pass Bundle at Currys PC World – was £49.99, now £24.99
  • NOW TV Smart Stick with 1 Month Sky Cinema Pass at Argos – was £19.99, now £13.99
  • NOW TV Smart Stick with 2 Month Entertainment Pass at Argos – was £19.99, now £13.99
  • NOW TV Smart Stick with 3 Month Sky Kids Pass at Argos – was £19.99, now £13.99

Element Gaming 27″ QHD 144hz 1ms Gaming Monitor

The price for this gaming monitor just dropped to under £230 at Ebuyer. A good deal for someone who’s looking for a cheaper monitor with lower specs.

  • Element Gaming 27″ QHD 144hz 1ms gaming monitor at Ebuyer – was £269.98, now £229.97

£200 off DJI Mavic Pro Drone Combo Kit

Armed with Sky Autonomy technology, which means is can sense obstacles up to 49 feet (15m) away, You can save £200 off this drone when you shop for it at Amazon.

  • DJI Mavic Pro Drone Combo Kit at Amazon – was £1,149.00, now £949.00

£199 off iRobot Roomba 981 Robot Vacuum Cleaner

This robotic cleaner can run for two hours and you can schedule and set custom cleaning preferences from your smartphone. Get more than £199 off this vacuum at Amazon now.

  • iRobot Roomba 981 Robot Vacuum Cleaner – was £899.00, now £699.00

Get up to 25% off TVs at Amazon

You can chose anything from 24-inch HD to 65-inch 4K Ultra HDR smart TVs, and more. Head to Amazon to view the full selection that includes popular brands, such as Hisense, Toshiba and Philips. If you want to have a look at more TV deals, check our roundup of the best early Black Friday TV deals here.

  • Get this deal here

Hand-picked deals:

  • Philips 75″ 4K Ultra HD Smart TV with HDR Plus (2018 Model) – was £2,500.00, now £1,999.00
  • Philips 65″ 4K Ultra HD Smart TV with HDR Plus (2018 Model) – was £800.00, now £599.00
  • Philips 50″ 4K Ultra HD Smart TV with HDR Plus (2018 Model) – was £450.00, now £349.00
  • Philips 43″ 4K Ultra HD Smart TV with HDR Plus (2018 Model) – was £380.00, now £299.00
  • Hisense 65″ 4K Ultra HD HDR Smart TV (2018 Model) – was £699.00, now £579.00
  • Hisense 50″ 4K Ultra HD HDR Smart TV (2018 Model) – was £379.00, now £329.00
  • TCL 50″ 4K Ultra HD HDR TV (2018 Model) – was £499.00, now £379.00
  • TCL 43″ 4K Ultra HD HDR TV (2018 Model) – was £499.00, now £329.00
  • Toshiba 32″ HD Ready Smart TV with Freeview Play and Built In DVD Player (2018 Model) – was £269.00, now £229.00
  • Toshiba 24″ HD Ready Smart TV with Freeview Play and Built In DVD Player (2018 Model) – was £199.00, now £149.00

Currys PC World Pre-Black Friday Deals are Now Live

Even though there’s still two weeks to go before the official event, Black Friday madness has already started with the major retailers releasing their deals early. Currys PC World is one of the biggest retailers that take a full advantage of this occasion to discount their products, and from our previous observations, they tend to have some of the best deals. If you are unsure about whether the prices can go even lower on 23rd November, don’t worry, as Currys PC World will refund the difference if their Black Friday price changes.

Find the best hand-picked offers for laptops, PCs, TVs and more, below or visit Currys PC World Why Wait Event landing page here. Don’t forget to check and bookmark our official IGN Black Friday Deals 2018 page here.

TVs:

  • SONY BRAVIA KD65AF8BU 65″ Smart 4K Ultra HD HDR OLED TV – was £3,299.00, now £2,799.00
  • SONY BRAVIA KD55AF8BU 55″ Smart 4K Ultra HD HDR OLED TV – was £2,299.00, now £1,899.00
  • SONY BRAVIA KD55XF8796BU 55″ Smart 4K Ultra HD HDR LED TV – was £1,099.00, now £799.00
  • Samsung QE49Q6FNATXXU 49-inch 4K Ultra HD HDR QLED TV at Currys PC World – was £1,299.00, now £899.00
  • Samsung QE55Q7FNATXXU 55-inch Smart 4K Ultra HD HDR QLED TV at Currys PC World – was £1,799.00, now £1,299.00
  • LG OLED55C8PLA 55-inch Smart 4K Ultra HD HDR OLED TV at Currys PC World – was £1,999.00, £1,699.00
  • Sony Bravia KD49XF7596BU 49-inch Smart 4K Ultra HD HDR LED TV at Currys PC World – was £749.00, now £599.00

Laptops and PCs:

  • ASUS ROG Strix GL703GM 17.3″ Core i7 GTX 1060 Gaming Laptop (1TB HDD & 128GB SSD) – was £1,399.99, now £1,199.00
  • ACER Predator Helios 300 15.6″ Intel Core i5 GTX 1060 Gaming Laptop (1TB HDD & 128GB SSD) – was £1,099.99, now £899.00
  • MSI GF72 17.3″ Intel Core i5 GTX 1050 Ti Gaming Laptop (256GB SSD) – was £999.99, now £899.99
  • MSI Infinite A 8RC 296UK Intel Core i5+ GTX 1060 Gaming PC (2TB HDD) – was £999.99, now £949.00
  • LENOVO 620S-03IKL Intel Core i3 Desktop PC (1TB HDD, Silver) – was £499.00, now £449.00

Smart Home:

  • Ring Chime doorbell at Currys PC World – was £24.99, now £24.00
  • ARLO Smart Home Security System – 2 Cameras at Currys PC World – was £309.99, now £249.99
  • SWANN SWPRO-1080PTZ-UK Panoramic IR 1080p Full HD CCTV Camera at Currys PC World – was £349.99, now £279.99
  • SWANN SODVK-1645816-UK 16-Channel Full HD 1080p Security System – 16 Cameras – was £899.99, now £719.99
  • TP-LINK LB110 Smart WiFi LED Bulb at Currys PC World – was £29.99, now £19.99
  • TP-LINK LB120 Smart WiFi LED Bulb at Currys PC World – was £29.99, now £24.99

Get £15 Cashback at GAME with TopCashaback, Including Call of Duty: Black Ops 4

How does it work?

  • 100% cashback up to £15 at GAME, means that TopCashback will refund 100% cashback up to £15 spends at GAME.
  • E.g. spend £49.99 on ‘CALL OF DUTY: BLACK OPS 4’ and get £15 cashback. Purchases over £15 will receive a maximum of £15 cashback.
  • The 100% cashback up to £15 at GAME offer end date is 02/12/2018 23:59.

How to receive cashback?

  • Sign up on the right of this page, once signed up you’ll be redirected to TopCashback’s offer page
  • On the offer page you will see the offer information, hit the “Get Cashback” button, you’ll then be redirected to GAME’s website .
  • Once on GAME’s website make your purchase as normal.
  • After you’ve made your purchase, you should see your cashback pending in your account within 1 week. Once payable you can withdraw the cashback to your bank account.

 

Xbox One 1TB with Forza Horizon 4 under £200

If you can’t wait until Black Friday, some great deals on popular consoles have already been released. Xbox One S Forza Horizon 4 bundle is now priced at £199.99 at eBay,

  • Xbox One 1TB with Forza Horizon 4 at eBay- was £239.99, now £199.99

PS4 500GB Red Dead Redemption 2 Bundle with Two Games and Now TV

Usually priced at nearly £285, this bundle is now discounted to under £265 at GAME. Grab it while stocks last.

  • PS4 500GB Red Dead Redemption 2 Bundle with Doom, Last of Us Remasted and Now TV at GAME – was £284.97, now £264.99

Free Currys PC World Voucher with Apple iPhone Contract

Receive a complimentary Currys PC World gift card worth £40 when you purchase the Apple iPhone XR, XS or X on a pay monthly contract. To claim the voucher you will have to enter your email here before purchasing the contract. The further information on how to get your reward will be communicated to you via email and your contact details will not be stored or used for any other purpose. After you have competed this step, chose a mobile contract deal that is right for you.

  • Enter your email here for £40 Currys PC World voucher

Apple iPhone deals from Carphone Warehouse

  • See iPhone XR deals here
  • See iPhone XS deals here
  • See iPhone XS Max deals here
  • See iPhone X deals here

Editor’s Notes: This promotion expires on 22nd November, 2018.

Snag up to 40% off Popular Headphones

The deals you have been waiting for. Grab 40% off popular headphone makes, such as Beats and B&O.

  • Get this deal here

Hand-picked deals:

  • Bang & Olufsen Beoplay H4 Wireless Headphones – was £249.00, now £134.99
  • Bang & Olufsen Beoplay H5 Wireless Bluetooth Earbuds – was £229.00, now £124.99

Acer, Optoma, Epson and ViewSonic Projectors on Sale

Save up to 25% off on a range of different projectors, which will get you £800 off Acer’s M550 4k UHD Home Cinema Projector, and more.

  • Get this deal here

Hand-picked deals:

  • Acer M550 4k UHD Home Cinema Projector – was £1,199.99, now £1,999.99
  • Optoma HZ40UST 1080p Laser Ultra Short Throw Projector – was £2,499.00, now £2,122.99

Snag up to 35% off Bang & Olufsen Speakers and More

Play your favorite songs out loud with these quality speakers by Bang & Olufsen, Jam, House of Marley and more.

  • Get this deal here

Hand-picked deals:

  • Bang & Olufsen Beoplay M3 Compact and Powerful Wireless Speaker – was £279.00, now £209.99
  • Bang & Olufsen Beoplay M5 Wireless Speaker – was £529.00, now £399.99

Save Money on Huawei, Sony and Nokia Smartphones

Get discounts of up to 30% on some older Huawei, Sony and Nokia smartphone models.

  • Get this deal here

Up to 30% off SanDisk and Western Digital Products

Products include SSDs, USB flash drives, external hard drives and more.

  • Get this deal here

Save up to 57% off Norton Security Antivirus Get Norton Antivirus for great value during Black Friday, The Norton Security Deluxe antivirus package will provide protection for up to 5 devices against viruses and ransomware, as well as encrypt the data you send and receive on public WiFi. It is reduced for Black Friday from £69.99 to £29.99.

  • Norton Security Deluxe Antivirus (1 Year, 5 Devices) – was £69.99, now £29.99
  • Norton Security Premium Antivirus (1 Year, 10 Devices) – was £79.99, now £39.99
  • Norton Security Basic Antivirus (1 Year, 1 PC) – was £29.99, now £24.99
  • Norton Security Standard Antivirus (1 Year, 1 Device) – was £49.99, now £24.99

Get £15 Cashback at GAME with TopCashaback, Including Call of Duty: Black Ops 4

How does it work?

  • 100% cashback up to £15 at GAME, means that TopCashback will refund 100% cashback up to £15 spends at GAME.
  • E.g. spend £49.99 on ‘CALL OF DUTY: BLACK OPS 4’ and get £15 cashback. Purchases over £15 will receive a maximum of £15 cashback.
  • The 100% cashback up to £15 at GAME offer end date is 02/12/2018 23:59.

How to receive cashback?

  • Sign up on the right of this page, once signed up you’ll be redirected to TopCashback’s offer page
  • On the offer page you will see the offer information, hit the “Get Cashback” button, you’ll then be redirected to GAME’s website .
  • Once on GAME’s website make your purchase as normal.
  • After you’ve made your purchase, you should see your cashback pending in your account within 1 week. Once payable you can withdraw the cashback to your bank account.

Save up to 50% off adidas Outlet

Snag up to 50% on adidas Outlet products, including clothing, shoes and accessories. The below listed products are just some of the best deals we love that are currently being offered at adidas Outlet Sale. Click here to explore more.

  • Predator 18+ Firm Ground Boots at adidas – was £249.95, now £174.96
  • Adidas BY Kolor ZNE Hoodie at adidas – was £249.95, now £124.98
  • Tango Stadium Icon Hybrid at adidas – was £59.95, now £41.96
  • Arhletics Adidas Z.N.E. Parley Backpack at adidas – was £159.95, now £79.98
  • Speed 200 Boxing Gloves at adidas – was £79.95, now £55.96

IGN Exclusive: Red Dead Redemption 2 Xbox One Digital Key for £46.28 Using Our Exclusive Discount Code

Use our exclusive discount code IGN4 to receive a redeemable digital key for Red Dead Redemption 2 instantly in your e-mail address on day of release for just £46.28. To put this deal in perspective, an Xbox One Digital Key for Red Dead Redemption 2 is currently listed for £59.86 at Amazon.

You can also use our exclusive Black Friday discount code IGN4 at SCDKey up until the end of November to get 4% off Digital PC and Xbox One games, Xbox Live and PlayStation Plus subscriptions, and more.

  • Red Dead Redemption 2 (Xbox One, Digital) – was £59.99, now £46.28 w/ code IGN4
  • Red Dead Redemption 2 Special Edition (Xbox One, Digital) – was £74.99, now £58.91 w/ code IGN4
  • Red Dead Redemption 2 Ultimate Edition (Xbox One, Digital) – was £89.99, now £73.22 w/ code IGN4
  • PlayStation Plus 3 Month Membership – was £19.99, now £16.41 w/ code IGN4
  • Xbox Live 12 Month Membership – was £39.99, now £33.68 w/ code IGN4
  • Xbox Live 3 Month Membership – was £14.99, now £11.78 w/ code IGN4
  • Xbox 3 Month Game Pass – was £19.99, now £15.98 w/ code IGN4

IGN Exclusive: CyberGhost VPN for Only £1.59 per Month

Recently, VPNs are becoming increasingly popular because they can ensure your security and privacy when browsing the web. CyberGhost VPN is also a great VPN to access American Netflix from the UK and paying £1.59 per month on top of your current Netflix subscription to get all of the Netflix content you get in America is definitely worth it. This exclusive deal for IGN readers makes it the cheapest VPN available right now which is compatible with Netflix.

Read our guide on how to get American Netflix content in the UK.

  • IGN Exclusive: CyberGhost VPN 4-year subscription deal – £1.59 per month, £19.08 billed annually (80% off).

Alternative VPN Deal

  • IGN Exclusive: PureVPN 1-year subscription deal – £2.30 per month, £27.60 billed annually (73% off).

The Best Broadband Deals in November

OUR PICK
Unlimited Broadband + Weekend Calls
On Post Office
See it
£15.90 per month for 12 months, no set-up costs, average download speed 11Mb, no in-contract monthly price rise, 12 month contract

Best Broadband Deals for November

Wondering what are the best broadband deals this month? November sees a lot of great Broadband offers. Get Unlimited Broadband and Calls package with Post Office for just £15.50 per month with no set up costs and no in-contract monthly price rise.

You can also compare the best broadband, phone & TV deals in your area now at our sister site PCMag. Just enter your postcode and they will do the job for you.

  • Compare deals here

I Won't Raise My Daughter The Same Way My Chinese Parents Raised Me

Posted on by bamdj

When I became a mom, I started doing a ton of self-reflection (one of the reasons I started a blog) because I struggled with what I wanted to preserve as an Asian parent and what I thought needed to go. I spend a lot of time imagining situations my daughter could find herself in and the kind of support that I would offer her as a parent when she faced them.

That’s when all these buried memories about my own parents start to surface.

I find myself wondering what my parents would do — and then plan to do the complete opposite or deal with a situation in exactly the same way. (For some things, I’ll just have to wait and see how I react.) However, there are three parenting practices I experienced in childhood that I am certain I will not carry forward.

1. Discouraging crying

When I was a kid, every time I fell, bumped my head, got upset or cried, my parents, would say the words, “無事” which in Cantonese means, “it’s nothing” or “everything is OK.”

Then they would tell me not to cry.

During my childhood, crying was seen as this negative behaviour that needed to be nipped in the bud before it got worse, especially in public places.

It’s like if you feel like crying, go to your room, do it alone and not in front of people. Crying was perceived as a private response and so my parents often discouraged it as to avoid making others feel uncomfortable.

When I was in Grade 6, my Gong Gong (mom’s dad) passed away. My mom mourned her loss privately. Every night when I went to bed, I’d hear her close her bathroom door, sob uncontrollably, blow her nose, flush the toilet and then go to bed.

In the morning, she’d put on a stoic face for us even though her eyes were weary and her ruddy nose was puffy from sleepless nights.

For many years, I thought that tears were associated with weakness and shame; whenever I felt that lump in my throat, I’d swallow it down with “pride.”

It’s been a long journey to embrace crying as a natural and healthy human reaction to emotion. Crying is cathartic and a necessary physiological function. My brain knows that, but my heart struggles. To this day I still have a difficult time crying in front of others.

To break through this fear of mine and demonstrate my courage and vulnerability, here’s a picture of me crying during my wedding.

So whenever my daughter cries, instead of minimizing it, I validate her feelings and acknowledge the pain she is feeling.

Instead of saying “無事,” I say “有事” (“there is something the matter”). Because there is something that matters to her at that moment even if it’s because she put the wrong shoe on.

2. Comparing children

I’ve already written so much about how annoying it is when parents compare their kids as though they are objects.

From physical appearance, to academics, to extracurriculars, my parents would talk about how their kids were either excelling or struggling in each of these areas while comparing them to the next kid who was doing better or worse.

The children stayed silent while absorbing this treatment and grew up with a level of self-esteem completely dependent on how they compare with their peers.

“That girl is prettier/thinner/lighter than me; therefore, I am useless.”

“That guy makes more money/got promoted earlier/owns a nicer car than me; therefore, I am a loser.”

To foster self-confidence and self-motivation, I will not compare my child with another child. She is an individual and the only person she needs to compete with is herself.

3. Hitting as a form of discipline

There are several memes and even a YouTube video devoted to “Asian parents’ weapons of choice.” These can include:

  • A rubber slipper
  • A feather duster
  • A rolled-up newspaper
  • A hanger
  • A belt
  • A cane
  • An umbrella
  • A mace
  • A crossbow
  • A bazooka

OK, I made up the last three. Memes are supposed to be funny and entertaining, but corporal punishment can be a sad truth for some kids with strict Asian parents. NextShark talks about it here.

As a young child, I remember my mom and dad would hide “the beating stick” in the upstairs closet. And whenever my sisters and I misbehaved, my parents would threaten to use it. In the heat of the moment, my mom would either slap my hand or use her slipper to smack my bum.

It stopped around the time I started grade school. A family friend of ours was called to the school because the teacher had suspected them of hitting their child, and the school threatened to call social services. This story scared my parents into stopping, but also it gave them a moment to self-reflect.

It empowered my mom to start reading parenting articles in the Chinese newspaper and how this form of punishment is detrimental to a child’s mental and psychological well-being. One of the many reasons I love my mom. She’s a life learner.

My parents resorted to corporal punishment because that’s how they were disciplined when they were kids. It’s a cyclical behaviour, and it’s up to me to end it for the next generation.

I will not use any sort of physical violence towards my child. To me, this is just plain wrong. There are endless ways to discipline a child without laying a finger on them.

As I became a parent myself, I’ve realized that my parents did the best they could with the knowledge and abilities that they had. I think it’s important to appreciate the experiences we had growing up, whether they are negative or positive, and use them to learn and grow as individuals.

Have you been affected personally by this or another issue? Share your story on HuffPost Canada blogs. We feature the best of Canadian opinion and perspectives. Find out how to contribute here.

Tommy Chong Says Canada Hasn't Legalized Weed In The Right Way

Posted on by bamdj

TORONTO — Tommy Chong has a pass, man.

While some Canadians who use marijuana or work in the cannabis industry have been given a hard time at the U.S.-Canada border lately, the famed Edmonton-born stoner who lives in Los Angeles isn’t worried.

“I’ve got the Cheech and Chong pass,” the beloved comedy star of the “Cheech & Chong” drug-culture films, who is a marijuana advocate and has his own line of medicinal cannabis products, said during a recent visit to Toronto to shoot the upcoming “Air Farce New Year’s Eve” comedy special.

“They see us coming: ‘Oh my God, it’s you, come over here.’ I could be carrying a kilo, a ton of weed and they’d say, ‘Go on through, no problem.’ They know better, because I always have weed on me.”

Chong, who was sentenced in 2003 to nine months in a U.S. jail for selling bongs, pointed to an incident at an airport in Michigan with his son last year.

“My son had a big jar of weed in his backpack, and so the TSA guy pulled him out of the line and searched him and found the weed and it was like a big deal, ‘What’s this?’ kind of thing,” Chong recalled in an interview.

His son told the TSA agent that it was his dad’s medicinal marijuana.

“Long story short: the chief came down and looked at it and said, ‘Yeah,’ gave us back our weed and let us go,” said Chong, who used cannabis as part of his treatment for prostate and colorectal cancers.

Chong was in Toronto last week to film a cameo as himself in CBC TV’s “Air Farce New Year’s Eve,” which premieres Dec. 31.

Other guest stars include hockey champion Natalie Spooner and actors Lauren Lee Smith, Kevin Vidal and Nigel Downer.

“This show is great, they let me do what I want to do,” Chong said. “I’m terrible with scripts, just terrible, because I can’t see, I can’t hear, I can’t remember.

“That’s why I only played one character in my career, because I’m not an actor. I’m just a Tommy Chong. I’m a comedian.”

The special looks back on 2018 and celebrates the 45th anniversary of the acclaimed Air Farce comedy troupe that began in 1973 with Don Ferguson, Luba Goy, the late Roger Abbott, John Morgan, and Dave Broadfoot.

One of the topics covered in the special is Canada’s legalization of recreational cannabis use in October, which pot activists like Chong have praised for helping remove stigmas surrounding weed use.

“I love it,” he said, sitting on a couch in his dressing room wearing a Cheech and Chong T-shirt emblazoned with a marijuana leaf.

“I love that it’s Canada that was first (to do it before the U.S.). See, God has a sense of humour: he gave us Trump and he legalized weed at the same time.”

Waiting until the ‘dust settles’ before bringing company to Canada

Still, Chong feels Canada hasn’t approached recreational cannabis legalization in the right way.

“Absolutely not, but that’s the Canadian way,” said the 80-year-old. “Like when they legalized alcohol, the government took control of the monopoly and you could only buy booze from the government, and the government is trying to do the same thing with pot.

“They want to make it so that they’re the only supplier and it’s not going to work that way. So what Canada has done now, legally, they’ve kept the underground market alive and vibrant, because people still go to their dealer to get the best weed and the quickest weed.”

Chong said he’s legally not allowed to bring his own cannabis company to Canada right now, nor is he allowed to do a celebrity endorsement of it here. He’s waiting until the “dust settles” and figures that eventually he will launch Chong’s Choice here.

“We’re going to be in Germany, we’re going to be in Ecuador, we’re going to be in Brazil,” he said.

“See, once marijuana becomes the economy of the world, all these third-world countries will quit the wars. They’ll be too stoned to fight, basically.”

Chong grew up in Calgary and became a pot enthusiast in 1957 when a bass player at a jazz club handed him a joint and a Lenny Bruce record.

“It changed my life,” Chong said. “I dropped out of school right away, because I knew that everything I needed to learn was on the street. I was a musician and I just devoted my life to music.”

Chong later got into improv comedy and rose to fame through the “Cheech & Chong” albums and movies, which followed the hazy, hippie adventures of him and Richard (Cheech) Marin, whom he met in Vancouver.

With cannabis on the minds of many these days, could there be another “Cheech & Chong” film on the horizon?

“No, to be honest with you,” Chong said. “There have been a few attempts lately and there’s one attempt at a documentary and it’s still in the works.

“But no, we can’t go back in time. I look at what we used to do and I go, ‘Wow, those guys had a lot of energy.'”

Convicted drink drivers in France can avoid ban if they install breathalyser ‘alcolock’

Posted on by bamdj

Drink drivers in France will be able to avoid a ban if they install breathalyser ‘alcolocks’ that prevent their vehicles from starting if they are over the alcohol limit. 

They will have to blow into the breathalyser before the engine will start. They will then be required to blow a second time — set randomly at between five and 30 minutes later — to check that they are still under the limit, with the aim of preventing someone else starting the car for them.

The government approved the measure this week after a year-long trial of the scheme in seven French departments.

Drink drivers lose six of 12 points on their license for a first offence. They only receive a six-month suspension of their licence if they lose the remaining six points. 

The authorities will now be empowered to order drink drivers with a blood alcohol level between 0.8 and 1.8 g/l to install ‘alcolock’ breathalysers at their own expense as an alternative to a ban.

First offenders may also be required to install the devices, which cost more than £1,100 to buy and install, or £85 a month to rent.

They would have to keep the breathalysers for six months, but courts may extend that to a maximum of five years. Drink drivers may also be fined up to £3,850.

The interior ministry said in a statement that one of the aims of the scheme was to allow drink drivers who use their vehicles for their jobs “to continue working while guaranteeing the safety of other road users”.

Drink drive puff

Philippe Lauwick, head of the health committee at the National Council for Road Safety, said in-car ‘alcolock’ breathalysers were “a very useful tool to combat repeat offending and prevent people being excluded from society because they lose their licence”.

More than one in five road accidents in France are linked with drink driving. In 2017, 1,035 people were killed in accidents involving drivers who were over the alcohol limit.

The introduction of the ‘alcolock’ scheme comes just weeks after the death toll on French roads was found to be falling. Last year, 3,259 deaths were reported compared with 3,448 in 2017. In Britain, there were 1,770 road deaths in the year ending in June 2018.

'Compulsive Sexual Behaviour' Is Now Considered A Mental Disorder By The World Health Organization

Posted on by bamdj

The World Health Organization has recognized “compulsive sexual behaviour” as a mental disorder, but said Saturday it remained unclear if it was an addiction on a par with gambling or drug abuse.

The contentious term “sex addiction” has been around for decades but experts disagree over whether the condition exists.

In the latest update of its catalogue of diseases and injuries around the world, the WHO takes a step towards legitimizing the concept, by acknowledging “compulsive sexual behaviour disorder,” or CSBD, as a mental illness. But the UN health body stops short of lumping the condition together with addictive behaviours like substance abuse or gambling, insisting more research is needed before describing the disorder as an addiction.

“Conservatively speaking, we don’t feel that the evidence is there yet … that the process is equivalent to the process with alcohol or heroin,” WHO expert Geoffrey Reed told AFP Saturday.

In the update of its International Classification of Diseases (ICD), published last month, WHO said CSBD was “characterised by persistent failure to control intense, repetitive sexual impulses or urges … that cause marked distress or impairment.”

But it said the scientific debate was still ongoing as to “whether or not the compulsive sexual behaviour disorder constitutes the manifestation of a behavioural addiction.”

It’s a ‘legitimate health condition’

Reed said it was important that the ICD register, which is widely used as a benchmark for diagnosis and health insurers, includes a concise definition of compulsive sexual behaviour disorder to ensure those affected can get help.

“There is a population of people who feel out of control with regards to their own sexual behaviour and who suffer because of that,” he said pointing out that their sexual behaviour sometimes had “very severe consequences.”

“This is a genuine clinical population of people who have a legitimate health condition and who can be provided services in a legitimate way,” he said.

It remains unclear how many people suffer from the disorder, but Reed said the ICD listing would likely prompt more research into the condition and its prevalence, as well as into determining the most effective treatments.

“Maybe eventually we will say, yeah, it is an addiction, but that is just not where we are at this point,” Reed said.

But even without the addiction label, he said he believed the new categorization would be “reassuring,” since it lets people know they have “a genuine condition” and can seek treatment.

A diagnosis wouldn’t excuse sexual abuse

Claims of “sex addiction” have increasingly been in the headlines in step with the #MeToo movement, which has seen people around the world coming forward with allegations sexual mistreatment. The uprising has led to the downfall of powerful men across industries, including disgraced Hollywood mogul Harvey Weinstein, who has reportedly spent months in treatment for sex addiction.

Reed said he did not believe there was reason to worry that the new CSBD listing could be used by people like Weinstein to excuse alleged criminal behaviours.

“It doesn’t excuse sexual abuse or raping someone … any more than being an alcoholic excuses you from driving a car when you are drunk. You have still made a decision to act,” he said.

While it did not recognise sex addiction in the first update of its ICD catalogue since the 1990s, WHO did for the first time recognise video gaming as an addiction, listing it alongside addictions to gambling and drugs like cocaine.

The document, which member states will be asked to approve during the World Health Assembly in Geneva next May, will take effect from Jan. 1, 2022, if it is adopted.

Twenty-Six finalists named for the 2015 USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year

Posted on by bamdj

OKLAHOMA CITY — The Amateur Softball Association (ASA) of America and USA Softball announced today the Top 26 Finalists for the 2015 USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year, which will be announced at the opening of the 2015 NCAA Women’s College World Series (WCWS) in Oklahoma City. Due to a tie, 26 individuals have been named as the Top 26 Finalists for the award, which is considered the most prestigious honor in Division I women’s collegiate softball and recognizes the outstanding athletic achievement by female players across the country.

 

Now in its 14th year, previous recipients of the USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year award are UCLA catcher Stacey Nuveman (2002), Texas pitcher Cat Osterman (2003, 2005 and 2006), Florida State pitcher Jessica Van der Linden (2004), Tennessee pitcher Monica Abbott (2007), Virginia Tech pitcher Angela Tincher (2008), Washington pitcher Danielle Lawrie (2009 and 2010), Stanford shortstop Ashley Hansen (2011), Oklahoma pitcher Keilani Ricketts (2012 and 2013) and Florida State pitcher Lacey Waldrop (2014).

Click here for the complete list of the Top 26 Finalists for the 2015 USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year Award

This year’s Top 26 is comprised of 12 seniors, 11 juniors and two sophomores and one freshman. The student-athletes selected represent 19 NCAA Division I universities and nine athletic conferences. Arizona, Florida, Georgia, LSU, Oklahoma, Oregon and UCLA each have two players represented and Alabama, Arizona State, Auburn, Florida State, James Madison, Louisiana-Lafayette, Michigan, Minnesota, North Carolina, Notre Dame, UCF and Western Kentucky each have one member among the Top 25 Finalists.  

Just prior to the start of post-season play, on May 6 the list will be narrowed to the Top 10 Finalists. The Top 3 Finalists will be announced May 20, while the winner of the 2015 USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year award will be revealed on May 26 prior to the start of the NCAA WCWS in Oklahoma City.

The USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year award is voted on by coaching representatives from 10 Division I Conferences in the 15 ASA Regions, members of the media who consistently cover Division I Softball across the country as well as past winners of the award.

In addition to bestowing the USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year award, ASA/USA Softball is now in its 12th season of presenting the ESPN.com/USA Softball Collegiate Top 25 Poll and the USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Week, which are announced Tuesdays during the regular season.  A complete history of the USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year Award, past Top 25 Polls and Player of the Week honorees are available at Teamusa.org/USA-Softball/College-Corner.aspx.

About ASA/USA Softball
Founded in 1933, the Amateur Softball Association (ASA)/USA Softball is the National Governing Body Softball in the United States and a member of the United States Olympic Committee. One of the nation’s largest sports organizations, ASA/USA Softball sanctions competition in every state through a network of 74 local associations and has grown from a few hundred teams in the early days to over 165,000 teams today, representing a membership of more than 2.5 million.  ASA/USA is responsible for training, equipping and promoting the six USA Softball National Teams that compete in international and domestic competitions. The USA Softball Women’s National Team is one of only two women’s sports involved in the Olympic movement to capture three consecutive gold medals at the Olympic Games since 1996. The U.S. women have also won nine World Championship titles as well as claimed eight World Cup of Softball titles. For more information about ASA/USA Softball, please visit http://www.asausasoftball.com/.

About the NCAA Women’s College World Series
The ASA Hall of Fame Stadium serves as the home to the NCAA Women’s College World Series (WCWS). For the 25th year, the top eight college teams in the nation will head to Oklahoma City and complete for a National Championship title. Last year, nearly 70,000 fans attended the WCWS. Experience It Live May 28 to June 3 in Oklahoma City. Tickets for the 2015 NCAA WCWS are on sale now, click here to purchase your tickets and make a date with champions!

— Courtesy of ASA/USA Softball

Night In The Woods and Hyper Light Drifter Get Collectible Figurines From Fangamer

Posted on by bamdj

A few years ago, you’d be hard-pressed to find official collectibles for indie games, but thankfully, times have changed.

Our pals over at Fangamer have teamed up with the studios behind some of our favorite recent indie games to produce some gorgeous collectible figures based on Night In The Woods and Hyper Light Drifter.

The Night In The Woods vinyl figures are up for pre-order now at $25 a pop, or $119 for all five, and are expected to ship in late December. The titular Drifter from Hyper Light Drifter is $24, and is available now.

Though hardly indie, Fangamer also just revealed a Bomberman plushie, which is up for pre-order for $32. It has an articulated wire skeleton as well as magnetic bomb and eyebrows. IGN’s Andrew Goldfarb praised it as “a real cutie.”

Max Scoville is an IGN host and producer who loves toys, you can see pictures of his toys, pets, and horrible face on Instagram @MaxScoville 

Cyclone Idai: Fate of thousands unknown as rescuers struggle to reach swamped villages

Posted on by bamdj

The fate of entire village populations in rural Mozambique remained unknown on Wednesday as rescue workers tried desperately to reach thousands still trapped in rising floodwaters unleashed by Cyclone Idai.

Eyewitnesses told of corpses floating down swollen rivers and aerial footage showed families still perched on rooftops and in the upper branches of submerged trees days after Idai tore through three southern African states.

Britain pledged £12 million and flew tents and shelter kits into Mozambique to aid an international rescue operation set up in the flooded port city of Beira that often seemed in danger of being overwhelmed by the sheer scale of the disaster.

With 90 per cent of the buildings in Mozambique’s fourth city damaged or destroyed, aid workers struggled to respond to the basic needs of Beira’s 500,000 people, most of whom have neither shelter nor food and water.

But there was far greater concern for the fate of those living in villages in the cyclone’s path, many of which have been wholly inundated by flash floods and the waters of rivers that burst their banks.

Beira floods slider

“Many people are in a desperate situation, fighting for their lives at the moment, sitting on rooftops, in trees and other elevated areas,” said Christophe Bouleriac, a spokesman for the UN children’s fund Unicef.

Eyewitnesses spoke of seeing “hundreds” of corpses floating down swollen rivers and hearing screams from people clinging to tree branches suspended over potentially crocodile-infested waters six days after Idai made landfall.

South Africa’s army contributed helicopters, the Indian navy ships, while local fishermen and small boat owners made repeated trips in their canoes to rescue the stranded. 

A Zimbabwean living in Mozambique reportedly strung 20-litre containers to the back of his boat for the rescued to cling to as for three days he moved from tree to tree and rooftop to rooftop rescuing survivors.

Yet even these herculean efforts seemed barely to make a difference. Aid workers said they had been forced to prioritise, rescuing children and pregnant women from some trees but being forced to leave the rest where they were.

So huge is the challenge that one aid worker likened it to the evacuation of British troops from Dunkirk.

The death toll from the disaster officially rose to more than 350, some 200 in Mozambique and the remainder in the highlands of eastern Zimbabwe and Malawi.

But how many may have actually died is anyone’s guess, with unconfirmed reports of hundreds dead in just a handful of villages outside Beira alone.

“Everyone is doubling, tripling, quadrupling whatever they were planning,” said Caroline Haga of the Red Cross. “It’s much larger than anyone could ever anticipate.”

Even though it did not bear the brunt of the cyclone, Zimbabwe’s Chimanimani district suffered destruction unprecedented in its modern history. Perence Shiri, the acting defence minister who visited the area, said it resembled “the aftermath of a full-scale war”.

Nearly all bridges in the region were reportedly washed away while sinkholes made many roads impassable. Another minister said bodies had been washed down swollen rivers across the border into Mozambique.

As in Mozambique, the rescue effort was often left to private individuals. 

Cyclone Idai and climate change | Key questions

Doug Van der Ruit, a local businessman, and Bob Henson, a former farmer, have flown repeated missions in their small helicopter ferrying medicines and evacuating victims from cyclone-affected areas along the border between Zimbabwe and Mozambique.

“We don’t known how many are missing, nor how many have died,” said Mr Henson, who lives in Harare, Zimbabwe’s capital.

“But we hope we saved some. Hundreds of houses were smashed down. We flew over some funerals.”

Many of the victims, including those who need urgent medical attention, cannot get to nearby hospitals, he added, because of impassable roads and collapsed bridges. Among those the two men flew out of the affected area was a dying woman in labour.

Cyclone Idai: What happens next?

Mr Van der Ruit witnessed some of the devastation wrought by the cyclone first hand, saying he saw large chunks break off surrounding mountains and come crashing down.

“We heard this roaring,” he said. “Rocks falling everywhere — no thunder or lightning, just sheets of water, and wind and roaring.”

Although meteorologists had warned for a fortnight that a cyclone was on its way, many in rural Mozambique and Zimbabwe were caught unawares and there appears to have been little government effort to carry out a pre-emptive evacuation.

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